Former Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein was sentenced to 23 years in a New York state prison on Wednesday on charges of sexual assault and third-degree rape, United States media reported.

Weinstein, aged 67, who was once one of Hollywood's most powerful figures, was convicted of first-degree criminal sexual act last month, based on the testimony of Miriam Haley, and rape in the third degree, based on the testimony of one-time aspiring actress Jessica Mann.

"If Harvey Weinstein had not been convicted by this jury, it would have happened again and again and again," Haley said in court, as reported by CNN.

"I'm relieved he will now know he's not above the law. I'm relieved there are women out there who are safer because he's not out there."

The verdict by the New York jury was hailed as a turning point in the widespread #MeToo movement which found exposure following sexual-abuse allegations against Weinstein.

Weinstein arrived at Wednesday's hearing in a wheelchair. He had been in state custody since last month's verdict and has had several health issues.
New Delhi, March 11 : Without naming Justice S. Muralidhar, BJP MP Meenakshi Lekhi said on the floor of Lok Sabha on Wednesday that the Intelligence Bureau (IB) report on the transfer of judges should have been made public.

Lekhi, in response to Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury's tirade against the BJP for its alleged dull response during the Delhi riots, said, "Some judges think that police should not act until protests turn violent. Who will decide when the 'dharna' will become violent? The transfer of the judge was made on a recommendation (the Supreme Court Collegium had recommended for Justice Muralidhar's transfer to the Punjab and Haryana High Court). The IB report on the transfer of judges should be made public." The Ministry of Law and Justice on February 26 notified the transfer of Justice Muralidhar of the Delhi High Court to the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The notification was issued after Justice Muralidhar made some scathing observations on the way Delhi Police handled the violence in the riot affected areas in northeast Delhi, and also sought registration of criminal cases against BJP leaders involved in making speeches which allegedly incited violence.

"In the exercise of the power conferred by clause (1) of Article 222 of the Constitution of India, the President, after consultation with the Chief Justice of India, is pleased to transfer Justice S. Muralidhar, Judge of the Delhi High Court, as a Judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court and to direct him to assume charge of his office in the Punjab and Haryana High Court," a Law Ministry notification had said.

At his farewell on March 5, Justice Muralidhar had said: "I was informed about it (the transfer) on February 17 and had no problem with it. On February 17, I had received a communication from the Chief Justice of India S.A. Bobde on a recommendation made by the Collegium for my transfer." Justice Muralidhar passed a series of orders with regard to the violence in Delhi's northeast district, saying that "another 1984-like situation cannot be allowed to happen in this city".
Mike Pence heard from hospital executives on Wednesday about the coronavirus, but a nervous public will have to wait for the vice president's account of what they said.

The meeting came on a day when a report surfaced that Congress's in-house doctor told Capitol Hill staffers he expects 75 million to 150 million people in the United States (total population: 364 million) to contract the novel disease. Federal and industry officials are working on a vaccine, but one might be as long as a year from being deployed.

That figure came to light shortly after members of the Pence-led White House coronavirus task force told a House committee they expect the outbreak to get much worse, with Anthony Fauci, the federal government's top infectious disease scientist, saying "many, many millions of people" could get coronavirus and die.

The coming wave of confirmed cases, which will only grow both as it spreads and up to 4 million test kits reach some hospitals and laboratories, could lead hospitals around the country -- and especially in hard-hit areas like Washington state, New York-New Jersey and California -- to become overloaded with sick coronavirus victims.

A group of reporters and camera technicians were slated to be allowed into part of the session. Donald Trump had joined Mr Pence at a similar meeting with insurance executives on Tuesday.

A Pence aide said the "pool spray" was cancelled simply because the VP was running "super late," adding Mr Pence will provide a summary of what the hospital executives said during a planned 5:30 p.m. White House briefing.

As the VP was meeting with that group of executives, Mr Trump was tweeting about Democrats.

"Someone needs to tell the Democrats in Congress that CoronaVirus doesn't care what party you are in. We need to protect ALL Americans!" he tweeted, adding in another he is "fully prepared to use the full power of the Federal Government to deal with our current challenge of the CoronaVirus!"

Mr Pence was slated to join the president at a closed-door meeting with banking executives at 3 p.m., then chair a task force meeting in the White House Situation Room at 4 p.m.

As the duo met with private-sector officials as they continue to craft the government's response, Reuters reported that White House officials have ordered most high-level meetings about the virus outbreak to be deemed classified.

The wire service cited four administration officials and described the move as rare.

"We had some very critical people who did not have security clearances who could not go," one official told Reuters. "These should not be classified meetings. It was unnecessary."
A report last week by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) said that tens of thousands of Uyghur and other Muslim detainees in northwest Chinas Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) have been transferred to factories throughout China, where they are forced to produce goods for at least 83 global retailers, including Apple, BMW, The Gap, Nike, Samsung, Sony, and Volkswagen.

Scott Nova, executive director of Washington-based labor watchdog Worker Rights Consortium (WRC), recently spoke with RFAs Uyghur Service about how forced labor products from the region are finding their way into the global supply chain and how retailers can use their leverage to hold factories to account.



RFA: Can you comment on the findings in the report by the ASPI?

Nova: The situation in general, with respect to forced labor in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region and related to it, is extremely grave. Its been very clear for going on two years that the Chinese government is using forced labor within the XUAR as a means of social control, which has created numerous documented individual cases of forced labor and a presumption that you may find forced labor essentially in any workplace in the region. This newest report from the Australian Strategic Policy Institute documents a different, but related, phenomenon of workers essentially being exported by the Chinese government from the XUAR to factories in Central and Eastern China where, according to that report, they were working under conditions that strongly indicate forced labor. And while our organization cant independently confirm their analysis, the report is credible and its conclusions are disturbing.

RFA: We contacted some of the companies, but they tell a different storyessentially that there isnt any reason for concern.

Nova: A responsible company will recognize that if Uyghur or members of other minority groups from the XUAR have been sent by the government to work in factories outside the XUAR that that labor is not voluntary. A responsible company will understand that that labor cannot be voluntary. So the only question a company needs to answer is whether or not such workers are present at the factory. If they are, theres a problem. So if a company is claiming that there are no workers from the XUAR at the facility, and that can be documented, then that would be meaningful. If there are workers from the XUAR at a factory, and theyve been sent there by the Chinese government, then if a company is saying that thats OK because they have concluded that the labor is voluntary, thats absurd, because there is no way to conduct a meaningful investigation of that question because there is no way that those workers could speak freely without fear of retaliation.

RFA: Does Chinas action of creating alternative working rights go against existing international workers rights? Should everyone be alarmed?

Nova: The violations that are taking place in the XUAR and against workers from the XUAR who are being sent elsewhere in China are rank violations of international labor standards, as well as Chinese law. And theres no question that these are legal violationstheyre also obviously moral violations that constitute severe human rights abuses and the international community should be doing everything it can to discourage the Chinese government from continuing down this path.

Fighting forced labor

RFA: How can governments deal with this issue? And does the U.S. have any legal tools to fight against forced labor?

Nova: The U.S. doesits against U.S. law to import goods made with forced labor at any level of the supply chain, including raw material. In the case of garments, where one-fifth of the worlds cotton supply for the fabrication of cotton garments comes from Xinjiang, it is virtually certain that goods with forced labor content are flowing into the United States as we speak. The U.S. has started to take enforcement actions and it should do so more energetically and more aggressively.

RFA: Have you carried out any investigations on this issue and have any new findings?

Nova: We did. We linked Lacoste, the French brand, to a factory in the XUAR in Ili Kazakh (in Chinese, Yili Hasake) Autonomous Prefecture  using forced labor. That was reported just earlier this week. We documented forced labor at the Hetian Taida [Apparel Co. Ltd.] factories in Hotan (Hetian) [city], which had partly led the U.S. government to ban imports from Hetian Taida, and we are conducting additional investigations in the XUAR. The factory in question, which is called Yili Zhuo Wan Garment Manufacturing, which makes gloves, was exposed as using forced labor in the internment camps system as early as March of last year. But Lacoste, nonetheless, placed orders there in September of last year, relying on a so-called factory audit from a firm called Bureau Veritas, which currently concluded that there was no forced labor, even though the evidence demonstrates that there is.

And of course brands have responsibilities here, as do auditing firms. Brands have real leverage here because the garment industry is so important to the economy in Xinjiang. And a real question brands and retailers are going to have to answer, auditing firms involved with the industry are going to have to answer, is are they going to act responsibly amidst this human rights crisis.

Reported by Jilil Kashgary for RFAs Uyghur Service.
Ryan Costello, former U.S. Representative for Pennsylvanias 6th congressional district, urges Congress to protect recipients of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals as the Supreme Court considers the Trump administration's promise to end the program. Read more

A looming disaster is brewing, yet not enough people are talking about it and Congress is failing to act.

Im referring to the crisis facing Dreamers, or Deferred Action for Childhood (DACA) recipients, who contribute to our economy and are critical community members. Despite living most of their lives in the U.S. after coming here as children with their families, and earning the ability to legally work and study in the U.S. through DACA, their futures and contributions to our country are in jeopardy.

The DACA program has protected these young immigrants from deportation since 2012. This consists of nearly 700,000 DACA recipients nationwide, including more than 4,600 in Pennsylvania, who have come forward, completed an application, paid the associated fees, and undergone thorough background checks to be approved for the program. Theyre also required to repeat this process and renew their status every two years. As a result, the program has benefited Dreamers, their families, our communities, and the economy they contribute to.

Despite these benefits, the Trump administration rescinded the program in September 2017  a decision followed by multiple federal court injunctions keeping existing protections in place. A case regarding the legality of the administrations decision is now with the Supreme Court, which heard oral arguments around the program last November. They are expected to make a decision anytime between now and June determining the fate the 700,00 young immigrants DACA shields from deportation.

Should the Supreme Court rule against DACA without a congressional fix in place, the ripple effects will be felt far beyond the Dreamers it protects.

On an annual basis, DACA recipients contribute an estimated $42 billion in GDP and nearly $9 billion in combined state, local, and federal taxes. Dreamers are home and car owners, and fill critical skills gaps across the country. Theyre our students, teachers, the parishioner next to us on Sunday, the first responder, lawyer, and nurse we rely on, and so much more.

Polls suggest that an overwhelming majority of Americans support creating a pathway to citizenship for them  on both sides of the aisle. This is because Americans not only recognize that this is the right, moral thing to do, but that Dreamers contribute to the success of U.S. companies, that 6% have started their own businesses and employ native-born citizens, and that they are indeed American every way but on paper. I can especially appreciate the bipartisan support for this program as a former U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania, who as a Republican often sought to work across the aisle.

Last June, the House of Representatives passed the American Dream and Promise Act to codify DACA protections into law and provide a pathway to citizenship. A solution in the Senate has stalled over partisan tit-for-tat. The Senate needs to focus on passing this narrow legislation and send it to the presidents desk  soon.

 READ MORE: Everything is at stake for Dreamers as Supreme Court takes up DACA

Regardless of how the Supreme Court rules or who wins the presidential election in November, a permanent legislative solution is still critical for Dreamers whose lives have been in limbo far too long.

If DACA protections are terminated before a legislative solution is in place, an average of 6,000 DACA recipients  who are work colleagues, business owners, students, parents, loved ones and more  will lose their deportation protections per week. They will be stripped from the workforce and their homes.

Concerningly, when he reviewed the case in November, Chief Justice John Roberts operated under the notion that Dreamers would not be deported even if the Supreme Court terminated the program. Yet regarding Dreamers future, acting ICE Director Matthew Albence said in January: Those individuals may have DACA, but that doesnt prevent us from going through the removal process, he said. If they get ordered removed, and DACA is done away with by the Supreme Court, we can actually effectuate those removal orders.

The U.S. has never given temporary legal status through a program like this, then revoked it. We should not start now. Congressional change should be enacted, as failure to protect Dreamers is not only immoral, but also a bad political and economic decision.

Congress urgently needs to address this issue before the Supreme Court determines Dreamers fate and unleashes the negative consequences of a DACA repeal.

Ryan Costello served as the U.S. Representative for Pennsylvanias 6th congressional district from 2015 to 2019.
By Azernews





By Akbar Mammadov

Azerbaijans Defence Minister General Zakir Hasanov and Egypts Ambassador Adel Ibrahim have discussed the military cooperation between the two countries as well as the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Azerbaijan Defense Ministry has reported.

During the meeting held on March 11, the sides discussed the cooperation in the military-technical sphere, as well as in the fields of military education and military medicine.

The sustainable development of friendly relations between Azerbaijan and Egypt based on the interests of our states emphasize the importance of cooperation in the military sphere, Hasanov said.

Colonel-General Hasanov, speaking about the military-political situation in the region, stressed that Armenia's aggressive policy continues to this day and the protracted conflict over Azerbaijans occupied Nagorno-Karabakh region negatively affects the stability in the region.

In turn, the ambassador stressed his countrys commitment to expanding ties with Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan and Egypt have been cooperating in various areas including humanitarian, economic and military cooperation since 1992.

The Joint Intergovernmental Commission on Economic, Technical and Scientific Cooperation between Azerbaijan and Egypt has been held since 3 October 2002.
Voters in six states cast their ballots on Tuesday. Five statesIdaho, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, and Washingtonare holding Democratic and Republican primaries, and North Dakota is holding Democratic and Republican caucuses.

Just over a week ago, voters in 14 states participated in the first Super Tuesday of the year on March 3, where Biden won 10 states and also took the lead in delegates over Sanders in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination. Meanwhile, in the race for the Republican nomination, out of 834 delegates, President Donald Trump collected 833 and former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld won one delegate.

Most polls closed by 8 p.m. ET, with Michigans polls, split between two timezones, closed by 9 p.m. ET. In Idaho and Washington state, polls closed by 11 p.m. ET. Washington state held a mail-in primary, and as such, votes may take days to tally.

Here was how the night unfolded:

Sanders Wins North Dakota

Sanders won the North Dakota caucuses by nearly 2,000 votes.

Sanders ended with 7,682 votes, or 53.3 percent, compared to Bidens 5,742 votes, or 39.8 percent.

The final results were published on Wednesday morning.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who dropped out of the race last week, earned 366 votes. A number of other former contenders also received votes.

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii), the only other contender remaining in the field outside Sanders and Biden, got 89 votes.

Washington Democratic Primary Too Early to Call

The Democratic presidential primary in Washington state is too early to call, according to The Associated Press.

All votes in Washington state are cast by mail or by dropping them off in a ballot box, and the state counts a significant amount on the day of the election, the news agency reported. But once that first update is released, election officials only provide an update once a day until all the late-arriving ballots are counted.

Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders appear to be in a close race according to the first set of results released late Tuesday. Of the roughly 1 million votes counted so far, Biden and Sanders each won about 33 percent.

Most counties in Washington state will update their results Wednesday.

Biden Projected to Win Idaho Democratic Primary

Joe Biden is projected to win Idahos Democratic presidential primary. The Associated Press called Bidens victory at 1:01 a.m. ET on Wednesday.

Idaho, which has 20 pledged delegates on offer, is using a primary in 2020 after having used a caucus in 2016; Bernie Sanders defeated Hillary Clinton for the Democratic presidential nominee at the time.

Officials have said switching to a Democratic primary this year from a caucus could significantly increase the number of participants and play a role in the outcome, The Associated Press reported.

Trump Wins in All 6 States on Super Tuesday II

President Donald Trump has won or is projected to win multiple Republican presidential primaries and the North Dakota caucus late Tuesday as polls close and results flow in from multiple states.

Trump took to Twitter to celebrate his victories in Mississippi, Missouri, Michigan, and Washington Republican primaries, as well as the North Dakota Republican caucus.

The Associated Press called Trumps wins in Mississippi, Missouri, Michigan, and Idaho as of 12:50 a.m. ET Wednesday.

Trump and former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld were on the ballot in the Republican race in Idaho, Michigan, Mississippi, and Missouri. Trump was the only candidate on the ballot in Washington state. In North Dakotas caucus, Trump was the only candidate to qualify for the ballot.

Biden Says Its Another Good Night

Joe Biden said late Tuesday that it is another good night and a step closer to restoring decency, dignity, and honor to the White House as he celebrated his projected wins in the Mississippi, Missouri, and Michigan Democratic presidential primaries.

Speaking to a crowd near his Philadelphia campaign headquarters, Biden also addressed Bernie Sanderss supporters.

I want to thank Bernie Sanders and his supporters for their tireless energy and their passion. We share a common goal, and together well defeat Donald Trump. Well defeat him together, Biden said.

He also acknowledged recent endorsements from former Democratic presidential candidates including Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Beto ORourke, Pete Buttigieg, and Mike Bloomberg.

Biden also spoke about the coronavirus outbreak and said he would propose a plan.

This whole coronavirus issue is a matter of presidential leadership, and later this week Ill be speaking to you on what I believe the nation should be doing to address this virus, Biden said.

Both Biden and Sanders canceled rallies Tuesday night due to coronavirus concerns. The next Democratic debate to take place on Sunday in Arizona will not have a live audience, again due to coronavirus concerns.

Trump Endorses Tuberville in Alabama Senate Runoff

President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced his support for former Auburn University football coach Tommy Tuberville in the Alabama runoff election against Jeff Sessions, a former attorney general under Trump.

Tommy Tuberville (@TTuberville) is running for the U.S. Senate from the Great State of Alabama, Trump wrote on Twitter. Tommy was a terrific head football coach at Auburn University.

He is a REAL LEADER who will never let MAGA/KAG, or our Country, down! Trump added. Tommy will protect your Second Amendment (which is under siege), is strong on Crime and the Border, and truly LOVES our Military and our Vets. He will be a great Senator for the people of Alabama. Coach Tommy Tuberville, a winner, has my Complete and Total Endorsement. I love Alabama!

Tuberville and Sessions will face off in the runoff election on March 31 seeking the Republican nomination to challenge incumbent Democrat Doug Jones. Tuberville currently has 33.3 percent of the vote, compared to Sessions with 31.6 percent of the vote as of late Tuesday.

Sessions was the first Senate Republican to endorse Trump in 2016 before joining his administration. Sessions resigned at Trumps request. Trump had repeatedly criticized Sessionss decision to recuse himself from the probe into Russian meddling in the 2016 election.

Andrew Yang Endorses Biden

Former Democratic presidential contender Andrew Yang announced on CNN that he is endorsing Joe Biden on Tuesday night.

The math says Joe is our prohibitive nominee, Yang said. We need to bring the party together. We need to start working on defeating Donald Trump in the fall.

Yang joined CNN as a political commentator last month.

Yangs announcement comes after Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) announced his endorsement for Biden on Monday.

Biden Projected to Win Michigan Democratic Primary

Joe Biden is projected to win the Michigan Democratic primary, the state with delegates up for grabs out of six states voting in Super Tuesday II, with 125 pledged delegates.

Biden led Sanders by 53.1 percent to 39.3 percent with 52 percent of precincts reporting.

The Associated Press at 9:05 p.m. ET called a win for Biden in Michigan.

Sanders defeated Hillary Clinton in Michigans 2016 Democratic presidential primary.

Biden Projected to Win Mississippi and Missouri

The Associated Press has called decisive wins for Joe Biden in Missouri and Mississippi, calling it an early blow to Bernie Sanders.

Polls have closed in the two states, along with North Dakota. There was no immediate projection for North Dakota.

Biden was also projected to win the two states by Edison Research and television networks based on exit polls and early results.

Missouri has 68 pledged delegates and Mississippi has 36 pledged delegates.

Whats at Stake on Super Tuesday II

In Super Tuesday IIs Democratic race, 352 delegates are up for grabs, while in the Republican race, 271 delegates are on offer.

Michigan has the most pledged delegates, at 125 for Democrats and 73 for Republicans. Both former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) spent ample time in the state in the lead-up to the vote. The numbers of delegates up for grabs in other states are Idaho (20), Mississippi (36), Missouri (68), North Dakota (14), and Washington (89).

Democrats in the race are Biden, Sanders, and Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii). The number of delegates on offer on March 10 represents about 9 percent of the total to the Democratic National Convention, which means that there is still 53 percent of total delegates available in upcoming primaries and caucuses in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Trump and former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld are competing in Idaho, Michigan, Mississippi, and Missouri in the Republican race. Trump is the only candidate on the ballot in Washington state. In North Dakotas caucus, Trump was the only candidate to qualify for the ballot.

A candidate needs to win at least 1,991 delegates of the total 3,979 to win the Democratic nomination on the first ballot by the partys national convention on July 13-16 in Milwaukee. Democrat candidates must finish with at least 15 percent of the vote for them to win any delegates in a given stateeither in the statewide total or an individual congressional district.

Trump needs 1,276 delegates out of 2,551 to win the Republican nomination at the partys national convention scheduled for Aug. 24-27 in Charlotte, North Carolina.

As of Tuesday night, in the Democrat race, Biden has a total of 695 delegates, followed by Sanders on 590 delegates. Gabbard only has two. In the Republican race, Trump has collected 887 delegates, and Weld has one.

Sanders, Biden Cancel Ohio Rallies Over Coronavirus Concerns

Democratic presidential candidates Joe Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders canceled their election night rallies in Ohio on March 10, citing concerns about the coronavirus spreading throughout the United States.

Sanderss campaign first announced March 10 that his rally in Cleveland would be canceled.

Out of concern for public health and safety, we are canceling tonights rally in Cleveland. We are heeding the public warnings from Ohio state officials, who have communicated concern about holding large, indoor events during the coronavirus outbreak, according to a statement from his campaign.

While Sanders expressed his regret to would-be attendees, he said that all future campaign events will have to be evaluated.

A statement from Biden confirmed he would also cancel a rally in Cleveland.

In accordance with guidance from public officials and out of an abundance of caution, our rally in Cleveland, Ohio tonight is cancelled. We will continue to consult with public health officials and public health guidance and make announcements about future events in the coming days, said a statement to local news outlets. Vice President Biden thanks all of his supporters who wanted to be with us in Cleveland this evening. Additional details on where the vice president will address the press tonight are forthcoming.

Read more here.

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this live updates article.

From The Epoch Times
Nelson Mandelas wife, Graca Machel has written a solidairty letter to deposed Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi telling him he is not alone.

Graca told him she is sad that he was being relieved of his duties as Emir of Kano and being held by government authorities,but told him he is not alone in the struggle to confront corruption and social ills burdening Northern Nigeria.

She also said she is proud to have him as a member of the Graca Machel Trusts International Board of Advisors and also stand with him in his courageous effort to speak the truth to power.

Emir Sanusi was deposed on Monday, March 9th 2020. See the letter below



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Sentence comes after the former Hollywood producer was convicted of sexual assault and third-degree rape.

Former Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein was sentenced to 23 years in prison for rape and sexual assault in a landmark #MeToo case.

A jury on February 24 found Weinstein, 67, guilty of sexually assaulting former production assistant Mimi Haleyi and raping former aspiring actress Jessica Mann.

Once one of Hollywoods most influential producers, Weinstein had faced the possibility of a maximum sentence of 29 years in prison.

Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance told reporters after the sentencing that the judge sent a message today that this type behaviour is something that any potential offender is going to have to consider. The judge took it seriously, which is exactly how we think he should have. And were grateful.

Weinstein and the six women who testified against the movie mogul were in court for the proceedings.

In an emotional statement in court, Haleyi spoke of the trauma she had endured since the attack, saying, It scarred me deeply, mentally and emotionally, perhaps irreparably, perhaps forever.

Haleyi further said Weinstein has seemed completely disconnected from the gravity of the crime he has committed against me.

Mann also addressed the court: I want to remind you I told Harvey, no  I am forced to carry that experience until I die.

During the sentencing hearing, prosecutor Joan Illuzzi asked Judge James Burke to impose 25 years or near 25 years in prison for his conviction on a charge of criminal sexual act in the first degree involving Haleyi and to impose a consecutive sentence for the third-degree rape conviction involving Mann.

That charge called for up to four years in prison, but the prosecution made no specific request.

Weinsteins lawyers on Monday urged Burke to impose the minimum possible sentence of five years, asking him to consider Weinsteins charitable activities while saying a longer sentence would likely mean Weinstein would die in prison.

Prosecutors in court filings last week said the sentence should reflect not only the crimes of which Weinstein was convicted, but a lifetime of abuse towards others. A second criminal case is pending in California.

Legacy of misconduct

More than 100 women, including famous actresses, have accused Weinstein of sexual misconduct stretching back for decades, fuelling the #MeToo movement against sexual abuse and harassment. Weinstein has denied the allegations, and said that any sex was consensual.

Harvey Weinsteins legacy will always be that hes a convicted rapist, the Silence Breakers, a group of 24 women who accused Weinstein of sexual assault, said in a statement following the sentencing.

He is going to jail  but no amount of jail time will repair the lives he ruined, the careers he destroyed, or the damage he has caused.

BREAKING: Harvey Weinstein has been sentenced to 23 years in prison for his February conviction of criminal sexual act in the first degree and rape in the third degree. The following is a statement from 24 #silencebreakers in response: pic.twitter.com/6LhmIhDaMz  TIME'S UP (@TIMESUPNOW) March 11, 2020

The jury of seven men and five women acquitted Weinstein on the most serious charges, a single count of first-degree rape as well as two counts of predatory sexual assault, which carried a potential life sentence.

Those charges relied on testimony by actress Annabella Sciorra, who said Weinstein raped her in the early 1990s.
Rose Parade rejuvenates Stary's love of music, teaching

Ronald Stary of Watertown Middle School has returned from the Rose Parade. This year, the parade honored 300 music directors.
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WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (C) speaks past WHO Health Emergencies Programme director Michael Ryan (L) and WHO technical lead Maria Van Kerkhove (Picture: Getty)

A World Health Organisation (WHO) chief has warned more countries could soon be suffering like Iran and Italy as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.

WHO Health Emergencies Programme director Dr Michael Ryan issued the stark warning as the organisation confirmed the health crisis was now a pandemic.

He said: Iran and Italy are on the frontline now. Theyre suffering, but I guarantee you other countries will be in that situation very soon.

Dr Ryan admitted he feared countries may reduce efforts to stop the outbreak after a pandemic was declared.

He added: For me, Im not worried about the word. Im more concerned about that the worlds reaction will be to that word. Will we use it as a call to action? Will we use it to fight? Or will we use it to give up?

The health chief also said the situation in Iran, where 354 people have died, was very serious and the agency would like to see more surveillance and care for the sick.

Read more: Coronavirus almost a perfect killing machine for elderly patients

WHO has reclassified the coronavirus outbreak as a pandemic (Picture: Getty)

The outbreak has killed more than 4,000 people across the world, with 120,000 being infected.

In Europe, 715 people have died and more than 18,000 people have been diagnosed with the virus.

Italy is the worst-affected country in the world after China, with some 631 deaths and 10,149 confirmed cases since the contagion came to light in the wealthy northern region of Lombardy on 21 February.

Switzerland, with around 650 cases and three deaths, shares a nearly 750-km (466-mile) border with Italy, stretching from the rugged western Swiss Alps to Austria.

In the UK, where six people have died, the Department of Health said 456 people have tested positive for coronavirus in the UK as of 9am on Wednesday, up from 373 at the same point on Tuesday.

The Spanish health ministry has reported more than 2,000 coronavirus cases in the country, with 49 deaths.

Read more: Coronavirus patient diagnosed on Nile cruise details hospital treatment

Belgian authorities held a cruise ship with more than 3,000 people on board in the port of Zeebrugge on Wednesday morning over suspected cases of the coronavirus after the country reported its first death from the disease.

Story continues

Belgium now has 314 confirmed cases of the coronavirus.

While in France there are 1,784 cases, with around 33 deaths, according to John Hopkins University.

Read more: Coronavirus: Number of UK cases jumps to 456

Health authorities said hospitals were treating increasing numbers of patients with respiratory infections.

The number of people infected with the coronavirus in the Netherlands increased by a third on Wednesday to 503, Dutch health authorities said. Fatalities rose from four to five.

WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said: We are deeply concerned both by the alarming levels of spread and severity and by the alarming levels of inaction.

We have therefore made the assessment that COVID-19 can be characterised as a pandemic.
Estas son las medidas y acciones que implementamos frente al #Coronavirus #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/3DpPgDhXfk
Ned Gerard / Hearst Connecticut Media

BRIDGEPORT  Students of Housatonic Community College will have online classes for the remainder of the week, an announcement from the college Tuesday indicated.

In the interest of campus safety, HCC will conduct a practice telecommuting drill from all scheduled classes from March 11 through March 14, the announcement said.
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The Alameda County Board of Supervisors voted on Tuesday to declare a local health emergency because of the 2019 novel coronavirus.

The vote was something of a formality because it ratified the March 1 decision by Dr. Erica Pan, the county's health officer, to declare an emergency because of the virus.

In a more noteworthy development, Pan told the Board of Supervisors at their meeting that a third person in the county has now tested positive for the virus.

Pan said the person, whose gender wasn't disclosed is an older adult who is the spouse of the county's second confirmed case, who had disembarked from the Grand Princess cruise ship in February.

Pan said the third person had already been quarantined at home and remains in isolation.

Pan said the Alameda County Public Health Department has reached out to other county residents who were aboard the Grand Princess during its February trip.

She said the department recommends that those who experienced symptoms, such as fever, cough or difficulty breathing, after the cruise and prior to March 6 be tested for COVID-19 by their healthcare provider.

In addition, Pan recommended that non-essential gatherings of 1,000 or more people where people are within arm's length of one another be postponed or canceled.

Pan said smaller events of 100 to 1,000 people should also be reconsidered.

But she said if such events are still held her advice is that smaller crowds and shorter durations are better.

Pan also said outdoor events are less dangerous than indoor events.

"These recommendations are meant to slow the spread of the virus in order to protect the health of Alameda County residents, particularly the elderly and people who have underlying medical conditions," she said.

"To limit the impact of COVID-19 and reduce the number of people infected, we must reduce the number of opportunities the virus has to spread from person-to-person, she said. "This means limiting the times and places people come together."

Pan said older people and people with certain underlying health conditions, such as heart disease, lung disease and diabetes, may be at greater risk of serious illness.

She said the risk increases significantly with age and people over 80 years old are in the highest risk category.

Declaring a public health emergency can help to mobilize resources and access reimbursement funds from the state and federal governments. It also provides immunity to healthcare providers who render aid during the emergency.

Supervisor Nate Miley said at the hearing that the county should focus more on trying to prevent the coronavirus from spreading to the county's large homeless population, which he said already is at risk of disease because of disposed needles, rats and rodents.

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.
A view of Piazza del Popolo, in Rome, March 7, 202on With the coronavirus emergency deepening in Europe, Italy, a focal point in the contagion, risks falling back into recession. Could the recession come here? Here's how small businesses can prepare. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) Read more

The stock market has fallen significantly since the coronavirus outbreak. This is because the people on Wall Street are always betting on the future, and unfortunately the the near term doesnt look so rosy.

No one really knows what the full economic impact of the virus will be, but investors are deeply concerned that it has already caused enough of a disruption to orders, shipping and manufacturing worldwide that in the coming months there could be a significant slowdown. All that could even send many economies, including ours, into a recession.

Small-business owners in this area havent seen a recession in more than 10 years. But many of them are still around and are already preparing. Those that survived the Great Recession learned lessons that they hope will prepare them for the inevitable downturn. What kinds of lessons?

When the economy slowed back in 2008, many of these business owners found themselves having to work much harder just to stay afloat. Most made it a priority to retain their best employees. Some used the opportunity to try new product lines or diversify their product mix. Others decided  or were forced  to close up shop completely. But most survived and often did so through common-sense management.

For example, successful business owners will agree that the best defense against an economic downturn is money in the bank. They know that, if slow times are coming soon, its important to build up both cash and credit availability.

Thats a lesson that Bob DAmicantonio, the owner of DAmicantonio Shoe Store, a custom high-end shoe and accessory shop in Wayne, learned from his father. Dad told us a million times, if you dont have the money, you dont buy it, DAmicantonio recalled. Smart business owners such as DAmicantonio know that its important not to get short of cash. They always try to keep some savings in the business. This lesson helped him through the last recession and will do the same again.

So now is also the time to make sure you have firm commitments from your bankers. One way to do this is ensuring that your operations are as lean as possible. Which means cutting expenses wherever possible and questioning any expenditure that doesnt seem necessary. Otherwise, more substantial  and painful  cuts will be needed.

That lesson was learned by the managers at Barry Isett & Associates, a 160-member, multi-discipline engineering firm based in Phoenixville. During the last recession, managers such as Alex Ulmer, the companys chief environmental scientist, said the company was forced to require some employees to take vacation time instead of a paycheck.

Most of our employees had their salaries cut by 10 to 15 percent for about two years, he says. Ulmer says layoffs were made, contributions to the companys retirement plan were suspended, and even the annual holiday party was put on hold. The recession was very tough for us, he admitted. We hadnt done the best job of managing our cash flow, and it was very hard to get credit at that time. The company survived and learned from the experience, and has been steadily building cash reserves since.

But more than anything, surviving a recession is all about taking care of your customers. Which is why many business owners have used a slowdown as an opportunity to double down on their marketing.

The 2008 recession kind of had an opposite impact on our business. said Christine Ramos Carr, a manager at M3 Printing in Philadelphia. It turns out a lot of owners desired to do what was necessary to promote themselves and many focused on getting the word out about their businesses. More companies stepped up their marketing and wanted flyers, printers, brochures, pamphlets, and other promotional materials. We were there to service them, she says. So we actually got pretty busy during that time period.

But marketing can come in different forms. Some business owners during the last recession sought out partners to expand their customer base and provide better services to their community. We merged with another company, and that enabled us to expand our services business, said Virginia Gavin, the owner of Appligent Document Solutions, a Lansdowne company that has provided document management software and services since 1988. There will always be fluctuations in business and so you have to be prepared to make changes as needed.

So will the coronavirus cause a recession in 2020? Its possible. At the least, it will bring on more than a few economic challenges. But the good news is that we have some limited time to prepare. Many small-business owners operating today were also around during the Great Recession, and a large majority will use the lessons they learned to steer their businesses through any potential downturn in the future.
Maharashtra's Higher and Technical Education Minister Uday Samant on Wednesday informed that Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray is holding a review meeting in the wake of coronavirus scare.

He added that the Chief Minister will take a decision on whether exams needed to be postponed or not, and also decide on the further course of action.

The Minister also informed that he has instructed all universities in the state to not hold any seminar or meeting and to postpone already scheduled events till the effect of coronavirus is negated.

Reacting to the political turmoil in Madhya Pradesh and said, "The Lotus virus will not come to Maharashtra, the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government under the leadership Uddhav Ji will complete its 5-year term."

The MVA is a coalition of Shiv Sena, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Congress that formed government in November last year.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
IMAGE: Suspended Congress MPs stage a protest at Parliament in New Delhi. Photograph: Vijay Verma/PTI Photo

Lok Sabha on Wednesday passed a motion to revoke the suspension of seven Congress members with immediate effect.

The seven Congress members -- Gaurav Gogoi, T N Prathapan, Dean Kuriakose, R Unnithan, Manickam Tagore, Benny Behanan and Gurjeet Singh Aujla -- were suspended on March 5 for the remaining period of the budget session for gross misconduct.

The motion was moved by minister of state for parliamentary affairs Arjun Ram Meghwal and passed by a voice vote.

Speaker Om Birla then announced that the suspension stands revoked with immediate effect.
In this edition of Across Africa, we take you to eastern Ethiopia where refugees from Kenya's Kakuma camp are finally coming home, motivated in part by recent political and economic reforms. We also head to Angola, where the country is tempting more fans of its romantic Kizomba dance. Finally, we speak to Thebe Magugu, South African designer and 2019 LVMH prize winner, as he exhibits his creations for the first time at Paris Fashion Week.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 10, 2020) - Skye Life Ventures Ltd. (OTCQB: SKLV) ("SKYE" or the "Company"), announces the resignation of John Bentivoglio as a director of the Company.

About Skye Life Ventures Ltd.

Skye Life Ventures is a licensed commercial cannabis cultivator engaging in the cultivation, possession, research, processing, sales and distribution of medicinal and recreational cannabis under the laws of the Health Canada Licensed Producer.

Forward Looking Statements

This document contains "forward-looking statements" that can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as "believes," "expects," "may," "will," "should," or "anticipates," or the negative of these words or other variations of these words or comparable words, or by discussions of plans or strategy that involve risks and uncertainties. Management wishes to caution the reader that these forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, statements regarding the company's marketing plans, goals, competitive conditions, regulations that affect public companies that have no existing business and other matters that are not historical facts are only predictions. No assurances can be given that such predictions will prove correct or that the anticipated future results will be achieved. Actual events or results may differ materially either because one or more predictions prove to be erroneous or as a result of other risks facing the company. Forward-looking statements should be read in light of the cautionary statements and important factors described in this document for Skye Life Ventures Ltd., including, but not limited to the matters set forth in management's discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations filed in its latest 10-Q on with the securities and exchange commission. The risks include, but are not limited to, the risk factors and uncertainties set forth in item 1A, "risk factors" of the company's registration statement on form 10, as amended, filed with the securities and exchange commission. The risks associated with a smaller reporting company that has only a limited history of operations, the comparatively limited financial resources of the company, the intense competition the company faces from other established competitors, any one or more of these or other risks could cause actual results to differ materially from the future results indicated, expressed, or implied in such forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events, circumstances, or new information after the date of this form 10-Q or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated or other subsequent events, except as required by law.

As used herein, the term "the Company," "we," "us," "and" "our" refer to Skye Life Ventures Ltd., a British Columbia Canada corporation, unless otherwise noted.

If you would like more information about this topic, please see below.

Contact

kyle.mcdiarmid@skyelife.ca

1-778-385-4945

About Skye Life Ventures Ltd.

www.skyelife.ca

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/53341
There's just a week to go until St. Patrick's Day.

And on Tuesday, Karlie Kloss stood out from the crowd as she strolled through New York City in a pair of shamrock green tailored trousers.

The 27-year-old blonde added a crisp white shirt tucked into the waistband of her eye-catching pants and left the top buttons undone for a more relaxed look.

Eye-catching: There's just a week to go until St. Patrick's Day. And on Tuesday, Karlie Kloss stood out from the crowd as she strolled through NYC in shamrock green tailored trousers

Kloss stepped out in black pointed toe slingbacks and carried a large black tote containing boxes of Girl Scout Cookies.

Her shoulder-length hair was styled with an of-center parting and she accessorized with tiny earrings.

The former Victoria's Secret Angel is best known for being a model and the wife of Jared Kushner's brother Joshua Kushner.

However, she is also an advocate for coding for girls and for the sixth year in a row, she is hosting her coding summer camp.

Kloss, 27, added a crisp white shirt tucked into the waistband of her eye-catching pants. She wore black pointed toe slingbacks and carried a black tote containing boxes of Girl Scout Cookies

She took to Instagram on Monday to share a video starring some of her famous friends to promote Kode With Klossy.

Celebrities who took part in the video commercial included Chrissy Teigen, Serena Williams, Reese Witherspoon and Ashley Graham.

Kloss asks them: 'What would you do with your @kodewithklossy coding superpowers?'

'I would code an app that sent my Twitter trolls glitter bombs or poop,' Teigen said.

More than pretty face: The model took to Instagram Monday to share a video starring some of her famous friends to promote Kode With Klossy, her annual coding summer camp for girls

Famous faces: Celebrities in the video included Chrissy Teigen, Ashley Graham and Serena Williams. Kloss asked: 'What would you do with your @kodewithklossy coding superpowers?'

Witherspoon said she would make an app that would let her know what her dog is thinking while Graham, a new mom, wanted an app that lets her know when her baby needs his diaper changing.

For her part, Kloss explained: 'With my coding superpowers, I would build a portal that connects Kode with Klossy alum from around the globe, to internships, hack-a-thons and to each other.'

'...or maybe a robot that wakes me up with coffee! she added.

Kode With Klossy is a two-week summer camp for girls aged 13 to 18 that teaches the fundamentals of programming and web development.
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President Donald Trump on Wednesday is expected to address the nation from the oval office on the U.S. response to the deadly coronavirus outbreak, hours after the World Health Organization declared it a pandemic.

The WHO on Wednesday said it expects "to see the number of cases, the number of deaths and the number of affected countries to climb even higher."

The outbreak has been expanding rapidly in the U.S., as New York, California and Washington declare states of emergency and politicians announce self-quarantines. Markets have plunged in response to the coronavirus and its deepening effects on the global economy.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Wednesday announced the creation of a Canadian dollar 1 billion fund to deal with the impact of the new coronavirus epidemic.

"It will provide funding to provinces and territories to help them prepare for any possibility and to mitigate risks to Canadians," Trudeau said at a conference.

Canada has had one death so far from 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and has nearly 100 confirmed cases.

The fund will be used to reinforce Canada's provincial health systems, and provide financial aid to Canadians forced to undergo isolation because of the epidemic.

"No one should have to worry about their job if they have to be quarantined. No employer should feel like they have to lay off a worker because of the virus. We can support you. And we will," Trudeau said.

"Today's announcement is significant, but we are already preparing to do more, if need be," he said.

He said easy access to credit would be made available to businesses facing a short-term cash crunch, and the government would work "to protect jobs and to be there for businesses.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
While speaking at the 6th Cyber Security India Summit 2020 held at New Delhi, Lt. Gen. (Dr) Rajesh Pant, National Cyber Security Coordinator, Prime Minister's Office, Government of India said that Government of India is working on a new Cyber Security Policy.

According to Lt. Gen. Pant, the new policy is expected to touch all aspects related to the cyber ecosystem. The policy is expected to be announced within two to three months time. The Cyber policy would address the issues of standardization, testing, auditing and capacity building around Cyber ecosystem.

"The most important aspect of the policy would be to address the cyber threat and synergies between various stakeholders," said Pant.

India is the second most cyber-attacked country in the world. As India has become one of the most data usage countries in the world, there has been a considerable increase in the cyber risk vulnerability, which according to panellists could impact the GDP growth of the country, if not addressed. The other important point of discussion during the summit was the ownership of the data.

"As an organisation, we are exposed to approximately 30 million people on daily basis, of which we collect date of about 3 million people and also we have to manage the data of 1.4 million employees for over 45-50 years. While we have to provide service and also are required to manage the data, it becomes extremely difficult for us to manage both. Moreso, when ownership and privacy of the data is concerned," said Vijay K Devnath, GM (I & S), MDMS & CISO), Centre for Railway Information System (CRIS), Government of India.

"The issue of who own the data and where should data be kept has become an important issue," said Shashi Dharan, Managing Director, Bharat Exhibitions.

According to Amit Sharma, Advisor (Cyber) and Director at the Office of Secretary, Department of Defence the Government of India has put in place various checks and balances to protect the data getting vulnerable to cyber leakage. "The ownership of data is very critical. There is a discussion happening around this aspect on the international level. Our government proactive on this front" said Sharma.

On the issue of CSO (Cyber Security Officer), Sharma said: "If this issue would have come up five years back, then we were putting make a headway. However, today at least every department of Government of India has a CSO."

Supporting Sharma's statement on CSO, R Shakaya, DDG (Security Assurance) DoT, Ministry of Communications said: "Besides the Government departments, CSO has become part of many private sectors also, like Banking and Telecommunication industries. However, a lot needs to be done on this front so as to reach a more secure cyber environment."

The common concern amongst the top cybersecurity experts gathered at the 6th International Summit on Cyber Security India, 2020, was that the country was extremely vulnerable to cyber-attacks and how to put the countermeasures in place.

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.)
Members of the Coalition for Social Justice (CSJ) have given government a seven-day ultimatum to reduce the price of fuel.

The group said failure to reduce the prices after the given date will cause them to hit the streets of Accra.

The ultimatum follows reduction in fuel prices on the world market and calls by several other groups on the government to reduce fuel prices.

In a statement on Tuesday, 10 March 2020, CSJ noted that the reduction in fuel prices must be commensurate with the windfall arising from drop in international market price of crude oil and the relative stability of the Ghana cedi in the last two (2) months. For the avoidance of doubt, we are expecting a drastic reduction commensurate with the significant reduction in the price of Brent crude on the global market, which in our view should be nothing less than a 20 percent reduction in the pump prices of fuel.

This reduction which will bring down the price of fuel from the current exorbitant GHS24 per gallon to GHS19, will go a long way to ameliorate the sufferings of Ghanaians, CSJ noted.

The statement further said: There is no gainsaying the fact that Ghanaians are currently going through excruciating economic hardships as a result of consistent increases in fuel prices by the Akufo-Addo government from an average price of GHS16 per gallon as at December 2016 to GHS24 currently. This represents a cumulative increase of over 50% in fuel prices in the last three (3) years.

The sustained and astronomical increase in fuel prices coupled with the increase in taxes and the free fall of the cedi in the last three (3) years have conspired to make cost of living unbearable for Ghanaians.

We are by this release giving government a 7-day ultimatum to reduce the pump prices of fuel drastically in line with the current trend on the international market. Should the Akufo-Addo government fail to heed this legitimate call, the Coalition for Social Justice will mobilise drivers, market women, passengers, private vehicle users and all users of petroleum products unto the streets of Accra to protest against the insensitivity of Akufo-Addo government and compel the President to do the needful to assuage the plight of the ordinary Ghanaian.

---classfmonline
Newsweek magazine asked the question. So did The Guardian, that British newspaper that looks at us from across the pond, sometimes with admiration and sometimes with incredulity, as in, They did what?

The question was about yoga. Why would Alabama ban yoga classes in school? What could be wrong about stretching and moving and sitting on a mat during gym classes, then breathing deeply and exhaling the stress away, just like your doctor tells you to do when you cant get to sleep at night?

But your doctor is probably not in the Alabama Legislature, where the yoga ban has been operational since 1993. Back then, this group voted to ban the practice for fear that schoolchildren would be indoctrinated into a different religion and made to chant or or say words in foreign tongues.

Words like Namaste, which means I bow to you in Sanskrit. Its a sign of respect in some Hindu cultures and yoga classes sometimes end with the phrase. But they dont have to. People could say, Bless your heart or War Eagle or Roll Tide.

Representative Jeremy Gray of Opelika knows that some people are still wary of all this, and the cautious bill that hes introducing would lift the ban and allow yoga in the schools but leave out words that werent in English.

Yoga shouldnt threaten anybodys religious views since its not a religious practice but a healthy one. Anybody who has ever taken a yoga class knows the benefits for all ages, not just for young people. Yoga classes are in gyms and health centers all over our state, so its not like theyre exotic.

If our law-makers are worried about Alabama students, maybe they they should worry about real problems, like the way some children come to school hungry because mom got laid off or dad left again. Maybe they should worry about children with no books in the home or daily violence in the neighborhood.

Maybe they should worry about kids with no doctor to go to when theyre sick or nobody to turn to when the yelling at home starts up again.

Maybe they should worry about racist language and bullying on the playground, which my teacher friends tell me has gotten worse in the last few years. They should worry about kids who are overweight and undernourished, those who sleep through class because they share a bed with too many siblings. They should worry about absent fathers and worn-out mothers.

If legislators want to ban things in the school system, they could start with rudeness, threats, cheating, and all the behaviors our mothers warned us about it. They could ban attitudes that say that some school systems are better than others. They could worry about our states poor academic performance and the children who start school already behind in kindergarten.

My mother used an expression common to her generation. Lets not borrow trouble, shed say, if we worried about something unimportant when there were so many other things to be concerned about.

Our legislative body does not need to borrow trouble when theres so much of it out there already. Maybe members should take a yoga class and breathe deeply, then turn to each other and say, with respect, Namaste.
Gabby Giffords has endorsed Joe Biden in the race to be the Democratic nominee for president.

The former Arizona congresswoman endorsed the Democrat frontrunner ahead of next weeks primary in the state.

In a video published on Giffords, the YouTube channel of her non-profit gun violence organisation, she praised Mr Bidens stance on the NRA and declared he is the candidate to defeat Donald Trump.

He was there for me time and time again. He will be there for you too. He will fight gun violence. He will fight the NRA. He will beat Donald Trump. He will lead with his heart.

Im voting for Joe Biden for president.

Recommended Hillary Clinton receives endorsement from gun survivor Gabby Giffords

The endorsement is not a surprise, as the pair have previously worked together to bring in greater gun control measures.

Ms Giffords nomination could be a factor for those who feel gun control should be a priority, as she became a high-profile advocate for greater restrictions after being badly wounded in a mass shooting in 2011.

She was shot in the head during a public meeting with constituents in an incident which left six people dead, and resigned from Congress to focus on her recovery.

The former congresswoman expanded on her reasoning to NBC News, telling them in a statement that Mr Biden was the best choice for gun control.

Joe Biden leads with his heart. He has the compassion and toughness to lead on gun safety. Ive witnessed him comfort the survivors of gun violence, and Ive seen him fight for solutions to gun violence  and win. This is the leadership we need in the White House. Joe Biden is the choice for a true gun safety president.

The former vice president also praised Ms Giffords, telling NBC News: I have been proud to work alongside Gabby in the fight to end gun violence and am honoured to have her support today.

Ms Giffords previously endorsed Hilary Clinton for president in 2016, when she and her husband said: Only one candidate for president has the determination and toughness to stand up to the corporate gun lobby  and the record to prove it. That candidate is Hillary Clinton.

Her husband, former astronaut Mark Kelly, is running for Senate as a Democrat and hoping to unseat Republican Martha McSally, a vocal supporter of Mr Trump, in November.
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To provide financial independence to people with disability, the National Handicapped Finance and Development Corporation (NHFDC) will soon introduce electricity-operated carts for them to sell safe drinking water in Delhi, its CMD Rajan Sehgal said on Wednesday.

As a pilot project, 20 such water carts -- small tanks fitted on e-rickshaws -- owned by them will be operated in Delhi and its surroundings, he said, adding that water will be supplied by NGO "Bharat Jal".

"We want to ensure that the disabled persons make their livelihood on their own without depending on others for survival. We want to provide financial independence and economic rehabilitation to the poor PwDs," Sehgal told PTI.

Water could be purchased at as low as Rs 2 per cup (approximately 300 ml) from these electric mobile delivery vehicles that will be stationed in markets and other crowded areas.

Depending upon its success, there are plans to introduce sale of lemon water, soda and other health drinks.

It is estimated that a person could earn around Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 per month through this, he said.

NHFDC, which is an apex corporation under the department of empowerment of persons with disabilities of the Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry, is also having an NHFDC Foundation to support business models for PwDs, Sehgal said, adding that there are also plans to introduce food carts run by them.

There will be a tie-up with Rotary Clubs from whose central kitchens safe and tasty food products will be taken by the disabled persons for sale.

"If everything goes well, the project will be launched in Delhi in the next few day," he said.

Sehgal said cabs driven by disabled women, recently introduced in Delhi and Indore airports, have proven to be a success as women, children and senior citizens feel safe travelling in them.

"NHFDC provide loan to interested PwDs to purchase the commercial vehicle. The vehicle is operated by Sakha Cabs" and in the Delhi airport these CNG-fitted vehicles are operated 24x7, he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
On Thursday, March 5th, Mr. Charles Nimmo Ntiamoah Mensah aka (Mr. CNN) CEO\Publisher of 3G Magazine and entrepreneur accompanied by a high powered delegation of US-based media practitioners, an industrialist, a traditional queen mother and philanthropist in the United States paid a courtesy call on the Ambassador of Ghana to the USA, H.E Baffour Adjei Bawuah.

The purpose of the visit was among others to congratulate Ghana on their 63rd Independence Anniversary, appreciate the Honorable Ambassador for his exemplary service in the US and also to officially inform him of the 20th anniversary of Mr. CNN's service in the media and showbiz industry which will be celebrated with various activities in the United States. Mr. CNN is planning a triple celebration of his success code named 20.12.10 representing 20 years in the media and showbiz industry, 12 years of publishing 3G magazine, and 10 years of organizing the 3G media Awards.

In appreciation of the Ambassador's service, the delegation presented him a photo album as well as a Life time achievement award from 3G Media a US based media conglomerate.

This came as a surprise to the Ambassador who expressed his profound appreciation to the delegation and commended them for the support and commitment to promoting Ghana in the diaspora.

On Behalf of the Ambassador Mr. Bernard Kwame Acquah , first Secretary (Political) at the Embassy also expressed the Embassy's gratitude to media personnel and applauded their continues engagement with the Embassy as it has proven to be beneficial to the Ghanaian community. Members of the delegation were Obaahemaa Nana Nkrumah Adasa III-Queen mother of Nkawie Abofrem, Mr. Isaac Kusi of Krismark a US based Industrial company, Mr. Frederick Nnoma Addision; President and CEO of AMIP News and Mr. George Kwasi Bright, Editor and Publisher of the Afrikan Post.
[March 11, 2020] Fostering citizen-led innovation a key component to upskilling in Canadian Banks

TORONTO, March 11, 2020 /CNW/ - As banks continue to deploy new digital tools, such as data visualization, chatbots, natural-language processing and analytics, they are also focused on the importance of preparing its workforce to adopt new, digitally enabled ways of working according to PwC Canada's Canadian Banks 2020: Upskilling the workforce . As rapid technological change continues to influence customer demand, Canadian banks must focus on its workforce to create and leverage innovative business solutions. Every year, anywhere from 5% to 10% of roles in an organization change, creating a skills mismatch. Providing the opportunities to develop these skills through relevant experiences and training is essential to producing the behaviours needed for the workforce of the future. "By upskilling their existing workforce, Canadian banks are creating new energy and excitement to reimagine he possible while making themselves fit for the future of work," says Jennifer Johnson, National Financial Services Leader, PwC Canada. "Banks can harness the value of their investments to develop the innovative and personalized solutions many of their customers are looking for and create a stronger, purpose led employee experience."



Upskilling in action at Canadian Banks

PwC's CEO Survey report indicates that 77% of top executives in banking and capital markets expressed concern about the availability of key skills. As a result, banks are going beyond traditional training programs and fundamentally rethinking their approach to developing the workforce of the future as an essential source of competitiveness and business value. Some have built robust training programs including partnering with learning institutions as well as industry associations, others have created internal exchanges and job rotations, and many banks are transforming workspaces to create more flexible and collaborative environments. Along with large investments, banks are fostering an environment of citizen-led innovation in which employees opt-in to take the lead on innovating, building, sharing and test-driving solutions. "Citizen-led innovation is about creating a culture that inspires employees to want to boost their knowledge and skills. It's also about giving people the autonomy to apply their learning right away in their day-to-day work, so it feels meaningful and relevant," says Diane Kazarian, GTA Managing Partner and National Banking and Capital Markets Leader, PwC Canada.

The publication concludes with a seven-step upskilling roadmap that banks can follow to ensure a successful journey. To access the roadmap and the full publication, click here . About PwC Canada

At PwC, our purpose is to build trust in society and solve important problems. More than 7,850 partners and staff in offices across the country are committed to delivering quality in assurance, tax, consulting and deals services. PwC Canada is a member of the PwC network of firms with more than 276,000 people in 157 countries. Find out more by visiting us at www.pwc.com/ca .  2020 PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an Ontario limited liability partnership. All rights reserved. PwC refers to the Canadian member firm, and may sometimes refer to the PwC network. Each member firm is a separate legal entity. Please see http://www.pwc.com/structure for further details. SOURCE PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers)

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German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said that up to 70% of the German population will likely contract the coronavirus, suggesting that the government's priority is about "slowing its spread."

Germany has so far reported 1,565 cases of the virus and three deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University, and the chancellor has come under fire for her government's handling of the response.

"When the virus is out there, the population has no immunity and no therapy exists, then 60 to 70% of the population will be infected," Merkel told a news conference in Berlin on Wednesday, according to Reuters. The country has over 82 million citizens.

"The process has to be focused on not overburdening the health system by slowing the virus's spread. It's about winning time."
The United States has singled out Iran, China, Venezuela, and Cuba for their gross abuses in its yearly report on human rights practices that covers 199 countries and territories.

Iran was chastised for its November crackdown on protesters following a government decision to raise fuel prices, according to the report, which covers global rights developments during 2019.

Security forces used lethal force to quash the protests, "killing approximately 1,500 persons and detaining 8,600, according to international media reports," the report stated.

Rights watchdog Amnesty International has provided a different estimate, saying that at least 304 people were killed and thousands injured.

During the unrest, the authorities "arbitrarily" detained thousands of people and subjected some to torture and other ill-treatment, the rights group has said.

"I want to let great Iranians...know America remembers those [lives] lost and stands for their freedom," Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in opening remarks as he presented the report on March 11.

The report stated there was no indication "government entities were pursuing independent or impartial investigations into protester deaths."

Pompeo also highlighted the use of high-tech surveillance systems by China's Communist Party to monitor dissidents. He said Beijing imprisoned "religious minorities in internment camps [as] part of its historic antipathy toward religious believers," especially in the western Xinjiang Province.

Beijing's human rights record in the predominantly Muslim province "is the stain of the century," Pompeo said.

It was the State Department's 44th report and covers "internationally recognized individual, civil, political, and worker rights, as set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international agreements."

"Nothing is more fundamental to our identity than our belief in the rights and dignity of every single human being," Pompeo said.

"It's in our Declaration of Independence. On this issue all Americans have a common cause with freedom-loving people all around the world."
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San Francisco, March 11 : The disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein tried to save his career by sending emails to Apple CEO Tim Cook, Amazon Founder and CEO Jeff Bezos, Michael Bloomberg, Quentin Tarantino and Netflix's Ted Sarandos, among others.

According to a report in Variety on Tuesday, Weinstein -- facing up to 29 years in jail over rape charges -- sent out a flurry of emails to his contacts after allegations of sexual harassment surfaced against him in October 2017, pleading for their support.

In an email to Cook, Weinstein said: "I don't need you to make any public statements a" just a private one to my gmail address, saying that you support me getting therapy and the help I need before the board fires me".

"I'm in a tough spot. Many of the allegations are false, but I need your help with this private letter of support. I'm going to get well, and if I pass the therapist test, then we can talk about reinstatement et cetera," he wrote.

The documents, made available by the court, did not include any responses from Cook and others to Weinstein, said the report.

A New York court last month found Weinstein guilty of committing a criminal sex act in the first degree, and rape in the third degree.

Weinstein -- who denied all charges -- was convicted of sexually assaulting former production assistant Mimi Haleyi in 2006 and raping Jessica Mann, a former aspiring actress, in 2013. The judge ordered him to be sent to jail immediately.

Weinstein faces up to 25 years in prison over the guilty verdicts relating to two women.

In another email to Bezos, the fallen film producer said: "There are many false allegations and over time, we'll prove it, but right now, I'm the poster boy for bad behaviour." In all, at least 80 women had accused him of sexual misconduct stretching back decades, including actresses Gwyneth Paltrow, Uma Thurman and Salma Hayek.

Most of those complaints, however, have not led to criminal charges, as they are beyond the statute of limitations -- meaning they happened too long ago.

In an email to Netflix's Sarandos, he wrote: "I need your friendship now." Weinstein's emails were amongA1,000 pages of unsealed documents, the report mentioned.
World Kidney Day 2020: Prevention is better than cure, for everyone, everywhere.

BRUSSELS, March 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- One in three people in the general population (an estimated 850 million people) is at increased risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD). And although an estimated 10% of people worldwide have CKD, estimates suggest 9 in 10 of those are unaware of their condition.

On this year's World Kidney Day (Thursday 12 March), advocates led by the International Society of Nephrology (ISN) and the International Federation of Kidney Foundations (IFKF) are raising awareness of the importance of the preventive measures and the pressing urgency pertaining to the need for increased education of populations, patients, practitioners and policymakers in effective kidney disease prevention.

Read the full press release text here: https://www.worldkidneyday.org/resource/wkd-press-release-2020/

The costs of dialysis and transplantation consume 2%-3% of the annual health care budget in high-income countries, spent on less than 0.03% of the total population of these countries. Costs that are preventable by preventing kidney failure. Moreover, cost-effectiveness can be increased by adopting secondary prevention measures for higher risk populations such as those with diabetes mellitus and hypertension and those with rapid CKD progression. Whilst non-targeted secondary prevention produces cost-effectiveness ratios consistently above $50,000 per life year saved; estimates suggest that this cost can be halved when management of known patients with uncontrolled diabetes and hypertension is improved.

Concretely, this means making populations aware of the risks through global communication campaigns and empowering patients through, for example, online learning platforms. Practitioners would benefit from cross-specialty training to recognize at risk patients and politicians need to prioritize integrated NCD programs and support "best buys". "Best buys" are cost effective interventions such as screening of at-risk populations for CKD, universal access to essential diagnostics of early CKD, availability of affordable basic technologies, and essential medicines and task shifting from doctors to front-line health care workers to more effectively target progression of CKD and other secondary preventative approaches.

Press Contacts:

Anne Hradsky, WKD Campaign Manager, based at the International Society of Nephrology, Brussels, Belgium. T) +32 2 808 04 20 E) anne@worldkidneyday.org
Missouri voters around the Kansas City metro headed to the polls Tuesday to vote for their choice in the 2020 presidential primary. Much of the focus will be on the Democratic race, which has turned into a two-man contest between former vice president Joe Biden and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders.
Emily Blunt and Jack Whitehall in a still from Jungle Cruise. (Disney)

Disney has released a new trailer for Jungle Cruise, the upcoming action adventure film based on its popular theme park ride.

Starring Dwayne The Rock Johnson, Emily Blunt, Jesse Plemons and UK comedian Jack Whitehall, the film comes to cinemas in July.

The swashbuckling film is described as an adventure-filled, Amazon-jungle expedition starring Dwayne Johnson as the charismatic riverboat captain and Emily Blunt as a determined explorer on a research mission.

The trailer reveals that Blunts character is on the search for a mythical tree that heals all. Brits host Whitehall is said to be playing Blunts sister in the film, and his involvement in the film caused a bit of a stir when it was announced in 2018.

According to a report by The Sun, Whitehalls character is set to make history as one of the first openly gay characters in a live action Disney film. A source told the tabloid his role hugely effete, very camp and very funny.

Read more: 2020s most exciting new movies

The Jungle Cruise is a river boat ride usually found in the Adventureland areas of Disney Parks. There are currently four in operation globally at Disneyland in Anaheim, California, Magic Kingdom at Disney World in Orlando, Florida, Tokyo Disneyland and Hong Kong Disneyland.

Emily Blunt and Jack Whitehall in a still from Jungle Cruise. (Disney)

The ride simulates a river cruise aboard a 1930s-style tramp steamer, taking park guests on a gentle ride past a series of animatronic jungle animals, and was partly inspired by the 1951 film The African Queen. It has been open at Disneyland since the park first opened in 1955.

Check out the new poster for Disneys #JungleCruise. See it in theaters July 24! pic.twitter.com/xZyN3J4jPW  Walt Disney Studios (@DisneyStudios) March 10, 2020

It joins the ranks of Pirates of the Caribbean and Tomorrowland in the small group of Disney attractions adapted into movies.

Story continues

Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt in a still from Jungle Cruise. (Disney)

Its been directed by Spanish filmmaker Jaume Collet-Serra who will reteam with The Rock for DC Comics movie Black Adam when it shoots later this year.

Jungle Cruise comes to cinemas on 24 July. Watch the first trailer below.
KALAMAZOO COUNTY, MI  Schoolcraft Township voters on Tuesday rejected a proposal to incorporate their community as a charter township.

Township voters considered whether to incorporate as a charter township during the Tuesday, March 10, presidential primary election. The proposal would have made the township a municipal corporation, according to the ballot language.

Related: Schoolcraft Township in Kalamazoo County asks voters for charter status

With all precincts reporting and absentee ballots tallied Wednesday morning, 1,737 voters had cast ballots against the proposal, with 842 voting in favor, according to unofficial results from the Kalamazoo County Clerks office.

Though becoming an incorporated township would not have changed services for citizens, township Supervisor Don Ulsh said it could help in future negotiations for adding services.

Other township governments categorized as charter townships in Kalamazoo County include Cooper, Comstock, Kalamazoo, Oshtemo and Texas townships.

Under the charter township proposal, the board would have grown from five to seven board members. Becoming a charter township would also have increased the boards power to levy a tax of up to 5 mills without voter approval, according to the Michigan Townships Association website.

Prior to Tuesdays election, Ulsh acknowledged some residents have raised concern about the possibility of property taxes increasing. However, the supervisor said raising taxes without voter approval would be political suicide.

Also on MLive:

2020 Michigan Presidential Primary election results

Kalamazoo-area election results from March 10 election

Woman crashes car into polling station, plans to return to vote
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An incredible picture of a fox foraging for food on a car bonnet has scooped the top prize in the Mammal Society's annual photography contest.

Other breathtaking images from the competition include a mountain hare rolling in snow, a bat in flight and a squirrel peeking out from behind a tree.

The winning photo of the fox - which was looking for wild cherries that had fallen onto the parked car - was taken by Roger Cox, from East London.

He said: 'This animal often foraged for the wild cherries that fell from the trees and landed in the wells between the bonnets and windscreens of parked cars. It was also used to getting food from people who threw it out of their car windows at night during the early hours.'

The Mammal Society is a charity devoted to the research and conservation of British mammals.

This year's competition saw the introduction of a new category, Elusive Mammal, which was created to highlight photographs depicting mammals which aren't often spotted, or which may not have been photographed very successfully in the past.

And among the other categories was Mammal Comedian of the Year, with the honours going to a grey seal...

All winning and highly commended photographs can be viewed at the MPOY2020 exhibition at Robinson College, University of Cambridge, at the start of the Mammal Society's annual Spring Conference on Friday, March 27.

This image of a fox foraging for food on a car bonnet has scooped the top prize in the Mammal Society's annual photography contest. It was taken by Roger Cox, from East London, who also won the Mammal Society Member's Award. He said: 'I took this picture when it jumped up on my car to investigate if there was anything of interest for it, as I'd seen it do several times before. Shooting photographs through the windscreen of the car is tricky given the angle of the glass but with a fox so close, it helps keep the viewer focused on this encounter.' Head Judge, ecologist and professional photographer Brett Lewis, said Mr Cox had made a 'bold choice' and the win was 'deserved'. He added: 'Sometimes photographs like these get overlooked when we return home and look through them on the big screen and many never make it as far as competition entries but Roger made a bold choice and the rewards are deserved'

A stunning photo of a mountain hare rolling in the snow helped Kate MacRae scoop the runner-up prize in the competition. Ms MacRae, who took the picture in Scotland, said: 'The hare ran across the deep snow in front of me, paused and, as I took a shot, it rolled! They often use the snow in this way, to clean the coat and help keep it in tip-top condition; essential in these harsh conditions.' Broadcaster and Mammal Society patron, Zeb Soanes, who was on the judging panel, said the picture had 'everything: photographic skill, terrific composition and a sense of drama and character in its subject'

A public vote was held to determine the winner of the Mammal Comedian Award, with Philip Ryan's funny photo of a grey seal posing for the camera at Donna Nook in Lincolnshire, coming top

This cute picture of a grey squirrel peeking out from behind a tree saw 10-year-old Dylan Jenkins get the top prize in the Young Mammal Photographer of the Year category. He took the photograph in Singleton Park in Swansea using his mother's camera and tripod. Competition judge Zeb Soanes said: 'Dylan's image sharply captures its subject and its character, at once curious and anxious and that tension between both states makes it a captivating picture'

One highly commended picture shows a bottlenose dolphin, which was photographed by Charlie Phillips. The Mammal Society is a charity devoted to the research and conservation of British mammals

Sarah Butcher was highly commended for her photo of a harvest mouse on rose hip. Head judge Brett Lewis said he was extremely impressed with the quality of the 300 entries submitted for this year's competition

Another highly commended photograph shows a Natterer's bat in flight, which was taken by Steven Roe. 'The standard of the competition entries seems to increase with each passing year and the variety of species captured by the UK's photographers is very pleasing to see,' Head Judge Mr Lewis added

Alex White, from Oxfordshire, won the Young Mammal Photographer of the Year aged 15-18 with his photo of a summer meadow deer, which shows the majestic animal peering through the long grass

This otter among seaweed, taken by Sam Llewellyn, was also highly commended by the judges. The Mammal Society, established in 1954, aims to raise public awareness of mammals, their ecology and conservation needs

Dan Lettice came top in the Elusive Mammal section for his photo of a breaching common dolphin leaping out of the water off the coast of West Cork in Ireland. He said 'I've seen common dolphins in pods of anywhere from a handful up to hundreds of animals. The joy of a leaping common dolphin is something to behold. They always find time to interact with the boat'

A mountain hare in the Cairngorms, in the eastern Highlands of Scotland. The highly commended photograph was taken by Sorcha Lewis. 'Many of the images represent the animals in their environment with some facing very harsh conditions, which the photographers have also endured to capture some great photos,' said the Head Judge

A deer stag in the snow, taken in the Cairngorms National Park by Joshua Copping - a picture for which he was highly commended by the judging panel

This highly commended picture shows a hedgehog exploring a log, and was taken by Cate Barrow, from South Wales. Each year, more than 300 entries are received and prizes are presented at the opening of the Mammal Society Spring Conference, which this year will be held at the University of Cambridge

A deer stag in Bushy Park, in Richmond, south-west London. The highly commended photograph was taken by Becca Fulcher. Head Judge Brett Lewis said: 'Entries were varied and include small mammals in the captive environment to larger mammals found in our seas and oceans, as well as species that were encountered during vital research projects together with those trying to eke out a living alongside our busy lives'

A highly commended photo by Sorcha Lewis shows a seal in Norfolk. The Mammal Society helps to develop the knowledge and field skills of those working with the animals

A red fox snapped by Becca Fulcher, from Milton Keynes. Her image was also highly commended

Mary Wilde took this highly commended photo of an otter scratching. Prizes announced by the Mammal Society to date include: a bat photography masterclass; wildlife photography days courtesy of British Wildlife Centre and Westcountry Wildlife Photography Centre; a camera trap donated by NatureSpy; binoculars and a squirrel feeder donated by CJ Wildlife; a 100 voucher from CEWE photographic printing service; and, a 50 voucher and subscription to British Wildlife Magazine courtesy of NHBS

A mountain hare in golden light, in another image taken by Joshua Copping which was highly commended
The former seat of not one but three empires, Istanbul represents colour and history like no other; the only place in the world to straddle two continents (Europe and Asia), its become a powerful showcase of inclusivity and religious tolerance.

With Greeks, Romans and Venetians having initially shaped its structure, Istanbul was later to be punctuated with bursts of Ottoman influence, resulting in a design aesthetic that continues to be mimicked across the globe.

Today, its as much of a commercial leader as it was during the days of the Silk Road; albeit one with avant-garde concept stores, craft breweries, steamy hamams and endless types of coffee.

But make no mistake, its the warm, generous people that make this city extraordinary  and theyll keep you coming back, time and time again.

The Independents hotel recommendations are unbiased, independent advice you can trust. On some occasions, we earn revenue if you click the links and book, but we never allow this to affect our coverage.

Lonely Planet's UK Travelist Show all 20 1 /20 Lonely Planet's UK Travelist Lonely Planet's UK Travelist Edinburgh Festival Fringe Edinburgh Festival Fringe David Monteith Hodge Lonely Planet's UK Travelist Giant's Causeway Giant's Causeway Stuart Stevenson photography/Ge Lonely Planet's UK Travelist Stonehenge Stonehenge William Toti/500px Lonely Planet's UK Travelist British Museum British Museum Chaokai Shen/500px Lonely Planet's UK Travelist St Paul's Cathedral St Paul's Cathedral Mark Chilvers/Lonely Planet Lonely Planet's UK Travelist Borough Market Borough Market Circle Creative Studio/Shutters Lonely Planet's UK Travelist Hadrian's Wall Hadrian's Wall Dave Head/Shutterstock Lonely Planet's UK Travelist Lake Windermere Lake Windermere Daniel_Kay/Shutterstock Lonely Planet's UK Travelist Yorkshire Dales Yorkshire Dales ravellight/Shutterstock Lonely Planet's UK Travelist Glencoe Glencoe Helen Hotson/Shutterstock Lonely Planet's UK Travelist Punting in Cambridge Punting in Cambridge Premier Photo/Shutterstock Lonely Planet's UK Travelist Bath Bath alice-photo/Shutterstock Lonely Planet's UK Travelist Tate Modern Tate Modern chrisdorney/Shutterstock Lonely Planet's UK Travelist Stratford-upon-Avon Stratford-upon-Avon Royal Shakespeare Theatre River Festival Lonely Planet's UK Travelist The Scilly Isles The Scilly Isles Julian Love/Lonely Planet Lonely Planet's UK Travelist Glastonbury Glastonbury Jason Bryant Lonely Planet's UK Travelist South Bank South Bank Tony C French/Getty Images Lonely Planet's UK Travelist Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Michael Roberts/Getty Images Lonely Planet's UK Travelist Pub roast Pub roast Diana Miller/Getty Images Lonely Planet's UK Travelist Arthur's Seat Arthur's Seat Martin McCarthy/Getty Images

What to do

Take a tour of an Ottoman palace

More was clearly more for Sultan Abdul Mecit I, who upped sticks from his traditional Ottoman court at the Topkapi Palace in favour of the dizzyingly opulent, European-inspired Dolmabahce, which has managed to turn its back on the Bosphorus.

In Istanbul, most properties tend to charge a premium for the view between Europe and Asia, but here, the river runs directly behind it.

Make the Dolmabahce Palace one of your stops (iStock) (iStock/Vincent St Thomas)

Itll cost 60TL (7.53) just to see the museum, but if you pay an extra 30TL, you can have a nose around the harem as well. Just keep in mind that you wont be allowed to look around inside without joining a group guided tour, which lasts around 40 minutes.

Visit a mosque

Istanbul isnt short of ornate mosques, but local prayer times will dictate when you can visit them.

The Blue Mosque, one of the most famous mosques in Turkey, is  as you might expect  so-called for the shimmering Iznik tiles that line its interior.

Its slap-bang in the middle of town; you can also tick off the Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace in the same afternoon.

The Hagia Sophia, a former Greek Orthodox cathedral that now houses a museum (iStock) (iStock/damircudic)

The Suleymaniye Mosque, as the grandest imperial mosque in the city, is another must-see. Located in the historic old peninsula, its sprawling complex  the Ottoman court prior to the Topkapi Palace  is comprised of a library, tombs, soup kitchen and religious school as well as the mosque itself, and is easy walking distance from the bustling Grand Bazaar.

Have a hamam

A rich legacy from the Romans and Byzantines, bath houses are now an integral part of Turkeys heritage. Over the last 2,000 years, bathing in Istanbul has been perfected into an art form, and there are plenty of hamams to choose from  for every budget.

Try the Ayasofya Hurrem Sultan Hamam, just across the road from the Hagia Sophia for an expertly run, elegant experience; the basic 45-minute treatment costs 80 (70.10) and includes a scrub, soap massage, olive-oil soap and cloth loofah. Unwind afterwards on the outdoor terrace of the on-site restaurant

Where to stay

The rooms are unquestionably small at Yasmak Sultan, but if youre planning to be out and about exploring the area  the Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace and Golden Horn waterfront are all in stumbling distance  that wont matter. The Olive restaurant and rooftop is excellent value for money  think sweeping views of the old city, with mains coming in at around 6; hotel guests get 10 per cent off meals. Doubles from 51, room only.

Raffles Istanbul stands alone from the cluster of luxury hotels in Istanbul; unlike the others, its eschewed all Byzantine and Ottoman influences to create an impressive showcase of modern-day Turkey. Theres no better place to splash out in Istanbul if youre an art lover; the hotel offers free tours of its 223-piece Turkish art collection, which rivals the citys galleries  and is also home to one of the best Japanese restaurants in the city, Isokyo. Doubles from 314, B&B.

Location doesnt get much better than with TomTom Suites; found just off the main throng of Istanbuls busiest street, Istiklal Caddesi, its also well placed for the bars and restaurants of Beyoglu and Galata. With espresso machines in every room, white marble bathrooms with baths designed by Philippe Starck and a buzzy rooftop bar, you wouldnt stop to think it used to be a nunnery. Doubles from 93, B&B.

The Ritz Carlton Istanbul is right next to the Besiktas stadium, so should you wish to beat the crowds on match day, this is the closest youll get. If pampering is high on the agenda for spa junkies in Istanbul, it doesnt get much better. Home to the citys only open-air spa  with three jaw-dropping hamams  you can put your feet up to unbeatable views of the Bosphorus. Doubles from 215, B&B.

Where to eat

Pandeli, a former Turkish bathhouse turned low-key, bustling cafe, is almost as iconic for the turquoise Iznik tiles lining the walls as it is a hotspot for every generation of Istanbuls ladies who lunch. Expect views of the Golden Horn and the Galata Tower over truly excellent home-style cooking. Go for lunch  it isnt open for dinner  and let the waiters order for you. But dont leave without trying the patlcan boregi (flaky aubergine pie, topped with doner kebab).

Realistically, youre spoiled for choice in this city for good baklava, but purists remain loyal to old-favourite, Karakoy Gulloglu, as their baklavaci of choice. Make like a regular and order the mixed portion (pistachio and walnut), with a side of clotted cream and a glass of tea. If you dont have a sweet tooth, the borek (filled pastry) will set you up nicely. Alternatively, should you find yourself on the tourist trail near the Topkapi Palace, do your taste buds a favour and stop at Efezade; their chocolate and pistachio baklava is a must.

Regarded by many as the best mangal kebab in Istanbul, Yirmibir Kebap in Beyoglu is split into two sections: Yirmibir and Kevok Ocakbas. While both serve the same menu, meat lovers would do well to grab a table next to the spit, where you can watch your food being cooked. The jewellery store next door is also well worth a browse.

Jash, a small, family-run restaurant in upscale Cihangir puts an Armenian twist on Turkish classics in what feels like someones living room. This, if you dont know any Istanbulites prepared to invite you over and stuff you silly at dinner, is a boon. The atmosphere is convivial and the service, warm and welcoming. Skip the spleen soup but try not to leave without trying the hunkar begendi (pureed aubergine and meat).

Istanbuls equivalent of The Ivy is nearly always packed with locals and trendy tourists, who, after a trip to the nearby Istanbul Modern museum, settle in at Karakoy lokantasi to mainline raki, snap pictures of themselves (where the sympathetic lighting goes, the influencers tend to follow) and peer at the revolving art installations. Make no mistake, this place isnt style over substance; it has a brilliant, all-Turkish wine list and excellent meze platters.

Where to drink

Mandabatmaz means a buffalo wouldnt sink in Turkish, which appears to pertain to the milky foam atop the coffee at this iconic Beyoglu spot. Beloved by locals who are serious about their daily cup, barista Cemil Usta has been brewing the perfect one since 1967. Just tell him how you like yours  if traditional Turkish coffee is too much of a smack in the face, ask for it az sekerli (slightly sweet).

Book before you turn up at Bosphorus Brewing Company (the BBC); this micro-brewery is so popular among locals and expats that its nearly impossible to get a table as a walk-in. Craft beer and pork (yes, really) are the orders of the day  the Istanbul Pale Ale or Halic Gold are solid options, otherwise you can get beer matched to your choice of food.

Efendi, a narrow cocktail bar in Nisantas, is a bit of a dandy. The cocktails are plentiful and well executed, using fresh herbs, and they often have jazz concerts when the sun goes down. Order from the sour signatures  cocktails are around 40TL.

Where to shop

Souq Dukkan was originally launched as a weekly bazaar for artisans in the Karakoy area, but has since set up shop permanently in Levent  albeit in a soulless shopping centre. Theres everything from silk shawls by local brand Rumisu to colourful headphones by Istanbul-based Happy-nes but, for the latest on the citys creative scene, keep an eye on the stores weekly events.

Head to the Karakoy district to shop (iStock) (iStock/nkeskin)

A clever edit of Turkeys brightest independent design talents, OpenHaus has become a runaway hit with stylish locals ever since it took over a three-storey building in Nisantasi in early 2019. Go for anything from quirky sunglasses to bedazzled evening gowns, but dont dither on a potential purchase; the brands in store change completely from month to month.

A short walk from the famed Grand Bazaar, the Misir Carsisi (Egyptian Spice Bazaar) is another firm favourite on the Istanbul tourist trail  and for good reason. The vibrant domes of every spice imaginable  look out for piles of sumac, black cumin and saffron  are a camera-wielding foodies dream, particularly given that you can sample most of whats on offer. Once youre done, make a beeline for Mehmet Efendi coffee  the oldest and best coffee shop in Istanbul  which is directly outside the market, but not before you stock up on Turkish delight inside (look out for the stores selling loukoum, its traditional name).

Need a break from the tourist trail? Get walking around trendy Nisantasi (meaning marker stone  used, quite literally, to measure the range of Istanbuls archers and sultans in Ottoman times  you can still see the little obelisks on the pavements)  this is the citys equivalent to New Yorks Upper West Side. Expect stylish boutiques, hipster coffee roasteries  this part of town is more cold-brew than Turkish coffee  and utterly riveting people-watching. Park yourself outside at Ministry of Coffee (MOC) for a decent Americano and the down-low on local gossip.

Go to Istanbuls Egyptian Spice Bazaar to stock up on spices (iStock) (iStock/burakkarademir)

Architectural highlight

Theres no ignoring the might of the Hagia Sofya, which has been reincarnated by many of the rulers of Turkey over the years, and today showcases sacred elements of Christianity and Islam side by side; to many, a mark of Istanbuls religious tolerance. Built originally by the Byzantines as a church, it was to become a mosque under Ottoman rule and later  as it remains  a museum, during Ataturks reign. Do your research on the golden mosaics before you go in (some date back to 9th century AD) and head upstairs to the gallery for the best views of the central dome.

Nuts and bolts

What currency do they use?

Turkish Lira.

What language do they speak?

Turkish. Some people speak English, but a lot of people wont  particularly cabbies. If youre planning to get around by taxi and havent brushed up on your Turkish, keep Google Maps at the ready.

How much should I tip?

A standard 10 per cent in restaurants, but just round up on any cab fares. Hotel staff will expect any tips to be given in cash.

Whats the time difference?

Istanbul is two hours ahead of London.

Whats the average flight time from the UK?

Pegasus flies from London Stansted to Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen in around 3h 30, from 57 one way.

Public transport

Hop on the metro! Its well connected and easy to follow: you can buy an Istanbulkart (equivalent to Londons Oyster Card) for about 10TL (1.25), then top-up as you go.

Whats the best view?

Climb to the top of the Galata Tower for 360-degree views of the city.

Insider tip?

Get haggling. To maximise your chances of getting the best deals at the Grand Bazaar, time your visit to either when the stores open or close; traders are superstitious about their first and last sales, so are more likely to capitulate to your price ceiling. Youd also do well to get a Museum Card, for fast-track and cheaper museum entry.
2019 results: confirmation of McPhys industrial scaling up

Strong revenue growth of 43% to 11.4 million in 2019, driven by excellent sales momentum over the year with orders booked in France and Europe

Acceleration of the Group's development, preparing the industrialization phase

Strengthening of the financial structure with a cash position of 13 million at end-2019, notably following the success of the capital increase of almost 7 million carried out in November 2019

Confirmation of medium-term growth prospects with McPhys industrial scaling up

La Motte-Fanjas (France), March 10, 2020  5:45 pm CET  McPhy (Euronext Paris Compartment C: MCPHY, FR0011742329), a specialist in hydrogen production and distribution equipment, today announces its annual results for the year to December 31, 2019, as approved by its Board of Directors.

Laurent Carme, Chief Executive Officer of McPhy, states: Within a promising and high-potential market context, McPhy has been able to continue its ramping up and the consolidation of its technological leadership on its key markets.



Thanks to excellent commercial activity throughout the year, our revenue increased by 43% to 11.4 million in 2019. This buoyant growth, combined with good control over our operating costs, has enabled us to improve our results.

Following this rich and promising year, we are more ready than ever to continue seizing new opportunities, and more particularly projects on an industrial scale in order to sustainably support the necessary transition to a low-carbon, secure and competitive economy.

Simplified income statement

( millions) 2019 2018 Change Revenue 11.4 8.0 +43% Other operating income 4.5 1.1 +296% Income from ordinary activities 15.9 9.1 +75% Purchases consumed (6.1) (4.6) +35% Personnel costs (7.1) (6.1) +17% External costs (6.1) (5.7) +7% Depreciation, amortization and provisions (2.6) (2.1) +23% Recurring operating profit/loss (6.0) (9.4) +36% Other operating income and expenses (0.1) (0.0) - Operating profit/loss (6.1) (9.4) +35% Financial result (0.1) (0.0) - Income tax (0.1) (0.1) - Net profit/loss (6.3) (9.5) +34%

Strong revenue growth and improved result

Story continues

In 2019, McPhy recorded a +43% increase in revenue to 11.4 million, versus 8 million in 2018. This growth was driven by the taking and completion of a number of orders for electrolyzers and hydrogen production and distribution stations in France and abroad.

In 2019, McPhy recorded a +43% increase in revenue to 11.4 million, versus 8 million in 2018. This growth was driven by the taking and completion of a number of orders for electrolyzers and hydrogen production and distribution stations in France and abroad.

The increase in other operating income was associated with the cancellation of the 3.5 million debt as part of the Pushy project following the notification by BPI Financement in July 2019.

Purchases consumed and external costs evolved in line with activity, but only saw a limited increase given the cost reduction measures implemented to ensure a continual improvement in competitiveness. Moreover, the Company continued its research and innovation efforts.

To ensure the success of its industrialization phase, the Group strengthened its teams. The net recruitment of 12 people over the year thus took the total number of staff to 98 at December 31, 2019.

The increase in depreciation, amortization and provisions was primarily due to the mandatory effective date, on January 1, 2019, in accordance with the IFRS 16 (leasing contracts) for 0.6 million and the depreciation of 50% of the accrued receivables for the Hebei contract (project in China) for 0.6 million.

At December 31, 2019, McPhy had a cash position of 13 million, notably following the success of the capital increase by private placement of almost 7 million carried out last November.

As a reminder, McPhys Extraordinary Shareholders Meeting of January 16, 2020 approved the resolution concerning the issuance of 14,773,307 BSA stock warrants (BSA) enabling all shareholders (with the exception of Fonds Ecotechnologies and EDF Pulse Croissance Holding, who have agreed not to exercise any warrants allocated to them) to participate in the operation and benefit from the same subscription conditions. The stock warrants can be exercised from January 17, 2020 until May 18, 2020, i.e. two days before the Companys Annual General Meeting called to approve its annual accounts for the year to December 31, 2019. The exercise of the stock warrants could strengthen the Companys shareholders equity by a maximum of 2.8 million.

2019 highlights

13 million in orders booked in France and abroad, reflecting excellent sales momentum over the year Order for 7 stations taken from SIEGE 27 and SDEC Energie for the roll-out of hydrogen mobility as part of the EAS-HyMob project in Normandy Order from Atawey for a 40 kg per day 30-bar electrolyzer for a first hydrogen station in Chambery, as part of the Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes regions Zero Emission Valley project Order for 2 MW of high-pressure electrolysis in Germany for the Energy market for a Power-to-Power application Record order for McPhys PIEL range, with 11 electrolyzers for the Bangladesh Meteorological Department Order for a McFilling 200-350 station in Germany for refueling hydrogen buses, following a first order for a McLyzer 400-30 electrolyzer at the start of 2019



April 2019: launch of Augmented McFilling, McPhys new smart hydrogen station architecture for heavy-duty vehicles

Augmented McFilling, an innovative architecture for heavy-duty vehicles, able to address the massive hydrogen needs inherent to the necessary decarbonization of heavy-duty transport and long-distance vehicles (trains, trucks and buses), combining compression, storage, cooling and vehicle delivery functions Managed by McPhys smart supervision software, which makes the station dynamically reconfigurable for an infinite number of usage scenarios and real-time adaptation to clients requirements with no capacity limits



June 2019: inauguration in the Hauts-de-France Region of the first refueling station for hydrogen buses in France

In Houdain, northern France, a Artois-Gohelle Transport Authority (SMT-AG) project led by ENGIE GNvert, which has entrusted to McPhy the construction of a station with a daily capacity of 200 kg fueled by 0.5 MW of electrolysis A genuine innovation in France, this 100% hydrogen bus line and its refueling station are precursors of the zero emission mobility revolution that is becoming increasingly widespread in France, in Europe and on a global scale The entire clean hydrogen production, storage and distribution chain is equipped with McPhy technology







Confirmation of the transition to hydrogen production on an industrial scale

As previously announced, McPhy has been chosen by Nouryon and Gasunie, two leading industrial groups, to equip the first zero-carbon hydrogen production plant on a large scale in Europe, thus strengthening its leadership position on its market.

Designed, manufactured and integrated by McPhy, the 20 MW zero-carbon hydrogen production platform uses the Companys innovative Augmented McLyzer electrolysis technology. Each year, 3,000 tons of clean hydrogen will thus be generated by electrolysis from green electricity. This hydrogen will be used to produce bio methanol used in industrial processes and will contribute to reducing CO 2 emissions by up to 27,000 tons a year, the equivalent of the annual emissions of 4,000 French households.

McPhy will be involved in the pre-engineering phase from this year, and subsequently in the detailed engineering, production and commissioning of the electrolysis platform.

This major project marks a change in McPhys size, confirming its transition to an industrial scale with the aim of reducing zero-carbon hydrogen production costs and thus boosting the emergence of efficient and competitive hydrogen ecosystems with the highest quality and safety levels.

Update on the Covid-19 outbreak and its potential impact on the Groups activity

Given the uncertainty regarding the future chain of events, it is currently difficult to quantify the impacts of the Covid-19 epidemic on the Groups activity in 2020, notably in terms of revenue, results and delays for the completion of some projects. In accordance with domestic and international governmental recommendations, McPhy has implemented all necessary safety measures to limit its employees and partners travel and exposure to the virus.

In China, at this stage, McPhys exposure to the coronavirus epidemic is limited to a Power-to-Gas application project in Hebei province, a project that is currently affected by delays in its execution. As a reminder, in June 2017 McPhy delivered 4 MW hydrogen production equipment enabling the transformation into zero-carbon hydrogen and storage of excess energy produced by a 200 MW wind farm.

In Italy, McPhy has a subsidiary based in San Miniato (Tuscany) devoted to the assembly of electrolyzers and the production of high capacity batteries. The Group is closely monitoring the evolution of the outbreak and its expansion and has particularly noted the decree communicated by the Italian government extending the containment measures to the entire country.

In this context of uncertainty and volatility, McPhy is currently assessing the potential impact of the outbreak on its activity.

Upcoming events

Annual General Meeting, on May 20, 2020

Publication of 2020 first-half results, on July 28, 2020 (after market)





About McPhy

In the framework of the energy transition, and as a leading supplier of hydrogen production and distribution equipment, McPhy contributes to the roll-out of zero-carbon hydrogen throughout the world.

Thanks to its wide range of products and services dedicated to the industrial, mobility and energy markets, McPhy provides turnkey solutions to its clients adapted to their applications in industrial raw material supply, fuel cell electric car refueling or renewable energy surplus storage and valorization.

As a designer, manufacturer and integrator of hydrogen equipment since 2008, McPhy has three development, engineering and production units based in Europe (France, Italy, Germany).

The companys international subsidiaries ensure a global sales coverage of McPhys innovative hydrogen solutions.

McPhy is listed on NYSE Euronext Paris (Segment C, ISIN code: FR0011742329; ticker: MCPHY).





NewCap



Investor Relations



Theodora Xu | Emmanuel Huynh

T. +33 (0)1 44 71 20 42

mcphy@newcap.eu







Media Relations



Nicolas Merigeau

T. +33 (0)1 44 71 94 98

mcphy@newcap.eu





Attachment
The new coronavirus is nearing pandemic status, stock market performance reads like a bad EKG, and an oil price war between Russia and Saudi Arabia will mean real pain for the U.S. energy industry. That means big hurt for Texas.

Dont panic, Houston. Weve been through a lot. Well get through this, too. Whats a little extra hand washing and social distancing in a city whose air-conditioned car culture has made us darn near experts in social distancing during our daily commutes?

Our problems begin with COVID-19, the disease that has spread since December to more than 100 countries and regions of the world with more than 116,000 confirmed cases. More than 4,000 of those have died. Twenty countries have confirmed more than 100 cases, including the United States with 647 verified illnesses and 25 deaths as of Tuesday afternoon.

The expected reduction in travel and other economic activity because of the new coronavirus prompted OPEC leader Saudi Arabia to push non-OPEC Russia to reduce oil production to keep the market stable. When Russia balked, the Saudis responded by announcing increased production, sending oil prices Monday to their worst declines in almost 30 years.

Christopher Page, a senior analyst with the Norwegian research firm Rystad Energy, told the editorial board Monday that there is some hope Russia and Saudi Arabia will return to the negotiating table or that OPEC will take some action at its meeting in June. Even if that happens, the oil glut caused by cutbacks in travel and commerce during the time of the virus will slam vulnerable U.S. shale producers.

New drilling is already being canceled, and layoffs are expected. No place, Page said, will be harder hit than Houston, the nations energy capital.

Ed Hirs, an energy fellow at the University of Houston department of economics, said Monday he expects the oil price war to continue for up to two years.

If the Saudis and the Russians are really trying to shake out high-cost producers, and that would be basically the U.S. shale plays, its going to take 18 to 24 months to accomplish that, Hirs said.

He said big oil firms may well weather that storm, but as they cut spending other actors in the industry will suffer. The first layoffs will likely be among oil service workers, Hirs said, with some bankruptcies likely to follow.

So, on top of everything else that is happening, Houston could be facing a far grimmer economic environment than the rest of America.

More Information A checklist for governments responding to coronavirus Making testing for the virus free and readily available to all. Congress supporting President Donald Trump's openness to expanded paid sick leave. The Senate supporting House Democrats' proposal to expand unemployment insurance. Crafting a relief package for small businesses and other firms affected by COVID-19. See More Collapse

Thats why its important for federal, state and local officials to continue an aggressive push to test, diagnose and treat COVID-19. The sooner the health crisis is over, the sooner the economy improves.

The checklist for governments should be:

Making testing for the virus free and readily available to all, including the uninsured.

Congress supporting President Donald Trumps openness to federal paid sick leave.

The Senate supporting House Democrats proposal to expand unemployment insurance.

Crafting a relief package for small businesses and other firms affected by COVID-19.

The oil and gas industry, meanwhile, should take these events as yet another prompt to fast-track efforts to reduce its carbon footprint and step up investments in alternative fuels.

Unemployed oil service workers will face a tough job market. They will need to reduce spending, downsize, dust off the resume and maybe consider some gig economy jobs to get them through the transition.

Meanwhile, its up to the rest of us to continue to do our part to stop the spread of the disease. Wash our hands  often, for at least 20 seconds. Limit physical contact and, especially for those over 60 or with health problems, be wary of large crowds.

Houston has been hit by oil busts, hurricanes, flooding, pestilence and economic recessions and were still standing. This too shall pass  if we keep our heads and wash our hands.
By PTI

CANNING: A 19-year-old man was killed and a 16-year-old boy was injured after they were stabbed by a group of persons in West Bengal's South 24 Parganas district, police said on Wednesday.

The incident occurred in Khudirabad village in Narendrapur police station area on Tuesday when the duo went there to meet a girl of the locality, a police officer said.

Preliminary investigation suggests that the girl's family suspected that she had relations with the two persons and had conspired to kill them, he said.

The duo was taken to a hospital in Kolkata, where one of them succumbed to his injuries while the condition of the other is stable, the officer said.

Five persons have been detained in connection with the incident and a case has been started, he added.
Why do some churches reject apologetics ministry?

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A California-based apologist who oversees a conference that has about 3,000 regular attendees recently addressed the reasons for why churches might object to apologetics ministries.

Ive had to convince a lot of pastors that showing up for an apologetics class, having an apologetics series for their student ministry is an incredibly valuable thing, said Dena Davidson, campus life director of Thrive School who oversees the Thrive Apologetics Conference at Bayside Church.

I do think there are a lot of pastors out there who are maybe a little bit jaded about, Ah, apologetics doesnt work. No one becomes a Christian because their questions get answered. And so I have had to face a little bit of that, for sure.

Davidson was interviewed by Mikel Del Rosario of Dallas Theological Seminary on an episode of The Table podcast. She explained that she at her own church, she has been met with support for her ministry.

I actually work in a church where it was our senior pastor who knew that we needed to have an apologetics presence on our campuses. And so he was the one who actually approached me and said, Hey. I have this vision to do an apologetics conference. Youre doing something with apologetics. Can you run it? recalled Davidson.

And I had no idea what I was saying yes to. I just thought that was so cool that my senior pastor was A, talking to me, and B, asking me to put on something that I love so much for the rest of the church.

While she did not have to convince that senior pastor that this ministry was valuable, she has met some resistance from other churches. She cited two big reasons for churches resisting apologetics ministry, the first being a bad experience.

I listen to their story about they may have seen someone use apologetics to try to argue people into the kingdom, or people use apologetics to actually tear people down, she explained.

After listening to their story, I just, in love, present a different option. And I say, That sounds like really bad apologetics. But just because someone has done apologetics poorly doesnt mean we shouldnt do it. It means that we need to do it better.

The second reason churches might be hesitant to do apologetics, according to Davidson, was that its a lot of work.

It is way easier to get up on stage and preach from passion than it is to preach from careful thought, she added. I would say this takes time and you need to be patient with yourself and patient with your pastor if hes struggling with this.

Del Rosario also asked Davidson if she encountered any challenges in the apologetics world, given that the field is more commonly associated with men.

She said she had "less than zero problems, but acknowledged that thats not always the case with others and that she has been so fortunate.

If God has given you a gift for apologetics and a passion to use it, dont necessarily just look for the doors that are not open, she replied.

The Davidson interview comes not long after the reTHINK Apologetics Student Conference, a major apologetics conference held at Cottonwood Creek Church in Allen, Texas on Feb. 28-29.

The conference featured multiple speakers, including Frank Turek, president of the apologetics group Cross Examined, who argued that the existence of evil proved the existence of God.

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 also stated 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.

In 2018, Melissa Cain Travis, author of the Young Defenders book series, told Del Rosario in a Table podcast episode that Christian parents should start talking to their kids about the evidence for God while they are elementary school age, if not younger.

Kids start asking these profound questions about ultimate reality from a much younger age than we would typically expect. And that was exactly what happened to me, stated Travis at the time.

What I have found through doing conversational learning with my kids, which is very much based on my personal learning in formal academic settings, Im able to help build within them a confident faith.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-11 20:42:42|Editor: huaxia

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South Korean soldiers sterilize a market in Jeju, South Korea, March 11, 2020. (NEWSIS/Handout via Xinhua)

"We would like to share these Chinese solutions with the world and hold exchanges over them," said a Foreign Ministry spokesperson.



BEIJING, March 11 (Xinhua) -- China is willing to contribute to the global fight against the novel coronavirus disease while continuing to ensure its epidemic prevention and control domestically, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Wednesday.

Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has said the threat of a pandemic has become "very real."

Thanks to the united and arduous efforts of the Chinese people, the current situation of China's epidemic prevention and control has changed positively and achieved stage progress, Spokesperson Geng Shuang told a news briefing.

Meanwhile the epidemic broke out in many places across the world and keeps spreading, and some countries are suffering gravely from it, he said.

Restaurants and bars closed early due to the coronavirus outbreak in Milan, Italy, March 10, 2020. (Xinhua)



"Against such a backdrop, it is all the more important and urgent for all countries to step up communication, cooperation in jointly fighting the epidemic and safeguarding regional and international public health security."

He said China will step up communication and coordination with the WHO and the international community. "With openness, transparency and a high sense of responsibility for global public health security and people's well-being, we will continue information-sharing with the international community including the WHO. We will also strive to enhance coordination and cooperation to advance joint response at regional and global levels to stem the spread of the virus."

China will continue experience-sharing and exchange with other countries, according to Geng. China has so far published seven guidelines on COVID-19 diagnosis and treatment and six guidelines on prevention and control, all of which have been translated into multiple foreign languages.

"We would like to share these Chinese solutions with the world and hold exchanges over them," he said. "We will continue exchanges and mutual learning with other countries and international organizations to jointly enhance regional and global capacity in safeguarding public health security."

An Iranian disinfects "Tabiat Bridge" in Tehran, Iran, on March 9, 2020. (Photo by Ahmad Halabisaz/Xinhua)



China has sent medical experts to Iran and Iraq and is also preparing to send experts to Italy to support local epidemic prevention and control, said Geng.

The country has provided medicine and other medical supplies to the international community. Geng said that China has decided to donate 20 million U.S. dollars to the WHO, and provided masks, medicine, protective clothing and other anti-epidemic materials to relevant countries.

"China is ready to offer as much help as we can to countries in need," said the spokesperson.

He said the country will ramp up cooperation with the international community on science and technology. "We would like to collaborate with other countries in medicines, vaccines and testing reagents, contributing China's wisdom and proposals to securing an early global victory over the virus."

"China will contribute to the global fight in these five areas. We will work with the international community with solidarity and mutual assistance to overcome the epidemic." Geng said. 
Markets ended modestly higher on Wednesday, propped up by value buying in index heavyweights RIL, ICICI Bank and HDFC Bank, even as risk sentiment remained subdued amid rising coronavirus cases in the country

Mumbai: Markets ended modestly higher on Wednesday, propped up by value buying in index heavyweights RIL, ICICI Bank and HDFC Bank, even as risk sentiment remained subdued amid rising coronavirus cases in the country.

Despite rebounding over 386 points during the day, the 30-share BSE Sensex pared most gains to settle 62.45 points or 0.18 percent higher at 35,697.40.

On similar lines, the broader NSE Nifty closed 6.95 points or 0.07 percent up at 10,458.40.

Investors made a cautious return to some recently-mauled counters in the energy, banking and consumption sectors, traders said.

Top gainers in the Sensex pack included Hero MotoCorp (4.08 percent), Reliance Industries (3.60 percent), ICICI Bank (1.80 percent) and HUL (1.51 percent).

On the other hand, Tata Steel, IndusInd Bank, ONGC, SBI and Infosys tumbled up to 7.11 percent.

According to analysts, equity benchmarks gave up most gains as nervousness heightened among investors amid rapidly increasing coronavirus cases in the country and mixed cues from global markets.

The number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in India rose to 60 on Wednesday, with two fresh cases in Delhi and Rajasthan.

The coronavirus epidemic has wreaked havoc across the world, killing more than 4,000 people and leaving close to 120,000 infected.

"Market seems to be pricing in a large dose of liquidity infusion by global central banks. Overnight US market rose on the prospect of fiscal stimulus measures by the US Federal Reserve to curb slower economic growth stemming from the coronavirus outbreak and similar measures are also expected from European Central Bank.

"Bank of England today cut rates in an emergency move to combat coronavirus impact by 50 basis points to 0.25 percent," said Paras Bothra, President of Equity Research, Ashika Stock Broking.

BSE energy, telecom, capital goods, finance and banking indices gained up to 2.11 percent, while realty, oil and gas, metal, IT, consumer durables and auto settled in the red.

The broader BSE midcap and smallcap indices underperformed the benchmarks, ending up to 0.89 percent lower.

Global markets were mixed as investors assessed the impact of the coronavirus outbreak amid expectations of coordinated measures by various central banks to boost growth.

Bourses in Shanghai, Hong Kong, Seoul and Tokyo ended with significant losses, while those in Europe rallied up to 2 pe cent in early trade.

Brent crude oil futures slipped 2.02 percent to $36.47 per barrel, after Saudi Arabia hiked production by one million barrels a day.

On the currency front, the Indian rupee appreciated 46 paise to 73.70 per US dollar (intra-day).
San Francisco officials are seeking to help renters, small businesses and workers hurt by the coronavirus outbreak thats damaging the local economy.

Supervisors announced legislation Tuesday that would ban residential evictions for nonpayment of rent due to loss of income from the new coronavirus. They also are proposing legislation to create a fund that would help small businesses suffering from the outbreak pay their rent. Details and exact dollar amounts arent finalized.

Other city proposals include a new type of paid leave during public health emergencies for residents and potentially new funds for workers who were laid off or furloughed. A nonbinding resolution urging banks to suspend foreclosures and fees and utilities to stop assessing penalties is also being drafted. Supervisors Dean Preston, Hillary Ronen, Matt Haney and Ahsha Safai are sponsoring the measures.

The damage to our economy is likely to be severe, Ronen said at a public hearing Tuesday.

Dozens of local events have been canceled and thousands of workers at the citys biggest companies are being told to work from home, leading to plummeting sales at restaurants and shops. Some businesses have reported a 70% plunge in gross receipts in the past week, according to the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce.

Preston, sponsor of the eviction moratorium ordinance, said tenants would have to provide documentation of lost income, and rent would be due in full after the state of emergency is over. It would also bar landlords from collecting late fees for delayed rent payments, along with banning no fault evictions, including owner move-ins, for all tenants.

This is a public health crisis and we need to make sure it doesnt create a whole new housing crisis, said Preston in a statement.

Mayor London Breed said at the public hearing that she was working on aid that could include delaying business tax collection and waiving business fees, requests that were made by the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce and other business groups.

Breed is also working with the state to expand unemployment benefits. She could also potentially extend eviction protection to tenants affected financially by coronavirus as part of her powers under the state of emergency declaration, her office 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.

We know we cannot carry this financial burden alone, Breed said at a public hearing Tuesday. We know the impacts of this virus have already been felt.

San Francisco was already facing a deficit of $420 million over the next two fiscal years, and Breed had sought 3.5% budget cuts across city departments over those two years.

The citys budget will be damaged further by the virus, Breed said, although no estimates have been released.

Roland Li is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: roland.li@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @rolandlisf
Google recommends that all of its employees in North America work from home, if they can, because of the coronavirus.

It extended that recommendation to employees in Europe, the Middle East and Africa starting Thursday.

Google's parent company, Alphabet, has nearly 120,000 employees, most of whom work in the USA.

Employees are asked to stay home if they can until at least April 10. Google's offices will remain open for employees whose roles require it.

The outbreak has upended business in the tech world. Major companies, including Amazon, Apple and Facebook, follow the advice of public health officials to slow the spread of COVID-19 and reduce the load on overburdened health systems by restricting travel and asking employees to work from home.

Major industry conferences have been canceled to avoid spreading the virus.

Coronavirus sick leave: Walmart, McDonald's add COVID-19 paid sick leave policies

Coronavirus hits tech: Google employee tests positive

Google and other corporations are on constant alert in the fast-moving crisis. They have made rapid adjustments to policies to keep pace with the spread of the virus. The U.S. death toll rose to 29. The global death toll surpassed 4,000 and the number of confirmed cases passed 121,000.

Monday, Google banned visitors from its New York and San Francisco Bay Area offices.

The tech giant said it would continue to pay contract workers whose hours are cut. Tuesday, Google said it would provide sick leave for those workers.

In an email obtained by CNBC, Chief Financial Officer Ruth Porat told employees, "Every Google office is affected in some way."

"Given the dynamic nature of the COVID-19 epidemic, everyone should be prepared to work from home unexpectedly," Porat wrote. "Take your laptop home every night."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Coronavirus crisis spreads: Google employees told to work from home
Two persons were injured in a



shootout between two groups in West Bengal's Kalimpong district, police said on Wednesday.

The incident happened in the 10th Mile area of the district on Tuesday evening, leading tensions in the hill town and briefly disrupting traffic on the Siliguri-Sikkim highway, they said.

Rivalry over contracts of the Sivok-Rangpo railway project led to the shootout, suspect police.

Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) chief Binay Tamang alleged that councillor of Kalimpong Municipality Kunal Pradhan was behind the incident.

He said Pradhan has been suspended from the party and action will be taken against those involved in the incident.

Police said they have already detained three persons in connection with the shootout and further investigating the incident.

One of the injured has been admitted to a hospital in Kalimpong, while the other has been shifted to a nursing home in Siliguri.

BJP's Darjeeling MP Raju Bista alleged that the shootout happened over extortion at the project site and "TMC-supported politicians" in the hills were behind the incident.

He said he will raise the matter with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Railway Minister Piyush Goyal as the firing happened at one of the most important and sensitive highways.

"Such display of arms in the critical Chicken's Neck region doesn't auger well for the national security," Bista added.

The Siliguri Corridor, referred to as the Chicken's Neck due to its shape, is a narrow stretch of land of about 22 km that connects the Northeast to the rest of India.

The project of laying a broad gauge line from Sivok to Rangpo of length 45 km was sanctioned in 2008-09, however, it has been progressing at a snail's pace due to land acquisition issues.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - California Gov. Gavin Newsom urged the states nearly 40 million residents Tuesday to avoid sporting events, concerts and large gatherings to prevent the spread of the coronavirus and adamantly warned the elderly to stay away from cruise ships as he pondered measures to restrict cruise travel off the California coast.

The warning came as Newsom announced an update to the painstaking process of disembarking more than 2,000 passengers from a cruise ship struck by the coronavirus and moving them to military bases around the U.S. for a two-week quarantine. The Grand Princess docked in the Port of Oakland Monday after being forced to idle for days off the coast while authorities scrambled to find a suitable port and plan to move the passengers into safe quarantine sites. While at sea, tests on people who showed symptoms of illness confirmed 21 contracted the coronavirus.

I dont think people should be on cruise ships that are elderly, Newsom said. I dont think you should high-five one another and hug strangers at large sporting events if you have an underlying health condition.

He said legal advisers are reviewing the possibility of restricting cruise travel off the California coast as he awaits new federal guidelines on the cruise industry. In the meantime, he said cruise ships ought to introduce aggressive requirements for travellers at the peril of that industry collapsing.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia.

The vast majority of people recover from the new virus. According to the World Health Organization, people with mild illness recover in about two weeks, while those with more severe illness may take three to six weeks to recover. More than 80,000 people in China have been diagnosed with the coronavirus. More than 61,000 have recovered.

Three people have died and 157 Californians have tested positive so far for the coronavirus, a tally that does not include the cruise ship evacuees. Newsom expects the number of cases to significantly rise as more test kits become available.

In the latest death, Sacramento County health officials announced Tuesday that a patient in her 90s had died. The Sacramento Bee reported the woman was a resident at an Elk Grove nursing home.

Three Transportation Security Administration officers at Mineta San Jose International Airport have tested positive for COVID-19, the agency said Tuesday.

They were receiving medical care and all TSA employees who had contact with them over the past 14 days were being quarantined at home, the agency said.

Many communities have already cancelled parades, conferences and large gatherings. Officials in some California cities have gone further. Santa Clara County on Monday announced a ban on all gatherings of 1,000 people or more, putting the status of San Jose Sharks hockey games, the NCAA womens basketball tournament at Stanford and one Major League Soccer game in question. Many school districts have cancelled extracurricular activities or moved classes online.

Newsom stopped short of calling for games to be cancelled, but said sports leagues and local health officials bear the responsibility to ensure that large events, including games, can be held safely.

We want to maximize the disruption for nonessential events, so we can minimize the impact of essential functions and events, he said.

As of Tuesday night, more than 1,400 passengers had been taken off the Grand Princess cruise ship. They included 26 with medical needs not related to the coronavirus who were taken by ambulance to hospitals and 228 Canadians who were flown home. A handful of people from the ship who were treated at hospitals and released will be sent to hotels in several locations to spend their 14-day quarantine, while other Americans will be flown or bused to military bases in California, Texas and Georgia.

About two dozen passengers will go to Asilomar State Beach and Conference Grounds in Pacific Grove. They will be housed in a cluster of buildings removed from visitors and the public, and will not interact with other Asilomar guests, employees or the general public, according to a statement from the Office of Emergency Services.

Newsom said about 100 people are processed and taken off the ship per hour  a consuming endeavour to ensure the safety of workers and meet the needs of passengers. However, he said he wants to see the process speed up so that the ship can leave Oakland within 72 hours.

About 1,100 crew members, 19 of whom tested positive for the virus, will be quarantined and treated aboard the ship, which will anchor offshore after passengers are unloaded. Canada said six of its citizens from the crew flew home Monday and talks are underway to repatriate many of the crew members to their home in the Philippines, Newsom said.

Most of the crew members who tested positive for coronavirus did not show symptoms, a Princess spokeswoman said Tuesday.

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.

The virus has infected over 1,000 people in the U.S. and killed at least 30, many of them from a single nursing home in the Seattle area.

____

Nguyen reported from Oakland, California.
MENLO PARK, Calif. and NEW YORK, March 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- New Enterprise Associates, Inc. (NEA) today announced that it has closed on $3.6 billion for its latest fund, bringing the firm's committed capital to nearly $24 billion over its 42-year history. In conjunction with the new fund, Liza Landsman has been named General Partner. Landsman, who joined the firm's New York office as a Venture Partner in 2018 after serving as president of NEA portfolio company Jet.com, focuses on software and services investments across the consumer landscape.

The new fund, NEA's largest to date, will be invested across a broad range of technology and healthcare sectors. Consistent with the firm's strategy over many funds, the majority of capital will be concentrated in early-stage opportunities with select growth-stage investments.

"We are deeply grateful to our limited partners for their commitment to NEA and their confidence in our ability to execute on the tremendous opportunity ahead," said Scott Sandell, Managing General Partner, NEA. "As technology transforms every industry globally and life sciences innovation continues to accelerate, NEA is in a great position to continue doing what we do bestwork alongside entrepreneurs to build great companies that will shape the future of how we live, work and play."

The new fund marks Sandell's second as sole managing general partner, with Tony Florence leading the firm's technology investing practice and Mohamad Makhzoumi recently promoted to head of healthcare investing. Landsman's promotion underscores the firm's longstanding commitment to promoting from withinall of NEA's general partners were promoted to their current roles, with an average tenure of more than 12 years.

"Having worked with Liza over many years before she joined NEA, we knew she would be an outstanding addition to our teamwe quickly realized that she was not only a great fit for our organization today, but someone who could play a really important role in shaping NEA for the future," said Tony Florence, General Partner and Head of Technology Investing, NEA. "Her significant operating experience, especially with fast-growing consumer companies, is a tremendous asset to our team and our portfolio."

Landsman's prior roles include president and member of the founding executive team at Jet; CMO and member of the executive committee at E*TRADE; global head of digital for BlackRock; and various leadership roles at Citigroup and IBM earlier in her career. Primarily focused on commerce and fintech, she currently works closely with Burrow, Mejuri, Goop, Luminary, Hello Alfred, Flow.io and THE WELL.

About NEA

New Enterprise Associates, Inc. (NEA) is a global venture capital firm focused on helping entrepreneurs build transformational businesses across multiple stages, sectors and geographies. With nearly $24 billion in cumulative committed capital since the firm's founding in 1977, NEA invests in technology and healthcare companies at all stages in a company's lifecycle, from seed stage through IPO. The firm's long track record of successful investing includes more than 230 portfolio company IPOs and more than 390 mergers and acquisitions. www.nea.com.

SOURCE New Enterprise Associates, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.nea.com


The Russian parliament yesterday moved closer to making Vladimir Putin president for life after a bombshell statement, meaning he could potentially stay in power until the age of 84.

Speculation has been rife about what the Russian leader of 20 years will do when his fourth and final term in office expires in 2024.

Mr Putin in January launched a discussion of constitutional amendments that would overhaul Russia's system of power, potentially giving him options for staying in charge in another role.

But yesterday, Valentina Tereshkova - the first woman in space - took the floor at the State Duma (parliament) to suggest Mr Putin should stay in place as president.

The 83-year-old cosmonaut said her voters were "anxious and worried" and wanted Mr Putin to stay in power or at least "be around in case something goes wrong".

Less than two hours later, Mr Putin made a surprise appearance.

He told parliamentarians it made no sense to change the wording in the constitution that bars anyone from seeking more than two consecutive terms in office. But he said he supported the idea of resetting the count of his own presidential terms as long as the constitutional court approved.

The announcement appeared to be part of Mr Putin's plan to stay in power.

"I've always found it hard to see him go away as long as he's physically fit," said Alexei Venediktov, editor-in-chief at Ekho Moskvy radio. "Everyone was expecting a fifth (presidential) term, a legal way for Putin to carry on."

The amendments Mr Putin floated in January were aimed at expanding the powers of parliament, a new State Council body and that of the president.

Yesterday's announcement showed he "was playing his own game and kept his plans close to his chest away from his administration", according to Tatyana Stanovaya, a non-resident scholar at Moscow's Carnegie Centre and head of the R Politik political analyst firm.

The amendment, which received preliminary approval by 380 votes to 43, at the very least gives Mr Putin an option of running again but it remains to be seen how he is going to use it in 2024, Ms Stanovaya said.

The amendment is likely to breeze through all the stages of the approval process including a vote at the upper chamber and Constitutional Court.

If it passes, it creates the possibility that Mr Putin could outstrip Joseph Stalin's 29-year leadership.

The surprise proposal, however, shocked many in Russia's opposition.

"What is happening today is technically a coup d'etat," Leonid Volkov, one of the closest allies of opposition leader Alexei Navalny, tweeted.

Mr Navalny, who was barred from running for president in 2018 due to a conviction the European Court of Human Rights ruled unlawful, wrote: "The current constitution guarantees my right to run for president and absolutely bars Putin from doing so.

"In reality, I still can't run while Putin who has been in power for 20 years will run for his fifth term no matter what."
A heroic bystander has performed a dramatic citizen's arrest on an alleged child molester carrying a backpack filled with toys and lollies.

Police allege the man, 68, spotted two children - aged four and six - playing in the front yard of their unit complex in Campsie, south-west Sydney, on Wednesday at 6.30pm.

The accused paedophile allegedly lured the children in by offering them lollies and then started filming them before sexually touching one of the kids.

A Good Samaritan spotted the elderly man and pinned him to the ground until police arrived and arrested him.

The elderly man allegedly had a bag filled with lollies, soft toys and a drone

Police were seen swarming the elderly man as he lay face-down on the grass in the front yard.

In footage, which was shared on social media, a police officer can be seen thanking the Good Samaritan.

The alleged paedophile can be heard groaning in the footage as he lay on the ground before the man who caught him yelled for him to stay down.

'You f***ing mutt. Face down you piece of s**t,' the man can be heard saying.

The elderly man's bag was filled with lollies, soft toys and a drone.

The 68-year-old man was riding a bike when stopped and spoke to the two children out front of the home

He also allegedly had a digital camera with an inappropriate picture of a child sitting on a towel.

'He has everything, from lollies, plush toys and drones. Everything that can possibly appeal to any age child  he has it,' the hero bystander said in the footage.

'This is how he lures kids.'

The man was taken to Campsie Police Station and hit with a string of charges including producing child abuse material, intentionally sexually touch child under 10 years and two counts of common assault.

He was charged with two counts of filming persons' private parts without consent and entering enclosed land without lawful excuse.

He was also charged with failing to comply with reporting obligations.

He was refused bail to appear before Burwood Local Court today.

Police allege the man, 68, (pictured) spotted two children - aged four and six - playing in the front yard of their unit complex in Campsie, south-west Sydney, on Wednesday at 6.30pm
Married At First Sight's producers are facing a backlash from viewers after they tried to take the moral high ground in regards to trolling.

On Wednesday, the official MAFS Instagram account shared a 'message of love' asking fans to 'celebrate, support and encourage' the couples.

The post explained that comments on all MAFS-related accounts 'are moderated and any that are offensive or personally attack participants... will not be tolerated'.

Hypocrisy? Married At First Sight's producers are facing a backlash from viewers after they tried to take the moral high ground in regards to trolling. Pictured: Hayley Vernon

The post added that users who breach the 'community guidelines' will be blocked.

While the producers may have had good intentions, fans were quick to point out the apparent hypocrisy of their message.

'Imagine the MAFS producers thinking they have the moral high ground,' one viewer commented.

Another wrote: 'How about not manipulating scenes to make people look bad then? Apparently love rising isn't as important as ratings.'

Statement: On Wednesday, the official MAFS Instagram account shared this 'message of love' asking fans to 'celebrate, support and encourage' the couples. The post explained that comments on all MAFS-related accounts 'are moderated and any that are offensive or personally attack participants... will not be tolerated'

'How about not manipulating scenes to make people look bad then?' While the producers may have had good intentions, fans were quick to point out the hypocrisy of their message

'I was appalled': One angry viewer said the experts and producers 'need to start displaying some integrity' of their own before they criticise fans, after Ivan Sarakula and Aleks Markovic were pressured into discussing their sex life at last week's commitment ceremony

A third viewer said the experts and producers 'need to start displaying some integrity' of their own before they criticise fans.

Referring to how Ivan Sarakula and Aleks Markovic had been pressured into discussing their sex life at last week's commitment ceremony, the fan wrote: 'They have every right not to discuss it if they don't want to, whether you're in an experiment or not.

'They just kept pushing and pushing... that's bullying in my eyes.'

'A disaster of a season': Several people claimed they were boycotting Married At First Sight

Another fan called the latest season of MAFS a 'disaster' and 'the worst yet', adding: 'You post this status but you are the ones that should be ashamed by editing footage to make it more interesting and make people look bad for ratings.'

Several people claimed they were boycotting the series, including one who wrote: 'As of this week I no longer chose to watch this show. What a complete mockery you are making of the original concept.'

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Channel Nine for comment.
[March 11, 2020] Mobile App MDBox Offers Free Telemedicine Visit During Coronavirus Outbreak

AUSTIN, Texas, March 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Reliant Immune Diagnostics announced today it is offering one free telemedicine visit using its MDBox app in response to the coronavirus, COVID-19, outbreak caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). MDBox allows patients to video chat with a healthcare provider on their phone from the comfort of their home if they start feeling sick. The free visit offer is applicable for residents of Illinois, Iowa, Texas, and Wisconsin, where MDBox is currently available, through April 30, 2020. As confirmed cases in the United States continue to increase, traditional healthcare facilities may become overwhelmed. Telemedicine such as www.MDBox.com, is an effective alternative to help manage patients during the current coronavirus outbreak. Henry Legere, MD, CEO and Founder of Reliant Immune Diagnostics said, "We created MDBox as a quick and easy way for someone to visit with a medical professional without the cost and time commitment that would come from going to an ER or urgent care center. We know many people have questions about the virus and it's incredibly important that our community has an extra layer of protection during this outbreak, and we see MDBox as that protection." The MDBox telemedicine app was developed by Reliant Immune Diagnostics to provide cost-effective quality symptom-specific consumerdriven healthcare and wellness to everyone.



MDBox Texas Medical Officer, Ann Black, MD, states, "We treat our telemedicine patients with the same compassion and quality of care as we do for regular office patients. We strive for professional excellence and medical expertise in all of our virtual medicine encounters." To take advantage of this offer go to the following link www.MDBox.com/coronavirus.

About MDBox www.MDBox.com allows for patients to video chat with a healthcare provider on their phone from the comfort of their home whenever they start feeling sick. The MDBox telemedicine app was developed by Reliant Immune Diagnostics to provide cost-effective quality symptom-specific consumer-driven healthcare and wellness to everyone. As a telemedicine app, patients get to visit with a licensed medical professional, receive prescriptions to the pharmacy of their choice, if warranted, and understand better what if any next steps would be required to treat their condition. MDBox is currently available in Illinois, Iowa, Texas and Wisconsin and is rapidly expanding throughout the US. About Reliant Immune Diagnostics Reliant Immune Diagnostics is on a mission to democratize healthcare. Reliant Immune Diagnostics was founded by Dr. Henry (Hank) Legere who believes that everyone should have greater access to healthcare at a more affordable price utilizing technologies that we already use every day. Dr. Legere attended Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City and completed an immunology fellowship at Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women's Hospital. The company is headquartered in Austin, TX. For more information please visit www.reliantid.com or www.mdbox.com. View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mobile-app-mdbox-offers-free-telemedicine-visit-during-coronavirus-outbreak-301021127.html SOURCE Reliant Immune Diagnostics

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11

Trend:

Vandalism act against the monument to prominent Azerbaijani poetess Khurshidbanu Natavan in Waterloo, Belgium has caused anger among our compatriots living in Europe, Trend reports referring to the State Committee on Work with Diaspora of Azerbaijan.

The Coordination Council of the Azerbaijanis in Belgium and the Netherlands and the Congress of Benelux Azerbaijanis sent a letter to the Waterloo Mayor Florian Rother related with the incident.

In a letter of the Coordination Council of the Azerbaijanis in Belgium and the Netherlands, the incident, which occurred shortly after March 8 - International Women's Day, is regarded as an act of violence and vandalism for Azerbaijani women: "This is unacceptable and we ask for urgent action to find and punish the perpetrators." In a letter to the chairman of the Congress of Benelux Azerbaijanis, Elsevar Mammadov stated this incident as a terrible news: "Unfortunately, we have no idea who can do this, and we want to learn who and why.We ask for you and your inspectors to investigate who is doing this. We highly appreciate this monument erected by one of our most famous poetess, and this incident is very hard for us. We hope you understand what that means and how this monument is important to us."

It should be noted that the opening of the monument to the outstanding Azerbaijani poetess Khurshidbanu Natavan in the central park of Waterloo, Belgium was realized on February 18, 2016 with the support of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation. In the pedestal of the statue, the words "Khurshidbanu Natavan, the modern educator and poetess of the East, Princess of Karabakh, Azerbaijan" are written. The erection of this monument, which reflects the note on Karabakh in Belgium, is a contribution to the work done to promote Azerbaijan's realities around the world.

The statue is in the list of protected historical monuments of Waterloo.
New York City has canceled its St Patrick's Day parade for the first time in more than 250 years as the coronavirus continues to spread across the Big Apple.

The parade was scheduled to take place on Tuesday, March 17.

New York's parade is the most important St Patrick's Day parade in the US and typically attracts two million spectators.

Scroll down for video

New York City has canceled its St Patrick's Day parade (pictured in March 2018) for the first time in more than 250 years as the coronavirus continues to spread across the Big Apple

New York City's St Patrick's Day parade has yet to be canceled by Mayor Bill de Blasio (pictured with light green tie, right during 2019 parade)

The New York parade, which goes up Fifth Avenue from 44th Street to 80th, has taken place every year since 1762.

The event takes on a crowded party atmosphere, and attendees are known to consume large amounts of beer and other alcoholic beverages - which could make following precautionary social distancing measures intended to stem the spread of the virus more difficult.

Mayor Bill de Blasio has yet to confirm the cancellation, but City Councilwoman Carlina Rivera told the New York Post that the parade will not proceed.

De Blasio said earlier on Wednesday that he was considering canceling the parade.

'We're talking it through with the parade committee. We have to really think about this one because it's a beloved event, an important event,' he said.

There have been at least 20 confirmed coronavirus cases in New York and the city has yet to enact any official isolation measures, though Governor Andrew Cuomo declared a state of emergency.

On Wednesday, Cuomo said that health experts are recommending that New York Citys venerable St Patricks Day parade be cancelled amid the coronavirus outbreak.

'Why would you risk bringing thousands of people together knowing that this is virus that easily communicates?' Cuomo asked, explaining the thinking of those urging the event be canceled.

Chicago's mayor, Lori Lightfoot, announced earlier on Wednesday that the city's St Patrick's Day parade (crowds pictured in 2019) would not move forward due to coronavirus concerns

The Boston parade (crowds in 2018), originally scheduled for March 15, was expected to attract about one million attendees, but Mayor Marty Walsh canceled the parade on Tuesday

The governor told a news conference at the state Capitol that officials would likely make a decision later Wednesday, but Cuomo has not confirmed the cancellation either.

Earlier on Wednesday, Chicago's mayor Lori Lightfoot announced the cancellation of the city's St Patrick's Day parade amid coronavirus concerns.

According to the parade's website, the river dyeing has also been canceled for Saturday. No other details were released.

Chicago doesn't have any confirmed corornavirus cases, but the state of Illinois has 19.

The mayor's announcement came just a day after Boston canceled their St Patrick's Day parade.

The Boston parade, originally scheduled for March 15, was expected to attract about one million attendees.

The decision to cancel the parade was made 'out of an abundance of caution to ensure that we are doing what is needed to keep the residents of Boston safe and healthy,' mayor Marty Walsh said in a statement shared via Twitter.

'While the risk in Boston remains low, this situation is changing very quickly,' the statement said. 'Our top priority is preventing any new cases, to the best of our ability.'

March celebrations honoring Saint Patrick, the patron of Ireland, bring together more people in the US - where millions of people are descended from Irish immigrants - than in Ireland itself, where the government on Monday also canceled festivities.

Social, political and business events have been canceled around the world in an effort to slow the deadly coronavirus's transmission.

There have been more than 121,000 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in the world and more than 4,300 deaths.

In the US, there are more than 1,000 confirmed cases of the virus and 32 deaths.
If you happen to spot me snoring loudly on top of a pile of bananas in the produce section of the local grocery store, I want you to know its not my fault.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 11/3/2020 (671 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Opinion

If you happen to spot me snoring loudly on top of a pile of bananas in the produce section of the local grocery store, I want you to know its not my fault.

No, its the governments fault! That is because the (bad word) government has once again deprived me of the one thing I value above all else  a good nights sleep.

Unless you have been in a coma for the past week, you will recall that last Sunday, the second Sunday in March, we were forced to "spring forward" and revert to daylight time, wherein we are compelled by you know who to set our clocks ahead by an entire hour.

If you failed Grade 5 math or live in Saskatchewan, where they dont spring forward or fall back, setting our clocks ahead by an hour means we (and this includes you) get an hour less sleep.

Lets take a moment here to recap: We. Get. An. Hour. Less. Sleep! Ha ha ha! OK, theres nothing funny about that. What it means for me is that, since we changed the clocks and lost an hour of sack time, the only way I have been able to keep my droopy eyelids from slamming shut is by propping them up with toothpicks.

When I make a pot of coffee in the morning, I dont drink it; I just pour it over my head because thats the only way I can stay awake long enough to drive into the office.

The general idea behind daylight time is that instead of sleeping through an hour of sunlight in the morning, we move our clocks ahead one hour to make more productive use of the sunlight we get. In the fall, when the daylight hours are reduced, clocks are set back an hour so we get more sunlight in the morning.

Why does the government make us do this year after year after year? Its simple  and I will attempt to underscore the importance of this next point by activating the caps lock feature on my keyboard  THE GOVERNMENT HATES US!

The thing is, for years I have been writing strongly worded columns demanding the government stop the twice-a-year time-change madness. Not only have they ignored my potent pleas, but they have also ignored thundering editorials wherein we point out that science has proven losing an hour of sleep in the spring leads to more car crashes, strokes and heart attacks, and increases the risk of punching a Starbucks barista in the head because they forgot to put extra foam on our grande latte.

So I have given up arguing with the government. Instead, I am going to adopt a different tactic. I am going to point out we should not be satisfied with simply changing the time twice a year, we should also flip-flop on the way we measure just about everything else.

Just think about the potential benefits of flipping back and forth between the metric system and the imperial system of measurement.

For instance, trips to the doctors office would be remarkably less stressful if we had some flexibility with the way we measure weight.

Doctor: "Hmmm, you weighed in at 300 pounds, Doug, so you are going to have to give up any food containing flavour."

Me: "No way, doc! Take another look. It says here Im only 136. Thats kilograms, of course, but I think Im going to have to bulk up a bit."

Doctor: "Makes sense to me. Good work!"

And think how much easier it will be to endure a soul-destroying Prairie winter if, on a whim, you can switch between Celsius and good ol Fahrenheit.

My wife: "Where are you going in that snowmobile suit and fuzzy tuque, dear?"

Me: "I thought Id shovel the driveway so I dressed warmly. Its only six degrees Celsius."

My wife: "Look again, dear. Its actually 42.8 degrees right now."

Me: "Its a Fahrenheit day? Hurray! Where did you put my Bermuda shorts, honey?"

Not to mention that flip-flopping around would have the added benefit of me receiving far fewer tickets for exceeding the speed limit. Which would result in less revenue for the governments coffers, but let us remember it is the government itself that has inspired us to start switching things around in the first place.

If I close my eyes, I can just imagine the pleasant conversations I will be having with police officers charged with nabbing lead-footed scofflaws on our streets.

Police officer: "Do you know why I pulled you over, sir?"

Me: "Not a clue, officer."

Police officer: "You were doing 64.4 in a 50 zone, sir."

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.

Me: "I hate to disagree, officer, but the truth is I was only doing 40."

Police officer: "Is this a miles per hour day as opposed to a kilometres per hour day, sir?"

Me: "You got that right, officer."

So, yes, flip-flopping around could cause a certain amount of confusion, but if we are going to stick to this stupid plan of changing the clocks twice a year, it only makes sense that we dive in the deep end and switch everything else around, too.

It will be interesting to see what the government thinks about this genius plan. If theyre anything like me, theyll want to sleep on it.

doug.speirs@freepress.mb.ca
French President Emmanuel Macron said Tuesday that Slovenia and Austria had made "bad decisions" by severely restricting travel with neighbouring Italy.

"I sincerly believe that these are bad decisions," Macron said following crisis talks on the virus with other EU leaders via videoconference.

Slovenia on Tuesday said it would close its 232-kilometre (144-miles)-long border with Italy, while Austria ordered a halt to flights and trains to the country that is the worst hit by the virus outside of China.

Macron said France, which also shares a long border with Italy, did not yet need containment measures as drastic as those taken in Italy or China, where the deadly novel coronavirus first erupted.

"Today for France, there is no need to go further than what we have determined... we are taking appropriate measures," he said. But, he added, "if tomorrow or the day after there was a reason" to take more drastic measures, "we would take them".

Macron said that taking "disproportionate measures" when France was "only at the beginning of the crisis" would be "counterproductive".

The French leader emphasised that it was "much more effective" to take containment measures in affected regions. Italy recorded its deadliest day of the virus outbreak on Tuesday, its toll rising by 168 to 631, with a total of 10,149 infected.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Update: Evelina-Ioana Butnaru has been located safe and well, gardai have said.

Family concerned as teenage girl missing from Dublin

Gardai are appealing for the public's help to find a missing 17-year-old girl in Dublin.

Evelina Ioana Butnaru was last seen in Inchicore, Dublin 8 yesterday.

Evelina is approximately 5 foot 6 inches with a slight build, dark hair and brown eyes.

When last seen, Evelina was wearing black leggings and a black jumper.

Gardai and Evelina's family are concerned for her welfare.

Anyone who has seen Evelina or who can assist in locating her are asked to contact Kilmainham Garda Station on 01 6669700, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.
On Tuesday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that there would be a one-mile radius containment area in New Rochelle for two weeks in an attempt to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

We are implementing new emergency measures in New Rochelle, which has the biggest cluster of #Coronavirus cases in the state.



Starting on Thursday for 2 wks, there will be a containment zone with a 1 mile radius around the site of the most cases in New Rochelle. pic.twitter.com/y4eZDK9zfU  Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) March 10, 2020

Schools, houses of worship and community centers within the area will be closed beginning on Thursday. Large gatherings of people will also be prohibited within the area during these two weeks. The National Guard will also be deployed to the containment area on Thursday and will be in charge of cleaning public spaces that have been closed, as well as delivering food to all quarantined individuals.

Although we believe that the risk generally to New Yorkers is low, I have recommended this strategy to reduce opportunities for further spread with the goal of reducing the number of new cases we are seeing in New Rochelle, state Health Commissioner Howard Zucker said at a press conference on Tuesday.

However, no additional travel restrictions have been imposed on people in the area, provided they are not currently under quarantine.Youre not containing people, Cuomo said at a press conference. Youre containing facilities.

New Rochelle is at the epicenter of the states coronavirus outbreak, with the 121 confirmed cases in Westchester County making up a majority of the states 212 cases. New York currently has the second-most cases of coronavirus in the country, behind only Washington state. On Wednesday, the World Health Organization declared that the new coronavirus had become a pandemic, citing inaction as a major reason for making the declaration at this time.

Will the containment area be enough to curtail the rising number of coronavirus patients in the state? It will certainly help, according to Joshua Epstein, an epidemiology professor at New York University. I think it will help by reducing contacts between susceptible and infected individuals, he wrote in an email to City & State. We still face uncertainty about the true level of community infection, so there may be continuing transmission, but social distancing will reduce it.

Social distancing, which is generally the idea of keeping people away from each other during a contagious disease outbreak, can include banning public gatherings or closing schools. It is now seen as an effective intervention strategy. The benefits of the practice are especially apparent when looking back at how two cities handled the 1918 influenza pandemic.

Philadelphia first began to see people contract the virus on Sept. 17, 1918, but did not implement any social distancing measures until Oct. 3  nearly two weeks later. During that time frame, authorities downplayed these initial cases and allowed large public gatherings, including a citywide parade on Sept. 28, according to one 2007 paper.

St. Louis, on the other hand, began to see influenza patients crop up on Oct. 5 and implemented social distancing practices on Oct. 7. Philadelphia had a significantly higher death rate from the flu over the last three months of 1918 than St. Louis did.

The only other recourse for curbing the coronavirus pandemic is vaccination, according to Epstein, but thats still a way off.

While the designated containment area may strike some as extreme, its completely in line with what other countries across the globe are doing. Italy, which has the most cases of coronavirus in Europe, has completely banned social gatherings and has implemented strict travel restrictions. Greece and Ukraine have closed their schools. Poland is closing all of its theaters and museums. And Singapore has strongly encouraged self-isolation to prevent the disease from rapidly spreading.

Social distancing and creating containment areas arent the only ways to prevent the spread of coronavirus but they do lessen the risk. Should the situation continue to escalate in New York, Epstein said that we may begin to see large-scale school closures.
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The Federal Communications Commission plan to repurpose some airwaves that were set aside for vehicle-to-vehicle communication wont work because signal interference from WiFi would be likely to hinder cars from effectively communicating with each other, Ford Motor Co. says its recent research has shown.

Ford told the FCC in submitted comments that WiFi signals that may be allowed to use nearby channels would interfere with connected cars sending and receiving safety information, and that the FCC should reserve all of the band for its current purposetraffic safety.

The WiFi interference prevents our vehicles from being able to instantly communicate with one another, or their surroundings, said Don Butler, executive director of connected vehicle and services at Ford. This interference undercuts real-time signals meant to protect pedestrians, prevent crashes, and identify traffic patterns.

In 1999, the FCC agreed to set aside a portion of airwaveswhich consumer groups, automakers, and local governments call the safety spectrumfor the development of future communications among vehicles and smart infrastructure, such as traffic signals. The Department of Transportation and safety experts have projected that vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communications could improve safety dramatically, potentially saving thousands of lives a year.

Broadly speaking, V2X technology permits vehicles to send and receive messages to and from other road users and surrounding infrastructure so that drivers and vehicles can receive notifications about other vehicles speeding through intersections or about traffic congestion. It could even apply emergency braking to prevent a crash. Such a system, if widely deployed and adopted, could one day work in tandem with self-driving-car technology, V2X supporters say.

Various groups and automakers have been experimenting with different V2X technologies, but widespread implementation for real-world use has languished. And now the FCC would like to allow other interests to use part of the reserved spectrum for other commercial purposes, such as for WiFi.

Story continues

In December, the FCC put out its new plan to use 45 megahertz of 75 MHz set aside for V2X to expand WiFi instead. The FCC said 30 MHz should be adequate for V2X communications. Many parts of the tech industry welcomed the FCCs plan as a way to unleash the economic potential of WiFi and high-speed 5G connectivity.

Spectrum Splitting

But Consumer Reports has serious concerns with the proposal. Until the FCC and the DOT can demonstrate that splitting the spectrum wont impede V2X safety operations, the current plan should be put on hold, says David Friedman, vice president of advocacy at Consumer Reports. V2X applications work, and they can save lives, but only if theres adequate spectrum, he says.

It seems like the FCC proposal is based more on wishes than on data, Friedman says. If youre going to eliminate more than half of the spectrum dedicated to saving lives, then you really need to have your data, and your ducks in a row.

Ford is the only U.S. automaker with a firm commitment to roll out V2X transmitters in future models. Ford backs a cellular-based technology called C-V2X. Audi announced in January that it would partner with Qualcomm to test C-V2X on certain roads in Virginia. Toyota and GM have backed a different, radio-based V2X technology called dedicated short-range communication, or DSRC.

Even within the full 75 MHz of the safety spectrum, there are real concerns about how the two technologies could coexist as they compete for the market, Friedman says.

DSRC and C-V2X cannot directly share the same bandwidth because they interfere with one another, so the FCCs plan to force them into less than half the current bandwidth means there probably wont be enough room for effective auto safety communications, Friedman says.

The Alliance for Automotive Innovation, based on the reports of interference, says the FCC should rethink its plan.

Theres no room for error heredelays of even thousandths of a single second matter for transportation safety, the Alliance said.

Groups that have advocated for WiFi have applauded the FCCs plan as a way to open up airwaves for the benefit of more consumers. Supporters of splitting the spectrum say that automakers and local governments have taken too long to use the airwaves and that the unused spectrum is needed for booming wireless industries.

WiFis use has grown dramatically, and more airwaves would open up faster service, more affordable internet, and future 5G networks, according to New Americas Open Technology Institute. That would expand an internet economy that already generates hundreds of billions of dollars a year.

But the transportation industry is united in wanting to preserve all 75 MHz of the spectrum that has been set aside for safety, rather than WiFi, said Shailen Bhatt, president and CEO of the Intelligent Transportation Society of America.

The FCC should heed the calls from safety experts and withdraw its proposal, Bhatt said.





More from Consumer Reports:

Top pick tires for 2016

Best used cars for $25,000 and less

7 best mattresses for couples



Consumer Reports is an independent, nonprofit organization that works side by side with consumers to create a fairer, safer, and healthier world. CR does not endorse products or services, and does not accept advertising. Copyright  2020, Consumer Reports, Inc.
London, UK, March 10, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Ferrero Group has selected StayinFront , a leading global provider of mobile, cloud-based field force solutions to improve retail execution and field force effectiveness for its Belgium and Luxembourg divisions. This partnership is an expansion of an already existing association between the two companies.

Ferrero Belgium and Luxembourg chose StayinFront TouchCG  Core to consolidate a number of different applications into a single, easy-to-use solution to enable the field sales reps to benefit from the latest enhancements in mobile technology such as offline Order Entry and configurable dashboards with territory and store-level KPIs.

We are utilizing several StayinFront TouchCG  modules including Auditing, Order Entry, Promotions, Share-of-Shelf and the team collaboration module, StayinFront Chat , for efficient communication between field reps and managers to share best practices and opportunities to sell more, explained Emilio Castano Rodriguez, IT Business Partner Europe Multi-Countries, Ferrero Group. We are impressed with the flexibility of the StayinFront solution that will support the rapid deployment of a single solution across the region with localization, to allow each market to have specific functionality for key business processes.

I am excited by the expansion of our partnership with Ferrero outside of the Asia-Pacific region, and look forward to working with the Ferrero Europe and US businesses to deliver innovative solutions to help the Sales teams deliver top-line growth, stated Wayne Gallaway , Vice President and Managing Director, StayinFront EMEA. Our award-winning software was created with all companies of all sizes in mind so field teams can Do More, Know More and Sell More in every store visit.

About Ferrero Group

Ferrero began its story in the little town of Alba in Piedmont, Italy, in 1946. Today, with a consolidated turnover of over 11.4 billion euros, Ferrero is amongst the market leaders of the Sweet Packaged Foods market worldwide.

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The Ferrero Group is present throughout the world with more than 41,000 people and 25 production plants. Ferrero is the producer of many brand icons that are loved generation after generation, including Nutella, Ferrero Rocher, Tic Tac, Kinder Joy, Kinder Chocolate and Raffaello, which are present and sold in more than 170 countries.

Product freshness and high quality, the careful selection of the finest raw materials, sustainable agricultural practices and continuous research and innovation are some of the key elements of Ferreros success.

For further information visit: www.ferrero.com and www.ferrerocsr.com

About StayinFront



StayinFront is a leading global provider of mobile, cloud-based field force effectiveness and customer relationship management solutions for consumer goods and life sciences organizations. Companies of all sizes, in over 50 countries use StayinFront software to streamline sales operations and reduce the complexity, time and expense associated with field efforts. StayinFront products are seamlessly integrated to provide companies with timely, accurate field data and actionable insights, enabling field reps and management to Do More, Know More and Sell More. Headquartered in Fairfield, New Jersey, StayinFront has offices in Chicago, Canada, the United Kingdom, Turkey, Ireland, Poland, India, Australia, Singapore, and New Zealand. Through its 20:20 Retail Data Insight and StayinFront Digital subsidiaries, StayinFront delivers stand alone and tightly integrated actionable insights and guided selling by analyzing retail images and data to brand managers and sales forces around the globe. For more details about StayinFront products and solutions, visit www.stayinfront.com .



StayinFront Contact

Wayne Gallaway

Vice President and Managing Director, StayinFront EMEA

+44 (0) 1494 429 560

wgallaway@stayinfront.com
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Large ecosystems like the Amazon rainforest could collapse in less than 50 years once a crucial tipping point is reached, a new study has claimed.

Researchers have argued some natural environments are collapsing at a significantly faster rate than previously thought and could transform into alternative ecosystems when put under stress.

The study, which was based on computer simulations using real-world data from more than 40 natural environments, suggested the Amazon could shift to a savannah-type ecosystem with a mix of trees and grass in just 49 years.

Meanwhile, the Caribbean coral reefs, which are approximately 20,000 square kilometres in size, could become bleached and sparsely populated in just 15 years.

The researchers studied data on the transformations of four land, 25 marine and 13 freshwater ecosystems to come to their conclusions.

Amazon rainforest swept by fires: In pictures Show all 25 1 /25 Amazon rainforest swept by fires: In pictures Amazon rainforest swept by fires: In pictures Fire rages in the Amazon rainforest in the Brazilian state of Rondonina on August 23 Reuters Amazon rainforest swept by fires: In pictures Smoke billlows from burning tracts of the Amazon rainforest in the Brazilian state of Para on August 23 AFP/Getty Amazon rainforest swept by fires: In pictures Fire rages in the Amazon rainforest in the Brazilian state of Rondonina on August 23 EPA Amazon rainforest swept by fires: In pictures Land in the Amazon rainforest left scorched in the fires in the Brazilian state of Rondonina on August 23 AFP/Getty Amazon rainforest swept by fires: In pictures Smoke billows during a fire in an area of the Amazon rainforest in the state of Rondonia, Brazil on August 23 AFP Amazon rainforest swept by fires: In pictures Fire tears through a farm in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso AP Amazon rainforest swept by fires: In pictures An area of the Amazon rainforest left scorched in the fires in the Brazilian state of Amazonas on August 24 AFP/Getty Amazon rainforest swept by fires: In pictures Satellite images show a series of fires in the southwest Brazilian state of Rondonia on August 15 AP Amazon rainforest swept by fires: In pictures Smoke billows during a fire in an area of the Amazon rainforest in the state of Rondonia, Brazil Reuters Amazon rainforest swept by fires: In pictures A satellite image released by NASA shows the active fires that have been detected in the Amazon region EPA Amazon rainforest swept by fires: In pictures Smoke billows during a fire in an area of the Amazon rainforest in the state of Amazonas, Brazil Reuters Amazon rainforest swept by fires: In pictures Smoke billows during a fire in an area of the Amazon rainforest in the state of Rondonia, Brazil Reuters Amazon rainforest swept by fires: In pictures Smoke billows during a fire in an area of the Amazon rainforest in the state of Rondonia, Brazil Reuters Amazon rainforest swept by fires: In pictures Smoke billows during a fire in an area of the Amazon rainforest in the state of Amazonas, Brazil Reuters Amazon rainforest swept by fires: In pictures Indigenous people from the Mura tribe wallk in a deforested area inside the Amazon rainforest in the Brazilian state of Amazonas on August 20 Reuters Amazon rainforest swept by fires: In pictures Fire tears through a farm in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso AP Amazon rainforest swept by fires: In pictures Smoke billows from a stretch of fire in the Amazon rainforest in the Brazilian state of Rondonia on 23 August AFP/Getty Amazon rainforest swept by fires: In pictures Smoke billows during a fire in an area of the Amazon rainforest in the state of Amazonas, Brazil Reuters Amazon rainforest swept by fires: In pictures Indigenous people from the Mura tribe wallk in a deforested area inside the Amazon rainforest in the Brazilian state of Amazonas on August 20 Reuters Amazon rainforest swept by fires: In pictures Smoke billows from a stretch of fire in the Amazon rainforest in the Brazilian state of Rondonia on 23 August AFP/Getty Amazon rainforest swept by fires: In pictures A view of logs felled illegally in the Amazon rainforest are seen in sawmills in the Brazilian state of Amazonas on August 22 Reuters Amazon rainforest swept by fires: In pictures A scorched patch of land in the state of Mato Grosso in Brazil on 20 August EPA Amazon rainforest swept by fires: In pictures Several fires are seen burning in the Amazon rainforest in this satellite image taken by NASA on 11 August AFP/Getty Amazon rainforest swept by fires: In pictures Smoke billows from a stretch of fire in the Amazon rainforest in the Brazilian state of Rondonia on 23 August AFP/Getty Amazon rainforest swept by fires: In pictures The sunsets behind clouds and smoke from fires in the Amazon rainforest in the Brazilian state of Rondonia on 18 August EPA

Unfortunately, what our paper reveals is that humanity needs to prepare for changes far sooner than expected, Dr Simon Willcock, a joint lead author on the study, from Bangor Universitys School of Natural Sciences, said.

These rapid changes to the worlds largest and most iconic ecosystems would impact the benefits which they provide us with, including everything from food and materials, to the oxygen and water we need for life.

The research, which included teams from Bangor University, Southampton University and the School of Oriental & African Studies, University of London, used computer modelling to find that while larger ecosystems took longer to collapse, their breakdown occurred relatively quickly compared with smaller systems.

We intuitively knew that big systems would collapse more slowly than small ones  due to the time it takes for impacts to diffuse across large distances, John Dearing, a professor of physical geography at Southampton University, who led the research, said.

But what was unexpected was the finding that big systems collapse much faster than you might expect  even the largest on Earth only taking possibly a few decades.

James Crabbe, a professor of biochemistry who was not involved in the study, described the research as thorough and well-researched.

However, Dr Erika Berenguer, a senior research associate at the University of Oxford and Lancaster University, who was also not involved in the study, said its conclusions were not supported by the data analysed.

Dr Berenguer argued the claim that the Amazon could become a savannah-type ecosystem was not tested in the paper, which was published in Nature Communications.

The authors use data from only four terrestrial systems, none of which is a tropical rainforest, but still claim that the Amazon, the largest rainforest on the planet, will experience a dieback in just 50 years, she said.

While there is no doubt that the Amazon is at great risk and that a tipping point is likely, such inflated claims do not help either science or policy making.

In 2019, South America saw a surge in wildfires across the Amazon within Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay and Peru, leading to international concern about the future of the rainforest.

During the peak of the wildfire season in August, Brazils National Institute for Space Research reported more than 80,000 fires across the country  a 77 per cent year-on-year increase.

Environmental organisations blamed the increase on the policies of Brazils president Jair Bolsonaro, who had weakened environmental protections and encouraged deforestation of the Amazon.

Additional reporting by PA
WASHINGTON  As Congress and President Donald Trump wrangle over how to manage the coronavirus outbreak and stave off an economic recession, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz says the federal response should stay focused where the problem is  building up testing capacity, bolstering first responders with protective gear and speeding up the development of vaccines and treatments.

Cruz called the viral outbreak an "epidemic" that "may well qualify as a pandemic now, but said the U.S. isnt heading for the Great Depression, even as stocks tumble and oil prices plummet.

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Its been a wild week in the stock market, weve seen stocks plummet. It has not helped that weve also got an oil price war breaking out at the same time, both of those are having pretty negative impacts on the economy, Cruz said on the latest episode of his podcast, Verdict, which he recorded from his living room, where he is self-quarantined after coming into contact with someone with the virus at an annual gathering of conservatives.

I think it is fair to expect that the coronavirus outbreak is going to impact peoples lives, he said. Its going to restrict what they do and it may well have a real impact on the economy. That doesnt mean were heading into the Great Depression. There are some who are eager to hold up signs saying the end is nigh. But it is a real public health crisis and it needs to be treated accordingly.

When asked for his assessment of the proposed federal responses, which include a pay roll tax cut proposed by the president and paid sick leave and other aid for workers proposed by House Democrats, Cruz said "we should keep the public policy response targeted on actually where the problem is."

For subscribers: Houston oil companies act fast to protect bottom lines in wake of biggest crash in 30 years

Cruz said hes spoken with Gov. Greg Abbott, who told him that protective gear for first responders is one of his biggest concerns. He also called for removing some pharmaceutical regulations to speed up development of medicine to combat the sickness.

We ought to maximize the incentives for medical research and innovation, Cruz said.

The senator dismissed House Democrats proposals to boost paid sick leave and bolster safety net programs like unemployment insurance and food stamps as wage controls and price controls and socialism.

He did not address the tax cuts President Donald Trump has proposed, which have faced a chilly reception on the Hill, including from Senate Republicans. U.S. Sen. John Cornyn earlier this week said talk of tax cuts is premature.

For subscribers: Why coronavirus isn't quite 'the end of the damn world' for Galveston cruise ships

Cruz also explained why he decided to self-quarantine. He said he interacted very briefly with a man, who has now tested positive, at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Maryland in late February. He said he shook the mans hand and we may have taken a selfie and the whole interaction was probably less than 60 seconds.

I am feeling great and healthy and strong, he said.

ben.wermund@chron.com
Moscow: Russia's lower house on Wednesday passed constitutional reforms in their final reading that include the possibility of President Vladimir Putin extending his rule for another two terms.

A total of 383 State Duma lawmakers voted in favour of the package of constitutional amendments, with 43 abstentions and none against.

The measures must now be approved by the upper house Federation Council and be put to a public vote scheduled for April 22.

Putin announced the package of reforms in January, then repeatedly denied they were meant to extend his grip on power as he approaches the end of his fourth and final presidential term in 2024.

However on Tuesday another amendment was introduced that would reset presidential terms, making it possible for Putin to run again if the constitutional court allows it.

The changes "are not just justified... they plan... for the strategy of the development of the country," Duma speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said after Wednesday's vote, Russian agencies reported.

Other additions to the constitution include guarantees for pension payouts and minimum salaries, and giving parliament additional power to nominate the head of government.

They also give the president additional powers to fire judges in the country's higher courts and to reject laws passed by parliament.
Former Vice President Joe Biden won decisive victories March 10 in the Michigan, Missouri and Mississippi primaries over his last remaining rival for the Democratic presidential nomination, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders. Biden and Sanders were virtually tied in the other large state voting Tuesday, Washington state.

Biden addressed supporters at his campaign headquarters in Philadelphia Tuesday night, speaking as though the contest for the nomination was over. He spoke directly to the Sanders campaign, praising Sanders personally and urging his supporters to join a united Democratic Party effort to defeat President Trump in November.

In a chilling passage of a very brief speech, Biden declared that a Democratic president would make clear to our adversaries that we will stand fast in restoring world order. Thats an American responsibility. This underscores the real axis of the campaign that the Democrats intend to wage in 2020: to brand Trump as a Russian stooge who is responsible for the disruption of US-led alliances like NATO and to reassert the role of Washington as the leader of world imperialism.

Sanders returned to his home in Burlington, Vermont, where he held no campaign events and did not speak to supporters or the media about the outcome of Tuesdays voting. Both Sanders and Biden cancelled Tuesday night rallies scheduled for Cleveland, Ohio, after the Ohio governor asked them not to hold large indoor events because of the coronavirus emergency.

The results place the Sanders campaign on life support with virtually every Democratic Party officeholder and operative lining up for Biden as the presumptive nominee. Biden extended his lead among pledged delegates to the Democratic nominating convention to about 150, roughly 800 to 650.

Missouri and Mississippi were called by the television networks just after polls closed and Michigan was called for Biden a half hour after polls closed in that state and with just 30 percent of the vote reporting.

Biden trounced Sanders in Mississippi, where the Democratic electorate is heavily skewed to older African American voters. Biden claimed more than 81 percent of the vote, while Sanders was in danger of failing to clear the 15 percent threshold to win even a small share of the states 36 delegates.

In Missouri, where Biden received the endorsement of former governor Jay Nixon as well as Representative Emanuel Cleaver, a one-time chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, and other leading Democrats, Biden won 60 percent of the vote to Sanders 35 percent, giving him the lions share of the delegates.

However, the biggest loss of the night for Sanders was in Michigan, where he had won a narrow victory over former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential primary contest, in a stunning upset that prolonged the nomination contest for months.

On Tuesday night the result was nowhere near as close, with Biden leading in nearly every county, rolling up a margin of more than 100,000 votes in the tri-county Detroit metropolitan area. Sanders, who won 73 counties in 2016, including all the rural areas, did not win a single county in 2020.

As in many other states, Bidens victory was due in large part to huge majorities among African-American voters, with exit polls showing him with a 66 percent to 34 percent margin over Sanders. In 2016, Sanders was able to overcome a similar showing by Hillary Clinton among black voters, by winning huge margins in white working class areas.

There was a significant shift to Biden in more upscale, middle class areas such as Livingston County and Oakland County. Even in Washtenaw County, home to the University of Michigan and Eastern Michigan University, Biden bested Sanders thanks to his support in upscale precincts outside the student residential neighborhoods.

While all precincts reporting, Biden led Sanders in the Michigan delegate count by 71 to 51, and he stood to increase that majority with three more delegates to be awarded.

In each of the three states where vote counting was completed Tuesday night, voter turnout was up from 2016, but Sanders' vote totals were down compared to his numbers four years ago. This contrast was sharpest in Michigan, where voter turnout rose more than 10 percent, from 1.09 million in 2016 to 1.21 million this year, but Sanders vote dropped from 599,000 in 2016 to 576,000 in 2020.

The perspective of the Sanders campaign, that he could transform the Democratic Party with an influx of new, younger voters, has proven an abject failure. In barely two weeks, the Democratic Party leadership has intervened decisively to block Sanders and elevate Biden, the most right-wing of the major Democratic presidential hopefuls, into a virtually insurmountable position as frontrunner for the nomination.

In the other contests Tuesday Sanders defeated Biden in the caucuses in North Dakota, which offered just 14 delegates, while Biden beat Sanders in the primary in Idaho, where 20 delegates were to be selected. The primary in Washington state, based entirely on mail ballots, showed a virtual tie with two-thirds of the vote counted, meaning that neither candidate would gain a significant advantage once the distribution of 89 delegates is determined.

It is expected that once all the delegates are awarded from Tuesday night that Biden will have significantly increased his lead over Sanders, with the likelihood of even bigger gains in next Tuesdays primaries in four large statesFlorida, Illinois, Ohio and Arizonawhich account for 577 delegates combined.

Even as results were still coming in Tuesday night, leading figures in the Democratic Party were voicing public demands for Sanders to wrap up his campaign and for the Democratic National Committee (DNC) to bring the primaries to a quick end.

South Carolina Representative James Clyburn, the House majority whip, speaking to NPR shortly after the polls had closed in Michigan, Missouri and Mississippi, called for the DNC to cancel all future planned debates if Biden swept Tuesdays races.

I think when the night is over, Joe Biden will be the prohibitive favorite to win the Democratic nomination, Clyburn declared. If the night ends the way it has begun, he continued, then it would be time to shut this primary down, with the DNC stepping in to call off the debates.

Clyburn, whose endorsement of Biden was critical to his victory last month in South Carolina and the resurrection of his moribund campaign, expressed concern that further debates and primary contests would be bad for Biden because he gets himself in trouble.

The DNC has announced Tuesday that the next debate, scheduled for Sunday, March 15 in Phoenix, Arizona, would be held with no audience or press present as a precaution against the spread of coronavirus. The two remaining candidates who qualify under the DNCs rules, Sanders and Biden, if the debate goes forward after Tuesdays results, would appear on stage together facing a panel of moderators and an empty auditorium.
New Delhi, March 11 : The Central Bureau of Investigation and the Enforcement Directorate are studying the documents seized during the searches carried out at multiple locations in connection with the Yes Bank scam and in the coming days the central probe agencies will summon a number of top officials of the companies named in the case, officials said on Wednesday.

On Monday, the CBI issued a lookout circular (LOC) against seven individuals accused in the scam, including Yes Bank founder Rana Kapoor and his family members to prevent any attempt by them to leave the country.

A senior CBI official related to the probe told IANS, "The agency is studying the pattern of the payments made from one company to another company by the named accused in the case." He said the agency is also studying the finances as well as the investments made by the accused and also the decision taken by the former directors of Yes Bank.

On Monday, multiple CBI teams carried out searches at the official premises of DHFL in Sir PM Road Fort, two Offices of DoIT Urban Ventures Pvt Ltd in Senapati Bapat Marg and Elphinstone Road, RAB Pvt Ltd and RKW Developers Pvt Ltd in Bandra East, residential premises of Rana Kapoor in Worli, Kapil Wadhawan in Bandra West, and Rakhee Kapoor Tandon and Radha Kapoor in Nariman Point areas.

The agency official further said that the agency has seized several incriminating documents with the details of the investments and the transactions being routed from one company to other companies.

He said that it will start quizzing the people named in the case as well as the former and present serving directors of Yes Bank and other companies named in the FIR.

The ED has already arrested Yes Bank's former MD and CEO Rana Kapoor in connection with the probe on Sunday.

Besides the CBI, the ED is also preparing the list of people for questioning.

A senior ED official related to the probe told IANS that it is shortlisting the officials as well as the former directors of the bank as well as the people associated with DHFL and other companies named in the money laundering case.

The ED official said that during the searches and after going through the bank records the team has found a serious breach of corporate governance.

He even said that the large corporates who received huge loans and whose loans were restructured by the Yes Bank are also under the scanner.

The ED official said the role of former directors and top management including non-executive chairman will be probed and in the next few days they all will be called for questioning.

The ED as part of the probe on Monday attached the portrait of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi by famous artist M.F. Hussain that was sold by Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to Rana Kapoor for Rs 2 crore in 2010.

The CBI began a probe into short-term debentures of the DHFL in which Yes Bank invested Rs 3,700 crore from April to June 2018. The probe is part of another investigation pertaining to Yes Bank's purchase of debentures from DHFL against which the company was granted loans totalling Rs 600 crore against a collateral security of around Rs 40 crore only.

The loan amount later turned into non-performing asset.

It was alleged that DHFL's promoter Kapil Wadhawan simultaneously paid kickbacks totalling Rs 600 crore to the Kapoors in the form of a loan of a similar amount to DoIT Urban Ventures, a venture owned by Rana Kapoor's daughters -- Rakhee Kapoor Tandon, Roshni Kapoor and Radha Kapoor.

It was also alleged that Yes Bank did not initiate action to recover the loans extended to DHFL.

The ED also registered a case of money laundering on the basis of the CBI FIR and arrested Rana Kapoor on Sunday morning. One of his daughters was stopped from boarding a flight to London by Immigration Department officials at Mumbai airport.

In her statement to ED, Radha Kapoor stated that in addition to the property mortgaged, she had also given her personal guarantee to DHFL and that the primary basis of personal guarantee was her 33.3 per cent shareholding in Morgan Credits Pvt Ltd and value of her unlisted businesses held under Morgan Credits Pvt Ltd.

However, in 2019, she had sold all the shares and amounts were used for repayment of debt borrowing of mutual funds and subsequently, Morgan Credits Pvt Ltd owns nil shareholding in Yes Bank, she said.

The ED also claimed that the shareholders of the DUVPL (three daughters of Kapoor) appear to have never interacted with DHFL personnel and it was Lata Dave, secretary of Kapoor in Yes Bank at that time, who used to interact with DHFL in connection with the loan.

(Anand Singh can be contacted at anand.s@ians.in)
By Joseph Signorello III

As an American, as a mayor, as a human being, Im shocked and saddened that I need to ask New Jersey, specifically Democrats in New Jersey, to do better for the safety of our families  yet here I am. Its 2020, we live in one of the best-educated states in America, and weve got whooping cough outbreaks. Seriously, whooping cough? Didnt we beat this thing?

In a world where researchers are scrambling to find a vaccine to quell the COVID-19 outbreak, immunization levels are dipping across the board for diseases weve already cured. Were looking to put out one fire while begging for the next one.

So lets talk about the state of affairs in New Jersey. In 2019, the legislature killed a bill to close loopholes in New Jerseys vaccination mandate for religious exemptions (among other clarifications to state law), and its still struggling to gain traction this year.

Great scientific minds like Rob Schnieder (you can see his credentials in excellent films like Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo and its classic sequel, Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo ) weighed in on the bill along with a healthy amount of anti-vaxxer groups to doom it. While its clear where the views of the GOP and religious groups lie, Dems opposing the bill have yet to clarify their positions succinctly and give something other than vague responses that we need to listen to the people while simultaneously being not against medicine.

From the rise of fake news to our current presidents untruth factory, we now live in a time where misinformation can have a genuine negative health impact, and elected officials have to do better. Vaccination is a topic that thousands of scientists and doctors agree on; Democrats need to lead, especially in glowing blue states like New Jersey.

Let me make this abundantly clear: the impact, efficacy, and soundness of proper vaccination are not up for debate. Over 85% of scientists support mandatory immunization; it is backed by groups like the American Academy of Pediatrics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institutes of Health, National Academy of Sciences, and World Health Organization - not exactly fringe groups.

Democrats are the party of science and reason. Its untenable to me that we cant stem the nonsensical anti-vax tide in a state where we have a healthy Democrat majority in almost all facets of government. And for those of you crying foul over religious freedoms  your liberty to swing your fist ends just where my nose begins -- when your choice to not vaccinate impacts the safety and well-being of my family and my constituents, well Im sorry, but it behooves a brave elected official to side with public well being in these matters.

To those of you supporting the anti-vax movement, youre on the wrong side of history. Youre on the wrong side of science. Youre on the wrong side of morality. Youre putting our friends, family, and relatives in danger with pseudo-science and Hollywood B-listers at your back. As mayors, we can deal with high taxes, we can get creative and work through problems that Trenton is struggling to solve, but we will not sit silent as you put the lives of our most vulnerable at risk  I will not sit silent.

This year, Im asking every mayor that dares to stand up to misinformation, fake news, and conspiracy theorists to join me in advocating for vaccination reform to keep our families safe in New Jersey and throughout the country. Join me in celebrating science, reason, and the fight to keep preventable diseases at bay this April for World Immunization Week. Its the only way we can make sure were helping to control the next global outbreak - before its too late.

Joseph Signorello III is the mayor of Roselle Park.

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.
MIGUEL MEDINA/AFP via Getty Images

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced a $1B economic support package today to help the economy cope with the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, including people who are isolating themselves.

I know that people across the country are worried, he said in a news conference in Ottawa.

The money is intended to help limit the spread of COVID-19 and to be ready for the viruss effects on everyone including the economy, and small businesses.

2020 has been marked by significant economic uncertainty, from rail blockades, cancelled resource projects to the implications of COVID-19, said Dan Kelly, president of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), in a statement.

Many small firms are concerned about both the economic and human resources issues and asking lots of questions.

The one-week waiting period for EI benefits will also be waived for everyone. Applicants will not be required to prove they have COVID-19. Ottawa is also working on options for people who self-quarantine but dont qualify for EI.

CFIB is pleased by todays federal announcement that employees who must stay home can now access Employment Insurance without a one-week waiting period, said Kelly.

This will help both workers and employers, including many small firms that are not able to offer any sick time or enough to last during a period of quarantine.

The Prime Minister says businesses facing a cash crunch will be able to access credit.

No employee should be worried about losing their jobs if they have to self-isolate, he said. No business should have to lay anyone off. If more is needed we will do it.

When asked about the economic impact the Prime Minister said: obviously there are slowdowns in the tourism sector.

He also recognized that oil-producing provinces have been particularly hard-hit in the face of falling crude prices.

Finance Minister Bill Morneau says hes in constant contact with banks. They arent seeing any challenges around credit, he said.

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Provinces and territories will receive $500 million for critical health care systems. Trudeau is scheduled to meet with his provincial counterparts tomorrow.

The support package also includes research funding that jumps from $27 million announced last week to $275 million. The rest of the money is earmarked for public education, increased testing at the National Microbiology Laboratory, ongoing support for preparedness in First Nations and Inuit communities, and protective supplies, like masks and surgical gowns.

Ottawa also says the upcoming federal budget could include stimulus spending to offset the virus effects.

We commend the federal governments responsible and targeted package of measures to protect Canadians from COVID-19 and to address the economic consequences of the current health emergency, said Goldy Hyder, President and CEO of the Business Council of Canada, in a statement.

More may be required going forward, but at this point it makes sense to hold off on major economic stimulus measures until the extent of the impact is better understood.

Hyder said the Business Council of Canada will keep the federal government up to speed on the viruss economic implications.

Meanwhile, Dan Kelly is urging Ottawa to keep a number of options on the table.

In particular, in light of plans to reduce payroll-based taxes in the US, CFIB calls on the federal and provincial governments to put planned increases in CPP/QPP premiums on hold. he said.

There are currently 94 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Canada, and one death.

More than 100,000 people around the world have contracted the virus, leading to many countries imposing restrictions on public gatherings and quarantines.

Jessy Bains is a senior reporter at Yahoo Finance Canada. Follow him on Twitter @jessysbains.

Download the Yahoo Finance app, available for Apple and Android.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11

Trend:

Two more Azerbaijani citizens medical check results are positive, they have been infected with coronavirus, the Operational Headquarters under the Azerbaijani Cabinet of Ministers told Trend on March 11.

A 51-year-old woman, who returned to Azerbaijan after medical treatment in Iran, appealed to the hospital doctors due to health problems, the statement said. During the medical check-up, autoimmune lupus erythematosus, lupus nephritis (the fourth degree) and severe chronic kidney failure were revealed.

Moreover, this woman has been infected with coronavirus, the statement said. The health condition of the patient who has been placed in a hospital with a special treatment is assessed as moderate and appropriate measures are being taken for her treatment.

A 23-year-old student, who returned from Italy, had a fever, the statement said. During the medical check-up, it was revealed that he was also infected with coronavirus. Afterwards, he was placed in a hospital with a special treatment. The patient's health condition is stable.

According to the operational headquarters, the condition of an 82-year-old Azerbaijani citizen, who was previously placed in a hospital with a special treatment with the same diagnosis, is assessed as stable severe.

The patient is under the strict supervision of doctors and all necessary measures are taken for his treatment. Other individuals who also have been diagnosed with coronavirus are still being treated in special hospitals, their health condition is stable, the statement said.
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Twitter Inc. (TWTR) and activist hedge fund Elliott Management Corp. have reached a peace deal that will allow Chief Executive Jack Dorsey to continue as CEO. Twitter will appoint three new directors to its board and create a committee to review its leadership and governance, as part of an agreement with activist investor Elliott Management and private equity firm Silver Lake. Twitter will be appointing Egon Durban and Jesse Cohn as directors, while will search for a third director with technology expertise. Silver Lake will also make a $1 billion investment in the social media company, which Twitter plans to use to fund part of its first ever share buyback, set at $2 billion. Jack Dorsey, co-founder and CEO, said, 'Twitter serves the public conversation, and our purpose has never been more important. Silver Lake's investment in Twitter is a strong vote of confidence in our work and our path forward. They are one of the most respected voices in technology and finance and we are fortunate to have them as our new partner and as a member of our Board. We welcome the support of Egon and Jesse, and look forward to their positive contributions as we continue to build a service that delivers for customers, and drives value for stakeholders.' Last week, Elliott Management bought a sizable stake in Twitter and pushed for for several changes at the company, including the replacement of Dorsey. Elliott is reportedly concerned that Dorsey has not focused enough on Twitter as he is also chief executive officer of payments company Square, Inc (SQ). Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
A reading specialist in the program, Debra Evans, spoke to me about the initiatives that are being developed to support kids who cant read, such as learning through phonics and enlisting parents. We strongly believe if the parent is on board and is 100% supportive, it trickles to the kids automatically and has a huge impact on the community as a whole, she said.
Donald Trump spent the night congratulating himself on a series of primary victories - despite only facing off against token opposition.

The President easily claimed victory in all six states up for grabs - Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, North Dakota, Idaho and Washington - tweeting out his thanks as each result rolled in.

After last night Trump has now won 1,104 delegates with rival Bill Weld holding just one, with 1,276 needed to lock up the nomination.

Donald Trump cheered himself to victory Tuesday as he won all six Republican primaries, despite facing token opposition

Trump will almost certainly lock up the Republican nomination a week from now with votes due in Florida, Illinois and Ohio

That means that Trump can officially lock down the nomination - routine for an incumbent president - in a week's time when primary votes take place in Florida, Illinois and Ohio.

Meanwhile on the Democrat side, Joe Biden scooped the lion's share of the delegates on Super Tuesday 2 - taking Michigan, Missouri, Idaho and Mississippi.

Sanders scored just one victory in North Dakota which declared early Wednesday, with votes still being counted in Washington.

The sweeping wins put Biden, 77, on a path to face Republican Donald Trump, 73, in the Nov. 3 election, and he quickly began to look ahead, calling for party unity and making an appeal to supporters of Sanders, a 78-year-old U.S. senator from Vermont.

'We share a common goal, and together we are going to defeat Donald Trump,' Biden said in Philadelphia, thanking Sanders and his supporters for their energy and passion.

Meanwhile on the Democrat side, Joe Biden looked set to claim victory after a series of thumping wins over the only rival left in the race - Bernie Sanders

Biden's wins in Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi and Idaho were powered by a broad coalition of supporters, including women, African Americans, those with and without college degrees, older voters, union members and all but the very liberal, according to exit polls by Edison Research.

Tuesday's results narrowed the path forward for Sanders, who had hoped for an upset win in Michigan, which had the lion's share of delegates available on Tuesday, to keep his White House hopes alive.

The loss in a state Sanders had won during his 2016 White House campaign will heighten pressure on the senator, a self-styled democratic socialist, to exit the race and help Democrats prepare for a bruising campaign against Trump.
Within a month, the right-wing echo chamber will be crackling with doctored memes of Joe Biden leaving the house without his pants and forgetting his own name.

After racking up more primary wins on Tuesday, the former vice-president is now all but guaranteed to take on Donald Trump in Novembers election. I cant wait. But the Trump Cult is understandably less enthused.

They wanted Bernie Sanders to enter the death-match cage in his socialist boxers.

They had stockpiled the Crayolas needed to turn him into a ridiculous cartoon.

Bidens resurrection has forced the presidents dead-on-the-inside lieutenants to stir up a new batch of toxic Kool-Aid, one they can ladle out to the dolts and dunderheads who inhabit a parallel universe where reality is whatever Dear Leader says it is.

If Trump tweeted, Gravity is a hoax!!! 99 per cent of his base would saunter off bridges while sipping Coors Light. About the only way Trump could lose the support of his brainwashed bootlickers is if he were to tell a rally, Melania is Mexican.

Wait, what? Lock her up! Lock her up! Lock her up!

The key to grasping the cosplay between Team Trump and Team Media Trump is to realize smears are always the first impulse. Their attack playbook has multiple chapters on questioning the health of a Trump opponent, mental or physical, real or imagined.

Remember in 2016, when the right-wing blowhards gave last rites to Hillary Clinton?

She has pneumonia! She has Parkinsons! She has Ebola! She has elbow cancer!

The blowhards have now settled on a smear for Biden.

Unable to call him a socialist, unable to suggest he runs a pedophile ring out of a pizza joint, unable to say he was maybe born in Kenya, Team Media Trump is questioning his mind.

One thing I find adorable about the right-wing echo chamber is the herd mentality. Does Rush Limbaugh lead a conference call each morning? These maniacs pick a talking point and then neutral drop it like its an old Datsun. The leader of Team Media Trump is Sean Hannity on Fox News. Personally, I dont get why anyone watches this smoke-and-mirrors, partisan porn. Getting your news from Hannity is like getting your vegetables from Mr. Lube. But, whatever.

If gullible viewers want to digest Synthetic SW-40 cabbage, thats on them.

On Tuesdays show, Hannity devoted a segment to Biden, beginning with a clip of the Democrat telling an angry citizen to vote for someone else. I admire Biden for having the swagger to tell people off who come at him with lies or misconceptions they probably heard on Fox.

Its refreshing.

But Hannity saw it another way.

Now does that seem like the behaviour of a grounded, balanced, lucid individual? he asked his ungrounded and unbalanced audience, his eyes betraying his own fear of #Joementum.

There is no harder job than being the president of the United States of America, said Hannity.

Im not sure about that. I think wife of Sean Hannity is probably a harder job.

Get off me! Why do you always scream out, Ivanka! when were in bed?

Hannity babbled on with his Biden smear-mongering: So, Ill ask again. Does the 77-year-old guy we are watching every day now, does he have the stamina, does he have the strength, does he have the focus, does he have the alertness, does he have the mental focus, the mental toughness and even the mental stability to be president?

I havent laughed so hard in ages.

Ah, Sean, are you sure mental stability is the card to play? Your very stable genius couldnt pass a Grade 2 spelling test. He couldnt identify more than 10 states on a blank map of America. He once stared into a solar eclipse. He cant wrap his brain around windmills or badgers. He routinely makes up words, as The Daily Show brilliantly lampooned on Tuesday night in a hilarious bit: Trumps Best Words: Bracket Edition.

The Democrats should not get nervous about this cognitive decline attack on Biden.

They should be gleefully rubbing their palms together and getting ready to counterpunch.

So what if Biden has the occasional seniors moment or sometimes pauses for a second or two to recall a name or date? Who cares? When he is elected president in November  Im now accepting bets, Trump lovers  he will be flanked by policy experts.

Remember when the White House had policy experts? Remember when the U.S. government wasnt hobbled by cuts and backfilled with partisan hacks who, instead of taking an oath to defend the constitution, have taken an oath to a defend a lying oaf? Remember when America was ready for a global pandemic such as COVID-19? Remember when the economy didnt feel like a Hubba Bubba bubble about to burst on the faces of those who blindly cheerlead policies that are against their own best interests? Remember when America was actually great?

So by all means, right-wing echo chamber, have at Bidens state of mind. Knock yourselves out. But it is Trumps screw-ups, big and small and many, that will determine the election. Even if footage emerged of Biden pulling on the tail of his dog because he thought it was a lamp, a light bulb has already clicked on: Donald Trump is unfit to lead a Circle K, let alone the free world. The takeaway after these two have their first debate wont be about Bidens mental competence  it will be about Trumps incompetence.

So dont fall into this trap, Democrats. Dont bring second doubts to a gunfight. Now is the time to rally and unify around Biden. Now is the time to turn the tables. If lunatics like Hannity want a gaffe-off between Biden and Trump, they are in for a long and painful nine months.

The truth is, even if you replaced Bidens brain with an old boot, hed be a better president than Trump. His abiding decency, his faith in government, his natural connection to everyday folk, his devotion to country over himself  all of this proves the old noggin is just fine.

Joe Biden may be slowing down a bit.

But compared to Donald Trump, his mind is a rocket ship and the thruster is experience.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-12 02:12:12|Editor: yan

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OTTAWA, March 11 (Xinhua) -- The Canadian capital city of Ottawa has confirmed its first COVID-19 case, Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson said Wednesday on his Twitter account.

The city's first case of the virus involves a man in his 40s who traveled to Austria. He attended the Ottawa Hospital and is self-isolating.

It was confirmed when the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic.

So far, there have been more than 90 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Canada and one death.

Austria identified 182 cases of the disease as of Monday, according to the World Health Organization.

Austria shares a border with Italy, which has reported more than 10,000 cases, with at least 630 deaths.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Eight years ago, William Seaquist stood inside the dining room of White Castle in Grant City posing for cameras. With a big grin he held up a framed certificate that read, Congratulations Craver For Life. And with that fanfare came $12,500 in gift cards -- the monetary value White Castle put on its lifetime supply of sliders.

Flashback to Aug. 28, 2012: William Seaquist of Great Kills poses inside White Castle restaurant in Grant City after he won the Craver Nation sweepstakes. (Staten Island Advance File Photo)Staten Island Advance

But the celebration of winning such a sweepstakes -- at that time, it was an approximate one in 150,000 chance to win such a national prize -- recently brought another great food honor to the Great Kills resident.

Thrillist paid a visit to Seaquist on Staten Island in February.

The media company filmed a documentary of the local celeb with stops at the Grant City White Castle and Rabs, where he originally claimed his treasure. They also travelled to Country Lanes in Dongan Hills. And to make the package even more complete, the Craver King was invited to be a guest at Thrillists inaugural fast food award ceremony in Manhattan on Feb. 11. Hosted by comedians Timothy DeLaGhetto and David So, the premier featured appearances by competitive eater Miki Sudo and Seaquist himself.

While on Staten Island filming, Seaquis said they had a whole crew. We went on a drive to White Castle, we went home and we went to Rabs. At the bowling alley, he handed out burgers from the restaurants signature cardboard carrying case.

Seaquist experienced his first White Castle slider in 1965. He said he was always a fan of the fast food chain.

In 2012, he entered to win a sweepstakes that awarded one lucky person a lifetime supply of White Castle products. Ultimately it was Staten Islands own that took top prize.

It was in August 2012. And they actually did contact me by email and I thought it was bull. I was sending emails back and forth to make sure it was legit, said Seaquist.

William Seaquist, center, of Great Kills poses in front of White Castle restaurant in Grant City with family and friends form left: Jamie Lee of Huguenot, daughter Lauren, 16; wife Maureen; father William Seaquist Sr. and his wife Dorothy after he won the Craver Nation sweepstakes. (Staten Island Advance File Photo)Staten Island Advance

What was the takeaway in the end?

It was $12,500 in gift cards, said Seaquist, who is retired from the New York Stock Exchange.

I paid $4,800 in taxes. But I sold half of the gift cards -- but it was still a treat to have the burgers, he recalled.

Bill Seaquist and his White Castle journey to Rab's in Dongan Hills with the Thrillist production crew. (Courtesy of Maureen Seaquist)

Seaquist said he was delighted with Thrillists visit to the borough and the 38-minute movie that resulted.

I was very happy with how it came out. We got invited to the premier, he said and recounted the winter evening in Thrillists studios.

I was sitting in back with my wife and they made us come and sit up front. They had all junk food  Arbys, Burger King..it was great! Oh, God, said Seaquist. You walked in they gave us champagne.

The Seaquists with the Thrillist camera crews in the Rab's parking lot in Dongan Hills on Feb. 9, 2020. (Courtesy of Maureen Seaquist)

That night his wife donned a pocketbook she crafted from White Castle boxes.

I actually met the head chef of White Castle at that dinner and the head of investment relations. They personally invited me out there to visit their headquarters in Colomubus, Ohio. Maybe theyll give me some more gift cards," said Seaquist with a chuckle.

He confessed his passion for the burgers.

I still go buy them. I love them still. Even though I get yelled at all the time by my wife, he said with an infectious laugh. She says, Stop eating that stuff!.

Native Staten Islander Pamela Silvestri is Advance Food Editor and food critic. She can be reached at silvestri@siadvance.com.

Maureen and William Seaquist, Great Kills, appeared at Thrillists' premier of "The Fasties," the first fast food awards show by the media company. (Courtesy of Thrillist)

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A former senior official in the epicentre of the new coronavirus outbreak in China has been charged with corruption, prosecutors said on Wednesday.

Cai Jie was secretary general of the Communist Party municipal committee in Wuhan city before being sacked in February, part of a slew of sackings among party officials in Hubei province.

The virus -- which emerged in the provincial capital Wuhan in December last year -- has now killed more than 3,100 people in China.

China's top prosecutor, the Supreme People's Procuratorate, said in a statement that Cai had been arrested on charges of taking bribes and abuse of power.

He was removed from his post in late February.

Provincial disciplinary officials said at the time he was removed that he had taken "advantage of his position to seek benefits for others and illegally procured huge amounts of funds and property."



It also said he was accused of illegally allocating government funds to private companies.

Last month a number of top political leaders of the virus-stricken province were culled, as criticism swirled over the way the outbreak had been being handled.

Jiang Chaoliang, Hubei's party secretary, was replaced by Shanghai mayor Ying Yong, while Wuhan party chief Ma Guoqiang was axed.

Hubei's two most senior health officials were also fired, while a top Red Cross official in Wuhan was sacked for dereliction of duty.

Pressure on local officials for their perceived incompetence mounted after the death of a Chinese doctor who was punished by Wuhan authorities for raising the alarm about the new virus.

Wuhan authorities also faced criticism for going ahead with an annual public banquet for 40,000 families just days before the city was placed on lockdown.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A winery has come under fire for setting up body sizing gates labelling people with terms like 'fit-looking', 'overweight' and 'big-boned'.

The 'stature challenge gates' were spotted in the carpark of Badgers Brook Estate Winery in the Yarra Valley, Victoria, over the weekend.

The pink gates feature different sizes, with the smallest slot labelled 'congratulations' and the widest slot labelled 'big-boned body'.

The other sizes included 'chubby', 'plump' and 'standard'.

A winery has come under fire for setting up body sizing gates labelling people with terms like 'fit-looking', 'overweight' and 'big-boned'

Patron Shannyn Tucker shared a picture on Facebook of the gates after she was left in disbelief when visited the winery on Sunday.

'I'm sorry but this is actually disgusting. I don't understand how this acceptable in this era. This type of behaviour sets bad body image issues,' she said.

'It shouldn't be okay to make anyone of any age feel uncomfortable for not fitting through an "ideal" space.'

Ms Tucker told 3AW earlier this week: 'I couldn't even fit my leg through the "congratulations" one, so I don't know how anyone would be able to fit through it.'

Badgers Brook Estate Winery has since apologised to customers in a statement on Facebook

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Badgers Brook Estate Winery for comment.

The winery has since removed the gates from its premises and apologised to its customers in a statement posted on Facebook.

'Dear valued customers, we apologise for the offence we caused by displaying the Body Stature Challenge in our car park,' the statement said.

'We did not understand that this would be offensive, however now we understand why it is inappropriate and have removed it.'


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New Delhi: The political crisis in Madhya Pradesh has seen Congress leader and former Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia resigning from the Congress, ending his 18-year-old association with the grand old party. Who made this transition for Scindia a smooth process? Who in the BJP was tasked with impressing Scindia to leave the Congress?

Turns out, Zafar Islam, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson and a well-known face in the media, is the man who played a key role in impressing Scindia to leave the Congress.

Before entering politics, Zafar worked for a foreign bank and drew a hefty salary. Later, influence by Prime Minister Narendra Modi`s brand of politics, he joined the BJP.

It`s said the soft-spoken Zafar enjoys "good relations" with Modi, and perhaps that`s why the BJP high command handed him the responsibility of getting Scindia.

According to sources, Zafar knows Scindia for a long time and both used to meet often during the former union minister`s stay in Delhi. However, since the last five months, Zafar was meeting Scindia "too often", apparently to bring the latter to BJP camp.

Sources said both have met "at least five times" recently. And after the meeting, Islam used to present the "conclusions and derivations" before the BJP high command. It was only after those meetings, and a careful study of their outcomes, efforts to bring Scindia to saffron party`s camp and the "Operation Lotus" began, sources said.

According to sources, "in the entire operation, only logistic and other support was provided to the BJP... the entire operation went according to Jyotiraditya Scindia".

Even on Monday and Tuesday, Zafar was present at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg during Jyotiraditya Scindia`s meeting with Prime Minister Modi.

In fact, when Home Minister Amit Shah went to Modi`s residence along with Scindia, Zafar was present in the car.
Urging people to help the riot survivors, Manik Sarkar raised questions on the role of the administration to tackle the violence that killed at least 53 people

Agartala: Alleging that the violence in Delhi was a "pre-planned conspiracy", former Tripura chief minister Manik Sarkar started a drive to raise funds for those affected by the clashes.

Urging people to help the riot survivors, Sarkar raised questions on the role of the administration to tackle the violence that killed at least 53 people.

"Hooligans were hired from outside Delhi. They ransacked and vandalised many houses and shops. It was a pre- planned conspiracy induced by communal hatred," said the veteran CPM leader.

"I urge everybody to come forward to help the riot survivors," he added.

Sarkar, who is currently the leader of opposition in the state, alleged that no serious steps were taken against those behind the violence.

The fundraising drive, being conducted by CPM activists, will continue over the next few days across the state, party leaders said.

At least 200 people were injured, many hundreds displaced and businesses destroyed in the riots that began on 24 February and continued till 26 February.

Over 700 cases have been filed, and nearly 2,400 people have either been detained or arrested.

In a statement earlier this month, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said 79 houses and 327 shops were completely gutted in arson during the violence.
A pilot was killed on Wednesday when his F-16 fighter jet crashed in Islamabad while carrying out rehearsals for the country's Republic Day parade to be held on March 23.

Wing Commander Nouman Akram died in the crash in a jungle near Shakarparian area of the capital, the (PAF) said in a statement.

The US-built F-16 fighter plane was carrying out routine exercises for the Pakistan Day parade when it crashed, it said, adding that the PAF has ordered an inquiry into the cause of the crash.

There were no casualties on the ground or damage to property, the statement said, adding that security forces have cordoned off the crash site. Smoke was rising from the crash site and rescue efforts were going on to contain the fire, the statement said.

Pakistan Day or Pakistan Resolution Day, also known as Republic Day, commemorates the Lahore Resolution passed on March 23, 1940 and the adoption of the first Constitution of Pakistan.

The annual military and cultural parade is organised in the capital Islamabad to commemorate the demand for a separate homeland for Indian Muslims which was made through the resolution passed by the All India Muslim League in Lahore.

Air show by the PAF is an integral part of the parade and its intensive rehearsals are organised weeks ahead of the parade day. Traditionally, locally-made JF-17 Thunder and American F-16 feature prominently in the air show.

Last month, a trainer aircraft of the PAF crashed near Mardan. A Mirage aircraft had crashed near Shorkot city of Punjab's Jhang district the week before. In January, two PAF pilots were killed after a training aircraft crashed near the M M Alam Base in Mianwali.
The first two cases of the coronavirus have been confirmed in Michigan.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer spoke Tuesday night about the confirmed cases, which were tested in Lansing and determined cases in a resident of Oakland County and in a resident of Wayne County. The governor said its crucial that Michiganders take preventative measures to help lower the risk of virus transmission and mitigate the spread including hand-washing and practicing touching your face less often.

The Oakland County resident is a middle-aged female who recently traveled internationally while the Wayne County resident is a middle-aged male who recently traveled domestically, according to Dr. Joneigh S. Khaldun, the states Chief Medical Executive and Chief Deputy Director for Health. Both are middle-aged individuals that are currently hospitalized.

What is Oakland County doing to prepare for the Novel Coronavirus?

Whitmer activates emergency operations center in response to coronavirus outbreak

It has moved into Michigan I urge Michiganders to take these recommendations very seriously, said Whitmer. We are taking every step that we can to mitigate the virus spread and to keep Michiganders safe. I have declared a state of emergency in order to maximize our efforts and assist local governments and officials to slow the spread.

There have been more than 1,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, in the U.S., causing 28 deaths, according to a tally from Johns Hopkins University. Worldwide, around 119,000 cases have been confirmed. Of that number, around 66,000 people have recovered while more than 4,300 people have died.

In Michigan, 39 people have tested negative for COVID-19 and 63 others have had testing approved. There are hundreds of others in the state being monitored. The state has a website set up specifically for COVID-19 and is at Michigan.gov/coronavirus.

We are taking the identification of COVID-19 in our state very seriously, said Khaldun. We continue to urge Michiganders to take precautions to prevent the spread of this virus in our state.

Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter said the county will investigate the circumstances around this case so it can understand if there are any potential close contacts.

We must all as individuals and communities continue our prevention and preparedness strategies as we hope for a full recovery for this member of the community, he said.

In February, Whitmer activated the states Emergency Operations Center to coordinate the response to coronavirus. In March, she created four task forces to combat the spread of the virus.

The task forces include:

COVID-19 Task Force on State Operations  covers all aspects of state operations, including employment and facilities

COVID-19 Task Force on Health and Human Services  covers the provision of medical and human services, including protecting the healthcare workforce

COVID-19 Task Force on Education  covers K-12 public schools and universities and colleges

COVID-19 Task Force on Economy/Workforce  covers general economic impact, workforce, supply chain, business continuity, and related issues

A majority of the U.S. deaths have been in Washington state, where 24 people have passed away as a result of the virus. Both California and Florida have confirmed two deaths. And, one of the latest deaths was reported in New Jersey on Tuesday.

On Tuesday, the governor of New York deployed the National Guard to a New York City suburb in the hopes of containing the spread of the coronavirus. The deployment came after five people in New Rochelle tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus.

National Guard is sent into New York suburb to control virus

Whitmer announces task force creation to combat coronavirus

Commissioners approve $500,000 to ready Oakland County for coronavirus
MIDDLETOWN  High school art students who never believed they were creatively inclined are discovering sculpture and other mediums are well within their reach  boosting their confidence in the process.

Some of those in visual arts department head Julie Shvetzs classes were surprised at what they could do.

Shes not pushing us to be the best artist in the world, shes letting us explore our own abilities our own strengths and talents, Middletown High School junior Logan Wenzel said. Its a process. Its not work scribbled down in a race and retrying. You build something wrong and it collapses, youve got to start over. Its harder but also more rewarding.

Senior Jack Passamano was unsure of himself taking his first real art class. The first day I said, thats not happening. Thats a little tough. But you get into it and it comes easily now. You see it come alive, as youre trying to find the right colors for all the little details.

Both are among hundreds of students in kindergarten through twelfth grade whose creations are part of the 39th annual Middletown Public Schools Art Exhibition at Wesleyan University Center for Arts Ezra and Cecile Zilkha Gallery.

Their first project was accomplished using papier-mache: One made a panda and the other an alligator.

For their gallery project, the teens sculpted a Sponge Bob-themed set along with three other friends. It included little figurines and houses for the characters SpongeBob, Squidward, Sandy and Patrick, the Crusty Crab and Chumbucket.

It was a really fun experience, Passamano said. Miss Shvetz has really helped us, and allowed us to take as much time as we needed. You get out of it what you put into it. If youre having fun who can stop you?

Connecticut now requires high school students to obtain at least one fine arts credit in order to graduate, according to Middletown High School art teacher Nicole Iovanne. Our advocate who is retired really pushed for that for many years. It took quite a long time to get the state to get that in. Finally that will happen.

Still, she pines for a time when art didnt have to be mandated in the schools. Its sad we have to prove the worthiness of art, because so much problem solving and the way to process visual information, if you dont have that, youre leaving school without some really good skills and discovering your creativity, Iovanne said.

A video of the shows setup can be viewed at bit.ly/38LdJCo .

Many of Shvetzs students, in particular those new to art classes, didnt anticipate their work being part of the show, but she was intent on including a wide variety of pieces. You empower them, and, through that, you build their confidence.

Those who may not be natural artists are also encouraged to do their best  often with surprising results. As long as theyre completing all their required criteria I give them for something, theyre going to get a good grade and Im going to be encouraging. I want to see youre putting effort in, Shvetz said.

I want you to enjoy it. I dont expect everybody to go to art school, but I want to instill a sense of enjoyment in the art and personal satisfaction with that. Theyve gotten that this year, she added.

During classroom periods, the young artists encountered a multitude of problems with their pottery: air bubbles, cracked dinner plates, cracked everything, during a project in which they created dinnerware to hold fake food, Passamano said. Next thing you know, it comes out of the kiln and its cracked in half. You cant do much about it except retry and make it again.

Clay can be very temperamental, Shvetz agreed, but I always try to flip to the bright side of things. If something breaks, what can we do to change it? Can we do it over? Can we glue something together? I keep it positive.

Passamano and Wenzel possess myriad talents. Still, they were uncertain at first of their art abilities.

Im a very serious kid. I like everything by the rules. However, I like to joke around with my friends, too, Wenzel said. I thought that would clash in here, but it helped me find more of a creative side to myself than I thought I would have.

Im a little bit more nonchalant, so I let the wind take me. I let it all unleash, Passamano added.

Every situation somebody is going to encounter is different. You cant predict if its going to work. Theres not just heres the answer in a book. This is a mental break for kids, too. Theres so much pressure on them in other classes, and testing, Shvetz said.

Anyone who believes they cant draw may be surprised what they can do if they put the effort in, Iovanne said, stressing the value of repetition. It may sound really boring, but you have to keep your practice up and repeat. If youre not constantly working, then youre not going to have success.

Over at Woodrow Wilson Middle School, eighth-grade art teacher Sean Callahan helped his students collaborate on a computer robot sculpture from classroom scraps headed for the trash.

He had them do a period of disassembling everything, which they loved so much, Shvetz said. He got to the point where he said, enough disassembling, you need to start assembling now, which I thought was pretty funny.

Art teachers choose a wide variety of ability levels to display. You know in class what their working process was like. To reward them for all the effort they put in is really important, Iovanne said.

For the elementary school level three-dimensional projects, creation continued right up until the opening at Wesleyan, she added. At the last second, theres always these straggling pieces you still want to pull for the show, Iovanne added.

Sixth-graders at Keigwin Middle School who demonstrated important basic illustration skills also were included in the exhibit. All of these goldfish they had drawn had beautiful quality of line, so, as art teachers, we really appreciated seeing that on that level, Shvetz said.

The show runs through Sunday at the Zilkha Gallery, 283 Washington Terrace. Gallery hours are weekdays, 2 to 7 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. For information, visit wesleyan.edu.
Senate Homeland Security Committee Chairman Ron Johnson (R., Wis.) decided on Wednesday to drop a subpoena of a former Ukrainian embassy official as part of an ongoing probe into Burisma and the Bidens, saying instead that he would go straight to the source and subpoena Blue Star Strategies, the U.S. firm which lobbied on behalf of Burisma.

Citing an abundance of caution and time for you to receive additional briefings, Johnson told his colleagues in a letter on Wednesday that he would postpone the vote to subpoena Andrii Telizhenko, who worked for Blue Star.

While we work through those questions, at the suggestion of both Republican and Democrat Committee members, we will instead go straight to the source and compel the same records and an appearance directly from Blue Star Strategies, he added.

The probe is focused on how Blue Star Strategies attempted to leverage Hunter Bidens role as a board member of Burisma to gain access to, and potentially influence matters at, the State Department, according to a Johnson letter earlier this month. The Wisconsin Republican said last week that he was in possession of a document from Blue Star which apologized for a misinformation campaign against Ukrainian prosecutor Victor Shokin, who Joe Biden bragged about getting fired.

Johnson, who asked the State Department for records on the matter Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R., Iowa) in November, has drawn criticism from Democratic lawmakers over his investigations, over fears that they are politically motivated  with President Trump consistently pointing to the Bidenss corrupt dealings in Ukraine.

Senator Chris Murphy (D., Conn.) sent a letter Wednesday to the inspectors general for the State Department, Treasury Department, Department of Homeland Security and the National Archives, over fears of a really concerning double standard.

Senator Mitt Romney (R., Utah) initially expressed concerns on the probe, saying theres no question that the appearance of looking into Burisma and Hunter Biden appears political, only to acquiesce after speaking with Johnson and being reassured that his subpoena would occur without a hearing or public spectacle.

Story continues

Romney did not return a request for comment on whether he was involved in the decision to target Blue Star directly.

More from National Review
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-11 22:26:22|Editor: huaxia

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BEIRUT, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Ambassador to Lebanon Wang Kejian said on Wednesday that China has made great achievements in its battle against COVID-19, but it still faces a tough duty.

"We will continue to do our best to prevent and control the epidemic in our country, and China is confident in its capacity to defeat the epidemic very soon," the ambassador said during his meeting with President Michel Aoun in Beirut, capital of Lebanon.

Wang said that China's efforts to combat the epidemic contributed to curbing its spread in the world, which was highly recognized by the experts of the World Health Organization's (WHO), stressing that China always cooperates with WHO and other countries in an open, transparent and responsible manner.

Wang noted that there is a constructive cooperation between Lebanon and China to contain this disease, through daily consultations between the Chinese Embassy in Beirut and the Lebanese Ministry of Health, saying that the Chinese companies and expatriates in Lebanon have donated medical equipment to Lebanon.

"The Chinese government is also planning on making donations to Lebanon," he said.
NEW YORKConvicted rapist Harvey Weinstein threw tables of food over his employees during volcanic fits of rage and forced them to get him prostitutes and lie to his wife, unsealed court documents reveal.

Manhattan prosecutors compiled decades worth of alleged abuses at the hands of the Pulp Fiction producer from dozens of interviews with former Weinstein staffers conducted over a two-year period.

Most describe him similarly  as a bright but vindictive, abusive individual who has destroyed much more than he has created in his years on this earth. He has repeatedly been characterized as a violent person who used his money and position to rape, brutalize and destroy others, a memo filed Jan. 18, 2018, states.

He has a talent, which he does not hesitate to use, for manipulating, fooling and dodging responsibility for what he has done to others, the note continued.

One former employee of Weinsteins told authorities that he was always behaving strangely  erratic, always snapping at people, seemed sociopathic.

He got a lot of joy by demeaning people, the woman claimed in court filings. If you opened the door for him, he would turn and say, What the f are you looking at? Dont fing look at me.

The previously unreported details were included in more than 1,000 pages of documents unsealed Tuesday in advance of the 67-year-olds sentencing Wednesday.

Weinstein was convicted Feb. 24 of criminal sexual act and rape. He faces a maximum sentence of 29 years.

One man who worked for the former Tinseltown titan in 2007 said he was forced to get prostitutes for Weinstein, who would allegedly scream in his employees faces at close range. Another person told investigators the producer stole his Social Security number in 1998 to apply for a second passport.

The 31st person prosecutors spoke with claimed he was verbally abused by the defendant, who, at a morning meeting threw a table full of food on top of him in the late 1980s.

In 2013, Weinstein threatened to physically hurt an employee and made him get out of the car on the side of the road, and abandoned him while on a business trip outside of the United States, according to the memo.

An account provided to prosecutors by a woman who worked for Weinstein in London in the late 1990s detailed a disturbing encounter in which Weinstein allegedly tried to assault her while he was naked.

The woman was forced to defend herself using a pen, and claimed she, jabbed (Weinstein) in the stomach to get him away from her.
Gerald McCants, 49, from Austin, has been charged with third-degree felony injury to an elderly person for allegedly pushing his 78-year-old father off of a cliff on Sunday

A Texas man has been arrested for allegedly shoving his elderly father off of a 40-foot cliff after luring him with the prospect of seeing a rattlesnake.

Gerald McCants, 49, was taken into custody in Austin on Sunday and booked into the Travis County jail on a charge of third-degree felony injury to an elderly person.

McCants' 78-year-old father survived the fall but suffered head injuries.

According to an arrest affidavit obtained by Austin American Statesman, the incident began unfolding at around 8.30am when McCants left his parents' home and returned a few minutes later, excitedly telling his father that he had found a rattlesnake nearby and inviting him to come and inspect it together.

The father and son set out in a vehicle and drove a half-mile to a cliff in the 5300 block of Highland Crest Drive in the Ridge Oak Park section.

McCants allegedly told his father to walk over toward a nearby cliff off the road, claiming that was the area where he had spotted the venomous snake.

As the elderly man followed his son's directions, McCants allegedly pushed him on his right side, causing the elderly man to lose his footing and tumble about 40 feet through thick brush.

McCants is accused of luring his dad to this bluff in the 5300 block of Highland Crest Drive with the prospect of seeing a rattlesnake

As the father was looking for the snake, McCants allegedly shoved him, causing the man to fall 40 feet through tangled brush

'As he was falling down the bluff, [McCants father] stated that he could hear Gerald laughing,' the affidavit stated.

First responders were summoned to the scene for a report of an assault shortly after 9am and found McCants' father alive with a deep gash to his forehead and a cut on the back of his head, along with numerous abrasions all over his body.

The septuagenarian was rushed to Dell Seton Medical Center to be treated for his injures.

McCants is being held on $20,000 bail. On Monday, a judge issued an emergency order of protection for his father.

The arrest affidavit makes no mention of a possible motive behind the violent attack.
Getty Images

RUSHVILLE  A former Schuyler County deputy who sued over what he said was retaliation because of his sexual orientation will receive $35,000 in a settlement with the county.

Former sheriffs deputy Andrew Connor agreed to drop his federal civil action in exchange. The county, which denies the allegations in the court case, agreed not to disclose any information about Connor except for the dates of his employment and last position. Connor agreed not to apply for employment with Schuyler County or the sheriffs department in the future.
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Former Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on March 11 said the opposition would cooperate with the state government in tackling the coronavirus disease.

The BJP leader also expressed the need to tell people that they need not panic over the virus.

"We all need to take care in view of the coronavirus. But, at the same time there is need to ensure there is no panic. The opposition will cooperate with the government in this regard," Fadnavis told reporters in the Vidhan Bhavan complex.

Earlier speaking in the state Assembly, Fadnavis, who is leader of the opposition in the House, highlighted the matter of about one lakh used masks found in an open area in Bhiwandi town of Thane district on March 8.

Fadnavis claimed that the used masks were brought from other countries and washed for sale in the local market.

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

He demanded action against the guilty.

Speaker Nana Patole directed the government to probe the matter and take appropriate action.

So far, there are five confirmed novel coronavirus cases in Maharashtra.

The number of confirmed cases of the virus in the country has risen to 60, with two fresh positive cases -- one each from Delhi and Rajasthan -- being reported, the health ministry said on March 11.
Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex are bidding farewell to royal life. All eyes have been on the couple for the last several days as they completed their final duties in the U.K. The prince and former actress announced in January that they were stepping down as senior royals leaving royal fans and experts everywhere wondering what their future will be like.

It was initially thought that the couple would be splitting their time between Canada and the U.K. but now how much time they will spend in Harrys homeland going forward is unclear. So are royal fans sad to see the Sussexes leave England? Read on to find out the results of a recent poll conducted, plus see the video of Prince Harry getting emotional at one of their final royal engagements.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle | Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty Images

Poll reveals how fans in U.K. feel about Meghan and Harry leaving

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex completed their last royal duty before they officially step down when they attended the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey in London on March 9.

Since they will be spending a good chunk of their time across the pond now, The Express polled fans to gauge how they feel about the pair leaving the U.K. The overwhelming majority, more than 80% voted that they were not upset to see Meghan and Harry go.

This could be due to the anger some fans are feeling over Megxit or the belief that the duke and duchess disrespected the queen and the rest of Harrys family with their decision.

Of course, there are also plenty of fans sad to see them go and at one of his final engagements, Prince Harry showed that feeling is mutual.

Video shows Prince Harry emotional at one of his final engagements

The Sussexes received a standing ovation upon their arrival at the Royal Albert Hall for the annual Mountbatten Festival of Music. The event marked the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War and the 80th anniversary of the formation of Britains Commandos.

During the minute-long ovation, Harry looked a bit emotional as he held his wifes hand and stood in his military uniform, a uniform that he will likely never wear again.

According to The Telegraph, the duke agreed to give up all of his honorary military appointments, and the resignation from three honorary roles in the military will prevent him wearing the uniform at public events such as Trooping the Colour and Remembrance Sunday at the cenotaph.

The duchess meanwhile donned a red Safiyaa cape dress with Aquazzura shoes, a Manolo Blahnik clutch, and Simone Rocha earrings.

On March 31, Meghan and Harry will officially step down from all royal duties. And because feelings for the Sussexes are split among royal fan,s some are fine that they wont be in the U.K. much anymore while others will surely miss them.

Read more: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to Make Major Announcement in the Coming Weeks
Wesleyan University has canceled in-person classes for the rest of the spring semester due to the coronavirus outbreak, the school announced Wednesday.

We will be transitioning all classes to distance learning models, university spokeswoman Lauren Rubenstein said. We are also canceling all events on campus, and suspending University-sponsored employee travel until further notice.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-11 10:50:57|Editor: huaxia

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TOKYO, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Japan on Wednesday marked the ninth anniversary of a powerful earthquake-triggered tsunami, which obliterated swathes of the nation's northeastern seaboard leaving more than 15,000 people dead and triggering the worst nuclear crisis since the 1986 Chernobyl disaster.

But due to the outbreak of the coronavirus, a ceremony held in Tokyo and supported by the government was cancelled for the first time since 2012, although Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said he will deliver a national address from his official residence and observe a moment of silence.

Areas hardest-hit by the triple disasters, including Fukushima, Iwate and Miyagi Prefectures have cancelled or greatly scaled back ceremonies that have in the past been held to offer prayers for the lives lost and hopes for the future recovery of lives affected in the devastated regions.

As the government requests that large gatherings be avoided amid the COVID-19 outbreak, alters will be set up in these areas so individuals can offer their prayers and lay flowers intermittently during the day.

Evacuation orders have been lifted in the majority of areas in Fukushima Prefecture and more than 90 percent of housing for those forced to live in temporary shelters and facilities in the wake of the disasters across the three hardest-hit regions have been completed.

However, those still living in makeshift housing at the end of January stood at 740 people in the three prefectures, with the number of displaced people dropping from the highest level of 470,000. Some 48,000 people, however, have still not returned to their hometowns since the disasters struck.

Overall, the triple disasters have claimed the lives of a confirmed 15,899 people as of March 1, according to the National Police Agency (NPA), with 2,529 still considered missing or unaccounted for.

The government has said it will maintain the operations of the Reconstruction Agency that was formed a year after the disasters to ensure that reconstruction work proceeded in a coordinated and consolidated fashion.

But concerns are rife that Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc., the operator of the crippled nuclear plant in Fukushima that underwent multiple meltdowns after being hit by a 9.0-magnitude earthquake-triggered tsunami and the government will be unable to follow the timeline for decommissioning the crippled plant.

One point in case was the decision made in December to delay the removal of spent nuclear fuel at two of the plant's reactors by five years to March 2029.

The likelihood is that the overall decommissioning of the plant will take decades, with some locals continuing to languish in the wake of the triple disasters.
She's on cloud nine after tying the knot with Masterchef host John Torode, in October.

But Lisa Faulker, 48, said struggles with 'lots and lots of failed IVF and going through the adoption process' meant she was 'always stressed and in angst,' before adopting daughter Billie, 14, with first husband Chris Coghill, 44, in 2008

Appearing on Lorraine on Wednesday, the former EastEnders actress discussed her fertility issues, the death of mum, and explained how she keeps her mental health in check.

Difficult time: On Wednesday, Lisa Faulker, 48, said that struggles with 'lots and lots of failed IVF and going through the adoption process' meant she was 'always stressed and in angst'

She said: 'For me, wellness and mental health means self-care.

'We all struggle at times in our life with anxiety and stress and feeling below par. To me, I have to keep that in touch.'

Touching on the difficulties she's been through during her life, Lisa admitted that her 'low mood' began as a teen, when she lost her mother.

She continued: 'My mum died when i was 16, which is when i started feeling very low. Since then, I've had to keep talking to people to make sure I don't sink very low.

Family: While she is now mother to daughter Billie, 14, through adoption, the actress admitted that the road to motherhood wasn't easy in the beginning (pictured in 2011)

Candid: Appearing on Lorraine, the former EastEnders actress discussed her fertility issues, the death of mum, and explained how she keeps her mental health in check

'I've lived my life in front of the spotlight since I was 16, which can be positive and negative.

The mother-of-one also detailed how fertility issues and the desire for a child left her feeling anxious.

'I struggled with lots and lots of IVF which failed and going through the adoption process, which meant I was always stressed and in this angst,' said Lisa.

Interview: Lisa has previously opened up about her her journey towards motherhood and the heartache she felt after failed rounds of IVF (pictured in May 2019)

Happy: Gushing about her daughter, Lisa previously said that she 'couldnt have made one any better' and she's 'an amazing little girl' (pictured in 2015)

Discussing ways to help sufferers cope with mental health issues, she explained: 'Walking helps clear my head and gives me that sense of calm.

'Across the UK, there are a number of groups that want to connect us with nature.

'Wild in the City helps people explore nature, we're introducing people to these amazing spaces which are on our doorstep.

'We're more connected with screentime, a lot of us are experiencing loneliness,' noted the TV star.

Lisa has previously spoken candidly about her fertility struggle, recalling how she felt when her fertility doctor Mohammed Taranissi told her that her in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) journey was over.

Speaking about her fertility doctor, Lisa told The Sun: 'I remember thinking: "Why are you letting me go?" I didnt understand. Everyone else had many goes at IVF and I only had three.

Honest: Speaking about her fertility doctor, Lisa said: 'He said I was mentally and physically done. He said I was on the edge, but I couldnt see that at the time' (pictured in June 2019)

'He said I was mentally and physically done. He said I was on the edge, but I couldnt see that at the time.'

Lisa added that she found IVF was a 'lonely' experience which was why she wrote her book Meant to Be: My Journey to Motherhood.

She said: 'I finally felt confident enough to write it. Going through IVF was lonely. I wanted the book to hold somebodys hand through that. There was no book for me.'

Honesty: 'Going through IVF was lonely' Lisa has previously admitted (pictured in July 2019)

John, 47, and Lisa married in a romantic autumnal ceremony at Aynhoe Park in Northamptonshire, in October 2019.

The pair, who have been dating since 2015, announced the Christmas Day proposal in an Instagram post last year.

In November, Australian restaurateur John shared his delight over the return of the newlyweds' cooking series, John and Lisa's Weekend Kitchen.
International Consultant - Environmental Information Management System Scoping Expert, Niue

Organization: UNDP - United Nations Development Programme

Country: Niue

City: Alofi, Niue

Office: Niue R2R project

Closing date: Wednesday, 18 March 2020

International Consultant - Environmental Information Management System Scoping Expert

Location : Niue, SAMOA

Application Deadline : 18-Mar-20 (Midnight New York, USA)

Additional Category : Climate & Disaster Resilience

Type of Contract : Individual Contract

Post Level : International Consultant

Languages Required : English

Starting Date : (date when the selected candidate is expected to start) 01-Apr-2020

Duration of Initial Contract : 4 months

Expected Duration of Assignment : 4 months

Background

Project Title: Application of Ridge to Reef Concept for biodiversity conservation, and for the enhancement of ecosystem services and cultural heritage in Niue (R2R Niue)

Project Description or Context and Background: The Application of the Ridge-to-Reef Concept in Niue project (Niue R2R) aims to make the consideration of biodiversity a fundamental part of everyday resource planning and development in the country. It will achieve sustainable biodiversity protection and management in Niue by safeguarding Niues global environmental values and by strengthening conservation and sustainable use of land, water and marine areas and their biodiversity. It builds on cultural heritage values through integrated national and community actions, using the ridge to reef approach covering the entire island including terrestrial, coastal and marine ecosystems. It reduces or eliminates damaging activities, promotes rehabilitation and sustains activities by resource users which protect their natural resources upon which their livelihoods depend.

The application of the ridge to reef concept is a holistic and integrated approach that is a considerable departure from the standard sectorial approaches. It enhances Niues capacity to effectively create and manage protected areas, focusing on the expansion of its PA estate on land and marine areas through a combination of community conservation areas and government-led PAs. In Community Conservation Areas, strict protection and sustainable use zones are identified and planned carefully, recognizing that tenure over most land areas is vested in local communities. The project will engineer a paradigm shift in the management of marine and terrestrial PA sites from a site centric approach to a holistic ridge to reef management approach, whereby activities in the immediate production landscapes adjacent to marine and terrestrial protected areas will be managed to reduce threats to biodiversity stemming from key production activities (tourism and agriculture).

The Niue R2R project will have an immediate global environmental benefit, albeit on a small scale, through the increased management efficiency of land, forests and reefs and the expansion of the forest areas under protection through land use plans and innovative protection mechanisms agreed with landowners. This will lead to the sustainability of natural productivity and conservation of the habitats of a number of plant and animal species and valuable ecosystems. As a result, globally significant biodiversity will be conserved and valuable ecosystem services will be safeguarded.

The project will enhance the long term institutional capacity of Niue at both central government and village and community levels, together with the mainstreaming of a sustainability ethic into land, water and reef use.

The Niue R2R project will be implemented over 5 years for a cash cost of approximately $4.2 million from the Global Environment Facility and a further estimated $10 million in co-financing.

The Project Objective is: To strengthen conservation and sustainable use of land, water and marine areas and their biodiversity by building on their cultural heritage values through integrated national and community actions

This Objective will be achieved through two inter-related Outcomes, viz. -

Outcome 1: New community conservation and national protected areas established at different levels, thus reducing threats and improving biodiversity status of conservation areas through effective community management.

Outcome 2: Strengthened community and cross-sectorial involvement of relevant national government departments to promote effective Ridge to Reef management by mainstreaming biodiversity and environmental concerns into plans and actions.

On behalf of the Government of Niue, UNDP is recruiting an Information Management System Expert for Niue to support the implementation of project activities relating to the development of conservation areas under the Niue R2R Project.

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of Work: The objective of the Information Management System Expert assignment is to scope an Environmental Information Management System (EIMS) for Niue to be established under the Niue R2R project to ensure that the EIMS is fit-for-purpose, meeting the countrys environmental information needs with a system that is user-friendly and based on hardware and software suited to local conditions and the support expertise available in-country. The EIMS should establish a solid foundation upon which Niues institutional capacity will continue to be strengthened and sustained beyond the end of the R2R project. It will hold site-based information on biodiversity, ecosystem values, conservation status as a fundamental part of its everyday resource planning and development.

The EIMS should also support the development and management of new community-based terrestrial and marine conservation areas (R2R project Outcome 1) by making provision for data collected to monitor trends of indicator species at these sites. This data may be collected by the communities themselves.

The Consultant is expected to liaise with the various Government agencies and other stakeholders who would use the EIMS, and review equivalent databases in other Pacific Island countries particularly any developed under R2R Projects.

The Consutlant is also expected to provide recommendations an overall design of the system - e,g, what software and hardware platforms should be used. The detailed design and development of an agreed EIMS, its procurement, deployment, piloting, and training in its use will be a separate consultancy to follow this scoping one.

The Consultant will undertake the following tasks and activities: Task 1: Undertake a comprehensive analysis of the environmental information management needs of the country and the requirements of an EIMS to meet these.

Hold consultation meetings with staff of DoE, DAFF, Ministry of Infrastructure (Dept of Utilities), Justice Lands and Survey, other Government Departments and Ministries, the Private sector, NGO and local community representatives to obtain feedback on the information management needs for the Ministry of Natural Resources and recommendations for strengthening.

Collate, review, analyse to assess data requirements for the EMS and goals, targets and indicators in Land Use Plans, Village Development Plans, terrestrial and marine conservation area plans, sectoral plans, climate adaptation, and those required for national reporting.

Conduct a situational analysis of the Ministry of Natural Resources information management system, including the assessment of the information management needs required to achieve effective and efficient data management to support sound environmental management, monitoring and reporting.

Conduct a review and analysis of existing and planned databases and Conduct a review and analysis of existing and planned databases and information management systems across Government Ministries and Departments (e.g., Coastal Fisheries databases, Biosecurity/Quarantine databases, SLM, Land and Surveys databases, Meteorological Service, Statistics Niue, etc.) to ensure complementarity and harmonization as necessary.

Review and analyse relevant databases to identify gaps in data sets and environmental information, in particular biodiversity and ecosystem services data and information for the development, implementation and tracking of indicators for monitoring of conservation areas management plans, land use plans, village development plans, and sectoral and climate adaptation plans, and national reporting.

Task 2: Make recommendations on the overall design of an EIMS to meet the needs identified, with strong linkages to the National GIS system managed by the Department of Justice, Lands, Survey & Community Affairs. He/she will include advice on how the system should be managed and by whom.

Expected Outcomes and Deliverables

Specific deliverables include the following but are not limited to;

Provide a report with recommendations on the overall design and management of an EIMS detailing the information obtained on the current situation and the analysis of future needs behind those recommendations.

Institutional Arrangement

The international consultant will work closely with the staff of the Department of Justice, Lands, Survey & Community Affairs who manage the countrys GIS system, the Department of Environment who coordinate State of the Environment Reporting, the Chief Technical Adviser, R2R and will report to the Project Manager, R2R, in the PIU.

Reports and documentation will be shared with the R2R Project Manager and UNDP MCO Programme Officer in a timely manner.

Duration of the Work

The assignment will last 40 working days and is to be completed over 3-4 months.

Duty Station: Home-based with travel to Niue for one 2-week mission to Niue. While in Niue, the consultant will be based in the R2R project office.

Competencies

Competencies:

Demonstrates commitment to the Government of Niue mission, vision and values.

Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability

Focuses on result for the client and responds positively to feedback

Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude

Tags biodiversity biosecurity cultural heritage data management development plans ecosystem services environmental information environmental management fisheries government departments information management information needs land use local communities marine areas marine ecosystems monitoring and reporting natural resources procurement project manager protected areas subsistence allowance

Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities

Good inter-personal and teamwork skills, networking aptitude, ability to work in multicultural environment

Required Skills and Experience

Qualifications of the Successful Contractor/Contracting Team:

At least a Bachelor degree in Environmental Management, Ecology, Conservation Biology or a related discipline (20%)

Minimum 5 years of relevant work experience in the field of informational database design and development, ideally related to the environment. (55%)

Experience working with developing countries, ideally in the South Pacific. (10%)

Ability to conduct research, and analysis, with strong synthesis skills (10%)

Proficient in both written and oral English. (5%)

Evaluation criteria: 70% Technical, 30% financial combined weight

Technical Evaluation will be based on the information provided in the CV and the relevant documents submitted as evidence to support possession of required competencies and qualifications.

Scope of Bid Price & Schedule of Payments: DELIVERABLES

DUE DATE (%)

AMOUNT IN USD TO BE PAID AFTER CERTIFICATION BY UNDP OF SATISFACTORY PERFORMANCE OF DELIVERABLES

Upon signing of contract and provision of inception report

(10%)

$XXX

Upon provision of brief report on Mission visit to Niue

April 2020 (25%)

$XXX

Upon completion and approval of final report with recommendations on the overall design and management of an EIMS, detailing the information obtained on the current situation and the analysis of future needs behind those recommendations.

May 2020 (65%)

$XXX

TOTAL

40 working days

$XXX

The financial proposal shall specify an all-inclusive daily fee including all foreseeable expenses to carry out the assignment.

All envisaged travel costs must be included in the financial proposal. In general, UNDP should not accept travel costs exceeding those of an economy class ticket. Should the IC wish to travel on a higher class he/she should do so using their own resources.

In the case of unforeseeable travel, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between the respective business unit and Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed based on provision of supporting documentation.

For mission travel, the consultant will be responsible for making his/her mission travel arrangements in line with UNDP travel policies; and the Individual Contractor shall receive a per diem not to exceed United Nations daily subsistence allowance. The mission travel cost will be excluded at this time from the price proposal.

Recommended Presentation of Proposal: Given below is the recommended format for submitting your proposal. The following headings with the required details are important. Please use the template available (Letter of Offer to complete financial proposal - Annex II).

CVs with a proposed methodology addressing the elements mentioned under deliverables must be submitted by Wednesday 18 March 2020. Incomplete applications will not be considered and only candidates for whom there is further interest will be contacted. Proposals must include:

CV or P11 form addressing the evaluation criteria and why you consider yourself the most suitable for this assignment.

3 professional references, including most recent completed work

A brief methodology on how you will approach and conduct the work (2 pages maximum),

Financial Proposal specifying the daily rate in US Dollars and other expenses, if any

Letter of interest and availability specifying the available date to start and other details.

Kindly note you can upload only ONE document to this application (scan all documents in one single PDF file to attach).

Queries about the consultancy can be directed to the UNDP Procurement Unit procurement.ws@undp.org

ANNEX: ANNEX I - INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS

ANNEX II - Offerors letter to UNDP Confirming Interest and Availability

ANNEX III - P11 form http://www.undp.org/content/dam/undp/library/corporate/Careers/P11_Personal_history_form.doc.

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
A worker is seen on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York, U.S., February 28, 2020.

Check out the companies making headlines in midday trading.

Apache Corp.  Shares of the exploration and production company slid more than 23% on the back of declining oil prices. The energy sector was among the worst performers during Wednesday's session as all components traded lower. Other notable decliners include Noble Energy, which slid more than 20%, as well as Occidental Petroleum, which was down more than 17%.

DXC Technology  Shares of DXC ended the day flat after the IT services company said it will sell its Medicaid services unit to private equity firm Veritas Capital for $5 billion in cash. DXC was one of the four companies in the S&P 500 that were in the green amid the massive sell-off Wednesday.

Hilton Worldwide  Shares of Hilton Worldwide dropped more than 10% after the hotel operator pulled its financial guidance for the current quarter and the full year. The move was due to the unknown impact of the coronavirus on its business.

Apple  Apple shares fell more than 3% after an analyst at Bank of America Securities cut his price target on the tech giant to $320 per share from $350. The analyst said 5G iPhones may be delayed as Apple's supply chains remain under pressure amid the coronavirus outbreak.

Citigroup, Wells Fargo  Bank stocks fell sharply in Wednesday morning's trading, with several major names falling more than the broader market. Citigroup was one of the worst performers, dropping 8.6%. Wells Fargo, whose CEO testified before Congress on Tuesday, fell about 7.8%. Mid-sized banks PNC Financial and Citizen's Financial slid 5% and 8%. Shares of Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley lost more than 6%.

Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line  Cruise line stocks took a huge beating as the coronavirus outbreak continued to worsen and investors remained skeptical about a fiscal stimulus package or targeted measures to aid the struggling industry. Norwegian Cruise Line was down more than 14%, while Royal Caribbean and Carnival dropped 9% each.

Gilead  The Foster City, California-based biotech company represented one of just a handful of S&P 500 companies in the green on Wednesday. Gilead shares rose 1.8% as the angst over the novel coronavirus that has marred financial markets returned. Gilead is reportedly working with the CDC on an antiviral remedy to combat the disease.

Cloudera  Shares of Cloudera rose 0.5% after beating on the top and bottom lines of its quarterly earnings. The software company reported 4 cents per share, while analysts were expecting a loss of 3 cents per share. Revenue came in at $211.7 million, higher than the forecast of $201.8 million, according to Refinitiv. Next quarter revenue outlook was roughly in line with estimates and earnings outlook was better-than-expected. Full year 2021 earnings and sales outlook topped expectations.

PepsiCo  Shares of PepsiCo dropped about 3% following its announcement that it has agreed to acquire Rockstar Energy for $3.85 billion. The soda company is doubling down on energy drinks and with an eye toward turning around its struggling Mountain Dew brand.

Korn Ferry  Shares of Korn Ferry tanked 12% after the consulting firm sounded the alarms on the coronavirus. The company said the outbreak has "clouded the near-term predictability of our business." Korn Ferry reported better-than-expected earnings and revenue in its fiscal third quarter, however.

 CNBC's Pippa Stevens, Maggie Fitzgerald, Jesse Pound, Fred Imbert and Thomas Franck contributed reporting.

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On Monday evening, teachers, students and parents in Californias Sweetwater school district demonstrated outside a school board meeting against the planned firing of hundreds of teachers and the closing of learning centers which help educate socially disadvantaged students.

The Socialist Equality Partys 2020 election campaign is fighting to build a socialist leadership among workers and youth to defend public education and all the social rights of the working class. Join the fight at Socialism2020.org.

Sweetwater teachers and students under attack in Chula Vista, California - by Norissa Santa Cruz
The Electoral Commission on Tuesday, 10th March briefed the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana on the justification of the acquisition of a New Voter Management System and the compilation of a new Voters' Register at Abokobi in Accra.

Addressing the General Assembly, the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Jean Mensa reiterated that the analysis made by the Commission and experts made it imperative for the justification of the acquisition of a New Biometric System and a New Voters' Register.

She assured them that, the Commission will work within the stipulated legal time lines and go through all the processes from registration of voters to the exhibition of the Provisional Register to deliver its mandate of free, fair and credible elections in December, 2020.

Rt. Rev. Prof. J. O. Y. Mante (PhD), Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, thanked the Chairperson for the comprehensive briefing and update on the issues surrounding the acquisition of a New Biometric System and the compilation of a New Voters' Register.

He lauded the Commission's bold initiative for in pursuit of the national interest to ensure free, fair and credible elections in the December Polls.

He also assured the Commission of their continuous prayer for excellence in the delivery of its mandate and called on all Stakeholders to play their respective roles effectively for the success of the general elections in December.

The four member delegation which was led by the Chairperson Mrs. Mensa, comprised Dr. Bossman Eric Asare, Deputy Chairman, Corporate Services, Mr. Samuel Tettey, Deputy Chairman, Operations and Sylvia Annoh, Ag. Director Public Affairs.

Present at the quarterly meeting of the church was Rev. Dr. Godwin Nii Noi Odonkor, Clerk of the General Assembly Council of the Presbyterian Church, Rev. Antwi the Public Relations Officer of the Church, Rev. Ishmael D. Asare, Chairperson, Akuapem, Rev. Dr. Seth Kissi, Chairperson, Akyem Abuakwa, Mr. George Kumi Brobbey, Lay Rep. West Akyem among other Reverend Minister.

---Daily Guide
Bima Enagi, senator representing Niger south, has introduced a bill seeking to outlaw power generating sets better known as generator...





Bima Enagi, senator representing Niger south, has introduced a bill seeking to outlaw power generating sets better known as generators in the country.





The bill, which passed first reading at a plenary session on Wednesday, proposes to ban the importation and use of all kinds of generators.





A lot of Nigerians depend on generators for electricity generation in their homes and businesses owing to irregular power supply.





The country currently generates approximately 4,000mw of electricity but distributes about 3,000mw for a population of about 200 million.

A copy of the bill states that anybody who imports or sells generators into Nigeria risks at least 10 years of imprisonment.





It states that anybody who: Imports generating sets; or knowingly sells generating sets shall be guilty of an offence and be liable on conviction to be sentenced to imprisonment for a term not less than ten years.





It added that all persons are hereby directed to stop the use of electricity generating sets which run on diesel/petrol/kerosene of all capacities with immediate effect in the country.





The bill, however, exempts generating sets used for essential services.





It defined essential services to include medical purposes (hospitals and nursing homes and healthcare facilities), airports and railway stations/ services.





Also listed as essential services are elevators, escalators, research institutions and such facilities that require 24 hours electric power supply.





It added that the approval for exclusion shall be obtained from the minister of power.




By IANS

RANCHI: After Madhya Pradesh, will the BJP turn its attention to Jharkhand? Sources have indicated that the BJP is trying to woo Hemant Soren, the chief minister, who in alliance with the Congress formed the government in the state last year.

Bringing back Babulal Marandi to the BJP is a part of the bigger game plan, sources in Jharkhand claimed.

A close aide of Marandi told IANS, "When Hemant Soren took oath as the chief minister last year, he first came to the residence of Babulal Marandi and touched his feet. Soren treats Marandi like his father. One should not be surprised if Soren decides to part ways with the Congress with whom he is very uneasy of late."

ALSO READ | Madhya Pradesh crisis: All eyes on Sachin Pilot in Rajasthan after Jyotiraditya Scindia revolt

He added that bringing Marandi into the saffron fold is only a part of the bigger game plan to form the government in Jharkhand. "Whenever the situation arises, the BJP will not hold back from forming the government with the support of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha," he said.

Sources claim that due to the tussle between the Congress and the JMM, chief minister Soren has not yet inducted a Christian into his cabinet in spite of the Congress putting a lot of pressure on him.

Soren of late has also started playing the politics of soft Hindutva by offering prayers at the Kashi Vishwanath temple in Varanasi and Deoghar, a prominent Hindu religious place in Jharkhand, though before the elections he had said the tribals have a separate religion other than Hinduism.

In 2009, the BJP had extended support to the JMM to form a government led by Shibu Soren, Hemant Soren's father.
Speaking Wednesday afternoon in his hometown of Burlington, Vt., just one day after he suffered a series of losses in the Democratic presidential primary, Sen. Bernie Sanders vowed to continue his campaign for now, but outlined his ultimate goal  ousting President Trump.

In my view, he is a racist, a sexist, a homophobe, a xenophobe and a religious bigot, Sanders said of the president. He must be defeated, and I will do everything in my power to make it happen.

Tuesdays Democratic primaries in six states gave former Vice President Joe Biden a nearly insurmountable delegate lead, and left Sanders at a crossroads where he must decide whether to end his campaign or go forward amid increasingly long odds.

Last night obviously was not a good night for our campaign from a delegate point of view, Sanders said.

His remarks Wednesday shed light on his path forward, which appears focused on pressing Biden on a progressive policy agenda. He plans to do that during the debate that is set to take place Sunday in Phoenix.

Though Sanderss path to the nomination looks increasingly unlikely, he did score a victory in North Dakota and is leading the ongoing vote count in Washington state. He noted that Biden won Michigan, Missouri, Idaho and Mississippi.

But even if Sanders does pull off a win in Washington, the delegate math is increasingly daunting for him.

However, he declared victory on other fronts. He said poll after poll shows a majority of Americans support elements of his agenda, including universal health care, free public education, raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour, ending mass incarceration, overhauling the immigration system and mounting aggressive efforts to combat the existential threat of climate change. Biden offers more moderate approaches to each of these issues.

Sen. Bernie Sanders speaks to the press on Wednesday in Burlington, Vt. (Joseph Prezioso/AFP via Getty Images)

As he outlined the central components of his agenda, Sanders pointed out that polls and election results have shown he outperforms Biden among younger voters. Bidens victories have been fueled by dominance among older voters.

Story continues

It is not just the ideological debate that our progressive movement is winning. We are winning the generational debate, said Sanders. While Joe Biden continues to do well with older Americans  our campaign continues to win the vast majority of votes with younger people.

Sanders suggested the Democratic Party would benefit from being more responsive to the concerns of younger people who backed his platform.

Today I say to the Democratic establishment: In order to win in the future, you need to win the voters who represent the future of our country, and you must speak to the issues of concern to them, Sanders said. You cannot simply be satisfied by winning the votes of people who are older.

He acknowledged, however, that he appeared to be losing the debate over electability with Democratic voters. He said his campaign team had heard from voters all over this country who said they agree with his policies but believe Biden is the best candidate to defeat Donald Trump.

Needless to say, I strongly disagree with that assertion, Sanders said.

He indicated he is eager to participate in Sundays debate and plans to question Biden about the former vice presidents plans for Americans struggling with medical bills and college education, and the energy issue, among other areas.

I very much look forward to the debate in Arizona with my friend Joe Biden, he said.

Sanders did not take any questions from the reporters who showed up to cover his remarks, which were announced shortly ahead of time. He ended by putting the focus back on his desire to see Trump lose.

Donald Trump must be defeated, and I will do everything in my power to make that happen, Sanders said. On Sunday night in the first one-on-one debate of the campaign, the American people will have the opportunity to see which candidate is best positioned to accomplish that goal.

_____

Read more from Yahoo News:
Oil stocks could rebound if Saudi Arabia and Russia resolve their differences and "save OPEC," and investors should take advantage of any near-term gains by selling their position, according to Jim Cramer.

Cramer Advises Selling Oil Names With 'Terrible Balance Sheets'

Saudi Arabia and Russia's public fallout could be rectified, a move that would support oil prices and "reinstate the old order," Cramer said on Monday's "Mad Money."

The top priority for investors would be to sell their oil on an OPEC-themed rebound, the CNBC host said.

Investors who need cash right away and are looking to sell oil names should start with companies that have "a terrible balance sheet," like Occidental Petroleum Corporation (NYSE: OXY), he said.

Occidental's stock was particularly hit hard Monday, and its 25% dividend yield is unsafe, Cramer said.

The company made a big mistake in buying Anadarko, a "decent" producer at best, for $55 billion, he said.

Citing data from Cramer's most trusted oil expert, RBN Energy's Rusty Braziel, Cramer said Occidental has a $30-per-barrel find and development cost and a $34 per barrel lifting cost  making it the "third-worst" among the 37 U.S. producers Braziel follows.

"I begged this company's CEO  begged  not to buy Anadarko, but she did it anyway," Cramer said. "Now, I'm begging you not to buy Occidental."

Cramer Expects Bankruptcies

Oil and gas stocks should be avoided, in part due to a generational shift as new investors demand exposure to green technologies and themes, Cramer said.

The bigger picture and more dominant headwind facing the industry is the "sudden collapse" in oil prices as Saudi Arabia and Russia enter a "vicious price war," he said.

Some "good" American shale companies can not only survive the price war but thrive in it, Cramer said  but added that there are "many" bad companies, and investors should expect to see bankruptcies.

Story continues

Related Links:

What 'World War Oil' Means For The Sector: Analyst Says US Shale Companies In Trouble

Plunge In Oil Prices, Coronavirus Sell-Off Signal Recession, Analyst Says

Riyadh photo via Pixabay.

See more from Benzinga

 2020 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Disney+ that was expected to go live on March 29 has already gone live in India. The Hotstar app has been rebranded as Disney+ Hotstar. Popular Disney shows such as The Mandolarian (from Star Wars Universe), High School Musical and The World According to Jeff Goldblum are available on this app.

Hi! Disney+ will be coming to Hotstar on 29th March. More details will be shared in the coming weeks. Stay tuned. Hotstar (@hotstartweets) March 9, 2020

Hotstar app has done away with its green and yellow colored logo and black background and is replaced by the blue colour of Disney. The app has been renamed as Disney+ Hotstar and Disney+ streaming service also gets highlighted in the branding.

Disney+ is the original content streaming service from Disney and will come with access to a lot of Disney content. This includes the entire Marvel franchise by Disney, though Hotstar Premium already features most of the major Marvel franchise movies.

Based on early usage, Disney+ content is likely to be available for Hotstar premium customers. The Premium subscription of Hotstar is available at Rs 999 per annum or Rs 299 per month.

To be able to check out the latest Marvel movies and more original content by Disney, the users need to go to either the App Store or Google Play Store and update the Hotstar app on their phones. Hotstar Premium and VIP content have been marked simply with P and V and the older crown and star symbols are gone. For instance, Marvel Universe's Avengers Endgame has been marked using V and Captain Marvel has been marked using P.

Also read: Hotstar blocks latest episode of John Oliver's show critical of PM Modi

Also read: Netflix cancels first month free offer; here's how much you'll have to pay now
A man infected with coronavirus could have come into contact with more than 1,000 people in one day before he knew he had contracted the deadly disease.

The man, who is in his 50s, fell ill on Saturday evening after travelling on Virgin Australia flight VA24 from Seattle to Melbourne.

He attended the Port Phillip Mussel and Jazz Festival at South Melbourne Market and sat in section nine watching the Melbourne Rebels and Johannesburg Lions rugby match at AAMI Park before feeling unwell.

Chief health officer Brett Sutton told The Herald Sun only people who spent time near the infected man should be isolated.

A man infected with coronavirus could have come into contact with thousands of people after attending the Port Phillip Mussel and Jazz Festival at South Melbourne Market on Saturday

The man also sat in section nine watching the Melbourne Rebels and Lions rugby match at AAMI Park (pictured). Chief health officer Brett Sutton said only people who were sitting close to the man should quarantine themselves

'They dont need to quarantine themselves unless they were aware they were sitting very close to him,' he said.

The man is among a string of coronavirus diagnoses from patients who recently disembarked flights from the United States, including Toorak doctor Chris Higgins, who became sick in a flight between Denver and San Francisco on February 27.

Dr Higgins consulted more than 60 patients on his return to Australia before being confirmed to have the disease.

A male teacher from Yeshiva-Beth Rivka College in St Kilda East also became sick after returning from Los Angeles on Qantas flight QF94.

He taught at the school for half a day on Monday, which has 1,250 students enrolled.

Many students are waiting for test results after coming into contact with the teacher, with the school closing on Wednesday.

A male teacher from Yeshiva-Beth Rivka College in St Kilda East taught at the school for half a day on Monday before being diagnosed with coronavirus, with many students waiting for test results to see if they have contracted the disease

CORONAVIRUS CASES IN AUSTRALIA: 27,244 Victoria: 20,269 New South Wales: 4,273 Queensland: 1,161 Western Australia: 692 South Australia: 473 Tasmania: 230 Australian Capital Territory: 113 Northern Territory: 33 TOTAL CASES: 27,244 ESTIMATED ACTIVE CASES: 269 DEATHS: 897 Updated: 5.31 PM, 11 October, 2020 Source: Australian Government Department of Health Advertisement

Parents were told children should not attend class, with security guards set up on campus to prevent anyone from entering the school.

Yeshiva-Beth Rivka College principal Shimon Waronker said in an email to the school community they were following the Department of Health and Human Service's recommendations.

'As there have been potential exposures to staff and students, the Department of Health and Human Services recommends closing the colleges for at least one day and possibly further pending test results and contact tracing activities tomorrow to determine if any staff or students are required to home quarantine,' he said.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews predicted that confirmed cases would continue to grow.

Mr Andrews announced that the state emergency response was upgraded to tier two to combat the virus.

'The central co-ordination of our response is very important. Its not a matter of panic or wanting to scare people,' he said.

More than 1,000 people were tested for coronavirus in Victoria on Tuesday, with the total confirmed cases in the state reaching 21.

There have been more than 8,100 people tested in New South Wales, which is Australia's worst effected state with 61 cases.

Three people have died from coronavirus in Australia and more than 4,200 have died worldwide.
FLINT, MICynthia Neeley, Flint Mayor Sheldon Neeleys wife, will be filling her husbands vacant state house seat in Lansing.

Neeley beat Republican Adam Ford for Flints 34th District state house in a special election after residents hit the polls Tuesday, March 10. As of 10 p.m., Neeley had 7,718 votes and Ford 683 votes -- or 92 percent to 8 percent -- with 100 percent of precincts reporting, according to the Associated Press.

Cynthia Neeley thanked God for the opportunity to be able to serve the citizens of Flint.

"The biggest hurdle I had to overcome is really my last name, which is married to the mayor, Cynthia Neeley said. A lot of people want to say that the only reason I might get the victory is because of the name."

On the campaign trial, Cynthia Neeley said shes had to remind people she and her husband are a team, but also individuals.

"I have my own opinions and mind. That's something I have to continue putting out there," Cynthia Neeley said. "I've let people know who I am and what I'll be fighting for."

It's her first time running for office.

In Lansing, Cynthia Neeley says shell fight for equal opportunity in the workplace and better healthcare, obtain money for Flint Community Schools and bring more light to human trafficking. She said her lack of political experience shouldnt hinder her time in office.

My husband has been in the business for about 14 years and, believe it or not, Ive learned a lot of things (from him), Cynthia Neeley said.

Cynthia Neeley said she looks forward to getting started.

"And really seeing what I can do to help our community and push Flint forward," Cynthia Neeley said.

The special election win means she will be in office until Dec. 31. She says she will run again for the seat in the August primary and, if she is successful, the November general election.

"I'll be knocking on doors and letting people get to know who I am. I'm still in the shadow of Sheldon Neeley and I really want to break away from that," Cynthia Neeley said.

Cynthia Neeley was poised to win after coming out on top in the Democratic primary for the special election on Jan. 7. The state seat includes most of the city; however, it does not include precincts 24, 32, 33, 34, 38, 43, 45, 46, 51, 54, 55 and 56. These precincts are part of the 49th State Legislative District. It is a highly Democratic territory, meaning whoever wins the primary for Democrats generally wins the general election.

Ford congratulated Cynthia Neeley on the win and thanked those who supported him in the election. The voter turnout seemed high, Ford said. He visited a few precincts.

I had a feeling that the high turnout was mostly Democrats, Ford said.

Ford said he learned a lot while campaigning this year.

"I just wish I would have done more (campaigning) on Facebook sooner. I think a lot of the voters were on Facebook," Ford said.

Ford says he plans on running for the seat again.

"I'll know what I'm looking at ahead of time," Ford said. "I'm going to try and go door-to-door. I learned that's not as easy as most candidates make it seem."

Sheldon Neeley said his wife had him out sticking up signs at polling locations early this morning. Hes excited to be working alongside her in the city of Flint.

Shes going to be a standout person and leader in her own right. Im so happy she gets the opportunity to prove to people that she is her own thinker and motivator, Sheldon Neeley said.

Other Democrats also offered praise Tuesday night.

I congratulate Representative-Elect Cynthia R. Neeley on her victory and look forward to welcoming her to our Caucus," said House Democratic Leader Christine Greig in a statement. "Each of our Caucus members brings a unique perspective and world view that strengthens us collectively, and Ms. Neeley will be no exception. The residents of Flint have chosen a dedicated advocate who will diligently work to improve their quality of life.

About 25 percent of Genesee Countys 333,981 registered voters participated in the special general election with 70 percent of precincts reporting. The special election was called by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer after Sheldon Neeley was elected Flints mayor.

Sheldon Neeley represented the district in Michigans House of Representatives beginning in 2014. He resigned from the position after unseating former Mayor Karen Weaver in November 2019.
Hachette Book Group is the third Big Five U.S. publisher to pull out of the rescheduled Bologna Children's Book Fair, following Simon & Schuster and Penguin Random House, both of which pulled out in the past few days.

Hachette said in a statement: In light of the unprecedented action the Italian government is taking to contain the spread of the coronavirus and our ongoing concern for the safety of our colleagues, authors and partners, Hachette U.K., Hachette Livre, and Hachette Book Group have decided to withdraw from the Bologna Book Fair.

In addition to Hachette, Bonnier U.K. today announced it too has decided not to attend the fair, also citing the need to safeguard its staff.

Italy, which has more than 10,000 cases of infection and has seen more than 600 deaths, is currently on lockdown until April 3. The Bologna Children's Book Fair is currently scheduled to run from May 4-7.

Publishers are trying to get ahead of possible cancellations in order to make contingency plans, as the coronavirus continues to shut down events all over Europe. Yesterday, Lit. Cologne, a literary festival in Germany that usually attracts in excess of 100,000 people, was cancelled the same day it was scheduled to open.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-11 18:01:19|Editor: yhy

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WINDHOEK, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Namibia and China are in close discussion to use either Namibian dollars or Chinese currency renminbi (RMB) in future capital projects.

Speaking to the media, Chinese Ambassador to Namibia Zhang Yiming said the move to use the two currencies is to avoid the risk of US dollar fluctuation after cost estimates are concluded for mega-infrastructure projects.

"We all use the USD as a common currency but now with the development of the Chinese economy, RMB is more popular. It has become another alternative for many countries including Namibia," Zhang said.

The two countries are in talks for the funding of a major upgrade at the capital's Hosea Kutako International Airport once the feasibility study which is currently underway is completed.

The Chinese government is supporting the upgrade through a concessional loan.
The principal private secretary to the deposed emir of Kano, Mujtaba Abba, has resigned from the Kano emirate council.

Mr Abba, a half brother to the recently deposed Kano emir, Muhammad Sanusi, also voluntarily relinquished his traditional title of Falakin Kano.

He told PREMIUM TIMES on Tuesday that he tendered his resignation in a letter written to the secretary of the Kano emirate council, and copied the councillor, finance.

Mr Abba was appointed by Mr Sanusi, and subsequently elevated to the position he held when the former monarch parted ways with his uncle, Isa Sanusi, who was the first person to hold the post in Kano emirate.

Mr Abba did not disclose the reason behind his voluntary resignation.

The letter read in part: I write formally to inform you that from Monday March 9th, 2020, I have voluntarily resigned my position from principal private secretary of Sarkin Kano Muhammad Sanusi ll. In addition I have also voluntarily relinquished the title of Falakin Kano.

I hereby wish to express my sincere gratitude to the emirate council for offering me opportunity to serve and I also thank the entire staff of the emirate council for the cooperation they rendered to me during the period of my service. Please accept the assurance of my esteemed regards always.

Not unusual

It is not unusual for traditional title holders to relinquish their positions if an emir was deposed, or if their preferred candidate fails to ascend the throne.

When Emir Muhammad Sanusi l was removed, his son, Ado Sanusi (Daniyan Kano) relinquished his traditional title while Aminu Sanusi (Chiroman Kano), the father of the recently ousted Mr Sanusi ll, boycotted palace activities and the annual Sallah Durbar.

Also the eldest son of Ado Bayero, Sanusi Ado-Bayero, boycotted Kano palace when he failed to succeed his late father, which led to his sack by the now-ousted Mr Sanusi.

Mr Sanusi, who has had running battle with the Kano State governor, Abdullai Ganduje, over the years, was eventually dethroned during the week and banished to Nasarawa State.
Not to mention, they come with powerful drivetrains as well! Here are two compact luxury SUVs going at each others throats with almost the exact same specs. This isnt about two Germans, as it generally is. The folks at Cars.co.za pitted a BMW X4 M Competition against an Italian  the Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio. Mamma Mia!

Compact luxury SUVs are quite in demand these days. They are not too big in size, making urban commuting easy and they dont cost an arm and a leg - yet automakers earn a fat profit margin since they sell in high volume.

This is exciting because both of them churn out the exact same power figures!

The Alfa Romeo Is A Lot Lighter Than The Bavarian

Lets get the specs out first. The BMW X4 M Competition comes with a 3.0-liter, six-cylinder twin-turbo engine under the hood that makes 503 horses and 443 pound-feet of torque.

The Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio, on the other hand, is packed with a 2.9-liter, twin-turbo engine that also doles out the exact same power figures  503 ponies and 443 pound-feet of twist.

Unsurprisingly, both engines are also mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. The only difference that matters here is that the German comes with launch control, but the Italian doesnt. However, the Alfa Romeo Stelvio QV is around 400 pounds lighter than the Bimmer. That sure as hell counts in a drag race when you want a quick start off the line, doesnt it?

Since the Stelvio doesnt have launch control, the driver shifted it into the manual mode and took off. The Stelvio started quicker off the line and sped away from the Bimmer and created enough distance. But the X4 caught up midway and then just kept sprinting forward while the Alfa Romeo was struggling to catch up with it. In the end, the BMW won by a very small margin. The X4 took 12.1 seconds to finish the quarter-mile, while the Stelvio took 12.14 seconds.

Conclusion

Do you think the result would have been any different if the Alfa Romeo was tuned to deliver more power in the high end of its torque band? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below.
University of Melbourne researchers have identified and implemented the key interventions and tools that countries can - and should - use to improve the quality and availability of critical birth and death data and ultimately, improve health outcomes.

Published in BMC Medicine, it is the first Civil Registration and Vital Statistics collection to report on experience in implementing technical interventions over the first four years of the Bloomberg Data for Health Initiative.

Across the world, about 40-50 per cent of all deaths are unrecorded and millions of deaths do not have a documented cause.

Over four years, University of Melbourne researchers have worked with low and middle-income countries through the Bloomberg Data for Health Initiative to help them improve the collection of birth and death data. This increases understanding about the leading causes of premature death and can be used to inform public health policy and preventive action.

"People live longer if they benefit from informed, targeted public health action and policies, and that means we need to know reliably what people are dying from," said University of Melbourne Professor Alan Lopez, report co-author and expert on the global burden of disease.

As part of the Initiative, researchers have conducted the first ever multi-country assessment of medical certification improvement strategies designed to improve the accuracy of diagnoses by doctors in hospitals.

Accurate and timely completion of the medical certificate of cause of death should be a relatively straight forward procedure for physicians, but researchers say mistakes are common.

Researchers found a reduction in incorrectly completed certificates of between 28 per cent and 43 per cent is possible, depending on training - training the trainer, direct training of the physician or online training.

The results indicate that a variety of training strategies can produce benefits in the quality of certification, but further improvements are possible.

Other recommendations include using automated verbal autopsy methods. Using a digital tablet and a 20-minute questionnaire, interviewers ask friends and family about the signs and symptoms present before the person died.

Results reported in the journal demonstrate this simple, cost-effective data collection method can produce reliable cause of death information for community deaths for which little was previously known.

Researchers are now calling for parallel investments in critical health information systems to accelerate progress built on lessons learned.

Knowing how many people are born each year, how many are dying and from what causes, is vital to tackling public health problems, ongoing population planning and developing policies. Our research provides evidence-based interventions that countries can use to strengthen vital statistic systems and improve their record keeping. Further funding and support are needed to enable low and middle-income countries to implement these recommendations, improve global health data and ultimately, health outcomes." Deirdre McLaughlin, co-author and University of Melbourne Associate Professor

This BMC Medicine collection was led by the Global Burden of Disease Group at the Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Australia. It draws upon experiences of countries involved in the Data for Health Initiative, supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Gulf, Iran and Turkey FMs to visit China

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

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

Azerbaijan opens fire toward Armenia village sector, one soldier wounded

Azerbaijan official pledges to remove Armenian toponyms from Google Maps

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

Armenia attorney general travels to Moscow on working visit

Azerbaijan MOD blames Armenian side for soldiers death

Dollar drops in Armenia

Shirak Province captives families hold protest outside Armenia government building

Rolls-Royce sales rise to record high in 2021

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

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

Serbia's Orthodox Patriarch tests positive for COVID-19

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

Turkish authorities sanction arrest of 33 suspected FETO ties

Copper rises in price

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

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

New commander elected of Russian peacekeepers in Nagorno-Karabakh

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

Millionaire Robert Durst dies aged 78

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

Great Armenian poet Razmik Davoyan dies

2 new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

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

243 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

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

Oil is getting more expensive

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

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

Newspaper: Armenia businessmen pay customs duties to Azerbaijanis to go to Iran

European Parliament speaker David Sassoli dies

Alikhan Smailov appointed Kazakhstan Prime Minister

Newspaper: Health minister makes decision full of contradictions in terms of Covid-related restrictions in Armenia

Newspaper: Armenia authorities once again showed their being unprincipled, worthless, opposition MP says

Germany teacher who had cannibalism fantasies is sentenced to life in prison

Israel's military and other security services undergo largest rearmament in years

Spain PM calls for a debate to consider COVID-19 endemic disease

Flyone Armenia and Pegasus receive permission for Yerevan-Istanbul-Yerevan flights

Pope condemns "baseless" ideological misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines

Arab foreign ministers to visit Beijing

Azerbaijanis stoned an Armenian car on the Stepanakert-Goris road

Armenian FM has a phone call with his Polish counterpart

Macron travels to French Riviera to discuss internal security issues

Artsakh Foreign Ministry: Azerbaijan's aggressive behavior aims to disrupt Russian peacekeepers' activities

US COVID-19 cases reach 60 million

European Parliament President hospitalized due to immune system dysfunction

Washington and Ankara discuss normalization of relations between Armenia and Turkey

WHO excludes emergence of deltacron strain

In Karabakh Azerbaijanis shelled tractor

Indian Defense Minister tests positive for COVID-19

US-Russia talks on security guarantees lasting for seven hours already

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
Citywide

Renee Saucedo, organizer with Alianza de Mujeres Activas y Solidarias-Graton Day Labor Center, speaks at the press conference. | Photos: Sam Lew



In response to a March 3 arrest by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers of 43-year-old Albert Uc Ponce in front of a San Francisco courthouse, the San Francisco Public Defender's Office announced new measures to prevent unlawful arrests of undocumented immigrants at courthouses in the city.

Francisco Ugarte, Manager of the Immigration Defense Unit at the Public Defenders Office, said the office plans to develop a program with the San Francisco Rapid Response Network to station legal observers outside of courthouses.

The office will also work with the District Attorney and court staff to implement other protections, including waiving appearances in court or securing alternative entrances into the courthouse for undocumented individuals, Ugarte said.

Members of the San Francisco Public Defenders Office and the FREE SF Coalition assembled on the steps of the courthouse at 850 Bryant at the March 9 rally and press conference.



On Monday, a crowd of more than fifty people attended a rally and press conference called by a collection of immigrants' rights groups and public defender's offices around the Bay Area to denounce the recent arrests at courthouses.

"It's inhumane for our families to be terrorized," said Renee Saucedo, community organizer with the Graton Day Labor Center, to the assembled crowd. "We're not going to put up with you anymore. As long as you attack us, we will continue to fight back."

Immigrants' rights advocates at the rally condemned ICE for violating federal law by arresting Ponce without a warrant, a tactic the agency has been criticized for since its inception in 2003.

They also argued that ICE raids at courthouses violate state laws such as last year's Assembly Bill 668, which specifically prohibits civil arrests in courthouses.

In addition, San Francisco's Sanctuary City law, passed in 1989 and strengthened in 2013, prohibits city resources and employees from being used to assist ICE operations.

According to CBS SF Bay Area, Ponce was arrested just before his scheduled hearing related to a non-violent offense charge.

Story continues

Advocates fear that the threat of ICE arrests will deter victims, witnesses, and the accused from attending court hearings. San Francisco is only one of several counties that has been targeted by ICE in the past several weeks  In Sonoma County, two individuals were detained and subsequently deported by ICE; one of those cases occurred inside the courthouse itself.

"Families are calling us, asking if it's safe for us to take their children to school or to the doctor," Saucedo said.

ICE agents say the restrictions just make it harder for them to do their jobs.

"Criminals like this individual are released to reoffend again and again," said ICE San Francisco Field Office Director David Jennings in a statement regarding the March 3 arrest.

"California Assembly Bill 668 cannot and will not govern the conduct of federal officers acting pursuant to duly-enacted laws passed by Congress that provide the authority to make administrative arrests of removable aliens inside the United States," he said.

Although the observation program is still in development, over the past several years, immigrants' rights organizations in San Francisco have built volunteer-run infrastructure to respond to ICE activity, including a 24/7 hotline and an accompaniment program that pairs volunteers with undocumented individuals to attend legal proceedings.

Ugarte said in the future, clients will be able to call the Public Defender's Office if they believe they are at risk of an ICE arrest and discuss measures to protect themselves as they interact with the judicial system.

He said public defenders will also be trained to demand a warrant from an ICE agent if an arrest is attempted.

Rapid Response Networks and Public Defender's Offices throughout Northern California will offer these protections for people with upcoming court proceedings, according to a press release from the organizations.

When our trained legal observers are present to respond to these violations, we can stop ICE again and again, said Luis Angel Reyes Savalza, an attorney coordinator for the Santa Clara County Rapid Response Network.

In Santa Clara county, where there were four attempts by ICE officers to arrest community members attending court hearings, legal observers were able to intercept each one of those arrests, Savalza said.

Ugarte said the likelihood of an ICE raid outside of the courthouse remains unlikely. In fact, this is the first time an arrest like this has been made in San Francisco.

Our office is very zealous and we will not tolerate this. Judges will likely kick ICE agents out of court, too, Ugarte said. Were not going to let this happen.

Ponce is currently detained at an ICE detention center and receiving legal representation from the Public Defender's Office.
A Sligo woman who was given a suspended sentence for staging the suicide of a murder victim has been warned she will go back to jail if she fails to notify the Probation Service of where she is living.

Janice Brady appeared before the Central Criminal Court on Wednesday for a hearing on an alleged breach of conditions imposed as part of a ruling to suspend part of her sentence.

Brady (29) was sentenced to four years in prison last November for staging a suicide in order to impede the prosecution of her brother for the murder of musician, Martin Matt Kivlehan in Sligo five years ago.

Brady, with a last address at Maryville Hostel, Finisklin, Sligo, had pleased guilty in November 2017 to impeding the apprehension or prosecution of her brother, Keith, knowing or believing that he was guilty of a killing.

Keith Brady (29) was found guilty of Mr Kivlehans murder at New Apartments, Holborn St, Sligo on August 2 or August 3, 2015 following a trial at the Central Criminal Court in November.

At a hearing in December, the court ruled that Janice Brady, who had already served 28 months in custody, was not required to serve the balance of her jail term on condition that she resided with her father in Ballyshannon, Co Donegal.

Probation officer, Michelle McShane, told the court on Wednesday that she had sought to re-enter the case because of difficulties she had in locating Brady.

Ms McShane said she understood Brady was now living in temporary accommodation in a B&B in Dublin but she had not notified the Probation Service about her change of address.

Detective Sergeant Martin McHale of Sligo Garda station gave evidence that Brady had not been involved in any trouble since the suspension of her sentence last year.

Brady told the court that she had notified a garda about her change of address but was unable to provide details.

I had to break away from family. They were no good to me, said Brady.

Mr Justice White, who had earlier on Wednesday issued a warrant for Bradys arrest after she had failed to appear at the start of the courts sitting, said he was reluctant to send her back to jail but would if she failed to keep in contact with the Probation Service about where she was living.

Can I be any clearer than that, he added.

She had assisted her brother, who is also a drug addict, by falsifying the scene of the crime to give a haphazard impression as to how the offence occurred.

Brady, who has 73 previous convictions including robbery, theft and assault, had placed the victims hand on a knife.

She was previously released on bail, despite objections from the DPP, after pleading guilty to the offence in November 2017.

However, a warrant was issued for Bradys arrest in March 2019 after she breached her bail conditions by testing positive for drugs.
(This is the sixth stop of my CNY fish fry tour, a search for a great fish dinner during Lent. Over these 40 days and 40 nights, Im visiting at least 15 places that serve the fried fish Central New Yorkers love but might not know about. These are places other than the heavyweights that everyone knows such as Dougs, Fish Cove, Atlantic Seafood and Jims Fish Fry. Each stop I make will be chosen by syracuse.com and Post-Standard readers. Send me your choice via email at cmiller@syracuse.com, text at 315-382-1984 or the form at the bottom of the story. If I pick your spot, Ill invite you along for a meal.)

****

North Syracuse, N.Y.  By noon last Friday, the line at Sals Seafood had wound around the ropes inside and approached the door. Bobby Mulpagano found himself at the end when he walked in for lunch.

This isnt bad. Just watch how fast I get through this, he said. They move so fast here. And even if it didnt, it would be so worth it.

We watched as the line shrunk to three, to two, to one. It took him seconds to order his meals: two haddock fillets and a fish sandwich.

The line at Sal's Seafoods in North Syracuse will often stretch outside into the parking lot.Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com

About a minute later, he was at the register handing over his cash and walking out the door. He spent all of 8 minutes inside Sals.

See? I told you, Mulpagano said as he left. I used to be skinny until I started eating here.

Sal Borregine opened this standalone storefront across from Tops supermarket on Route 11 in 1957, and not much has changed. Sals is still only open on Thursdays and Fridays, they still get their haddock from the Fish Pier in Boston each morning, and they still only take cash.

In 1995, Sal started thinking about retirement. His son-in-law, David Sobotka, had done just about every job in the restaurant, even while attending Syracuse Universitys Whitman School of Management.

I jumped at the chance to buy it, David, 55, said. Theres tradition here, and I wanted to keep it going. He (Sal) is enjoying life, and he still comes in for lunch. 

Since taking over, David has maintained the menu and all the tradition that came with it. That includes the two-day-a-week schedule.

18 breaded haddock fillets about to go into the fryer at Sal's Seafoods in North Syracuse.Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com

The best seller is the traditional fish dinner. For $11.75, you get two jumbo haddock fillets, a small order of fries and your choice of macaroni salad or coleslaw. The salads are prepared with the same recipe developed in 1957.

Ill be honest, this was even too much food for me, and I eat a lot of fried haddock. Had I not been researching for this story, I might have opted for the Sals sandwich special: a large fillet between a roll for $6.25. You can add fries for 75 cents.

The fillets average about 13 inches long and nearly an inch thick. Theyre coated with a house-made breading and cooked in peanut oil with the skin on. While Sals will load you up with Kens tartar sauce and ketchup, this flaky fish tastes great on its own.

The folks doing the cooking will have about 18 fillets frying at once. Thats how the line keeps moving so quickly. David usually is the guy plating the dinners and weighing the individual fillets ($10.79 per pound).

A fish dinner from Sal's Seafoods in North Syracuse includes two huge fillets, fries and either mac salad or slaw.Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com

You might try ...

Fried Sea Scallops: The readers who urged me to write about Sals for this fish fry tour said I had to try the scallops. They arrive with the fish each Thursday and Friday morning. Theyre available uncooked and unbreaded if you want.

I said thanks, but Ill let you guys do the work. A half-pound order is $8.75; a pound is $17.50. Because I was about 10 minutes away from attacking my huge fish dinner, I went with the small order. It came with 15 juicy scallops, and that was more than enough.

Because Sals is takeout only, I found myself in a car with this gigantic order of food. I couldnt resist pecking away at the scallops while driving back to the office downtown. My lucky co-workers got the three scallops left over.

A half-order of scallops at Sal's Seafoods in North Syracuse.Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com

The Details

The venue: Sals Seafood, 3730 Brewerton Road, North Syracuse, (315) 454-9779

Hours: Thursdays 11 a.m.-2 p.m.; Fridays 11 a.m.-8 p.m.

Credit cards? No

Access to disabled? Yes

Inside seating: No

Parking: Yes

Tell us your favorite place to get a fish fry

During Lent, Charlie Miller is hitting at least 15 places in CNY that serve great fried fish. Tell him your favorite spot. He just might buy you a meal.

****

CNY Fish Fry Tour

Stop 1: CJs Seafoods has remained the same since 1963

Stop 2: Cortland Seafood will sell you the raw fish  and then cook it

Stop 3: Smittys takes fresh approach to fish in an Auburn strip mall

Stop 4: Could the Village Burger haddock be the best Ive had so far?

Stop 5: I went for fish at the Valley American Legion and found a neighborhood party

****

Charlie Miller finds the best in food, drink and fun across Central New York. Contact him at (315) 382-1984, or by email at cmiller@syracuse.com.

Subscribers only: Join an insider text group with Charlie Miller to get news and updates on the Best of Central New York. SIGN UP HERE

Thanks for visiting Syracuse.com. Quality local journalism has never been more important, and your subscription matters. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work.
Two sisters face charges in connection with a fatal February shooting in Washington County, Virginia.

Ashley Nicole Hostetter, 31, and Christine Elizabeth Mallory, 27, have both been charged with conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, principal in the second degree before the fact of first-degree murder and principal in the second degree after the fact of first-degree murder.

On Feb. 27, Anthony J. Pickle was found dead on Campground Road, according to Washington County Sheriff Blake Andis. He died of multiple gunshot wounds to the head and torso.

Authorities arrested Angelo Aviles of Bristol, Tennessee, later in the day on a charge of first-degree murder.

As the investigation continued, detectives filed charges against the two women, who Andis previously said were dating the two men.

Andis said the investigation revealed that both sisters participated with Aviles in arranging to kill Pickle by luring the man to the location of the shooting and then leaving the scene with Aviles to go back to Bristol, Tennessee.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-11 21:38:11|Editor: xuxin

Video Player Close

MOSCOW, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday rated relations between Moscow and Washington as median on a scale of one-to-five.

"I would give them a three," Putin said in a video interview with TASS news agency entitled "20 Questions with Vladimir Putin."

"Between a two and a three. More like a three though," he added.

The Russian president said in the interview that U.S.-Russia trade turnover has started to grow in the last two years and that Moscow and Washington cooperated in the fight against terrorism.

However, he said, the United States kept imposing sanctions on Russia, in particular associated with the Nord Stream 2 pipeline constructed to supply Russian natural gas to Europe, in order to ensure competitive advantages for U.S.-produced liquefied gas.
Ross Hutchinson, OAM (Medal of the Order of Australia), attends Shen Yun Performing Arts at the Capitol Theatre in Sydney, Australia, on March 11, 2020. (NTD Television)

SYDNEY, AustraliaRoss Hutchinson, an OAM (Medal of the Order of Australia) recipient, knows a bit about performing artsin fact, the accomplished dancer and choreographer who established his own performing arts academy described New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts to be such perfection.

It is such a joy for me, as a dancer and a member of the public, to be able to come and watch such excellencesuch excitement, such color, and such perfection, Hutchinson said after watching the March 11, 2020 matinee performance at Sydneys Capitol Theatre. Im your biggest fan.

Shen Yun aims to uplift and inspire theatergoers by showcasing 5,000 years of Chinese culture through traditional aestheticswhich include classically trained dancers, a unique orchestra that blends East and West, and an animated backdrop.

To achieve such a high level of artistry, Shen Yun performers undergo strict training in both physical expression and specific postures through a combination of leaps, turns, flips, spins, other aerial and tumbling techniques. This form of classical dance is described as one of the most rigorous and expressive art forms in the world, according to the Shen Yun website.

The time theyve spent to become so beautifully trained, the time they have given to develop themselves to such perfectionI thank them, Hutchinson said. Their success shines, and it is only from there greater successes are still to come.

Through Shen Yun, audience members glimpse through Chinas 5000- year-old history via a series of vignettesfrom ancient dynasties to modern times. The sound of Shen Yuns orchestra blends with the stories, which aims to showcase a culture that was nearly destroyed by the communist regime.

I honor with such love and such respect, and I thank them for such honesty, for such brilliance, he said.

Fashion Brand Owner Intrigued by Shen Yun

Annette Keefe attends Shen Yun Performing Arts at the Capitol Theatre in Sydney, Australia, on March 11, 2020. (NTD Television)

Annette Keefe, fashion designer and owner of the Annette m.k. clothing brand, was intrigued by Shen Yun and was thoroughly impressed by the colors of the performance.

The colors were amazing, the ombre they did with the skirts was amazing, she said.

As a fashion designer, Keefe was inspired to explore the culture behind the costumes.

According to the Shen Yun website, traditional Chinese clothing is said to be inspired by the attire worn in the heavens. Most of Shen Yuns dance costumes are based on traditional Han clothing, over 50 ethnic minority groups, as well as the regalia of divinities from folklore and mythology.

It makes me want to go home and learn more about China and their history and all the beautiful cultures that they had, Keefe said.

Keefe added that reviving traditional Chinese culturewhich is the mission of Shen Yunis important for both younger Chinese and Australians.

We have to have history and heritage and certainly the Chinese culture is definitely there, she said.

And it would be a shame not for the younger Chinese to learn and know all about this. And, [for] us as Australians, myself as an Australian, its just lovely to learn that.

With reporting by NTD Television and Henry Jom.

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.
Ill admit that if you look closely enough  OK, maybe you dont even have to look all that closely  youll see dust bunnies. And sand tracked in on the porch. Oh, yeah, and fingerprints on the windows.

So, in other words, my house is not quite spotless.
Its official that the Raiders wont play the upcoming season in Oakland, but the team is holding on to its Alameda headquarters and practice facility  at least for now.

In a one-page letter sent to the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Joint Powers Authority, the Raiders said, We hereby decline to exercise the 2020 option on their lease to play at the stadium.

There had been talk that the teams new stadium in Las Vegas was having trouble with its roof and might not be ready by next season.

We werent hearing anything official, so I asked if the Raiders would clarify their plans, and they did, JPA President Larry Reid said.

But while the Silver and Black will be leaving the playing field, theyre staying put at their taxpayer-owned headquarters in nearby Alameda, where the team still has a three-year lease option.

We have enclosed a check payable to the authority in the amount of $43,750 for March, the letter stated.

Its real sad. I knew it was coming, but I was holding out hope, like all Raider fans, said former JPA member Chris Dobbins.

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.

This year Im buying Cal season tickets, Dobbins said. Cal is never going to win, but they are never going to move, either.

San Francisco Chronicle columnist Phil Matier appears Sundays and Wednesdays. Matier can be seen on the KGO-TV morning and evening news and can also be heard on KCBS radio Monday through Friday at 7:50 a.m. and 5:50 p.m. Got a tip? Call 415-777-8815, or email pmatier@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @philmatier
The 62-year-old Burlington County man who officials said Tuesday tested positive for coronavrius after returning from a trip to Italy is an employee at a health care facility in Robbinsville.

The man works at Mercer Bucks Cardiology-Jefferson University Hospitals on Union Street, the Robbinsville Office of Emergency Management said Wednesday.

Gov. Phil Murphy announced Wednesday there are now 23 coronavirus cases in New Jersey including one Bergen County man who died. Eight new cases were announced Wednesday. Of those infected, 20 are being cared for at hospitals, Murphy said.

The Mercer Bucks Cardiology-Jefferson University Hospitals worker and his 60-year-old wife, who live in Riverton, tested positive for coronavirus after traveling to Italy.

The man returned to work on March 3, but began developing mild symptoms the following day and didnt return to work, officials said.

He and his wife were tested Sunday and results came back Tuesday morning as presumptive positive - meaning the test result still has to be verified by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC.

The two were sent home, where they are under self-quarantine, and officials are working on contact tracing, or tracking down people who came into contact with the couple and might be at higher risk for contracting the virus.

The medical practice closed the office, advised its staff to quarantine at home and then had the office thoroughly cleaned. It has remained closed. Building management also arranged for common areas of the facility to be cleaned.

Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips. Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters.
A source told AsiaNews that an "apparent calm" prevails in Idlib, where life seems to have stopped. Caution informs the military situation as belligerents wait for developments. Refugees are no longer able to enter Turkish territory. Civilians are concerned about food and fuel shortages.

Idlib (AsiaNews)  In Idlib, an apparent calm prevails following a truce agreed by the presidents of Russia and Turkey in Moscow last week. For now, it is holding and life in the city seems to have stopped, in a state of suspension, said a government source speaking to AsiaNews, under anonymity for security reasons.

Pressure on the last rebel stronghold in Syria has diminished, and it is hardly in the news. The Turkish army is still present in the area" and, in spite of threats of counterattacks should the ceasefire be violated, calm seems to prevail".

The agreement signed on 5 March by Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdogan is holding up; Turkish and Syrian forces remain in their positions. However, Erdogan continues to threaten his NATO allies (read the US) in Syria and Europe with millions of refugees to get more concessions.

In the end, the conflict is being fought on the backs of civilians and could lead to another humanitarian crisis, as the Syrian Church has warned, and as Pope Francis noted in his latest prayers.

The Turks are apparently no longer allowing the refugees near the border to enter the country, the source told AsiaNews.

Yesterday, some reports suggested "a certain movement in the streets of Idlib" of people and vehicles. Someone from the front "has started to go home". However, the situation still remains "uncertain".

Civilians, locals and refugees, are not only concerned by the Turks and Syrians still shelling each other with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad still seeking to re-establish control over all of his countrys territory after nine years of war, but after a cold winter and exhausted by hunger and fighting, they are having to contend, in places like Aleppo and Idlib, with food and fuel shortages.

For many, a ceasefire would prevent a further escalation. The deal agreed by Moscow and Ankara did indeed curb the violence, but people are still waiting to see Russian and Turkish forces start their joint patrols in the area on 15 March.

Meanwhile, Erdogan continues to up the ante with Europe, threatening that the number of refugees going to Europe will increase even more and that The negative effects of this pressure on (Turkey) will be an issue felt by all European countries, especially Greece.
Roy Exums response to the letter writer who accused him of growing up with a silver spoon in his mouth is perhaps the best piece ever published in this opinion section. What a fascinating recount of his experiences growing up as Roy McDonald's grandson. The ethic, discipline, lessons-learned history of this family is truly inspiring.

I, too, knew Mr. Roy and was in the middle of negotiating with him as the chairman of the board of Blue Cross on the sale of the 11-acre Golden Gateway site when he passed away. As a 33-year-old real estate broker I had the audacity to propose this acquisition to the seller and the buyer which included the Zayre Department Store, Days Inn Hotel, Shoney's Big Boy and Channel 9's original studio plus additional office space. I knew we had a deal when the late Fletcher Bright was brought in with me.

It was an epic negotiation between two Tennessee Titans - the legendary Jack Belz of Memphis, a wily, old Jewish real estate developer, and Mr. Roy McDonald, literally the person who established Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Tennessee. What a privilege it was just to rub shoulders with these giants.

Roys piece About My Silver Spoon should be placed in the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Regional History Museum so future generations can benefit from these extraordinary real life experiences. Thank you, Roy.

Zach Wamp

Member of US Congress 1995-2011
Coronavirus, which has spread across the world, has now claimed more than 4000 lives already, and people are using desperate means to deal with the widespread of the pandemic. A few people in Mumbai burned an effigy of the virus instead of Holika Dahan and called it Coronasur.



 Reuters

Recently, The Union Minister of State, Ramdas Athawale has also been recorded chanting, Go Corona! Corona Go!



Ramdas Athawale was referring to the COVID-19 virus that was first detected in Wuhan, China and later spread across the globe. Ramdas led the chants at a recent prayer meeting held at Mumbais Gateway of India to abstain from the spread of the deadly virus. At the meet, Chinese Consul General, Tang Guocai and a few Buddhist monks were also present.



Check out the video here-



Karuna Nandy walks into a party.



People: pic.twitter.com/HWyn9xC7cp  Ishita Yadav (@IshitaYadav) March 10, 2020

The video has gone viral and has garnered over 38.7K views and more than 1000 likes on Twitter. The people on Twitter couldnt keep calm and here are the hilarious reactions to the video.



If you find out, let us know too.

Why why these ppl are like this?  Doctor Doctor  (@icedtea28) March 10, 2020

Ramdas Athawale has God gifted humour.  Abhinav Krishna (@ak1kio8me002) March 10, 2020

what the hell is this  Santosh ansumali (@SAnsumali) March 10, 2020

Love this man. He brings happiness everytime I see him speak.  Tinker Man (@tinkermanone) March 10, 2020

Karunanidhi left us because of this. pic.twitter.com/86uIANeFqD  Rofl Gandhi 2.0 (@RoflGandhi_) March 10, 2020

Hidden talent!LolFunnyTrue.Hahahhah.

India has over 60 infected cases of Coronavirus and the number is only increasing by each passing day. Recently, new cases have been found in Kerala and Karnataka.

Scientists across the globe are failing to find a cure for the deadly virus but according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), some anti-viral medicines are being tested for COVID-19.

 Reuters

"Those affected should receive care to relieve symptoms. People with serious illnesses should be hospitalized. Most patients recover thanks to supportive care," says WHO.



The countrys health ministries have suggested avoiding traditional greeting methods such as shaking hands and kissing on the cheeks to prevent people from getting infected.
CALGARY - Amnesty International says it's not enough for political leaders to condemn a sexually suggestive decal appearing to show teenage climate campaigner Greta Thunberg and they should do more to protect human rights activists.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 11/3/2020 (670 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Amnesty International says a sexually suggestive image of teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg that spurred outrage last month raises wider human rights concerns. Thunberg is shown attending a rally at the Alberta Legislature Building in Edmonton, Friday, Oct. 18, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Dave Chidley

CALGARY - Amnesty International says it's not enough for political leaders to condemn a sexually suggestive decal appearing to show teenage climate campaigner Greta Thunberg and they should do more to protect human rights activists.

The secretary general of the group's Canadian arm mentioned the sticker in a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and all premiers ahead of this week's first ministers meeting in Ottawa.

"While there have been many expressions of dismay and disgust about this particular sticker ... it is imperative to recognize and acknowledge that this is not a unique or singular incident," Alex Neve wrote in the letter dated March 5.

"It is reflective of a wider concern for which much more serious and concerted action is urgently needed."

Amnesty gave Thunberg and the Fridays for Future youth climate movement the Ambassador of Conscience Award, its top honour, last year.

Amnesty wants political leaders to commit to ensuring "human rights defenders"  particularly women and Indigenous people working on issues related to land, territory and the environment  are able to do their jobs free from threats and violence.

The sticker stirred global outrage when an image of it began circulating online last month. It had a black-and-white drawing of a female figure's bare back with hands pulling on her braided pigtails. The name "Greta" was written below. The logo of Alberta company X-Site Energy Services was under the drawing.

The RCMP called the decal distasteful, but not criminal. X-Site has said its management takes full responsibility and has promised to do better.

Alberta's minister for the status of women, Leela Aheer, called the graphic "completely deplorable, unacceptable and degrading" and Premier Jason Kenney called it "odious." Members of the House of Commons also panned the image.

"We're saying that's not enough. And it's particularly not enough given that this is reflective of what we feel is a deepening and growing pattern," Neve said in an interview Wednesday.

"It's not just about one high-profile globally celebrated human rights defender."

Neve said abuses of female and Indigenous environmental activists are a growing problem throughout the Americas. He's not suggesting, however, that what's happening in Canada is at all as severe as abuses in places such as Colombia or Brazil.

"It's in the hands of politicians to set the tone, to set the leadership and make sure that we change the channel on how we're talking about human rights defenders in Canada."

Neve sent another letter to Kenney in September flagging human rights concerns about the government's inquiry into the funding of environmental groups and its "war room" challenging oil and gas industry critics. In it, he urged Alberta to hold industry players accountable for their human rights responsibilities.

"This is an important opportunity to do so," Neve wrote in the most recent letter.

He said he wants the Alberta government to further investigate how the sticker was approved, made and circulated. And he wants all other governments to "adopt appropriate measures to end and prevent further threats and smear campaigns."

When asked Wednesday about Neve's latest letter, Kenney's spokeswoman Christine Myatt said: "The premier and other members of the government denounced the sticker at the time.

"The government is preoccupied with the coronavirus pandemic and related economic consequences for our province."

Neve admitted his letter is unlikely to be on the agenda at the first ministers meeting.

"Nonetheless, we wrote hopeful that bringing it to their attention would at least have an impact on building their awareness."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published on March 11, 2020
Amid the ongoing political crisis in Madhya Pradesh, the Congress party on Wednesday flew its remaining MLAs to Jaipur in order to prevent alleged poaching by the BJP.

The Congress MLAs took a flight to Jaipur from Bhopal airport on Wednesday noon.

The MLAs are likely to stay at the Buena Vista Resort in Jaipur.

Around 20 rebel Congress MLAs have been lodged in a resort Bengaluru, the capital of BJP-ruled Karnataka. They have claimed to have resigned from the legislative Assembly.

The Congress has sent two of its leaders, Sajjan Singh Verma and Govind Singh, to Bengaluru in order to pacify some of the rebel MLAs.

The grand old party has been witnessing an internal turf war in Madhya Pradesh since the party formed the government in the state in 2018. The crisis deepened on Tuesday after Jyotiraditya Scindia resigned from the party and at least 22 MLAs close to him announced to withdraw support from the Kamal Nath government.

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.)
B ernie Sanders was today facing calls to quit the Democratic nomination race as crushing victories for Joe Biden left the former vice-president as the runaway leader.

In a remarkable comeback, Mr Biden celebrated wins in the key battleground of Michigan, as well as in Mississippi, Missouri and Idaho.

The rivals were heading for a tie in Washington state, with Mr Sanders set to claim a sole victory in North Dakota, the smallest state to vote on Super Tuesday 2.

Mr Bidens bid to take on President Trump for the White House in November was on life support just two weeks ago, after poor performances in Iowa and New Hampshire, but he turned his campaign around when he swept South Carolina and then 10 of the 14 states that voted last Tuesday.

US presidential candidates Senator Bernie Sanders and former Vice President Joe Biden / REUTERS

Now, after another big night, Mr Biden is looking to deliver a knockout blow to Mr Sanders when delegate-rich Florida holds its primary next week.

Mr Biden, 77, today hinted it was time for the Left-wing Vermont senator, 78, to stand aside.

I want to thank Bernie Sanders and his supporters for their tireless energy and their passion, he told supporters in Philadelphia.

We share a common goal and together well defeat Donald Trump  well defeat him together.

He added: Its more than a comeback, this campaign. Its a comeback for the soul of this nation.

Democratic presidential hopeful Senator Bernie Sanders / AFP via Getty Images

He said voters had put him a step closer to restoring decency, dignity and honour to the White House.

Only 352 pledged party delegates were at stake yesterday, compared with nearly 1,400 a week ago, but the outcome emphasised the contrasting fortunes of the two contenders campaigns.

Mr Sanders was unusually silent, breaking with tradition by refusing to give an election night speech. Losing Michigan, a state he won in his campaign against Hillary Clinton in 2016, was a big blow.

One of his highest-profile backers, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, conceded it was a tough night but urged supporters not to give up hope.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez at a campaign rally for Sen. Bernie Sanders / Getty Images

Some Democrat leaders are worried that prolonging the fight could damage the partys chances against Donald Trump in November.

Mr Biden today won the endorsement of another former candidate, Andrew Yang, who called him the right man for the job, to help us not just defeat Donald Trump, but govern the country in the years ahead.

Election analyst Stuart Rothenberg said afterwards: The Democratic race is over. The only question is whether Bernie Sanders knows it and admits it.

Democratic Presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden / Getty Images

South Carolina congressman James Clyburn, whose endorsement of Mr Biden has proved a turning point in the campaign, insisted it was time to shut this primary down.

Democratic party strategist Paul Maslin added: The race for all intents and purposes was over last Tuesday. Michigan confirms it. The primaries in the rest of March will make it mathematically certain.
Ghana has signed on to the African Union (AU) Protocol on Free Movement, but yet to ratify it, Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Minister Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey said on Tuesday in Accra.



She explained that the said protocol required 15 countries to ratify before it was operational, but only four countries-Mali, Niger, Rwanda and Sao Tome and Principe- had ratified it, and deposited the instrument of ratification at the AU Headquarters.



The Ministers explanation was in response to a question asked by Mr Sam George, MP for Ningo-Prampram, on behalf of Mr Mahama Ayariga, MP for Bawku Central on when she would present the protocol to Parliament for consideration.



Madam Botchwey said the Ministry was working with the Ministry of Interior towards the completion of all internal processes for the ratification of the protocol.



She noted that the Ghana Immigration Service was the lead agency with the mandate to handle issues relating to the subject matter of the protocol.



However, her sector Ministry has engaged both the Ministry of Interior and the Ghana Immigration Service to ensure that the appropriate cabinet approval was obtained for parliamentary ratification of the protocol.



Upon ratification, our Ministry would generate the appropriate Instrument of Ratification for deposit at the AU Commission, Madam Botchwey said.



She stated that out of 55 African countries, 32, including Ghana had signed unto the protocol.

Source: GNA









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MTN Group president and CEO Rob Shuter will vacate his post in March 2021, with the South African firm noting that a successor will be appointed by the end of this year.

Shuter has been in the top role since 2017, and was thanked by MTN for the contribution he has made, and continues to make to the group. In particular, he helmed the company through a recent period of turbulence in Nigeria, where MTN stood accused of illegally repatriating funds and was hit with a colossal $8.1 billion tax bill.

Under his leadership significant progress has been made, including establishing and effectively communicating a clear vision and strategy, driving the resolution of a number of complex matters and delivering significant improvements in transformation, operational performance and staff morale, read a statement from MTN.

The aforementioned strategy changes under Shuter include the groups expansion into lifestyle services beyond telecoms, including its media and financial offerings. Shuter will serve the remainder of his contract before it expires in March.

While MTN revealed the news about Shuter during an earnings report, it did not disclose its numbers for Q4. However, the group did reveal that 2019 revenue was up 9.8% year-on-year to ZAR141.8 billion ($8.8 billion), with Ghana and Nigeria its strongest markets.

While respectively these West African markets saw revenue increases of 22.9% and 12.6%, its home market was a different story with domestic sales just 0.4%. MTN attributed this to ICASAs new subscriber legislation along with revised definitions for revenue.
EU imposes sanctions over Turkeys offshore drilling near Cyprus

On February 27, the European Union imposed sanctions on two people for their roles in Turkeys drilling operations off the Cypriot coast. In June 2019, Turkey stoked tensions with the EU after it sent a second drillship, the Yavuz, to Mediterranean waters thought to be rich in natural gas where both Turkey and the internationally recognised government of Cyprus have overlapping martime claims.

Drillship Yavuz  Image: Shutterstock

Turkey, which does not have diplomatic relations with Cyprus, claims that certain areas in Cypruss offshore maritime zone, known as an EEZ, fall under the jurisdiction of Turkey or of Turkish Cypriots, who have their own self-declared state, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, which is recognised only by Turkey, and is internationally isolated. At the time, EU leaders warned Turkey to halt its gas drilling in disputed waters or face action from the bloc.



Now, two unnamed individuals have been targeted with travel bans to the EU and asset freezes, Reuters news agency reports. In a statement, the European Council said: These persons are responsible for or involved in planning, directing and implementing offshore hydrocarbon exploration activities in the Eastern Mediterranean which have not been authorised by the Republic of Cyprus.



Cyprus first discovered offshore gas in 2011 but has since been in dispute with Turkey over maritime claims. Turkey has been negotiating with the EU for many years about joining the bloc but has run into opposition in recent years with some EU member countries.



The recent sanctions stopped short of targeting specific companies. The Yavuz drilling ship is owned by state oil and gas group TPAO.


WASHINGTON  Its clear health insurance will cover a coronavirus test for most Americans who need one. But how much will insured people have to pay for it?

The answer could dramatic effects on how many people are tested, which could influence the spread of the disease and how it is treated around the country.

As events unfold quickly, federal and state officials are wrestling with the insurance question  whether covered people should have any co-payments and whether the tests should be subject to deductibles, for example.

Theyre also sorting out insurance coverage of Covid-19 treatments and the eventual vaccine, which wont be ready until well into 2021 at the soonest, experts say. And Congress debating how to make coronavirus-related health care affordable for millions of Americans who lack insurance.

On Tuesday, President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence met with nine health insurance executives at the White House  some from Connecticut  to discuss how private insurers are responding to the outbreak.

SIGN UP: Get the latest Connecticut coronavirus news delivered directly to your inbox

The Trump administration has already directed Medicare and Medicaid to cover the costs of coronavirus tests. But details on how much insured Americans will pay out-of-pocket for the covered test are still emerging, as is coverage information for therapeutics and vaccines. Its a key issue insurers, some of whom are major employers in Connecticut, are confronting now.

The White House meeting Tuesday included leaders from Anthem, which operates the Blue Cross and Blue Shield brand in several states; UnitedHealth Group; Aetna/CVS Health; and Bloomfield-based Cigna  all with large operations and sales in Connecticut  as well as the heads of Humana, Centene Corp. and Kaiser Health Plan Inc.

These companies agreed to waive all co-pays for coronavirus testing and extend coverage for coronavirus treatment in all their benefit plans, Pence announced Tuesday. They also agreed to no surprise billing for medical services, Pence said, referring to hefty bills for out-of network services that a customer cant control, such as in emergency rooms.

Some of these companies have gone a step further, promising coronavirus tests will come with no out-of-pocket costs  meaning no co-pays, coinsurance or deductibles. Aetna/CVS Health, UnitedHealth Group and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield in Connecticut have made such promises in statements to the press.

Wendy Sherry, president of Cignas Connecticut market said Tuesday, Cigna will cover the full cost of COVID-19 testing for our customers when its prescribed by a health practitioner.

Humana will also waive out-of-pocket costs associated with COVID-19 testing, according to the trade association Americas Health Insurance Plans, which also attended the Tuesday White House meeting.

The private insurers who attended the White House meeting will also cover tele-medicine services, Pence said. A coronavirus bill signed by Trump Friday will also allow seniors using Medicare to access tele-medicine services for coronavirus treatment in their homes.

I think that tremendous progress is being made, Trump said Tuesday.

Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont and Insurance Commissioner Andrew N. Mais have encouraged all Connecticut health insurers regulated by the Connecticut Insurance Department to promise no out-of-pocket costs for a provider visit and testing or tele-health treatment for COVID-19.

Im encouraging all employers to follow the lead of the health insurance industry in affirming that their plans will be covering coronavirus testing with no out-of-pocket costs, Connecticuts healthcare advocate, Ted Doolittle, said.

State Senate Democrats in Connecticut sent a letter to Lamont Friday, asking that he require all insurers to provide the testing with no cost to consumers. Its unclear whether Lamont could order that, but on Tuesday, Sen. Matt Lesser, D-Middletown, co-chairman of the legislatures insurance committee, issued a statement praising the actions by the governor and insurance department.

New York went further, requiring all health insurers in the state to waive all cost-sharing associated with coronavirus testing, including emergency room, urgent care and office visits. Washington state also issued an emergency order requiring insurers to waive co-pays and deductibles for any person needing a COVID-19 test.

Both New York and Washington have over 100 confirmed cases of coronavirus. Connecticut had two confirmed cases, as of late Tuesday, at least one of which was contracted on a visit to California, health officials said.

Left unsaid in the push for free coverage of coronavirus teasting and treatment is how the costs will be covered in the long run. At the state level, where insurers and regulators haggle every year over allowable rates, coronavirus coverage is likely to become part of the mix of costs  which could raise rates on all plans.

Ensuring coronavirus health care is affordable is fore of mind for Democrats in Congress, who are pressing for additional measures in possible new legislation to address the outbreak.

When theres insurance coverage available, thats probably the best way to pay for it, Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn, said about coronavirus health care. Thats why we have insurance. But for those who dont have an insurance to cover it, then as a public health matter we should ensure that cost isnt a barrier to getting tested and getting treated.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Democratic Leader Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., said Sunday they will push for cost-free testing for all Americans, patient reimbursement for any non-covered coronavirus-related costs and protections from price gouging of medical and non-medical essentials during this emergency.

Schumer announced last week that he will advocate for legislation to make sure the coronavirus vaccine is also covered by Medicare and free for eligible seniors.

Insurance issues are often contentious in Connecticut, a center of the industry, as lawmakers push for more coverage at lower cost to consumers and the companies sometimes push back. Aetna, part of Rhode Island-based CVS Health, has its insurance and health management headquarters in Hartford and Cigna, founded as Connecticut General in Hartford, is in Bloomfield.

The insurance industry contributes $13.9 billion to the states gross domestic product or about 5 percent of the states total activity. Nearly 3 percent of all working people were employed directly in insurance in 2018, the highest percentage of any state, according to the latest 2018 Connecticut Insurance Market Brief, prepared by PwC and Connecticut Insurance & Financial Services, an economic development group.

emilie.munson@hearstdc.com; Twitter: @emiliemunson
Remarks by President Trump After Meeting with Republican Senators

March 10, 2020

U.S. Capitol

Washington, D.C.

1:57 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT: So we just had a great meeting. Tremendous unity in the Republican Party. And we're working on a lot of different things. We've also had some very good updates on the virus. That's working out very smoothly. Tremendous people. It's a tremendous task force. They have done a great job  not a good job, a great job.

As you know, it's about 600 cases, it's about 26 deaths, within our country. And had we not acted quickly, that number would have been substantially more. But we  we just had a meeting on stimulus, and you'll be hearing about it soon. But it was a great meeting.

There's great unity within the Republican Party.

Q Mr. President, Republican senators yesterday, they seemed rather skeptical of this. They weren't sure that they wanted to do it on a payroll tax holiday. How do you convince them? Is that the right approach?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, I was just with the Republican senators, and there was  they were just about all there, mostly all there  and there's a great feeling about doing a lot of things. And that's one of the things we talked about.

Q And what about the ideas proposed by Nancy Pelosi? It raised some 

THE PRESIDENT: Well, we're going to see. They came in very chopped up. A lot of them are things that she wanted to get for other things, and we're looking at the people. We're looking at solving this problem.

Also, some very good numbers coming out of some countries where it started earlier. And we're seeing some fairly good numbers come out of those countries  that's a good thing  including China. And they've released numbers, and we've gotten some numbers from China that look pretty promising. So we'll be able to further report.

Please.

Q But why not get tested yourself? I mean, you've interacted with Matt Gaetz and Doug Collins in the last few days.

THE PRESIDENT: Well, I don't think it's a big deal. I would do it. I don't feel that  any reason. I feel extremely good. I feel very good. But I guess it's not a big deal to get tested. And it's something I would do.

But again, I spoke to the White House doctor  terrific guy, talented guy  he said he sees no reason to do it. There's no symptoms, no anything.

And you know what? If there were, you people would be the first to know it. You would  you would maybe even tell me about it.

Yes, please.

Q Mr. President, have you been briefed that up to 100 million Americans would ultimately be exposed to the virus?

THE PRESIDENT: I've been briefed on every contingency you can possibly imagine. Many contingencies. A lot of 

Q But that number.

THE PRESIDENT:  a lot of positive. Different numbers. All different numbers. Very large numbers. And some small numbers too, by the way.

Look, right now, I guess we're at 26 deaths, and if you look at the flu  the flu, for this year  we're at 8 mil-  we're looking at 8,000 deaths. And, you know, hundreds of thousands of cases, but we have 8,000 deaths. So you have 8,000 versus 26 deaths, at this time.

With all of that being said, we're taking this unbelievably seriously, and I think we're doing a really good job. And, again, the task force, headed up by the Vice President, has been fantastic.

Q Why has the U.S. been so slow with testing? Other countries have tested tens of thousands.

THE PRESIDENT: No, I think the U.S. has done a very good job on testing. We had to change things that were done, that were nobody's fault. Perhaps they wanted to do something a different way, but it was a much slower process from a previous administration. And we did change them. We made the changes. But the testing has gone very well. And when people need a test, they can get a test. When the professionals need a test, when they need tests for people, they can get the test. It's gone really well.

Look, the biggest thing that we did was stopping the inflow of people early on, and that was weeks ahead of schedule, weeks ahead of what other people would have done. In fact, other people, mostly, would probably not have done it even until now. And that's made a big difference.

Q Are you planning to fire anyone 

THE PRESIDENT: For what?

Q  because of the spread of the virus in the United States. The numbers have changed 

THE PRESIDENT: No, I think the people are doing a fantastic job. In fact, just today  I have it inside  Governor Newsom, Gavin Newsom of California, said tremendous  there's an article that just came out; I had it inside and I showed it to the senators, and I showed them other articles too  where governors  Democrat governors are saying we've done a fantastic job.

Gavin Newsom said there's not a thing that he's asked for that we weren't able to get him. And, you know, he's been  he's a critical guy, like we all are. But it was a very positive statement.

Many Democrat governors have said that the task force and the federal government, what we've done, has been terrific.

Q Mr. President, how long should Americans be prepared for the economy to suffer?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, this was unexpected. This was something that came out of China, and it hit us and many other countries. You look at the numbers; I see the numbers with just by watching you folks. I see it  it's over 100 different countries. And it hit the world.

And we're prepared, and we're doing a great job with it. And it will go away. Just stay calm. It will go away.

We want to protect our shipping industry, our cruise industry, cruise ships. We want to protect our airline industry  very important. But everybody has to be vigilant and has to be careful.

But be calm. It's really working out. And a lot of good things are going to happen. The consumer is ready, and the consumer is so powerful in our country with what we've done with tax cuts and regulation cuts and all of those things. The consumer has never been in a better position than they are right now.

So a lot of good things are going to happen. Thank you very much, everybody.

END

2:02 P.M. EDT

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The arrival of the novel COVID-19 to the U.S., and the inevitability of its eventual spread, raises an interesting question: Should we avoid exposing residents to the virus?

Before we try to answer this question, we should start with some important qualifiers. While a good deal about this novel virus remains unknown, the majority of cases appear to be low risk, particularly for the demographic of the average resident. Furthermore, if this outbreak does reach pandemic levels, exposure to healthcare workers of all levels ultimately will be unavoidable. Finally, even with the best of protocols in place, it will be impossible to triage out every potentially infected patient at the point of first contact.

With all this in mind, COVID-19 may not be the best case study, but its an interesting opportunity, nonetheless, to pose a broader question regarding the role of trainees during epidemics and pandemics.

History

Lets start with a brief historical overview of this question. Physicians have always been at the frontlines of deadly outbreaks, and as a result, were regularly infected by the same diseases as their patients.\ The first century of U.S. history can be recounted in a sequence of epidemics, from yellow fever to cholera to typhoid fever. In an era of unregulated medical and graduate medical education, and limited understanding of the spread of these diseases, there was scarcely any thought given to the protection of students and trainees during these outbreaks.

Graduate medical education evolved over the course of the twentieth century from a mix of apprenticeships and a limited number of more structured programs, to a landscape of predominantly hospital-based internships, and eventually specialty-focused residencies with a unified accrediting body. Important questions that persist to this day were considered during this time, including the place of the resident on the spectrum from student to employee.

The AIDS epidemic was likely the first major infectious disease outbreak during which the unique experiences of students and residents were explored, although the emphasis tended to be on the duty to treat in spite of the fears and perceived risk. In the intervening decades, however, the vulnerability of the trainee has been reconsidered, and this has shifted the conversation. By the time of the 2014 Ebola epidemic  although different in scale and mode of transmission from HIV  much wider efforts were undertaken to protect trainees from potential exposure, prompting a healthy debate.

Pros

We can entertain a couple of arguments in favor of trying to protect residents from a potential pandemic exposure:

The infection control argument: Because residents are mid-level providers, any patient a resident sees will also be seen by a supervising attending. To limit the total number of exposures and mitigate the potential for disease spread, the fewest number of providers possible should see any at-risk patient.

The student versus employee debate: During the Ebola epidemic  which was vastly different from the current pandemic  nearly all medical schools forbade students from providing care for rule-out Ebola cases. There may not be one unifying theory about why these policies were developed, but the reasons probably include insufficient training, liability, and a less than clear moral imperative. Conversely, faculty are compelled to care for all patients, at times even in the face of personal risk, by virtue of their training, their contracts, and their professional codes of conduct. The question, as always, is where residents fall on this spectrum; this has been argued both ways over time, often according to what is most convenient for the employer.

Cons

At the same time, some real downsides might occur in trying to shield residents from potential exposures:

Missed training opportunity: This is especially true when it comes to outbreaks that require rigorous infection control practices, as was the case with Ebola. If rule-out protocols exclude trainees, health systems will be less likely to invest resources in training them. This may, in fact, put residents at higher risk, both now and in the future.

Modeling professionalism: Residency is about attaining not just the knowledge and skills, but also the attitudes, necessary for life as a physician. At times, this encompasses embracing some risk in the service of our patients. Whatever the status of residents  student, employee, or student-employee  there might be value in imparting this message.

Conclusion

The role of the resident during a pandemic raises interesting questions; although they generally operate at the front lines, the instinct is there to protect them when personal risk is involved. COVID-19 might not be the best case study for a number of reasons, but it is more than just a thought experiment. Health systems are developing protocols at this very moment, and the role of trainees will be an essential consideration. In some instances, the protective instinct of a particular attending might be to handle the rule-out cases personally. But most importantly, the next pandemic might pose even greater risk, and it will be all the more essential to find the right balance between expectation, education, and limitation.

Eric Bressman is an internal medicine chief resident who blogs at Insights on Residency Training, a part of NEJM Journal Watch.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com
SHAKESPEARE IN A DIVIDED AMERICA

What His Plays Tell Us About Our Past and Future

By James Shapiro

America is massive. Shakespeare is massive. When two such cultural hyper-objects meet, theyre bound to create a black hole strong enough to suck in and warp just about anything around them. James Shapiro analyzes the effects of their collision in his terrific new book, Shakespeare in a Divided America: What His Plays Tell Us About Our Past and Future. If Jill Lepore and the late Tony Judt had collaborated, this taut, swift and insightful tract might have been the offspring. Yet Shapiros subtitle is misleading: His subject is us, the U.S., not Shakespeare plays. If youre worried about the current state of the Republic, this is a book that will stoke your fears  while educating you on why you might justifiably be having them.

Shapiro is already a master of creating Shakespeare treats for the literate common reader. His 1599: A Year in the Life of William Shakespeare and Contested Will: Who Wrote Shakespeare? are as entertaining as any nonfiction of recent years. Now hes outdone himself  no surprise, given his qualifications for this new volume. He not only teaches English and comparative literature at Columbia, he serves on the board of directors of the Royal Shakespeare Company and is the Shakespeare scholar in residence at the Public Theater in New York. He also edited the comprehensive Shakespeare in America anthology. Here, his combined scholarship and theatrical experience help him examine  brilliantly  the notorious 2017 Julius Caesar in Central Park, in which a Donald Trump look-alike as Caesar was assassinated nightly to fierce outrage from the political right.

Did you know there was an epidemic of men spanking women in movies in the decade after 1938? That young, pre-bearded Ulysses S. Grant was cast as Desdemona in an Army production of Othello and rehearsed but never went on because of what amounted to homosexual panic among the producing officers in a national manliness crisis? Did you know that Steve Bannon wrote a screenplay for a sci-fi Titus Andronicus as well as an alt-right Coriolanus? (Neither was produced.) That Abraham Lincolns favorite play was Macbeth, one that helped secure the reputation of John Wilkes Booth, Lincolns own Macbeth-to-be? Its all here and much more.

Each of the books eight chapters centers on a year with a different thematic focus. 1833: Miscegenation examines contemporaneous reactions to Othello, almost all racist, some wildly screwy, like a female Shakespeare scholars attempt to prove that Othello was, as she effused, a white man! 1849: Class Warfare provides a blistering account of New Yorks deadly Astor Place riots, demonstrations against the English actor William Macready that were fueled by rising economic inequality and nationalistic fervor. When police forces fired into a massed crowd, more than 20 people died and dozens were wounded.
Sharon Kavanagh, a former business owner, and Harry Reese, a government contractor, attended Shen Yun Performing Arts at the George Mason University Center for the Arts in Fairfax, Virginia on March 10, 2020. (NTDTV)

FAIRFAX, Va.Solace and beauty are rare commodities in todays world, but theatergoers Harry Reese and Sharon Kavanagh found a source brimming with both when they attended Shen Yun Performing Arts, a fact that theyre grateful for.

[Shen Yun] is very uplifting and there are so many things to worry about in the world these days, but this makes it all go away, for now. Its very, relieves stress and its, it is very meditative in a way, Kavangah said, while Reese agreed. The couple took in New York-based Shen Yun on March 10, 2020, at the George Mason University Center for the Arts in Fairfax, Virginia.

I love all the colors, and the dancing, and the singing, continued Kavanagh, who owned an IT company before retiring. The soprano was amazing. And also the music because we are [sitting] so close to the instruments, and thats wonderful.

Its great. I love the music, added Reese, who is a contractor for the United States government, and I mean, of course, the dancing is amazing. But, were sitting very close to the orchestralove the musical part as well.

In its mission to revive Chinas 5,000 years of traditional culture, Shen Yun sends a live orchestra to accompany each of its seven touring groups around the world. Shen Yun utilizes classical Chinese dance, a highly-expressive art form developed over millennia in Chinas palaces, to tell legends and stories on stage. One of those legends is about the Creator and the ancient Chinese belief that He interacts with humankind, rewarding good people.

An acknowledgement of the Creator appears in Shen Yuns song lyrics as well, sung by solo vocal performers in the ancient bel canto style. Reese felt these lyrics and the music overall makes you think about yourself and  music can make you feel better, you know.

But this, from [the] very start, I thought this was fantastic music. Im very much into [the] musical part. And the dancers are great. The colorsI forgotthe costumes are amazing, too, he said.

The Creators appearance in Shen Yuns storytelling dances, in addition to the lyrics, also resonated with the couple.

The higher being, you know, the coming down from the heavens and things that, I thought that was pretty good, Reese said. And just all the people, you know, just kind of lookup and say, Oh, this is great. Theyre coming down to help. I can relate to that, yes.

The feeling of a higher being and the self, is part of the deeper message Reese received from the performance. You know, individual person or people always look up to the higher being and hope for or pray for, you know, salvation or help in whatever. In fact, we could use some help now, these days.

Yes, Kavanagh chimed in. And the goodness that is within humanity, if we just bring it forth and concentrate on that aspect.

Shen Yuns meditative effect and beauty left a lasting impression on the couple, who described what they would take home from the experience: To have a lot of hope and tounity within the world and kindness to other people, Kavanagh said.

Reese was of the same mind. And, the beautythe beauty of the whole performance is, its all wrapped up in, you know, music and dance and the outfits and the colors are just great. And how do they do their hair so quickly, I dont understand.  their hair, its different every time they come out

But no, he said, I will remember the beauty of [Shen Yun] for quite some.

With reporting by NTD Television 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.
The disappearing candidate. Photo: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Candidates who flame out early in presidential primaries, almost by definition, do not make history. But Joe Biden may be an exception. Bidens presidential campaign is now almost certain to fail, but he has done more than any other candidate to shape the outcome. And the result is likely to be disastrous  for Bidens personal legacy and political agenda.

Biden has run for president three times. He has not yet managed to finish higher than fourth in any primary or caucus. Biden may, or may not, have been a good enough politician to win a presidential campaign in his prime. He is now well past his prime. His campaigning pace is languid, his debate performances unsettling. And he hasnt built the kind of campaign apparatus that could drag him over the finish line. He has far fewer endorsements than a traditional Establishment favorite, and his organization has underperformed in Iowa and New Hampshire.

Yet, for most of the last year, Biden sat on the largest piece of real estate in the Democratic Party. He has commanded the loyalty of voters who fondly recall Barack Obamas presidency and wish to replicate it, and whose primary goal is to assemble majority coalition. They are disproportionately black and occupy the center-left heart of the partys base.

Bidens candidacy almost single-handedly stunted the growth of every other center-left alternative. Cory Booker ran the Freaks and Geeks of campaigns  praised by critics, but never registering with the broader public. Booker might well have attracted Bidens constituency, before low polling forced him off the debate stage and out of the race.

Michael Bloomberg held off running for president because he initially believed Biden would secure the same ideological niche. Only after it was apparent to Bloomberg that 2020 Biden was not the 2012 version of Joe Biden did he join the race  too late to compete in the first four states and make the debates that would have played a crucial role in vetting him.

Amy Klobuchar only surged in February, at the New Hampshire debate, when Biden had disappointed in Iowa and it dawned on many voters that he might not make it.

And only now are Bloomberg and Klobuchar  along with Pete Buttigieg, who has won a sizable niche with well-educated white voters that he seems to have difficulty expanding  beginning to try to consolidate the partys center-left vote. If not for Biden, a mainstream liberal Democrat might well have begun to consolidate support of a party Establishment that is not looking for a candidate who will embrace wildly unpopular policies and a wildly unpopular socialist label while emphasizing transformative economic change in the midst of the best economy in a generation.

But the minority of Democrats who do want that high-risk strategy have consolidated behind Bernie Sanders. Sanders so far has held just over a quarter of the electorate in Iowa and New Hampshire, enough to tie for the lead in Iowa and narrowly win New Hampshire. Incredibly, the sheer disarray of his opposition has made him the favorite.

Bidens campaigns in 1988 and 2008 ended in disaster for Biden. His 2020 campaign is going to end in a disaster for the whole party.
Tesco to offload its Thai, Malaysian retail chains in a $10.6 bn deal

Britains biggest retailer Tesco has agreed to sell its retail businesses in Thailand and Malaysia to a combination of CP Group entities, in a deal valued at $10.6 billion, as part of its move to bring significant return to shareholders and further de-risking business.

Tesco proposes to sell its businesses in Thailand and Malaysia to a combination of CP Group entities, including CP Retail Development Company Limited, Charoen Pokphand Holding Co Ltd, CP All Public Limited Company and CP Merchandising Co Ltd.

Tesco said its decision follows interest received from the CP Group and a detailed strategic review.

Consideration for the disposal represents an enterprise value of $10.6 billion (8.2 billion) on a cash and debt free basis, implying an EV/EBITDA multiple of 12.5x1.

Tsco expects net cash proceeds of $10.3 billion (equivalent to 8.0 billion) before tax and other transaction costs

Following completion of the sale, the board intends to return c.5.0 billion to shareholders via a special dividend with associated share consolidation.

Tesco said the sale will further de-risk its business by reducing indebtedness through a 2.5 billion pension contribution that, along with other measures, is expected to eliminate the current funding deficit and significantly reduce the prospect of having to make further pension deficit contributions in the future.

Tesco board has unanimously agreed to the deal, which, the company said, will be in the best interests of all stakeholders.

Tesco expects the transaction to be completed by the second half of 2020, depending on Tesco shareholders approval and customary regulatory approvals in Thailand and Malaysia.

The sale will enable the Tesco Group to focus on driving cash generation and returns to shareholders from its retail businesses in the UK, Ireland and Central Europe.

"This sale releases material value and allows us to further simplify and focus the business, as well as to return significant value to shareholders. I would like to thank all of our Tesco Thailand and Tesco Malaysia colleagues for their dedication, professionalism and service to our customers, which has resulted in the creation of such a strong business. I am confident that the agreement we have reached with CP Group presents an exciting opportunity for their continued success," Dave Lewis, chief executive of Tesco, said.

The sale of Tescos Thai and Malaysian businesses comes more than five years after Lewis initiated a recovery plan following an accounting scandal and dramatic trading downturn.

Lewis, who declared Tescos turnaround complete last October, will step down in October this year, when he will be succeeded by Ken Murphy, formerly of Walgreens Boots Alliance.

CP Group runs its 12,000 7/11 convenience stores through CP All, and about 80 cash-and-carry stores under Siam Makro. It will gain control of the 1,965 stores Tesco operates in Thailand. The British retailer had bought most of these from CP Group during the 1997-8 Asian financial crisis. These include 200 Tesco Lotus hypermarkets and 1,600 Tesco Lotus Express convenience stores, plus 74 outlets in Malaysia.

Chearavanont, senior chairman of CP Group, has repeatedly said he wanted to buy back the company.

Tesco completed its exit from China last month with the 275 million pound sale of its joint venture stake to state-run partner China Resources Holdings (CRH).
The Greater Accra Regional National Democratic Congress (NDC) has accused the Ablekuma West Municipal Assembly of deliberately destroying its paraphernalia.

In a statement, the party said the assemblys actions were done under the guise of the New Patriotic Party.

Information available to us with pictorial evidence indicates that the operation of ripping off all NDC flags and signboards were taken by the infamous members of the SWAT Operatives allegedly acting as a charade for the Invincible Forces.

The NDC, however, admitted it did not have permits for some of the signposts that were affected by the assemblys action.

Much as we take cognizance of the law which compels all citizens to obtain a permit before erecting a signpost, it has remained a convention that political party paraphernalia are allowed to hang on Signposts in every election year.

We also wish to remind the public of the established procedure which requires the Municipal Assembly to notify political parties to remove their signposts within a specific period during and after every election, the statement said.

It thus described the action as political persecution and roundly condemn the wanton disregard for the rights of other citizens to engage in politics from the opposition.

Responding to the claims, the Ablekuma West Municipal Chief Executive, George Cyril Bray, however, explained that the affected paraphernalia were in unauthorised areas hence the action.

He also refuted suggestions that the paraphernalia had been destroyed.

We as an assembly do not vandalise or destroy anybody's signage. As I speak, the signages are in the custody of the assembly, Mr. Bray said on Eyewitness News.

He also confirmed that the NDC mounted the signages without coming for permits from the assembly.

---citinewsroom
[March 11, 2020]

OpenGov settles with GTY Technologies for $5.8M

REDWOOD CITY, Calif., March 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- OpenGov announced today that it has reached a settlement agreement with GTY Technologies, resolving the complaint filed against GTY for allegedly stealing and misusing OpenGov's proprietary information.

As part of the agreement, OpenGov received $58 million from GTY, with each party responsible for its own legal fees. GTY previously disclosed certain portions of the agreement in its public filing.







"The Keker, Van Nest & Peters legal team, led by John Keker, Jeff Chanin and Nick Goldberg, managed the litigation on behalf of OpenGov," said OpenGov's General Counsel Sean Wani. "We thank them for their professionalism and thoroughness, and we look forward to pursuing our mission to power more effective and accountable government in the years ahead."

Building on its vision to continue leading the local government cloud software market, and given the current market volatility, OpenGov plans to use the proceeds of the settlement to buttress its financial reserves and invest in R&D for its rapidly expanding application suites.

OpenGov raised a $51M Series D investment in July 2019 and serves more than 1,000 customers in 49 states.

About OpenGov

OpenGov is the leader in providing our nation's state agencies and local governments with modern cloud financial software to help power more effective and accountable government. Built exclusively for the unique budgeting, financial, and economic development needs of the public sector, OpenGov solutions help our more than 1,000 customers plan effectively, increase efficiency, and improve engagement through better collaboration and transparency.

View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/opengov-settles-with-gty-technologies-for-5-8m-301021795.html

SOURCE OpenGov
With coronavirus spreading in Oregon, Portland officials announced Wednesday that they will temporarily relocate some adults in homeless shelters who are particularly vulnerable to the virus to motels.

The announcement was prompted by an outburst during a City Council meeting by spectators demanding to know the citys response to coronavirus.

Mayor Ted Wheeler told the audience that the state is leading the effort to respond to the virus, and county and city officials are coordinating with them so there is a consistent response. He said city employees have been encouraged to stay home if they feel ill, city bureaus have been told to limit large gatherings to lower the chances of transmitting COVID-19, that winter emergency shelters would remain open regardless of the weather and staff have been advised to keep people at appropriate distance.

He said people staying in shelter who are 60 or older with pre-existing health conditions will be moved temporarily into motels and other locations for their safety and the safety of other people. He didnt say if that process had begun.

This situation will change on a daily, if not hourly, basis going forward, Wheeler said.

CORONAVIRUS IN OREGON: THE LATEST NEWS

Commissioner Chloe Eudaly said portable toilets and hand washing stations will be placed in 14 locations across the city and that the Portland Bureau of Transportation issued the permits Wednesday morning. Its unclear where those locations will be.

At least two people were expelled from the meeting for yelling for an explanation during someone elses public testimony. The outburst came while resident Charles BridgeCrane Johnson said that he wanted to see more money devoted to virus prevention efforts for Portlanders who live in poverty.

Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty told Johnson the city planned to increase its response to the contagious disease to ensure the safety of its vulnerable populations. When she asked him to help dispel the myth that the city council is somehow sitting on their hands and just waiting to see whats going to happen, two spectators yelled back that it wasnt a myth.

Wheres the plan, Ted? yelled activist Mimi German as she approached the table in front of the councilors dais. Wheeler said she was in violation of city council rules would be escorted out if she didnt stop.

The council chambers were cleared when she and another local activist continued to demand to hear the citys plan to deal with coronavirus.

Eudaly said she recently spoke with Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden about the Senate passing a $8.3 billion coronavirus emergency funding bill, which Sen. Jeff Merkley helped write. Both senators also helped secure. funding.

Eudaly said she also supports a temporary suspension of rental evictions during the health crisis and was looking into how possible it would be to freeze rent increases during the period as well.

While Im deeply concerned about public health, Im also incredibly concerned about the economic impact to our local economy and especially to residents who cant sustain the loss of a single paycheck, she said.

Hardesty said the council hasnt had any conversations related to a rent freeze or eviction moratorium and said she hadnt made any decisions on regulating anything in connection with the coronavirus.

I dont want people getting out of control about what we will do and wont do, Hardesty said. I think we have to look at the whole picture on whos being impacted most severely and come up with the best policies we can.

The announcements are among the first city-specific public responses made in connection with the virus, which has infected 19 people in Oregon in nine counties thus far, including one patient from Multnomah County who is receiving treatment at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Portland.

Portland officials announced Wednesday that a public gathering scheduled next week to celebrate the reopening of the Portland Building is being postponed amid health concerns over the coronavirus.

Experts tell us that large gatherings create opportunities to transmit the virus, which compromises the safety of senior citizens, people with underlying health conditions and others who are especially vulnerable, said Portland Office of Management and Finance spokesperson Heather Hafer in a statement. A new date for the event hasnt been announced.

The reopening of the Portland Building, which houses the citys administrative staff adjacent to City Hall, was meant to publicly commemorate the end of two years of renovations. The building reopened in January.

Some West Coast cities have instituted bans on gatherings due to coronavirus. Crowds of more than 250 arent allowed in the Seattle area, and San Francisco announced Wednesday that all gatherings of more than 1,000 people are prohibited.

No such ban has been instituted in Portland as of mid-day Wednesday and the regularly scheduled city council meeting went on as planned.

The city has been coordinating daily with the Multnomah County Public Health Department on how to respond to the virus, said Dan Douthit, a Portland Bureau of Emergency Management spokesperson. He said the city has been deferring to the county on safety guidance and any decision the city makes regarding crowd gatherings would be done in concert with Multnomah County.

City officials said theyve been focused on communications internally and sending out coronavirus-related information to the public via social media.

Portland Parks and Recreation said no facilities have been closed because of the virus. A chorus concert scheduled Wednesday night at the Multnomah Arts Center has been cancelled. Bureau officials said hand sanitizer stations have been put in the lobbies of public facilities and staff have increased the sanitizing of pools and community centers.

-- Everton Bailey Jr; ebailey@oregonian.com | 503-221-8343 | @EvertonBailey

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
A study of the second HIV patient to undergo successful stem cell transplantation from donors with a HIV-resistant gene, finds that there was no active viral infection in the patient's blood 30 months after they stopped anti-retroviral therapy, according to a case report published in The Lancet HIV journal and presented at CROI (Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections).

Although there was no active viral infection in the patient's body, remnants of integrated HIV-1 DNA remained in tissue samples, which were also found in the first patient to be cured of HIV. The authors suggest that these can be regarded as so-called 'fossils', as they are unlikely to be capable of reproducing the virus.

Lead author on the study, Professor Ravindra Kumar Gupta, University of Cambridge, UK, says: "We propose that these results represent the second ever case of a patient to be cured of HIV. Our findings show that the success of stem cell transplantation as a cure for HIV, first reported nine years ago in the Berlin patient, can be replicated."

He cautions: "It is important to note that this curative treatment is high-risk, and only used as a last resort for patients with HIV who also have life-threatening haematological malignancies. Therefore, this is not a treatment that would be offered widely to patients with HIV who are on successful antiretroviral treatment.

While most HIV patients can manage the virus with current treatment options and have the possibility of living a long and healthy life, experimental research of this kind following patients who have undergone high-risk, last-resort curative treatments, can provide insight into how a more widely applicable cure might be developed in the future.

In 2011, another patient based in Berlin (the 'Berlin patient') was the first HIV patient to be reported cured of the virus three and half years after undergoing similar treatment. Their treatment included total body irradiation, two rounds of stem cell transplant from a donor who carried a gene (CCR5?32/?32) that is resistant to HIV, and a chemotherapy drug regimen. The transplant aims to make the virus unable to replicate in the patient's body by replacing the patient's immune cells with those of the donors, whilst the body irradiation and chemotherapy targets any residual HIV virus.

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The patient reported in this study (the 'London patient'), underwent one stem-cell transplantation, a reduced-intensity chemotherapy drug regimen, without whole body irradiation. In 2019, it was reported that their HIV was in remission, and this study provides follow-up viral load blood test results at 30-months and a modelling analysis to predict the chances of viral re-emergence.

Ultrasensitive viral load sampling from the London patient's cerebrospinal fluid, intestinal tissue, or lymphoid tissue was taken at 29 months after interruption of ART and viral load sampling of their blood at 30 months. At 29 months, CD4 cell count (indicators of immune system health and stem cell transplantation success) was measured, and the extent to which the patient's immune cells have been replaced by those derived from the transplant.

Results showed no active viral infection was detected in samples of the patient's blood at 30 months, or in their cerebrospinal fluid, semen, intestinal tissue, and lymphoid tissue 29 months after stopping ART.

The patient had a healthy CD4 cell count, suggesting they have recovered well from the transplant, with their CD4 cells replaced by cells derived from the HIV-resistant transplanted stem cells.

Furthermore, 99% of the patient's immune cells were derived from the donor's stem cells, indicating the stem-cell transplant had been successful.

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Since it was not possible to measure proportion of cells derived from the donor's stem cells in all parts of the patient's body (i.e. measurement was not possible in some tissue cells like lymph nodes), the authors used a modelling analysis to predict the probability of cure based on two possible scenarios. If 80% of patient's cells are derived from the transplant, the probability of cure is predicted at 98%; whereas if they have 90% donor derived cells, they predict a 99% probability of cure.

Comparing to the treatment used on the Berlin patient, the authors highlight that their case study of the London patient represents a step towards a less intensive treatment approach, showing that the long-term remission of HIV can be achieved using reduced intensity drug regimens, with one stem cell transplant (rather than two) and without total body irradiation.

However, being only the second reported patient to undergo this experimental treatment successfully, the authors note that that the London patient will need continued, but much less frequent, monitoring for re-emergence of the virus.

Speculating on what their results might mean for future developments of HIV cures that utilise the CCR5 (HIV resistant) gene, co-author on the study, Dr Dimitra Peppa, University of Oxford, UK, says: "Gene editing using the CCR5 has received a lot of attention recently. The London and Berlin patient are examples of using the CCR5 gene in curative therapies outside of gene editing. There are still many ethical and technical barriers -- e.g. gene editing, efficiency and robust safety data -- to overcome before any approach using CCR5 gene editing can be considered as a scalable cure strategy for HIV."

Writing in a linked Comment, lead author Professor Sharon R Lewin, University of Melbourne, Australia, (who was not involved in the study), says, "The finding of no intact virus can be reassuring for a patient who might face significant anxiety and uncertainty about whether and when viral rebound off ART might occur, which in other settings has been completely unpredictable. Given the large number of cells sampled here and the absence of any intact virus, is the London patient truly cured? The additional data provided in this follow up case report is certainly encouraging but unfortunately in the end, only time will tell."
(@FahadShabbir)

Nine countries from around the world - Djibouti, Grenada, Malawi, Myanmar, Saint Kitts and Nevis, San Marino, Sri Lanka, Suriname and Zimbabwe - have unveiled their Expo 2020 Dubai pavilions, each designed by young and emerging talented students, and in line with the Expos wider aim to engage, involve and empower the next generation.

DUBAI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 10th Mar, 2020) Nine countries from around the world - Djibouti, Grenada, Malawi, Myanmar, Saint Kitts and Nevis, San Marino, Sri Lanka, Suriname and Zimbabwe - have unveiled their Expo 2020 Dubai pavilions, each designed by young and emerging talented students, and in line with the Expos wider aim to engage, involve and empower the next generation.

Hind Al Boom, Manager, Director General Office, Expo 2020 Dubai, said, "Expo 2020 Dubai is our chance to bring the world together in a spirit of hope and optimism for the future, and what could be more optimistic than spotlighting talented youth from around the world?"

Teams of students from the nine countries researched the history of their countries, the national priorities and development challenges to create their official pavilion designs before working alongside Expo 2020 to bring them to life.

From the futuristic laboratory that is the San Marino Pavilion, where visitors can actively take part in building the countrys future, to experiencing Malawi through the inspiring story of a young child, each offers unique and impactful insights into the country, culture and progress.

Djiboutis funky shipping container-style pavilion, for example, presents the country as a land of trade, tourism and technology, while the enchanting "spice isle" of Grenada will introduce its flourishing chocolate and nutmeg industries with a stunning abstract nutmeg sculpture.

Kerlyn Ariel Anne Frank, the winning student from Grenada, described the experience as "extremely fulfilling".

"Now I can say that I have been part of putting Grenadas culture, talent and potential out there for the world to see, showing that we are participants in the global economy," she said.

A wide array of student disciplines  from design and art to economics, technology and sustainability  is reflected in the diverse pavilion designs and experiences, and cements Expo 2020 Dubais core vision of "Connecting Minds, Creating the Future".

A multi-disciplinary team from the University of Moratuwa  comprising communications students, product and fashion designers, as well as students of architecture and agriculture  collaboratively came up with the idea to represent Sri Lankas dynamism and adaptability through a sense of flowing water.

Jeevani Siriwardena, Deputy Commissioner-General for Sri Lanka, and Director-General of the Sri Lanka Export Development board, said, "Encouraging the youth to think out of the box and to reach out to communities with helping hands creates more empathetic and reflective individuals, and sets them on a course to be better and capable social-serving leaders in the future."

With the inspiring theme of "open for business", the young designers of the Zimbabwe Pavilion are eyeing a brighter future  portraying their nation as an untapped jewel of Africa, rapidly diversifying into new areas of growth, while the Myanmar Pavilion takes visitors on a quiet, spiritual journey that promotes a value-based lifestyle.

Nature, culture and history are at the heart of the multi-sensory Saint Kitts and Nevis Pavilion  designed by secondary school students  where visitors will be able to see, touch, taste, smell and hear the secrets of the islands, before "walking through water" at the colourful Suriname Pavilion which explores the countrys nature-based beauty and health products.

Inspiring and empowering the youth as innovators and thought leaders of tomorrow is crucial to Expo 2020 and its legacy, with Expo staging a host of initiatives involving young people before, during and after the six-month event.

The Expo School Programme will provide unique learning opportunities to UAE school students via curriculum materials and visits to the Expo site. The UAEs 140,000 full-time university students are also invited to experience specially-curated tours, while Expo Live  Expo 2020s global innovation and partnership programme  has provided 47 teams of UAE students with grants, exposure and support to help develop their creative solutions to pressing challenges.
The parents of IRA murder victim Paul Quinn hope to meet Garda Commissioner Drew Harris in the coming weeks.

Breege and Stephen Quinn said that the Republic's Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan had suggested the meeting when he spoke to them at the Dail last week.

Paul Quinn was beaten to death by the IRA in a barn near Oram, Co Monaghan, in 2007.

Breege Quinn said: "Mr Flanagan was part of the Fine Gael delegation we met last week.

"He offered to set up a meeting for us with himself and the Garda Commissioner.

"We would very much welcome doing that soon. We would be asking Mr Harris for an update on the investigation and we also have other questions to put to him."

Mrs Quinn added: "So far nobody has been charged or convicted of Paul's murder but we have certainly not given up hope.

"Every day we meet those we know were part of the IRA gang who gave our son the most horrific of deaths. We believe that one day they will be brought to justice before the courts."

The specialist Garda team that has been set up to re-examine his murder will seek to interview Sinn Fein Stormont Finance Minister Conor Murphy about his claim at the time that the IRA told him they were not responsible.

The renewed investigation follows an intensive year-long examination carried out by the Garda's Serious Crime Review Team. It is understood that up to 150 potential new lines of enquiry have been identified, which will now be pursued by the hand-picked investigation team.

Last month Mr Murphy was forced to apologise for branding Paul Quinn a criminal. He withdrew the slur he made against the 21-year-old Cullyhanna man in 2007.

But he has refused to meet the Quinns' demand that he state unambiguously that their son wasn't a criminal.

The DUP deputy chair of the Finance Committee, Paul Frew, repeated the family's request on Monday.

Speaking in the Assembly, he said: "This is not about politics but about decency. I appeal to the minister, please give the Quinn family some sort of closure. Please say that Paul was not a criminal and please co-operate with the gardai investigation and answer the questions that they put to you."

TUV leader Jim Allister told the Assembly: "The minister's credibility is on the line so long as he fails to do the right thing by his constituents, the Quinn family."
Global oil demand is assumed at 99.73 mb/d in 2020, but the second half of 2020 is expected to see higher consumption than the first half of the year, according to the Monthly Oil Market Report issued by the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) on Wednesday.

Considering the latest developments, the report noted, downward risks currently outweigh any positive indicators and suggest further likely decline revisions in oil demand growth, should the current status persist.

It added that world oil demand growth in 2020 is witnessing a decline from 0.92 mb/d to 0.06 mb/d, reflecting slower global economic growth associated with a wider spread of novel Covid-19 beyond China.

The impact of the Covid-19 outbreak in China and its adverse impacts on transportation and industrial fuels were the main causes of this downward revision. In addition, the outbreak is also assumed to severely affect oil demand growth in various other countries and regions outside China, such as Japan, South Korea, OECD Europe and the Middle East, which has led to a downward revision in those regions as well, reads the report.

The report also said that global oil demand growth in 2019 is revised down by 0.08 mb/d to 0.83 mb/d from the previous months assessment.

For global oil supply in 2020, the report said that Non-OPEC oil supply growth is projected to decline by 0.49 mb/d to 1.76 mb/d.

Production is revised up mainly for Russia, Thailand, Indonesia and Oman, while the US, China, Mexico, Colombia, Norway, Azerbaijan and Malaysia are revised lower. US liquids production growth in 2020 is revised down by 0.36 mb/d to 0.90 mb/d, y-o-y. Yet, the US is forecast to drive growth throughout the year, along with Brazil, Norway,Canada, Guyana and Australia, the report expected.

It also expected that Mexico, Colombia, Egypt and China are to see the largest declines.

According the report, demand for OPEC crude in 2020 is expected at 28.2 mb/d, around 1.7 mb/d lower than the 2019 level.

Regarding the world economy, the report said that following a marked weaker economic growth for the second half of 2019 in Japan, the Euro-zone and in India, the Covid-19 related developments necessitated a further downward revision of the 2020 GDP growth forecast to 2.4 percent from 3.0 percent forecast in February.

US growth remains at 2.3 percent for 2019 but is revised down to 1.6 percent for 2020 due to an anticipated slowdown in consumption amid rising uncertainties, triggered by declining asset markets, according the report.

Euro-zone growth remains at 1.2 percent for 2019, but is lowered to 0.6 percent for 2020, mainly due to the expectation of reduced exports, slowing consumption in select Euro-zone economies and the drastic development seen in Italy."

For China, 2020 economic growth expected to drop to 5 percent, considering the latest Covid-19 impacts, while Russia's economic growth is expected to decline to 0.8 percent, down from 1.1 percent in 2019, impacted by the decline in commodity export markets.

Further downside risks to the world economy remains given the uncertainty regarding the magnitude of Covid-19 related impacts, the report highlighted.

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ITALY -- Italy has been placed under lockdown due to the spread of coronavirus, which has claimed the lives of more than 630 people.

Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has advised people in the country to not leave their homes and to avoid travel.

RELATED: CORONAVIRUS SPARKS TOTAL LOCKDOWN IN ITALY AND ALARM IN THE US AS CASES RISE GLOBALLY

Kim Eitner graduated from the University of Oregon in 2011 and studied abroad in Italy during her undergraduate studies. She moved to Italy in 2018 and currently works with CIMBA Italy Study Abroad Programs.

While Eitner, who lives in northern Italy, is affected by the lockdown, she said it has not changed her day-to-day life drastically.

Im no more concerned than I would be if I were at home, Eitner said. I feel like my age group is not severely affected. If my family were here, I would be more concerned for my grandparents.

Eitner said that the streets are noticeably empty, but the restaurants and shops where she lives are open. The public, however, has been advised not to leave their province.

Mostly Im just sad that the students here didnt get to finish out their experience here, Eitner said. Other people are having to cancel plans, like my mom was going to come visit next month, but shes no longer able to do that.

Eitner said that those in Italy find it interesting how the United States is reacting to the virus.

We feel like its been blown up a lot over there, Eitner said. People are panicking and going out and buying crazy things. Its kind of interesting to experience that from this side where its the red zone and yet it feels more calm and contained.

Overall, Eitner said she will still be taking every precaution to protect herself from the spread. Her thoughts are with the students who were not able to gain their full study abroad experience.

It hasnt really changed my plans at all at this point. Its just changed that the students I was working with, the undergraduate students, had to be sent home," she said.
Rishi Sunak today announced he will abolish the so-called tampon tax from January next year when the UK no longer has to follow EU rules.

Laws made in Brussels have meant Britain has been unable to scrap VAT on women's sanitary products despite growing calls and mounting pressure from campaigners.

But Mr Sunak said the UK's departure from the bloc means Britain will soon be able to set its own policy on the matter.

Delivering his first Budget as Chancellor, Mr Sunak told the House of Commons: 'I can also confirm now that we have left the EU that I will abolish the tampon tax.

'From January next year there will be no VAT whatsoever on women's sanitary products.

'And I congratulate all members and right honorable members who campaigned for this.'

Rishi Sunak announced today the tampon tax will be scrapped in January next year when EU rules no longer apply to the UK

The UK and Brussels are currently in a Brexit 'standstill' transition period during which the former has agreed to follow EU rules.

That transition period will end on December 31. Mr Sunak's announcement means the UK will scrap the tampon tax as soon as it is free to diverge from EU regulations.

Existing EU law has prevented member states from reducing the VAT rate on sanitary products below five per cent.

That means tampons and pads are technically classed as luxury items and not essentials.

The Treasury estimates removing VAT from the products 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.

Critics have long criticised the tax for contributing to period poverty, where sanitary products are pushed out of reach because of their cost.

Tampons and towels have been subject to five different tax rates since 1973.

The UK first introduced VAT in 1973, with a standard rate of 10 per cent applied to sanitary products.

In 1974, standard VAT was cut to eight per cent, before rising to 15 per cent in 1979 and 17.5 per cent in 1991.

The Government moved sanitary products to a reduced rate of five per cent in January 2001 following a campaign and debates in Parliament.

Since 2015, revenues raised from VAT charges on tampons and pads have been used to fund charities that aid vulnerable women.

More than 62million has been allocated since the scheme was launched.

Campaigners welcomed the announcement that the tampon tax will be scrapped.

However, concerns have been expressed that the Treasury is not planning to replace the tampon tax fund with other investment.

Rose Caldwell, CEO of Plan International UK, a humanitarian charity, said: 'Todays scrapping of the tampon tax is a landmark moment in the fight against period poverty, and it comes not a moment too soon.

'The cost of period products remains one of the leading causes of period poverty alongside period stigma and a lack of education for young people about periods.'
The Prime Ministers Office (PMO) did not have any faith in the prowess of the Union Home Ministry and this is why National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval, who reports directly to the PMO, had to intervene after three days of communal mayhem in Delhi, Congresss leader in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.

Chowdhury demanded the resignation of Home Minister Amit Shah for his failure to contain the riots that broke out in the last week of February. In his speech, Chowdhury also raked up the issue of the midnight transfer of Delhi High Court judge Justice S Muralidhar to the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

During the stormy session dedicated to discussing the communal violence from February 24-26, Chowdhury said that when the Delhi Police, which reports to the Home Ministry, failed to control the situation after three days, it fell on the shoulders of the NSA himself to contain it. Nowhere in the country has the NSA ever gone to deal with a law and order situation, but this has happened in Delhi for the first time. It means that the PMO doesnt believe in the Home Ministrys capabilities, said Chowdhury.

Doval had visited the riot-affected areas of Northeast Delhi on February 26 following the large-scale communal clashes. A total of 53 people died in the clashes, with more than 500 injured and seeking medical care in various hospitals.

Chowdhury also raked up the issue of the midnight transfer of Justice Muralidhar. It was a midnight attack on Justice Muralidhar after he issued orders to the Delhi Police to take action against those involved in the riots and those who had delivered hate speeches, he said, causing ruckus in the house.

Justice Muralidhar had pulled up the Delhi Police over inaction as the riots worsened in the national capital and had also directed them to file FIRs against a number of BJP leaders for making hate speeches that allegedly stoked violence. The same night, he was transferred to the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

If we can strike deep within Pakistan's Balakot, can't we have the capability of stopping riots? That too in the national capital? Chowdhury asked. Hate speeches have become a norm in this country. Today many people can be heard sloganeering Desh ke gaddaron ko. Are we proud of this slogan? If not, then why aren't we punishing the people who shout such communally flagrant statements?

Chowdhury said there was no doubt about the capability of the Delhi Police. The same Delhi Police that did not think twice before entering the campuses of Jamia Millia Islamia did not take action against perpetrators of the recent violence because they are being politically used by the Home Ministry, he said.

Chowdhury said that construction material and outsiders were reported entering the national capital but the governments, both in the assembly and at the Centre, did nothing to stem the situation.

The Home Minister has not even visited the houses of those who have been affected by the riots. Why? If the scare is due to coronavirus, could they not wear masks and go there? If Ajit Doval can go there, why cannot the Home Minister. We demand his resignation, Chowdhury said.

The Congress sought a judicial inquiry, headed by a sitting judge of the Delhi High Court or the Supreme Court, into the incident and demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi also participate in the discussions on the riots.
About 150 publicly traded companies have warned investors of the threat COVID-19 poses, with several anticipating they'll miss guidance for the March quarter.

The new coronavirus was first discovered in December in China. At first, several companies had to suspend their supply chains or temporarily close brick-and-mortar locations across China, in an attempt to stop the spread of the virus. A handful of companies such as Apple that rely on manufacturing and retail sales in the region initially warned the coronavirus would hurt business but indicated operations would return to normal. But then COVID-19 started spreading rapidly across the globe and fears of a global economic slowdown increased, leading to a steep market sell-off.

"The backdrop right now is different," Quincy Krosby, chief market strategist at Prudential Financial, told CNBC. "We don't know in this pyramid of uncertainty under the coronavirus what happens to the economy, what happens to consumer spending, what happens to [capital expenditures]."

"The only thing that can change this pyramid is what we hear from the government in terms of alleviating some of the pain," Krosby added. "You know that the Fed, Treasury Department and White House have to be focused on this to make certain the financial conditions stay healthy and solid."

CNBC has compiled the following list of companies that have warned of performance effects or updated guidance due to COVID-19 so far:

AB Inbev

Anheuser-Busch InBev forecast a 10% decline in its first-quarter profits after the virus hit Chinese New Year sales. CEO Carlos Brito told analysts that the outbreak resulted in about $285 million in lost revenue in the first two months.

Abercrombie & Fitch

Apparel retailer Abercrombie & Fitch said earlier this month that the virus is expected to lower sales by as much as $50 million during its fiscal first quarter, and up to $80 million in 2020. Abercrombie reported net sales of $3.62 billion in the full year ended Feb. 1, 2020.

Agilent

Agilent said the coronavirus outbreak cost the company $10 million its its fiscal first quarter, though is confident it can recoup sales lost and held its full-year sales outlook.

Air France-KLM

Air France-KLM warned of a $162 million to $216 million hit to earnings by April as it contends with the China coronavirus epidemic's "brutal" impact on the airline industry.

Alibaba

China's Alibaba Group will provide $144 million in spending subsidies for a March online shopping festival to counter the impact of the coronavirus outbreak. AliExpress, the global e-commerce platform of Chinese online shopping giant Alibaba, warned customers there may be some delivery delays due to the coronavirus outbreak.

AMD

Advanced Micro Devices said its sales are expected to hit the low end of its forecast range due to the coronavirus. The company maintained its revenue guidance.

American Airlines

American Airlines suspended its fiscal 2020 guidance as the demand environment remains fluid. The company said it has over $7.31 billion in liquidity as of March 9.

American Axle

American Axle expects the coronavirus outbreak to impact about $25 million in China, which assumed the auto supplier and its customers resumed production over the second half of February and into early March.

Analog Devices

Chipmaker Analog Devices forecast second-quarter revenue that fell short of analysts' estimates, as the company accounted for a $70 million hit related to the coronavirus outbreak. The company, which supplies some iPhone components, expects revenue of $1.35 billion for the current quarter, plus or minus $50 million, below estimates of $1.38 billion, according to IBES data from Refinitiv.

Apple

Apple said it does not expect to meet its quarterly revenue forecast because of lower iPhone supply globally and lower Chinese demand as a result of the coronavirus outbreak. The company initially said that it expected to report net sales between $63 billion to $67 billion in its fiscal second quarter. It did not provide a new forecast for Q2 revenue.

Applied Materials

Applied Materials said it expects COVID-19's overall impact for fiscal 2020 to be minimal. Though it does expect changes in the timing of its revenues, it said.

AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca forecast a likely slowdown in revenue growth this year, assuming a hit from China's coronavirus epidemic lasting up to a few months, although it added there had been limited disruption to its operations so far.

Avery Dennison

Avery Dennison said the COVID-19 outbreak is still "very fluid" and too soon to assess its full impact. "We factored in up to a nickel headwind to our EPS guidance, reflecting the mandated delays and starting backup following Lunar New Year, that's impacting many regions in China in which we operate," it said.

Baidu

China's Baidu said it expects sales to fall in the first three months of 2020 due to the new virus. The company warned that Q1 revenues would decline by 5 to 13% compared with 2019.

Bausch Health

Bausch Health factored the coronavirus outbreak in China when deciding its 2020 guidance, due to its expected impacts on operations and finances. The company expects fiscal 2020 revenue within $8.65 billion to $8.85 billion.

Best Buy

Best Buy said it factored supply chain disruption from the coronavirus into its guidance, but it did not quantify it. It said it expected COVID-19's effect to be concentrated in the fiscal half of the year. It did not factor in potential changes in customer behavior, however, saying that was too difficult to predict.

Big Lots

Big Lots said it anticipates supply chain disruption due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Blackstone

Blackstone said in a regulatory filing that COVID-19 presents "material uncertainty and risk with respect to our and our funds' performance and financial results."

BMW

BMW last week said its China sales have been negatively impacted by the coronavirus, however the company stuck to its guidance of increasing passenger car sales for the year.

Booking Holdings

Booking Holdings, a U.S. online travel agency, withdrew its first-quarter guidance due to worsening impact of the coronavirus. The company said it remains confident in its long-term prospects and strategy.

Boston Scientific

Boston Scientific said it expects a negative sales impact estimate of $10 million to $40 million due to the potential effect of the coronavirus on procedure volumes in China and supply chain disruptions.

Brown-Forman

The Jack Daniel's Parent lowered its fiscal 2020 guidance to reflect its coronavirus impacts. The company expects full-year EPS of $1.75 to $1.80, below the $1.82 FactSet consensus.

Burberry

Burberry said the outbreak of the coronavirus was hitting luxury demand in China and Hong Kong, both important markets for the British fashion brand. The label said there was a significant decline in the number of shoppers visiting its outlets that remained open in China, which were also opening for shorter periods each day.

Callaway Golf

Callaway Golf said the company anticipates a $25 million loss on sales due to the coronavirus. "We believe it will certainly have an impact on our supply chain, near-term demand for our products in China as well as potential demand in the markets outside of China, particularly neighboring markets," the company said.

Canada Goose

Canada Goose forecast a hit to its annual profit and revenue as the coronavirus outbreak in China hurt store traffic, sending shares of the luxury apparel maker down 5%. Canada Goose, which generates about a fifth of its revenue from Asia and sells $1,000 parkas, operates three stores in China and sells on online marketplace Tmall.

Capri

Michael Kors owner Capri Holdings cut its forecasts as it warned of a $100 million hit to revenue due to the coronavirus outbreak in China, which has led to 150 store closures and travel restrictions on high-spending tourists. The company cut its revenue forecast to $5.65 billion from $5.8 billion. It also lowered it full-year profit forecast to $4.45 to $4.50 per share from a prior outlook of $4.95 per share.

Carnival

Carnival said in March that it would suspend global operations of its 18 cruise ships for two months due to the outbreak. The cruise line said the suspension was out of abundance of caution.

Caterpillar

Caterpillar reopened most of its facilities in China after getting the go-ahead from the local government following the coronavirus outbreak, the company said. The heavy equipment maker has multiple facilities in the world's second-largest economy.

Cathay Pacific

Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific Airways said it expects to report a "substantial" loss in the first half of this year as it reduces capacity due to the coronavirus outbreak, after it posted a 28% drop in 2019 earnings.

Church & Dwight

Chruch & Dwight predicted a one-to-two week delay to return to manufacturing because of the extension of the Chinese Lunar New Year holiday. The company said it doesn't expect a material impact in its first quarter.

Ciena

Ciena said it expects the coronavirus outbreak to have an adverse impact on its fiscal second-quarter revenue and results of operations.

Coca-Cola

Coca-Cola said that the COVID-19 outbreak could drag down its first-quarter earnings per share by as much as 2 cents. The company still expects to meet full-year targets, as of Feb. 21.

Colgate-Palmolive

Colgate-Palmolive said it is predicting a modest negative impact to its first-quarter revenue and earnings per share.

Columbia Sportswear

Columbia Sportswear said it expects the outbreak will have a "material impact" on its near-term financial performance in China. The company said that it expects to see a continued negative impact on its stores until normality returns.

ConocoPhillips

U.S. oil and gas producer ConocoPhillips expects demand growth to slow, hit by China's coronavirus epidemic. The company expects demand growth in 2020 to be lower by 100,000 to 200,000 barrels per day from its earlier projection of 1 million bpd, CEO Ryan Lance said in a conference call with analysts.

Costco

Costco said the impact from the new coronavirus boosted its monthly same-store sales for February by roughly 3%. It also said, in some instances, it is placing limits on how much people can purchase. It said it is working speedily to limit out-of-stocks in grocery and household necessities.

Coty

Coty said the recent coronavirus outbreak would have a relatively small impact on its earnings. Chief Financial Officer Pierre-Andre Terisse told Reuters the company would take a hit but it would be smaller than that of its competitors.

Cree

Cree said that because of the extension of the Lunar New Year holiday in China, its Wolfspeed revenue is expected to be flat to down on a sequential basis, about $116 million to $120 million. That's due to external headwinds, softness in 5G network spending and lower electric vehicle sales in China, it said.

Crocs

The shoemaker said disruptions could hurt first-quarter and full-year revenue by $20 million to $30 million and $40 million to $60 million, respectively.

Cummins

Cummins said in a conference call that it expects domestic revenues in China to decrease 7% this year, as it has several manufacturing operations near the outbreak's epicenter. "It is expected that our industry, as well as others, will experience supply chain disruptions and loss of revenues in the first quarter due to the coronavirus outbreak," the company said.

Delta Air Lines

Delta Air Lines withdrew its fiscal 2020 guidance "until we have more clarity on the duration and severity of the current situation." Delta made broad cuts to flights as coronavirus drives down demand and instituted a hiring freeze.

Diageo

Diageo, the world's biggest spirits company, said the spread of coronavirus in greater China and the Asia Pacific region could knock as much as $260 million off its profit in 2020.

Disney

Disney said the company expects an impact of $135 million on second-quarter operating income from the Shanghai park and about $40 million from the closure of the Hong Kong park, if its Disney parks remain closed. Domestically, the company doesn't expect traffic at its U.S.-based parks to be impacted by lower visitation of guests from Asia.

Eastman Chemical

Eastman Chemical said in its Q4 earnings call that "it's a little to early to call what those (coronavirus) impact were going to be." The company closed its manufacturing facility in Wuhan, China, which is the epicenter of the outbreak.

Emerson Electric

Emerson Electric said it expects the coronavirus to reduce its fiscal second-quarter sales by $100 million to $150 million. It previously predicted a $75 million to $100 million drop.

EssilorLuxottica

EssilorLuxottica expects continued profit growth this year after stronger 2019 results, saying that the outbreak of coronavirus had not hit output at its Italian factories and its production in China was getting back to normal. The owner of Ray-Ban, said the coronavirus had, however, hurt its Chinese business, which represents about 5% of its total revenue.

Estee Lauder

Estee Lauder cut its profit forecast for fiscal 2020 in February, citing the coronavirus epidemic in China, a key market for the maker of Clinique skincare products. The company trimmed its fiscal 2020 per-share earnings forecast to between $5.60 and $5.70 from between $5.85 and $5.93.

Eventbrite

The ticketing company said it expects major events to be cancelled across the globe. "We have seen early evidence of event cancellations that appear to be associated with the coronavirus, and we expect the outbreak will impact live events and attendance in the near-term," the company said in an earnings call.

Expedia

Expedia in March withdrew its full-year 2020 Adjusted EBITDA guidance due to negative impacts from the pandemic. The travel company added that it now expects the negative Q1 impacted to be greater than the $30 million to $40 million range it provided in February.

Expeditors

Expeditors said its in Q4 earnings note that "there remains a great deal of uncertainty as to when factories will return to full production, and those delays will have a significant impact on freight volumes moved in Q1." It added that is also may further impact global supply chains.

FedEx

FedEx said in early March that it continues to operate inbound and outbound flights to and from affected countries but work and travel restrictions could delay some shipments.

Fossil

Fossil warned that the "dynamic nature" of the COVID-19 outbreak means it cannot reasonably estimate its long-term financial impact, though sales are expected to be disrupted. "Given our strong inventory levels and the efforts of sourcing and assembly sites to safely return to production in the next few weeks, we do not anticipate a material disruption to our supply chain over the next several months," it added.

Gap

Gap said "it is not currently possible" to quantify the impact that the coronavirus will have on its business in 2020. But it did say it expects to at the very least take a sales hit of roughly $100 million, which would lower earnings by 10 cents per share, during the first quarter in Asia and Europe. Gap also said it will suspend share repurchases in 2020 because of the coronavirus.

Gartner

Research and advisory firm Gartner estimated that its first-quarter financial impact from cancelling or postponing conferences will be about $36 million of adjusted EBITDA.

General Electric

General Electric said the coronavirus would wipe out a substantial chunk of industrial free cash flow in the first quarter, but stuck to full-year financial targets the company set in January. GE predicted that the outbreak would erase $300 million to $500 million from industrial free cash flow and cause a hit of $200 million to $300 million to its first-quarter operating profit.

Goodyear Tire

Goodyear Tire said its operations in China have been disrupted by the coronavirus and has continued to face a challenging global environment. The company said it's not clear what the full impact of disruption will be yet.

Herbalife

The dietary supplement company beat Q4 estimates but warned the coronavirus could slow sales in China. "The extent and duration of the business disruption and related financial impact from the coronavirus cannot be reasonably estimated at this time but could materially impact our consolidated results for the first quarter and for the full year 2020," it said.

Hermes

Birkin handbag maker Hermes said it was seeing a gradual return to normality in China, but Hermes CEO Axel Dumas said that despite shops reopening, store traffic in greater China had yet to recover from the fallout of the health scare, which is now spreading beyond Asia.

Hershey

Hershey said during its Q4 earnings call that the company expects to have some impact in China from the coronavirus, its operations are predominantly North American based.

Hewlett Packard Enterprise

Hewlett Packard Enterprise cut its free cash flow forecast for the year citing supply constraints due to the coronavirus outbreak, and reported a lower-than-expected quarterly revenue.

Hilton

U.S. hotel operator Hilton Worldwide Holdings said it was withdrawing its 2020 financial outlook, citing a demand slump as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.

Honda

Japan's Honda Motor said it will temporarily cut back local production due to difficulty in sourcing parts amid the coronavirus outbreak. "Honda has slightly adjusted its production plan at the (two) plants in Saitama. The overall impact is limited," a company spokesman told Reuters.

Hormel

Hormel in February reaffirmed its fiscal 2020 sales and earnings guidance. "We have started to see a negative impact on our business in China from the coronavirus outbreak, but we are not yet able to forecast the impact for the remainder of the year," the company said.

Host Hotels

Host Hotels withdrew its full-year 2020 guidance due to ongoing financial impact of reduced travel demand. The company said that total revenue and net income have been negatively impacted by about $97 million and$48 million so far, respectively.

HP

HP's bottom line will take a hit this quarter due to the coronavirus epidemic, CEO Enrique Lores told CNBC. "We have estimated that in Q2 this will have an 8 cents impact on EPS, and this is what we have built in our predictions," he said.

Hyatt

Hyatt said it was withdrawing its 2020 earnings outlook, as the coronavirus outbreak spreads across the globe hurting travel demand.The company had previously forecast adjusted profit for 2020 between $760 million and $780 million.

Illinois Tool Works

Illinois Tool Works said the coronavirus impact is unclear, but trimmed its guidance. "We've baked into our guidance a lost week of production, assuming that we all return to work in China on Feb. 10 ... we'll continue to monitor the situation closely," the company said.

IMAX

IMAX had to close all of its 702 theaters across China, though the company said that it sees the situation as a short-term problem. "We are confident the business will rebound and resume delivering attractive growth and strong performance once conditions in China normalize," the company said.

IPG Photonics

IPG Photonics said that prior to the coronavirus outbreak, there were signs that business in China was firming. Though ongoing disruptions "makes forecasting our business in China and the impact on global demand very challenging at this point."

Jabil

Apple supplier Jabil said its second-quarter earnings will be hit. Jabil said its factories were running at roughly 65%-70% capacity as the epidemic continues to spread. The company is estimated to report revenue of $6.33 billion in the second quarter, according to IBES data from Refinitiv.

JetBlue

U.S. budget carrier JetBlue abandoned its financial outlook as travel demand takes a hit from the coronavirus outbreak. JetBlue, which pulled its first-quarter and 2020 earnings forecast, said it was adjusting schedules between March and early May and was considering more flight cancellations.

JD.com

The Chinese e-commerce site forecast at least a 10% rise in revenue for the coronavirus-hit first quarter after posting better-than-expected quarterly results. The forecast reflects the company's current expectations, which is subject to change in light of uncertainties related to how the coronavirus outbreak develops, JD said in a statement.

KLA

Sensor specialist AMS reported fourth-quarter revenues above its own forecast amid strong demand for high-end smartphones but warned revenues in the first quarter would fall even without negative effects from the coronavirus. AMS has no production facilities in China, but supply chain disruptions in the country due to the new virus could hit its business

Kontoor Brands

Kontoor Brands said it anticipates a potential negative global impact of about four points to Q1 revenue, due to operation impacts in China. The company said that there's currently no disruptions in manufacturing or sourcing of material.

Las Vegas Sands

Casino and resort company Las Vegas Sands said the company has experienced a decline in every segment for every location. But once the outbreak passes, the company expects customer demand in its Macau casinos to skyrocket.

Lenovo

Lenovo warned that supplies would be constrained in Q1. Lenovo is the largest PC maker by unit sales, and its COO Gianfranco Lanci said on a conference in February that "the entire industry will not have enough supply."

Levi Strauss

Levi Strauss shut about half of its stores in China due to the outbreak of a new coronavirus and will take a near-term financial hit as a result of the epidemic, the company said. It said the coronavirus impact was not baked into the company's full year forecast, but will be quantified when it reports first quarter results in April.

Logitech

Logitech International said supply problems caused by the coronavirus outbreak will dent its full year profit, as it gave its outlook for the next financial year. The maker of computer mice and keyboards for players of Fortnite and League of Legends, said it expected operating profit for the year to the end of March 2020 in the range of $365 million to $375 million, down from its previous view for $375 million to $385 million.

L'Oreal

Maybelline maker L'Oreal said the coronavirus health crisis would have a short-term hit on its sales in China and across Asian airports, after a period of booming business in the region. The company said it expects demand in China will bounce back quickly after the outbreak eases.

Luckin Coffee

Luckin Coffee said it expects fiscal first-quarter revenue to end at nearly half of its current estimate of $315.3 million due to the extension of the Chinese Lunar New Year holiday and low number of stores open.

Lufthansa

Deutsche Lufthansa will slash up to half the flights across its stable of airlines from April as passengers balk at flying for fear of contracting the coronavirus.

Lululemon

The clothing retailer closed the majority of its 38 stores in China for a period of time, though some have since resumed operations. The company is expected to disclose more on its financial and operational impact when it reports Q4 earnings March 26.

LVMH

The luxury retailer said it's "cautiously confident" for fiscal 2020, "despite buoyant demand at the beginning of the year, vigilance maintained in an uncertain geopolitical context." The company is expected to discuss the coronavirus impact further when it reports Q1 earnings in April.

Macy's

When Macy's reported earnings in late February, it warned investors that the coronavirus outbreak could hit the department store chain. About 70 Macy's stores have a "strong Asian customer base," and those stores have seen "some slowdown of sales," CEO Jeff Gennette said. Still, Macy's has not yet factored a hit from the coronavirus into its 2020 outlook.

Maersk

Shipping giant Maersk warned that the coronavirus outbreak would weigh on earnings this year. Maersk forecasted a weak start to the year because factories in China were closed for longer than usual after the Chinese New Year holiday.

Mandarin Oriental

Mandarin Oriental said its performance is being "significantly impacted by the ongoing coronavirus, particularly in Hong Kong." The company said its 2020 financial results "will depend on the duration, geographic extent and impact of the coronavirus and the measures taken to control it."

Marriott

Hotel operator Marriott International said it expects a roughly $25 million hit to its monthly fee revenue. "Due to the uncertainty regarding the duration and extent of the coronavirus outbreak, Marriott cannot fully estimate the financial impact from the virus, which could be material to first-quarter and full-year 2020 results," it said, adding that room additions in 2020 could also be delayed as a result of the outbreak.

Marvell Technology

Marvell Technology widened its first-quarter guidance range on revenue over coronavirus uncertainty. The company's guidance for Q1 reflects reduction of about 5% of revenue to account for coronavirus impacts the company is aware of, so far.

Mastercard

The credit card company said its net revenue in the first quarter will likely take a hit of between 2 and 3 percentage points if the coronavirus outbreak persists through the quarter. The company now expects revenue growth between 9% and 10% in the current quarter as the virus impacts travel and e-commerce across borders.

McDonald's

McDonald's management called the coronavirus "concerning" on its earnings call in January. We have closed all restaurants in the Hubei province, which is several hundred restaurants that have been closed," McDonald's CEO Chris Kempczinski said to investors on the call.

MGM Resorts

The U.S. casino operator withdrew its financial forecast for 2020, as it assesses how the coronavirus epidemic will impact operations. MGM said it was difficult to weigh the fallout of the epidemic on its business as the suspension could be extended and customer traffic could fall further at its properties.

Microchip Technology

Microship lowered its fourth-quarter net sales growth forecast to flat sequentially, down from its previous 2-9% outlook, and withdrew its EPS guidance. The company cited "very weak" demand in Asia.

Microsoft

Microsoft said it doesn't expect to meet the quarterly revenue guidance it previously provided for the segment that includes Windows.

Mondelez

Mondelez International forecast a hit to its first-quarter revenue and margins from the coronavirus outbreak and said four of its manufacturing plants in China had resumed operations. The Oreo maker, however, said the plants were not operating at full capacity and that it had been facing a shortage of trucks in China, resulting in additional transportation costs.

New York Times

The New York Times Co. said it's seeing a slowdown in advertising bookings due to "uncertainty and anxiety" caused by the coronavirus. The company said it has "begun to see see some economic impact" from the virus.

Nike

The retailer warned of a financial impact after it closed about half its own stores in China and cut operating hours at the rest.

Nintendo

Nintendo said in early February production and deliveries of some of its products, including its flagship Switch console, will be delayed due to the outbreak of the new coronavirus. Nintendo noted that this will have an impact on its domestic Japanese market only.

Nu Skin

Nu Skin's executives said the company expects the new coronavirus to affect its short-term business but remains confident in its long-term outlook. The company projects a decline in Mainland China sales of 20% to 25%, it said.

Nutanix

The developer of cloud storage and networking software cited coronavirus concerns as one reason for lowering its 2020 revenue outlook. The company said that software and support sales for the full year, based on total contract value, will be between $1.29 billion and $1.36 billion, down from an earlier forecast of $1.3 billion to $1.4 billion.

NVIDIA

Nvidia forecast first-quarter revenue that topped Wall Street expectations, powered by sales of its chips to cloud computing vendors, even as it projected a $100 million hit from the coronavirus outbreak.

NXP Semiconductors

NXP Semiconductors updated its first-quarter revenue outlook due to potential coronavirus impacts. "While we have not seen any material order cancellations, we currently expect the impact to revenue in the first quarter to be in the range of $50 million to $150 million," the company said March 1.

ON Semiconductor

ON Semiconductor cut its first-quarter revenue outlook amid the fast-spreading coronavirus, sending its shares down 4% in premarket trading. The U.S. chipmaker expects revenue to be in range of $1.28 billion to $1.33 billion, compared with its previous outlook of $1.36 billion to $1.41 billion.

Papa John's

Papa John's said it has temporarily closed 50 franchised stores in China as a result of the coronavirus and reported a decline in same-store sales for the year. The company has seen a countrywide sales impact year to date, with sales in China down mid- to low double digits year over year, CEO Rob Lynch said in an interview with CNBC.

PayPal

PayPal said the coronavirus outbreak could have a negative impact on its revenue expectations, and warned that revenue for the first quarter of this year would be toward the lower end of the guidance it gave when it reported earnings in January. The company said it now expects Q1 revenue to hit the lower end of its range of $4.78 billion to $4.84 billion.

PerkinElmer

PerkinElmber said it expects first-quarter revenue and earnings per share to come in below its anticipated guidance. The company said it experienced significant deterioration in demand in China throughout February due to the extension of the Lunar New Year holiday and the coronavirus.

Pernod Ricard

French spirits group Pernod Ricard warned in February that the coronavirus outbreak would have a severe impact on its third-quarter. The Martell cognac owner, the biggest international spirits maker in China, also cut its full-year profit growth outlook, but was confident over its medium-term Chinese prospects.

Philips

Dutch health technology company Philips said it expects the effects of the coronavirus outbreak to impact its financial results in the first quarter of this year. "The impact on public life and the industry in China is also affecting the demand for Philips' consumer portfolio in the country and Philips' global supply chain," the company said.

Procter & Gamble

P&G said in February that its current-quarter revenue and profit would take a hit from supply chain disruptions and weak demand due to the coronavirus outbreak in China, the consumer goods company's second-biggest market.

Puma

The German sportswear group said it expected China's coronavirus outbreak to hit its sales and profits in the first quarter but it still hopes to reach its targets for 2020. Puma said more than half of its stores in China were temporarily closed and the decline of the Chinese tourism business was also hurting other markets, especially in Asia.

PVH

The retailer said it had temporarily closed majority of its Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger stores in China due to the coronavirus outbreak. The company said it would have exceeded its fourth-quarter adjusted earnings forecast of at least $1.79 per share, if not for the epidemic.

Qantas

Qantas Airways said it will ground the equivalent of 18 planes, freeze recruitment and ask its 30,000 staff to use up annual leave as it grapples with falling demand. The carrier estimated the coronavirus would result in a nearly $64 million to a $95 million hit to underlying earnings before interest and tax for the financial year, accounting for capacity adjustments and lower fuel costs.

Qorvo

Qorvo, a radio frequency chip supplier for Apple's iPhones, lowered its fourth-quarter revenue expectations to $770 million, down from its predicted range of $800 million to $840 million in late January. Qorvo's fourth-quarter results are expected May 5.

Qualcomm

The chip maker said that the coronavirus outbreak poses a potential threat to the mobile phone industry, with a possible impact on manufacturing and sales. Qualcomm's chief financial officer said the company expects "significant uncertainty around the impact from the coronavirus on handset demand and supply chain."

Ralph Lauren

Ralph Lauren said in February it expects a $55 million to $70 million hit to its fourth-quarter sales in Asia from the coronavirus outbreak in China. Supply chain disruptions in China could also impact a small portion of fourth-quarter orders globally, Ralph Lauren said.

Royal Caribbean

Royal Caribbean Cruises withdrew its first-quarter and full-year forecast, and increased its credit capacity by $550 million to boost liquidity amid concerns around the rapid spreading of coronavirus. The company said it would cut spending, operating expenses and take other actions to improve liquidity by at least another $1.7 billion in 2020.

Sanderson Farms

Sanderson Farms said it on its latest earnings call that it continues to receive strong indications of interest from buyers in China, despite disruptions.

Shake Shack

The fast-casual chain said it's facing "potentially significant headwinds" due to the coronavirus outbreak in China, where it has seven stores, and concerns throughout the rest of Asia.

Singapore Airlines

The airline will temporarily cut flights across its global network to May, as a coronavirus epidemic hits demand for services to the Asian city state, as well as through the key transit hub. It declined to say what percentage of capacity it had cut in response to Reuters, citing commercial sensitivity.

Skechers

Skechers said in March the fallout to the company from the coronavirus has gotten worse since its Feb. 6 update. The company didn't change its guidance, which it offered in February, but said "we might be open to changing that."

Skyworks Solutions

Skyworks Solutions, a chip supplier to Apple Inc's iPhones, said in March that the coronavirus has not significantly disrupted its manufacturing operations. The chipmaker, however, cut its second-quarter revenue forecast, saying interruptions in global supply chains is hurting demand for its products.

Sony

The company raised its annual profit outlook on strong sales of smartphone image sensors after reporting a smaller-than-expected decline in quarterly profit, but it warned of an impact from the Wuhan coronavirus on its global supply chain.

Southwest Airlines

Southwest Airlines warned its first-quarter operating revenue would take a hit of up to $300 million from the coronavirus outbreak, prompting it to cut its quarterly revenue outlook. The airline said it now expects first-quarter total revenue per available seat mile (a closely followed measure of airline performance) to be down 2% to up 1%, compared with the 3.5% to 5.5% growth it forecast earlier.

Standard Chartered

Standard Chartered in late February booked a robust 46% jump in annual profit but warned a key earnings target would take longer to meet as the coronavirus epidemic adds to headwinds in its main markets of China and Hong Kong. The epidemic could lead to a rise in bad loans, it said, but did not provide specific guidance on the potential impact.

Starbucks

Starbucks expects that temporarily shuttering stores in China will hit its second-quarter revenue in the country by $400 million to $430 million. The closures are also likely to result in a 50% decline in its same-store sales in China. The company said it plans to provide an update on April 28 to its fiscal 2020 outlook, which currently excludes the impact of the virus.

Tapestry

Coach handbag maker Tapestry cut its annual profit forecast, warning of a sales hit of up to $250 million due to the coronavirus outbreak in China, where it has closed a majority of its stores. Tapestry forecast fiscal 2020 earnings of about $2.15 to $2.25 per share, compared to its previous outlook of $2.57 per share.

Teck Resources

Teck Resources in February lowered its forecast for steelmaking coal sales, citing extreme weather and port constraints due to the coronavirus. "Given the potential for weaker demand in the short-term due to the effects of the coronavirus and the high inventory levels due to rail and port constraints, we are choosing to temporarily reduce production," Teck said.

Tenneco

Tenneco said it expects a $150 million hit due to coronavirus-related complications. The company said it sees full-year revenue of $16.7 billion to $17.2 billion instead of the anticipated $17.1 billion.

Tesla

Tesla CFO Zachary Kirkhorn said on a 2019 fourth-quarter earnings call that the coronavirus outbreak would only cause the business a week-and-a-half production delay in China. By February 13, 2020, the company changed its tone and said in an annual financial filing that the coronavirus outbreak may have a material adverse impact on its business.

Tiffany

The jewelry retailer has temporarily closed several stores in affected areas in China. Tiffany is expected to discuss the matter further in its March 20 earnings call.

Toll Brothers

Home builder Toll Brothers said in February that the coronavirus outbreak in China had led to shortages of lighting fixtures and small appliances, forcing it to delay the sales of 11 homes in California, one of its biggest markets. "We believe 11 closings in California have been pushed out, we hope to the second quarter, due to the virus," Chief Executive Officer Douglas Yearley said on a post-earnings call.

Toyota Motor

Toyota Motor said in February that operations at its plants in Japan may be affected by supply chain issues linked to the new coronavirus outbreak in the coming weeks, as the global outbreak gathers pace.

Trivago

Trivago declined to provide guidance for fiscal 2020 after it reported weak fourth-quarter earnings in February. The company said in an SEC note that the coronavirus outbreak "will have a negative impact on our business volumes" in 2020.

Under Armour

Under Armour in early February said it expected the coronavirus outbreak in China to lower sales by roughly $50 million to $60 million during the fiscal first quarter. It has not yet updated its outlook, since the virus has spread globally and taken more lives.

United Airlines

United Airlines withdrew its full-year 2020 guidance on Feb. 24, citing heightened uncertainty over how the duration and spread of the coronavirus to other regions could impact overall air travel demand. In a regulatory filing, the company stuck to its forecast for the first quarter thanks to cost savings including lower fuel costs, and said it believes it will be able to deliver earnings growth in 2021.

Universal Display

The Apple supplier warned in late February that its 2020 revenue could take a 10% hit due to the coronavirus. The company expects its annual revenue to come in $40 million to $50 million lower than expected.

UPS

United Parcel Service warned in early March that the coronavirus could weigh on its first-quarter results and disrupt the shipment of goods in affected countries. The company said that although it was too early for UPS to quantify the impact of the disruption, the company was seeing a rebound in demand this week as fresh cases of infections slowed.

Urban Outfitters

The clothing retailer pulled its fiscal first-quarter guidance on March 11. Urban Outfitters cited a decline in store traffic in areas that have been heavily impacted by COVID-19.

VF

Vans parent VF said it has closed about 60% of its stores in China and seen a 70% drop in store traffic for the locations that remained open. The company will update its guidance for fiscal 2020 when it reports earnings in May.

Visa

Visa cut its revenue guidance for its fiscal second quarter due to the coronavirus. The company cited a "sharp slowdown of our cross-border business, in particular travel related spending," due to a slowdown travel to and from Asia.

Walmart

Walmart's big effect so far has been stockpiling, but it has not changed its guidance since its recent earnings call.

Weibo

The Chinese social media company said in its fourth-quarter earnings call that the coronavirus is having a negative impact and posts short-term challenges across the board. The company said it anticipates Q1 revenue to decrease by 15% to 20% year-over-year on a constant currency basis.

Whirlpool

Whirpool lowered its first-quarter profit guidance due to its sales and supply chain in China. The company also has manufacturing operations in Italy and expects the outbreak there to hurt sales.

Wyndham Hotels

The company said that it expects operations to remain soft for up to six months as the market recovers from travel disruptions. In its earnings call, Wyndham said it expects a loss of $5 million to its first-quarter adjusted EBITDA and potentially a loss of $8 million to $12 million of its full-year adjusted EBITDA.

Wynn Resorts

Wynn temporarily closed its Macau casino in February as the coronavirus spread across China and its regions. The company said that it lost $2.4 million to $2.6 million per day that the casino was closed.

Xylem

The company's CEO said in its Q4 earnings call that the company's second largest market is China, where deliveries had been essentially halted. Xylem predicted that its first-quarter impact will be around 1 point to 2 points of revenue and $0.03 to $0.04 of EPS.

Yum Brands

Yum Brands, which owns Taco Bell, KFC and Pizza Hut, said that its 2020 results could fall short of its long-term outlook, which includes annual same-store sales growth in a range of 2% to 3% and net new restaurant growth of 4%.

- CNBC's Amelia Lucas, Melissa Repko, Lauren Thomas and Michael Wayland contributed to this report, in addition to Reuters.
Suspended Gloucester Township Police Officer John Flinn, 29, right, stands with his attorney Louis Barbone, left, during closing arguments Tuesday in Flinn's trial on charges of official misconduct and endangering the welfare of a child. Read more

A Camden County jury on Wednesday convicted a South Jersey police officer of two counts of official misconduct for slapping and pushing a 13-year-old girl in the face  an incident captured on police body-cam video.

The jury of seven men and five women, though, was hopelessly deadlocked on a charge of endangering the welfare of a child after deliberating over two days.

Gloucester Township Police Officer John Flinn, 29, showed no reaction when the jury foreman read the guilty verdicts. His wife gasped and cried in the gallery.

Flinn has been suspended from the police department since the incident two years ago at the Twin Oaks group home for juveniles with emotional issues.

Camden County Assistant Prosecutor Angela Seixas argued during closing arguments Tuesday that Flinn used excessive and unnecessary force while trying to handcuff the girl. On Wednesday, Seixas told Superior Court Judge Edward McBride Jr. she had no objection to Flinn remaining free pending his still-unscheduled sentencing hearing.

Flinn was initially charged with simple assault. A grand jury indicted him in August 2018 on the more serious third-degree endangering charge and the second-degree official-misconduct charges. Seixas on Wednesday told the judge the assault charge was still pending.

Colby Gallagher, spokesperson for the Prosecutors Office, said afterward that it was not yet known whether Flinn would be retried on the deadlocked endangering offense. She said each of the official-misconduct convictions carries a minimum of five years in prison without parole and a maximum of 10 years.

Defense attorney Louis Barbone told the judge that he will file post-trial motions prior to a sentencing hearing.

Barbone, who contended during his closing argument that Flinn had been justified in using force to get the girl into handcuffs, said after the verdicts Wednesday: We respect the jurys work. Nonetheless, [we are] shocked and disappointed.

Flinn declined to comment.

About 20 supporters of Flinn, including retired police officers, attended the trial since it began last week.

The incident for which Flinn was on trial happened when officers responded to the group home about 6:30 p.m. March 8, 2018, for a 911 call of juveniles fighting and using objects as weapons.

The body-cam video of another officer, Paul Bertini, showed him approaching the 13-year-old girl and repeatedly telling her to Calm down! The girl was punching and kicking two staff workers in an office and telling them she wanted to get out.

After Bertini forced the girl facedown on the ground, Flinn cuffed her left wrist behind her back. Flinn was having difficulty trying to cuff her right wrist, and could be seen and heard in the video slapping the girl twice on the right side of her face. She was heard moaning and crying.

Flinn told the girl: Stop playing these  games, then twice pushed down the left side of her face. He finished cuffing her, and Bertini left to check on another problem in the home.

The girl was taken to a hospital for evaluation and was not charged with a crime.
Joe Biden snagged another endorsement following his big Michigan win Tuesday when former competitor Andrew Yang threw him his support during a live TV segment.

In an unusual twist, Yang, a former presidential candidate himself who faced off against Biden on the debate stage, announced his support while serving on a cable TV news panel.

'The math isn't there' for Sanders, said Yang.

'I believe that Joe Biden will be the Democratic nominee. And Ive always said Im going to support whoever the nominee is, and so I hereby am endorsing Joe Biden to be not just the nominee for the Democratic Party but the next president of the United States,' Yang said while sitting on a panel on CNN, where he is a contributor.

Entrepreneur Andrew Yang threw his support to Joe Biden while sitting on a panel on CNN

Yang is an entrepreneur who ran for president himself calling for evidence-based decisions with a slogan of Make America Think Harder. After dropping out, he took on a role as a paid CNN contributor.

He threw his endorsement to Biden after networks called Michigan for the former vice president, who also scored an overwhelming win in Mississippi.

'Bernie was an inspiration for me, inspired my run. But the math says Joe is our prohibitive nominee, said Yang, who endorsed Bernie Sanders in 2016. 'We need to bring the party together. We need to start working on defeating Donald Trump in the fall.'

'I've had many personal conversations with Joe  I believe he's the right man for the job to help us not just defeat Donald Trump but govern the country in the years ahead,' said Yang, who didn't get many votes but had passionate followers dubbed the 'Yang Gang.'

Yang said Joe Biden 'is our prohibitive nominee'

Yang endorsed Bernie Sanders in 2016. He said he was holding off

He talked up Sanders supporters, at a time when Biden may need to woo them to unite the party.

'I have such admiration and respect for Bernie, and what he means to so many Americans. I waited for the democratic process to play out and I believe it has. The math isn't there. We should come together as a party starting tonight,' he said.

'I believe that Joe Biden will be the Democratic nominee,' he said, on a panel that included Anderson Cooper and former Barack Obama strategist David Axelrod.

'I think Bernie called out the real problems in a very powerful and necessary way. So I wanted to let the democratic process play out,' Yang explained. I believe it has. At this point can you see very clearly that Biden is building a delegate lead that is going to grow in the days ahead. And so we need to come together as a party starting tonight.'

'Im excited to join to help shed light on the election and the candidates experiences,' Yang tweeted last month when he landed the gig.

Yang's signature proposal was termed Universal Basic Income, and he said he would give every American $1,000 per month.
An Uzbek governors plan to plant thousands of trees to beautify his dusty capital, Andijon, certainly sounded like a great idea to the citys residents.



But that was before they found out that they would be forced to buy the tree saplings needed to turn Andijon into a green city.



The Eco-City campaign began on February 25 on Governor Shuhrat Abdurahmonovs initiative, a school director in Andijons Asaka district told RFE/RL.



As part of this campaign, I was ordered to purchase 50 fir-tree seedlings, the disgruntled director, who requested anonymity, said on March 4.

The contribution will cost the official about $100, nearly half of his monthly salary.



Many state workers and neighborhood committee members in the eastern Uzbek province have been ordered to pay for the young trees, several local officials claimed.



But they said they were too afraid to challenge Abdurahmonovs order, as dissent is rarely tolerated in the strictly controlled Central Asian nation.

A neighborhood committee member in the Asaka district made a similar claim about being forced to pitch in to the Eco-City project.



Each neighborhood committee must plant 500 trees along the sidewalks, he said. In addition, we need to plant three or four trees in front of each residential house in the area. We have to pay for all of these trees from our own pockets.



The man spoke on condition of anonymity fearing repercussions for criticizing authorities.



Andijon regional authorities didnt return RFE/RLs calls for comment on the allegation workers are being forced to contribute to the Eco-City project in the eastern metropolis of some 400,000 people.



But a government worker said employees of the district administrations had been compelled to give money to the governors green city project.



Speaking anonymously, the official said he was forced to buy seedlings for about $125, a big dent in his monthly family budget.



We buy seedlings in bazaars or wherever they are sold, he said. Its unfair that I have to pay half of my salary to buy trees for them.



The official said he doesnt think people should have to pay for any government initiative and that the governor should have allocated money from the state budget for his city landscaping project.



But no one dares to ask the governor [why he didnt], the official told RFE/RL.



Other citizens and state workers are paying for government green projects in other Uzbek regions, including Tashkent Province, it was reported last month.



Several parents in Tashkents Olmaliq area told RFE/RL that school administrations were telling students to contribute money to buy trees.



Contacted by RFE/RL, school administrators in Olmaliq insisted the contribution was voluntary.



Local government officials refused to comment.
New Delhi: A day after announcing his resignation from the Congress, Jyotiraditya Scindia joined the BJP on Wednesday in presence of the ruling party's president JP Nadda.

According to sources, the BJP is likely to name him as one of its candidates for the Rajya Sabha polls in Madhya Pradesh and is also confident of forming the government in the state with his help as 22 MLAs including Scindia's supporters have resigned from the state assembly reducing the Kamal Nath government to a minority.

Peeved with his marginalisation in the Congress, Scindia met Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday and then the two leaders went to the prime minister's residence where they held talks for over an hour.

Soon after meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the disgruntled Madhya Pradesh Congress leader tendered his resignation to party president Sonia Gandhi saying it was time for him to move on.

Scindia took the decision to sever his ties with the Congress on the day of his father Madhavrao Scindia's 75th birth anniversary.

A four-time MP, Scindia first got elected from Guna in Madhya Pradesh in 2002 after winning a bye-election necessitated by his father's demise. He was only 31 years old at that time.

He gradually made his way up the Congress ladder becoming Minister of State for Communications and IT in 2007 during the Congress-led UPA-1. In 2009, he became Minister of State for Commerce and Industry and in 2012 was appointed Minister of State for Power during UPA-2.

After the Congress lost the 2014 General Election, Sonia Gandhi named him the party's chief whip in the Lok Sabha.
Italy has imposed sweeping nationwide restrictions on travel and public life, a desperate attempt to contain the coronavirus outbreak that looks set to plunge the world's eighth largest economy into a steep recession.

The measures announced late Monday include travel restrictions on 60 million residents, a ban on public events, the closure of schools, movie theaters, museums and gyms, and limits on opening hours for restaurants, bars and shops.

The government took action as the number of deaths caused by coronavirus reached 463 and infections topped 9,000, more than double the number reported in China as a share of the population. The restrictions are in place until at least April 3.

Taken together, the unprecedented measures are likely to push an economy that contracted in the final three months of 2019 into a sharper downturn that will put Italian hotels, travel companies and restaurants under intense pressure.

Jack Allen-Reynolds, senior Europe economist at Capital Economics, said Italy's economy will contract sharply in the first half of the year even if the restrictions are lifted at the end of April, with GDP declining about 2% for all of 2020.

The hit to GDP will be "much bigger" if the restrictions are extended until the end of June, he added.

"This does not take account of the impact on the banking sector ... the spillovers from the impact of the virus on other parts of the eurozone, or the potential supply-chain disruption if the virus really takes off in Germany and other key trade partners," he added.

Economists at Goldman Sachs expect the restrictions to shave 1.5 percentage points off Italian economic growth in both the first and second quarters of the year, followed by a pickup during the second half.

"Although fiscal policy will limit some of this drag, the virus outbreak is very likely to push Italy into recession," they said in a research note on Monday.

The sectors most affected by the lockdown - including transport, art and entertainment, retail, and hotels and restaurants  account for around 23% of Italian GDP, according to Goldman Sachs.

On Wednesday, the Italian government said it was allocating 25 billion euros ($28 billion) to fight the coronavirus crisis.

Businesses respond

Major Italian companies are working to comply with the new limits.

Fiat Chrysler on Wednesday announced that it is cutting production rates and temporarily closing four plants in Italy to minimize the risk of the virus spreading among employees. A spokesperson said the plants are expected to reopen on March 16.

To limit contact between staffers, the company also said it will increase space between employees at their workstations.

Lamborghini, which is owned by Volkswagen Group, said Tuesday that its factory near Bologna was operational. But the carmaker warned that it's "still too early to give a detailed forecast of impact on business."

Supermarket chain Esselunga said it is implementing social distancing in stores, in accordance with government rules requiring that shoppers and restaurant patrons remain at least three feet apart.

Containment efforts are likely to plunge the restaurant and tourism sectors into crisis, said Stefano Manzocchi, chief economist at Italian trade association Confindustria. The manufacturing sector could also be harmed because foreign tourists drive demand for "Made in Italy" goods, he added.

"Limitations in movements and the [fear] about what is going to happen are likely to bring about a contraction in consumption, which is probably already strongly underway," said Manzocchi.

Italy's tourism sector, which accounts for 6% of GDP, will be particularly hard hit, as popular destinations in Venice and Rome are deserted. On Tuesday, the Vatican closed Saint Peter's Square and Saint Peter's Basilica to tourists.

Government intervention

Italy's government is expected to unveil a range of emergency measures to offset some of the economic shock caused by the lockdown.

The country's economic ministry said Tuesday that mortgage payments would be suspended, for example. The measure is being implemented in collaboration with banks, said a spokesperson for the ministry.

Italy's central bank said it is working closely with the government "to define appropriate measures aimed at supporting firms hit by the economic fallout of the outbreak."

Manzocchi expects to see wider suspensions in debt repayments, liquidity support for Italian companies, subsidies for temporarily unemployed workers and, eventually, a public infrastructure investment plan.

"Given the scale of the disruption that all of this will cause, we suspect that the government will eventually provide fiscal support worth several percent of GDP," Allen-Reynolds of Capital Economics said.

"This wouldn't do much to raise aggregate demand while the quarantine is in place, but it would help to maintain spending on essential items, prevent borrowers from defaulting on their loans, and provide a grace period for some tax payments," he added.

But these measures will only partially offset the hit to the economy and will not be enough to counter the blow to tourism, much of which is not recoverable as carnivals, trade fairs and events are canceled, said Paolo Pizzoli, senior economist at Dutch bank, ING.

Italy's stock market reflected the pessimism, plunging further into a bear market on Tuesday. The benchmark FTSE MIB index has now fallen by nearly 30% since February 19.

Europe to suffer, too

The country's containment measures are expected to ripple throughout Europe, as the movement of Italian travelers is curbed and manufacturing potentially disrupted.

The region was already smarting from China's coronavirus shutdown, which hit demand for European goods and disrupted manufacturing supply chains. Measures taken by other European governments to contain the spread of the virus, such as cancellations of public gatherings and sporting events, are expected to dent growth further.

Researchers at Barclays expect the euro area to experience a "short-lived but relatively deep recession" in the first half of this year. They expect growth for the full year to come in at 0.3%, versus the 1% rate expected before the start of the outbreak in China.

The northern part of Italy, where the coronavirus outbreak is worst, accounts for roughly 75% of the country's trade with other EU countries, according to Goldman Sachs. The supply chains of Italian and German automakers are especially well integrated.

"This is going to be a European problem," Manzocchi said.

 Eoin McSweeney, Valentina Di Donato and Emma Reynolds contributed reporting.
(Newser)  If you've been watching the Jim Bakker Show and got taken in by promises of a coronavirus cure hawked by the televangelist, we have bad news for you. The Missouri attorney general is suing the show over what it says is a "fake" cure. "Anyone who has bought 'Silver Solution' from the Jim Bakker Show should know that it cannot cure or treat coronavirus," AG Eric Schmitt's office says in a press release, per the Springfield News-Leader. The FDA, FTC, and the New York Attorney Generals Office also issued cease and desist letters to the show after "silver sol" was promoted on the Feb. 12 episode, Fox 8 reports.

story continues below

The solution was priced at $80 or more; Bakker and a guest said on the show in February that it could "eliminate" the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19 from the body in hours. The Missouri suit aims to stop the show from selling it. Per CNBC, the FDA has also warned six other companies against selling fraudulent coronavirus treatments including teas, essential oils, and tinctures. There are currently no approved treatments for COVID-19. (Read more Jim Bakker stories.)
Residents wait at a rest area after receiving the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine at a mobile station in Hong Kong on Sunday. (Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Few of the citys older residents have been fully inoculated, leaving them highly vulnerable as the city battles an outbreak of the new variant.
Coronavirus testing is critical to protecting the health of frontline medical workers and ensuring there is enough staff to keep the sector operating during peak flu season.

Doctors with mild coughs or runny noses have been calling in sick after being told by health officials not to go to work if they have any COVID-19 symptoms and have faced delays when seeking testing.

Health care professionals want faster access to COVID-19 testing so they don't work while sick and minimise the spread of infection amongst the community. Credit:Louise Kennerley

A NSW general practitioner, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said whenever a patient has presented over the last few weeks with cold or flu-like symptoms, medical professionals are mindful it could be COVID-19.

"If healthcare workers come down with it [COVID-19], they can pass it onto susceptible patients," he said. "We see patients with all sorts of health conditions and we have a duty of care to protect them."
By PTI

ISLAMABAD: An F-16 fighter jet belonging to the Pakistan Air Force crashed in Islamabad on Wednesday while carrying out rehearsals for the country's Republic Day parade to be held on March 23.

The plane crashed in a jungle near Shakarparian area of the capital, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) said in a statement.

The plane was carrying out routine exercises for the Pakistan Day parade when it crashed, it said, adding that the PAF has ordered an inquiry into the cause of the crash.

Pakistani Air Force jet crashes in Islamabad (full VIDEO)



F-16 crashed during rehearsal of 23rd march preparations#Islamabad #F16 #PAF pic.twitter.com/0D5bXpJxK1  Raza Akram (@RazaAkram222) March 11, 2020

There was no immediate word on the fate of the pilot or co-pilot.

Security forces have cordoned off the crash site. Smoke was rising from the crash site and rescue efforts were going on to contain the fire, the statement said.

Pakistan Day or Pakistan Resolution Day, also known as Republic Day commemorates the Lahore Resolution passed on March 23, 1940 and the adoption of the first Constitution of Pakistan.

The annual military and cultural parade is organised in the capital Islamabad to commemorate the demand for a separate homeland for Indian Muslims which was made through the resolution passed by the All India Muslim League in Lahore.

Air show by the PAF is an integral part of the parade and its intensive rehearsals are organised weeks ahead of the parade day.

Traditionally, locally-made JF-17 Thunder and American F-16 feature prominently in the air show.

Last month, a trainer aircraft of the PAF crashed near Mardan. A Mirage aircraft had crashed near Shorkot city of Punjab's Jhang district the week before.

In January, two PAF pilots were killed after a training aircraft crashed near the M M Alam Base in Mianwali.


Tim's Find Gold Project Mining Services Binding Terms Sheet

Canberra, Mar 11, 2020 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Alt Resources Ltd ( ASX:ARS ) is pleased to advise that it has executed a Binding Term Sheet with Blue Cap Mining Pty Ltd for the commencement of mining operations at the Tim's Find Gold Project contained within the Company's Mount Ida and Bottle Creek Gold Project's located 90 kilometres northwest of Menzies, Western Australia.MINING SERVICE AGREEMENT (MSA) BLUE CAP MINING PTY LTDAlt Resources has executed a Binding Term Sheet with Blue Cap Mining Pty Ltd (Blue Cap) for the provision of Mining Services Agreement (MSA) at the Tim's Find project. Under the provisions contained in the MSA Term Sheet, Blue Cap will provide mining, transport, processing, drill and blast and associated mining services to the Company.The Terms and Conditions are summarised as follows;- Blue Cap to fund mining operation via a $1.5 million Working Capital Facility (WCF) which will continue until ore sales allow full payment of all invoices;- The WCF is to be fully repaid within 4 months from first drawdown, subject to a force majeure clause;- Net Profit generated by Project will be shared as 34% to the Contractor and 65% to the Principal;- Blue Cap retains the right to subscribe to 20 Million fully paid ordinary Shares in the Company being five hundred thousand (500,000) dollars at a deemed issue price of $0.025 utilising the Company's Listing Rule 7.1 placement capacity with the Shares to have a voluntary escrow period of twelve (12) months from the date of issue. At the election of the Contractor, the issue of shares will be in lieu of cash payment against the MSA cost;- The Contractors right to subscribe for shares under this agreement expires one hundred and eighty (180) days from commencement of the MSA operations;- The Contractor will engage and appoint the sub-contractors for ore haulage and processing treatment. Any appointment is subject to the approval of the Principal;- The Security Deed for the Contractor to be granted a first ranking Security over the ore extracted from Tim's Find pit and the gold produced from the processing of the ore extracted from Tim's Find pit; and- Establishment fee $10,000 upon document execution.The formal documentation is currently being prepared for execution by the Companies which is anticipated to be finalised in the near future.TIMS FIND MINING TARGET FOR COMMENCEMENT OF MINING OPERATIONIn July 2019 the Company released the Mt Ida Scoping Study, which assessed the Bottle Creek Gold Project's Emu, Southwark, Boags and VB resources, Quinn's Mining Project's Boudie Rat and Forrest Belle resources and the Tim's Find Prospect resources. The study resulted in various resources forming the basis of a potential robust low-cost open pit mining project, as released to the market in July 2019 Scoping Study. Subsequent work, and engagement with Blue Cap, has led to the recognition that Tim's Find provides the company with an opportunity for early cash flow without the initial capital requirement associated with the processing plant outlined in the Scoping Study.In February 2020 the Company upgraded the Resource Estimate which included an increase in resource at Tim's Find, which now stands at a JORC 2012 Measured and Indicated Resource of 535,000t @ 2.13g/t Au for 36,700oz Au and is held on the granted mining lease M29/421, which is owned 100% by MGK Resources Pty Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company.About Aurenne Alt Resources Pty Ltd

Aurenne Alt Resources Pty Ltd is an Australian based mineral exploration company that aims to become a gold producer by exploiting historical and new gold prospects across quality assets and to build value for shareholders.
Jaipur, March 11 : Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot here on Wednesday described Jyotiraditya Scindia's joining of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as "unfortunate" and said he wished things could have been resolved collaboratively.

"Unfortunate to see Scindia parting ways with the Congress. I wish things could have been resolved collaboratively within the party," tweeted Pilot, who shared a good bond with the former Guna MP.

The tweet came hours after Scindia joined the BJP in Delhi in the presence of party chief J.P. Nadda, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Vice-President Vinay Sahasrabudhhe and others.

After joining the BJP, Scindia said the Congress was in a denial mode and was not the same party it used to be.

Scindia, who quit the Congress on Tuesday, was later expelled for anti-party activities. Following his exit, the 18-month Kamal Nath-led Congress government in Madhya Pradesh started lurching as 21 MLAs close to the royal family also resigned.

Meanwhile, the Congress has shifted MLAs to Jaipur to avoid poaching by the BJP.

Earlier in the day, calling Scindia an "opportunist", Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said it would have been better if he had left the party earlier.

"Had the opportunist gone earlier, it would have been better. The Congress gave him a lot in the last 17-18 years. He was given several posts and also made a Union Minister. But he showed his opportunist streak by deserting the party. The people will not forgive him," Gehlot said.
New Delhi, March 11 : The political crisis in Madhya Pradesh has seen Congress leader and former Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia switching over to the BJP, ending his 18-year-old association with the grand old party. Who made this transition for Scindia a smooth process? Who in the BJP was tasked with bringing Scindia to the saffron party's camp? Turns out, Zafar Islam, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson and a well-known face in the media, is the man who played a key role in bringing Scindia into the BJP fold.

Before entering politics, Islam worked for a foreign bank and drew a hefty salary. Later, influence by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's brand of politics, he joined the BJP.

It's said the soft-spoken Islam enjoys a "good relation" with Modi, and perhaps that's why the BJP high command handed him the responsibility of getting Scindia.

According to sources, Islam knows Scindia since a long time and both used to meet often during the former union minister's stay in Delhi. However, since the last five months, Zafar was meeting Scindia "too often", apparently to bring the latter to BJP camp.

Sources said both have met "at least five times" recently. And after the meeting, Islam used to present the "conclusions and derivations" before the BJP high command. It was only after those meetings, and a careful study of their outcomes, efforts to bring Scindia to saffron party's camp and the "Operation Lotus" began, sources said.

According to sources, "in the entire operation, only logistic and other support was provided to the BJP... the entire operation went according to Jyotiraditya Scindia".

Even on Monday and Tuesday, Jafar was present at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg during Jyotiraditya Scindia's meeting with Prime Minister Modi.

In fact, when Home Minister Amit Shah went to Modi's residence along with Scindia, Islam was present in the car.
SPRINGFIELD  The city and various agencies are applying for 2020 casino mitigation funds for expenses ranging from a proposed downtown parking study to continued rent assistance for the sheriffs substance abuse center.

Other applicants include the Springfield Police Department, which is seeking funds for special equipment such as riot shields and active shooter kits, and the Fire Department, which wants a two-firefighter tactical unit available for non-emergency calls to MGM Springfield.

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission, which oversees the Community Mitigation Fund program, is reviewing applications from communities and government entities to offset the costs related to the construction and operations of the MGM Springfield casino and the Encore Boston Harbor casino.

Decisions are anticipated before July.

Last year, the commission awarded $4.1 million in mitigation funds to a total of 21 applicants statewide.

This year, the Springfield Parking Authority is seeking $100,000 to reassess parking in downtown and South End, particularly related to the impact the casino has had on existing garages, lots, overall usage, and revenues as well as new demand created by the loss of parking on what is now the casino campus, the authoritys application states.

The authority owns and operates public parking garages, and oversees on-street and off-street parking in the downtown.

A key factor of the study is evaluating the impact of the MGM garage on East Columbus Avenue, which provides free parking and is open to anyone, not just casino patrons. The garage has approximately 3,500 parking spaces.

The study will help to better assess current supply and demand, and to consider strategies such as centralized shared lots, the authority said.

The Springfield Parking Authority, through the city, is separately seeking $500,000 from the mitigation fund for the planned relocation of the Focus Springfield community access television from the corner of State and Main streets to the vacant CityStage property at One Columbus Center. Focus Springfield must move from the MGM-owned property after multiple extensions, officials said.

The casino mitigation fund is financed from the taxes and fine revenue generated by the two casinos. In 2020, the target spending amount totals $6 million related to Encore and $5 million related to MGM Springfield, according to commission guidelines.

The Hampden County Sheriffs Department is applying for $400,000 to assist with the payment of rent for its Western Massachusetts Recovery and Wellness Center at 155 Mill St., in the South End. The department has been receiving $400,000 annually from the casino fund.

The treatment center was forced to relocate from Howard Street in 2016 when the property was purchased and became part of the $960 million casino campus.

The center had operated for 29 years on Howard Street, where the rent was far lower than its current site, the department said. The current 10-year lease on Mill Street totals $11.8 million, as compared to the annual lease on Howard Street of $666,267 including utilities, the department said.

The Springfield Police Department has applied for $124,325 for various pieces of equipment related to the casino area, the application states. The application states the equipment is essential for our department to continue to provide safety precautions to the ever-changing community surrounding the casino.

The equipment includes: a pickup truck equipped for logistical ground support for specialty events, 25 active shooter kits, 50 protective riot shields and 15 multi-casualty response kits.

The Springfield Fire Department is seeking $436,602 to pay for having two firefighters assigned to a tactical emergency response vehicle 24 hours a day, seven days a week. That vehicle is the primary unit responding to non-fire emergencies at the casino, most notably medical and elevator extrication calls.

The city of Springfield is seeking $500,000 to help drive economic development efforts in the immediate area of MGM Springfield. The casino itself is not driving that development and the city must take the lead, the application states.

Half the funds would be for an implementation blueprint planning and strategic advancement program, and the other half would be for a property stabilization fund, the city said.

West Springfield has applied for $200,000 to help subsidize the cost of hiring four police officers, eight firefighters/emergency medical technicians, and four police dispatchers, related to the impacts of the casino since its opening in August of 2018, the application states.

The cost for the added personnel is estimated at $1 million next fiscal year, with the city receiving $375,000 directly from MGM Springfield in its community agreement.

West Springfield, in a separate category for transportation planning grants, is seeking $200,000 to aid with design costs for future improvements to Main Street, which was described as an alternate route for some of the traffic going to and from MGM Springfield.

The Hampden district attorneys office is seeking $75,000 to be used for personnel costs associated with the handling of additional casino-related cases and public safety meetings, the application states.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has that land and health care reforms will be completed and the government will improve communication with the public on sensitive issues of these reforms.

He said this in an interview with a Bloomberg journalist, according to the website of the head of state.

"Land reform is a reform of both the President and the Government - we are all responsible. It is the most difficult reform because in almost 30 years, no one could even begin the discussion of the bill [on the agricultural land market] in committees. We will finish this reform," Zelensky said.

He said voting for the land market bill in the second reading was only the first stage of land reform. In the future, it is necessary to adopt a law on the referendum and regulate land cadastres.

Zelensky also considers it expedient to restore the Ministry of Agrarian Policy. "After all, such a complicated thing as land reform requires separate people in Ukraine, a separate institution. This is what the respective minister should say and do," he said.

At the same time, Zelensky said he was sure that despite the opposition's resistance and the blocking of amendments with "spam," the law on the agricultural land market will be adopted by the Verkhovna Rada.

"This is indeed the most difficult draft law. We have thousands of amendments there. We can only demand and work," Zelensky said.

As for the health care reform, in his opinion, the resistance to its implementation is caused by a misunderstanding of the peculiarities of changes that will take place. Zelensky said he was happy with the first stage of the health care reform, which made it possible to increase the salaries of general practitioners, improve the material and technical conditions of medical institutions and increase the transparency of financing the health care system.

At the same time, Zelensky emphasized the need to improve communication between the government and society, to clarify the details of land and health care reforms.

According to him, it is unacceptable for the government to fail communication when radical changes are taking place in the country.

"It's not about your personal ratings, not about your possible 'demolition,' it's about the possibility that the country may not have a chance anymore," Zelensky said.

op
Karnataka Health Minister B Sriramulu on Wednesday said there is no confirmation that the death was due to coronavirus and test reports of his samples were awaited.

Bengaluru: A 76-year-old man from the district headquarters town of Kalaburagi suspected to be infected with coronavirus died on Tuesday night, and the exact cause of his death is being ascertained, officials said.

Karnataka Health Minister B Sriramulu on Wednesday said there is no confirmation that the death was due to coronavirus and test reports of his samples were awaited. The man had recently returned from Saudi Arabia.

Earlier, the district health and family welfare department said the man was suspected to be infected with coronavirus. The state has reported four positive cases so far, the minister said.

"There is no need for any fear..the person who died in Gulbarga (Kalaburagi), we have no information that he has died due to coronavirus. We are waiting for reports, once we get the reports,

we will inform," Sriramulu said.

Speaking to reporters here, he said the person had gone to Saudi Arabia in January end and came back on 29 February.

On his return, he was down with fever and took treatment at a private hospital. Later, on the advice of doctors or family he had gone to Hyderabad, the minister said. The person had severe asthma history, blood pressure, and appendicitis, among other things, and he died, the minister said.

A senior health department official later clarified the man died on the way back from Hyderabad around 11 pm on Tuesday.

Listing the chronology of events, Additional Chief Secretary (Health) Jawaid Akhtar said the person got treated at an OPD of a private hospital in Kalaburagi on 5 March, the next day he got admitted and on March 9 he got shifted to Hyderabad.

Sriramulu said all four COVID-19 positive cases reported in the state are stable.

Precautionary measures have been taken at places visited by the four people who tested positive and those who had come in contact with them.

Meanwhile, the State government issued a notification with temporary regulations regarding COVID-19 and to take special measures to be observed by the public to prevent outbreak of the disease.

It would be called 'The Karnataka Epidemic Diseases, Covid-19 regulations 2020.' The state government has also decided to postpone all international conferences in the state with immediate effect till further notice.
Paper (fka GradeSlam), a Montreal, Canada-based education company, raised 7.5m USD in funding.

The round was led by Reach Capital and supported by Bullpen Capital with participation from existing investors Birchmere Ventures, BDC Capital, Real Ventures, Google, Red House Education, Edovate Capital, and Anges Quebec.

The company intends to use the funds to accelerate the rapid growth of the business.

Founded by McGill University graduates Philip Cutler and Roberto Cipriani, Paper provides an educational support system which increases student achievement and teacher effectiveness. The company has partnered with some of the most influential districts including Irvine Unified School District, Springfield Public Schools, Sequoia Union High School District, Denver Public Schools, Tustin Unified School District.

FinSMEs

11/03/2020
When the poet Osip Mandelstam was arrested by the Soviet secret police in the 1930s, he was taken to the notorious Lubyanka prison for interrogation. He drew a distinction between the guards on the outside  village youths doing terrible things out of a dim sense of duty  and the interrogators on the inside, who seemed like specialists in cruelty. To do that job, you have to have a particular vocation, Mandelstam said. No ordinary man could stand it.

Its an observation that Alex Halberstadt forced himself to keep in mind when meeting with his paternal grandfather, Vassily, who worked in Lubyanka for several years before becoming one of Stalins bodyguards. Halberstadt considered his grandfather, who was a member of Stalins security detail for more than a decade, to be the moral equal of a Gestapo officer. Vassily survived countless rounds of purges and recriminations to live into his 90s  no small feat for anyone so entwined in the paranoid politics of the Soviet state.

In Young Heroes of the Soviet Union, Halberstadt recalls traveling from his home in New York to Ukraine in 2004, to meet his nonagenarian grandfather for the first time since Halberstadt was an infant. (Halberstadt had left the Soviet Union with his mother and her parents in 1980, when he was 10.) Vassily turned out to be intermittently candid but mostly evasive. Halberstadt corroborated what he could of Vassilys few recollections with other accounts, thinking that he would write about his grandfathers experiences, trying to piece together and weigh his motives, before realizing he was on to something else  something at once more capacious and intimate than what he originally had in mind. This, I understood finally, was history: not the ordered narrative of books but an affliction that spread from parent to child, sister to brother, husband to wife.

More than a retelling of Vassilys story, Young Heroes is a memoir of Halberstadts family and the country where he was born  a loving and mournful account thats also skeptical, surprising and often very funny. He recreates the lives of his parents and grandparents, tracing their experiences in order to better understand his own.
(Photo : CHRIS AND HAIDEE JANETZKI via REUTERS) A woman sits on top of a "throne" made of boxes containing toilet paper in Toowoomba, Australia March 5, 2020. in this picture obtained from social media.

A simple mistake has an Australian household flowing in toilet paper - thousands of rolls of toilet paper. The family accidentally bought 2,300 rolls of tissue paper as the country faces shortages amid coronavirus outbreak.

The coronavirus outbreak got people running to the stores and shop as many sanitary items as their hands could carry. However, this household made an honest mistake of ordering a year's supply of tissue papers.

ALSO READ: 48-roll Pack of Toilet Paper is Being Sold in Australia for $100,000 as Coronavirus Panic Surges

Just a simple mistake

Toowoomba's Janetzki family has thousands of rolls mistakenly ordered the 48 boxes of toilet paper in February, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reported. The family only noticed the mistake two days later when the delivery guys had already transported to their home.

The order, sold at the online store Who Gives a Crap, cost $3,264 in place of the $68 that 48 rolls might have charged. Haidee Janetzki paid the rolls through her credit card but didn't check her billing statement until after 48 boxes of bathroom paper arrived at her door.

When asked how she felt about her purchase, Janetzki told Reuters she seemed gobsmacked, confused, and "like a bit of an idiot."

A report from 7News quoted Janetzki saying she made a simple mistake as she switched lavatory papers --- thinking the delivery guys delivered the item to a wrong address.

Upon checking the credit card statement to figure out what went wrong, it turned out that Janetzki indeed made a mistake.

"When it [online store] asked for [the] quantity, I [placed] 48, [assuming] that would be a box of 48 rolls," Janetzki said.

A blessing in disguise

The bulk buys turned out to be a blessing in disguise, though. According to Reuters, Janetzki resold the rolls at the same price at which the family bought the item. She said the budget would help pay her child's upcoming school trip.

Janetzki added she felt relieved that her loved ones do not have to worry about the toilet paper shortage in the land down under.

ALSO READ: Coronavirus: Australian Man Tasered by Cops After Another Fight Over Toilet Paper Amid Panic Buying

She narrated to ABC that lots of people they know bought the tissue papers from them. Janetzki added they're getting plenty of jokes --- including in the social media.

Who Gives a Crap also refunded $400 in postage for the boxes, which the Janetzkis have placed their daughter's trip.

Janetzki's family was enjoying what they had while they wait for the stock to sell out; their family was enjoying what they had. They constructed a wall of their garage, and then a throne in their lounge room.

Panic buying continues as coronavirus rapidly spread

Major retailers throughout Australia have seen toilet paper shelves empty in current weeks, CNN reported. Stores have even imposed a limit on the number of rolls clients can buy.

Panic buys have spread worldwide in the wake of the new coronavirus outbreak, despite governments discourage stockpiling.

Coronavirus has infected more than 100,000 people - including at least 1,000 in the United States - and killed over at least 4,200 worldwide.

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
By ANI

ROME: A woman in Borghetto Santo Spirito in Italy's Savona province has been stuck in her apartment with her husband's dead body for the last two days due to strict quarantine regime that has been clamped in the country in the wake of coronavirus breakout.

The woman is not being allowed to leave the apartment or perform the funeral service of her husband, who died of Covid-19 late Monday night.

"The man, who had tested positive for the deadly virus, died on Monday night," CNN quoted Giancarlo Canepa, mayor of Borghetto Santo Spirito, as saying.

Coronavirus LIVE UPDATES | Cases reach 62 in India, suspected death reported in Karnataka

He added, "Yes, it is true she is still there with the body and we won't be able to remove it until Wednesday morning."

No one is allowed to touch the body due to quarantine procedures. Canepa added that the man had refused to be taken to a local hospital for recovery after he developed symptoms of coronavirus infection.

The story surfaced when reports about a woman trapped with her husband's dead body inside an apartment started making rounds in the region.

Local television station IVG.IT posted video interviews with the woman's neighbours who had just found out that death had occurred.

According to CNN, the man's family members are desperate to get his body while his widow has been crying and shouting for help from the apartment's balcony.

ALSO READ | 90-year-old woman dies of coronavirus in Belgium, first death in country

Italy has been put under a complete lockdown after cases of coronavirus spiked in the country. Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte announced the countrywide restrictions, which earlier were only restricted to northern Italy.

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control said that coronavirus has reached all countries of Europe.

As per the World Health Organisation (WHO), the novel coronavirus belongs to the family of zoonotic viruses that spread from animals to humans.

The symptoms of Covid-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, include running cold, sneezes and cough, and in severe cases respiratory problems, shortness of breath, kidney failure or even death.

The deadly virus which originated in Wuhan, China, has affected more than 105 counties and has infected more than 115,000 people globally with nearly 4,000 deaths.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Next week, comedian Bert Kreischer will debut his new standup show, Hey Big Boy, which was filmed at the Cleveland Agora. The special arrives on Netflix on Tuesday, March 17.

Hey Big Boy was filmed as Kreischer took over the Agora for seven comedy shows in November of 2019. The shows all featured the same content, and four of them were taped to create the special, according to Agora marketing coordinator Mike Tata.

The ticketed shows all reached full capacity in the venues main room, Tata said.

Though he couldnt speak about the content of the upcoming special, Tata said each show was filled with Kreischers own stories. A trailer posted on Netflix features a (not safe for work) bit where Kreischer riffs on pornography.

Kreischer also -- as he does in most performances -- removed his shirt for each show at the Agora, performing bare-chested.

Only one thing was similar on each show, and that was the huge roar from the crowd every single time Bert took his shirt off, Tata said. You would have thought the Beatles just hit our stage, it was that electrifying.

As far as Tata knows, Kreischers Hey Big Boy is the first comedy special to be taped at the Agora. Kreischers team reached out to the Agora in the spring of 2019, seeking venues specifically for the Netflix taping. Tata thinks Kreischers past performances in Cleveland, and his past appearances on Northeast Ohio radio talk show Rovers Morning Glory, helped seal the deal.

Having all of that camera equipment and crew was certainly new for us, but it was cool to see in our building, Tata said. Overall, he really loved the venue.

Besides doing standup, Kreischer is also known for hosting role in the Travel Channels Bert The Conqueror and his podcasts: Bertcast, 2 Bears 1 Cave and Bill and Bert.

The Agora doesnt have any other taping events on the horizon, but it does have a schedule of comedy performances coming up:

March 27 - LetterKenny Live

April 11 - Nikki Glaser

April 25 - Whitney Cummings

May 13 - Sal Vulcano

May 15 - Bob Saget

May 29 - Nate Bargatze, two shows

June 11 - Heather McMahan

Watch the trailer for Kreischers standup special below.

(Warning: The trailer sensitive content and language.)

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The Sanders cancellation, which was confirmed by a source in the campaign not authorized to discuss the plans publicly, comes after the senator already had scrapped a rally planned Tuesday in Rockford due to schedule constraints. Sanders instead planned an evening rally in Cleveland, which also was canceled after the states governor recommended against it to prevent spreading the virus.
The streets of Twitter were greeted with a new trend by members of the LGBTQ community in Nigeria as they advocate for their rights.

This trend is coming up after reports on several violent attacks on LGBTQ people in Nigeria.

Recall that it was earlier reported by Information Nigeria how two men murdered a gay man who had made an arrangement with them over 20k.

READ ALSO  Nigeria Is A Jungle, Leave Now  Bisi Alimi Tells LGBTQ Community

Taking to Twitter, a new trend, #EndHomophobiaInNigeria, has got many talking as many expressed support and disproval of the LGBTQ community.

See Tweets Here:
Amazon Fire TV Stick will face stiff competition from the upgraded Google streaming device

Chennai: The Amazon Fire TV Stick was winning the battle of the streaming devices with Chromecast till now, and the most defining difference was that it offered a remote and Alexa assist. Now Google is getting ready to release its second generation Chromecast Ultra featuring Android TV this year, 9to5Google reported.

Likely to look similar to the Chromecast 3 which has been available since 2018, the latest device, codenamed Sabrina, will have softer, more rounded feel in line with Googles current design sensibility.

The remote will have the simplicity of the Apple TV remote but with the rounded Google design. The remote is a game changer as it offers the convenience of not having to control the device using your phone.

Google Assistant will have a dedicated button on the remote, using which you can order your TV to do your bidding.

You can of course watch 4K HDR content and certainly stream anything, including Netflix, Disney+ and a host of streaming services over WiFi, while also connecting via Bluetooth, and being able to mirror your phone screen.
Coming down heavily on the Centre over "failure" to contain violence in Delhi, the opposition in Lok Sabha on Wednesday demanded the resignation of Home Minister Amit Shah, but the BJP alleged a conspiracy behind the riots and sought to blame anti-CAA protests for the situation.

As the House discussed the recent communal riots in the national capital that have claimed 52 lives, ruling and opposition members traded charges over alleged hate speeches by leaders before the outbreak of violence.

Defending the government, the BJP members said the home minister and authorities took pro-active steps to control the situation.

Initiating the discussion on "recent law and order situation in some parts of Delhi", Congress leader in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury wondered how violence continued for three days despite the fact that Delhi Police is one of the best equipped in the country.

"The Home Minister (Amit Shah) will have to explain," he said.

Hitting out at the prime minister, he said, Nero fiddled while Rome burned.

When Delhi was witnessing violence, Modi was hosting US President Donald Trump in Ahmedabad, the Congress leader said.

Chowdhury said while some claimed Hindus won, the others said Muslims won in the violence. "The fact is that humanity was defeated," he said.

He said the situation came under control soon after National Security Advisor Ajit Doval visited the violence-hit areas.

"Why could not the Home Minister go... NSA reports to the Prime Minister. Does this mean that the Prime Minister's Office had lost faith in the home ministry," Chowdhury said hitting out at Shah.

Chowdhury alleged that Delhi High Court judge S Murlidhar was transferred out as he had questioned the failure of the Delhi Police in containing the violence.

He said the "midnight" notification was aimed at preventing adverse strictures against the government.

Nishikant Dubey (BJP) said the transfer was recommended by the Supreme Court collegium and the government had nothing to do with it.

Chowdhury sought resignation of Shah, a demand echoed by TMC's Saugata Roy, CPI-M member A M Ariff and N K Premchandran of RSP.

"Mr Shah, in the name of God, go," Roy said while looking at Shah who was present in the House.

AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi said there is a "tsunami of Hindutva hate" and called for an impartial probe to find the perpetrators of the violence.

Some of his remarks evoked sharp response from the Treasury benches, with at least two Union ministers -- Ravi Shankar Prasad and Kishan Reddy -- registering their protests.

Speaker Om Birla also expunged certain remarks made by Owaisi.

BJP members said evidence showed that stones and petrol bombs were stored in huge quantity to fuel the violence.

BJP leader Meenakshi Lekhi alleged that some people are taking political benefit out of the incidents of violence.

Referring to the killing of IB officer Ankit Sharma during the riots, she said 400 wounds were found on his body.

"What kind of hatred was this... we should discuss that also," she said, adding the riots were pre-planned.

She also alleged that stones and catapults were found in the house of an AAP councillor and hate speeches were given by an MLA of the party.

"Every tenth home had catapults, which were used in the riots," she added.

Danish Ali (BSP) demanded that certain remarks of Lekhi be expunged.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said members should not take the names of any religion in the debate.

Birla expunged certain names taken by Lekhi and asked her not to name people.

Lekhi said that the government acted pro-actively and riots were controlled within 36 hours.

She also said that the allegations of hate speeches on Anurag Thakur and Parvesh Verma were not relevant as the riots started on February 23.

She also defended BJP leader Kapil Mishra, saying it was wrong to blame him for the riots.

However, TMC's Saugata Roy criticised the remarks by Lekhi, who is a senior lawyer, calling her "Devil's advocate".

Lekhi alleged that after the speech of Congress leader Sonia Gandhi at Ramlila maidan, people had started gathering.

Similar speeches were given by Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi as well, Lekhi said.

"For three months, people are sitting on roads," she said referring to people protesting at Shaheen Bagh against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act.

She added that work to instigate people and propagate extremism was going on since long.

"This government wants to do the of development," she said, adding the government is providing houses, power connections and cylinders to people not on the basis of religion.

"Why is the opposition spreading rumours," she said.

She said that the current government "violated the no go zone" and acted to scrap Article 370 and triple talaq.

She said that opposition members of the House understand the CAA law but are "continuously misleading the people".

Citing certain data on riots, Lekhi said during 1950 to 1964, as many as 243 riots are documented.

When Indira Gandhi was prime minister, 337 riots happened during 1966 to 1977 and 1980 and 1984.

Similarly, when Rajiv Gandhi was Prime Minister, 291 riots occurred during 1984 and 1989.

Out of 1094 riots, 871 happened during Congress regime, which was 73 per cent, she added.

"18 big riots happened during Congress regime," she added.

She said that the opposition is taking about one riot in Gujarat but no riots happened in that state after 2002.

She said that the people of Delhi must be feeling guilty as after voting a government which gave free power and water they are now facing such incidents.

She said Doval visited the areas hit by riots as he is incharge of the security of the country.

On the allegation that Home Minister Amit Shah did not act, she listed out meetings of the Home Minister with officers to assess the situation.

T R Baalu (DMK) said that the Delhi riots and the law and order situation of the national capital were discussed in parliaments of the UK, Iran, Indonesia, Turkey and Malaysia.

These countries "are making fun of us", he said.

These all countries have raised concerns over the CAA, he said adding today was the 88th day of protest at Shaheen Bagh "without any problem".

The protest was happening silently and peacefully there because that are managed by minorities, he said.

Baalu said that "what went wrong" as over 50 people were killed in the Delhi violence.

He said that although Delhi Police is efficient in manging the issues, "why all went wrong" on those days.

"The inaction of the police has been advised by the administration," he said.

He also alleged that ABVP, RSS' student wing, is the root cause of the incidents at the Jawaharlal Nehru University in December last year.

He also said that BJP leader Kapil Mishra's "hate speeches" led to these riots.

Tejasvi Surya of BJP claimed that while there wasn't anything anti-Muslim in CAA, the anti-CAA protests had "a lot of anti-Hindu" feelings.

AAP member Bhagwant Mann claimed that people were brought from outside to incite violence and that it was a "sponsored riots".

CPI's K Subbarayan alleged that hate speeches was a reason and that the central government was complicit in the riots.

CPI-M member A M Ariff alleged that the government was "killing the country's secular nature".

He also referred to banning of two Malayalam television channels regarding their coverage of Delhi riots and the transfer of high court judge.

Ariff also demanded the resignation of the home minister.

Condemning the violence, NCP member Amol Ramsing Kolhe wondered whether hate speeches cannot be controlled, and flagged concerns about "religious nationalism".

Taking a dig, he remarked that "if there is a heart in the 56-inch chest," then they would say that there were shortcomings in dealing with the situation.

IUML leader P K Kunhalikutty said "majority of the minority community" are scared due to plans for NRC and NPR.

While claiming that the Citizenship Amendment Act was the first law passed in the name of religion, he said India is becoming a theological state.

BJP member Sanjay Jaiswal criticised the Congress and mentioned about various incidents of violence that happened when the rival party ruled.

He also said that "people should not be burnt just because they lost 2019 elections".

National Conference member Hasnain Masoodi alleged that the government has promoted a culture of impunity and that there was total negligence.

K R K Raju (YSRCP) said it should be probed why the violence happened, especially when US President Donald Trump was visiting the country.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Read Paul Byrnes' full review here. QUEEN & SLIM  The advance word on Melina Matsoukass film about the highly combustible question of police killings of black Americans has promised much. Weve been primed to expect it to pack a strong political punch wrapped in a romantic fable up there with Thelma and Louise, writes reviewer Sandra Hall. Jodie Turner-Smith and Daniel Kaluuya as Queen and Slim. First, the good news. Thats not all hype. It is a provocative and unorthodox piece of work. But it also takes time to win you over, looking initially as if the plot is going to be tailored to fit the message.

Queen (British actress Jodie Turner-Smith) and Slim (Daniel Kaluuya from Get Out) have hooked up online and their first date is not going well. He comes from a close and loving family who have done nothing to improve his wardrobe, while shes stylishly dressed for her job as a criminal defence attorney. Whats more, her mood is bleak. Her latest client has just been sentenced to death. This is why, she tells him, she has sought company instead of going home to an evening alone with a glass of wine. And so, you turn to Tinder, he replies with a flash of humour thats enough to make you warm to him. Its a welcome touch because shes sounding more like a construct than a character  a highly educated black woman with a well-founded grudge against the justice system which is already being flagged as a key plot point. It doesnt take long to play out. He offers to drive her home, she accepts and hes still hoping for the best  despite her disdain for his taste in music  when a patrol car pulls them over.

The policeman is aggressive and Slim is trying to stay calm when Queen starts stridently demanding the officers badge number. He becomes enraged and shoots her in the leg. In the scuffle that follows, Slim, in fear for his life, disarms him and shoots him dead. Loading When he tries to turn himself in, she wont hear of it. Displaying unbelievable aplomb in dealing with her bullet wound, she insists that their only choice is to go on the run. It doesnt quite convince. Apolitical with much to lose, he gives in to her too easily. But after they take off, their flight turns into a surprisingly persuasive odyssey. Matsoukas, and screenwriter Lena Waithe, take care to retain the intimacy of the opening. The couples first stop, at the home of Queens flamboyant Uncle Earl (Bokeem Woodbine), is an example, doing more than simply supply a few essential clues to her background. It climaxes in a transformative moment which crystallises their predicament in an unexpectedly poignant way. In the end, the trip becomes both exploration and interrogation. All sides of the argument are canvassed and although no conclusion is reached beyond the basic one  that violence is always futile  they shape the narrative into a thoroughly moral tale told with great flair.

Read Sandra Hall's full review here. In Fabric  British director Peter Strickland's new film In Fabric appears to be set in the early 1980s, but some aspects of the style hark back more to the 1970s, writes reviewer Jake Wilson. Middle-aged and newly divorced bank-teller Sheila (Marianne Jean-Baptiste) is ready to start looking for a new man, much to the dismay of her adult son Vince (Jaygann Ayeh)  an art student still living at home and whose snooty girlfriend Gwen (Gwendoline Christie) is resented by Sheila in turn. Can we help you: The odd staff of Dentley and Soper. With a big date on the horizon, Sheila wants to look her best and so fate brings her to the department store of Dentley and Soper, where she encounters exotically accented shop assistant Miss Luckmore (Fatma Mohamed), apparently a member of some kind of Satanic cabal.

Enticed by Miss Luckmores largely incomprehensible sales pitch, Sheila buys a slinky red dress that proves to have magical properties, sadly not the kind that are advantageous to the wearer. Inexplicable rashes are only the beginning. But once acquired, it turns out, the item is not so easily disposed of. All this is as absurd as sounds, and a good portion of In Fabric is openly played for laughs, notably the scenes in which Sheila is harangued by her employers (Steve Oram and Julian Barrett), sinister pedants with a fixation on toilet breaks. The silliness factor is upped still further with a second plotline, involving a washing machine repairman named Reg Speaks (Leo Bill) whose grasp of technical minutiae has the power to put those around him in a trance of boredom. Loading In Fabric has something in common with the work of Nicolas Winding Refn, or Luca Guadagninos grimly tedious remake of Dario Argento's Suspiria: not so much genre movies as glosses on genre movies, where notions of fetishism and perversity are contemplated from afar.

In other words, this is not the film to see if youre after a sleazy good time. Its more like a game of hunt the symbol, with possible interpretations scattered so thickly it is hard to pick just one. Anxiety about sex is one recurring motif, both in the somewhat Oedipal relationship between Sheila and Vince and in the seemingly passivity of Reg, who finds himself wearing the red dress on his bucks night. Race, an equally charged subject, is touched on in only a glancing way. But in a film so concerned with colour, it doesn't seem accidental that Sheila is black, especially given the exaggerated white make-up of Miss Luckmore and her cabal. Less cagily handled is the issue of class: the contrast between the glamour that is the product of the fashion industry and the drab lives of the workers behind the scenes.

Any way you look at it, this is a film with a split personality: the notion of beauty as evil is partly tongue-in-cheek and partly not, as if Strickland were asking himself, guiltily, Ought I to be an artist? The question, however, may be premature depending on whether you think he is one. Read Jake Wilson's full review here. The Legend Of Baron Toa  Kiwis have a knack for cutting heroes down to size, says reviewer Jake Wilson. Self-deprecation of this kind is a trademark of New Zealand comedy to the point where it suggests a degree of neurosis about the nations place in the world. The positive flip side is an acceptance of the fact New Zealand culture is a patchwork stitched together from diverse sources  and of the incongruities that arise as a result. Uli Latukefu stars as Fritz in The Legend Of Baron Toa.

This understanding is the basis for The Legend of Baron Toa, a strange but enjoyable hybrid of martial arts movie and folksy comedy from first-time New Zealand director Kiel McNaughton. The plot has the shape of a classic Western: the son of a departed hero returns to the hometown he left long ago, to find that the bad guys are now in charge. To set things right, he must summon his resources and find the courage to take up where his father left off. So far so solemn. The humour stems from the setting where the showdown is destined to take place: a steep cul-de-sac in suburban Auckland  known to some locals as The Sac  where palm trees tower over weatherboard houses, groups of kids tear around on bikes and a typical drama involves a dispute over someones lawnmower. The stranger who shows up unexpectedly in this Arcadia is Fritz (Uli Latukefu), the well-spoken son of the celebrated wrestler Baron Toa (John Tui). Having made good overseas, he now plans to sell the house where his uncle Otto (Nathaniel Lee) is still living. Complications arise when a wrestling belt won by the late Baron disappears and Otto refuses to move on until it is recovered. Fritz, who apparently played rugby at one point, has inherited some of his fathers physical abilities, but hes conflict-averse, priding himself on his psychological insights and negotiating skills. He also boasts an unusually fancy vocabulary, insisting he doesnt want to be antagonistic and referring to a potential bout of mayhem as a colourful commotion. Perhaps, as Otto surmises, hes spent too long in Australia, although part of the charm of John Argalls script is that every character can be counted on for a memorable turn of phrase. Reliant on stuntwork rather than digital effects, the hand-to-hand brawls are a winning mix of the stylised and the semi-plausible, with homely items such as paint tins and pool cues used as weapons in a manner that harks back to the heyday of Jackie Chan.
Ukraine's Deputy Foreign Minister Yehor Bozhok has received copies of credentials from newly appointed Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Ukraine Darkhan Kaletayev.

"I received copies of credentials from newly appointed Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Ukraine D. Kaletayev. Welcomed him on Ukrainian land. Discussed prospects of political dialogue, renewal of trade, interaction in the UN and other international organizations, including in the context of Russias aggression," the diplomat wrote on Twitter on March 11.

On February 22, Darkhan Kaletayev was appointed the ambassador of Kazakhstan to Ukraine.

ish
WASHINGTON, March 10, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Connected Nation (CN) praised the final passage of the Broadband DATA Act (S.1822) in the U.S. Senate today, after the bill cleared the House of Representatives by unanimous consent on March 3.



The national nonprofit believes that progress toward closing the Digital Divide in the United States cannot be achieved without accurate and precise broadband maps that are subject to a robust public feedback process and refined over time. The Broadband DATA Act will finally make those things a reality.

"We are thrilled that, thanks to this legislation, the FCC will be able to create a National Broadband Map that will serve as a critical instrument to precisely identify remaining broadband coverage gaps so that resources and strategies can be effectively targeted to close them," said Tom Ferree, Chairman & CEO, CN. "We would specifically like to commend Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Roger Wicker and his staff for their critical leadership on this issue, as well as House Energy & Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, Ranking Member Greg Walden, Communications & Technology Subcommittee Chairman Michael Doyle, and Subcommittee Ranking Member Bob Latta for working to advance a final bill that will have a real and lasting impact on the nation's broadband landscape."

"Additionally, we would like to thank Majority Leader Mitch McConnell for getting this bill across the finish line in the Senate," Ferree said.

"We would also be remiss if we didn't call attention to the leadership of Sen. Shelley Moore Capito and Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, who spearheaded earlier legislative efforts to improve broadband mappingmany elements of which were incorporated into the final Broadband DATA Act," said Brent Legg, Vice President of Government Affairs, CN. "It is heartening to see such a bipartisan and bi-cameral effort to solve what has been a real problem confronting efforts to close the Digital Divide in America once and for all."

About Connected Nation: Our mission is to improve lives by providing innovative solutions that expand access to and increase the adoption and use of broadband (high-speed internet) and its related technologies for all people. Everyone belongs in a Connected Nation.

Connected Nation works with consumers, local community leaders, states, technology providers, and foundations to develop and implement technology expansion programs with core competencies centered on a mission to improve digital inclusion for people and places previously underserved or overlooked. For more information, please visit: connectednation.org and follow Connected Nation on Facebook and Twitter.

SOURCE Connected Nation
Former tech entrepreneur and 2020 candidate Andrew Yang endorsed former Vice President Joe Biden on Tuesday night after Biden gained projected primary wins in Michigan, Missouri, and Mississippi.

What he's saying: "The math says 'Joe is our prohibitive nominee,' we need to bring the party together. We need to start working on defeating Donald Trump in the fall," Yang said on CNN Tuesday night.

"And I say this having supported Bernie Sanders in 2016. Bernie was an inspiration for me, inspired my run," Yang noted.

"...and so if Joe says, this is going to be returning to business as usual, he's in danger of losing many of the young people that came out for Bernie that supported my campaign. ... And you can't just say, we're going to swing the pendulum back to the Obama-Biden years."

Go deeper ... Rep. Clyburn: DNC should "step in" for Biden after Tuesday's contests
Italy on Tuesday reported 168 deaths from the coronavirus in just 24 hours, the highest single-day toll since the appearance of the deadly disease last December.

The disturbing death toll came on Italys first day under a nationwide lockdown with public events cancelled, movement restricted and schools and universities closed. All these were put in place, in a drastic bid to slow the pace of Covid19 in Europes worst-hit country.

Authorities say a total of 631 people have died from the disease, the most deaths outside of China where the epidemic began. More than 10,000 have been infected in just over two weeks in the European country.

As the numbers keep rising, many parts of the world are beginning to cut transport links to Italy, just as China.

British Airways cancelled all its Italian flights on Tuesday while low-cost carriers Ryanair and Wizz Air said they would be scrapping flights from Italian airports until early April.

The Spanish government on Tuesday said it was suspending all air traffic from Italy for two weeks while Austria said it would be introducing new restrictions on arrivals from Italy.

Nigerias index case confirmed barely two weeks ago was identified as an Italian business traveller, who flew into the country through Lagos international airport.

Coronavirus in Africa

Cases so far in Africa are also rising rapidly as Nigeria and South Africa on Monday announced new cases. Eleven African countries  DR Congo, Algeria, Burkina Faso, South Africa, Senegal, Tunisia, Togo, Egypt, Cameroon, Nigeria, and Morocco have reported nearly 100 coronavirus cases, the World Health Organization said on Tuesday.

Egypt with 59 cases  more than half of all confirmed cases in Africa  remains the worst-hit by the virus on the continent.

An 89-year-old woman who entered Morocco from Italy died on Tuesday, authorities confirmed. Despite being the north African countrys first COVID-19 death, it is the second in Africa after the first death in the continent was recorded in Egypt last week.

Globally, 114,151 cases of infection have been recorded in 105 countries and territories, causing the death of 4,012 people, according to a report compiled by AFP.
ALBANY  An ex-nurse from Greene County who lied to a federal grand jury claiming she extorted her married doctor girlfriend for opioid prescriptions was sentenced to two-and-a-half year in prison on Wednesday.

Sarah Brown, 42, of Acra, falsely told the grand jury she shook down Myra Mabry, an obstetrician-gynecologist from Catskill, with the threat that she would expose their romantic relationship to Mabry's husband. In reality, Mabry agreed to pay Brown money to make the false claim in an attempt to keep her medical license and minimize legal exposure, federal prosecutors in Albany said.

Brown and Mabry, both opioid addicts, met in an Alabama drug treatment center. Between 2015 and 2017, they engaged in a scheme: Mabry would write prescriptions for patients to receive oxycodone, morphine and hydromorphone. Brown would impersonate those patients, U.S. Attorney Grant Jaquith's office said.

Brown pleaded guilty in September to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, health care fraud, aggravated identity theft and obstruction of justice. At the time, she admitted her claim to extort Mabry was untrue and that the doctor was not a victim but willing participant in the crime.

Mabry, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, health care fraud, aggravated identity theft and obstruction of justice, was sentenced on Friday to four-and-a-half years in federal prison.

In a pre-sentencing memo to the judge before Brown's sentencing, Brown's attorney, Assistant Federal Public Defender Matthew Trainor, said Mabry "used a combination of psychological manipulation and emotional and financial leverage to ensure Ms. Browns cooperation in this cover-up Ms. Brown eventually regretted the deception and sought to atone by contacting investigators and finally come clean."

Brown lost her license as a registered nurse in 2012.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

In a pre-sentencing memo to U.S. District Judge Mae DAgostino, Assistant U.S. Attorney Wayne described Brown as capable and bright. He said Brown overcame a difficult upbringing to earn a nursing and masters degree but abused illegal drugs most of her adult life and became addicted to opioids and then heroin.

The defendants conduct in this case, nevertheless, resulted in two drug addicts receiving an outrageous quantity of deadly opioids and would havehad it not been detectedresulted in allowing a doctor who was abusing her position to continue practicing medicine, Myers stated.

The case involved the Drug Enforcement Administration with assistance from the New York Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement.
The UN has hit a wall of resistance during efforts to resolve the problems with Burma refusing to take back nearly a million Burmese refugees stuck in Bangladesh refugee camps. The first Burmese refugees arrived in 2012 as anti- Rohingya violence got started and grew. Despite over two years of diplomatic efforts and UN pressure, few of the Rohingya Burmese refugees in Bangladesh have returned. This has caused a diplomatic problem but is otherwise ignored by most Burmese. No compromise seems possible and with a powerful ally like China (and its UN veto and economic clout) to block major UN action, Burma can afford to just let the situation simmer and concentrate on the other ethnic problems it must cope with.

All this is the result of how the modern state of Burma was created after World War II. That process was messy and made worse because no one had done it before. This was all about the relentless spread of nationalism over the last few centuries. This eventually became a European effort to ensure that everyone belonged to some kind of nation. Before that large portions of the world were inhabited by people but there was no large scale (national) local government or ownership. By the 20th century that was no longer acceptable, at least to the European nations that had taken, or simply assumed control over the many remaining blank spaces where there was no government that claimed to own, or simply control an area. Bringing education, modern medicine and the industrial revolution to these areas proved to be more expensive than anticipated. Then there was a growing number of locals who become more aware of nationhood and demanded it for themselves. So between the late 1940s and 1960s, most of the colonial areas were turned into sovereign states.

Deciding who belonged to what new government was often difficult and an example of this was in northern Burma and along the Burmese borders in general. To address this mess, in 1947 the Panglong Conference was held between the many tribes in the border areas and British colonial authorities to decide who would join what nation before Burma became independent. The 1947 conference got agreements for many tribal territories to be incorporated into Burma rather than remain a collection of tribal territories independent of any central government. The tribes realized that life was harder and more precarious if you were a blank space on the map. Nearby nations or independent operators (warlords, gangsters or worse) could more easily make life miserable because you were nobody.

World War II had just ended and the tribal territories of northern Burma and northeast India had been heavily involved because these areas had been a battleground for Japanese, British, Indian and tribal forces during World War II. The British convinced the tribes that being part of a larger neighbor, in this case former British colonies India and Burma, would be preferable to the pre-colonial chaos. The goal in the 21st century is to create a mutually acceptable federal form of government in the tribal territories. In Burma, the new government sought to keep the Panglong Conferences going until there was a general agreement on how government should be run in areas with many tribal organizations. In Burma, there continue to be problems between the central government and many of the tribes.

India has been more successful with its tribes but still has trouble with some separatist tribal rebels. In Burma, many of these tribal and ethnic disputes were put on hold for decades by a military dictatorship that ruled from 1962 until 2011. This is also a common situation. When all the communist police states of East Europe and Russia collapsed between 1989 and 1991, the result was many new nations along with ethnic and even tribal disputes long suppressed by totalitarian rule.

Such was very much the case in Burma after democracy returned in 2011. The border tribes were now more willing to work out peace deals with the government. The Rohingya were never violent like the tribes but had always been an obvious minority in largely ethnic-Burmese Burma. The Rohingya are ethnic Bengali (an Indo-European group) while the ethnic Burmese and the tribal minorities are all East Asian, of which the Han Chinese are the largest faction. This meant the Rohingya were the most obvious minority in Burma and that is not a good thing historically. Expelling unwanted minority groups has been a common practice in this part of the world, and many other regions, but is not considered acceptable behavior since the late 20th century.

The new Burmese democratic government did not have a lot of control over its military, which had retained a lot of autonomy as a condition for allowing the return of democratic government. So when the Buddhist nationalists began attacking Rohingya in areas near the Bangladesh border, the army resisted orders to restore order. In 2017 the army took an active role in driving many Rohingya out of the country. Burma then agreed to allow the Rohingya back, but with conditions regarding citizenship and demands for reparation payments. Given all the complications progress is slow.

March 6, 2020: In the north (Shan state), the army completed raids on three major methamphetamine production operations that were in well-guarded and remote rural locations. The raids seized 43 million recently produced meth tablets worth $100 million to the producers. Also seized were tons of chemicals used to produce the meth and stamp out the tablets. All that material is worth millions of dollars to replace. These raids and seizures will disrupt meth exports for weeks or months, depending on whether or not these raids continue.

Before these major raids, the most recent anti-drug efforts were about controlling drug smuggling routes from northern Burma via Thailand and Malaysia. Military and police pressure persuaded Burmese drug producers to switch to Laos and Vietnam as their main export route. What prompted the change was Thailand also sending more soldiers and police to the borders and intercepting more drug smugglers from Burma, even the ones who are armed and willing to use violence to get past the border. In southern Thailand, border guards checking cargoes of trucks headed for Malaysia have been finding more and more methamphetamine from Burma and headed for Malaysia. Called "yaba" ("crazy drug") locally, most of it had long been smuggled out of northern Burma via Thailand and Malaysia. Laos and Vietnam are not as convenient for getting the yaba to more distant markets but it is seen as a lot safer than Thailand and Malaysia.

Burma is under increasing pressure from neighbors, especially China, to shut down the meth production in Shan state. That is difficult because meth production brings in several billion dollars a year to the criminal gangs and tribal rebel groups that control production and smuggling. It required a major intelligence effort to find functioning meth labs and raid them before they could shut down and moved. The meth producers pay tens of million a year in bribes to local, state and regional officials to prevent such raids as well as any major disruption of smuggling efforts. Burma has to find army commanders who can be relied on to follow through on anti-meth efforts despite the bribe offers, and death threats that often follow refusal to take bribes or do what the bribe was for. The local police and officials are thoroughly compromised by the bribes (mostly) and occasional death or kidnapping threats. Even the army is crippled by corruption. To deal with anti-corruption efforts, which are becoming more frequent and effective, army commanders go after tribal rebels, usually the ones who are disrupting drug production or smuggling.

March 5, 2020: In parliament a week of debate over constitutional reform again criticized the constitutional powers granted to the military as the price of ending decades of military rule in 2011 and restoring democracy. The army warned of consequences if a serious effort were made to remove the constitutional privileges the military obtained as the price of their not trying to oppose the democracy movement with force. Such threats from the military have been a problem for Burma since the nation went from a British colony to an independent nation in 1948. That first democracy only lasted until 1962 when the army took power because minority groups, like the border tribes, demanded autonomy and a federal form of government. That problem remains unresolved, despite nearly fifty years of military rule. Efforts to remove the military privileges were expected and are resistant to military threats. A year ago parliament defied the military by officially discussing ways to break the veto power over constitutional changes the military held. That effort had been underway for nearly a year. In March 2018 the newly elected Burmese president said he would work to change the constitution that grants the army a lot of political power and bars Aung San Suu Kyi from running for president. The 2011 constitution gives the military control of all the security forces (police, border patrol and so on) as well as 25 percent of the seats in parliament. A few other items were added as well, like barring Aung San Suu Kyi (a key leader in the effort for forces the generals from power) from high office. Changing the 2011 constitution was not expected to be easy, even if such a move is supported by most Burmese. The military will not surrender their constitutional privileges willingly and have been cultivating their relationship with the Chinese. But the Burmese generals really have few friends as the Chinese will do business with whoever is in power.

March 4, 2020: In the north (Shan State), the United Wa State said it would allow its 600,000 residents to participate in the 2020 presidential election.

February 29, 2020: In the northwest (Rakhine state), fighting between AA (Arakan Army) rebels and the army left five civilians dead and eight wounded. This time the fighting was triggered by a rebel landmine halting an army convoy and disabling one of the trucks. This violence has occurred several times in February, leaving 18 civilians dead and 71 wounded in addition to casualties suffered by the army and the rebels. This violence has been a regular occurrence for over a year because army efforts to suppress the tribal resistance have not only failed but the fighting has spread to most of the state. So far this year nearly 100,000 civilians have been driven from their homes by the violence.

Soldiers have been fighting the AA (Arakan Army) rebels in the area since mid-2019 and periods of active combat have been more common in the last few months. Not a lot of casualties but enough armed men shooting at each other to make life miserable and the economy weaker. The AA rebels are more of a problem for the military because they are more mobile and less interested in controlling territory in the traditional sense. Many tribal rebels seek to maintain long-term control over towns and villages and even build military bases and headquarters. These become targets for the army artillery and armed helicopters. The AA dispenses with all that and emphasizes remaining mobile and forcing the more road-bound and inflexible army units to spend a lot of time just moving to new areas that require army attention.

February 28, 2020: The leaders of Burma and India concluded two days of meetings by signing ten new cooperation agreements. One of these had each country pledge to not allow any group on its territory to do harm to the other country. This is mainly about various terrorists, rebel or criminal groups operating bases in one country in order to cross the border and commit illegal acts. The other nine agreements had to do with trade and regularly exchanging certain kinds of information.

February 24, 2020: China ordered border crossings closed until further notice as part of an effort to prevent the spread of the covid19 virus. This disrupts trade along the northern border but that is not an emergency, except in a few areas in Kachin state where some remote villages normally rely on food and other imports from China because local roads going south from the Chinese border are few and not very useful for truck traffic and trade in general. So extraordinary efforts have been made to arrange for temporary transport of essential goods over the less adequate roads from the south.

February 3, 2020: In the north (Rakhine and Chin states), blocked Internet and cell phone service to four more towns. This makes nine towns in these two states that have been hit with these service shutdowns since mid-2019.

January 26, 2020: In the north (Shan State), the United Wa State Army (UWSA) admitted that it had purchased a four-seat Chinese civilian helicopter in late 2019 and had been using it since December 2019 to move key people and cargo quickly in the remote areas of Shan State that the Wa have long controlled. USWA purchased some military helicopters (Mil-17s) from China back in 2013 but these have not been seen lately and made have been retired or lost in unpublicized accidents.

Over the last three decades, the Wa have done the most (economically and diplomatically) with this autonomy, earned when the Wa agreed to get out of the opium and heroin business. An example of this was visible a year ago when the United Wa State held a 30th anniversary celebration (of autonomy) in the Wa State capital Hopang. Back in 1989, Hopang was a small village near the Chinese border with no electricity or paved roads. Now it is the largest town in the region with high rise buildings, paved roads and traffic jams. Wa policemen direct traffic during rush hour. The Wa zone has a population of nearly 600,000 and it is generally closed to tourists and entry is via checkpoints controlled by uniformed UWSA forces. For decades before 1989 the Wa were the major producers of illegal drugs, usually in the form of opium and heroin. The Wa have moved away from that but the Wa are still the major supplier of methamphetamine. Production of meth, mainly in Burma, has gone from 30 tons in 2016 to nearly 200 tons in 2019 and is still growing. Shan state, which is on the Chinese border, remains the largest source of illegal drugs in the region. Opium and heroin used to be the major source of income but those old staples have been displaced by methamphetamine.

To protect all they have the UWSA (United Wa State Army) has 30,000 full time uniformed and trained troops. Most are conscripts but the pay is good and neither the Burmese military nor other tribal militias in the region want to take on the UWSA. The 2019 military parade at the celebration showed why. There were over 7,000 uniformed personnel marching or driving in the parade. The USWA showed off new (over the last few years) Chinese weapons and vehicles. Not all USWA weapons (like the helicopters and 122mm artillery) were shown off but there were new twin-barrel 14.5mm anti-aircraft machine-guns and new model shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles. These troops also have modern military radios, combat helmets and all manner of commercial gadgets (GPS and quadcopter UAVs). USWA is negotiating to obtain larger Chinese military UAVs.

The UWSA is clearly the leading tribal militia and unlike most other tribal militias in Burma is not at war with Burma. The Burmese army tends to respect UWSA military capabilities. Half the tribal militiamen in the far north belong to the UWSA, which has 50,000 armed men available. This includes 20,000 organized reserves.

The Wa are related to the ethnic (Han) Chinese, and many other Wa live across the border in China. The Burmese Wa use Chinese as a second language and do most of their business (legal, illegal and semi-legal) with Chinese. As a result, the Chinese government makes it clear to the Burmese government that any attack on the Wa would not be appreciated and have pressured the Burmese on behalf of the Wa in the past. The Wa have long been recognized as the leader of a loose coalition of tribal rebels in the north who have, like the Wa, refused to sign any of the peace deals the army has offered. The Wa insist that they do not need to sign any new agreement because their 1989 ceasefire agreement is still in force. The Wa coalition includes several major tribal rebel groups. Without the cooperation of this powerful coalition there can never be peace in the north. Thus there has been nearly continuous fighting in Shan state for years. This led to a ban on voting in much of Shan state. The fighting has been rather low level but there have been several thousand casualties each year and over 100,000 more refugees fleeing their homes since 2014. The Wa State works with the Burmese government to try and work out peace deals with other tribes. There has been some success with this but there are still tribal rebels who are still at war with the Burmese (although not the Wa).

January 17, 2020: The Chinese leader began a two-day state visit to Myanmar. This was mainly about discussing matters of mutual interest with Burmese leaders. There a lot of things to discuss, including the Rohingya refugees, tribal rebel violence on the Chinese border and Chinese investments in Burma. China has been protecting Burma in the UN, where there are calls for punishing Burma over the Rohingya mess. The tribal rebels are largely an internal Burmese matters. Burmese negotiations with the tribal rebels have been heavily influenced by China. That is because China is part of the problem. This state visit was to try and get Burmese leaders to be more cooperative with Chinese investors. That did not happen. There were some token concessions but Burma remains wary of Chinese investments.

Before the local military gave up power in 2011 Burmese officers had made a lot of money allowing China to do business in the tribal north, often at the expense of local civilians, most of them tribal people. This continues to cause problems as China tries to maintain many of these economic projects by including them in the new CMEC (China-Myanmar Economic Corridor) agreement China and Burma signed in late 2018. That agreement called for both countries to begin detailed negotiations on where a 1,700 kilometer long transportation corridor from southern China (Yunan province) to central Burma (Mandalay) and then west to the coast at the Kyaukpyu SEZ (Special Economic Zone) will be built and what it will consist of. The corridor would improve roads, railroads and build, as needed, pipelines and electrical transmission lines. This would be financed by China and built mainly by Chinese construction firms.

CMEC paid special attention to the risk of a debt trap where Burma might find itself with debt it could not repay unless it turned over new facilities to Chinese ownership or control. This has happened in other nations, most obviously in Sri Lanka. Burma needs the investment and since 1988 China has been the major foreign investor in Burma with projects totaling $20 billion so far. Burma told China it was working on special debt trap provisions and the main one is for China to allow foreign nations to provide some of the loans needed for the CMEC work. Details of this deal are still being negotiated. This explains why only a few of the 38 projects that comprise CMEC have so far been approved by Burma. Reaching agreement on the rest of those projects gives Burma some leverage over China.

CMEC is the Burma component of the massive Chinese Obor (One Belt, One Road) effort. Also called BRI (Belt and Road Initiative), Obor is all about China building roads, railroads, pipelines and ports to make it easier for Chinese imports and exports to move around, from East Asia to Europe, Africa and more. Pakistan, Nepal, Thailand Sri Lanka and Burma are all BRI participants that are seeing billions of dollars in construction Chinese projects taking place and the terms of these deal tend to favor China, not the country where the construction takes place. Not surprisingly many people in these BRI countries see Chinese investments as another form of colonialism. China prefers not to call it colonialism but rather seeking to expand its commercial activities. All the disagreements over border security and CMEC have not slowed down the growth in trade with China. In 2019 that trade increased 38.5 percent over 2018 to $17.7 billion. That is huge considering that the Burmese GDP is $67 billion.
March 11, 2020





We live in a digital era where technology accelerates at a blistering pace, and it is crucial for maintaining all business processes active. Tech companies are continually working in producing new technologies that are designed to make things easier in the real world, and if the new ways a globally accepted, you need to adapt your company to the particular change in order to stay competitive.







You cannot run a successful company without following the latest digital trends. Digitalization can also dramatically increase your companys profitability, which is why we are here for. In this article, we will go through some of the ways digitalization can help you optimize your company and make it more profitable.

Big Data Storage Capabilities

One of the biggest advantages of using the latest technology trends is big data management. Data is crucial for building a successful company, and it can have direct implications on your big decisions. However, grasping a large amount of data has been difficult in the past. Nowadays, thanks to the internet, data is more accessible to businesses than ever before.

You can optimize your target audience, create business projections, and support your decision-making strategy all through data. In fact, more than 40% of small business owners think that bid data can increase the profitability of their company.

Paperless Companies

We often look away from the paper problem that has many drawbacks and can seriously affect the way we manage our company. Every business needs to keep an archive that can be easily accessible all the time. This means that every document must be stored in your company for at least five years. Fortunately, technology has a solution to this problem. By using cloud systems, we can now build our paperless archive that is capable of storing millions of documents.

They will be easily accessible all the time, you will not have to buy storage units to keep your physical files, and you will cut down on paper expenses and which is also a good thing for the environment. Most of the time, in order to increase your companys profitability, you need to cut down on unnecessary expenses, which is precisely the case with this option.

Social Media Marketing Automation

Back when social media platforms were not popular, companies needed to build their marketing strategies only by using email, TV, radio, or outdoor advertising. All of the options mentioned can increase your costs and are much less effective than social media marketing. Nowadays, you must leverage the power of social media advertising. This means that you will be able to target the right audience without wasting money on ineffective advertising.

You will definitely increase your companys profitability only by optimizing your social media marketing strategy and using all automation processes that are available.

Improved Communication

We usually dont notice, but communication is one of the biggest costs in our company. The truth is that, on average, businesses lose more than $10,000 per year due to poor communication. If there is low or poor communication, you cannot establish efficient workflow without optimizing your companys communication.

This is really unfortunate since now communication technologies are more available than ever. In order to increase your profitability, you need to establish clear communication within your organization. There are a lot of free communication tools available that can help you lower your costs.

Automation

Automated processes are a big hit in recent times. Since technology is advancing, we can use it for creating automated processes in manufacturing, selling, or maintenance that can help us lower the costs for additional employees and make your business more profitable.

Nowadays, technologies are able to communicate with each other. This segment is called IoT  Or the Internet of Things. Basically, you can optimize your organization by building automated processes between tasks and replace human work by a machine. With this setup, your company productivity will rise faster than a horse among the betting favorites of the Kentucky Derby.

These are some of the ways digitalization can help your company make more profits. It is all about managing your costs, and you should start cutting everywhere you can. After all, things add up your company will be much more profitable.
- It has been recently reported that Senator Win Gatchalian will be in self-quarantine

- The senator announced on Wednesday night that the Senate hearing he attended was also attended by a person who tested positive for coronavirus disease

- As of posting time, the senator is still healthy and does not show any symptoms

- Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III will also be in self-quarantine

- Dominguez attended a meeting which was also attended by an individual who tested positive for COVID-19

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Senator Win Gatchalian announced on Wednesday night that he would be in self-quarantine amid the Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) outbreak.

KAMI learned that the senator interacted with a person who tested positive for the coronavirus.

In a report by the Inquirer (authored by Darryl John Esguerra), Gatchalian shared that a resource person who attended the Committee on Basic Education, Arts, and Culture hearing last March 5, 2020.

I have recently been informed that a resource person who attended the hearing of the Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture last March 5, 2020, which I Chair, has tested positive for COVID-19, Gatchalian said.

As reported by the Manila Bulletin, Gatchalian said that while he is asymptomatic and is feeling healthy, he still opts to follow the protocols set by the government.

Though I am asymptomatic and feel healthy, I will follow government set protocols on such cases and go into self-quarantine immediately given that I interacted with the said individual during that committee hearing, it read in his post.

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According to a report by the CNN Philippines, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III will also be in self-quarantine after attending a meeting which was also attended by an individual who tested positive for coronavirus.

Dominguez has not shown any symptoms and he has not been interacting with President Rodrigo Duterte since.

As previously reported by KAMI, the Department of Health (DOH) announced that an additional 16 people tested positive for COVID-19, making a total of 49 cases in the Philippines.

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!

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The 2020 New York presidential primary election could serve as a make-or-break contest for Bernie Sanders after Joe Biden seized control of the Democratic presidential race Tuesday night with decisive victories in four states.

Biden won the biggest election prize of the night, Michigan, along with Missouri, Mississippi and Idaho, narrowing Sanders path to the Democratic nomination.

Sanders won North Dakota and was clinging to a lead in Washington state, where the election had not yet been decided by Wednesday morning.

Biden had increased his lead over Sanders in the race for delegates to 831-672, with 1,991 needed for the Democratic presidential nomination at the partys convention in July.

Now both candidates will look to New Yorks April 28 primary, the next biggest prize remaining in the Democratic presidential race. The state has 320 delegates at stake, the second highest total after Californias 415 delegates.

A decisive win by Biden in New York would all but clinch the nomination. Sanders would have to win most of the states delegates to keep his campaign alive headed into the July convention.

Sanders had promised to stay in the Democratic campaign regardless of Tuesdays election results.

Sanders led the Democratic pack in New York state in a Siena College poll last month. The poll was conducted before Biden began his resurgence with a decisive victory in South Carolina.

Both candidates have ties to New York. Biden is a 1968 graduate of Syracuse University College of Law and lived in Syracuse with his late wife, Neilia, an Auburn, N.Y., native. Sanders is a native of Brooklyn.

Read more

Coronavirus could halt New York rallies for Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders

Got a tip, comment or story idea? Contact Mark Weiner anytime by: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 571-970-3751

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Military Wives has more in common with the spirit of the 1939 poster, but there is one way in which this film resembles a Carry On movie - its relentless reliance on formula, in this case, the tropes of British "feel-good" cinema. The director's main tool in Military Wives appears to have a been a trowel.

Keep calm and carry on. The original British poster, printed in 1939 well before the Blitz, embodied values Britons hold dear: stoicism, grace under pressure, resilience. The slogan's modern revival, with lots of comic variations, might also reflect the fact that the words "carry on" acquired a different meaning in the 1960s, in a series of zany B-grade comedies featuring vaudevillian humour and Barbara Windsor's chest.

Peter Cattaneo scored a major hit in 1997 with The Full Monty, a movie that celebrated the collective over the individual, the (unemployed) working man over the bosses, the modest squalor of northern pit towns over the glittering corruption of London. The trend appeared earlier, in November 1996, with the release of Mark Herman's Brassed Off, although its roots go back at least as far as Ealing comedies of the 1950s.

It has now become a lazy corner of British film, in which any story about a bunch of people getting together in some kind of club becomes a vehicle for gross sentimentality and cheap emotion (Swimming with Men, from 2018, was a good example of how not to do it).

Cattaneo returns with Military Wives, the story of a group of WAGS who find strength and solace in singing, while their men (and some women) serve in Afghanistan. A title at the beginning says "inspired by real events" but the final credits offer a more accurate disclaimer, admitting the situations and characters are almost entirely fictional. The factual bit is that choirs have become popular on British military bases, since two women started the first one at Catterick Garrison in North Yorkshire in 2010. There are now 75 military wives' choirs, with more than 2300 members, on British bases around the world.

This one takes place at the fictional Flitcroft Garrison, as men of the "Queen's Lancers" prepare to leave for Afghanistan. Kristin Scott Thomas, as Kate, farewells her husband, the colonel (Greg Wise), through gritted teeth. The couple have lost their son in Afghanistan a year earlier. Kate responds to grief with militant stoicism, ruthlessly suppressing her anger behind a dazzlingly false smile.
Ben Obese-Jecty is the Deputy Chairman (Political) for Hornsey and Wood Green Conservative Association and stood as the candidate for Hackney North and Stoke Newington in the 2019 General Election.

The General Election saw a resounding victory for the Conservative Party across the country, but of the few areas that remained resolutely red, there was one in particular that refused to drift with the national tide, London.

Amidst a febrile atmosphere in Labour-run areas that sees the Conservative Party portrayed as the enemy, and non-white Conservatives portrayed as traitors, how can we make inroads into gaining support from Londons ethnic minority communities?

The forthcoming London Mayoral and London Assembly elections are likely to come too soon for any material change to have been implemented, but with a BAME candidate in Shaun Bailey who understands and has personal experience of the issues upon which hes campaigning, there is an opportunity for the Conservative message to fall upon ears that have been deaf until now.

Having seen the Red Wall collapse, how will the Conservatives knock down the London Wall?

If the resounding rejection of the Conservative Party by the BAME community during the General Election were not comprehensive enough, rather than plot a corrective course in the weeks that have followed, the Party has taken a number of decisions and mis-steps that have compounded previous errors. It is fair to say the Party is on the cusp of writing off a significant swathe of Londons population as potential voters.

Labour have been imperious in their stranglehold on the most diverse areas of London. It is no coincidence that many of their highest profile MPs have adjacent seats inside the North Circular, some of whom have a tenure stretching back decades. However, it is Labours failure to make discernible improvements to some of the most deprived areas in London that has been defining.

In October 2019, the Index of Multiple Deprivation revealed that nine of the ten most deprived London Boroughs were under Labour control. All ten had a Labour MP. Labour relies upon areas of significant racial diversity and lower socio-economic status to prop up ailing support; to buttress the London Wall.

What steps should the Party take to prevent a complete capitulation regarding the pursuit of winning votes from the growing number of ethnic minority voters? Which areas will alter perceptions of the Party amongst those who are adamant that racism within the Party is endemic?

It will be a long time before the Conservative Party is able to pitch to Londons black diaspora without facing immediate reference to 2017s Windrush scandal, the hostile environment, and the ongoing bad feeling that has been exacerbated by the recent Jamaican deportation flight.

The scars of the Windrush scandal run deep. The Windrush report will be published shortly and the initial draft conclusion labels the Home Office as institutionally racist; an independent assessment of the Government which tars it as such will be as hard to remove as the metaphor implies.

The Government must be prepared to respond to accusations with a cogent explanation of its actions. Labours hijacking of the recent deportation flight of Foreign National Offenders is a prime example of how this manufactured victimisation is leveraged. Over the past decade the UK has deported over 54,000 Foreign National Offenders without significant objection from Labour. The impassioned grandstanding viral clip of David Lammys excoriating speech in the Chamber was as predictable as it was grandiloquent.

Quotes from 2002 of picaninnies and watermelon smiles are oft-repeated in any conversation centred upon racism and the Conservative Party, specifically in relation to the Prime Minister. Given that the original Daily Telegraph column is an 18 year old article about Tony Blair and behind a paywall, the majority of those repeating them are doing so parrot-fashion from elsewhere. We must take steps to combat the slur lest the opinion that this is the Partys true belief becomes entrenched. The catastrophic decision to appoint Andrew Sabisky as an adviser, without realising that his comments regarding Eugenics and the intelligence of black people would reinforce suspicions that the government is racist, is yet to be explained but is there any explanation that could paint that decision positively?

The narrative that we are far right has emerged as a combination of the factors mentioned previously as well as those beyond our control. The endorsement of the Party by Katie Hopkins, Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, and Paul Golding, alongside rumours that each had become members has only accelerated the accusations, despite being robustly denied publicly at the time by James Cleverly, the Party Chairman. The 2020 Hope Not Hate report refers to the threat of far-right groups diminishing, but attributes this to a shift further right by the Conservative Party. The Lefts bivouac on the moral high ground with regards to this, despite Labours EHRC anti-semitism investigation still pending, is increasingly looking like a permanent encampment.

However, it is not just the black population that needs to be convinced. With upwards of 80 per cent of Muslim voters opting for Labour in recent elections, the Conservatives have significant ground to make up in order to persuade potential voters that the Party has their best interests at heart. With a continuing narrative from detractors on the Left that makes reference to comments about letterboxes and bank-robbers and the spike in Islamophobic attacks that occurred thereafter rather than the existence of anti-Islamic policies, high-profile appointments to the great Offices of State are unlikely to offset the slew of negative headlines already in circulation.

Promises regarding an inquiry into Islamophobia have come to nought and so we continue to find ourselves unable to respond to criticism with a clear name. To do so would enhance efforts to foster relationships with communities that are increasingly drifting away, not towards, voting Conservative, despite being socially conservative and aspirational.

What the Conservative Party needs to be able to offer these communities is opportunity. The recent Race Inequality in the Workforce report showed that BAME millennials are 58 per cent more likely to be unemployed than their white counterparts. Given the concentration of the ethnic minority population in London, this merely reinforces the feeling that levelling up the areas that have been left behind doesnt include ethnic minority communities in the capital.

With victories across the Midlands and the North-East, the Conservative Party no longer needs to win in London. Overturning Labours dominance in the capital, and the high-profile scalps that would accompany it, would be the jewel in the crown of the Partys impressive upward trajectory. However, the reality is that in much the same way as those seats in the former Red Wall were gained, without decisive action, it may take a generation for the London Wall to come down.
BURLINGTON, Vt. - Bernie Sanders is vowing to press ahead with his presidential campaign at least long enough to debate Joe Biden this weekend, even while acknowledging his deficit in the Democratic race may be insurmountable.

The Vermont senator on Wednesday offered no further details on what his campaign may look like before or after he and Biden  the last two major candidates vying for the Democratic presidential nomination  spar Sunday night on stage in Arizona. The only thing on Sanders public schedule was taping an appearance on Wednesdays Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.

And that will continue to raise questions  as unlikely as it may seem less than two weeks after losing his once-commanding front-runner status  about how long Sanders will persist against increasingly daunting odds, especially as the pressure within his own party increases exponentially.

Sanders addressed reporters in Burlington after offering no public statements Tuesday night, when he suffered a devastating defeat in Michigan and losses in Missouri, Idaho and Mississippi. Sanders noted that he won North Dakota and that the continuing count in Washington state remained close  but admitted he was trailing badly in the race to secure enough delegates to clinch the nomination before the Democratic National Convention in Milwaukee.

While our campaign has won the ideological debate, we are losing the debate over electability, Sanders said, meaning Democrats think Biden has a better chance of beating President Donald Trump in the fall. That is what millions of Democrats and independents today believe.

He was quick to add that he thinks hes the stronger choice, and that he could show that during Sundays debate. Sanders promised to press Biden for answers about millions of Americans who dont have health insurance, a criminal justice system he said unfairly targets and punishes minorities and raising the federal minimum wage.

After that, though, Democrats desperate desire to defeat Trump could affect his calculus. Should Sanders get out soon, he could save Democrats months of a messy and expensive primary fight. But an early departure would also deprive the partys most passionate supporters, including many young people, of the one man who embodies the dramatic change they crave.

Sanders also noted that he was winning a greater percentage of young voters while Biden continues to run up the score with older ones.

Today, I say to the Democratic establishment, in order to win in the future, you need to win the voters who represent the future of our country, Sanders said. And you must speak to the issues of concern to them. You cannot simply be satisfied by winning the votes of people who are older.

Sanders has indeed been widely favoured over Biden by voters under 30, but he has not delivered on his strategy of getting them to the polls in great numbers, according to AP VoteCast surveys of voters in Tuesdays Democratic primaries. Also problematic for him: Sanders showed no overwhelming strength with voters age 30 to 44, typically a larger share of the vote than the young, in Michigan and Missouri.

Sanders mathematical path to winning enough delegates for the nomination is rapidly disappearing.

Sanders now needs 57% of the delegates not won so far to get to 1991, the magic number to win the nomination. Both delegate allocation math and voting history show how unlikely it is for Sanders to hit that goal and overtake Biden.

That Sanders was vowing to soldier on was hardly a surprise. The 78-year-old democratic socialist is nothing if not willing to take on the political establishment against all odds  and Sanders closest allies are happy to see him stay in the race, even if the rest of the party is not.

The process of unity isnt just this pie-in-the-sky, vague, butterflies-in-your-tummy type of feeling, New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, one of Sanders highest-profile supporters, said Wednesday in an interview on Capitol Hill. It requires real coalition building, and coalition building requires plans and commitments to electorates to figure out how we unify. And so I think that this is a good opportunity for us to come together.

RoseAnn DeMoro, former executive director of National Nurses United and a Sanders confidant, said Sanders has a mandate not to abandon the movement.

Heroes arent made, theyre cornered, DeMoro said. He is cornered.

Four years ago, under similar pressure in a primary match-up against Hillary Clinton, Sanders fought on for months before ultimately backing Clinton in July. Sanders has repeatedly insisted that he and Biden are friends and that he will back the former vice-president if hes the partys nominee  he just may not be ready to yet follow through on that promise.

Still, Sanders didnt say Wednesday where he plans to travel next. His campaign is opening five offices in Arizona on Wednesday night, using top supporters rather than the candidate himself.

Adding to the uncertainty is the spread of coronavirus, which forced both Sanders and Biden to cancel campaign events Tuesday night in Cleveland and prompted Sanders team to say it would evaluate future events on a case-by-case basis.

Beyond the debate, the primary calendar could get even bleaker for Sanders. Next week, four more states vote and while he is hoping his support with Hispanic voters can lift him in Arizona, Sanders may struggle in two of the most important ones, Illinois and Florida  where some voters could be alienated by his recent comments defending Fidel Castros communist government in Cuba.

Trump must be defeated, and I will do everything in my power to make sure that happens, Sanders said. On Sunday night, in the first one-on-one debate of this campaign, the American people will have the opportunity to see which candidate is best positioned to accomplish that.

___

Peoples reported from Philadelphia. Weissert reported from Washington. Associated Press writer Seth Borenstein in Washington contributed to this report.

___

Catch up on the 2020 election campaign with AP experts on our weekly politics podcast, Ground Game.
President Donald Trump speaks in an address to the nation from the Oval Office at the White House about the coronavirus Wednesday. Read more

What we know

Read the latest Philadelphia-area coronavirus updates here.

The NBA has suspended its season; the NHL promises an update Thursday.

President Trump has suspended all travel from Europe to the U.S.

Sixteen presumed positive coronavirus cases have been identified in Pennsylvania, including cases in Bucks, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia Counties.

New Jersey has reported 23 presumed positive coronavirus cases, including one fatality. Local cases have been reported in Burlington and Camden Counties.

Delaware reported its first presumptive case Wednesday.

Philadelphia has opened its Emergency Operation Center to deal with the virus. The city has also canceled its St. Patricks Day Parade as officials urge residents to avoid large gatherings.

The World Health Organization has declared the outbreak a pandemic.

Schools and colleges across the area are closing for cleaning due to exposure concerns. Penn, Temple and others are moving instruction online, or preparing to do so.

Read the latest Philadelphia-area coronavirus updates here

// Timestamp 03/12 9:01am

The Wells Fargo Center will be closed on Thursday, less than 12 hours after the NBA suspended its season over coronavirus concerns. It is unclear when it will re-open, or what impact that may have on upcoming concerts and games. Meanwhile, the European Union has condemned President Trumps travel ban, and schools across the region are preparing for long-term closures.

>>Todays live coverage: Wells Fargo Center closed for cleaning; EU condemns Trumps coronavirus travel ban

NBA suspends season after Jazz player tests positive

// Timestamp 03/11 10:30pm

After a Utah Jazz player tested positive for the coronavirus, the NBA Wednesday night announced it has suspended its season until further notice."

The player reportedly is Jazz center Rudy Gobert, and the results were reported right before the game in Oklahoma City between the Jazz and the Thunder.

The game was canceled, and Gobert was not in the arena.

It was not known when games would resume.

 READ MORE: NBA suspends season due to coronavirus

 Keith Pompey

Tom Hanks says he and his wife have tested positive for coronavirus

// Timestamp 03/11 9:35pm

In a social media post Wednesday night, actor Tom Hanks announced he and his wife Rita have tested positive for coronavirus.

The couple are currently in Australia and said they will be tested, observed, and isolated for as long as public health and safety requires.We felt a bit tired, like we had colds, and some body aches, Hanks wrote.

Rita had some chills that came and went. Slight fevers too. To play things right, as is needed in the world right now, we were tested for the Coronavirus, and were found to be positive.

 Ellie Rushing

Trump suspends travel from Europe, except United Kingdom

// Timestamp 03/11 09:14pm

All travel from Europe to the United States will be suspended for the next 30 days beginning on Friday to reduce the spread of coronavirus, President Donald Trump announced from the Oval Office Wednesday night.

The travel restrictions will not apply to the United Kingdom. We took life-saving, early action with China, said Trump. Now we must take the same action with Europe.

Trump criticized the European Union for not securing its borders quickly enough and said that the cases in the U.S. were seeded by European travelers. He said the United States would monitor the situation to determine if travel can be opened earlier.

Trump said that trade will in no way be affected by the 30-day restriction on travel from Europe. ... The restriction stops people not goods, he tweeted shortly after his address.

As expected, Trump did not declared a national emergency.

He did urge Congress to provide financial relief to small businesses that could be impacted by the virus, asking Congress to pass $50 billion in funding for low-interest loans and immediate payroll tax relief.

 Ellie Rushing

Temple ending classroom instruction and will offer classes online

// Timestamp 03/11 08:27pm

Temple University announced Wednesday night that it will end in-person instruction on all its campuses Friday and offer classes online for its 39,000 students for the rest of the semester, starting Monday.

Students are being asked to leave campus by 5 p.m. March 21. Those who need to remain on campus can request an extension, the school said. The university also is encouraging students who live off campus to return home.

We are focused on ensuring the health and safety of our community members, and on the successful completion of our students spring semester, President Richard M. Englert and Provost JoAnne A. Epps wrote to the campus.

 Sue Snyder

School districts brace for potential coronavirus extended closings

// Timestamp 03/11 08:17pm

School districts across the region are creating online lesson plans and sending students home with packets of assignments as they brace for the prospect of the spreading coronavirus causing extended school closures.

I realize how scary this is for all of us." Washington Township Superintendent Joseph Bollendorf

More than a dozen districts serving thousands of students said they would preemptively close in the coming days to give administrators and teachers time to plan how best to deliver instruction to students in the event that schools are shut down. Others have been asking families whether they lack internet access, or have been mapping out the number of state-required instructional days and how coronavirus closures would fit in.

In one Abington elementary school students were sent home with a folder Wednesday with 10 days worth of work  labeled Student Assignments for Just in Case.

I realize how scary this is for all of us," Washington Township Superintendent Joseph Bollendorf wrote in a letter to parents Wednesday, announcing early dismissals next week for teachers to be trained on the remote learning lesson plans. "We will continue to do what must be done to be prepared.

 READ MORE: How area schools are planning to instruct thousands of students in the event of long-term coronavirus closures

 Maddie Hanna and Kristen A. Graham

N.J. hospitals work up uniform, more-restrictive patient visitation rules

// Timestamp 03/11 06:35pm

In a rare and possibly unprecedented move, New Jerseys hospitals have decided as a group to create new, standardized visitor restrictions to protect vulnerable patients and hospital employees from the coronavirus.

The states hospitals and health systems worked with the New Jersey Hospital Association to formulate the new voluntary rules. Kerry McKean Kelly, the associations vice president for communications and member services, said she could not remember hospitals ever working together in this way, including during outbreaks of the H1N1 and SARS viruses.

Under the new rules, all potential visitors will be screened for fever, cough, sneezing, runny nose, and difficulty breathing; recent travel to nations with high coronavirus activity; and contact with individuals who have been diagnosed with the virus or are under investigation. They will not be allowed to visit if any of those conditions or factors apply to them.

Only two visitors at a time will be allowed per patient, and hospitals will prohibit visitors under age 12. These standards are the result of the collective leadership of healthcare CEOs in New Jersey, said Our top priority is to protect patients, but we all agreed that a statewide approach also provides consistency during a time of uncertainty and anxiety over coronavirus, NJHA President and CEO Cathy Bennett said in a written release.

 READ MORE: Coronavirus leads hospitals to plan for surge in patients while urging sick doctors to stay home

 Stacey Burling

City Council taking precautionary measures at meetings

// Timestamp 03/11 05:45pm

City Council on Thursday will adopt new procedures for its weekly meetings aimed at reducing the spread of the coronavirus.

Audience members will be asked to leave a seat between each other, the number of Council staff members present will be limited, and speakers at public comment will be encouraged to stand three feet away from the microphone.

Additionally, an agenda-setting meeting before council known as caucus, which is usually held in a smaller room with no separation between council members and observers, will instead be held in the Council chambers.

Each of these steps are being taken to protect the public, Council members and staff from exposure to the coronavirus, Council President Darrell L. Clarke said in a statement. Lets stay calm, trust the experts, and follow the science.

 Sean Collins Walsh

Visitors and staff to be screened at Montco prison

// Timestamp 03/11 05:35pm

The Department of Corrections will begin screening staff and visitors to the State Correctional Institution Phoenix for COVID-19, Corrections Secretary John Wetzel said in statement Wednesday.

The focus on screening there is due to its proximity to the high concentration of cases in Montgomery County, and the large number of volunteers and visitors, as well as a frequently churning prison population that includes parole violators and new commitments.

The screening protocol includes a temperature check and a questionnaire. Anyone who is symptomatic and has recently been exposed, or anyone who refuses screening will be denied entry.

"We understand the value of inmate visits, and we also understand that its likely that COVID-19 will eventually be present at one of our facilities  that is why we are enhancing our screening processes and sanitization statewide, said Wetzel. The DOCs complete pandemic protocols are confidential, a spokesperson noted, citing security concerns.

While hand sanitizer is available through dispensers in some common areas of the prisons, it is not permitted in inmates personal property  a cause for concern among many incarcerated people. We are focusing on access to anti-bacterial soap for inmates, spokesperson Maria Finn said in an email.

 Samantha Melamed

Joe Biden names Penn prof to coronavirus advisory committee

// Timestamp 03/11 05:32pm

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden on Wednesday announced a committee to advise his campaign on how to minimize health risks for the candidate, staff, and supporters.

The campaigns top priority is and will continue to be the health and safety of the public. Members of the committee will provide ongoing counsel to the campaign, which will in turn continue to update the public regarding operational decisions, said a news release from the former vice presidents campaign.

The announcement comes a day after Biden canceled a planned rally in Cleveland in favor of a smaller event in Philadelphia, and a day before he is scheduled to make his own remarks on the national response to the virus. At a Monday rally in Detroit, campaign staff standing by the doors applied hand-sanitizer to every reporter who entered.

The advisory committee members include Zeke Emanuel, the vice provost of Global Initiatives and professor of medical ethics and health policy at the University of Pennsylvania. (Hes also the brother of Rahm Emanuel, the former Chicago mayor and chief-of-staff to President Barack Obama).

 Jonathan Tamari

Opening ceremony for D.C. Cherry Blossom Festival canceled

// Timestamp 03/11 05:20pm

The National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington D.C., one of the nations most well-known rites of spring, is being scaled back.

Several events have been canceled or postponed, organizers announced Wednesday, including the March 21 opening ceremony and March 28 kite festival.

Meanwhile, Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser declared a state of emergency in the nations capital. That gives her the power to order mandatory medical quarantines and make price gouging illegal, the Washington Post reported.

Jonathan Tamari

Ivy League cancels all athletic events through spring

// Timestamp 03/11 05:10pm

The Ivy League has decided to cancel all athletic events through the remainder of the spring, the league announced in a release.

The decision by the eight members of the Ivy League Council of Presidents was unanimous. "Given this situation, it is not feasible for practice and competition to continue, the release said.

Each institution will decide separately whether or not its winter student-athletes will participate in postseason play.

 READ MORE: Coronavirus anxiety forcing sports teams and fans to make tough decisions

Darmichael Cole

NCAA tournament to be played without fans

// Timestamp 03/11 05:03pm

The NCAA announced Wednesday that this years Division I mens and womens basketball tournaments will be played behind closed doors, with only essential staff and limited family in attendance.

NCAA president Mark Emmert said in a statement that the decision was made based on advice from public health officials and the NCAAs advisory pane on the coronavirus.

"While I understand how disappointing this is for all fans of our sports, my decision is based on the current understanding of how COVID-19 is progressing in the United States, Emmert said. This decision is in the best interest of public health, including that of coaches, administrators, fans and, most importantly, our student-athletes.

Emmerts announcement came not long after Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine ordered mens tournament games in the state to be played behind closed doors. That includes the opening round, set for next Tuesday and Wednesday in Dayton; and first- and second-round games in Cleveland on March 20 and 22.

Other early-round sites are Albany, N.Y., Spokane, Wash., Tampa, Fla. and St. Louis on March 19 and 21; and Greensboro, N.C., Omaha, Neb., and Sacramento on March 20 and 22. The regional round sites are Indianapolis and Los Angeles on March 26 and 28, and Houston and New York on March 27 and 29. Atlanta hosts the Final Four on April 4 and national championship game on April 6.

In the womens tournament, first- and second-round games are hosted by the top four seeds in each region. This years regional round sites are Greenville, S.C., Fort Wayne, Ind., Portland, Ore., and Dallas. The Final Four is in New Orleans.

 Jonathan Tannenwald

Pennsylvania cases increase to 16

// Timestamp 03/11 04:59pm

The number of presumptive or confirmed coronavirus cases in Pennsylvania is now up to 16, Health Secretary Rachel Levine said at a Wednesday afternoon briefing.

The state has identified 173 individuals for testing; 100 of those tested negative and the rest are pending. Hundreds more people are being monitored, but have not been tested, officials said. "We anticipate that community spread will occur," Levine said, describing the emergence of cases not linked to a known source.

She said the spread most likely would occur in southeastern Pennsylvania, given the population density and the number of cases seen so far. Levine said the Health Department is not recommending the closure of public schools, but commended universities that have moved to online learning and organizers that have canceled events as helpful steps to mitigate that spread.

Samantha Melamed

Sixers cancel scouting trips, encourage some fans to not attend games

// Timestamp 03/11 04:49pm

The 76ers have canceled all of their scouting trips due to concerns about the coronavirus, according to multiple sources. The team has pulled their advanced scouts, pro personnel scouts, and college scouts.

The Sixers have decided to adjust their travel policies while monitoring the public health situation. That included limiting scouting, which falls under non-essential travel.

The team said its Wednesday game against the Detroit Pistons would proceed as scheduled at the Wells Fargo Center, but asked some groups to not attend, even if they do not have symptoms of the infection:

Guests who are feeling sick

Guests who have traveled to, or been in close contact with someone who has traveled to, one of the high risk areas as outlined by the CDC in the past 14 days

Guests who have been in contact with an individual diagnosed with COVID-19 within the past 14 days

Guests who have been diagnosed with COVID-19

Guests with underlying health conditions, in particular respiratory or cardiac issues

 Keith Pompey and Marc Narducci

Delaware reports its first presumptive case

// Timestamp 03/11 04:37pm

A New Castle County man who is associated with the University of Delaware Community has tested positive for the coronavirus, the state announced Wednesday.

State health officials said the man is over 50, and was exposed to a confirmed case of the virus in another state. He self-quarantined as soon as he got symptoms. He is not severely ill and is doing well, they said.

Justine McDaniel

Montco cases include a police officer and out-of-state resident

// Timestamp 03/11 04:17pm

A 25-year-old Lower Providence Township police officer and a 61-year-old man from out of state are the latest to test positive for coronavirus in Montgomery County, the county reported Wednesday.

The police officer did not require hospitalization and is at his Perkiomen Township home, said Valerie Arkoosh, chair of the county commissioners. The other person has been hospitalized, she said.

The officer had come in direct contact with another person who had tested positive. So far, Arkoosh said, the county has had nine presumptive cases; that does not include the out-of-state resident.

No one needs to panic, she said, but given the spread in the county, she recommended public gatherings and larger private gatherings be canceled.

Ellie Silverman

BalletX postpones Spring Series

// Timestamp 03/11 04:04pm

BalletX has postponed its Spring Series performances, which had been scheduled to run March 18 to 29 at the Wilma Theater.

The program of three world premieres, including one from its 2020 choreographic fellow Nicole Caruana, is now being planned for July. Pennsylvania Ballets performances of La Bayadere are still scheduled for Thursday through Sunday at the Academy of Music

Ellen Dunkel

Eagles coaches passing on college pro days

// Timestamp 03/11 03:53pm

The Eagles confirmed Wednesday that their coaching staff will not attend college pro days in preparation for the NFL draft, scheduled for April 23 to 25 in Las Vegas.

Scouts will still attend as scheduled, the team said. The team said a variety of factors, not just the concern over the coronavirus, contributed to the decision, including the fact that some of the coaches are new to the staff and are learning the schemes, and preparations for NFL free agency next week.

College pro days are a big part of draft prep; the Eagles have 10 picks this year, their largest haul since 2010.

 READ MORE: Eagles coaching staff wont attend pro days as sports teams take precautions over coronavirus concerns

 Les Bowen

CDC awards millions to Pennsylvania, New Jersey for coronavirus response

// Timestamp 03/11 03:43pm

The Centers for Disease Control Wednesday awarded more than $16 million to Pennsylvania and more than $15 million to New Jersey to bolster the state response to the coronavirus outbreak.

New Jersey will receive $15,610,160.20, while Pennsylvania will receive $16,904,048.40 from the federal government, according to a White House spokesperson. Philadelphia will receive an additional $3,500,000.

"These funds will allow public health leaders to implement critical steps necessary to contain and mitigate spread of the virus in communities across the country, CDC Director Robert R. Redfield said in a statement.

In total, the CDC will provide $560 million to states and local jurisdictions to battle the outbreak, part of the government-wide $8.3 billion emergency coronavirus aid package signed by President Donald Trump last week.

 Oona Goodin-Smith

University of Pennsylvania shifts all classes online for rest of semester

// Timestamp 03/11 03:35pm

The University of Pennsylvania becomes the second college in the region to shift to online instruction for the rest of the semester.

West Chester University announced a similar move on Tuesday.

Penn said it will extend spring break for one week and begin virtual classes on Monday, March 23. Virtual instruction, including final exams, will continue through the end of the semester.

The university is asking all students, who are currently on spring break and out of town, not to return to campus. Those on campus should leave by Sunday. Some clinical rotations will continue, the university said.

Many details are still being finalized, so we ask for your patience as we work through the myriad issues involved in this major temporary change, said an email from Penn President Amy Gutmann and Provost Wendell Pritchett.

 Susan Snyder

Philadelphia charter school closes for coronavirus precaution

// Timestamp 03/11 03:25pm

A Philadelphia charter school says it is closing Thursday and Friday because several students traveled out of the country in recent weeks.

The closure of Mastery Clymer Elementary in North Philadelphia for cleaning is precautionary, the charter said in a statement. It said it was not confirmed that the students were directly exposed to geographic areas containing the coronavirus.

Still, the school will be cleaned with a more aggressive disinfectant over the next several days, Mastery CEO Scott Gordon said.

 Maddie Hanna

Lower Providence Township employee tests presumptive positive for coronavirus

// Timestamp 03/11 03:19pm

A Lower Providence Township employee has received a presumptive positive test result for coronavirus, according to a release from the municipality.

The Montgomery County Office of Public Health is currently working to determine which individuals, including other township staff and members of the public, this individual came into contact with while infected and before starting a self-isolation period, the statement said. This comprehensive process, known as contact tracing, is labor-intensive and takes time to complete. The Office of Public Health will directly notify any at-risk individuals. All necessary precautions are being taken.

Montgomery County officials are expected to provide more updates on the outbreak this afternoon.

 Oona Goodin-Smith

SEPTA preparing for drop in riders or absent employees

// Timestamp 03/11 03:09pm

As SEPTA steps up its cleaning efforts, the transit agency is also preparing for a potential drop in ridership or increase in absent employees due to the coronavirus.

SEPTA announced a revamped cleaning procedure last week. SEPTAs maintaining normal cleaning efforts, but crews are sanitizing highly touched areas like turnstiles and kiosks at least three times a day. Vehicles are getting a full wipe-down every 14 days instead of every 30 days.

Efforts are system-wide, but a lot of attention has been turned to high-trafficked areas like City Hall and 69th Street Stations.

SEPTA is preparing for scenarios that could arise from a dip in ridership or uptick in employee absenteeism, said Scott Sauer, SEPTA assistant general manager of operations.

"Nothing is off the table at this point, he said. Were taking it as it goes, its ever-changing ... minute by minute so were watching but well have plans if we had to, to reduce service. Well have plans, if we had to, to scale back, if we have employees that suddenly take ill, then well plans for that as well.

 Patricia Madej

N.J. officials: Coronavirus is amongst us'

// Timestamp 03/11 02:59pm

State officials said two of New Jerseys newest presumptive positive cases of the coronavirus may indicate community spread in the Garden State.

Simply put, community spread is defined as person-to-person transmission without exposure to a confirmed case, Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli said. Community spread indicates that the coronavirus is amongst us. We have an expectation that that may be the case.

Right now, state officials would not say which counties these two cases are in, but if community spread is confirmed, officials may have to step up their mitigation efforts, and enact precautionary measures like widespread school closures, Persichilli said. (edited)

Wheres that watershed moment  I dont know where that turn is, Persichilli said.

But I know the epidemiologists will tell you we wanna respond sooner than later. We will know when its time to take our mitigation strategies to the next level.

Persichilli said it could be that community spread happens in one area of the state, and not the other. Individuals who live in an area with community spread are at a higher likelihood of exposure to the coronavirus, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

The state announced eight new presumptive positive cases Wednesday, bringing the state total up to 23. Four of the people are from Bergen County, two are from Monmouth County, and two are from Middlesex County. Five are male, while three are female. Patients range in age from 17 to 66 years old, Persichilli said. Further details werent available.

 Pranshu Verma

No community spread in Bucks County 'that we know of, officials say

// Timestamp 03/11 02:48pm

The two infected people in Bucks County caught the virus out-of-state at a gathering where two other people there were later confirmed to have coronavirus, health department director David Damsker said at a Wednesday afternoon news conference.

Theres no community spread here in Bucks County that we know of, said Damsker.

The county has contacted people who may have been exposed to the two cases and asked them to quarantine for 14 days.

The county will be starting to implement measures to help protect the elderly and people in long-term care facilities, Damsker said, including halting all visitation to Neshaminy Manor starting Wednesday. The county will have a conference call with all long-term care facilities to discuss minimizing exposure of residents.

The infected people are doing fine and resting at home, Damsker said. He declined to say what municipality they were located in, saying there was no public health reason to do so. He said the two positive cases have no impact on any school closures or any students in the schools.

 Justine McDaniel

San Francisco, Ohio, Washington state ban large gatherings, including sporting events

// Timestamp 03/11 02:21pm

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee announced on Wednesday the state will prohibit events of more than 250 people in three Seattle-area counties to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

The restrictions apply to concerts and sporting events  including the Seattle Mariners, Seattle Sounders FC, and the XFLs Seattle Dragons.

San Francisco Mayor London Breed has put in place a similar ban that would cancel all public gatherings that draw crows of 1,000 people or more  including the Golden State Warriors and San Francisco Giants.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced Wednesday afternoon he will issue a statewide ban on mass gatherings, meaning the NCAA Tournaments First Four in Dayton next week will be played in front of empty seats (though parents and others essential to the game will be able to attend).

The moves come after Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said the NBA and other leagues should play games without fans present to help slow the spread of the virus.

We would recommend that there not be large crowds. If that means not having any people in the audience when the NBA plays, so be it, Fauci said during a hearing on Capitol Hill Wednesday.

 Rob Tornoe

Philadelphia relaxes sick leave policy for city employees due to coronavirus

// Timestamp 03/11 02:13pm

The City of Philadelphia has relaxed its sick leave and work from home policies for its more than 27,000 employees due to the coronavirus.

Employees will be required to self-quarantine at home for 14 days if they have COVID-19, traveled to a country with a high number of cases, or had contact with someone who has been diagnosed.

Jim Engler, Mayor Jim Kenneys chief of staff, told city employees in an email Wednesday that employees without sick leave who must self-quarantine will be advanced up to 10 days.

The city is also working with its cleaning vendor to begin an enhanced cleaning schedule, starting Wednesday.

 Laura McCrystal

What happens when doctors and nurses get sick?

// Timestamp 03/11 02:00pm

Philadelphia health-care executives have been planning since January for how to accommodate any surge in patients infected with the coronavirus, both by amassing supplies and exploring ways to treat non-critical patients outside the hospital.

Yet there is one type of resource shortage that the hospital executives cannot do much about: when the doctors and nurses themselves get sick.

That topic was a focus Wednesday morning at a health care forum hosted by the Philadelphia Department of Public Health.

With many facilities operating near capacity, providers sometimes feel compelled to work even when sick, said Jessica Caum, the departments manager for public health preparedness.

Bad idea, she said.

"Stay home when youre sick, she said. In health care, we sometimes forget that these rules apply to us, too.

Last week at the Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia outpatient campus in King of Prussia, a cardiologist treated two dozen patients over a four-day period before he was hospitalized Saturday morning with what turned out to be a coronavirus infection.

CHOP has not said when he began to experience symptoms, but the patients and their families have been urged to quarantine themselves at home and be on the lookout for signs of illness, the hospital has said.

In addition to infecting patients, sick doctors and nurses can expose their colleagues, leading to the need for quarantines that make the staffing crunch even worse, hospital executives said at the health department forum Wednesday.

"Staffing is a big challenge in health care even outside of challenges such as this," said Jonathan L. Gleason, chief quality officer for Jefferson Health.

 Tom Avril

Villanova, Penn State, Lehigh, Bryn Mawr, Swarthmore announce shifts to online learning

// Timestamp 03/11 01:13pm

More colleges are announcing moves to online learning.

Villanova will suspend in-person classes beginning on Monday and instruction will move online. Classes will meet Thursday and Friday this week so that professors can talk with students about how the new learning mode will work, the Rev. Peter M. Donohue, Villanovas president, said in an email to the campus.

The university will decide by April 3 whether to resume in-person instruction this semester, he said. The university, he said, is continuing athletics, but all on-campus contests will be held without spectators, at least through April 14.

Penn State, which is on spring break this week, will move to remote learning for three weeks, starting on Monday.

Penn State President Eric Barron said all students are strongly discouraged from coming to campus, off campus apartments or fraternity houses during that period.

Lehigh University in Bethlehem will teach all classes online, also beginning on Monday, President John D. Simon said in an email to campus. Students are being asked to return home or remain home at least through the next two weeks.

 READ MORE: If coronavirus spreads, could local colleges move education totally online?

Meanwhile, Swarthmore announced it would extend spring break through March 20 and resume classes online March 23. That will continue as least through April 3, an arrangement similar to the one announced by Haverford.

Bryn Mawr College also will offer all courses in a remote format from March 16 though April 3, at least, the school announced.

We hope that we can return to in-person instruction this semester, said Bryn Mawr President Kim Cassidy. We will also prepare, however, to continue with remote learning if necessary.

Additionally, Arcadia University will shift to online instruction, beginning Thursday and running through March 27.

 Susan Snyder

Philadelphia opens Emergency Operation Center to handle coronavirus

// Timestamp 03/11 01:05pm

Philadelphia opened its Emergency Operation Center to deal with the coronavirus Wednesday.

Representatives from various departments are working together in the center, which the city typically activates for emergency situations, including snowstorms and other weather events. It brings city departments and external stakeholders together face-to-face in one room, the city announced in a news release.

More than 15,600 people have opted in to receive text message updates from the city about COVID-19, officials said.

City Councilmembers, meanwhile, expressed concern about the potential seriousness of the virus.

Philadelphias preparation to address a global pandemic is about to be tested in real time, Councilmember Cherelle Parker said in an interview Wednesday, after chairing a committee meeting about the citys 911 call center.

The hearing included testimony from dispatchers about the citys lack of training for or debriefing after emergencies such as the 2015 Amtrak derailment or the police standoff in North Philadelphia over the summer. Parker said it highlighted issues that must be addressed  especially as the city makes plans for handling coronavirus.

I am not interested in stoking fears into Philadelphians into thinking that our 911 call center is not prepared to handle an increase in volume, Parker said. "We expect there to be some sort of standard operating procedures in place.

Councilmember Curtis Jones Jr. said the city is dusting off the books because it has not dealt with a pandemic since the 1918 influenza.

 READ MORE: Spit Spreads Death: A mournful march commemorates 1918 flu that killed 20,000 in Philly

I fear weve never seen anything really like this, he said. This is something totally different.

 Laura McCrystal

New Jersey reports 8 more cases of coronavirus

// Timestamp 03/11 00:55pm

Eight more people have tested presumptive positive for the coronavirus in New Jersey, bringing the state total to 23, Gov. Phil Murphy said on WCBS Radio Wednesday.

Clearly this is something that is iterative, Murphy said. We are doing all we can to stay out ahead of this.

Of the 23 people who have tested presumptively positive for the coronavirus in New Jersey, twenty are hospitalized, while two are in self-quarantine, Murphy said. One man  a 69-year-old from Little Silver in Bergen County  died Tuesday, becoming the New Jerseys first death due to the coronavirus.

Lt. Governor Sheila Oliver and Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli will provide more details at a 2 p.m. press briefing.

 Pranshu Verma

World Health Organization declares coronavirus a pandemic

// Timestamp 03/11 00:43pm

The World Health Organization has officially classified COVID-19 a pandemic, acknowledging the virus is likely to spread to every country on the planet.

"Describing the situation as a pandemic does not change WHOs assessment of the threat posed by this coronavirus, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHOs director-general, said in a briefing Wednesday.

It doesnt change what WHO is doing, and it doesnt change what countries should do.

We expect to see the number of cases, the number of deaths, and the number of affected countries climb even higher, Adhanom Ghebreyesus added.

 READ MORE: WHO declares that coronavirus is now a pandemic

 Rob Tornoe

Coronavirus cases may force city to reopen Hahnemann

// Timestamp 03/11 00:37pm

Philadelphia officials have considered reopening Hahnemann University Hospital, should the city see a surge of coronavirus cases, Health Commissioner Thomas Farley said Wednesday.

The debt-ridden safety-net hospital was shut down last year after its owner, American Academic Health System, filed for bankruptcy.

However, reopening Hahnemann would be a last resort, Farley said Wednesday during a symposium about the virus with leaders of all major health systems in the city as well as Independence Blue Cross.

It would not be a simple task by any means. Our hope is that we never get to that point, Farley said.

The hospital has been decommissioned and it has no staff or supplies. But the city has been in touch with the people who control Hahnemann. It would be a public facility that would be a shared overflow space for all hospitals in the city, he said.

Before closing, the 496-bed hospital saw about 150 emergency department patients daily. The idea came as a result of conversations with PJ Brennan, Penn Medicines chief medical officer.

 Tom Avril

Philadelphia arts groups begin canceling performances

// Timestamp 03/11 00:23pm

Upcoming performances at the Annenberg Center have been called off to limit risk of exposure to coronavirus, the group announced Wednesday.

The White Lama in its world-premiere performances March 13 and 14 will go on. But after that, all events on the schedule through April 15 have been postponed. These include appearances by the Crossing Choir, Trinity Irish Dance Company, Daedalus Quartet and Arcana New Music Ensemble.

The Curtis Institute of Music has also announced that it is curtailing and adjusting activities over the next few weeks. Audiences at concerts at the school between March 23 and 31 will be limited to Curtis students, staff, and faculty, but concerts will be streamed live via YouTube and Facebook.

Curtis expects that concerts from April 1 through the end of the semester will be re-opened to live audiences, though the school cautioned that those plans may change.

The Annenberg Center said in a statement that The White Lama performances will come with extra measures to maintain a healthy environment for audiences, staff and artists, including bolstering housekeeping efforts and implementing new procedures for our ushers and concessions staff.

The center is working on setting new dates for all of the affected performances, though it is possible some will be canceled altogether, an Annenberg spokesperson said. The center is offering fee-free ticket exchanges to anyone feeling ill or concerned about attending; people can call 215-898-3900 for information.

 Peter Dobrin

Haverford College moves classes online amid coronavirus spread

// Timestamp 03/11 11:57am

Haverford College will move its classes to virtual learning, at least until April 6, President Wendy Raymond announced.

The college is on spring break this week and will move to online courses at some point next week. Faculty, on a course-by-course basis, will contact students to make arrangements for virtual instruction, readings and assignments, she said.

Raymond acknowledged that there will be challenges.

We dont pretend to have all the answers yet to the many questions before us, she said in a message to the university community. From access to course materials in ways that are safe and effective, to plans for lab and studio and other experiential work currently in progress, there is much for us all to identify, engage, and plan for."

Students who are unable to go home can continue to live at the college but will be asked to practice social distancing, she said.

 Susan Snyder

Pa. health secretary: It is important for residents to know the commonwealth is prepared and to be prepared themselves

// Timestamp 03/11 11:40am

As Pennsylvanias reported number of coronavirus cases continued to grow Wednesday, Department of Health Secretary Rachel Levine said it is important for residents to know the commonwealth is prepared and to be prepared themselves.

As of Wednesday morning, 15 presumed positive coronavirus cases had been identified in Pennsylvania.

 READ MORE: Philly cancels St. Patricks Day parade, warns against large gatherings after first coronavirus case; Bucks identifies first two cases

Right now, you have a higher chance of testing positive for COVID-19 if you have traveled to a country or state with known community outbreaks or have come in contact with someone who has the virus, Levine said. We are working with the health care community across Pennsylvania to keep them informed, consult on patient testing and ensuring they have the resources they need to care for patients.

 Oona Goodin-Smith

Nasdaq picks Phillys Navy Yard as backup if coronavirus empties financial districts

// Timestamp 03/11 11:13am

Nasdaq, the giant securities-trading group, has prepared a backup trading floor and secure data facility at the Philadelphia Navy Yard business center in South Philadelphia, just in case the coronavirus COVID-19 epidemic leaves Wall Street systems as vulnerable as a hurricane or terrorist attack.

Industry sources say Nasdaq has stepped up training in recent days to add dozens of personnel at its League Island Boulevard center if needed. The back-up prep work was later confirmed by Nasdaq officials in New York.

The health and safety of our employees and members is paramount, and we take very seriously our place in the U.S. financial infrastructure, said Joe Christinat, a spokesman for Nasdaq. If our main trading floor were to become inaccessible, Nasdaq can operate our trading floor facility in an secondary location, at the Philadelphia Navy Yard.

 READ MORE: NASDAQ chooses Philly as back-up location

 Joseph N. DiStefano

Swarthmore to close NCAA tournament game to fans over coronavirus concern

// Timestamp 03/11 11:10am

Swarthmore College announced Wednesday that Saturdays NCAA Division III tournament game hosted by the school will be closed to fans. Refunds will be made if tickets already were purchased for the third-round game against Whitworth. The 5 p.m. game can be watched on YouTube.com/user/SwarthmoreAthletics/live.

 READ MORE: CBS's Jim Nantz on what fanless NCAA games could sound like; longtime Flyers PA announcer returns

While there are no suspected cases of COVID-19 at Swarthmore College, the epidemic continues to expand, and the college has a responsibility to act in the best interest of the well-being of Swarthmore students, faculty, and staff, as well as the broader community, the school said in a statement.

 Mike Jensen

Bucks County Community College closes for deep cleaning

// Timestamp 03/11 9:54am

Bucks County Community College will close Friday through next week for a deep cleaning. Like other colleges, the school says it has had no cases but wants to take precautions. The closure overlaps with spring break and affects all of the campuses.

 Susan Snyder

Philly health commissioner skips coronavirus conference for cough

// Timestamp 03/11 9:49am

At a coronavirus conference held Wednesday morning by the Philadelphia Department of Public Health, attendees were greeted by the news that the department head would not attend in person.

I have a mild cough, health commissioner Thomas Farley said through a speaker phone, though he quickly pointed out that symptom is normal for this time of year.

I thought it would be better under the circumstances to be careful, he told health care providers and others at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Center City.

His presentation was then delivered in person by deputy health commissioner Caroline C. Johnson, who said there was no indication yet that the virus was circulating at a level that the city should close schools and churches.

Johnson urged people with underlying health problems to stay home from all public events. Thats a firm recommendation, she said.

 READ MORE: So you think you have the new coronavirus. What should you do now?

She cited a recent study of passengers on one of the cruise ships where the virus was circulating, noting that more than half of people who tested positive had no symptoms.

She said it remained unclear how easily asymptomatic people could transmit the virus.

The incubation period  the time between exposure and the development of symptoms  seems to be four to six days for most people, but as long as 14 days, she said.

 Tom Avril

The coronavirus outbreak is giving this Philadelphia-area business a big boost

// Timestamp 03/11 9:39am

Coronavirus has spread a gloomy and cold chill throughout the worldwide economy.

Yet there is a neon-colored bright spot shining forth in suburban Philadelphia: Scrub Daddy. The Delaware County-based manufacturer of the sunshine-shaped smilin sponge, is cleaning up.

 READ MORE: Coronavirus outbreak is giving this Philly-area business a big boost

 Sam Wood

Coachella postponed; WXPN nixes audiences for Free at Noon concerts

// Timestamp 03/11 9:19am

Both the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and the Stagecoach Country Music Festival are officially postponed over coronavirus concerns, promoter Goldenvoice announced late Tuesday.

While this decision comes at a time of universal uncertainty, we take the safety and health of our guests, staff and community very seriously, Goldenvoice said in a statement. We urge everyone to follow the guidelines and protocols put forth by public health officials.

The festivals were scheduled to take place at the Empire Polo Club grounds in Indio, Calif., across several weekends in April, have been rescheduled for October. Coachella has been moved to the weekends of Oct. 9 and 16, while Stagecoach will take place the weekend of Oct. 23.

In the Philadelphia area, the Firefly Music Festival in Dover, Del., organized by Goldenvoice parent company AEG Presents, has remained largely silent about whether concerns over the coronavirus might influence its upcoming June 18 to 21 run. A spokesperson for the festival did not immediately respond to request for comment.

On Tuesday, however, the festival began a countdown to the start of this years event via its social media profiles, noting that the kickoff was 100 days away. In one message, the festival noted that yes, we are counting down.

 READ MORE: Coronavirus has shut down schools and events. Heres why that helps, short- and long-term.

WXPN, meanwhile, has announced that its Free at Noon concerts will be closed to the public through April 17. That change will start Friday with a concert from Jonathan Wilson, and comes following the University of Pennsylvanias call to suspend events with 100-plus attendees. The radio station said on its website that it is working to broadcast the live performances amid its audience limitations.

In North Jersey, the coronavirus has forced the cancellation of The Fest for Beatles Fans, the celebration of all things John, Paul, George and Ringo scheduled for March 27 to 29. The Fest, which began in 1974, is billed as the largest and longest-running gathering of Beatles aficionados in the world.

All previously purchased tickets will be honored when the Fest is rescheduled, organizers said.

 Nick Vadala, Jeff Gammage

Inquirer employees self-quarantine after attending investigative journalism conference

// Timestamp 03/11 8:45am

Inquirer employees were advised early Wednesday to work from home if possible after it was learned that a person with a presumptive case of coronavirus had been at a journalism conference attended by four newsroom staff members.

The four employees, two from the Philadelphia newsroom and two from Spotlight PA in Harrisburg, have agreed to self-quarantine themselves after attending the National Institute for Computer-Assisted Reporting conference in New Orleans last week.

Inquirer publisher Lisa Hughes told employees they were encouraged to work from home if possible and if their managers approved.

No Inquirer employee has reported symptoms consistent with coronavirus, she said. This is a precautionary measure and is not mandatory.

She said professional crews would be brought in for thorough, top-to-bottom cleanings of our facilities.

We have the ability to report, edit and publish remotely and in fact are doing so as we speak, said Gabriel Escobar, Inquirer editor and vice president. While this presents some challenges, we are confident we will be able to keep the public informed online and in print.

More than 1,000 people attended the New Orleans conference and other news organizations have also told employees they can work from home. WHYY, Philadelphias NPR affiliate, tweeted that three employees had also attended the conference and were in self-quarantine.

 Joseph A. Gambardello

Chestnut Hill College closes through Sunday as coronavirus spreads

// Timestamp 03/11 8:29am

Chestnut Hill College will close until Sunday, given the rising number of coronavirus cases in the region and an abundance of caution, the school said on its website.

The Philadelphia college plans to deep clean and disinfect the campus. A decision on whether the college will move to alternative delivery of courses will be made by Saturday, the school said.

 READ MORE: West Chester University cancels all in-person classes because of coronavirus, instruction will go online

 Susan Snyder

Coronavirus testing is expanding, but likely not fast enough to contain undetected spread

// Timestamp 03/11 8:13am

Contrary to President Trumps claim that anyone who wants a coronavirus test can get it, U.S. testing has been rationed both because of the federal governments limited supply of test kits and because it has advised doctors to restrict the test to certain patients.

That is starting to change  slowly.

With the blessing of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, at least three big commercial diagnostic companies are now offering coronavirus testing. That should boost the meager capacity of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and public health labs, which had done fewer than 6,000 tests through last week, according to health officials.

In addition, the CDC announced much looser testing criteria on Sunday, so more people with symptoms will be eligible. Basically, physicians are advised to use their judgment.

But that doesnt mean people who fall ill and fit the new criteria are getting tested.

 READ MORE: Coronavirus testing is expanding, but likely not fast enough to contain undetected spread

 Marie McCullough

U.S. coronavirus cases top 1,000 as pace of infections increase

// Timestamp 03/11 8:09am

The number of coronavirus cases in the United States has topped 1,000 Wednesday morning, with at least 31 related deaths, as the pace of infections increases nationwide.

As the New York Times noted, more than a quarter of the countrys cases were announced on Tuesday.

As of Wednesday morning, people in 37 states and Washington, D.C. have tested positive for the coronavirus.In Washington state, where at least 267 people have tested positive for the coronavirus, Gov. Jay Inslee will reportedly announce a ban on gatherings of more than 250 people in the Seattle area, in an attempt to stem the spread of the virus.

New York has seen the number of positive coronavirus cases swell in recent days to 173, with more than 50 cases traced back to a 50-year-old attorney who tested positive for the virus on March. The state has responded by setting up a one-mile containment area around the small New York City suburb of New Rochelle.

 Rob Tornoe

Kenney on canceled Philly St. Patricks Day Parade: We appreciate their willingness to take health, safety into account

// Timestamp 03/11 7:57am

Late Tuesday night, organizers of the Philadelphia St. Patricks Day Parade canceled the Sunday event after a case of the coronavirus was reported in the city and officials urged spectators not to attend.

Earlier in the day, city leaders said the event would go on as planned, but advised residents to avoid gatherings of more than 5,000 people due to the coronavirus threat, and suggested watching the parade on TV instead of attending.

 READ MORE: Philadelphias St. Patricks Day parade canceled

We understand that this was a difficult decision, and we appreciate their willingness to take the health and safety of the marchers and the attendees into account, Mayor Jim Kenney tweeted shortly after the parade cancellation was announced.

City officials had been grappling with what to do about the parade against an unnerving historical backdrop: The decision just more than a century ago to go ahead with a World War I Liberty Loan parade on Broad Street during the 1918 flu pandemic. Epidemiologists now view that parade as a classic blunder that led to a spread of a disease that claimed 12,000 lives in Philadelphia.

 READ MORE: Philly needs to make tough calls on coronavirus  canceling St. Patricks parade was the right one | Editorial

 READ MORE: Coronavirus has shut down schools and events. Heres why that helps, short- and long-term.

 Oona Goodin-Smith, Joseph A. Gambardello, Craig R. McCoy

Pennsylvania isnt releasing details on coronavirus cases because of a decades-old law

// Timestamp 03/11 7:07am

At frequent media briefings on COVID-19 over the last week, Health Secretary Rachel Levine has not provided the public with the total number of samples tested, the number of people quarantined after possible exposure, or the exact ages of infected people in Pennsylvania.

As of Wednesday morning, fourteen presumed positive coronavirus cases have been identified in Pennsylvania. Local cases include eight in Montgomery County, two in Bucks County, one in Delaware County, and one in Philadelphia. The city reported its first case Tuesday.

The state health department has released only the number of positive cases, as well as general information about the source of the infection, whether the infected individuals are adults, and which county they live in.

Officials are citing a 1955 law authored in the heyday of syphilis for withholding information.

 READ MORE: Pennsylvania isnt releasing details on coronavirus cases because of a decades-old law

 Cynthia Fernandez




London, March 11, 2020

CNH Industrial N.V. (NYSE:CNHI / MI:CNHI) has expanded its already extensive measures to ensure a safe working environment for its employees in light of the COVID-19 emergency. The Company has been leveraging its experience acquired firstly in China, and more recently rolling out best practices across all regions in which it operates.

Reflecting the emergency decrees announced earlier this week by the Italian Government, the Company has started to introduce additional measures at its facilities in Italy, which strictly follow the mandated requirements. To this end CNH Industrial today announced that, where necessary, it will temporarily close Italian production facilities, during which time additional safety measures will be implemented. These protocols will be applied across all CNH Industrial's manufacturing sites should conditions require. This will enable the Company to continue to provide all employees with a safe working environment, whilst managing production volumes accordingly.

Important actions further reinforce the health and safety initiatives already in place. The Company has extended its 'Smart Working' (working from home) program, in addition to spacing measures and the provision of protective face masks where appropriate. This is in conjunction with intensive sanitization and deep-cleaning of all work and rest areas, changing rooms and related facilities in all its locations.

The Company's global COVID-19 taskforce is working closely with national jurisdiction health authorities and is ready to extend its developed safety protocols as needs arise.

CNH IndustrialN.V.

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Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said Jyotiraditya Scindia was one person who could walk into his house anytime, dismissing suggestions that the party's top leadership was not giving him a hearing.

"He was one guy in the Congress who could walk into my house anytime, as he was in with me in college," Gandhi told reporters outside Parliament.

He later retweeted a photo of his with Scindia and Kamal Nath after the Madhya Pradesh assembly victory, with a caption of Leo Tolstoy's quote "The two most powerful warriors are patience and time".

Gandhi also accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of "destabilising" the elected Congress government in Madhya Pradesh.

Scindia quit the Congress on Tuesday and a day later joined the BJP amid a rebellion in Madhya Pradesh by his supporters, pushing the 15-month-old Kamal Nath government to the brink of collapse.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Peter Weber's mom stole the show on Monday night's dramatic first installment of the Bachelor finale.

Peter introduced his two final picks, Madison and Hannah Ann, to his family during the episode and his mother didn't hold back in telling the Bachelor exactly who he should choose.

Since the episode aired Barbara has been hit with backlash from Bachelor Nation fans. But the mother-of-two revealed on social media on Tuesday that she's not letting it get to her.

Peter Weber's mom Barbara doesn't care about the backlash after Monday's episode of The Bachelor where she had very strong opinions about who he should choose

Peter introduced his two final picks, Madison and Hannah Ann (pictured), to his family during the episode and his mother didn't hold back expressing she liked Hannah Ann the most

Fans of the ABC show left a barrage of comments on Barbara's most recent Instagram post and she took a moment to respond to someone who defended her.

The user wrote: 'Can people please leave her alone! Barb, I think you did the right thing,'

Barbara replied, 'Thanks but I ignore all negatives!!'

Madison Prewett ended up breaking up with Peter and leaving the show after her disastrous meeting with his parents.

After meeting her son's two favorites in Monday's episode, Barbara made it clear she wanted Peter, 28, to be with Hannah Ann Sluss.

'I ignore all negatives!!' Barbara replied to someone who defended her in the comments of her latest post

Painful: Madison Prewett ended up breaking up with Peter and leaving the show after her disastrous meeting with his parents

Barbara referred to Hannah Ann as an 'angel on earth' after meeting the two women.

'[Madisons] not there for you, bud,' Barbara told Peter. 'But bud, you know what, I have to tell you something. I said a prayer last night. I said, "Lord, please, please guide Peter today and guide Madison to see where theyre at in this relationship," because you have a gem waiting for you who is madly, head over heels in love with you, and God put her there for you. I think God has answered my prayers and put the right person in your path.'

However, it may not be as clean cut as it seems, as a preview of the show's final episode shows Madison appear again after confessing regret over her decision.

Peter had been torn from the moment the cast arrived in Alice Springs, Australia, where he met up with his parents and told them how hard it had been to choose between the women.

Part two of the Bachelor finale airs on ABC Tuesday 8pm ET.

The parents: Barbara and Peter Weber Sr were charmed by Hannah Ann
Chinese President Xi Jinping has made his first visit to Wuhan since the novel coronavirus outbreak began more than two months ago, as new cases of the virus slowed to a trickle in the country where the disease first emerged.

Xi's visit to Wuhan -- which has been on lockdown for weeks now, with tens of thousands of confirmed cases of the virus and hundreds of deaths -- is a major show of confidence in China's response to the pandemic, underlining a message which has been building in state media that the country has turned a corner.

As of Tuesday, there have been 80,754 cases of the virus confirmed across China, 67,760 of which were in Hubei, the province of which Wuhan is the capital. Of the 3,136 deaths confirmed in China, all but 112 have been in Hubei.

At its worst, Hubei was reporting thousands of new cases per day. On Monday, China's National Health Commission said there were only 17 new cases confirmed in the province, with two others in other parts of the country -- both of which were linked to overseas travel.

The progress in China, which has come on the back of weeks of widespread travel restrictions, government enforced lockdowns and economic pain, is in stark contrast to other parts of the world, where the situation is growing increasingly dire.

Propaganda victory

According to state news agency Xinhua, Xi arrived in Wuhan Tuesday "for an inspection of the epidemic prevention and control work" in the city and surrounding province.

He "will visit and express regards to medical workers, military officers and soldiers, community workers, police officers, officials and volunteers who have been fighting the epidemic on the front line, as well as patients and residents during the inspection," Xinhua reported.

That Xi can visit the city suggests the government has supreme confidence in his safety and epidemic controls put in place there. The closest he previously came to the frontlines of the outbreak was visiting virus treatment centers in the capital Beijing, which has far fewer cases than Wuhan.

Senior government officials, including Vice Premier Sun Chunlan and Premier Li Keqiang, have visited Wuhan, but it was assumed until now that the risk to Xi, even if slight, was not worth the potential cost. Since taking office in 2011, Xi has centralized authority massively, becoming China's most powerful leader since Mao Zedong, and were the 66-year-old to fall ill, that could seriously destabilize the political system.

His presence in Wuhan also caps a major reversal in how he has been positioned in Chinese state media. In the early weeks of the virus, Xi disappeared from front pages and major newscasts -- which he typically dominates -- though reports emphasized he was working in the background to direct the country's response.

Xi's low profile led to speculation that the propaganda apparatus was trying to ensure that he did not take any blame for the apparent bungling and alleged covering up of the initial response to the virus. Xi has increasingly come to the fore in recent weeks, however, as China has appeared to successfully brought the outbreak under control.

If that assessment is accurate, then Xi is now ready to reap the praise for having contained the virus. A book published late last month by the Central Propaganda Department -- in six different languages -- recounts how China won the "people's war" against the disease, "under the centralized and unified leadership of the Communist Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at the core."
C hancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak has delivered the 2020 Budget in the House of Commons.

Announcing the Conservative Government's financial plan to MPs on Wednesday afternoon, Mr Sunak revealed new measures to tackle coronavirus and invest in Research and Development among other major changes.

It marks the first budget for Boris Johnson's Government and the first outside the European Union in almost 50 years.

Here, we take a look at the 10 biggest takeaways from the Budget 2020.

Budget Day 2020 - In pictures 1 /22 Budget Day 2020 - In pictures Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak speaks during Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons Sky News Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak poses for pictures with the Budget Box as he leaves 11 Downing Street AFP via Getty Images Chancellor Rishi Sunak (left) meeting with the Governor of the Bank of England Mark Carney in Downing Street, London, before heading to the House of Commons to deliver his Budget PA A pedestrian wearing face masks walks past the Bank of England in London AP Boris Johnson speaks during Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons PA Larry, a cat, sits on the doorstep of 10 Downing Street PA Mark Carney, governor of the Bank of England (BOE) speaks during a news conference at Bank Of England Getty Images Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak carries the Budget Box as he and his team leave 11 Downing Street AFP via Getty Images A woman dressed as the Speaker of the House of Commons holds holds a facsimile of the budget box with a message 'treasure the earth' as she participates in a demonstration on the budget outside Parliament AP The front door of 11 Downing Street PA Mat Hancock arrives Downing Street Jeremy Selwyn Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak poses for pictures with the Budget Box as he leaves 11 Downing Street PA Liz Truss at Downing Street Jeremy Selwyn Protestors from Extinction Rebellion hold signs during a demonstration on the budget outside Parliament AP Leader of the House of Commons Jacob Rees-Mogg at Downing Street Jeremy Selwyn Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak poses with his Treasury team outside his office in Downing Street Reuters Prime Minister Boris Johnson alongside Chancellor Rishi Sunak during Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Common PA

1) Tackling coronavirus

Mr Sunak launched straight into the recent coronavirus outbreak and how the Government plans to dampen its financial impact.

A 30bn package to boost the economy was announced, with the Government and Bank of England seeking to protect jobs and livelihoods.

Mr Sunak said there was "likely to be a temporary disruption" to the economy as a result of coronavirus but insisted his plans would bring "stability and security".

Measures set out by the Chancellor included: - A 1bn business rates holiday for retail, leisure and hospitality firms with a rateable value of under 51,000. - The Government will fully meet the cost of providing statutory sick pay for up to 14 days for workers in firms with up to 250 employees, providing over 2bn for up to two million businesses. - Reforms to the benefits system to make it easier to access funds will provide a 500m boost to the welfare system, along with a 500m hardship fund. - Those self-employed or in the gig economy will have support to make accessing benefits quicker, as they are not eligible for statutory sick pay. - A 3,000 cash grant to businesses eligible for small business rates relief. They will be able to apply for up to 1.2m loans to assist through the crisis. 

Chancellor Rishi Sunak promised whatever extra resources our NHS needs to combat coronavirus.

2) Research and development

The Budget will raise the investment in research and development to 22bn per year.

Mr Sunak said more than 600bn would be spent investing in future prosperity over the next five years, taking net public investment to the highest levels in real terms since 1955.

He spoke of "history filled with ideas, invention and discovery" in the UK.

Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak on Budget day / PA

To succeed in further innovation, he wants to "invest in ideas".

The Chancellor said 1.4bn would be invested in the science institute at Weybridge, which is analysing samples of coronavirus, and more than 900m in nuclear fusion, space and electric vehicles.

3) NHS funding

Mr Sunak announced 6bn of new funding to support the NHS over this Parliament.

He pledged a package of measures to benefit the health service including clamping down on "aggressive tax avoidance, evasion and non-compliance" with extra funding for the HMRC to secure 4.4bn of extra revenue.

The Chancellor also said he was raising the immigration health surcharge to 624, with a discounted rate for children.

4) Reading tax and tampon tax abolished

The so-called reading tax will be scrapped from December 1, meaning people will no longer pay VAT on books, newspapers, magazines and academic journals.

This includes hardback or e-books, fiction or factual, Mr Sunak said.

The so-called tampon tax - five per cent VAT on sanitary products - will also be abolished since the UK is no longer bound by EU rules.

5) The "green" Budget

Outlining green policies, Mr Sunak said he would freeze the levy on electricity from April 2022 and raise the levy on gas to help tackle the climate crisis.

A "plastics packaging tax" charging manufactures and importers 200 per tonne on packaging made of less than 30 per cent of recycled plastic will be introduced in April 2022.

Rishi Sunak delivers the Budget 2020 / PRU/AFP via Getty Images

A "forest larger than Birmingham" will also be planted as part of plans for the Government to "leave the natural environment in a better state than we found it".

This comprises of 30,000 hectares of trees to be planted over the next five years and 35,000 hectares of peatland to be restored.

6) Education

The Chancellor said he was committing 1.5bn of new capital over five years to improve the further education college estate.

"My predecessor wanted to level up further education. Saj, we're getting it done," Mr Sunak said.

He also announced he was providing every region in the country with funding for special 16 to 19 maths schools.

There will also be an average of 25,000 per year for secondary schools to invest in arts activities and 30m a year to improve PE teaching.

7) Infrastructure and housing

More than 600bn is set to be spent on roads, rail, broadband and housing by the middle of 2025.

The Chancellor said he was committing to "the biggest ever investment in strategic roads and motorway" spending more than 27bn.

2.5bn will be made available to fix potholes and resurface roads over five years.

In terms of housing, Mr Sunak said he would extend the affordable homes programme with a new multi-year settlement of 12bn.

A 650m package to tackle homelessness, providing an extra 6,000 places for rough sleepers will also be introduced.

Mr Sunak announced a 1bn building safety fund to ensure all unsafe combustible cladding is removed from buildings above 18 metres tall.

The Treasury will make 120m available immediately to repair defences damaged in the winter floods and the Government will double investment to 5.2bn flood defences over six years.

8) Broadband and 4G boost

Mr Sunak said the Budget provides 5bn to get gigabit-capable broadband into the hardest to reach places.

There will be 510m of new investment for the shared rural mobile phone network.

He said this means 95 per cent of the country will get 4G.

9) Devolution

Mr Sunak said he wants to move 22,000 civil servants outside of London.

Treasury's Green Book rules will be reviewed to put regional prosperity at heart of spending decisions.

The Chancellor also said he would establish Treasury offices in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and open a new economic campus in the north with over 750 staff.

He said he was providing an additional 640m for the Scottish Government, 360m for the Welsh Government, 210m for the Northern Ireland executive and 240m for new city and growth deals.

10) Tax, public finances and borrowing

Mr Sunak said he wants a "dynamic low tax economy".

The economy is predicted to grow by 1.1 per cent this year, not taking into account the impact of coronavirus. This would be slowest growth since 2009.

The Chancellor said borrowing will increase from 2.1 per cent of GDP in 2019/20 to 2.4 per cent in 2020/21 and 2.8 per cent in 2021/22.

Borrowing will then fall to 2.5 per cent, 2.4 per cent and 2.2 per cent in the following years.

Debt as a percentage of GDP is forecast to be lower at end of current Parliament than now.

The National Insurance threshold will increase from 8,632 to 9,500 and the National Living Wage will rise to 10.50 per hour by 2024 if economic conditions allow.

Fuel duty will be frozen for another year as will duties on beer, cider, wine and spirits.

The Government will provide 1 million to support Scottish food and drink overseas and 10 million to help distilleries "go green".
Net inflows into equity and equity-linked schemes rose from Rs 7,547 crore in January to Rs 10,760 crore in February, data by the Association of Mutual Funds in India showed on Wednesday.

New Delhi: Inflows into equity mutual funds surged to Rs 10,730 crore in February, the highest level in 11 months, even as the broader market witnessed heavy volatility amid concerns over the impact of coronavirus.

Overall, the mutual fund industry witnessed a net outflow of Rs 1,985 crore across all segments, mainly owing to withdrawal from liquid or money market category.

In comparison, an inflow of Rs 1.2 lakh crore was seen in January.

Net inflows into equity and equity-linked schemes rose from Rs 7,547 crore in January to Rs 10,760 crore in February, data by the Association of Mutual Funds in India showed on Wednesday.

This is the highest since March 2019, when equity schemes attracted an inflow to the tune of Rs 11,756 crore.

The inflow is well spread between the category of funds such as large-cap, mid-cap, small-cap and multi-cap, among others.

Large-cap, mid-cap and small-cap funds saw inflows of Rs 1,607 crore, Rs 1,451 crore and Rs 1,498 crore, respectively during the month under review.

Besides, gold ETFs saw the highest inflows of Rs 1,483 crore in February amid selloff in the equity markets. This was in comparison to Rs 202 crore inflow seen in the safe haven instrument.

Interestingly, investments into gold ETFs have been rising for the fourth straight month.

The assets under management of the 42-players mutual fund industry dropped by 2.3 percent to Rs 27.23 lakh crore in February-end from Rs 27.86 lakh crore in January-end.
Katherine Robin Fiorentinos work as a flight attendant gave her the ability to do something she really loved: helping other people.

The 33-year-old Massachusetts native died Saturday in Birmingham after she jumped from the 17th floor of the Sheraton Birmingham Hotel on Richard Arrington Jr. Boulevard, authorities told AL.com.

Fiorentino was born in Attleboro, Massachusetts and grew up in Rehoboth, Massachusetts. She leaves her parents, James and Jo-Anne Fiorentino, who still live in Rehoboth.

Katherine currently lived in Orlando, FL and worked for Southwest Airlines as a flight attendant where she cherished helping people, especially calming children that were nervous about flying, her family wrote in her obituary. She loved camping, hiking, canoe camping and volunteering for the Nemours Childrens Hospital in Orlando where she would use her caring talents by calming uneasy children.

In her obituary, family asked people to donate to the Nemours Childrens Hospital, 6900 Tavistock Lakes Blvd. Suite 350, Orlando, Florida, 32827, in lieu of flowers.

A graduate of Dighton-Rehoboth Regional High School, Fiorentino was artistic, loved to do puzzles, jigsaws and crosswords and treasured spending time with her cat, Kismet, according to her obituary.

Fiorentino studied at the University of Massachusetts Amherst where she earned dual degrees with high honors in math and psychology.

She was passionately involved with the UMass Minuteman Marching Bands Color Guard during her time there, her family wrote in her obituary.

Fiorentino also leaves a brother, aunts and an uncle. She will be laid to rest this weekend.

Authorities told AL.com that other guests at the hotel notified security about a woman acting erratically. The woman, identified as Fiorentino, also threw her phone over a balcony wall.

Hotel security found Fiorentino and started talking to her when she ran and jumped over the balcony wall, AL.com reports.

The incident happened around 11:20 p.m. Saturday.

Here are suicide prevention resources available in Alabama:

Alabama Suicide Prevention and Resource Coalition

Crisis Center, Inc. (Birmingham)

Phone: (205) 323-7777

Kids Help Line: (205) 328-KIDS (5437)

Teen Link: (205) 328-LINK (5465)

Senior Talk Line: (205) 328-TALK (8255)

Crisis Services of North Alabama (Huntsville)

Phone: (256) 716-1000

Toll Free: (800) 691-8426

Lifelines/Family Counseling Center of Mobile

Phone: (251) 431-5111

Toll Free: (800) 293-1117
Published: 11 March 2020

Household-dwelling units income increased most in Helsinki

The income development of household-dwelling units has in recent years been more favourable than average in Helsinki according to the area data of Statistics Finland's income distribution statistics. The median income of household-dwelling units in Helsinki was in 2018 over five per cent higher than in 2014, when the modest income development stage that had continued for many years ended. Over the same time period the income of household-dwelling units in Salo grew by four per cent. The real growth of household-dwelling units income exceeded the threshold of 3.5 per cent in Turku, Rovaniemi and Kuopio. In the whole country, household-dwelling units' median income was in real terms 3.6 per cent higher in 2018 than in 2014.

Changes (%) in real income of household-dwelling units in 2014 to 2018, 20 municipalities with the largest population

Income concept equivalent disposable monetary income (incl. sales profits) per household-dwelling unit, median. Equivalent income = the household-dwelling unit's income divided by its consumption unit figure. Source: Income distrubution statistics' total data

Of large towns (20 municipalities with the largest population in 2018), income development was weakest in Vaasa, where household-dwelling units real income measured by the median was in 2018 nearly one per cent higher than four years earlier in 2014. In Lappeenranta, Vantaa and Hameenlinna the income development of household-dwelling units was under two per cent in 2014 to 2018.

With regard to all municipalities, income development has been best for the household-dwelling units of the small municipality of Kumlinge in Aland, where median income was good 12 per cent higher in 2018 than in 2014. Growth figures of over 10 per cent were also reached in Lumijoki near Oulu and in Karijoki in South Ostrobothnia.

Income development has been most modest in Brando and Eckero in Aland, and in Merijarvi in North Ostrobothnia and in Kannus in Central Ostrobothnia, where household-dwelling units real income lowered somewhat in 2014 to 2018.

Household-dwelling units income development continued moderate in 2018

In the early 2010s, household-dwelling units income development was long modest, in some years household-dwelling units income even decreased in real terms. In the middle of the decade, income development turned clearly positive after a long time, income growth has continued moderate for four years.

In particular, according to the median that best describes the income of average household-dwelling units, income development has been good in recent years when compared to the early years of the decade. In contrast, there is still a long way to go to the growth figures of the late 1990s and early 2000s.

The real income of household dwelling-units grew in 2018 measured by the mean by 1.6 per cent from the previous year. According to the median income that best describes the income of average household-dwelling units, the real growth in household-dwelling units income was 1.1 per cent over the same period, which is a couple of tenths of a per cent more than one year earlier.

Annual changes in household dwelling-units real income in 1995 to 2018

Change in 1995 to 2000, 2000 to 2005 and 2005 to 2010 describes the average annual change in the period. Income concept: equivalent disposable monetary income (excl. sales profits) per household-dwelling unit. Equivalent income = the household-dwelling unit's income divided by its consumption unit figure. Source: Income distrubution statistics' total data

Source: Income distribution statistics, Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Pekka Ruotsalainen 029 551 2610

Director in charge: Jari Tarkoma

Updated 11.03.2020

Referencing instructions: Official Statistics of Finland (OSF): Income distribution statistics [e-publication].

ISSN=1799-1331. Income differentials between population subgroups 2018. Helsinki: Statistics Finland [referred: 11.1.2022].

Access method: http://www.stat.fi/til/tjt/2018/02/tjt_2018_02_2020-03-11_tie_002_en.html
Drug firm on Wednesday said its board has approved the transfer of its animal healthcare business on a going concern basis to its wholly-owned arm Animal Health and Investments Ltd (ZAHL) as part of its internal restructuring exercise.

The transfer of animal healthcare business is through execution of a definitive agreement, said in a filing to BSE.

The animal healthcare business (AHB) consists of development, manufacturing, marketing and selling of animal healthcare products in India and other countries, it added.

"No cash consideration will be paid by ZAHL for transfer of AHB. ZAHL will issue and allot 227,33,50,000, 8 per cent non-convertible non-cumulative redeemable preference shares of Rs 10 each at face value, aggregating to Rs 2,273.35 crore, in exchange for transfer of AHB," said.

ZAHL is engaged in the business of pharmaceuticals and investments, it added.

Cadila Healthcare Ltd and ZAHL are the parties to the definitive agreement, the filing said.

Cadila Healthcare shares closed at Rs 258.15 on BSE, up 0.84 per cent from the previous close.
The head of the American Health Care Association, Mark Parkinson (pictured), described coronavirus as 'almost a perfect killing machine' for the elderly

A US nursing head has said that coronavirus is 'almost a perfect killing machine' for elderly patients.

At least 11 nursing homes in Washington state have reported cases of the highly-contagious disease and others states are now on high alert.

The outbreak has shown that the virus spreads very quickly among senior citizens, and particularly in those with underlying health conditions who live very closely together.

It comes as Life Care Center in Kirkland, Washington - linked to at least 19 deaths and hundreds of infections - has revealed residents are dying just hours after first showing symptoms

American Health Care Association President Mark Parkinson says relatives and friends should not be visiting loved ones in long-term care facilities.

'We are encouraging all people, including family members and loved ones, to not visit nursing homes and assisted living facilities,' he told CNN.

Instead, Parkinson urged that people communicate with their elderly friends and family members via phone calls, text messages or video chat to not risk spreading coronavirus.

Parkinson added that relatives and friends should not be visiting loved ones in long-term care facilities due to risk of spreading the disease. Pictured: A patient is put into an ambulance during the pouring rain outside the Life Care Center of Kirkland, March 7

At least 11 nursing homes in Washington state have reported cases, including Life Care Center of Kirkland, linked to several deaths and infections. Pictured: Healthcare workers transport a patient on a stretcher into an ambulance at Life Care Center in Kirkland, February 29

Life Care Center's spokesman said residents have gone from no symptoms to death within a matter of hours. Pictured: A worker wearing protective gear is seen through a window as she works in the room of Susan Hailey, 76, who has tested positive for coronavirus, March 10

'The grim reality is that, for the elderly, COVID-19 is almost a perfect killing machine,' he said.

Worldwide, more than 124,000 people have been infected and more than 4,400 have died

This seems particularly true for Life Care Center of Kirkland - a suburb of Seattle - one of the US hot spots for the virus.

According to the center's spokesman, Tim Killian, 55 positive tests have been linked to the facility.

Twenty-one are Life Care's current residents and the rest are those in hospitals or patients who were moved to different facilities.

Killian said staff members have found the new virus to be unpredictable and unbiased in who it effects.

Particularly, he said they'd seen patients in relatively good health suddenly develop symptoms

'We've had patients who, within an hour's time, show no symptoms to going to acute symptoms and being transferred to the hospital,' Killian said at a news conference on Sunday.

'And we've had patients die relatively quickly under those circumstances.'

One-third of Life Care's staff, about 65 people, are reporting symptoms, but only 30 have been tested so far. Pictured: Gene Campbell talks through a window with his wife of more than 60 years, Dorothy Campbell, March 5

In the US, there are more than 1,000 confirmed cases and 31 people have died. Pictured: Marty Shape, left, talks to his mother, Judy Shape, right, on the phone, at Life Care March 9

One-third of Life Care's staff, about 65 people, are reporting symptoms, but only 30 have been tested so far.

The University of Washington School of Medicine said it could test all Life Care staff, but the federal government has not given kits for the center's employees

Worldwide, more than 124,000 people in more than 100 countries have been infected with coronavirus and more than 4,500 have died.

In the US, more than 1,100 people have been diagnosed with the virus and 36 people have died.
WOBURN, MASS., March 10, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- March 7, 2020-Volly, an industry-leading provider of SaaS-based Marketing Automation, CRM and POS solutions for banks and mortgage companies, has been named a HousingWire 2020 HW Tech100 Mortgage company. Now in its eighth year, the HW Tech100 is the only program highlighting the tech innovation thats revolutionizing the entire U.S. housing economy, from real estate to mortgage lending, servicing and investments.

The Volly Platform is utilized by banks and mortgage companies from across the country, including several top 20 mortgage lenders. The Platform gives lenders the ability to provide a borrower journey that uniquely blends leading-edge technologies with hands-on, personal interactionensuring the human element remains an integral part of whats typically a complex transaction.

The winners of the 2020 HousingWire Tech100 Mortgage and Real Estate awards are truly the most impactful and innovative companies in housing, said HousingWire CEO Clayton Collins. Not only do these companies empower their clients and users, they are supporting a more efficient, accessible and sustainable housing economy.

Earning a place on the HW Tech100 is truly an exceptional honor, said Volly CEO Jerry Halbrook. This special recognition is a testament to the hard work, dedication and ingenuity of our team members. Technology is redefining borrower-lender relationshipsand we are excited to be at the forefront of this transformation.

For the first time, the HW Tech100 was divided into HW Tech100 Mortgage and HW Tech100 Real Estate winners. The full list of HW Tech100 Mortgage companies can be found here.

About HousingWire

HousingWire is the most influential source of news and information for the U.S. mortgage and housing markets. Built on a foundation of independent and original journalism, HousingWire reaches over 60,000 newsletter subscribers daily and over 7.5 million unique visitors each year. Visit www.housingwire.com to learn more.

Story continues

About Volly

Volly simplifies lending technology and digital and print marketing solutions for banks and mortgage companies, including many of the top lenders in the nation. The Volly Platform is a fully integrated cloud-based Software-as-a-Service platform that combines Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Point of Sale (POS) and Marketing Automation with digital- and print-based marketing as well as custom websites and industry-leading personalized creative marketing services. For more information, visit www.MyVolly.com or call (866) 435-7050.

About New Capital Partners

New Capital Partners (NCP) is a private equity firm headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama. NCP partners with niche, tech-enabled services companies in the healthcare, financial and business services industries. Leveraging its extensive operational experience, NCP helps create significant value in portfolio companies by focusing on one core goal: building great companies. For more information, please visit www.newcapitalpartners.com.

Attachment

MIchelle Woodall

Volly

8017074855

mwoodall@myvolly.com


As thousands of Oregon employees, suppliers and contractors file into Intels offices each day, cameras are watching  and, now, recording their faces.

Computers analyze those images to identify these people, part of a broad program Intel says will help identify high risk individuals who might pose a threat to the chipmaker or its workers.

This may be the largest implementation of facial recognition in the workplace anywhere in the country. Intel has 20,000 employees in Oregon and roughly 50,000 nationwide. It comes as

public scrutiny of the controversial technology is on the rise, with Portland and many other jurisdictions considering laws to restrict the facial recognition.

Intel says it is acting in the interests of worker safety and has taken a number of steps to protect the privacy of employees and visitors. In public disclosures and internal messages, the chipmaker describes its facial recognition as an advancement in workplace security and employee convenience.

Technology watchdogs, though, question whether Intels privacy protections will be effective and say the companys practices put workers in a difficult position since they have no opportunity to opt out of the facial scans.

There are genuine advantages to the technology for both workers and their employers, according to Erica Wagner, an associate dean and professor at Portland State University who studies technology in the workplace. But she cautions that many other companies have backtracked on facial recognition after blowback about potential data breaches or misuse of facial images.

There are always unintended consequences, Wagner said. We do become so excited about these things and the real benefits that we dont think about the real implications down the road.

A safety concern

Intel said it deployed its facial recognition technology  and license plate readers  beginning February 21 at two of its Oregon campuses, Aloha and Ronler Acres, which is the companys main manufacturing and research site. The company has also implemented facial recognition at several other U.S. sites outside Oregon and indicated it plans to implement it more broadly over time.

As Intel described it to workers, the company is using facial and license plate scans to ensure people on its property are authorized to be there. Information comes both from employee badges and from a biometric template created from security cameras.

Intel isnt using its own technology, according to the companys communication with employees, but has contracted with two established facial recognition specialists.

Intel says it will hold former workers facial information two years after they leave the company. It will retain most visitors faces for 30 days, but will keep data on visitors who are denied access to a site for 30 years. Intel says it will store that data in one of the companys own data centers.

The security and safety of individuals on Intel campuses are our top priority, Intel said in a statement to The Oregonian/OregonLive. We are always looking for opportunities to improve our security in ways that minimize any disruption for our workers and visitors.

In correspondence with one Intel employee, posted on an internal message board, the chipmaker indicated it is particularly interested in identifying 200 individuals deemed as especially serious threats. With sites all over the world, and automated entry turnstiles at some locations on Intel campuses, the company said its difficult to spot those people wherever they may turn up.

Intel defined high risk individuals as anyone who threatens to physically harm someone at Intel, or someone who is acting erratically and whose behavior could put anyone in peril.

Separately, the company indicated that it has taken additional steps to secure its highly sensitive factories. That suggests Intel may also be wary of corporate espionage or sabotage. Intel declined to elaborate on the nature of its concerns.

Privacy concerns

In its communication with employees, Intel indicated facial recognition may eventually enable future employee conveniences, such as additional screening at high risk areas and speedier entry past internal security lines.

A small sampling of Intel workers, who asked not to be identified speaking about their employer, expressed a degree of ambivalence. Some are opposed to facial recognition in the workplace, but even among those workers theres a sense that this kind of scrutiny is inevitable.

Facial recognition is a growing focus among civil liberties organizations, though. While Intel has pledged to safeguard employees information, privacy advocates caution that if workers biometric information is breached its much harder to resolve than, say, a stolen ID card or hacked password.

If I lose my Social Security card, if I lose my drivers license, I can replace that. Its much harder to replace my face, said Nash Sheard of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, which advocates for online privacy rights.

Companies should only collect biometric information with affirmative consent, according to Sheard  meaning that people should have the ability to opt out of such collection. He said its not clear thats possible when an employer is collecting information about its workers.

Given the power imbalance in that situation, is that actually consent? Sheard asked.

In recognition of privacy concerns, Portlands city council is considering what might be the nations strictest ban on facial recognition. The city would ban facial recognition by government agencies and, in some contexts, by private businesses who use it to screen customers.

The ban wouldnt apply to Intel as both of its campuses are in suburbs outside Portland city limits and because Portlands proposed rules for business use of facial recognition technology only cover public spaces.

Ethnicity agnostic

Portlands proposed rules, and those being considered elsewhere, are inspired in part by a widely recognized shortcoming in facial recognition technology  that it more commonly misidentifies people with darker skin. Its a thorny problem, but one Intel claims to have overcome.

Intels software supplier addresses these factors by training the system with datasets and annotators of various ethnicities, making the system ethnicity agnostic, the company told employees. It did not elaborate.

Thats one of the problems with technology, said Wagner, the Portland State business dean. She said its impossible for those without access to the underlying software to know whether or not statements like that are true.

Nobody wants to tell you what their proprietary algorithm is but they want to assure you that their algorithm is not biased, Wagner said.

Nonetheless, Wagner said there can be real benefits to a system like the one Intel is implementing: It could be more convenient, faster, and it may really provide the security benefits Intel promises.

Employees may not have the latitude to opt out, but Wagner said they ought to at least think through the implications of facial recognition  in the same way someone using Google or Facebook ought to be aware of how those companies utilize information about their own users.

Just have an opinion. Know what the technology does, Wagner said. The conversation is the most important part.

-- Mike Rogoway | mrogoway@oregonian.com | twitter: @rogoway | 503-294-7699

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Jim Carrey 'killed off' Harvey Weinstein in an obituary-style tweet dated 1952-2020 complete with a sketch of the convicted rapist, in a post on Wednesday.

The sketch showed the shamed media mogul looking disheveled after his fall from power, as he was sentenced Wednesday morning in Manhattan criminal court to 23 years for sex crimes in his landmark #MeToo trial.

The actor's post came as several of Weinstein's accusers and other Hollywood women and allies took to Twitter to celebrate his 23-year sentence and speak of hope that the verdict will pave the way for greater justice for other victims of sexual assault.

Rosanna Arquette, one of Weinstein's many accusers, led reactions to the news of his sentence praising the 'brave women' who broke their silence against the rapist and saying he 'got what he deserved...because he raped so many more'.

The disgraced Hollywood producer was handed 20 years on the criminal sex act charge for forcibly performing oral sex on production assistant Mimi Haleyi in 2006.

Jim Carrey 'killed off' Harvey Weinstein in an obituary sketch tweet dated 1952-2020

Rosanna Arquette, one of Harvey Weinstein's many accusers, led reactions on Wednesday to the news of his 23-year sentence praising the 'brave women' who broke their silence against the rapist and saying he 'got what he deserved...because he raped so many more'

He was sentenced to three years for third degree rape for the attack on Jessica Mann in 2013.

Judge James Burke, who oversaw his trial, ordered Weinstein to serve the sentences consecutively and sentenced him to five years post release supervision for each charge.

He will not be eligible for parole for at least 20 years, making it highly likely the rapist will die behind bars.

Rosanna Arquette praised the women who had helped put the abuser behind bars and singled out Rose McGowan and Ronan Farrow for helping to bring his campaign of sexual assault in Hollywood to an end.

She tweeted: 'Gratitude to all the silence breakers especially Rose and all survivors of weinstein to the brave women who testified and to the incredible investigative reporting of Ronan farrow who uncovered the sabotage and spying and to david Remnick thank you Rich McKuen and ny times.'

Arquette, who was one of the first women to break her silence about the alleged abuse she suffered at the hands of Weinstein in the early 1990s, went on to slam the rapist's defense attorney Donna Rotunno who had blasted the sentencing as 'obscene'.

Arquette told Rotunno to 'shut up' and said he 'got what he deserved... because he raped SO MANY MORE WOMEN'.

'Please Shut up Donna Rotunno the only obscene and obnoxious person here is you. He got what he deserved because he's a rapist. he is in prison because he raped SO MANY MORE WOMEN and ruined lives and careers there is more evidence and one woman was 16 at the time,' Arquette's tweet read.

Weinstein was sentenced Wednesday morning in Manhattan criminal court to 23 years in prison for sex crimes in his landmark #MeToo trial. An artist's sketch shows the rapist in a wheelchair in the courtroom during the sentencing

Harvey Weinstein, 67, was pictured being escorted from the Manhattan courthouse in his wheelchair after being sentenced to 23 years in prison on Wednesday

The disgraced Hollywood producer (pictured during his trial) was handed 20 years on the criminal sex act charge for forcibly performing oral sex on production assistant Mimi Haleyi in 2006

One of the convicted rapist's other accusers Mira Sorvino told how she cried 'tears of amazement' when the sentencing was handed down to her abuser.

Sorvino, who came forward accusing Weinstein of sexually harassing her and then seeking to destroy her career after she dismissed his advances, tweeted: '23 years. Harvey Weinstein has been sentenced to 23 years in prison for his crimes of rape and sexual assault. I literally cried tears of amazement, gratitude that the justice system has worked on behalf of all of his victims today.'

Ronan Farrow, whose investigative journalism helped expose the Hollywood director, was another to praise the verdict, saying it showed the 'power of people who speak up'.

Ronan Farrow, whose investigative journalism helped expose the Hollywood director, praised the verdict for showing the 'power of people who speak up'

'A lot of news underlines how hard it is to hold wealthy and connected people accountable. Today's shows the power of people who speak up, from a position of far less power, at great personal risk,' he tweeted.

Farrow continued: 'Today's outcome in Harvey Weinstein's New York trial is the result of the decisions of multiple women to come forward to journalists and to prosecutors at great personal cost and risk. Please keep those women in your thoughts today.'

The journalist also slammed suggestions by Weinstein that reporting had 'ruined his life', saying that it had given his victims a voice.

Padma Lakshmi, who has previously spoken of her own sexual assault at the hands of a powerful man, echoed Farrow's sentiments, praising today as a 'historic day' for women's equality and for 'holding powerful men accountable for their actions'.

The Silence Breakers, a group of 24 of Weinstein's accusers including actresses Rose McGowan, Ashley Judd and Rosanna Arquette, issued a statement following the verdict saying that 'no amount of jail time' will lessen the impact on his victims and that the community will continue to fight to 'have our voices heard'.

'Harvey Weinstein's legacy will always be that he's a convicted rapist. He is going to jail  but no amount of jail time will repair the lives he ruined, the careers he destroyed, or the damage he has caused,' the statement read.

One of the convicted rapist's other accusers Mira Sorvino told how she cried 'tears of amazement' when the sentencing was handed down to her abuser

The Time's UP Foundation tweeted its thanks to the many victims who had spoken out against the powerful media mogul

Another victim of sexual assault, Padma Lakshmi, praised the 'historic day'

'The Silence Breaker community was founded on solidarity, support, and compassion. The New York trial has ended, but the Silence Breakers will persist in our crusade for cultural change, justice and to have our voices heard.'

The Time's UP Foundation tweeted its thanks to the many victims who had spoken out against the powerful media mogul: 'Thank you Mimi Haleyi, Jessica Mann, Annabella Sciorra, Dawn Dunning, Tarale Wulff, and Lauren Young. Thank you to all the #silencebreakers. The social change you've catalyzed is just beginning. We're committed to continuing the fight.'

A statement from Tina Tchen, president and CEO of the TIME'S UP Foundation, thanked the 'courage and strength' of the women.

'First and foremost, we are grateful for the courage and strength of Mimi Haleyi, Jessica Mann, Annabella Sciorra, Dawn Dunning, Tarale Wulff, and Lauren Young, who bravely testified in court, and we remain in solidarity with the more than 100 survivors who suffered abuse, harassment, and rape at the hands of Harvey Weinstein. The trauma of sexual assault and harassment is lifelong  we can only hope that today's sentence brings all of the survivors of Harvey Weinstein some measure of peace,' she said.

'We also hope that these women take pride in knowing the impact they have had on our culture at large. Whether by inspiring more survivors to come forward and seek help, changing how the justice system responds to sexual violence, or leading corporate boards to hold more CEOs accountable for toxic workplace culture, the social change catalyzed by these survivors has been nothing short of transformational.

'TIME'S UP is committed to keep fighting until everybody is safe at work and in the pursuit of their careers, no exceptions.'

Weinstein (pictured during his trial) maintained a blank face as his sentence was handed down before he was wheeled out of the courtroom

The judge's sentence came after Weinstein made a rambling statement to the court, in which he spoke of remorse not for his victims but for other men. 'I feel remorse for all of the men who are going through this fight,' Weinstein told the court

Jessica Mann sobbed as she left the courtroom where she saw her abuser sentenced to 23 years behind bars

Weinstein, who maintained a blank face as his sentence was handed down, was wheeled out of the courtroom following the sentencing as his accusers sobbed and hugged each other.

The judge's sentence came after Weinstein made a rambling statement to the court, in which he spoke of remorse not for his victims but for other men, in what appeared to be a final jibe at his victims.

'I feel remorse for all of the men who are going through this fight,' Weinstein told the court.

He said he was worried about 'thousands of men' being denied due process in the #MeToo era.

In the statement, he also said he was 'confused' and that he believed he had a 'serious friendship' with Mann and Haleyi.

Mann said in a victim impact statement before the sentencing that she wanted to remind the court that she told Weinstein 'no' and that she wished she'd been able to fight him off when he raped her in a Manhattan hotel

Weinstein listening to Jessica Mann and Mimi Haleyi as they delivered emotional victim impact statements about how Weinstein had affected their lives

The rapist (wheeled out of the courthouse) showed no remorse and said he was 'confused' and that he believed he had a 'serious friendship' with Mann and Haleyi

His rambling statement, in which he issued no apology for his crimes, came after Jessica Mann and Mimi Haleyi delivered emotional victim impact statements about how Weinstein had affected their lives.

Haleyi, who was the first to deliver her statement, sobbed as she told the court of the trauma she had endured since the attack, saying Weinstein crushed her spirit and altered the course of her life.

She said the attack on her in Weinstein's Soho apartment in 2006 came at a 'very vulnerable point' in her life.

Mann, in her statement, said she wanted to remind the court that she told Weinstein 'no' and that she wished she'd been able to fight him off when he raped her in a Manhattan hotel.

'I am forced to carry that experience until I die,' she said.
New Delhi, March 11 : As the bank merger becomes effective April 1, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is scheduled to meet the chief executives of the amalgamating banks on Thursday to review the preparedness for the merger.

The Union cabinet already approved consolidation of 10 public sector banks into four, earlier in the month.

The meeting would deal also on readiness of anchor banks to minimise disruption to customers and ensuring credit flow to productive sectors of the economy.

Sitharaman is likely to check the readiness and capacities of the amalgamating banks to handle and address customer queries and difficulties. The banks may also be asked to set up a common call centre with regional language support, so that customer issues are addressed and responded at the earliest.

In one of the biggest consolidation exercise in the banking industry, the government last year announced amalgamation of the Oriental Bank of Commerce and the United Bank of India with the Punjab National Bank, of the Syndicate Bank into the Canara Bank, of the Andhra Bank and the Corporation Bank into the Union Bank of India, and of the Allahabad Bank into the Indian Bank.

The amalgamation would result in creation of seven large PSBs with scale and national reach with each amalgamated entity having a business of over Rs 8 lakh crore. The mega consolidation would help create banks with scale comparable to global banks and capable of competing effectively in India and globally.

The Punjab National Bank would be the second largest public sector bank after the amalgation of Oriental Bank of Commerce and the United Bank of India with it, with over 10,900 branches. It would have a business of Rs 17.91 crore and have a CRAR of 14.46 per cent.

The amalgamation of Canara Bank and Syndicate Bank would form the fourth largest PSB with over 10,300 branches and business of Rs 15.64 crore and CRAR of 13.90 per cent.

The merger of Union Bank, Andhra Bank and Corporation Bank would form the fifth largest PSB in the country with 9,593 branches and a business of Rs 15.08 crore.

The banks would also present their business and financial plans to the minister, including credit and deposits growth and year-wise synergy realisation plan, which they have already submitted to the Department of Financial Services in the Finance Ministry.

Greater scale and synergy through consolidation would lead to cost benefits which should enable the PSBs enhance their competitiveness and positively impact the Indian banking system, as per the government.

Further, consolidation would also provide impetus to amalgamated entities by increasing their ability to support larger ticket-size lending and have competitive operations by virtue of greater financial capacity.

The adoption of best practices across amalgamating entities would enable the banks improve their cost efficiency and risk management, and also boost the goal of financial inclusion through wider reach.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-11 14:17:42|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Taiwan-funded enterprises and business people from the island have donated more than 300 million yuan (around 43.16 million U.S. dollars) in funds and materials as of Wednesday to support the Chinese mainland in the fight against the COVID-19 outbreak, according to preliminary data.

The Association of Taiwan Investment Enterprises on the Mainland, its local branches and Taiwan-funded companies in provincial-level regions including Hubei, Beijing, Shanghai, Jiangsu and Fujian have been making donations since the outbreak of the epidemic.

Taiwan companies and industrial and commercial groups on the island have also made generous donations.
The battle for control of the global oil market intensified again on Wednesday as Saudi Arabia promised to increase production capacity and the United Arab Emirates said it plans to pump as much as possible next month.

Riyadh said it will boost capacity to an unprecedented 13 million barrels a day, doubling down on Tuesdays pledge of extra output in April. The U.A.E., a close Saudi ally, then promised to push more crude to customers than it can produce. These are fresh shots in an all-out war that has seen prices crash and the outlook for the market darken as nations prepare to pump as much as they can.

Saudi Arabia is pulling the trigger of its oil bazooka, said Olivier Jakob, managing director at consultant Petromatrix GmbH in Zug, Switzerland.

The moves come after an alliance between the OPEC cartel -- effectively headed by the Gulf nations -- and Russia collapsed acrimoniously last week. The country, for its part, has announced that it will retaliate by activating additional supplies of its own. Yet Moscow, which has nowhere near the quantities of untapped production held by the Gulf states, has also tempered its message, saying it remains open to resuming cooperation.

Until Friday, Saudi Arabia, U.A.E. and Russia had been part of a global coalition known as OPEC+, which for the past three years had restricted crude output to shore up prices against a relentless tide of American shale oil. Only in July, Russia and Saudi Arabia touted their alliance as a marriage to eternity.

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Spectacular collapse

All of that has now spectacularly collapsed.

The deadly coronavirus has played its part. Saudi Arabia had been insisting for weeks that the group needed deeper production cuts to tackle the demand loss caused by the quickly spreading virus. Russia on the other hand resisted as it wanted more evidence of the impact on consumption.

The standoff has drawn in U.S. President Donald Trump, who spoke with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman by phone this week. It followed the Department of Energy denouncing attempts by state actors to manipulate and shock oil markets. The department didnt name Saudi Arabia nor Russia.

The kingdoms de-facto leader is, however, showing no signs of relenting. The countrys energy ministry, headed by Prince Mohammeds half-brother, ordered Saudi Aramco to boost its output capacity by 1 million barrels a day, the first increase in at least a decade.

Saudi Arabias plan isnt the best option in the current market, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak told reporters in Moscow.

Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. will supply 4 million barrels a day of crude to customers in April, it said on Wednesday. That would mean adding more than 1 million barrels a day to what the U.A.E. pumped in February. The countrys output capacity is 3.5 million barrels a day, according to the International Energy Agency.

Saudi Arabia and its allies are also slashing prices for their oil in an attempt to push out Russian crude and secure market share. Iraq and Kuwait followed Aramco in cutting rates to customers all over the world.

A Russian response could come as early as Thursday, when Energy Ministry officials meet oil company executives. They will discuss output plans and the market situation, Novak said.

Oil prices resumed their decline on Wednesday, sliding back toward the four-year lows hit on Monday. Brent futures traded near $36 a barrel in London, less than half the level the Saudis need to cover government spending.
Delhi to Mumbai flight for less than Rs 2,500! Bengaluru to Kolkata flights for just Rs 3,600! The novel coronavirus has stung the domestic aviation sector hard. Large-scale flight cancellations and poor demand are reflecting on the airfares of airlines across the board. So far, the domestic carriers have suspended flights on some international routes, domestic flight schedule still remains intact. But that's going to change if the demand stays lull for a longer period, and cases of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) increase in India.

"For the first three weeks of February, the domestic traffic growth was almost similar to January but the demand tanked by 2-4 per cent in the last week of February. March is expected to witness substantial drop in air travel demand with forward bookings (for flying schedules over the next two months) are down by about 20 per cent," says an aviation analyst. In January, the domestic air traffic growth stood at mere 2.2 per cent, and the demand in February and March is likely to show negative growth compared to last year.

In fact, the PLF (passenger load factors) or occupancy rates for all airlines except Vistara shrunk in January. The drop was more pronounced for carriers such as AirAsia India and IndiGo.

Analysts predict that airlines such as IndiGo, SpiceJet and Air India are closely monitoring the development on the coronavirus front, and will soon take a call on truncating their domestic flight schedule. "In metro routes like Delhi to Mumbai, IndiGo could curtail its frequency from about 16 now to 12-13 owing to weak demand. Though reducing frequencies in non-metro routes could create hassle for passengers," says the analyst. Let's understand with an example. Suppose if IndiGo is flying between Delhi and Mumbai in every 1.5 hours, it's easy for the airline to adjust passengers from one flight to the next flight. But that's not possible in, let's say, an Amritsar to Mumbai flight whose daily frequency is just three. "They cannot simply push a morning flight passenger to an afternoon flight. It could hurt the airline's perception and create dissatisfaction," says the analyst.

The March 15-April 15 is a lean period for the travel and tourism sector. Both leisure and business travels are generally weak just before the summer holiday season. The airfares are typically low during this period, and COVID-19 scare has pummelled the demand further. "For the domestic aviation industry, the 0-15 day booking period is a high yield period but that's not the case anymore. The average selling price during this period is well below the costs of the airlines," says an aviation expert.

Desperate to sell seats, the large airlines have been coming out with flash sales. Take AirAsia India, for instance, which announced its Big Sale on Monday. Its flash sales give passengers option to book tickets at Rs 999 for 16 destinations (Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Goa, Pune, Ahmedabad, and others) by March 15 to travel till July 1, 2021.

The COVID-19, which has affected over 120 countries so far, started affecting the domestic aviation sector from January-end when carriers announced suspension of flights to countries such as China, Vietnam and Hong Kong. By early March, the list of discontinued international services expanded further to cover at least 15 destinations.

On the international side, the national carrier Air India seems to be the worst hit since it commands the largest market share - 50.64 per cent (in Q2 FY19) - among domestic carriers. Air India has thus far suspended its services to China besides bringing down the frequencies to destinations such as Milan, Rome, Jeddah, Singapore, Japan, and others. In 2018/19, 63 per cent of Air India's passenger revenues (Rs 20,419.4 crore) were derived from international operations. As per the industry body IATA (International Air Transport Association), the financial impact of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) could be anywhere between $63 billion and $113 billion in 2020.

Also Read: Coronavirus: GoAir to not charge cancellation fee till April 30

Also Read: The bleak financials of India's domestic airlines
A Division Bench of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice C Hari Shankar issued notice to the Union Health Ministry and the Delhi Government on the plea filed by advocate Triveni Potekar

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday asked the Centre and Delhi Government to file a response on a plea seeking proper preventive measures to control coronavirus.

A Division Bench of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice C Hari Shankar issued notice to the Union Health Ministry and the Delhi Government on the plea filed by advocate Triveni Potekar.

The court listed the matter for further hearing on 30 March.

Potekar's lawyer Nivedita Sharma sought direction from the court to make available information related to medical facilities being availed by the government to conduct a test and provide medical treatment for the coronavirus disease.

The High Court had on Monday issued a public advisory asking people to avoid unnecessary overcrowding in the court premises as a precautionary measure to help prevent the spread of coronavirus.

"One should avoid going to crowded places. Therefore, advocates, general public and litigants are requested to adhere to the guidelines /advisory issued by the Government of NCT of Delhi and avoid unnecessary overcrowding in the court premises," the advisory stated.

The total number of positive cases of coronavirus in the country has reached 50, and of these, 34 are Indian nationals and 16 are citizens of Italy, said Sanjeeva Kumar, Special Secretary (Health) on Tuesday. He also said that there has been no death in the country due to coronavirus so far.
Pawan Kumar Gupta, one of the four death row convicts in the Nirbhaya gang rape and murder case, on Wednesday moved a Delhi court seeking registration of an FIR against two police constables for allegedly physically assaulting him when he was lodged at Mandoli jail last year.

The court of Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Karkardooma has fixed Pawan's complaint for hearing on Thursday at 2 PM, lawyer AP Singh, counsel for the condemned prisoner, said.

The complaint seeks a direction to the SHO of Harsh Vihar Police Station to register the FIR against constable Anil Kumar and another unidentified police constable.

The complaint said that since Pawan is to be hanged soon, it is necessary to allow him to appear as a witness for identifying both policemen.

The criminal complaint alleged that Pawan was badly beaten up by the two constables on July 26 and 29, 2019 when he was lodged in the Mandoli central jail in East Delhi.

It further said he was then treated at Guru Teg Bahadur government hospital in Shahdara for his alleged head injury and had received 14 stitches and seeks registration of the FIR against the two policemen under penal provisions relating to physical assault.

Earlier, on March 5, another Delhi court presided over by Additional Sessions Judge Dharmendra Rana had issued fresh black warrants for the execution of the four death row convicts including Pawan Kumar Gupta on March 20 at 5.30 am.

The death row convicts are Mukesh Kumar Singh (32), Pawan Gupta (25), Vinay Sharma (26) and Akshay Kumar Singh (31).

A 23-year-old physiotherapy intern, who came to be known as 'Nirbhaya' (fearless), was gang raped and savagely assaulted in a moving bus in South Delhi on December 16, 2012. She died a fortnight after the incident.

Six people, including the four convicts and a juvenile, were named as accused. Ram Singh, the sixth accused, allegedly committed suicide in Tihar jail days after the trial began in the case.

The juvenile was released in 2015 after spending three years in a correctional home.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in its latest travel advisory, issued on March 10, has said all visas, including e-visas, granted to nationals of France, Germany and Spain on or before March 11, stand suspended. This only applies to visa holders who have not yet entered Indian borders.

The ministry has also suspended visas, including e-visas, granted to all foreign nationals who have travel history to France, Spain and Germany on or after 1.2.2020.

The Health Ministry also advised all passengers with a travel history to China, Hong Kong, Republic of Korea, Japan, Italy, Thailand, Singapore, Iran, Malaysia, France, Spain and Germany to undergo a self-imposed quarantine for a period of 14 days from the of their arrival from these countries. "If such passengers are working in some organisations/institutions, their respective employers are advised to facilitate work from home during this period," the advisory said.

France, Germany and Spain have now been added to the list of Italy, Iran, South Korea, and Japan, upon whom the Health Ministry had imposed similar restrictions. The visas of nationals of these counties issued on or before March 6 were suspended by the Ministry.

In another travel advisory issued last week, the Ministry had said that travellers from Italy and South Korea would have to carry a 'No COVID-19' certificate issued by designated health authorities in these countries before they are allowed to enter India.

The ministry has also advised all Indians to avoid non-essential travel abroad. The ministry advised all international passengers to self-monitor their health and follow the 'Do's and Dont's' on COVID-19, which have been detailed by the government.

These fresh announcements by the ministry come after six new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed on Tuesday, raising the total number of confirmed cases to 50.

Also Read: Coronavirus update: India suspends visas to nationals of France, Germany, Spain

Also Read: Twin impact of coronavirus, riots mar Holi celebrations in Delhi
Gayles arrest reminds us that when it comes to cannabis consumption, there are still two different sets of rules at play. Despite the fact that white New Yorkers are nearly twice as likely as black and Hispanic residents to report smoking marijuana  92% of the people arrested for possession in 2019 were people of color. While it may seem like the police are now cool with people smoking weed, their indifference only applies if youre white.
This is an opinion column.

What if we really taught our kids?

Taught them what happened. What really happened?

What if we taught them the real, sometimes hard truths of history? Our states history.

All of it. Not Black history. Not white history. History.

The good, the bad, and the gruesomely ugly. The pages some Alabamians lift with pride, the pages some stubbornly choose to ignore, but especially the pages some blithely rip out and toss into the trash bin of ignorance.

The most painful pages.

Were clearly not doing so now, as Al.com colleague, Jonece Starr Dunigan, uncovered a deep look at how Alabama teaches black history. Essentially, she summarized, the states education leaders provide only bare minimum standards for teaching social studies, which do include black history, leaving the breadth of the curriculum up to local teachers.

What if we taught themall of our children, from grade school onwardthe full breadth and depths of slavery. Its atrocities and inhumanity. Yet, too, how it girded us economically, how it helped build us.

What if we taught them the full breadth and depths of the Confederacy? The pride it engendered in its deeply faithful, and the roots, the hard, truthful roots, of its existence. Why it existed, and how its deeply faithful treated (or better, mistreated, at best) others in our state.

What if we taught them the full breadth and depths of the Civil War? Why it was actually fought, how it pitted brothers against brothers. What we lost because of it. What it cost us.

Why, right now, some descendants of the deeply faithful cling to it like a lifeline to their truth. To their family. To their heritage. To their core.

What if we taught our children what really happened?

Many of you know I grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma, through the last remnants of what was known as Black Wall Street, an all-black economically vibrant and self-sustaining portion of the city that was borne out of legal segregation. Other cities, including some here in Alabama, had similar black business districts.

Yet there was but one Black Wall Street.

Over two days, in June 1921, almost a century ago, whites tried to destroy it. A marauding mob burned business to the ground, firebombs dropped from the skyin Americaand hundreds of men, women, and children were killed. Because of a lie. Of jealousy. Of hatred. Of God knows what.

The Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921 remains, through today, the largest race slaughter in U.S. history.

You should know about it. But you likely dont. Because no one talked about it. No one black; no one white. A complicit conspiracy of silence that lasted for decades.

I dont recall the first time I heard about it, though it was after I graduated high school and left Tulsa. That, I know.

Late last year, during a visit home, I interviewed my Aunt Veolaa play aunt; some of yall know what that meansabout her memories of working for father in his store on Greenwood Avenue, Black Wall Streets core thoroughfare.

I also asked her about the massacre. I came home one day after hearing someone whispering about a riot and asked my grandmother about it, she said. Grandma said, Dont ever ask me about that again. I didnt.

Of course, no one learned about it in school. Though soon, they will.

Last month, the Oklahoma State Board of Education said students from grade school onward will learn about the massacre. In April, the board will unveil a framework for (ahem) integrating the massacre into curriculums statewide. It will include funding for teacher training and supplies.

The move was embraced by state and national lawmakers and educators at all levels.

State Superintendent Joy Hofmeister said: What we want to ensure is ... we are teaching in a grade-appropriate level those facts that have not been taught in a way they should have been taught in Oklahoma. This is ... our history and we should know it."

Oklahoma U.S. Senator James Lankford told KFOR: For decades, Oklahoma schools did not talk about it. In fact, newspapers didnt even print any information about the Tulsa Race [Massacre]. It was completely ignored. It was one of those horrible events that everyone wanted to just sweep under the rug and ignore.

All agreed: Its not just time stop ignoring this egregious yet significant episode in the states history, but time to begin teaching their children the full truth about it.

What if we taught our childrenall of themour full truths, too?

Heres what: Theyll be smarter. Theyll be more knowledgeable about who we were, who we are and how we got here.

Perhaps, too, theyll grow up with empathy for peers of a different race or faithrather than curiosity or even animosity. With more of an understanding of their journey, a journey too long swept under the rug and ignored in our state

All of which just might enable them to engage in civil discussions about who we were, who we are and how we got here.

Something too many of us never learned.

A voice for whats right and wrong in Birmingham, Alabama (and beyond), Roys column appears in The Birmingham News and AL.com, as well as in the Huntsville Times, the Mobile Register. Reach him at rjohnson@al.com and follow him at twitter.com/roysj
CLEVELAND, Ohio  The U.S. District Court in northern Ohio said Wednesday that normal court operations are expected to continue despite the spread of coronavirus. However, court officials are taking some steps to prevent its spread.

The Carl B. Stokes U.S. Court House in downtown Cleveland sees less public traffic than the nearby county and municipal court facilities at the Justice Center. Jury trials are less frequent, and many judges and lawyers often do business by phone and through digital court filings instead of in person.

The courthouse houses other government offices including the Cleveland Immigration Court and U.S. Sen. Sherrod Browns district office.

Wednesdays announcement covers district court facilities in Cleveland and smaller courthouses in Akron, Youngstown and Toledo.

Administrators asked anyone affected by the coronavirus to reach out to their attorneys before they come to the federal courthouse. This includes anyone who made recent trips to areas with widespread coronavirus cases, those who had close contact with the travelers and people diagnosed with the virus.

Judges are expected to make reasonable accommodations to reschedule hearings or allow parties to appear by phone or video.

Anyone scheduled for future jury duty, naturalization, business with the clerk of courts office, meetings with the U.S. Probation Office or other business in the courthouse should contact the office they are scheduled to visit to ensure they must appear in person. Staff is aware that they visitor may need to reschedule or appear another way, the statement said.

Finally, people with flu-like symptoms should notify courthouse security officers when entering the building. Staff might deny them access or give them a face mask, the statement said.

Courthouse staff will post the statement at the entrances of the federal courthouses.

These steps are being taken out of an abundance of caution to slow the spread of the virus and protect the health of courthouse staff and the community, the statement said.

You can read the full statement below:

The United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio continues to monitor the most current statements from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), communications from the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts (AO), and the Ohio Department of Health regarding Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). The United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio is following recommended guidelines from public health officials and preparedness guidance from the AO. At this time, there are no changes in court operations, except as follows.

Please note that if you have recently travelled from an area with widespread or ongoing community spread of COVID-19, reside or have had close contact with someone who has travelled to one of these areas within the last 14 days, have been asked to self-quarantine by any hospital or health agency, or have been diagnosed with, or have had contact with, anyone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19, you must take the following action:

If you are scheduled to appear before the Court in the near future , contact your attorney for further instruction. The Court will make reasonable accommodations to reschedule appearances or you may be permitted to appear via teleconference or videoconference with the approval of the presiding judge.

If you are scheduled to visit the courthouse in the near future for jury duty, naturalization, transacting business in the Clerks Office, meeting with Pretrial Services & Probation staff, or meeting with any other office in this building, contact the office you are visiting to determine if you are required to appear in person. Reasonable accommodations to reschedule or to communicate via teleconference will be considered.

If you have flu-like symptoms (fever, cough, shortness of breath), please inform the Court Security Officers at the courthouse entrance. You may be denied access to the courthouse and be asked to contact your healthcare provider for details on how to proceed with proper medical care. In the alternative, if you enter the building, you will be provided a protective mask which you will be required to wear.

These steps are being taken out of an abundance of caution to slow the spread of the virus and protect the health of courthouse staff and the community. Thank you for your cooperation.
Researchers at the University of Campinas (UNICAMP) in Sao Paulo State, Brazil, have developed a computer program that analyzes molecules in blood plasma to search for biomarkers that identify individuals who are at risk of becoming overweight and developing obesity-related diseases.

The project was supported by FAPESP. The principal investigator was Professor Rodrigo Ramos Catharino, head of UNICAMP's Innovare Biomarker Laboratory. The results are described in the journal Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology.

"The test is 90% accurate in detecting whether the subject will gain weight without any kind of intervention," Catharino told Agencia FAPESP. "It also shows whether there's a risk of developing diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure and dyslipidemia [abnormally elevated levels of fat in the blood]. It's an important tool because health professionals can use it to recommend lifestyle changes before a problem materializes."

The test consists of a mass spectrometer analysis to detect all the metabolites present in the patient's blood and produce a profile of the various metabolic processes at work in the organism. The data obtained by mass spectrometry are processed by the new software.

The program was written as part of Flavia Luisa Dias-Audibert's PhD research, in partnership with researcher Luiz Claudio Navarro. Dias-Audibert's thesis advisor is Professor Anderson Rezende Rocha of UNICAMP's Computer Science Institute.

The group was supported by the Obesity and Comorbidities Research Center (OCRC), a Research, Innovation and Dissemination Center (RIDC) funded by FAPESP and hosted by UNICAMP.

The program screens the blood sample for five metabolites that function as biomarkers with the potential to predict weight gain. When one of these biomarkers is present in the sample, the patient will tend to develop diabetes if he or she becomes obese." Professor Rodrigo Ramos Catharino, head of UNICAMP's Innovare Biomarker Laboratory

The software files are open-source and can be downloaded free of charge from the internet. According to Catharino, any health service with access to a mass spectrometer can apply the methodology.

"It's an inexpensive technique and affordable even for the SUS [Brazil's national health system]. All you need is one mass spectrometer for a network of hospitals and outpatient clinics," Catharino said.

Machine learning

The methodology developed at UNICAMP combines metabolomics (the analysis of all the metabolites in a biological sample) with machine learning, a subdiscipline of artificial intelligence. The researchers used data obtained from the analysis of blood samples supplied by 180 people to "teach" the program to recognize a pattern associated with weight gain.

Half the volunteers included in the study were within the body mass index (BMI) range deemed healthy, while the rest were overweight to varying degrees or obese.

"Anthropometric measurements [weight, height and body mass] were taken for all participants, who also completed a questionnaire on family history of chronic disease, as well as age and gender," Catharino said. "We used some of the patients to train the software and the others to validate it by comparing its results with their own anthropometrics and health history. The random forest machine learning algorithm was used for the training part."

The researchers found that 18 metabolites can serve as biomarkers of metabolic processes relating to fat accumulation, five of which have the potential to predict weight gain.

"Prostaglandin B2 and carboxy-leukotriene B4 are metabolites of arachidonic acid [a fatty acid in the omega-6 family] known to participate in inflammatory processes, in the recruiting of cells to the site of inflammation, and in the production of reactive oxygen species [an excess of which impairs cell functioning]," Dias-Audibert said. "Two other molecules we identified were argininosuccinate and dihydrobiopterin, both of which are involved in the nitric oxide cycle and can be considered markers of free radical production."

According to Dias-Audibert, the combination of these biomarkers suggests that feedback from the inflammatory cascade occurs in overweight individuals. "This finding matches those of several studies that describe low-grade chronic inflammation as one of the active deleterious processes in the overweight condition," she said.

The fifth biomarker found to be a potential predictor of weight gain was carboxy-methyl-propyl-furanpropanoic acid (CMPF), a metabolite associated with dysfunction of the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas and the development of diabetes. "Considering there were diabetics in the study group, this biomarker could be the link between weight gain and diabetes," Dias-Audibert said.

Catharino said the computer program can also be used by health professionals to assess the effectiveness of a treatment prescribed to reduce a patient's percentage of body fat.

"Even before the subject loses weight, it's possible to know whether the intervention is working well. If the metabolic processes that lead to fat accumulation are interrupted, the 18 metabolites we identified will tend to disappear from blood plasma," he said.
Night curfew timings revised in Bengaluru; Major roads to be closed from 6 pm today till 5 am tomorrow

Karnataka imposes weekend curfew to contain the surge in Covid-19 cases; details here

Bengaluru: 2 Dell, Mindtree employees test positive for coronavirus

India

oi-PTI

New Delhi, Mar 11: Two employees working with IT companies Dell and Mindtree have been tested positive for coronavirus, according to company statements. The Dell employee had returned from the US, including a visit to Texas while the Mindtree employee also had a travel history abroad, the two companies said in separate statements.

"We can confirm two employees of Dell India were tested for the COVID-19 virus following their return home from the United States - including a visit to our headquarters in Round Rock, Texas.

One employee tested negative; another tested positive and has since been placed in quarantine," Dell Technologies said.

The company said it continues to take steps to protect Dell Technologies team members and communities by adhering to the health and safety guidelines from the World Health Organization and Centers for Disease Control, and coordinating with local health officials.

Mindtree said that one of its employees returning from an overseas trip tested positive for COVID-19 on March 10, 2020.

Coronavirus: India suspends all tourist visas till April 15 in a bid to curb spread of virus

"The employee along with his family members are under quarantine and medical supervision. All measures are being taken to provide the best of medical care to him and his family. The employee self-isolated himself upon return from the trip and did not visit the office or meet any other Mindtree colleagues," the company added.

Mindtree said it has been consciously taking precautions across its operations to fight any untoward incident with its employees.

Meanwhile, Accenture is also learnt to have closed a floor in its Pune office after a suspected coronavirus case. One of the company's employees has been tested for coronavirus infection and the result is awaited.

Email sent to Accenture did not elicit any reply.
This article is part of our latest special report on Museums, which focuses on the intersection of art and politics.

Until fairly recently, the world of contemporary art went through a period of turning up its nose on figurative art  works that have a strong resemblance to the real world, especially the human figure.

But two new exhibits by two queer artists on opposite coasts help demonstrate how much that attitude has changed  and how much the change is fueled by fresh perspectives.

The exhibitions  Salman Toor: How Will I Know at the Whitney Museum of American Art and Christina Quarles at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago  present two artists around the same age and at similar career stages with strikingly different styles of figuration.
A Missouri family is being 'vilified,' says their lawyer, after they were accused of breaking quarantine to let their father and daughter attend a school dance at a Ritz-Carlton after another daughter tested positive for the coronavirus.

Attorney Neil Bruntrager, who is representing the unidentified family from Ladue, said they were not told by state and St. Louis County officials to self-quarantine after a 20-year-old daughter returned home from Italy testing positive for the deadly, flu-like virus.

The Indiana University student, who had returned home March 3 from a study trip abroad, became St. Louis first known case of the illness when her test results for the virus, also known as COVID-19, were returned three days later.

Attorney Neil Bruntrager, who is representing an unidentified family from Ladue, Missouri, said they were not told by state and St. Louis County officials to self-quarantine after their 20-year-old daughter returned home from Italy testing positive for the deadly, flu-like virus

Bruntrager said the family is being 'vilified,' after they were accused of breaking quarantine to let their father and another daughter attend a school dance

The father and the younger daughter attended a dance at the Ritz-Carlton (pictured) in Clayton, Missouri, before her older sister's positive test for the coronavirus was confirmed, insists the family's lawyer

As of Wednesday morning, there were 1,039 cases of coronavirus in the US and 31 deaths

The tests results were reported to the family by county health officials after the father and a younger sister had already gone to attend a dance at the Ritz-Carlton in Clayton, insists Bruntrager, KSDK reports.

The girl was a freshman at Villa Duchesne Oak Hill High School, which was hosting the father-daughter dance and cancelled classes for the rest of the week on Monday after alerting students and their families of the exposure by email.

'When they announced that they broke quarantine, how can they break something that they've never been given,' fired back Bruntrager, after the family was blasted on social media for breaking the quarantine.

County Executive Sam Page argued there certainly was a lapse in judgement here, but its done.

The younger daughter was a freshman at Villa Duchesne Oak Hill High School (pictured), which was hosting the father-daughter dance and cancelled classes for the rest of the week on Monday after alerting students and their families of the exposure by email

Page said the family was told repeatedly since Thursday to quarantine at their home in Ladue, but that that the father failed to follow health department instructions when he took the younger daughter to the dance, reports the Southern Illinoisan.

Bruntrager disputed those claims, saying they were only directed to quarantine the daughter.

These poor people are being pilloried and vilified, he said, referring to the family of the woman. They were being proactive. They were trying to deal with this problem.

Bruntrager laid out a timeline that starts on March 2, when the older daughter arrived in Chicago from Italy.

County Executive Sam Page argued there certainly was a lapse in judgement here, but its done.

This is the rate of growth according to official figures in the US

He said she was not feeling symptoms, but did feel fatigue.

After spending an overnight with a friend in Chicago, the older daughter took an Amtrak train from to St. Louis last Wednesday.

On Thursday, Bruntgager says, she woke up with a headache, prompting her parents to call a doctor. The physician advised the family to notify state and county health officials.

Bruntrager said the state initially hedged on testing the woman because she was not experiencing enough symptoms.

By Friday, the lawyer said the family spoke with state and county health officials, who moved forward with testing the daughter. She went to Mercy Hospital around 11am and was done by 3pm.

Never in that time frame does anyone say that you need to be quarantined, Bruntrager said.

The lawyer added that the doctor who gave the test told the family, my gut is that she doesn't have it.

The woman was discharged and sent home. The next day, she had no fever, Bruntrager said.

Thats when her father and younger sister attended Villa Duchesne's Father-Daughter Dance at the Ritz-Carlton.

The mother received a call from health officials, and by the end of the call, around 7:23pm, the mother received confirmation that her daughter was a presumptive positive, for coronavirus, Bruntrager said.

The mother then reached out to the father and younger daughter to immediately come home.
Barretts esophagus requires endoscopic treatment and can often result in further damage of healthy tissue leading to fibrotic tissue formation, referred to as strictures.

This study demonstrates that synthetic, self-assembling peptide hydrogels (PeptiGelDesign) support the activity and function of primary oesophageal cells, and, in turn, epithelialization and stratification occur during in vitro 3D co-culture.

Following culture media buffering, rat oesophageal stromal fibroblasts (rOSFs) were merged into a collection of peptide hydrogels, while mouse oesophageal epithelial cells (mOECs) were planted on the surface.

Optimal hydrogels (PGD-AlphaProC and PGD-CGD2) supported the viability of mOEC (>95%), typical cell morphology, seen as cobblestone-like, and slower migration over a shorter distance in comparison to a collagen control, at 48 h.

Positive expression of typical epithelial markers (ZO-1 and cytokeratins) was found using immunocytochemistry on day 3 in culture. Optimal hydrogels were recognized, which supported rOSF viability (>95%) with homogeneous distribution when combined with the hydrogels and promoted the secretion of collagen type I found utilizing an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) at day 7.

Using optimal hydrogels for both cell types, a 3D co-culture model supported a stratified epithelial layer (expressing involucrin and AE1/AE3 markers). Conclusions from this study lead to the possibility of utilizing peptide hydrogels as a minimally invasive endoscopic therapy to manage oesophageal strictures.

Introduction

Barretts esophagus is a precancerous condition that affects the lower esophagus. There is a presence of abnormal cells that occurs due to the metaplastic changes in the epithelium. Precisely, columnar epithelium replaces stratified squamous epithelium with the incidence of goblet cells that are mucous-producing.

The key contributing factors are believed to be directly associated with patients suffering from gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD), in which recurrent exposure of stomach acid and bile salts provokes molecular changes, mutations, DNA damage, and metaplastic changes. Barretts esophagus is usually left untreated, though there is an increased risk of oesophageal cancer progression compared to those without Barretts.

Reports have shown esophageal cancer cases to be increasing in the western world. Research has reported it to be the eighth most common cancer in the world and the highest cause of cancer in Caucasian men in the UK and the USA.

Worldwide, an estimated 52,000 incidences of adenocarcinomas and 398,000 incidences of squamous cell carcinoma occur in 1 year.

Currently, the options for treatment of early oesophageal cancer include endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) and thermal/radio ablation therapy. Both of these treatment techniques are considered safe, are commonly used, and show successful results in the removal of abnormal cells, thus reducing the risk of cancer.

However, additional damage can occur to adjacent healthy tissue, and in some cases, this causes inflammatory responses and uncontrolled fibrosis, which in turn could lead to subsequent stricture formation. This is often described as the narrowing of the esophagus.

Research shows that postoperative stricture incidences, for example, after circumferential EMR, are very high at a 7080% risk of occurrence. Currently, stricture therapy strategies involve the use of endoscopic balloon dilation, yet, this has been associated with complications like perforation, bleeding, and bacteremia.

There is a requirement for alternative intervention to help improve current therapies, which would decrease stricture formation risk, see an improvement in patient outcomes, reduce morbidity, reduce patient revisits, and decrease costs for the healthcare systems through lessening the need for repeated dilation therapies and the use of dilators and stents.

Alternative strategies for the management and elimination of strictures are emerging. These strategies involve tissue engineering therapies through the use of biomaterials.

Although this area is relatively unexplored, Badylak Laboratory is the leading contributor in biomaterial-based strategy development for the engineering of oesophageal tissue and/or stricture management.

To aid with complete tissue regeneration, there have been developments in decellularized xenograft extracellular matrix (ECM, a derivative from porcine small intestine submucosa (SIS) and urinary bladder mucosa) scaffolds in the form of tubular constructs. Preclinical research has shown endoscopic surgery to be successful in placing these tubular constructs over the damaged site in canine models.

Results found that after eight weeks, there was esophageal mucosal remodeling with complete re-epithelialization and no stricture formation. SIS ECM scaffolds have also been implanted into five human patients.

This study involved ECM scaffolds being retained in place with an Ultraflex stent, which was then removed between 9 and 18 days after implantation.

Results showed minimal stricture formation and by four months, and almost complete mature esophageal squamous epithelialization was seen. More recent advances in this area have involved the use of hydrogels. These have already shown promises for numerous areas of regenerative medicine and tissue engineering applications.

However, these advances have only just been investigated for gastrointestinal (GI) tract applications, specifically for esophageal stricture management. In comparison to decellularized tubular scaffolds, hydrogels have several benefits.

For example, these benefits include injectability, the use of minimally invasive procedures, room for repeat administrations, modified mechanical properties, the capabilities to fill an irregularly shaped space, and bioactivity to mimic native tissue ECM.

For the reasons mentioned above, the development of decellularized ECM hydrogels has progressed, also providing an opportunity for stricture management in the future. Although oesophageal stricture management using hydrogels is a reasonably unexplored area, recently, several studies have been performed to aid with this progression.

For instance, as combined therapy with balloon dilation, a steroid-loaded hydrogel, named Endolubri jelly, was sprayed endoscopically into 20 patients. Early results from these studies showed promising outcomes where a complete squamous epithelium without stenosis was seen after three months.

Further developments involve the use of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved hydrogels for early treatment and enhanced prognosis of Barretts esophagus with specific attention paid to the lower oesophageal sphincter (LOS). When the LOS weakens in patients, it can lead to the development of GORD.

A variety of mucoadhesive hydrogels, specifically, Polaxamer 407, cross-linked polyacrylic acid, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, and chitosan were used in one study and provided a transport material for the topical delivery of hexylaminolevulinate (HAL), an optical imaging agent. This was completed in an ex vivo rat model and four healthy human males.

It was revealed that for esophageal adhesion, chitosan was the optimal hydrogel in vitro and in vivo. Additionally, in vitro release profiles from chitosan loaded with 40  103 M of HAL showed that after a residence time of 10 minutes on the wall of the esophagus, the amount of HAL transported to the epithelium was adequate to allow fluorescence diagnosis of Barretts esophagus.

In vivo studies established that increased concentrations of chitosan (Protasan) from 1.5% to 1.7% enhanced adhesivity and the fluorescence signal, with a full-thickness layer coating on the mucosa.

The remit of the application was completely focused on improving prognosis. However, Johnson et al. conducted a study that focused on LOS improvement.

During the research, a nonresorbable polymer, ethylene vinyl alcohol, was injected into the LOS via a sclerotherapy-type needle. When being injected, the polymer acts as a nonviscous liquid, which quickly solidifies in situ.

This medical device, called Enteryx, was made commercially available, but recent reports lead to the removal of the device from the market by the FDA due to patient injury and death.

Alternative types of hydrogel, decellularized ECM hydrogels (a derivative from porcine dermal and urinary bladder matrix (UBM)) have recently been developed and have shown promising results.

Studies took place in a rat abdominal wall defect model, and after in vivo implantation, both hydrogels had degraded by 35 d, and UBM hydrogels were proven to support higher amounts of myogenesis in comparison to dermal hydrogels.

Progressions towards clinical trials have been recognized in decellularized hydrogels and are currently being examined for oesophageal strictures for the facilitation of repair and reconstruction.

Hydrogel alternatives made of ECM/biological materials are those created using de novo designed materials. Great interest has been shown in the progression and use of synthetic, self-assembling peptide hydrogels in the past decade.

A range of designs of short peptides has been offered. These designs self-assemble into water-swollen networks (hydrogels) above a critical gelation concentration (CGC). A study by Zhang and colleagues formulated a family of amphipathic self-assembling peptides based on the alternation of hydrophilic and hydrophobic residues.

These peptides showed capabilities to self-assemble into -sheet-rich nanofibrillar structures, usually explained as 3 nm fibers and 10-50 nm bundles. These above the CGC, entangle and/or associate with form hydrogels.

The propensity of these peptides to self-assemble and the nature of the nano-structures and general properties of the hydrogel formed depend on many factors. These include the amino acid sequence, the peptide concentration to start, the pH, and the type of electrolyte in the medium.

Peptide hydrogels are now commercially available from many businesses, such as Puramatrix (Corning), HydroMatrix (Sigma), Biogelx, and, more recently, PGD-HydroGels (PeptiGelDesign).

There are numerous benefits in using synthetic, self-assembling peptide hydrogels, like their low cost, consistency, controllable manufacturing, the fact that amino acids can be simply metabolized by enzymes in vivo, leading to a highly biocompatible gel, and that they are endoscopically deliverable via spraying or injection.

A wide range of properties is offered through altering both the amino acids present and their order within the peptide sequence.

The existence of charged amino acids permits variation in both net charge and charge distribution. Using this system, tailored release properties, rates of degradation, and mechanical properties are all possible and are hard to achieve with natural polymers.

This article suggests using self-assembling peptide hydrogels for a new application to treat and/or manage strictures caused by ER for the removal of metaplastic cells in Barretts esophagus.

It can be predicted that after delivering acellular self-assembling peptide hydrogels to the injured area, the healthy adjacent tissue cells would have capabilities to migrate, yield essential matrix proteins, and allow tissue regeneration.

Delivering the hydrogel endoscopically is feasible due to the shear-thinning and self-assembling properties of these hydrogels.

After the hydrogel has been delivered to the injury site, it can be expected that host fibroblasts and epithelial cells will migrate into the hydrogel from adjacent healthy tissue, allow re-epithelialization and production of a matrix, and allow normal function in acting as a protective, semipermeable barrier.

Swift restitution of the mucosal barrier would lead to a decreased inflammatory response resulting in successive modulation of fibrosis.

Overall, the production and remodeling of the neo-tissue matrix would occur with the chosen native tissue-type matrix composition and mechanical properties. To progress towards this final translational goal, initial studies took place in vitro to assist the understanding of tissue-specific (stromal fibroblasts and oesophageal epithelial) cell response to a library of synthetic peptide hydrogels.

Due to different cells needing distinct extracellular matrix conditions, researchers in this study speculate that each cell type needs a specific gel property. PeptiGelDesign can offer a family of related peptide hydrogels, each with specific charge and mechanical property combinations.

Utilizing the panel allowed for evaluations of oesophageal cell response and cell function characterization through morphology, migration, viability, and typical marker expression. This allowed the optimal recognition of hydrogels for each cell type.

Additionally, this showed the initial development of a 3D co-culture, a composite model using self-assembling peptide hydrogels in order to show the multilayer and multicellular nature of oesophageal submucosa.

The unique properties of this hydrogel system permitted gel combinations to be layered, providing distinct conditions appropriate for supporting each cell type.

This study delivers the first steps for progressing in using synthetic peptide hydrogels in oesophageal stricture management and the potential for oesophageal tissue engineering.

Results

Rheological assessment of peptide hydrogels

After buffering in media for 24 hours at 37 C, the stiffness of peptide hydrogels was evaluated. The initial pH of each hydrogel differed, as seen in Table 1, and hence the buffering step in media was vital for the diffusion of nutrients and molecules into the gels as well as neutralizing the pH for a cell-friendly environment.

Statistical analysis revealed significant stiffness (G) in PGD-Alpha1, PGD-Alpha2, PGD-AlphaProC, and PGD-CGD2 hydrogels in comparison to PGD-AlphaProB and PGD-C2 hydrogels (p < 0.001; Table 1).

Table 1. Peptide hydrogels mechanical properties and charge density supplied by PeptiGelDesign. Source: Manchester BIOGEL

Hydrogel Stiffness G' after media

conditioning for 24 h [Pa] Initial pH Charge density PGD-Alpha1 15 000  5000 3.03.5 Neutral PGD-Alpha2 21 000  1000 4.24.8 Low PGD-AlphaProC 14 000  1300 6.97.1 High PGD-CGD2 5500  1700 6.07.0 Low PGD-AlphaProB 500  80 6.36.7 High PGD-C2 400  10 6.06.6 High

Mouse oesophageal epithelial cell (mOEC) response to peptide hydrogels in 2D culture

Figure 1. mOEC behavior when cultured on the surface of peptide hydrogels up to day 3. A) Schematic of experimental setup. B) Viability assessment using Live/Dead assay at day 3. C) Metabolic activity of mOEC assessment using alamarBlue assay up to day 3. D) Epithelial coverage on surface of peptide hydrogels at day 3. Values indicate average viability (D) or average percentage epithelial coverage as determined by image analysis in part (C), SD where n = 3. Image Credit: Manchester BIOGEL

As demonstrated in Figure 1A, mOECs were cultured on top of peptide hydrogels for 3 days and submerged in media. Live/Dead assays were used for a viability assessment and showed that mOECs responded in a different way depending on which peptide hydrogel surface they were cultured.

However, at the end of 3 days of culture, mOECs were shown to be viable on all peptide hydrogels, as seen in Figure 1B. Apparent effects on the morphology of mOEC and on the ability to form an epithelial sheet were seen as a response to the type of peptide hydrogel surface.

Results revealed that PGD-Alpha1, PGD-AlphaProC, and PGD-CGD2 supported characteristic mOEC morphology and epithelial sheet formation, whereas the epithelial sheet was not as obvious on PGD-Alpha2, PGDAlphaProB, and PGD-C2 hydrogels, and the mOECs seemed to clump together. This is displayed in Figure 1B.

Staining images were used to semi-quantify epithelial cell coverage using an ImageJ plug-in Live/Dead. These data further confirmed that PGD-Alpha1, PGD-AlphaProC, and PGD-CGD2 supported the best epithelial sheet coverage with 81%, 77%, and 65% mOEC coverage on respective peptide hydrogels. This is displayed in Figure 1C.

The alamarBlue assay was used to evaluate metabolic activity and proliferation activity of mOECs cultured on top of peptide hydrogels. All peptide hydrogels, including the control, a gelatin-coated tissue culture plastic (TCP), supported a rise in metabolic activity and proliferation from day 1 to day 3.

After 3 days of mOEC culture on top of the peptides, cells cultured on PGD-Alpha1, PGD-CGD2, PGD-AlphaProB, and PGD-C2 exhibited comparable metabolic activity to the control with differences seen to be insignificant, as seen in Figure 1D.

However, although they supported comparable metabolic activity, hydrogels PGD-Alpha2, PGD-AlphaProB, and PGD-C2 did not support an intact epithelial cell sheet formation, as displayed in Figure 1B.

Ideal peptide hydrogels, PGD-Alpha1, PGD-AlphaProC, and PGD-CGD2, as acknowledged from the above data, were explored further to characterize the expression of typical epithelial markers by mOECs.

Results showed ZO-1 staining in mOECs cultured on optimal peptide hydrogels at day 3, with similar expression to the gelatin control, as shown in Figure 2. Positive expression of a multipanel of cytokeratins secreted by mOECs was also seen when cultured on optimal peptide hydrogels on day 3.

Similar expression patterns were revealed as the control, as seen in Figure 2, further confirming comparable mOEC behavior. PGD-AlphaProC and PGD-CGD2 hydrogels supported better expression of ZO-1 and cytokeratins in comparison to PGD-Alpha1 and were advanced to a migration assay.

Figure 2. Characterization of typical epithelial markers. A) ZO-1 marker and B) multipanel of cytokeratins expression by mOECs cultured on the surface of optimal peptide hydrogels at day 3. Scale bar = 100 m. Image Credit: Manchester BIOGEL

mOEC migration activity across peptide hydrogels during 2D culture

Investigations were completed to explore the ability of mOECs to migrate across candidate peptide hydrogels. They were done using a ring migration assay and time-lapse imaging over a 48-hour period, as seen in Figure 3A.

Figure 3. Determination of the migration activity of mOECs across the surface of optimal peptide hydrogels cultured up to 72 h. A) Schematic of experimental setup, B) migration distance, and C) migration rate. Values indicate the average migration distance (m) or migration rate (m h1) and SD where n = 3. Image Credit: Manchester BIOGEL

Pixels were then translated into distance covered using ImageJ. Results showed that migration of mOECs was accomplished on both control (collagen hydrogels) and peptide hydrogels (PGD-AlphaProC and PGD-CGD2) over 48-hours.

A significantly greater mOEC distance covered was seen on collagen hydrogels in comparison to peptide hydrogels at 20, 24, and 28 hours (all time points). This is displayed in Figure 3B. Yet, a significantly greater distance was covered on PGD-AlphaProC at 364.4 m, compared to PGDCGD2 a t177.1 m at 48 hours.

Migration rate analysis showed a similar trend to migration distance, as shown in Figure 3C. As expected, significantly faster migration rates were seen on collagen hydrogels in comparison to peptide hydrogels at all time points (20, 24, and 48 hours).

Yet, a significantly faster migration rate was seen on PGD-AlphaProC at 17.432 m h1, in comparison to PGD-CGD2 at 10.625 m h1 at 48 hours. The migration of epithelial cells was supported by both hydrogels and so, in combination with the data shown previously, were considered appropriate for culturing mOEC.

Rat oesophageal stromal fibroblast (rOSF) response to peptide hydrogels in 3D culture

rOSFs were merged into a panel of buffered, peptide hydrogels and cultured up to 7 and 14 days in media, as demonstrated in Figure 4A. Live/Dead staining showed that rOSFs incorporated into all peptide hydrogels and remained viable after 7 and 14 days of culture (Figure 4B). Differences in rOSF morphology were also obvious on day 14, depending on which peptide hydrogels in which they were cultured.

Figure 4. The behavior of rOSFs embedded within a panel of peptide hydrogels for 3D culture up to day 14. A) Schematic of experimental set-up. B) Assessment of rOSF viability and morphology using Live/Dead assay. C) Assessment of rOSF distribution within the hydrogels using Live/Dead assay. Scale bar = 100 m. Image Credit: Manchester BIOGEL

rOSFs were deemed to be more fibroblastic in PGD-AlphaProC, PGD-C2, and PGD-CGD2 hydrogels, but remained grounded in PGD-Alpha2 and PGD-AlphaProB, rOSFs, at day 14.

As anticipated, rOSFs cultured in collagen hydrogels kept their typical fibroblastic-like morphology, and more cells were present on both days 7 and 14 in comparison to all peptide hydrogels that were explored.

The homogeneous distribution of the cells throughout the hydrogel was determined through confocal microscopy. Observing the distribution of rOSFs in the peptide hydrogels gave way to establishing whether the hydrogel environment supported cell growth and migration, or if cells gathered together in a survival attempt.

Using confocal microscopy, figure 4C signifies the full thickness (200 m) view of z-stack Live/Dead images that were compiled.

As anticipated, a larger number of rOSFs were seen in collagen hydrogels at days 7 and 14 when compared to the peptide hydrogels, as seen in Figure 4C. rOSFs were seen to be most homogeneously distributed when encapsulated in PGD-AlphaProB and PGD-C2 at both time points, followed by collagen hydrogels (Figure 4C).

Table 1 shows both of these gels to be mechanically weaker. On the contrary, rOSFs looked to group together, and heterogeneously distribute themselves within PGD-Alpha2 and PGD-AlphaProC at both time points (days 7 and 14). Both of these gels are seen to be the stiffest gels in the panel, as seen in Table 1.

Immunohistochemistry and quantification of collagen type I using ELISA

Immunohistochemistry was used to determine the type I collagen secretion into the hydrogels by rOSFs. Observations showed a higher number of rOSFs present in PGD-C2 in comparison to PGD-AlphaProC at both time points on days 7 and 14.

In addition to this, higher amounts of type I collagen were seen surrounding individual rOSFs in PGD-C2 in comparison to PGD-AlphaProC, as demonstrated in Figure 5A.

Figure 5. Characterization of type I collagen production. A) Immunohistological images of type I collagen production by rOSFs cultured in PGDAlphaProC and PGD-C2 hydrogels after 7 and 14 d. B) Quantification of type I collagen production by rOSFs cultured in PGD-AlphaProC and PGD-C2 hydrogels at days 7 and 14. Values indicate mean amount of collagen values SD where n = 3 (three replicates in a single experiment). Arrows indicate the presence of rOSFs surrounded by deposition of collagen type I within the hydrogels. Image Credit: Manchester BIOGEL

For further results to determine and quantify the secretion of type I collagen into the hydrogel (PGD-AlphaProC and PGD-C2), ELISA was used to quantify the collagen in constructs cultured up to days 7 and 14.

A rise in collagen production from day 7 to day 14 was revealed in both hydrogels, PGD-AlphaProC (0.0070.0295 g mL1 ), and PGD-C2 (0.2640.3884 g mL1). PGD-C2 showed the greatest production of type I collagen at days 7 and 14 in comparison to PGD-AlphaProC. This is shown in Figure 5B.

Considering all data, PGD-C2 was shown to be the superior peptide hydrogel for supporting rOSF growth, homogeneous distribution, and collagen type I secretion. PGD-AlphaProC was also selected for additional examination, as cells grown in this peptide hydrogel appeared to be more fibroblastic in morphology.

There was also interest in determining if a single peptide hydrogel would be appropriate for growing both cell types, which would result in a simplification of clinical translation; this was another reason for choosing PGD-AlphaProC.

Histological evaluation of the 3D co-culture composite model

Ideal performing peptide hydrogels for the 2D culture of epithelial cells (PGD-AlphaProC) and 3D culture of fibroblast cells (PGD-C2) were progressed onwards to create composite hydrogel systems in order to evaluate 3D co-culture.

Alternative systems were created. Specifically, system 1 (PGD-AlphaProC for both cell types) and system 2 (PGD-C2 incorporating OSFs; PGD-AlphaProC with OECs on top) were created and were cultured up to day 7. This is shown in Figure 6.

Figure 6. Histological analysis of 3D co-culture composite systems, cultured up to day 14 at airliquid interface. Schematic of the two co-culture systems (system 1 and system 2) with H&E staining, AE1/AE3 multicytokeratin staining, and involucrin staining. Asterisk indicates the positive expression of specific epithelial markers (AE1/AE3 or involucrin), and the arrows are pointing to single rOSFs with surrounding collagen deposition. Image Credit: Manchester BIOGEL

For both systems, a successful and uninterrupted layer of mOECs was created at day 7 with a typical multicellular layer as seen using histological evaluation using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining.

Histological staining for specific epithelial markers showed that there was a positive expression of AE1/AE3 and involucrin for both systems on day 7, as seen in Figure 6. Additionally, rOSFs were seen within the bottom hydrogel component of both composite systems, where the rOSFs exhibited a rounded morphology.

Discussion

This is the first study to report the response of primary oesophageal cells (epithelial cells and stromal fibroblasts) to synthetic self-assembling peptide hydrogels. A library of peptide hydrogels, as seen in Table 1, was investigated, with each showing unique physical characteristics that included stiffness and overall net charge.

The nature of this study was complex, and so it was clear that an accessible material with mechanical properties that are easy to tailor would be advantageous to support each cell type. Self-assembling peptides are markedly tailorable, and hence were the main candidate for the remit of this study.

The rationale behind using peptide hydrogels was to find a synthetic matrix with the ability to support mucosal regeneration as a first step toward the development of a tissue-engineered therapy for stricture formation management following endoscopic treatment for Barretts esophagus.

The results of this study clearly show that the behavior (morphology, proliferation, and intact epithelial cell sheet formation) of mOECs was influenced by the properties of peptide hydrogels, despite the fact it demonstrated similar cell viability across the panel.

Having a library of a variety of peptide hydrogels permitted the recognition of the optimal gel to be selected for each cell type mOEC and rOSF.

The performance of such assays has taken place in other studies with a similar remit where it was necessary and specifically highlighted to validate tissue-specific cell behavior and functionality in vitro prior to moving toward in vivo.

After 3 days of mOEC culture on top of buffered peptide hydrogels, the preferential peptide hydrogels were found to be PGD-AlphaProC and PGD-CGD2, as established by the characteristic cobblestone-like morphology and tight junction formation between cells (ZO-1 expression), leading to an epithelial sheet-like formation.

Observations also showed a positive expression of cytokeratins. Remarkably, the stiffest hydrogels in the panel were PGD-AlphaProC and PGD-CGD2, ranging between 5.5 and 14 kPa.

In order to signify the mucosa of the esophagus, a structure that can be easily damaged during oesophageal surgery, primary stromal fibroblasts were incorporated and cultured in 3D in buffered peptide hydrogels.

As seen previously, behavior differences were observed in terms of cell morphology, and homogeneous distribution was seen and influenced by the peptide hydrogel properties.

The optimal hydrogels were discovered to be PGD-AlphaProC, noted as the third stiffest in the panel, and PGD-C2, the weakest in the panel at 0.4 kPa. This was based on the cells ability to remain viable and to adopt a fibroblastic phenotype.

The difference in such cell behavior can be associated with several different material-related factors. Certainly, each factor will have a combinatorial effect on cell response. However, for precision, each factor will be examined separately.

The panel of peptides applied in this study has differing numbers of charged amino acids present, thus giving variation to the charge of the assembled hydrogels. The overall charge carried on hydrogels can have a significant influence on cell adhesion and behavior.

Commonly, positively charged surfaces increase cell attachment and proliferation as shown by studies investigated by Schneider et al. Negatively-charged hydrogels have also demonstrated increases in proliferation of endothelial cells and improvements to cartilage regeneration in vivo.

However, decreased fibroblast proliferation has been observed by Liu et al. on negatively charged hydrogels.

These variations in results regarding which charge is favored by cells to lead to the speculation of certain cells preferring a particular charge, whether that is positive or negative.

However, the current study indicates that the charge effect is dominating the effect of mechanical properties. The mechanical properties, for instance, of PGD-Alpha1 (15 kPa) and PGD-AlphaProC (14 kPa) are extremely similar, whereas the charges are neutral and highly positive, respectively.

Even though the mechanical properties are extremely similar, both cell types had different responses to the two hydrogels. Neither of the cell types chose PGD-Alpha1, suggesting a preference for positively charged material over neutrally charged.

There are undeniably synergistic responses between mechanical properties, charge, and other factors, and charge cannot be the only factor responsible for the reason cells prefer particular gels.

Cell response can also be impacted by the differences in mechanical properties of the self-assembled hydrogels used in this study. Differential rates of proliferation and cell spreading have been extensively reported within hydrogels of varying stiffness, as reviewed in Ahearnes research.

Additionally, matrix stiffness has been shown to be in command of variations in cell phenotype, proliferation, cytoskeleton, and mobility, as well as driving stem cell differentiation toward specific lineages.

Growing both cell types with the panel of hydrogels with varying mechanical properties showed that mOECs were proven to have a preference for stiffer peptide hydrogels when compared to rOSFs, which, when encapsulated in three dimensions need weak gels for motility.

Additional analysis showed that there is a fine line in the preferred stiffness (between 5.5 and 14 kPa) of the hydrogels for mOEC attachment and expansion.

For the softer peptides (PGD-AlphaProB and PGD-C2), mOECs did not have the ability to keep a flat epithelial sheet and, instead, disconnected from the hydrogel, demonstrating weak attachment and interaction of mOECs to the surface of these hydrogels.

Similarly, on PGD-Alpha2, the stiffest hydrogel in the panel, cells were unable to attach. There is a need for further studies to profile cell surface integrin binding and cytoskeleton behavior to clarify how well mOECs anchor and/or interrelate with the substrate and whether interaction changes occur as a result in stiffness change.

Hydrogel stiffness also had an influence on rOSF behavior. Specifically, after encapsulation, the homogeneous distribution within the hydrogels was improved within the softer hydrogels (PGD-AlphaProB and PGD-C2).

Remarkably, the rise in cell number seemed to remain constant across the panel of hydrogels, as seen as a visual example in the Live/Dead images from day 7 to day 14. This possibly suggests that the hydrogels may have an intrinsic property to modulate fibroblastic proliferation activity.

However, further investigation is needed on this property. It appears that there is a conclusive combination of material-related factors (charge and mechanical properties) that operate in collaboration to influence the cell response effect, of which some are yet to be completely defined and understood.

Additional advantages of these peptide hydrogels are that they have a nanofibrillar architectural structure, similar to that of native ECM, and are shear thinning. This property provides the opportunity to transport/inject the hydrogel material, either in acellular form or as a cell delivery vehicle, in a minimally invasive technique through endoscopy.

The requirements of this delivery include minimal deviation from currently used oesophageal treatments, which are performed endoscopically. In addition, the peptide hydrogels that mOECs responded well to (PGD-AlphaProC and PGD-CGD2) also have mechanical properties similar to the native human esophagus tissue interface (550 KPa).

Interestingly, after media conditioning, most of the hydrogels on the panel had G values above 5 kPa, with the exceptions of PGD-AlphaProB and PGD-C2.

Although this study was the primary stage in the direction of the development of a tissue engineering therapy, further future investigations are needed to explain the degradation profile of the optimal hydrogels prior to progression towards in vivo implantation studies.

These degradation studies are required to confirm that the gel did not undergo degradation or lose mechanical stiffness within the time period needed for epithelialization.

Utilizing hydrogel, studies could anticipate the promotion of early epithelialization, which would later minimize related proinflammatory responses thought to be vital in preventing stricture formation.

Additional in vitro and in vivo studies are also needed to determine the ability of the hydrogel to modulate inflammatory responses and the formation of fibrotic tissue.

As this study showed a positive oesophageal cell response to the known peptide hydrogels in vitro, alternative strategies involving cell-loaded hydrogels could be the delivery of an acellular peptide hydrogel in vivo.

Migration data supported that mOECs could migrate across the surface of the peptide hydrogel and allow epithelialization. By imitating this situation in vivo post-implantation, the epithelial cell migration from healthy adjacent tissue on to the peptide hydrogel and the hydrogel to competently allow re-epithelialization of the esophagus can be envisaged.

Further, an acellular product shows an increasingly possible route to market and one with reduced risks and apprehensions due to the absence of biological material.

This is the initial study that has tried to replicate the in vivo oesophageal mucosa structure (epithelium and stroma, which are typically damaged during endoscopic surgery and treatment) of the esophagus in vitro by evaluating cell response when in 3D co-culture within synthetic peptide hydrogels.

Other in vitro 3D co-culture systems have occurred, but these have been developed using xenogenic material. For this study, a composite hydrogel system was created as the two different cell types in focus (mOECs and rOSFs) grew favorably on different hydrogels.

The top layer supported the epithelial layer and was cultured at the air-liquid interface to mimic the environment in vivo of the oesophageal epithelium.

Both composite systems histological analysis (cultured for 7 days) showed the existence of stromal fibroblasts within the bottom layer hydrogel and a distinct, continuous epithelium layer on the surface of the top-layered hydrogel.

On both composites, there were 2-3 layers of cell in the epithelium, therefore suggesting that stratification of the epithelium began to take place after 7 days of culture. The cell layer amount can be attributed to the crosstalk between stromal fibroblasts and epithelial cells when in co-culture.

In a study similar to this one, an organotypic model with a combination of xenogenic material containing collagen hydrogel and Matrigel with incorporated stromal fibroblasts was cultured for 7 days prior to seeding oesophageal epithelial cells on top and continuing culture up to day 15.

Although there was a contraction of the hydrogel by the stromal fibroblasts, the crosstalk between both cell types encouraged a stratified epithelium to be created on top with the positive expression of involucrin and cytokeratins.

In the current study, the hydrogels were not visually contracted by the stromal fibroblasts, but still supported the creation of epithelium within an organotypic (co-culture) model.

This highlighted the difference in fibroblast morphology, which is dependent on the culture conditions. For instance, a fibroblastic morphology was seen when fibroblasts were cultured in 3D, whereas under co-culture conditions, fibroblasts remained rounded.

Commonly, it is accepted that communication occurs between the epithelial cells and fibroblasts in the submucosa via paracrine signals, which influence cell differentiation, proliferation, and function.

It is hypothesized in this study that this signaling phenomenon may be accountable for the differences in morphology of fibroblasts that have been observed.

It is important for the biomaterial of choice to promote stratified epithelialization as this specifies a thick epithelium with suitable function, like creating a protective barrier. Only a small number of studies have tried to gain a better understanding of the interaction of epithelial cells to appropriate substrates in vitro.

Beckstead et al. examined oesophageal epithelial behavior on an array of synthetic scaffolds (polyesters) in addition to natural (Alloderm, defined as decellularized skin graft).

Alloderm supported the creation of a 56 cell layer epithelium with the expression of loricrin, a late-stage marker for epithelium (similar to involucrin), after 18 days in culture.

Conversely, the synthetic scaffolds only supported an epithelium layer of 23 cells thick, which lacked overall spatial organization and created an interrupted layer. This lack of epithelialization could be due to the pore size, structure, and surface properties of the scaffolds.

Used in the current study, synthetically-produced peptide hydrogels also supported an epithelium that was 23 cells thick. However, in this case, it created an uninterrupted layer within an enhanced time period of 7 days, and also expressed a late-stage differentiation marker (involucrin).

The outcomes observed show that the structural and surface properties, in addition to the pore size, maybe architecturally suitable for supporting the creation of a functional epithelium.

Further to this, synthetic peptide hydrogels may eliminate the requirement of pre-coating synthetic scaffolds with ECM proteins like collagen and fibronectin to support the expansion of oesophageal epithelial cells. This provides a minimally invasive therapy, which is reproducible and has the potential to be mass-produced.

Conclusion

Synthetic peptide hydrogels, PGD-AlphaProC and PGD-CGD2, have been recognized to support mOEC adhesion, typical morphology, proliferation, and epithelial cell sheet formation with positive expression of typical markers (AE1/AE3 and involucrin).

Additionally, synthetic peptide hydrogels, PGD-AlphaProC, and PGD-C2, were seen to support the 3D homogeneous distribution of viable rOSFs. A co-culture model was set up consisting of both cell types, mOECs, and rOSFs, representing a multicellular and multilayer hydrogel system.

Successful support of the co-culture system was seen in the formation of a functional, uninterrupted epithelial sheet within 7 days of culture.

This article highlights the preferential synthetic peptide hydrogels to support cytocompatibility as opposed to oesophageal cells and is the first stage in identifying suitable materials or development of a tissue engineering therapy as a post-endoscopic treatment for stricture management in Barretts esophagus.

Experimental section

Peptide Hydrogels: A library of synthetic, self-assembling peptide hydrogels was acquired from PeptiGelDesign, located in Cheshire, UK. Each hydrogel is different in relation to the peptide sequence, stiffness, and overall charge that the peptide holds.

PeptiGelDesign used  irradiation to sterilize the peptide hydrogels prior to cell culture, and rheological properties of hydrogel samples were taken after conditioning with media for 24 hours at 37 C in a humidified CO 2 incubator.

All rheological studies were done utilizing a stress-controlled rheometer (Discovery HR2, TA Instruments, Herts, UK) with 20 mm parallel plates.

During each experiment, 200 L of the sample was added onto the stage, and the upper plate was lowered until it reached a 500 m gap. All readings were recorded at 37 C. For each sample, amplitude sweeps were performed at least once at a fixed frequency of 1 Hz in the 0.110% strain range in order to determine the linear viscoelastic region (LVR) of each sample. After, frequency sweeps were performed at 1% strain, within the LVR of the samples.

Subsequently, measurements of G and G were taken at 0.2% strain and frequency of 1 Hz. Repetitions of all measurements were recorded at least three times to guarantee reproducibility.

Oesophageal Cell Expansion: CellBiologics (catalog #: C57-6046, USA) provided the primary mouse oesophageal epithelial cells, and they were cultured as instructions showed in the manufacturers protocol.

Flasks were temporarily pre-coated with 0.2% gelatin (30 minutes at room temperature (RT)), washed twice with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), and seeded with OECs.

Cells were cultured in epithelial cell medium and supplement kit (catalog #M6621-kit; Caltag, UK), which contained basal media supplemented with 2  103 M l-glutamine (LG), antibiotic antimycotic solution (A&A; 100 U penicillin, 0.1 g streptomycin, and 0.25 g mL1 amphotericin), 5% fetal bovine serum (FBS), insulintransferrinsodium selenite, hydrocortisone, and epidermal growth factor.

Change in media occurred every other day, and cells were passaged at approximately 70% confluence using trypsin (0.5 g; Sigma, T3924) and reseeded at a split ratio of 1:3.

Primary rat oesophageal stromal fibroblasts were kept completely separate from Sprague Dawley rat oesophageal stromal tissue donated as waste tissue from an additional animal study.

After sacrifice, esophagus tissue was washed for 5 minutes in PBS with A&A (100 U penicillin, 0.1 g streptomycin, and 0.25 g mL1 amphotericin), followed by two PBS washes.

Tissue was treated with dispase I (4 U mL1; Sigma, Dorset, UK) overnight at 4 C. The subsequent day, esophagus tissue was cut longitudinally, and scientists removed the epithelial layer.

The residual stromal tissue was cut and diced into small parts, and treated for 2 hours with sterile filtered collagenase type II dissolved in Hanks solution (100 U mL1; Gibco, UK) in a 37 C water bath.

Short-term vortexing occurred every 20 minutes. Tissue placed in collagenase II solution was doused in media containing Dulbeccos modified Eagles medium (DMEM) high glucose supplemented with 10% FBS, 2  103 M LG, and A&A (100 U penicillin, 0.1 g streptomycin, and 0.25 g mL1 amphotericin), and then filtered through a cell strainer with a 70 m pore size.

The cell solution was centrifuged at 1400 rpm for 3 minutes, the supernatant removed, and the fibroblasts (1  106 cells) were plated out per T75 flask with the media that was previously used for dousing. Incubation of the cells occurred at 37 C, and a change in media took place after reaching 48 hours and around every 2 days as required after that.

Oesophageal Cell Culture with Peptide Hydrogels: Peptide hydrogels were pipetted into 24-well ThinCerts from Griener, UK. Overnight, they were pre-equilibrated in media, to pH 7. Then, media were removed, and cells were ready to be introduced following specific protocols, as mentioned below.

Oesophageal Cell Culture with Peptide Hydrogels2D Culture of OECs: OECs were trypsinized, and preparations were made for a cell suspension at a density of 3000 cells mm2 /20 L.

The cell suspension was seeded right on top of hydrogels at 100 L volume, and the incubation period was for 30 minutes prior to submersion with media by adding to the surrounding areas of the insert in the well.

Cellgel constructs were expanded until day 3, and media were changed every day. The controls used were gelatin-coated-glass coverslips.

Oesophageal Cell Culture with Peptide Hydrogels3D Culture of OSFs: OSFs were trypsinized, and preparations were made for a cell suspension at a density of 200,000 cells/10 L.

From the buffered hydrogels, media were removed, and the cell suspension was injected via a 10 L pipette tip into the 150 L of hydrogel to give a concluding seeding density of 200,000 cells/150 L volume of the hydrogel.

Next, the cells were homogeneously integrated by combining the cell suspension together with the hydrogel via a pipette tip. OSF-laden hydrogels had an incubation period of 15 minutes to allow the hydrogel network to reassemble and then immersed in media.

Changes of media occurred every 34 days, and cellgel constructs were cultured up to days 7 and 14. Controls used were collagen hydrogels (Rat tail, type I collagen, received from Millipore, UK).

Oesophageal Cell Culture with Peptide Hydrogels3D Co-Culture: The peptide hydrogels with optimal performance for 2D culture (PGD-AlphaProC) and 3D culture (PGD-C2) were continued forward for the subsequent experiment.

Two systems were examined: system 1 (PGD-AlphaProC for both cell types) and system 2 (PGD-C2 combined with OSFs and PGD-AlphaProC with OECs on top). OSFs (500,000 cells/10 L) were incorporated into PGD-AlphaProC or PGD-C2 peptide hydrogels that had been buffered, using the method previously explained.

After day 5 of culture, 50 L of PGD-AlphaProC was added on top of PGD-AlphaProC (system 1) and PGD-C2 (system 2).

The incubator was set at 37 C, and the stromal fibroblast media were added on top of the peptide hydrogels for 2 hours to be buffered. Media were removed, and OECs (3000 cells mm2/20 L) were seeded on top of the hydrogels, and the incubation period was for 2 hours to give time for attachment.

Stromal fibroblast media were removed from the top, and fresh stromal fibroblast media were added surrounding the inserts. This allowed the top layer to be cultured at the air-liquid interface. Composites were cultured at 37 C until days 7 and 14, with changes in media occurring every 34 days.

OEC Viability Analysis on Peptide Hydrogels: Cell viability with hydrogels was examined utilizing a Live/Dead cell double staining kit, from Sigma in Dorset, UK. The removal of media from cellhydrogel samples and controls occurred.

The media were washed two times with PBS and stained with calcein-AM and propidium iodide solution, as suggested by the manufacturers directions.

Samples were momentarily immersed in staining solution, and the incubation period was for 15-20 minutes at 37 C. The staining solution was removed from samples, washed two times with PBS and imaged using a confocal microscope utilizing 490 nm excitation and 515 nm emission for calcein-AM and 535 nm excitation and 617 nm emission for propidium iodide.

Semi-quantification calculations of epithelial coverage on peptide surfaces were done using an ImageJ plug-in and Live/Dead staining images. The threshold was briefly adjusted to distinguish the difference between green and black, and then analysis was done to quantify percentage coverage.

OEC Metabolic and Proliferation Activity on Peptide Hydrogels: The alamarBlue assay (5  103 m, prepared in PBS; Sigma, Aldrich, UK) was used for the assessment of metabolic activity of OECs.

Media were removed from samples, washed two times in PBS, where they were immersed in PBS for 5 minutes each time, and then kept at an incubation period of 2 hours in alamarBlue solution at 37 C.

Absorbance data were recorded after 2 hours in the culture at 570 nm excitation and 585 nm emission via a BMG LABTECH plate reader. alamarBlue solution was removed, and samples were systematically ashed in PBS and cultured in fresh media in preparation for the next time point.

Migration Assay: 12 well ThinCerts were covered with 200 L of hydrogel (PGD-AlphaProC, PGD-CGD2, and collagen) and overnight, were buffered in media inside a 12-well plate.

A cloning ring and barrier created from a snipped pipette tip was used for cell seeding and positioned centrally on top of the hydrogel. OECs were trypsinized, and preparations of a cell seeding solution of 60,000 cells/50 L were done.

The cell solution was seeded on top of the hydrogel surrounding the outside perimeter of the barrier. Constructs were cautiously incubated for 1 hour at 37 C to give time for cell attachment to the hydrogel.

Media were added around the insert, and samples then incubated overnight. On a subsequent day, the barrier was removed, media were changed, and the samples were transferred for analysis to the JuLi Br & FL station microscope (NanoEnTek) in the incubator.

72-hour cell migration was monitored via time-lapse imaging. ImageJ was used to calculate cell migration rate and distance.

Characterization of Marker Expression of OECs Cultured on Peptide Hydrogels: Media were removed from OECs cultured for 3 days on top of hydrogels. Using PBS, hydrogels were washed and positioned in 10% formalin solution (neutral buffered; HT5012, Sigma-Aldrich, UK) at RT for 1015 minutes.

Fixative was removed, and hydrogels were treated for 30 minutes at RT with permeabilization/blocking buffer (0.1% Triton X-100, 1% bovine serum albumin (BSA), and 1% goat serum, in PBS). Marker expression was evaluated via the procedures below.

Characterization of Marker Expression of OECs Cultured on Peptide Hydrogels: ZO-1: Treatment of hydrogels were done with 2.5 g mL1 primary ZO-1 antibody (rabbit ZO-1 anti-mouse; 617300, Invitrogen, UK). This was diluted in the same blocking buffer for 2 hours at RT.

Hydrogels were washed with PBS two times and treated with a goat anti-rabbit Alexa Fluor 546 secondary antibody (5 g mL1, catalog #: A11010; Invitrogen, UK) for 45 minutes at RT.

When the treatment was complete, hydrogels were washed with PBS two times and counterstained with 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) for 10 minutes at RT. Fluorescence microscopy (Nikon Eclipse 50i Microscope) was used to sample the images.

Characterization of Marker Expression of OECs Cultured on Peptide Hydrogels: Cytokeratin: Hydrogels were treated with mouse monoclonal anti-pan cytokeratins combined with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) (1:50, catalog #: F3418, Sigma, UK) overnight at 4 C.

On a subsequent day, samples were washed with PBS two times and counterstained with DAPI for 10 minutes at RT. Fluorescence microscopy (Nikon Eclipse 50i Microscope) was used for imaging.

Histological Staining of 3D Co-Cultures: Composites cultured for 7 and 14 days were positioned in 10% formalin for 1 hour and washed with PBS two times. Then, composites were processed overnight via a VIP 2000 (Vacuum Infiltration Processor, Miles Scientific).

Paraplast paraffin wax (Sigma) was used, and the sample was embedded into it to be divided transversely using a Leica RM2145 microtome. Samples were divided at 5 m and attached to Poly-l-lysine slides (Thermo Scientific).

Histological Staining of 3D Co-Cultures: H&E Staining: Xylene was used for 5 minutes to de-wax the sections, followed by re-hydration via descending grades of ethanol to water. They were stained with hematoxylin for 5 minutes and blued in running water for 5 minutes.

Sections were stained in Eosin Y for 2 minutes and then washed three times for 1 minute in 95% ethanol. Sections were then washed in absolute ethanol three times and cleared in xylene. Next, they were mounted with DPX mountant (Sigma), and a LEICA DMRB fluorescence microscope was used to image samples.

Histological Staining of 3D Co-Cultures: Involucrin and Collagen Type I Immunohistochemical Staining: Xylene was used for 5 minutes to de-wax the sections, followed by thorough washing in descending grades of ethanol.

They were then positioned into methanol/H 2 O 2 for 30 minutes at RT to block any endogenous peroxidase and finally rinsed in distilled water for 5 minutes.

Citrate pH 6 buffer was used for antigen retrieval with an incubation period of 30 minutes at 96 C. Then, sections were blocked using R.T.U horse serum for 10 minutes at RT.

Primary antibody treatment (rabbit involucrin antimouse: 1:1000, overnight at 4 C; catalog #: Biolegend-924401; Biolegend, USA) or (rabbit Collagen I anti-rat: 1:500, overnight at 4 C; catalog #: ab34710; Abcam, UK) came before a secondary antibody treatment with R.T.U ImmPRESS anti-rabbit immunoglobulin G (IgG) (catalog #: Vector-MP-7401) for 30 minutes at RT.

Sections were treated with 3,3-diaminobenzidine (DAB) substrate (Vector) for 5 minutes, and Nuclear Fast Red (Vector) was used for counterstaining for 2 minutes.

Sections were then de-hydrated to xylene and coverslips mounted with DPX mountant (Sigma). Fluorescence microscopy (Nikon Eclipse 50i Microscope) was used to image samples.

Histological Staining of 3D Co-CulturesAE1/AE3 Immunohistochemistry Staining: Xylene was used for de-waxing for 5 minutes, before washing in descending grades of ethanol.

Sections were then positioned in methanol/H 2 O 2 to block any endogenous peroxidase for 30 minutes at RT and then rinsed in distilled water for 5 minutes. Proteinase K was used for antigen retrieval at 37 C for 10 minutes.

Then, sections were blocked in 2.5% goat serum for 10 minutes at RT, before being stained with primary antibody (mouse-IgG1 AE1/AE3 anti-rat, 1:20 dilution, overnight at 4 C; catalog #: Thermo-MA1-82041; ThermoFisher, UK).

When the primary antibody had been removed, sections were treated with secondary antibody (1:200, biotinylated goat anti-mouse IgG) for 30 minutes at RT.

Sections were treated with avidin-biotin complex (Vector, UK) for 30 minutes at RT, rinsed in PBS for 5 minutes and treated with DAB substrate (Vector, UK) for 5 minutes.

Nuclear Fast Red (Vector, UK) was used for counterstaining of sections for 2 minutes, and samples were dehydrated to xylene and cover-slipped using DPX mountant (Sigma). Fluorescence microscopy (Nikon Eclipse 50i Microscope) was used to image samples.

Quantification of Collagen Type I Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA): Media were removed from hydrogels (PGD-AlphaProC and PGD-C2), combined with rOSFs and cultured for 7 and 14 days.

Samples were rinsed with PBS and stored at 80 C. Solubilization of collagen was completed using acetic acid by breaking up the cellgel constructs (0.05 M acetic acid) and were transferred to a microcentrifuge tube, with an addition of 0.1 mg mL1 pepsin solution.

Collagen digestion occurred for 24 hours at 4 C with mild mixing on a rotor with sporadic forceful mixing by hand. Samples were then centrifuged (10,000 rpm for 3 minutes), and supernatants collected and transferred into collection tubes.

Supernatants were stored and analysis data collected to detect collagen type I, as suggested by manufacturers directions. This was done using ELISA (product code: 6013, Rat, Chondrex, USA). The BMG LABTECH plate reader was used to read optical densities (ODs) of ELISA samples at 490 nm.

Statistical Analysis: Calculations of mean and standard deviation (SD) were collected from three repetitions on each sample, apart from alamarBlue quantification data, where triplicate readings were done for each repeat.

Error bars on graphs show SD in positive and negative orientation. Data were tested for normality and a one-way, as seen in Figure 2C, or two-way, as seen in Table 1, Figures 2D, 4B, C. An analysis of variance (ANOVA)/ KruskallWallis test was done, then a Tukeys posthoc test to determine the significance of origin for all data. Significance levels were defined as: *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, and ***p < 0.001.

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Acknowledgments

Produced from materials originally authored by Deepak Kumar1, Julie E. Gough1, Marie OBrien1, Alberto Saiani1,2, Victoria L. Workman2, Jane McLaren3, Felicity Rose3, Lisa White3 and Krish Ragunath4 from:

School of Materials, University of Manchester Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, University of Manchester Centre of Biomolecular Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham NIHR Nottingham Digestive Diseases Biomedical Research Unit, Queens Medical Centre Campus, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust

About Manchester BIOGEL

Over 15 years ago, Professors Aline Miller and Alberto Saiani at The University of Manchester synthesised a self-assembling oligo-peptide with interesting gelation properties. This work started with a small grant from the University.

Over subsequent years, the team meticulously crafted and studied self-assembling peptides to perfect their platform technology and produce a range of hydrogels ideal for 3D cell culture. In 2014, due to a demand for their materials, our company, Manchester BIOGEL was founded to enable these hydrogels to be readily available to researchers wishing to create new opportunities in the high-growth fields of 3D cell culture, 3D bioprinting and medical devices. Since opening our doors, we have supported scientists in the UK and beyond to create optimal environments for a wide variety of cell types.

Sponsored Content Policy: News-Medical.net publishes articles and related content that may be derived from sources where we have existing commercial relationships, provided such content adds value to the core editorial ethos of News-Medical.Net which is to educate and inform site visitors interested in medical research, science, medical devices and treatments.
SARAJEVO - A reported 500 undocumented migrants who have been living for months at a tent camp in the bus and railway station of Tuzla, in northwest Bosnia-Herzegovina, were transferred early on Wednesday in the former military barracks of Blazuk, near Sarajevo. The facility was turned into a migrant hosting center.

Police on Tuesday night apprehended and accompanied to the station undocumented migrants in the area so they could also be transferred to Blazuj.

After the relocation, during which no incidents were reported, the area hosting the tent camp was cleared and cleaned.

At the end of January the former barracks of Blazuj hosted 750 migrants.


Ukrainian FM on searches at Crimean Tatars' homes: Occupying state's human rights violations database grows, world's response will be appropriate

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba has called the new wave of repression against the Crimean Tatars in Bakhchisarai demonstrational and emphasized that Russia's actions to violate human rights will receive a proper assessment of the world.

"New oppression wave against Crimean Tatars in the occupied Crimea. Right after the UNSC on HumanRights. Searches, detentions, humiliation. We record each one. The occupying state's human rights violations database grows. The world's political & legal response will be appropriate," Kuleba wrote on Twitter on Wednesday morning.

Earlier, the prosecutor's office and the Crimean police launched criminal proceedings on the fact of a series of illegal searches in Bakhchisarai today, on March 11, the press service of the prosecutor's office of the ARC (Autonomous Republic of Crimea) reports.

According to the prosecutor's office, in Bakhchisarai and the Bakhchisarai district, "occupying law enforcement officers" are conducting illegal searches at seven Crimean Tatars' houses.
Philadelphia: Joe Biden seized control of the Democratic nomination race Tuesday with big primary wins in Michigan and other states pointing to a crushing advantage over leftist Bernie Sanders in the contest to battle President Donald Trump.

Addressing supporters in Philadelphia as his victory took shape, Biden declared on national television that he would lead "a comeback for the soul of this nation."

And he reached out to supporters of his sometimes bitter rival Sanders, telling them "we share a common goal. Together we'll defeat Donald Trump."

Hours earlier, US networks projected a huge victory in Mississippi for Biden, reflecting his popularity among strategically vital African American voters. Then came Missouri.

Then, biggest of all, Michigan  one of the industrial Midwestern giants due to be a key battleground in the general election.

Three more states were counting votes  Washington, Idaho and North Dakota  but the triumph of former president Barack Obama's vice president was secure.

Barring major surprises, Biden now eyes a clear path to becoming the Democrats' candidate in the bruising and deeply divisive November polls.

The main question hangs over Sanders, a self-declared democratic socialist.

Will he fight on to the bitter end, as he did four years ago against the eventual nominee Hillary Clinton? Or is he set to bow out early?

US media reports said Sanders will not speak about the results on Tuesday.

But his national press secretary indicated he had no intention of pulling out, touting the candidates' next debate on Sunday as the chance for America to "see Biden defend his ideas or lack thereof."

Many Democrats blame the firebrand orator and would-be revolutionary for damaging Clinton just as she was struggling -- ultimately unsuccessfully -- against the Trump insurgency.

Adding to nerves in a country on edge after three tumultuous years under Trump, fears of the coronavirus epidemic prompted both campaigns to cancel election-night rallies.

Organizers of the upcoming television debate between Sanders and Biden likewise said they would take the extraordinary step of not allowing the usual live audience.

Trump's campaign manager dismissed Tuesday's voting, saying "it has never mattered who the Democratic nominee turns out to be."

Both are "running on a big government socialist agenda" and Trump "is on an unstoppable drive toward re-election," campaign manager Brad Parscale said.

'Powerful' Coalition

For Biden, Tuesday's six-state contest, coming a week after his surprise comeback in voting on Super Tuesday, demonstrated that his once shambolic campaign is in rude health and now ready to face Trump.

Michigan in particular  a key battlefield that Trump won in an upset in 2016  was targeted by Biden as a place to put down a marker ahead of the November election.

Sanders had accused Biden of selling out to corporate interests and ignoring a passionate leftist base.

But the former vice president has insisted on steering a centrist line that he says can bring the divided country back together -- and it appears to have paid off.

Banking on his credibility as Obama's vice president, he has managed to get out an enthusiastic black vote.

But with stories of a hard-knock childhood in Pennsylvania and Delaware frequently featuring in his speeches, Biden also wants to recapture the blue collar white voters that Trump successfully poached from the Democrats in 2016.

"Biden is putting together the traditional Democratic coalition, and that's still a very powerful one," said Julian Zelizer, a professor of political history at Princeton University and media pundit.

In another boost, Andrew Yang became the latest of a string of former rivals for the Democratic nomination to endorse Biden.

As the candidate, however, Biden will face an intensely polarized landscape, as illustrated during a campaign stop early Tuesday.

Biden was speaking at an under-construction automobile plant in Detroit, when he was confronted by one worker, accusing him of planning to take away Americans' firearms.

In the startling exchange, Biden struck back, telling the worker he was "full of shit" and insisting that he supports the constitutional right to bear arms.

"I'm not taking your gun away," he said in the encounter, which Trump supporters quickly pointed to as evidence of Biden's inability to stand pressure -- but supporters saw as a show of mettle.

Coronavirus Fears

Voters came out under the growing shadow of the global coronavirus epidemic, which has infected over 900 people across the United States and killed 28.

Sanders and Biden called off customary election-night rallies -- both planned in Cleveland, part of another Rust Belt state, Ohio, which votes next week -- in line with public health warnings from state officials.

Their caution was at odds with Trump, who has vowed to keep holding his campaign's typically raucous rallies despite the concerns about large gatherings.

Washington state, which has borne the brunt of the crisis and also was going to the polls Tuesday, votes entirely by mail -- an option some experts say should become more widespread as the epidemic grows.
Deprived of mass, limited to watching the pope via livestream, and forbidden from holding weddings or funerals, Italy's Catholics have seen their daily lives turned upside down by new coronavirus restrictions.

In an effort to show compassion at one of the most trying times for Italians in generations, Pope Francis has asked priests to "have the courage to go out and visit the sick".

That message resonates in a country where 631 deaths and over 10,000 infections have put the medical system under almost unimaginable strain.

More broadly, the virus has destablised almost every aspect of life.

Few, though, have felt the profound changes of the new measures on social distancing measures more than the Catholics, who comprise a majority in the nation of 60 million.

The Italian government has included mass, weddings and funerals in its latest wave of restrictions, which are designed to keep people apart as much as possible.

This is not, as a rule, how the Catholic church works.

A sign on the door of Saint Andrew's cathedral in Portogruaro, on the very edge of Venice, urges churchgoers to "devote a reasonable amount of time to prayer and meditation" at home.

The cathedral itself, like most other things in Italy, will remain closed until April 3.

Burials will continue at Portogruaro but not funerals.

Priests will "ensure the blessing of the body" but in the "strictest privacy", according to the sign on the door.

The new restrictions put Italy in the somewhat absurd situation of fining its own citizens for paying proper respects to the dead.

Almost 50 people were ticketed in Sicily on Tuesday when a vigilant local alerted the police about an illegal funeral march.

Each mourner now faces a 206-euro ($233) fine or three months in jail, although most seem to agree this would be extreme.

But odd things are now happening almost everywhere in Italy.

The holy water font at Saint Andrew's was emptied this week to avoid contagion, leaving the faithful with nothing to wet their fingers as the make the sign of the holy cross.

Still, 10 people filled Saint Andrew's on Tuesday afternoon, including a man in a mask who was listening to Father Giuseppe Grillo's voice emerge from loudspeakers.

The priest was speaking from the sacristy, or vestry, while another priest gave communion, careful to avoid placing the piece of bread embodying Christ directly into the mouths of the faithful during communion.

"We must avoid gatherings," says Father Grillo.

"But the cathedral is large enough that we can celebrate this type of mass," he adds, citing the government's new regulations on everyone staying a metre (three feet) apart.

The priests holds one such improvised mass a day "and nothing else. Not even a funeral".

"I cancelled three baptisms," says Fr Grillo. "The next weddings will be in May, depending on how things go."



Churchgoer Beatrice Francescato sounded despondent while reflecting on a world that, in her words, was "going through a difficult time".

"We pray alone, at home. It is a very unpleasant state of affairs." Back in the Vatican, Pope Francis held his weekly Wednesday "general audience" by livestream from a library, surrounded by 10 prelates.

Usually, the 83-year-old rides around a packed Saint Peter's Square on his "pope mobile", coming out to shake hands and greet the faithful.

The pope would then sit down and read an address on religious and political themes that is then picked up by many of the 1.3 billion Catholics across the world.

But the Vatican reported its first coronavirus infection last week and is awaiting the result on a second test.

The pope complained Sunday of feeling as if he was sitting in a "cage" while delivering his Angelus Prater into a camera instead out of his usual Vatican window.

"But I see you -- I am close to you," the pope added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
I think one is coming soon. It may be in direct correlation to the coronavirus, Nasheed told her colleagues on the Senate Appropriations Committee.

The comments came as the panel is considering the creation of a new fund designed to help the state weather financial emergencies.

The fund, proposed by Parson, would make it easier for the state to dip into reserves, rather than to withhold funding for programs when there is a shortfall of tax revenues.

I think this is something that will help the state, Haug said.

State Auditor Nicole Galloway, a Democrat who is running against Parson for governor in November, last year raised concern about the states ability to respond to a recession similar to the one in 2009.

In October, she said if Missouri experienced a similar downturn, the states budget shortfall would be an estimated $1.2 billion.
By Akbar Mammadov

The Russian Federation authorities have reportedly imposed a travel ban on two Armenian separatists in Azerbaijans occupied Nagorno-Karabakh region.

Masis Mayilian and Samvel Babayan will be restricted to enter the Russian Federations territory for five years, the Armenian media reported. The ban will remain in place even if Masis Mayilyan is elected as the leader of the regime in the occupied Nagorno-Karabakh.

This information was not officially confirmed or refuted for the media outlets. The decision is based on political and, perhaps, legal grounds, an Armenian newspaper wrote.

The Armenian media asked the Russian Federation diplomatic mission in Armenia for clarification. However, the Russian embassy refused to give a clear answer, saying: "We don't comment."

Nagorno-Karabakh is Azerbaijans breakaway region which along with seven adjacent regions was occupied by Armenian forces in a war in the early 1990s. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and around one million were displaced as a result of the large-scale hostilities.

The OSCE Minsk Group co-chaired by the United States, Russia and France has been mediating the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict since the signing of the volatile cease-fire agreement in 1994. The Minsk Groups efforts have resulted in no progress and to this date, Armenia has failed to abide by the UN Security Council resolutions (822, 853, 874 and 884) that demand the withdrawal of Armenian military forces from the occupied territories of Azerbaijan.

---

Akbar Mammadov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AkbarMammadov97

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
ITHACA, N.Y. - Genomic data donated by the public is valuable for the companies that collect it. But a recent survey finds that once people are aware of issues surrounding the use and security of genetic information, people are more concerned about how it might be used and expect to be better compensated for providing it.

Research co-authored by Ifeoma Ajunwa, assistant professor of labor relations, law and history at Cornell University, details the results of the first nationally representative survey to consider DNA collection from both nonprofit and for-profit settings.

Ajunwa and Forrest Briscoe, professor of management and organization at Pennsylvania State University, co-authored "Evolving Public Views on the Value of One's DNA and Expectations for Genomic Database Governance: Results from a National Survey," published March 11 in PLOS One.

"A common theme in our findings is how people value control," Briscoe said. "They are more willing to provide data if they are told they will be able to select how it's used in the future - and if they can have it removed from the database later on. What they don't want is total loss of control once it's out there."

In their study, the authors provided 2,020 survey respondents with a three-minute video created from mainstream media coverage of genomic databases. Then they asked a series of questions about how governance policies - the ways data held by these companies is secured, used and regulated - would impact the respondents' willingness to provide data, as well as the payment they expect to receive.

After watching the video, nearly 12% of respondents said they would provide their data for free; more than 50% said they would provide it if compensated with payment and nearly 39% said they wouldn't provide it even if payment was available. This contrasted with results reported by academic research biobanks, which find consistently higher rates of willingness to donate DNA.

"When people were more informed, they were a lot more interested in requiring greater security for their data, and they were a little bit more hesitant to give it up," said Ajunwa.

The survey also asked how 12 specific policies would affect respondents' willingness to provide genomic data. The three policies that made them most likely to provide it were: the ability to request their data be deleted; assurance that their data wouldn't be sold or shared; and requiring specific permissions to reuse the data.

They were least likely to want to provide their data if the company sold access to pharmaceutical firms, provided data to the federal government or retained the data indefinitely.

"People need to know the full worth of their genetic data in order to make an informed consent," Ajunwa said. "How much is the data worth, what kinds of safeguarding are necessary, is it OK to have something in digital form and therefore more vulnerable? There are all of these outstanding questions to be answered."

###

The paper was co-authored with Allison Gaddis and Jennifer McCormick, both of Penn State.

For additional information, see this Cornell Chronicle story.

Cornell University has dedicated television and audio studios available for media interviews supporting full HD, ISDN and web-based platforms.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-11 16:40:54|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, March 11 (Xinhua) -- After the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) epidemic emerged, it has drawn much of the world's attention and triggered global concerns with the numbers of confirmed infections around the world and affected countries climbing.

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Feb. 28 raised the risk assessment of COVID-19 from high to very high at the global level.

As of Tuesday, a total of 109 countries and regions outside China have seen confirmed cases of the disease, with over 113,000 cases of infection globally.

This sudden viral outbreak once again reminds the world that, in the era of globalization, all countries' interests are closely interconnected and human society has one shared future.

The COVID-19 epidemic has not only posed a major threat to the safety and health of the Chinese people but also brought a severe challenge to the global public health cause.

Faced with the epidemic, no single country can prosper in isolation or meet all challenges on its own. It is the only choice for global society to uphold the vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity and fight the epidemic side by side.

In a little more than a month, President Xi Jinping talked over the phone with 14 foreign leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and U.S. President Donald Trump, and met with visiting WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen and Mongolian President Khaltmaa Battulga in Beijing.

Xi said China adheres to the concept of building a community with a shared future for humanity as it actively contributes to safeguarding global public health while going all out to protect its people's life and health.

Sharing a common destiny with the whole world, China has been tackling the epidemic in an open and transparent manner. China has shared epidemic-related information in a timely manner, including sharing the genetic sequence of the virus.

Also, China has established close communication mechanisms with the WHO, the European Union, African Union and other organizations as well as relevant countries, promising that China's guidelines on the epidemic control and treatment will be shared in time.

To protect its own people, as well as humanity's shared future, China has undertaken its responsibility by taking the most comprehensive, stringent and thorough prevention and control measures, many of which are well beyond what is required by International Health Regulations and the recommendations of the WHO.

"In many ways, China is actually setting a new standard for outbreak response," said Tedros.

A joint expert team consisting of experts from China and the WHO has recently finished a nine-day field study trip in China, after which the expert team heaped praises on China's contributions to the global public health safety.

Suspending outbound traveling for the epicenter of Wuhan and beefing up outbound traveler monitoring, China has done its best to contain the worldwide spread of the virus by keeping the difficulties to itself as far as possible.

Meanwhile, China is not fighting alone. "Fear not the want of armor, for mine is also yours to wear," read the ancient Chinese poetic lines attached to assistance supplies from Japan, which exemplifies the world's firm support for China.

By March 2, a total of 62 countries and seven international organizations have donated epidemic prevention and control materials to China.

As China's domestic epidemic situation shows a positive trend, it has provided some countries with detection kits and donated anti-epidemic supplies, while pledging to share information and experience in a timely manner. The Chinese government has decided to donate 20 million U.S. dollars to the WHO to support it in carrying out international cooperation in fighting the COVID-19.

Currently, the world is still beset by the epidemic, which can only be defeated by more concerted efforts from the global community, including cooperation in drug and vaccine development.

China hopes to step up public health cooperation with the world to interpret the true essence of building a community with a shared future for humanity, which was put forward by President Xi in 2013.
Photo by Ed Cody James Mahoney of Ironworkers Local 580 of Long Island City, N.Y., demonstrates welding techniques with a student from Valley Central High School in Montgomery, N.Y.

Students from across the Hudson Valley filled the Rockland Community College Fieldhouse in Suffern March 6 to learn about diverse careers in the construction and building trades and the advantages of apprenticeship training. Union representatives and private-sector companies worked with the teens to take part in hands-on skill-building demonstrations such as welding, carpentry and soldering.

Hosted by the Construction Industry Council of Westchester & Hudson Valley, Inc. (CIC) and the Building Contractors Association of Westchester & Mid-Hudson, Inc. (BCA), Construction Career Day is designed to reinvigorate the industrys labor force with young talent. The event is marking its 21st year of supporting tomorrows workforce.

Apprenticeships offer youths an opportunity to learn critical skills in the trades and prepare them to land good-paying jobs right in their communities, said Matthew Pepe, executive director of the CIC and BCA. Were expecting to see significant investments in infrastructure at the federal level, which will mean even more opportunities for growth in our regions building and construction industries. Were proud to be a part of this important effort to strengthen our workforce, invest in our communities and benefit our overall economy.

Rockland County Executive Ed Day praised the program. I am proud to again be here hosting Construction Career Day, he said. All too often, schools put value on college and dont put good value on the trades. The trades offer a tremendous option for our young people.

Assemblyman Colin Schmitt, R-99th District, described the trades as the backbone of the middle class. Now, more than ever, we need to ensure young New Yorkers benefit from the trades, Schmitt said. This offers our youth a way to really have that perfect American Dream life.

Also in attendance were Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano, representatives of Sens. David Carlucci, D-38th District, and James Skoufis, D- 39th District, and other local leaders who applauded the initiative.

In the building and construction trades, registered apprenticeship programs provide participants with a high-quality, portable and nationally recognized credential that certifies occupational proficiency in the construction industry. Programs follow a learn-while-you-earn model, as participants obtain wages that are graduated upward as the apprentice accumulates greater skills and experience on the job. Students looking to qualify for bona fide apprenticeship opportunities will be expected to have a high school diploma or equivalent GED. There are more than 20 trades represented among the building and construction trade unions. For information about apprenticeship programs and job opportunities, visit https://cicbca.org/resources/. For information about CIC, visit http://www.cicnys.org or call Matthew Pepe, 914-631-6070, matthew@cicnys.org.

About CIC and BCA

The Construction Industry Council of Westchester & Hudson Valley, Inc. is a professional trade organization, representing more than 600 contractors, suppliers, consultants and other professionals who service the construction and building industries. The CIC maintains day-to-day contact with local and state government officials who own and manage much of the regions infrastructure and institutional facilities.

The Building Contractors Association of Westchester & Mid-Hudson, Inc. provides fast, reliable information to its members on virtually every subject related to building construction. Its primary mission is to improve conditions by negotiating labor agreements with local trades; lobbying local, state and federal governments to secure capital spending and beneficial laws; dispersing information about public and private bid lettings and awards; educating industry members on the latest requirements of laws, rules and regulations affecting daily operations; and providing networking opportunities for members.

HI-RES PHOTOS: (https://cocommunications.app.box.com/folder/106533985372)

Photo Credit: Ed Cody

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Update: Mayor Bill de Blasio said the total cases in New York City rose to 53 as of 4 p.m.

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Gov. Andrew Cuomo said on Wednesday that the total number of confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in New York State has risen to 212, with 12 new cases in New York City bringing the city total to 48. Two cases have been officially confirmed on Staten Island.

This number, as I have said from day one, will continue to grow every day, Cuomo said at the press conference. The more tests we get, the more positive we will get.

New York is now officially the second-most affected state, behind Washington State.

Cuomo said the United States has fallen woefully short on the amount of total tests conducted, with only about 5,000 done in the country thus far  according to the Department of Human Health Services  against 200,000 tests completed per-day in China.

Our testing capacity is nowhere where it needs to be, Cuomo said, adding that New York State is now in the process of directly contracting private labs in the state to increase testing capacity.

*** CLICK HERE FOR FULL COVERAGE OF CORONAVIRUS IN NEW YORK ***

In addition to announcing that SUNY and CUNY schools will close beginning March 19 for the remainder of the semester, Cuomo said there is an importance in reducing density in heavily-crowded areas by avoiding major events including the citys St. Patricks Day Parade  which he said is currently being discussed by officials.

Cuomo said he believed the coronavirus was in this country before people acknowledged, and that it is much more widespread than people acknowledge.

My guess is when we go back and we look at this, we will find that there were many people who had coronavirus where it resolved and nobody even knew about it, adding that a test designed to locate antibodies created to fight the coronavirus  which would indicate an individual already contracted the virus  is in the process of being developed.

The World Health Organization declared Wednesday that the global coronavirus crisis is now a pandemic but also said its not too late for countries to act. We have called every day for countries to take urgent and aggressive action. We have rung the alarm bell loud and clear, said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO chief.

This is not the ebola virus, we dealt with that, Cuomo said on Wednesday.

The facts here actually reduce the anxiety. We have 212 cases in the state of New York; 32 are hospitalized. The remainder of the affected individuals are either in home quarantine, or have resolved, Cuomo said.
Here are todays top news, analysis and opinion curated for you at 9am. Know all about the latest news and other news updates from Hindustan Times.

Fuel prices see a cut in Delhi, petrol down by 2.69 at 70.29

The residents of the national woke up to post-Holi cheer as the fuel prices in Delhi went down by over two rupees on Wednesday. Read more

With Kamal Nath govt on edge, Congress, BJP step up efforts to guard flock

The Congress and the BJP moved in to guard their leaders as the tussle over fight for power in Madhya Pradesh is now down to numbers, with 22 Congress legislators, including six ministers, tendering their resignations. Read more

Yes Bank founder Rana Kapoors properties under EDs scanner

Properties in Delhi and Mumbai and paintings belonging to Yes Bank promoter Rana Kapoor, who was arrested for money laundering on Sunday, are under the enforcement directorates (ED) scanner. Read more

Jyotiraditya Scindia quits: Will Congress loss be BJPs gain?

Jyotiraditya Scindia was expelled from Congress following his resignation. While the Congress legislature party thanked the party high command for this decision during a meeting held on Tuesday, his exit is seen as a huge blow for the Congress, especially since it comes at a time when the party is struggling to give a new shape to its organisation. Read more

Milind Soman remembers his days at RSS shakha, says hes baffled by communal connotations

Model-actor-athlete Milind Soman was a member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in his youth, he has revealed in his new memoir, Made in India. Read more

Road Safety World Series: Six 4s, Three 6s - Irfan Pathan storm lands in Mumbai - Watch

Irfan Pathan was the star performer for India Legends as they cruised to victory over Sri Lanka legends in their second game in the ongoing Road Safety World Series on Tuesday. Read more

Oppo Reno 3 Pro review: Great battery life, super fast charging but thats about it

Oppos Reno series stood out for the unique shark fin camera and premium design. Things have changed on the Oppo Reno 3 Pro which offers a more subtle design with punch-hole selfie cameras. Read more
South Africa

Court clears president of graft allegations

JOHANNESBURG  A South African court has cleared President Cyril Ramaphosa of allegations that he misled parliament about the funding of his campaign to become leader of the ruling African National Congress party.

Ramaphosa had been accused by the countrys public watchdog of misleading lawmakers about a $34,000 contribution from the CEO of a local company, Africa Global Operations, formerly known as Bosasa.

The company has been implicated in a state probe into allegations of corruption in government and state-owned enterprises during former President Jacob Zumas tenure from 2009 to 2018.

Upside-down house keeps turning heads

HARTEBEESTPOORT  With its roof on the ground and its floor in the air, an upside-down house is attracting tourists who want to see the world from different perspective.

Located near Hartebeestpoort, about 47 miles north of Johannesburg, the house is inverted on the outside and inside.
- Ghana could lose over GHC4 billion if oil prices remain as they are on the international markets, a new report has suggested

- The report indicated that the situation may work against Ghana's interest if the market price remains at $30 a barrel

- A Goldman Sachs report shows that a tussle between OPEC and Russia would affect the market price

Our Manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in

Fresh reports coming in show that Ghana is likely to lose an estimated GHC4,149,467,250 in the wake of falling oil prices on the world market.

YEN.com.gh understands that this represents about half of Ghanas projected oil revenue for the year 2020.

The situation would become a reality if oil prices continue to decline or stay at around $30 a barrel for the rest of the year.

READ ALSO: Ghana's cedi and 5 other currencies ranked as the best in Africa

Per a report by myjoyonline.com, the situation is likely to place pressure on the government to immediately review its budget before July 2020.

In the 2020 budget presented in Parliament, the government estimated that it could receive about $1.5 billion at the benchmark price of $62.6 per barrel for its oil revenue.

The situation, however, presents itself as a challenge in the wake of the spread of the coronavirus on the demand for oil.

It is also as a result of the sudden price challenge between Saudi Arabia and Russia, leading to the pricing of oil a about $30 a barrel.

A research by Goldman Sachs shows that the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and Russia are currently engaged in a tussle that could lead to a fall in oil prices.

Saudi Arabia recently reduced its official selling prices as it plans to increase output above 10 million barrels a day.

READ ALSO: Latest reports show Africans prefer modified versions of WhatsApp

In other news, the Coalition of Aggrieved Customers has called on the government to ensure that their deposits are released in a maximum of two weeks.

According to them, they would have no option than to embark on a demonstration if their demands are not met.

The group indicated that the government has refused to implement measures to ensure the payment of deposits to their customers following the financial sector clean-up.

In an address to the media, the coalitions public relations officer, Charles Nyame, stated that the government has till Tuesday, March 24, 2020, to settle all outstanding payments.

In 2019, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), revoked the licenses of 53 fund management companies.

This, per a citibusinessnews.com report, was as a result of a series of regulatory breaches discovered with regard to their operations.

Information available shows that the companies affected by SEC's decision were managing over GHC8 billion in assets.

It has been established that some of the collapsed fund management companies had locked up funds in savings and loans, as well as other financial institutions that were shut down by the Bank of Ghana (BoG).

As a result, they were therefore not in the position to meet demands for funds by investors.

READ ALSO: Twitter's Jack Dorsey to remain in office as CEO and cancels planned trip to Africa

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Ghana News Today: Accra Beautification Project causes Ako-Adjei Interchange to sparkle | #Yencomgh

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Source: YEN.com.gh
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Meenakshi Lekhi on Wednesday said that the recent incidents of violence in the North-East Delhi were in the making for months.

Lekhi also criticised the Congress party, stating that "some people have the history of setting things ablaze."

"Log Toot Jaate Hain Ghar Banane Ko Aur Tum Taras Nahi Khaate Ho Bastiyan Jalane Ko. Some people have a history of setting things ablaze. I have data, which show who was responsible whenever violence incidents took place in the country," Lekhi said in the Lok Sabha.

"They talked of 1984 riots. I would like to tell them that they have forgotten that some accused are today on the position of Chief Minister. The violence (in North-East Delhi) was brought under control within 36 hours which, if you look at in hindsight, was in the making for months," she said.

Lekhi further said Union Minister of State for Finance Anurag Thakur and BJP leader Parvesh Verma were blamed for Delhi violence.

"Anurag and Verma made comments on January 20 and January 28 respectively, while the violence started on February 23. Kapil Mishra was held responsible for the acts of Amanatullah Khan, Sharjeel Imam, and Tahir Hussain."

Earlier today, Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury termed Delhi violence as a "big blot on the country's harmony and peace."

"The last month's communal riots in Delhi is a big blot on the country's harmony and peace. India's reputation as a secular country is destroyed. I will continue to speak about the communal violence in Delhi within and outside Parliament," Chaudhary told ANI.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah is likely to reply today to a short duration discussion in the Lok Sabha on the last month's communal violence in Delhi.

This will be the first time that the Union Home Minister would give an official statement on the violence that rocked the capital in which at least 53 were people killed and more than 200 sustained injuries.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In a rambling statement to the court ahead of his sentencing, convicted sex offender Howard Weinstein, claimed that thousands of people would say great things about him, while also expressing remorse for his victims.

The former Hollywood producer, sentenced on Wednesday to 23 years in prison for first degree sexual assault and third degree rape, addressed the six women who testified against him  who were seated in the front row of the court.

The atmosphere was tense, and the room silent, as he spoke from his wheelchair in a low, gravelly voice.

First of all to all the women who testified, I have great remorse for all of you, he said. We may have different truths but I have remorse... for all of you and for all the men and women going through this crisis right now in this country, he said, referring to the MeToo movement.

Weinsteins victims, Mimi Haleyi and Jessica Mann, had both given victim impact statements earlier in the mornings proceedings, in addition to their trial testimony.

Despite this, Weinstein claimed that he thought their relationships were a serious friendship.

Im not going to say these arent great people. I had a wonderful time with these people. I'm totally confused, men are confused about all of this issue, he continued, referring again to the MeToo movement.

I think about the thousands of men and women who are losing due process, and Im worried about this country.

Weinstein then began to get personal, and spoke about his family. Yes, I got in fights with my brother; yes, I said bad things to people, but there are so many people  thousands of people  who would say great things about me.

I would do a lot of things over. I would care less about the movies, and care more about my children and my family, he continued.

He then revealed that he has had no communication with his adult children since the allegations about his behaviour first surfaced in The New Yorker and The New York Times. I may never see my children again, he told the courtroom.

Continuing, he said: I went to extraordinary lengths to hide my extramarital affairs. He added that he regretted them. He also claimed that neither of his ex-wives, Georgina Chapman and Eve Chilton Weinstein, had any idea about them.

Weinstein also expressed regret about his behaviour, saying: I understand, I empathise, and Ive learned so many things.

In an attempt to reestablish some semblance of good character in front of Justice James Burke, he also listed his charitable contributions to post-9/11 and Hurricane Sandy recovery efforts, as well as schools for which he raised money.

Losing his train of thought at one point, he regrouped and ended by saying: I feel remorse for this situation. I feel it deep in my heart. Im really trying to be a better person.
Nene Leakes and Kenya Moore are still at odds on The Real Housewives of Atlanta. In the latest episode of the Bravo show, the girls traveled to Greece amidst Moore announcing she was separating from her man Marc Daly. Leakes tried to reach out to her but was only greeted with snubs from the former beauty queen. Their relationship has not gotten better and Leakes took it to Twitter sharing her explosive opinion.

Nene Leakes | Charles Sykes/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images

Kenya Moore snubs Nene Leakes

Cynthia Bailey proposed a fellowship for Moore after she announced she was separating from the father of her baby. The former model asked Leakes to help Moore out and give her advice since both had gone through a divorce before. Leakes was reluctant at first but came around to the idea.

At dinner, Moore went out of her way to diss Leakes a couple of times when she tried to start small talk with her. The most evident incident happened when Moore thanked all of the girls at the table for reaching out to her and making sure she was ok. Moore intentionally excluded Leakes as they have not been in a good place.

When the girls told Moore that she should play nicer as Leakes was trying hard to make mends, she had a change of heart but it was too late.

Kandi Burruss tried to intervene so they could clarify the situation but Leakes was not having it. The OG of the ATL said her door is closed and she didnt want to talk to Moore anymore.

Shes right, Im wrong. I f***ed her man and stole her baby. So goodnight, honey, Leakes said before walking away from Burruss and leaving her speechless. Have a goodnight Kandi, we love you dearly darling. Keep it a thousand with your friend. Have a goodnight everyone. Thank you. I have to talk to my man, honey. I can keep my marriage together, honey.

Nene vs. Kenya is giving me LIFE! Cant these two just get along??? #RHOA pic.twitter.com/Cj091nCpHO  The Real Housewives Polls (@rhobhpolls) March 9, 2020

Nene Leakes drags Kenya Moore

On Sunday night, Leakes took to Twitter to air out her frustration with Moore and her friends. What the Glee alum suggests is why everyone is being so concerned with Moore when she has done some horrible things to the RHOA ladies.

I dont want to hear nothing from nobody concerning Ken, Leakes tweeted. She sits, talks and thanks some who [have] done way worst to her than I ever have. I dont owe this monster nothing. I personally think her friends need to keep it 100 with her.

I dont want to hear NOTHING from NOBODY concerning Ken. She sits, talks and thanks some who has done wayyyyy more worst to her than i ever have! I dont owe this monster NOTHING! I personally think her friends need to keep it 100 wit her  NeNe Leakes (@NeNeLeakes) March 9, 2020

In a second tweet Leakes wrote: The fact that her friends ask others to be sensitive to her situation but she was never sensitive towards Porsha and Kordell (remember her saying Porsha was his beard), Phaedra and Apollo, Paul and Tanya. Lets not forget.

The fact that her friends ask others to be sensitive to her situation but she was NEVER sensitive towards porsha & Kordell (remember her sayin porsha was his beard) Phaedra & Apollo, Paul & Tanya. LETS NOT FORGET  NeNe Leakes (@NeNeLeakes) March 9, 2020

What does Cynthia Bailey think of all the drama?

On the same night the episode aired, Bailey was a guest on Watch What Happens Live where she was asked to comment on the drama. At this moment, Bailey has a closer relationship with Moore, but she was fair in saying that Leakes was genuinely trying to remedy things with Moore.

I will say in Nenes defense, she really tried to be kind to Kenya in that moment, Bailey said. She really, truly did, and Kandi [Burruss] and I had a whole thing with the ladies about like, Please show compassion to Kenya. You guys might not be in the best place. But this had just happened, and she was really in a lot of pain.

The Real Housewives of Atlanta airs Sunday nights at 8 p.m. ET on Bravo.
With key international markets closing doors on fliers, Indian airlines are staring at a new challenge amidst the spread of coronavirus: unused aircraft.

It is a double whammy of sorts. Apart from loss of business, airlines have to continue paying rentals and parking charges on these aircraft.

While airlines, including Air India and IndiGo, have already suspended flights to China, where the virus first broke out, operations to key markets including Singapore and Thailand have been truncated.

Added to the list are Qatar and Kuwait, which have barred fliers from India in an attempt to limit the spread of the virus.

While the loss of operations in China was not a big dent, all the other markets - Singapore, Thailand and Qatar - are among the most popular routes for fliers from India. For instance, Doha is among the busiest routes and over a million passengers fly between the Qatar capital and Indian cities in a quarter.

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

All this means that airlines, which also includes SpiceJet, Vistara and GoAir, have additional aircraft to deploy on other routes.

What are the options?

One of the most obvious things is to deploy these aircraft on domestic routes. After all, the Indian domestic market is among the largest in the world and is the fastest growing.

"The capacity curtailed on international flights will need to be deployed on domestic flights, says Shakti Lumba, an aviation professional and former Executive Director Airline Operations (Alliance Air) and Vice President Ops (IndiGo).

Domestic fliers are already seeing aircraft, which usually fly on international routes, being used on the domestic circuit.

Unfortunately though, domestic travel too has taken a hit. The trend has become clearer after fresh cases of those infected with coronavirus started seeing a daily increase in India. The number of confirmed cases has crossed the 40-mark in India.

The occupancy in flights has dropped by 15 percent, Business Standard reported. Fares have plummeted on routes connecting metros. Now one can fly from Chennai to Bengaluru for just Rs 1,000.

There are other options too.

"Airlines need to decide if they want to keep the aircraft on ground using them less, or if they foresee a long term issue, then return them to the leasing company. All depends on the contracts," says Amit Singh, an industry veteran and Fellow of London's Royal Aeronautical Society.

"During the last economic downturn in 2008, Spicejet and GoAir decided to return aircraft, but IndiGo decided to go on an accelerated growth bringing in more aircraft and took over slots at the airports," he adds.

As of now, it is not clear if the airlines will opt to return the aircraft, or if the lease contracts have such a clause.

At the same time, companies are contemplating if they could use the force majeure clause to avoid the lease agreement, says Nitin Sarin, Managing Partner of Sarin & Co, which specialises in aviation law.

Or, he adds, "the lessor and lessee can always enter into an arrangement in these circumstances to mitigate the lessees losses."

Airlines are sure to negotiate with their lessors, especially because parking an aircraft can be an expensive affair in itself. While parking charges vary according to the aircraft type and airport, the charges are high. For instance, a Boeing 777 costs about Rs 1 lakh a day to be parked in Delhi airport.

The bottomline is this. "The fleet utilisation will go down. Total costs will increase inspite of oil prices going down. Lease/interest payments will become difficult to meet. Cash strapped airlines will most likely face closure, adds Lumba.

Hope not.
Independent Spirit Award winner Michelle Rodriguez supported her onscreen husband Vin Diesel at the premiere of his movie Bloodshot at Regency Village Theatre in Los Angeles' Westwood neighborhood on Tuesday.

The 41-year-old Texan wore a bizarre black cut-out jumpsuit beneath a b&w grafitti-style motorcycle jacket selected by stylist Jeff K. Kim.

The Alita: Battle Angel action star accessorized her black carpet look with blue sunglasses, a white harness, and black thigh-high boots.

Thanks, hon! Independent Spirit Award winner Michelle Rodriguez (L) supported her onscreen husband Vin Diesel (R) at the premiere of his movie Bloodshot at Regency Village Theatre in Los Angeles' Westwood neighborhood on Tuesday

Shaka! The 41-year-old Texan wore a bizarre black cut-out jumpsuit beneath a b&w grafitti-style motorcycle jacket selected by stylist Jeff K. Kim

Make-up artist Mohieb Dahabieh brought out the Elizabeth Warren supporter's natural beauty and she wore her raven bob down.

Rodriguez is currently single following alleged romances with S.W.A.T. co-star Colin Farrell, BloodRayne co-star Kristanna Loken, IMG Model Cara Delevingne, and That Awkward Moment co-star Zac Efron.

F9: The Fast Saga marks Michelle's sixth big-screen collaboration with Vin after The Fast and the Furious (2001), Fast & Furious (2009), Fast & Furious 6 (2013), Furious 7 (2015), and The Fate of the Furious (2017).

The SAG Award winner reprises her role as former criminal and professional street racer Letty Ortiz in the ninth Fast & Furious installment, which hits US/UK theaters May 22.

These boots were made for walking! The Alita: Battle Angel action star accessorized her black carpet look with blue sunglasses, a white harness, and black thigh-high boots

Big wave: Make-up artist Mohieb Dahabieh brought out the Elizabeth Warren supporter's natural beauty and she wore her raven bob down

Bisexual Latina: Rodriguez is currently single following alleged romances with Colin Farrell, Kristanna Loken, Cara Delevingne, and Zac Efron

Back for more! F9: The Fast Saga marks Michelle's sixth big-screen collaboration with Vin after The Fast and the Furious (2001), Fast & Furious (2009), Fast & Furious 6 (2013), Furious 7 (2015), and The Fate of the Furious (2017)
An investment vehicle led by developer Joe O'Reilly is looking to make a tidy profit within two years from the sale of Independent House in Dublin 1, the headquarters of Independent News and Media (INM).

Selling agents Knight Frank is guiding 29m for the investment, which includes a Supervalu store and generates a combined annual rent roll total of 1,782,200. That suggests the purchaser stands to generate a net initial yield of 5.6pc.

In 2018, Mr O'Reilly's investment vehicle paid 24.3m for the property along with 10 adjoining Brett Court apartments. These units are not included in the current sale but are expected to be sold at some future date.

The property has 26 secure basement car parking spaces that are accessible off Foley Street.

Some apartment occupiers also have access to parking spaces in this car park.

Located at the corner of Talbot Street and James Joyce Street, Independent House is a short walk from Connolly Station, Bus Aras, O'Connell Street, Henry Street and the IFSC.

It extends to 5,123.69 sq m with four floors of office accommodation over retail at ground floor.

Since acquiring the property, Mr O'Reilly, who is best known for developments such as Dundrum Town Centre and Castlethorn housing, secured rent increases.

The combined 2017 rent roll was less than 1.32m, suggesting a 34pc increase in rents since then.

Both tenants have 25 year leases dating from 2004.

INM's office space extends to 4,173 sq m and the fourth and fifth floors also benefit from large communal south-facing balconies and terraces overlooking the city.

The retail space at the ground floor level covers 896 sq m and has been fitted out by the tenant to include its cafe offering, Frank & Honest.
If it were up to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel would have imposed its sovereignty over the settlements, and with them, 30% of the total West Bank territory, as offered by President Donald Trumps peace plan even before the last Israeli election. However, in a last-minute twist, senior American advisers Jared Kushner and Jason Greenblatt intervened. They made it clear to the prime minister that that the United States would only agree to Israeli sovereignty after the territories were mapped out in full and a stable Israeli government was formed, splashing cold water on the plans of Netanyahu, the settlers and the political right.

Once they realized that their ability to impose sovereignty was limited by a formal government decision, ministers on the right initiated a series of moves that meant de facto annexation. They changed a government policy that limited and restrained their actions. Over the years, the US administration kept careful watch on such moves and prevented changes to the situation on the ground. The lack of any public reaction from the US administration to these recent moves suggests that they were coordinated between Israel and the United States.

Defense Minister Naftali Bennett was responsible for the most recent move. Bennet is chairman of Yamina, a right-wing faction of several smaller parties affiliated with the religious Zionist movement. On March 9 he approved a project he called the Sovereignty Road." It involves the creation of a separate road for Palestinians living in Area E1 near Jerusalem connecting the village of al-Zaim, which lies next to the Maale Adumim settlement, with the Palestinian villages of Anata, Hizmeh and al-Ram. The goal is to enable the movement of Palestinian vehicles without them crossing through the settlement bloc in the Maale Adumim region, which will allow Israel to start construction on the separation fence planned around the Adumim bloc and begin building in the area.

E1 is 12 square kilometers (7.5 square miles) currently considered part of the municipality of Maale Adumim. The land borders Jerusalems municipal boundary. Plans to build in the area date back to the Yitzak Rabin government, but they have been put on hold since 2005 for diplomatic reasons. The delays were the result of pressure from Western governments, first and foremost the United States. While this was particularly true during the administration of President Barak Obama, the Donald Trump administration had also insisted that no construction take place there, at least until the release of the plan. International and Palestinian criticism of plans for construction there complains that it would cut the northern West Bank off from the south and make it more difficult to establish a Palestinian state in the future.

If anyone had any doubts about his intentions, Bennett made them perfectly clear, saying, Today, we are giving a green light to the Sovereignty Road and taking steps to connect Jerusalem with Maale Adumim. The project will improve the quality of life for residents in the area, avoid unnecessary friction with the Palestinian population and most importantly, allow for continued construction. Were applying sovereignty in deeds, not in words. We will continue doing this.

The road project approval came about two weeks after Netanyahu's Feb. 25 announcement that he'd given orders to move ahead with the construction of 3,500 housing units in the area. Maale Adumim Mayor Benny Kashriel responded, This is huge news for the Israeli settlement enterprise in Judea, Samaria and the Jordan Valley, which has waited for over a decade and a half to get approval to commence construction in Area E1.

Even before Bennetts road project, Transportation Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a member of Bennetts Yamina Party and a resident of the settlement of Kedumim, began planning a network of roads in the West Bank, to serve the settlements, including the most isolated ones. One of them is a stretch of road south of Nablus, circumventing the Palestinian town of Hawara, that was intended to connect Tapuah Junction with Yitzhar Junction and the settlements along the central ridge. The road is scheduled to be completed in 2023 at a cost of 260 million shekels ($73 million).

The change that Smotrich introduced is dramatic. Until now, the planning, development and paving of roads in the West Bank were handled by the Ministry of Defense, as were most other civil matters in the Palestinian territories. Upon taking over as transportation minister in the summer of 2019, Smotrich pushed for his ministry to take responsibility for roads in the West Bank. After his fellow party member Bennett was appointed defense minister and the Jan. 28 announcement of the peace plan, the obstacles were removed and the tractors hit the ground.

Smotrichs staff told the Makor Rishon newspaper, Part of the revolution that we are implementing in the handling of Judea and Samaria is to reset the criteria so that they are exactly the same as they are in Little Israel, i.e., when budgets are put aside for roads and when they are not.

The road circumventing Hawara is part of a comprehensive plan that includes three other major roads currently under construction. They are located in the Etzion settlement bloc, the western part of the Benjamin region and the bloc of settlements consisting of Kedumim, Karnei Shomron and Alfei Menashe.

While the Yamina ministers are busy with their projects, the Ministry of Tourism under the Likud's Yariv Levin has begun advancing the development of historical tourist attractions and nature reserves in the West Bank. Interior Minister Aryeh Deri of Shas has also joined the effort to effectively erase the Green Line by ordering that the local and regional authorities responsible for the settlements join his ministrys project to regroup regional municipalities, conferring upon them the same status as municipalities within the Green Line. While in practice these moves involve technical issues such as garbage collection and education, the decision's political significance is huge. As Deri himself put it, the move is an important step forward by Israel on the way to imposing sovereignty over the region.

These steps are part of the Netanyahu government's efforts to establish facts on the ground. that will serve as an impediment for any future government considering territorial concessions to the Palestinians. They are effectively partial implementation of the Trump plan.

There has been very little opposition or even reaction in Israel to these moves, apart from responses by leftist groups like Peace Now, and there has been absolute silence from the United States. One senior political source told Al-Monitor that the United States is fully aware of some, if not all, of these steps. By failing to express opposition, it will empower Israel to continue with other measures. That theirs is a transition government has not prevented Israel's current ministers from taking action, saying that these are standard civil programs to meet the needs of the settlers who have been abandoned as a result of political and diplomatic roadblocks.
10.03.2020 LISTEN

Political party is an entity that thrives on grassroots participation of every single person that believes in ideals it stands for. Sometimes there are others who might not necessarily be attracted by ideological considerations but rather attraction the organization portrays through policies, programmes and conduct of decision-makers.

I have come into contact with ordinary people who tell me they are attracted to the NPP because they find the partys colour appealing. Others are attracted by just the demeanor of the man Nana Addo, and this was on display during the 2016 electioneering campaign where I had the rare privilege to be a member of Nana Addos campaign team as an Aide.

Tarkwa experience

I remember an incident where upon arrival at Tarkwa at 2am and in a heaving downpour, a young girl approached us, burst into uncontrollable crying and said: I have completed JSS for two years now but I am still at home because my parents do not have money to pay for my SHS education so I am praying for Nana Addo to win so he will actualize FREE SHS for some of us to continue our education.

For such a person, how internal structures of NPP are managed definitely don not mean anything to her. Her motivation for being attached to the party is a policy alternative propounded by then flagbearer; and like I have stated already, there are other millions of ordinary Ghanaians who might not be officially associated with the party but are attracted by policies and image it projects.

4-term agenda

I have always reminded appointees of the Nana Addo administration and officials of the NPP about what he told us, (the national communication team) at the party national headquarters when the verdict of 2008 did not go in our favor, thus FOR THE GOOD PEOPLE OF GHANA TO REAP THE BENEFITS OF DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE, THE NPP, WITH ITS ROOTS IN THE DANQUAH-BUSIA-DOMBO TRADITION MUST GOVERN FOR A PERIOD OF NOT LESS THAN 20YEARS, CONSECUTIVELY.

That opportunity, once again, eluded us in 2012 but with determination and resilience, the good people of Ghana bought into our message, spearheaded by amazing display of energy in campaigning by then flagbearer Nana Addo, and gave us the privilege to serve them. And I deliberately chose the word PRIVILEGE to stress home the fact that political power belongs to the governed and therefore can be taken away at any point in time.

The sure-bet to maintain power is doing what is in the interests of the people, and what those in authority think they can force down the throats of the governed. It therefore stands to reason that, to ensure NPP stayed in power for the next 16years and beyond in order to actualize the dream Nana Addo told us about in 2008, we must do things in ways that will engender trust, built hope, consolidate credibility and enhance the image of the NPP.

Past experience

Now, in 2008, the NPP was in power and processes leading to selection of parliamentary candidates for the 2012 elections were characterized with misunderstandings with resultant effect of others going independent. Indeed, we had instances where some individuals the party wanted to protect out of good intensions, resulted in others being dissatisfied, going independent and actually winning.

In the end, it had a rippling effect on our ultimate electoral fortunes as a result of voter-apathy. The ndc suffered a similar fate during processes towards 2016, and they were trounced.

Lessons

I have had the occasion to run a bit of commentary on processes leading to our ongoing parliamentary primaries when issues of alleged denial of nomination form to some prospective aspirants in some constituencies. We heard reports of constituency executives responsible for issuing nomination forms either going into hiding or the forms running out.

Indeed, one can be spared for going into hiding at any point in time, since we are enjoying freedom of movements as guaranteed under the 1992 constitution. However, nominations forms cannot be said to have run out, when the quantity supplied to a given constituency actually outstrips the number of those that have picked them. And this is where I had serious issues with managers of the process.

For example; if 10 nomination forms have been sent to a constituency and 7 aspirants have gone to pick, what was the point coming out with a directive to others being told the forms had ran out at the constituency, to go to regional and ultimately national to secure a form, instead of calling the constituency executives to order?

Is it not when the numbers of prospective aspirants at a given constituency actually outstrip the quantity of forms supplied, that, others can be asked to go to regional or national? And even if there is more demand at a given constituency, couldnt official request be made to national or regional for extra in other to spare prospective aspirants the hustle? The submission was characterized by its own peculiar shenanigan encumbrances.

Requirements

The vetting has not also gone without uproar: Dr. Lawyer Addison was in the spotlight, generating a lot of contesting intra-party inferno. From what I hear, he was disqualified on the grounds of not knowing every single polling station in the constituency he intended to represent in the august house. He was also said not to have natured the constituency and not known by the constituents.

Now, my problem with these reasons for which Lawyer Addison was disqualified is simple: for an individual to qualify to contest primaries of NPP, he/she must;

1. Paid-up registered member

2. Be registered in the constituency for not less than 2years

3. A citizen of Ghana

4. No criminal record

5. Sound mind

Absolutely nowhere in rules/regulations governing the process, is it stated that one must know, off-the-cuff, every single location of polling station in a given constituency, as a pre-requisite for contesting the primaries. But if we are to insist on this requirement, then, it stands to reason that a regional officer is to have at his/her finger-tips, the number and location of every single polling station within the region; and this can be stretched to national officers.

The kingmakers

Theoretically, an individual perceived to be completely alien to a constituency will not be voted for by the constituents and therefore the decision must always be left to the local people in order to avoid all the uproar. But practically, someone perceived to be alien in a constituency can still be voted for by the constituents for varied reasons.

I am therefore of the belief that when an individual is not known in a constituency but qualifies to contest per the laid-down requirements, he/she must be allowed to contest and the decision regarding his/her fate left in the bosom of the constituents.

OUR AGENDA OF MAKING GHANA A BETTER PLACE GOES BEYOND 7TH DECEMBER, 2020; and that is why our time and energies must be expended on acts that generate PEACE, UNITY AND TRANQUILITY rather than needless intra-party brouhaha.

INDEED, THE ALTERNATIVE IS AN EYE-SOUR BUT LET US NOT MAKE WHAT WE HAVE UNATTRACTIVE. God bless our homeland Ghana.

Justice Abeeku Newton-Offei

Email: [email protected]
The coronavirus pandemic could cost airlines over $100bllion in global revenue, industry experts say.

JetBlue CEO Robin Hayes says the plummet of global travel and airlines sales is 'probably worse' than the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks where the airline business saw a 30 percent drop in business.

'This is the sort of event in the airline industry we only tend to see about once every 10 years,' Hayes said on Wednesday on CBS This Morning.

JetBlue airlines has seen a 20 percent drop in sales since the first case of coronavirus was confirmed in the US back in January.

JetBlue CEO Robin Hayes says the coronavirus outbreak is 'probably worse' than the 9/11 terror attacks aftermath where the airline industry lost 30% of business

The #coronavirus outbreak could cost airlines across the globe more than $100B in revenue. @JetBlue is one of the U.S. carriers scrambling to respond.@JetBlue CEO Robin Hayes is here with how the airline is protecting passengers, and its bottom line. pic.twitter.com/S8xy2aM5p6  CBS Mornings (@CBSMornings) March 11, 2020

As a precautionary move the airline cut domestic flights due to a decline in passengers, increased the frequency of cleaning and sanitizing planes, and jump-started a special response team to monitor the virus.

Hayes says that the virus impact is 'devastating'.

JetBlue numbers were stable and 'good' he said in January and February, but started to wane around February 25.

But Hayes is warning the public that flying by plane is 'as safe as everything else you do in your daily life'.

'We've done a number of things. First of all, we are deep cleaning and sanitizing and disinfecting our airplanes every night. In addition, we have wipes on board so customers can come on and can wipe down their seat if they want to sort of take some additional precautions.'

In light of the coronavirus crisis Jet Blue has cut down its domestic flights, increased its cleaning and sanitizing measures and launched a special response team

Hayes is also dispelling rumors and fears surrounding flying.

He explained that planes use HEPA filters which are hospital-grade, mechanical filters that capture particles with what he says is 99.99 percent efficiency.

'The air is better than most places that you would spend every day.'

Hayes says that JetBlue would be notified by the CDC or state health officials if a passenger was infected.

Then the airline would notify passengers on the plane and their crew before the airplane is pulled out of service for a 'deep clean'.

'On safety, U.S. airlines don't compete. We're all in this together. And you know, we all want to make sure that we are taking care of our customers through this time when there's so much fear and concern out there,' he warned.

As of Wednesday there are over 1,000 coronavirus cases in the US and 32 deaths

Now Hayes is demanding Trump to intervene in the airline industry.

Airlines at busy airports are required to land at airports a certain amount of times per season or risk losing the space and opportunity to land there.

The same rule exists in Europe, which led to some airlines flying empty planes in a desperate effort to meet the quota. That rule was recently reversed due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Hayes warns that the US could similarly be forced to fly out empty planes if Trump doesnt act, but hes 'confident' the administration will do the right thing.
Civil defense staff wearing protective clothing on Wednesday sprayed disinfectant in the public areas of the Iraqi Artists syndicate in an effort to combat the new coronavirus outbreak.

Some infections have popped up this week around the country as Iraq has taken drastic measures to stem the spread, including ordering the closures of schools, universities, cinemas, cafes, clubs, public gatherings and closing borders with Iran, banning the entry of all Iranian nationals.

Friday prayers in the in the Holy city of Karbala have been cancelled to forestall the spread of the virus, worshippers were told to pray at home.

There are 71 people who have tested positive for the virus in Iraq according to the country's health minister.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia.

The vast majority of people recover from the new virus.

According to the World Health Organization, people with mild illness recover in about two weeks, while those with more severe illness may take three to six weeks to recover.
BOSTON, March 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Building on its heritage of innovation, quality and durability, Samsonite marks its 110th anniversary with the launch of "Our Responsible Journey," a global strategy and commitment to lead the industry in sustainability. Since it was founded in Denver, Colorado, in 1910, Samsonite has established itself as the world's best known and largest lifestyle bag and travel luggage company. Underscoring this leadership, "Our Responsible Journey" focuses on Samsonite's legacy of designing products that last; its commitment to reducing its impact on the planet; and how it engages its people, partners and communities in this progress.

Renowned for driving many industry firsts throughout its history, Samsonite will strengthen its efforts to make sustainability a key focus of its future innovation. This includes commitments by Samsonite's brands, including Samsonite, Tumi, American Tourister, and Gregory, to:

increase the use of sustainable materials and packaging;

continue to develop innovative solutions to ensure product durability, access to repairs and end of life solutions; and

use 100 percent renewable energy while reducing carbon emissions to become carbon neutral by 2025.

"Throughout Samsonite's 110-year history, our values of respecting our people, the planet and our impact on the world have endured. How we treat each other and how we care for the world we live in are guiding values that, together with our heritage of industry leadership, make it a natural step for Samsonite to take the lead on sustainability," said Kyle Gendreau, Samsonite International CEO. "While we've been focused on sustainability for several years, 'Our Responsible Journey' is how we will accelerate the implementation of sustainable business practices globally to meet our goals. This strategy will touch every aspect of our business to help us further our long-standing leadership in the industry."

Since 2018, Samsonite has launched more than 50 collections worldwide that include a sustainable material such as recycled PET, recycled nylon, post-industrial recycled polypropylene, wood waste and cork. And its Recyclex fabric is made from 100 percent post-consumer recycled PET bottles, which have already diverted an estimated 52 million 500ml PET bottles from landfills.

"Our Responsible Journey" focuses on four areas most material to the business:

Innovative Products : Samsonite is committed to designing durable products and increasing the use of more sustainable materials, decreasing the burden on landfills. Additionally, most products can be repaired worldwide, reducing the need to replace items.





: Samsonite is committed to designing durable products and increasing the use of more sustainable materials, decreasing the burden on landfills. Additionally, most products can be repaired worldwide, reducing the need to replace items. Carbon Action: Samsonite is working to minimize the impact of its owned and operated facilities by reducing its carbon intensity, committing to 100 percent renewable energy and becoming carbon neutral by 2025. Samsonite has planted more than 700,000 trees around the world since 2017 as part of its carbon reduction efforts and to preserve the beautiful places where its consumers travel. Further, Samsonite is committed to work more closely with suppliers so that they move toward carbon neutrality as well.





Samsonite is working to minimize the impact of its owned and operated facilities by reducing its carbon intensity, committing to 100 percent renewable energy and becoming carbon neutral by 2025. Samsonite has planted more than 700,000 trees around the world since 2017 as part of its carbon reduction efforts and to preserve the beautiful places where its consumers travel. Further, Samsonite is committed to work more closely with suppliers so that they move toward carbon neutrality as well. Thriving Supply Chain: Samsonite cares for the people and communities around the world where it works, and works with suppliers who meet the Samsonite code of conduct, ensuring that its partners also act fairly and responsibly. In addition, Samsonite is expanding its existing social compliance program to focus on further protecting human rights in its supply chain.





Samsonite cares for the people and communities around the world where it works, and works with suppliers who meet the Samsonite code of conduct, ensuring that its partners also act fairly and responsibly. In addition, Samsonite is expanding its existing social compliance program to focus on further protecting human rights in its supply chain. People Focused: Recognizing that its people are among its greatest assets, Samsonite is focused on ensuring all employees have access to development opportunities, has a goal to achieve gender balance in key roles, and is committed to supporting its people and communities where they live and work.

The global travel industry never stands still and throughout its 110-year lifespan, Samsonite has been resolutely focused on innovation, design, and has been an industry leader in the use of new materials. The company is pioneering new solutions for the decades to come helping travelers' journey further, with ever lighter, stronger and more sustainable products.

About Samsonite

Samsonite International S.A. ("Samsonite" or the "Company", together with its consolidated subsidiaries, "the Group"), is the world's best-known and largest lifestyle bag and travel luggage company, with a heritage dating back 110 years. The Group is principally engaged in the design, manufacture, sourcing and distribution of luggage, business and computer bags, outdoor and casual bags, travel accessories and slim protective cases for personal electronic devices throughout the world, primarily under the Samsonite, Tumi, American Tourister, Speck, Gregory, High Sierra, Kamiliant, eBags, Lipault and Hartmann brand names as well as other owned and licensed brand names. The Company's ordinary shares are listed on the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited ("SEHK").

SOURCE Samsonite
Ellington Properties, a leading design-led property developer in Dubai, has announced that work will soon start on Belgravia III, its trendy residential destination in Jumeirah Village Circle (JVC).



It is the third residential project under the popular Belgravia brand of Ellington Properties. The company has already handed over Belgravia I and Belgravia II, which are now thriving neighbourhoods, said a statement from the Dubai developer.



Delivering a community within a community concept, Belgravia III features two L-shaped buildings that face each other and overlook a central courtyard.



The courtyard by Ellington Properties is the largest of its kind in the JVC community with several key features including a large infinity-edge swimming pool with shaded pergolas and ample lounge seating, kids playground, private seating areas, and elegant landscaping.



Belgravia III boasts 260 spacious studios, one- and two-bedroom apartments and townhouses.

Highlighting the focus of Ellington to celebrate the local artist community via the Ellington Art Foundation, the full building and lobby spaces of Belgravia III will have 2D and 3D art by UAE-based artists, it stated.



With all approvals secured already and resources mobilised on-site, Ellington's focus was now on accelerating the development of Belgravia III, said a top official.



"We are committed to delivering our projects to the highest standards of build quality. To ensure this, we work with contractors that have proven competencies and an exceptional track-record, such as Dutco, a leading construction company in the UAE," remarked Joseph Thomas, the Managing Director of Ellington Properties.



"We have worked with them earlier and through our new partnership for Belgravia III, we are once again delivering on our promise of bringing high-quality residential projects that create long-term value for our customers," he added.



Basheer Massad, General Manager of Dutco Construction and BK Gulf, said: "Ellington Properties has set a distinctive niche in the market through their design-led projects, and working with them for Belgravia III further adds to our portfolio of projects in Dubai."



The homes have high ceilings in the living, dining and bedrooms lending a spacious feel. Thoughtfully crafted and fitted wardrobes and walk-in closets will add to the convenience of residents.



The bathrooms are well planned, featuring elegant finishes and storage details as well as ample lighting. The kitchens are open plan and designed around functionality, social gathering and convenience, he explained.



"Our focus is delivering the project to the high standards that Ellington Properties has set. With our heritage that goes back to 1947, we understand the aspirations of our clients and use our experience and technology to meet them," he added.



In addition to Belgravia I and II, Ellington Properties has several projects located in JVC such as Belgravia Square, Belgravia Heights I and Belgravia Heights II as well as Eaton Place and Somerset Mews which were handed over.-TradeArabia News Service
The MQ-9 Reaper has been the U.S. Air Force's hunter-killer drone for more than a decade, but it simply isn't suited to the high-end fight the service is preparing for, according to a top official.

The service is expected to lay out details for its replacement plan in its fiscal 2022 budget.

"The Reaper has been a great platform for us," Dr. Will Roper, assistant secretary of the Air Force for acquisition, technology and logistics, told lawmakers Tuesday.

"Four million flight hours of just undeniable overmatch in a low-end, uncontested fight and [it] has certainly saved many lives," he said before the House Armed Services subcommittee on tactical air and land forces.

"But as we look to the high-end fight, we just can't take them into the battlefield. They are easily shot down, and so what we are preparing to do on the acquisition side as we take down the production line is build the next generation of systems," Roper said.

Related: Air Force to Send More than 100 Planes to Boneyard as it Invests in Future Fighters

In August, unnamed U.S. defense officials confirmed to Reuters that a U.S. MQ-9 was shot down over Yemen by Iran-backed Houthi rebel fighters. Months earlier on June 6, U.S. Central Command confirmed another Reaper had been shot down by Houthis, with Iranian assistance.

Roper said the Air Force is conducting studies to develop unmanned attack aircraft that are intended to be reusable, but cheap enough that they can be destroyed without significant loss. It is also looking at how those technologies compare with more expensive systems that can survive in extreme situations.

"It's a big [business] market right now -- many commercial applications, and so we will look at a mixture of options for the future," he said. "There are things that are more high-end military unique, things that are meant to be able to survive even in a contested environment. A lot of technology will have to go in[to that] and there will likely be expensive systems, but we also see a lot of opportunity to bring in commercial technology, push the price point down, have systems that ... we can take more loss with."

In 2017, commanders began expanding the mission set of the larger, faster MQ-9 as the Air Force began phasing out its unmanned cousin, the MQ-1 Predator. That year, officials verified through a controlled test that the MQ-9 had bagged its first air-to-air kill of another small, aerial vehicle, showing it had the ability to conduct air-to-air combat. The MQ-1 officially retired in 2018.

The Air Force revealed through its fiscal 2021 budget submission it plans to buy its final 24 Reapers this year, which would cut the total buy to 337 aircraft instead of the planned 363, Air Force Magazine reported last month.

The decision surprised the drone's maker, General Atomics, the magazine said. Chris Pehrson, General Atomics' vice president of strategic development, said a premature end to the production line could lead to gaps in global operations.

"The abrupt shutdown of the production line without a transition plan does jeopardize the [intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance] enterprise," Pehrson told the magazine. "You'll see impact eventually, when combat lines have to be reduced or ... the assets aren't there for training."

The details come as top commanders in Africa and the Middle East have raised similar concerns about the MQ-9, saying that more ISR is needed given militant groups such as the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria and al-Shabaab in east Africa continue to target civilians and U.S. troops stationed in the region.

In his unfunded priorities submitted to Congress, Marine Corps Gen. Kenneth McKenzie, head of U.S. Central Command, told the House Armed Services Committee on Tuesday that a pressing requirement still exists for more intelligence flights around the world, especially in hostile regions like the Middle East.

McKenzie told lawmakers that MQ-9s are vital not only for strike missions but overwatch, especially to surveil Iran's actions in the Strait of Hormuz.

"Every combatant commander wants more ISR capability," he said. "There are current plans to reduce the number, particularly of MQ-9 drones, that are unavailable.

"We would like to see if there is a way that we can keep those in the theater and continue to use them. I recognize that there is a pressing requirement for those drones worldwide and there are other places that they can be used. Nonetheless, we believe we have a genuine requirement for them both in the [violent extremist organization] fight as well as positioned against Iran," McKenzie added.

The MQ-9 "gives us visibility in intelligence gathering capabilities that we might not otherwise have," he said.

-- Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @Oriana0214.

Read more: Pentagon to Decide if it Still Needs Green Beret Crisis Response Forces
The SNP must take a legitimate and legal route for Scotland to gain independence, the partys Westminster leader has said.

Ian Blackford has dismissed some calls from within the SNP for a plan B in the face of the UK Governments continued refusal to allow a second independence referendum.

Long-serving MP Angus MacNeil has argued an SNP majority victory in next years Holyrood election should be seen as a mandate for independence if Boris Johnson continues to block a second referendum.

Speaking about Scottish independence at a London School of Economics (LSE) debate society event, Mr Blackford stressed to see this through the party would have to adopt a legitimate and legal route.

He said the path and destination of Scotlands independence can only ever be found through the democratic will of our people.

Mr Blackford said it was via this path of persuasion that a majority of Scots would come round to leaving the rest of the UK.

He also said the UK in its entirety, is immersed in a constitutional crisis as a result of Brexit.

The Ross, Skye and Lochaber MP added: The United Kingdom that Scotland voted to remain part of 2014 no longer exists.

The union on these islands, as once was, is simply no more.

Ian Blackford said it is now independence and not the union that offers Scots stability and opportunity (Danny Lawson/PA)

Warning a no-deal Brexit was still very much hanging over our people and our businesses, Mr Blackford said: Scotlands economic interests are no longer served by being a part of this union.

The landscape of the last decade  of austerity, of Brexit, of deep uncertainty and instability  has come at a great cost.

It is therefore little wonder that more and more of our citizens are seeking to escape that prolonged austerity and escape Brexit.

Rather than the instability and limitations offered by the UK, an independent country now offers the Scottish people both stability and opportunity.

He added: If the 2016 Brexit referendum was the moment when our political futures met a point of divergence, we are now at the cusp of a moment of decision for Scotlands people.
Paying bribe at government offices is not anything new, and it has almost become the norm that if you have to get something done, you have to make the concerned officer 'happy'. But what if you have to bribe employees of private companies too? As unbelievable as it sound, this has happened.

REPRESENTATIONAL IMAGE

Three employees of software major Infosys in Bengaluru were arrested by the police on charges of taking bribes from tax-payers for speedy processing of their refund. The employees worked at the Income Tax Departments Centralized Processing Centre in Bengaluru where I-T returns are processed before refunds are initiated. Infosys is the managed services provider for the I-T Department.

The arrested men have been identified as Kalyan, Prakash and Devishwar Reddy, all hailing from Hyderabad and residing in Bengaluru. According to the Electronics City police, the accused was attached to the CPC's data division and had demanded and collected money through his friends from some major taxpayers with whom he had contact over the phone for processing their I-T refund claims at the earliest, which is usually initiated in 60 days.

BCCL

He would allegedly charge them four per cent of the refund money as his commission to process the returns. The police suspect they may have received as much as Rs 15 lakh in commission, however only Rs. 2.37 lakh has been recovered from the accused.

The crime came to light after one of the taxpayers refused to pay the money and shared the audio recording of his conversation with the accused with Income Tax officials who held an internal enquiry and then approached the police.

An investigation by the department revealed that the accused were taking advantage of the refund processing time to directly contact taxpayers and assure speedy processing for a fee. It is still unclear how long the accused have been doing this and if more employees of Infosys is involved in this. It also has raised questions on the data security of citizens.

BCCL

Following their arrest, Infosys on Monday announced that the three employees have been dismissed. "Infosys is aware of the allegations against certain employees who have been found violating the company's policies. The employees have been terminated, after a thorough internal investigation, the city-headquartered company said in a statement. Infosys takes any breach of its policies and code of conduct seriously and "we are fully cooperating with the authorities," it said.

Police have registered a case of cheating and criminal breach of trust against them.
[March 11, 2020] Desjardins Selects smartTrade To Enhance Its FX Services

smartTrade Technologies, a global leader in multi-asset electronic trading solutions, announces today that Desjardins, leading Canadian financial services company, has selected LiquidityFX, smartTrade's fully hosted and managed Foreign Exchange (FX) platform, to provide enhanced FX services to its clients.

Desjardins was looking for an end-to-end e-FX trading solution to automate its institutional and retail FX workflows across all divisions of the bank. LiquidityFX was selected because it met all the functionality requirements while offering a very attractive and transparent flat rate and no brokerage fee for them or their liquidity providers. smartTrade's solution includes connectivity, aggregation, pricing, distribution, risk management, post-trade and a highly customizable HTML5 user interface. In addition, thanks to smartTrade's sophisticated pricing and distribution modules, Desjardins will be able to provide its traders and retail customers with pricing on multiple currencies.

Albert Lau, Technology and Market Data Advisor at Desjardins: "We chose smartTrade because their FX solution is the best-in-class with respect to technology, functionalities and streamlined workflow processes. The decision was further bolstered by the fact that smartTrade's services respect Desjardins' stringent security requirements and rotocols. smartTrade understands our specific needs; the professionalism and transparency demonstrated by their teams serves as a solid base to this new business relationship.





David Vincent, CEO of smartTrade Technologies commented: "We are very happy to be selected by Desjardins and that our turnkey FX solution will allow them to benefit from features that will improve their customers' experience. We are committed to providing innovative and reliable solutions and we are delighted to see the growing adoption in the North American market." About Desjardins Group:

Desjardins Group is the leading cooperative financial group in Canada and the fifth largest cooperative financial group in the world with assets of $295.5 billion. It has been rated one of Canada's top 100 employers by Mediacorp Canada. To meet the diverse needs of its members and clients, Desjardins offers a full range of products and services to individuals and businesses through its extensive distribution network, online platforms and subsidiaries across Canada. The group has one of the highest capital ratios and credit ratings in the industry.

About smartTrade Technologies:

smartTrade Technologies, pioneer of multi-asset electronic trading solutions, offers innovative technology allowing you to focus on your trading and grow your business while quickly adapting to changing market requirements.

smartTrade provides agile end-to-end trading solutions supporting Foreign Exchange, Fixed Income, Equities, Derivatives, Cryptocurrencies and Money Markets. Our solutions offer connectivity to over 130 liquidity providers, aggregation, smart order routing, order management, pricing, distribution, risk management and fully customizable HTML5 user interface.

smartTrade works with a variety of clients ranging from banks, brokers and asset managers to corporate firms. LiquidityFX for Foreign Exchange and smartFI for Fixed Income are provided as a fully managed and hosted service, colocated in all the main marketplaces globally.

smartAnalytics, our multi-asset Big Data analysis solution, allows the creation of historical or real time dashboards and reports to interact more effectively with markets and end customers. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200311005050/en/

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TANGA  US-based impact investor  Gray Matters Capital has today announced its funding of Tanga (Tanzania) based manufacturer and distributor of low-cost, affordable menstrual hygiene management (MHM) reusable sanitary towels  WomenChoice Industries under its sector agnostic gender portfolio  coLABS.

The funding of US$ 200,000 is aimed at helping WomenChoice Industries reach out to 500,000 women and girls from low-resource settings, to use its reusable sanitary towels by December 2022. This will entail the funding amount to be used for ramping up its production capacity, recruiting and training of vendors and sales & distribution agents.

Prior to this funding, WomenChoice Industries received a grant of US$ 1,000 from the Pollination Fund; a soft loan investment of US$ 11,500 from the Tanzania Post Bank (TPB) and a total of US$ 5,000 from Rock Flower Inc. of USA.

Product USP

Young women and girls aged 9-24 in schools and colleges in Tanzania from low-income families earning less than US$ 1.5 a day, face a myriad of menstrual hygiene management health challenges ranging from lack of information to lack of access to products and services. They, perforce, use unhygienic materials such as sisal fibres, old cloth rags, animal skins, sand and pounded tree barks to manage their menses. Some are also compelled to trade sex for pad with men twice their age thus, exposing them to unintended pregnancies, abortions, HIV/AIDS & STIs, said Lucy Achieng Odiwa, Co-founder and CEO, WomenChoice Industries , outlining her companys problem statement. Our Salama pad reusable sanitary towels, which come in a pack of five affordably priced at US$ 2.2 as compared to one-time use, disposable sanitary towels, are an innovative solution to these problems, she added.

These reusable sanitary towels are made by locally trained tailors, volunteers, and staff employed by WomenChoice Industries from locally sourced soft cotton, absorbent towelling and Polyurethane Waterproof (PUL) fabrics materials, making them soft, light and easy on the skin. Due to its high absorbency and fluid retention capacity, each pad can be used for 6-12 hours and can be cleaned by hand washing, using locally available soap or detergent with water, sundried and re-used after 4  6 hours. These pads not only save menstrual cost by 75%-90% annually but can also be reused for a period of 3 years.

Distribution Model

WomenChoice Industries recruits socially disadvantaged and vulnerable young women such as teenage mothers, commercial sex workers, people living with HIV/AIDS and widows from local communities as vendors and sales agents empowering them with MHM models along with business and financial management skills. These recruits are sourced through partners and stakeholders such as NGOs, Community based Organizations, women and youth groups, the local community village and wards leadership and the local government authorities.

NGO partners such as Services Health and Development for People Living with HIV/AIDS, and Community Volunteers Services Tanzania have been consistently supporting its program through organised recruitment, access to quality MHM information, products distribution and advocacy work.

WomenChoice Industries also partners with schools, colleges and universities, healthcare facilities and transport hubs for setting up distribution kiosks.

As on date, WomenChoice has recruited, empowered and employed 700 women with 90% retention rate with specific regional retails and wholesale shops with legal business licenses and tax compliances.

Besides Salama Pad reusable sanitary towels, WomenChoice Industries have other products in its line such as post-partum maternity pads, reusable child and adult diapers, travellers reusable vomiting pots and in and out patient urinal leaks packets. It has been profitable since its inception in March 2018 clocking net annual income in excess of US$ 100,000.

Speaking about the funding, Jennifer Soltis, Portfolio Manager, Gray Matters Capital coLABS, said, We came to know about how menstruation is making girl students in Tanzania and across Africa abstain from school for 48-84 days annually, impacting their school attendance and academic performances. Reusable sanitary towels like WomenChoice Industries Salama Pad have shown to reduce incidences of MHM related school dropouts and menstrual health problems resulting from the use of unhygienic materials. In addition, it is also creating a market opportunity for women and girls from vulnerable low-income families by recruiting them as part of its distribution model and imparting them with essential skills such as business and financial management, book and record keeping, and sales. With the coLABS funding, Im confident that this enterprise will amplify impact both from an employment and end-user benefit standpoint.

The funding of WomenChoice Industries marks coLABS first investment in Tanzania and its sixth portfolio company to be added from Africa following Rwandas ARED, Ghanas Redbird Health Tech, Nigerias Sonocare and Kenyas Taimba and Farmshine.

WomenChoice Industries has several accolades to its credit. It has been the winner of Invest2Impact East Africa competition and was awarded the 1st Place in SDGs and HER Global Competition, New York for Women Micro-entrepreneurs helping to achieve the SDGs. It was placed second & third at the Seedstars World Africa in November and December 2018 respectively.

Related
By Express News Service

CHENNAI: After the recent petrol bomb attack on a car on the busy Anna Salai, city police officials have launched a crackdown on those with a criminal history. The March 3 incident is said to be the fallout of a gang rivalry, and those targeted are suspected to be infamous criminals Kakkathoppu Balaji and CD Mani.

On Tuesday the police arrested Ezhil (34) from Pulianthope, Praveen Kumar (22) from Ennore, Ramesh (20) and Mani (22) from Washermenpet. Ezhil is suspected to be a close aide of notorious gangster Arcot Suresh. Police suspect one Senthil to be the mastermind behind the attack. He is still absconding. Three of these men are alleged to be involved in over 30 snatching cases.
John Oliver, Last Week Tonight show host, has slammed the Indian streaming service provider Hotstar for self-censoring content. The platform owned by Disney has reportedly been self-censoring content from the show, it first came to light when the episode of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was not aired last month.

John in his recent episode also talked about Indian TV anchor Arnab Goswami, calling him an embarrassment to himself. The Emmy award-winning show, aired every Sunday in the US, is streamed on Hotstar every Tuesday at 6 am. However, Modi: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver was not updated on the platform. On finding out from Indian audience John's team confirmed if Hotstar had previously censored their content without intimation.

"A couple of weeks ago we did a story on India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which some diehard Modi supporters like Arnab Goswami, the Tucker Carlson of India, did not enjoy...that episode actually did not air in India. A lot of our viewers alerted us of the fact that Hotstar, the streaming service that broadcast us in India, never uploaded that episode in India. There is no evidence that the Indian government made them do that," Oliver said.

This is something I was actively looking forward to: @iamjohnoliver took on Hotstar for not airing the Modi episode (and editing Disney references in the past). I fervently hope the ridiculing continues until theyre forced to respond. pic.twitter.com/HsFCpc46nK  Aniruddha Guha (@AniGuha) March 9, 2020

Hey @iamjohnoliver, I was watching the @LastWeekTonight episode about Mexican Elections on @hotstartweets and when you spoke about "Jacked Gandhi", they zoomed in for few seconds so that the Gandhi image wasn't visible  pic.twitter.com/TNpRrRbRDH  Rahul Jadhav (@iRahulJadhav) July 2, 2018

He went on to share that Hotstar has also removed clips about Donald Duck, Mickey Mouse and "what's worse is, it's apparently not even the first time that they have censored us. We've discovered that they've quietly been doing it for a while now, but not for the reason that you might expect."

John ended the episode by reminding Disney that he voiced the hornbill Zazu in its live-action film, The Lion King. He added, it was pointless for Hotstar to censor his words critical of the studio as he is Zazu, and "Everything that comes out of this beak is a Disney fact."

Watch: John Oliver's Critical Report On Narendra Modi's Presidential Tenure Is Unmissable

Chris Hemsworth On Shooting In India And Working With Randeep Hooda In Netflix Film Extraction
Customers pick up their orders from Shake Shack in Madison Square Park in New York.

As the number of COVID-19 cases in the United States rises, companies are reevaluating their sick-leave policies for hourly workers or implementing paid leave for quarantined employees.

Starbucks, which already offers paid sick leave to employees, is offering "catastrophe pay" to U.S. baristas for up to 14 days if they have been diagnosed with, exposed to or in close contact with someone with the coronavirus. Walmart, the nation's largest private employer, instituted an emergency leave policy Tuesday in the wake of a Kentucky store associate testing positive for the virus. Darden Restaurants announced Monday that hourly workers would be paid while they're sick.

The coronavirus outbreak has drawn attention to the plight of restaurant workers whose employers or local governments do not guarantee sick pay. Fifty-five percent of workers in the restaurants and accommodations sector do not have paid sick leave, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Even those with paid sick leave might not have enough paid sick time for the 14-day quarantine recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for this strain of coronavirus.

President Donald Trump has floated the idea of providing help to hourly wage earners as part of a broader relief measure for U.S. workers.

Paid sick time can help encourage workers to stay home if they are feeling ill. Like frequent hand washing, this is an important step in trying to halt the spread of the virus.

The restaurant industry, with its razor-thin profit margins, has largely chosen not to offer paid sick leave unless it is required by law. Many fast-food chains let franchisees decide whether to offer the benefit to employees who work in franchised locations.

Despite this, some restaurant workers in areas stricken by the virus have been calling out of work, even though they may be risking a lighter paycheck.

"Within the hotspot areas, we have heard staffing has become an issue as employees want to avoid risking exposure, causing restaurants to alter their hours of operation," Stifel analyst Chris O'Cull wrote in a note to clients on Wednesday.

Some hourly workers at restaurant chains such as Shake Shack already have paid sick leave as companies have used the benefit as a way to attract employees in a tight labor market. Chipotle Mexican Grill began offering three paid sick days starting on the first day of employment in 2016 after a series of food-safety scandals.

Other chains are under pressure to change their policies.

On Tuesday, Fight for $15 and a Union, a fast-food workers' rights coalition, released a list of demands for McDonald's, the nation's second-largest private employer. Among the demands are paid sick leave for all workers, across both corporate and franchised locations, and payment for any missed shifts if a restaurant has to close.

McDonald's, which has not reported that any U.S. workers have tested positive for the virus, has offered five days of paid time off to hourly workers in company-owned stores since 2015. The company said Tuesday afternoon that employees at company-owned U.S. locations will receive pay if asked to quarantine for 14 days.

"As we proactively monitor the impact of the coronavirus, we are continuously evaluating our policies to provide flexibility and reasonable accommodations," a company spokesperson said in a statement.

About 5% of McDonald's U.S. locations are operated by the company.
The price war among oil producers has led to international crude prices crashing by their biggest margin since the 1991 Gulf War. While the slump in crude oil prices would be seen by some as a piece of merry news, experts suggest it could spell trouble for green initiatives.

In the short term, this collapse in global oil prices can affect the transition to green energy, discourage the use of public transport and impact the market of electronic vehicles.

The plunging crude price could prompt more people to choose cars and planes over public mode of transport.

For individuals as well as businesses, a cheap barrel of crude also means cheaper heating oil, a slowdown in energy savings and could delay schemes to convert to greener electricity.

Expensive oil makes alternatives like electric vehicles more attractive. Cheaper oil creates a headwind for that change, Charlie Kronick, oil finance adviser to environmental campaigners Greenpeace UK, told news agency AFP.

Cheaper oil may also encourage the purchase of bigger fuel-hungry models such as SUVs.

Fuel prices in India witnessed a sharp slump this week and the trend is projected to continue for the rest of the week as well. Fuelled by crude oil rates drop, as a result of the price war between Russia and Saudi Arabia, petrol prices in India slipped below Rs 71-mark for the first time in eight months on Monday.

On Tuesday, Saudi Arabia said it would boost its oil supplies to a record high in April, raising the stakes in a standoff with Russia and effectively rebuffing a suggestion from Moscow for new talks on production levels.

The clash of the two oil titans sparked a 25 per cent slump in crude prices on Monday.

On Wednesday, crude oil prices climbed for a second day, lifted by hopes that US producers will cut output, but gains were limited compared with Mondays crash after Saudi Arabia and Russia triggered a price war.

(With inputs from agencies)
Olmsted County may have it's first case of coronavirus, but it's business as usual in Rochester Public Schools -- at least for right now.

Officials are keeping a close eye on the situation, but they have not yet implemented any operational changes to the day-to-day routine of students and teachers in the district.

Superintendent Michael Munoz spoke Tuesday afternoon during a news conference with administrators from Olmsted Public Health and the City of Rochester at the Government Center downtown. The conference arose after officials reported the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in Olmsted County, said to be a person in their 50s who recently traveled internationally.

"At this time, (we) do not have plans to close a school or close the district," Munoz said.

In spite of the fact that there are no immediate plans to close schools down, he said theyve been having meetings with the Minnesota Department of Health as well as the Minnesota Department of Education regarding the situation.

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Also, he said officials plan to have meetings with teachers on Friday about how they could facilitate coursework if they did have to shut down a school or even the entire district. He also said theyve been working with the food service department to see whether it still would be possible to provide breakfast and lunch in the time the district is closing down. He did not elaborate on any of those situations.

If the situation calls for it, he said officials may consider restricting student events. No events are restricted now.

"We are having those types of conversations, planning for the worst case scenario," Munoz said. "But, at this time, we do not see any changes in how the districts going to be run."

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SAN FRANCISCO (BCN)

The city of San Francisco is banning all gatherings of more than 1,000 people for the next two weeks in order to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, city officials said Wednesday.

The Public Health Order to prohibit all large events follows recommendations issued last week by the city's Department of Public Health, which encouraged social distancing to stop person-to-person transmission of COVID-19.

"We know that this order is disruptive, but it is an important step to support public health," Mayor London Breed said in a statement.

"We're following the recommendations of public health officials to slow the spread of COVID-19 in our community. This order mirrors actions being taken by other local governments and is informed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines," Breed said.

"We know cancelling these events is a challenge for everyone and we've been talking with venues and event organizers about the need to protect public health. Today I spoke with the Warriors to discuss the steps we're taking to cancel large events and they are in support of our efforts," she said.

The city's Director of Public Health Dr. Grant Colfax said, "Our chief concern is for vulnerable populations who are most at risk of getting very sick, or dying, if they get COVID-19. That is why we are recommending that people over 60, or with certain underlying health conditions, stay home as much as possible."

Colfax said, "For the general public, reducing the opportunity for exposure to the virus is the top priority, and by cancelling events, we are improving the odds. We encourage all San Franciscans to cut back on the time you spend in groups and wash your hands consistently."

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.
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Markets are going through volatility, many investors are sitting on the sidelines. So, at the moment, we are certainly not seeing money coming in, said Hugh Young, head of Asia Pacific of Aberdeen Standard Investments.

"We are not seeing open-ended mutual funds (MFs) -- we are not seeing cash rushing into the market at the moment. For us, it is more a matter of sitting on the funds we have, either rejigging our portfolio, adding to areas where we think have been oversold, maybe taking a bit of money out of areas that have remained very resilient. We do have a bit of cash in funds but typically that is a residual amount of one-two percent for eventualities and at the moment by and large we are sitting on cash particularly in open-ended funds, just in case there are redemptions, he said in an interview with CNBC-TV18.

Speaking about Indian market, he said, We typically remain largely invested. We dont take major cash decisions when people have decided to go into a dedicated India fund partially because you never know whether they might have positions against themselves. So our portfolios by and large are fully invested. We do keep a bit of cash for redemptions."

"One of our concerns has simply been that India is one of the most expensive markets and growth has not being coming through as expected. In Indias case - economic growth and earnings growth hasnt been as strong as we were hoping for.

Broadly, financials could go through pain but it is going to be certain financials, which need to go through the pain. One of the issues, again specific to India has been that the financial sector is a bit of a mess and really hasnt been cleaned up as it should have been. The silver lining in the dark cloud of Yes Bank is that things are being cleared up," he said, adding that as far the house is concerned, they have stuck with the quality end of the spectrum like the HDFCs, the Kotaks. However, the issue there is one of valuation and that one could see the valuation come down but they are not yet tempted to go into the lower quality end of the financial market and prefer to stick with co-holdings in the good long-term winners, said Young.

He added that valuations are still lofty for the HDFC twins.

Chinas market has held up remarkably well considering the coronavirus issue. One would have thought China would be one of the worst affected markets, but it hasnt been. There has been support coming in for the China market but if anything, it has got more expensive relative to India. However, in absolute terms India still remains an expensive market, " he said.

"I doubt there would be much major rejigging but given what is going on with markets at the moment, it is very hard to say anything with complete confidence, he further mentioned.

When asked if he would increase allocations in Asian Paints, he replied, We have been long-term holders in the paint sector. It has done fabulously over the last few decades. The holdings in that sector are far from cheap. The companies get long-term benefit from the lower input costs, so the house is comfortable holding them at the moment," he added.

Source: CNBC-TV18
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo expressed his frustration Wednesday with the Trump administrations failure to provide adequate testing for the coronavirus and said his state would begin contracting with private labs.

Were not in a position where we can rely on the CDC or the FDA to manage this testing protocol, Cuomo said at a news conference in Albany.

More than 200 people have so far tested positive for the coronavirus in New York, more than half of them in Westchester County, adjacent to New York City. The number of reported cases across the United States rose above 1,000 on Tuesday. But owing to a shortage of testing kits and confusion about who should be tested, the actual number of infected people is believed to be much higher.

Cuomo said the failure to conduct more tests is putting Americans at risk, comparing the administrations record with that of other countries.

On testing, when you look at the experience in China, you look at the experience in South Korea, what changed the trajectory of the incline of the number of cases? It was a tremendous amount of testing and investigation. China, 200,000 tests per day. South Korea, 15,000 tests per day. They were so aggressive on testing that they actually identified the people who tested positive, isolated them and then ran down the track of who those people may have contacted. Massive testing.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and President Trump. (AP/Seth Wenig, Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

This country, weve done 5,000 tests to date, according to the secretary of health and human services. So our testing capacity is nowhere near what it needs to be, Cuomo said.

On Tuesday, Cuomo established the first containment area in the U.S. in New Rochelle, a suburb of New York City in Westchester County. The declaration established a 1-mile radius around a synagogue in the town that appears to have been a contact point for some people who have tested positive for the virus. Schools, houses of worship and other gathering places are closed there for two weeks, and the National Guard has been mobilized to deliver food to residents who are unable or unwilling to leave their homes, although there is no mandatory lockdown.

Story continues

Cuomo said Wednesday that questions remained about why more tests were not made available at the start of the outbreak in the United States.

There will be a retrospective one day  what happened, why? You saw China  November, December last year  you saw the case coming. Why did it take so long for this country to get a testing protocol done? Cuomo said. New York state is going to take matters into its own hand[s]. Were going to start contracting with private labs in this state to increase our testing capacity.

Cuomo said New York was still waiting for the FDA to sign off on the protocols of some of these tests and that delay was still complicating the situation.

While Vice President Mike Pence has spoken glowingly about his interactions with Washington Gov. Jay Inslee and California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Cuomos criticisms are not likely to be taken well by Trump.

While touring the headquarters of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta last week, Trump was asked about Pences praise of Inslee, who has been critical of the president.

I told Mike [Pence] not to be complimentary of that governor because that governor is a snake, Trump said. So Mike may be happy with him, but Im not, OK?

I dont care what Donald Trump thinks of me, and I just kind of ignore it, Inslee said on Face the Nation.

_____

Read more from Yahoo News:
In the Netherland, the trial is held to determine whether three Russians and a Ukrainian are guilty for shooting down flight MH17 (Malaysia Airlines), over the Ukraine territory in 2014.

When airliner was shot down, it took 298 lives while on a non-hostile flight path on a commercial flight.

For the record, the Boeing 777 was shot down during a limited war in eastern Ukraine, after rebels supported by Russia took control of the area.

Investigators say that evidence exists that the Buk missile system that was used to down MH17 overhead, was from a Russian military base.

One of the judges remarked it to be an 'atrocious disaster', when the trial began, expressing irk.

The trial was conducted in court near Amsterdam's Schiphol airport, where the Kuala Lumpur flight was to depart from.

Head Judge Hendrik Steenhuis said "that a tragic loss of life is all over the world," stressing how much loss the incident has caused.

Ever since the shooting down, Russia never admitted anything regarding the attack on July 17, 2014.

Approximately there were nationals of 10 nations who were on the plane when it got shot down.

A common connection between the three accused Russians and single Ukrainian is that everyone is connected to the armed pro-Moscow separatists.

Both Russia or Ukraine would not extradite the accused, though one of the Russians will have legal specialists present in the trial. The court is ready to entertain testimony through video link during the trial.

Also read: Russia, Turkey Ceasefire in Effect to Protect Civilians



The Schiphol high-security justice complex is close to where MH17 took its last takeoff. All the accused will face justice for their actions.

This case is the most complex criminal investigation for the Dutch and culmination of effects to bring the MH17 atrocity to its legal end.

About two-thirds of the dead were Dutch, leading the quest for justice was the Netherlands and the trial of the accused in the Dutch legal system.

Two weeks is needed for the start of the trial, which includes most procedures and if the trial will be done in absentia, wherein none of the accused is present to defend themselves.

All the victims will be able to relate to the court, how the event affected their lives, and what should be the right punishment.

One of the victims' relatives keep the list of nephews 80- body parts recovered from the crash, but his brother's disintegrated body was never recovered.

For many of the relatives of the passengers on the downed plane, who recovered most remains in pieces, the trial is the one way for the truth to be known.

It is rumored that 13 witnesses who will not be identified, will give testimonies and those who have been witnesses should not appear anymore.

Among the suspects are two Russian GRU, linked to cyber-plots and a nerve agent attack in Salisbury England.

The four main suspects are the following, who have been given a summons by the court.

1. Igor Girkin, aka Strelkov, who was a former colonel in Russia's FSB intelligence service.

2. Sergei Dubinsky, aka Khmury, formerly of the Russian GRU.

3. Oleg Pulatov, or Giurza, former GRU special forces.

4. Leonid Kharchenko, also called Krot, a Ukrainian who is civilian and a non-pro soldier.

All of them are the accused of shooting 298 people and crashing MH17. All are responsible because they fired the Buk missile which downed the MH17.

Related article: Six RAF Typhoon Jets Intercept Russian Planes as They Reach the Scottish Territory

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China is getting ready for the rapid screening of people for coronavirus if theres a spike in cases as millions of people resume work across the country.

Until now, Chinas National Medical Products Administration has approved 10 new coronavirus nucleic acid detection reagents and 6 antibody detection reagents.

As the number of new cases drops in China, the test kits if mass-produced could well be exported.

Frontline doctors at the coronavirus epidemic epicentre of Wuhan are said to be using a 15-minute test kit to detect antibodies to the pathogen -- then go for a nucleic acid test for the final confirmation, which takes a few hours.

The test kits helped them to check patients at a time when Wuhans medical facilities were flooded with suspected patients.

The rapid test kit was developed in the city of Wuxi, eastern Chinas Jiangsu province by scientists from the National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention and a company based in Wuxi city, a state media report said.

The kit can detect the virus within eight to 15 minutes, the citys bureau of science and technology told state media.

The kit was deployed in Wuhan because it had high sensitivity and is easy to use and transport.

The company had then said it could produce kits for 4,000 people a day, and the city government was helping the company expand production.

The first batch of the kits was used in Wuhan in early February.

Several institutes and companies in China are continuing research on developing rapid testing kits, possibly with the idea of exporting the kits as the outbreak surges globally.

On March 7, another rapid testing kit to detect covid-19 antibody with results available in 29 minutes was approved by Chinas National Medical Products Administration.

This kit was developed by a research team led by experts from Xiamen University. The kit can be used for clinical cases, suspected cases and the screening of high-risk groups, improving the testing efficiency of front-line medical institutions, official news agency, Xinhua reported last week.

According to state media, the kit was going through clinical trials in hospitals in Wuhan.

The combination of nucleic acid tests and antibody detection has improved the detection rate. According to the developer, three antibody reagents for covid-19 have been approved by the European Union and exported to countries including Italy, Austria and the Netherland, the state media report said.

On Wednesday, a group of Chinese medical scientists said they have developed yet another rapid antibody test that can diagnose the coronavirus within 15 minutes by testing a drop of blood from fingertips.

Led by Chinese top medical expert Zhong Nanshan, who is heading the Chinese governments anti-epidemic task force, the team said that the antibody test aims to offer an accurate and rapid method to quickly identify infected patients and asymptomatic carriers of the novel coronavirus.

According to the tabloid, Global Times, clinical studies of the new test kit have been carried out in eight clinical sites across the country, which validated the clinical detection sensitivity, specificity and clinical efficacy of the new test kit.

Compared with the nucleic acid RTPCR test (to detect and measure RNA), which takes 3-4 hours to produce results, the new kit can detect the antibodies against the virus in human blood within 15 minutes with an overall testing the sensitivity of 88.66 percent and specificity of 90.63 percent, the GT report said.

The report added that in addition, the team found that the clinical diagnosis results obtained from finger blood, serum and plasma of venous blood indicated great detection consistency, which means there will be a more convenient test method in the future by only testing the finger blood of a suspected patient.
Notice of Capital and Business Alliance between Heartseed and MEDIPAL HOLDINGS

Details Category: DNA RNA and Cells Published on Wednesday, 11 March 2020 09:50 Hits: 3099

-Cooperation in Product Development for Innovative Cardiac Regenerative Medicine-

March 10, 2020 I Tokyo-based Heartseed Inc. (Heartseed), a Keio University-originated biotechnology company developing induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived cardiac regenerative medicine, and MEDIPAL HOLDINGS CORPORATION (MEDIPAL) today announced that they have entered into a capital and business alliance.

In conjunction with the alliance, MEDIPAL will acquire an equity stake in Heartseed. In addition, MEDIPAL and its wholly owned subsidiary SPLine Corporation (SPLine) will begin collaborative research with Heartseed on the logistics of Heartseeds clinical trial supplies.

Purpose of the Alliance

Heartseed is developing HS-001, allogeneic iPSC-derived cardiomyocyte spheroids for severe heart failure, which currently has no effective treatment other than heart transplantation. In preparation for the initiation of its clinical trial, Heartseed will outsource its manufacturing to Nikon CeLL innovation Co., Ltd., and are discussing transport of the cardiomyocyte spheroids with MEDIPAL.

MEDIPAL has established a distribution system in compliance with Japanese Good Distribution Practice (GDP) guidelines. MEDIPAL is a pioneer in logistics services in the growing field of regenerative medicine, and has an extensive track record to support development of regenerative medicine products and to build a logistics system for them using its ultra-low temperature transport system.

In this alliance, MEDIPAL will contribute to the improvement of patient care by promoting development of Heartseeds innovative products from the clinical trial stage with its experience and expertise in the distribution of regenerative medicine products.

Comment from Heartseed CEO Keiichi Fukuda, MD, PhD, FACC

The iPSC-derived cardiomyocyte spheroids we are developing are unique in the mechanism that cardiomyocytes are strengthened by turning them into microtissues. The spheroids will be retained and engrafted with the ventricular myocardium for a long-term and are expected to contribute sustained direct ventricular contraction (remuscularization). It is completely

different from conventional treatment methods. To deliver the treatment to patients, logistical considerations are also important, and we are pleased to partner with MEDIPAL, which has an extensive track record in distribution of cellular medicines.

Comment from MEDIPAL Representative Director, President and CEO Shuichi

Watanabe

Their investigational agent has the potential to be an innovative treatment option for patients with severe heart failure. Promoting the development and stable supply of specialty pharmaceuticals is our mission, based on MEDIPALs management philosophy of

contributing to peoples health and the advancement of society through the creation of value in distribution. In this alliance, SPLine, which performs logistical planning for specialty pharmaceuticals, will be involved from the clinical trial stage, and will also work with us in creating a distribution system to ensure safe and reliable delivery of the product to patients after its launch.

Development of HS-001

Heartseed has allogeneic iPSC-derived highly purified ventricular-specific cardiomyocyte spheroids (HS-001) as its lead pipeline candidate, and is conducting research and development for the early commercialization of cardiac regenerative medicine using iPSCs supplied by the Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA) at Kyoto University. HS-001 is the produced by differentiating into ventricular-specific cardiomyocytes from iPSCs with the most frequent human leukocyte antigen (HLA) type1 in Japanese people, and removing undifferentiated iPSCs and non-cardiomyocytes to achieve high purity. To improve the engraftment rate, these cardiomyocytes are formed into spheroids in which approximately 1,000 cardiomyocytes are aggregated.

Since 2016, Heartseed has had more than 10 meetings with the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA), with discussions mainly focused on details of nonclinical safety studies, manufacturing processes, and quality management that are required for initiating clinical trials. Heartseed is currently conducting the nonclinical safety studies under Good Laboratory Practice (GLP)2 standards under the agreement of the PMDA on their designs.

Prior to the company-sponsored clinical trials, investigator-initiated clinical trial plan of HS-001 at Keio University had been under review by the Keio University Certified Special Committee for Regenerative Medicine since May 2019 and was approved in February 2020. This plan will be submitted to the Health Science Council of Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare after going through established procedures in Keio University Hospital. For 90 days from its submission to the Council, the plan will be examined for conformance with the regenerative medicine provision standards. If conformance is verified, Keio University will be notified and may then begin clinical research.

1. HLA type:White blood cell type, immune rejection is less likely when the HLA type matches.

2. GLP(Good Laboratory Practice):Standards for conducting studies to assess drug safety. These standards should be followed when conducting safety studies using animals in the preclinical stage.

Summary of HS-001

Generic name Human (allogeneic) iPSC-derived highly purified ventricular-specific cardiomyocyte spheroids Target indication Severe heart failure, particularly heart failure with reduced ejection fraction Route of administration Transplantation into the left ventricular myocardium of patients with severe heart failure, using a specially designed injection device developed to minimize bleeding and enable safe and efficient transplantation of large numbers of cardiomyocyte spheroids. Expected mode of action The transplanted cardiomyocytes produce cytokines that have a restorative effect on cardiac function and promote neovascularization. In addition, the cardiomyocytes electrically couple with the patients heart and remain engrafted for a long time to generate contraction of cardiac muscle. HS-001 is expected to be the worlds first true regenerative medicine to contribute to long-term improvement of cardiac function in patients with severe heart failure.

About Heartseed Inc.

Name: Heartseed Inc. Established: November 2015 Business: Cardiac regenerative medicine using iPSCs Shareholders: Founders/employees, Angel Bridge, Astellas Venture Management LLC, Shibuya Corporation, SBI Investment Co., Ltd., JMDC Inc., Gene Techno Science Co., Ltd., Nissay Capital Co., Ltd., SMBC Venture Capital Co., Ltd. Head office: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo Website: http://heartseed.jp/en Representative: Keiichi Fukuda, MD, PhD, FACC, Founder and CEO

About MEDIPAL HOLDINGS CORPORATION

Name: MEDIPAL HOLDINGS CORPORATION Established: May 1923 Business: As a holding company, MEDIPAL controls, administers and supports the operating activities of companies in which it holds shares in the Prescription Pharmaceutical Wholesale Business; the Cosmetics, Daily Necessities and OTC Pharmaceutical Wholesale Business; and the Animal Health Products and Food Processing Raw Materials Wholesale Business, and conducts business development for the MEDIPAL Group. Head office: Chuo-ku, Tokyo Website: https://medipal.co.jp/english Representative: Shuichi Watanabe, Representative Director, President and CEO

About SPLine Corporation

Name: SPLine Corporation Established: May 2016 Business: SPLine proposes specialty pharmaceutical distribution plans, connects pharmaceutical manufacturers with operating companies in the MEDIPAL Group, and plans distribution systems tailored to the characteristics of each specialty pharmaceutical product. Using various bases, including the ALCs3 and FLCs4  the MEDIPAL Groups highly functional distribution centers  SPLine reliably and uniformly provides high-quality services throughout Japan based on strict quality control, delivering pharmaceutical products to medical institutions through a safe and secure distribution network. Head office: Chuo-ku, Tokyo Website: http://sp-line.co.jp/en Representative: Atsushi Takumiya, Representative Director, President and CEO

3.ALC: Area Logistics Center

4. FLC: Front Logistics Center

SOURCE: Heartseed
The Aam Aadmi Party has appointed Delhi MLA Dinesh Mohania as the in-charge of the party's Uttarakhand state unit.

Mohania, a three-time MLA from Delhi's Sangam Vihar, said he would hold a meeting with party officials in Uttarakhand.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is working on strengthening its organisation across the country after it registered a spectacular victory in the Delhi Assembly elections last month.

"So far lakhs of people from Uttarakhand have expressed their desire to join the party by giving missed calls. People want Delhi's model (of development) to be implemented in Uttarakhand too. In view of this, the work has been intensified on further strengthening the organisation of the party in Uttarakhand," he said.

After the Delhi polls, the AAP launched the 'missed call' campaign for expansion of the party. The party has issued 9871010101 missed call number by which people can join its nation building campaign.

"I will leave for Uttarakhand tomorrow. Our organisation is already working in Uttarakhand. After meeting with the state organisation, I will hold district and block-level meetings," he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai has appointed Malam Muhammad Sanusi into the board of the Kaduna Investment Promotion Agency (KADIPA).

This is coming barely 24 hours after Sanusi was dethroned as the Emir of Kano and subsequently sent into exile in Nasarawa State.

A statement from Sir Kashim Ibrahim House on Tuesday said Governor El-Rufai has appointed the dethroned Emir as the Vice-chairman of the KADIPA.

The statement read: Malam Nasir El-Rufai has appointed His Highness, Muhammad Sanusi II into the board of KADIPA. The appointment is part of the reconstitution of the board of KADIPA, which is statutorily chaired by the Deputy Governor and has as internal members senior officials of the Kaduna State Government.

Governor El-Rufai said that Kaduna State hopes to benefit from the profile, experience, intellect and networks of His Highness, Muhammad Sanusi, who before becoming Emir, had built a solid reputation in global financial circles. Malam Nasir El-Rufai said that Kaduna State is honoured to be able to call on the services of a man of such calibre to drive its development.

The Governor also said that he is confident that the new board, which includes the most senior officers of the state will further propel KADIPA to greater success in attracting investments to Kaduna State. He disclosed that the external members have been carefully chosen to further reinforce the investment credentials of the state.

The new board of KADIPA has the following members:

Her Excellency, Dr. Hadiza Balarabe Chairman His Highness, Muhammadu Sanusi II Vice-Chairman Balarabe Abbas Lawal, Secretary to the State Government Bariatu Y. Mohammed, Head of Service Jimi Lawal, Senior Adviser-Counsellor Aisha Dikko, Attorney-General of Kaduna State Idris Nyam, Commissioner, Business, Innovation & Technology Fausat Ibikunle, Commissioner, Housing & Urban Development Thomas Gyang, Commissioner, Planning & Budget Commission Farida Dankaka, KACCIMA Amal Hassan, Private Sector Hafiz Bayero, MD, Kaduna Markets Development Company Altine Jibrin, Director-General, KADGIS Umma Aboki, Executive Secretary, KADIPA

Meanwhile, Sanusi has reportedly left his residence in Loko, a town in Nasarawa state, where he was banished to.

The Nation reports that shortly after arriving the town, Sanusi was airlifted in a helicopter to another town, Awe, also in Nasarawa.

At the time of filling this report there has not been any official statement on why he was relocated to another residence.

ALSO READ: My Dethronement Is An Act Of God And Destiny  Sanusi Reacts To His Removal As Kano Emir [Video]
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-11 23:40:25|Editor: yan

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MUMBAI, March 11 (Xinhua) -- India's financial capital Mumbai reported the first two confirmed cases of novel coronavirus on Wednesday evening.

As per the medical bulletin issued by the state public health department, both cases were co-passengers of the two cases reported from Pune and part of Dubai tour troupe.

The two cases in Mumbai, which is the political capital of the country's western state of Maharashtra, have taken the total tally in the state to 7, the bulletin said.

"The patients who have tested positive are stable. They have been kept under observation. The health department, airports, ports, railways are on alert and are taking necessary precautions," an official statement quoting state Chief Minister of Maharashtra Uddhav Thackeray as saying. He also said that the state machinery is ready to tackle novel coronavirus crisis and citizens should not panic, while urging them to avoid crowded places and social, religious gatherings.

From Jan. 18 till date, 349 symptomatic travelers in the state have been isolated in identified isolation facilities, of which 312 samples have been found negative while 7 found positive, the bulletin said. The rest of suspected cases are awaiting their lab reports in the isolated wards of the hospitals in Pune and Mumbai.

As per the latest update by the Indian government released on Wednesday afternoon, which does not include the latest cases from Mumbai, there are 60 positive cases of coronavirus in the country including the three cases from Kerala discharged earlier. Since the last update on Tuesday, 10 new cases have been reported, of which eight are from the Southern state of Kerala while one each is from the Northern state of Rajasthan and Delhi.
He also said that there has been no death in the country due to coronavirus so far."The government is keeping a close watch and taking effective steps to contain the spread of coronavirus," Kumar said at a press conference here.He also said that Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan has spoken to the health ministers of Kerala, Rajasthan, Delhi, Haryana, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Karnataka and Maharashtra and Lieutenant Governors of Union Territories of Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir to ascertain the status of health of patients and to offer help from Centre if required.The Union Health Minister also talked to the patients admitted in Medanta and Safdarjung hospitals through video calls, Kumar said, adding they are recovering.He also said that a meeting was held by the Cabinet Secretary on Tuesday wherein some advisories have been issued."More than 100 countries across the world now have reported cases of COVID-19 and travellers to these countries or any person having travelled abroad might possibly have come in contact with people affected with COVID-19 during their stay or even while in transit at airports. Accordingly, all incoming international passengers returning to India should self monitor their health and follow the recommended dos and don'ts," he said.Kumar informed that all passengers with travel history to China, Hong Kong, Republic of Korea, Japan, Italy, Thailand, Singapore, Iran, Malaysia, France, Spain and Germany should undergo self-imposed quarantine for a period of 14 days from the date of their arrival."In case, these passengers are working in some organisations or institutions their respective employers should facilitate work from home during this period. The advisory strongly requested people from refrain from travelling to the above-mentioned countries," he added."Another important decision taken was that e-visas and existing visas for France, Germany and Spain are suspended with immediate effect in addition to Italy, Iran, Republic of Korea, Japan and China and a notification to this effect is being issued by Bureau of Immigration," Kumar said.On the present number of positive cases of coronavirus in the country, Kumar said, "So far, the confirmed cases of coronavirus India is 50. Three positive cases were confirmed from Bengaluru - husband, wife and child with travel history from the US via Dubai. Two positive cases from Pune - a husband and wife - travelling back from Dubai again and one more from Bengaluru with travel history from the US via Heathrow.""Of these 50 cases, 34 cases are internationals - 16 from Italy. The two deaths reported from Murshidabad and Ladakh yesterday were both found to be negative for COVID-19," he said."More than 1,400 contacts are currently under surveillance, 404 Indian contacts of the US citizens tested positive in Bhutan have been identified and put under surveillance in Assam," he said.The Special Secretary (Health) also said that the first batch of 58 evacuees from Iran arrived on Tuesday with 25 males, 34 women and two children on board and they are asymptomatic at present. (ANI)
North Korea has launched multiple short-range projectiles into the sea as part of ongoing drills, South Koreas military says.

North Korea, which has yet to report a single case of the coronavirus, has ramped up production of masks and is urging its people to take preventive measures, to keep the virus out.

Resident foreign diplomats in Pyongyang on Monday departed the North Korean capital after more than a month under quarantine.

And while the outbreak has severely disrupted military operations in South Korea with the cancellation of joint exercises with the US, North Korea has conducted short-range weapons tests, twice in the space of a week, after a lull of three months.

Al Jazeeras Rob McBride reports from Seoul.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-11 20:07:36|Editor: huaxia

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HANGZHOU, March 11 (Xinhua) -- A total of 120 million students of 140,000 schools across China have resumed classes through e-commerce giant Alibaba's communication app DingTalk, the company said Wednesday.

Half of the students in the country are now attending classes through the app that was originally a mobile office tool and was adapted to offer online services for schools amid the virus outbreak, it said.

To meet the huge demand during the epidemic, DingTalk has added more than 100,000 servers to maintain the stability of the app.
Iran today reported 63 new deaths from the novel coronavirus in the past 24 hours, the highest single-day toll since it announced the first deaths from the outbreak.

In an attempt to combat the disease, which has claimed most lives in the capital of Tehran, firefighters were deployed this morning to spray disinfectant over the city's streets.

Iran's Health Ministry said the deaths are among some 9,000 confirmed cases in Iran, where the virus has spread to all of the country's provinces.

'Based on new lab results, we have identified 958 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 infection in the country, bringing the total number of cases to 9,000,' health ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour said in a televised news conference.

Firefighters on a firetruck trundle down a road in southern Tehran today, spraying disinfectant to stem the spread of the coronavirus

A firefighter points from the spraying end of a fire truck that is disinfecting the streets of Tehran, today

Disinfection works are being carried out by fire brigade crew in the streets of Tehran as a precaution against coronavirus (COVID-19) today

Iranian firefighters disinfect the streets of Tehran to halt the spread of the coronavirus today

'Unfortunately in the past 24 hours, we have had reports of 63 deaths and overall 354 have lost their lives' to the virus, he added.

The capital Tehran had the most new infections with 256 cases.

The central province of Isfahan followed with 170, and Semnan, to the east of Tehran, had 63.

Bushehr as well as Kohgiluyeh and Boyerahmad in the southwest had no new cases.

Disinfectant can be seen being sprayed from the hoses on the fire truck during a mission to halt the spread of the coronavirus on the streets of Tehran today

The total number of Iranian infections rose to 9,000 today, the highest rate outside of China. Pictured: Firefighters use their hose to spray the streets of Tehran with disinfectant today

Disinfection works are being carried out by fire brigade crew at streets as a precaution against coronavirus (COVID-19) at Enqelab Street today in Tehran, Iran

Iran is yet to officially impose quarantines but authorities have repeatedly called on people to refrain from travelling.

They have closed schools and universities and resorted to shutting hotels and other tourist accommodation to discourage travel.

Across the Middle East, the vast majority of the 9,700 people who have contracted the coronavirus and the COVID-19 illness it causes are in hard-hit Iran or had recently returned from there.

A worker signals to the camera during an attempt to stem the coronavirus outbreak with street disinfection in Tehran, Iran

Disinfection works are being carried out by fire brigade crew at streets as a precaution against coronavirus (COVID-19) at Enqelab Street today in Tehran

Pictured: Workers disinfecting the streets of Tehran today. Five members of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guard have died from the coronavirus

Among the dead are five of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guard members and an unspecified number of the Guard's volunteer Basij force.

Iran's supreme leader had said Tuesday that the Islamic Republic will recognize doctors and nurses who die combating the new coronavirus as 'martyrs'.

The decision by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei comes amid a propaganda campaign already trying to link the fight against the virus to Iran's long, bloody 1980s war with Iraq.

Pictured: Workers disinfecting the streets of Tehran today. Doctors and nurses who die treating coronavirus patients will be remembered as martyrs, Ayatollah Khamenei said yesterday

Pictured: Workers disinfecting the streets of Tehran today

Disinfection works are being carried out by fire brigade crew at streets as a precaution against coronavirus (COVID-19) at Enqelab Street today in Tehran

Most of the Middle East's confirmed cases transited through the Islamic Republic

Its forces, which include virologists, faced chemical weapons during Iran's eight-year war against Iraq.

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.

Outside of Iran, only Iraq, Egypt and Lebanon have recorded deaths from the virus in the Middle East.

In the Gulf Arab island nation of Bahrain, authorities say their number of confirmed cases on Wednesday spiked by nearly 70 per cent to 189 confirmed cases. The 77 new cases were all on a returning flight of Bahraini evacuees from Iran.

Disinfection works are being carried out by fire brigade crew at streets as a precaution against coronavirus (COVID-19) at Enqelab Street today in Iran

There are concerns that the number of infections across Iran is much higher than the confirmed cases reported by the government, which is struggling to contain or manage its spread. The rising casualty figures each day in Iran suggest the fight against the new coronavirus is far from over.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia. The vast majority of people recover from the new virus.

Saudi Arabia has barred travel to and from 14 countries affected by the new virus. Early on, as the virus spread in Asia, the kingdom stopped pilgrimages to Islam's holiest sites in Mecca and Medina, and cut travel links with China and later, Iran. It has also barred entry and exit for residents of Qatif, an eastern Saudi province where most of the country's 21 cases of the virus are confirmed after travel back to Iran.

Elsewhere, Israel ordered two weeks of home quarantine for anyone arriving from overseas. The outbreak in Israel has been largely contained, but it has begun to gain pace in recent days, with a total of 58 cases diagnosed as of Tuesday. There are 26 confirmed cases in the Palestinian Territories.
JUBA, South Sudan, March 10, 2020 (Morning Star News)  It was more than a year ago that Muslims in the disputed area between Sudan and South Sudan noticed that Ahmed Alnour was no longer reciting his Islamic prayers five times a day.

The tribesman of the ethnic Misseriya Arabs was helping support his wife and seven children in Sudan working as a scrap trader at the Ameth common market in Abyei, a 4,072-square mile special administrative area on the border formed from the peace agreement that ended civil war in Sudan in 2005.

Alnour would soon have to leave that work, forced to flee when area Muslims confirmed that he had become a Christian.

I saw them and heard them saying, We will kill you because you left Islam and became infidel, he said of their attempt to burn down his home the afternoon of April 1, 2019.

Neighbors were able to douse the flames and he escaped unharmed, but on April 8 the assailants returned at 1 a.m. as he slept. He awoke to find his house in flames.

Alnour told Morning Star News that before Christians arrived to rescue him, he heard one of the assailants say in Arabic, Let us throw him back in the fire, since he has abandoned Islam.

The Christians took him to a hospital for treatment the following morning. He had lost all his possessions in the fire, including 600,000 South Sudanese pounds equivalent to US$6,000, but he had not lost his faith in Christ, he said.

The 43-year-old father of seven children ages 4 to 24 had put his faith in Christ just a few months prior. Paralyzed from an illness for three months in Agok, Abyei area, he received a visit from two evangelists who prayed for him and told him of salvation in Christ.

Alnour said he felt a conviction in his heart, and that after placing his trust in Christ he was healed.

I was able to get up and walk after three months of sickness, he said.

He was baptized at a church last Christmas. In hiding since the attacks last year, he has obtained a job and temporary quarters from church friends at an undisclosed village in the Abyei area.

Risks are growing as Muslims are looking for him, he said. Fear of Muslims reactions in Sudan and lack of economic opportunity keep him from going home to his family, but someday he hopes to be able to return and tell them about Christ, he said.

I want to tell my family about my new faith in Jesus, and I am sure they will believe with me, Alnour said.

In light of advances in religious freedom since Omar al-Bashir was ousted as president of Sudan in April 2019, the U.S. State Department announced on Dec. 20 that Sudan had been removed from the list of Countries of Particular Concern (CPC) that engage in or tolerate systematic, ongoing and egregious violations of religious freedom and was upgraded to a watch list.

Sudan had been designated a CPC by the U.S. State Department since 1999.

Following the secession of South Sudan in 2011, Bashir had vowed to adopt a stricter version of sharia (Islamic law) and recognize only Islamic culture and the Arabic language. Church leaders said Sudanese authorities demolished or confiscated churches and limited Christian literature on the pretext that most Christians have left the country following South Sudans secession.

In April 2013 the then-Sudanese Minister of Guidance and Endowments announced that no new licenses would be granted for building new churches in Sudan, citing a decrease in the South Sudanese population. Sudan since 2012 has expelled foreign Christians and bulldozed church buildings. Besides raiding Christian bookstores and arresting Christians, authorities threatened to kill South Sudanese Christians who did not leave or cooperate with them in their effort to find other Christians.

After Bashir was deposed, military leaders initially formed a military council to rule the country, but further demonstrations led them to accept a transitional government of civilians and military figures, with a predominantly civilian government to be democratically elected in three years. Christians were expected to have greater voice under the new administration.

The new government that was sworn in on Sept. 8, 2019 led by Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, an economist, is tasked with governing during a transition period of 39 months. It faces the challenges of rooting out longstanding corruption and an Islamist deep state rooted in Bashirs 30 years of power.

Sudan ranked 7th on Christian support organization Open Doors 2020 World Watch List of the countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian.

If you would like to help persecuted Christians, visit http://morningstarnews.org/resources/aid-agencies/ for a list of organizations that can orient you on how to get involved.

If you or your organization would like to help enable Morning Star News to continue raising awareness of persecuted Christians worldwide with original-content reporting, please consider collaborating at https://morningstarnews.org/donate/?

Article originally published by Morning Star News. Used with permission.

Photo courtesy: Getty Images/Phototreat
Nearly $7billion in tax-free cash will be given to small business bosses to keep apprentices in jobs as part of a stimulus package designed to prevent a recession sparked by the coronavirus crisis.

Scott Morrison's emergency measures will cost close to $20billion and will include a huge expansion of the instant assets write-off.

Pensioners and people on welfare will also get a one-off cash injection of $500 in a bid to boost the economy, according to reports, after the stock market suffered its worst slump since the 2008 Global Financial Crisis.

The Treasury expects the coronavirus, which has now infected 128 people in Australia, will see growth drop by 0.5 per cent the March quarter.

Hospital staff are seen helping patients outside the Royal Melbourne Hospital on Wednesday (pictured) as they screen hundreds of people for the coronavirus

Help to retain apprentices, $6.7 billion in tax-free money for small business and an expansion of the instant asset write-off will be offered under a Morrison government plan to boost the economy (stock image)

Economists said whether Australia avoids recession will be determined by the length of time coronavirus crisis continues.

Mr Morrison said he is determined to keep economic growth in positive territory.

'Our targeted stimulus package will focus on keeping Australians in jobs and keeping businesses in business so we can bounce back strongly,' Mr Morrison said.

Under the plan, to be unveiled on Thursday, the government will offer up to $7,000 each quarter for each apprentice employed by a small businesses.

This will help small businesses, such as local building firms, retain existing apprentices and trainees.

As well, they will be able to re-employ apprentices and trainees who lose positions because of any coronavirus downturn.

A passenger wearing a mask and gloves arrives at Sydney Airport on Wednesday morning (pictured) as multiple flights were cancelled

Health Minister Greg Hunt, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Australia's Chief Medical Officer Professor Brendan Murphy (pictured, left to right) speak on Wednesday

The wage subsidy is worth about $1.3 billion.

Businesses with turnover under $50 million will have access to a tax-free payment of up to $25,000 to help boost cash flow.

Eligible businesses that withhold tax to the ATO on their employees' wages will receive of 50 per cent of the amount withheld, up to a maximum payment of $25,000.

It's estimated the measure will cost $6.7 billion over four years, benefiting almost 700,000 businesses and 7.8 million workers.

The government will also spend $700 million over four years to expand the instant asset write-off.

Currently, the instant asset write-off allows small businesses - those with an annual turnover of less than $10 million - to claim for new or second-hand equipment up to the cost of $30,000.

The threshold will be raised from $30,000 to $150,000 and expand to businesses with an annual turnover from $50 million to $500 million.

It's expected to drive interest in the purchases of cars, utes and trucks, harvesters and tradies' equipment.

'The government has worked hard over the last six and a half years to return the budget to balance so we have the flexibility to respond to the serious economic challenges posed by the coronavirus,' Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said.

'In our response, we have been very careful not to repeat the mistakes of previous stimulus programs and not undermine the structural integrity of the budget.'

There are calls for changes to Newstart to allow casual workers access to paid sick leave (stock image)

What measures could stimulate economy? Cash handouts to Newstart recipients and pensioners Cash to local councils to bring forward infrastructure projects Tax breaks for businesses buying assets such as machinery Delay payroll tax paid by employers Bring forward bushfire relief payments Changes to Newstart to allow casual workers access to paid sick leave Reduce deeming rates (so pensioners and veterans can receive more government money) Pause in compulsory super payments Advertisement

Meanwhile, Mr Morrison has urged big business to support workers during the coronavirus crisis or risk brand damage.

'I'd be encouraging employers to take a flexible and forward-leaning approach in supporting their employees during this process,' he told reporters in Canberra.

Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese said Labor would support any necessary funding for the virus response.

'The cost of inaction will be far greater than the cost of action,' he said.

Mr Albanese said workforce issues would have to be solved, particularly for health sector staff.

The Australian Council of Trade Unions has demanded the government legislate two weeks of paid leave for all workers to deal with the virus.

According to Sky News, the stimulus package will include $500 one-off payments to pensioners and Newstart recipients.

The stimulus package will total around $20 billion, almost double the $10 billion figure that has been previously speculated.

How is coronavirus affecting the Australian economy? Coronavirus spawned in a market in Wuhan, China in December. Cities were placed on lockdown and factories were shut to halt the spread. In late January the Australian government shut the boarders to people coming from China. This meant that 95,000 students could not get in to the country. Chinese students represent 40% of Australia's international students, meaning the universities have taken a massive hit on fees. Accommodation providers are also under the pump as they lose rental income. The tourism sector including airlines has also been slammed. Normally, 1.3million Chinese tourists come Down Under per year. As the virus spread around Europe and the US, fears of a global recession grew. On 9 March, the Australian stock market suffered its worst day of trading since the GFC. Advertisement

The idea behind handing out cash to those in need is that people will spend it straight away and give struggling businesses a much-needed boost.

Westpac chief economist Bill Evans is expecting the Australian economy to contract by 0.3 per cent in both the March and June quarters of 2020, which would mark the first recession since mid-1991.

Kevin Hassett - a former economic adviser to US President Donald Trump - warned there was a 'pretty close to 100 per cent' chance of a global recession.

The government hopes to ward off an economic downturn with memories still fresh of the financial crash of 2008, which saw 223,900 Australians lose their jobs over six years.

But Mr Morrison slammed Kevin Rudd's Labor government for giving $900 cheques to everyone, including the dead, as part of its $42 billion stimulus in February 2009.

'We saw the mistakes of trying to rush a range of new programs,' he said.

The government is also facing calls to bring forward bushfire relief payments, delay payroll tax obligations and increase the Newstart allowance.

'We will have a very comprehensive and very substantial package designed to support the Australian economy through this economic shock,' he told Sky News on Monday.

A passenger in a facemask is pictured talking to a policeman on Wednesday at Sydney Airport (pictured)

'It's about keeping businesses in business and Australians in jobs.'

However, experts are divided on whether the massive cash boost can help.

Former Rudd economic adviser Andrew Charlton wrote in the Sydney Morning Herald that unlike the financial crash which saw reduced demand, the coronavirus is a supply crisis.

BIS Oxford Economics chief economist Sarah Hunter said giving tax relief to companies may not help.

'The problem with a business investment allowance is that some of that might be spent on new equipment which may face troubles in the supply chain affected by the coronavirus,' she told the AFR.

A passenger is pictured arriving into Sydney Airport on Wednesday with her face hidden by a hat and a face mask (pictured)

CommSec market analyst James Tao said a $10 billion economic stimulus package on its own may be insufficient to properly stimulate the economy as investors feared a recession.

'At this particular point, $10 billion it probably is just a starting point,' he told Daily Mail Australia on Monday.

'Coronavirus concerns alone, some are saying this will lead to a recession or quite a sharp economic slowdown in the economy.'

Mr Frydenberg acknowledged that the response required is 'very different' from that of the 2008 crash.

'Our response is on the supply and demand side,' he told reporters on Monday afternoon.

'That economic response will be substantial. It will be targeted. And it will be focused on supporting those people and those businesses that need our support through this period.'

Travel ban extended to Italy, flights cancelled and routes changed: Everything you need to know about coronavirus and your holiday - and if you'll be refunded as the number of confirmed cases hit 128

By Charlie Coe for Daily Mail Australia

Travel advice for Australians planning international holidays was upgraded on Wednesday as the coronavirus continues to spread.

But while Australians may be keen to cancel their trips, they might not get their money back.

It comes as the coronavirus travel ban was extended to Italy, effective from 6pm on Wednesday.

Qantas customers will be offered fee waivers, which will allow passengers to change bookings made for the rest of this month for flights up to June 30.

Flight crew from Asia arrive at Sydney Airport on Wednesday. Australians who have booked with Qantas will be offered fee waivers to change their flights

Cathay Pacific and Dragon passenger airplanes pictured idle on the tarmac at Hong Kong's Chek Lap Kok International Airport

Qantas planes pictured at Sydney Airport on Tuesday. Australians are risking not being covered for travel plans cancelled because of the coronavirus outbreak if they bought their insurance policies after the outbreak became a 'known event'

Frustrated passengers are seen during technical issues at Sydney Domestic Airport in March 2018. Customers may not get their money back for insured trips if the policy was bought after January 23 - when the coronavirus outbreak became a 'known event'

Passengers may also be eligible for fare waivers if they are no longer able to travel to a country such as China because of immigration restrictions.

'Passengers affected by the flight changes announced yesterday will be re-accommodated on other services,' a Qantas spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia.

CORONAVIRUS CASES IN AUSTRALIA: 27,244 Victoria: 20,269 New South Wales: 4,273 Queensland: 1,161 Western Australia: 692 South Australia: 473 Tasmania: 230 Australian Capital Territory: 113 Northern Territory: 33 TOTAL CASES: 27,244 ESTIMATED ACTIVE CASES: 269 DEATHS: 897 Updated: 5.31 PM, 11 October, 2020 Source: Australian Government Department of Health Advertisement

Qantas became the latest airline to slash flights on Tuesday as the travel industry battles a sharp reduction in bookings amid the spread of the deadly COVID-19 virus.

The Insurance Council of Australia said the key cut-off point for those who bought travel insurance for their trip was January 23 - when the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade first issued travel advice about the coronavirus.

At that point the spread of the disease was considered a 'known event' by insurers.

'If people are travelling and bought their travel insurance before it became a known event... the majority of travel insurance policies should cover people if they contract coronavirus overseas of their trips have to be moved around countries and places,' the council told The Guardian in February.

After the January cut-off date, cancellation costs as a result of pandemics and epidemics are only covered by less than half of insurers.

A passenger in a bright Hawaiian shirt arrives in Sydney wearing a face mask on Wednesday morning

Choice's coronavirus travel insurance review found though just over half of insurers covered medical expenses.

A 'cancel for any reason' add-on is a way around the issue, with travel insurance provider Covermore explicitly saying it will cover costs associated with the coronavirus outbreak.

Qantas customers though will be offered fee waivers, which will allow passengers to change bookings made for the rest of this month for flights up to June 30.

Money expert Effie Zahos told the Today show on Wednesday morning the Qantas flight reductions were good news for customers as the airline was absorbing the cost of cancellation.

MONEY EXPERT'S ADVICE FOR CANCELLED FLIGHTS 'When you hear the boss of Qantas say they have grounded 38 plane that is huge. 'There are planes empty so they will have to be cut. Virgin will be the next one. Can they sustain it? 'Interesting thing for consumers, if flights have been cancelled by the airline you are in a nicer position because they have cancelled it and you could possibly get your money back or definitely book for a later date. 'I know Qantas is having giving its consumers fee waiver when it comes to shuffling flights around. 'That is great for consumers - I know they have been hanging out for airlines to cut the flight so they don't have to lose money. 'It is tough for the airline industry obviously. What they will be focusing on no doubt is travel destination and holiday deals to places that are considered more safe.' Source: Personal finance commentator Effie Zahos on the Today show Advertisement

'If flights have been cancelled by the airline you are in a nicer position because they have cancelled it and you could possibly get your money back or definitely book for a later date,' she said.

For those who have flights booked to mainland China, meanwhile, passengers will be eligible for a full refund.

Many passengers who arrived in Sydney on Wednesday were shocked at the lack of precautions in place to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Cloris Liu was among those to fly in on Wednesday, two weeks after she left China.

Poll Is Australia doing enough to prevent the spread of CORONAVIRUS? Yes No Is Australia doing enough to prevent the spread of CORONAVIRUS? Yes 860 votes

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In that time she has been cooped up in a Thailand hotel as part of the government's third-country quarantine policy.

Ms Liu said she was happy to arrive back in Australia to see her boyfriend, but is not sure why people her aren't treating the threat of COVID-19 more seriously.

'I'm a little bit (concerned) that there's not many people wearing masks, it is like they are not taking it seriously,' she told Daily Mail Australia.

I'm from near Beijing and my city is pretty safe compared to Wuhan province.

'Everyone over there is wearing masks, you have to self-regulate and check out your temperature before you leave the house.

'If you go to a shopping mall they are checking your temperature at the door before you can enter.'

It comes as travel agents have been bombarded with calls and emails from customers concerned about the status of their flight.

Cloris Liu (pictured) flew in from Thailand on Wednesday, two weeks after she left China. She said she was worried that Australians were not taking the threat of coronavirus 'seriously'

A health officer checks the body temperature of a traveller as they prepare to board a flight at Kuta Airport in Bali, Indonesia

McDonald's BANS the use of reusable coffee cups McDonald's has banned the use of reusable coffee cups in a bid to stop the spread of coronavirus. The fast food giant has suspended the use of the environmentally-friendly cups for all of its stores across Australia and New Zealand. 'At McDonald's, the safety of our customers, people and the food and drinks we serve is of the utmost importance,' a McDonald's Australia spokesman said. 'We have made the decision to suspend the use of reusable coffee cups at restaurants across the country at this time.' Advertisement

One travel agent has told customers 'to avoid sending multiple emails or calling' so their staff can keep up with demand.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced the coronavirus travel ban to Italy in a press conference on Wednesday morning.

Australian residents can fly but must self-isolate for two weeks when they land.

The same rules are in place for Iran, South Korea and mainland China.

'The situation in Italy is now commensurate with the other countries where we previously had travel bans put in place, so we'll be extending that travel ban to Italy now,' Scott Morrison said in a press conference on Wednesday morning.

Travel agents have been inundated with calls and emails from frantic passengers trying to find out their flight status

What can Qantas customers do if their flights are cancelled? Qantas are offering fee waivers for bookings made for the rest of the month. Changes must be made at least three days before travel, and travel must start on or before June 30. Those who have booked flights directly with Qantas to mainland China are eligible for a refund. Flights are temporarily suspended until mid-July to mainland China with Qantas. Passengers may also be eligible for fare waivers if they have booked to go to a country. Passengers who are affected by flight changes announced on Tuesday will be re-accommodated on other services. Advertisement

Until now 11 flights a day have landed in Australia with travellers who originated in Italy, which has been placed into total lockdown as it combats more than 10,000 cases of the deadly virus.

Qantas announced drastic cuts to flight numbers on Tuesday. Virgin Australia is yet to follow suit - although the airline cut its flight network by three per cent at the end of last month.

Qantas flight routes to London will be changed and eight of the airline's 12 A380 aircraft will be grounded due to low demand.

Smaller planes will be used for flights and the frequency of travel will be reduced.

Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce - the richest CEO in Australia - has announced he will not take his $23.9 million salary for the next three months, and salaries for the company's executive management team will be cut by 30 per cent.

The biggest change is for flights from Sydney to London - from April 20, Qantas flights will travel to Perth instead of Singapore for stopovers.

The planned Brisbane to Chicago route - expected to begin in April - has been delayed to September.

Qantas flights from Brisbane and Melbourne to San Francisco have been suspended.

Mr Joyce said there had been a 'sharp drop in bookings' across all airlines due to the coronavirus outbreak.
People will be added if they make a voluntary self-admission of gang membership that is recorded on a video or audio device, such as an officers body camera, police said. In addition, a person might be added if two of the following conditions are met: An unrecorded self-admission of gang membership; the wearing of distinctive gang emblems or tattoos; the identification of the person as a gang member by a reliable informant; the use of distinctive gang signs or symbols; being identified as a gang member by another governmental or penal institution; or being arrested, charged or convicted of a crime where gang membership is an element of the offense or is documented in a court record.
Land Force Commanders from allied NATO and partner nations with Poland's General Jaroslaw Mika (C) met to discuss the execution of DEFENDER-Europe 20 during a conference held at the Headquarters of the U.S. Army in Europe in Wiesbaden, Germany, on March 6, 2020. (U.S. Army Europe/Stephen Perez via AP)

US, European Military Commanders Possibly Exposed to Virus

At least two top European military commanders tested positive for the new coronavirus after a conference on an American military base in Germany, and the commander of U.S. Army Europe has isolated himself in case he also was exposed, officials said on March 10.

Lt. Gen. Christopher Cavoli and several staff members from the U.S. garrison in the German city of Wiesbaden went into self-isolation out of an abundance of caution and following recommended protocols, U.S. Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy said Monday.

The possible exposure occurred at a meeting Friday at a land forces commanders conference that U.S. Army Europe hosted in Wiesbaden, spokesman John Tomassi confirmed Tuesday.

Tomassi would not say who was thought to have been carrying the virus at the time of the conference, but two participants have since said they tested positive for it.

Police officers and soldiers check passengers leaving from Milans main train station, Italy, on March 9, 2020. (Antonio Calanni/AP Photo)

The infection was commander of Polands armed forces, Gen. Jaroslaw Mika, was found infected once he returned home, the Polish Defense Ministry said.

The ministry said Mika, 57, feels well and that everyone with him on the trip to Wiesbaden has been quarantined.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, though, for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia.

According to the World Health Organization, people with mild COVID-19 disease recover in about two weeks and those with more severe illnesses may take three to six weeks to recover, but the vast majority of patients will recover.

Italys RAI television quoted Italian Army Chief of Staff General Salvatore Farina saying he also was fine after testing positive for the virus upon his return from the conference.

I am in isolation in my apartment, in compliance with the directives issued by the government authorities and with the health protocols, Farina said.

He said authorities were looking to identify people with whom he had contact in the past few days.

A test tube in an illustration picture. (Dado Ruvic/Reuters)

The coronavirus outbreak was not an agenda item of the annual gathering in Germany, but it came up in the context of how to protect the thousands of Americans and other troops gathering in Europe for the Defender Europe 20 exercise, Tomassi said.

Right now, theres no impact to Defender 20 that we have determined, he said. But that could change any day, and were monitoring and continuing to evaluate the situation.

The U.S. Army Europe-hosted conference in Wiesbaden brought together 24 senior military representatives from NATO, the European Union, Belgium, Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Georgia, Great Britain, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Romania, and the United States.

By David Rising
Josh Edelson/AFP via Getty

The blue dot appeared on the door of Jim Lemaire and Helga Myles cabin aboard the Grand Princess cruise ship over the weekend.

The Nevada couple soon found out it meant they could not go out on deck and were confined to their stateroom, a windowless box 10 feet long by 12 feet wide by 7 feet tall where theyve remained since 2 p.m. Thursday.

They werent told why they and some other passengers had been targeted for extra coronavirus quarantine measuresand as their cruise finally ends at a heavily guarded pier at the Port of Oakland, there are plenty of other unanswered questions.

The couple, neither of whom are sick or suffering any symptoms, dont know exactly when they will disembark from the ocean liner, where they will be sent for on-land quarantine, or whether the time they have spent on board will count towards the two-week isolation period. They also don't know if theyll be able to leave together, or be quarantined in the same place when they do.

But the real mystery, Lemaire said, is why the ship was ordered to idle off the coast of California since Wednesday before being allowed to dock in Oakland on Monday, taking on food and supplies via helicopter and Coast Guard ships.

I understand why they didnt want the optics of the death ship cruising into SF but they could have gone ahead and let us dock, Lemaire told The Daily Beast via a WhatsApp call on Monday.

It Failed: Cruise Ship Coronavirus Snafus Stoke Fears of Global Pandemic

Twenty-one of the 3,500 people on the San Francisco-to-Hawaii cruise have tested positive for COVID-10; 19 of them are crew members. Fewer than 100 passengers have been tested.

President Trump said earlier in the week that he did not want the ship to disgorge passengers because it would instantly inflate the number of people on U.S. soil with the new coronavirus. That did not sit well with Jim Lemaire, a healthy 59-year-old, who has been following the crisis on cable TV and internet provided free in his cabin since the quarantine began.

Story continues

He's very insensitive to the actual plight of sick passengers on board, Lemaire said of Trump. I don't see how leaving us out at sea helps the situation, unless he's willing to scuttle the ship with the passengers and crew on board."

Early Monday, workers in haz-mat suits began knocking on doors to conduct health assessments. Passengers cheered as the ship pulled into the Oakland port just after 11 a.m. Pacific time, the nightmare only one step closer to being over.

Another Cruise Ship Investigates Potential Coronavirus Outbreak

No one getting off the Grand Princess will be free to go home. Anyone sick will be sent to a California medical facility, and California residents without symptoms will be transported to two military bases in the state for the two-week quarantine. Passengers who dont live in California will end up at bases in Texas and Georgia, authorities have said. Crew will be quarantined on the vessel.

Everyone will be tested.

Lemaire, an Air Force veteran, is looking forward to stretching his legsvigorous walks help him ward off ventricular tachycardiaand a cool breeze.

Throughout the cruise this stateroom has been running on the warm side despite the fact that the thermostat is turned all the way down, he said via email earlier. This hasnt been an issue since we could go cool off on deck or in public areas. Stateroom confinement has been like living in Central Massachusetts in the summer time with no AC.

Remarkably, Lemaire said the ordeal has not turned him off cruising.

I dont have any reservations about cruises, he said. Right now theres stigma attached to it, and your cruises can go sideways, and in the future, the cruise industry is going to have to figure out what to do in situations like this.

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President Vladimir Putin insisted on Wednesday that Russia will weather the economic storm triggered by its oil standoff with Saudi Arabia and come out "stronger".

"I am sure that Russia will get through this turbulent period with dignity, calmly," Putin said during a meeting with investors.

"There are all the chances for Russia's key industrial sectors to come out of this situation much stronger and ready for very serious competition," Putin added.

"This will effect the Russian economy in a positive way," he said. Moscow last week failed to agree on oil production cuts within OPEC+, its alliance with the Saudi-led Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries.

Russia's stock exchange fell sharply on Tuesday along with the Russian ruble, its first trading day after a long holiday weekend, playing catch up with "Black Monday" when oil prices and stock markets around the world plummeted after Riyadh announced production boosts and unilateral price cuts.

The Russian leader said he is confident that the government and Central Bank have "enough instruments and enough resources to maintain stability." He praised those present at the meeting, which included the CEO of internet giant Yandex, Arkady Volozh, for working in "strategic" innovative sectors.

"We will do everything to create the conditions for your work, to guarantee your investments, to ensure their safety and minimise various risks," he said.

Russia's Energy Minister Alexander Novak on Wednesday said Moscow is continuing telephone negotiations with "many ministers" of OPEC and non-OPEC countries, but didn't elaborate on any details or announce a new meeting.

The minister added that he plans to meet with Russian oil producers Thursday, to discuss the market situation and any planned production increases.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
What role has fundamentalism played in the Church of Christ hermeneutic regarding the role of women in the church?

In my article last week I discussed the role of women in Churches of Christ. I explored how the public, populist hermeneutic born out of the movement that continues to this day has never accomplished what it was intended to, which was lead to a plain meaning of the text. You can read the whole article and a brief history of Churches of Christ here. https://www.christianitytoday.com/scot-mcknight/2020/march/kelly-edmiston-and-women-in-churches-of-christ.html?fbclid=IwAR0jaFnpCQ9iINYgjRJU6XFiTBazjGZeXBDXxDbWNxLgxz5mV73vXgYVtOo

In this article, I will examine the inverse correlation between fundamentalism and women leading in public roles in the church. In short, as fundamentalism was on the rise, women in leadership plummeted.

What is Christian fundamentalism?:

A cultural and theological war on theological liberalism that began around 1919. (Encyclopedia of the Stone-Campbell Movement, p. 345)

A reaction against modernism that led to: A rejection of a critical/historical approach to the bible A belief that the authority of Scripture meant that the bible was incapable of error. (Ibid. 345) A Rejection of Evolutionary Theory A criticism of womens suffrage that would take women out of the home. A criticism that birth control would undermine the family. (https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/25/opinion/the-day-christian-fundamentalism-was-born.html)



It is clear that at the beginning of the Restoration Movement, women led in public roles. Here are a few names you can research.

Mary T. Graft

Mary Morrison

Mary Ogle

Mary Stogdill

Ellen Grant Gustin

Emi B. Frank

Melissa Garrett Terrell

Laura G. Garst

Mary L. Adams

Josephine W. Mith

Clara Hale Babcock

Jessi Coleman Monser

Sadie McCoy Crank

Bertha Mason Fuller

Clara Epsy Hazelrigg

(The Encylopedia of the Stone/Campbell Movement, page 777)

All of these women were publicly ordained and many served as evangelists and missionaries. They performed baptisms in the assembly, planted churches and preached sermons. As the Movement split into Churches of Christ/Disciples/Christian Churches, and by the end of the 20th century, women leading in public roles in Churches of Christ had almost disappeared. Why?

As one Church of Christ historian puts it:

The decline of women serving in public roles was due to the churchs strong relationship to the ideals of the emerging fundamentalist movementas both an intellectual and a popular movement because of gender and family issues. Fundamentalist periodicals glorified the domestic sphere, using select scriptures repeatedly (e.g. 1 Cor. 14:34-35 and 1 Tim. 2:11-15) to mandate that women remain silent in the church (Ibid, 779).

Consider common magazines of the time propagating the fundamentalist ideal of a woman. She is in the kitchen, at the stove and triumphing over the traditional role that she has (clearly) chosen. [Consider the image of this post.]

This fundamentalist ideal fits perfectly within the hermeneutical framework of denying women leadership roles. In this framework, women do not lead prayers or preach sermons. Instead, she is content to stay home and to cook and clean for her family. This is her God-ordained role.

Here is the problem. Since the beginning, Churches of Christ, have insisted that their doctrine and church practice were derived directly from the first century church. This is why many Churches of Christ today still insist on acapella music (we dont see that the early Christians used instruments in worship). Some Churches of Christ also insist on not having kitchens in the church building and not having bible class. The reason is that they dont see that the early church had kitchens or bible class. Churches of Christ observe the Lords Supper every week because they believe that the early church did. They practice baptism by immersion only because this is the model they see in the early church. But Churches of Christ have failed to draw their doctrine and practice concerning the role of women from the first century church and instead have allowed fundamentalism to be the driving force behind their hermeneutic. If they were to believe what they say they believe, they would not have neglected these notable first century models for women in leadership.

Junia:

Junia is the first and only woman in Scripture to be explicitly identified as an apostle. Apostles travelled, taught and evangelized all over the first century world. Paul, Timothy, Barnabas Silas and Apollos were all apostles, as were Andronicus and Junia.

Romans 16:7, Greet Andronicus and Junia, my fellow Jews who have been in prison with me. They are outstanding among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was.

Phoebe:

Phoebe is identified as a deacon, which in the New Testament refers to a teacher and leader in the church. Deaconess is not a word in the Greek. We made that one up.

Many scholars (including Scot McKnight) believe that Phoebe was the courier for the letter to the Romans. Since couriers were charged with the responsibility to explain the letters, Phoebe probably read the letter aloud and answered questions the Roman Christians may have had. Therefore Phoebe was the first to commentate on the letter to the Romans. Romans 16:1

Tabitha:

Tabitha is described with the feminine form of the word disciplemathetria. The word literally means pupil, or apprentice, which may suggest that at some point, Tabitha studied directly under Jesus, like Mary of Bethany. Acts 9:36

Prayer Leaders and Prophets:

Paul assumes that women are praying and prophesying in the church, which is why he instructs them on how to do so with propriety. And every woman who prays or prophecies with her head uncovered dishonors her head-it is just as though her head were shaved. If a woman does not cover her head (while praying and prophesying), she should have her hair cut off, and if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut or shaved off, she should cover her head.

1 Corinthians 11:5-6 parenthesis added.

Instead of looking at the apostolic church as a guide for the appropriate role of women in the church, Churches of Christ have allowed fundamentalism to become the driving force behind their hermeneutic.

Christa Sanders Bryant is a good example of this. You can read her view on womens roles here. https://christianchronicle.org/should-women-preach-mixed-gender/ Women like Sanders Bryant are common in Churches of Christ in the south where fundamentalism is still the weapon of choice for waging war on liberalism. These women, in large part, gave up their own careers or education to be stay at home moms and home-school their children. They fear that their children could be exposed to sex education or evolutionary theory in public schools. Fundamentalism today is still rejecting a /historical approach to reading the bible. Fundamentalism today fuels the patriarchal worldview that leads women to submit first to their fathers and then to their husbands spiritual headship based on Ephesians 5:23, and the fact that Adam was created first, because this is the way to salvage the decline of family life in America.

However, fundamentalism is not the problem. The problem is in failing to admit the role of fundamentalism in interpreting the text and instead calling it representative of the first century church.

If women like Christa Sanders Bryant are financially privileged enough to stay home, home-school their children, and pursue a Masters degree while never planning to use that knowledge in a mixed gender setting, that is fine. Good luck to Sanders Bryant on finding an all- female college classroom to teach in! But that is her choice.

If women like Christa Sanders Bryant, (and lots of others who hold to complementarian values), admit the role of fundamentalism in interpreting the text, they might say something like this,

We acknowledge that there were many first century women who served in a host of public roles including apostles, leaders and preachers. (Not to mention the examples in the OT). This is why the Stone/Campbell movement began with many women leaders. However, it is our experience today, as we fight liberalism with fundamentalism, that leads us to interpret the bible with a belief that these public roles are reserved for men only, and that women are better suited to follow, submit and support the men.

It is time that Churches of Christ believe what they say they believe. If the movement is to represent the apostolic church, they are missing the mark on women in leadership. If the movement is to be a branch of Christian fundamentalism, they are on the right track.
If Elon Musk ever visits Beaver Dam, hell have a place to charge his Cybertruck.

Officials held a ribbon cutting Tuesday to introduce new electric car charging stations at 810 Park Ave. just off a major highway junction. There are two level 2 chargers and two level 3 chargers, with level 3 chargers being much faster and able to charge a car to 80 percent battery level in about 40 minutes.

They are believed to be the only level 3 chargers in between the Madison area and the Fox Valley. Mapping websites list just a handful of public chargers in Dodge County, though electric car owners can also install chargers at their homes.

More drivers are choosing to drive electric vehicles, so the need for more and more convenient charging stations is growing rapidly, said David de Leon, president of Alliant Energy in Wisconsin. He said Alliant is devoting significant resources to more sustainable energy sources and that the chargers will allow the company to collect information about usage patterns.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 11)  The Medical City in Pasig, which has admitted eight patients with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), said Wednesday it will remain open to all patients after a leaked internal memorandum said it will stop accepting suspected infections.

The Medical City (TMC), ever so proud of its epidemic rapid response team as well as its entire hospital staff, will remain open to all patients who deserve our care, for as long as our capacity to do so allows it, hospital president Eugenio Jose Ramos said in a statement.

Ramos said in addition to the eight COVID-19 patients, its emergency department also handled 32 people with viral infection, which exceeded the daily load that [their] healthcare frontliners have to attend to in the emergency department.

He said healthcare staff exposed to COVID-19 patients must be isolated for 14 days, a requirement which he said would put a strain on staff and resources.

Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto earlier told CNN Philippines that TMC will begin referring COVID-19 patients to other hospitals after testing.

Sotto said he met with the medical director of the hospital and he was assured that The Medical City is on "normal" operations and will entertain all patients.

"Kapag mayroong PUI ng COVID-19, ang protocol po nila ngayon is they will swab and test the patient. Hindi po totoo na ire-refuse nila. They will go through the necessary protocol then they will refer to another hospital or home quarantine, depende po sa kaso," he said.

[Translation: If there is a person under investigation for COVID-19, the hospital's protocol now is to take a swab from the patient and send it for testing. It's not true they are refusing patients. They will undergo the necessary protocol then they will refer the patient to another hospital or send them to do home quarantine based on their situation.]

Eight of the 33 coronavirus cases in the country are currently admitted in The Medical City. This includes an 86-year-old American male who remains in critical condition.

Among the eight TMC patients is an 86-year-old American male who remains in critical condition. They are among the 33 people who tested positive for the virus.

The Department of Health's guidelines state that all hospitals with an internal care unit and specialist doctors cannot refuse those with suspected or diagnosed with COVID-19. Only patients that are in critical condition shall be referred to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM), San Lazaro Hospital, or Lung Center of the Philippines.
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She welcomed a son named Callum Michael Rebel with her fiance Steve Kazee a week ago.

And Jenna Dewan candidly revealed she was 'so happy' as she shared a picture of herself breastfeeding her newborn baby on Tuesday.

The Step Up actress, 39, looked blissfully happy while nursing the infant, smiling at the camera during the afternoon feed.

New mother: Jenna Dewan candidly revealed she was 'so happy' as she shared a picture of herself breastfeeding her baby on Tuesday

Jenna has been keeping it real thus far during her pregnancy journey and will undoubtedly continue to be as honest with her experience of motherhood.

She also uploaded a snap of her newborn's feet as she spent a quiet day with her baby.

The star announced earlier in the day that her baby had arrived, posting a first look at her bundle of joy from her hospital bed.

'And just like that, our hearts exploded into all of eternity and beyond Welcome to the world you little angel!  Callum Michael Rebel Kazee 3/6/20,' the beauty said in her caption.

New arrival: The star announced earlier in the day that her baby had arrived, posting a first look at her bundle of joy from her hospital bed

From daddy: Steve also took to social media to share a sweet post that was very similar to Jenna's. He wrote, 'In an instant our universe burst wide open and nothing would ever be the same. Welcome to earth star child. Callum Michael Rebel Kazee 3/6/20'

In the black and white image, the star is perfectly made up with arched brows as she shows off a fresh manicure.

Jenna is seen holding the baby closely to her chest, with the tiny tot wearing a little cap.

Steve, 44, also took to social media to share a sweet post that was very similar to Jenna's.

He wrote: 'In an instant our universe burst wide open and nothing would ever be the same. Welcome to earth star child. Callum Michael Rebel Kazee 3/6/20.'

Happy couple: Jenna and Steve are pictured together in October 2019 in Los Angeles

Steve on his Instagram Story also explained their son's name.

'We've had lots of questions about the name we chose for the little peanut so figured I would share a few things,' he posted for his roughly 160,000 followers on Instagram.

He explained that Callum was Galic for dove reflecting their baby's 'sweet and peaceful' disposition, while Michael was after his middle name and Rebel honored his mother Reba, whose father from a young age called her Rebel.

Name questions: Steve on his Instagram Story also explained their son's name after getting lots of questions about it.

Gaelic word: They named their baby Callum because it is Gaelice for Dove reflecting his 'sweet and peaceful' disposition

Middle name: Michael is also Steve's middle name

Honoring mom: Rebel was used to honor Steve's mother Reba who 'from a very young age' was called Rebel by her father

Full name: The Tony Award-winning actor answered the questions about their baby's name

Jenna has not been seen in public since late February and had been lying low until the birth.

Kazee proposed to Dewan during her crystal-laden baby shower in February.

Jenna's custom, oval diamond engagement ring is 2.5-3 carats and costs between $50,000-$100,000 according to estimates.

It was specially crafted for the actress by Twilight alum Nikki Reed's sustainable jewelry company, BaYou with Love.

I do! Kazee proposed to Dewan during her crystal-laden baby shower in February

Jenna announced in September that she was expecting a child with her partner.

This is baby number one for Steve, but second child to Dewan, who shares six-year-old daughter Everly with her ex-husband Channing Tatum.

Dewan's ex-husband of nine years is reportedly 'very happy' for his former wife and her new man.

'Jenna has a special place in his heart since she is the mother of their [six-year-old daughter Everly],' an insider told E! News.

Uniquely hers: Kazee had the engagement ring specially crafted for the actress by Twilight alum Nikki Reed's sustainable jewelry company, BaYou with Love

Dewan first met Kazee in 2012 while backstage at Manhattan's Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre where the Tony-winning thespian was performing his hit Broadway musical, Once.

They didn't begin dating until March 2018, seven months before the former back-up dancer filed for divorce from her ex-husband Channing Tatum, which was finalised November 20.

Tatum has moved on from Jenna with pop-star Jessie J.

The 39-year-old actor and the Price Tag songstress ended their 13-month relationship back in December, but got back together in January.
A watchdog group has asked Congress to investigate Betsy DeVos as to whether she knew about her brothers plans after it was claimed he hired spies to infiltrate a teachers union.

The New York Times reported on Saturday that Ms DeVos brother Erik Prince, hired an ex-spy to help him infiltrate a Michigan-based office of the union, the American Federation of Teachers.

Accountable.US wrote to the US House committee on oversight and reform on Tuesday and asked them to investigate the claims.

In regards to what Mr Prince has ben accused of, a spokesperson for Ms DeVos told Politico: Secretary DeVos has absolutely nothing to do with this.

In their letter, Accountable.US requested that the committee investigate whether Ms DeVos was involved in efforts to recruit former intelligence officers to spy on the activities of the American Federation of Teachers.

The watchdog group went on to accuse Ms DeVos and her husband of having previously funded an organisation attempting to discredit teachers unions.

DeVos and her husband have previously funded at least one organisation in Michigan which targeted unionised teachers with advertising campaigns and encouraged them to drop out of their unions. said the letter.

The group, who describe themselves as a nonpartisan watchdog group that is uncompromising in our search for the truth, go on to say in the letter that it is in the publics best interest that Ms DeVos is investigated.

Recommended 18 states sue Betsy DeVos for delaying rules meant to protect students

We believe it is in the best interest of Americas children, parents, and teachers for them to understand exactly what steps Betsy DeVos has taken behind the scenes to try to discredit teachers unions who advocate for strong public schools, wrote the group.

Ms DeVos has a fraught relationship with teachers and their unions and in 2018 told Fox Business Mornings With Maria that teachers are very protective of what they know, and they are protective, really protective, of adult jobs and not really focused on what is right for individual students.
Manama

The Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (SCIA) praised the directives of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa to combat coronavirus (COVID-19) and cover the expenses of Bahraini citizens who are still abroad because of the virus.

It also lauded the unrelenting efforts spearheaded by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Premier, to take the necessary preventive measures against the virus.

The council also commended in its regular meeting, which was chaired yesterday by Shaikh Abdulrahman bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Khalifa, the dedicated efforts, professionalism and credibility of the National Task Force for Combating Coronavirus (COVID-19) which earned the kingdom international praise.

It expressed confidence in the ability of the Kingdom of Bahrain to overcome the challenge, contain the virus and prevent its spread. It wished the infected people a speedy recovery, praying Allah the Almighty to protect Bahrain and its people and bless them and all Muslims with abundant good health and security.

The council stressed the need to co-operate with the competent authorities and abide by their health and regulatory instructions, calling on all to show solidarity.

It also underlined support to the temporary preemptive measures taken by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to protect Umrah performers and visitors of the Holy Mosque of Prophet Mohammed from the virus.

Then, the council approved plans for the years 2021-2022 and got informed about the estimated budget prepared by the Secretariat General to carry out those programmes.

The councils Secretary General presented a briefing on the general tenders to implement the projects approved by the council as part of a scheme to build mosques. The council decided to refer the issue to the mosques follow-up committee to evaluate the tenders and take the necessary procedures.
- Two men deported from the United States in August 2019 say they are not from Sierra Leone, the country they were deported to

- Saren Idaho and Prince Latoya were deported after being convicted of committing crimes in the US

- The deportees are claiming they are originally from the Caribbean, but the US disputed the claim

The United States deported two men to Sierra Leone six months ago, but the deportees claimed that they have no origin whatsoever with the African country.

Saren Idaho and Prince Latoya claimed they are originally from the Caribbean, a claim the United States disputed.

Fifty-five-year-old Idaho, who is a father of two children, said he had never been to the country until he was deported there from the US.

Idaho and Latoya were deported in August 2019, along with 17 Sierra Leoneans, among other West Africans, who had been convicted of committing crimes in the US.

BBC reports that the director for the Americas and the Pacific at the foreign ministry in Sierra Leone, Isha Sillah, said US officials put staff at Sierra Leone's embassy in Washington DC under pressure to accept the deportees as Sierra Leoneans.

Legit.ng gathers that Latoya, who claims he is originally from the Bahamas, said: "The Sierra Leone government are like puppets to the Americans.

"America forged documents to bring me here claiming this to be my country of citizenship. And I know I was not born in this country.

"I am from the Commonwealth of Dominica. What is so hard about returning to the US?"

Idaho and Latoya are now staying in a hotel in Sierra Leone.

Saren Idaho and Prince Latoya. Photo credit: BBC

Source: UGC

In other news, a Nigerian lady has expressed excitement after being given United States citizenship at a time other nationals seeking to be residents of the North American country are banned from applying for such.

The lady identified as Crystal Evuleocha said she and 5,009 other applicants from 104 countries became citizens of the US by naturalisation on Tuesday, February 25.

Evuleocha graduated from the University of Houston after travelling to the North American country all by herself when she was 17.

The Nigerian and US national took to her LinkedIn page to make the disclosure, saying she is a proud Nigerian who will never forget her heritage.

She said: "I am a proud Nigerian born immigrant to the US. Check the stats we are crushing every sector and Im proud to be Nigerian First and I will never forget my heritage."

NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng We have updated to serve you better

Which country would you leave Nigeria for? | Legit TV

Source: Legit.ng
After Jyotiraditya Scindia quit



the Congress, around 10,000 of its office-bearers have resigned from the party in Madhya Pradesh and several more are likely to do so, a former leader of the grand old party claimed on Wednesday.

The ruling Congress, however, refuted this claim and said the supporters of Scindia were creating pressure on other leaders to leave the party.

Scindia quit the Congress on Tuesday and joined the BJP in the presence of party chief J P Nadda in Delhi on Wednesday.

"About 10,000 office-bearers of the Congress in Madhya Pradesh- from state-level to block-level, including some district presidents, have resigned from the Congress since Tuesday morning owing their allegiance to Scindia ji," former state Congress spokesman Pankaj Chaturvedi, who also quit the party along with Scindia, told PTI on Wednesday.

"More leaders will resign from the party soon," he claimed.

The district presidents of Guna, Sagar, Ashok Nagar, Gwalior, Indore, Shivpuri and some other districts have resigned from the party, Chaturvedi, a staunch Scindia supporter, said.

State Congress spokesman Narendra Saluja told PTI that Scindia supporters are pressurising the leaders to resign from the party.

He also said that the party office-bearers have not resigned in such large numbers.

"Whoever resigned, did so under pressure from Scindia supporters. They are creating pressure on the party leaders. If he was so popular, then why did he lose the Guna Lok Sabha seat last year?" Saluja asked.

He said Scindia would soon come to know the reality of his leadership after spending some time in BJP.

On Tuesday, 22 Congress MLAs from Madhya Pradesh resigned soon after Scindia quit the party. The development reduced the Congress government in the state to minority.

The BJP on Tuesday night shifted its MLAs to Manesar at Gurugram in Haryana, while Congress shifted its legislators to Jaipur on Wednesday morning amid ongoing political tug-of- war.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
ALBANY - Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo and state lawmakers are working on paid sick leave legislation that would ensure employees are compensated for time off should they be forced to quarantine for 14 days.

Cuomo said Wednesday that revisions in the legislation should enable employees in the private sector be paid throughout the length of a quarantine should an individual be placed in mandatory or precautionary quarantine.

Assembly Speaker Carl E. Heastie told reporters on Tuesday that a vote on the legislation could come as early as next week.

During his State of the State in January, Cuomo proposed that businesses with five to 99 employees should provide at least five days of job-protected paid sick leave per year, and businesses with 100 or more employees should provide at least seven paid sick days. Employers with fewer than five employees would provide workers with five days of job-protected, unpaid sick leave.

State employees jobs will be protected and employees will be paid throughout any quarantine period, Cuomo said.

New York state will pay any person who is quarantined who is an employee of New York state, he said. So if youre on mandatory quarantine or precautionary quarantine, you will be paid if you are a state employee.

However, the growing number of coronavirus cases in New York has thrust the need for timely passage of paid sick leave for private and nonprofit employers into the spotlight. There are more than 200 confirmed cases in the state, Cuomo said during a news conference Wednesday afternoon.

The coronavirus highlights just how important paid sick time is, said Cassandra Gomez, an attorney at A Better Balance, an advocacy group that has helped craft paid sick leave legislation across the country. New York, one of the states with the most known cases of COVID-19, is in a declared state of emergency. With the possibility of schools and businesses closing their doors to prevent further spread of the virus, providing sick leave for all workers is an important step that must be taken.

Those who work in retail, food or hospitality industries often are not provided with paid sick days, and proponents argue the measure would improve public health and work conditions. Some minimum-wage and part-time workers risk losing their jobs if they take sick time, opting instead to go to work ill.

Albany County attempted to pass a paid sick leave law last year, but it was thwarted by businesses and nonprofit organizations, which argued the provisions should be instituted on a state level. New York City and Westchester County both have paid sick day legislation on the books.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said conversations are ongoing as to the final legislation, but stressed that lawmakers want to ease some of this uncertainty.

Conversations around mandatory quarantines and how that would impact peoples ability to earn a living, and then what happens to the place of business where that person is working ... we have to look at so many different things, she said.

The coronavirus provision sought by Cuomo mirrors legislation on the federal level that Democrats are pushing to ensure two weeks of emergency sick leave for workers. Congress is scheduled to debate the federal legislation on Thursday.

Stewart-Cousins said shes sure government at all levels are coordinating on the language.

Its just not our situation, its a national situation, she said. So to the extent that we can coordinate our efforts just as we did around 9/11, the reality is that this is bigger than us and we all have to be in it together.

Blue Carreker, campaign manager for Citizen Action of New York, said the state is already far behind as COVID-19 looms large and urged that lawmakers not forget the overall goal of paid sick leave.

We have a crisis that everybody faces now trying to deal with the COVID-19 virus, but were doing so before we have established a basic right to paid sick days for all workers in this state, Carreker said. There is an attempt to address all this at the same. We believe that both concerns are very important, but we dont want the strong basic tenants of paid sick leave days - which have been established around the country - to be lost in this rush to address the virus.
A former governor of Kano State, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has accused President Muhammadu Buhari of masterminding the dethronement of the Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi ll.

Mr Kwankwaso, who appointed Mr Sanusi ll as the Emir of Kano in 2014, told BBC Hausa on Wednesday that Kano State government officials have been saying they were directed to dethrone Mr Sanusi ll. He (Buhari) instructed them.

He alleged that, contrary to what Mr Buharis close associate are saying, that he is not interfering in the crisis, what we believe here in Kano is, he (Buhari) intervenes where he wishes.

Mr Kwankwaso said Mr Buhari interferes in Kano issues and that he doesnt interfere where his intervention is needed, but intervenes on issues he is supposed to be neutral about.

The federal government is yet to officially react to the dethronement of Mr Sanusi. However, Mr Buhari had earlier said he doesnt have the constitutional mandate to interfere in the crisis between Governor Abdullahi Ganduje and Mr Sanusi ll.

The former governor described the dethronement of the deposed emir of Kano as a sad incident to Kano, Nigeria and entire world. He said The emir (Sanusi ll) is the global citizen.

According to him no responsible government would dethrone Mr Sanusi ll.

Mr Kwankwaso has also dismissed the allegation that he queried Mr Sanusi ll twice during his tenure as governor. I have never issued a query to His Highness, (the) Emir of Kano.

The politician also denied the allegation that Kwankwasiyya loyalists have contributed to fuelling the crisis between Messrs Ganduje and Sanusi ll. He said they only stand with the truth.

He said to the best of his knowledge, as the government officials said, Mr Sanusis sin to Mr Ganduje according to them, was the monarchs statement that whoever wins Kano 2019 governorship election should be given his mandate.

Mr Kwankwaso also lamented what he described as the humiliation of the deposed monarch as a disrespect to the Kano people.

PREMIUM TIMES could not verify Mr Kwankwasos allegation as the spokespersons of Mr Buhari, Garba Shehu and Femi Adesina did not pick their calls and were yet to respond to text messages sent to them, as at the time of filing this report.

Kano State Government, on Monday, dethroned Mr Sanusi ll and banished him to Nasarawa State. The government has since appointed former Emir of Bichi, Aminu Ado Bayero, as his successor.

On Tuesday, A B Mahmoud, counsel to Mr Sanusi ll, gave the state government a 24-hour ultimatum to release the deposed emir from illegal detention or face legal action.
Phyllis Dubetsky, who has an extensive background in journalism and print media, and has completed her new book Stepping Stones": an adventurous tale that details the spur-of-the-moment decision of Gladys to leave her comfortable life in Florida for something more.

Dubetsky writes, "It was as if a new world had opened up for her. The moment she lowered her head below the surface of the water, her face mask fastened, the breathing tube secured in her mouth, she entered a different dimension, which, looking from above, she could never have imagineda silent atmosphere of undulating plant life and remarkably colored tropical fish, all suspended in a blue, blue universe. Bennett had directed her to a small inlet on the beach about fifty yards south of where rows of shaded lounge chairs and canvas cabanas dotted the sands. A weathered wooden pier jutted out a short distance into the sea. She could hear the faint sounds of island music, no doubt provided by the resorts, piped in to entertain the few tourists that were present at this time of year. She felt a moment of pure contentment."

Published by Page Publishing, Phyllis Dubetsky's intriguing work explores the complex relationship between a woman and her adult children.

Gladys bravely followed her heart and found a new love in her new paradise. Readers will be inspired by this story of a woman following her purpose and not letting the expectations of others hold her back.

Readers who wish to experience this exciting work can purchase Stepping Stones" at bookstores everywhere, or online at the Apple iTunes Store, Amazon, Google Play, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or media inquiries, contact Page Publishing at 866-315-2708.

About Page Publishing:

Page Publishing is a traditional, full-service publishing house that handles all of the intricacies involved in publishing its authors books, including distribution in the worlds largest retail outlets and royalty generation. Page Publishing knows that authors need to be free to create  not bogged down with complicated business issues like eBook conversion, establishing wholesale accounts, insurance, shipping, taxes, and the like. Its roster of authors can leave behind these tedious, complex, and time-consuming issues, and focus on their passion: writing and creating. Learn more at http://www.pagepublishing.com.
The New Jersey resident who tested positive for coronavirus after attending last months Conservative Political Action Conference near Washington is recovering, the group said Tuesday.

The American Conservative Union (ACU) which puts on the annual conference at National Harbor in Maryland, said the patient showed no signs of illness during his time there.

Attendees heard from President Donald Trump, Vice President Mike Pence and other top administration officials.

The group said a family representative asked that the attendees be told: Our family appreciates the good wishes, prayers and respect of privacy during this time.

The patient, a 55-year-old man from Englewood, was tested after returning to New Jersey from the conference and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed he had been infected with COVID-19.

He is one of 15 people so far in New Jersey who have tested positive for the coronavirus. One person, a 69-year-old man from Bergen County, died Tuesday.

The conservative group said the person infected during the conference did not go into the main ballroom, where Trump and others spoke, and had limited his interactions to very few people.

Anyone who had direct contact with him or had been in the same room has been contracted personally by the ACU. No one else at the conference has tested positive for the virus, the group said.

While this has undoubtedly been a challenge for us all, we should be thankful that nobody else has tested positive for coronavirus at this time and encourage you to join us in keeping the one person who is sick in our prayers, the group said.

White House spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham said Monday that Trump had not been tested because he has neither had prolonged close contact with any known confirmed COVID-19 patients, nor does he have any symptoms.

If you would like updates on New Jersey-specific coronavirus news, subscribe to our Coronavirus in N.J. newsletter.

Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JDSalant or on Facebook. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.

Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips. Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters.
AUSTIN, Texas - Dallas County completed the recount of missing ballots from last weeks primary and the results showed local races were not affected, elections officials announced.

The Dallas Morning News reported that the 9,149 missing ballots were counted Wednesday morning from 44 machines not included in the previous tally. The recount showed an increase of 6,818 votes for the Democratic Primary and 2,331 for the Republican Primary.

Dallas County Election Administrator Toni Pippins-Poole requested the recount when she noticed a difference in numbers between the number of voters signed in and the number of ballots received. State District Judge Emily Tobolowsky approved the request Tuesday.

Including mail-in and provisional ballots, Democratic turnout for the primary amounted to 18.1% and 6.4% for Republicans.

Pippins-Poole said in a release that the results will be made publicly available on the departments website and are still considered unofficial until both parties have canvassed the results.
LAKE HAVASU CITY, Ariz.  An Arizona school suspended about 50 students after they held a demonstration to protest the dismissal of a teacher.

The students at Telesis Preparatory Academy in Lake Havasu City were each suspended from the school for one day, Todays News-Herald reported.

The students from grades seven through 12 called their protest Caps for Capps after teacher Chassie Capp, who was dismissed from her position Sunday.

The suspensions were made because the student sit-in clogged a hallway in front of Capps classroom door, Telesis Superintendent Sandy Breece said.

All of us at Telesis support childrens rights to freedom of speech and the right to assemble peacefully, Breece said. But they were blocking a hallway outside a classroom. It became a safety issue.

The demonstration occurred after Breece refused to provide the students with an explanation for Capps dismissal.

Capp has taught math and psychology at Telesis for four years.

When I turned in my intent form, I said that I didnt intend to return to Telesis as a teacher for the 2020-21 school year, Capp said, adding that she was puzzled by Breeces decision to immediately dismiss her.

She called me on Sunday and told me Im not a team player, to not return and to leave my keys in the drop box, Capp said.

Breece would not discuss school personnel matters, but confirmed in an email that three teachers were dismissed during the 2019-2020 school year.
Ben Affleck was placed on a 'red flag list' by Harvey Weinstein, who feared the actor was speaking to journalists about the disgraced Hollywood producer's sexual misconduct with women, unsealed court documents have revealed.

The Hollywood star, 47, whose blockbuster hits Good Will Hunting and Shakespeare in Love were released by Weinstein's former company, Miramax, was among a list of people he thought were spilling the beans, Variety reported after seeing the papers.

The list of names, which were highlighted during Weinstein's seven week trial at the New York supreme court, found Affleck was among the stars that he thought might become an informant in 2017 as he was hit by the storm of sexual abuse allegations.

Also named by the sex offender, who now faces 29 years in prison, was actress and accuser Annabella Sciorra, Rose McGowan, Zelda Perkins, Lysette Anthony and Rowena Chiu.

Ben Affleck (left with Weinstein in 1998) was placed on a 'red flag list' by Harvey Weinstein after the Hollywood titan feared he would speak to the press

The disgraced Hollywood producer, whose former company, Miramax, released Affleck's Good Will Hunting and Shakespeare in Love, created a 'red flag list'

The list, which formed roughly 1,000 pages of documents that were unsealed by the court, also named Weinstein's former assistant Leslye Headland, his former executive Irwin Reiter and producers Donna Gigliotti, Jason Blum, Megan Ellison, and Jennifer Todd.

Affleck's representatives are still to respond to the court documents unearthed by Variety.

During the former producer's trial, the court heard how Weinstein hired a private investigator to look into the people on the 'red flag list' and wrote in an email: 'The red flags are the first to call.'

The unearthed list comes after it was revealed the disgraced Hollywood mogul had planned to open a female-led addiction centre run to help revive his reputation amid rape and sexual assault allegations.

Unsealed court documents revealed Weinstein had drafted plans for the facility in the fall of 2017 however these were later scrapped by Weinstein's team of PR advisers.

Yesterday court documents also revealed that Weinstein had said actress Jennifer Aniston 'should be killed' after he learned that the National Enquirer was planning to run a story accusing him of groping her.

In an email thread, unsealed by the Manhattan Supreme Court ahead of Weinstein's sentencing on Wednesday, the former producer was forwarded a note from the Enquirer about a report that he had groped Aniston at a premiere event.

Weinstein responded to the note by writing: 'Jen Aniston should be killed.'

Ben Affleck was placed on a 'red flag list' by Harvey Weinstein after the former Hollywood titan thought the star was speaking to journalists

Also named on the unearthed 'red flag list' was Weinstein accuser Annabella Sciorra (pictured after testifying against Weinstein at New York Criminal Court)

Also named on the list, which was released in unsealed court documents, was actress Rose McGowan (left) and Rowena Chiu (right)

In 2017, during an interview on NBC's Today show, Affleck admitted that he had known about the film producer's alleged inappropriate behaviour and knew 'he was sleazy'.

Admitting that the case had made him re-evaluate his own actions, he said: 'I knew he was sleazy and a bully, but unfortunately that wasn't that uncommon.

'I was brand new to Hollywood; I was 24 years old; I had never made a movie. I didn't know much of anything.'

The Justice League star, who finally broke his silence over the sexual harassment and assault allegations facing Weinstein in October 2017, also said he was 'saddened and angry' over the claims.

He also shared a message on social media which read: 'I am saddened and angry that a man who I worked with used his position of power to intimidate, sexually harass and manipulate many women over decades.

'The additional allegations of assault that I read this morning made me sick. This is completely unacceptable, and I find myself asking what I can do to make sure this doesnt happen to others.

'We need to do better at protecting our sisters, friends, co-workers and daughters. We must support those who come forward, condemn this type of behaviour when we see it and help ensure there are more women in positions of power.'

Affleck did not respond to requests for further comment.

Weinstein said Jennifer Aniston 'should be killed' after he was sent a note that the National Enquirer was planning to run a story accusing him of groping her

In the unsealed court documents, the former producer said the actress 'should be killed'

The latest revelations come as Weinstein prepares to head back to court on Wednesday for the final act of the rape trial that landed him behind bars.

Weinstein is scheduled to be sentenced in New York City and faces a minimum of five years and a maximum of 29 years in prison for raping an aspiring actress in 2013 and forcibly performing oral sex on a TV and film production assistant in 2006.

A second criminal case is pending in California.

Both women that Weinstein was convicted of assaulting are expected to be in court to give victim impact statements before he is sentenced.

Weinstein will also have a chance to speak. He opted not to testify at his trial, but at sentencing he won't have to worry about getting grilled by prosecutors.

Other women who've accused Weinstein - including some who testified at his trial - are not permitted to speak at his sentencing under state law.

One of those witnesses, Tarale Wulff, who accused Weinstein of raping her in 2005, said in a statement Tuesday that she will still attend and hopes that the sentence 'sends a clear message that times have changed.'

In 2017, Affleck took to social media to condemn Weinstein's conduct and say it was 'completely unacceptable'

Weinstein was convicted on two counts: criminal sex act for the 2006 assault on the production assistant and rape in the third degree for a 2013 attack on another woman.

On the criminal sex act count, he faced a minimum of five years in prison and a maximum of 25 years in prison, while the third-degree rape count carries a maximum penalty of four years in prison.

Weinstein was acquitted of first-degree rape and two counts of predatory sexual assault stemming from actress Annabella Sciorra's allegations of a mid-1990s rape.

He maintains his innocence and contends that any sexual activity was consensual.

Newly unsealed documents show the 67-year-old former film producer sought help from billionaires Jeff Bezos and Michael Bloomberg as sexual misconduct allegations against him piled up in October 2017, and that he considered issuing a statement at the time claiming that he was suicidal.

There is no evidence to suggest either man responded.

The New York case was the first criminal matter against Weinstein to arise from accusations of more than 90 women, including actresses Gwyneth Paltrow, Salma Hayek and Uma Thurman.

Many of Weinstein's accusers say he used his Hollywood prestige to befriend them, dangling movie roles to gain their trust.

Weinstein will be sentenced in New York City and faces a minimum of five years and a maximum of 29 years in prison

Weinstein's lawyers are seeking the minimum sentence of five years in prison because of his age and frail health.

Weinstein, who turns 68 next week, used a walker throughout the trial following recent back surgeries. After his February 24 conviction, he split time between a hospital and a jail infirmary unit, and had a stent inserted last week to unblock an artery.

'Given his age and specific medical risk factors, any additional term of imprisonment above the mandatory minimum - although the grave reality is that Mr. Weinstein may not even outlive that term - is likely to constitute a de facto life sentence,' Weinstein's lawyers wrote in a sentencing memorandum filed Monday.

Once Weinstein is sentenced, he'll be transferred from the city's jail system to the state prison system. The agency that runs New York's state prisons said every inmate is evaluated to determine which facility meets his or her security, medical, mental health and other needs.

Martin Horn, the city's former corrections commissioner, said Weinstein's celebrity status could make him a target for another inmate looking to make a name for himself, while the gravity of his convictions and sentence could raise suicide concerns.

'No jail wants to have the next Jeffrey Epstein,' said Horn, who now teaches at John Jay College of Criminal Justice.

'They're going to make sure that nothing happens to him while he's in their custody. Not because he's important, but just from a public relations point of view, it would be awfully embarrassing.'

Prosecutors did not ask for a specific number of years in prison in their sentencing memorandum, but said that Weinstein deserves severe punishment to account for allegations dating to the 1970s that didn't lead to criminal charges.

The disgraced star, who now faces 29 years in prison, was charged in California with raping a woman at a Los Angeles hotel on February 18, 2013

In their letter, prosecutors outlined 16 examples they said showed Weinstein 'trapped women into his exclusive control' so he could sexually assault them, starting when he was working as a music producer in Buffalo in 1978.

Fordham University law professor Cheryl Bader said she expects Judge James Burke to impose a harsh sentence.

'One of the underlying principles of the law of punishment is promoting general deterrence,' Bader said. 'I think Judge Burke will want to send a message to `would be' sexual predators that the hammer of the law will come down hard on you if you use your power - physical and otherwise - to manipulate and sexual abuse victims.'

Just as jury selection was about to get under way in the New York case in January, authorities in California announced they were also bringing criminal charges against Weinstein.

Weinstein was charged in California with raping a woman at a Los Angeles hotel on February 18, 2013, after pushing his way inside her room, then sexually assaulting a woman in a Beverly Hills hotel suite the next night.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-11 04:33:55|Editor: huaxia

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GENEVA, March 10 (Xinhua) -- A senior Chinese diplomat said here that China advocates that Myanmar and Bangladesh properly resolve the Rakhine State issue through dialogue and consultation and start the process of repatriating people at an early date.

Liu Hua, Special Representative for Human Rights of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, told the on-going 43rd session of the UN Human Rights Council on Monday that the international community should provide more constructive help to Myanmar and Bangladesh to create a favorable external environment for the two sides to implement bilateral repatriation agreements.

Liu pointed out that the international community should respect Myanmar's sovereignty and treat Myanmar's human rights progress in a comprehensive, impartial and objective manner.

On the issue of Myanmar, she said, the United Nations should take a fair and objective position, and related work should help promote the solution to the Rakhine state issue, not the contrary.

The Chinese diplomat also highlighted that China has always advocated that all countries should address human rights issues through constructive dialogue and cooperation, oppose politicization, selectivity, double standards, and confrontational practices, and does not support the practice of "naming and shaming" and publicly pressuring.
European Central Bank (ECB) President Christine Lagarde addresses a news conference on the outcome of the meeting of the Governing Council in Frankfurt, Germany, January 23, 2020.

The European Union could face a financial crisis similar to the global crash of 2008 if governments don't coordinate to tackle the spread of the coronavirus, the European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde has reportedly said.

The 27 European heads of state held a conference call Tuesday evening to harmonize their actions against the virus. The epidemic that started in China at the end of 2019 has spread worldwide and is weighing on all major economies. Italy, France, Spain and Germany are among the countries with the highest number of confirmed cases worldwide.

Lagarde, who joined the phone call among the 27 EU leaders, told them that without coordinated action Europe "will see a scenario that will remind many of us of the 2008 Great Financial Crisis," Bloomberg reported, citing a person familiar with her comments. The Financial Times also reported that Lagarde called on EU leaders to take urgent action or risk another crisis, citing a source.

CNBC was not able to independently verify the reports. A spokesperson for the European Central Bank declined to comment.
NEW YORK, March 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Purcell Julie & Lefkowitz LLP, a class action law firm dedicated to representing shareholders nationwide, is investigating a potential breach of fiduciary duty claim involving the board of directors of Talos Energy Inc. (NYSE: TALO).

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One of Australia's highest-ranking Catholics has voluntarily stood aside amid serious allegations.

On Wednesday afternoon the Catholic Church issued a statement saying Broome Bishop Christopher Saunders, 70, had stepped aside from the administration of the diocese and Monsignor Paul Boyers had been appointed to take care of the day to day running of the parish.

Police sources would not confirm the nature of the allegation, but agreed they were serious and local police were briefed about an incoming media presence in the town on Wednesday morning.

Bishop Saunders is one of Australia's longest-serving bishops well-known for his interest in Indigenous affairs and involvement in Aboriginal study groups.
Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren has instructed the administration to help a 12-year-old kidney patient. Soren asked the officials to provide treatment to the girl under Asadhya Rog Upachar Yojana (scheme for critical diseases), an official release said here on Wednesday.

The Deputy Commissioner of Giridih district, Rahul Kumar Sinha, said that an estimate was being prepared for her treatment, it said. The chief ministers instruction came after he learnt about the poor financial condition of the girls family, the official statement said. The girl is undergoing treatment at the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) here.

The chief minister has been meeting people regularly to learn about their problems and difficulties and has helped several people in the last couple of months, an official said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court judges on Wednesday voted to suspend most jury trials scheduled to begin over the next four weeks to quell the spread of the novel coronavirus.

The move covers all trials scheduled to begin between March 16 and April 8 unless it impacts a defendants Constitutional right to a speedy trial due to the delay, the courts Administrative and Presiding Judge Brendan Sheehan told cleveland.com Wednesday. It also impacts civil trials.

Sheehan and court spokesman Darren Toms said that anyone scheduled to appear for trial Thursday or Friday should plan on coming as scheduled.

The courts are expected to communicate any delays to defendants attorneys who should relay that information to their clients, Sheehan said.

If any defendant does not want a trial delayed, the judge overseeing the case will make the final decision, Sheehan said.

Were trying to limit the number of people coming into this building, Sheehan said. Its up to each individual judge how they handle each individual scenario.

Sheehan also said the court will temporarily allow prospective jurors to call the courthouse before their jury service to see whether the court needs them to report to the Justice Center.

More than 300 county residents file into the courthouse every Monday and Wednesday and gather in a room on the courthouses fourth floor, where they are then called to specific courtrooms. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and public health officials urged people to avoid large, indoor gatherings to minimize close-contact and potential exposure to the coughs or sneezes of others.

The courts new system, expected to go into effect Monday, will mirror practices used in other jurisdictions around the state and country.

The judges will revisit each move at their next meeting, set for April 8.

Sheehan said the judges will work with the Cuyahoga County Sheriffs Department, Cuyahoga County Prosecutors Office and MetroHealth to reduce the jails population and establish protocols to avoid the potential of the COVID-19 virus spreading throughout the jail.

The announcement comes hours after organizers canceled the Cleveland International Film Festival and the traditional St. Patricks Day parade, and the same day that DeWine announced that a Stark County man became the fourth Ohioan to test positive for the COVID-19 virus.

Read more coronavirus news

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Cuyahoga County Board of Health not tracking whether bus that carried coronavirus patient was disinfected

Rabbi who tested positive for coronavirus spent time at Beachwoods Fuchs Mizrachi School

WHO declares that coronavirus crisis is now a pandemic
Press Release Highlights

Drillholes SBC19-001, -004 and -005 from the Silver Cloud mine area have identified mineralized zones of up to 6.1 metres in thickness at depth indicating the veins and fractures are coalescing down dip into thicker zones;

Drill data shows the volcanic rock package thickens to the west, suggesting the boiling zone could be within the more favourable rhyolite host;

The 3.93 g/t and 8.32 g/t gold intervals in SBC19-001 and SBC19-002 over 0.8 metres and 1.5 metres respectively, of which are 1.5km apart, are interpreted to be within the upper levels of the epithermal system; and

Drilling has commenced on the follow-up program to test the Northwest Canyon east-west structure down dip and aims to expand upon the newly delineated 250m strike to the west.

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 11, 2020) - Blackrock Gold Corp. (TSXV: BRC) (the "Company") is pleased to report final assay results and geologic interpretation on its 100% controlled Silver Cloud project located on the Northern Nevada Rift in Elko County, Nevada.

Five HQ core holes were drilled at Silver Cloud totalling 2,207 metres (7,240 feet), and assay results have been received for all (See Table 2). The drill program focused on evaluating a potential east-west vein system between the Silver Cloud mercury mine and Northwest Canyon, with all five holes returning gold assays above the 0.2 g/t gold cut off grade over significant drill widths.

Table 1: Silver Cloud 2019 Drillhole Location Data

Drillhole ID UTM-NAD27 East UTM-NAD27 North Area Total Depth Metres Azimuth Degrees Dip Angle SBC19-001 531487.0 4544312.0 Silver Cloud 469.5 22 -75 SBC19-002 529933.0 4544432.0 NW Canyon 370.9 0 -65 SBC19-003 529934.0 4544433.0 NW Canyon 384.7 30 -65 SBC19-004 531487.0 4544310.0 Silver Cloud 429.5 0 -72 SBC19-005 531488.0 4544310.0 Silver Cloud 552.3 50 -70

Andrew Pollard, President & CEO, commented, "With one small drill program under our belt, we have established our understanding of the east-west orientation of the epithermal vein system, delineating for the first time on our property a drill-defined mineralized strike of 250 metres, that appears to be open both along strike and down-dip. With a complete picture from our 2019 drill program now in hand, it's evident we encountered the structures too high in the epithermal vein system. We are excited to see the drills turning once again as we have refined our aim in search of the boiling zone where the potential for bonanza grade gold, for which the Northern Nevada Rift is well documented, may exist.

The thicker mineralized zones encountered at depth are very encouraging to us. The gold system we've encountered appears to be behaving as the epithermal gold model would predict when encountered at the upper levels, providing us a roadmap to use in our targeting of the follow-up program as we aim to zero in on a potential high-grade gold horizon. The 2020 program is targeting the structure at deeper elevations within the thicker volcanic package at Northwest Canyon. We believe the structure has the potential to host high-grade gold and silver within a boiling zone deeper in the system, as indicated by the exploration model, with the objective to intercept mineralized intervals ranging from 2 to 6 metres in thickness."

Downhole geophysical surveys show east-west oriented veins and fractures in the mineralized zones in SBC19-002 and -003 at Northwest Canyon. The mineralized structure is steeply dipping to the south and has a drill-defined strike length of 250 metres (see March 03, 2020, news release).

Drilling has commenced on the 2020 spring drill program which has been designed to test the Northwest Canyon east-west structure down dip and along strike to the west.

At Northwest Canyon, the volcanic units are thicker than those encountered to the east, and an altered and mineralized rhyolite porphyry flow domes intrude the volcanic pile. Drilling to date has not encountered the basement lithologies. Northwest Canyon has a similar geologic setting to the nearby Midas mine where high-grade gold and silver mineralization are co-eval with the rhyolite flow domes which may have provided the heat source to drive the hydrothermal system. The flow domes at Midas intrude a thick sequence of rhyolite volcanic units that are similar to the geology intersected in the Northwest Canyon drillholes. Mineralization hosted on adjacent or nearby properties is not necessarily indicative of the mineralization hosted on our property.

The 2020 drill program will determine the depth of the Ordovician basement lithologies; this should define the geometry of the volcanic basin and assist with ongoing and future targeting.

Table 2: Final Gold Assay Results For 2019 Silver Cloud Core Drilling Program (0.2 g/t gold cut off)

Drillhole ID Area From

Metres To

Metres *Thickness Metres Gold

g/t SBC19-001 Silver Cloud 238.0 239.6 1.5 0.209 SBC19-001 Silver Cloud 241.1 242.6 1.5 0.217 SBC19-001 Silver Cloud 253.3 254.8 1.5 0.227 SBC19-001 Silver Cloud 289.9 292.9 3.0 1.163 Including 289.9 290.6 0.8 3.928 SBC19-001 Silver Cloud 296.3 303.9 6.1 0.417 Including 297.8 299.0 1.2 0.905 SBC19-001 Silver Cloud 305.5 306.3 0.8 0.372 SBC19-001 Silver Cloud 319.4 321.6 2.1 0.422 SBC19-001 Silver Cloud 322.5 323.7 3.4 0.366 SBC19-001 Silver Cloud 327.1 329.8 2.7 0.387 SBC19-001 Silver Cloud 335.9 337.4 1.5 0.215 SBC19-001 Silver Cloud 377.6 379.2 1.5 0.283 SBC19-001 Silver Cloud 382.2 383.7 1.5 0.458 SBC19-001 Silver Cloud 388.3 389.8 1.5 0.227 SBC19-001 Silver Cloud 393.6 395.3 1.7 0.437 SBC19-001 Silver Cloud 395.3 396.8 1.5 0.418 SBC19-001 Silver Cloud 399.6 401.1 1.5 0.257 SBC19-002 NW Canyon 263.3 264.9 1.5 8.320 SBC19-002 NW Canyon 295.4 298.4 3.0 0.387 SBC19-003 NW Canyon 251.9 252.9 0.9 0.279 SBC19-004 Silver Cloud 292.9 294.6 1.7 0.225 SBC19-004 Silver Cloud 314.6 319.1 4.6 0.226 SBC19-004 Silver Cloud 320.6 322.2 1.5 0.237 SBC19-004 Silver Cloud 323.7 325.2 1.5 0.764 SBC19-004 Silver Cloud 344.6 349.6 5.0 0.694 Including 344.6 346.8 2.2 1.144 SBC19-004 Silver Cloud 412.1 413.6 1.5 0.335 SBC19-005 Silver Cloud 286.8 292.7 5.9 0.286

*True thickness unknown

The 2019 drill program encountered significant silver intercepts (See Table 3). The bulk of the silver assays were intersected in SBC19-001 which returned 4.88 metres averaging 14.0 ppm silver. The highest silver value returned was 40.8 ppm from a deeper intercept in SBC19-001. Although no intervals assayed over 5 ppm silver in SBC19-002, 1.40 ppm was reported from the interval with 8.32 g/t gold.

Table 3: Silver Assay Results For 2019 Silver Cloud Core Drilling Program (5 ppm silver cut off)

Drillhole ID Area From

Metres To

Metres *Thickness

Metres Silver

ppm SBC19-001 Silver Cloud 319.43 324.31 4.88 14.0 SBC19-001 Silver Cloud 335.89 337.41 1.52 40.8 SBC19-001 Silver Cloud 373.08 374.60 1.52 6.4 SBC19-001 Silver Cloud 393.65 396.85 3.20 18.8 SBC19-001 Silver Cloud 398.37 399.59 1.22 6.5 SBC19-003 NW Canyon 242.93 244.45 1.52 11.2 SBC19-003 NW Canyon 251.95 252.89 0.94 8.6 SBC19-003 NW Canyon 345.03 346.56 1.52 6.0 SBC19-003 NW Canyon 354.18 355.70 1.52 10.1 SBC19-004 Silver Cloud 323.70 325.22 1.52 16.6 SBC19-004 Silver Cloud 408.58 409.04 0.46 11.8 SBC19-005 Silver Cloud 292.70 294.25 1.55 9.0

*True thickness unknown

All core sampling was conducted under the supervision of the Company's project geologists, and a strict chain of custody from the project to the sample preparation facility was implemented and monitored. The core boxes were hauled from the project site to a secure facility in Battle Mountain, Nevada, where the core was logged, and samples intervals selected, cut and bagged under the supervision of Blackrock's project geologist. The samples were delivered to American Assay Laboratory or picked up by American Assay Laboratory delivered to their facility in Sparks, Nevada. After receipt, they were crushed and pulverized, then the pulverized material was digested and analyzed for gold using fire assay fusion and an atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) finish on a 30-gram assay split. Silver determinations were completed using two-acid digestion and ICP (inductively coupled plasma) analysis. Data verification of the assay and analytical results are completed to ensure accurate and verifiable results. A blank, duplicate or a certified standard was inserted approximately every 15th sample.

Blackrock's exploration activities at the Silver Cloud Project are being conducted and supervised by Mr. William Howald, Executive Chairman of Blackrock Gold Corp. Mr. William Howald, AIPG Certified Professional Geologist #11041, is a Qualified Person as defined under National Instrument 43-101. He has reviewed and approved the contents of this news release.

About Blackrock Gold Corp.

Blackrock is a junior gold-focused exploration company that is on a quest to make an economic discovery. Anchored by a seasoned Board, the Company is focused on its Nevada portfolio consisting of low-sulfidation epithermal gold & silver projects located along on the established Northern Nevada Rift in north-central Nevada, and the Walker Lane trend in western Nevada.

For further information, please contact:

Andrew Pollard, President & CEO

Blackrock Gold Corp.

Phone: 604 817-6044

Email: andrew@blackrockgoldcorp.com

Forward Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. Such forward-looking statements concern the Company's strategic plans, timing and expectations for the Company's exploration and drilling programs, estimates of mineralization from drilling, geological information projected from sampling results and the potential quantities and grades of the target zones. Such forward-looking statements or information are based on a number of assumptions regarding, among other things: conditions in general economic and financial markets; accuracy of assay results; geological interpretations from drilling results, timing and amount of capital expenditures; performance of available laboratory and other related services; future operating costs; and the historical basis for current estimates of potential quantities and grades of target zones. The actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of the risk factors including: the timing and content of work programs; results of exploration activities and development of mineral properties; the interpretation and uncertainties of drilling results and other geological data; receipt, maintenance and security of permits and mineral property titles; environmental and other regulatory risks; project costs overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses; availability of funds; failure to delineate potential quantities and grades of the target zones based on historical data, and general market and industry conditions. Forward-looking statements are based on the expectations and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. The assumptions used in the preparation of such statements, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements included in this news release if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change, except as otherwise required by applicable law.

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

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/53342
Public health expert Dr Gabriel Scally has warned that the coronavirus will not recognise the border and said that this is the time for integration of services north and south.

There need to be substantial cross border cooperation, sharing of resources, harmonisation, he told RTEs Morning Ireland.

No health system in the world could cope with a full blown outbreak of the virus, said Dr Scally.

Testing is extremely important, he added. The way testing is carried out is also important so that judgment calls can be made about the closure of schools etc.

Coronavirus: Main points

10 new Covid-19 cases confirmed in Ireland yesterday. 34 cases in total

There are now 50 cases on the island of Ireland - 34 here, 16 in the North

Department of Education says schools Read More: will not close

will not close Two members of staff at Read More: Ervia in Cork test positive; One memeber of staff Read More: at Apple in Cork tests postive

Ervia in Cork test positive; One memeber of staff at Apple in Cork tests postive Irish Cancer Society Read More: cancels all Daffodil Day street collections

cancels all Daffodil Day street collections Republic of Ireland's Euro 2020 play-off Read More: to be played behind closed doors

to be played behind closed doors Ryanair and Aer Lingus cancel flights to Italy

Trinity to deliver online lectures for the rest of the semester

The public health system in the Republic is not that strong he said, based on his experience of examining the cervical cancer service.

The level of awareness and guidelines to date seem to be entirely appropriate", he said. It is really, really important that background planning goes on and that changes are being made in the hospital service and preparations are being made in the hospital service and also preparations right across the country when the situation changes.

As soon as there is evidence of significant spread of the virus in the community that is the time to look at a lock down. If it is done too early it could be difficult to keep in place for any extended time.

It is a matter of getting it right. It is a difficult call to make and it has to be made based on medical advice.

Everyone can help by practicing social distancing, washing their hands and avoiding any unnecessary travel.

Dr Scally said he was sure that the HSE has plans in place to maximise facilities.

Meanwhile, the head of the Department of International Health and Tropical Medicine at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), Prof. Sam McConkey has called for broad political and social support for measures to combat the coronavirus.

Prof McConkey said there needed to be social unity with coordinated actions for social distancing.

We need to be looking forward for options, the problem can be fixed.
Jackie Nelson, a retired police evidence officer in Ormond Beach, Fla., said she hoped the new rules would eliminate the kinds of obstacles she recently experienced. When she moved from Texas, she said, her doctor there asked her to pay an exorbitant fee  more than a thousand dollars  to provide her with a copy of her medical records.

People like myself, Im a senior, Im on Social Security  I dont have a thousand dollars to pay for my records, said Ms. Nelson, who is managing multiple health conditions. She said she hoped the new data-access rules would stop doctors from withholding patients data and make the doctor accountable for what they are doing.

Health regulators are opening patient access to their medical records against a backdrop of a virtual gold rush for Americans health data by hundreds of companies. So many entities have access to Americans medical records  including identifiable medical data and pseudonymous files that track people by ID codes  that it can seem easier for third parties to acquire patient data than patients themselves.

Dozens of professional medical organizations and health industry groups have pushed back against the rules, warning that federal privacy protections, which limit how health providers and insurers may use and share medical records, no longer apply once patients transfer their data to consumer apps.

Apps frequently do not provide patients with clear terms of how that data will be used  licensing patients data for marketing purposes, leasing or lending aggregated personal information to third parties, or outright selling it, Dr. James L. Madara, the chief executive of the American Medical Association, wrote in public comments to health regulators last year. These practices jeopardize patient privacy.

Dr. Rucker, the health departments technology coordinator, said the new rules take patient privacy into account. When patients initiate the data-sharing process with apps, he said, their providers will be able to inform them about privacy risks.
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New York, March 11, 2020  Ukrainian authorities should not conduct a criminal investigation into Slidstvo.Info, and should allow its journalists to work freely and without fear of reprisal, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

Anna Babinets, the editor-in-chief of the Kyiv-based investigative reporting website, told CPJ via messaging app that Slidstvo.Info is under investigation by the Ministry of Interior, but has not been officially contacted by the ministry.

Babinets said that Slidstvo.Info sent public records requests in December 2019 to 14 current and former officials, state agencies, and politicians, for an investigation involving U.S.-Ukraine relations.

In January, Oleksandr Dubinsky, a member of parliament from the ruling Servant of the People party who received one of the requests, held a press conference accusing Slidstvo.Info of illegally surveilling U.S. Embassy officials in Ukraine in violation of Article 163 of Ukraines criminal code and said he was filing a criminal complaint against the outlet.

Dubinsky told Slidstvo.Info that he met with Interior Minister Arsen Avakov on March 2 about the outlets alleged illegal activity, Babinets told CPJ. The following day, the Ministry of Interior announced an investigation into the allegations mentioned in Dubinskys complaint, but did not identify Slidstvo.Info by name as a subject of investigation. Dubinsky wrote on his Facebook page on March 5 that his meeting with Avakov was about fake media outlet called Slidstvo.Info and accused them of illegally collecting information.

Article 163 of Ukraines Criminal Code covers violations of privacy and can result in imprisonment of up to seven years.

Ukrainian authorities must allow Slidstvo.Info to report the news freely, and should not launch a criminal investigation into the outlet in retaliation for its coverage, said Gulnoza Said, CPJs Europe and Central Asia program coordinator. Journalists at the outlet are doing an important service to the Ukrainian public and should be praised, not prosecuted.

Babinets told CPJ that she and other journalists at the outlet fear that their phones have been tapped as part of the investigation, and believe their office could be raided at any minute. Slidstvo.Info, a member of the international Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project, mainly covers political corruption in Ukraine.

Babinets said she believes that Avakov may be retaliating for the outlets reports on him, including a February 23 article published in Slidstvo.Info that questioned the Ministry of Interiors handling of several high profile crimes, including the 2016 killing of journalist Pavel Sheremet.

According to Babinets, the public records requests asked for information about meetings and other forms of contact between U.S. and Ukrainian officials. She said they chose the recipients of the requests and the questions included in them based on media reports and other publicly available information.

CPJ emailed the Ukrainian Ministry of Interior for comment but did not receive any reply.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan compared Greeces treatment of refugees with the Nazis and refused to close its borders until the European Union fulfils all his demands. In a televised speech on March 11, Erdogan said that Turkey will continue the practice on borders connected to the European bloc until all the expectations, including free movement, updating of the customs union and financial assistance are met.

Recently, Turkey reopened its border for refugees trying to enter other European countries while Greece tear-gassed thousands of them to deny entry. Greece has also been accused of a violent crackdown on refugees and snatching away the belongings migrants if they somehow make it across the border.

"There is no difference between what the Nazis did and those images from the Greek border, said Erdogan in the speech.

Turkey claims that it has not received all of the six billion euros promised in the 2016 deal with Brussels under which Ankara agreed to stop migrant influx in Europe. Erdogans decision to open the borders for the refugees is strategically aimed at pressurising Europe to provide greater assistance with the Syrian conflict. Turkey launched an offensive in Syria after US President Donald Trump decided to withdraw American troops from Syrian soil. Turkish troops and Russia-backed Syrian regime forces have been in an armed conflict to retake northwestern Idlib province.

Read: Turkish President Erdogan Orders Coastguards To Stop Migrants Crossing Aegean

Syrian crisis

Last week, Turkish soldiers were killed in an airstrike launched by Syrian regime forces and Ankara retaliated by neutralising 309 Syrian troops, said Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar on February 28. The former chief of the Turkish General Staff claimed that Turkey destroyed five Syrian military helicopter, 23 tanks, 23 howitzers, and two air defence systems.

Read: Turkey, Russia Agree Syria Ceasefire From Midnight: Erdogan

Akar said that the attack on Turkish forces was launched despite the fact that Ankara had shared the coordinates of its troops with Kremlin. The Defence Minister alleged that Syria continued strikes against Turkish forces and targeted ambulances even after the warnings. Akar dismissed the claims of the presence of Syrian militants saying they didnt have any other armed groups in the premises.

However, Erdogan visited Russia on March 5 to meet President Vladimir Putin and both parties reached an agreement on a ceasefire in Idlib. At 00.01 tonight, as in, from midnight, the ceasefire will be put in place, said Erdogan said after holding talks with Putin.

Read: Brawl In Turkish Parliament After MP Criticises Erdogan Over Syria Military Action

Read: 'Erdogan's Remarks On Delhi Violence Politically Motivated And Factually Incorrect': MEA

(With inputs from agencies)
Drastic changes could be made to Anzac Day which could force veterans to watch services on TV at home as the coronavirus crisis escalates.

Authorities are considering cancelling the ceremonies honouring Australian and New Zealand troops on April 25 as the number of COVID-19 cases continues to rise.

Commemorative events in Victoria will still go ahead but RSL Victoria chief executive Jamie Twidale said veterans would have to watch them from home.

It is understood organisers in other states are considering similar changes as the number of cases in Australia hits 141, with three deaths.

As the number of COVID-19 cases continues to rise, authorities are considering banning the mass gatherings to honour Australian and New Zealand troops on April 25. Pictured: Crowds take part in the Anzac dawn service last year

In Victoria services will still go ahead but veterans could be forced to watch from home. Pictured: People gather at the Shrine of Remembrance for the Anzac Day dawn service in Melbourne last year

'We will still do it even if it's just three or four people at each cenotaph and five people at the dawn service,' Mr Twidale told the Herald Sun.

WHAT IS ANZAC DAY? Anzac Day is held on April 25 and commemorates the campaign by Australian, New Zealand and other Allied troops in 1915 to capture the Gallipoli peninsula in Turkey. Thousands of Australians and New Zealanders travel to Gallipoli and Villers-Bretonneux in France each year for dawn services. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II. Advertisement

'We will find a way of observing it.'

Mr Twidale said the event was too important to cancel but the RSL would consider changing the format to decrease the risk.

There is a greater concern for elderly people as the coronavirus death rate is reportedly ten times higher in the very elderly compared to the middle-aged.

Under the proposed changes in Victoria, only a handful of people would be present at the Shrine of Remembrance.

The extreme measures will only happen if the state government escalates its pandemic plan, Mr Twidale said.

Victorian Premier Dan Andrews has previously warned measures could escalate to stop the spread of the disease.

The Gallipoli dawn service is under review and Australian authorities are monitoring the situation. Pictured: A woman wraps herself in the flag at the dawn service last year

The annual service went ahead last year with increased security measures after Turkish police on Wednesday night arrested an alleged ISIS member who was thought to be planning an attack. Pictured: People slept in sleeping bags before service began

The Gallipoli dawn service is under review and the Australian authorities are monitoring the situation, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

Turkey closed its border last month as its coronavirus cases soared. There is also added concern due to Turkey's involvement in the Syrian conflict.

Last year there were increased security measures after Turkish police arrested an alleged ISIS member who was thought to be planning an attack.

Turkish forces were conducting security checks every couple of hundred metres in the national park surrounding Anzac Cove.
New Delhi: Uttar Pradesh government on Wednesday (March 11) moved the Supreme Court against the Allahabad High Court order asking the Lucknow administration to remove posters of accused of vandalism during anti-CAA protests in the state capital last month.

The apex court will hear the UP governments plea against the HC order on Thursday (March 12) at 10.30 am. The vacation bench of justices U U Lalit and Aniruddha Bose will hear the case, advocate general for Uttar Pradesh Raghvendra Singh told PTI.

Earlier on Monday, Allahabad HC had ordered the Lucknow administration to remove the hoardings put up by the state government, showing names, addresses and photos of 57 people who were accused of violence during anti-CAA protests.

The HC bench, headed by Chief Justice Govind Mathur, had also directed the district magistrate and the police commissioner to submit a compliance report with the registrar general of the court by March 16.

On Sunday, the HC had termed the action of Uttar Pradesh government as highly unjust and said it was an absolute encroachment on personal liberty of individuals. The court heard the case after taking suo motu cognisance of the case and reserved order after hearing the matter.

The court move was considered unusual as it heard the case on Sunday. UP Advocate General had disputed the HC's jurisdiction in the matter.

The Samajwadi Party (SP), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Congress had welcomed the high court order.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 11)  Sixteen more people have tested positive for COVID-19 in the Philippines, bringing the total number of those who have been infected with the new virus to 49.

Ten of the new patients have no history of travel or exposure to someone with COVID-19, while two were exposed to someone with the viral disease.

Two have had a history of travel outside of the country, while a 64-year-old Filipino man went to Greenhills Shopping Center, the same mall that houses a prayer hall frequented by another person with COVID-19.

Most of the new patients are admitted in various hospitals in Metro Manila, but Ace Dumaguete Doctors and Northern Mindanao Medical Center have each one patient with COVID-19.

Of the new patients, three are admitted at Makati Medical Center, while another three are admitted at St. Luke's Medical Center in Quezon City.

Two are admitted at Manila Doctors Hospital, while Las Pinas General Hospital, the Philippine Heart Center in Quezon City, Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan City, The Medical City in Pasig, the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine in Muntinlupa City and Asian Hospital and Medical Center, also in Muntinlupa.

Their current conditions are still for verification, according to the Health Department.

A 27-year-old male doctor who reports said had been treating a patient with COVID-19 had also tested positive for the viral disease in Quezon City, Mayor Joy Belmonte confirmed to CNN Philippines.

A 27-year-old male patient with COVID-19 is among the new patients with the viral disease announced by the Health Department. He is said to have had contact with a COVID-19 patient.

This is the first reported case of a medical personnel getting COVID-19 in the country. The Health Department, however, said there are still no reports of hospital-acquired cases of the virus.

An 82-year-old Filipino woman who had been in contact with an 86-year-old American man with COVID-19 is currently intubated and has existing cardiovascular and endocrine conditions, according to the Health Department.

The Philippines is currently under a state of public health emergency for the government to be able to tap into more funds and for it to be able to impose mandatory quarantines.

COVID-19 is a disease caused by SARS CoV-2, also known as novel coronavirus.
BEIJING - A man was pulled out alive after being trapped for 69 hours under the rubble of a collapsed virus quarantine hotel in southeastern China in which at least 27 other people died and two remain missing.

The official Xinhua News Agency said the man was sent to hospital immediately after being rescued late on Tuesday afternoon.

A 10-year-old boy and his mother had been rescued around midnight Monday after being trapped for 52 hours. The condition of all three survivors remains unknown.

The updated death toll from the national rescue service was current as of about 9 a.m. Wednesday.

The hotel in the city of Quanzhou had been a quarantine site for people exposed to the new coronavirus, which has infected more than 80,000 people in China though about three-fourths of them have recovered. The virus causes mild symptoms such as fever and cough for most people but can cause serious illness such as pneumonia for others, especially older adults and people with existing health problems.

Most parts of China are quarantining people for 14 days if they are from high-risk areas or even travelled abroad or simply outside their home regions.

Rescuers at the scene of the collapse had protective gear and disinfectant to minimize exposure to the virus.

The building had reportedly been modified illegally before the collapse.
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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 11) An executive from the pharmaceutical industry expressed optimism that a much-awaited vaccine for the coronavirus disease or COVID-19 may be developed by the end of the year.

Teodoro Padilla, executive director of the Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines, said pharmaceutical firms, manufacturers, and health experts from all over the world have been in constant collaboration to develop a vaccine. However, he said the product may still be only available to the public in the coming months.

Because of the emergency, this global situation we face, what we're seeing now is that this vaccine that is being done in other parts of the world could come in a matter of months, Padilla told CNN Philippines The Source on Wednesday.

Not tomorrow, unfortunately, but maybe around probably the end of the year, he added, noting that a regular vaccine normally takes ten years to craft.

The World Health Organization previously set a longer timeline for the vaccines rollout, saying the product will only be available by mid-2021.

Padilla admitted developing a vaccine is complex particularly for the mysterious disease, which has killed over 4,200 people globally in a span of months.

COVID-19 outbreak: Your top questions answered

However, he said global manufacturers may be able to modify or adopt some chemical agents of the vaccines for the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus and the Middle East respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus in their ongoing production.

These viruses can be quite complex. No one size fits all-- nonetheless, they have similarities, Padilla added.

Researchers and scientists around the worldincluding in China and the United States are racing against time to develop the vaccine, with WHO seeking a $675 million donation for the drive against COVID-19.

While the vaccines coverage remains unclear as of the moment, global authorities said the product will first cater to health workers who have been exposed to infected patients.

READ: What happens next in the coronavirus outbreak?

There are now over 119,000 COVID-19 globally, 33 of them in the Philippines.

As of March 3, the WHO has estimated a mortality rate of around 3 percent for COVID-19. Around 80 percent of infected patients experience "mild" illness and eventually recover, it added.
Plus, Bill's Message of the Day, we are living in the United States of Propaganda.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
NAIROBI, Kenya  A white female giraffe and her 7-month-old calf, whose rare pigmentation mesmerized wildlife enthusiasts around the world, have been killed by poachers in Kenya, officials said, illustrating the challenges of conservation and the persistent and devastating impact of poaching.

The deaths of the giraffes left just one of the unusually colored animals in the countrys wild, a bull, out of a family of three, conservancy officials said.

Mohammed Ahmednoor, the manager of the Ishaqbini Hirola Community Conservancy in northeastern Kenya, where the giraffes lived, said that rangers had confirmed their deaths and that there were photographs of the skeletal remains.

This is a very sad day for the community of Ijara and Kenya as a whole, Mr. Ahmednoor said. We are the only community in the world who are custodians of the white giraffe.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 11) - The Commission on Appointments confirmed Wednesday the appointment of Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte as a colonel in the Philippine Armys reserve force.

Also confirmed in the same rank was Davao City 3rd district Rep. Isidro Ungab, a known political ally of Duterte in the Hugpong ng Pagbabago party.

Both Duterte and Ungab were asked about the controversial decision of House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano to oust the latter as the chairperson of the House Committee on Appropriations.

I actually have no idea why I was ousted, but I just read it on the papers, said Ungab when asked by Senator Panfilo Lacson why he was ousted from his post.

READ: Alleged coup plan in the House surprised lawmakers, says party-list

Meanwhile, Duterte said that she has nothing to do with his removal.

She recently hit the removal of Ungab and described it as grossly unacceptable.

Duterte's HNP party previously endorsed Ungab for the speakership post in the 18th Congress.

Senator Imee Marcos asked the presidential daughter why her father is afraid of her. But the younger Duterte denied this as "something just in his mind."

"I have always supported his, whatever it is decisions he [have] in his personal [life], career decisions, and his politics. Initially I did not support his intention to run as president. But belatedly I did, she said.

The CA also confirmed 20 other military officers, including Rear Admiral Giovanni Carlo Bacordo as the new Philippine Navy chief.

CNN Philippines' correspondent Joyce Illas and Multi-Platform News Writer Vince Ferreras contributed to this report.
Pullman Hanoi confirmed that there were no COVID-19 infected visitors to the hotel

According to the hotel, contrary to what is being reported, there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 at Pullman Hanoi Hotel  amongst the hotel staff or current in-house guests.

However, Pullman Hanoi confirmed to have welcomed eight guests from flight VN0054 who arrived to Hanoi on March 2 from London, the United Kingdom.

As of March 7, when news that a passenger from flight VN0054 had tested positive for COVID-19 were published, We immediately liaised with the authorities to ensure the health and safety of our staff and guests. We assisted the authorities by providing information on the eight guests from VN0054, stated Pullman Hanoi Hotel in its latest announcement. By that time, only two of the eight guests were still staying at the hotel, with the other six guests having checked out after one to three days of stay.

The two remaining guests at the hotel were tested for COVID-19 the next day, and the results showed that they are both negative to the novel coronavirus. Currrently, they are showing no symptoms of the acute respiratory infection caused by the virus and are in good health.

However, to protect the public, these guests have agreed to remain in quarantine at the hotel as a further precaution. The two guests are quarantined in their room on an isolated floor and are not using any of the public spaces.

The hotels management board reaffirmed that, Since January, we have implemented additional safety and hygiene measures at the hotel  including increased cleaning and disinfection as well as providing safety equipment for guests and staff.

The four rooms previously occupied by the other passengers have undergone thorough sanitation, following World Health Organization protocols, with the assistance of Pullman Hanois hygiene partner, Diversey.

The hotel is open for business as usual, with the full endorsement of local authorities

Pullman Hanoi stated that there remains no confirmed case of COVID-19 at the hotel and it is open for business as usual, with the full endorsement of local authorities.

These are challenging times and our first priority is the health and well-being of our guests and staff. We understand that fear can breed rumors and we hope that by sharing these facts we can assist the authorities to focus their attention where it is most needed, Pullman Hanoi Hotel noted.
Migrants: 'Greeks acted like Nazis', Erdogan 'Shooting at innocents is barbaric', president says

(ANSAmed) - ISTANBUL, MARCH 11 - ''There is no difference between what the Nazis did and images coming from the Greek border'', Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, accusing Athens of violent behavior against immigrants. ''Shooting and using any type of inhumane means against innocent people, whose only objective is to save their lives and to offer a better future to their children, is barbaric'', attacked Ankara's leader.



''Until all of Turkey's expectations will not be satisfied in a tangible way, we will maintain current measures at our borders'' regarding immigrants, added the Turkish president, citing among requests for the EU ''freedom of movement'' for Turkish citizens within Europe, ''the revision of the customs union and financial assistance''. (ANSAmed).




[March 11, 2020]

Segment Recognized as One of Forbes' Best Startup Employers for 2020

SAN FRANCISCO, March 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Segment , the world's leading Customer Data Platform (CDP), has been recognized as part of Forbes' inaugural list of America's Best Startup Employers for 2020.

Forbes and Statista analyzed more than seven million data points to identify the top startup employers in the country. In particular, three aspects of each company were assessed during the evaluation: employer reputation, employee satisfaction, and company growth.

Out of the thousands of qualified organizations in the United States, 500 companies earned this distinction, and Segment is honored to be recognized as number 67 on the list of Forbes' 2020 America's Best Startup Employers.

"Segment strives to build and promote a culture where people from all backgrounds can thrive," said Peter Reinhardt, co-founder and CEO of Segment. "We value our people above all else and are proud to have Forbes and Statista recognize our efforts in enabling each Segmenter to make a difference at work every day."

The announcement comes on the heels of significant momentum at Segment.

Segment recently announced that Sue Barsamian joined its Board of Directors . Barsamian will advise on strategy and the scaling of Segment's operating model and go-to-market engine as well as establish the appropriate governance foundation as the company continues to expand into the enterprise market.

Additionally, the company is growing rapidly with more than 550 employees in offices across North America, EMEA and Asia Pacific. In 2019, the company raised $175M in Series D funding.







In 2019, Segment was named among Inc. Magazine's Best Places to Work , as one of the 50 Highest Rated Private Cloud Computing Companies To Work For by Glassdoor and Battery Ventures, and as a Best Place to Work by the San Francisco Business Times. Segment was also recognized as part of Forbes' Cloud 100 List for the fourth consecutive year, and was named one of North America's fastest-growing technology companies by Deloitte.

About Segment

Segment is the world's leading Customer Data Platform (CDP). Our platform democratizes access to reliable data for all teams and offers a complete toolkit to standardize data collection, unify user records, and route customer data into any system where it's needed. More than 20,000 companies like Intuit, FOX, Instacart, and Levi's use Segment to make real-time decisions, accelerate growth, and deliver compelling user experiences. For more information, visit https://segment.com

View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/segment-recognized-as-one-of-forbes-best-startup-employers-for-2020-301021944.html

SOURCE Segment
Kochi, March 11 : It took 15 fire-tenders 90 minutes to control the fire that broke out near the tank wagon gantry of the BPCL Refinery, here on Tuesday.

According to an eyewitness, the fire broke out at 2.45 p.m. and the refinery officials were alerted. Initially, BPCL fire-tenders were deployed. Other fire-tenders soon joined the operation.

The fire started at the pumping line of the wagon and the pipelines were immediately shut, said a fire department officer.

The situation was under control, he said.
Rajya Sabha was on Wednesday



adjourned for the day after the government and the opposition agreed to a discussion in the House on Thursday on the recent communal violence in Delhi.

The opposition was demanding a discussion on the issue today itself. The House witnessed three brief adjournments as the government and opposition parties were trying to reach an agreement on holding the discussion on the Delhi violence as well as the debate on two ordinances which are set to lapse.

The House met again at 3:40 pm and Deputy Chairman Harivansh called Parliamentary Affairs Minister Prahlad Joshi to give his statement.

Joshi told the House: "As agreed in the meeting in the Deputy Chairman's Chamber, the two ordinances (listed in supplementary agenda) would be discussed tomorrow at 11 am. Thereafter, there would be a discussion on Delhi violence in the House."



The two ordinances are the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Ordinance, 2019 and the Mineral Laws (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020.

Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad then said: "We have agreed that we will finish the discussion on two ordinances in the morning tomorrow and discuss the Delhi violence in the afternoon."



He asked the Deputy Chairman, "I request you to adjourn the House for the day."



Thereafter the Deputy Chairman said, "Since it is the sense of the House, I adjourn the House till 11 am on March 12, 2020."



In the morning, the House was adjourned till 2 pm after opposition parties raised the issue of communal violence in Delhi and the government ban on two Malayalam channels for their coverage of the riots.

While Left parties raised the issue of the Union Information and Broadcasting Ministry imposing a 48-hour telecast ban on Asianet and Media One TV, the TMC raised the issue of recent communal violence in the national capital.

Some Congress members raised the political happenings in Madhya Pradesh where the party's government is facing a crisis after Jyotiraditya Scindia's resignation from the Congress.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A n emergency cut in loan rates and 30 billion in special help were today unleashed to get British families and companies through the coronavirus crisis.

In his first Budget, Chancellor Rishi Sunak extended sickness benefits and gave thousands of shops, cinemas and other venues a one-year holiday from business rates.

Just three weeks after taking up the second most powerful job in the country, Mr Sunak, 39, dazzled the Commons with a speech packed with both popular spending measures and Churchillian rhetoric.

With a catchphrase get it done, he promised 110 billion in investment a year in infrastructure schemes, with 27 billion on major roads including the A303 to the West Country.

Rishi Sunak in the Commons / PRU/AFP via Getty Images

Among populist announcements, he promised 6 billion in this parliament for the NHS, froze alcohol and fuel duty, saving many motorists 2p a litre, and awarded 10 million to Scottish distilleries.

But he also announced green taxes, including a plastic packaging tax, which will increase the cost of some goods.

Mr Sunak slashed the 2.4 billion 47p-a-litre relief on red diesel, dubbing it a tax break for pollution and blaming it for noxious gases polluting the air of cities like London.

It was impossible to tell from his speech by how much Mr Sunak was allowing borrowing to increase.

Unusually he did not reveal borrowing in billions, as previous chancellors have done, but in percentages. Even so, it was clearly a steep rise, up from 2.1 per cent to 2.8 per cent over three years.

Mr Sunak ahead of the first Budget being unveiled / Reuters

Equally unusually, reporters were told they would not see the Red Book revealing the detailed figures until an hour after the speech, reducing their ability to see beyond the soundbites.

But the main thrust of the speech was the urgent measures to prevent coronavirus inflicting permanent damage on the economy. Mr Sunak said it would be a temporary hardship.

Earlier, the Bank of England chopped half a point off the base rate of interest, reducing it to just 0.25 per cent, saving 75 a month for a typical first-time buyer with a 300,000 mortgage.

Governor Mark Carney spoke of an economic shock that could prove sharp and large, but should be temporary. He also took action to encourage lending by the banks during the emergency.

Governor Mark Carney / Getty Images

In his opening words, Mr Sunak tackled the coronavirus threat head-on. I know how worried people are, he said. For a period, lifes going to be tough.

In an allusion to wartime spirit, he said the whole House would pull together, adding: We have done so before and I know we will do so again.

"The British people may be worried, but they are not daunted. We will protect our country and our people. We will rise to this challenge.

He went on: It will be temporary. People will return to work. Supply chains will return to normal. Life will return to normal.

Key new measures included:

Government will pay the first 14 days of statutory sick pay for small firms, worth over 2 billion for two million businesses employing under 250 people.

Statutory sick pay will be extended for employees advised to self-isolate, even if they have no symptoms or a formal doctors note.

Benefits totalling another 500 million will be unlocked for people in the gig economy, the low paid and the self employed, without the

Firms will be allowed to defer tax bills in an extension of Inland Revenues Time To Pay scheme to ease cash flow.

The Chancellor also confirmed that the tampon tax would be abolished.

He said the NHS would get whatever funds it needed to fight the disease.

Tory MPs cheered the business rates holiday which will go to the hard-hit hospitality sector. By the time he sat down, Tories were gossiping that they may have found their next leader when Boris Johnson retires.

Mr Johnson was meeting heads of the big social media companies for a roundtable at No 10 later today, demanding help from them to combat disinformation about Covid-19 and get public safety messages across.

Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak / PA

A National Insurance cut worth 104 for 30 million employees was another manifesto pledge met. Growth will be lower, even without the outbreak taken into account: 1.1 per cent this year instead of the 1.4 per cent forecasts last year, rising 1.8 per cent next year

GDP figures released earlier today showed the economy flatlined in January instead of enjoying a post-election bounce.

The rates cut means hundreds of thousands of homeowners in London on tracker or variable rate mortgages will see substantial falls in their monthly bills.

For a typical 300,000 first-time buyer mortgage, repayments will drop from about 1,280 to 1,205 a month.

For the average 450,000 London mortgage taken out by more established owners already on their second home, the monthly saving will be 110, with bills falling from 1,920 to 1,810.

About three-quarters of London homeowners are on fixed deals and will get no immediate benefit, but those rates are already close to all-time lows and are expected to drift further down over the next few weeks.

Mr Carney was flanked by his successor Andrew Bailey at the press conference. They said the economic shock, though large, had passed the Banks stress tests. The Monetary Policy Committee unanimously agreed the rates cut.

Mark Carney, Governor of Band of England and Andrew Bailey, Governor-designate of BOE / REUTERS

The Bank said it will offer banks four years of cheap funding so that they could continue to lend through the coronavirus outbreak and bridge a potentially challenging period.

Although the magnitude of the economic shock from coronavirus is highly uncertain, activity is likely to weaken materially in the UK over the coming months, Mr Carney said.

Temporary, but significant, disruptions to supply chains and weaker activity could challenge cash flows and increase demand for short-term credit from households and for working capital from companies.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak (left) meeting with the Governor of the Bank of England Mark Carney / PA

Such issues are likely to be most acute for smaller businesses. This economic shock will affect both demand and supply in the economy.

Loading....

The dangers of a technical recession were underlined when official GDP figures this morning revealed that the economy flatlined in January, even before coronavirus took hold in Britain.

City analysts had been expecting modest GDP growth of about 0.2 per cent in the month.
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At a Canarsie nursing home, visits have been sharply limited to by-appointment-only.

In Inwood, one nursing home canceled a host of community events planned for March.

Further east, security guards at a Far Rockaway nursing home are charged with screening visitors for signs of illness.

All around New York, nursing homes are enacting a slew of protocols to prevent coronavirus from striking a population thats at a particularly high risk of death from the illness.

What do I worry about? Nursing homes, senior care facilities, and congregate senior citizen complexes, Gov. Andrew Cuomo told reporters in Albany Monday.

The next day, Cuomo superstitiously knocked on the wooden desk so as not to jinx the lack of confirmed coronavirus cases in New York nursing homes.

Cautionary Tales Elsewhere

Public officials and nursing home administrators are on high alert after 18 occupants of one nursing home in Washington state died after contracting coronavirus  a cautionary tale for New Yorkers as the number of people who test positive for the illness grows.

The potential danger hit closer to home after a New Jersey resident who works at the King David Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation in Bath Beach, Brooklyn, tested positive for coronavirus. None of the 11 patients the worker interacted with have shown any coronavirus symptoms, Mayor Bill de Blasio said.

In China, where the illness started earlier this year, the case fatality rate for people older than 80 was nearly 22%, according to a World Health Organization report.

While most people infected with coronavirus display mild, flu-like symptoms and recover within two weeks, the mortality rate increases with age, the WHO report found.

On Friday, the states Health Department directed nursing home administrators to screen visitors for symptoms or potential exposure of coronavirus and to consider temporarily modifying visiting hours to stymie transmission from person to person.

The new protocols being enacted by nursing homes in New York come as the American Health Care Association recommended Tuesday that social visits to residents be halted completely.

Nursing home operators and workers in New York City, where facilities often have hundreds of residents and resemble small villages, say they are not taking precautions lightly.

It Could be a Disaster

One of the largest concerns among nursing homes is a shortage of supplies  particularly medical masks, said Jackie Pappalardi, the director of educational development at the New York State Health Facilities Association, which represents the nursing home industry.

Members of 1199SEIU, the union that represents many health care workers, are being asked to take stock of supplies in nursing homes  such as medical gear, face masks, soap, towels and paper products.

Theyre also being asked to report what they need more of in the event of an outbreak, Milly Silva, the unions executive vice president, told THE CITY.

We are very concerned to make sure that all of those supplies are in the nursing homes, as well as group homes, said Silva, who also directs the unions nursing home division.

The union began planning after hearing about the nursing home in Washington last month. But conversations about the proper protocols remain fluid.

The union is having daily calls and debriefings with members in the field to discuss what measures should be taken, as well as ensure adequate staffing, training and gear.

As human beings, theyre scared, Silva said of health care workers poised to treat patients with coronavirus.

Workers are worried about their patients with underlying health issues, as well as concerned about infecting their co-workers and family members.

Its very delicate, Silva said.

If someone contracts coronavirus in a nursing home and its not handled correctly, it could be a disaster, Silva said.

Family Visits Postponed

Over the weekend, the Four Seasons Nursing and Rehabilitation Center announced that all visitors were prohibited from entering the Canarsie facility unless they scheduled an appointment to see their loved ones.

Its kinda like Rikers, one visitor, who declined to provide her name, told THE CITY nonchalantly. Its understandable. They gotta keep [the virus] under control.

Unaware of the new visitation policy, she and her mother were turned away from visiting their loved one  and instead handed the food they bought from a fried chicken restaurant to a Four Seasons employee to deliver.

Other visitors werent as patient.

Israel Lopez and his son Jose Morales tried on Tuesday to see Morales mother, who has been at the center since last Wednesday with a broken hip. The duo, who trekked via public transit from their Williamsburg home, were turned back on Friday and again on Tuesday.

Its the second time we came all this way and they dont give me the pleasure to see her, Lopez, who spoke in Spanish, told THE CITY.

Staffers told the pair they would call with a time to visit before the end of the week, Morales said. Four Seasons staff declined to answer THE CITYs questions.

Morales, carrying an empty plastic bag that once held containers of sancocho for his mother, tried to soothe Lopez. They gotta do what they can to keep it under control, he said.

I dont care, Lopez responded. I just wanna see her. Id carry her out of here over my shoulder, if I could.

Security Questions

At the Isabella Geriatric Center in Inwood  one of the citys biggest nursing homes, with 705 residents  administrators cancelled events planned with the neighboring High School for Health Careers and Sciences over coronavirus concerns.

Dance exercise and gatherings where Isabella residents volunteer to teach young children to read were also cancelled, along with all other events scheduled this month, said an administrator, who asked not to be named.

While the all-hours visiting policy hasnt yet been changed, visitors are provided with single-use face masks to wear during their stay, regardless of whether theyre sick.

Following the recently issued state guidelines, security guards at the Peninsula Nursing and Rehab Center in Far Rockaway are peppering visitors with questions to determine whether they could be sick or have come in contact with someone who has coronavirus.

Our security guard is also visually seeing if the person is sick, said Michael Schriebe, an administrator at the nursing home. If any of the questions are answered in the affirmative or if any individual is visibly sick, we request that they dont come upstairs and we will not allow them into the building.

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FLORENCE  The Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon-cutting Tuesday at the chamber office for Spann Roofing and Sheet Metal.

A three-generation, family-owned business, Spann Roofing is based in Conway. The business was started in 1957, said James M. Jimbo Spann IV.

He said the company was already doing business in the Florence area when it decided to open an office here about a year ago. Josh Boykin is the territory sales representative for this area. His office is at 6 S. Santiago Drive.

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Spann said they do primarily commercial business but have branched out into residential roofing and gutters. They also do service and maintenance work for homes and businesses, all to prolong the life of the roof and gutters.

We have always done work here in this area and thought it was time to give back to the community, Spann said. My wife and I both have roots here.

Spann said he wants to stress that they are a full-service repair and maintenance business.

Spann Roofing employs about 75 people.

For additional information, visit www.SpannRoofing.com or call 843-283-6115 or 843-656-9808 in Florence or 843-347-2220 in Myrtle Beach area.

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Lyra McKee's mother has died just five weeks before the first anniversary of her daughter's alleged murder.

Joan Lawrie passed away in a Belfast hospital last night almost one year after her daughter was shot dead while observing a riot on Londonderry's Creggan estate in April.

Paul McIntyre, 52, has been charged with the murder of Miss McKee, 29, and is currently remanded in custody.

A family member said on Twitter: 'My wee Mother In Law, passed away last night of a broken heart. Unable to live without her baby Lyra.

'My Wee mother in law whom I loved with all my heart, I will love you to beyond eternity. Mother and daughter rest in forever peace. #Lyramckee#Joanmckee.'

Ms McKee had regularly visited her mother in north Belfast (pictured together) to look after her before she was killed while observing a riot on Londonderry's Creggan estate in April

A family member revealed news of Ms Lawrie's passing on Twitter this morning. She said she 'passed away last night of a broken heart'

Lyra's older sister, Nichola McKee Corner, also announced her mother's death in a Facebook post this morning, according to the Belfast Telegraph.

She said: 'It is with the greatest sadness that I share this. My mother, Joan Lawrie, passed away peacefully in hospital on 10th March.

'She is now at peace with her beloved daughter Lyra McKee.'

Political journalist Suzanne Breen also tweeted: 'Lyra McKee's mother has died just weeks before the first anniversary of her daughter's murder.

'Joan's heart was broken and it couldn't be fixed. Two people were effectively killed by one shot that night in Derry. Shame on those who brought death and destruction into this family's life.'

Joan Lawrie passed away in a Belfast hospital last night almost one year after her daughter was shot dead while observing a riot on Londonderry's Creggan estate in April

Ms McKee, 29, was shot dead by dissident republicans while observing a riot in the Creggan area

Ms McKee had regularly visited her mother in north Belfast to look after her.

She had written, in a Letter to my 14-year-old self, of how supportive her mother was when she revealed her sexuality.

'Three months before your 21st birthday, you will tell Mum the secret, she wrote. 'You will be sobbing and shaking and she will be frightened because she doesn't know what's wrong. Christmas will be just a couple of weeks away.

'You have to tell her because you've met someone you like and you can't live with the guilt any more. You can't get the words out so she says it: 'Are you gay?' And you will say, 'Yes Mummy, I'm so sorry.' And instead of getting mad, she will reply 'Thank God you're not pregnant'.

'You will crawl into her lap, sobbing, as she holds you and tells you that you are her little girl and how could you ever think that anything would make her love you any less? You will feel like a prisoner who has been given their freedom.'

Paul McIntyre, the man charged with the murder of Lyra Mckee arrives at Londonderry Magistrates Court on February 13

Ms McKee was a gay rights activist and an articulate advocate of a new and more tolerant Northern Ireland and part of the generation which reached adulthood during peace time. She wrote for publications including Private Eye and Buzzfeed.

A tribute to Miss McKee released by her mother Joan, brothers Gary and David, and sisters Joan Hunter, Nichola Corner and Mary Crossan soon after her death said: 'On Thursday April 18, our beautiful Lyra was taken from us.

'A daughter, a sister, an aunt, a great-aunt, a partner, a niece, a cousin, and above all, a best friend and confidante to so many of us. A friend to all, a gentle innocent soul who wouldn't wish ill on anyone.

'Such a warm and innocent heart, she was the greatest listener, someone who had time for everyone. She was a smart, strong-minded woman who believed passionately in inclusivity, justice and truth.

'Lyra spoke to and made friends with anybody and everybody, no matter what their background, those of all political views and those with none. This openness, and her desire to bring people together, made her totally apolitical.

'We would ask that Lyra's life and her personal philosophy are used as an example to us all as we face this tragedy together. Lyra's answer would have been simple, the only way to overcome hatred and intolerance is with love, understanding and kindness.'

Robyn Peoples and Sharni Edwards, the first couple to be legally married in a same-sex couple in Northern Ireland, are pictured kissing in front of a tribute wall to Lyra McKee in Belfast

Miss McKee was standing near a police vehicle when she was hit by a bullet fired by a masked gunman towards officers 11 months ago.

The Belfast-based writer was living in Londonderry with her partner, Sara Canning, at the time.

Her funeral was attended by then prime minister Theresa May, Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Irish President Michael D Higgins at St Anne's Cathedral in Belfast.

Catholic priest Fr Martin Magill received a standing ovation when he asked why it took her death to unite politicians.

Days later the British and Irish governments announced a new talks process aimed at restoring devolution.

Powersharing was resurrected in January and the first same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland took place in February.
As a result of new travel restrictions, Oman Air will temporarily be suspending all flights between Saudi Arabia and the sultanate with effect from March 12, until further notice.



Guests based in Saudi Arabia holding Oman Air flight bookings can contact the Jeddah office at (+966) 115108733. All guests in other parts of the international network can call the call centre at (+968) 24531111 or contact Oman Air representatives in their country of origin.



For further updates on Saudi Arabia flights, as well as all other flight operations, please refer to the Oman Air website and official social media channels. - TradeArabia News Service
Assisted living facilities in northwest Harris County are screening visitors with questions and increasing sanitization efforts in order to prevent spread of the virus to their more susceptible residents.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention declared that older adults, and people with chronic medical conditions and compromised immune systems are more susceptible to severe sickness from COVID-19, the disease caused by coronavirus. Area assisted living and memory care facilities are taking extra precautions to protect their patients and staff.

LIVE CORONAVIRUS UPDATES: Third case found in Montgomery County

Raquel Medina, executive director of Eden Memory Care said the Cypress location is taking every precaution possible, only letting essential staff into the building and monitoring clients. Clients have their temperature taken twice daily, are monitored for shortness of breath, coughing, or other symptoms of the virus. Staff has been identified to administer 24/7 care should a resident contract COVID-19.

We have to take into consideration that the age group that we have in our residence, their immune system is very prone to accepting a new type of illness, Medina said. Only staff members and special health care staff and only family members with a keycard are allowed in the building. No visitors, no pets are allowed at this time. We have provided all of the staff and healthcare professionals that have to come in and out sanitizers at the doors around the community.

ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: 'The tip of the iceberg': Coronavirus community spread has started in Houston area

Medina said Eden is also monitoring employee health and disinfecting the entire facility every two hours.

We are asking (employees) to monitor their own health and if they experience any symptoms of the virus, Medina said.

Tommy Dorsey, front office specialist with Atria Senior Living Cypresswood said he personally asks people who enter the building a list of questions to determine if they may put clients at risk of contracting COVID-19.

ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: Woodlands woman is second coronavirus case in Montgomery County

I stop every last person that walks in, anybody, he said. We have to ask them questions like if theyve been out of the country in the last 14 days, have they been around anyone that tested positive of the coronavirus. If they have, theyre not allowed to enter the building.

Additionally, he said everyone must use the hand sanitizing station at the front desk.

Other area facilities have said they are taking similar precautions to keep their residents safe including consistent cleaning  especially of hands  increased disinfection of facilities and screening visitors.

A representative with Cypress Creek Rehabilitation Center said the facility is disinfecting their building more often and posting signage around the building about hygiene, in addition to asking visitors a list of screening questions.

A representative with The Village of Gleannloch Farms said the assisted care facility is limiting visitors, and is screening through questions, as did representatives with Avalon Memory Care and Grace Care Center in Cypress.

As of 3 p.m. Wednesday, the Houston Chronicle reported there have been 17 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Texas. In the Houston area, 14 people have been diagnosed with COVID-19.

For more information and coronavirus coverage visit www.houstonchronicle.com.

chevall.pryce@chron.com
Amid the novel coronavirus outbreak, the cabinet secretary on Wednesday said all states and Union Territories should invoke provisions of Section 2 of the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 by means of which all advisories issued by the Union health ministry and state governments from time to time are enforceable.

The decision was taken at a meeting organised here by the cabinet secretary. It was attended by secretaries of departments concerned, representatives from Army, ITBP among others.

"It was decided that all states/UTs should be advised by MoHFW to invoke provisions of Section 2 of the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 so that all advisories being issued from time to time by the Ministry of Health Welfare/State/UTs are enforceable," the ministry said in a statement.

Besides, the high-level Group of Ministers (GOM) constituted on the directions of the prime minister to review, monitor and evaluate the preparedness and measures taken regarding management of COVID-19 also held its meeting here on Wednesday.

The meeting was held under the chairpersonship of Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan.

Minister of Civil Aviation Hardeep Singh Puri, Minister of External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and Minister of State for Home Nityananda Rai were also present in the meeting.

A presentation of the status of COVID-19 was made to the GOM.

The action taken for prevention and management of COVID-19 in India were presented which included information about the various travel advisories issued in view of the evolving global situation regarding the disease, the ministry said in a statement.

As a measure of prevention, it is reiterated that passengers with travel history to China, Hong Kong, Republic of Korea, Japan, Italy, Thailand, Singapore, Iran, Malaysia, France, Spain and Germany should undergo self-imposed quarantine for a period of 14 days from the date of their arrival, and their employers should facilitate work-from-home for such employees during this period, the ministry said.

Health secretary Preeti Sudan apprised the GoM that the states/UTs are advised to do rigorous IEC (Information, Education and Communication) and make people aware about the precautions, symptoms and helpline numbers.

The identification of additional quarantine facilities, development of isolation wards, training of health workers and doctors are also being undertaken, she said.

The official said universal screening is being done for travellers from 12 countries for all the flights from China, Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, Malaysia, Nepal, Indonesia, Iran and Italy at the earmarked aero-bridges.

The GoM undertook elaborate discussions on the various other precautionary measures and expressed their satisfaction with the actions taken, preparedness and efforts put together by various ministries, departments and states/UTs to combat novel coronavirus disease.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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As Americans shelter in place to slow the spread of the coronavirus, parents are looking for ways to keep their children occupied. To help you, weve combed our archives to curate a list of previously recommended toys, activities, and games that should help keep your kids out of your hair for a bit while you get some work done.

Toys

Magna-Tiles are that rare gem of a toy that will occupy your kidswhether theyre 2 or 12for a good, solid while. A hundred of these tiles (this sounds like too manyits not!) might even buy you an hour while your kids build a whole village. As Slate Care and Feeding columnist Nicole Cliffe says: You need to give them Magna-Tiles. I do not make the rules. $50 for 32 magnet blocks?! you will say. Trust me that they will love them.

Youre probably looking to avoid messes, especially in the house. But you may also be desperate. Ask a Teacher columnist Carrie Bauer claims that kinetic sand is easy to vacuum up and says that the long periods of absorbed experimentation it allows for are worth it.  Sip your coffee [or do your work] for 45 blissfully uninterrupted minutes.

Tangrams are classic toys that encourage kids to understand patterns and geometric concepts like angles and symmetry, explains Bauer. Younger kids are happy to play freely with a colorful set of shapes and will often initiate sorting and arranging them into patterns all on their own. Older, puzzle-minded kids can dive into a geometry challenge with a plain wooden tangram of 7 pieces and a book of silhouettes, attempting to recreate the images by manipulating the shapes.

Activities

Art supplies are extremely useful to have on hand, especially those that arent too messy and kids can use unsupervised (think crayons, colored pencils). Cliffe calls this art kit dope as hell and a real crowd-pleaser. Grab a roll of butcher paper and let your kids go to town.

Usborne makes fantastic activity books for kids of all agesfrom books filled with simple word searches and easy mazes for pre-K and kindergartners to harder logic games for elementary and middle schoolers. Editors Note: Both of these are currently sold out on Amazon. These items are so useful, its worth checking back to see if they come back into stock. Or, see if you can get your hands on any of Usbornes other activity books, like this travel pad or this crossword book.

Bananagrams for Kids, made by the creators of Bananagrams, offers satisfying and fun word puzzles that even high schoolers will enjoy.

Puzzle master Will Shortz to the rescue. Your elementary schooler is not too young for Sudoku or KenKen. This particular sudoku book is a great starter; the simple puzzles at the beginning are easy enough for second graders, and the more difficult puzzles toward the end will challenge middle schoolers. And this introductory KenKen book is perfect for older kids.

Second grade teacher Brandon Hersey keeps a large stash of stickers in his classroom and says, Stickers are incredibly useful, and  I can never, ever have enough! Let your kid loose with a big sheet of stickers, some markers, and some butcher paper. Stickers can also double as rewards for your 4-year-old if she successfully leaves you alone for 30 minutes.

Games

DO NOT sleep on this very cool marble-run logic game gravity thingie, which has been a big hit whenever Ive tried it, Cliffe says.

Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza was one of Slates bestselling holiday gifts. Cliffe calls it the only card-based game I like, and it will transform gatherings.

Bauer praises Labyrinth, an eternally popular board game, for being different with every play, so its a game that has a long lifespan of enjoyment.

In addition to these suggestions, browse Slates comprehensive list of the 40 best family games to find something suitable for your kids ages and interests. Games like Sorry, Spot It!, and Uno are especially good for younger kids to play on their own. Codenames is a perennial Slate favoriteitd be great for keeping older kids off of screens and engaged in something more wholesome.

It wouldnt hurt to load up on books with a quick trip to the library, or you could purchase a couple of new books to dole out at an opportune moment (maybe right before your big video conference call). Encyclopedic books can be great for a half-hour of browsing, even if your kids cant read. Anything in National Geographics Little Kids First Big Book series is always a solid bet for preschoolers. Check out Slates kids summer reading list for some inspiring, compulsively readable recommendations from your childrens favorite novelists.

And if all else fails, you can always pull the trigger on that subscription to Disney+. Good luck.
Westpac's Sydney headquarters have been evacuated amid fears three staff have coronavirus.

Two floors were cleared at the Kent Street office, near Barangaroo, on Wednesday afternoon and cleaned as a precaution.

'Westpac is currently taking precautions in relation to three employees with suspected cases of COVID-19 at its Sydney head offices,' a spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia.

Westpac's Sydney headquarters have been evacuated amid fears three staff have coronavirus . Two floors were cleared at the Kent Street office (stock image, pictured), near Barangaroo, on Wednesday afternoon and cleaned as a precaution

'Anyone who has come into close contact with these employees, as well as those who work on the same floor, are now at home.

CORONAVIRUS CASES IN AUSTRALIA: 27,244 Victoria: 20,269 New South Wales: 4,273 Queensland: 1,161 Western Australia: 692 South Australia: 473 Tasmania: 230 Australian Capital Territory: 113 Northern Territory: 33 TOTAL CASES: 27,244 ESTIMATED ACTIVE CASES: 269 DEATHS: 897 Updated: 5.31 PM, 11 October, 2020 Source: Australian Government Department of Health Advertisement

'We are supporting impacted employees and any potentially affected floors are undergoing extensive cleaning which is in line with health authority guidelines during this time.'

Westpac, Australia's second biggest bank by market value, has two nearby Sydney administration offices at Kent Street and Barangaroo Avenue.

The evacuation of Westpac's Kent Street premises, near Sydney Harbour, occurred less than a week after corporate law firm Clayton Utz told staff to go home.

A chef working in Clayton Utz's Sydney office revealed his wife is the granddaughter of a 95-year-old woman who last week died at a Macquarie Park nursing home in the city's north.

Clayton Utz yesterday revealed she had tested positive to coronavirus.

Her husband has been in quarantine at home since Wednesday last week, a day before Clayton Utz evacuated its Bligh Street office.

So far, 123 people have tested positive to coronavirus in Australia with more than half, or 65, of them in New South Wales.
Performer Lindsey Stirling made an (almost)-out-of-this-world performance within view of the launch pad that could send people to the moon in 2024.

The American violinist is famous not only for her music, but also for her choreography, which accompanies the performance. She plays, dances, kicks and gracefully climbs staircases at the Kennedy Space Center's Launch Control Center in Florida in a new NASA video.

Shots from the video show Stirling moving in the shadow of the Vehicle Assembly Building, where NASA once built Saturn V rockets for the Apollo moon landings and where moon rockets will be assembled once again in the near future for the agency's Artemis program. She also appears in the parking lot and the view from the center's rooftop. Stirling's performance was about 2 miles (3 kilometers) away from Launch Pad 39B, which the agency is currently renovating to prepare for future moon missions.

Video: Musician Lindsey Stirling performs 'Artemis' at Kennedy Space Center

More: The best space music videos ever

Violinist, composer and dancer Lindsey Stirling performs her new song "Artemis," named after NASA's new moon-landing program, at the agency's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. (Image credit: NASA/ YouTube

Her performed song, titled "Artemis," shares a name with NASA's forthcoming moon program. The agency is preparing to send its next batch of astronauts to the surface of the moon for the first time since the Apollo moon landings of the 1960s and 1970s. What is different this time around, though, is that NASA plans to launch the first women to the moon.

NASA therefore interspersed facts about women in space in the video, along with artist renditions of what the next launches to the moon will look like. NASA pointed out, for example, that 16 women in NASA's current astronaut corps are eligible for Artemis missions.

Related: The Kennedy Space Center, NASA's historic spaceport in photos

I named my album #Artemis after the greek goddess of the moon b/c of her strength & femininity. It's only fitting that for #WomensHistoryMonth @NASA & I partnered around their upcoming #Artemis mission which is going to put the first woman on the moon: https://t.co/K9lk4DyvIJMarch 9, 2020 See more

The agency reminded viewers that NASA astronaut Christina Koch recently wrapped up a record-setting stint in space for women of almost one year; Koch was also a participant in the first three all-female spacewalks, along with crewmate Jessica Meir.

The Artemis launches will use the Space Launch System, the largest rocket NASA has used for humans since Apollo's Saturn V, along with the Orion spacecraft. NASA also plans to build new spacesuits and to recruit private companies to send deliveries and robot helpers to accompany the astronaut crews, under the agency's Commercial Lunar Payload Services program.

NASA's first Artemis launch, Artemis 1, will send an uncrewed spacecraft around the moon and then back to Earth. That launch is expected in 2021.

Follow Elizabeth Howell on Twitter @howellspace. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook.
Unveiling an electronic engine controller for the Rolls-Royce AE 3007H jet engine during an announcement of a new engine controls facility in Discovery Park District are from left Brian Edelman, president of Purdue Research Foundation; Tom Bell, president of defense and CEO of Rolls-Royce North America; Mitch Daniels, Purdue University president; and Candice Bineyard, director of defense programs for Rolls-Royce North America. (Purdue University photo/Rebecca McElhoe)

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind.  Rolls-Royce has created a new engine controls capability near the campus of Purdue University to support its U.S. defense business, including the F130 engine competing for the U.S. Air Force B-52 program.

Rolls-Royce will assemble and test electronic engine controllers, which help manage in-flight engine operations. The first controller has been completed at Rolls-Royce in the Purdue Research Foundations Discovery Park District adjacent to the Purdue University campus in West Lafayette, Indiana, and will be installed onto a Rolls-Royce AE 3007H engine, manufactured at the companys facilities in Indianapolis.

Tom Bell, Rolls-Royce, president - Defense and CEO of Rolls-Royce North America, said, Rolls-Royce has partnered with Purdue University for decades, and we are excited to launch our new controls capability near the campus to assemble and test these high-tech engine components. Whether for the Rolls-Royce AE family of engines or for our competitive F130 engine for the B-52, these new controllers will support U.S. military pilots as they fly around the world, offering the highest-quality technical product.

Purdue University is a designated Rolls-Royce University Technology Partnership that recognizes its collaborations on research, including advanced engine technology, materials and testing capability, and a Rolls-Royce investment at the university topping $18 million since 2015 and more than 600 Purdue graduates among the companys workforce in Indianapolis. Rolls-Royce and Purdue also have collaborated on initiatives in cybersecurity and digital technology, as well as the new controls project.

The new electronic engine controllers that Rolls-Royce is developing build on the long history of collaborative research and development between Purdue and Rolls-Royce, said Brian Edelman, president of Purdue Research Foundation. It also is a great opportunity for Rolls-Royce to expand on the success of the companys 2017 opening of its research and development of jet engine components in the Discovery Park District.

Electronic engine controllers are responsible for control of complicated gas turbine engines, monitoring and adjusting multiple factors such as air and fuel flow. The high-tech controllers, which are about the size of a laptop computer, are safety-critical technical components that reduce pilot workload and enhance fuel efficiency. The very first engine equipped with the new controller will be delivered to Northrop Grumman for installation on a U.S. Navy Triton aircraft. Additionally, the new controllers will be installed on AE 3007 engines bound for the U.S. Air Force Global Hawk and the U.S. Navy MQ-25 Stingray aircraft.

The facility at Purdue also will assemble electronic controllers for Rolls-Royce F130 engines for the Air Force B-52 strategic bomber re-engining program, if the company wins the engine competition later this year. F130 engines also would be manufactured at the companys Indianapolis facilities, and Rolls-Royce would add more than 150 new jobs in manufacturing, engineering, program management and other positions for the F130 program. Additional photos and video can be found here.

Rolls-Royce has delivered more than 7,000 engines in its AE family from Indianapolis, for a wide variety of defense and commercial aircraft. Defense aircraft powered by Rolls-Royce AE engines include the revolutionary V-22 tiltrotor, the global C-130J fleet, and the Global Hawk high-altitude, unmanned aerial vehicle. On the commercial side, AE engines power Embraer 135 and 145 aircraft, the Cessna Citation X+ and other aircraft.

A $600 million Rolls-Royce investment in modernization and technology programs is nearing completion in Indiana, including state-of-the-art advanced manufacturing at its Indianapolis facilities  paving the way for optimized production of an engine in the F130 size class.

Rolls-Royce employs 6,000 people in 27 states across the U.S, literally coast-to-coast, from southern California to Walpole, Massachusetts. In addition, Rolls-Royce business supports more than 52,000 jobs across the US, adding nearly $9 billion to the nations economy each year.

Rolls-Royce has invested nearly $1 billion in research and development in the US since 2013.

About Rolls-Royce Holdings plc

Rolls-Royce pioneers cutting-edge technologies that deliver clean, safe and competitive solutions to meet our planets vital power needs. Rolls-Royce has customers in more than 150 countries, comprising more than 400 airlines and leasing customers, 160 armed forces, 70 navies, and more than 5,000 power and nuclear customers. Annual underlying revenue was $19.7 billion in 2019, around half of which came from the provision of aftermarket services. In 2019, Rolls-Royce invested $1.86 billion on research and development. We also support a global network of 29 University Technology Centres, which position Rolls-Royce engineers at the forefront of scientific research. The Group has a strong commitment to apprentice and graduate recruitment and to further developing employee skills.

*Based on a currency exchange rate of $1.29.

About Purdue Research Foundation

The Purdue Research Foundation is a private, nonprofit foundation created to advance the mission of Purdue University. Established in 1930, the foundation accepts gifts; administers trusts; funds scholarships and grants; acquires property; protects Purdue's intellectual property; and promotes entrepreneurial activities on behalf of Purdue. The foundation manages the Purdue Foundry, Purdue Office of Technology Commercialization, Purdue Research Park and Purdue Technology Centers. The foundation received the 2019 Innovation and Economic Prosperity Universities Award for Place from the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities.

Contacts:

George McLaren, vice president, marketing & communications, Rolls-Royce Defense North America, +1-317-366-9624 (US), george.mclaren@rolls-royce.com

Cynthia Sequin, Purdue Research Foundation, 765-413-6031, casequin@prf.org

Note to Journalists: Additional photos and video can be found at https://purdue.university/2ID91Mk.
McDonald's has banned the use of reusable coffee cups in a bid to stop the spread of coronavirus.

The fast food giant has suspended the use of the environmentally-friendly cups for all of its stores across Australia and New Zealand.

'At McDonald's, the safety of our customers, people and the food and drinks we serve is of the utmost importance,' a McDonald's Australia spokesman said.

'We have made the decision to suspend the use of reusable coffee cups at restaurants across the country at this time.'

McDonald's has banned the use of reusable coffee cups in a bid to stop the spread of the coronavirus (pictured: A notice informing customers of the changes)

The fast food giant has suspended the use of the environmentally friendly cups (pictured) for all of its stores across New Zealand and Australia

Other businesses have also banned reusable coffee cups amid the outbreak of the deadly virus.

Bonnie Coffee, on Margaret Street in central Sydney, fixed a notice on their front door last week to alert beverage seekers that 'customer-owned' cups would no longer be permitted.

The coffee outlet said the temporary shift is one of several steps the business is taking to protect staff and members of the public from the illness.

In response to ongoing concern around the COVID-19 Coronavirus, Bonnie Coffee is taking some extra precautions to ensure both customers and staff members are safe from potential infection,' the announcement read.

'For the coming weeks we will suspend the use of customer-owned reusable cups to prevent foreign objects from being introduced to the beverage preparation space.

The coffee retailer added it was installing disinfectant stations and assured customers that staff would be extra vigilant while handling food and drink products.

McDonald's decision to ban reusable comes after a number of businesses have done the same, including Starbucks

Bonnie Coffee is a popular eatery with stores located in the heart of Sydney and Melbourne

'Customers will find alcohol sanitiser available for their use at various locations around the store,' the note continued.

'Staff members will be increasing sanitation efforts across the cafe as an added safety measure, particularly in food and beverage preparation.

The eatery has a second Australian franchise on Collins Street, in Melbourne's CBD.

It is unclear if the Victorian store has also implemented the precautionary measure.

A Bonnie Coffee spokesman told Daily Mail Australia that reusable cups would still be available for those who dine in-store.

'Customers can use a single use coffee cup or our store's glass / ceramic cups,' he said.

Symptoms of the virus include a fever, cough, sore throat and shortness of breath

'Our store's cups are washed in industrial high-pressure sanitizing dishwashers.

CORONAVIRUS CASES IN AUSTRALIA: 27,244 Victoria: 20,269 New South Wales: 4,273 Queensland: 1,161 Western Australia: 692 South Australia: 473 Tasmania: 230 Australian Capital Territory: 113 Northern Territory: 33 TOTAL CASES: 27,244 ESTIMATED ACTIVE CASES: 269 DEATHS: 897 Updated: 5.31 PM, 11 October, 2020 Source: Australian Government Department of Health Advertisement

The spokesman acknowledged that people may hold environmental concerns, but expressed that the health of customers and staff remains the business' number one priority.

'We acknowledge that this might not be as environmentally friendly as many would like but we have to put the health and safety of our customers and staff first at this time,' he said.

'This will be a temporary measure and we look forward to returning to using keep cups again in the near future.'

Coffee giant Starbucks also announced the use of personal cups would be paused in stores across the United States, the UK and Canada last week.

As of Wednesday, there were 116 confirmed cases of coronavirus cases in Australia, including three deaths. That figure is expected to rise as people have been swarming medical centres and hospitals to be tested for the virus.

A massive queue formed outside the Royal Melbourne Hospital as people wearing face masks wait to get their symptoms tested
By Stephen Nellis

(Reuters) - Lam Research Corp on Tuesday released its first major new tool in two decades for producing finer three-dimensional details on computer chips that must be shrunk down to fit into ever more complex phones and other electronic devices.

The company also committed to boosting its dividends each year and returning more cash to investors.

At an analyst day in New York, Lam executives introduced the Sense.i, a tool for etching features on silicon wafers to make chips.

In recent years, the intricate patterns on chips have become like the grid of dense urban neighborhood. Chipmakers have run out of room to pack any more transistors side by side, so they have started building upward.

Crafting those three dimensional features has become key for Lam's memory chip customers such as Samsung Electronics Co Ltd and SK Hynix Inc in putting more memory capacity into phones and other devices.

Such chips can require etching 1 trillion holes on a silicon wafer, said Vahid Vahedi, senior vice president and general manager of the etch product group at Lam Research. Lam specializes in making the holes tall and narrow so more can be packed in the same space. Using the urban neighborhood analogy, the holes would be proportionately as tall and narrow as the Empire State Building stacked on itself more than six times.

Lam executives said memory chip makers will likely be first to adopt the new tool, but computing chipmakers were likely to follow. "This vertical scaling is a very strong driver of growth for us," Vahedi said at the conference.

The company also committed to returning more free cash to shareholders. Previously, Lam had said it planned to commit at least 50% of free cash flow each year to capital return. Since then, the company has exceeded that mark through share buybacks and dividends, thanks in part to changes in U.S. tax laws, said Doug Bettinger, Lam's chief financial officer.

Going forward, Betting said Lam will return 75% to 100% of Lam's free cash flow and will also boost its dividend each year.

"If you look at the breakdown of the cash return to shareholders, it's been more allocated to buybacks, but given the dividend has grown every year, that's an increasing percentage of the free cash flow return as well, and likely will continue to be over time," Bettinger said in an interview.

(Reporting by Stephen Nellis in San Francisco; Editing by David Gregorio)
The Trump administration was set on Wednesday to discuss new restrictions on travelers from European countries to fight coronavirus, sources said, as a top U.S. health official warned that the pandemic 'is going to get worse' in the United States after ravaging China, Italy and other countries.

The potential new measures could mirror a ban on travel to the United States imposed on foreigners who visited China in the prior two weeks, which was later extended to Iran, sources familiar with the discussions said.

Advisories recommending Americans cancel travel to certain European countries are also under consideration, the people said.

In Washington state, Governor Jay Inslee prohibited gatherings of over 250 people in three Seattle-area counties and said he may soon close schools to slow the spread of coronavirus as the state suffered the deadliest outbreak in the United States.

The Trump administration is set to discuss new restrictions on travelers from European countries. Pictured a JFK airport arrivals board this week shows cancellations and delays from destinations hit by coronavirus

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin (right) said the Trump administration was looking into taking steps that could put hundreds of billions of dollars into the U.S. economy to shield it from a slowdown brought on by the disruption from coronavirus

The Trump administration is exploring cutting taxes to protect the economy, Democratic presidential candidates are cancelling events and New York's governor said the federal government had 'fallen down on the job' as officials scrambled to fight the coronavirus outbreak.

It was not immediately clear whether the White House would announce travel measures on Wednesday, but one source said new travel advisories could possibly be disclosed.

Two weeks ago, the State Department issued a travel advisory calling on U.S. citizens to reconsider travel to Italy, where authorities said on Wednesday the death toll from the outbreak had jumped 31% to 827 in 24 hours.

The World Health Organization described the coronavirus, which causes a respiratory illness that can be fatal, as a pandemic on Wednesday for the first time.

Anthony Fauci, head of infectious diseases at the National Institutes of Health, told a congressional hearing that the outbreak would only get worse in the United States.

'We will see more cases and things will get worse than they are now. How much worse they will get will depend on our ability to do two things: To contain the influx of people who are infected coming from outside and the ability to contain and mitigate within our own country,' Fauci told the House of Representatives Oversight Committee.

Advisories recommending Americans cancel travel to certain European countries are also under consideration, according to a source. China Airlines employees wearing face masks check-in passengers for Taipei at the LAX Tom Bradley International Airport in Los Angeles, California on March 9

It was claimed as a top U.S. health official warned that the pandemic 'is going to get worse' in the United States after ravaging China, Italy and other countries. A health sign on best practices to avoid the coronavirus on March 11 in Rome, Italy

'Bottom line: It's going to get worse,' Fauci said.

Washington state's ban on gatherings was aimed at sports, concerts, worship services and other events, Inslee told a news conference.

The Pacific Northwest state has reported over a quarter of the U.S. coronavirus cases and nearly all the deaths, putting pressure on Inslee to slow the virus' spread to prevent hospitals from being overwhelmed.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said the Trump administration was looking into taking steps that could put hundreds of billions of dollars into the U.S. economy to shield it from a slowdown brought on by the disruption from coronavirus.

Health Secretary Alex Azar said federal leaders were working with local officials in the hardest-hit states, saying 'strong mitigation steps' could help buy valuable time.

The governor of New York, however, said federal officials had left states scrambling to act on their own, including ramping up testing for the highly contagious respiratory illness.

'We can't wait for the federal government because it's not going to happen,' said Andrew Cuomo. 'The federal government has just fallen down on the job,' Cuomo, a Democrat, told MSNBC, adding that he had told other state governors, 'You're on your own.'

Pictured, passengers arrive at JFK Airport in New York after flying from Rome, Italy

The number of U.S. coronavirus cases has risen steadily and has affected almost three-quarters of U.S. states. More than 1,000 cases and 31 deaths have been reported.

'Together we are putting into policy a plan to prevent, detect, treat and create a vaccine against CoronaVirus to save lives in America and the world. America will get it done!' President Donald Trump wrote on Twitter without giving more detail.

Daily life in the United States has been increasingly disrupted, with concerts and conferences canceled and universities telling students to stay home and take classes online.

Public gatherings have been suspended in a coronavirus 'hot zone' in New Rochelle, a New York City suburb.

Democratic presidential contenders Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders were reassessing how to campaign in the face of the spreading outbreak.

The two candidates canceled rallies on Tuesday, citing recommendations from public health officials to avoid assembling large indoor crowds, and Biden's campaign scrapped a Thursday event in Florida, which holds a primary vote next week to help nominate a Democratic challenger to Trump in November.

The State Department has decided to suspend non-essential travel for its staff because of coronavirus, three sources familiar with the matter said.

The White House is examining payroll tax relief measures, loan guarantees, reimbursing workers for lost pay, aid to small and mid-sized businesses and support for airlines, hotels and other travel businesses, Mnuchin said.

'Whatever we do, kind of in the next 48 hours, that's just the first step. We'll be back. And I think there's big bipartisan support. People understand that we have to help small and medium-sized businesses and certain industries,' Mnuchin told a House committee.

New York and Washington state are struggling to make testing for the virus widely available, with local officials estimating it could take weeks to reach peak testing capacity.

An unidentified flaw in test kits distributed by the federal government in February, which gave some false results, has set the country back in containing an outbreak that has infected more than 121,000 people worldwide.
Against a background of rhythmic Native American drumming, cement foundations jutting from trenches and the smell of recently upturned earth, a large crowd gathered Tuesday for a formal groundbreaking ceremony for construction of a Tiny Homes Village for the homeless.

Located on the same site as the Albuquerque Indian Center, the village of 30 tiny homes, each about 120 square feet, is expected to be completed around October, said Bernalillo County Commissioner Debbie O'Malley, who helped spearhead the project.

This has been in the works for many years, mostly on the planning and funding side, and now that it's starting to get built, it will move pretty quickly, O'Malley said.

Getting to this point, however, was no easy task, she noted.

After a cat-and-mouse game in which homeless people set up tent cities that were quickly disassembled by police, only to reappear elsewhere, O'Malley suggested turning those itinerant shelters into villages of permanent transitional housing for homeless people and surrounding them with services to help them break the cycle of homelessness.

She and other county and city officials studied similar tiny home villages in other municipalities and concluded that Albuquerque ought to try a pilot project of its own. County residents agreed.

The village is being funded with a $2 million general obligation bond county voters approved in 2016, a $750,000 bond they approved in 2018, a $600,000 allocation from the county's behavioral health budget, $75,000 from the city and $600,000 from the state to provide upgrades to the existing Albuquerque Indian Center building, O'Malley said.

The most difficult part of the process was figuring out where to locate it. More than 40 properties were vetted before being winnowed down to six. Public town hall meetings were held to discuss each of those sites.

O'Malley nearly walked out of one such meeting when she was booed by a crowd of about 300 people at the Manzano Mesa Multigenerational Center, who overwhelmingly expressed the not in my backyard sentiment.

Knowing the difficulty of finding an acceptable location for the village, Mary Garcia, executive director of the Albuquerque Indian Center, contacted O'Malley and suggested the village be located on a 1.3-acre weed-strewn parcel of land that wraps around the center and which it owns.

The next step was getting agreement from residents of the Trumbull Village neighborhood, in which the property is located. A number of neighborhood meetings were held and the Rev. Joanne Landry, president of the Trumbull Village Neighborhood Association, soon got on board, as did the residents.

According to Garcia, everyone recognized that homeless people were already in the neighborhood and the Albuquerque Indian Center was already working with them, so it seemed like good fit.

Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, homeless advocate and Tiny Homes Village supporter Ilse Biel acknowledged the resilience of former tent city residents who refused to go away and forced the public, as well as public officials, to look for new solutions to the problem of homelessness.

She also praised the Trumbull neighbors who were all so welcoming and decided to say, 'yes, of course, in my backyard.' 
Turkey's Erdogan accuses Greece of Nazi tactics against migrants at border Turkish President Erdogan addresses members of his ruling AKP during a meeting at the parliament in Ankara

By Daren Butler and George Georgiopoulos

ISTANBUL/ATHENS (Reuters) - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan accused Greek security forces on Wednesday of behaving like Nazis for using force against migrants trying to cross the border from Turkey into the European Union.

Tens of thousands of migrants have been trying to get into EU member Greece since Turkey said on Feb. 28 it would no longer keep them on its territory as part of a 2016 deal with Brussels reached in return for European aid for the refugees.

Greek security forces have used tear gas and water cannon to stop the migrants. Athens has suspended asylum applications for a month and says it has prevented more than 42,000 migrants illegally entering the EU over the past two weeks.

In the Turkish parliament, Erdogan showed lawmakers of his AK Party video footage of scenes at the Greek border.

"There is no difference between those images on the Greek border and what the Nazis did," he said.

"Opening fire on innocent people, exposing them to all kinds of inhumane treatment... (It) is barbarism in the full sense of the word," he said, repeating his call on Greece to let migrants cross its territory to reach richer western European countries.

"Why are you obstructing them so much and carrying out Nazi tortures on them?" he added.

Turkey has previously accused Greek security forces of shooting dead four migrants, a claim rejected by Athens as "fake news". Greece says it has a duty to protect the EU border.

On Wednesday, a Reuters correspondent in the area saw a thick cloud of smoke billowing near the village of Kastanies on the Greek side of the border, and also heard chanting.

"There was a lot of tension with teargas fired from both sides on the Greek-Turkish border (Kastanies)," a Greek government official told Reuters.

KNOCK ON THE DOOR, SAYS GREECE

Responding to Erdogan's latest comments, Greek government spokesman Stelios Petsas said: "He is constantly trying to torpedo the climate with such statements.

Story continues

"We tell everyone that they shouldn't attempt to get in through the window. There is a door. Whoever is entitled to protection should knock on that door and be entitled to protection based on international law," Petsas added.

Her also denied a report in The New York Times that said Greece was holding illegal migrants at a secret "black site" where they are denied access to lawyers and cannot file asylum claims.

Greece summoned Turkey's ambassador on Wednesday to lodge a complaint after the Greek coastguard said one of its vessels had been rammed deliberately by a Turkish coastguard boat.

Later on Wednesday, Turkey's foreign ministry summoned the Greek ambassador to Ankara, who was told that Greece must stop "violations of Turkish waters and the detention of journalists", the state-run Anadolu news agency said, without elaborating.

The EU is desperate to avoid a repeat of the 2015-16 migrant crisis when more than one million people, mostly fleeing war and poverty in the Middle East and beyond, reached the bloc via Turkey and Greece.

The influx bolstered support for far-right, anti-EU parties.

It ended when Turkey agreed in 2016 to keep migrants on its territory in return for EU aid. Erdogan said Ankara had upheld its side of the deal but that the EU had not.

"Until all expectations are met in a concrete way, we will continue our current practice at our borders," Erdogan said, referring to aspirations that also include updating Turkey's customs union with the EU, reviving its stalled EU accession bid and allowing Turks to visit the bloc without visas.

Turkey hosts 3.6 million refugees from the nine-year-old civil war in neighbouring Syria and is braced for the arrival of more as fighting drags on.

(Additional reporting by Ali Kucukgocmen and Tuvan Gumrukcu in Turkey, Renne Maltezou and George in Greece; Writing by Daren Butler; Editing by Gareth Jones and Mark Heinrich)
Spring 2022 Updated COVID-19 Policies, Procedures

As Western Illinois University plans to resume the traditional in-person experience beginning Jan. 18, 2022, to help ensure the health and safety of the members of University community and beyond, updated COVID-19 policies and procedures have been set for the Spring 2022 semester, including mandatory gateway testing for all faculty, staff and students, regardless of vaccination status. Read more.

COVID-19 Test/Vaccination Protocols

As Western Illinois University prepares to start the Spring 2022 semester, all members of the University community (vaccinated and unvaccinated) are encouraged to complete a COVID-19 test before returning to WIU's campuses. COVID-19 test clinics will be available on both campuses as well. Read more.

Vaccine Clinics (Including Boosters) Update

The McDonough County Health Department, in cooperation with Western Illinois University, will host a COVID-19 vaccination clinics (including boosters) for WIU faculty, staff and students, as well as members of the general public, in December as the Fall 2021 semester comes to a close. Read more.

COVID-19 Test Clinic Update

COVID-19 test clinics (saliva-based tests) will continue to be held on both the Macomb and Quad Cities campuses prior to the winter break, and upon return to campus in January 2022, following the holiday break. Read more.

For all WIU-related news, including pandemic-related releases and updates, visit wiu.edu/news/archive.php.
Like most Americans who dont live in the handful of swing states that decide close presidential elections, Ive watched the pandering, politicking and passion directed at those lucky voters and wondered, what about us? Im part of the vast electoral desert.

The primaries have been even worse, as we in the clamorous majority have had to stand by idly as a pair of small, overwhelmingly white states chose the party nominees. Oh, for a negative ad, a robocall, an earnest door-beller.

But all of that changed when Washington state moved its presidential nominating contest to March 10  so-called Mini Tuesday, when voters in six states weighed in. Washington, with 89 delegates at stake, had the second-largest haul, behind Michigan.

But my vote didnt count. Its not because a nursing home in the Seattle area is at the center of the deadly sweep of coronavirus in the United States. Because there is no in-person voting except for a few special exceptions, the virus outbreak may not affect turnout, though election officials have urged people to refrain from licking their mail-in envelopes. The candidates are staying away, and rightfully so. Social distancing, in a public health crisis, is not the same as shunning.

No, the problem is early voting. I cast my ballot by mail last month. I was one of more than 600,000 people in Washington who voted even before the South Carolina primary. Voting at leisure, by mail, is the simplest, easiest way to have your say. You dont even need a stamp.

But I voted for one of the candidates who have since dropped out. That means I will have zero influence on the outcome. If we had ranked choice  in which you could pick a second candidate in case your chosen one failed to make the top tier  it would count. But thats another argument.

Since I mailed in my ballot, Amy Klobuchar, Pete Buttigieg, Elizabeth Warren and Mike Bloomberg have dropped out. I should mention that I wrote a column just before Super Tuesday urging all of them to do just that. But what politician ever takes advice from a writer?

My experience is shared by millions of people, especially in California, who voted before the landscape shifted sharply. In essence, we are disenfranchised by our early diligence to democratic duty.

Bernie Sanders is now running some pretty annoying negative ads against Joe Biden in my home state. And his robo-bros have been texting relentlessly. Id love to have a say.

A friend of mine says you should always wait until the very last minute to vote because, as he quoted the mother of Mario Cuomo, the former New York governor, Between now and then, a pope will be born.

I never understood what that meant. I do now. And I will never vote before election day again.

nytegan
Montgomery Independent School District will release early for spring break due to Montgomery Countys first presumptive positive case of the new coronavirus, said Superintendent Dr. Beau Rees.

The school districts calendar has spring break slated for next week from Monday to Friday. The school district released a statement on social media that all campuses and departments will close this Thursday and Friday.

BREAKING: Houston Rodeo is expected to shut down over coronavirus concerns, sources say

The school officials said it has moved to a Level 3 Alert Status due to Montgomery Countys first presumptive positive case of the new coronavirus, which Montgomery County Public Health District and the Montgomery County Office of Emergency Management has confirmed.

While the health officials believe the risk to our school community is low at this time, Montgomery ISD, out of an abundance of caution and to provide additional time for deep cleaning, will cancel school on Thursday and Friday, March 12 and (March) 13, the district stated. Again, this is out of an abundance of caution.

ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: Houston and coronavirus: Contagion expert on what you should do

Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Dr. Sonja Lopez confirmed in a phone interview with The Courier that the students will remain on campus for a full day Wednesday. The students are expected to return on March 23.

We will continue to communicate if there are any changes, Lopez said.

The school district stated it plans to continue to work with the Montgomery County Health Department on additional steps to help contain future potential exposure to the community when the students return from break.

Lopez said that the school district is the only Montgomery County school district that was not on spring break and that the district has not received any information indicating that the school district has been exposed to a COVID-19 case.

mellsworth@hcnonline.com
Palm oil fruits are seen at an African palm oil plantation in the village of Semuy II

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia has set itself a target of a month within which to resolve its trade dispute with India over palm oil, the southeast Asian nation's new commodities minister said on Wednesday.

The deadline follows this week's swearing-in of a new Malaysian cabinet after Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin took office last month.

"One of the first moves for the new government is to rebuild the relationship with India, especially for the palm oil issue," Commodities Minister Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali told reporters after the first meeting of the new cabinet.

India, the biggest buyer of Malaysian palm oil for five years, put curbs in January on purchases, in retaliation for then prime minister Mahathir Mohamad's criticism of its policy on the Himalayan region of Kashmir and a new citizenship law.

Mohd Khairuddin said he wanted to send a delegation to India as soon as possible in the effort to improve ties.

"We will put this on the ministry's first agenda," he told reporters. "I set a timeframe of a month."

Malaysia, the second biggest producer of crude palm oil after Indonesia, will look to expand its exports to new markets, such as Russia and the Middle East, he added.

After India's January curbs on imports of refined palm oil from Malaysia, traders had also held off on buying its crude palm oil.

Malaysia's exports to India dropped 54% last month from January, data showed this week.

(Reporting by Mei Mei Chu; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)
Guinea-Bissau's self-declared leader has embarked on a tour of neighbouring West African states in an apparent bid to shore up legitimacy while his election win remains contested.

Umaro Sissoco Embalo won a run-off presidential vote in the impoverished West African state in December, according to the country's electoral authority.

But losing candidate Domingos Simoes Pereira, from the long-ruling PAIGC party, called the election fraudulent and took the case to the Supreme Court, which has not yet ruled.

Embalo deepened the political impasse last month when he declared himself president without waiting for the court.

The 47-year-old former prime minister is now touring capitals in the region in an apparent bid to cement his claim to the presidency.

On Wednesday, he landed in Niger's capital Niamey to "strengthen the ties of brotherhood and cooperation," he wrote on Twitter.

The day before, Embalo was in Senegal's capital Dakar, where president and longtime political ally Macky Sall received him with honours.

Embalo will cap his regional tour in Nigeria on Thursday and Friday.

But the self-declared president's actions have proved controversial both at home and abroad.

An interim president nominated by MPs from the PAIGC -- which has dominated Guinea-Bissau's politics since independence from Portugal in 1974 -- has resigned citing fears for his life.

The West Africa bloc ECOWAS, the historic mediator in the country's internecine politics, initially hailed Embalo's win.

However, the 15-nation bloc cancelled a mediation mission to Guinea-Bissau this week after Embalo criticised it for interfering.

Guinea-Bissau has suffered chronic instability since independence, with the army often playing a major role.

The country has suffered four coups and 16 attempted coups since independence, the last one in 2012.
Rows of solar panels face the sun at the new Entergy New Orleans solar power plant in New Orleans East Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2016. The plant has more than 4,200 panels and the capacity to generate about one megawatt of electricity. (Photo courtesy Entergy New Orleans)
The microbiome can be used to estimate the post-mortem interval, which is also known as the time elapsed since death, of human remains in the case of criminal investigations. This is because microbes are instrumental in the role of decomposition, with the stage of decay indicating time elapsed since death.

Image Credits: Giannis Papanikos / Shutterstock.com

The role of microbes is particularly important as communities undergo what is known as succession; this process is both predictable and timely, and high throughput DNA sequencing can be used to rapidly track these community shifts.

Current methods for estimating PMI have limited accuracy as in length of time increases. The study of insect activity (forensic entomology), can provide useful estimations of time elapsed since death if this has occurred between days and weeks. However, forensic entomology suffers limitations; insects are relatively absent indoors and during the winter. Consequently, new tools for estimating PMI are necessary.

Methods involving microbes have the potential to be used as forensic tools for the estimation of PMI. They are reliable means of PMI estimation as microbial communities shift in a predictably temporal manner. Microbial data gathered through high throughput characterization returns information about microbial communities associated with various decomposition states.

Coupled with time, this data can be developed into a form of microbial clock, that enables estimation of PMI. Several proofs of concept studies have been commissioned since 2013 to support the study of microbial community shifts as a forensic tool.

The link between decomposition and the post-mortem interval

Decomposition occurs as a product of the interaction between the ecosystem and external factors that affect the rate and mode of decomposition. Consequently, the measure of biotic and abiotic factors, in combination with the study of the remains, allows for the estimation of PMI.

There are several methods to achieve this, and the suitability of each of these is dependent on the extent to which decomposition is affected by external factors; this information can be compiled to produce a model of decomposition. As the PMI is a method that is dependent on working backward, the exact conditions of death are unlikely to be determined exactly. However, employing a method that has a clock-like dependency, will enable a more reliable estimation to be given.

There are several stages of decomposition. The first stage shows no outwardly visible signs, but at the level of the cell, oxygen deprivation results in the onset of rigor mortis; a drop in temperature to that which equals the ambient temperature results in algor mortis; and cells in contact with the surface discolor (livor mortis).

Bacterial overgrowth in the body occurs, and flies of the family Calliphoridae lay eggs in protected areas of the body or in thicker hair. Egg-laying propagates as other female flies do the same. In addition, beetles, ants, and wasps may be attracted.

Following earlier stages, skin and hair shed. Remains then putrefy as a result of fermentation and proteolysis, and this is accompanied by a change in color from pink white through to grey-green, and eventually black. The decomposition of the gut enables microbes here to enter into the circulatory system, breaking down blood which results in black residue visible under the skin as marbling.

Due to the increased acidity and decreased oxygen content (anoxia), anaerobic bacteria able to proliferate. The gas is released as a result of this process causes bloating and forces bodily fluids from the head and trunk. This marks the third stage of decomposition, and continual leakage of fluid through the head and trunk marks the transition to the fourth stage.

The third stage is also associated with bone exposure. This stimulates further attraction of flies. Diptera colonizes the body in waves, and the hatched mass of maggots (which are conglomerates of Larval Diptera and other species and families of insects), travel around the body.

Beetles are also common - from the family Silphidea - as well as predatory insects. Diptera colonization may be slowed as tissue dehydrates, and Coleoptera, a species that prefers dry conditions appear (from the families Cleridae, Silphidae, Dermestidae, Trogidae, and Scarabaeidae).

Like insects, different microbial communities can indicate PMI. This is because microbes undergo periods of succession, which can be accurately and comprehensively studied by high throughput sequencing. The succession of microbial communities is predictable, and as such, models based on regression of microbial data can be used to predict the PMI of a cadaver with accuracy.

Estimating PMI using regression models

Decomposition studies can build regression models - this requires data generated from studying several microbial communities. In decomposition studies, samples are collected at a series of time intervals from the same location on the body. DNA extraction, followed by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), for DNA amplification, is conducted in the region of the 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA).

rRNA Is a common region used to survey bacterial and archaeal populations, whereas the 18 S rRNA amplicon informs the characterization of eukaryotes. These amplicons are universal across species and can inform characterization based on taxa, a form of sub-classification. The relative abundance of each taxon is compiled into a table, which is amalgamated to form large and complex data sets.

Labs employ machine learning (ML) for the discovery of patterns in the data, and this can be used to build predictive models that enabled the PMI to be determined based on a time series of samples. The data is partitioned into training and testing data sets; the former is used to program the ML algorithm. This generates a model, and the testing data is then used to determine its accuracy.

Improvements in the model accuracy are achieved by factoring in environmental variables - the modeling process is iterative and continues until the lowest error of estimation is achieved. Once this best model is produced, swabs collected from remains with unknown PMIs can be inputted into the best model, which is based on the microbial clock, to generate a PMI with associated error rates.

Building the microbial clock: Mammalian models

The estimation of decomposition rates is most accurate when using mammalian models. These have been especially useful in demonstrating proof of concept for the predictability of succession. Typical mammalian models have included rats, fish, and swine. To corroborate the findings in mammalian models, donated human remains have been the subject of microbial succession tracking at specialized anthropological research facilities.

An important consideration of the microbial clock is the extent to which the sampling environment affects rates of microbial succession. The precise location from which samples are collected at various time points heavily influences decomposition, and so consideration of the limitations and benefits of each sampling location is necessary for the accurate prediction of PMI.

Sampling locations can be categorized into externally and internally accessible. Concerning externally accessible locations, the skin is the most common sample site and has proven to be an accurate site for the estimation of PMI as a result of a reliable microbial clock that can be constructed. Internally accessible sites are variable and microbial succession shows organ dependent differences.

The gut microbiome is the most promising site for clock-like determination of microbial succession. Studies demonstrated that the 16S rRNA gene sequencing could accurately determine bacterial populations that either increased or decreased reliably. While these sites can provide information a microbial succession and thus, PMI, sampling is destructive to the remains - therefore non-invasive sampling is thought to be essential.

The microbial clock: The role of the sampling environment

For researchers aiming to estimate PMI on a longer time scale, the bone is a good indicator of microbial succession. In addition to this, soil as a sample site holds great potential as an indicator for PMI as microbial succession is fundamental to microbial decomposers and is provided with a source of ammonia-rich fluids from the body.

For researchers conducting studies, sample type selection should be based on the invasiveness of sampling and the decomposition time frame. Additional studies focusing on other environmental factors, such as season, corroborate the finding that microbial communities associated with the decomposing body change in a significant and reproducible manner.

The pattern observed in this change has also been shown to be an accurate predictor of PMI at both early and late-stage decomposition. Through a series of independent studies in which researchers isolated a particular variable, an understanding of which factors that impact succession has been formed, providing the basis for the construction of an accurate microbial clock.

Unknowns and new technologies

New technologies that have provided a proof of concept for PMI estimation have been published in a series of studies. However, the adoption of new technologies by the judicial system requires a forensic science community following the proof of concept with the development of prototypes technology followed by legal validation and acceptance.

Currently, the next steps require a microbial PMI model with error rates and the creation of a prototype kit and trajectory for analysis. Following this, the technique must be accepted into the legal system by a judge. This is supported by the validity and reliability up there supporting science and technology as indicated by published pair viewed journals and teaching at higher education facilities.

The widespread acceptance of this technology can only be corroborated by the adoption of this new type of DNA sequencing for microbial succession by both the forensic and research communities  a feat supported by sharing the technology widely at conferences, training events and workshops, supported by accrediting organizations.

To conclude, the authors state that the microbial clock as an estimate of PMI provides a reproducible and accurate form of evidence for forensic investigation and beyond. The development of new technologies that have been validated and accredited is hoped to provide a means of realizing the potential of microbial succession and machine learning techniques.

One critical bottleneck in the implementation of the microbial clock as an estimator of PMI is there wide and numerous ranges of sample types (encompassing external and internal sites) to consider. With this in mind, the establishment of sample types and parameters are necessary additions to the models. These will ensure that the highest accuracy is obtained for PMI.

Moreover, these will enable researchers to determine whether PMI estimates should be based on models classified by the environment or via a single general model. Only when these knowledge gaps are filled can the integration of the microbial clock, as constructed by microbial succession, into the forensic toolbox can occur.

Source Deel, H. et al. (2020) Chapter 12 - Using microbiome tools for estimating the postmortem interval. Microbial Forensics (Third Edition) (pp.195-205). Cambridge, MA: Academic Press

Further Reading
(Newser)  After a series of delays, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani issued a decree early Wednesday promising to release 1,500 Taliban prisoners as a goodwill gesture to get intra-Afghan negotiations started. A recent peace deal signed between the United States and the Taliban called for the release of up to 5,000 prisoners ahead of the much sought-after negotiations. There was no official response from the Taliban, but the AP saw a letter that Mullah Nooruddin Turabi, the head of the Taliban's Prisoners Commission, sent to the prisoners, their families, and Taliban leaders promising there would be no intra-Afghan talks until all the prisoners are released.

story continues below

The presidential decree says the first round of 1,500 prisoners will be selected based on age, health, and the length of their sentences already served. The released prisoners, who will be biometrically identified, will also have to give a written guarantee that they will not return to the battlefield. The remaining 3,500 prisoners will be released after intra-Afghan negotiations begin and 500 will be released every two weeks providing the Taliban reduce violence on the battlefield, Ghani's decree said. However, even if the Taliban agree to start negotiations, Kabul's political turmoil and bickering between Ghani and his main rival, Abdullah Abdullah, who has also sworn himself in as Afghanistan's president, have left Kabul struggling to come up with a united negotiating team.

(Read more Afghanistan stories.)
Two more cases of coronavirus have been recorded in Queensland, after a woman returned from the United States with the disease.

The woman, 32, recently returned from the US and was diagnosed with COVID-19 and placed in isolation at Gold Coast University hospital.

The man, 31, had not travelled to the US and is understood to have been infected by the woman, with the pair living in "close contact" in the same house.

Queensland Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young has confirmed the state's coronavirus total now stands at 20 after two new cases were recorded. Credit:AAP/Dan Peled

He is also in isolation in Gold Coast University Hospital.
Last month, BME pupils from City Academy in Bristol got their first taste of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) thanks to black students and professionals from the Schools of Biochemistry, Chemistry, Mathematics and CAME Engineering.

Aiming to encourage black pupils from City Academy to come to University, and to consider wider careers in STEM subjects, the event showcased the roles of black engineers and scientists and was inspired by discussions with the Assistant Principal for Inclusion at City Academy in Bristol  Aisha Thomas. In a 2018 study, Aisha found that there are 26 black working teachers in Bristol's secondary schools, out of more than 1,300 across the city and found that this lack of representation is one of the factors that leads to low inclusion of black students in Higher Education.

Thirty-one pupils from City Academy attended the event, listening to talks from Professor Tanniemola Liverpool (Mathematics, University of Bristol) and Benjamin Omasanuwa (Head of Mechanical Engineering Design Office, Safran Seats GB).

The pupils also took part in demonstrations  including practical sessions on forensic science, ink-jet printing and a demonstration of a Chaotic pendulum by Mictroy Mitchell. Mictroy was born in Kingston, Jamaica, but when he came to the UK, he went to City Academy. After working in the railway engineering sector, he moved to the University of Bristol as a Research Technician in the Earthquake Laboratory.

Mictroy said: "I love giving back to the community. It fills my soul with joy knowing that I am helping and inspiring the younger generation."

The event was set up by Lara Lalemi, a Chemistry student who last year organised the Being BME in STEM workshop and report, which highlighted the need for work around the inclusion of minority groups.

Lara said: "In the current climate, where there is a lack of domicile BME students studying a STEM subject, this event endeavoured to show the fun side of chemistry, biochemistry and engineering, encouraging young students to consider studying them in higher education. We want to inspire the next generation of scientists, mathematicians and engineers and this event is work towards that."

Professor Stephen Eichhorn, co-organiser of the event, said: "As a white-male Professor in the UK I represent the majority in my profession. It is important to recognise that barriers to access Higher Education, particularly in STEM subjects, are significant. This is especially true for black students and professionals.

"We need to increase opportunities and routes into Higher education. One size does not fit all. We also need to increase representation of black educators in Higher Education. If we don't do this, we miss out on great talent pools of potential."
Bengaluru, March 11 : The Karnataka government on Wednesday reinforced COVID-19 containment and surveillance measures following four positive cases in the state, an official said on Wednesday.

"Karnataka has strengthened all surveillance and containment measures against the possible spread of the disease," state health department's Information, Education and Communication (IEC) special officer Suresh Shastri told IANS.

As part of the reinforced steps, district mental health counselors are following up with suspected cases under home and hospital quarantine through telephonic contact on a daily basis.

The state government has decided to postpone all international conferences in Karnataka with immediate effect till further notice.

"The state coordination meeting has been conducted under the chairmanship of Health and Family Welfare Commissioner to review contact tracing of positive cases and preparedness of isolation wards and quarantine facilities in both public and private health facilities," said the statement.

For better awareness on coronavirus, the health department's IEC wing has prepared an enhanced plan for Bengaluru Urban and the areas falling under the city civic body limits.

Additionally, five more ambulances have been added to raise the total to 10 for quick COVID-19 response in Bengaluru.

The number of positive coronavirus cases has remained static at four on Wednesday in the state, said an official health department statement.

At one positive case's residence in the city, the health department has deployed a medical team for round the clock monitoring.

"Disinfection as per protocols have been done at all places visited by all the cases since arrival in India, including work places. Cleaning staff in the apartment have been trained regarding disinfection and regular cleaning advice," said the health department statement.

As of Wednesday, the number of persons admitted to the Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Diseases for selected isolated observation stands at 10, followed by two more at a hospital in Dakshina Kannada.

"As many as 526 samples of symptomatic persons were collected for testing and 441 samples have returned negative," said the statement.

Nearly 839 people are going through home quarantine across the state while 1,142 people have enrolled for observation.

Across the state, 98,401 passengers have been thermal-screened for the virus till now at the Kempegowda International Airport in the city and the Mangaluru International Airport.

Another 5,387 passengers were also checked for the virus at Karwar and Mangaluru seaports.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
11.03.2020 LISTEN

OCCIDENTAL Petroleum Corporation (OXY), the American company that sold Anadarkos African operations to TOTAL S.A. last year, has started using proceeds from the sale to pay down its debts at a time when approval processes in Ghana and Algeria were taking longer than initially programmed.

In a conference call with journalists, analysts and investors on February 28, the Senior Vice-President of Strategy, Business Development and Integrated Supply of OXY, Mr Oscar K. Brown, praised Ghanas oil as being of high quality and a source of significant cash flow that had helped reduce its indebtedness.

The revelation came about seven months after OXY, an American company, took over Anadarko Petroleum Corporation, another American firm, before selling its African operations to the Paris-based TOTAL S.A. for US$8.8 billion.

They also came at a time when approval processes for the sale in Ghana and Algeria had dragged, mainly as a result of a seeming lack of consensus on tax liability arising from the deal and the transactions nonalignment with national policy.

Here in Ghana, the GRAPHIC BUSINESS has been reliably informed that Anadarko and the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) were in a tussle on the payment of corporate taxes from the sale.

The paper understood further that the tax authority had concluded that the sale was liable to corporate tax, which it assessed to be around US$510 million  a figure Anadarko is yet to accept.

"We'll still work to process with Algeria and Ghana, but we do have a plan B."

Global sale

In August last year, OXY concluded a deal that led to the acquisition of the entire operations of Anadarko at US$38 billion after beating its rival, Chevron to the transaction.

As part of the global acquisition arrangement, OXY agreed to sell Anadarkos African operations to TOTAL S.A., and that divestiture was effected at a cost of US$8.8 billion to the French oil giant towards the end of last year.

Anadarkos African operations comprised assets in Ghana (a 24.077 per cent stake in the Jubilee Field and a 17 per cent stake in the Tweneboa-Enyera-Ntomme (TEN) Project) as well as in Algeria, South Africa and Mozambique.

Prior to the sale, OXY had said that it expected the divestiture of Anadarko assets to be concluded by the middle of 2020. Together with other planned divestitures, the company said in November last year that it expected them to yield in excess of $15 billion of revenue.

Hiccups in affected countries

Although the African sale occurred around August last year, it was yet to be approved by the governments of Algeria and Ghana.

In February this year, the Deputy Minister of Energy in charge of Petroleum, Mr Mohammed Amin Adam, said that the government would only approve the transaction after Anadarko had satisfied all the requirements relevant for such approvals to take place.

He said although the company had submitted all documents, it was yet to procure a tax discharge certificate from the GRA to complete the list of documents required for the approval processes.

Also, On December 4, last year, Reuters, an international newswire, quoted the Algerian Energy Minister, Mr Mohamed Arkab, as saying that the countrys national oil company, Sonatrach, would block Anadarkos sale.

He said the action was because the transaction was incompatible with his countrys laws.

Increased risk

Responding to a question on the status of the sale of Anadarkos African operations and its impact on the companys targets, the Senior Vice-President OXY said his outfit would continue to work with TOTAL S.A. and the governments of Ghana and Algeria toward a positive resolution of the divestitures.

There is an increased risk, as you point out, associated with both timing and closing certainty (and) so, that has become clear, Mr Brown said, but gave an assurance that the company would report more whenever it had something more substantial to talk about.

He explained that it was hard to comment beyond what was in the public domain already on the transaction, given its definitive agreement with TOTAL on the assets transfer.

He said his outfit was cognizant that the assets in question were very important to the countries involved and that the interest of the countries to retain foreign investment was very sensitive to all their constituents, hence the decision to be careful with what it says on the matter.

Plan B

While expressing optimism that the issues around the transaction in the two countries would be resolved to enable it to meet its revenue target, the Senior Vice-President said the company would not hesitate to sell other assets to make up for any deficit in projected outflows that would arise from a drag in the approval processes.

The President and CEO of OXY, Madam Vicki Hollub, who also participated in the conference, described such a plan as Plan B.

We'll still work to process with Algeria and Ghana, but we do have a plan B, she said.

We can go to plan B and replace the proceeds we would have gotten from Algeria with other asset sales that essentially have about the same cash flow impact, Madam Hollub said.

---grapicbusiness.com.gh
NatWest and Royal Bank of Scotland mortgage customers affected by coronavirus could defer their loan repayments (PA)

NatWest and Royal Bank of Scotland mortgage customers affected by coronavirus could defer their loan repayments for up to three months if they are in financial difficulty.

RBS/NatWest said customers situations will be looked at on a case-by-case basis, and various potential options will be matched to them.

While there is no single blanket provision, the help that customers could be offered if their finances are in difficulty includes requesting mortgage and loan repayment deferrals for up to three months.

Customers hit by coronavirus could also apply for increased temporary credit card limits and may be able to close fixed savings accounts to access cash with no early closure charge.

Those struggling to cope may also request an increased debit card cash withdrawal limit of up to 500.

We will look to understand each customer's situation on a case-by-case basis and can offer a number of options to help them manage their financesRBS/NatWest spokesman

A spokesman for the banks, which are in the same group, said: We are monitoring the potential impact of coronavirus across all our customers to ensure we can support them appropriately through any period of disruption.

We have a strong track record in working with our customers who are affected by disruption outside of their control.

We understand that there may be circumstances where a personal customer may fall into financial difficulty as a result of the impacts of coronavirus, for instance, loss of income.

We will look to understand each customers situation on a case-by-case basis and can offer a number of options to help them manage their finances. We would encourage any customer experiencing financial difficulty to get in touch with us.

 If you're concerned about being impacted financially due to Coronavirus, or being unable to get to the bank, were here to support you.



Read our guidance below and visit our website for more, including help if you're struggling financially.  NatWest (@NatWest_Help) March 9, 2020

Lloyds Banking Group said that for Lloyds Bank, Halifax, Bank of Scotland and MBNA customers, there could be payment holidays on mortgages and loans.

Emergency access will be allowed to fixed-term savings products and fees may not be charged for missed payments on credit cards, loans and mortgages.

Vim Maru, group director, retail, Lloyds Banking Group, said: Being there for our customers when they need us is our priority. We are making some temporary changes over the coming weeks, and will be providing individual support to customers who need extra help.

Nationwide Building Society said short-term support it may consider will include mortgage payment holidays, increased credit card or overdraft limits, penalty-free early access to savings in fixed-term accounts and the removal of interest charges on credit cards and overdrafts.

Sara Bennison, Nationwides chief marketing officer, said: Alongside concerns over contracting the disease, it is natural that people may also start to worry about their finances due to any potential drop in income should they or family fall ill.

As a mutual, our members are at the heart of what we do, and we stand ready to support them through difficult periods. If they do have concerns, we would encourage them to get in touch sooner rather than later so we can talk them through the options available to them.

(PA Graphics)

Meanwhile, TSB said its mortgage customers affected by coronavirus may apply for a repayment holiday for up to two months.

TSB savings customers will be able to waive early closure fees on its fixed-rate Isa products and it will allow fixed bond customers to surrender their policies early to gain access to their money.

Credit card customers may request an emergency credit limit increases and current account customers can apply for an increased cash withdrawal limit for up to 500 or more depending on each individual case.

TSB business banking customers should contact TSB if they are affected, the bank said.

Barclays said it will also remove penalty charges so people can access fixed savings accounts early for those impacted by coronavirus and enable customers to apply for a temporary increase on their credit card limit.

A statement from Barclays said: Any customers suffering hardship as a result of Covid-19 can contact our specialist support colleagues if they are experiencing problems making repayments to their mortgage, overdraft, personal loans or credit cards.

These customers can also access their fixed savings accounts early without paying any penalty charges.

Barclays also has a range of potential measures for business customers, including 12-month capital repayment holidays on existing loans over 25,000 and increasing overdraft facilities.

As the Prime Minister has said, if businesses and individuals across the UK pull together in a united, national effort, it will help us to get through the significant challenge of the coronavirus outbreakPM spokesman

Santander also said it would look at each customers situation and explore ways to support them depending on their specific circumstances.

The banks support for customers includes the option to potentially defer or reduce repayments that are due.

A Santander spokeswoman said: Santander has a team of experts on hand to support customers who have been impacted by the coronavirus. Anyone who has been affected can talk to us on 0800 9 123 123.

Last week, trade association UK Finance said banks, building societies and credit card providers understand that some customers may be worried about the effect that contracting the coronavirus could have on their finances.

Mark Harris, chief executive of mortgage broker SPF Private Clients, said: Lenders are reasonably sympathetic to any illness that affects a borrowers ability to pay their mortgage, whether its coronavirus or something else.

They may ask for evidence that you are unwell but the message to borrowers, particularly the self-employed who are most likely to be affected in terms of their income, is that any time you are struggling to pay your mortgage, get in touch with your lender.

Dont bury your head in the sand and hope the problem will go away  it wont.

Downing Street welcomed the move by NatWest and RBS.

We welcome banks offering help to their customers, the Prime Ministers official spokesman said.

As the Prime Minister has said, if businesses and individuals across the UK pull together in a united, national effort, it will help us to get through the significant challenge of the coronavirus outbreak.
President Donald Trump spent Wednesday morning tweeting support from his campaign for his response to the coronavirus, as top officials testified about the spiraling impacts and global health officials called it a pandemic.

Trump made use of one of the many times Vice President Mike Pence praised his response, sending Pence's televised acclaim to the boss to his 74 million followers

Trump's campaign account, Team Trump, had already blasted out the praise to its own followers. '@Vice President Mike Pence: We would be in a very different place if President @RealDonaldTrump did not suspend all travel from China and from parts of Italy & South Korea,' it said.

President Trump sent out multiple tweets praising his handling of coronavirus, on a day when the World Health Organization called it a pandemic

Pence made the statement from the White House briefing room while surrounded by government health officials trying to contend with the coronavirus, which the World Health Organization on Wednesday declared a pandemic.

Trump retweeted another post by his campaing that featured praise from California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom.

'California's Democrat Governor Praises @realDonaldTrump's Response To Coronavirus On Cruise Ship: 'Every Single Thing He Said They Followed Through On,' it said.

'Thank you Gavin. Team is doing a great job!' Trump added.

His upbeat take came as top health officials continue to issue severe warnings.

Trump retweeted his campaing tweeting praise of him by the vice president

Trump tweeted out a comment from California Gov. Gavin Newsom saying the state's needs were being met

Trump trashed a 'hit piece' in Vanity Fair that cast him as panicked over getting the virus

'Things will get worse than they are right now,' said Dr. Anthony Fauci, the government top infectious disease expert, said at a House hearing Wednesday.

Trump also lobed an attack at Vanity Fair magazine for what he termed a 'hit piece.' The story cast him as a germaphobe who is 'terrified' of getting the virus, and describes the administration's response and PR handling of the crisis as out of control.

'Vanity Fair Magazine, which will soon be out of business, and their third rate Fake reporters, who make up sources which dont exist, wrote yet another phony & boring hit piece,' Trup wrote. 'The facts are just the opposite. Our team is doing a great job with CoronaVirus!'

Among other things, the article quotes an unnamed prominent Republican saying: 'Donald is a famous germaphobe. He hates it if someone is eating nachos and dips a chip back in after taking a bite. He calls them double dippers.'

It also reports that last week, Trump told aides he fears journalists will get the disease on purpose in order to give it to him on Air Force One.

On Monday, it was revealed that Trump loyalist GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz flew on Air Force Once with Trump only to learn he had come in contact with a man who had it at CPAC, Gaetz then put himself under quarantine.
The Luxembourgish singer-songwriter will present his brand-new CD at Opderschmelz on 27 September after coronavirus postponed the gig until this weekend.

Sven Sauber is a familiar face in the local music scene, working as a versatile session musician and guitarist for and with numerous artists across the musical spectrum. Now he is finally putting out his own debut album, "Another Day", showcasing his musicianship and songwriting skills.

At the core of Sauber's music lie acoustic folk melodies, coated with personal lyrics as if they came straight out of his diary. His honesty as a person is reflected in his compositions, which he will be presenting with band and live strings on 27 September at the Opderschmelz Cultural Center in Dudelange.

Born in 1986, Sven Sauber took lessons at the Conservatory of Luxembourg before his journey brought him to Paris. A scholarship of the Bertram Pohl foundation enabled him to take private classes with musicians such as Chester Thompson (Frank Zappa, Genesis), Luis Conte (Santana, Pat Metheny) or Angie Cassaux-Berthias (Supertramp, Bobby McFerrin).

In 2009, Sauber moved to London to pursue studies in Popular Music Performance at the Tech Music School (University of West London). He has the honour to study under highly acclaimed professionals such as the guitarist Femi Temowo (Amy Winehouse, Soweto Kinch), the producer Phelan Kane (Placebo, Dido) and many more.

Fading Away, the first single of the album, was released in January, together with a music video produced by Fabien Spaus.
MELBOURNE, March 11 (Reuters) - Toronto-listed Kirkland Lake Gold will shut two gold projects in Australia's Northern Territory by the end of the month, after it deemed their operations surplus, media said on Wednesday.

Kirkland will wind down its Cosmo mine and Union Reefs processing plant near the remote, coastal city of Darwin by the end of the month, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) said.

Kirkland Lake said it would have to let approximately 250 employees go in a letter to workers on Tuesday, obtained by the ABC. The broadcaster added that the firm had been in the final stage of permitting for an underground mine at Union Reefs.

Kirkland did not immediately respond to a request for comment outside business hours in Canada.

Last month, the miner said it had designated its Northern Territory operations as non-core and was seeking "strategic options to maximise the value" of the assets, given better-quality growth projects elswhere. In January, Kirkland bought Detour Gold to add to its Macassa operations in Canada's province of Ontario, and will focus on those, as well as its Fosterville mine in Australia's southeastern Victoria state for growth, it said.

The three operations are expected to produce around 1.4 million ounces of gold in 2020, it said. (Reporting by Melanie Burton; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)
EDWARDSVILLE  A variety of road and bridge projects are coming to Madison County this year.

According to Kirk Brown, a project development engineer with the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), roads that will be resurfaced this year are: Route 162 from Route 157 to east of Route 159; Route 143 from west of Oasis Drive to east of Drda Lane, northwest of Edwardsville; 143 from south of Discovery Parkway to north of Route 3, south of Alton; 143 from East Schwarz Street to west of Governors Parkway; Route 160 from Route 140 to Herman in Grand Fork; and Route 140 from east of Moreland to west of Route 159 resurfacing.

There are three major traffic signal and crosswalk improvement projects on the docket for this year.

First, Route 3 from south of 20th Street to Neidringhaus Avenue will receive traffic signal and crosswalk improvements. Second, will be a pair of crosswalk improvement projects, one on Route 159 from Park Street in Edwardsville to Glen Crossing Road in Glen Carbon and the other on Route 157 from St. Louis Street in Edwardsville to Meridian Road in Glen Carbon.

When it comes to roads that will receive patching, they are: US Highway 40 east and west of Highland Road; Route 3 from New Poag road to the McKinley Bridge approach; West Delmar Avenue from Route 3 to State Street in Alton; Vadalabene Drive between Route 159 and Route 162 in Maryville; and Route 203 from Eagle Park to Collinsville Road, south of Madison.

Two bridges will receive attention this year, too: deck waterproofing on Route 140 west of Hamel over the Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern railroads and deck sealing on US 67 at Alton.

Brown said additional improvements are anticipated, subject to funding approvals for the remainder of this fiscal year (FY 20) and for FY 21, which begins July 1.

Brown also updated the status of the seven-mile segment of Interstate 255 that closed on Feb. 1.

The contractor has been making good progress thanks in part to the recent mild temperatures, Brown said. Theyve already removed and are replacing the southbound Harding Ditch bridge surface. Theyve also been busy patching the road and bridge surfaces.

This is one of the first projects under the states Rebuild Illinois banner. IDOT said the closure, which runs until about Thanksgiving, was the best way to complete this project in a single construction season. Doing it in pieces would have taken four years and $14 million more than the projects estimated $67 million cost. Doing it this way also eliminates lane shifts and removes traffic from the work zone.

Citizens can view updates and images throughout the project via the web page: http://www.idot.illinois.gov/projects/i-255-resurface-project, which includes links to social media.

Reach reporter Charles Bolinger at (618) 659-5735
NEW YORK - Harvey Weinstein was sentenced Wednesday to 23 years in prison after breaking his courtroom silence with a rambling plea for mercy in which he professed to be "totally confused" by the #MeToo movement that spelled the Hollywood producer's downfall.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 11/3/2020 (671 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

NEW YORK - Harvey Weinstein was sentenced Wednesday to 23 years in prison after breaking his courtroom silence with a rambling plea for mercy in which he professed to be "totally confused" by the #MeToo movement that spelled the Hollywood producer's downfall.

His accusers  those who testified against him and many others who have spoken out elsewhere against the former Hollywood mogul  hailed the near-maximum punishment for his rape and criminal sex act convictions as long overdue.

The 67-year-old Weinstein, who arrived at the courthouse Wednesday in a wheelchair and was taken to a hospital after complaining of chest pains hours after the court hearing, could spend the rest of his life behind bars.

He was convicted last month of raping a once-aspiring actress in a New York City hotel room in 2013 and forcibly performing oral sex on former TV and film production assistant Mimi Haleyi at his apartment in 2006. He faced a minimum of five years and a maximum of 29 years in prison.

In this courtroom sketch, Harvey Weinstein, center, is led out of Manhattan Supreme Court by court officers after a jury convicted him of rape and sexual assault, Monday, Feb. 24, 2020 in New York. The jury found him not guilty of the most serious charge, predatory sexual assault, which could have resulted in a life sentence in New York. (Elizabeth Williams via AP)

The conviction marked the first criminal fallout from a raft of allegations that the Oscar-winning movie producer used his clout to lure women, sexually assault or harass them and then silence them.

Although this is a first conviction, this is not a first offence," Judge James Burke said in imposing the sentence.

Weinstein, who did not testify during the trial, addressed his accusers, saying, To all the women who testified, we may have different truths, but I have great remorse for all of you. But he also argued that men are being accused of things that none of us understood.

Thousands of men are losing due process. Im worried about this country, he said in a calm but creaking voice. Im totally confused. I think men are confused about these issues."

Both of the women Weinstein was convicted of assaulting told the court about the damage he did to them, and the empowerment they felt when testifying against him.

Harvey Weinstein arrives at a Manhattan courthouse as jury deliberations continue in his rape trial, Monday, Feb. 24, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Rape is not just one moment of penetration. It is forever, said the 2013 rape accuser, who recalled a moment during the trial when she left the witness stand in tears and then could be heard screaming from an adjacent room.

It was, she said, the day my voice came back to its full power, she said.

Asked later about her reaction after the sentence, she wiped her eyes, raised her arm and nodded her head.

Haleyi broke down in tears as she told the court the 2006 attack scarred her deeply and stripped me of my dignity as a woman. The encounter made her rethink her career in the entertainment business and left her feeling afraid of retaliation, she said.

The Associated Press typically does not name people, without their consent, who say they were sexually assaulted. It is withholding the rape accuser's name because it is not clear whether she wishes to be identified.

Dawn Dunning, center arrives at court for Harvey Weinstein's sentencing, in New York, Wednesday, March 11, 2020. She is followed by Miriam Haley, background left, and Tarale Wulff, background right. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

Weinstein, who has maintained that any sexual activity was consensual, showed no reaction to the sentence.

In his address to the court, he touched on his past charitable fundraising, his filmmaking career and a pledge that his new "mission is to help people. He said his empathy has grown since his downfall.

Weinstein reported chest pains later in the day at Rikers Island Jail Complex and was taken back to a locked jail ward at Bellevue Hospital, a spokesperson of his said. He remained there, where he spent time after conviction, as of Wednesday night.

Years of whispers about Weinstein's alleged behaviour burst into public view in The New York Times and The New Yorker in 2017. In the aftermath, more than 90 women, including Gwyneth Paltrow, Salma Hayek and other actresses, publicly accused Weinstein of sexual assault and sexual harassment. The takedown energized the #MeToo movement for speaking up about sexual assault.

Time's Up, an organization created in the wake of #MeToo, on Wednesday hailed the women who testified against him for "the impact that they have had on our culture at large.

Harvey Weinstein, center, flanked by his defense attorneys, listens during his sentencing in a Manhattan courtroom, Wednesday, March 11, 2020, in New York. Weinstein was sentenced Wednesday to 23 years in prison for rape and sexual assault. The Hollywood mogul, who has been accused of violating scores of women, was convicted of raping a once-aspiring actress in a New York City hotel room in 2013 and forcibly performing oral sex on former TV and film production assistant Mimi Haleyi at his apartment in 2006. (Courtroom Sketch by Elizabeth Williams via AP)

Weinstein lawyer Donna Rotunno bristled at his sentence, saying the judge and jury had caved in a #MeToo and media atmosphere where Weinstein really never had a fair shake from day one."

"We were looking for fairness, and we didn't get it, Rotunno said.

Weinstein's lawyers sought a five-year sentence  the shortest possible in the case  citing his age and frail health.

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Prosecutors said the man once celebrated as a titan of Hollywood deserved a harsh sentence that would account for decades of alleged wrongdoing.

The sentence puts sexual predators and abusive partners in all segments of society on notice, said Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance Jr.

Weinstein was convicted on two counts: criminal sex act and rape in the third degree. He was acquitted of the more serious charges against him of first-degree rape and two counts of predatory sexual assault.

Now that Weinstein has been sentenced, his lawyers can move forward with a promised appeal. He also faces rape and sexual assault charges in California, where Los Angeles District Attorney Jackie Lacey tweeted Wednesday that her office was working on extraditing him. No arraignment date has yet been set.

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On Twitter, follow Mike Sisak at twitter.com/mikesisak and Tom Hays at twitter.com/aptomhays
STAMFORD  City police on Monday night arrested a West Side man and are holding him in lieu of a $500,000 court-appearance bond. They say he propositioned two minor sisters to have sex with him for $100.

Sgt. Robert Shawinsky said police were called to Richmond Hill Avenue at about 3:15 p.m. on a report of a man who offered two girls  ages 17 and 11  to have sex with him.

Shawinky said the younger girl went out on an afternoon errand to pick up some items at the corner store. At about 2:40 p.m., the older sister said a man, who she identified as Diego Ixcotoyac, 42, showed up at the front door holding her younger sister by the arm.

Ixcotoyac then asked the older girl if he could come in, Shawinsky said. The older girl pushed the man back at which point he tried to feel the girls buttocks. The little girl then ran into the house and went upstairs. The older girl then asked Ixcotoyac what he wanted.

He said he was looking for a friend named Antonio. The older girl told Ixcotoyac that there was no one in the house by that name and asked him numerous times to leave, Shawinsky said.

The girl said Ixcotoyac would not leave and kept staring at her in a way that made her feel uncomfortable. He then said he would give her $100 or more to have sex with her and her younger sister, Shawinsky said.

The older girl pushed the door closed and watched as Ixcotoyac stood on the porch for about five minutes, Shawinsky said.

When police arrived, the girl was able to show them a picture of the suspect she found on Facebook as Ixcotoyac turned out to be friends online with one of her mothers friends from church, Shawinsky said.

At 7:30 p.m. police found Ixcotoyac, a native of Guatemala who works as a insulation installer, and he was identified by the girl as the man who made sexual advances toward her and her sister, Shawinsky said.

Ixcotoyac was charged with risk of injury to a minor, home invasion, attempted commercial sexual abuse of a minor, attempted fourth-degree sexual assault and stalking.

At his arraignment at the Stamford courthouse Tuesday afternoon, Judge Bruce Hudock issued protective orders against Ixcotoyac, prohibiting him from contacting the girls in any way.

A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement hold has been placed on Ixcotoyac, according to court records. jnickerson@stamfordadvocate.com
The current idle state of the Komenda Sugar Factory has compelled the Alliance for Survival of Abandoned Projects (ASAP) to file a petition to the Speaker of Parliament for action to be taken as a matter of urgency.

The petitioners are questioning why the factory is still not operational after the introduction of the strategic investor.

Here is the full petition presented on Thursday 5th March 2020.

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE SPEAKER,

PARLIAMENT OF GHANA,

PARLIAMENT HOUSE,

ACCRA.

Dear Sir,

PETITION TO INTEROGATE THE PROCESS IN WHICH THE PARK AGROTECH GHANA LIMITED WON THE BID TO MAN THE KOMENDA SUGAR FACTORY

The Alliance for Survival of Abandoned Projects (ASAP) is a Civil Advocacy Group operating in Ghana with the interest in advocacy against the Ghana Governments Abandoned Projects. Our core objective derives from Chapter Six of the Constitution of Ghana which talks about the DIRECTIVE PRINCIPLES OF STATE POLICY: Article 35. (7) As far as practicable, a government shall continue and execute projects and programmes commenced by the previous Governments. There are Government of Ghana's projects which have been left unfinished by successive governments; such as Elmina Fish Processing Plant, Bekwai Municipal Hospital, Community Day Senior High Schools and several others.

Rt. Hon. Speaker, the Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr. Alan Kyerematen appeared before the august house on Thursday, 4th April, 2019 to indicate to the Members of Parliament about the state of the Komenda Sugar Factory at the time, and the governments intention to hand over the sugar processing plant to a strategic investor.

Answering questions in Parliament on that day, Mr. Alan Kyerematen said; the quest to bring the factory back to life is on course.

The Ministry in an effort to put the factory in production decided to initiate a new process in consultation with the transaction advisers to attract another strategic investor to acquire the assets of the Komenda Sugar Factory. I envisage that the final decision in respect with this matter will be taken by end of April. - Mr. Alan Kyerematen indicated.

Rt. Hon. Speaker, the government on Tuesday 26th November, 2019 handed over the Komenda Sugar Factory to a strategic investor whom we were told is willing to invest US$28million into the Sugar Factory. This was announced when the Managing Director of Park Agrotech Ghana Limited, a subsidiary of the Skylark Group of companies from India and his team were introduced to the chiefs and people of Komenda by the Ministry of Trade and Industry acting on behalf of the Government of Ghana and PwC, the transaction advisers indicated to the public how the aforementioned company won the bid to take over the sugar factory.

Three months down the line, the Alliance for Survival of Abandoned Projects (ASAP) would like to ask the following questions which demand proper scrutiny, because the investor is not moved to the site yet and the factory keeps deteriorating;

1. Why is the strategic investor (Park Agrotech Ghana Limited) not moved to the site to commence work to salvage the sugar factory from its deplorable state?

2. Is there a contract signed between the Government of Ghana and the Park Agrotech Ghana Limited?

3. Does Parliament of Ghana know the details of the contractual agreement?

4. Has the Parliament of Ghana approved the said contract?

5. Is it an outright sale or Public Private Partnership (PPP) agreement?

6. If it is a PPP agreement, how long would the Park Agrotech Ghana Limited manage the facility?

7. What is the shareholding structure?

Rt. Hon. Speaker, the minister also talked about a technical audit report which was submitted to the house. We would like to ask the minister certain questions from the report on Komenda Sugar Factory which we find very relevant.

On page 2, item 6 in the report laid before parliament on April 4, 2019, it reads; The Technical Audit Team proposed the following as matters for consideration in developing the options for making the Komenda Sugar Development Company Ltd operational.

 Complete installation by Seftech

 Conduct trial and test runs

 Water for the factory

 Land for sugarcane cultivation

 Economics of importing raw sugar for processing.

 6 months operation (campaign period 180 days)

 Management training

We would please like to ask the following questions;

1. Which technical audit firm was contracted to execute the audit?

2. Were there representatives from Seftech India Pvt Ltd (the contractor) present during the period when the technical audit was carried out?

3. If not, has the Government of Ghana communicated to the contractor to complete installations as stated in the report?

4. When will Seftech India Pvt Ltd come and complete the installation?

5. Since the assumption of office by the current Minister of Trade and Industry, has the plant ever been tested?

6. What is the purpose of importing raw sugar to process at the Komenda Sugar Factory?

Rt. Hon. Speaker, under Factory Valuation Report on page 8 of the Report on Komenda Sugar Factory, it was stated that the PwC (transaction adviser) provided a valuation report on 17th October, 2016 which valued the cost of the plant and machinery at US$34,678,400.00. Another valuation report was submitted on 15th September, 2017 which the cost of the plant and machinery depreciated to US$12,029,715.00 as an open market value and US$10,826,743.00 as a forced sale value.

1. What caused the plant and machinery to be hugely depreciated to the sum of US$12,029,715.00, instead of legal depreciating rate of 5-10% per annum?

2. Is it a deliberate scheme on the part of PwC to run down the company to reduce its value?

Rt. Hon. Speaker, it is our prayer that all issues raised would be interrogated for the purpose of transparency and accountability.

We are extremely confident that this petition would be given the needed attention as we cannot sit unconcerned for this sugar factory to rot away.

Kindly find as attachments, documents, pictures, and the YouTube link of the audiovisual evidence of the current state of the Komenda Sugar Factory https://YouTube.be/y22o1m96dWl.

Thank you.

Yours faithfully,

CITIZEN RANSFORD C. VANNI-AMOAH. NANA ADWOA BADU II

(EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR). (PARAMOUNT QUEEN MOTHER)

0209909054. (KOMENDA TRADITIONAL AREA)

CITIZEN MAMUD ISSAH JAGBESIEARE.

(SECRETARY) EBUSUAPANYIN EBO JONES

(HEAD -KOME EBIRADZE ROYAL FAMILY)

CITIZEN VICTOR NANKA-BRUCE EBUSUAPANYIN KWEKU WOBIR

(CONVENOR) (HEAD- KWAHIN ABORADZE FAMILY)

(OPINION LEADER  DISTILLERS ASSOC)

CITIZEN ISHMAEL ABAKAH

(COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR) HON. ISMAIL ZAGOON-SAEED

(FORMER MUNICIPAL CHIEF EXECUTIVE)

(KOMENDA-EDINA-EGUAFO-ABIREM)

CITIZEN EVANS NII BOYE

(PROGRAMMES DIRECTOR)

HON. ALPHONSE BAIDOO

(ASSEMBLY MEMBER)

MR. ISAAC O. MENSAH (SASSEM ELECTORAL AREA  KOMENDA)

(OPINION LEADER)

HON. JOSEPH KOJO WILLIAMS

(ASSEMBLY MEMBER)

(ANOMAKO ELECTORAL AREA  KOMENDA)

MR. ANTHONY ANAFO

(SUGARCANE FARMERS ASSOCIATION)

AMA ESAABA HON. THOMAS BAIDEN

(MARKET WOMEN ASSOCIATION) (ASSEMBLY MEMBER)

(AMOTOE ELECTORAL AREA  KOMENDA)

HON. DANIEL ESHUN

(FORMET ASSEMBLY MEMBER)

(ANOMAKO ELECTORAL AREA  KOMENDA)

Cc: Majority Leader

Minority Leader

Majority Chief Whip

Minority Chief Whip

Chairman  Trade, Industry & Tourism Committee

Vice Chairman  Trade, Industry & Tourism Committee

Ranking Member  Trade, Industry & Tourism Committee

Deputy Ranking Member  Trade, Industry & Tourism Committee

Member of Parliament - Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abirem Constituency
If you applied for IPO of SBI Cards and Payment Services, then you must be eagerly waiting to know whether you have received shares or not.

You can check your allotment status on this link or you can go to the website of registrar - Link Intime India and under the section of Investor Services, click on sub-section Public Issues - Equities.

The share allocation is expected to be declared on March 11.

In the above link, first select the issue you applied for - SBI Cards and Payment Services in the drop down menu, you would then need to put either your PAN Number or Application Number or DP / Client ID; at last, enter Captcha code and click on Submit button, where you can see your allotment status.

PAN is Permanent Account Number, while DP is the Depository ID or demat account service provider.

For any investor query on public issue, one has to send a mail at their official email ID - ipo.helpdesk@linktime.co.in or call at 022 49186200.

SBI Card, the subsidiary of country's largest lender State Bank of India, is expected to debut on bourses on March 16 after receiving overwhelming response from investors.

The initial public offering of country's second largest card issuer was subscribed 26.54 times.

The impact on subscription figure was definitely seen and that was on expected lines considering the global environment ruined by the rising novel coronavirus-led infected cases worldwide which is expected to spoil global growth in coming months. The infected cases globally crossed 1.1 lakh mark with death toll over 3,900 and the fast-spreading outside of China worried investors the most.

As a result, experts told Moneycontrol that the grey market premium has fallen considerably to Rs 100-120 levels, from Rs 350-380 per share pre-issue. They had expected it to fall but not significantly.

The reserved portion of qualified institutional buyers was oversubscribed 57.18 times and that of non-institutional investors 45.23 times. Retail portion saw a 2.5 times subscription, while that of employees saw a 4.74 times subscription and SBI shareholders 25.36 times.

Employees will receive shares at a discount of Rs 75 to final IPO price, which was set by the company at Rs 755 per share, the higher end of price band (Rs 750-755).

The public issue received bids worth more than Rs 2 lakh crore during March 2-5 against the IPO size of more than Rs 10,355 crore.

In actual, SBI Card, the subsidiary of State Bank of India, has raised Rs 10,340.8 crore via public issue, the biggest IPO since October 2017, especially after considering employee discount.

The public issue consisted a fresh issue of Rs 500 crore and an offer for sale of Rs 9,840.8 crore by parent State Bank of India and investors CA Rover Holdings, an affiliate of global investment firm Carlyle Group.

State Bank of India and CA Rover reduced their stake in SBI Card to around 70 percent from 74 percent and to around 16 percent from 26 percent after the public issue.
A new genetic test could help doctors pick out patients with the bone marrow cancer multiple myeloma who are at 'ultra high risk' of their cancer progressing aggressively early on.

Researchers showed that patients whose cancers display particular genetic patterns have a much poorer survival than average and are unlikely to benefit from a drug called lenalidomide on its own.

Picking out patients whose cancers have high-risk genetic features could therefore help clinicians realise sooner if they're unlikely to respond to treatment, enabling them to find alternative options as early as possible.

Scientists at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, studied 329 patients across UK hospitals from the phase III Cancer Research UK Myeloma XI trial, which looked at the effectiveness of a range of targeted drugs, including lenalidomide, in people with newly diagnosed with multiple myeloma.

Their study is published in the journal Leukemia and was funded by Myeloma UK and the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust and The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR), with further support from Cancer Research UK and through the Jacquelin Forbes-Nixon Fellowship.

Researchers looked for people at ultra high risk by analysing patterns of abnormal gene activity and genetic mutations of their cancers - with the aim of finding out if these 'signatures' could provide clues as to how aggressive their cancer is, how quickly it spreads and if it is likely to respond to treatment with lenalidomide on its own.

One quarter of the patients, 81 in total, had cancers with the so-called SKY92 signature - a pattern of gene activity involving 92 genes linked to high-risk status.

On average patients with cancers that had the SKY92 high-risk gene expression signature had an up to three-fold increased risk of their cancer returning early. Those with heavily genetically mutated - so called 'double-hit' cancers - had a two-fold increased risk of death.

Combining information about these two risk features, which had before been regarded as an 'either or' test, improved the researcher's ability to predict disease outcome.

Around 10 per cent of the total patient group had both the SKY92 signature and double-hit genetic features. People in this group were at ultra high risk of early, aggressive disease relapse, with all cancers in this group progressing within four years with current standard therapies - as opposed to much longer responses in other groups. Patients with ultra high risk disease had an 11-fold increased risk of death compared with other patients.

The ICR researchers found that patients in this ultra high risk group were highly unlikely to benefit from lenalidomide as ongoing or maintenance therapy - a treatment that can help very efficiently to keep myeloma from coming back after it has responded to initial therapy in cancers with only few or no genetic high risk features.

People with ultra high risk myeloma have a high unmet need for new treatment approaches, including cocktails of novel immunotherapy drugs in combination with chemotherapy. The researchers will be testing different drug combinations in a new clinical trial, OPTIMUM.

Next, the researchers plan to combine the insights from this study with the ongoing OPTIMUM trial, which will look at 470 patients, in order to find alternative treatment options for people with high-risk myeloma.

Study leader Dr Martin Kaiser, Team Leader in Myeloma Molecular Therapy at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, and Consultant Haematologist at The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, said:

"Our study shows that people whose tumours have an 'ultra high risk' combination of genetic features have particularly aggressive disease which doesn't respond sufficiently to standard treatment to keep their cancer at bay.

"Testing for high-risk genetic features could help target myeloma treatment, focusing on the specific needs of each patient. Not all patients with myeloma are the same, and we know that by better understanding their cancer's genetic and molecular features, we can tailor their treatment much more effectively.

"The next step is to combine our results for this study with the ongoing OPTIMUM trial, which will provide us with more information on how to tailor treatment for patients at ultra high risk based on genetic information."

Professor Paul Workman, Chief Executive of The Institute of Cancer Research, London, said:

"This exciting new research shows how it is possible to use genetic information to divide patients with bone marrow cancer into different disease sub-types, and to plan treatment accordingly. It will be exciting to see whether targeting these highest-risk patients with an intensive new treatment can improve survival."

Sarah McDonald, Director of Research at Myeloma UK, said:

"We are aware that myeloma isn't a 'one size fits all' cancer and treatment needs to become more personalised. This paper on the innovative research undertaken by the ICR team is a huge step forward. The ability to identify high-risk patients means they can receive the intensive treatment they need sooner and enables further study of this cohort to develop new treatment approaches which can improve patient survival."

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While its well known that China and Iran have under-reported their COVID-19 statistics, Italy has been fully transparent. What we are learning is very concerning. The Lombardy province alone has experienced a surge in deaths due to the coronavirus from 20 to 66 deaths in just one day. Analyzing data for the country as a whole, new diagnoses and deaths are doubling every few days. At this rate, Italys entire healthcare system will be overwhelmed by next week. Remember that two weeks ago, Italy had reported seven deaths.

Italy is a preview of what we may see in the U.S. very soon.

In a recent statement, the American Hospital Association projects strain on U.S. hospitals and is requesting congressional funding for new hospital construction and increased housing for patients. Doing the math, the U.S. currently has approximately 100,000 ICU beds with most hospitals already functioning at full or near-full capacity. According to the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, 200,000 to as many as 2.9 million patients could present to U.S. hospitals with coronavirus. Its time we increase the capacity of our medical centers before the infection ramps up.

Wuhan was overrun even with 19 field hospitals set up for the pandemic. Healthcare workers are at the highest risk of getting infected, not only representing a risk to our lives but a strain to our capacity to care for the tsunami of patients expected. U.S. hospitals and health professionals are on track to soon be overrun with patients, following the pattern of hospitals overseas who describe rationing respiratory support. Within weeks, U.S. hospitals may be significantly under-resourced and deal with major staffing shortages. Washington State is already scrambling to hire hundreds of travel nurses to help staff the influx of infected patients.

If the virus stays on its current trajectory, what happened in Wuhan will happen in the U.S. There is no strong scientific argument to suggest otherwise. While we all hope the virus demonstrates an unexpected heat-sensitivity or mutates to a less virulent form, the virus has, so far, followed a highly predictable course. That path was mapped out over three weeks ago by Marc Lipsitch, PhD, of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Despite his dire warning that 40%-70% of the population could be infected, little was done to prepare for the pending crisis beyond standard handwashing and coughing instructions  a routine done every flu season. We need to mobilize quickly. In a national survey of 6,500 nurses in 48 states released last week, 63% of nurses report that they do not have access to N95 respirators in their units, and many said they havent been fitted or trained on how to properly use them. At the same time, first responders are underprepared, and most have not been given the protective gear they need to treat infected patients.

Unfortunately, we live in an era of people spouting opinions on social media and cable news with no knowledge of a topic. TV pundits with no knowledge of virology, public health, or pandemic history are crowding out medical experts. Twitter, which promotes shouting over listening, is also loaded with comments ignorant to the data. News networks should push aside legacy political commentators and put infectious diseases physicians on the air to warn the public about the pandemic. Now more than ever, physicians need to speak up about the pending health crisis in the U.S.

Arguments about the exact case fatality rate (CFR) have become a distraction from the real issue at hand  preparedness. While its a worthy exercise to determine if CFR estimates are including mild or asymptomatic patients in the denominator, it does not change our need to prepare or how we treat individual patients. Data from Italy suggests the CFR may be as high as 3%-4%. Adding an assumption that roughly half of people with mild or no symptoms were not tested, it may be closer to 1.5%-2%, just below that of the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic which killed 30 million people. The Diamond Princess ship was a controlled case study: 705 people tested positive for the virus, and seven died, suggesting a 1% CFR, albeit a slightly older skewed population. Regardless of where the true CFR is between 1% and 3.4% as the WHO is reporting, this is, at best, at least ten times worse than a bad flu season and, at worst, a pandemic that could claim millions of American lives.

Further hindering public health efforts, the concept of American exceptionalism has morphed into a societal arrogance that somehow the immune systems of Americans are stronger than those of the Chinese. And even though other countries have enacted very strict quarantine practices, including martial law and a shutdown of schools, there is a misleading perception that the U.S. would have less community transmission because of a better health care system and better hygiene. Another barrier has been the exaggerated notion that COVID-19 is only a danger to old people and that young people are entirely resilient.

Italy has now quarantined approximately 60 million people, and closed all nightclubs, gyms, and sporting events. I respect NIAID Director Anthony Fauci and admired his leadership as a clinical voice of reason amidst of our AIDS, SARS, and Ebola epidemics, but Im concerned he has not yet introduced contingency plans for any of these major preventive measures. Instead, he is re-iterating a popular view that there is a lot we dont know and that anything is possible. His only strong warning has been directed to those considering cruise ship travel. Based on the current trajectory of the pandemic, all U.S. schools are at risk and may need to be closed, public gatherings like NCAA tournament games may need to be postponed, businesses should have their employees work from home whenever possible, and hospitals should staff up. I dont like it, but thats what the data are telling us to do.

At the current rate of spread, we can expect members of Congress, and even presidential candidates, to be infected with the virus within 6-8 weeks. In fact, President Xi Jinping of China has not been seen in public for weeks, and many of Irans leaders have the infection. Already, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz and several House members have announced they will self-quarantine after shaking hands with an infected individual. Many more are likely infected, but we have been using a false pretense that confirmed cases are the only cases out there, despite the fact that testing has been extremely limited at best. Its time we dispel the notion that this virus is somehow contained. It is at large.

The main talking points issued on this topic have been that we simply dont know what this virus will do  but COVID-19s course has already played out in other parts of the world. We just need to listen to data and put medical experts out in front of this instead of broadcasting opinions. We need to plan for the worst and hope for the best. Considering the implications for public health, and particularly for our older patients and those with underlying risk factors, we should act swiftly on the data rather than risk a delayed response we might regret.

Marty Makary is a surgeon and editor in chief, MedPage Today.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com

Trusted clinician commentary on COVID-19 coronavirus from the KevinMD community:
Floyd Mayweather's ex-girlfriend and the mother of his three children, Josie Harris, has been found dead in her car by police in California. She was 40 years old.

Harris was found outside her home in Valencia, Los Angeles County, on Tuesday night.

Authorities do not suspect foul play and are treating the case like a death investigation, TMZ reports.

Mayweather and Harris had a tumultuous relationship when they dated between 1995 and 2010. The boxing icon served two months in prison when he was convicted in 2010 of domestic violence against her.

Josie Harris, a former girlfriend of boxer Floyd Mayweather and mother to three of his children, has been found dead inside her car

Mayweather and Harris dated from 1995 to 2010. Authorities are not ruling Harris death as suspicious

The Los Angeles Sheriff's Department said in a statement on Wednesday: 'Homicide investigators have responded to the death of a woman.

'The incident was reported Tuesday, March 10, 2020, at approximately, 10pm, on the 25,700 block of Oak Meadow Drive, Valencia.

'The woman was pronounced dead at the scene. There is no additional information available at this time.'

The couple shared three kids together

Harris claimed that she was abused by Mayweather on six different occasions.

In an interview with USA Today in 2014, Harris gave a sorry reflection of her time with Mayweather.

'I was a battered woman,' Harris said. 'I felt embarrassed about saying I was a battered woman. I felt shame. I felt like it was my fault. What did I do? I didn't understand what a battered woman was at that time.

Mayweather and Harris had a tumultuous relationship, with the boxing icon serving two months in prison when, in 2010, he was convicted of domestic violence against Harris

Harris claimed that she was abused by Mayweather on six different occasions

'Now I know I was in a very dysfunctional, hostile relationship and a victim of domestic violence.'

One of their children, their son Koraun, witnessed the assault that saw Mayweather serve time and alerted authorities after sneaking out of his home. He called his father 'a coward' in the same interview his mother gave talking of her time with the boxer.

'(My dad) said to lock my door and stay in my room,' Koraun said of the incident. 'I went back into my room and locked the door and then ran back out my bathroom and then hopped over the gate and went to the main entrance gate. I just told (the guard) that my mom was getting hurt and to call the ambulance and the police.'

Koraun Mayweather (left) with his brother Zion (right) and their father, Floyd

Harris didn't see Mayweather much past the jail term he served in 2010 but added: 'For some reason I still get anxiety when I know that he is on his way (to collect his children).

'I have no idea why, but I get really overwhelmed when I know that I have to be around him.'

Mayweather, who is unbeaten in his 50 fights in his boxing career, claimed in a 2015 interview that his violence was merely him trying to restrain Harris because she was on drugs.

She vociferously denied the accusation and responded with a $20million lawsuit.

Harris was in the process of writing a book about domestic violence survivors when she died.
Hydro66 Holdings Corp. ("Hydro66" or the "Company") (CSE:SIX) (OTCQB:HYHDF) is delighted to announce a new partnership with maincubes, an operator of high-availability and secure data centers located in Germany and the Netherlands. Hydro66, the ultra-low emissions colocation and cloud infrastructure provider, and maincubes have agreed to partner in delivering next-generation architecture for corporate customers, including joint marketing of products and services.

This new combined approach will empower enterprise clients to optimize their applications and data in latency-sensitive tiers. Apps or data requiring close proximity to infrastructure can be hosted in Frankfurt or Amsterdam, and the remainder can be hosted at Hydro66's Boden facility, where costs are significantly lower. This will result in better overall pricing for clients and create a competitive advantage for both companies.

David Rowe, CEO of H66, said, "Hydro66 and maincubes make a great combination in addressing the twin needs of hyperlocal and hyperscale requirements. Customers are also looking for solutions to the dual challenges of data scaling and environmental responsibilities. maincubes are leaders in their field of low-latency, high-performing facilities in Amsterdam and Frankfurt, including the new carbon-neutral facility (FRA02), and Hydro66 represents the gold standard for ultra-low carbon emissions hyperscale facilities all protected by EU data sovereignty."

Oliver Menzel, CEO of maincubes, said, "We know from our customers in Germany that the next wave of applications and requirements is set to dwarf the current one with the rise of Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and the digitization of industries. For example, demand is rising in the automotive and IoT sectors for super-efficient, low-cost, low-latency compute. Combining this with hyperscale HPC (High Performance Computing) workloads and storage and with the highest standards of environmental protection and data sovereignty is exactly why we look forward to working with H66 in driving the next wave of innovation in the sector."

To learn more about Hydro66, visit www.hydro66.com.

To learn more about maincubes, visit www.maincubes.com.

About Hydro66

Hydro66 owns and operates an award-winning colocation data center in Sweden specializing in High Performance Computing ("HPC") hosting. The Company hosts third party IT infrastructure, utilizing 100% green power, at amongst the EU's lowest power prices and within an ISO27001 accredited facility.

Hydro66 is uniquely positioned to capitalize on opportunities in blockchain infrastructure as well as the traditional Enterprise colocation data center market. The Company provides truly green power at a leading price, purpose-built space and cooling, telecoms, IT support services and 24/7 physical security in their facility in Boden, Sweden. www.hydro66.com

About maincubes

maincubes is part of German investor and real estate developer Art-Invest, which is part of the German construction conglomerate Zech Group. maincubes has data centers in Frankfurt and Amsterdam, and a network of high-availability data centers of various sizes and types in Europe, enabling it to provide colocation services and secure ecosystems for the digital future of customers across various industries. Via the secureexchange digital platform, customers and partners of maincubes can use IT services worldwide such as IoT, (cyber) security and connectivity, as well as cloud services to expand their business opportunities. maincubes offers secure, efficient and user-friendly services and a secure home for your data.

To learn more about maincubes, visit www.maincubes.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200311005158/en/

Contacts:

Paul Morrison

Chief Commercial Officer, Hydro66

paul.morrison@hydro66.com

Media contact

Antje Tauchmann

Head of Marketing, maincubes one GmbH

presse@maincubes.com
Osaka, Japan  In an Internet-driven world, social media has become the go-to source of all kinds of information. This is especially relevant in crisis-like situations, when warnings and risk-related information are actively circulated on social media. But currently, there is no way of determining the accuracy of the information. This has occasionally resulted in the spread of misinformation, with some readers often bearing the brunt. In a study published in Japanese Psychological Research, scientists at Osaka University, including Prof Asako Miura, found a pattern through which information spreads on social media which could help prevent the spread of fake news. Prof Miura says, "Dissemination of information through social media is often associated with false rumors. In order to prevent this, we wanted to unravel the underlying mechanisms by digging deeper into how these false rumors spread."

The scientists focused on Twitter, a popular site where users can disseminate or share information through the "retweet" feature. Conventional models of information diffusion fail to adequately explain the exact transmission route on social media, as they do not take into account individual user characteristics. Therefore, to study these characteristics, the scientists first selected 10 highly retweeted (more than 50 times) risk-related tweets. Based on Slovic's well-known definition of risk perception, a cognitive model used to assess how people perceive certain risks, they assessed whether users perceived these risks as "dreadful" (related to large-scale events with potentially dire consequences) or "unknown" (when the impact of the event is unknown). They then analyzed the personal networks of the users who tweeted/retweeted particular tweets specifically the number of followers, followees, and mutual connections.

They found that users with fewer connections tend to spread information arbitrarily, possibly owing to a lack of experience or awareness. But, users with a high number of mutual connections were more emotionally driven they were more likely to spread dreadful information, possibly intending to share their reactions with the public. Prof Miura explains, "Our study showed the existence of an information diffusion mechanism on social media that cannot be explained by conventional theoretical models. We showed that risk perception has a significant impact on the 'retweetability' of tweets."

By identifying the user network characteristics on Twitter, this study potentially offers a solution to prevent fake news dissemination. These characteristics can be leveraged to maximize the spread of accurate information, ensuring that appropriate measures are taken. Prof Miura concludes, "Our research provides an opportunity for people to rethink how false information is spread and to deliver accurate information via social media."

###

The article, "Spread of risk information through microblogs: Twitter users with more mutual connections relay news that is more dreadful" was published in Japanese Psychological Research at DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jpr.12272.

About Osaka University

Osaka University was founded in 1931 as one of the seven imperial universities of Japan and now has expanded to one of Japan's leading comprehensive universities. The University has now embarked on open research revolution from a position as Japan's most innovative university and among the most innovative institutions in the world according to Reuters 2015 Top 100 Innovative Universities and the Nature Index Innovation 2017. The university's ability to innovate from the stage of fundamental research through the creation of useful technology with economic impact stems from its broad disciplinary spectrum.

Website: https://resou.osaka-u.ac.jp/en/top
President Moon Jae-in on Tuesday told the Foreign Ministry to ask foreign countries to exempt Korean business travelers from coronavirus-related entry bans.

The ministry has already initiated talks with the governments of 20 countries, including China and Vietnam, to make exceptions.

Cheong Wa Dae spokesperson Kang Min-seok said Moon "has instructed diplomatic channels to pursue measures to allow authorized entry to businesspeople with health certificates."
Women now get an ultrasound before abortions, but providers arent required to show them the results. Under the bill, doctors could be fined $100,000 or more if they perform the procedure without showing an ultrasound.
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.
China Covered Up Outbreak of New Coronavirus, US National Security Adviser Says

Chinese officials covered up the initial outbreak of the new coronavirus, costing the world some two months in response time, U.S. national security advisor Robert OBrien said, in some of the strongest remarks against the regime in Bejing about the spread of the virus.

In response to Chinese officials recent claims that the virus didnt start in the country, OBrien said that just isnt true.

It originated in Wuhan in Hubei Province in China; it originated some time ago, OBrien said March 11 during an event at the Heritage Foundation in Washington. Unfortunately, rather than using best practices, this outbreak in Wuhan was covered up. Theres lots of open-source reporting from China, from Chinese nationals, that the doctors involved were either silenced or put in isolation or that sort of thing, so that word of this virus could not get out.

It probably cost the world community two months to respond, OBrien said.

During that time period, scientists could have sequenced the virus, and teams from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization (WHO) could have been on the ground.

I think we could have dramatically curtailed what happened in China and whats now happening across the world, OBrien said.

The virus, which causes a disease called COVID-19, has spread to more than 100 countries, infecting more than 110,000 people and killing thousands.

China eventually allowed a team from WHO to visit, but only after weeks of negotiations. China never let a team of U.S. scientists into the country, although several individuals were on the WHO team.

The joint WHOChina mission produced a report that largely praised actions taken by China and made little mention of indications that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) had moved to silence critics and whistleblowers.

The Epoch Times has obtained scores of internal documents that show the disparity between Chinas official statements and figures and the real situation in the country. Documents from Shandong health officials showed that infections were up to 52 times higher than officially reported figures. Other documents showed that authorities were requiring government offices to destroy data related to the virus outbreak.

Internal government reports showed that Chinese officials in Hubei Province, where the virus is most severe, have reported a slew of problems but authorities have prioritized controlling the society and manipulating public opinion on the epidemic. Another document showed that communist officials were ramping up propaganda that attempted to portray the spread of the virus in a positive light.

At the same time, Chinese state-run media have been spreading propaganda and fake news about the virus outbreak in the United States.

Other U.S. officials have raised concerns about how China has handled the new virus, which emerged in Wuhan late last year.

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 and stifling critics, to silencing whistleblowers who raised red flags about the virus during the outbreaks early stages, Lea Gabrielle, who leads the Global Engagement Center at the State Department, said during a Senate hearing this month.

Russia is also attempting to spread false narratives about the virus, she told lawmakers.

OBrien concluded that China is to blame for many issues.

The way that this started out in China, the way it was handled from the outset, was not right. It should have been handled differently, he said.

Eva Fu and Nicole Hao contributed to this report.
Irelands only national dedicated respite centre for people living with multiple sclerosis may have to leave its beds lying idle for even longer because of a lack of funding.

The Multiple Sclerosis Society of Irelands 12-bed facility in Dublin is currently only open for 40 weeks of the year because of cuts in statutory funding and a challenging fundraising environment.

It not only provides people living with MS and their caregivers with a break, but also delivers a range of therapeutic services, neurological assessments and social activities.

Chief executive of MS Ireland, Ava Battles, said they want the public to get behind their campaign to keep the care centre open.

We need to be open to keep offering this incredible resource, and that residents can feel valued, recognised and empowered to live the life of their choosing, she said.

It is understood that the centre needs an additional 600,000 to stay open all year.

Peggy Quinlan, from County Tipperary, who has lived with MS for the past six years, said the centre is a lifeline.

The National MS care centre is so important to me, if I didnt have the support or contact from here, I wouldnt have the will to live, she said.

I hope that doesnt sound too harsh but I really mean it. I come up here two or three times a year and I live for that next visit. What they do for me is unbelievable, all the support, the physio, the classes, meeting my friends, I wish It was open all year round.
The Madras HC has issued an interim stay order against conducting fresh polls for Nadigar Sangam. Earlier, a single Justice bench called off the elections held in 2019 and grant permission to conduct fresh polls. The election was held on June 23, 2019, but it was called off after a section filed case against the polls saying that there is a discrepancy in the voters' list.

As an interim stay order has been issued, the Government appointed special officers will spearhead the association until the elected new office bearers from the previously conducted polls or the fresh polls based on the final verdict of the Madras High Court.

The interim stay order was issued in a plea filed by Nadigar Sangam's former General Secretary Vishal who moved the High Court against the order passed by Justice Kalyanasundaram to conduct fresh polls.




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John Knox prayed, Give me Scotland or I die! George Whitefield prayed, Give me souls, or take my soul! Today, millions of Americans Christians need to pray, God, revive us or we die! And there is no hyperbole in that prayer. Without a national awakening, America as we know it is doomed.

In 1944, Rev. Peter Marshall declared, Surely the time has come, because the hour is late, when we must decide. And the choice before us is plain  Yahweh or Baal. Christ or chaos. Conviction or compromise. Discipline or disintegration.

That was 1944, 9 years before the first edition of Playboy.

Compare that today to the epidemic of internet porn, affecting even our children. Marshall never could have imagined America falling this low.

1944 was a long time ago.

In 1969 Dr. Bill Bright wrote, We live in the most revolutionary period of human history. . . . Social band-aids and reform antiseptics give little hope for a cure or even an improvement. A revolution is needed. . . . You can experience this revolution. In fact, you can help bring it to pass.

Also in 1969, Rev. Tom Skinner wrote, Im convinced America is at her crisis hour. Revolution is inevitable. Its just a matter of which faction is going to prove strongest and will win out in the end. I believe most Americans are so apathetic that they will just sit back and go to whoever wins the struggle.

What would these men of God say today?

1969 was also a long time ago.

It was the year of Woodstock. And it was the year of the Stonewall Riots.

But I doubt that the most zealous gay activist would have predicted that the Supreme Court would one day redefine marriage. Or that a married gay man would run for president. Or that another presidential candidate would say that transgender rights were the Civil Rights issue of our day. Or that a famous male athlete would be declared woman of the year. Or that the American Library Association would endorse Drag Queens reading to toddlers.

No way!

And 1969 was 4 years before Roe v. Wade.

Put another way, 1969 was 4 years before more than 60 million babies would be aborted in their mothers wombs.

How much more, then, do we need massive awakening today? How much more do we a sweeping revival in the church that will spark a moral and cultural revolution in the society?

Think about it for a moment.

Even if Roe v. Wade was overturned, that would not change the hearts of tens of millions of Americans who would fight day and night for the right to abort.

Even if President Trump was reelected and appointed hundreds of fine judges, including more Supreme Court justices, that would not stop our rapid, national slide down the slippery moral slope.

Even if we were able to push back against radical LGBT activism in the courts and the schools, that would not undo the damage that has been done. Nor would the LGBT community surrender any of the hard-earned victories they have won.

Thats why theres only real solution for the future of our nation.

We must have divine visitation. We must have revival. We must have awakening.

What else will turn the rising tide of opioid addictions? Or stop the vile sin of human trafficking? Or address the ongoing epidemic of fatherless homes? Or heal the deep divisions that are tearing us apart?

American history has been marked by great awakenings and revival movements, without which we would have crashed and burned a long time ago.

To give one case in point, our nation was powerfully impacted by a prayer revival that swept the country in 1857-1858.

Before that time, according to the late revival scholar James Edwin Orr, the churches were becoming worldly and internalized, and immorality, violent crime, spiritualism, corruption, and atheism were on the rise. Does this have a familiar sound?

Jeremiah Lanphier, a retired businessman become missionary, acting in obedience to the Spirits prompting, began to promote a weekly Lunch Hour Prayer Meeting for revival. Only six attended the first meeting, and twenty the second. But within several months, tens of thousands were praying seven days a week.

The revival spread from city to city, jumped across the ocean to England, Ireland, and Wales, and shaped the history of our nation.

I have read that, from 1857-1858, over 1 million non-church members came to faith, in addition to 1 million formerly nominal church members who also came to faith. In fact, at the height of the revival, there were reportedly more than 50,000 new births a week.

As a result of this revival hitting Chicago, the 40-year ministry of D. L. Moody was born. And within a decade, slavery was legally abolished.

According to Mary Stuart Relfe, The Revival of 1857 restored integrity to government and business in America once again. There was renewed obedience to the social commandments. An intense sympathy was created for the poor and needy. A compassionate society was rebirthed. The reins of America were returned to the godly. Yet another time, Revival became the solution to the problems, the remedy for the evils, the cure of all ills.

And so, our prayer today is, Do it again, Lord! Revive us or we die!

Do we have another choice?

(The paragraphs on the 1857-1858 prayer revival were taken from Michael L. Brown, The End of the American Gospel Enterprise.)
Planning officials at Belfast City Council have approved the demolition of Norwich Union House, close to the home of Primark, to make way for a seven-storey development.

Planning officials at Belfast City Council have approved the demolition of Norwich Union House, close to the home of Primark, to make way for a seven-storey development.

The project, which was approved at last night's planning committee, will comprise 230,730 sq ft of floorspace on six levels of B1 grade offices over a ground floor made up of retail, cafe and restaurant units.

Underground car parking with 37 spaces is also included in the plans.

Norwich Union House was built in 1962 and occupies part of Castle Street and Fountain Street.

The application was brought forward by ES NUH Ltd, a development company associated with Co Tyrone construction giant McAleer and Rushe.

The application originally proposed a 174-bedroom hotel as part of the redevelopment proposals. However, this element was removed from the scheme and replaced by additional office accommodation.
Accenture (NYSE:ACN), a Fortune Global 500 company, provides services in strategy, operations, consulting, and technology to companies around the world. Accenture counts among its clients more than three-quarters of the Fortune Global 500, and 91 of the top 100. The company cultivates long-term client relationships with 95 of its largest 100 clients having been with Accenture for 10 years or more.

Accenture develops this customer loyalty by anticipating needs and offering expertise in maximizing growth opportunities for clients. CEO Julie Sweet said, "We create value for our clients from building out their digital core to helping them innovate across their growth agenda and realize significant value from optimizing their operations. The new digital, cloud, and security is now our core, accounting for about 65% of total revenues."

Give clients what they need to prosper

Accenture has five operating groups: communication, media, and technology; financial services; health and public service; products (like consumer goods); and resources (such as chemicals and energy). The operating groups are staffed by industry specialists who provide research, consulting services, and technology solutions to their relevant sectors.

Key to Accenture's core business is its Intelligent Platform Services business, which accounts for 40% of total revenue and posted double-digit growth in fiscal 2019.

Intelligent Platform Services leverage partnerships with SAP, Salesforce, Microsoft, Oracle, and Workday to guide client technology evolution. Accenture partnership relationships extend to cloud platforms, including Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud.

For example, Accenture used artificial intelligence and communications industry resources to help Verizon improve the process of more than 70% of customer calls. The company helped Verizon reduce a 20-minute customer call with a human agent to a short three- to four-minute digital interaction. As a result, customers were served faster, agents were freed up to do more complex work, and the company streamlined operations. Accenture customizes and applies this process across industries. The Verizon solution was applied at the New Mexico Human Services Department, helping employees reduce the time providing Medicaid coverage to newborns by up to 75%, producing an immediate cost savings for the department.

As enterprise technology solutions have become more complex, guidance like Accenture's has become increasingly valuable. The company's expertise and business runs the gamut of industries, and it's a global, evolving business that relies on collaboration. Accenture is investing in what they call Innovation Architecture, which combines research, ventures, labs, studios, and innovation centers across a network of more than 100 facilities. This makes sharing across the global organization a reality and allows the company to quickly provide clients with valuable insights.

Money is a yardstick of success

Accenture's strategy is working as illustrated by its financial results. First-quarter 2020 earnings, reported on Dec. 19, showed revenue of $11.4 billion versus $10.6 billion in the first quarter of 2019. Diluted earnings per share were $2.09 compared with $1.96 for the prior-year period.

Overall fiscal-year 2019 highlights included record new bookings of $45.5 billion and free cash flow of $6.0 billion. The company returned a record $4.6 billion to shareholders through share repurchases and dividends. Diluted earnings per share came in at $7.36, a 9% increase over fiscal year 2018.

Company guidance for fiscal year 2020 was increased slightly after first-quarter 2020 earnings were announced. Accenture now forecasts revenue growth in the range of 6% to 8% in the local currency, and diluted earnings per share to be in the range of $7.66 to $7.84.

Currently, Accenture's trailing price-to-earnings ratio of 24 comes in below averages for both its sector and the S&P 500. Looking ahead, the stock trades at just 21 times forward earnings estimates.

What does this mean for investors?

Business is growing for Accenture and clients are loyal, building the company's reputation and brand in the marketplace. Risks lie in overall economic conditions, which could decrease corporate spending, potentially affecting Accenture's revenue. However, corporate cost-cutting efforts are often centered on decreasing IT expenditures and outsourcing, two of Accenture's strengths. The company's business would likely remain solid even in the event of an economic downturn.

Considering Accenture stock is somewhat undervalued compared to its industry and the broad market, combined with the company's growth initiatives and impressive client retention over the past decade, I believe Accenture stock is a buy. Investors can sleep easily at night knowing this company is staying on the cutting edge of technology and helping its clients harness that power.
The Democratic Republic of Congo has confirmed its first case of COVID-19 on Tuesday, after a Congolese national who had recently returned to Kinshasha from France, tested positive for the virus.

DRCs Minister of health, Eteni Longondo, said the patient, a 52-year-old is in a stable state.

Although the minister failed to confirm the date of his arrival into Kinshasa, he said the patient showed no symptoms upon arrival.

He arrived a few days ago from Belgium. I cannot confirm the day. I was in contact with the border health services. When he got there, he had no symptoms, the minister said.

The National Institute of Biomedical Research confirmed the first case in DRC.

WHOs response

The Regional Director for Africa, Matshidiso Moeti, World Health Organization (WHO), said its sad to hear that just as the DRC appears to be near ending its worse Ebola outbreak, a new virus is threatening the health of its citizens.

However, he commented that some of the readiness efforts put in place during the Ebola outbreak may help the country respond to COVID-19.

Mr Moeti further reassured DRC of WHOs support.

Cases within Africa

The new cases in South Africa are from the same group of people who travelled to northern Italy earlier in March, the group of ten before being confirmed were already under self-isolation.

Most of the cases in Egypt, according to Ahram Online were found among passengers and crew members aboard a Nile cruise ship coming from southern Egyptian city of Aswan to Luxor.

There are a total of 11 countries with confirmed cases of the virus. They are Egypt, Algeria, Nigeria, Tunisia, Senegal, Morocco, South Africa, Cameroon, Togo, Burkina Faso, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Egypt has the highest number of cases with 59, followed by Algeria with 19.

Nigeria has two reported cases, Tunisia five, Senegal four, Morocco three, South Africa 13, Cameroon two, Togo One, Burkina Faso two, and DRC one, among others.

A total of 111 confirmed cases have been reported in the continent and two reported deaths in Egypt and Morocco.

The spread of the virus has led to air travel restrictions and cancellations of high-level conferences across the continent.

Uganda, on Monday, placed a ban on visitors travelling from seven countries that are highly-hit by the virus.

The countries are Italy, Iran, South Korea, France, China, Germany, and Spain.

Ugandas minister of health, Jane Aceng, said Government has decided to ask travellers from the affected countries not to come to Uganda because the high cases they are reporting can easily be imported into the country.

She added that those insisting to visit Uganda from the list of countries provided would have to self-isolate at their own cost for 14 days wither in their home or at a government facility.

High-level conferences such as the 2020 United Nations G77 and China Summit scheduled for mid-April have been postponed due to fears on the virus, Ms Aceng said.

CNN reports that more than 6,000 delegates from 136 member states were expected to attend.

Kenya Airways, Rwanda Air, and Royal Air Maroc have suspended flights to China.

Ethiopian Airlines, however, reiterated their commitment to China being one of the strongest and oldest markets for them, and will, therefore, continue operating flights to China, while adhering to international standards to ensure the safety of their passengers.
New Delhi: A high-level Group of Ministers on Wednesday (March 11) reviewed current status and actions for the prevention and management of coronavirus, following the directions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The GOM also evaluated the preparedness and measures taken regarding the management of Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) in the country, said a government statement.

A presentation of the status of the COVID-19 was made to the GOM that included information about various travel advisories in view of the evolving global situation regarding COVID-19.

As a measure of prevention, it is reiterated that as per the Travel Advisory, passengers with travel history to China, Hong Kong, Republic of Korea, Japan, Italy, Thailand, Singapore, Iran, Malaysia, France, Spain, and Germany should undergo self-imposed quarantine for a period of 14 days from the date of their arrival, and their employers should facilitate work-from-home for such employees during this period, it said.

The meeting was held under the chairpersonship of Dr Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare, Hardeep S Puri, Minister of Civil Aviation, Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Minister of External Affairs, Nityananda Rai, MoS for Home, Mansukh Mandaviya, MoS (I/c), Ministry of Shipping, Chemicals, and Fertilisers and Ashwini Kumar Choubey, MoS, Health & Family Welfare, members of the GOM, were present.

The meeting was also attended by secretaries and other senior officials of the relevant ministries/departments.

GoM, which undertook elaborate discussions on the various other precautionary measures which may be considered in the interest of people, expressed satisfaction with the actions taken, preparedness and efforts put together by various ministries/departments and states/UTs to combat COVID-19.

Cabinet Secretary also took a meeting with secretaries of the concerned ministries, representatives from Army, ITBP, here today.

Notably, 83 passengers who arrived from Italy today are quarantined at the Army Facility at Manesar.
The World Bank will provide USD 80 million (about Rs 600 crore) loan to improve water management practices and increase agricultural productivity in selected gram panchayats or village councils in Himachal Pradesh, an official statement said Wednesday.

An agreement in this regard was signed between the Government of India, Government of Himachal Pradesh and the World Bank.

The Integrated Project for Source Sustainability and Climate Resilient Rain-Fed Agriculture in Himachal Pradesh will be implemented in 428 gram panchayats in 10 districts benefiting over 4 lakh smallholder farmers, women and pastoral communities, said the finance ministry statement.

In Himachal Pradesh, many of the lowland areas lack access to irrigation water and depend on decreasing amounts of rainfall during the critical monsoon season. Agricultural production and snowlines have already shifted to higher altitudes, impacting the production of fruits, including HP's iconic apples.

Climate change is also expected to increase average temperatures and decrease rainfall in the lowlands, while both temperatures and rainfall are expected to increase in the highlands, which could lead to more extreme flooding events.

"The project will improve upstream water sources in forests, pastures and grasslands and ensure sufficient water is available for sustainable agriculture both in Himachal Pradesh and in downstream states," the ministry said.

The USD 80-million loan has a final maturity of 14.5 years including a grace period of five years.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Taiwan evacuates 169 on second flight from Hubei

ROC Central News Agency

03/11/2020 12:16 AM

Taipei, March 10 (CNA) A charter plane carrying 169 Taiwanese nationals stranded in China's Hubei Province touched down at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport at 11:35 p.m. Tuesday in the second evacuation of Taiwanese from the epicenter of the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak.

The flight run by Taiwan's China Airlines had previously been scheduled to depart from Hubei's Wuhan City at 5 p.m. Tuesday but was delayed to 9:46 p.m.

Upon arrival at the Taoyuan airport, the passengers were to be sent to a provisional quarantine facility set up at the airport to determine if they have any symptoms of COVID-19, according to the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC).

Those who display symptoms will be immediately sent to hospitals for full diagnosis and treatment, while those who show no symptoms will be isolated for 14 days at three undisclosed quarantine locations to prevent them from coming into contact with local residents, the CECC said.

In addition to the CAL charter flight, another one by Shanghai-based China Eastern Airlines is expected to evacuate another 200-plus Taiwanese nationals back to Taiwan on Wednesday.

Tuesday's charter was second one to evacuate Taiwanese stranded in Hubei since a flight by China Eastern Airlines brought 247 passengers back to Taiwan Feb. 3.

Following the first charter flight, the authorities in Taiwan and China have been blaming each other for hindering efforts to evacuate the remaining Taiwanese.

Taiwan halted plans to fly back the rest of the stranded Taiwanese after one passenger who was not on the boarding manifest was diagnosed with the disease the day after his return.

Taipei blamed the Chinese authorities for not allowing those with emergency needs to board the first flight, while Beijing accused the Taiwanese authorities of not allowing the Taiwanese stranded in China to return home.

All but one of the 247 Taiwanese who returned from Wuhan were released from quarantine Feb. 18 after they were cleared of possible infection.

The evacuee who tested positive for COVID-19 was discharged from hospital Feb. 27.

(By Wu Jui-chi and Evelyn Kao)

Enditem/J

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Seeking justice for victims of the Soviet regime to heal historical trauma has become a top priority for Lithuania as it marks 30 years since it became the first republic to break away from the USSR. Take Auksute Ramanauskaite Skokauskiene, who is one of Lithuania's most prominent victims of historical trauma. She spent her childhood living under an assumed identity to avoid Soviet authorities tracing her father who led Lithuania's armed resistance against Soviet rule in the Baltic state after World War II. Captured in 1956 and executed the following year, Adolfas Ramanauskas was only given a full state funeral some six decades later in 2018, after archaeologists identified his body in a mass grave. "I always felt very disturbed that the Soviets slandered my dad and other freedom fighters," Ramanauskaite Skokauskiene, a former MP and retired engineer, told AFP. "For me, it was very important that now I have a grave where I can come." A big advocate of helping others like her to heal, Ramanauskaite Skokauskiene threw her support behind an unprecedented conference on trauma that featured prominent government officials. But the jury is still out on how much historic trauma hurts the country until this day. Lithuania left the USSR on March 11, 1990 and has since enjoyed impressive economic growth -- notably after joining the European Union and NATO in 2004. - Is society 'ill'? - But the Baltic nation of 2.8 million people struggles with some of Europe's highest rates of suicide, alcoholism and emigration. Some critics blame persistent poverty and high levels of income inequality for these social ills, but others insist they are also symptoms of intergenerational trauma rooted in the undigested past. "Can it be that our society is ill, and the name of the disease is not coronavirus?" Laimonas Talat Kelpsa, a senior foreign ministry official, told a recent conference in Vilnius focused on collective trauma, the first of its kind. "One of the reasons for Lithuanians to be depressed could be our difficult and complicated history," Kelpsa told psychotherapists, diplomats and victims attending the conference. Experts suggest that historical injustice and the failure to meet the needs of the victims have a huge impact on societies haunted by history. Simon Wessely, a professor of psychological medicine at King's College London, said acknowledging the past is important both individually and collectively. "A single person can be a perpetrator, a victim and a bystander at different times in their lives. So it is with countries and so it is with culture," he told delegates at the conference. "Sometimes (the past) is too painful to acknowledge but acknowledge it we must," Wessely said. - Turbulent history - Like fellow Baltic states Latvia and Estonia, Lithuania was annexed by the Soviets during World War II and then deeply scarred by the Stalinist-era deportation of hundreds of thousands of its people to Siberia and Central Asia in the 1940s and 1950s. While the trio remained firmly under Moscow's thumb for decades, cracks first began to show with Mikhail Gorbachev's arrival in the Kremlin in 1985. Within the space of a few years, his perestroika and glasnost political and economic reforms began to spiral out of control, presenting an opportunity that was not lost on Lithuanians. On March 11, 1990, Lithuanian lawmakers, including Communist Party rebels, voted overwhelmingly for independence. Moscow recognised Lithuania's independence following a failed coup by communist hardliners in the Soviet capital in August 1991. The USSR was formally dissolved four months later. The Baltic states have had rocky relations with Moscow ever since, not least because of different perceptions about WWII and the Soviet era. In 2016, Lithuania declared an ex-KGB official guilty of genocide for his role in arresting partisan leader Ramanauskas. The European Court of Human Rights approved the verdict. Last year, a Lithuanian court found more than 60 former Soviet officials guilty of war crimes in absentia for their role in a bloody 1991 crackdown against the pro-independence movement that killed 14 civilians and wounded over 700. Moscow insisted the trial was politically motivated. It refuses to recognise the Soviet takeover of the Baltic states as an occupation. Lithuania has never received an apology or reparations. ? 'Critical year' - Lamberto Zannier, OSCE Commissioner on National Minorities, warned that 2020 "could potentially be a very critical year" as divisions grow over the interpretation of history. Without naming countries, he said that "acknowledgement, public apologies and reparations" are key elements in seeking "historical closure". Lithuania and other central European states once dominated by the Soviets recently slammed Russia for downplaying communist-era crimes and rewriting history for political purposes. Lithuania's President Gitanas Nauseda regards Russia as the "biggest long-term threat" to his country and has pledged to "rebuff any attempts to fabricate history". Vilnius is also urging EU counterparts not to attend Russia's upcoming May 9 Victory Day parade marking 75 years since the end of World War II. But Lithuania has also come under fire for failing to acknowledge the role of local Nazi collaborators and for drawing comparisons between communist oppression and the Nazi Holocaust. While recognition of victims and perpetrators is a precondition to putting the past to rest, it is just a first step in healing historical trauma, according to Danute Gailiene, a Vilnius University professor of psychology. "We cannot say we are a healthy and mature society. There is a long way to go, but we are on it," she said. Lithuania is still looking to heal the trauma of the Soviet years which culminated in the killing of 14 civilians by the Soviet military in January 1991 Pro-democracy supporters in Vilnius in 1991 commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Lithuanian uprising against the Red Army A Lithuanian court in 2019 found over 60 former Soviet officials guilty of war crimes in absentia for their role in the bloody 1991 crackdown against the pro-independence movement in Vilnius that killed 14 civilians Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda sees Russia as the 'biggest long-term threat' to his country
In the midst of ongoing political drama in Madhya Pradesh, the Congress government on Wednesday changed the collectors in five districts, including those of Jyotiraditya Scindias home turfs, Guna and Gwalior.

Bhopal: In the midst of ongoing political drama in Madhya Pradesh, the Congress government on Wednesday changed the collectors in five districts, including those of Jyotiraditya Scindias home turfs, Guna and Gwalior. After making his resignation from the Congress public on Tuesday morning, Scindia on Wednesday joined the BJP in the presence of party president JP Nadda in Delhi.

The day Scindia joined the BJP, the Kamal Nath government transferred collectors of five districts  Guna, Gwalior, Neemuch, Vidisha and Harda.

According to orders issued by Chief Secretary SR Mohanty, Guna collector Bhaskar Lakshkar has been made deputy secretary in the state secretariat in Bhopal.

Similarly, Gwalior collector Anurag Chowdhary been transferred to the state secretariat.

Scindia represented Guna four times in the Lok Sabha but lost from the seat in the 2019 Parliamentary elections. Gwalior is the native district of the Scindias, erstwhile royals of the princely state of Gwalior.

District Collector of Vidisha, Kaushlendra Singh, has been transferred to Gwalior in the same post.

Harda Collector S Vishwanathan has been moved to Guna in the same capacity.

Anurag Verma, a deputy secretary in the state secretariat, has been named the new Harda collector.

Jitendra Singh Raje, a 2007-batch IAS officer, has been named the new Neemuch collector. He will succeed Ajay Gangwar, who has been made divisional commissioner of Sagar.
Im writing this from the makeshift quarantine bunker in my dining room  sweatpants on, hand sanitizer nearby, snacking my way through my emergency rations. Im getting plenty of work done, but Im starting to get unnerved by the lack of stimulation. Its been hours (days?) since I interacted face to face with a human who is not related to me, and cabin fever is setting in. Among the coronaviruss many effects is a boom in people like me: office workers, shooed away from the office, trying to acclimate to a work-from-home lifestyle. While ...
Schistosomiasis is a severe infectious disease caused by parasitic worms. As an intermediate host, freshwater snails play a central role in the life cycle of the parasite. In a recent study published in the journal Scientific Reports, researchers from the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) in cooperation with the Kenya-based International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe) succeeded in proving that snail populations in waterbodies contaminated with pesticides were significantly larger than in uncontaminated waterbodies. The pesticides used in agriculture may well be an outright driver for the risk of infection with schistosomiasis, the researchers warn.

According to WHO estimates, there are around 200 to 300 million people infected with schistosomiasis (also known as bilharzia) worldwide; around 200,000 die each year of the consequences. The disease also has far-reaching socio-economic effects in the tropical regions concerned: infected individuals are often unable to work and children are too weak to be able to go to school. It is transmitted through the skin following exposure to infected water. The pathogen is a parasitic trematode worm of the genus Schistosoma -- the "blood fluke." To date, five different kinds of Schistosoma that can infest humans have been identified. Around two centimetres in length, the worms become lodged in the intestinal wall, the bladder or the liver. The consequences include inflammation and severe organ damage that can lead to death. Schistosomiasis can be treated with an anti-worm medication. But treatment does not protect against reinfection. "Contaminated waterbodies are the problem," says Professor Matthias Liess, Head of the Department of System Ecotoxicology at the UFZ. "Before schistosomiasis can be contained, something has to be done to prevent the proliferation of the pathogens in bodies of water."

Matthias Liess and his team at the UFZ are carrying out research into how pesticides affect biological communities in bodies of running water. "Sensitive insect species disappear whereas the populations of more resistant species such as freshwater snails proliferate -- and this starts happening even at extremely small concentrations of pesticides that are deemed harmless in the pertinent risk assessment," Liess explains. "In tropical waterbodies -- and even in Corsica since 2011 -- freshwater snails play a central role as an intermediate host in the life cycle of the parasitic trematode worm. If its eggs enter a waterbody through the excreta of infected persons, miracidia (larvae) hatch in the water and then reproduce asexually in freshwater snails. One larva can produce several thousand cercariae, the next larval stage, which then pass into the water. If they reach a human host, they penetrate through the skin into the body, where they develop into adult worms.

In their recent study sponsored by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation), the researchers participated in field studies to examine 48 bodies of running water in the environs of Kenya's Lake Victoria for pesticide contamination, composition of biological communities and occurrence of snails. "It became apparent that in those places where there was no pesticide contamination and the biological community of the waterbody was in a natural balance there were only few snails," says Liess. "If it was possible to detect pesticides in the waterbody, the communities were dominated by snail populations." Laboratory tests further revealed that the species of snails that act as an intermediate host in the life cycle of the trematode worm Schistosoma were extremely tolerant of high concentrations of pesticides. Using model studies, the researchers looked for additional factors that favour snails in ecosystems contaminated with pesticides. It was revealed that the snail populations grow predominantly due to the lack of food competitors. "Insect larvae living in the water that graze the algae cover of rocks, just like the snails, are severely decimated by pesticide contamination or disappear completely. This results in optimum food conditions for the snails, which allows them to proliferate," Liess explains. "And the large number of potential intermediate hosts is, in turn, ideal for the trematode worm Schistosoma to spread."

One measure that would help reduce the level of schistosomiasis pathogen contamination of waterbodies in the affected regions is the construction of effective sewage plants, which would reduce the input of untreated, contaminated wastewater. But, on its own, this measure would not be sufficient in the researchers' opinion. "Even if only a few pathogens enter the water but meet with a huge snail population there, the problem is still unresolved," says Liess. "For this reason, it is important to make adjustments to both parameters and take measures to reduce pesticide contamination in order to effectively contain the risk of contracting schistosomiasis." For example, creating buffer strips adjacent to agricultural land or dispensing with the use of pesticides in the direct vicinity of waterbodies would promote significant shifts in the composition of species towards a natural biological community with only few snails, say the researchers. "With our study, we were able to clearly demonstrate that even low pesticide concentrations constitute a serious environmental risk and, in this respect, not only contribute to the decline in insect populations but also indirectly promote dangerous diseases in humans," says Liess. "We hope that our findings will contribute to reducing or avoiding the future use of pesticides near waterbodies in schistosomiasis hotspots and thus making it possible to lower the risk of infection."
Phase 1 of Tesla's Lab Rehab is Underway The Tesla Science Center at Wardenclyffe will create an array of opportunities that will spur job creation and revenue through tourism, educational opportunities, and science-based entities right in the heart of Long Islands Science Corridor"

Tesla Science Center at Wardenclyffe (TSCW) received a $750,000 Empire State Development (ESD) grant from the New York Regional Economic Development Councils (REDC) 2019 Awards program. The award is designated for use in the renovation of Wardenclyffe, the last remaining laboratory of renowned inventor Nikola Tesla, into three unique attractions: a museum honoring Tesla and his legacy; a center for education and research; and an accelerator and technologist innovation program.

ESD grant programs provide $150 million of capital grant funding for the REDC Initiative. TSCW was selected based on its capacity to expand economic development and employment. Supporters on all levels endorsed TSCW for the grant, including New York Congressman Lee Zeldin who said, The Tesla Science Center at Wardenclyffe will create an array of opportunities that will spur job creation and revenue through tourism, educational opportunities, and science-based entities right in the heart of Long Islands Science Corridor. Its been an honor to support the center in its request for this critical funding, and I am excited to see their continued hard work come to fruition.

Wardenclyffe has a historic role in New Yorks economic development. In 1901 Tesla constructed a laboratory and 18-story transmitting tower in Shoreham, NY, to serve as a Radio City with a thriving community of skilled workers, families, businesses, and schools. Tesla chose Long Island due to its location on the eastern-most US where clear transmissions could be sent across the Atlantic. The areas topography also made it the site of the worlds Cradle of Aviation which led to a flourishing aerospace industry, followed by global leaders in research and technology such as Cold Spring Harbor Lab and Brookhaven National Lab.

Wardenclyffes importance to the areas technological history was noted by New York State Senator LaValle. "Throughout my career I have worked hard to bring together the many institutions of higher education and research that we are so fortunate to have in our region, said LaValle. The Tesla Wardenclyffe project is a terrific asset to our local community and is a natural tie-in to Brookhaven National Laboratory, our regional colleges and universities, and our research facilities to the west. I am pleased to have played a role in securing this state funding that will help to preserve a valuable part of our history while at the same time teaching and supporting future generations of young scientists and researchers.

TSCWs economic potential came into the world spotlight in 2012 when the emerging non-profit launched a crowdfund that raised a record-breaking $1.3 million in 6 weeks from supporters in 108 countries. Since then, TSCW has raised almost $10 million of its $20 million goal and is now positioned to construct a Tesla museum and science center at Wardenclyffe. ESD grant funds will be used for demolition of non-historic structures and renovation of Teslas lab into a completely innovative and evolving museum and science center that will spur significant economic growth, states Marc Alessi, TSCWs Executive Director. TSCW will create jobs at all levels, boost businesses, and drive future growth through an accelerator that will foster the next generation of technologists.

According to Suffolk County Legislator Sarah Anker, This grant provides the resources Tesla Science Center needs to continue to preserve the legacy of Nikola Tesla and provides residents with educational and recreational programming to learn about and be inspired by science and technology, said Legislator Anker. I sincerely congratulate Tesla Science Center and look forward to what the organization will accomplish this year.

TSCW is a non-profit 501(c) organization with a mission to establish a global center at the site of Nikola Teslas only remaining laboratory that will preserve, restore, and advance Teslas legacy of invention and perseverance through education and innovation. For more information, contact TSCW at (631) 886-2632 or info@teslasciencecenter.org or go to http://www.teslasciencecenter.org.
An official welcome ceremony has been held for President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, who is on an official visit in Azerbaijan.

A guard of honor was lined up for the Turkmen President in the square decorated with the national flags of the two countries.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev welcomed President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.

The chief of the guard of honor reported to President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.

President Ilham Aliyev and President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov reviewed the guard of honor.

The Turkmen President saluted the Azerbaijani soldiers.

The national anthems of Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan were played.

Members of the Azerbaijani delegation were introduced to President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and members of the Turkmen delegation were introduced to President Ilham Aliyev.

The guard of honor marched in front of the heads of state to the accompaniment of a military march.

The presidents posed for official photos.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on wednesday asked Tihar Jail authorities to consider afresh the plea of a media house seeking permission to interview the four men on death row for their role in the 2012 Nirbhaya gang rape and murder case.

Justice Navin Chawla asked the authorities to communicate their decision by thursday.

The media house has sought permission to interview the four convicts Mukesh Kumar Singh (32), Pawan Kumar Gupta (25), Vinay Sharma (26) and Akshay Kumar Singh (31) who are to be hanged on March 20.

The court had on March 5 told the media house not to encourage the convicts.

They have made a mockery of the system. Please do not encourage them, it had said.

The media house, in its petition, has also challenged the Tihar Jail's rejection of their application seeking permission to interview the four death row convicts.

It has claimed the purpose behind the interview was to have a deterrent effect on such crimes in the future.

It said the application for permission was moved before the prison authorities on february 25 and it was denied on february 27.
NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Wednesday ruled out a Madhya Pradesh-like political drama in Maharashtra, saying the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress alliance government is doing "very well" in the state. Talking to reporters at the Vidhan Bhawan in south Mumbai, Pawar also said Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia, who quit the party to join the BJP, had sought "quick

rehabilitation" after losing the Lok Sabha poll.

Asked if the Congress is to be blamed for the imminent fall of the Kamal Nath government, Pawar said the party has a "good and capable leadership". On the impact of Scindia's exit on the 15-month-old Kamal Nath government in Madhya Pradesh, Pawar said, "Some people have confidence in the capacity of Kamal Nath and feel a miracle can happen."

Pawar said he had full confidence in the capabilities of Kamal Nath.

"It will be known in the next one or two days if it (miracle by Kamal Nath) will happen. I don't know the structure of Madhya Pradesh Assembly, But if there was a dialogue with "Raja Saheb" (Scindia), this situation wouldn't have arisen," Pawar said.

"He (Scindia) wanted to be given new responsibilities after his defeat in the Lok Sabha elections (last year). But this is not the Congress' culture and it is not easy," he said.

Ruling out a "Madhya Pradesh-like situation" in Maharashtra, Pawar said the Maha Vikas Aghadi government in the state is doing well and is on the right path. The fact that the media has not got any material to write against it (MVA government) means all is well, he said.

Stating that the Yes Bank crisis did not happen in a day, Pawar said India's economic situation is a cause of concern. "What was the department of banking doing? It is answerable. The details will be out after a probe," he said.

He said he along with Mamta Banerjee, H D Deve Gowda,

Sitaram Yechuri and Yashwant Sinha had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking immediate release of former J&K chief ministers Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti.

"What is their crime? This sends a wrong message in the valley. J&K is a sensitive state and it is wrong to allow the sentiments of the people to be against the country," he said.

On Muslim reservation,he said minority affairs minister Nawab Malik had highlighted the NCP stand on the issue and the party stands by it. Asked about SIT into the Koregaon-Bhima violence, Pawar said, "I am not aware if the government will form the SIT. But our demand stays."
"The message is that the Peruvian economy has solid macroeconomic fundamentals to change this storm ," she said at a press conference.
W ealth manager Quilter took a 12 million charge on Wednesday to compensate dozens of British Steel pensioners who were left out of pocket after poor advice from its newly acquired Lighthouse division.

The Evening Standard revealed last week that dozens of British Steel workers are suing the group because advisers from Lighthouse advised hundreds of them to switch their generous gold-plated pensions for riskier private-sector funds in 2017.

It was a bad decision because pension pots vastly increased when new owner Tata pumped 550 million into the pension scheme in June 2017.

Those who transferred before June 2017 on Lighthouses advice were left out of pocket.

Quilter bought Lighthouse last year after the incident but today pledged to uphold 30 complaints from people who had received the Lighthouse advice, which is thought to have come from a single Lighthouse adviser, and make good the shortfall the workers suffered when they transferred.

A further 50 British Steel workers who received the same pre-June 2017 advice are also likely to receive compensation.

Our first priority is to do the right thing for our customers. This was not on our watch, we didnt cause this issue but we are doing the right things and putting it right, said Quilter chief Paul Feeney.
Seattle Public Schools will close Thursday and remain shuttered for at least two weeks, officials announced Wednesday.

All school building activities including school day instruction, childcare, health services and enrichment will be discontinued, the district said in a message to parents.

The district will begin an unspecified emergency food plan to help low-income students get fed beginning Monday, it said.

Seattle is home to one of the nations two largest coronavirus outbreaks, with nearly 200 King County residents having tested positive and 22 of them reported to have died of the disease as of Tuesday.

The decision to close the district was extremely difficult, the district wrote in a message crafted by its public affairs department. We know that closing our schools will impact our most vulnerable families, and we recognize that working families depend on the consistency and predictability of supports and services our schools offer. We are working with partners and the city to determine how to best mitigate the impact closing schools will have on working families.

As of today, only two other large Seattle-area school districts had closed all their schools to try to slow the spread of the disease.

In Oregon, where state health officials reported 19 people have tested positive for COVID-19 as of mid-day Wednesday, schools have opted to remain open.

Public health experts including Jennifer Nuzzo, of the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, have said it makes sense to close a school if one of their students or employees tests positive. Doing so can slow the spread of a moderately contagious disease like coronavirus by roughly 25%, Yale University social scientist and physician Nicholas Christakis told Science Magazine.

To be effective, Nuzzo said, schools would have to close early before there is substantial spread of the virus in the community and they would have to stay closed for weeks to months.

Nuzzo said Singapore has been fairly successful in reducing its case numbers, and officials there have elected not to close schools.

I do worry calls to close schools come from parents who can easily absorb the impact, Nuzzo said. She strongly cautions schools to think about the harms to childrens education, their nutritional needs, their social needs and the impact on workplace absenteeism, particularly among health care workers."

-- Betsy Hammond
OPEC kingpin Saudi Arabia unveiled plans Wednesday to dramatically ramp up oil production, raising the stakes of an all-out price war with non-OPEC leader Russia.

State-owned oil behemoth Saudi Aramco said Wednesday that it had been asked by the Saudi energy ministry to raise its production capacity to 13 million barrels per day (bpd), up from 12 million bpd at present.

The oil-rich kingdom has been pumping around 9.7 million bpd in recent months, but it has plenty of spare capacity to pump more crude, with hundreds of millions of barrels also in storage.

"This bold move to attempt to order production to 13 (million) barrels confirms that Saudi is trying to apply maximum pressure on both Russia and the U.S.," Cailin Birch, a global economist at the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), told CNBC via email on Wednesday.

"By sending signals that they will flood the market as soon as possible, they may be hoping to either force Russia back to the negotiating table or to prompt a wave of bankruptcies and investment cuts in the U.S. that would have a noticeable impact on shale production," Birch said.

International benchmark Brent crude traded at $36.05 Wednesday morning, down over 3.2%, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) stood at $33.30 around 3% lower.

Oil prices have almost halved since the start of 2020.
Coming down heavily on the Centre over "failure" to contain violence in Delhi, the opposition in Lok Sabha on Wednesday demanded the resignation of Home Minister Amit Shah, but the BJP alleged a conspiracy behind the riots and sought to blame anti-CAA protests for the situation.

As the House discussed the recent communal riots in the national capital that have claimed 52 lives, ruling and opposition members traded charges over alleged hate speeches by leaders before the outbreak of violence.

Defending the government, the BJP members said the home minister and authorities took pro-active steps to control the situation.

Initiating the discussion on "recent law and order situation in some parts of Delhi", Congress leader in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury wondered how violence continued for three days despite the fact that Delhi Police is one of the best equipped in the country.

"The Home Minister (Amit Shah) will have to explain," he said.

Hitting out at the prime minister, he said, Nero fiddled while Rome burned.

When Delhi was witnessing violence, Modi was hosting US President Donald Trump in Ahmedabad, the Congress leader said.

Chowdhury said while some claimed Hindus won, the others said Muslims won in the violence. "The fact is that humanity was defeated," he said.

He said the situation came under control soon after National Security Advisor Ajit Doval visited the violence-hit areas.

"Why could not the Home Minister go... NSA reports to the Prime Minister. Does this mean that the Prime Minister's Office had lost faith in the home ministry," Chowdhury said hitting out at Shah.

Chowdhury alleged that Delhi High Court judge S Muralidhar was transferred out as he had questioned the failure of the Delhi Police in containing the violence.

He said the "midnight" notification was aimed at preventing adverse strictures against the government.

Nishikant Dubey (BJP) said the transfer was recommended by the Supreme Court collegium and the government had nothing to do with it.

Chowdhury sought resignation of Shah, a demand echoed by TMC's Saugata Roy, CPI-M member A M Ariff and N K Premchandran of RSP.

"Mr Shah, in the name of God, go," Roy said while looking at Shah who was present in the House.

AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi said there is a "tsunami of Hindutva hate" and called for an impartial probe to find the perpetrators of the violence.

Some of his remarks evoked sharp response from the Treasury benches, with at least two Union ministers -- Ravi Shankar Prasad and Kishan Reddy -- registering their protests.

Speaker Om Birla also expunged certain remarks made by Owaisi.

BJP members said evidence showed that stones and petrol bombs were stored in huge quantity to fuel the violence.

BJP leader Meenakshi Lekhi alleged that some people are taking political benefit out of the incidents of violence.

Referring to the killing of IB officer Ankit Sharma during the riots, she said 400 wounds were found on his body.

"What kind of hatred was this... we should discuss that also," she said, adding the riots were pre-planned.

She also alleged that stones and catapults were found in the house of an AAP councillor and hate speeches were given by an MLA of the party.

"Every tenth home had catapults, which were used in the riots," she added.

Lekhi hit back at the Opposition after it questioned the timing of transfer of Justice Muralidhar, saying IB reports of "some people" should be made public to clear the air.

Lekhi, however, did not name anyone.

"Some judges, I won't name, some judges believe that unless a protest is violent, police will not take action. Who will decide when will the protest become violent.. the judges they have named.... They don't know that government cannot transfer without recommendation... transfer was not done, it had already happened.

"I want to say that the IB (Intelligence Bureau) reports about some people should be made public. Everyone will understand who was transferred and for what reason," she said.

Danish Ali (BSP) demanded that certain remarks of Lekhi be expunged.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said members should not take the names of any religion in the debate.

Birla expunged certain names taken by Lekhi and asked her not to name people.

Lekhi said that the government acted pro-actively and riots were controlled within 36 hours.

She also said that the allegations of hate speeches on Anurag Thakur and Parvesh Verma were not relevant as the riots started on February 23.

She also defended BJP leader Kapil Mishra, saying it was wrong to blame him for the riots.

However, TMC's Saugata Roy criticised the remarks by Lekhi, who is a senior lawyer, calling her "Devil's advocate".

Lekhi alleged that after the speech of Congress leader Sonia Gandhi at Ramlila maidan, people had started gathering.

Similar speeches were given by Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi as well, Lekhi said.

"For three months, people are sitting on roads," she said referring to people protesting at Shaheen Bagh against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act.

She added that work to instigate people and propagate extremism was going on since long.

"This government wants to do the of development," she said, adding the government is providing houses, power connections and cylinders to people not on the basis of religion.

"Why is the opposition spreading rumours," she said.

She said that the current government "violated the no go zone" and acted to scrap Article 370 and triple talaq.

She said that opposition members of the House understand the CAA law but are "continuously misleading the people".

Citing certain data on riots, Lekhi said during 1950 to 1964, as many as 243 riots are documented.

When Indira Gandhi was prime minister, 337 riots happened during 1966 to 1977 and 1980 and 1984.

Similarly, when Rajiv Gandhi was Prime Minister, 291 riots occurred during 1984 and 1989.

Out of 1094 riots, 871 happened during Congress regime, which was 73 per cent, she added.

"18 big riots happened during Congress regime," she added.

She said that the opposition is taking about one riot in Gujarat but no riots happened in that state after 2002.

She said that the people of Delhi must be feeling guilty as after voting a government which gave free power and water they are now facing such incidents.

She said Doval visited the areas hit by riots as he is in-charge of the security of the country.

On the allegation that Home Minister Amit Shah did not act, she listed out meetings of the Home Minister with officers to assess the situation.

T R Baalu (DMK) said that the Delhi riots and the law and order situation of the national capital were discussed in parliaments of the UK, Iran, Indonesia, Turkey and Malaysia.

These countries "are making fun of us", he said.

These all countries have raised concerns over the CAA, he said adding today was the 88th day of protest at Shaheen Bagh "without any problem".

The protest was happening silently and peacefully there because that are managed by minorities, he said.

Baalu said that "what went wrong" as over 50 people were killed in the Delhi violence.

He said that although Delhi Police is efficient in managing the issues, "why all went wrong" on those days.

"The inaction of the police has been advised by the administration," he said.

He also alleged that ABVP, RSS student wing, is the root cause of the incidents at the Jawaharlal Nehru University in December last year.

He also said that BJP leader Kapil Mishra's "hate speeches" led to these riots.

Tejasvi Surya of BJP claimed that while there wasn't anything anti-Muslim in CAA, the anti-CAA protests had "a lot of anti-Hindu" feelings.

AAP member Bhagwant Mann claimed that people were brought from outside to incite violence and that it was a "sponsored riots".

CPI's K Subbarayan alleged that hate speeches was a reason and that the central government was complicit in the riots.

CPI-M member A M Ariff alleged that the government was "killing the country's secular nature".

He also referred to banning of two Malayalam television channels regarding their coverage of Delhi riots and the transfer of high court judge.

Ariff also demanded the resignation of the home minister.

Condemning the violence, NCP member Amol Ramsing Kolhe wondered whether hate speeches cannot be controlled, and flagged concerns about "religious nationalism".

Taking a dig, he remarked that "if there is a heart in the 56-inch chest," then they would say that there were shortcomings in dealing with the situation.

IUML leader P K Kunhalikutty said "majority of the minority community" are scared due to plans for NRC and NPR.

While claiming that the Citizenship Amendment Act was the first law passed in the name of religion, he said India is becoming a theological state.

BJP member Sanjay Jaiswal criticised the Congress and mentioned about various incidents of violence that happened when the rival party ruled.

He also said that "people should not be burnt just because they lost 2019 elections".

National Conference member Hasnain Masoodi alleged that the government has promoted a culture of impunity and that there was total negligence.

K R K Raju (YSRCP) said it should be probed why the violence happened, especially when US President Donald Trump was visiting the country.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Alcoholics Anonymous, the worldwide fellowship of sobriety seekers, is the most effective path to abstinence, according to a comprehensive analysis conducted by a Stanford School of Medicine researcher and his collaborators.

After evaluating 35 studies -- involving the work of 145 scientists and the outcomes of 10,080 participants -- Keith Humphreys, PhD, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, and his fellow investigators determined that AA was nearly always found to be more effective than psychotherapy in achieving abstinence. In addition, most studies showed that AA participation lowered health care costs.

AA works because it's based on social interaction, Humphreys said, noting that members give one another emotional support as well as practical tips to refrain from drinking. "If you want to change your behavior, find some other people who are trying to make the same change," he said.

The review will be published March 11 in Cochrane Database of Systematic Review. Cochrane requires its authors to undertake a rigorous process that ensures the studies represented in its summaries are high-quality and the review of evidence is unbiased.

"Cochrane Reviews are the gold standard in medicine for integration of all the research about a particular intervention," Humphreys said. "We wanted to do this work through Cochrane because of its rigor and reputation."

The other co-authors are a researcher from Harvard Medical School and a researcher from the European Monitoring Center for Drugs and Drug Addiction.

Though well-known, AA faces skepticism

Although AA is well-known and used by millions around the world, mental health professionals are sometimes skeptical of its effectiveness, Humphreys said. Psychologists and psychiatrists, trained to provide cognitive behavioral therapy and motivational enhancement therapy to treat patients with alcohol-use disorder, can have a hard time admitting that the lay people who run AA groups do a better job of keeping people on the wagon.

Early in his career, Humphreys said, he dismissed AA, thinking, "How dare these people do things that I have all these degrees to do?"

Humphreys noted that counseling can be designed to facilitate engagement with AA -- what he described as "an extended, warm handoff into the fellowship." For the review article, Humphreys and his colleagues evaluated both AA and 12-step facilitation counseling.

AA began in 1935 when two men in Akron, Ohio, were searching for a way to stay sober; they found it by forming a support group. They later developed the 12 steps, the first being accepting one's inability to control drinking; the last, helping others sustain sobriety by becoming a sponsor of a new member. The AA model -- open to all and free -- has spread around the globe, and now boasts over 2 million members in 180 nations and more than 118,000 groups.

Though the fellowship has been around for more than eight decades, researchers have only recently developed good methods to randomize trial participants and measure its effectiveness, Humphreys said.

For the Cochrane review, the researchers found 57 studies on AA; of those, 35 passed their rigorous criteria for quality. The studies used various methods to measure AA's effectiveness on alcohol use disorder: the length of time participants abstained from alcohol; the amount they reduced their drinking, if they continued drinking; the consequences of their drinking; and health care costs.

AA shines

Most of the studies that measured abstinence found AA was significantly better than other interventions or no intervention. In one study, it was found to be 60% more effective. None of the studies found AA to be less effective.

In the studies that measured outcomes other than complete abstinence, AA was found to be at least as effective. For the studies that considered costs, most showed significant savings associated with AA participation: One found that AA and 12-step facilitation counseling reduced mental health costs by $10,000 per person.

The researchers looked only at studies of AA; they excluded Narcotics Anonymous and organizations focused on addiction to other substances. While it was beyond the scope of their study, Humphreys said the AA review is "certainly suggestive that these methods work for people who use heroin or cocaine."

Humphreys noted that the findings were consistent whether the study participants were young, elderly, male, female, veterans or civilians; the studies in the review were also conducted in five different countries. "It absolutely does work," he said of AA's method.

He added that he feels validated in giving advice to so many patients to try AA: "That was really good advice, and that continues to be good advice," he said.

###

Humphreys is a member of the Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute at Stanford.

The research was not funded.

Stanford's Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences supported the work.

The Stanford University School of Medicine consistently ranks among the nation's top medical schools, integrating research, medical education, patient care and community service. For more news about the school, please visit http://med.stanford.edu/school.html. The medical school is part of Stanford Medicine, which includes Stanford Health Care and Stanford Children's Health. For information about all three, please visit http://med.stanford.edu.
Chaa Creek's pool, spa and stunning Belize rainforest setting make it the perfect getaway for healthy vacations We want our guests to leave here feeling better

The Lodge at Chaa Creeks emphasis on healthy vacations has just taken a calm leap forward with the introduction of an inhouse yoga teacher and a new inland rainforest-to-Caribbean Sea wellness vacation package, the Belizean eco-resorts public relations manager says.

Were very pleased to now offer regular yoga at The Lodge at Chaa Creek and Hilltop Spa, Denise Duran said.

One of our new years resolutions for 2020 was to build on our healthy vacations, and having an inhouse yoga instructor joining our team is a step in that direction.

Were also offering a new all-inclusive Belize vacation package that extends our healthy vacations from the inland rainforests to Belizes Caribbean coast, giving guests the opportunity to experience Belize from jungle to sea in one seamless vacation, she added.

The new Caribbean Beach and Inland Adventure Vacation Package is a collaboration between Chaa Creek and the Naia Resort and Spa on Belizes southern Placencia Peninsula.

Both resorts offer a full-service spa with healthy dining options and a range of outdoor activities.

Chaa Creeks Hilltop Spa looks out on the foothills of Belizes Maya Mountains, and our Mariposa restaurant pioneered farm-to-table cuisine in Belize with fresh ingredients grown at our onsite Maya Organic Farm.

Naia Resort and Spa offers a Caribbean beach experience with a spa situated in a tranquil lagoon and several onsite dining areas with an accent on fresh seafood.

Combine the two, and you have a Belizean surf and turf style vacation that sees guests seamlessly transported between Belizes inland and Caribbean worlds  all with an emphasis on wellness combined with adventure, Ms Duran said.

Chaa Creek has long offered vacations that combine outdoor activities with fine dining and an immersive spa experience. With canoeing the Macal River, hiking and horseback riding through a 400-acre private nature reserve, swimming and lounging at an infinity pool, exploring ancient Maya temples and city-ruins, and a range of onsite and offsite tours, the accent has been on combining relaxation with enjoyable exercise, Ms Duran explained.

Now, in addition to our established range of massage and other professional spa treatments, guests have an even wider selection of integrated, holistic healing choices during their vacations. We believe that promoting health  environmental, in communities and individuals - is an important part of sustainable tourism.

We want our guests to leave here feeling better, Ms Duran explained.

The Lodge at Chaa Creek has long been a recognised leader in sustainable tourism in Belize, having garnered awards from National Geographic, Green Globe, the Belize Tourism Board and other travel authorities.

Surrounded by our own 400-acre private nature reserve, we enjoy air thats continually refreshed by the surrounding rainforest, the purest water, and farm-to-table dining using fresh organic ingredients grown right here. Its a naturally wholesome environment, and over time we came to appreciate that internal wellbeing was also an important part of a healthy vacation, Ms Duran said.

And while we informally offered yoga, meditation, and other holistic practices from time to time, were excited to now have a dedicated yoga teacher to offer instruction and personal care for our guests, she added.

Ms Duran said that todays travellers also appreciate the fact that, from the moment they are picked up at Belizes international airport until drop off, they remain in Chaa Creeks care.

Over nearly forty years Chaa Creek has built an extensive infrastructure and nationwide network of trusted travel colleagues that make our all-inclusive Belize vacation packages exactly what the name implies. Absolutely everything, from accommodation, all meals, activities, and transfers are included.

This makes our vacations unmatched for both affordability and peace of mind. Having our own transportation and tour company, Chaa Creek Inland Expeditions, means that even while travelling our guests remain under an umbrella that provides unmatched safety and security.

So, in addition to healthy activities, Belizes best organic dining, and you can add serene peace of mind.

Ms Bradley said healthy vacations go hand in hand with a healthy environment and communities.

We take a holistic approach to sustainability. Supporting the health of our beautiful natural environment and local communities extends to our staff members and guests, too.

With the addition of inhouse yoga and a new inland rainforest- to-Caribbean seacoast healthy vacation package, we can definitely say that, for 2020, the accent is on healthy vacations offering casually luxurious peace of mind, Ms Duran said.

The Lodge at Chaa Creek is a multi-award winning eco resort set within a 400-acre private nature reserve along the banks of the Macal River in Belize. It was recognised by National Geographic with first place honours at the 2017 World Legacy Awards held in Berlin.
[March 11, 2020] This Ad Agency Created A Retro 80's Jingle To Reminisce With Craft Beer Drinking Dads

RICHMOND, Va., March 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Devils Backbone Brewing Company partnered with Familiar Creatures for the second year in a row to launch their new paid social media campaign. To speak directly to the brewer's millennial dad target, the ad agency created videos with a nostalgic jingle sung over romanticized, tongue-in-cheek visuals. The retro approach is intended to stand out in the social media space, where brands often strive to be trendy, hip and relevant. Working with the music composition company Overcoast, Familiar Creatures wrote a feel-good jingle that encourages drinkers to slow down and savor a moment with their beer. Overcoast then commissioned a musician who's sung jingles for Folgers, Gillette and Big Red Gum, popular staples of 80's advertising. "Devils Backbone makes complex, yet approacable beers and brews that are made to be sipped. We wanted to capture this feeling of taking a moment with your drink, almost treating it like a buddy," said Justin Bajan, co-founder of Familiar Creatures. "This kind of feeling hearkens back to simpler days so we thought a heartfelt, yet cheeky jingle was the way to go. Overcoast crushed it like always."



The films were shot by local photographer and director Brian Camp, who scouted various scenic areas in Virginia to showcase the actors and the beers. "Even though these will live on Instagram and Facebook, the jingle itself really feels like a classic from an era of advertising before social media. As soon as we heard it we started humming all around the brewery. We showed it to our wholesalers and they couldn't stop humming it either," remarked Marisa Black, Director of Marketing at Devils Backbone.

Devils Backbone Brewing Company specializes in award-winning lagers, inspired by the great brewing traditions of Europe and the ingenuity of modern craft brewing. Devils Backbone operates two breweries in central Virginia. Basecamp Brewpub & Meadows located in scenic Nelson County, and the Outpost Brewery & Tap Room, in Lexington, VA. Familiar Creatures is an advertising agency based in Richmond, VA. Formed in 2018 by industry veterans, the agency's "fractional AOR" model allows them to deliver high quality creative for challenger brands that want to compete on the national stage. Familiar Creatures

Justin Bajan, Co-Founder

[email protected] View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/this-ad-agency-created-a-retro-80s-jingle-to-reminisce-with-craft-beer-drinking-dads-301021029.html SOURCE Familiar Creatures

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The Democratic Party has always been weak on national security when it comes to China. But some credit is due when it comes to Chinas atrocious human-rights record and its theft of American jobs. For a generation, prominent Democrats loudly criticized Beijing on these fronts, well before Donald Trump helped form a new national consensus on China. Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi have been longstanding China trade hawks, for instance. Even a socialist like Bernie Sanders has been a reliable critic.

And Joe Biden? Well, hes on Chinas side  not yours.

Despite the occasional box-checking, wishy-washy comment slapping Beijing on the wrist for the worst of its abuses, the reality is that the former vice presidents support of the Peoples Republic of China is deep and longstanding. In the critical fight over whether to grant most-favored-nation trade status and World Trade Organization membership to China in the 1990s  a fight in which, again, many of his partys leaders in Congress were on the right side  Biden carefully shepherded China through the process from his powerful perch as the senior Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Wherever a brake might have been applied  by placing human-rights or labor conditions on most-favored-nation status, for example  Biden voted the measures down and lobbied other senators for Beijing. Unfortunately, China and Biden got their way, and American workers are still suffering from it.

It should have been a warning on more fronts than one when President Obama recruited Biden to his ticket to buttress his credibility on foreign policy; unsurprisingly, there was no about-face on Beijing. As the Chinese Communist Party gained strength and Xi Jinping seized absolute power, Biden continued to push for closer ties and even more trade. As for American workers? In February 2012, in friendly remarks with Xi standing next to him, Biden praised Beijing as a new partner that would help to meet global challenges, and said Americans welcome this competition. . . . It pushes our companies to develop better products and services and our government to craft better policies. Millions of American jobs were disappearing as he spoke, and the militarization of the South China Sea was just around the corner.

Story continues

While warmer ties with China were devastating American workers and threatening our national security, they have been very good for the Biden family. Reporters thought it unusual when Hunter Biden, Bidens prodigal son, accompanied him on a trip to Beijing in 2013. That same year, Hunter joined the board of a Shanghai-based private equity firm. In 2017, a few months after his father left office, he invested a substantial chunk of his own money in the company. We dont know what hes made off the deal, but I expect Hunter is doing better than laid-off workers in Arkansas or Delaware. Must be nice.

Now Bidens back on the campaign trail, and no one could be more thrilled than the Chinese Communist Party. (A Forbes headline last year summed up the situation well: Joe Biden Is the Only Man Who Can Save China in 2020.) Bidens announcement of his campaign alone was enough to encourage Beijing suddenly to take a harder line on trade negotiations with the Trump administration. As Bidens star seemed to fade, China suddenly got easier to deal with, striking a Phase 1 deal with us in January. Its a safe prediction that they are about to take a tougher line again. Meanwhile, Biden offers gems like these on the campaign trail. From May: China is going to eat our lunch? Come on, man. Theyre not bad folks, folks. But guess what? Theyre not competition for us. And just the next month: Our workers are literally three times as productive as workers . . . in Asia. So what are we worried about?

Ive worked extensively with Democrats on China  with Chuck Schumer on cracking down on Chinese fentanyl trafficking, with Chris Van Hollen and numerous others on Huaweis threat to the worlds telecommunications infrastructure. I dont exactly hear Biden hammering on these important issues on the campaign trail. And when a few weeks ago President Trump acted to impose travel restrictions on China as a consequence of its abysmal handling of the Wuhan coronavirus, Biden was right there and ready to act as Beijings lawyer, slamming the policy as hysterical xenophobia. Now, even the New York Times concedes that these measures bought the United States valuable time to prepare for an epidemic.

Since 2015, Democrats have claimed hysterically that Donald Trump is a Russian agent. On the other hand, its ridiculous to say Biden is a Chinese asset  if he were, his handler would tell him to oppose China here and there to build credibility. But China can count on Joe Biden always to take Chinas side.

The competition between the United States and China, strategic and economic, will define the next century for our nation. We will need to be led by presidents for whom theres no question as to which side they are on.

More from National Review
Comments come day after thousands of women, girls skipped work, school to draw attention to those killed or disappeared.

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said Tuesday that recent protests against rising killings of women in Mexico would not change his governments long-term, ground-up approach to dealing with the problem.

Asked at his daily news conference whether the outpourings of indignation would have any concrete effects on his administration or result in a change of focus, the president doubled down on his broader policy for tackling all sorts of violence and criminality in the country.

No, on the contrary, we are going to reinforce the same strategy of addressing the causes that create the violence, Lopez Obrador said, to seek to live in a better society, to attend to young people, to attend to the countryside, for there to be no unemployment, for disintegration of families to be avoided, for values to be strengthened.

More:

He spoke two days after an estimated 80,000 women marched through Mexico City and other cities across the country saw smaller demonstrations, and a day after untold thousands of women and girls skipped work or school in a protest billed as a day without women to call attention to those who are killed or disappeared.

Such demonstrations have grown in recent months, especially in the capital, amid increasing anger about gender-based violence, including a grisly murder-mutilation and the kidnap-killing of a seven-year-old girl, both in Mexico City.

According to official figures, 3,825 women met violent deaths in 2019, an average of more than 10 a day and a rise of 7 percent over the previous year. Homicides generally have also been rising for several years straight, dating back to before Lopez Obrador took office in December 2018, though the rate of increase slowed last year. The vast majority of all crimes in the country go unpunished.

Asked whether the government could present a detailed plan for reducing violence against women, Lopez Obrador responded that his government has a policy on womens rights more broadly.

If it is not complete or is insufficient or is not disseminated, is not known, let it be presented again and updated, he said. Let (Interior Secretary Olga Sanchez Cordero), who coordinates all these actions in defence of womens rights, make a presentation next week, if that works for you.

Women march during International Womens Day in Mexico City [Eduardo Verdugo/AP Photo]

The president called womens movements very important and said his government supports them. He also alleged that his political opponents are cynically taking advantage of them to try to hurt his government.

Lopez Obrador noted the extensive reporting on the protests and suggested that demonstrations he led when he was in the opposition were not similarly covered. Lopez Obrador regularly pushes back against critical coverage during news conferences and sometimes speaks derogatorily about media outlets and specific stories.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-11 11:11:04|Editor: Xiang Bo

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WELLINGTON, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Retail card sales bounced back in February with more spending on groceries and long-lasting goods like furniture, hardware and appliances, New Zealand's statistics department Stats NZ said on Wednesday.

Total retail card spending this year was up 0.6 percent in February after a 0.2-percent fall in January, Stats NZ said.

"Although we have seen a lift in sales in February, we can't identify at what point during the month this occurred. It's possible that increases in supermarket sales resulted from concerns around COVID-19," retail statistics manger Sue Chapman said in a statement.

The largest increase in sales was for grocery food and drink, followed by an increase in sales of long-lasting products like furniture, hardware, and appliances, Chapman said.

Vehicles, fuel, and apparel were all relatively unchanged compared with the January, she said, adding that eating and drinking at places like restaurants, cafes, and bars fell 0.8 percent.

This is the second month in a row where spending in hospitality has dipped, Chapman said.

"There has been a drop in weekly visitor arrivals from China as a result of the travel ban being implemented at the start of February," she said.

The largest decrease across all categories was non-retail, which includes travel, health, and wholesale, falling 0.8 percent from January, statistics showed.

In actual terms, retail spending using electronic cards was 5.7 billion NZ dollars (3.6 billion U.S. dollars), up 8.6 percent from February 2019, Stats NZ said.
By Trend

Misunderstanding occurred in some issues because farmers are provided with subsidies through the Electronic Agricultural Information System (EKTIS) for the first time in Azerbaijan this year, Chairman of the Azerbaijani Agrarian Credit and Development Agency (AKIA) under the Azerbaijani Ministry of Agriculture Mirza Aliyev said.

Aliyev made the remark in Baku at the briefing dedicated to the instructions related to the issuance of subsidies, farm cards and sale of preferential fertilizers, Trend reports on March 10.

Despite great raising awareness campaign, farmers still do not know about some rules, the chairman added. One of the main issues that confuse farmers is the liberalization of the supplier market. Although we, as farmers, create conditions for the registration of suppliers in Electronic Agricultural Information System, they must carry out their activities in the districts and promote it among farmers. We have posted a list of these suppliers and their contact numbers on our website, but besides this, they must improve logistics and relations with the farmers."

However, the market of fertilizers and pesticides has been completely liberalized in the country, Aliyev added.

Azerbaijani farmers are not used to buying a card. As is known, in accordance with the rules, only 25 percent of the subsidiary funds may be cashed out, the chairman said. Cash and non-cash funds are separately visible on the farmers card balance. A farmer who wants to buy fertilizers may pay 70 percent of the price of the product by using non-cash funds on the card.

The remaining 30 percent must be paid in cash or non-cash form, Aliyev said. Until this year, in accordance with the existing rules for the sale of fertilizers, 70 percent of the price was paid directly to the state supplier. The farmer saw only 30 percent of the price he paid. Presently, these funds are transferred to the farmers in the form of subsidies."

The new rules for subsidizing the production of agricultural products have entered into force since the beginning of this year. In accordance with these rules, agricultural subsidies will be issued to farmers through the electronic agricultural information system.

The new mechanism related to agricultural support measures serves to increase accountability, transparency, ensure the efficient use of budgetary funds, as well as simplify the process of farmers' appeals and the provision of farmers with subsidies.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
When officers arrived, the dog had been restrained by its owner, Robinson said, but it again broke free and could not be subdued with pepper spray or a stun gun. The dog was placed in the custody of the countys animal services unit after the incident.
Two Michigan residents have tested presumptive positive for coronavirus COVID-19, the states first cases of the infectious disease, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced Tuesday evening.

Whitmer said she is declaring a state of emergency.

Were going to keep Michigan safe and were going to be prudent," Whitmer said, adding shell be meeting with officials Wednesday to determine what next measures to take. An announcement on those measures is expected Wednesday afternoon, according to a press release from the governors office.

One of the coronavirus patients is an Oakland County woman with a recent history of international travel and the other is a Wayne County manwho had recent history of domestic travel, according to state officials

Both are middle-aged and both are hospitalized, state officials said.

The coronavirus tests were performed by the state Bureau of Laboratories, and specimens will be sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for confirmatory testing.

We are taking the identification of COVID-19 in our state very seriously, said Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, chief medical executive and chief deputy for health. We continue to urge Michiganders to take precautions to prevent the spread of this virus in our state.

Officials in Wayne and Oakland counties are working to identify close contacts of the coronavirus patients.

Whitmer stressed the importance of Michigan residents taking basic precautions such as thorough hand-washing with soap and water and avoiding touching their eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands.

COVID-19 symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as long as 14 days after exposure to the virus. They include fever, cough and shortness of breath.

What Michigan residents need to know about coronavirus

Michigan is the 38th state to have a confirmed case of coronavirus COVID-19. Nationwide, there have been almost 1,000 reported cases and 31 deaths.

State health officials have been preparing for weeks for a possible outbreak of coronavirus.

Earlier Tuesday, state officials said 124 people currently are being monitored by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services for possible exposure.

All 124 are in self-quarantine," spokeswoman Lynn Sutfin said.

This includes referrals from CDC airport quarantine stations, self-referrals, close contacts of pending persons under investigation and health-care provider referrals entered by local health departments, Sutfin said.

She did not know if any of those being monitored have known direct exposure to the virus.

A total of 39 people in Michigan have been tested for the virus, and all were negative, she said Tuesday morning.

In February, the state activated the Community Health Emergency Coordination Center and the State Emergency Operations Center to prepare for a possible outbreak in Michigan.

Whitmer also has created four task forces to combat the spread of coronavirus and assess the impact it may have on state operations, health care, schools and workplaces.

In addition, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has launched a campaign to raise awareness of appropriate hand washing techniques to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other illnesses.

COVID-19 has been identified as the cause of an outbreak of respiratory illness first detected in Wuhan City in the Hubei Province of China. There have been almost 120,000 cases globally, with over 4,300 deaths.

Person-to-person spread of the virus has occurred in the U.S., with some of those occurring in people with no travel history and no known source of exposure.

For the latest information, visit Michigan.gov/coronavirus or CDC.gov/coronavirus.

PREVENTION TIPS

Much like how you would try to prevent the flu, you want to stay away from people who are sick and practice good hygiene, says the CDC.

The latter means thoroughly washing your hands for at least 20 seconds, especially after using the bathroom and before eating. Avoid touching your mouth or face unless your hands are clean.

Use household cleaners to disinfect commonly touched objects and surfaces. Use disinfectant wipes to clean your hands or surfaces such as shopping-cart handles when out in public.

Some people are going the extra step and using smartphone sanitizers as a precaution, but a disinfecting wipe used lightly on the outside will likely work fine, too.
Aihik Sur By

Express News Service

HYDERABAD: The all-India National Register of Citizens (NRC) proposed by the Centre has some of the residents in Hyderabad biting their nails.

My mother is on the edge. She has no idea what is happening with regard to the NRC and that is scaring her more, Canada-based Ayesha Iffat said while talking about her mother who resides in Hyderabad.

Ayeshas anxiety arises from the fact that her mother does not have a birth certificate. And quite akin to Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, who wondered about his fate after the implementation of NRC as he too does not have a birth certificate, Ayesha has similar enquiry.

There is no clear answer to this as the rules for the all-India NRC have not been formulated yet, and hence, no one knows the documents that they should possess. It is this lack of clarity, coupled with statements made by the top leadership, that is giving many residents in Hyderabad the sleepless nights.

This has made many from Hyderabad, including Iffat, who have families in other countries, think that the prospect of relocating to their relatives place overseas is better.

They think leaving the country would be easier than dealing with the awry business of procuring documents to prove ones citizenship.Iffats sexagenarian mother was born in Mumbai and she currently stays at Mehdipatnam in Hyderabad. It is not possible for her to apply for a birth certificate here. Since she was born in Mumbai, she has to apply for it there, said a GHMC official.

But that seems an impossible task for Iffat and her mother. Hence, she is being forced to consider the option of uprooting her mother from the city, where she has spent a majority of her life. We want to bring her here. We want to do it permanently, and in such a way that no further questions are asked.

As of now, Ayeshas mother visits her daughter once a year.And this is not a sole case, according to MBT spokesperson and social activist Amjed Ullah Khan. A majority of people living abroad are feeling insecure about the developments in India. I have been receiving numerous calls from those staying in New Zealand and Canada, who have expressed their desire to shift their relatives from here to their current residence.

Khan said the countries like Canada and New Zealand are attractive destinations because of their relative flexible citizenship rules and their policy of welcoming immigrants to their countries.
The decision by Moscow to withdraw from OPEC-plus beginning April 1 caused shock and panic among market analysts. This structure emerged as a result of joint Russian-Saudi efforts that, in 2016, led to the Vienna Agreement between OPEC and non-OPEC countries, a deal aimed to decrease oil production in order to prevent the fall of oil prices and ensure their stability. The initial six-month OPEC-plus deal was then extended several times. It also led to the formation of a permanent forum-like structure with its own charter signed in July, which allows participants to coordinate and adjust their production policies.

This Russia-backed format proved to be effective and achieved, at least temporarily, relatively high and stable oil prices. In December, the deal was extended until April. Consequently, until the very last moment, the Kremlins withdrawal from the deal seemed to be hardly possible, although Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak periodically told the international community that his country did not plan to stay the part of this structure forever.

The confidence of external observers that Russia would remain a loyal member of OPEC-plus was supported by the belief that Moscows withdrawal from the deal would inevitably backfire when it comes to Russian relations with another founding member of this structure, Saudi Arabia. Indeed, for the last several years, Russia has demonstrated deep interest in developing bilateral and multilateral cooperation in the oil and gas sector with the Gulf countries. It also seemed to perceive Riyadh as a key player in the Middle East, obviously hoping to establish active political dialogue with it. Yet the depth of this interest and its impact on Russias decision-making toward the oil market was obviously overestimated.

For the last three years, apart from the pompous exchange of the visits by the heads of the states, Russian-Saudi political dialogue did not produce much in terms of results. In the global hydrocarbon market, Russia and Gulf exporters are competitors at least as much as partners. Thus, within the last several years, Russia and Saudi Arabia periodically competed for oil markets in Asia and Europe. During 2018-19, in spite of domestic production cuts, both Moscow and Riyadh were increasing their supplies to Beijing, competing for the title of the largest oil exporter to China and the share of the Chinese market created by the fall in Irans oil shipments to Beijing as well as growing domestic demand and China's attempts to diversify its sources of hydrocarbon imports.

During the first half of 2019, Russia managed to win this competition and, thus, won the status of the leading supplier. Yet, by the beginning of 2020, Saudi Arabia not only took this title back but also struck back in other regions.

In July, Riyadhs decision to further discount its oil sold to Europe caused concern in Moscow. In September, the attack by Iranian proxies on oil-refining infrastructure in Abqaiq and Khurais led to Riyadh being temporarily unable to fulfil its export obligation to Asian countries. Russia immediately used this opportunity to position itself as a more reliable supplier to India in order to increase its share of the countrys market.

It is also difficult to say that prospects for Saudi-Russian investment cooperation are bright. This cooperation has natural limits determined by Russias economic and technological limitations. For instance, in 2019, although it initially demonstrated interest in buying a share in Russias Arctic LNG 2 project, Saudi Arabia decided to invest in the US liquefied natural gas industry instead, pointing out to Novatek that there were much more profitable and less risky US projects that also provide access to a more advanced technological base than exists in Russia.

The US and EU sanctions imposed on Russia have also worried Saudi Aramco. As a result, out of the long list of discussed oil and gas projects between Saudi Arabia and Russia, only a few had been finalized in the form of contracts by the start of 2020.

Under these circumstances, Moscow definitely took the Saudi factor out of the equation when making a decision on further Russian participation in OPEC-plus. This, in turn, made Moscows withdrawal from OPEC-plus inevitable and driven by the pragmatic calculations.

Russia has finally accepted that the era of high oil prices is gone and that nothing can make it return. The mood regarding the future of oil prices is clearly reflected in state budget planning built on the assumption of prices floating in the range of $50-$60 per barrel (likely closer to the lower end) until 2036 in the best case scenario. Russias leadership is also well aware of the growing influence of non-OPEC-plus members on oil prices as well as of forthcoming structural changes in market fundamentals that cannot be controlled by Russia alone or by OPEC-plus. Under these circumstances, the declining capabilities of OPEC-plus to affect the global oil market were encouraging Moscow to limit its engagement in this structure. Russia is nearing a psychological threshold in 2021-22 when its oil output is expected to start its fall from 11.4 million barrels per day to 6.3 million barrels per day in 2036. It will try to do its best to prepare for this. Its plans imply the development of new oil production projects, which is hardly possible under OPEC-plus production limitations.

The straw that broke the camels back was the Saudi-led initiative to deepen production cuts to 1.5 million barrels per day after April 1, a decision that was completely unacceptable for the Kremlin. The idea behind the production cuts was to shore up prices falling the dramatic fall in oil demand caused by the new coronavirus, COVID-19. But the Russian leadership did not believe that such a cut in production could actually help the market given the drop in demand and the expected growth in oil production by non-OPEC-plus countries of 2 million barrels per day in 2020. Consequently, the Kremlin simply decided not to accept the deepening of the cuts at all, thus, showing that its honeymoon with Saudi Arabia is, at least temporarily, over.
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UPDATED with Weinstein quotes Harvey Weinstein, his handcuffs temporarily removed and likening himself to Hollywoods blacklisted Dalton Trumbo, was sentenced to 23 years in prison today, with New York Supreme Court Judge James Burke dismissing pleas from the former Hollywood mogul and newly convicted rapist for the minimum five-year hitch.

The judge delivered the sentence to a packed courtroom, with accusers who testified during the trial  Jessica Mann, Miriam Mimi Haley, Annabella Sciorra, Tarale Wulff, Lauren Young, and Dawn Dunning  filling the first two rows of the courtroom. They, along with supporter and witness Rosie Perez and attorney Gloria Allred, entered the courtroom as a group, prior to Weinsteins arrival.

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The sentence just handed down by this court was obscene, said Weinsteins attorney Donna Rotunno. That number was obnoxious. There are murderers who will get out of court (sic) faster than Harvey Weinstein will. That number spoke to the pressure of movements and the public. That number did not speak to evidence, nor did it speak to justice. I am overcome with anger at that number. I think that number is a cowardly number to give. I think the judge caved, just as I believe the jury caved, and I am not happy.

Weinstein left the courttoom immediately after the sentence was handed down.

Before the sentence was handed down, Weinsteins accusers and a courtroom packed with reporters witnessed  if not always heard  a remarkable, long and rambling monologue of self-defense and self-justification delivered in a low, rumbling, sometimes inaudible voice by the man about to be sentenced. I really feel remorse in this situation, Weinstein said at one point, but also bemoaned the state of a country in which thousands of men are losing due process for behavior about which they are confused. He said, Im totally confused. Men are confused about this issue.

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Judge Burke expressed no such confusion, saying that although Weinsteins recent conviction was the ex-moguls first, it was not his first offense. He ordered Weinstein to register as a sex officer, then passed a sentence of 20 years in prison for Weinsteins conviction on first-degree sexual assault and three years for third-degree rape.

Harvey Weinsteins 23-Year Prison Sentence Gives Hope To Survivors Of Sexual Violence, Say Manhattan D.A

Before Weinsteins statement, lead prosecutor Joan Illuzzi read a lengthy plea requesting the maximum sentence and consecutive sentences. In a dramatic she quoted people who knew or worked with Weinstein, offering brief descriptions of Weinstein they provided: He is the devil. A liar. Very bad temper. Bragged that he would kill people. Power addict, Extremely temperamental. Predatory behavior. Gets off asserting power. Overwhelmingly ruined my life and my career. Temper would get worse and worse as he became more famous. Brutal and vicious. Working with him was a nightmare. Frightening being around him. He is a rapist. A screaming bully. He told me he would kill me and my entire family (this was a young assistant, by the way, said Illuzzi). Seemed sociopathic. Joy in demeaning people, he was a monster.

In her victim impact statement, Haley described attending her first professional meeting with Weinstein feeling elated about her career prospects, only to leave the meeting in tears, feeling humiliated and depleted after Weinstein asked for a massage and crudely commented on her appearance. Still, she said, she was grateful for the job he subsequently offered, and when she agreed to meet him again had no reason to believe he would force an act of sexual violence on me.

Her sexual assault by Weinstein, Haley said, affected her mentally and emotionally, perhaps forever. She added that the assault diminished my confidence and faith in people and confidence and faith in myself.

In beseeching Judge Burke to order Weinstein to serve a maximum sentence, Haley said, There are women out there who are safer because he is not out there.

Manns impact statement detailed the helplessness she felt during her rape and thereafter, Weinsteins physical threats against her ailing, elderly father, and the many years that Weinstein was enabled by protectors who believed his movies were too valuable a commodity to risk.

Rape, Mann said, is not for the moment of penetration, it is forever, the impact is for a lifetime.

Weinsteins defense attorneys also addressed the court, pointing out once again and among other things Weinsteins history of charitable works, his professional accomplishments (Hes been thanked by everyone from Meryl Streep to Martin Scorsese for their careers, hes tied with God in the number of thanks hes had at awards), more than 80-plus Oscars, and that is not a small feat, his multitude of medical issues, his age (68), discrepancies in the pre-sentence witness statements and their courtroom testimony and examples of minimum sentences handed down in other rape cases.

Defense attorney Donna Rotunno asked that the judge take into account Weinsteins family (three grown daughters, two younger children ages 6 and 9). Rotunno said that while the prosecution painted Weinstein as someone who has it all  fame and fortune and money and the world at this fingertips, that life also carries intense scrutiny and public evaluation as you can hear by the keyboards clicking behind me. She indicated that such scrutiny made an impact.

The sentencing followed two emotionally raw victim impact statements from Mann and, the two women whose allegations of rape and sexual assault, respectively, were the core of Weinsteins trial and the source of his two felony convictions.

Weinstein was convicted of a first-degree criminal sexual act for forcibly performing oral sex on Haley, a former Project Runway production assistant, in 2006 at the then-producers Soho apartment. The crime carried a possible sentence of four-25 years in prison.

The third-degree rape conviction involved an assault against former hairstylist and aspiring actress Mann, who said Weinstein raped her on March 18, 2013 at the DoubleTree Hotel in Midtown Manhattan. The crime, which indicates sexual intercourse without consent, carries a potential sentence of up to four years in prison. A first-degree conviction would have required the use of physical force or the threat of death or physical injury, which Mann did not allege.

Even with the emotional statements made by the women  sometimes interrupted by their tears  Weinsteins stream-of-consciousness speech stood out for sheer surprise. At one point, as Weinstein began rambling about his recent hospital stay, hiding his years of unfaithful behavior from his two wives, and how he wanted to testify during his trial, the convicted rapist was halted by his attorney Arthur Aidala. When Aidala rested his hand on Weinsteins shoulder and whispered something to his client, Weinstein said aloud, I lost my train of thought.

Weinstein began his address by expressing his accusers, saying, I have great remorse for all of you.

I was the first and now thousands of men are accused, he said. I think none of use understood the impact. He said he believed that he had serious friendships with Mann and Haley, nothing the favors he did for them and the missing you, hugging you emails he received from them.

Im not going to say these arent great people, he said of Mann and Haley. I had wonderful times with these people.

At one point, Weinstein seemed to compare the current #MeToo era with the Hollywood communist blacklist of the 1950s, name-dropping screenwriter Dalton Trumbo.

He then segued to the issue of his previous status in the film industry, downplaying his power.

I wasnt about power, he said. I was about making great movies. He insisted that Miramax at the height of its fame was smaller than major studios such as Disney and Paramount. I had no great powers in this industry, he insisted.

Weinstein then expressed regret over his family affairs, saying that he has not had contact with his three adult daughters since the publication of The New Yorker and New York Times articles that exposed his abuses. That, for me, is hell on earth, he said.

Weinstein also has two younger children, ages 6 and 9, and he expressed his fears that he may never see my children again.

If I could do it over I would care less about movies and more about my children, my family and others in my life, he said.

At his trial last month, Weinstein was acquitted on two charges of predatory sexual assault, which carry possible life sentences. Those charges involved allegations by actress Annabella Sciorra that she was raped by Weinstein in her Gramercy Park apartment during the winter of 1993-1994; a Weinstein juror later said in an interview that the alleged 27-year-old incident was not proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

Weinstein has been an inmate of Rikers Islands North Infirmary Command since March 5. His arrival there followed a 10-day stay at New Yorks Bellevue Hospital where he underwent minor surgery  a stent implant  for a heart ailment.

With the sentencing in New York behind him, Weinstein now faces multiple felony counts in Los Angeles for allegedly raping one woman and sexually assaulting another in separate incidents over a two-day period in 2013.

Immediately following the Feb. 24 conviction, one of Weinsteins defense attorneys, Arthur Aidala, told reporters that grounds for an appeal were so strong that four great appellate judges would overturn this case in five minutes. The attorney insisted that Weinstein had been the target of a calculated campaign since 2017, and that the jury felt that pressure.

On Monday, Aidala along with co-counsel Donna Rotunno and Damon Cheronis made a formal request to Judge Burke that Weinstein be sentenced to the minimum five years. They cited Weinsteins age of 6 and his ill health in asserting that any additional term of imprisonment above the mandatory minimum  although the grave reality is that Mr. Weinstein may not even outlive that term  is likely to constitute a de facto life sentence.

The defense attorneys also insisted that Weinsteins trial did not fairly portray who he is as a person, and that his many charitable works, his first-time offender status and his life story, his accomplishments, and struggles are simply remarkable and should not be disregarded in total because of the jurys verdict.

The Manhattan District Attorneys office has argued the opposite. In an 11-page letter to Judge Burke, lead prosecutor Joan Illuzzi urged the court to impose a sentence that reflects the seriousness of defendants offenses, his total lack of remorse for the harm he has caused, and the need to deter him and others from engaging in further criminal conduct.

Though the New York trial involved criminal charges stemming only from the Mann, Haley and Sciorra cases, three other accusers  Dunning, Wulff and Young  testified as Molineux witnesses about their alleged past abuse by Weinstein. Molineux witnesses can be used to bolster the cases of the named accusers, but are not permitted to submit victim impact statements to the court.

One of the Molineux witnesses, Tarale Wulff, published an open letter on Medium yesterday. Wulff, who said she intends to be present at the sentencing today, wrote, As I was not one of the named victims in this trial, I am not permitted under the laws of New York to give a victim impact statement. It is important for me, however, that my voice is heard.

After I was raped by Weinstein in 2005, I was confused, she continued. Why didnt I scream? Why didnt I fight? I thought I was stronger and I hated myself for being weak. That self-hate turned into shame and guilt. Shame that I never should have felt and guilt that was not mine to own. I didnt know that at the time. I didnt realize it for 12 more years.

In the open letter, Wulff expressed her hope that Judge Burke will hold Weinstein accountable by imposing a prison sentence that reflects what he has done to us and knowing that whatever sentence he renders, it will never undo what has happened. Those events will continue to haunt me and the other survivors for the rest of our lives.

Todays sentencing also follows a dirty laundry mega-dump late on March 9 with the unsealing of thousands of pages of documents related to the Weinstein investigation. The unvarnished case files revealed self-pitying PR statements that were never released as well as Weinsteins Red Flag enemies list including Ben Affleck and Megan Ellison. Theres also a particularly asinine email from October 31, 2017 ranting about how Jen Aniston should be killed because of a never published National Enquirer story accusing Weinstein of groping the Friends actress, a claim that reps for The Morning Show star say she never made.

Additionally, the now public files detail correspondence with the likes of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Apple boss Tim Cook, Netflixs Ted Sarandos and a pre-presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg, with Weinstein begging for help from his powerful friends to thwart the eventually successful move of The Weinstein Company board to toss him. If you could write this letter backing me getting the help and time away I need and also stating your opposition to the board firing me, it would help me a lot, the once powerful movie mogul pleads on October 8, 2017, a mere three days after the initial New York Times expose that began Weinstein sudden downfall. With all due respect, I need the letter today if you can  I so appreciate it, the form letter to power brokers asked.

The latest well-timed drop of investigation files covered more than friends too. U have been a sexual predator and abusive person for over fourty [sic] years, brother Bob Weinstein wrote to his sex addiction rehabbing brother on November 2, 2017. F*ck u Harvey Weinstein. I pray there is a real hell. Thats where u belong.

Dominic Patten contributed to this report

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RTHK: Harvey Weinstein sentenced to 23 years in jail

Former Hollywood film producer Harvey Weinstein was sentenced to 23 years in prison by a New York judge on Wednesday, two weeks after he was convicted of rape and sexual assault.

Judge James Burke ignored the pleas of Weinstein's defence team to give their client the minimum of five years behind bars.

Weinstein, 67, was found guilty of a criminal sexual act in the first degree and rape in the third degree on February 24, in a verdict hailed by the #MeToo movement. (AFP)

This story has been published on: 2020-03-11. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
[March 11, 2020] Switzerland calls halt on 5G amid radiation health fears

Sydney, March 11, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Just released, this edition of Paul Budde Communications focus report on Switzerland outlines the major developments and key aspects in the telecoms markets.

Read the full report: https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Switzerland-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses Switzerland has a sophisticated telecom sector and enjoys one of the highest broadband penetration rates within the European Union and among the OECD nations. Its competitive mobile market is served by three network operators and a small number of MVNOs while the broadband market is dominated by Swisscom and UPC Switzerland, though there are a large number of smaller players in the market, many providing services to local communities. UPC has gained scale in recent years by acquiring a number of its partner networks. The bid from the full-service provider Sunrise to acquire the operator was called off in late 2019. Although not a member of the EU, the countrys economic integration has meant that its telecom market deregulation has followed the EUs liberalisation framework, including the recent regulations on international voice roaming. The country benefits from universal DSL infrastructure and an expansive cable broadband network, with effective cross-platform competition. The DSL sector commands a diminishing share of the market, while that for fibre has increased rapidly. UPC Switzerland offers broadband in most cities and towns, and its gigabit service is now available across its footprint This network upgrade spurred Swisscom to intensify its VDSL, G.fast and FttP network rollouts in a bid to remain competitive. Swisscoms planned infrastructure investment over the coming years has been facilitated by cooperative deals struck with regional utility companies. The government has promoted technologies providing focus on ultra-fast broadband, and by the end of 2020 fixed-line networks are expected to deliver at least 100Mb/s to 85% of the population. The extension of mobile broadband services from Swisscom and Sunrise is being supported by the operators closing down 2G infrastructure and repurposing spectrum and physical assets for LTE and, in future, 5G use. Although there are about 2,000 5G-ready mobile antennae, the environment agency in late 2019 urged canton governments to halt 5G transmissions (though development in 5G infrastructure can continue) pending further checks on the health implications of radiofrequency radiation. This report presents an analysis of Switzerlands fixed-line telecom market, including an assessment of network infrastructure. It examines the regulatory environment and evaluates the strategies and performance of service providers including Swisscom, UPC Switzerland and Sunrise. The report also assesses the mobile market, including new technologies and profiles of the main operators. In addition, the report reviews the fixed and fixed-wireless broadband segments and the migration to a fibre-abased infrastructure. Subscriber forecasts to 2024 are provided covering a range of services. Key developments: Environment agency concerns of 5G tower radiation results in halt of services;

Sunrise expands the reach of its 5G network;

Fine against Swisscom for unfair DSL pricing confirmed by Federal Supreme Court;

Salt extends the reach of its FttP footprint via Swiss Fibre deal;

Regulator concludes multi-spectrum auction for 5G services;

Sunrise and Swisscom to switch off 2G infrastructure;

Swisscom and Ericsson trial 10Gb/s 5G;

Federal Council adopts changes to Telecommunications Act;

Swisscom deploys LoRa networks;

Regulatory measures eliminate FttP network duplication, increase minimum internet speed on Swisscom's USO;

UPC Switzerland extends gigabit services across its footprint;

Report update includes the regulator's market data for 2018, telcos' operating and financial data to Q4 2019, Telecom Maturity Index charts and analyses; recent market developments. Companies mentioned in this report: Swisscom, Salt (Orange Switzerland), Sunrise, UPC Switzerland, Swiss Digital Henry Lancaster

February 2020 Table of Contents Key statistics

Regional European Market Comparison Europe Telecom Maturity Index by tier Market Leaders Market Challengers Market Emergents TMI versus GDP Mobile and mobile broadband penetration Fixed versus mobile broadband penetration

Country overview

Telecommunications market Market analysis Government ICT strategy

Regulatory environment Historical overview Regulatory authorities Fixed-line developments Telecom sector liberalisation Telecommunications Act Privatisation Interconnect Leased lines Access Bitstream access Number Portability (NP) Carrier PreSelection (CPS) Universal Service Obligation (USO) Fixed broadband developments Regulatory measures Network sharing Network Neutrality Mobile network developments Spectrum regulations Digital dividend spectrum Spectrum auction - 2012 Spectrum auction  2019 Mobile Number Portability (MNP) Mobile termination Rates (MTRs) Roaming

Mobile market Market analysis Mobile statistics Mobile infrastructure 5G 4G (LTE) 3G GSM Other infrastructure developments Mobile voice Mobile data SMS and MMS Mobile broadband Major mobile operators Swisscom Mobile Sunrise Salt Mobile Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) Mobile Virtual Network Enablers (MVNEs) Mobile content and applications m-Music Location-based services m-ticketing m-commerce Train network

Fixed-line broadband market Introduction and statistical overview Market analysis Broadband statistics Fixed-line broadband technologies Hybrid Fibre Coax (HFC) networks Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) networks Fibre-to-the-Premises (FttP) networks Other fixed broadband services Fixed wireless

Fixed network operators Overview of the national telecom network Swisscom Sunrise UPC Switzerland Swiss Digital

Telecommunications infrastructure Overview of the national telecom network LoRa network VoIP Smart infrastructure Smart cities

Digital economy e-government e-economy e-health

Appendix  Historic data

Related reports

List of Tables Table 1  Top Level Country Statistics and Telco Authorities  Switzerland  2019 (e)

Table 2  Developent of telecom market revenue, profit and investment  2009  2018

Table 3  Change in telecom market revenue by sector  2009  2018

Table 4  Development of telecom investment by sector  2009  2018

Table 5  Change in interconnection revenue  2009 - 2018

Table 6  Growth in the number of fully unbundled lines  2008  2019

Table 7  Growth in the number of bitstream access lines  2014  2017

Table 8  Decline in the number of fixed numbers ported  2009  2018

Table 9  Decline in the number of Call by Call and CPS lines  2009  2018

Table 10  Change in the number of mobile numbers ported and proportion to total  2009  2018

Table 11  Development of mobile roaming revenue by service  2013  2018

Table 12  Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration rate  2009  2024

Table 13  Change in mobile market revenue  2009  2018

Table 14  Change in mobile sector investment (UMTS and total)  2009  2018

Table 15  Change in the market share of mobile subscribers by MNO  2009  2018

Table 16  Decline in the number of prepaid subscribers and market share  2009  2018

Table 17  Fall in the proportion Swisscom Mobile prepaid share to total  2009  2019

Table 18  Development of geographic coverage by mobile technology  2010  2018

Table 19  Change in the number of 3G mobile subscribers  2010  2017

Table 20  Growth in the number of M2M connections  2014  2017

Table 21  Decline in SMS traffic  2009  2018

Table 22  Decline in MMS traffic  2009  2018

Table 23  Mobile internet subscribers by technology  2009  2018

Table 24  Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration  2009  2024

Table 25  Growth in mobile data traffic  2008  2018

Table 26  Decline in Swisscom Mobile blended ARPU  2006  2019

Table 27  Decline in Swisscom Mobiles retail mobile revenue  2009  2019

Table 28  Change in Swisscom Mobiles subscribers by type  2006  2019

Table 29  Change in the number of Sunrises mobile subscribers  2011  2019

Table 30  Development of Sunrises mobile revenue (CHF)  2009  2019

Table 31  Development of Sunrises mobile revenue by quarter (CHF)  2012  2019

Table 32  Decline in Sunrises mobile ARPU  2011  2019

Table 33  Development of Salt Mobiles financial data (CHF)  2010  2019

Table 34  Fall in Salt Mobiles subscribers  2009  2019

Table 35  Growth in the number of UPC Switzerlands mobile subscribers  2016  2019

Table 36  Change in MVNOs market share of mobile subscribers  2008  2018

Table 37  Decline in the number of dial-up internet subscribers  2009  2018

Table 38  Growth in the number of fixed-line broadband subscribers and penetration  2009  2024

Table 39  Change in the number of fixed broadband subscribers by platform  2009  2018

Table 40  Change in fixed-line broadband market share by platform  2009  2018

Table 41  Fixed-line broadband market share by operator  2008  2018

Table 42  Development of fixed-line broadband penetration by platform  2004  2018

Table 43  Change in the number of fixed broadband connections by rate  2008  2018

Table 44  Change in the proportion of broadband connections by rate  2008  2018

Table 45  Change in the number of cable broadband subscribers  2009  2018

Table 46  Change in the number of UPC Switzerland broadband subscribers  2007  2019

Table 47  Decline in the number of DSL accesses  2009  2018

Table 48  Growth in the number of Swisscoms fixed broadband subscribers  2009  2019

Table 49  Growth in the number of Sunrises fixed broadband subscribers  2009  2019

Table 50  Development of Sunrises broadband and TV revenue  2016  2019

Table 51  Change in the number of VDSL accesses  2009  2019

Table 52  Growth in the number of fibre connections by type  2009  2017

Table 53  Growth in the number of fibre subscribers  2007  2018

Table 54  Growth in the number of WiMAX broadband subscribers  2012  2017

Table 55  Change in the number of satellite broadband and telephony subscribers  2014  2017

Table 56  Change in the market share of fixed-line subscribers by operator  2007  2018

Table 57  Development of fixed-network revenue  2009  2017

Table 58  Development of Swisscom Groups financial data  2009  2019

Table 59  Development of Swisscoms domestic financial data by sector  2007  2019

Table 60  Change in the number of Swisscoms domestic fixed-voice, mobile, IPTV subscribers  2008  2019

Table 61  Development of Sunrises revenue by service (CHF)  2009  2019

Table 62  Change in the number of Sunrises subscribers by sector  2009  2019

Table 63  Development of UPC Switzerlands financial data  2007  2019

Table 64  Change in the number of UPC Switzerland broadband and telephony subscribers  2007  2019

Table 65  Change in the number of Swiss Digitals subscribers by service  2009  2018

Table 66  Change in the number of fixed lines in service and teledensity  2009  2024

Table 67  PSTN lines in service  2007  2017

Table 68  Decline in fixed line traffic by type  2009  2017

Table 69  Decline in the number of ISDN subscribers by type  2009  2017

Table 70  Increase in the number of VoIP connections  2009  2018

Table 71  Historic - Telecom market revenue, profit and investment 1998  2009

Table 72  Historic - Telecom market revenue by sector  1998  2009

Table 73  Historic - Telecom investment by sector  1998  2009

Table 74  Historic - Interconnection revenue  2000 - 2009

Table 75  Historic - Call by Call and CPS lines  1999  2008

Table 76  Historic - Mobile numbers ported  2000  2009

Table 77  Mobile termination charges by operator  2006; 2009  2011

Table 78  Mobile termination charges by operator  2016  2019

Table 79  Historic - Mobile subscribers and penetration rate  1995; 1997; 1999  2009

Table 80  Mobile market revenue  2000  2009

Table 81  Historic - Mobile sector investment, UMTS and total  1998  2009

Table 82  Historic - Share of subscribers by MNO  2003  2009

Table 83  Historic - Prepaid subscribers and market share  1998  2009

Table 84  Historic - Swisscom Mobile prepaid share of subscribers  1998  2009

Table 85  Historic - Swisscom Mobile SMS and MMS traffic  2007  2014

Table 86  Historic - SMS traffic  2002  2009

Table 87  Historic - MMS traffic  2003  2009

Table 88  Historic - Swisscom Mobile retail revenue  2003  2009

Table 89  Historic - Sunrise mobile subscribers  2004  2010

Table 90  Historic - Sunrise revenue and annual change (DKK)  2006  2010

Table 91  Historic  Salt mobile revenue (), annual change  2005  2011

Table 92  Historic - Salt mobile subscribers  2000  2009

Table 93  Historic - Salt ARPU  2006  2011

Table 94  Historic - Salt mobile data as percentage of revenue  2003  2011

Table 95  Dial-up internet subscribers  2000  2009

Table 96  Historic - Internet users and penetration rate  1996  2015

Table 97  Historic - Fixed-line broadband subscribers and penetration  2000  2009

Table 98  Historic- Fixed-line broadband market share by platform  2003  2009

Table 99  Historic - DSL market share by operator  2006  2016

Table 100  Historic - DSL accesses  2000  2009

Table 101  Historic - Cable broadband subscribers  2000  2009

Table 102  Historic - Swiss Digital broadband and telephony subscribers  2003  2009

Table 103  Historic - UPC Switzerland financial data  2005  2009

Table 104  Historic - DSL/fibre accesses by main provider  2004  2016

Table 105  Historic - DSL/fibre market share by main provider  2004  2016

Table 106  Historic - Swisscom broadband subscribers  2003  2009

Table 107  Historic - Fibre connections by type  2003  2009

Table 108  Historic - BPL broadband subscribers  2008  2016

Table 109  Historic - Wi-Fi hotspots in service  2008  2016

Table 110  Historic - Fixed-network revenue  2000  2009

Table 111  Historic - Swisscom Group net revenue, EBITDA and net income  2004  2009

Table 112  Historic - Sunrise financial data (DKK)  2006  2010

Table 113  Historic - Sunrise revenue by type (DKK)  2006  2009

Table 114  Historic - Sunrise subscribers by sector  2005  2009

Table 115  Historic - Swiss Digitals subscribers by service  2003  2009

Table 116  Historic - Fixed lines in service and teledensity  1997; 1999  2009

Table 117  Historic - ISDN subscribers  1999  2009

Table 118  Historic - VoIP connections  2004  2009



Chart 1  Europe Telecoms Maturity Index  Market Leaders (top tier)

Chart 2  Europe Telecoms Maturity Index  Market Challengers (middle tier)

Chart 3  Europe Telecoms Maturity Index  Market Emergents (bottom tier)

Chart 4  Overall view - Telecoms Maturity Index vs GDP per Capita

Chart 5  Europe - mobile subscriber penetration vs mobile broadband penetration

Chart 6  Scandinavia and Baltics: mobile subscriber penetration vs mobile broadband penetration

Chart 7  Northern Europe mobile subscriber penetration vs mobile broadband penetration

Chart 8  Southern Europe mobile subscriber penetration vs mobile broadband penetration

Chart 9  Eastern Europe mobile subscriber penetration vs mobile broadband penetration

Chart 11  Northern Europe fixed and mobile broadband penetration

Chart 12  Southern Europe fixed and mobile broadband penetration

Chart 13  Eastern Europe fixed and mobile broadband penetration

Chart 14  Development of telecom market revenue, profit and investment  2009  2018

Chart 15  Change in telecom market revenue by sector  2009  2018

Chart 16  Development of telecom investment by sector  2009  2018

Chart 17  Change in interconnection revenue  2009 - 2018

Chart 18  Growth in the number of fully unbundled lines  2008  2019

Chart 19  Decline in the number of fixed numbers ported  2009  2018

Chart 20  Decline in the number of Call by Call and CPS lines  2009  2018

Chart 21  Change in the number of mobile numbers ported and proportion to total  2009  2018

Chart 22  Development of mobile roaming revenue by service  2013  2018

Chart 23  Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration rate  2009  2024

Chart 24  Change in mobile market revenue  2009  2018

Chart 25  Change in mobile sector investment (UMTS and total)  2009  2018

Chart 26  Change in the market share of mobile subscribers by MNO  2009  2018

Chart 27  Decline in the number of prepaid subscribers and market share  2009  2018

Chart 28  Fall in the proportion Swisscom Mobile prepaid share to total  2009  2019

Chart 29  Development of geographic coverage by mobile technology  2010  2018

Chart 30  Change in SMS and MMS traffic  2009  2018

Chart 31  Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration  2009  2024

Chart 32  Growth in mobile data traffic  2008  2018

Chart 33  Decline in Swisscom Mobile blended ARPU  2006  2019

Chart 34  Decline in Swisscom Mobiles retail mobile revenue  2009  2019

Chart 35  Change in Swisscom Mobiles subscribers by type  2006  2019

Chart 36  Change in the number of Sunrises mobile subscribers  2011  2019

Chart 37  Development of Sunrises mobile revenue (CHF)  2009  2019

Chart 38  Decline in Sunrises mobile ARPU  2011  2019

Chart 39  Development of Salt Mobiles financial data (CHF)  2010  2019

Chart 40  Fall in Salt Mobiles subscribers  2009  2019

Chart 41  Change in MVNOs market share of mobile subscribers  2007  2018

Chart 42  Decline in the number of dial-up internet subscribers  2009  2018

Chart 43  Growth in the number of fixed-line broadband subscribers and penetration  2009  2024

Chart 44  Change in the number of fixed broadband subscribers by platform  2009  2018

Chart 45  Change in fixed-line broadband market share by platform  2009  2018

Chart 46  Development of fixed-line broadband market share by operator  2008  2018

Chart 47  Change in the number of fixed broadband connections by rate  2008  2018

Chart 48  Change in the proportion of broadband connections by rate  2008  2018

Chart 49  Change in the number of Swiss Digitals broadband and telephony subscribers  2009  2018

Chart 50  Growth in the number of Swisscoms fixed broadband subscribers  2009  2019

Chart 51  Growth in the number of Sunrises fixed broadband subscribers  2005  2019

Chart 52  Change in the number of VDSL accesses  2009  2019

Chart 53  Growth in the number of fibre connections by type  2009  2017

Chart 54  Change in the market share of fixed-line subscribers by operator  2007  2018

Chart 55  Development of fixed-network revenue  2009  2017

Chart 56  Development of Swisscom Groups financial data  2009  2019

Chart 57  Development of Swisscoms domestic financial data by sector  2007  2019

Chart 58  Change in the number of Swisscoms domestic fixed-voice, mobile, IPTV subscribers  2008  2019

Chart 59  Development of Sunrises revenue by service (CHF)  2009  2019

Chart 60  Change in the number of Sunrises subscribers by sector  2009  2019

Chart 61  Development of UPC Switzerlands financial data  2007  2019

Chart 62  Change in the number of UPC Switzerland broadband and telephony subscribers  2007  2019

Chart 63  Change in the number of Swiss Digitals subscribers by service  2009  2018

Chart 64  Change in the number of fixed lines in service and teledensity  2009  2024

Chart 65  Decline in fixed line traffic by type  2009  2017

Chart 66  Decline in the number of ISDN subscribers by type  2009  2017

Chart 67  Increase in the number of VoIP connections  2009  2018 List of Exhibits

Exhibit 1  Generalised Market Characteristics by Market Segment

Exhibit 2  Access and the local loop

Exhibit 3  Mobile spectrum auction  2012

Exhibit 4  Mobile spectrum auction  2019

Exhibit 5  Decline in MTRs (CHF / minute)  2016 - 2019

Read the full report: https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Switzerland-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses Nicolas Bombourg [email protected] Within Australia (02) 8076 7665 Outside Australia +44 207 097 1241

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Masks may stop infected patients spreading the virus. Coronavirus sufferers should 'self isolate' by staying indoors as much as possible. (Getty Images)

The coronavirus outbreak is making headlines all over the world.

News of rising numbers of patients and deaths is leaving many people anxious that they may also catch the infection.

To help the public stay up-to-date on all they need to know, Yahoo UK has answered the most common coronavirus questions.

What is the coronavirus?

Coronaviruses are not new, but the ongoing outbreak is a new strain.

Strains are generally defined as subtype of a particular virus or bacteria, and other coronavirus strains can cause the common cold.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars) is also a coronavirus. It killed 774 people during its 2002/3 outbreak.

Another is Middle East respiratory syndrome (Mers), which killed 858 people in 2012.

The new strain  the COVID-19 virus  is thought to have come from a seafood and live animal market in the Chinese city of Wuhan, capital of Hubei province, at the end of 2019.

The market sold a range of dead and live animals, including chickens, hedgehogs, snakes and donkeys.

Most of those who initially became ill worked at, or visited, the market.

Close contact with animals may have caused the virus to jump into humans.

Some scientists believe the strain may have started in bats, before jumping into snakes or the scaly anteater pangolins, and then infecting humans.

What are the symptoms?

Four out of five people who catch the coronavirus have mild symptoms.

These include fever, cough and a loss to the sense of smell or taste.

Some have also complained of a runny or stuffy nose, as well as sneezing, slight breathlessness, fatigue and a sore throat.

Others develop diarrhoea and aches and pains.

Some patients have reported discolouration of their fingers and toes, as well as sore, pink eyes.

Headaches, nausea and vomiting are not common signs of the infection.

In severe cases, patients develop pneumonia.

This occurs when an infection of the airways spreads to the air sacs in the lungs, causing them to become inflamed and filled with fluid or pus.

Story continues

Breathlessness is a common symptom of pneumonia, with some patients requiring hospital care.

How do coronavirus symptoms compare to hay fever?

Coughing is a common symptom of both the coronavirus and hay fever.

An allergy to pollen only sometimes triggers shortness of breath, however.

A raised temperature does not commonly occur with hay fever, despite its name.

Sneezing is a common symptom of hay fever, but only sometimes comes about with the coronavirus.

The coronavirus and hay fever both commonly cause fatigue and a loss of smell or taste.

Despite all their symptom similarities, the coronavirus and hay fever also have marked differences.

Aches and pains do not occur with hay fever, but are sometimes reported with the coronavirus.

Hay fever does not cause diarrhoea, whereas some coronavirus sufferers have complained of loose bowels. Research suggests the virus may spread in faeces.

Headaches are common during spring for those with hay fever, but do not generally occur in coronavirus patients.

Some people with the coronavirus develop a sore throat, which is uncommon with hay fever.

In reverse, a runny or stuffy nose is a common hay fever complaint, but not with the coronavirus.

A florist wears a mask in Carballino, Spain. (Getty Images)

What should I do if I think I have the coronavirus?

UK officials are urging people who develop the coronavirus tell-tale fever, cough or loss of smell or taste to self-isolate entirely at home for seven days.

Other members of their household must do the same for 14 days.

These individuals should avoid leaving the house even to buy food or essentials.

They may exercise if they keep a safe distance, two metres (6.5ft), from others.

Those who live alone and develop symptoms, even if mild, have been told to self-isolate for seven days.

People with suspected or confirmed coronavirus who live with others should stay in a different room and sleep alone, if possible.

They would also ideally use their own bathroom, and avoid pets and other animals.

Patients may need to see a doctor but should call ahead, letting them know they could have the coronavirus.

The medic can then take steps to prevent others catching the infection.

Government officials have also asked suspected patients to not call the non-emergency number NHS 111 if they have symptoms due to the service being under strain.

Information can be found on the NHS website and 111 online.

The government states you can call 111 if your symptoms worsen, or have not improved, during or after isolation. Those without internet access can also call.

In an emergency, dial 999, letting the operator known you may have the coronavirus.

If they have to be around others, patients should wear a mask.

Some find masks make breathing difficult. In this case, the people around the patient should wear masks when in the same room.

Patients should cough or sneeze into a tissue that immediately gets thrown away into its own bin bag.

These should be double bagged, tied securely and kept in the same room as the patient for at least 72 hours before being added to other household waste, which can be disposed of as normal.

Washing hands regularly with soap and water, or a sanitiser with at least 60% alcohol, is important to protect others from infection.

Hands should be washed for around 20 seconds, or the time it takes to sing Happy Birthday twice.

Do this after sneezing or coughing, before preparing or eating food, and after using the toilet.

It is also important not to share dishes, drinking glasses, cutlery, towels or bedding.

Bedding and dirty clothes can be washed as normal with other laundry items. Dirty laundry should not be shook as this may disperse the virus.

For those without a washing machine, wait a further 72 hours after a seven-day isolation before taking items to the laundrette.

Surfaces that are touched often  kitchen counters, doorknobs, phones and keyboards  should be disinfected regularly with a household cleaner.

What is the latest government advice?

The government is advising people to avoid infection by following the above instructions, particularly when it comes to hand-washing and social distancing.

People with serious underlying health issues  like severe asthmatics or blood-cancer patients  have been told to self-isolate entirely for three months.

For everyone else, officials are urging they avoid using the NHS unless they absolutely have to.

Most people who are becoming seriously ill are elderly or already have an illness.

If you know a vulnerable person, call them to check how they are feeling.

For those awaiting a non-emergency NHS operation, procedures in England will be postponed from 15 April for at least three months.

Even Britons not with suspected symptoms had been told to stay indoors, however, restrictions have recently been relaxed in England.

Those who cannot work from home are now actively encouraged to return to their job.

Workers should avoid public transport if possible due to difficulties with social distancing. Face coverings are mandatory on buses, trains and tubes in England.

People are permitted to meet up outside with six people from other households, providing they maintain social distancing.

Britons can also now take unlimited exercise, rather than being active just once a day.

People in England are also free to sit in parks and play outdoor sports with members of their household.

As part of the NHS test, trace and isolate system, anyone in England with coronavirus symptoms can request a test.

If positive, they are contacted and asked who they have spent more than 15 minutes with at a distance of less than two metres.

They are also asked who they have had sex with, live with and had face to face conversations with.

Contact details are then requested for the individuals the patient was close to between two days before, and up to seven days after, their symptoms emerged.

These individuals are asked to self-isolate for 14 days, regardless of whether they have symptoms.

Where can I get more information?

Rather than call NHS 111, check its website for more information.

The government has released stay at home guidance for those with a suspected or confirmed infection.

The NHS has more information on how the virus spreads, mainly via cough and sneezes.

Britons can also learn how the government plans to tackle the virus in its action plan.

Coronavirus: what happened today

Read more about COVID-19

How to get a coronavirus test if you have symptoms

How easing of lockdown rules affects you

In pictures: How UK school classrooms could look in new normal

How public transport could look after lockdown

How our public spaces will change in the future

Help and advice

Read the full list of official FAQs here

10 tips from the NHS to help deal with anxiety

What to do if you think you have symptoms

How to get help if you've been furloughed
A Turkish military convoy drives near the Syrian town of Kefraya on the highway linking the northwestern Syrian province of Idlib to the Bab al-Hawa border crossing with Turkey. AFP Photo

Ankara: Turkey urged Russia on Wednesday to deal with alleged violations of a week-old ceasefire by Syrian government forces in Idlib, the last bastion of resistance to President Bashar al-Assad.

"Although there are only small incidents here and there, the ceasefire has started to be violated," said President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who backs some rebel groups in Idlib.

"We are sharing these developments with Russia... and expect them to take measures." Erdogan agreed a truce last week with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, who supports government forces, but previous deals have proved temporary.

Turkey launched a military operation in Syria after more than 50 of its soldiers were killed in Idlib last month.

Defence Minister Hulusi Akar said talks were proceeding "in a constructive fashion" with Russia to launch joint patrols along the key M4 road in Idlib on Sunday, as agreed under the ceasefire deal.

As well as supporting some rebel groups, Turkey set up military observation posts in Idlib under a 2018 deal with Russia aimed at preventing a regime assault.

"We signed the temporary ceasefire in Moscow. The matter now is to turn this ceasefire into a permanent one. We are chasing this speedily now. Once we are done with it, we will have an easier task," Erdogan said.

"In the face of the smallest attack (on our posts), we will not only retaliate, but we will respond much more heavily." Damascus, backed by Iranian troops and Russian air strikes, has been fighting to retake Idlib since December, pushing close to a million civilians northwards towards Turkey's border.

Turkey already hosts some four million refugees, and has called for greater assistance from Europe and its NATO partners in dealing with the crisis.
Despite a sharp decline in M&A activity in 2019 and continuing economic uncertainty, more than half of the executives surveyed by Deloitte still expect to complete an M&A transaction in the next two years.

Carriers still view alliances, investments and acquisitions as attractive options to help grow their product portfolio, expand their digital capabilities, and improve customer experiences and their bottom line, according to Deloittes 2020 Insurance M&A Outlook. However, potential buyers are more likely to make a number of smaller deals to address specific needs than to apply a majority of their resources against one large, cure-all deal, Deloitte said.

There were 38 P/C insurer M&As in 2019, a decrease of 38 percent from 2018. The aggregate value of those deals was $5.8 billion, a sharp decline (83 percent) from $34.1 billion the previous year. There was also a sharp decrease in deals above $1 billion, with only two announced in 2019 compared with eight in the same period of 2018.

Deloitte said the decline in deal number and value was driven, in part, by hardening rates in the sector, which has caused carriers to concentrate on organic growth. Additionally, industry leaders said there was a lack of alignment between sellers and buyers in 2019, as the sellers expected to receive deal premiums based on 2018 experience, when the organic growth opportunities were low. Deloitte expects that 2020 insurance M&A results will be similar, especially if the projected economic downturn gets pushed further out or the political landscape stabilizes in the second half of the year.

Among the years notable deals, Tokio Marine Holdings agreed to buy U.S. high-net-worth insurer Privilege Underwriters and its specialty insurance subsidiaries, known as Pure Group, for $3.1 billion, and American Family Insurance acquired Ameriprise Auto & Home for $1.1 billion.

Global investment in InsurTechs continued to surge through the first three quarters of 2019, setting a record of $3.26 billion with a full quarter still to go. Insurers only accounted for about a quarter of the investment, Deloitte said, with the majority coming from venture capital funds and other outside parties. While new startup launches have slowed, funding continues to flow to support more proven players, Deloitte noted.

Last year saw two major deals where carriers acquired InsurTechs: Prudential Insurances acquisition of online insurance startup Assurance IQ for $2.35 billion and Aons announced acquisition of CoverWallet for close to $300 million.

Among Deloittes advice for insurers considering M&A in 2020:

Assess product and service portfolios to determine whats core and whats not, whats performing well and whats not, and whether investments are working hard and delivering expected value. Acquisitions and alliances can help carriers diversify their product and customer base, expand their market footprint, and gain scale.

Traditional insurers looking to both streamline legacy processes and introduce disruptive innovations that might differentiate them in an increasingly customer-centric economy should consider collaborating with or even acquiring InsurTechs. These startups are more likely to exhibit the technological expertise, entrepreneurial spirit and out-of-the-box thinking many insurers may lack.

Insurers need to focus more on post-deal integration if they want to maximum value from M&A. Its not all about financial due diligence. Insurers must also consider: Will the acquisition be absorbed into the larger organization or be left alone to run itself? What organizational and operating model changes may be needed to accommodate new people, processes and technologies? How can the newly combined company retain top talent and develop a culture conducive to growth?

Insurers must be aware of regulatory actions, such as the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), which became effective Jan. 1, 2020. Though CCPA is the first major piece of data privacy legislation in the United States, carriers should be prepared for other potential state-level privacy regulations. Insurers need to know exactly where data about specific consumers is stored, how complete and accurate it is, and how it is used and protected. Maintaining vigilance is particularly critical during post-deal integration, when records for existing and newly acquired customers may be merged in a central repository.

U.S. insurers are still struggling with implementing provisions of the 2017 Tax Act, and the 2020 elections could lead to another round of substantial tax changes. Carriers should monitor relevant legislative developments, continue to review changes to their tax profiles and strategically think through tax opportunities in relationship to potential M&A transactionsboth in the United States and other jurisdictions.

See the full Deloitte report: 2020 Insurance M&A Outlook: Pursuing Growth Amid Uncertainty.
The northern side of Chatuchak Weekend Market feels a bit like Noah has hit hard times and decided to offload the entire contents of his Ark. In wooden cages, bright-plumed fighting cocks squawk and peck. Around the corner are snakes in plastic takeout containers, prices scrawled on them in sharpie. Hairless squirrel kits snooze in a pile as a meerkat and giant iguana gaze on. A pygmy monkey leaps about with a furious scowl, perhaps indignant at the 30,000 baht ($950) price tag fixed to his enclosure. Across the narrow alleyway, a lynx prowls restlessly within its cage. Hes 250,000 baht [$7,900], says the heavily tattooed market trader. This one is only five years old, so will double in size. Hes a male but I have a female too.

Given the sheer number and variety of exotic creatures on sale at Chatuchak Weekend Market, youd think it was hidden in some jungle border town between failed states. In fact, its directly in the middle of the sprawling Thai capital of Bangkok. Chatuchak ranks number three on TripAdvisors list of top tourist attractions in the city, owing to its 15,000 stalls that hawk everything from bolts of silk to golden Buddha amulets and wooden furniture. Bangkok is already the worlds most visited city, and third most globally connected place in Asia, with an estimated 22.7 million international visitors in 2019. This is evidenced by the perspiring touristsmore than 60,000 each weekend day, according to estimatesthat throng Chatuchaks green-roofed labyrinth. They shop for spices, T-shirts and trinkets, but its easy to wander into the euphemistically named pet section.

From Bangkok, the holidaymakers jet off hometo a world still reeling from the COVID-19 virus outbreak that began in a live animal market in Chinas central city of Wuhan and has since spread globally, sickening nearly 118,00 and killing almost 4,300 people in what the WHO has now declared a global health emergency. The outbreak, a novel coronavirus which experts believed jumped from an unidentified animal to humans, has shone a spotlight on Chinas consumption of wild animals and penchant for warm meatthe term for animals that are transported live to markets and slaughtered to order.

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This handout photo shows a Royal Thai police officer holding a slow loris during a raid with wild life rescuer at the Chatuchak market in Bangkok on March 22, 2008. | AFP/Getty Images

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) emerged 17 years earlier from a market in Chinas Guangdong provinceon that occasion via civet catsand the Chinese combination of live, wild animals, poorly regulated animal husbandry and unsanitary butchery is a perfect storm for viruses to emerge, says Kevin Olival, an evolutionary biologist with NGO EcoHealth Alliance, who has been researching emerging pandemics for over a decade. Chinas government has taken note and introduced new regulations on the rearing and sale of exotic animals. (Though, given lax enforcement of previous curbs after SARS, only time will tell whether they hold up.)

Still, the pet section of Chatuchak market in Thailand is just one example, among many scattered around the region, that demonstrate the potential health risks are not just Chinese. Across Asia, lax regulations and poor enforcement can be readily exploited. In Chatuchak, traders say their animals were acquired lawfully, and many proffer documentation to prove it. But forgeries are easy to obtain and difficult to spot, says Steven Galster, founder of Bangkok-based wildlife conservation NGO Freeland. Its also tricky to prove whether papers truly correspond to specific animals.

According to Galster, who conducts regular inspections and raids at Chatuchak alongside Thai police, unscrupulous traders launder poached exotic animals alongside domestically farmed ones. Farms also like adding wild creatures to their breeding stock to widen the genetic pool. Galster says the same supply chains that fed Wuhan also provide animals other sleeping timebomb markets around the region. They are warm, crowded and just perfect for another disaster, says Galster. And we know its going to happen at some point.

According to Pongsakorn Kwanmuang, spokesman for the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), the exotic animal section of Chatuchak operates in a legal gray zone since it sits on land owned by the State Railway of Thailand. As such, and despite the absence of any discernible divide with the rest of the 27-acre market, The BMA has no authority over such property apart from those prescribed by the related local laws and regulations, which do not include the monitoring and policing the sale of exotic wildlife, says Pongsakorn, adding that the BMA regularly patrols, cleans and disinfects the sections of the market that fall under its jurisdiction. The State Railway of Thailand did not respond to requests for comment.

An employee walks past the closed Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market, which has been linked to cases of coronavirus, on Jan. 17, 2020 in Wuhan, Hubei province, China. Local authorities have confirmed that a second person in the city has died of a pneumonia-like virus since the outbreak started in December. | Getty Images

Another big risk is mixing live, wild animals with intensively reared livestock, as was done at Wuhans now-shuttered Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market, where COVID-19 is thought to have originated. Raising pigs, cows and chickens en masse makes it difficult to spot when one or two animals get sick, meaning infections can spread quickly and silently across a herd or flock. Experts say that demand for warm meat is one of the main reasons why diseases such as avian flu and African Swine Fever have proven so tricky to stamp out, given the huge movements of live animals all around and between countries.

In addition, studies suggest overuse of prophylactic antibioticsa common practice in modern intensive farming meant to prevent rather than treat diseasecan suppress animals immune systems, making them more susceptible to viral infections. In many of Asias live animal markets, blood, feces and other bodily secretions can mix freely. Melissa Nolan, an infectious disease expert and professor at the University of South Carolina, says she once observed a slaughter market in the Philippines where butchers stood ankle-deep in blood with just flip flops on. Under such circumstances, she adds, Theres so much potential for multiple different pathogens from a blood-borne and viral transmission perspective.

Such markets are common all over Asia, from Colombo to Kuala Lumpur and beyond. Live fish splash water from plastic tubs over neighboring live turtles and shellfish. Countertops are red with blood and guts brought forth by razor-sharp filleting knives. But while the presence of butchery at such markets adds another element of risk, pet markets like the one at Chatuchak are also problematic. Chaotic, cramped conditions weaken animals immune systems, producing an environment where viruses can mix, swap bits of genetic code and leap between species. In this way, they can present as much of a risk factor as markets where butchery takes place, according to Olival.

Keep up to date with our daily coronavirus newsletter by clicking here.

Housing together many different kinds of animalswild, domesticated and many not native to that particular localegives more opportunities for viruses to jump between species. SARS, for example, actually originated in batswhich tend to be riddled with pathogensthen jumped to civet cats, which acted as the amplifying host before making the jump to humans.

Such zoonotic pathogens have caused nearly every pandemic in human history, including the 1918 flu pandemic, which killed between 50 and 100 million people worldwide and began in birds. Then there are HIV, Nipah, West Nile, Ebola, and so on. Without closing down markets that host wild creatures, whether for consumption or as pets, Nolan says shes very confident that the next serious pandemic is just around the corner.

But even closing those markets would not be fool-proof. After all, every square meter of the planet hosts some 800 million viruses. Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) continues to crop up in the Middle East due to human contact with camels. Ending the consumption of unpasteurized camels milk would go a long way toward stemming the outbreaks, though only the culling of all 1.5 million camels on the Arabian peninsula would permanently solve the issue, says Prof. Michael Osterholm, an epidemiologist at the University of Minnesota. And that just isnt going to happen.

Ultimately, problems emerge wherever humans come into close contact with unfamiliar animal populations, which is fed by the destruction of natural habitats. It is believed the West African Ebola outbreak emerged when a child unwittingly ate something contaminated by the droppings of bats that nested in his village, possibly due to nearby deforestation. Outbreaks of Nipah viruswhich has a fatality rate of up to 75%are increasingly breaking out near date palm plantations because carrier bats love to sit in the trees. Lassa fever spreads via infected rats.

The next pandemic could even emerge in the U.S. While China is well known as the worlds top consumer of trafficked wildlife, less reported is the fact the U.S. is number two. Outside Denver, the National Wildlife Property Repository, run by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, is a 22,000 square foot warehouse teeming with ivory, tiger pelts and stuffed reptiles. But the service also deals with a large quantity of smuggled live animals. Indeed, a 2003 outbreak of monkeypox across six U.S. states was traced back to an illegal shipment of pouch rats and other rodents from Ghana to Texas for the exotic pet tradejust like the one carried on at Chatuchak.

So while banning the sale of wildlife, reducing the mass transportation of live animals, and ensuring high standards of butchery hygiene can all mitigate the possibility of another pandemic, there will always be a risk as long as people and animals mix. We cant get rid of the bats or abolish farms, says Osterholm. So the only choice we have is to develop vaccines that can protect people.

Please send any tips, leads, and stories to virus@time.com.
Wisconsin health officials have confirmed a third person in the state, and the second in Dane County, has tested positive for the COVID-19 coronavirus.

Officials with the state Department of Health Services and Public Health Madison and Dane County said Tuesday that the person was exposed while traveling in the United States and is being isolated at home. The incident is considered separate from the countys first case of COVID-19 last month.

On Monday, officials announced the states second case of COVID-19, in a Pierce County resident, who also was exposed while traveling within the United States and is isolated at home.

Health officials did not provide further details on the individuals or where they had traveled, but said they visited places with community spread of the disease.

Pierce and Dane counties are now doing contact tracing to determine who those patients have had contact with and determine if they, too, should be tested and isolated in order to contain the illness and prevent it from spreading further, State Health Officer Jeanne Ayers said. The news of new confirmed cases is not unexpected.

According to a statement from SSM Health in Madison, the second Dane County patient returned from traveling last weekend and reported symptoms consistent with COVID-19 and was directed to the nearest Dean Medical Group Urgent Care location. Results from UW-Madisons Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene came back positive on Monday.

Health care officials recommend anyone experiencing flu-like symptoms with a travel history to countries or states with active coronavirus outbreaks to call in advance before going to a clinic. Symptoms can be mild or severe and include fever, cough or shortness of breath.

The states first case of COVID-19, a Dane County resident, was released from isolation late last month after recovering and testing negative twice.

While we have a new person with coronavirus, the risk for getting sick from coronavirus remains low in Dane County, Janel Heinrich, director of Public Health Madison and Dane County, said in a statement.

However, state officials recommend residents avoid non-essential travel, especially to areas where the virus has been spreading, including Seattle, Washington; northern California; Florida and New York City.

Officials said the Pierce County patient attended an event at Osceola High School on Saturday before testing positive for the virus. Officials said the risk is low to those who attended the event.

The Osceola district was closed Tuesday as a precautionary measure for deep cleaning after the event, said Traci DeSalvo, chief of Wisconsins communicable diseases epidemiology section.

In response to the two confirmed cases of coronavirus in Dane County, the Madison School District has imposed a temporary restriction on any out-of-state travel for district staff and student events, including meetings, conferences and field trips.

UW-Milwaukee announced Tuesday that the universitys spring break starting March 15 would be extended an additional week. Faculty and staff are being asked to use the extra week to prepare to move the majority of classes online once spring break ends March 29.

The university also said a UW-Milwaukee Foundation employee was tested Monday for coronavirus at a local hospital, though test results will not be known until the end of the week. The employee worked in an office connected to a residence hall. Officials strongly discouraged any travel outside of Wisconsin through the end of the semester.

No state of emergency

State officials have said the disease has not reached the point where they needed to declare a public health emergency, which would direct more state funding to local health departments for costs related to quarantine and isolation of people who have or are suspected of having the disease.

Ayers said a potential tipping point would be the emergence of an unexplained case with no known point of contact, or a patient who is known to have had widespread contact with residents.

Thats on my list for one of the considerations that would trigger us to move to this level, Ayers said. At this point we want to say we know this is happening in the world, we know that this is happening in the country. We expect that this outbreak will reach Wisconsin, and when our conditions on the ground change, we will be asking for that kind of an emergency declaration.

Wisconsin last called a public health emergency in 2009, during the outbreak of H1N1, or swine flu.

Health officials have said the best way to combat the spread of the virus is through traditional respiratory disease prevention methods: wash your hands, dont touch your face, avoid shaking hands with others, cover coughs and sneezes, routinely clean surfaces, stay home when youre sick and get plenty of rest.

Wed like to just encourage the general sentiment in Wisconsin residents ... that were going to have to do things slightly differently if we want to minimize the impact, said Ryan Westergaard, chief medical officer of the Bureau of Communicable Disease. The particularly challenging thing about this virus is that many people, in fact the majority of people, who get infected are going to have minimal symptoms and are going to feel OK.

Election contingency plans

Anticipating what could happen in the weeks to come, Dane County Clerk Scott McDonell advised municipal clerks to update contingency plans for the April 7 spring election and presidential primary in case there is a shortage of poll workers, who tend to be older.

He also advised clerks to secure backup locations for roughly 10 polling stations located in health care facilities, which McDonell expects may close their doors to the public, and advised clerks to be alert for bad actors who might try to take advantage of chaotic or stressful situations.

Voters in high-risk groups, such as the elderly or those with chronic diseases, should request absentee ballots be mailed to them.

There is plenty of time for that, McDonell said.

The Wisconsin Elections Commission previously sent clerks CDC guidelines for preventing the spread of the disease.

Quarantine authority

State and local officials have broad authority to cancel local events and impose quarantines on individuals to stop the spread of the coronavirus, if necessary, although state health officials say they arent immediately planning such action.

Thats many steps down the road from where we are at at this point, Ayers said.

Its not clear whether authorities could impose a geographical quarantine. Still, the law is broad, giving local health officials the authority to promptly take all measures necessary to prevent, suppress and control communicable diseases.

Similarly, it gives the state Department of Health Services the authority to promulgate and enforce rules or issue orders for guarding against the introduction of any communicable diseases as well as for the quarantine and disinfection of persons, localities and things infected or suspected of being infected.

The department could, for example, set up surveillance and inspection systems to detect disease, close public places and forbid public gatherings.

Health officials could also order people to get vaccinations or require the isolation or quarantine of a person who is unable or unwilling to be vaccinated, although no vaccine for the new coronavirus has been approved or even tested yet. Health officials can also require the isolation of an infected person and quarantine his or her contacts, as well as hire guards to enforce a quarantine order.

Those who dont comply with quarantine orders could face fines or imprisonment.

In 2018, for example, a Waukesha County man quarantined to his home because of concerns about measles exposure was charged with a misdemeanor for violating public health orders after he left his home to go to the gym.

State Journal reporters Chris Hubbuch and Kelly Meyerhofer contributed to this report.
GEORGETOWN, Guyana - Several Caribbean prime ministers travelled to Guyana on Wednesday to try to help resolve an election crisis in the South American country, where rival factions are competing for control of massive oil revenues expected in years to come.

The 15-nation Caribbean Community was intervening in a dispute that erupted after March 2 elections in which both of the main political groups claimed victory, prompting street unrest in which at least one person was killed.

The political instability comes as the country of fewer than 1 million people faces the prospect that oil revenues in the next decade could make it one of the wealthiest in the hemisphere.

The delegation will meet with the leadership of all parties that contested the poll, the Community said in a statement.

The regional bloc said its delegation includes current chair and Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley, Keith Rowley of Trinidad and Tobago, Keith Mitchell of Grenada, Roosevelt Skerrit of Dominica and Ralph Gonsalves of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

The governing coalition led by retired army Gen. David Granger said it won the elections by two seats in the 65-seat parliament, while the main opposition Peoples Progressive Party, or PPP, said it won by three seats.

The factions are mainly divided along ethnic lines, with Grangers coalition supported by the Afro-Guyanese population and the PPP opposition backed by the Indo-Guyanese community. There is also a smaller number of indigenous Guyanese.

A court was expected to rule this week on the election, whose results have yet to be formally announced.

The dispute had led to street protests, mostly by opposition supporters, in the past week. Police shot and killed a coastal village teenager who they said had attacked officers with a machete. Several others were injured by shotgun pellets. Other protesters burned tires, blocked highways and threw stones at school buses, injuring several students.

Both sides have appealed for calm. The protests have faded for now.

The United States and other Western nations have warned against the swearing-in of any president pending court challenges and verification of ballots. Counting and verification of ballots have been stopped since March 5.

U.S. and other observers saw flawed tabulation in the election and any government sworn in on the basis of that result would not be legitimate, according to Michael Kozak, the U.S. State Departments acting assistant secretary of state for Western hemisphere affairs.

This years elections have been widely viewed as the most crucial since independence from Britain in 1966, largely because the country is one of the worlds newest producers of oil and could earn billions in revenues.

Guyana recently sold its first million barrels to markets in the Far East and southern U.S. states. It will get four more similar sized shipments this year worth about $300 million as part of production-sharing arrangements with a consortium led by ExxonMobil, along with Hess Oil of the US and Nexen of China.
She's the Married At First Sight intruder known for her flawless figure.

And KC Osborne showcased her enviable frame in a yellow string bikini while posing for selfies in Surfers Paradise on Friday.

The 31-year-old dance instructor wasn't afraid to leave her $2,400 Louis Vuitton purse at the beach as she went for a stroll.

Picture perfect! Married At First Sight intruder KC Osborne showcased her enviable frame in a yellow string bikini while posing for selfies in Surfers Paradise on Friday

She arrived at the tourist hotspot in a loose white T-shirt and sarong-style mini skirt, before stripping down to her skimpy swimwear.

She accessorised with a silver bracelet and $150 Ray-Ban sunglasses, and also flaunted a set of perfectly manicured nails.

KC avoided straying too far into the water because she didn't want to ruin her makeup, and instead took photos on the shoreline.

Expensive accessory: The 31-year-old dancer instructor wasn't afraid to leave her $2,400 Louis Vuitton purse at the beach as she went for a stroll

Wow! KC is known for her flawless figure and striking resemblance to actress Kate Beckinsale

Doing it for the 'gram! KC avoided straying too far into the water because she didn't want to ruin her makeup, and instead took photos on the shoreline

She was on the Gold Coast for a guest appearance at the Sin City nightclub, which has previously hosted MAFS stars including Tash Herz and Jessika Power.

But KC shouldn't get used to lucrative public appearances just yet, as this year's cast may be forced to return to their day jobs.

Daily Mail Australia understands that some of the brides are 'worried' about their low Instagram followings and lack of interest from sponsors.

It's getting hot in here! She arrived at the tourist hotspot in a loose white T-shirt and sarong-style mini skirt, before stripping down to her skimpy swimwear

Statistics show last year's MAFS cast had tens of thousands more followers by this stage in the experiment, proving that viewers are no longer as invested in the franchise as they once were.

An insider told Daily Mail Australia: 'Several cast members quit their jobs and have been banking on making it as influencers, certain it would happen overnight.

'They expected to have a lot more followers than they do, and are now concerned they won't get enough to sustain a full-time living through sponsored posts.'

Beach day! She wore a silver bracelet and also flaunted a set of perfectly manicured nails

Cathy Evans is the only participant to have more than 100,000 followers as the show enters its sixth week, while just five of her co-stars have more than 50,000.

In comparison, by week six of last year's season, many had passed the 100,000 mark, including Jessika Power and Martha Kalifatidis.

Ironically, this is the first year Channel Nine has relaxed its rules on cast sponsorship deals, with half of them having already signed with agents.

Trendy: KC looked every inch the Hollywood star in Ray-Ban sunglasses worth $150

While there is still potential for the most memorable stars to make some easy money, it's doubtful they will have lasting careers.

'The biggest names will earn around $3,000 for each nightclub appearance in the next month or so because there's still a buzz around the show,' said a source.

'But once the bookings dry up and everyone moves on to the next reality show, that's when they'll need huge followings on Instagram to secure enough sponsored posts each week to pay the bills. But it looks like they're not going to achieve that.'
Mr Varadkar will take part in the annual Ireland Funds gala dinner in the US capital tonight. Photo: Gareth Chaney, Collins

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar is due in Washington today to begin a brief St Patrick's Day programme that has already been disrupted by the coronavirus crisis.

Mr Varadkar was due in New York yesterday to hold a series of meetings related to Ireland's bid for a place on the UN Security Council. However, his plans were cancelled to allow him to deal with the outbreak in Ireland.

New York is one of the worst-affected areas in the US with more confirmed cases than any other state.

The lobbying for the Security Council spot was due to continue nonetheless last night with UN ambassadors invited to the opening night of the 'Riverdance 25th Anniversary Show' at Radio City Music Hall.

Mr Varadkar will take part in the annual Ireland Funds gala dinner in the US capital tonight. Tomorrow he is due to meet President Donald Trump at the White House after a breakfast meeting with Vice-President Mike Pence. Mr Varadkar will then attend a lunch hosted by Nancy Pelosi on Capitol Hill before returning to the White House for the traditional shamrock presentation. Mr Trump is reportedly boycotting the lunch.
(Repeats for wider distribution with no changes to text)

By Indranil Sarkar

March 10 (Reuters) - Online video interviews increasingly being used by major recruiters seem to be the perfect answer to the disruption caused by coronavirus, but there is a catch: many senior-level positions still require a face-to-face meeting before the final handshake.

Recruiters PageGroup and Robert Walters as well as global tech giants Google, Amazon, Facebook and Microsoft owned LinkedIn have said they were moving job interviews and other interactions online in response to the outbreak. The epidemic may have even made part of the recruiters' job simpler.

"It was actually easier to get hold of many clients because they were at home, bored and on the end of a mobile phone than it was when they were in meetings, walking factories or flying somewhere," PageGroup Chief Executive Steve Ingham told reporters last week while presenting its annual results.

However, without that final face-to-face interview to seal the deal and fill the advertised position, recruiters may not be able to cash in fees that can reach $100,000 or higher for senior banking jobs, and roughly half of that for senior accountants.

That, together with concerns the fallout of the epidemic that has spread to over 100 countries will hurt the global economy and dent hiring, has cast doubt over recruiters' 2020 outlook.

PageGroup reported a 3% drop in gross profit in the first two months of this year and voiced caution about its revenue while rival Robert Walters Plc warned last week that the outbreak could hurt profit in 2020.

Adrien Bizouard, country manager at Robert Walters Vietnam told Reuters business continued as usual there, but in mainland China, Hong Kong and Japan interviews have moved to Skype.

Asia-focused recruitment firm Edge Partnership said it had seen some delays in final hiring, but not much financial impact on its Hong Kong business yet.

Managing Director Guy Erricker said clients there were happy to delay hiring both because of the restrictions imposed in response to the epidemic and because of uncertainty over how their staffing needs may look like in two to three months.

Story continues

"We probably have to wait through the next two or three weeks to see if the deals are actually going to be closed in time," Erricker told Reuters.

Recruiters globally have had a tumultuous past few months as Brexit, the Sino-U.S. trade war and pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong hit business confidence and crimped companies for hiring.

Businesses that promote remote work and video conferencing, however, stand to do better during the upheaval, Zoe Harte, head of human resources and talent innovation at Upwork, an U.S.-listed online marketplace for freelance work, told Reuters.

Web conferencing firm Zoom Video Communications Inc last week said it had seen a jump in usage and had started to remove the 40-minute limit on free meetings for users in China to help more people to work remotely.

"Companies that develop the culture and tools to enable remote work and recruiting will be better positioned to support their employees and candidates in the midst of the health concerns," Upwork's Harte said. (Reporting by Indranil Sarkar in Bengaluru Writing by Tomasz Janowski Editing by Patrick Graham and Bernard Orr)
Some New Jersey towns are canceling or postponing their St. Patricks Day parades as the state reports the first cases of community transmission of the coronavirus.

South Amboy is rescheduling its annual celebration, while Morristown and Union County have canceled theirs outright as case numbers of COVID-19 grow in the state.

We are disappointed in the decision, but it was entirely necessary, the Morristown Parade Committee said in a statement. "Weve been cautiously optimistic that the parade could still go forward, but as other towns and cities across the county take the difficult but necessary step to cancel their events, we must as well in Morris County.

Newarks annual St. Patricks Day parade was also postponed on Wednesday.

After careful consideration, and in the best interest of our participants and attendees, the 85th Annual Newark St. Patricks Day Parade will be postponed due to the current coronavirus situation," parade officials said. "While disappointed, we are actively working to reschedule the event in September, billed as the 85th and-a-halfway to St. Patricks Day Parade. Details on the event will be released at a later date.

Morristown Mayor Tim Dougherty, who just yesterday urged parade goers to avoid kissing strangers, said he was upset by the decision.

"But the most important thing we have to consider is safety. Above anything else, we must take the necessary steps to keep our residents and visitors safe. There will always be more parades.

South Amboy will now hold their parade on May 16, citing large crowds that come from out of state.

"We do not want to put any of our residents or participants at risk, parade organizers said.

Not all parades will be cancelled. A number of others around New Jersey are still set to proceed as usual this weekend, as of Wednesday.

Also as of Wednesday afternoon, 23 people have tested positive for the virus, including a Bergen County man who died Tuesday.

Katie Kausch may be reached at kkausch@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @KatieKausch. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Have a tip? Tell us: nj.com/tips. Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters.
President Volodymyr Zelensky has introduced the newly appointed defense minister, Andriy Taran, to the staff of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry.

"As for the priorities of the new minister, I will start with the main thing  to ensure a high defense capability of Ukraine," the head of state said.

Zelensky congratulated Taran on his appointment and wished him strength, endurance, and a strong spirit.

On March 4, the Verkhovna Rada appointed Andriy Taran as Ukraine's new defense minister on a motion from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. A total of 285 lawmakers voted in favor of such a decision at a snap parliament meeting on Wednesday, March 4.

Former Defense Minister Andriy Zahorodniuk headed the Ukrainian Defense Ministry from August 29, 2019.

ish
Sleep-deprived residents of East Brisbane say Brisbane City Council should have done more to account for their wellbeing ahead of the two-year Wynnum Road corridor upgrade, now close to completion.

Nurse and health researcher Lisa Rich and her family moved into the Lytton and Wynnum roads corridor in late 2018, midway through the council's $128 million widening of the notorious road, which feeds more than 56,000 commuters from the eastern suburbs into the city every day.

Since then Ms Rich said she and her family had suffered constant sleep deprivation from night work that she claimed had lasted hours beyond expectations, as well as dealing with dust, vibrations and access issues.

Ms Rich said life had become almost unbearable, with constant noise at night, her newborn baby developing unhealthy sleeping patterns and her family struggling with sleep deprivation.
[March 11, 2020] DEINOVE passes the 2nd milestone of the AGIR program and receives 1.5m from Bpifrance

DEINOVE passes the 2nd milestone of the AGIR program and receives 1.5m from Bpifrance The AGIR program, supported by the French Investments for the Future program, aims to accelerate new antibiotics discovery to tackle the global challenge of antibiotic resistance.

The 2 nd milestone of this research program included the screening of a growing number of strains, the validation of the automated tools developed by DEINOVE and the identification of some thirty "hits".

milestone of this research program included the screening of a growing number of strains, the validation of the automated tools developed by DEINOVE and the identification of some thirty "hits". The results obtained validate this stage and lead to a payment of 1.5m from Bpifrance. DEINOVE (Euronext Growth Paris: ALDEI), a French biotech company that uses a disruptive approach to develop innovative antibiotics and bio-based active ingredients for cosmetics, announces that it has successfully completed the second key milestone of the AGIR program - Antibiotics against Resistant Infectious Germs - which is supported by the Investments for the Future Program. This milestone triggered the payment of 1.5m. The AGIR program aims to explore the antimicrobial potential of rare bacterial strains with the objective of identifying new antibiotic structures and developing innovative treatments to address the health challenge of increasing antimicrobial resistance. "As illustrated by the current coronavirus crisis, infections, whether bacterial or viral, are now rapidly becoming global. It is important to prevent these health emergencies, and to ensure that common infections wont become lethal again. This risk is increased by the rise in antibiotic resistance. However, only about 40 antibiotics are currently in clinical development, and only 1 out of 4 drugs in the pipeline represent a novel drug class or mechanism of action1. It is becoming urgent to discover new antibacterial treatments," says Charles Woler, CEO of DEINOVE. The challenge of AGIR is to accelerate the screening of antibiotic activities of multiple strains under various conditions in order to quickly detect new antimicrobial structures. The first stage of the program led to the development of a robotic platform. The second stage addressed several components: Significant increase of the bacterial collection: more than 2,000 additional strains have been integrated through targeted harvesting and partnerships;

Analysis of antimicrobial activities: 2,000 strains have been screened; 500 active extracts have been identified;

Hit detection and identification: analysis of the most promising extracts has led to the detection of around 30 hits. The characterization enables the identification of potential new bioactive molecules, previously unknown. The work in progress aims at optimizing the production of these molecules;

Validation of the tools developed: the techniques for strain screening, identification and purification of the active entities have been optimized to gain in speed, sensitivity and efficiency. Under the terms of the collaborative research program selected in 2017 by the Investments for the Future Program, this achievement resulted in the validation of the 2nd milestone of the AGIR program and the payment of 1.5m in repayable advances and susidies.



"The AGIR Program is moving forward simultaneously on two fronts: discovering new antibiotic structures and developing robust tools to accelerate the analysis of thousands of bacteria in an intelligent way to increase the chances of finding these new antibiotics. We're not just looking for new treatments, we're developing new ways of searching," says Guillaume Brandt, Pharmaceutical Development Officer at DEINOVE, and Project Manager of AGIR. ABOUT THE AGIR PROGRAM

The AGIR program  Antibiotics Against Resistant Infectious Germs  was selected in 2017 by the Investments for the Future Program and receives from Bpifrance a financial support of 14.6m over 5 years. AGIR, a platform dedicated to the search for unprecedented antibiotic structures from rare bacterial strains The AGIR program aims to explore a wide-ranging biodiversity, mainly rare micro-organisms in order to identify and develop a portfolio of drug candidates. While the world lacks new antibiotics, research is still predominantly focused on a small number of micro-organisms of interest or on the construction by chemical synthesis of molecules derived from existing drugs. Conversely, the AGIR program is developing new methods of collection, culture, evaluation of the antibiotic potential of rare bacterial strains, and optimization of the molecules of interest. The AGIR program is run with the Charles Viollette Institute (University of Lille) which brings its expertise in microbial and enzymatic engineering as well as identification of molecules. An ambitious collaborative project strengthened by targeted strategic partnerships to broaden the scope of research Capitalizing on its technology which enables automated and accelerated analysis of large quantities of strains, DEINOVE aims to maximize the opportunities to discover new antibiotic structures by expanding its field of research beyond its own bacterial library. The Company has entered into partnerships with several companies, including bioMerieux and Naicons, with portfolios of diverse strains collected as part of their pharmaceutical activities. ABOUT DEINOVE DEINOVE is a French biotechnology company, a leader in disruptive innovation, which aims to help meet the challenges of antibiotic resistance and the transition to a sustainable production model for the cosmetics and nutrition industries. DEINOVE has developed a unique and comprehensive expertise in the field of rare bacteria that it can decipher, culture, and optimize to disclose unsuspected possibilities and induce them to produce biobased molecules with activities of interest on an industrial scale. To do so, DEINOVE has been building and documenting since its creation an unparalleled biodiversity bank that it exploits thanks to a unique technological platform in Europe. DEINOVE is organized around two areas of expertise: ANTIBIOTICS, New-generation anti-infective drugs : A first antibiotic candidate, DNV3837, is now in Phase II. The Company is also pursuing the systematic exploration of biodiversity to supply its portfolio with new leads, drawing notably on partnerships with bioMerieux and Naicons (AGIR program supported by Bpifrance).

: A first antibiotic candidate, DNV3837, is now in Phase II. The Company is also pursuing the systematic exploration of biodiversity to supply its portfolio with new leads, drawing notably on partnerships with bioMerieux and Naicons (AGIR program supported by Bpifrance). BIOACTIVES, Active ingredients of natural origin with cosmetics as the first market: DEINOVE is already marketing a first cosmetic active ingredient, a second in partnership with Greentech and plans to launch new assets in 2020. Several other cosmetic actives are in development, including with Oleos (Hallstar Group) and Dow. It also runs a program in animal nutrition with Groupe Avril. Within the Euromedecine science park located in Montpellier, DEINOVE employs 60 employees, mainly researchers, engineers, and technicians, and has filed about 350 patent applications internationally. The Company has been listed on EURONEXT GROWTH since April 2010. CONTACTS

Investors

Coralie Martin

Communication, Marketing and Investor Relations

Ph.: +33 (0)4 48 19 01 60

[email protected]

Media

ALIZE RP

Caroline Carmagnol

Ph.: +33 (0)6 64 18 99 59

[email protected]





1 The PEW charitable trusts  Sept. 2019 Read the report



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Number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Taiwan rises to 47

ROC Central News Agency

03/10/2020 03:55 PM

Taipei, March 10 (CNA) Taiwan confirmed two more COVID-19 coronavirus cases Tuesday, including one who is a family member of two previous cases and an imported case from the Netherlands, bringing the total cases across the country to 47, with one death, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) said that day.

The 46th patient, a man in his 20s, is a son of case 34 and the younger brother of case 41, who has no recent history of overseas travel, said Health Minister Chen Shih-chung (), who heads the CECC.

He is believed to have contracted the virus due to his close contacts with both cases, since they live under the same roof, Chen said.

The patient had previously been tested twice when he was isolated in a hospital as requested by local health authorities due to his close contact with case 34 whom he took care of while she was hospitalized in a northern Taiwan hospital but both tests were negative, according to Chen.

After he was released from hospital and returned home for another 14 days of home isolation, he developed a cough from March 6-8, according to the CECC.

He was admitted to hospital and put into an isolation ward again last week and was later diagnosed with COVID-19.

He is the ninth COVID-19 patient believed to have contracted the virus in the northern hospital, the location of Taiwan's first hospital cluster infection.

The CECC said that so far, 447 people who came into contact with patients in the hospital cluster have been identified.

Meanwhile, the 47th case, a man in his 30s in southern Taiwan, is believed to have contracted the virus during a recent business trip to the Netherlands from March 2-5, the CECC said.

The latest patient developed a mild fever and dry cough March 9. Due to his overseas travel history, he was admitted to an isolation ward and had his sample tested by health authorities and test results confirmed him of having contracted the disease, it said.

The health authorities are now closely monitoring the health of his colleagues, family members and those who boarded the same flight with him, the CECC added.

(By Chen Wei-ting and Joseph Yeh)

Enditem/J

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HAMMOND  Police were investigating an apparent shooting Tuesday night near the intersection of 175th Street and Walnut Avenue.

Around 8:35 p.m. Tuesday, police responded to the 7500 block of Walnut Avenue on reports of shots fired.

When officers arrived on scene, they spoke with a 20-year-old man who said he was driving when he heard several shots, Hammond police Lt. Steven Kellogg said.

The silver Dodge minivan the man was in was hit several times and had its rear windshield shot out. The man wasn't injured.

There weren't any additional reports of anything struck by gunshots in the area, police said.

Police ask anyone with information about the incident to call Hammond police detective Sgt. Brian Webber at 219-852-2967.

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A senior ISKCON official on



Wednesday said the Yes Bank crisis may adversely affect mid- day meals of lakhs of underprivileged children who are fed by the organisation through its "Annamrita" wing.

The International Society for Krishna Consciousness and the "Annamrita" have at least 38 accounts across the country with the Yes Bank which has been placed under a moratorium on March 5, with the RBI capping withdrawals at Rs 50,000 per account for a month, ISKCON Kolkata Vice-President Radharamn Das said on Wednesday.

"Around 12,500 underprivileged children of Kolkata are benefitted from Annamrita managed by the ISKCON Kolkata alone, while the figure is around 12 lakh across the country. We are anxious about the development," Das said.

The organisation's Kolkata unit has two accounts with the Yes Bank - one for the temple and the other of Annamrita, he said.

More than Rs 2 crore is linked to the Annamrita account in Kolkata, the ISKCON official said.

If the problem is not resolved soon, the Annamrita programme will come under severe stress due to shortage of liquid funds, he said.

"We are now managing from other sources as this is a major programme and cannot be stopped. We will have to seek government intervention if the moratorium does not get lifted soon," Das said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Editors note: This story has been updated with additional comments from Mayor Christopher Taylor and city spokeswoman Lisa Wondrash.

Additional update: Ann Arbor alters city operations to slow spread of coronavirus

ANN ARBOR, MI  Now that two Michigan residents have tested presumptive positive for coronavirus and the governor has declared a state of emergency, Ann Arbor officials are figuring out how to help slow the spread of the virus.

I wanted to let each of you know that we are taking this event very seriously and will continue to work closely with our local health experts to implement any additional recommendations that could protect our employees and the public, Interim City Administrator Tom Crawford told city employees and City Council in an email Wednesday morning, March 11.

At this time, however, there are no recommended steps outside of good hygiene practices.

One of the first Michigan patients diagnosed with COVID-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus, is an Oakland County woman with a recent history of international travel.

The other is a Wayne County man with a recent history of domestic travel, according to state officials.

One of them is being treated by the University of Michigan Health System in Ann Arbor and was in stable condition Wednesday morning, officials said.

I wanted to make you aware of the citys continued efforts of daily disinfection of public counters, spaces and door handles at City Hall and the Justice Center, Crawford told city employees in his Wednesday email.

Cleaning protocols are being expanded to other city facilities. In addition, signage is being placed in all city facility restrooms to remind employees and visitors that practicing good hygiene is the best way to reduce the risk of becoming infected with a respiratory virus, whether the flu or COVID-19.

In his email, Crawford recommended taking these actions:

Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially before eating, after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.

Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer when soap and water is not available.

Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue or crook of your elbow (not your hands). If you use a tissue, throw it away and wash your hands afterward.

Avoid touching your face.

Stay home if you have a fever or are feeling sick. If you are showing respiratory symptoms, call your primary care provider directly and seek individualized medical advice.

Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.

Follow the Washtenaw County Health Department for the latest information: Staying away from others when sick and... Posted by The City Of Ann Arbor - Government on Wednesday, March 11, 2020

Bump, dont shake: Lawmakers from Michigan push elbow bump to prevent coronavirus spread

The city is reaching out to nine city water customers who have had their water shut off in the last 90 days to assist in reactivating their service to ensure people can wash their hands, city spokeswoman Lisa Wondrash said.

The city also will be evaluating the postponement or cancellation of some public meetings in coming weeks, Wondrash said, but for now the city is following these county health department recommendations:

Whenever possible in community settings or meetings, practice maintaining extra distance between people, up to 6 feet. We are not yet recommending widespread closures or cancellations. To date, there is no confirmation of a local case or possible community exposures in Washtenaw County. When or if this changes, the Health Department will issue additional recommendations or orders.

Closures, postponements, cancellations in Ann Arbor due to coronavirus fears

Crawford suggested city employees seek information about COVID-19 from experts at the Washtenaw County Health Department via Washtenaw.org/health, the Centers for Disease Control at CDC.gov/coronavirus and the state of Michigan at Michigan.gov/coronavirus.

We will continue to provide you with any new information that becomes available or any recommended changes to city processes, he wrote, noting the city also has created a COVID-19 blog accessible to city employees that will track all communications to employees on the topic and allow employees to post comments or ask questions.

The citys communications and safety staff will monitor comments and answer questions regularly, he said.

Mayor Christopher Taylor also issued a statement Wednesday, saying the health and safety of the community and city employees is the citys top priority and the citys emergency management personnel have collaborated with the county health department, local hospitals, University of Michigan and American Red Cross to prepare for COVID-19.

Their work will ensure that, during a public health emergency, the city maintains critical services in the areas of police, fire, drinking water, waste water and solid waste, he said.

We are closely coordinating with, and following the guidance of, the experts at the Washtenaw County Health Department, who in turn work closely with the State of Michigan and the Centers for Disease Control to obtain and release accurate information as often as it is available, Taylor said.

I am confident that our community will approach this emergency with resolve rather than fear, Taylor said. I am confident in the ability of the outstanding staff of the City of Ann Arbor, and I am confident in our skilled local partners.

The city will continue to monitor the situation closely, coordinate with other agencies and share updates with the public as we all work together to stay safe and secure during this uncertain time, Taylor said.

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Michigan coronavirus patient being treated at University of Michigan Health System

Detroit restores water service to unpaid homes amid coronavirus outbreak

Gov. Whitmer declares state of emergency as first coronavirus cases confirmed in Michigan
Worldwide major arms exports have increased on growing demand from countries in conflict, researchers in Sweden said Monday, with top exporter the United States widening its lead over Russia, France 24 writes in the article Global arms trade has increased with US as top exporter, report shows. Over the five years from 2015 to 2019, international arms exports grew by 5.5 percent from the 2010-2014 period, according to a report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).

"Overall, arms transfers have increased... Amongst the arms importing countries, the demand is high and seems to even have increased a bit," Pieter Wezeman, senior researcher at SIPRI, told AFP. Shipments from the US grew by 23 percent, raising its share of total global arms exports to 36 percent.

Between 2015 and 2019, the US delivered major arms to 96 countries. Half of US arms exports went to the Middle East, and half of that to Saudi Arabia, the world's number one importer of major arms. The kingdom's arms imports jumped by 130 percent from the 2010-2014 period, and it was on the receiving end of 12 percent of global major arms transfers in 2015 to 2019.

The fact that so much heavy weaponry is exported to the Middle East is particularly "of concern", Wezeman said, as the region is experiencing "conflicts and tensions and potential further conflict escalation". The researchers also noted that despite "wide-ranging concerns" in the UK and the US about Saudi Arabia's military intervention in Yemen, both countries continued to export arms to Saudi Arabia.

'A bigger gap'

Meanwhile, arms transfers from the second largest exporter, Russia, decreased by 18 percent, largely due to a drop in sales to India. "It's not necessarily very dramatic in the case of Russia. But still it's very clear and it also creates a bigger gap between the biggest one, the US, and Russia, the second," Wezeman said. Arms imports to India, which used to be the world's largest importer, decreased by 32 percent and imports by bitter rival Pakistan fell 39 percent. SIPRI researchers said both nuclear powers "have long-standing aims to produce their own major arms", but "remain largely dependent on imports." Exports of French arms saw one of the most dramatic increases -- up 72 percent from the five previous years -- putting France ahead of Germany as the third largest exporter in the world, with 7.9 percent of global exports. Over half of France's arms exports were to Egypt, Qatar and India, with deliveries of the Rafale combat aircraft to these countries accounting for nearly a quarter of total French exports.

The increase in arms exports follows a trend since the early 2000s, when arms transfers bottomed out after continually falling for a decade after the end of the Cold War.
Photo credit: NASA/Marshall Space Flight Center

From Popular Mechanics

Fresh air and clean water are two of the most critical and limited resources in space.

Astronauts on the International Space Station just received a critical upgrade to their environmental control and life support system (ECLSS).

The new hardware will recycle waste water into potable water more efficiently than before.

In space, hydration is at a premium. That's why astronauts living onboard the International Space Station (ISS) go through some extreme measures to drink the doctor's recommended amount of H20 everydaythey recycle it from pee.

For years, NASA relied on a complex hardware systemin personal EVA suits and aboard the ISS itselfto recycle moisture, like sweat, condensation, and urine. Now, this system is getting a big upgrade. Launched March 6 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. This new equipment will make the machines more efficient, reliable, and save money, providing a reliable supply of H20...even if it's from an unconventional source.



"Improving the efficiency and reliability of the current system will diminish the need for an excess of spare parts on board," project manager for the Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) Jennifer Pruitt of Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, said in a statement. "With less maintenance required, the crew can focus on the science at hand."

The current ECLSS is made up of two components, the Water Recovery System, which sends gray water through a series of filters and chemical reactions, and the Oxygen Generation System. "One of the most important things we've learned in the last 12 years of the hardware's orbital operation is that the hardware is vulnerable in its steam environment." Pruitt said. To correct these faults, engineers upgraded the system to include a new toothed belt drive system, fresh bearing seals, a Teflon spacer, and a liquid level spacer.

Earlier life support systems were clunky, prone to accidents, and disposable. Astronauts on the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo missions were only supposed to use the systems once before discarding them. On the Skylab space station, astronauts relied on stores of water and oxygen. During the Space Shuttle missions, frequent and expensive resupply trips were scheduled to deliver water and oxygen to the astronauts.

Story continues

As we explore farther and farther out into the solar system, the need for faster, more efficient and less expensive life support systems will be even more critical. Several research teams are working on high-tech solutions. One group, for example, is betting on microalgae as a means of clearing the air and producing oxygen.

But whatever systems adorn a far-future spacecraft, urine will likely remain a necessary ingredient for human space travel.

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[March 11, 2020] Quantzig's Recent Case Study Explains How Customer Lifetime Value Analytics Helped a Telecom Company to Reduce Attrition Levels & Drive Outcomes

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Wrexham Symphony Orchestras Annual Presidents Concert hailed as one of its greatest nights in music

This article is old - Published: Wednesday, Mar 11th, 2020

The Wrexham Symphony Orchestras Annual Presidents Concert has been hailed as one of its greatest nights of music.

The event, which was held on Saturday 29th February, saw crowds brave the wet and windy weather to watch local musician Luke Jones perform Beethovens Piano Concerto No. 3.

24-year-old Luke, who has been described as one of Wrexhams most exciting young musical talents, saw his performance on the night receiving a standing ovation and three encores of music by Rachmaninov and Scarlatti.

Commenting on Lukes performance, conductor Mark Lansom said: It was very special to work alongside Luke

for this concert.

Rarely have I heard playing of such clarity and the orchestra responded to his sound splendidly.

The whole performance was justly rewarded with one of the most spectacular ovations we have ever witnessed,

and we look forward to working with Luke again in the very near future.

Professor Maria Hinfelaar, Vice-Chancellor of Wrexham Glyndwr University and honorary President of Wrexham Symphony Orchestra said: I thoroughly enjoyed the concert, with the spectacular sounds of Berliozs Symphonie Fantastique still ringing in my ears the following day.

We are privileged to have such a talented group of musicians on our doorstep. Luke Jones and the orchestra fully deserved their standing ovation.

Speaking after his performance, Luke said he was delighted to be performing with his hometown orchestra.

It was a very special evening for me to perform on the stage of the William Aston Hall in the Presidents Annual concert of the Wrexham Symphony Orchestra, said Luke.

It was particularly pleasing to see a good-sized audience which included members of my immediate family.

Beethoven was such a wonderfully gifted musician and composer and I always enjoy performing his music.

Working with Mark Lansom and the members of the Orchestra has been a truly enjoyable experience and I am very much looking forward to performing with them again in the future.

I was humbled by the standing ovation which encouraged me to give the audience more and perform three additional short pieces.

Achille Jones, himself an accomplished classical guitarist and music teacher, spoke of his pride watching his son

perform in Wrexham.

He said: It was a great pleasure to watch and hear Luke with the Wrexham Symphony Orchestra perform Beethovens Piano Concerto No. 3.

It was a highly polished performance, both technically and musically, with a finely tuned dialogue between both soloist and orchestra which was well communicated to the audience, who gave a standing ovation.

The whole performance filled me with immense pride.

Future Concerts of the Wrexham Symphony Orchestra

Saturday 23rd May 2020 at 7pm  Picnic Proms in the Park at the British Ironwork Centre near Oswestry concluding with a spectacular Star Wars firework display at 10pm.

The music programme will include works from across the genres and feature popular film and show music together with the traditional flag waving

Proms music and songs. The LucasFilm Costumery Charity will be present and the featured charity at the Proms

is the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Veterans Orthopaedic Appeal at Gobowen Hospital.

Saturday 20th June 2020 at 7.30pm  The orchestra will conclude its long running Mahler Charitable Concert Series at

the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester performing his majestic choral work  Symphony No. 8  known affectionately as the Symphony of a Thousand, when we will be joined by a chorus of several hundred voices

Saturday July 18th 2020 at 7.30pm  A concert full of music for a summer evening featuring music by Dukas, Berlioz, Rimsky Korsakov: Brahms and The Gadfly Suite by Shostakovich. Our soloist for this concert will be Ellena Newton
Two days after 58 persons were airlifted from Iran, the third worst-hit country by the novel coronavirus, all evacuees remained asymptomatic, officials of the Indian Air Force (IAF) said Wednesday. The swab samples of the evacuees, who were airlifted in a C-17 Globemaster heavylift aircraft, have been taken and sent for testing.

IAF officials said their medical staff is engaged in caring for the evacuees at a quarantine facility within the airbase.

We have been tasked with caring for the evacuees who have been housed at a special facility. So far, this facility is 58-bedded and is only meant to cater to the evacuees. Special medical teams are taking care of them. They will be kept in isolation for 14 days. Their swab samples have been taken and sent for testing, said an IAF officer at the Hindon airbase.

Ghaziabad chief medical officer Dr NK Gupta said, So far, the IAF Hindon airbase authorities have not sought our intervention and taking care of the persons (pilgrims) brought back from Iran. However, we have assured them every help in case they feel the need and seek our intervention.

The Ghaziabad district health department officials said that they have also come up with 10-bed Coronavirus isolation ward at MMG Hosptial and a similar facility has come up at Sanjay Nagar Combined District Hospital for admitting Swine Flu positive patients.

We have only one patient so far who has been tested positive for Covid-19 infection. He is under treatment at Delhi and recovering. Apart from the Covid-19 positive patient we also have three patients who are under home isolation after tested positive for Swine Flu, Dr Gupta added.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in a statement said the first batch of evacuees from Iran, where 237 people have died of Coronavirus so far, arrived March 10 with 25 men, 31 women and two children on board the C-17 Globemaster largest military aircraft in the IAFs inventory. The aircraft, which took off from the Hindon airbase on Monday evening and returned Tuesday morning, also brought swab samples of 529 Indians to carry out laboratory tests and check whether they have the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, which the World Health Organisation (WHO) has named Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (SARS-CoV2).

The IAF aircraft has landed. Mission completed. On to the next, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had tweeted on Tuesday. In Iran, close to 300 people have died due to the virus and over 8,000 people are affected. In Italy, the country with the most fatalities after China, infections topped 10,000. India and Iran have both begun operations to evacuate citizens stranded in each others territories and have pledged full cooperation in this regard. India is trying to set up a laboratory in Iran to test all Indians for the coronavirus to expedite their exit and in the meanwhile, their samples are being sent to India in batches for testing onboard special Mahan Air flights, an Iranian career.

Tuesdays evacuation was the second such exercise by the C-17s in the last fortnight. Earlier on February 26, 76 Indians and 36 foreign nationals were evacuated from Chinas Wuhan citythe epicenter of the Covid-19 outbreak that has, so far, affected 60 people in India as against over 116,000 infections globally; 4,000 people have lost their lives the world over.

So far, India has evacuated 948 passengers from countries affected by Covid-19. Out of these, 900 are Indian citizens and 48 are from Bangaldesh, China, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Nepal, USA, South Africa, Maldives, Peru and Madagascar.
A futher seven suspects have been identified as part of the PSNI investigation into the gangland killing of Malcolm McKeown (54), the High Court heard yesterday.

Police are set to submit files on the individuals to the Public Prosecution Service within the next week, a judge was told.

The disclosure came as two men charged with the murder in Waringstown, Co Down, last year attended a review of their release on bail.

McKeown was shot six times in the head and body at a petrol station on August 19.

Police have said the killing is tied in with a drugs-related feud between rival criminal groups.

Jake O'Brien and Andrew Martin, both aged 24, are jointly accused of murdering McKeown, who was found dead in his car parked on Main Street.

A Crown lawyer revealed how the probe into the fatal attack has now widened out.

She said: "There are seven other suspects to be added to the matter. Police will submit full files in respect of the seven other suspects next week." O'Brien, from Rectory Park in Lurgan, and Martin, of Trasna Way, also in the town, both deny any role in the killing.

Prosecutors said they were charged after CCTV footage showed a Volkswagen Passat speeding away from the garage within a minute of the shooting.

About 10 minutes later that car was set on fire, with two men in boilersuits viewed running away.

O'Brien is also allegedly linked to the shooting by DNA on a glove found close to the getaway vehicle.

The two accused were granted provisional bail last month, but ordered to attend today's hearing. With both men having fully complied with conditions imposed on them, Lord Justice McCloskey agreed to their continued release. They are banned from entering Lurgan or Waringstown, must not leave Northern Ireland, and can only travel on public transport.
The Taoiseach will travel to Washington DC today for a series of engagements as part of the annual St Patricks Day programme.

Questions had arisen over whether the trip would go ahead as both America and Ireland grapple with the coronavirus outbreak.

American media have reported that Mr Trump had been considering asking foreign dignitaries not to attend the White House in an effort to limit the potential spread.

Mr Trump has already been in direct contact with one man who has tested positive for the virus, and reportedly shook his hand at an event.

Meanwhile, the annual St Patrick's reception on Thursday, hosted by the Irish Ambassador to the US, Daniel Mulhall, was cancelled.

Leo Varadkar had also planned to attend the United Nations in New York on Tuesday but cancelled the trip on Monday to concentrate on the evolving situation at home.

However, his trip to the US capital is set to go ahead with the Taoiseach flying directly to Washington on Wednesday.

On Wednesday night, Mr Varadkar will give a keynote speech at an event hosted by the Ireland Funds, before, taking part in the traditional St Patricks Day events in Washington DC on Thursday.

He will be hosted for breakfast by Vice President Mike Pence, followed by a bilateral meeting with President Trump at the White House.

He will then join senior members of Congress, for the annual St Patricks Day Lunch hosted by Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

On Thursday afternoon, he will join the President and Mrs Trump for the traditional Shamrock Ceremony at the White House, and will attend the Ambassadors St Patricks Day Reception that evening.

Mr Varadkar, speaking on Tuesday said the annual trip is a valuable opportunity for Ireland.

I will use my meetings with President Trump and other senior US politicians to emphasise the strength and importance of Irish-US bilateral relations, particularly our economic ties, he said.

I intend to discuss issues including EU-UK relations, Northern Ireland and the US role in protecting the Good Friday Agreement.

There was positive news this week in relation to the legislation to expand the E3 Visa programme, and I look forward to getting an update on how we can resolve the situation facing the undocumented Irish in America.

This is a relationship that cannot be taken for granted and I intend to use my visit to Washington DC to deepen these ties, while also promoting EU-US relations.
Obviously, we get to let the trout go, and that is great, but that (the volunteers) are here to help us and teach about other things like what else lives in the water is neat. The electro-fishing today was neat. I had no idea they could do that with electricity, and I didnt know we had so many varieties (of fish) here.

Some volunteers sweep the river base to pull up macro invertebrates like leaches, freshwater shrimp and mayfly larvae that fish feed upon. Others give the students a chance to learn how to cast with a fly rod.

City of Tulsa Environmental Compliance Coordinator Brian Lewis and his crew used a portable electro-fishing unit to collect fish like stone-rollers and darters and even one brown trout, which only live in streams with relatively clean water.

Biology teacher Diana Nunes was the first local teacher to attempt a Trout in The Classroom project when she was at East Central High School nine years ago. She kept the program when she moved to Union High School and now does it at Catoosa.

She said the trout tank and its whirring filter pump and bubbling air filter now are part-and-parcel to the classroom experience and every year, following the release, the classroom feels empty without it.
This article is part of our latest special report on Design, which is about getting personal with customization.

Customization has always been part of home furnishings. Urged on by their clients, interior designers seek out luxurious fabrics and collaborate with workshops to design special pieces. And even mass-market items like Crate & Barrel sofas come with size, finish and upholstery options. But in almost all situations, the more personalized the piece, the more you will have to pay, and the waiting time for made-to-order is months.

It doesnt have to be that way. A new wave of e-commerce furniture companies, including Inside Weather, The Inside, Interior Define and Benchmade Modern, are promoting speedy customization for all.

To buy a sofa in Inside Weathers online store, shoppers choose among a dozen arm styles, including fat upholstered perches and grooved timber slabs; upholstery options like woven linen-and-polyester fabrics and vegan leathers; and details like tufting and stitching.
At least three people have been killed, including two US service members, in a rocket attack in Iraq.

A US official said 10 people were injured in the attack.

Army Colonel Myles Caggins, a US military spokesman in Iraq, said on Twitter that more than 15 small rockets hit Iraqs Camp Taji base.

Camp Taji, located just north of Baghdad, has been used as a training base for a number of years.

There are as many as 6,000 US troops in Iraq, training and advising Iraqi forces and conducting counter-terror missions.

Officials did not say what group they believe launched the rocket attack, but Kataib Hezbollah or another Iranian-backed Shia militia group is likely.

Kataib Hezbollah was responsible for a late December rocket attack on a military base in Kirkuk that killed a US contractor, prompting American military strikes in response.

That in turn led to protests at the US embassy in Baghdad.

They were followed on January 3 by a US air strike that killed Irans most powerful military officer, General Qassem Soleimani, and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, a leader of the Iran-backed militias in Iraq, of which Kataib Hezbollah is a member.

Kataib Hezbollah has been designated a foreign terrorist organisation by the State Department since 2009.
The Detroit autoworker that got into a heated argument with presidential hopeful Joe Biden on Tuesday told Fox News that Biden went off the deep end.

Biden cursed and appeared to threaten a Detroit autoworker during an argument over gun rights. The confrontation, which was captured on video and has since gone viral, occurred amid a crowd of hardhat-clad workers when the former vice president visited the Fiat Chrysler plant in Detroit, Michigan, as voters flocked to polling places for the 2020 primary elections in Idaho, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota, and Washington.

Biden told the worker, now identified as Jerry Wayne, that he is full of [expletive] and called him a horses [expletive].

WATCH: Youre full of sh*t, @JoeBiden tells a man who accused him of actively trying to end our Second Amendment right. I support the Second Amendment, Biden adds while vising under-construction auto plant in Detroit. @CBSNews pic.twitter.com/sueOSBaY9P  Bo Erickson CBS (@BoKnowsNews) March 10, 2020

I thought I was pretty articulate and respectful, Wayne told Fox and Friends on Wednesday. I didnt try to raise any feathers. And he kind of went off the deep end. I saw he was digging a hole. I just kind of let him talk for a while to dig a hole.

He could have easily said Im not taking questions and I would have very respectfully walked away. But he wanted to listen to my question, and I dont think that he was ready for it, he added.

I also asked him how he wanted to get the vote of the working man when a lot of us, we wield arms. We bear arms, and we like to do that. And if he wants to give us work and take our guns, I dont see how he is going to get the same vote, he said.

During the argument, Wayne challenged Biden over a viral video of Biden, only last week, telling a rally in Dallas, Texas, that former Rep. Beto ORourke, an outspoken opponent of the Second Amendment, will be the one who leads Bidens gun-control effort.

Biden denied saying he would take peoples guns away while pointing at Waynes face.

It was a little bit disturbing to see that a politician wants to take away my right to defend myself. Wayne said.

He doesnt need to touch anybodys weapon at all. What we need to do is concentrate on how to teach people to respect firearms and how to use them. Not take them away.

I mean, I guess, technically speaking, he can say whatever he wants, he added. But, he was the vice president. He wants to be the president now. You are a candidate. You work for the American people. And, if you cant understand that then you dont deserve to have a leg in this race.

Epoch Times reporter Ivan Pentchoukov contributed to this report
When the Christian Democrats (CDU) and Free Democrats (FDP) united with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) February 5 to elect a minister president in the German federal state of Thuringia, it triggered a wave of outrage around the world. Protests erupted across Germany against joining hands with a party that trivialises Hitler, stokes racism, and has neo-Nazis in its ranks. The minister president elected with the AfDs support, Thomas Kemmerich, was forced to resign, and after long and drawn-out negotiations behind the scenes, an agreement was reached to elect the Left Partys Bodo Ramelow at the head of a minority government.

Yet just two days after his election, it was Ramelows turn to extend a hand of cooperation to the right-wing extremists. With his vote, he helped ensure that the AfD secured one of the vice president positions in Thuringias state parliament. AfD deputy Michael Kaufmann was elected with 45 votes from a total of 89. The deciding vote was cast by Ramelow, as he later announced on Twitter. In justifying his vote, Ramelow said that he had taken a very principled decision to use my vote to clear the way for the parliamentary participation to which every parliamentary party must have a right.

Anyone familiar with German history knows very well what this means. The Nazis systematically used their parliamentary participation to take power and establish their terror regime. It was in Thuringia in January 1930 where the NSDAP participated for the first time in a state government. This served as a trial run for the legal taking of power throughout Germany with the assistance of liberal and bourgeois parties.

The fascist character of the AfD is shown particularly clearly in Thuringia. The party is led there by the frontman of the Volkish-nationalist Faction Bjorn Hocke, who has close ties to the New Right and militant neo-Nazis and who, according to a court ruling, can be described as a fascist.

Hocke aggressively advocates historical revisionist, racist and anti-Semitic positions. He trivialises the Nazi regime, has demanded a 180-degree turn in Germanys policy of remembrance and described the Holocaust monument in Berlin as a monument of shame. On September 1, 2018, Hocke called for an anti-immigrant parade in Chemnitz, which he led with Pegida founder Lutz Bachmann, the leader of the right-wing extremist Identitarian Movement Martin Sellner and representatives of banned right-wing extremist organisations. On the sidelines of the rally, participants targeted immigrants and attacked a Jewish restaurant.

Ramelows open embrace of this far-right, fascist mob even compelled his own party to distance itself somewhat from his actions. The leader of the Left Party in Thuringia, Susanne Hennig-Wellsow, wrote on Twitter that she advocated another position, noting, No vote for the AfD. But she has no doubt that she and Ramelow stand together with our views on anti-fascism, she added. The acting federal executive of the Left Party also declared Ramelows behaviour to be wrong.

This is nothing but a transparent attempt to cover their tracks. Ramelows support for the AfD was neither a misstep nor an individual decision; rather it arises directly out of the Left Partys political and social orientation. Regardless of its name, the Left Party is a bourgeois party committed to the defence of capitalism by all means necessaryincluding alliances with the AfD.

It is by no means the first time that the Left Party and its international co-thinkers have marched in lockstep with the far-right.

In Greece, Syriza leader Alexis Tsipras, who was hailed at a series of meetings by the Left Party as an example to be followed, governed in a coalition for four years with the ultra-nationalist Independent Greeks (Anel). He needed the right-wing extremists to impose the devastating austerity measures demanded by the European Union and international banks on the working class. Tsipras now supports the policies of his conservative successor, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who is brutally cracking down on desperate refugees on the Greek-Turkish border with live ammunition, tear gas and fascist thugs. None of this has been deemed by the Left Party to necessitate an ending of its close cooperation with Tsipras.

The same nationalist positions exist within the Left Party. The long-standing leader of the Left Party in the federal parliament, Sahra Wagenknecht, was repeatedly praised by the AfD for her anti-immigrant positions. Wagenknecht spoke out over the weekend to support the violent sealing of the Greek border to refugees. Opening the borders would not provide any solution, she stated on television and on her YouTube channel. Tentative proposals by the Greens to accept a handful of refugees were trite and dishonest. In a manner typical of the AfD, Wagenknecht added that a repetition of the total loss of control as in 2015 could not be permitted.

Ramelow is proud of the fact that during his time in government, Thuringia had one of the highest deportation rates among the German federal states. Like other Left Party members in state governments in eastern Germany and in the Berlin state senate, he slavishly follows the prescriptions of the grand coalition, not only on the issue of refugees, but also on social spending cuts and the maintenance of the debt brake in the states budget.

Since losing the election on February 5, Ramelow has done everything to roll out the red carpet for the AfD. He was less shocked about the CDU and FDPs pact with the right-wing extremists than he was over the mass upsurge of popular opposition it triggered. Since then, every step he has taken has been calculated to suppress and demoralise this opposition.

Although large sections of Thuringias CDU sympathise with the AfD, he offered the CDU the opportunity to head a transitional government, and rejected holding immediate new elections, which would have been disastrous for the CDU. After the CDU refused to abandon its policy of rejecting all cooperation with the Left Party, Ramelow agreed to be elected minister president on the basis of a stability pact that gives the CDUand indirectly the AfDa veto right on all of his governments policies.

Ramelow repeatedly justified this by stressing that the defence of the existing order and the state is more important than political interests: First the state, then the party, and only then the individual. He thus stands in the tradition of right-wing Social Democrats, like Friedrich Ebert and Gustav Noske, who during the November Revolution in 1918 allied with the German army and far-right Freikorps to suppress working-class opposition to the bourgeois order.

He is also embracing the tradition of Stalinism, from which the Left Party emerged. From France and Spain in the 1930s, to Chile in 1973, Stalinism paved the way for numerous right-wing dictatorships by suppressing all revolutionary struggles of the working class in the name of forming alliances with so-called democratic parties. The other element in this peoples front policy was the Moscow Trials and the Great Terror, which claimed the lives of almost the entire leadership of Lenins Bolsheviks, tens of thousands of Trotskyists and hundreds of thousands of revolutionary workers, intellectuals and artists.

The Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei (SGP) has long warned that the AfD is being consciously promoted and built up by the ruling class so as to impose their policies of militarism and social spending cuts in the face of widespread public opposition. As Christoph Vandreier, the deputy leader of the SGP, demonstrated in detail in his book Why Are They Back? the rise of the AfD cannot be comprehended without analysing the role of the government, the state apparatus, the political parties, the media and the ideologues at the universities. He continued: If the ruling elites conspiracy in 1933 was based on an existing fascist movement, today the opposite is true. The rise of the AfD is the product of such a conspiracy.

Ramelows support for the AfD underscores that the Left Party is part of this conspiracy. It views every mobilisation against militarism, fascism and capitalism with hostility and seeks to divert it into a hopeless dead end. The Left Party is striving to be accepted by the other parties as a partner in government also on the federal level and has, at most, tactical differences with themthe AfD included.

The WSWS warned in a February 14 Perspective that the Left Party responded to the Thuringia election with another cowardly shift to the right. It is not only courting the CDU, but also indicating that it is prepared to collaborate with the AfD. This has now been confirmed. The only political party and tendency consistently fighting the rise of the AfD and militarism in Germany and internationally is the Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei and the International Committee of Fourth International.
State officials have said the disease has not reached the point where they needed to declare a public health emergency, which would direct more state funding to local health departments for costs related to quarantine and isolation of people who have or are suspected of having the disease.

Ayers said a potential tipping point would be the emergence of an unexplained case with no known point of contact, or a patient who is known to have had widespread contact with residents.

Thats on my list for one of the considerations that would trigger us to move to this level, Ayers said. At this point we want to say we know this is happening in the world, we know that this is happening in the country. We expect that this outbreak will reach Wisconsin, and when our conditions on the ground change, we will be asking for that kind of an emergency declaration.

Wisconsin last called a public health emergency in 2009, during the outbreak of H1N1, or swine flu.
Reps. Madeleine Dean (left) and Mary Gay Scanlon (center) have endorsed Amanda Cappelletti (right) for state Senate. Read more

Two Democratic members of Congress are endorsing a primary challenger to incumbent State Sen. Daylin Leach, in perhaps the most contentious state race in the Philadelphia suburbs.

Reps. Mary Gay Scanlon of Delaware County and Madeleine Dean of Montgomery County said Wednesday they were backing Amanda Cappelletti over Leach in Pennsylvanias 17th Senate District.

Its unusual for sitting members of Congress to actively campaign against an incumbent lawmaker of the same party. The development underscores the controversy surrounding Leach, who has faced allegations of inappropriate behavior that brought Pennsylvania one of its first #MeToo moments.

People who call the 17th State Senate District home deserve representation from a public servant who is committed to putting the values of their constituents before themselves. I believe that Amanda is that person, Scanlon said in a statement. She brings with her a new voice for this community and a commitment to fighting for the values that bind us, from ensuring our children have good public schools to protecting access to affordable healthcare."

Dean added that Cappelletti is a breath of fresh air that combines her professional accomplishments and passion for public service.

Their endorsements came a day after Gov. Tom Wolf, a Democrat, announced his support for Cappelletti, vice chair of the East Norriton Board of Supervisors and a former director of policy at Planned Parenthood.

Cappelletti also won the endorsement last month of the Delaware County Democrats. She fell a few votes short of the threshold needed to win an endorsement in Montgomery County.

A spokesperson for Leachs campaign said the senator was focused on the public health crisis brought on by the coronavirus situation.

The decision is ultimately going to be made by the voters and we are not currently focused on political endorsements, the spokesperson said.

Leach, a longtime champion of progressive causes, started facing calls for his resignation among some Democrats in late 2017 amid allegations that he inappropriately touched female former staffers and made highly sexualized jokes. Leach denied wrongdoing.

Those calls grew over the last year as a woman accused him of sexually assaulting her in 1991, when she was 17. Leach has denied the allegation and sued the woman for defamation.

An investigation commissioned by Senate Democrats last year found that Leach at times engaged in humor that was at times unquestionably sexual in nature. Investigators also said his conduct fell short of violating federal workplace discrimination law. They did not form a conclusion on the assault allegation.

The primary election is April 28.
WASHINGTON  It was another big night for Joe Biden.

Biden dominated Tuesday night's primaries, sinking Bernie Sanders in several states the senator from Vermont won in 2016. Six states Idaho, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota and Washington  had contests where 352 delegates were up for grabs.

Following his wins Tuesday, Biden has widened his delegate lead against Sanders and Sanders will need to play catch up next Tuesday, when another four states head to the polls.

Here are some key takeaways from Tuesday's primaries:

Black voters, moderates, conservatives push Biden to victory

Minutes after polls closed in Mississippi and Missouri, Biden was projected as the winner of both states. The former vice president was later projected as the winner of Michigan.

All of the wins relied heavily on Biden's support among black voters, as well as moderate and conservative voters.

According to exit polls from the Washington Post, 69% of black voters in Missouri supported Biden, 86% of Mississippis black voters went for Biden and 66% of black voters in Michigan backed Biden.

Biden also saw strong support from voters who identified themselves as moderates in Missouri, Michigan and Mississippi, according to exit polling reported by the Post.

In Mississippi, Biden won 87% of moderate and conservative voters, with more than half of those voters making up the Democratic electorate in the state. Biden was also backed by 63% of moderate and conservative voters in both Michigan and Missouri, according to exit polls.

Those are the same groups of voters that helped push Biden to victory in South Carolina, as well as grab key wins on Super Tuesday in North Carolina, Virginia and Texas.

Biden acknowledged his early wins Tuesday night during remarks to a small group of supporters and members of the media in Philadelphia. Biden canceled an event scheduled for Tuesday night in Cleveland, as did Sanders.

Although there is a way to go, it looks like were going to have another good night, Biden said. He also noted his recent endorsements from Sens. Kamala Harris and Cory Booker.

Story continues

Were bringing this party together," the former vice president said. "Thats what we have to do.

Sanders did not make any comments after polls closed Tuesday.

Support from Sanders' base didn't counter Biden's wins

The Sanders message resonates with younger voters, and though his campaign hoped strong turnout from that group would carry him through primary states, it wasn't enough Tuesday.

In Missouri, voters between the ages of 18-29 made up about 15% of the electorate Tuesday, and Sanders won them by double digits. Sanders also won voters between the ages of 30 and 44. But Biden dominated among voters over the age of 45, who made up about 67% of the electorate Tuesday.

In Michigan, more than 75% of voters age 18-29 who voted in-person (exit polls in this state exclude early voters) cast their vote for Sanders, and they were 16% of the electorate. But Biden again took the vote among the 45 and older demographic, which was 62% of the electorate.

In Mississippi, the youngest demographic of voters was ages 17-29, and 13% of the statewide vote came from that group. But Biden led with Mississippi's young voters, leading Sanders 57%-39%. And Biden was favored by voters 30-44 and overwhelmingly supported by voters 45 and older.

Turnout percentage among young voters in all three states was either flat or down slightly from 2016

Sanders acknowledged that lackluster turnout among the youth vote hurt him after Super Tuesday last week, when young voters showed up to the polls at lower rates than they had in 2016:

"Were making some progress but historically everybody knows that young people do not vote in the kind of numbers that older people vote," he said.

Sanders has also done well this election with Latino and Hispanic voters, notably carrying Nevada by more than 30% over Biden with Latino voters. His dominance propelled him to a win in that state, where about 3 in 10 voters are Latino. But the states voting Tuesday had much smaller Latino populations.

Looking at exit polling data, Latino Missourians made up just 3% of voters on Tuesday, not a significant enough population to break down detailed support for each candidate. The same was true of Latino Mississippi voters, who also made up 3% of the vote. In Michigan, Latinos made up 6% of day-of voters, and 55% of those voters supported Sanders.

Supporters of Democratic presidential hopeful former Vice President Joe Biden cheers as he speaks, flanked by his wife Jill Biden, at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on March 10, 2020. (Photo by Mandel NGAN / AFP) (Photo by MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images)

Biden outperforms Clinton, swings regions back from Sanders

Biden was able to seal big wins in states where Hillary Clinton either won small or lost in 2016. While Sanders sealed a win in Michigan in 2016 and kept Missouri competitive, that wasn't the case this time around.

Sanders Tuesday fell behind in many of the counties that helped push him to victory in Michigan in 2016. In Luce County, for example, a rural county in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, Biden won 57% support while Sanders is at 32.7%, with 75% of the county being reported. Comparatively, Sanders won that county 61.8% to Clinton's 35.5%.

As the night wore on, Biden was leading in every single county in Michigan, Missouri and Mississippi.

Democrats are also turning out a greater levels than in 2016, which appears to be benefitting Biden.

Turnout in the 2016 primaries wasn't as high as 2008, which saw record turnout in several states. Thus far in the 2020 primary, turnout has been higher than 2016 and in some states, has even passed 2008 marks in some states. For example, more than 1.3 million voters in Virginia cast ballots compared to the roughly 800,000 four years ago.

However in the first four early voting states, turnout was a mixed bag. Although it was up slightly, it still didn't reach the record levels of 2008. And compared 2016, there is also an increase of black and suburban voters coming out to vote, which is benefiting Biden.

Biden looks to be unifying the party in ways that Clinton struggled to in 2016.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Joe Biden wins big again and other takeaways from Tuesday's primaries
The government is looking to amend regulations to reduce the tax by half on dividend earnings for domestic individuals investors, The Economic Times reported.

This will effectively cut the dividend tax on those in the higher income bracket from 43 percent to 20 percent, sources told the paper. There is hope that this will boost investment even as the bears hold global markets at present.

Moneycontrol could not independently verify the report.

Budget 2020 removed 20 percent Dividend Distribution Tax (DDT) on companies (a pure cost) and announced up to 43 percent dividend tax on individual investors in the highest income bracket from April 2020. Experts said a flat tax rate would benefit local investors.

Revenue officials, prominent mutual funds, tax advisors and lawyers have been tapped for suggestions. Many have already flagged that foreign companies pay 5-15 percent or more on dividend earnings depending on the treaty India has with the country they route their investment from.

For example, as per treaties with Mauritius and Singapore, the tax rate would be 15 percent and 25 percent for the US and Canada while other countries would be liable to 10 percent plus additional 5 percent depending on the countries most favoured nation (MFN) status.
By Associated Press

TEHRAN: Iran reported 63 new deaths due to coronavirus on Wednesday raising the death toll to 354 amid over 9,000 cases in the Islamic Republic.

The deaths were confirmed Health Ministry spokesman who spoke in a live, televised news conference on Wednesday.

Across the Mideast, more than 9,000 people have contracted the virus and the COVID-19 illness it causes. The majority come from hard-hit Iran, which has one of the world's worst death tolls outside of China, the epicentre of the outbreak.

ALSO READ | 58 Indians brought back from virus-stricken Iran in IAF plane

In the Gulf Arab island nation of Bahrain, authorities say their number of confirmed cases on Wednesday spiked by nearly 70% to 189 confirmed cases. The new cases were all on a returning flight of Bahraini evacuees from Iran.

Officials found 77 onboard tested positive for the new coronavirus, compared to the 112 already reported in the country off the coast of Saudi Arabia. It pushed Bahrains overall total to 189 confirmed cases.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia.

The vast majority of people recover from the new virus.

Coronavirus LIVE UPDATES | Cases reach 62 in India, suspected death reported in Karnataka

Irans elite Revolutionary Guard says at least five of its members and an unspecified number of the Guard's volunteer Basij force.

Iran's supreme leader had said Tuesday that the Islamic Republic will recognize doctors and nurses who die combating the new coronavirus as martyrs like slain soldiers.

The decision by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei comes amid a propaganda campaign already trying to link the fight against the virus to Iran's long, bloody 1980s war with Iraq. The rising casualty figures each day in Iran suggest the fight against the new coronavirus is far from over.

That the Guard is involved in the relief effort of a major catastrophe is not surprising in Iran. The Guard, whose forces include 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 Irans eight-year war against Iraq.

Saudi Arabia closed off air and sea travel to 14 countries affected by the new virus Monday, while Israel ordered two weeks of home quarantine for anyone arriving from overseas.

The outbreak in Israel has been largely contained, but it has begun to gain pace in recent days, with a total of 58 cases diagnosed as of Tuesday. There are 26 confirmed cases in the Palestinian Territories.
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Linkedin Nedi Putra, Jon Afrizal, Asip Hasani, Suherdjoko (The Jakarta Post) Malang/Jambi/Blitar/Semarang  Wed, March 11, 2020 16:27 671 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2069dd80d 1 National mask,hand-sanitizer,COVID-19,COVID-19-Indonesian-patients,novel-coronavirus,coronavirus,coronavirus-mask-rush Free

As many as 500, 60-milliliter bottles of hand sanitizers with 96 percent alcohol content are now produced every day by students of Prajnaparamita State Vocational School in Malang, East Java.

The school started making its own brand of hand sanitizers following a major shortage in pharmacies and drugstores as people scrambled for protection against the COVID-19 coronavirus.

Were just trying to make up for the shortage. We regularly make hand sanitizers every semester, the head of the schools Clinical Pharmacy major, Deniar Wulandari, said on Thursday.

She said the school initially made 50 bottles starting on March 3, but demand soon began to rise in other areas, such as Jombang in East Java, Jakarta and Bali. Now, 32 students are involved in the making of the product, which they named Covid. One bottle of Covid hand sanitizer costs Rp 13,000 (US 91 cents).

Hand sanitizers commonly sold stores have a 70 percent alcohol content, but the schools product contains 96 percent to better ward off coronaviruses such as COVID-19 and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), Deniar said.

We add aloe vera gel and glyceride to the formula so that the product wont dry out your hands, she said, adding that the school had filed for a production permit to ensure the products were safe and of good quality.

Residents have reported a shortage of masks and hand sanitizers following the governments announcement of two confirmed COVID-19 in Indonesia earlier this month.

As of Monday, Indonesia has recorded 27 positive cases of the disease.

Meanwhile, in Blitar, several drugstores said they still received customers looking for masks, which have been sold out since early February.

"Weve already put up a sign telling customers that we don't have any face masks, but they insist on asking for them," drugstore clerk Lina told The Jakarta Post last Tuesday.

She added that her store had been unable to stock up on face masks for more than a month, after customers started buying them in boxes for their migrant-worker relatives in countries that have been hit hard by COVID-19, such as Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore.

Many Indonesian migrant workers are originally from Blitar.

Yenry Sumarlin, the director of Sumber Waras drugstore, the largest drugstore in Blitar, said demand for face masks spiked when President Joko Jokowi Widodo announced Indonesias first positive COVID-19 cases on March 2.

He said Sumber Waras still had some N95 face masks in stock and they were being sold for Rp 50,000 per piece  more than triple their normal price of Rp 15,000 per piece.

Cheaper types of face masks, he added, had been out of stock since mid-January.

Yenry assured that his store would not allow customers to buy face masks in large numbers, saying each customer was prohibited from buying more than five pieces.

In Semarang, Central Java, the Central Java Police arrested three residents for alleged price gouging in the wake of the buying frenzy.

The three had reportedly been caught stockpiling face masks and hand sanitizers and reselling them at almost nine times the original price.

We have confiscated 4,000 face masks as evidence, as well as hand sanitizers. One box of masks originally cost Rp 30,000 to Rp 40,000, but they were selling them for Rp 275,000, Central Java Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Iskandar F. Sutisna said last week.

He said several areas in Central Java, including along Javas northern coast (Pantura) highway and Brebes and Kendal regencies, had already run out of face masks and hand sanitizers because the hoarders had bought them all.

In Jambi province, all three pharmacies in Kuala Tungkal, West Tanjung Jabung regency, ran out of face masks a month ago.

We dont buy from distributors anymore. The price [of face masks] in Jakarta is already high; we dont know how to sell them here, Cece, the owner of Manjur Pharmacy in Kuala Tungkal, told the Post recently.

A face mask in Kuala Tungkal usually costs Rp 1000 or Rp 35,000 per box containing 35 pieces. One box now costs Rp 400,000.

Thats not a decent price for this city, Cece said.

Meanwhile, in many other cities in Jambi, a face mask costs Rp 4,000 to Rp 8,000 per piece.

Jambi Health Agency head Samsiran Halim said the agency was ready to distribute 700,000 surgical face masks and 7,800 N-95 masks. However, they will only be given out to people who are sick, he added. (aly)
The John Hopkins Hospital is seen at a area near the downtown of Baltimore, Maryland, on Nov. 4, 2015. (Carlos Barria/Reuters)

Taiwan Protests as Top US University Labels Island Part of China on Virus Map

TAIPEITaiwans government said on March 11 it would lodge a protest with a top U.S. university, Johns Hopkins, after it began listing the island as part of China on a map detailing the spread of the new coronavirus.

The Chinese regime has been exerting pressure on foreign companies and institutions to call Chinese-claimed Taiwan part of China, and often to name it merely a Chinese province.

Taiwan has strongly objected to this, saying it is an independent country called the Republic of China, its official name, that it has never been part of China and that Beijing has no authority over the island.

The issue has come to a head again during the virus outbreak, with the World Health Organization (WHO) listing Taiwans case numbers under Chinas, referring to the island as Taipei and environs.

The designation Taipei and environs, China is now being used by Johns Hopkins on an interactive map it publishes tracking the virus outbreak around the world.

The change was first reported by the Axios news website.

Taiwans foreign ministry spokeswoman, Joanne Ou, said it was aware that the university had changed the islands name from Taiwan to Taipei and environs.

On Johns Hopkins inappropriate labelling of Taiwan, the Foreign Ministry has tasked our representative office in the United States with immediately lodging representations with the university, and demand it changes it, she said in a statement.

Johns Hopkins did not immediately respond to a request for comment on why the change had been made and whether it was done at the behest of the Chinese regime.

Axios said the university had said it would be changing the name back to Taiwan. But it has yet to be changed.

Taiwan has reported 48 virus cases, and has won plaudits from experts for effective controls at keeping its tally so low considering it is next to China and how many Taiwan people work and live in China.

Taiwan has accused China of refusing to allow it first-hand virus information by blocking its access to the WHO. The Chinese regime says it alone has the right to speak for Taiwan.

The island is not governed in any way by the Chinese regime, and Beijing has no direct say in its health policy or how it handles the virus.

By Ben Blanchard
A Harris County judge has dismissed KIPP co-founder Mike Feinbergs defamation lawsuit against the charter school network, which stemmed from the renowned educators firing following allegations of sexual misconduct dating back to the late 1990s and early 2000s.

In a one-page order issued Monday, Harris County District Judge Kristen Brauchle Hawkins said KIPPs motion to dismiss has merit and should be granted, providing no further details about her reasoning. Hawkins said she will order Feinberg to pay KIPPs attorneys fees at a later date.

Feinbergs lawyer, Mano DeAyala, said his client is strongly looking into appealing the ruling.

The lawsuit followed an acrimonious split between KIPP, the nations largest charter school management organization, and Feinberg, who co-founded the nonprofit in the mid-1990s while working out of a Houston ISD campus. KIPP officials fired Feinberg after concluding in 2018 there was credible evidence to substantiate allegations that he sexually abused a 12-year-old student and sexually harassed two employees. Feinberg has denied the allegations.

In his lawsuit, Feinberg said KIPP officials made false and inflammatory public statements to justify his firing, which ultimately damaged his reputation. Lawyers for KIPP responded that the lawsuit was meritless, arguing that the organizations public comments were truthful and carefully crafted.

KIPPs public statement on his termination contains no false statements, either on its face or by implication, KIPPs lawyers wrote in their motion to dismiss the lawsuit. The statement expressly makes clear that KIPP reached no definitive conclusions regarding Feinbergs guilt or innocence, instead only stating that its investigations had determined there were credible accusations of misconduct.

An initial investigation triggered by KIPP officials ended with Feinberg returning to work after the charters lawyer could not substantiate the allegations. However, a subsequent expanded investigation resulted in Feinbergs termination, with KIPP officials saying the inquiry produced evidence that supports  but does not definitively prove  the claims. KIPP officials have not publicly released investigative reports or accounts of the three accusers.

Feinberg said part of his motivation for the lawsuit was to require disclosure of documents generated through the investigations that would help clear his name.

Mike can say something now that he couldnt say before because he wasnt privy to the results of the investigations, DeAyala said. Now he can say both investigations found his denials of the sexual abuse allegations to be credible.

The Texas Tribune and Chalkbeat reported in February that a woman testified during a state administrative hearing that Feinberg sexually assaulted her in the late 1990s under the guise of performing a medical exam. Feinberg and other staff members who worked at the Houston campus have disputed the womans account, including her description of the room where the alleged assaults took place.

KIPP officials did not respond to a request for comment Wednesday.

Following his firing, Feinberg founded the nonprofit Texas School Venture Fund, which works to support the expansion of charter schools nationally. Several prominent school choice advocates serve on the nonprofits governing and advisory boards.

Feinberg also is working with Gallery Furniture owner Jim Mattress Mack McIngvale to open a daycare, vocational school and charter school inside the chains north Houston store.

jacob.carpenter@chron.com
By Online Desk

After formally announcing his resignation from the Congress on Tuesday, Jyotiraditya Scindia on Wednesday joined the BJP in the presence of party chief JP Nadda.

According to sources, the BJP is likely to name him as one of its candidates for the Rajya Sabha polls in Madhya Pradesh and is also confident of forming the government in the state with his help as 22 MLAs including Scindia's supporters have resigned from the state assembly reducing the Kamal Nath government to a minority.

However, Scindia's move to BJP has reportedly not sat well with the MLAs loyal to him who also resigned on Tuesday. According to key sources in the Madhya Pradesh Congress, party leaders in touch with the 19 MLAs in Bengaluru claim that at least 12 of them including two ministers were not in favour of Scindia joining the BJP.

They wanted Scindia to form a new party like his father Madhavrao did in 1996 instead of joining the BJP.

It's perhaps this development which has made the Congress confident of proving its majority on the floor of the house during the Vidhan Sabha budget session starting on March 16.

"All of you just focus on floor test in the House and you will then come to know that we will easily have the necessary numbers. Just wait and watch, we won't disclose more," said former MP Congress president Arun Yadav.

ALSO READ | Madhya Pradesh crisis: Scindia loyalist MLAs learn from Karnataka model

All doesn't seem to be well in the state BJP camp too.

Supporters of ex-minister Narottam Mishra raised "Pradesh ka Mukhyamantri kaisa ho, Narottam bhaiya jaisa ho" slogans after the BJP Legislature Party meeting in Bhopal on Tuesday evening.

This indicated that in the event of the BJP staking its claim to form the government in the state in the near future, ex-CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan won't find it easy to be elected as Legislature Party Leader.

The Congress also petitioned the MP Assembly Speaker to disqualify six Scindia loyalist ministers as MLAs.

Congress leader JP Dhanopiya says six separate petitions have been submitted to the Speaker for disqualification of the six ministers Tulsi Silawat, Mahendra Singh Sisodiya, Imarti Devi, Govind Singh Rajput, Prabhuram Chaudhary and Pradumn Singh Tomar under Article 191(2) of the Constitution of India.

ALSO READ | A muddy Holi for Congress

The petition also includes references of past Supreme Court and High Court rulings.

Speaker NP Prajapati says he will soon decide over the disqualification petitions in accordance with the law.

"The Speaker says as per law those resigning will have to first appear before the Speaker personally, after which only I'll look into available evidence/facts before deciding as per merits of the case," said Speaker NP Prajapati on the resignation of the 22 Congress MLAs.

Congress MP Nakul Nath (son of Madhya Pradesh CM Kamal Nath): MLAs who have gone to Karnataka will soon return to the Congress fold. I am very confident the government will survive. pic.twitter.com/xFrtQ4pX3M  ANI (@ANI) March 11, 2020

Digvijaya Singh's son and MP minister Jaivardhan Singh said Scindia won't get that respect in BJP which he got in Congress.

PWD minister and CM Kamal Nath's close confidant Sajjan Singh Verma said, "We've established contact with seven to eight MLAs in Bengaluru through their wives and children. Most of them have told us that they are not any individual leader's collateral security, but still with Congress. They are against Scindia joining BJP. Not even 25% of those who are in Bengaluru will stay with him (Scindia). I'm right now going to Jaipur with our MLAs and will fly to Bengaluru in the evening from Jaipur only to bring our disgruntled MLAs back to Congress fold."

Over 80 Congress MLAs from the state are expected to arrive in Rajasthan on Wednesday afternoon, sources said.

"The party MLAs are reaching here from Madhya Pradesh," they said.

ALSO READ | Madhya Pradesh crisis: Jyotiraditya Scindia likely to join BJP in presence of JP Nadda

95 Congress MLAs reached the Bhopal airport on Wednesday to leave for Jaipur.

The ruling party MLAs reached the Raja Bhoj Airport here in three buses around 12 noon.

"We are going to Jaipur with our MLAs.We will stay there together," state minister Sajjan Singh Verma told reporters after the Congress MLAs reached the airport.

Another minister Kamaleshwar Patel said they were confident that the Kamal Nath-led state government will prove its majority.

"All MLAs wanted to relieve their tension amid the ongoing political situation. So, we are going to Jaipur. We will prove our majority. We have 95 MLAs here (at airport). Independent MLAs and BSP and SP legislators are also supporting," state minister Priyavrat Singh said.

Meanwhile, three luxury buses have reached the airport which will be used to take the MLAs to a resort located near the Jaipur-Delhi highway.

ALSO READ | Madhya Pradesh crisis: Experts in resort politics, Karnataka BJP leaders helped Scindia

It is the same resort where legislators from Maharashtra were lodged in November last year.

All arrangements are being made on the directions of Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, the sources said.

The ruling BJP has already shifted its entire flock of 106 MLAs (one MLA couldn't join due to mother's death) last night by a special plane to BJP ruled Haryana for preventing any poaching of its flock by Congress.

Late on Tuesday night, CM Kamal Nath too had put up a brave face, saying he will prove his majority (in the house).

Sources in the BJP camp in Bhopal, meanwhile, said Jyotiraditya Scindia could hold a show of strength through a roadshow in Bhopal on Thursday. His show of strength might be preceded by him joining the BJP in Delhi.

BJP sources claimed that Scindia could file Rajya Sabha poll nomination as BJP candidate on Friday.

Sources also claimed that three to four more Congress MLAs could also resign from assembly membership in a day or two just like their 22 Congress MLA colleagues did on Tuesday.

(With ENS and PTI Inputs)
A 24-year-old man, who



recently returned to Madhya Pradesh from Italy, has been admitted to a government hospital in Indore for possible exposure to the novel coronavirus, officials said on Wednesday.

So far, 664 persons with a recent history of traveling to coronavirus-affected countries have been screened in Madhya Pradesh. Of them, 265 are under the home observation.

However, no confirmed case has been reported in the state.

Indore's Chief Medical and Health Officer (CMHO), Dr Praveen Jadia, said that the 24-year-old man came to Delhi from Italy on March 7 and reached Indore from there.

"He is suffering from cold and cough. Due to his suspected exposure to coronavirus infection, he has been kept under medical supervision in an isolated ward of a government hospital," he said.

The samples of his blood and swab have been sent to Bhopal's All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) for examination.

Meanwhile, three people admitted to different hospitals in Indore have tested negative for coronavirus infection.

Indore CMHO said that these include a 34-year-old woman, who returned to India from the US and a 30-year-old man who landed here from Malaysia along with a 39-year-old man.

Jadia said that in the last 40 days, the samples of total 15 people from Indore have been sent for examination to the laboratory.

Of these, 14 people tested negative, while the investigation report of one person is awaited.

Additional Director of the Health Department, Dr Veena Sinha, said in Bhopal that so far, 664 travellers with their travel history of coronavirus-affected countries have been identified in Madhya Pradesh.

"Of these, 265 persons are still under the home isolation as precautionary measure while surveillance period of 356 have been completed," she said.

The official informed that 27 samples were sent for the examination.

Of these, 19 reports tested negative, while eight reports are awaited.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Penn State University will suspend classroom instruction when its spring break concludes this week and begin offering all classes, seminars and labs remotely, starting Monday as a precautionary step in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

The university said on Wednesday it will continue to offer all classes using online delivery methods through April 3 with a plan to resume in-person classes at its campus locations on April 6, at the earliest. This announcement doesnt apply to the medical school or Penn College of Technology.

No known cases of coronavirus have been reported at any of the universitys campuses at this time.

In a letter from university President Eric Barron posted on the universitys website, he states students are strongly discouraged from returning to campus, off-campus locations, apartments and fraternities during this time period.

Residence halls and dining facilities will not be open during the remote-learning period with an exception for those that are already in use. Further, Barron said students who need to retrieve belongings in the meantime should contact their campus housing office.

Accommodations are being made for international students already on campus as well as those who must return to campus for some extenuating or compelling circumstance, Barron said.

The university is going to make accommodations for students who do not have access to a computer and/or internet from their home or alternate location to take their classes during the remote-learning period.

On-campus student-sponsored events and activities are postponed until April 6, at the earliest.

Further, Barron said all non-essential events should be canceled, rescheduled or offered virtually through that date regardless of the number of people expected to attend. Essential events that are expected to draw more than 50 people are required to obtain approval of university Provost. Nick Jones.

While noting that there are more than 1,000 cases of COVID-19 in the United States, including 15 in Pennsylvania based on the latest information, Barron said, the best mechanism for prevention based on advice from experts is social distancing, and unfortunately that is very difficult in a university setting. We fully understand these changes will cause disruptions in your day-to-day lives.

He emphasized this decision was made with the health and well-being of the university community in mind.

If there was ever a We Are moment, this is it, Barron said. We need to come together in the full spirit of the phrase, support one another and stand up for what we believe: The importance of community.

CORONAVIRUS CASES IN PENNSYLVANIA: Click to see where cases of the coronavirus are in Pennsylvania are located.



Earlier in the week, Ohio State University said it was immediately suspending all face-to-face instruction until at least March 30 on its campuses as that state continues to react to the first cases of coronavirus in Ohio. It said that includes face-to-face instruction in lectures, discussion sections, seminars and other classroom settings. It was evaluating whether to continue laboratory and performance classes.

This post was updated to include more information from President Barrons letter.

Jan Murphy may be reached at jmurphy@pennlive.com. Follow her on Twitter at @JanMurphy.

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U.S. Army Pfc. Justin Candido Kirby, 21, from New Bedford, was killed in a vehicle accident during a military training exercise at Fort Irwin National Training Center in California, the center reports.

Officials described it as a large-scale exercise, where the two soldiers, including the New Bedford native, were conducting combat maneuver operations in a M1113 High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle, known colloquially as a Humvee, the statement said.

The National Training Center and Fort Irwin suffered a tragic loss on Monday.

Our heartfelt condolences, thoughts and prayers go out to the family and fellow Soldiers of PFC Kirby. pic.twitter.com/ThPcBdREXU  Fort Irwin NTC (@NTC_UPDATE) March 11, 2020

His passing has deeply affected us all," said Col. Scott Woodward, 68th colonel of the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and his fellow soldiers."

The other solider was injured and taken by military helicopter to University Medical Center of Southern Nevada. The soldier was medically cleared and released.
Pawan, one of the death-row convicts in 2012 gang-rape case, has moved a Delhi court seeking registration of FIR against two policemen of Mandoli jail, alleging that they thrashed him, causing a severe head injury.

The court has issued notice to the jail administration seeking a reply. The matter has been listed for March 12. The four convicts in the Nirbhaya case are lodged in Tihar Jail.

Pawan was earlier lodged in Mandoli Jail and was later shifted to Tihar Jail.

This comes after another death-row convict Vinay Sharma approached Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal through his lawyer AP Singh, seeking to commute the death sentence to life imprisonment.

Vinay Sharma through his advocate prayed that the convict does not deserve the extreme punishment of death, which is reserved for the 'rarest of rare' cases where the alternative option of life imprisonment is unquestionably foreclosed.

The case pertains to the brutal gang-rape and killing of a 23-year-old paramedical student in a moving bus on the night of December 16, 2012, by six people including a juvenile in the capital. The woman had died at a Singapore hospital a few days later.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday morning had a closed-door meeting with the Nasarawa Governor, Abdullahi Sule, at State House, Abuja.

Although the agenda of the meeting was not yet clear, but it was however gathered that the meeting might not be unconnected with the deposed Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, who was banished to his state.

The meeting held briefly before the President entered the Executive Council Chambers for the weeks Federal Execute Council, FEC, meeting.

On Monday, the Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State had dethroned the emir over alleged violation of culture and traditions of the state.

Consequently, the monarch was banished to Nasarawa State where is expected to spend the rest of his life.

Recall that hours after Mr Sanusis removal, Governor Abdullahi Ganduje approved the appointment of Aminu Ado Bayero as the new emir.
Two youth died after being hit by a speeding truck on Lucknow-Allahabad highway under Kunda Kotwali police station area here, police said.

Surendra Kumar Maurya (19) and Amit Yadav (20) were walking home in Baneymau village after meeting their friends when they were hit by the truck on the highway on Tuesday night, SHO D P Singh said.

The duo were rushed to a hospital nearby where the doctors declared Kumar dead, the SHO said, adding that Yadav was referred to a hospital in Allahabad where he later succumbed to his injuries.

The bodies have been sent for a post mortem, Singh added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Closure of all Wuhan's makeshift hospitals indicates another stage in victory against COVID-19

Global Times

By Fan Wei and Xu Keyue Source:Globaltimes.cn Published: 2020/3/11 0:42:13

The last Fang Cang makeshift hospital in the epicenter Wuhan, in Central China's Hubei Province, purposely built and designed for COVID-19 treatment, closed on Tuesday afternoon, indicating that all 16 makeshift hospitals built in the city have closed amid surging recoveries, which an expert said reflected a major stage in the victory against the virus.

All 16 makeshift hospitals built in Wuhan have treated 12,000 patients by closing time.

The Fang Cang hospital in Wuchang district, which opened on February 5, is Wuhan's first such hospital.

The hospital has admitted 1,124 patients (including 833 discharged and 291 transferred), the People's Daily reported on Tuesday. 868 medical staff from 14 medical teams nationwide participated in treatment efforts, report said.

The hospital had recorded no deaths, no infections of hospital staff, and no instances of re-hospitalization, report said.

A closing ceremony was held at the hospital on Tuesday. The Global Times reporter present at the Wuchang Fang Cang hospital learned from a doctor regarding the four criteria for discharging patients, which include normal body temperature for three consecutive days, no respiratory symptoms, CT scans showing obvious decrease of lung inflammation, and two negative nucleic acid tests.

The doctor noted that discharged patients would be sent to designated points for a 14-day quarantine and a follow-up observation.

At the closing ceremony, the last group of patients from the hospital stood together excitedly and sang the song My Motherland to celebrate their recovery.

The makeshift hospitals were immediately constructed after the outbreak began to receive and treat patients displaying mild symptoms of novel coronavirus pneumonia, which has played an important and irreplaceable role in epidemic prevention and treatment, and has also created a new model for dealing with public health emergencies, responding to major disasters and epidemic situations, and rapidly organizing and pooling medical resources, Yang Zhanqiu, deputy director of the Pathogen Biology Department at Wuhan University, told the Global Times on Tuesday.

The closure shows the epicenter Wuhan is no longer short of hospital beds and a large number of patients exhibiting lighter symptoms have been cured, Yang said.

It also signals that such "epidemic prevention and control in the city is a major stage in the victory against the virus", Yang noted.

The first Fang Cang hospital in Qiaokou district, Wuhan, closed on March 1 and had admitted 330 patients from February 11, amongst whom 32 were critical or severe, and 232 were cured or discharged, media reported.

According to data published by China's National Health Commission, a further 19 infections of COVID-19 were confirmed on Monday, 36 on Sunday and 41 on Saturday, which shows a falling trend in the city.

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EDWARDSVILLE  Madison County Community Development is offering college and occupational training scholarships for low-income students who plan to attend school during the upcoming school year starting this fall.

The Community Services Block Grant scholarships will be awarded to 15 low-income students who are or will be attending an accredited Illinois university, community college, technical or vocational school. The students will receive a $2,000 scholarship for the 2020-2021 school year.

The scholarships are funded and designed in cooperation with the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. Those interested in applying for the scholarship should contact the colleges financial aid offices, their high school guidance counselor or visit www.co.madison.il.us/departments/community_development/community_services.php.

Candidates must provide proof of Madison County residency. They also must meet criteria for poverty income for the entire household and complete the intake/family member information forms and college application. The candidates entire household for those 18 years of age must provide proof of (gross) income for the last 90 days, along with verification documents such as check stubs or printouts of income statements.

The 90-day income criteria ranges for $3,988 for one person to $13,788 for eight, with $1,400 for each additional family member.

Candidates must complete the College Application and CSBG Intake form. They are required to submit a copy of college transcripts, or if just entering college, high school transcripts. And they must submit a letter of recommendation on official letterhead from a high school or college official at the institution they are attending or will be attending.

Candidates must submit a one-page essay describing themselves, their college plans and their career goals. The essays should communicate something that is not stated in the application, which sets apart their scholarship application from others. Examples include, but are not limited to, hobbies, special interests and unique skills; volunteer work and involvement with organizations in the community; when and what type of awards or special recognition; goals and ambitions the scholarship committee should know about; and how would receiving this scholarship impact your life?

Previous scholarship recipients may apply for the scholarship again. Scholarships will be disbursed in two $1,000 increments at the start of each semester awarded to the college.

Applications and support documents must be submitted by 4:30 p.m. Friday, June 5. The CSBG Advisory Council Scholarship Committee will review applications, make final selections and announce recipients in July. Completed applications should be dropped off or mailed to Madison County Community Development, Attn: Amy Lyerla, 130 Hillsboro Ave, Edwardsville, IL 62025. Community Development offices are open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

For more details, contact Amy Lyerla at allyerla@co.madison.il.us or 618-296-4382 or Jenny Pruitt at jlpruitt@co.madison.il.us or 618-296-4442.
The Australian government on Wednesday included Italy in the list of nations facing travel bans, following a spike in coronavirus cases in the country.

According to com.au, Australia has so far reported 135 cases of coronavirus. More than 9,000 people have been tested in New South Wales (NSW) alone, the country's worst affected state with 65 cases. Three Australians have died so far.

In Victoria, 21 cases have been confirmed, 18 in Queensland, nine in Western Australia, seven in South Australia, two in Tasmania and one in Northern Territory.

Italy joined China, Iran and South Korea as countries facing an Australian travel ban.

The virus has so far killed 631 people in the European nation, with more than 10,000 infected. The Italian government has enforced an extraordinary, sweeping lockdown to combat the spread of the viral infection in the country.

"Italy has effectively put itself into lockdown with travel now, and this largely closes that loop," Prime Minister Scott Morrison said in Canberra.

He said the ban for Italy will be effective from 6 pm (local time) on Wednesday.

The decision to add Italy to the travel ban list is a reversal from last week, when Australia added extra screening for passengers from Italy but stopped short of a travel ban, state-run Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reported.

Foreign nationals who have been in Italy, China, Iran and South Korea will not be allowed into Australia for 14 days from the time they left those countries. However, Australian citizens and permanent residents travelling from those countries will be able to enter Australia, but need to isolate themselves for a fortnight, the com.au report said.

Prime Minister Morrison on Wednesday announced a fund of 2.4 billion Australian dollars to tackle the spread of coronavirus.

The fund will include setting up of about 100 pop-up respiratory clinics for faster coronavirus testing.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Las Vegas, Nevada, March 10, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- EarthCam will be exhibiting solutions for jobsite security and monitoring at CONEXPO-CON/AGG. Held every three years in Las Vegas, the event is North Americas largest construction trade show. The company will be announcing as part of its 2020 product line, several new cameras as well as updates to its popular Control Center 8 Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) suite.

Construction industry professionals searching for affordable ways to document and secure their projects should visit EarthCam at Exhibit #S65517 for live demos and show specials. EarthCam staff will be on hand to showcase managed services ranging from live streaming security video to 360 VR reality capture and Gigapixel time-lapse cameras. Now more than ever remote monitoring capabilities are an essential need for every jobsite.

EarthCam will be demonstrating the new panorama optimized ConstructionCam XIR, announced just last week, equipped with extreme infrared night vision to see up to 1500 feet in total darkness. With high-definition video and continuous recording, the camera is ideal for site security. Continuous 360 panning allows the system to track progress both vertically and horizontally, compiling panoramic imagery up to 300 Megapixels. Perfect for documenting everything from stadiums to skyscrapers, the new camera is rated IP66 and comes with a maintenance-free wiper system for reliability in all weather conditions.

EarthCams exhibit will feature their exclusive Edge Video Recorder (EVR), a powerful security solution that goes beyond event-based recording. It offers High-Definition continuous video recording with up to 120 days of retention and secure 256 bit AES encryption. An intuitive, visual timeline interface makes access to recorded video fast and simple on a smart phone, tablet or computer from any location. Footage can be reviewed quickly and incidents are easily shareable with security response personnel.

Story continues

EarthCam Control Center version 8.6 now supports advanced jobsite security functions and a host of other new features. The past year saw added support for artificial intelligence (AI) powered image analytics and instant access to AI-Edited, presentation-ready movies at any point throughout a project timeline. Also recently implemented is EarthCam exclusive Accel-Control Web Socket connectivity which provides for more efficient and responsive streaming of high-quality live video wirelessly over 4G LTE networks.

For a live demonstration of innovative construction camera technology and services, visit EarthCam at CONEXPO/CON/AGG March 10-14 at Exhibit #S65517 or go to https://www.earthcam.net/conexpo/ .

ABOUT EARTHCAM

EarthCam is the global leader in providing webcam content, technology and services. Founded in 1996, EarthCam provides live streaming video, time-lapse construction cameras and reality capture solutions for corporate and government clients. EarthCam leads the industry with the highest resolution imagery available, including the worlds first outdoor gigapixel panorama camera system. This patented technology delivers superior multi-billion pixel clarity for monitoring and archiving important projects and events. EarthCam has documented over a trillion dollars of construction projects worldwide. The company is headquartered on a 10-acre campus in Northern New Jersey and maintains 13 additional offices internationally.

Projects documented by EarthCam include: Hudson Yards, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Los Angeles SoFi Stadium, Las Vegas Allegiant Stadium, Golden State Warriors Chase Center, LaGuardia Airport, TWA Hotel at JFK Airport, Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge, Panama Canal Expansion, Qatar Rail, The Jeddah Tower, 56 Leonard Street, 432 Park Avenue, Whitney Museum of American Art, Louvre in Abu Dhabi, Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, One World Trade Center, Statue of Liberty Museum, and the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum.

Learn more about EarthCams innovative solutions at http://www.earthcam.net/.

Attachments

Francesca DePalo

EarthCam

201-488-1111

marketing@earthcam.com


Coronavirus infections in Spain have passed the 2,000 mark with 47 deaths, the health ministry announced on Wednesday, making it Europes second most severe outbreak after Italy.

By this morning, we had 2,002 cases, said health ministry emergencies coordinator Fernando Simon, up from 1,639 on Tuesday and almost quadruple Sundays total.

Madrid is the worst-hit region with half of the confirmed cases and 31 of the deaths.

Officials quickly unveiled a battery of measures to contain the outbreak, closing schools in Madrid for two weeks, disinfecting public transport daily in the capital and banning all incoming flights from Italy.

But Simon said the impact of such measures would only be known after nine or 10 days.

He said it would take between one and two months to end the epidemic, which in the worst-case scenario could be up to four months.

The government has also promised to help the tourism sector in the worlds number two tourist destination.
The World Health Organization has declared the coronavirus crisis to be a global pandemic, according to the Associated Press.

The Associated Press reports Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who heads the U.N. agency, said the WHO is deeply concerned by the alarming levels of spread and severity of the outbreak. He also expressed concern about the alarming levels of inaction.

We have, therefore, made the assessment that COVID-19 can be characterized as a pandemic, he said at a briefing in Geneva.

The announcement comes one day after the first two cases of coronavirus were confirmed as presumptive positive in Michigan -- one in Wayne County and one in Oakland County.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer declared a state of emergency late Tuesday night.

Were going to keep Michigan safe and were going to be prudent," Whitmer said.

She said Tuesday she plans to meet with officials Wednesday to determine what next measures to take.

Michigan is the 38th state to have a confirmed case of coronavirus COVID-19. An additional 124 people across the state are being monitored by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services for signs of exposure.

Nationwide, there have been almost 1,000 reported cases and 31 deaths.

According to the Associated Press, more than 121,000 people have been infected and over 4,300 have died globally.

But the vast majority of people recover, according to the World Health Organization.

COVID-19 symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as long as 14 days after exposure to the virus. They include fever, cough and shortness of breath.

What Michigan residents need to know about coronavirus

Health officials in Michigan and globally have urged people to take precautions such as thorough hand-washing with soap and water and avoid touching their eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands.

PREVENTION TIPS

Much like how you would try to prevent the flu, you want to stay away from people who are sick and practice good hygiene, says the CDC.

The latter means thoroughly washing your hands for at least 20 seconds, especially after using the bathroom and before eating. Avoid touching your mouth or face unless your hands are clean.

Use household cleaners to disinfect commonly touched objects and surfaces. Use disinfectant wipes to clean your hands or surfaces such as shopping-cart handles when out in public.

Some people are going the extra step and using smartphone sanitizers as a precaution, but a disinfecting wipe used lightly on the outside will likely work fine, too.

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Best defense against coronavirus
President Xi Jinping visits Huoshenshan Hospital in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, March 10, 2020. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

President Xi said the spread of the virus has been basically curbed in Hubei and Wuhan.

WUHAN, March 10 (Xinhua) -- President Xi Jinping on Tuesday inspected the COVID-19 outbreak epicenter in central China, pledging a continuous fight toward victory as prevention and control efforts have "turned the tide."

The inspection to Wuhan, Hubei Province, took the president to a hospital treating severely ill COVID-19 patients and a residential community. He visited patients, medics, community residents and workers, police officers, military personnel, officials and volunteers who have been fighting the novel coronavirus.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, called for firm, solid and meticulous prevention and control efforts to defend Hubei and Wuhan.

Xi said thanks to hard work, the situation in Hubei and Wuhan has shown positive changes with important progress, but the task of prevention and control remains arduous.

Xi stressed continuing to take epidemic prevention and control as a task of paramount importance.

Praising the people of Wuhan, Xi said the positive trend in epidemic control could not have been achieved without their sacrifice, devotion, perseverance and efforts.

With their concrete actions, the people of Wuhan have demonstrated the strength and spirit of China, as well as the Chinese people's love for their family and nation, which enables them to stick together through thick and thin, he said.

On behalf of the CPC Central Committee, Xi sent condolences to people who died in the epidemic and people who sacrificed their lives fighting on the front line.

Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and a member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, also attended the inspection.

In Huoshenshan Hospital, the first leg of his inspection, Xi lauded medical workers as "the most beautiful angels" and "messengers of light and hope."

The frontline medical workers have taken on the most arduous missions, Xi said, calling them "the most admirable people in the new era" who deserve the highest commendations.

President Xi Jinping sends regards to medical workers via a video link at Huoshenshan Hospital in Wuhan, March 10, 2020. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

Xi talked with patients in the hospital through a video link, and expressed his wishes for their quick recovery.

"All prevention and control measures taken by the CPC Central Committee against the virus are to prevent more people from being infected and save more patients' lives," Xi said.

Meeting medic representatives in the hospital, Xi said the spread of the virus has been basically curbed in Hubei and Wuhan, and attributed the achievement to efforts of the whole Party, the whole country and the whole society.

"But you are the biggest heroes," Xi told the medics.

Leaving Huoshenshan Hospital, Xi came to a residential community. People quarantined at home waved to Xi from their balconies and windows. Xi waved back and expressed his regards.

President Xi Jinping waves to residents who are quarantined at home and sends regards to them at a community in Wuhan, March 10, 2020. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

Xi stressed the importance of communities in epidemic prevention and control, requiring grassroots Party organizations and Party members to play their key roles in containing the virus spread in communities.

He emphasized closely relying on the people to win the people's war against the epidemic.

After the field inspection, Xi chaired a teleconference and delivered an important speech.

Xi said since the outbreak, the CPC Central Committee has taken the most comprehensive, rigorous and thorough prevention and control measures to resolutely curb the spread of the virus in Wuhan and Hubei.

"Initial success has been achieved in stabilizing the situation and turning the tide," he said.

Xi said medical treatment should be given the top priority to improve the recovery rate and reduce mortality to the greatest extent under the principle of scientific and targeted treatment.

President Xi Jinping inquires about purchasing and supply of people's daily necessities at a community in Wuhan, March 10, 2020. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

Noting that the fight against the virus is at a critical moment, Xi stressed further preventing the spread and exportation of cases.

Xi demanded more understanding and tolerance for people in Hubei and Wuhan if some vent their feelings for long time under self-quarantine, as well as efforts to ensure the supply of their life necessities.

The epidemic will not affect the fundamentals of Hubei's steady and long-term sound economic development, Xi said, urging implementation of policies and measures to support enterprises, stabilize employment and create more jobs.

Calling the response to the virus a "test" for China's system and capacity for governance, which has brought both experience and lessons, Xi demanded efforts to fix the shortcomings and weak links as soon as possible.

Xi urged Party organizations, members and officials to shoulder responsibilities, adopt sound prevention and control measures and improve their capabilities in the test.
Postmasters dragged through court over missing cash caused by errors in an IT system will only receive an average of 20,000 compensation each.

The Post Office spent up to 120million of taxpayers' cash fighting a two-decade battle  and acted as 'judge, jury and executioner', MPs were told on Tuesday.

Some sub-postmasters accused of stealing money from their own tills were jailed, forced into bankruptcy or hounded out of their jobs.

Set to face questionsL Former boss Paula Vennells had received 2.2m bonuses

In December the Post Office capitulated after a lengthy High Court battle and agreed to pay nearly 58million compensation. But the victims will only receive an average of 20,000 each  from a total pot of 11million  to cover their losses and years of anguish.

The rest of the settlement cash will go on fees to lawyers and the City financiers who funded the claimants.

Even now, some postmasters remain too afraid to admit to shortfalls in their accounts caused by computer glitches, for fear they will be pursued for the money, it was claimed.

Hatherley post office. The Post Office spent up to 120million of taxpayers' cash fighting a two-decade battle  and acted as 'judge, jury and executioner', MPs were told yesterday

The taxpayer-funded Post Office also spent an estimated 32million on lawyers between 2017 and 2019 alone.

Mother left terrified of jail term Former postmistress Wendy Buffrey was yelled and spat at after she was convicted over a 26,000 shortfall in her accounts. The 60-year-old was pressured into pleading guilty to avoid a 'terrifying' prison term and was handed 150 hours of community service in 2010. Yesterday the mother-of-three, who ran a post office in the Cheltenham suburb of Up Hatherley, told MPs the shortfall originally came from around 200 books of stamps that were wrongly recorded on the system. When she tried to correct the ledger, she watched in horror as the system generated an 18,000 loss, which then doubled to 36,000. Former postmistress Wendy Buffrey (pictured) was yelled and spat at after she was convicted over a 26,000 shortfall in her accounts For months she trawled every piece of paperwork to try to explain the accounting error, while maxing out credit cards in an attempt to balance her books. Unable to pay the sum back, her home and her post office business were seized and she had to move in with her son. Her case is now with the Criminal Cases Review Commission. Yesterday she told MPs: 'I cannot explain to anyone the effect being accused of something you haven't done has on you. I'd had five months feeling sick all the time. 'I want someone to be held accountable for what they did to us. We have to find out how, why and who knew.' Advertisement

Alan Bates, founder of the Justice for Sub-postmasters Alliance, yesterday told MPs on the Commons Business Committee that he believed additional costs take the total spent by the Post Office to between 100million and 120million.

He added: 'When you start to talk about dividing 11million between 550 people you can see we are not getting very far to recover the cost. No one is going to be happy with it.

'The Post Office acted as judge, jury and executioner. There was always a presumption of guilt, it was guilty until you're proven innocent.'

Labour MP Rachel Reeves, chairman of the committee, said the postmasters' lives had been left in 'turmoil' because bosses 'looked for an easy scapegoat'.

Some postmasters have been left out of pocket to the tune of hundreds of thousands of pounds.

PM Boris Johnson announced a public inquiry into the scandal last week.

Paula Vennells, who ran the corporation from 2012 to 2019, walked away with 2.2million in bonuses, a CBE for services to the Post Office, and a senior position in the Cabinet Office.

She will face questions from the committee, as will her replacement Nick Read, later this month.

Andy Furey, of the Communications Workers Union, which represents postmasters, said: 'No one has been accountable, no one has lost their job, no one's been dismissed from the Post Office board.

'The scale of this is horrendous. This is a national scandal and the Post Office needs to be held to account.'

More than 50 former postmasters with convictions have lodged cases to get their criminal records struck off.

The Post Office is setting up a new mediation system for postmasters who were not part of the group litigation.

MPs were told the 'floodgates will open' and hundreds will come forward to say they were chased for money.

The CWU said there are still 'daily' issues with the IT system, known as Horizon.

A Post Office spokesman said: 'We are continuing to make further improvements and to re-set our relationship with postmasters.'
Mumbai: NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Wednesday (March 11, 2020) ruled out a Madhya Pradesh-like political crisis in Maharashtra, saying the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena-NCP- Congress alliance government is doing "very well" in the state.

Talking to reporters at the Vidhan Bhawan in south Mumbai, Pawar also said Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia, who quit the party to join the BJP, had sought "quick rehabilitation" after losing the Lok Sabha poll.

Asked if the Congress is to be blamed for the imminent fall of the Kamal Nath government, Pawar said the party has a "good and capable leadership". On the impact of Scindia's exit on the 15-month-old Kamal Nath government in Madhya Pradesh, Pawar said, "Some people have confidence in the capacity of Kamal Nath and feel a miracle can happen."

The statement from Pawar came shortly after Jyotiraditya Scindia joined the BJP on Wednesday in presence of party's president JP Nadda and hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his leadership, saying the country's future is secure in his hands.

Welcoming him into the BJP, Nadda recalled the party's founder and Jyotiraditya's grandmother Vijaya Raje Scindia and said, "he is joining his family and we welcome him."

Thanking Prime Minister, Home Minister Amit Shah and Nadda, Scindia said they have given him the platform to serve the people.

"Pained" and "distressed" for not able to serve the people in his previous organisation, he said the Congress is living in denial and it is not the same party what it used to be.

Hailing PM Modi for his leadership, Scindia said the country's future is secure in his hands. Talking about Madhya Pradesh, the erstwhile Congress leader said the dream which he saw with his former colleagues for the state has been shattered in the last 18 months.

According to sources, the BJP is also confident of forming the government in the state with his help as 22 MLAs including Scindia's supporters have resigned from the state assembly reducing the Kamal Nath government to a minority.

Peeved with his marginalisation in the Congress, Scindia met Amit Shah on Tuesday and then the two leaders went to the Prime Minister's residence where they held talks for over an hour.

Soon after meeting PM Modi, he tendered his resignation to Congress president Sonia Gandhi saying it was time for him to move on.

Scindia took the decision to sever his ties with the Congress on the day of his father Madhavrao Scindia's 75th birth anniversary.

A four-time MP, Scindia first got elected from Guna in Madhya Pradesh in 2002 after winning a by-election necessitated by his father's demise. He was only 31 years old at that time.

He gradually made his way up the Congress ladder becoming Minister of State for Communications and IT in 2007 during the Congress-led UPA-1. In 2009, he became Minister of State for Commerce and Industry and in 2012 was appointed Minister of State for Power during UPA-2.

After the Congress lost the 2014 General Election, Sonia Gandhi named him the party's chief whip in the Lok Sabha.
A volunteer stands with firemen in the burnt facilities of the school for refugee children, part of the "One Happy Family" NGO's project on the island of Lesbos on March 8, 2020 in Mitilini, Greece. (Milos Bicanski/Getty Images)

Greek Island Refugee Center Damaged by Fire Amid Tensions

ATHENS, GreeceA fire broke out at a refugee center on the Greek island of Lesbos, causing considerable damage to a warehouse but no injuries, Greeces firefighting service said March 8.

It was the second fire at an installation built for immigrants, after a reception center was burned down by unknown perpetrators on March 1. The warehouse, which contained furniture and electrical appliances, was destroyed, a firefighting spokesman told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity, because an investigation is continuing.

The blaze at the refugee center came amid a tense standoff between Turkey and the European Union over who is responsible for the millions of migrants and refugees on Turkish territory and the thousands who have massed recently at the Greek border.

Thousands of migrants headed for Turkeys land border with EU member Greece after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogans government announced earlier this month that it would no longer prevent migrants and refugees from crossing into EU countries.

Greece has deployed riot police and border guards to repel people trying to enter the country and the Greek border area has since seen violent confrontations between them and the migrants. On March 7, youths threw rocks at Greek police and tried to break down a border fence.

Throughout March 8, activity at the Greek-Turkish border was reduced compared to previous days, although there were still attempts to breach Greeces border fence, with Greek forces pushing back.

According to police data, a total of 745 people were prevented from crossing the border and there were two arrests from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. March 8. In total, there have been 293 arrests since 6 a.m. on Feb. 29, and 41,060 people have been prevented from crossing over into Greece.

Cyprus announced late March 8 that it will send 22 riot policemen, or a full anti-demonstration unit to the border to assist Greece. Cypriot government spokesman Kyriakos Kousios said that a Greek military plane was on its way to Cyprus to pick up the reinforcements later March 8.

Earlier March 8, Kousios had released a statement saying that the decision to send the force was announced by Cypriot President Nicos Anastassiades to Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis during a telephone conversation the two had early March 8.

The presidents proposal was gratefully accepted by Greeces Prime Minister and, therefore, a force from Cyprus security forces will travel to Greece immediately to defend and guard Greeces, and Europes, borders, the Cyprus spokesmans earlier statement said.

In Istanbul on March 8, Erdogan called on Greece to open its borders and allow the migrants to move on to other European countries.

These people wont stay (in your country), they will move to other European countries, Erdogan said. Why dont you open your gates too, let them go to other countries, and rid yourself of this burden.

In a speech marking International Womens Day, Erdogan asserted that women and children were bearing the brunt of the crisis.

Is the Wests heart breaking over all of this? No. Is it raising its voice? No, Erdogan said.

The Greek government released a video purporting to show a Turkish armored vehicle trying to pull down part of border fence with a rope. It claimed the vehicle was partly purchased with EU border funds. The Associated Press couldnt verify the authenticity of the video. There was no immediate comment from Turkish officials.

Greece also arrested five immigrants overnight.

Turkey is accusing Greece of mistreating the immigrants. Many immigrants have reported crossing into Greece, being beaten by Greek authorities and summarily forced back into Turkey.

A member of the UNHCR, the United Nations refugee agency in place, acknowledged the reports.

We are aware of reports of pushbacks and excessive use of force along the borders. We are calling for calm, the easing of tension and for all efforts to be made to avoid any type of violence, said UNHCR official Margaritis Petritzikis, without getting into specifics.

Erdogan was to travel to Brussels on March 9 to meet with European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen about a 2016 Turkey-EU agreement on containing the refugee flows to Europe that has now collapsed. Each side has blamed the other. An EU spokesman said the crisis in Syria, and security and stability in the region would also be discussed.

The deal called for Turkey to halt the flow of Europe-bound migrants and refugees in exchange for up to 6 billion euros ($6.7 billion) in aid for Syrian refugees on its territory, fast-track EU membership and visa-free travel to Europe for Turkish citizens.

I hope that we will return from Brussels with a different result, Erdogan said.

Erdogan has demanded that Europe shoulder more of the burden of caring for refugees, accusing the EU of failing to disburse the money. He announced that Turkey, which already houses more than 3.5 million Syrian refugees, would no longer be Europes gatekeeper.

EU foreign ministers have criticized Turkey, saying it is using the immigrants desperation for political purposes. EU countries are still dealing with the political fallout from a wave of mass migration five years ago.
By Trend

The Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA) held an extraordinary foreign exchange auction with the participation of the State Oil Fund (SOFAZ), attracting 155 million manat ($91.1 million) from Azerbaijani banks, Trend reports referring to CBA on Mar. 11.

According to the CBA, demand from the banks at the auction decreased by 52 percent or by 168.2 million manat ($98.2 million) compared to the previous auction.

The foreign exchange auction was held for the first time in a long time with the participation of the SOFAZ on March 10, 2020, during which Azerbaijani banks acquired 323.2 million manat ($190.1 million).

CBA began to hold foreign exchange auctions through unilateral sale of foreign currency in competitive conditions since mid-January 2017. In March 2020, it was decided to hold extraordinary foreign exchange auctions in connection with the increased demand of the population for foreign currency amid the failed deal OPEC+ (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries), which entailed a sharp decline in oil prices.

(1 USD = 1.7 AZN on March 11)

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Willemstad/Philipsburg:---The Centrale Bank van Curacao en Sint Maarten (CBCS) contracted equensWorldline SE, a subsidiary of Worldline, the European leader in the payments and transactional services industry, to introduce an Instant Payments (IP) clearing & settlement system (CSM) on top of their current CSM. That means that a major part of the interbank payments in Curacao, Sint Maarten, and Bonaire will soon be processed within ten seconds, 24/7/365. For now, the batch payments will continue to be processed by the current CSM. The IP transactions will be handled in Antillean Guilder and US Dollar. This makes the CBCS one of the first institutions in the region to use a direct dual currency system and to process dollars instantly. The IP CSM will be fully compliant with international payment standards. The contract with equensWorldline will initially be for a period of five years.

Phase 1 and 2

Phase 1, in which the basic infrastructure will be built, is just the beginning of the implementation of Instant Payments on the islands. CBCS wants to further develop Instant Payments and has already designed phase 2 together with equensWorldline. Phase 2 is aimed at expanding online and in-store Instant Payments. It implies the technology that enables the client to make a payment with a QR code via an app, where the beneficiary will receive an instant notification from his bank. This concerns payments from the current account of the account holder.

Leila Matroos, executive director at the CBCS: The developments surrounding Instant Payments are in line with our goal to modernize the infrastructure and stimulate economic development in Curacao and Sint Maarten. With the introduction of Instant Payments, we are preparing ourselves for future developments in the world of payments.

Michael Steinbach, CEO equensWorldline: The developments surrounding Instant Payments in the

Caribbean show that this payment method is on the way to become the new normal.

CBCS chose equensWorldline because of their experience and proven track record as the largest

Instant Payments processor in the Eurozone and looks forward to a fruitful cooperation.
A British health minister has been diagnosed with coronavirus.

Nadine Dorries, who is the UKs junior health minister, is in isolation and recovering after falling ill on Friday.

Her diagnosis comes after she attended a reception with Prime Minister Boris Johnson, according to the Times of London, and meeting hundreds of people in Parliament.

As news broke of her testing positive to the disease, Ms Dorries thanked people for so many good wishes.

Boris Johnson with Nadine Dorries (centre) and Chief Secretary to the Treasury Liz Truss (right) pictured last year. Source: Joe Giddens/PA Images via Getty Images

Its been pretty rubbish but I hope Im over the worst of it now. More worried about my 84yo mum who is staying with me and began with the cough today, she tweeted.

She is being tested tomorrow. Keep safe and keep washing those hands, everyone.

Britains Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Matt Hancock said he was really sorry to hear Nadine has tested positive for coronavirus.

She has done the right thing by self isolating at home, and both NHS and PHE staff have been brilliant. We all wish her well as she recovers, he said.

UK health officials are now trying to trace where she contracted the virus and who she has been in contact with, Ms Dorries, a Conservative MP, said in a separate statement confirming her diagnosis.

Six people have died in Britain from the virus, with more than 370 confirmed cases.

Ms Dorries, who helped craft the legislation to fight the bug, is the first British politician to be diagnosed with COVID-19.

She fell unwell on Friday while signing the document that declared coronavirus a notifiable disease, meaning companies could obtain insurance cover, The Times reported.

 with Reuters and AFP

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.
T he first Budget of Prime Minister Boris Johnson's majority government is set to be unveiled at 12.30pm today.

It is the country's first financial plan outside the European Union in more than four decades.

After the Conservative Party's landslide election victory, Mr Johnson and his newly-appointed chancellor Rishi Sunak are in a position to push through their plans for the economy.

But the spectre of coronavirus and trying to limit its impact on the economy loom over the budget, with the Bank of England slashing its rate on Wednesday morning ahead of the Chancellor's announcements.

So when will the Budget take place and what will it likely include? Here's everything you need to know...

Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson, flanked by Rishi Sunak / POOL/AFP via Getty Images

What time is the Budget 2020?

The Budget will be read out in the House of Commons by the Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak at 12:30pm today (GMT).

Mr Sunak has stuck to the March 11 launch date set by his predecessor Sajid Javid.

Mr Javid postponed the Budget in November to make way for the December general election that resulted in a landslide Conservative victory and Boris Johnson staying on as prime minister.

This budget needs to satisfy the needs of several very different audiences.

These range from traditional Labour voters in the Midlands and the north of England - who contributed towards the PM's 80-seat majority - to traditional Tory voters and financial markets.

Chancellor of the Exchequer as new Chancellor Rishi Sunak is understood to be preparing to announce that parts of the Treasury will be moved to a location in the north of England / PA

Who is the new Chancellor Rishi Sunak?

Rishi Sunak was appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer by Boris Johnson as recently as February 13.

He was elected MP for Richmond (Yorks) in 2015 and his rapid rise saw him appointed chief secretary to the Treasury when Mr Johnson became Prime Minister in July 2019.

Mr Sunak is considered a Johnson loyalist and represented the PM during 2019 election debates.

Britain's Chief Secretary to the Treasury Rishi Sunak arrives at 10 Downing Street / AFP via Getty Images

Just six months later he is the Chancellor of the Exchequer, having moved through ranks like the under-secretary of state for local government.

The 39-year-old took up the post after Sajid Javid resigned during a cabinet reshuffle.

Mr Sunak is far less experienced than his predecessor and as chief Treasury secretary, he was not technically a full cabinet minister.

In contrast, Mr Javid served as culture secretary, business secretary, housing secretary and home secretary before being appointed chancellor.

Former Chancellor Sajid Javid departs following the weekly Cabinet Meeting within number 10, Downing Street on February 06 / Getty Images

Mr Javid resigned after months of tensions between Downing Street and the Treasury.

It came to a head when the PM's chief special adviser Dominic Cummings fired one of Mr Javid's aides, Sonia Khan, without his permission.

Mr Johnson promised to keep Mr Javid as chancellor after the general election in December.

However, in weeks leading up to the reshuffle, media reports suggested that a new rival finance ministry could be established with Mr Sunak at the lead to reduce the power and political influence of the Treasury.

Mr Javid resigned as Chancellor on February 13, the day of a cabinet reshuffle.
The United States on Tuesday granted Chinese telecom giant Huawei another 45 days to continue doing business with American companies.

The new provisional license expires on May 15. Prior to the extension, the previous license was set to expire on April 1.

In May, Washington said it would blacklist Huawei from the US market and from buying crucial American components.

The United States has expressed concern that Huawei equipment could contain security loopholes that allow China to spy on global communications traffic. The company has denied the accusation.

US companies and residents are essentially forced to find alternative suppliers for Huawei' telecommunications equipment and software.

US President Donald Trump's administration granted Huawei a provisional license, extended for 90 days in November and then for 45 days in February, so as not to cut off the most rural areas of the United States from the world while companies found alternative suppliers.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Today we'll evaluate China Coal Energy Company Limited (HKG:1898) to determine whether it could have potential as an investment idea. Specifically, we'll consider its Return On Capital Employed (ROCE), since that will give us an insight into how efficiently the business can generate profits from the capital it requires.

First up, we'll look at what ROCE is and how we calculate it. Second, we'll look at its ROCE compared to similar companies. And finally, we'll look at how its current liabilities are impacting its ROCE.

Understanding Return On Capital Employed (ROCE)

ROCE measures the 'return' (pre-tax profit) a company generates from capital employed in its business. Generally speaking a higher ROCE is better. Overall, it is a valuable metric that has its flaws. Renowned investment researcher Michael Mauboussin has suggested that a high ROCE can indicate that 'one dollar invested in the company generates value of more than one dollar'.

So, How Do We Calculate ROCE?

Analysts use this formula to calculate return on capital employed:

Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT)  (Total Assets - Current Liabilities)

Or for China Coal Energy:

0.075 = CN14b  (CN277b - CN87b) (Based on the trailing twelve months to September 2019.)

So, China Coal Energy has an ROCE of 7.5%.

View our latest analysis for China Coal Energy

Does China Coal Energy Have A Good ROCE?

ROCE is commonly used for comparing the performance of similar businesses. Using our data, China Coal Energy's ROCE appears to be around the 7.5% average of the Oil and Gas industry. Aside from the industry comparison, China Coal Energy's ROCE is mediocre in absolute terms, considering the risk of investing in stocks versus the safety of a bank account. Investors may wish to consider higher-performing investments.

In our analysis, China Coal Energy's ROCE appears to be 7.5%, compared to 3 years ago, when its ROCE was 1.5%. This makes us wonder if the company is improving. You can see in the image below how China Coal Energy's ROCE compares to its industry. Click to see more on past growth.

Story continues

SEHK:1898 Past Revenue and Net Income, March 11th 2020

When considering ROCE, bear in mind that it reflects the past and does not necessarily predict the future. ROCE can be deceptive for cyclical businesses, as returns can look incredible in boom times, and terribly low in downturns. ROCE is only a point-in-time measure. We note China Coal Energy could be considered a cyclical business. What happens in the future is pretty important for investors, so we have prepared a free report on analyst forecasts for China Coal Energy.

China Coal Energy's Current Liabilities And Their Impact On Its ROCE

Current liabilities are short term bills and invoices that need to be paid in 12 months or less. Due to the way the ROCE equation works, having large bills due in the near term can make it look as though a company has less capital employed, and thus a higher ROCE than usual. To counteract this, we check if a company has high current liabilities, relative to its total assets.

China Coal Energy has current liabilities of CN87b and total assets of CN277b. As a result, its current liabilities are equal to approximately 31% of its total assets. China Coal Energy's middling level of current liabilities have the effect of boosting its ROCE a bit.

What We Can Learn From China Coal Energy's ROCE

Unfortunately, its ROCE is still uninspiring, and there are potentially more attractive prospects out there. But note: make sure you look for a great company, not just the first idea you come across. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies with strong recent earnings growth (and a P/E ratio below 20).

If you are like me, then you will not want to miss this free list of growing companies that insiders are buying.

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



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
English Danish

PRESS RELEASE

Svane Kkkenet opens store number ten in Norway

The Danish kitchen brand Svane Kkkenet expands in Norway. By opening in Kristiansand, the last of the remaining major Norwegian towns on the west coast, a strategic target will be achieved.

Svane Kkkenet reaches an important milestone through the upcoming expansion in Norway with the launch of its tenth concept store in Kristiansand in early summer 2020. Through this launch, the Danish kitchen brand has taken further steps towards covering the Norwegian west coast with stores in all of the attractive coastal towns  from Oslo across Bergen to Alesund, which will open this March.

 The opening in Kristiansand is a step forward in the execution of our strategy for Svane Kkkenet to become a nationwide kitchen chain with 15-18 stores in the Norwegian market, says CEO Torben Paulin.

Norwegian store managers plan to set up an experience store

Svane Kkkenet has succeeded in recruiting two experienced kitchen consultants to the Norwegian team. The two new store managers, who will pair up in managing the Kristiansand store, have worked as colleagues up to now in a local kitchen store.

Inger Margrethe Palm, who is a trained Interior Decorator, brings with her 15 years of kitchen experience. Her colleague Marianne Halvorsen holds an education within finance and marketing and contributes with 7 years of experience in sales to the professional market.

The new team wish to set up an exclusive experience store with the latest Danish kitchen designs. With this in mind, they have chosen a location in the town center, close to the pedestrian shopping street, in order to reach the customers who live, work or shop in the center of town.

The interior design of the 250 square meter concept store is already well in progress in close co-operation with architect MAA, Rolf Birk, in charge of design and concept at Svane Kkkenet.





The future Svane Kkkenet concept store in Kristiansand, Norway will be furnished with a wide range of the latest kitchen and bathroom designs like this black S19 design.

(PR-photo: Svane Kkkenet)













Contacts:

Chain Manager Michael Overs, Svane Kkkenet, phone +45 2524 0000

CEO Torben Paulin, phone +45 9743 5200

Attachment
It has been 18 years in the making, but SpaceX may finally send its first manned mission into space.

The firms president and COO Gwynne Shotwell revealed the California company is gunning for May to fly astronauts aboard its Crew Dragon to the International Space Station.

Shotwell noted that NASA astronauts set to take the craft are currently in training by should be ready to go in two months.

The Commercial Crew Program will not position SpaceX as a front runner for space travel, but will also return human spaceflight capability to the US  a feat that has not been done in a decade.

Scroll down for video

It has been 18 years in the making, but SpaceX may finally send its first manned mission into space. The firms president and COO Gwynne Shotwell revealed the California company is gunning for May to fly astronauts aboard its Crew Dragon to the International Space Station

Shotwell, who attened the Satellite 2020 conference in Washington, DC, was confident of the launch date but is aware of the hurdles that lay ahead of them, CNBC reported.

Were going to have to go through a certification process, she said.

The SpaceX president noted that the length of the mission is still under consideration, saying its kind of TBD right now.

NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley are two of the four set to launch aboard Crew Dragon, but will be the first to board the craft this year.

After Crew Dragons demonstration mission with crew is complete, Victor Glover and Mike Hopkins will be the first two NASA astronauts to launch aboard Crew Dragon to the International Space Station (ISS) for a long-duration mission.

NASA astronauts Bob Behnken (left) and Doug Hurley (right) are two of the four set to launch aboard Crew Dragon, but will be the first to board the craft this year.

The Commercial Crew Program to the International Space Station (pictured) will not position SpaceX as a frontrunner for space travel, but will also return human spaceflight capability to the US  a feat that has not been done in a decade

Shotwell also explained that SpaceX has plans to reuse the Crew Dragon capsules when sending crew into space.

Altogether, SpaceX has reused three of the earlier versions of the capsule, called Cargo Dragon, to deliver payloads to the ISS.

The statement come a month after news surfaced online that suggested the mission would kick off in late April, or push later into May.

According to a tweet from Ars Technica's Eric Berger, Crew Dragon may now take its first astronauts to space on May 7 if everything goes according to plan. Variables could push the launch into Mary or April, added Berger.

Static fire of Falcon 9 complete  targeting January 18 for an in-flight demonstration of Crew Dragons launch escape system, which will verify the spacecrafts ability to carry astronauts to safety in the unlikely event of an emergency during ascent  SpaceX (@SpaceX) January 11, 2020

'Working date for SpaceX's Demo-2 launch is May 7,' tweeted Berger.

'Dragon is in good shape. Launch date is fluid and mission may move into late April, or push later into May depending on a number of variables not hardware related. No final decision yet on duration.'

News of the expected launch date follows up successes on a major test of the craft's launch abort system last month in which SpaceX put Crew Dragon to the ultimate test.

During the test, the craft launched into high-altitude and the boosters were exploded while the capsule was aborted at high-velocity - the most stressful point of the launch.

NASA's commercial crew program manager said at the time that the launch abort test was our last open milestone before sending astronauts Doug Hurley and Robert Behnken to the International Space Station.

The capsule has gone through ups and downs throughout the past several years. In April last year, an explosion engulfed the empty capsule in fire and smoke.

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, pictured with an illustration of the Crew Dragon capsule, has long sought to bring Crew Dragon back to form after an explosion derailed progress last April

The incident was set off by a leaking component and completely destroyed the capsule - a glitch that has contributed to SpaceX's delayed timeline for Crew Dragon, which it's developing for NASA

As SpaceX works to get its Crew Dragon operational the company is working to reach a similar milestone in a test of its other craft, Starship.

The company hopes to fly its Starship rocket 12 miles into the air and then land it back on the ground, upright.

The test, which the company filed a permit with the FCC for, could take place as soon as mid-March.

Once the the capsule will be cleared for launching astronauts but also eventually clear the way for civilian space tourism.

SPACEX CREW DRAGON CAPSULE MEASURES 20FT AND CAN CARRY 7 ASTRONAUTS AT A TIME The March 2 test, the first launch of U.S. astronauts from U.S. soil in eight years, will inform the system design and operations (Artist's impression) The capsule measures about 20 feet tall by 12 feet in diameter, and will carry up to 7 astronauts at a time. The Crew Dragon features an advanced emergency escape system (which was tested earlier this year) to swiftly carry astronauts to safety if something were to go wrong, experiencing about the same G-forces as a ride at Disneyland. It also has an Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) that provides a comfortable and safe environment for crew members. Crew Dragon's displays will provide real-time information on the state of the spacecraft's capabilities, showing everything from Dragon's position in space, to possible destinations, to the environment on board. Those CRS-2 Dragon missions will use 'propulsive' landings, where the capsule lands on a landing pad using its SuperDraco thrusters rather than splashing down in the ocean. That will allow NASA faster access to the cargo returned by those spacecraft, and also build up experience for propulsive landings of crewed Dragon spacecraft.

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Uganda's People Power (PP) are the equivalent of Ku Klux Klan(KKK). If you want hate politics these days, become a PP. You can start off with Besigye-hating and then graduate to calling all "opposition-are-moles. They bully, blackmail and intimidate people on who to vote for. That is a fact that no one can change no matter how much they'd like to. There are no "yeah but"s. It is what it is.

They label Baganda who doesn't support Bobi Wine as "Judas". They've deluded themselves so thoroughly that they don't even recognize hatred and tribalism when and by who it occurs. If Uganda gets rid of Museveni, and it will happen, we need something or someone better, not the same or worse.

Sinking deeper into a hebetudinous state day after day, PP calls themselves the " real opposition " while the rest are fake. They call Besigye an NRM project and are using the same lines against Lt. Gen. Henry Tumukunde and several others.

Just like PP, the KKK was more of a social group than a political party. The KKK was founded in the immediate aftermath of the Civil war by six former Confederate soldiers in Tennessee. The six young men who were budding lawyers saw themselves as merely a circle of like-minded friends. In the beginning, their activities were harmless. But soon, the KKK evolved into a multistate terrorist organisation designed to frighten and kill black slaves.

KKK was affiliated with the Democrats at the beginning till in 1960s when the big switch happened. It was Barry Goldwater who converted them into Republicans. They've been Republican ever since. Democrats like George Wallace used the dogs and fire hoses on the blacks, it wasn't Republicans. Republicans voted for the civil rights act while Democrat Senator Robert Byrd filibustered the Civil Rights act. If you remember, it was President Eisenhower who sent in the National Guard to protect the blacks from the Democrats and the KKK.

Similarly, PP started off as something nice and unifying and affiliated with the " togikwatako " -- a movement of politicians and people against removal of presidential age limit. Then, Bobi started owning its slogan of " people power", it's red colour dressing, and now they are making deals with NRM to destroy FDC, as exemplified in the recent Kampala speakership contest, where Kawalya Abubakar won and FDC's Nyanjula Doreen lost. They reportedly pelt musicians that don't support Bobi with bottles and insult anybody who disagrees with them.

Yes, there are obvious cosmetic differences between the KKK and PP but the core objectives of preaching hatred, dividing and get support, sending messages to instill fear,e.t.c, remain the same. Tribalism, like racism (that was/is practiced by KKK), is not a left- or right-wing issue, its certainly not an FDC or Besigye issue, it is about your tribe and how you are forced to make certain political decisions because of your tribe. Being a tribalist doesn't mean you deserve to be beaten to death by a mob or killed by the police. Im certainly not asking the state or anybody to kill PPs, but the hatred PP are promoting among Ugandans requires collective responsibility.

Because of PP, things are looking a whole lot better for Museveni and NRM these days. Uganda is just a few months away from presidential elections, but the opposition is still divided, confused, and delusional. The onset of World War 2 and a number of internal scandals laid the KKK low. Public sentiment turned against them as the unity of a country at war trumped its message of separatism. But within a few years after the war, their membership picked up again. It's the responsibility of all Ugandans to stop PP before it grows into something scarier than it is now. A lot of people ignored them at the beginning, simply calling them " hooligans , but I see a lot are coming on board to stop them.

Maybe, in future, after the 2021 elections, we shall need a reconciliation committee of all those in opposition and see if peace and unity is restored in the opposition ranks. Im for love, but I never keep quiet when I see something wrong. I would recommend the Netflix Documentary White Right: Meeting the Enemy. Its made by a Muslim filmmaker D Khan. It shows what can happen when hate is met by love, and an attempt to understand and start a dialogue with them. It is well worth the time it takes to watch.

Over to you!

Abbey Kibirige Semuwemba

Stalk my blog at: http://semuwemba.wordpress.com

"Men in authority will always think that criticism of their policies is dangerous. They will always equate their policies with patriotism, and find criticism subversive." - Henry Steele Commager 1902-98
Chief minister Kamal Naths government in Madhya Pradesh (MP) was plunged into crisis on Tuesday when 22 Congress legislators, including six ministers, tendered their resignations. The development followed senior leader Jyotiraditya Scindia announcing his resignation from Congress minutes after Scindia met Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with Union home minister and Bharatiya Janata Partys (BJP) former national president, Amit Shah, in Delhi.

While the Congress legislature party passed a resolution supporting Nath on Tuesday evening, BJP legislators were flown from Bhopal to Delhi.

In his resignation letter to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Scindia wrote, While my aim and purpose remain the same as it has always been from the very beginning, to serve the people of my state and country, I believe I am unable to do this anymore within this party. A BJP functionary said, So far, it seems likely that he [Scindia] will formally join the BJP and his name could be proposed as a candidate from the BJPs side in Madhya Pradesh, said a party functionary.

Also watch: Why Jyotiraditya Scindia quit Congress | Madhya Pradesh crisis

While Scindia has not made any further announcement, Yashodhara Scindia, BJP leader and Scindias aunt, described his decision as ghar wapsi.

On Tuesday, six ministers also resigned from Naths cabinet: Health minister Tulsi Silavat; food and civil supplies minsiter Pradyumn Singh Tomar; labour minister Mahendra Singh Sisodia; transport minister Govind Singh Rajput; women and child development minister Imarti Devi; and school education minister Prabhuram Chauhdary. In a letter to the governor, sent on Tuesday, chief minister Kamal Nath sought the immediate removal of the six.

On Tuesday evening, the Congress legislature party (CLP) meeting passed a resolution supporting Nath and accusing the BJP of luring public representatives and victimising them in a bid to destabilise an elected government. Most of the Congress legislators who resigned have been incommunicado since Monday night and are in Bengaluru. The CLP further said that the BJP feared the tough action taken by the state on issues like e-tendering and the scam involving examinations conducted by Vyaysayik Pareeksha Mandal (Vyapam).

Read: How Jyotiraditya Scindia ran out of patience and time with Congress

Congress alleged BJPs senior leaders had lured Congress and independent MLAs to Bengaluru to hatch a conspiracy. When they couldnt succeed in their design, they tried to satisfy the personal ambitions of Jyotiraditya Scindia by cocking a snook to democratic values and ethics and insulting the public mandate, reads the Congress resolution. The CLP also expressed its gratitude to the Congress president for expelling Scindia from the party.

Congress spokesperson Shobha Oza said, The MLAs who had left for Bengaluru are feeling betrayed by BJP leaders as they had not realised that they were being taken there to change their ideology. They had been taken by the BJP leaders on the pretext that they had to support candidature of Jyotiraditya Scindia for Rajya Sabha. Oza further alleged BJP leaders Umashankar Gupta and Sudarshan Gupta were involved in the conspiracy.

Meanwhile, former chief minister of MP and BJPs national vice-president Shivraj Singh Chouhan described Tuesdays developments as an internal matter of the Congress.

On Tuesday evening, following a meeting of its legislature party at which a handful of MLAs of the 107 were absent, BJP MLAs were taken from Bhopal to Delhi. A senior BJP leader said, All BJP MLAs will remain in Delhi till the floor test in the state Assembly. State media in-charge for BJP Lokendra Parashar said, There was discussion on Rajya Sabha elections during the meeting. Nothing else was discussed.

Earlier on Tuesday, 22 Congress MLAs emailed their resignation letters to Speaker NP Prajapati, who said he would look into the resignation letters on Wednesday.

Also read: Indecisiveness hits Congress yet again as Jyotiraditya Scindia heads for BJP

If the resignations are accepted by the Speaker, the effective strength of the Assembly will come down to 209, giving the BJP, with 107 MLAs, a slender majority of two. At present, the effective strength of the MP Assembly is 228, with two seats lying vacant, and the Congress has 114 MLAs, including the 22 who have resigned. The remaining seven are from the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), which has two MLAs; one from the Samajwadi Party (SP); and four independent legislators. These seven support the Nath-led government.

A delegation of BJP leaders led by the leader of Opposition, Gopal Bhargava, met the Speaker at his official residence in Bhopal, on Tuesday evening.

On Tuesday, veteran Congress leader and MLA Bisahulal Singh announced his resignation from the Congress in Chouhans presence, in Bhopal. Singh also announced he was joining the BJP.
The Government is overhauling pension tax rules for higher earners to end a bitter dispute with doctors, who were turning down shifts to avoid shock bills.

In a Budget aimed at tackling the coronavirus crisis - including a promise to give the NHS whatever resources it needs - the Chancellor said he would ensure staff like senior doctors making up to 200,000 a year can work extra hours.

It will do this by raising two key thresholds at which tax penalties kick in for higher earners - but reduce pension tax breaks to a virtually token sum for those on 300,000 plus a year.

Pension overhaul: Most doctors will no longer be hit by tax bills due to the hated 'taper'

The Government's move means that from April, 98 per cent of consultants and 96 per cent of GPs will no longer be hit by tax bills due to the hated 'taper' - but it shunned widespread calls to abolish the complicated rule altogether.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak also ditched rumoured plans for a 10billion raid on pension tax perks for higher earners.

This would have seen Government top-ups into retirement savings pots slashed to basic rate for everyone, but the controversial move appears to have been dropped following stiff opposition.

The change to pension tax rules for higher earners involves raising the levels at which their 40,000 annual allowance - the amount everyone can save into a pension each year and benefit from tax relief - starts 'tapering' down to 10,000.

The threshold income level, where people's annual earnings start being calculated for the purposes of pension tax relief, will be raised from 110,000 to 200,000.

New look at tax loophole hitting low paid The Government will search for a solution to a pension tax quirk affecting low earners, it has confirmed. Workers, mostly women, earning between 10,000 and 12,500 lose pension top-ups automatically paid to the better off. The Tories promised in their manifesto to review the anamaly, a victory for the party's former Pensions Minister Ros Altmann who has campaigned vigorously on the issue. The Government said today it would shortly publish a 'call for evidence' on pensions tax relief administration, suggesting it is open to ideas from the finance industry and other experts on how to resolve the problem.

Meanwhile, the annual allowance will only start being tapered down for people with an adjusted income level - which includes pension contributions - of $240,000, up from 150,000 at present.

For those with adjusted income of 300,000 or more, the taper will reduce the annual allowance to just 4,000.

Meanwhile, a mooted plan to offer doctors more pay instead of pension contributions to stop them refusing overtime work will be dropped.

Finance industry experts welcomed the changes, but many said the Government should have simply axed the 'taper'.

Svenja Keller, head of wealth planning at Killik & Co, said: 'The change to pension rules for doctors  with more clarity and support for their annual allowance conundrum  is great news and, at long last, should be a significant boost to frontline healthcare.

'That said, by trying to help NHS doctors the increase in allowance threshold is now applicable to everyone. Why not just abolish it?

'This would have brought far more simplicity and the threshold is now so high that it will take many out of the tapering regime regardless.'

Clare Moffat, head of business development at Royal London, said: 'The Chancellors decision to raise the threshold at which the tapered annual allowance kicks in is welcome but the pension tax system remains overly complex.

'In reality the Chancellor has missed the ideal opportunity to massively simplify the system by removing the taper altogether.'

Paul McGlone, president of the Society of Pension Professionals, said: 'The proposed changes to the tapered annual allowance will positively impact a large number of people not just those high paid medical professionals in the NHS.

'It is however worth bearing in mind that the changes dont come in until next year, so any work done by doctors until 5 April will still be taxed in a very penal way. Doctors may end up returning to work just in time for the peak of the coronavirus.'

Andrew Tully, technical director at Canada Life, said: 'This is a sticking plaster solution. It doesnt solve the underlying problem but it does remove, for now, the impact on most people, especially those in the public sector.

Annual allowance: How will new rules affect higher earners?

Source: Canada Life

'It may help reassure some doctors and consultants that they can take on additional work without worrying about unexpected tax bills, which the Government may well need them to do given the potential impact of coronavirus on NHS resources.

'But we are likely to need a more fundamental reform of the pension tax rules as significantly complexity remains and this is not a long-term solution to the issue.

Paul Kitson, partner in PwCs pension practice, said: 'Any attempt at simplification of the pensions tax system, if not thought through, can end up doing just the opposite and drive even more complexity and unintended consequences.

'This Chancellor has chosen to leave the pensions tax system largely as it is, but to increase the annual allowance tapering thresholds by 90,000. So, we still have all the complexities of the current pensions tax system but fewer people will be caught in the net.'
CALGARY  Alberta Premier Jason Kenney flew to Ottawa on Wednesday with a list of demands and a key message for the prime minister to focus on the economy.

Kenney and his fellow premiers are to meet with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau amid growing concerns about the novel coronavirus pandemic, a stock market crash and plummeting oil prices.

We need this government to get refocused on the economy. Enough about dealing with every fashionable issue out there and the virtue signalling, the UN security council, all the rest of it, Kenney told reporters before boarding a flight at the Calgary International Airport.

We are facing an economic crisis in Canada and we need the national government to act accordingly with total focus on that issue.

We need that more in Alberta, I believe, than any other part of the country.

Alberta needs similar support to what the federal government gave the auto sector during the global financial crisis in 2008 and 2009, Kenney said.

Weve contributed $600 billion net to the rest of Canada over the past five decades. Its time for Canada to have Albertas back.

Kenney said hes been talking with energy leaders as well as Ed Sims, president of WestJet Airlines, about the downturn.

Airlines are hemorrhaging cash right now. And one thing I will take in as a very clear message to Ottawa is any benefit that Air Canada receives as the so-called flagship carrier must be equivalent to the assistance that WestJet receives.

Kenney said its not a secret that the oil and gas sector is likely to see layoffs over the next few weeks, since many companies have announced plans to slash their 2020 capital budgets.

A number of our energy companies saw their share valuation go down by as much as 90 per cent in the last 48 hours, he said. Many of them have basically no cash flow.

A lot of those oilfield workers who are on rig sites will be laid off and probably wont be going back to work.

Kenney said energy companies have become more lean and efficient over the last five years, but some arent likely to survive.

RELATED STORIES Canada Alberta eyes changes to help workers self-isolate during coronavirus outbreak

There are a range of companies that are not well prepared for this downturn. Thats part of the problem. This is after five years of fragility, when a number of companies have been leveraging themselves in debt, he said.

A lot of them cannot cut operating costs any further and they cannot raise equity.

Kenney said he will be pressing the federal government for guarantees that the Trans Mountain and Coastal GasLink pipeline projects will be completed as a way of restoring confidence in investing in Canada.

He also wants Ottawa to provide the provinces with an equalization tax rebate that could be used to help struggling industries. Kenney said in Albertas case that rebate would be $2.4 billion.

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Tom Schwartz shocked his friends by revealing that he wasn't legally married to his wife Katie Maloney-Schwartz on Tuesday's episode of Vanderpump Rules.

As the TomTom co-owner celebrated Jax Taylor and Brittany Cartwright's wedding in Versailles, Kentucky, he slipped up and told Jax that he had never submitted his marriage license.

'At the wedding, it was sort of my duty to make sure the marriage certificate was in a secure place, and I lost it,' Tom, 37, admitted, as a flashback suggested that he had left it in his car.

Shocking revelation: Tom Schwartz shocked his friends by revealing that he wasn't legally married to his wife Katie Maloney-Schwartz on Tuesday's episode of Vanderpump Rules

'I wanted Tom to take initiative,' Katie, 33, recalled in a confessional. 'I planned the entire wedding. I said, ''This is on you, bro.'' This is why I do things in the house, okay?'

'It's a piece of paper,' Tom continued. 'I didn't understand the importance of it. And a few days ago, I let it slip to [Jax], the one guy you probably shouldn't let it slip to.'

'I gotta be honest,' Jax cracked to the cameras after his best man made the startling revelation. 'I never thought I'd be the first guy to get married in our group.'

Tom and Katie, who were married in 2016, ended up having a second, official wedding at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas in July 2019, which was attended by most of the cast.

One thing: Katie revealed that she gave Tom one task for their wedding and that was to secure their marriage certificate

Lost it: 'At the wedding, it was sort of my duty to make sure the marriage certificate was in a secure place, and I lost it,' Tom, 37, admitted, as a flashback suggested that he had left it in his car

The wedding: Lisa Vanderpump officiated their wedding in 2016

First married: 'I gotta be honest. I never thought I'd be the first guy to get married in our group,' ,' Jax cracked to the cameras after his best man made the startling revelation

Stassi Schroeder, 31, delighted in telling Tom's business partner Lisa Vanderpump, 59, about his 'illegal' marriage, especially since Lisa officiated it.

'Are you f***ing kidding me?' Lisa said. 'All that effort I put into writing those vows. And they're not even married? I put more effort into them getting married than they did.'

As the episode opened, Brittany, 31, surprised her guests at the Kentucky Castle with a murder mystery game, in which they had to solve the Case Of The Kentucky Castle Killer.

Illegal marriage: Stassi Schroeder, 31, delighted in telling Tom's business partner Lisa Vanderpump, 59, about his 'illegal' marriage, especially since Lisa officiated it

Lala Kent, 30, who barely participated and didn't ask a question was the one who figured out the killer, which made Stassi marvel, 'You gave zero f***s and you won.'

Attention soon turned to Kristen Doute, 37, with whom Stassi had been at odds.

Lala asked Kristen whether her controversial ex-boyfriend, Brian Carter, was her wedding date.

'Yeah,' Kristen snapped. 'He deserves to be at the wedding 'cause he's their friend. And he's my best friend ever, so yeah.'

Murder mystery: Lala Kent figured out the killer during a dinner murder mystery game

Wedding date: Kristen Doute got grief from her friend for bringing her ex Brian Carter as her date

In flashbacks, viewers saw Kristen's misery when she was dating 'Carter,' and her declaration that she was 'not happy.'

Stassi accused Kristen of not being 'real' with her about Carter, and Kristen fired back that Stassi was self-centered, before calling Katie, who'd gotten involved, a 'b****.'

'My two best friends of a decade, they suddenly want nothing to do with me,' Kristen said.

Not real: Stassi accused Kristen of not being 'real' with her about Carter, and Kristen fired back that Stassi was self-centered

At a nearby bar, Kristen drunkenly tried to enlist support from Stassi's fiance, Beau Clark, 39, who said he was her 'boy,' but acknowledged that Stassi would always come first.

The only one not partying that night was Jax, who wanted a quiet night before the wedding, and to spend a moment with his late father, whose presence he sensed around him.

The next day, Jax placed his father's ashes in a beautiful urn, wanting his dad to be a part of the celebration and admitting that he took a box with his father's ashes on other outings.

Nice try: Kristen drunkenly tried to enlist support from Stassi's fiance, Beau Clark, 39, who said he was her 'boy,' but acknowledged that Stassi would always come first

His friends worked off their hangovers and got pedicures by the castle pool, with many of them also gossiping about Kristen's recent behavior.

'Beau, I don't want to have one more conversation with her anymore,' Stassi told her fiance, annoyed that Kristen often overstepped her boundaries by texting Beau about her.

'Katie and I felt like were like sisters with her,' she recalled. 'We thought nothing could shake our unbreakable bond, and it's like, ''No, s*** can.'' She's a f***ing psychopath.'

It's over: 'Beau, I don't want to have one more conversation with her anymore,' Stassi told her fiance

Happier times: Katie, Kristen and Stassi were shown in flashbacks when they were closer friends

She grew even more upset when she saw Kristen trying to latch onto her family and friends by the pool, and said she planned to say goodbye to her old friend as soon as the wedding ended.

That evening, Lisa showed up at the gang's party with her husband Ken Todd, surprising everyone as her mother had just passed away and they didn't expect her there.

It turned out her mother's funeral had been delayed, so Lisa called Lala's fiance Randall Emmett, 48, and asked him to get her on a flight to the wedding immediately.

Surprise appearance: Lisa surprised Jax and Brittany by showing up to their Kentucky wedding

Jax said Lisa had been 'like a mother' to him since they met a decade ago, and he was grateful to have her there since he was estranged from his real mother, and had little close family.

As they chatted, Stassi looked out the bar window and said Beau dancing with revelers at a local Gay Pride party, which made her love him even more.

When the night ended, all of Brittany's female friends showed up in her hotel room wearing onesies that made them look like princesses, fairies, dragons and other castle dwellers.

Touching moment: Jax said Lisa had been 'like a mother' to him since they met a decade ago, and he was grateful to have her there since he was estranged from his real mother, and had little close family

Outdoor dancing: As they chatted, Stassi looked out the bar window and said Beau dancing with revelers at a local Gay Pride party, which made her love him even more

They had a twerking contest, which made Stassi jealous, as she had 'a pancake a**.'

Beau showed up at the men's party dressed in full knight regalia as 'Sir Ladles A Lot,' who 'slays soups and drinks shots.'

Jax, who had promised not to drink too much, downed booze and told his groomsmen he was 'pretty s***faced'.

Wardrobe malfunction: Kristen during Brittany's onesie party was having problems staying inside her outfit

Too much: Ariana Madix and Stassi could not believe that Kristen was oblivious about being exposed

Twerking contest: The women took part in a twerking contest in their onesies

The judge: Stassi volunteered to judge the twerking contest

He was sure Brittany was perfect for him but was also scared he might not make her happy.

At the Sur restaurant, Dayna Kathan learned that her newly exclusive boyfriend, TomTom manager Max Boyens, 27, had been spotted getting 'friendly' with a girl.

'She was dark hair, kind of thotty, huge boobs,' SUR server Adriana told Dayna, showing her pal an Instagram photo of the woman, named Olivia.

Prince charming: Jax put on some knight regalia as he got drunk before his wedding

Dayna noted that Olivia was wearing a TomTom Pride shirt, and little else, as she sat on her bedroom floor.

She also observed that Max had liked the photo.

'He didn't even give me a TomTom Pride shirt, so who the f*** is this girl that you're giving a TomTom Pride shirt to?' Dayna asked.

Exclusive relationship: At the Sur restaurant, Dayna Kathan learned that her newly exclusive boyfriend, TomTom manager Max Boyens, 27, had been spotted getting 'friendly' with a girl

Pride shirt: Olivia wore a TomTom Pride shirt and little else in the Instagram photo that Max liked

'He's not a good guy,' emphasized Adriana, who had been dating Max when he slept with one of her friends on her 30th birthday.

Dayna worried that everyone was right about Max and he was just 'a f***boy.'

When she confronted him about Olivia, he said that he had once dated her, but had been 'trying to ease her off of me because I'm interested in you.'

The confrontation: When Dayna confronted Max about Olivia, he said that he had once dated her, but had been 'trying to ease her off of me because I'm interested in you'

Privately, Max said he was tired of defending himself with Dayna when there was nothing for her to worry about.

Dayna quickly dumped him, dipping his necklace in her toilet and kitty litter before returning it to him.

'At least every time I see him at TomTom, flirting with every girl and her mom, he'll be wearing a poo necklace,' she told the cameras. 'And I just feel better about that.'

Over it: Dayna quickly dumped him, dipping Max's necklace in her toilet and kitty litter before returning it to him

Kitty litter: She put his necklace in the kitty litter also

Feeling better: 'At least every time I see him at TomTom, flirting with every girl and her mom, he'll be wearing a poo necklace. And I just feel better about that,' Dayna said

Max later spoke to James Kennedy, 27, about his relationship, and James admitted that his own girlfriend Raquel Leviss wanted him to attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.

James admited that he didn't want to go, but he would because she meant everything to him.

Vanderpump Rules will return next week on Bravo.
Researchers have found the resting place of a World War II submarine wreck 11,000 feet below the surface.

Named the Stickleback, the vessel sank on May 28, 1958 during a military exercise 19 miles off the coast of Barbers Point, Oahu.

It lost power during the drill, which forced it to dart towards the seabed and the crew used emergency power kicks to save it from a watery grave.

The soldiers managed to bring Stickleback to the surface, but the submarine crashed into the destroyer escort USS Silverstein that sealed its fate.

Researchers have found the resting place of a World War II submarine wreck 11,000 feet below the surface. Named the Stickleback, the vessel sank on May 28, 1958 during a military exercise 19 miles off the coast of Barbers Point, Oahu

The Stickleback is 311 feet long, hits 20 knots on the surface and 8 while submerged and is designed with 10 torpedo tubes.

It was commissioned on March 29, 1945 for World War II, saw action in the Korean and Cold War and was brought out of retirement on September 9, 1951 to serve as a training ship in San Diego, California.

The submarine was discovered by the Lost 52 Project, which searches for long-lost World War II ships and submarines.

During the drills, Stickleback lost power and began descending to the depths of the sea.

It lost power during the drill, which forced it to dart towards the seabed and the crew used emergency power kicks to save it from a watery grave. The soldiers managed to bring Stickleback to the surface, but crashed into the destroyer escort USS Silverstein that sealed its fate

The submarine was discovered by the Lost 52 Project, which searches for long-lost World War II ships and submarines. Pictured is a scan of the submarine

Emergency buoyancy ballast was added, which rapidly brought the vessel up to the surface and into the destroyer escort.

However, there were no fatalities in the crash.

A rescue team did attempt to bring the craft back to the surface, but its compartments had flooded making the feat impossible  leaving it there to be rediscovered 62 years later.

Last year, the Lost 52 Project discovered the lost war submarine that was sunk by Japanese forces more than 75 years ago.

Approximately 80 servicemen lost their lives in the event. The U.S.S. Grayback SS-208, hailed as one of the most successful American submarines of World War II, was patrolling the South Pacific and South China Sea when it mysteriously disappeared in February 1944.

The submarine left Pearl Harbor on January 28, 1944 for its 10th combat mission and failed to return to a nearby naval base in March. The Grayback torpedoed numerous enemy vessels, rescued downed American aviators, and sank more than a dozen Japanese ships during the war, according to the New York Times.

The Stickleback lays 11,000 feet below the surface and has sat there for 62 years

The Stickleback is 311 feet long, hits 20 knots on the surface and 8 while submerged and is designed with 10 torpedo tubes

The Navy listed the submarine, which ranked as the 20th most successful sub in WWII, as missing and presumed lost.

After the war the Navy used Japanese military records to piece together the history of its lost subs. According to the 1949 record, the Navy believed the Grayback sunk in open ocean 100 miles east-southeast of Okinawa.

However, the sub was never found.

A breakthrough in the mystery came last year thanks to the findings of amateur Japanese researcher Yutaka Iwasaki and a discovery expedition led by Tim Taylor of the Lost 52 Project.

He found that the Navy had been replying on a flawed translation of the Japanese war records that got one digit wrong in the latitude and longitude of the Grayback's last position.

He discovered Grayback had been hit 100 miles from the approximate location the Navy had listed.
Contractors hired to refurbish Grenfell Tower appeared more concerned about cost and delay than fire safety, the inquiry into the disaster has heard.

During discussions about installing cavity barriers designed to stop flames in March 2015, it was noted an upgrade from the minimum required standard of 30 minutes fire-resistance to 120 minutes would cost an extra 12,000, the inquiry was told on Tuesday.

In an email chain between external wall subcontractor Harley Facades, lead contractor Rydon and architects Studio E, Rydon contracts manager Simon Lawrence writes: Harley via their supply chain are questioning the rating of the cladding firebreaks.

Apparently by going to 2hrs as we discussed has a cost increase of around 12k.

Studio E design lead Neil Crawford agreed with the inquirys chief lawyer, Richard Millett QC, that there was pressure on site to avoid having to recommend the upgraded cavity barriers.

Grenfell fire remembered two years on: In pictures Show all 12 1 /12 Grenfell fire remembered two years on: In pictures Grenfell fire remembered two years on: In pictures Campaign group Grenfell United project a message on to the side of a tower block in Newcastle ahead of the second anniversary of the Grenfell fire to highlight the number of blocks that are still covered in flammable cladding, despite the role that it played in the fire PA Grenfell fire remembered two years on: In pictures People release balloons in front of the Grenfell Tower during a vigil to mark the second anniversary of the fire (Peter Summers/Getty Images) Grenfell fire remembered two years on: In pictures Downing Street is illuminated green to mark the second anniversary of the Grenfell fire EPA Grenfell fire remembered two years on: In pictures Kensington Palace is illuminated green to mark the second anniversary of the Grenfell fire Getty Grenfell fire remembered two years on: In pictures Campaign group Grenfell United project a message on to the side of a tower block in Salford ahead of the second anniversary of the Grenfell fire to highlight the number of blocks that are still covered in flammable cladding, despite the role that it played in the fire PA Grenfell fire remembered two years on: In pictures Campaign group Grenfell United project a message on to the side of a tower block in by the Grenfell Tower ahead of the second anniversary of the fire to highlight the number of blocks that are still covered in flammable cladding, despite the role that it played in the fire PA Grenfell fire remembered two years on: In pictures Cards bearing names of victims of the Grenfell fire are attached to a railing nearby to the tower Getty Grenfell fire remembered two years on: In pictures People obersve a memorial during a vigil to mark the second anniversary of the Grenfell fire Getty Grenfell fire remembered two years on: In pictures Campaign group Grenfell United project a message on to the side of a tower block in Salford ahead of the second anniversary of the Grenfell fire to highlight the number of blocks that are still covered in flammable cladding, despite the role that it played in the fire PA Grenfell fire remembered two years on: In pictures The Grenfell Tower is illuminated green to mark the second anniversary of the fire Getty Grenfell fire remembered two years on: In pictures Kensington Palace is illuminated green to mark the second anniversary of the Grenfell fire Getty Grenfell fire remembered two years on: In pictures Downing Street is illuminated green to mark the second anniversary of the Grenfell fire EPA

Mr Millett asked him: And the main concern was cost and delay as opposed to fire safety?

Mr Crawford, who led the architects design team but is not a registered architect, replied: I cant speak on behalf of the other participants in that conversation but you might read that into what theyve written, yes.

An expert report in 2018 found there were missing and defective cavity barriers in the final refurbishment and that horizontal cavity barriers had been incorrectly installed vertically.

The report by Dr Barbara Lane, commissioned by the inquiry, also found that windows in individual flats had no fire barriers encasing them and these openings were surrounded by combustible material.

The assembly  taken together with the insulation material on the existing external wall, the missing and defective cavity barriers  became part of a successful combustion process, she wrote.

Asked if he had considered the fire performance of the buildings decorative architectural crown, which was found to have helped the blaze spread, Mr Crawford said he just understood it to be more aluminium panels.

Mr Millett, questioning him about drawings he was asked to approve for the feature, said: Did you give any thought to how a fire might be able to spread uninhibited ... across the crown of this building in the absence of any cavity barriers either within the crown or at the top of the columns?

Mr Crawford replied: In the absence of cavity barriers I would understand fire just to go straight out into the atmosphere.

I dont know what I thought at the time. I wasnt noting everything I thought consciously at the time.

Phase one of the inquiry found the crown was primarily responsible for the fires horizontal spread, with the melting and dripping of burning polyethylene from it contributing to more fire.

Mr Crawford was also questioned about his judgment for signing off window designs from Harley Facades which included combustible material including styrofoam, the inquiry heard.

Mr Millett asked him: How could a drawing specification be signed off as compliant with architectural intent if in fact it did not comply with statutory requirements?

Mr Crawford repeatedly said he was commenting only from the standpoint of architectural intent, adding it was Harleys responsibility to ensure the materials were compliant.

Mr Millett suggested it was a manifest error for any architect to see styrofoam in a specification and stamp it without making compliance checks or confirming whether fire retardant had been added to the product.

Mr Crawford replied: Not if you believed it was the responsibility of the sub contractor to ensure it was compliant  then you would assume they had exercised duty.

It came as campaigners marked 1,000 days since the fire, which was ignited by an electrical fault in a fridge-freezer and killed 72 people in June 2017.

Campaign group Grenfell United said in a statement: 1,000 days on we are a long way from truth and justice. Across the country people are living in death traps and promises for change are still being broken. But we remain dignified and 1,000 days on we are even stronger.

We have won battles and overcome hurdles to make sure we cannot be ignored. And we will continue to work together, with our community, for as long as it takes to get truth, justice and change.

Every day we carry 72 lives lost in our hearts. Thank you for standing with us.

Additional reporting by Press Association
(Alliance News) - Victoria Oil & Gas PLC on Wednesday said it has hired Roy Kelly as chief executive effective from March 23.

Kelly will take over the leadership role from Ahmet Dik, who will remain with the company for 12 months to assist with the transition. Dik has worked for Victoria Oil and its Cameroon subsidiary Gaz du Cameroun SA since 2014.

Kelly is currently a director at oil & gas firm Hurricane Energy PLC and private equity fund Kerogen Capital UK Ltd. He has over 35 years of technical, commercial and managerial experience in the international energy industry, Victoria Oil said.

"Roy is a seasoned oil and gas professional and is well-known and respected in the industry and amongst investors in the sector. His experience in asset development, both upstream and downstream, and history and knowledge of African oil and gas projects, particularly in Cameroon, will be invaluable to our company, said Executive Chair Roger Kennedy.

"I wish to thank Ahmet for his many years of service. He implemented many changes including cost savings by outsourcing certain operations and negotiating the finalisation of long-standing debts. Over the past 10 months he has helped to resolve legacy issues and has assisted in the further development of the company's downstream strategy and operations," he added.

Kennedy will step down as executive chair to the role of non-executive chair in June.

Victoria Oil shares were trading 2.7% higher at 3.54 pence each on Wednesday afternoon in London.

By Ife Taiwo; ifetaiwo@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
A 76-year-old man who had returned to Karnataka from Saudi Arabia about 10 days back has died but there is no confirmation yet if he had contracted the novel coronavirus infection, a state government official said.

The man had returned from Saudi Arabia on February 29 and headed home in Kalburgi, about 500 km from state capital Bengaluru.

According to reports, he fell ill soon after his return and was admitted by his family to Gulbarga Institute of Medical Sciences. His throat swab was sent for testing to check for coronavirus infection. He was shifted to CARE hospital in Hyderabad in the interim and was on his way back when he died.

Kalburgi district health officer Dr MA Jabbar confirmed the death but underlined that they were yet to receive confirmation if his illness was linked to coronavirus.

We have sent samples to NIV (National Institute of Virology) Pune also to find out whether it was caused by the virus. We have no confirmation yet, Dr Jabbar told HT. The officer, however, stressed that district health officials were nevertheless taking all measures to ensure that there is no spread of the virus in the district.

India has about 52 confirmed cases of coronavirus but there have been no deaths linked to the infection so far.

According to experts, those most at risk for severe influenza infection are children, pregnant women, elderly, those with underlying chronic medical conditions and those who are immunosuppressed. For Covid-19, the current understanding is that older age and underlying conditions increase the risk for severe infection.

Kalaburagi Deputy Commissioner Sharat B said the man was being treated for around three days when his family decided to take him to Hyderabad for further treatment. Symptomatic treatment was given to him, their family decided to shift to Hyderabad, he said, according to news agency ANI.

Sharat said he died in the ambulance on his way back from Hyderabad last night. His samples and blood have been taken and sent to National Institute of Virology, Bangalore. But reports have still not been recieved. It (death due to Covid-19) is not confirmed but only suspected, he said, PTI said.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-11 17:54:38|Editor: yhy

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ULAN BATOR, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Mongolia is stepping up measures to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus in the landlocked country, following its first confirmed case on Tuesday.

The sole patient is a 57-year-old French national who arrived in the capital Ulan Bator on March 2, before developing a fever on Saturday and testing positive for the virus.

In addition to a ban introduced earlier on all public gatherings and advice on virus prevention, the Mongolian State Emergency Commission (SEC) on Tuesday decided to restrict traffic in Ulan Bator and all 21 provinces until March 16, as well as suspend all scheduled flights to and from Russia, Turkey and Kazakhstan from Friday through March 28.

The commission has also required all public and private organizations to allow female employees who are pregnant or have children under 12 to work from home, or to provide paid leave for them until the end of March.

On Wednesday, the Mongolian government decided to send chartered flights to South Korea and Japan to evacuate more than 400 Mongolians belonging to at-risk groups, including pregnant women, the elderly and children, according to Transport Minister Byambasuren Enkh-Amgalan.

Ulan Bator, home to more than half of the country's population of 3.2 million, also decided on Tuesday to shut down all service centers, markets and shops (excluding grocery stores) until March 16.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11

By Leman Zeynalova  Trend:

Trends exclusive interview with Ambassador of Israel to Azerbaijan George Deek

It is my first interview to Azerbaijani media. It is a pleasure for me after three months and a few weeks in this country. I thank the government, the people of Azerbaijan for the warm welcome and for making me and my family feel much at home, said the ambassador.

Overview of bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Israel

Deek said that the relations between Israel and Azerbaijan are at the level of strategic partnership that is now growing and growing with time.

We cooperate in various fields and now we are very much trying to even more develop the economic relations. One of the main indicators of the rise of economic relations is the tourism industry. In 2016, we had 10,000 tourists from Israel coming to Azerbaijan and in 2019, it reached 65,000, which is 500 percent increase in less than four years. Thats one indicator of the strengthening relations between the two countries on the peoples level. When relations between people are getting stronger and closer, we also see its impact on business relations, economic cooperation between the two countries. Right now, we have companies from Israel coming here and working together with Azerbaijani partners, Azerbaijani government, private sector in the fields of communication, agriculture, water management, technologies. Thats what we hope to continue to grow in my time here with the hope that the total trade between the countries will continue going up. Right now it is not high enough in my opinion, but it is growing, said the Israeli ambassador.

Energy cooperation

Deek said there are three major areas of energy cooperation between the two countries with one of them being oil.

He noted that Azerbaijani oil covers 30 percent of oil consumption in Israel.

So, for us, that is a very strategic element of our cooperation in relationship, said the diplomat.

Deek went on to add that the second area of cooperation is gas exploration.

Azerbaijan has many decades of experience in exploring and extracting oil and gas onshore and offshore. In Israel, we have only recently, about ten years ago discovered large amounts of gas in the Mediterranean Sea. We are extracting gas and trying to send it to Europe. I think in that sense, firstly, Israel and Azerbaijan are both a part of the same effort of trying to diversify the sources of gas that goes to Europe, instead of keeping everything in the hands of one country. Secondly, I believe that there is a lot of room and potential for Azerbaijani companies with their experience and knowledge they have to come to Israel and to try to explore gas in several places where we are still publishing tenders for companies who want to come and explore. Weve already found very significant volumes of gas in Tamar, Leviathan and we believe there is even more gas in the sea. Weve signed cooperation agreements and gas sales agreements with our neighbors. We sell gas to Egypt, Jordan. Now weve agreed on construction of the EastMed pipeline. Only recently, about three months ago, we opened EastMed Gas Forum. We would like to have Azerbaijani companies coming to Israel and joining the efforts for exploration. It is also a part of increasing our bilateral trade, said the envoy.

He believes that the third area of cooperation is alternative energy.

Azerbaijan right now is trying to develop more and more alternative energy resources. It has published tenders and is trying to develop wind and solar energy spheres. Israel is quite advanced in solar energy. Weve begun to develop our solar energy more than a decade ago, much before most countries in the world. Already in 60s, houses in Israel had a solar panel on the roof. Now, of course, we have much more advanced solar energy technologies that are able to generate more power using the solar energy. Azerbaijan is now entering the world of alternative energy in the last few years and it has advanced already. Solar energy is a field where I would like to see more cooperation between our countries, said Deek.

He also praised the significance of the Southern Gas Corridor, which is to bring Azerbaijani gas to Europe in late 2020.

We very much welcome the implementation of the Southern Gas Corridor, which runs from Azerbaijan to the shores of Italy. We truly believe that this will help diversify and increase the gas supply to Europe. Both EastMed and Southern Gas Corridor go to the same destination. But I dont think there will be rivalry between these two projects for a very simple reason: the market in Europe is big enough and it is looking for diversifying its resources and there is a huge demand. I think these projects complement each other, he explained.

Potential spheres of cooperation

One of the spheres, in which Israel and Azerbaijan can do much more together is agriculture, according to the Israeli envoy.

Israels story of agriculture is an incredible one. We started as a country that is mostly desert, where you couldnt grow anything. Today we have mangos and bananas, avocado growing in Israel. Some Israeli companies have started demonstration farms. There is a demonstration farm to show how these technologies work in Ganja by Israeli Netafim company. This demonstration farm is here to develop this kind of cooperation to show farmers, land owners how to grow more crops with less water. This project involves both the public and private sector. The goal of that farm is to train, said Deek.

He went on to add that another classical field of cooperation is water management.

Today Azerbaijan heavily relies on Kura River and other sources of water both for drinking and irrigation. In 2002, Israel had such a crisis of water that we were even thinking about importing water. Today, not only we have enough water for us, but we can even sell water to our neighbors. How did we do that? Today in Israel, we have five desalination plants, which desalinate sea water to provide us with drinking water. Seventy percent of the water we drink in Israel comes from the sea. In addition, we recycle our waste water. Around 95 percent of water is recycled. All the water we bring from our waste water is recycled and reused for agriculture. That allowed us to revive our water resources and to become a country that is a world leader in water management, said the ambassador.

He pointed out that there are also new fields of cooperation.

One of them is the field of cyber security. Today, Israel, with a very small population, has become a world power in cyber security. Twenty percent of all international investments that go into cyber security, go to Israel. We can work together in this sector with Azerbaijani banking sector, telecommunications sphere and etc. to provide better cyber security for this country, said the envoy.

Deek noted that Israel can benefit a lot from what Azerbaijan has to offer not just in oil, but also agricultural production.

The only thing that we need to overcome is the transport costs that make it too expensive. But if we work together and find a solution for that I think Israel can benefit a lot from Azerbaijani products, he said.

Another field of cooperation is the technology and innovation, according to the Israeli diplomat.

Right now, Israel is a start-up nation. We have the largest number of start-up companies per capita in the world. We are the second biggest center after the Silicon Valley for innovation technology and start-ups. Israeli companies could open part of their activity in Azerbaijan and develop joint Israeli-Azerbaijani technology. Azerbaijan is investing a lot in developing the innovation field. The government has opened an innovation agency, you have more and more funds being allocated to innovation, to brining a higher degree of technology to the country. I think Israel is a natural partner in that sense. If we can work together, bring the Israeli innovation together with the Azerbaijani spirit and power of Azerbaijan in various fields, we can achieve a lot, Deek concluded.

---

Follow the author on Twitter:@Lyaman_Zeyn
RTHK: Italy reports highest number of virus deaths to date

Italy recorded 168 deaths on Tuesday from the novel coronavirus, its highest single-day toll to date, pushing the number of fatalities outside China to more than 1,000.

Overall in Italy, 631 people have died from the Covid-19 disease caused by the virus and 10,149 have been infected in just over two weeks.

Tuesday's toll raised the total number of deaths outside China to 1,115, according an AFP tally.

The rapid spread of the new illness forced the Italian government on Tuesday to impose a nationwide ban on public gathering and travel restrictions until April 3.

It also puts Italy's health system under severe strain.

Health officials warned over the weekend that hospitals in the Lombardy region around Milan where three-quarters of the deaths have occurred were running out of beds.

The number of intensive care patients rose by 144 to 877 nationwide.

The overwhelming majority of the fatalities and infections were still being recorded in the north, with poorer southerns regions largely spared.

Top government ministers have been warning for days that Italy might not be able to cope if the disease began to rapidly spread through the south. (AFP)

This story has been published on: 2020-03-11. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Mayor Sylvester Turner on Wednesday ordered the shutdown of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo due to concerns about coronavirus after a Montgomery County man with no recent travel history tested positive for COVID-19.

The Montgomery County case is the Houston regions first known example of the virus being contracted within the community rather than from travel and directly was responsible for the decision to cancel the rodeo, Turner and Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said at a news conference Wednesday. Montgomery County officials said the man attended a barbecue cookoff at the rodeo late last month but was not exhibiting symptoms at the time.

Turner said he signed an emergency health declaration Wednesday that will remain in place for seven days, at which point City Council could decide to extend it. Under the declaration, all events produced or permitted by the city will be canceled through the end of March, Turner said. That includes Sundays Tour de Houston fundraising bike ride, which officials will attempt to reschedule, the mayor said.

Hidalgo signed a similar emergency declaration Wednesday afternoon.

Rodeo officials said they were deeply saddened but agreed with the citys move to cancel the popular annual event.

"As hard as this is to do, it is the right thing to do, said Joel Crowley, president and CEO of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.

The rodeo closed at 4 p.m., he said.

On its website, the rodeo said it was working on a plan to refund people with tickets to future shows, but did not say when that information would be available.

Houston Rockets and Astros games are not affected by the mayors emergency declaration The rodeo was a permitted event at the county-owned NRG Stadium, which gave the local governments authority to shut it down. The professional sports events are not permitted in the same fashion. Both teams have sought guidance from local leaders, however.

City and county officials were unsure Wednesday how widely the Montgomery County man had traveled in the Houston area, though health officials said they expect more cases of community spread COVID-19 to be revealed in the coming days.

Were doing this to save lives, said David Persse, the citys public health authority What we are trying to do through these very aggressive and, yes, painful decisions, is to slow down the virus."

Persse and other health officials have said a widening spread of the disease  while minor or non-fatal to most who contract the virus  could force a substantial amount of the population to seek medical treatment at the same time, potentially overwhelming the health care system. In that case, the most vulnerable patients  those over 50  could find themselves without a hospital bed or treatment.

Public health experts mostly lauded the decision to close the rodeo.

Retired state epidemiologist Dennis Perrotta said the move should help the area flatten the curve, a term used to describe the rising number of cases and its burden on the health care system.

This is not an exact science, but not only is there enough public health reasoning behind it, but theres social issues, Perrotta said. Do you want to be the president of the organization that held a large venue festival and had a major outbreak spawn from that activity, where people got sick and died? Nobody wants that, not from a public health point of view and not from a legal point of view either.

Dr. Peter Hotez, a Houston infectious disease specialist, said it would have been tough to justify closing the rodeo a week or two ago, before the scale of community transmission became apparent.

The national problem has been, without any kind of testing, probably lots of areas of community transmission have gotten missed and its hard to make really draconian decisions without having that evidence, Hotez said. Now, were realizing theres more community transmission than we knew about before. This is the fault at the national level not having a system in place to adequately test.

Turner said he had no regrets that the actions announced Wednesday were not taken sooner. He stressed that all known cases in the area before the Montgomery County case were travel-related, and all but one were all related to the same Egyptian cruise ship.

Were basing the decision based on the science and the medical advice and the facts that are presented, Turner said. Lets bear in mind. This is a new phenomenon. We are in new territory. And everyone is making the best judgments around the globe to try to take the necessary steps to keep people safe, to protect everyone, while at the same time realizing the people still have to work, they still have to take care of their families and their kids.

City and county sources who have participated in coronavirus discussions in recent weeks said the idea of canceling the rodeo and other public gatherings was raised among local health officials and rodeo leaders prior to this week.

Decision makers, they said, wrestled with a challenge at the heart of the epidemic: whether to limit mass gatherings before confirming cases of community spread, while acknowledging that insufficient testing efforts meant such cases almost surely were already present but unconfirmed.

When the nature of the Montgomery County case came into focus Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning, however, local leaders decided action was required, the officials said.

As of Wednesday, 14 people in the Houston region have been diagnosed with COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus.

Dr. Umair Shah, executive director of Harris County Public Health, noted the World Health Organization had declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic shortly before Wednesdays news conference, suggesting that officials around the globe view it as an extreme concern.

Turner said he decided to close down the rodeo after consulting with health experts, emphasizing the move was not made in a vacuum.

This decision has not come easily, but the health and safety of the people in our region is paramount, the mayor said.

In a statement, Montgomery County officials said they were waiting for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to confirm the positive case there before canceling any community events.

We understand the enormous impact these events have on our community as a whole, so a decision to cancel a large event will not be taken lightly, County Judge Mark Keough said. We are currently monitoring this rapidly changing situation and are looking to our medical community for guidance.

Houston Councilman Greg Travis slammed Turners move to cancel the rodeo. In a statement, he said council members were absolutely blindsided by the decision, which he said only serves to perpetuate the artificial panic being proliferated by the media and deals a huge blow to the Houston economy. And he said residents should decide for themselves whether to attend, writing, We do not need a nanny state.

The closure of the rodeo came days after HLSR officials said they had no plans to cancel the festival. In a statement on Saturday, organizers said RodeoHouston largely is a local event.

"The Rodeo is predominantly a local event, with 73% of the 2019 Rodeo visitors residing in the greater Houston area, 94% in Texas, and 99% in the U.S.," the statement read. "In contrast, 26% of the 2019 SXSW attendees were international."

The annual event began March 3 and was slated to run through March 22.

Rodeo officials stated that it was taking extra precautions and measures to ensure the health and safety of guests, including additional janitorial staff, increased cleaning schedules, more hand sanitizer stations, and additional signage reminding restroom users to wash their hands.

More than 566,000 people had attended events on the rodeo grounds as of Monday. Last years total attendance was more than 2.5 million people over 21 days.

Reporter Todd Ackerman contributed to this story.

mike.morris@chron.com

jasper.scherer@chron.com

dylan.mcguinness@chron.com
Luther star Idris Elba, who attended the Duke and Duchess of Sussexs wedding with his now wife, Sabrina Dhowre (above), admits he is concerned for the couple since Megxit.

They are friends of ours, and I can just imagine what a difficult time this is for them right now, he says. We can relate to what they are going through because its as if you are in a goldfish bowl sometimes.

The 47-year-old adds that Sabrina, 31, had to adjust to life in the spotlight.

I have a big female following and they didnt really warm to my wife at first, but I think everyone can tell that my wife makes me really happy. The happiest Ive ever been.

Luther star Idris Elba, 47, and wife Sabrina Dhowre, 31, say they are concerned for friends Harry and Meghan since Megxit

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were seen receiving a frosty reception from the rest of the royal family at a Commonwealth Day service in Westminster Abbey

Prince Harry and Meghan leaving the festival of music at the Royal Albert Hall on March 7

Dragon Deborah's intimate table talk

Deborah Meaden could never be accused of being a shrinking violet.

But the indomitable entrepreneur  a star on the BBCs Dragons Den with nearly 14 years of broadcasting under her belt  does button her lip when few would expect her to.

My husband is intensely private, says Meaden. We dont go out for dinner so often. We tend to have dinner at home. This, adds Meaden, is because the forthright manner that finds favour with her fans tends to work less well in a more intimate setting.

I am very aware of conversations I am having when I am out. I think: Those are better in private walls than outside.

Meaden and husband Paul live in the splendour of Burton Pynsent House, set in 240 Somerset acres  space enough for any Dragon to speak her mind.

Ricky mourns Ollie as he loses his loving feline

Ricky Gervaiss beloved 16-year-old cat has died.

The Office star shared pictures of the Siamese on social media yesterday, writing: Just had to say goodbye to the sweetest little soul Ive ever known. RIP Ollie July 9th 2003  March 10th 2020.

She was given to the comedian by Jonathan Ross on the TV presenters show back in 2003, as a total surprise to Ricky.

Hugging Jonathan Ross on national television while holding a kitten in a ribbon was the gayest thing I had ever done, Gervais joked at the time.

Rickey Gervais is devastated that his beloved 16-year-old cat has died

The Office star shared pictures of the Siamese on social media yesterday, writing: Just had to say goodbye to the sweetest little soul Ive ever known. RIP Ollie July 9th 2003  March 10th 2020'

His reputation lies in shreds after last weeks High Court ruling that he waged a campaign of intimidation against his wife Princess Haya and ordered the abduction of two of his daughters.

But a portrait of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, billionaire ruler of Dubai, remains proudly in place in the Jockey Club Rooms in Newmarket. Its appalling, a member tells me. Its next to portraits of Churchill and our dear Queen.

It really must be removed forthwith.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-10 23:43:56|Editor: huaxia

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Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, inquires about purchasing and supply of people's daily necessities at a community in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, March 10, 2020. Xi made an inspection of the epidemic prevention and control work in Wuhan on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

WUHAN, March 10 (Xinhua) -- President Xi Jinping on Tuesday inspected the COVID-19 outbreak epicenter in central China, pledging a continuous fight toward victory as prevention and control efforts have "turned the tide."

The inspection to Wuhan, Hubei Province, took the president to a hospital treating severely ill COVID-19 patients and a residential community. He visited patients, medics, community residents and workers, police officers, military personnel, officials and volunteers who have been fighting the novel coronavirus.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, called for firm, solid and meticulous prevention and control efforts to defend Hubei and Wuhan.

Xi said thanks to hard work, the situation in Hubei and Wuhan has shown positive changes with important progress, but the task of prevention and control remains arduous.

Xi stressed continuing to take epidemic prevention and control as a task of paramount importance.

Praising the people of Wuhan, Xi said the positive trend in epidemic control could not have been achieved without their sacrifice, devotion, perseverance and efforts.

With their concrete actions, the people of Wuhan have demonstrated the strength and spirit of China, as well as the Chinese people's love for their family and nation, which enables them to stick together through thick and thin, he said.

On behalf of the CPC Central Committee, Xi sent condolences to people who died in the epidemic and people who sacrificed their lives fighting on the front line.

Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and a member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, also attended the inspection.

In Huoshenshan Hospital, the first leg of his inspection, Xi lauded medical workers as "the most beautiful angels" and "messengers of light and hope."

The frontline medical workers have taken on the most arduous missions, Xi said, calling them "the most admirable people in the new era" who deserve the highest commendations.

Xi talked with patients in the hospital through a video link, and expressed his wishes for their quick recovery.

"All prevention and control measures taken by the CPC Central Committee against the virus are to prevent more people from being infected and save more patients' lives," Xi said.

Meeting medic representatives in the hospital, Xi said the spread of the virus has been basically curbed in Hubei and Wuhan, and attributed the achievement to efforts of the whole Party, the whole country and the whole society.

"But you are the biggest heroes," Xi told the medics.

Leaving Huoshenshan Hospital, Xi came to a residential community. People quarantined at home waved to Xi from their balconies and windows. Xi waved back and expressed his regards.

Xi stressed the importance of communities in epidemic prevention and control, requiring grassroots Party organizations and Party members to play their key roles in containing the virus spread in communities.

He emphasized closely relying on the people to win the people's war against the epidemic.

After the field inspection, Xi chaired a teleconference and delivered an important speech.

Xi said since the outbreak, the CPC Central Committee has taken the most comprehensive, rigorous and thorough prevention and control measures to resolutely curb the spread of the virus in Wuhan and Hubei.

"Initial success has been achieved in stabilizing the situation and turning the tide," he said.

Xi said medical treatment should be given the top priority to improve the recovery rate and reduce mortality to the greatest extent under the principle of scientific and targeted treatment.

Noting that the fight against the virus is at a critical moment, Xi stressed further preventing the spread and exportation of cases.

Xi demanded more understanding and tolerance for people in Hubei and Wuhan if some vent their feelings for long time under self-quarantine, as well as efforts to ensure the supply of their life necessities.

The epidemic will not affect the fundamentals of Hubei's steady and long-term sound economic development, Xi said, urging implementation of policies and measures to support enterprises, stabilize employment and create more jobs.

Calling the response to the virus a "test" for China's system and capacity for governance, which has brought both experience and lessons, Xi demanded efforts to fix the shortcomings and weak links as soon as possible.

Xi urged Party organizations, members and officials to shoulder responsibilities, adopt sound prevention and control measures and improve their capabilities in the test.
Rory Stewart has criticised the government's handling of the coronavirus. ((Getty)

A former Conservative minister has hit out at the Governments handling of the coronavirus, saying the time to act is now.

Former prisons minister Rory Stewart, who is standing to be London mayor, said Boris Johnsons administration was unfortunately not acting, and called on more to be done to stop the spread of Covid-19 in cities  including banning all large gatherings.

See latest coronavirus news and updates

In a Facebook video, Stewart advised current London mayor Sadiq Khan to get on top of coronavirus.

It requires immediate action today, Stewart said. The central government is unfortunately not acting, therefore the mayor of London needs to step into this space.

We need to use every means at our disposal to communicate to the public both in terms of the threat and making sure that everybody works from home if they can, that meetings are avoided and gatherings are cancelled.

He added: We can do this, we can contain this disease for our sake and for the sake of the rest of the world. But the time to act is now.

Stewart, who stood to be Tory leader alongside Johnson in 2019, also called for more urgent measures be taken after health minister Nadine Dorries revealed she had coronavirus.

He tweeted: "Actions proposed for two weeks time  including banning large gatherings  must be implemented today. We are taking far too much risk.

"The House of Commons should cease to meet in person. The budget should be announced online. MPs are at high risk through v frequent contacts and large gatherings.

Read more: Italians face life under coronavirus lockdown

They are in danger of infecting each other in the chamber, and then going on to infect others. Time for Action. Now."

A woman walks past a coronavirus public information campaign poster in London. (PA)

Stewart was this week described as irresponsible for saying Britain should close its schools to stop coronavirus spreading.

Read more: NHS 111 service is giving out-of-date coronavirus advice

Dr Clare Gerada, a former chair of the Royal College of GPs, said: It is irresponsible to be second-guessing expert advice.

Yahoo News UK has reached out to the Royal College of GPs for further comments on Stewarts latest statement.

Watch the latest videos from Yahoo UK
With the Kamal Nath-led Congress government in Madhya Pradesh on the brink of collapse, Shiv Sena on Wednesday ruled out there could be a similar situation in Maharashtra. Sena is an ally of the Congress and NCP in the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in state.

Sena leader and MP Sanjay Raut expressed confidence that the three-party government in Maharashtra is safe. Maharashtras power is different. One operation flopped 100 days ago. The Maha Vikas Aghadi did a bypass surgery and saved Maharashtra. The Madhya Pradesh virus will not enter Maharashtra. There is no cause for worry, said Raut in a tweet.

He also taunted the BJP over its 80-hour government in the state, when Devendra Fadnavis was sworn-in as chief minister with help from NCPs Ajit Pawar. BJP tried to form government in Maharashtra but failed. No such operation will be successful here. Surgeons like us are sitting here in operation theatre. If anyone comes to do it, he himself will be operated upon, Raut told ANI.

In Madhya Pradesh, the 15-month-old Congress government is staring at an uncertain future after 22 MLAs resigned on Tuesday. Congress leader and former Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, too, resigned from the party and joined BJP.

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Many Disney shareholders push back against executive pay Traders work at the post where Walt Disney Co. stock is traded on the floor of the NYSE in New York

By Helen Coster

(Reuters) - A large minority of Walt Disney Co <DIS.N> shareholders who cast votes at the company's annual meeting on Wednesday opposed the company's executive pay plan, Disney said.

Disney said 46% of votes were cast against the plan and 53% in favor of the plan, with 1% abstaining. The vote is advisory and non-binding.

About 82% of total shares outstanding were represented by the vote, the company said.

Disney has previously faced criticism over former Chief Executive Bob Igers pay, which was $65.6 million in the companys 2018 fiscal year, up 80% from the previous year. At its 2017 annual meeting, Disney suffered a rare rebuke when a majority of shareholders opposed its executive pay in a non-binding vote.

Disney announced Iger stepped down on Feb. 25 but remains at the company as executive chairman. He will focus on content creation until he retires at the end of 2021.

At the meeting in Raleigh, North Carolina, shareholders did not vote on new CEO Bob Chapek's compensation - only on a pay plan for other executives in fiscal year 2019, which ended Sept. 28. That plan set Igers 2019 compensation at $47.5 million, according to a Jan. 17, 2020 filing.

But Julian Hamud, senior director at proxy advisory firm Glass Lewis, said via email that "Both transitions are quite expensive, and it was not lost on us that Mr. Chapek's employment agreement explicitly states that he reports to the executive chairman."

Glass Lewis advised shareholders to oppose the 2019 executive pay plan in a non-binding vote, as did other proxy advisers Institutional Shareholder Services and Egan-Jones.

In Disney's current proxy statement, the company acknowledged the pushback on executive pay, stating that during the fiscal year 2019, members of management and the board spoke with 11 of the companys top 20 shareholders and contacted approximately 74% of its largest 50 investors, "seeking input on compensation and governance matters." Based on that feedback, Iger agreed to reduce his compensation on three different occasions.

In his new role as chairman, Igers employment agreement will continue unchanged. So until he retires at the end of 2021, Disney will be paying for both Iger and Chapek, whose compensation is set at a minimum of $25 million annually.

Story continues

The Florida State Board of Administration, which manages pension assets for Florida state and local employees and had 2.3 million shares of Disney as of the end of 2019, voted against the compensation plan this year. It seems to be maximized for payout without sufficient ties to the performance levels," said Jacob Williams, corporate governance manager with the organization.

In a March 5 filing, Disney defended the plan, writing that "Igers compensation in fiscal 2019 reflected the considerable value he generated for the company and its shareholders, with the completion of the acquisition of Twenty-First Century Fox and implementation of the companys transformative direct-to-consumer strategy, culminating in the successful launch of Disney+.

More than 90% of Igers compensation is performance-based, and under his leadership since 2005, Disney has delivered total shareholder return of 559%, compared with just 223% for the S&P 500 as of fiscal year-end 2019."

Disney said that 92% of shareholders who cast their vote at the annual meeting had voted to elect all nine members of the board of directors. The company also announced plans to release a new Beatles documentary, directed by "Lord of the Rings" director Peter Jackson, on Sept. 4.

(Reporting by Helen Coster in New York; additional reporting by Ross Kerber in Boston; Editing by Cynthia Osterman andd Steve Orlofsky)
Thirteen of the 22 rebel MLAs in don't want to quit the party and were led away only to create pressure on the leadership to nominate to the Rajya Sabha, senior party leader claimed on Thursday.

He also asserted that the Kamal Nath-led government in the state, pushed to the brink of collapse with the resignation of 22 MLAs, will win a floor test.

On a day that Scindia joined the BJP, Singh said the former Union minister and four-time Lok Sabha MP from the was offered the post of deputy chief minister in 2018 when the party won the state elections but wanted his nominee appointed.

However, this was rejected by Kamal Nath as he didn't want a "chela" in that position, Singh told PTI in an interview, a day after Scindia quit the and 22 MLAs submitted their resignations from the assembly.

"The CM said he does not have any issue with Scindia becoming the deputy CM but told him, 'if you want your 'chela' to become deputy CM, then that will not happen'. Kamal Nath then took six of his (Scindia's) supporters in the cabinet," Singh revealed.

Two-three ministers close to Scindia as well as 10 of the rebel MLAs have given an assurance they are not leaving the Congress, he said.

"They were taken to Bengaluru to put pressure on the Congress to give Scindia a Rajya Sabha berth," Singh said.

"All the 22 MLAs, but for five or six, are Congress members who have been in Mr Scindia's group since Mr. Madhavrao Scindia's time. So, all those people were there with him because they were with the Congress party," he added.

Singh said the party is in touch with the families of the MLAs.

"We are not keeping quiet. We are not sleeping," he declared.

Alleging the BJP's hand behind the crisis, he said the party's leaders carried the resignations of the Congress MLAs. Also, the BJP chartered flights to ferry Congress MLAs in two batches to Bengaluru, he claimed.

"It is all engineered, sponsored and paid for by the BJP... all part of the BJP's Operation Moneybag," he said and added that the phones of the rebel MLAs have been taken away and their conversations with family members are being recorded.

Singh admitted that the party did not anticipate that Scindia would leave the Congress to join the BJP and described the move as his "ati-mahatvakansha", or his over-ambition.

"We did not anticipate that Scindia will quit the Congress... that was a mistake. Someone who has got so much from the party - four-time MP, twice minister in Union Cabinet, Congress Working Committee member and party general secretary," he said.

"The Congress could have easily sent him to the Rajya Sabha with 122 MLAs on its side. But we could not have made him a cabinet minister. Only Modi-Shah can make (him) a cabinet minister not us," he added.

The remark was an oblique reference to reports that Scindia will be made a cabinet minister in the Modi government in return for his MLAs supporting BJP's Shivraj Singh Chouhan to form government in

"We will prove our majority. We will save the government," Singh said.

He also rejected theories of Scindia being unhappy with the party and the state government.

"In the entire Gwalior-Chambal region, the Congress is being run by Scindia. And even Kamal Nath ji ran the administrative machinery in coordination with him. Guna is my home district but even the SP and collector are appointed as per his (Scindia's) wishes. It's the same in Shivpuri, Gwalior, Ashok Nagar, Bhind and Morena."

The two-time Madhya Pradesh chief minister said the assembly speaker, as per law, wants to verify the authenticity of the resignations tendered by the rebel MLAs by seeking their personal presence.

Detailing the sequence of events relating to the crisis in the state, he claimed Scindia was "upset and frustrated" when he lost the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and made overtures to Modi-Shah stating he could topple the Kamal Nath government.

"During the time, through a friend, he met Modi ji and Amit Shah," Singh said.

State BJP leaders were, however, opposed to the idea and were confident they could do the job themselves, he claimed, adding that Scindia was roped in when the local BJP leadership failed.

"Senior BJP leaders said if the government has to be brought down, we can do it, why do you have to take him (in the party). So they were asked to make an attempt. They tried...but we thwarted it.

ALSO READ: Rahul accuses PM Modi of destabilising elected Congress govt in MP

"Then Amit Shah took them to task and said 'you are all useless ('nikamme nikle'), I am giving the task to (bring down the government) to Scindia ji'," Singh claimed.

On his personal equation with Scindia, he said he had always remained in touch with Scindia and his father, the late Madhavrao Scindia.

Singh also recalled that he was instrumental in bringing Madhavrao Scindia to the Congress in 1979. Madhavrao Scindia's mother Vijaya Raje Scindia was one of the founding members of the BJP.

The Congress has a wafer thin majority in the 228-member assembly. Before the rebellion, its tally was 114. It also has the support of four Independents, two BSP MLAs and one from the SP, but some may now switch sides to the BJP.

If the resignations of the 22 MLAs are accepted, the strength of the assembly will fall to 206. The Congress, on its own, will then be left with 92 seats while the BJP has 107 seats with the magic number for a majority being 104.
All of the citys major higher education institutions have extended Spring Break by a week and most will move to online-only classes for an indefinite amount of time due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Alamo Colleges, University of Texas at San Antonio, Texas A&M University-San Antonio, St. Marys University, University of the Incarnate Word, Our Lady of the Lake University and Trinity University made the announcements Wednesday afternoon.

The announcements came hours after the World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic, or a new disease that has spread worldwide.

No community-spread cases of coronavirus have surfaced in San Antonio, but hundreds of evacuees from cruise ships and Wuhan, China, have been brought to Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland for quarantine. Dozens more evacuees from the Grand Princess cruise ship are expected this week.

Our foremost priorities are to sustain the health of our campus community and ensure the academic progress of our students, UTSA President Taylor Eighmy said in a prepared statement. While there is still a lot we dont know about the coronavirus, it is expected to spread broadly in the days ahead, and we are making these changes now, before we see any impact on our campuses.

Classes at UTSA, A&M-San Antonio and the Alamo Colleges will resume March 23  online.

OLLU made a similar decision to UTSAs, extending Spring Break until March 23 and then holding online classes until April 14, at least.

More Information Local hotline Call the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District for information about the coronavirus: 210-207-5779 (Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., English and Spanish) See More Collapse

The OLLU campus, residence and dining halls and other services will remain open, and athletic events for now remain unchanged.

At St. Marys, classes will resume in-person March 23. During the extra week, St. Marys faculty will make arrangements in case the school moves to online classes.

UIW is extending its Spring Break by one week, through March 20. Beginning March 23, classes for the remainder of the spring term will be held online. Faculty members should return to campus next week to prepare their online courses, officials said in a news release.

The university instructed its international students who hold F-1 visas to return to campus Monday. There is no word on how the European travel ban announced Wednesday night will affect those students plans.

On ExpressNews.com: Up to 120 more Grand Princess evacuees expected at Lackland today

Trinity

Trinity University will move to online instruction for the remainder of the semester and students living on campus must move out by Sunday, the school announced.

Three-fourths of Trinitys 2,500 students live on campus, the schools website states, and students are required to live on campus for three years. The university may make exceptions for students who cant return home, and students will be reimbursed for their room and board fees for the rest of the semester.

Because Trinitys student body includes international students and students from across the country, officials were concerned that Spring Break travels could endanger the health of the student body.

Right now, our students are on Spring Break and traveling really far and wide, said Tess Coody-Anders, the universitys vice president for strategic communications and marketing. That, along with other public health concerns that we were made aware of all favor into the timing of this particular decision.

Officials also wanted to avoid making a temporary decision that could inconvenience students even more. There may be an opportunity for in-person classes to resume, Coody-Anders said, but thats not something we can count on given the WHO announcement today and CDCs guidance.

Trinity athletics have been suspended for the rest of the semester, but graduation still is planned, she added.

Alamo Colleges

The Alamo Colleges said campuses and buildings would be closed to students next week, but libraries and computer labs will reopen March 16.

The community college district, which has five campuses across San Antonio and enrolls 65,000 students, will move to online instruction for all classes for a two-week period when students return March 23.

During the extra week of Spring Break, administrators will evaluate how best to move forward with the semester.

That will give us some time to assess the situation, Alamo Colleges Chancellor Mike Flores said. During that time, as we have during the past few weeks, well be closely monitoring the situation, looking to the CDC and Metropolitan Health.

The district already had prohibited school-related travel out of the area for faculty, staff and students.

At a board meeting last week, the districts coronavirus task force presented a plan that included preparations to move classes and meetings online. Trustees raised concerns that remote learning could exclude students who lack access to the internet at home.

Flores said the district already offers 25 percent of its classes online, and another portion of classes are a combination of online and in-person learning. Academic advisers also will be available next week to help students adjust to online classes.

On ExpressNews.com: Coronavirus outbreak rekindles fight over San Antonios paid sick leave ordinance

Alejandra Gomez, a student at Northeast Lakeview College and the student trustee for the district, said she was hearing concerns from many of her classmates about the change.

Were not entirely sure how theyre moving forward with things just yet, from a student perspective, she said. It was a little bit of a surprise to me; I didnt know we were getting to this point quite yet.

Faculty and staff will return to the five colleges next week on a staggered schedule, Flores said.

UTSA

The UTSA campus will be open next week as faculty and staff return to prepare and set up the online classes, which will be held until April 13 at least.

We wanted to make sure that students had the ability to plan well over the course of those few weeks, and also to give ourselves time to monitor the situation on a day-by-day basis because we know its changing so rapidly, said Joe Izbrand, university spokesman. If its necessary to extend online classes through the end of the semester, we will do so.

UTSA urged its more than 30,000 students to stay at home if possible while taking classes online.

We recognize that some UTSA students make residence halls their home, Eighmy said in an email Wednesday to students, faculty and staff. UTSA housing will remain open for those residents who choose to stay on campus, including the March 16 Spring Break extension week.

Campus services, including dining halls, libraries, the recreation center, student union, Student Health Services and Counseling & Mental Health Services, will remain open.

Students, especially those without computers or reliable internet at home, can use the campus wireless network and computer labs.

Offices will continue to operate on reduced Spring Break hours during the extension week and meal plans will continue to work. Parking will remain unchanged and the Runner, the transit system, will continue at Main Campus on a reduced schedule.

The university is working to offer advising and tutoring virtually, but students will still have access to academic offices, Provost Kimberly Andrews Espy said in an email.

Those on campus will be expected to maintain a distance of 3 feet from other people and practice good hygiene.

If San Antonio experiences a significant outbreak, we may need to increase these restrictions and adopt other approaches, Eighmy said, adding: Stay home if you are experiencing flu-like symptoms!

Employees will continue to perform their jobs on campus as usual and still can hold small group meetings, though Eighmy encouraged virtual gatherings when possible.

Chief Financial Officer Veronica Salazar Mendez told supervisors of student employees to determine whether they might be able to work remotely after online classes begin.

Because of the Spring Break extension, UTSA extended the academic calendar by three days. The final day of classes now will be May 8, and final exams will run from May 11 to 15. As of now, commencement still will be held May 16 and 17.

Students should expect to hear from their professors next week about specific schedule revisions, Espy said. No assignments will be due next week, she said.

As the NCAA limited everyone but essential staff and some family members from attending the mens and womens basketball tournaments, UTSA was evaluating athletic and other events on a case-by-case basis, depending in part on the allotted space and size of the crowd, Izbrand said. The university encouraged organizers to postpone, cancel or conduct virtual events whenever possible.

The game and practice schedules remain unchanged for in-season sports, but practices and other activities for sports not in season will be delayed until March 23, and the beginning of spring football practice has been postponed.

Eighmy said the university was working with the faculty and staff senates and Student Government Association to evaluate operations as the pandemic evolves.

A&M-San Antonio

In a news release, A&M-San Antonio said classes would resume online March 23 for at least a week, adding, The university will evaluate the need to extend beyond March 27 and will continue to update students, as needed.

The campus will remain open for normal business and student support services such as the library, dining hall and Student Wellness and Counseling Center, the news release states. The residence hall will return to normal operations Sunday.

A&M-San Antonio canceled two events: a women at work panel scheduled for March 18 and a lecture by international keynote speaker Dan Buchner that was slated for March 26th.

A day before, the Texas A&M University Systems flagship campus in College Station announced it was canceling classes Monday and Tuesday following Spring Break to give faculty members time to move their classes online if they wanted to. Classes will resume there on March 18, according to the latest word from the university. Faculty members also were not required to move all courses to an online format.

On ExpressNews.com: Mayor Nirenberg: Well have Fiesta this year

The University of Texas at Austin is adding an extra week to its Spring Break, and students will return to the campus March 30.

So far, the Texas State University in San Marcos has not suspended classes.

Alia Malik covers several school districts and the University of Texas at San Antonio. Read her on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | amalik@express-news.net | Twitter: @AliaAtSAEN | Ashley McBride covers several school districts and the Alamo Colleges District in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read her on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | Ashley.McBride@express-news.net | Twitter: @Ashleynmcb | Krista Torralva covers several school districts and public universities in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read her on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | Krista.Torralva@express-news.net | Twitter: @KMTorralva
From drone fleets and autonomous transportation systems to smart homes with computer-controlled lighting, heating, media and security systems, a new group of highly-automated technologies is gripping the popular imagination. These technologies  made possible by the Internet of Things (IoT)  form advanced ecosystems of interrelated devices with the capacity to monitor, detect, communicate and act on the real world independently of human intervention. Promising to fulfil all of our wildest technological dreams and needs, the IoT age has arrived  and it looks like its here to stay.

While the consumer applications of IoT tend to receive the most attention, one area that is seeing strong growth in the uptake of IoT devices is workplace safety. Workplace safety costs businesses billions every year, and industries with especially hazardous working environments  Construction, Oil & Gas, Mining, Utilities, Rail, among others  are beginning to adopt IoT technology to help minimise risk and address preventable threats. In addition, as the COVID-19 pandemic surges around us, the phenomenon of social distancing and remote working has emerged to help avoid risk of infection. For the many who work across the aforementioned industries however, working from home will not be logistically possible. In order to reduce the burden on hospitals and medical staff, it is now more important than ever to protect employees from having to be treated for preventable injuries.

Before exploring these IoT solutions, however, let us first consider some of the key threats faced by workers in these industries.

Workplace safety

1 in 5 worker deaths in the US and incurring tens of thousands of short and long-term injuries each year

Construction is one of the worlds most dangerous occupations, accounting for 1 in 5 worker deaths in the US and incurring tens of thousands of short and long-term injuries each year. In construction, the major risk is falling from a height, which accounts of 26 per cent of fatal injuries in the workplace. Additional risks come from being struck by vehicles and heavy moving objects, proximity to overhead/underground high voltage power lines, confined spaces, high noise environments, and exposure to dust and fumes.

Other industries are often faced with some combination of the above, or similar, threats. In the Rail sector, for instance, there is high risk from collisions with vehicles, objects and machinery and vulnerability to electric shock. In Utilities, the number one risk is slips, trips and falls, accounting for 30 per cent of Lost Workday Injuries (LWIs) in 2016. And in Oil & Gas extraction, exposure to flammable gas, chemical emissions and oxygen-deficient atmospheres creates vulnerability to explosions and chemical poisoning.

Tackling threats in a high-tech world

What, then, is being done to tackle these threats? In a high-tech world, many safety measures currently in use  hardhats, earplugs, gloves, gas masks, guardrails, harnesses, protective goggles and high visibility clothing  have been in use a long time. While these measures are still fundamental in minimising risk, companies have now started to integrate IoT technologies to enhance their application. These technologies bring together real-time analytics, machine learning, advanced sensors and embedded systems to offer a number of key functionalities:

Physiological monitoring

Wearable technology is used to monitor a workers physiological state in real-time. Japanese wearable tech company Mitsufuji is active in this space, creating smart clothes woven from silver-metallised fibres that collect a range of data about its wearer, including heart rate and body temperature. Other examples include wristbands with bio-sensors to accurately measure stress levels and glasses that detect eye movements to identify fatigue and periods of micro-sleep.

Environmental monitoring

Sensors used to measure temperature, radiation, gas leaks, carbon monoxide and other harmful chemicals can automatically alert workers to unsafe external conditions. Additionally, visual imaging software can map 3D representations of a workers environment, facilitating effective two-way communication between supervisors and personnel in the field, allowing for remote guidance technologies to provide live assistance to endangered workers (e.g. guiding a trapped miner out of a tunnel).

Situational awareness, training and behavioural data

Augmented Reality (AR) technologies offer new ways to support decision making in the field by providing holographic representations of physical equipment, while Virtual Reality (VR) technologies offer immersive situational training without the risks associated with real-life procedures. These technologies also offer up valuable behavioural data, which can be used to gauge a workers risk tolerance level and alertness in response to incidents.

Proximity detection

Proximity detection systems utilise wearable sensors to monitor workers location, map their movements, and alert them to nearby hazards. One example of this are radio-frequency identification (RFIDs), which can measure a workers proximity to moving equipment and alert them to possible collisions and near misses. Another piece of kit is the smart helmet, which can immediately detect an accident, determine the workers location and send an alert containing coordinates to a safety control centre. The centre is able to make video and audio contact and communicate with the worker until help arrives.

Exoskeletons

Exoskeletons can assist with heavy lifting and the prevention of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) by analysing worker movements and providing the necessary support. The Chairless Chair, for example, used by factory floor workers, fixes around the back and legs to provide support whenever the worker sits or crouches. Exoskeletons are also used to monitor worker movements, identifying repetitive movements and sustained periods of overexertion.

IoT technologies and innovations

IoT innovations are helping to improve workplace safety on multiple fronts

Taken together, these IoT innovations are helping to improve workplace safety on multiple fronts. Firstly, they are preventative. By closely monitoring ones environment  both internal and external  IoT technologies can pre-empt and alert workers to potential dangers. Secondly, they are responsive. In the case of an accident, IoT technologies can alert supervisors and help coordinate a quick and effective response. Thirdly, they are informative. By accumulating and analysing rich pools of data, IoT technologies can help optimise work in the field and find improved ways to limit risk.
SAN FRANCISCO, March 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The global sepsis diagnostic market size is expected to reach a value of USD 1.1 billion by 2027, expanding at a CAGR of 9.4%, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. High prevalence of sepsis, introduction of technologically advanced medical examination systems and increasing government initiatives is expected to propel market growth over the forecast period.

Key suggestions from the report:

In 2019, the blood culture media segment has emerged as the largest revenue generating segment owing to the high adoption of culture media tests in laboratories for the diagnosis of septic poisoning

Molecular diagnostics is anticipated to witness a lucrative CAGR over the forecast period owing to its high sensitivity, accuracy, and less turnaround time

In 2019, bacterial sepsis contributed towards the largest revenue share among the pathogen segment owing to its high prevalence

North America dominated the sepsis diagnostics market with the largest revenue share in 2019. High awareness, favorable reimbursement scenario, and presence of established players are facilitating the dominance of this region during the study period

The Asia Pacific region is projected to witness a lucrative growth owing to increasing awareness about sepsis diagnosis and treatment in emerging economies such as India and China

Some of the key players include bioMerieux SA; Beckman Coulter , Inc.; Becton, Dickinson and Company; Sysmex Corporation; F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG; and Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.

Read 120 page research report with ToC on "Sepsis Diagnostic Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Product (Instruments, Blood Culture Media, Assay Kits & Reagents, Software), By Technology, By Pathogen, By Testing Type, By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2020 - 2027" at: https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/sepsis-diagnostics-market/

According to CDC estimates, every year more than 1.7 million adults in U.S. suffer from sepsis, which leads to around 270,000 deaths. Furthermore, according to the report published by OECD in 2018, every year around 3.8 million patients suffer from hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) in acute care hospitals in European countries. High prevalence of HAIs in key regions is expected to significantly increase the demand for medical examination solutions, thereby fueling market growth over the forecast period.

Increasing regulatory approval and introduction of technologically advanced medical examination solutions for the life-threatening disease condition are expected to facilitate market growth over the forecast period. In May 2018, T2 Biosystems, Inc., a U.S.-based emerging medical examination solutions company received the U.S. FDA approval for its T2Bacteria Panel, intended for the detection of specific sepsis-causing bacterial pathogens in human whole blood specimens.

In April 2019, the Scottish Government in collaboration with Sepsis Research (originally called FEAT - The Fiona Elizabeth Agnew Trust) launched a Scotland-wide campaign to spread public awareness about the signs and symptoms of sepsis. Such initiatives to raise public awareness about the disease condition is expected to raise demand for its rapid medical examination solutions and support its market growth in the near future.

Grand View Research has segmented the global sepsis diagnostics market on the basis of product, technology, pathogen, testing type, and region:

Sepsis Diagnostics Product Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027)

Instruments



Microbiology





Molecular Diagnostics





Immunoassays





Flow Cytometry



Blood Culture Media



Microbiology





Molecular Diagnostics





Immunoassays





Flow Cytometry



Assay Kits and Reagent



Microbiology





Molecular Diagnostics





Immunoassays





Flow Cytometry



Software



Microbiology





Molecular Diagnostics





Immunoassays





Flow Cytometry

Sepsis Diagnostics Technology Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027)

Microbiology



Molecular Diagnostics



Immunoassays



Flow Cytometry

Sepsis Diagnostics Pathogen Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027)

Bacterial Sepsis



Gram-Positive Bacteria





Gram-Negative Bacteria



Fungal Sepsis



Others

Sepsis Diagnostics Testing Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027)

Laboratory Testing



PoC Testing

Sepsis Diagnostics Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027)

North America



U.S.





Canada



Europe



Germany





U.K.





Spain





France





Italy





Russia



Asia Pacific



Japan





China





India





South Korea





Singapore





Australia



Latin America



Brazil





Mexico





Argentina



Middle East & Africa

&

South Africa





Saudi Arabia





UAE

Find more research reports on Clinical Diagnostics Industry, by Grand View Research:

Point Of Care Diagnostics Market  Biocompatibility, low toxicity, and renewable nature of polymeric biomaterials make them potent drug delivery agents in controlled and targeted drug delivery, thus providing lucrative opportunities for biomaterials market growth.

Biocompatibility, low toxicity, and renewable nature of polymeric biomaterials make them potent drug delivery agents in controlled and targeted drug delivery, thus providing lucrative opportunities for biomaterials market growth. Lateral Flow Assay Market  The growing demand for advanced technologies in the purification of recombinant proteins produced by animal cell cultures to create high-value products of modern biotechnology propels downstream processing market growth.

The growing demand for advanced technologies in the purification of recombinant proteins produced by animal cell cultures to create high-value products of modern biotechnology propels downstream processing market growth. Cellular Health Screening Market  Advances in tissue engineering strategies hold the potential to draw attention to the treatment of several chronic disorders. Automation in adult and cord blood processing and storage is expected to drive stem cells market growth significantly.

Gain access to Grand View Compass, our BI enabled intuitive market research database of 10,000+ reports

About Grand View Research

Grand View Research, U.S.-based market research and consulting company, provides syndicated as well as customized research reports and consulting services. Registered in California and headquartered in San Francisco, the company comprises over 425 analysts and consultants, adding more than 1200 market research reports to its vast database each year. These reports offer in-depth analysis on 46 industries across 25 major countries worldwide. With the help of an interactive market intelligence platform, Grand View Research helps Fortune 500 companies and renowned academic institutes understand the global and regional business environment and gauge the opportunities that lie ahead.

Contact:

Sherry James

Corporate Sales Specialist, USA

Grand View Research, Inc.

Phone: +1-415-349-0058

Toll Free: 1-888-202-9519

Email: [email protected]

Web: https://www.grandviewresearch.com

Follow Us: LinkedIn | Twitter

SOURCE Grand View Research, Inc.
Its hard to take the high road and move to more conservative pastures when markets are skyrocketing up, because it feels like we are leaving money on the table, she said. But when the roller coaster ride of market volatility returns and its time to cash out and pay up for what we were saving for, its no fun to pull money out at a beaten-up value. Better we had just passed up some of the gain by being a long-term investor who got out a little too soon but still made a great rate of return.
Kenyas Ishaqbini Hirola Conservancy released a statement on Twitter yesterday confirming that a rare white female giraffe and her male calf were killed by poachers.

According to the conservancy, the giraffe was in a skeletal state after being killed by armed poachers," meaning the deaths were not recent.

The white giraffe was discovered in 2017, according to the conservancy. The giraffe is not albino but has a condition known as leucism.

The only remaining white giraffe is a bull.

This is a very sad day for the community of Ijara and Kenya as a whole. We are the only community in the world who are custodians of white giraffe. Its killing is a blow to tremendous steps taken by the community to conserve rare and unique species, and a wakeup call for continued support to conservation efforts, said Mohammad Ahmednoor, the manager of the conservancy, in the news release.

This is a long term loss given that genetics studies and research, which were significant investment into the area by researchers, has now gone down the drain. Further to this, the white giraffe was a big boost to tourism in the area.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-11 23:37:20|Editor: huaxia

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HONG KONG, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Hong Kong's Centre for Health Protection (CHP) reported on late Wednesday three more newly confirmed COVID-19 cases and updated the total number of the confirmed cases in Hong Kong to 129.

The CHP announced at its daily press briefing in the afternoon that six people were diagnosed with the COVID-19 and three others were preliminarily tested positive for the virus on Wednesday.

In an updated announcement at night, the CHP said the three preliminary positive cases have been diagnosed as COVID-19 virus infection, bringing the number of additional cases on Wednesday to nine.

Six of the additional cases are related to the cluster involving a tour group from Hong Kong to Egypt announced on Tuesday.

The group, consisting of eight tourists and one guide, traveled to Egypt from Feb. 27 to March 7. The six new cases confirmed on Wednesday, together with the three group members who were diagnosed with COVID-19 on Tuesday, indicate that the whole group have been infected by the virus, according to Head of the CHP's Communicable Disease Branch Chuang Shuk-kwan.

One of the remaining three new cases involves a 22-year-old female flight attendant who was working at the flight CX320 from Madrid, Spain back to Hong Kong arriving on March 8. A female passenger of the flight has been tested positive for COVID-19 virus earlier, and the flight attendant was traced as a close contact of her.

Another new case involves a 36-year-old woman who is the daughter of a 69-year-old male patient diagnosed on Feb. 17. The woman had been sent to the quarantine center as a close contact on Feb. 17 and was under medical surveillance after completing quarantine on March 1. She developed diarrhoea since March 8 and runny nose since March 9.

Chuang said at the briefing that the incubation period of the patient, who had no recent travel history, seems relatively longer.

The last new case involves a 31-year-old woman with good past health who arrived in Hong Kong from Britain on Feb. 29 with her husband and son and stayed at her parents' flat. She developed fever since March 3 and was admitted to hospital on Tuesday.

Her husband has also developed fever and was arranged to be sent to hospital for treatment. Her son and parents are asymptomatic and will be arranged for quarantine.

The Controller of the CHP Wong Ka-hing said at Wednesday's briefing that the COVID-19 epidemic situation is changing rapidly around the globe and Hong Kong has seen multiple imported cases recently. He again urged members of the public to consider delaying all non-essential travel outside Hong Kong.

Lau Ka-hin, chief manager for quality and standards of Hong Kong's Hospital Authority, reported at the briefing that two patients were discharged from the hospital after recovery on Wednesday, bringing the total number of cured COVID-19 cases to 66, while 57 COVID-19 patients remain hospitalized.
There are five presumptive positive cases of coronavirus, formally known as COVID-19, in South Dakota, including a Pennington County man who has died.

Gov. Kristi Noem said at a press conference Tuesday afternoon that each case is related to travel. Whether the travel was domestic or international wasn't disclosed at the press conference.

The cases include a Pennington County man in his 60s who died Tuesday. It is unknown whether coronavirus was the cause of his death, as he had other pre-existing health conditions.

The other cases include a man in his 40s from Beadle County, a man in his 50s from Charles Mix County, a woman in her 30s from Davison County, and a man in his 40s from Minnehaha County.

According to the Department of Health website, 13 others in the state have tested negative for the coronavirus and two tests are still pending.

Avera Health confirmed in a statement Tuesday afternoon that the two patients from Pennington and Davison counties were treated at an Avera facility. Sanford Health confirms the patient from Minnehaha County was their patient.

Dan Daly, a communications specialist at Monument Health in Rapid City, said the hospital is working to conserve personal protective equipment for patients and caregivers. Daly said they have enough staff at this point to deal with a potential outbreak.

Daly also said that at the local level, Monument can administer tests to patients but has to send the samples to the state Department of Health to confirm whether they are positive or negative.

Patients who get tested and who also have severe symptoms will have to await their results in isolation at the hospital. Daly said he estimates this could take a day. Patients with less severe symptoms can self-quarantine at home while they await their results.

Kim Malsam-Rysdon, the secretary for the Department of Health, said the state received coronavirus tests at 8 a.m. Tuesday and received positive results by 2:15 p.m. The next step is to send the positive samples to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for further testing.

That is why we refer to them as presumptive positive cases, Noem said in a press conference on Tuesday afternoon. We have confirmed that theyre COVID-19 positive cases, but were going to send them on to the CDC and thats where they will confirm what we have with our testing process.

U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds said the Senate passed legislation last week to provide state and local entities with additional resources to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Rounds said health officials are working on a vaccine and advanced therapeutic treatments.

While we recognize that there will be economic impacts throughout the U.S., the most important things we should focus on right now are saving lives and appropriate health-care needs, Rounds said in a statement.

U.S. Sen. John Thune said he is laser-focused on ensuring state and local governments have the resources they need to fight the COVID-19 outbreak.

I am confident all of the necessary steps are being taken as we learn more about these individuals, where they may have traveled, and anyone else they may have contacted, Thune said of the five South Dakota cases.

The Rushmore Plaza Civic Center said in a press release that they have not canceled any shows due to the virus and that theyve increased sanitation throughout the building and enforced a no touch policy for staff and guests.

Noems main message to the public is not to panic and that common sense is the best approach.

Wash your hands. If youre not feeling well, stay home. Call your health-care providers if you have any symptoms, she said. Not panicking is important. Using common-sense protocols will make sure that were responsible for how we handle this situation.

For more information, visit covid.sd.gov or call 1-800-997-2880.

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Two persons from Mumbai on



Wednesday tested positive for coronavirus, taking the number of such cases in Maharashtra to seven, health officials said.

The two, who are the first coronavirus positive cases from Mumbai, had come in close contact with two Pune residents who had returned from Dubai recently and tested positive for coronavirus, the officials said.

A statement by the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme of the Public Health Department, Maharashtra said an "aggressive contact tracing activity" is in progress on a war footing after two Dubai returnees from Pune were found positive for positive coronavirus two days ago.

"On Wednesday, two close contacts of these persons from Mumbai were found positive. Both are co-passengers of the index cases and part of the Dubai tour troup," it said.

"Till Wednesday, 1,38,968 travelers from 1195 flights have been screened at Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur international airports. As per the new guidelines from central government, travelers coming from all countries are being screened at international airports," it said.

The Bureau of Immigration is regulary providing list of all passengers coming from high risk countries like Iran, Italy and South Korea for necessary follow up, it said.

All travelers who have come after February 21 from these three countries are being followed by Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme functionaries, it said.

"Field surveillance is also actively going on all across the state in search of people coming from the Corona affected areas. Till today, the state has 635 travelers coming from coronavirus-affected areas.

"From January 18 till date 349 symptomatic travelers have been isolated in identified isolation facilities. Till today 312 of these samples have been found negative while 7 were found positive. At present 18 travelers are still in hospital at Pune while 15 at Mumbai," it said.

Suspected cases have also been isolated at Nagpur and Pimpri Chinchwad, the statement said.

"To increase surge capacity and for future preparedness, the state has established isolation wards in all district hospitals and government medical colleges. As of today, the state has 502 isolation beds available," it said.

"All international travelers are being screened at airports and all symptomatic travelers are referred to identified isolation wards.Asymptomatic travelers coming from 12 countries (China, Honkong, Thailand, Singapore, South Korea, Japan, Nepal, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Iran and Italy) are being referred to IDSP for regular follow up for 14 days," it said.

Till Wednesday, of the 635 travelers, 370 have completed their follow-up of 14 days, it said.

Apart from Mumbai, Pune and Thane travelers are also being monitored in Gadchiroli, Nanded, Buldhana, Yavatmal, Nagpur, Wardha, Sangli, Ahmednagar, Amaravati, Palghar, Jalgaon, Chandrapur and Satara districts, it said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
HARTFORD  School districts are being told to reconsider any large events where there could be 100 or more people in attendance to combat the coronavirus.

Sporting events, school plays, spring concerts and field trips fall into that category, according to new guidelines issued late Monday by Commissioner of Education Miguel Cardona.

The two-page directive continues to leave school closures of up to two weeks in local hands.

Closures that may extend past two weeks will be addressed on a case-by-case basis, Cardona wrote.

On Tuesday in Stratford, school officials announced that Wilcoxson School would close through Friday because a person connected to the district may have been exposed to COVID-19.

The commissioner also sent school districts guidance related to school closures and an application for a waiver of the 180-day requirement should it be necessary.

If Connecticut experiences widespread sustained community transmission, public safety considerations including extended school closures as a public health prevention measure will be made at the direction of the Office of the Governor with input from other agencies, Cardona wrote.

The directives include a flow chart for when distance learning opportunities are appropriate.

Any distance learning has to be equitable, Acting Bridgeport Schools Superintendent Michael Testani said. In Bridgeport, he said equitable learning cannot be guaranteed because some students live in homes without internet access or equipment.

Testani said he does not consider sending students home with homework packets an equitable educational opportunity.

Any days missed, Testani said, would be made up at the end of the school year.

Local school officials said they have other worries about the impact of closed schools.

A lot of our students depend on our schools for food, Board Member Joe Sokolovic said. Two meals a day. Kids wont eat if they stay home ... Consider all the ramifications.

Cardona was on a conference call with Gov. Ned Lamont and about 500 state and municipal officials on Monday evening to talk about the developing coronavirus situation.

Testani called the guidance helpful.

We need to keep things in proper perspective, Testani said. Folks are scared.

The directive was shared with the board as members voted to suspend out-of-state field trips.
The federal government has new guidelines for businesses and workers in light of COVID-19.

The $1 billion package is intended to help Canadas economic and health care sectors cope with the novel coronavirus outbreak as the number of new cases grows.

The government plans to provide financing to businesses through Crown lending agencies, such as the Business Development Bank of Canada, to help companies access credit to handle the economic shock.

The financing, announced by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Wednesday morning, will also waive the one-week waiting period to apply for EI, to encourage sick workers to take time off to recover.

Changes to the federal worksharing program, which supplements wages when workers cut hours to avoid layoffs, will target companies affected by COVID-19 by doubling the length of benefits to 76 weeks from 38.

The government said in a release that it is offering flexible payment plans to help businesses meet their tax obligations to the Canada Revenue Agency, which business groups have said should help with cash-flow issues.

The Liberals are also waiving the waiting period for employment insurance payments for people who take time off work and self-isolate due to illness.

I think its a great start and I applaud the government for taking quick action, with the stimulus package said Rocco Rossi, president and CEO of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce.

The most important part of the announcement is the accelerated access to EI benefits, Rossi said.

Forcing workers and business owners to choose between quarantine and work would be an unreasonable burden to put on particularly small and medium sized businesses, Rossi said

Rossi said that the measures are a welcome start, noting Trudeau said more help may come available as the situation develops.

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business wants the province to step up as well.

Were asking not only the federal but the provincial governments to provide flexibility on the assessment of penalties and interest say on GST and HST filings  many businesses have seen their sales halved, in the wake of the coronavirus, said Dan Kelly, president and CEO of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business.

CFIB is pleased by todays federal announcement that employees who must stay home can now access Employment Insurance without a one-week waiting period. This will help both workers and employers, including many small firms that are not able to offer any sick time or enough to last during a period of quarantine, the federation said in a statement.

The CFIB is urging the government to consider providing relief from penalties and interest for late sales taxes and to consider relief measures for those struggling with a significant impact on their business.

Many businesses in tourism or those serving the Asian-Canadian community have seen a dramatic drop in sales, and allowing business owners to reduce hours will help them protect jobs, the statement said.

Kelly said small businesses  especially those in the transportation, tourism, hotel and food service sectors  have been particularly hard hit. This is not the first time the government has offered aid: similar help was given during the Newfoundland blizzard.

The measures mirror those rolled out during the SARS outbreak in 2003, when the government waived the one-week EI waiting period to encourage workers to stay home and self-isolate, said Laurell Ritchie, co-chair of the EI Working Group.

But the measures dont go far enough to support precarious workers, Ritchie said.

They dont even cover off the ground that was covered during the SARS period, Ritchie told the Star. At that time, a worker information hotline was established to update the public on the most recent news, and the need for a medical certificate to qualify for EI was waived.

While the Prime Minister said the waiting period for EI would be waived, it is not clear whether or not that will apply retroactively, Ritchie said.

That is an issue because there are people whove been off since February, she said.

The package also includes:

$500 million to help provinces and territories buy equipment, increase testing for COVID-19, and enhance surveillance and monitoring.

$275 million for research for a vaccine.
District Court of The Hague Dutch press judge Yolande Wijnnobel (L) speaks past Dutch press judge Paul Rouwen about the first session of the international MH17 trial in Badhoevedorp, The Netherlands, on March 9, 2020. (Remko De Waal/ANP/AFP via Getty Images)

Dutch Court Puts Kremlin Flight MH17 Lies on Trial

Commentary

In this digital media world, despotic lies and authoritarian propaganda spread at light speed, with the goals of manipulating emotions and weakening a targeted audiences will to resist the tyrant.

The antidotes to a 21st-century dictatorships destructive falsehoodsjustice and its ally, truthoften react slowly. In the Age of the Internet, slow has a price. Slow doesnt generate hot headlines and wag the tongues of talking heads, so the dictators make the first impression and set the agenda.

But to paraphrase former President John Adams, facts and evidence are stubborn things, and when ethical human beings pursue justice and truth, hard facts and evidence have the power to address great wrong and perhaps punish it.

Even if perpetrators escape punishment, in a court of law, justice seekers can publicly expose and damn the bombastic liars who tried to hide the crime, and that counts as a victory in every age.

On March 9, this process began in real time as a court in The Hague opened the trial of four men Dutch prosecutors accused of being responsible for destroying Malaysian Airlines Flight 17.

Three of the indicted are Russian; one is Ukrainian. All four men are members of Russian-led secessionist militias operating in eastern Ukraine. No, they are not present in the court. They are being tried in absentia.

No one and no entity, not even the Kremlin, disputes these four facts: On July 17, 2014, Flight MH17 left Amsterdam heading for Kuala Lumpur. The civilian jet went down over eastern Ukraine. All 298 human beings aboard the civilian airliner died in the incident. The majority (193) were Dutch citizens.

A fifth fact is the predicate to the MH17 outrage: In spring 2014, a war began in eastern Ukraine, a war following Russias February 2014 invasion of Crimea and its March annexation of the territory. The Kremlin disputes the term invasion and says Russia liberated Crimea.

Russian propagandists initially directed their Crimean caper narrative warfare at Ukraine, Europe, and the United States. The Kremlin portrayed the Crimea and eastern Ukraine invasions as spontaneous uprisings by pro-Russia secessionists. Russian elite troops in unmarked uniforms took Crimea. In eastern Ukraines Donetsk region, the Kremlin waged a gray area covert war as intelligence agents and Russian volunteers aided alleged secessionists.

Ah, but. Cellphone photos showed Russian military trucks crossing the border. Russian artillery fire hit Ukrainian positions. Despite hard evidence of Russian military involvement, Kremlin propagandists remained a step ahead, always accusing Ukraine, NATO, and the United States of war crimes and plots to attack Russia. The grandiose lies were Russian President Vladimir Putins most powerful strategic weapon.

With 193 citizens dead, the Netherlands demanded accountability. Russia responded with lies. When investigators proved a surface to air missile (SAM) downed MH17, Russia accused Ukraine of firing the missile and even made the jaw-dropping claim that the real target was an airplane carrying Putin. Explosion pattern analysis and remnant pieces proved the SAM was a Russian-made Buk. The Kremlin claimed Ukraine had captured. Flight track analysis proved the missile was launched from pro-Kremlin secessionist territory. The Kremlin huffedanother NATO lie. In May 2018, Dutch investigators obtained evidence that the Buk missile was a model only Russian forces possess.

Indisputable evidence connects the accused to Kremlin leaders. In November 2019, investigators confirmed that Ukraines intelligence service had electronic intercepts verifying that Kremlin officials had contacts with two of the indicted men. The BBC identified one of the Russian officials as a deputy prime minister.

The indicted are not present in The Hague court. Russia protects them and wont allow their extradition.

Justice and truth may be slow, but evidence of Russian culpability in supplying the missile and providing operational guidance is overwhelming and damning. Suddenly the court is a sensational venue where the Kremlins crimes and lies face cross-examination and damnation.

Austin Bay is a colonel (ret.) in the U.S. Army Reserve, author, syndicated columnist, and a teacher in strategy and strategic theory at the University of Texas. His latest book is Cocktails from Hell: Five Wars Shaping the 21st Century.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
London: Large ecosystems, such as the Amazon rainforest, may collapse and disappear alarmingly quickly, once a critical point in their destruction is reached, according to a study that calls for improved conservation efforts to protect these habitats.

Researchers, including those from the University of London in the UK, revealed the speed at which ecosystems of different sizes will disappear, once they have reached a point beyond which they transform into an alternative habitat.

The study, published in the journal Nature Communications, noted that shifts in the Earth's ecosystems occur over human timescales of years and decades, meaning the collapse of large vulnerable ecosystems, such as the Amazon rainforest and Caribbean coral reefs, may take only a few decades once triggered.

According to the findings, once the point of no return is reached, the iconic Amazon rainforest could shift to a savannah-type ecosystem with a mix of trees and grass within 50 years.

Earlier studies had suggested that many ecosystems are currently teetering on the edge of this precipice, with the fires and destruction both in the Amazon and in Australia, the researchers said.

The scientists explained that ecosystems which are made up of a number of interacting species, rather than those dominated by one single species, may be more stable and take longer to shift to alternative states.

These findings, according to the researchers, provide opportunities to mitigate or manage the worst effects.

Citing an example, they said, elephants are termed as 'key stone' species as they have a disproportionately large impact on the landscape pushing over trees, but also dispersing seeds over large distances.

The scientists noted that the loss of such key stone species may lead to a rapid and dramatic change in the landscape within our lifetime.

We intuitively knew that big systems would collapse more slowly than small ones due to the time it takes for impacts to diffuse across large distances, said John Dearing, study co-author from Southampton University in the UK.

However, Dearing said it was unexpected to find that big systems collapse much faster, even the largest on the Earth only taking possibly a few decades.
A senior official in the Scottish Government said she came to expect being inappropriately touched and receiving sloppy kisses from Alex Salmond.

The former first minister of Scotland is on trial at the High Court in Edinburgh over accusations of sexual assault.

The prosecution witness, known as Woman A, claims the 65-year-old sexually assaulted her in Glasgow between June and July 2008.

One charge alleges he kissed her on the mouth and touched her buttocks and breast over her clothing on several occasions in Glasgow between June and July 2008.

She told the court she did not want such contact with him but did not know what would happen to her if she told the most powerful man in the country to stop.

Alex Salmond was Scottish First Minister / PA

Appearing behind a grey screen, she said: I came to expect something like that to happen during my days with him during that time.

There was no need to be that physically close. There was no need to move his hand.

There was no need for that to happen without him meaning to do it.

She added: At times he would move his hand on my back and move his hands so they were on the side of my chest or they were on my back.

The alleged incidents regarding touching were said to have happened up to five times.

Salmond faces 14 charges of alleged offences against 10 women, all of which he has pleaded not guilty to / PA

Jurors were told Salmond would put pressure on her shoulders so she could not move her lips away from being kissed when being greeted, said to have happened about 10 times.

She described the incidents as very sloppy, very unpleasant.

It was heard Woman A began to carry a bag to put some distance between her and Salmond and he would not behave in such a manner when others were loitering.

Alex Prentice QC, for the Crown, asked her why she did not tell the former first minister to stop.

She said: I liked my job, I wanted to do my job well. I didnt know him very well. He was the most powerful man in the country.

I didnt know what would happen  I had experienced some volatile mood swings from him.

It was almost easier to move away than risk antagonising him.

Earlier, a guest at Bute House said a former Scottish Government official was at a dinner there on the evening Salmond is alleged to have tried to rape her.

The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has spoken about two alleged incidents, including one charge that the 65-year-old tried to rape her in June 2014.

Salmonds lawyer had previously suggested she had not been at the dinner that night.

I have never been a willing participant of Alex Salmonds advances towards me" / PA

But a recording of a Police Scotland interview taken via Skype in 2019 was played in the courtroom on Wednesday when the guest claimed he had met the complainer at the dinner.

The interview was carried out as part of Operation Diem, which looked into allegations against the former first minister.

Giving evidence on the third day of the trial, the woman also denied she had a consensual sexual encounter with Salmond.

Shelagh McCall QC, representing Salmond, claimed on Wednesday the prosecution witness had a consensual sexual encounter with Salmond at Bute House in August 2013.

But giving evidence on the third day of the trial, the woman said: I have never been a willing participant of Alex Salmonds advances towards me.

Ms McCall said the encounter had ended when the woman said to Salmond that she had not meant this to happen and they realised they had got carried away and it was a mistake.

She added: I am putting to you thats exactly what you said at that point.

The two of you sat up, put your clothes back on, realised it was a mistake.

But the woman said: Absolutely not, it sounds a much better ending of an evening than what actually happened.

Ms McCall said the woman had been embarrassed and upset but Salmond had told her not to worry about it and she had gone home.

The woman said this was not true.

One witness who worked with Woman H claimed he had never heard her mention the guest, while a businessman who said he attended several dinners at Bute House described her relationship with the former first minister as friendly and comfortable.

Salmond faces 14 charges of alleged offences against 10 women, all of which he has pleaded not guilty to.

The charges span a period between June 2008 and November 2014, with one sexual assault said to have taken place in the month of the Scottish independence referendum in September 2014.

The trial, before judge Lady Dorrian, continues.
NORWALK  The citys annual St. Patricks Day parade has been canceled for Saturday amid coronavirus concerns.

The St. Patricks Day Parade is a wonderful Norwalk event and is something our community looks forward to each year, Mayor Harry Rilling said in a statement released Tuesday afternoon. Unfortunately, it cannot move forward this weekend. With multiple parades being canceled in the area, the expected attendance at our parade has certainly increased. While the current risk in Norwalk is low, we must consider the health of first responders, residents, and visitors who staff, attend and march in the parade.

Our top priority is keeping everyone safe and healthy and preventing potential community spread. While its certainly disappointing to cancel this event, it is the prudent decision given the uncertainty around COVID-19 and how quickly the situation can change. I wish everyone a safe, healthy, and enjoyable St. Patricks Day weekend.

The city made the announcement shortly after Gov. Ned Lamont declared a state of emergency in Connecticut to allow state agencies to react quickly to the COVID-19 outbreak. Rilling said the city is still waiting to hear from state officials on how the civil preparedness and public health emergencies will affect Norwalk.

On Monday, Rilling said the city would cancel all events with over 100 attendees until the end of April. Norwalk Public Schools also announced they will be closed Thursday to allow staff to prepare virtual lessons if a prolonged closure is necessary.

The district is also postponing or canceling large gatherings until further notice, including musical performances and assemblies. All field trips are postponed and international school trips are canceled.

The Norwalk Public Library is also canceling programs with over 100 attendees.

This was going to be the fifth annual St. Patricks Day parade in Norwalk. The event is put on by the Norwalk Police Emerald Society, a non-profit group for Irish American members of law enforcement, fire service and civil service agencies. The group has already held three fundraisers for this years parade, according to its website.

erin.kayata@hearstmediact.com
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said Tuesday that his government would release an initial 1,500 Taliban prisoners, at the rate of 100 per day beginning Saturday, after pressure from the United States to get delayed peace talks underway.

In a decree, Ghani said an additional 500 will be released every two weeks until the total reaches 5,000, as agreed in a U.S.-Taliban deal signed late last month, "provided that the level of violence is dramatically reduced." Released prisoners will have to sign a document pledging not to return to the battlefield.

U.S. negotiator Zalmay Khalilzad, posting on Twitter about the decree, said the freed Taliban members would include those on a list the insurgents presented Tuesday to the United States. Under the U.S. deal, the Taliban is to release up to 1,000 Afghan prisoners.

Under the U.S.-Taliban agreement, the releases were to precede the start of direct peace negotiations between the Taliban and the government, which were scheduled to begin Tuesday. But the day passed with no talks after Ghani, whose government was not part of the U.S.-Taliban deal, refused that condition.

The decree was finally issued after Khalilzad urged all sides to comply. On Twitter, he called on them to sit down together in Doha, Qatar - where more than a year of U.S.-Taliban negotiations, in which the government did not participate, hashed out last month's deal - to negotiate final details of the prisoner releases.

In a document released Saturday, the Taliban had called on all Afghans to relinquish any support for what it has always called the "puppet" government under U.S. "occupation" in Kabul and support the movement as it retakes control of the country following its 2001 overthrow by U.S. and Afghan forces.

Beyond the prisoner disagreement, Ghani has still not announced the composition of the government negotiating team that is supposed to meet with the Taliban. He was sworn in for a new presidential term Monday despite a challenge to his authority from Abdullah Abdullah, a political rival who has also claimed victory in September's election.

Abdullah announced the formation of his own government, even as Ghani said he would form a cabinet within the next two weeks.

Late Tuesday, the State Department issued a statement saying that "while preparations for intra-Afghan negotiations are underway," they had been delayed by the "Presidential electoral crisis." Ghani, it said, "has told us he is consulting" with Abdullah and others "and will announce an inclusive team in the coming few days."

Under the U.S.-Taliban deal, the United States agreed to withdraw about a third of its 12,000 military forces in Afghanistan within 135 days of the signing, a process the U.S. command in Kabul announced Monday had begun. If the Taliban complies with its own obligations - not to attack U.S. or NATO troops and break ties with terrorist organizations such as al-Qaida - the rest of the U.S. and alliance force is to withdraw by May of next year.

U.S. officials have said that their withdrawal is "conditions-based" and includes an ongoing reduction of violence against foreign and Afghan forces. But the agreement does not specify an ongoing reduction in violence against Afghans, and Taliban fighters have continued to attack Afghan security forces.

Statements by both Khalilzad and the State Department called the current level of violence unacceptable. "We expect the Taliban to adhere to its commitments to reduce violence in order to allow for the release of prisoners to be implemented smoothly and the peace process to succeed," Khalilzad tweeted.

Speaking to members of the House Armed Services Committee on Tuesday, Marine Gen. Kenneth "Frank" McKenzie Jr., the head of U.S. Central Command, reiterated that withdrawals beyond the initial 135 days would depend on whether the Taliban lived up to what he said were requirements in the agreement and that no plans had yet been made for further force reductions.

Speaking alongside McKenzie, Katie Wheelbarger, a senior Pentagon policy official, described the 14-month timeline as "aspirational."

McKenzie expressed skepticism about whether the Taliban would follow through with commitments to break with al-Qaida and said his recommendations about future troop reductions would be linked to its compliance.

"We don't need to like them," McKenzie said. "We need to observe what they do."

The general said that violence had fallen in the country but that lower-level attacks directed at Afghan forces created concerns about whether the Taliban would be a partner for peace.

Anticipating a possible full withdrawal from Afghanistan, McKenzie said the United States was looking at "over the horizon" options that would allow for certain counterterrorism activities that would be conducted from outside Afghanistan. "And none of them are particularly good," he said.

Such an approach would be similar to what the Pentagon has adopted in recent years in places such as Libya, involving the use of surveillance and intelligence combined with occasional airstrikes, in coordination with local authorities.

But that kind of remote campaign has its drawbacks, including more limited visibility into militant activity.

At the Pentagon, spokesman Jonathan Rath Hoffman defended the Trump administration's decision to withhold information contained in classified annexes to the U.S.-Taliban deal, which lawmakers who have read them say detail the military withdrawal. But Hoffman said there were "legitimate reasons" to keep them out of the public domain, including "operationally sensitive information regarding troop movements . . . that may be of interest to ISIS and al-Qaida and other entities operating in Afghanistan."

But numerous lawmakers have demanded the annexes be made public, arguing that the Taliban already has access to the information they contain.

Hoffman said, "It's an agreement with the Taliban. It makes sense for them to read the documents."

"There's information that is necessary to be provided, and it's perfectly normal to do that in a diplomatic negotiation," he said.

- - -

George reported from Herat, Afghanistan. The Washington Post's Haq Nawaz Khan in Peshawar, Pakistan, and Missy Ryan and Dan Lamothe in Washington contributed to this report.
Washington: Joe Biden decisively won Michigans Democratic presidential primary on Tuesday, seizing a key battleground state that helped propel Bernie Sanders insurgent candidacy four years ago. The former vice presidents victory there, as well as in Missouri and Mississippi, dealt a serious blow to Sanders and substantially widened Bidens path to the nomination.

Biden again showed strength with working-class voters and African Americans, who are vital to winning the Democratic nomination. Sanders hopes on Tuesday rested on states where far fewer delegates were at stake, Idaho, North Dakota and Washington state. Washingtons primary was too early to call late Tuesday. Because all votes there are cast by mail or by dropping them off in a ballot box, many ballots were marked for candidates who have since dropped out.

Tuesday marked the first time voters weighed in on the primary since it effectively narrowed to a two-person race between Sanders and Biden. And the first three large states easily went to Biden, a dramatic reversal for a campaign that appeared on the brink of collapse just two weeks ago. Now it is Sanders, whose candidacy was ascendant so recently, who must contemplate a path forward.

Addressing supporters in Philadelphia, Biden noted that many had declared that this candidacy was dead only days ago but now were very much alive. He also asked Sanders supporters to back him going forward.

We need you, we want you, and theres a place in our campaign for each of you. I want to thank Bernie Sanders and his supporters for their tireless energy and their passion, Biden said. We share a common goal, and together well beat Donald Trump.

It marked a high point for the former vice presidents staff. They sipped beer and broke into an impromptu dance party after his speech, held close to his Philadelphia headquarters.

Even as the contours of the race came into shape, new uncertainty was sparked by fears of the spreading coronavirus. Both candidates abruptly canceled rallies in Ohio that were scheduled for Tuesday night. That set the stage for Bidens remarks in Philadelphia, while Sanders flew home to Vermont and didnt plan to address the public.

Sanders campaign also said all future events would be decided on a case-by-case basis given public health concerns, while Biden called off a scheduled upcoming Florida stop. Still, the former vice president said Tuesday night that hed be announcing plans to combat the coronavirus later this week.
The Government has expanded on its plans for 400m in financial aid for businesses impacted by the spread of coronavirus, including the release of loans of up to 1.5m at reduced rates.

Rescue packages will also be made available, while micro-finance loans will be increased. Credit schemes with banks will also be opened up for businesses affected by the virus and its spread.

Supervalu in Clonakilty had a hand sanitiser station in its foyer yesterday. Picture: Andy Gibson

Business Minister Heather Humphreys said in a statement: I am hearing from many businesses that they are very concerned about their cashflow in the coming weeks. I want to reassure them that there are a number of schemes that can help them meet their short-term working capital and liquidity needs.

This situation is changing from day to day, and I will continue to work across government, with the representative bodies, and with the banking system to respond to ongoing developments in order to protect and support Irish businesses.

Trinity College Dublin has closed the Book of Kells, the Science Gallery, and other areas of the college. Picture: Sam Boal

The Department of Business said a 200m working capital scheme would allow businesses draw down loans of up to 1.5m at reduced rates. A separate 200m package for enterprise supports will be available through Enterprise Ireland for vulnerable but viable firms that need to restructure or transform their business.

The department also said maximum loans available from MicroFinance Ireland would be increased from 25,000 to 50,000.

Workers spray disinfectant as a precaution in the main hall of the Lebanese parliament, in Beirut, yesterday. Picture: AP

It was also announced that a credit guarantee scheme will be specifically available to Covid-19 impacted firms through state-owned banks, with loans of up to 1m available of terms of up to seven years. The department is also working with the EU to tweak state aid rules for firms.

Efforts to keep food supplies stocked up are also being supported. The department said it was still in talks with key stakeholders to ensure continuity of food supply and that Ms Humphreys would chair a forum of large retail multiples, retail bodies and grocery distributors and food manufacturers.

Hand sanitisers at a conference at the Ballygarry Hotel Tralee, Co Kerry. Picture: Domnick Walsh

Earlier, Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe also said he was aware of calls from hoteliers, restaurant owners, and others to reduce the tourism rate of Vat back down to 9%.

He said he would be considering problems with the sector amid fears of a huge fall in tourism numbers coming here.

Meanwhile, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar held talks with EU counterparts yesterday in a video conference.
As Pennsylvania confronts the coronavirus, health professionals have urged people to stay home from work if they are sick.

Gov. Tom Wolf and state lawmakers must take a vital step to ensure workers actually stay home if they are ill. Its time for the governor and General Assembly to pass a law guaranteeing workers get some paid sick days.

Pennsylvania has no state law compelling employers to offer paid time off for workers. The Keystone State is hardly an anomaly. Pennsylvania is one of 38 states that have no law requiring paid sick days.

State Sen. Vincent Hughes, D-Philadelphia, has sponsored a bill that would give workers paid time off. Hughes wants to mandate that employers provide workers who they employ for at least 30 days with one hour of paid leave for every 30 hours worked. He introduced the legislation last year.

Some workers are asked to weigh taking care of themselves against losing one or more days of pay, Hughes said.

They say dont go to work, Hughes said. Dont be where you can be in contact with anyone. So before you even know if you have the coronavirus, you are in a situation where you are going to lose money, lose pay and put yourself in financial jeopardy.

Federal lawmakers are also introducing measures to require paid time off.

While most employers offer some paid time off, some businesses dont do it. About 24 percent of American workers - more than 30 million people - do not receive paid sick days, The Washington Post reported, citing the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

CORONAVIRUS CASES IN PENNSYLVANIA: Click to see where cases of the coronavirus are in Pennsylvania are located.



The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is encouraging businesses to allow employees to work from home. The CDC is also urging employers to ensure that your sick leave policies are flexible and consistent with public health guidance and that employees are aware of these policies.

While Pennsylvania has no state law, its two largest cities provide paid time off. Philadelphia requires paid sick days for those who work at employers with at least 10 employees; those businesses with less than 10 workers must offer unpaid sick days. This month, Pittsburgh just enacted a law also providing workers paid sick days.

On Wednesday, Montgomery County, which has seen several reported cases of coronavirus, urged employers who dont offer paid sick days to implement a temporary policy.

This will help contain #COVID19 & help employees who depend on that paycheck make the right choice for the entire community while keeping their family economically secure, the county stated in a message on Twitter.

Employers could face problems if they are forced to provide paid sick days, said Gene Barr, president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry. Chiefly, how much should they offer? And if workers use sick days now due to the coronavirus, what if they get sick again in the fall?

The coronavirus poses genuine challenges to businesses. Nonetheless, some steps to protect the public in this outbreak are clear. Pennsylvanians should stay home if they are sick. Employers should be encouraging their workers to stay healthy (and to protect their fellow co-workers).

Plus, if workers are bringing a serious illness into the office and it spreads, then employers stand to lose an awful lot of productivity and money in the long run.

Its time for the governor and state lawmakers to step up to the plate. They need to pass a law ensuring workers get paid sick days. Its an essential step to protect the public not only in the face of the novel coronavirus but in other public health threats in the years to come.

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decline of physical banks



With online and mobile banking increasing in popularity, physical banks have struggled to keep their doors open. Over the past five years, the number of branch locations in America declined by 7%. Though digital banking services may allow for easier service for some customers as they deposit checks into their savings, bank branch locations continue to be an important resource for others.

In a recent Federal Reserve report, researchers note that the shift to digital banking channels is occurring more gradually for older individuals, those with lower incomes or fewer years of formal education and inhabitants of rural communities. Additionally, for all customers, even those who mostly use digital bank services, branches continue to be the dominant channel when applying for new products. According to Deloitte survey results, 65% of Americans prefer branches when applying for a mortgage, and 58% prefer one when opening a checking account.



The decline of branch offices has not been felt evenly by different banks and throughout the country. In this study, SmartAsset looked at trends in branch closures for the five largest banks in America and the cities where it has become most difficult to visit a physical bank. For details on our data sources and how we put all the information together to create the final rankings, check out the Data and Methodology section below.

Key Findings

Large banks are closing at varying rates. Between 2014 and 2018, three of the largest five banks in the U.S. closed branch locations at rates greater than the national average of 7%. They include JPMorgan Chase Bank, Bank of America and Citibank. By contrast, over the same time period, Wells Fargo Bank closed branches at a rate equal to the national average while U.S. Bank branch locations declined by only 3.4%.

The number of branches declined in 49 of the 50 largest U.S. cities. Of the largest 50 cities in the U.S., only Raleigh, North Carolina had the same number of physical banks in 2018 as it did in 2014. The remaining 49 all experienced declines over the past five years, with 26 cities having decreases greater than the national average.

Northeast cities have seen the fewest branch closures. None of the 10 cities where it is hardest to visit a physical bank are in the Northeast. In fact, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is the Northeast city where it is hardest to find a physical bank branch, but it ranks roughly in the middle of all 50 cities in our study. Over the past five years, the number of bank branches declined by only about 5% in Philadelphia. Additionally, in New York, New York, fewer than 20 bank offices closed between 2014 and 2018, or only about 1% of the more than 1,700 total branches.

Story continues

National Trends

In 2014, there were a total of 94,725 federally insured banks in the U.S., or about 30 for every 100,000 people. More than 6,600 banks closed over the following five years, and in 2018, there were just 88,075 federally insured banks in the U.S., or fewer than 27 for every 100,000 people.

By net assets, JPMorgan Chase Bank, Bank of America, Wells Fargo Bank, Citibank and U.S. Bank are the largest banks in America. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) reported the following net asset figures for each of those banks at the end of 2018:

JPMorgan Chase Bank: $2.17 billion

Bank of America: $1.76 billion

Wells Fargo Bank: $1.68 billion

Citibank: $1.40 billion

U.S. Bank: $453 million

All five banks have shut down branch locations in recent years, with Bank of America shuttering the greatest number of local offices (620) and Citibank experiencing the steepest percentage decline (25.3%). Despite numerous legal troubles in the past several years, Wells Fargo Bank closed branches at a rate equal to the national average, approximately 7.0%. Finally, JPMorgan Chase Bank closed about 530 offices  or 9.4% of their total branches  between 2014 and 2018, while U.S. Bank closed 110 offices, or 3.4% of their branches. The chart below shows the number of branch locations for each bank in 2014 and 2018.

Cities Where Its Hardest to Visit a Physical Bank

Over the past several years, some places have seen more bank closures than others. The map below shows the cities where it has become harder to visit a physical location.

1. Arlington, TX

Relative to the number of residents, banks are about 40% less common in Arlington, Texas than they are nationally. In 2018, there were 15.82 banks for every 100,000 residents in Arlington compared to the national average of 26.92. Arlington has also felt the squeeze of banks in recent years more than other cities have. Between 2014 and 2018, the number of bank branch locations in Arlington declined by 18.2%, the largest decline of any city in our study.

2. Virginia Beach, VA

With a population of roughly 450,000 and 77 bank branch locations, Virginia Beach, Virginia has the 11th-lowest number of banks per 100,000 residents of the 50 largest U.S. cities. Behind Arlington, Texas, Virginia Beach also had the second-largest decline between 2014 and 2018, with the number of local bank branches decreasing by 15.4%.

3. Fresno, CA

Over the past year, the number of banks in Fresno, California fell by 4.6%, the sixth-largest decrease for this metric of any city in our study. Specifically, there were 83 banks in Fresno in 2018 compared to 87 the year prior. Of the five largest banks in the U.S. (JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Citibank and U.S. Bank), Bank of America and Wells Fargo Bank are the banks in Fresno that have the highest number of branches, with 13 and 12 local offices, respectively.

4. Oakland, CA

Oakland, California ranks in the bottom fifth for all three metrics we considered: banks per 100,000 residents, one-year change in number of banks and five-year change in number of banks. In 2018, there were only 15.61 banks per 100,000 residents in the city. Moreover, the number of federally insured bank offices declined by 4.3% and 11.8% over the past one and five years, respectively.

5. Milwaukee, WI

Almost half of the five-year decline in physical bank locations in Milwaukee, Wisconsin happened within the last year. The number of banks decreased by 12.3% between 2014 and 2018, the seventh-largest percentage decline in our study. However, between 2017 and 2018 alone, the number of banks fell by 6.2%, the greatest one-year percentage decline of any city in our study.

6. Jacksonville, FL

Almost 20 branch offices closed in Jacksonville, Florida between 2014 and 2018. In percentage terms, this was a decline of 10.1%, the 16th-largest in our study. As a result of that drop, there were 170 banks in Jacksonville at the end of 2018 according to FDIC data, or about 19 per every 100,000 residents.

7. Indianapolis, IN

Though Indianapolis, Indiana has the largest number of banks per 100,000 residents (23.26) of any place in our top 10, the number of banks fell by 13.7% between 2014 and 2018, the third-largest decline during that window in the study overall. More than 30 banks closed over that time period. Specifically, in 2014, there were 233 branch locations in Indianapolis, and in 2018, there were only 201.

8. Detroit, MI (tie)

Detroit, Michigan has the lowest number of banks per 100,000 residents of any city in our top 10. We found using FDIC bank data and Census Bureau population data that there were only about 13 banks for every 100,000 residents in 2018, the fourth-lowest concentration of any of the 50 largest U.S. cities, following only Los Angeles, California; El Paso, Texas; and Long Beach, California. Over the past one and five years, the number of bank offices declined by 2.3% and 10.4%, respectively.

8. Mesa, AZ (tie)

Mesa, Arizona ties with Detroit as the eighth-most-difficult place in the country to visit a physical bank. Though only two bank offices closed in Mesa from 2017 to 2018, 11 closed between 2014 and 2018, marking an 11.8% decline. In 2018, there were 16.11 bank offices for every 100,000 residents, the 10th-lowest rate in our study.

10. San Antonio, TX

San Antonio, Texas is the largest U.S. city on this list, with a population of about 1.5 million. In 2018, there were 277 banks in the city, or about 18 banks for every 100,000 residents. Of those banks, 33 were JPMorgan Chase, 25 were Bank of America and 30 were Wells Fargo Bank. The total number of physical banks in San Antonio decreased from 313 branches in 2014 and 285 in 2014.

Data and Methodology

To find the cities where its hardest to visit a physical bank, SmartAsset looked at the 50 largest cities in the U.S., considering only federally insured banks as reported by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). We compared them across the following three metrics:

Banks per 100,000 residents. Data on the number of banks comes from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), while population data comes from the Census Bureaus 1-year American Community Survey. Data for both metrics is for 2018.

One-year percentage change in the number of banks. This is for 2017 through 2018. Data comes from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).

Five-year percentage change in the number of banks. This is for 2014 through 2018. Data comes from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).

We ranked each city in every metric, giving a full weighting to all three metrics. We then found each citys average ranking and used the average to determine a final score. The city with the best average ranking received a score of 100. The city with the worst average ranking received a score of 0.

Tips for Finding Local Financial Help

Determine the right bank nearest you. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporations Bank Find tool allows users to find out if their bank is FDIC-insured, locate other branches, find out if your bank has merged or been acquired and review your banks history. The tool may be found here. Additionally, SmartAsset has a comprehensive review of the best banks in America in 2020, which may help if you are still trying to decide where to open an account.

Use an online bank. Are you not in need of the services of a brick-and-mortar bank? Understand the differences between online and traditional banks and see if an online high-yield savings account might work well for you.

Consider a financial advisor. Just as many consumers would like to have a physical bank nearby, a local financial advisor is often preferred by many consumers. A local financial advisor can help you make smarter financial decisions to be in better control of your money while also being available for day-to-day questions you may have. Finding the right financial advisor that 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 us at press@smartasset.com

Photo credit: iStock.com/simonkr

The post The Decline of Physical Banks in America  2020 Study appeared first on SmartAsset Blog.
The Pentagon chief sent a tremor through the special operations community a couple of weeks ago when he told lawmakers that many elite crisis response forces around the world rarely get used.

Defense Secretary Mark Esper briefed the House Armed Services Committee at a Feb. 26 hearing that he is reviewing the need for special operations forces to be dedicated to permanent crisis response forces (CRF) as part of a larger review of the U.S. military's combatant commands.

"Over the years, we have stacked up crisis response forces and ... we never actually use them," Esper said.

Each of the Army's five Special Forces Groups keeps a company-sized element on a heightened state of readiness to serve as a direct-action, crisis response force for their specific combatant command region.

Related: Army SFAB Will Face Tough Conditions During Africa Mission: Milley

Esper added that he wants to make sure that these forces are available if there is a crisis but also look at redistributing others to shore up their overall readiness posture.

"I have not made any decisions on that yet, but that is something I think we all recognize," he said.

A week later, news site SOFREP reported that U.S. Army Special Operations Command has "decided to disband the CRFs because they are said to be underutilized and because of a lack of operators," according to a March 5 repost of the story in Business Insider.

That's not exactly accurate, according to a source inside U.S. Special Operations Command familiar with the issue.

The source agreed that the CRFs "are not being used to their full capability," but said no analysis has been done to study the impacts of removing such an important capability in each of the combatant command regions.

"The idea is we don't lose the capability, but we optimize the flexibility of it," according to the source, who was not authorized to speak to the press on the subject.

The Pentagon took its first action after a review of U.S. Africa Command by announcing in mid-February that the Army's 1st Security Force Assistance Brigade will deploy to the continent to allow the service to return elements of an infantry brigade from the 101st Airborne Division to Fort Campbell, Kentucky, so it can focus on its primary job of training for conventional combat.

The company-sized element of the 101st deployed to Kenya in early January as part of the East African Response Force (EARF) after an attack by al-Qaida affiliate al-Shabaab on a base in Kenya killed one U.S. soldier and two American contractors.

Maintaining Special Forces CRFs in each combatant command region provides an option for rapid response, the USSOCOM source said, much like the ready brigade of the 82nd Airborne Division.

Units in the Fort Bragg, North Carolina-based airborne infantry division remain on a constant rotation of heightened readiness but are rarely used, the source said.

That all changed on New Year's Eve when the Pentagon alerted the 82nd's ready brigade for a no-notice emergency deployment to the Middle East in response to efforts by Iran-backed militia members to breach the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad.

Crisis response forces will not be the only mission that will be reevaluated under the combatant command review, Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said at the same hearing with Esper.

"The secretary mentioned the crisis response forces, but there's other things out there," Milley said, referring to missions that have been around for decades, such as the Army's contribution to the Multinational Force and Observers international peacekeeping mission on the Sinai peninsula.

"In 1981, I served in the Sinai. Is that still a valid mission for military forces, yes, no; arguments to be made on both sides," he said. "We're going through all that kind of stuff, every single task and purpose out there for the United States military from space down to undersea. Does it still make sense, according to the [National Defense Strategy]? ... If yes, check, continue. If not, then we delete it."

-- Matthew Cox can be reached at matthew.cox@military.com.

Read More: Emergency Paratrooper Deployment Is First for New Army Response Force
The Union Cabinet is likely to set a FY22 deadline for the merger of state-owned insurance companies. Although the announcement was made in February 2018, it is yet to be completed due to operational reasons.

Sources told Moneycontrol that the Cabinet is finalising the proposal and will meet the insurers for a final nod by May 2020.

The proposal involves merger of National Insurance, Oriental Insurance and United India Insurance. Once they are merged, the entity will be listed on the bourses.

"The idea is to have a deadline given so that there is clarity on how long it will take. Now that the merger of the state-owned banks has been finalised, the Cabinet should consider us next. But listing may only happen by the last quarter of FY22," said an official.

A Rs 6,950 crore recapitalisation offered by the finance ministry will help these insurers to spruce up their solvency or minimum capital. This is the first requirement before a merger is initiated.

On March 5, the Cabinet approved the consolidation of 10 public sector banks into four entities. Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that the merger process is on course and the respective bank boards are actively working on this process.

The PSU general insurers' merger has been a pet project of the BJP government. It was announced by former Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in his February 2018 Budget speech. The idea was that the merged entity would subsequently be listed on the stock exchanges.

The idea to merge the three insurers was to create a stronger and larger insurance company that was sustainable in the long run. The other two state-owned entities, New India Assurance and General Insurance Corporation of India, are listed on the exchanges.

EY was appointed as the consultant for the process in December 2018. The initial estimates suggest this will be the largest non-life insurance company in India valued at about Rs 1.5 lakh crore.

On one hand, while there has been a delay in the merger process, there are also human resource concerns. The insurers unions have also expressed concerns about the merger of the entities, saying this would lead to retrenchment of staff at the mid and junior levels.

However, the immediate concern was the falling solvency levels of the insurers. As per regulatory norms, each insurer is required to maintain minimum solvency of 150 percent. This roughly means that the capital or assets should be 1.5 times the liability.

At the end of Q2FY20, United India solvency stood at 105 percent, Oriental Insurance's solvency stood at 156 percent as of Q1Fy20. Among these, National Insurance solvency dropped from 104 percent at the end of FY19 to 95 percent as of Q1FY20.

To deal with this, finance minister Sitharaman announced a Rs 6,950 crore recapitalisation for these three insurers.

The budget documents showed that the provision was for the higher requirement for maintaining the requisite minimum solvency ratio by each of the three public sector general insurance companies.
Sen. Bernie Sanders(I-Vt.) speaks to the press in Burlington, Vermont on March 11, 2020. (JOSEPH PREZIOSO/AFP via Getty Images)

Despite Decisive Losses, Sanders Expected to Keep Running

News Analysis

Weak recent showings in key states mean self-described democratic socialist Sen. Bernie Sanderss quest for the Democratic Partys 2020 presidential nomination is doomed, political observers told The Epoch Times, even though the candidate himself has vowed to remain in the race.

In a televised event March 11 after a near-wipeout the night before, the one-time frontrunner said his campaign continues to win the vast majority of younger people.

While our campaign has won the ideological debate, we are losing the debate over electability, he said, an apparent reference to the electoral success of his opponent, former Vice President Joe Biden. This is what millions of Democrats and independents today believe.

A fundraising email sent out by his campaign on March 11 claimed that a strong majority of the American people support our progressive agenda and are deeply concerned about the grotesque levels of income and wealth inequality in this country. People understand that we need to transform our broken and racist criminal justice and immigration system.

Sanders wont quit because he is a cause-oriented politician devoted to a political ideology, according to political professionals.

I think he has to stay in, no matter how much the DNC threatens him to quit, said Art Harman, a former legislative director for a Republican congressman from Texas. His supporters would howl if he abandoned the race.

Bernie runs more than a campaign, its a crusade. He wont let down his people, but go to the convention and fight for platform issues, rules, and concessions so he can claim victories and relevanceand get all the media coverage he wouldnt get as a withdrawn candidate.

Scared Moderates

Given Sanderss reversal of fortunes, many commentators are now referring to Biden as the partys presumptive nominee against President Donald Trump, a Republican elected in 2016.

The consensus among pundits seems to be that after Sanderss disastrous electoral showings of the last two weeks, his campaign is ready for the dustbin of history. Although Sanders, a master of raising money from small donors, has plenty of cash at hand, it has become near-impossible for him to recover from the recent electoral routs, they say.

The independent senator from Vermonts quixotic run seems to have begun disintegrating after his strong showings in the early primary states of Iowa, New Hampshire, and Nevada threw massive attention on his hard-left socialist policies and his steadfast insistence on defending authoritarian systems in countries like communist Cuba. Sanders even took his wife on their honeymoon to the Soviet Union at the height of the Cold War, a fact that has been repeated in the media frequently.

In other words, Sanders scared away moderate voters, sources say.

Former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg, who has since quit the race, blasted the so-called democratic socialism that Sanders supports in a Feb. 19 televised debate, likening it to communism, which he said just didnt work.

The same month, high-profile Democratic campaign consultant James Carville called Sanders a communist and predicted the end of days if Democrats made Sanders their standard-bearer, comparing him to Jeremy Corbyn, the radical leader of the British Labour Party whose party suffered a humiliating defeat at the polls on Dec. 12, 2019.

At the time of writing, The Associated Press tally gave Joe Biden 860 delegates compared to Sanderss 710 and Tulsi Gabbards two. Candidates who dropped out of the race, largely under pressure from the DNC, garnered 164 delegates in total. To win the nomination, 1,991 are required.

Motivated the Young

Sanders came on strong at the beginning of the election cycle in Iowa and New Hampshire. Peak Bernie, as some called it, occurred Feb. 22 when Sanders grabbed 24 delegates in Nevada compared to Bidens nine.

Biden had bragged South Carolina was his firewall that would keep him in the race. On Feb. 29, he won 39 delegates there, compared to 15 for Sanders. On Super Tuesday March 3, Biden swept 14 states, compared to Sanderss four. March 10 results rubbed salt in Sanderss wounds, as Biden took 4 out of 6 states, compared to one for Sanders. The race in Washington state was unresolved at time of writing.

Plenty of delegate-rich states havent voted yet, but its too difficult for Sanders to come back from devastating losses, sources told The Epoch Times.

Joel Griffith, a research fellow at the Heritage Foundation, said Sanderss adherence to socialism was his undoing.

Most voters will not accept someone who embraces ideas demonstrably proven to suppress prosperity and opportunity. Throughout his long career, Bernie Sanders has called for upending our entire economic systemone based on private property and individual liberty and personal choice, he said.

This included nationalization of the energy, health care, and banking sectors. As word leaked out about the true cost of these grand plansand how the rich alone could not cover the costshis political fortunes faded.

Maria Simpson, a Democratic operative in Virginia, had mixed feelings about Sanderss run.

Sanders is done, but itll be a while before he bows out because thats who he is, she said.

His campaign did something positive by motivating young people who are sick of the status quo.

Socialism remains a dirty word in this country even though military health care and no-fault private car insurance are run in very similar ways, Simpson said. Everybody pays in, regardless, and then when something bad happens the payments are paid out to affected people.

Simpson said Biden, and Sanders to an extent, have been given a free pass at the expense of female candidates.

Consider that if Elizabeth Warren had hurled expletives, threats, and sentence fragments, as Biden does, or showed up looking disheveled and unkempt while ranting, as Sanders does, she would never have set foot on a national debate stage, she said.

Neither Sanderss Senate office nor his campaign responded to requests for comment.
Colombian military raided a property in Jamundi, near Cali, arresting three men over the murder of Irishman Jimmy Hillis

A judge in Colombia has ordered the release of three men held over the kidnapping and murder of Wexford man Jimmy Hillis after hearing evidence of intercepted phone calls between the 40-year-old and family members following his alleged abduction.

In one intercepted call, Mr Hillis is alleged to have told his ex-partner Rachel that blood seen on his head and clothes in ransom pictures "was chicken blood" and that it was there "to generate pressure".

The three men before the court charged with Mr Hillis' abduction - Juan Pablo Garcia, Mario Orozco and Julian Marin - were arrested last week by members of the Colombian military's Gaula investigation unit during a dawn raid on a property in Jamundi, near Cali.

Farm

It followed a four-month investigation that began last November when Irish diplomats reported Mr Hillis missing to state prosecutors in the South American country.

Last night, Mr Hillis' father, James, said he has not heard from him since October 27 and is "waiting every day" for a text or phone call from him.

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Efforts to establish Mr Hillis' whereabouts intensified after images purporting to show him bleeding and being held at gunpoint by his abductors were sent to his ex-partner, the mother of his two children.

Initial investigations indicated he had been kidnapped, the court heard, and that between August and October he had been kept on a farm in Jamundi Valle.

The prosecutor in the case contended that Mr Hillis was kidnapped as collateral for the payment of "a debt he had for drug-trafficking issues".

It emerged during the hearing that his phone was legally tapped as part of a drug- trafficking investigation.

The prosecutor's office noted that he was given a mobile phone to communicate with his family and manage the payment for his release.

He was in custody and, according to the record, in a conversation he told his family: "I can fly, but if I do, I complicate the situation."

The investigators noted that the kidnapping took place on the estate of Mario Orozco, one of those arrested, and that a conversation in which Juan Pablo Garcia is heard speaking would tell about the fate of Mr Hillis.

However, there is no information about his remains.

The court also heard that Mr Hillis, despite being kept prisoner, had access to a phone and was able to make calls and send messages to his family and friends, especially his father and his ex-partner.

A communication sent by the Irish embassy reporting the abduction was key in the case, the court heard.

The prosecutor noted that the document outlines that by September 2019, Mr Hillis' partner had received photos of him.

One of them showed him apparently beaten, another in a room with two people in military clothes and balaclavas and weapons pointing at his head, and a third, in which he appeared unconscious, tied up and lying on a mattress, with blood on his head.

The letter says that it is not known if the photos are genuine.

In addition, the phones to which they were sent were destroyed, and for this reason the copies of the photos and dates were not confirmed.

The prosecutor also notes that last October, Hillis held a video call with Rachel and told her "he could not call if the boss of those who had it was present".

Days later, he was very positive and told his Rachel he was going to be released.

He then contacted his father and had the reservation organised for a hotel where he would spend a few days as "part of the process of his release" the court heard.

A reservation from last October 28 to November 1 was made at a hotel in Cali and his father's credit card was used.

However, Mr Hillis never arrived at the hotel.

Yesterday, his father said he was aware of the release of the three men, and criticised the Department of Foreign Affairs for failing to keep the family informed.

"The last time I heard from James was October 27, when he sent me a text message saying something like, 'Don't worry about me, I'm OK'," he said.

"But something happened between the 27th and the next day when he was supposed to go to the hotel.

"I haven't heard from him since that day. All we want is to find out now whether he is alive or dead.

"I'm waiting every day for a text or phone call from him."

In the intercepts carried out, it was found that the Irishman, in addition to talking to his family, contacted a man identified as Dimitri.

In one of the calls, he tells Dimitri that he needed the money and "not tell the family" that he was free.

Unimpressed

At the same time, according to reports from the public prosecutor's office, in another call Mr Hillis told Dimitri he was going to meet "the people of Ecuador", without specifying who it was.

The court heard it was striking that in one of the conversations with his ex-partner he told her that the blood seen in one of the photos was chicken blood and it was "to generate pressure".

In addition, the court heard, Mr Hillis was in a hotel in Cali between October 12 and 15 after he was already abducted.

The judge in the case ordered the release of all three men, saying he was unimpressed with "the forcefulness" of the evidence presented by the public prosecutor's office.

He left open the possibility that Mr Hillis' alleged abduction was a "self-kidnapping to obtain the money to pay off the debt to drug traffickers".
NORTH ROYALTON, Ohio

Resisting arrest: Ridge Road

On Feb. 14, police observed a silver Jeep with Maryland plates go straight through a left-turn-only lane on Ridge Road.

The officer talked to the driver, who refused to give her license. The woman said she was traveling to her domicile and that she would only answer to the county sheriff. She said she knew her rights and had a copy of the Constitution in the Jeep.

It turned out that the driver, who refused to get out of the Jeep, had a warrant from the Strongsville Police Department. She also had a suspended license.

The woman was told she must exit the Jeep or the police would break the window. After she didnt open the door, the officer did just that. At that point the woman opened the door and began to scream. After resisting arrest, during which she kicked the officer, she was handcuffed.

The driver was cited for failing to display her license, disobeying a traffic control device, obstructing official business, resisting arrest and assaulting a police officer.

Underage consumption: Royalton Road

On Feb. 15, police observed a silver Lexus sedan in a parking lot on Royalton Road. The Lexus started moving with the passenger-side door open.

While talking to the Broadview Heights resident, the officer smelled booze. The driver, 19, said he and his passenger were originally headed to Taco Bell, but decided to turn around. The officer said the female passenger appeared to be drunk.

She told the officer she was 21; however, it turned out she was 20. The driver said they were friends from college and that she had called him drunk needing a ride home from downtown.

As for the door being open, the passenger thought she was going to vomit. She also didnt have any shoes.

After stumbling out of the Lexus, the woman was arrested for underage consumption. The sober driver was sent on his way. Police later found the womans fake ID.

Read more from the Sun Star Courier.
The coronavirus is likely to grow in clusters through the city with at least 17 of the 61 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in NSW linked directly to Sydney's north-west.

Australia's Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy identified Sydney as "the significant, biggest part of our outbreak", as the number of confirmed cases in NSW jumped by 14 on Tuesday.

Within the city, a spate of cases linked to the Dorothy Henderson Lodge aged care facility, Ryde Hospital, St Patrick's Marist College and Epping Boys High School have formed the biggest known cluster.

Late on Tuesday night, NSW Health confirmed a further six cases of COVID-19 in NSW, on top of the seven cases that were announced on Tuesday morning.
Several funding opportunities lined up for local projects this year
Last week, the US Food and Drug Administration finally got around to updating Congress on the progress it has made on developing CBD regulations, but it doesn't seem to say anything new.

In its report to the US House and Senate Committees on Appropriations, the FDA pointed out that CBD is not a risk-free substance. The agency says that during public clinical trials for Epidiolex, CBD was associated with risks including liver injury, drug-drug interactions, drowsiness that may affect driving, and the possibility of male reproductive toxicity.

The report states that the FDA is still seeking data concerning long-term effects of sustained use of the drug. The agency says that before it can come up with effective regulations, it needs to answer these key questions: What happens if you use CBD daily for sustained periods of time? What level of intake triggers the known risks associated with CBD? How do different methods of exposure affect intake? What is the effect of CBD on the developing brain? What are the effects of CBD on an unborn child or breastfed newborn? How does CBD interact with herbs and botanicals? Does CBD cause male reproductive toxicity in humans, as has been reported in studies of animals? Are there differing safety concerns for use in certain animal species, breeds or classes? Are any residues formed in edible tissues of food-producing animals?

The update also says the FDA has been monitoring gray market CBD sales and is concerned about products that are being sold using unproven medical claims. Some of these products are marketed for serious diseases and conditions like cancer, Alzheimers disease, and opioid use disorder, the report says. And it doesn't look like the agency has any plans to stop enforcing the rules. FDA intends to continue monitoring the marketplace, and to initiate and expand appropriate compliance and enforcement action against unlawful CBD products that pose the greatest risk of harm to the public. As we move forward, FDA intends to continue taking action to address violations we identify that put the public at risk.

And that's really all we got out of it. Instead of any real progress with regulations, we got the assurance that the FDA is looking to fund more research into CBD and that they're going to keep penalizing companies that sell CBD products that make unwarranted medical claims.

Earlier this month, newly-appointed FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn said attempting to ban CBD would be a fool's game and suggested that the agency was taking a more positive stance on the drug's efficacy.

Banks Support SAFE Act

Banking associations from 49 states and Puerto Rico are urging lawmakers to advance a bill that would protect financial institutions that service cannabis businesses.

In a letter written to Sens. Mike Crapo and Sherrod Brownthe chairman and ranking member of the Senate Banking Committeethe Joint State Bankers Association said that while they might not support legalizing cannabis, they do support passing the Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act.

Financial institutions are currently barred by federal law from knowingly working with criminal enterprises. Since marijuana is still federally illegal, banks aren't allowed to work with marijuana companies.

As a result, this segment of our local economies is forced to operate on an all-cash basis, which creates serious public safety, revenue administration, and legal compliance concerns in the communities we serve, wrote the association. The impact on our local economies could also prove significant, as revenue paid to unrelated industries that provide products and services to state-authorized cannabis businesses such as law firms, accountants and contractors is technically money derived from illegal activities, and thus could be considered money laundering.

The SAFE Banking Act would change all that by blocking federal authorities from penalizing banks that work with cannabis companies that operate in states where the drug is legal. Andas the association points outthe SAFE Banking Act is a banking-specific solution that would address the reality of the current marketplace without affecting current cannabis laws.

Near the end of February, Sen. Cory Gardner reportedly said that lawmakers are close to finding common ground to getting everyone signed off to move this forward.

Reciprocity Rules to Start in July

New Mexico Department of Health Secretary Kathyleen Kunkel has reportedly signed off on a rule change allowing nonresidents enrolled in other states' medical cannabis programs to purchase, possess and consume cannabis in New Mexico. Under the new rules, out-of-state patients can go to any dispensary in New Mexico and register as a reciprocal patient.

According to NM Political Report, Dr. Dominick Zurlo, the Medical Cannabis Program Director, confirmed that the rule change goes into effect July 1. He said the the rule change is being delayed while state's seed-to-sale tracking software is upgraded. Were actually doing a much broader upgrade  that is going to have a much greater impact for patients in improving the system and improving how patients actually get registered in the program, Zurlo said. The new system will reportedly include an online portal where some patients will be able to register and have their applications approved by providers online.

He also said we'll start to see consumption areaswhich reciprocal patients will need to consume their medsstart to open between now and July, but those rules have not yet been approved. Those are still being reviewed but I anticipate very soon that well actually have those promulgated as well, Zurlo said.
After arresting one person, the



Arunachal Pradesh police has claimed to have cracked the IRBn constable murder case in West Siang district.

The murder weapon, a 12 bore SBBL gun, along with one live cartridge were seized from him, the police said on Wednesday.

The India Reserve Battalion (IRBn) constable, Tapop Yajo, was shot dead in the early hours of March 3 when he was on duty at the Chief Judicial Magistrate's (CJM's) Court at Aalo, the headquarters of West Siang district.

The accused was arrested on Monday. The 24-year-old man is a resident of hails from Bingung village in Siang district, the Superintendent of Police (SP) of West Siang district, Jummar Basar, said.

A police team lead by Deputy SP Sange Thinley, who was appointed as the investigating officer in the case, arrested the accused and produced him before the court, where he had admitted committing the crime, the SP said.

The accused was remanded to judicial custody, he said, adding, the vehicle used in committing the crime was also seized.

The incident had created a sensation across the state and evoked condemnations from all quarters in media and social sites.

Meanwhile, the Speaker of Arunachal Assembly, Pasang Dorjee Sona, lauded the West Siang Police for cracking the case within six days.

"The people of the entire state, particularly the members of the deceased's family, have been patiently waiting for the arrest of the perpetrator," the Speaker said.

The planned and quick action by the district police has yielded result, Sona said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
DALLAS, March 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Infogroup today announced it has launched Data Axle for Salesforce on Salesforce AppExchange, empowering customers to use Infogroup's industry-leading business data. Infogroup was named a leader in a recent Forrester Wave, The Forrester Wave: B2B Marketing Data Providers, Q3 2018 , which evaluated 12 of the most significant providers of B2B data. With the new app, companies can eliminate manual data exports and imports and empower their sales team to immediately find new accounts, leads and contacts as well as update existing records.

Built on the Salesforce Platform, Data Axle for Salesforce is currently available on AppExchange and can be accessed HERE .

Data Axle for Salesforce

Data Axle gives customers access to data on nearly every business in the U.S. and Canada with more than 200 attributes that enable sales teams to prospect and enrich accounts, contacts, and leads directly within Salesforce. Infogroup data is particularly effective for small to medium-size businesses, given its focus on delivering breadth and accuracy for these hard-to-find records.

With the retirement of Data.com, Data Axle fills the need for keeping data current, without the need to perform ad-hoc updates. The benefits of the direct integration are realized through increased conversion rates, reduction of data gaps, and elimination of manual efforts that can lead to more sales. The app is powered by Infogroup's proprietary real-time data delivery platform, Data Axle , which eliminates lag time from update to access of data. Data can be provisioned through direct platform access and APIs in addition to natively within Salesforce.

Comments on the News

"The way poor data quality impacts business results is well known, yet companies often don't know where to start when addressing this problem. This integration of Infogroup's high-quality B2B data with Salesforce is a great starting point," said Mike Iaccarino , chairman and CEO of Infogroup. "Our extensive industry-leading data services, combined with the native integration, allow us to help Salesforce users enhance their processes by enriching their existing data, developing better insights and improving their sales teams' performance."

, chairman and CEO of Infogroup. "Our extensive industry-leading data services, combined with the native integration, allow us to help Salesforce users enhance their processes by enriching their existing data, developing better insights and improving their sales teams' performance." "Infogroup is a welcome addition to AppExchange, as they power digital transformation for customers by helping them improve productivity," said Woodson Martin , GM of Salesforce AppExchange. "AppExchange is constantly evolving to enable our partners to build cutting-edge solutions to drive customer success."

About Salesforce AppExchange

Salesforce AppExchange, the world's leading enterprise cloud marketplace, empowers companies to sell, service, market and engage in entirely new ways. With more than 5,000 solutions, 7 million customer installs and 90,000 peer reviews, it is the most comprehensive source of cloud, mobile, social, IoT, analytics and artificial intelligence technologies for businesses.

Additional Resources

Like Salesforce on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/salesforce

Follow Salesforce on Twitter: https://twitter.com/salesforce

Become a fan of Infogroup: http://www.facebook.com/infogroup

Follow Infogroup on Twitter: https://twitter.com/infogroup

Salesforce, AppExchange and others are among the trademarks of salesforce.com, inc.

About Infogroup

Infogroup is a leading provider of data and data-driven marketing solutions for salespeople, marketers, and professionals. The company's solutions are powered by its proprietary business and consumer databases and supplemented by client and third party data. Clients range from Fortune 500 enterprises and local businesses to not-for-profit and political organizations. Infogroup's cloud-based Data Axle technology allows for real-time updates to its business and consumer data files, and also provides clients with a real-time API delivery platform for the most accurate and up-to-date information to support their marketing and business needs. Infogroup has 45+ years of history creating its own data and makes 24+ million verification calls per year to ensure data quality. For more information, visit www.infogroup.com .

SOURCE Infogroup

Related Links

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Dr Sanjeev Khosla has joined as a full-time director of CSIR-Institute of Microbial Technology (IMTECH) here.

Dr Khosla has more than two decades of research experience, an IMTECH release said here on Wednesday.

Prior to his appointment as Director, CSIR-IMTECH, Dr Khosla was working as a scientist at the Hyderabad-based Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics (CDFD), which is an autonomous organisation funded by the Department of Biotechnology under the Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India.

Dr Khosla said IMTECH will continue to strive in its mission to serve unmet societal and medical needs through cutting edge science and innovation.

CSIR-IMTECH is a national centre for excellence in microbial sciences and was established in 1984.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Details added (first version posted on 19:43)

BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 10

Trend:

It is noteworthy that the act of vandalism against the monument to prominent Azerbaijani poetess Khurshidbanu Natavan was committed during the visit of the Armenian prime minister to Belgium, Spokesperson for the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry Leyla Abdullayeva said.

Abdullayeva was answering the journalists questions in connection with an act of vandalism committed against the monument to Khurshidbanu Natavan in the Belgian Waterloo city, Trend reports on March 10.

The local police filed a criminal case in connection with the act of vandalism against the monument to Khurshidbanu Natavan, Azerbaijani outstanding poetess and daughter of Karabakh khan, which was erected in the Belgian Waterloo city in 2016, the spokesperson said. The monument has been included in the list of protected historical monuments of Waterloo city. Therefore, this case is being investigated by the police.

I would like to stress that employees of the embassy of Azerbaijan in the Kingdom of Belgium immediately arrived at the scene and contacted the local authorities, Abdullayeva added. The issue is under the control of the embassy. The public will be informed about the results of the investigation.
In the wake of falling oil prices, Occidental Petroleum Corporation OXY announced that the board of directors has decided to slash quarterly dividend by 86% to 11 cents from the present level of 79 cents. To safeguard its liquidity, the company has decided to lower 2020 capital expenditure to the range of $3.5-$3.7 billion from earlier expectation of $5.2-$5.4 billion. It has plans to implement additional measures to cut operating and corporate costs.



The company has decided to cut dividend for the first time in 30 years to ensure enough liquidity to service its debts.



Why This Sudden Dividend Cut?



Occidental had incurred substantial debt to outbid Chevron Corporation CVX to fund the acquisition of Anadarko Petroleum for strengthening its position in the Permian Basin. Higher production from the region and sale of non-core assets aided Occidental to lower debts and pay interest due on its outstanding debts.



However, the sudden fall in global oil prices and declining demand for crude oil globally due to the outbreak of coronavirus will definitely have an adverse impact on Occidentals top line. Historically, it remains exposed to market prices of commodities. Although the company has hedged a portion of 2020 oil production, nearly 20% drop in crude oil in the recent past might impact its liquidity.



The move is essential as the unexpected drop in crude oil price will not generate the desired returns, even if the company hikes crude oil production from its high-quality resources.



Oil Deal Collapse Could Further Impact Prices



Saudi Arabia, the worlds top oil exporter, has plans to increase crude oil production above 10 million barrels per day (bpd) in April, after the collapse of its OPEC supply cut agreement with Russia. Over the past three years, OPEC and its allies have been cutting down crude oil production to have a control over crude price, which in a way allowed the U.S. shale-based producer to increase crude production.



The decision of Russia and Saudi Arabia  the major producers of crude apart from the United States  to produce more crude volumes could further lower its price from the current level due to supply glut. This could adversely impact highly levered oil and gas companies like Range Resources Corporation RRC and Apache Corporation APA, among others.



Zacks Rank



Currently, Occidental carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).



You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.



Price Performance



Occidentals shares have underperformed the industry in the past 12 months.

Story continues

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Adidas AG forecast the coronavirus will cut first-quarter profit in China by about half a billion dollars, while German rival Puma SE said it no longer expects any recovery in the short term.

The German sportswear maker forecast first-quarter revenue will drop 10 per cent, stripping 400 million euros to 500 million euros (US$450 million to US$570 million) from profit. Puma said Wednesday that it cant quantify the potential impact of the disease outbreak, and so last months target for a 10 per cent increase in revenue this year no longer applies.

Sportswear demand will take longer to recover than other consumer goods, Adidas chief executive officer Kasper Rorsted said in an interview with Bloomberg TV.

We are on the end of the food chain, he said. If youve been sitting for two weeks in an apartment, your first thought is not to buy a pair of sneakers, it is to restore your fridge.

Shares of Adidas fell as much as 8.8 per cent in Frankfurt, while Puma dropped 6 per cent.

Adidas declined to estimate the full-year impact of the spread of COVID-19, which will be worse because business is already also slowing in Japan and South Korea even as China starts to recover. Chinese sales will drop by as much as 1 billion euros in the first quarter, while the company expects a 100 million-euro drop in Japan and South Korea.

Were concerned about the dimensions of 2020 and potentially the year following, but we also know from the past that viruses will pass, Rorsted said. My company is not going to get any better if I run around being in panic.

The company would lose 50 million to 70 million euros if the Olympics and the Euro Cup games are postponed. The apparel maker gets almost a quarter of its revenue from China and has about a fifth of its production there. Rorsted said he isntoverly concerned about supply chain shortages.

Excluding the epidemic, Adidas projected currency-neutral sales would grow 6 per cent to 8 per cent this year. Thats slightly more aggressive than last years forecast around this time, which was 5 per cent to 8 per cent.

Adidas said sales slumped 80 per cent in China last month, but stores and warehouses have gradually reopened and consumer traffic is slowly picking up. To try to prevent a glut of unsold products on the market, Adidas cancelled all wholesale shipments to retailers in February and it may take back a significant amount of stock from its partners, which Adidas will put up for sale in its own stores later this year.

Deals have been popping up in Asia for Adidas products, including buy one-get one free offers in Hong Kong.

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Superior Court Judge Scott Minter on Thursday sentenced Dakota Lee Choate to life in prison. Choate, 22, of Crandall, Ga., will be eligible for parole after serving 30 years in confinement.

Last month, a Murray County jury of six men and six women convicted him of one count of rape.

The rape occurred in November of 2018 when Choate drove the to a secluded area of his choosing where he then assaulted her.

The woman, who previously knew Choate, reported the rape at Murray Medical Center where she went to receive treatment for injuries received during the assault, including a bite and scratches. Detective Eric White spoke to her at the hospital and then traveled to the location she described and took photographs.

Choate was arrested a few days later and interviewed by Detective White. Choate admitted to having sexual relations with the victim, but claimed it was consensual. He testified at trial raising the same defense and presented other witnesses and evidence

.

In addition to the victim, two other women testified for the state concerning prior sexual assaults committed against them by Choate. One had been reported to law enforcement in 2016 but no arrested was made. The other had never been reported previously, but the victim came forward after she saw media accounts of Choates arrest in 2018.

The states case was presented by Assistant District Attorney Ben Kenemer. Choate was represented by Cat Pyne and Micah Gates of the Public Defenders Office, who had filed a speedy trial demand on Choates behalf last summer.
Shoppers who are stockpiling toilet paper in coronavirus panic will be denied refunds if they decide to return some of their haul.

Woolworths, which has seen brawling in the aisles over household essentials, confirmed no refunds would be issued if people decided there was no need to buy in bulk.

Panicked Australians have spent days queuing outside supermarkets to be the first in the door, clearing shelves of basics such as toilet paper, pasta and rice.

It came amid fears families could run out of food and medicine if they were told to self-isolate for 14 days during the coronavirus outbreak.

Shoppers are seen stripping the aisles bare within minutes of a toilet paper delivery at an Aldi supermarket (pictured) in Kellyville

Woolworths issued this notice (pictured) explaining it was making changes to its policy for refunds and exchanges after coronavirus panic-buying

The grocery giant confirmed on Wednesday it would not allow refunds on products that had been in high demand, including canned food and tissues.

A notice in its supermarkets across Australia told customers it was making changes to its 'raincheck, refund and exchange' policy.

Anyone who buys toilet paper, paper towels, tissues, pain relief, cleaning products, pasta, canned food or rice, among other products, after Wednesday will not be eligible for a refund or exchange.

Store bosses explained the move was 'a necessary measure to meet the needs of as many shoppers as possible'.

A man pictured with 10 packets of toilet paper piled into a trolley at a Woolworths store as shoppers scrambled to get their hands on the product (pictured)

Supermarkets across Australia have been left with empty aisles as stampedes of customers fight their way to the checkout.

Last week, a mother and daughter caused outrage after an alleged fight at a Woolworths store in Chullora, south-west Sydney.

Shocking footage showed three women in a vicious brawl in the aisles as they battled over the last packs of toilet paper.

In another incident in Tamworth, a man allegedly assaulted staff over the lack of toilet paper in a Big W store.

Shelves are bare across multiple Australian supermarkets (pictured, left) as worried families stockpile toilet roll (right)

Police said the man was tasered after trying to put an officer in a headlock.

The panic has come despite government officials insisting there is no need to stockpile goods.

It forced supermarkets including Woolworths, Coles and Aldi to impose strict limits on the amount of toilet paper a customer can buy.

Footage from stores across the country has shown stampedes of people battling to fill their trolleys.

Three women allegedly brawled in the aisles at Woolworths last week (pictured) during a row about toilet paper

On Sunday, Coles slashed its toilet paper limit to just one pack per customer, as the supermarket giant struggled to manage its stock due to coronavirus fears.

'To help improve access to toilet paper for our customers, we are now limiting purchases to one pack per transaction, both in-store and online,' a Coles spokesperson said.

'Our suppliers have increased production and we are making additional deliveries to stores, while our team members work hard to restock shelves in stores.

'The vast majority of products in our stores and via Coles online remain available for customers.'

Shoppers are seen panic-buying toilet paper at Woolworths in Revesby in Sydney's south-west (pictured) last week




Three travellers who flew in from Italy, slipped out of the Cochin International Airport after dodging health authorities and surfaced after testing positive for the novel coronavirus are believed to have transmitted the virus to eight of their relatives, including an 85-year-old grandmother and a 90-plus grandfather.

The administration of Pathanamthitta district released two sets of maps on Wednesday, giving a blow-by-blow account of the three peoples travel once they came out of the airport on February 29 until they were hospitalised on March 6.

It was a laborious job. This flowchart helps people who came in contact with them to get tested for possible infection, said district collector PB Nooh.

These maps were prepared with the help of health officials, the police, locals and relatives of the three.

The flowchart shows details of places they visited  banks, hotels, bakeries, a church, hospitals, a bar  travelling on auto-rickshaw, public transport and exact timings they did so.

The first set of maps begins from the airport when two relatives came to pick them and their journey to their home and subsequent contacts; the second one shows the travel history of the two (secondary infections) who contracted the virus from them and their possible contact locations.

The flowcharts show that the three were concerned more about their 19-day trip, not the danger of infection they posed. The government has made it clear it will book them once they are discharged from hospital. They are answerable. But we dont want to trouble them now, said health minister KK Shailaja.

The first map begins on February 29, the day the family that lives in Italy  a 55-year-old man, his 53-year-old wife and their 24-year-old son  arrived at the airport for a brief visit home. The map shows that after boarding the car of their relatives (the two people who came to receive them) they started for their hometown, Ranni (Cochin airport to Ranni is a distance of 120 kilometres, about three hours drive) and spent an hour at a hotel on their way.

The second day (i.e; March 1), they had an elaborate dinner at a hotel in Ranni, spending one hour and 30 minutes.

Out of the seven days until their hospitalization, they visited the most number of locations on March 2, starting the day at 11 am with visits to post office, church, an emporium, hyper market and bakery before ending their day at their relatives place in Punalur. Those who prepared the map say they must have contacted maximum people on that day. Out of 800-odd quarantined in their homes in the district, the maximum came in contact with the family on this day.

On March 3, they reportedly visited the State Bank of India branch in Ranni twice. Two dozen bank officials are among those quarantined. The map shows they visited many places on March 4 and March 5. On March 6, they were taken to hospital with symptoms of the coronavirus. On March 4, they had reportedly visited a private clinic but they did not reveal their travel history and took medicines for fever and throat pain. The state health minister confirmed this. The familys itinerary came to light when their two relatives went to a hospital in Pathanamthitta with fever and throat pain. There, the duty doctor asked them whether they had relatives who had returned from abroad and they revealed the Italian connection.

After preparing the map, the district administration has given two toll-free numbers for those who came in contact with them. We hope our maps will help those who indirectly came in contact with them. Prevention is better than cure, said district collector Nooh.

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A high-risk paedophile released into the community admitted to authorities that he was having urges to 'grab a young girl'.

Brian Alan Bowdidge, 59, was given a four-year supervision order with 47 strict living conditions in December.

The order came after several concerning incidents indicated to a judge that the intellectually-disabled man - who lives in Sydney - remains a threat to the public.

Months earlier, during the July school holidays, Bowdidge told a psychiatrist that he is 'triggered by schoolchildren walking past his residence' and felt he was unable to leave his house without considering abusing more children.

Brian Alan Bowdidge was hit with a four-year-supervision order last year, 15 months after being released on parole, after revealing he was having urges to 'grab a young girl' (stock image)

'I wont be going out much for the next two weeks it is school holidays', he said, according to Corrective Services notes viewed by the Daily Telegraph.

'Its safer if I stay home.'

The father-of-two has committed a string of sexual offences against children spanning more than 20 years.

In 1980, Bowdidge, then aged 20, took a five-year-old girl into a male toilet at Shoalhaven hospital and molested her, later telling police he 'just felt like it'.

Eleven years later he was convicted of sexual intercourse with an intellectually disabled nine-year-old girl and, in 2001, he was sentenced to three years behind bars for raping an eight-year-old girl.

Since he was last released on parole in September 2018, Bowdidge has been accused of peeping through windows and other inappropriate behaviour while staying in assisted housing facilities and motels in Sydney.

Documents released by the Supreme Court reveal Bowdidge requested to go on anti-libidinal medication and see prostitutes last year after having 'unhealthy' sexual thoughts.

A second psychologist reported that adult men and women have now become his sexual targets as a result of his strict supervision measures, with Bowdidge accused of repeatedly groping a women in his Alcoholics Anonymous group.

At December's hearing, Justice Peter Hamill said Bowdidge had breached previous orders multiple times since 2011, proving that he poses a risk if not monitored.

Under the new conditions, Bowdidge is banned from work, travel, or places frequented by children unless he is granted permission and accompanied.

Bowdidge was living in a halfway house in Long Bay jail (pictured) until May last year

He can be frisked and his house raided at any time, and he can not change his appearance without approval.

A psychologist report stated that it is unclear if he has the ability to comprehend all the restrictions that have been imposed.

Bowdidge left a halfway house in Long Bay jail last May to move into independent accommodation.

Earlier this week, a family in Smithfield, in Western Sydney, told the Sunday Telegraph that Bowdidge had moved into their street.
Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi has targeted the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the political crisis in Madhya Pradesh triggered by the resignation of Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia on Tuesday. Scindia had announced his resignation from the party minutes after meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with Union home minister Amit Shah in Delhi.

Scindia is set to join the BJP at this afternoon.

At a time of economic distress, the BJPs priority is to topple a stable government, it shows the party is not interested in economic issues. Weve seen what the BJP has done in Karnataka, if people wanted BJP in MP they would have voted for them. If people leave the Congress for personal reasons, then it is sad, said Gogoi, one of the seven MPs facing disqualification over ruckus in Parliament last week. He is a Member of Parliament from Kaliabor in Assam.

Also Watch | Why Jyotiraditya Scindia quit Congress | Madhya Pradesh crisis

The Congress legislature party, meanwhile, passed a resolution supporting Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath on Tuesday evening after Scindias resignation.

In his resignation letter to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Scindia wrote, While my aim and purpose remain the same as it has always been from the very beginning, to serve the people of my state and country, I believe I am unable to do this anymore within this party.

A BJP functionary said, So far, it seems likely that he [Scindia] will formally join the BJP and his name could be proposed as a [Rajya Sabha] candidate from the BJPs side in Madhya Pradesh, said a party functionary.

While Scindia has not made any further announcement, Yashodhara Scindia, BJP leader and Scindias aunt, described his decision as ghar wapsi.

The Congress and the BJP have moved in to guard their legislators as the tussle for power in Madhya Pradesh is now down to numbers, with 22 Congress MLAs, including six ministers, tendering their resignations.

According to news agency ANI, the BJP legislators were flown from Bhopal to Delhi; they arrived at a luxury hotel in Gurugram in the early hours of Wednesday. The Congress will likely move its MLAs from Bhopal to Jaipur later in the day, the news agency further reported.
Trump not tested for coronavirus despite contact with exposed lawmakers

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 10 March 2020 8:22 AM

US President Donald Trump has not been tested for coronavirus even though several lawmakers with whom he has come into close contact have announced they were self-quarantining over the virus, the White House said.

Two Republican senators, Georgia Rep. Doug Collins and Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz announced they would self-quarantine after coming in contact at a conservative political conference last month with an attendee who tested positive for the coronavirus.

Collins shook hands with Trump when the president visited the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta last week. And Gaetz rode in the presidential limousine before riding on Air Force One with the president on Monday, CNN says. He also spent the weekend at Trump's Mar-a-Lago property.

The Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) chairman Matt Schlapp also said he had interacted with the attendee who tested positive for coronavirus at the same event where he shook hands with President Trump.

"The President has not received COVID-19 testing because he has neither had prolonged close contact with any known confirmed COVID-19 patients, nor does he have any symptoms. President Trump remains in excellent health, and his physician will continue to closely monitor him," White House spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham said.

Republican senator Ted Cruz and representatives Paul Gosar and Mark Meadows, who were also at CPAC in Maryland and were in contact with the individual who tested positive, have been self-quarantined.

Vice President Mike Pence said Monday he did not know whether Trump had been tested.

Pence, who leads the administration's coronavirus task force, said that he has not been screened, adding that there has been "no recommendation" that he be tested.

As of early Tuesday morning, at least 728 people have been found to be infected with the coronavirus in the United States, with at least 26 deaths.

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Islamabad, March 11 : Five people were killed and seven injured when an avalanche hit a hill station in Pakistan's Abbottabad district.

The avalanche hit on Tuesday night, reported the Xinhua news agency.

The injured people have been shifted to a nearby hospital where several of them are said to be in critical condition.

Some media also reported that several vehicles were also hit and over two dozens remained missing in the avalanche, which also triggered landslide in Nathia Gali resort of the district.

Rescue work was underway to recover the trapped people from the ice heaps, the reports said.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
YEREVAN, MARCH 11, ARMENPRESS. On the sidelines of the official visit to Serbia Speaker of Parliament of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan and his delegation met today with President Aleksandar Vucic, the Armenian Parliament told Armenpress.

The Serbian President welcomed the Armenian Speaker of Parliament and his delegation to Belgrade and expressed confidence that this visit will give a new impetus to the Armenian-Serbian relations.

Speaker Mirzoyan thanked for the welcome and stated that the recent high-level visits between the two countries must contribute to revealing and exercising the potential existing between the sides, adding that the two peoples have deep historical and cultural ties. Ararat Mirzoyan highlighted the fact of abolishing the visa regime between the two countries and stated that it will boost mutual tourism visits.

The Speaker also highlighted the role of the parliaments in the bilateral relations both at the level of friendship groups, committees and international parliamentary formats.

The sides exchanged also information about the ongoing situation in both regions.

As for the Artsakh conflict, Speaker Mirzoyan said the right to self-determination is the only guarantee for the physical security of the Armenian population living there. He reaffirmed that the Armenian side sees the solution of the conflict only through peaceful negotiations under the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship format and calls on its partners to support this format and the adopted principles.



Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan
Malawi's two largest opposition parties have agreed on an electoral alliance ahead of a fresh presidential vote in May after last year's election results were annulled over vote-rigging, one of the parties announced Wednesday.

The United Transformation Movement (UTM), whose candidate came third in last year's nixed presidential poll, said it will partner with the Malawi Congress Party (MCP), whose candidate narrowly lost to President Peter Mutharika.

In a statement, the UTM said the decision was reached in the wake of a "groundswell of support for a united front" among Malawians.

Malawian parties have been racing to seal alliances since last month, when the southern African country's top court ordered a fresh election after it annulled the May 2019 poll results over widespread irregularities -- in particular the "massive" use of correction fluid on tally sheets.

Last week, Mutharika, who is fighting to retain the country's top job, clinched an electoral deal with the United Democratic Front led by Atupele Muluzi, former president Bakili Muluzi's son, who came fourth in last year's election.

Parties are under pressure to amass an overwhelming number of votes after the Constitutional Court ordered that from now on, a candidate should be chosen by more than 50 percent of the ballots cast.

Previously presidents were chosen under the first-past-the-post system which saw Mutharika win last year with just 38.5 percent of the votes cast, narrowly beating MCP's Lazarus Chakwera, who scored 35.4 percent.

UTM's Saulos Chilima came third with 20 percent of the vote.

Last week the MCP said it believed in harnessing "the national gains that both parties have cultivated" over the last year when they both fought in court to have the election results overturned.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel Tuesday stressed at a meeting with Libyan rebel commander Khalifa Haftar that there is no military solution to the Libyan crisis that has become complex following the retired Generals ongoing military offensive to topple UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA).

During the meeting in Berlin, the German Chancellor stressed that there can be no military solution to the conflict and that a ceasefire and progress in the political process, in line with the decisions of the Berlin conference, are necessary.

Earlier press reports had indicated that Khalifa Haftar was going to hand over to Chancellor Angela Merkel a file on the Syrian mercenaries sent by Ankara to Tripoli.

There are already some 5,000 mercenaries in Libya currently fighting for the benefit of the GNA of Fayez El-Serraj. Meanwhile, Syrian pro-government militias are engaged in the ranks of Haftars troops, as are the Chadian Djandjaouis and certain Russian military advisers.

Before going to Berlin, Khalifa Haftar was on Monday in Paris at the invitation of the French president Emmanuel Macron. At the end of the meeting between the two men, the Elysee said in a press release that Khalifa Haftar undertook to sign the ceasefire document, but that this commitment would no longer hold if the militias do not respect it.

The ceasefire, drawn up under the aegis of the United Nations, was unfortunately not signed either in Moscow or in Berlin, nor in Geneva.

Actually, the two main protagonists had both left the negotiating table in Geneva, leading to the resignation of Ghassan Salame, the envoy of the secretary general of the United Nations in Libya.

French sources said Paris has convinced Haftar to sign the ceasefire agreement with the GNA of Fayez El-Serraj. He nevertheless sets his conditions.

If Khalifa Haftar keeps his promise, it will be a great victory for French diplomacy and Emmanuel Macron, confirming Frances role as the Godfather to the head of the Libyan National Army, the soures said.

According to Radio France Internationale, little information leaked out of the meeting between President Macron and Haftar, but if a source is to be believed at the Elysee, Paris will not receive this time Fayez el-Serraj, the rival of Khalifa Haftar.

However, the Interior Minister of the GNA, Fathi Bachagha, would be received in France on March 17, RFI said.

Multiple UN and International efforts to snatch a concrete ceasefire agreement between the GNA and Haftar have so far failed.
RAF jets were scrambled to intercept Russian bombers in airspace above the Shetland Islands this morning.

The RAF confirmed British QRA Typhoons with Voyager support from Lossiemouth were deployed to shadow the aircraft.

An unnamed RAF quick reaction alert pilot from RAF Lossiemouth, who intercepted the Russian Bears, said: 'The UK has some of the busiest airspace in the world and civilian airliners are constantly using the airways in this area, so our presence ensured UK air traffic controllers could continue to manage this busy airspace around the hazard of the Russian activity.'

Flight tacking data showed an RAF Voyage tanker plane heading north.

This comes after six RAF fighter jets were scrambled to intercept Russian bombers on Saturday after they tried to enter British airspace.

An RAF fighter pilot who intercepted a Russian Tu-142 Bear maritime patrol aircraft today said it was necessary to shadow the bomber as it was endangering civilian aircraft

Typhoon aircraft from RAF Lossiemouth raced to intercept the Russian aircraft as it approached UK airspace

Today's interception is the latest in a long list of times RAF jets were forced monitor Russian aircraft patrolling the edge of UK airspace

The RAF deployed two pairs of Typhoons from RAF Lossiemouth near Moray and a third pair from RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire on Saturday (pictured, Russian Tupolev Tu-142 aircraft intercepted by Typhoon aircraft from RAF Lossiemouth and RAF Coningsby)

Flight tacking data shows an RAF Voyage tanker plane heading north today

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An undisclosed number of Tupolev Tu-95 Bears, Russian aircraft used as strategic bombers and maritime patrol planes, headed towards northwest Scotland.

The RAF deployed two pairs of Typhoons from RAF Lossiemouth near Moray and a third pair from RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire to force them to change course.

A Voyager tanker was also deployed from RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire.

Last April, Typhoons from RAF Lossiemouth were scrambled twice in five days to prevent Russian military planes entering UK airspace.

In the same period, jets from RAF Coningsby were also deployed to a separate incident involving Russian aircraft.

All these incidents come amid heightened tensions between London and Moscow, after Russian GRU agents used chemical weapons in Salisbury in 2018.
Photo credit: The Duke and Duchess of Sussex / Chris Allerton

From Town & Country

The 1844 Room in Buckingham Palace has been the backdrop of many key moments in the royal familys history, including meetings with overseas heads of state and the Queens Christmas broadcast. Earlier this week it was the setting for another milestonethe Duchess of Sussexs final private solo engagement as a working royal.



Meghan spoke with 22 scholars from across the Commonwealth in a 30-minute meeting on Monday around lunchtime before shedding tears as she said goodbye to some of her staff and heading to Westminster Abbey for the Commonwealth Day Service.

Entering through a door in the corner of the opulent state room at 1:30 p.m. in a navy blue dress and clutching a matching purse, the Duchess circulated among students from 11 Commonwealth countries currently studying in the UK. They had been convened by the Association of Commonwealth Universities, of which Meghan became patron in January 2019, a role she took over from the Queen.

Photo credit: The Duke and Duchess of Sussex / Chris Allerton

Despite stepping back as a working royal, the Duchess is keeping the patronage and her work with the ACU will continue. Yet, as with so many of the events that Harry and Meghan attended during their whirlwind farewell tour, the intimate gathering felt like part of a final chapter.

The significance of the moment was not lost on me when, following a last-minute phone call and a surprise invitation, I found myself in the room alongside just two other journalists.

Before Meghans entrance, Chief Executive and Secretary General of the ACU Joanna Newman told the assembled group that the Duchess was really interested and incredibly supportive. She reminded them that Meghan understood the importance of scholarships, having been a recipient herself. The scholars were also divided into four groups based on their areas of interest; climate and the environment, innovation and technology, health, and sustainable cities.

Speaking with University of Leicester research fellow Timothy Biswick, who is from Malawi, about micro-plastic pollution, Meghan mentioned micro-plastics being in the fish we eat. She knows what shes talking about in terms of climate change. She was talking about things in quite some detail, Timothy shared afterwards.

Story continues

Photo credit: Victoria Murphy

To another group, the Duchess spoke talked about sustainable travel, pointing out that she and Harry have seen "the link between tourism and how much money is going outside of the country instead of communities. "There has to be a symbiotic relationship," she added.

Meghan also recounted how when she and Harry travel to Botswana, a country they have visited since the earliest stages of their romance, they grab a "backpack" and stay in a tent.

Halima Ali, a lawyer from Kenya who is researching energy and natural resources at Queen Mary University of London, said that Meghans presence means a lot to us.

For Commonwealth and African countries, to see her, her interest, her participation means a lot, she said.

This sentiment was also shared by the ACUs Joanna Newman, who noted that a really powerful outcome of Meghans so obviously real engagement with the charity is that it has enabled them to promote the issues that really matter such as gender equality and access to education.

Mondays intimate reception did not have the Hollywood glamour of that now iconic picture of Harry and Meghan in the rain, nor the obvious emotion of Harrys final engagement as Captain General of the Royal Marines, and there was no rousing speech like the one the Duchess gave at a school in Dagenham a few days earlier. But, Meghan's appearance, especially on Commonwealth Day, served as another reminder of the young and global audience that the Sussexes appeal to with such ease.

Photo credit: Samir Hussein - Getty Images

Many have interpreted the few days that Harry and Meghan spent in the UK before she departed for Canada on Monday night as a triumphant swan songan opportunity to revel in their upcoming freedom and show us all what the royal family will be missing come April 1. But it has also been a reminder of what the Sussexes are walking away from. Make no mistake, this is a "bittersweet" farewell.

You could be forgiven for wondering just quite how we ended up here. William and Harry, once so close, now exchanging seemingly strained hellos at the Commonwealth Day Service. Many of us may recognize from our own lives the family dispute that starts with a disagreement and somehow unravels until a huge chasm has opened up. We love to peer into their gilded cage, but members of the royal family are, after all, human.

There can be no doubt that Harry and Meghan still feel a great deal of frustration at how things have turned out. They didnt get the outcome that they wanted, and their desire for a half-in and half-out model is still laid bare on their website. There is obvious ongoing anger towards sections of the media for coverage they feel left them no option but to pull out of public life. And particularly painful is the fact that Harry had to give up his honorary military associations. But, the Sussexes have secured the one thing that was most valuable to themfreedom to shape a new life with 10-month-old son Archie.

Photo credit: SIMON DAWSON - Getty Images

The magnitude of their decision was spelled out as Meghan was about to depart on Monday. Turning to some of her loyal, outgoing staff, there was an emotional realization that she didnt know when she would see them again. Then, with a hug for almost everyone in the room, she was gone.

Many unanswered questions remain about what exactly the future looks like for Harry and Meghan, from where they will live to what kind of work they will do. When asked how Meghan may work with their network of 500 universities in 50 countries moving forward, Newman answered: I think it will continue more or less in the way it has been developing so farits a dynamic relationship, its a long-term relationship. It will be based around online and in-person engagements over the next year or so.

With the Sussexes fending for themselves outside the infrastructure and cache of the royal household, a lot is riding on the choices they now make. There is currently little sign of their star power fading, but who they work with and what they do next could significantly rewrite their place in the history books.

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A Wisconsin state agency urged investors Thursday to be on the lookout for scam artists who seek to capitalize on fear and uncertainty, in light of impact of COVID-19 on financial markets.

The Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions issued a statement to remind investors to be on the lookout for scammers who seek to scare them into alleged safer or guaranteed investments.

Avoid making decisions based on panic or fear, Kathy Blumenfeld, secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions, said in a statement. We know con artists are opportunistic and use current events to cloak their schemes with an air of immediacy and legitimacy.

Blumenfeld urged investors to never make an investment decision without understanding exactly what they are investing in, who theyre doing business with, where their money is going and how it will be used. She said to always ask if the salesperson and the security are registered with the state or a provincial securities regulator.

The Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions provided three questions for investors to ask before making a financial decision:

Is the investment being offered with guaranteed high return with little or no risk? According to the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions, all investments carry risk, none can guarantee a return and anyone who says otherwise is lying.

Is there a sense of urgency or limited availability surrounding the investment? According to the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions, if the offer is legitimate, it will be available later. Dont be afraid to walk away.

Is the person offering the investment or their staff properly licensed or registered? According to the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions, investors should avoid unregistered investment salespeople and their products for the same reason they wouldnt go to an unlicensed doctor or dentist.

Make sure you have all the facts before you hand your money over to someone else to invest, said Blumenfeld.

She encouraged investors to contact DFI with any questions about the investment professional they are working with or the product being offered at (608)-266-2139 and online via BrokerCheck.
The Democratic National Committee (DNC) announced on March 10 it is ditching plans to have a live audience for the Arizona debate scheduled Sunday between former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), because of the coronavirus outbreak.

At the request of both campaigns and out of an abundance of caution, there will be no live audience at the Arizona debate taking place on Sunday, March 15, DNC Communications Director Xochitl Hinojosa said in a statement.

The DNC has been in regular communication with local health officials and the mayors office, which advised that we could proceed as planned, Hinojosa added. Nevertheless, our number one priority has and will continue to be the safety of our staff, campaigns, Arizonans and all those involved in the debate.

The Democratic presidential candidates earlier canceled their election night rallies in Ohio on Tuesday citing concerns about the coronavirus spreading throughout the United States.

CNN, which is hosting Sundays debate with the Spanish-language Univision, said the decision to scrap plans to have a live audience at the next Democratic primary debate was made at the request of the campaigns and out of an abundance of caution.

The network added that there would also be no press filing center and no spin room, following the debate.

CNNs top priority is the safety of our employees and community members, the network said in a statement. This extends to guests planning to attend or cover our debate on March 15.

As of Monday, at least six cases of the novel coronavirus had been confirmed in Arizona state. Almost three quarters of U.S. states have confirmed cases of COVID-19. A running national tally kept by the Johns Hopkins University center tracking the outbreak puts the number of cases at 1,025, with 28 deaths.

Over the weekend, it was revealed that an attendee at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) held in late February tested positive for the virus and is now being quarantined at a New Jersey hospital. President Donald Trump, Vice President Mike Pence, and other administration officials attended the event, but the White House later stated they didnt have contact with the infected individual.

However, several members of Congress announced they would self-quarantine for 14 days after saying they had interacted with the COVID-19 patient. So far, CPAC Chairman Matt Schlapp, Rep. Doug Collins (R-Ga.), Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.), Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), and now-acting White House chief of staff Mark Meadows are in self-isolation, although none of them have so far had any symptoms.

Jack Phillips contributed to this report.

From The Epoch Times
"McQueens Flowers has been telling stories with flowers since its founding in London in 1991," said Richard Eagleton, Chief Executive Officer of McQueens Flowers. "After more than 25 years of sending our amazing and talented team of florists from London to create amazing floral designs for events across the U.S., we are thrilled to be embarking on a New York residency that showcases our team's boundless creativity and the beautiful storytelling, which is at the heart of each arrangement and bouquet we produce."

Located in the hotel's entrance, which has been specifically designed to be a functioning flower shop, the space overflows with blooms and waft scents of seasonal flowers from its doors. Evoking the atmosphere of an open studio, the space encourages hotel guests, customers and passersby to stop and observe the florists at work - cutting, tying, weaving and deftly transforming stems into flower stories. Much like watching a performer on stage, the staff at McQueens Flowers offers up a bit of theater as they create stunning arrangements and hand-tied bouquets that focus on seasonal flowers, all available for purchase at the shop. Additionally, customers will be able to place delivery orders out of the boutique and pick up other giftables such as candles, chocolates, stationery and more.

"Moxy Chelsea's prominence in the flower market combined with McQueens Flowers' avant-garde reputation in the flower industry makes this a particularly meaningful collaboration. We are excited to welcome this prestigious residency as we continue our mission to provide our guests with unique and memorable experiences," said Mitchell Hochberg, President of Lightstone.

Alongside the boutique, classes led by instructors from the McQueens Flowers International Flower School will launch at Moxy Chelsea's rooftop lounge, The Fleur Room. The first Thursday of every month, McQueens Flowers will offer seasonal flower arranging classes with the backdrop of the lounge's sweeping views of Manhattan. Attendees will embark on a trip to the Flower Market for tips on choosing the freshest blooms before returning to The Fleur Room to learn how to create their arrangements. Seasonal class sizes range from 15-20 people and are priced at $300.00 per person. A second monthly class will also be added to the hotel's programming calendar with flower arrangements geared toward key holidays or local happenings, such as Mother's Day, Thanksgiving, the holiday season and more. Moxy Chelsea hotel guests receive preferred access to McQueens Flowers' classes based on availability.

The McQueens Flowers Residency at Moxy Chelsea is located at 105 W 28th Street and is open Monday  Saturday from 10AM to 6PM. For more information visit MoxyChelsea.com/McQueens-Flower-Shop. Orders for delivery may also be placed at mcqueensflowers.com or by calling 212.488.1030. Flower Classes by McQueens Flowers International Flower School can be booked at www.mcqueensflowers.com or by emailing [email protected].

For press inquiries on McQueens Flowers, please contact Meg Connolly Communications at [email protected] or by calling 212.505.8200. For inquiries related to Moxy Chelsea, please contact [email protected].

About McQueens Flowers

Since 1991, McQueens Flowers has been telling stories with flowers. What started as a simple, stylish London flower shop has grown to become one of the world's most respected and admired international floral design companies and educators. Fantasy floral reveries and jaw-dropping natural creations have been masterfully dreamed and expertly executed for decades by McQueens Flowers for VIP clients including: Moda Operandi, Claridge's, Vanity Fair, Christie's, a partnership with the esteemed Courtauld Institute and more. With a modern approach that emphasizes sustainability, seasonality, and the English-style, McQueens Flowers a thought leader in the industry with an ambitious and dedicated focus on eco-friendly practices and thoughtful floral processes. It is the only florist to have received the Butterfly Mark from Positive Luxury, which identifies the luxury brands that meet the highest standards of verified innovation and environmental performance. The company has creative studios and workshops in London and Seoul as well as accredited flower schools, McQueens International Flower School  London and McQueens International Flower School  Seoul. Most recently, McQueens Flowers has entered the U.S. market with the announcement of McQueens Flowers New York, the first of several U.S. outposts offering a complete range of floral services.

Truly a global company, McQueens Flowers is proud to make art with flowers for customers in Mexico, USA, Japan, France, Korea, Kuwait, Singapore, Hong Kong, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Italy, Spain and Australia. From dramatic arrangements at some of the world's finest hotels to VIP events to understated, yet stylish bouquets for private clients, the brand's longevity and global reach is a reflection of its unmatched ability to capture elevated luxury in floral design. Setting the standard for quality, elegance and high style that aims to surprise and delight, McQueens Flowers looks forward to telling your story.

About Moxy Chelsea

Soaring 35 stories high into the New York City skyline, the 349-room, award-winning Moxy Chelsea is a unique collaboration by designers Yabu Pushelberg and Rockwell Group. Taking cues from the nearby Flower Market, the hotel blends botanically-inspired design with Italian romance. This stylish and affordable lifestyle hotel packs in all the bells and whistles, with none of the price tag. Moxy Chelsea features Feroce, a lively indoor/outdoor ristorante with a vintage Italian flair along with an all-day caffe and pasticceria; Bar Feroce, a lobby lounge, snack bar, and co-working space; and Feroce Pizza & Bocce Bar, featuring a classic Roman pizzeria menu in collaboration with one of the oldest bakeries in Rome, Roscioli. Guests enter the hotel through McQueens Flowers, a renowned London florist known for its ability to tell stories through floral arrangements. The bustling market and studio allow guests to watch and take part by way of onsite workshops and events. Topping off the hotel is The Fleur Room, a glass-enclosed rooftop bar and lounge with retractable glass walls featuring views of the Empire State Building and the New York City skyline. Moxy Chelsea has been honored with Boutique Design's 2019 Goldkey Award for Best Guestroom and Best Midscale Hotel, Surface Magazine's 2019 Travel Award for Best Micro-Hotel, and Travel Weekly's 2019 Magellan Award for Best Midscale Hotel.

To learn more visit www.MoxyChelsea.com.

Moxy Chelsea is one of three Moxy hotels developed by Lightstone in New York City. Lightstone is also developing Moxy hotels in South Beach Miami, Downtown Los Angeles, and New York's Lower East Side and Williamsburg.

Contact:

Chetna Sabnani

[email protected]

SOURCE Moxy Chelsea

Related Links

http://moxychelsea.com


He said he planned to stay in the race through Sunday nights debate, where he will face off against former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr., and he posed a series of questions to Mr. Biden about how he would address a range of issues facing the nation should he get the Democratic nomination.

Heres a full transcript of his speech:

Thank you all very much for being here. Let me begin by reiterating what I have said from Day 1 of this campaign, and that is that Donald Trump is the most dangerous president in the modern history of our country and he must be defeated.

Tragically, we have a president today who is a pathological liar and who is running a corrupt administration. He clearly does not understand the Constitution of the United States and thinks that he is a president who is above the law. In my view, he is a racist, a sexist, a homophobe, a xenophobe and a religious bigot, and he must be defeated, and I will do everything in my power to make that happen.

Last night, obviously, was not a good night for our campaign from a delegate point of view. We lost in the largest state up for grabs yesterday, the state of Michigan. We lost in Mississippi, Missouri, and Idaho. On the other hand, we won in North Dakota and we lead the vote count in the state of Washington, the second-largest state contested yesterday. With 67 percent of the votes having been counted, we are a few thousand votes on top.

What became even more apparent yesterday is that while we are currently losing the delegate count, approximately 800 delegates for Joe Biden and 660 for us, we are strongly winning in two enormously important areas which will determine the future of our country.

Poll after poll, including exit polls, show that a strong majority of the American people support our progressive agenda. The American people are deeply concerned about the grotesque level of income and wealth inequality in this country, and the American people want the wealthy and large, profitable corporations to start paying their fair share of taxes. Overwhelming support for that.

The American people understand that the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour is a starvation wage. They want to raise the minimum wage in this country to a living wage of at least $15 an hour. And the American people understand that if our kids are going to make it into the middle class of this country, we must make public colleges and universities and trade schools tuition-free.

The American people understand that we cannot continue a cruel and dysfunctional health care system. And it is amazing to me to see that even in conservative states like Mississippi, there is an overwhelming understanding that we are now spending twice as much per capita on health care as do the people of any other country, while 87 million of us remain uninsured or underinsured. And this crisis, this absurd health care system, is becoming more and more obvious to the American people as we face the challenge of a coronavirus pandemic that we are currently experiencing. Imagine facing a pandemic and having 87 million people who are having a difficult time going to a doctor when they need.

And the American people know, unlike Donald Trump, that climate change is an existential threat to our country and the planet and that we need to transform our energy system away from fossil fuel to energy efficiency and sustainable energy.

And the American people also know that we need fundamental transformation of a broken and racist criminal justice system as well as a cruel immigration system that keeps millions of people living in fear.

But it is not just the ideological debate that our progressive movement is winning. We are winning the generational debate. While Joe Biden continues to do very well with older Americans, especially those people over 65, our campaign continues to win the vast majority of the votes of younger people. And I am talking about people not just in their 20s, but in their 30s and their 40s, the younger generations of this country continue in very strong numbers to support our campaign.

Today, I say to the Democratic establishment, in order to win in the future, you need to win the voters who represent the future of our country, and you must speak to the issues of concern to them. You cannot simply be satisfied by winning the votes of people who are older.

While our campaign has won the ideological debate, we are losing the debate over electability. I cannot tell you how many people our campaign has spoken to who have said  and I quote  I like what your campaign stands for. I agree with what your campaign stands for. But Im going to vote for Joe Biden because I think Joe is the best candidate to defeat Donald Trump. End of quote. We have heard that statement all over this country. Needless to say, I strongly disagree with that assertion, but that is what millions of Democrats and Independents today believe.

On Sunday, I very much look forward to the debate in Arizona with my friend, Joe Biden. And let me be very frank as to the questions that I will be asking Joe.

Joe, what are you going to do for the 500,000 people who will go bankrupt in our country because of medically related debt? And what are you going to do for the working people of this country and small businesspeople who are paying on average 20 percent of their incomes for health care?

Joe, what are you going to do to end the absurdity of the United States of America being the only major country on earth where health care is not a human right? Are you really going to veto a Medicare for all bill, if it is passed in Congress?

Joe, how are you going to respond to the scientists who tell us we have seven or eight years remaining to transform our energy system before irreparable harm takes place to this planet because of the ravages of climate change?

Joe, at a time when most young people need a higher education to make it into the middle class, what are you going to do to make sure that all of our people can go to college or trade school, regardless of their income? And what are you going to do about the millions of people who are struggling with outrageous levels of student debt?

Joe, at a time when we have more people in jail than communist China, a nation four times our size, what are you going to do to end mass incarceration and a racist criminal justice system? And what are you going to do to end the terror that millions of undocumented people experience right now because of our broken and inhumane immigration system?

Joe, what are you going to do about the fact that we have the highest rate of childhood poverty of almost any major country on Earth and are living with the fact that 500,000 people tonight are homeless and 18 million families are spending half of their income to put a roof over their heads?

Joe, importantly, what are you going to do to end the absurdity of billionaires buying elections and the three wealthiest people in America owning more wealth than the bottom half of our people?

So, let me conclude the way I began. Donald Trump must be defeated, and I will do everything in my power to make that happen. On Sunday night, in the first one-on-one debate of this campaign, the American people will have the opportunity to see which candidate is best positioned to accomplish that goal. Thank you all very much.
OTTAWA  The Canadian military is searching for its sixth second-in-command in under four years after Lt.-Gen. Jean-Marc Lanthiers surprise decision to retire this summer.

The churn in the vice-chief of the defence staffs office has been of concern to many observers given the importance of the position, which is responsible for much of the day-to-day financial oversight and management of the Canadian Armed Forces.

In a statement released by the Department of National Defence, Lanthier said he chose to retire less than a year into the job to spend more time with his family after more than 30 years in uniform.

This is not an easy decision, nor is it one that I take lightly, he said. I am truly grateful for the support my wife Pam has provided throughout the years and am in constant awe of her incredible strength.

Lanthier was installed as vice-chief last July, bringing what many hoped would be some much-needed stability to the position after years of turnover that began with Vice-Admiral Mark Normans suspension in January 2017.

Norman himself had served five months as vice-chief before he was suspended and eventually removed altogether due to an RCMP investigation that led to him being charged with breach of trust for allegedly leaking government secrets  a charge that was eventually dropped.

Two other military officers  Vice-Admiral Ron Lloyd and Lt.-Gen. Alain Parent  served as acting vice-chiefs of the defence staff while Norman was being investigated before Lt.-Gen. Paul Wynnyk was appointed as his full-time replacement in July 2018.

But Wynnyk announced his own retirement last summer after chief of the defence staff Gen. Jonathan Vance tried to reappoint Norman into the position, only to see Norman accept a financial settlement from the government and retire.

The Opposition Conservatives have previously blamed the Liberal government for the upheaval that has plagued the top brass since the investigation against Norman began, while others have questioned Vances leadership.
Health minister calls on citizens to avoid heading abroad if possible or self-quarantine for 14 days after coming back.

Turkey has confirmed its first coronavirus case, a man who had recently returned from Europe, according to the countrys health minister.

The test of a patient suspected of carrying the coronavirus returned positive, Fahrettin Koca announced in a televised statement early on Wednesday, adding that the mans general condition is good.

All of his family members and those who came into contact with him are under surveillance, Koca said.

The minister said the Turkish citizen was likely to have contracted COVID-19  the disease caused by the new coronavirus  while travelling in Europe, but declined to say which country or where in Turkey the patient was hospitalised.

He also called on Turkish citizens to avoid travelling abroad if possible, or self-quarantine for 14 days when they come back.

Turkey has a population of 80 million and shares a border with Greece, Bulgaria, Georgia, Armenia, Syria, Iraq and Iran, the worst-hit country in the Middle East.

Last year, it was visited by 51.7 million people, according to the Turkish statistical agency.

Istanbul, the countrys tourism and financial hub, was the ninth-most visited city in the world, according to Mastercard Global Destination Cities Index 2019.

Measures to curb

Turkey had announced several measures in recent weeks to try and stop the virus from reaching the country, including thermal cameras at airports, cancelling flights to affected countries and closing its border with Iran, which has confirmed more than 8,000 cases and nearly 300 deaths.

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Hospitals in Istanbul and the capital, Ankara, have been set up to test and quarantine patients suspected of having the virus, which was first detected in the central Chinese city of Wuhan late last year.

Since then, more than 4,000 people have died globally from COVID-19, according to the World Health Organization, with more than 113,000 infections confirmed in some 110 countries

About 64,000 people worldwide have recovered from the illness, according to John Hopkins University.
Eight Cayuga County residents who recently traveled to countries with high rates of the new coronavirus are quarantined in their homes, including one person who has been tested for the respiratory illness.

Kathleen Cuddy, director of the Cayuga County Health Department, told The Citizen Tuesday that seven of the eight people are in precautionary quarantine, which means they traveled to China, Iran, Italy, Japan or South Korea  countries that have reported the most coronavirus cases  but aren't experiencing symptoms.

One person who has symptoms was tested Tuesday, Cuddy said. The test results won't be known for at least another day or two.

Because the person has been tested for coronavirus, they are in mandatory quarantine. Cuddy confirmed that the person is isolated in their home. The health department communicates with individuals in quarantines daily to monitor their conditions.

"They are all incredibly cooperative because they want to do the right thing and they understand the purpose behind it, so that's going well," Cuddy said.

As of Tuesday, there are 173 confirmed cases of the new coronavirus in New York. Nearly all of the cases are in downstate New York. Westchester County accounts for 108 of the confirmed cases in the state.

More than 900 cases and 30 deaths have been reported in the U.S.

Symptoms of the virus include a cough, fever and shortness of breath. For most people who contract the virus, they will experience mild symptoms.

The health department is prepared if the virus spreads to central New York. Cuddy said they continue to encourage the public to practice good hygiene, such as washing hands, coughing into your sleeve and staying home when you're ill. Information is being shared with other local government entities and businesses to prevent the spread of the virus.

Cuddy revealed that the health department has provided guidance to colleges and school districts. For now, there are no mandates to close or cancel activities. The conversations have focused on what educational institutions can do to encourage good hygiene practices and prepare to respond if someone contracts the new coronavirus.

"Our biggest focus is obviously prevention, particularly for those who are at greatest risk for serious illness from the virus," Cuddy said. The groups that are vulnerable to complications include seniors and people with underlying chronic diseases.

Nationally, the availability of testing has been a challenge. Some people who have symptoms of the virus haven't been tested because healthcare providers didn't have access to testing kits.

Until this week, there was only one lab in New York  the state's Wadsworth lab  authorized to process coronavirus tests. On Monday, the federal government approved the use of other labs, including SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse.

Cuddy thinks that if the virus spreads into Cayuga County, healthcare providers may need to determine whether they test someone for the illness or treat the symptoms.

"It's going to depend on how ill someone might be, similarly to the flu," she said. "A lot of times people may have it but not go (into the doctor) and be diagnosed. They treat their symptoms and stay home. We really don't know what direction that's going to go yet. There may be a benefit (to test) just to know numbers. We're learning as everybody else is. It's a very dynamic, fluid situation."

Politics reporter Robert Harding can be reached at (315) 282-2220 or robert.harding@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter @robertharding.

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What struck Philip J. Palin, a veteran supply chain resiliency author and researcher, was how the executive suites of some of his clients  mostly healthcare companies  seemed to pooh-pooh the outbreak of the novel coronavirus.

Their supply chain folks spotted trouble early on, Palin said. They were certain that the virus, now known as COVID-19, would be traveling west from China before too long. Yet they, and the issue, couldn't get on the radar screens of their top executives, he said. As the virus began to spread, the C-suite belatedly started paying attention. That kicked off a mad and mostly futile scramble to avoid the inevitable supply chain disruptions.

The shoulder-shrugging attitude of top executives may not have been a total shock. Over the past decade, there have been tsunamis, floods and volcanic eruptions. Each time, global supply chains took nasty hits, and the response needle from the upper corporate echelons didn't move much. But COVID-19 is different in that it has presented supply and demand challenges, the latter caused by quarantines, social distancing, and postponements or cancellations of public events.

Palin said it is wildly misplaced to label COVID-19 a "black swan" event that came entirely out of the blue. Pandemics and epidemics are thousands of years old, and they will occur for centuries to come, he said. COVID-19 "was a predictable surprise," he told an overflow crowd during a Tuesday panel session at the MODEX material handling, logistics and supply chain conference in Atlanta.

Companies sharing that mindset found themselves better positioned than most when the virus hit U.S. shores. David Shillingford, chairman of DHL Resilience 360, a DHL unit that helps companies prepare and protect their supply chains against unexpected events, told the story of two Tier 1 suppliers to the U.S. automotive industry. One began building a resilience strategy following the 2011 tsunami that devastated parts of Japan, while the other didn't make resiliency a priority. The former developed a "risk-adjusted" just-in-time model in which it could quickly shift suppliers and supply sources if trouble arose. It also built a robust visibility platform that could detect which supply partners needed attention. The latter, by contrast, behaved reactively and was unprepared for disruptions. Not surprisingly, the first company has gained competitive advantage in recent weeks, Shillingford said. He declined to identify either firm.

Story continues

The takeaways from the two scenarios are threefold, according to Shillingford. First, supply chain resiliency doesn't necessarily mean that firms are required to buy and store inventory. Second, companies should behave as if problems will occur at any time. "Don't worry about predictions. Assume something bad is going to happen and plan for it," he said. Third, resiliency is not a binary event but rather a long, multistep process, he said.

China, the factory floor of so much global commerce, is slowly returning to normal. President Xi Jinping on Tuesday toured Wuhan, the city at the center of the epidemic, for the first time since the outbreak. The surrounding province of Hubei announced plans to loosen mobility restrictions that have affected millions of people. Millions of workers who were away from their jobs for the Lunar New Year holiday and were stuck there due to travel restrictions have begun a cautious return to work.

But challenges remain. As supply chains get back on their feet, U.S. importers will need to brace for a near-avalanche of Chinese imports, which could create a whole new type of disruption. "What if a month's worth of parts show up at the same time," asked John Paxton, chief operating officer of MHI, the organization that holds MODEX. In Europe, only Italy has been subject to a complete lockdown; Shillingford said he was concerned about the impact should the virus spread to the industrial centers of Germany and France. The U.S., which has been testing fewer potential cases than other affected countries, is likely to see far more positive cases, which could result in quarantines, event cancellations and a ban on large gatherings. The supply disruptions here and abroad "will be significant for a period of time, Shillingford said.

The prospect of a ripple effect is all the more reason, Palin said, to prepare for what is tantamount to the viral equivalent of war. "Don't wait until the gun is pointed at your head," he said.

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 2020 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Galeshwar, March 11

Regular dialysis service is to be rendered free of cost to kidney patients at Beni Hospital in the headquarters of Myagdi district.

The hospital will begin the service from March 14 after the Gandaki Provincial Minister for Social Development provided necessary equipment along with the budget for the service delivery.

Bel Bahadur Katwal, the chair of Beni Hospital Management Committee, says a haemodialysis unit has been set up at the hospital with six machines. In order to regularise the service, the state government has provided four machines while an organisations of Nepalis living abroad has aided two machines, he shares. Katwal further informes that human resource including doctors, staff nurses, and assistant health workers have been already managed at the unit.

Three beds will be brought into operation in the first phase, he says. Arrangement has been made in a way to provide daily dialysis services to 12 patients in two shifts, he further shares. The hospital, however, has a plan to deliver service three times a day after six months as per the need.

Provincial Minister for Social Development Naradevi Pun is scheduled to inaugurate the service.

RSS
EUGENE, Ore. -- Church leaders throughout Lane County have requested a state of emergency declaration from the Lane County Board of Commissioners.

The board told the church leaders that the state of emergency will not be declared until there is a confirmed case of coronavirus in Lane County.

Reverend Jessica Connor, of First United Methodist Church in Eugene, said declaring a state of emergency would give nonprofits, such as her church, the ability to buy supplies for the homeless, a population that she said is unable to protect themselves from the virus.

"The top three ways in which you prevent the virus from infecting people is you wash hands, you stay in your home, and you cough into your sleeve when you're outside. What's difficult is people who are unhoused only have access to one of those three things," Connor said.

Reverend Adam Biddell said Lane County needs to act as soon as possible to combat COVID-19.

"We know this is coming, so we should take advantage of that and declare a state of emergency sooner rather than later," Rev. Biddell said.

Connor agrees.

"It's going to take a preventative state of emergency to truly address the problem of making sure our most vulnerable populations stay safe, and we know in public health you're only as safe as your most vulnerable people," said Connor.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-12 01:18:33|Editor: huaxia

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This is a file picture showing WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus speaks at a daily briefing in Geneva, Switzerland, on March 9, 2020. (Photo by Li Ye/Xinhua)

WHO chief says the COVID-19 outbreak can be characterized as a pandemic.

"We have never before seen a pandemic sparked by a coronavirus. And we have never before seen a pandemic that can be controlled at the same time."



GENEVA, March 11 (Xinhua) -- The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Wednesday that the COVID-19 outbreak can be characterized as a "pandemic" as the virus spreads increasingly worldwide.

"We have therefore made the assessment that COVID-19 can be characterized as a pandemic," WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said at a press conference.

"We have never before seen a pandemic sparked by a coronavirus. And we have never before seen a pandemic that can be controlled at the same time," he said.

Tedros said describing the situation as a pandemic does not change the WHO's assessment of the threat posed by the novel coronavirus and it doesn't change what the WHO is doing and countries should do. 
The disruption to traditional campaigning was the first powerful sign that the virus is changing American politics, coming at the height of a primary season as Senator Bernie Sanders and former vice-president Joe Biden battle for the Democratic nomination

The US presidential race entered an unpredictable new phase on Tuesday after the two leading Democratic candidates canceled big primary-night campaign events because of worries about the coronavirus, and Vice-President Mike Pence said that the future of President Donald Trumps signature rallies would be decided on a a day-to-day basis.

The disruption to traditional campaigning was the first powerful sign that the virus is changing American politics, coming at the height of a primary season as Senator Bernie Sanders and former vice-president Joe Biden battle for the Democratic nomination. Sanders especially relies on huge rallies to energise his base of younger voters  the kind of barnstorming he needs to halt Bidens growing momentum in the race.

Sanders, quickly followed by Biden, called off events scheduled for Ohio just hours before they were set to begin and as the candidates awaited the results of voting in six other states. Governor Mike DeWine of Ohio, a Republican, had asked earlier Tuesday for all major indoor events to be cancelled. The Sanders and Biden campaigns indicated they would evaluate future events; the Biden campaign added one for Tuesday night in Philadelphia.

As the anxiety built, the Democratic National Committee announced Tuesday night that there would be no live audience at the partys presidential debate on Sunday in Phoenix.

The new uncertainty about political rallies and face-to-face contact with voters has the potential to remake the entire presidential campaign. Not only will Democrats need mass rallies to help unite the party, after a bruising primary race, behind a nominee and a policy agenda. It is Trump, more than any American leader in modern politics, who has used megarallies to motivate his supporters, dominate cable news airwaves with coverage and feed his own ego and morale.

In recent days, Trump has complained to advisers about the toll the coronavirus is taking on his efforts to campaign publicly, and has continued to insist in private, as he has done in public, that worries about the virus are being overblown, according to two people familiar with his comments. Following his lead, the campaign has told reporters that all of the campaigns activity was proceeding as normal.

But several people close to Trump have suggested to his campaign and White House officials that he not go ahead with rallies, a person close to Trump said. It was unclear how forceful any of them had been in pushing him away from them.

Since his 2016 campaign, Trump has left the glad-handing at diners and the roundtable discussions to surrogates, focusing on rallies to communicate his message to supporters. Any slowdown or suspension of rallies would deprive him of a major political weapon at a time when concerns about the virus  as well as the damage to a national economy that is Trumps calling card in the 2020 race  could further alienate some disaffected Republicans and independents from the Trump camp.

For the first time in months, Trump has no rally scheduled for the coming weeks. His last campaign rally took place on 2 March in Charlotte, North Carolina, on the eve of Super Tuesday.

Campaign officials said on Monday that this would change, and that they would announce a new rally on Tuesday. But by 5 pm Eastern time (2.30 am on Wednesday IST), nothing had been announced.

Asked at a briefing on Tuesday evening whether the Trump campaign would continue to hold rallies, Pence said, Thatll be a decision thats made literally on a day-to-day basis.

The cancellations by Biden and Sanders came on a critical day of voting, as Biden tried to cement his front-runner status with victories in the critical battleground state of Michigan and elsewhere and Sanders tried to recover from disappointing losses last week on Super Tuesday.

The one-two punch of the cancellations was not as unexpected as it was jarring. As the public has grown increasingly wary of the coronavirus outbreak, it has largely been business as usual for Sanders and Biden, who have continued shaking the hands of supporters.

But on Tuesday afternoon, that quickly changed.

Out of concern for public health and safety, we are cancelling tonights rally in Cleveland, said Mike Casca, a Sanders campaign spokesman. We are heeding the public warnings from Ohio state officials, who have communicated concern about holding large, indoor events during the coronavirus outbreak. Sanders would like to express his regret to the thousands of Ohioans who had planned to attend the event tonight.

Casca added, All future Bernie 2020 events will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Almost immediately, the Biden campaign said it, too, was cancelling its evening event in Cleveland.

In accordance with guidance from public officials and out of an abundance of caution, our rally in Cleveland, Ohio tonight is canceled, Bidens deputy campaign manager, Kate Bedingfield, said on Twitter. We will continue to consult with public health officials and public health guidance and make announcements about future events in the coming days.

Bidens campaign later announced that he would deliver primary night remarks from Philadelphia, where his campaign is based.

Some of Bidens allies believe this moment offers the chance to highlight his experience as a former vice president, and to cast him as a steady hand  in contrast to Trump, the thinking goes  at a deeply uncertain and high-stakes time.

Biden was slated to begin another intense stretch of campaigning starting on Thursday, with stops scheduled in delegate-heavy Florida, Illinois and Arizona before the 17 March contests in those states. The campaign said it was cancelling a planned rally on Thursday in Tampa, Florida, but the full fate of Bidens swing was unclear on Tuesday.

There were some indications earlier on Tuesday that the coronavirus could begin to affect scheduled political events. In the afternoon, DeWine wrote on Twitter that he was asking for major indoor events in his state to be canceled.

Sanders had also told reporters outside a polling place in Dearborn Heights, Michigan, that he would abide by guidance from local public health officials when planning his campaign events.

What we are doing wherever we go, whenever we do rallies, we consult with public health officials because the last thing we want to do is put anybody in danger, Sanders said. We will not do anything that public health officials do not think is right.

Sanders also held a roundtable discussion on Monday at a hotel at the Detroit airport where he and public health experts talked about the coronavirus.

Until Tuesday, though, Sanders had continued to hold enormous rallies, a signature part of his campaign but one that was at odds with the quarantines and public directives from officials across the country to avoid large public events. Should Sanders be unable to stage rallies, it would drastically change how he campaigns at a critical juncture: After a lackluster Super Tuesday in which he won only four states, he now has limited time to regain his momentum.

It was Sanders himself who called off his Cleveland rally, his campaign said.

Any announcement from the Trump campaign about a rally would come less than 24 hours after a public health official on Trumps coronavirus task force had hinted that there could be dangers to holding one. The rally the campaign had indicated it would announce on Tuesday was to take place in Florida at the end of the month, according to a person familiar with the planning. That rally is more than two weeks away, which could give officials a better chance to monitor the progression of the virus, while also allowing them to claim they are maintaining normal operations.

If you want to talk about large gatherings in a place where you have community spread, I think thats a judgment call, Dr Anthony Fauci, the nations leading expert on infectious diseases, said at a briefing on Monday when asked specifically about whether presidential candidates should continue holding rallies. And if someone decides they want to cancel it, I wouldnt publicly criticise it.

Earlier on Tuesday, Trump continued to play down the threat of the virus. Be calm, he told people. Its really working out.

Sydney Ember, Maggie Haberman and Annie Karni c.2020 The New York Times Company
There are plenty of primaries to go over the next couple of months, and November is still a long way off. But on the night that Democrats cast their primary ballots in six states across the Midwest, South, and Northwest  including the important state of Michigan, which played such a significant role four years ago  it became abundantly clear that former vice president Joe Biden is bound to become the party's choice to take on President Donald Trump on Election Day.

March 10, 2020 is the day that Biden became all but unbeatable.

This isn't because Biden will come out of the day's six contests with an insurmountable delegate lead over Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders. It's because today's wins will likely be followed by Biden beating Sanders in Florida next Tuesday by around 40 points, and in Illinois, Ohio, and Arizona by double digits on the same day. And this will likely be followed by Biden victories in Georgia, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Connecticut, Delaware, and numerous other delegate-rich states across the country, allowing him to lock down the nomination.

We know that this is the overwhelmingly likely outcome not only because that's what the polls are telling us. We also know it because the results on Tuesday night confirm what's been clear since Super Tuesday, which is that Biden is doing better than Hillary Clinton did the last time around, and Sanders is doing significantly worse.

The Mississippi results are consistent with both Biden's showing in South Carolina on Feb. 29 and Clinton's in Mississippi four years ago: The more centrist, establishment candidate wins with roughly 80 percent of the vote, while the insurgent democratic socialist finishes in the mid-teens, largely because of the ideologically moderate black vote in the South. (Biden's record of serving as Barack Obama's wingman for eight years certainly doesn't hurt him with these voters, but the results this time are remarkably consistent to what they were in 2016.)

Story continues

What was a very serious Sanders weakness four years ago remains one today. But to it has been added at least one more: He is no longer running against Hillary Clinton.

It may be unfair to Biden to put it that way, but it's hard to look at the results in Michigan, in particular, without wondering just how much of the 2016 results in that state, both in the primaries and in the general election, were a function of the unique dislike the former first lady and secretary of state was capable of generating among voters.

Consider: Sanders shocked the political world four years ago by defying the polls and narrowly beating Clinton in the Michigan primary. On Tuesday night, he appears to be on track to lose to Biden by roughly 13 percentage points. Sanders won Kalamazoo County by 22 points in 2016. This time he narrowly lost it to Biden. In Washtenaw County, home of Ann Arbor and the University of Michigan, Sanders beat Clinton 55 to 43 percent. Against Biden, Sanders has lost it 48 to 46 percent. Once all the votes are counted in Michigan, it's likely that we'll learn that Sanders underperformed his 2016 vote percentages by an average of double digits.

The results in Missouri were even starker. In 2016, Sanders lost the state to Clinton in a photo-finish, with the final results showing the candidates separated by just 0.2 percent. This time Biden looks on track to win it by a massive 25 points. When a candidate runs for president in back-to-back cycles and hemorrhages that many votes, it's an undeniable sign of softening.

Even out West, where Sanders has enjoyed his greatest strength, things look bleak. In 2016, Sanders bested Clinton in the Washington State caucuses 72 to 27 percent. On Tuesday night, Sanders and Biden were neck-and-neck, effectively tied, with two-thirds of the primary votes counted. Likewise, in Idaho, Sanders' 56-point blowout in the state's caucuses four years ago had become a narrow lead for Biden with over half the vote in. Even if Sanders claws his way back to take both states, the contrast to 2016 will remain stark.

The Sanders campaign is floundering and deflating. Which means that the Biden campaign, facing no other viable opponents, has now become virtually unstoppable in its march to the Democratic nomination. It remains to be seen whether the former vice president will prove more capable than the 2016 nominee of beating Donald Trump. But the results on Tuesday night give Democrats reason to suspect that he might.

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Ukraine to cut number of operating border checkpoints from 219 to 49 from March 12

Ukraine will partially close the state border from March 12, Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal has said.

"Starting from tomorrow [March 12, 2020], 49 of 219 border checkpoints will be operating. The rest will be closed for citizens and transport," he told a press briefing following the government's meeting on Wednesday.
Opposition repeats calls for President Conde to step down, after he delays constitutional referendum to extend term.

Opposition supporters and security forces have clashed yet again over fears President Alpha Conde is trying to extend his rule for a third term.

He recently postponed a planned referendum to amend the constitution which would allow him to prolong his time in office.

Continued protests which started in mid-October have rocked the West African country.

Al Jazeeras Victoria Gatenby reports.
Coronavirus could become horrendous situation if spread not contained, Ben Carson warns

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Renowned retired neurosurgeon and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson warned Sunday that if the coronavirus is not contained, America could end up in a horrendous situation.

Carson, who is a newly added member of the Trump administrations coronavirus task force, was responding to questions on Fox News Sunday Morning Futures about a recent report suggesting that up to 96 million people stateside could become infected with the new coronavirus, resulting in nearly 500,000 potential deaths.

Were in communication with a lot of experts around the country in terms of the best ways to contain this, Carson told host Maria Bartiromo. Obviously if we dont use best practices to contain the spread, then we will have a horrendous situation, but we are very cognizant of that.

More than 110,000 people have already been infected with the coronavirus globally and nearly 4,000 have died as of Monday morning. The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the U.S. also increased to nearly 550 on Sunday and some 22 of them have died.

Watch the latest video at foxnews.com

In a webinar titled "What healthcare leaders need to know: Preparing for the COVID-19," presented to hospitals on Feb. 26, Dr. James Lawler, a professor at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, shared his best guess of the outcomes of the coronavirus.

People aged 80, he said have a 14 percent chance of dying if they have the infection; those aged 70 to 79 and 60 to 69 have an estimated mortality rate of 8 percent and 3.6 percent, respectively, if they contract the virus.

Lawler also noted that medical conditions can also influence someone's risk.

He further noted that health officials also know that the virus can be passed on by people who have little in the way of symptomatology and in some cases no symptomatology at all.

We need to use that information appropriately, he said. If you go to a place where theres a lot of people and you have a compromised immune system, maybe you need to rethink that.

Dr. Richard Hatchett, CEO of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations and a doctor leading the efforts for a potential vaccine for the new coronavirus in the U.K., told Channel 4 News that long-term, the coronavirus can do significant damage.

I think talking about the potential of the virus is important because you can understand how dangerous of a threat it is. I think its up to societies and how they want to respond to the virus, Hatchett said while discussing how China and Singapore are doing well in ensuring the virus is contained.

It's the most frightening disease I've ever encountered in my career, and that includes Ebola, it includes MERS, it includes SARS. And it's frightening because of the combination of infectiousness and a lethality that appears to be manyfold higher than flu, he said.

Hatchett explained that the U.K. government needs to work on contact tracing, voluntary quarantining of those contacts and also think about the possibility of closing schools.

I think there may be a time to close schools, he said.

Children have been minimally affected by COVIF-19. Whats unclear is whether they have been infected and just handled the infections well or whether they actually are not being infected. I think there is some limited data that suggest that children are probably at risk.

If you look at the Diamond Princess cruise ship, the attacks rates among people on that ship who are under the age of 20 were identical to the attack rates overall so ... that is evidence that younger people can be infected, he said.

He also explained that in areas where people have already died from the new coronavirus it is likely that the virus had been circulating for at least weeks, even more than a month.
The beloved 2017 bestselling young adult contemporary novel "I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter" made its debut in Chicago last week and once again breaks hearts.

According to a recent article, the theatrical adaptation written by award-winning Chicago playwright Isaac Gomez, retells the story of Julia who is grief-stricken by her sister's untimely death. Julia, who is always under her parents' watch, questions her sister's death and ta the same time deal with her own issues with self-esteem. In the midst of her suffering, Julia decides to defy her family's financially poor living conditions and pursues college outside of Chicago.

Gomez said he felt a powerful connection to the novel, and he allowed the emotions of the world the author created to guide his writing process.

"Instead of trying to put something on top of [the material]," he said, "I sat with it and thought 'what is happening here' and looked inward saying 'where have I felt that?' and went from there."

Julia is played by Latina actress Karen Rodriguez who admitted she fell in love with the book because of its relevance.

"I think the biggest thing that struck me the most was [Julia's] journey of discovering that she is not okay mentally. She is going through a serious bout of depression," Rodriguez explained to Teen Vogue. "I want young women that look like me and people who are outside of that experience to realize that Mexicans and brown people are not monoliths. It's important to relate to experiences that might feel outside of your immediate experience, but actually you can totally relate to."

In an interview about the adaptation of her novel, author Erika Sanchez shared her motivation for the book.

"I felt like I wanted to write the book I needed as a kid, [the one] young girls of color also need," Sanchez said explaining that she wanted to write a book that "makes [young people] feel less alone, that someone understands them and what they're going through."

"I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter" will run through April 5. It will have a special Spanish captioned performance on March 13. You can buy your tickets here.

An article also said Steppenwolf Theater, the company behind the production, has improved diversity in terms of storytelling by actively recruiting actors of different identities to their famous ensemble.

In the case of I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter, it allowed Latinx cast members and creatives to mold the story which meant better results for the stage.

"Having an opportunity to work with fellow Latinx artists feels like a special kind of home experience...there is a kind of relief and familiarity in the room that is really wonderful to be a part of," said director Sandra Marquez.

Rodriguez agreed, saying it's "the safest place" to create.

"Sometimes, when I make acting choices, I have to really explain and make people in a room see me," said Rodriguez, "but when I'm with Isaac or Erika or Sandra, I don't have to do that because they know where I'm coming from."
To the Editor:

Re Inspiring Young Voters, but Not Enough to Push Them to the Ballot Box (news article, March 5):

I am writing to offer further context about the emerging electorate and their lack of participation at the voting booth. The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation recently published the largest study ever of nonvoters, which included a close look at voting-eligible Americans ages 18 to 24.

The study shows that we could potentially be losing a generation of voters. They report a substantially lower interest in politics generally and in voting in 2020 even than Americans who chronically dont vote. The top reasons cited by those who said they will not vote are that they dont care about politics and they dont like the candidates.

The challenge  not only to candidates like Bernie Sanders but to the democratic system as well  is to demonstrate how voting can affect the daily lives of these young Americans. Until they feel the impact that participation can have, its unlikely that theyll show up in force at the polls.

Evette Alexander

Miami

The writer is director of Learning and Impact Strategy at the Knight Foundation.
In the wake of coronavirus scare, a



group of residents from a housing society in Pimpri-Chinchwad township has approached the police, asking them to restrict a family, currently on a trip abroad, from entering their premises.

Eight positive cases of the deadly infection have been reported in Pune so far.

According to police officials, the family from the housing society is currently on a trip to Malaysia and other countries and supposed to return on Sunday.

"Some residents approached the police station and asked us not to allow the family to enter into the housing society as they might be exposed to the coronavirus.

"However, the police counselled them that upon returning, they will have to undergo medical screening at the airport so there is no need to worry," said a senior official of the Pimpri-Chinchwad police station.

He told the residents that imposing such restrictions was not appropriate.

Strict screening measures are being taken at airports to stop spread of the virus, the official added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
HSBC Holdings today told shareholders that they may not be able to attend the April 24 annual general meeting slated for London in the event that the UK decides bans large gatherings because of the coronavirus outbreak.

Some governments of countries where coronavirus has become widespread have taken action to prohibit the gathering of large groups of people or otherwise advised against large congregations of people in an attempt to minimize or delay the spread of the coronavirus, HSBC said in a statement to the London Stock Exchange.

While the UK has not yet banned big groups, the situation may change rapidly, said Europes largest bank, which considers the health of shareholders, employees and customers of paramount importance.

The bank recommends that investors, even if they plan to attend the meeting, submit proxies as soon as possible because the UK could slap restrictions on travel to London or how the meeting may wind up being conducted.

It encourages them to watch HSBCs website for updates on the status of the AGM, which it called an important event on the corporate calendar.

It provides the board of directors with an opportunity to engage with shareholders and for shareholders to agree resolutions that provide the Board with the ability to manage the business and affairs of the Company between AGMs, said the statement from Aileen Taylor, group company secretary & chief governance officer.
Stepping up efforts to check the



spread of coronavirus in Kerala, the state government has sent at least 45 people who returned here from COVID-19 hit Italy to various health facilities, official sources said on Wednesday.

While 35 people including two children and two pregnant womenhave been shifted to a Government district hospital in Aluva, 10 suffering from fever and breathing problems have been admitted to the Kalamassery Medical College Hospital, they said.

Samples collected from them have been sent for examination at the National Institute of Virology lab in Alappuzha, they said.

All 45 had arrived at the Cochin International Airport here on Tuesday from the European nation.

Meanwhile, the Ernakulam district administration has decided to arrange more facilities at more government hospitals to keep under observation those who are expected to arrive here from foreign countries like Italy in the coming days.

The government decided to scale up efforts after three people from Pathnamthitta district returned from Italy on February 29.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
SPRINGFIELD - The fire Tuesday afternoon on Longfellow Terrace destroyed one home, and displaced 7 people, and caused significant damage to the home next door, said a fire official.

Fire Department spokesman Captain Drew Piemonte said heavy winds contributed to the spread of the fire, both through the house and to neighboring properties in this tightly packed section of the Forest Park neighborhood.

One firefighter was injured and had to be taken to the hospital. As of Wednesday morning, Piemonte did not have an update on his condition.

The home at 37 Longfellow Terrace was a total loss in the fire, he said. The roof has collapsed in the fire, and the lower floors received extensive water damage from the thousands of gallons of water used to contain the fire. The remaining structure was unsteady and had to be knocked down.

Seven residents, five adults and two children, were displaced. The Western Massachusetts chapter of the American Red Cross has been called in to assist them with temporary shelter.

Piemonte said the remaining structure is unstable and will probably have to be knocked down.

The home, a 100-year-old, 2 1/2 story wood frame, is listed in city records as owned by resident Joseph R. Ramos. The property has a total valuation of $236,000. Ramos purchased it in June.

The neighboring property to the north, 37 Longfellow Terrace, received significant damage when it caught on fire. That property was saved but Piemonte estimated the damages to be around $30,000 to $40,000.

A garage on Ashmont Street to the east also caught fire, but firefighters extinguished it before it could cause much damage.

Piemonte said heavy winds contributed to the severity of the fire, both in terms of the damage to 37 Longfellow and in igniting neighboring properties.

The wind fed it, he said.

He compared the effect from the wind as being like pouring gasoline on a flame.

The original call for the fire came in at around 4 p.m. It quickly spread into the attic and ate through the roof.

As the fire spread and intensified, the order was given to pull all firefighters from the interior and to switch to an exterior attack.

Piemonte said the cause of the fire remains under investigation. It is believed it started in the rear of 43 Longfellow, but investigators have not been able to pinpoint exactly how it started.

Investigators were on scene Wednesday morning trying to determine the cause, he said.
WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI -- Hospitals and public health officials in Washtenaw County are sharing emergency response plans after the first two presumptive cases of the novel coronavirus were announced in Michigan, officials said Wednesday.

One of the two cases is being treated at Michigan Medicine. That patient was in stable condition, hospital officials said.

Officials at the Washtenaw County Health Department said patients potentially infected with COVID-19 may not need to go the emergency room.

Unless you are experiencing emergency symptoms, we recommend you dont go to an emergency room where you can infect others, Juan Luiz Marquez, the countys medical director, said in a joint news release with Michigan Medicine and the Saint Joseph Mercy Health System.

Most COVID-19 symptoms can be managed at home with advice from a physician.

Michigan coronavirus patient being treated at University of Michigan Health System

The two hospital systems ask the public not to visit patients at the hospital if they are sick, the two hospital systems announced in a joint news release.

Health officials continue to stress that good hygiene can best prevent COVID-19s spread. Best practices include washing your hands for at least 20 seconds, coughing into your elbow or a tissue, avoiding touching your face and staying home from work or social gatherings if you are sick.

Rosalie Tocco-Bradley, chief clinical officer at St. Joes, said patients with symptoms, including fever, cough and shortness of breath, will be screened. Anyone with symptoms should contact their primary care physician to determine if a COVID-19 test is needed.

To help minimize community spread, we will continue to screen all presenting patients regarding fever, respiratory symptoms, travel risk factors, and exposures and, if indicated, immediately place a mask on and isolate the patient, Tocco-Bradley said in a statement.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-11 16:14:02|Editor: xuxin

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SYDNEY, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Five people have died after their light aircraft crashed into sand dunes, in the Australian State of Queensland's Cape York Peninsula on Wednesday.

According to police the twin-engine Cessna 404 Titan aircraft attempted two landings before it crashed on the third approach, near the Lockhart River airstrip slightly after 11:30 a.m. local time.

Emergency crews located the wreckage several hours later and discovered that the four passengers, who worked for a local government department, along with the pilot were all deceased.

Queensland Police Acting Chief Superintendent Chris Hodgman said that the weather in the region was bad, with a cyclone forming offshore.

"There are some monsoonal winds and rain up there at the moment, so they are providing some challenging conditions," he said.

Hodgman said that additional Queensland police officers would be flown into the area on Thursday to conduct a joint investigation with the Australian Transport Safety Bureau.
Vitaliy Shubin appointed Acting Minister of Energy and Environmental Protection

12:45, 11.03.20 260

Prior to this, he held the post of first deputy minister.
Earthly slime mold models have helped astronomers map the cosmic web that connects galaxies throughout the universe.

Slime mold, or Physarum polycephalum, is a single-cell organism that builds complex filamentary networks in search of food. Using computer models inspired by the growth patterns of slime mold, researchers from the University of California Santa Cruz traced the web-like network of interconnected filaments that extend light-years between galaxies.

"A slime mold creates an optimized transport network, finding the most efficient pathways to connect food sources," Joe Burchett, lead author of the study from UC Santa Cruz, said in a statement. "In the cosmic web, the growth of structure produces networks that are also, in a sense, optimal. The underlying processes are different, but they produce mathematical structures that are analogous."

Video: Fly through an amazing cosmic web visualization

Related: The 11 biggest unanswered questions about dark matter

To create the new models, the team used data from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey and the work of Berlin-based artist Sage Jenson, whose artistic visualizations are based on an algorithm for simulating the growth of slime mold. The researchers named the new algorithm the Monte Carlo Physarum Machine, according to the statement.

Matter in the universe is distributed in a web-like network of intergalactic filaments separated by huge voids. Galaxies form where these filaments intersect and matter is most concentrated. However, these filaments, which extend between galaxies, are largely invisible because they are made up of dark matter  a material that does not emit light or energy, but accounts for roughly 85% of the mass of the universe.

The researchers tested the new algorithm against data from the Bolshoi-Planck cosmological simulation. This simulation, which was developed by Joel Primack, a physics professor at UC Santa Cruz, is used to model "halos" of dark matter  in which galaxies form  and the filaments connecting galaxies across the universe. The results revealed that the outcome of the new slime mold algorithm closely aligned with the dark matter simulation, according to the statement.

The slime mold Physarum polycephalum develops a network of interconnected tubes as it explores the environment for food. An algorithm inspired by its growth patterns enabled astronomers to see the structure of the cosmic web that connects all galaxies. (Image credit: Frankenstoen/ CC BY

"Starting with 450,000 dark matter halos, we can get an almost perfect fit to the density fields in the cosmological simulation," Oskar Elek, co-author of the study and postdoctoral researcher in computational media at UC Santa Cruz, said in the statement.

The researchers also used data from the Hubble Space Telescope's Cosmic Origins Spectrograph, which is used to study objects that absorb or emit light. Intergalactic gas leaves a distinctive absorption signature in the spectrum of light that passes through it, according to the statement.

Thus, the Hubble data revealed gas signatures in the space between galaxies. The gas signatures were stronger toward the middle of filaments, where dense accumulations of matter form new galaxies, according to the statement.

A reconstruction of the filaments of the cosmic web that connect galaxies in the universe. Using data from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey and Hubble Space Telescope, researchers applied an algorithm used to simulate the growth patterns of a slime mold on Earth to better model the structure of the universe's cosmic web. (Image credit: Burchett et al., ApJL, 2020)

"For the first time now, we can quantify the density of the intergalactic medium from the remote outskirts of cosmic web filaments to the hot, dense interiors of galaxy clusters," Burchett said in the statement. "These results not only confirm the structure of the cosmic web predicted by cosmological models, they also give us a way to improve our understanding of galaxy evolution by connecting it with the gas reservoirs out of which galaxies form."

Therefore, the new slime mold-based algorithm allows astronomers to visualize the cosmic web on a larger scale. Their findings were published March 10 in the Astrophysical Journal Letters.

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[March 11, 2020] Clear Channel Airports to Transform Advertising Programs for Signature Flight Support's Network of Private Aviation Terminals

NEW YORK, March 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Clear Channel Airports (CCA), the Americas-based airports business of Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CCO), announced today that through a five-year competitive contract renewal with Signature Flight Support, the world's largest network of Fixed Based Operations (FBOs), it will transform the media and marketing approach for over 140 private aviation terminals throughout North America and the Caribbean. As the exclusive advertising partner to Signature Flight Support, CCA's new media programs will provide leading global brand partners with exclusive foundation sponsorships and experiential advertising opportunities across the country's private air facilities. Signature Flight Support's new advertising program will include new custom digital networks of LCD and LED screens across the top 20-25 private aviation terminals around the country. Increased experiential and select exclusive foundation partner opportunities will be available to many of the high-end brands that have consistently advertised across these private aviation terminals. Following in the footsteps of Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC)'s exclusive foundation sponsorship advertising program, which CCA announced last fall, the new advertising program for Signature Flight Support represents an industry pivot in transacting airport media from a screen-by-screen basis to complete terminal takeovers. "We are excited to extend our partnership with Signature Flight Support. Their network of FBOs presents the world's leading brands and products with the absolutely unique ability to interact with the world's highest net worth individuals, partners and families as well as in many cases their staff representatives," said Morten Gotterup, President, Clear Channel Airports. "We will be working very closely with the Signature Flight Support team to create truly innovative and unforgettable advertising and sponsorship opportunities from new experiential activations to exclusive brand partnerships. Our partnership is poised to create some groundbreaking initiatives in the private airport advertising sector." "Signature Flight Support is thrilled to build upon our long-standing partnership with Clear Channel. Together, we are focused on maximizing the opportunities that only our unparalleled network can deliver to the world's leading brands," said Shawn Hall, Chief Commercial Officer, Signature Flight Support. "We're excited to bring to life nw and innovative approaches to advertising in our FBOs, along with exclusive experiences and surprise and delight moments that engage and excite our customers. We look forward to collaborating with likeminded brands and partnering with them to deliver compelling, multi-year campaigns and activations."



Today's news comes on the heels of Clear Channel Airports experiencing a year of innovations and industry firsts. Last fall, CCA introduced the nation's first all-digital airport, Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC). And for the first time, Clear Channel Outdoor's (CCO) RADAR has been made available to SJC advertisers, which allows brands to leverage anonymous, aggregated mobile location data to understand consumer mobility, behavior and campaign outcomes  bringing digital to the physical world. Another first also included Uber's directional signage campaign at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA-TAC). This unique OOH ad campaign was designed to help arriving passengers quickly and easily locate their rideshares. Information on Signature Aviation plc

Signature Aviation plc is a market leading, global aviation support services provider, primarily focused on servicing the Business and General Aviation (B&GA) market. We support our customers through our principal business Signature, and Global Engine Services/Engine Repair and Overhaul (ERO) which is currently held for sale.

Signature, including Signature FBO, TECHNICAirTM and EPIC Fuels, provides premium, full-service flight and home base support including refuelling, ground handling and MRO services through the world's largest fixed base operation (FBO) network for B&GA users with around 195 locations covering key destinations in North America, Europe, South America, Caribbean, Africa and Asia. EPIC Fuels is a provider of aviation fuels, supplies and services operating at around 175 branded FBO locations. Signature Aviation plc changed its name from BBA Aviation plc in November 2019.

For more information, please visit www.signatureaviation.com About Clear Channel Airports

Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CCO) is one of the world's largest outdoor advertising companies with a diverse portfolio of approximately 460,000 print and digital displays in 32 countries across Asia, Europe, Latin America and North America, reaching millions of people monthly. A growing digital platform includes more than 15,000 digital displays in international markets and more than 1,700 digital displays (excluding airports), including more than 1,400 digital billboards, in the U.S. More information can be found on Clear Channel Airports and Clear Channel Outdoor by visiting www.clearchannelairports.com and www.clearchanneloutdoor.com Follow & Like: LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook Read our award-winning blog: http://blog.clearchanneloutdoor.com/ View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/clear-channel-airports-to-transform-advertising-programs-for-signature-flight-supports-network-of-private-aviation-terminals-301021575.html SOURCE Clear Channel Airports

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WASHIGNTON  At least three people were killed, including two U.S. service members, in a rocket attack in Iraq, a U.S. official said Wednesday.

The official said 10 people were injured. Several other U.S. officials confirmed that U.S. troops had been killed and injured, but did not provide numbers. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to give details of the attack ahead of the public announcement.

Army Col. Myles Caggins, a U.S. military spokesman in Iraq, said on Twitter that more than 15 small rockets hit Iraqs Camp Taji base. He provided no details.

Camp Taji, located just north of Baghdad, has been used as a training base for a number of years. There are as many as 6,000 U.S. troops in Iraq, training and advising Iraqi forces and conducting counter-terror missions.

Officials did not say what group they believe launched the rocket attack, but Kataib Hezbollah or another Iranian-backed Shiite militia group is likely.

Kataib Hezbollah was responsible for a late December rocket attack on a military base in Kirkuk that killed a U.S. contractor, prompting American military strikes in response.

That in turn led to protests at the U.S. embassy in Baghdad. They were followed January 3 by a U.S. air strike that killed Irans most powerful military officer, Gen. Qassem Soleimani, and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, a leader of the Iran-backed militias in Iraq, of which Kataib Hezbollah is a member.

Kataib Hezbollah been designated a foreign terrorist organization by the State Department since 2009.

On Sunday, two other U.S. service members were killed in Iraq in a firefight with Islamic State militants in the northern Iraqi district of Makhmur. They were there to accompany and advise Iraqi security forces.

Lolita C. Baldor is an Associated Press writer.
President Trumps top science adviser asked a group of national security and public health experts on Wednesday to stand at the ready to respond to urgent inquiries from the U.S. government and to contribute to the scientific bulwark that will protect Americans from the dangers of the spread of the coronavirus.

Kelvin Droegemeier, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) since January 2019, said Trump is regularly attending meetings of Vice President Mike Pences coronavirus task force, which has convened in recent weeks for at least two hours every afternoon. Trump visits the task force frequently, Droegemeier told members of the rapidly assembled Standing Committee on Emerging Infectious Diseases and 21st Century Health Threats.

The meeting came hours after the World Health Organization officially labeled the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic based upon the alarming levels of spread and severity, and by the alarming levels of inaction, according to its director-general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

The White House and the Department of Health and Human Services requested in late February that the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine  which responds to the nations top scientific inquiries and was first chartered by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863  bring together a team of top experts to not only respond to the immediate crisis at hand but also develop ways to anticipate, mitigate and prevent future threats posed by infectious diseases.

There is so much about whats happening now that is gripping the nation and the world with so much concern, fear for the unknown, said Marcia McNutt, president of the National Academy of Sciences, who called in remotely to Wednesdays meeting. This is truly an all-hands-on-deck effort.

Kelvin Droegemeier, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. (Bill Ingalls/NASA)

As a meteorologist, I know what it means to move with lightning speed, joked Droegemeier, who quickly pivoted to discussing what the White House is doing to respond, including its frequent communications with the World Health Organization.

Story continues

Droegemeier, who helped rejuvenate a White House science office left empty for the first 19 months of Trumps presidency, said his office has been engaging with science and health ministers around the world, including the five eyes countries, referring to the high-level intelligence-sharing relationship between the U.S., the U.K., Canada, New Zealand and Australia. The OSTP has been working with the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Energy. The White House chief technology officer, Michael Kratsios, also convened a panel of technology company representatives on Wednesday to ask how they might better share information as well as combat misinformation.

Critics of the White Houses ongoing strategy to combat the spread of coronavirus have suggested that the infrastructure and expertise within the White House on science and public health has been torn apart, including by the elimination of a team within the National Security Council devoted to responding to biological threats such as the Ebola and Zika viruses.

The White Houses failure to fill many scientific jobs in its early months led many experts to fear that a crisis like the one currently facing the United States would derail the White House and put American citizens in danger. Trumps comments about how the coronavirus is no worse than the flu, contradicting some of his top health officials, as well as the lack of quick implementation or recommendations surrounding non-pharmaceutical remedies like social distancing, cancellation of events and limiting travel, have created a vacuum of high-level strategy and additional confusion.

And while Droegemeier is head of the White Houses science and technology policy shop, he was not formally appointed as the White House science adviser, a separate role that past presidents including Barack Obama have taken to bestowing on the head of the OSTP. The White House science adviser has more direct access to the president, including the ability to send memos and other advice rather than through intermediaries.

World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. (Fabrice Coffrini/AFP via Getty Images)

However, the experts on the panel noted that the problems in responding to the pandemic are not limited to White House leadership.

One reason for the lack of access to testing kits, according to multiple experts, is that while the scientific community has access to new advanced diagnostics like CRISPR technology, the cost for companies to create and seek FDA approval on diagnostic technology versus therapeutic solutions is about equal, while the return on investment on selling diagnostic solutions is much lower.

Tarah OToole, an executive vice president of In-Q-Tel, the CIAs investment firm, noted that we are in a technological renaissance when it comes to diagnostics but find ourselves without the technology in a crisis due to this major market failure of the low incentives for companies to invest heavily in these technologies. OToole, the former undersecretary of science and technology at the Department of Homeland Security, suggested that officials develop a road map to get the diagnostics we want now and in the future, including developing at-home tests similar to pregnancy tests.

Another important issue raised by the committee is that even if the government provides advice or mandates on social distancing or work-from-home policies, a one-size-fits-all solution could disproportionately hurt marginalized communities that may have difficulty complying. Barriers to compliance, including inability to stay home, said Richard Besser, a doctor and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, should help inform policy around wage support, child care, school lunches, immigrant access to health care and other issues that lawmakers will have to consider while providing emergency funds during the crisis.

Even if we understand the virus fully and have a very good idea of what people should do, the most marginalized communities  are going to be hit hardest because of their inability to comply with what the science says should be done, said Besser.

A laboratory technician prepares COVID-19 patient samples for testing, Lake Success, N.Y. (John Minchillo/AP)

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New Delhi, March 12 : In an unprecedented lockdown for Covid-19, India on Wednesday notified cancellation of all non-official visas to curb incoming traffic and advised against all non-essential travel abroad which also curbs outgoing travel.

The Bureau of Immigration under the Home Ministry notified the new norms hours after a high powered Group of Ministers finalised sweeping travel restrictions in the wake of growing cases of Covid-19.

The wide ranging lockdown which seeks to control entry and exit of people in the country is an unprecedented step which suggests that drastic measures are being deployed amid a possible escalation in the spread of Covid-19 cases across many states.

Most of the cases being found bear the footprint of a travel history abroad to countries affected by Covid-19.

The restrictions come on a day when the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared coronavirus as a pandemic. It has already spread to over a 100 countries, many of which are seeing travel restrictions. Italy, for instance is under complete lockdown.

The new norms for travel will have serious repercussions for the economy, aviation, travel, hospitality, consumer sentiment, exports and services sectors among other sectors and business is likely to take a back seat as precautions take centre-stage.

In another drastic measure, the Indian government has decided that all states should be advised to invoke provisions of Section 2 of Epidemic Disease Act, 1897 which was enacted in the British era to enforce all advisories.

All States/UTs should be advised by Union Health Ministry to invoke provisions of Section 2 of Epidemic Disease Act, 1897 so that all advisories being issued from time to time by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare/State/UTs are enforceable.

Section 2 of the 1897 Act gives the power to take special measures and prescribe regulations as to dangerous epidemic disease.

Stepping up the border control measures as Covid 19 cases are going up, India on Wednesday cancelled all visas except few official categories till April 15. Even outgoing travel is being cautioned against and a minimum of 14 days quarantine will be subjected.

An official statement said that all existing visas, except diplomatic, official, UN/International Organizations, employment, project visas, stand suspended till April 15. This will come into effect from 1200 GMT on March 13 at the port of departure.

The visa free travel facility granted to OCI card holders is kept in abeyance till April 15. Any foreign national who intends to travel to India for compelling reason may contact the nearest Indian Mission. This would essentially curb the inflow of foreign nationals in the country with visa controls.

All incoming travellers, including Indian nationals, arriving from or having visited China, Italy, Iran, South Korea, France, Spain and Germany after February 15 will be quarantined for a minimum period of 14 days. All these measures are applicable from March 13.

Incoming travellers, including Indian nationals, are advised to avoid non-essential travel and are informed that they can be quarantined for a minimum of 14 days on their arrival in India.

Indian nationals are strongly advised to avoid all non-essential travel abroad. On their return, they can be subjected to quarantine for a minimum of 14 days.

International traffic through land borders will be restricted to designated check posts with robust screening facilities. These will be notified separately by Ministry of Home Affairs.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
ST. GABRIEL  Pat Hayden moved to the Spanish Lakes neighborhood off La. 30 nine years ago to escape the big city and be closer to her son and grandchildren then living nearby.

A retiree who serves on the board of the neighborhood homeowners association, Hayden, 65, lives in the 150-home subdivision and has been among a cadre of people trying to spread the word about a 440-acre warehouse and rail project proposed a few miles away along the Mississippi River.

Hayden and other residents who have moved to the new homes sprouting in St. Gabriel and in southwestern East Baton Rouge and eastern Iberville parishes say the project flies in the face of the city's intentions during incorporation in 1990s to prevent further industrialization outside designated areas.

"We don't want it here," Hayden said.

Known as Railport, the project would mix more than 2 million-square-feet of warehouse space with a rail yard on agricultural land between La. 30 and River Road. The series of parallel tracks could hold more than 2,800 rail cars at a time once both phases are built and would tie into the nearby Canadian National Railway line.

Backers say as many as 1,650 of the rail cars would hold plastic pellets produced in the region's chemical plants, but none of the cars or proposed warehouses would hold hazardous materials or require smokestacks. The combination of rail operations and future warehousing would create as many as 120 jobs of a variety of skill levels. Sites are being offered for purchase or lease.

+4 St. Gabriel residents keeping up their fight against chemical plant, industrial expansions ST. GABRIEL  Over the years, this small Iberville Parish city flourished in the vast shadows of the numerous petrochemical and industrial pla

Chris Senegal, a business consultant working for Rail Logix, the Houston-based rail operator behind the project, said the river corridor between Baton Rouge and New Orleans has a need for this type of facility where plants can hold their empty rail cars and stockpiles of pellets.

"We do have some customers that, once it gets approved, are ready to commit to contracts for rail car storage," he said.

He declined to identify them. The venture was still working on warehouse customers.

Backers of the project are offering the town a $250,000 grant for a community enhancement project, promising to hire locally and say just the rail facility alone would add $100,000 per year in tax revenue.

Railport's backers expect the total investment would be nearly $87 million over both phases.

The three-term mayor of St. Gabriel, Lionel Johnson Jr., said that after hearing from those for and against the project, he can find no "immediate issues" and will support it.

"Personally, I don't like the loss of farm acreage, but I realize even if the land is developed residentially, that same acreage would be lost," he said.

The five-member city Planning and Zoning Commission, all of whose members Johnson appoints, is expected to consider at 6 p.m. Wednesday whether to recommend a rezoning request and setback variances for the project that would set the stage for a final City Council vote on March 19.

While some tank farms are nearby, the site is part of a 3,000-acre, family-owned tract zoned entirely for residential development at the base of a lightly developed bend in the river known as Plaquemine Point. The landowners of the mother tract had previously sought to rezone it entirely to heavy industry in 2015.

This time, the same landowners are seeking to rezone only the 440-acre piece devoted to Railport from residential to light industry.

Hayden and others fear, if this switch is granted, it would open the door to further rezonings of the remaining tract and elsewhere.

Marcia Hardy, who was part of the original incorporation drive in the 1990s, said the push started because the area had no zoning at the time and residents had to fight with state regulators over a proposed industrial facility. Amid that successful opposition effort, residents wanted to have a say in the future.

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The opposition to Railport "is not anti-industry," Hardy said. "We have huge amounts of land, inside St. Gabriel, that is zoned industrial and has access to the rail line. This thing is not anti-industry. This thing is about changing land that is zoned residential to industrial and then changing the setbacks that we have in order to protect our citizens from encroachment. That's what this is about."

Senegal said the rail yard would operate only in the day time and run cars at slow speeds to avoid banging noises. He added that neighborhoods have happily coexisted with another Rail Logix operation in Texas.

Hardy scoffed at that idea.

"Well, I've got a bridge I can sell you, too. I mean, really," she said.

Johnson, the mayor, disputed idea that the proposed rezoning would conflict with the original intentions of incorporation, saying the zoning ordinance was written restrictively to spark the public dialogue about new projects, whether industrial or residential. That's what's happening with Railport, he said.

Johnson added he also remains opposed to new industrial plants in St. Gabriel, but Railport is not that kind of project.

"All I can say is, you know, if there is a next time, they have to come have the same conversation," he said. "I mean just because one is passed does not guarantee that another one will be passed."

Johnson also said that residents living closest to the project support Railport. However, a small sampling of interviews Monday with people in that area, as well as in neighborhoods inside and outside St. Gabriel, indicated several had heard little of the project.

Not everyone was opposed to the idea but seemed to weigh the impact of Railport versus the impact of more housing on drainage and traffic on congested La. 30 and other two-lane roads.

Lori Stoeckle, 44, a real estate agent who lives with her husband and three sons in University Club Plantation right over the East Baton Rouge Parish line, said a light industrial project might generate less traffic than more homes.

"We've got too much construction," she said.

Brian Bordelon, who represents the family that owns the property where Railport would be built, made a similar point to the Planning and Zoning Commission last month when the project was brought up for an initial review.

According to an audio recording, he noted the 3,000-acre tract's residential zoning allows four homes per acre, which would translate into 12,000 new homes and about 31,200 new people in a city of 7,500. The 440-acre section where Railport would be built could add 1,800 new homes. He argued the rail yard would have less traffic impact.

Railport would not have direct access across the Canadian National line to La. 30.

To reach the highway, trucks would have two routes, the project's plans say: River Road to La. 327 to La. 30 near L'Auberge Casino; or River Road to La. 74 to La. 30. Trucks would be barred from using residential Bayou Paul Lane to reach La. 30.

Depending on the time of day, the project is still expected to add between 163 and 190 new daily trips from workers' vehicles and from delivery trucks at peak periods.

Marie Dorsey, 62, a security guard for a plant outside Iberville Parish, lives just downriver of the proposed rail complex. She said she is skeptical of Railport's job promises based on what's happened for local residents when other industries have come into the area.

She also said she believes the trucks would worsen traffic on La. 30 and even farther upriver in Baton Rouge as truckers try to reach Interstate 10.

Dorsey also questioned how the project would fit with future traffic from any new Mississippi River bridge. Some routes call for a river crossing in the area, dumping that traffic on La. 30, too.

"We'd like to keep things the way they are," she said.
OTTAWA - The federal government is rolling out a $1 billion funding package to help provincial health-care systems cope with the increasing number of new coronavirus cases and to help Canadian workers who are forced to isolate themselves.

The money will help buy masks and other supplies for health-care workers, as well as funding research for a vaccine.

The Liberals are loosening restrictions on employment insurance payments for people who are off work due to illness by waiving the waiting period for benefits.

This would also make it easier for people with more precarious jobs to stay home and avoid infecting others, by quickly getting them money so there isnt a disruption in income.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the government is already preparing to do more if need be to provide the right kind of support to Canadians as the situation progresses.

There are few confirmed instances of community transmission of the virus that causes COVID-19 in Canada, but the number of cases continues to grow.

So far, there have been 94 confirmed cases of the illness in Canada.

Trudeau says Canada has been fortunate so far but the country needs to be prepared for all scenarios.

The illness has sickened more than 100,000 people around the world and led to mass quarantines and restrictions on public gatherings.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 11, 2020
An Australian tech startup is pitching wineries on a new smart bottle cap it says could help identify counterfeit wines.

Called Cellr, the Perth-based company produces plastic caps for wine bottles with both NFC and RFID chips in them.

The chips can be programmed by wineries to contain a unique digital birth certificate for each bottle of wine they produce, and buyers will be able to verify the authenticity by using a smartphone app that crosschecks the certificate against a larger database.

An Australian tech company called Cellr wants to fight back against counterfeit wine with a new smart bottle cap (pictured above) that will transmit a 'digital birth certificate' to a smart phone app to verify the authenticity of a bottle's contents

Cellr is targeting a price of between three and six cents (five to 10 cents AUD) for each cap, and with global wine sales topping $350billion each year, even selling a small percentage of wineries on its technology could lead to big business.

To help the company grow, the Australian governments Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre has invested $97,750 ($150,000 AUD) in their business, according to a report from ABC News.

The solution needs to be embedded in the bottling process and not something that's cosmetic, Cellr co-founder Chris Braine said.

QR codes and stickers on bottles, for example, are  solutions which exist in the market place today and can be copied in the millions.

So we've gone about re-engineering the capsule that gets [the technology] embedded with tamper-proof evidence and a binary state  that means we can have a live state and a dead state within a bottle.

Cellr is targeting a price of between three and six cents per cap, which they're hoping winemakers will be willing to pay to fight counterfeit wines

Cellr was founded by Chris Braine (pictured above) and has just been given $97,750 in funding from the Australian government to develop their business

Sale of counterfeit wine accounts for around 20 percent of the global industry, with an estimated $70billion in revenue lost each year to fakers

Counterfeit wine accounts for around 20 percent of all wine sold each year, taking an estimated $70billion in revenue away from traditional wine makers.

Counterfeiters typically operate by manufacturing fake labels or refilling old bottles from famous brands, while relying on less valuable grapes from regions where theyre easier to grow in bulk.

According to Braine, Cellr has so far been well received by the wine industry in western Australia and is preparing to launch a pilot program later this year.
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A team of scientists using the Low Frequency Array (LOFAR) radio telescope in the Netherlands has observed radio waves that carry the distinct signatures of aurorae, caused by the interaction between a star's magnetic field and a planet in orbit around it.

Radio emission from a star-planet interaction has been long predicted, but this is the first time astronomers have been able to detect and decipher these signals. The discovery paves the way for a novel and unique way to probe the environment around exoplanets--planets that orbit stars in other solar systems--and to determine their habitability.

Notably, follow-up observations with the HARPS-N telescope in Spain ruled out the alternate possibility that the interacting companion is another star as opposed to an exoplanet.

The work appears in articles in Nature Astronomy and Astrophysical Journal Letters (ApJL).

The breakthrough centered on red dwarfs, which are the most abundant type of star in our Milky Way--but much smaller and cooler than our own Sun. This means for a planet to be habitable, it has to be significantly closer to its star than the Earth is to the Sun.

Red dwarfs also have much stronger magnetic fields than the Sun, which means that a habitable planet around a red dwarf is exposed to intense magnetic activity. This can heat the planet and even erode its atmosphere. The radio emissions associated with this process are one of the only tools available to probe the interaction between such planets and their stars.

"The motion of the planet through a red dwarf's strong magnetic field acts like an electric engine much in the same way a bicycle dynamo works," says Harish Vedantham, the lead author of the Nature Astronomy study and a Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON) staff scientist. "This generates a huge current that powers aurorae and radio emission on the star."

Thanks to the Sun's weak magnetic field and the larger distance to the planets, similar currents are not generated in the solar system. However, the interaction of Jupiter's moon Io with Jupiter's magnetic field generates a similarly bright radio emission, even outshining the Sun at sufficiently low frequencies.

"We adapted the knowledge from decades of radio observations of Jupiter to the case of this star," says Joe Callingham, ASTRON postdoctoral fellow and co-author of the Nature Astronomy paper. "A scaled-up version of Jupiter-Io has long been predicted to exist in star-planet systems, and the emission we observed fits the theory very well."

To be sure, the astronomers had to rule out an alternate possibility--that the interacting bodies are two stars in a close binary system instead of a star and its exoplanet. The team searched for the signature of a companion star using the HARPS-N instrument (High Accuracy Radial Velocity Planet Searcher) on the Italian Telescopio Nazionale Galileo on La Palma, Spain.

"Interacting binary stars can also emit radio waves," notes Benjamin Pope, NASA Sagan Fellow at New York University and lead author of the ApJL paper. "Using optical observations to follow up, we searched for evidence of a stellar companion masquerading as an exoplanet in the radio data. We ruled this scenario out very strongly, so we think the most likely possibility is an Earth-sized planet too small to detect with our optical instruments."

The group is now concentrating on finding similar emission from other stars.

"We now know that nearly every red dwarf hosts terrestrial planets, so there must be other stars showing similar emission," observes Callingham, also a co-author of the ApJL paper. "We want to know how this impacts our search for another Earth around another star."

"If we find that most red dwarf planets are blasted by intense stellar winds, this is bad news for their habitability," Pope, part of NYU's Department of Physics and Center for Data Science and a co-author of the Nature Astronomy paper.

The group expects this new method of detecting exoplanets will open up a new way of understanding the habitat of exoplanets.

"The long-term aim is to determine what impact the star's magnetic activity has on an exoplanet's habitability, and radio emissions are a big piece of that puzzle," says Vedantham, also a co-author of the ApJL paper. "Our work has shown that this is viable with the new generation of radio telescopes and put us on an exciting path."

###

Paper information:

"Coherent radio emission from a quiescent red dwarf indicative of star-planet interaction" is published in Nature Astronomy on February 17, 2020: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41550-020-1011-9

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41550-020-1011-9

"No Massive Companion to the Coherent Radio-Emitting M Dwarf GJ 1151" is published in the Astrophysical Journal Letters on February 17, 2020:

DOI: 10.3847/2041-8213/ab5b99

Full citation: Pope et al. 2020, ApJL, 890, L19

URL: https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/2041-8213/ab5b99

Additional Media Contact:

Alice Spruit, ASTRON

spruit@astron.nl

+31 6 111 77 427

Editor's Note:

Founded in 1831, NYU is one of the world's foremost research universities and is a member of the selective Association of American Universities. NYU has degree-granting university campuses in New York, Abu Dhabi, and Shanghai and has 11 other global academic sites, including London, Paris, Florence, Tel Aviv, Buenos Aires, and Accra. Through its numerous schools and colleges, NYU is a leader in conducting research and providing education in the arts and sciences, engineering, law, medicine, business, dentistry, education, nursing, the cinematic and performing arts, music and studio arts, public administration, social work, and professional studies, among other areas. For more, please visit http://www.nyu.edu.

The international LOFAR telescope (ILT) consists of a European network of radio antennas, connected by a high-speed fibre optic network spanning seven countries. LOFAR was designed, built and is now operated by ASTRON (Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy), with its core located in Exloo in the Netherlands. LOFAR works by combining the signals from more than 100,000 individual antenna dipoles, using powerful computers to process the radio signals as if it formed a 'dish' of 1900 kilometres diameter. LOFAR is unparalleled given its sensitivity and ability to image at high resolution (i.e. its ability to make highly detailed images), such that the LOFAR data archive is the largest astronomical data collection in the world and is hosted at SURFsara (The Netherlands), Forschungszentrum Juelich (Germany) and the Poznan Super Computing Center (Poland). LOFAR is a pathfinder of the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), which will be the largest and most sensitive radio telescope in the world. For more, please visit http://www.lofar.org/.
By Rania El Gamal and Dmitry Zhdannikov

DUBAI/LONDON (Reuters) - Top oil exporter Saudi Arabia said on Wednesday it would launch a program to boost production capacity for the first time in more than a decade, signaling to Russia and other rivals it was ready for a long battle over production levels and market share.

Fellow OPEC member, the United Arab Emirates, followed suit by pledging to accelerate its plans to increase capacity.

Oil prices have almost halved since January after the collapse of a pact on cutting supplies at last week's meeting of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, Russia and other producers, a group known as OPEC+.

All production limits were scrapped after Moscow rejected OPEC's call for deeper production curbs, prompting Riyadh and the UAE to say they would both ramp up output to record levels.

But they also promised to expand capacity, pointing to a longer term strategy to win market share from U.S. companies and other producers which increased output when OPEC+ was showing restraint.

"The race for market share is on and you have to bet on the Saudis because they are the ones with most of the spare capacity," said Gary Ross, founder of BlackGold Investors.

Saudi Aramco plans to raise its output capacity to 13 million barrels per day (bpd) from 12 million bpd, said the chief executive of the state-run oil firm, Amin Nasser, adding that Aramco was acting on an order from the Energy Ministry.

"The company is exerting its maximum efforts to implement this directive as soon as possible," he said.

The UAE said it would accelerate plans to raise capacity to 5 million bpd, a target it previously aimed to achieve by 2030. Its capacity was expected to be 4 million bpd by the end of 2020.

However, Riyadh and Abu Dhabi did not give a timeline for their capacity expansion plans, which will require billions of dollars of investment spent over several years to complete.

GLOBAL SHIFT

Saudi Arabia, which sits on the world's second largest oil reserves and with some of the lowest production costs, has long acted as a "swing producer", cutting or raising output to match demand and prop up prices. The role has won Riyadh international influence but sometimes at the cost of losing customers.

Story continues

The global shift to cleaner energy sources is now making a stronger case for shifting away from the role as the oil market's central bank and toward pumping more oil, even at a lower price, to prevent its reserves becoming a stranded asset.

Till now, the kingdom has rarely produced above 10.5 million bpd despite having spare capacity. But on Tuesday it said it would boost supplies in April to 12.3 million bpd, suggesting it would even draw on its inventories.

U.S. oil companies, barred by law from joining any pacts to limit output, are among the first to feel the heat. As oil prices have plummeted, the U.S. firms which have helped the United States become the world's biggest crude producer, have announced plans to slash dividends and cut spending.

"What this move by Saudi does is wake the market up to the fact they have the capacity and can add quickly and that they can move into offense," said Christyan Malek of JP Morgan.

He said this was "a major lesson learned for not just Russia and members in OPEC -- who haven't taken their threat seriously -- but also shale producers and oil majors."

Russia's state oil giant Rosneft has long argued that OPEC+ cuts simply extended a lifeline to U.S. companies.

After the OPEC+ pact fell apart, Moscow said Russian oil companies might boost output by up to 500,000 bpd.

NEW INVESTORS Saudi Arabia's move to boost capacity to 13 million bpd would in theory allow the kingdom to export 9.2 million bpd, or 50% more than it would have if the plan for deeper OPEC+ cuts had been approved, Gary Ross estimated.

Riyadh also has another reason for chasing market share since listing a small stake in Aramco last year: new investors in the company want it to sell more oil.

Shares in Aramco have tumbled with oil prices. They were trading at 29.70 riyals ($7.91) on Wednesday, compared to its December listing price of 32 riyals.

JP Morgan's Malek said that, after the collapse of the OPEC+ deal, Saudi Arabia was "accelerating that path to take share despite not being fiscally ready".

Riyadh needs oil prices of around $80 per barrel to balance its budget.

Last year, Malek predicted Aramco would work on raising capacity to 13.4 million bpd for crude and 15.6 million bpd for liquids by 2025 if the kingdom's budget could tolerate the pain of lower oil prices.

Saudi Arabia previously embarked on a $100 billion push to raise its capacity more than a decade ago amid a price boom fueled by Chinas growth. Since then, Saudi officials have brushed aside questions of new upstream investment.

After adding nearly 4 million bpd to capacity by 2009, Saudi officials and oil executives have talked on and off about a possible hike to 15 million bpd by 2020, although plans were formally dropped several years ago as oil demand growth slowed.

Nevertheless, it launched a $35 billion, five-year exploration and production plan in 2012 to sustain current capacity.

(Reporting by Rania El Gamal; Writing by Dmitry Zdhannikov; Editing by Simon Webb and Edmund Blair)
Tennessee investigators have confirmed that remains found on a property in Blountville are those of 15-month-old Evelyn Mae Boswell.

The toddler was reported missing in February, but hasn't been seen since December. The remains were found last week after authorities searched a property belonging to a family member of Evelyn's mother, Megan Boswell, according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.

The remains were confirmed to be Evelyn, the bureau said Wednesday.

Image: 15-month old Evelyn Mae Boswell, who is missing (TBI)

TBI Special Agent Brian Fraley said at a court hearing on Monday that the body found had on the "exact clothing" the girl's mother said Evelyn was wearing when she went missing.

He also said other clothing, toys and diapers that would have belonged to the toddler were also found on the property.

Boswell, 18, and her mother, Angela Boswell, were both arrested.

Megan Boswell was taken into custody by the Sullivan County Sheriff's Office in February and charged with making false reports after investigators determined that she provided information that was not true.

Image: Megan Boswell (Tennessee Bureau of Investigation / via AP)

"Every time we talk to her, her story changes," Sullivan County Sheriff Jeff Cassidy said last month. "I'm serious when I say that. Every single time."

Court documents obtained by NBC affiliate WCYB of Bristol, Virginia, show that Megan Boswell initially told authorities that Evelyn's father, Ethan Perry, had the baby and she was supposed to meet him at a store in Colonial Heights. Perry did not have the chid, according to the outlet.

Angela Boswell and her boyfriend were taken into custody in February in Wilkes County, North Carolina, after investigators searching for Evelyn put out an alert for information on a gray BMW that had been reported stolen, WCYB reported. The couple was found riding in that BMW.

Neither has been charged in connection with Evelyn's case, but they were charged because of the stolen vehicle, according to the outlet. Angela Boswell and her boyfriend have since been released on bond.

Story continues

Perry and his family released a statement earlier Wednesday via a spokesperson saying they are aware of "various unauthorized fundraising efforts on Evelyns and our familys behalf," but they are fake.

"Our focus has always been Evelyn and now on the investigation and bringing all of those responsible to justice," spokesperson Stephen Pappas said in a statement to NBC News.

"We have complete faith and confidence in law enforcement to do just that. We ask you all again to please respect our privacy," it read.

Perry, who authorities have said is in the military and stationed in Louisiana, thanked the public "for their outpouring of love for Evelyn."
The daughter of actress Milla Jovovich and director Paul W.S Anderson is poised for greater exposure after being cast in a Disney live action remake of Peter Pan.

Ever Anderson, 12, will play Wendy Darling in filmmaker David Lowery's re-imagining of J. M. Barrie's iconic play and subsequent series of children's books, Variety reports.

Alexander Molony, best known for his appearance in Romesh Ranganathan comedy The Reluctant Landlord, will play with eternally youthful Pan - a child who refuses to grow up.

Big role: Ever Anderson, the daughter of actress Milla Jovovich and director Paul W.S Anderson is poised for greater exposure after being cast in a Disney live action remake of Peter Pan

The role will be a huge leap for Ever, whose previously acting credits include playing a younger version of mum Milla's central character in the Resident Evil film franchise.

She will also feature in forthcoming Marvel adventure Black Widow as a pre-adolescent Natasha Romanoff, the character played by Hollywood actress Scarlett Johansson.

After a four year delay and much debate regarding whether the film will be released theatrically or through Disney Plus, work on the new Peter Pan adaptation will finally begin later this year.

Star: Ever's mother has developed a cult following thanks to her recurring role in The Resident Evil film franchise

Old times: She originally found fame after starring in Luc Besson's 1997 smash The Fifth Element

Ever's famous mother found fame after starring alongside Bruce Willis in Luc Besson's 1997 smash The Fifth Element before developing a cult following through the long-running Resident Evil series.

She married British director Anderson, her third husband, in 2009 after meeting the British director on set seven years earlier.

The couple have three daughters - oldest child Ever, Dashiel, three, and Osian, who was born in February.

Main man: Alexander Molony best known for his appearance in Romesh Ranganathan comedy The Reluctant Landlord, will play with eternally youthful Peter Pan n the new adaptation

Happy family: Milla and husband Paul have three children, Ever, Dashiel, three, and Osian, who was born in February

Sweet words: Milla shared the news of Osian's birth after Ever originally told Instagram followers without her permission

Ever confirmed her baby sister's birth in an Instagram post shared without her parent's consent, writing: 'Welcoming Baby! Welcome to the world my new sister Osian (pronounced O-shun like the body of water)! We love you!!!'

Responding to the post, Milla wrote: 'Hey Everyone!!! So without my knowledge @evergaboanderson spilled the beans on the new baby yesterday which makes this old news but...

'Yesterday 02/02/2020 at 8:56am Osian Lark Elliot Jovovich-Anderson was born! Osian is a welsh boys name and its pronounced O-shin,' explained the Two Moon Junction star.

'Now I know the name is long, but the family couldnt agree on her middle name. Ever and my mom wanted Lark, @dashielanderson and I wanted Elliot.

'Then my husband Paul chimes in with another vote for Lark, so Smushy and I were out numbered! At least she has many to choose from later in life if she wants to drop a few.'
Coronavirus-related panic buying is hitting the UKs food banks, which are running low on basic supplies and have seen a fall in donations.

Staples such as long-life milk, cereal and pasta are getting increasingly difficult to purchase, according to the Independent Food Aid Network (IFAN) coordinator, Sabine Goodwin.

Other food banks have seen donations fall and are anticipating this to continue as the coronavirus outbreak progresses.

Ms Goodwin said some of its 232 members have had to ration their food parcel contents in order to compensate for the lack of donations and called for the UK government to take responsibility for worsening poverty.

Emergency food aid providers cannot keep picking up the pieces and supporting more and more people let down by a broken benefits system and insufficient wages, she said.

Hungry Britain: welfare cuts leave more than 500,000 people forced to use food banks, warns Oxfam Show all 2 1 /2 Hungry Britain: welfare cuts leave more than 500,000 people forced to use food banks, warns Oxfam Hungry Britain: welfare cuts leave more than 500,000 people forced to use food banks, warns Oxfam web-foodbanks-1-getty.jpg Almost 350,000 people are believed to have received at least three days emergency food last year Getty Images Hungry Britain: welfare cuts leave more than 500,000 people forced to use food banks, warns Oxfam web-foodbanks-2-getty.jpg A volunteer at a Trussell Trust food bank sorts donations to the charity in Salisbury, Wiltshire Getty Images

The need for charitable food aid is already increasing regardless of the spread of coronavirus. Over 830 independent food banks in the UK usually operate fragile systems dependent on goodwill and generosity both in terms of food supply and staffing.

If donations dwindle or if volunteers are unwell, food banks may be unable to help adults and children going hungry.

She added: The spread of coronavirus can only deepen Britains food insecurity crisis and its the millions of people living on low or no incomes who will inevitably suffer the most.

The Sufra food bank in Stonebridge, north-west London, usually provides people in need with the equivalent of 9,500 food parcels a year but is fast running out of basics such as toilet roll, pasta and long-life milk.

Director Rajesh Makwana said: All indications are that this will be a prolonged crisis, over a period of weeks/months so we need to make sure we can support people through that.

We are desperately trying to source food and toiletries, but in the meantime the only way we can guarantee that people have access to the essentials they need is by rationing what we provide.

So we are reducing our food parcels by about a third at least in order to make sure that weve got enough to see us through this crisis.

Mr Makwana added the food bank has seen a massive increase in demand this year. In a statement on Tuesday, he confirmed the food bank will shift to a delivery model for majority of its users and its Community Kitchen is now operating on a take-away basis.

But this is just the tip of the iceberg, he warned. All the indications are that the UK is on the precipice of a recession, which will mean that financial donations to the charity will also start drying up while demand for food aid rises.

Add to this the impact of austerity and universal credit and you can see why this really is the perfect storm.

Economists warned recently the outbreak of coronavirus could push Europe into a recession as businesses and consumer confidence takes a major hit.

Global markets plunged earlier this week after oil prices dropped by almost a third for the first time in decades, wiping billions off companies.
The number of confirmed cases of novel coronavirus in the country has risen to 52, with two fresh positive cases -- one each from Delhi and Rajasthan -- being reported, the health ministry said on Wednesday.

Giving details of the breakup, the ministry said five positive cases have been reported in Delhi, while nine persons were diagnosed with the infection in Uttar Pradesh till Wednesday morning. The total number of 52 confirmed cases includes 16 Italians, the ministry said.

Karnataka and Maharashtra have reported four and two confirmed cases of COVID-19 respectively. Ladakh has recorded two positive cases.

Rajasthan, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab have reported one case each, the ministry said.

Kerala has till now reported nine cases which includes the three patients who were discharged last month following recovery.

Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, who spoke to a few COVID-19 patients admitted at Medanta and Safdarjung hospitals through video calls on Tuesday, said all the people infected by the disease were stable and showing signs of recovery.

According to the protocol currently followed, a suspected case is tested at least twice before it is confirmed as 'positive'.

Amid rising cases of the COVID-19 pandemic globally, India on Tuesday barred entry of the nationals of three more countries -- France, Germany and Spain -- suspending the regular as well as e-visas granted to them till date.

"All regular (sticker) Visas/e-Visas granted to nationals of France, Germany and Spain and issued on or before March 11 and who have not yet entered India stand suspended with immediate effect," said a Bureau of Immigration notification issued late Tuesday night.

Regular visas, including e-visas, granted to all foreign nationals who have travel history to these countries on or after February 1 and who have not yet entered India also stand suspended, it said.

Issuing a travel advisory, the health ministry also called for passengers with travel history to China, Hong Kong, Republic of Korea, Japan, Italy, Thailand, Singapore, Iran, Malaysia, France, Spain and Germany to undergo self-imposed quarantine for a period of 14 days from the date of their arrival, and their employers to facilitate work-from-home for such employees during this period.

India had already suspended visas granted to the nationals of Italy, Iran, South Korea, Japan and China.

The Union Health Ministry has strongly urged people to refrain from travelling to China, Italy, Iran, Republic of Korea, Japan, France, Spain and Germany and advised them to avoid non-essential travel abroad in view of the coronavirus outbreak.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Fancy becoming a chum of Meghan's best friend Jessica Mulroney?

The 39-year-old fashion stylist is offering female entrepreneurs the chance to have dinner with her next month.

She says: 'Starting a business is hard, but one connection can completely change your course. I will be taking ten women out for dinner in April.

'We can chat all things business and I can connect you with my world.'

Jessica is based in Canada and has helped looked after baby Archie when his parents, Prince Harry and Meghan, are in Britain.

Fancy becoming a chum of Meghan's best friend Jessica Mulroney? The 39-year-old fashion stylist is offering female entrepreneurs the chance to have dinner with her next month

Jessica says: 'Starting a business is hard, but one connection can completely change your course. I will be taking ten women out for dinner in April. We can chat all things business and I can connect you with my world.' (Above, with Meghan in Toronto in 2016)

Jessica is based in Canada and has helped looked after baby Archie when his parents, Prince Harry and Meghan, are in Britain

Radio host Zoe Ball's son Woody openly discussed his bisexuality when he launched his modelling career last year.

Now the 19-year-old, who is on his gap year in New Zealand with friends, reveals he has fallen for his former Brighton, Hove & Sussex sixth form college classmate, Amber Young, 19.

Woody, whose father is DJ Norman Cook  aka Fatboy Slim  said of his bisexuality: 'Some people assume it's an in-between before you are gay. But really, it's a thing on its own.'

Model Iris has a new skill in the bag

Another lucky break for Jude Law's model daughter Iris, who became the face of Burberry Beauty before she'd finished school.

Now, keen to try her hand at design, the 19-year-old has created a handbag range for leading fashion brand, Mulberry.

The mannequin, who launched the Iris For Iris collection this week in London, started working on the project with the label's creative director, Johnny Coca, after spending time with him and his team in Tokyo last summer.

Another lucky break for Jude Law's model daughter Iris, who became the face of Burberry Beauty before she'd finished school. Now, keen to try her hand at design, the 19-year-old has created a handbag range for leading fashion brand, Mulberry

'The opportunity to learn first-hand from their design team and craftspeople has been incredible,' says Iris, whose mother is actress Sadie Frost.

'I am so proud to share the result.'

The bags, which range from 995 to 1,395, are suitable for the woke generation as, she adds, they are 'dyed using water-soluble dyes with recyclable cartridges and made in a UK-based carbon-neutral factory'.

Perennial panto dame Christopher Biggins says he wants to leave London. 'I am thinking of moving to Sandgate in Kent,' he tells me.

'We want to be right on the sea. A great friend of mine just moved to Whistable.

'I am moving because I am fed up with London, it is depressing. If I see another cycle lane I will commit hara-kiri.'

Perennial panto dame Christopher Biggins says he wants to leave London. 'I am thinking of moving to Sandgate in Kent,' he tells me

Instagram sucked the life out of me, says Bond girl

Former Bond girl Gemma Arterton says she is far more productive since renouncing social media.

'I'm not on Instagram any more because I was finding myself on it too much,' she says. 'And since I've come off it I find I'm much more productive, I don't get sucked in by it any more and have more time to do other things.'

Arterton, 34, gave up social media because the online abuse she received affected her self-confidence. She says she is now contemplating treading the boards.

'I'm always being tempted by theatre but the right thing hasn't come along yet,' she told me at last night's opening night for Sebastian Barry's new play On Blueberry Hill at Trafalgar Studios.

'I love it but because it takes so much of your time and life, you've got to love the play you're in.'
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Mar. 11

Trend:

France supports continuing of negotiations on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, French Ambassador to Azerbaijan Zacharie Gross said, commenting on the latest tension at Armenian-Azerbaijani border, Trend reports on March 11.

France hopes that in 2020 these negotiations will successfully continue and no escalation between Armenia and Azerbaijan take place, he noted.

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.
A white female giraffe, thought to the last of its kind in the world, has been killed by poachers, conservationists in Kenya have announced.

The mother her and calf were found in a "skeletal state", and were thought to have died at least four months ago, Ishaqbini Hirola Conservancy said in a statement.

The statement added the animals had been killed by armed poachers.

The rare giraffes had been living at the Kenyan wildlife sanctuary. The Kenya Wildlife Service was called to investigate the disappearance after the animals had been seen for several weeks.

This is a very sad day for the community of Ijara and Kenya as a whole. We are the only community in the world who are custodians of the white giraffes, Mohammed Ahmednoor, manager of the reserve in Garissa County, Kenya, said in a press release.

World's most endangered animals Show all 17 1 /17 World's most endangered animals World's most endangered animals Amur Leopard Endemic to the far east of Russia, the Amur Leopard has a population of around 84 and is critically endangered. Here follows every species that the WWF lists as critically endangered. Getty World's most endangered animals Sumatran Elephant The Sumatran elephant population now stands at only 2400-2800 Getty World's most endangered animals Yangtze Finless Porpoise Endemic to China's Yangtze River, the Yangtze finless porpoise has an estimated population of 1000-1800 Kenichi Nobusue World's most endangered animals South China Tiger When discovered in the 1950s, the South China tiger population was estimated to be 4000, by 1996 it was estimated to be only 30-80. Scientists consider the tiger to be "functionally extinct" as one has not been sighted for over 25 years World's most endangered animals Sumatran Orangutan The Sumatran orangutan was once found across the island of Sumatra and even further south on Java. Today it is found only in the island's north and its population stands at 14,613 Getty World's most endangered animals Western Lowland Gorilla Though it is the most populous of all gorilla subspecies, the western lowland gorilla is still critically endangered and its population has declined by 60% in the last quarter century Getty World's most endangered animals Sumatran Rhinoceros The Sumatran rhinoceros is the smallest of the surviving rhinoceros species. Only 80 are known to be living today. The last male Sumatran rhino in Malaysia died on 28 May 2019 Willem V Strien World's most endangered animals Sumatran Tiger There are fewer than 400 Sumatran tigers left today. They are severely threatened by deforestation and poaching Getty World's most endangered animals Eastern Lowland Gorilla Half of the rainforest of the Democratic Republic of Congo in which these gorillas live has been destroyed the past 50 years. There were 17,000 Eastern Lowland gorillas in the 1990s but scientists estimate their population has declined by over 50% since then Getty World's most endangered animals Vaquita The world's rarest marine animal has a population of only 30. They were discovered in 1958 and are endemic to Mexico's Gulf of California Paula Olson / NOAA World's most endangered animals Javan Rhino The most threatened of all rhino species, there are only an estimated 58-68 Javan rhinos left Reuters World's most endangered animals Saola The saola was first sighted in 1992, being the first large mammal to be discovered in over 50 years. Scientists have only sighted saola in the wild four times and it is considered critically endangered World's most endangered animals Malayan Tiger The Malayan Tiger population now stands at only 250-300 Getty World's most endangered animals Hawksbill Turtle The population of the Hawksbill Turtle has declined by more than 80% in the last century. They are threatened by black market poachers who kill them for their shell Getty World's most endangered animals Black Rhino The population of the black rhino dropped by 98% in the years 1960-1995 due to poaching, it stands today at around 5000 Getty World's most endangered animals Cross River Gorilla The population of the Cross River gorilla has been damaged by deforestation and poaching, it now stands at 200-300 Julie Langford World's most endangered animals Bornean Orangutan The population of the Bornean orangutan has been reduced by over 50% in the past 60 years, now standing at around 104,700. Their habitat has been reduced by at least 50% in the 21st century Getty

Mr Ahmednoor described the killing of the giraffes as a blow to tremendous steps taken by the community to conserve rare and unique species and a wake-up call for continued support to conservation efforts.

After the killing of the mother and calf, only one white giraffe, a lone bull, remains.

The unique animals inherited their bright white coat from a condition known as leucism that inhibits pigmentation in some skin cells.

The condition is different from albinism which prevents any melanin from being produced in cells at all.

The white giraffes were first seen in Kenya in March 2016, but the family made headlines in 2017 after their distinctive hide was photographed.

40 percent of the giraffe population has been lost in just 30 years, with poaching and wildlife trafficking are contributing to this decline, according to the Africa Wildlife Foundation.

The Kenya Wildlife Society, the main conservation body in the East African state, said it was investigating the killings.




Haiti - News : Zapping...





A mysterious armed group "Fantome 509"

On Monday, a mysterious group of armed individuals wearing hoods and police clothing accompanied by an armed civilian who described themselves as the "Fantome 509" group sowed panic outside the private residence of the new Prime Minister Joseph Jouthe. These individuals in search of the Prime Minister fired shots in the air, erected a barricade of flaming tires in front of Jouthes residence and vandalized official vehicles, smashing windshields and puncturing tires.



The General Directorate of PNH moves to Tabarre

The offices of the General Directorate of the National Police of Haiti (PNH) are being moved and leave Petion-ville to relocate in the former UN Headquarters, near the DCPJ in the commune of Tabarre, a confirmed Commissioner Michel-Ange Louis Jeune, Spokesperson for the PNH.



Gonaives : 7 robbers arrested

7 individuals, including a woman, were arrested by Gonaives police during an operation in Trou-Couleuvre. These individuals, who specialized in armed robbery of bank branches and transfer houses and in counterfeit money, were intercepted with large caliber weapons and ammunition, confirmed Dieudonne Francois, Spokesperson for the artibonite police.



PoliFront : Intelligence training

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) organized intelligence training at the National Police Academy. A total of 80 PNH officers benefited from this training, led by Cy Winter, IOM Regional Specialist on border management in the Americas. This action, funded by the Embassy of the United States and World Affairs Canada, is part of the project "Support and strengthen the Haitian Land Border Police (PoliFront)".



Minister's Tour of the American Ambassador

American Ambassador Michele Sison met with Michel Patrick Boisvert the new Minister of Economy and Finance around the economic ties between the United States and Haiti, the path to sustainable and inclusive economic growth in Haiti, a policy sound budget and the need to fight corruption. They also discussed the need for greater transparency and efficiency in the mobilization of domestic resources for the benefit of Haitian citizens.



Tuesday Michele Sison was received by Lucmane Delile the new Minister of Justice and Public Security. It was a question for Delile of explaining the priorities of the Ministry and for the Sison Diplomat to reiterate the will of the American Government to work for the strengthening of cooperation with Haiti, among others in the field of justice and security.



Covid-19 Epidemic : Global Report March 11, 2020

As of Wednesday March 11, 2020, the number of people who have been infected with Covid-19 worldwide since the start of the epidemic stands at 119,279 (laboratory-confirmed cases, official source), up 4,735 compared to the day before, https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30233-haiti-news-zapping.html (including 202 cases in China). 65,788 people have been cured of Covid-19 (55.15%) since the start of the epidemic, 1,757 more than the day before. Today, the number of infected people receiving care (active cases) worldwide is 49,204 (+6.02%). Since the start of the epidemic 4,287 people have died from Covid-19 (+ 6.48%) or 261 more than the day before (4.026) for an average fatality rate of 3.59% (+0.8%) compared to the previous day (3.51%).



To date, there are 38,321 confirmed cases outside China (+ 13.42%) or 4,533 cases more than the previous day, in a total of 114 countries (+6 countries compared to the previous day). Note that 6 countries (Italy, South Korea, Iran, France, Spain and Germany) alone account for 30,266 cases (78.9% of all cases outside China).



1,119 deaths outside China have been reported since the start of the epidemic, 165 more than the day before: 631 in Italy, 291 in Iran, 54 in South Korea, 35 in Spain, 33 in France, 9 in Japan, 7 in Iraq, 6 in the United Kingdom, 4 in the Netherlands, 4 in Australia, 3 in Hong Kong, 3 in Switzerland, 1 in Taiwan, 1 in the Philippine, 2 in Saint Martin, 2 in Germany, 1 in Canada, 1 in Thailand, 1 in Argentina, 1 in Egypt, 1 in Morocco, 1 in Panama, 1 in Lebanon and 32 in the USA (1,037 confirmed cases + 37.35% compared to the previous day) B>. Note that Italy, Iran and South Korea account for 87.22% of all deaths outside of China.



HL/ HaitiLibre


















Russ was born on May 19, 1945, son of Richard Lee and Nellie (Gillespie) Vaughn, and grew up in Paris, Illinois. He grew up swimming, fishing, and hunting along the Twin Lakes and in the surrounding woodlands of his beloved home town. He lived an eclectic life full of curiosity, travel and wonder. As a child he was an Eagle Scout and achieved Order of the Arrow. In 1968 he was drafted into the Air Force and became a member of the Strategic Air Command Elite Guard, including civic and military memorial service on the infamous 12-person ceremonial silent drill team, which traveled the country performing at public events and military funerals, including a cameo on the Johnny Carson Show. In 1969 he was stationed in Thailand during the Vietnam War. He returned to complete a Bachelor of Arts at Eastern Illinois University, completed realtor training at Bradley University  Peoria, and later went on to complete professional training at Missouri Auction School. He met and married the love of his life in 1971, his wife of 47 years, Judith Ann Larkin Vaughn. The two went on to live off the coast of Naples, Italy in Formia, for 5 beautiful years. They traveled by motorcycle, boat and train across Europe and Northern Africa in awe of this wide world, side-by-side. When they returned to the United States, they became parents to two beloved daughters, Rachel and Rebecca. Given his enthusiasm for street markets, art, antiques and collectibles, Russ formed his own business, Vaughn Auction House & Appraisals, and traveled the Midwest for 25 + years, auctioneering and lending his chant to countless volunteer fundraisers and events. He went on to establish his second business, Vaughn Victorian Apartments and Houses in 1995. Russ was someone with both roots and wings; roots in his community, especially his beloved church and volunteer community (Coalition for People in Need, We Care and St. Vincent DePaul); and wings that permitted him to travel and explore the world as a young man. He was an avid story-teller, antiquer and art collector; loved geology, spelunking and archaeology, fishing and wild foraging.
Shares is the leading weekly publication for retail investors. It is packed with investment ideas, news and educational material to help build and run portfolios and get more from your money.

Shares puts on free Investor Events throughout the year across the country. They provide an opportunity for investors to learn more about companies on the stock market and hear from a range of investment experts including fund managers and Shares journalists.
Police officers block a road leading to the scene of a terror stabbing attack in the Streatham area of south London on Feb. 3, 2020. The man who carried out the attack was recently released from prison after serving half of his sentence for terrorism offences. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has promised to modify release conditions in order to deny parole to those convicted of terrorism offences. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

Does Canadas Parole System Need an Overhaul?

News Analysis

A case discussed by a House of Commons committee this week reflects the ongoing debate around the problems inherent in Canadas criminal justice system, specifically the parole system.

In January, 51-year-old Eustachio Gallese killed a sex worker at a hotel in Quebec City after he was permitted by his case worker to have relations with women in order to fulfill his sexual needs. Gallese, who was granted day parole in March 2019 and was previously convicted of murder, killed 22-year-old Marylene Levesque by striking her with a hammer and repeatedly stabbing her.

Gallese, who pleaded guilty, has been sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 25 years.

The Conservatives condemned the parole arrangement for Gallese and received cross-party support to pass a motion calling on the public safety committee to probe the parole boards decision. A joint investigation is also being conducted by the Parole Board of Canada and Correctional Service Canada.

University of Toronto criminologist Anthony Doob tells The Epoch Times that the system surrounding parole is one of conundrums, but sound alternatives are scarce.

No system of decision-making is perfect, he says. In general, day parole is seen as a tool for reintegration of prisoners into society. The alternative is to keep people forever.

Conservative MP Garnett Genuis advocates precisely that if someone is a dangerous offender with a high likelihood of re-offending who cant be rehabilitated.

There are criminals who should never be released, especially repeat offenders and those who continue to be a danger to society, he writes in a Post Millennial op-ed. A person can indeed change and choose a different path. If they do not change, then they will not be released even if they are eligible to apply.

Terrorism Offences

Statutory release, which is normally mandatory for inmates who have served two-thirds of their sentence, becomes even more of a conundrum in the case of convicted terrorists.

Last month, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson promised to modify release conditions in order to deny parole to those convicted of terrorism offences, with the changes possibly applying retroactively.

Johnsons comment came after a 20-year-old man just freed from jail stabbed two people in south London. The man had been serving a sentence for the possession and distribution of Islamist-related extremist material and was being monitored by police. Another man, who had recently finished serving a jail sentence for a 2010 terror plot, stabbed two people to death and wounded three others on London Bridge last November.

I hope people understand that the anomaly we need to clear up is the process by which some people are still coming out under automatic early release without any kind of scrutiny or parole system, Johnson said, according to The Guardian.

Criminal Infraction

In Galleses case, he was sentenced in 2006 to life without parole for 15 years for murdering his ex-wife. His application for full parole was denied last September but day parole was granted, including being allowed to frequent with sex workers, despite his long history of violence toward women and the parole boards own concerns.

Former parole board members have speculated in the media that the decision could have been due to changes to the nomination process to the Parole Board of Canada introduced by the federal government in 2017 that resulted in the majority of the board being new and inexperienced.

David Blackburn and Jean-Claude Boyer told CBC News they were so concerned that they and some other ex-members wrote a letter to the clerk of the Privy Council and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in November 2017 about the issue.

Boyer said Galleses day parole should have been rescinded by board members.

You cannot let a person commit a criminal infraction, even if the correctional services [team] did say, Oh, we planned this, he told CBC. The law is clear: If a person solicits sexual services for a person for money, then he is committing a criminal infraction. You cannot authorize that as a board member and as a correctional services officer.

Federal Public Safety Minister Bill Blair has said that although theres always a turnover of personnel, parole board members are doing an outstanding job.
CONROE _ Montgomery County officials delivered the news to Harris County and Houston officials early Tuesday evening that one of their residents who tested presumptively positive for COVID-19 also attended last months Houston Rodeo cookoff, officials said.

The Houston tie to Montgomery Countys first known case was not disclosed until Wednesday afternoon when Mayor Sylvester Turner announced that the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo would be closed to prevent community spread amid large gatherings. Montgomery County officials informed Houston at around 6-7 p.m. Tuesday, about two hours before a packed crowd gathered for a K-pop concert, said Jason Millsap, chief of staff to County Judge Mark Keogh.

Montgomery County officials declined to mention the patients visit to Houston during a morning news briefing because it was out of their jurisdiction, Millsap said.

A lack of disclosure surrounding the COVID-19 case has left some, including a state lawmaker, worried. During the news conference, officials at the Montgomery County Public Health District said the patient, a man in his 40s, had no recent travel history outside Texas but left out his visit to the famed rodeo.

Millsap said the man tested positive for COVID-19 around 4 p.m. and was well enough to retrace where he had been the past two weeks. The rodeo grounds were the most significant location, Millsap said, while other places he had been in Montgomery County were determined to be low risk areas. He was around his family, extended family and around co-workers at an unidentified workplace.

Turner, at a reporters pressing, disclosed that the man had attended the rodeo. Turner also expanded on the Montgomery County mans prognosis  and the stark reality that the illness is spreading  as city and health officials moved to cancel the Houston Rodeo. The lack of information shared at the first news conference in Conroe was frustrating to state Rep. Steve Toth (R-The Woodlands), who attended the meeting but was unaware of the patients Houston ties until hours later on his drive back to Austin.

Im frustrated, Toth said in a phone call. I get the whole thing about wanting to make sure we dont violate their HIPPA rules, but I think the lack of frank reporting (from public officials) of honest information is going to cause more doubt when we speak later on what we know to be true.

The scarcity of information was also troubling to Shirley Tilton as she went with her husband, James, to see his doctor at the Houston Healthcare facility in Conroe. He has stage four cancer, she said.

I feel nervous being in a hospital because theyre not telling us which hospital hes at, Tilton said. Theyre wasting our time by telling us nothing.

Visitors to the hospital on Texas 336 Loop are facing stricter rules amid the growing pandemic. Anyone who enters the hospital is required to disclose if they have a fever or other symptoms of a lower respiratory illness, have had close contact with a person infected with COVID-19 in the last two weeks or if they have traveled to an affected geographic area.

HELP OUR REPORTING: We're trying to learn more about the new coronavirus and its impact in Houston. If you have something to share, or know anyone quarantined, please fill out this form.

The unidentified patient has been hospitalized since Tuesday and those in close contact with him in the northwest part of the county are being monitored, said Melissa Miller, of the Montgomery County Hospital District. The presumptive positive is awaiting additional confirmation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, she said during the news conference.

Miller would not say how long the man has been symptomatic or elaborate, the condition of his health or where he was receiving treatment. She said it was not yet known how he contracted the illness or where. The majority of COVID-19 cases have been in the Houston area and are linked to a Nile river cruise in Egypt. The first COVID-19 diagnosis in the Houston area involved a Fort Bend County man who went on the Nile trek. The case was announced on March 4, about four days after the cookoff ended.

The new case also prompted Montgomery ISD Superintendent Beau Rees to cancel school Thursday and Friday for a deep cleaning ahead of spring break.

The county is currently monitoring 21 people, some of whom had contact with the patient. Since Feb. 7, 39 people have been monitored and 14 have been under investigation. Of those tested, Miller said eight are still pending results.

The mans employer was made aware of his diagnosis, Miller said.
The latest episode of John Bielinskis Talk EM podcast addresses the general publics concern over the COVID-19 epidemic, as well as the fears of healthcare clinicians treating patients experiencing symptoms of the new virus.

CME4Life, a leading provider of physician assistant (PA) board review and advanced practitioner continuing medical education (CME) courses, has just released an interview with a longtime infectious disease specialist concerning the coronavirus on John Bielinskis Talk EM podcast. The interview with Dr. Stephen J. Gluckman, Medical Director at Penn Global Medicine and Professor of Medicine at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, seeks to address the general publics concern over the COVID-19 epidemic, as well as the fears of healthcare clinicians treating patients experiencing symptoms of the new virus.

Dr. Gluckman was recognized by Best Doctors in America from 2003 to 2018 and in Philadelphia Magazines May 2002 Top Docs issue for his acclaimed expertise in infectious diseases. With over 48 years of doctoral work in the field, Dr. Gluckman has plenty of credible insight on COVID-19 to offer physicians, physician assistants and nurse practitioners. CME4Life founder and experienced medical provider John Bielinski, Jr. PA-C complements Dr. Gluckmans commentary on the recent disease outbreak with valid inquiries and supportive discussion.

The novel coronavirus, which has affected hundreds of people in the United States to date and triggered a widespread fear among the healthcare community, media and general public. Talk EMs most recent podcast discusses the diseases origins, symptoms and alarming mortality rate in depth, along with the CDCs recommendations concerning the virus. Dr. Gluckman also addresses misconceptions surrounding the respiratory disease while extending precautionary medical advice to healthcare professionals who may encounter anxious patients.

John Bielinskis Talk EM podcast explores cutting edge trends in the medical field through the lens of leading emergency medicine experts. The podcast delves into first-hand accounts and experiences of advanced practice providers in emergency, urgent care and advanced emergency settings.

Listen to the discussion with Dr. Gluckman on the latest Talk EM podcast at https://cme4life.com/podcast/, or read the interview on CME4Lifes blog at https://cme4life.com/newsletter/protecting-yourself-from-coronavirus/.

About CME4Life

The team at CME4Life is led by founder John Bielinski, Jr. PA-C, an experienced physician assistant, accomplished lecturer and Marine Corp veteran. CME4Life, an Inc. 5000 company, is dedicated to offering interactive learning for physician assistants and nurse practitioners via board review and continuing medical education conferences nationwide, as well as at-home study materials. Visit http://www.cme4life.com for more information.
French Ambassador to Romania Michele Ramis has called the Anna de Noailles French High School of Bucharest a cornerstone of French education development in Romania.

According to a press statement from the French Embassy in Romania, Ramis made the statements on Tuesday at an event that marked the 100th anniversary of the French School in Romania.Ramis highlighted the excellent co-operation that exists between France and Romania at educational level."This centennial attests to France's lasting and strong relationship with Romania. (...) This educational co-operation is currently a major objective of our policy in Romania. Currently, 18 Romanian bilingual organisations are 'FrancEducation' certified, one of the highest numbers of such certificates in the world. Romanian bilingual high schools are co-operating with the Anna de Noailles French high school under joint projects, and also through exchanges of experience between teachers of non-linguistic subject matters in the Romanian schools and the faculty of the Anna de Noailles High School," said Ramis.Part of the event was the signing of a convention between the Agency for French Education Abroad (AEFE) and the Anna de Noailles High School Foundation. Signing the document were Ramis and Virginie Vatin, chair of the foundation.At the centennial event an original letter from Countess Anna de Noailles was on display that was presented to the school by former President of France Francois Hollande on a visit to Romania in 2016.To celebrate the centennial of the Anna de Noailles French High School the French Residence in Bucharest played host to a reception party extended by ambassador Ramis. The reception was attended by Frederic Petit, MP for the French people abroad, Olivier Cadic, senator for the French people abroad, representatives of Romania's Foreign Ministry, including Cornel Feruta, senior official for global affairs and diplomatic strategies, leaders of the International Organisation of La Francophonie, of the Anna de Noailles French High School, directors of bilingual high schools from Romania, representatives of Romanian associations of French teachers, consular staff and French elected officials.Established in 1920 in Romania, the French School was affiliated with the French Public High School created in 1940. It was closed by the communist regime in power in 1948 and reopened in 1960 for the children of the employees of the French Embassy. In 1990, after the fall of communism, the French School in Bucharest was able to receive Romanian school children again. Today, about half of the students are Romanian, with other 22 of various nationalities.
DUBLIN, March 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Renewable Aviation Fuel Market - Growth, Trends, and Forecast (2020 - 2025)" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The market for renewable aviation fuel (RAF) is expected to witness a CAGR of more than 56.05% during the forecast period (2020-2025).



Government policies have been one of the major factors in driving the market studied. The introduction of CORSIA by ICAO is encouraging aircraft operators to switch to RAF. Several countries, like India, are planning to introduce policies to support the development of RAF. Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is more expensive than jet fuel and this cost premium is a key barrier to its wider use.



The renewable aviation fuel market is consolidated. The key players includes Total SA, Neste Oyj, Swedish Biofuels AB, Gevo Inc., and Honeywell International Inc.



Key Highlights



The defense sector is expected to be the fastest-growing segment among the different applications, owing to the increasing government focus on promoting bio-jet fuels in the defense/military sector, particularly in the United States .

. The renewable aviation fuel provides an opportunity for airlines to invest in the future. The expected increase in demand for renewable aviation fuel is not likely to be met, unless airline operators expand their renewable aviation fuel commitments with bio-refineries, which will consequently result in driving improvements in fuel cost and availability. With the expected increase in the adoption of renewable aviation fuels on a global scale, the investments in airport infrastructure are expected to increase.

North America dominated the market in 2018, mainly driven by the existing framework of fuel policies supporting renewable aviation fuel production.

Market Trends



Defense Sector to be the Fastest-growing Segment

The defense sector consumes a large amount of aviation fuel. On average, the US military burns about 4.8 billion gallons of jet fuel and diesel each year. Nearly half of that goes to the Air Force and around one-third to the Navy.

Besides, the military sector seeks to improve the environmental performance of its aircraft fleets, as well as to reduce environmental emissions. Biofuels are considered as a way to maintain secure sources of fuel and reduce cost volatility while supporting the country's environmental initiatives.

The defense sector is expected to be the fastest-growing market, owing to the increasing government focus on promoting bio-jet fuels in the defense/military sector, particularly in the United States .

. Companies, such as Honeywell, use this renewable jet fuel process technology for the US Navy and Air Force, as part of a joint program for the US Defense Energy Support Center (DESC) for alternative fuel testing and certification.

North America to Dominate the Market

North America is one of the largest markets for both, the aviation industry and renewable aviation fuel. In 2017, the US commercial aircraft fleet reached around 7,397, representing an increase of 2.79% from the previous year's fleet. The United States airlines carried an all-time high number of passengers in 2018 - 1,011.5 million system worldwide. In the United States , robust growth in air travel resulted in more than 9.2 million metric ton increase in aviation emissions, in 2018, and this number is expected to increase in the coming years as well.

is one of the largest markets for both, the aviation industry and renewable aviation fuel. In 2017, the US commercial aircraft fleet reached around 7,397, representing an increase of 2.79% from the previous year's fleet. airlines carried an all-time high number of passengers in 2018 - 1,011.5 million system worldwide. In , robust growth in air travel resulted in more than 9.2 million metric ton increase in aviation emissions, in 2018, and this number is expected to increase in the coming years as well. Switching to more energy-dense biofuel, to reach the goal of decarbonizing the aviation sector, is expected to play an important role in reducing GHG concentration across the region.

Waste, residual fats, and oil could supply as much as 7% of the total jet fuel demand in the United States and Canada . In North America , Diamond Green Diesel and AltAir (part of World Energy), the two largest renewable diesel producers, are primarily making use of waste feedstock, such as animal fats and used cooking oil, for their production.

and . In , and AltAir (part of World Energy), the two largest renewable diesel producers, are primarily making use of waste feedstock, such as animal fats and used cooking oil, for their production. Overall, with supportive policies to decarbonize the aviation emission, the North American market is deemed to be one of the strong demand centers for the renewable aviation fuel market.

Key Topics Covered



1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Scope of the Study

1.2 Market Definition

1.3 Study Assumptions



2 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY



3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY



4 MARKET OVERVIEW

4.1 Introduction

4.2 Market Size and Demand Forecast in USD million, till 2025

4.3 Government Policies and Regulations

4.4 Recent Trends and Developments

4.5 Market Dynamics

4.5.1 Drivers

4.5.2 Restraints

4.6 Supply Chain Analysis

4.7 Porter's Five Forces Analysis



5 MARKET SEGMENTATION

5.1 Technology

5.1.1 Fischer-Tropsch (FT)

5.1.2 Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids (HEFA)

5.1.3 Synthesisized Iso-Paraffinic (SIP) and Alcohol-to-Jet (AJT)

5.2 Application

5.2.1 Commercial

5.2.2 Defense

5.3 Geography

5.3.1 North America

5.3.2 Asia-Pacific

5.3.3 Europe

5.3.4 South America

5.3.5 Middle-East and Africa



6 COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

6.1 Mergers and Acquisitions, Joint Ventures, Collaborations, and Agreements

6.2 Strategies Adopted by Leading Players

6.3 Company Profiles

6.3.1 Total S.A.

6.3.2 Neste Oyj

6.3.3 Swedish Biofuels AB

6.3.4 Red Rock Biofuels LLC

6.3.5 Gevo Inc.

6.3.6 Honeywell International Inc.

6.3.7 Fulcrum BioEnergy Inc.

6.3.8 SG Preston Company

6.3.9 LanzaTech Inc.



7 MARKET OPPORTUNITIES AND FUTURE TRENDS



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/7vvvnn

Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research.



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Chinas independent refiners, which buy a fifth of total Chinese crude oil imports, are increasing their run rates and buying ultra-cheap crude, taking advantage of the Saudi-Russia price war, Reuters reported on Wednesday, quoting executives and traders.

Economic activity in China begins to slowly recover and lockdowns in some areas are being eased as the number of Chinas new daily cases of coronavirus infections has been declining over the past two weeks.

At one point in February, Chinese oil refiners had cut their daily run rates to around 10 million bpdthe lowest level since 2014, due to the depressed fuel demand amid strict travel restrictions. Now the easing of the quarantine zones and the recovery of more industrial activities are creating some demand for fuel, while the oil price crash with cheap crude is further helping refining margins.

While the biggest state-held Chinese refiners continue to be cautious about crude purchases and to keep run rates lower than usual, especially because of depressed jet fuel demand, the independent refiners  commonly known as teapots  are not only raising their refinery run rates from the very low levels seen in February. They are also on the market for ordering crude cargoes for arrival for May and June at much lower prices, and they have the former OPEC+ group allies Saudi Arabia and Russia to thank for the cheapest crude in years.

The spot premium for May loadings of Russias ESPO crude, one of the Chinese teapots favorite grades, plunged this week to its lowest level since Russia started exporting this type of crude in 2010, according to Reuters estimates.

After the collapse of the OPEC+ agreement last week, Saudi Arabia slashed its official selling prices to all regions and is getting ready to flood the market with an extra 2.6 million bpd next month. Russia has the ability to boost its oil production by 200,000 bpd to 300,000 bpd in the short term, with a potential for up to a total increase of 500,000 bpd, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said on Tuesday.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Health officials in Philadelphia this week dealt with a coronavirus case where they couldnt figure out how the person became infected. That raised the possibility of community spread  people getting infected from unknown sources in the community.

Experts believe community spread has happened in some parts of the country and will happen in Pennsylvania. When it does, it will be a significant development, signaling a higher level of overall risk.

In light of that, here are answers to some of the most pertinent questions:

Q: How would I know that I might have the new coronavirus?

A: The main symptoms are fever and dry cough. Sore throat, shortness of breath and fatigue are other possible symptoms. In general, coronavirus symptoms are similar to regular flu.

Q: What should I do if think I have it?

A: Call your doctor. If you dont have a regular doctor, call a hospital or emergency department or urgent care clinic. Its important to call ahead. Thats so staff can prepare to keep you separate from other patients.

Q: Would I be tested for coronavirus?

A: Only if a doctor believes its necessary and orders a test. A doctor would order it if you have possible symptoms and had traveled to an area of outbreaks, or had close contact with an infected person. The doctor also could order a test if he or she had other reason to believe you might have the coronavirus. Still, Pennsylvania is requiring doctors to consult with the Pennsylvania Department of Health before ordering a test.

CORONAVIRUS CASES IN PENNSYLVANIA: Click to see where cases of the coronavirus are in Pennsylvania are located.



Q: What about the shortage of tests I keep hearing about?

A: Pennsylvania health officials insist there is no backlog of tests and they have been able to test everyone who meets the criteria for testing. A health department spokesman this week said the state was doing about 25 tests per day at its laboratory near Philadelphia, with the ability to increase to 125 to 150. He further said, We are working to increase our testing capacity, but that also depends on other factors, such as the number of tests need, the availability of lab kits, etc. So far, test kits have come from the federal government, which has been slow to provide the needed amount, and which has focused on sending them to the states, such as Washington, California and New York, with the most cases. As of early afternoon on March 11, Pennsylvania had tested 157 people for the coronavirus. Of those, 13 had tested positive but were awaiting official confirmation and two had been officially confirmed as positive. Another 88 had tested negative, and results were pending for 54 others.

Q: What does a test involve?

A: A nasal swab is used to collect a sample which is sent to a lab for testing.

Q: Who pays for the test?

A: Pennsylvania has been assuring people that those who need to be tested wont get stuck with a bill. Medicaid and Medicare have said tests are covered when ordered by a doctor. The Pennsylvania Department of Health, which has been doing all of the testing so far, has stressed that its tests are free. The Gov. Tom Wolf administration has secured agreements from Pennsylvanias major insurers to waive co-pays and similar charges related to coronavirus tests.

Q: Can I get a test at one of those private labs that run tests for doctors offices or where people go for things like pre-employment drug screening?

A: Maybe at some point but not yet. The government has given labs emergency approval to develop and offer tests for the new coronavirus, also called Covid-19. State health officials say those tests will soon available in Pennsylvania. Its unclear exactly when. One prominent lab, Quest Diagnostics, said this week it has begun testing. But its a phased roll-out, with tests initially offered only in a few western states which have had the most cases. A news release on Monday explaining the roll-out made no mention of Pennsylvania.

Quest said its tests will only be available to people who meet the government criteria for needing a test, rather than people who simply decide they want one. Beyond that, academic medical centers in Pennsylvania also plan to offer tests. For example, a doctor at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center said this week the center plans to soon offer testing, including one version that can deliver results in an hour. A medical center doctor also spoke of offering drive-thru testing. But no exact timeframe was given.

Q: If I get a test at a private lab, will it be covered by insurance?

A: Theres a good chance it wouldnt. Medicare and Medicaid have said they wont cover tests that arent ordered by a doctor, and private insurers will likely refuse as well.
(Natural News) There was a time when humans walked around barefoot. At that point, the soles of the feet were the only point of direct contact with the ground until the advent of footwear  beginning about 40,000 years ago. But wouldnt it be wonderful to preserve the sensation of the ground touching your feet while also protecting them? New evidence suggests that foot calluses do exactly that.

A study published in the journal Nature found that foot calluses can not only offer increased protection, but can also preserve foot sensitivity. This is in contrast to shoes that are known to reduce foot sensitivity and change the way impact forces transfer from the foot to the joints higher up in the leg.

It is fun to figure out how our bodies evolved to function, said corresponding author Daniel Lieberman, professor of human evolutionary biology at Harvard University. The sensory benefits of being barefoot might have health implications, but these need to be studied.

These feet are made for walking

Calluses are build-ups of hardened skin that are often found on the underside of the feet. These are usually caused by repeated pressure on certain parts of your skin. Although these calluses dont indicate any medical health problems and arent a cause for alarm, health practitioners often suggest that these calluses should still be treated as soon as possible to prevent further discomfort. However, this study by Lieberman and his colleagues can potentially turn this idea on its head. (Related: Go barefoot more to make your feet stronger, avoid foot problems.)

To explore the reason behind the protective effects of foot calluses, the research team  consisting of individuals from institutions in the US, Germany and Africa  examined the feet of more than 100 adults, the majority of which hailed from Kenya. About half of the participants walked barefoot most of the time while the other half were mostly full-time shoe wearers.

After measuring callus thickness through the use of ultrasound, the researchers found that people who normally walked barefoot had calluses 30 percent thicker than those who only wore shoes. The researchers also used a device called a Shore durometer to quantify the mechanical properties of the foot soles and found that the skin of barefoot participants was 30 percent harder as well. While it is safe to assume that thickness and hardness can provide protection similar to a shoes sole, the researchers intended to find out if it also affects the sensitivity.

Further analysis showed that the thickness of calluses did not inhibit the foots tactile sensitivity or the ability to feel the sensation of the ground while walking. Unlike shoes, which clearly block this sensation, the sensory receptors in the foot still transmit signals to the brain despite the thickness and hardness of the feet. This uninhibited sensory signal can help barefoot walkers strengthen their muscles and create a stronger feet-brain neural connection.

We suggest children to walk barefoot on humid grass with the purpose to stimulate the afferents [nerves traveling to the brain] for developmental reasons, said co-author Thomas Milani, a professorship of human locomotion at the Technische Universitat Chemnitz in Germany.

Finally, the researchers noted that walking in shoes, while it softens the initial impact of the footstep, can deliver much more force to the joints than those seen in thick-callused participants. This could lead to several health complications in the hips and knees  which is something future research on the subject should look into, according to the researchers.

All in all, walking barefoot can bring some surprising benefits one wouldnt really expect. You can find similar stories at Health.news.

Sources include:

LiveScience.com

Nature.com 1

Nature.com 2

Healthline.com
Babu Owino cant seem to catch a break after one of his many scandals reared its ugly head nearly five years later.

In court papers, one Bernard Omondi Ogoji lodged a complaint against the Embakasi East MP at Kileleshwa and the Central Police stations in August 2015 accusing him of robbery with violence.

The papers also show that the complainant withdrew the two complaints in the presence of an investigating officer on August 12, 2015.

In the newest development, Mr Omondi is reportedly seeking to reopen the case if he is not compensated.

This has seen Babu Owino file an application in court to have police barred from arresting him over the robbery with violence incident.

In his application, Owino claims that Mr Omondi has started making attempts to have the complaint that he wilfully withdrew re-opened if he is not paid an unspecified amount of money.

Through his lawyers, the MP argues that the application to re-open the case was malicious and tantamount to extortion because it started after his latest run-in with the law over the attempted murder of Felix Orinda popularly known as DJ Envy.

According to Babu, if the case is re-opened, it will subject him to public ridicule and unnecessary media attention.
Lithuanian politicians sing their countrys anthem seconds after declaring independence from the Soviet Union in Lithuanias parliament at 10:44 p.m. on March 11, 1990.

Lithuanians tear a Soviet emblem from the entrance of parliament after independence was declared.

A banner of the ancient Lithuanian emblem known as Vytis being hung inside parliament to replace the Soviet hammer and sickle.

These dramatic scenes from the first moments of Lithuanian independence were captured by Vytautas Daraskevicius, a Vilnius radio engineer and amateur photographer. Beginning in 1988, Daraskevicius (above) used his Olympus camera and Soviet-made film to document the momentous political events taking place in his country. By 1988, he told RFE/RL, We could see the moment [of Lithuania declaring independence] was coming.

In the months leading up to March 11, Daraskevicius photographed on the streets as people tested the limits of the reformist rule of Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev. The Vilnius crowd above is protesting conscription into the Soviet Army in February 1989 -- a show of dissent that would have been unthinkable before Gorbachevs rise to power.

Demonstrators calling for Lithuanian independence in January 1990. Shortly after Daraskevicius made this picture, elections were held that resulted in a massively popular pro-independence movement gaining seats in Lithuanias Supreme Soviet.

Crowds gather outside Lithuanias parliament on March 11, 1990. Daraskevicius says that without a press pass he was unable to enter the building as a vote on declaring independence was held.

Crowds gather outside parliament after nightfall. Soon after he shot this photo, Daraskevicius says a man came out from the parliament and asked, 'Are there any photographers here? The vote had just been taken to declare independence and Daraskevicius was ushered into the parliament chamber to record the history unfolding inside.

Lawmakers applaud after the declaration of independence and the singing of Lithuanias national anthem. The digital clock (top left) shows three minutes have passed since the independence announcement.

Lithuanian lawmakers applaud the vote.

Pro-independence leader and politician Vytautas Landsbergis is cheered after the declaration.

A Soviet emblem with the hammer and sickle is carried out of parliament.

Daraskevicius says the emblem was put on the floor, then I dont know what happened to it. Perhaps it is in some museum somewhere. But despite the political earthquake of March 11, little changed on the ground in Lithuania. Soviet soldiers still occupied the country and a closely guarded Lenin monument still stood in central Vilnius. Daraskeviciuss work documenting his countrys path to independence was not over.

Armed Lithuanian militiamen guarding the roof of the parliament building in February 1991. One month earlier, the Kremlin had launched a military assault on various strategic points in Lithuania in an attempt to wrest back control of the country. Fourteen civilians, including a young woman, were killed defending the Vilnius television tower.

Men erect a barricade outside Lithuanias parliament building in January 1991. Many assumed Lithuanias parliament building would be the next target of the Soviet military.

Lithuanians relaxing inside the parliament building. Daraskevicius says the men -- some of hundreds who were stationed inside parliament in expectation of a Soviet attack -- were prepared to die to defend the building.

Militiamen inside parliament pose with shotguns in February 1991. Daraskevicius jokes, You can say I took the first photos of Lithuanias military.

A lens for a laser that was given to the defenders of the parliament by a nearby physics institute. Daraskevicius says the optical weapon was used to dazzle Soviet helicopter pilots who veered sharply away when the laser was directed at them and didnt return.
SPRINGFIELD  Gov. J.B. Pritzker expressed frustration with the federal government's response to the spread of coronavirus Tuesday, as the state confirmed its first cases outside of Cook County.

We have not received enough tests, the Chicago Democrat said. The state's confirmed infection tally hit 19 on Tuesday, but the governor said the state would like to be able to test any person who shows symptoms or wants to be tested. He said federal officials have not kept their word.

Weve been told now for days and days and days  indeed weeks, I would argue  that there are commercial labs that would be coming online, he said. I was just told today commercial labs would be coming online within days. Once again, Ive been told the same thing again. We havent seen it.

The only places able to test for COVID-19 right now are the three state-run labs in Chicago, Springfield and Carbondale.

State and Chicago public health officials reported eight new cases Tuesday, including a woman in her 60s from west-suburban Kane County and a teenage male from McHenry County northwest of Chicago. Neither had traveled to an area affected by COVID-19 nor had any connection to someone previously diagnosed.

The governor raised questions about whether large-scale gatherings such as the city's upcoming St. Patrick's Day celebrations can go ahead.

Given the concerns about the possibility of viral transmission at large gatherings, Pritzker said government officials and organizers of this weekend's popular St. Patrick's Day celebration in Chicago are discussing its fate. An announcement was expected.

"As you saw, Boston and Dublin have both canceled their St Patrick's Day celebrations," Pritzker said. "I want to keep people safe and I think we've got to follow the guidance that medical experts give us."

The new coronavirus that has sickened thousands across the globe causes only mild or moderate symptoms such as fever and cough for most people. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and can sometimes be fatal.

The vast majority of people recover. According to the World Health Organization, people with mild illness recover in about two weeks, while those with more severe illness may take three to six weeks to recover. In mainland China, where the virus first exploded, more than 80,000 people have been diagnosed and more than 58,000 have so far recovered.

"As anticipated, we have reached the point where we are likely to see additional cases, reflecting additional spread within the communities each day forward," Pritzker said.

The other new cases were all reported in Cook County, including a male in his 70s, a woman in her 60s, a woman and a man in their 40s; and two Chicago residents, men in their 40s.

"Public health officials are investigating the travel history of all the new cases, as well as any contacts with a known case," said Dr. Ngozi Ezike, the state public health director. "All the new cases are in isolation, either at home or in a hospital, and are doing well."

Pritzker also criticized President Donald Trump's administrations decision to forgo the World Health Organizations COVID-19 test, which has been used on hundreds of thousands of people in Europe and Asia, in favor of its own test.

We could have been using that weeks ago here in the United States, he said. Its been too long already.

Officials have said the best ways to avoid contracting COVID-19 include covering your coughs and sneezes, washing your hands for 20 seconds with soap and water, avoiding touching your face, staying home when you are sick and cleaning frequently-touched surfaces.

Illinoisans who think they might have the virus may call the states COVID-19 hotline (1-800-889-3931) or email dph.sick@illinois.gov.
MANILA, Philippines, March 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- AGRI Developments Mgt. Corp. ("AGRI Developments") and the City of Bayawan in Negros Oriental, Philippines, have signed a collaboration agreement aimed at developing the city's agricultural sector in tandem with further advancement of AGRI Developments' mango development project.

The collaboration agreement with the government was required to pass approval of the City Council prior to signing and enactment by the Mayor. The agreement represents a key milestone for AGRI Developments and the city, leveraging on AGRI Developments' valuable experience in the agricultural industry, particularly its scientific crop yield and management innovations. Working alongside Bayawan City, it aims to improve its agricultural production, revenue generation and productivity. In addition, it provides support to the city's vision of becoming one of the country's leading agritourist destinations, through its planned mango development visitor center.

The partnership encompasses a wide range of shared activity whilst providing AGRI Developments with a means to reach economies of scale and enhance the scope of its mango development. The agreement allows for potential accessibility to mango production throughout the region via buy backs and crop sharing, as well as support to the entire value chain from on site management to production and export.

Both AGRI Developments and the Bayawan City share common concerns including food security and agricultural production enhancements. As such, the collaboration brings together a commitment by both partners to address these issues firstly through an investment into mango production and later on, other agricultural products.

Mr. van Egeraat, CEO, AGRI Developments MGT Corp. said, "I am pleased to finally confirm our collaboration with Bayawan City. We both have shared interests in advancing the regions agricultural sector, primarily mango production and its value chain. With this collaboration we can share resources to further our commitment towards revitalizing the mango sector of the Philippines. It also provides us with the opportunity to branch into other complementary agricultural projects alongside the city."

The Philippines is a key agricultural producer however lack of investment and the adoption of productivity improvements has led to suboptimal revenue generation. In regard to mangos specifically, mangos from the Philippines are world renown and in demand on the export market yet it has not been able to capitalize on the opportunity as of yet. Exports at the moment are severely limited with over 98% of fresh mango production domestically consumed due to inefficient supply chains and productivity.

AGRI Developments working alongside Bayawan City intends to expand mango production through investment into advanced cultivation techniques and yield improvements. Furthermore, it intends to strengthen the value chain necessary for export in order to meet the demands of the lucrative export market.

AGRI Developments

AGRI Developments is a leading private alternative asset company specializing in the agricultural and agribusiness industry. We seek emerging opportunities globally with an objective of delivering long term value in high growth developing sectors within the industry. As world population increases, the need for more productive and sustainable uses of land becomes more urgent. Our mission is to build successful agricultural and agribusiness related businesses that deliver a positive impact.

For more information, please visit https://www.agridevelopments.com/

SOURCE AGRI Developments
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-11 19:45:52|Editor: huaxia

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Video: U.S. Vice President Mike Pence along with members of the Coronavirus Task Force attended a press conference at the White House on March 10. (Xinhua/Tan Yixiao)

"It is a dramatic action, but it is the largest cluster of cases in the country," said Cuomo. "The numbers are going up unabated, and we do need a special public health strategy for New Rochelle."



NEW YORK, March 11 (Xinhua) -- The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the United States reached 1,001 with 28 deaths by 11:30 p.m. EST Tuesday (0330 GMT on Wednesday), according to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control Prevention (CDC) reported 696 as of 4 p.m. Monday (2000 GMT).

The state of Washington has reported over 260 cases, followed by New York with 173 cases and California 144 cases.

More clusters have surfaced in various locations around the country. Over 70 patients are connected to a biotech conference in Boston, and outbreaks have taken place in several nursing homes in Seattle area.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said on Tuesday that the state will set up a containment area in a COVID-19 hotspot and send the National Guard into it to help contain the virus.

People walk on the campus of Columbia University, which suspended classes on Monday and Tuesday, in New York, the United States, March 10, 2020. (Xinhua/Wang Ying)

At a press conference, Cuomo said that National Guard troops will be sent to New Rochelle, Westchester County, to help clean surfaces and deliver food in the area.

The containment area will be within one-mile-radius around a point near a synagogue, in which schools, houses of worships and other large gathering places will be closed for two weeks.

New Rochelle is at the center of an COVID-19 outbreak in Westchester County, which is just outside New York City and currently has 108 confirmed cases.

It is also home to the state's second confirmed case, an attorney who worked in Manhattan and is linked to dozens of cases diagnosed during the past week.

"It is a dramatic action, but it is the largest cluster of cases in the country," said Cuomo. "The numbers are going up unabated, and we do need a special public health strategy for New Rochelle."

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence gestures, while attending a press conference at the White House on March 10, along with members of the Coronavirus Task Force. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

Former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden and Senator Bernie Sanders, two major candidates in U.S. Democratic presidential race, have cancelled their rallies scheduled for Tuesday night over coronavirus concerns.

Their moves were seen as the first disruptions the outbreak has caused to the 2020 U.S. presidential primary.

Both the Sanders and Biden campaigns thanked supporters who planned to attend the events on Tuesday, a mini-Super Tuesday when six states -- Idaho, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota and Washington -- were holding primaries for voters to select their preferred presidential candidate this year.

Police stand guard near the Grand Princess cruise ship docking at the Port of Oakland, the United States, on March 9, 2020. (Photo by Li Jianguo/Xinhua)

Also on Tuesday, California Governor's Office of Emergency Services announced that over 400 people were taken off the coronavirus-striken Grand Princess cruise ship at the port of Oakland the day before.

The Grand Princess cruise ship that carries over 3,000 people, including 21 people who have tested positive for coronavirus, docked at the port of Oakland Monday after being held off at sea for days.

Among those who disembarked were two travelers who tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday. They were taken to hospitals along with their travel companions.

California Office of Emergency Services officials emphasized that the first day of disembarkation focused on passengers with the greatest medical need, not necessarily related to COVID-19.

Video: Columbia University suspends classes on March 9 and 10 due to fear of COVID-19. (Xinhua/Wei Ying, Zhang Mocheng) 
Amazon customers are furious after discovering face masks labeled as 'Based in USA' were actually made in Wuhan, China - the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak.

A listing on Amazon's website for 50-count pack of masks has been flooded with dozens one-star reviews from people who purchased them thinking that they were American-made.

The photo in the listing features an American flag and the words 'Based in USA'.

But the label on the product itself - which is not shown in the listing - indicates that it was manufactured by the Wuhan Orient Honest International Trade Co in Wuhan.

'I cannot think of a better or faster way to get the virus than ordering these masks,' one customer wrote in a review.

'Made in Wuhan. Comes with the virus. Great deal for those who want to end their lives earlier!! Recommend this to your enemies!' another quipped.

Amazon customers are furious after discovering face masks labeled as 'Based in the USA' were actually made in Wuhan, China - the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak

A listing on Amazon's website for 50-count pack of masks has been flooded with dozens one-star reviews from people who purchased them thinking that they were American-made. The photo in the listing (pictured) features an American flag and the words 'Based in the USA'

Many of the customers indicated that they never would have bought the masks had they known they'd been manufactured in China.

They also noted that the product doesn't list a manufacturing date, so there is no way to tell whether they were made before or after the outbreak began in Wuhan in late December.

Several said that the price had dropped significantly after they purchased, suggesting the negative reviews prompted the price drop.

As of Wednesday, the mask packs range in price from $22.99 to $35.99 depending on the seller.

The cheapest prices are offered by LAINJAAN and ChangBen - at $22.99 and $29.99 respectively.

The original listing doesn't show a price but sends customers to a second page where the prices and sellers are listed.

On that second page, the selections from LAINJAAN and ChangBen both indicate that the product is shipped from China in small print that several customers apparently didn't spot before purchasing.

One of the other sellers, CXHKT, indicates that it ships from Canada, while the fourth, yiyou, does not say where it ships from.

Medical workers are seen evacuating a hospital in Wuhan, where the coronavirus outbreak began in late December

Wuhan has been on lockdown since January, but by that time the virus had already spread to other countries by travelers. An empty street in the city is shown on Tuesday

As of midday Wednesday, 121,811 coronavirus cases have been reported worldwide and 4,380 people have died since the outbreak

The coronavirus outbreak originated in Wuhan, located in China's Hubei province, in late December.

As of Wednesday, nearly 68,000 cases have been confirmed in Hubei and at least 3,162 people have died.

The province has been on lockdown since late January, but by that time the virus had already spread to other countries by travelers.

There are currently more than 121,000 coronavirus cases reported worldwide and at least 4,300 people have died.

The number of cases in the US has grown tenfold over the past week - with more than 1,000 cases and 31 deaths reported as of midday Wednesday.

Officials say they expect the case count to continue its rapid rise as they struggle to contain the outbreak.

The number of cases in the US has grown tenfold over the past week - with more than 1,000 cases and 31 deaths reported as of midday Wednesday
Dental Chair Market was valued at USD 497.58 Million in 2018 and is projected to reach USD 677.14 Million by 2025, growing at a CAGR of 4.50% over the forecast period. Rising prevalence of oral diseases is the key driver for the growth of global dental chair market.

Increasing awareness about optimal oral health & hygiene is one more major factor powering market growth. Different organizations are more and more aiming on increasing awareness about oral hygiene.

Scope of The Report:

A dental chair is a specially designed medical device planned to support a patients whole body like a recliner but articulated, so that the dentist can recline patients to virtually any position. It a very important piece of equipment to ensure proper dental care. Also, the dental chairs serve as an essential operational tool for the dentists. Dental chair contains an electrically operated, retractable patient seating chair to which compressed air, micrometer, spittoon bowl, water line an overhead light is attached. Now, Manufacturers are focusing on patient comfort as the primary factor during the design of dental chairs, complimenting the growth of the market during the forecast period. There are basically three different types of dental chairs are available such as ceiling mounted design, mobile independent design and dental chair mounted design.

Get Sample Copy of This Premium Report @ https://brandessenceresearch.com/requestSample/PostId/753

Global dental chair market report is segmented on type, application design, end-user and regional & country level. Based upon type, global dental chair market is classified into non-powered dental chairs and powered dental chairs. Based upon application, global dental chair market is classified into examination, surgery, orthodontic and portable. Based upon design, global dental chair market is classified into ceiling-mounted design, mobile-independent design, dental chair-mounted design and others. Based upon end -user, global dental chair market is classified into hospitals, dental clinics and research & academic institutes.

Dental chairs, also dubbed as dental treatment units, are not only a requirement for guaranteeing good dental care but also have a major role in solidifying the communication between patients and dentists/practitioners. Moreover, it acts as a vital operational equipment for the dentists; however, for patients, the chair symbolizes comfort during dental treatment.

By type, the dental chair market is segmented into mobile-independent design, ceiling-mounted design, and dental chair-mounted design. Ceiling-mounted design section created the max income in 2016, and is predicted to maintain this dominance all over the coming period. Moreover, the dental chair-mounted design section is expected to clock the max development rate, due to maximum mobility and easy maintenance provided by these chairs. The components such as dental cuspidors, operator light, and dental handpieces are all connected to the chair itself making it a perfect option for small scale dental set-ups.

By application, the dental chair market is divided into orthodontic applications, surgery, examination, and others (endodontic applications and cosmetic dentistry). The examination section was the highest income contributor in 2016, and is predicted to carry on this trend all over the coming period. Increase in awareness amongst individuals towards oral hygiene has led to large-scale acceptance of dental chairs for examination. In addition to this, the others section is predicted to clock the max development rate, due to the ever rising requirement for cosmetic dentistry.

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Key Players in the Dental Chair Market Report

Some major key players for global dental chair market are Danaher Corporation, Planmeca Oy, Biolase Technology Inc., Nakanishi Inc., Henry Schein Inc., Sybron Dental Specialities Inc., Sirona Dental Systems, A-Dec Inc., Midmark Corporation, GC Corporation, Patterson Dental, Young Innovations Inc. and among others.

Global Dental Chair Market Regional Analysis 

North America is expected to remain the leading region due to well-known advancements in research and development field along with higher technological developments in dental care equipment. North America is the largest consumption place for clinical and research center followed by Europe. South and Southeast Asia are among the regions with the highest rates of new cases of diseases, but Eastern Europe, France and parts of Africa and Latin America also suffer from a high disease burden. As per WHO survey, dental disease treatment accounts for between 5% and 10% of total health care costs in industrialized countries and more than 40% of older people in Canada, Finland, Malaysia Albania, Bosnia, Herzegovina, Bulgaria and the UK, suffer from total tooth loss.

Asia Pacific region is the second largest share in the market due to increase in major factors such as large number of populations with untreated dental disorders and increasing geriatric population. Thus these factors will propel the dental chair market growth. Due to influence of oral cancer which would provide growth opportunities to the dental chair market in that region. By FDI World Dental Federation, the main causes of oral cancer are tobacco and alcohol use, accounting for about 90 percent of oral cancers. According to world health organization, in some Asian-Pacific countries, the incidence of oral cancer is within the top three of all cancers and an estimated 5 billion people suffer from tooth decay. Emergence of low-cost manufacturers in China has enabled a greater number of people to purchase dental chairs. Hence, the above-mentioned factors will positively influence the regional industry growth.

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Dental Chair Key Market Segments:

By Type

Ceiling-mounted Design

Mobile-independent Design

Dental Chair-mounted Design

By Product

Non-powered Dental Chairs

Powered Dental Chairs

By Component

Chair

Dental Cuspidor

Dental Chair Handpiece

Others

By Application

Examination

Surgery

Orthodontic Applications

Others

About Us: Brandessence Market Research and Consulting Pvt. ltd.

Brandessence market research publishes market research reports & business insights produced by highly qualified and experienced industry analysts. Our research reports are available in a wide range of industry verticals including aviation, food & beverage, healthcare, ICT, Construction, Chemicals and lot more. Brand Essence Market Research report will be best fit for senior executives, business development managers, marketing managers, consultants, CEOs, CIOs, COOs, and Directors, governments, agencies, organizations and Ph.D. Students. We have a delivery center in Pune, India and our sales office is in London.

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Over 750 COVID-19 cases reported in U.S. as more community spread cases surface

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 16:08, March 10, 2020

NEW YORK, March 10 (Xinhua) -- Over 750 cases of COVID-19 were reported in the United States as of midnight Monday as the death toll rose to 26, according to the Johns Hopkins Center for Systems Science and Engineering.

At least three states -- New Jersey, Florida and Rhode Island -- have declared a state of emergency as confirmed COVID-19 cases keep growing.

The Grand Princess cruise ship that carries some 3,500 people, including 21 confirmed coronavirus patients, docked at the Port of Oakland in California on Monday after being held off at sea for days.

Passengers will disembark and the crew members will remain quarantined on board the ship.

Authorities said the disembarkation process is expected to take days, and those with immediate medical needs and those with symptoms or testing positive for the coronavirus will disembark first.

California Governor Gavin Newsom said earlier that most of the nearly 1,000 California passengers will be quarantined at Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, Northern California, while others will be sent to a military base in San Diego for a mandatory 14-day quarantine.

In a tweet Sunday, Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf reassured the public about their safety, stressing that "no one will be quarantined in Oakland, nor will any passengers be released into the general public."

She also defended the state government's decision to offload the passengers in Oakland.

"Oakland's role in this operation is to support our state and federal authorities as they conduct a critical public health mission to help those impacted by the COVID-19 virus," Schaaf said.

According to the Chinese Consulate General in San Francisco, 20 Chinese nationals are on the Grand Princess cruise ship, including 11 crew members and nine passengers.

Also in California, Los Angeles County on Monday identified its first case of community transmission of COVID-19 as the total number of confirmed cases reached 19 in the county.

Barbara Ferrer, director of LA County Department of Public Health, called on people to work together on slowing the transmission of the novel coronavirus.

"We continue to urge everyone to do their part: stay home if you are sick and keep your children home if they are sick; plan for the possibility of school and business closures, and be sure to follow any additional directives issued by Public Health and/or local officials," said Ferrer in a statement.

Meanwhile on the East Coast, over 140 people were diagnosed with COVID-19 in the state of New York as of Monday afternoon, with nearly 100 clustered in the Westchester County, one of the country's biggest COVID-19 hotspots.

A seven-year-old girl in New York City's Bronx Borough is among the eight new patients diagnosed in the city on Monday. She's also connected to the first identified case in Westchester, said New York Mayor Bill de Blasio.

"As New York City continues to see more cases of community transmission, I am reminding New Yorkers to remain vigilant and take the necessary steps to protect themselves," he told a press briefing on Monday.

The mayor also called on the federal government to help the city increase testing capacity "so we can get the job done faster," he said.

Currently, 24 New York City residents are under mandatory quarantine and 2,019 others are under voluntary home isolation, he added.

During another press conference on Monday, New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo announced the state will produce up to 100,000 gallons of alcohol-based hand sanitizer each week, which will be distributed to New Yorkers free of charge.

He also said the state is going to set a policy for all schools that if a student tests positive in a school, that school is closed for an initial 24-hour period for assessment. Then a determination will be made about whether to close the school for longer.

Both the governor and the mayor stressed that the people at risk are senior citizens and those people with an underlying illness or a compromised immune system.

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The Delhi High Court on Wednesday modified its earlier order on disposal of unidentified bodies recovered after recent incidents of violence in northeast Delhi and allowed the authorities to dispose of unidentified bodies after two weeks from the date of the publication of the names.

Earlier, the High Court asked the government hospitals of the capital not to dispose of the unidentified body till March 11 and to conduct videography of post-mortem of bodies recovered during violence in Delhi.

A Division Bench of Justice Vipin Sanghi and Justice Rajneesh Bhatnagar also stated that the authorities shall call persons who have made complaints regarding the disappearance of their kin etc to facilitate identification of unidentified bodies.

The court directed that the respondent (Delhi Police) should call the complainants and inform them that they have recovered unidentified bodies and call them for identification of the said bodies.

During the hearing, police informed the court that the earlier orders regarding the preservation of DNA samples and other directions too have been complied with.

The bench had earlier also asked Delhi Police to publish details including the photographs of all unidentified bodies kept in government mortuaries after violence in Delhi on their official website. It had also directed the police to publish specific information including post-mortem and DNA samples on the official website.

The bench was hearing various petitions related to missing people including one named Hamza. Hamza's brother-in-law, Ansari Mohd Arif, had approached the Delhi High Court with his habeas corpus petition after he went missing during the recent violence in the capital.

Delhi Government has assured the court that it will facilitate the petitioner to visit the hospital mortuaries.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The government moved the Supreme Court on Wednesday challenging the order which directed the state adminstration to remove posters of those accused of vandalism during anti-CAA protests in December.

The appeal filed by the state is scheduled to be heard on Thursday by a vacation bench of justices U U Lalit and Aniruddha Bose, advocate general for Raghvendra Singh told PTI.

The high court had on March 9 asked the government not to install such posters "without having the authority of law".

It had directed the district magistrate and the Lucknow police commissioner to submit a compliance report in this regard on or before March 16.
Under the policy, two operators, the TAB and Tattersalls, could install up to 5000 machines each in the first 18 months, with no more than 100 machines at any one venue.

The State Government would introduce legislation to install up to 10,000 gaming machines in hotels and licensed clubs, and create an independent commission to regulate the gaming industry, the Premier, Mrs Kirner, said yesterday.

Other features of the policy, which Mrs Kirner said would stop up to $400 million in gambling money crossing into New South Wales each year, include the linking of all machines to a central computer, a $2 betting limit and a maximum of five machines at hotels and other places of unrestricted entry.

The Opposition Leader, Mr Brown, said the Opposition would consider the legislation under its public interest test. But it is believed that it is likely to block the legislation under the category of major social change for which the Government did not received mandate at the 1988 election.

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The legislation will increase the players stake to 88 per cent from about 83 per cent of turnover under Tabaret. Seven per cent will go to the Government, two per cent to the operator and three per cent to clubs. Mrs Kirner said the Governments stake of an estimate annual turnover of between $1 billion and $1.5 billion would go to the Hospitals and Charities Fund.

The gaming commission would have power to set standards for licensing of manufacturers, operators and venues, and the maximum stakes in restricted clubs. An online computer would ensure a fair go for players, Mrs Kirner said.
Unfortunately for some shareholders, the Bank Of Ireland Group (ISE:BIRG) share price has dived 39% in the last thirty days. Indeed the recent decline has arguably caused some bitterness for shareholders who have held through the 54% drop over twelve months.

Assuming nothing else has changed, a lower share price makes a stock more attractive to potential buyers. In the long term, share prices tend to follow earnings per share, but in the short term prices bounce around in response to short term factors (which are not always obvious). So, on certain occasions, long term focussed investors try to take advantage of pessimistic expectations to buy shares at a better price. Perhaps the simplest way to get a read on investors' expectations of a business is to look at its Price to Earnings Ratio (PE Ratio). A high P/E implies that investors have high expectations of what a company can achieve compared to a company with a low P/E ratio.

View our latest analysis for Bank Of Ireland Group

How Does Bank Of Ireland Group's P/E Ratio Compare To Its Peers?

Bank Of Ireland Group's P/E of 7.23 indicates relatively low sentiment towards the stock. The image below shows that Bank Of Ireland Group has a lower P/E than the average (8.0) P/E for companies in the banks industry.

ISE:BIRG Price Estimation Relative to Market, March 10th 2020

This suggests that market participants think Bank Of Ireland Group will underperform other companies in its industry. Many investors like to buy stocks when the market is pessimistic about their prospects. You should delve deeper. I like to check if company insiders have been buying or selling.

How Growth Rates Impact P/E Ratios

When earnings fall, the 'E' decreases, over time. Therefore, even if you pay a low multiple of earnings now, that multiple will become higher in the future. So while a stock may look cheap based on past earnings, it could be expensive based on future earnings.

Bank Of Ireland Group saw earnings per share decrease by 38% last year. And EPS is down 9.7% a year, over the last 5 years. This could justify a pessimistic P/E.

Story continues

Remember: P/E Ratios Don't Consider The Balance Sheet

One drawback of using a P/E ratio is that it considers market capitalization, but not the balance sheet. So it won't reflect the advantage of cash, or disadvantage of debt. In theory, a company can lower its future P/E ratio by using cash or debt to invest in growth.

While growth expenditure doesn't always pay off, the point is that it is a good option to have; but one that the P/E ratio ignores.

Is Debt Impacting Bank Of Ireland Group's P/E?

Bank Of Ireland Group's net debt is 68% of its market cap. This is a reasonably significant level of debt -- all else being equal you'd expect a much lower P/E than if it had net cash.

The Verdict On Bank Of Ireland Group's P/E Ratio

Bank Of Ireland Group has a P/E of 7.2. That's below the average in the IE market, which is 13.7. When you consider that the company has significant debt, and didn't grow EPS last year, it isn't surprising that the market has muted expectations. Given Bank Of Ireland Group's P/E ratio has declined from 11.9 to 7.2 in the last month, we know for sure that the market is more worried about the business today, than it was back then. For those who prefer to invest with the flow of momentum, that might be a bad sign, but for deep value investors this stock might justify some research.

Investors should be looking to buy stocks that the market is wrong about. If it is underestimating a company, investors can make money by buying and holding the shares until the market corrects itself. So this free visualization of the analyst consensus on future earnings could help you make the right decision about whether to buy, sell, or hold.

Of course you might be able to find a better stock than Bank Of Ireland Group. So you may wish to see this free collection of other companies that have grown earnings strongly.

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



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
United Airlines announced comparable cuts last week and said in a Tuesday securities filing that its chief executive, Oscar Munoz, and its president, Scott Kirby, would forgo their base salaries at least through June. Gary Kelly, the chief executive of Southwest Airlines, told employees on Monday that he was taking a 10 percent pay cut.

In the last three or four days, United has seen a 100 percent decline in net bookings to Asia and Europe, based on a combination of new bookings and cancellations, Mr. Kirby said on Tuesday. Domestically, net bookings are down about 70 percent.

He and his team are planning for a worst case in which demand declines deeper and longer than it did after the Sept. 11 attacks, even though the company does not expect that to happen, he said.

Even under this level of industry stress, well survive this crisis without impairing our long-term financial prospects, Mr. Kirby said.

Except for Mr. Kelly, the chief executives all spoke at the conference, where they addressed anxious investors, but it was a vague comment from President Trump on Tuesday that seemed to bolster airline stocks, which recovered some of their recent losses.

Speaking to reporters at midday, Mr. Trump said the federal government was ready to support the cruise and airline industries, adding, We are helping them through this patch.

Americans shares, which had lost half their value in the past month, ended the day with a gain of 15 percent. United, Delta and Southwest shares also rose.
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz.  Two men already in custody on unrelated charges have been arrested on warrants in an Arizona homicide case, authorities said Wednesday.

They said Shawn Eckard and Jason Eric Johnson have both been indicted in Navajo County for first-degree murder.

Coconino County Sheriffs officials said a dead body was found in the woods outside of Heber, Arizona, on Aug. 5.

The body later was identified as 44-year-old Craig Cavanaugh, who was reported missing after not returning to Farmington, New Mexico, from a trip to Arizona in July.

Farmington police say Cavanaugh had gone to Peoria, Arizona for a job.

Police say two men used Cavanaughs credit cards in Payson, Glendale and Peoria between July 5-7 and his truck was found on July 12.

Authorities say Eckard currently is in the custody of the Arizona Department of Corrections while Johnson is in the custody of the Colorado Department of Corrections and both men have pending court appearances in Navajo County.

It was unclear Wednesday if either Eckard or Johnson has a lawyer.
MIAMI, March 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- In a commitment to provide Azamara guests confidence and flexibility during a period of uncertainty surrounding global travel, the company has implemented a revised travel insurance program to cover all booking cancellations, regardless of the specified reason. In addition to the Royal Caribbean Cruises LTD. "Cruise with Confidence" cancellation policy, Azamara has taken additional steps to update the "CruiseCare" travel protection program available to Azamara guests, which will now cover a 100% cruise protection, for any reason. Azamara wants to ensure all guests are provided with the ultimate flexibility and understands that guests should not be penalized during unavoidable situations.

"While health precautions should be taken seriously and set in place, we believe providing guests with viable health and cancellation policies provides the most comfort for booking now." says Larry Pimentel, President & CEO of Azamara CEO. "Given the above sentiment, the safety and health of our guests is our top priority, therefore we're making it easy for them to plan now, or in the future, hassle free."

This new enhancement to the CruiseCare program guarantees a 100% Future Cruise Credit to U.S. guests sailing before December 31, 2021. Guests who purchase the enhanced CruiseCare protection program by April 30,2020 can plan their future vacations with confidence knowing they have the flexibility to cancel at any time, for any reason. The CruiseCare program not only covers investment protection, but also includes additional emergency medical and convenience benefits including:

Trip Interruption: up to total trip cost if you can't start or finish your cruise vacation because you're sick or hurt, there's a death in the family or another covered reason

up to total trip cost if you can't start or finish your cruise vacation because you're sick or hurt, there's a death in the family or another covered reason Trip Delay : up to $500 for catch-up expenses

: up to for catch-up expenses Accident Medical : up to $10,000 if you get hurt on your vacation

: up to if you get hurt on your vacation Sickness Medical : up to $10,000 if you get sick on your vacation

: up to if you get sick on your vacation Emergency Medical Evacuation : up to $25,000 if you need emergency medical transportation

: up to if you need emergency medical transportation Baggage Protection : up to $1,500 if your bags are lost, stolen or damaged

: up to if your bags are lost, stolen or damaged Baggage Delay: up to $500 to purchase necessary personal items if your bags are delayed.

Azamara understands that unexpected situations occur and wants to provide travelers with the confidence that the cancellation of their trip is fully protected  for any reason at all.

Daily updates can be found at www.azamara.com

Learn more about CruiseCare: Azamara.com/CruiseCare

Learn more about Cruise with Confidence: Azamara.com/CruiseWithConfidence

Terms & Conditions

The "Cruise with Confidence" program allows individual and guests in non-contracted groups booked on Azamara to cancel up to 48 hours up to the scheduled departure of the cruise for guests scheduled to sail on or before July 31, 2020. If the guest opts for the "Cruise with Confidence" program, and cancels his/her cruise, a Future Cruise Credit ("FCC") will be issued for the amounts paid to the cruise line. The FCC is non transferrable and may not be redeemed for cash. The FCC certificate's value may be applied toward the cruise fare due on a new booking on the brand originally purchased. All bookings are subject to availability at the time of the request. Any booking made using the FCC must be used for a sailing that commences on or before December 31, 2021. If not used on or before December 31, 2021, the certificate will automatically expire and have no value. Restrictions may apply on stateroom category and applicable pricing and promotions. Guest will remain responsible for paying the applicable deposit amounts, taxes/fees, port expenses and gratuities for the new booking. Azamara reserves the right to correct any errors, inaccuracies or omissions at any time without prior notice or liability. Offer can be withdrawn without notice. 2020 Azamara. Ships' registry: Malta.

**CruiseCare must be purchased between March 11, 2020 and April 30, 2020. CruiseCare applies to new and existing reservations for Azamara sailings only departing before December 31, 2021. CruiseCare includes a Cruise Vacation Cancellation Enhancement, which provides a 100% Future Cruise Credit ("FCC") if the guest cancels for any reason. CruiseCare FCC are valid for one year from issue date, are non-transferrable, and not redeemable for cash. FCC provides the prepaid nonrefundable portion of cruise fare only. Other FCC restrictions, such as blackout periods, apply.

Not applicable to pre/post land programs or airfare booked via ChoiceAir. To be eligible for credits, notification of cancellation must be given to Azamara prior to the ship's departure. If you previously purchased CruiseCare before March 9, 2020 or already cancelled your voyage with Azamara, please contact the CruiseCare Help Line at 1-877-538-3816 or 1-516-342-7262 regarding the FCC. FCC does not apply to airfare booked via ChoiceAir.

Note: The plan cost is fully refundable if you are canceling outside of Azamara's published penalty period. The plan cost may be paid at any time from deposit up to final payment; however, CruiseCare takes effect only upon payment of the plan cost in addition to any required cruise deposit. Payment of the cruise fare deposit amount without the plan cost will not activate this program.

Note: While this is not a complete description - a full plan description detailing the terms, conditions and exclusions is available on our website www.Azamara.com/plan/cruisecare -We have highlighted just a few of the plan benefits. If you have any questions, or would like to request a copy of the plan description, please call our plan administrator, Arch Insurance Company, at (888) 722-2195. (Please use this number for CruiseCare inquiries only. Reservation details will not be available.) CruiseCare is provided in addition to other applicable indemnity or insurance programs, where permitted by law, and shall apply only after benefits have been paid.

This plan was designed and is administered by Aon Affinity and underwritten by Arch Insurance Company, with administrative offices in Jersey City, NJ (NAIC #11150) under Policy Form series LTP 2013. This is a brief overview of the coverages. Subject to terms, conditions and exclusions. This is a general overview of insurance benefits available. Coverages may vary in certain states and not all benefits are available in all jurisdictions. Please refer to your certificate of benefits or policy of insurance for detailed terms, conditions and exclusions that apply. You can request a copy of your certificate by calling Arch Insurance Company at 888-722-2195. Azamara reserves the right to correct any errors, inaccuracies or omissions and to change or update fares, fees and surcharges at any time without prior notice. 2020 Azamara Ships registered in Malta.

About Azamara

Azamara is an upmarket cruise line and the leader in Destination Immersion, with three mid-sized ships sailing to all seven continents of the world. The boutique-style ships allow them to reach marquee ports around the world and dock in smaller less-visited hidden gems. Azamara's commitment to creating immersive experiences for travelers to connect with local cultures, allows guests to travel deeper with longer stays, more overnights, and night touring. Most recently, Azamara debuted the largest selection of pre-and-post-voyage land programs in the cruising industry, reinforcing its commitment to Destination Immersion beyond cruising. Guests can experience a boutique hotel at sea with inclusive amenities such as gratuities, beverages, AzAmazing Evenings  an exclusive, bespoke event designed specifically for Azamara guests to immerse themselves in their destination and more. Azamara holds prestigious awards, further exemplifying the line's commitment to Destination Immersion, including 2019 USA Today Readers' Choice for "Best Boutique Cruise Line" and 2018 Cruise Critic Editor's Picks Awards for "Best Shore Excursions." In 2020, Azamara will take guests to 294 ports in 76 countries, including 279 late nights and 162 overnights. Additional information can be found on www.azamara.com.

SOURCE Azamara

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Easyjet has been slammed for an "utterly ridiculous" price hike after a Belfast passenger was quoted 860 for a return flight to Birmingham.

Claire Ewing tried to book a flight from Belfast International on Friday, March 20, to Birmingham, returning on Sunday, March 22.

Posting a picture of the booking page on Facebook, she said: "Airlines need a competitor or this is what happens.

"So much for serving the people of Northern Ireland. Charging 860 for a 'low-cost' flight from Belfast to Birmingham... utterly ridiculous."

This newspaper looked up a booking for the same flight with the airline and was quoted a price of 625.

Prices reduced substantially to 189 for a return flight with easyJet the following weekend.

The post from Ms Ewing followed the collapse of Flybe last week, which operated over 80% of the flights coming in and out of Belfast City Airport.

On Monday evening, more than a hundred Flybe workers gathered at Belfast City Hall to call for support from councillors.

Captain Chris Robb, base captain for Flybe at Belfast City Airport, said one friend from Southampton had been quoted a price of 700 to get to Belfast.

"We provided more than just an optional service. This country relied on it," he said. "If this is not addressed urgently, the whole economy of Northern Ireland is going to suffer immensely."

A spokeswoman from EasyJet denied prices had been artificially increased as a result of the Flybe collapse. "As with all airlines, our pricing is demand-led, which means that as more seats are booked on a flight the price will rise. Our fares start low and increase the closer it is to the date of departure," she added.

"The fares highlighted are a direct result of high demand for flights due to convenient scheduled flight times, so fares automatically increase as seats on the aircraft are booked. We do not artificially increase ticket prices.

"EasyJet currently has fares available throughout March from Belfast to Birmingham starting from 47.99."

On Wednesday afternoon, Flybe staff and supporters staged a protest at Stormont with chants of "save our airports, save our jobs".

Speaking ahead of the rally, Unite regional officer George Brash said 190 staff had been made redundant overnight.

The union is demanding that the Executive and airport authorities safeguard the long-term future of Belfast City Airport, connectivity and jobs.

He said that any airline seeking to take over Flybe routes could not cherry-pick but would have to agree to take on all routes and establish a base at the airport.

"Flybe's collapse resulted in a workforce here of 190 being made redundant overnight and posed a direct threat to the long-term sustainability of Belfast City Airport," he added.

"The airport plays a critical role in securing the economic connectivity of the metropolitan area. It also accommodates vital organ transit, the transportation of patients for medical treatment and allows family members to stay connected.

"The airport authorities and Stormont must ensure that any airline wanting to take on routes does not cherry-pick but commits to take them all on and establish a base at the airport. That's the only way to guarantee regional connectivity and jobs."

If this is not possible, Mr Brash called on the Executive to establish a public service airline to safeguard the route and the airport.

"Many airlines elsewhere in the world are run on a public service basis - why not here?" he asked.
MANILA, Philippines  Malacanang on Wednesday urged the public to buy only what they need amid rising number of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infections in the country.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo made the appeal following reports of panic-buying in some supermarkets, groceries or pharmacies.

Panelo said panic-buying would only result in undue hoarding and price increases.

Our officials from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) gave assurances that we have ample stock of essential items, he said in a statement.

He also noted reports of overcrowding in some hospitals linked to coronavirus fears following recent increase in number of infections in the country.

The Palace official said that while the government encouraged everyone to seek consultation in case they experience any symptoms of coronavirus, those considered close contacts with COVID-19 symptoms should be prioritized in obtaining medical attention and management.

He said close contacts include persons with a travel history in the last 14 days to countries with local transmission or those who have a history of exposure to patients who tested positive for COVID-19.

Also considered as close contacts are people who provided direct care for a COVID-19 patient or those working together, staying in the same close environment, traveling together, or living in the same household with a COVID-19 patient within the 14-day incubation period.

Panelo also reminded the public to maintain proper hygiene and good health, and refrain from sharing unverified information that may only cause unnecessary anxiety among the public.

We cannot stress enough the importance of everyones cooperation during this time, he said.

Let us not circulate unverified information that may only cause unnecessary anxiety among the members of our respective communities and instead maintain good hygiene and observe proper etiquette at all times, he added.

The Philippines is currently under a state of public health emergency following the hoisting of Code Red Sublevel 1 by the Department of Health (DOH) after it confirmed the countrys first case of local transmission.

As of posting time, the country has 33 confirmed coronavirus infections as reported by the DOH.

The post Palace urges public to buy only what they need amid coronavirus fears appeared first on UNTV News.
WASHINGTON  The White House and Democrats rushed on Wednesday to reach agreement on emergency legislation to provide a first tranche of economic assistance to help Americans cope with the fast-moving coronavirus pandemic, with the hope of sending it to President Trump for his signature by the end of the week.

As the White House and Democrats were divided over what a broader economic stimulus package should look like, the two parties were trying to coalesce around the idea of a narrower short-term bill, while deferring discussion over other economic measures until after Congress returns from a weeklong recess. The bill would focus on paid leave, enhanced unemployment insurance, food assistance and help for small businesses.

By nighttime, though, there was still no deal, and House Democrats were pushing ahead with their own emergency relief package they were calling the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. They expect to bring it to the floor for a vote on Thursday before they leave Washington for a scheduled break.

The bill will include free coronavirus testing, paid emergency leave for workers, food security assistance, help to states overburdened by Medicaid costs and strengthened unemployment insurance, according to a joint statement issued Wednesday night by Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senator Chuck Schumer, the minority leader.
Auserd Camps, March 11, 2020 (SPS) - The Secretary General of the Saguia El Hamra and Rio de Oro (UJSARIO), Mr. Mohamed Said Dadi, said that the holding of the International Youth Forum in Sahrawi Refugee Camps is a clear message of Solidarity and support to the Sahrawi people in their noble struggle towards freedom and independence in press conference held yesterday in the hosting Wilaya

The said forum will constitute a new turning point in support of the Sahrawi just cause through the distinguished participation of various delegating from different countries. Ujsarios SG made clear to the national media

Mohamed Said Dadi went on saying that the main aim behind the organization of this event is to raise awareness about the fair struggle of the people of Western Sahara under the leadership of its legitimate and sole representative, the Frente POLISARIO.

More than 150 delegate is expected to take part in this solidarity event with the Sahrawi cause coming from different countries of the world. SPS

090/105/TRA
The new coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak globally has been labelled a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO).

WHO chief Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the number of cases outside China had increased 13-fold over the past two weeks. He said he was "deeply concerned" by "alarming levels of inaction" over the virus, said a BBC report.

The global death toll from the new coronavirus has passed 4,000 and the outbreak has spread to over 100 countries.

A pandemic is a disease that is spreading in multiple countries around the world at the same time.

However, Dr Tedros said that calling the outbreak a pandemic did not mean the WHO was changing its advice about what countries should do.

He called on governments to change the course of the outbreak by taking "urgent and aggressive action. Several countries have demonstrated that this virus can be suppressed and controlled," he said.

"The challenge for many countries who are now dealing with large clusters or community transmission is not whether they can do the same - it's whether they will."

Governments had to "strike a fine balance between protecting health, minimising disruption and respecting human life".

"We're in this together to do the right things with calm and protect the citizens of the world. It's doable," he said.

Earlier, Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel warned that up to 70% of the country's population - some 58 million people - could contract the coronavirus.

She said since there was no known cure, the focus would fall on slowing the spread of the virus. "It's about winning time," she said.

In Italy, where there are more than 12,000 confirmed cases, Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has announced the closure of schools, gyms, museums, nightclubs and other venues across the country.

On Wednesday, Italian health officials said the death toll there had risen to 827 from 631.

Meanwhile, Indias count of coronavirus cases rose to 60 with eight testing positive from Kerala. The Indian government suspended all tourist visas to the country till April 15.
Raleigh, North Carolina  An alleged gunman was shot during a foot chase in east Raleigh early Tuesday evening, sparking a protest that lasted well into Wednesday morning, reports CBS Raleigh affiliate WNCN-TV. At first, the angry crowd went to the police chief's home seeking answers.

A large crowd later appeared in downtown Raleigh and marched through various streets, blocking them and chanting. Demonstrators took a U.S. flag from the Governor's Mansion and later burned it. Some carried signs saying, "Whose streets? Our streets!"

The shooting was first reported as a man with a gun around 6:45 p.m., police said. Arriving officers saw someone matching the description the 911 caller gave, the news release said.

At that point, he ran and they chased him, repeatedly ordering him to stop and drop the gun, the release said. He was shot once by one of the officers, the release added.

us-flag-burning-during-protest-after-police-shooging-in-raleigh-nite-of-031020.jpg

Burning U.S. flag is seen during protest after police shooting in Raleigh, N.C. on night of March 10, 2020. WNCN-TV

Police later said Javier Torres, 26, the man who was hit, was taken to a hospital and a gun was found at the shooting scene. There was no word on his condition. Police Chief Cassandra Deck-Brown told reporters Wednesday morning that Torres had run toward another officer before he was shot by the responding officer, in the abdomen.

It happened at a shopping center where another man was shot by police last April. That man died.

A large agitated crowd at the scene demanded answers from police, but no significant information was released until four hours after the shooting, WNCN said.

protest-after-police-shooting-in-raleigh-on-nite-of-031020.jpg

Demonstrators on downtown Raleigh, N.V. after police shot a man during a foot chase on night of March 10, 2020. WNCN-TV

"We need immediate and swift transparency regarding this incident because the community has a right to know and needs to know what's going on," Kerwin Pittman told the station.

Some in the crowd left, saying they were going to Deck-Brown's home. By 10:30 p.m., there were throngs of people there and an officer was standing out front.

Story continues

By about 11:30 p.m., a large crowd appeared in downtown Raleigh. They marched to the State Capitol building early Wednesday morning, grabbing and later burning the flag.

Deck-Brown said, "This is not who we are as a city. But it's also important that individuals who have a desire to voice their concerns, there is a method by which they can do that without damaging people's property, without harming other folks."

There were a few assaults during the protests, she added. It wasn't clear if there were any arrests.

Asked if she had a problem with protesters showing up outside her home, Deck-Brown said, "Of course I do. If I stood here and said anything differently I wouldn't be true to myselfwhat happened tonight  last night  was wrong on a lot of levels."

Deck-Brown also blamed "misinformation" for the resulting protests and said the media were partially responsible. "To our media, you've gotta be partners to giving accurate and timely information and that's not happening like it should," she said.

Police said the officer who fired at Torres was wearing a video camera and it was turned on during the incident. Other officers also had their body-worn cameras on at the time, police said, adding that they would seek to get the video released.

"As is standard protocol, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation will conduct an investigation of the officer-involved shooting," police said.

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Locust St. SE, 200 block, 9:15 p.m. March 4. A female ran into a neighbors apartment to get away from a man. He began hitting the door and threatened to break it down. The man fled from the scene.
Mindtree has signed an agreement with Realogy to support the company's continuing digital transformation initiatives over the next five years.

Through this partnership, Realogy Holdings Corp., the largest full-service residential real estate services company in the United States, has expanded its relationship with Mindtree to leverage its digital, data, and technology expertise.

Headquartered in Madison, N. J., Realogy provides integrated brokerage, franchising, mortgage, title, and settlement services to hundreds of thousands of global independent sales agents.

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By Mila M. Jasey

Since COVID-19 came to fruition, we have had countless calls and emails from the state Department of Education, the state Department of Health, the governors office, school superintendents and school officials, translating into thousands of emails to parents and students.

School districts are scheduling development days with early dismissals or delayed openings to plan for an outbreak response. Princeton University instructed students to stay home after spring break and moved to online instruction. Rutgers University is closing its doors in an abundance of caution. The Department of Education has clarified the 180-day minimum requirement would be waived in case the Department of Health mandates school closings.

That is great. Students can self-isolate in their homes with parents who are also self-isolating. They have food, internet access, and a Chromebook to continue online learning. But what if you are one of the thousands of students who dont have a digital device, reliable internet access or are food insecure?

In New Jersey, in both urban and rural communities, many students do not have access to a digital device beyond a smartphone; some still rely on flip phones. The majority of students will not have the ability to access a device allowing them to interact with teachers. If a student does have access to a device, they still may be without reliable internet. While districts are organizing access points, they are in public places, which results in large groups congregating and is exactly the behavior that the closings seek to avoid.

Underserved districts often are high-poverty; many households rely on hourly work and families may be undocumented. Those parents do not have the ability to self-isolate, mostly because they are paid hourly to perform tasks in places their more affluent counterparts can avoid. Those households are often food insecure, and able-bodied adults dare not miss a day of work and risk the ability to provide food for their families. Many districts offer universal free breakfast and lunch and without access to that food, New Jersey students will go hungry.

What will result is a situation where there are two categories of students in New Jersey. Category One is for students who are safe at home with their digital devices, internet, teacher availability, an abundance of food and parental supervision. Category Two is for students without digital devices giving them internet access and therefore no means of communicating with teachers to learn remotely with a very real concern of lack of supervision coupled with massive food insecurity.

Underserved students are most at risk under every proposed school closure design to date, and as usual, it is they who will fall through the cracks.

Assemblywoman Mila Jasey represents the 27th Legislative District. She is chairwoman of the Assembly Higher Education Committee and vice chair of the Education Committee.

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.
MUNTINLUPA Representative Ruffy Biazon on Wednesday, March 11, criticized the governments failure to fully utilize emergency powers to address the Covid-19 threat and urged Health Secretary Francisco Duque III to take charge and act as incident commander.

With all due respect to the good Secretary... Personally, I had some observations that the inter-agency task force (IATF) was not fully functioning as it should be with regard to proper coordination, Biazon said during Wednesdays hearing on the Covid-19 threat by the House committee on health.

And there are other aspects of this crisis management which we believe could be handled in a better way in line with the DOH (Department of Health) being the principal incident commander, he added.

Biazon pointed out that under Section 105 of the Local Government Code, the Secretary of Health may assume direct national supervision and control of local government units in cases of epidemics.

In cases of epidemics, pestilence, and other widespread public health dangers, the Secretary of Health may, upon the direction of the President and in consultation with the local government unit concerned, temporarily assume direct supervision and control over health operations in any local government unit for the duration of the emergency, but in no case exceeding a cumulative period of six (6) months. With the concurrence of the local government unit concerned, the period for such direct national control and supervision may be further extended, the law states.

Biazon noted that there has been no proper communication coordination between the Secretary of health and private hospitals.

Likewise with the LGUs; yon po bang nakita nating may mga statement ang mga LGU, the Secretary had to come out and give an explanation, he said.

I am fully behind the Secretary of Health, and I make these statements because I want him to be recognized by everyone as the incident commander in this crisis. Biazon added. (SunStar Philippines)
Mighty Distributing System - Norcross, GA Mike Hudgins, Vice President of Sales, said, It's not enough for a supplier to simply care about your business. The added value of a true partnership is for people to be there when you need them, with meaningful solutions to the real problems that come up every day.

Mighty Distributing System of America, a franchisor of sales and services in auto parts, announced today that it has broken its annual sales record for the seventh consecutive year in 2019. Mighty also celebrates 50 years of franchising in 2020 and has been named a top 50 franchise by Franchise Business Review, one of the Top 500 Franchises by Entrepreneur Magazine, and a Top 25 Franchise by the Atlanta Business Chronicle.

One of the keys to Mightys success is its unique combination of business insight, customized training, inventory management and exceptional personal service. Mike Hudgins, Vice President of Sales, said, It's not enough for a supplier to simply care about your business. The added value of a true partnership is for people to be there when you need them, with meaningful solutions to the real problems that come up every day.

Founded in 1963, Mighty Distributing System is a Georgia-based franchisor with a network of distributors that supply preventive maintenance products and inventory management solutions to automotive service providers (tire dealers, quick lubes, independent shops, car dealerships, and fleets). Mightys growth plan includes strategic partnerships with prominent companies that operate successful automotive service businesses and are looking for ways to improve profits, operational efficiency, and diversification.

About Mighty Distributing System of America

Mighty is headquartered in Norcross, GA, and supports 100 franchised distributors in 44 U.S. states and five international markets. The Mighty System features local service, inventory management expertise, and training in conjunction with extensive offerings of OE quality underhood and undercar parts, chemical products, lubricants and shop supplies. The Mighty business model attracts independent repair shops, quick lubes, tire centers and new car dealerships across the nation and abroad. Mightys unique approach of dealing directly and exclusively with automotive professionals began in 1963.
Year 10 students across greater Melbourne (and those of equivalent age outside formal education) are invited to enter ABCs Takeover Melbourne Competition.

Winners will work with ABC producers to have their story featured on the ABC.

Takeover Melbourne creates a powerful platform for young Melburnians to be heard and to share their experiences, challenges and passions with the rest of the city. Thirty-two winners will have their stories featured locally and nationally on the ABC and will attend the Takeover Melbourne Summit  a week of leadership development and money-cant-buy experiences, empowering them to design a brighter future for their city.

City of Melbourne Lord Mayor, Sally Capp, said the Takeover Melbourne Competition has the power to help young people shape the futures of their city.

We want to provide opportunities for Melbournes young people to amplify their voice and support the development of engaged and diverse young leaders who want to make a difference in their communities.

We want to provide opportunities for Melbournes teenagers to get involved and share the things that are important to them with the rest of Melbourne, the Lord Mayor said.

Director of ABC Regional and Local, Judith Whelan, said the Takeover Melbourne Competition would empower young people to speak up about important issues.

The ABC is opening its doors to the younger generation, to make sure their voices are heard and taken seriously on issues that affect them. Takeover is an exciting opportunity for the ABC to engage with communities across the city.

We are looking forward to seeing Takeover Melbourne provide real opportunities to the young people of Melbourne, Ms Whelan said.

VicHealth CEO Sandro Demaio said its important to give a diverse range of young people a platform to share their strong views.

Young people will inherit our city and the many challenges were currently facing, so its critical they have the opportunity to voice their ideas and concerns, Dr Demaio said.

Young people are already stepping up around the world and creating change on key issues including health and climate change. Takeover is a great opportunity to hear from a range of local young people about their ideas to make Melbourne a healthier and more sustainable place to live.

Entries can be submitted via the Takeover Melbourne website: abc.net.au/takeover. The Takeover Melbourne Competition officially closes on 26 June 2020.

Takeover Melbourne is a partnership between the ABC, Resilient Melbourne, VicHealth, the Centre for Multicultural Youth and the 32 local councils of Greater Melbourne via Resilient Melbourne.
An Israeli court has again rejected a bid to speed up extradition proceedings against alleged child abuser Malka Leifer, sparking renewed calls from an Australian MP to immediately send the former Melbourne school principal back to the country.

Labor MP Josh Burns has written to Israeli President Reuven Rivlin calling for the court proceedings to be completed "as expeditiously as possible" to allow Ms Leifer to be extradited to Australia.

Malka Leife (right) in court in Jerusalem in 2018. Credit:AP

According to a report by Israel's Channel 13, the Jerusalem District Court this week rejected the state attorney office's request to set a date as soon as possible for the formal extradition proceedings.

Judge Miriam Lomp said the required legal proceedings had not yet been completed and the request had no legal basis.
His new film In Fabric continues in this general vein, though the exact model is harder to pinpoint. The period setting seems to be the early 1980s, but some aspects of the style hark back more to the 1970s, such as the harpsichord-heavy score by the group Cavern of Anti-Matter.

Can we help you: The odd staff of Dentley and Soper.

British director Peter Strickland has some of the qualities of what his countrymen call an "anorak": an oddball with an encyclopedic grasp of a single subject, which in his case would be vintage cinematic Euro-sleaze. His breakout success Berberian Sound Studio paid homage to the lurid Italian horror films of the 1970s, while his follow-up The Duke Of Burgundy was a softcore pastiche with an all-female cast.

For the first time in one of Stricklands features, the setting is English, apparently in London  but a fanciful, highly coloured version of London, where even the down-to-earth bank teller heroine Sheila (Marianne Jean-Baptiste) lives in a moodily lit apartment with psychedelic green wallpaper.

Middle-aged and newly divorced, Sheila is ready to start looking for a new man, much to the dismay of her adult son Vince (Jaygann Ayeh)  an art student still living at home and whose snooty girlfriend Gwen (Gwendoline Christie) is resented by Sheila in turn.

With a big date on the horizon, Sheila wants to look her best and so fate brings her to the department store of Dentley and Soper, where she encounters exotically accented shop assistant Miss Luckmore (Fatma Mohamed), apparently a member of some kind of Satanic cabal.

Enticed by Miss Luckmores largely incomprehensible sales pitch, Sheila buys a slinky red dress that proves to have magical properties, sadly not the kind that are advantageous to the wearer. Inexplicable rashes are only the beginning. But once acquired, it turns out, the item is not so easily disposed of.

All this is as absurd as sounds, and a good portion of In Fabric is openly played for laughs, notably the scenes in which Sheila is harangued by her employers (Steve Oram and Julian Barrett), sinister pedants with a fixation on toilet breaks.
Olmsted County continues preparing for the worst-case scenario as it seeks to avoid panic connected to increasing reports of COVID-19 in the U.S.

"The community is going to be in a better situation if you are prepared, and prepared realistically," said Graham Briggs, the countys public health director.

He said that advice holds true for county government, businesses and individuals.

On the county government side, officials are working on steps that could be considered if an emergency needs to be declared locally.

"Because there are a lot of hoops to jump through, we want to make sure we have it all lined up," said First Assistant County Attorney Brent Walz.

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He said an official declaration could be required to access state and federal emergency funding, but it could also give the county authority to implement isolation and quarantine procedures, if the illness is found to be spreading locally.

Additionally, the county continues to work on plans to ensure government operations continue under the potential worst-case scenario.

With a growing concern surrounding public gatherings, commissioners also discussed the option of holding future meetings by phone or other electronic means.

Walz said it would be allowed if a pandemic is declared, and Briggs said he expects the World Health Organization could make such an announcement in the near future.

Bypassing rules for in-person meetings would require action by County Board Chairman Matt Flynn, County Administrator Heidi Welsch or County Attorney Mark Ostrem.

Commissioner Jim Bier said such action should be used cautiously in order not to panic the public.

"In reality, it would have to go a long way before we had a regularly scheduled meeting where we dont want to show up," he said.

Welsch said the option might be considered if the county opts to strongly encourage at-risk residents to avoid public gatherings.

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Noting that the majority of county commissioners are in the age group  60 years and older  deemed most at risk, she said it could send a confusing message if the board opts to gather during a pandemic with localized spread of the illness.

"We want to be measured," said Welsch, who was working from home due to illness and attended meetings Tuesday through Skype under county protocol, which calls for staff to remain home until fever-free for 24 hours.

So far, no cases of COVID-19 have been identified in Olmsted County or the surrounding area. Three cases have been found in Minnesota.

Briggs said that could increase with testing used to track the illness.

Still, he said there is no reason to assume the worst or declare a local emergency at this point.

"We dont want the public to panic," he said. "This is not a panic situation."

He added that Minnesota appears to be poised to respond with improved practices as it watches measures taken in other parts of the nation and how well different strategies work to stem the spread of illness.

"Minnesota has a very robust public health system, one of the best in the nation," Briggs said. "If Im going to have my kids living anywhere, I want them in this state right now."

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In Ashland, Louisiana, a woman has been arrested on drug charges when police decided the $5,000 cash she used to post an inmate's bail carried the "strong odor of marijuana." The Terrebonne Parish Sheriff's Office started nosing around Stormy Lynn Parfait, 33, last Friday after she showed up to pay bond for an inmate jailed on drug charges.

From the Associated Press:

After catching a whiff of the cash, a detective searched her car while she was still at the jail and found nearly $40,000 more inside, along with about 100 Klonopin pills and a food stamp card that wasn't registered to Parfait, according to the sheriff's statement. Investigators found hundreds of additional pills and cash as well as marijuana, cocaine and paraphernalia, during a search of Parfait's home later, news outlets reported. Four unattended children there were turned over to a relative. Parfait was charged with multiple counts of possession with intent to distribute drugs, four counts of illegal use of a controlled drug in the presence of persons under 17, taking contraband to or into a correctional institution and other related charges, authorities said.

More at AP:

Police jail woman who paid bail with marijuana-scented cash
The Punjab government has initiated steps to buy 1,000 more 'personal protection kits' on urgent basis for doctors and other staffers to be engaged in treatment of coronavirus-hit patients, whose confirmed positive case in the state stayed at one till Wednesday.

The government has also secured the Centre's permission to conduct preliminary medical tests for suspected coronavirus-his cases at two government medical colleges at Amritsar and Patiala, besides PGIMR, Chandigarh, an official said on Wednesday.

Principal Secretary (Medical Education) D K Tiwari said staffers of all three medical colleges and hospitals in the state, including one at Fairdkot besides those at Amritsar and Patiala, have been imparted a special training to administer treatment to coronavirus-hit patients.

The government has also directed all its deputy commissioners not to grant permission to hold any big-gathering program to prevent the spread of the deadly virus, an official statement said.

A seven-member ministerial panel, constituted earlier by Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, also held a meeting to take stock of the preparedness of various state government agencies and departments to tackle the corona menace.

The group of ministers, headed by Local Government Minister Brahm Mohindra, was set up by the chief minister on March 7 to take stock of the situation on daily basis.

In its meeting, the panel examined the efficacy and needs of various measures to prevent the coronavirus affliction, the statement said.

Principal Secretary (Health) Anurag Aggarwal told the panel that at present only one case of a Punjab native, who had recently returned from Italy, has been confirmed positive for coronavirus affliction.

He said till date 14 suspected case have been reported in the state.

Aggarwal said passengers coming from high-risk countries are to be admitted in isolation ward for 14 days while those coming from low-risk countries have to submit an undertaking that he will remain in isolation at his home for 14 days during which he will not meet anyone.

The health secretary also apprised the ministerial panel of a plan to hold a mock drill soon in the state to generate public awareness about coronavirus.

Meanwhile, the total number of symptomatic cases in Punjab as on Wednesday stayed at 13, with all of them staying under observation in hospital, state health department officials said.

The total number of patients who have tested negative are 70, while those who are under home observation in the state as on March 11 are 1,584.

The condition of a Hoshiarpur native, who was tested positive for coronavirus after his return from Italy recently, is stated to be stable, officials said. The Hoshiarpur native is the first and sole confirmed case of corona-positive in the state. He is presently undergoing treatment at a government hospital in Amritsar.

The officials said the total number of passengers, screened till date at international airports of Amritsar and Mohali, and international check posts at Wagah/Attari Border and Dera Baba Nanak are close to 84,000.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
NCP chief Sharad Pawar on



Wednesday filed his nomination here for the March 26 Rajya Sabha election.

The former Union minister filed his nomination in the Vidhan Bhavan complex here. He was accompanied by NCP leaders from the state.

NCP leader and former minister Fauzia Khan, who was expected to file her nomination along with Pawar on Wednesday, is likely to do so on Thursday.

The last date for filing of nomination is March 13.

Besides Pawar's, the Rajya Sabha terms of Union minister Ramdas Athawale, Congress' Hussain Dalwai, Sena's Rajkumar Dhoot, BJP's Amar Sable, BJP-backed Independent Sanjay Kakade and NCP's Majeed Memon will end on April 2.

Ruling alliance members Shiv Sena, Congress and NCP can comfortably win a seat each, as a single candidate needs 37 votes.

The leaders of the ruling alliance will meet on Wednesday evening to finalise the floor strategy.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
(Photo : Hush Naidoo on Unsplash ) Coronavirus USA: Is it Safe to Transfer Blood? Why USA is Running Low in Blood Donation

Blood drives are one of the most critical health facilities in the United States of America that does supply a huge amount of public blood transfusion that every citizen might need in case of emergency. Today, Mar. 10, some states in the country are now pleading for people to donate their blood in order for the hospitals to not run out of this essential human body part. What would happen if there are no blood donations in the country?

Coronavirus USA: Blood supply donations drop 'emergency low'

If you are located at the Pacific Northwest part of the country, you might be in trouble of blood shortage as blood donations in public hospitals are now running short amid Coronavirus spread in the country.

Patch reported this week that blood supplies in this part of the country are "at risk of collapse" since schools, businesses, and even hospitals cancelled most blood drives. One blood transfusion company in Seattle named Bloodworks Northwest expressed their pleading for healthy people to donate blood in times of this disease in order to save people that needs blood the most.

"It is our shared civic responsibility to get the word out that our community is under a grave threat," Bloodworks CEO Curt Bailey said in a news release. "The cancellation of blood drives creates a serious public health concern since nearly 60% of our blood supply is collected at mobile blood drives."

Aside from lack of blood donations, this problem might also cause more trouble for hospitals since doctors would be forced to prioritize who's going to have blood or not since there's a massive shortage.

Yup, it is safe to donate blood, say health experts

One of the major factors why the USA experiences a major shortage of blood donations is the fact that people tend to believe that blood transfusion might also transfer Coronavirus.

Health experts and Red Cross already claimed that blood transfer has no relationship with causing Coronavirus to the body, and there are still no studies that prove that it can affect a healthy person.

Therefore, the Red Cross asks healthy people to donate their blood in hospitals to protect other people that needs it the most aside from Coronavirus patients. Blood doesn't just help the country to make first-aid regarding the spread of the virus, but people with cancer, heart surgery, and other major operations also badly need blood donations.

"We're asking the American people to help keep the blood supply stable during this challenging time. As communities across the country prepare for this public health emergency, it's critical that plans include a readily available blood supply for hospital patients," said Chris Hrouda, president, Red Cross Blood Services. "As fears of coronavirus rise, low donor participation could harm blood availability at hospitals, and the last thing a patient should worry about is whether lifesaving blood will be on the shelf when they need it most."

Red Cross insists that each of their blood operations and transfusions is held with proper hygiene protocol in order for the volunteers to prevent getting a possible virus from other people.

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
HONG KONG  American lawmakers unveiled legislation on Wednesday that, if passed, would tightly restrict imports to the United States from the Xinjiang region of western China, the toughest response yet to Beijings mass detention of minorities and coercive labor practices there.

With Xinjiang producing much of Chinas cotton and textiles, the legislation could affect companies as diverse as Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, Nike and Patagonia, which are named in the draft bill.

While the bills prospects are uncertain, industry groups are already under pressure to police their Xinjiang imports. This week several released a statement calling worker rights and the treatment of minorities in Xinjiang an issue of unprecedented complexity, and asking the U.S. government to help assess it. Companies risk backlash in China if they are seen by the Chinese authorities as being critical of Xinjiang policies that Beijing has vocally defended.

The bill is co-sponsored by six Democrats and five Republicans in the House, and one Republican and two Democratic senators. It follows studies and news reports over the past year that have documented how millions of inhabitants of Xinjiang, especially the largely Muslim Uighur and Kazakh minorities, have been recruited into programs that assign them to work in factories, cotton farms, textile mills and menial jobs in cities.
Mumbai, March 11 : Electronic music producer Ritviz Srivastava has taken to social media to publicly slam T-Series and makers of the Kartik Aaryan-starrer "Pati Patni Aur Woh" for plagiarising his hit song "Udd Gaye" in the movie.

"I went to the theatre to watch a movie last month, just a regular night out with my folks. Half way through the movie a track played and that's when it really hit me. I was listening to a song that's ridiculously similar to 'Udd Gaye'. I am pretty sure there are others like me, and in case you are wondering if I was somehow involved in the making of the said song.

"I would just like to clear the air and say that neither I or my appointed management/publisher/ distributor had any role to play in this nor was any adaptation license for my song 'Udd Gaye' taken by any music company in any part of the world," Ritviz wrote on Instagram.

He added: "I just want to ask one question - why the f**k would someone do this?"After seeing the young artiste's post, many people from the music industry came out in support of him.

DJ Shaan commented: "It is horrible remake/edit or whatever secondly where is the respect and credit!" Comedian Rohan Joshi too took to social media to express his disappointment over the plagiarised track.

"Wow wtf T-Series," Rohan wrote on his Instagram Story.
In late December 2019, a novel coronavirus was identified as the cause of a significant number of human cases of a respiratory disease in China. The outbreak of COVID-19 was first detected in Wuhan City in Hubei province, which is a major domestic and international economic and transport hub in China. From the epicentre, the virus rapidly spread throughout the province which accounts for 83.5 percent of the cumulative confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 96.1 percent of deaths due to COVID-19 in China as of 1 March 2020. Massive quarantine and other preventive measures mounted by the authorities in the wake of the outbreak have led to containing the virus within Hubei province mostly sparing other provinces of the worst of the epidemic. As the situation continues to improve and the number of new confirmed cases keep falling, 98.5 percent of 579 new cases were located in Hubei, and 29 out of Chinas 34 provinces, regions and cities recorded zero new cases as on 1 March 2020.

Data: WHO (COVID-19) Situation Reports

In two months time, the epidemic has not only caused sufferings to the people of China, but also resulted in isolation and a drastic reduction of trade. It also caused disruptions to local economy and peoples livelihoods. The deadly virus is also impacting on financial market places and generated fear that has spread faster than the virus, which appears to be highly contagious but less lethal than its now well-known predecessors of the same Coronavirus family, SARS and MERS-cov.

Although the COVID-19 epidemic is primarily a Public Health crisis, experts have voiced their concerns that the virus could have a much broader impact on the Chinese and global economy, leading to worldwide socio- economic disruptions. China has now become central to the global economy during the last decades, contributing 18.67 percent to the world GDP in 2018, according to the International Monetary Fund. China is also the worlds biggest trading nation deeply entrenched in global trade through a multitude of bilateral and multilateral trade agreements. Although the share of agriculture, including forestry and fisheries in the countrys GDP is declining, its contribution to national GDP was 7.19 percent in 2018. The countrys exports and imports cover destinations and sources spanning all regions of the world and agriculture and food constitutes a significant share of Chinas trade portfolio. This has subsequently raised questions of the impact of the new coronavirus epidemic on the agriculture supply and demand side, in China and abroad, with possible ripple effects on food prices and markets. The impact is mainly due to massive containment efforts  lockdown of cities and population centres, mandatory quarantine, disruption of transportation links, checkpoints and roadblocks. It is agreed that the impact of COVID-19 on the economy or the agriculture sector will very much depend on the time needed to stop the spread of the deadly virus and that a full picture will only emerge in a few months.

Now as the epidemic is winding down in China, the situation is becoming clearer as the government is rolling out mitigation measures as well as supportive policy measures to support the farming sector.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA), the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security and National Health Commission issued on 27 January 2020 a joint information note to farmers for prevention and control of the virus in rural areas. Recognizing the importance of ensuring the supply of food in good quantity and quality during the emergency period, MARA also issued on 30 January 2020 a notice to support and guarantee winter and spring food production during the epidemic period and beyond.

Following up on this decision, MARA published a notice on 10 February 2020 to support spring planting on time specifying incentives for farmers to initiate their farming activities using necessary disease prevention measures; recommendations for field management of crops (winter wheat, rapeseed, vegetables, fruits, tea), farm mechanization support for areas hit hard by the epidemic, and measures to eliminate labour shortages.

MARA and two other central ministries jointly published Urgent notice on addressing practical difficulties for resuming production in livestock and poultry sectors, targeting shortages in labour, feed and product sales on 15 February. The notice called for measures to support resumption of operation of feed, slaughtering and meat processing enterprises as soon as possible; ensuring smooth delivery of raw materials and products including a green channel policy for feed, breeding animals, meat, dairy products, seafood; and incentive measures to support livestock farming.

To encourage food imports to ease pressure on food production and supply during the outbreak, the General Administration of Customs (GAC) announced on 16 February 2020 that it would grant market access to more countries and companies; speed up customs clearance; shorten quarantine and review times; and open green channel for agricultural products and food imports in key ports. On 27 February 2020, the National Forestry and Grassland Administration gave notice of a ban on the illegal trade of wild animals and food consumption of terrestrial wildlife: implementing decision by the Standing Committee of the National Peoples Congress (NPC).

On 15 February 2020, the Ministry of Science and Technology announced that negative results tested from more than 4 800 animal samples collected from pigs, poultry, dogs, and cats by China Animal Health and Epidemiology Centre, in their view allowing a preliminary rule-out of involvement of poultry and livestock in the current outbreak.

Apart from mitigation measures to provide immediate support aimed at undoing the damage caused by disruptive preventive measures, the Government of China has also announced a series of measures to provide policy support to stimulate and sustain agricultural growth and productivity.

The Ministry of Water Resources (MWR) has announced its first agricultural water quota for wheat irrigation aimed at curbing water wastage, which will be officially implemented on 1 March 2020. MARA has also published 2020 planting work plan, outlining key tasks (minimum targets for crop planting areas; ensuring grain production and supply; improving planting structure; promoting green production) and regulatory measures controlling pesticide and fertilizer use in crop production. The State Council released on 11 February 2020 a special policy document for efficient utilization and enhancement of agricultural germplasm. Following the Standing Committee of the National Peoples Congress (NPC) decision on the abolishment of illegal wildlife trade and its food consumption, MARA announced that wildlife protection will be strictly implemented by laws and regulations.

Under the One Health approach, FAO is working closely with national partners, MARA and the Chinese Academy of Agriculture Sciences (CAAS), the China Agriculture University (CAU) among others as well as international organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) to assist in identifying the potential animal hosts of this virus.

FAO is also planning a study on the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on market chains and rural livelihoods in China with CAAS. This study will feed into a broader assessment conducted by the UN in China to assess the socio-economic impact of COVID-19 in the country.

Although a difficult period looms as the country is slowly emerging from a very challenging crises, there is cautious optimism that the setbacks suffered during January-February 2020 wont leave lasting impact on Chinas agriculture and food security. As the measures announced by the Government along with other post-emergency measures go into implementation, it might not take much time for growth to come back and propel the economy much in the same way it did in the aftermath of the SARS epidemic in 2003. It might not be that much spectacular this time given the structural transformation the Chinese economy underwent during this period, but sufficient enough to leave behind the worst concerns and prepare ground for new beginnings.

Author: Vincent Martin, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Representative in China and DPRK
Gurugram, March 11 : One person was arrested for setting a book stall on fire in the city's Sadar Baazar area in the wee hours of Wednesday.

Eyewitnesses said the fire quickly engulfed two adjoining shops which were completely gutted before fire tenders arrived.

The accused has been identified as Vikas Dabas (32), a resident of Majra Dabas village in Delhi who is a contractual DTC bus conductor.

The incident took place at 2.15 a.m.

Police said Dabas was apprehended in the early hours from Ram Nagar area of Gurugram. The accused was drunk at the time of the crime.

He has confessed to the crime. He was produced in a Gurugram court which sent him to judicial custody.
Shibu BS By

Express News Service

RANNI: Fear and anger are palpable in Ranni, currently the point of focus, where two new coronavirus cases were reported on Tuesday alone.

After the three-member family who returned from Italy and a few of their relatives were tested positive, the town in Pathanamthitta district is moving closer to a shutdown.

Faces of almost all you come across are covered in masks, yet you could read the panic in their eyes. It is quite evident.

Roads are deserted

There is much negativity in the air. Local residents mostly blame the Italy-based family for their plight and the officials for letting them slip through; they rue their luck, having endured the 2018 floods which battered the town. And they curse social media for spreading fake news adding to the confusion.

The flood had shattered us mentally and financially, but we fought hard to survive. The case is different now. Its with fear that were making every step, on each passing day. When we hear that a new case is reported from Ranni, we become anxious, said T U Thomas, resident of Aythala.

The twin junctions at Ranni-Ittiyappara and Perumpuzha reflect their agony. They wore a deserted look. The shops have been remaining closed since Sunday morning. Some of them reopened on Tuesday only to pull down shutters after the confirmation of the new cases.

Pathanamthitta's Ranni town wears a deserted look after a family from the town tested positive for #Coronavirus. Currently, there are 12 active #COVID19 cases in Kerala.

Express video by @sanesh_TNIE.

READ: https://t.co/6qmP6Dm8nC pic.twitter.com/faRs9xiNnu  The New Indian Express (@NewIndianXpress) March 10, 2020

Business is almost dead since Sunday. Nobody is coming. The shops at Perumpuzha are close to the Taluk Hospital where one of the family members of the couple who returned from Italy was given treatment initially. This created panic, said Bijily N K of Kairali Bakers.

Most of the passengers from Ranni depend on private buses to reach nearby towns like Pathanamthitta. KSRTC buses conduct services to Erumeli and other areas, but residents of Ranni said some of them are not entering the bus stand near Perumpuzha. The private bus owners are forced to cancel the trips as there not enough passengers.

Earlier, we used to conduct eight trips to Ranni from Pathanamthitta. However, from Sunday, only a few passengers are travelling. Hence, most buses have cut down the number of trips, said Hemachandra Prasad, a staff of Venad bus service. Ratheesh Mohan, driver of Miyamol bus, said almost all drivers are now using face masks. Were following the instructions of our association, he said.

Health Departments alert

The health officials are frequently surveying Ranni area, especially Aythala, where cases are being reported.Weve collected all details of the people who had close contact as well as secondary contact with the Italy-based family. All the high-risk contacts are already quarantined. There is no need to panic, said Dr Abel, who was with the Health Departments team which reached Aythala on Tuesday.

Bevco outlet closed

Considering the gravity of the situation, District Collector P B Nooh has ordered to close down the beverages outlet at Ranni -KSBCFL1-3008, till further notice.

GPS system for tracking

Authorities are using GPS system to track and monitor the movement of persons in home quarantine. The system helps the authorities contact the persons placed under observation.
The SA Post Office will no longer accept mail to be delivered to several countries in Asia and Australasia due to the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak.

The countries that the SA Post Office will not deliver to are:

China

Malaysia

Indonesia

Taiwan

South Korea

Sri Lanka

Vietnam

Bangladesh

Kuala Lumpur

Deliveries from these countries to South African recipients will also be delayed, the SA Post Office added.

This is because the airline carries used to transport packages to and from these countries are unable to uplift mail due to challenges caused by the Coronavirus pandemic.

The Post Office will resume services once suitable arrangements have been made with different airlines and would like to apologise for the inconvenience.

Coronavirus in South Africa

Seven South Africans, currently in the country, have tested positive for the coronavirus to date.

All of these cases were people who went on a trip to Italy, and arrived back in South Africa on 1 March.

Over 100 South Africans have since been placed in quarantine due to having been in contact with the seven.

All contacts have been traced and are being tested. All contacts are currently under home-based quarantine. These quarantine procedures are benchmarked against world standards for home-based quarantine and are being strictly monitored by the contact tracing team, the Department of Health said.

The government is yet to make any decisions regarding the restriction or banning of travel within, to, and from the country.

However, South Africans must be assured that the matters are currently being deliberated and will require a cabinet decision, the government said.

We reiterate that the safety of our citizens remains sacrosanct.

Now read: Massive Italy coronavirus lockdown
TORONTO, March 11, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kinross Gold Corporation (TSX:K; NYSE: KGC) (Kinross) was informed on March 10, 2020 that an employee from its Toronto office tested positive for the COVID-19 virus. Kinross values the health and safety of its employees above all other priorities, and as a precaution, closed the Toronto office today for a thorough cleaning and disinfection. Kinross has asked its employees to work from home until at least March 20th when the need for the closure will be re-evaluated. The Company is working directly with Toronto Public Health (TPH) who used current evidence to carefully assess the potential health risk, identify people who may have been directly exposed to COVID-19 and actively follow up with them. TPH has also asked the Companys Toronto employees to self-monitor for any symptoms.

The employee who tested positive was last in the Toronto office for 1.5 days ending March 3, 2020, is currently at home in self-quarantine, and is in good condition. This employee did not attend the PDAC conference or other external events and has not recently travelled to Kinross sites.

The Company has activated its business continuity program to help ensure that head office functions are maintained while employees work remotely. The Companys response is being managed within the framework of preparedness protocols and contingency plans developed by Kinross global cross-functional COVID-19 Task Force, which was established earlier this year, with input from the Companys expert medical and travel advisors. These plans include increased travel restrictions, individual site management controls and screening to control access to mine sites, emergency medical preparedness, supply chain contingency plans, and working with health authorities to closely monitor local and global developments.

To date, COVID-19 has not impacted production or product shipments at any of the Companys sites. Nor, to date, has there been any significant negative impact on, or disruption of, the Companys supply chain. Nonetheless, Kinross is constantly monitoring the situation and is working with its critical suppliers, who the Company understands have mitigation plans in place, to minimize any potential supply chain disruptions that might emerge.

Kinross will continue to prioritize the health and well-being of its employees, follow the advice of Toronto Public Health, and continue to implement its comprehensive global response plans.

About Kinross Gold Corporation

Kinross is a Canadian-based senior gold mining company with mines and projects in the United States, Brazil, Russia, Mauritania, Chile and Ghana. Kinross focus is on delivering value based on the core principles of operational excellence, balance sheet strength, disciplined growth and responsible mining. Kinross maintains listings on the Toronto Stock Exchange (symbol:K) and the New York Stock Exchange (symbol:KGC).

Media Contact

Louie Diaz

Senior Director, Corporate Communications

phone: 416-369-6469

louie.diaz@kinross.com

Investor Relations Contact

Tom Elliott

Senior Vice-President, Investor Relations and Corporate Development

phone: 416-365-3390

tom.elliott@kinross.com

Source: Kinross Gold Corporation
Sabrina Bryan is expecting a baby girl with husband Jordan Lundberg.

The Disney vet, who was on Cheetah Girls starting in 2003, told People what the sex of their first baby will be after a gender reveal party with 40 of their closest friends.

'We are already so in love with our little baby girl blessing!' said the 35-year-old beauty who also competed on Dancing With The Stars during season five.

Happy news: Sabrina Bryan is expecting a baby girl with husband Jordan Lundberg; seen in 2018

The word got out on Friday: They shared on social media last week that they were expecting

They had a 'gender reveal party' at a friend's home over brunch and dessert, then shared the images with the site.

There were blue and pink balloons and guests were left wondering which one held the truth.

When a gold balloon was opened, 'pink confetti filled the air' and there were well wishes for the soon-to-be mom.

Their big day: Sabrina wed Jamie in October 2018 at Wayne Newton's home in Las Vegas

Sabrina said she got 'an indescribable thrill' when she learned she was having a girl.

'I cannot wait for for all of the bows, tutus and dance shoes!' said Bryan.

The petite star revealed on Friday that she was expecting a child.

'We realize becoming parents is a gift that we have been blessed with and are excited to share our love of our first baby!' she added. 'It has been hard keeping our baby news a secret. Finally sharing our news with our family has been exhilarating.

'Jordan is happily awaiting to try a crazy mix of foods,' Bryan added. 'We are ready for the pickles, sprinkles and hot sauce.'

Sabrina wed Jamie in October 2018 at Wayne Newton's home in Las Vegas.
Representative image

The coronavirus, which that has now spread to 110 countries, including India, killed at least 4,200 and infected 115,800 people, has left no one untouched. Lockdowns, extended school and college breaks and travel restrictions are the order of the day.

Several companies are encouraging people to work from home to contain the spread of the virus, which originated in Chinas Wuhan late last year.

While work from home is nothing new, for many it might be a new and a daunting experience, especially when it comes to collaborating with colleagues, meeting clients or even staying in touch with teams.

Here are some tools that will help you work seamlessly and efficiently from home:

Meetings and collaboration

Skype, Zoom, Google Hangout, and Apple FaceTime are great options to hold meetings remotely.

A few days ago, Google announced that it will offer free access to the "advanced features for Hangouts Meet to all its G Suite and G Suite for Education customers globally till July 1. Microsoft, too, is making changes to two of its offerings to help teams work remotely. To begin with, the software giant has started a free six-month trial for a premium tier of Microsoft Teams, which includes features like workplace chat, video meetings and file storage. It also plans to open up free versions of Teams by removing the size restriction.

Zoho, which has a range of apps like text, spreadsheet and presentation tools along with a slew of customer-relation management and project management tools, is making its Zoho Remotely product lineup free till July 1.

Cisco is also offering its online conferencing and presentation tool, Webex, on a free 90-day licence to new customers in the countries where it is available.

For collaborating with teams via text, Slack is also a good option.

Connecting remotely

You may also need to connect or work on a system at a different location and this is where remote desktop apps come into play.

TeamViewer is a multi-platform remote desktop app that works on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android and iOS systems. The app is free for personal use. It not only allows a user to remotely access another computer but also share the screen with others for virtual meetings or presentations.

Google has a similar service called Chrome Remote Desktop that allows users to securely access a computer from phone, tablet or another computer.

Microsofts Remote Desktop clients and Apples Remote Desktop app for OSX have similar features.

Document sharing

For collaborating on documents, spreadsheets or presentations, Googles apps, including Docs, Sheets and Slides, and Microsofts Office 365 online suite are known options.

Here are some alternatives:

Thinkfree Office Online consists of a word processor, spreadsheet editor and an app to create slideshows and presentations. It is a good choice for those looking for a document editor that is as easy as Googles office suite but with advanced features.

Onlyoffice Personal is another online office suite that has a similar offering and is also compatible with Microsoft Office document formats. The service is free for personal use.

Zoho also offers a slew of apps, including Writer, Sheet and Show. These are being offered for free as part of its Remotely platform.

Scanning documents

Sharing offline documents or notes can be a bit cumbersome when working from home but there several mobile scanning apps that can do the job.

Microsofts Office Lens, Cam Scanner and Adobes Scan app are three such handy apps that can scan and generate a pdf file from a mobile phone, capture an idea from a whiteboard or extract texts from images for editing and sharing.

Staying connected

To use most of these tools, a stable and fast internet connection is a must.

While a wired internet connection is the best option, if you don't have one, dont fret.

Mobile hotspots are your next best friends. You can use your Android or iOS devices as internet hotspots to get on to the internet. You can also purchase a portable mobile hotspot such as JioFi or Airtel mobile WiFi devices from telecom operators. Third-party mobile hotspot devices are also available.

If security matters, a VPN connection is also a good choice.

Staying focused
Talks between the EU and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the fate of millions of refugees in Turkey ended with each side reiterating its position and dissatisfaction with the other, Bloomberg reported.

Then the Turkish president went home, to fulminate anew about the perfidious Europeans who shirk their responsibility in dealing with a terrible humanitarian crisis. European leaders, in turn, will rail against the cynical Erdogan who uses that crisis to extort more aid, the source added.

Soon, the second act will begin, during which the players will begin to move towards a solution. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has already announced her readiness to do so.

This would help everyone, but especially refugees if players could quickly move on to the third act, in which Europe promises to allocate more resources, and Erdogan grudgingly agrees to keep refugees in Turkey. Since that is the only possible outcome, the sooner it comes the better.

A quick reckoning with Erdogan will save refugees who are already experiencing unthinkable difficulties and humiliations, being used as a backup in this ugly farce. Being driven to the European border in the false hope of salvation, and then rejected by tear gas and bullets, is certainly a form of human rights violation.

It makes no sense to talk about the scale of the crisis or the plight of the people who are drawn into it: according to estimates by the UN Refugee Agency, there are over 4.1 million refugees in Turkey, including 3.7 million from Syria. Recent hostilities in the Syrian Idlib have triggered a new flow of refugees to Turkey, and it is unlikely that hundreds of thousands of people living in fragile tents now have high hopes for a ceasefire reached between Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin. When hostilities inevitably resume, the pressure of desperate Syrians on the border with Turkey will increase exponentially.

General decency requires the EU to improve the financial conditions of the 2016 deal, according to which Europeans agreed to provide $ 6 billion to Turkey to help refugees. It is likely that they will respond to Erdogan's blackmail: pony up, or I send the refugees your way, Bloomberg added.

For those who may have forgotten the paroxysms of fear and xenophobia that shocked Europe five years ago, before Turkey stopped the flow of refugees, a sobering reminder came last week. While several thousand refugees abetted by Erdogan tried to cross the border with Greece, the government in Athens suspended the acceptance of asylum applications. There were threats of violence by local warriors and scary warnings from far-right politicians throughout Europe.

The EU leadership may accuse Erdogan of arming the refugees, but they must accept a large share of the blame for the inability to reform their migration systems and for making themselves vulnerable to Turkish threats.

There is just a sliver of hope that the Europeans will take some of the refugees, at least the most vulnerable. Perhaps the German plan for a coalition of the willing (rather than the entire EU membership) to take some more might be revisited. The consensus required for Erdogans other pressing demand, visa-free travel for Turkish citizens throughout the EU, is unlikely to materialize, it is said.

Erdogan could have agreed to a deferment on this point; he also has little room for maneuver. The presidents political position has recently been shaken: his AK party lost elections in most major cities last year, and former associates create political parties to challenge him. His ambitions in the international arena failed in Syria. Despite nationalist fervor, a ceasefire deal with Putin made many Turkish positions vulnerable.

Erdogan is desperate for a political victory, and Europeans, for the most part, desperately want to keep refugees away from their borders.

So, grinding their teeth, the Europeans will squeeze out the extra help that Erdogan wants.
The Kerala govt on Tuesday warned people against hiding information about their travel history to coronavirus-affected countries or information that may lead to spreading the COVID-19 disease

The Kerala government on Wednesday warned people against hiding information about their travel history to coronavirus-affected countries or information that may lead to spreading the COVID-19 disease.

"According to the Public Health Act, people who are supporting or hiding anything that leads to spreading of the disease is a crime. (Failure to reveal) travel history of coming back from affected areas and countries will be considered a crime," Kerala Health Minister KK Shailaja said on Tuesday, according to ANI.

Speaking to reporters after a review meeting of the state health department, Shailaja said, "If they become positive, they will spread the disease. So we are asking them to reveal their identity and contact the health department. The chief minister has announced that hiding travel history is a crime and action will be taken (against those who violate the rule)."

The minister's remark comes as Kerala has been hit by a second round of coronavirus cases after the country's first three positive cases in the state were successfully cured last month. Kerala has so far confirmed 14 cases of coronavirus infections.

Among the recent cases include three members from a family hailing from Ranni in Pathanamthitta district, who hid information about their travel history to coronavirus-affected Italy while checking out at Kochi airport.

According to PTI, the family has spread the COVID-19 disease to eight of their close relatives and family members, including their elderly parents.

The elderly parents are undergoing treatment at Medical College Hospital in Kottayam, and fall in the high-risk category, Shailaja said, adding that efforts are underway to restore them to health.

Shailaja, however, assured that there was no cause for alarm about other COVID-19 patients admitted at various other hospitals in the state.

The minister also informed that the Italy-returned trio has been admitted to a hospital in Ernakulam and are undergoing treatment. Relatives who went to receive them at the airport, besides those who visited them at the hospital, have also been quarantined.

It is assessed that more people may have been infected with the coronavirus after coming into contact with the Italy-returned family last month, Shailaja said in a press statement.

The government and its agencies have managed to identify the maximum number of people who came in contact with the trio and have placed all of them under observation. However, efforts are still underway to find out more people who may have come in contact with the family from Ranni.

Details about the co-passengers of the trio are being sought as well. The minister also urged those who may have come in contact with the trio to contact the health department.

The parents of a three-year-old child in Ernakulam district also tested positive for coronavirus on Monday. Efforts are underway to trace those who might have come in contact with this family as well.

So far as many as 1,495 persons have been placed under observation in different parts of the state. While 1,236 are under observation in their respective homes, 259 are in hospitals, Shailaja said.

Samples of 980 suspected cases have been sent to National Institute Virology, Pune for tests. The results of 815 have been found to be negative, the minister added.

Testing facilities have been set up at medical colleges in Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode. Nine tests have been held at Kozhikode Medical College and the facility will start at Thiruvananthapuram Medical College on Wednesday, Shailaja said.

Apart from this, the government has sought permission to test samples at Thrissur Medical College and Rajiv Gandhi Bio-technology Centre in Thiruvananthapuram.

On Tuesday, Chief Minsiter Pinarayi Vijayan imposed severe restrictions on public events to prevent the spread of the virus, shutting schools and colleges up to Class 7 and ordering closure of cinema halls in the state till 31 March 31.

Temple and church festivals, which witnesses mass gatherings should be avoided, but rituals can be held in a low key manner, Vijayan had said on Tuesday after chairing a special cabinet meeting in the wake of fresh positive cases being reported in the state.

Classes from I to VII standards of all schools  state, CBSE and ICSE will remain shut till March end and examinations which have begun will be put on hold. Examinations for Tenth standard, Plus Two and vocational higher secondary, which began on Tuesday will however, continue.

With inputs from agencies
Bunnings has infuriated customers by planning a vegan sausage sizzle.

A branch of the hardware store in Rockingham, WA, will offer bean and pea snags to customers help raise money for Greyhounds Adoption WA on March 19.

The charity fundraiser was designed to encourage 'tolerance and acceptance' a spokeswoman for Greyhounds Adoption WA told 9News.

Some volunteers who are behind the initiative believe customers won't be able to tell the difference in the meat-free alternative.

Bunnings are known for hosting sausage sizzles and often attract a large crowd of hungry shoppers

But others argue the decision to sell exclusively vegan products is divisive and might drive customers away.

'As long as its advertised prior so people have the opportunity to go to a different Bunnings, its all good,' one customer said.

One customer, who was furious with the decision, said the minority 'winning out' over the majority was his biggest issue.

The new sausage sizzle has divided customers - with many saying they won't be visiting the hardware store on the day while others say it makes sense for an animal charity to sell vegan products

'Typical vegans. Always shoving things down our throat that we don't wanna eat. Not everyone wants your way of eating/life,' he said.

'They're just pleasing the two million [Australian] vegans and ignoring the other 22 million who eat meat.'

Others described the fundraiser as 'un-Australian.'

'I don't think you should be forcing people to have it, but it should be an option,' one person said, while another said he would be willing to 'give it a go' even though he considered it 'very much un-Australian.'

Some people behind the initiative say customers won't be able to tell the difference in the vegan sausages (pictured)

The charity fundraiser is the first of its kind in the state and will raise money for Greyhounds Adoption WA (Pictured: An employee from the organisation)

Despite the backlash, some shoppers said they're looking forward to giving the new menu a try.

'It doesn't make sense to raise funds to save kangaroos, koalas and greyhounds but then turn around and eat other animals,' one woman said.

She said she would attend the hardware store next Thursday to try the sausage sizzle, which will be made from a bean and pea puree.

More than 200 people signed a petition calling for the vegan-friendly fundraiser.

All money will go toward re-homing former racing greyhounds.
At least a metre of separation between customers at the grocery checkout line.

No physical affection between acquaintances on the street.

Police spot checks inquiring about your purpose of travel between towns.

Canadians living in various parts of Italy are describing eerie and surreal scenes as normally vibrant cities turned into ghost towns amid a countrywide lockdown due to COVID-19. Their message Tuesday to Canadians back home: Take stock of lessons from Italy. Dont dither, be vigilant.

Jasmine Mah, an Edmonton native who lives in Bergamo in northern Italy, the epicentre of the outbreak, told the Star on Tuesday that she has friends and family in Canada who think its ridiculous how people are stocking up on supplies and basically overreacting.

I just want to remind everyone that not long ago, there were only two cases in Italy as well, Mah said by phone.

Canadians need to stay informed, vet sources where they are reading information and be adequately prepared for an outbreak.

This week, amid skyrocketing infections due to novel coronavirus, Italian government officials imposed a nationwide lockdown after Italians failed to heed previous warnings. Air Canada also announced that it was suspending all flights between Canada and Italy due to the ongoing health concerns.

As the death toll surpassed 600 and the number of infected reached 10,000, all 60 million Italians were told they would only be allowed to travel for work or health reasons and other necessities. Schools and universities have shut down. Restaurants and pubs must close at dusk, curtailing all nightlife.

The nationwide restrictions were to stay in effect until April 3.

We all have to give up something for the good of Italy, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte told the nation in a televised address.

Until the nationwide quarantine this week, media outlets reported that Italy had seen only superficial compliance with measures aimed at reducing social contact.

The change has been dramatic, Mah said.

Located about 40 minutes from Milan in an alpine region, Bergamo is a city with an upper medieval town and modern lower town separated by massive walls built in the 1500s that are a UNESCO world heritage site.

Normally in the springtime, the streets would be bustling with tourists, but not now, Mah said.

Until the weekend, everything was normal-ish. Things changed rapidly. Its like a ghost town  Everything has just stopped, said Mah, who is a private school English teacher, translator and blogger.

Its a surreal situation. The mood has fluctuated. It started with people panicking, then it went into a lull, then it went back up again.

A few weeks ago, there was a trending hashtag on social media: #milanononsiferma, which translates to Milan doesnt stop  a reflection of the more laissez-faire attitudes of Italians and their tendency to bend the rules, Mah said.

Now the trending hashtags are #iostoacasa (I stay home) and #restateacasa (Stay home!).

Mah said she and her husband are working from home and only leave the house to go to the grocery store. At the store, staff limit the number of customers who can come in at one time. Theyve also taped stickers on the floor to make sure customers stand at least a metre away from one another.

One other change shes noticed: Ambulance sirens that used to be drowned out by the regular din of city life can now be heard clearly from her suburban home because of the empty streets.

David Stephens, headmaster of Canadian College Italy, a university preparatory school in Lanciano, a central Italian city two hours east of Rome, told the Star he and school staff have had to be nimble to respond to the evolving situation. As the number of cases ramped up last month, they made the decision to cancel a school trip to Venice.

Then at the end of February, before government officials started closing public buildings and issuing stricter decrees, a decision was made to send the students  who hail mostly from Canada but also Norway, Germany, the U.S., Mexico, Belarus and other parts of Italy  back home.

We had a good sense of where things were headed, Stephens said.

He and other staff took turns driving students to Rome to catch flights.

Staff have tentatively set a date in mid-April for students to return. Until the school reopens they are working to roll out online courses in the coming weeks.

As for life in this medieval city near the Adriatic coast, Stephens said an eeriness has fallen over the city. The movie theatre is not showing films. Bands have stopped playing at the bars. Late-night dinners have come to a stop.

And forget about showing physical affection with friends or acquaintances on the street, he said.

Theres an awkwardness when seeing a friend. Were used to giving them a kiss on the cheek.

Police presence has also stepped up. Stephens said one of his colleagues was stopped travelling in between towns. Apparently travellers are now expected to print out a sheet of paper declaring where they live, where theyre going and the purpose of travel. His colleague didnt have a form but was allowed to proceed with a caution.

Speaking from the northern Italian city of Padua, Antonio Sinopoli, a dual Canadian-Italian citizen from Toronto, told CTV News theres a sadness because Italians are very social people and now they have been basically quarantined to their own homes.

Its very quiet. Its giving me a very bad vibe  a city that is populated, being reduced to a few people and a few cars is not a good sign.

With files from The Associated Press

Read more about:
Officials from Southeastern Louisiana University and Baton Rouge Community College signed an agreement Friday to officially align resources that will provide successful BRCC students with the opportunity to progress directly into Southeasterns bachelor of arts program in criminal justice. Attending the signing are, from left, BRCC Dean of Business, Social Sciences and History Todd Dozier, BRCC Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs Laura Younger, BRCC Interim Chancellor Willie E. Smith, Southeastern President John L. Crain, Southeastern Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Tena Golding, and Southeastern Dean of the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Karen Fontenot.
Highlights Authorities are issuing PSAs to spread awareness Many are turning to PSAs with catchy tunes and peppy dance moves Internet influencers are joining in too

The rapid spread of the novel coronavirus has governments and healthcare officials scrambling to educate people on the best practices to follow to restrict the spread of the infection. Authorities are issuing public service announcement (PSA) videos to combat it. Whats interesting is that many are turning to catchy tunes and peppy dance moves to drive home the message about keeping one safe from the virus.

The Vietnamese Health Department shared an animated video on YouTube to share tips on how to stay safe from COVID-19. Named Jealous Coronavirus, the song has a catchy tune that quickly went viral. It details how a virus named corona had a sudden breakout and now it has created the necessity for people to improve their hygiene habits. It also tells the ways in which one can restrict the spread of the virus  by washing hands, wearing masks, and limiting visits to crowded places.

The health department of Philippines also came up with their own video. It shows three people dancing to a song about the steps which can keep people safe during the outbreak. It tells everyone to wash their hands, maintain a certain distance from others, and to not touch ones own face with dirty hands.

DOH IS OFFICIALLY ON TIKTOK!



Learn protective measures against COVID-19 in this TikTok video! Join the #covidance challenge!



Follow DOH's official tiktok account at ID:dohgovph  pic.twitter.com/YKjoD4RONc  Department of Health (@DOHgovph) March 5, 2020

National Health Services (NHS) of the UK shared a video highlighting the importance of washing ones hands amid the coronavirus pandemic. Further adding, you should wash your hands for the amount of time it takes to sing Happy Birthday twice.

Washing your hands is the best way to protect yourself and others from the spread of germs, including coronavirus.



You should wash your hands for the amount of time it takes to sing "Happy Birthday" twice. pic.twitter.com/Yf23UJAy8m  NHS London (@NHSEnglandLDN) February 27, 2020

Ministry of Education, Singapore, isnt far behind in letting people know about the ways in which one can stop the virus from spreading. Want to know how to beat the virus? Just follow these simple steps: Wash your hands with soap. Dont touch your face, they wrote and shared a rap-styled video on YouTube.

Its not just the authorities, social media influencers and Internet stars are also doing their bit by sharing creative awareness videos.

Vietnams celebrated dancer Quang ang shared his disease-fighting dance moves to inspire people to wash their hands and take care of themselves. It even inspired a viral TikTok trend.

Iranian comedia Danial Kheirikhah too shared an orchestral-themed video to spread awareness about the proper way to wash ones hands.

First reported in China, the novel coronavirus has now spread in many countries across the world. With 60 people testing positive for COVID-19 in India, authorities are implementing several methods to restrict the spread.

Which of these videos made an impact on you?
Every second seat in cinemas will be left empty under an Omniplex plan to provide extra peace of mind.

Meanwhile, new guidelines are being issued to reduce contact during wedding ceremonies amid the coronavirus outbreak.

Omniplex Cinemas announced it will implement "in-cinema seat separation" as part of measures to encourage effective social distancing in cinemas.

Every second cinema seat will be unoccupied in a checkerboard pattern.

"Other measures include self-scanning of tickets, increased cleaning regimes and hand sanitising stations in every cinema foyer," a statement said.

Mark Anderson, director of Omniplex Cinemas, said it would give a one metre separation. "By reducing our capacity by 50pc we hope to give cinema-goers peace of mind when attending the movies," he said. It is the largest cinema group on the island with more than 245 screens in 32 venues.

Meanwhile, the Irish Institute of Celebrants is putting plans in place to prepare for wedding cancellations. Dr Lorraine Mancey O'Brien, of the IIC, told the Irish Independent: "We have issued guidelines, which are mostly in line with the HSE's guidelines.

"One specific element we are looking at is the handfasting ceremony, where the hands of the couple are symbolically tied together. We are advising on method where the celebrant can do it without touching the hands of the couple."
Two Republican congressmen who are both allies of President Trump have received coronavirus testing at a time tests are in great demand and short supply.

One of the lawmakers, Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida, received testing after flying about Air Force One with the president Monday when Trump was returning to Washington after a trip to Mar-a-Lago and a fundraiser in Orlando.

Gaetz tweeted that the results were negative. Gaetz told the Pensacola News-Journal before the results were in that he was waiting for information from the White House physician's office, after saying he planned to get tested at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.

Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida received testing for the coronavirus after flying about Air Force One with the president Monday

Rep. Mark Meadows of North Carolina, who is stepping down to become Trump's chief of staff, also got tested there, the Washington Post reported.

The president gets his annual physical there and many lawmakers get treated there as well. The Capitol physician's office was not encouraging testing for lawmakers who came in contact with a man who attended the CPAC conference and later tested positive.

Both Gaetz and Meadows have put themselves in isolation following contact with the man.

The White House said Monday night that Trump had not been tested, hours after reporters asked Trump and Vice President Mike Pence about it during a press briefing.

Representative Mark Meadows, a Republican from North Carolina, who was in contact with a man who was at CPAC and tested positive for coronavirus, also got tested

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) on Wednesday wore a gas mask on the House floor during a vote on an emergency funding bill to fight the spread of the novel coronavirus known as COVID-19. He said he was not making light of the epidemic

Gaetz told a reporter he slept in a Wall-Mart parking lot after putting himself in isolation and driving from the Washington area to Florida

The White House says President Trump has not been tested for the coronavirus

'The President has not received COVID-19 testing because he has neither had prolonged close contact with any known confirmed COVID-19 patients, nor does he have any symptoms. President Trump remains in excellent health, and his physician will continue to closely monitor him,' White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham said in a written statement.

Gaetz told the Pensacola paper several details about his Air Force One trip. He said he answered hurricane recovery questions from Trump that an aide brought written on paper during a period when he put himself on an isolated part of the plane. He said Trump had been using hand sanitizer when Gaetz accompanied him in the presidential limo. He drove himself to Florida after being told on the flight he had come in contact with the coronavirus patient.

I slept in a Walmart parking lot somewhere off (Interstate) 85,' he said. He told the paper he got the test in a government facility he would not identify.

The influential lawmakers got tests at a time when the administration and health officials are under fire for a lack of testing. Rep. Carolyn Maloney of New York grilled top health officials about why there had only been about 5,000 tests through public health labs in the U.S. but more than 66,000 tests in South Korea 'within just one week of its first case of community transmission.'

'Why did it take so long? We must do better,' she asked. Two members of her committee, the Oversight and Government Reform panel, missed the hearing due to being in isolation.

Vice President Mike Pence says millions of tests are on the way through private and government sources.

Gaetz is 37 and Meadows is 60. Neither are thought to be at special risk.

American Conservative Union president Matt Schlapp, another Trump ally, called into Fox News while he is on self-quarantine.

He said Trump should not quarantine.

'No healthy people should run out and get a test because what that will do is prevent people who actually are showing symptoms from getting that test. No healthy people should be running to emergency rooms. Let's leave that for the sick people,' he said.
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Two American troops and one from Britain were killed, and about a dozen people were wounded when 15 small rockets hit Iraq's Taji military camp north of Baghdad on Wednesday, said U.S. officials.

The number of U.S. troops injured has not been confirmed.

The officials said it was too early to assign blame, but any indication that Iran-backed militia were responsible could ignite a new round of military escalation between the United States and Iran.

The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, declined to quantify the number of troops and military contractors among the dead and wounded and noted that the information was just coming in and could change.

Initial battlefield reports often contain inaccuracies.

US soldiers walk around at the Taji base complex in Iraq which hosts Iraqi and US troops. Two American troops were killed in a rocket attack on the base at around 7.35pm Wednesday

Operation Inherent Resolve spokesperson Army Colonel Myles Caggins shared these pictures on Twitter when confirming Wednesday's rocket attack which killed two Americans

Army Colonel Myles Caggins, the Operation Inherent Resolve spokesperson retweeted these images of rocket launchers on Wednesday when confirming the attack on Taji base in Iraq

Army Colonel Myles Caggins, a US military spokesman in Iraq, said on Twitter that more than 15 small rockets hit Iraqs Camp Taji base at around 7.35pm in Iraq on March 11.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Iraqi military said no casualties had been reported in the attack.

Camp Taji, located just north of Baghdad, has been used as a training base for a number of years.

There are as many as 6,000 US troops in Iraq, training and advising Iraqi forces and conducting counter-terror missions.

Iran-backed paramilitary groups have regularly been rocketing and shelling bases in Iraq that host U.S. forces and the area around the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad.

Army Colonel Myles Caggins shared these images when confirming the attack Wednesday

The attack is said to have involved 15 small rockets striking Taji Base in Iraq. Army Colonel Myles Caggins, a US military spokesman in Iraq, shared these images after the attack

Officials did not say what group they believe launched the rocket attack Wednesday, but Kataib Hezbollah or another Iranian-backed Shia militia group is likely.

The Kataib Hezbollah militia was blamed for an attack on a base last year which killed an American contractor, which led to retaliatory U.S. strikes against it in Iraq and Syria.

On January 3, 11 Iranian ballistic missiles struck the al-Asad air base in Iraq after the United States killed top Iranian generals Qassem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.

The Iranian attack led to more than 100 American service members being diagnosed with mild traumatic brain injuries.

Kataib Hezbollah has been designated as a 'foreign terrorist organization' by the State Department since 2009.

The assessment and investigation into Wednesday's attack is ongoing. It was the largeast attack on a U.S. base in Iraq since January.

The attack came two days after enemy forces killed two U.S. service members while accompanying Iraqi forces in northern Iraq.

The deaths of both soldiers prompted the military's top brass to order a review of how their forces conduct missions in Iraq and Syria following the deaths of the Special Operations service members.

The soldiers were killed by 'enemy forces' on a mission to knock out the stronghold Sunday in the mountains of north-central Iraq, according to a statement posted online by the Combined Joint Task Force, which commands Operation Inherent Resolve.

The unnamed soldiers who were killed had been part of a Marine Special Operations team that was working with Iraqi counterterrorism forces, reports the New York Times.

They had gotten in a fierce gun battle while clearing a well-defended cave complex in mountains near the town of Makhmur, which is about 40 miles southwest of Erbil, the Times reports.

Former U.S. special envoy Brett McGurk tweeted criticism over the length of time that it took to reclaim the dead who had to be pulled out with a hoist after falling into a crevice

US soldiers fighting the terrorist group known as ISIS in Iraq are seen in an image posted on Twitter by national security correspondent for Voice of America Jeff Seldin. Two service members killed during a raid Sunday were not identified pending notification of next of kin

One military official said the solders killed had to be pulled out with a hoist after falling into a crevice. A military spokesman confirmed additional forces were deployed to bring out the dead, which took almost six hours.

The review that was ordered in the wake of the soldier deaths will examine how U.S. military forces advise and accompany local troops.

During the review, American military operations will continue, they said.
The Congresss Madhya Pradesh (MP) unit is likely to ask the assembly speaker, NP Prajapati, to reject the resignations of 21 out of 22 party legislators on technical grounds because the identically worded letters do not mention state assembly and hadnt been submitted by the lawmakers in person, party leaders said on Wednesday.

Assembly secretariat officials also said, on the condition of anonymity, that the speaker is likely to reject the resignation letters on technical grounds.

Going on the offensive after the legislators sent their resignations, the Congress, on Wednesday, filed a petition to the speaker and demanded disqualification of six ministers as MLAs given their anti-party activities. The 22 MLAs who tendered their resignation include these six ministers, said state Congress spokesperson JP Dhanopiya.

The role of the speaker is critical in determining the validity of the resignations and the fate of the MLAs, which will have an impact on the strength of the House. Prajapati, the speaker in MP, is originally from the Congress. Nineteen Congress MLAs, who are staying at a resort in Bengaluru, including the six ministers, sent their resignation letters to the speaker via email on Tuesday and later also to MP governor Lalji Tandon. In the evening, the original copies of the letters were handed over to Prajapati by a delegation of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders in Bhopal.

Bhupendra Singh, a BJP MLA and former home minister, brought the letters from Bengaluru to Bhopal. Earlier, senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh had accused Bhupendra Singh and some other BJP leaders of trying to poach the Congress MLAs. Besides the 19 MLAs, three other Congress MLAs have also submitted their resignation letters to the speaker.

The assembly secretariat officials cited above said that all the purported resignation letters had been identically worded.

I hereby, with effect from March 10, 2020, resign from my position in the assembly [Sabha]. Brijendra Singh Yadav, Ashok Nagar MLA, is the only lawmaker who has written state assembly [Vidhan Sabha] in his resignation letter. HT has seen the copies of the letters.

A state assembly secretariat officer said, The resignation letters with the word sabha cant be accepted. It has to be Vidhan Sabha [state assembly].

The Congress has decided to raise the issue with the speaker.

BJP leaders have no legal standing to submit Congress MLAs resignation letters ...They also have the technical flaw, MP Congress spokesperson Bhupendra Gupta said. The Congress will try to ensure that the acceptance of the resignation letters is delayed as its government has lost a majority in the House..., said BJP s state vice-president Vijesh Lunawat.

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It seems this action star listens to his family when it comes to many things  even who to cast in the latest sequel in his blockbuster action franchise.

During a recent visit to Jimmy Kimmel Live, brawny actor Vin Diesel discussed some of the new additions to the cast of F9, the unbelievable NINTH installment of the Fast & Furious franchise.

Among the celebrated stars Diesel, 52, listed were John Cena, as well as rapper Cardi B, who Vin said was personally requested to be cast in the film by none other than his youngest daughter Pauline, who turns five next week.

Family request: During a recent visit to Jimmy Kimmel Live, brawny actor Vin Diesel discussed some of the new additions to the cast of F9, including rapper Cardi B

'My daughter wanted a piece of casting to happen,' the Pitch Black star told the late night host. 'So Cardi B is in it!'

Vin went on to explain that Pauline made the demand while listening to Cardi's track I Like It.

When Kimmel pressed for more information about how Miss B will fit into the F&F narrative, Diesel explained that the process involved 'working with the writers' and that they had 'to create a role [for her] that would work for the mythology.'

She likes it: Diesel explained that the casting request came from none other than his young daughter Pauline; Cardi seen here in 2018

Vin went on to say that now, after 20 years of making the (incredibly financially successful) Fast & Furious movies, Oscar winners regularly hit him up requesting to appear in an installment.

While Academy Award-winners Charlize Theron and Helen Mirren are already staples of the franchise (with both set to again appear in the upcoming F9), Diesel teased that more thesps might yet show up  but he then said he had to stay mum on that for now, for fear of spoilers ahead of the new film's May 22nd release.

Cardi, 27, will be making her feature film follow-up appearance in the car chase movie, after her cameo in last year's Jlo-starrer Hustlers.

'My daughter wanted a piece of casting to happen,' the Pitch Black star told the late night host. 'So Cardi B is in it!'

Happy camper: Vin went on to say that now, after 20 years of making the (incredibly financially successful) Fast & Furious movies, Oscar winners regularly hit him up to appear in the films

Vin shares Pauline with his Mexican supermodel wife Paloma Jimenez, to whom he's been married since 2007.

They are also parents to older daughter Hania Riley, 11, and son Vincent, ten.

Even before F9's May release, Diesel has another big budget action film coming out  the comic book movie Bloodshot, which hits theaters this Friday.

Busy action star: Even before F9's May release, Diesel has another big budget action film coming out  the comic book movie Bloodshot, which hits theaters this Friday
All that glitters is not gold, a talented writer called William Shakespeare (you may have heard of him) once wrote. He was right.

But today, on day two of the Cheltenham Festival, almost all that was green and gold did indeed glitter as leading owner JP McManus, fresh from Epatantes Champion Hurdle victory on his 69th birthday, saw his famous colours carried to victory in four of the seven races up for grabs, though, ironically, not the feature contest, the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase.

That race looked at the mercy of Defi Du Seuil after Chacun Pour Soi, the sole Irish runner, was ruled out of the race early yesterday morning.

But, given his fondness for tragedies, Shakespeare would probably have taken perverse delight at seeing a horse finish fourth in a five-horse race that conventional wisdom dictated he simply couldnt lose.

Owner JP McManus with Champ after winning the RSA Insurance Novices' Chase on Day Two of Cheltenham. Picture: Harry Murphy/Sportsfile

But winning four races will have more than made up for that bitter disappointment. Victory number one came in the RSA Insurance Novices Chase when 4-1 shot Champ, named after AP McCoy, the 20 times champion jockey of Britain, stormed up the famous Cheltenham hill to snatch victory from the jaws of seemingly certain defeat.

Working as a pundit for ITV, McCoy, whose young son Archie adores a horse he considers to be his own personal property, said: I was surprised he struggled so much off the bend, but the one thing I thought was hed really stay and thats what hes done today. That was pretty pleasing.

McManus was back in the winners enclosure 40 minutes later when Dame De Compagnie, who like Champ was ridden by Barry Geraghty, justified 5-1 favouritism in the Coral Cup.

Defi Du Seuils defeat in the next was a significant setback but the McManus show got back on track in the next when French raider Easysland denied Irish favourite Tiger Roll a fifth Festival success when prevailing in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase.

Ruby Walsh (left) and AP McCoy with the Duchess of Cornwall as she attends Ladies Day at the Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse. Picture: Jacob King/PA Wire

Trainer Gordon Elliott later confirmed that a shot at an historic third successive Grand National remains on the card for Tiger Roll, though the coronavirus may have something to say about that.

Racegoer Yuan Li from London ahead of racing on Day Two of the Cheltenham Racing Festival at Prestbury Park in Cheltenham, England. Picture: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile

The final green and gold winner of the day got a far warmer reception than the third as Aramax, trained by Gordon Elliott and ridden by Mark Walsh, won the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle to complete a 1,019-1 four-timer for McManus. Not a bad days work.

The day had had the perfect start when Irish banker Envoi Allen, trained by Elliott and ridden by Youghal jockey Davy Russell, proved his usual efficient self when winning the Ballymore Novices Hurdle at odds of 4-7.

This was the big one for the week. He is the people's horse and everyone wanted him to win, a relieved Elliott reflected.

Racegoers show their support during the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) during day two of the Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse. Picture: Andrew Matthews/PA Wire

Last year was the first time Russell failed to ride a winner at the Festival since his first success back in 2006 so the veteran jockey was understandably thrilled to taste the thrill of victory again:

Today is a wonderful day and you just have to enjoy these. They are hard to come by and we are going to enjoy it.

A day that had started in frustration for Willie Mullins after Chacun Pour Sois 11th hour setback had a happy ending as Ferny Hollow, ridden by Midleton jockey Paul Townend, got the better of stablemate Appreciate It in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper.

The crowd was down again yesterday, 56,943 making the trip in comparison to last years record attendance of 59, 209.

With Irish-trained horses winning the last two races, the British have a slender 7-6 lead in the Prestbury Cup at the halfway stage of the week but theres no doubt who yesterdays real winner was.

Its JPs world, we just happen to live in it.
By Hamid Ould Ahmed and Lamine Chikhi ALGIERS (Reuters) - Algeria's government has cancelled political gatherings because of the coronavirus, it said on Tuesday, though it was not immediately clear if this would entail a ban on the mass protests that have convulsed the state for more than a year. Health Minister Abderrahmane Benbouzid said in comments broadcast on state television that the government was acting to slow the spread of the disease, with 20 confirmed cases in the country

By Hamid Ould Ahmed and Lamine Chikhi

ALGIERS (Reuters) - Algeria's government has cancelled political gatherings because of the coronavirus, it said on Tuesday, though it was not immediately clear if this would entail a ban on the mass protests that have convulsed the state for more than a year.

Health Minister Abderrahmane Benbouzid said in comments broadcast on state television that the government was acting to slow the spread of the disease, with 20 confirmed cases in the country.

"All sports, cultural, political and economic gatherings are cancelled. We do not take any risk," he said.

There was no immediate comment from leading figures in the political opposition, known as the Hirak, over the move.

However, one student demonstrator, Riad Mekrez, 25, said: "I disagree with it. Hirak must goes on even if I acknowledge that we need to protect people from corona."

Earlier on Tuesday, Prime Minister Abdelaziz Djerad said the country faced an unprecedented "multi-dimensional crisis" and urged people to make fewer demands of the government and reduce their street presence.

The demonstrators are demanding wholesale changes in the political establishment, including the departure of the entire ruling elite and the army's withdrawal from politics.

The protests forced the ousting last April of Abdelaziz Bouteflika after 20 years as president, and the arrest of many senior figures on corruption charges.

Algeria's authorities have publicly praised the protest movement as a moment of national renewal and pledged to meet its demands, while using a big police presence and arrests to put pressure on demonstrators.

In December, the authorities held a presidential election to replace Bouteflika despite vehement opposition from the protest movement, which said any vote held while the old ruling elite remained in power would be illegitimate.

President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, who was elected in the vote, has promised to change the constitution in order to satisfy public demand for change.

Algeria's 20 confirmed coronavirus cases so far are mostly from one family in the town of Blida south of the capital.

(Reporting by Hamid Ould Ahmed and Lamine Chikhi, writing by Angus McDowall; Editing by Sandra Maler, Editing by William Maclean)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
With Bidens Victory, the Center Holds, Even as Anti-American Left Grows

Commentary

The partial sweep by Joe Biden in this weeks primaries effectively assures his nomination and confirms that the party elders, panicked by the thought of the self-styled Marxist revolutionary Bernie Sanders, again closed ranks, as they did in 2016, to ensure that the forces of comparative moderation prevailed.

While the Democrats and his detractors of all kinds will never give Trump any credit for it, he kept the Republicans out of the hands of what was a fairly far-right candidate for that partys nomination in 2016, Sen. Ted Cruz. In straight ideological terms, Trump is probably slightly to the left of Ronald Reagan and somewhat to the right of George H.W. Bush.

In Britain, the leadership of one of its main parties, the Labour Party, was taken over by a Marxist (and anti-Semitic) extremist, Jeremy Corbyn. In France, the principal opposition is now a somewhat racially tainted movement called the National Front. And for much of the post-war period, the communists were the principal opposition party in both France and Italy.

In Germany, it is becoming very difficult to form a government with even a two-party coalition, and among the opposition formations, both the suspect right Alternative Party and the old communists now called The Link are substantial parties vying to be the third party, as are the Greens, who are a good deal farther to the left than are green parties in English-speaking countries.

Within the 30-Yard Lines

The point is that despite the toxicity of the political ambiance in the Trump era, the center has held, and the politics of the country remain well within the 30-yard lines. There are serious policy disagreements, which have been inflamed by President Donald Trumps attack on all factions of both parties and the whole Washington system. Its the presidents combative personality and his condemnation of what he and his tens of millions of followers consider to be the incompetence of the Bush-Clinton-Obama center-left center coalition that governed for seven terms after the watershed presidency of Ronald Reagan.

Whatever else may be said of it, the U.S. political system is maintaining control in both parties in the hands of comparatively moderate people. The Democrats are straining to represent the president as an extremist with serious racial biases and a disdain for women (neither of them sustainable on his record), but there is nothing and no one of influence in either the Biden Democrats or Trump Republicans who seeks more than some policy course corrections and personnel changes, as opposed to such fringe policies as universal government-administered medical care on the Sanders-Warren left and the dismantling of the federal government on the far right.

There are arguments about gun control and border measures, and matters of climate; Biden is a left liberal and Trump is populist right. But even so, they wouldnt have the same difficulty in agreeing on basic points that Trump has experienced with the Democratic congressional leaders who tried to impeach and convict him of the equivalent of the Constitutions high crimes.

Continued Leftward Movement

But even as the leading elements of both parties hold fairly close to the center, the steady move to the anti-American left of the Democrats left wing doesnt abate. The latest serious manifestation of this is the New York Times 1619 Project, which holds that the real beginning of the European takeover of America was the arrival of the first slaves transported to North America from Africa, on Aug. 20, 1619.

This reformulation of American history alleges that the American Revolution was a war to protect slavery from British abolitionism, and that the subsequent course of American history was essentially dominated by those who wished to retain and exploit slavery, and then continue the oppression of African and Caribbean Americans by segregation and concerted discrimination, and that tenacious vestiges of these biases are still prominent in what Sanders calls the systemic racism of America from top to bottom.

All of this is piffle, falsified, warped history, and its distressing that it is being propagated by the countrys historically most influential newspaper (although that honor almost certainly now belongs to The Wall Street Journal). Its nonsense, but because of its pernicious infection of academic and media circles, its dangerous nonsense.

There is a grain of truth in some challenges to the American revolutionary mythos. Britain doubled its national debt in the Seven Years War (French and Indian Wars), expelling the French from Canada and defeating them in India, while subsidizing Frederick the Great in Central Europe. As the Americans were the wealthiest British citizens, the British government asked that the Americans pay the same Stamp Tax that the British Isles were already paying.

The Americans, led by an informal coalition of Boston lawyers and merchants, and Virginia slave-holding plantation owners, rose up to the cry of No taxation without representation. The British bungled the issue, but they had some reason to consider the colonists guilty of ingratitude.

George Washington was a brilliant guerrilla warrior, Thomas Jefferson a brilliant propagandist, and Benjamin Franklin achieved one of the supreme triumphs of diplomatic history in, having previously helped to persuade the British to evict the French from Canada, then persuading the French to help the Americans evict the British from America. The absolute monarchy of France took its stand on behalf of democracy, republicanism, and secessionism, and when the war ended, Franklin and John Jay concluded peace with England and dissolved the bond with France, which got nothing for its invaluable assistance to the Americans.

It was, to some extent, a war over taxes, and the Americans gained their independence, but no great accretion of civil rights beyond what they had as British citizens.

Blood Libel

This is where the 1619 Project leaves the rails completely. Slavery had nothing to do with the American Revolution. Franklin was the head of the Pennsylvania Abolitionist Society, and he and Washington convened the Continental Congress.

Only Virginia, the Carolinas, Georgia, and some Marylanders approved of slavery, and it was an agonizing compromise to allow the slave-holding states to count 60 percent of the slave population for the calculation of their congressional and Electoral College delegations. This was always a fraud and it always rankled.

Washington emancipated his slaves in his will, and even Jefferson, who sired a number of children with his slave Sally Hemmings, called slavery a fire-bell in the night. In 1776, there wasnt much talk of the abolition of slavery in Britain; the slave trade was only abolished in 1807, and slavery itself, throughout the British Empire, in 1833.

This wasnt difficult for the British, as there were minimal numbers of slaves in Great Britain and only about 30 in all of Canada. (Canada received and gave asylum to about 40,000 fugitive slaves in the decades preceding the U.S. Civil War, including Harriet Tubman, Josiah Hensonthe model for Harriet Beecher Stowes Uncle Tom, and abolitionists including John Brown).

The entire 1619 project is a self-inflicted, retroactive, dishonest blood libel on white Americans. America always wrestled with the moral problem of slavery and then with segregation. It was an evil, as Abraham Lincoln famously said in his second inaugural address, and he considered the Civil War a divine punishment to those responsible for the evil.

He said that if it was Gods will that all the treasure piled up by the bondsmans 250 years of unrequited toil shall be sunk and that every drop of blood drawn by the lash shall be repaid with a drop of blood drawn by the sword, then as was said 3,000 years ago, so still it must be said that the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.

That the extent of the evil of slavery should be squarely faced is correct, and all serious historians would insist on that. But the United States isnt a systemically racist country at all; like all societies and all people, it has a mixed record of just conduct, but strives to be guided by what Lincoln called the better angels of our nature, and generally repents collective wrongdoing.

The 1619 Project may have had admirable motives, and to the extent it broadens awareness of the nature of slavery it is commendable. But in implying that America and Americans have been largely governed by racial bigotry and exploitation, as a raison detat, its promoting an abominable falsehood that is a betraying of America. That The New York Times is associated with it is shameful.

Conrad Black has been one of Canadas most prominent financiers for 40 years, and was one of the leading newspaper publishers in the world. He is the author of authoritative biographies of Franklin D. Roosevelt and Richard Nixon and, most recently, Donald J. Trump: A President Like No Other.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Redstone Arsenal has always been an important place for the U.S. Army, and a catalyst for Huntsvilles success.

But beyond the arrival of Wernher von Braun on post in the 1950s, perhaps no other time is as important in Redstones growth as 2005  when the Base Realignment and Closure Commission decided to move the Army Materiel Command from the Washington, D.C., area to Huntsville.

Since that decision was made, and AMC officially planted its flag here in June of 2011, Redstone has exploded to more than 40,000 employees and become the center of not just missile and aviation technology, but just about every mission the Army takes on. The AMC motto is If a soldier shoots it, drives it, flies it, wears it, communicates with it, or eats it  AMC provides it.

That AMC was led by a four-star general was the ultimate feather in Huntsville and Redstones military cap. Previous lead commands on the arsenal were headed by two-star generals.

It just so happens that the first two of those four-star generals to lead AMC in Huntsville are now bona fide hall of famers.

On Tuesday, the Army Materiel Command Hall of Fame inducted five new members, including Gen. Ann Dunwoody, who oversaw the commands move to Redstone, and Gen. Dennis Via, who firmly established AMCs foothold here. The other inductees were Sgt. Maj. Jeffrey Mellinger and Senior Executive Service civilians Kathryn Condon and Vincent Faggioli.

Dunwoody retired in 2012 as the first woman in military history to attain the rank of four-star general.

The daughter of a brigadier general, Dunwoodys own Army career began in 1975 with her commission as a second lieutenant in the Womens Army Corps. What followed was a series of historical firsts:

 First woman to command a battalion in the 82nd Airborne Division;

 First female general officer at Fort Bragg, N.C.;

 First woman to command the Combined Arms Support Command at Fort Lee, Virginia;

 First four-star general in the history of the U.S. Army.

Her career included serving overseas during Operation Desert Shield/Storm in Iraq and overseeing logistical support for the initial phases of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Iraq as commanding general of the 1st Corps Support Command.

As the commanding general of the Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command, Dunwoody oversaw the largest deployment and redeployment of U.S. forces since World War II. As a three-star general officer, Dunwoody was the Army's Deputy Chief of Staff for logistics.

When she received her fourth star in 2008 and took over AMC, she became the leader of the largest global logistics command in Army history, which at the time had 69,000 employees worldwide and an annual budget of $60 billion. Overseeing the move to Huntsville was historic in itself, as Redstone is considered the first-ever permanent headquarters in AMCs 58-year history.

She retired only after overseeing the Armys withdrawal from Iraq in 2011  moving hundreds of thousands of pieces of equipment, gear and soldiers, in an unprecedented and efficient fashion.

Though she recognizes that people see her as a trailblazer, Dunwoody sees herself mainly as a soldier.

The Army, she said during her retirement ceremony, is a profession and an institution that has been a part of me since the day I was born. From the very first day that I put my uniform on, I knew there is nothing I would have rather done with my life. It is a calling to be a soldier, and there is a great sense of pride and camaraderie in serving the greatest Army in the world."

AMC Commander Gen. Dennis L. Via sons Brian and Bradley pin on his four-star shoulder boards at his promotion ceremony, Aug. 7, 2012.Headquarters, U.S. Army Materiel

Dunwoody passed her command to Gen. Dennis Via, who led AMC from 2012 until he retired in 2016.

He was a trailblazer himself, becoming the Armys first signal officer to achieve the rank of four-star general and one of only eight African-Americans to become four-star generals in Army history.

"I've been privileged to stand on the shoulders of so many great men and women who came before me," Via said in an interview with AMC public affairs. "I've been blessed to be the first many times in my career, but Lt. Gen. Robert Gray told me, 'Don't worry about being the first; just make sure you aren't the last.'"

Via credited his rise through the ranks to his many mentors, and pointed to one of his high school teachers in Martinsville, Virginia, Edward Fontaine, who helped him get into Virginia State University. At VSU, Via would join the ROTC and begin his ascent to the top of the Armys ranks.

"As an Army senior leader, I know the Army would not exist as it does today without ROTC," Via said. "ROTC has a proven track record for developing leaders and building the next generation of military and civic leaders." Throughout his career, Via made it a priority to work with students and ROTC cadets and help them find their paths in life. "I feel strongly that talent is universal, but opportunity is not. There are many talented young men and women that don't have the opportunity, so if in some small way I can inspire someone to do what they want to do in their life, I will," he said.

Shelly Haskins writes about points of pride statewide. Email your suggestions to shaskins@al.com, or tweet them to @Shelly_Haskins using #AlabamaProud.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, March 11, 2020 17:10 671 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2069df010 1 National dengue-fever,South-Sumatera,dengue-fever-plague,outbreak,outbreak-in-Indonesia Free

One person has died of dengue fever in South Sumatra, while up to 562 have been infected since the beginning of the year, the South Sumatra Health Agency has reported.

The health agencys disease prevention and control department head Muyono said that the death occurred in January in North Musi Rawas regency.

The patient who died was a 15-year-old girl. She was not taken to the hospital in time, he said on Monday as quoted by Antara.

Although the death occurred in North Musi Wawas regency, the number of dengue fever cases in the area is relatively low compared to 16 other regencies and cities in South Sumatra.

Read also: 'God's will': Health minister's response on dengue fever deaths in East Nusa Tenggara

Of the 562 cases recorded as of March 9, Palembang had the highest number of dengue fever cases with 87, while Musi Banyuasin was second with 77 cases.

Palembang always has the highest dengue fever rate every year as it has a large population and the topography enables Aedes aegypti mosquitoes to breed freely, Muyono said.

He added that the number of cases had decreased compared to the 687 cases recorded in the same period last year. In 2019, the South Sumatra Health Agency recorded a total of 2,799 dengue fever cases resulting in six deaths.

Dengue fever happens every year as there is no vaccine and there is no cure, but we can prevent it by living a hygienic lifestyle, keeping betta fish and monitoring Aedes aegypti larvae, he said. (dpk)
The Bharatiya Janata Partys Madhya Pradesh in-charge Vinay P Sahasrabuddhe says that it is not just the people but even those who have been elected as Congress candidates who are losing confidence in the party. On a day former Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia joined the BJP, Sahasrabuddhe said in an interview with Hindustan Times that the BJP cannot be blamed for the poor organisational dynamics of the Congress.

The BJP in Madhya Pradesh received a boost today with former Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia quitting the Congress and joining the party. What implications do you think this development will have on state politics and nationally?

Well, considering the fact that Jyotiraditya ji is a leader with a considerable standing in politics, nationally as well as in the state, it will most certainly add to the strength of our party. Besides, this underscores the fact that those who think about society, nation and consider politics as an instrument for socio-economic transformation, consider BJP as the only vehicle that will help them reach their destination of development politics.

Mr Scindia has been named as BJPs Rajya Sabha candidate. Is he set to join the Union cabinet as well?

That is a decision entirely of the Prime Minister...

What is going to be the BJPs next move? It is widely believed that a section of Congress MLAs could now move towards the party.

As I said, not only those who voted for Congress but also those elected on the Congress ticket are fast losing confidence in their own organisation, in their very own leadership. It shouldnt be a surprise if some of the elected representatives desert their party to join the BJP.

How optimistic is the BJP that it will form the government in MP? Who will be the CM in such a scenario?

...The incumbent government in MP had no real mandate right from the beginning...Naturally, some alternative arrangement will have to be thought of.How can a government that has lost majority continue? Lets wait and watch.

The Congress has claimed that it still has the numbers?

...they continue to believe that nobody can divest them of their birth right to rule. Their claiming that they have numbers is only a reflection of this mindset...
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi retweeted an old Twitter post after Jyotiraditya Scindia joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The post from December 2018 shows Gandhi with Scindia on his right and Kamal Nath on his left and a line borrowed from Leo Tolstoys famous quote.

The two most powerful warriors are patience and time, Gandhi had tweeted on December 13, 2018.

The two most powerful warriors are patience and time.



- Leo Tolstoy pic.twitter.com/MiRq2IlrIg  Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) December 13, 2018

The line was taken from Tolstoys quote: Patience is waiting. Not passively waiting. That is laziness. But to keep going when the going is hard and slow - that is patience. The two most powerful warriors are patience and time.

But a lot changed in the 15 months since the picture was posted. Scindia ran out of patience with the Congress and decided to end his 18-year-old association with the party.

Nath was handed over the reins of the Congress in Madhya Pradesh in April 2018 and continued to hold the post even after becoming the chief minister in December that year.

ALSO WATCH | How Jyotiraditya Scindias induction will help the BJP

Since then, the Congress held several rounds of discussions to replace him but failed to zero in on to find a new name.

The move had angered Scindias supporters who were demanding that he should be made the state Congress president after being denied the chief ministership.

Gandhis retweet came hours after dimissing news reports that Scindia tried to reach out to Sonia Gandhi and him before leaving Congress but was not given time. He was the only chap in the Congress who could walk into my house anytime, Gandhi had told mediapersons.

On Tuesday morning, as much of India was celebrating Holi, Scindia met Union Home Minister Amit Shah, following which he called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his 7, Lok Kalyan Marg residence. The next day, he joined the BJP and lashed out at the Congress for not fulfilling the poll promises made in 2018. He also said that there is inertia in the Congress and the party lives in denial mode.
His artworks hang in galleries around the globe, collected by the likes of Pink, Pharrell Williams and Hugh Jackman, while his street art brought him international acclaim as one of Australia's most influential "adventure artists".

But it was this success and "prominence" that Anthony Lister is said to have used to influence several women when he allegedly drugged and sexually assaulted them, even tattooing one of the women without consent.

The Sydney-based contemporary artist was arrested at his home in Darlinghurst on Tuesday, after an extensive police investigation targeted him for a series of alleged sexual assaults between 2015 and 2018.

Separate reports about the alleged incidents had been made to police as far back as 2015, however it was only in January that a strike force identified links between them.
After one day working from home, Diana Zaslaws neck hurt. She started Monday in her Outer Richmond house standing at the kitchen counter. Then sitting at the table. Next the couch. And finally, lying on her bed.

I can barely turn my head right now, she said Tuesday. Ive had this before, I know it doesnt end well.

The director of production for a small ad agency in the Presidio made the call to not go in to work to limit the spread of the coronavirus for the foreseeable future. It wasnt as much for herself as for people more vulnerable: her immune-compromised mother, sister and uncle  the last quarantined in his apartment in a Santa Cruz retirement community.

But Zaslaw said she sees it as the future with coronavirus cases rising: I feel ahead of the curve.

Shes far from alone. Last week, a wave of tech companies urged employees to work from home, clearing out offices around the Bay Area. Tens of thousands of people are working from home with no idea of how long it will be.

The result is living mates jostling for workspace. Virtual going out for lunch on three-way conference calls. Tech employees used to office perks now buying their own coffee. Pets trying to climb on the keyboard.

Tips for working from home 1. Maintain a normal routine: Get dressed. If possible, dedicate a work space for yourself away from the bed or couch. Set a schedule for work hours that could include a list of accomplishable tasks or setting a timer to take breaks. 2. Make sure that you have reliable technology and the necessary applications for video conferencing and calling. Avoid personal use of a work device and vice versa to ensure that your connection and data are secure. 3. Communicate clearly with colleagues. If you use Slack, update your contact information and status so that they can know how and when to reach you. 4. Practice good virtual meeting etiquette with teammates such as agreeing to how you'll conduct them, laying out expectations, and documenting notes and decisions clearly. 5. Take time to get outside, talk with other humans, and eat healthy food (not just delivery!). Source: Chronicle research Correction In an earlier version of this story, Diana Zaslaw's name was misspelled. See More Collapse

Working from home is not possible for everyone  low-income, gig or contract workers who dont have that option are hurting the most from the coronavirus economic impact, although some tech companies are still paying them. Its also a public health measure intended to limit the spread of the coronavirus. And for employees suddenly confined to their homes, complete with roommates, pets and perhaps not enough desks, it involves navigating plenty of quirks.

Joseph Ansanelli, CEO of Gladly, a San Francisco customer service software firm, has had bad luck working from home so far: his 3-year-old laptop started smoking in the middle of a Zoom call. He put it in his backyard and is using his iPad now.

Ansanelli told his 130 employees on Friday to begin working remotely Monday. He didnt lock the office down, he said, because some people may have roommates and cant stay home. He doesnt know how long  or how disruptive  it will be. If schools close, the husband and father of two young kids said there will be a whole other level of complexity on peoples lives.

Jake Rushing, an Android app developer with startup ZeeMee in Redwood City, was surprised when his company told him to work from home.

Its surreal. Its a global pandemic thats hitting home, Rushing said.

The San Jose resident cleared space on a desk he usually uses to play video games to set up his laptop. With pizza to get him through lunches for the week, he sometimes isnt stopping work until as late as 7 p.m. or leaving the house during the day. He lives with his fiancee and cats; if she has to work from home, too, he said, theyll make it work at separate desks.

Not everyone is so lucky. Alyssa Chen, who works in event planning for Facebooks business operations, started working from her apartment in San Francisco last week  along with two other roommates. The three are taking turns on calls or cooking in the common space; when she cant find a corner of the apartment to work from, she sits on the floor of her bedroom. On top of that, the internets been spotty.

I think were trying to figure out together, its not too horrible, she said, although she could imagine other roommates who arent as close struggling in that situation. Shes trying to make the most of it: her team showed up on their video conference call in themed outfits  animal print Tuesday and boho Wednesday. And she and her friends have considered renting an Airbnb in a remote location near the beach to work from home.

Steven Buss, a software engineer at Googles Embarcadero office, has been working alone from his rented Tenderloin condo. He propped up a new desktop computer he got serendipitiously just before the coronavirus outbreak on a desk barely big enough and bought a cheap office chair. Hes been wearing sleep clothes and didnt shower before his first remote call (he didnt turn on the video, he added). His cat Amy is constantly vying for affection and curling up on his lap, but hes grateful to spend more time with her.

Buss bought coffee beans for the first time in a while instead of heading straight to the office to get his first cup. He usually has lunch at the office and dinner in the city before or after an event, but said its nice to be able to cook again. He made stew one day, carnitas over the weekend, and was baking bread Tuesday.

Its not new for Buss, who used to work from home for a startup.

By the end of the two years working from home, I was completely sick of it, he said. Its a difficult thing to do long term. Its really isolating, you get demotivated and its hard to reliably keep yourself on task and doing the thing you know youre supposed to be doing, he said.

Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes

Maria Fernandez Guajardo, a senior director of product management at Facebook focusing on remote work tool development using virtual reality, has been putting her projects into practice for the past week.

Shes set a routine for herself: Wake up, meditate, shower, get dressed, help her husband get the kids off to school, then walk to her neighborhood Starbucks for a cup of coffee that tells her brain its time to work. Then she holes up in the office in her Sunnyvale home where she covered up the window with a curtain to not distract herself (because she has so many meetings, she kicked out her husband who usually works there part-time to the couch). Around 6 p.m. she closes her laptop and announces to her family, Im done working.

Now Playing: Here is what you need to know about the coronavirus. Video: Manjula Varghese

It was an issue because it was endless hours, it was too much, she said about why she sticks to her schedule. You just keep going.

On Tuesday, Guajardo had lunch with two team members  via video call in their homes. She said Facebooks teams are working on products to make virtual brainstorming easier and foster community to overcome isolation.

She sees the future of work in Silicon Valley, with its congested roadways and skyrocketing housing prices, as remote.

I dont think it will go away, she said.

Others are more skeptical. San Francisco resident Sunder Sarangan has been working part-time from home since he started a new job as a tech consultant for Sahaj Software Solutions last fall. He goes into the office in Fremont a couple of days a week and still wants to, despite the coronavirus outbreak, because he likes socializing.

The hope for work from home needs to be tempered, he said, because if its only a privilege for a minority, its unfair to extrapolate.

Chronicle business editor Owen Thomas contributed to this report.

Mallory Moench is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mallory.moench@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @mallorymoench
A commercially licensed technology developed by Berkeley Lab and UC Berkeley researchers could be available to consumers within the next couple of years

Just over 15 years since a couple of researchers in the U.K. used adhesive tape to isolate single atomic layers of carbon, known as graphene, from a chunk of graphite, their Nobel Prize-winning discovery has fueled a revolution in ultrathin materials R&D.

Graphene and other atomically thin "2D" materials exhibit exotic properties that researchers hope to tap into for a range of applications - from tinier transistors packed into more powerful and compact computer processors, to smaller and more precise sensors, flexible digital displays, and a new wave of quantum computers.

Scientists at the Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) have helped to advance this research into ultrathin materials on a number of fronts, enlisting specialized tools and techniques to make them and to study their structure and properties at the nanoscale and atomic scale.

Now a California-based company called GraphAudio (https://www.graphaudio.com/) is moving toward commercializing graphene-based audio technology developed by researchers at Berkeley Lab and UC Berkeley in an effort to stimulate an audio revolution.

Ramesh Ramchandani, GraphAudio CEO, said the company's goal is to use the licensed technology to manufacture graphene components that other companies incorporate in their products.

He said he expects GraphAudio's technology - which could be available to consumers within one or two years - will be graphene components in earbud headphones and amplifiers that are integrated into products made by established audio-product manufacturers.

The technology licensed from Berkeley Lab in 2016, which relates to the use of graphene in a sound-producing component known as a transducer, could transform a variety of devices, including speakers, earbuds and headphones, microphones, autonomous vehicle sensors, and ultrasonic and echolocation systems.

"We have been working on graphene-based materials and structures for a number of years now, and this transducer is one of the applications that came out of that," said Alex Zettl, a senior faculty scientist at Berkeley Lab and a physics professor at UC Berkeley who is a co-inventor of the technology licensed by GraphAudio. The other inventor is Qin Zhou, a former Berkeley Lab postdoctoral researcher who is now an assistant professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

The transducer developed through their team's research uses a small, several-layers-thick graphene film called a membrane that converts electric signals into sound.

"It is kind of like a drumhead, with a circular frame and the membrane stretched over it," Zettl said. The graphene membrane measures about a centimeter across. The membrane and supporting frame are sandwiched between silicon-based electrodes that are driven with alternating voltages.

The electric fields cause the graphene membrane to vibrate and create sound in an efficient, controlled way. This design, known as an electrostatic transducer, requires fewer parts and far less energy than more conventional designs, which can require electrical coils and magnets.

"When we drive it with an electrical audio signal, it acts as a loudspeaker," Zettl said.

In some popular in-ear headphones, only about 10 percent of electrical energy gets converted to sound while the rest is lost as heat. The graphene transducer, though, converts about 99 percent of the energy into sound, he said.

Also, the graphene transducer is almost distortion-free and has an extremely "flat" response across a very broad range of sound frequencies - even well beyond what the human ear is capable of hearing. This means that the sound is of equal quality across a wide range of high and low frequencies - "not just in the audio band, but from subsonic all the way to ultrasonic," Zettl said. "This is pretty much unprecedented."

Because of this large bandwidth, the graphene-based transducer could be used for echolocation systems for submarine communications, ultrasonic systems for locating survivors in a rubble-strewn environment, and for high-quality imaging of human fetuses in the womb, as examples.

And the same properties that make the graphene transducer work well in speakers can also make for high-quality microphones, Zettl noted. "We demonstrated both technologies in our lab. Both have the potential for being commercialized."

Ramchandani of GraphAudio said that GraphAudio's sample headphones and microphones that the company demoed at the Consumer Electronics Show in January resulted in some productive discussions with prospective partners, and some consumer experiences that he said evoked a "Wow" response.

The company claims the sound quality of its technology is so crystal-clear that it's possible to pick out an individual instrument's tones from a symphony orchestra.

Ramchandani noted that flat-screen television technology has all but replaced bulkier and heavier cathode-ray tube televisions, and he expects the same sort of transformation in audio products.

Among the products that could emerge from GraphAudio's licensed technology are thin car speakers embedded in a vehicle's interior ceiling for an improved surround-sound experience, and improved car sensors that rely on two-way echolocation to avoid vehicle collisions.

Zettl said his team continues its R&D efforts with ultrathin materials and nanostructures.

His team members have specialties ranging from chemistry and physics to mechanical engineering and materials science, and the researchers are frequent users of Berkeley Lab's Molecular Foundry, a nanoscale science facility; and the Advanced Light Source, which produces light beams that can be used to study materials at tiny scales.

"I wouldn't be able to do any of this work without the students and postdoctoral researchers and the facilities that are here at Berkeley Lab," Zettl said.

Members of his research team routinely use atomic-resolution microscopes at the Molecular Foundry to explore the structure of ultrathin materials, for example. And team members also use X-rays produced by the Advanced Light Source to examine other properties of materials that could make them well-suited for particular applications, he noted.

A new thrust in his team's research is to explore how to make new types of mechanical transducers with ultrathin materials that are manufactured with tunable elastic properties - enabled by precisely patterned nanoscale holes or slots.

In addition to their use in new transducer configurations, such perforated membranes could also be useful for applications ranging from water filtration to genetic sequencing.

"To be able to work on things that have real applications and public benefits - it's nice to see that full progression," Zettle said. "I'm thrilled to be able to see these applications come out of this. For me that's personally rewarding."

The company demonstrated the technology at the 2020 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in January.

###

The Molecular Foundry and Advanced Light Source are DOE Office of Science user facilities.

The Berkeley Lab research is supported by the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Basic Energy Sciences.

Founded in 1931 on the belief that the biggest scientific challenges are best addressed by teams, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (https://www.lbl.gov/) and its scientists have been recognized with 13 Nobel Prizes. Today, Berkeley Lab researchers develop sustainable energy and environmental solutions, create useful new materials, advance the frontiers of computing, and probe the mysteries of life, matter, and the universe. Scientists from around the world rely on the Lab's facilities for their own discovery science. Berkeley Lab is a multiprogram national laboratory, managed by the University of California for the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science.

DOE's Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States, and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, please visit energy.gov/science (https://www.energy.gov/science/office-science).
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The highest outdoor observation deck in the western hemisphere has just opened in New York City.

The 'Edge' - a $25 billion Hudson Yards development in Manhattan - officially opened to the public on Wednesday.

Soaring 100 floors, the viewing platform is a record 1,131 feet from the ground.

It boasts views of NYC, New York state and New Jersey that span up to 80 miles.

The attraction has angled glass walls that people can lean and a glass floor that shows the 100-floor drop below.

The first of the visitors flocked to the viewing deck on Wednesday and were spotted lying on the glass floor to take in the views.

The 'Edge' - a $25 billion Hudson Yards development in Manhattan - officially opened to the public on Wednesday

Visitors flocked to the attraction on Wednesday during its opening day to pose for photos 1,000 feet up in the air

The attraction has angled glass walls that people can lean and a glass floor that shows the 100-floor drop below

Vertical performers Bandaloop performed at the opening and could be seen dancing along the 1000-foot building while strapped to harnesses.

Edge will be open seven days a week year-round from 8am to midnight. General admission adult tickets are $36 online, while child tickets are $31. New York City residents can buy adult tickets online for $34. Special rates available for seniors, active and retired members of the U.S. military and groups.

'You've never experienced New York like this before,' said Jason Horkin, Executive Director of Hudson Yards Experiences.

'Stepping onto Edge is like walking out into the sky. The entire experience is designed to inspire visitors and ignite a new passion for New York City with multiple, built-in thrill elements that ensure Edge becomes a must-see local attraction and a top spot on every travelers' bucket list.'

Hudson Yards is a complex of high-rises on Manhattan's West Side with luxury commercial and residential space, including about 100 shops and restaurants such as Louis Vuitton and Neiman Marcus.

The sprawling 18 million-square-foot complex is the city's most ambitious development since the rebuilding of the World Trade Center.

Half of the 28-acre mini-city by the Hudson River was completed last year when Hudson Yards officially opened. The rest will be done by 2025.

The Edge boasts views of New York City, New York state and New Jersey that span up to 80 miles

Tourists pose for photos at Edge - the new observation deck on the 100th floor of 30 Hudson Yards on Wednesday

Tourists were pictured sitting on the glass floor of the observation deck on Wednesday

Edge is the western hemisphere's highest outdoor sky deck at more than 1,000 feet high

Soaring 100 floors, the viewing platform is a record 1,131 feet from the ground

The new observation deck is at Hudson Yards, which is the city's most ambitious development since the rebuilding of the World Trade Center.

The view from above: Edge offers 360-degree views of New York City's iconic skyline, rising 1,131 feet in the air from the heart of Hudson Yards

Tourists pose for photos at Edge during its opening day on Wednesday

Jeff Blau, Chief Executive Officer and a partner of Related Companies, speaks at the opening of Edge

When fully complete it will include 16 towers of homes and offices, a hotel, a school, a performing arts center and the shopping mall.

Condos start at $3million and range up to $32million, but there will be 1,100 units of affordable housing.

The Vessel is the star of the complex doubling as art and a commercial structure. Walkers that cross its eight levels and follow its circular path end up walking a full mile.

However, the name Vessel is temporary and visitors are encouraged to pitch name ideas for the sculpture.

The urban complex is expected to generate new jobs and opportunities for New Yorkers.

The Hudson Yards is the largest privately built real estate project ever in the US, constructed over 28 acres of a working rail yard on the west side of Manhattan.

Constructing the deck was a tremendous feat of engineering.

The deck made a 4,283-mile journey across the ocean from Italy.

But the engineers found that the long ocean trek was the easy part. The most challenging aspect was the final 10-mile leg in which the deck needed to be moved from the Port of New Jersey to Manhattan's West Side.

To get the modules across the Hudson River and on to the West Side Highway, officials needed to remove street signs and traffic lights in order to accommodate their sheer size.

View of glass platform seen from below at the opening of Edge, the western hemisphere's highest outdoor sky deck

The view of downtown Manhattan is pictured above from the Deck at Hudson Yards

Vertical performers Bandaloop performed at the opening and could be seen dancing along the 1000-foot building while strapped to harnesses

The dancers performed off the side of the 1,000 foot observation deck on Wednesday
Even with all the media attention on coronavirus, were missing the really big story:

Those disgusting hot food bars and salad bars at various supermarkets and food courts near you.

People put their hands on the lettuce. They cough on the olives. Multiple hands touch the ladles and spoons.

And government does nothing.

Consider that video that went viral before the coronavirus outbreak. It was of a man at the hot food bar at a grocery store, slurping cream of broccoli soup from the ladle. He put his lips and tongue all over that ladle.

Then he put the ladle back into the soup.

Dont tell me the ladle licker is some isolated case. Im a germaphobe who grew up in the grocery store business, and Ive seen some things.

Thats why Ive always hated salad and hot food bars. The ladle lickers are out there, and you know it.

Coronavirus is serious business. Im not mocking what could be a pandemic. The government -- national, state and local -- tell us not to panic.

But Im a news consumer too, and how can you consume endless stories about quarantines, canceled conventions, canceled sporting events, empty hotels and offices, no personal cups at Starbucks, and not feel nervous?

And Im trying to add my own warning about those hot food and salad bars that are out there.

Since many liberal journalists are politically weaponizing the new coronavirus -- one columnist at The New York Times wants to call it Trumpvirus -- I might as well join the club and use the virus for my own political purposes.

I want those salad/hot bars wiped off the face of the earth because they have always bothered me, even before the coronavirus panic.

Why hasnt the government outlawed them? Why hasnt that soup sipper been arrested?

And whats the proper deterrent?

Id ship him to North Korea. If he tried it there -- even if they did have food -- his entire family would be gone by now.

The problem with contagious viruses is that people panic because they know that others dont follow the rules, like the guy with the ladle.

Yes, it would be an overreaction to go medieval on the guy and lop off his hand and take his tongue. We are not living in the Dark Ages, yet, despite what Sen. Chuck Schumer is trying to do to the republic. This isnt Game of Thrones.

This is still the land of the free. Clearly, nothing would say Youre not free to lick the ladle, like a large pile of hands and a smaller, neater pile of pink tongues. But we are Americans, not bloodthirsty psychos.

Lets just send the ladle lickers to North Korea.

That soup slurper was captured on video a couple of years ago in pre-coronavirus Chicago. But so what? Human nature doesnt change. Remember those stories of barbarians caught licking ice cream, digging their tongues right in the vanilla before putting it back in the grocers freezer. Need I say more?

Dont tell me people dont reach into a salad bar and grab strawberries with their fingers just to see if theyre sweet. You ever work in a grocery store? Youd find peach pits in among the radicchio.

I was at a salad bar at our local store and I was going to get some lettuce, said a responsible journalist. Another customer whispered, Dont touch the lettuce. See that woman over there? She just put her hands all over it.

See what I mean?

I suppose we could blame our local Illinois lawmakers -- the ones not dodging subpoenas in federal political corruption investigations.

If Gov. J.B. Pritzker really cared about the people, hed form a blue-ribbon panel to write a report that no one will read: "Coronavirus Transmission: A Consequence of Hands and Tongues.

But he wont.

To report this story, I visited a grocery store and spotted a nice fellow standing at the hot bar. He was spooning out some disgusting public vegetables for himself.

Vegetable medley, he said weakly, and smiled.

Vegetable medley sucks, but I didnt say anything. I just stared at him, silently. He edged away.

An epidemiologist on a news site said we must be careful about the utensils at food bars.

I would say that things like salad bars, you know, we will have to be very diligent about what are touching and all of these utensils that many people might be touching, said Dr. Michael Mina, assistant professor of epidemiology at Harvard University. That would be where I would see the risk of the transmission occurring, more so than the food that we are actually eating.

Food that we are actually eating? Theres no we here. You eat it. I wont touch it.

Then I called the health department of a large Midwestern city on a lake. No, it wasnt Cleveland.

While at this time were not recommending shutting down salad bars and self-serve food stations, we continue to monitor this situation very closely, said the health official.

He said wash your hands, dont touch your face, stay home if sick, get a flu shot, and cover all those coughs and sneezes.

And Id like to add this: Please dont sneeze on the lettuce.

And keep your dern lips off the ladle.
Newscity

Tiny Home Village Breaks Ground

Construction is finally underway on a tiny home village in Albuquerque that will serve the citys underprivileged and homeless residents.

According to KOAT, the project cost $3 million and took four years to complete. The new community will be located on land owned by the Albuquerque Indian Center on Zuni Road between Tennessee Street and Texas Street. The area is close to vital services that residents will need, like a bus stop and a clinic. There were some people who suggested putting it out on the outskirts and far away from the city and those kinds of things, but we thought that's not going to make it successful, Bernalillo County Commissioner Debbie O'Malley told reporters.

The tiny home village will be considered transitionary housing, and residents will be allowed to live there from three months to two years while they look for a permanent place to live. The site will house 30 tiny homes. Residents will also be given better opportunities for gainful employment. The project was approved by voters in 2016.

City leaders say construction of the village is expected to be completed sometime this year, and residents should be able to move in by September or October of 2020.
Election to the



Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) in Assam will be held on April 4, State Election Commissioner Alok Kumar said on Wednesday.

Polling will be held from 8 am to 4 pm and votes will be counted on April 8, he said in a notification.

The State Election Commission has set March 18 as the last date for filing nominations, it said.

The nominations will be scrutinised on March 19 and March 21 has been set as the last date for withdrawal of nominations, the notification said.

The final list of the contesting candidates will be published on March 21, it said.

Re-polling will be held on April 6, the notification said.

BTC's jurisdiction is over four districts of Assam -- Kokrajhar, Baksa, Chirang and Udalguri -- known collectively as Bodoland Territorial Administrative Districts (BTAD).

The council has 40 elected members.

This will be the first election to the council after the Centre and several Bodo groups signed a peace agreement earlier this year.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Harvey Weinstein was sentenced to 23 years on sex crime convictions in New York on Wednesday, following a landmark trial that spotlighted Hollywood power dynamics, predatory sexual violence and complex questions about the nature of consent and coercion.

That sentence includes 20 years for criminal sexual assault in the first degree, which stems from an accusation from former "Project Runway" production assistant Mimi Haley, and three years for rape in the third degree, which stems from an accusation from Jessica Mann, who is now being named by ABC News as she told the district attorney's office after a verdict was reached she does not object to being named publicly. The sentences are set to run consecutively.

MORE: Harvey Weinstein found guilty on 2 counts in sexual assault case

Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance Jr. championed the prosecution's six key witnesses in a statement following the sentencing.

"We thank the court for imposing a sentence that puts sexual predators and abusive partners in all segments of society on notice," he said. "We thank the survivors for their remarkable statements today and indescribable courage over the last two years. Harvey Weinstein deployed nothing less than an army of spies to keep them silent. But they refused to be silent, and they were heard. Their words took down a predator and put him behind bars, and gave hope to survivors of sexual violence all across the world."

Hours after the sentences were handed down, Weinstein was rushed from Rikers Island back to Manhattan's Bellevue Hospital Center with chest pains, according to spokesman Juda Engelmayer.

He had chest pains and Rikers staff decided for safety to send him back to Bellevue now. He will be evaluated and likely will stay overnight," Engelmayer said. "We appreciate the care and concern of the Department of Corrections office and staff."

PHOTO: Film producer Harvey Weinstein's lawyer Donna Rotunno speaks to the media following his sentencing at New York Criminal Court after his sexual assault trial in New York City, March 11, 2020. (Carlo Allegri/Reuters)

Weinstein, who declined at trial to take the stand in his own defense, earlier addressed his accusers in court before the judge's decision in an extraordinary 12-minute statement, given partially while turned in his wheelchair to face the six women who had taken the stand against him, and were now sitting together in the front row of the courtroom. The women -- Annabella Sciorra, Dawn Dunning, Tarale Wulff, Lauren Young and Mann and Haley -- were flanked on either side by Vance and prosecutors Joan Illuzzi and Meghan Hast. Actress Rosie Perez, who testified for the prosecution in support of witness Annabella Sciorra, sat beside victims rights attorney Gloria Allred in the second row, whispering to Sciorra.

Story continues

Surrounded by court officers and defense attorneys, Weinstein spoke directly to his accusers.

First of all, to all the women who testified, we may have different truth, but I have a great remorse for all of you, he said "I have great remorse for all of the men and women going through this crisis right now in our country. You know, the movement started basically with me, and I think what happened, you know, I was the first example, and how there are thousands of men who are being accused and a regeneration of things that I think none of us understood. I think that -- I can't help looking at Jessica and Mimi and hope that something of our old friendship in me could emerge, but I'm sure - like me - they have lawyers who say to them be careful of what you say."

Im not going to say these arent great people," he said. "I had wonderful times with these people. Im just genuinely confused. Men are confused about this issue."

Weinstein went on to describe his relationships with his accusers as "extramarital affairs," compared the #MeToo movement to the Hollywood blacklists of suspected communists in the 1950s, and quoted multi-million and billion dollar sums that he said he helped raise for charity over the years. He talked at length about his charity work surrounding 9/11 and 2012's Hurricane Sandy.

Ask the guy in Coney Island," Weinstein said. "Ask the guy in Far Rockaway -- when he lost his business and we were able to walk in there and save his business - ask him if he likes me. Ask the captain who was killed in action. I took his children to the Super Bowl and to the Academy Awards because somebody had to do it. I did it with Steve Tisch. There are so many examples of that.

"Theres so many people, thousands of people, who would say great things about me. We are going through this crisis right now in this country, Weinstein said, referring to the #MeToo movement. 

Weinstein was "despondent and dejected" as he prepared for sentencing after being convicted earlier this month of sexually assaulting the two women, according to his spokesman Juda Engelmayer.

PHOTO: Actors Lauren Young, left, and Jessica Mann walk out of the courthouse after movie mogul Harvey Weinstein was sentenced to 23 years in prison on March 11, 2020 in New York City. (Roy Rochlin/Getty Images)

Minutes earlier, victims Mimi Haley and Jessica Mann had given impassioned victim impact statements that at times drew them to tears.

"I had no reason not to go there," Haley said of the evening she was sexually assaulted in 2006. "Harvey Weinstein wasnt a stranger. He knew people I knew. I had no reason to think that even if he made sexual advances towards me and I rejected him, that he wouldnt respect my rejection. I had no reason to believe that he would force an act of sexual violence on me. But thats exactly what he did."

"I believe that when he attacked me that evening, with physical force, with no regard for anything I said, no regard for my cries and protests, my physical resistance, my panic and fear - it scarred me deeply - mentally and emotionally - perhaps irreparably, perhaps forever."

"What he did not only stripped me off my dignity as a human being and as a woman, but crushed my confidence and faith in my professional future for a long time," Haley said. "It diminished my confidence and faith in people, and my confidence and faith in myself. I was confused, in distress and in disbelief. It was embarrassing and frankly incredibly hurtful, that this person, who I knew to some degree, but who had also for a long time known someone I loved and trusted, would do this to me."

Mann focused much of her statement on physiological effects of rape on the human body.

"This rape induced paralysis is a natural response designed to activate under situations such as sexual abuse, or rape," Mann told Judge Burke. "When the brain assess that flight or fight are not possible, sometimes after using another mechanism called freezing (the state in which those responses are put on hold to assess the situation) the immobility response is activated. Harvey at the time had every advantage over me. Given the immense physical stature of Harveys weight, height, and ox like strength  he used that physicality to trap me and prevent me from leaving. That was a powerful assessment that flight was not possible.

"Fight was also not possible," she continued. "His strength overpowered me trying to leave."

"Rape paralysis, or immobility is very real in humans. A good visual of this is when animals play dead under stress. While they remain flexible, and aware, they are trapped in a survival response until the threat is removed. In people, this response can also be accompanied with fainting or blacking out. Such as what happened to me in a separate rape committed against me by Harvey Weinstein, which you heard in my testimony, as well as Annabellas testimony. Just like our hearts without our conscious awareness, it is critical that victims, and the courts understand that the ability to fight during rape can be out of the victims control when this defense response is triggered unconsciously."

"I ask you to consider the horrors of being rendered immobile by my own biological response, while I had to endure his penis, raping me on his time, as slow as he wanted while he pleasured himself inside my body. I wish I had been able to fight him while he raped me. I could have walked away with a sense of control over my body instead of a deeper shame."

"Please understand," she implored Burke, "that to show distress, especially while still in shock, would have been dangerous. I was not about to advertise that I was a weak and wounded prey and attract more potential violence. This is a response we see in nature, and should be of no surprise that hiding weakness is something every human being on this planet exercises."

PHOTO: Attorney Gloria Allred holds a sign as she meets the press after Harvey Weinstein's sentencing, in New York, March 11, 2020. Weinstein was sentenced to 23 years in prison for rape and sexual assault. (Mark Lennihan/AP)

'A serious offense'

MORE: Expert witness details 'rape myths' in Harvey Weinstein case

Weinstein was facing a minimum of probation and a maximum of four years in prison on the rape conviction, and between five and 25 years on the criminal sexual assault conviction.

In a sentencing recommendation letter to the judge in the case, Manhattan prosecutors detailed 36 "prior bad acts" they said justified an extended prison sentence for Weinstein.

Prosecutors did not recommend a specific sentence in the letter, but contended that it was "totally appropriate" to show through the court's sentence "that sexual assault, even if perpetrated upon an acquaintance or in a professional setting, is a serious offense worthy of a lengthy prison sentence."

Defense attorneys were seeking a minimum sentence of five years.

PHOTO: Tarale Wulff speaks to the press after Harvey Weinstein's sentencing, in New York, March 11, 2020. (Erik Pendzich/Rex/Shutterstock)

"As an individual with no criminal history having spent no time previously incarcerated, his health concerns, his age, and as famous as he is, a custodial sentence will no doubt prove much more difficult for Mr. Weinstein than most other inmates, which further counsels in favor of a sentence of five years' imprisonment," defense attorneys Damon Chernois and Donna Rotunno said in their own letter to the judge.

"With respect to deterrence, counsel will again note that Mr. Weinstein is a first-time offender."

Attorneys for Weinstein told ABC News they plan to file their appeal of his New York convictions in July, ahead of the next session of the appellate court in September.

What's next for Weinstein?

After sentencing, Weinstein will be sent to Downstate Correctional Facility in Fishkill, New York, a maximum-security prison and inmate reception center where New York City inmates get a medical evaluation before being assigned to a state prison facility, according to state corrections officials.

While state corrections officials are responsible for determining where Weinstein will serve out his sentence, those officials can take recommendations from the judge about an inmate with medical problems like Weinstein.

MORE: Weinstein trial spotlights the use of 'prior bad acts' witnesses

Three of New York state's 52 correctional facilities -- in Fishkill, Bedford Hills and Coxsackie, New York -- have residential medical units.

Weinstein is also preparing to defend himself against four felony sexual assault charges filed earlier this year by the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office. In that case, Weinstein is charged with attacking two women in separate incidents in February 2013 within a day of each other.

A spokesman for the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office said in a statement that authorities there "has begun the process of extraditing defendant Weinstein to California to face the sexual assault charges that were filed in January." No arraignment date has yet been set, according to the statement.

If you or someone you know experienced sexual assault and is seeking resources, call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).

Harvey Weinstein sentenced to 23 years on sex crime convictions originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
The coronavirus outbreak prompted Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders to cancel campaign rallies Tuesday night, raising doubts about whether they will hold public events across New York and other states in the coming weeks.

New York has the nations largest confirmed cluster of coronavirus cases, according to Gov. Andrew Cuomo, and is among 13 states that have declared public health emergencies.

Biden and Sanders were expected to campaign across New York, holding rallies and other public events in advance of the states April 28 presidential primary election. New York has the most Democratic delegates at stake in any primary election remaining on the calendar.

The Biden campaign said Tuesday night that it would consult with public health officials and make announcements about future events in the coming days.

Biden and Sanders both canceled planned campaign events Tuesday night in Cleveland at the advice of Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, citing concerns for public health and safety.

In accordance with guidance from public officials and out of an abundance of caution, our rally in Cleveland, Ohio tonight is cancelled. We will continue to consult with public health officials and public health guidance and make announcements about future events 1/  Kate Bedingfield (@KBeds) March 10, 2020

Sanders did not address any crowds after six states voted in Tuesdays primary elections. Biden delivered an election-night speech at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, but the event was closed to the public.

Coronavirus concerns also convinced CNN and Democratic Party officials to cancel plans to hold the next Democratic presidential primary debate in front of a live audience.

Instead, Biden and Sanders will debate each other in an empty theater in Phoenix on Sunday, surrounded only by moderators and television crew members.

Vice President Mike Pence said decisions about future campaign rallies for President Donald Trump would be made on a day-to-day basis.

Sanders and Hillary Clinton held large public rallies and events across New York in advance of states 2016 presidential primary. Sanders spoke to more than 5,000 people at the Oncenter Convention Center in Syracuse. Clinton rallied hundreds packed into a hall at the Central New York Regional Market.

The campaign rallies are the latest in a series of public gatherings affected by the coronavirus outbreak. Some schools and colleges have closed, music concerts have been postponed and officials have considered closing sporting events to the public.

One of the biggest annual political dinners in Washington, D.C., was called off Tuesday for the first time since World War II over coronavirus concerns. The Gridiron Club canceled its 135th dinner gathering of politicians and journalists, citing advice from health experts.

Upstate New York Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Schuylerville, was among elected officials scheduled to speak in front of 600 people who bought tickets to Saturdays white-tie dinner.

Read more:

Democratic primaries 2020: Biden wins Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri

New York presidential primary 2020: What you need to know

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Dear Savvy Senior: What kinds of legal documents do I need to prepare to help my family after Im gone? I would like to get my affairs in order but could use some help.  Almost 75

Dear Almost: All adults  especially seniors  should have at least four essential legal documents to protect yourself and your family. These documents will make sure your wishes regarding your estate are legal and clear and will help minimize any conflicts and confusion with your family and your health care providers if you become seriously ill or when you die. Here are the key documents you need, along with some tips to help you create them:

Will: This document lets you spell out your wishes of how youd like your property and assets distributed after you die, whether its to family, friends or a charity. It also allows you to designate an executor to ensure your wishes are carried out and allows you to name guardians if you have dependent children.
(CNN)  Pete Buttigieg is taking his charm to late-night TV.

The former Democratic presidential candidate will host "Jimmy Kimmel Live" on Thursday, he announced on Monday's "Today Show."

"We're lining up a great slate of guests," Buttigieg said. "Patrick Stewart is coming on, so we are very excited about that."

He added that he hopes he'll have some help penning the monologue that night.

"Hopefully some funnier minds than mine will be doing some writing for that. I think it is going to be fun," Buttigieg said. "The thing about running a presidential campaign is you will have been focused on one thing and one thing only. It is nice to be able to zoom out and come back at life."

Since dropping out of the presidential race on March 1, Buttigieg has been traveling the country with his husban. The former mayor of South Bend, Indiana said he is "going to have some fun" before pursuing his next job.

In the meantime, Buttigieg has endorsed former Vice President Joe Biden to be the 2020 Democratic presidential nominee.

This story was first published on CNN.com "Pete Buttigieg set to guest host "Jimmy Kimmel Live"
Close up detail of an Albert Square sign on the set of EastEnders. (BBC)

EastEnders fans are seriously annoyed with Lola Pearce as she wasted no time snogging her ex Peter Beale, just hours after turning down Jay Browns marriage proposal.

Lola - whos played by Danielle Harold in the BBC soap - is currently pregnant with Jays baby. But while Jay is desperate to become a dad, Lola has no intention of having another child just yet.

Jay hoped he could change her mind by getting down on one knee, but Lola tried to gently let him down.

Read more: EastEnders fans predict affair for this unlikely pair

Unfortunately Jay didnt take her refusal very well at all and yelled at her to forget everything between them as he clearly wasnt enough for her.

Lola is stunned as Jay asks her to marry him in EastEnders

An upset Lola, who had already flirted with Peter as he trained Habiba Ahmed on the Square, headed off to drown her sorrows.

It wasnt long before Peter found her and offered her a shoulder to cry on. Along with a few massive shots of straight vodka courtesy of his new job at The Prince Albert.

And, predictably, it was only a matter of time before Lola and Peter were kissing up against a wall.

Poor Jay.

Fans took to Twitter to share their disgust at Lolas attitude and at Peter for making a move on his vulnerable ex.

Lola and Peter kiss just hours after Jay proposed to her.

One viewer tweeted: My heart is absolutely broken for jay poor jay.

While another agreed, saying: Bloody heck Lola, you had a good man in Jay!

Others blamed Peter for the betrayal, with one angry watcher saying: Peter has wanted that since he got back he is a snake.

Another added: Peter is such a pig.

And a third fumed: Hi Peter, I missed you. But after that, I want you to scuttle off back to New Zealand. Please and thanks.

Hi Peter, I missed you.



But after that, I want you to scuttle off back to New Zealand. Please and thanks #EastEnders https://t.co/oHAcNUkC4Z  Tom Gardiner (@IAmTomGardiner) March 10, 2020

Peter - played by newcomer Dayle Hudson - returned during the epic 35th anniversary episodes last month.

Story continues

Hes been living in New Zealand with his now ex-girlfriend Lauren Branning and their son Louie.

Read more: EastEnders fans wonder when the Coronavirus will hit Walford

EastEnders continues Thursday at 7.30pm on BBC One.
A Scottish body responsible for investigating possible miscarriages of justices said on Wednesday it had referred the case of the man jailed for the 1988 Lockerbie bombing for appeal. Abdelbaset Ali Mohmet al-Megrahi, who died in 2012, was the only person convicted for the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103, which killed 243 passengers and 16 crew as it travelled from London to New York on December 21, 1988. Eleven people on the ground in the Scottish town of Lockerbie also lost their lives in what was the biggest terrorist attack on British soil. Libyan national Megrahi, who denied involvement, was jailed for life for mass murder by three Scottish judges at a special court sitting in the Netherlands in 2001. His family asked the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission's (SCCRC) to review the case again after his death from prostate cancer. Commission chairman Bill Matthews said it was the second time it had carried out a review of the conviction and the latest was based on "further information" that had come to light. SCCRC chief executive Gerard Sinclair said its 419-page decision had been sent to the High Court of Justiciary in Edinburgh, and Megrahi's family and legal team had been informed. "It is now a matter for those representing the Crown and the defence to decide how to proceed at any future appeal," he said. "Thereafter, it will be for the appeal court to decide whether there has been a miscarriage of justice." - New referral - Megrahi appealed his initial conviction in 2002 but Scottish appeal court judges refused his application. The following year, he asked the SCCRC to review the conviction. In 2007, the body referred the case to court for a ruling but in August 2009, Megrahi abandoned his appeal. Scottish government ministers approved his release from prison on compassionate grounds in the same month and he returned to Libya, where he later died. Megrahi's widow and family again asked the SCCRC to review his conviction in 2017, arguing there were "valid and compelling" reasons for a new referral. In its statement, the SCCRC said it "now believes that a miscarriage of justice may have occurred in Mr Megrahi's case", citing an "unreasonable verdict" and "non-disclosure" in the handling of the case. On the matter of unreasonable verdict, the body said on the evidence submitted -- that Megrahi bought items inside the suitcase in which the bomb was hidden at a shop in Malta -- was not proved beyond reasonable doubt. On non-disclosure, it said prosecutors should have disclosed to the defence a statement and police report casting doubt on Megrahi being the purchaser that could have weakened their case. "The Commission considers that the Crown's failure to disclose the information in question deprived Mr Megrahi a real chance of an acquittal," it added. Similarly, it said failure to disclose information about a US State Department reward to the owner of the shop where the items were bought "bolsters its conclusion that Mr Megrahi was denied a fair trial". - 'Robust appeal' - At a news conference in Glasgow, lawyer Aamer Anwar said the family of Megrahi welcomed the ruling and that they had 21 days to lodge an appeal. "We think we have a robust appeal," he told reporters but said a decision to allow the case to go forward was only for the court to decide. Should it do so, initial hearings could start before the end of this year, with a full hearing next year, he added. Anwar said "the finger of blame" had long pointed at Iran for the bombing and that Megrahi was wrongly convicted of the atrocity. Tehran has denied claims it contracted Syria-based Palestinian militants to carry out the attack in revenge for the shooting down of an Iranian airliner by the USS Vincennes in July 1988. That attack killed 290 people. The Megrahi family's case to the SCCRC was supported by the families of some of the victims, including former doctor Jim Swire, whose daughter Flora was on board Pan Am 103. Swire, now in his eighties, lobbied for a retrial and release of Megrahi, and highlighted continued issues over airline security. Anwar said the reputation of Scottish justice had "suffered badly... over the conviction of Mr al-Megrahi". "There is finally hope on what has been a long journey... but there can never be a time limit on justice," he added.
Iran warned the UN atomic watchdog on Wednesday to be wary of "empty claims" passed on to it, after the agency raised questions about the Islamic republic's nuclear programme.

The International Atomic Energy Agency last week accused Iran of denying its inspectors access in January to two sites.

The IAEA "should maintain its credibility and not follow up on any empty claims made by someone or some regime," foreign ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said.

"Questions must be based on a legal and technical case and not some regimes' political games as Iran does not consider this right or constructive," he added.

IAEA chief Rafael Grossi on Monday urged Iran to provide access to the two sites, and said it had failed to engage "in substantive discussions" to clarify its questions.

Diplomats say these were related to past projects of the 2000s that were alleged to have had a military dimension, and not to its current activities.

Iran's representative Kazem Gharib Abadi, said last week that Tehran had no obligation to grant the IAEA access to sites if it deems the requests to be based on "fabricated information", accusing the US and Israel of trying to "exert pressure on the agency".

Iran's arch enemy Israel has claimed that its intelligence services have new information on the alleged past projects.

The back and forth comes with a landmark 2015 nuclear agreement between Iran and world powers hanging by a thread.

The accord -- offering Tehran sanctions relief in exchange for limits on its nuclear activities -- has faltered since the US withdrew from it in 2018 and began reimposing unilateral sanctions on Iran.

In retaliation Iran has progressively abandoned some of the limits set by the accord.

Other parities to the deal -- Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia -- have expressed continued commitment to the deal.

But so far they have been unable to make up for the United States in providing Iran with the economic benefits set out in the accord.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
CEDAR FALLS  A task force is developing alternate qualifications for firefighters who may not meet the education requirements to become public safety officers.

The eight Cedar Falls firefighters jobs are being eliminated in a reorganization of the public safety department. But on Tuesday the group overseeing transitional plans for the employees discussed how to ensure that they could apply to be PSOs, cross-trained to provide both police and fire division duties, even if they dont have the required 60 college credits. That is a potential sticking point in enabling some of the firefighters to qualify for the job, which is one option if they want to remain employed with the city.

City Council member Simon Harding, one of six Cedar Falls officials on the task force, suggested potential applicants for the position should be required to have 60 college credits or X number of (years of) police or firefighter experience. Members of the group also talked about other qualifications, such as certifications earned through training.

City attorney Kevin Rogers will draft a proposed alternative for the firefighters to meet the requirement that accounts for their backgrounds. The task force will consider the proposal when it meets Thursday. If agreement is reached by the members, the proposal could go before the council on Monday.

The group is looking at other city positions the firefighters could apply for, as well. Brian Heath, operations and maintenance division manager, said the city keeps a list of potential hires who are civil service-tested that is certified annually. It also has a list of current employees who qualify for promotions within their department that is updated every two years.

Right now, we have no full-time positions available, he noted. We keep a list current in case something comes open.

Task force members also discussed the possibility that some firefighters may qualify to apply for fire division supervisory positions or be on the verge of qualifying for retirement. They identified one firefighter in each situation. Craig Berte, acting police chief, said there may be an open supervisor position later this year due to a pending retirement.

Layoff notices for the firefighters, who are currently on paid administrative leave, will be sent out March 23, the same day they need to apply for another city position. The layoffs would take effect April 14. Those who dont make an initial decision to seek another city job would have to choose a severance payment by April 13 to receive the benefit.

Firefighters choosing severance would receive a lump sum equal to six months of base wages plus the health plan employer contribution during the period for them and their families. The average per employee would be approximately $38,300 plus already accrued benefits owed anytime someone leaves the job. The total outlay for all eight employees would be just under $400,000.

Council member Frank Darrah, who is presiding over the meetings, said the immediacy with which the changes are taking place is I think my biggest issue with this thing.

Does it have to happen by April 14 or is there a way we can take advantage of their years of experience? he asked. I dont want to imply that Im still not 100% committed to the PSO model.

Harding also expressed a preference for making the deadline later, but a majority of the task force supported the April dates in a vote.

In a related matter, the city turned down a request that it negotiate the proposed changes with the union representing the employees, Cedar Falls Firefighters Local 1366. Scott Dix, the unions president, shared the March 6 letter from city representative Michael Galloway with Ahlers & Cooney Attorneys of Des Moines.

In making the request, Dix said the city was required to negotiate on the matters under state law. Galloway disagreed in his letter. He wrote that paid administrative leave and layoffs are included in the current collective bargaining agreement so there is no reason to open the contract and negotiate over this.

Dix acknowledged that we are looking at legal action in light of the response and suggested its a continuation of retaliation against firefighters.







Photos: Morning at Big Marsh

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A 15-year-old boy has been shot dead by Israeli troops during clashes near a city in the West Bank, the Palestinian health ministry has said.

The teenager, identified as Mohammed Hamayel, was shot in the head during confrontations with Israeli soldiers in the village of Beita, near Nablus, and died in hospital shortly after, the ministry said.

Tarif Ashour, a spokesperson for the health ministry, said 17 people were injured in the clashes and treated in hospital, with two in serious condition, the WAFA Palestinian news agency reported.

The Israeli military has said it was responding to a violent riot of about 500 Palestinians, many of whom reportedly threw rocks at troops and set tyres on fire.

The military added that it was reviewing the incident.

Israel launches airstrikes in Gaza Strip Show all 10 1 /10 Israel launches airstrikes in Gaza Strip Israel launches airstrikes in Gaza Strip Fire and smoke rises from a building hit by an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City AFP/Getty Israel launches airstrikes in Gaza Strip Smoke rises above buildings in Rafah in the Gaza Strip following Israeli airstrikes AFP/Getty Israel launches airstrikes in Gaza Strip Palestinians are reflected in a mirror as they stand by the rubble of the office of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh after it was hit by an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City Reuters Israel launches airstrikes in Gaza Strip A Palestinian stands by the rubble of the office of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh after it was hit by an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City Reuters Israel launches airstrikes in Gaza Strip Palestinian boys watch as others inspect a mosque that was damaged in a nearby Israeli air strike in Gaza City Reuters Israel launches airstrikes in Gaza Strip Palestinians inspect their home after it was damaged in a nearby Israeli air strike in Gaza City Reuters Israel launches airstrikes in Gaza Strip Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City AP Israel launches airstrikes in Gaza Strip Palestinian men point to an insurance sign amid the rubble of a building destroyed in Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City AFP/Getty Israel launches airstrikes in Gaza Strip Gaza City in the late afternoon on March 25 shortly before Israel launched airstrikes in the city AFP/Getty Israel launches airstrikes in Gaza Strip Fire and smoke rises from a building hit by an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City AP

Palestinians said they were protesting at the site in response to an alleged Israeli plan to confiscate land for nearby settlements.

Demonstrators have been staging sit-ins since 28 February to deter illegal Israeli settlers from establishing a settlement outpost in the area, according to Al Jazeera.

Fuad Maali, Beitas mayor, said the settlers had renewed attempts overnight but were blocked by hundreds of local residents who camped out to stop them.

Recommended Israel to build thousands more houses on contested land

When the Israeli military arrived to disperse the demonstration, the protesters began throwing stones at the soldiers, Palestinian witnesses said.

The witnesses said the Israeli military responded with tear gas and rubber-coated bullets, while the health ministry has claimed the deceased teenager was struck by a live bullet.

Although clashes often erupt in the Israeli-occupied West Bank between Palestinian protesters and the Israeli military, crowds are typically dispersed by non-lethal means.

Israel captured the West Bank in the 1967 Middle East war along with east Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip, territories the Palestinians want for their future state.

In February, the Israeli settlement watchdog group Peace Now warned that Israel was moving forward with plans to build more than 1,700 homes for settlers in the West Bank.

The approvals came just weeks after the Trump administration unveiled its Middle East peace plan, which sides with Israel on many points of contention and has been rejected by the Palestinian National Authority.

The plan would allow Israel to annex parts of the West Bank, including its 120 settlements and the 500,000 settlers who live there, and envisioned Jerusalem as the undivided capital of Israel.

However, the Trump administrations proposal fell short of granting the Palestinians a state and offered only limited autonomy over disjointed chunks of land which would require them to accept a set of stringent demands.

Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, described the deal as nonsense and said it was impossible for any Palestinian, Arab, Muslim or Christian child to accept a state without Jerusalem.

I say to Trump and Netanyahu: Jerusalem is not for sale; all our rights are not for sale and are not for bargain. And your deal, the conspiracy, will not pass, he added.

Additional reporting by AP
By Michelle Nichols UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The United States warned the Taliban on Tuesday that the current high level of violence by the insurgents was 'not conducive to advancing the peace process' as the United Nations Security Council backed a U.S.-led push to end Afghanistan's 18-year war. The United States signed an agreement with the Taliban last month.

By Michelle Nichols

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The United States warned the Taliban on Tuesday that the current high level of violence by the insurgents was "not conducive to advancing the peace process" as the United Nations Security Council backed a U.S.-led push to end Afghanistan's 18-year war.

The United States signed an agreement with the Taliban last month. It calls for a phased withdrawal of U.S.-led foreign forces if the Taliban keeps its commitments and for the start of talks between the insurgents and an Afghan government delegation on a political settlement to end decades of conflict.

"We acknowledge the Taliban have taken steps to stop attacks in cities and against major bases," Deputy U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Cherith Norman Chalet told the U.N. Security Council.

"But more needs to be done and we urge them to also reduce violence against Afghan forces in the countryside to give intra-Afghan negotiations and peace the opportunity to succeed," she said after the 15-member council unanimously adopted a U.S.-drafted resolution on Afghanistan.

The U.N. resolution welcomed "the significant steps towards ending the war and opening the door to intra-Afghan negotiations" enabled by separate U.S. agreements with the Taliban and the Afghan government.

The council also expressed a "readiness upon the commencement of the intra-Afghan negotiations to consider the start of the review of the status" of Taliban sanctions.

Compounding the challenges faced by Afghanistan, an escalating political feud is also threatening political chaos.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani was sworn in for a second term on Monday, but the ceremony was marred by a rocket attack and his political rival, former chief executive Abdullah Abdullah, held his own inauguration ceremony.

Both Ghani and Abdullah say they are Afghanistan's rightful leader following a disputed election in September.

"We are strongly against the establishment of any parallel administrations or government structures and we call on all concerned to come together and resolve differences constructively," British U.N. Ambassador Karen Pierce said in remarks directed at Adbullah.

Earlier on Tuesday at the United Nations, former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton appeared to take a swipe at the U.S. deal with the Taliban, saying: "It is difficult to have an agreement when you leave out the government of the country that you are expecting to uphold and live under that agreement."

Speaking at an event on Afghan women's rights, she also stressed the need for women to be at the negotiating table.

"Afghan women today are rightly afraid... that the gains they have made with all of our help will be washed away in a rush to achieve a peace that will not hold anyway," Clinton said. "This is not just morally wrong, this is dangerous."

The Security Council resolution emphasized the importance of including women, youth and minorities and ensuring any political settlement protects their rights.

(Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Editing by Cynthia Osterman and Dan Grebler)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Ive spent my career putting together settings for others, but rarely do I get to do it for myself.Joseph Dirand

These may be the words of influential French designer Joseph Dirand, but virtually every interior designer, architect, and landscape designer we work with says pretty much the same thing; it seems that the cobbler often has no shoes, or they may be somewhat ill-fitting! Dirands extraordinary Paris flat is featured this month, and he indulged what he understatedly calls his taste for details by crafting the low-key-but-luxe space precisely to his liking; serendipitously, he even had massive blocks of marble in storage, waiting for the right moment. How gratifying for AD to be invited to document that moment!

Adrien Dirand

In fact, this issue showcases creatives of all stripes in their own environments. We pay a visit to AD100 designer Frank de Biasi in Tangier, a place he and his partner, designer Gene Meyer, find so inspiring they have made it their base. Being in Tangier is like one continual house tour, says Meyer, and everybody celebrates their individuality.

Nelson Hancock

Vlasta Pilot/BFA.com

Speaking of artistic types and home tours, I fell hard for charming cover-star actress Dakota Johnson and her idyllic California-cool abode after watching her gamely host ADs Open Door video, which you can see on our YouTube channel. Turns out the dreamy midcentury-modern house has a rich history and a great lineage, much like Dakota herself.

Simon Upton

AMY ASTLEY, Editor in Chief

Instagram: @amyastley

Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest
Jyotiraditya Scindia, who quit the Congress party on Tuesday, has finally joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today. After months of speculations, Scindia parted ways with the grand old party following infighting over various issues with the Kamal Nath-led government. To add to the woes of the Congress party, Scindia will likely take around 22 MLAs with him, who also will join the saffron party. With one of the most important leaders of the Congress party coming to the BJP fold, the Shivraj Singh Chauhan-led party in Madhya Pradesh looks all set to form the government in the state.

Check out all the latest updates on Madhya Pradesh government formation on BusinessToday.In live blog.

3.010 PM: Scindia says he can say with confidence that the aim of public service is not being fulfilled by that party (Congress). "Besides this, the present condition of the party indicates that it is not what it used to be," he adds.

3.05 PM: Jyotiraditya Scindia: There have been 2 life changing events for me - one, the day I lost my father and the second, yesterday when I decided to choose a new path for my life...The Congress party is not anymore the party that it was earlier.

3.00 PM: Jyotiraditya Scindia has started speaking the press conference. Thanks BJP chief JP Nadda.
Loan expected to provide TerrAscend Canada with additional capital to fund Canadian operations, U.S. hemp division, international expansion, and repayment of debt

TORONTO, March 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - Canopy Rivers Inc. ("Canopy Rivers") (TSX: RIV, OTC: CNPOF) portfolio company, TerrAscend Corp. ("TerrAscend") (CSE: TER,OTCQX: TRSSF), today announced that TerrAscend's wholly owned subsidiary, TerrAscend Canada Inc. ("TerrAscend Canada") has entered into an C$80.5 million loan financing arrangement with Canopy Growth Corporation ("Canopy Growth") (TSX: WEED,NYSE: CGC) pursuant to a secured debenture. In connection with the loan, TerrAscend has issued 17,808,975 common share purchase warrants to Canopy Growth.

"This additional capital is a vote of confidence in TerrAscend Canada's ability to execute on its strategic mandate for both domestic and international markets," said Narbe Alexandrian, President and Chief Executive Officer, Canopy Rivers. "We believe the TerrAscend team is well-positioned through their resources and network to continue to take advantage of opportunities in regulated jurisdictions. We are also pleased with Canopy Growth's continued support of our portfolio companies."

The net proceeds are expected to be used by TerrAscend Canada for general corporate purposes and the funding of its Canadian operations, its Arise Bioscience U.S. hemp division, international expansion, and the repayment of indebtedness. The funds cannot be used, directly or indirectly, in connection with or for any cannabis or cannabis-related operations in the United States, unless and until such operations comply with all applicable laws of the United States.

About Canopy Rivers

Canopy Rivers is a venture capital firm specializing in cannabis. Its unique investment and operating platform is structured to pursue investment opportunities in the emerging global cannabis sector. Canopy Rivers identifies strategic counterparties seeking financial and/or operating support. Canopy Rivers has developed an investment ecosystem of complementary cannabis operating companies that represent various segments of the value chain across the emerging cannabis sector. As the portfolio continues to develop, constituents will be provided with opportunities to work with Canopy Growth Corporation (TSX: WEED,NYSE: CGC) and collaborate among themselves, which Canopy Rivers believes will maximize value for its shareholders and foster an environment of innovation, synergy and value creation for the entire portfolio.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains statements which constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs and current expectations of Canopy Rivers and its portfolio companies with respect to future business activities and operating performance. Forward-looking information is often identified by the words "may", "would", "could", "should", "will", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect" or similar expressions and includes information regarding: the expected use of proceeds from the loan; management's belief that TerrAscend's team is well-positioned to take advantage of opportunities in regulated jurisdictions; and expectations for other economic, regulatory, business, and/or competitive factors.

Investors are cautioned that forward-looking information is not based on historical fact but instead reflects management's expectations, estimates or projections concerning future results or events based on the opinions, assumptions and estimates of management considered reasonable at the date the statements are made. Although Canopy Rivers believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking information are reasonable, such information involves risks and uncertainties, and undue reliance should not be placed on such information, as unknown or unpredictable factors could have material adverse effects on future results, performance or achievements of Canopy Rivers. Among the key factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information are the following: regulatory and licensing risks; changes in the use of proceeds from the loan; changes in TerrAscend's growth strategy and business activities; changes in cannabis industry growth and trends; changes in consumer preferences and demands; changes in general economic, business and political conditions, including changes in the financial markets; the global regulatory landscape and enforcement related to cannabis, including political risks and risks relating to regulatory change; risks relating to anti-money laundering laws; compliance with extensive government regulation, including Canopy Rivers' interpretation of such regulation; public opinion and perception of the cannabis industry; divestiture risks; and the risk factors set out in Canopy Rivers' annual information form dated July 15, 2019, filed with the Canadian securities regulators and available on Canopy Rivers' profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking information prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. Although Canopy Rivers has attempted to identify important risks, uncertainties and factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be others that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Canopy Rivers does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update this forward-looking information except as otherwise required by applicable law.

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Tri-State COVID cases surge, but number falls in Washington County

While the number of new COVID-19 cases in the Tri-State area skyrocketed in the past week, the number cooled slightly for Washington County.
The first death of a coronavirus patient in Ireland has been confirmed this evening.

The woman passed away at Naas General Hospital.

And the number of people who have tested positive for the coronavirus has risen to 43 following news of the first death from the infection in the Republic.

Chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan announced another nine were diagnosed with the virus today.

Four men got it after travel, while others got it from confirmed cases.

There were no cases where the source could not be found.

He said there are plans to step up the containment phase and doctors will extend testing.

This comes as the World Health Organisationhas declared COVID-19 a global pandemic as the new coronavirus, which was unknown to world health officials just three months ago, has rapidly spread to more than 121,000 people from Asia, to Europe, the Middle East and now parts of the United States.

The woman who contracted the virus has died in a hospital in the east of the country.

She is understood to have had underlying illness and was treated in hospital initially for respiratory problems.

The woman, who is believed to have been in the older age group, had been very ill for days but sadly now has passed away.

Chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan extended his sympathies to the woman's loved ones.

He said in a statement: "I would like to extend my condolences to the family and friends of this patient.

"I urge the media and the public to respect their privacy at this difficult time.

"We continue our efforts to interrupt the transmission of this virus. It will take all of us, collectively to succeed. Please continue to follow public health advice."

WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said: In the past two weeks the number of cases outside China has increased thirteenfold and the number of affected countries has tripled.

In the days and weeks ahead, we expect to see the number of cases, the number of deaths and the number of affected countries to climb even higher.

He said several countries have demonstrated the ability to suppress and control the outbreak, scolding other world leaders for failing to act quickly enough or drastically enough to contain the spread.

Were deeply concerned both by the alarming levels of spread and severity, and by the alarming levels of inaction, he said, just before declaring the pandemic.

We have rung the alarm bell loud and clear, he added.

China and Korea have significantly declining cases and 81 countries have not reported any cases, he said, adding that 57 countries have 10 cases or less.

We can not say this loudly enough or clearly enough or often enough, all countries can still change the course of this pandemic, he said.

The Department of Health said on Tuesday evening that 34 people in the Republic had been confirmed as positive with the virus.

Since then it has emerged a man has tested positive for the virus in University Hospital Waterford bringing the total to 35.

A briefing by Dr Holohan this evening will reveal if it has increased further following the results of the most recent batch of tests.

The woman who died is among three patients who picked up the virus through community transmission where the source is not known.

The new coronavirus can affect older people and those with certain health conditions more severely.

Just like the regular winter flu, respiratory viruses are more severe in older people.

As people age their immune system ages and is less effective.

Underlying conditions and generally weaker constitutions and immune systems mean that respiratory viruses are harder on older groups.

People with existing illnesses like blood pressure, heart disorders, diabetes, liver disorders, and respiratory disease also have lower defences and are more at risk of developing severe symptoms.

Another patient who contracted the virus at a Cork hospital is also understood to be very ill with underlying illness.

The health service is grappling with the cancellation of hundreds of surgeries and outpatient appointments.

A number of other events were scrapped, from festivals to charity fundraisers, and Trinity College Dublin shut its lecture halls with a move to online learning.

The Department of Education moved to issue a statement scotching rumours it was about to order the closure of all schools.

Contingency planning around the greater spread of coronavirus into school communities is being stepped up.

Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan has written to schools urging them to ensure they have up to date contact details for parents, and that they are in a position to share it with public health authorities.

The sharing of information is essential for effective contact tracing in the event that a case of Covid-19 is detected, but it has to comply with GDPR regulations around the sharing of personal data.

In a letter to principals last night, Dr Holohan acknowledged that it was understandable that anxieties and fears built up around the emergence of a new disease.

He warned that these factors can also give rise to harmful stereotypes, but insisted that the response to the evolving situation must be proportionate, necessary and based on special public health advice.

Dr Holohan repeated that schools should not take unilateral decisions to close and gave an assurance to public health professionals would contact them if any action was needed.

The letter came in the wake of a flurry of activity on social media in recent days that a decision had been taken not to reopen schools after St Patricks Day. No such decision has been taken, although that could change, and with little warning.

The Chief Medical Officer referred to the closure of a number of schools last week, following decisions made on public health grounds after thorough risk assessments deemed it appropriate.

Visit our Covid-19 vaccine dashboard for updates on the roll out of the vaccination program and the rate of Coronavirus cases Ireland

The schools were asked to close for 14 days in order to prevent the possible spread of infection, while public health officials engaged in a contact tracing process.

Apart from those cases, all other schools will remain open Dr Holohan said, although Health Minister Simon Harris has acknowledged that the time may come when schools will close.

Other drastic measures included a cinema chain announcing every second seat would be left empty, and new guidelines for wedding ceremonies.

Banks may allow their mortgage customers to defer monthly repayments if the coronavirus causes massive economic disruption.

The confirmed number of people struck by the infection shot up to 35, in the biggest rise seen in a single day since the virus hit Ireland.

It was revealed this morning that a man has tested positive for the new coronavirus in University Hospital Waterford.

The man is understood to have been in hospital for some time.

A floor of the hospital, the Dunmore wing which has single rooms, has been screened off to care for patients with confirmed or suspected infection.

It is understood the Waterford case will be included in the latest number of positive patients to be released later today.

Other cases include two healthcare workers - one in the south and another in the east. However, none of the newly diagnosed cases was infected through community transmission. There has been a surge of 1,387 tests in the past week alone.

Read More

Meanwhile, the prospect of a historic coalition between Fine Gael and Fianna Fail is a step closer as they prepare to enter talks as "equal partners".

The unprecedented coronavirus crisis has pushed the two parties into negotiations aimed at ending the political impasse since the election.

Health workers who may be exposed to the virus and are healthy will be risk assessed before being assigned work, and tested twice daily. However, appointment cancellations were already imposed in Limerick and Cork.

Nursing Homes Ireland has warned of the dangers of the HSE poaching its staff as it lifts restrictions on recruitment. It said there is a risk nursing homes will be denuded of staff and the HSE should appoint overseas candidates on panels first.

Meanwhile, the expert group has given the go-ahead to regional laboratories to begin testing suspect cases.

Results should be available in 24-48 hours amid complaints about delays.

The group said strict visiting restrictions imposed by hospitals and nursing homes are not needed at this stage.

Controversial guidelines from the Irish Association of Funeral Directors, that any person who dies of coronavirus should be immediately cremated or buried without a funeral service, were also described as unwarranted.

Further official advice will be issued by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre today.

Chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan said 98pc of the 1,784 people tested so far "have tested negative". He warned that while Ireland "remains in containment phase there is no room for complacency".

The European disease watchdog has warned of the spread of many more cases of community transmission - where people are infected without a known source.

When that happens here, more stringent precautions will be felt by the population.

It is possible to explain the source of infection in all but three of the 34 cases in the Republic so far.

Asked about rumours that schools are about to be closed, Dr Holohan that it could not be ruled out at some stage, but will not be implemented at this point. A range of possible restrictive measures may be enforced in the future. But he said they will deployed at an appropriate time and that is "not necessarily now".

This followed an earlier statement from the Department of Education, in response to reports circulating widely on social media that schools would not reopen after St Patrick's Day.

"Any decision to close schools will be made on public health advice. There is no such advice at this point," a spokesperson said.

Trinity College in Dublin - which had a case of the infection last week - announced it would close lecture halls and deliver lessons online.

The Irish Cancer Society cancelled its main fundraising event, Daffodil Day, while children's charity Make-A-Wish Ireland has abandoned its street collection this Friday.

There has been a drop of around 5pc in commuters using public transport, including Irish Rail, Dublin Bus and Luas.

GPs have been told to look out for possible coronavirus infection in patients who have symptoms and have returned to Ireland from regions not currently on the at-risk list.

Five of the newly diagnosed cases picked up the virus abroad and three others, including a male and two women, were infected by another positive case.

Patients who have not been abroad but have unexplained severe respiratory illness are also to be considered for testing. Patients are asked not to attend their GP without an appointment.
PR-Inside.com: 2020-03-11 13:47:27

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TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / March 11, 2020 / Mongolia Growth Group Ltd. (TSXV:YAK)(OTCPINK:MNGGF) ("MGG") or ("the Company") a commercial real estate investment company participating in the Mongolian economy believes that it is prudent to update shareholders on the current Coronavirus situation in Mongolia.Starting in February, the Government of Mongolia undertook extra-ordinary measures in order to combat the spread of Coronavirus within Mongolia. As a long-term investor in the Mongolian economy, MGG appreciates the decisive action in order to protect the health of all Mongolians. Unfortunately, our Company is now experiencing the negative effects of these measures and anticipates a decrease in first quarter leasing revenues along with a reduction in third party agency revenues as individuals try and reduce inter-personal contact. While we cannot quantify the overall impact at this time, we anticipate that our quarterly revenue will decline materially from prior quarter levels.Additionally, in order to protect the safety of our employees, we are asking the majority of employees to work from home until there is a resolution to the virus.MGG intends to closely monitor the situation and will issue future updates as necessary.For further information on the Corporation, please visit www.mongoliagrowthgroup.com or contact:Ms. Genevieve Walkden, Corporate Secretary(877) 644-1186gwalkden@ MongoliaGrowthGroup.com Mongolia Growth Group Ltd. is a publicly traded and leading property investment and development company in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Mongolia Growth Group Ltd. owns an extensive property portfolio in diversified segments of the property market, with an emphasis on institutional-grade commercial assets.Forward-looking Information and StatementsThis press release contains certain statements or disclosures relating to MGG that are based on the expectations of its management as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to MGG which may constitute forward-looking statements or information ("forward-looking statements") under applicable securities laws. All such statements and disclosures, other than those of historical fact, which address activities, events, outcomes, results or developments that MGG anticipates or expects may, or will occur in the future (in whole or in part) should be considered forward-looking statements. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terms such as "forecast", "future", "may", "will", "expect", "anticipate", "believe", "potential", "enable", "plan", "continue", "contemplate", "pro-forma", or other comparable terminology.In particular, forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements concerning MGG's upcoming annual meeting of shareholders and the timing thereof, the approval of the Rights Plan, the operation of the Rights Plan in the event of certain circumstances, and the amendments to the General By-Law.Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions that, while considered reasonable by MGG as of the date of such statements, are inherently subject to business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. The assumptions of MGG used for this news release may prove to be incorrect. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections that involve a number of risks which could cause actual results to vary and in some instances to differ materially from those anticipated by MGG and described in the forward-looking statements contained in this press release.Although MGG believes that the material factors, expectations and assumptions expressed in such forward-looking statements are reasonable based on information available to it on the date such statements were made, no assurances can be given as to future results, levels of activity and achievements and such statements are not guarantees of future performance. MGG's actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in forward-looking statements and readers should no place undue importance or reliance on the forward looking-statements. Statements including forward looking statements are made as of the date they are given and, except as required by applicable securities laws, MGG disclaims any intention or obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.SOURCE: Mongolia Growth Group Ltd.
As Australia scrambles to avoid its first recession in three decades, economist Ross Garnaut says it is "exactly the right time" for government to throw cash into renewable energy infrastructure.

The global outbreak of COVID-19 has already taken a bite out of tourism, education and export industries, with the federal government working on a stimulus package to stave off a recession.

Professor Ross Garnaut says government should be investing in renewable energy. Credit:Louie Douvis

Professor Garnaut said the country could not avoid sliding into a recession, but governments could "shape the way we come out of it".

"Even if there was no disruption in Australia from the virus, what has already happened to the economies of our major trading partners is deeply damaging to the Australian economy," he said, speaking at a CEDA lunch in Brisbane on Wednesday.
MOVILLE, Iowa -- "To protect and to serve" is a motto shared by police departments across the country.

New Moville police chief Edgar Rodriguez already had the "serve" part of that down pat long before he joined the town's police force four years ago.

For 10 years, he's served as pastor at Moville's New Hope Evangelical Church, an experience that Rodriguez said has made him a better officer.

"I use the same tools I have as a pastor as a police officer as well," said Rodriguez, appointed to oversee Moville's two-officer force, which also includes five reserve officers, in February. "It's a matter of understanding this job is not about arresting people, but how can I serve people."

You probably don't find many other police chiefs who double as church pastors. The jobs may seem to have little in common, but Rodriguez said they're much more similar than you'd think.

Both roles, Rodriguez said, are all about helping people.

He might do it at church or a congregant's home. Or from the front seat of his police SUV. The 15-mile drive from Moville to the Woodbury County Jail in Sioux City provides a chance to reach out to troubled souls in custody in his back seat. He may be taking them to jail, but he's also there to help, he tells them.

"Their demeanor changes when they learn I'm a pastor," Rodriguez said. "When I leave them, I leave them with a little bit of hope."

Rodriguez happened into a law enforcement career. A pastor for the past 16 years, he moved from Portland, Oregon, 10 years ago to be the pastor of the small Moville church that's grown to about 120 members. The church wasn't able at the time to maintain a full-time pastor, so Rodriguez worked for a number of local construction companies and was later the agency relations coordinator for the Food Bank of Siouxland.

In 2013, then-Woodbury County Sheriff's Maj. Greg Stallman (now the Altoona, Iowa, police chief) invited Rodriguez to be chaplain for the sheriff's office, ministering to the staff, jailers and jail inmates. After finding out Rodriguez had served in the U.S. Marine Corps, Stallman asked if he'd be interested in becoming a reserve deputy.

"I initially said no," said Rodriguez, who had no police background, but through his military service had experience with search and rescue and clearing buildings.

Stallman kept asking, and, after talking with his wife and other pastors about the offer, Rodriguez joined the reserves in 2013.

"It was a way to minister in ways I couldn't before," he said.

In 2016, Rodriguez was hired as a part-time police officer in Moville. He became a full-time officer a year later and also remains a reserve deputy.

Some officers were initially skeptical about his ability to perform the tougher aspects of police work.

"People think pastors might not be the type of person to tackle someone and handcuff them," he said. "That has taken some convincing. I've had to prove myself, that I can handle the situation."

On the contrary, Rodriguez said being a pastor is the harder to the two jobs.

"People expect a pastor to have all the answers and make everybody happy," he said.

There have been a few alterations to his pastor schedule over the years, but Rodriguez has never missed a Sunday morning service because of a law enforcement matter.

He's had few other conflicts, despite being on call 24 hours a day in both positions. Instead, he keeps finding similarities between his ministry and police work.

"I really do believe a similarity is every officer is a counselor. You have to be able to speak to people," he said. "I find it to be my best resource when I put this uniform on."

It's a resource that has a chance of renewal with every Sunday sermon, each police call, enabling Rodriguez to continue doing two jobs he loves.

"I'm blessed that I am able to do both," he said.

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Linkedin Carla Bianpoen (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, March 11, 2020 12:49 671 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2069cf30e 1 Art & Culture #art,#culture,#performance,#MuseumMACAN,#exhibition,#artist,#MelatiSuryodarmo Free

Thirteen durational performance pieces from celebrated artist Melati Suryodarmos 20-year career have been selected for her first solo museum presentation, which also includes photography, video performances and historical documentation.

Titled Why Let the Chicken Run?, the comprehensive solo exhibition runs from Feb. 27 to May 30 at the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Nusantara (MACAN) in West Jakarta.

Of the selected performances, 10 of them  I Am a Ghost in My Own House, Ale Lino, Why Let the Chicken Run, I Love You, Behind the Light, The Promise, The Black Ball, Transaction of Hollows, Eins Und Eins and Exergie Butterdance  are performed live by Melati herself. The other three will be performed by other artists.

Melatis background goes back to the family she was born into in 1969. Her late father Suprapto Suryodarmo was an artist who created amerta, an unconventional form of art that combines movement, dance and the spiritual, while her mother was an artist of traditional dance.

From an early age, Melati was immersed in a world of various forms of art and culture.

She said her house was always buzzing with her parents friends and family. They all came from an eclectic mix of culture, mostly Javanese. They belonged to the world of stage performance, dance, theater, literature, music and chanting.

From a young age she was familiarized with diverse cultural practices. Besides learning from her mother, she was also taught traditional dance by her mothers teacher Ngaliman, the renowned maestro of dance.

She was introduced to theater, learnt to write poetry and received painting lessons. She also practiced tai chi in a combined form with Buddhist and Javanese elements.

She also learnt to practice yoga and diverse meditation techniques particularly the Javanese sumarah  a local form of meditation that develops sensitivity and acceptance through the deep relaxation of body, emotion and mind.

With such a background, to be an artist would be the logical profession for her, but it was not to be, at least not initially, as her parents were not keen for her to have the same fate as an artist, living on less than minimal income. So she pursued studies in international relations at Padjadjaran University in Bandung, West Java.

It was when she moved to Germany in 1994 with her husband that a chance encounter with renowned Japanese dancer Anzu Furukawa during a lone walk in the park changed her life, ultimately leading her to what she was meant to be.

Furukawa was known as a prominent dancer and innovative choreographer of the experimental and avant-garde butoh, a form of dance that encompasses cross-cultural, absurd and surreal elements. She was also a professor of performance art at the department of visual arts at Hochschule fur Bildende Kunste Braunschweig (HBKB) in Germany.

Trust your body, she told Melati, and deal with it through dance. She persuaded Melati to attend her class at the university, which Melati, who was already fascinated with butoh, gladly did.

The encounter began Melatis engagement with performance art and her interest in her body as the source and storage room of life.

After Furukawa left the university, Melati continued studying performance art, or Kunst und Raum, now under the tutelage of no less than the equally renowned Serbian-born Marina Abramovic, who, since the 1970s, has been a pioneer in the use of performance as a visual art form, employing the body and duration as a means to test her mental and physical limits.

Her method entails an exploration of being present in both time and space, incorporating exercises that focus on breath, motion, stillness and concentration.

In 2002, Melati finished her studies she began in 1991, graduating as Meisterschuler (MFA). She stayed on in Germany for about two decades, working between Germany and Indonesia, before permanently returning to Indonesia.

Since the late 1990s, Melati has presented her pieces at exhibitions all over the world, including the Venice Biennale, the European Manifesta, the Incheon Biennale in Korea, the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam and recently, at the Asia Society in New York.

Focusing on her body as a storage room of experience and memory, and using it as her primary tool for revelations through performance, Melatis pieces reflect deeply on human experience, such as a persons daily problems and actual concerns, like alienation, discrimination, grief and themes of social, cultural or political struggles  infused with the spirit of experience, indomitable strength and exceeding limits of physical and metaphysical endurance.

They often include intense drama and may appear theatrical, though she insists it is not theater. I am not an actor, Melati says.

Challenging: 'In I'm a Ghost in My Own House', the artist grinds charcoal in a chore-like process, mirroring the duality of work and liberation as well as destruction and transformation. (Courtesy of Fendi Siregar/-)

The piece I am a ghost in my own house, for instance, is infused with an abominable energy of life experience that draws in the audience, evoking their own ordeals in their past or present lives.

Relating to the shifting notion of the house as a home, the problems of daily life and all that bothers humanity, it is about human experience.

I am always interested in the changing tides of the human condition, which inspires my creative resource, Melati says.

Her latest work If We Were XYZ, performed at the Asia Society Museum in late 2019, is the result of her self-created Sleep Laboratory to explore the subconscious as a source for her creative performances.

Melati shares her experience, knowledge and network with the younger generation in Indonesia and beyond, working with cross-cultural artists and cross-national art institutions at Padepokan Lemah Putih Solo Indonesia, where she has been organizing the annual International Performance Art Laboratory Project since 2007.

As she proceeds along with the changing zeitgeist, the spirit of the time, Melati continues to expose the changing tides in the human condition, inspiring her audiences to elevated levels of thinking and imagination. (ste)
New Delhi, March 11 : Amid the coronavirus scare across the world, a woman from the US who was infected with coronavirus during the last week of February, shared a post on Facebook about about her experience regarding COVID-19.

In the post, the Seattle-based woman named Elizabeth Schneider revealed how she contracted the virus, symptoms, immune system, precautions and misconceptions about it and the fact that she has now recovered.

Her post has gone viral and has got over 27,000 shares and 3,500 comments.

In her post, Schneider wrote: "I had COVID-19 and here is my story. I made this post public out of several requests from my friends who asked me to share. I hope it gives you some good information and peace of mind!" "First how easily you can get it. I believe I caught it when attending a small house party at which no one was coughing, sneezing or otherwise displaying any symptoms of illness. It appears that 40 per cent of the attendees of this party ended up sick. The media tells you to wash your hands and avoid anyone with symptoms. I did," Schneider wrote from her FB account.

"There is no way to avoid catching this except avoiding all other humans. 40 per cent of folks were all sick within 3 days of attending the party all with the same/similar symptoms including fever," she explained.

"Second, the symptoms appear to be different depending on your constitution and/or age. Most of my friends who got it were in their late 40s to early 50s. I'm in my mid 30s. For us it was headache, fever (for first 3 days consistently and then on and off after 3 days), severe body aches and joint pain, and severe fatigue," she added.

"I had a fever that spiked the first night to 103 degrees and eventually came down to 100 and then low grade 99.5. I felt nauseous one day. Once the fever is gone some were left with nasal congestion, sore throat. Only a very few of us had a mild itchy cough. Very few had chest tightness or other respiratory symptoms," Schneider wrote.

"Total duration of illness was 10-16 days. The main issue is that without reporting a cough or trouble breathing many of us were refused testing. I got tested through the Seattle Flu Study.

"As of Monday, March 9th, it has been 13 days since my symptoms started and more than 72 hours since my fever subsided. The King County Public Health Department is recommending you stay isolated for 7 days after the start of symptoms or 72 hours after your fever subsides," Schneider added.

"I have surpassed both deadlines so I am no longer isolating myself however I am avoiding strenuous activity and large crowds and I obviously will not come near you if I see you in public. I was not hospitalised. Not every country is hospitalising everyone with a COVID-19 infection and in my case, and in many other cases, I didn't even go to the doctor because I was recovering on my own and felt it was just a nasty flu strain different from the ones I have been protected from with this season's flu vaccine," Schneider wrote.

Schneider also added: "I also truly believe the lack of testing is leading to folks believing that they just have a cold or something else going out into public and spreading it. And worse folks with no symptoms are also spreading it as in the case of a person attending a party or social gathering who has no symptoms." "One thing that I believe may have saved me from getting worse respiratory symptoms is the fact that I consistently took Sudafed, used Afrin nasal spray (3 sprays in each nostril, 3 days at a time and then 3 days off), and used a Neti pot (with purified water). This could have kept my sinuses clear and prevented the symptoms from spreading to my lungs," Schneider wrote in her post.

"This is not medical advice: I'm simply sharing what I did and correlating it with the fact that I had no respiratory symptoms," she advised.

"I hope this information helps someone avoid getting sick and/or push to get tested sooner rather than later so you know to isolate before it gets worse or to get medical care if you have respiratory distress," she wrote.

According to Schneider, hand washing doesn't guarantee you won't get sick, especially when folks without symptoms are contagious and could be standing right next to you in any given social situation.

"You more likely than not will not die, but do you want to risk spreading it to a loved one over 60 or someone with an immunity issue? Stay healthy folks!" she concluded.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
In a lively Muslim area of Nanchang, China, a huge factory produces computer screens, cameras and fingerprint scanners. These products go to a supplier to major international technology companies like Apple and Lenovo.

Throughout the neighborhood, women with head coverings walk through the streets. Signs with Arabic-based lettering advertise Muslim food stores and noodle restaurants.

Yet the mostly Muslim ethnic Uyghurs who work at the factory are contained within a walled complex surrounded by security cameras and guards. They rarely walk around town. When they do, someone walks with them and observes their behavior.

The Uyghur factory workers are not permitted to practice Islam or cover their heads. At night, former and current workers in the area say, the Uyghurs must attend special classes to study ethnic unity and Mandarin Chinese.

The supplier OFILM owns the Nanchang factory. The connection between it and tech companies is the latest evidence that companies outside China are using parts made from forced labor by Uyghurs and other minorities.

Uyghurs are a mostly Muslim, Turkic ethnic group. About 12 million live in Chinas far-western Xinjiang area. Over the past four years, the Chinese government has detained more than a million people in internment camps and prisons across Xinjiang.

The Chinese government says it is fighting a rise in Islamic extremism as well as a separatist movement that calls for an independent Uyghur nation. It has described the internment camps as job training centers as well as boarding schools.

But former camp detainees have said they were held in abusive conditions, forced to reject their religion and made to promise their support to Chinas ruling Communist Party.

When detainees are released from the camps, documents show, many are sent to work in factories. More than 10 Uyghurs and Kazakhs who spoke with The Associated Press said they knew people sent by the government to work in factories in Chinas east. Some were sent directly from the camps. Others were taken from their homes. Most were forced, they say.

A report released this month by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute estimates that, between 2017 and 2019, more than 80,000 Uyghurs were taken from Xinjiang to factories in other parts of China. The report said it found conditions that strongly suggest forced labor, based on International Labor Organization definitions.

At the OFILM factory, Uyghurs are paid the same as other workers. But they are treated much differently, people who live near the factory say. The Uyghurs are not permitted to leave or pray  unlike the Hui Muslim migrants who also work at the factory. The Chinese government considers Hui Muslims less of a threat than Uyghurs.

They dont let them worship inside, said a Hui Muslim woman who worked in the factory for several weeks alongside the Uyghurs. They dont let them come out.

If youre Uyghur, youre only allowed outside twice a month, a small business owner who spoke with the workers confirmed.

The government chose them to come to OFILM, they didnt choose it.

The Chinese government says the labor program is a way to train Uyghurs and other minorities and give them jobs. The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs recently called concern over possible forced labor under the program groundless and slander -- or false information meant to cause people to have bad opinions on the issue.

But experts say that, like the internment camps, the labor program is part of a larger attack on Uyghur culture. They say the government is breaking up social and family links so that Uyghurs living far from home will become more like the majority Han Chinese culture.

They think these people are poorly educated...backwards, cant speak Mandarin, said James Leibold, a professor of Chinese ethnic policy at La Trobe University in Melbourne, Australia. So what do you do? You educate them, you find ways to transform them in your own image. Bringing them into the Han Chinese heartland is a way to turbocharge this transformation.

OFILMs website states that Xinjiang workers make screens, camera cover lenses and fingerprint scanners. It says its buyers include Apple, Samsung, Lenovo, Dell, HP, LG and Huawei.

Apples most recent list of suppliers, published in January 2019, includes three OFILM factories in Nanchang. It is not confirmed if the OFILM factory that AP visited in Nanchang supplies Apple, but it has the same address as one listed. Another OFILM factory sits less than a kilometer away. Apple did not answer repeated requests for information on which Nanchang factory it uses.

OFILMs website also notes it supplies PAR Technology, an American sales systems provider. PAR Technology says it supplies products to major fast-food restaurants such as McDonalds, Taco Bell, and Subway. The AP was unable to confirm that products from OFILM are being used by the fast food companies.

McDonalds says it has asked PAR Technology to discontinue purchases from OFILM while it launches an immediate investigation. PAR Technology also said it would investigate immediately.

Im Ashley Thompson.

And Im Jonathan Evans.

The Associated Press reported this story. Ashley Thompson adapted it for VOA Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor.

_______________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

scanner - n. a device that reads or copies information or images into a computer

noodle - n. a thin strip of dough that is made from flour, water, and eggs and that is cooked in boiling liquid

internment - n. the act of putting someone in a prison for political reasons or during a war

worship - v. to honor or respect (someone or something) as a god

allow - v. to permit

transform - v. to change (something) completely

turbocharge - v. to add speed or energy to something

address - n. the words and numbers that are used to describe the location of a building and that are written on letters, envelopes, and packages so that they can be mailed to that location
ARCTIC OCEAN (March 5, 2020) The Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Toledo (SSN 769) arrives at Ice Camp Seadragon on the Arctic Ocean, kicking off Ice Exercise (ICEX) 2020. ICEX 2020 is a three-week, biennial exercise that offers the Navy the opportunity to assess its operational readiness in the arctic and train with other services, partner nations and Allies to increase experience in the region and maintain regional stability while improving capabilities to operate in the Arctic environment. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Michael B. Zingaro)

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Suyapa Reyes, left, gives her son, Jeison, 4, a hug in the room they share at the First United Methodist Church of Germantown. The mother of four is able to leave the church, live and work in the United States. Read more

By the time she hung up the phone, Blanca Pacheco was shaking so badly she knew she wouldnt be able to drive.

She quickly called Suyapa Reyes, the undocumented Honduran immigrant living 18 months inside the First United Methodist Church of Germantown, where she took sanctuary with her four children to avoid deportation.

Im coming to the church, Pacheco told her.

She handed her car keys to Peter Pedemonti, her codirector of the New Sanctuary Movement of Philadelphia. When they arrived at the church 20 minutes later, Reyes was waiting in the small rear lobby. Did she have an inkling? It didnt matter. Pacheco spoke quickly.

Its over, she told Reyes. You won.

For one migrant family, and for dozens of immigration activists across the Philadelphia region, the news last month from aides to Sen. Bob Casey (D., Pa.) capped a dramatic victory. The U.S. government had reversed itself, agreeing to let Reyes stay and work in the country four years after it had ordered her deported. At 5 p.m. Thursday shell officially end 554 days in sanctuary, leaving the church surrounded by friends and supporters in what organizers are calling a Freedom Walk.

Taking sanctuary is a last choice, a gambit by migrants who have exhausted their legal efforts to stay in the country or need time to see if other strategies can flower. Houses of worship are considered safe, because Immigration and Customs Enforcements sensitive locations policy generally bars agents from making arrests in churches, schools, hospitals, and college campuses.

Amid the Trump administrations tough immigration tactics, churches have become a central theater of resistance, and Philadelphia has been a hub.

Reyes freedom followed a more-than-year-long campaign waged publicly and privately by a coalition of organizations, led by New Sanctuary Movement and supported by the hospitality of the church, and including groups like Puentes de Salud, La Puerta Abierta, Northwest Philadelphia Immigrant Action and Mobilization, and the Free Migration Project.

We believe in the power of people acting together to fight injustice, Pacheco said.

But sanctuary is simultaneously solution and problem. It offers people protection from authorities while alerting those same agencies to their exact location. It comes without a time limit. Depression can be common as the months stretch out.

Reyes plans to stay in Philadelphia, to get an apartment and find a job, to surrender the stress that has been a constant companion. Shell live at the church a few more days while her housing is finalized.

I will be able to work and stay with my children, said Reyes, 38, because they are the reason for my existence, they are the reason I stay alive.

 READ MORE: A Jamaican couple living in church sanctuary in Germantown are both the victims and beneficiaries of the dysfunction in U.S. immigration policy

Many people in sanctuary are sustained by deep spiritual beliefs, as are the groups that support them. In announcing Reyes freedom last week, NSM quoted from the Gospel of Luke, citing a parable Jesus told his followers:

And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, Grant me justice against my adversary. For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, Even though I dont fear God  because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice. 

A flight from violence in Honduras, and shelter in a Sunday school classroom

Reyes crossed into the United States in 2014, seeking asylum and telling authorities that criminal gangs had threatened to kill her in Honduras.

She saw America as her only chance for safety. The federal government saw otherwise, denying asylum and ordering her deported in 2016. Reyes first appeal was rejected in mid-2017, her second in mid-2018.

But crucially, in between she applied for a U Visa, which can go to crime victims who assist law enforcement in a subsequent investigation. Reyes filed as a victim of domestic violence.

The visa process is slow and painstaking, the outcome uncertain. In September 2018, as deportation loomed, Reyes moved into what had been a Sunday School classroom, accompanied by her children, Jennifer, now 14; Yamie, 9; Jeison, 4; and Junior, 2. The two youngest are American citizens.

 READ MORE: For a family in church sanctuary, a legal way out?

A Jamaican couple, Clive and Oneita Thompson, took sanctuary at the same time in the same church, where they remain.

Reyes, the Thompsons, and a third family in sanctuary at a nearby church notified ICE of their whereabouts, insisting they were not hiding but challenging what they saw as an unfair immigration system. Casey personally visited the Reyes and Thompson families, promising to do all he could to help.

Reyes best chance for freedom turned on securing a U Visa. Congress created the program in 2000 to help police battle domestic violence, sexual assault, and trafficking, and at the same time protect migrant victims who suffered abuse. Many undocumented immigrants hesitate to report crimes for fear of deportation.

More than 28,000 people filed applications in fiscal 2019. But the government caps the annual number of visas at 10,000, so even those who are approved can wait years for the actual document. In the meantime, however, those approved may be granted whats called deferred action, which bars their deportation until the visa arrives.

Reyes lawyer, David Bennion, who directs the Free Migration Project, filed hundreds of pages of evidence and documentation with United States Citizenship and Immigration Services to prove her case.

My only doubt, he said, was whether USCIS would apply the correct legal standard in good faith.

A USCIS spokesperson said the agency is prohibited from sharing information about those who seek benefits like U Visas.

For migrants like Reyes, a U Visa means everything, because it can open the door to becoming a lawful permanent resident. And in all but limited circumstances, those green-card holders can apply to become U.S. citizens.

NSM had organized loud protests outside the Center City field office of ICE, and behind the scenes implored elected officials including Casey and Rep. Dwight Evans (D., Pa.), both of whom agreed to work inside the government to try to help. Every day, letters, vigils, and petitions were aimed at a single goal, to enable three families, now two, to leave sanctuary and live normal lives in the United States.

In November 2019, as Reyes passed the one-year mark in sanctuary, NSM leaders renewed their push. They met with Evans, asking the congressman to contact USCIS and advocate for Reyes and for Hernandez, who also sought a U Visa.

Three months later, in February, feeling ignored, New Sanctuary Movement staged a vigil outside Evans Ogontz Avenue office, bringing a letter signed by 50 ministers that urged the congressman to act. Evans continued working on the case.

Word trickled back to NSM that Reyes application was being considered.

On Feb. 13, an Evans staffer called the NSM office: A decision had been made on Reyes case. They would hear soon. The next day, Valentines Day, Caseys aides phoned with the good news, sending Pacheco to the Germantown church with news of the U Visa and deferred action.

At first, Pacheco said, Reyes looked at her as if she were crazy. Then came tears and hugs. Reyes asked if it was really true, then joked, I want proof of that."

The next two weeks were spent making sure that Reyes would have government permissions in her hand before she stepped from the church. On Super Tuesday, with the nation focused on primary election results, a single NSM tweet announced the news.

It forever changed the meaning of Feb. 14, Pacheco said, for her and for us.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-11 22:42:15|Editor: huaxia

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SANAA, March 11 (Xinhua) -- A Yemeni government liaison officer in the UN-led cease-fire monitor team was wounded by a Houthi rebel sniper in Yemen's Red Sea port city of Hodeidah on Wednesday, pro-government media reported.

The liaison was shot and wounded in a cease-fire observation post east of Hodeidah, al-Masdar Online reported, without providing more details.

There was no comment yet from the Houthis or the UN-led cease-fire monitor team in Hodeidah.

Hodeidah has seen a shaky cease-fire between the Yemeni warring parties since both sides reached a UN-sponsored cease-fire agreement in Stockholm in December 2018.

The agreement was seen as the first phase to end Yemen's nearly five years of civil war.

The war has pushed over 20 million people to the verge of starvation.
Wearing clothes could release more microfibres into the air than washing them, a new study has discovered.

Scientists from the Institute for Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials of the National Research Council of Italy (IPCB-CNR) and the University of Plymouth recently conducted research into the amount of fibres that are released by different kinds of polyester clothing when the garments are being worn and washed.

For the study, which was published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology, the researchers examined four different items of clothing, all of which were a size large.

The chosen garments were a 100 per cent polyester green blouse, a 100 per cent polyester blue T-shirt, a 100 per cent polyester dress and a pink sweatshirt that was 50 per cent polyester and 50 per cent cotton.

Each item of clothing was washed at 40C and any fibres that were released were collected.

On the whole, between 700 and 4,000 individual fibres were released per gram of fabric during a single wash cycle.

In addition to carrying out a wash cycle, the scientists created a dedicated clean lab, in which volunteers took turns wearing duplicates of each of the four items of clothing.

While in the lab, the volunteers acted out a series of movements that were meant to mimic real life activities.

Following the participants activity in the lab, any fibres from the garments they were wearing were collected.

The researchers ascertained that up to 400 fibres per gram of fabric were released in just 20 minutes.

The pink sweatshirt, which was half made from polyester and half from cotton, was found to release the most fibres when being washed and worn.

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

According to the scientists, their findings indicate that a person could release almost 300 million polyester microfibres every year when they wash their clothes.

On the other hand, an individual could release more than 900 million polyester microfibres into the environment by wearing garments from their wardrobe.

Dr Francesca De Falco, research fellow at IPCB-CNR, stated that an increasing amount of evidence has been pointed towards the presence of synthetic microfibres not only in aquatic environments, but also in atmospheric ones.

This is a type of pollution that should be mainly fought at its source, the fabric itself, but we investigated the influence of different textile parameters on the release, Dr De Falco said.

Results have shown that textiles with a very compact structure like woven, with yarns highly twisted and composed of continuous filaments, can release less microfibres to both air and water.

Professor Richard Thompson OBE, head of the International Marine Litter Research Unit at the University of Plymouth, added that the key takeaway of the study is that the emission of fibres while wearing clothes is likely of a similar order of magnitude as that from washing them.

That constitutes a substantial and previously unquantified direct release to the environment, Professor Thompson said.

The results also show textile design can strongly influence both release to the air and release due to laundering; that is a crucial message highlighting the importance of sustainable design for the fashion industry.

The professor concluded that many of the current issues associated with the environmental impacts of plastic items stem from a lack of holistic thinking at the design stage.
The 202o election will be "the most secure, most protected election in the history of the United States of America," Christopher Krebs, the director of the Department of Homeland Security's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, said at an Axios event on Tuesday.

Why it matters: State and local officials, even before the start of party primaries, have voiced concerns that outside interference could disrupt elections in 2020. The recent outbreak of coronavirus has also impacted some state primaries.

"People need to keep in mind that [election security] is something that we've been plugging away at for a long time. Get out there and vote. That's the best defense against any sort of interference."

 Christopher Krebs

What he's saying: Krebs said the Trump administration is working with state and local election officials to develop contingencies for elections in communities affected by the virus.

Krebs said the administration has considered how a pandemic may impact elections and suggested that states use alternatives to in-person voting  such as voting by mail  to prevent the virus from spreading further during the election season.

"There's no evidence that licking an envelope transmits [coronavirus]," Krebs said, adding that the administration has consulted with the CDC about this. "The show must go on."

The big picture: Intelligence officials warned members of Congress in February that Russia is actively interfering in the 2020 election.

Democratic Party chairs in Washington, the state with the largest number of U.S. deaths to date, have held conversations about how to deal with coronavirus and its potential effects on early voting contests.

Go deeper: The ballot box as a battlefield
Potential DNB ASA (OB:DNB) shareholders may wish to note that the Group Chief Financial Officer, Ottar Ertzeid, recently bought kr1.8m worth of stock, paying kr121 for each share. Although the purchase only increased their holding by 6.2%, it is still a solid purchase in our view.

See our latest analysis for DNB

The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At DNB

In fact, the recent purchase by Ottar Ertzeid was the biggest purchase of DNB shares made by an insider individual in the last twelve months, according to our records. That implies that an insider found the current price of kr126 per share to be enticing. That means they have been optimistic about the company in the past, though they may have changed their mind. We do always like to see insider buying, but it is worth noting if those purchases were made at well below today's share price, as the discount to value may have narrowed with the rising price. Happily, the DNB insiders decided to buy shares at close to current prices.

DNB insiders may have bought shares in the last year, but they didn't sell any. The chart below shows insider transactions (by individuals) over the last year. By clicking on the graph below, you can see the precise details of each insider transaction!

OB:DNB Recent Insider Trading, March 11th 2020

There are plenty of other companies that have insiders buying up shares. You probably do not want to miss this free list of growing companies that insiders are buying.

Does DNB Boast High Insider Ownership?

Many investors like to check how much of a company is owned by insiders. We usually like to see fairly high levels of insider ownership. From our data, it seems that DNB insiders own 0.03% of the company, worth about kr64m. Overall, this level of ownership isn't that impressive, but it's certainly better than nothing!

So What Does This Data Suggest About DNB Insiders?

It's certainly positive to see the recent insider purchases. And the longer term insider transactions also give us confidence. When combined with notable insider ownership, these factors suggest DNB insiders are well aligned, and that they may think the share price is too low. So these insider transactions can help us build a thesis about the stock, but it's also worthwhile knowing the risks facing this company. You'd be interested to know, that we found 2 warning signs for DNB and we suggest you have a look.

Story continues

If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt.

For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions, but not derivative transactions.

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



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
While theres a certain cohort of the country that is still indifferent to the spread of Coronavirus, labelling it as just a flu and criticising the national panic that is arising since the virus struck Ireland, its important to remember the more vulnerable members of society, whose lives are literally in the hands - washed or unwashed - of others.

Many of us may have strong immune systems that can fight off a virus, and the government and health officials are constantly reminding us not to panic.

But we all know elderly people , people who are sick or those who are recovering from serious illness.

This is a virus that is spread easily, said local GP and president of the Irish Medical Organisation Dr Padraig McGarry.

Were dealing with a virus which has a definite source outside of the country, but now we have a community transmission too.

The most important thing is for everybody to be alert and to take measures with nasal hygiene when youre sneezing and coughing, and look after your hand hygiene. Measures like that can limit the spread.

If we can limit the spread in the community, we will be able to limit eventual hospitalisation.

And thats what is extremely important as the inevitable surge in cases of the virus, which is expected to occur in the coming weeks, is going to put a huge amount of pressure on health workers in Ireland.

We are challenged in General Practice because we have to approach patients with respiratory conditions in a totally different way, said Dr McGarry.

We now have to change our approach and triage them. We have to ring the patient in advance. We have to bring them in individually after surgeries have closed. And we have to examine them fully gowned up in protective gear.

Read also: Get information about coronavirus from health experts not social media warns Longford doctor

General Practitioners will be time poor when working like this because of the time it takes to gown up and gown down. A 12 minute consultation could last as much as 30 minutes as a result.

But the reason we have to do that is because were protecting the patients by bringing them in individually so, should they have the virus, they wont spread it to other patients, said Dr McGarry.

Were also protecting patients coming in from other people who might have it. And were also protecting the frontline staff because if we go down, theres nobody to replace us.

If the health care workers get infected, theyll be out for 14 days minimum and theres nobody to take their place.

Large numbers of healthcare workers being infected will result in a greater strain on the health system and could see more people going to A&E for care, which is the last thing any health official wants.

The first few patients who I met in protective gear this morning were quite alarmed because it brought it home to them that this is very significant, Dr McGarry explained.

But its important to remember that 80% of people who get this will have a minor illness and will get over it quite easily - younger children and teenagers especially.

For the more vulnerable people, should they contract it, it will be significantly more dangerous. They are the elderly and those with underlying conditions. So we need to mitigate the spread of that, he added.

We cant protect everybody but, with small little measures, we can certainly protect a large number of people.

Watch your hand hygiene. Sneeze or cough into your sleeve and not your hand. Use disposable tissues. Those are the most important things we could do. Those little, incremental measures amount to a huge impact.

This virus will be around for a while, Dr McGarry added, with a surge of cases likely to occur in the next few weeks, causing GP surgeries to change the way they operate significantly, while this thing blows itself out.

Patients with urgent conditions will be dealt with but there has to be a change in the way we operate, he said.

Everything comes down to what extent we can contain it in our community. Individual effort will determine how widespread this will be.

WATCH | Longford's Jillian McNulty: 'I haven't fought tooth and nail, every day of my life, to survive cystic fibrosis and to be wiped out by coronavirus'
Congress MP Jyotiaditya Scindia, who resigned from the Indian National Congress (INC), is expected to join Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday.

AFP

Scindia announced his exit on Twitter and said in his resignation letter that was addressed to the President of Indian National Congress, Sonia Gandhi, Having been a primary member of the Congress Party for the last 18 years, it is time for me to move on. I am tendering my resignation from the primary membership of the Indian National Congress and as you well know, this is a path that has been drawing itself out over the last year."

Post Scindia's resignation, 22 Members of the Indian National Congress of Madhya Pradesh also quit the party.



He has further mentioned in his letter, "While my aim and purpose remain the same as it has always been from the very beginning, to serve the people of my state and country, I believe I am unable to do this anymore within this party."

AFP

Scindia also met Union Home Minister Amit Shah after which both the leaders met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his residence, suggesting Scindia could sooner or later join BJP.

The loyal members of the Scindia camp, those who were not happy about the Congress leadership said Scindia was not treated properly by Madhya Pradesh Congress. Now they are also likely to quit the party to reduce Kamal Nath-led government to a minority.

It is possible that BJP will be staking claim to form the government in Madhya Pradesh.
Montreal, Canada  The novel coronavirus has dominated news headlines for months, with dozens of countries around the world now forced to respond to cases within their borders and craft a plan to deal with the outbreak.

In North America, the United Statess preparedness has been a matter of concern, and experts have questioned whether delays in testing would make it more difficult to contain COVID-19, the disease associated with the virus.

Areas on the north and south US borders present a specific challenge, public health officials say, as millions of people cross between Canada and Mexico and the US every week  and cooperation between those countries will be key to any response across the continent.

You cant build a wall high enough to keep this out, said Alison Thomson, associate professor at the University of Toronto who specialises in public health ethics. Borders are political barriers, but they are not respected by a virus.

So far, the extent of communications between Canada, the United States and Mexico around the coronavirus outbreak is unclear, as is the plan of action  though officials in each country said they have systems in place and are speaking to their partners regularly.

Social cohesion and understanding that people and countries are in this together will be critical to how successful neighbouring countries are in containing the outbreak and maintaining trust between governments is critical, Thomson told Al Jazeera.

We need to remember that solidarity and public trust and equitable access to healthcare are all going to be predictive of how well we come out the other side of this, she said, adding that isolationist policies like those championed by US President Donald Trump are not effective in a public health emergency.

This is a reminder, Thomson said, that we cant contain these things without global cooperation.

Information sharing

Last week, Seattles public health officer described the coronavirus outbreak there as a very fluid and fast-moving situation  but assured the public that healthcare workers were responding aggressively as the death toll climbed.

On Tuesday, Washington Governor Jay Inslee said the state was preparing for many additional cases.

At least 22 people have died amid 160 confirmed cases in the Seattle area alone, officials said on Tuesday, and the chance of exposure is increasing, with healthcare workers among those most at risk of contracting COVID-19.

Inslee said state officials were considering real action, including mandatory measures, to try to slow the spread of the virus. It was unclear what these measures may include, but Inslee told reporters he would not be shocked if we have some news on that in the next few days.

Visitors pass a sign warning about the spread of germs, after another case of the COVID-19 disease caused by the newly identified coronavirus was confirmed in the city, at the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada annual conference in Toronto, Ontario, Canada [File: Chris Helgren/Reuters]

About 160km (100 miles) north of Seattle, on the Canadian side of the US border, public health officials have watched the situation closely  and questions have been raised about whether Ottawa should implement stricter entry regulations for people travelling from the US.

Late last week, health officials in Canadas westernmost province, British Columbia (BC), reported the first community case of the coronavirus  a case that does not appear to be travel-related, and for which health officials cannot pinpoint the source.

We need to find out the source of her infection, BC Health Officer Dr Bonnie Henry told reporters.

Only a few hours earlier, a BC Ministry of Health spokeswoman acknowledged the risks, and the challenge of containing the coronavirus across the 8,891-km (5,525-mile) US-Canada border. Diseases know no boundaries, Paula Smith told Al Jazeera in an email.

BC has a working relationship with officials in the US Pacific Northwest, she said, pointing to an agreement known as the Pacific Northwest Border Health Alliance, an information-sharing and monitoring network that includes five US states and three provinces and one territory in Canada.

Smith said BC and Washington state specifically have collaborated in the past on investigations into cases of the measles, among other outbreaks that affected both places.

On the current coronavirus response, [BC] health officials discussed exchanging information with Washington state and yes, if they needed support with lab testing, but they indicated they were ramping up their capacity for lab tests and did not need any assistance at this time, she said.

A US Department of Homeland Security official said last week that the US had turned away hundreds of people at its land borders, including more than 100 Canadians who were denied entry on the northern border. Some people may find it ironic, but the largest excluded group are Canadians, and it is Canadians who have travelled to China in the previous two weeks, said Ken Cuccinelli, the acting director of the US Citizenship and Immigration Services.

As of March 10, Canadas public health agency said 79 coronavirus cases had been confirmed across the country, the majority in BC and Ontario.

Warning against closures

While public health officials are stressing cooperation, the coronavirus outbreak also has fuelled xenophobia  especially against people of Chinese background  and racist, anti-immigrant views, especially as it relates to people moving across borders.

In late February, Donald Trump said his administration was looking very strongly at the possibility of closing the countrys southern border with Mexico, where the US president has already promised to build a wall to keep out asylum seekers. Trump reversed his position only a few days later, however, telling reporters that he was not looking at that at all now.

On Tuesday, Trump was slammed online for apparently suggesting on Twitter that a wall was needed more than ever! to help stop the coronavirus.

Dr Carlos Del Rio, professor of medicine and global health at Emory University, warned against closing the border, which he said would have major repercussions not only on individuals who go back and forth between Mexico and the US daily, but would also disrupt trade and do damage to the economy.

It would also be of no [public health] benefit to control this epidemic, he said.

People wear protective face masks at Benito Juarez International Airport [File: Carlos Jasso/Reuters]

Does it make sense? No, Del Rio told Al Jazeera. I think it would be very counterproductive and I think it would be of zero benefit and of much, much disruption to the people living at the border  Borders between nations should not impede collaboration of public health.

Fernando Gonzalez is the lead epidemiologist at the Department of Public Health in El Paso, Texas, a city just north of the US-Mexico border that he said is characterised by the near-constant movement of people and goods.

El Paso and Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, sit on opposite sides of the Rio Grande. Deeper into the US, the city of Las Cruces, New Mexico, is home to about 100,000 residents only 74km (46 miles) north of El Paso. In that highly dynamic situation, constant communication is the way we work, Gonzalez said.

Borders between nations should not impede collaboration of public health. Dr Carlos Del Rio, Emory University

Public health officials in El Paso, Las Cruces and Juarez have been in contact at least twice daily, exchanging information and strategies to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak, he explained, and El Paso has the capacity to test for the coronavirus locally. Mexico has a total of seven confirmed cases of COVID-19, according to the World Health Organization.

Since the H1N1 swine flu pandemic in 2009, Gonzalez said that El Paso has had a plan in place to respond to major outbreaks  from outlining emergency response measures, to monitoring potential cases and educating the public about best practices.

He added that the healthcare system is robust and solid in Mexico, as well, and his relationship with his counterparts across the border is strong. Its good to have those neighbours; they know how to do primary healthcare  We are prepared.

Dont wait

Dr Gerardo Chowell, professor and chair of the Department of Population Health Sciences at Georgia State University, said the swine flu outbreak over a decade ago did set an important precedent for collaboration between the US and Mexican authorities.

That experience would likely be informing todays response to the coronavirus, Chowell said, though it is unclear what the exact plan is in US-Mexico border areas.

He stressed that having a similar level of resources allocated to public health in both countries is critical, as is taking a coordinated approach. If you only do [something] on one side of the border, and you dont do it on the other side, you dont have a consistent intervention, Chowell told Al Jazeera.

It may be problematic, and then the chain of transmission may succeed in [getting] out of control.

He said countries should also be proactive and make sure that they have a plan ready before they need one. The mentality is that the virus will arrive because it has to arrive, and it will spread because its highly transmissible, so what can we do? Its going to come anyway. I dont think thats the right mentality, Chowell said.

The [World Health Organization] is calling countries to work hard to stop this transmission and that includes early detection, contact tracing  Dont wait until you have a crisis.
Los Angeles, March 11 : Hollywood's disgraced producer Harvey Weinstein has been sentenced to 23 years in prison for rape and sexual assault.

Weinstein will spend 23 years in a New York State prison. He was sentenced by Supreme Court judge James Burke on Wednesday morning, reports hollywoodreporter.com.

Weinstein was convicted on February 24 for committing a criminal sexual act in the first degree and third-degree rape.

The judgement brings an end to Weinstein's New York trial, which began on January 6. His team has said they will appeal the jury's decision to convict him on two of the five charges he faced.

Before announcing the sentence, Judge Burke told Weinstein that he will be formally registered as a sex offender.

Weinstein wore a blank face as he was taken out of the courtroom. His accusers cried together in the front row, reports cnn.com.

As per hollywoodreporter.com, Weinstein got 20 years in prison plus five years of supervised release on the first-degree count of a criminal sexual act.

On the other convicted charge, third-degree rape, he was given three years in prison. The judge decided to make the sentences consecutive, rather than concurrent.

Reacting to the judgement, Weinstein's attorney Donna Rotunno said: "Of course it's too harsh. It's ridiculous," adding that the sentencing is "obscene".

Before the judgement was announced, Rotunno had told the judge that Weinstein should get a shorter sentence because he has a "long list of illnesses".

"Mr Weinstein has a multitude of medical issues, there are lists of things that are physically wrong with him and are serious. Mr Weinstein has a history of heart disease in his family. This is a situation that the loss of freedom ... will affect his ability to get the type of medical care he will need for the list of issues he is dealing with," said Rotunno, reading out a letter highlighting his medical issues.

Weinstein had spent 10 days in the hospital, where he underwent a heart procedure, after experiencing high blood pressure and heart palpitations following his February 24 conviction.

Before his sentencing, Weinstein, who opted not to testify during his New York sexual assault trial, addressed the judge. Speaking in a low voice, of the women who have accused him of misconduct, he said: "I have great remorse for all of you. I have great remorse for all women." "I really feel remorse for this situation. I feel it deeply in my heart," he added.

In response to the sentencing, Tina Tchen, president and CEO of the Time's Up Foundation, said: "First and foremost, we are grateful for the courage and strength of Mimi Haleyi, Jessica Mann, Annabella Sciorra, Dawn Dunning, Tarale Wulff, and Lauren Young, who bravely testified in court, and we remain in solidarity with the more than 100 survivors who suffered abuse, harassment, and rape at the hands of Harvey Weinstein. The trauma of sexual assault and harassment is lifelong and we can only hope that today's sentence brings all of the survivors of Harvey Weinstein some measure of peace." In addition to this, the Silence Breakers, a group of 24 Weinstein accusers that includes Ashley Judd, Lauren Sivan, Rosanna Arquette and Rose McGowan, released a joint statement saying: "Harvey Weinstein's legacy will always be that he's a convicted rapist. He is going to jail - but no amount of jail time will repair the lives he ruined, the careers he destroyed, or the damage he has caused."
After reports about the driver, who had dropped the Covid-19 (coronavirus) infected couple from Mumbai airport to Pune, visited Pune regional transport office (RTO) on March 3, the office has taken preventive measures.

A woman clerk who had attended the driver at the RTO was sent for medical check-up at Naidu Hospital on Wednesday. Her tests were reported negative and the office has given her 8-day leave as a preventive measure.

Today we came to know that the private cab driver, who had dropped the affected couple from Mumbai airport to Pune and was later tested positive, had visited RTO on March 3. He had come for his car loan related work at the transport section located on the ground floor of the main building. He was at one of the counters for around 3 to 4 minutes where a woman clerk interacted with him and took his signature on a document, said Ajit Shinde, Pune regional transport officer.

Hence, as a precautionary measure, we immediately sent the woman clerk to Naidu Hospital for medical check-up today and the test results are negative. Still, we have sent her on leave till March 17 from today as a precautionary measure, Shinde said.

The office has made it mandatory for its staff to use hand sanitiser before using the biometric device for attendance.
More than 235,000 people are today calling on the government to close schools across the UK in amid coronavirus fears.

The petition, started by Sami Attout, urges Boris Johnson to shut down schools and colleges 'in the coming weeks of as soon as possible', to prevent the spread of Covid19.

As the virus is declared a public health emergency of international concern by the World Health Organisation, hundreds of thousands of worried parents are now demanding MPs step up measures to allow them to take their children out of school.

This comes as Durham University has announced it is cancelling all student field trips outside the UK due to the ongoing spread of coronavirus. Britain now has 382 confirmed cases and six people have died.

The petition has garnered more than 235,000 signatures, with 100,000 being the minimum required to secure a debate on the matter in Parliament.

The petition, started by Sami Attout, urges Boris Johnson to shut down schools and colleges 'in the coming weeks of as soon as possible', to prevent the spread of Covid19

The hashtag, '#closetheschools' is trending on social media today as people across both the UK and America raise their fears about the spread of the virus in school buildings.

The petition states: 'We would like the government to at least consider closing schools/colleges down in the coming weeks or as soon as possible, in addition to taking necessary actions to prevent further spread.

'We would like the Government or Parliament to enforce this action due to the growing fear among parents and students that attend school.

'The ability to focus or concentrate is affected in addition to the growing fears of the Coronavirus.

'In our view, the government and health officials around the world are more 'reactive' rather than 'proactive'.

'This will result in more spread as time is given for the virus to do so. We hope to come to an agreement as soon as possible in a timely manner.'

Durham university is also advising that students on placement in Italy should return home and that large scale conferences and events should be cancelled.

It announced a number of measures on Tuesday as the first case of coronavirus was confirmed in Darlington, bringing the total number of cases in the North East to seven.

Pictured: Rory Stewart calls for tougher action to fight coronavirus on yesterday's Good Morning Britain

The petition comes two days after London mayoral candidate Rory Stewart demanded schools close to protect Britons.

The ex-cabinet minister said the government should not shy away from taking an economic hit if it means safeguarding the population.

He said the 'short-term economic damage' which would be caused by such measures would be 'definitely worth doing if you can stave off the bigger spread' of the virus in the UK.

The former Tory, who is running as an independent called for all medium and large sized gatherings to be banned and accused Boris Johnson of not being aggressive enough in fighting Covid-19.
Sen. John McCollister of Omaha has launched a website urging the Republican Party to recover and restore its past values and apply them to the issues of today such as climate change, immigration reform, criminal justice reform and "reasonable gun legislation."

The new website presence was heralded by a series of tweets from McCollister, a Republican member of the nonpartisan Legislature, who said he is seeking a return to "a more rational and responsive Republican Party" rather than the GOP of today.

"Republicans didn't always hate public schools," he wrote.

"Republicans didn't always try to bludgeon unions. Republicans didn't always ignore scientists. Republicans used to fight corruption, not promote it. Republicans used to follow the Constitution."

McCollister, the son of a former Republican congressman  John Y. McCollister, who represented metropolitan Omaha's House district in the 1970s  wrote: "I am a Republican, but do NOT fit in with most Republicans today.

"The party I remember is the party of Eisenhower. I grew up idolizing Lincoln. I do not belong to the Republican Party of Donald Trump."

Creation of the new johnmccollister.com website comes seven months after McCollister called out his party on Twitter for "enabling white supremacy in our country" by accepting the remarks of "a Republican president who continually stokes racist fears in his base."

His series of tweets on @SenMcCollister went viral, quickly accumulating more than 130,000 likes. His number of Twitter followers jumped from 650 to more than 53,000.

The new website presence is accompanied by an invitation for viewers to make a small donation.

"I've never once asked for donations ever, but I realize this message is pretty important right now," McCollister tweeted. Donations would be used to "help me amplify this message," he wrote.

What's driving this?

"I have three kids and two grandsons and we're leaving the world in sad shape for them," McCollister said during an interview in his office at the state Capitol.

That's it, not any future political ambition after he completes his tenure in the Legislature at the end of 2022 when he would be 75 and term-limited out of office.

"I don't know, perhaps a seat on a utility board or county board or city council," he said, but not a step up to a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.

"I've been asked," he said, but it's not something he wants to do or would do.

McCollister said he has found the reach and influence that he has been able to muster on social media to be "an amazing ride" that has allowed him to reach people and amplify his message to rebuild and restore the Republican Party that he once knew.

"But a few Republicans take issue on a regular basis," he acknowledged.

Meanwhile, McCollister said, he'll continue to work on issues important to his constituents in the Legislature, including additional property tax relief this year.

McCollister handily won reelection in 2018 despite his independent legislative voting record that included disagreement with Gov. Pete Ricketts and the majority of his Republican colleagues on a number of issues.

He has voted to repeal the death penalty and expand Medicaid, opposed voter ID laws, selected a measure to grant Nebraska driver's licenses to undocumented young immigrants who are in the country under protected status as his designated legislative priority bill, introduced legislation to end partisan gerrymandering of congressional and legislative districts and promoted development of wind energy.

McCollister represents an economically and politically diverse legislative district that stretches from 72nd Street to 144th Street in central Omaha.

Reach the writer at 402-473-7248 or dwalton@journalstar.com. On Twitter @LJSdon

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Japan's newly approved 1 trillion yen ($9.6 billion) bailout for companies impacted by the novel coronavirus arrives as most small businesses limp along on just a month's worth of cash.

The latest financial aid measure, announced Tuesday, will extend low- to zero-interest loans to small and midsize businesses suffering decreased sales, as well as self-employed individuals in a similar crunch.

But the unsecured loans will be disbursed by the Japan Finance Corp., which takes weeks to issue the financing after the initial application.

"The average small to medium-size enterprise has access to only about one month of funds on hand," said Nobuo Tomoda, a director at credit reporting agency Tokyo Shoko Research.

The government is working to speed up the approval process, but it remains a fight against time since most businesses hurting for funds close their annual book at the end of this month.

At least eight companies have gone bankrupt due to the coronavirus, Teikoku Databank reported Wednesday. The disease delivered a final blow to businesses that were already struggling, the Tokyo-based research firm said.

Ai Travel, a Hiroshima bus tour provider, filed for bankruptcy Tuesday at a local court. The company had been squeezed by grueling competition before the coronavirus hit.

For a food provider in Ibaraki Prefecture north of Tokyo, the school lunch business came to a virtual standstill amid the wave of school closures. Those sales account for 30% of its revenue.

At the end of January, the government opened more than 1,000 points of contact to help businesses address the coronavirus fallout. These locations are run through institutions such as the Japan Finance Corp. and Shoko Chukin Bank, two state-backed lenders.

As of Monday, consultations had been provided on more than 30,000 cases, with 90% concerning cash flow. The number of cases shot up roughly 90% over five days.

On Wednesday, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry opened its own consultation center targeting small-to-midsize companies.

The COVID-19 outbreak has hurt businesses in many industries, from tourism to food services to manufacturing.
When the central government on August last year brought in the Rajya Sabha the contentious bill to revoke Article 370 of the Constitution, scrapping Jammu and Kashmirs special status, it left the opposition stunned. But what came as a bigger shock to the Congress was when its Chief Whip in the Upper House announced his resignation the same morning.

Bhubaneswar Kalita turned an instant villain in the hearts and minds of the Congress party. Four days later, he joined the BJP at its headquarters in Delhi, foregoing his term of close to eight months still left in the Rajya Sabha.

When the BJP on Wednesday declared its tickets for the ensuing Rajya Sabha elections, the list featured Kalitas name. Party insiders say it was a reward for the senior parliamentarian after his stand in support of Article 370 and for delivering a blow to the Congress in the nick of time.

Kalita, expecting the reward, was seen in Parliament on Wednesday and even met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a one-to-one meeting before heading to file his nomination papers from Assam. It may be noted that troubleshooter and Rajya Sabha MP CM Ramesh and Assam Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma played crucial roles in landing Kalita to their side.

The Congress first brought Kalita to the Rajya Sabha in 2008, being re-elected in 2014.

Assam has three seats in the Rajya Sabha. Apart from Kalita, the BJP has given a ticket to the Bodoland Peoples Fronts Biswajit Daimary. The third ticket is being contested by Ajit Bhuyan, a journalist, who actively participated in the protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and has been jointly fielded by the Assam Congress and Badruddin Ajmals All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF).

Speaking to CNN-News18 minutes after his name was announced in the BJP list, Kalita expressed his happiness and said he hopes to continue to represent the voice of the people of Assam. I am glad that the leadership has expressed confidence in me, he said. I will head to the state tonight and file my nomination in the next day or so.

Jyotiraditya Scindia was also nominated by the BJP from Madhya Pradesh, a day after he resigned from the Congress and barely hours after he joined the saffron party in the presence of several senior leaders in New Delhi. Scindia is expected to file his nomination papers over the next day or two.

Another turncoat also featured on BJPs list of Rajya Sabha poll candidate -- Udayanraje Bhosale won the Lok Sabha elections last year on a ticket from the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). But closer to the Maharashtra Assembly polls and towards the fag end of last year, he dumped Sharad Pawar and jumped ship to the BJP.

The bye-polls for Bhosales Lok Sabha seat happened alongside the state assembly elections. Considered a prestige battle for the NCP chief, Pawar took it up head on. His famous speech from Satara, delivered in the midst of rain with images showing a drenched Pawar, ensured Maratha pride was on his side and Bhosales defeated.

However, Bhosale was promised a Rajya Sabha seat by central leaders, with speculation also rife that in the absence of that he may even look to switch back to his former party or even the Congress.

Bhosale is a direct descendent of the family of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and is said to be an important symbol of Maratha pride. Marathas account for 27% of the votes in the state, with Bhosales constituency making up a large chunk of population, about 35% and roundabouts.
Bodies of the last female white giraffe and her calf were found by locals in eastern Kenya.

Kenyas only female white giraffe and her calf have been killed by poachers, in a major blow for the rare animals found nowhere else in the world, conservationists said.

The bodies of the two giraffes were found by locals in a skeletal state after being killed by armed poachers in Garissa in eastern Kenya, the Hirola Community Conservancy said in a statement on Tuesday.

We mourn the loss of Kenya's rare white giraffes.#PressRelease pic.twitter.com/Cu3PjQisqy  Hirola Conservation (@hirola_program) March 10, 2020

The conservancy added that the their deaths leave just one remaining white giraffe alive.

The poachers have not yet been identified by authorities. Animal rights activists had last spotted the mother and calf about a month ago.

The white giraffe was discovered in 2017 by the Hirola Conservation Program. The conservancy explained the rare animals had a condition called leucism, resulting in the partial loss of the giraffes pigmentation.

So, someone/poachers killed the only rare white giraffes in Kenya? A mother giraffe and her calf! Whats wrong with some human beings Courtesy pic.twitter.com/UGNPvPVdxG  Janet Machuka (@janetmachuka_) March 10, 2020

The last remaining white giraffe is a lone male, born to the same slaughtered female, the conservancy added.

We are the only community in the world who are custodians of the white giraffe, said Mohammed Ahmednoor, manager of the conservancy.

The killing is a blow to tremendous steps taken by the community to conserve rare and unique species, and a wakeup call for continued support to conservation efforts.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has cautioned that a temporary fall in global greenhouse gas emissions, if any, due to the coronavirus outbreak should not be overestimated because the magnitude of climate crisis has no comparison with the temporary impact of the pandemic.

Both coronavirus and climate change are very serious problems but they are very different in nature. One thing is the disease which we expect to be temporary and its impacts will also be temporary. Climate change has been there for many years and we expect it to remain with us for decades and require constant action. We should not overestimate the fact that emissions have reduced for some months. We will not fight climate change with a virus, he said at the launch of the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) State of Global Climate Report 2019 on Tuesday in New York.

It is important that all the attention needed to fight the disease does not distract us from the need to fight climate change change anything in the need to have COP26 [2020 United Nations Climate Change Conference] in Glasgow with the commitment to reach carbon neutrality by 2050. We hope that people will be able to commit to both objectives with the same political will, Guterres added.

WMO Secretary General Petteri Taalas said the political uprisings and violence in Syria, Libya, and Egypt are linked to drought and rise in food prices and unemployment. Climatic factors can lead to such crises globally, said Taalas. He underlined the WMO report has enough evidence to show that the climate crisis is at its peak and 2020 is the pivotal year to address it.

Australia experienced a prolonged and severe fire season in 2019 that continued into January 2020, the report noted. The report had estimated that a global average surface temperature rise of 1.1 degree C to 1.65 degree C will be recorded in the next 10 years. He added it was due to natural variability breaching the lower threshold of the Paris Agreement which is warming of 1.5 degree C.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5 degree C had concluded that human-induced warming reached approximately 1 degree C above pre-industrial levels in 2017 and is increasing at 0.2 degree C per decade. The 2019 Arctic winter maximum daily sea ice extent was the 7th lowest maximum on record. According to data from the World Glacier Monitoring Service based on a subset of glaciers, 2018-2019 was the 32nd consecutive year of negative mass balance or receding trend.

The WMO report highlights that 2019 saw some of the most deadly heatwaves. Among the most significant were two heatwaves in Europe in late June and late July. Extreme heat also affected India in the pre-monsoon period in May and early June.

The WMO report corresponds with the changes in climate observed over India. I will focus on floods, which is among the deadliest and have been on a rise over India. Although we are in the dry season, once the monsoon starts, we should be ready for the floods. In India we are seeing a threefold rise in heavy rainfall events. A parliament report shows that during 20172018, we lost 3,868 human lives and suffered an economic loss of ~122,131 crore (damage to crops and public utilities alone) in India. That is a whopping 16 billion USD, which is probably a quarter (25%) of the global economic loss due to floods, said Roxy Mathew Koll, senior scientist at Climate Research Lab at Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology.
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SHANGHAI  For the 40-plus years that Tatler has published editions in Asia, the title has for the most part hemmed closely to what gave the original U.K. title its success  covering the excesses and fabulous lives of the upper crust.

But Tatler Asia, which is responsible for the title across eight markets in this region, is throwing away that rule book. On Monday, the new approach was unveiled to readers in a March issue boasting a slimmed-down logo, expanded pages and a more modern, younger world view.

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Its a legacy brand its been very much associated with the elite and the notion of high society, which I think today is outdated, Tatler Asia chairman and chief executive officer Michel Lamuniere told WWD. Im not sure that is a true representation of who the true movers and shakers of the market. I think it has evolved.

Monday saw the release of 24 covers  three for each of the eight Asian editions  featuring a group Tatler calls The New Asia. While it included some traditional Tatler types  wealthy heirs like Adrian Cheng  it also encompassed fresher faces like Feng Shui expert Thierry Chow, architecture and design maven Marisa Yiu, electronic DJ and friend-of-Virgil Peggy Gou, and the jeweler Lynn Ban.

Its a much richer, more diverse, much more inclusive version of society, Lamuniere said. Its not just the big business tycoons or big families who have a lot of means and power in the market, which weve been covering over the years, but the young entrepreneurs, disrupters, chefs and philanthropists.

The changes are only relevant to the Asian editions, which Tatler Asia, formerly known as Edipresse Group, owns outright. Conde Nast publishes its European editions and operates separately.

Story continues

Naturally, Tatler Asia has been buoyed by the rising fortunes of the region. For cultural proof, check the runaway success of the book series and film, Crazy Rich Asians. In more quantitative measures, the latest Hurun Report released showed that China is the top country for billionaires and growing at record clip, easily outnumbering the total in the U.S. and India combined. But theres more to it than just money.

One thing that is definitely evolving is that Asia used to very much look to the West when it comes to lifestyle to leading the way in business and leadership and technology and innovation, Lamuniere said. That has changed in many aspects. Asia is now really leading the way and shaping the trends.

To transform the title, Lamuniere starting last year assembling a senior creative team familiar to those in the media States-side. Joe Zee, who was editor in chief of Yahoo Style and Elle U.S., was appointed Tatler Asias global artistic director and is based in Los Angeles; Eric Wilson, previously at InStyle, The New York Times and WWD  who earlier had moved to Hong Kong for his husbands job  serves as editorial director, and Brendan Coolidge Monaghan, who was formerly chief fashion and luxury officer at Conde Nast, has taken up as the groups chief revenue and marketing officer.

Aside from the visual changes to the publication, theres been a restructuring of how editorial teams work. In our case, its a single enterprise working across eight different markets, Lamuniere said.

Regional teams are in contact on a weekly, if not daily, basis, working on a unified theme that is chosen each month to apply across all the eight markets. It also helps with centralizing some of the content production such as for fashion, watches and jewelry, and travel in order to be able to compete with the rest of the players in the market.

Thats in contrast to what others do such as Burda International, which publishes the Asian high-society title Prestige and the website Lifestyle Asia; and the strategy Conde Nast has taken with Vogue by working with a number of different licensees depending on the country.

When it comes to Prestige versus Lifestyle Asia I dont really understand the difference [in positioning], Lamuniere said. Prestige Singapore and Prestige Hong Kong have very little to do with each other. The conversation is not there. I respect competition but its not Prestige, its not Hashtag Legend.

Group annual revenue at Tatler Asia stands above $35 million with print constituting 50 percent of that and digital another 25 percent. Print draws in 2 million readers with a median household income of $335,000, while online attracts 4.6 million monthly visitors. The remainder of revenue comes from events and from custom publishing products like the publications for the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore, which is a small percentage of the business but doing very well. There are also plans to launch a branded content studio.

Prior to the coronavirus outbreak, Lamuniere had set a yearly target of growing by 25 to 30 percent.

We will have to be a little bit more cautious, he said. We started very well the first two months. Then March because we are [re]launching we got a lot of support from our commercial partners so that was amazing but the first half of the year  the next two or three months  we expect to be a bit difficult. But Im very confident about China rebounding very fast, even in Hong Kong I can see the interest of the advertisers to engage in conversation.

Tatler Hong Kong, the original title in Asia, had been the strongest market for many years, but mainland China now takes the top spot, pushing Hong Kong to second. Singapore is its third biggest market.

Tatler Asia is also planning on launching two more country editions in the next 18 months: South Korea and Vietnam. The case for Korea was straightforward: A mature and sophisticated luxury market, which combines strong local demand and significant interest from Chinese tourists that visit it.

Cambodia and Myanmar are further out on the horizon, probably five to 10 years, Lamuniere estimates. Although South East Asia countries are small in scale, they can be easily turned into profit generators.

Giving the example of Tatler Philippines, he said, We got a return on investment in one year although its a very small amount. When we launch bigger projects [that] require more capital but also have more potential, we look at the return on investment over three years.

While Japan would appear to be an apparent missing addition, the media executive said he didnt think it was right for Tatler.

You have markets like Japan which is a fantastic country and is a very important country for luxury, but I think its oversaturated, he said. I dont see a point of getting into a market like this.

Asked how the group navigates the lesser degree of press freedoms in Asia  government censorship of the media takes place across much of the region from Singapore to China  especially considering that power and scandal often come hand in hand, Lamuniere underscored his Swiss sensibilities.

Tatler has never had any desire and ambition to be controversial, he said. Its not the space where we are. We dont get involved, for example, at all with politics. We talk about the most influential people in the market, the people who are doing the greatest things, but we never take any political stance.

We have a very positive and constructive view of society. We want to try to highlight what works, what is beautiful, generous, creative and innovative, he continued. We like to say were doing the right thing but we are not going to define who is doing the wrong thing.

In the past, Lamuniere admits that some people didnt want to be associated with Tatler, but hes seen a noticeable shift in interest as the publication pivots.

They didnt want to be associated with high society  just a group of people with a lot of wealth but not necessarily a group that the vast majority of society would aspire to be, he said. Now with the new positioning with focusing on achievements, really doing great things contributing to society, making a positive impact, we already see a very large group of people who used to say No, thank you. Tatler is not for me, who now want to be.

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As a result, some patients may endure damage that is inflicted not just by the virus, but by their own immune system as it rages to combat the infection.

Experts have not yet documented whether the virus can affect the brain. But scientists who studied SARS have reported some evidence that the SARS virus could infiltrate the brain in some patients. Given the similarity between SARS and Covid-19, the infection caused by the new coronavirus, a paper published last month in the Journal of Medical Virology argued that the possibility that the new coronavirus might be able to infect some nerve cells should not be ruled out.

Why do some people get very ill but most dont?

About 80 percent of people infected with the new coronavirus have relatively mild symptoms. But about 20 percent of people become more seriously ill and in about 2 percent of patients in China, which has had the most cases, the disease has been fatal.

The disease can seriously sicken adults of all ages. According to a report of the first recorded cases in the United States, young, previously healthy adults can develop severe symptoms that could require ventilators and other life support. These patients may have a better chance at survival. Older, frailer people, or those with underlying health issues, like diabetes or another chronic illness, face the greater likelihood of dying from the virus.

In China, Dr. Xiao conducted pathological examinations of two people who went into a hospital in Wuhan in January for a different reason  they needed surgery for early stage lung cancer  but whose records later showed that they had also had coronavirus infection, which the hospital did not recognize at the time. Neither patients lung cancer was advanced enough to kill them, he said.

One of those patients, an 84-year-old woman with diabetes, died from pneumonia caused by coronavirus, Dr. Xiao said the records showed.

The other patient, a 73-year-old man, was somewhat healthier, with a history of hypertension that he had managed well for 20 years. Dr. Xiao said the man had successful surgery to remove a lung tumor, was discharged, and nine days later returned to the hospital because he had a fever and cough that was determined to be coronavirus.
[March 11, 2020] Stanford Online High School Offering Free Resources for Schools Closing Amid Coronavirus Fears

REDWOOD CITY, Calif., March 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Stanford Online High School , the leader in online education among K-12 independent schools, is offering free resources, including demonstrative webinars , for schools facing closures amidst the spread of COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) . As more brick-and-mortar schools close mid-semester across the United States and internationally, Stanford Online High School aims to share its expertise in the field of online learning to assist other schools as they transition to online classrooms. Stanford Online High School is an independent school affiliated with Stanford University for academically talented students in grades 712. Through vibrant seminar-style classes that meet online in real-time, Stanford Online High School's rigorous curriculum and scholarly insructors challenge students to reason analytically, argue critically, and think creatively. Stanford Online High School promotes dialogue and exploration across a range of student backgrounds and experiences with current students living in 48 U.S. states and 31 countries across five continents.



"With 14 years' experience running seminar-style online classrooms, we want to help others during this health crisis to consider online teaching as an alternative to shuttering schools completely," said Head of School Tomohiro Hoshi, Ph.D., Stanford Online High School. "For online teaching to be effective, you need to have a well-developed remote learning plan in place first. We hope schools find the resources we are providing useful for that purpose." The resources site, https://ohs.stanford.edu/how , provides a series of tutorial videos created by Stanford Online High School instructors with essential online classroom tools and effective best practices. Other resources include a checklist with considerations for building remote learning plans, tech troubleshooting tips, and recommended student support services for creating an ideal online learning community. The first in a series of informative webinars will take place on Thursday, March 12, 2020 at 2:00 pm Pacific Time. Visit this link to register.

Founded in 2006, Stanford Online High School is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and the California Association of Independent Schools (CAIS), and is a recognized member of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS). For more information about Stanford Online High School, visit https://ohs.stanford.edu/ . View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/stanford-online-high-school-offering-free-resources-for-schools-closing-amid-coronavirus-fears-301021723.html SOURCE Stanford Online High School

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New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of "destabilising" the elected Congress government in Madhya Pradesh.

Gandhi also said the PM may have "missed" noticing the 35 per cent crash in global oil prices and asked him to pass on the benefit to Indians by slashing petrol prices.

"Hey @PMOIndia, while you were busy destabilising an elected Congress Govt, you may have missed noticing the 35 per cent crash in global oil prices. Could you please pass on the benefit to Indians by slashing #petrol prices to under Rs 60 per litre? Will help boost the stalled economy," the former Congress chief said on twitter.

Hey @PMOIndia , while you were busy destabilising an elected Congress Govt, you may have missed noticing the 35% crash in global oil prices. Could you please pass on the benefit to Indians by slashing #petrol prices to under 60 per litre? Will help boost the stalled economy. Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) March 11, 2020

Congress' prominent youth leader Jyotiraditya Scindia quit the party on Tuesday and appeared set to join the BJP amid a rebellion in Madhya Pradesh by his supporters, pushing the 15-month-old Kamal Nath government to the brink of collapse.

On Tuesday morning, as much of India was celebrating Holi, Scindia met senior BJP leader and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, following which he called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his 7, Lok Kalyan Marg residence.
Tularemia is a rare but often lethal disease. It is caused by one of the most aggressive pathogens on earth, the bacterium Francisella tularensis. The microbe, transported by a variety of animals and insects, is able to enter and attack the body through a range of pathways, resulting in different constellations of symptoms and degrees of severity.

Tularemia remains poorly understood and no safe and effective vaccine exists for the disease. The extreme lethality of F. tularensis and its potential to be aerosolized have also made it a bioweapon candidate, increasing the urgency of understanding the disease and developing effective treatments.

In a new study, researchers at the Biodesign Center for Applied Structural Discovery examine a key membrane protein responsible for the bacterium's prodigious ability to infect the body and cause illness. This virulence factor, known as Flpp3, is examined in unprecedented detail with the aid of an X-ray free electron laser or XFEL, a massive and powerful X-ray accelerator located at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Stanford.

XFEL technology uses brilliant and extremely short flashes of X-rays to probe crystalized samples of Flpp3, revealing the protein's detailed structure as never before. By comparing the structural information gathered by XFEL experiments with previous structural analysis using NMR, researchers have developed a more complete model of Flpp3's elaborate form. (Previous studies have shown that when a gene coding for Flpp3 is disabled, the effects of the F. tularensis pathogen are significantly diminished.)

Scientists hope to eventually use this information to develop targeted drugs capable of disabling the protein's virulence properties and protecting against tularemia. The advances in understanding could also help scientists develop an effective vaccine against the illness in the future. Currently, only live attenuated vaccines exist for tularemia, and risks of infection and insufficient immunity associated with this approach have precluded use of such vaccines in the US.

Biodesign researcher Dr. James Zook together with Professors Petra Fromme and Abhishek Singharoy at the Biodesign Center for Applied Structural Discovery led the new study. He is joined by international colleagues, including researchers from DESY, SLAC, AstraZeneca, the European Molecular Biology Laboratory in Grenoble, France, among others.

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Petra Fromme, director of the Center for Applied Structural Discovery explains the Importance of the results: "This study combines, for the first time, state of the art XFEL techniques with NMR and molecular modelling to unravel the large conformational space of Flpp3. The study unravels different conformations of this important protein for the virulence of the bacterium in the XFEL and NMR structure thereby showing the highly dynamic nature of Flpp3. This study is so exciting as it shows that very different conformations coexist and are converted into each other under physiological conditions."

Visualizing virulence

Using detailed structural data from NMR and new XFEL analysis of the tularemia virulence factor, the researchers identified a potential inhibitor of Flpp3. This information was obtained from available virtual libraries containing structures of drug fragments. Next, a physics-based modeling method, known as molecular dynamics (MD), provided detailed information on the fluctuations and conformational changes of atoms and molecules in the virulence-linked protein, helping researchers get a more precise read on Flpp3's structure and behavior.

"This work provides several atomic-resolution structures of an important virulence factor from the bacterium that causes tularemia," according to Biodesign researcher Dr.Debra Hansen, a co-author of the new study. The protein configurations identified will help researchers pursue structure-based design of drugs that could be effective against the elusive disease, through the targeting and inhibition of Flpp3.

As co-author and Biodesign researcher Dr. Abhishek Singharoy explains, the study is noteworthy for being among the first investigations of protein conformational flexibility discovered with serial femtosecond X-ray crystallography and NMR and confirmed using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations.

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The group's findings appear in the current issue of the Cell Press journal Structure.

Persistent threat

Tularemia, also known as rabbit fever, is a rare infectious disease, typically attacking the eyes, skin, lymph nodes and lungs following infection by the bacterium F. tularensis. The disease is endemic in North America as well as in many parts of Europe and Asia, though cases of tularemia are uncommon and full-blown outbreaks tend to be restricted to regions with poor sanitation and inaccessibility to modern healthcare.

Tularemia primarily affects mammals, particularly rodents, rabbits and hares, although it sometimes also infects birds, sheep, and domestic animals, including dogs, cats and hamsters.

The disease can be spread to humans through insect bites and direct exposure to an infected animal. The disease is extremely contagious. Just 10 bacterial cells can be fatal and a single bacterium may be sufficient to cause infection. The organism can live for weeks in soil, water and dead animals.

Tularemia can be effectively treated if detected early, though the treatment regime can be lengthy and complex. Most infected with F. tularensis display symptoms within three to five days, though it can take as long as two weeks.

The disease exists in a variety of forms with differing symptoms, depending on how and where the bacteria enter the body. These include ulceroglandular tularemia, the most common form, which produces ulcers of the skin at the site of infection, swollen and painful lymph glands, fever, chills, headache and exhaustion.

Other forms include glandular, oculoglandular, oropharyngeal, pneumonic, and typhoidal tularemia. If left untreated, a variety of severe complications from the disease may ensue, including meningitis, inflammation of the lungs, irritation around the heart and infection of bone.

Crystal method

In the current study, a technique known as serial femtosecond X-ray crystallography is used to probe the structure of the Flpp3 protein. Here, brief and brilliant X-ray bursts, roughly a billion times brighter than conventional X-rays, strike a jet of crystals "flying" through the X-ray beam. The intense X-ray blast destroys the crystals but before doing so, creates a diffraction pattern on a screen. The X-ray pulses are ultrashort, lasting just 40 femtoseconds, that they outrun X-ray damage, allowing for data to be collected at room temperature under near physiological conditions. (1 fs = 10-15 seconds or one quadrillionth of a second.)

Assembling many of these X-ray shots with the aid of computers permits the assembly of a detailed, 3D structure of the protein under study. This so-called diffraction before destruction method was first pioneered by Henry Chapman at the Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY) with the team at ASU under the lead of John Spence and Petra Fromme and their collaborators.

The researchers combined the new XFEL structural data with their previous NMR studies of Flpp3, observing two distinct states of the protein. The MD simulations revealed an internal cavity structure that is transient, suggesting that Flpp3 undergoes a subtle conformational change.

The approach opens the door to targeted drug development aimed at reducing the lethality of tularemia and displays the power of combined technologies for unlocking the details of protein structure and dynamics.
June 4 marks the 30th anniversary of Seyyed Ali Khamenei's reign as Irans Supreme Leader, making him one of the longest-serving autocrats in the modern Middle East.

Why it matters: Khameneis rule has seen increased tension with and distrust of the West, proxy warfare across the region, troubled relationships with a series of presidents, and escalating protests. Iran has only grown more authoritarian under Khamenei, making it unlikely the country will change course either at home or abroad.

Background: The Islamic Republic's political system was conceived by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the founding father of the 1979 revolution. It centers on the concept of the Guardianship of the Jurist, also known as the Supreme Leader, Iran's most powerful political, religious and military figure.

Khamenei, who previously served as president of the Islamic Republic, assumed this role under highly contentious circumstances in June 1989, following Khomeini's death.

With the support of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and other hardliners, Khamenei has governed by deflecting blame, balancing factions, centralizing control and suppressing opposition.

Whats next: Khamenei will turn 80 in July, and predictions of his potential replacement and succession challenges have been plentiful.

Although the Iranian constitution provides for a body called the Assembly of Experts to select the next leader, the conventional wisdom holds that this process may well be ignored during a power vacuum.

Rather than defaulting to another hardline cleric, some envision a clerical council, a military dictatorship or even a disruptive, potentially revolutionary transition.

The bottom line: The Islamic Republic and the institution of Supreme Leader are now as much products of Khameneis reframing as of Khomeinis founding. Whoever succeeds him, Khamenei will have made a lasting impact on Iran.

Behnam Ben Taleblu is a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.
He recently shocked fans when unveiled his incredible six-month body transformation on social media.

And Ashley Walters has shed light on his fitness journey as he discussed about his new series, Bulletproof, with co-star Noel Clarke on Wednesday's edition of Lorraine.

The Top Boy star, 37, poked fun at his former 'dad bod' while screenwriter Noel, 44, touched on shedding a whopping 14KG in only four months ahead of the second season of their drama show - inspired by Will Smith and Martin Lawrence's hit Bad Boys films.

Impressive: Ashley Walters (L) and Noel Clarke (R) shed light on their body transformations ahead of the second series of Bulletproof on Wednesday's edition of Lorraine

The actor previously admitted he 'let himself go' when he piled on the pounds during a break from his filming Bulletproof.

Screen star Ashley - who has been teetotal for seven months - insisted he now 'loves' going to the gym as he credited his routine to becoming a 'calmer person'.

As he joked about his previous appearance, Kidulthood director Noel highlighted that his close pal had a toned upper body before embarking on a lifestyle overhaul, adding: 'His before was my after!

'Im a bit ashamed of where I was but Ive posted the picture to show you the results and show you that you can do it too.'

'We bring our friendship to the show': The Top Boy star, 37, and the screenwriter, 44, teased details about their Sky One drama - inspired by Bad Boys

Before and after: The actor and rapper poked fun at his former 'dad bod' (L last year, R in January)

'We do as much as we can': The producer revealed losing 14% in body fat after spending 21 weeks training at Ultimate Performance Kensington has helped him take on his own stunts

Lifestyle overhaul: The screen star has been teetotal for seven months

Boasting an impressive physique of his own, The Anomaly producer revealed losing 14% in body fat after spending 21 weeks training at Ultimate Performance Kensington has helped him take on his own stunts in the Sky One programme.

He explained: 'The stuntmen will get very annoyed at me acting like we do all our stunts, but due to insurance reasons, we do as much as we can do.'

The award-winning thespians went on to tease details about Bulletproof, which sees Aaron Bishop (Noel) and Ronnie Pike (Ashley) join forces as detectives for the National Crime Agency in London as they tackle organised crime.

On the creativity process, Mute actor Noel explained: 'Bad Boys was an inspiration for us, we took a lot from the banter from them, and we wanted our action levels to be just as good or better.

'We'll include jokes from lunchtime into the show': The Doctor Who actor said he's injected their authentic relationship into the show

TV stint: Aaron Bishop (Noel) and Ronnie Pike (Ashley) join forces as detectives for the National Crime Agency in London as they tackle organised crime

'We took a lot from the banter from them': Bad Boys' Martin Lawrence and Will Smith pictured in the 2003 sequel

Winding down: Despite taking on hardmen roles, the pair surprisingly revealed they enjoy pampering sessions during their time away from work (pictured in January)

'America is very good at mixing comedy with drama, so it was something that we wanted to come across.'

Ashley added: 'I think we both of the view that if people still want the show, then we will continue to make it.'

On injecting their authentic relationship into the show, the Doctor Who star said: 'We definitely bring a lot of our real life friendship into the show.

'More to follow': Elsewhere in the interview, former So Solid Crew member Ashley revealed he's set to 'branch out' and release new solo music later this year (pictured in 2006)

Busy bee: Ashley is set to return as Dushane in hit Netflix show Top Boy in 2021 (pictured)

'Sometimes we'll make jokes at lunch and we'll include it on the show. It takes an hour to film a 5-min scene as we're always laughing.'

Despite taking on hardmen roles, the pair surprisingly revealed they enjoy pampering sessions during their time away from work, with Noel insisting 'Mr gangster Top Boy' Ashley was the one who encouraged him to take pedicures.

Elsewhere in the interview, former So Solid Crew member Ashley - who is set to return as Dushane in hit Netflix show Top Boy in 2021 - revealed he'll 'branch out' and release new solo music later this year.
Aged Care Minister Richard Colbeck has promised to boost funding to the regulator for a crackdown on coronavirus infection controls, amid concerns thousands of elderly residents could be placed at risk in centres with poor compliance records.

The Aged Care Quality Commission will audit providers that have previously been flagged as being non-compliant with industry standards, with an additional $5.3 million for site inspections to be drawn from the $101.2 million in federal aged-care coronavirus funding announced on Wednesday.

Aged care operators will be subject to coronavirus audits. Credit:

"Our objective is to ensure Australia's aged care sector is ready and able to protect our most vulnerable," Senator Colbeck said.

Bulk-billed pathology tests will be rolled out in aged care facilities as part of the federal government's response to COVID-19, which can be fatal in elderly patients. There are no plans to test residents who do not have symptoms.
Microbiologist Xiugen Zhang runs a Polymerase Chain Reaction, or PCR, test at the Connecticut State Public Health Laboratory, in Rocky Hill, Conn., on March 2, 2020. (Jessica Hill/File/AP Photo)

Expert: Excessive Authority Held by FDA Delays US Coronavirus Response

WASHINGTONOverregulation of diagnostic testing has played a major role in delaying the U.S. response to the coronavirus outbreak. The existing rules have created a bottleneck in delivery of testing kits, slowing the process of detection of cases in Washington state for weeks, said a health policy expert.

The problem is a holdover from the Obama administration, Roger Klein, a physician, attorney, and health policy expert, told The Epoch Times.

Its not a rule. Its not written down anywhere, he said. I dont know if anybody in the Obama administration was even aware of it. This is a pretty obscure area.

However, the Food and Drug Administration got more assertive during the Obama administration and tried to get control over clinical laboratory testing said Klein, who is also a former advisor to the FDA and former director of molecular pathology at Cleveland Clinic.

He noted that an FDA letter in 2016 during the Zika virus epidemic was good evidence for the agencys practice. The agency sent a warning letter dated March 2016 to two hospitals in Houston asking them to get clearance and approval from the FDA for the test kits they had developed to detect the Zika virus.

During H1N1 (Swine Flu) epidemic in 2009, however, FDA did not attempt to regulate the laboratories and did not interfere, allowing labs to act swiftly nationwide, Klein said.

Labs started testing right away. And we quickly got a handle on the epidemic, he added, noting that between 2009 and 2016, the FDA gained excessive regulatory authority.

The Trump administration has come under criticism for the shortage of test kits, which hampered the ability of public health officials to detect the virus and respond quickly.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer repeatedly criticized the presidents handling of the coronavirus response, urging him to expedite the approval of labs for testing.

The United States is trailing countries around the world in our testing capacity, Schumer said on March 11 on the Senate floor.

I honestly dont know why it has taken so long for the Trump administration to get a handle on testing, which is the most powerful tool in helping us respond to the spread of the virus.

Obama-Era Rules

Trump blamed his predecessor, saying he had to overcome an Obama-era FDA regulation in order to more quickly provide diagnostic tests.

The Obama administration made a decision on testing that turned out to be very detrimental to what were doing, and we undid that decision a few days ago so that the testing can take place in a much more accurate and rapid fashion, Trump said at a meeting with airline executives on March 4 at the White House.

He was soon criticized by media for falsely claiming that he ended Obama-era rules.

The president was right, Klein said, adding that it wasnt a regulation but a policy originated under Obama.

I dont know who initiated it, but I think it happened at the career level.

To remove the barriers, the agency issued guidance on Feb. 29 expanding the number of laboratories eligible to provide testing. The agency said it would allow labs to create and use their own in-house tests immediately, without FDA review, as long as they completed an emergency use authorization (EUA) request within 15 days.

Robert Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, on March 4 at the White House meeting described the regulatory change made by the Trump administration.

In the past, we used to be able to have laboratories that could develop what we call laboratory-developed tests and then be able to apply them for clinical purposes. And in the previous administration, that became regulated so that now for someone to do that, they had to formally file with the FDA, Redfield said.

And with recent changes, university labs and other labs in the country can be fully engaged in developing laboratory diagnostics for the clinical arena, he said.

Regulatory Relief

There is an entire legal debate over whether the FDA should regulate lab-developed tests, according to experts.

In my view, the hospital laboratories shouldnt need to apply for EUAs, Klein said.

He said the administration has taken the right step in providing regulatory relief, but theres a further need to lighten the regulatory burden.

The FDA doesnt belong to this space, he said. The agency should not be involved in regulating these laboratories.

Vice President Mike Pence, who leads the White House Coronavirus Task Force, said the recent regulatory change has accelerated the development and distribution of diagnostic tests.

By the end of this week, there will be more than 4 million more tests made available in jurisdictions around the country. One million are already in place, he said during a White House press briefing on March 10.

He added that top commercial labs such as LabCorp and Quest are in the process of distributing and marketing tests as well.

During the press briefing, Ambassador Debbie Birx, the White House coronavirus response coordinator, praised the federal governments efforts in decreasing barriers.

This has been unique for me to be able to see this unbelievable dialogue between what states need, what local governments need, and the federal government being responsive with changing those regulations, she said. And that has been really wonderful to watch.

In an interview with Fox & Friends on Mar. 12, Pence said that the Trump administration is clearing all the barriers to get the testing kits available throughout the country.

We are working every single day to clear out any red tape to make tests more and more available. Right now, every state lab in America can conduct testing, Pence said.
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More than 250 passengers from the doomed Grand Princess cruise ship arrived overnight into Dobbins Air Force Base in Georgia where they will spend the next two weeks in quarantine amid fears they may have contracted the deadly coronavirus.

In exclusive pictures obtained by DailyMail.com, the passengers were seen arriving at the air base in the early hours of Wednesday morning after they disembarked the cruise ship off the coast of California Tuesday night.

Most of the people, who less than a week ago were enjoying a carefree holiday, were pictured wearing protective face masks and gloves and were assisted off the plane by personnel wearing hazmat clothing.

The passengers, including 34 Georgia residents, will now be quarantined at the air reserve for 14 days after being potentially exposed to the virus on board the ship.

This comes as the number of cases from the cruise ship rose to 22 on Wednesday, after Canadian officials announced that one resident who had been repatriated from the ship had tested positive for the virus.

In exclusive pictures obtained by DailyMail.com, the passengers were seen arriving at the air base in the early hours of Wednesday morning after they disembarked the cruise ship off the coast of California Tuesday night

Most of the people, who less than a week ago were enjoying a carefree holiday, were pictured stepping off the plane wearing protective face masks and gloves and were assisted off the plane by personnel wearing hazmat clothing

In one video clip from the overnight transportation of US citizens to the Georgia air base, the captain and crew are seen trying to make light of their evacuation.

The group remove their masks and take a selfie together with a member of the medical personnel in full hazmat gear.

The exact number of passengers evacuated from the cruise ship and sent to Dobbins Air Force Base has not been confirmed by officials, but a source said around 271 were being sent to the base.

The source told Channel 2 Cobb County Bureau Chief Chris Jose that two planes were scheduled to carry 271 passengers from the cruise ship to the Marietta air base, about 15 miles northwest of downtown Atlanta.

The first flight, which landed in the early hours of Wednesday, is thought to have contained the 34 Georgians and an unknown number of other passengers.

The Dobbins Air Reserve Base will become home for the roughly 250 passengers for the next two weeks

The passengers will now be quarantined at the air reserve for 14 days after being potentially exposed to the virus on board the ship

The plane is pictured touching down at the air base in the early hours of Wednesday

The exact number of passengers evacuated from the cruise ship and sent to Dobbins Air Force Base has not been confirmed by officials, but a source said around 271 were being sent to the base

A man and woman are pictured leaving the plane after their cruise was cut short following the outbreak

The other flight is bringing the remaining number to the base.

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp had confirmed on Sunday that 34 Georgians and some additional American citizens from the East Coast would be securely transferred to the air base.

While most of the passengers will be subject to a 14-day quarantine at the base, the state has said it plans to take the unusual step of sending the 34 Georgians to their homes where they can self-quarantine there instead.

Authorities have said that none of the individuals transported to the air base have shown symptoms of coronavirus but are being quarantined as a precaution.

Medical staff are pictured in yellow and white hazmat suits: A source said two planes were scheduled to carry 271 passengers from the cruise ship to the Marietta air base, about 15 miles northwest of downtown Atlanta

A man, who looks to be wearing captain uniform and a protective mask, disembarks the plane in the dark

The flight is thought to have contained the 34 Georgians and an unknown number of other passengers

'Prior to arriving here, the passengers were medically screened by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,' said a release from the Air Force Reserve

Should individuals test positive for the virus while at the base they will be transported to a nearby hospital for treatment.

'Prior to arriving here, the passengers were medically screened by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,' said a release from the Air Force Reserve.

'The passengers who were asymptomatic were transferred here and other federal military installations for COVID-19 testing and quarantine.'

Officials in Cobb County sought to reassure the local community that the containment of the ship passengers in the area will not pose a risk to the public.

'We live here with you in this community, so we have same concerns you do and we want to make sure that because you are our neighbors, we want to provide we every possible measure to assure you that we're working very closely with federal and state governments to take every precaution to address this quarantine situation,' Cobb Commission Chairman Mike Boyce said in a video statement posted to YouTube on March 8.

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp had confirmed on Sunday that 34 Georgians and some additional American citizens from the East Coast would be securely transferred to the air base

While most of the passengers will be subject to a 14-day quarantine at the base, the state has said it plans to take the unusual step of sending the 34 Georgians to their homes where they can self-quarantine there instead

Authorities have said that none of the individuals transported to the air base have shown symptoms of coronavirus but are being quarantined as a precaution

The exclusive photos show people wearing protective gear as they greet the passengers off the plane

One Georgia resident who has been transported to the air base said in a Facebook post that they took a bus from the ship to the plane which was then taking them onward to the base, according 11 Alive.

Jane Wilson, from Houston County, posted a photo of herself wearing a mask and claimed passengers were all bunched in close proximity to one another on board the bus and said that the screening had merely involved her temperature being taken and someone asking how she felt.

Two passengers and 19 crew members on the Grand Princess tested positive for coronavirus on Friday and the number of cases remained static for days.

But signs are emerging that the number of cases linked to the ship will likely increase, as the Canadian government confirmed Wednesday that a Canadian passenger from the ship had also tested for corornavirus.

The unnamed individual had virtually no symptoms, with just a mild fever and cough, and had been flown back to Canada on a chartered flight before testing positive for the virus, the Public Health Agency of Canada said.

This new case takes the total number of people infected on the cruise ship to 22.

The evacuation process will continue over the coming days as US officials plan to bring the more than 3,000 passengers and crew off the cruise ship.

The passengers sent to Georgia Tuesday night are just some of the near-on a thousand passengers who were evacuated on Tuesday and taken to be placed in quarantine at military bases around the US.

After 407 people, including two hundred Canadians, were evacuated late Monday night, a further 999 were evacuated from the ship throughout Tuesday, bringing the total number of passengers disembarked to 1,406.

The outside of the air base: Local officials have sought to reassure the public that the quarantine will not endanger the community

Two passengers and 19 crew members on the Grand Princess tested positive for coronavirus on Friday. The number of cases from the cruise ship rose to 22 on Wednesday, after Canadian officials announced that one resident who had been repatriated from the ship had tested positive for the virus

Passengers were then loaded onto buses and transported to their barracks where they will reside for the next 14 days

There still remains an estimated 1,015 passengers on board and 1,113 crew members.

Among those who disembarked Monday were the two travelers who tested positive for the coronavirus on Friday. They were taken to hospital alongside their travel companions.

Nineteen crew members had also tested positive Friday but have been deemed 'asymptomatic' and remain on the ship in isolated cabins.

The latest case had already been repatriated to Canada before their diagnosis was discovered.

Addressing a news conference on Tuesday in Sacramento, the state capital, Governor Gavin Newsom said he hoped to finish getting all the roughly 2,400 passengers off the ship within 72 hours.

On Tuesday night, 142 Britons were flown back to the United Kingdom but will not be placed into quarantine.

The Grand Princess cruise ship was held off the coast of California after 21 people tested positive for coronavirus Friday

Port workers wearing protective gear work along the portside of the Grand Princess cruise ship in Oakland on Tuesday

Grand Princess cruise ship passengers being screened inside a tent Tuesday in Oakland before boarding a bus that will take them to a military base for quarantine. California Gov. Gavin Newsom hopes to have disembarked the ship within 72 hours

Instead, they will be asked to self-isolate at home and told to only get in touch with the NHS if they fall ill - despite the fact infected patients are highly contagious a week before showing symptoms.

They are expected to land back in the UK on Wednesday morning.

US passengers have been taken to various air force bases across the country where they will remain in quarantine for 14 days.

According to a press release from Princess Cruises on Tuesday, 'once they disembark, American guests will be transferred to either Travis Air Force Base in Solano County, California; Miramar Marine Corps Air Station in San Diego; Lackland Air Force Base in Bexar County, Texas; or Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Marietta, Georgia'.

The plan was to send California residents to the Travis Air Force base in Fairfield or Marine Corps Air Station Miramar near San Diego, while non-Californians were being flown to Joint Base San Antonio Lackland in Texas or Dobbins Air Force Base in Georgia.

Passengers from the Grand Princess cruise ship, which docked in Oakland, arrive for quarantine at Joint Base San Antonio Lackland in San Antonio, Texas, on Tuesday. This is the third group of quarantined passengers to join the base

Passengers from the Grand Princess cruise ship, which docked in Oakland, arrive Tuesday for quarantine at Joint Base San Antonio Lackland in Texas. The base expects to receive 380 passengers from the cruise ship in the next few hours

Some 1,500 people were evacuated from the ship on Monday, including two dozen people requiring urgent medical care. Pictured, a bus full of American passengers arrives at Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, California

Travis Air Force in Northern California was expected to welcome 810 Californian passengers in total on Tuesday.

Other American passengers were being driven by bus to take a charter plane from Oakland International Airport where they were then sent to other military bases around the country.

On Tuesday evening, the first passengers were pictured arriving in Joint Base San Antonio Lackland in San Antonio, Texas, for their quarantine.

This is the third set of quarantined visitors to arrive at the base, after it took in 91 citizens repatriated from Wuhan, China, in February and later received 140 passengers from the Diamond Princess Cruise Ship.

The base was expecting to receive about 380 passengers from the Grand Princess.
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Michael Gove arrives at the Cabinet Office in London, ahead of a meeting of the government's emergency committee Cobra to discuss coronavirus.

UK government trade talks scheduled with the EU are in doubt because of the coronavirus outbreak, according to a government minister.

Michael Gove told a committee of MPs on Wednesday it was a live question whether negotiations would go ahead as normal, with concerns about the health risks of intensive face-to-face meetings.

The comments are likely to cast fresh uncertainty over the future of Britains relationship with the EU, its biggest trading partner. The deadline for progress in talks is already tight, with Britain threatening to walk away if not enough progress has been made in June.

June is also the EUs deadline for offering any extension to Britains Brexit transition period, which will end in December. The UK is currently still aligned to EU rules, but risks a significant rupture to relations and facing significant new barriers to trade if no deal is reached.

Gove said: We have had indications today from Belgium that there may be specific public health concerns."

He also said the UK would produce its own proposed draft free trade agreement and several legal texts ahead of the next round of scheduled negotiations on 18 March. But he said it had not yet been decided if the document would be published, Reuters reports.

Watch the latest videos from Yahoo UK
11:45 a.m. UPDATE:

Alfonzo Angel Guzman, 12, was found safe and returned home, deputies said.

ORIGINAL STORY:

Deputies are searching for a missing 12-year-old boy last seen Tuesday night at his Aldine home.

Alfonzo Angel Guzman went missing from his home in the 15000 block of Sellers Road in north Harris County, according to the Harris County Sheriffs Office. He is 5 feet, 4 inches tall and weighs about 140 pounds, authorities said.

Anyone with information about Guzmans whereabouts is urged to call the HCSO Missing Person/Runaway Unit at 713-755-7427.

Jay R. Jordan covers breaking news in the Houston area. Read him on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and our subscriber site, HoustonChronicle.com | Follow him on Twitter at @JayRJordan | Email him at jay.jordan@chron.com
New Delhi, March 11 : The National Investigation Agency on Wednesday said it has filed a charge sheet against nine persons in the 2019 Tarn Taran blast case, in which two persons, who were engaged in digging a pit to retrieve concealed explosives, had died.

An NIA spokesperson in Delhi said, "The agency filed a charge sheet against nine people under several sections of the IPC and the Explosicves Act in a Special NIA Court in Mohali." He said the agency has chargesheeted Massa Singh, Harjit Singh, Gurjant Singh, Manpreet Singh and Bikramjit Singh Panjwar, all residents of Tarn Taran, Chandeep Singh, a resident of Gurdaspur, Malkit Singh, Amarjeet Singh, both residents of Amritsar and one juvenile.

The official said that Bikramjit Singh Panjwar is absconding.

The official said that during probe it was found that the accused were radicalised pro-Khalistan youths who had formed a terrorist gang under the leadership of absconding accused Bikramjit Singh Panjwar.

"The members of terrorist gang carried out secessionist activities on ground as well as on social media to instigate the members of Sikh community to agitate for the secession of Punjab from India," the official said.

"They also illegally procured explosive substances, prepared and tested crude bombs to carry out terrorist acts in Punjab," he said, adding the accused had, lately, planned to target one 'dera' at Muradpura in Tarn Taran.

The NIA had taken over the probe in September last year.
Britain's flood-battered regions are to receive a 5billion boost in the Budget as Boris Johnson's Government ramps up its spending on high-profile infrastructure projects.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak used his first Budget  less than a month after taking over at the Treasury  to announce 336,000 properties in England will benefit from a doubling to 5.2 billion by 2026 of money for flood defences.

Mr Sunak said he would make a 120 million Winter Defence Fund available immediately to repair all defences damaged in the winter floods and 200 million directly to local communities to build flood resilience.

Investment in flood defences will double over the next six years to 5.2 billion.

The announcement about the boost for flood-hit areas came after a winter in which the UK has been battered by some of the worst storms in recent memory.

Boris Johnson came under weeks of sustained political pressure to visit affected areas before finally going to Bewdley in Worcestershire at the weekend.

Water cascades down the dam wall of Derwent Reservoir in Derbyshire on Wednesday morning after weeks of heavy rainfall

Chancellor Rishi Sunak used his first Budget  less than a month after taking over at the Treasury  to announce 336,000 properties in England will benefit from a doubling to 5.2 billion by 2024 of money for flood defences

Boris Johnson came under weeks of sustained political pressure to visit affected areas before finally going to Bewdley in Worcestershire at the weekend.

The PM was met met with shouts of 'traitor' as he arrived on the banks of the River Severn, his first to an affected area since the extreme weather hit 22 days previously

Emma Howard Boyd, chairwoman of the Environment Agency said: 'Flooding is an awful experience for people to go through and it is damaging to the economy.

Chancellor promises to plant 'a forest larger than Birmingham' to combat climate change Rishi Sunak pledged to plant a forest 'larger than Birmingham' under Governbment plans to tackle climate change. He unveiled plans to plant 30,000 trees and restore 35,000 hectares of peat bog under a 640million scheme to boost carbon capture. Other steps included including 800 million for developing hubs to help industry and the power sector capture and store their emissions. He also unveiled a 200 a tonne tax on plastic packaging that does not have at least 30 per cent recycled content and action to support ultra-low emissions vehicles. The climate change levy businesses pay for gas will be increased and the tax break on polluting red diesel will be removed from 2022, except for uses in agriculture, fish farming, rail and domestic heating. 'This Government intends to be the first in history to leave our natural environment in a better state than we found it,' he told MPs. It comes in the run-up to key 'Cop26' climate talks in Glasgow in November, with pressure on the Government to show leadership on cutting emissions as countries are expected to up their ambition in tackling global warming. But Ed Matthew, Cop26 director of the Climate Coalition said the failure of the Budget to put the UK on track to net zero emissions was a 'major concern' ahead of the UN talks. 'A major hole was the failure to confirm funding to insulate and decarbonise homes, a Conservative manifesto pledge. 9 billion of energy efficiency funding seems to have gone missing in Budget action,' he said. 'If the UK cannot get its own house in order it is at risk of crashing the climate talks before they have begun.' Advertisement

'People want to be warned and protected, and where that isn't possible they want to be able to get back to normal quickly.

'Today's 5.2 billion for flood protection is hugely significant to the resilience of the UK.

'As the climate emergency increases flood risk, this funding will allow us to invest in infrastructure and nature-based solutions so that otherwise vulnerable communities can both have better protection against flooding and be more resilient when it happens, so that they can continue to thrive.'

The UK is experiencing one of its wettest and warmest winters on record.

Across December, January and February, the country was deluged with an average total of 469.7mm of rain, according to Met Office figures.

Last month has already been confirmed as the wettest February on record, with an average of 209.1mm measured across the UK.

The country was lashed by three named storms over the course of the month, with Ciara, Dennis and finally Jorge.

The PM was met met with shouts of 'traitor' as he arrived on the banks of the River Severn on Sunday.

The town has been overwhelmed by flood water in recent weeks and properties and businesses have been inundated with water.

The trip was Mr Johnson's first to an affected area since the extreme weather hit 22 days previously.

Regarding the new cash, Mr Sunak told Sky News at the weekend: 'It's going to pay for over 2000 different flood schemes around the country, it's going to protect over 300,000 homes.

'We have all either in our constituencies as MPs or watching on TV seeing the devastation wreaked on communities by flooding, this will make an enormous difference to people's lives and I think it's absolutely the right thing to do and this is something that wherever you live, whether you are in the south-west or the north-east, this impacts you, this investment will make a difference.'
The Russian pranksters have managed to con other high profile people such as Elton John

On Megxit

'You can call me whatever you want  Harry is fine. [Asked about Megxit]. Um, it's, that's probably a conversation for another time, there's lots of layers to it and lots of pieces to the puzzle.

'But sometimes the right decision isn't always the easy one.

'I can assure you, marrying a Prince or Princess is not all it's made out to be!

'And this decision certainly wasn't the easy one but it was the right decision for our family, the right decision to be able to protect my son.

'And I think there's a hell of a lot of people around the world that can identify and respect us for putting our family first.

'But, yeah, it's a tricky one, but we will start a new life.'

On their new life in Canada

'Oh no, I think it's much better (than royal life). You forget, I was in the military for ten years so I'm more normal than my family would like to believe.

'But certainly being in a different position now gives us the ability to say things and do things that we might not have been able to do.

'And seeing as everyone under the age of 35 or 36, seems to be carrying out an activist's role, gives us the opportunity to try and make more of a difference without being criticised (chuckles)'.

On being stripped of titles and losing royal privileges

'No, no, again you mustn't believe what you read, no one has stripped us of our titles.

'Because of a technicality within the family, if we are earning money separately from within the family structure, then we obviously have been asked not to use our titles in order to make money, which we would never do.

'But the press managed to jump on that to make it look like we had been stripped.'

On charity work

'I think at the moment, my wife and I, we were being directed towards starting a foundation but we actually decided there is probably enough foundations out there doing amazing work.

'And there's a hell of a lot of money being passed around the world and there are so many problems but we thought we'd just take a moment and see if there was some form of other organisation or different entity we could create that could bring people together, rather than us just starting a foundation. We don't think the world needs necessarily another foundation from us.

'So we are just taking a little bit more time to think about how we can use our platform and how we can use our voice to try and encourage real change and real difference as opposed to, you know, small incremental changes.

'As we all know, the world's problems seem to be getting bigger and seem to be happening far quicker . . . I think the solutions are far quicker to enable as well, but there needs to be a real shift in mindset. We try and do our best.

'I've spent many, many years being criticised by the media for doing all sorts of things and trying to change the way we think, um, and I can sympathise but at the same time applaud the work that all of you are doing because it's not an easy time and the world is a troubled place and can be very easy to give up and I think what you guys are doing absolutely remarkable'.

On Donald Trump

'The mere fact that Donald Trump is pushing the coal industry is so big in America, he has blood on his hands.

'But Trump will want to meet you to make him look better but he won't want to have a discussion about climate change with you because you will outsmart him.

'Whether you have an option to meet President Trump or an option to meet Boris Johnson, I think I would always.

'It's far more important to have an open dialogue and have conversation with these people than not'

On Prince Andrew

'I have very little to say on that.

'But whatever he has done or hasn't done, is completely separate from me and my wife. We operate in a way of inclusivity and we are focusing on community. And so we are completely separate from the majority of my family.'

On Boris Johnson

'I think he is a good man, so you are one of few people who can reach into his soul and get him to feel and believe in you.

'But you have to understand that because he has been around for so long like all of these other people, they are already set in their ways.

'They believe what they want to believe, they believe what they have been told.

'What you are now saying to them is not only inconvenient but is completely against everything they have ever believed.

'So that is what you're up against, up against changing habits, as you know'.

On the climate

'Unfortunately, the world is being led by some very sick people, so people like yourselves and (the) younger generation are the ones that are going to make all the difference.

'People need to be woken up and the only way to wake people up from what effectively is a consciousness crisis is, I think, you need to be doing extreme things.

'What you need to do is make real big changes that actually shock people, and it's that shock factor that wakes people up.'

On the Election

'The fact that our choice was between those two individuals in my mind, I think, probably creates more of an observation that the system itself might be broken.

'There's a lot that the leaders of today can learn and can listen to people like yourself.'

On using private jets

'Unfortunately there is very few alternatives. We have to fly on commercial planes all over the world. Nowhere near as much as most people who do it for a night or weekends.'

'Certainly for my family, to protect my family, from these people, as you can well understand.

'I have to put protections and safety of my family first and these people are never-ending.'

On the media

'The best advice I can give on that is to be able to see through the fear.

'What they don't understand is the battle we are fighting against them is far more than just us.

'So I think one of the, what I've always believed, one of the strongest ways to change mindset and be able to raise consciousness and be able to create self-awareness among people, is to challenge the media and say you have a responsibility and you are accountable for everything you are feeding people because you are brainwashing people, so this is far bigger than just us.'

Bizarre exchange on Greta marrying Prince George

Fake Greta says she a distant member of the Swedish royal family

Harry replies with a chuckle: "Oh wow, so we are related?

Greta says: "Yeah its true, and if it will help me in fighting for climate change, should I arrange a dynastic marriage, do you think? I think it'll help."

The prince is heard responding: "I am certain it'll help

The giggling 'Greta' - aged 17 - then says: "I found some candidates that suits me - James Windsor and Prince George. "Their ages I think are very suitable for my marriage. It will help.."

Harry then replies laughing: "I am sure I can help."

On moving penguins to the North Pole

A Russian translation of the words shows her asking: "Now we are dealing with an issue of moving penguins from Belarus to their native land, the North Pole.

"About 50 penguins were stuck at customs in Belarus.

"That's terrible. And we are searching for some ship maybe to transport these poor penguins to their native land."

Greta's fake father then said: "North Pole...perhaps you have some contacts for people who can help us?"

Harry replies: "I do have a man who deals with the North Pole.

"He is in Norway, he can help as maybe he knows all the right people. I'll give you the contacts on email.

'This recording ends with 'Greta' saying: "That's nice. That's good".
Still, the effectiveness of travel restrictions and quarantines will likely drop substantially as COVID-19 spreads globally, making it impossible for countries to keep the virus out. Health officials will also need to be more flexible in their coordinated response efforts, as the epicenters are likely to shift quickly and dramatically  as demonstrated by the recent eruptions in Iran and Italy.
France was among the pioneers of nuclear weapons technology. Currently, France refuses to acknowledge the number of nuclear weapons she has but the international community believes France has the third-largest nuclear weapons stockpile globally, approximately 300 of which are in deployment. This number begs the question, why does France have such a high number of nuclear weapons? International relations are volatile. Todays allies may be tomorrow's enemies and France knows this fact too well from as early as World War I. Apart from the French nuclear weapon programme, the country also has a massive peaceful nuclear programme and generates among the worlds largest quantities of nuclear power.

Force de Frappe

In the late 1950s and 1960s, France initiated Force de frappe (Strike Force). This force was to enable the country to operate independently without the help of NATO using nuclear deterrence on future superior enemies. Force de frappe used sea, air, and land-based nuclear weapons for deterrence. To date, France Nuclear Force, a section of the French Military, remains the third-largest nuclear force in the world after the US and Russia.

Testing In Algerian Sahara

France did 210 nuclear tests between 1960 and 1995 within its territory and overseas territories. Between 1960 and 1966, the country conducted seventeen tests in the then French Algeria within the Sahara Desert. Thirteen of these tests were underground. Apart from geographic location, they choose Algeria because of the Algerian War that was ongoing. The Centre Saharien d'Experimentations Militaires ((C.S.E.M) Saharan Military Experiments Centre), Centre Interarmees d'Essais d'Engins Speciaux ((CIEES) Joint Special Vehicle Testing Center), and Centre d'Experimentations Militaires des Oasis (C.E.M.O) conducted the tests under different code names like Gerboise Bleue ("Blue jerboa") and Gerboise Rouge.

Testing In French Polynesia

France also conducted 193 tests in French Polynesia in the South Pacific Ocean from 1966 to 1996. Initially, the military did not favor French Polynesia because of its distance from France and its lack of a large airport. However, after Algeria gained independence, the rest of the tests took place in French Polynesia. France conducted her last nuclear test in the South Pacific Ocean in 1996 just before signing the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) the same year. In 2008, the country announced that she had reduced the nuclear arsenal in the French Airforce by 30%, leaving Force de Frappe with only 290 nuclear warheads. Today, France has deactivated all her land-based nuclear missiles. Between 1996 and 2012, France used powerful supercomputers to simulate nuclear tests and also for study purposes. Currently, French law dictates that out of four submarines on patrol at any given time, one must carry a nuclear weapon.

Protests Against French Nuclear Tests

The Algerian Sahara tests elicited protests from Egypt, Nigeria, Ghana, and Japan. Of the seventeen, an accident happened during one test leading to radiation exposure to soldiers and a section of civilians. Moroccan and Liberian government denounced the tests. Over 26 Afro-Asian countries also condemned the tests at the United Nations General Assembly. Between 1960 and 1996, governments, lobby groups, think tanks, and Civil Society groups in New Zealand and Australia staged several protests against testing in the South Pacific. In 1972, Australia and New Zealand took France to the International Court of Justice.
Employees work on the production line of Shufeng Jiedu Capsule, a Herbal Medicine for treating avian influenza patients, at a workshop of Anhui Jiren Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd on April 8, 2013 in Bozhou, China.

Lawmakers concerned about possible drug shortages amid the coronavirus outbreak are pressing pharmaceutical companies to bring manufacturing to the U.S.

Sens. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., and Bob Menendez, D-N.J., are among lawmakers pushing for longer-term solutions. The senators on Wednesday introduced a bill that would funnel $100 million to develop U.S. manufacturing of drugs.

"When confronted with a serious challenge such as the coronavirus, it is important to take stock, look at lessons learned and build upon them in order to respond better the next time," Blackburn said in a statement.

About 72% manufacturers of pharmaceutical ingredients supplying the U.S. are overseas, including 13% in China, according to FDA testimony last year. That could make U.S drug companies vulnerable to shortages if COVID-19 forces factories to shutter and shipments to the United States to stall, experts have warned.

The Food and Drug Administration said Tuesday it will suspend most inspections for food, drug and medical devices outside the country through April, potentially putting more strain on the system.

FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn has said the agency has been in touch with more than 180 manufacturers of drugs. Only one, so far, has alerted the agency to a shortage. In testimony before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions last week, Hahn said he couldn't disclose which drug it was, but said it was nonessential and alternatives were available.

Hahn also has said the FDA has been in touch with 63 manufacturers of medical devices and has found no reported shortages, though he acknowledged to senators in testimony a large demand for masks and fears about the U.S. stockpile.

The Blackburn-Menendez measure is at least the third legislative proposal addressing the issue.

Earlier this month, two Wisconsin congressmen, Democrat Mark Pocan and Republican Mike Gallagher, introduced the Medical Supply Chain Security Act, which could give the FDA the authority to identify sourcing locations for medical supplies.

Last year, Reps. John Garamendi, D-Calif., and Vicky Hartzler, R-Mo., introduced the Pharmaceutical Independent Long-Term Readiness Reform Act that would require the Department of Defense to purchase only American medicines and vaccines.

But some lawmakers are pushing for more urgent actions  and information. Specifically, they want to know what products are vulnerable to shortages. The FDA is not bound to disclose that information to the public.

"The problem we are facing is: What is the risk? We just don't know," Pocan said in an interview.

"The only entity that keeps track of that supply chain is the FDA. As I understand it, they consider it proprietary, so we don't know."

Pocan wrote a letter last week to drug manufacturers including AbbVie, Amgen, Bristol-Myers Squibb and Takeda to ask for more details around potential shortages as a result of COVID-109.

He has not heard back from any of those companies, an aide told CNBC.
WHO says it is deeply concerned by spread and severity and criticises alarming levels of inaction over the disease.

Expressing increasing alarm about mounting infections, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared on Wednesday that the global coronavirus crisis is now a pandemic.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who heads the United Nations agency, said the WHO was deeply concerned by the alarming levels of spread and severity of the outbreak. He also expressed concern about the alarming levels of inaction.

We have, therefore, made the assessment that COVID-19 [the coronavirus] can be characterised as a pandemic, he said at a briefing in Geneva, Switzerland.

All countries can still change the course of this pandemic  if countries detect, test, treat, isolate, trace and mobilise their people in the response, Tedros said.

The use of the word pandemic to describe the outbreak of coronavirus, instead of an epidemic, does not change WHOs response, Dr Mike Ryan, the head of the WHOs emergencies programme, said on Wednesday.

He added the agency thought long and hard about labelling the crisis a pandemic  meaning a new virus causing sustained outbreaks in multiple regions of the world.

The risk of employing the term, Ryan said, is if people use it as an excuse to give up. But the likely benefits, are potentially of galvanising the world to fight.

The WHO said Iran and Italy are the new frontlines in the battle against coronavirus. Underscoring the mounting challenge: Italys cases soared again to 12,462 infections and 827 deaths  both numbers second only to China.

Theyre suffering but I guarantee you other countries will be in that situation soon, said Ryan.

 BREAKING  "We have therefore made the assessment that #COVID19 can be characterized as a pandemic"-@DrTedros #coronavirus pic.twitter.com/JqdsM2051A  World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) March 11, 2020

Major global threat

Dr Eric Toner, a senior scientist at John Hopkins Center for Health Security, welcomed the WHOs pandemic declaration.

I am very glad they are making this announcement. To many of us, it has been a pandemic for several weeks. I think this removes any ambiguity about the global situation, Toner told Al Jazeera.

This disease is spreading around the world. I think they [WHO] are saying to all governments, You really need to get ready to implement measures to slow the spread within your own country.'

Al Jazeeras Neave Barker, reporting from London, noted that up until Wednesday, coronavirus was described as an epidemic, meaning there was hope of bringing it under control at the national and international levels.





To call it a pandemic means that being able to put the brakes on the virus is basically off, and all countries around the world are now potentially exposed very soon if they arent already, he said.

For most, the coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. But for a few, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illnesses, including pneumonia.

More than 121,000 people have been infected worldwide and over 4,300 have died.

But the vast majority of people recover. According to WHO, people with mild illness recover in about two weeks, while those with more severe illness may take three to six weeks to recover.

About 66,000 people have recovered from the illness around the world, according to John Hopkins University.

Covered up

The United States on Wednesday pointed a finger at China for the rapid spread of the disease.

China did not initially handle the coronavirus outbreak well, likely costing the world two months when it could have prepared and dramatically limited the outbreak, Robert OBrien, the White House national security adviser, said.

Unfortunately, rather than using best practices, this outbreak in Wuhan was covered up, he said during a think-tank appearance, citing reports from Chinese citizens about doctors being silenced or put into isolation so that the word of this virus could not get out.

It probably cost the world community two months to respond, during which we could have dramatically curtailed what happened both in China and whats now happening across the world, said OBrien.
Sign up for 'The Daily' newsletter for the latest on coronavirus here.

The World Health Organiztion declared the global COVID-19 crisis a pandemic at a press conference Tuesday.

"Pandemic is not a word to be use lightly or carelessly," WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said. "It's a word that if misused can cause unreasonable fear or unjustified acceptance that the fight is over, leading to unnecessary suffering and death."

Ghebreyesus said he's "deeply concerned by the alarming levels of spread and severity. In the days and weeks ahead he said he expects the number of cases and deaths will climb even higher.

There are now more than 118,000 cases in 114 countries and 4,291 people have lost their lives. That said, Ghebreyesus out that 81 countries haven't reported any cases and 57 countries have 10 cases or less.

"We can not say this loudly enough or clearly enough or often enough, all countries can still change the course of this pandemic," he said. "If countries detect, test, treat, isolate, trace and mobilize their people in the response, those with a handful of cases can prevent those cases from becoming clusters and those clusters from becoming community transmission. Even those countries with community transmission or larger clusters can turn the tide on this virus."

Watch the press conference on Facebook.

ALSO: The two most common symptoms in coronavirus patients, says report

The WHO said Iran and Italy are the new front lines of the battle against the virus that started in China.

Theyre suffering but I guarantee you other countries will be in that situation soon," said Dr. Mike Ryan, the WHO's emergencies chief.

He added that the agency thought long and hard about labeling the crisis a pandemic  meaning a new virus causing sustained outbreaks in multiple regions of the world.

The risk of employing the term, Ryan said, is if people use it as an excuse to give up.

But the likely benefits, are potentially of galvanizing the world to fight.

Underscoring the mounting challenge: Italys cases soared again, to 12,462 infections and 827 deaths  both numbers second only to China.

In the U.S., the caseload passed 1,000, and outbreaks on both sides of the country stirred alarm.

In the Mideast, the vast majority of the nearly 10,000 cases are in Iran or involve people who traveled there. Iran announced another increase in cases Wednesday to 9,000.

In Europe, Spain's number of cases surged Wednesday past the 2,000 mark and Belgium, Bulgaria, Sweden, Albania and Ireland all announced their first virus-related deaths.

In Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel said that if the virus is not halted by vaccines and cures, up to 70% of the countrys 83 million people could ultimately become infected, citing estimates that epidemiologists have been putting forward for several weeks. Germany has some 1,300 confirmed infection. Merkels comments fit a pattern of government officials using sobering warnings to try to get people to protect themselves, most notably by washing their hands and not gathering in large numbers.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Amy Graff is a digital editor with SFGATE. Email her news tips and photos at agraff@sfgate.com.

MORE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE:


By Express News Service

Streaming giant Netflix has signed a development deal with Star Wars-actor John Boyega with a specific focus on non-English language films from West and East Africa. The multi-year deal with Boyegas UK-based UpperRoom Productions includes three features, with two from Nigeria and one from Egypt.

The company the indie production house founded by the British-Nigerian actor will "develop film projects based on stories, cast, characters, crew, literary properties, mythology, screenplays, and/or other elements in or around African countries."

"Africa has a rich history in storytelling, and for Netflix, this partnership with John and UpperRoom presents an opportunity to further our investment in the continent while bringing unique African stories to our members both in Africa and around the world," said David Kosse, VP of international film at Netflix.

"I am thrilled to partner with Netflix to develop a slate of non-English language feature films focused on African stories, and my team and I are excited to develop original material. We are proud to grow this arm of our business with a company that shares our vision," said Boyega.

This deal from Netflix comes after the streaming service debuted its first African Original, Queen Sono, last month. Two other originals, the South African teen drama Blood & Water and the animated series Mama Ks Team 4, will premiere later this year.
Sitting cross-legged in a circle with other pregnant women, I listened intently and tried to visualise how I wanted my impending birth to be.

Because, according to my antenatal yoga teacher, such a visualisation  combined with calmness, relaxing music and regular attendance of her classes  was enough to obliterate what she termed the risk and discomfort of an epidural. We could simply breathe our babies out.

She urged us to focus on the birth we wanted, because then, thats what youll get. It feels ludicrous now that I fell for this nonsense, but I did.

As my belly distended and the Braxton Hicks contractions started to ready my body for labour, I imagined the moment Id meet my child for the first time: in a birthing pool with relaxing music in the background.

Marina Fogle (pictured) who had an emergency Caesarean section with her first-born child, explored the rising number of women who are being refused an epidural

Someone would take a photograph as my baby was effortlessly born, capturing the moment we first locked eyes, my hair tousled and face flushed  not like Id actually worked out, of course, but glowing like a girl in a Sweaty Betty advert. It would be a framer.

The actual photograph is very different. Im lying on an operating table, my face grey with the fatigue that comes with a two-day labour, my hair lank rather than tousled.

I do have the biggest smile on my face  but mixed with the joy at meeting our first-born son, Ludo, now ten, is undoubtedly rather a lot of relief.

The agony of labour was over, my visualisation of a perfect birth punctured by a sorely needed epidural and an emergency caesarean section.

It may not seem like it, but I believe I am very lucky. I had a supportive midwife who encouraged me to have as natural a labour as I could  but who also recognised that, after 24 hours of vomit-inducing contractions, when I said I needed pain relief, I actually did.

When my epidural started working, I felt like kissing the anaesthetist.

Not all women, sadly, can say the same. Recently, an investigation by the Department of Health revealed that, in spite of official guidelines stating women in labour should never be denied pain relief if they want it, mothers-to-be are increasingly being refused epidurals.

Today, I myself am an antenatal class teacher. Every week I come across women who are consumed with whether or not they should opt for an epidural. Its viewed as almost illicit  a terrible thing even to consider.

Marina (pictured) argues there is a cult of natural childbirth flourishing, where women are encouraged not to 'succumb' to pain relief

That midwives and doctors are refusing to let suffering mothers access this pain relief certainly must fuel the idea that epidurals are somehow improper.

To add to this, the cult of natural childbirth is flourishing  where women are encouraged to believe that being a good mother starts with the ability to give birth without succumbing to pain relief.

On the one hand, theres something appealing about the idea of being able to cope with the pain generations of women before us endured in order to bring new life into the world.

But rationally, why are women in labour picked on as the ones who have to prove their strength by refusing pain relief?

Theres no cult of natural tooth extraction, nor shame in accepting a general anaesthetic for an appendectomy.

However, such shame certainly exists, as I can attest from my antenatal classes.

Jess, whose baby is now one-year-old, describes to me how she felt that giving birth was somehow less of an achievement because shed had an epidural.

I really believed I was one of those strong women who could endure the pain for the sake of my baby, she tells me. But nothing prepared for me for the intensity of the contractions.

One mother revealed that, at 8cm dilated, she was told it was too late for her to have an epidural. She knew from our classes that, unless her baby was born by the time the epidural was in and working, there was no such thing as too late.

Sam Pointon, 25, who lives in Saffron Walden, Essex, has vowed never to have another child because she was denied an epidural three times during her labour (file image)

After she reminded them of this, an anaesthetist was called and her final two hours of labour were pain-free.

Women like Sam Pointon, however, werent this lucky. She says she begged three times for an epidural, only to be refused, without any real explanation.

So terrible was her experience, she says, despite being just 25, she will never consider having another child. I look at my beautiful girl and sometimes it hurts so much because she reminds me of how she was the cause of so much pain, says Sam, who gave birth to daughter Darwin  known as Winnie  now two, in October 2017.

Some mums say things like: She was worth the pain. Every woman has an awful labour, youll get over it. But it doesnt help. For a long time I couldnt stop crying and struggled to leave the house.

Sam, who lives in Saffron Walden, Essex, with her husband Damon, a data scientist, also 25, believed antenatal classes had prepared her for her birth.

After going into labour naturally, I felt that, as the hours passed, the pain became indescribable. I just couldnt cope  I thought I was going to die and there were moments when I wanted to. I asked three times for an epidural, but each time the midwife fobbed me off.

She said things like: Are you sure? Why dont we just give it some more time? Here, have some more gas and air. I felt helpless. Winnie was born 30 hours after my labour began and I was left with second-degree tears.

Sam acknowledges that its possible she didnt receive her epidural because the labour ward was at capacity  so maybe they were too busy. But theres also a part of me that feels my pain wasnt taken seriously.

She says she was taken aback by the impact the birth had on her mental health.

Kim Thomas who is CEO of the Birth Trauma Association, claims being left in severe pain for long periods can contribute to women being diagnosed with PTSD after birth (file image)

Its still so raw. I suffer from severe postnatal depression and flashbacks. Although I love Winnie more than anything in the world, my labour was so traumatic I never want another child. I just cannot go through that again.

My heart goes out to Sam. Because, as I know only too well, deciding whether to have an epidural is not a question of weighing things up. You either dont need an epidural and dont think about it, or you absolutely need one and you will kill someone to get it. To suggest that its a choice is dangerously misleading.

Kim Thomas, CEO of the Birth Trauma Association, agrees, saying: We shouldnt treat labour pain any differently than any other sort of pain.

Being left in severe pain for a long period of time contributes to women being diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after birth.

Around 4 per cent of women who give birth  around 30,000 develop PTSD. These women suffer intense flashbacks, heightened anxiety and insomnia. A lot develop postnatal depression.

After 24 hours of vomit-inducing labour, I needed pain relief

I try to lessen the pressure on the pregnant women I instruct. Epidural or not  who cares? Its the baby, and the quality of your future life together, that matters.

So it baffles me that so many birth advocates perpetuate the lie that women who give birth naturally have triumphed over their compatriots.

Im certainly not saying every woman should have an epidural. Many dont need them.

Indeed, whether or not you need an epidural depends on the shape of your pelvis internally, the size and position of your baby and the length of your labour. It has nothing to do with your parental ability.

Louise Burgess, 31, from Milton Keynes, said she feels 'deeply traumatised' because her midwife told her to focus on breathing instead of giving her an epidural (file image)

That said, even mothers who have sailed through several births can need pain relief for subsequent deliveries  and can be shaken if they dont receive it.

Louise Burgess, 31, has a five-year-old son. She describes her first labour as near to perfect as can be, with just gas and air for pain relief. Yet the birth of her second baby, Ivy, just 17 weeks ago, was very different.

Louise says midwives refused to give her an epidural, despite her asking for one. After being induced, she says her pain went from nothing to extreme in minutes.

The midwife said not to worry, I could have a lavender bath or bounce on the birthing ball. But I was starting to panic. The pain was nothing like I had ever experienced, says Louise, a pet-sitter who lives in Milton Keynes with her husband, Rick, 30.

It was so extreme I vomited all over the bed. I was beside myself in tears, begging for an epidural.

The midwife simply replied: Just do your breathing, you can do this by yourself, the baby will be here before they get the epidural in.

Yet four hours were to pass before Ivy was born, with just gas and air granted for pain relief.

I feel deeply traumatised, Louise says. Those four hours were the worst of my life, even more than the agony we went through when my son, Emmett, had heart surgery after he was born. I never want to be pregnant again. Its affected how I feel about Ivy. I just wish I had been listened to.

Research suggests epidurals don't increase the risk of a caesarean section or postnatal back pain (file image)

Its hard to understand why Louises pleas werent listened to. After all, should you choose an epidural, youre not being reckless. This is a procedure that has now been around for a century.

A 2018 review of more than 50 studies showed epidurals cause no increased risk of a caesarean section, postnatal back pain or to a mothers ability to breastfeed.

And a decade-long population study in the Netherlands concluded that epidurals did not increase the risk of assisted delivery.

But this is not the message that is being shared. A few years ago I heard a talk from a doula (a trained birthing companion who is not a healthcare professional) and listened in horror as she warned of the risks of paralysis after an epidural. Had her expertise included a basic understanding of spinal anatomy, she would have realised that this was impossible; epidurals are administered well away from the spinal cord.

Marita Moore, 39, from Stockport, certainly didnt plan to have an epidural when giving birth to her first son, Harley, 15 weeks ago.

A fitness and wellbeing instructor, she wanted to forgo pain relief, and had decided hypnobirthing would help her achieve this.

In peak physical fitness, Marita felt positive her labour would go according to plan. Yet when she had to be induced, her pain quickly became unmanageable.

All my plans for a natural birth went out of the window. I was crying out for an epidural. The diamorphine injection and gas and air just didnt do anything.

Then a doctor said: An epidural might not be the best course of action for you. I didnt understand and, to be honest, I could hardly hear him over my screams.

Marina argues it's cruel for anyone to be denied relief from a pain, so profound it makes them feel like they are dying (file image)

With severe tearing and terrible flashbacks of the birth, Marita is still traumatised. My partner, John, said hed never heard noises like the screams I made.

I had been told I may never have children as I have endometriosis, so I felt guilty for not bonding with Harley immediately.

The fact Ive avoided these feelings of guilt over my own epidural must be in part linked to my supportive midwife agreeing it was the best course of action for me and my unborn baby.

Yet my birth story didnt end at the epidural. After two days, I was told that my failure to progress in labour was making Ludo distressed. I was urged to have a caesarean, which I did.

As I sent that happy, exhausted picture of my baby and me to friends and family, it was clear not everyone felt the same delight I did. What a shame, texted one friend. You had a caesarean.

Yes I did, I wanted to scream at her, and thats why hes alive.

But her disappointment weighed on me. I wanted to give my son the best. Had I already failed?

These sentiments were swiftly brushed aside as Ludo was rushed to special care. His breathing was rapid and the team diagnosed a punctured lung.

As I looked at my tiny son in an incubator, I felt nothing but gratitude for medical innovation and a wretched sense of injustice that anything thats not natural is so systematically demonised.

After all, the idea that its right that women should suffer in childbirth is rooted in the Bible  the punishment meted out by God to a sinning Eve. Yet, 2,000 years later, in the age of reason and of evidence-based medicine, it seems nothing short of cruel that anyone should be denied relief from a pain so profound it makes them feel like they are dying.

Additional reporting: Rebecca Evans
Susan Walmsley has returned to the UK after Tajiks release

A woman who was beaten by her husband while she was pregnant has told how she fled the country following his release from prison last month.

Susan Walmsley previously told the Herald she feared for her life when her relationship with ex-partner Muhammed Tajik, who she met online, turned violent.

Ms Walmsley said Tajik, originally from Afghanistan, "groomed" her through messages shared over Instagram before she went to visit him in Turkey nine months later, where he became abusive days before they wed.

Tajik applied for asylum in Ireland in 2015 after he moved over with Ms Walmsley.

Speaking to Liveline on RTE Radio One yesterday, Ms Walmsley said she had left Ireland to return to the UK.

She said she would like to visit her family in Ireland, but the risk of coming into contact with Tajik was "too scary".

Risk

"I do have family in Ireland - Dublin and Co Mayo - but I was born in the UK. This is my home. I came back to what I know, what my support systems are," she said.

"I want to bring my children to see my relatives, but I can't do that. It's too scary and just not worth the risk."

Ms Walmsley is still recovering from her injuries.

"The left side of my jaw hasn't healed properly, so I've got a displaced disc. It looks like I'll have to have another operation," she said.

"I'm hoping to get some of my teeth replaced at the side. I have PTSD, I suffer with depression and anxiety. My injuries or my experience of it isn't going to be healed or fixed any time soon."

Tajik attacked Ms Walmsley while she was pregnant in 2015, fracturing her jaw and eye socket.

He admitted assault causing harm and was jailed for three years in 2017 at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin and was released from prison last month.

Ms Walmsley said the violence began two days before the wedding.

"The manipulation and the mind control, coercing had already started," she said.

"Two days before the wedding, I was trying to get away from him. He beat me up in his apartment where he was living. Even on my wedding photographs two days later I've got a black eye.

"People might not understand why I went through with it, but I was that scared. I didn't know what to do, I just went ahead with it. A big mistake."

She said gardai were alerted to the abuse when she was hospitalised after the brutal attack.

"I had a double broken jaw, fractured eye socket, burns, bruises, bite marks," she said.

"When I convinced him to take me to the hospital, as soon as I got there I let somebody know. I took that opportunity to get away from him.

"Then the gardai got called, and it all carried on from that."
Humans ability to successfully multitask has long been debunked as a myth, but that hasnt stopped us trying.

Heres MP Michael Gove with a textbook example of how to fail at it.

During interrogation about possible trade agreements with the United States during a meeting of the government's Future Relationship with the EU Committee, Mr Gove appeared to laugh at his own response, before picking up a jug on the desk and dousing his own paperwork and possibly his mobile phone in water then eventually directing the stream of fluid to fill the single-use plastic cup in front of him.

In a video of the exchange, Labour MP Hilary Benn, chair of the committee, asks Mr Gove: Why did the government publish 60 pages of economic assessment of the free trade with the United States of America if you are not persuaded of the benefit of such an assessment?

With a smile Mr Gove replies: Er, uh, it is an evolving picture, giving a waggle of the head in a manner suggesting a suppressed chortle.

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It was unclear what element of his response he found so satisfying.

In an exasperated tone, Mr Benn responded: It is a contradiction.

Mr Gove, still apparently delighted with his first reply, added: No I dont think it is. Its an evolving picture and Im not persuaded of the merits of

While speaking, footage shows Mr Gove planting a plastic glass in front of him and then reaching for a stainless steel silver jug to his right. It has a type of lid which requires pushing down with the thumb to open it, which he does while still speaking. He then pauses with the open jug suspended above the desk as he nears the end of his sentence.

... publishing the assessments and then assuming those are going to give us an accurate prediction of the future.

But just before the last five words escape his lips  accurate prediction his hand tips the jug, the water escapes the vessel, the prediction of the location of the cup is not accurate, and the miscalculation is captured in all its minute glorious irony.

In the same meeting, Mr Gove also figuratively poured cold water over the next round of post-Brexit trade talks - which he said needed to be postponed due to the coronavirus crisis.
Four foreigners -- a Nigerian and three from Nepal -- have been arrested here for allegedly duping a city-based doctor of Rs 12.45 lakh in a matrimonial 'fraud', police said on Wednesday.

The four, in the age group of 24-36, were nabbed from Delhi based on a complaint by the doctor, a divorcee, who had registered her profile on a matrimonial website, they said adding a hunt was on for another Nigerian.

One of the accused, who had also posted a profile on the website, established contact with her through WhatsApp posing as an orthopedic surgeon working in the UK and said he would marry her, Cyberabad Police Commissioner V C Sajjanar said.

After a few days, the accused informed her he was sending expensive gifts like gold jewellery, high-end phone, wrist watch and dollars through courier.

However, impersonating himself as a Customs official and later as a courier person, he contacted the woman and made her deposit Rs 12.45 lakh into bank accounts in two installments to claim the gifts.

Police said they recovered 18 mobile phones and frozen Rs 3,05,076 in the bank accounts provided by the accused.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Joe Biden decisively won Michigan's Democratic presidential primary, seizing a key battleground state that helped propel Bernie Sanders' insurgent candidacy four years ago. The former vice president's victory there, as well as in Missouri, Mississippi and Idaho, dealt a serious blow to Sanders and substantially widened Biden's path to the nomination.

Biden again showed strength Tuesday with working-class voters and African Americans, who are vital to winning the Democratic nomination.

Sanders won North Dakota and awaited results from Washington state. Washington's primary was too early to call, and because all votes there are cast by mail or by dropping them off in a ballot box, many ballots were marked for candidates who have since dropped out of the race.

The six-state contest Tuesday marked the first time voters weighed in on the primary since it effectively narrowed to a two-person race between Sanders and Biden. And the first four states on Tuesday went to Biden, a dramatic reversal for a campaign that appeared on the brink of collapse just two weeks ago. Now it is Sanders, whose candidacy was ascendant so recently, who must contemplate a path forward.
When is an epidemic considered a pandemic, and what is the difference? What do health officials mean when they recommend self-quarantining or social distancing?

As the coronavirus spreads around the world, new terms are entering the lexicon  and were here to help. Heres a guide to the words and phrases you need to know to keep informed of the latest developments.

Pandemic

Last week, the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic after it spread across six continents and more than 100 countries. A pandemic is the worldwide spread of a new disease that affects large numbers of people. The W.H.O. had avoided using the word before Wednesday because it didnt want to give the impression that the disease was unstoppable.

Pandemic is not a word to use lightly or carelessly, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director general of the W.H.O., said at a news conference.
State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris said today talks are ongoing with the Legislature about the need for more funding to ramp up testing for the coronavirus.

Harris spoke to the Health Committee in the Alabama House of Representatives today as the state continues to respond and prepare for the rapidly changing coronavirus outbreak.

Were already talking to the legislature about the possibility of additional funding to help us do the public health activities that we need to do, Harris said. "We know the federal funding has been approved and we will see that at some point. But right now we need to increase our capacity to test people and make sure that people have a way to get tested if we need to do that. And so, were working with them now to come up with a plan on that."

Harris said he didnt have a specific amount to request. He said Alabama is probably in line for $6 million to $10 million as its share of federal funding approved by Congress in response to the outbreak.

That would certainly help us a lot in mounting our response, Harris said.

Related: Alabama receives $8.15 million to fight coronavirus

Harris said it was important to keep lawmakers in the loop on the rapidly changing situation.

Two months ago no one had really even heard of this disease and now you hear about it all the time, Harris said. We get different guidance every single day from different agencies that are responding to this from around world, even. So, were doing our best to keep them informed because they are our decision makers and they help us with the resources to mount the response that we have to do.

Harris, who worked almost 25 years as an infectious disease specialist, said Alabama has no confirmed cases but that its only a matter of time before that changes.

Theres no question that we will find cases here, he said. Every state in the country will see cases. Just maybe 10 days ago there were only six or seven states that were even doing testing in their state laboratories. And by the end of last week virtually every state including Alabama was testing.

As we ramp up our ability to test were certainly going to find cases. Were a very connected country and people travel frequently. Viruses are real efficient at getting around. So we know that it will happen soon.

Harris said health officials are trying to strike a delicate balance between keeping people informed while not causing unnecessary alarm.

We think people in Alabama are smart and can read whats going on in the country and they understand what we are likely to see at some point, He said. But at the same time, we know that most people who have this disease do OK with it. Were worried mostly about those folks who are high-risk for serious disease, like elderly adults or people with chronic health problems. And we to make sure theyre the ones who are protected.

The key points for most people are mostly common sense precautions, Harris said.

If people have questions about their health, they need to start with contacting their health care provider if they can possibly do that, he said. If its not an emergency that requires you to immediately go to the hospital, by all means start by calling your health care provider on the phone.

Most people probably dont need to be tested. And we would like the physicians who are taking care of those patients to help make those decisions. If you have symptoms, if you have questions, call your doctor, call your health care provider, explain whats going on, and then they get in contact with us for people that need to be tested.

Harris said the elderly and those with chronic conditions should be careful about being in large groups and going to places where they can pick up infections.

Still, the most important piece of advice we could give to people is, if youre sick, please stay home, Harris said. We all think that were too important to miss work or our kids have to go to school or we can work our way through it because were tough. But really think about the other people in the community, your neighbors and your family members. Particularly people that have health problems or elderly. Do them all a favor and if youre sick, stay home.
File - In this June 17, 2019, file photo, a cashier displays a packet of tobacco-flavored Juul pods at a store in San Francisco. Investigators from 39 states will look into the marketing and sales of vaping products by Juul Labs, including whether the company targeted youths and made misleading claims about nicotine content in its devices, officials announced Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2020. Juul released a statement saying it has halted television, print and digital advertising and eliminated most flavors in response to concerns by government officials and others. (AP Photo/Samantha Maldonado, File)

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP)  A coalition of 39 states will look into the marketing and sales of vaping products by Juul Labs, including whether the company targeted youths and made misleading claims about nicotine content in its devices, officials announced Tuesday.

Attorneys general from Connecticut, Florida, Nevada, Oregon and Texas said they will lead the multi-state investigation into San Francisco-based Juul, which also is facing lawsuits by teenagers and others who say they became addicted to the company's vaping products.

The state officials said they also will investigate the company's claims about the risk, safety and effectiveness of its vaping products as smoking cessation devices.

I will not prejudge where this investigation will lead," Connecticut Attorney General William Tong said in a statement, but we will follow every fact and are prepared to take strong action in conjunction with states across the nation to protect public health.

Juul released a statement saying it has halted television, print and digital advertising and eliminated most flavors in response to concerns by government officials and others.

We will continue to reset the vapor category in the U.S. and seek to earn the trust of society by working cooperatively with attorneys general, regulators, public health officials, and other stakeholders to combat underage use and transition adult smokers from combustible cigarettes," the statement said.

Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody said underage vaping has become an epidemic across the country.

I cannot sit on the sidelines while this public health epidemic grows, and our next generation becomes addicted to nicotine, Moody said.

Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford added, "Preying on children and those looking for help to quit smoking is the one of the most despicable examples of risking people's lives for corporate profit."

The scope of the investigation by dozens of states leaves Juul with little choice but to change its marketing practices, said James Tierney, a former attorney general of Maine.

Story continues

When you see these kinds of numbers, it means theyre in a world of hurt, said Tierney, a lecturer at Harvard Law School. They cant seriously litigate this.

The brainchild of two Stanford University design students, Juul launched in 2015 and quickly rocketed to the top of the multibillion-dollar vaping market.

The company initially sold its high-nicotine pods in fruit and dessert flavors, including mango, mint and creme. The products have become a scourge in U.S. high schools, with one in four teenagers reportedly vaping in the past month, according to the latest federal figures. Juul is the most popular brand, preferred by 60% of high schoolers.

Juuls meteoric rise has been followed by a hasty retreat in recent months amid a nationwide political backlash over vaping.

Although Juul remains the dominant player in the U.S. vaping market, the company has made several concessions, including halting its advertising and pulling all its flavors except menthol and tobacco from the market. The Food and Drug Administration recently put in place flavor restrictions designed to curb use of small, pod-based e-cigarettes like Juul.

The FDA and a congressional panel are investigating whether the companys early marketing efforts  which included online influencers and product giveaways  deliberately targeted minors.

Nine attorneys general previously announced lawsuits against the company, most alleging that the company adopted the playbook of Big Tobacco by luring teens with youth-oriented marketing while failing to stop underage sales.

Massachusetts Maura Healey sued the company this month, citing company records to allege that Juul bought advertisements on websites designed for teens and children, including Seventeen.com, Nickjr.com and Cartoonnetwork.com.

California sued Juul Labs in November, alleging the company deliberately marketed and sold its flavored nicotine products to teenagers by, among other things, using bright colors and youthful models to attract underage users and failing to adequately verify customers ages and identities on its website.

President Donald Trump late last year signed a law raising the minimum age to purchase all tobacco and vaping products from 18 to 21 nationwide. Juul supported the measure, citing the need to curb underage vaping.

A spokeswoman for Tong said officials could not provide a complete list of the 39 states, saying some states are barred from disclosing investigations.

Other states investigating include Georgia, Kansas, Michigan, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia, according to official announcements.

Juuls biggest investor is the tobacco giant Altria, maker of Marlboro cigarettes, which owns a one-third stake in the company. Since October, Altria has slashed the value of its Juul investment by more than $8.5 billion, citing the companys mounting legal challenges.

Attorneys general have repeatedly banded together to force settlements with powerful industries.

In 1998, 46 state officials reached a $200 billion settlement with major tobacco companies for smoking-related diseases and medical expenses.

More recently, nearly all states have sued opioid drugmakers and distributors for their alleged role in the epidemic of drug addiction tied to prescription painkillers.

___

Perrone reported from Washington.
Voters in six states are casting their ballots to select the Democratic presidential nominee, with a field that is now essentially narrowed to front-runners Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders.

Following Super Tuesday, the results from 10 March primaries account for the second-biggest haul of delegates that will select the nominee to the lead the party to face Donald Trump in November. The candidates will compete for their share of 352 delegates across Idaho, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota and Washington state.

Michigan  which carries 125 pledged delegates  has emerged as a key battleground state as the former vice president and senator from Vermont vie for the states diverse electorate, including blue-collar and working-class black and white voters and suburban dwellers.

Senator Sanders narrowly defeated Hillary Clinton in that state in 2016, when she also was defeated by candidate Trump in the general election.

But the former vice presidents ascendant campaign -- following Super Tuesday victories and strengthened by support from his former Democratic rivals who have withdrawn from the race -- could change Mr Sanders trajectory in the Midwest.

Mr Biden has collected 670 pledged delegates while Mr Sanders has 574. Hawaii Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, who remains in the race, has received only two delegates. It will take a minimum of 1,991 delegates to win the partys nomination.

Idaho polls close at 10pm EST, Washingtons poll close at 11pm EST, and all other polls close at 8pm EST.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-11 19:52:04|Editor: mingmei

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People mourn for the victims of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Fukushima, Japan, March 11, 2020. Japan marked the ninth anniversary on Wednesday of the massive earthquake and tsunami in its northeastern region leaving more than 15,000 people dead, with several events being canceled or scaled down over the COVID-19 concerns. (Kyodo News/Handout via Xinhua)

TOKYO, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Japan marked the ninth anniversary on Wednesday of the massive earthquake and tsunami in its northeastern region leaving more than 15,000 people dead, with several events being canceled or scaled down over the COVID-19 concerns.

A government-sponsored memorial ceremony had been held every year in Tokyo since 2012 was canceled for the first time, while Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and some 20 government officials attended a small ceremony at his office instead.

They offered a silent prayer at 2:46 p.m. local time, the exact time the powerful earthquake occurred on March 11, 2011.

Abe then delivered an address, offering his sincere condolences to those who lost their loved ones in the disasters. He also expressed sympathy to everyone who was affected by the disasters.

"We must never forget the valuable lesson we learned by this immense sacrifice," said Abe, adding that the government will continue to help survivors who are forced to live an uncomfortable life in temporary housing till now.

According to Abe, Japan has been repeatedly hit by disasters that can be regarded as national crises. However, the country has overcome each of them with courage and hope. He hopes to follow in the footsteps of ancestors and move forward together.

At the same time, people in hardest-hit areas including Fukushima, Iwate and Miyagi prefectures paused to observe a moment of silence.

The tsunami following the quake on March 11, 2011, engulfed the six-reactor Fukushima plant and triggered the world's worst nuclear disaster since the 1986 Chernobyl crisis.

Maki Okubo, who was 27 years then, was swept away by the tsunami. Last summer, part of her remains were finally found off the coast of Miyagi prefecture. Her father Mitsuo Okubo told local media, " This year is different. We can feel my daughter close to us."

Fukiko Takahashi, a 77-year-old resident from Miyagi Prefecture, put her hands together as she gazed over the city toward the ocean from Mt. Hiyori. "Many people I knew died. Nine years have passed but it's still painful now," she told Kyodo News.

Nine years after the disasters, some 48,000 people have still not returned to their hometowns, with about 65 percent of them from Fukushima prefecture. Many have chosen not to return, with the population of 90 percent of the 42 disaster-hit municipalities declining compared to what they were previously.

A male resident said, "Only three out of 60 families in my neighborhood have returned and the people are all over 70 years old. I wish everyone would come back."

According to a survey conducted by NHK, when asked about current state of reconstruction in Fukushima, Iwate and Miyagi prefectures, 49 percent of local residents said it was "worse than expected."

Last week the government approved a bill to extend the life of the Reconstruction Agency, established to oversee rebuilding efforts, until 2031 -- a decade longer than originally planned, which suggests that the recovery effort is still far from over.
The Ministry of Defense of Armenia has given a clarification regarding the press release issued by the State Supervision Service.

Armenian News-NEWS.am presents the clarification of the Ministry of Defense.

In response to inquiries from several media outlets, the Ministry of Defense of Armenia informs that:

According to the press release posted on the official website of the State Supervision Service of Armenia (www.supervision.am), the State Supervision Service conducted a study at the Ministry of Defense of Armenia regarding the lawfulness and effectiveness of procurement to obtain diesel for needs in 2019. The statement of information was forwarded to the Prosecutor Generals Office of Armenia for a criminal-legal evaluation of the recorded violations.

In regard to this, the Ministry of Defense of Armenia deems it necessary to inform that, in each budget year, the Ministry of Defense conducts nearly 1,000-1,100 procurement procedures, each of which contains 8-10 amounts on average. Moreover, on a daily basis, the procurement procedures underway and in different stages range between 50 and 200, and as a result of the specified procedures, the procedures linked to implementation of the concluded contracts are very large in number.

It is obvious that there may be complaints, as well as shortcomings and problems with supply. Due to this, the procurement at the Ministry of Defense is always in the focus of various bodies conducting inspections and police bodies.

The Ministry of Defense deems it necessary to mention that there may be problems with integrity of representatives of the Ministry of Defense with regard to the aforementioned shortcomings. Nevertheless, the Ministry of Defense assures that it always and consistently takes serious measures to increase and strengthen the integrity of the employees involved in procedures, particularly procurement.
Infections spike by more than 200 in the tiny Gulf state as officials warn cases likely to increase.

Qatar announced 238 new confirmed cases of coronavirus on Wednesday saying the number of infections was likely to rise.

The number of coronavirus infections in the energy-rich Gulf state is now 262 so far.

The health ministry said the new cases had been found in quarantine and not mixing among the public.

On Sunday, Qatar announced three coronavirus victims who had shared accommodation. Wednesdays major spike in cases was related to those three expatriate workers.

The ministry added the number of people infected is likely to increase among contacts of previously announced patients.

It said community members to be reassured that all declared cases enjoy a very good health condition and receive medical care at the Center for Transitional Diseases.





Qatar has not reported any fatalities but closed universities and schools, cancelled many public events, including the MotoGP, and banned travellers from 14 countries entering the country.

Contagion spreads

Many of the initial cases diagnosed in Qatar  one of the richest nations in the world with a population of about three million  were from a group of citizens and their foreign staff repatriated to the Gulf country from Iran.

Iran on Wednesday reported 63 new deaths from the novel coronavirus, the highest single-day toll in the three weeks since the Islamic Republic announced the first deaths from the outbreak.

Qatars health ministry has temporarily banned the entry of travellers from 14 countries: Bangladesh, China, Egypt, India, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Syria and Thailand.

Qatar Airways, the countrys national carrier, had already suspended flights to and from Italy, one of the hardest-hit countries.

Global pandemic

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who heads the UNs World Health Organization, declared coronavirus a global pandemic on Wednesday.

He said the WHO is deeply concerned by the alarming levels of spread and severity of the outbreak, and expressed concern about the alarming levels of inaction.

We have, therefore, made the assessment that COVID-19 can be characterised as a pandemic, he said at a briefing in Geneva, Switzerland.

All countries can still change the course of this pandemic  if countries detect, test, treat, isolate, trace and mobilise their people in the response, Tedros said.
The US Supreme Court handed the White House a victory on Wednesday by allowing a policy to remain in place that allows asylum seekers to be sent back to Mexico.

The "Remain in Mexico" policy unveiled in December 2018 by the Trump administration calls for non-Mexican asylum seekers to remain in Mexico while their cases are being decided.

Tens of thousands of asylum seekers, most of them fleeing poverty or persecution in Central American nations, have been forced under the policy to stay in Mexico while their cases are under consideration.

A federal appeals court ruled the practice illegal last month but allowed it to remain in place while the Trump administration appealed the ruling to the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court granted a stay of the ruling by the lower court pending a full consideration of the issue.

Solicitor General Noel Francisco said if the "Remain in Mexico" policy was struck down, then "substantial numbers of the up to 25,000 returned aliens who are awaiting proceedings in Mexico will rush immediately to enter the United States.

"A surge of that magnitude would impose extraordinary burdens on the United States and damage our diplomatic relations with the government of Mexico," Francisco argued.

The American Civil Liberties Union denounced the Supreme Court order.

"The Court of Appeals declared it illegal and (the Supreme Court) should as well," the ACLU said. "Asylum seekers face grave danger and irreversible harm every day from this policy."



President Donald Trump has named two conservative justices to the nine-member Supreme Court since taking office, and they now outnumber liberals by a five to four margin.

The court has handed the Trump administration several notable victories on immigration in the past few months, including allowing the use of military funds to help build the US-Mexico border wall.

Trump, who is seeking reelection in November, has made cracking down on illegal immigration one of the cornerstones of his presidency.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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Pioneer Natural Resources chief executive Scott Sheffield told the Washington Post this week that the company is preparing for two years of low prices and will make the necessary adjustments to maintain our great balance sheet.

Sheffield told the Post that Pioneer is secure but there will be many bankruptcies in our industries and tens of thousands of layoffs over the next 12 months.
The News in Brief:

Researchers visualized the first structure of a lipin enzyme - which helps make triglycerides - a first after 20 years of research.

Creating the structure enabled researchers to see how two regions (N-lip and C-lip) come together to form a functional enzyme and better understand how lipins regulate triglyceride production.

The structure is helping the team to understand how mutations in lipins lead to abnormal production of triglycerides central to diseases such as heart disease, obesity and diabetes.

STONY BROOK, NY, March 10, 2020 - The first structure of a lipin enzyme, which carries out an important step in the production of triglycerides, the main reservoir for long-term energy storage, will help scientists to better understand how lipins regulate the production of triglycerides. Led by Mike Airola, PhD, of the Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology in the College of Arts and Sciences and Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, the structure also provides scientists with insights as to why mutations in the enzyme cause a loss of activity that leads to abnormal production of triglycerides implicated in heart disease, obesity and diabetes. The study will published in Nature Communications.

Lipins complete the second to last step of triglyceride production. But when mutations interrupt lipin functions, the body loses its ability to store fat properly, thus potentially triggering a wide variety of metabolic-related conditions. Scientists have unsuccessfully tried to create the first visual structure a lipin enzyme since these enzymes were identified in 2001. Now Airola and colleagues successfully explain in the paper their first crystal structure of a specific enzyme called lipin PAP.

"This structure answers a long-standing question for how two essential regions, N-lip and C-lip, which are located on opposite ends of this protein in humans, come together to form a function enzyme to help make triglycerides," explains Airola, Assistant Professor in the Department of Biochemistry & Cell Biology and director of the Airola Lab. "Using this structure also helps us understand how the protein interacts with membranes, which is key to regulating its activity and the production of triglycerides."

The team used X-ray crystallography, mass spectrometry and biochemistry to visualize the structure, which represents the active state of a lipin enzyme during the production of triglycerides, as well as its other functions namely lipoprotein assembly and cellular signaling.

Valerie Khayyo, a Stony Brook graduate student in the Biochemistry & Structural Biology Program and first author of the study, added that the structure enables researchers to understand and see specific mutational changes in the amino acid building blocks of lipins that result in disease.

Khayyo noted that mutations in lipins are increasingly being identified in patients with muscle disorders as well, such as statin-induced myopathy and extreme cases in childhood rhabdomyolysis.

Overall, Airola says that the structure and study consolidates many previous observations into a unifying framework and sets the stage for scientists to resolve several remaining important questions concerning how lipins are regulated.

###

Collaborators include Karen Reue at UCLA who first identified lipins as proteins involved in triglyceride metabolism, and John Burke at the University of Victoria, Canada.

The research is supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health (R35GM12866), the American Heart Association, and the Canadian Institutes of Health.

About Stony Brook University

Stony Brook University, widely regarded as a SUNY flagship, is going far beyond the expectations of today's public universities. With more than 26,000 students, 2,700 faculty members, nearly 200,000 alumni, an academic medical center and 18 NCAA Division I athletic programs, it is one of only four University Center campuses in the State University of New York (SUNY) system. The University embraces its mission to provide comprehensive undergraduate, graduate, and professional education of the highest quality, and has been ranked among the top 35 public universities in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. Fostering a commitment to academic research and intellectual endeavors, Stony Brook's membership in the Association of American Universities (AAU) places it among the top 65 research institutions in North America. The University's distinguished faculty have earned esteemed awards such as the Nobel Prize, Pulitzer Prize, Indianapolis Prize for animal conservation, Abel Prize and the inaugural Breakthrough Prize in Mathematics. Part of the management team of Brookhaven National Laboratory of the U.S. Department of Energy, Stony Brook is one of only eight universities that has a role in running a national laboratory. Providing economic growth for neighboring communities and the wider geographic region, the University totals an impressive $7.23 billion in increased economic output on Long Island. Follow us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/stonybrooku/) and Twitter(@stonybrooku).
By PTI

NEW DELHI: India on Wednesday suspended all tourist visas till April 15 in a bid to contain spread of novel coronavirus, according to an official statement.

The suspension will come into effect from 1200 GMT on March 13 at the port of departure.

The decision was taken at the meeting of group of ministers held here under the chairmanship of Health Minister Harsh Vardhan.

"All existing visas, except diplomatic, official, UN/International organisations, employment and project visas stand suspended till 15th April 2020. This will come into effect from 1200GMT on 13th March 2020 at the port of departure," the statement said.

FOLLOW LIVE UPDATES HERE

Visa-free travel facility granted to OCI card holders is also kept in abeyance till April 15.

Any foreign national who intends to travel to India for compelling reason may contact the nearest Indian Mission, the release said, adding that all incoming travellers, including Indian nationals, arriving from or having visited China, Italy, Iran, Republic of Korea, France, Spain and Germany after February 15 will be quarantined for a minimum period of 14 days.

Incoming travelers, including Indian nationals, are advised to avoid non-essential travel and are informed that they can be quarantined for a minimum of 14 days on their arrival in India.

International traffic through land borders will be restricted to Designated check posts with robust screening facilities. These will be notified separately by M/o Home Affairs.
There was a sting in the tail for British businesses as large corporations were told to stump up for extra spending on the coronavirus fightback and the NHS.

Rishi Sunak won praise for a 12billion package of measures to shield the economy from the pandemic, including 7billion of support for small firms, the self-employed and the vulnerable, and an extra 5billion for the NHS.

But big business was hit when the Chancellor confirmed that a planned cut to corporation tax would be scrapped  handing firms a 32billion bill over the next five years.

Big business was hit when the Chancellor confirmed that a planned cut to corporation tax would be scrapped - handing firms a 32bn bill over the next five years

Changes to two tax reliefs will raise a further 11billion, taking the bill to 43billion.

Critics said firms were only provided with piecemeal tax cuts in return for funding the biggest fiscal loosening since Norman Lamonts budget in 1992.

Cancelling the reduction in corporation tax from 19 per cent to 17 per cent  in line with the Conservatives election manifesto vow  will raise 7.5billion per year by 2024-25.

The lifetime cap on entrepreneurship relief, which allows company founders to pay 10pc capital gains when they sell their firm, instead of 20 per cent, was cut from 10million to 1million, raising 1.8billion that year.

Tax relief on red diesel  a fuel used in machinery and off-road vehicles  was also axed for sectors other than rail, home heating and agriculture, raising 1.6billion a year by the middle of the decade.

But Sunaks Budget allayed some concerns about the impact of coronavirus on demand and businesses cash flow.

To help prevent businesses toppling, the 39-year-old announced a one-year rates holiday for small businesses and a 1billion Government-backed loan scheme.

This will support businesses hit by short-term cash flow problems. There will also be 2.2billion provided for grants for the countrys 700,000 smallest businesses to meet ongoing costs.

The Government will also cover the cost of statutory sick pay for 14 days for those off work because of the virus, at a cost of 2billion.

The measures come on top of an 18billion spending, unrelated to the virus, injected into the economy in the next 12 months.

The CBI director-general Dame Carolyn Fairbairn said the response will help ensure firms can weather the storm, while the Federation of Small Businesses said the Budget showed a real commitment to supporting small businesses.

Critics said the wider tax regime for business offered only piecemeal handouts in return for the 43billion tax grab.

There was 1billion in tax relief when they invest in buildings, and a further 1billion of relief for firms putting money into research and development.

A further 1billion jobs tax cut was handed to small businesses via a boost to the employment allowance from 3,000 to 4,000.

Nikhil Oza, at accountancy group UHY Hacker Young, said the corporation tax hike was a missed opportunity to attract investment following Brexit.

He added: It could end up costing the Exchequer more than it raises.

The Institute of Directors chief economist Tej Parikh said: [The Budget] might have done more to spur investment, which will be crucial to speed up the recovery.

Business groups hailed the Chancellors focus on investment in infrastructure, research and development.

Public spending on research and development will increase to 22billion per year by 2025, the Chancellor said.
Carabinieri military police check documents of a man wearing a protective mask in a car at the checkpoint in San Fiorano, on the 17th day of quarantine in one of the 11 small towns in northern Italy that has been on lockdown since February. There has been some confusion over whether residents of these towns will be able to leave the original 'red zone' area now that there is a virtual lockdown across a wide swathe of Italy's wealthy north. (Image: Reuters)
LandJet is a unique business travel service addressing the problems of regional travel today. The company combines their custom mobile office with a "pilot" network to create a whole new travel experience. The LandJet is a modified conversion van outfitted with the business traveler's needs in mind. LandJet currently has two different models  the Rolling Boardroom & the Rolling Executive  designed with a conference room feel. Both models have a conference table, refrigerator for complimentary water, onboard WiFi, and two televisions that can be used to watch more than 70 channels of live television. Each van is also equipped with a conveniently located HDMI cable to connect a computer (or other electronic devices) to both televisions for team collaboration, presentations and/or video conferencing. All trips are chauffeured by LandJet's professional crew of "Pilots" providing a safe and comfortable environment for teams to avoid the headaches of typical business travel and "get more done" while saving money and time.
I was frantically preparing my breakfast radio news bulletins when a media release stopped me in my tracks one morning in September 2015.

The Department of Defence had announced hundreds of homes around the Williamtown RAAF Base were contaminated with toxic PFAS chemicals - but the risk to residents "appeared to be low".

Williamtown resident Kim-Leeanne King celebrates an announcement that the PFAS class action has been settled.. Credit:Max Mason-Hubers

As a journalist your role is to read beyond the spin, and if there was ever a story where I felt compelled to dig deeper, this was it.

In my first few months as a new hire at the Newcastle Herald I worked with a colleague to detail the financial and psychological fallout of the crisis on the community.
SAN FRANCISCO (BCN)

San Francisco Public Defender Mano Raju is calling for the immediate release of jail inmates who are most at risk of contracting the coronavirus.

Raju on Tuesday announced he'll begin filing motions to seek the release of all clients at heightened risk, including people who are over 60 years old, people with heart or lung disease, diabetes and people suffering from cancer, HIV or autoimmune disease like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus or multiple sclerosis.

In addition, Raju said he sent a letter to San Francisco County Sheriff Paul Miyamoto, asking him to assess all sentenced inmates to see who is eligible for immediate release on electronic monitoring or work release programs and to begin processing their release.

"We are taking this action to protect older adults and those with compromised immune systems who are extremely vulnerable right now. People who are incarcerated in jail are already exposed to an unsafe environment. The cramped and unsanitary conditions in jail put the older or immunocompromised population at a much greater risk of contracting and spreading coronavirus," Raju said in a statement.

"Given the public health emergency posed by coronavirus, my office is seeking the immediate release of all incarcerated people sentenced to county jail in San Francisco who have less than 6 months left to serve," he said.

"These are cases where the court has already decided that it's safe to release someone into the community, and will be doing so in the very near future. This will help reduce the population on the inside, allowing for recommended distance between individuals during this public health crisis," he said.

In response, Miyamoto said the sheriff's office already routinely evaluates inmates for work release programs and electronic monitoring.

Additionally, in order to prevent COVID-19 from being transmitted in city jails, the sheriff's office has begun screening all new inmates for infectious diseases as part of the booking process, as well as an extensive medical interview within 24 hours of a person being placed in detention.

Also, Miyamoto said in a letter to Raju, "We continuously identify and monitor our most vulnerable populations who may be older or immunocompromised to ensure their safety.

"To date, we have not had a single case of coronavirus in our jails. Rest assured, those who are under our care receive medical treatment that is among the best in the country," he said.

Copyright  2020 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.
The Appeal Court of Burgas (Bulgaria) has allowed the extradition of Oleksiy Levin (Moskalenko) to Ukraine. The man is the suspect in the organization of attack on Kateryna Handziuk, the public activist and chief clerk of Kherson city hall. This is mentioned in the message by the press department of the Office of the Prosecutor General.

On March 11, the court authority confirmed the previous decision to extradite the person involved in the assassination attempt.

Thus, the Bulgarian side accepted the request of Ukraine's authority. Oleksiy Levin was detained in Bulgaria in January; after that, the Office of the Prosecutor General sent to Bulgaria the materials that were necessary to extradite Levin to Ukraine.

In November 2018, it became known that Kateryna Handziuk died at the age of 34. She was doused with sulphuric acid in July this year. According to preliminary information, her death was caused by blood clot's detachment.

Besides, the doctors specified the cause of death; it was due to multiple organ failure and chemical burns.
Prime Minister Viktor Orban said the coronavirus outbreak threatened countries heavily depending on tourism with a major economic downturn.

China, he added, took 5-6 months to slow the virus down, which for Europe would mean the epidemic would last until the peak of the tourist season in July.



Speaking at an event organised by the Hungarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MKIK), the prime minister warned that preparations must be made for brutal changes.



If all we do in the next ten years is as much as we did in the past ten, then we will be ruined, he said. On top of that, Brexit carries with it industrial policy considerations, Orban said.



The associated fallout contained elements that may badly affect Hungarys competitive advantage, he added. Among the achievements, Orban noted consistent deficits of below 3% of GDP since 2012, while public debt has been pushed down to 66% of GDP.



He said this would soon fall below 60%. The prime minister said the government aimed to eliminate foreign currency debt and finance Hungarian government debt in forints.



Orban praised the Hungarian central banks monetary policy, saying that in 2019 spending on servicing debt had declined by 900 billion forints compared with 2012.



The prime minister said the governments success over the past ten years rested on a number of factors, including economic policymakers who were brave enough to take risky measures such as repaying IMF debt, thereby regaining the confidence of economic players and foreign investors.



Photo: Gergely Botar - kormany.hu
Egyptian authorities said Wednesday that 46 French and US tourists who had been quarantined on a coronavirus-hit Nile cruise boat have flown home.

They were among dozens of foreign tourists and Egyptian crew who had been either confined to the vessel or hospitalised after an outbreak of the virus.

A health ministry statement said that the repatriated French and American tourists had left the A-Sara cruise boat overnight, noting that 45 people aboard the vessel had previously tested positive for the virus.

On Wednesday 18 Indian tourists were also taken to Cairo airport to fly home, a senior official in the tourism sector, Abdel Fattah al-Assi, said.

He said they were the last foreign travellers stuck since last week on the boat, which had been carrying around 171 passengers and crew.

The health ministry said the foreigners were "repatriated... at the request of their countries and in coordination with the World Health Organization".

Egyptian authorities had on Saturday reported moving 45 suspected coronavirus cases - 33 passengers and 12 crew - from the boat into isolation at Marsa Matrouh, a resort town on the Mediterranean coast.

On Tuesday authorities said that 25 of whose who had initially tested positive for the virus had since tested negative.

Frenchman Lucas Bonnamy said those cleared to leave were told on Tuesday afternoon to pack their bags, signed documents and were then escorted by police to the airport in the southern tourist city of Luxor.

From there they caught a flight to Cairo and then onwards home, said Bonnamy, who had posted an "SOS" message on Facebook Saturday criticising quarantine conditions on the ship.

On Monday night, the health ministry said the total number of confirmed cases in Egypt had risen to 59, including three more Egyptians and a foreign woman.

The previous day a German tourist died of coronavirus in Egypt -- the first death from the disease recorded in Africa.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-11 22:02:57|Editor: huaxia

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KHARTOUM, March 11 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations (UN) on Wednesday condemned the assassination attempt against Sudan's Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, voicing support for Sudan's transitional government, said a statement by Sudan's Sovereign Council.

Chairman of Sudan's Peace Commission Suleiman El Debeilo on Wednesday met in Khartoum with Special Envoy of UN Secretary-General for Sudan Nicolas Hysom, according to the statement.

Hysom said the Sudanese peace talks currently going on in South Sudan indicate that Sudan is moving towards prosperity and stability.

He urged the parties which are not participating the peace process to come on board to achieve lasting and comprehensive peace in Sudan as soon as possible.

On Monday, Hamdok survived an assassination attempt when his motorcade came under a bomb attack at the entry of the Sudanese army bridge in the capital Khartoum.
PITTSBURGH, March 11, 2020 - A multi-institution research team led by the University of Pittsburgh secured a $22 million grant from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to develop a device combining artificial intelligence, bioelectronics and regenerative medicine to regrow muscle tissue, especially after combat injuries.

Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University, Northwestern University, Rice University, University of Vermont, University of Wisconsin and Walter Reed National Military Medical Center also are part of this four-year initiative.

When more than 20% of a muscle is damaged, as is common for soldiers wounded in recent overseas conflicts, the tissue can't regenerate and a stiff scar forms in place of the missing muscle, which often leads to significant disability.

"With these severe injuries it's been drilled into us through all of our training that functional muscle replacement is not possible," said principal investigator Stephen Badylak, D.V.M., Ph.D., M.D., professor of surgery at Pitt and deputy director of the McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine. "The sort of technology we're developing offers hope where there otherwise would have been no hope."

Badylak envisions creating a device that would change the environment inside larger wounds to help them heal the way smaller wounds do naturally.

Smaller, self-healing wounds typically switch from inflammatory to anti-inflammatory conditions a couple weeks after the initial injury. Badylak imagines kicking larger wounds into anti-inflammatory mode as early as day three or four, and then again a few days later, repeating the cycle until the muscle rebuilds itself, similar to the way fetal wounds heal without forming a scar.

All of that would be accomplished by a smart device implanted inside the wound.

The device will monitor key molecular signals at each stage of healing -- from the first hours after injury to the days and weeks that follow -- and deliver specific molecules at specific times under the direction of artificial intelligence.

The first two years of the project will involve developing the device, then the next two years will involve close collaboration with surgeons at Walter Reed, who treat patients with major muscle loss, to refine the design so that it's suitable for the clinic.

Meanwhile, the researchers will be working with industry partners and the U.S. Food & Drug Administration to identify and clear regulatory hurdles that might slow down clinical translation. For instance, it's possible to test whether the components of the device are safe to use in the human body while the overall design is evolving.

"We're developing the science and the device in mostly an academic setting," Badylak said. "If that's done without consideration of regulatory and industry requirements, patients would never see it because it would remain buried in institutions with no clear path for clinical translation."

One of the companies engaging in this process is ECM Therapeutics, which Badylak spun out of Pitt in 2018 to speed up the clinical translation of several extracellular matrix technologies developed by his lab. Badylak and Pitt both have a financial stake in the company.

###

Additional investigators on the grant include Yoram Vodovotz, Ph.D., Ruben Zamora, Ph.D., Douglas Weber, Ph.D., Bryan Brown, Ph.D., Paul Cohen, Ph.D., and Milos Hauskrecht, Ph.D., of Pitt; Tzahi Cohen-Karni, Ph.D., and Adam Feinberg, Ph.D., of Carnegie Mellon University; Jonathan Rivnay, Ph.D., of Northwestern University; Jacob Robinson, Ph.D., Ashok Veeraraghavan, Ph.D., and Omid Veiseh, Ph.D., of Rice University; Gary An, M.D., and Robert Chase Cockrell, Ph.D., of the University of Vermont; Peng Jiang, Ph.D., of the University of Wisconsin; and Eric Elster, M.D., and Seth Schobel, Ph.D., of Walter Reed.

To read this release online or share it, visit https://www.upmc.com/media/news/031120-badylak-darpa-grant.

About the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

As one of the nation's leading academic centers for biomedical research, the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine integrates advanced technology with basic science across a broad range of disciplines in a continuous quest to harness the power of new knowledge and improve the human condition. Driven mainly by the School of Medicine and its affiliates, Pitt has ranked among the top 10 recipients of funding from the National Institutes of Health since 1998. In rankings recently released by the National Science Foundation, Pitt ranked fifth among all American universities in total federal science and engineering research and development support.

Likewise, the School of Medicine is equally committed to advancing the quality and strength of its medical and graduate education programs, for which it is recognized as an innovative leader, and to training highly skilled, compassionate clinicians and creative scientists well-equipped to engage in world-class research. The School of Medicine is the academic partner of UPMC, which has collaborated with the University to raise the standard of medical excellence in Pittsburgh and to position health care as a driving force behind the region's economy. For more information about the School of Medicine, see http://www.medschool.pitt.edu.

http://www.upmc.com/media

Contact: Erin Hare

Office: 412-864-7194

Mobile: 412-738-1097

E-mail: HareE@upmc.edu

Contact: Arvind Suresh

Office: 412-647-9966

Mobile: 412-509-8207

E-mail: SureshA2@upmc.edu
Climate change was front and centre at an energy conference this week at the University of Winnipeg, but so too was the role of First Nations communities in Manitoba's energy system.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 10/3/2020 (671 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Climate change was front and centre at an energy conference this week at the University of Winnipeg, but so too was the role of First Nations communities in Manitoba's energy system.

Several speakers delivered a clear message: the province's relative low-carbon status because of its reliance on hydroelectricity doesn't mean the system shouldn't be reimagined.

MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Elder Florence Paynter spoke at the energy conference at the University of Winnipeg on Tuesday.

"We need to switch our thinking," said Sandy Bay First Nation elder Florence Paynter. "Wherever theres a hydro dam, there is a First Nation nearby. Its a historical practice and it still affects our people."

What Paynter called the "strategic" location of hydro dams near First Nations communities resulted in the "complete devastation" of Indigenous ways of life.

Those costs continue to roll in, she added, as members of the communities not only have to deal with the geographic fallout from the dams, but are now charged higher prices for electricity.

"Things that are, culturally, very important for these communities are no longer available, or they have to travel much further to find them," said panellist Sadie-Phoenix Lavoie, representing Wa Ni Ska Tan, an association of First Nations affected by hydroelectricity dams in the province.

Lavoie said communities have witnessed loss of biodiversity, especially sturgeon, caribou, moose and beavers. Those impacts not only triggered emotional and cultural impacts, but also increases in unemployment. Lavoie argued that those impacts now contribute to substance abuse and higher rates of suicide.

Engineer Andrea Kraj of CORE Renewable Energy said that while the past cannot be undone, progress can be made to manage the disparities moving forward  and that can and should be done while addressing climate change.

"We have to change how we live, how we do business," she said. "If we want to solve the crisis we face today, we really have to get creative."

To start, Kraj said that the transmission methods currently used across long distances are "archaic" and should be replaced in many instances with local renewable-energy generation that would allow Indigenous communities to take charge of their own energy independence, while still addressing climate change.

She imagines wind and solar power, supplemented with battery storage  among other sources  being used to complement each other. And with falling prices for renewable sources of energy, she said it is possible for those resources to power communities and deliver returns to them, as well.

Mistakes made in the past cannot be repeated; solutions cannot simply be imposed, she said.

"Were shifting to a new paradigm, and that means community buy-in," she said.

A great deal of criticism was directed at Manitoba Hydro, but Terry Miles, the Crown corporations director of power planning, wasnt prepared to discuss the utilitys track record.

"These are not easy topics, historically not easy topics," said Miles. "We want a sustainable energy future  for all of our customers."

And as the world looks for ways to decarbonize to address climate change, Miles said the company will again be challenged, especially as the transportation sector moves towards electrification, as that will change how, where and when people need power.

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"Utilities get the reputation for being these great big, slow-moving machines that cant adapt, and that really has to change," Miles said.

The conference was organized by the Manitoba branch of the Consumers Association of Canada.

"Given the situation that were in with respect to climate change, right now with respect to oil prices  all these kinds of things  its important for Manitoba to have an all-in-one strategy that is integrated, that looks at a whole variety of sources," said Gloria Desorcy, the organizations executive director.

Paynter said she hopes that those who make decisions going forward take into account the lives of those their decisions affect, and she hopes that together the energy community will rise to the challenge presented by climate change.

"If we are going to sustain ourselves as a human race, we are going to have to think differently," she said. "Were at a very important crossroads, where our minds can come together."

sarah.lawrynuik@freepress.mb.ca
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Joe Biden celebrated his crushing victory over Bernie Sanders in Michigan - and in Mississippi, Missouri and Idaho too - by thanking him for running and hinting it was time for him to quit.

'I want to thank Bernie Sanders and his supporters for their tireless energy and their passion. We share a common goal and together we'll defeat Donald Trump - we'll defeat him together,' Biden said in Philadelphia a little bit before 11 p.m. after his planned rally in Cleveland was canned due to coronavirus fears.

Biden pivoted to a general election argument by hitting President Trump over his handling of the disease. 'This is a matter of presidential leadership,' Biden said, adding that he would speak more this week about what the response should have been. He'll be addressing the issue Thursday in Wilmington.

Overall, voters from six states voted as part of the 'Super Tuesday 2' primaries that would decide whether Sanders has a future in the Democratic primary race as Biden has taken a delegate lead and amassed a number of high-profile Democratic endorsements - all in the span of 10 days.

Sanders was leading in North Dakota, while Biden was leading in Idaho. That state was called around 1 a.m. Wednesday. Washington state looked close as results poured in.

The person responsible for Biden's turnaround in South Carolina was Rep. Jim Clyburn who floated Tuesday night that the primary be finished if the former vice president is completely victorious Tuesday night.

'I think when the night is over, Joe Biden will be the prohibitive favorite to win the Democratic nomination, and quite frankly, if the night ends the way it has begun, I think it is time for us to shut this primary down, it is time for us to cancel the rest of these debates,' Clyburn said on NPR. 'Because you don't do anyting but get yourself in trouble if you continue in this contest when it's obvious that the numbers will not shake out for you.'

Sanders, for his part, decided not to address supporters or the press at any point on Tuesday night, as Michigan was his biggest pathway back to the nomination after Biden's slew of wins.

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Joe Biden (right) with wife Jill Biden (left) addressed a small group of supporters and journalists Tuesday night in Philadelphia after his original rally in Cleveland, Ohio was cancelled due to coronavirus fears

Joe Biden (right), standing with wife Jill Biden (left), thanked Bernie Sanders and his supporters for their 'tireless energy and their pasion' - a hint that Sanders should call the presidential race quits

Michigan was a huge get for Joe Biden, as it blocked Bernie Sanders' last best path toward the Democratic nomination

Supporters of Joe Biden came to the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia Tuesday night to hear the former vice president speak as he won three more states in the Democratic primaries

Bernie Sanders, photographed campaigning Tuesday in Detroit, Michigan before he headed home to Burlington, Vermont, decided not to address supporters nor the press after a critical loss in Michigan Tuesday night

Six states voted as part of Super Tuesday 2: Washington, Idaho, North Dakota, Missouri, Michigan and Mississippi

Bernie Sanders did campaign Tuesday during the day, visiting a polling location at Warren E. Bow Elementary School in Detroit, Michigan

Mississippi was the first state that went in Joe Biden's column Tuesday night, signaling that the vice president continued to dominate in the south

Next came Missouri, which was called about 10 minutes after polls closed there, signaling that bad things were to come for Bernie Sanders

At around 1 a.m. Wednesday Idaho was called for Joe Biden, making it the fourth state he won in a row during Super Tuesday 2

As the results were coming in, Biden received another endorsement from a former 2020 hopeful with Andrew Yang, now a commentator on CNN, making the announcement live on the cable network.

'I have such admiration and respect for Bernie, and what he means to so many Americans. I waited for the democratic process to play out and I believe it has. The math isn't there,' says Yang whose campaign trademark was MATH hat - 'Make America Think Harder.'

'We should come together as a party starting tonight,' Yang added.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a top Sanders surrogate, jumped on Instagram live and responded to the results. 'There's no sugarcoating it, tonight's a tough night,' she told viewers. 'Tonight's a tough night for the movement overall.'

She then couched that by saying 'yes and no,' explaining that younger voters are progressive and don't seem to be becoming less-so.

'Never, ever, ever let your heart turn black,' she also advised young, progressive voters.

Super Tuesday 2 marked the first day the 2020 presidential campaigns were truly impacted by the coronavirus scare.

Several hours before polls closed, Sanders - and then Biden - announced they wouldn't hold rallies Tuesday night due to coronavirus, putting pressure on President Trump to follow suit.

Instead, Trump announced an upcoming 'Catholics for Trump' event.

Washington looked like it could be a nail-biter with Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden nearly tied as results come in

North Dakota looked to be the one bright spot of Bernie Sanders' night, as he held a commanding lead when results started coming in

Several hours later, CNN and the Democratic National Committee announced Sunday's debate in Phoenix would no longer have a live audience - nor could press attend and watch from the spin room.

Biden and Sanders are still set to appear.

They were both due in Cleveland, Ohio Tuesday night - a traditional swing state where voters cast ballots a week from now.

Elizabeth Warren destroyed Bernie's campaign with the DNC, claims Trump Donald Trump accused Elizabeth Warren and the Democrat National Committee of conspiring to steal the party's nomination from Bernie Sanders after a resounding series of primary victories for rival Joe Biden on Tuesday night. The 77-year-old former Vice President cruised to victory in Michigan, Missouri, Idaho and Mississippi, dealing a crushing blow to Sanders' hopes of taking on Trump in November's presidential race. With results still to come in from North Dakota and Washington - where Sanders is leading - Trump tweeted: 'Pocahontas, working in conjunction with the Democrat Party, totally destroyed the campaign of Bernie Sanders. Trump has previously accused the DNC of conspiring against Sanders, after evidence of cooperation between the committee and Clinton's campaign in 2016 'If she would have quit 3 days earlier, Sanders would have beaten Biden in a [rout], it wouldn't even have been close. 'They also got two other losers to support Sleepy Joe!' Trump has previously accused the DNC of conspiring against Sanders, following the DNC email leak in 2016 which showed then-chair Debbie Wasserman-Schultz coordinating with the Clinton campaign. His tweet mirrors attacks by Sanders supporters on Warren following a disappointing Super Tuesday showing last week. 'If she would have quit 3 days earlier, Sanders would have beaten Biden in a [rout], it wouldn't even have been close. 'They also got two other losers to support Sleepy Joe!' Trump has previously accused the DNC of conspiring against Sanders, following the DNC email leak in 2016 which showed then-chair Debbie Wasserman-Schultz coordinating with the Clinton campaign. His tweet mirrors attacks by Sanders supporters on Warren following a disappointing Super Tuesday showing last week. Advertisement

Biden addressed a small group of supporters at Philadelphia's National Constitution Center, located near where his campaign is headquartered. He also added to his schedule the Thursday coronavirus speech in Delaware, scrapping a planned rally in Tampa, Florida.

Sanders went home to Vermont.

As the coronavirus outbreak grows - and with Sanders, Biden and Trump all in their 70s, a group that is in more danger of dying if they contract the virus - there had already been chatter in Washington if campaign events should go on.

Beyond just his loss in Michigan, for Sanders staying off the campaign trail could be disastous, as the Vermont senator uses rally attendance to make the point that he's a stronger candidate to go up against Trump than Biden, who attracts far fewer supporters in the flesh.

Trump, too, could see his re-election chances dwindle if he's kept off the campaign trail for long.

Word of Sanders' cancellation came first.

'Out of concern for public health and safety, we are canceling tonight's rally in Cleveland,' a Sanders spokesperson said. 'We are heeding the public warnings from Ohio state officials, who have communicated concern about holding large, indoor events during the coronavirus outbreak.'

The spokesperson added that 'All future Bernie 2020 events will be evaluated on a case by case basis.'

The Daily Beast then reported that Biden's Ohio event was also off.

'In accordance with guidance from public officials and out of an abundance of caution, our rally in Cleveland, Ohio tonight is cancelled. We will continue to consult with public health officials and public health guidance and make announcements about future events in the coming days,' said Kate Bedingfield, Biden's deputy campaign manager, confirming the news to reporters.

The coronavirus cancellations come as Sanders was trying to grab some of the momentum back from Biden who's now the delegate leader in the Democratic primary race.

In 10 days' time, Biden has turned around his entire campaign - winning South Carolina, beating Sanders in 10 of 14 states on 'Super Tuesday' and getting a flurry of endorsements - including from ex-rivals Michael Bloomberg, Kamala Harris and Cory Booker.

With Biden cementing his frontrunner status, Sanders needed Michigan - or maybe Washington - to change the narrative.

But exit polls were not encouraging for Sanders when voters in Michigan were asked who they trusted to handle a national crisis. Fifty-one per cent said Biden, while 32 per cent said Sanders. In Missouri the numbers were even worse wtih 61 per cent saying Biden and 27 per cent pointing to Sanders, according to CBS News.

In Washington state, 46 per cent chose Biden, while 27 per cent said Sanders.

In 2016, Sanders was down by an average of 21.4 points to Hillary Clinton in Michigan polls when his surprise win - by just 1.4 per cent - poured new energy into his campaign.

But polls, again, showed bad news for Sanders, with the Real Clear Politics polling average having him 22.4 points down.

And Sanders loss wasn't due to lack of trying, as he spent the last few days campaigning aggressively in the state.

On Friday, he held a Detroit rally with Rep. Rashida Tlaib, who represents the city in Congress and is one of the four members of the so-called Democratic 'squad.'

On Saturday, he held a town hall on 'racial and economic justice' in Flint, Michigan, known for its water troubles.

Joe Biden (center left) has amassed a number of big endorsements since his South Carolina primary win 10 days ago including those from Kamala Harris (left), Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (center right) and Cory Booker. Harris and Booker, both U.S. senators, already had dropped out of the presidential race

Bernie Sanders (right), pointing a finger at Fox News Channel's Martha MacCallum (left) and Bret Baier (center), had been dedicating the last few days to campaigning in Michigan

Bernie Sanders also held a coronavirus public health roundtable in Detroit, Michigan on Monday as he focused heavily on the state. It didn't pay off, however, with Biden winning

During his own time campaigning in Michigan, Joe Biden got in an argument with an auto worker at a Fiat Chrysler plant in Detroit

On Sunday, he was joined on the campaign trail again by Ocasio-Cortez, another member of the 'squad.' They rallied together in Ann Arbor, the home of the University of Michigan.

Then on Monday in Detroit, Sanders held a coronavirus town hall with public health experts, among other events.

Talking to Chris Cuomo on CNN Monday night, Sanders predicted he could win the state again. He also argued that his large, loud crowd meant he would be best positioned to take on President Trump in the general election.

'Does anyone really believe, let me throw it out to you, you know this stuff, that a campain like Joe's, which is frankly the same-old, same-old establishment politics, supported by the wealthy, and they got all the governors and senators supporting them, does anybody really think that that is going to be the campaign of excitement and energy that's going to grow the base that we need to defeat Trump?' Sanders mused. 'I don't think so.'

But Democrats, in an almost unprecedented way, have gotten behind Biden.

On Monday night, he held his own Detroit rally where he held hands with Harris and Booker - who made their endorsements official - and the state's governor, the up-and-coming Gretchen Whitmer.

But the rally wasn't without drama, as a group of anti-NAFTA protesters heckled the vice president.

He told his crowd the 'Bernie Bros are here.'

Another larger group of pro-Green New Deal activists - a concept Sanders supports - - also showed up. Politico reported that Biden's senior adviser Symone Sanders, who was Bernie Sanders' 2016 press secretary, got hit in the head with an iPad and knocked down. She wasn't injured.

Symone Sanders also wrestled a Vegan activist off the stage at Biden's 'Super Tuesday' primary night event in Los Angeles, California last week. It wasn't personal to Biden, as protesters from the same group interrupted an Elizabeth Warren event in Los Angeles the night before.

Biden got into a back-and-forth with Michigan voters Tuesday morning as he toured a Fiat Chrysler plant in Detroit. 'You're full of s*** man,' Biden told a plant worker who accused him of 'actively trying to end our Second Amendment right,' according to video of the incident from CBS News. He told another worker to 'shush' as he explained his point.

The big question for Super Tuesday 2 was where Warren's voters would find a home.

President Trump - trying to sow discord among the Democrats - blamed Warren for Sanders' underwhelming Super Tuesday showing.

'Our modern day Pocahontas wont go down in history as a winner, but she may very well go down as the all time great SPOILER!' Trump tweeted Wednesday.

The president suggested that while moderates like Amy Klobuchar and Pete Buttigieg, who dropped out and endorsed Biden before Super Tuesday, cleared the way for the former veep, Warren paid no such courtesy to Sanders, a fellow progressive.

She never endorsed Sanders, nor did she give a nod to Biden - though many of her supporters moved to the ex-vice president, the results show.
Whatever you touch with your hands -- food, bacteria, dust -- can be transferred to your cell phone, making it a mobile petri dish possibly teeming with germs. So there's a growing discussion about how to keep phones sanitized as the novel coronavirus outbreak continues to spread worldwide.

And that's why sales of a device-cleaning machine called PhoneSoap are soaring.

PhoneSoap's products, which kill germs on phones by bathing them in UV light, haven't been tested against COVID-19. But revenue so far this month is about 20 times higher than in the same period last year, co-founder Dan Barnes told CNN Business on March 10.

The company sold out of its devices in early March, but it's currently taking pre-orders that will ship between April 15 and May 30, according to its website.

"[The coronavirus] isn't something we celebrate, but it has definitely raised awareness that phones or hard surfaces can harbor bacteria for days and that it's important to clean them," Barnes said.

Phone hygiene matters generally because research has shown our mobile devices carry pathogens that might include antibiotic-resistant bacteria, said Mia Lieberman, a clinical veterinarian at Harvard Medical School who has tested the PhoneSoap's effectiveness. These germs can pose a risk, especially for people with preexisting health conditions, she added.

PhoneSoap's product lineup includes the PhoneSoap 3, a rectangular box with a UV light inside that fits all smartphones and most cases. The company is also selling a new, larger unit called HomeSoap that can accommodate more items.

PhoneSoap co-founder Wes LaPorte said the company has been able to cope with increased demand because it splits manufacturing between Vietnam and China, so factory closures in that country haven't caused supply chain bottlenecks.

How it works

The kind of light PhoneSoap uses, called UV-C, damages bacteria and viruses so they can't replicate, Lieberman said.

PhoneSoap kills 99.99% of household germs, including E. coli and salmonella, according to the firm's website.

In a study, Lieberman tested it against bacteria and found it to be effective. But she noted that eliminating COVID-19 would likely require a much larger UV-C dose than what commercially available devices like PhoneSoap emit, based on the data scientists have on other coronaviruses such as SARS.

To get that much UV-C light intensity, Lieberman said, you'd have to leave your phone in the tested PhoneSoap model for over two hours.

"I don't think consumers should rely on a UV device that's commercially available to eradicate coronavirus on their phone," Lieberman said. "I don't think we have the data to know how much it helps."

PhoneSoap disagreed. "Only the CDC and those working to contain COVID-19 have access to this novel strain of coronavirus to test, so PhoneSoap can't say with certainty that our products kill COVID-19. That being said, we do know that COVID-19 is an enveloped virus, similar to Influenza A (H1N1) which we have tested and know that PhoneSoap kills," the company said.

LaPorte, the company's co-founder, acknowledged that PhoneSoap hadn't been tested against COVID-19 or SARS, though in his view it's one of the measures people can take to contain the outbreak.

Lieberman said users should consider wiping their phones with products that are at least 60% alcohol, in line with guidelines by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

She suggested checking with phone makers first, however. On Monday, Apple said it was safe to clean hard, nonporous surfaces on its devices, such as displays and keyboards, with a 70% isopropyl alcohol wipe or Clorox Disinfecting Wipes. The company warned against using bleach, allowing moisture to get into openings or submerging iPhones in cleaning products.
This article is part of our latest special report on Design, which is about getting personal with customization.

How many French factory workers does it take to screw in 220 light bulbs?

Just one, according to Jerome de Lavergnolle, chief executive of the crystal company Saint-Louis, describing the final step in making a bespoke chandelier for a client in Russia.

But it took 25 craftsmen to shape and cut the stupendous metal structure with its 3,000 mouth-blown crystal pieces, Mr. de Lavergnolle said. The glittering behemoth, designed for the stairwell of a private home, was 30 feet high with 12 tiers and weighed more than 5,500 pounds.

In a world of well-oiled factory production, affluent consumers routinely challenge designers and fabricators to break the mold. Made-to-order  or, in Mr. de Lavergnolles phrase, made-to-dream  objects are emblems of singularity that astonish the beholder and almost throb with personal meaning.
EAST LANSING  Young voters packed the hallways of East Lansing City Hall on Tuesday, hunching to fill out paperwork that will allow them to register and vote in Michigan's primary election.

For some, the wait lasted past the official close of polls at 8 p.m., but all who were in the line at that time were told they would be permitted to vote.

MSU students Emily Whiteman from Toledo and Emma Way from Kalamazoo say they waited nearly 4 hours to vote after getting in line to register at 5:30 p.m. Both young women voted for Sen. Bernie Sanders, who won Michigan's primary four years ago in part on the strength of young voters.

They characterized the atmosphere during the wait as "excited to hang out and have the experience" and "kind of miserable, but definitely worth it for everybody."

MSU students Emily Whiteman from Toledo and Emma Way from Kalamazoo say they waited nearly 4 hours to vote after getting in line to register at 5:30 p.m. Both young women voted for Bernie Sanders. @LSJNews #MichiganPrimary pic.twitter.com/ueH6ZHoTl7  Sarah Lehr (@SarahGLehr) March 11, 2020

That young voter support may not have been enough for Sanders this year, with the Associated Press and other outlets calling Michigan for Joe Biden shortly after 9 p.m.

Timothy Boyd, an 18-year-old Michigan State University student, joined the line shortly before 4 p.m. Tuesday for his first time registering and voting.

In the last presidential primary in 2016, he would have been too late. Tuesday is the first major test of changes made to Michigan's election law, through a ballot measure passed in 2018, which allow voters to register up to and on the day of an election.

Story continues

Michigan State junior Grant Dehner registers to vote at the East Lansing City Clerk's office Tuesday, March 10, 2020. He was one of several hundred in line registering to vote. He waited about an hour.

That's a good thing, Boyd said. Giving people more opportunities to register and vote means the results of an election will more accurately reflect what Americans believe.

"A lot of people, like me, wait until the last second to do things," he said. "Now they get the opportunity to get out and vote."

Boyd was among the thousands of Michigan residents who registered to vote Tuesday, the day Michigan held its presidential primary election. Voters who decide to cut it close with same-day registration have to go to their municipal clerk's office, where they can vote with an absentee ballot or get a receipt to take to a polling place.

MSU student Jason Dixon of Southfield registers to vote Tuesday, March 10, 2020, at the East Lansing City Clerk's office. He was one of over a hundred in line registering to vote.

As of 4:30 p.m., 7,198 Michigan residents had registered to vote on Tuesday, the Secretary of State's Office reported.

Clerks' offices in Michigan's college towns, specifically East Lansing and Ann Arbor, were busy, Michigan Secretary of State spokesperson Jake Rollow said.

"That's what we expected because as we saw in 2019," he said. "Especially when it gets down to the last 14 days, usually a lot of young people come out and register."

A representative for the East Lansing city clerk said Tuesday night the office did yet have a number to give out on same-day voter registrations.

Sam Inglot, deputy director of the liberal advocacy organization Progress Michigan, was in East Lansing monitoring the voting process. He said more efforts are needed to make sure voters understand their expanded options for getting and casting absentee ballots in advance of election day.

It took about an hour for Michigan State University students Amillian Sanders, 18, and Jada Jordan, 19, to vote, they said as they left City Hall at about 4 p.m. Both had been registered in Detroit and updated with their East Lansing addresses, and both wanted to represent African American voters at the polls.

The process was smooth and the wait was worth it, Sanders said.

"I know there's a lot of people who don't get out to register [in time]," she said.

Jennifer Aguilar, a 19-year-old MSU student, said it took her about 50 minutes to register on Tuesday with an updated East Lansing address. She took a registration receipt to her polling place on campus, where she would vote that afternoon.

"I think it's worth it, putting in the work," she said.

Contact Carol Thompson at (517) 377-1018 or ckthompson@lsj.com. Follow her on Twitter @thompsoncarolk.

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Clerks in East Lansing, Ann Arbor, have busy primary election day
Manama

His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the Supreme Commander, yesterday paid a visit to the General Command of the Bahrain Defence Force (BDF).

Upon arrival, HM the King was welcomed by the BDF Commander-in-Chief, Field Marshal Shaikh Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, National Security Advisor and Royal Guard Commander, Major-General HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Chief of Staff, Dhiab bin Saqr Al Nuaimi, and a number of senior BDF officers.

HM King Hamad was accompanied by the Royal Court Minister, Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, and Royal Guard Special Force Commander, Lieutenant-Colonel, HH Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

HM the King was informed about the tremendous health efforts exerted by the BDF to confront the Coronavirus (COVID-19), as part of the nationwide campaign to combat the virus that is targeting the entire world.

HM King Hamad expressed thanks and appreciation to the BDF for its noble contributions and the readiness of its medical services to provide medical facilities that are equipped with the latest health supplies for examination, treatment and preventive measures through qualified and specialised medical personnel to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

HM the King affirmed that the health situation in the Kingdom is reassuring, noting that many cases, including citizens and residents, have already been discharged and gone back home safety after completing the quarantine period and receiving the His Majesty being received at BDF General Command. necessary health care.
The persons who don't respect self-isolation at home will receive a fine worth 4,000 euro, and the fine can be enforced several time if it is established that the measure is repeatedly breached, head of the Emergency Management Department (DSU) Raed Arafat said on Wednesday.

"It was a talk about fines. The fine in euro currency is 4,000 euro. This fine, if the rule is breached several times, the person goes out and is caught several times, can be amerced several times, if necessary. In Hunedoara there were two fines issued for two persons who said they came from Italy, from the non-risk area and after verifications it was established that they came from the area affected and placed in quarantine. In Calarasi, two persons said upon entering the country that they will enter self-isolation at home, but, so far, they didn't arrive at the indicated place," Arafat told a news conference at the Interior Ministry (MAI) headquarters.He mentioned that there was a similar case in Suceava, however, the Border Police follows all the flights and can be informed regarding the origin of any persons' flight, whether we are talking about Italy or other area under quarantine."Yesterday, there was a lot of pressure on behalf of some passengers to avoid the quarantine measure. We did not accept any exception. None! Not because we cannot understand, because we are evil, and think only in one direction, but the moment we accept an exception, this becomes a rule. And we ask those who come to Romania from the affected areas to understand this thing. We cannot make exceptions. The families with children were ensured rooms to stay together with their children, but at the quarantine site," Arafat said.
WASHINGTON - Three service members were killed, including two Americans, and a dozen more were injured when a barrage of rockets were fired at a military base in Iraq, U.S. officials said Wednesday.

One of the officials said five service members were seriously wounded and evacuated from the Camp Taji base and seven others were still being evaluated. Buildings on the base were in flames. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to give details of the attack ahead of a public announcement.

Army Col. Myles Caggins, a U.S. military spokesman in Iraq, confirmed that three personnel from the U.S.-led coalition were killed and about 12 were wounded, but did not provide details about what country they were from. The U.S. military said that the names of those killed would be released after family notifications.

Caggins, in a statement, said that about 18 107mm Katyusha rockets struck the base and that Iraqi Security Forces found a rocket-rigged truck a few miles from Camp Taji. Such Russian rockets have been used in the past by Iranian-backed militia groups in Iraq.

Another U.S. official said that as many as 30 rockets were fired from the truck launcher, but 18 hit the base.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed that a U.K. soldier had been killed in the abhorrent attack on the Taji base. The Ministry of Defence said the soldier, whose name has not been released, was from the Royal Army Medical Corps.

Johnson said Britain was in close contact with our Coalition partners to establish exactly what happened.

There are about 400 U.K. soldiers in Iraq, training Iraqi and Kurdish security forces.

Officials did not say what group they believe launched the rocket attack, but Kataib Hezbollah or another Iranian-backed Shia militia group is likely.

Camp Taji, located just north of Baghdad, has been used as a training base for a number of years. There are as many as 6,000 U.S. troops in Iraq, training and advising Iraqi forces and conducting counterterror missions.

Kataib Hezbollah was responsible for a late December rocket attack on a military base in Kirkuk that killed a U.S. contractor, prompting American military strikes in response.

That in turn led to protests at the U.S. embassy in Baghdad. They were followed January 3 by a U.S. airstrike that killed Irans most powerful military officer, Gen. Qassem Soleimani, and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, a leader of the Iran-backed militias in Iraq, of which Kataib Hezbollah is a member.

Kataib Hezbollah been designated a foreign terrorist organization by the State Department since 2009.

Later on Wednesday, Syrian opposition activists and a war monitor reported an airstrike that targeted Iranian militia positions along the Iraq-Syria border.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported 10 airstrikes carried out by three unidentified aircraft that targeted pro-Iran militias in the Boukamal region in eastern Syria, near the border with Iraq. The Britain-based Observatory which monitors the Syria war through a network of activists on the ground said at least 10 explosions were heard in the region but said there was no immediate word on casualties.

U.S. officials said the strike was not related to the Taji base strike at all. But it was not immediately clear who conducted the attack.

Syrian activist Omar Abu Layla said the unidentified airstrike targeted Iranian militia positions in the Boukamal region.

Syrian state-run media also reported an aerial attack in the Boukamal region near the Iraqi border that caused material damage.

____

Associated Press writer Zeina Karam in Beirut contributed to this report.
In my travels, I speak to so many people who dream of starting their own business. They say theyre tired of working to make someone elses dream come true, and they really want to take control of their life and future. I always ask them: Why dont you just go for it? One of the most common responses I hear is that they have no idea where to even begin. I understand why they feel this way. Starting a new business is a big, overwhelming endeavor. However, if you take a long-term view and break the process up into a series of small tasks, starting a new business can feel safe and manageable.

If you've made the decision to move forward, where do you even begin? There are eight key actions that I suggest new entrepreneurs take early on to get their business started and to build a strong foundation.

Define your product or service

Join a trade association

Choose the name of your company

Create your legal business entity

Open a business bank account

Get legal advice

Create your logo

Get your product or service ready to market

Define your product or service

The type of person who decides to enter into entrepreneurship is typically very creative and often has many ideas for a new business. With many great options to choose from, it is not always clear for the new entrepreneur which one they should begin with.

Select an idea that you are passionate about, that ties in with your core strengths and is economically viable. You might have to start by listing out those strengths and passions and cross checking with your ideas. If theres something that falls into all three camps, its a winner. If theres more than one idea there, narrow them down by utilizing other key factors for success such as whether you have previous experience and/or have a strong network in the chosen industry. Then you can begin.

Many people are looking for that silver bullet for their business idea. That perfect idea that would bring unimaginable success and wealth. The truth is that finding the absolute perfect idea will likely never happen, and you might end up thinking about building your business for 20 years without any action.

Related: How to Research Your Business Idea

During the time when I was thinking about starting an adventure travel company, I was working as a fixed income portfolio manager in the financial industry. I had a great career, but I didnt feel connected to what I was doing. I thought about the things I was passionate about: adventure, history and storytelling. I wanted to wake up one day and have my work embody the things that I loved. However, creating a business that reflects your true passions must also be economically viable. Karen E. Spaeder provides an excellent foundation in her article on research, noting that you should utilize an extensive research process to determine a potential market, to size up the competition, or to test the usefulness and positioning of your product or service. For me, this process culminated in creating an adventure travel company called The Explorers Passage, where we would tell historys greatest stories through travel experiences across the globe. In my research, I did not see any other company in the market conduct trips in this manner. I saw a market opportunity to provide people with the opportunity to travel in a very different way. Today, we operate these experiences all seven continents and in the Arctic. Guests from over 50 nations have joined our trips.

Join a trade association

Almost every industry on the planet has a trade association, which can help you meet people who are already where you want to be with your business. You can find support and great contacts in these associations such as lawyers, consultants and business owners.

When I started my adventure travel business, the first thing I did was to join the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA). The ATTA is the governing body of the global adventure travel industry. They are run by a travel visionary named Shannon Stowell who believes that travel should be used as a force for good in the world. Stowell is constantly asking questions of the future of our industry and promoting what he calls positive peer pressure to ensure we are all looking for ways to develop our individual businesses and the industry as a whole. I often tell friends and colleagues that my business would not exist today if it were not for the incredible resources that I leveraged by being a member of the ATTA. If you do a search, I am sure you will find a great industry association that can help you elevate your business too.

Choose the name of your company

You now have an idea for the product or service you want to market to the world, but what are you going to call it? When I was thinking about a name for my new adventure travel company, I wanted it to be an expression of our trips. I ended up choosing The Explorers Passage. Anyone who knows me well knows I have a deep fascination with exploration. I particularly love reading stories about the old explorers such as Ernest Shackleton, Sir Francis Drake and Roald Amundsen. I knew I wanted the word explorer in my company name.

In the history of exploration, traveling through The Northwest Passage (a sea route in Canada that connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans) was always seen as an impossible route to achieve, though it was eventually achieved by the Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen. Because my first three trips would be based on extraordinary stories in history where people had to go through a rite of passage to achieve their goal, I felt the word passage was appropriate to include in my company name. This guide gives a step by step insight into naming your business, integrating creativity, research, analysis and expert help. Find a name that strongly embodies your brand and what you are trying to sell. You may want to have a brainstorming session with friends, family or colleagues.

Related: How to Name a Business

Once you come up with the company name that you love, it's a good idea to work with a trademark lawyer to see if anyone else has it trademarked and is utilizing it in commerce. It may be wise to trademark it to avoid potential complications down the road. Secure the related social media accounts (Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.). Purchase the website domain name. If the .com name you have chosen is already taken, think carefully before spending thousands of dollars. Other URL versions, like .biz, can be just as effective.

Create your legal business entity

At this point in your entrepreneurial journey, it is a smart idea to work with an accountant and lawyer to create your legal business entity. You will by now have realized that you are incurring some expenses to start this business, and it's best to have them assigned to your business entity so you can benefit from the tax savings. It's unlikely you will generate revenue in your first year, but by creating the business entity your expenses can be properly tracked. Your tax professional and lawyer can also help ensure you have the correct business type that matches your liability risk and long-term company goals.

Related: Choose Your Business Structure

It may be wise to not name the legal business entity name the same as your product or service name. You cant predict the future, and you may end up changing your products name multiple times  you definitely dont want to have to keep changing your business entity name in the process. My suggestion is to keep the legal entity name as broad as possible. For example, Jane Smith Enterprises could be your legal entity name and your business could operate in the public domain as your product/service/trademarked name through a Doing Business As (DBA). Theres plenty more information about understanding different business types and structure on Entrepreneur here.

Open a business bank account

As soon as your legal business entity is established, open a business banking account. This will make it much easier for you to track expenses and revenue while keeping your accounts clean and orderly. You can use a business credit and your business checking account to make all of your company-related payments. Consider your business needs: the potential need for a business loan, how much flexibility you might need and what accounts offer the best features for you before committing to a particular account.

Related: What Should You Look For In A Business Bank Account?

Get legal advice

Although Ive mentioned that it's wise to get a lawyers assistance with the set-up of your legal business entity, it's also a good idea to get legal advice on your general liability or risk. This guide offers a variety of ideas around what to research, analyze and observe within your business and its market before you proceed. Its a long list, but its important to proceed carefully and spend plenty of time considering any ways you or your business might be impacted by risk. This is where expert help can be especially important. Find a lawyer who has extensive experience in your business' industry. He or she is more likely to understand the ins and outs of the risks involved in your particular industry and will therefore be better equipped to help you navigate it.

Create your logo

A fun and important step in your startup process is to work with a designer to create your logo and brand identity. As suggested in this guide, "Your logo is a visual representation of everything your company stands for. Think of McDonald's golden arches or the Nike swoosh  these two impressive logos embody these companies well. But many companies still skimp on developing this key identity piece." Its an opportunity to really clarify your vision for your business and give it a visual form.

Related: How to Create a Logo

Ive noticed that something amazing happens when an entrepreneur sees their finished logo for the first time. It not only energizes the entrepreneur, but it makes them feel like their endeavor is real. It provides excitement and momentum to move onto the next step in the journey. Just wait until you see your new business cards for the first time, with your name as CEO of NewCo Inc. It will be a very proud moment.

Get your product/service ready to market

This is perhaps the most exciting step and one that entrepreneurs love: actually building your first product. I suggest starting your company with one or two products and/or services. You are building a new company, and you need to focus your attention and time on getting some success going with your new product offering. I see so many entrepreneurs feel that they need to start their company with a full product line to match well-established companies. They end up spreading themselves too thin, get overwhelmed and fail.

Start with a small number of products and/or services, make them better than anything in the market and deliver flawlessly. Strong customer feedback will help to power your company forward.

I hope this piece helps you on your entrepreneurial journey. Although it's impossible for me to cover every single step in starting a new business in this single article, I hope it gives you a good understanding of the key tasks that are critical in laying a strong foundation for your business. I look forward to one day reading about your success!

Related:

4 Hurdles Every Fintech Startup Must Overcome

3 Ways To Position Your CBD Brand For Market Domination

Where Did the Most Billionaires Go to College, and What Did They Study? (Infographic)



Copyright 2020 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
10.03.2020 LISTEN

The art, beauty and magic of radio alongside its presenting or presentation, is to broadcast or speak to the listener without the listener seeing the studio or the one doing the presenting or hosting.

Let us not forget the fact that visually, video is to Television as audibly, audio is to Radio.

So Facebook Live from a radio stations broadcast becomes another form of television due to the video.

When watching a program on a Television, one would realise that the actions and visions of the characters change in between times in accordance with the script to capture the attention of its viewer or viewers.

In a radio scenario, it does not work out like television. This is so, because the power of radio is to capture not only the attention of the listener but their IMAGINATION as well.

This simply and arguably means, the buck of the presenting, hosting or presentation, firstly stops with the presenters voice. Secondly their command and control of the program or show and lastly their uniqueness.

As and when a presenter or host is aptly able to deliver the above mentioned presentational skills and qualities on the Airwaves then, they will be able to capture the attention and imagination of the listener.

In this case, listening to radio from a listeners point of view becomes The theatre Of The Mind relatively to that particular individual.

It is of course The Theatre of The Mind because the listeners mind is so busy conjuring and gesticulating with so much IMAGINATIONS of everything the host or presenter does.

Just remember the idiomatic expression that says: What The Eyes Dont See, The Heart Does Not Grieve Over.

So the multimillion ample question becomes, is it better to switch on the radio stations cameras when broadcasting, or switch it off by leaving everything to the total IMAGINATIONS of the listener.

The important and remarkable thing about radio and its broadcasting is that, it has two major school of thoughts by its practitioners.

One school of thought is that, some radio presenters present their shows thinking of the listenership as audiences. No big deal here if so. Because they have put all of their various listeners together as one big or large audience.

Traditionally it was so, because buying a radio set then was expensive and deemed as a great luxury so was listened to in groups and droves just as Television was watched or viewed back then.

Fast forward economic evolution and modernity in the current world, where purchasing a piece of radio set, is arguably next to nothing depending on which part of the world one finds themselves.

And this is where, the second school of thoughts come for the listener to be treated as one Individual-Listener.

When referred to as that Individual Listener the listener immediately feels that warmth and closeness to the host or presenter, as if they know each other.

How would a radio presenter or host know if their listener has or listeners have spoken well of them due to their radio skills and qualities?

Switch on the radio stations broadcasting cameras and kill the listening buzz. As a radio host or presenter do not forget the fact that Familiarity Breeds Contempt.

So in this case, when is it appropriate to Switch on the Radio Stations Broadcasting Cameras for Facebook Live?

Only when one is sure to replicate exactly what goes on when watching a Television program with regards to the actions of the characters.

In this light, the radio presenter needs or presenters need to be changing actions in order to maintain attention and attraction not to the listener anymore but the viewer, because the cameras are on as Visual Radio or Television.

In all, Facebook Live came to enhance the medium of radio broadcasting when properly used to its fullest potential as Television.

If not used sensibly, then Facebook Live Broadcasting from a radio station nudges and dislocates all the facts, postures, structures, beauties, magic, theatrics and the other advantages of radio and what it stands for.

So in comparison, which of the two preferences do one go for?

BY WILFRED CLARKE.
The government will fully follow the Supreme Court's order on granting permanent commission to women in the Army, Minister of State for Defence Shripad Naik informed Lok Sabha on Wednesday.

Responding to a question by TMC MP Saugata Roy on permanent commission for women, he said, "We don't do any discrimination. We will fully follow the Supreme Court's order."



The Supreme Court had last month ruled that women officers shall be considered for permanent commission and will also be eligible for command posting on par with male officers.

Roy said the Army has only 65 permanent commission officers, the Navy has nine and Air Force has 382.

The Army also has 3,202 women permanent commission officers in the medical branch -- the Army Medical Corps (AMC), Army Dental Corps (ADC) and Military Nursing Service (MNS). The Navy has 80 women permanent commission officers in its medical branch and the Air Force 108.

In such a scenario, how will there be gender parity, Roy asked.

Naik said eligible women officers will be get permanent commission.

In a written response, Naik said, "The government is committed to comply to the judgement regarding granting Permanent Commission to SSC (short service commission) women officers in Indian Army as per their qualification, professional experience, specialisation, if any and organisational requirement."



He added that the impact of the judgement on operational efficiency of Indian Army after grant of permanent commission to SSC women officers and their employment in similar conditions and operational environment as their male counterparts, can only be analysed in the future and cannot be commented upon at this stage.

"However, the details regarding granting permanent Commission to SSC women officers are being prepared for implementation," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The right to a healthy environment needs global recognition as a way to get more countries to accelerate actions to provide safer, cleaner and more sustainable environments for their citizens, said David Boyd.



Recognition of this right can itself be considered a good practice, Boyd told the Human Rights Council. All States must dedicate the maximum available resources to comply with their human rights obligations in addressing environmental challenges.

Boyd, who is the Special Rapporteur on human rights and environment, called on the Council to enact a resolution recognizing the right to a healthy environment, noting that 80 percent of United Nations Member States had already recognized the right in constitutions, laws, or treaties.

Boyd made his statement during the presentation of his annual report to the Council, which took place recently in Geneva. His report focused on good practices across the globe in implementing the right to a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment. Boyd defined good practices as laws, policies, jurisprudence, strategies, programs, projectsand other measures that contribute to reducing adverse impact on the environment, improving environmental quality and fulfilling human rights.

Boyd gathered more than 500 examples of good practices from 178 countries for the report. Good practices include: an online environmental observatory in Uruguay, the banning of bee-killing pesticides in France, and the generation of at least 98 percent of electricity from renewable sources in Albania, Iceland, Costa Rica and several other states.

A remarkably diverse array of actions can deliver the imperatives of cleaner air, improved access to safe water and adequate sanitation and sustainably produced food, healthy environments and safe climate, the report stated.

The adoption of a resolution would provide a positive catalyst to accelerate efforts, he said, just as the UN resolutions on the rights to water and sanitation in 2010 have sparked progress in fulfilling these essential rights.

Humanity faces a daunting and unprecedented global environmental crisis. Despite many good practices, they are not enough. There is much more work to be done to transform todays unjust and unsustainable society into an ecological civilization where human rights are universally respected, protected and fulfilled.

11 March 2020
As state legislatures from Maryland and Virginia to Hawaii search for substantial new streams of tax revenue to shore up and overhaul school systems, the list of potential targets to tap gets longer by the day: online advertising, marijuana, corporations, andof coursethe rich.

By broadening their tax base, lawmakers think they can start paying down rising pension and other K-12 costs while sparing property taxes and the political blowback that would bring.

But it remains to be seen whether these new and sometimes novel revenue streams are sustainable, legally permissible, politically viable, or even capable of bringing in the billions of dollars generated by mainstays like income and property taxes.

Taxing and school funding experts warn that once you fasten school districts to revenues that are volatile, they are vulnerable to unexpected layoffs and the shuttering of programs, which could eventually affect school quality.

Like any organization, you want to have stable income coming in, said Michael Griffith, a school finance consultant. Thats especially true for school districts. Your biggest expenses are your teachers. If you want to attract and retain quality teachers, you need to offer them decent salaries and give them cost-of-living increases every year.

The business community, meanwhile, has often argued that any new taxes it faces would have a detrimental impact on the local economy.

Finding the Revenue

While the taxing wars are nothing new, they are especially acute this year in many state capitals.

Legislators in Virginia and a handful of other states are grappling with how to taxor eliminatethe blackjack, spades, and other so-called skills-based game machines that are eating into state lottery revenue for schools.

Hawaii is considering a bill that would for the first time allow for its school board to dip into property tax revenue and another bill that would increase a general excise tax.

And in Maryland last week, a subcommittee unanimously rejected a bill that would have instituted a bevy of new taxes on services in order to pay for a new K-12 funding formula that would, by 2030, cost the state more than $3.8 billion more each year.

Legislators also are coming to the sobering realization that their taxing infrastructure for K-12 schoolstypically a mix of property, sales, and income taxesis outdated, unreliable, and insufficient to keep up with K-12 costs, which have doubled in the past 30 years alone. Soaring state Medicaid costs continue to crowd out K-12 costs.

In addition, the majority of states in the last decade, in an effort to rev up the economy, capped property-tax revenue for schools, and many legislators signed no-new-taxes pledges.

The fact of the matter is, most revenue sources are pretty well tapped out, said Dan Thatcher, a school funding expert with the National Conference of State Legislatures, which a few years ago successfully sued an internet company so states could start to collect online sales tax. And were operating on really outmoded systems to begin with that came to being after World War II. Property tax is hated, but the thing about it is that its the most stable source of income for school districts.

Recent Approaches

Last year, Oregon passed a sweeping new tax on corporations that is estimated this year to bring in more than $1 billion for its school system. The state in 1990 placed a hard cap on its property taxes, sending K-12 revenue into a tailspin. Many districts now expect the new tax measure to reverse their fortunes this fall, but corporations have warned that the new tax will lead to layoffs, and many say they are considering leaving the state.

Texas last year scaled down its Robin Hood funding formula, which took money from wealthier districts and sent it to property-poor districts. It also cut property taxes across the board but made up for it by infusing districts with more than $11.6 billion in state revenue mostly derived from new taxes on fuel, state-owned land, and new online sales. Some experts there say the tax package isnt sustainable over a long period of time.

Colorado in 2012 became one of the first states to legalize marijuana, dedicating the majority of the tax-revenue stream to its public school system, which suffers financially from one of the hardest tax caps in the nation. But the sales-tax revenue brought in only $90 million for schools in 2018, just a fraction of the $5.6 billion its districts spent that year.

In a similar vein, a new study out of the University of Pennsylvania argues that Pennsylvanias tax on the natural-gas fracking industry barely made a dent in school districts budget needs. In fact, a $1,500 per-student gap between districts where fracking has taken place (mostly poor and rural) and districts without fracking has barely budged since the practice began in 2012, according to the authors.

Researchers pointed out that, unlike in Texas where property values soar when oil is discovered, the property value in Pennsylvanias school districts remained stagnant. The state also failed to tax the gas extracted from fracking sites, the authors said.

Although we found a modest increase in state and federal revenues wherever fracking occurred, these increases were not large enough to counterbalance the environmental impact and flawed state funding formula, the researchers, Matthew Gardner Kelly and Kai Schafft, concluded.

New Territory

In states including Missouri, Nebraska, and Virginia, legislators this year are attempting to deal with a dip in lottery proceeds after gas stations and bars began installing machines offering what are billed as games of skill, such as video poker and blackjack games.

According to a presentation made to the state legislature earlier this session, Virginias state lottery expects to lose close to $39 million in profits this year because of the new competition. The lottery fund had a record-breaking year last year, collecting more than $650 million for the states school system.

The legislature now is considering whether to ban the new skills games outright or tax them.

Were just looking for a level playing field, said John Hagerty, a spokesman for Virginias state lottery. We dont feel that its fair that these gray machines are unregulated, untaxed, and unlicensed, and are impacting lottery profits for schools.

Keep Fighting

The search for new revenue could prove both groundbreaking and traditional in Hawaii, which remains today the only state without a property-tax revenue. That lack of stable and sizeable K-12 revenue stream resulted in a severe teacher shortage in some of its most isolated and poorest schools.

Now, the state is considering a comprehensive proposal that would provide $10,000 bonuses to highly-sought-after special education teachers and $8,000 for Native-Hawaiian-language-immersion teachers. In order to pay the $35 million price tag, the state is considering providing the states school board with taxing authority or increasing a tax on manufactured goods.

You have to keep fighting, said Corey Rosenlee, the president of the states teachers union who has for years been searching for new revenue for the states unified school district. If door one closes, you go to door number two.

In Maryland this year, Democratic lawmakers seeking revenue to pay for a sweeping education overhaul proposal proposed reworking the states sales-tax system from one that mostly taxes only goods to a system with a blanket tax on professional servicesa broad category that could include janitors, financial advisers, and a wide array of other serviceswith a list of exemptions including education, health care, and social services. They had also promised not to raise property or income taxes.

But last week, a bipartisan committee rejected the proposal. Small businesses can breathe a little relief, Mike OHalloran, the state director of the National Federation of Independent Business, told the Baltimore Sun.

As part of a separate bill, Maryland also is looking to put the first-ever tax on online sales advertising revenue, with a specific focus on large tech companies such as Google and Facebook.

Republican Gov. Larry Hogan had criticized the sweeping revenue bill from the start, calling it the largest tax hike ever and saying that it would destroy the states economy.

Typically, state lawmakers around the country have tried to balance their appetite for increased revenue with ways to control costs. But this year, finding increased revenue sources seems to be driving much of the discussion.

As a percentage of the whole economy, were pretty flat on K-12 spending, the NCSLs Thatcher said. Given intensifying pressure from parents and lawmakers inability to deal with growing pension costs, there comes a point, like a slow growth in your body thats become very painful, that you have to do something.
Hundreds of hungry monkeys were seen fighting over a single banana in Thailand after coronavirus caused a huge drop in the numbers of tourists who feed them.

The primates are normally well fed by tourists in Lopburi, central Thailand, but visitors have plummeted because of the COVID-19 virus which is gripping the world.

The animals were reported to be part of two 'rival gangs' made up of the monkeys who dwell in the city and those from the temple areas who were fighting over food.

Footage shows hundreds of monkeys crossing a road and then chasing a single monkey which has got hold of a banana.

Hundreds of monkeys in Lopburi, central Thailand, fight over a single banana after coronavirus caused a huge drop in the numbers of tourists who feed them

At first the primates are seen running independently as they appear to look for food.

But then the noise of their cries increases dramatically as dozens chase a single monkey which seems to have a banana.

They are seen jumping on it and others as they fight over the food.

Even locals who are used to seeing the monkeys were shocked by their ferocity.

Onlooker Sasaluk Rattanachai captured the scene from outside a shop where she works.

She said: 'They looked more like wild dogs than monkeys. They went crazy for the single piece of food. I've never seen them this aggressive.

The monkeys were reportedly made up two 'rival gangs' - those from the city and those which normally live in the temple areas who had ventured centrally to look for food

The monkeys were seen running across a road as people in their cars and on bikes drove past

'I think the monkeys were very, very hungry. There's normally a lot of tourists here to feed the monkeys but now there are not as many, because of the coronavirus.'

Lopburi is home to thousands of wild monkeys that roam the streets and buildings. Many live in the grounds of the city's ancient Buddhist temples.

It is said to be divided between the monkeys which live in the temple areas, and those which live in the city, according to a report in the Bangkok Post.

The hungry monkeys were fighting over a single piece of food after a drop in tourism saw their ordinary food supply diminish

There have been 59 cases of coronavirus in the Thailand, with one death

With their territories divided by a train track, the two groups do not ordinarily meet, but ended up doing so on Wednesday, leading to the fight.

But the hunger experienced by the temple monkeys may have led them into the city in search of food.

And Somchai Unakong, 75, a resident, suggested to Thai news outlet Manager online that the fight might have been down to coronavirus.

He said: 'Did this relate to the Covid-19 virus that is spreading? I wondered.'

The monkeys' territories are normally divided by a train track but the hunger experienced by those living in the temple areas saw them venture into the city centre, it was claimed

The monkeys appeared to be unafraid of locals who were seen standing outside of shop fronts

Last month it emerged that the monkeys elsewhere in country were suffering because coronavirus is causing tourist arrivals to plunge by 44 per cent.

Primates living in a public park in Songkhla, southern Thailand, are usually well fed by visiting tourists from Malaysia and China.

Kind locals stepped in to give the monkeys fresh watermelons and tomatoes

There have been 59 cases of the virus in the Thailand, with one death.

However, in nearby China, where the outbreak began, more than 80,000 people have been infected, with more than 3,000 deaths.

And Thailand's economy is reliant on Chinese tourists.

Tourism accounts for 18 per cent of Thailand's GDP, with Chinese holidaymakers making up more than a quarter of total arrivals.

The country's tourism minister previously warned a crisis on the scale of the Sars outbreak could cost an estimated $1.6 billion (1.2 billion).
More than 350 cannabis industry leaders and those interested in breaking into the marijuana business on Tuesday discussed the hopes they have for the booming industry, with most believing its no longer a matter of if legal weed will arrive in New Jersey, but when.

The NJ Cannabis Insider Live event, presented by Curaleaf, took place at the New Jersey Convention and Exposition Center in Edison Tuesday. NJ Cannabis Insider is a weekly subscriber-based newsletter produced by NJ Advance Media, which also publishes NJ.com, The Star-Ledger and other affiliated papers.

Marijuana legalization and the industry surrounding it has faced several hurdles. Major lawsuits halted licensing to medical marijuana businesses in the wake of a major lawsuit. Legalization efforts failed time after time, leading to a ballot referendum in November. And racial and social equity remains a priority to legislators and consumers alike.

Panels ranged from mayors discussing how to bring businesses into towns to doctors explaining the future of medical cannabis to the ins and outs of insuring a canna-business. The days speakers touched on the newly legal hemp industry, the growing CBD market and voter education to inform residents of the ballot question to amend the states constitution to legalize marijuana.

Jeff Brown, keynote speaker and head of the Department of Healths Medical Marijuana Program, touted the skyrocketing increase in plant cultivation, pounds of cannabis and the growing number of patients.

In March 2018, the industry welcomed just a few hundred new medical marijuana patients each month, grew roughly 45,000 plants, and saw 2,000 to 3,000 pounds of cannabis in the market. As of this month, those numbers have surged  there are about 3,800 new medical marijuana patients each month, 260,000 growing plants, and more than 8,000 pounds of cannabis in the market, Brown noted.

Compare and contrast: 9 dispensaries, 71,000 patients and headed for 12 dispensaries "in short order." Compare that to March 2018, with 18,000 patients and five dispensaries, Brown says.  Susan K Livio (@SusanKLivio) March 10, 2020

And Jake Honigs Law has also steadily improved the industry, he said. The law, named after a Howell boy who died of brain cancer in 2018, allowed for an increase in how much medical marijuana the patients are allowed to buy, gave terminal patients no limit and legalized edible use. The law also allows for satellite dispensary locations, which could alleviate some of the demand at New Jerseys 10 dispensaries scattered around the state.

But theres still a lot of work to be done, Brown stressed.

The Cannabis Regulatory Commission, of which four seats still need to be filled, will hopefully recognize that not every market is the same, he said. The commission will control the medicinal program, and recreational use if it passes.

And one of the next priorities on the docket is to give advance practice nurses and physician assistants the legal authority to recommend patients to the marijuana program, he said. New Jersey has roughly 1,100 MMJ doctors. Lowering the price for patients is another issue to tackle  an ounce of weed can cost $500 with tax.

The mechanisms are there, he said. We just need the industry to step up and get it done.

Devra Karlebach, of GTI NJ, answers questions during the afternoon keynote address. NJ Cannabis Insider Live held at the New Jersey Exposition Center. Tuesday, March 10, 2020. Edison, N.J. USA (Aristide Economopoulos | NJ Advance Media) Aristide Economopoulos | NJ AdvaAristide Economopoulos | NJ Adva

Devra Karlebach, the afternoon keynote speaker and CEO of Green Thumb Industries NJ, underlined the responsibilities dispensaries and grow sites have as they expand throughout the state. To have a positive impact on a hesitant community, she urged businesses to hire local residents.

She also noted the breakdown of stereotypes as medicinal marijuana is accepted, but recognized some local officials are still on the fence about welcoming something that was taboo as little as a decade ago.

Make sure you have fact-based data. Thats what these mayors want to hear, she said, encouraging residents to educate their elected officials in towns.

Karlebach also spoke on a women in leadership panel, where she emphasized that New Jersey should make it a priority to provide opportunities to woman and people of color while the industry is still being formed, rather than "making women an afterthought."

The sentiment was echoed by Leo Bridgewater, the president of the New Jersey chapter of Minorities for Medical Marijuana, who is concerned not enough is being done to ensure racial equity and diversity in the cannabis industry.

The industry is full of people who kicked us out of the way, and we sat at a table in the corner when they did that, he said. Now they want to sit at our table. They actually want to kick us out of our seats and sit at our table.

Hes also worried about the ballot question  a major focus of Tuesdays event.

Its all these issues being rolled into one small question, he said. We never wanted a ballot question. Youre going to have people trapped in a certain time period voting. But this is going to outlive all of us."

People attend the NJ Cannabis Insider Live held at the New Jersey Exposition Center. Tuesday, March 10, 2020. Edison, N.J. USA (Aristide Economopoulos | NJ Advance Media) Aristide Economopoulos | NJ AdvaAristide Economopoulos | NJ Adva

But other advocates are more optimistic, as long as leaders come together to educate the public on getting out to vote and registering new voters.

Were missing a humongous piece of this if we think everyone is registered, if we think everyone knows that its on the ballot. We need pure, straight up voter education, said Jackie Cornell, chief of policy and health innovations at 1906. Its a matter of turnout, not a matter of persuasion.

And while there are still questions about the ballot referendum, the turnout at Cannabis Insider Live gave optimism to Sarah Fajardo, policy director of the ACLU of New Jersey.

Its exciting to come to these events and it does make me feel hopeful, she said. Legalization, its on the horizon.

Sophie Nieto-Munoz may be reached at snietomunoz@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her at @snietomunoz. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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President Donald Trump met with fellow Republicans in the US Senate on Tuesday to discuss a fiscal stimulus plan to bolster the nation's economy in the face of the coronavirus outbreak. Any plan the White House introduces will need to be approved by both houses of the US Congress. Expect Democrats, who control the House of Representatives, and Republicans, who control the Senate, to battle over the shape of the stimulus in the weeks to come. Here are some of the ideas being put forward by the different groups. THE WHITE HOUSE Trump, Vice President Mike Pence, and ...
Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen has endorsed the highly anticipated Building Bridges Initiative rally in Nakuru. According to the Senator, the rally will be different from all others.

Speaking Tuesday, Murkomen all 11 counties in the Rift Valley will hold separate consultations on the BBI before meeting on March 19 in Eldoret to have a harmonised document for the region.

The Rift Valley BBI rally will be held on 21st of March 2020 in Nakuru and it will be different from all others. We have agreed that all leaders from all the 11 counties will participate fully without party factions or mini-factions, said Murkomen.

Each county will hold their consultations and we shall converge in Eldoret on 19th March 2020 to have a harmonized document for the larger Rift Valley Region.

Murkomen said his county will hold its BBI consultation meeting on March 14 in Iten Town.

This process has my full endorsement, participation and support, Murkomen said.

On Monday evening, President Uhuru Kenyatta held talks with governors from the Rift Valley region ahead of the Eldoret BBI rally which has been postponed twice.

The governors assured Uhuru of their full backing of the BBI process and undertook to ensure unity and inclusion of all stakeholders in the Nakuru meeting.
The overall commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan and the Mideast made the stunning admission Tuesday that the U.S. had given limited support to the Taliban in its own fight against ISIS.

Marine Gen. Kenneth Frank McKenzie, head of U.S. Central Command, did not say what form of help the Taliban was given -- whether it was airstrikes, intelligence or simply a temporary cessation of U.S. attacks.

"There was very limited support from us, and I would characterize that as very limited support," he said.

Related: Officials Say Gunmen Kill 32 at Ceremony in Afghan Capital

In testimony before the House Armed Services Committee, McKenzie also did not say when or where the support was given to the insurgent group, whose stated goal for more than 18 years has been to drive the U.S. from Afghanistan.

However, McKenzie suggested that assistance to the Taliban may have come into play in remote areas of Afghanistan's southeastern Nangarhar province against the ISIS offshoot called Islamic State-Khorasan Province, or ISIS-K.

"Over the last several months in eastern Afghanistan, we've watched the Taliban compress and crush ISIS presence on the ground in southern Nangarhar province, and they've been very effective doing that," McKenzie said.

"It was a bloody mess, but they did it. In fact, ISIS really now no longer holds ground in Nangarhar province," McKenzie said."

At a later Pentagon briefing, Rear Adm. William Byrne, vice director of the Joint Staff, declined to comment on McKenzie's statements but said a main goal of U.S. policy was to rid Afghanistan of both ISIS and al-Qaida.

"I don't have any specifics to provide you [on McKenzie] but that's the hope, in that every force there is countering ISIS. Every force there is countering al-Qaida," Byrne said.

In his House testimony, McKenzie also expressed skepticism that the Taliban would keep their part of the bargain with the U.S. to allow for the reduction of U.S. forces in Afghanistan to 8,600 by this summer and a complete withdrawal over 14 months.

Under the deal between U.S. special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad and Taliban leaders in Doha, Qatar last month, a seven-day "reduction in violence" was agreed to and was to be followed by talks between the Taliban and the Kabul government on a final peace settlement.

However, McKenzie said that the Taliban were continuing attacks on Afghan forces in violation of the agreement with the U.S.

He said the U.S. troop reductions were conditions-based, and if the Taliban continue attacks, "my advice would be not to continue that reduction."

-- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com.

Read More: US, Canadian Fighters Intercept Russian Spy Planes North of Alaska
SPRINGFIELD  The city library system, aided by a new $90,000 state grant, is preparing to act as a census service center here to promote and help residents with filling out the 2020 federal census.

The whole point is to get as many people to sign on and to get their census done, said Molly Fogarty, director of the city library system, meeting with the City Council this week. We know how important it is to count everybody.

The grant is from the state Secretary of Commonwealths office under an initiative to get a Complete Count of all residents, officials said.

Fogarty and Jean M. Canosa Albano, assistant director, issued a joint statement Wednesday, saying the public libraries are committed to helping all Springfield residents be counted.

In Massachusetts, there are no Census offices west of Worcester," the library officials said. As a trusted, welcoming community institution with nine locations throughout the City, the Springfield City Library is uniquely positioned to be a civic and community partner in reaching the Census goal of Counting Everyone Once, Only Once and in the right Place in Springfield.

The department is training staff to answer questions from the public and to direct people to the census website.

Staff will also be equipped to handle questions about privacy and security on the legitimate Census website, as well as how to avoid misinformation and scams, library officials said. We will have dedicated computers available for people to submit their Census answers online.

The libraries are ready to help residents as soon as the residents get their invitation to participate in the census.

The census, conducted nationwide every 10 years, is used to determine the number of representatives in Congress a region will have, and can also affect opportunities for federal funding.

Springfields population has been estimated at 153,000 to 155,000. The impact would be devastating on federal funding if the new count shows less than 150,000, Mayor Domenic J. Sarno said last year.

April 1st is national census day, and the city libraries will be open that day until 8 p.m., with special events to help promote the census, Fogarty said.

There are also extended hours and special activities on May 6.

The grant includes money to hire translators. There is programming being offered on April 1, to give parents time to fill out the census form, Fogarty said.

There will be promotions through the media and social media, she said.

Many people in Springfield are part of communities considered hard-to-count by the census, the library officials said. We are here to remove barriers to completing Census by families and people who move frequently, who have low incomes, who are seniors, who lack broadband internet access, or for whom English is not a first language.
If there is a museum director who embodies Mayor Bill de Blasios commitment to empowerment and inclusion, it is Gonzalo Casals, who leads the Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art in SoHo, which is devoted to queer art. Now the mayor has given Mr. Casals a new title: New York Citys Cultural Affairs Commissioner, for the largest local funder of arts and culture in the United States.

Art and culture should enrich the lives of all New Yorkers  not just a select few, Mayor de Blasio said in a statement. Gonzalo understands how to uplift the experiences of New Yorkers from all five boroughs.

Mr. Casals is an immigrant from Argentina who identifies as queer. Since 2017, he has led the Leslie-Lohman, a museum with roots in the L.G.B.T.Q. civil rights movement, diversifying its collection and programming with contributions from the gay community. Mr. Casals previously served as deputy and interim director at El Museo del Barrio in East Harlem, a major center for Latino art and culture, where he stepped in after Margarita Aguilar left amid turmoil.

I look forward to continuing to further the work that the agency has been doing, Mr. Casals, who starts April 13, said in a telephone interview. Opening up opportunities in the sector for folks like me  immigrant communities, queer communities, Latinx communities.
By Li Haidong

The USS Theodore Roosevelt recently arrived in Vietnam, becoming the second US aircraft carrier to visit the Southeast Asian country since 1975 (the end of Vietnam War), following the USS Carl Vinsons visit in March 2018. Why is the US so keen on having military cooperation with Vietnam and whats the impact?

First of all, the US, from the perspective of an all-round strategic competition against China, sees Vietnams role and value in its wider Indo-Pacific strategy. For this reason, the US gives particular strategic considerations to its relationship with Vietnam.

Over recent years, Washington has spared no effort to strangle Beijing in key domains of strategic competition and has reevaluated what role Chinasperipheral countries can play in this game and adjusted its policies accordingly. Hanoi is a so-called partner that the US hopes to win over and a key link in the regional network of partnerships that it tries to forge under the Indo-Pacific strategy.

After the President of the Philippines Duterte announced to terminate the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the US, Washington seems more eager to elevate Vietnams position as a partner. Against the background of its general strategic contraction, Washington hopes to offset Chinas regional influence by intensifying disputes between China and its peripheral countries, or the so-called American partners, including Vietnam.

Washington finds this to be a cost-effective approach. On the one hand, by placing obstacles, the US avoids any direct military conflict with China while on the other hand, it reaches the goal of weakening or disrupting Chinas pace of development at the cost of wearing off or even sacrificing the American partners.

Second, elevating US-Vietnam military ties doesnt change the inherent feature of reforming other countries in American diplomacy. That is the intrinsic drive for Washington to tighten its connections with socialist countries, so that it can reform or even subvert them.

The US always harbors the impulse to fundamentally transform Vietnams socialist political system. The fiasco it suffered over the 20th century, vainly attempting to transform the Southeast Asian country through a war, has always been a thorn in the flesh for Americas political elites. Now that, under the new circumstances in which Washington gets an appetite to deepen the cooperative relation with Hanoi by creating a common enemy, its urge to transform the country will come back too, which will push it to escalate the evolution on various layers of the Vietnamese society in ways other than war.

The US has been assisting Vietnam in enhancingthe military strength in recent years, not only lifting weapon embargoes, but also providing Vietnamwith fleet of patrol vessels. With the strengthened security cooperation comes more intense measures to reform Vietnams political and economic systems. Vietnam will have its judgment on whether this kind of American security outlook is a bane or boon for it.

Third, although countries in Southeast Asia are divergent over the South China Sea, all related parties have strengthened communication and consultation and worked together to mitigate their conflicts in a constructive way following the thought of building a regional community.

In this case, however, the US has tried to justify its initiative of strengthening the relationship with Vietnam and other countries by sending warships to the South China Sea, exposing its consistent mindset of resolving regional issues through military confrontation. Misguided by such a way of thinking, Americas Middle East and Afghanistan policies have proven to be such a complete failure, which has left its allies or partners either severely shattered or sacrificed, and the US itself deeply divided inside. Yet instead of learning a lesson, the US has decided to apply the same approach to countries in the South China Sea.

Respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of every nation remains the key code of conduct in todays international community. Americas attempt to ignore Chinas sovereignty and instigate Vietnam to challenge Chinas territorial integrity will lead to regional disorder and eventually damage the interests of the US and Vietnam themselves. Washington believes such a disorderly situation will make itself indispensable in restoring regional order, but that doesnt serve the interests of Vietnam and other related countries at all.

Intensified US-Vietnam military connection will be a normal phenomenon, but the closer military relation, as demonstrated by the US aircraft carriers visit to Vietnam, wont change the latters cooperative policy toward China. With mutual trust between their political parties, close economic ties and the common goal of regional integration, Hanoi and Beijing will be able to fend off any adverse effect on their stable bilateral relation exerted by any third party.

The rally of more American troops in the West Pacific will aggravate the military competition between China and the US, but it wont disrupt the process of closer integration between China and regional countries, nor will it be likely that the China-US relation gets totally out of control.

(The author is a professor at the Institute of International Relations at China Foreign Affairs University)
U.S. officials said the locations of the strikes were largely around the Baghdad region. One U.S. official said there were two strikes at Jurf al-Sakher, one in Karbala, one at Al-Musayib, and one at Arab Nawar Ahmad. The official said the U.S. expected casualties would be lower than 50, and said the main effort was to hit the weapons.
AS THE coronavirus disease (Covid-19) continues to spread, one university in Cebu City has decided to cut short its school year, another postponed its commencement exercises, while an educational institution in Dumaguete City canceled graduation rites in all levels.

University of Cebu (UC) president Augusto W. Go issued a memo on Wednesday, March 11, 2020, directing all UC campuses to hold final examinations from March 16 to 19 and conclude classes on March 20 instead of May 16, as indicated on the school calendar in their website.

For its part, Southwestern University (SWU) Phinma declared on March 10 that graduation rites for Basic Education and Senior High School have been moved to May 20; Medical School, June 18; Tertiary level, July 27; and Law and Graduate School, July 28.

Meanwhile, Silliman University in Dumaguete City called off Honors Day and graduation rites from pre-school to post-graduate levels.

With the rise in Covid-19 cases in the country over the last five days, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said the objective now is to delay the epidemic peak to be able to mobilize resources.

This may be done through social distancing, which means avoiding crowds and keeping oneself at least an arms length away from other people.

Duque also cited proposals of work-from-home arrangements and reiterated the Department of Health (DOH) advice against holding events that attract large crowds.

For the labor sector, the Partido ng Manggagawa (PM) has called for a worker-first policy to protect employees in company decisions, in the wake of the Covid-19 threat.

Rene Magtubo, PM national chairman, asked the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) to issue a department order embodying a worker-first policy, as placing the interests of workers first is an urgent necessity.

The social distancing method might pose a problem as Duque admitted that implementing it will be a challenge among the poor and daily commuters.

Ako na po mismo ang umaamin sa inyo na yung pagtugon namin sa ating mga mahihirap na mga kababayan, yung mga informal sectors, yung mga sumasakay po sa mass public transport, talagang napakalaking hamon po ito (I have to admit that to the less privileged members of society, those in the informal sector and those who take public transportation, social distancing is a big challenge), Duque told members of the House committee on health in response to the observation of Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate on crowded train stations in Metro Manila.

Story continues

A total of 49 Covid-19 cases has been recorded in the Philippines as of Wednesday, March 11, 2020, with 30 of these confirmed only in the last five days.

No entry after exams

In a statement, the Department of Education (DepEd), too, has ordered schools to implement social distancing measures for the remaining days of the school year.

DepEd 7 Director Salustiano Jimenez in a phone interview said students in Central Visayas after taking the final exams will not be allowed in the school and can only return for graduation rites.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) followed up with a directive enjoining parents to keep their children at home and prevent them from going to the mall and other crowded areas.

According to Rudy Aviles, UC director for Students Cultural Service, a meeting among school heads will be held on March 12 to discuss remedial actions to deal with the current health concern. As to the graduation ceremonies, Aviles said they will wait for the results of the school heads meeting.

SWU Phinma, on the other hand, discourages family members of graduates coming from countries identified as Covid-19 hotspots from attending the ceremony. You may watch it online via livestream in our official facebook page @swuphinma,  the announcement said.

At the University of the Philippines (UP) Cebu, chancellor Liza Corro issued on March 10 a memo stating the universitys pre-emptive measures ordering UP faculty members to shift to blended learning and adjust their pedagogy to virtual learning platforms in the event of class suspensions. (WBS, MVI, JCT, USJ-R Intern Mae Fhel Gom-os)
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Those close to Ms. Warren say her foremost reason for not endorsing Mr. Sanders is simple: Since her exit from the race, his path to victory has looked unlikely. They doubt that Ms. Warren, even as the most prominent former candidate to have not backed another primary contender so far, could reverse Mr. Sanderss fortunes at this point, and fear that she risks squandering valuable political capital if she tries to do so and fails.

It was also not clear what difference Ms. Warren might have made in addressing Mr. Sanderss glaring vulnerability with black voters, with whom Ms. Warren had shown little sway herself.

Randi Weingarten, the president of the American Federation of Teachers, who endorsed Ms. Warren in her personal capacity, was among those who spoke with Ms. Warren after Super Tuesday.

It made tremendous sense for her to stay on the sidelines so she could play the role of unifier, said Ms. Weingarten, who declined to discuss her private conversation with Ms. Warren.

Brian Fallon, who worked for Hillary Clinton in 2016 and is now a progressive strategist, was doubtful that Ms. Warrens backing would have significantly helped Mr. Sanders and said it might not have sat well with the coalition she ended the race with, which was dominated by college-educated white women.

Why would she want to make her endorsement seem less powerful by giving it to somebody on a downward trajectory? Mr. Fallon asked.

Four years ago, Ms. Warren stayed neutral in the Democratic primary between Mr. Sanders and Mrs. Clinton, and during the general election she used her influence among liberals to push Mrs. Clinton to make more left-leaning personnel choices in her transition team. That was the template that she designed in 2016, Mr. Fallon said. Wait back, hold until the nomination is settled and then be very practical and hard-boiled about what your asks are.
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / March 11, 2020 / Zimtu Capital Corp. ("Zimtu") (TSXV:ZC)(Frankfurt:ZCT1) an investment issuer with the objective of achieving long-term capital appreciation for its investors, is pleased to have negotiated acquisition and control in a private transaction over 5,500,000 common shares in the capital of MGX Renewables Inc., (DBA Zinc8 Energy Solutions Inc. ("Zinc8")), a Vancouver, B.C. developer and manufacturer of long-duration, low-cost zinc-air energy storage solutions,

"The acquisition of these additional shares represents our support and confidence in Zinc8 Energy Solutions Inc. executive leadership and technology which will allow for the low-cost mass storage of energy which can be deployed into a wide range of scalable energy storage applications," commented Dave Hodge, President and Director of Zimtu.

Ron MacDonald, CEO of the Zinc8, commented: "We are extremely pleased to welcome the increased participation by Zimtu Capital. This vote of confidence at this early stage is invaluable. I look forward to working together with our strategic investors as we grow Zinc8 into a leading supplier of Zinc-air batteries for the battery storage sector."

About Zinc8

Zinc8 Energy Solutions has assembled an experienced team to execute the development and commercialization of a dependable low-cost zinc-air battery. Zinc-air batteries can be ideal for mass storage systems and offer both environmental and safety benefits. Zinc8 Energy Solutions strives to meet the growing need for secure and reliable power. To watch a short video outlining Zinc8 Energy Solutions' technology, please visit: https://zinc8energy.com.

More about The Zinc8 Energy Storage System (ESS)

The Zinc8 ESS is a modular Energy Storage System designed to deliver power in the range 20kW - 50MW with capacity of 8 hours of storage duration or higher. With the advantage of rechargeable zinc-air flow battery technology, the system can be configured to support a wide range of long-duration applications for microgrids and utilities. Since the energy storage capacity of the system is determined only by the size of the zinc storage tank, a very cost-effective and scalable solution now exists as an alternative to the fixed power/energy ratio of the lithium-ion battery.

Figure 1. Zinc8Energy Energy Storage System (ESS)

Technology

The Zinc8 ESS is based upon unique patented zinc-air battery technology. Energy is stored in the form of zinc particles, similar in size to grains of sand. When the system is delivering power, the zinc particles are combined with oxygen drawn from the surrounding air. When the system is recharging, zinc particles are regenerated, and oxygen is returned to the surrounding air.

Applications

The flexibility of the Zinc8 ESS enables it to service a wide range of applications. Typical examples include:

Smoothing energy derived from renewable sources such as wind and solar

Commercial/Industrial backup replacing diesel generators

Industrial and grid scale, on-demand power for peak shaving and standby reserves

Grid-scale services such as alleviating grid congestion, deferring transmission/distribution upgrades, energy trading and arbitrage, and increasing renewable energy penetration.

Architecture

The Zinc8 ESS is designed according to a modular architecture that enables a wide variety of system configurations to be created from a small number of common subsystems. Each subsystem implements a single element of the technology:

The Zinc Regeneration Subsystem (ZRS) provides the recharging function

The Fuel Storage Subsystem (FSS) provides the energy storage function

The Power Generation Subsystem (PGS) provides the discharging function

Following the recent resignation of Jared Lazerson, the Zinc8 Energy Solutions Inc.'s board of directors now consists of Ron MacDonald, Michael Reimann, Lyndon Patrick, and Dave Hodge.

Zimtu Capital Share Ownership in Zinc8

Zimtu Capital will be acquiring 5,500,000 shares of Zinc8 pursuant to a transaction with MGX Minerals Inc. at a price of 10 cents per acquired share for aggregate consideration of $550,000.00.

Prior to the acquisition, Zimtu had ownership and control over 4,278,333 common shares and 4,183,333 warrants (400,000 @ $0.35 - 3,783,333 @ $0.08) of Zinc8. Following the acquisition, Zimtu attained additional ownership and control over 5,500,000 common shares in the capital of the company, representing approximately 18.61% per cent of the issued and outstanding common shares immediately after completion of the transaction.

Zimtu's principal business is an investment holding company. Zimtu acquired the acquired shares for investment purposes only and will review its investment on a continuing basis. Upon such review, depending upon such factors that Zimtu may, from time to time deem relevant, among other things, acquire additional securities of the company or dispose of some or all of the existing or additional securities Zimtu holds or will hold.

About Zimtu Capital Corp.

Zimtu Capital Corp. is an investment issuer with the objective of achieving long-term capital appreciation for its investors. The Company utilizes its small capital base and long-term horizon to invest in unique situations; primarily micro/small cap, special situations, and illiquid public and private companies. Zimtu Capital companies may operate in the fields of mineral exploration, mining, technology, life sciences or investment. The Company trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "ZC" and Frankfurt under symbol "ZCT1". For more information please visit http://www.zimtu.com.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

ZIMTU CAPITAL CORP.

"David Hodge"

President & Director

604-681-1568

Fax: 604-681-8240

Email: dhodge@zimtu.com

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

SOURCE: Zimtu Capital Corp.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/580239/Zimtu-Capital-to-Increase-Investment-Holdings-in-Battery-Storage-Company-Zinc8-Energy-Solutions
Jyotiraditya Scindia, who had been loyal to the Congress for 18 years, has quit the party to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The former Madhya Pradesh Congress leader, who hails from a family of royals, has been disenchanted with the partys top leadership for months and miffed for not getting to play more pivotal roles in national-level politics.

Fellow Gwalior royal Yashodhara Raje Scindia, who is a BJP leader, has described the incident as ghar wapsi, claiming her nephew to be of value to the saffron party. The BJP would not have taken him if they did not see value in him as a leader, the senior royal said.

Justifying Jyotiradityas move, she said there were several reasons that led him to take such a big step, reported NDTV. We are not mad. There are reasons people get up and take such a big step," she said.

Speaking about her mother Vijayraje Scindias similar dramatic exit from the Grand Old Party decades ago, Yashodhara Raje said the former was forced to quit Congress.

The BJP leader further said: My mother (Vijayraje) was a tall maharani, respected by politicians and people alike. She was forced to quit Congress because of party leader Dwarka Prasad Mishra, who overruled her and did not respect her. She was very sad, and it eventually forced her to leave.

Commenting on critics calling out Jyotiraditya for quitting Congress in its bad days, Raje said his connect with the top brass of Congress was already eroding and it had become apparent. She pointed out that, nowadays, politics is not devoid of self-interest. Unlike a few decades ago, when politicians were primarily focused on nation-building, most political leaders have their own ambitions these days, the Congress rebels aunt claimed.

Notably, Jyotiradityas move came on the birthday of his deceased father Madhavrao Scindia, who had detached himself from the Congress for a brief period and was dubbed a traitor before being roped into the party again.

However, apart from Madhavrao Scindia, most politicians from the family owe their allegiance to the BJP, including former Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje.
As he turns 100, the last surviving prosecutor of the Nuremberg trials on why alleged war criminals should be heard.

Benjamin Ferencz, the last surviving prosecutor of the Nuremberg trials, was born 100 years ago, on March 11, 1920, in Transylvania.

His Hungarian-Jewish family moved to New York when he was 10 months old.

After graduating from Harvard Law School, he joined an artillery battalion of the US army in 1943. As the second world war was ending, he served as a war crimes investigator and visited many Nazi concentration camps as they were liberated.

Upon his return to New York, he was recruited by Telford Taylor, a prosecutor of high Nazi officials, to return to Germany to work on the war crimes trials at Nuremberg.

Ferencz was appointed chief prosecutor in what was described as the biggest murder trial in history  the Einsatzgruppen case, referring to the paramilitary death squads of the SS, or Schutzstaffel, the organisation under Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party.

Ferencz has since fought for war victims and continues to believe that alleged war criminals deserve fair trials.

Al Jazeera: You are 100 years old. How do you remain happy having witnessed so much tragedy, and what are your greatest fears?

Benjamin Ferencz: I have no choice! From the horrors I have seen as a liberator of the camps and member of the US army. I was honourably discharged and awarded five battle stars for having survived the landing on Normandy beach. But nothing compared with the concentration camps where people were murdered.

We now have the capacity from cyberspace to cut off the electrical grid on planet Earth. That means we can kill everybody now.

The Russians have this power and the Chinese have this power. We will be like the rest of the lifeless planets circulating in the stratosphere. Thats what Im afraid of for future generations. I am not afraid for anything myself. I wasnt afraid during the war and Im not afraid for myself now.

We need to change our way of thinking and stop glorifying war. Law is better than war. Isnt that obvious to everybody?

Al Jazeera: How did you feel in that courtroom facing high-ranking Nazis at the Nuremberg trials?

Ferencz: I was fearless. I was absolutely at ease. I stood there facing the 22 accused who looked so arrogant. I knew I had the evidence to convict them. I rested my case in two days. I never let fear interfere with what I had to do.

Al Jazeera: How did you feel towards the end of the trial?

Ferencz: I listened soberly. I made my own list of what I thought the sentences would be and in fact the judges were more severe. I certainly did not feel at any point, Hooray for me. It was very sober, very quiet in the courtroom. The judge said: This tribunal sentences you to death by hanging  Again and again.

I felt like the accused had just been dropped into hell, one at a time. I had a tremendous headache. I didnt feel proud or successful. I realised these were human beings that were going to be hanged.

Al Jazeera: At the time, were German citizens interested in the trials?

Ferencz: The German people were not much interested in the trials. They were more interested in where they were going to get their next loaf of bread from. There was no fraternisation with Germans.

I was, however, disappointed that in my entire time both in Nuremberg and elsewhere, I never came across a German who expressed remorse for the atrocities.

Al Jazeera: Is there sufficient awareness of the Nuremberg trials in the United States?

Ferencz: There can always be more awareness. There is not enough. Nuremberg took a great step forward. We tried to substitute the rule of law for killing.

Crimes are committed by individuals. We should give the individuals a chance to explain their behaviour in a fair trial and only if they are found guilty, according to clear laws, should they be punished.

Al Jazeera: Has the US learnt the lessons of Nuremberg?

Ferencz: Some people in the US have but some have not. Those who still hold the reins of power have shown no respect for the rule of law.

All administrations  both Republicans and Democrats  have refused to ratify the ICC Statute. They dont want to subject US soldiers to the ICC but the soldiers do commit crimes. And war-making itself is the greatest crime of all.

Al Jazeera: In recent months you have been critical of the assassination of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, which was ordered by US President Donald Trump 

Ferencz: In the case of Iran, the president of the US has admitted it. He said: We took them out.

I was furious at the expression. Took them out?

Why didnt he say: We killed him?

To disguise it as if he was taking him for a walk in the park. Who are you taking out and why? Are we at war with Iran? Does the fact that we consider him a bad guy allow us to kill him and anybody else?

We put Hermann Goering on trial. We should have put Soleimani on trial. The same goes for Osama bin Laden.

This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.
European leaders sought to present a united front on Tuesday as the coronavirus cast a lengthening shadow across their continent, but fell short of agreeing radical measures to tackle an exceptional crisis. The leaders of the European Union's 27 member states, used to meeting in person at Brussels summits, joined a video conference after days of criticism that they had failed to close ranks on the crisis and were bickering over how to respond.

French officials said the show of solidarity was proposed by President Emmanuel Macron, who wanted the EU to echo the words of Mario Draghi, who as head of the European Central Bank pulled the euro zone back from the brink of collapse in 2012: "Whatever it takes".

"We will use all the tools at our disposal to make sure that the European economy weathers this storm," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told a news conference after the extraordinary summit of leaders, all of whom have now confirmed cases of coronavirus in their countries. She said the European Commission, the executive arm of the EU, will set up a joint investment fund with firepower of 25 billion euros ($28 billion) from existing resources to cushion the blow to vulnerable sectors of the bloc's economies.

However, the fund will have no fresh money, an EU official said, raising doubts about its effectiveness to provide a sufficient fiscal boost to counter a serious downturn. Under the plan, EU states would use 7.5 billion euros of EU funds that national governments had not been able to spend due to bureaucratic complexities. Instead of being sent back to Brussels, the funds can be used to help the economy, the official said.

The 25 billion euro total would be reached by adding EU "structural funds" which had been already committed to EU countries under the current EU budget, the official said. A diplomat said the plan was not discussed in detail during the video conference, but will be on the table at a meeting of euro zone finance ministers on Monday.

In addition, the Commission offered to provide this week new guidance on how to interpret fiscal rules and public subsidies regulations more leniently. This would allow EU governments to spend more national funds to help their economies.

"A LOT IS AT STAKE"

Divisions did not appear to be overcome, however, about the sharing of medical equipment needed to counter the health crisis. France, Germany and the Czech Republic last week refused to lift controls on the export of protective gear to avoid shortages at home, despite a formal request for kit from Italy, which is reeling from an explosion of infections and deaths.

Leaders agreed "to task the Commission with analyzing the needs and to come up with initiatives to prevent shortages," the chair of the meeting Charles Michel said after the video conference.

The EU executive is already coordinating joint procurement of equipment in short supply. Earlier on Tuesday Austria had unilaterally broken with the EU principle of free movement of people by denying entry to people arriving from Italy to slow the spread of the disease. This is the first case of restrictions being placed on the free-travel Schengen area of 26 European countries since the outbreak of the virus, an echo of 2015, when a wave of migrants and refugees prompted several to close their borders.

Sharp differences over the influx of migrants strained the unity of the bloc and fanned euroskeptic views that the European project had evolved too far from its original aim of economic interdependence to an "ever closer" political union. Britain's recent exit from the EU was fueled by such sentiment.

"These are really testing times for the EU," said Guntram Wolf, head of the Bruegel think tank in Brussels. "You better get this coordination right. Otherwise the citizens will be extremely angry. A lot is at stake." Responses to the epidemic have so far varied widely across the EU, from the near-shutdown of everyday life in Italy and a ban on large gatherings in France to little more than public health advice in some countries.

Michel said leaders agreed on the need for a joint approach, closer coordination with the European Commission and daily consultations between health and interior ministers. The European Commission's capacity to tackle the crisis is limited because responsibility for public health lies largely with member states.

Also read: Coronavirus impact: What's expensive, what's cheaper in India?

Also read: Coronavirus outbreak: 17 Indian tourists quarantined on cruise ship in Egypt
Good morning, Bay Area. Its Wednesday, March 11, and the trial for a 2018 slaying at a BART station has ended with a guilty verdict. Heres what you need to know to start your day.

With increasing evidence that coronavirus is circulating freely in Northern California, some counties are shifting away from extensive investigation of every new case and moving toward efforts to slow down the spread in the community  shutting down large gatherings, telling older people to stay home and ramping up testing. Gov. Gavin Newsom said Tuesday that the state should be testing 5,000 people a day by March 24.

That can result in somewhat confusing responses, reporter Erin Allday writes. The same day that Sacramento County said it was no longer quarantining people who had contact with confirmed cases, hundreds of passengers from a cruise ship docked at the Port of Oakland were being bused to Travis Air Force Base in nearby Fairfield, where they would be held for two weeks.

The difference lies largely with whos in charge, said Dr. George Rutherford, head of the division of infectious disease and epidemiology at UCSF. In Sacramento County, public health officials decided that its a better use of their resources to focus on slowing down the illness in their community. Federal officials, meanwhile, want to make sure every passenger on the cruise ship is deemed healthy before they return to their communities  in part, to prevent a new infection from seeding an area that has not yet reported coronavirus cases.

Read more about why different counties are responding differently.

Newsletter: Get regular updates on our coronavirus coverage by signing up here.

Ticket changes: As the coronavirus wreaks havoc on travel, United and other airlines waived ticket-change fees yet again to let passengers who booked tickets for flights through the end of April change for free before the end of the year.

Isolation housing includes RVs: San Francisco officials are working to make several temporary housing options available to healthy or mildly ill people who have tested positive for the new coronavirus but cant safely self-quarantine because theyre homeless or living in close quarters with others.

Blunting economic impact: S.F. supervisors announced legislation Tuesday that would ban residential evictions for non-payment of rent due to loss of income from the new coronavirus, among other measures.

 Coronavirus may force Sharks to play games without fans.

 S.F. Archdiocese shutters 90 schools after student tests positive for COVID-19.

 Two attendees of February RSA Conference in S.F. have tested positive.

 Datebook: Heres how to watch live music from home.

Baking up a new union?

Santiago Mejia / The Chronicle

All eyes are on Tartine.

More than 200 workers at four Bay Area locations of the beloved bakery will soon decide whether theyre joining a union.

The bakerys unionization would be a historic moment in the San Francisco restaurant industry. Only 1.3% of the 12 million people who work in American restaurants are union members, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. But the process has been contentious, with accusations thrown from both sides and a lurking fear that the unions arrival would mean the end of San Franciscos internationally renowned bakery.

Regardless of the outcome, Tartine will not be the same after this week, Janelle Bitker writes.

Guilty

BART

Just hours after starting deliberations Tuesday, the jury in the Nia Wilson murder trial found defendant John Lee Cowell guilty of murder and attempted murder in the double stabbing that left Wilson dead and her sister injured.

Read more from the courtroom from reporter Megan Cassidy.

Preferential treatment

Paul Chinn / The Chronicle 2018

San Francisco Mayor London Breed is urging that Tom Hui, the chief of the citys Department of Building Inspection, be removed after the city attorneys office alleged Hui abused his official position. The allegations came out of an investigation in the wake of the arrest of former Public Works Director Mohammed Nuru on corruption charges.

Read more from reporter Dominic Fracassa.

Listen to Dominic on the Fifth & Mission podcast about the Mohammed Nuru case and Mayor Breed.

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.

Around the Bay

 $4 billion to $1 billion: PG&E agrees to settle $4 billion bankruptcy dispute with FEMA.

 From Phil Matier: S.F. Mayor Breed back on homeless hot seat as efforts to keep tents off streets sink.

 Repealing Prop. 209: California is about to wade back into the fight over affirmative action, nearly a quarter-century after state voters banned the consideration of race and sex in public education, employment and contracting. Reporter Alexei Koseff writes on how the effort is taking shape.

 Prop. 65: Doctors group wants processed meats added to Californias cancer-warning list.

 Port of call: Monterey suspends cruise ships over coronavirus threat

In the Studio

Justin Sullivan / Getty Images

As coronavirus mitigation measures spread across the country, health writer Erin Allday discusses whether they can succeed and explains the leading theories about how best to keep the public safe.

Listen to the latest Fifth & Mission podcast here.

More from Chronicle podcast:

TotalSF: San Franciscan magazine co-founders Erica Messner and Amanda Legge.

Its All Political: Elizabeth Warren out of the race  Revisiting "Electability."

Bay Briefing is written by Taylor Kate Brown and sent to readers email inboxes on weekday mornings. Sign up for the newsletter here, and contact Brown at taylor.brown@sfchronicle.com.
The commander of United States Central Command (CENTCOM), Marine Corps General Kenneth Franklin "Frank" McKenzie Jr., accused Tehran of threatening free navigation and trade in the Middle East.

In a tweet on Tuesday, March 10, General Mckenzie asserted that CENTCOM's aim was confronting the Islamic Republic of Iran's threats.

Also, speaking at the U.S. Senate's Armed Forces Committee, General Mckenzie defended Washington's policy to exert maximum pressure on Tehran. He insisted that as long as the constraints on Iran continued, the CENTCOM should use its presence and position in the region to prevent the Islamic Republic's military power from disrupting Washington sanctions imposed on Tehran.

On February 19, a U.S. military spokesman had announced that a large shipment of Iranian-made weapons seized by the Navy on February 9, in the Arabian Sea, was being transported illegally to Houthi rebels. Tehran has supported Houthis in Yemen's five-year-old civil war.

The weapons seized by sailors aboard the USS Normandy included Iranian copies of Russian armaments and others "uniquely designed by Iran and found nowhere else in the world," said Navy Captain Bill Urban, the chief spokesman for U.S. Central Command, on February 19.

In his Tuesday comments, Marine General Mckenzie noted that American forces' presence in the area is a "clear signal" to Iran, reflecting the U.S. willpower and capabilities in defending Washington's interests and its allies against the Islamic Republic.

Moreover, General Mckenzie affirmed that the CENTCOM's next step would be deploying forces in the region, capable of conducting operations needed for consistently containing Iran, and confront Tehran's future threats with flexibility.

In the meantime, General McKenzie referred to Tehran's nuclear program and vowed that the U.S. strategy was blocking all routes that might lead to arming the Islamic Republic with nuclear weapons and neutralizing Iran's evil influence.

The authorities in the clergy-dominated Iran have repeatedly denied seeking nuclear bombs.
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A robotic vacuum can clean your floors all day long without your lifting a finger. One thing it cant do is clean itself. Hair, dust, crumbs, and other debris can build up inside the vacuums components.

Its easy to forget that robotic vacuums require maintenance, because theyre a set-it-and-forget-it kind of machine, says Alex Nasrallah, Consumer Reports test engineer for robotic vacuums. But you should clean them once a week, or more often if theyre vacuuming more than five times a day. Otherwise, they might not clean properly or even start.

In our labs we evaluate how well each robotic vacuum removes surface debris, like Maine coon cat fur and Cheerios, so we end up removing a whole lot of gunk from robotic vacuums. Every test requires a pristine appliance to ensure that our results arent skewed by an errant grape stuck in the vacuum or a blocked sensor.

Here, our experts reveal the best methods for cleaning your robotic vacuum. We also highlight the top robotic vacuums from our ratings, in case youre in the market for a new model.

Removing Hair

Hairof the human or pet varietyis the most common thing that gets stuck in a vacuums brush roll, side brushes, and wheels. Removing any hair from the inlets and brush roll is especially important because it can block airflow, weakening suction power, Nasrallah says.

Many robotic vacuums come with their own comb or blade tool for removing hair. But in our experience, it doesnt always get the job done. In some cases, a pair of scissors or a kitchen knife works better to get hair out from crevices, Nasrallah says. For tightly wound hair, a knife is your best bet for cutting it loose.

To use a knife, place the robot on its back on a flat surface. Gently pull the hair up so that the knife can get under and slice through. You can also cut into the grooves of the robot brush roll, depending on the model. Once most of the hair is cut loose, you should be able to tear the rest out by hand.



Hair can also get wrapped around the side brushes of a vacuum and cause them to stop spinning and create a tangled mess with the bristles, keeping them from doing their job properly by not allowing them to sweep into corners and crevices. To avoid that, remove the side brushmost just pop offand pull out the hair, Nasrallah says. If the brush is bent out of shape, gently straighten it. Some manufacturers may suggest other fixes; for instance, Eufy recommends swapping the two side brushes until they bend back in the other direction.

Story continues

If these methods dont work or if the brush is worn out, Nasrallah recommends getting a new one. Theyre inexpensive and easy to replace, he says. Some manufacturers may even provide extra brushes in the box.

Clear Up the Sensors

Its equally important to keep the sensors on your robotic vacuum clean. After all, you dont want it bumping into furniture or falling down the stairs because its eyes are blinded by a layer of dust.

First, find out where the sensors are located by checking your manual or going to the companys website. Some manufacturers have specific cleaning instructions. For example, iRobot recommends using a lightly dampened melamine foam, such as a Magic Eraser, to clean the sensors and the camera, if the vacuum has one. For most robotic vacuums, though, wiping the sensors with a dry cloth is enough. It doesnt need to be wet, and you dont need soap, Nasrallah says. You just need to give the sensors a thorough wipe to make sure theyre not coated in dust. If stubborn dirt remains, you can then use a slightly damp cloth to get it off.

Check the Wheels

If your robot is moving strangely, there could be something stuck in the wheel cavity or on the wheel itself. If the wheels can be removed, do so and clean any debris you see inside the wheel cavity, and remove any dirt or hair from the wheels axle. Wipe the wheel itself before popping it back in. If the wheels cant be removed, see if you can get out whatevers stuck with a knife. Most of the time this will work, Nasrallah says. But if you cant pop out the wheels, dont unscrew the unit to remove them until you check with the manufacturer; doing so might void the warranty.

Dealing With the Gross Stuff

Our followers on social media have told us their robovacs have unwittingly spread their sick pets vomit, and, sorry to say, smeared dog poop all over the house. If your robot makes the same mistake, you should remove the dustbin and any other easily removable parts and wipe them down with a lightly dampened melamine foam sponge. Any noncorrosive cleaner suitable for electronics should work fine. If you need to disinfect the vacuum, you can use 70 percent isopropyl alcohol wipes. You just want to avoid using anything that might damage the surface material of the robot. Carefully spray a tiny amount of cleaner or disinfectant (no more than a single spray) on a sponge and wipe.

When wiping the body of the robot to remove dirt, use a slightly damp (not dripping wet) melamine foam sponge and try to avoid any small openings where water can get inside. You can rinse the robotic vacuums bin in a sink (or hose it down outside, depending on the mess). Just make sure its completely dry before replacing it.

Filter Maintenance

Filters should be cleaned every five to 10 cleaning sessions, or about every other week. Remove it from the vacuum and gently tap it in a trash can to release any dust. You can also use a hand vacuum to clean the filter, or use a soft brush to loosen dust (and prevent your hands from getting dirty) into a trash can.

If you suspect your filter got wet (say, it rolled over a spilled drink) or you can see that its covered in residue, its best just to replace it. Many filters are made from paper, and getting them wet will damage them, Nasrallah says.

Best Robotic Vacuums From CRs Tests

Here, listed in alphabetical ordernot by rankare five standouts from CRs robotic vacuum tests.

How CR Tests Robovacs

Robovacs have become a popular choice for helping to keep a house clean, but how well do they perform? On the Consumer 101 TV show, Consumer Reports experts explain to host Jack Rico how CR tests these handy vacs to find out which one is right for you.





More from Consumer Reports:

Top pick tires for 2016

Best used cars for $25,000 and less

7 best mattresses for couples





Consumer Reports is an independent, nonprofit organization that works side by side with consumers to create a fairer, safer, and healthier world. CR does not endorse products or services, and does not accept advertising. Copyright  2020, Consumer Reports, Inc.
KAMPALA  Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) has on Tuesday March 10, confirmed its first case of coronavirus, bringing the number of countries in sub-Saharan Africa hit by the epidemic to seven.

The patient, according to Health Minister Eteni Longondo, is a Congolese citizen who lives in France and returned to Congo on March 8 with no symptoms of the virus,

The patient and others with him have been placed in quarantine, Mr. Longondo said.

What Id like to tell people is not to panic, he said, recommending people wash their hands regularly and stay at least one meter apart from people who have a cough.

The outbreak has largely spared sub-Saharan Africa so far, but since February a few cases have been registered in Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Cameroon, Togo and Burkina Faso.

North African countries Egypt and Algeria have registered dozens of cases.

Congos first coronavirus case comes as its long-running Ebola epidemic appears to be on the wane.

The last patient being treated for Ebola was discharged on March 3  the first time there have been no active cases since the outbreak was declared in August 2018.

The news Coronavirus in the neighbouring DR Congo put Uganda on red alert.

Uganda health Ministry has set up inspection teams all border points and the airport to ensure all people are subjected to screening.

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March 10 (Reuters) - Wizz Air has suspended all flights to Italy and Israel after the two countries announced moves to try to beat Europe's worst outbreak of coronavirus, the low-cost carrier said on Tuesday.

Flights to and from Italian airports will be cancelled from March 10 until April 3 and flights serving Israel's Tel Aviv and Eilat will be suspended from March 12 until March 23, the company said. (Reporting by Angel Krasimirov; editing by Jason Neely)
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Lilis Putri Ayu, a 33-year-old barista brewed a cup of coffee at the Jeera Pascorner coffee shop located next to Cipinang Penitentiary in Jatinegara, East Jakarta, for a customer. Nothing extraordinary except that Jeera Pascorner is staffed by two former convicts.

Lilis served a jail term at Pondok Bambu Women's Penitentiary in Duren Sawit, also in East Jakarta, until she was released in 2016.

In May 2017, she joined a barista-training program run by the Jeera Foundation, which focuses on helping former inmates to develop skills and creativity and she started working at Jeera Pascorner five months later.

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After a stunning display of fashion and poise, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry have officially completed their final engagements as senior working members of the British royal family. Though Megxit has been in the works since early January 2020  the Sussexes will be free and independent as of April 1.

So far, we know that the duke and duchess are seeking a more peaceful life where they can raise their son, Archie Harrison while making money doing the things that they love. We also know that Queen Elizabeth has asked the couple to rebrand themselves. After March 31, they will no longer be coined, Sussex Royal.

However, aside from rumors and speculation regarding possible Hollywood deals and their new charitable entity, we dont actually know what the Sussexes will be up to next. We do know that a tell-all book penned by the duchess is out of the question.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have no regrets about Megxit

From their blissful looks, as they carried out their final royal duties, its no question that Megxit was the right move for the Sussexes. Theyve been able to spend some much needed time away from the spotlight on Vancouver Island in Canada with their son, Archie Harrison as they planned their new lives.

They both love to be outside and have been loving it there, a source revealed to People. When theyre not doing yoga or eating in, Harry will pick up sandwiches at a local spot, and Meghan walks her beloved rescue beagle Guy and the couples adopted Labrador. They go for long walks, they do yoga, and Meghan cooks. They are real homebodies who love to chill out with Archie and the dogs.

However, there are whispers that the duo and Archie will be spending time in Los Angeles this summer where the Sussexes can broker some major deals. They have started to look at homes online and are in the process of interviewing security teams, a source close to the Sussexes told E! News. They are getting their ducks in a row and seeing if its logistically possible. Theyve reached out to people in L.A. and would like to assemble a team of locals. Meghan would like to be able to do meetings at the house and also be able to host friends and entertain. Those are two things that are important to her.

Rumors are swirling that Meghan Markle is working on a tell-all book

Now that the Sussexes are officially out of The Firm rumors are running rampant about what they might do next. Royal expert, Chris Ship is predicting that the Duchess of Sussex will write a tell-all book or do a major interview. If they want to achieve all the things they want to achieve, and I will come to that shortly, they need to capitalize on their current high profile, he explained to ITV News. Right now, it couldnt be any higher. Here is an American woman, who in the space of less than two years, joined the Royal Family and then decided she wanted to leave it. That creates a huge amount of interest in this individual. Meghan could decide to tell all, to write a book, to do a big interview.

This would be gravely upsetting to Queen Elizabeth who is allegedly already suspicious of the Sussexes motives. Putting that 12-month review in place goes to show you that the Queen will be watching them like a hawk, Julie Montagu Viscountess Hinchingbrooke said in the Channel 5 documentary, Royals: A family in crisis. She will want to see everything that they are doing, what they are making money from and how it is affecting the Royal Family. So there must be some concern from the Queen about what their intentions are.

Meghan Markle will never write a tell-all book

Though it would be wildly popular and certainly lucrative  Meghan will never write a tell-all book. Prince Harry still has a ton of respect and admiration for Queen Elizabeth and the Sussexes have vowed to respect her and the royal family post-Megxit.

The Sussexes have stated that they are determined to honour our duty to The Queen, the Commonwealth, and our patronages.




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About half of primary care physicians say the health care system is unable to provide adequate care for many of the country's 5.8 million Alzheimer's patients  even as the number with the disease ramps up, according to a new report detailing the status of Alzheimer's in the United States. In addition, the report sheds new light on the challenges faced by unpaid caregivers, who provide the bulk of help to dementia patients.

In its 2020 Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures report on the state of the disease, the Alzheimer's Association reveals that primary care physicians (PCPs) are worried about both current and future treatment of dementia patients.

A survey of PCPs found that 82 percent say they are on the front lines of providing dementia care. Nearly half (45 percent) believe that the medical profession is not very prepared to care for Alzheimer's and other dementia patients, and 5 percent say they are not at all prepared, according to the report. Looking at their own regions, 49 percent said there are not enough specialists on Alzheimer's to meet patient demand. An additional 6 percent said there are almost no specialists available locally.

The report found that while there has been an uptick in the number of geriatricians, trends in medical training also point to a growing shortage."

"The workforce to care for the older population is currently, and is likely to continue to be, inadequate, the report asserts.

The report also addressed the issue of unpaid caregiving. More than 16 million family members, friends and other unpaid caregivers provide care, the association says, amounting to 18.6 billion hours in 2019. The association estimates the total value of unpaid caregiving during last year was $244 billion.
...our goal is to make the best and most affordable PDF editor and contract management software that smaller businesses, entrepreneurs, and startups can take advantage of.

PDFelement from Wondershare has been honored in the Contract Management Software Top 20 list by Capterra, one of the worlds top business software review destinations.

With the launch of Wondershare PDFelement version 7 Standard and Pro editions, Wondershare has introduced the world to the next generation of PDF document and contract management software with a bang. The redesigned interface, new features, and stronger performance make this an appealing choice for businesses looking for a low-cost Adobe Acrobat alternative. The utility is available for all major OS platforms including Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android, making it a device-agnostic application with a high degree of mobility.

PDFelement 7 and PDFelement 7 Pro both have a completely rehashed interface with a focus on minimalism and functionality. Taking the best of PDFelement 6 and PDFelement 6 Pro, the designers and developers at Wondershare have raised the bar even higher by giving PDFelement 7 and 7 Pro a much smoother user interface, multiple ways to execute a task, a streamlined and intuitive tool section, greater speed and higher accuracy during PDF conversion, cloud sharing, adding legally binding digital signatures, and enhancements across most of its extensive feature set. The result is a stunning piece of software thats muscular and lithe, offers all the features of a robust PDF editor, and available at a much lower price point than the market-dominating Adobe Acrobat DC and Pro DC.

According to PDFelement teams developer, We believe that the new PDFelement 7 PDF editor and its Pro sibling truly serve the greater purpose, which is getting an affordable yet powerful PDF tool into the hands of business owners who dont have the resources for expensive software. We think weve done that with this iteration, but the best is yet to come. This prestigious award from Capterra means were headed in the right direction with PDFelement.

Wondershare PDFelement 7 and PDFelement 7 Pro offer comprehensive contract management capabilities. The utilities are designed for heavy PDF workflows on local servers and the cloud, which positively impacts productivity, efficiency, and accuracy of output. In addition to the core PDF editor products, Wondershare also offers a range of applications in Data Management, Digital Creativity, and Office Productivity.

The award from Capterra is a beginning rather than a destination. It validates the painstaking effort that our teams have put into the product, but it also highlights how we can keep improving on aspects like user experience, functionality, speed, precision, and so on. PDFelement 7 and PDFelement 7 Pro are important milestones in this long journey, and our goal is to make the best and most affordable PDF editor and contract management software that smaller businesses, entrepreneurs, and startups can take advantage of, from PDFelements developer.

About Wondershare

Wondershare is the software development brain behind some of the worlds most popular applications like dr. fone, Filmora, and PDFelement 7. With no less than 16 products to their credit, Wondershare is adept and moving quickly and hitting the market with award-winning products that users love. Today, Wondershare sells its products to multiple markets and caters to a wide category of users ranging from individuals and small businesses to large corporations and enterprise-level companies.

Media Contact:

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The Netherlands will this year break a long tradition of supplying the flowers for the pope's Easter address because of the coronavirus outbreak, if it goes ahead at all, organisers said Wednesday. For the past 35 years, Saint Peter's Square in the Vatican has been decked out with tulips, daffodils, roses or orchids donated by the Netherlands, one of the world's biggest hubs for cut flowers. "The developments around coronavirus in Italy are very serious. In consultation with all concerned parties, it has been decided to cancel the floral decorations for Saint Peter's Square this year," Paul Deckers, the florist in charge of the project, said on Twitter. Last year, the Easter Sunday address by Pope Francis drew some 70,000 people to the Vatican, which is in the centre of the Italian capital Rome. However, Italy is now under national lockdown after becoming the epicentre of the European virus outbreak with 631 deaths so far. "It's the first time we haven't done it," Deckers told NOS public radio, adding that it was possible the address could be cancelled altogether.
Jyotiraditya Scindia (left) and BJP National President JP Nadda (Image: @BJPLive)

Former Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on March 11, a day after quitting the Indian National Congress.

Scindia was inducted into the BJP by party chief JP Nadda at the headquarters in New Delhi.

Addressing the press, Scindia said Congress was no longer what it used to be and that it is living in denial.

"I am saddened with the situation in Congress. Congress is no longer what it used to be. It rejects reality. In Madhya Pradesh, we had a dream when we formed the government there in 2018. But in 18 months, those dreams have been destroyed," Scindia said shortly after his induction.

Our Prime Minister, Narendra Modi ji, has got not once, but twice, a mandate like no other. The way he has worked, I feel that the future of India is safe in the hands of PM Modi. He has worked with a vision, the 49-year-old said.

I have always believed that social service should be our only objective. Politics should be a medium to fulfil that, nothing more than that, he said.

Follow our LIVE blog for the latest updates on the political crisis in Madhya Pradesh

Scindia, the head of the Gwalior royal family, also repeatedly thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for "welcoming me into their family".

I would like to thank Nadda ji for presenting me with this platform. I am hopeful that I will get an opportunity to serve the people. I am excited to work on the path shown by PM Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, he added.

Reports suggest that he could be given a Rajya Sabha ticket and be inducted into the Union Cabinet.

Scindia had tendered his resignation from the party on March 10, stating that he wanted to look ahead at a fresh start to reflect and realise the aspirations of "my people and my workers".

The Congress, however, said it had expelled Scindia for anti-party activities.

Also read: Ahead of floor test in Madhya Pradesh Assembly, heres how numbers stack up for the two sides

The development came right after Scindias meeting with PM Modi and Shah, and amid high political drama in the state ahead of the Rajya Sabha elections on March 26 and the Budget Session of the Assembly scheduled for March 16.

Earlier on March 9, many MLAs  reportedly close to Scindia  were flown to Bengaluru, Karnataka where the BJP is in power.

Reports then suggested that this was a part of the internal tussle within the Congress' Madhya Pradesh unit, where tensions between the Scindia faction and Chief Minister Kamal Nath's faction had been simmering ever since the formation of the government in 2018.
Winnipeg funnyman and former breakfast television host Jon Ljungberg will be spending the next six months confined to his house after he was convicted Tuesday of two offences under the Bankruptcy Insolvency Act.

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This article was published 10/3/2020 (671 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Winnipeg funnyman and former breakfast television host Jon Ljungberg will be spending the next six months confined to his house after he was convicted Tuesday of two offences under the Bankruptcy Insolvency Act.

Ljungberg, 57, pleaded guilty to not reporting his income or making payments as required to his bankruptcy trustee after declaring bankruptcy in January 2016.

"Hes taken the cover of bankruptcy and protected himself from creditors and done nothing he was required to do," said Crown attorney Laura Perron, who, with defence lawyer Ethan Pollock, recommended Ljungberg be sentenced to six months house arrest.

By December 2016, Ljungberg stopped reporting his income to his bankruptcy trustee or making payments. (Supplied)

Court heard Ljungberg, who co-hosted Citytvs Breakfast Television for 11 years until he was let go in 2010, provided the trustee with an initial monthly income estimate in January 2016 that would have required him to submit $573 to the trustee each month. But within two months, Ljungberg was already in arrears and not providing the trustee with his income and expense statements.

By December 2016, Ljungberg stopped reporting his income or making payments altogether, even after a GoFundMe page and a comedy night benefit in March 2017 raised $20,000 for him.

The bankruptcy trustee sought a motion in February 2017 to garnishee Ljungbergs wages, but by the time it was granted he had quit his job at Riverview Health Centre.

By the time Ljungberg was charged early last year, he had paid the trustee just $950 and owed approximately $20,000.

"For all I know, you could be making $200,000 a year, because you wont comply."  Judge Ray Wyant

Ljungberg, a veteran comedian who has opened for the likes of Celine Dion and Roseanne Barr, saw his life start to spiral out of control after his wife left him the same day he lost his job at Citytv, Pollock said.

"He hit the bottle," Pollock said.

Ljungberg "did everything he could to stay afloat," Pollock said, including a "humbling" job making balloon bouquets for minimum wage.

In January 2017 he was rushed to the hospital with massive internal bleeding. He was diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver and given three to five years to live.

Ljungbergs health problems can sometimes leave him confused or "foggy," Pollock said.

"After receiving such a grim diagnosis, some people might throw in the towel, but thats not Jon Ljungberg," he said.

In 2018 Ljungberg completed a 58-day residential treatment program for alcoholism and "has been sober ever since," Pollock said.

He now makes his living travelling the country as a keynote and motivational speaker.

Ljungberg in 2011 when he was named the special events co-ordinator at Riverview Health Centre. (Supplied)

"I have done everything to get back to where I was and am grateful to still be here, able to teach and be a member of the community," Ljungberg told provincial court Judge Ray Wyant.

But if Ljungberg was expecting Wyant to be swayed by his words, the joke was on him. Missing from Ljungbergs comments was any mention of repaying what he owed the bankruptcy trustee, said Wyant, describing Ljungberg as "nothing but a con artist."

While mental confusion might have impacted his actions earlier, Ljungberg is clearly healthy enough now to make a living delivering speeches, but has taken no steps to resume payments to the bankruptcy trustee, Wyant said.

"For all I know, you could be making $200,000 a year, because you wont comply" with requirements to report (his) income, Wyant said. "The only conclusion I can come to is you just dont want to do it that you have something to hide."

Wyant in the end agreed to the sentencing recommendation, including an order he complete 50 hours community service work.

dean.pritchard@freepress.mb.ca

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Siskin Childrens Institute welcomes Dr. Cindy Chestaro to the Siskin Center for Developmental Pediatrics. Dr. Chestaro is a Developmental Behavioral Pediatrician, whose passion is working with children with special needs and their families.

Dr. Chestaro brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to our center as we continue to grow to meet the need of families in our region, said Derek Bullard, president and CEO of Siskin Childrens Institute. Improving access to care for families is one of our priorities and adding Dr. Chestaro to the team will dramatically increase the number of children and families we can serve including our Spanish speaking families.

Dr. Chestaro specializes in the diagnostic evaluation, medical management, and family support for children with developmental and behavioral conditions  including Autism Spectrum Disorder, intellectual disability, complex ADHD, learning disorders, speech and language disorders, developmental delays, and behavioral disorders. In addition to her clinical focus, Dr. Chestaro serves in a teaching capacity through her Clinical Assistant Professor appointment at the University of Tennessee College of Medicine at Chattanooga, Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics.

Dr. Chestaro earned her medical degree from the Universidad Iberoamericana UNIBE School of Medicine in the Dominican Republic. She completed her residency at John H. Stroger Hospital of Cook County in Chicago followed by a fellowship in Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics at the University of Chicago and a fellowship in Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities at the University of Illinois at Chicago. She is a member of the Society of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics and the Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry as well as a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. She has been involved in many community projects, lead several seminars on disability related topics, and shared her expertise through lectures and serving as a clinical teaching preceptor.

As a developmental behavioral pediatrician, my greatest desire is to help each child be the best they can be by highlighting their strengths while supporting their challenges," said Dr. Chestaro. "I have always been very passionate about empowering families through education and counseling so they celebrate their childs individual traits and feel confident in working with and supporting their child.

Siskin Childrens Institute practices an interdisciplinary approach to early identification and intervention for developmental and behavioral concerns. The team consists of specialists in the areas of developmental pediatrics, speech pathology, occupational therapy, physical therapy, behavior psychology, applied behavior analysis, nursing, and supportive staff. These professionals work collaboratively with the family to support the unique needs of each child.

Siskin Children's Institute is affiliated with the Department of Pediatrics with the University Of Tennessee College Of Medicine Chattanooga and with Children's Hospital at Erlanger. This collaboration increases the access to a wide range of specialty medical services that are needed to provide high-quality comprehensive care to our patients while also educating our future pediatricians to support local workforce development, said officials.

For more information about the Center for Developmental Pediatric at Siskin Childrens Institute, visit siskin.org.






[March 11, 2020] Wonolo Offers Emergency and Flex Time Off Benefits to Gig Workers in Response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19)

SAN FRANCISCO, March 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Wonolo , the leading platform disrupting the temporary staffing industry, today announced that it is taking immediate action to help workers who use Wonolo respond to the coronavirus (COVID-19): Expanding its Flex Time Off (FTO) program to all workers retroactively. This will preclude workers, sick or otherwise, from having to face deciding whether to earn a paycheck or go to the doctor Pay workers for up to 14 days of quarantine Excusing late withdrawals for sick workers "We're doing this because, as part of our daily conversations with the workers who use our platform, we constantly hear Wonolo is often a lifeline for them and their families; the coronavirus threatens that lifeline and we want to do our part to help them manage this scary and uncertain time," said Yong Kim, cofounder and CEO of Wonolo.



Expanding Paid Flex Time Off

Before diagnoses of the coronavirus were confirmed in the U.S., Wonolo announced a new set of perks and portable benefits so workers would have the opportunity to take time off, to go on vacation, or to manage a last-minute emergency without worrying about lost earnings. That program was initially only available to select workers, but Wonolo is now making it available to every worker who uses Wonolo. This will preclude workers, sick or otherwise, from having to face deciding whether to earn a paycheck or go to the doctor.

Paying Quarantined Workers

The number of people being quarantined is growing and likely will continue to grow in the weeks ahead. So Wonolo will be paying workers for up to 14 days of quarantine. Workers who use the platform get paid by the hour so the amount they'll be paid will be proportional to the amount of work they do on Wonolo. Excusing Late Withdrawals

Under Wonolo's normal policy, workers who withdraw from a job 12 hours before they're expected to work may be restricted from accessing work in the future. In order to protect the Wonolo community and make sure people do not show up to work feeling sick, Wonolo will excuse late withdrawals for illnessesincluding taking care of a direct family member. About Wonolo

Wonolo is an online platform that connects workers  or "Wonoloers"  to retail, e-commerce, distribution, fulfillment, and other types of blue collar, frontline jobs across the U.S. Founded in 2014, Wonolo now serves over 300,000 gig workers, providing them access to job opportunities across the nation at companies like Coca-Cola, UNIQLO, Papa John's, and thousands more. These "Work Now Locally" opportunities vary widely, from customer service, delivery, and event staffing to food production, warehousing, and manufacturing. Wonolo has 200 employees, including in their San Francisco and Nashville headquarters, serving workers and companies across the country. Contact

Jared Favole, Wonolo

[email protected] View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/wonolo-offers-emergency-and-flex-time-off-benefits-to-gig-workers-in-response-to-the-coronavirus-covid-19-301021435.html SOURCE Wonolo Inc.

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You are here: China

The death toll from a hotel building collapse in east China's Fujian Province on Saturday has risen to 26 by Wednesday morning, local authorities said.

Sixty-eight people had been pulled out of the debris of Xinjia Hotel in Licheng district in the city of Quanzhou by 6:40 a.m. Wednesday, and among them, 26 had died, said the rescue headquarters.

At the time of the collapse, a total of 71 people were trapped. Rescue workers are searching for another three people who remain missing.

On Tuesday, 10 injured had been discharged from local hospital.

Construction of the building, with a floor area of around 7,000 square meters, began in 2013. It was converted into a hotel in 2018 with 66 rooms.

The hotel collapse is a production accident as the building had been illegally reconstructed several times, Shang Yong, deputy head of the Ministry of Emergency Management (MEM), told a press conference on Tuesday.

The MEM has pledged to launch a comprehensive accident investigation to identify the cause, he added.
ISLAMABAD - A Pakistani fighter pilot died Wednesday when his F-16 jet crashed in a wooded area near the capital while practicing aerobatic manoeuvrs ahead of this months National Day celebrations, Pakistans air force said.

There were no casualties on the ground or damage to property, according to an air force statement. Pakistans President Afif Alvi expressed his condolences to the family of the pilot, Noman Akram.

Footage on social media and local TV stations showed black smoke rising from a tree-filled area under overcast skies. One video appeared to show the plane pulling out of a steep dive before heading behind a hill, then the roar of the jet engine ends in a thump followed by a ball of fire.

Pakistani authorities rarely release details of military training crashes, which are relatively common. In January, a FT-7 jet trainer went down in the eastern Punjab province, killing the two pilots.

Last July, 19 people died when a Pakistani military aircraft crashed into a residential area on the outskirts of the garrison city of Rawalpindi, most of them in their homes.

Wednesdays crash came ahead of the March 23 National Day celebration, which last year featured short- and long-range missiles, tanks, jets, drones and other hardware.

Pakistans air force has been on high alert since last February, when India launched airstrikes inside Pakistan. The strikes targeted Pakistan-based militants responsible for a suicide bombing that killed 40 Indian troops in Indian-administered portion of Kashmir.

At the time, Pakistan retaliated and shot down two Indian air force planes. One Indian pilot was captured and later released. But tensions have continued to remain high between the two nuclear-armed neighbours over the disputed Kashmir region, which is divided between them and claimed by both in its entirety.

Pakistan and India have fought two of their three wars over Kashmir after gaining independence from Britain in 1947.
Amid the rising cases of coronavirus affliction globally, India on Tuesday barred entry of the nationals of three more countries, France, Germany and Spain, suspending the regular as well as e-Visas granted to them till date.

New Delhi: Amid the rising cases of coronavirus affliction, India on Tuesday barred entry of the nationals of three more countries, France, Germany and Spain, suspending the regular as well as e-Visas granted to them till date, if they have not yet entered the country.

"All regular (sticker) Visas/e-Visas granted to nationals of France, Germany and Spain and issued on or before March 11 and who have not yet entered India stand suspended with immediate effect," said a Bureau of Immigration notification issued late Tuesday night.

Regular visas, including e visas, granted to all foreign nationals who have travel history to these countries on or after February 1 and who have not yet entered India also stands suspended, it said.

The notification also strongly urged Indian citizens to refrain from travelling to France, Spain and Germany, besides the other countries they were advised earlier to avoid.

The new notification was issued shortly after Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba on Tuesday held a high-level meeting of secretaries of various ministries and departments, grappling to contain the spread of the deadly Covid-19.

The meeting was held to review the status, actions, preparedness and management of COVID-19 cases in the country, an official statement of Union Health Ministry said after the meeting.

With more than 100 countries across the world now having reported cases of COVID-19, the Union Health Ministry, in its advisory, also urged citizens returning from abroad to self-monitor their health and follow the recommended do's and dont's.

The advisory also called for passengers with travel history to China, Hong Kong, Republic of Korea, Japan, Italy, Thailand, Singapore, Iran, Malaysia, France, Spain and Germany to undergo self-imposed quarantine for a

period of 14 days from the date of their arrival, and their employers to facilitate work-from-home for such employees during this period.

India had already suspended visas granted till to the nationals of Italy, Iran, South Korea, Japan and China. Visas of all foreigners already in India remain valid and they may contact the nearest FRRO/FRO through the e-FRRO module for extension or conversion of their visa or grant of any consular service, if they choose to do so, the ministry said in its statement.

A total of 50 confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been reported in the country, until now, the ministry's statement said.

After 44 positive cases declared on Monday, three more positive cases were reported from Bengaluru with travel history from the US via Dubai, another one from Bengaluru with travel history from the US via Heathrow and two other positive cases from Pune with travel history from Dubai.

Of the 50 cases reported in India, 34 cases are of Indian nationals while 16 other are of Italians, the Union Health Ministry statement said.

It added that two deaths reported from Murshidabad and Ladakh on Monday were both found to be negative for COVID-19.

More than 1,400 contacts have been put under surveillance for these positive cases, till date, the statement said, adding that 404 Indians, who came in contact of the US citizen found positive for COVID-19 in Bhutan, have been identified and put under surveillance in Assam.

Additionally, the first batch of 58 evacuees from Iran arrived today with 25 men, 31 women and two children on board an IAF C-17 flight, which arrived on Tuesday morning. All the evacuees are being monitored and clinically stable presently.
Michelle Obama's first effort to get out the vote in 2020 has been cancelled due to coronavirus concerns.

Obama was scheduled to appear at a kick-off rally for her non-profit 'When We All Vote' on March 27 in Detroit, Michigan.

Organizers announced Wednesday, however, that 'out of an abundance of caution for the health and safety of attendees and individuals' the event would be nixed and the group would try to reschedule it for a later date.

In contrast, President Trump announced a new campaign event in the past 24 hours.

Michelle Obama was supposed to hold a get out the vote rally later this month in Detroit, Michigan, but organizers announced Wednesday that it would be nixed for now due to coronavirus concerns

Michelle Obama, seen at a When We All Vote event in September 2018 before the midterm elections, wants to get out the Democratic-leaning vote in pivotal swing states that flipped to red and helped President Trump get elected in 2016

Meanwhile President Trump, photographed Tuesday during a visit to Capitol Hill Tuesday, rolled out another campaign event late Tuesday - a 'Catholics for Trump's kick-off in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Obama and the organization is targeting Michigan as it's one of three states that flipped from blue to red in 2016 to hand the White House to President Trump.

While 'When We All Vote' is non-partisan, signing up certain demographics to vote in 2020 - like young voters - should boost turnout for Democratic candidates.

The former first lady's change of plans comes after both Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden cancelled campaign rallies Tuesday night in Cleveland, Ohio.

Sanders and Biden were to address supporters from 'Super Tuesday 2' states from Ohio - which votes alongside Florida, Arizona and Illinois next week.

Instead, Biden addressed a small group at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where his presidential campaign is headquartered.

He'll give an address on the coronavirus Thursday from Wilminton, Delaware, where he lives. Biden cancelled a planned Thursday campaign rally in Tampa, Florida.

Sanders, on the other hand, headed home to Burlington, Vermont as he experienced a series of losses, including from Michigan - where he won against Hillary Clinton in 2016.

Both Democrats said they were heeding the advice of local health officials and were aware that large rallies could help spread the disease.

Trump made no such commitment.

On Thursday, the president will fly to Las Vegas to participate in the Republican Jewish Coalition's annual conference.

He's also making a side trip to Denver, Colorado, though he hasn't announced if he's holding a rally.

He has announced that he'll attend a 'Catholics for Trump' campaign launch event next week in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
A series of gaffes pertaining to crime statistics recently earned the state the label of Udta Haryana, putting the BJP-JJP government to embarrassment.

The state government came under fire during the recently concluded assembly session when the National Crime Record Bureaus (NCRBs) 2018 report on death of 86 people in Haryana due to drug overdose was played up by the opposition MLAs during a calling attention motion.

Since it was higher than the 78 deaths reported in neighbouring Punjab, the opposition MLAs were quick to brand the state as Udta Haryana.

However, it has now emerged that the data provided by the State Crime Records Bureau (SCRB) to NCRB was factually incorrect, reflecting poorly on the functioning of the state government.

In a March 9 communication to the district police chiefs, police commissioners and top police officials, SCRB director Shrikant Jadhav pointed out a series of faux pas pertaining to supply of crime statistics.

Data pertaining to the deaths due to drug overdose provided by the district units to SCRB showed 86 deaths in 2018. This issue was raised in the recent assembly session also. During the verification of figures, it emerged that only 29 people died due to drug overdose , while the remaining 57 died of other reasons, Jadhav wrote.

Quoting another instance, the SCRB director said that as per statistics provided to the bureau, 162 people died in 2018 due to consumption of illicit or spurious liquor.

During verification, it was found that these people died due to excessive consumption of alcohol, and not due to consumption of spurious liquor, Jadhav stated.

Due to laxity of the vernacular record keepers and record writers of district units while supplying factually correct information, the image of the state and police has been tarnished and it would be impossible to undo the damage. Sarkaar ko hashiye par khada kar diya... (The government has been put on the edge...), the communication read.

As per senior police officials, cops handling the FIRs and records often fail to draw a distinction and this can lead to errors in the statistics. The vernacular record keepers and record writers are junior-rung officials and we cannot expect them to raise a flag, said an officer.

Jadhav has requested the district SPs to look into the crime statistics  particularly those pertaining to sensitive heads like drugs, illicit liquor, crimes against Scheduled Castes and women  before sending them to SCRB.

DISCREPANCY

What came out during verification

Data pertaining to the deaths due to drug overdose provided by the district units to SCRB showed 86 deaths in 2018, but during verification, it came to the fore that only 29 people died due to drug overdose , while the remaining 57 died due to other reasons

Lessons for future

SCRB director Shrikant Jadhav has requested the SPs to look into the crime statistics  particularly those pertaining to sensitive heads like drugs, illicit liquor, crimes against Scheduled Castes and women  before sending them to SCRB

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[March 11, 2020] Business Reporter: How the Internet of Things (IoT) Can Bridge the Gap Between the Consumer and the Supply Chain

LONDON, March 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Intelligent label technologies can transform a consumer's relationship with supply chains, according to Avery Dennison. Today, digital technologies do not just infiltrate different corners of our everyday lives: we have become integral parts of the internet ourselves. Hannah Bernard, global marketing and PR director for intelligent labels at Avery Dennison, a materials science company, says: "We are essentially walking, talking components in the IoT each of us, in essence, is now also a 'digital thing'." But how could we use this digital age more to our advantage? Increasingly, consumers are concerned about where the products they buy come from: how sustainable is the production of this product? Is enough known about the supply chain to make an informed decision? Avery Dennison has a solution: "A printed piece of paper, either applied to a product or integrated into a piece of packaging, has the potential to now also be an IoT-enabler." The divide between consumer and production should be bridged. Consumer concerns can be addressed "through a combination of old-fashioned supply chain best practices combined with intelligent labels, transforming the supply chain into an IoT ecosystem that can be tracked, traced, interrogated and held to account." So how do intelligent label technologies fit into the bigger picture of consumer and supply chain? They "make it possible for the 'who, what and where' of every physical product to become daa-points of irrefutable fact and absolute visibility."



This technological development brings in a new age of transparency and trust. Hannah explains that "digital innovations can now make direct customer engagement a more profound reality." IoT can facilitate a new era of communication, where people are more knowledgeable about the products they buy. Crucial issues of our time, such as ethical sourcing, corporate responsibility and brand safety, can be brought to the surface through the power of IoT.

To learn more about how the IoT can bridge the gap between the consumer and the supply chain, read the full article here. About Business Reporter Business Reporter is distributed with The Daily Telegraph, The Sunday Telegraph and City AM, with each publication reaching an average of 1.5 million people. Content is also published through the Business Reporter and teiss websites, which include video debates, online articles and digital magazines, delivering news and analysis on the issues affecting businesses to a global audience. Business Reporter also hosts conferences, breakfast meetings and exclusive summits, events that bring together some of the most influential decision-makers and innovators in modern business. These exclusive events for business leaders give Business Reporter direct contact with readers and help to inform the content and direction of its editorial projects. Business Reporter is committed to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and was the first UK member of the UN SDG Media Compact. It has launched a website dedicated to showcasing the work of companies towards these goals at 17globalgoals.com. Business Reporter is committed to providing meaningful analysis to everyone in business. Whether you're running a small business, the head of a local company or an executive in a multinational corporation, there's something for you at Business Reporter. business-reporter.co.uk About Avery Dennison Avery Dennison is a global leader in materials science and manufacturing, offering a variety of labelling and functional materials. Its solutions serve many industries, including retail apparel through pressure-sensitive materials for labels and graphic applications. It also offers radio-frequency identification (RFID) technologies to help businesses bring greater efficiency, reliability and accuracy to their global supply chains. averydennison.com

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Democratic presidential candidates Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders canceled campaign rallies in Cleveland, Ohio in light of concerns about the spread of coronavirus.

Sanders planned a Tuesday rally at the Huntington Convention Center while Biden was scheduled to hold a rally at Cuyahoga Community College after both candidates made campaign stops in Michigan. The campaigns said Ohio public health officials cautioned against holding large, indoor events during the coronavirus outbreak.

There are no confirmed cases of coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, in Michigan as of March 10. Three cases were confirmed in Ohio.

The announcement comes a busy weekend of campaigning in Michigan. Biden held a large rally at a Detroit high school Monday.

Sanders held rallies that drew an estimated 18,000 people to Grand Rapids and Ann Arbor Sunday. Thousands of college students back from spring break attended Sanders Sunday rally on the University of Michigans campus.

Sanders held a coronavirus town hall with Michigan public health officials at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport Monday afternoon. Sanders said his rallies in Michigan were organized after consulting public health officials.

Every organization in America is taking a look at what the coronavirus will mean for their operations, Sanders said. That is true of our campaign as well.

Sanders expressed concern for people who may decide to continue working after exhibiting symptoms, either because they dont have paid medical leave or because they live paycheck to paycheck.

The U.S. remains the only major country on earth not to guarantee paid sick leave and paid family leave," he said Monday. "That is absurd in a general sense, and its particularly dangerous given the moment we are at right now.

READ MORE: Coronavirus: What 23 Central NY, Upstate NY colleges are doing about classes? (list)

READ MORE: Syracuse hospital patient tests negative for coronavirus

READ MORE: Coronavirus in NY: State implementing containment area around New Rochelle
Because of its place at the start of the primary season, Iowa has too much power over our politics. We should instead move to a system in which all states hold their primaries at once and offer ranked-choice voting.
Voters said among their main motivations was finding a candidate to defeat US President Trump in the general election.

Dearborn, Michigan  In a continuation of the Super Tuesday turnout, Democratic voters turned out in droves on Tuesday for primaries in six states aimed at clearing up the question of who will go up against President Donald Trump in November  game-changer Bernie Sanders or the status quo candidate, Joe Biden.

Ultimately, Democratic voters opted for Biden, raising the question of whether Sanders will suspend his campaign.

While the exact delegate counts will take days to tally, Biden won the popular vote in Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, and Idaho. Sanders won the caucuses in North Dakota, but Washington state was still undecided as of 11am Eastern time (3pm GMT) on Wednesday.

Exit polls indicated that a pattern established in earlier states continued on Tuesday, with younger voters and Muslims opting for Sanders and older voters, along with African Americans and suburbanites, turning out for Biden. Voters told pollsters that one of their primary motivations was finding a candidate who can defeat Trump in the general election.

Joe Biden won the popular vote in Michigan, Missouri, and Mississippi [Matt Rourke/AP Photo]

Michigan turnout

Battleground state Michigan, which Sanders barely won in his 2016 race against former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, was the big prize of the evening, with 125 delegates at stake and turnout was so heavy that election officials were all but overwhelmed.

In the Sanders stronghold of Dearborn, a city with one of the largest concentrations of Muslims in the US, there were long lines at the city clerks office as people waited to register to vote. Tuesdays was the first election in Michigan that allowed voters to register the same day and the clerks office was not prepared for the volume.

Activist and Sanders supporter Linda Sarsour witnessed the chaos. None of the staff spoke Arabic, she said, and by mid-afternoon, the lines were so long that she saw about seven people leave without voting because they had to pick up their kids from school.

A good problem were having as a community is that the turnout in this particular area is higher than expected, at least according to the clerks office, Sarsour said.

A total of 352 delegates were up for grabs in all six states on Tuesday. Before the vote, Biden led Sanders by 628-545 in pledged delegates. A total of 1,991 is needed for the nomination.

Sanders out?

Before Tuesday nights results, Sanders had scoffed at the notion that he would drop out of the race if Tuesday went poorly. During a visit to polling stations in Detroit on Tuesday, he said he is now battling the Democratic establishment and rejected the idea that Biden is more electable.

In a general election, which candidate can generate the enthusiasm and the excitement and the voter turnout we need? Sanders asked. If you want to defeat Trump, which all Democrats do and the majority of independents do and some Republicans do, we are that campaign.

Sanders is in an urgent fight to turn things around as the primary calendar quickly shifts to other states  Florida, Ohio, Illinois, and Arizona on March 17 and Georgia on March 24  that could favour Biden and narrow Sanders path to the nomination. Biden could easily build an insurmountable delegate lead if he runs up the score in the upcoming contests.

Recent polling in Florida makes that state look like a looming disaster for Sanders, mainly because of his past defence of the late Cuban leader Fidel Castro, and he faces long odds in Ohio and Illinois given the results in Michigan. The wild card next week could be Arizona, where Sanders will be counting on strong Latino support, which lifted him to victory in California.

The union vote

Union members, a powerful part of the Democratic base in industrial Michigan, turned out strongly for Biden on Tuesday.

During the day, members of Unite Here, a hospitality union, were hunched over telephones in their Detroit headquarters in an effort to get their 7,000 members out to vote for the former vice president.

Alicia Weaver, a union organiser in Detroit, Michigan, calls members of the Unite Here hospitality union in a get-out-the-vote efforts on Tuesday. [Hilary Beaumont/Al Jazeera]

Alicia Weaver, an organiser for the union, had been at it for nearly a week straight. She said she has been dismayed by the lack of respect garnered by the office of the president since Trump took office and wants to change that in November.

Its almost like a reality show, Weaver said. She said she sees Biden as someone who can unite the country again. Theres too much division, and we need to come back together for the common good for everybody, she said.

Biden enjoys such strong support among union members because of the Obama administration bailouts that saved the car industry from oblivion after the 2008-2009 financial crisis. Terrell George, a Unite Here local board member said his members have long memories of how he rescued them from the brink of disaster.

Biden was there for us, he stood up for us, George said. A lot of union members and my uncle, in particular, kept their jobs. So he was there for us way before we were there for him.

Members of Unite Here say they are now turning their attention to the November contest. Weaver remembers being so confident about Michigan going to Democrat Hillary Clinton in her race against Trump in 2016 that she travelled to Nevada to help get out the vote there.

That was a nightmare, she says of 2016. We lost Michigan. We should have stayed home. If we had stayed home and concentrated on our own state, we probably could have won.

Weaver says she will not make the same mistake this year.

Magic school bus

Back in Dearborn, David Lam from Trenton, New Jersey was doing what he could to give Sanders an edge in Michigan. Lam rolled up to a mosque in a yellow school bus with Bernie signs on the windows, volunteering to drive people to the city clerks office to register to vote. One older gentleman boarded his bus.

David Lam (left) drove to Dearborn, Michigan from Trenton, New Jersey in order to help voters in that state vote for Bernie Sanders during Tuesdays primary. [Hilary Beaumont/Al Jazeera]

Lam started volunteering for Sanders in 2016. This year, he volunteered for Vermont senator in Iowa and New Hampshire. They were supposed to have an official Bernie bus in New Hampshire, but the campaign sent that funding to Iowa.

Ive always wanted a bus, because I wanted to turn my bus into a tiny home on wheels, so I was like, Guys why dont I get the bus early? They were like, Dave, go for it. I got the bus a day, two days later. A week after that, we were in New Hampshire.

He did not stop. He drove the bus to South Carolina, North Carolina, and now Michigan. Before Tuesdays results, he said he expects his last trip to be Ohio.

About 7pm local time (23:00 GMT), after waiting about an hour in line, the older gentleman who got on Lams bus said he had voted. He walked out of the clerks office with a smile.
Customs officials on Wednesday



seized precious gemstones valued at over 30 lakh from a 66-year-old man who arrived from Colombo at the airport here.

The gemstones, including sapphires and rubies, were found wrapped in an adhesive tape and concealed in his rectum, a press release said.

The gemstones weighed 3,058.4 carat and was valued at Rs 31.4 lakh.

The man said he was asked to handover the stones to another person outside the airport, the release said, adding, he was arrested.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Five additional presumptive positive results among Iowans for the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, were announced by state officials Tuesday evening.

The five older adults, who were on the same Egyptian cruise as seven other Johnson County residents and also tested positive for the respiratory virus, bring the state total to 13. These new cases also reside in Johnson County.

These individuals  all of whom are self-isolating and recovering at home  are between the ages of 61 and 80 years old.

Another individual, in Pottawattamie County in western Iowa, also tested positive for the virus after traveling to California, state officials said Monday.

Confirmatory testing still is pending with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Officials have not indicated a timeline on this testing.

In response to these new cases, Gov. Kim Reynolds on Monday signed a Proclamation of Disaster Emergency Monday evening, activating the Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Managements Iowa Emergency Response Plan.

The proclamation authorizes state agencies to use resources including personnel, equipment and facilities to perform activities necessary to prevent, contain and mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 virus, according to a news release.

COVID-19, which first was linked to an outbreak in China, since has been identified in several countries, including the United States. The United States has reported more than 900 cases that are associated with 28 deaths as of Tuesday evening, according to Johns Hopkins University.

In a Tuesday news conference, Reynolds said the states response is moving from prevention to mitigation.

All 21 Iowans who were on the Egyptian cruise have been contacted by the state public health department, Reynolds said.

State officials previously said three infected Johnson County residents had traveled from Feb. 17 to March 2 and returned to the state on March 3. Test results of these three Iowans on the Egyptian cruise were announced Sunday.

According to Johnson County Public Health officials  who held a news conference just two hours before the state announced the five additional cases  the risk to the general public in the county is extremely low.

Dave Koch, county public health director, said the infected individuals did not have symptoms when they interacted with the public, meaning the likelihood of spreading to others is low.

Symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough and shortness of breath.

According to the CDC, the virus spreads through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. These droplets land on surfaces, which other people touch and then get on their mouths or eyes with their fingers.

I want to assure the public that although they were in the community, and continue to be in the community, theyre not symptomatic and therefore they are not risking the general public health, Koch said during Tuesdays news conference.

State and local public health officials continue to emphasize Iowans can stay healthy by following everyday precautions that include washing hands frequently, covering coughs and sneezes and staying home when feeling ill.

The state also has established a public hotline  available 24 hours a day, seven days a week  for questions about COVID-19. Iowans can reach that hotline by dialing 2-1-1.
This is an opinion column.

The Alabama Legislature is thinking about change. Change, the Alabama way. Change, a long time after common sense and common understanding and common good. Change, after the world has moved on.

Alabama lawmakers are thinking about change. Slowly. Frustratingly. Embarrassingly.

They are again debating whether to end Alabamas ban on 

Yoga. In schools. Dear Lord help us all.

But thats right. They are fighting again about yoga in Alabama, where the rates of obesity and inactivity are among the highest in the nation -- almost as bad as Alabama students comprehension of math. They are debating the evil influence of yoga in a state where biscuits and sweet tea are both food group and sacrament, where rates of diabetes are second worst in the county.

Thank God for West Virginia.

The Legislature, decades after banning yoga out of religious hysteria, is again debating a bill by Rep. Jeremy Gray, D-Opelika, that would allow schools to practice yoga even if they have to call it something else, that would bend over backwards to appease religious extremists by continuing to ban the language of yoga, like the traditional respectful greeting namaste. The House actually passed the bill Tuesday afternoon, and the bill -- in past sessions one of the deadest of all bills -- will make its way to the Senate.

Amazing. In the history of stupid arguments from closed-minded zealots in and around the Alabama Legislature, this one is right up there. Right up there with that time Rep. Alvin Holmes asked in debate, Did God give the Tenth Amendment to the people of Israel before or after they crossed the Red Sea?

Help us. Any time these people try to speak for religion or science or health, there are consequences. I used to think they were unintended consequences, but I am no longer sure.

In my mind I see a courtroom, a hearing room perhaps, where a beleaguered P.E. teacher stares out at her accuser, a slick school board lawyer with hair and motives like a TV evangelist. Perhaps it will play like this.

Lawyer: Ms. Jones  is that your real name by the way? You have been accused of defying the better judgment of the great state of Alabama, of fillin the malleable minds of our youth with wild religious extremism. What say you?

Ms. Jones: Why yes sir, sir. My name really is Ms. Jones. But all I did was teach them stretching exercises I learned at the YMCA. Im not an extremist. Im an Episcopalian.

Lawyer: We will be the judges of that, Ms. Jones. Is it true that you taught these children to act like dogs, facing downward for some unholy reason? We are told you taught these susceptible students to pose in a warrior position. Are you planning to go to war, Ms. Jones?

Ms. Jones: No! Only a war on poor health. Theyre just names for stretches. Its all about breathing and flexibility and mindfulness. I was taught by a Baptist

Lawyer: Mindfulness? What kind of voodoo is that?

Ms. Jones: Its just like, you know, meditation.

Lawyer: I do not know, maam. That sounds a lot like some kind of sicko prayer to me. And you are forcing it on our children.

Ms. Jones: No

Lawyer: Is it not true that you ended your service with a secret foreign word  namaste? Is that a code word? Will it trigger these young people to worship cows or enjoy tofu? Will it turn them against Jesus?

Ms. Jones: Its just a term of respect and peace  like Aloha or something. And its not a service. Its not brainwashing. It will just make their minds and bodies healthier.

Lawyer: Answer the question, miss. Will it turn them against Jesus?

Ms. Jones: No sir. Not like you do.

John Archibald, a Pulitzer Prize winner, is a columnist for AL.com. His column appears in The Birmingham News, the Huntsville Times, the Mobile Register, Birmingham Magazine and AL.com. Write him at jarchibald@al.com.
Reportedly, several citizens are stuck at Rome's Fiumicino airport after the government has made it mandatory for people to provide a certificate declaring them coronavirus free.

Indian citizens currently stranded in Italy have sent out an SOS message via social media to the Indian Embassy and the Government of India. Reportedly, several citizens are stuck at Rome's Fiumicino airport after the government made it mandatory for people to provide a certificate declaring them coronavirus free.

Janice Pariat, an Indian poet and writer, put out the message through her Facebook account. She claims that Indians are unable to procure the mandatory certificate in Italy and hence were unable to board the Alitalia flight to New Delhi.

"We are stuck at the airport, with no help from the Indian embassy in Rome nor from India. We need to contact someone at the health ministry in New Delhi, India, so they can do the needful as soon as possible. Our flight leaves in an hour. Help," she wrote in a message posted almost an hour ago.

Hindustan Times also quoted SOS messages which claim that close to 200 people are stranded at Milan and Rome airports as they are either unaware that medical certificates are required, or are unable to procure them.

"We are being treated as smugglers. People have commented on the video put up on Facebook asking us why we want to come back to Kerala. Many came to the airport without knowing that a certificate would be required for them to travel. The airport authorities say that India was not ready to receive us... We are sitting at a corner of the airport in freezing temperatures. It is just like an isolation ward. The central government should give us the certificate to enable us to return," the newspaper quoted Hima, a woman from Kerala, as saying.

Following this, the Union government has said that it will send a team of doctors to Italy to collect their test samples for coronavirus test before they are brought back.

A team of four doctors  two microbiologists and two public health specialists  from the Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital and National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC)  will leave for Rome on Thursday night. The officials said the Indian Embassy in Italy has contacted Indian students in the country and asked them to reach to a designated venue where their samples would be collected.

Over 300 Indian students are in Italy at present, an official told PTI.

The news comes day after Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan had raised a similar concern with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Vijayan on Wednesday termed as "uncivilised" the

Centre's circular barring the return of Indians from coronavirus-hit countries such as Italy unless they produce a certificate that proves they have tested negative for the virus.

"How can we say that an Indian citizen cannot come back to India just because he is infected? Barring our citizens from coming to the country is an uncivilised attitude," Vijayan told the Assembly.

The Kerala chief minister had also shot off a letter to Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri to withdraw the circular and bring back the Indians stranded in the airport despite having booked tickets.

In his letter to Modi, Vijayan said the foreign authorities were not ready to test people without symptoms as they were already overloaded with patients.

"We are receiving information that many Indians are stranded in airports in Italy as they are not able to board flights to cities in India without this certificate. The certificates has been made mandatory irrespective of whether these travellers have symptoms or not," Vijayan said.

On 5 March, the Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare had issued a travel advisory asking those arriving in the country from coronavirus-affected Italy and South Korea to procure a certificate showing them having tested negative for the deadly virus. The advisory came into force on 10 March and is a temporary measure till cases of COVID-19 subside, the government had said in a statement on Monday.

The ciruclar stipulated that people "travelling from or having visited Italy or South Korea" and desirous of entering India "need to obtain certificates of having tested negative for COVID-19" from the designated laboratories authorised by the health authorities of those countries.

So far, India has evacuated 948 passengers from COVID-19-affected countries. Out of these, 900 are Indian citizens and 48 belonging to countries like Maldives, Myanmar, Bangladesh, China, USA, Madagascar, Sri Lanka, Nepal, South Africa and Peru, it said.

With inputs from PTI
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Melbourne (Australia), 11 ene (EFE).- El tenista serbio Novak Djokovic aguarda en Melbourne la decision de las autoridades australianas sobre su permanencia en el pais sin estar vacunado contra la covid-19, despues de que se haya informado que pudo haber mentido en su declaracion de entrada. El numero uno del mundo completo este martes su segunda sesion de entrenamiento de cara al Abierto de Australia, que se disputara a partir del 14 de enero, mientras el ministro de Inmigracion australiano, Alex Hawke, aseguro que sopesa la cancelacion del visado del tenista. El balcanico peloteo en la pista Rod Laver Arena, escenario en el que levanto hasta nueve titulos de Grand Slam, junto a su entrenador Goran Ivanisevic, segun unas imagenes aereas emitidas hoy por el canal publico ABC. El objetivo del tenista serbio es ganar el Abierto de Australia y alcanzar su vigesimo primer Gran Slam, superando asi a sus principales rivales, el suizo Roger Federer y el espanol Rafael Nadal. Djokovic llego el pasado miercoles a Melbourne con una exencion medica a vacunarse por haberse contagiado de la covid-19 en diciembre, pero los agentes de aduanas le denegaron el visado y fue retenido en un hotel mientras sus abogados presentaron un recurso. Un tribunal australiano dio el lunes la razon a Djokovic, de 34 anos, y le permitio la entrada en el pais, pero aun hay posibilidades de que sea expulsado del pais. INVESTIGACION DE POSIBLE MENTIRA Segun los medios australianos, las autoridades investigan si el tenista mintio a su entrada a Australia cuando aseguro que no habia visitado ningun tercer pais las dos semanas previas, lo que podria conllevar que su visado fuera cancelado de nuevo. El numero uno del mundo estuvo entrenando en unas instalaciones en Sotogrande (Cadiz), segun sus redes sociales, y viajo desde Malaga hacia Australia, segun el presidente del Comite Olimpico serbio, Borizadr Maljkovic. El tenista, que volo el dia 4 de enero haciendo escala en Dubai, pudo haber pasado la Navidad en Belgrado, segun algunas fotos en las redes sociales. La situacion en torno al mejor tenista del mundo ha supuesto un problema diplomatico entre Australia y Serbia, donde los familiares del Djokovic dicen que este ha sufrido una "tortura" durante el tiempo que ha estado retenido en un hotel de Melbourne. En una conversacion telefonica, la primera ministra serbia, Aan Brnabic, pidio a su homologo australiano, Scott Morrison, un trato justo y el respeto de los derechos de Djokovic, asi como un intercambio directo de informaciones en los proximos dias. Segun un comunicado, Brnabic recalco la importancia de las condiciones para el entrenamiento y preparativos fisicos del tenista para el torneo que le fueron negados en los dias pasados. "Brnabic pidio a su homologo australiano hacer todo lo que pueda para que Djokovic tenga un trato humano y digno en Australia durante todo el tiempo de su estancia", segun la nota. Segun la Oficina del Primer Ministro australiano, Morrison explico a Brnabic las restricciones de entrada al pais oceanico impuestas para combatir la pandemia, entre las que se exige la pauta completa de la vacuna contra la covid-19, aunque haya exenciones. En un dialogo descrito como "constructivo", Morrison aseguro a su homologa que estas restricciones no son discriminatorias y han servido para proteger a la nacion durante la pandemia. LA ATP DEFIENDE LAS VACUNAS Por su parte, la Asociacion de Tenistas Profesionales (ATP) destaco hoy su apoyo firme a la vacunacion contra la covid-19, al tiempo que pidio a Australia mejorar la comunicacion para evitar malentendidos. "La ATP continua recomendando firmemente la vacunacion de todos los jugadores del circuito, la cual creemos que es esencial para nuestro deporte en tiempos de pandemia. Esto esta basado en evidencia cientifica y supone beneficios para la salud", explico la ATP en un comunicado. El organismo afirmo que entiende los "sacrificios" realizados por los australianos y las politicas inmigratorias impuestas por la pandemia, pero agrego que "las complicaciones que experimento un jugador en su llegada subrayaron la necesidad de un entendimiento, comunicacion y aplicacion de la reglas mas claros". La ATP preciso que el incidente ha danado todos los frentes, "incluyendo el bienestar de Novak y preparacion para el Abierto de Australia". (c) Agencia EFE
Copyright  2020 Albuquerque Journal

SANTA FE  The National Nuclear Security Administration on Tuesday released its draft Supplement Analysis to the 2008 Site-wide Environmental Impact Statement for Los Alamos National Laboratory, concluding that it doesnt have to complete an environmental impact statement.

The study examines whether environmental analysis for expanded plutonium pit production at LANL should be required under the National Environmental Policy Act.

Based on analysis in this SA, NNSA preliminarily concludes that no further National Environmental Policy Act documentation for LANL at a site-specific level is required, the document says. However, NNSA will consider comments on this draft SA prior to publishing a final SA.

Release of the document triggers a 45-day public comment period. But some groups have already chimed in.

Jay Coghlan, director of Nuclear Watch New Mexico, pointed out that NNSA plans to go ahead with the environmental impact study at the Savannah River Site in South Carolina, which also produces plutonium pits, the radioactive core of a nuclear warhead.

Coghlan said in a news release Tuesday that NNSA was shutting the public out, while steamrolling exorbitantly expensive expanded pit production.

There is a clear need for a nationwide programmatic environmental impact statement to justify or not expanded plutonium pit production, followed by a new site-wide environmental impact statement for Los Alamos, he said.

President Trumps proposed budget for fiscal year 2021 calls for $9.5 billion to be put toward efforts to sustain and modernize the U.S. nuclear stockpile. Of that, $4.3 billion is earmarked for stockpile management and $2.5 billion is for production modernization to support production capabilities for nuclear weapons.

Meanwhile, Trumps proposal cuts spending on cleanup from $220 million to $120 million.

Greg Mello, director of the Los Alamos Study Group, also questioned whether NNSA was sincere about collecting public input.

NNSA will consider the comments it receives to refine its SA (basically an open memo-to-file) to prevent (as best it can) any successful legal challenge, he wrote on Monday in anticipation of the release of the draft analysis. That is the federal bureaucratic purpose of the SA. The public comment NNSA offers is completely meaningless.

According to an NNSA news release, LANL has been directed to produce 30 pits a year by 2026, while the Savannah River Site is tasked with producing 50 pits per year by 2030.

At LANL, expansion of pit production requires infrastructure construction, workforce expansion, waste management operations and transportation, it says.

Comments will be accepted through April 24. They can be mailed to: NNSA Los Alamos Field Office, Comments, LANL SWEIS SA, 3747 West Jemez Road, Los Alamos, NM, 87544. Comments may also be emailed to: lanlsweissa@nnsa.doe.gov.
Unless you've been living under a rock - or a 10-tonne pallet of toilet roll for that matter - Covid-19 will be a household term. With the world avidly awaiting daily updates, many of us have been struck by inertia, not wanting to move for fear of being sneezed, coughed or spluttered upon by potential germ carriers. The idea of self-isolation is beginning to sound as appealing as a five-star beach break in the Maldives.

But the World Tourism Organisation has warned against implementing travel bans unless absolutely necessary. Often they are ineffective and the potential social and economic impact could be devastating.

Of course, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (travelaware.campaign.gov.uk) is your best source of guidance for safe travel, but if you are planning a holiday in the coming weeks or months, here's some further advice to consider.

Don't assume cancellation is the only option

Rather than cancelling a trip altogether and risk losing money, travellers are being encouraged to postpone their plans temporarily. Etihad, for example, has temporarily removed all date change fees for flights and holidays booked between now and April 7, 2020.

Tour operator Kuoni has also fast-tracked the launch of its Kuoni Flex initiative, which offers customers the flexibility to reschedule their holiday to alternative travel dates without charge up until seven days before departure. This applies to several destinations, including Mauritius, the Maldives, Thailand, Bali, Sri Lanka, the Caribbean, Mexico and select India group departures, and is available for a limited booking period until March 16, on holidays departing from now until February 15 next year.

Appreciating this is a fast-moving situation, Royal Caribbean International has also announced a 'cruise with confidence' policy, permitting changes in travel plans up to 48 hours before sailing. Applicable to both new and existing bookings with Celebrity Cruises, Azamara and Silversea, the policy, which applies to all cruises with a sailing date on or before July 31 next year, allows guests to re-book with full credit on alternative cruises this year and next.

Monitor FCO advice to ensure your insurance policy is valid

In terms of no-go zones, keep checking the FCO website for details. Currently, Iran, Hubei province in China and Italy have been ruled out for all but essential travel.

If you booked a holiday before the FCO advice was issued, then travel insurance will cover you for unused and non-refundable travel and accommodation costs in that destination. But in the first instance, you should always approach the airline, your tour operator or your travel company for a possible refund or to see if they will amend your itinerary, advises Chris Rolland, CEO of specialist medical travel insurance provider AllClear Travel (allcleartravel.co.uk).

You will also be covered for emergency medical expenses if you contract coronavirus in a country where there was no FCO advisory at the time of departure.

Check the fine print thoroughly

"Travel insurance policies will cover emergency medical expenses and repatriation costs if treatment is needed as a result of the coronavirus," says Rebecca Kingsley, brand manager of consumer awareness initiative Travel Insurance Explained (travelinsuranceexplained.co.uk).

"Policies may also be extended should you be unable to return on your scheduled date, due to quarantine restrictions."

But she advises checking to find out exactly what is covered. Some policies, for example, will cover additional accommodation and food costs incurred if you are quarantined while away.

She also warns that delays are often only covered on outbound (and not return) journeys, so check this, too.

Even staycations require insurance cover

Right now, a holiday at home might seem like the safer option, but don't neglect insurance cover.

"Although we have free medical care in the UK, travel insurance will cover you if you need to cancel your holiday or return home early and cannot claim back the cost from elsewhere," says Kingsley. "In addition, some travel insurance policies will offer to cover the cost of pre-paid, non-refundable excursions and car hire if you are unable to make your trip."

It's worth noting, however, that some policies will only cover UK holidays if they are more than a minimum number of nights in duration.
No cases of coronavirus have yet been reported in Cheshire, but that may soon change.

On Tuesday, Chesprocott Health District Director Maura Esposito confirmed that members of the community, who have shown symptoms of the virus or who have traveled to parts of the world that have experienced a severe outbreak of the illness, are currently being monitored. Esposito did not state how many individuals are under observation, only stressing that its a very low number, and that , for those showing symptoms, all other possible illnesses must be ruled out before the patients can be officially tested for the coronavirus.

To the best of my knowledge, the number of people (from Cheshire) being monitored is very low, but we know this is how the virus has presented itself throughout the U.S., said Esposito. Thats why youre seeing a spike in places such as New York.

Thus far, only two cases of coronavirus have been detected in Connecticut. However, local and state leaders have already begun to take action designed to mitigate the spread of the illness.

On Monday, Gov. Ned Lamont encouraged municipalities and organizations to cancel or postpone any activities where 100 or more people would be gathered. As a result, one local event  ARTSDAY, planned for March 15  has been canceled.

Last week, Superintendent of Schools Jeff Solan announced that all international trips planned by the District for the remainder of the school year have been canceled (see page 3 for full story) and this week, he stated that domestic travel for field trips is also under review.

We have 40 more trips planned for the rest of the year, some to places as benign as the Eli Whitney Museum (in Hamden) and others to Manhattan, said Solan. We are discussing what steps we may want to take.

On Monday evening, the Superintendent sent a letter to all parents informing them that there will be whats being described as an emergency half day of classes on Thursday.

According to Solan, the District is preparing for the eventuality that school buildings may be closed for an extended period, which would leave Connecticut in a position to determine how to approach the remainder of the year as, by law, students must have 180 instructional days per year and yet the school calendar cannot extend past July 1.

We are going to prepare as if the state will say, You can use these days (out of school) as actual (instruction) days, explained Solan, so, we are looking into some sort of remote opportunity using the technology we have.

Faculty will spend the half day on Thursday going over exactly how such remote instruction would work, as well as discuss any complications that would arise with out-of-school education.

We have to make sure that all of our students and all of our teachers have access to the technology (wed be using), he said.

A sign was hung in Town Hall this week announcing the facility as a handshake-free zone, and Town Manager Sean Kimball explained that all employees have been encouraged to be fastidious about hygiene. Kimball explained that he has been keeping in constant contact with Chesprocott and that Cheshire is following the advice of our health officials.

Its hard to pinpoint one specific trigger (for the Town taking further action) as all circumstances involved have to be taken into consideration, he said. Thats why we are having these conversations, making sure that all possible scenarios are thought through.

Esposito stated that an approach to the virus is entering a next stage, and that all neighboring communities are in the process of monitoring individuals who either have shown symptoms of the illness or have traveled recently to high risk countries, such as China, Italy, or Iran. While the total number of cases remains relatively low across the country, Esposito emphasized that the health community is still in the process of learning about the coronavirus effects.

There are just so many unknowns, and when people present, theres nothing we can give them to help alleviate the (symptoms), she said. Its true that a lot of us who catch (coronavirus) will be fine, but unfortunately, a lot of people have passed because of it, as weve seen by the numbers.

On Tuesday evening, Esposito, amongst others, gave the Town Council and update on where things stand with the virus, both overall and locally.

We only have two full kits right now, which have the capacity to test 600 people each. As more people get sick, we may only be able to test about 50 people a day," she explained.

"You are going to see a lot of really weird things go on in healthcare over the next couple of weeks, she continued. We've started a drive-up flu clinic in Wolcott that people responded really well too. We are going to be triaging a lot of people outside before they come into the buildings..."

Fire Chief Jack Casner and Police Chief Neil Dryfe also explained the procedures they are putting into place to keep firefighters and officers safe and avoid unnecessary physical contact.

For those feeling sick, Esposito warns that going directly to a doctors office seeking treatment or testing is not a good idea. (The doctor) is likely to meet you in the parking lot (dressed in protective clothing), she explained.

There is real danger of hospitals and medical facilities becoming swamped, so Esposito has advised that those with questions or concerns call their doctors office directly, or call the 2-1-1 hotline or text "CTVOID" to 898211.

The important thing, Esposito stated, is that people use common sense and think before they act.

If you recently traveled to, say, China and are self-quarantining for 14 days, but on day-11 you feel fine and want to go to the gym  please dont, said Esposito. Take a run around the neighborhood or the local track.

Be mindful that your actions could impact the entire community, she continued.
KABUL - After a series of delays, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani issued a decree early Wednesday promising to release 1,500 Taliban prisoners as a goodwill gesture to get intra-Afghan negotiations started.

A recent peace deal signed between the United States and the Taliban called for the release of up to 5,000 prisoners ahead of the much sought-after negotiations.

There was no official response from the Taliban, but The Associated Press saw a letter that Mullah Nooruddin Turabi, head of the Talibans Prisoners Commission, sent to prisoners, their families and Taliban leaders. The letter promised there would be no intra-Afghan talks until all the prisoners are released.

The Pashto-language letter was sent last weekend. It says the Taliban would verify that each prisoner released is among those on the list given to an American delegation.

However, Ghanis decree went on to say that the first round of 1,500 prisoners will be selected based on age, health and the length of their sentences already served. The released prisoners, who will be biometrically identified, will also have to give a written guarantee that they will not return to the battlefield.

The remaining 3,500 prisoners will be released after intra-Afghan negotiations begin and 500 will be released every two weeks providing the Taliban reduce violence on the battlefield, Ghanis decree said.

However, even if the Taliban agree to start negotiations, Kabuls political turmoil and relentless bickering between Ghani and his main rival, Abdullah Abdullah  who has also sworn himself in as Afghanistans president  have left Kabul struggling to come up with a united negotiating team.

Washingtons peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad, in an interview with Afghanistans private TOLO TV on Wednesday, struck a hopeful note that negotiations would be able to start soon. What is important for its start is the introduction of an inclusive Afghan negotiating team, he said.

Khalilzad is struggling to get Afghanistans fractious leaders to unite. Abdullah has rejected an offer to be the head of a high peace council, he said, and Khalilzad gave no indication when the two sides might be able to find a compromise.

In such a crucial time there has to be an agreement. We want an independent, united and self-sustained Afghanistan, he said. Not an Afghanistan in which a part of it is controlled by the Taliban, a part of it would be controlled by Ghanis government and the other part would be controlled by Abdullahs government.

The reason for our negotiations for more than a year with the Taliban is that we want a peace to come to Afghanistan so there is no need for American forces and if Afghans dont want the presence of American forces in Afghanistan, the U.S. could withdraw, Khalilzad said.

Ghanis prisoner decree came as the U.S. State Department issued a statement saying that the level of violence is unacceptable, and that while the Taliban have stopped attacks against the U.S.-led coalition forces and in Afghan cities, the violence in the countryside remains too high.

The statement also said Afghanistans presidential electoral crisis  an apparent reference to the two inaugurations and political chaos  has delayed the establishment of a national negotiating team and the start of intra-Afghan talks, which were to begin Tuesday in Oslo, Norway.

Despite the political chaos in Kabul and increased violence on the battlefield, the United States has started withdrawing its troops in keeping with the deal it signed Feb. 29 with the Taliban. In the first phase, Washington will reduce its troops contingent to 8,600, down from the current 13,000.

If the Taliban adhere to their commitments to deny terrorists safe havens in Afghanistan, Washington will withdraw the remainder of its troops over 14 months, according to the agreement.

When it was signed, the U.S.-Taliban deal was touted as Afghanistans best chance at finding peace after 40 years of relentless war while offering the United States an exit after nearly 19 years and its longest war.

President Donald Trump has expressed increasing frustration with the Afghan government and its security forces inability to police and manage their own affairs. But almost from the beginning the unraveling began as the Taliban returned to the battlefield and Afghanistans politicians stepped up their feuding as Khalilzad scrambled to find a way out of the impasse.

In the end, both Ghani and Abdullah declared themselves president. The United States and other international players attended Ghanis ceremony while urging both men to negotiate a single government.

____

Associated Press writer Kathy Gannon in Islamabad contributed to this report.
New Delhi, March 11 : India shares the second position with China as the most promising source of disruptive technology in the world, according to a new survey.

In terms of the world cities that are likely to be leading technology innovation hubs over the next four years, apart from presumed global leader San Francisco, Bengaluru entered the top 10 list, ranked ninth, and Mumbai was ranked 16th, according to KPMG's "2020 Global Technology Industry Innovation Survey".

"India's climb to the second position in the survey rankings lends credence to how we as a country are committed towards setting up strong innovation ecosystems," Satya Easwaran, Head, Markets Enablement & Technology, Media and Telecom, KPMG in India, said in a statement.

"Bengaluru's entry in the top 10 rankings is another sign that the city is doing well in the areas of modern infrastructure, attracting skilled talent, investment funding etc," Easwaran said.

Technology leaders regard the US as the most promising market for developing disruptive technologies.

The findings, based on the survey of 810 technology industry leaders globally, showed that this year the US has increased its lead over China compared to last year.

One significant finding is the fact that India surged back to tie the second position with China.

With the potential innovation headwinds China is now facing, and US policies encouraging more tech professionals to return to or remain in India, the future bodes well for Indian innovation, KPMG said.

This is bolstered further by the urbanisation and younger demographic trends that are moving in the right direction, along with the increase in venture capital that India has seen in the last two years, it added.

"With the country seeing tremendous evolution across various spheres, the coming years will be crucial to overcoming current hurdles which exist. Overcoming these hurdles, would be imperative for India to gradually and slowly move towards becoming one of the world's leading economy in innovation," Easwaran said.

A total of 12 countries were represented and 54 per cent of the respondents were C-level executives. The online survey was conducted from December 2019 to January 2020.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Comedian Celeste Barber backstage at the Virgin Australia Melbourne Fashion Festival on Wednesday. Credit:Simon Schluter

Comedian Celeste Barber has responded to allegations her $52-million bushfire fundraising effort was misguided or lacked adequate homework by saying she'd "do it all again".

As she prepares to make her runway debut at the Virgin Australia Melbourne Fashion Festival on Thursday night, the comedian and Instagram star has reflected on one wild summer in her 37-year-old life.

"It's pretty incredible, I find it quite overwhelming still, especially when I talk to my in-laws [who lost their home] about it because that's why I started it, they were in trouble," she said.

As the summer's bushfire crisis unfolded, Barber used Facebook to launch a fundraising drive that began with a goal of $30,000 but ultimately raised more than $51 million.
ANKARA, March 11 (Reuters) - Talks between Turkey and Russia on the implementation of a ceasefire agreement in Syria's Idlib region are "positive, constructive", Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar was quoted as saying by the state-run Anadolu news agency on Wednesday.

Ankara and Moscow agreed on the ceasefire last week to stem weeks escalating clashes in Idlib. A Russian degelation arrived in Ankara on Tuesday for talks on the details of the agreement, and Akar said the two sides were working to prepare for joint patrols on the key M4 highway, expected to begin on March 15. (Reporting by Tuvan Gumrukcu and Ece Toksabay)


The Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM 99 Las Vegas), is hosting a Munchies 4 The Military event on Saturday, February 8 at Liberty High School to benefit the Douglas Green Memorial Foundation. The public is invited to help stuff and build care packages for troops that are deployed.

Where:

Liberty High School

3700 Liberty Heights Ave.

Henderson, Nevada 89052

When: Saturday, Feb. 8

Time: 1:00p.m.  2:00p.m

Donations, such as hygiene products and food, were collected at the following locations including CBRE Property Management, La Fiesta Apartment Homes and Villas at Painted Desert Apartments.

For more information on the event, please contact, Sandra Rios at 702-624-2844 or email atsandra@kampamanagement.com.
A edicao da E3, mais famosa feira de games do mundo, acaba de ser cancelada oficialmente.

A razao e o surto no novo Corona virus que atinge todo o mundo.

Em nota, os organizadores explicaram que o cancelamento se deu "apos uma analise cuidadosa sobre a saude e a seguranca de todos - nossos fas, nossos funcionarios, nossos expositores e nossos parceiros E3 de longa data".

No comeco de marco, a Game Developers Conference, quer seria realizada este mes, em San Francisco, tambem foi cancelada pelos mesmos motivos.

E3 / Twitter

A feira seria realizada de 9 a 11 de junho, em Los Angeles, na California.

Veja a nota completa (em ingles) divulgada pelos organizadores:

NEWS: E3 2020 CANCELLED DUE TO GROWING CONCERNS OVER COVID-19 VIRUS



After careful consultation with our member companies regarding the health and safety of everyone in our industry our fans, our employees, our exhibitors, and our longtime E3 partners we have made the difficult decision to cancel E3 2020, scheduled for June 9-11 in Los Angeles.



Following increased and overwhelming concerns about the COVID-19 virus, we felt this was the best way to proceed during such an unprecedented global situation. We are very disappointed that we are unable to hold this event for our fans and supporters. But we know its the right decision based on the information we have today.



Our team will be reaching out directly to exhibitors and attendees with information about providing full refunds.



We are also exploring options with our members to coordinate an online experience to showcase industry announcements and news in June 2020. Updates will be shared on E3Expo.com.



We thank everyone who shared their views on reimagining E3 this year. We look forward to bringing you E3 2021 as a reimagined event that brings fans, media, and the industry together in a showcase that celebrates the global video game industry.


Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-11 22:37:28|Editor: huaxia

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RAMALLAH, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Palestine on Wednesday said that Israel is increasing the pace of settlement activity and "state-backed settler attacks" against Palestinians in the West Bank.

Hanan Ashrawi, member of the Palestine Liberation Organization Executive Committee, slammed Israel's attempts to implement the controversial E-1 settlement project, through land confiscations, enforcing apartheid on roads and covering the increased settler violence in the West Bank.

The E-1 project would eventually cut off access between the West Bank and East Jerusalem, according to Palestinian experts. It was frozen by Israel since 2012 under international pressures and objections by world powers including the United States and the European Union.

Israeli settlement activity is considered illegal under international law and has been one of the major hurdles to the peace process stalled since 2014.
Two persons from Mumbai and another from Nagpur on Wednesday tested positive for coronavirus, taking the number of such cases in Maharashtra to 11, officials said.

Addressing a press conference in the evening, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said two positive cases from Mumbai and eight from Pune have been reported till now.

In a late night development, a Nagpur-based man tested positive for coronavirus infection.

With the disease casting its shadow, the ongoing budget session of the state legislature is being curtailed.

Addressing a press conference at Vidhan Bhawan here, Thackeray said there are eight coronavirus (COVID-19) positive cases in Pune and two in Mumbai.

All ten were part of a 40-member group which recently visited a foreign country as tourists, he said.

In Nagpur, a 45-year-old man tested positive for novel coronavirus. He had returned to Nagpur from the US on March 6, officials said.

He has been admitted to the Nagpur-based India Gandhi Government Medical College and Hospital (IGGMCH), they said.

The chief minister indicated that the ongoing budget session of the legislature, scheduled till March 20, will be curtailed and it is likely to conclude over the weekend after completion of pending business.

Thackeray said the decision is being taken to prevent strain on the administration and allow legislators to visit their constituencies and be on the field.

"These people (who tested positive for COVID-19) do not have serious symptoms. There is no need to panic due to this," Thackeray said.

"All ten people (in Pune and Mumbai) are undergoing treatment and are under observation. There is no need to panic. All of them had mild symptoms and not serious," he said.

He said the decision to curtail the session was taken at a meeting attended by presiding officers of both houses and leaders of opposition in the assembly and council.

"The ongoing budget session will end either on Saturday or Sunday after completing the scheduled business," the chief minister said.

Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said the issue of curtailing the legislature session will be discussed in both houses on Thursday.

"Legislature is final authority. We need to pass the budget, appropriation bill first," Pawar said.

Pawar made it clear that the session is being curtailed not out of fear of the coronavirus but to prevent strain on the administration.

"To brief the cabinet on the issues listed on the question hour or calling attention notices, officials have to travel to Mumbai from different parts of the state.

"Even legislators need to go back to their constituencies and create awarenessso that we can defeat the virus which is on our doorstep. There is no need to panic," Pawar said.

Pawar said to prevent crowding in the state legislature complex only ministers and legislators will be allowed inside.

Thackeray said there was a suggestion from the Pune administration that schools be closed.

"We feel there is no need now (for this step). But if needed, a decision will be taken," he said.

"There are 850 to 1,000 people from the state who are currently abroad as tourists. Tour operators have been asked to get in touch with the administration once they land in Mumbai," Pawar said.

Asked about the IPL, which is slated to start on March 29, Thackeray said there is a proposal to hold the cash-rich T20 tournament without stadium audience or postpone it.

"The government is yet to take a decision. There should be no crowd at any cost," he said.

"We appeal that religious events in rural parts of the state be postponed. I have spoken to Union health minister Harsh Vardhan for permission to start additional labs other than the ones in Pune, Mumbai and Nagpur (to test samples)," Thackeray said.

Meanwhile, a statement by the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) of the Public Health Department, Maharashtra said an "aggressive contact tracing activity" is in progress on a war footing after two Dubai returnees from Pune were found positive for positive coronavirus two days ago.

"Till Wednesday, 1,38,968 travellers from 1,195 flights have been screened at Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur international airports. As per the new guidelines from central government, travelers coming from all countries are being screened at international airports," it said.

"From January 18 till date 349 symptomatic travellers have been isolated in identified isolation facilities. At present 18 travellers are still in hospital at Pune, while 15 at Mumbai," it said.

Suspected cases have also been isolated at Nagpur and Pimpri Chinchwad, the statement said.

"All international travellers are being screened at airports and all symptomatic travelers are referred to identified isolation wards. Asymptomatic travellers coming from 12 countries are being referred to IDSP for regular follow-up for 14 days," it said.

Apart from Mumbai, Pune and Thane, travellers are also being monitored in Gadchiroli, Nanded, Buldhana, Yavatmal, Nagpur, Wardha, Sangli, Ahmednagar, Amaravati, Palghar, Jalgaon, Chandrapur and Satara districts, it said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
ALTON  Longtime stylist Marilyn Carroll allowed her business to be an incubator for the founder of up-and-coming VSalon, ahead of the new business move to its own space next year.

I approached Marilyn about availability, because VSalons building is undergoing a complete renovation, and she said, Yes, said VSalon founder Valerie Baumann, of Alton, about starting the full-service VSalon in Carrolls salon space, Third Street Hair Co., 119 W. Third St., in Downtown Alton, where the salon now is identified as VSalon.

I can build my brand, build my employees clientele base and get a head start on the future of VSalon, Baumann, of Alton, explained. Were growing pretty rapidly. It would be amazing to just be able to pick up this successful business and replant it at its new location. Im excited to get a head start in building my brand.

Im fortunate because I feel like Im two to three years ahead in my business because of Marilyn. She said I can use my business name here, and that sealed the deal for me.

Whether a cut or color, clients will get consistent high-quality service at VSalon, a salon for hair and makeup.

Were a team at VSalon and if a client cant make their scheduled appointment and reschedules with another stylist, they will get the same high-quality service, no matter the stylist, Baumann explained.

VSalons current team is made up of Baumann, Heather Pearson and Ashley Fisher.

In most salons, each operator is an individual business, Baumann noted, and I dont know if theres as much rapport or support among those working within that business model. Most operating in that model come to a salon, accommodate their clients and leave, go home.

But VSalon pays hourly plus commission, gives daily one-on-one education and also pays for stylists to get advanced and continuing education.

Pearson will attend next months industry show in Chicago, at VSalons expense. Baumann also has plans to take the VSalon team to a Las Vegas show. VSalon offers also offers perks such as incentives and monthly bonuses.

Its mostly social media based, Baumann said. The more successful VSalon gets, the more bonuses the stylists get.

VSalons brand building, even though its been a concept for a couple years, started approximately six months ago.

Weve been growing so rapidly, by one new client a day, Baumann said.

Baumanns faith also is a part of her business.

God is blessing my business, she said. We make prayer a part of our business and say a prayer every day before we open. We just ask the Lord to take over the business, our day and we incorporate that inspiration to start each day.

We invite God into our business, Baumann said. He is providing and we are thankful for it.

Along with her faith, Baumann also is proud of her employees.

I am so proud, she said, and proud of their skill set.

Not only are they extremely talented, but theyre quick learners and hard workers, she said. Im very blessed. I prayed to God to send me the most perfect people for my business and Im so grateful.

Pearson, of Alton, became licensed five years ago and has been with VSalon for the last two years. Pearson achieved her next professional level with VSalon, as a level 10 stylist. She and Fisher are tapped to manage VSalon when it moves into its own commercial space. Fisher, licensed for two years, is well on her way to meeting Pearsons level of expertise, Baumann said.

She will hire possibly one more stylist at VSalons current location, once other stylists build their clientele. Once VSalon moves to its new location, it will have at least four more positions available for hire.

There will be singular opportunities for stylists to learn more techniques in hair and also growing their business, she said.

As a team, we are, just, very supportive, encouraging of one another, she said. We laugh all the time and, just, have so much fun in what we do.

We are very blessed to be a part of this industry where our creativity is limitless. Its a privilege to enhance someones beauty, and I know my employees feel the same. We are a group of extremely passionate hairstylist.

Baumann also is ahead of the curve, for 14 years exclusively using All Nutrient, a brand of organic, non-carcinogenic hair color.

It saves clients and stylists health and they have peace knowing Ive been using that line for so long, she said.

Baumann started her career nearly 20 years ago. Shes been licensed in Illinois for 17 years, but practiced professionally while still a student of cosmetology. She continues to love her career, and even more with each passing year.

Baumann said Carroll has been integral to her brand, to her business leadership and confidence in becoming a business owner.

Ive learned a lot just from listening to Marilyn, when she talks about her long successful career, said Baumann, a color specialist and stylist. Shes told me a lot about her experiences when she was the number one salon in the area.

Experience is invaluable.

The like-minded stylists share a focus on cleanliness, a factor that drives destination salons.

We are so similar, demanding very high standards, Baumann said about Carroll, who mirrors Baumanns work ethic and expectations.

Not only in the way the salon looks, but how we carry ourselves in-house, Baumann explained. Our standards are exactly the same for how we run our business  she tells me that. She tells me Im just like her, If theres time to lean, theres time to clean.

VSalon offers locally homemade pastries, gourmet coffee and, being located adjacent to Carrolls Chez Marilyn, drinks are available for purchase through VSalon, which has Chez Marilyns drink menus available. The lounge is a completely separate space than VSalon, which has its own entrance and parking along Landmarks Boulevard.

VSalons brand is steeped in Baumanns own cosmetology expertise and knowledge. Baumanns approach to her business builds a foundation for consistent expertise and service across the board. Her apprenticeship program, incorporated in VSalons business model, ensures that VSalon stylists work gives consistent level of service, no matter which stylist with whom a client might be scheduled. VSalons apprentices are paid hourly along with tips.

VSalons full-time stylists are commission-based and benefits include continuing education, advanced classes and opportunities to show their work through professional photo shoots of their personal clients, with whom VSalon schedules professional shoots each season.

Next summer, in partnership with Frews Bridal and Formal Wear, also located in Downtown Alton, VSalon is spearheading a pair of photo shoots, one of bridal couture and one of bridal avant garde, with photographer Korin Fisher, of Korin Rochelle Photography.

Shes VSalons official photographer and a graphic designer, Baumann noted. She has amazing vision. VSalon is on its eleventh shoot. When we put our own looks out there, professionally, it gives us a completely different edge over most other salons.

Were professionally photographing our custom looks and showing the area our talent, with real clients, putting out the newest trends and looks. I feel that sets us apart from other stylists and salons, she said.

Pearson and Fisher will style their own shoots, for the first time, with Frews.

Its whatever they want in design  hair and makeup  picking their own dresses from Frews, creating their own looks for a photo shoot for the first time, Baumann explained.

Im so excited to watch these professionals during an actual shoot, to see how theyve learned to style a photo shoot, create, move and smooth in place for perfect photos.

Its important education because, if you want to grow as a business, you have to market your own color, cuts and style, instead of marketing a tagged photo from Pinterest saying, We can do that.

VSalon is always going to show our own work.

VSalons shoots are constantly updated on its website  www.vsalonbyvalerie.com  and social media accounts, Facebook and Instagram, each with in-salon looks each day.

Ive thought about VSalons concept for at least a few years, Baumann said. Basically, the concept is to train  personally  each employee, teach them all I know about this industry, and establish that whoever walks into VSalon gets a high-quality look, no matter who they go to.

Baumann, along with her husband and business partner, Jerome Baumann, are parents to Bo, 6, Luke, 3, and Zoey, 1. The Baumanns also include their 13-year-old dog, Teddy, as part of their family.

Valerie Baumanns grandmother also was a stylist.

If it wasnt for my grandmother, I wouldnt be a hair stylist, she said. I owe everything to her.

VSalon accepts walk-ins Thursday through Saturday. Business hours are 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday. VSalon also can usually accommodate same day bookings.

Its easy to get in, Baumann said.

VSalon is located at 119 W. Third St., Alton. Call 618-410-1375 for an appointment.

Visit www.vsalonbyvalerie.com for more information.

Reach Jill Moon at 618-208-6448 and Twitter @jill_moon.
A recent Facebook post by a woman named Elizabeth Schneider, who had tested positive for the novel coronavirus, has gone viral on social media

A recent Facebook post by a woman named Elizabeth Schneider, who had tested positive for the novel coronavirus, has gone viral on social media. In the post, Schneider, who is based in Seattle talks about how she contracted the virus, misconceptions about it and the fact that she has now recovered.

She describes how she was tested by the University of Washingtons Seattle Flu Study which has been testing people for COVID-19. Schneider talks about how she contracted the virus after attending a small party where nobody had shown obvious symptoms of cold and cough or otherwise displaying any symptoms of illness. She highlights that the lack of early testing can lead to people with the virus, mistaking it for normal flu and spreading the virus to other people.

Here is the entire text of her post:

I had COVID-19 and here is my story. I made this post public out of several requests from my friends who asked me to share. I hope it gives you some good information and peace of mind!

First how easily you can get it. I believe I caught it when attending a small house party at which no one was coughing, sneezing or otherwise displaying any symptoms of illness. It appears that 40% of the attendees of this party ended up sick. The media tells you to wash your hands and avoid anyone with symptoms. I did. There is no way to avoid catching this except avoiding all other humans. 40% of folks were all sick within 3 days of attending the party all with the same/similar symptoms including fever.

Second, the symptoms appear to be different depending on your constitution and/or age. Most of my friends who got it were in their late 40s to early 50s. Im in my mid 30s. For us it was headache, fever (for first 3 days consistently and then on and off after 3 days), severe body aches and joint pain, and severe fatigue. I had a fever that spiked the first night to 103 degrees and eventually came down to 100 and then low grade 99.5. Some folks had diarrhea. I felt nauseous one day. Once the fever is gone some were left with nasal congestion, sore throat. Only a very few of us had a mild itchy cough. Very few had chest tightness or other respiratory symptoms. Total duration of illness was 10-16 days. The main issue is that without reporting a cough or trouble breathing many of us were refused testing. I got tested through the Seattle Flu Study. This is a RESEARCH study here in Seattle and they have been testing volunteers for strains of the flu to study transmission within the community. A few weeks ago, they started to test a random subset of samples for COVID-19 infection. They sent my sample to the King County Public Health Department for confirmation; however, I was told that all of the samples that have tested positive in the research study have been confirmed by Public Health.

As of Monday March 9th, it has been 13 days since my symptoms started and more than 72 hours since my fever subsided. The King County Public Health Department is recommending you stay isolated for 7 days after the start of symptoms or 72 hours after your fever subsides. I have surpassed both deadlines so I am no longer isolating myself however I am avoiding strenuous activity and large crowds and I obviously will not come near you if I see you in public. I was not hospitalized. Not every country is hospitalizing everyone with a COVID-19 infection and in my case, and in many other cases, I didnt even go to the doctor because I was recovering on my own and felt it was just a nasty flu strain different from the ones I have been protected from with this seasons flu vaccine.

I also truly believe the lack of testing is leading to folks believing that they just have a cold or something else going out into public and spreading it. And worse folks with no symptoms are also spreading it as in the case of a person attending a party or social gathering who has no symptoms.

I know some folks are thinking that this cant/wont impact them. I hope it doesnt but I believe that the overall lack of early and pervasive testing damaged the publics ability to avoid the illness here in Seattle. All I know is that Seattle has been severely impacted and although Im better now I would not wish this very uncomfortable illness on anyone.

One thing that I believe may have saved me from getting worse respiratory symptoms is the fact that I consistently took Sudafed, used Afrin nasal spray (3 sprays in each nostril, 3 days at a time and then 3 days off), and used a Neti pot (with purified water). This could have kept my sinuses clear and prevented the symptoms from spreading to my lungs. This is not medical advice: Im simply sharing what I did and correlating it with the fact that I had no respiratory symptoms. The two could be entirely unrelated based on the viral strain and viral load that I received.

I hope this information helps someone avoid getting sick and/or push to get tested sooner rather than later so you know to isolate before it gets worse or to get medical care if you have respiratory distress. Hand washing doesnt guarantee you wont get sick, especially when folks without symptoms are contagious and could be standing right next to you in any given social situation. You more likely than not will not die, but do you want to risk spreading it to a loved one over 60 or someone with an immunity issue? Stay healthy folks!
Researchers in Norway are testing how salmon in a commercial fish farm might react to being regularly monitored by an underwater robots.

While fish farms are typically uneventful environments, they still require oversight to ensure the captive fish are safe and healthy, a task most commercial fish farms assign to a human diver.

Maarja Kruusmaa and a team of researchers at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology wanted to test how fish would respond to being watched over by robots instead of people.

Researchers in Norway used two different underwater drones as monitors in a salmon fish farm to see how comfortable fish were around robot interlopers

The happier the fish are, the healthier the fish are, the better they eat, the better they grow, the less parasites they have and the less they get sick, Kruusmaa told New Scientist.

The team used two different underwater robots to test whether the fish would react differently based on the size and propulsion method.

One robot, a boxy jet-ski-sized machine called Argus Mini, was propelled by thrusters.

A smaller robot, called U-CAT was the size of a small dog and propelled itself with four fin-like flaps.

The team recorded the reaction of the salmon to the two different robots, specifically looking to see how close the fish would get to each, and how frequently they beat their tails while nearby, an indication of anxiety.

They used a smaller robot, called U-CAT, that was propelled by four mechanical flippers and a larger thurster powered robot called Agus Mini, that was propelled by thrusters

They also recorded footage of the fish moving around the sea cage with a human diver and then with no observer of any kind, human or robot.

The fish seemed to be most comfortable with the smaller U-CAT robot than either the human diver or the Argus Mini.

The fish beat their tails slightly faster around the U-CAT, but slower than they did with either the Argus Mini or the human diver.

The tail beating was slowest when the fish were alone.

The first were most comfortable with the smaller robot, U-CAT (far right), as indicated by how closely they swam toward it and how much less quickly the fish beat their tails compared to when they were around the larger Argus Mini

The findings suggest fish are most disturbed by the size of the person or thing they're forced to swim with

The findings suggest that while fish seem to prefer not having any outside observers, they tend to be most comfortable with smaller ones, regardless of whether machine or human.

Size matters, says Kruusmaa.

You can make a very complicated robot thats extremely quiet and has a smiley face and speaks fish language, but that would be hugely costly and the fish dont seem to care.
Continuing to evolve itself into a strategic function, new age HR is being referred to as HCM (Human Capital Management) which is building capability for the organizations to deal with VUCA world. Starting with Personnel and Administration function to handle personnel welfare and administration, the department fizzled out to emerge as HR function which managed employees motivation and developed performance metrics for the employees. From administering wages and welfare of workers during Industrial revolution, Personnel & Administration function evolved into a more dynamic function known as Human Resource Management which focussed on skill enhancement of talents and linking organizational objectives with individual KRAs. With increasing demand to improve productivity in order to remain competitive in a highly volatile market, the evolution of Human Capital Management acquiredsignificant importance and evolved as holistic talent management process to positively impact the productivity and profitability of an organization. Evolution of HR from support function to a strategic business partner is yet not fully imbedded in the work culture of the organizations and HR needs to work closely with different levels in the organization and create several examples as well as leverage digital platform to demonstrate its quantifiable contributions to the P&L.

With increasing digitization and disruptive technologies, the world of HR is changing fast. The need to harness digital technology requires HR to gain more technical expertise. Digitization of payroll processes and leveraging IT systems to deal with recruitment has helped to free up HR department from time consuming manual processes which in turn benefitted HR to focus more on strategic thinking and gain better insight with the help of Human Capital analytics. Analytics drive good decision making and engagement drives a better bottom line.

Traditional HR practices are becoming extinct and are no longer effective in motivating young employees. With increasingly advanced technologies, traditional approaches are giving way to more systematic and decentralized approaches. Moving from hierarchical career path to well defined lattice career growth, Talent management today is more individualized with focus on personalised rewards reflecting global culture and multigenerations. Ability to manage generational differences among the workforce has become preferred leadership style.

Agility has become one of the most essential characteristics of a successful organization at the time of continuously changing business paradigm and increasing business uncertainties. Creating a workforce which is able to manage volatility and handle change effectively remains a good measure of effective Human Capital Management.

With the separation of traditionalists as well as baby boomers and increasing composition of millennials in the work force; use of latest technology & social media platform is rapidly growing among the workforce. However, HR is still lagging behind in the use of digital platform. Need to switch over to web based solutions&mobile applicationsis felt across businesses in view of the changing work patterns &behaviours. Millennials are not happy with annual assessments or feedback and are looking for more frequent feedback which can be a reality only in the event managers are enabled to do performance assessment on mobile applications or use cloud based applications. Similarly, use of social media in employer branding and recruitment is becoming popular and is proving effective to attract, retain and engage talents in digital world. There is a strong need to strengthen current HRIT landscape and create an IT architecture which is essential for driving digitization across HR processes.

In my recent experience of setting up a very large shared services for five business verticals of the Group for three functions viz. Finance & Accounts, HR & Commercial. I realized that implementing an effective Shared Services Centre to handle employees life cycle operations is a very powerful intervention which enables organization to respond to employees in a faster, stronger and smarter way. At the same time, it frees up middle and senior managers to move from day to day operations to handle tactical or strategic contribution to the organization. Besides, standardization of processes across geography helps large businesses to manage them effectively. Another futuristic advantage of this intervention is the ease to move to any new platform smoothly if required dueto changes in technologies& processes besides seamless integration of a new business without much trouble.

The Human Capital Management strategy must take into account the rapid changes which are impacting businesses due to disruptive technologies as well as Social & Geo political changes. While impact of BREXIT would be felt by many corporates worldwide, many other political developments in one part of the world will also continue to impact businesses in other part of the world. Though millennials and gen X constitute around 56% of the workforce, the remaining employees who belong to different generations viz. baby boomers & traditionalists need to catch up fast with the digital change. The challenge before HR is to drive this transformation and orient people to embrace digital changes. One can build ultra-modern infrastructure & hardware but the real success would lie in quick adoption of technology from top to bottom and demonstration by the top management will speed up the transformation. HR has the biggest task to instil the digital DNA among its rank and file to lead, engage & sustain. Building organization wide communication strategy to connect with employees shall be very important intervention that will drive a successful HCM agenda. The two way communication module will definitely help achieve business objective with speed and transparency.
Government has said homosexual and their activist will not be allowed to have their conference in Ghana.

The Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Cynthia Mamle Morrison, revealed in an interview with CTV on Tuesday, 10 March 2020 that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has rejected plans by the LGBT community to have their conference in Ghana.

The Pan Africa International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association has served notice on its website that, our 5th Regional Conference, 27  31 July 2020 in Accra, Ghana.

This will be the first PAI conference in West Africa, the association added.

The announcement has generated controversies in Ghana with a large section of the public registering their displeasure towards the plan.

Reacting to the development, Mrs Morrison said: It is a no, government wont allow it to happen in Ghana.

As we speak today a lot of international conferences have been cancelled. We should have been at the UN General Assembly which starts today but it has been cancelled. All international engagements and conferences have also been cancelled.

I am a Christian likewise the President. The president has said no to the gay conference. Gay conference has nothing to do with the Ministry, it has nothing to do with the government, she added.

---classfmonline
The director of the citys Department of Arts & Culture has no plans to return a provocative video to an exhibit of Chicano art at Centro de Artes.

In an interview following a San Antonio Arts Commission meeting about the matter on Tuesday, Debbie Racca-Sittre said the video does not meet the standard that was in the open call for exhibits in the city-run space, which states that works must be suitable for a general audience.

This is a very graphic video, she said.

Artist Xandra Ibarras four-minute video, titled Spictacle II: La Tortillera, depicts a racy burlesque scene ending with a comic simulated sex act. Curators Suzy Gonzalez and Michael Menchaca, who work together as Dos Mestizx, selected the video for Xicanx: New Visions, an exhibit of contemporary work by 33 Latinx artists dealing with a broad range of themes.

The videos removal before the exhibit opened last month in the Market Square space sparked accusations of censorship and the silencing of a queer voice from the curators, the artist and the National Coalition Against Censorship, a New York-based nonprofit. A petition on change.org demanding that it be restored has gotten more than 1,200 signatures.

The commission did not make a recommendation on whether the video should be shown. Instead, the members voted seven to two that Racca-Sittres department should have the final say as to what is shown in Centro de Artes. Racca-Sittre had made the original call to remove the video after consulting with the city manager and the city attorney.

After learning of Racca-Sittres decision, Gonzalez said she and Menchaca would need some time to figure out what their next step would be. She said they learned of the decision from the media rather than from the director herself, indicating a lack of transparency.

Racca-Sittre said she would be willing to meet with the curators to discuss the possibility of the video being screened elsewhere. They do not see that as a viable option.

From the get-go when our exhibit was accepted, all we ever wanted was to show all the work in the exhibit. Thats all we asked for, Gonzalez said. Anything else is giving power to the censorship. Thats not the solution.

The Centro de Artes Committee, a subcommittee of the arts commission, recommended at a meeting two weeks ago that the video be restored.

On ExpressNews.com: The Museum of Pocket Art returns to CAM

The curators made their case to the full commission Tuesday morning during the public comments part of the meeting. Resident Jack Finger spoke against the video. The curators arguament that the video shouldnt have been removed was backed by Graciela Sanchez, director of the Esperanza Peace & Justice Center, and attorney Amy Kastely.

Sanchez suggested that the city get out of the programming business and give the money it is spending at Centro de Artes to cultural organizations.

You cannot be deciding what is the public standard based on the city attorney today or the mayor or whoever, Sanchez said. Thats based on fear, or fear that they wont get elected or youre going to lose your job. You cant be doing this art based on fear and misogyny and sexism and homophobia and transphobia. You need to stop doing this. Either you accept all of us or none of us.

dlmartin@express-news.net | Twitter: @DeborahMartinEN
As nearly three-quarters of US firms suffer supply disruptions due to the coronavirus epidemic, President Donald Trump's administration is "working full time" on a stimulus package to aid the economy.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Trump is "very much focused" on the package that could include a payroll tax cut, among other options. "That's the president's number one priority," he said.

The outbreak has prompted US airlines to cancel flights, the Federal Reserve to make its first emergency rate cut in 12 years and the stock exchange to experience its worst session since 2008.

This spells trouble for the US economy but also threatens Trump's re-election campaign, which is based heavily on his touting of booming stock prices and low unemployment.

Trump promised to announce measures on Tuesday, including a cut in the taxes automatically taken out of Americans' paychecks, but the day ended with no details, leaving the United States lagging governments of other major economies.

The European Union, Italy and Britain already announced massive spending packages to provide economic support to offset the damage done by the epidemic, and even Germany, long Europe's custodian of fiscal rectitude, says it is open to more spending.

Mnuchin, who was at the US Capitol for meetings with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, acknowledged that "certain industries are going to be significantly impacted and the president is very committed to make sure we have the economic response appropriately for this economy."



"This is something we're going to do quickly."



Shortly after he spoke, the Institute for Supply Management released a survey showing nearly 75 percent of US manufacturing and services firms report supply chain disruptions, and 80 percent believe they will experience some impact from the COVID-19 outbreak.

Travel restrictions, especially from China, are a major factor, and one in six of the companies reporting problems have lowered their revenue targets, according to the survey conducted February 22 to March 5.

"The story the data tells is that companies are faced with a lengthy recovery to normal operations in the wake of the virus outbreak," ISM Chief Executive Thomas W. Derry said in a statement.

"For a majority of US businesses, lead times have doubled, and that shortage is compounded by the shortage of air and ocean freight options to move product to the United States -- even if they can get orders filled."



Mnuchin said he will meet with cruise line executives later Wednesday and Trump will meet with bank CEOs to discuss how they can help businesses.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A Bell MTS proposal to build a cellphone tower in proximity to the St. Andrews airport has been voted down unanimously by the Rural Municipality of St. Andrews council.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 10/3/2020 (671 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A Bell MTS proposal to build a cellphone tower in proximity to the St. Andrews airport has been voted down unanimously by the Rural Municipality of St. Andrews council.

The council office in Clandeboye was so full Tuesday night, people were listening in from outside the room as six councillors and Mayor Joy Sul voted against the construction of the 350-foot tower. Concerns had emerged in the community north of Winnipeg it would be unsafe to place a such as structure within an area of high-volume air traffic.

Earlier this week, Craig Skonberg, the airport's general manager, told the Free Press although the proposed cell tower is 5.6 nautical miles north and one nautical mile west of the centre line of the runway, it would become a hazard for low-flying takeoffs and landings.

Speakers at the meeting included the Red River Planning District, cellphone tower construction company Evolve Surface Strategies, several pilots and Skonberg, who said the unanimous vote had left him feeling "high."

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"In other parts of Canada, this has failed, and they've had to close down airports," he said. "To me, it's a very positive thing, it's a step forward."

According to Skonberg, Bell MTS can still appeal the decision to Industry Canada, adding he was not concerned about the possibility.

"I think that our proof, our evidence, our argument (explained) that it was a safety issue, and we feel good," he said.

The airport is the 13th busiest in the country, and recently took on a $2-million expansion and renovation project.

malak.abas@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: malakabas_
Government should step in to offer guidelines



With the coronavirus ravaging the country, Gyeonggi Province has intervened to mediate in disputes between customers and business operators, including travel agencies. The mediation is necessary, considering the huge costs arising from a lack of dispute-settlement standards and guidelines when social disasters such as the coronavirus outbreak occur.



In fact, a growing number of disputes have been reported as the spread of COVID-19 has caused meetings and reservations to be cancelled. The state-funded Korea Consumer Agency received 4,729 customer petitions related to the outbreak from Jan. 20 to March 5. Overseas travel topped the list of disputes with 2,069, followed by wedding ceremonies (649), flight tickets (632), dining-out (584) and hotel reservations (229). Most of the disputes were related to cancellation fees and prepaid deposits.



Customers claim that it is unfair for them to have to pay cancellation fees or lose their deposits at a time when there is no other choice but to cancel meetings and tours owing to the natural disaster-like incident. Companies, for their part, argue that customers should bear the brunt of contract cancellations, saying written contracts usually stipulate cancellation terms and refund policies.



Although finding solutions is not easy, the government should step in before it's too late. The consumer agency can intervene but has limitations in its authority to mediate disputes because it cannot compel compulsory mediation and its dispute-settlement findings are not legally binding.



The Korea Fair Trade Commission has recently presented an opinion to view the coronavirus outbreak as an "emergency situation tantamount to a natural disaster" and advised companies to settle disputes amicably. But this is not enough, given that the suggestion is intended to shift the responsibility from customers to companies.



The government should offer guidelines after referring to past cases. This is certainly a good time to clarify responsibilities for infectious disease-related disputes in several ways, including through corporate contractual terms and conditions.




WFH for Private offices in Delhi, restaurants & bars to be shut as Omicron-led to sudden rise in Covid cases

Coronavirus travel ban: Indian travellers! Please note the restrictions by other countries

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

New Delhi, Mar 11: The novel coronavirus has spread throughout the world since the first cases were detected in central China in December. With the number of coronavirus cases crossing over 115,800 and 42,00 people have died globally, there's a flurry of travel restrictions in places to contain the virus.

After Bhutan confirmed its first case of coronavirus, it has banned tourists from any part of the world from entering the country for a period of two weeks. It is reported that the person who tested positive was a 79-year-old American and had entered the Kingdom via India.

Coronavirus: These 11 countries have reported the most infections

Qatar announced a travel ban on travellers from 14 countries. This includes China, Egypt, India, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon,Philippines, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, South Korea, Syria and Thailand.

Micronesia, made up of the island states of Pohnpei, Kosrae, Chuuk and Yap, has blocked travel for people from any country with a confirmed coronavirus case in the last 14 days, which includes India.

Meanwhile, Kuwait had earlier announced on March 6 that flights to India would be cancelled for a week starting March 7. However, the ban has been lifted for Indians travelling to the country.

Saudi Arabia

Foreign nationals from countries with confirmed coronavirus cases are banned from entering Saudi Arabia. It has also stopped entry for those holding tourist visas, including passengers from India. Entry to those travelling to the country for holding Umrah has been temporarily suspended.

If you have visited Italy in the past 14-28 days, you can't enter

Cook Islands, Fiji, India, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Mauritius, Mongolia, St Lucia, Seychelles and Turkey, among others. (All of these countries also have a ban on entry to anyone who has visited China).

If you're travelling from the UK

The locations with a ban on people visiting from the UK are the Federated States of Micronesia in the Pacific (the islands of Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei and Kosrae), the Comoro Islands near Mozambique (both of which have a ban on travellers from all countries with confirmed cases of coronavirus), and the Pacific island of Kiribati.
Patients infected by the novel coronavirus 2019 shed the virus for 20 days, says a new study that also identifies old age as a key factor for death by COVID19, which sweeps across the globe infecting more than 109,000 and killing nearly 4,000.

The new study is the first for public health researchers to examine the risk factors associated with severe disease and death in hospitalised adults who have either died or been discharged.

In a study published in the Lancet on Monday, Chinese researchers examined 191 patients out of which 137 were discharged whereas 54 died in hospital.

The new data suggest the median duration of viral shedding was 20 days in survivors (ranging from 8 to 37 days), and the virus was detectable until death in the 54 non-survivors.

While prolonged viral shedding suggests that patients may still be capable of spreading COVID-19, the authors caution that the shedding duration is influenced by disease severity.

All patients examined in the study were hospitalised and two-thirds of them had severe or critical illness.

The extended viral shedding noted in our study has important implications for guiding decisions around isolation precautions and antiviral treatment in patients with confirmed COVID-19 infection, one of the team leaders. Bin Cao from the China-Japan Friendship Hospital and Capital Medical University, China said in a media statement.

However, we need to be clear that viral shedding time should not be confused with other self-isolation guidance for people who may have been exposed to COVID-19 but do not have symptoms, as this guidance is based on the incubation time of the virus.

Currently, 14 days of isolation stay is being practised by the nations running quarantine camps. If an individual doesn't show any symptoms and tests negative after two weeks, he/she is permitted to leave such quarantine camps.

We recommend that negative tests for COVID-19 should be required before patients are discharged from hospital, Cao said.

The authors note that the interpretation of their findings might be limited by the studys sample size. Moreover, the estimated duration of viral shedding was limited by the low frequency of respiratory specimen collection and lack of measurable genetic material detection in samples.

According to co-author Zhibo Liu from Jinyintan Hospital, China: Older age, showing signs of sepsis on admission, underlying diseases like high blood pressure and diabetes, and the prolonged use of non-invasive ventilation were key factors in the deaths of these patients.

Poorer outcomes in older people may be due, in part, to the age-related weakening of the immune system and increased inflammation that could promote prolonged responses to inflammation, causing lasting damage to the heart, brain, and other organs.

For the first time, the study describes the complete picture of the disease progression. The median duration of fever was about 12 days in survivors, which was similar in non-survivors.

But the cough may last for a long time45% of survivors still had a cough on discharge. In survivors, dyspnoea (shortness of breath) would cease after about 13 days, but would last until death in non-survivors.
Veteran highlife musician, Kojo Antwi, 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 significant effect on the wellbeing of people and advised the public not to fall for any type of music but, rather, go in for 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 said.



The highlife musician also advised Ghanaian and African musicians to compose good songs that would impact their communities positively.



He was speaking 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 sixth biannual Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs) Graduate Schools Performing Sustainability, Culture and Development in West Africa 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, Kojo 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 implored all stakeholders to work towards preserving and sustaining the rich Ghanaian musical rhythms.

Source: Daily Guide









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One of the easiest ways to save money at Whole Foods is to shop seasonally, and we dont just mean with your produce: As blissful as it is to bite into a perfectly ripe apricot, the grocers huge annual sale on clean beauty products is still our favorite offering of spring.

To celebrate the entree into warmer weather, Whole Foods Market is dropping its sixth-annual nationwide Beauty Week sale, running from March 11 through 17, and the deals are good. Theres 25% off everything considered a beauty or personal-care product, from Thayers Witch Hazel toner to John Masters Organics shampoo  with an extra 10% off savings if youre an Amazon Prime member  and limited-edition Whole Foods beauty swag bags valued at over $120.

The weeklong price chop is reason enough to make a trip to your local Whole Foods, but the sale-exclusive cosmetic bags  stocked with a mix of mini and full-sized beauty products  might be the most exciting draw. According to the retailer, the 2020 Beauty Bags will be available in stores across the country starting this Friday, March 13, and will retail for just $20, with a value of $120, which means youre taking home $100 worth of beauty products for free.

Whole Foods shoppers will have the choice between two different Beauty Bags, the Renew Your Beauty Ritual and the Conscious Beauty Kit, both housed inside a Queen Alaffia zippered clutch handprinted by artisans in Togo, West Africa.

Inside the Renew Your Beauty Ritual Bag, youll find an Acure Resurfacing mask, Derma Es Collagen serum, Dr. Hauschka toner, a mini Pacifica mascara, and a Whole Foods Market-brand sheet mask  just to name the top five.

If you opt for the Conscious Beauty Kit, youll get a similar clean-brand assortment including, but not limited to: a Mad Hippie Vitamin A serum, a Not Your Mothers hair masque, Pacifica makeup-removing wipes, Thayers Witch Hazel blemish stick, and a Yes To Watermelon sheet mask.

You really cant go wrong: Either way youll get a full medicine-cabinet refresh for the price of a grocery trip to Whole Foods, and $20 at checkout.

At Refinery29, were here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.

Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
Two Vietnamese nationals were killed and four others injured in a bus accident in Laos on March 9, according to the Vietnamese Consulate General in Savanakhet province.

At the scene of the accident

The Lao bus carrying 22 Vietnamese passengers overturned in Nhoummala districts Sengkeo village, Khammoune province, the agency said.

The two dead victims are Nguyen Thanh An from the northern province of Nam Dinh, and Nguyen Nhu Hong from the central province of Ha Tinh.

After receiving the news, the Vietnamese Consulate General sent its officials to Khammoune province to coordinate with local agencies in implementing citizen protection measures and conducting necessary procedures for the dead victims families to bring their bodies home.

The injured victims were taken to hospital and have been discharged after receiving treatment./.
POTTSTOWN  Borough council unanimously approved site plans Monday night for a proposed $208 million sustainable energy facility on Keystone Boulevard that is expected to generate more than 100 jobs. Now called the Pottstown Sustainable Energy Park, or PSEP, the project is being proposed for 11 acres at 405 Keystone Blvd. The company uses a new process called "gasification" to...
Cindy Perry was all set for a March break trip to California with her wife and their two children, but the novel coronavirus outbreak that is sweeping the globe made her reconsider her plans.

After weighing her options, the Toronto mom ultimately decided to cancel the trip to a region where COVID-19  the disease caused by the new coronavirus  has already killed two people and sickened more than 130 others. About 20 of those cases were acquired through community spread.

Given the low rates of testing that have been going on in the U.S., just a handful of community cases likely means that its pretty widespread, Perry said.

Travel restrictions that might have come into effect while the family was out of the country were also a concern for Perry.

Obviously California is not a place where we can easily get ourselves back to Canada if, for example, they decide to cancel flights into and out of the States, she said.

The global spread of the virus comes during one of the busiest travel times of the year for Canadians, looking for a getaway while kids are out of school.

Both Air Canada and WestJet are waiving fees associated with changing flights booked from March 4 and 5, respectively, through to the 31st. WestJet is also removing normal change and cancel restrictions for customers who have booked a basic fare for travel beginning on or before March 31.

The airline has also expanded and increased the frequency of sanitation procedures, in light of coronavirus concerns. In addition to regular cleaners, airline staff are now also using hospital-grade Clorox wipes and spray.

These new products are used on tray tables as well as general seating areas to ensure all guest contact surfaces are thoroughly disinfected, WestJet said in a statement.

The Clorox and (regular) Sanicide products are used to accomplish the cleaning of our galleys, lavatories, tray tables, seat armrests and headrests, seatbelt buckles, the PSU panel (above seats with lights and call buttons), overhead bin door latches and lavatory door handles.

Torontos Pearson International Airport has added extra hand sanitizer stations in the arrivals areas and is more frequently cleaning those spaces, including kiosks and bathrooms. High-traffic areas are regularly disinfected, the airport authority said.

Canadas chief public health officer, Dr. Theresa Tam, has recommended Canadians avoid travelling on all cruise ships  which have seen several outbreaks  to protect against the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Cruise ships have passengers from around the world who may be arriving from areas with known or unknown spread of the novel coronavirus, she has said.

Public health and the federal government are strongly urging people to check the online travel advisories which are updated hourly. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also urged Canadians to register with Global Affairs before travelling outside the country.

March break is coming up and if youre travelling, we recommend you check out travel advisories from @TravelGoC. We also encourage you to use the Registration of Canadians Abroad service to receive important updates before & during your travel, he tweeted on Tuesday.

Canadians are expected to monitor themselves for symptoms when they return home and report to public health if they suspect they may have been infected.

Ontarios chief medical officer of health, Dr. David Williams, said Canadians with international travel plans during March break should do a precautionary assessment.

Do you need to go on the trip? Where are you going on the trip? What are your risk factors of you going on the trip? Do you have health conditions? Whats the risk factor of taking your children on the trip? What kind of behaviour are you going to be involved with at that end? What kind of ability are you going to have to limit your social distancing in those settings? he said.

Its one thing to be in a very crowded international venue versus youre just going down and have an Airbnb somewhere and sit on the beach with your kids.

For Perry, her decision to cancel her familys California trip came largely for fear of getting stuck there, but she would also worry about contracting the illness and spreading it to more vulnerable people. She was able to cancel all of the rental cars and hotels at no cost, got her Aeroplan points back and only had to pay a few-hundred-dollar fee, so Perry is trying to look on the bright side.

The kids are disappointed, but its still a week off school, she said.

Read more about:
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 11)  A community-level transmission of COVID-19 is likely to happen in a short span of time, which could prompt a lockdown in certain communities and a shift to a higher Code Red level, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said Wednesday.

"What we have now is localized transmission in the areas we have earlier mentioned. But the situation can very quickly progress into a community transmission, which means, there could be a larger area of affected communities," Duque bared during the hearing of the House Committee on Health led by Quezon Rep. Angelina Tan.

"I have said time and again that it's going to be a very real occurrence over the very short term," he added.

The World Health Organization said community transmission happens when countries are already experiencing "larger outbreaks of local transmission" of the disease caused by SARS CoV-2, also known as novel coronavirus.

The Philippines is currently under a state of public health emergency after it was placed under Code Red sublevel 1 over the weekend, indicating at least one local transmission reported. It will be raised to sublevel 2 when there are several community transmissions beyond capacity. Schools and work may also be suspended under this alert level.

"When evidence points to community transmission, we will resort first to a localized lockdown, rather than the whole NCR locking down. We have to be careful on the implications of imposing a metro-wide lockdown," Duque said.

'Travel ban delayed virus transmission'

Meanwhile, Duque maintained that the government's imposition of a travel ban on mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau helped delay the transmission of the virus, despite criticisms about the Department of Health's reporting of cases.

"Isa tayo sa mga bansa na nagtalaga ng (We were among the countries that imposed) absolute travel ban on persons and nationals coming from China and its special administrative regions, Hong Kong and Macau," Duque said.

"Naniniwala po ang Inter-Agency Task Force na itong hakbang na ito ang siyang nakapag-delay (The Inter-Agency Task Force believes that this move helped delay) by a month the entry of the COVID virus in local communities," the Health Secretary added.

Duque said that while there may have been a problem with the agency's reporting system, "there was no deliberate intention" to keep from the public necessary information about the issue.

Meanwhile, WHO representative Rabi Abeyasinghe reiterated his warning to limit travels during this period.

"The Filipino population travels a lot so we need to be aware that the virus can be taken by context to other places," warned Abeyasinghe.

Abeyasinghe noted, however, that while it still cannot be confirmed whether there are more cases outside Metro Manila which have not been reported, what the Philippines has right now is still considered a "localized outbreak."

To date, 49 COVID-19 cases have been reported, with patients admitted in hospitals mostly in Metro Manila. The other three are the Chinese visitors who earlier tested positive for the virus in the Philippines  one of them died, while the remaining two have since recovered and left the country.
A former Governor of Kano has alleged that President Muhammadu Buhari ordered the removal of Muhammadu Sanusi as Emir of Kano.

Kwankwaso, who installed Sanusi in 2014, made the allegation Wednesday while describing the removal of Sanusi as a sad incident to both Kano State and Nigeria in general.

In an interview with the BBC Hausa, the former governor said contrary to claims, Buhari had interfered in the Kano emirate crisis.

We believe here in Kano that Buhari interferes where he wishes, said Kwakwanso.

Kano state government officials have been saying they were directed to dethrone Mr Sanusi ll. Buhari instructed them.

According to him, Buhari doesnt interfere where his intervention is needed, but interferes on issues he is supposed to be neutral about.

He, however, described Sanusi as a global citizen.

Gov. Abdullahi Gandujes administration knocked Sanusi off the throne Monday, claiming the monarch misappropriated emirate fund and abused his traditional office

A new emir, Aminu Ado Bayero, has since been appointed while Sanusi begins exile somewhere between Nasarawa and Abuja.

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A man has been killed following a crash in Co Donegal.

It happened on the N15 near Ballyshannon late last night.

The 28-year-old was the driver of a car that collided with another car on the N15 at Laheen, Ballyshannon at around 11.30 last night.

A 60-year-old woman, who was driving the other car, was taken to Sligo General Hospital with serious injuries.

Three other passengers were also taken to hospital as a precaution.

Another car, which was nearby, also suffered material damage in the crash - but no injuries were caused to those inside.

Gardai at Ballyshannon are appealing for witnesses.

They are particularly keen to speak to anyone who was in the area around 11.30pm and may have camera or dash cam footage.
The divisional police officer in Odudu, Cross River State, was not shot dead by anyone but rather accidentally died from his own gun while trying to load it, the police in the state have reportedly said.

PREMIUM TIMES reported earlier how the officer, Gabriel Amawu, a deputy superintendent of police, died of gunshot on Tuesday night during a stand-off between the police and the students of the Federal College of Education, Obudu.

The students were said to have besieged the police station to demand the release of some of their fellow students arrested that night by the police.

The Nation newspaper reported that the commissioner of police in the state, Nkereuwem Akpan, said the late police officer died from accidental discharge from a gun he was trying to load.

Mr Akpan, according to the Nations report, said the arrested students were suspected cultists.

The police commissioner said the divisional police officer died inside the Obudu police station.

PREMIUM TIMES could not immediately reach the police spokesperson in the state, Irene Ugbo, as she did not respond to calls to her telephone line.
Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed on Wednesday that his military would launch its harshest retaliation yet if the Syrian government breaks a fragile truce in Idlib province brokered last week.

The cease-fire arranged by Turkey and Russia  which support opposing sides in the conflict  halted a three-month air and ground campaign by the Syrian government against the rebel-held province. That offensive killed hundreds and sent 1 million people fleeing toward the Turkish border.

The Russian-backed Syrian government offensive made significant gains in Syrias last rebel stronghold, and Turkey sent thousands of troops across the border to reinforce the rebels, leading to rare direct fighting between Syrian and Turkish troops.

If those across from us dont keep their promise, we will never shy away from advancing on them in a much more serious way than before, Erdogan said in his weekly address to his ruling partys legislators.

Erdogan said there had been a number of small violations of the truce, which Turkey was monitoring carefully.

He said Turkeys priority would be the security of its troops manning a dozen observation posts inside Idlib. Some of those posts now fall within Syrian government-controlled territory. The posts are in place as part of a previous cease-fire agreement reached in 2018.

The security of our observation posts is at the top of our priorities. In the event of the smallest attack there, we not only will retaliate, we will reciprocate more heavily, Erdogan said.

Erdogan added that Turkey was engaged in efforts to turn the cease-fire into a more lasting truce.

We fought the necessary fight, and as a result signed a temporary ceasefire in Moscow. Now the issue is to transform this temporary cease-fire into a permanent one and we are swiftly pursuing that, he said.

Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar told reporters that talks with a Russian delegation about the technicalities of the truce were progressing in a positive and constructive manner. The delegation arrived Tuesday.

The current deal sets up a security corridor along Syrias M4 highway, running east-west in Idlib. Russian and Turkish troops are scheduled to begin joint patrols along the M4 on March 15.

The cease-fire deal also appeared to achieve Moscows key goal of allowing the Syrian government to keep hold of the strategic north-south highway known as the M5. Syrian forces had captured its last segments in the latest offensive, which began in early December.
Nippon India Mutual Fund has termed the RBI's proposal to write-down the perpetual bonds issued by Yes Bank as unprecedented and expressed concerns about its implications on investors.

The fund house, which has an exposure of over Rs 1,800 crore to Yes Bank debt, last week created segregated portfolios in its schemes. This came after the downgrade of debt instruments of Yes Bank to 'D', which is below investment grade, by ratings agency Icra.

Yes Bank was last week put under a moratorium, with the RBI capping deposit withdrawals at Rs 50,000 per account for a month and superseding its board.

As part of the resolution plan, the RBI has proposed that the additional tier-1 bonds or perpetual bonds issued by the bank will be completely and permanently written down.

In a note to investors, Nippon India Mutual Fund said,"We have expressed our concerns to RBI through the discussion forum pointing out the negative implications of the proposal to the financial system and to the various investors."



Simultaneously, the fund house through its debenture trustee has already moved the Bombay High Court.

Perpetual bonds are an important part of many banks' capital structure and are also preferred by investors -- individual, retail, high net worth individuals -- and various financial institutions such as mutual funds, insurance companies and provident funds.

"We will continue doing our best in the interest of investors," the fund house added.

Nippon India MF said it made the Yes Bank investment in 2016 and 2017, when it was one of the top five private sector banks and a Nifty company with assets of over Rs 2.1 lakh crore and deposits of more than Rs 1.4 lakh crore.

Besides, many of the other reporting and financial metrics were healthy and worthy of investments, the fund house said.

It further said the financial position of the bank had been deteriorating in the recent past. The bank's attempts to raise capital have not been successful, triggering invocation of bond covenants by investors and withdrawal of deposits.

As of January, mutual funds had exposure of over Rs 2,800 crore to Yes Bank bonds.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Fortunately, no casualties among local residents have been reported among civilians.

The Joint Forces Operation Headquarters (JFO HQ) says Russia's hybrid military forces have shelled residential areas and a school located in the town of Maryinka in Donbas, eastern Ukraine.

"The Russian-occupying forces have arranged a 'ceasefire', which was too 'loud' for the peaceful residents of Maryinka in Donetsk region, as well as for staff and students of secondary school No. 2 located there," the JFO HQ wrote on Facebook on March 11.

"Neglecting the norms of humanitarian law accepted in the civilized world, members of Russia's armed formations shelled residential areas on the outskirts of Maryinka, employing automatic grenade launchers and small arms," the report says.

Read alsoEscalation in Donbas: Three Ukrainian troops killed, nine wounded

Students and children from the extended daycare group were promptly evacuated to the school's bomb shelter.

After the enemy attack, National Police officers evacuated the students and school personnel from the danger zone back to their homes. Fortunately, no casualties among local residents have been reported.

The JFO Command reiterates that the Ukrainian Army will open fire on the enemy forces if their actions pose a threat to the life or health of civilians.
Former vice president Joe Biden leaves after speaking at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia Tuesday, where he made a last minute after a rally in Cleveland was canceled due to the Coronavirus. Read more

It might be over before long.

Joe Bidens big wins Tuesday night had key party figures declaring the Democratic primary race a TKO as he blew away Sen. Bernie Sanders in Michigan and several other states.

The results may resonate beyond the primary.

Michigan, a key swing state, showed the route Biden will have to take to win Pennsylvania against President Donald Trump. More broadly, the contest crystallized the picture of the new coalition fueling Democrats, suggested that Sanders political revolution was overestimated, and decreased the chances Pennsylvania will play a major role in the primary.

Heres what we learned from the latest round of voting:

A playbook for Pennsylvania

Michigan is in many ways a good parallel to Pennsylvania.

The states are similar economically and demographically, with a mix of manufacturing, agricultural, and white-collar jobs. They each blend urban, suburban, and rural areas. They are both older and whiter than the country as a whole (which proved crucial in Trumps 2016 victories), but also have large and politically influential African American populations  though relatively small shares of Latinos.

Both were part of the Democratic blue wall that, along with Wisconsin, cracked in 2016, supporting Trump and sealing his election.

So Pennsylvania Democrats looking for signs of hope against Trump got some Tuesday when they saw Biden far outpacing Hillary Clintons performance with nearly every key segment in Michigan.

African Americans came out strong in cities Detroit and Flint, after sagging in 2016. The suburban voters who have turned red areas blue outside Detroit, much like in suburban Philadelphia, swarmed to the polls. Biden also routed Sanders in rural areas that broke away from Democrats in 2016 and that Sanders won in the primary that year.

His strong showing in those small cities and rural regions suggests Biden may be able to not just energize the Democratic faithful but also win back some of those ancestral Democrats who (for a wide variety of reasons, certainly including sexism) found Clinton unacceptable in 2016, tilting Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin to Trump.

 READ MORE: We went to an Iowa caucus that looks a lot like the Pennsylvania swing counties Trump flipped in 2016

Hes much better positioned to win Michigan than Clinton was, and it was such a close call in our state in 2016 that it wont take a huge shift, said Jonathan Hanson, a University of Michigan political science lecturer.

A similar logic could apply to Pennsylvania, also decided by less than 1 percentage point.

It helped that Biden had history in Michigan: His role in rescuing the auto industry during the financial crisis still resonates with voters. He also has deep ties to Pennsylvania, where he was born and long seen as "the third senator.

Of course, its one thing for Biden to win those rural voters against Sanders. Its another to do it against Trump.

Sanders overestimated his revolution

One of Sanders central arguments was that he could create a grassroots movement of young voters who would expand the electorate. It hasnt happened.

Not in Michigan, and really not anywhere during the primary.

Even though Sanders held a 10,000-person rally on the University of Michigan campus in Ann Arbor on Sunday, he lost the county, Washtenaw, a stark turnaround from when he won it by 12 percentage points against Clinton.

In fact, in states where turnout has surged, such as Virginia and Michigan, its been Biden romping  another sign of the potency of those suburban and African American voters who see Trump as an existential threat. Young voters, historically unreliable, seem to remain that way. Only 16% of Michigan voters were aged 18 to 29, according to the Washington Posts exit polling.

After winning Michigan over Clinton in 2016, Sanders lost every county Tuesday.

The results  Sanders not just failing to grow his coalition, but losing ground  suggests that much of his past support may have been driven by animus toward Clinton.

If thats true, it could also have major implications for the general election.

If Biden proves more acceptable to white, blue-collar voters, hell be more strongly positioned to win Pennsylvania.

Still, Bernies base is real, and Biden has work to do to win it over

Sanders is likely to lose, but there are still few politicians (Trump is one of them) who have such a visceral connection with his or her supporters.

In Ann Arbor his rally had the feel of a concert, with students climbing trees for better views, dancing and welcoming Sanders like a rock star. In other settings, his support takes on almost a spiritual, rather than political, fervor.

Many attendees said that for young people facing student debt, medical bills, and the damage of climate change, just restoring order (as Biden promises) isnt enough. They demand big answers.

Sanders ideas really energize people, as opposed to Joe Biden, said Michigan student Kate Shonk, 21. He doesnt really stand for anything.

Sanders has also shown unique strength with Latino voters, who are critical in potential swing states such as Arizona, Nevada, and perhaps Texas.

Sanders, speaking Wednesday, gave no hint that he still sees a path to winning, but signaled that he does intend to keep pressing Biden to move left and address the issues driving his supporters.

In order to win in the future, you need to win the voters who represent the future of our country, and you must speak to the issues of concern to them," Sanders said, pledging to raise their priorities at a debate with Biden on Sunday.

So while Biden is consolidating support among large segments of the party, hell have to keep working to win over others.

Democrats path to winning made clear

The whirlwind turnaround Biden engineered in the last 12 days has been fueled by two groups who demonstrated their muscle within the Democratic coalition: African Americans, a longtime cornerstone, and moderate suburban women, who have rallied in waves ever since Trump won.

Tuesday reinforced their importance.

In Mississippi, Biden won an astounding 87% of black voters, according to CNN exit polling. In Michigan, he won two of every three black voters, racking up huge wins in Wayne County, home to Detroit.

At the same time, Biden also ran up the score in the upscale suburbs in Oakland County. Those victories mirror his dominant showing in suburban Virginia a week earlier, where many moderate voters and onetime Republicans disdain Trump but also recoiled from Sanders platform.

 READ MORE: Suburbs like Phillys powered Bidens big wins over Sanders: Im not looking for any kind of revolution

Cities like Detroit, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh have long provided Democrats with huge margins in competitive states. Now, the suburbs are part of the picture, and the party will count on both this fall.

Pa. will have to wait

A few weeks ago, some Democrats were talking about a fight that might last through the summer, and give Pennsylvania a decisive role when its 186 delegates are decided April 28.

Now, not so much.

Biden looks as if he has already built an insurmountable lead. If not, he seems poised to get there in the coming weeks when Illinois, Ohio, and Georgia vote.

The race might effectively be over before the end of March.

Still, Pennsylvania will be vital to the national outcome Nov. 3. Itll see its share of attention.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-11 23:32:02|Editor: yan

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MOSCOW, March 11 (Xinhua) -- The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) on Wednesday said it had detained in Crimea four suspected members of the Hizb ut-Tahrir al-Islami group, which has been recognized as a terrorist organization by the country's Supreme Court in 2003.

Investigations and searches showed that the detainees had carried out illegal activities based on the doctrine of creating a so-called "world caliphate" and destroying secular institutions with the aim of overthrowing the current Russian government by force, the FSB said in a statement.

The detainees had spread terrorist ideology among the residents of the peninsula at clandestine meetings, and recruited Crimean Muslims into their ranks, the statement said.

The FSB seized a significant amount of Hizb ut-Tahrir al-Islami propaganda materials banned in Russia, means of communication, and electronic storage devices at the places of residence of the suspects, it added.

Investigative units of security agencies have opened criminal cases against the detainees, the FSB said.
U.S. charges two Chinese nationals with helping North Korea steal millions in cryptocurrency Picture illustration of a small toy figurine and representations of the Bitcoin virtual currency displayed in front of an image of China's flag

By Josh Smith

SEOUL (Reuters) - The U.S. Justice Department charged two Chinese nationals with laundering more than $100 million in cryptocurrency on behalf of North Korea, in court filings that detail Pyongyang's use of hackers to circumvent sanctions.

According to an indictment filed in federal court in Washington, D.C., and unsealed on Monday, the two Chinese allegedly laundered cryptocurrency stolen by North Korean hackers between December 2017 and April 2019, helping to hide the stolen currency from police.

These defendants allegedly laundered over a hundred million dollars worth of stolen cryptocurrency to obscure transactions for the benefit of actors based in North Korea, Assistant Attorney General Brian Benczkowski said in a statement.

In a related civil forfeiture complaint also unsealed on Monday, Justice Department lawyers said they had seized some of the roughly $250 million that they said North Koreans hackers stole from a virtual currency exchange in 2018.

Those funds were then laundered through hundreds of automated transactions designed to prevent investigators from tracing the funds, the complaint alleged.

At least some of those funds were eventually used to help pay for the infrastructure in North Korea used to launch cyberattacks, according to the documents.

The same North Korean hackers were linked to a November 2019 attack on a South Korean virtual exchange that netted the hackers more than $48 million in stolen cryptocurrency.

"The hacking of virtual currency exchanges and related money laundering for the benefit of North Korean actors poses a grave threat to the security and integrity of the global financial system," U.S. Attorney Timothy Shea of the District of Columbia, said in the statement.

The United Nations Security Council has imposed sanctions on North Korea since 2006 in a bid to choke off funding for Pyongyangs nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

North Korea has generated an estimated $2 billion for its weapons of mass destruction programs using "widespread and increasingly sophisticated" cyber attacks to steal from banks and cryptocurrency exchanges, a confidential United Nations report said last year.

Story continues

The U.N. experts said North Korea's attacks against cryptocurrency exchanges allowed it "to generate income in ways that are harder to trace and subject to less government oversight and regulation than the traditional banking sector."

At the time, North Korea denied those U.N. allegations, calling them a "fabrication" aimed at tarnishing the country's image.

The United States last year charged American digital currency expert Virgil Griffith with helping North Korea use cryptocurrency and blockchain technology to evade U.S. sanctions, after he attended a 2019 North Korean cryptocurrency conference.

Prosecutors said he and other conference attendees had discussed how cryptocurrency technology could be used by Pyongyang to launder money and evade sanctions.

Griffith's lawyer has rejected the charges.

(Reporting by Josh Smith; Editing by Michael Perry)
Harvey. Weinstein enters the courtroom on 24 February 2020 in New York City: Scott Heins/Getty Images

Disgraced former Hollywood mogul and convicted rapist Harvey Weinstein was sentenced to 23 years in prison for rape and sexual assault on Wednesday.

Victims of his actions spoke out on on the day of his sentencing.

Miriam Haley, who accused Weinstein of raping her, spoke to the jury during his sentencing hearing.

He had crushed a part of my spirit. If he was not convicted of rape and sexual assault by this jury, it would have happened again and again. Im relieved there are women who are safer because he is not out there, she said.

Mira Sorvino, who accused Weinstein of sexual misconduct and of blacklisting her and disrupting her career, celebrated the former producers sentencing.

23 years. Harvey Weinstein has been sentenced to 23 years in prison for his crimes of rape and sexual assault. I literally cried tears of amazement, gratitude that the justice system has worked on behalf of all his victims today, she wrote.

23 years. Harvey Weinstein has been sentenced to 23 years in prison for his crimes of rape and sexual assault. I literally cried tears of amazement, gratitude that the justice system has worked on behalf of all of his victims today.  Mira Sorvino (@MiraSorvino) March 11, 2020

Ronan Farrow, who authored a book and an explosive New Yorker story detailing the disgraced moguls crimes and attempts to cover them up, noted that the sentencing was proof that the powerful can be held to account.

A lot of news underlines how hard it is to hold wealthy and connected people accountable. Today shows the power of people who speak up, from a position of far less power, at great personal risk, he wrote. The Weinstein sentence reminds us of the importance of those sources and of leaders at news organisations who refused to kill the story - including editors at the New Yorker who published the first allegations of rape and assault about Weinstein.

Story continues

Rosanna Arquette, an actress who appeared in Pulp Fiction and Desperately Seeking Susan, said she was similarly assaulted and subsequently blackballed in the industry after turning down Weinsteins attempt to force her to massage him.

Gratitude to all the silence breakers especially Rose [McGowan] and all survivors of Weinstein to the brave women who testified and to the incredible investigative reporting of Ronan Farrow who uncovered the sabotage and spying and to David Remnick thank you Rich McKuen and [New York] Times, she tweeted.

Gratitude to all the silence breakers especially Rose and all survivors of weinstein to the brave women who testified and to the incredible investigative reporting of Ronan farrow who uncovered the sabotage and spying and to david Remnick thank you Rich McKuen and ny times.  Rosanna Arquette (@RoArquette) March 11, 2020

She went on to say that "prison is not justice for rape survivors, but it's something."

Sarah Ann Masse, who Weinstein assaulted while interviewing to be a nanny for his children, revelled in the news.

Bye Bye #HarveyWeinstein. You are and always have been a vile rapist and abuser. You deserve every minute you spend in jail for what you stole from all of us, she tweeted.

BYE BYE #HarveyWeinstein. YOU ARE AND ALWAYS HAVE BEEN A VILE RAPIST AND ABUSER. YOU DESERVE EVERY MINUTE YOU SPEND IN JAIL FOR WHAT YOU STOLE FROM ALL OF US.  Sarah Ann Masse's new favorite number is 23!!! (@SarahAnnMasse) March 11, 2020

Weinsteins sentence is ultimately less than the maximum 29 years requested by prosecutors, but is much higher than the minimum five years, which his lawyers attempted to secure.

When the women who testified against the producer walked out of the courtroom, they were met with cheers from those waiting to learn details of the sentencing.
Those of you who read what I write know what I have written about the political conundrum in Malaysia these last many months. You know I have written not...

4 months ago
By PTI

NEW DELHI: The government has received part payment of about Rs 25,900 crore from telecom operators towards statutory dues and has again directed telcos to make full payments, Parliament was informed on Wednesday.

"The Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) have made some payments in compliance with the Supreme Court order dated October 24, 2019," Minister of State for Communications Sanjay Dhotre said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.

ALSO READ: Vodafone Group CEO Nick Read meets Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad as AGR crisis looms

The minister said the government has "again" directed the operators to make full payments in a letter dated March 4, 2020.

"The government has directed all TSPs to make the payments in accordance with the order of the Hon'ble Supreme Court dated 24.10.2019 vide letters dated 13.11.2019, 20.01.2020 and 14.02.2020," he said.

Dhotre informed the House that so far, Bharti Airtel has paid Rs 18,004 crore and Vodafone Idea has shelled out Rs 3,500 crore.

Tata Teleservices has paid about Rs 4,197 crore, while Rs 3.9 crore has been received from Reliance Communications. Reliance Jio has paid about Rs 195 crore.

ALSO READ: Pay balance AGR dues without delay - Modi Government to telecom companies

To another question on whether the government has any plans to set up new anti-trust laws to prevent monopolisation and/or cartelization in the telecom sector, Dhotre said, "No such proposal is under consideration." To a separate question on financial distress in the telecom sector, he said Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) has sought government intervention to avert an unprecedented impact on the financial health of its member companies.

"The government has offered a moratorium to the TSPs to defer payment of the spectrum auction instalments dues for 2020-21 and 2021-22, either for one or both years," he said.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday released the names of 11 candidates, including two from the allies, the Republican Party of India (Athawale), or RPI(A), and the Bodoland Peoples Front, who will be the partys nominees for the March 26 Rajya Sabha (RS) biennial elections. Former Congress leaders Jyotiraditya Scindia, who joined the BJP hours before the announcement, and Bhubaneswar Kalita, who resigned from the party on August 5, the day the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Bill was tabled in the RS, are among the partys 11 nominees for the Upper House polls.

Besides Scindia, the BJPs other nominee from Madhya Pradesh is likely to be Harsh Chouhan, a senior member of the RSS-affiliated Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram and an Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) alumnus, who is known for his work in the water conservation sector.

Chouhans appointment is yet to be officially announced.

The BJP is eyeing 12 of the 55 seats that will go to polls.

For the two seats in Assam, it has nominated Kalita and Biswajit Daimary of the Bodoland Peoples Front, who has been a two-time RS MP.

Vivek Thakur, the son of former Union Minister CP Thakur, has been announced as the partys choice from Bihar, where the BJP ally JD(U) will get two seats.

The total number of seats falling vacant in Bihar next month is five.

Abhay Bhardwaj, a Rajkot-based lawyer, who had defended the accused in the Gulberg Society massacre of the 2002 Gujarat riots, and Ramilaben Bara will be the candidates from Gujarat.

From Maharashtra, Ramdas Athawale from the RPI-A, an ally of the BJP, has been nominated along with Udyan Raje Bhonsle, a former Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) member of Parliament (MP), who lost the Satara Lok Sabha bypoll and is a descendant of the 17th century Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji.

Also on the list of candidates are Deepak Prakash, the BJPs Jharkhand unit chief, Lisemba Maharaj from Manipur and Rajendra Gehlot, Rajasthan units vice-president and a former state minister.

The last date for the filing of nomination papers is March 13, the scrutiny will be held on March 16 and nominations can be withdrawn by March 18.
In a file photo, the Philadelphia skyline is seen from Rt. 676 northbound in Camden, N.J. Read more

Staying away from the office if you feel sick? Check.

Working from home? Check.

Washing your hands regularly? Check.

Philly employers are coping with coronavirus by restricting business trips and by networking, and recommending that some employees work from their homes. Here are some of their tips for their staff:

Work from home: Try it out in small teams first. Does everyone have computers and is there a central communication channel or person?

Update everyones contact information for phone, email, Microsoft Teams, Slack or other channels.

Disinfect workplace surfaces, including common spaces such as elevator buttons, door handles, coffee machines and restrooms.

Limit travel internationally and domestically unless absolutely necessary; avoid networking events.

Send out regular employee communications to allay anxiety and answer questions.

Take special precautions if you have chronic illness such as asthma or other diseases.

Stay home if youre sick.

Independence Blue Cross (IBX)

As one of the regions largest employers, Independence Blue Cross said all departments must work from home as of Monday, March 16, through at least April 15.

Independence offices and buildings remain open for business critical workers. Mandatory work from home will begin Monday in Philadelphia-area offices and New Jersey.

As a health care company and the regions largest insurer, it is our responsibility to lead and above all else, protect the health and well-being of our employees, and in turn, the wider community, said Daniel J. Hilferty, CEO of Independence Health Group, the parent company of Independence Blue Cross in a news release.

Besides mandating work from home, Independence said its efforts include:

Requiring employees to remain home when sick.

Reinforcing prevention, such as washing and sanitizing hands frequently and practicing respiratory etiquette (such as coughing or sneezing into a tissue or your elbow).

Disinfecting all surfaces at facilities, especially frequently used surfaces such as door handles and elevator buttons.

Independence also offered an onsite flu shot clinic for employees who werent vaccinated earlier. Although the flu shot provides no immunity or known benefit against COVID-19, influenza is still widespread and flu season is expected to continue through April, the company said.

 READ MORE: A face mask probably wont protect you from coronavirus. Heres what can help.

Comcast

On March 13, Comcast informed all employees who work at headquarters in center city Philadelphia are encouraged to begin working from home until April 12.

Comcast NBCUniversals chief medical officer, Tanya Benenson, recorded a video series for employees to share more about COVID-19, including tips on staying healthy and safe during the cold and flu season and how to properly wash hands.

Comcast enacted the following guidelines for travel, effective Feb. 28, 2020: International travel is limited to business-critical purposes only.

 READ MORE: American, United, Delta cut domestic flights as coronavirus saps demand

Domestic business travel is not affected at this time, according to the memo, but the business trip must be essential: that means, necessary to deliver and sustain normal business operations, including customer service, compliance, finance, payroll, technical operations, sales, product operations, and health and safety. Whenever possible, use of virtual collaboration tools should be prioritized.

What does nonessential mean? Networking, professional development, select in-person training, and meetings that can be conducted virtually (video conference or by phone) are all categories of meetings that are likely nonessential for travel purposes, and efforts should be made to host these sessions using virtual collaboration tools if possible or to postpone/reschedule.

Vanguard

The Malvern-based mutual-fund giant issued a statement Tuesday: Business Continuity Teams further engaged to see how Vanguard could best protect the health and well-being of our crew, as well as provide information to our teams located across the globe."

"Vanguard is working closely with local and national health officials to ensure that we are following the highest levels of protocols for crew health and safety, according to spokesperson Dana Grosser.

Using guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. State Department, Vanguard instituted travel restrictions to China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Italy, Taiwan, Macau, Singapore and Iran.

There is also a 14-day work remote requirement for those who traveled to those regions and then returned home.

In addition, we have ceased all cross-border business travel between Vanguard sites for the foreseeable future. Cross-border business travel to non-Vanguard sites will be permitted only for the most essential needs. Vanguard has also limited all large-group gatherings and has instructed crew to cancel any plans to attend non-client or non-business essential events, such as industry conferences," Grosser said in the statement.

Vanguard is increasing frequency of cleaning in various locations and working with our on-site catering provider to ensure their health, safety and cleaning procedures are in line with our increasing expectations. Additionally, Vanguard is working to ensure hand sanitizer dispensers are available throughout our locations.

SEI

The Oaks-based finance company has extended its work-from-home policy for employees exhibiting symptoms of illness or for a school closing or related event that requires an employees child to be at home.

Were also waiving copay fees should an employee need a coronavirus test or use telemedicine services related to its use for coronavirus, said spokeswoman Leslie Wojcik. SEI also banned all cross-border business travel, as well as business travel to or from Washington state.

We are limiting all domestic SEI travel to that which we believe is critical. Additionally, all employees and consultants who have traveled, or whose household members have traveled, to a level 2 or level 3 country must work from home for the 14 days after returning. Anyone visiting our facilities will be required to certify that neither they nor a member of their household has traveled to a level 2 or level 3 country or have likely been in contact with a person that is known to have COVID-19 in the 14 days prior to their visit. Any visitor that cannot provide such certification will not be allowed to enter.

Small Businesses

At Randazzos Pizza in Bucks County, nothing has changed for us, although we do let customers swipe their credit and debit cards themselves, said owner Frank Randazzo.

Orders havent changed much, except were doing more deliveries. People arent eating out as much, he said. Were seeing more families with kids, especially college kids on break.

At this point, distributors havent changed, were having no problems getting food or supplies" to his business at 2395 York Road in Jamison, Pa.

Your employers plans

Does your workplace have an employee plan in place? Send us an email at: business-desk@inquirer.com.
At a rescue farm in Washington, Oklahoma, it looks like one miniature jersey bull gets some really special treatment.

Hes called McCartney, owner Autumn Bellinger of Saving Grace Mini Rescue Farm told Storyful, after her dads favorite Beatle. Fittingly, then, McCartney was allowed take the long and winding road to Bellingers door, and inside, on a recent rainy day.

My husband had just left for a business trip, so my daughter and I thought it the perfect time to bring him in, Bellinger told Storyful. She said dads gone, lets do it! He follows me anywhere, especially if I have his favorite hay, so he quite literally just walked in the house after me. He sniffed around downstairs like a dog would, checked out the master bedroom, pantry, bathroom, greeted our bunny, and just hung out for about 10 minutes. It was the first time hed been in the house, and he was the perfect gentleman. Credit: Saving Grace Mini Rescue Farm via Storyful
Coronavirus update: World Health Organisation has classified coronavirus a pandemic. Meanwhile, India invoked Section 2 of Epidemic Diseases Act to deal with coronavirus. Earlier today, two employees from tech companies Mindtree and Dell have tested positive for the deadly coronavirus in India. Both these employees have a travel history to abroad. Besides, in what could be the first death due to coronavirus in India, a patient suspected of being infected with COVID-19 virus, has died in Hyderabad. However, no official confirmation has been received from the Telangana government so far. A total of 83 individuals, who arrived from Italy on Air India flight today, have been quarantined at Army facility at Manesar, Haryana. Out of 84 people, 74 are Indian, six are Italian and rest three are from the United States.

Also read: Coronavirus Live Updates: India scraps all visas as WHO declares COVID-19 'global pandemic'

Check all the latest updates on coronavirus outbreak on BusinessToday.In live blog

10.44 PM: French President Emmanuel Macron will now greet his counterparts with a namaste, tweeted Ambassador of France to India Emmanuel Lenain.

Prsident Macron has decided to greet all his counterparts with a namaste, a graceful gesture that he has retained from his India visit in 2018 pic.twitter.com/OksoKjW7V8 Emmanuel Lenain (@FranceinIndia) March 11, 2020

Also read: SBI Cards IPO: Check allotment status, stock listing date, expectations

10.15 PM: WHO characterises coronavirus as 'pandemic'

BREAKING



"We have therefore made the assessment that #COVID19 can be characterized as a pandemic"-@DrTedros #coronavirus pic.twitter.com/JqdsM2051A World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) March 11, 2020

9.45 PM: India invokes Section 2 of Epidemic Disease Act to deal with coronavirus crisis. Decisions related to health lie with the states, but by invoking Section 2 of the Epidemic Diseases Act, advisories and directions of Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare can be enforced across the country.

6.51 PM: "Government has decided that all public and private educational institutions will suspend their teaching and class work till March 31. However, board and competitive examinations will take place as per schedule," said Bhupinder Kumar, director of National Health Mission in Jammu and Kashmir.

Bhupinder Kumar, director of National Health Mission in Jammu & Kashmir: Govt has decided that all public & private educational institutions will suspend their teaching & class work till March 31. However, board & competitive examinations will take place as per schedule. pic.twitter.com/XQn23x7Sxx ANI (@ANI) March 11, 2020

6.50 PM: Karnataka government has issued temporary regulation 'Karnataka Epidemic Diseases, COVID-19 Regulations, 2020' which aims to prevent spread of the disease. According to the regulation, all government and private hospitals should have flu corners for screening of suspected cases of COVID-19, ANI reported. Moreover, persons, institutions or organisations found guilty of using print or electronic media to spread misinformation on COVID-19 will be punished, the news agency further said.

6.46 PM: Three suspected cases of coronavirus under observation in West Bengal.

6.44 PM: Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray chaired a high-level meeting over preventive measures and preparations for coronavirus.

Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray today chaired a high-level meeting over preventive measures and preparations for Coronavirus. pic.twitter.com/FtmLYKmVdI ANI (@ANI) March 11, 2020

5.58 PM: Japanese Olympic organising committee executive member Haruyuki Takahashi plans to propose the possibility of postponing the 2020 Tokyo Olympics due to the coronavirus outbreak. The event is scheduled to happen between July 24 and August 9.

5.09 PM: 71 Chinese workers quarantined at construction site in Nepal

A total of 71 Chinese workers engaged at a construction site in Nepal have been placed under quarantine after their return to the Himalayan nation from China, an official said.

The Chinese workers, who returned to Nepal between March 4 and 6 from Chengdu and Beijing after celebrating the Chinese New Year, have been kept in isolation at the Pokhara Regional Airport project where they work.

"They had already been quarantined in China for 14 days before embarking for Nepal. As neither we nor the workers wanted to take any chances, we decided to place them in quarantine again," said airport project manager Binesh Munkarmi.

The workers' temperature is being checked three times a day, he said.

"We've informed the Province Health Directorate about the quarantine of Chinese workers. So far, everyone's is normal," Munkarmi said.

(PTI)

5.02 PM: "Srinagar Municipal Corporation has unanimously passed resolution to restrict public gatherings in Srinagar, and close schools and coaching centres in view of coronavirus transmission threat," says Srinagar Mayor Azim Mattu.

#JammuAndKashmir Junaid Azim Mattu, Srinagar Mayor: Srinagar Municipal Corporation has unanimously passed resolution to restrict public gatherings in Srinagar, and close schools & coaching centres in view of #Coronavirus transmission threat. pic.twitter.com/4LQBi5KwMb ANI (@ANI) March 11, 2020

4.54 PM: Cinema halls in the Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Reasi and Udhampur districts closed till March 31 due to coronavirus scare.

Jammu: Cinema halls in the 5 districts- Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Reasi and Udhampur closed till March 31. #CoronaVirus pic.twitter.com/CaQ0kC1nxQ ANI (@ANI) March 11, 2020

4.33 PM: So far, Government of India has evacuated 948 passengers from COVID-19 affected countries, said Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Out of these, 900 are Indian citizens and 48 belonging to different nationalities including Maldives, Myanmar, Bangladesh, China, USA, Madagascar, Sri Lanka, Nepal, South Africa and Peru, the ministry added.

4.28 PM: Centre advises states to step up sanitation in public transport, bus terminals

All states and union territories have been asked to step up sanitation and hygiene in all public transport vehicles to contain the spread of coronavirus, the Road Transport and Highways Ministry said on Wednesday.

The states and union territories have also been advised to step up sanitation at bus terminals and stops, the ministry said.

"It advised all the states to take up necessary steps in public transport vehicles to ensure sanitation of seats, handles and bars," the ministry said.

(PTI)

3.45 PM: No entry for cruise ships with travel history to coronavirus-hit nations

India on Wednesday prohibited entry of any international cruise ship, crew or passenger with a travel history to coronavirus-hit countries post February 1, 2020 to its major ports till March 31.

To prevent the spread of the deadly virus, the Ministry of Shipping said it will allow only such international cruise ships to call on its major ports that had intimated their call to the ports by January 1, 2020.

The government said international cruise ships will be allowed only at ports having thermal screening facilities for passengers and crew members. Master of Vessel will have to submit documents related to crew, passengers regarding travel to/from coronavirus-hit nations to port. If any passenger/crew member of cruise ships show symptoms of coronavirus, disembarking will not be permitted, the government said.

(PTI)

3.33 PM: 83 individuals quarantined in Manesar today

A total of 83 individuals, who arrived from Italy on Air India flight today, have been quarantined at Army facility at Manesar, Haryana. Out of 84 people, 74 are Indian, six are Italian and rest three are from the United States.

3.29 PM: Special Secy, H&FW, Sanjeeva Kumar, says total 60 confirmed cases of novel coronavirus have been reported in the country so far.

Special Secy, H&FW, Sanjeeva Kumar informed that total of 60 confirmed cases of novel #coronavirus are reported in the country so far. He said, total 948 passengers from covid affected countries are evacuated by India including 900 Indians & 48 foreign nationals

Report:Bhupendra pic.twitter.com/CQXg320Feo All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) March 11, 2020

3.23 PM: Dell, Mindtree employees test positive

Two employees from tech companies Mindtree and Dell have tested positive for the deadly coronavirus in India. Both these employees have a travel history to abroad. - PTI

3.19 PM: 900 Indians evacuated from affected countries

EAM S Jaishankar tells the Rajya Sabha that India has evacuated as many as 948 persons so from countries affected by the deadly virus. OF this, as many as 900 are Indian nationals.

3.08 PM: Total coronavirus cases in Italy

In Italy, over 10,419 people are infected with the deadly coronavirus and as many as 631 people have died. The entire country has virtually been lockdown.

3.06 PM: Total cases cross 3,100 in China

Total infections in mainland China stood at 80,778 with 24 new cases by Tuesday, while 22 more deaths took the toll to 3,158, the National Health Commission said on Wednesday. -Reuters

3.03 PM: Foreign minister S Jaishankar in the Rajya Sabha: "As many as 108 samples were received in India on March 7. People who tested negative were brought back yesterday. Samples of 529 more Indians are being tested in NIV Pune."

2.55 PM: Indian citizens are advised to refrain from travelling to China, Iran, Republic of Korea, Italy and Japan.

2.36 PM: First COVID-19 death in Hyderabad?

In what could be called as the first death due to coronavirus in India, a patient suspected of having infected with COVID-19 virus, has died in Hyderabad. However, no official confirmation has been received from the Telangana government so far. The patient, who was earlier admitted at Gulbarga Institute of medical Sciences (GIMS), reportedly died at a private hospital in Hyderabad yesterday night. Later, the body was brought to his native place in Kalaburagi, Karnataka, for last rights.

2.30 PM: The Delhi govt has called a special assembly session on NRC-NPR issue, coronavirus situation on March 13.

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???? ????? ???? ???? ?????? ????? corona ?? ?? ?? ????? Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) March 10, 2020

2.25 PM: Railways takes measures to meet coronavirus challenge

Indian Railways has geared up its entire machinery in a big way to take comprehensive measures on prevention of Corona COVID 19 virus infection. Minister of Railways and Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal has directed the Railway Board to ensure that adequate prevention measures are put in place across Indian Railway system. The Chairman Railway Board, Vinod Kumar Yadav, has taken meeting with all General Managers through Video Conference on 5th and 6th March 2020 to review the preparedness and convey priorities and directions.

2.12 PM: Chhawla Quarantine facility update

Total 14 days of quarantine completed at ITBP Quarantine facility, Chhawla, New Delhi. Sampling being done for final test of 112 wuhan evacuees, including 36 foreign nationals by ITBP doctors. Reports will come out tomorrow. If tested negative, all of them will be released in a couple of days.

Delhi: 14 days of quarantine of 112 Wuhan (China) evacuees including 36 foreign nationals, has completed at ITBP Quarantine Facility in Chhawla. Sampling being done for their final test by doctors. Reports awaited. #CoronaVirus pic.twitter.com/IcJ4k1zNs6 ANI (@ANI) March 11, 2020

2.09 PM: Grofers says it has taken out measures to deal with coronavirus outbreak

All essential supply chains are functioning normally, both at Grofers and its suppliers

The company is committed towards sticking to honest pricing

Stringent screening has been implemented to make sure all employees are healthy

Travel has been put on hold between locations and offices

Precautions have been taken to avoid inter-mingling of supply chain and offline footfalls in stores

2.07 PM: Kerala releases map of route taken by three-member family

The Kerala government has released a map of the route taken by the three-member family, which returned to the state from COVID-19 hit Italy, on February 29, with an aim to track all those who had come in contact with them. All the places visited by the family upon their return have been mentioned in the map, so that people can voluntarily inform authorities if they had come in touch with them.

1.46 PM: Govt issues advisory on hygiene in public transport

Ministry of Health: "To prevent the spread of COVID-19, hygiene and sanitation to be stepped up at all bus terminals and display of public health messages to be ensured on public transport vehicles, bus terminals and bus stops."

1.36 PM: Indian bowlers might limit usage of saliva for shining ball: Bhuvneshwar Kumar.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Indian cricketer: We have a team of doctors with us who are advising us on dos and don'ts on #Coronavirus and today we have a meeting with them, if they will advise us to not use saliva on the ball then we will follow it. #INDvsSA pic.twitter.com/Ra9Ig7axA7 ANI (@ANI) March 11, 2020

1.29 PM: Thailand cancels visa on arrival for Indians

Thailand on Wednesday cancelled the grant of visa on arrival for 18 countries and visa exemption for three others to contain the spread of the coronavirus, the country's interior minister said. Previously, nationals of 18 countries or territories could use their passports or travel documents to apply for Visa on Arrival (VoA) at Thai immigration checkpoints. - Reuters

1.20 PM: A 76-year-old man suspected to be infected with coronavirus dies in Karnataka's Kalaburagi, PTI reports citing government sources.

1.14 PM: Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan says efforts on to improve internet quality

"As more people will be working from their homes, efforts were taken to improve the quality and availability of broadband internet. Food will be delivered to families under observation. Respective DCs will ensure this," says the CM.

1.10 PM: Kerala on high alert

State has been put under high alert after 17 positive cases of coronavirus. All public programmes suspended till this March 31. Educational institutions of Classes up to 7 will remain closed. No change in exams for Classes 8 to 10. The state government has also launched a massive awareness programmes across the state.

1.06 PM: Kerala asks Cochin airport staff to place themselves in quarantine

ACK Nair, director of Cochin International Airport Limited: A passenger flew down from Italy some days ago. Later, he tested positive for coronavirus. Keeping this in view, we have asked the airport staff who came in his contact to place themselves under home quarantine.

1.00 PM: Several hundred students stuck in Italy

Hundreds of students from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh have been stranded in Italy, which has be completely shut after over 600 deaths due to coronavirus. Italy saw 36 per cent jump in COVID-19 deaths on Tuesday, the Civil Protection Agency said, which is the largest rise in absolute numbers since the contagion came to light on February 21.

12.54 PM: Govt figures on coronavirus

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare: "10 news cases of #COVID19 confirmed. 8 cases are from Kerala and 1 each from Rajasthan & Delhi. Total cases rise to 60 across the country."

12.18 PM: Farmer buries 6,000 chickens in Karnataka

Coronavirus scare in India has led to a steep fall in chicken prices, forcing poultry farmers to dump chickens. In one such case, a poultry farmer in Karnataka dumped 6,000 chickens, all around a month old, after unfounded fear of transmission of coronavirus from chicken, reports The Times of India.

12.06 PM: Masks placed on idols at Varanasi temple

The 'Shivling' at Prahladeshwar temple have been covered with a mask and posters have been put up in temple appealing devotees to not touch the idols.

11.56 AM: M&M Chairman Anand Mahindra shares a motivational tweet in wake of coronavirus scare in India. "The world is consumed by fear of COVID-19, but here's one ninety plus lady, Mrs. Kaur, who won't be scared at all, in my opinion! She looks like she's ready to outrace the virus. What an inspiration," says the tycoon.

The world is consumed by fear of COVID-19, but heres one ninety plus lady, Mrs. Kaur, who wont be scared at all, in my opinion! She looks like shes ready to outrace the virus. What an inspiration. pic.twitter.com/t6nKrayCTZ anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) March 11, 2020

11.53 AM: Delhi HC on coronavirus

The Delhi High Court has asked the central and Delhi governments to file response on the pleas seeking proper preventive measures to control.

11.49 AM: Coronavisus update from J&K

Rohit Kansal, Principal Secretary Planning, Jammu & Kashmir: All primary schools, cinema halls and Anganwari centres in the 5 districts, Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Reasi and Udhampur to be closed till March 31. - ANI

11.37 AM: India reported 18 new cases of coronavirus on Tuesday, taking the number of total cases to 62.

Positive from Kerala: 8

Maharashtra: 5

Karnataka: 4

J&K: 1

11.34 AM: The number of new coronavirus cases in India has jumped to 62.

11.30 AM: An Apple employee has tested positive for coronavirus in Ireland. "One of our employees in Cork has been confirmed to have COVID-19," Apple said in a statement.

11.00 AM: In wake of coronavirus, Vietnam has also suspended visa exemptions for eight countries, including the United Kingdom, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Sweden, France, Germany and Spain.

10.50 AM: Govt must prevent cases in Maharashtra: Devendra Fadnavis

"Government should take decision to control and prevent more cases in Maharashtra. At the same time it's necessary that people don't panic about the situation," said former Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis.

10.40 AM: Five positive cases in Pune: Health Minister

"Five positive cases in Pune. Forty people who went to Dubai have been traced. They are under observation and people who were in primary for secondary contact of these people are also under observation," said Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope.

10.33 AM: Three people under observation in Maharashtra

Three people in Maharashtra district are under observation as they had travelled to Dubai with four persons in Pune who have tested positive for the coronavirus, a health official said here on Tuesday. The persons from Beed did not show any symptoms of the virus but were under watch as a precaution, he clarified.

10.26 AM: Not scared, says West Bengal BJP chief

West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh on Tuesday appeared to downplay the global coronavirus scare, asserting that thousands of people at temples across India drink water with their hands and also consume 'prasad', but "nothing happens" as they have the blessings of god. Ghosh said the humankind, which have conquered the world and reached the moon, are now scared of coming out of their homes.

10.19 AM: 58 people evacuated from Iran

The first batch of 58 evacuees from Iran arrived on Tuesday, with 25 men, 31 women and 2 children on board. All the evacuees are monitored and clinically stable presently.

10.17 AM: More than 1,400 contacts have been put under surveillance for these positive cases, till date. Also, 404 Indian contacts of the US citizen tested positive for COVID-19 in Bhutan have been identified and put under surveillance in Assam.

10.16 AM: Coronavirus meet cancelled due to coronavirus

The Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) has cancelled a meet, 'Doing Business Under Coronavirus', which was scheduled to be held in New York on Friday. The reason for cancelling the roundtable is believed to be coronavirus itself. As per Bloomberg, the CFR has also cancelled all meetings that were supposed to be held between March 11-April 3.

9.40 AM: Death toll rises to 60 in South Korea

South Korea has reported 242 new cases of coronavirus compared with only 35 a day earlier, bringing the total in Asia's worst outbreak outside mainland China to 7,755, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) said. The death toll rose by one to 60.

9.20 AM: Total cases cross the world (WHO figures)

Global cases: Over 113,851

Global deaths: Over 4,015

9.17 AM: A Mindtree employee, who had a travel history to abroad, has been tested positive for coronavirus...the employee and his family members have been quarantined, reports CNBC TV18.

9.05 AM: Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams appeals to NRI devotees to avoid temple visit at Tirumala for 28 days from the day they have landed in India, reports India Today.

8.58 AM: British health minister tests positive for coronavirus

British junior health minister Nadine Dorries has tested positive for coronavirus and is self-isolating, she said on Tuesday. Dorries said she took all the advised precautions as soon as she was told of her diagnosis. Public Health England has started detailed contact tracing and the department and my parliamentary office are closely following their advice. -- Reuters

8.55 AM: Three cases from Punjab

Five-year-old symptomatic child, who came from Italy recently, admitted to a Gurdaspur hospital in Punjab. Two suspected cases also admitted to PGI Chandigarh.

8.46 AM: Spreading disease is a crime: Kerala Health Minister

Kerala Health Minister KK Shailaja says as per the Public Health Act, people who are supporting or hiding anything that leads to spreading of the disease is a crime. "Those who are not revealing their travel history of coming back from affected areas and countries will be considered a crime," she adds. "If they become positive, they will spread the disease. So we are asking them to reveal their identity and contact health department. Chief Minister has announced that hiding travel history is a crime & proper action will be taken," says the Kerala Health Minister.

8.38 AM: Coronavirus to cost global economy up to $2 trillion: UN

The coronavirus outbreak could cost the global economy up to USD 2 trillion this year, the UN's trade and development agency said, warning that shock from the epidemic will cause a recession in some countries and depress global annual growth to below 2.5 per cent. -- PTI

8.35 AM: India bars more countries

Amid the rising cases of coronavirus affliction globally, India on Tuesday barred entry of the nationals of three more countries -- France, Germany and Spain -- suspending the regular as well as e-Visas granted to them till date.

8.35 AM: Coronavirus death toll jumps 36% to 631 in Italy

The death toll from an outbreak of coronavirus in Italy has jumped by 168 to 631, an increase of 36%, the Civil Protection Agency said on Tuesday, the largest rise in absolute numbers since the contagion came to light on Feb. 21. The total number of cases in Italy, the European country hardest hit by the virus in Europe, rose to 10,149 from a previous 9,172, an increase of 10.7%. The head of the agency said that, of those originally infected, 1,004 had fully recovered compared to 724 the day before. Some 877 people were in intensive care against a previous 733. -- Reuters

8.31 AM: Number could soon rise up to 59

The health ministry says many are being retested for confirmation (of COVID-19). Once the fresh cases declared by the state governments are taken into account, the figure will go up to 59 or even more.

8.22 AM: Travel advisory to employees

The government has said that if people, who have travel history to below-mentioned countries, are working in some organisations/institutions, their respective employers are advised to facilitate work from home during this period.
Kuwait Airways has suspended flights to some countries as a precautionary measure against coronavirus, said a report.



Flights to Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Philippines, India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka have been temporarily suspended as part of the governmental measures taken to limit the spread of coronavirus, said a report in Times of Oman.



Kuwait Airways is awaiting instructions from relevant government agencies to operate evacuation flights for Kuwaiti citizens," the report said citing a statement issued online by the carrier.
The new Batman explains why he's saying goodbye to Gotham and hello to New York City

New Batman, New York City - why DC's Dark Knight is leaving Gotham City
Fianna Fail must secure a radical programme for government in any deal with Fine Gael that not only fights the coronavirus but offers new ways of tackling housing and health, a senior party figure says.

Finance spokesman Michael McGraths remarks come as the two parties meet to negotiate health in their coalition talks and ahead of ordinary party members debating the move next week.

Mr McGrath believes that a deal with Fine Gael could be achieved within weeks, possibly by Easter, but that any coalition deal must also satisfy voter demands for change.

Following an opening meeting on the government formation talks between Fianna Fail deputy leader Dara Calleary and Tanaiste Simon Coveney today, formal negotiations are set to begin tomorrow.

Mr McGrath said: First and foremost we have to see if it is possible to negotiate a programme for government that is about real change and we wont be bringing any draft programme for government to either the parliamentary party or the members unless we are satisfied that it involves a new departure and sets out a new way of tackling the housing crisis and the wider issues in health, apart from the coronavirus.

If we get to that point and we have a policy agreement that we can stand over, then we will have to sell that, and we will have to engage with our members and find a way of doing that in the context of the coronavirus crisis.

Fianna Fails frontbench will tomorrow discuss the move by the two parties to enter formal coalition talks while Fine Gaels parliamentary party is expected to do the same next week when Taoiseach Leo Varadkar returns from the US from the St Patricks Day celebrations.

Meanwhile, Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe said the potential of a Fine Gael-Fianna Fail coalition, effectively ending civil war politics, was a very demanding political exercise and that the country was in extraordinary times.

He also called on any party or group, including to Sinn Fein, who still want to form an alternative government to use a vote for Taoiseach scheduled for next Thursday to move such a proposal.

It is expected that both parties will push for a full programme for government that would last five years. This is despite calls by other parties, in particular the Green Party, for a temporary national unity government that would last three months and would work to fight the coronavirus.

Both Fine Gael and Fianna Fail are also working out how the virus will impact on the countrys finances, including the need to lift EU spending restrictions and support banks handling debt.

This will involve easing the EUs stability pact rules, which Italy has managed to do, and working with the European Central Bank on how to support Irish lenders who cannot handle non-performing loans amid the virus crisis.
People enter the B.C. Supreme Court in Vancouver in a file photo. Lawmakers and judges decide what they will. But what about the rest of us? (The Canadian Press/Darryl Dyck)

BC Transgender Youth Case: When Speech Is No Longer Free

Commentary

Usually, public policy concerns what some leader or bureaucrat should do. But when the law and the government are misguided, decision-making falls to citizens. They must decide whether to stand up or cower, to speak up or remain silent.

Imagine yourself in the following scenario. Youre a father whose recent divorce has been hard on your young daughter. Her school calls you throughout grade six due to her misbehaviour. In grade seven, she writes love notes to her first male teacher. When the school forces her to stop, she declares herself a lesbian and isolates herself in her room with the lights off and the shades down.

After the school year ends, you see her school yearbook with a male name under her picture. It turns out the school guidance counsellor helped her choose it, since she has concluded she is actually a male trapped in a female body.

And you, her dad, werent told any of this.

While the guidance counsellor affirms your daughter as a transgender in grade eight, she still gets a crush on her male physical education teacher. The teacher rebuffs the young crush and shes taken out of his class. She attempts suicide and says this rejection is the reason.

Your daughter decides to get hormones to become male, which her mother supports. You see irreversible consequences and believe gender dysphoria may not be the root issue. You refuse the doctors permission for the treatments. Eventually they tell you your 14-year-old is a mature minor according to the Infants Act and can decide on her own.

You file an injunction to stop the treatments but it fails. The judge even says if you refer to your child as a she or her or call her by the name you put on her birth certificate, it will be considered an act of domestic violence. The judge bans you from talking to the media and forbids the media from naming any of the professionals involved.

Readers, you can leave your imagination and return to reality now. This nightmare actually is reality for a father in British Columbia.

Last month, author and speaker Laura-Lynn Tyler Thompson decided this father had been given the wrong kind of silent treatment. She interviewed him for her YouTube channel and posted the video. That very night, lawyers demanded she comply with the publication ban and remove the video.

Ive had to wrestle with myself, with my conscience, what I can live with, Thompson told the public in a subsequent video. In the face of this travesty of justice, this assault on common sense, parental rights, and the absolute failure to protect a precious youth in our nation who has been used as a pawn  I have asked myself, Am I going to bow to this establishment that wants all of this kept quiet?

The answer was no, which brought Thompson and the father back to court. I was shaking in front of this judge, Thompson recalled. She told him about the explosive increase in gender identity referrals worldwide, how most teens with gender dysphoria lose it later, and how affirming dysphoria is hurting teens.

There was loud applause in the public gallery after her comments, with the judge ordering people not to clap any more in the courtroom, the Vancouver Sun reported, adding that Thompson argued the issue of transgender treatments in Canada is a living, breathing nightmare.

The judge told the father to stop giving interviews, but he replied, The reason I do it, or did it, is because I am taking the best interests of my child at heart.

Thompson complied with the publication ban and took down the video. She was ordered to pay court costs, albeit at a reduced amount. However, the original video had been downloaded and re-posted around the world where the publication ban did not apply.

Thompson did not name the father or professionals involved in subsequent videos on the topic. However, some commenters did and posted links to copies of the banned interview. In court on March 9 and 10, the judge called on B.C. Attorney General David Eby to rule on whether Thompson and the father are in contempt.

Thompson told the court she was trying to honour its decision but believed the publication ban should be lifted in the public interest.

It is not the easiest thing I have done, but it is one of the most important things I have done in my entire life, she said.

The fathers lawyer, Carol Klassen, put it this way: Theres a quote from an old case that I love so much. It says the ability to share an opinion is precious to a mans soul and mind, [almost as] vital as breathing is to his physical existence. So the ability to express ourselves is vital to our souls, and I think thats what this is all about at the heart of it.

Lawmakers and judges decide what they will. But what about the rest of us? When our speech is no longer free, we discover the price were willing to pay for it.

A former think tank researcher, Lee Harding is now a journalist based in Saskatchewan.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
The enemy three times resorted to provocations, opening fire in the vicinity of disengagement site No. 3 "Bohdanivka  Petrivske".

Over the past day, March 10, Russian occupation forces in Donbas 17 times violated the ceasefire, the press center of the Joint Forces Operation HQ reported in its morning update on Wednesday.

"The enemy engaged our positions with 120 mm and 82 mm mortars proscribed by the Minsk agreements, as well as an anti-tank missile system, grenade launchers of various types, heavy machine guns, and small arms," the report reads.

A sniper duo was also active in the zone of hostilities, officials note.

"All enemy attacks saw an adequate response on the part of Joint Forces, which returned targeted fire," the press service said.

Read alsoUkraine's JFO HQ reports enemy death toll in Donbas since March

Also on March 10, the enemy three times resorted to provocations, opening fire in the vicinity of disengagement site No. 3 "Bohdanivka  Petrivske". Joint Forces did not return fire in the disengagement zone, adhering to a regime of silence.

During the past day, Russian-led forces near the village of Pisky hit a Ukrainian military truck with an anti-tank guided missile.

"One Ukrainian defender died on the spot. Later, another soldier died from his injuries. Seven soldiers sustained wounds of varying severity, another defender was hospitalized with combat injuries. In addition, as a result of enemy shelling of our positions one JF soldier was killed and another one suffered combat injuries," the HQ said.

Since day-start on Wednesday, Russian occupation troops have not opened fire.
A police chief was allegedly caught sleeping with women he arrested - after converting the back of his office into a love nest. Police Chief Major Ildefonso Miranda extended his room then added two large beds at the Argao district station in Cebu, the Philippines. Colleagues became suspicious after he allegedly took women who had been detained in custody back to his office, where they would spend the night. Senior cops from the Philippine National Police raided the station last Friday (March 6) where they allegedly found the sleazy cop sleeping with one suspect while a second was in a different bed. Footage shows how police burst into the office and hauled Miranda onto a sofa while a young woman slept on the bed and a second was on another bed. "The two female inmates are supposed to be locked up at the police jail, not sleeping in the room of the police station commander,' said Police Colonel Ronald Lee, who carried out the raid. Officers identified the two women as Jean Claudia De Guzman, 23 and Brenda Cutillar, 40, who both been arrested on suspicion of drugs offences. Miranda said he was in love with Jean and they had been out on dates before. Pictures show he had even let her dress in his police uniform at the station where they allegedly romped in his back room. Police Regional Office Director, Brigadier General Albert Ignatius Ferro, ordered all of the station staff to be investigated except for two officers, who acted as the whistleblowers on Mirandas alleged actions. The Brigadier General said: ''He was seriously taking advantage of the arrested persons. They should be accorded with due respect. ''Under my watch, there is transparency and accountability. Every member of the Philippine National Police must be respectful to the rule of law.'' The Philippine National Police - Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement (PNP-IMEG) has recommended the dismissal of Miranda while cases are being filed against him for the violations of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, and Direct Bribery and violation of Article 156 of the Revised Penal Code which refers to the "Delivery of Prisoners from Jail." Authorities have also confiscated Miranda'spolice-issue Glock 17 caliber 9MM semi-automatic pistol and his Piertro Beretta pistol with two loaded magazines.
A CALL has been made to support local businesses left facing difficult weeks due to the outbreak of the coronavirus.

With the number of cases of the flu-like disease on the rise, leading to the cancellation of Limericks St Patricks Day events, hospitality firms across the city in particular are set to be counting the cost.

Some of them wont survive this, was the stark warning from Helen ODonnell, who runs the cafe at the Hunt Museum,

Already, she has seen a party of 60 people booked in for this Wednesday lunchtime cancel.

Its very difficult, she said, If people are thinking of supporting local businesses, if they can, its very important they do this. Business wont survive this, and thats unfortunately the bottom line.

With people concerned about eating out, Ms ODonnell has started offering food to take away in tin foil.

Elsewhere, publicans are set to be out of pocket this weekend following the cancellation of the Six Nations rugby tie between Ireland and France.

But after the citys St Patricks Day parade was axed, it remains to be seen whether people will congregate around bars, or stay at home next Tuesday, a public holiday.

Fianna Fail councillor Jerry ODea, the local representative of the Vintners Federation of Ireland, says he has upped safety measures in his Mulgrave Street pub.

Read also: Limerick coffee shops impose ban on reusable cups amid coronavirus fears

We have to take it seriously as a business. Its clear there will be more cases announced in the coming days. Its very worrying for older people, and those who have underlying conditions, he told Leader Business.

People are being careful of shaking hands, and we are encouraging people to be respectful of others, not to hug people, that kind of thing, said Cllr O'Dea.

We are also respecting the metre of space between customers and ourselves, he added.

Arguably the real losers from the shelving of the parade  which would normally draw tens of thousands to the city centre  are local retailers.

James Ryan, who runs Centra branches in OConnell Street and William Street, hopes the council can perhaps recreate the St Patricks festival in the autumn when, its hoped the worst of the coronavirus has passed.

I know people are erring on the side of caution, but its a pity to see an event like St Patricks Day cancelled. Youd love to see an alternative plan.

For example, lets create a unique St Patricks festival in October, he suggested.

We should do something different to make sure we can capitalise on a good event at another time, he explained.

Like other retailers, he hasnt been able to source hand sanitiser.

It wasnt an overly popular product  it is now, he exclaimed.
Mark this down as one of the drawbacks of lying to the public non-stop for decades.



From Bloomberg, "Mistrust, Rumor and Conspiracy Theories Hinder U.S. Virus Fight":

No one has been diagnosed with the new coronavirus in Alabama, but unfounded social-media rumors run so wild that the state public health department assigned a staffer to stamp them out.



In Texas, Houston and Harris County officials have been fighting misinformation since January, after false claims that the virus was circulating in the Asiatown neighborhood.

People have been brazenly defying quarantine orders across the country, that's where much of the suspicion comes from.

Time and money is also being frittered away in New York, where the attorney general demanded that televangelist Jim Bakker stop falsely promoting pricey pills as a cure. And Bakker's company was one of seven that received letters Monday from a federal task force, warning them against claiming that their teas, oils and tinctures will cure the virus.

Bakker is a big time Christian Zionist, so that's not surprising.







Bloomberg continues:

Across the U.S., government officials fighting the disease are wrangling with a population made dubious by years of Internet misinformation and a politics based on the debasing of facts. The World Health Organization has said that a global "infodemic" makes it hard for people to find trustworthy sources and reliable guidance.



"We are all working fastidiously to get communication out," said Trevor Thomas, an epidemiologist with the Georgia Department of Public Health in Waycross, where officials have been trying in vain to dissuade people from buying every face mask in sight, even though basic hand-washing and cough-covering are more effective. "There's a disconnect with the public, particularly on the preparedness side of things."

The WHO Director putting out the garbage stat that the coronavirus death rate is 3.4 percent because he simply divided the official number of deaths by the official number of infections probably didn't help.





... WHO gave IMO a misleading 3.4% global MR for COVID-19. But China's # must be incomplete (missing mild, untested cases).

Morale: the more you test, the more you find, the more your numbers are a reflection of reality. So, that makes me happy (in a bizarre way)  karin Huster (@KarinHuster) March 5, 2020



Same goes for him claiming that "stigma" is "more dangerous than the virus itself."



Also, there's nothing wrong with wearing a proper mask. The issue is our government failed to plan for this crisis in advance and we outsourced all our factories to China, so now we're largely dependent on them for masks (which they need for themselves).

The disconnect starts at the top, with President Donald Trump's repeated undermining of health officials' assessment of coronavirus risks. With no evidence, Trump last week disputed the death rate from the WHO and downplayed the virus' dangers on national television.

Though Trump did seem to be winging it, the death rate was wildly misleading as mentioned above.

A Republican congressional candidate recently tweeted a coronavirus conspiracy involving Hillary Clinton, Bill Gates, George Soros and Pope Francis. Radio host Rush Limbaugh told millions of listeners last month that the virus was nothing more than the common cold, politically weaponized to hurt Trump's re-election chances. Trump aides Kellyanne Conway and Larry Kudlow have said the virus is largely contained.



Public fear is increasing and people "desperately want and need accurate, concise, reliable information," Lisa Lockerd Maragakis, senior director of infection prevention at the Johns Hopkins Health System in Baltimore, said Saturday. There are serious discrepancies between the statements of scientists "and some of the political leaders," she said. "I'm trying to be careful in how I say that."

Unfortunately, the scientific community has also been pushing bad science for decades. They recommended everyone eat trans fats and said we were all going to die from "global cooling," then "global warming" and now "climate change."



While I agree Trump's downplaying of the situation is embarrassing, there's plenty of blame to go around.

Skepticism resonates in Trump country as the president has lashed out at Democrats, calling Washington Governor Jay Inslee "a snake" for criticizing the administration's response. He has said he will continue staging large campaign rallies despite the risk of transmission. A Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted last week found Democrats are about twice as likely as Republicans to say the virus poses an imminent threat to the U.S.

I've seen a lot of Republicans claiming this is some sort of deep state conspiracy.





As an MIT PhD in Biological Engineering who studies & does research nearly every day on the Immune System, the #coronavirus fear mongering by the Deep State will go down in history as one of the biggest fraud to manipulate economies, suppress dissent, & push MANDATED Medicine! https://t.co/Q5VeOqzWEp  Dr.SHIVA Ayyadurai, MIT PhD. Inventor of Email (@va_shiva) March 9, 2020



The media can be recklessly hyping the virus to hurt Trump and Trump can be downplaying the virus in the interest of stock market preservation with both being in the wrong.

The internet is awash with oddball cures, false infection reports and conspiracy theories about the motives of health experts and the federal government. That has real consequences, because cynicism degrades "the chief tool of public health, which is trust," said Jim Thomas, a pandemic expert and epidemiology professor at the University of North Carolina's Gillings School of Global Public Health. "Without that trust, it can do nothing."



[...] In the U.S., suspicion of public-health officials' statements on coronavirus extends beyond politics. It has found fertile ground with so-called anti-vaxxers --- or the "vaccine-concerned" as they prefer to be called --- whose opposition to mandatory inoculation has been blamed for measles making a comeback in the U.S.

The fact you're exploiting this coronavirus outbreak to bash "anti-vaxxers" who had nothing to do with it is another reason people don't trust you.



The CDC has already said a vaccine won't be out for a year and a half.

For state and local health officials, such reflexive distrust makes things harder. Scott Packer, who handles communications for Houston's health department, has gone so far as to dispute false information on individual Facebook pages and Twitter feeds. He also works with local news outlets to correct the record.



He said some of the misinformation comes from people who genuinely think they're helping. Others spread falsehoods maliciously: The rumors about the virus in Asiatown, for instance, singled out one Chinese restaurant by name.

If the government and their media allies wanted to be taken seriously by the general public in crucial times such as these they should have thought about that before they decided to use all their clout to deceive the public for their own ends.



If you want someone to blame for this crisis of confidence, look in the mirror.



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The Chancellor is set to hand a 5billion boost to British exports as businesses prepare for life outside the EU.

Rishi Sunak said the cash would help firms seize the opportunities of Brexit by making it easier for them to win business abroad.

The money will go to UK Export Finance (Ukef), a government agency that lends to overseas buyers of British goods and services.

Exports boost: Chancellor Rishi Sunak is set to hand a 5bn boost to British to help firms seize the opportunities of Brexit by making it easier for them to win business abroad

It will more than double Ukef's lending power, from 3billion to 8billion.

Sunak said: 'This decade will provide even more opportunities for British businesses to export and trade with new partners.

'The Government will support business to seize these opportunities and thrive on the world stage.

'This package, which is the highest level of export lending the Government has ever made available, will provide support to industries and regions across the country.'

Ukef ensures exports do not fail due to a lack of available finance or insurance for those looking to buy British goods and services.

From the 5billion pot, 2billion will be offered for exports that encourage green growth while 1billion will be for defence industry purchases.

Foreign investors hoping to start a business in the UK are also expected to have their visa applications supported by the Department for International Trade.

UK exports totalled 689billion in 2019, according to official figures, up 5 per cent from the previous year.

That represented about 31.1 per cent of the country's GDP.
The Calcutta High Court on Wednesday granted anticipatory bail to BJP leader Mukul Roy in connection with a case of murder of three CPI(M) activists in 2010 in West Bengal's Birbhum district.

Granting anticipatory bail to Roy, a division bench comprising justices Joymalya Bagchi and Suvra Ghosh directed him not to enter Labhpur, Bolpur and Shantiniketan police station areas of the district till further orders.

The bench also asked Roy to surrender before the trial court within four weeks to secure regular bail, besides submitting two sureties of Rs 50,000 each.

Claiming that it was a politically motivated case, Roy's lawyer Sandipan Dasgupta submitted that he was not named in the FIR lodged in the case.

The BJP leader's name also did not crop up in the chargesheet filed in 2014, Dasgupta said.

Altogether 25 persons, including saffron party leader Manirul Islam and his two brothers, were named in the FIR filed in the triple-murder case. The three names were, however, dropped from the chargesheet filed in 2014.

Manirul, who was a local Left leader in 2010, had joined the Trinamool Congress later and was elected an MLA of the party from Labhpur constituency in Birbhum district. He switched over to the BJP in 2019.

The high court had in September 2019 ordered further investigation in the murder of three CPI(M) activists, in connection with a petition by relatives of the deceased.

Roy, who was a senior TMC leader before he joined the BJP in November 2017, figured in a supplementary affidavit filed by the police in December, 2019.

An arrest warrant was issued against Roy following the filing of the supplementary chargesheet before the trial court in Birbhum.

Roy had moved the high court on January 6 seeking anticipatory bail following issuance of the warrant.

The BJP leader was given protection by the high court from arrest during pendency of his petition.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
According to Reuters, one rebel investor  a US hedge fund named Third Point  has demanded that Prudential release Jackson in its entirety. However, this does not seem to be the plan at present.

Speaking on a media call on Wednesday (March 11), Prudential CEO Mike Wells announced plans for a minority IPO following a 20% rise in Jacksons operating profit in 2019.

He said the US business has been preparing for a potential IPO since August 2019, and that Jackson has undertaken significant work with [its] advisors to get in the best possible position for a minority IPO. Wells added: In order to diversify at pace, Jackson will need access to additional investment.

Third Point allegedly declined to offer comment to Reuters on the IPO plan.
Chancellor Angela Merkel said Germany will do whatever is required to limit the impact of the coronavirus on Europes biggest economy, weighing in for the first time at length on her countrys response to the growing crisis.

We will do whatever is necessary, Merkel said at a news conference in Berlin, a day after the 27 EU leaders held a video conference to co-ordinate action with European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde.

The German leader was referring to budget spending on health measures, on top of a pledge to provide ailing companies with liquidity and extend furlough pay for workers. She said she agreed with Lagarde that the situation must be taken very seriously and that without natural immunity against the virus, and a lack as yet of vaccination or therapy options, as much as 70 per cent of the population is at risk.

Merkel and her economic team are focused on providing liquidity to cash-strapped companies and havent seen the need for classic stimulus measures until the economic fallout of the disease becomes more clear. Yet pressure has been growing for Germany to step up efforts to support growth.

Some of the nations leading economists on Wednesday urged the government to become more proactive and give up its balanced budget policy. While the economists rejected a broader stimulus package, they called for targeted measures to cushion the economic impact, such as tax cuts and better terms on tax obligations.

Merkel, who rarely gives formal news conferences, announced her appearance Wednesday only a few hours ahead of time, highlighting the seriousness of Germanys plight. She has up to now allowed her health minister, Jens Spahn, to take the lead on briefing the public about the governments response to the virus.

That has prompted criticism about her engagement with the crisis. The decision to appear with Spahn on Wednesday came after Bild newspaper, Germanys biggest-selling daily, accused her on its front page of failing to show leadership during the corona chaos.

Merkel commented briefly on the virus in a speech at a German-Greek forum on Monday and her spokesman issued a statement on her behalf after Tuesdays video conference. She also briefed lawmakers in her parliamentary caucus on Tuesday.

Economic shock

EU member states must act in concert to slow the spread of the virus, Merkel said Wednesday, calling for the bloc to maintain economic life even as it mobilizes to fight the epidemic.

The virus has arrived in Europe; its here  and everybody has to understand that, she said, adding that each EU nation will contribute what it can to counter the spread.

Asked about Lagardes assertion that Europe risks a major economic shock similar to the 2008 financial crisis, Merkel said that considerations such as recapitalizing banks were quantifiable, whereas the virus brings an unprecedented level of uncertainty, such as building immunity and the viruss reaction to temperature.

We have to act with a far greater level of unknown factors, so that task is a different one, Merkel said. But in all such crisis situations, the necessary elements are prudence and decisiveness.

With assistance from Birgit Jennen and Daniel Schaefer.

Read more about:
CITY HALL -- Rep. Max Rose has endorsed former Vice President Joe Biden after initially throwing his support behind former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, the Island congressman and a group of eight other representatives announced Wednesday.

I believe Vice President Biden can unite this country and ensure we remain the greatest country in the world. That's why I am endorsing Joe Biden or President, Rose said.

Throughout his career, Vice President Biden has worked with both parties  even when it was hard because he believed it was the right thing to do. At this moment in our countrys history, we need someone not only with his experience, but his empathy, he continued.

Roses latest endorsement comes after he endorsed Bloomberg in January.

At the time, Rose cited Bloomberg turning the city around after Sept. 11 and his bipartisan approach to politics as reasons why he supported the former mayor.

State Sen. Diane Savino (D-North Shore) and the Islands Democratic Party boss Assemblyman Micheal Cusick (D-Mid Island) also endorsed Bloomberg for president earlier this year.

But last week, Savino and Cusick both said they had no plans to endorse any other presidential candidates at the moment.

Bloomberg dropped out of the presidential race and threw his support behind Biden after he won just one Super Tuesday contest in American Samoa.

Bloomberg backed Roses predecessor former Republican Rep. Daniel Donovan in his unsuccessful 2010 bid for state attorney general.

In 2018, Bloomberg also donated $5,400, the maximum amount for individual donors, to Donovans congressional bid in the lead up to the Republican primary where the former Island congressman faced off against ex-GOP Rep. Michael Grimm.

The eight other Representatives that endorsed Biden include New York Reps. Gregory Meeks and Nita Lowey; Pete Aguilar, Scott Peters of California, and Juan Vargas of California; Lucy McBath of Georgia; Bobby Rush of Illinois; and Stacey Plaskett of the U.S. Virgin Islands.

FOLLOW SYDNEY KASHIWAGI ON TWITTER.
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) and UN Resident Coordinator in Vietnam Kamal Malhotra (Photo: VNA)

During his reception for the UN official in Hanoi on March 10, PM Phuc applauded effective cooperation of the UN with Vietnam amid the global spread of the acute respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), and affirmed the Vietnamese Governments determination to effectively cope with the epidemic.

Vietnam is making every effort to not only successfully fight against the disease but also complete its set socio-economic development targets, PM Phuc stressed.

Vietnam has been performing well its role as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council (UNSC), especially the presidency of the UNSC, he said.

The Government leader noted that in its capacity as President of the UNSC in January, Vietnam successfully organised a discussion on the UN Charter, which highlighted multilateralism, the role of the charter, the UN and international law.

Vietnam has actively participated in the councils activities with its foreign policy of independence and self-reliance based on the constructive and responsible principle for common interests, peace and stability in regions, he said.

For his part, Malhotra praised Vietnams efforts and strong measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the community, saying that the UN has shared Vietnams experience with other countries worldwide.

UN organisations in Vietnam will always accompany Vietnam in the fight against the epidemic by providing technological and technical assistance to help the country in evaluating the disease, thus minimising its impacts on socio-economic development.

Vietnam excellently completed its role as President of the UNSC in January, he said, adding the UN agencies are actively coordinating with Vietnamese relevant partners to help Vietnam organise international events on women, peace and security in August.
Two Goa-based persons- a man who had travelled to Italy and Finland, and a woman who returned to the state from Dubai, were quarantined here on Wednesday for possible novel coronavirus exposure as they complained of cough and fever on their arrival.

Goa Health Minister Vishwajit Rane told this to reporters here on Wednesday.

"A 27-year-old man and a 23-year-old woman were admitted to isolation ward of the state-run Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) near here," he said.

The woman was in Dubai from November 30, 2019. She left that city on March 8 and arrived in Goa, the minister said.

"She landed in Goa in an Air India flight. After she complained of cough and fever on Tuesday, she was quarantined," he added.

According to Rane, the man had travelled to Italy and Finland last month and had come in contact with a coronavirus patient.

"He has been kept in an isolation ward of the GMCH in Panaji after he complained of cough and fever. The man, a native of Vasco town in South Goa, was working on a ship and returned to the coastal state two days back," he said.

"He had come in contact with a coronavirus patient mid-February while he was working on a ship," the minister said in a statement.

On Monday evening, samples of two foreign travellers, who were kept under observation at the GMCH for suspected novel coronavirus infection, had tested negative. They were subsequently discharged from the medical facility.

The state health department has kept 19 patients under home observation, as per the latest official information.

The Mormugao Port Trust in Goa has banned the entry of cruise vessels till March 31 in view of the novel coronavirus threat, a senior official earlier said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
India's friendly country Afghanistan has given a very good offer to the Taliban. According to which a spokesman for President Ashraf Ghani said on Wednesday morning that if terrorists reduce violence, the government will gradually release 5,000 Taliban prisoners from the beginning of this week. With this, the dispute has been resolved due to which the peace talks between the terrorists and Kabul were delayed.

Corona wreaking havoc in Italy, people of this age more infected

On this matter, the US said that its army has started emptying its two bases in Afghanistan on the lines of the agreement reached between the US and the Taliban in Doha last month. Spokesperson Sadiq Siddiqui said on Twitter that the government will release 1,500 Taliban prisoners from Saturday as a gesture of goodwill. Then 3,500 other prisoners will be released after negotiations begin.

Does discussion happen about Scindia's leaving Congress takes place at JP Nadda's son's wedding?

He further said that this agreement will depend on the Taliban's desire to reduce attacks in the country. In this agreement, initially, 100 prisoners will be released every day. The Taliban were to begin talks with Kabul from Tuesday but it was delayed due to the terrorists' demand to release the prisoners in exchange for the release of 1,000 hostages.

Scindia becomes BJP's Rajya Sabha candidate from Madhya Pradesh
'China out of darkest moment'

Global Times

By Chen Qingqing and Yang Sheng Source:Global Times Published: 2020/3/11 0:33:40

President Xi hails frontline staff, local residents as heroes

While the threat of a pandemic has become real as the world meltdown caused by the coronavirus is accelerating, with spikes in confirmed cases and a surging death toll, China, the first country entangled in the unprecedented public health crisis, is gradually ascending from the darkest moment two months later following all-out efforts and strong collective will.

Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Wuhan, Central China's Hubei Province on Tuesday, sent out a strong message of the unswerving determination of the Chinese people in scoring a victory in this battle, glorified the huge sacrifices made by local residents and frontline staff whom he hailed as heroes.

Xi arrived on Tuesday in Wuhan to inspect epidemic prevention and control work in the province and its capital city Wuhan. The Chinese president, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, went straight to Huoshenshan Hospital after arriving in Wuhan, and learned about the hospital's operations, treatment of patients, protection for medical workers and scientific research.

Huoshenshan Hospital is the first designated COVID-19 hospital that was completed on February 2 and started admitting patients from February 3. The construction concluded in just 10 days.

He also encouraged a patient being treated at the hospital in a video call. Later, Xi visited residents of a community in Wuhan undergoing self-quarantine, looking into community-level epidemic prevention and control work as well as daily necessity supply work and expressed appreciation to frontline workers and local residents.

Xi's Wuhan visit shows the turning point of China's domestic fight against the epidemic has arrived, and now the focus of the fighting is shifting to preventing imported cases of infections and gradually resuming economic activities and production, analysts said.

Following a lockdown of Wuhan - the ground zero of the coronavirus outbreak - and Hubei Province involving about 58 million people, the containment measures, which came along with heavy costs, have now yielded tangible positive outcomes, as new infection numbers significantly dropped and 28 of the country's provincial-level regions had registered zero new infections as of Monday.

After about two months of epidemic control and prevention work, China is gradually coming out of the darkest phase, and it's time for the nation to accelerate resumption of normal work as well as social order. And Xi's visit also reflected China's determination to "score a victory" in the fight against the COVID-19 epidemic.

It has been two months since Wuhan reported the first death from the COVID-19 on January 9, and the epicenter and the province, more populous than metropolis such as New York and London, have been completely shut down, while many residents described their experiences of getting through the city lockdown like "hitting the pause on life."

In the past months, the country has been mobilizing and dispatching thousands of medical staff to support Wuhan and Hubei, and a massive top-down campaign was launched to allocate resources, and officials and Party members have become the backbone in this battle, which was also called the "people's war."

As of March 1, more than 35,000 medical staff from 29 regions and the PLA came to support Wuhan. 44,500 Party officials work round-the-clock in about 3,000 communities to make sure all suspected and confirmed patients are treated.

Medical staffs are the biggest contributors amid the outbreak, and the Party and the people will give them the biggest credit, Xi noted on Tuesday.

Xi's visit at this stage showed that China has achieved a phased victory that can help stabilize and control the epidemic situation, said Lu Keli, an associate professor of the school of Marxism studies at Renmin University of China in Beijing.

Since the outbreak, Xi has personally commanded this war. He has been paying constant attention to epidemic prevention and control work and has given verbal or written instructions every day.

From January 7 to March 2, he convened six meetings of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and one meeting of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, urging authorities at every level to put forth resolute efforts to curb the spread of the virus.

Lessons from Wuhan

During the visit, Xi also expressed his appreciation to Wuhan people, for those who have made huge sacrifices and contributions to the epidemic prevention and control work, guaranteeing the visible progress. Xi also hailed them as heroes, and said the battle would be remembered throughout history.

In this war, people in Wuhan and Hubei had paid a heavy price, exposing loopholes in local governance and re-examining the country's top-down emergency response mechanism, particularly shedding light on problems embedded not only with the governance mechanism but also the mentality of some officials who seriously delayed their response to this public health crisis.

Amid a national outcry for accountability, as the COVID-19 occurred with repeating patterns like SARS, which was not caused by certain people but triggered by a poor decision-making mechanism at the local government level, the outbreak has also lead to deep reflection, such as bureaucracy and formalities for the sake of formalities, analysts said.

The central government has urged over the past month to fix the loopholes and shortcomings in local governance as well as with the public health emergency management mechanism.

Meanwhile, it has become more urgent not to relax on epidemic control work while ensuring the resumption of daily work, as China also plays the role of a stabilizer of the global economy, especially when the world faces more uncertainties amid the outbreaks.

In spite of mishandling the public crisis at the early stages, authorities quickly addressed governance shortcomings, focusing on fighting this war with a sense of responsibility and collective action, reflecting the country's commitment to the world.

As the epidemic situation becomes worse outside China, the country has been shifting from a support receiver to an active contributor of epidemic control measures, clinical expertise and medical supplies.

Since the outbreak, the central government dispatched an inspection group to guide epidemic control work in Hubei, and a number of local officials have been questioned and punished for failing to fulfill their duties in the prevention and control work, reshuffling top officials in local authorities.

Jiang Chaoliang, former secretary of the Hubei Provincial Committee of the CPC, and Ma Guoqiang, Wuhan Party chief, were removed from their positions on February 13. The local disciplinary authority held 620 officials in Wuhan accountable as of February 21, according to media reports.

Cities in Hubei began to partially lift lockdown measures, and local authorities rolled out color-coded health ratings on Tuesday for local residents, encouraging those with low health risks to return to work.

Due to the impact of the COVID-19, not only the Chinese economy, but the world economy is also being impacted, as the US stock market registered its most serious decline since the 2007-2008 financial crisis, and many countries in Northeast Asia, Europe and the Middle East are also suffering from the outbreak, Lu of the Renmin University said.

"China will also be very cautious to secure the positive trend and strictly prevent the recurrence of the deadly disease. Whether it is for the Chinese economy or world economy, as well as the financial markets, the confidence is essential for the recovery," he stressed.

Though China has taken the lead in achieving effective epidemic prevention, the other half of the job is still far from complete, as the WHO said the risk of a pandemic is becoming real, and infection cases have rapidly surged in over 100 countries and regions. When more Chinese people return to work, risks of renewed spread of the coronavirus grow.

"The epidemic control work might have achieved visible progress, other major tasks need to be done, including rebuilding the homeland in the post-COVID-19 period, easing the mental strain of the public, and deeply reflecting on mistakes made at the early stages," said Shen Yi, director at the Research Center for Cyberspace Governance of Fudan University.

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Being the sworn friend of China, we have a famous saying in Pakistan going as "Rather give up gold, don't give up Pak-China friendship

On February 10th, The Pakistan Senate voted unanimously to support China's battle against novel coronavirus pneumonia. As President Xi Jinping said in a telephone conversation with Prime Minister H.E Imran Khan on February 20, China and Pakistan are true friends and good brothers who share weal and woe with each other.

The outbreak of the novel coronavirus pneumonia also deeply affected the hearts of every Pakistani student studying in China. On January 23, I saw the news in the WeChat group that the The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University is recruiting a team of doctors and nurse volunteers to prepare for the epidemic protection during the Spring Festival, I applied to be the part of front-line battle team immediately. Within five hours, the hospital recruited 26 doctors and 96 nurses. Although I was not selected to serve on the front-line, I still wanted to do what I could to pay back the Chinese government and the institutions which educated us.

Since the outbreak of novel coronavirus pneumonia, I am very glad to see many Pakistani students from Central South University have actively registered to participate in volunteer teams expressing their wish to go to the front line and fight the epidemic and also approached the local and foreign media to let the world know their school life and how China is doing all the possible efforts to fight the epidemic. This gave a very positive message to the outer world and caused the negative impact and rumors to be self-defeated. Ms. Hashemi, Pakistan's ambassador to China, said that Pakistan's overseas students totally feel at ease to stay in China.

The tradition of standing with each other through thick and thin isnt new. Earlier, during the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake in China, Pakistan did everything in its reach and mobilized all of its domestic transport aircraft to China, and donated 22260 tents to be accurate. China also provided a large amount of aid during the flood disaster in Pakistan in 2010.

During China's novel coronavirus pneumonia battle, Pakistan was not only the first country to announce not to evacuate from Wuhan, but also helped the country to mobilize 300 thousand medical masks, 800 medical protective clothing and 6800 pairs of gloves in the situation when the whole country was under plague by locusts itself. In my city, Faisalabad, all hospitals immediately arranged large scale seminars to learn about novel coronavirus pneumonia. Medical personnel from major hospitals expressed their willingness to stand side by side with Chinese nation if necessary. Teachers and students community of whole city also wished good luck to China and Wuhan.

The destiny of all countries in the world is closely linked, and the construction of a community with a joined future for mankind cannot be separated from coordination and cooperation among nations. I strongly believe that with the collective efforts, the epidemic will come to an end soon and spring is about to come full of vigor.

Muhammad Salman Azhar is a postgraduate student at Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery Department, The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University.
The Metropolitan Chief Executive of Cape Coast, Hon. Ernest Arthur this morning was joined by the First Lady, Madam Rebecca Akufo Addo, the Central Regional Minister, Hon. Kwamena Duncan, Chief Executive of Coastal Development Authority, Mr. Jerry Ahmed, the President of Oguaa Traditional Council, Osabarimba Kwesi Atta II and a host of dignitaries to cut the sod for the commencement of the Anafo Market Redevelopment Project.

Speaking at the short ceremony, Hon. Ernest Arthur expressed his appreciation to Coastal Development Authority for responding to his request and approving the Anafo Market Project. According to him, the market when completed will ease congestion in the market and provide enough selling spaces for traders.

The old Anaafo market, the first market to be built in Cape Coast, was not only congested but declared architecturally weak to support continuous trading activities. The place was also prone to floods and flooded anytime there was a heavy downpour.

The new two-storey market which will have 260 lockable stores, office spaces, cafeteria and other ancillary facilities is set to be completed within 12 months. The project forms part of the Infrastructure for Poverty Eradication Programme(IPEP) funded by the Ministry of Special Initiative and Development under the 1million per constituency project promised by the New Patriotic Party and its leader Nana Akufo-Addo in the run-up to the 2016 general elections.

First Lady, Mrs Rebecca Akufo-Addo led the sod-cutting ceremony for construction to officially begin. She urged the contractor, Fine Job Construction Limited as well as the project implementers, Coastal Development Authority(CoDA) and the Cape Coast Metropolitan Assembly to expedite work at the site so that traders will have a decent place to go about their economic activities as soon as possible.

Mrs. Rebecca Akufo-Addo also pledged the commitment of the government in doing more to improve the living conditions for all Ghanaians. She explained that programmes like Free Senior High School, health promotions, infrastructural provision among others implemented by the government point to the intent of the government in ensuring qualitative improvement in the lives of the people.
Kerala makes hiding travel history a crime as India confirms at least 60 COVID-19 cases

The Indian state of Kerala has made hiding travel history a criminal offence as the country confirmed new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday.

The total number of cases in India has crossed 60 (including 16 Italians) with one case each in Delhi and Rajasthan, said the Ministry of Health on Wednesday.

Spoke to Health Ministers of Delhi,Haryana,Kerala,Rajasthan Telangana,UP, TN,Punjab, Karnataka,Mrashtra & LGs of Ladakh & J&K to check well being of #coronavirus patients in their resp states. Urged perfection in contact tracing & community surveillance to contain the spread  Dr Harsh Vardhan (@drharshvardhan) March 10, 2020

Kerala is the worst hit state in India with a sudden recent spike in cases. This has prompted the state to make hiding travel history a crime. "According to Public Health Act, people hiding their travel history, which can lead to the spread of the infectious disease, is a crime," said state health minister KK Shailaja.

India's Ministry of Health has confirmed 50 cases of COVID-19 in the country. Photo courtesy: Twitter/@MoHFW_INDIA

India intensifies border control

In order to contain the spread of COVID-19 India has imposed further measures of border control.

As per the government, all visas and e-visas granted on or before March 11 to nationals of three more coronavirus-affected countries - France, Germany and Spain - have been suspended.

This follows the earlier suspension of visas and e-visas for nationals of Italy, Iran, South Korea, Japan and China.

The Manipur government has closed all border entry points with Myanmar with the entry of foreigners from these border checkpoints banned.

Statewise COVID-19 cases in India (as of March 11):
Each weekday morning after her mother has left for work, Naamat changes her youngest brother Ibrahims diaper and feeds him a bottle of formula milk. She then prepares a simple breakfast of bread, oil and thyme-packed zaatar to share with her two other younger brothers before cleaning up, packing their bags and walking with them to catch the school bus, having dropped Ibrahim off with a neighbour.

Naamat is only 11, but shes living the life of a 30-year-old woman, her mother Fatima says. Its because of our situation, Naamat responds. I have to support my parents and my brothers. They dont have anyone else but me.

This week marks nine years since the start of the conflict in Syria, a stretch of time that weighs heavily on the lives of millions of ordinary Syrians who have seen their loved ones lost, homes destroyed, families uprooted and their lives put on hold. For 11-year-old Naamat, a refugee from Homs living in Jordan, the war has compelled her take on responsibilities well beyond her years.

While Fatima earns 5 Jordanian dinars (US$7) for half-days spent cleaning houses, her husband Mahmoud is unable to work or look after their children due to the lingering physical and psychological effects of his experiences in Syria, leaving Naamat to take on many of the household chores.

Mahmoud was arrested in 2011 after leaving Friday prayers, with Fatima knowing nothing of her husbands fate. In 2013, she was forced to flee the fighting in Homs with Naamat and her younger brother Fahed, moving first to the southern Syrian province of Deraa before crossing the border into Jordan.

"It was the worst night of my whole life."

We walked from sunset until sunrise, Fatima recalled. It was the worst night of my whole life. It was dark and we could hear the sound of bullets in the distance. It was very cold and there was snow, and no way of keeping warm.

Then aged just four, Naamat still remembers the disorientation she felt arriving in Zaatari refugee camp in the north of Jordan with dozens of other Syrian refugees. I was surprised because I used to live in a house, and we came to live in tents. I was really shocked. We used to feel warm, and suddenly I found myself in a tent and cold.

Fatima moved with her children to Jordans capital Amman. A year or so later and quite out of the blue, she was reunited with her husband. There was a knock on the door and I found him [standing there]. I had thought he was dead.

Today, seven years after their arrival in Jordan, they are still barely able to keep their heads above water. The run-down apartment near central Amman that they rent for 100 dinars (US$140) a month is almost entirely devoid of furniture, with mattresses on the floors for seating and sleeping, and rarely more than a days worth of food in the kitchen.

Fatima holds her youngest son, Ibrahim, outside their home in Amman, Jordan.  UNHCR/Diego Ibarra Sanchez

Naamat looks after her brother Ibrahim while their mother is at work.  UNHCR/Diego Ibarra Sanchez

Eleven-year-old Namaat writes a poem on the steps outside her home.  UNHCR/Diego Ibarra Sanchez

After finishing her morning chores, Namaat (left) takes the bus to school.  UNHCR/Diego Ibarra Sanchez

Naamat feeds her youngest brother Ibrahim a bottle of formula milk.  UNHCR/Diego Ibarra Sanchez

Naamat jumps rope with some of her neighbourhood friends.  UNHCR/Diego Ibarra Sanchez

The little Fatima earns is nowhere near enough to provide even the basics for her family. But thanks to the 140 dinars (US$197) in monthly cash assistance she receives from UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, together with food vouchers from the World Food Programme, she is at least able to cover the rent, keep them fed and pay for the childrens school transport.

It is a similar picture for the majority of the more than 5.5 million registered Syrian refugees living in the regions major host countries  Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and Egypt.

The share of refugees living below the poverty line exceeds 60 percent in many of these countries, while more than a third of refugee children are out of school. The protracted crisis has also placed a huge strain on the resources of the local communities generously hosting them.

"I will not despair."

The precarious situation facing millions of refugees after nine years of conflict is what continues to drive cases of early marriage and child labour, and see children like Naamat required take on domestic duties at such a young age.

Yet despite the responsibility placed on her by their situation, and the awareness that it is not a normal state of affairs for an 11-year-old, Naamats quiet determination has helped her to excel at school and rise to the top of the class in many subjects.

I love education a lot, because I feel that it will give me a beautiful future, she says. I lost part of my childhood, but I find what remains in education, and in building a future for myself. I did not lose that yet, and I will not despair.

It is this hope, kept alive by the fact that Jordan has opened its schools and communities to Syrian refugees, that keeps Naamat and her family going. After nine years, host communities continue to show remarkable solidarity.

"You never feel that she is broken."

For Fatima, seeing the resilience and optimism that Naamat possesses allows her to hope that they will eventually overcome their current situation.

Life was very tough on me and my family. We faced many challenges: the pain of war and the pain of leaving our loved ones behind, the financial situation, becoming refugees  so many things, Fatima says. But she has a very strong personality. You never feel that she is broken or vulnerable.

That afternoon, after Fatima returns from work to take over the running of the household from her daughter, Naamat goes outside to play with two friends from the neighbourhood.

As they take turns jumping rope, competing to outdo each other, the serious expression that Naamat has worn for most of the day disappears, briefly replaced by a smile of pure joy.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Monday that the Treasury Department is taking steps to resume efforts to put abolitionist leader Harriet Tubman on the $20 bill.
- Usain Bolt and wife Kasi Bennett announced that they were expecting a baby girl in the family at a party held in Kingston, Jamaica

- The party was held in both indoor and outdoor settings, with those in attendance dressed in all white

- The reveal was done in a unique way using a countdown to prepare the guests then lighting up the sky with bright pink flames

- Our Manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in

Jamaican sprint legend Usain Bolt is elated at the prospects of having the future Shelly-Ann Fraser Pryce in the family.

This is after he and wife Kasi Bennett announced that they were expecting a baby girl.

READ ALSO: Champions League and Europa League matches could be suspended due to coronavirus

READ ALSO: Anthony Joshua: 'My heritage is Nigerian, I come from the Yoruba people'

The Olympic legend threw an exquisite reveal party in Peter's Rock in Kingston Jamaica, with family and friends in attendance.

In a video seen by TUKO.co.ke, the lavish party was held in both indoor and outdoor settings, with those in attendance dressed in all white.

Usain Bolt showed his delight in another video, saying he was happy to be a girl dad and warned off any potential suitors in the future.

"Yo, I just did the reveal and I'm a girl dad," Bolt said before going at future suitors. "Any man, any boy! Don't play with me!"

READ ALSO: Ronaldinho in prison after trying to enter Paraguay with fake passport

The event was definitely a hit as those in attendance danced to the music from invited performers and also received gifts branded with Bolts' baby's swag.

The reveal was done in a unique way using a countdown to prepare the guests then lighting up the sky with bright pink flames which confirmed the gender.

Swipe left for more videos:

The couple shared the news of their impending gift in January through their social media accounts.

The 33-year-old shared some stunning photos of Bennet in what looked like a maternity shoot.

Bennet on the day was dressed in a beautiful flowing red dress while flaunting her bulging baby bump.

Bolt and Bennet have been dating since 2014 but only went public four years ago.

Sarkodie's full performance at Legon Pent Hall Week 2020 | #Yencomgh

READ ALSO: Bawumia could not propose to me - Samira drops bombshell

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
Man Buys a 700-Year-Old Cave and Transforms It Into Spectacular Subterranean Retreat for Rent

Inspired by a need to return to basics, a man took a 700-year-old cave and gave it a much-needed facelift. The subterranean, four-bedroom dwelling had been abandoned since the 1950s and needed some serious restoration. The man transformed it into a fantastic retreat, complete with modern amenities and a fireplace. It now looks a lot more appealing.

Angelo Mastropietro from the United Kingdom decided to reassess his lifestyle and direction after his being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) at the age of 29, he told Barcroft TV. My surname accidentally means master of the stone, he said. So he went ahead and bought a 700-year-old cave in Wyre Forest, Worcestershire, for 62,000 pounds (US$80,141) and named it The Rockhouse Retreat.

Living in caves isnt unheard of in the United Kingdom, according to Mastropietro. Actually, they were only classed as unfit for human habitation back in the 1950s. I saw The Rockhouse as a huge challenge and an opportunity to change history, he explained, per Today.

After waiting for two years to get planning permission, the man then commenced an 8-month-long restoration processmost of which he completed by himself. I excavated approximately 70 tons of rubble by hand and used the rubble to create a 100-square-meter terrace for entertaining, he explained.

He also incorporated some impressive modern amenities to his four-bedroom cave. Along with electricity and running water, The Rockhouse features WiFi, underfloor heating, and ambient lighting. I want to celebrate that it is a cave-dwelling, but I want to add modern-day luxuries, he explained when featured on Channel 4s show Grand Designs in 2015. It definitely has a modern feel but hopefully retains some cave charm.

One of Mastropietros goals was to challenge the bad name associated with cave dwellings. Cave houses are no longer recognized in Britain and historically have a stigma associated as they were the architecture of the very poor people in society, he said. Despite them being permanent dwellings, much older, and rarer than conventional architecture, they have been ignored.

The location of Rockhouse is considered one of the oldest cave dwellings in the entire European continent. It may have been around for up to 800 years. Now it is billed as a romantic retreat getaway that rejuvenates and promotes the wellness of its occupants, according to its website.

I absolutely love the atmosphere of the Rockhouse, he adds. The feedback is just amazing and really quite emotional. Im very proud of what has been achieved and hope it inspires others to follow their dreams.

Since the caves restoration was completed, Mastropietro has enjoyed a wealth of media attention. Besides appearing on Grand Designs, Mastropietro was featured on Channel 5s The Saturday Show.

What began as a project of lifestyle self-improvement turned into one also aimed at improving the lives of others. I feel it is a very powerful place that can motivate, educate and heal others, he said.
KALAMAZOO, MI  Writer and activist Shaun King will be the keynote speaker at the Lewis Walker Institute 30th Anniversary Dinner held at Western Michigan University.

The dinner will be held shortly after the Great Lakes Symposium on Mass Incarceration: We Are Our Brothers Keepers, Supporting the Transition Back to the Community, at 6 p.m. Monday, April 2, in the Grand Ballroom at WMUs Bernhard Center on the main campus.

Proceeds will go to expand the Institutes endowment fund and establish gap scholarship funding for students, according to the organization.

The symposium will bring together a distinguished group of scholars and practitioners to both critically engage in addressing the supports required for the successful transition back to the community for previously incarcerated citizens, and explore the impacts of incarceration across racial and ethnic communities, according to organizers.

Tickets for dinner are $75 for the general public and $50 for students.

Kings biography says he is A passionate advocate for justice and families" who offers an articulate and historically grounded take on the most pressing problems of the day.

As a magnetic element of the Black Lives Matter movement, Shaun King helps us see our present place in the larger current of American history. Hes adopted social media to rally and unite people of disparate backgrounds and has now become one of the most followed activists in the United States," Kings web site states.

King is founder and CEO of The North Star, a new digital version of abolitionist Frederick Douglass iconic journal, WMU said.

King has formerly worked as a columnist for The Intercept, the Writer-In-Residence at Harvard Law Schools Fair Punishment Project, and The Senior Justice Writer at the New York Daily News.

Before he was known nationally, King was a high school history and civics teacher in Atlanta, then a traveling teacher and counselor at a dozen different jails, prisons, and youth detention centers in Georgia.
By Express News Service

BHOPAL: After high political drama throughout the Holi day left the ruling Congress and Kamal Nath government in deep crisis on Tuesday, more political drama seems to be in store in Madhya Pradesh for Wednesday.

A meeting of ruling Congress MLAs is likely to happen shortly at the Chief Minister's House in Bhopal, which will also be attended by the four independents supporting the Congress government.

The meeting is likely to be followed by the Congress machinery shifting its entire flock of 90 plus MLAs (including the four independents) to Rajasthan, as per sources.

"The party MLAs are reaching here from Madhya Pradesh," they said.

ALSO READ | Madhya Pradesh crisis: Jyotiraditya joins grandmother Vijaya Raje, father Madhavrao to ditch Congress

The legislators are expected to reach Jaipur airport at 11 am and will be staying at a resort located on the Delhi Road here, the sources said.

All arrangements are being made on the directions of Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, they added.

Informed sources confided that 88 Congress MLAs (and not the expected 92) and four independents could fly to Jaipur or Raipur on Wednesday.

The ruling BJP has already shifted its entire flock of 106 MLAs (one MLA couldn't join due to mother's death) last night by a special plane to BJP ruled Haryana for preventing any poaching of its flock by Congress.

ALSO READ | Madhya Pradesh crisis: Experts in resort politics, Karnataka BJP leaders helped Scindia

Special aircraft to reach Bhopal by 10.20 am and likely to take the Congress and independent MLAs to Rajasthan.

The BJP MLAs have possibly been housed at hotels in Gurugram.

Madhya Pradesh Home Minister, Bala Bachchan: Congress is in a safe & strong position. Everybody is in touch with Chief Minister, everything will be alright soon. We will prove majority on the floor of the assembly and our government will continue till 2023. #Bhopal pic.twitter.com/K6cGepSZpD  ANI (@ANI) March 11, 2020

Meanwhile, key sources within the Congress camp in Bhopal have claimed that some of the 19 Scindia loyalist MLAs holed up in Bengaluru are in contact with party leadership through high profile Karnataka politician DK Shivkumar and could well return to parent party fold before the Vidhan Sabha's budget session starting on March 16.

On Tuesday late night, CM Kamal Nath too had put up a brave face amid deep crisis, saying we'll prove majority (in the house).

ALSO READ | Madhya Pradesh crisis: Scindia loyalist MLAs learn from Karnataka model

Sources in the BJP camp in Bhopal, meanwhile, said Jyotiraditya Scindia could hold a show of strength through a roadshow in Bhopal on Thursday. His show of strength might be preceded by him joining the BJP in Delhi.

BJP sources claimed that Scindia could file Rajya Sabha poll nomination as BJP candidate on Friday.

Sources also claimed that three to four more Congress MLAs could also resign from assembly membership in a day or two just like their 22 Congress MLA colleagues did on Tuesday.

(With PTI Inputs)
The Coronavirus Outbreak (COVID19) has hit the world hard and how. While industries across the globe are suffering due to the global pandemic that originated from Wuhan, China, aviation industry in particular has been at the receiving end of the outbreak. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has estimated that losses in revenue for airlines due to the coronavirus outbreak could range from $63 billion to $113 billion.

The industry is still in shock from the sudden collapse in passenger demand and many airlines have been axing services to the worst-hit countries and regions. This is not the first time aviation industry has faced the brunt. In the past, temporary suspensions during the SARS epidemic in 2003 and in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States were made. However, none proved to be as disastrous for the global aviation industry as the COVID19 outbreak.

Here's a look at the major events that has rocked the aviation industry in the past couple of months:

LOCKDOWN

Italy, after China, Iran and Saudi Arabia declared a nationwide lockdown to slow the virus's spread. Many European airlines like Ryanair, Norwegian and British Airways have announced cancelled flights. The lockdowns across the globe has forced the airlines to cancel thousands of flights and led to the delaying of plane orders.

Air France said it expected to make a total of 3,600 flight cancellations in March, including cutting 25% of its European capacity.

COLLAPSING AIRLINES

One of Britain's biggest airlines, Flybe, collapsed last week, with all its flights grounded as the coronavirus epidemic takes a heavy toll on airlines around the world. A statement on Flybe's website said the company had entered administration and could not arrange alternative flights for its passengers.

Flybe is the biggest operator of UK domestic flights. The no-frills airline carries around eight million passengers annually and flies from 43 airports across Europe and 28 in Britain.

Other carriers are also facing calamity. Korean Air Lines has warned that the virus outbreak could threaten its survival after it scrapped more than 80% of its international capacity, grounding 100 of its 145 passenger aircraft.

"The situation can get worse at any time and we cannot even predict how long it will last," Woo Kee-hong, the president of South Korea's biggest airline, said in a memo to staff that summed up the turmoil facing the industry. "But if the situation continues for a longer period, we may reach the threshold where we cannot guarantee the company's survival."

GHOST FLIGHTS

Many airlines across the globe are running ghost flights with abysmal passengers. The flights have to fly even without passengers to follow a rule requiring airlines to run most of their scheduled services or else forfeit valuable airport landing slots. EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said the bloc would suspend this rule to give the industry some breathing space, which will do away with "ghost flights" where airlines fly almost empty planes simply to keep slots, she added.

With Inputs from Reuters
BAGHDAD  A volley of rockets struck a sprawling military base north of Baghdad Wednesday evening, killing three service members, two of them Americans and one British, according to a United States official and an Iraqi military officer, both in Iraq.

The attack came less than three months after a similar rocket attack killed an American contractor in Iraq, setting off a spiral of attacks that nearly led to war between the United States and Iran.

The two Americans killed Wednesday were active-duty troops with the Army and Air Force, an American military official said. The official said that 12 members of the American-led military coalition in Iraq of various nationalities were wounded in the attack on the base, Camp Taji.

The White House and Pentagon had no immediate comment on the rocket attacks.

A senior Trump administration official said that senior national security aides were closely following the situation but declined to comment further until a more detailed assessment of what happened and who was responsible was available.
Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan spoke to a few coronavirus patients admitted at Medanta and Safdarjung hospitals through video calls and said all the people infected by the disease were stable and showing signs of recovery.

Vardhan also called up Health Ministers of Delhi, Haryana, Kerala, Telangana, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Punjab, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh as well as Lt Governors of Ladakh, and Jammu & Kashmir to ascertain the status of the COVID-19 affected patients kept in isolation centres in hospitals, the health ministry said.

A total of 50 confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been reported in the country till now, the ministry said, adding a few more cases were being re-tested for confirmation. Reports from states put the figure at 59.

While monitoring the COVID-19 situation from his office in the Health Ministry, Vardhan spoke to a few patients through video calls to enquire about their health and their satisfaction with the treatment being given at the isolation wards.

"While speaking to the patients, he conveyed that though he wanted to visit them personally, he was dissuaded by the hospital authorities from the visit as they felt that such a visit may hinder regular treatment arrangements for the patients," the statement said.

COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine  one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show

The patients, the ministry said, expressed their satisfaction with the treatment being given to them.

They also appreciated the role of the government for the timely assistance offered to them and about regular review of their status thrice a day.

Vardhan also extended Holi greetings to them on behalf of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and himself.

Vardhan also spoke to the health ministers and the Lieutenant Governors to get feedback about the condition of the patients and problems being faced, if any, by the states and Union territories in availability of required supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE), masks, etc. and capacity building of health workers, the statement stated.

The Health Ministers and LGs while giving details of the treatment status stated that the patients are recovering well and are stable.

The patients have not at all faced problems during their treatment in hospitals or their stay in quarantine centres.

Vardhan lauded the efforts being made by the states and stated that with consistent and coordinated efforts of Central Government and States/ UTs, valuable lives of not only Indians but also foreign nationals visiting India, have been taken care off.

He also urged them to spread awareness about COVID-19 amongst the general public and persuade them to avoid crowded gatherings as well as follow basic principles of personal hygiene and prevention measures.
To the Editor:

Re Biden Captures 3 States to Seize Command (front page, March 11):

As the latest primary results would seem to indicate, Democrats now have a clear strategic path to defeating President Trump. Critical to that victory, however, is the realization that a movement and a campaign are not the same thing.

Bernie Sanders (as he likes to say) is leading a movement  a movement for democratic structural change that would benefit the vast majority of working people in the country. Joe Biden is clearly leading a campaign to end the Trump presidency.

These are not contradictory pursuits. In fact, in this perilous political moment, they must coalesce not only to end the Trump presidency but also to further fuel Bernies movement for change.

Too much is at stake in this election cycle to let the perfect be the enemy of the good.

Joseph Delia

Swampscott, Mass.
The race is on to limit the spread of the coronavirus after news of an infection at an international mining conference in Toronto attended by more than 23,100 people, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

The man, in his 50s, tested positive for COVID-19 after attending the March 1 to 4 gathering at a massive convention centre at the edge of Torontos financial district. The Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada conference bills itself as the worlds biggest convention of miners, taking in visitors from around the world.

Our focus is on breaking the chain of transmission to limit the spread of infection and as a precautionary measure, we are asking those who attended PDAC 2020 to monitor for symptoms for 14 days, according to a statement from Dr. Penny Sutcliffe, the medical officer of health at the local health authority in Sudbury.

The northern Ontario city, home to the countrys nickel-mining industry, is where the unidentified man went to hospital on March 7 after attending PDAC March 2 and 3.

Trudeau, unveiling $1.1 billion in aid to buffer the Canadian economy from the virus, said he hasnt been tested but is following public health guidelines for those whove attended large events. That can include monitoring health for symptoms.

Until this week, cases of the virus in Canada had been relatively low, but the first death from an outbreak, at a long-term care home, and a jump in infections has health officials escalating action plans.

A total of 93 people have been infected with COVID-19 in Canada as of Wednesday, and the first instances of community transmission have been identified, with the cases at the care home in British Columbia, and now potentially the PDAC attendee.

Following testing, the patient was discharged home where he remains in self-isolation, Public Health Sudbury & Districts said in the statement. The patient has experienced cough and shortness of breath (difficulty breathing).

Other mining executives and government officials who attended PDAC included: Ontario Premier Doug Ford; Chilean Mining Minister Baldo Prokurica; Rick Rule, chief executive officer of Sprott U.S. Holdings; top mining officials from Brazil; and the heads of mining groups of the capital market divisions of several Canadian banks.

Public Health Sudbury & Districts said it is actively engaged in follow up and is collaborating with the Ontario Ministry of Health and Toronto Public Health.

PDAC organizers forged ahead with the conference just as others around the world began to pull the plug on big gatherings, such as the giant CERAWeek energy conference that had been slated to run in Houston. Most exhibitors from China were forced to pull out of PDAC because of international travel restrictions.

The conference stepped up disinfection, with workers wiping down escalator handrails, posted big signs reminding attendees of hygiene recommendations and made hand sanitizer widely available.

Given the health concerns, there wasnt much handshaking going on at PDAC. Awkward elbow bumps were in fashion  for those who bothered to show up  and an air of trepidation permeated the conference floors.
The tampon tax has been scrapped it was confirmed as part of Wednesdays budget.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak told the House: I can also now confirm now that we have left the EU, that I will abolish the tampon tax

From January next year there will be no VAT whatsoever on womens sanitary products.

And I congratulate all right honourable members who campaigned for this, he added, in his first ever budget announcement, after his predecessor Sajid Javid stood down.

The announcement was expected after years of campaigning from MPs and womens groups.

Recommended This Girl Can advert shows a tampon string and women are loving it

But under EU laws, tampons and sanitary towels are classed as luxury items as opposed to essentials.

This means member states in the EU cannot reduce the tax rate below five per cent.

Rose Caldwell, CEO of Plan International UK, said: "Today's scrapping of the tampon tax is a landmark moment in the fight against period poverty, and comes not a moment too soon."

In November Germany was praised for reducing the tax on sanitary products from 19 per cent  the same luxury bracket as caviar.

The change in UK tax is estimated to save the average woman almost 40 in her lifetime, thanks to a 7p reduction on a pack of 20 tampons and a 5p reduction on a pack of 12 pads.

Since 2015 the VAT charged on tampons and other sanitary products has been put into a so-called tampon tax fund by the government, and then given to womens charities.

This was proposed as a short-term solution until the tax could be scrapped totally.

But the scheme was criticised when it emerged money was not being ring-fenced for women-specific causes and some was being donated to anti-abortion charities.
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has approved the measures that must be taken due to the threat of an epidemic of COVID-19 coronavirus infection and to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

"At a meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers on March 11, it was decided to allocate UAH 100 million for the priority purchase of personal protective equipment for the current needs of ministries, departments and services, as well as to replenish the state reserve," the government press service said in a statement.

It is noted that at the same time, to implement this decision, the export of anti-epidemic goods is prohibited until June 1 in order to guarantee the provision of the necessary means of protection for the population.

"The Cabinet proposed the introduction of restrictions on mass events in which 200 or more people are planned to participate," the government said.

At the same time, it is noted that this does not apply to measures of state necessity, and sporting events are possible with the permission of international organizations, without spectators.

In addition, it is planned to introduce quarantine in educational institutions for a period of three weeks.

Among other things, it was decided to purchase infrared equipment for screening at a distance at Boryspil International Airport.
One way or another, every educational institution will be affected by Covid-19, writes Katherine Donnelly

What happens if there are widespread school closures and tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands, of 4 to 18-year-olds have to stay at home for weeks?

What happens if coronavirus means that students can't sit the Leaving Cert?

How does a school explain the coronavirus phenomenon to young children, spooked by the doomsday talk they must be picking up at home and in the media.

On the latter, the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) is working on guidelines to give teachers the language to deal honestly with pupils about the issue, while also soothing their concerns.

One way or another, coronavirus will impact on every school and college in the country.

Into the second week after the first confirmed case of Covid-19 in Ireland even the unthinkable is becoming a reality. Trinity College Dublin has cancelled face-to-face lectures.

A small number of school communities have already had a taste of sudden, precautionary closures. As the situation evolves and the expected clusters of cases emerge, more widespread shutdowns will follow.

Depending on the pace and scale of the expected surge of cases, education settings could close with very little warning.

The Government, including the Department of Education, is taking its advice from public health officials, who decide what is a proportionate response to the threat at any given time. Up to the weekend, the St Patrick's Day parades were still on target; on Monday, they were cancelled.

Some doctors are putting pressure on to take more extreme and pre-emptive measures, including closing schools, than is being recommended by the public health officials. A nationwide shutdown would leave about 550,000 primary pupils and 350,000 post-primary pupils at home, and that does not include creches and third-level colleges.

Although one school broke ranks last week and closed for a day without approval, they are abiding by the official advice.

Maintaining calm is the stock in trade of school leaders and staff, who deal with crises every day. They do not like to see pupils missing tuition and know that school can be a refuge for many.

Some anxious parents are taking their own decisions to keep children at home in certain circumstances, and some schools quietly asked pupils who returned from northern Italy in recent weeks to delay coming back to the classroom.

The Department of Education has been engaging on this since January and all scenarios and all options are under discussion. It was quick to scotch rumours yesterday that a decision had been taken not to reopen schools after St Patrick's Day.

But that's six days away and things may change. If the system makes it to then, is it too much to hope that it would then get to Friday April 3, when schools will close anyway for Easter.

Public health is the overriding concern in a decision to close a school, but the collateral damage can be significant.

The Government has moved to deal with concerns about pay or benefits for teachers and other staff, as well as for parents who have to take time off to mind children whose school has closed.

By the end of last week, school closures linked to Covid-19 had interrupted the education of more than 290 million students in 13 countries. A record number, according to the UN education agency UNESCO - and the figure is even higher now.

Closing schools disrupt the education of all children, but some will cope better than others.

Digital learning platforms, commonly used in second-level schools, will facilitate communications between teachers and students, but much will depend on the quality of broadband in everybody's home.

Generally speaking, primary schools don't use such technology with their pupils, leaving parents or carers with the task of filling the educational gap as best they can.

One of the mantras of educators is that every school day counts, so the worry is that pupils would lose out on learning and some may never catch up.

That is compounded by the disproportionate impact that time out of school has on children from backgrounds of socio-economic disadvantage. It goes beyond the loss of tuition to missing out on school meals that may be the only decent source of nutrition for many pupils.

The school meals scheme caters for about 250,000 children through 1,580 schools and organisations.

An unscheduled closure also leaves pupils with special needs facing an unwelcome break in routine.

The June exams are some way off, but with about 120,000 Leaving Cert and Junior Cycle candidates entered, potentially they present one of the biggest challenges. The Department of Education and the State Examinations Commission (SEC) are keeping their cards close to their chest about contingency plans, but there is no easy alternative.

Even if the exams go ahead, some candidates or supervisors may not be able to turn up, while recruiting enough teachers to do the marking is already a challenge.

The Leaving Cert is about more than CAO points, but if, in the worst case scenario, traditional exams don't happen, what selection mechanism is used for entry to higher education?

Of more immediate concern are the orals and practicals, scheduled to run between March 23 and April 3. If schools are closed, what happens?

Any upset to normal arrangements at what is a highly charged time, could cause enough jitters to be blamed for poor performance.
Islamabad: Pakistan witnessed a sudden increase in coronavirus cases with the number of patients rising to 19 on Tuesday, officials said.

All but one of the new 19 cases were reported from Sindh province -- 10 in provincial capital Karachi and one in Hyderabad, officials said. The other case was the first COVID-19 incidence in Quetta, capital of Balochistan province which borders Iran.

Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Health Dr Zafar Mirza, in a morning update, said nine new cases were identified in Karachi, capital of Sindh province.

"I can confirm 9 new cases of #COVID19 in Karachi. This makes a total of 16 cases in Pakistan," Mirza said.

He said that "all these cases are contacts of an already confirmed case" and authorities were testing more people who were in contact with the infected people.

In the evening, media coordinator to the Sindh Health Minister Meeran Yousuf updated the total number of cases by two more.

"The first case is from Hyderabad and the patient arrived from Syria via Doha. The second case is from Karachi and the patient arrived from Iran via Dubai," she tweeted.

Quetta's first coronavirus case was identified as a 12-year-old boy, who belongs to Dadu district in Sindh but lived in Quetta, said Dr Noorullah Musakhail, medical superintendent at Fatima Jinnah Hospital in Quetta.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah asked all hospitals to share the record of patients with the symptoms of pneumonia to further investigate them.

The Sindh Health Department on Monday night said one new case surfaced in Karachi but Mirza announced after midnight that nine cases were identified.

According to officials, five of the new patients came to Karachi from Syria via Doha while three persons came from London via Dubai during the past week.

Meeran Yousuf said authorities were trying to track down all their contacts for further testing in order to contain spread of the virus.

The Pakistan government has decided to extend the partial closure of the border with Afghanistan by another seven days.

So far, no coronavirus related death has been reported in Pakistan. One of the COVID-19 patients in Karachi has recovered and was allowed to go home on Saturday last week.

The virus that first originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December last year has claimed over 4,000 lives and infected more than 110,000 across 100 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.
An Alabama legislative committee approved a bill today that would make it a crime for a doctor to fail to provide care to try to save the life of a baby born alive after an attempted abortion.

The approval came after a contentious debate about whether such a law is necessary.

The sponsor, Rep. Ginny Shaver, R-Leesburg, told the House Judiciary Committee that she knew of cases where babies were born alive after attempted abortions and doctors failed to try to save them. Shaver said she previously worked as a counselor for pregnant women and for women after abortions. She declined to give any specifics.

I know of multiple cases, Shaver said. But Im not going to reveal anything about those folks that have confided in me. They are not willing to come forward and be public and I dont blame them.

Rep. Chris England, D-Tuscaloosa, said Alabama law bans abortions after the age when a baby could survive outside the womb. England asked Shaver why she did not report the doctors involved in the cases she said she was told about. England said its already a crime in Alabama for a doctor to abort a viable fetus.

It was after the fact by the time that I heard about it, Shaver said.

Theres really no after the fact in that situation, England said.

Shaver said she could not say why the women who told her their stories did not report the doctors but said their reluctance was understandable.

Theyre in a very difficult place and not willing to be public, Shaver said. And I understand that.

Under Shavers bill, doctors who violated the law could be charged with a felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a fine of not less than $100,000. The pregnant woman would not be liable. The bill applies only to abortion clinics. Shaver said hospitals fall under a separate set of regulations.

The committee approved the bill on a voice vote. England and Rep. Merika Coleman, D-Birmingham, voted against it.

Coleman said she was bothered by the lack of data Shaver offered to support her contention that the bill was needed.

The vote moves the bill into consideration by the House of Representatives. Fifty-two House members are signed on as co-sponsors of the legislation.

Dr. Morissa Ladinsky, associate professor of Pediatrics at UAB Medicine, said the bill is based on a fallacy because clinics in Alabama perform abortions up to 21 weeks gestational age, which is before babies can survive outside the womb. Its basically a theoretical scenario that is medically implausible, Ladinsky said.

The House passed a similar bill by Shaver last year after arguments about whether it was needed. It did not pass the Senate.

All Im asking that if a baby is born alive during an abortion or attempted abortion that that doctor try to save that babys life," Shaver said today.

Alabama lawmakers passed a nearly total ban on abortion last year but a federal judge has put it on hold.

Supporters of the ban expected that to happen and are hoping the court case can reach the U.S. Supreme Court for a review of the Roe v. Wade abortion rights decision.
BUSINESS Minister Heather Humphreys has appealed to people not to panic buy due to fears of shortages resulting from the coronavirus emergency.

Dry foods like pasta as well as soap and toilet rolls are items that some people here and in other countries have been stocking up on as the virus spreads.

Ms Humphreys said she has met retailers who told her that they're satisfied there are sufficient stocks in their supply chains.

She said: "What I would say to people is do not panic buy because that in itself causes shortages."

Her remarks came as she and Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe outlined plans to deal with the "unprecedented" challenges posed to workers and employers by the coronavirus.

Read More

Mr Donohoe said illness benefit is to be increased and will kick in from the moment a worker has to self-isolate - rather than after six days as was previously the case - under plans being pushed forward by the government.

Both he and Ms Humphreys called on employers to continue paying salaries or make up the difference if their workers are getting illness benefit in instances where they have to self-isolate.

Mr Donohoe said self-isolation is a critical part of keeping people safe.

"We recognise that for many workers within our country taking this decision is one that does have financial consequences."

He said that's why the government is extending the illness benefit scheme at a cost using taxpayer funds.

But Mr Donohoe also said that today the government is joining unions and business groups in calling on employers to ensure their affected workers continue to be paid as normal.

Ms Humphreys said: "Some businesses will weather his storm better than others.

"Where possible Im asking businesses to show some flexibility and solidarity with their workers in terms of sick pay.

"I would ask businesses who are in a position to make up the difference between the sick pay available and normal wages if they can do that."

She said supports put in place for businesses include a 200m working capital scheme that businesses impacted by coronavirus can apply to through the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SCBI) and a 200m enterprise fund which includes a rescue and restructuring scheme.

Mr Donohoe was asked if the Revenue will allow under-pressure businesses any breathing space in relation to taxes.

Mr Donohoe has said he has spoken to Revenue chairman Niall Cody and others yesterday and said "were keeping many different things under review at the moment".

He added: "Both Heather and I are particularly aware that smaller companies could well be facing great challenges in the coming days and weeks.

"That is a decision that is made as you know by the Revenue Commissioner rather than me.

"They are aware of the pressures that many of their clients could face soon."

On the question of whether Irish revellers returning from the Cheltenham racing festival should be tested for coronavirus, Mr Donohoe said that would be a decision for public health officials.

He said the public health emergency team met yesterday and "no such decision was made.

"But what we will be doing through our public health experts and the HSE is keeping all matters like this under review every day."

He added: "What we want to do is ensure that what we are rolling out is very comprehensive but also proportionate... if we are advised as a government that further measures are necessary such as that we will of course implement such measures."
The 45-year-old man who tested positive for coronavirus has recovered with results of his samples coming out negative and as of now there are no confirmed virus cases in Tamil Nadu, State Health Minister C Vijayabhaskar said on Wednesday.

The speedy recovery was possible only because of meticulous treatment and expertise of the state health department to handle exigencies, the minister posted on social media.

The man, who recently returned from Oman, tested positive on March 7, making him the first confirmed COVID-19 case in the state.

"As of now, there are no confirmed coronavirus cases and there are no more pending samples for testing at labs as all have tested negative," he said.

On Tuesday, Vijayabhaskar said results of samples of eight people for suspected coronavirus had turned negative.

READ | Coronavirus Scare: Beijing Announces 14-day Quarantine For All International Travellers

The samples include those who travelled with the affected man, currently undergoing treatment at the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital in Chennai, and members of his family.

The minister appealed to people to extend their support to keep coronavirus at bay by spreading awareness about the disease and maintaining personal hygiene practices at workplaces and homes.

Meanwhile, Chennai Port Trust said it would not allow any cruise ship from any foreign destination to enter the port till end of the month.

India on Wednesday prohibited entry of any international cruise ship, crew or passenger with a travel history to coronavirus-hit countries post February 1, 2020 to its major ports till March 31.

READ | Iran Says Virus Kills 63 More, Death Toll Climbs To 354

READ | Virus Cluster Around Seoul Call Center Raises South Korea Alarm
WASHINGTON, March 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Cybercriminals are holding governments hostage more frequently, expanding their attack base, and asking for more money, according to "Ransoming Government: What state and local government can do to break free from ransomware attacks," a new report released today by Deloitte's Center for Government Insights. The study explores the rising trend in ransomware attacks on state and local governments. It also discusses the dilemma of paying or not paying criminals, with the risk of losing access to critical data or the ability to provide services. Government organizations can take simple steps to secure information technology infrastructure and improve resilience.

"State and local governments should live and plan with the reality that their critical systems and data will be attacked," said Srini Subramanian, principal, Deloitte & Touche LLP, and cyber state and higher education sector leader. "Even with cyber-insurance and preventive measures in place, the growing frequency and sophistication of attacks calls for government entities to perform cyber health checks and revisit resilience strategies. The effort more than pays off. Governments can be better positioned to defend against catastrophic events that are expensive to recover from and could impact public safety and trust."

In 2019 alone, governments reported 163 ransomware attacks with more than $1.8 million dollars in ransoms paid and tens of millions of dollars spent on recovery costs, a nearly 150% increase in reported attacks from 2018. According to the report, refusing to pay ransom demands may be the principled option, but it also may be far more expensive. For example, the city of Baltimore refused a $76,000 ransom demand, only to suffer over $18 million in recovery costs and lost revenues.

Sensing the vulnerability of state and local governments, criminal enterprises are demanding nearly 10 times what they demand from commercial entities. To combat this growing risk, the report outlines several key considerations for organizations to move forward in this new reality.

Smarter systems architecture  Many state and local governments have deferred IT modernization, which leaves governments with increasingly vulnerable networks and systems.

More prepared workforce  Governments should look to creative human capital approaches to train, retain and share more qualified cyber talent as well as private-public-higher education partnerships to effectively tackle cyber security.

Better cyber hygiene  Attention to details such as timely software patches and updates, regular system back-ups and regular training for all staff can help to reduce risk. Organizations also should look to compartmentalize data and develop air-gapped system back-ups to limit the scale of a breach.

Cyber insurance usage scenarios  The use of cyber insurance can be an effective strategy for governments to contain the cost of attacks. However, those that use cyber insurance to fund ransom payments may unwittingly increase the incentives for criminals by increasing the likelihood of a big payday. Build scenarios for when to leverage cyber insurance.

Practiced response  Governments should practice responding to cyber incidents with wargames and simulations, involving business and program leaders so they understand the threats and their roles in response and recovery.

"Connected devices, digital systems and integrated data mean governments have the opportunity to serve people and communities like never before," said Deborah Golden, principal, Deloitte & Touche LLP, and cyber risk services leader. "It also means there is a large surface for cyber criminals to attack local governments and hold sensitive citizen data hostage. Government officials need to understand the risk involved if their systems and data were suddenly gone or rendered useless."

Read the full report on Deloitte.com.

About Deloitte

Deloitte provides industry-leading audit, consulting, tax and advisory services to many of the world's most admired brands, including nearly 90% of the Fortune 500 and more than 5,000 private and middle market companies. Our people work across the industry sectors that drive and shape today's marketplace  delivering measurable and lasting results that help reinforce public trust in our capital markets, inspire clients to see challenges as opportunities to transform and thrive, and help lead the way toward a stronger economy and a healthy society. Deloitte is proud to be part of the largest global professional services network serving our clients in the markets that are most important to them. Now celebrating 175 years of service, our network of member firms spans more than 150 countries and territories. Learn how Deloitte's more than 312,000 people worldwide make an impact that matters at www.deloitte.com.

Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, a UK private company limited by guarantee ("DTTL"), its network of member firms, and their related entities. DTTL and each of its member firms are legally separate and independent entities. DTTL (also referred to as "Deloitte Global") does not provide services to clients. In the United States, Deloitte refers to one or more of the US member firms of DTTL, their related entities that operate using the "Deloitte" name in the United States and their respective affiliates. Certain services may not be available to attest clients under the rules and regulations of public accounting. Please see www.deloitte.com/about to learn more about our global network of member firms.

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Kerrville, TX (78028)

Today

Showers early, then cloudy in the afternoon. High around 50F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 30%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. Low 32F. Winds light and variable.
The air ambulance at the scene. Credit: Eugene Diamond

One person has been airlifted to hospital by the air ambulance following a crash in Ballymena.

The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) confirmed it was tasked to the scene on the Market Road around 9.44am on Wednesday.

One emergency crew and a doctor were sent to the scene.

A NIAS spokesperson said the person had now been taken to hospital.

"Following assessment and initial treatment at the scene, one patient has been airlifted to the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast," the spokesperson said.

The Market Road is currently closed to traffic.

Police are asking motorists to seek alternative routes.
Fifty-two years after 'Rajmata'



Vijaya Raje Scindia, a prominent member of the erstwhile Gwalior royal dynasty, quit the Congress and caused the party- led government in Madhya Pradesh to collapse, history appears to be repeating itself.

Jyotiraditya Scindia, the grandson of the late Vijaya Raje Scindia, quit the Congress on Tuesday along with 22 MLAs, putting the 14-month-old Kamal Nath-led government in deep crisis.

"His grandmother Vijaya Raje, once a close confidant of Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, the great grandfather of Rahul Gandhi, had started her political innings in 1957 from the Congress. However, she left the party in 1967.

"She toppled the D P Mishra-led Congress government in the state in July 1967," an acquaintance of the Scindia family said.

"Now, her grandson Jyotiraditya has made a similar move, pushing the Congress government in Madhya Pradesh to the brink," he said.

After quitting the Congress, Vijaya Raje Scindia had won the Guna Lok Sabha seat in 1967 on the Swatantra Party's ticket. She soon joined the Bharatiya Jan Sangh (the precursor of BJP) and resigned from the Lok Sabha to take part in Madhya Pradesh politics, he added.

Another leader close to the Scindias said, the trouble between Vijaya Raje Scindia and the then chief minister D P Mishra started when she went to him with a list of candidates, whom she wanted to be nominated as Congress candidates for the Lok Sabha and MP Assembly polls which were to be held simultaneously.

However, Mishra made her wait for two hours, which left Rajmata fuming, he said.

"She made 36 MLAs, who were holed up at Usha Kiran Hotel in Gwalior, defect from the Congress. She propped up Govind Narayan Singh, who later became MP chief minister. However, his government lasted for just 18 months," he said.

The muscle and money power that was part of the political drama played out in July 1967 is similar to what is happening now, he said.

"The same drama is being played out in Madhya Pradesh after 52 years. Jyotiraditya Scindia has taken the centre stage in the political drama unfolding in MP where the Congress government now appears to be on a sticky wicket," he added.

Jyotiraditya Scindia, considered to be a close aide of former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, parted way with the party on Tuesday after 18 years of association.

Nineteen MLAs, mostly his loyalists, have revolted against the Kamal Nath government and were holed up in hotels in Bengaluru. Three other legislators have also rebelled against the government, sources said.

Like Jyotiraditya Scindia, his grandmother, too, had started her political innings with the Congress and won two Lok Sabha elections from the family pocket borough of Guna Shivpuri in 1957 and 1962.

With Jyotiraditya Scindia joining the BJP on Wednesday, the entire Scindia family is now part of the saffron party.

His two aunts, Vasundhara Raje and Yashodhara Raje, are already in the BJP with the former having served as the Rajasthan chief minister for 10 years.

His father Madhavrao Scindia had also started his political innings as an MP of the Jana Sangh in 1971, but later joined the Congress.

The Scindia family, which originally hails from Maharashtra, is among the most distinguished political dynasties in the country and Jyotiraditya Scindia's decision has snapped its decades-long ties with the Congress.

According to those close to the Scindia family, it is going to be after 43 years, that the Scindias will be sailing in the same boat - the BJP.

In 1977, Jyotiraditya Scindia's father Madhavrao Scindia left the Bharatiya Jan Sangh. He had fought the general elections from Guna-Shivpuri as an Independent candidate in 1977 before joining Congress in 1980.

Jyotiraditya Scindia joined after the sudden death of his father in a plane crash in 2001. He was only 31 years old at that time. He contested his first Lok Sabha election from his home-turf Guna in 2002.

Mumbai-born Jyotiraditya is an alumini of Doon School, Dehradun. He obtained his BA degree in Economics from Harvard College, US, in 1993. In 2001, he completed MBA from Graduate School of Business at Stanford University.

The four-time MP and former Union minister had declared assets worth Rs 373 crore during the last Lok Sabha elections. He had unsuccessfully contested the 2019 polls from Guna.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Yale University is asking students to leave campus and will replace in-person classes with online instruction through at least April 5 due to the coronavirus outbreak, the school announced Tuesday.

When spring recess ends and through April 5 at the earliest, classes will be held using Zoom, Canvas, or other online tools, President Peter Salovey said in an email to the Yale community. Students are currently on spring break, with classes scheduled to resume on March 23.
Factoring in the total number of days that extremely preterm infants require supplemental oxygen and tracking this metric for weeks longer than usual improves clinicians' ability to predict respiratory outcomes according to bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) severity, a research team led by Children's National Hospital writes in Scientific Reports. What's more, the researchers defined a brand-new category (level IV) for newborns who receive supplemental oxygen more than 120 days as a reliable way to predict which infants are at the highest risk of returning to the hospital due to respiratory distress after discharge.

About 1 in 10 U.S. infants are born preterm, before 37 weeks gestation, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That includes extremely preterm infants who weigh about 1 lb. at birth. These very low birthweight newborns have paper thin skin, frail hearts and lungs that are not yet mature enough to deliver oxygen throughout the body as needed. Thanks to advances in neocritical care, an increasing number of them survive prematurity, and many develop BPD, a chronic lung disease characterized by abnormal development of the lungs and pulmonary vasculature.

"About half of the babies born prematurely will come back to the hospital within the first year of life with a respiratory infection. The key is identifying them and, potentially, preventing complications in this high-risk population," says Gustavo Nino, M.D., a Children's National pulmonologist and the study's lead author.

For decades, the most common way to stratify BPD risk in these vulnerable newborns has been to see if they require supplemental oxygen at 36 weeks corrected gestational age.

"The problem with this classification is it doesn't take into account the very premature babies who are on oxygen for much longer than other babies. So, we asked the question: Can we continue risk stratification beyond 36 weeks in order to identify a subset of babies who are at much higher risk of complications," Dr. Nino says.

The longitudinal cohort study enrolled 188 infants born extremely preterm who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Children's National and tracked their data for at least 12 months after discharge. The team used a multidimensional approach that tracked duration of supplemental oxygen during the newborns' NICU stay as well as scoring lung imaging as an independent marker of BPD severity. To validate the findings, these U.S.-born newborns were matched with 130 infants who were born preterm and hospitalized at two NICUs located in Bogota, Colombia.

"Babies who are born very preterm and require oxygen beyond 120 days should have expanded ventilation of the lungs and cardiovascular pulmonary system before going home," he notes. "We need to identify these newborns and optimize their management before they are discharged."

And, the babies with level IV BPD risk need a different type of evaluation because the complications they experience - including pulmonary hypertension - place them at the highest risk of developing sleep apnea and severe respiratory infection, especially during the first year of life.

"The earlier we identify them, the better their outcome is likely to be," Dr. Nino says. "We really need to change the risk stratification so we don't call them all 'severe' and treat them the same when there is a subset of newborns who clearly are at a much higher risk for experiencing respiratory complications after hospital discharge."

###

In addition to Dr. Nino, Children's National study co-authors include Awais Mansoor, Ph.D., staff scientist at the Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation (SZI); Geovanny F. Perez, M.D., pediatric pulmonologist; Maria Arroyo, M.D., pulmonologist; Xilei Xu Chen, M.D., postdoctoral fellow; Jered Weinstock, pediatric pulmonary fellow; Kyle Salka, MS, research technician; Mariam Said, M.D., and Marius George Linguraru, DPhil, MA, MSc, SZI principal investigator and senior author. Additional co-authors include Ranniery Acuna-Cordero, Universidad Militar Nueva Granada, Bogota, Colombia; and Monica P. Sossa-Briceno and Carlos E. Rodriguez-Martinez, both of Universidad Nacional de Colombia.

Funding for research described in this post was provided by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) under award Nos. HL145669, AI130502 and HL141237. In addition, the NIH has awarded Dr. Nino an RO1 grant to continue this research.
Authorities have released video footage of a pair of individuals that walked out of a North American racetrack this past weekend with a duffel bag that contained roughly a quarter-million dollars in cash.

The incident took place this past Saturday night (March 7) at Aqueduct in Queens, NY. The robbery was nonchalant in nature, as the pair of individuals casually walked into the track, made their move as the money was in transit with an unarmed guard, and exited the building without causing any commotion.



Stills from Aqueduct security footage showing two alleged robbers entering the building. Stills from Aqueduct security footage showing two alleged robbers entering the building.

News of the incident was first reported on Sunday, but a follow-up article on Tuesday contained the security footage of the perpetrators entering and exiting the building.



Stills from Aqueduct security footage showing two alleged robbers leaving the building. Stills from Aqueduct security footage showing two alleged robbers leaving the building.

According to the reports, Aqueduct employees believe that the heist was pulled off with inside information, seeing as though the robbers knew exactly where to go and knew to strike exactly when the money was in transit with an unarmed guard.

To view the security footage, click here.

Police have described the suspects as being six feet tall.

(With files from the New York Post)
By Akbar Mammadov

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Leyla Abdullayeva has said that Armenia is responsible for the death of Azerbaijani border guards who were protecting the internationally recognized borders of Azerbaijan over the past few weeks.

Abdullayeva also said that Armenian troops presence in occupied Nagorno-Karabakh region and surrounding districts is the main source of threat to the regional security.

We reiterate to the Armenian side that the current status quo created by the use of force and ethnic cleansing is inconsistent with the notion of security. The occupation of Azerbaijans territories and the presence of the Armenian armed forces in these areas are the main sources of threat to the security of our country, Leyla Abdullayeva stressed.

Abdullayeva noted that Azerbaijan has always stood for the indivisibility and universality of the notion of security.

The withdrawal of Armenian armed forces from the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, as well as the co-existence of Azerbaijani and Armenian population of the region in a peaceful environment and accordance with the rule of law, the guarantee of the joint security, are conditions that ensure the emergence of the trust and rapprochement for the benefit of the region, added Leyla Abdullayeva.

Abdullayeva was answering a question regarding the statement made by the Armenian Foreign Ministry on March 10, in which Azerbaijan was accused of aggravation of the situation on the state border with Armenia and a threat to peace and security in the region.

"First of all, let's clarify who makes such statements? These statements are made by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the aggressor country that occupied Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions of Azerbaijan and carried out bloody ethnic cleansing of the Azerbaijanis living in these territories. These statements are made by the Republic of Armenia, which is responsible for the killings, in recent weeks, of the Azerbaijani border guards protecting the internationally recognized borders of Azerbaijan," Abdullayeva said.

She noted that the Armenian side should correctly perceive the current reality, and implement demands of the international community, as well as the UN Security Council and other international organizations resolutions on the complete, immediate and unconditional discharge of the occupied territories, and providing the return of the local Azerbaijani people to their homes.

No one doubts that Azerbaijan will restore its territorial integrity within the limits of justice and internationally recognized borders, Leyla Abdullayeva emphasized.

---

Akbar Mammadov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AkbarMammadov97

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Chinese women from a range of professions, including nurses and journalists, are joining in the fight against the novel coronavirus in central Chinas Hubei province.

One of these women is Zhong Xiaofeng, head nurse at the intensive care department of Wuhan Pulmonary Hospital, who has worked in ICU for 16 years. After the epidemic outbreak, Zhong and her team battled against the virus for more than 60 days.

"One of the things I remember most was another nurse in soaking wet clothes, squatting on the ground and crying. She cried not because she was tired, but because one of her patients who she had been taking care of for over one month finally regained consciousness. With tears streaming down her face, she said that she felt her hard work had been worth it, Zhong recalled.

"Through our efforts, patients can recover. Sometimes a look, or a simple movement will give us more confidence to continue our fight," she added.

Zhong Xiaofeng admitted that she sometimes felt exhausted when she thought of her elderly parents and young children. But for her, the ICU was the last line of defense, and she knew she was in a race of life and death.

Liao Jun, a reporter with the Xinhua News Agency, has been reporting from the front line of the epidemic outbreak since Dec. 30, 2019.

The person who impressed Liao Jun the most in recent days is Wang Xiaoting, an attending doctor at Wuchang Hospital.

Wang stayed in a hotel after work, as she wanted to isolate herself from her family. Afraid of infecting her husband, she would not get into the car with him, leaving him no choice but to drive silently behind her to escort her there.

This is all written in my articles and will always stick in my mind, Liao said, adding that in the fight against the virus, her duty as a journalist is to tell the world the stories of Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-11 15:30:20|Editor: xuxin

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ANKARA, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Turkish health minister on Wednesday announced the first case of the novel coronavirus in Turkey.

A male citizen was tested positive for the coronavirus on Tuesday evening, Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca told reporters.

The patient had returned from Europe, contracted the virus there and suffered high fever and coughing, said the minister, noting that the patient was completely isolated.

"The patient's general condition is good. All of his family members and those who was in contact with him are under surveillance," the minister stated.

The minister warned the Turkish citizens not to go abroad unless it is compulsory and to stay at home for 14 days if returned from abroad.

Turkey in last month closed its border with Iran, stopped all passenger flights with Iran, Italy, South Korea and Iraq and started screening passengers arriving from abroad.
A total of 235 people who came in contact with the octogenarian and his family have already been traced and are being monitored

Jaipur: A 85-year-old man in Jaipur, who had returned from Dubai on 28 February, has tested positive for coronavirus, a state government official said on Wednesday.

He was found presumptive positive in the first test on Tuesday and hence, a second test was conducted with fresh samples, the reports of which arrived late Tuesday night, Additional Chief Secretary, Medical and Health, Rohit Kumar Singh, said.

"The man who travelled to Dubai has been tested positive for coronavirus. It has been confirmed now," Singh said.

"We have also got the manifest of the Spicejet flight he took from Dubai to Jaipur and are doing due diligence on that," the official said, adding that intense contact tracing was underway.

The man has been kept in isolation at the SMS Hospital in Jaipur.

"The man came to the hospital on Monday with symptoms of the virus. After the first test, his wife and son too have been kept in isolation at the hospital. The two, however, do not have coronavirus affliction symptoms," Singh said.

A total of 235 people who came in contact with the octogenarian and his family have already been traced and are being monitored, he said. Other contacts are also being traced, Singh added.

An Italian couple, who tested positive for COVID-19 last week, are also admitted in the hospital but their condition is improving, he said.
By West Kentucky Star Staff Mar. 11, 2020 | 05:24 PM | MCCRACKEN COUNTY

On Wednesday, the McCracken County Sheriff's Office received information from a Lone Oak pharmacy indicating that someone had called in a prescription for a controlled substance from a doctor's office in Glasgow.





Staff with the pharmacy say they suspected the person on the phone was not actually with the doctor's office. They contacted that doctor and reportedly learned that the prescription had not be phoned in from that office.





Detectives say their investigation revealed that the suspects had contacted over twenty other area pharmacies attempting to have prescriptions filled.





Following this, detectives conducted surveillance at a pharmacy on Lone Oak Road and waited for the suspects to pick up a fraudulent prescription.





A short time later, detectives say they saw a vehicle with a temporary Florida tag drive past the pharmacy numerous times, then drop off two women who went inside. Deputies stopped the vehicle after it drove away and hid in a nearby trailer park, while the women were reportedly inside paying for the fraudulent prescriptions.





Deputies say the driver of the vehicle was 28-year-old Javed Bradley. A search of his vehicle reportedly revealed other controlled substances that had been fraudulently obtained.





The two women were arrested a short time later as they attempted to leave the pharmacy. They were identified as 27-year-old Shondresa Grisby and 26-year-old Victoria Norwood.





The trio was lodged in the McCracken County Jail. All three are being charged with obtaining a controlled substance by fraud/false statement, or forgery.

Three Chicago residents were arrested in McCracken County after an investigation into fraudulent prescriptions.
Its not surprising there have been a record number of reported UFO sightings in recent years. The onset of the internet has enabled witnesses to share tales of encounters with unidentified flying objects immediately. Since almost everyone is carrying around a smartphone with camera capabilities, its easy to document unusual activity in the skies and share the video or photos. While most incidents are brushed off as weather-balloons, birds, or meteors, theres no denying there have certainly been some extraordinary events reported. Check out our list of some of the most famous UFO sightings in history.

6. The Roswell Incident

Roswell is considered to be not only one of the most famous UFO sightings but one of the most well-known UFO cover-ups. In 1947, just northwest of Roswell, New Mexico, there were claims of not only a UFO sighing but of a suspicious crash where unexplained debris and bodies were collected. The story remained a secret until 1980 when UFO researcher Stanton Friedman became aware of the claims. The explanation given was the incident involved a weather balloon, and the story had just been exaggerated.

5. Rendlesham Forest Incident

Nicknamed Britains Roswell, Rendlesham Forest Incident occurred in Suffolk, England, in close proximity to two Air Force bases. In December of 1980, witnesses spotted unexplained lights coming from the woods. The incident went on for three days and is considered the most well documented UFO encounter of its kind. Several credible witnesses, including trained Air Force personnel and members of the security police team, lent credibility to the account. The eyewitnesses claim to have seen a bright light descending into the Rendlesham Forest A glowing metallic triangular object was spotted by security personal in the area. The claim goes on to further describe in detail a pulsing red light on top of the object with a row of blue lights coming from underneath.

4. Kenneth Arnold Sighting

Kenneth Arnold with the captured image of his unnatural object sighting. Image credit: Unexplanatory.com

In June of 1947, over Mount Rainier, Washington, Pilot Kenneth Arnold reported spotting objects that he described as circular in shape flying in formation at an unfathomable high rate of speed. Following an Air Force investigation, Pilot Arnolds report was dismissed as inaccurate. Kenneth Arnold died in 1984 and always stood by his story, maintaining it was his duty to report such an incident.

3. 1952 Washington, DC UFO Incident

In 1952 military radar picked up on unusual and expected aircraft. The incident was dubbed the Washington Flap, and the cause remains a mystery to this day. The air traffic controllers working at Ronald Reagan National Airport detected movement in the air at an unusually high rate of speed. Just a few days later, eye witness accounts, including citizens, military personnel, and flight attendants, reported flashes of light rapidly zipping around the sky. The Air Force held a press conference to squash the rumors. They announced a meteorological phenomenon caused the unusual activity.

2. The Belgian UFO Wave

One of the most significant UFO sightings in the world took place in Belgium from November 1989 to April 1990. Approximately 13,500 people claimed to have witnessed large triangular objects hovering low in the sky. The account included a military fighter pilot who not only encountered the flying objects but attempted to chase the aircraft before the object flew out of range. The lengthy incident was dismissed as a harmless mystery with no additional details given.

1. Lubbock Lights

Lubbock Lights in Texas. Image credit: alienufoblog.com

A UFO sighting in Lubbock, Texas, in 1951 includes some of the most credible eyewitnesses, including three science professors from the nearby university. The professors claim to have seen an unusual light formation in the sky. The dull glowing lights, blueish-green in color, formed a v-shaped formation in the sky. Other witnesses also spotted the unusual lights, and some were even able to capture it on film. The incident was explained as a formation of birds reflecting the light from street lamps. Witnesses dispelled this theory, claiming the lights were moving at a much faster rate of speed than a bird could fly.
ST. PAUL  Gov. Tim Walz on Tuesday, March 10, announced the appointment of a Minnesota energy official to a state Public Utilities Commission vacancy.

State Commerce Department Deputy Commissioner of Energy Resources Joseph Sullivan will start his six-year term in April. His seat on the five-member commission was previously held by former Gov. Mark Dayton appointee Dan Lipschultz, a metro-area utilities attorney whose term expired in January.

"It is an honor to be appointed by Governor Walz to the (PUC)," Sullivan said in a statement. "I thank the Governor and Lieutenant Governor Flanagan for the trust they have placed in me for this important role."

Sullivan lobbied for several regional environmental groups before joining the Commerce Department, including the Minnesota Center for Energy and Environment, and Wind on the Wires, a wind power advocacy group active in Minnesota and its neighboring states.

Before becoming a lobbyist, Sullivan worked as an attorney for a municipal power agency in Greater Minnesota through the St. Paul law firm Flaherty and Hood. He previously worked for the federal Internal Revenue Service as well as the U.S. House Committee on Science.

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Sullivan beat out several current and former legislators who applied for the job. His appointment comes one month after the PUC approved key permits for the controversial Line 3 oil pipeline project that Canadian energy company Enbridge plans to rebuild in northern Minnesota.

Commissioner Matthew Schuerger was the sole member of the PUC, which Lipshultz had left by that point, to vote against the $2.6 billion project. The project, which supporters hail as a job creator and critics deride as an environmental hazard, still requires the approval of the state Pollution Control Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Sullivan's appointment will be effective April 6 and expire on January 5, 2025, though his appointment may be reviewed by the state Senate for confirmation. Commissioner Valerie Means, the official appointed to the PUC before Sullivan, began working for the agency soon after after Walz appointed her in 2019, with the Senate confirming her retroactively this February.

State law prohibits the PUC from seating more than three members of the same political party.

"Joe has spent his career in energy and utilities, building a deep understanding of this field and the regulatory atmosphere. I have utmost confidence in his ability to build consensus and follow the process to produce fair outcomes for Minnesota," Walz said in a statement.

The statement from Walz's office included laudatory comments from groups active in Minnesota such as Fresh Energy and the regional Laborer's International Union of North America chapter, which along with several other unions signed a labor agreement with Enbridge for the Line 3 project in December 2019.

In a statement to Forum News Service, the Sierra Club approved of Sullivan's appointment as well.

Sullivan "brings deep knowledge of the energy sector and shares the Sierra Club's commitment to climate action and environmental justice," said Margaret Levin, the director of the state Sierra Club chapter. "With his insight we are hopeful that the Commission will prioritize a clean, healthy and more just future in its upcoming decisions."
Police have raided a home in Perth's north in connection to a suspected homicide in Yanchep over the weekend.

Detectives and officers searched the home on Baltimore Crescent in Merriwa on Wednesday morning, and police later confirmed the raid was in connection to a body found in a burnt-out car in Yanchep on Sunday.

A member of the public found the white ute on a bush track 200 metres off Haddrill Road and Old Yanchep Road and reported the grim discovery to police.

Police were initially reluctant to confirm whether the man's death had been deemed suspicious, but homicide squad detectives were involved with the investigation at an early stage.

Nine News Perth reporter Louise Rennie said police had forcibly entered the property and removed a man when they arrived.
The 26th ASEAN Economic Ministers (AEM) Retreat has approved Vietnams 12 prioritised initiatives on economic cooperation in ASEAN during the ASEAN Chairman Year 2020.

Delegates at the event

The 26th AEM Retreat took place in the central city of Da Nang on March 10 under the chair of Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh.

The initiatives focused on e-commerce, trade in goods, energy, information technology, agriculture, sustainable development, finance, statistics and innovation. They are designed towards the directions of promoting linkages and connectivity within ASEAN, promoting partnerships for peace and sustainable development, and enhancing the adaptability and operation efficiency of ASEAN.

Vietnams 13th initiative regarding international roaming fees also received support from the ministers but they required further research into technical details before it can be officially launched.

Minister Tran Tuan Anh said the adoption of the initiatives is an important step to reiterate ASEANs role in cementing regional solidarity, enhance the blocs internal strength and uphold the role of the ASEAN Economic Community.

The minister noted that Vietnam also proposed a joint statement on maintaining ASEAN supply chains and facilitate access to input materials by businesses, especially small and medium-sized ones in the context the COVID-19 epidemic seriously affecting peoples life and economic activities in the region.

The 26th AEM Retreat also agreed on priorities in the economic working agency for 2020, covering trade in goods and services; investment environment; facilitation of movement of skilled labourers and business people; competition policy; consumer protection; cooperation on intellectual property; e-commerce; and statistics.

Besides priorities for intra-bloc cooperation, the ministers sought solutions to problems in cooperation with outside partners, including directions for the launch of a review of the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) and cooperation with the Republic of Korea.

ASEAN economic ministers adopted six recommendations made by the 37th meeting of the high-level task force on ASEAN Economic integration (HLTFEI 37), which was held in Hanoi on February 12-13./.VNA

ASEAN countries agree to conclude RCEP negotiations ASEAN countries have agreed to try and persuade India to return to the negotiating table for the 16-nation Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) trade deal.
Washington: Joe Biden delivered decisive wins in Missouri and Mississippi on Tuesday, dealing an early blow to Bernie Sanders on a night when six states were up for grabs.

Both men were focused intensely on Michigan, the night's biggest prize. That's where the Vermont senator scored an upset that lent much-needed credibility to his 2016 primary challenge of Hillary Clinton and where President Donald Trump's victory four years was so narrow that Democrats are desperate to show they have the strength to flip it back.

The former vice president made a final push there in recent days, rallying autoworkers and touting a fresh round of high-profile endorsements. Beyond Michigan, Sanders could get a boost in Idaho, North Dakota or Washington state, where polls haven't yet closed.

Even as the contours of the race took shape, the campaigns faced new uncertainty amid fears of the spreading coronavirus. Sanders and Biden both abruptly cancelled public events in Ohio that were scheduled for Tuesday night. Sanders' campaign said all future events would be decided on a case-by-case basis, while Biden called off a scheduled stop in Florida.

The Democratic National Committee also said that Sunday's debate between Sanders and Biden would be conducted without an audience.

Tuesday marked the first time voters weighed in on the Democratic contest since it effectively narrowed to a two-person race between Sanders and Biden.

It was a test of whether Sanders can broaden his appeal among African Americans after earlier setbacks in the South. Biden, meanwhile, sought to show that he can keep the momentum going after his surprise Super Tuesday turnaround.

As soon as polls closed in Mississippi and Missouri at 8 pm Eastern time, The Associated Press declared Biden the winner in both states' Democratic presidential primary.

The AP called Biden the winner even though state officials had yet to release any results from Tuesday's election. The news agency did so based on results from AP VoteCast, its wide-ranging survey of the American electorate. That election research captures the views of voters on whom they vote for, and why.

The VoteCast survey showed Biden with a wide lead in both states. Importantly, Biden was leading in all parts of both states. He led among both men and women, as well as among both white voters and African American voters.

With 125 delegates at stake, Michigan got most of the attention Tuesday. Trump won the state by only about 10,000 votes during the general election in 2016, and Democrats are eager to take it back.

A win for Biden might show his party he can do it again against Trump in November. But Sanders presented himself as a credible alternative and aimed to block Biden from piling up a wide lead in delegates to the Democratic National Convention this summer in Milwaukee.

Sanders has predicted victory in Michigan and scrapped a scheduled Mississippi stop to spend more time there. Biden went there less frequently, but sought late-breaking support there and toured an auto plant in Detroit on Tuesday.

"You're the best damn workers in the world!" Biden shouted through a megaphone at the auto plant as workers in hard hats chanted, "Joe! Joe!" Biden ticked off the names of six former presidential rivals who have endorsed him just in the past week, saying he is "the candidate that they think can win."

The former vice president has campaigned in recent days with two of them, Sens. Cory Booker and Kamala Harris, and appeared with Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. All three have been mentioned as possible vice presidential picks if Biden wins the nomination.

The confidence Biden exudes is a remarkable turnaround for someone who just two weeks ago looked to be falling too far behind Sanders to catch up. Now he's trying to present an air of inevitability as the primary race's winner.

It wasn't all good feelings, though. At the auto plant, Biden was interrupted repeatedly by protesters angered by his support for the North American Free Trade Agreement and reluctance to embrace sweeping environmental proposals outlined in the Green New Deal.

In a scuffle with demonstrators, Biden senior adviser Symone Sanders was knocked to the ground but unhurt.

Biden also endured a testy exchange with a worker who accused him of "actively trying to end our Second Amendment right." Biden responded, "You're full of shit," and went on to say that while he supports the Second Amendment, "Do you need 100 rounds".

His gun control plan reinstates the assault weapons ban and includes a voluntary buyback program for assault weapons, stopping short of a mandatory buyback program that some of his opponents had supported in the primary.

Although he has rejected notions he could drop out of the race if Tuesday goes badly, Sanders says he is now battling the "Democratic establishment." "In a general election, which candidate can generate the enthusiasm and the excitement and the voter turnout we need", Sanders asked.

Detroit neighbours Fayette Turner and Margaret Marsh were split on which to support: Turner voted for Sanders on Tuesday, while Marsh voted for Biden. But they agreed on one thing: the desire to beat Trump.

"Anybody but Trump," Turner, 64, said. Marsh, 69, said her family has identified as Republican her entire life -- until Trump took office.

"I think Biden's the sanest one left," Marsh said. "Hopefully he'll have a good vice president."
Solvent Extractors Association (SEA) has noted in a latest update that it has sent a memorandum to Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Agriculture, to allow the export of Rape/Mustard Oil in bulk to support the Mustardseed price in domestic market and Farmers by removing conditions of maximum 5kg pack size and MEP of US $ 900. It noted that only rapeseed oil/mustard oil is subjected to the condition of maximum pack size 5 kgs for export. All the other vegetable oils are permitted to be freely exported irrespective of pack size. This condition on rapeseed oil/mustard oil is very detrimental to its trade in the international market. It also adversely affects the farm price of rapeseed/mustard seed and thus decreases the earning potential of rapeseed/mustard seed farmers.

SEA further noted that this year as per first announcement of Ministry of Agriculture country would be harvesting record Rapeseed/Mustardcrop to the tune of about 93.0 lakh tones, which has put the tremendous pressure on price of mustard seed and the farmers are now realizing Rs.3,900 -4,000/-per quintal (basis 42% oil) against MSP of Rs.4,425/-per quintal. This may go down further to Rs.3,400/3,500/-per quintal with the arrival pressure post Holi Festival. SEA urged that to boost the price of Rapeseed/Mustardin domestic marketa nd to support the farmers, the Ministry of Commerce should consider to lift the condition of 5 kgs.pack size and MEP for export of Rape/Mustard oil.

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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Linkedin Marchio Irfan Gorbiano and Norman Harsono (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, March 11, 2020 07:33 671 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2069bf2d3 1 Business King-Willem-Alexander,Retno-Marsudi,foreign-investment,Indonesia,Netherlands Free

Indonesia and the Netherlands have inked US$1 billion worth of business deals covering wide-ranging areas of cooperation during the visit of Dutch King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima to the country.

President Joko Jokowi Widodo welcomed the Dutch monarchs at the Bogor Palace in West Java on Tuesday, which marked the first day of the kings four-day state visit to Indonesia.

We have forged a number of business-related cooperation areas amounting to up to US$1 million, Jokowi said in a joint press statement following a bilateral meeting with the Dutch delegation.

Read also: BREAKING: Dutch monarch offers apology for past excessive violence

Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi confirmed the deal, saying that the cooperation included, among others, the development of fuel storage tankers for Royal Vopak, Dutch logistics and distribution service providers to the chemical and oil industry, at the Tanjung Priok Port in Jakarta.

Other collaborations areas include the development of Dutch dairy company FrieslandCampinas milk factory and Shells investment in the Indonesian downstream oil and gas industry.

Retno went on to say that the Dutch monarchs were accompanied by around 185 Dutch businesspeople who were slated to meet up with their Indonesian partners while the king and queen made their visit to Yogyakarta.

Read also: Dutch king offers condolences for advance team speedboat collision that led to seven deaths

The Netherlands was Indonesias fifth largest foreign investor last year, after having injected US$2.59 billion into Asias third largest economy, according to Indonesias Coordinating Investment Board (BKPM).

The foreign minister went on to say that Indonesia and the Netherlands had signed letters of intent (LoI) for cooperations that covered women empowerment, water management, healthcare professionals, climate change, waste management and transportation.

The two countries signed an LoI for cooperation on infectious disease control, including on antimicrobial resistance, which would involve the the Netherlands Erasmus University Medical Center and Indonesias Sulianti Saroso Infectious Diseases Hospital (RSPI), she added.

Editor's note: This article's paragraph five has been revised to state that Shell's investment in Indonesian will be in the downstream oil and gas industry.
Health workers are screening students in Thailand for coronavirus before they take their exams. Footage from Wednesday (March 11) shows the teenagers arriving to complete their studies, despite fears of the virus spreading. They had to go through health checkpoints which detect fevers, a symptom of the deadly COVID-19 bug ravaging the world. Any pupils with signs of the illness, such as a cold or cough, a separate room for them to take their exam apart from the other students was provided. The school in Khon Kaen province believes that it would be a disadvantage to the students if they postponed the exams so they are continuing with them while rolling out extra health checks. One teacher there, Miss Wongapai, said: "The entrance exam is important to the students so they could not postponed. Instead, we have to come up with a safety procedure. "The officers split up and created health checkpoints at every exam venue to screen 5,000 students from the province. "After the checkpoint, we also have alcohol sanitiser gel at every exam room for the students and staff to clean themselves.'' Thailand has 59 confirmed coronavirus cases and one death. There are 119,405 infections around the world and 4,300 deaths as of March 11.
Will always be with you to fight injustice: Rahul Gandhi to media

Scindia quits: When the whisper campaign got the better of the whisper

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Mar 11: A few months back, one would not have expected that Jyotiraditya Scindia would quit the Congress. After all it was assumed that he was very close to Rahul Gandhi.

He was also put in charge of Uttar Pradesh along with Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. One would have seen several times on television, him whispering to Rahul Gandhi in Parliament. He would be telling Rahul about what to say during a debate.

This however did not go down too well with the rest of the Congress members, who always would the Gandhis to be on the look out. There would always be a whisper campaign as to how Scindia would become a threat to Rahul Gandhi. Ultimately the whisper campaign got the better of the whisper.

Scindia likely to be BJPs Rajya Sabha candidate from MP

Scindia, according to sources was feeling sidelined and also found the leadership un-inspiring. His has expressed clearly his feelings in the letter. He says, "while my aim and purpose remains the same as it has always been from the very beginning. to serve the people of my state and country, I believe I am unable to do this anymore with this party."

Further reports say that the Congress had planned to defeat him in the Rajya Sabha elections and this was the last straw.

After securing 114 seats, the Congress came to power in 2018. The House has 230 members. However the current strength has been reduced to 228. The Congress had gone on to form the government with the support of 121 MLAs, which included four independents, 2 BSP and 1 SP MLA.

NEWS AT 3 PM, MARCH 11th, 2020

Meanwhile the Congress continued to make efforts to woo Scindia back. However as of now, it appears as though Scindia has not relented.

Writing was on the wall: Why Scindia decided to quit the Congress

If the 17 MLAs stick to their decision then the strength of the Congress would come down to 104. In the 228 member House, a party needs 115 seats.

The BJP on the other hand has 107 MLAs. It needs 8 more MLAs to hit the majority mark. If the rebels extend support to the BJP, then the party will have 124 MLAs.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Wednesday, March 11, 2020, 7:49 [IST]
The New Rochelle lawyer who was among the first to be diagnosed with coronavirus in New York and has passed it on to dozens is now believed to be in an induced coma.

Lawrence Garbuz, 50, was diagnosed with the virus last week and has since infected his family, along with others in the community where he lives.

He remains in the hospital and, according to sources cited by The New York Post, is in an induced coma.

His wife, Adina, who also has the virus but is asymptomatic and recovering at home, said in a Facebook post on Wednesday that she is looking forward to him waking up.

She has not been able to visit him because she has also tested positive for the virus and is worried he may wake up alone, she said.

In her Facebook post, Adina pleaded with the public not to blame their family for spreading the virus.

Lawrence Garbuz is unconscious in the hospital, reportedly in an induced coma. His wife Adina said on Wednesday she is waiting for him to wake up but that she also has not been allowed to visit him because she also has coronavirus

This map shows the schools, churches and synagogues in a one-mile radius of Young Israel New Rochelle, which is at the center of the coronavirus cluster

'I want my husband to get better and hope to have to worry about trying to explain to him all that has transpired while he was sleeping.

'But I also recognize that maybe he is a messenger of something good, that his illness was able to make us all aware of the problem.

'Just maybe he wont be just the one with bad luck, but the one who can to bring this to an end. This will end. Quarantines will work and we will all be stronger for it.

'I hope the Garbuz name becomes associated not as the ones with coronavirus but the ones who were instrumental in helping get this contained.

'I have not wanted to speak out as I have no urge to be in the limelight and I am sure.

'I my husband would be most horrified knowing he was, but I am willing to if it in any way can be helpful to others, to allay fears and restore feelings of calm,' she wrote.

Garbuz had pneumonia which is why officials say he has reacted to severely to the virus.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has set up a one mile radius quarantine in New Rochelle to try to stop the spread.

Since March 2, the number of cases in the US has risen from 101 to 1085

After contracting the virus himself, Garbuz spread it to his family, a neighbor who is also a friend and who drove him to the hospital, and another family of five.

From there, it spread virulently throughout the small community.

On Wednesday morning, Governor Cuomo told Today that the containment zone was not as dramatic as it sounded and that it only prevented large group gatherings.

'It sounds more dramatic than it is.

'We have about 108 cases in New Rochelle, we have 36 cases in New York City and New York City is 100 times the size of New Rochelle, so New Rochelle is the hottest spot in the country - the most dense cluster,' he said.

Cuomo went on: 'As you hear, we have to take action.

'We have to do something. This is not going to stop spreading on its own, it never has.

'Not in China, Korea, Hong Kong, We are going to determine our own fate and we are going to have to take action.

'Our action in New Rochelle is just no large gatherings- people can come, people can go, there's no limitation on movements but no large gatherings because the large gatherings are where it spreads.

'If you have a high concentration of people, no large gatherings.'

A warning sign is seen at the New Rochelle City Hall's entrance in New York on Tuesday

A man wears a face mask as he walks in front of Young Israel orthodox synagogue in New Rochelle. The synagogue was attended by Garbuz and his family and will be the center of the containment area starting on Thursday and to be enforced by the National Guard
EU wants Greece to investigate police violence against refugees

Thousands of asylum seekers have since flocked to Turkeys Edirne province  bordering Greece and Bulgaria  to make their way to Europe.

The EU on Wednesday said they expect Greece to investigate violence against refugees and asylum seekers at the countrys borders.

We do expect the Greek authorities to investigate any allegations of illegal practices or violence, Adalbert Jahnz, European Commission spokesman, told a press briefing.

"GREECE IS FACING A DIFFICULT TASK"

The Greek authorities are facing a difficult task in dealing with an exceptional situation. However, they have to do so in full compliance of fundamental rights and acting in a proportionate way, he added.

Jahnz also said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson will visit Greece on Thursday to discuss the refugee situation among other issues.

Greek police fire at refugees WATCH

Turkey recently announced that it would no longer try to stop asylum seekers from reaching Europe.

The Greek reaction to asylum seekers has been harsh, with many battered, attacked, or tear-gassed, and several killed by Greek forces.

With 3.7 million Syrian migrants in Turkey already, more than any other country in the world, and some 1 million poised across the border in Idlib, Syria, Ankara says it cannot absorb another refugee wave.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 11)  The novel coronavirus outbreak would likely lead to a 91 billion reduction in tax collections, but Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said theres no need to drop infrastructure projects and other state programs yet.

Dominguez told reporters the government can still fund its big-ticket infrastructure projects, even as global markets are slumped due to the outbreak, which has so far infected 113,000 people and caused 4,000 deaths.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index dipped to a four-year low on Monday, tumbling as the government confirmed new cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus. The tally stands at 33 as of March 10, with local transmissions reported.

READ: COVID-19 outbreak: Your top questions answered

The outbreak has also stifled tourism as foreign visitors cancel their trips to avoid contact with infected individuals. Travel bans are also in place for those flying in from China, Hong Kong, Macau, and a hard-hit province in South Korea.

Dominguez said slower economic activity would pull down government revenues for 2020, with the latest estimate assuming that the outbreak lasts until end-June. Despite this, he said the state wouldnt need to cut its spending plans.

Despite difficulties, we are not contemplating a reduction in spending. BBB (Build, Build, Build) and all other programs will go full blast, Dominguez said during a media briefing on Tuesday afternoon.

The government is supposed to collect 3.49 trillion and spend 4.16 trillion this year. Of the amount, 1.2 billion is earmarked for infrastructure projects, which include the construction of the North-South Commuter Railway system (84.7 billion), the government share in the Japan-funded Metro Manila Subway (9.8 billion), and the rehabilitation of the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (5.1 billion).

READ: Duterte signs 4.1-T national budget for 2020

The governments catch-up on 2019 spending translated in December figures, which brought the full-year tally slightly higher than the target. This led to a budget gap at 3.55 percent of gross domestic product, wider than the 3.2 percent cap as the Philippine economy grew slower than expected.

Dominguez admitted that the deficit ceiling will be breached again this 2020, but said it was financeable and necessary. He pegged the budget gap at 3.6 percent of GDP, wider than programmed as the money to be spent would outweigh taxes collected.

The government spends more than what it can collect as a developing economy, pouring funds into crucial construction projects as well as social services.

Undersecretary Rosemarie Edillon of the National Economic and Development Authority told senators on Monday that the agency expects the economy to grow between 5.5-6.5 percent this year, substantially lower than the 6.5-7.5 percent target set by the economic team due to the coronavirus impact.

CNN Philippines Correspondent Sandra Zialcita contributed to this report.
DETROIT - A voter participation rally in Detroit that was to feature former first lady Michelle Obama was cancelled Wednesday because of concerns over the new coronavirus.

The March 27 ticketed event at the University of Detroit Mercy will not be held out of an abundance of caution for the health and safety of attendees and individuals travelling to Detroit, When We All Vote said in a release.

The nonpartisan, non-profit voter advocacy organization also says it is exploring options to reschedule the event. Obama co-chairs When We All Vote and helped launch the organization in 2018 to boost voting.

Fears over the spread of the virus have prompted the cancellation of a number of events around the country. Some college sporting events will be played in arenas without fans in attendance. UCLA, Yale, Stanford and other schools also have announced plans to send students home and move classes online.

The virus has infected more than 1,000 people in the U.S. and killed at least 30.

Michigan officials announced Tuesday night that two middle-aged people in the Detroit area tested positive for COVID-19.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia.

An Oakland County woman who travelled outside the country and a Wayne County man who travelled within the U.S. are being treated for COVID-19 at area hospitals. Both cases still need to be reviewed and confirmed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Local officials will identify those who have been in close contact with the infected adults and make sure they are tested, if necessary, and monitored, said Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, Michigans medical executive.

In Michigan, 77 people had been tested as of Tuesday. Fifty-seven were negative, two positive and results were pending for 18.

The vast majority of people recover from the new virus. According to the World Health Organization, people with mild illness recover in about two weeks, while those with more severe illness may take three to six weeks to recover. China, where the virus first exploded, has had more than 81,000 infections and more than 3,000 deaths.
The data is collected and provided by the staff of the Joint Forces Operation

Since the beginning of March 2020, Russian militants have lost 21 of their fighters in eastern Ukraine's combat area. The Joint Forces Operation HQ gathered this data and confirmed it on its Facebook page.

"Under the confirmed data, the losses of Russian occupant forces since the beginning of March 2020 made 21 dead people", the Ukrainian military reports.

According to the information, 31 militants were wounded in combat over the said period.

The list of damaged or destroyed vehicles includes a car, a drone and a multirole armored tow.

Earlier, on March 10, Russian militants landed nine attacks on Ukrainian troops in Donbas combat area. Two Ukrainian fighters lost their lives in action; another nine were injured. The HQ of the Joint Forces Operation reported that on Tuesday.

In Donetsk region, the enemy violated the ceasefire five times. The armed gangs fired anti-tank missile launchers, grenade launchers, large-caliber machine guns and small arms to shell the Ukrainian positions near Pisky. 82 mm mines and grenades hit Novoselivka II and Avdiivka.

In Luhansk region, the militants attacked Ukrainian forces four times. In Orikhove, they used 82 mm and 120 mm mortars, mounted anti-tank grenade launchers; 120 mm mines and grenades hit the vicinities of Novooleksandrivka and Khutir Vilny.
The vast majority of people recover from the new virus. According to the World Health Organization, people with mild illness recover in about two weeks, while those with more severe illness may take three to six weeks to recover. In mainland China, where the virus first exploded, more than 80,000 people have been diagnosed and more than 58,000 have so far recovered.
Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed Wednesday that his military would launch its harshest retaliation yet if the Syrian government breaks a fragile truce in Idlib province brokered last week.

The cease-fire arranged by Turkey and Russia  which support opposing sides in the conflict  halted a three-month air and ground campaign by the Syrian government against the rebel-held province. That offensive killed hundreds and sent 1 million people fleeing toward the Turkish border.

The Russian-backed Syrian government offensive made significant gains in Syrias last rebel stronghold, and Turkey sent thousands of troops across the border to reinforce the rebels, leading to rare direct fighting between Syrian and Turkish troops.

If those across from us dont keep their promise, we will never shy away from advancing on them in a much more serious way than before, Erdogan said in his weekly address to his ruling partys legislators.-

Erdogan said there had been a number of small violations of the truce, which Turkey was monitoring carefully.

He said Turkeys priority would be the security of its troops manning a dozen observation posts inside Idlib. Some of those posts now fall within Syrian government-controlled territory. The posts are in place as part of a previous cease-fire agreement reached in 2018.

The security of our observation posts is at the top of our priorities. In the event of the smallest attack there, we not only will retaliate, we will reciprocate more heavily, Erdogan said.

Erdogan added that Turkey was engaged in efforts to turn the cease-fire into a more lasting truce.

We fought the necessary fight, and as a result signed a temporary ceasefire in Moscow. Now the issue is to transform this temporary cease-fire into a permanent one and we are swiftly pursuing that, he said.

Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar told reporters that talks with a Russian delegation about the technicalities of the truce were progressing in a positive and constructive manner. The delegation arrived Tuesday.

The current deal sets up a security corridor along Syrias M4 highway, running east-west in Idlib. Russian and Turkish troops are scheduled to begin joint patrols along the M4 on March 15.

Work is underway to reopen the M4, which has been closed since 2012. with workers removing barriers from the road that links Syrias coastal region with the northern city of Aleppo, the countrys largest, according to opposition activists and state media.

State news agency SANA said municipal workers in the coastal province of Latakia have cleared about 40 kilometers (25 miles) of the highway and have only a small section to finish.

Opposition activist Akaram al-Ahmad said insurgents checkpoints were removed from the highway in Idlib in apparent preparation for reopening the highway.

The cease-fire deal also appeared to achieve Moscows key goal of allowing the Syrian government to keep hold of the strategic north-south highway known as the M5. Syrian forces had captured its last segments in the latest offensive, which began in early December.

SOURCE: AP
YEREVAN, MARCH 11, ARMENPRESS. All passengers who arrived to Yerevan on board a Ryanair flight from Rome, Italy on March 10 showed no signs of infectious diseases upon screening, healthcare authorities announced. The Healthcare and Labor Inspection Agency said their personnel carried out disinfection and screening.

The agency said all arrivals to Armenia are filling in address cards which are forwarded to district clinics for further monitoring of their health condition.

Earlier the healthcare ministry issued a travel warning amid the novel coronavirus outbreak against Italy, France, Germany, Spain, Japan, China, Iran and South Korea. Armenian nationals arriving from these countries are advised to avoid contacts and self-quarantine for 14 days. The Ministry of Healthcare said heightened monitoring and screening is being carried out at the Yerevan airport.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan
The Maharashtra cabinet has decided to allow upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) tournament matches in Mumbai without the audience to prevent spread of Coronavirus. The decision is part of the measures being taken to prevent the spread of the epidemic.

The proposal was discussed in the state cabinet meeting on Wednesday. The government is expected to make a statement on this in the legislature.

On Tuesday, the state had confirmed its first five positive cases of Covid-19  the new strain of coronavirus  which has killed more than 3,000 patients across the globe.

We want to take all sorts of precautions in the wake of coronavirus outbreak. We have decided that no large gathering will be allowed in the state for now and will also urge people to avoid them. The issue of IPL was discussed in the cabinet meeting as well and it was decided that IPL tournament will be allowed if there will be no sale of tickets for the audience, said a senior minister who requested to remain anonymous.

It was informed the state that BCCI will have no problem if there wont be any sale of tickets for IPL matches as majority of the total revenue of IPL tournament comes from other sources such as live telecast on TV channels, websites and advertisement, which will help them survive this year. Maharashtras Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar informed the state cabinet about this after which the decision was taken, said another minister.

The IPL tournament will start from March 29 where the defending champion Mumbai Indians will take on Chennai Super Kings at Mumbais Wankhade Stadium.

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An off-duty sheriffs deputy was shot in the back in an apparent armed robbery attempt in Delaware County.

The 35-year-old Philadelphia deputy sheriff was approached by an armed robber, who pointed a gun at him and demanded the everything he had, Action News 6 ABC reports.

The deputy, whose name has not been released, was shot just before 10 p.m. on the 1300 block of Alfred Avenue in Yeadon, NBC 10 is reporting.

He was taken to an area hospital, but his condition is unknown, and a woman who was with the deputy was not injured, reports indicate.

Police are looking for several suspects, who may have fled into Southwest Philadelphia, according to reports.

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Former vice president Joe Biden has won the Mississippi and Missouri primaries, continuing his strong showing among black voters in southern states.

In Mississippi alone, Biden won 84 percent of black voters to just 13 percent for Senator Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.), according to a CNN exit poll. Among black voters over 60 years old, Biden won a full 96 percent to Sanderss 3 percent. The state has 36 delegates up for grabs.

Voting on Tuesday occurred in the midst of the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak and fears of a resulting economic downturn. In Missouri, which boasts 68 delegates, about 60 percent of voters said they trust Biden most to handle a major crisis, while 25 percent said they most trusted Sanders. Both Biden and Sanders canceled campaign rallies in Cleveland, Ohio after Governor Mike Devine decared a state of emergency due to the coronavirus.

In 2016, Hillary Clinton beat Sanders in Missouri by less than 0.3 percentage points. Networks were able to call a Biden win in the state relatively quickly, suggesting the former vice president improved on Clintons performance against Sanders. And in Mississippi, Biden seems poised for a landslide win.

More from National Review
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has been consulting with UN Security Council members about appointing former Algerian Foreign Minster Ramtane Lamamra as his new Libya envoy, diplomats said on Wednesday.

His current Libya envoy Ghassan Salame quit last week due to stress, days after his latest effort at peacemaking failed to achieve a breakthrough in the conflict. Salame was appointed in mid-2017 to replace German diplomat Martin Kobler, after an unusually contentious search for a candidate.

Guterres had initially chosen former Palestinian prime minister Salam Fayyad in 2017 to be the UN Libya envoy and formally notified the 15-member UN Security Council of the appointment in a letter.

Traditionally, the Security Council then approves such a move by consensus by writing back to the secretary-general and "taking note" of the appointment. However, the United States objected to Fayyad because he was Palestinian.

Diplomats, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Guterres has informally consulted with some council members about appointing Lamamra, but has not yet sent a formal letter. Diplomats said most council members supported the appointment.

Libya has faced internal strife since the 2011 uprising that ousted longtime ruler Muammar Gaddafi, and the latest round of violence began last year when eastern-based forces began to advance on the capital Tripoli.

Last month Salame brought delegations from the two main sides in Libya's conflict to Geneva for peace talks, but key representatives suspended their involvement. Shelling in Tripoli then intensified into some of the heaviest bombardments since Salame brokered a ceasefire on Jan. 12.

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As the U.S. battles to limit the spread of the highly contagious new coronavirus, the number of health care workers ordered to self-quarantine because of potential exposure to an infected patient is rising at an exponential pace. In Vacaville, California, alone, one case  the first documented instance of community transmission in the U.S.  left more than 200 hospital workers under quarantine and unable to work for weeks.

Across California, dozens more health care workers have been ordered home because of possible contagion in response to more than 80 confirmed cases as of Sunday afternoon. In Kirkland, Washington, more than a quarter of the citys fire department was quarantined after exposure to a handful of infected patients at the Life Care Center nursing home.

With the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases mushrooming by the day, a quarantine response of this magnitude would quickly leave the health care system short-staffed and overwhelmed. The situation has prompted debate in the health care community about just what standards medical facilities should use before ordering workers quarantined  and what safety protocols need to become commonplace in clinics and emergency rooms.

Dr. Jennifer Nuzzo, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, is among those arguing hospitals need to change course.

Its just not sustainable to think that every time a health care worker is exposed they have to be quarantined for 14 days. Wed run out of health care workers, Nuzzo said. Anyone showing signs of infection should stay home, she added, but providers who may have been exposed but are not symptomatic should not necessarily be excluded from work.

The correct response, she and others said, comes down to a careful balance of the evolving science with the need to maintain a functioning health care system.

While hospitals are supposed to be prepared for just such a situation, Nuzzo said, their plans often fall short. Absent any imminent public health crisis, it may not be one of their priorities, she said. From 2003 to 2019, federal funding for the Hospital Preparedness Program in the U.S. was cut almost in half.

In Northern California, potential exposure to the new coronavirus was exacerbated because hospitals were caught unaware by the community spread of the virus and hampered by federal protocols that initially limited diagnostic testing to patients with a history of travel to a country where the virus was known to be circulating or contact with a person with a known infection.

At the very beginning [of an outbreak] this will happen because you dont know patients are infected and you only realize later that people were exposed, said Grzegorz Rempala, a mathematician at the College of Public Health at Ohio State University who models the spread of infectious diseases.

Now that the disease has started to spread through the community, any patient with respiratory symptoms potentially could be infected, though health officials note the likelihood remains low. As providers start routinely wearing protective gear and employing strict safety protocols, accidental exposure should decline.

The Vacaville case offers stark insight into the fallout from the narrow testing protocols initially established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. When a woman was admitted to NorthBay VacaValley Hospital with respiratory symptoms on Feb. 15, dozens of hospital workers walked in and out of her room performing daily tasks. Days later, as her condition worsened, she was sent to UC Davis Medical Center, where dozens more employees were potentially exposed.

Because the woman did not meet the testing criteria in place at the time, it took days for UC Davis to get approval to have her assessed for the coronavirus. After the test came back positive, about 100 NorthBay workers were sent into self-quarantine for 14 days. At UC Davis, an additional 36 nurses and 88 other employees were quarantined, according to the unions representing those workers. (A spokesman for UC Davis said the figures were not accurate but declined to give an estimate.)

Were not used to being concerned, before we even do the triage assessment, [about] whether the patient is infectious and could infect hospital workers, said Dr. Kristi Koenig, the EMS medical director of San Diego County. She said that thinking started to evolve during the 2014 Ebola outbreak. Hospitals should routinely mask patients who come in with respiratory symptoms, she said, given any such patient could have an infectious disease such as tuberculosis.

Yet providers dont often think in those terms. In many ways, were spoiled because weve gone from a society 50 or 100 years ago where the major killers were infectious disease, said Dr. Michael Wilkes, a professor at UC Davis School of Medicine. Now weve become complacent because the major killers are heart disease and diabetes.

Faced with this new infection risk, many hospitals are scrambling to retrain workers in safety precautions, such as how to correctly don and doff personal protective equipment.

Sutter Health, which has 24 hospitals in Northern California, started ramping up its emergency management system five weeks ago in preparation for COVID-19. Before coming to the emergency room, Sutter patients are asked to call a hotline to be assessed by a nurse or an automated system designed to screen for symptoms of the virus. Those with likely symptoms are guided to a telemedicine appointment unless they need to be admitted to a hospital.

Anyone arriving at a Sutter emergency room with signs of a respiratory infection is given a mask and sequestered. A runny nose and a cough doesnt tell you much. It could be a cold, it could be a flu, and in this weather it could be allergies, said Dr. Bill Isenberg, Sutters chief quality and safety officer. A doctor or nurse in protective equipment  including N95 mask, gown, and goggles  is deployed to assess the patients symptoms. If COVID-19 is suspected, the patient is moved into a private room.

Sutter has treated several coronavirus patients who arrived from Travis Air Force Base, which housed evacuees from the Diamond Princess cruise ship quarantined off the coast of Japan after an outbreak was detected on board. The Sutter patients were placed in negative pressure rooms so that contaminated air did not circulate to the rest of the hospital, and staff used an anteroom to take off gowns and masks.

We do everything humanly possible to minimize the number of people who have to enter [the room], Isenberg said. Still, he said, some workers have been quarantined; Sutter would not disclose the total.

Not all hospitals are adapting so quickly. National Nurses United, a union representing more than 150,000 nurses, recently held a news conference to call on hospitals to better protect their workers. Of the 6,500 nurses who participated in a survey the union circulated, fewer than half said they had gotten instruction in how to recognize and respond to possible cases of COVID-19. Just 30% said their employer has sufficient protective equipment on hand to protect staff if there were a surge in infected patients.

As the virus continues to spread, hospitals should be stockpiling such equipment, figuring out how to add beds and planning for staffing shortages, said Dr. Richard Waldhorn, a professor of medicine at Georgetown University and contributing scholar at Johns Hopkins who recently co-authored recommendations for hospitals on how to prepare for a COVID-19 pandemic.

Hospitals should already be training providers to take on expanded duties, Waldhorn said. If a hospital becomes overwhelmed, the Medical Reserve Corps can be mobilized, as can networks of providers who have volunteered to aid in emergency situations. Once workers have been infected and recover, it might make sense to have them treat other coronavirus patients since they will have immunity.

Eventually, as a disease becomes widespread, quarantine simply stops being a priority, said Nina Fefferman, a mathematician and epidemiologist at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville.

Theres a point where we stop trying to quarantine anyone, and we just say, OK, were going to have more deaths from the fire department not being able to fight fire than from everyone getting the disease.

Jenny Gold is a senior correspondent, Kaiser Health News.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com
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The ultraviolet (UV) index in Ho Chi Minh City is forecast to be extreme this week as a dermatologist has cautioned against going outside at noon.

The UV level hit nine in Ho Chi Minh City at noon on Wednesday, according to the UK-based meteorological services website WeatherOnline.

A UV index reading of 8-10 means a very high risk of harm from unprotected sun exposure, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

Twenty-five minutes of being exposed to sunlight with this level of UV radiation can cause sunburn, the organization cautioned.

On Thursday and Friday, the UV index in the Ho Chi Minh City is forecast to reach 11, which carries an extreme health risk.

At this level of UV radiation, unprotected skin and eyes can burn in ten minutes, according to the WHO.

From Sunday until Wednesday next week, a similarly harmful level of UV is expected to be recorded in the southern metropolis, according to WeatherOnline.

Dr. Le Duc Tho, a dermatologist, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper UV radiation is harmful and can cause a number of skin conditions including hyperpigmentation, skin aging, sunburn, and skin cancer, as well as eye problems such as cataracts and macular degeneration.

At the current level of UV radiation in Ho Chi Minh City, residents are advised against being in the sun between 11:00 am and 3:00 pm.

Wearing sunscreen, sunglasses, wide-brimmed hats, and clothes that expose little skin is advised for those going outdoors during this time frame, Dr. Tho said.

Children must take extra precautions against sun exposure to limit the long-term accumulation of risks from UV radiation, he said.

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Andy Anokye, 33, who performs under the stage name Solo 45, was found guilty at Bristol Crown Court of 30 charges relating to a two-year period

A grime artist has been convicted of holding four women against their will and repeatedly raping them.

Andy Anokye, 33, who performs under the stage name Solo 45, was found guilty at Bristol Crown Court of 30 charges relating to a two-year period.

He was unanimously convicted of 21 rapes, five counts of false imprisonment, two counts of assault by penetration and two of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

The musician, who was part of the grime collective Boy Better Know, did not react as the jury of seven women and five men returned the verdicts following 10 hours and 55 minutes of deliberations.

Judge William Hart adjourned sentencing for a date to be fixed and ordered a psychiatric report to be carried out on the defendant.

He told the jury: 'It is almost four months since we first met here to try this lengthy indictment.

'You have had to listen to and indeed watch some extremely graphic evidence and make very important decisions in the lives of all those concerned.

'I am very grateful to you. It is finally over.

'I will sentence Mr Anokye on a date that is convenient to counsel.'

Judge Hart excused the panel from jury service in the future and paid tribute to how they had listened to 'quite disturbing' evidence during the trial.

The court heard the four complainants have made victim personal statements, describing the impact of Anokye's offences on them.

During the trial, graphic video clips - filmed by Anokye on his mobile phone - were played to the jury.

In the footage, Anokye is seen interrogating the women about previous sexual partners, slapping them, insulting them and raping them.

One clip showed a woman crying and saying 'I hate you', with the musician laughing and making a thumbs-up sign to the camera.

Anokye, who was signed to Island Records, was described as a 'violent, controlling narcissist and a bully' by prosecutors during the case.

Jurors heard how he derived sexual pleasure from torturing the women by water-boarding, interrogating, assaulting and raping them.

The musician spoke of dacryphilia - sexual arousal from tears - and enjoyed playing a game he called 'Catch me, Rape me'.

Anokye, who was part of the grime collective Boy Better Know, did not react as the jury of seven women and five men returned the verdicts following 10 hours and 55 minutes of deliberations

Judge William Hart adjourned sentencing for a date to be fixed and ordered a psychiatric report to be carried out on Anokye.

Police launched an investigation in 2017 after a woman claimed she had been raped at Anokye's waterfront apartment in Bristol.

Following his arrest, police examined videos and images on three mobile phones, an external hard drive and a laptop found at the apartment.

They contacted further women and four came forward with complaints of abuse at his hands.

A fifth woman also gave evidence against Anokye during the trial but jurors heard he could not be charged with alleged offences against her, as they took place abroad.

Anokye grew up on the Broadwater Farm Estate in Tottenham, London, but had a flat in Bristol.

He was remanded in custody, where he has been since his arrest, following the jury's verdicts.

Avon and Somerset Police released his image of a shotgun which was shown in evidence in the case against Anoyke, who will be sentenced at a later date

The court heard the four complainants have made victim personal statements, describing the impact of Anokye's offences on them.

During the trial, graphic video clips - filmed by Anokye on his mobile phone - were played to the jury.

In the footage, Anokye is seen interrogating the women about previous sexual partners, slapping them, insulting them and raping them.

One clip showed a woman crying and saying 'I hate you', with the musician laughing and making a thumbs-up sign to the camera.

Anokye, who was signed to Island Records, was described as a 'violent, controlling narcissist and a bully' by prosecutors during the case.

Jurors heard how he derived sexual pleasure from torturing the women by water-boarding, interrogating, assaulting and raping them.

The musician spoke of dacryphilia - sexual arousal from tears - and enjoyed playing a game he called 'Catch me, Rape me'.

Police launched an investigation in 2017 after a woman claimed she had been raped at Anokye's waterfront apartment in Bristol.

Following his arrest, police examined videos and images on three mobile phones, an external hard drive and a laptop found at the apartment.

They contacted further women and four came forward with complaints of abuse at his hands.

A fifth woman also gave evidence against Anokye during the trial but jurors heard he could not be charged with alleged offences against her, as they took place abroad.

He was remanded in custody, where he has been since his arrest, following the jury's verdicts.

Speaking after the case, Detective Chief Inspector Neil Rice of Avon and Somerset Police said: 'I hope today's verdicts bring some solace to the victims in this case who have suffered unimaginable horrors.

'Our focus will remain on supporting them as we have done for almost three years since this investigation began, and we will continue to do so through to sentencing and beyond.'

The verdicts followed almost three years of legal proceedings.

Anokye was first due to stand trial in April 2018 but this did not go ahead for legal reasons.

A second trial began in January 2019 but was halted in February after just one and a half days of evidence in five weeks.

He was unanimously convicted of 21 rapes, five counts of false imprisonment, two counts of assault by penetration and two of assault occasioning actual bodily harm by a jury at Bristol Crown Court, pictured

This was partly due to disclosure issues, including almost 90,000 files taken from Anokye's devices being discovered in a folder.

A third trial was due to begin on November 11 last year but the case was not opened to the jury until 10 days later as Anokye had hired a new legal team.

Jill MacNamara, senior crown prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service, said: 'We were able to prove that Anokye was a violent, controlling narcissist and bully who took pleasure in inflicting pain and suffering upon his victims.

'He filmed many of his attacks on his mobile phone and this footage, along with the brave testimony of his victims, created a compelling case against him.'

She said Anokye's threats to the women and 'the fear he elicited' made it obvious they did not consent to sexual activity with him.

'The commitment of the CPS to see this case through to its conclusion after three years and two separate trials shows that we will not shy away from difficult cases,' she said.

'We want every victim of rape to have the confidence that where there is sufficient evidence, the CPS will prosecute.'
The MVA government is



"threatening" the people of Maharashtra over the novel coronavirus and putting restrictions on citizens is making them panicky, MNS chief Raj Thackeray said on Wednesday.

Talking to reporters here, he said government teams should first check mortality rate of the viral infection.

Imposing restrictions is creating panic among citizens, Thackeray said.

"The mortality rate due to reasons other than the coronavirus is much more in our country. No doubt, we should take care.

"But the government is threatening people over the coronavirus issue," he said.

"How many (confirmed) patients have been found in our state that we are imposing restrictions in Maharashtra. Shiv Jayanti will be celebrated in the state (on March 12)," the MNS leader said.

Till now, Maharashtra has reported 11 positive cases of the viral infection.

"Civic elections in Aurangabad are going to take place in a month. Will government agencies postpone these elections due to the coronavirus," Thackeray questioned.

The police administration has requested political parties and other outfits to curtail their processions and other events planned on the occasion of Shiv Jayanti in view of the coronavirus scare, an official said on Wednesday.

While the state government's official Shiv Jayanti celebrations are held on February 19 each year, the Shiv Sena believes the birth anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj should be observed as per the 'tithi' (Hindu calendar).

As per the Hindu calendar, Shivaji Maharaj's birth anniversary this year falls on March 12.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL / ACCESSWIRE / March 10, 2020 / Partner Social Media LLC, a leader in local marketing for small to medium sized businesses announces an expansion - releasing a suite of programs to help entrepreneurs start and grow a local marketing agency of their own.

"Today, many people want to work for themselves." says CEO of the company Neil Anderson. We believe one of the best ways to truly accomplish the "Laptop Lifestyle" is to create a business that serves and adds a tremendous amount of value to the community and the economy, all while getting compensated very well for doing so on a reoccurring business model. That's what we can help someone with the entrepreneurial spirit accomplish.

Partner Social Media LLC will be offering a full line of educational programs where either a brand new start-up marketing agency owner can learn at his or her own pace, potentially creating the business of their dreams. All while also serving the experienced, six-figure agency owner, teaching them how to get more clients and scale their already successful business.

"No matter where someone is at on their journey to create a successful local marketing agency and work for themselves, we'll be there to offer help and education to get them there." says Anderson. "Our Marketing Agency Mentor program is for beginners, looking to get results and start their journey. Our ZeroColdCalling System program is for experienced agency owners looking for an amazing prospecting tool to expand their client roster. We plan on offering more and more educational programs and tools to help entrepreneurs start, expand, and grow their businesses, and I couldn't be more excited to make a difference in their lives!"

For more information on Partner Social Media LLC and their latest programs, you can visit either https://www.marketingagencymentor.com or https://www.zerocoldcalling.com

CONTACT:

Neil Anderson

(407) 205-7511

SOURCE: Partner Social Media LLC

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/579988/Becoming-An-Online-Entrepreneur-Just-Got-Easier
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-11 14:23:09|Editor: xuxin

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U.S. Vice President Mike Pence gestures as he attends a press conference on the COVID-19 at the White House in Washington D.C. March 10, 2020. The number of COVID-19 cases in the United States have topped 1,000 by 11:30 p.m. EST Tuesday (0330 GMT on Wednesday), reaching 1,001 with 28 deaths, according to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

NEW YORK, March 11 (Xinhua) -- The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the United States reached 1,001 with 28 deaths by 11:30 p.m. EST Tuesday (0330 GMT on Wednesday), according to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control Prevention (CDC) reported 696 as of 4 p.m. Monday (2000 GMT).

The state of Washington has reported over 260 cases, followed by New York with 173 cases and California 144 cases.

More clusters have surfaced in various locations around the country. Over 70 patients are connected to a biotech conference in Boston, and outbreaks have taken place in several nursing homes in Seattle area.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said on Tuesday that the state will set up a containment area in a COVID-19 hotspot and send the National Guard into it to help contain the virus.

At a press conference, Cuomo said that National Guard troops will be sent to New Rochelle, Westchester County, to help clean surfaces and deliver food in the area.

The containment area will be within one-mile-radius around a point near a synagogue, in which schools, houses of worships and other large gathering places will be closed for two weeks.

New Rochelle is at the center of an COVID-19 outbreak in Westchester County, which is just outside New York City and currently has 108 confirmed cases.

It is also home to the state's second confirmed case, an attorney who worked in Manhattan and is linked to dozens of cases diagnosed during the past week.

"It is a dramatic action, but it is the largest cluster of cases in the country," said Cuomo. "The numbers are going up unabated, and we do need a special public health strategy for New Rochelle."

Former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden and Senator Bernie Sanders, two major candidates in U.S. Democratic presidential race, have cancelled their rallies scheduled for Tuesday night over coronavirus concerns.

Their moves were seen as the first disruptions the outbreak has caused to the 2020 U.S. presidential primary.

Both the Sanders and Biden campaigns thanked supporters who planned to attend the events on Tuesday, a mini-Super Tuesday when six states -- Idaho, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota and Washington -- were holding primaries for voters to select their preferred presidential candidate this year.

Also on Tuesday, California Governor's Office of Emergency Services announced that over 400 people were taken off the coronavirus-striken Grand Princess cruise ship at the port of Oakland the day before.

The Grand Princess cruise ship that carries over 3,000 people, including 21 people who have tested positive for coronavirus, docked at the port of Oakland Monday after being held off at sea for days.

Among those who disembarked were two travelers who tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday. They were taken to hospitals along with their travel companions.

California Office of Emergency Services officials emphasized that the first day of disembarkation focused on passengers with the greatest medical need, not necessarily related to COVID-19.
New Delhi: Yes Bank on Wednesday said its inward real-time gross settlement (RTGS) services have been enabled to allow customers to make payments towards their credit card dues and loan obligations from other bank accounts. The announcement comes a day after its customers were allowed inward IMPS and NEFT services for the same purposes.

RTGS is used for payments of over Rs 2 lakh, while payments below this amount can be made using NEFT. Besides, loan and credit cards repayments to the bank can also be done through IMPS from other bank accounts. "Inward RTGS services have been enabled. You can make payments towards YES BANK Credit Card dues and loan obligations from other bank accounts," the bank said in a tweet on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, in 'moratorium-related FAQs' posted on its website, crisis-hit Yes Bank has said services such as online remittances, clearing of cheques and demand drafts as well as outward payment of EMIs will continue to remain under restriction during the moratorium period.

However, if an employer has a current account with Yes Bank and wants to pay salaries to employees, there will not be any problem in doing so.

As per the FAQs, Yes Bank said outward online remittances, including RTGS and NEFT, are still suspended. "All clearing activities are suspended as of now." "Your EMIs (equated monthly instalments) will be honoured up to the prescribed limit, subject to reinstatement of clearing activities," it said.

On March 5, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in consultation with the government put a moratorium on Yes Bank till April 3, citing serious financial mismanagement at the private sector lender. During the period, customers are not allowed to withdraw more than Rs 50,000.

The bank on Tuesday allowed inward IMPS and NEFT services to enable its customers to make payments towards Yes Bank credit card EMIs and loans through other bank accounts. The move came after its customers complained that they were not able to make payments towards their Yes Bank credit and loan repayments and were anxious about being levied a penalty for no fault of theirs.

Besides, within the limit of Rs 50,000, the Mumbai-headquartered lender has also allowed its customers to withdraw money from its own as well as other bank ATMs.

In the FAQs, on a query as to what will happen if someone has written and issued cheques to clients, Yes Bank responded, "All clearing activities are suspended as of now as per the directive. Your cheques already issued will not be honoured till the clearing activities are restarted or further directive from regulator."

On another query as to what will happen if someone has already dropped a cheque at Yes Bank counter, it said that as all the clearing activities are suspended, "Yes Bank DD/cheques will not be presented in clearing till further instructions or till reinstatement of clearing activities."

However, on a query what if an employer holds a current account with Yes Bank and needs to make withdrawal of more than Rs 50,000 to pay salaries to employees, the lender said it can be done.

"Yes Bank current account can be debited for more than Rs 50,000 towards disbursement of salaries in the accounts maintained with Yes Bank only," it clarified.

Further, it also said transfer from one Yes Bank account to another will be allowed without any restriction. "However, customers can withdraw in a sum up to an aggregate of Rs 50,000 from all these accounts in the moratorium period till April 3, 2020," it added.

If one wishes to liquidate a standalone fixed deposit in Yes Bank, it said the branches can liquidate standalone fixed deposits (FDs) amounting less than Rs 20,000 along with interest and pay in cash as per process.

"For FDs equal to or above Rs 20,000 (along with interest) but less Rs 50,000 (along with interest), branches can issue demand draft (DD) to customers, however that DD can be presented for clearing only once the clearing services are re-instated," it said.

Since the bank was placed under the moratorium on March 5, a sense of panic gripped among customers across the country, who were seen queuing up at bank branches and ATMs to withdraw money.

Yes Bank said its ATMs are functional and customers can withdraw money from there.

Services such as digital payments supported by Yes Bank also faced outages in the initial stages, which now have been restored. Among others, prepaid meal and forex cards services are also affected due to the sudden oversight on the private sector lender.

During the moratorium period, 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.

The RBI has initiated a draft reconstruction scheme for the private sector lender according to which State Bank of India will pick up 49 per cent stake in the crisis-ridden Yes Bank under a government-approved bailout plan by infusing capital of Rs 2,450 crore.

On Monday, Yes Bank's RBI-appointed administrator Prashant Kumar hoped that the moratorium on the bank would be lifted by this weekend.
Former Democratic presidential candidate Mike Bloomberg.

Eduardo Munoz/Associated Press

Mike Bloomberg's campaign had promised workers that they would be employed through the election in November, but some staffers abruptly lost their jobs after the candidate dropped out of the race, according to a report by The New York Times.

The workers received an email telling them they can keep their work-provided iPhones and laptops "as a token of our appreciation," according to the report.

Staffers would have to pay taxes on the devices if they kept them, the report said.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Mike Bloomberg's presidential campaign is allowing former staffers to keep their work-issued iPhones and laptops as a type of severance payment, according to a report from The New York Times.

Former campaign employees were told in an email that "we sincerely appreciate your commitment and dedication over the past few months!" according to the report. "As a token of our appreciation, we are offering you the opportunity to keep your laptop and iPhone."

It's unclear whether the campaign offered any other form of severance to the staffers who were laid off. The campaign did not immediately return Business Insider's request for comment.

The email said the devices ranged in value from $1,400 to $1,700 and that employees would have to pay taxes on them, the report said.

Employees on Bloomberg's presidential campaign had been offered higher salaries that were nearly double those of most other campaigns, and had been promised employment through the election in November.

Bloomberg dropped out of the race for the Democratic presidential nomination last week after spending more than half a billion dollars on his campaign and only winning American Samoa on Super Tuesday. After suspending his campaign, Bloomberg endorsed Joe Biden for the nomination.

Former workers were asked if they wanted to be referred to another campaign, and if they would consider moving to Arizona, Florida, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, or Wisconsin.

The Bloomberg campaign told The New York Times that the election will come down to those 6 battleground states. The campaign said "it's imperative that we invest there with staff and infrastructure. Staff who were working in non-battleground states and would like to learn about future opportunities in the battleground states are being asked to let us know so we can consider them for jobs there."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Wall Street tells Trump financial system strong, ready to support borrowers FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Trump arrives for lunch meeting with Senate Republicans on Capitol Hill in Washington

By Elizabeth Dilts Marshall and Steve Holland

NEW YORK/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. banking industry is strong and ready to help businesses and consumers weather economic fallout from the fast-spreading coronavirus, Wall Street chief executives told President Donald Trump during a meeting at the White House on Wednesday.

This is not a financial crisis. The banks and the financial system are in sound shape and we are here to help, said Michael Corbat, chief executive of Citigroup <C.N>, during the meeting, which was broadcast from the White House Cabinet Room.

"We want to provide liquidity, we want to lend to our small businesses, we want to be supporting our consumer clients," he added.

The Trump administration in recent days has tapped regulators to assess financial resilience and unveiled a fiscal stimulus package in response to growing fears the spread of the highly contagious virus could push the U.S. economy into a recession.

Trump convened the executives on Wednesday to hear their views on the economy and proposed stimulus package, which includes potential tax relief, paid family leave and small business assistance. Parts of the plan will require Congressional approval.

"The first thing is to add that fiscal stimulus in the time of stress is absolutely the right answer ... Keeping people who are unemployed or under-employed with cash flow and money is key," said Brian Moynihan, CEO of Bank of America <BAC.N>, adding the government needed to fix problems with the healthcare response to the virus, including by bolstering hospital capacity.

Uncertainty over whether a divided U.S. Senate would pass the administration's stimulus package helped spur another sell-off on U.S. stock markets on Wednesday.

The Dow fell 5.85%, confirming a bear market for the first time since the 2008 financial crisis, as the World Health Organization called the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic. The S&P 500 .SPX lost 140.84 points, or 4.89%.

Story continues

Chief executives from Wells Fargo & Co <WFC.N>, Goldman Sachs Group Inc <GS.N>, Truist Financial Corp <TFC.N> and U.S. Bancorp <USB.> were also in attendance, as was Gordon Smith, co-president and chief executive of JPMorgan Chase & Co's <JPM.N> consumer and community banking division.

The executives spoke with Trump privately for just over 40 minutes before opening up the meeting to questions from reporters.

Trump took the opportunity to tease parts of the stimulus package which is expected to be unveiled in detail in coming days, including during his national address scheduled for Wednesday night.

"We'll be doing a lot of additional work with small businesses, adding many billions of dollars and making lots of small business loans," Trump said, adding "I think a payroll tax would be great ... very good for the citizens, the people and longer-term for the country."

U.S. banking regulators on Monday urged lenders to go easy on consumers and businesses who may have trouble repaying loans if coronavirus-related disruption causes businesses to lose revenue, close temporarily, or lay off staff.

On Wednesday, the executives discussed how they can make the most of that regulatory flexibility through measures such as loan repayment holidays, waiving some fees, and low or no-cost loans.

"All of our plans are designed to protect consumers and small businesses. Well be there with forbearance plans and well be there to waive fees," said Smith.

"Spending among the Millennial generation is holding up very well," he said, adding that JPMorgan has lent consumers and small businesses more than $26 billion in the last 40 days.

Citi is also waiving monthly account fees and penalties on certificates of deposit for customers affected by the outbreak and Goldman Sachs plans to give customers of its online bank Marcus an extra month to make payments on personal loans without additional interest.

(Reporting by Elizabeth Dilts Marshall and Imani Moise in New York, and Pete Schroeder in Washington; additional reporting by Shubham Kalia in Bangalore and Alex Alper and David Lawder in Washington; Editing by Michelle Price, Paul Simao and Tom Brown)
Evangelical pastor identifies when it's OK to move to a different church

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Pastor J.D. Greear laid out a general guideline for those asking whether its time to leave a certain church but stressed that it is better to be really connected at a mediocre church than partially committed at the best one.

We live in a consumer culture and that, unfortunately, as affected how we approach the church, Greear, president of the Southern Baptist Convention and pastor of The Summit Church in Durham, North Carolina, said in a recent episode of his Ask Me Anything podcast, adding that while consumer culture works for some things, it should not apply to the church.

Its not appropriate when it comes to family; ... the church is, in a huge sense, family, he said.

There might be a time where you do think its wise to leave a church but it shouldnt be light and flippant, he continued. Yet, at the same time, Greear pointed out that because we only have one life to live, its important to stay as spiritually healthy as possible.

[I need to be] a part of a family that brings out the best in me and helps my ministry gifts come alive, he stressed.

Greear then identified some common mistakes people make when it comes to the decision. Sometimes, people leave because theyre simply bored of their church or the hottest new show comes to town.

The worst is when you have people who go to different churches for different things, he said. It is better to be really connected at a mediocre church than partially committed at the best one.

Other times, people are always thinking about their needs, Greear said, comparing such Christians to children who are self-focused instead of thinking about the larger needs of the community.

He pointed out that Paul tells the Ephesian believers to grow up (Eph 4:1-16), which he defined as learning to use your spiritual gift in the church, not being fed and having individual needs met each week.

Other times, people wait too long and stay at a dying church, effectively wasting years that could have been spent at a growing, thriving organization.

Still, there are some non-negotiables for churches, Greear said, beginning with a commitment to a theologically-sound, historic belief statement such as an evangelical creed.

Theyre not caving on issues that are tension points today, he said, specifically referring to issues of gender and sexuality.

If a church shows unfaithfulness there, I just wouldnt have me or my family in that, he said.

People should also leave churches that fail to preach from Word from the pulpit and instead become opinion hour, Greear said. Its also unwise to attend churches that are inward-focused or tolerate sin, he added.

Its hard to give a litmus test or a checklist, he said. I would encourage you to stay between those two poles: I dont want to be a consumer, I want to be a family member ... on the other side, you need to sense the leadership of the Holy Spirit and be part of a family where Im growing.

You need a place where the Word is enlivening you and where its good for your family and where your ministry gifts are being capitalized on and put into practice, Greear emphasized.

If youre in a church where its just not happening and you think theres a possibility of change, my counsel is usually to stay for a little while, pray, and if you see signs that God is moving, then stay. If not, then you should ... invest elsewhere.

Be committed, he concluded. Dont just be a contributor; be all in.

A recent study from LifeWay research found that half of devoted church members (48%) only leave if they have to move to a new home.

Meanwhile, 19% said they leave a church when the preaching style changes, 12% when the pastor leaves, 9% leave due to politics, 5% due to music changes, and 4% because of personal conflicts.

When it comes to the issue of discerning when its time to leave a certain church, theologian John Piper recommended first identifying the markers of a healthy church body.

Number one, its leaders, elders, pastors, whatever that church calls them, the New Testament calls them elders or overseers or pastors, they minister the Word of God fully and faithfully, he said.

Number two, they minister the Lords supper and baptism, Piper continued. And, number three, they exercise church discipline excluding from membership those who walk in a way that contracts the Gospel or brings reproach upon the Lord.

Finally, members of a healthy church love each other and they love the community and they are seeking to win the lost to reach the nations, the mission of the Church in other words.

So any one of those four could be missing and serious and therefore lead a person to begin looking for another church, he explained.

You are not free to go nowhere, Piper said. Not being in a church is not a New Testament option. To belong to Christ is to belong to a body of believers effective or perfect. There arent any perfect ones.
Monday (March 9) marked the kickoff of the third season of the venerable "Cosmos" series on the National Geographic channel. It's actually Season 2 of the new show, but the producers count the original 1980 version hosted by Carl Sagan as Season 1.

Now hosted by Neil deGrasse Tyson, "Cosmos: Possible Worlds" begins, as you might expect, with a sweeping overview of humanity's place in the cosmos, the importance of science to both our intellectual development and our survival, and the power of imagination.

The inaugural episode, titled "Ladder to the Stars," opens with Sagan's voice from the original show: "The open road still calls, like a nearly forgotten song of childhood. For all our failings, and despite our limitations and fallibilities, we humans are capable of greatness." These words frame the episode, and the entire series, perfectly.

Related: 'Cosmos: Possible Worlds' takes us back into a universe of science

Redesigned and equipped with new capabilities, the Ship of the Imagination rises out of the Pacific, ready to take host Neil deGrasse Tyson and viewers on an adventure through space and time. (Image credit: Cosmos Studios)

Tyson then takes over as our guide, teasing us with bits from Season 3 before diving into the core of the episode. He says of the universe, "Science can carry us across that vastness, but without imagination, we go nowhere ... our ship of the imagination is powered by twin engines of skepticism and wonder, the simple set of rules that define science." Here we have a core value of the show: science is important, science is powerful, and reason should overrule superstitious beliefs, whether they be born of religious dogma or governmental indifference.

As before, the silvery throat-lozenge Ship of the Imagination is our vehicle for travels ranging from the microcosm of our world to the deepest reaches of space. We begin our journey in a vast, green field on Earth, then zoom away from our home planet to blast past the Voyager 1 spacecraft, now 13 billion miles (21 billion kilometers) distant, and travel much farther  a billion years into the past  to witness the collision of two black holes, an event that would cause a massive ripple in time and space, providing gravitational waves that would eventually ring Earth like a massive bell and offering scientists new evidence confirming these mysterious cosmic objects.

The cosmic calendar

We then return to the "cosmic calendar," a device from both the previous season and the original series to illustrate the breadth of space and time. Once again, the massive time scale of the universe, and humanity's very brief place in it, becomes a striking visual cornerstone of our exploration.

With each month representing a billion years, we see the birth of the first scraps of life on Earth in mid-September, cosmic time, about 4 billion years ago. From here we rush forward through time, witnessing evolution and mutation of life on Earth, to Dec. 26. This date represents 200 million years ago  the rise of the mammals  which heralded the beginnings of the neocortex of the mammalian brain, and, as Tyson puts it, the "source of self-esteem," the origins of curiosity and the ability to imagine the future.

As Tyson goes on to examine the tiniest little corner of the cosmic calendar  just a few moments in cosmic time  we see the rise of Homo sapiens and hunter-gatherer societies. And it is here that we begin our look at the human condition  the perfect first installment for the new series.

Related: The problems with the cosmic calendar

The rise of reason

Using the lush visualizations that are a hallmark of the new "Cosmos," we step inside Blombos Cave on the tip of Africa, where all Homo sapiens  only 10,000 strong 100,000 years ago  first expressed themselves with enduring works of art.

From that point, just 25 "cosmic seconds" later, we depart the loose affiliations of hunter-gatherer life  where groups of humans lived, for the most part, harmoniously  and enter the agricultural age, which changes everything. This is the beginning of people settling down, having a notion of "home"  a dwelling surrounded by domesticated crops  and a re-examination of the value of possessions. With possessions and land holdings, naturally, comes the idea of ownership, and then greed.

But this is "Cosmos," a show which shows us a generally optimistic vision of our better selves, and Tyson soon departs for 7000 B.C., to see the first city in history, Catalhoyuk, located in what is today Turkey. This settlement has no city hall, no royal palace and no ruler; it is a model of synergistic simplicity and a study in egalitarianism. As Tyson explores a fascinating and beautiful re-creation of these ancient dwellings, we also see the first maps painted on the interior walls  humans now have an idea of their location with respect to the rest of the city, and their larger surroundings.

The "golden age"

The Ship of Imagination next transports us to Holland in the 17th century, "where people from old and new worlds mingled and shared ideas" with unprecedented freedom of thought, Tyson says.

Cartoon-style animation, another trademark of the renewed "Cosmos," takes us through stories of early scientific figures, like the Italian friar Giordano Bruno, who saw among the starry skies other stars with other worlds, thinking that was considered heretical at the time. A half-century later, the Dutch scientist Christiaan Huygens would revolutionize astronomy by refining telescope design, while Dutch artist Johannes Vermeer changed how painting captured light.

Baruch Spinoza, a radical member of the Jewish refugee community in the Netherlands, claimed at the time that the Bible was written not by God but by humans, and that the reality that surrounded humankind was driven by natural laws, not God's whims. Unfortunately, the Jewish community he lived in was not as embracing of novel thought as the rest of Dutch society, and he was excommunicated  a theme that we see again and again in "Cosmos."

Though Spinoza died young, his writings inspired everything from the American revolution to Albert Einstein, who, when asked about the existence of God, wrote, "I believe in Spinoza's God, who reveals himself in the harmony of all that exists." This lovely phrase could serve as a tagline for the modern iteration of "Cosmos."

Endings ... and a new beginning

The concluding acts of Episode 1 take us through the interdependent evolution of plants and insects, specifically bees, and how they work together to benefit both parties  and ultimately, humanity. When pondering the decline of bees in modern times, we visit the Halls of Extinction to explore the newest branch  the Anthropocene era, also known as "today."

"What is it about us as a species that wherever we go we bring death?" Tyson queries, while looking pensively at a scene of nature preserved before the advent of modern humanity. It's a poignant moment.

"Ladder to the Stars" concludes with a look at the first serious attempt to reconnoiter another star system, the Breakthrough Starshot project. Financed by billionaire Yuri Milner (who is not mentioned in the show), the plan is to send many thousands of tiny micro-probes toward the nearest star system, Proxima Centauri, riding powerful Earth-based laser beams.

The probes should reach about 20% the speed of light, fast enough sling them past the exoplanet orbiting Proxima, Proxima b, which is thought to lie in the star's habitable zone, in about 20 years. The radio signal that will carry data from the revolutionary reconnaissance will take another four years to cross the void. So, within the lifetimes of most of you reading this, we may see the first real images of planet beyond our solar system  and, Spinoza's God willing, the first life-forms anywhere beyond Earth.

Carl would have been proud.

The first two episodes of "Cosmos: Possible Worlds" premiered on March 9 on the National Geographic Channel, and new episodes will air Mondays at 8 p.m. ET/9 p.m. CT. The series is also expected to run on the Fox television network this summer.

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'He too can become a good BJP worker like Rajmata and those from his family before him.''

IMAGE: Jyotiraditya Scindia, who resigned his membership of the Congress party on his father Madhavrao Scindia's 75th birth anniversary, March 10, 2020.

Former Bajrang Dal president, Bharatiya Janata Party MP and MLA Jaibhan Singh Pawaiya has been the principal opponent of the Congress branch of the Scindia family for over 20 years in Madhya Pradesh.

Pawaiya fought his first election against Madhavrao Scindia in 1998.

He lost, but reduced Madhavrao's victory margin drastically to a mere 26,000 votes, forcing the elder Scindia to move to Guna in the next Lok Sabha election.

In 2014, Pawaiya contested against Jyotiradiyta Scindia in Guna and was defeated by 1.27 lakh votes.

A minister in then chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's cabinet, Pawaiya lost the assembly election in December 2018 to the Congress.

Bajrang Dal president when the Babri Masjid was demolished, Pawaiya was imprisoned for 13 days in 1992 after the mosque was destroyed and is an accused in the case.

A bitter enemy of the Scindia Congressmen, he tells Rediff.com's Archana Masih that he would welcome Jyotiraditya if he embraces the BJP's Hindutva nationalism and bears no personal grudge towards him.

You have seen the politics of both Madhavrao and Jyotiraditya Scindia for over two decades and have been their political rival, what are your thoughts on the latter joining the BJP?

The entry of Jyotiraditya Scindia into the BJP certainly signifies that he must have undergone a change of heart and of ideology.

When a politician leaves a party, he also relinquishes that ideology. Jyotiraditya's coming into the BJP means that he has left the Congress ideology behind him.

When a politician joins the BJP, he also embraces the party's ideology.

If Jyotiraditya Scindia is joining the BJP and is going to uphold the values of Hindutva, I welcome him wholeheartedly.

As someone wedded to the Hindutva ideology, I feel if a new party worker is joining the BJP, it is a good thing for the party and should be appreciated.

His detractors say he is joining the BJP not because of ideology, but because he has been marginalised in the Congress party.

Like I said before, if he is coming to the BJP for Hindutva nationalism, then I welcome him.

It is true that I have been a political opponent and fought elections against them in the past, but it was a fight against a candidate from an opposing party.

I have nothing personal against the individuals.

I have raised issues pertaining to my political thinking.

One must also remember that the Congress is a party of netas while the BJP is a party of workers.

There are other members of the Scindia family from Rajmata's time that have been a part of the BJP and became a part of the fibre of the party.

Now that Jyotiradityaji is coming to the party, he too must be coming with the same mindset -- that he is joining a party of workers.

What kind of place will Jyotiraditya find or make for himself in the BJP because he is coming from a party that is completely opposed to the BJP tone, tenor and politics?

The BJP is a vast ocean of party workers.

He too will be a party worker like the others who are part of the BJP. This will be no issue.

Do you see him playing a greater role at the Centre or in the state?

That decision will be taken by the party high command.

You have seen his politics since he started out. How do you think the BJP will make use of his talent and how is he likely to fare in the party?

The BJP is not an individual-centric party, he too will work like a committed party worker.

I don't think beyond that realm. The party will decide what his role will be.

Won't this lead to some upheaval in the state BJP? That a big leader is coming to the party and may upset the apple cart.

The history of the Scindias in the BJP shows that they have merged themselves into the party's ideology. He too can become a good BJP party worker like Rajmata and those from his family before him.
Gulf Air, the national carrier of the Kingdom of Bahrain, and the Royal Charity Organization celebrated raising $91,904.16 since the successful launch of their passenger donations project.



Launched in September 2018, the initiative allowed passengers to donate coins or notes of any currency onboard Gulf Air flights. The project was launched by Zayed R. Alzayani, Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism and chairman of Gulf Airs Board of Directors and Dr Mustafa Al-Sayed, secretary-general of the Royal Charity Organization. This ongoing initiative is aimed at activating social responsibility and allowing passengers to participate and contribute to charitable work, including supporting university students who are struggling with their tution fees.



Commenting on this milestone, Alzayani said: This is a great achievement for Gulf Air and the Royal Charity Organization. Having such a mechanism to allow passengers to donate their excess coins and notes when returning from their holidays and business trips indeed boosts the priniciples of social responsibilty of both organizations. Today, we have collected $91,904.16; money that will be managed by RCO and invested in charity projects in Bahrain to support those in need. I thank RCO for their outstanding role in giving back to the community and in managing humanitarian activities, particularly for Bahraini orphans."



Alzayani praised the role of the passengers being the core of the projects success through their donations onboard Gulf Air flights.



Dr Al Sayed praised the efforts of Gulf Air towards this humanitarian project. "We are thankful for and appreciative to the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism; and the chairman of Gulf Air, Zayed R. Alzayani, for supporting the charitable and humanitarian work in Bahrain," he said.



The Gulf Air-RCO donation project is being held for the first time in Bahrain and promotes the principle of community partnership to encourage travellers to donate excess money change by placing it in special envelopes that are located in seat pockets onboard Gulf Air flights. The airline would like to thank all of its passengers for their generosity and for making this campaign a success. - TradeArabia News Service
Joe Biden was quickly declared the winner in nominating contests in Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi and Idaho on Tuesday, giving him perhaps unstoppable momentum toward winning the Democratic nomination to challenge U.S. President Donald Trump in November.

The former vice president's appeal to broad and diverse segments of Democratic voters cemented his victories over rival Bernie Sanders, according to exit polls and results. In some cases, Biden outperformed 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton with key groups, suggesting that Sanders path to the nomination has narrowed.

Here are some explanations for Biden's success on Tuesday:

A GENDER GAP

Simply put, exit polls show Sanders has a woman problem.

As he did on Super Tuesday, Biden easily outpaced Sanders with female voters, part of the lifeblood of the Democratic Party. In Michigan, while Biden and Sanders were neck-and-neck among male voters, Biden dominated his opponent among women, according to the Edison Research exit polls.

In Michigan, Biden held about a 20-point advantage with all women. It bloomed to 30 points in Missouri. Already strong with black female voters, Biden showed appeal to white female voters as well, including those with and without a college degree, beating Sanders by double digits with both groups in those states.

In Michigan, Biden performed better among female voters against Sanders than Clinton had. In 2016, Clinton won over female voters by seven percentage points, according to exit polls. On Tuesday, polls showed Biden with 59% of that vote and Sanders garnering 36%. Sanders may have been damaged by the perception that his base of support is largely young males who express themselves aggressively online, said Joel Payne, a Democratic strategist who worked for Clinton in 2016.

"There's been a lot of vitriol and misogyny," he said. "I think that probably hasn't helped him." Sanders has disavowed his most abusive online supporters while defending the majority of his backers. We have over 10.6 million people on Twitter, and 99.9 percent of them are decent human beings, Sanders said at a recent debate. On the campaign trail, female voters voiced anger over Sanders' protracted 2016 primary battle against Clinton, which they felt damaged her and the Democratic Party.

Sanders has largely shrugged off such criticism. "I dont want to relive 2016. Were in 2020 now," he said this week on Fox News Channel.

WORKING-CLASS BLUES

Sanders big advantage over Biden in Michigan and elsewhere was supposed to be with white, working-class voters  particularly men - who were drawn to his anti-corporate rhetoric and his call for universal healthcare. But in Michigan, a heavy manufacturing state, Biden was evenly matched with Sanders among white men without a college degree, exit polls said. In 2016, Sanders hammered Clinton in that category, 57% to 42%.

Biden also beat out Sanders among union households, after Sanders had beaten Clinton among those voters four years ago. Biden made his support of the 2009 auto bailout that saved jobs in Michigan a central part of his pitch. Michael Ceraso, who worked for the Sanders campaign in 2016, said Sanders had become a less potent candidate this time around.

"His message doesn't quite resonate this cycle in the same way it did before," Ceraso said. "This election is about heart over head. Biden is the heart. Voters feel connected to him in a way that Clinton couldn't do."

SUBURBAN SURGE

In Michigan, Biden did especially well as compared to Clinton in the suburban counties surrounding Detroit, considered to be key battlegrounds in the general election against the Republican Trump. The former vice president had double-digit leads over Sanders in Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties. Macomb voted for Trump over Clinton in the general election. Suburban voters were key to Democratic efforts to win back moderate districts and seize control of the House of Representatives in 2018.

Projected turnout in Michigan was 1.7 million, up from 1.2 million in the 2016 primary, which could be good news for Biden in a matchup against Trump. Trump's win over Clinton in Michigan in 2016 by just over 10,000 votes helped deliver his White House victory. While Sanders has boasted that he could persuade more young voters and working class voters to show up at the polls, it has been Biden who has seen a wave of new support from suburbanites, particularly women.

"The surge has been with the center-left of the party," rather than among the progressive wing, Payne said.

CRISIS MANAGEMENT

As the spread of the new coronavirus has become a front-burner issue on the campaign trail, Biden seems to be the candidate who has benefited the most.

In Washington state, which also held a primary on Tuesday and is the U.S. epicenter of the threat, Biden was the clear choice among voters who said they were concerned about the virus. Among those who described themselves as very concerned, Biden, who spent 35 years in government as a senator and vice president, held an advantage of 41% to 25% over Sanders.

In Michigan, when voters were asked which candidate they trusted more to handle a crisis, about half the voters surveyed picked Biden, while 32% chose Sanders.

UNITING THE COUNTRY

Sanders, a self-described democratic socialist, continued to struggle with voters outside his ideological lane.

According to exit polls, only voters who described themselves as very liberal preferred Sanders. Voters who considered themselves "somewhat liberal" or moderate backed Biden in large numbers. In Missouri, 62% who said they are somewhat liberal supported Biden, and 72% of moderates supported Biden compared to just 19% for Sanders.

For voters whose top priority is to unite the country  a persistent Biden campaign theme  he was the stark favorite. In Michigan and Missouri, more than 80% said Biden was the best hope to bring people together. In Washington, it was 54%, but Sanders drew a measly 15%.
CHICAGO  Congressional primaries in Illinois on March 17 will set up highly watched races for the fall in some districts, and in others all but decide the general election winner.

Facing off in the 15th Congressional Districts Democratic primary are Craig Morton, a Salem City Council member, John Hursey, a high school teacher from Collinsville, Coles County public defender Erika Weaver of Mattoon and Kevin Gaither of Charleston, the 2018 Democratic nominee.

But the district, which includes all or parts of 33 counties in east-central and southern Illinois, is solidly Republican, and the winner of the GOP primary is expected to be the eventual seat holder.

There may be a question over how long the seat will exist, though. With Illinois expected to lose a congressional seat after the 2020 federal census, the 15th District, with the lack of a longtime incumbent and rural population losses, is considered a likely target for elimination.

In the adjacent 13th Congressional District, which goes from Bloomington on the north and Champaign on the northeast and cuts southwest through Decatur all the way to the Mississippi River, Democrat Betsy Dirksen Londrigan of Springfield is seeking a rematch with four-term Republican Rep. Rodney Davis of Taylorville.

After winning a five-way primary in 2018, Londrigan came within 2,059 votes of upsetting Davis, despite the districts traditional Republican leanings. This time around, Londrigan is being challenged for the Democratic nomination by newcomer Stefanie Smith of Urbana, who subscribes to the democratic socialist ideology.

Smith found herself engaged in controversy when phone video surfaced of a group of her supporters shouting and blocking Londrigans vehicle from leaving a recent campaign event. In response, Smith posted a video decrying how for her, campaigning has been a nightmare of alienation, hostility, humiliation, gaslighting. So much abuse.

Londrigan has received several major endorsements and has been a strong fundraiser. She started the year with $1.14 million in cash on hand, even topping Daviss $1.08 million to begin 2020. Smith has raised less than $6,800 and had just more than $1,000 to start the year.

In the Chicago area, one of the November scene-setting contests is the Republican primary in the 6th Congressional District. Freshman Democratic Rep. Sean Casten of Downers Grove flipped the seat in 2018 by defeating six-term Republican Rep. Peter Roskam of Wheaton.

Vying for the chance to win the seat back for the GOP is former state Rep. Jeanne Ives, who nearly upset then-Gov. Bruce Rauner in the March 2018 primary when she ran a hard-edge campaign marked by a TV spot that mocked transgender people, poor women seeking taxpayer-funded abortions and people living in this country illegally.

Some of her rhetoric remains charged. She said using solar panels to reduce carbon emissions as an energy source in northern Illinois is like trying to grow a pineapple here. It doesnt work.

And during a recent League of Women Voters forum in Wheaton, she dismissed efforts to extend the ratification deadline for the Equal Rights Amendment as unneeded, based on her years in high school and as a West Point graduate.

Nobody talked about the ERA. Nobody felt that they were infringed upon, she said. I had no problem making it through West Point. I see no value in this amendment now.

Her rival for the Republican nomination, Gordon Jay Kinzler, asked the same question about the ERA, simply said: Yes. Next question.

Kinzler, 61, a transplant surgeon from Glen Ellyn, is also making a second consecutive bid for public office. In the general election two years ago, he lost a race for the Illinois House to Democratic Rep. Deb Conroy of Villa Parkby a wide margin.

A former Park District board chairman, Kinzler, has touted his ability to work with Democrats while offering only subtle public critique of Ives, 55, a former three-term state representative who previously served on the Wheaton City Council.

We need somebody who basically can work with all different groups and hasnt alienated anybody based on race, religion, sexual orientation any other discriminatory factors, he said.

Im a unifier, not a divider. I look for common ground where we can work together and get things done for our constituents. Im a citizen volunteer, not a career politician, he said.

Ives has billed her election as part of a larger movement against big government.

Do you want more government in your life or do you want more freedom? she asked. I stand on the side of freedom. I know that you are the solution to your problems, not some bureaucrats in D.C.

Ives has raised nearly $610,000 and began the year with $313,366 on hand. Kinzler raised more than $150,000, including $101,000 in personal loans to his campaign, and had $145,534 to start the year.

Ives is backed by Roskam as well as Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and several conservative groups, including the House Freedom Fund, an outgrowth of the tea party movement among Republicans in Congress.

Downstate, another woman has gained the Freedom Funds support in her bid for the Republican nomination to replace 12-term GOP Rep. John Shimkus of Collinsville, who is retiring from the 15th Congressional District seat.

Mary Miller, 60, who grew up in Naperville, is the wife of first-term Republican state Rep. Chris Miller of Oakland, where the couple runs a grain and livestock farm. Mary Miller, who backed Ives challenge to Rauner, also teaches children through a network of home schools.

In their political campaigns, each of the Millers echo the motto faith, family and freedom while decrying the influence of Chicago liberalism on the rest of the state.

Farmers are the backbone of America. We are tired of big city elites from Chicago imposing their radical liberal policies on our way of life. Its time farmers had an ally in Washington. Will you stand with me? Mary Miller said in a recent tweet.

Chris Miller has decried how all bad bills come from Chicago and is part of the fringe separatist movement sponsoring legislation urging Congress to make Chicago the 51st U.S. state.

Like most Republicans running for Congress this year, Mary Miller accuses Democrats of leaning toward socialism and opposes a Medicare for All single-payer health care system. But asked recently by WILL-FM if she wanted to eliminate the Affordable Care Act and replace it with something else, she replied, I cant answer that.

Miller is facing Kerry Wolff, a school board vice president from Altamont, Vermilion County Treasurer Darren Duncan of Rossville and Charles Ellington, a physician from Camargo.

Duncan has raised more than $207,000 to lead the cash race, though $175,000 of that is from a personal loan, and had $206,765 to start the year. Miller raised more than $165,000 and had $107,273 in cash on hand, Federal Election Commission records showed. The others had raised less than $8,000.

Like Miller, Duncan bills himself as a farmer, Christian and conservative Republican.

President Trump needs allies in Congress. Im going to work hard to get elected, go to Washington and have his back. Im going to help him pass a conservative agenda thats good for all of America, Duncan says in an ad. Were going to defend the God-given right to bear arms in the Second Amendment, were going to protect the sanctity of life and were going to work to strengthen and secure the southern border.

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San Francisco, March 11 : Huawei has got another breather as the Donald Trump administration has extended a license that allows companies in the US to do business with the Chinese telecom giant until May 15.

Ever since Huawei was put on a trade blacklist in May 2019 due to national security concerns, the US Department of Commerce granted a series of extensions of the Temporary General License (TGL) for the company which is a major producer of 5G equipment.

The license was previously extended until April 1.

The US Commerce Department on Tuesday said it was seeking public comments on whether it should issue future extensions of the temporary license for Huawei despite it being on the "Entity List".

At the same time, the US Commerce Department extended the license through May 15 to provide for this opportunity for public input.

People in the US can offer their comments from March 10-25.

The initial TGL from May 2019 and the three extensions that followed were intended to allow time for companies and persons to shift to alternative sources of equipment, software, and technology, the US Commerce Department said, adding that it is trying to find a permanent solution.

The TGL authorises specific, limited engagement in transactions involving the export, re-export, and transfer of items subject to the Export Administration Regulations to Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. and its non-US affiliates on the Entity List through May 15.

Huawei was added to the Entity List after the US government concluded the company poses a "significant risk of involvement in activities contrary to the national security or foreign policy interests of the United States".
Sharing the video of AR Rahman's iconic song 'Humma Humma', actor Sonali Bendre on Wednesday celebrated 25 years of the classic film 'Bombay.'

Bendre took to Twitter to share a short video of the song in which she made a special appearance for the film.

Bendre completed the tweet with hashtags of "#Throwback #TheHummaSong #25YearsOfBombay."

'Humma Humma' is one of the iconic songs composed and sung by Oscar winner music composer AR Rahman.

The film 'Bombay' was released on March 11, 1995, and revolved around the story of an inter-religious family based in the present-day Mumbai and their struggle during the Bombay riots following the demolition of Babri Masjid in 1992.

Helmed by Mani Ratnam the blockbuster hit had actors Arvind Swami and Manisha Koirala in the lead.

The film won various accolades and was also released in several international film festivals.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Berkeley became the second city in California to prohibit landlords of most rental properties from asking potential tenants about their criminal histories and conducting criminal background checks.

City officials said the ordinance, adopted late Tuesday night, is meant to eliminate housing barriers for formerly incarcerated people looking to find a place to rent.

I really see this as not only a moral issue but as a key homelessness issue, said Berkeley Mayor Jesse Arreguin. So many people on our streets are not able to access housing because of a criminal record.

Landlords are prohibited from asking prospective renters about their criminal histories and are unable to take adverse action against a housing applicant based on their history.

The ordinance will not apply to permitted accessory dwelling units, single-family homes, duplexes and triplexes. It also wont apply to property owners who rent their homes when they are on sabbatical or if they are renting a room in the property they live in.

Landlords are permitted to check whether a rental housing applicant is on the registry for lifetime sex offenders. Landlords of housing funded by the Department of Housing and Urban Development will have a partial exemption from the ordinance as long as they operate under federal regulations, which do not allow housing for tenants on the lifetime sex offender registry and people who cooked methamphetamine on a federally assisted housing property.

Landlords will still be permitted to review a potential tenants references, employment, income status and credit reports. Tenants can pursue legal action or file a complaint with the city if they feel discriminated against under the ordinance.

Berkeley is the second city in the state to pass such sweeping legislation. The council passed the legislation in a unanimous vote. In January, the Oakland City Council voted unanimously to pass similar legislation.

Berkeley has 1,108 homeless people in its city. Studies show that formerly incarcerated people are almost 10 times more likely to experience homelessness than the general public due to housing insecurities. In Berkeley, 10% of the homeless population is formerly incarcerated, according to the citys point-in-time count taken in January. Five percent of those surveyed are currently on probation, according to the data.

San Francisco and Richmond have similar but more narrowly focused laws. In San Francisco, the law applies only to affordable housing, and in Richmond it applies to all publicly subsidized affordable housing and nonprofit housing.

Berkeleys ordinance, the Ronald V. Dellums Fair Chance Access to Housing Ordinance, will apply to public housing, nonprofit housing and private rentals.

Krista Gulbransen, the executive director of the Berkeley Property Owners Association, which represents 800 owners, spoke in support of the ordinance.

We as an industry recognize the inequities in our justice system, we recognize the impact on our communities of color, she said. Im going to cry because this is the first time Ive been able to come forward and support something instead of fighting it.

At the meeting, Councilwoman Kate Harrison acknowledged critics of the ordinance.

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 dont know who is in the building next to you and you dont know who is walking in your parking lot and you dont know who is in your church, Harrison said. We have to give people a chance.

Nearly a dozen people spoke during public comment  most of whom were in support of the ordinance. Only one woman expressed concern, particularly for victims of crimes involving sexual violence.

Its also difficult for survivors of those crimes to get housing where they feel safe, she said.

John Jones III, campaign director for Alameda County Fair Chance to Housing Coalition, spoke during public comment. He was involved in developing the ordinance in Berkeley and Oakland.

We want to be a part of this community, said Jones, who formerly was incarcerated. That is why it is called a fair chance, because we are just asking for a fair chance.

Councilwoman Lori Droste said at the meeting that Berkeley property owners were involved in developing the ordinance and that involvement was critical in reaching consensus among different groups.

Sarah Ravani is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: sravani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SarRavani
Latest News CoreLogic data shows new listings on the rise in early 2022 First data of the year suggests supply is already entering back into the market, cooling hot property market

Business NSW calls for support as pandemic bites Staff shortages and customer falls causing severe problems in recovery

Australias leading mutual bank recorded 26% credit growth in the six months to 31 December (annualised), surpassing the overall market which averaged just 3%, the big four banks at 0.6% and other mutuals at 8%.

Australian Unity Bank's loan book is on track to pass the $1bn mark this year.

According to CEO Tim Barber, the recent growth is attributable to a confluence of factors, starting with a shift in general consumer sentiment.

You can really see the banks that are doing the right things by consumers, whether its good value products, great service, understanding customers actual needs, or putting forward solutions they really want, he said.

That segues into where we at Australian Unity are having a lot of success.

Since we did the rebrand 18 months ago and launched our new customer value proposition around banking thats good for you, as well as simplified our product offering, weve really honed our focus on putting customers at the centre of what were doing.

According to Barber, the good experiences had at the bank are creating organic momentum that is helping to grow loan volumes.

Whether its word of mouth through direct customers sharing with their family and friends, or whether its in the broker channel, with brokers that are having a great experience with us beginning to refer more customers our way or tell their broker colleagues about us, that service difference is really whats driving our growth, he said.

Just two years ago, Australian Unity Bank had a fairly local focus, with the majority of its customers coming from specific locations.

Weve been building out our distribution profiles, and have a network thats now very much national, said Barber.

We have salespeople in each state. Weve got broader broker relationships. Weve brought on two aggregator groups, Astute and Smartline. By adding them and their network of brokers to our platform, we have more reach.

Over the first six months of this financial year, around three-quarters of the home loans at Australian Unity Bank have been broker originated.

To Barber, the victory in this figure is twofold. Not only has the bank been able to grow broker channel volumes, but it has capitalised on the unique perks that come from being part of a larger group.

To have a proportion of direct business that high, around a quarter, with zero branches - thats quite a good result, he said.

Being part of the broader mutual group of Australian Unity, weve got a customer audience that is outside the bank that already knows and deals with our Australian Unity brand. Our banks got roughly 25,000 customers, but the group itself has around 700,000 customers.

Theres a direct audience there thats quite interested to hear from Australian Unity about banking products and services. Thats where our new-to-bank, direct customers tend to come from.

The access to the other businesses under the Australian Unity brand has also been used to infuse further value into the banks broker relationships.

At the PD day of one of our broker partners at Astute last year, rather than doing your typical bank presentation about heres how you lodge a loan with us, we did wellness sessions with an Australian Unity company that focuses on preventative healthcare," said Barber.

We talked about wellness and operating a small business during stressful times, which was fitting as brokers obviously had it tough over the course of the royal commision.

One of the key ways we differentiate ourselves in service both for customers and our broker partners, is bringing what Australian Unitys all about more generally to them in a way that helps their business, which brings a whole extra layer to doing a good job being a lender on the panel, he concluded.
A court here on Wednesday



dismissed the bail application ofCongress MP A Revanth Reddy, who was arrested in connection with "illegal" use of a drone to film a building here, which he had alleged belonged to a state minister and built in violation of rules.

Reddy, Congress Lok Sabha member from Malkajgiri, surrendered before police on March 5 and was subsequently arrested.

According to police, he was arrested in connection with a case registered for various offences under the Indian Penal Code including disobedience to order promulgated by public servant and under the Aircraft Act.

Police earlier claimed the MP refused to cooperate despite being confronted with "evidence" of his involvement in the offence.

He was later produced before a local court and remanded to 14 days judicial custody.

Six other people, including a drone operator, who were arrested on March 4 in connection with the same case and remanded to judicial custody were granted bail on March 7.

After hearing arguments on the bail plea, the court on Wednesday dismissed his petition, a senior police official said.

Police opposed the bail application, saying being an influential person he could tamper with evidence. Besides, he was facing some other cases and prisoner transitwarrants were pending in a few of them.

Revanth Reddy had earlier displayed some pictures of the building, claiming that it was a farmhouse built in violation of rules by the minister, a charge denied by the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Unfortunately for some shareholders, the Canadian Natural Resources (TSE:CNQ) share price has dived 44% in the last thirty days. Indeed the recent decline has arguably caused some bitterness for shareholders who have held through the 41% drop over twelve months.

Assuming nothing else has changed, a lower share price makes a stock more attractive to potential buyers. In the long term, share prices tend to follow earnings per share, but in the short term prices bounce around in response to short term factors (which are not always obvious). So, on certain occasions, long term focussed investors try to take advantage of pessimistic expectations to buy shares at a better price. Perhaps the simplest way to get a read on investors' expectations of a business is to look at its Price to Earnings Ratio (PE Ratio). A high P/E implies that investors have high expectations of what a company can achieve compared to a company with a low P/E ratio.

Check out our latest analysis for Canadian Natural Resources

How Does Canadian Natural Resources's P/E Ratio Compare To Its Peers?

Canadian Natural Resources's P/E of 4.71 indicates relatively low sentiment towards the stock. We can see in the image below that the average P/E (8.2) for companies in the oil and gas industry is higher than Canadian Natural Resources's P/E.

TSX:CNQ Price Estimation Relative to Market, March 10th 2020

This suggests that market participants think Canadian Natural Resources will underperform other companies in its industry. While current expectations are low, the stock could be undervalued if the situation is better than the market assumes. If you consider the stock interesting, further research is recommended. For example, I often monitor director buying and selling.

How Growth Rates Impact P/E Ratios

Probably the most important factor in determining what P/E a company trades on is the earnings growth. When earnings grow, the 'E' increases, over time. That means even if the current P/E is high, it will reduce over time if the share price stays flat. Then, a lower P/E should attract more buyers, pushing the share price up.

Story continues

In the last year, Canadian Natural Resources grew EPS like Taylor Swift grew her fan base back in 2010; the 114% gain was both fast and well deserved.

Don't Forget: The P/E Does Not Account For Debt or Bank Deposits

It's important to note that the P/E ratio considers the market capitalization, not the enterprise value. That means it doesn't take debt or cash into account. Theoretically, a business can improve its earnings (and produce a lower P/E in the future) by investing in growth. That means taking on debt (or spending its cash).

Spending on growth might be good or bad a few years later, but the point is that the P/E ratio does not account for the option (or lack thereof).

Is Debt Impacting Canadian Natural Resources's P/E?

Canadian Natural Resources has net debt worth 80% of its market capitalization. This is enough debt that you'd have to make some adjustments before using the P/E ratio to compare it to a company with net cash.

The Verdict On Canadian Natural Resources's P/E Ratio

Canadian Natural Resources has a P/E of 4.7. That's below the average in the CA market, which is 13.6. The company may have significant debt, but EPS growth was good last year. The low P/E ratio suggests current market expectations are muted, implying these levels of growth will not continue. Given Canadian Natural Resources's P/E ratio has declined from 8.5 to 4.7 in the last month, we know for sure that the market is more worried about the business today, than it was back then. For those who prefer to invest with the flow of momentum, that might be a bad sign, but for deep value investors this stock might justify some research.

Investors have an opportunity when market expectations about a stock are wrong. If it is underestimating a company, investors can make money by buying and holding the shares until the market corrects itself. So this free visual report on analyst forecasts could hold the key to an excellent investment decision.

But note: Canadian Natural Resources may not be the best stock to buy. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies with strong recent earnings growth (and a P/E ratio below 20).

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



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
Italy's economy may shrink for at least two months due to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus and subsequent emergency measures, the country's Economy Minister, Roberto Gualtieri, said on Wednesday.

"A fall in GDP for at least a couple of months, no matter what measures are taken, is to be hypothesised," he told the budget committees of both chambers of the parliament, as quoted by the ANSA news agency.

"Those estimates, however, are preliminary, but such risks persist, as well as risks to go beyond the EU-set budget deficit limit of 3 per cent of the GDP," he added.

Earlier in the day, Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said the government was allocating an extra 25 billion euros (USD 28 billion) to fight the coronavirus.

Italy has confirmed over 10,000 COVID-19 cases to date, more than any other country outside Asia. Responding to the outbreak, Italy has toughened up anti-coronavirus measures.

Schools and universities are suspended until April 3, gyms have closed and sporting events -- including Serie A -- have stopped. The authorities have asked all Italians to stay at home and avoid travel, unless necessary for work or medical reasons.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Joe Biden's path to the Democratic presidential nomination widened significantly Tuesday with commanding victories in Mississippi, Missouri and Michigan, a state that his rival Bernie Sanders won four years ago.

On a night when the nation's focus was mostly on coronavirus, the former vice president staked his claim to a rapid coronation as the Democratic candidate to cap a comeback which began just 17 days ago when he won in South Carolina.

His path to victory ran through Motor City, and also through the South, where Sanders' votes in Mississippi were on the verge of falling below the 15% limit for 'viability,' at which point all the delegates would go to Biden.

And Biden also outpolled Sanders on healthcare, which Democrats have identified as the top issue which they believe will decide the November election.

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Here are some of the key takeaways from a night which some Democrats now want to be the last vote before November.

IT'S BIDEN'S NOMINATION TO LOSE

Biden has become the reliable Buick of this race.

His momentum accelerated as he broadened his delegate lead over Sanders with a series of decisive victories.

The former vice president's solid win in Michigan came in a state Sanders was depending on both to bolster his case going forward and for the practical delegate math involved.

He came into the day about 96 delegates behind Biden, and Michigan was his best shot at preventing that lead from getting any wider. (Democrats require 1,991 delegates for nomination.)

As it is, Sanders lost a big state where his upset of Hillary Clinton four years ago gave him reason to continue his presidential bid through the end the nominating calendar in June.

This time, the first round of voting after Super Tuesday ended the same way as last week's surprise outcome: with a Biden celebration and an increasingly steep climb for Sanders.

Biden isn't just leaning on his base of African Americans. AP VoteCast surveys in Michigan and Missouri also show he topped Sanders in suburbs and, notably, across small-town and rural counties, where Sanders had led Clinton in 2016.

Sanders' bad March can be explained this way: Biden's net delegate gains out of Alabama last week and Mississippi on Tuesday - two Republican-dominated states - essentially cancel out the delegate advantage that Sanders pulled out of California, which has the largest delegate trove.

DOES BERNIE HAVE A PATH OR A PROTEST?

Sanders stayed in the race until June four years ago, fueled in no small part by his Michigan primary victory. This time, the path going forward looks much different.

The Vermont senator faces a fraught choice. Does he try something new: going after Biden even more aggressively as an establishment figure, a relative foreign policy hawk, a budget centrist who threatens Social Security?

There's little evidence over the last two weeks that any of that would change the fundamentals of the contest.

Another option: Sanders can continue advocating for the issues that his supporters hold dear, like 'Medicare for All' and free college, not explicitly ceding the nomination but using his base to pressure a Biden-led party to move as far left as possible.

He was back at his home in Vermont Tuesday night.

BLACK VOTE AGAIN PROVES UNATTAINABLE FOR SANDERS

It can't be emphasized enough. Black voters are as crucial for picking Democratic nominees as any demographic in the party's coalition.

And Sanders just can't get over the hump. It happened again in Mississippi on Tuesday, just like Southern Super Tuesday states last week and South Carolina before that.

According to AP VoteCast, two-thirds of Mississippi's Democratic primary voters were African American; three-quarters of them supported Biden.

The reality remains: Sanders has not made enough inroads in that critical Democratic constituency to have a clear path to becoming the nominee.

BIDEN HAS AN EDGE ON SANDERS' BIGGEST ISSUE

Sanders has made universal health care his main policy focus. But when it comes to whom people trust on health care, voters on Tuesday were somewhat more comfortable with Biden.

When asked who would best be able to handle health care as president, 41% of Michigan voters said they preferred Biden, according to AP VoteCast. Just 31% liked Sanders.

Biden also led on health care in Mississippi, while Missouri was evenly split between both of them.

CORONAVIRUS CURVEBALL

Biden and Sanders cancelled campaign rallies because of the spread of coronavirus, a rare example of an external event bringing a presidential race to a temporary halt.

Both men had planned to address supporters Tuesday night at watch parties, but cited public health warnings. And their plans going forward are up in the air.

Their debate scheduled for Sunday in Arizona is still on, but will not have an audience as previously planned.

That likely affects Sanders more, since the Vermont senator, much like President Donald Trump, campaigns as a populist who addresses large rallies with thousands of supporters. But Biden has just started to draw large crowds as well.

At the least, Biden and Sanders now have plenty of money to continue television and social media advertising in coming primary states.

They will need it for a lineup of states that includes Illinois, Ohio, Florida and Arizona.
American Horror Story has debuted a poster for its upcoming 10th season.

The smash hit anthology series has a whole new cast of characters and a whole new subject matter each year, and the 10th theme has yet to be revealed.

However, the poster gave an eerie indication - a pair of gaunt, grimy hands are seen scrabbling up onto a grassy seaside cliff.

'Wash up on shore....': American Horror Story has debuted a poster for its upcoming 10th season, as co-creator Ryan Murphy posted it to Instagram Tuesday

Ryan Murphy, who co-created the program with Gwyneth Paltrow's new husband Brad Falchuk, shared the poster on Instagram this Tuesday.

'Things are beginning to wash up on shore...,' wrote Ryan, 54, in the caption dropping a further hint about the tenor of the new season.

Previous seasons of the FX series have had such titles as Coven, Freak Show, Asylum, Cult, Hotel and Apocalypse.

The ninth season, which aired last year, was entitled 1984 and starred Emma Roberts as a counselor at a summer camp targeted by an escaped serial killer.

What now?: Previous seasons of the FX series have had such titles as Coven, Freak Show, Asylum, Cult, Hotel (pictured starring Lady Gaga) and Apocalypse

Season nine was the first of the show not to include Emma's ex Evan Peters, as well as Ryan's longtime muse Sarah Paulson.

However when the cast of season 10 was announced last month it emerged that both Evan and Sarah will be included.

Other returning cast members to the franchise include Kathy Bates, Billie Lourd, Finn Wittrock, Angelica Ross, Adina Porter, Leslie Grossman and Lily Rabe.

Macaulay Culkin will be making his grand debut as a member of the American Horror Story cast with season 10.

Throwback: The ninth season, which aired last year, was entitled 1984 and starred Emma Roberts as a counselor at a summer camp targeted by an escaped serial killer

When his new gig was announced he became a trend on Twitter and cheekily addressed the publicity in a tweet.

'I just woke up and saw I was trending. Can someone explain what's going on? Did I die again??' joked the former child star.

In the cast announcement video Ryan posted to Instagram, the names of the actors appear against a video of waves hitting a beach at low tide.
Life during the early Texas oil booms

Roustabouts take time off from their job in oil boom town Freer. (Photo by Carl Mydans/Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images) Photo: Carl Mydans/Time & Life Pictures/Getty Image Photo: Carl Mydans/Time & Life Pictures/Getty Image

The Texas oil boom is a topic that still fascinates to this day, but some of its more colorful historic details aren't well known.

At its inception, the era was a tough one for the state's residents, one filled with fierce business competition along with severe crime and corruption that taint some aspects of the black-liquid gold mine. (For a virtual look at the era in its heyday, check out the gallery above. .)

"If the rowdy oil pioneers of the early 1900's came back today, they would not recognize the business they began. They were an uneducated, and in some cases illiterate lot, who did not know the first thing about geology but still managed to find fabulous fortunes in black crude," historian and journalist Bartee Haile told the Houston Chronicle. "This breed of gamblers would be amazed to learn they have been replaced by college boys in $5,000 suits."

TRAVEL: Getaway, new company, plans your 'escape' from Texas cities

Haile's book, "Texas Boomtowns, A History of Blood and Oil," garnered much attention for its colorful storytelling, which includes salacious tales that followed Beaumont's Spindletop well striking oil in 1901.

In that text, Haile makes clear that Texas today would be very different if it weren't for the oil industry's sudden boon to the economy in 1901, the lawless lifestyle that immediately followed and the lasting lessons from our history.

Among some of the colorful characters with which Haile regales his readers are Asa Philip "Ace" Borger and "Two-Gun Dick" Herwig, figures who changed the trajectory of this state and the regions that surround it. Among them is Colonel Albert Humphreys, a larger-than-life figure who "turned the Mexia boom into an epic chapter in Texas history," the author said. Mexia, which is the biggest oil discovery to date in the U.S., is also what he described as a home to "vice on an industrial scale and an iron-fisted National Guard occupation."

As for Borger, better known as Ace, his Spindletop-era fortune included brothels, saloons and eventually his own boomtown that became the sixth-largest Texas city in that time.

Other bold characters and entertaining historic tales can be read in "Texas Boomtowns, A History of Blood and Oil."
March 10, 2020

Dear members of the Purdue University community,

The global outbreak of COVID-19 continues to warrant the attention of each and every one of us as we work together to keep our students, staff, and faculty safe and healthy. While we have no cases of COVID-19 on our campus, there are confirmed cases in Indiana. We continue to make decisions in our precaution-containment-continuity framework, with our overarching focus on health and safety  especially for those in high risk categories. Ensuring health and safety now means taking actions that aim to limit exposure of Purdue community members to the virus, imposing social distancing where appropriate, and generally elevating preventive hygiene practices across the campus.

To that end, and following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH), and our own public health safety experts, we are implementing a number of actions intended to slow the spread of the virus and protect the health of our Purdue community. We recognize that these actions will be disruptive and create challenges for many of you, as well as have financial implications for the University, but the health and safety of our community is our focus at this extraordinary time.

IMMEDIATE ACTIONS: We ask every faculty and staff member teaching this semester to accommodate students who are not feeling well by being flexible with attendance policies. Likewise, we have guidance on the COVID-19 website for faculty and staff who have students displaying flu-like symptoms in class to assist those students in seeking medical attention.

FUTURE CLASSES AND INSTRUCTION: All faculty and staff should move their courses to online or alternative delivery before March 23 and should be prepared to continue as long as in-person instruction seems inadvisable (potentially through the end of the semester). To be clear, the campus will remain open after spring break. However, starting March 23, students must take their courses online. (Students in clinical programs, such as the DVM, will be contacted directly by their department.) Students in areas with limited Internet access should contact the Office of the Dean of Students at 765-494-1747 or odos@purdue.edu.

STUDENTS WHO LIVE IN RESIDENCE HALLS: Students in the residence halls have the option of choosing whether to return to campus or not after spring break. Again, we will work to ensure that all students can complete their program of study online or have other accommodations.

PREPARING FOR ONLINE INSTRUCTION: Our Innovative Learning group has prepared a set of resources to assist faculty and staff in delivering their courses online, including finding alternative means of instruction for laboratory and clinical courses if required. Faculty and staff involved with teaching will receive a separate message from Dr. Frank Dooley, senior vice provost for teaching and learning, with additional details. The web link to the online teaching resource page can be found here:https://www.purdue.edu/innovativelearning/teaching-remotely/

TRAVEL: We are suspending all university-sponsored domestic and international air travel effective March 16 through May 2. A faculty or staff member who believes that they have an essential business reason to travel by air can request a waiver through their unit leader (dean, vice provost, vice president, etc.), but the expectation is such waivers will be rare. Nonessential travel by other means (bus, van, car) is strongly discouraged.

EVENTS: We are suspending all university-sponsored events (including those hosted by registered student organizations) involving external visitors effective March 16 through May 2. For purposes of this suspension, gatherings of 50 or more attendees should be postponed or canceled. Where possible, organizers can explore ways of conducting the event through livestreaming or other technologies. A faculty or staff member who believes that they have an essential business reason to hold an event can request a waiver through their unit leader (dean, vice provost, vice president, etc.), but again, the expectation is such waivers will be rare. At this point, we hope to be able to host Commencement exercises, but a final decision will be made at a later date.

SUMMER STUDY ABROAD: To provide students with maximum opportunity to secure alternative academic arrangements, all summer study abroad will be canceled. Students will be reimbursed by the University for any expenses that are not reimbursable from other sources. Students should check with their academic advisor about alternative coursework for the summer.

RESEARCH AND GRADUATE STAFF: Research activities will continue at this time. Those who are involved in these activities should expect a separate communication from EVPRP Theresa Mayer and Dean of the Graduate School Linda Mason with specific guidance in this important area.

STAFF: All other normal campus operations will continue at this time and campus will remain open. Supervisors should be making plans around essential personnel and telework in case we need to take more aggressive actions.

PERSONAL TRAVEL: We urge all travelers to carefully consider their intended destinations for personal trips and check on restrictions or quarantine measures that may be recommended or required by the CDC upon arrival or return. Personal international travel is strongly discouraged.

BEST PRACTICES: We continue to ask everyone in our community to follow the CDC recommendations for preventive actions: Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. 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 using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.







You can find the most recent information and guidance for the campus on this website:

We recognize that these actions will raise many questions about specific situations. We have tried to anticipate many of your questions and have posted more information here. Please do keep us informed of your questions and concerns at ehps@purdue.edu and do check the COVID-19 website regularly for updates. We will continue to provide updates via email as the situation changes and as new decisions are made.

Again, we know this is an exceptionally challenging time for our campus, and it will take all of us working together to navigate this most difficult situation and protect the health and well-being of our Purdue community. Our deepest thanks in advance for coming together as Boilermakers to make extraordinary things happen at this extraordinary time.

Sincerely,

Mitchell E. Daniels, Jr.

President

Jay T. Akridge

Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Diversity
The mother of a five-year-old girl found dead and buried near a landfill site late last year has been charged with the aggravated abuse of her young daughter.

Brianna Williams, 27, was slapped with the new charge in Duval County, Florida on Monday, which alleges that she 'willfully tortured, maliciously punished, or caged' a child.

The remains of Williams' daughter, Taylor Rose, were discovered in a wooded area in Demopolis, Alabama on November 12, 2019.

Williams was arrested on the same day and charged with child neglect and giving false information to police.

She has not been charged with murder.

Brianna Williams (pictured) was hit with a new aggravated child abuse charge in Florida Monday. The 27-year-old is already facing charges of child neglect and giving false information to police in relation to the death of her five-year-old daughter, Taylor Rose, last year

Williams is pictured with her daughter, Taylor Rose in an undated snap. New charges allege she tortured and caged the child prior to her death. No one has been charged with murder in relation to the little girl's death

In addition to the new aggravated child abuse charge, Williams has also been charged with 'destroying or removing evidence'.

The State Attorney's Office claims the mom 'transported human remains' and 'purposely impaired an investigation', Alabama.com reports.

She remains behind bars on a $1.1 million bond following the new charges.

Williams first reported her daughter, Taylor Rose Williams, missing from their Jacksonville, Florida apartment on November 6, 2019.

An AMBER Alert was issued and an extensive search soon expanded to neighboring Alabama, where Williams was born and raised.

On November 12, little Taylor's remains were discovered near a landfill site in Williams' hometown of Demopolis, Alabama.

Taylor Rose Williams was reported missing from her Jacksonville home on November 6, 2019. Her remains were discovered six days later more than 500 miles away

The discovery of the remains came six days after the little girl vanished from her home more than 500 miles away in Jacksonville, Florida

Williams is reported to have attempted suicide on the same day her daughter's remains were discovered, by ingesting pills.

She was rushed to hospital, and charges were filed against her. After her release, she was transported to prison.

Meanwhile, more details about the case have begun to be released by the Florida State Attorney's Office.

According to reports, Williams' car 'smelled of decomposition' and had 'been stripped bare and cleaned with chemicals'.

Meanwhile, her apartment is said to have been 'in disarray with a strong odor of feces and urine'.

Taylor Rose was 'tortured and punished' by her mom before her death, according to the new aggravated child abuse charges filed against her

Feces and urine were found in a closet, while a stained piece of carpet, which had a chunk removed, was also discovered on site.

Williams and Taylor Rose had only moved into the apartment three days before Williams filed a missing person report.

A woman who helped her move Williams into the home said she didn't see Taylor Rose during that time.

'We never saw a child. We never heard a child. Nothing,' Tiffani Nicole, who was hired to help on the move, told WJXT-TV.

'I was assuming the kid was in day care, or the child was with a friend, so she can get her [old] apartment cleaned out.'

Nicole said Williams' [old] house was messy and that she was behaving strangely.

Williams is pictured in a mugshot taken last November

'It honestly looked like she had been recently evicted or something because it was not well lived-in if there was a child there,' Nicole said.

'There was old food all over the floor, underneath the couches. There was trash everywhere.'

Neighbors at Williams' new home said they similarly hadn't seen the young girl since the mother moved in.

Detectives were trying to speak to Taylor's biological father, Maurice Tate, who lives in Alabama.

Family members in Alabama said he hasn't seen his daughter in about two years since Williams moved from that state to Jacksonville.

Williams worked as a Naval Petty Officer in Florida.

Williams, who worked as Naval Petty Officer in Florida, is currently being held on a $1.1 million bond
New Delhi: Several months after the abrogation of Article 370, the spotlight is back on 'Zameen Jihad' - a land encroachment scam - in the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. It has now come to fore in J&K - now a Union Territory - that the sponsors of 'Islamic jihad' from across the border had launched a crusade to change the demography of the erstwhile state. The surreptitious practice was going on under the nose of the previous state governments for the last 17 years to extend the advantage to Muslims in Jammu and Kashmir.

The conspiracy was hatched under the guise of law to change the demography on the basis of religion with the patronage of the state government, which constituted a law- Roshni Act - for making illegal occupants of the government lands as real owners. Huge tracts of government lands were sold out at throwaway prices to illegal claimants.

Under the Roshni Act, around 25,000 people were settled in the Jammu region, while in Kashmir only 5,000 people were settled. Of the 25,000 people, who were given possession of the government land in the Hindu majority Jammu, about 90 per cent were Muslims.

The matter is currently sub-judice with Jammu and Kashmir High Court. The petition submitted before the court revealed that it was a sinister conspiracy to replace the Hindu majority population of Jammu with the Muslim population.

According to 2001 Census, the Hindu population in Jammu was around 65 per cent and Muslim population was around 31 per cent, but in 2011 census, the Hindus population in the Jammu region declined by about 3 per cent while the Muslim population increased by 3 per cent.

The report prepared by Additional District and Sessions Judge on the direction of the High Court showed illegal possession of land in the areas around the Tawi river in Jammu.

A report by an organisation, Ikkjutt Jammu, claims that over the past 30 to 35 years, 50 lakh kanals of mostly forest land was illegally given to Muslim religious organisations. This includes large tracts of forest land.

Besides 6.25 lakh acres of land doled out to encroachers which triggered massive outrage in Jammu, the Ikkjutt Jammu report also shows signs of a demographic takeover all around. More than 100 mosques have also been built in Jammu city, while there were just three in 1994.

State governments run by the Abdullahs, Muftis and even Congress Ghulam Nabi Azad had shown generosity under the Roshni Act, which was scrapped by the last Jammu and Kashmir governor, Satyapal Malik in 2018.

The Jammu and Kashmir High Court's order said, This enactment stands repealed on 28 November 2018, by the State Administrative Council (SAC) led by the governor annulling the Roshni Scheme after concluding that it had not served its purpose and was no longer relevant in the present context.

The court has also asked for the return of land pertaining to each of 25,500-odd cases of dubious transfer of state land under the Roshni Scheme in Jammu and just 4,500 cases in Kashmir.

The land scam came to light in 2014, when the CAG report unravelled this scam of Rs 25,000 crore, terming it the biggest scam in the history of Jammu and Kashmir.

The matter is being heard by Chief Justice of Jammu and Kashmir High Court, Geeta Mittal.
Top tech firms will meet ministers and health experts in Downing Street tonight to discuss the fight against coronavirus fake news.

Senior figures from Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Apple and Facebook will join Health Secretary Matt Hancock and top health figures including Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty and Sir Simon Stevens, the head of NHS England.

Boris Johnson is also expected to drop into the meeting, which comes as the Government works with online firms to spread reliable facts about the pandemic.

At a Whitehall briefing, Mr Johnson's official spokesman said: 'Technology companies have been invited to Downing Street for a meeting this evening on ensuring the public has access to reliable information on coronavirus.

'They will talk about thinks like how to help inform the public around coronavirus and talk about things like modelling the spread of the disease, tracking its spread, those sorts of things.'

Senior figures from Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Apple and Facebook will join Health Secretary Matt Hancock (pictured today) and top health figures including Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty and Sir Simon Stevens, the head of NHS England

Mr Johnson is also expected to drop into the meeting, which comes as the Government works with top online firms to spread reliable facts about the pandemic

'This is about acknowledging that there's a wide variety of expertise available in the tech world and sitting down and seeing if there's any way we can work together for the mutual benefit of the public.'

The government revealed on Monday it has worked with Google, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram so that official advice appears first when people hunt online.

The health service is also working with social media companies to verify more than 800 accounts belonging to NHS organisations, including hospital trusts and other local groups.

The range of new online tools will also include Knowledge Panels - prominent pop-out boxes of information - in Google search results on mobile devices.

The boxes are part of a new partnership between the NHS and Google, and will offer easy access to official information about more than 250 conditions, including Covid-19.

The government said it has worked with Google, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram so that official coronavirus advice (NHS site pictured) appears top when people hunt online

Meanwhile Google is recommending UK and Ireland employees work from home from Thursday in response to the coronavirus outbreak, the PA news agency understands.

The move comes after the tech giant told staff in its North American offices they could work from home if their role allowed it.

Last week, Google asked employees at its European headquarters in Dublin to work from home, after an employee reported flu-like symptoms, which the company used as a chance to test its ability for staff to work remotely.

The person with flu-like symptoms tested negative for Covid-19.

In the UK, the firm has more than 5,000 members of staff, mostly in offices around London.

A number of tech companies have adopted similar precautionary measures, with Twitter encouraging all staff to work from home where possible and suspending non-essential business travel.

Facebook has temporarily halted social visitors to all its offices.
The Congress party has urged Madhya Pradesh Speaker Narmada Prasad Prajapati to disqualify six ministers who resigned from the party on March 10.

Although 22 Congress MLAs and ministers have resigned from the party since former MP Jyotiraditya Scindias exit over personal grudges, the six leaders mentioned in the petition have been incommunicado since March 9.

Speaker Prajapati, however, has stated that he would summon all the Congress leaders who resigned after Scindia and verify the reasons of their respective resignations, reported India Today.

He said: I am going to summon all Congress MLAs who have sent on their resignations. I will look into their resignations.

On March 10, Gwalior royal Jyotiraditya Scindia, who had been loyal to the Congress party for 18 years and was known to be close to Rahul Gandhi, made a dramatic exit from the party. Several MLAs and ministers soon followed suit and submitted their resignations to Governor Lalji Tandon.

Notably, 17 of these Congress rebels are reportedly still stuck in a Bengaluru hotel and the party bigwigs have claimed they were fooled into defecting. Claiming that these rebels havent really turned their back against MP Chief Minister Kamal Nath, Congress leaders have assured that their government will survive.
We will arrange for the President Mnangagwa to commission the buses as he has done before. The numbers (of the new buses) I havent counted yet, but we are expecting 65 and above and I will check if 65 are the ones which have arrived, he said.
A Granard native, who is currently living in covid-19 stricken southern Italy, has urged the Irish public to stay calm amid rising fears of the coronavirus outbreak sweeping the country.

Veronica Conaty is a former long-time resident of Gowna, Co Cavan, but now calls Selva Di Fasano home, a small village in Puglia, Southern Italy, after moving there approximately 18-months ago following a short break where she fell in love with the area.

READ HERE: For all the latest covid-19 news

Veronica, who ran her own holistic centre in Cavan, wrote a book and worked in nursing and as an aromatherapist, is currently living in Italy where a vast amount of cases of the virus have been detected. She told the Leader that many hospitals in local towns and cities are at breaking point due to the outbreak, while three people tested positive for the virus in her local village just today, March 11.

I think Italy could have saved a lot of grief if they had moved faster. Veronica told the Leader.

We have three people confirmed in the village this morning. They are the first three in our village that we know of.

But all of the towns locally and Lecce, a nearby city, are at breaking point in their hospitals with the number of cases. They are stretched to the limit.

Although three locals have tested positive for the virus, Veronica remains unconcerned as she is happy enough staying close to home and doing her own thing. However, for her partner who is a native of Italy and other locals, it couldnt be further from the truth.

Veronica stated: I live a very quiet and content life. I dont bother going beyond the small woods across the road to walk the dog.

From my partners point of view, he is very worried. He is a local depending on the economy. she said.

He needed to apply to the equivalent of the county council to get a travel permit to go to work this morning in the next village.

Veronica also told the Leader that a curfew of 6pm has now been set in the locality, with masks and gloves a fixture on locals.

She said: There is a curfew now of 6pm, where everywhere has to be closed.

My partner said down in the village they have been notified to only allow three customers into the shop at the one time, with a meter distance from each other.

The staff are all wearing gloves and masks. He said it is horrible and its like the apocalypse.

Continuing she said: People have been advised that shops will deliver to your door, especially for the elderly people who really dont want to expose themselves. My partner said locals are very anxious, panicked and very depressed.

An image from one local establishment

Though in the midst of a nationwide crisis in the country she now calls home, Veronica urged the Irish public to remain calm, before offering some further advice.

She advised: My message is to stay calm. The panic is more toxic than the virus itself. It is the biggest issue.

Ultimately, it is those who are at risk that we have to take care of and not expose. As an aromatherapist, I would advise to use some antiviral essential oils, such as Thyme and Lavender.

If people use a couple of drops of those in a tissue and take it with them when they are going out or whatever, or burn those oils in their house, hey are a very powerful antiviral mix of oils.

Veronica compared the hysteria sweeping Ireland and the world to the frenzy created by the media during the last huge snowstorm in Ireland. Continuing Veronica urged people to use common sense and if under lockdown, to keep their minds occupied.

People have to be sensible. Dont go panic buying, but get in supplies in the event you might have to stay close to home.  she said.

I think common sense must prevail. Travel only when essential and necessary. Those who are confined to the house, occupy yourselves with activities such as baking, cooking etc. And turn off the bloody televisions.

The people who are at risk are those who are medically compromised, as well as the elderly. People die every day of the week with complications from the flu.

People unfortunately have bought into the hysteria, but like everything, this will pass. she concluded.

Also read: A number of events cancelled as the first coronavirus related death confirmed
(HedgeCo.Net) The Securities and Exchange Commission has obtained an asset freeze and other emergency relief against Florida-based investment adviser Kinetic Investment Group LLC and its managing member, Michael Scott Williams, in connection with an alleged fraudulent, unregistered securities offering that raised approximately $39 million from at least 30 investors located mostly in Florida and Puerto Rico.

According to the SECs complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Kinetic Group and Williams fraudulently raised millions of dollars by making material misrepresentations to investors who they solicited to invest in Kinetic Funds I LLC, a purported hedge fund that they managed. The defendants allegedly represented, among other things, that Kinetic Funds largest sub-fund invested solely in U.S.-listed financial products and that at least 90% of its portfolio was hedged using listed options. The SEC alleges, however, that Williams actually invested a significant part of the sub-funds assets in a private start-up company owned by Williams. The complaint further alleges Williams misappropriated at least $6.3 million through undisclosed loans to himself and his entities.

Kinetic Groups and Williams misrepresentations gave false comfort to investors that their investments would be secure and liquid, said Eric I. Bustillo, Director of the SECs Miami Regional Office. As alleged, however, Kinetic Group and Williams diverted a substantial portion of investor capital to Williams various business ventures and personal expenses.

On March 6, 2020, U.S. District Court Judge William F. Jung granted the SECs request for emergency relief, including an asset freeze and an order for records preservation, against Kinetic Group, Williams, and a number of companies charged by the SEC as relief defendants. The court also granted the SECs request to appoint Mark Kornfeld as receiver over Kinetic Group and the relief defendants.

The SECs complaint charges Kinetic Group and Williams with violating the antifraud provisions of the federal securities laws. The SECs complaint also charges Williams, in the alternative, with aiding and abetting Kinetic Groups violations of the federal securities laws. The SEC seeks injunctions, disgorgement of allegedly ill-gotten gains with pre-judgment interest, and financial penalties against the defendants.
Mumbai, March 11 : The Maharashtra Government has decided to shut down one account its holds in the private sector lender, Axis Bank, as per an official notification, issued here on Wednesday.

The accounts of the National Cycle Risk Mitigation Project (NCRMP) lying with Axis Bank at its Nariman Point Branch will be closed with immediate effect and the funds shall be transferred to a new account to be opened with State Bank of India's Churchgate Branch.

The development comes in the wake of the Yes Bank crisis which stunned the country's financial sector last week, preceded by the Punjab & Maharashtra Cooperative Bank last September 2019.

Following this, official sources had said that henceforth the state government would bank only with reputed public sector lenders to ensure the safety of all its funds.

Accordingly, instructions were issued by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to the concerned officials/departments to do the needful last week.

Simultaneously, it came to light how Rs 1,125 crore of at least three civic bodies was stuck in the Yes Bank crisis.

Thereafter, the state sought details from all government departments, civic bodies, state corporations, autonomous bodies and others on their exposure to all the private sector banks.

It may be recalled that both these issues were first highlighted by IANS (March 6 & 7), respectively, as the Yes Bank crisis unfolded leading to the arrest of its founder Rana Kapoor early morning of March 8 by Enforcement Directorate.

A recent cabinet meeting presided over by Thackeray also discussed the issue of probable risks and shifting all accounts in private banks to PSBs.

It was decided that for the security of public money, it would be prudent to shift all accounts in all private banks to the PSBs immediately.

An area of immediate concern is the ongoing farmers loan waiver scheme as many banks in rural areas hold accounts with Yes Bank.

With Wednesday's decision on the NCRMP accounts, more government departments are likely to follow suit in the next few days.

In December 2019, Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar had said the civic body would consider shifting some of its accounts from a private sector bank to the safer option of government banks as a precautionary measure.
I nsurer Prudential unveiled plans to spin off US pensions business Jackson National Life on Wednesday just weeks after activist investor Dan Loebs Third Point urged a split-up of the firm.

Pru will sell a stake in Michigan-based Jackson in a stock market float in New York. No timetable has been given. The business, which sells annuities to American retirees, makes profits of $3 billion and was acquired by Pru in 1986.

The sale would be the second large reshaping of Prudential after it hived off its UK-focused M&G Investments and Pru UK division in a stock market float last year.

Chief executive Mike Wells, who used to run Jackson, denied the move was due to pressure from Third Point, which disclosed a 5% stake in late February and argued the FTSE 100 giant would be worth more as a standalone Asian business.

We started this process way back at the half year. We have reviewed the Jackson strategy annually ever since I got here, Wells said, adding that the company wanted first to work through the M&G split before pursuing the Jackson plan.

Plans to split Jackson and Pru Asia will prompt more speculation about the companys long-term commitment to the UK, its home for the last 332 years.

Some say it would make more sense as a separate Asian business to base Prus headquarters in Hong Kong or Singapore, but Wells said Pru was committed to the UK.

We have a primary listing in London and a primary listing in Hong Kong. We are building out our tech hub in Shanghai but the depth and breadth of financial talent in London is unique; regulatory, risk modelling, its the best in the industry. This is a very logical base, he said.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, March 11, 2020 19:06 671 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2069e5b97 1 City COVID-19,coronavirus,outbreak,COVID-19-Indonesian-patients,Jakarta-Health-Agency,Jakarta-administration,anies-baswedan Free

The Jakarta Health Agency is monitoring the health conditions of hundreds of individuals across the city, while 100 patients have been discharged from hospital after testing negative for COVID-19.

The agencys teams are currently monitoring 70 individuals, after they completed the process on 331 others, said Jakarta Health Agency head Widyastuti.

As many as 97 patients are still being observed in hospitals. In the meantime, another 100 patients have been discharged from hospitals after testing negative for COVID-19, she said during a press briefing at City Hall in Jakarta on Wednesday.

"A total of 100 patients in hospitals have been declared negative for COVID-19 and have been discharged from hospital."

Read also: COVID-19: Jakarta to suspend Car Free Day for two weeks as part of containment measures

The agency recorded that as of Tuesday afternoon 3,976 people had contacted the coronavirus call center provided by the provincial administration.

Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan previously recommended citizens stay alert. People feeling any symptoms of COVID-19 or who have encountered someone showing symptoms have been urged to contact the call center at 112 or 119.

The governor had issued a decree urging officials, including mayors, agency heads and heads of districts and subdistricts, to raise public awareness about the risks of the disease and its prevention.

The Health Ministrys disease control and prevention director general, Achmad Yurianto, said a 53-year-old foreign citizen who had tested positive for COVID-19, identified as Case 25, died early Wednesday morning after nearly three days of treatment.

On Wednesday evening, health authorities announced there were then a total of 34 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the country. (dfr/trn)
Artificial intelligence researchers at IBM have introduced a major upgrade to the famed Watson computer, allowing it to understand idioms and colloquialisms for the first time.

IBM says the update makes it the first commercial AI system capable of identifying, understanding and analysing some of the most challenging aspects of the English language.

Phrases like "hardly helpful" and "hot under the collar" are tricky for algorithms to spot, meaning AI is unable to debate complex topics or have nuanced conversations with humans.

"Language is a tool for expressing thought and opinion, as much as it is a tool for information," said Rob Thomas, a general manager at IBM Data and AI.

"This is why we believe that advancing our ability to capture, analyse, and understand more from language with NLP will help transform how businesses utilise their intellectual capital that is codified in data."

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

IBM announced the advancement as part of a new suite of Watson technologies focussed on Natural Language Processing (NLP), which will be implemented from its Project Debater AI system.

It marks the first commercialisation of key NLP capabilities and will mean Watson is "the only AI system capable of debating humans on complex topics," according to IBM.

Recommended Quantum computing adopted by Delta and Daimler in industry first

The new "advanced sentiment analysis" feature will mean AI will not get tripped up over phrases like "I feel over the moon," instead understanding through context that a person is excited.

This new level of understanding will have immediate use in areas such as customer care, where the frequent use of casual language has made accurate understanding, classification and fine-grained analysis difficult.

IBM's Watson rose to prominence in 2011 when it took on and defeated human champions at the US game show Jeopardy!, making it the first computer capable of understanding the unique question-answer format used in the popular show.

Watson has since been used in everything from lung cancer treatment, to weather forecasting.
Mississauga, Ontario and Sacramento, California--(Newsfile Corp. - March 11, 2020) - Bee Vectoring Technologies International Inc. (TSXV: BEE) (OTCQB: BEVVF) (CVE: BEE) (the "Company" or "BVT") today announced that it has closed three new grower deals with berry producers in Oregon and Washington states. These new customers will use BVT's proprietary bee delivery system, VECTORITE with CR-7, on portions of their blueberry and raspberry crops in the upcoming growing season. The landmark deals extend the Company's commercial reach into the US west coast, building on the strong momentum it has seen with southeast-based growers.

"We are excited to be expanding into this new region," says Ashish Malik, CEO of Bee Vectoring Technologies. "These initial grower commitments align with our growth strategy starting with initial market penetration, moving to customer retention and expansion. We've now successfully penetrated the US Southeast blueberry market, the Pacific Northwest blueberry and raspberry markets, and the Florida strawberry market and anticipate this strong commercial momentum continuing in coming seasons."





A Washington state commercial blueberry field that has trialed BVT's natural precision agriculture system.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/3903/53343_e5e32ccf04dbd9e8_002full.jpg



The new deals also mark another important breakthrough: the first commercial use of BVT's recently announced patent-pending computer-controlled honeybee hive dispenser system. In the western US, only honeybees are currently used for commercial pollination since bumble bees are currently not allowed in western USA and Canada. The honeybee hive dispenser thus matches specific market demands and allows BVT to address 100% of the US market. The newly contracted growers produce blueberries, raspberries and blackberries across the western US region.

Story continues

The Company's system is in the market at the right time. There is a significant need for alternative plant protection products for berry crops as there is increasing evidence that the efficacy of traditional fungicides is declining. Data presented at the 2019 Washington Blueberry Show from Washington State University documented resistance even with newer classes of fungicide chemistry throughout the production areas tested.(1) Similar data was presented by Michigan State University.

BVT's natural precision agriculture system uses commercially-reared bees to carry its organic and natural plant protection product, VECTORITE with CR-7, directly to blooms throughout the day and continuously for the full bloom period. Traditional spraying is done periodically and disease pressure can build in between spraying applications. CR-7 provides a new class of all-natural fungicide as an additional tool to be applied throughout the bloom period to enhance disease management and enhance high-yield production. BVT's CR-7 also has Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) approval for organic production and is exempt from residue tolerance testing, making it an ideal tool for both conventional and organic berry growers.

The Pacific Northwest growers are first-time users of the BVT system and will pilot BVT on a percentage (60 to 80 acres out of a combined 1,800 acres) of their conventional and organic crops. Based on common practice, there is an expectation that they will add BVT across their entire operations in the coming two to three seasons based on positive results. The next blueberry season in Oregon and Washington starts with the blooming period in April 2020, when the BVT system is used, continuing until spring/summer harvest. BVT is actively pursuing further grower contracts in the lead up to this season commencing.

"Historically, growers start by using BVT on 10-20% of their acreage, and gradually progress to 100%," says Mr. Malik. "Our strategy is to choose influential growers, because their pilot seasons are highly visible to other producers. So in addition to the initial 60 to 80 acres that can expand to 1,800 acres in future seasons, other growers will take notice and adopt the BVT system in the future, which will increase our market share through new customer acquisition as well as boosting BVT's share of wallet with its initial growers."

"The blueberry market in the US is significant, representing about one third of global production at 270,000(2) acres. The Pacific Northwest and Southeastern regions together have a combined 60,000(3) acres of cultivated highbush blueberries, representing two-thirds of the 90,000(4) acre US market," said Mr. Malik. "For BVT, this represents a major new market for the upcoming growing season and a large growth opportunity in future growing seasons. There is high market demand for Pacific Northwest berries domestically and overseas, with a large export market to Asia in both fresh pack and frozen berries."

Many west coast blueberry growers have also expanded into raspberries and blackberries, and there is the potential for them to use BVT's system on those crops as well. Within the US, Oregon is the biggest producer of blackberries with 6,500(5) acres, and Washington is the biggest producer of raspberries with 9,500(6) acres.

The Company also announces that it intends to seek TSX Venture Exchange ("Exchange") approval to extend the expiry date of an aggregate of 12,000,000 warrants previously issued on March 28, 2018 and exercisable at $0.35 per share by one year.

The particulars of the proposed extension to the terms of the warrants are as follows:

12,000,000 warrants issued on March 28, 2018 with an exercise price of $0.35 per share, which are due to expire on March 28, 2020, will be extended to March 28, 2021.

The warrant term expiry date extension is subject to Exchange approval.

(1) Source: APS Publications, https://apsjournals.apsnet.org/doi/full/10.1094/PDIS-02-16-0229-RE

(2) Source: FAO, United Nations, 2017 Statistics

(3)(4)(5)(6) Source: USDA, 2018 Agricultural Statistics Annual

About Bee Vectoring Technologies International Inc.

BVT, an agriculture technology company, is a market disruptor with a significant global market opportunity in the $240 billion crop protection and fertilizer market. BVT has pioneered a natural precision agriculture system that replaces chemical pesticides and wasteful plant protection product spray applications by delivering biological pesticide alternatives to crops using commercially grown bees. BVT's award-winning technology, precision vectoring, is completely harmless to bees and allows minute amounts of naturally-derived pesticides (called biologicals) to be delivered directly to blooms, providing improved crop protection and yield results than traditional chemical pesticides - and improving the health of the soil, the microbiome and the environment. Currently, BVT has over 65 granted patents, over 35 patents pending in all major agricultural countries worldwide, and has US EPA registration of its VECTORITE with CR-7 (EPA Registration No. 90641-2) for sale as a registered biological fungicide for use on the labeled crops.

Additional information can be viewed at the Company's website www.beevt.com. To receive regular news updates from the Company, subscribe at www.beevt.com/newsletter.

Contact:

Ashish Malik, President & CEO

info@beevt.com

Babak Pedram, Investor Relations

Virtus Advisory Group

Tel: 416-995-8651

bpedram@virtusadvisory.com

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

Certain statements contained in this press release constitute "forward-looking information" as such term is defined in applicable Canadian securities legislation. The words "may", "would", "could", "should", "potential", "will", "seek", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect" and similar expressions as they relate to the Company, "annual revenue potential", are intended to identify forward-looking information. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking information. Such statements reflect the Company's current views and intentions with respect to future events, and current information available to the Company, and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including: planted acres of strawberries in Florida, selling price of competitive chemical pesticides and the US to Canadian dollar exchange rate. Material factors or assumptions were applied in providing forward-looking information. Many factors could cause the actual results, performance or achievements that may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking information to vary from those described herein should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize. These factors include changes in law, competition, litigation, the ability to implement business strategies and pursue business opportunities, state of the capital markets, the availability of funds and resources to pursue operations, new technologies, the ability to protect intellectual property rights, the ability to obtain patent protection for products, third-party intellectual property infringement claims, regulatory changes affecting products, failing research and development activities, the ability to reach and sustain profitability, dependence on business and technical experts, the ability to effectively manage business operations and growth, issuance of debt, dilution of existing securities, volatility of publicly traded securities, potential conflicts of interest, unlikelihood of dividend payments, the potential costs stemming from defending third-party intellectual property infringement claims, the ability to secure relationships with manufacturers and purchasers, as well as general economic, market and business conditions, as well as those risk factors discussed or referred to in the Company's Filing Statement dated May 29, 2015, filed with the securities regulatory authorities in certain provinces of Canada and available at www.sedar.com. Should any factor affect the Company in an unexpected manner, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking information prove incorrect, the actual results or events may differ materially from the results or events predicted. Any such forward-looking information is expressly qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement. Moreover, the Company does not assume responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of such forward-looking information. The forward-looking information included in this press release is made as of the date of this press release and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information, other than as required by applicable law. All figures are in Canadian dollars.

###

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/53343
The Odisha Assembly on



Wednesday issued safety guidelines to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, an official said.

It asked the lawmakers and staff of the Assembly to wash their hands frequently and keep the environment clean in order to prevent the spread of the deadly virus, the official said.

The Assembly secretariat also imposed restrictions on the use of fingerprint-based biometric attendance during House proceedings.

In order to maintain cleanliness and hygiene of the working space, furniture and equipment including tables, chairs, computers, phones and other assets are to be cleaned at least six times a day with disinfectants and sanitisers, the guideline said.

"All the staff/legislators are advised to clean their hands frequently with handwash /soaps. Handwash/soaps will also be kept in the washrooms and toilets on the premises," it said, adding that the legislators are advised to use tissue papers in order to sneeze or cough.

"Staff and legislators are also barred from organising meetings that will gather a lot of people. They are advised to avoid fingerprint-based biometric attendance used to register their presence," an official said.

The staff and lawmakers suffering from, cold, cough and fever are advised to seek the help of the doctors present at the Assemblys dispensary and consume the prescribed medicines.

They are also advised to throw used and unused substances in the dustbin and not litter the Assembly premises.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
MEXICO CITY, March 20, 2016 (Xinhua) -- Actor Ben Affleck poses during the photocall to promote the film Batman vs Superman, in Mexico City, capital of Mexico, on March 19, 2016. (Xinhua/Alejandro Ayala/IANS) Image Source: IANS

Los Angeles, March 11 : Actor Ben Affleck was on disgraced Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinsteins 'Red Flag List', according to unsealed court documents.

Prior to the publication of the reports exposing Weinstein and igniting the #MeToo movement, the producer kept a list of names of people he was concerned could be talking to journalists in 2017 about his sexual conduct with women.

Affleck's name appears on that document, known as the Red Flag List, which was reviewed by variety.com.

The list was part of about 1,000 pages of documents that were unsealed at the New York criminal courthouse, ahead of Weinstein's sentencing on Wednesday.

The document was brought up during Weinstein's seven-week trial, but only accuser Annabella Sciorra's name was revealed to be on the list. The lead prosecutor requested that the list, which included both men and women, to be provided to the jury so they could see all of the names, but the judge denied that plea.

Around 70 names are on the list, including Affleck and Sciorra, in addition to accusers Rose McGowan, Zelda Perkins, Lysette Anthony and Rowena Chiu.

Also on the list are former Weinstein Company executive Irwin Reiter, Weinstein's former assistant and "Russian Doll" creator Leslye Headland and producers Megan Ellison, Donna Gigliotti, Jason Blum and Jennifer Todd.

During the trial, a private investigator testified that he was approached directly by Weinstein to investigate the names on the list, specifically Sciorra.

On the stand, the private investigator said he received an email from Weinstein with an attachment that was referred to as the Red Flag List, which was a document with names and information about those people.

"The red flags are the first to call," Weinstein wrote in the email to the private investigator.

The private investigator also said that he did not conduct the investigation, and was unsure if the investigation was ever completed by another detective.

Affleck rose to stardom with 1997's "Good Will Hunting" - a film released by Weinstein's former company, Miramax.

The Red Flag List was one of many documents unearthed in the unsealed court papers, which included several emails, including a nasty message about Jennifer Aniston, and many desperate pleas to powerful people, including Michael Bloomberg and Jeff Bezos, to help save his career.
LUXEMBOURG, March 10, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Globant S.A. (NYSE: GLOB), a digitally native technology services company (the "Company"), announces that its Annual General Meeting of Shareholders and an Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders (collectively, the "General Meetings") are to be held on April 3, 2020. The General Meetings will be held at the registered office of the Company at 37A, Avenue J.F. Kennedy, L-1 855, Luxembourg. The Convening Notice including the agenda for the General Meetings, the form of proxy card and the relevant materials for the General Meetings are available at the Company's website at http://investors.globant.com.

About Globant (NYSE: GLOB)

We are a digitally native company where innovation, design and engineering meet scale. We use the latest technologies in the digital and cognitive field to empower organizations in every aspect. We have more than 11,800 employees and we are present in 17 countries working for companies like Google, Southwest Airlines, EA and BBVA, among others.

We were named a Worldwide Leader of Digital Strategy Consulting Services by IDC MarketScape report (2016 and 2017). We were also featured as a business case study at Harvard, MIT, and Stanford. We are a member of the Cybersecurity Tech Accord (2019).

For more information, visit www.globant.com

Investor Relations Contact:

Paula Conde & Amit Singh, Globant

investors@globant.com

(877) 215-5230

Media Contact:

Wanda Weigert, Globant

pr@globant.com

(877) 215-5230

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/959011/Globant_logo_actualizado.jpg
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-11 18:36:53|Editor: huaxia

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With a shared goal of overcoming the epidemic and a common wish to jointly build a community with a shared future, cooperation between China and many other countries, big or small, have been an exemplar in hard times.







BEIJING, March 11 (Xinhua) -- The night of March 7 was quite special for Iraq's Baghdad International Airport. Soon after an Iraqi Airways flight landed, seven men in red and white, each carrying a black backpack, stepped off the plane and were warmly welcomed by local health officials.



These special passengers, it turned out, were a group of Chinese health experts who will stay in Iraq for a month to help the country fight against COVID-19. They have also brought with them enormous medical equipment and a red banner with the words "Help each other. Stay together."



Chinese medical team members arrive at Baghdad International Airport in Baghdad, Iraq, on March 7, 2020. (Xinhua/Khalil Dawood)

"We really appreciate the support of the government and the people of China at this very specific time," Iraqi Deputy Health Minister Jasim al-Falahi said at the airport.

The battle against COVID-19 has arrived at a critical stage. World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Monday as the virus has got a foothold in so many countries, the threat of a pandemic has become "very real."



Amid a hike in global caseload, China, which has made remarkable progress in its anti-virus fight, is also working closely with the international community. Its endeavor, widely recognized by the world, has set an example of how to build a community with a shared future for mankind.



Photo taken on March 1, 2020 shows Saladin Citadel in red and golden stars to resemble the national flag of China as a sign of solidarity in combating the novel coronavirus in Cairo, Egypt. (Xinhua/Wu Huiwo)

MAKING FRONTLINE FORTRESS

Ever since the disease broke out in China's central city of Wuhan, the whole country has been waging a united battle against the virus under the leadership of Chinese President Xi Jinping.



Some 41,600 medical personnel from across the country have been dispatched to Hubei province. Wuhan, the worst-hit city in Hubei, has been locked down and renovated and built 86 designated hospitals and 16 temporary hospitals with more than 60,000 beds.



Chinese scientists have been dedicated to advancing research, and some vaccines against the disease are expected to undergo clinical trials by mid-April or even earlier.

With all-out efforts, the number of new cases in China dropped to double-digit figures on Friday for the first time since Jan. 20.

The spread has been basically curbed, Xi said Tuesday during an inspection of the epidemic prevention and control work in Wuhan, while stressing the need to continue to take epidemic prevention and control as a task of paramount importance.

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)

"China has rolled out perhaps the most ambitious, agile and aggressive disease containment effort in history," said a report released in late February by the China-WHO joint mission on COVID-19.

As the team leader of the mission, Bruce Aylward told The New York Times that he feels he has been to "the mountaintop" and seen "what's possible" after the nine-day field study trip to China.

"Every person you talked to has a sense that they're mobilized like in a war against the virus and they are organized," he said.



In Tedros' eyes, China's decisive measures have limited the spread of the virus both home and abroad, thus setting a new standard for outbreak response.

China's experience "holds three important lessons -- to talk to the public, to slow the transmission of the disease and to prepare health systems for a spike in demand," said the Economist magazine in a leading article.



As China has bought governments worldwide time to prepare, "they should use it," it said.



A researcher of Stermirna Therapeutics Co., Ltd. shows the experiment to develop an mRNA vaccine targeting the novel coronavirus in east China's Shanghai, Jan. 29, 2020. (Xinhua/Ding Ting)

OPENNESS, TRANSPARENCY



In this anti-epidemic fight, China has always adhered to the vision of a community with a shared future for mankind and adopted an attitude of openness, transparency and responsibility, Xi said late February in a telephone conversation with his Chilean counterpart Sebastian Pinera.



Indeed, since the beginning of the outbreak, China has shared promptly with the world not only such critical information as the whole genome sequence of the virus, but also its diagnostic and therapeutic experience.

Besides, it has established close technical-level communication mechanisms with international organizations such as the WHO, the European Union (EU), the African Union (AU) and the ASEAN.



It is important to step up communication and exchange with the WHO and carry out scientific research cooperation with other countries, especially those hit hard by the virus, Xi stressed earlier this month.

Last week, Chinese health authorities held a video conference with experts from Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Armenia, Turkmenistan and the secretariat of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization to share China's experience.

The Special ASEAN-China Foreign Ministers' Meeting on Coronavirus Disease is held in Vientiane, Laos, Feb. 20, 2020. (Photo by Kaikeo Saiyasane/Xinhua)

According to China's EU mission, two video conferences on COVID-19 were held between officials and experts from China and the EU in February.

Massimo Galli, head of the infectious diseases section at the L. Sacco Hospital in Italy's Milan who had a conference call with Chinese researchers several days ago, said the researchers "are doing everything they can do to confront this problem, sharing the results of research and strategies with complete openness."

Chinese scientists and political leaders have made efforts to help the world understand the virus and contain its spread, said Fabrizio Pregliasco, a researcher at the Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health at the University of Milan.



China has been sharing experience on epidemic prevention and control with the world community in an open manner, setting an example for the world on united efforts against global challenges, Chairman of the Communist Party of Norway Runa Evensen and International Secretary Svend Haakon Jacobsen said in a joint message.



World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus speaks at a daily briefing in Geneva, Switzerland, on March 9, 2020. (Photo by Li Ye/Xinhua)

GLOBAL COOPERATION

"Working together, we can write a new chapter in history of how we fearlessly have battled to defend humanity and won," said former United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.



Indeed, with a shared goal of overcoming the epidemic and a common wish to jointly build a community with a shared future, cooperation between China and many other countries, big or small, have been an exemplar in hard times.

When China fought hardest against the virus, it received donations of much-needed supplies and heart-warming well-wishes from many countries around the world.

To date, leaders of over 170 countries and heads of more than 40 regional and international organizations have expressed sympathy and support for China via various means.

A total of 62 countries and seven international organizations have pledged epidemic prevention and control supplies to China as of March 2.

A Chinese-language poetic verse on the boxes of mask donations by the Japanese HSK Bureau read "although we are in different places, we are under the same sky." To show support for China, British pupils performed a Chinese song named "Fill the World with Love." The Burj Khalifa Tower in the United Arab Emirates was also lit up in red in solidarity with China.

And now, China is giving back as a real friend in need to others.

Chinese medical team members meet with Iranian Red Crescent Society officials in Tehran, Iran, on March 2, 2020. (Chinese Embassy in Iran/Handout via Xinhua)

Before sending experts to Iraq, China has already dispatched a group of five health experts to Iran. Upon arrival, these experts began learning the epidemic situation on the ground, exchanging experience with the Iranian side, and promoting bilateral cooperation on medicine and health.

It sets "an excellent example of 'peer to peer' experience sharing," said Maria van Kerkhove, technical lead for the WHO's Health Emergencies Program, adding the WHO is looking forward to seeing more direct interaction of that kind.

Besides, China has also conducted active international cooperation by providing badly needed materials such as test kits and masks to countries and organizations like Iran, Pakistan, Japan, South Korea and the AU.

In its latest move to push for global cooperation on fighting the outbreak, China announced on Saturday its decision to donate 20 million dollars to the WHO.

"When we help these countries, it is to help them fight the virus, and also to repay their kindness," said Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu.

"With regard to the international cooperation, China will not be absent," he said.



(Video reporters: Yu Guoqing, Wang Siban, Jiang Chao, Ji Li, Guo Wei; Video editors: Jiao Xiaotong, Liu Ruoshi)
Disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein was today sentenced to 23 years in prison after he was found guilty of committing a criminal sex act in the first degree involving one woman victim, and rape in the third degree involving another.

About Weinstein's sentence, Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance said, "We thank the court for imposing a sentence that puts sexual predators and abusive partners in all segments of society on notice."

The silence breakers on Weinstein's 23-year sentence: "Harvey Weinstein's legacy will always be that he's a convicted rapist. He is going to jail  but no amount of jail time will repair the lives he ruined, the careers he destroyed, or the damage he has caused."

Weinstein's lawyer, who previously said she was never sexually assaulted "because I would never put myself in that position," calls her client's 23-year prison sentence "obnoxious" and "obscene."

Harvey Weinstein's lawyer Donna Rotunno says the sentence handed down to him in New York is "obscene" and "obnoxious" pic.twitter.com/jwRJUYs2pI  QuickTake by Bloomberg (@QuickTake) March 11, 2020

Breaking News: Harvey Weinstein was sentenced to 23 years in prison for sex crimes, a stunning downfall for a Hollywood mogul whose abuse of women ignited #MeToo https://t.co/HXi0EyQiMi  The New York Times (@nytimes) March 11, 2020

BREAKING: Harvey Weinstein has been sentenced to 23 years in prison for his February conviction of criminal sexual act in the first degree and rape in the third degree. The following is a statement from 24 #silencebreakers in response: pic.twitter.com/6LhmIhDaMz  TIME'S UP (@TIMESUPNOW) March 11, 2020

Attorney Arthur Aidala said Harvey Weinstein will likely spend his time at the Fishkill Correctional Facility in New York, which he said has a hospital https://t.co/3vHWKb7jyC  The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) March 11, 2020

The Harvey Weinstein walker schtick was one of the grossest theatrical displays I've ever seen and makes his 23 year sentence that much sweeter. pic.twitter.com/HVgdJIVJ0a  Emma Vigeland (@EmmaVigeland) March 11, 2020

NEW: Statement from TIME'S UP leader: "The trauma of sexual assault and harassment is lifelongwe can only hope that today's sentence brings all of the survivors of Harvey Weinstein some measure of peace." https://t.co/htZSrF3gYL pic.twitter.com/VQJjD3WrWZ  ABC News (@ABC) March 11, 2020

NEW: Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance on Harvey Weinstein's sentencing: "We thank the court for imposing a sentence that puts sexual predators and abusive partners in all segments of society on notice." https://t.co/BUCI3zzg8s pic.twitter.com/X9479XoEVB  ABC News (@ABC) March 11, 2020

Former film producer Harvey Weinstein has been sentenced to 23 years in prison for rape & sexual assault. After Weinstein's conviction two weeks ago, his former assistant & accuser @rowena_chiu told #Newsnight hearing the verdict was "overwhelming"  https://t.co/WafpYC6Sxl pic.twitter.com/4cYctBCxGr  BBC Newsnight (@BBCNewsnight) March 11, 2020

Harvey Weinstein has been sentenced to 23 years in a New York State prison on charges of sexual assault and third-degree rape https://t.co/2MxZV7vg3D pic.twitter.com/IDWHSK2lKw  Variety (@Variety) March 11, 2020
It's important to look what's inside the tin when you can't trust what's on the label.

Some of the worst examples of mislabelling are among ethical investment options of super funds.

Regulators should look into whether super funds are naming their ethical investment options in ways that can be misleading Credit:Gabrielle Charlotte

As has been reported in the SMH and The Age, there are mismatches between how super funds say they are managing the money in ethical options  including names that are potentially misleading  and how the money is actually invested.

Although regulators are taking a greater interest in super funds and their disclosures and much more information is now available to fund members than a few years ago, there are no rules about the names of investment options.
Connecticuts third COVID-19 case, confirmed Wednesday involving a New Canaan man, marked the likely start of community transfer on the same day that Westport officials tracked an apparent mass exposure stemming from a recent party.

The Westport exposure led the Board of Education to immediately close the schools until further notice. At least one person at the party, who has since left the United States, contracted the disease and more than a dozen attendees are now suffering flu-like symptoms.

Mark Cooper, director of health for Westport, said about 40 people  including adults and some children  attended a going-away party on March 5.

The New Canaan man, who was described as elderly, remained at Norwalk Hospital on Wednesday, state epidemiologist Matthew Cartter said, delivering the news in a somber tone to mark a new stage of the fight.

This time, Cartter said, theres no known source where the man contracted the disease  and that changes the picture for the state. With this diagnosis, Cartter said, Connecticut  especially Fairfield County  must react as though COVID-19 is spreading inside the states borders.

Were assuming this is a case of community transfer of the disease, Cartter said at a briefing in the states emergency operations center at the state armory in Hartford.

A message left with a Norwalk Hospital spokeswoman was not immediately returned and Cartter did not provide the mans condition.

There is no known connection between the man and the Westport case, officials said, but the broader link is clear. From this point, Cartter said, people with flu-like symptoms, certainly in the southwestern part of the state, should assume they may have COVID-19 and act accordingly.

This isnt like the other two cases where the person became ill right after returning from California, or right after returning from Nevada, Cartter said.

Cartter was referring to a Wilton man in his 40s who contracted the coronavirus while on a business trip to California and is now in Danbury Hospital; and a Bethlehem woman in her 60s with a confirmed case of the virus, who works at Bridgeport Hospital and is believed to have contracted the illness while on a trip to Nevada.

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Cartter suggested there will be a wave over the next six to eight weeks, then an abatement.

It may well be that we have a second wave in the fall, he said  not based on knowledge of this new virus, but rather on the patterns of viral respiratory infections generally.

The number of people being tracked for contacts with known or suspected patients who have COVID-19 is growing but that tracking may only last for another week to 10 days, Cartter said. By then, caution will require everyone to assume if they have flu-like symptoms and difficulty breathing, that they have contracted the novel coronavirus.

After that, there will be so many cases, it wont be practical, Cartter said.

In the Westport case, Cooper said, the man who reported he has the disease did not suffer symptoms until he returned to his home country. Officials did not disclose where he lives.

We are seeking his medical records to confirm its a correct diagnosis, Cooper said, adding the man verbally told his department of the diagnosis.

We have just learned that a number of Westport parents and Westport Public School students, in schools throughout our district, were in contact with an individual presumed to be positive with coronavirus, Interim Westport Superintendent David Abbey wrote in an email.

Cooper said the health district is contacting everyone at the party to assess their condition to reduce any potential spread.

There is no positive confirmations of anyone having COVID-19 in Westport right now, he said, adding those who have flu-like symptoms should presume it is COVID-19.

Human Resources Director John Bayers said schools were informed early Wednesday of the gathering that took place last week.

Understanding that this could impact many of our schools, we made the decision we need to close our schools to make sure things were being taken care of, Bayers said.

Schools are now also closed in nearby Wilton, Weston and New Canaan. In addition, Nathan Hale School in New Haven and Lauralton Hall in Milford will close because of concerns parents or adults were exposed to coronavirus, officials said Wednesday.

With community transfer likely underway, Cartter said, its highly likely there are more cases that have not yet been diagnosed in the state, especially in Fairfield County.

He would not speculate on the numbers but said the state lab is only able to process 40 to 60 tests a day, up from a much smaller number earlier this week. As of Wednesday, 74 had been tested with 16 pending, and three positive results.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed it will provide $7.1 million to Connecticut in support of the states response COVID-19. That money is part of the $8.3 billion in federal funding authorized by Congress and signed by President Donald Trump last week, about $1 million of which will go directly to states.
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The second batch of restless passengers from the Grand Princess cruise ship disembarked the liner in Oakland, California, on Wednesday before heading onward to US air bases where they will begin a 14-day quarantine.

Passengers were pictured in the lobby waiting their turn to pass through health screenings and evacuate the infected cruise ship, on the same day that it emerged that another person who had been on board tested positive.

One passenger, Steven Smith, was seen wearing a protective mask and going through a health screening after leaving the ship, as medical personnel donning masks, gloves and hazmat suits took notes.

The second batch of restless passengers from the Grand Princess cruise ship disembarked the liner in Oakland, California, on Wednesday before heading onward to US air bases where they will begin a 14-day quarantine

Passengers were pictured in the lobby waiting their turn to pass through health screenings and evacuate the infected cruise ship

The number of cases from the cruise ship rose to 22 on Wednesday, after Canadian officials announced that one resident who had been repatriated from the ship had tested positive for the virus.

Two passengers and 19 crew members on the Grand Princess tested positive for coronavirus on Friday and the number of cases remained static for days.

But signs are emerging that the number of cases linked to the ship are set to increase, as the Canadian government confirmed Wednesday that a Canadian passenger from the ship had also tested for corornavirus.

The unnamed individual had virtually no symptoms, with just a mild fever and cough, and had been flown back to Canada on a chartered flight before testing positive for the virus, the Public Health Agency of Canada said.

This new case takes the total number of people infected on the cruise ship to 22.

One passenger, Steven Smith, was seen wearing a protective mask and going through a health screening after leaving the ship, as medical personnel donning masks, gloves and hazmat suits took notes

The number of cases from the cruise ship rose to 22 on Wednesday, after Canadian officials announced that one resident who had been repatriated from the ship had tested positive for the virus

By Tuesday night, more than 1,400 of the 3,500 people on board the Grand Princess had been evacuated and transported to quarantine in their home countries or at military bases in California, Texas and Georgia where they will spend the next two weeks in quarantine.

Exclusive pictures obtained by DailyMail.com showed more than 250 passengers from the doomed Grand Princess cruise ship arriving overnight into Dobbins Air Force Base in Georgia.

The passengers were seen arriving at the air base in the early hours of Wednesday morning after they disembarked the cruise ship off the coast of California Tuesday night.

Most of the people, who less than a week ago were enjoying a carefree holiday, were pictured wearing protective face masks and gloves and were assisted off the plane by personnel wearing hazmat clothing.

The passengers, including 34 Georgia residents, will now be quarantined at the air reserve for 14 days.

In exclusive pictures obtained by DailyMail.com, the passengers were seen arriving at the air base in the early hours of Wednesday morning after they disembarked the cruise ship off the coast of California Tuesday night

Most of the people, who less than a week ago were enjoying a carefree holiday, were pictured stepping off the plane wearing protective face masks and gloves and were assisted off the plane by personnel wearing hazmat clothing

In one video clip from the overnight transportation of US citizens to the Georgia air base, the captain and crew are seen trying to make light of their evacuation.

The group remove their masks and take a selfie together with a member of the medical personnel in full hazmat gear.

The exact number of passengers evacuated from the cruise ship and sent to Dobbins Air Force Base has not been confirmed by officials, but a source said around 271 were being sent to the base.

The source told Channel 2 Cobb County Bureau Chief Chris Jose that two planes were scheduled to carry 271 passengers from the cruise ship to the Marietta air base, about 15 miles northwest of downtown Atlanta.

The first flight, which landed in the early hours of Wednesday, is thought to have contained the 34 Georgians and an unknown number of other passengers.

The Dobbins Air Reserve Base will become home for the roughly 250 passengers for the next two weeks

The passengers will now be quarantined at the air reserve for 14 days after being potentially exposed to the virus on board the ship

The plane is pictured touching down at the air base in the early hours of Wednesday

The exact number of passengers evacuated from the cruise ship and sent to Dobbins Air Force Base has not been confirmed by officials, but a source said around 271 were being sent to the base

A man and woman are pictured leaving the plane after their cruise was cut short following the outbreak

The other flight is bringing the remaining number to the base.

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp had confirmed on Sunday that 34 Georgians and some additional American citizens from the East Coast would be securely transferred to the air base.

While most of the passengers will be subject to a 14-day quarantine at the base, the state has said it plans to take the unusual step of sending the 34 Georgians to their homes where they can self-quarantine there instead.

Authorities have said that none of the individuals transported to the air base have shown symptoms of coronavirus but are being quarantined as a precaution.

Medical staff are pictured in yellow and white hazmat suits: A source said two planes were scheduled to carry 271 passengers from the cruise ship to the Marietta air base, about 15 miles northwest of downtown Atlanta

A man, who looks to be wearing captain uniform and a protective mask, disembarks the plane in the dark

The flight is thought to have contained the 34 Georgians and an unknown number of other passengers

'Prior to arriving here, the passengers were medically screened by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,' said a release from the Air Force Reserve

Should individuals test positive for the virus while at the base they will be transported to a nearby hospital for treatment.

'Prior to arriving here, the passengers were medically screened by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,' said a release from the Air Force Reserve.

'The passengers who were asymptomatic were transferred here and other federal military installations for COVID-19 testing and quarantine.'

Officials in Cobb County sought to reassure the local community that the containment of the ship passengers in the area will not pose a risk to the public.

'We live here with you in this community, so we have same concerns you do and we want to make sure that because you are our neighbors, we want to provide we every possible measure to assure you that we're working very closely with federal and state governments to take every precaution to address this quarantine situation,' Cobb Commission Chairman Mike Boyce said in a video statement posted to YouTube on March 8.

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp had confirmed on Sunday that 34 Georgians and some additional American citizens from the East Coast would be securely transferred to the air base

While most of the passengers will be subject to a 14-day quarantine at the base, the state has said it plans to take the unusual step of sending the 34 Georgians to their homes where they can self-quarantine there instead

Authorities have said that none of the individuals transported to the air base have shown symptoms of coronavirus but are being quarantined as a precaution

The exclusive photos show people wearing protective gear as they greet the passengers off the plane

One Georgia resident who has been transported to the air base said in a Facebook post that they took a bus from the ship to the plane which was then taking them onward to the base, according 11 Alive.

Jane Wilson, from Houston County, posted a photo of herself wearing a mask and claimed passengers were all bunched in close proximity to one another on board the bus and said that the screening had merely involved her temperature being taken and someone asking how she felt.

The evacuation process will continue over the coming days as US officials plan to bring the more than 3,500 passengers and crew off the cruise ship.

The passengers sent to Georgia Tuesday night are just some of the passengers who were evacuated on Tuesday and taken to be placed in quarantine at military bases around the US.

After 407 people, including two hundred Canadians, were evacuated late Monday night, a further 999 were evacuated from the ship throughout Tuesday, bringing the total number of passengers disembarked to 1,406.

The outside of the air base: Local officials have sought to reassure the public that the quarantine will not endanger the community

Two passengers and 19 crew members on the Grand Princess tested positive for coronavirus on Friday. The number of cases from the cruise ship rose to 22 on Wednesday, after Canadian officials announced that one resident who had been repatriated from the ship had tested positive for the virus

Passengers were then loaded onto buses and transported to their barracks where they will reside for the next 14 days

There still remains an estimated 1,015 passengers on board and 1,113 crew members.

Among those who disembarked Monday were the two travelers who tested positive for the coronavirus on Friday. They were taken to hospital alongside their travel companions.

Nineteen crew members had also tested positive Friday but have been deemed 'asymptomatic' and remain on the ship in isolated cabins.

On Monday morning preparations were under way at Dobbins Air Reserve Base ahead of the Grand Princess passengers' arrival

The air base ramped up preparations for the quarantined passengers (above) where an ambulance could be seen parked next to the military barrack and crews from ServoPro, in independent contractor who works in restoration and disaster recovery, were setting up next to the building

The latest case had already been repatriated to Canada before their diagnosis was discovered.

Addressing a news conference on Tuesday in Sacramento, the state capital, Governor Gavin Newsom said he hoped to finish getting all the roughly 2,400 passengers off the ship within 72 hours.

On Tuesday night, 142 Britons were flown back to the United Kingdom but will not be placed into quarantine.

The Grand Princess cruise ship (seen docked on Wednesday) was held off the coast of California after 21 people tested positive for coronavirus Friday

Port workers wearing protective gear work along the portside of the Grand Princess cruise ship in Oakland on Tuesday

Grand Princess cruise ship passengers being screened inside a tent Tuesday in Oakland before boarding a bus that will take them to a military base for quarantine. California Gov. Gavin Newsom hopes to have disembarked the ship within 72 hours

Instead, they will be asked to self-isolate at home and told to only get in touch with the NHS if they fall ill - despite the fact infected patients are highly contagious a week before showing symptoms.

They are expected to land back in the UK on Wednesday morning.

US passengers have been taken to various air force bases across the country where they will remain in quarantine for 14 days.

According to a press release from Princess Cruises on Tuesday, 'once they disembark, American guests will be transferred to either Travis Air Force Base in Solano County, California; Miramar Marine Corps Air Station in San Diego; Lackland Air Force Base in Bexar County, Texas; or Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Marietta, Georgia'.

The plan was to send California residents to the Travis Air Force base in Fairfield or Marine Corps Air Station Miramar near San Diego, while non-Californians were being flown to Joint Base San Antonio Lackland in Texas or Dobbins Air Force Base in Georgia.

Passengers from the Grand Princess cruise ship, which docked in Oakland, arrive for quarantine at Joint Base San Antonio Lackland in San Antonio, Texas, on Tuesday. This is the third group of quarantined passengers to join the base

Passengers from the Grand Princess cruise ship, which docked in Oakland, arrive Tuesday for quarantine at Joint Base San Antonio Lackland in Texas. The base expects to receive 380 passengers from the cruise ship in the next few hours

Some 1,500 people were evacuated from the ship on Monday, including two dozen people requiring urgent medical care. Pictured, a bus full of American passengers arrives at Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, California

Travis Air Force in Northern California was expected to welcome 810 Californian passengers in total on Tuesday.

Other American passengers were being driven by bus to take a charter plane from Oakland International Airport where they were then sent to other military bases around the country.

On Tuesday evening, the first passengers were pictured arriving in Joint Base San Antonio Lackland in San Antonio, Texas, for their quarantine.

This is the third set of quarantined visitors to arrive at the base, after it took in 91 citizens repatriated from Wuhan, China, in February and later received 140 passengers from the Diamond Princess Cruise Ship.

The base was expecting to receive about 380 passengers from the Grand Princess.

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RELIEF FOR SISTER SHIP THE CARIBBEAN PRINCESS AS TWO CREW MEMBERS TEST NEGATIVE FOR CORONAVIRUS AND PASSENGERS ARE ALLOWED TO DISEMBARK

Around 4,000 passengers and crew were finally able to disembark from the Caribbean Princess cruise ship on Wednesday morning after coronavirus tests on two crew members came back negative.

Passengers were pictured stepping off the cruise ship onto dry land at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, after the ship had previously been refused permission to dock and was given a no sail order from the CDC.

Some holidaymakers were wearing protective face masks as they left the ship while others simply wore beaming smiles  no doubt relieved that they wont be subject to a 14-day quarantine like the passengers on board sister ship Grand Princess.

The Caribbean Princess had been on a 10-day cruise to the Panama Canal when it was refused permission to dock amid fears over a coronavirus outbreak on board.

Around 4,000 passengers and crew were finally able to disembark from the Caribbean Princess cruise ship on Wednesday morning after coronavirus tests on two crew members came back negative

Passengers were pictured stepping off the cruise ship onto dry land at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, early Wednesday after the ship had previously been refused permission to dock and was given a no sail order from the CDC

The Caribbean Princess had been on a 10-day cruise to the Panama Canal when it was refused permission to dock amid fears over a coronavirus outbreak on board after it emerged two crew members had been on board the Grand Princess. The crew members have now tested negative

Passengers Sharon and Steve Schilke, of Michigan were happy after disembarking: Some holidaymakers were wearing protective face masks as they left the ship while others simply wore beaming smiles  no doubt relieved that they wont be subject to a 14-day quarantine like the passengers on board sister ship Grand Princess

The CDC ordered that two crew members be tested for coronavirus after learning that they had been on board the Grand Princess in California where 22 cases have been confirmed.

The ship, which typically sails with 3,140 guests and 1,200 crew, was ordered to remain at sea until results of the tests came back negative on Tuesday.

The cruise ship touched down in Florida around 6am and passengers were able to disembark soon after.

Passengers Karla Weston and Steve Young, of Port Saint John, Florida, were pictured walking out of the port terminal wearing masks after leaving the ship.

Princess Cruises has cancelled the ships next scheduled cruise on Wednesday, citing labor shortages.
Each week well include a column from an Alabama woman, in collaboration with See Jane Write. Click here to sign up for the Reckon Women Facebook page.

By Beth Shelburne

Last year, I left a 20-year career in TV news so I could write about incarceration full time. If this sounds bewildering to you, youre not alone. People frequently ask, why do you care so much about people in prison? Why would I not care? Since 2012, Ive covered Alabamas prison crisis, steeped in violence, corruption, extortion, abuse, and neglect. I have never spent a day in jail or prison, but I dont need a personal connection to recognize when something is not right- and whats happening inside our prisons, on our dime, is shamefully wrong.

Almost every day, I hear from heartbroken families whose loved ones have suffered unimaginable horrors inside our prisons. That includes the mother of John David Teague, a handsome father of two boys, who was stabbed to death with an ice pick inside Staton Prison last year. His mother cried as she told me about his drug addiction, which worsened in prison, where illegal drugs are plentiful and pushers prey on people like Mr. Teague. He was serving a 21-year sentence for third-degree burglary, but it became a death sentence when he was murdered, one of 16 people killed inside Alabama prisons in 2019. Thats the highest annual number of prison homicides on record for Alabama, making the Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) the nations deadliest prison system.

Ive also talked to the mother of Matthew Holmes, who hanged himself while in solitary confinement at Limestone Prison last year. His mother, in shock over his suicide, told me her son had recently graduated from the prison trade school, where hed made the Deans list while earning an electrical degree. She tried to get answers from the prison warden about what happened, but he wouldnt share any details. Everybody at that prison was so cold and disrespectful to me, she told me through sobs. Matthew Holmes, at age 28, became the 14th person to kill himself inside an Alabama prison in 14 months, the highest prison suicide rate in the nation.

Prisons are taxpayer funded institutions. ADOC is the states largest law enforcement agency, yet its prisons are among the most dangerous places in the world. Theres a word for this phenomenon: criminogenic, which means causing criminal behavior. Our prisons make people worse, not better. No one escapes unharmed. ADOC prisons also make our communities less safe, which Governor Kay Iveys prison study group recently admitted in its findings letter.

Quite simply, we cannot sustain a system in which these inmates become more violent while in prison and then commit new crimes upon release from prison only to return to prison, Justice Champ Lyons, who chaired the group, wrote in a letter to the Governor.

If you're interested in learning more about prison reform, join Alabamians for Fair Justice, a coalition of individuals and supporting organizations working together to advance bold, evidence-based solutions to Alabama's prison crisis.

If you do not care about our prison crisis because the victims are people who may have committed crimes, then consider the parents of these prisoners. Consider Sandy Ray, whose son Steven Davis was beaten to death by officers at Donaldson Prison last October. Sandy raced to the hospital after she got the call and found her son on life support, his face black and blue, his head misshapen. She held his hand as he took his last breaths. Stevie did not deserve this, she told me. We wouldnt treat a dog this way.

I have yet to meet a mother who loved her child less because he or she was in prison. Every man and woman incarcerated in our state is someones son or daughter. The families of people in ADOC custody do not deserve the constant worry that their childs criminal punishment could at any moment turn into a death sentence. All of us bear a moral responsibility for the actions of our government agencies. I hope my work helps more people recognize the great moral failings of Alabamas prison system, which should matter to everyone if we truly believe in the rule of law and caring for the least of these.

Beth Shelburne is a writer and journalist based in Birmingham. She previously served as a news anchor and reporter at Fox 6 WBRC. She currently works part-time as an investigative reporter for the Campaign for Smart Justice with ACLU of Alabama.
Silver Loses Its Mettle  Part 2 (Technicals)

Last week I talked about unrealistic expectations for the price of silver (see Silver Loses Its Mettle). My comments were centered on two specific factors: 1) silvers primary role as an industrial commodity and 2) the fallacy of the gold-to-silver ratio.

Both of these items have their root in fundamentals, or lack of them.

In addition, I pointed out the fact that the price of silver has declined significantly in every single recession of the past fifty years.

Not surprisingly, the technical side appears to reinforce the lack of fundamental support for higher silver prices.

Below is a one year chart of silver prices (SLV  iShares Silver Trust ETF)

As you can see, SLV has made consistently lower lows over the past seven months. Last months plunge of fourteen percent to a new seven-month low came after a similar percentage de cline in stocks that was supposed to take silver to new highs  not new lows.

The next chart is also of SLV. This one shows price action for the past four years

As we pointed out last week, silver has still not exceeded its top from the summer of 2016. With all of the arguments put forth in favor of higher silver prices, as well as the expectations for such, doesnt silvers price action seem just a bit disappointing?

Last chart for today is the ten-year chart for SLV

If you were not disappointed before, you might be now. At the least, you might want to reconsider your bullish exuberance.

There is nothing fundamental or technical which supports the calls for much higher silver prices.

Does that mean that silver prices cannot go higher? Of course not. But silvers price explosions are few and far between. And they dont last long. This is probably not one of those times.

Someone said recently, If you love gold then you absolutely have to love silver. I disagree.

By Kelsey Williams

http://www.kelseywilliamsgold.com

Kelsey Williams is a retired financial professional living in Southern Utah. His website, Kelseys Gold Facts, contains self-authored articles written for the purpose of educating others about Gold within an historical context.

 2020 Copyright Kelsey Williams - All Rights Reserved Disclaimer: The above is a matter of opinion provided for general information purposes only and is not intended as investment advice. Information and analysis above are derived from sources and utilising methods believed to be reliable, but we cannot accept responsibility for any losses you may incur as a result of this analysis. Individuals should consult with their personal financial advisors.

 2005-2019 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication.




KENNEWICK, Wash., March 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Brandon Patton, with Tri-Cities Real Estate Market Leaders, started a new business model that could change the way people list their homes for sale. Brandon Patton is a Realtor, but he offers a unique approach to doing business with a real estate broker. When clients list their home for sale with Brandon Patton, they only pay a 1% listing fee to the listing real estate brokerage. This saves the average client $8,000 in the Tri-Cities area.

Brandon Patton is a Real Estate Broker in Tri-Cities. He is the owner and Designated Broker of Real Estate Market Leaders.

The average sales price of a home for sale in Tri-Cities, Washington is $350,000. Let's say someone listed their home for sale with a large franchise company and decided to pay a 6% listing fee to work with a real estate broker. With the average list price of $350,000, this would cost the homeowner $21,000 in real estate fees. However, people who list their home for sale with Brandon Patton only pay a 1% listing fee and he will offer the buyers agent a 2.5% fee. This means that his clients pay a total of $12,250 to cover both the selling agent's fees and listing agent's fees. That's a savings of $8,750 when one works with Brandon Patton, a local Realtor in Tri-Cities. His coverage area is Richland, Kennewick, Pasco and West Richland. However, if you reach out to him, he will often cover most areas in Eastern Washington.

One of the main reasons that Brandon Patton can save his clients so much money is due to the fact he is the owner of an independent real estate brokerage. When people work with an independent real estate brokerage, they do not need to follow franchise or corporate rules. For example, when someone lists their home for sale with a franchise company, they need to follow the corporate policies. Furthermore, most cooperate companies are designed to make shareholders and executives profit. In most cases, the local broker is forced to pay franchise fees to people who did nothing to help during the sale. This just drives up overhead and divides the commission out to more people who did nothing during the sale.

Buying and selling houses is an online business. Over 90% of buyers use the Internet to search for their next home. Therefore, the most important thing a real estate broker can do is make a house look good online and get the house on every website that advertises houses for sale. Brandon Patton uses listing syndication and gets his real estate listings on all the same sites as the franchise companies, but he saves his clients thousands. Brandon Patton has an MBA Degree and is a Veteran of Foreign War. He understands how to make clients happy. He has negotiated over 500 million dollars in real estate contracts.

Media Contact:

Brandon Patton

Phone: 509-713-3364

Email: [email protected]

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Brandon Patton is a Real Estate Broker in Tri-Cities. He is the owner and Designated Broker of Real Estate Market Leaders.

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In a report published in NANO, a group of researchers from the Republic of Korea have discovered a method to promote cancer cell growth using silica-coated gold nanorods. The cell growth by near infrared (NIR) exposure of Si-AuNRs nano heat islands revealed a higher growth rate of 36.13% than the normal incubator condition.

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have been brought to the forefront of cancer research in recent years. They possess a number of favourable properties such as ease of synthesis and surface modification, strongly enhanced and tunable optical properties as well as excellent biocompatibility for clinic setting. Gold nanorods (AuNRs) are considered suitable materials for diverse biomedical applications in controlling cell behaviors.

The nano island system with well dispersed silica coated Au nanorods (Si-AuNRs) was used to demonstrate the enhanced cell growth of normal and cancer cells from the induced expressions of the heat shock proteins. Heat shock proteins could hinder the formation of unwanted intermolecular bond when combined with unconjugated protein.

The researchers believe that the growth of cancer cells in near infrared region using Si-AuNRs induced the activities of heat shock proteins, which could help the protein folding in cell growth and survival in comparison to the cells grown in the incubator only. Unlike external heating sources, such as infrared radiation, steamed heats, or water bath, the internalized nanomaterials for mediating heats were effective with minimal side effects.

"The cell growth with NIR exposure to Si-AuNRs nano heat islands could be an alternative way to grow cells in comparison to the conventional system, such as an incubator. Such cells can be used in diverse cellular applications in future", said lead investigator of study Dong Kee Yi.

###

This research was supported by the Korean National Research Foundation (NRF-2018R1A2B6007786).

Corresponding author for this work is Dong Kee Yi (vitalis@mju.ac.kr).

For more insight into the research described, readers are invited to access the paper on NANO.

IMAGE

Caption: The nano island system with well dispersed silica coated Au nanorods (Si-AuNRs) was used to demonstrate the enhanced the cell growth of normal and cancer cells from the induced expressions of the heat shock proteins (HSP). The over expressions of HSP could help in protein folding in cell proliferations and growths of both the normal and cancer cells. The cell growth enhancing technology could be expanded in diverse applications in cell culture systems.

NANO is an international peer-reviewed monthly journal for nanoscience and nanotechnology that presents forefront fundamental research and new emerging topics. It features timely scientific reports of new results and technical breakthroughs and publishes interesting review articles about recent hot issues.

About World Scientific Publishing Co.

World Scientific Publishing is a leading independent publisher of books and journals for the scholarly, research, professional and educational communities. The company publishes about 600 books annually and about 140 journals in various fields. World Scientific collaborates with prestigious organizations like the Nobel Foundation and US National Academies Press to bring high quality academic and professional content to researchers and academics worldwide. To find out more about World Scientific, please visit http://www.worldscientific.com.

For more information, contact Tay Yu Shan at ystay@wspc.com.
They're back: Driving Licence Apply Ltd is paying to appear at the top of searches

A website flogging expensive driving licences has reappeared at the top of Google searches just months after a Money Mail investigation prompted its removal.

Driving Licence Apply Ltd is paying to appear at the top of searches for terms including 'DVLA licence' and 'driving licence apply'.

It charges 77.60 for a replacement driving licence, which costs 20 if you apply direct to the DVLA.

It had previously been using the address dvlalicenceapply.co.uk, but its adverts were taken down by Google after Money Mail's intervention in December.

It is now back at the top of the search engine's results under licenceapply.co.uk. Money Mail also revealed that the man behind the website was solicitor Simon Button.

Mr Button resigned as director of Driving Licence Apply Ltd in November last year, but still owns Ottaway Holdings Ltd. This is the majority shareholder in the company, according to Companies House.

It is illegal to mimic a government website, but firms such as Driving Licence Apply stay on the right side of the law by using similar web addresses while carrying disclaimers stating they are not affiliated to official departments.

A Google spokesman says it would be removing the adverts.

m.dilworth@dailymail.co.uk
Tigard police are investigating a homicide after a Nehalem man was found dead Friday at a hotel.

Embassy Suites Hotel staff found Brian Lowes, 61, dead in his hotel room on Friday. He had checked into the hotel, which is near the Washington Square Mall, earlier that day.

The police initially called the death suspicious, but said the Oregon State Medical Examiner ruled it a homicide.

Tigard Police Lt. Neil Charlton said Lowes checked into his hotel alone. He would not confirm Lowes cause of death other than that he died from homicidal violence. Charlton would not say what time Lowes checked into the hotel, what time he was found dead or whether there was something that led hotel staff to enter Lowes room and check on him.

Police said the investigation is still active and asked anyone who saw anything suspicious on Friday or who may have information to call the Tigard Police Department at 503-718-2677 or emailing tips@tigard-or.gov.

Jayati Ramakrishnan; 503-221-4320; jramakrishnan@oregonian.com; @JRamakrishnanOR

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
By Trend

France expresses gratitude to Azerbaijan for the solidarity shown in the fight against terror, Ambassador of France to Azerbaijan Zachary Gross said in Baku on March 11 - the Day of National Sorrow, dedicated to the memory of victims of terror, Trend reports.

11 March is the European Day in Memory of the Victims of Terrorism that was set up to coincide with the anniversary of the 2004 Madrid bombings that killed 193 and injured over 2,000 people.

The ambassador noted that France is familiar with similar situations in Azerbaijan.

France also faced the same challenges. At the same time, we are grateful to Azerbaijan for tolerance, Zachary Gross added.

The diplomat reminded that French President Emmanuel Macron ordered that March 11 be declared Sorrow Day to commemorate the victims of terror.

Gross said that this is done in order to honor the memory of French citizens and foreign citizens who were victims of the attacks that threaten the interests of the country.

The ambassador added that the country has suffered from numerous events of terror over the past 10 years.

French citizens are attacked by radical terrorist groups. This is a tragedy behind the rejection of democracy and dialogue, Gross noted.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Indian health ministry officials have stated that a team of doctors will be sent to Italy on Thursday to collect swab samples of Indian students stuck in the country before bringing them back to India.

The team of four doctors consisting of two microbiologists and two public health specialists from the Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital and National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) will depart for Rome on Thursday night.

The Indian Embassy in Italy has contacted Indian students in the country and asked them to gather at a designated venue for sampling collecting exercise. Over 300 Indian students are stuck, an official said.

READ | Italy PM Announces 25 Billion Euros To Fight Deadly Coronavirus Outbreak

70 Indians stranded in Italy over 'COVID-19-free Certificate'

Over 70 Indians, including students, have been stranded in Italy as they do not have COVID-19 negative certificates. They appealed the government to withdraw mandatory order.

When asked about the response from the Indian Embassy, the stranded Indians stated that the Embassy was discussing the matter with the government, but so far there was no word from them. They also informed that the Air India staff was unwilling to let the students board the flight.

The deadly coronavirus outbreak has already killed 631 people in Italy. According to reports, Italy has become the epicentre of the viral outbreak in Europe and the country has recently announced a nationwide lockdown to help control the spread.

READ | Indians Stranded In Italy, Withdraw Mandatory Health Certificates: Kerala CM Urges PM Modi

So far, India has evacuated 948 passengers from COVID-19-affected countries. Out of these, 900 are Indian citizens and 48 belonging to countries like Maldives, Myanmar, Bangladesh, China, USA, Madagascar, Sri Lanka, Nepal, South Africa, and Peru, it said.

The government on Wednesday asserted that it was focusing on bringing Indians stuck in Italy and Iran facing "extreme situation".

As of Wednesday, the number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus in India has risen to 60 after 10 new positive cases were reported from Delhi, Rajasthan and Kerala being, the ministry said.

READ | Chile To Quarantine Travellers From Italy, Spain Amid Coronavirus Dread

READ | Coronavirus: Govt Asks Indians To Refrain From Travelling To China, Italy, 6 Other Countries
Representative image

The Karnataka government on March 11 issued a temporary regulation called the 'Karnataka Epidemic Diseases, COVID-19 Regulations, 2020' to prevent spread of coronavirus, news agency ANI has reported.

According to the regulation, all government and private hospitals should have flu corners for screening of suspected cases of COVID-19.

The regulation also states that no person/institution or organisation shall use print or electronic media to spread misinofmration regarding the disease. According to the regulation, an individual found indulging in any such activity will be punished.

Karnataka has confirmed four cases of coronavirus, with the first case being reported on March 9 in Bengaluru. The government of the state, in a statement, said that all the four cases are stable and recovering in isolation facility. The statement said that till now, 98,401 passengers have been screened in Karnataka.

Till now, 60 cases of coronavirus have been reported in India. This includes three patients from Kerala who have now recovered.
Turkey and Russia, which back opposing sides in Syrias war, agreed on a ceasefire to stop escalating clashes in Idlib.

Turkey is expecting Russia to take measures over small violations of a week-long ceasefire by its allied Syrian government forces in Idlib province, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said, warning that Ankara will respond heavily if its military observation posts in the region come under attack

Turkey and Russia, which back opposing sides in Syrias war, agreed on the ceasefire to stop escalating clashes in Idlib that brought the two countries close to direct confrontation amid a Moscow-backed Syrian government offensive that has displaced almost a million people.

As well as supporting certain rebel groups in Idlib, the last opposition stronghold in Syria, Turkey set up 12 posts in the province under a 2018 deal with Russia aimed at preventing an assault by Syrian President Bashar al-Assads forces.

In the face of the smallest attack [on our posts], we will not only retaliate, but we will respond much more heavily, Erdogan said in a speech in Ankara on Wednesday.

The Turkish president agreed to the ceasefire last week with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, who supports Syrian government forces, but previous such deals have proved temporary.

Although there are only small incidents here and there, the ceasefire has started to be violated, Erdogan said. We are sharing these developments with Russia  and expect them to take measures.

Under the ceasefire deal, Turkey and Russia also agreed to establish a secure corridor along a key east-west highway in Idlib and hold joint patrols on it as of March 15.

A Russian delegation arrived in Ankara on Tuesday for talks on details of the agreement, which the two sides said would be finalised by next week.

Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar said the talks on implementing the ceasefire have so far been positive and constructive.

Damascus, backed by Iranian forces and Russian air raids, has been fighting to retake Idlib since December, pushing close to a million civilians northwards towards Turkeys border.

Turkey already hosts some four million refugees, and has called for greater assistance from Europe and its NATO partners in dealing with the crisis.

It launched a full-scale military operation in Syria after dozens of its soldiers were killed in Idlib last month.
by Melani Manel Perera

The first Sri Lankan infected is a tourist guide who had contact with a group of Italians. People coming from South Korea, Italy and Iran are placed in quarantine. Sri Lankans are urged to adhere to health procedures to limit contagion.

Colombo (AsiaNews)  A tourist guide who had contact with a group of Italians is Sri Lankas first case of local coronavirus contagion, this according to Anil Jasinghe, director general of Health Services.

The infected man, 52, is currently at the Infectious Disease Hospital in Angoda, on the outskirts of Colombo. His family lives in the capital and has been quarantined.

To avoid spreading the virus, the government now requires all travellers from South Korea, Iran and Italy to be quarantined for 14 days at three centres: the Batticaloa campus, the Kandakadu Treatment and Rehabilitation centre in the Polonnaruwa district, and the Hendala Leprosy Hospital.

The authorities believe that these measures should suffice to contain the Covid-19.

The first case recorded on the island nation was a Chinese tourist from Hubei province, who has already recovered and been discharged. The first infected Sri Lankan was a woman living in Italy.

In addition to the 52-year-old man from Colombo, two Sri Lankans were infected in the United Arab Emirates, director general Jasinghe said.

According to the Health Minister, the Arab nation has spared no effort in monitoring the spread of the virus and handling it according to the highest medical standards.

Health authorities note the people must conform to preventive measures and respect established procedures now in force around the world, like washing ones hands, as well as covering ones nose and mouth when sneezing and coughing.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-11 07:16:04|Editor: huaxia

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UNITED NATIONS, March 10 (Xinhua) -- Agencies, departments and offices of the United Nations are taking action to address the novel coronavirus crisis by limiting access to UN sites and by pooling resources for preparedness, UN officials said on Tuesday.

"Very important measures were decided mostly over the weekend and yesterday (Monday)," UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told reporters. "They have been announced today (Tuesday) to member states. And they are preventive measures with the objective to prevent and, obviously, if something happens, to contain (the virus)."

"And we are totally committed to cooperate with the authorities of the (host) country, the state, and the city in order to be part of the effort in New York," he added.

Guterres was referring to new restrictions on access to UN Headquarters in New York.

"It has been decided to close the complex to the general public and to temporarily suspend all guided tours until further notice," said Stephane Dujarric, Guterres' spokesman, in a note to correspondents earlier on Tuesday.

These arrangements will come into effect on Tuesday at 8 p.m. New York time (0000 GMT Wednesday), he said.

The United Nations will continue to monitor the situation closely and further measures may be taken as circumstances evolve, said the spokesman, adding that the secretary-general takes the health and safety of UN staff as a matter of utmost priority and concern.

The UN Headquarters in New York City, located in Midtown Manhattan on the East River, is a popular tourist attraction. Guided tours have been offered at UN Headquarters ever since the complex opened in 1952.

The UN Visit Centre says approximately 1 million visitors from around the world come to visit the United Nations every year. Enrollment in a guided tour costs 22 U.S. dollars per adult.

The world body is also restricting access to the UN Secretariat building, the tallest structure in the complex.

In a notice to correspondents at the United Nations, the Media Accreditation and Liaison Unit (MALU) said that only those in possession of a valid UN grounds pass or special event tag will be allowed access to the Secretariat building.

Any other visitors requiring access into the building for a meeting or other events will need to be signed in and escorted by a UN staff member or a delegate from member states, said MALU.

"At this time of increasing worries expressed by staff members and others, these measures and those announced this morning should help promote a better work atmosphere while contributing to the active management of any risks," it said.

A state of emergency over COVID-19 was declared in New York State earlier in the week.

Although no cases of infection of the novel coronavirus have been reported so far among UN staff in New York, Undersecretary-General Atul Khare for the Department of Operational Support briefed member states on COVID-19 in an informal meeting on Tuesday morning called by the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council.

The head of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, told reporters in Geneva on Monday that, now that COVID-19 has a foothold in so many countries, the threat of a pandemic has become very real, but he also stressed that it would be the first pandemic in history that could be controlled.

The UN Refugee Agency on Tuesday launched an initial appeal for 33 million U.S. dollars to boost preparedness, prevention, and response to address the public health needs of refugees prompted by COVID-19.

High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi said that as of Tuesday and based on available evidence, there have been no reports of COVID-19 infections among refugees and asylum seekers. But he said the virus can affect anyone and stressed the need to ensure that the global response includes all people.

The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) said on Tuesday that one in five students worldwide is staying away from school due to the COVID-19 crisis and an additional one in four is being kept out of institutions of higher education. Data show that the crisis is now impacting close to 363 million students worldwide, from the pre-primary to tertiary level, including 57.8 million students in higher education.

Fifteen countries have ordered nationwide school closures and 14 have implemented localized closures, spanning Asia, Europe, the Middle East and North America, the agency reported.

A global videoconference of higher education officials on Tuesday was convened to step up the emergency response and share strategies to minimize learning disruption.

UNESCO also announced the creation of an emergency task force that will support national responses and share effective policy responses with a focus on the most vulnerable countries. It has published a list of freely accessible learning applications and platforms for use by parents, teachers and students, as well as school systems.
Representative image

The number of confirmed cases of novel coronavirus in the country has risen to 52, with two fresh positive cases -- one each from Delhi and Rajasthan -- being reported, the health ministry said on Wednesday.

Giving details of the breakup, the ministry said five positive cases have been reported in Delhi, while nine persons were diagnosed with the infection in Uttar Pradesh till Wednesday morning. The total number of 52 confirmed cases includes 16 Italians, the ministry said.

Karnataka and Maharashtra have reported four and two confirmed cases of COVID-19 respectively. Ladakh has recorded two positive cases.

Rajasthan, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab have reported one case each, the ministry said.

Kerala has till now reported nine cases which includes the three patients who were discharged last month following recovery.

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

Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, who spoke to a few COVID-19 patients admitted at Medanta and Safdarjung hospitals through video calls on Tuesday, said all the people infected by the disease were stable and showing signs of recovery.

According to the protocol currently followed, a suspected case is tested at least twice before it is confirmed as 'positive'.

Amid rising cases of the COVID-19 pandemic globally, India on Tuesday barred entry of the nationals of three more countries -- France, Germany and Spain -- suspending the regular as well as e-visas granted to them till date.

"All regular (sticker) Visas/e-Visas granted to nationals of France, Germany and Spain and issued on or before March 11 and who have not yet entered India stand suspended with immediate effect," said a Bureau of Immigration notification issued late Tuesday night.

Regular visas, including e-visas, granted to all foreign nationals who have travel history to these countries on or after February 1 and who have not yet entered India also stand suspended, it said.

Issuing a travel advisory, the health ministry also called for passengers with travel history to China, Hong Kong, Republic of Korea, Japan, Italy, Thailand, Singapore, Iran, Malaysia, France, Spain and Germany to undergo self-imposed quarantine for a period of 14 days from the date of their arrival, and their employers to facilitate work-from-home for such employees during this period.

India had already suspended visas granted to the nationals of Italy, Iran, South Korea, Japan and China.

The Union Health Ministry has strongly urged people to refrain from travelling to China, Italy, Iran, Republic of Korea, Japan, France, Spain and Germany and advised them to avoid non-essential travel abroad in view of the coronavirus outbreak.
WASHINGTON  The House passed a bipartisan adjustment of key surveillance laws on Wednesday, cobbling together an unusual coalition of lawmakers to approve some new privacy protections for Americans and extend three expiring F.B.I. tools for investigating terrorism and espionage.

The vote appeared to be a breakthrough after weeks of negotiations in both the House and the Senate to prevent the surveillance tools from expiring this weekend and to address abuses identified in F.B.I. applications to wiretap a former Trump campaign adviser. Though civil libertarians in both parties opposed it as a half-measure that fell short of the kind of sweeping protections they favor, the bill passed with strong Democratic and Republican support, 278 to 136.

It is by no means a perfect bill, said Representative Jerrold Nadler, Democrat of New York and the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. He said he would have liked further changes, but this bill includes important reforms.

In the Senate, Republican leaders urged their colleagues to support the House agreement and pledged to move it as soon as possible. They were trying to line up an expedited Thursday vote, but their aides said it would depend on whether the bills opponents would use Senate rules to slow down passage. A handful of senators have long championed broader surveillance reforms, like Rand Paul, Republican of Kentucky, and Ron Wyden, Democrat of Oregon, and argue that the House changes leave Americans privacy at risk of intrusion by government investigators.
An employee from Dell and Mindtree each have tested positive for COVID-19 in Bengaluru. This takes the total count of positive COVID-19 cases in Bengaluru to four.

The Mindtree employee was returning from an overseas trip and tested positive on March 10. It is quite unfortunate that one of our employees returning from an overseas trip tested positive for COVID-19 on March 10. The employee along with his family members are under quarantine and medical supervision, the company said in a statement.

A Dell employee returning from Austin via New York and Dubai on March 1 too tested positive, media reports suggest. He developed symptoms four days later. In response, the company asked some of its employees to work from home.

Confirming the development, Dell said, We confirm that one of our Bengaluru team members based on the 4th floor of Dell 4 building, Annexe Wing, Inner Ring Road Domlur, has tested positive for COVID-19. Out of caution, all team members based on the fourth floor of Dell 4 building, annexe wing will work from home for the next 14 days, i.e., until March 24.

Since the COVID-19 outbreak in India, IT firms have suspended overseas travel to infected areas and asked employees to avoid unnecessary travel overseas. Some of them are even looking at a domestic travel ban.

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

According to an ET report, Karnataka may announce curbs on overseas travel of IT workers. The state health department has also sought details on employees who have travelled to COVID-19 affected countries since February 21.

In India, the number of cases that have tested positive for COVID-19 is 45 and globally it is over one lakh, with the death toll crossing the 4,000 mark.
Backers of the "Nicaragua Grand Canal" talk about a vibrant commercial waterway that will reshape commercial shipping, reap a windfall for investors and haul one of the hemisphere's poorest nations out of poverty. But the project's detractorsand they are manyare having a hard time understanding what, exactly, those pro-canal people are talking about. And they also question whether it's being driven by commercial interests, or Chinese geopolitics. About a year from the scheduled completion of a $5.2 billion Panama Canal extension that will let the existing waterway accommodate bigger ships, a Chinese consortium and the Managua government have said that they began work on a Nicaragua canal. Read More Hong Kong Nicaragua Canal Development Investment (HKND) claims that it will complete the megaproject in 2019. (A project "groundbreaking" cited by media reports in December was actually just the start of an access road to let through heavy equipment.)

The Nicaragua Grand Canal is projected to cost $50 billion, and HKND says it will be able to accommodate ships of up to 23,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs, a measure equal to 20 feet by 8 feet by 8 feet of cargo). That compares with the 13,000 TEUs that the Panama Canal will be able to accommodate after its expansion.

Thousands of demonstrators march against the 173-mile Interoceanic Grand Canal that they say will negatively impact the environment, communities and Nicaraguan sovereignty, in Managua, Nicaragua, December 10, 2014. Sandra Cuffe | Anadolu Agenc | Getty Images

But the 173-mile Nicaragua canal project has generated criticism and skepticism, and lots of it. Industry experts question the level of demand for a second canal, its potential as a going business concern and the possible environmental impact in what is geologically unstable terrain. Many even doubt that the project will go much further than its paper proposal.

"The vision is very significant, but the reality is, a lot of people, including myself, are very skeptical that this will happen," said Eric Farnsworth, vice president at the Americas Society and Council of the Americas, a group that promotes democracy and free trade. "There have been over 70 attempts to build a canal in Nicaragua, but it hasn't happened." Read MoreDoubts deepen over Chinese-backed Nicaragua canal

Farnsworth cited Nicaragua's geological instability, including active volcanos and earthquakes, as one reason the Nicaraguan canal was never built in the first place. In 1902, Panama beat out Nicaragua for the American-built canal route, when the U.S. Senate voted for the smaller, more southerly nation by a mere eight votes. The canal played an important role in the recent U.S. West Coast ports strike, which forced some vessels to use the Panama route to get their goods to the East Coast. Meanwhile, Nicaraguan farmers opposing the canal construction have organized protestssome of which have become violentbecause it would expropriate their lands. Activists have also voiced loud concerns over the canal's environmental impact, pointing out that it would require the dredging of Lake Nicaragua, the largest freshwater lake in Central America and a critical water source.

The shipping industry is bleeding. The current volume is not conducive for this type of investment. Jean-Paul Rodrigue Hofstra University

Like Farnsworth, a large number of experts who spoke to CNBC have more questions than answers about the project, but they all agree on one thing: There's not enough demand to justify a second canal so close to the Panama Canal.

"I sincerely believe we don't need another canal. I don't think there's enough ship traffic to warrant the construction of another canal," said Bruce Carlton, president and CEO of the National Industrial Transportation League, a shipping industry advocacy group. Nicaragua refutes that argument. Telemaco Talavera, official spokesperson for the Nicaragua Grand Canal project, said that there will be demand from world shippers for their very largest vessels, which even the improved Panama Canal won't be able to accommodate. Read MoreCrime on the high seas: The world's most pirated waters

"The Triple-E type of ships won't be able to go through the Panama Canal, but Nicaragua will permit the passage of these ships," Talavera told CNBC, in an interview which like several for this story is translated from Spanish. "There will be a need for world shippers to reduce time, costs and pollution, and that will be an opportunity for Nicaragua and the rest of the region." The Triple-E that Talavera refers to is a 1,312-foot ship, the largest ship by length that is operated by Maersk, the world's largest container-shipping company by capacity. But even Maersk cast doubt on the need for a Nicaragua canal. "It's not something we have a demand for, and we're not able, at this point, to tell whether we will use it," said Michael Storgaard, senior press officer at Maersk. "It may be so heavily priced that we may not use it. We don't know anything right now." Moreover, most ports in the United States won't be able to accommodate the larger ships that the Nicaragua canal is hoping to target, said Jean-Paul Rodrigue, a transportation expert at Hofstra University. He added that it would require a hugely expensive investment for U.S. ports to gear up for those types of ships. "The shipping industry is bleeding," Rodrigue said. "The current volume is not conducive for this type of investment." The shipping industry took a hit during the financial crisis when many economies' growth stalled and trade volume decline.

Hong Kong-based HKND, which won the canal project on a no-bid basis and was granted a 50-year, renewable concession to run it, is betting on an industry comeback: "China should be expected to again accelerate its own economic growth in the coming decades, while many other countries will re-establish more respectable growth rates than those experienced in recent years," the group says on its website.

But even a comeback in demand on a global basis doesn't warrant another canal in Central America, critics say. Any given waterway's future traffic volume is a bet that depends on economic trends on literally a global scale. "General demand may grow at a moderate rate, but not necessarily in the canal route, and not necessarily in the product category that would make the route profitable in terms of tolls," said Rodolfo Sabonge, a former marketing and development executive of the Panama Canal Authority, who was in charge of analyzing demand projections for the expansion project. Read More Sabonge pointed out, for example, that Brazil has seen huge economic growth in Latin America, but anything that ships to or from a point south of Recife, depends on the Cape of Good Hope as its route to or from the Pacific.

The Panama Canal expansion began in 2007, adding a third set of locks and doubling its waterway capacity. The current locks allow the passage of up to 5,000 TEUs, but after the expansion is completed, the canal will be able to handle the passage of ships with up to 13,000 TEUs. "We didn't decide the size of the new locks arbitrarily. We decided them based on a study of demand, and we chose the lock size that made sense for the next 15 years," he said of the Panama's Canal's expansion.

The 'why' for Managua

Nicaragua's motivation for the canal is obvious. The Central American country is the second-poorest country in the Americas, after Haiti, with 42.5 percent of its population living in poverty (2009). The project would generate 50,000 jobs during its construction phase, and another 200,000 jobs once it is in operation. Panama, a prosperous economy, with an economic growth rate of 8.4 percent, is in many ways a reflection of what Nicaragua could have been.

Read MoreWhen West Coast docks will catch up: Port boss

"This will help the country to move forward socially and economically. It will be a development process that will help us get rid of our main enemypoverty," said Francisco Lopez, vice chancellor at the Universidad Central de Nicaragua. The development plans include the building of roads, two portsone in the Pacific and another one in the Caribbeanan airport, a free trade zone and a tourism complex with hotels. HKND has approval to build some of the other elements even if it doesn't build the canal itself.

Is Beijing behind it?

The motivation for HKND is less clear, and the company did not respond to CNBC's repeated requests for comment.

Given the project's expected costs of operation, the tolls in the much larger Nicaragua Grand Canal would have to be considerably higher than the tolls in the Panama Canal in order for investors to benefit from the project.

Read MorePort slowdown costing small businesses time and trust

The canal would need to generate an annual income of about $5 billion, explained Sabonge. But the Panama Canal, with a transit of 13,482 ships, carrying 327 million tons, generates annual revenue of only about $2 billion, according to 2014 figures. Naturally, the lack of an apparent financial feasibility has raised questions about whether the Nicaragua Grand Canal is a commercial project for HKNDor a geopolitical project for the Chinese government. "If an investor doesn't see that there's a viable option, or demand out there to make a profit, they wouldn't make an investment. That leaves the question of maybe it's coming from the government," said Chang Qian Guan, a professor at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.

If there are geopolitical interests behind the building of the canal, and the investment returns do not matter, and nothing has to be repaid, then the Panama Canal would be severely affected. Rodolfo Sabonge formerly of Panama Canal Authority
Vowing not to spare anyone involved in the Delhi riots irrespective of their religion, caste or party affiliation, Home Minister on Wednesday said it will be lesson for the country on what befalls those who indulge in rioting.

Replying to a discussion in Lok Sabah on the Delhi riots, Shah said prima facie the violence appears to be a pre-planned conspiracy.

Facing opposition criticism over alleged inaction by the Delhi police during the violence last month, Shah appreciated the police for not allowing the riots to spiral.



While expressing grief over the death of people in the violence, Shah said the Delhi police succeeded in controlling riots within 36 hours.

He said that a total of 2,647 people have been detained or arrested.

No one involved in the Delhi riots would be spared irrespective of their religion, caste or party affiliation, he said and stressed that it is also being ensured that "no innocent is harassed".

Security Advisor visited riot- affected areas on my request to raise morale of the Delhi police, Shah said.

"We wanted discussion on Delhi violence after Holi to avoid communal flare up during festival time," he said.
Hong Kong: HKs dedication to rule of law affirmed

The Government today said the Rule of Law Index 2020, released by the World Justice Project, has reaffirmed Hong Kongs commitment to the rule of law.

In the index, Hong Kong maintains its ranking as number five in the East Asia & Pacific region and number 16 globally.

Hong Kong improved one rank to eighth globally in the Absence of Corruption category, the Government said in a statement.

It also improved one rank in the global rankings for the Civil Justice and Criminal Justice categories.

The city moved up two ranks, standing at number two regionally and globally, in the Order & Security category.

The statement noted the overall crime situation in Hong Kong had been on a downward trend for 12 consecutive years.

Though the trend reversed in the second half of 2019, with violent protests, Police are determined to maintain law and order in Hong Kong.

The Government acknowledged that sentiments in society might have affected the perceptions of the public and certain parts of the international community on the rule of law in Hong Kong.

However, the Government reiterated that the citys solid foundation of the rule of law remains intact, and fundamental rights are well protected by the Basic Law.

The turmoil over the past few months has not affected Hong Kongs core competitiveness, it added.

Additionally, the Department of Justice will launch the 10-year Vision 2030 for Rule of Law initiative, which seeks to promote the rule of law and ensure equal access to justice for all.

The initiative will also promote the rule of law in the region and beyond to enhance the development of the rule of law internationally and safeguard Hong Kongs prosperity, stability and sustainable development.

The Government will remain steadfast in upholding the rule of law, it added.

This story has been published on: 2020-03-11. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Anil Ambani-led Reliance Group on Wednesday said its entire debt from troubled Yes Bank is fully secured and was availed in the ordinary course of business

New Delhi: Anil Ambani-led Reliance Group on Wednesday said its entire debt from troubled Yes Bank is fully secured and was availed in the ordinary course of business.

In a statement, the group said it is committed to honouring repayments of all its borrowing from Yes Bank through its asset monetisation programme.

The Group, it said, has "nil direct or indirect exposure to Rana Kapoor, former CEO of Yes Bank, or his wife or daughters, or any entities controlled by Rana Kapoor or his family."

Anil Ambani Group: Have NIL direct or indirect exposure to any entities controlled by Rana Kapoor or his family, entire exposure to Yes Bank is fully secured and transacted in ordinary course of business#YesBank #yesbankcrisis pic.twitter.com/8RJ3DL8LAU  CNBC-TV18 (@CNBCTV18Live) March 11, 2020

Reliance Group along side Subhash Chandra's Essel Group were among the large borrowers that Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had named after Yes Bank's board was superseded by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and withdrawal restrictions placed.

As many as 44 companies belonging to 10 large business groups reportedly accounted for bad loans of Rs 34,000 crore of Yes Bank. Nine firms of Anil Ambani Group reportedly owed Rs 12,800 crore while Essel Group had unpaid loans of Rs 8,400 crore.

Other companies on the list include DHFL Group, Dewan Housing Finance Corporation, Jet Airways, Cox & Kings, and Bharat Infra.

Without giving the loan it has from Yes Bank, Reliance said: "Its entire exposure to Yes Bank is fully secured and transacted in the ordinary course of business."

"Reliance Group is committed to honouring repayments of all its borrowings from Yes Bank Ltd through its various asset monetisation programmes which are all at advanced stages," the statement said.
Fort Worth, TX, March 10, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Emerge Energy Services LP, along with its operating subsidiary Superior Silica Sands LLC (Superior Silica Sands or the Company), is pleased to announce the reinstatement of the Companys mining permit in Chippewa County and the restart of activities at the Companys Auburn mine. Following several months of close partnership and coordination efforts with Chippewa County, the Company is excited to announce the resolution of all outstanding items which included providing the financial assurance requested by the county, installing additional monitoring wells and implementing a plan for continued reclamation activities. Superior Silica Sands remains dedicated to controlling the mine and committed to its obligations as a member of the Chippewa County community.

Superior Silica has had a company presence and solid relationship with Chippewa County since 2011 notes Rick Shearer, President & CEO. We will remain a leading Northern White sand supplier. Our commitment to be a responsible corporate citizen in northwestern Wisconsin has never wavered.

Superior Silica Sands has demonstrated over the years that it remains committed to the environment. By way of example, Superior Silica Sands has collaborated with the University of Wisconsin-River Falls and Chippewa County in a long-term research study to evaluate the effects of mining and reclamation on the land. Also, the Company was an industry leader and active participant in a 5-year groundwater study conducted by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and the Wisconsin Geologic and Natural History Survey (WGNHS) to evaluate the effects of mining and irrigation on water resources in Chippewa County.

In addition to our commitment to the environment, Superior Silica Sands contributions to the area have included financial assistance for construction of the New Auburn Fire Hall and local food pantry, scholarships for local students, volunteers for local projects such as construction of a Learning Trail at New Auburn, working at local festivals, adopting highway sections for roadside cleanups, and numerous donations to local fundraisers and charitable organizations. The Auburn mine also has hired and purchased goods and services through the local community. These historical contributions in Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG), combined with the Companys go-forward partnership in the region reflect the Superior Silica Sands corporate values: Teamwork, Integrity and Commitment.

Story continues

About Emerge Energy Services LP

Emerge Energy Services LP is a limited partnership engaged in the business of mining, producing, and distributing silica sand, a key input for the hydraulic fracturing of oil and natural gas wells, through its subsidiary Superior Silica Sands LLC.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains certain statements that are "forward-looking statements." These statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology including "may," "believe," "will," "expect," "anticipate," or "estimate." These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, and there can be no assurance that actual results will not differ materially from those expected by management of Emerge Energy Services LP. When considering these forward-looking statements, you should keep in mind the risk factors and other cautionary statements in Emerge Energy's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC. The risk factors and other factors noted in the Annual Report could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. Except as required by law, Emerge Energy Services LP does not undertake any obligation to update or revise such forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that occur after the date hereof.

PRESS CONTACT

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Australia banned travel from Italy and opened a USD 1.6 billion healthcare war chest Wednesday in a bid to slow the spread of coronavirus, as locally detected infections passed 100.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the Aus$2.4 billion package would be used to bolster medical services likely to come under intense strain as the virus spreads in the coming months.

Australia has recorded 116 cases of coronavirus and three fatalities, but only one case was locally transmitted and not directly linked to overseas travel.

Hoping to slow the import of infections, Morrison announced a ban on travel from Italy starting at 6 pm local (0700 GMT Wednesday), and adding to existing bans on travel from China, Iran and South Korea.

"The situation in Italy is now commensurate with the other countries where we previously had travel bans put in place, so we'll be extending that travel ban to Italy," he said.

Rome has recorded at least 10,000 cases, and reported over 630 deaths.

Morrison said the fund would be used to equip respiratory clinics, provide free COVID-19 and flu pathology tests, remote medical consultations and medicine deliveries for the elderly, among other services.

"These will not be usual times or usual demands on our health system," Morrison said.

He also dodged a question on whether the surge of cases in the United States was of concern.

At least five of Australia's cases reported in the last 24 hours have been imported from the US.

They included a man in his 50s who fell sick after returning from Seattle, but not before visiting a jazz festival and top-flight Melbourne rugby match.

Chief medical officer Brendan Murphy acknowledged the US had been "a bit slow in getting testing".

"We're watching that closely," he said.

In the coming days Morrison is expected to announce an additional fiscal stimulus to curb the economic impact of the crisis -- expected to help plunge Australia into its first recession in 29 years.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
statue of john harvard

Harvard University, the oldest, wealthiest and most famous institution of higher education in the United States, has told students to leave campus, and is moving to online education for the foreseeable future. The university had already cancelled all events and trips that were not considered academically essential.

There are two huge, immediate challenges for Harvard. First and most important, what to do with vulnerable students some from low-income backgrounds, others from overseaswho may not be able to leave campus easily. And second, how to deliver a remote education experience that is equivalent to the expensive, in-person learning upon which its reputation has been built.

Harvard College, the universitys school for undergraduates, has an old-fashioned system for organizing students accommodation, social spaces, and pastoral care. After their freshman year (year 1), students spend the remaining three years in one of the 12 Harvard houses, each named after a New England luminary. An email this morning (March 10) from university president Lawrence Bacow told students in Harvard accommodations to vacate the houses by March 15. There will be case-by-case exceptions, but most have to go.

An international student, who preferred to remain nameless, told Quartz that the order to leave campus is a shock. The student doesnt know where to go or whether traveling anywhere is a good idea at the moment, let alone how to continue an expensive education which theyve worked hard to access. I woke up with 50 texts from panicking and confused friends, the student said. There is a lot of confusion about what moving out and online classes entail. Its all in a state of very uncomfortable limbo.

Harvard just gave students 5 days to pack all of their things, move out, and go home. many can't go home because of costs and travel restrictions, and they've provided no guidance. and we're expected to go to class for the rest of this week.  hakeem (@hakeemangulu) March 10, 2020

In the students hometown, high-speed internet is unavailable. Educational technology platforms are helping to replace classrooms, at least temporarily. Harvard has proprietary edtech, successfully developed by its business school, putting it in an apparently strong position to move some classes online on March 23, at least for those who have access. Laboratories and studios cant be replicated.

Story continues

Around 40% of Harvard undergraduates receive financial assistance from the university. There are a lot of American students from low-income backgrounds, whose lives outside campus may not be stable. Some are undocumented, others are homeless. Not only is a Harvard education a way to support themselves and their dependents, life on campus is secure. There, they have food, shelter, and access to some of the best amenities in the world. The immediate future is now uncertain and stressful.

Even if Harvard puts a plan in place to mitigate the worst effects of the campus shutdown, its working with a $40 billion endowment. Most universities dont have those resources.

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A total of 529 CAPF personnel have been killed in the line of duty in the last five years and a family member each in 64 of these cases have been provided jobs under the compassionate appointment scheme, the government informed Parliament on Wednesday.

Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai gave this information in written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha.

He said out of the 194 personnel killed in the Central Reserve Police Force, a family member each in 21 of these cases were provided jobs under the compassionate appointment scheme.

The same figures were eight out of 92 personnel killed in the Border Security Force, 11 out of 131 in the Indo-Tibetan Border Police and 16 out of 62 personnel killed in the Sashastra Seema Bal.

Similarly, seven personnel of the Central Industrial Security Force have been killed during the last five years but there was no case of compassionate job appointment.

In Assam Rifles, jobs were provided in eight cases out of 43 troops who were killed in action, the minister said.

"All deserving cases are considered subject to their willingness and fulfilling required eligibility criteria for the job," the minister said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
More than 400 people have been evacuated from the quarantined Grand Princess cruise ship in the first seven hours since it docked at the Port of Oakland, the California Office of Emergency Services and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced Tuesday.

Health officials disembarked 407 passengers from the ship between its arrival at the port around noon Monday and 8:30 p.m. that night. The ship had been quarantined off the coast of San Francisco for several days since it was discovered that passengers may have been exposed to the novel coronavirus on a previous trip from San Francisco to Mexico from Feb. 11 to 21.

The first evacuations from the ship were focused on passengers with the most immediate medical needs, which are not necessarily related to the virus. Of those evacuated from the ship, 173 were U.S. residents and 234 were Canadians.

Health officials transported 149 U.S. residents from the ship to the quarantine zone at Travis Air Force Base via bus while the other 24 were transported via ambulance. Of the Canadians, 232 were sent to be repatriated to Canada, including two via ambulance.

Officials expect the pace of evacuations to pick up Tuesday with the ship's most vulnerable passengers transported away. Evacuations resumed at 8 a.m.

As the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in San Francisco reaches 14, the city announced Tuesday it's identifying quarantine locations for those who don't need hospitalization and can't self-isolate.

According to the office of Mayor London Breed, people who've tested positive for the virus, or who've been exposed to it and need to be quarantined but either live in shared spaces like SROs or are homeless, will be provided with temporary isolation housing consisting of RVs.

The RVs are being staged in the Presidio and will be placed at various locations throughout the city as needed, Breed's office said.

San Francisco Mayor London Breed has announced $5 million in new funding for measures to protect homeless people and residents of single-room occupancy hotels from the novel coronavirus, also known as COVID-19.

The money will go toward expanded cleaning in shelters, resource centers and SROs, as well as expanded meal offerings and shelter hours for the facilities that are not already open 24/7 to encourage homeless people to stay in shelters.

The initiatives will go with a Public Health Order issued by the city's health officer to establish required cleaning and contagion protocols in SROs and other facilities like Navigation Centers, according to the mayor's office.

Contra Costa Health Services announced interim social distancing guidelines Tuesday in an effort to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus in the county.

The health department said the guidelines will be in effect for an initial period of two weeks, at which point the county will consider whether to extend them any further. The guidelines are aimed, in particular, at higher-risk demographics like people ages 50 or older and people with chronic health conditions like heart disease, diabetes and cancer.

The guidelines include avoiding large gatherings of 50 or more people, canceling large community events like concerts and sporting events, enhancing sanitation efforts for public transit, suspending nonessential business traveling, telecommuting to work and staying home from work or school when sick.

Fear of spreading the novel coronavirus may have caused a dip in ridership for at least one Bay Area transit agency, according to data released Tuesday by BART.

According to a spokesman for the agency, BART ridership from March 2 to March 5 was down 8 percent compared to ridership from Feb. 24 to 27.

Spokesman Jim Allison said BART officials are mulling how the agency could be affected financially in the coming weeks and months if the risk of contracting coronavirus increases.

February ridership data for the Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District is not yet available. However, an AC Transit spokesman said the agency has no immediate plans to alter its service due to the hardship the coronavirus could represent to East Bay residents.

Schools in the Archdiocese of San Francisco will be closed for two weeks starting Thursday following the confirmation that a student at one of the schools tested positive for the novel coronavirus, diocesan officials said Tuesday.

The schools, which are in San Francisco, Marin and San Mateo counties, are scheduled to reopen March 26. School buildings in the archdiocese will be closed and classes canceled in addition to any school events such as fundraisers, community events and field trips.

Buildings will not be open to students, parents or the community. School officials will be delivering course content through a distance learning protocol.

Diocesan officials are asking that parents let the diocese know if their child tests positive for the virus.

The Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office announced Tuesday that the three police officers who shot a gunman at last year's Gilroy Garlic Festival did so lawfully.

Santino Legan, 19, opened fire on a crowd of people during the festival's family fair on July 28, 2019, and ultimately killed three people -- a 25-year-old man, a 13-year-old girl and a 6-year-old boy -- and wounded another 17.

Legan used an AK-47 assault rifle to fire 36 shots into the crowd, and was carrying several dozen rounds with him at the time of the shooting.

Gilroy police detective Eric Cryar and officers Robert Basuino and Hugh Del Moral shot and brought Legan down less than a minute after he opened fire, according to the district attorney's office report.

An Alameda County prosecutor told jurors on Tuesday that a 29-year-old transient man should be convicted of first-degree murder for the fatal stabbing of 18-year-old Nia Wilson at the MacArthur BART station in Oakland in 2018 because he knew what he was doing.

In his rebuttal closing argument in the trial of John Lee Cowell, prosecutor Butch Ford said, "I'm not disputing that he has some sort of mental health issue but I'm disputing that it played a role in the stabbing."

Cowell is charged with murder and attempted murder for the stabbing attack on Nia Wilson and her sister Letifah Wilson at the MacArthur station at about 9:35 p.m. on July 22, 2018.

Cowell also is charged with the special circumstance of killing Nia Wilson by lying in wait for allegedly concealing his intent and then killing her by taking her by surprise.

Cowell, who has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, would face life in prison without parole if he's convicted of murder and the lying in wait enhancement.

A 65-year-old woman was killed by a hit-and-run driver in East Oakland on Tuesday morning, police said.

The woman, who was an Oakland resident, was crossing the street when a vehicle traveling west in the 6200 block of Bancroft Avenue, near 62nd Avenue, struck her at 6:54 a.m., according to police.

Officers who responded to the collision found the woman down on the roadway and she was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

The driver who struck and killed the woman continued driving west on Bancroft and fled the scene, according to police.

The vehicle is described by police as a late 1990s white Toyota Camry with possible front-end damage.

A man was found fatally shot on Tully Road in San Jose on Tuesday morning, according to police.

Officers responded at 9:46 a.m. to a report of a person shot in the 1600 block of Tully Road and arrived to find the victim suffering from a gunshot wound. He was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead a short time later, police said.

No arrest has been made in the shooting and San Jose police did not immediately release any suspect description.

The California Highway Patrol responded to a fatal crash Tuesday morning involving a motorist who struck the center divider along northbound U.S. Interstate Highway 101 in San Mateo.

The CHP received a report around 8:45 a.m. of a large white pickup truck swerving in and out of lanes along the freeway, scraping against the center divider at about 20 mph and, ultimately, crashing into it at Peninsula Avenue.

Upon responding to the scene, paramedics found the driver unresponsive and administered CPR. The motorist was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead, according to the CHP.

The CHP did not reveal the identity of the motorist as an investigation into the crash is still ongoing.

A man killed in a big-rig crash Saturday morning on Interstate Highway 680 in unincorporated Alamo has been identified by the Contra Costa County coroner's office as 64-year-old Brentwood resident Anthony Wilson.

The crash happened shortly before 6 a.m. Saturday on southbound Highway 680 just south of Stone Valley Road.

Wilson was driving a Freightliner big-rig and came upon a non-injury crash in his lane of the highway. He veered left to try to avoid the crash and struck the center divider, according to the California Highway Patrol.

He apparently was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected onto the roadway as a result of the crash. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

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Armenia reported three new cases of coronavirus on Wednesday, bringing the total of confirmed cases to four as the World Health Organization declared the outbreak of the disease a pandemic.

In a Facebook post Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian said that two of the people testing positive for the coronavirus infection known as COVID-19 are citizens of Armenia aged 45 and 27 and one is a 51-year-old Italian who works in Armenia.

All three had arrived from Italy, he said, adding that authorities are currently looking to determine the scope of their contacts for further quarantine, which, according to preliminary data, is not large.

According to the Armenian premier, the Italian citizen and one of the citizens of Armenia do not have any complaints, while one of the citizens of Armenia is suffering from pneumonia. The patients, according to Pashinian, were registered as soon as they arrived in Armenia.

Anticipating criticism as to why no decision had been made to stop flights from Italy, Id say that we have discussed this possibility several times, arriving at the obvious conclusion that potential carriers could come to Armenia from countries neighboring Italy -- France, Austria, because no borders are used inside the EU. That is to say, we would have to shut down other European destinations following the same logic, especially since the coronavirus infection is spreading to other European countries as well. Now the airlines have decided to stop flights from Italy, Pashinian wrote.

Armenia reported its first coronavirus case on March 1. A 29-year-old citizen of Armenia who had been evacuated from coronavirus-hit Iran along with scores of others had tested positive and was hospitalized. Thirty-one other citizens who may have had close contact with the infected person had also been placed under a two-week quarantine in a disused hotel in Armenias resort town of Tsaghkadzor.

Pashinian said that those quarantined in Tsaghkadzor and the first diagnosed patient feel well and have no complaints. At the same time, he called on people to remain calm and follow recommendations of the Ministry of Health regarding basic protective measures against the new coronavirus.

Since the first confirmed COVID-19 case in Armenia authorities in Yerevan tightened controls at the border with Iran and re-introduced entry visas for Iranian citizens.

On March 10, Armenias Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged Armenian citizens to strictly refrain from visiting Italy, which appears to be the country hit by COVID-19 the hardest outside of China, with the number of infected exceeding 10,000 and 631 confirmed deaths.

The Ministry also urged Armenian citizens who are already in Italy to urgently suspend their trips and return to Armenia.

That same day budget airline Ryanair announced suspension of all flights from Yerevan to Italy and back until April 8.

Armenias Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Avinian announced later today that a charter flight from Rome to Yerevan will be organized on March 15 to evacuate Armenian citizens from Italy. He said that the Armenian government, the Armenian airline, Atlantis European Airways, and the Armenia International Airports company will cover the financial expenses connected with the flight.

The time of the flight and the airport from which it is to be operated will be reported additionally through Armenias embassy in Italy, Avinian said on Facebook.

I urge Armenian citizens who are in Italy for short-term visits, study and business trips to contact our embassy within the shortest possible time, he added.
Yes Bank on Wednesday said its inward real-time gross settlement (RTGS) services have been enabled to allow customers to make payments towards their credit card dues and loan obligations from other bank accounts.

The announcement comes a day after its customers were allowed inward IMPS and NEFT services for the same purposes.

RTGS is used for payments of over Rs 2 lakh, while payments below this amount can be made using NEFT. Besides, loan and credit cards repayments to the bank can also be done through IMPS from other bank accounts.

Inward RTGS services have been enabled. You can make payments towards YES BANK Credit Card dues and loan obligations from other bank accounts, the bank said in a tweet on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, in moratorium-related FAQs posted on its website, crisis-hit Yes Bank has said services such as online remittances, clearing of cheques and demand drafts as well as outward payment of EMIs will continue to remain under restriction during the moratorium period.

However, if an employer has a current account with Yes Bank and wants to pay salaries to employees, there will not be any problem in doing so.

As per the FAQs, Yes Bank said outward online remittances, including RTGS and NEFT, are still suspended. All clearing activities are suspended as of now. Your EMIs (equated monthly instalments) will be honoured up to the prescribed limit, subject to reinstatement of clearing activities, it said.

On March 5, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in consultation with the government put a moratorium on Yes Bank till April 3, citing serious financial mismanagement at the private sector lender. During the period, customers are not allowed to withdraw more than Rs 50,000.

The bank on Tuesday allowed inward IMPS and NEFT services to enable its customers to make payments towards Yes Bank credit card EMIs and loans through other bank accounts. The move came after its customers complained that they were not able to make payments towards their Yes Bank credit and loan repayments and were anxious about being levied a penalty for no fault of theirs.

Besides, within the limit of Rs 50,000, the Mumbai-headquartered lender has also allowed its customers to withdraw money from its own as well as other bank ATMs.

In the FAQs, on a query as to what will happen if someone has written and issued cheques to clients, Yes Bank responded, All clearing activities are suspended as of now as per the directive. Your cheques already issued will not be honoured till the clearing activities are restarted or further directive from regulator. On another query as to what will happen if someone has already dropped a cheque at Yes Bank counter, it said that as all the clearing activities are suspended, Yes Bank DD/cheques will not be presented in clearing till further instructions or till reinstatement of clearing activities. However, on a query what if an employer holds a current account with Yes Bank and needs to make withdrawal of more than Rs 50,000 to pay salaries to employees, the lender said it can be done.

Yes Bank current account can be debited for more than Rs 50,000 towards disbursement of salaries in the accounts maintained with Yes Bank only, it clarified.

Further, it also said transfer from one Yes Bank account to another will be allowed without any restriction.

However, customers can withdraw in a sum up to an aggregate of Rs 50,000 from all these accounts in the moratorium period till April 3, 2020, it added.

If one wishes to liquidate a standalone fixed deposit in Yes Bank, it said the branches can liquidate standalone fixed deposits (FDs) amounting less than Rs 20,000 along with interest and pay in cash as per process.

For FDs equal to or above Rs 20,000 (along with interest) but less Rs 50,000 (along with interest), branches can issue demand draft (DD) to customers, however that DD can be presented for clearing only once the clearing services are re-instated, it said.

Since the bank was placed under the moratorium on March 5, a sense of panic gripped among customers across the country, who were seen queuing up at bank branches and ATMs to withdraw money.

Yes Bank said its ATMs are functional and customers can withdraw money from there.

Services such as digital payments supported by Yes Bank also faced outages in the initial stages, which now have been restored. Among others, prepaid meal and forex cards services are also affected due to the sudden oversight on the private sector lender.

During the moratorium period, 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.

The RBI has initiated a draft reconstruction scheme for the private sector lender according to which State Bank of India will pick up 49 per cent stake in the crisis-ridden Yes Bank under a government-approved bailout plan by infusing capital of Rs 2,450 crore.

On Monday, Yes Banks RBI-appointed administrator Prashant Kumar hoped that the moratorium on the bank would be lifted by this weekend.
New Delhi, March 11 : As the number of COVID-19 cases rose to 60 on Wednesday after 10 new cases were reported in India, the Health Ministry mandated 14 days of self-imposed quarantine for passengers with travel history to China, Hong Kong, Republic of Korea, Japan, Italy, Thailand, Singapore, Iran, Malaysia, France, Spain and Germany. The Ministry directed such passengers' employers to facilitate work-from-home from the date of their arrival in India.

"Among the new cases, eight were reported on Wednesday from Kerala and one each from Rajasthan and Delhi. The total 60 cases in the country include three Kerala patients who have recovered and have been discharged from the hospital," said the Ministry in a statement.

"The government has undertaken evacuation operations from several countries in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak to bring back Indian citizens as well as nationals from other countries," said the statement.

The government said Indian nationals in Iran include pilgrims, students and fishermen. On March 7, 108 samples were received from Iran. Those samples are being tested at a laboratory in All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).

The government also said that six scientists from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) have been stationed in Iran. Equipment and reagents have also been dispatched to enable them to set up a lab. The first batch of 58 evacuees from Iran arrived on Tuesday with 25 men, 31 women and 2 children on board. All evacuees are asymptomatic at present.

So far, the government has evacuated 948 passengers from COVID-19-affected countries. Out of these, 900 are Indian citizens and 48 belong to Maldives, Myanmar, Bangladesh, China, USA, Madagascar, Sri Lanka, Nepal, South Africa and Peru.

Earlier, as Wuhan city in Hubei province of China became the epicentre of COVID-19 and there were hundreds of Indians stuck in the city, Air India operated two special flights for the evacuation bringing back 654 passengers, including 647 Indians. The evacuees were housed at Manesar and Chhawla quarantine facilities set up by Indian Army and ITBP for 14 days. They were tested twice and were found negative for COVID-19 and were discharged on February 18.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
There is no escaping the reality that it has been a terrible time for active fund management.

But it is possible that the panicky volatility unleashed by Covid-19 could provide a lease of life for what has been a rickety sector.

Over the past year, even the most highly regarded houses such as Schroders have seen outflows, although in its case the impact was disguised by the contested arrival of some 41billion of Scottish Widows assets from Standard Life Aberdeen (SLA).

It is possible that the panicky volatility unleashed by Covid-19 could provide a lease of life for active funds

Latest numbers from SLA show that after stripping out the Scottish Widows mandate it was still a chunky 17.4billion down on the previous year in 2019.

Outflows were focused on the group's Global Assets Return Fund which suffered 10.6billion of withdrawals.

Newly quoted M&G (the UK arm of Prudential) also saw 1.3billion of fund withdrawals in 2019.

The loss of faith in active management is not confined to SLA and M&G. The main criticism of the sector is high management charges  often ten times or more of those in passive funds  which over the years gnaw away at investor returns and make the star managers and executives very rich.

Active funds also suffered serious damage to their reputations as a result of the irresponsible management within Neil Woodford's investment empire, feeble supervision by authorised corporate director Link and the snail's pace of intervention by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Trust has not been helped by the mismatch in assets and liquidity seen in funds such as the M&G Property Portfolio, which was suspended on December 4.

The overwhelming reason for disenchantment with active management is that during the good times on equity markets the passive funds, which shadow indexes, can perform just as well.

Passive and exchange traded funds (ETFs) can be accessed more cheaply and, in the case of ETFs, more rapidly bought and sold than closed funds.

SLA chief executive Keith Skeoch points out that it is in uncertain times like these, caused by the spread of Covid-19 and the disruption to the global oil market, that active managers come into their own.

If carefully run they should be designed to withstand the turbulence and herd instincts of stock markets. Liontrust Equity Income Fund avoids stocks where dividends are paid out of reserves or borrowing.

After the coronavirus scare the active managers with cautious strategies could be limbering up for a comeback.

Mobile go-ahead

The most encouraging aspect of the General Election result is that it gave Government the wherewithal to get things done.

It may currently be diverted by the public health threat but it has been in overdrive, seeking a quickie trade deal with Brussels, giving the 106billion HS2 project the go-ahead and allowing Chinese participation in the roll-out of Britain's 5G networks.

There was an expectation at Westminster that Johnson's backbenchers were going to give him a bloody nose over the Huawei involvement in the project.

They were deeply opposed to allowing the Chinese, the world's biggest intellectual property thieves, to have a role in our mobile phone networks.

As it happens I agree with Johnson's critics and with Donald Trump, who opposed the Huawei deal.

But having made the decision, restricting Huawei's role to 35 per cent of the project and less sensitive equipment, it is good that it is not being stopped.

Johnson's potential 80-seat majority may have been reduced to 24 but at least this piece of infrastructure investment, critical to greater connectivity, will proceed.

It is hard to see the green lobby going to court to suggest it doesn't meet Paris climate change obligations. But you can never tell.

After a long hiatus the UK has a Government with the ability to get things done. Hurrah!

Preference shares

Close Brothers is the nearest thing the City has to an old-fashioned merchant bank with trading, advice and asset services.

In contrast to the computer-driven trades of big investment banks it owns an old-style market maker, Winterflood, able to balance buy and sell orders in an orderly fashion and deliver best prices for investors.

Good to see that amid the carnage Winterflood volumes are at record levels.

A small victory for the human touch.
Apple has updated the free Apple News application, which is available on iPhones, iPads and Macs, with a dedicated section for coronavirus coverage. It will help folks find important information about the outbreak from trusted news sources.

It's another example of how tech companies, while in some cases imperfect, are trying to help provide information to millions of their customers using the power of their platforms.

For example, Google recently upgraded its search to direct people to safety tips from the World Health Organization, travel advisories and more. It also banned ads for medical face masks, but said it will take a few days to get rid of all the ads already showing up around the internet.

You can see the new coronavirus section by opening the Apple News app on your device and tapping a button at the top of the page that says "Special coverage: The most important information on COVID-19, all in one place."
She recently launched a foul-mouthed rant at trolls who accused her of using too much lip filler.

But Olivia Attwood appeared to put all the drama behind her as she flaunted her incredible figure in an Instagram post uploaded on Tuesday.

The former Love Island star, 28, sizzled in a strapless plunging white bikini with ruffle detail as she posed playfully for the camera.

Sizzling: Olivia Attwood, 28, appeared to put all the drama behind her as she flaunted her incredible figure in an Instagram post uploaded on Tuesday

She finished the look with a selection of gold necklaces and bangles as well as giving a cheeky flash of her statement engagement ring.

The TOWIE star wore her signature bleach blonde hair in two plaits while allowing her bangs to flow loosely in front of her face.

She uploaded the snaps alongside the caption: 'I had a dream, I got everything I wanted.'

Strike a pose: The former Love Island hopeful donned in a strapless plunging white bikini with ruffle detail and wore her signature bleach blonde hair in two plaits

The post comes after the reality star launched into a foul-mouthed rant on her Instagram Stories last week which was prompted by a fan accusing her of using too much lip filler.

Olivia was waiting for a laser hair removal appointment when she recorded a series of impassioned videos.

She shared a direct message sent form one of her fans who urged her stop enhancing her lips.

In footage filmed in her car, Olivia said: 'I'm not gonna sit here and pretend that I am someone that suffers with trolling because I actually feel like compared to a lot of people I'm very lucky in that sense.

'But this s**t grinds my gears so f**king bad. I must see these kind of messages more than anything. And they're so good because there's always a backhanded compliment in there.

Critics: Olivia accused middle-aged women of being the main culprits when it came to criticising her looks after she was trolled of using 'too much lip filler'

'And it's always unfortunately a middle-aged woman. I hate to stereotype but it always, always, always, is. And maybe the reason I don't get that much trolling is because I always will message people back.

'You don't know what I need and also it's none of your f**king business! If I want my mouth to look like a swollen b***hole, that is my choice. Don't tell me, "You're pretty, you don't need [it]"

'F**k off! F**k off, get on with your day, get out of my DMs, that's it. So anyone else that's got any "you dont need those hair extensions" B***h, you don't know what I need. F**k off!'

Message: As the Love Island star waited for a laser hair removed appointment, she shared a direct message sent to her from one of her fans, who urged her stop enhancing her lips

Reiterating her message that fans should mind their own business, she continued: 'We live in this climate where everyone's so bothered by what everyone else is doing.

'I have never looked at someone, even someone that's screwed themselves up massively with surgery, if that's what they want, get on with it. It doesnt affect my day. If that makes them happy, who cares?

'Why is everyone so bothered about what other people look like? And just because you've put a compliment at the end, it doesn't mean that what you said in the beginning isn't rude and hurtful. Just keep it moving, saddos.'

Direct message: Before launching into her video rant the reality star shared a screenshot of the criticism she had been sent

She also insisted that her status as a public figure doesn't give others the right to comment on her appearance, as she added: 'And don't say, "You've got a following, you've been on TV, so we all get an opinion on the way you look"

'No you don't! You can get an opinion on some stuff  what I do or what I say, bring it on. I love it. But what I do to my face and body, just p**s off!'

The message in question was left under a picture of Olivia fiance Bradley Dack which she shared after they returned to the same place in Dubai where he'd proposed to her.

The social media user wrote: 'Please stop with the lip fillers. Ur not a duck. Ur so pretty already and U dont need them.' [sic]

Clearly irked, the reality star wrote back: 'Mind your own f**king business!! And keep your opinions to your self!'
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Bandhan Bank share price gained 3.9 percent intraday on March 11 after the private sector lender told the BSE that it had launched 125 new banking outlets.

"Bandhan Bank has opened 125 banking outlets across 15 states. The bank already had a strong network of 1,010 bank branches, which now stands at 1,013. With a network of 3,206 banking units and the 195 home loan service centres that are operating in the country now, the total number of banking outlets now stands at 4,414," it said in a BSE filing.

The bank has a presence in all but two of the 36 states and union territories in India, it added.

The outlets were opened days after the Reserve Bank of India lifted restrictions on the bank setting up new branches, the bank said.

Of the 125 new outlets, 42 branches were opened in Uttar Pradesh, 29 in Rajasthan, 12 in Madhya Pradesh, seven each in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, six in Bihar, five in Chhattisgarh, four in Odisha, three in Tamil Nadu, two each in Uttarakhand, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Assam, while Delhi and West Bengal got one a piece.

"We are happy that with the withdrawal of restriction on opening new branches, we will be able to expand business growth rapidly," MD & CEO Chandra Shekhar Ghosh said.

As on December 31, 2019, Bandhan Bank served 1.9 crore customers and had deposits worth Rs 54,908 crore and advances worth Rs 65,456 crore.

The stock was quoting at Rs 378.05, up Rs 3.70, or 0.99 percent, on the BSE at 1240 hours.
A friend of a man accused of murdering his wife has told a jury that he felt the accused was mentally devastated, depressed and suicidal months before he strangled the mother-of-three.

The friend also told the jury that he asked Rafal Karaczyn to move in with him to stay away from trouble, months before Natalia Karaczyns death.

Rafal Karaczyn (34), of Crozon Park, Sligo, has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to the manslaughter of his 30-year-old wife Natalia Karaczyn, at their family home in Crozon Park between April 29th, 2018 and May 1st, 2018.

At the Central Criminal Court this morning (Wednesday), Piotr Korsak, who is originally from Poland, told the jury that he and his girlfriend introduced Natalia and Mr Karaczyn at a New Years Eve party in Poland around 15 years ago.

After Natalia and Mr Karaczyn moved to Ireland, Mr Korsak told the jury that Mr Karaczyn suggested to him that he and his girlfriend should move over to Ireland too. Mr Korsak and his girlfriend lived with the Karaczyns for a couple of months before they got their own place.

Mr Korsak told Michael Bowman SC, for the accused, that in 2017 and 2018, he knew the relationship between the Karaczyns was bad but he said Mr Karaczyn wouldnt go into details.

He told the jury that around this time, Mr Karaczyn was unpleasant, mentally devastated and depressed. He said Mr Karaczyn wasnt there and that when he would ask Mr Karaczyn questions, hed look at the floor and not answer him.

Asked if he had concerns for Mr Karaczyn, Mr Korsak told Mr Bowman: I was afraid he was going to commit suicide, do something to himself. So I proposed to him maybe move to my house and stay away from trouble.

He also told Mr Bowman that he never observed Mr Karaczyn to be violent and added that after he learned that Natalia had died, he was shocked. He said: I was pretty sure he was going to do something to himself.

Mr Korsak agreed with Bernard Condon SC, for the prosecution, that he is not a medical doctor. Asked how he formed the impression that Mr Karaczyn was mentally devastated and depressed, Mr Korsak said Mr Karaczyn had been a funny guy who was always saying jokes and stuff like thathe was a happy guy. He said closer to the tragedy, he was unpleasant.

He explained to Mr Condon that he would have met Mr Karaczyn once or twice a week and that theyd either go to the gym or play video games.

Mr Korsak told Mr Condon that he offered Mr Karaczyn a place to live a few months before Natalias death. He added: I actually tried to convince him to come over as soon as possible. However, he said, Mr Karaczyn wanted to wait until after his sons First Holy Communion that year.

Mr Condon put it to Mr Korsak: So you were trying to convince him but he wanted to stay at home. Mr Korsak replied: Probably.

The barrister asked Mr Korsak why, if he formed the opinion his friend might harm himself, he did not think to report that to someone. Mr Korsak said: I was just trying to comfort him and get him out of some bad situationI think, at the time, it was the best thing I could do for him.

Mr Korsak also told Mr Bowman that he had not been in contact with Mr Karaczyn since Natalias death.

The jury has also been informed of new translations for specific words Mr Karaczyn used in his eighth and final Garda interview, in which he admitted to strangling his wife after she returned from a night out.

The court previously heard that when he was asked by Detective Garda Paul Casey to explain exactly what he did, Mr Karaczyn replied: There was too fast. I just took her and strangled herboth handsI was under big stress.

Mr Condon told the jury today that the word used by Mr Karaczyn, which was translated into under big stress, is a word in Polish which is similar to the word 'amok' in English. He said it could be translated as "uncontrolled", "uncontrolled behaviour" or "in a rage.

The court also previously heard that, during the same interview, when he was asked what he intended to do with his hands, Mr Karaczyn told gardai: I dont remember. I didnt want to kill her. I dont know what was with me this time.

Mr Condon told the jury that the line "I don't know what was with me this time" could also be translated as "I dont know what got inside me.

Ms Justice Eileen Creedon sent the jury home at 2pm and told them to return tomorrow at 11am when they will hear closing speeches from the prosecution and defence.
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"As many companies are already deciding to work remotely, collaboration is of utmost importance," says CallTower's Chief Revenue Officer, William Rubio. "Empowering business to stay connected with our 90-days of free Microsoft Teams Direct Routing will ensure that collaboration is enabled during these unprecedented times. CallTower is prepared to support existing and new customers during this epidemic with our global/state of the art network. "

CallTower was the first to deliver an integrated Office 365 Microsoft Teams experience with global calling plans empowered by a 24/7/365 US-based client services team. This solution ensures a personalized implementation, adoption, training and support strategy. As a Microsoft Gold Partner, CallTower's monitoring and management services provide the highest quality user experience. The Microsoft Teams Phone System powered by CallTower enables customers to bring their current voice serves into the Microsoft Cloud through Direct Routing. CallTower delivers missing key Microsoft Teams UCaaS feature gaps and functionality that is not available through other providers. With CallTower, Teams Direct Routing customers can also easily redirect calls in case of a Microsoft outage to an alternative number and stay connected.

About CallTower

Since its inception in 2002, CallTower has become a leading provider of cloud-based, enterprise-class Unified Communications solutions for growing organizations worldwide. CallTower provides, integrates and supports industry-leading, cloud-based, Unified Communications and Collaboration solutions, including Cisco HCS, Microsoft Teams Direct Routing, Native Skype for Business, CT Cloud, CT Cloud Boost, Office 365 and CT Cloud Meeting, powered by Zoom Video Communications for business customers.

CallTower enhances our clients' strategic and operational capabilities by integrating VoIP service, mobile applications, email hosting, unified messaging, instant messaging, audio, web and video conferencing, collaboration tools, contact center, cloud services and global network solutions into one reliable platform.

For more information, contact marketing@calltower.com.
The organizers of four conventions scheduled to bring a combined 26,000-plus attendees to San Antonio over the next month have bailed out over coronavirus concerns.

Mayor Ron Nirenberg said the cancellations are just part of the economic fallout for San Antonio.

Its feeling the impact of a larger global trend, he said.

On ExpressNews.com: As more evacuees arrive in San Antonio, Air Force tells families not to attend Lackland graduations because of coronavirus risk

The hospitality industry  which includes hotels, tourist attractions and amusement parks  is San Antonios third largest, and conventions are among its biggest money makers.

Conventions and meetings filled about 32 percent of San Antonio hotel rooms last year, according to Visit San Antonio, the public-private group that markets the city to event planners.

The largest convention canceled to date, the National Society of Black Engineers, would have attracted about 14,000 members to its annual meeting slated for March 25-29 at the Convention Center.

This decision was made because of the increased concerns about the novel coronavirus known as COVID-19, Jocelyn Jackson, the associations national chairwomen, said in a notice to members.

Jackson said the society would reschedule its 46th annual meeting, but she didnt say whether it would be held in San Antonio.

Another canceled convention, the International Carwash Association, was expected to draw more than 8,000 attendees to the Convention Center from April 6-8.

The Chicago-based group cited guidance issued Monday by the White House Coronavirus Task Force that broadened the recommendations to consider postponing meetings and limiting attendance for any American.

Therefore, the current environment makes it impossible for us to hold a successful event for our attendees and exhibitors, association officials said.

The American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics and the Anxiety and Depression Association of America also canceled their planned San Antonio conferences. Theyd expected 2,800 and 1,200 attendees, respectively. Both conferences were set to start next week.

On ExpressNews.com: Coronavirus is sending shivers through participants in San Antonio conventions

Leaders of the genetics and genomics researchers group had become aware over the last 48 hours of a rapidly increasing number of travel bans being imposed on employees by health care institutions and companies across the U.S., they said in an online post.

Susan Gurley, executive director of the anxiety and depression researchers and therapists organization, said 30 to 40 percent of the expected attendees work at medical centers. Many of their hospitals have banned all travel, including domestic trips, and prohibited the attending of academic conferences.

Its heartbreaking for us, she said.

It also will be costly. The association is refunding registration fees, a big part of its annual revenue, Gurley said.

She said she hopes the host facility, the Marriott Rivercenter, will be lenient in regard to fees the association paid in advance for meeting space at the hotel. Gurley said the association wants to use the money to hold its annual conference at the Marriott in 2024.

Its not that we did not want to come to San Antonio, she said.

Gurley said her association selects conference host cities several years in advance, so the soonest the group could return to San Antonio would be 2024.

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Nirenberg said officials at the city-owned Convention Center are working with organizations to reschedule events when possible.

One conference that went ahead last week in San Antonio saw disappointing attendance. The AWP Conference and Bookfair took in only about 40 percent of its expected 10,000 writers, editors, publishers and educators.

Another group, the International Cemetery, Cremation & Funeral Association, is scheduled to hold a conference here on March 30 to April 2. The association said on its website that the event is going ahead as planned.

However, association officials said they were closely monitoring the unfolding coronavirus (COVID-19) situation, as the health and safety of our attendees and exhibitors are our top priority.

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
ISLAMABAD, March 11 (Xinhua) -- A Pakistan Air Force (PAF) F-16 fighter jet crashed in the capital of Islamabad on Wednesday during a rehearsal ahead of the Pakistan Day parade, spokesperson of the PAF Syed Ahmer Raza told Xinhua.

The incident occurred at around 11 a.m. local time on Wednesday morning, said the spokesperson, adding that rescue teams have been dispatched to the crash site.

"A board of inquiry has been ordered by Air Headquarters to determine the cause of accident," he said.

Security forces have cordoned off the area of the crash. There are no confirmed reports of injuries or deaths.

An eyewitness named Muhammad Ahmed told Xinhua that he saw the F-16 crashing near Shakarparian area of Islamabad, adding that a huge ball of fire engulfed the aircraft following the crash.
Phillipsburg police Wednesday said goodbye to the departments beloved retired K-9 officer, Taz, in a tribute that included a funeral procession down South Main Street and service at Shappell Park.

The 12-year-old German shepherd was euthanized Wednesday morning. A motorcade including police vehicles, ambulances and firetrucks traveled from Alpha Veterinary Care through the downtown area and ended at the park. The patrol car Taz rode in during his career led the procession, with his casket in another vehicle following behind.

At Shappell Park, about 50 police officers and six K-9 dogs from regional departments joined emergency workers, town officials and members of the community, standing at attention as bagpipers played. A live last radio call with a dispatcher stating, Gone, but not forgotten, was played through a speaker. Phillipsburg officer Matthew Amey, a 15-year veteran and Tazs handler, broke down into tears at times as he embraced fellow officers and family members.

In opening remarks, Pastor Enrique Davis, who served as the police departments chaplain, said as hard as the decision was for officers to part with the dog, the service was a time to reflect on Tazs nearly nine-year career in Phillipsburg and Warren County.

Taz wasnt just a pet or a dog. Taz was part of the Phillipsburg police who served for nine years in this community, Davis said. It is hard for Officer Matthew Amey to be separated from his partner, a co-worker, someone that he spent a long time with. ...

"But at the end of the day, we know that he is no longer suffering. We want to honor his service.

Phillipsburg police K-9 Officer Taz tugs on his toy during a presentation April 16, 2010, at Phillipsburg Middle School.Bruce Winter file photo | For lehighvalleylive.com

The procession then continued across the Easton-Phillipsburg free bridge to Lehigh Valley Animal Crematory in Hellertown. The crematory donated Tazs final services, as it does for any law enforcement K-9, and Schuylkill Haven Casket Co. donated the casket.

Tazs career spanned March 23, 2009, to December 31, 2017, ending with a retirement ceremony in January 2018. He began training with Amey at 11 months old and was certified for service shortly after he arrived. The K-9 was born in Germany and was donated to the Phillipsburg Police Department by someone taking care of him in New York, Amey said.

A narcotics and prescription drug detection dog, Taz was instrumental in numerous raids and seizures across Warren County. He also was assigned to other police duties in the areas of tracking and different methods of search, Amey said.

What he did was just amazing, he was a great asset, Amey added.

Phillipsburg police officer Matt Amey and his K-9 partner, Taz, emerge Aug. 25, 2010, from a wooded area near the Brainard Street playground after an evidence search.Express-Times Tim Wynkoop

Taz was real smart, Amey said, knowing how to open the door handle of the patrol car with his teeth -- a task he performed one last time Wednesday morning. His favorite treat was ice cream and he enjoyed barking at the mail carrier -- typical to most breeds, Amey said.

He was the best dog, it was amazing working with him, Amey said. There are just no words to describe.

Asked if Amey had an interest in becoming a K-9 handler again in the future as a way to honor Taz, he said he is thinking about it. The bond is invaluable, he added.

But this (loss) is hard, too, Amey said.

Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com. If theres anything about this story that needs attention, please email her. Follow her on Twitter @pamholzmann. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
Sowmya Mani By

Express News Service

TIRUCHY: As the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 increases in India, one of the main questions in peoples minds is if it will be covered by their existing health insurance policies. The answer is Yes.

However, most patients are being treated at government hospitals now.

When people start taking treatment in private hospitals in future, would their expenses be covered? To address these concerns, the insurance regulator IRDAI (Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority) has issued a set of guidelines.

Most insurers have said that their current policies would cover COVID-19 too.

Our standard health policy is capable of taking care of coronavirus coverage. As of now, we are evaluating if there is any requirement for a specific cover, said Pankaj Verma, SBI General Insurance. Apollo Munich and Star Health Insurance also said that their current policies would cover COVID-19.

IRDAI stated that insurance companies could design specific policies. In line with this, Digit Insurance and Clinikk Healthcare have launched one. Under Digit policy, you would get full sum insured on being tested positive. If you undergo quarantine in Govt or Military hospital for at least 14 consecutive days, you will get 50% lump sum of Sum Insured.

This is applicable even if COVID-19 is later negative as it covers the screening & treatment costs. The premium for the policy starts at Rs 299 for a sum insured of Rs 25,000 and goes up to a cover of Rs 2 lakh. Clinikk is offering protection of Rs 1 lakh, with a premium of Rs 1,000 for a family and Rs 500 for an individual.

In our policy you get access to doctors 24/7 and can consult multiple times, said Dr Suraj Baliga, Clinikk Healthcare.

IRDA guideline

The guideline states that all claims reported under COVID-19 shall be thoroughly reviewed by a review committee before repudiating it. Where hospitalization is covered, insurers shall ensure that the cases shall be expeditiously handled
On Monday, Lee, wearing a surgical mask and speaking in a choking voice, said he was remorseful that so many patients were tied to his church. But he denied the claims that its actions contributed to the epidemic, saying that the church has been cooperating with the government as best as possible.
Israel's third round of elections in a year took place only a week ago, on March 2, and already at major intersections one sees huge billboards bearing the faces of Blue and White Chairman Benny Gantz and the leaders of the Arab Joint List, Ayman Odeh and Ahmad Tibi, along with the caption, Yes to a Jewish and democratic state, no to supporters of terror. The billboards, courtesy the Likud, remind you that elections in Israel are never really over. Thus the party headed by transitional Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continues its campaign against the formation of a minority government that Gantz is trying to establish with the support of the Joint List.

Since the election, Foreign Minister Israel Katz has called members of the Joint List terrorists in suits, while Netanyahu did him one better and declared that Arab Knesset members are not part of the left bloc, since Arabs are not part of the equation, and this is the will of the people. Still, it seems that the incitement issuing from the ruling partys workshop has actually benefitted the Joint List, whose support grew by two Knesset seats after the September elections, to a high of 15.

The irony of fate is that the formation of the Joint List arose from the initiative by Yisrael Beitenu Chairman Avigdor Liberman to raise the vote threshold in 2014 in an attempt to push the small Arab parties out of the Knesset. In addition, in the run-up to the March elections, a number of actions inflamed the mood among the Arab public, playing a significant role in the Joint Lists successful and spot-on campaign. Notable among them were the passage in 2018 of the controversial Nationality Law, declaring the Jewish nature of the state of Israel, the Bibi or Tibi campaign (i.e., either Netanyahu or a government ruled by the Joint List), and the crowning glory, the possibility of transferring the Arab cities in north-central Israel's Triangle region to Palestinian control as set out in President Donald Trumps peace plan.

Will the Likud and the rights callous and poisonous campaign, whose messages are escalating, lead to more extreme attitudes toward the Arab community and its Knesset representatives? It seems the answer is affirmative.

About 64% of Arab voters support the Joint List joining the government, but this idea faces strong opposition from the right-wing/ultra-Orthodox bloc and among large parts of the general public, including Blue and White voters. A Blue and White Knesset member told Al-Monitor that he prefers not to log on to his Facebook page, because he, like the rest of the partys Knesset members and activists, receives a constant stream of curses and insults about the possibility of cooperation between Blue and White and the Joint List on legislation or in the formation of the government.

Adding fuel to the fire is the open opposition of Yoaz Hendel and Zvi Hauser, Blue and White Knesset members from Telem, to the possibility of forming a minority government that leans on the Joint List. Blue and White leaders themselves had argued until recently that they could not be part of a government supported by the Joint List because its members, so they claimed, dont recognize the Jewish and democratic state. Now, as it has again become clear that without the support of the Joint List, including all of its factions, Gantz wont be able to form a government, the tone has softened, Gantz has called leaders of the Joint List, and even Liberman is keeping quiet on this matter.

Is Israel in 2020 prepared for real cooperation between Jews and Arabs at the highest level? Israels first governments had at several times leaned on the support of the Arab parties, but those parties were more satellites of Mapai, Labors predecessor, than independent parties devoted to Palestinian nationalism. Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin also depended on the support of Arab parties in 1992, a time when the national climate was completely different.

The Joint List, consisting of four separate parties, showed during the 20th Knesset, its first term, that it had no intention of hiding its opinions on the most burning issues and did not fear causing uproar. Thus, its decision to oppose the Arab Leagues move to label Hezbollah a terrorist organization, its decision to refrain from signing a remainder agreement with Meretz and the refusal of Odeh to participate in the funeral of President Shimon Peres all well served the right, which has always feared a scenario of an alliance between the center-left and the Arab parties.

Over the years, there has been an increase in racists incidents toward the Arab community, price-tag and violent incidents, including physical assaults on Arab citizens. At the same time, 2019 saw a significant decrease in opposition among the Jewish public to including Arab parties in the government compared to in previous years. A survey by the Guttman Center for Public Opinion and Policy at the Israel Democracy Institute, headed by Professor Tamar Herman, showed that in 2019 50% of Jews expressed opposition to such a move compared to 66% in 2017, when it was only a hypothetical scenario.

Many of those who do not oppose forming such a government for racist reasons nonetheless have questions regarding the possibility of forming a narrow government that depends on the votes of Arab Knesset members. Some, for instance, are concerned for security reasons. Perhaps emblematic of this, on Feb. 24, Odeh declared that he wouldnt support a government that would attack Gaza. Theres also fog surrounding the Joint List's position on Israels security budget and other issues. At this stage, Blue and White prefers to ignore these topics and instead focus on the central question for them: forming a government that does not include Netanyahu. At the same time, it is clear that without proper responses to these questions, it would be difficult to establish a real Jewish-Arab political partnership, which has been extensively discussed in the past year, as well as broader cooperation in the future between the Zionist and Arab parties.

It seems that a new and fascinating phenomenon is resulting in a real change in Jewish Israeli society. The Arab public longs for integration and for increasing its political influence to advance its interests and defend its rights. This striving toward Israelization and a shift in the traditional position on lending support to Zionist parties and cooperating with them are reshuffling the cards as far as the right is concerned. In response, the right is radicalizing the discourse and mobilizing all its regiments to block moves that endanger the continuation of its grip on power. The divisive and callous discourse is successfully inciting the fringe right, which is growing more radical, while in the center and on the left, the move by the Arab parties toward center stage is seen as a positive trend and is bringing more Jewish Israelis toward accepting it.

On key questions of security and the character of the state, it seems there wont be agreement in the near term between the Zionist parties and the Joint List, which will make far-reaching cooperation difficult. For the moment, the two sides are trying to be as flexible as possible in the attempt to reach their common goal: forming a government without Netanyahu.
Actor Salman Khans sister, Arpita Khan and her husband Aayush Sharma celebrated Holi on Tuesday with their kids, Ahil and newborn Ayat. Aayush took to Instagram to share a new picture with Ayat, and wished everyone on the occasion.

He wrote in the caption of his Instagram post, Wishing you all a very Happy Holi. The picture shows Arpita holding Ayat in her arms, smiling for the camera. The post has been liked over 60000 times.

Several of the couples friends left comments under the post. Deanne Pandey called Ayat a Munchkin, while Mini Mathur wrote, Hey baby ayat!! Happy holi baby girl. Chef Kelvin Cheung wrote, Shes got your eyebrows haha.

Arpita, meanwhile, shared a video of Aayush and Ahil chilling in a swimming pool. Happy Holi everyone, Aayush says in the video, while Ahil echoes his words, and also adds, Happy birthday.

Recently, Arpita had shared a video of Ayat being showered with kisses by her uncle, Salman Khan. It was the clearest look yet at the baby.

Also read: Salman Khan showers niece Ayat with kisses, mum Arpita Khan Sharma shares video

On Tuesday, several top Bollywood actors took to social media to wish their fans on Holi. Shah Rukh Khan shared a deep message, Aamir Khan shared pictures of his wife Kiran Rao and their son Azad Rao Khan, Priyanka Chopra posed with husband Nick Jonas, and Amitabh Bachchan shared throwback pictures. Shabana Azmi announced that the annual Holi party she hosts with husband Javed Akhtar would not take place, while Kartik Aaryan and Kareena Kapoor Khan also shared pictures and videos.

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Linkedin Aisha R. Kusumasomantri (The Jakarta Post) Depok  Wed, March 11, 2020 17:31 671 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2069e09ff 3 Opinion infrastructure-development,infrastructure,Papua,West-Papua,Jokowi,Jokowi-administration Free

Until today, the governments approach in Papua stresses security, even though gradual attempts at comprehensive counterinsurgency started alongside the 1998 democratic reforms. The importance of population support has been considered one of the decisive factors for the governments claim of having the upper hand in Papua so far.

As in any counterinsurgency warfare, the general population's support for the government is vital for weakening the support base of armed pro-independence groups, depriving them of intelligence, supplies and hiding places. In terms of international legitimacy, support from the native Papuan population would also strengthen Indonesias position and secure it victory in the event of a referendum for independence, such as Papuan activists demand. In contrast, a lack of sympathy for the government would strengthen the insurgents propaganda and bargaining position in the international community.

Amid political and security constraints, the government has been trying to gain the sympathy of the native Papuan communities while avoiding sensitive issues that would potentially destabilize domestic politics. The idea of playing safe is still strongly associated with the physical development of the Papua and West Papua provinces. To date, the governments winning hearts and minds strategy has been focused on physical development through autonomy funds and infrastructure programs.

The infrastructure strategy was intensified early in President Joko Jokowi Widodos first term, when he proceeded to uphold his campaign pledge to pay special attention to development in Papua. Since the beginning of his tenure in 2014, infrastructure building has included airports, border checkpoints, bridges and access to electricity, which cost the government more than Rp 100 trillion (US$6.9 billion) in the four-year period.

For a short period of time the governments strategy seemed to be working. In 2017 an Indikator Politik survey reported that almost 90 percent of respondents living in Papua were satisfied with the governments programs.

The successful infrastructure programs also attracted many people from Papua New Guinea (PNG) to cross the border regularly to get their daily necessities from Indonesia. Many second-generation Indonesian refugees in PNG  including families and their descendants from members of pro-independence groups and militias who escaped military persecution in the 1970s  also returned to Indonesia to seek better opportunities, believing that the Indonesian governments outlook toward Papua had changed.

However, the physical development approaches are mostly designed top-down and lack engagement with the local communities in Papua. Much of the infrastructure that was built has been abandoned since it did not resonate with the communities needs.

For example, subsidized housing in Skouw subdistrict in Muaratami district, Jayapura, which was intended for native Papuans in the Indonesia-PNG border areas, was built in remote areas and residents must travel for hours to reach the nearest public facilities, such as markets, churches and hospitals. Another example is the Holtekamp Bridge in Jayapura, Papuas capital, which was scheduled to be open by the end of 2018. The bridges construction was stalled by dissension between the state and customary law regarding land ownership and the red bridge has become nothing more than an unusable tourist attraction.

With the increasing grievances of indigenous Papuans, the infrastructure programs clearly do not result in sustainable support from the population. Rather, any success looks merely temporary and is prone to change every time a sensitive subject arises in Papua. Consequently, some officials are questioning the need for continuing infrastructure projects since they have been proven ineffective for gaining indigenous support. Discussions on finding a more adept strategy have long been ongoing, even though until today the government has not come up with a different strategy to win the hearts and minds of native Papuans.

The lack of success of the infrastructure approach should nevertheless not diminish the fact that Papua and West Papua are still physically underdeveloped compared to other provinces in Indonesia. Many areas in the region are mountainous and hilly, making them almost inaccessible by land vehicles. The only way to reach some regencies is by air, including light aircraft and helicopters, which is transportation often only available to law enforcers and the political elite. Such limited access to some villages has perpetuated poverty in many border communities. Therefore, many remote regencies in Papua and West Papua are in dire need of infrastructure, particularly what would allow them access to basic facilities and economic opportunities.

Therefore, infrastructure in Papua should be seen as an essential aspect of state-building instead of a mere strategy to win the hearts and minds of the population. While to some extent it is working for winning the favor of the population, the government should not rely solely on physical development. Indeed, it is difficult to address politically sensitive issues. However, the government can still minimize the discrepancy between its programs and the needs of indigenous communities by figuring out a middle way to gain their sympathy.

Indonesian authorities have been so focused on the top-down approach that despite so much criticism and so many recommendations, the government has yet to seriously engage in long-term social-economic improvements.

Racial equality outside Papua, the welfare gap between indigenous and settlers and access for young native Papuans to work in government must be issues that are seriously considered. Although gaining less exposure than incidents of violence, for instance, or the launch of new road construction, those issues are more concrete, relatable and sustainable for indigenous Papuans. It could be a game-changing decision to shift the governments hearts and minds approach to focus outside of the physical development aspects.

***

Lecturer of international relations at the University of Indonesia

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post.
A 50-year-old man has been



arrested from Maharashtra's Thane city for allegedly cheating a Delhi-based gold merchant of Rs 80 lakh, police said on Wednesday.

The accused, Vijay Ambalal Soni, was also wanted by Nagpur police in Maharashtra for allegedly siphoning off Rs 25 lakh from a private sector bank, they said.

Soni, hailing from Mehsana in Gujarat, set up a small jewellery shop in Karol Bagh area of Delhi some months back.

On October 23, 2019, he placed an order with wholesale merchant Krishnadev Khupkar for a two kg gold bar.

After taking delivery of the gold bar, Soni left his shop while telling Khupkar that he was going to a bank to transfer the money into the latter's account.

When Soni did not return, Khupkar filed a police complaint with the Karol Bagh police of being cheated of gold worth around Rs 80 lakh, Thane anti-extortion cell's (AEC) police inspector Rajkumar Kothmire said.

Khupkar also approached the Thane Police's AEC last month after he got a tip-off that Soni was to come here.

Based on the complaint, the AEC officials launched a probe and nabbed Soni from Talao Pali area here on Tuesday and booked him under IPC sections for cheating, the official said.

His modus operandi was to set up a small jewellery shop and place orders for gold with wholesale merchants, Assistant Commissioner of Police (Crime) N T Kadam said.

After winning the confidence of merchants, he used to place big orders and run away after taking delivery of gold.

The accused has been handed over to Karol Bagh police in Delhi, the official said.

He was also wanted in another case registered at Ganeshpath police station in Nagpur for allegedly siphoning off Rs 25.11 lakh from a Mumbai-based branch of a private bank through online transfer to his name, the police said.

He was also wanted in a case of cheating registered by the LT Marg police in Mumbai, they said.

The interrogation of the accused revealed that cheating and other offences were also registered against him at Boisar in neighbouring Palghar district and at Surat in Gujarat, Kadam said.

Soni was booked under Indian Penal Code Section 407 (criminal breach of trust) and 34 (common intention) by Boisar police in 2013. He was later convicted and served two-year jail term for the offence.

The accused was also booked by Varachha police in Surat under IPC Sections 420 (cheating), 406, 409 (criminal breach of trust), 120-B (criminal conspiracy) and 114 (abetting the crime). He was arrested by Gujarat police in that case and was currently out on bail.

Search was also on for Soni's two brothers who were also allegedly involved in these offences, the police said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-12 01:21:15|Editor: huaxia

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ANKARA, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Turkey will retaliate "heavily" if its 12 observation posts in Syria's northwestern Idlib province are attacked, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday.

"Turkey will do more than mere retaliation if its observation posts in Idlib are targeted," Erdogan said at his party's parliamentary group meeting.

Turkey is closely monitoring the deployment of the Syrian government and its allies near the cease-fire lines, he said, noting that Ankara will abide by the cease-fire deal as long as the Syrian government and its allies do so.

Turkey agreed on a temporary truce and other cease-fire agreements, not because it cannot afford to struggle against the Syrian government, but to find "reasonable and practical solution for all parties to the crisis in Idlib," he said.

He also slammed Greece for "violations of human rights of asylum seekers" at its borders after Turkey announced it would not prevent crossings of migrants.

Russia and Turkey agreed on March 5 on a cease-fire in the de-escalation zone in Syria's northwestern province of Idlib.

A safety corridor will be established 6 km to the north and 6 km to the south from the strategic M4 highway, according to the deal. Russia and Turkey will begin joint patrolling of the highway on March 15.
The exacting decision by Riyadh to spike production was triggered by the failure on Friday to strike a deal with Russia on a new round of OPEC+ production cuts to arrest swooning oil prices owing to the novel coronavirus.

Oil experts are left scratching their head in the aftermath of the OPEC+ meeting in Vienna held on March 5 and 6 as most variables of the oil market are left in flux. In a move that has shaken the crude landscape, Saudi Arabia has launched an oil war against Russia by announcing that it will hike oil production 12.3 million barrels per day (mb/d) from April, and has also offered deep discounts to its buyers, potentially swamping an already oversupplied oil market.

The story so far

The exacting decision by Riyadh to spike production was triggered by the failure on Friday to strike a deal with Russia on a new round of OPEC+ production cuts to arrest swooning oil prices owing to the novel coronavirus.

A surge of shale oil from American production sites  today, the US is the worlds largest oil producer  has kept the pipelines brimming over. In an attempt to rebalance the markets, OPEC led by Saudi Arabia plus non-OPEC producers, like Russiaforming an unwieldy alliance called the OPEC+ group--have been making quota-based group cuts to production. Under the existing pact, which kicked in last December and ends this month, a total of 2.7mb/d oil was taken off the market.

However, since January, the novel coronavirus outbreak has eaten into Chinese growth and supply chains slamming global oil demandpetroleum prices have already fallen by 30 percent this year. A recommending body of the OPEC+ cartel, comprising representatives of producing countries, called the joint technical committee asked for a 600,000 b/d reduction in production to bring relief to the oil market. However, Riyadh wanted to cut production by 1.5 mb/d after Marcha proposal that was unpalatable to Kremlin resulting in collapsed talks.

Since the kingdoms retaliatory decision, the market response has been violent with Brent crude futures plunging Sunday night by the most since the Gulf War began in 1991 and oil prices diving by 20 percent.

Divergent interests

The complicacy in stitching together this fractious, large group of elite oil producers are located in divergent political and economic interests. The Kremlins budget easily accommodates a $40 a barrel oil whereas Riyadh is under pressure to keep prices over $60 to support Saudi Aramcos share price and also to realize their ambitious Vision 2030 reforms that include weaning the economy off oil.

Additionally, Moscow has become wary of yielding market share to US shale and new producers, like Canada and Norway. The endless clamping down on production was hurting Russiawhich was reflected in its weak compliance to the OPEC+ pact. Additionally, Russian intent for not agreeing to deepened cuts in the second quarter is directed at breaking the back of the shale industry by ensuring oversupply heavily compresses crude price, in turn, weeding out operators that are working on breakeven prices.

This about-turn by Moscow also comes in the heels of the wound inflicted by the Trump administration in the form of sanctions imposed on Rosneft Trading and its consequent deleterious impact on the Nord Stream 2 project--a new export gas pipeline running from Russia to Europe across the Baltic Sea. The US energy secretary Dan Brouillette recently said at the Munich security conference that this means the project will face a very long delay because Russia doesnt have the technology. Russia, reportedly, has now turned to Kiev to deliver this gas. Nord Stream 2, which would have pumped as much as 55 billion cubic meters of gas annually from producing fields in Siberia to Germany has become a new source of tension as the Trump administration is aggressively seeking energy markets in Europe and Asia. The decision to walk away from extending or deepening the existing pact is Moscows retort to foil the U.S. oil strategy.

Possible scenarios

The oil market is treading uncharted territory as both global demand and supply are beyond the grip of reasonable predictability.

With a combination of a massive supply overhang and a significant demand shock at the same time, the situation we are witnessing today seems to have no equal in oil market history, said Fatih Birol, executive director of the International Energy Agency (IEA)a Paris-based agency that monitors energy markets for developed nations. World oil demand is set to fall for the first time since 2009 with IEA downwardly revising its demand estimates by one mb/d.

Russia and Saudi Arabia  two of the worlds biggest oil producers  are now entangled in a who-blinks-first game in a race to grab market share. Saudi Aramco is offering deep discounts to its customers for April. It would slash next month's official selling prices (OSP) by $4-$6 to the Far East, $7 on all American grades and $7-$8 to northwest Europe.

The Russian energy minister Alexander Novak when leaving the Vienna meeting last week said that from 1 April, we are starting to work without minding the quotas or reductions which were in place earlier while Saudi Aramco has declared that it will swamp the markets by producing at 12.3 mb/d from next month. Riyadhs strategy aims to drag Moscow back to the negotiating table.

Though a meeting between the warring parties to seam a pact before the end of the month is not ruled out, smaller producer countries and entities are caught in this massive ego battle. If this endurance test goes unchecked, it will be a race to the bottom for producer countries.

$20 oil in 2020 is coming, Ali Khedery, formerly Exxons senior Middle East advisor, wrote Sunday on Twitter.

$20 oil in 2020 is coming. Huge geopolitical implications. Timely stimulus for net consumers. Catastrophic for failed/failing petro-kleptocracies Iraq, Iran, etc - may prove existential 1-2 punch when paired with COVID19. https://t.co/cw5uzDz8Yx  Ali Khedery (@alikhedery) March 7, 2020

A scramble for market share among the three largest oil producersthe US, Russia and Saudi Arabiais reminiscent of a 2014 scenario.

Another scenario is a conspiracy theory among a small group of experts  usually associated with such events of global significance  also believes this could be an attempt by Russia and Saudi Arabia to lame the shale industry. Potentially, this line of argument may not be an altogether fictional narrative.

The trend that Saudi Arabia sets will make other Middle East oil producers follow suit. It is a mature market, said MK Surana, CMD, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited.

It is still early days to predict the impact of this spiralling oil war on the American shale industry. Though shale arithmetic is based on high crude prices to rake in profits, the industry is not a homogenous category of oil producersthe big players have balance sheets capable of withstanding even $25-$30 crude prices, Surana said.

The thriving American oil industry mostly consists of independent producers, unlike the case for the Middle East region or Russia where they are government-controlled. Though the smaller drillers, in the short run, maybe shoved out of business over a medium-term fresh capital into the sector will dry up affecting the sturdier entities as well if testingly low crude prices continue.

While millions of barrels of oil are set to flow in next month, the commensurate demand to absorb this quantity does not exist. Experts are still grappling to peg the total impact of the novel coronavirus on the economy with Chinese demand and supply chains in disarray. The oil market could end up with a 700,000 b/d surplus for 2020 unless OPEC+ shuts the oil spigots, Energy Intelligences balances show.

The low crude prices have a salubrious effect on the exchequer of buyers, like India. Also, the slashing of OSP by Riyadh is of bigger relevance than increasing supplies, argued Sanjiv Singh, CMD, Indian Oil Corporation Limited. Lower OSP would help in improving gross refining margin, which otherwise was abnormally due to poor cracks, the Indian Oil Corporation CMD said.

On the flip side, in a long-term, lower price destroy supplies crippling investment in the upstream sector. Sudden shocks also create inventory losses, which become a concern for oil marketing companies given the buying price was $65 for the current stock.

For the short-term, the prices are going to be low. This [a race for lower crude prices among producers] also means additional bargaining power for countries, like India, Singh said.

The decision not to participate in production cuts is a well-calibrated move by Russia and not a whimsical volte-face as it may appear to be. Riyadh will not be able to sustain the burden of production cuts without the nod of its one-time ally  Russia  given the current state of many of its members, including a sanctioned Iran, a torn Venezuela, Libya and Nigeria, which contribute little to the global oil market.

The erstwhile all-powerful OPEC group may have reached the limits of its influence as it negotiates new oil realities.
Michele Crowe/ 2019 CBS BroadcastingGayle King is speaking up about the public backlash she faced after asking about Kobe Bryant's sexual assault case, following his death.

Speaking to best friend Oprah Winfrey during last weekend's Your Life In Vision: 2020 Focus Tour stop in Denver, the CBS morning show host described the matter as a "very painful situation."

"I have moved on," King told Winfrey, according to People. "Is there a scab? Yeah. But I have moved on."

"I put on my game face and my big girl pants, because I never lost sight of who I was, what I believe I am, and my intention. Ive never lost sight of that. But it certainly was a learning curve, and it was very painful," King added.

Oprah added, "Its not the people who are being mean, its not the badness, its not the vitriol thats being put into the world, but its the good people who remain silent that becomes so hurtful."

During an interview with former WNBA star Lisa Leslie last month, King asked Leslie about the impact of Kobe Bryant's sexual assault case, which was dropped in 2005. After a CBS promo clip of the question went viral, King expressed on Instagram that she was "mortified," "embarrassed" and "angry" about the clip's release.

The interview was also met with backlash on social media from Snoop Dogg, 50 Cent, and Lil Boosie, among others. Snoop later clarified his comments and publicly apologized to King for "overreacting" and not handling his emotions correctly.

King praised Oprah for being there for her during the difficult time, declaring, "Nobody has been a better therapist than Oprah."

Watch the full interview on Oprah's Facebook channel Wednesday at 8 PM ET/7 PM CT.
Ms Regan was talking on her show: Fox News

Fox Business host Trish Regan has claimed that criticism of Donald Trump over Covid-19 is an attempt to impeach the president.

Ms Regan, who hosts Trish Regan Primetime on Fox Business started her show on Monday night by attacking those criticising Trumps handling over the pandemic.

The host, who had a banner reading DEMS POLITICIZE CORONAVIRUS noticeably underneath her during the segment, claimed that Democrats lay the blame for Covid-19 squarely at the door of the president.

The chorus of hate being levelled at the President is nearing a crescendo as Democrats blame him  and only him  for a virus that originated halfway around the world. This is yet another attempt to impeach the President. Said Ms Regan.

She then aimed her anger towards the current stock market crisis, claiming it is just another political casualty for Democrats.

And sadly it seems they care very little for any of the destruction they are leaving in their wakes. Losses in the stock market, all this unfortunately just part of the political casualties for them. Said the host.

After then welcoming the audience at home to her show, Ms Regan reiterated her claims, saying: The hate is boiling over. Many in the liberal media are using  and mean using  coronavirus in an attempt to demonize and destroy the President.

Story continues

Ms Regan then aired a montage of hosts and pundits from CNN and MSNBC criticising the president for his handling of Covid-19, before suggesting that the mass hysteria was planned by Democrats.

You gotta watch this, I mean........you just gotta watch pic.twitter.com/x2ZsayVrmv  Andrew Lawrence (@ndrew_lawrence) March 10, 2020

With a banner reading LEFT STOKES MASSIVE CHAOS replacing the previous one below her, she said: This is impeachment all over again and like with the Mueller investigation, like with Ukraine-gate they dont care who they hurt.

Whether it be their need to create mass hysteria to encourage a market sell off unlike anything weve seen recently, or whether it be to create mass hysteria in order to stop our economy dead in its tracks. Said Ms Regan.

Dont kid yourself, they told us how much they crave a recession as a way to get rid of Donald Trump.
Chicago's mayor Lori Lightfoot has announced the cancellation of the city's St Patrick's Day parade amid coronavirus concerns.

According to the parade's website, the river dyeing has also been canceled for Saturday. No other details were released.

Chicago doesn't have any confirmed corornavirus cases, but the state of Illinois has 19.

The mayor's announcement comes just a day after Boston canceled their St Patrick's Day parade.

Chicago's mayor, Lori Lightfoot, has announced the cancellation of the city's St Patrick's Day parade (crowds pictured in 2019) amid coronavirus concerns

The Boston parade (crowds in 2018), originally scheduled for March 15, was expected to attract about one million attendees, but Mayor Marty Walsh canceled the parade on Tuesday

The Boston parade, originally scheduled for March 15, was expected to attract about one million attendees.

The decision to cancel the parade was made 'out of an abundance of caution to ensure that we are doing what is needed to keep the residents of Boston safe and healthy,' mayor Marty Walsh said in a statement shared via Twitter.

'While the risk in Boston remains low, this situation is changing very quickly,' the statement said. 'Our top priority is preventing any new cases, to the best of our ability.'

The most important St Patrick's Day parade in the US, which takes place in New York City, has yet to be canceled by Mayor Bill de Blasio.

The New York parade typically attracts two million spectators. The parade is scheduled for March 17 and will go on, for now.

'We do not have a plan to cancel the parade at this point,' de Blasio said during a press briefing.

De Blasio did say that he is considering canceling the parade: 'We're talking it through with the parade committee. We have to really think about this one because it's a beloved event, an important event.

'Now we're going to watch that day to day, hour to hour.

'At a certain point we may say the numbers are telling us something different,' he said, adding that it was necessary to find a 'balance' between preserving health and safety and 'the fact that people's livelihoods matter'.

There have been at least 20 confirmed coronavirus cases in New York. The city has yet to enact any official isolation measures, though Governor Andrew Cuomo declared a state of emergency.

On Wednesday, Cuomo said that health experts are recommending that New York Citys venerable St Patricks Day parade be cancelled amid the coronavirus outbreak.

The governor told a news conference at the state Capitol that officials would likely make a decision later Wednesday.

New York City's St Patrick's Day parade has yet to be canceled by Mayor Bill de Blasio (pictured with light green tie, right during 2019 parade)

New York's parade (pictured March 2019) is one of the most important such celebrations in the US and is currently scheduled to go on for March 17 despite coronavirus fears

The parade, scheduled for Tuesday, would draw thousands to Manhattan at a time when officials are trying to reduce large gatherings.

'Why would you risk bringing thousands of people together knowing that this is virus that easily communicates?' Cuomo asked, explaining the thinking of those urging the event be canceled.

March celebrations honoring Saint Patrick, the patron of Ireland, bring together more people in the US - where millions of people are descended from Irish immigrants - than in Ireland itself, where the government on Monday also canceled festivities.

The New York parade, which goes up Fifth Avenue from 44th Street to 80th, has taken place every year since 1762.

The event takes on a crowded party atmosphere, and attendees are known to consume large amounts of beer and other alcoholic beverages - which could make following precautionary social distancing measures intended to stem the spread of the virus more difficult.

Social, political and business events have been canceled around the world in an effort to slow the deadly coronavirus's transmission.

There have been more than 121,000 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in the world and more than 4,300 deaths.

In the US, there are more than 1,000 confirmed cases of the virus and 31 deaths.
Bernie Sanders was named the winner of North Dakota's caucuses on Wednesday - an early morning consolation prize after Joe Biden swept Tuesday night's primaries.

The victory could buy the Vermont senator some thinking time as he holes up in his Vermont home amid mounting pressure to exit the race.

The state only awards 14 delegates, however, which would not be enough to close the gap in Biden's growing lead. Washington state's primary remains to be called. In its first batch of results released late Tuesday night, Sanders and Biden were essentially tied.

Sanders chose not to give a speech Tuesday night after getting an electoral drubbing from Biden in Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, and Idaho.

Michigan was an especially brutal loss for the Vermont senator. In 2016, his victory there over Hillary Clinton stunned party officials and kept his campaign going. This year, the state may sink his hopes.

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., visits outside a polling location at Warren E. Bow Elementary School in Detroit on Tuesday. He decided not to make a speech Tuesday night as poor results came in against Joe Biden

The assessment underlined Sanders' own acknowledgement through his absence. Both he and Biden had cancelled planned election night rallies due to the coronavirus. But Biden chose to deliver somber remarks before staff at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia where he thanked Sanders in a gesture typical of victory speeches.

It was not immediately known if Sanders still intends to fight a long primary battle against Biden as he did against Hillary Clinton in 2016, after a night when delegate math swung decisively against him.

The former vice president reached his hand out to Sanders' supporters in his remarks on Tuesday night.

'I want to thank Bernie Sanders and his supporters for their tireless energy and their passion. We share a common goal, and together we'll defeat Donald Trump. We'll defeat him together,' said Biden.

Sanders' defeat was one that even one of his most prominent supporters, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, did not deny.

'Let's talk about it. Someone says tell us it'll be ok. There's no sugar coating it, tonight's a tough night, for the movement overall,' the first-term lawmaker and left wing firebrand said in a video live-feed posted to her Instagram account. 'Tonight's a tough night electorally,' she added.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez acknowledged the 'tough night electorally,' days after rallying with Sanders in Ann Arbor, Michigan

'We share a common goal, and together we'll defeat Donald Trump. We'll defeat him together,' Joe Biden said in remarks directed at Sanders supporters

Sanders is at his home in Burlington. He and the former vice president are scheduled to debate on another Sunday night in Phoenix, ahead of the next round of primaries.

Biden's remarks Tuesday night were seen as his way of hinting the Vermont senator should exit the race.

After his appeal to Sanders' supporters, he then pivoted to a general election argument by hitting President Trump over his handling of the coronavirus.

'This is a matter of presidential leadership,' Biden said, adding that he would speak more this week about what the response should have been. He'll be addressing the issue Thursday in Wilmington.

Overall, voters from six states voted as part of the 'Super Tuesday 2' primaries that would decide whether Sanders has a future in the Democratic primary race as Biden has taken a delegate lead and amassed a number of high-profile Democratic endorsements - all in the span of 10 days.

The person responsible for Biden's turnaround in South Carolina was Rep. Jim Clyburn who floated Tuesday night that the primary be finished if the former vice president is completely victorious Tuesday night.

'I think when the night is over, Joe Biden will be the prohibitive favorite to win the Democratic nomination, and quite frankly, if the night ends the way it has begun, I think it is time for us to shut this primary down, it is time for us to cancel the rest of these debates,' Clyburn said on NPR. 'Because you don't do anything but get yourself in trouble if you continue in this contest when it's obvious that the numbers will not shake out for you.'

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Joe Biden (right) with wife Jill Biden (left) addressed a small group of supporters and journalists Tuesday night in Philadelphia after his original rally in Cleveland, Ohio was cancelled due to coronavirus fears

Joe Biden (right), standing with wife Jill Biden (left), thanked Bernie Sanders and his supporters for their 'tireless energy and their passion' - a hint that Sanders should call the presidential race quits

Michigan was a huge get for Joe Biden, as it blocked Bernie Sanders' last best path toward the Democratic nomination

Supporters of Joe Biden came to the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia Tuesday night to hear the former vice president speak as he won three more states in the Democratic primaries

Bernie Sanders, photographed campaigning Tuesday in Detroit, Michigan before he headed home to Burlington, Vermont, decided not to address supporters nor the press after a critical loss in Michigan Tuesday night

Six states voted as part of Super Tuesday 2: Washington, Idaho, North Dakota, Missouri, Michigan and Mississippi

Bernie Sanders did campaign Tuesday during the day, visiting a polling location at Warren E. Bow Elementary School in Detroit, Michigan

Mississippi was the first state that went in Joe Biden's column Tuesday night, signaling that the vice president continued to dominate in the south

Next came Missouri, which was called about 10 minutes after polls closed there, signaling that bad things were to come for Bernie Sanders

At around 1 a.m. Wednesday Idaho was called for Joe Biden, making it the fourth state he won in a row during Super Tuesday 2

As the results were coming in, Biden received another endorsement from a former 2020 hopeful with Andrew Yang, now a commentator on CNN, making the announcement live on the cable network.

'I have such admiration and respect for Bernie, and what he means to so many Americans. I waited for the democratic process to play out and I believe it has. The math isn't there,' says Yang whose campaign trademark was MATH hat - 'Make America Think Harder.'

'We should come together as a party starting tonight,' Yang added.

Super Tuesday 2 marked the first day the 2020 presidential campaigns were truly impacted by the coronavirus scare.

Several hours before polls closed, Sanders - and then Biden - announced they wouldn't hold rallies Tuesday night due to coronavirus, putting pressure on President Trump to follow suit.

Instead, Trump announced an upcoming 'Catholics for Trump' event on March 19 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Washington looked like it could be a nail-biter with Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden nearly tied as results come in

Several hours later, CNN and the Democratic National Committee announced Sunday's debate in Phoenix would no longer have a live audience - nor could press attend and watch from the spin room.

Biden and Sanders are still set to appear.

They were both due in Cleveland, Ohio Tuesday night - a traditional swing state where voters cast ballots a week from now.

Elizabeth Warren destroyed Bernie's campaign with the DNC, claims Trump Donald Trump accused Elizabeth Warren and the Democrat National Committee of conspiring to steal the party's nomination from Bernie Sanders after a resounding series of primary victories for rival Joe Biden on Tuesday night. The 77-year-old former Vice President cruised to victory in Michigan, Missouri, Idaho and Mississippi, dealing a crushing blow to Sanders' hopes of taking on Trump in November's presidential race. With results still to come in from North Dakota and Washington - where Sanders is leading - Trump tweeted: 'Pocahontas, working in conjunction with the Democrat Party, totally destroyed the campaign of Bernie Sanders. Trump has previously accused the DNC of conspiring against Sanders, after evidence of cooperation between the committee and Clinton's campaign in 2016 'If she would have quit 3 days earlier, Sanders would have beaten Biden in a [rout], it wouldn't even have been close. 'They also got two other losers to support Sleepy Joe!' Trump has previously accused the DNC of conspiring against Sanders, following the DNC email leak in 2016 which showed then-chair Debbie Wasserman-Schultz coordinating with the Clinton campaign. His tweet mirrors attacks by Sanders supporters on Warren following a disappointing Super Tuesday showing last week. 'If she would have quit 3 days earlier, Sanders would have beaten Biden in a [rout], it wouldn't even have been close. 'They also got two other losers to support Sleepy Joe!' Trump has previously accused the DNC of conspiring against Sanders, following the DNC email leak in 2016 which showed then-chair Debbie Wasserman-Schultz coordinating with the Clinton campaign. His tweet mirrors attacks by Sanders supporters on Warren following a disappointing Super Tuesday showing last week. Advertisement

Biden addressed a small group of supporters at Philadelphia's National Constitution Center, located near where his campaign is headquartered. He also added to his schedule the Thursday coronavirus speech in Delaware, scrapping a planned rally in Tampa, Florida.

Sanders went home to Vermont.

As the coronavirus outbreak grows - and with Sanders, Biden and Trump all in their 70s, a group that is in more danger of dying if they contract the virus - there had already been chatter in Washington if campaign events should go on.

Beyond just his loss in Michigan, for Sanders staying off the campaign trail could be disastrous, as the Vermont senator uses rally attendance to make the point that he's a stronger candidate to go up against Trump than Biden, who attracts far fewer supporters in the flesh.

Trump, too, could see his re-election chances dwindle if he's kept off the campaign trail for long.

Word of Sanders' cancellation came first.

'Out of concern for public health and safety, we are canceling tonight's rally in Cleveland,' a Sanders spokesperson said. 'We are heeding the public warnings from Ohio state officials, who have communicated concern about holding large, indoor events during the coronavirus outbreak.'

The spokesperson added that 'All future Bernie 2020 events will be evaluated on a case by case basis.'

Biden then canceled his event.

'In accordance with guidance from public officials and out of an abundance of caution, our rally in Cleveland, Ohio tonight is cancelled. We will continue to consult with public health officials and public health guidance and make announcements about future events in the coming days,' said Kate Bedingfield, Biden's deputy campaign manager, confirming the news to reporters.

The coronavirus cancellations come as Sanders was trying to grab some of the momentum back from Biden who's now the delegate leader in the Democratic primary race.

In 10 days' time, Biden has turned around his entire campaign - winning South Carolina, beating Sanders in 10 of 14 states on 'Super Tuesday' and getting a flurry of endorsements - including from ex-rivals Michael Bloomberg, Kamala Harris and Cory Booker.

With Biden cementing his frontrunner status, Sanders needed Michigan - or maybe Washington - to change the narrative.

But exit polls were not encouraging for Sanders when voters in Michigan were asked who they trusted to handle a national crisis. Fifty-one per cent said Biden, while 32 per cent said Sanders. In Missouri the numbers were even worse with 61 per cent saying Biden and 27 per cent pointing to Sanders, according to CBS News.

In Washington state, 46 per cent chose Biden, while 27 per cent said Sanders.

In 2016, Sanders was down by an average of 21.4 points to Hillary Clinton in Michigan polls when his surprise win - by just 1.4 per cent - poured new energy into his campaign.

But polls, again, showed bad news for Sanders, with the Real Clear Politics polling average having him 22.4 points down.

And Sanders loss wasn't due to lack of trying, as he spent the last few days campaigning aggressively in the state.

On Friday, he held a Detroit rally with Rep. Rashida Tlaib, who represents the city in Congress and is one of the four members of the so-called Democratic 'squad.'

On Saturday, he held a town hall on 'racial and economic justice' in Flint, Michigan, known for its water troubles.

Joe Biden (center left) has amassed a number of big endorsements since his South Carolina primary win 10 days ago including those from Kamala Harris (left), Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (center right) and Cory Booker. Harris and Booker, both U.S. senators, already had dropped out of the presidential race

Bernie Sanders (right), pointing a finger at Fox News Channel's Martha MacCallum (left) and Bret Baier (center), had been dedicating the last few days to campaigning in Michigan

Bernie Sanders also held a coronavirus public health roundtable in Detroit, Michigan on Monday as he focused heavily on the state. It didn't pay off, however, with Biden winning

During his own time campaigning in Michigan, Joe Biden got in an argument with an auto worker at a Fiat Chrysler plant in Detroit

On Sunday, he was joined on the campaign trail again by Ocasio-Cortez, another member of the 'squad.' They rallied together in Ann Arbor, the home of the University of Michigan.

Then on Monday in Detroit, Sanders held a coronavirus town hall with public health experts, among other events.

Talking to Chris Cuomo on CNN Monday night, Sanders predicted he could win the state again. He also argued that his large, loud crowd meant he would be best positioned to take on President Trump in the general election.

'Does anyone really believe, let me throw it out to you, you know this stuff, that a campaign like Joe's, which is frankly the same-old, same-old establishment politics, supported by the wealthy, and they got all the governors and senators supporting them, does anybody really think that that is going to be the campaign of excitement and energy that's going to grow the base that we need to defeat Trump?' Sanders mused. 'I don't think so.'

But Democrats, in an almost unprecedented way, have gotten behind Biden.

On Monday night, he held his own Detroit rally where he held hands with Harris and Booker - who made their endorsements official - and the state's governor, the up-and-coming Gretchen Whitmer.

But the rally wasn't without drama, as a group of anti-NAFTA protesters heckled the vice president.

He told his crowd the 'Bernie Bros are here.'

Another larger group of pro-Green New Deal activists - a concept Sanders supports - - also showed up. Politico reported that Biden's senior adviser Symone Sanders, who was Bernie Sanders' 2016 press secretary, got hit in the head with an iPad and knocked down. She wasn't injured.

Symone Sanders also wrestled a Vegan activist off the stage at Biden's 'Super Tuesday' primary night event in Los Angeles, California last week. It wasn't personal to Biden, as protesters from the same group interrupted an Elizabeth Warren event in Los Angeles the night before.

Biden got into a back-and-forth with Michigan voters Tuesday morning as he toured a Fiat Chrysler plant in Detroit. 'You're full of s*** man,' Biden told a plant worker who accused him of 'actively trying to end our Second Amendment right,' according to video of the incident from CBS News. He told another worker to 'shush' as he explained his point.

The big question for Super Tuesday 2 was where Warren's voters would find a home.

President Trump - trying to sow discord among the Democrats - blamed Warren for Sanders' underwhelming Super Tuesday showing.

'Our modern day Pocahontas wont go down in history as a winner, but she may very well go down as the all time great SPOILER!' Trump tweeted Wednesday.

The president suggested that while moderates like Amy Klobuchar and Pete Buttigieg, who dropped out and endorsed Biden before Super Tuesday, cleared the way for the former veep, Warren paid no such courtesy to Sanders, a fellow progressive. She never endorsed Sanders, nor did she give a nod to Biden - though many of her supporters moved to the ex-vice president, the results show.
File Image

A day after aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation warned airlines to ensure declaration by passengers or face action, it has emerged that an Air India flight from Milan to Delhi came without screening fliers for the coronavirus.

News agency ANI posted on Twitter that screening was done after the flight landed in Delhi. It should have done at Milan, itself.

Also Read | Coronavirus impact: Airlines now have another problem after international travel restrictions



Delhi: Air India AI-138 from Milan to Delhi came without COVID-19 screening. The flight had 80 passengers on board. Indian Customs has completed all formalities of screening the passengers and their goods at the isolation bay at Delhi airport. #CoronaVirus https://t.co/CUh2mYZAko pic.twitter.com/xO9LURgBJ7

 ANI (@ANI) March 11, 2020

Italy is facing a severe crisis with 631 deaths due to the deadly coronavirus.

COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine  one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show

In Pics | Life in the times of coronavirus

"Air India AI-138 from Milan to Delhi has been taken to isolation bay at Delhi Airport; currently, all passengers are going through screening at the airport," the post added.

On March 10, the DGCA issued a circular saying that some of the airlines had not ensured availability of self-declaration forms to passengers.

"This has been viewed very seriously by this office. All airlines operating on international sector, therefore, are again advised to ensure availability of self-declaration forms," the DGCA said.

The regulator added that all airlines should also ensure in-flight announcements regarding the same.

A government official confirmed that the Air India incident had prompted the circular. "The violation is serious enough to stop their operations," the official added.

There are more than 60 confirmed cases in India now.
Joe Biden won the Michigan primary and three other states Tuesday, cementing his status atop the Democratic field and heightening calls for Bernie Sanders to stand aside and begin the process of unifying the party to face President Trump in November.

On a roll since taking command of the race last week in a remarkable turnaround, Biden also carried Missouri and Mississippi easil, padding his delegate lead over the Vermont senator and lengthening the odds of Sanders mounting a similar comeback.

Biden, appearing in Philadelphia, struck a solemn tone as he thanked Sanders and his backers for their tireless energy and passion and sounded several notes  a paean to the middle class and the promise of a bold, progressive vision  that seemed aimed at winning their support.

We share a common goal and together well defeat Donald Trump, he said. Well defeat him together.

Sanders remained silent. In a break with election night tradition, his campaign announced there would be no public statement or appearance by the candidate after he flew home to Burlington, Vt., to await the results.

On a day when concerns over the spreading coronavirus shadowed the campaign, Biden also won in Idaho, and North Dakota and Washington races had not been called by press time.

The balloting was modest compared with last weeks 15-contest Super Tuesday extravaganza. A mere 352 pledged delegates were at stake, compared with nearly 1,400 a week ago.

Still, the outcome in the six contests seemed likely to significantly shape the campaign going forward.

The vote came as the two candidates were moving in opposite directions.

After facing near political death, the former vice president was on the ascent, showered with millions of dollars in contributions and bolstered by dozens of fresh endorsements after his 10 Super Tuesday victories. (He picked up another Tuesday night, from former opponent Andrew Yang.)

Sanders was struggling to overcome Bidens growing momentum as well as delegate math that makes his path to the White House increasingly steep.

Many in the party suggested it was time for the senator to face an increasingly bleak reality.

South Carolina Rep. James E. Clyburn, whose endorsement was instrumental in launching Biden to victory in his home state  a win that changed the course of the race overnight  said on NPR that it was time to shut this primary down, starting with the cancellation of a two-man debate scheduled for Sunday in Phoenix.

Guy Cecil, the head of Priorities USA, a major Democratic political action committee, said the math is now clear and announced the organization would throw its considerable weight behind Biden, beginning Wednesday with a TV spot in the November battleground state of Pennsylvania.

On the left, Ilya Sheyman, former head of the progressive political group MoveOn, sent love and care to Sanders and his campaign even as he signaled his belief the Democratic race was over. We need unity in Nov. to stop Trump, win Senate & build future, he wrote on Twitter.

Before the polls closed, Sanders and Biden announced they were canceling election night rallies scheduled in Cleveland ahead of next weeks Ohio primary. Biden spoke instead at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, where his campaign is headquartered.

Of Tuesdays contests, Michigan appeared to be the most important, offering the largest share of delegates  125  and carrying important symbolic weight.

Sanders won the state four years ago, a victory that sparked his campaign just as Hillary Clinton seemed about to wrap up the nomination.

But Biden, with the endorsement of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, ran strongly among Michigan voters of all types: black and white, those with college degrees and without, city dwellers as well as suburbanites, and won by more than 14 percentage points.

Mark Z. Barabak is a Los Angeles Times writer.
A recent survey done by the National Association of Realtors found that proximity to a marijuana dispensary doesn't usually have an adverse impact on property values.

In states where only medical marijuana is legal, 85% of Realtors said they saw no change in the values that were located close to a dispensary. That percentage dropped a little, down to 75%, in states where both medical and recreational marijuana have both been legal since 2016. In states that legalized recreational and medicinal pot before 2016, that percentage fell to 60%.

But while there were some decreases in property values relating to a nearby marijuana business, even in the states that fully legalized pot prior to 2016, only 5% of surveyed Realtors said that they had seen "substantial" decreases. And on the flip side, 4% said they had seen valuations rise substantially for similarly situated properties.

Social attitudes about marijuana have changed fairly significantly over the past several years. In 2012, only Colorado and Washington had legalized the drug for adult use; now, recreational marijuana is legal in 11 states, and more than 30 permit it for medicinal use.

More dispensaries and pot shops to come

Canopy Growth (NASDAQ:CGC) in 2018 said that expected to have as many as 400 stores by the end of 2019. But the retail rollout hasn't gone as smoothly as planned in Canada, which is a big reason pot stocks haven't done as well as investors and analysts hoped they would. However, as the industry grows, there will be even more dispensaries, especially in the U.S., where legalization efforts continue to progress.

Canopy Growth reached a tentative deal to purchase Acreage Holdings (OTC:ACRGF) last year, contingent on the U.S. government legalizing the sale and production of cannabis. That would give Canopy a strong foothold in the market. But until that happens, the deal will likely remain shelved.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Menakshi Lekhi on Wednesday defended party colleagues Anurag Thakur, Parvesh Verma and Kapil Mishra who have been accused by the opposition of setting the stage for the violence that rocked northeast Delhi last month and left more than 50 people dead.

Anurag Thakur and Parvesh Verma were blamed for Delhi violence. Anurag and Verma made comments on January 20 and January 28, while the violence started on February 23. Kapil Mishra was held responsible for acts of Amanatullah Khan, Sharjeel Imam and Tahir Hussain, Lekhi said during a discussion on the violence in the Lok Sabha , according to ANI.

Without naming the Congress, she blamed the grand old party for the riots and said the government had controlled the violence in 36 hours.

Watch l Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury Vs Meenakshi Lekhi over Delhi violence in Lok Sabha

They talked of 1984 riots, I would like to tell them that theyve forgotten that some accused are today in the position of CM. The violence was brought under control within 36 hrs which, if you look at in hindsight, was in the making for months, she said.

The BJP claims that the protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in southeast Delhis Shaheen Bagh that began last December had vitiated the atmosphere and eventually led to the violence in the capitals northeast.

The BJP also blames Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Amanatullah Khan and Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) student Sharjeel Imam for fanning passions. It has also accused AAP councilor Tahir Hussain, who has been arrested in connection with the murder of an Intelligence Bureau staffer in the riots of orchestrating the violence.

The violence in northeast Delhi began as a skirmish between supporters of the CAA and protesters against the law in Jafrabad area and escalated quickly into full blown riots that initially caught the police unawares and raged for three days.

On February 23, BJPs Kapil Mishra had asked the Delhi Police to vacate the Jafrabad and Chand Bagh roads and gave them an ultimatum of three days.

Mishras ultimatum to the police in a speech was widely shared and was blamed by the opposition as a signal to target Muslims.

Delhi had been on the edge in the run up to the assembly elections which the BJP lost badly. Union minister Anurag Thakur and Lok Sabha MP Parvesh Verma were accused of provocative speeches and banned by the Election Commission from campaigning.

The opposition had demanded a discussion in Parliament as soon as the Budget session resumed last week, but the government had its way, insisting that it be held after Holi.
The Aviation Minister, Joseph Kofi Adda, has pointed out the President Akufo-Addos administrations strong desire to expand the countrys aviation industry.

Speaking to Indian High Commissioner to Ghana, Sugandh Rajaram, at his office on Wednesday, March 11 Mr. Adda said Government was keen on improving the fortunes of the aviation sector and by so-doing create jobs for the Ghanaian people.

Mr. Rajaram had visited the Minister to introduce himself as the new High Commissioner of India to Ghana.

During the meeting, the Minister encouraged Indian investors to take advantage of the investment opportunities in the aviation industry in Ghana.

He noted that efforts were being made by the Government to make aviation a household name in Ghana.

Meanwhile, the High Commissioner says India also an expansion agenda for its aviation sector.

He noted that India has upgraded a significant number of its airports and was equally expanding its aviation sector.

---Daily Guide
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle threw their axed-staff a farewell lunch at The Goring Hotel where some employees were 'left in tears' by an emotional toast, a source told Page Six.

The Duke, 35, and Duchess of Sussex, 38, were seen leaving the exclusive five-star hotel, which is located next to Buckingham Palace and boasts exclusive dining rooms, last Thursday.

A source has now revealed how Prince Harry and Meghan organised the meal in order to thank their staff, who will lose their jobs when the couple close their office at Buckingham Palace on April 1, for their hard work.

It is understood that while some of the staff may be able to find work in the royal household, most will negotiate redundancy packages.

Meghan Markle, 38, and Prince Harry, 35, threw axed staff members a 'farewell lunch' at exclusive five-star The Goring Hotel last Thursday (pictured, at the Endeavour Award's that evening)

The royal source said the couple had often done 'fun things' for their team, including throwing 'pizza parties' and 'hiring ice cream trucks' for the staff.

But the couple wanted to do something 'special' for the hardworking staff in their final week of royal engagements.

Staff were understood to be 'working around the clock' to ensure the last week went as smoothly as possible.

The source explained: 'They toasted the team and thanked them for everything they have done. Some of the staffers cried.'

A source revealed how the couple threw their 15 members of staff a farewell lunch which left 'some staffers in tears' (pictured, Head of communications, Sara Latham, during a visit by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to Canada House in January)

They added: 'Meghan and Harry really wanted to show their appreciation, they know how hard everyone has worked.'

Meghan wore a camel coat and 615 Aquazzura black heels and smiled as she was seen leaving the London hotel on Thursday, where rooms cost up to 8,400 a night.

Her husband Prince Harry was also spotted leaving the hotel just moments earlier as a member of the concierge team held an umbrella over his head in the rain.

The Goring is a long-time favourite of the royals, with the Duchess of Cambridge staying in its Royal Suite on the night before her wedding to William in 2011.

The couple were keen to thank their 'hard-working team' while on their farewell tour last week (pictured, Project manager to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Clara Loughran nee Madden, at a visit to Abbey Road Studios in February)

It is the only hotel to have received the Royal Warrant, awarded in 2013, for services to hospitality and was a firm favourite with the Queen Mother.

Harry and Meghan broke the news that they would close their Buckingham Palace office to their team in person in January, following the announcement that they were stepping down as senior working royals.

It is understood that the Duke asked to be personally kept up to date with the redundancy negotiations.

Clara was so well-regarded by the royal couple that she was asked to hand Meghan her bouquet on her wedding day

Among those to lose their jobs are the couple's newly appointed private secretary, Fiona Mcilwham  although she is on secondment from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and is likely to be found in a role in Whitehall  and their hugely experienced communications chief Sara Latham.

Harry's long-standing programme co-ordinator Clara Loughran, who was so well regarded by the prince that she was asked to hand Meghan her bouquet in church on her wedding day, will go.

Meghan Markle has already started her new life after flying straight to Canada from the Commonwealth Day Service to reunite with baby Archie, while Prince Harry has stayed in the UK.

The couple were snapped exiting the exclusive five-star London hotel last week on their first day back in the UK (pictured)

The Duke of Sussex was in Buckingham Palace yesterday for a series of meetings to plan his future work in the UK, as reported by The Telegraph.

It is understood that Harry will fly back to Vancouver Island soon, where the couple have been living in recent months their son at a luxurious 14million waterside mansion.

The couple also have to resolve the security issues around who will pay for their protection after their Buckingham Palace office closes on April 1.
[March 11, 2020] Planisware Reports Total Revenue of $89 Million in 2019

Planisware, the leading global provider of Project and Product Portfolio Management (PPM (News - Alert)) software solutions for new product development (NPD), IT, and engineering organizations, reported its seventh consecutive year of double-digit year-over-year growth in the year 2019, for a total of $89 million in revenue. Increased recurring revenue contributed significantly to the overall growth; in North America alone, the annual recurring revenue grew by 90% in 2019. Planisware's customer base continues to expand, particularly in the areas of Engineering and IT PPM. L3Harris, Lockheed Martin (News - Alert), Parexel, Illumina, and more than 90 others selected Planisware as their PPM solution in 2019. The organization's acceleration in growth is driven in part by a significant expansion of its offering in 2018, including the launch of the 4P SaaS (News - Alert) platform and the introduction of the Orchestra solution, which offers comprehensive PPM capabilities in a scalable, streamlined format. In 2019, 14 customers made the move from on-premise implementations to Planisware's 4P SaaS platform, which includes infrastructure, expert services, and maintenance. Orchestra, Planisware's turnkey offering for end-to-end PPM, continued to establish itself as a high-value, low-barrier solution, with more than 60 new clients from the IT, Engineering, Life Sciences, and NPD industries. "Planisware's core goal is to maximize the value that our lients derive from our solutions. The strategic additions to our offering over the last two years aim to reduce the cost of entry, lower administrative overhead, and increase ROI for our customers," said Pierre Demonsant, CEO and co-founder of Planisware. "Our clients' enthusiastic adoption of these additions confirms the added value and validates our long-term strategy."



"Planisware's solutions go beyond software," added Antoine Villata, head of North American operations, "In the US, we recently redesigned our internal structure to incorporate industry-specific pillars. Each pillar consolidates years of industry experience, in many cases across hundreds of customers. Along with providing focused, best practice-based services to our customers, pillars champion industry needs for development in our products." Planisware remains a Leader in the Gartner (News - Alert) PPM Magic Quadrant, Worldwide, advancing in both Completeness of Vision and Ability to Execute in 2019. In February 2019, Gartner alumnus Matt Light joined Planisware as VP of Strategy.

Customer training programs underwent key expansions, introducing end user training and enhancing the existing certification process. The training aims to equip business users with the skills they need to take full advantage of the extensive capabilities within the Planisware solution. Planisware looks forward to continued growth in 2020, including the highly anticipated launch of Planisware Enterprise V7, which is set to be unveiled at the 2020 Global User Summit. All Planisware customers are invited to the Global User Summit, which will take place in Paris in early October. About Planisware Planisware is a leading global provider of product and project portfolio management software solutions with hundreds of thousands of users worldwide across a variety of major industries, including consumer packaged goods, IT, engineering, automotive, aerospace and defense, high-tech, chemical manufacturing, life sciences, and energy. For more information about Planisware, please visit www.planisware.com or call 888-752-6479 View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200311005812/en/

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michael barbaro

From The New York Times, Im Michael Barbaro. This is The Daily. Today: It was supposed to be a relatively simple part of preparing for the coronavirus in the United States  testing for it. My colleague Sheri Fink on what went wrong. Its Wednesday, March 11.

sheri fink

So in 2018, it was the hundredth anniversary of the terrible 1918 flu pandemic. This was called the Spanish flu. And it just killed millions and millions of people around the world. So on that hundredth-year anniversary, many gatherings were held to discuss the lessons of that flu pandemic for today. And there was this one gathering of high-level people in Atlanta, Georgia, where the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is based. And among the officials there was a group from the National Security Council. It had actually been created, a special unit on global health security that was created after that terrible Ebola outbreak in West Africa.

archived recording So lets begin with you, Dr. [INAUDIBLE].

sheri fink

So one of the officials with that group, with that unit 

archived recording (luciano borio) Well, its a pleasure to be here with so many of my colleagues. And weve been working together for more than a decade on these issues.

sheri fink

 she steps up to the podium and she says 

archived recording (luciano borio) The threat of pandemic flu is our number one health security concern. We know that it cannot be stopped at the border.

michael barbaro

So this is a pretty senior health official on the National Security Council warning her colleagues that there is a very predictable threat here  a pandemic flu and 

archived recording (luciano borio) Are we ready to respond to a pandemic? I fear the answer is no.

michael barbaro

 in her words, the country is just not really ready for it. So we should do something about it.

sheri fink

Exactly. And as it happens, the very next day, that global health security unit where she worked was shut down by a senior member of the Trump administration. So fast forward two years. And its early January, January 3. Its a Friday. And the secretary of health and human services, Alex Azar, is at home in Washington. And he gets this phone call from Robert Redfield, this doctor whos the head of the C.D.C. And Dr. Redfield tells Azar about these reports coming out of China, that there are these clusters of pneumonia cases, and that the likely culprit is a new coronavirus. And Alex Azar, the health and human services secretary, says, this is a very big deal.

michael barbaro

And what does Azar do with this information and this understanding that whatever this is, its going to be a big deal?

sheri fink

The Trump administration officials start meeting every day in the basement of the West Wing. And so at first, they say, OK, lets screen the flights that are coming from China. But theres an even more serious question that comes up, which is, should we ban flights altogether? And should we deny entry to anybody who has come from China in the last 14 days, to anybody who isnt a citizen or a permanent resident here? So then that debate got shifted right to the Oval Office. And the top health officials of the nation, at that point, were agreed. A ban from traveling from the center of this epidemic could buy us some time, could help us to prepare ourselves before this came. It could slow that down. The president asked, what could the consequences be on the economy? All logical things that you would probably ask. In the end, he sided with the aides who supported the idea that this could actually help protect our nations health. The problem was we werent completely prepared. Our government wasnt completely prepared to use that time.

michael barbaro

What do you mean?

sheri fink

The biggest issue that the government had to face was testing  being able to diagnose somebody who has this illness.

michael barbaro

And what is the problem with testing at this point?

sheri fink

Well, it didnt seem like there would be a problem. Even though it was a new virus, the Chinese quickly made the sequence of it available. And labs were really quickly able to create a test for that, including the World Health Organization had already approved a test that was developed by some German scientists. But the U.S., which considers the C.D.C the worlds premier public health agency, they decided to make their own test. But it didnt actually get F.D.A. approved until the first week of February. And at that point, it could be distributed to public health laboratories across the country. But, you know, now were already over a month into this scary new outbreak by that point.

michael barbaro

So this is already off to a pretty slow start at a moment where every single day counts.

sheri fink

Thats right. So now, were like a month into this thing. And theyre finally able to mail out the kits to public health laboratories around the country  state health laboratories, some big city health laboratories, this network of labs that our public health system has. And the next day  the first step that the labs have to do is they have to check that test. They have to whats called validate it, make sure its working. And right that next day, the C.D.C starts getting reports from some of these public health labs, saying, were not able to validate this test. Were having problems. Were getting some inconclusive results. And thats the first sign that something may have gone wrong.

michael barbaro

This test is not working?

sheri fink

Well, the C.D.C says it was definitely working in their lab. So theyve told all the labs across the country, if its not working for you, of course, dont use it. Just send samples to us. Of course, that adds time. You have to collect a sample in your local area and then send it to Atlanta, and then wait for that result to come back.

michael barbaro

So what impact does this testing snafu have at this point on our understanding of the epidemic?

sheri fink

It just means that we dont know. We actually dont know. We say we have a low number of cases in this country at that point. But if you dont test, how can you know?

michael barbaro

OK. And for these weeks where it seemed like we had cases in the low double digits in the United States, and there was a sense that things were quite stable and the danger was pretty low, the virus very well could have been spreading and spreading widely, and we wouldnt have known. Because we werent doing the testing that would have told us that.

sheri fink

Exactly. And heres why. Because only a small proportion of people who get the virus get really, really sick, fortunately. But by the time that they get into a critical care bed at a hospital  and the doctors there are scratching their heads, and theyve tested for all the known things that cause like pneumonia and severe, severe respiratory distress  weeks have gone by since that person was infected. So youre actually looking at history. If you finally get a positive test at that point, then, yes, it has been spreading in the community. And thats all that time that you lose.

michael barbaro

Right. So this time that the Trump administration had bought the American people with that dramatic step  with shutting its border to Chinese travelers  is kind of being squandered.

sheri fink

Yeah, there were so many people who were starting to feel, at this point, like this time is being squandered. And we needed to get eyes on this. There were travelers coming from parts of the world where we didnt have a travel ban that now had a large number of cases. And they werent being screened at the airports. They were going out into the communities. And there was just this urgency of being able to test more. And thats when this one group of doctors and researchers took matters into their own hands.

michael barbaro

Well be right back.

[music]

michael barbaro

Sheri, who is this doctor?

sheri fink

So her name is Helen Chu.

[phone dialing] helen chu Hello? This is Helen. sheri fink Hi, Helen. How are you doing? helen chu Im doing well. How are you? sheri fink Im well. Thanks.

sheri fink

Shes a physician and a researcher in Washington state, which is where the first case of coronavirus was detected in the U.S. back in January. And she and her colleagues see a potential solution to this testing problem in their own work.

helen chu We had a study in place that was set up for detection of respiratory viral illnesses in the community 

sheri fink

She specializes in studying how viruses pass from person-to-person within that same community. And she and her colleagues have this big study where theyre collecting all these samples.

helen chu  from people who are sick, and then testing them in the lab for flu and other respiratory viruses.

sheri fink

And through collecting hundreds and hundreds of samples every week, theyre trying to track the spread of viruses.

michael barbaro

And she was in the middle of collecting samples when the coronavirus arrives in Washington?

sheri fink

That is right.

helen chu

So we had this infrastructure in place already, essentially, in the Seattle area to be able to detect early entry of a virus into the city and then to understand how it spread.

michael barbaro

And that sounds like it would make her very well positioned to do the same thing for the coronavirus.

sheri fink

Exactly. She thought of that. The state health officials knew about their project. And they immediately thought about the potential of this project to help with this issue of testing.

michael barbaro

And so what happens?

sheri fink

They make their own coronavirus test really fast. And theyre ready to go to help the state by the first week of February. But theres one hitch.

helen chu We had to go through regulatory clearance, essentially. We had to talk to C.D.C. We had to talk to F.D.A..

sheri fink

They dont have the approval to test and then give those results out for two reasons. One is theyre not a clinical lab, so they dont have the regulatory approval for that. And number two is theyve just created this new coronavirus test, which isnt yet F.D.A. approved.

helen chu And so we were at a point where we could test thousands and thousands of samples at very high throughput. But we didnt know what to do when we found a positive.

sheri fink

So theres good reason to have some of those regulations in place. But they figure, this is a public health emergency. And they feel like theres got to be some way around this bureaucratic red tape, where they could at least screen these samples and get that information out to the public health authorities to confirm that test, whatever it is. But 

helen chu Everybody felt very hesitant about us being able to provide results or to do the testing at all.

sheri fink

 the C.D.C doesnt seem to find a way around it. Weeks go by. And theyre getting more and more frustrated. And theyre seeing the outbreak is growing in China, and its spreading to other countries. So we know theres a potential for it to be an outbreak not just in China.

helen chu We had the information. We had the data there sitting in our lab where we could actually answer the question. And that was frustrating, that we could answer it. We had the capacity to answer it, but we couldnt move forward, because we didnt know what to do.

sheri fink

They feel like theyre sitting on a gold mine. And they feel like the virus very well could be out there. After all, there had been this case in Washington state more than a month earlier, and nobodys had eyes on it. Nobodys been doing surveillance in the community, testing samples. So theyre getting more and more nervous. Is there something were not seeing? Because were not really testing very widely.

michael barbaro

So what did they end up doing? Just kind of keeping those samples on ice and doing nothing?

sheri fink

Well, at first, thats what they did. Because they thought they could speak with these officials and find out some official workaround, so that they wouldnt be violating regulations and get in trouble.

helen chu Everyone wanted to be able to do this the proper way  to go through C.D.C and state labs and have them have the high capacity to do the testing of all of these patients who really needed a diagnosis. But it just couldnt be done.

sheri fink

And then it gets to February 25. I mean, the month is almost gone. Its more than a month since that first case. And they finally just said 

helen chu What we would do is move forward with research testing only.

sheri fink

 were going to start using this unapproved coronavirus test that we have, and that we believe is very reliable, and start testing these samples.

michael barbaro

Wow. So theyre just going for it?

sheri fink

Well, theyre just going for it. And technically, they can test, right? But the issue is, they cant report the results.

helen chu So what we would do would just be to go ahead and test the samples for coronavirus, but not to associate that with the information from the sample. So the clinical information.

michael barbaro

So they have a plan to test for the coronavirus. And if they find it, that would mean that theyre sitting on information that theyre not supposed to have.

sheri fink

Theyre sitting on information that theyre not supposed to communicate because of these regulatory issues. Its all going to be fine as long as they dont find a case.

michael barbaro

OK, so once they decided to do that, what happened?

sheri fink

What happened was, one of the very first days that they started testing 

helen chu February 27, we got the first positive.

sheri fink

 they found a case.

helen chu What I thought was, oh, no. If it came up that early in our testing, that meant that it had probably been here for a while and that we just didnt know that it was there. And so the questions racing through my head at that point where, what is the right thing to do right now? And so what happened at that point was that we rapidly convened a meeting of the investigators.

sheri fink

The group just convenes. They all get on the phone. And they talk about ethics at this point.

helen chu We talked through the ethics of the different options  keep it to ourselves, tell public health, or tell the participants. And what we are allowed to do was to keep it to ourselves. But what we felt like we needed to do was to tell public health. And so thats what we did.

sheri fink

They decide that the most ethical thing is to report the result to the local health authority. They confirmed the result. And its this local teenager in the very same county as that first positive case, but no known link to that person and no travel history. And that next morning, the public health lab went out and they found this teenager, who was feeling better by that point. Because he had had a mild form of this illness, which is most common, especially in young people. And they get to him just after he walks into his school, because hes 

michael barbaro

Oh, wow.

sheri fink

Yeah. And they end up shutting the school down to make sure that nobody else will catch the virus.

helen chu I mean, that was a good moment for our team, I thought. You know, we did something that didnt follow the rules, but we were able to prevent spread in a high school. And that seemed really important.

michael barbaro

So because of the doctors actions, they catch him, basically, in the nick of time.

sheri fink

They do. And they also realize that they may have a big problem on their hands. Because if this case descended from that first case, if that person potentially had infected somebody without knowing it, and then there was mild illness going on, and nobody caught it, there could be hundreds of cases in the area. And so that gave them the information that they needed to start acting, to start looking more seriously for the virus in the community.

michael barbaro

I wonder. Had Dr. Chu not broken the rules in this case, how that would have changed how we understand the coronavirus in the Seattle region?

sheri fink

Well, we wouldnt have known, until the people started dying, that there was a problem. And unfortunately, the really sad thing is that that happened really soon after that. And so if Dr. Chu and her colleagues had been able to test sooner, they would have been able to alert the authorities earlier. And thats the real tragedy here.

michael barbaro

Sheri, on the one hand, the story that you have just told  its a pretty heroic story of a doctor willing to go against the rules, the instructions, because she felt that it was needed in the moment, in the midst of a public health crisis. On the other hand, it feels risky for the lesson here to be that medical professionals should go rogue in the middle of a crisis. I mean, what in your mind is the lesson here?

sheri fink

I mean, Im somebody whos reported on disasters for many years and used to do some disaster response myself. And Ive always seen in crises that thinking outside the box can really solve problems and it can save lives. And I think we generally accept that already, that the rules do have to bend, that people need to think creatively. And one of the reasons they have to do it  and it was so evident here  was that the larger system, the official responders, the official system in place couldnt do everything and was faltering.

michael barbaro

But I wonder, how much would things potentially have been different, Sheri, if, thinking back to the start of our conversation, those government programs  the National Security Councils health program, for example  hadnt been cut? I mean, how much does that reflect an overall approach to this epidemic from the people currently in charge from the Trump administration?

sheri fink

I think you can trace it back further than that. It is a pattern that these programs, when theres a crisis, they get really well funded. And as soon as Ebola recedes into history, we start cutting those parts of government. You can look back after the anthrax attacks and 9/11. And there was all this money that went into bioterrorism preparedness and hospital preparedness. And then you look at the numbers, and they go down over time. This is a reaction of humanity and society and government, is to sort of like  when its in the news and its fresh in our minds, we invest in it, and then we turn away. So I feel like this is a pattern. And when this happens, and we have these gaps in our preparedness that the government always seems to have, what I have found over and over again as a reporter is regular people step in and fill some of those holes. And Im thinking  right now I have this image of Hurricane Katrina and government officials not being able to rescue everybody who needed help all at once. People waving towels off of rooftops and people stuck in hospitals. And then it was these regular people who had airboats, who were fishermen from western Louisiana. And they show up, and they just take people to dry ground. Ive seen examples like that over and over. In this case, we saw Dr. Chu and her colleagues doing something like that. But, what I found out today on the phone with Dr. Chu was that 

helen chu Yesterday, the Washington state regulators called their lab and asked us to shut down.

sheri fink

 the project got shut down again. So the state regulators told them they cant keep doing this. So it looks like the government isnt going to allow this to continue to fill that hole. And so that hole remains.

[music]

sheri fink

The question is whether this will be one of those lessons that comes out of this particular outbreak. And of course, there will be a tomorrow. There will be a day where were not in the midst of something so frightening that were in right now. And the question is, will this fit that same cycle where we say, weve learned the lesson, we need to kind of innovate and come up with new systems that will ensure that were on a better footing, that we can have some backup system so that we can roll out testing as a country much more quickly? Or will this fit that same cycle, where once the immediate danger goes away, we stop investing, or we just forget?

michael barbaro

Sheri, thank you.

sheri fink

Thank you.

michael barbaro

A few days ago, my colleague Peter Baker asked President Trump whether he regrets eliminating the global health unit of the National Security Council in light of the coronavirus epidemic.

donald trump I just think this is something, Peter, that you can never really think is going to happen. Ive heard all about, this could be a big deal, from before it happened. Something like this could happen.

michael barbaro

The president claimed, despite past warnings from federal health officials, that such an epidemic was previously unimaginable.

donald trump But who would have thought? Look, how long ago was it? Six, seven, eight weeks ago, who would have thought wed even be having this subject? We were going to hit 30,000 on the Dow like it was clockwork, right?

michael barbaro

Well be right back.

[music]

michael barbaro

Heres what else you need to know today. On Tuesday, public and private institutions across the United States took their strongest measures yet to limit the spread of the coronavirus. Dozens of colleges and universities, from the University of California, Berkeley to Harvard, are closing their doors or asking students to attend classes remotely. Major airlines, including Delta and American Airlines, said they would drastically cut back on international flights. And the nursing home industry issued a recommendation to bar visits from family and friends after deadly outbreaks inside of five nursing homes around Seattle. In New York, officials have created a containment cell around the source of a major outbreak in the city of New Rochelle, north of New York City, ordering schools, community centers and houses of worship within the zone to close for the next two weeks and deploying the National Guard inside the containment area. And in California, a cruise ship with at least 21 infected passengers docked in Oakland, where it was met by workers in protective gear, who took those on board to a nearby military base in the largest quarantine operation so far on American soil. For the results of Tuesday nights Democratic primaries, which were held in six states, listen to this mornings episode of The Latest. You can find it on The Daily feed or by searching for The Latest, wherever you listen.

[music]
TEHRAN, Iran - Irans senior vice-president and two other Cabinet members have contracted the new coronavirus, a semiofficial news agency reported Wednesday as the death toll in the Islamic Republic from the outbreak rose by 62 to 354.

The report by the Fars news agency, believed to be close to Irans paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, comes as President Hassan Rouhani took control of the countrys much-criticized response to the virus and the COVID-19 illness it causes. Authorities announced that there were some 9,000 confirmed cases of the virus across Iran.

The Fars story also comes amid days of speculation about the health of Vice-President Eshaq Jahangiri. Jahangiri has not been seen in pictures of recent top-level meetings, raising concerns about him.

Meanwhile on Wednesday, Kuwait announced a two-week shutdown of the country while confirmed cases in Qatar jumped from 24 to 262.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia. The vast majority of people recover from the new virus.

There was no immediate report on state media about the Iranian officials being ill and no other media outlet in Iran immediately carried the report. Fars published it in a picture list of names in Farsi, with Jahangiris name at the top, saying he was in quarantine and improving, without elaborating.

Fars said the others sick are Ali Asghar Mounesan, minister of cultural heritage, handcrafts and tourism, and Reza Rahmani, minister of industry, mines and business.

The report comes at a sensitive time for Rouhani, who faced criticism for not being out front on the response to the virus. Hes been seen at government meetings where members sit meters apart from each other, likely to stop the potential spread of the virus. He also wore latex gloves while planting a tree at a recent event.

Hard-liners long have tried to embarrass Rouhani, whose administration pushed through Irans 2015 nuclear deal with world powers.

Rouhani has 11 vice-presidents. Another, Massoumeh Ebtekar, earlier fell ill with the virus. Ebtekar is better known to Americans as Sister Mary, the English-speaking spokeswoman for those who seized the U.S. Embassy in Tehran in 1979 and began the 444-day hostage crisis.

Ebtekar tweeted Wednesday she had recovered from the virus, while linking to images of Western officials who have contracted the illness.

#Iran faces sanctions & psycho-terrorism, she wrote. They portray Iran as corona epicenter, accuse us of undercounting, count afflicted officials as proof. Reality: Numbers are clear, thank God Im back in my office.

Across the Mideast, the vast majority of the nearly 10,000 people who have contracted the coronavirus and the COVID-19 illness it causes are in hard-hit Iran or had recently returned from there. The Islamic Republic has one of the worlds worst death tolls outside of China, the epicenter of the outbreak. Outside of Iran, only Iraq, Egypt and Lebanon have recorded deaths from the virus in the Middle East.

The World Health Organization on Wednesday declared the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic.

Kuwait announced late Wednesday the oil-rich nation would close down all work and business for two weeks beginning Thursday. Flights would halt to the nation from Friday, the country said. It has over 70 confirmed cases of the new virus. Restaurants, cafes and health clubs also will be closed, the state-run KUNA news agency reported.

Qatar reported a massive jump in cases of the new coronavirus late Wednesday as well, going up to 262. The small, peninsular nation home to long-haul airline Qatar Airways stressed the new cases had been found in quarantine and not mixing out in the public.

In the Gulf Arab island nation of Bahrain, authorities say their number of confirmed cases on Wednesday spiked by nearly 70% to 189 confirmed cases. The 77 new cases were all on a returning flight of Bahraini evacuees from Iran.

There are concerns that the number of infections across Iran is much higher than the confirmed cases reported by the government, which is struggling to contain or manage its spread. The rising casualty figures each day in Iran suggest the fight against the new coronavirus is far from over.

Among the dead are five Revolutionary Guard members and an unspecified number of the Guards 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.

Meanwhile Saudi Arabia, which has barred travel to and from 14 countries and halted pilgrimages to Islams holiest sites in Mecca and Medina, announced Wednesday it would close its recently reopened movie theatres until further notice.

Lebanon reported its second death Wednesday saying a 53-year-old man died of the virus. The Health Ministry said 37% of the cases reported in Lebanon originated from four countries: Egypt, Iran, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

Later on Wednesday, Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab said flights will be halted form Iran, Italy, China and South Korea. Diab said Lebanese staying in countries that have large numbers of coronavirus cases have four days to return to Lebanon.

In Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a $2.8 billion rescue package to stabilize the economy as it grapples with the virus. The money will double a previously announced fund to help businesses hit by the crisis to $2.4 billion. It also includes roughly $280 million for the health sector.

Israel has diagnosed a total of 77 cases of the virus.

___

Associated Press writers Aya Batrawy and Jon Gambrell in Dubai, United Arab Emirates and Bassem Mroue in Beirut 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.
We are just going to start setting up our programme and we do not know how long it is going to take. It will depend on the evidence that is going to come and the complexities of the case. We do not know it yet, said Justice Mubako.
With the sheer volume of coronavirus news which emerged yesterday, it would be easy to think that Ireland has reached a crisis point in the battle against Covid-19.

The health service is now dealing with two realities  the progress of its own approach to containing the novel virus, and a change in public mood from compliance to panic.

That change in perception among the populace is most notable in local supermarkets, where people have been bulk-buying  ostensibly one imagines in contemplation of a protracted period of self-quarantine.

There are two major problem strands facing Ireland on foot of the arrival of Covid-19 on these shores  these are economic and health-related. And the latter is being exacerbated by the unpredictability of the situation at hand.

Irelands situation at present is reasonably healthy compared to that of most of mainland Europe, particularly Italy.

To an extent the country has benefited from recording our first case a little later than most, meaning the public has had a great deal of time to get used to the idea of looking for symptoms, reporting same, self-isolation, and most crucially, the need to wash ones hands often and meticulously.

A Covid-19 (Coronavirus) poster in a tourist office in Dublins City Centre. Photo: Gareth Chaney/Collins

That public awareness has allowed the primary strand of the Government and HSEs defence strategy to play out mostly unscathed  Ireland has been on a containment footing for several weeks, and the longer that continues the less impact the virus may have, at least from a public health point of view.

The main challenge facing the Irish health service is panic. Irish hospitals are still reeling from the recent flu season which saw the number of patients on trolleys hit record levels. Our available isolation berths are woefully inadequate to face a surge in serious cases.

And the longer we remain in the containment phase the more susceptible to panic we become. This primarily results from politicians, the media, and indeed some health officials, dealing with the vacuum of the unknown by comprehending worst case scenarios.

Yesterday, the HSEs head of public health medicine sent a strongly-worded letter to general practices across the country imploring them to desist from querying the management of patients who have not been to affected areas, nor been exposed to confirmed cases of the illness.

Picture posed by model to illustrate self-isolating measures. Photo: Jacob King/PA Wire

Its important to remember that most members of the population who contract Covid-19 will experience mild symptoms. Many may not even know they have it. As the fallout from the virus unfolds, many people with symptoms will likely be told to stay home, isolate, and take care of themselves, like a common flu patient.

The real issue is that the health service wouldnt cope if we were swamped with a sudden influx of very sick people, one physician told the Irish Examiner.

This doctor expressed concern at communications from the top levels of Government as to the scale of the problem Ireland faces: The Taoiseach has said its possible we are facing unprecedented events. There is an enormous amount of fear and trepidation as to how we will cope if everything goes pear-shaped, as opposed to it definitely being the case. Of course it might, but its not going to happen today, tomorrow, or in the next week. It seems like they are catastrophising, rather than leading.

The health services are now terrified theyre going to be swamped. Until now people have been broadly sensible. But we seem to be moving towards hysteria. And we need to delay moving to the next phases (delay and mitigation) for as long as possible, not just to prepare the system so that surgeries and outpatients can be cancelled, but because we are facing months of this. And people get bored. When theyre bored of being locked down they will start to misbehave.
In a meeting with the President of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Walid al-Muallem has hailed the work they do, but warned that their efforts must not be politicized writes SANA.

On Tuesday, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign and Expatriates Minister Walid al-Muallem discussed with President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Peter Maurer and the accompanying delegation the distinguished cooperation and relations between the Syrian government and the ICRC.

The two sides discussed the positive role of the continuous coordination between them, as well as the cooperation with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC), to ensure that the services provided by the ICRC reach all groups affected by the terrorist war and the sanctions imposed on Syria.

The two sides stressed the need to maintain constant coordination and communication to overcome any challenges and obstacles that could arise.

Muallem praised the trust that has been built between the two sides over the past few years, affirming Syrias commitment to provide all forms of support and facilitation to the ICRC, stressing the importance for the Committee abiding by the principles of humanitarian work and preventing any side from influencing or politicizing its work and projects, and from damaging the positive relation it has with Syria.

The Minister reviewed the Syrian governments efforts to alleviate the humanitarian crisis affecting the Syrian people, affirming its commitment to supporting all projects or initiatives that seek to support the Syrian people.

He also said the ICRC activities must address the new challenges that have emerged in areas recently liberated from terrorism by the Syrian Arab Army, calling on the organization to expand its efforts in those areas, mainly the liberated parts of Aleppo, Idleb, and Hama provinces.

Muallem stressed the importance of providing immediate aid and support, to help ensure the return of normal life to those areas and facilitate the return of their people to their homes.

For his part, Maurer said the ICRC is proud of its distinguished relationship with Syria, thanking the Syrian government for its considerable and continuous support and facilitations.

He affirmed his constant commitment to maintaining the trust that the Syrian government has for the ICRC.

Maurer also reviewed the ICRCs current work and projects in Syria, praising the role played by the SARC in humanitarian efforts, and affirming that the Committee is keen on expanding its works and activities in the country.

This article was edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
ANSAmed - Today's events in the Mediterranean

(ANSAmed) - ROME, MARCH 11 - These are the main events scheduled in the Euro-Mediterranean for today: ROME - The 11th edition of the 2020 Francophone Film Festival continues (to March 13).



BRUSSELS - Weekly session of the European Parliament (to March 12).



BRUSSELS - EU, informal meeting of Transport ministers (to March 11). (ANSAmed).




The Taoiseachs annual St Patricks Day ceremony in Washington may not go ahead due to Coronavirus.

Leo Varadkar was due to travel to New York on Tuesday to attend a meeting at the United Nations headquarters, but cancelled his plans last minute, allowing him to stay in Ireland to deal with the evolving situation, according to a spokeswoman.

Now his annual trip to Washington with President Trump also hangs in the balance as America grapples with the outbreak.

The annual St Patrick's reception on Thursday, hosted by the Irish Ambassador to the US, Daniel Mulhall, was cancelled because of the virus on Tuesday afternoon.

The Taoiseach is now due in to commence his US St Patricks Day trip in Washington on Wednesday, flying directly to the capital.

He looks forward to attending a series of engagements in Washington on Wednesday evening and Thursday, including meeting with President Trump, a spokesman added.

As of now, there are no change of plans.

However, the escalating situation in America may mean the Taoiseachs engagements may be cut short.

Leo Varadkar is due to attend Vice President Mike Pences home on Thursday morning before travelling to the White House for the annual Shamrock ceremony, with the President and a number of political meetings.

American media have reported that Mr Trump has been considering asking foreign dignitaries not to attend the White House to limit the potential spread.

Mr Trump has already been in direct contact with one man who has tested positive for the virus, and reportedly shook his hand at an event.

The Taoiseachs first engagement in Washington is expected to be the Ireland Funds dinner on Wednesday night.

The White House has briefed journalists early on Tuesday that the ceremony is to go ahead, but is subject to change, as is House Speaker Nancy Pelosis annual luncheon, however Mr Trump will not be in attendance for the lunch.

Meanwhile, Business Minister Heather Humphreys has cancelled her St. Patrick's Day trip to the US over coronavirus.

Ms Humphreys was due to travel to San Francisco and Sacramento for a series of engagements.

However, she has now cancelled, saying businesses here are facing an unprecedented situation, and she wants to be in Ireland to support them.
Luxor African Film Festival has cancelled its events and the Awladna International Forum of Arts for the Gifted has been postponed indefinitely

Egypt's culture ministry has decided to halt all public activities after a prime ministerial decree on Monday forbidding large gatherings until further notice as a precautionary measure against the spread of the new coronavirus.

The decision has already had a major effect on Egypts arts scene, with a number of events cancelled or postponed.

The ninth edition of the Luxor African Film Festival (LAFF) opened on Friday at Luxor Temple with dozens of Arab, African and international artists, filmmakers and critics attending its various events, but on Monday it decided to cancel all its public activities.

Most of the festivals attendees have left Luxor, although the jury work is ongoing to determine the results of the competitions despite the cancelation of the closing ceremony.

The Awladna International Forum of Arts for the Gifted cancelled a press conference scheduled for Tuesday and has postponed its fourth edition which was due to kick off on 20 March in Cairo. It had planned to host talents and experts from 36 countries from across the globe.

Other organisers and institutions in the sector are discussing whether to cancel or re-schedule events set for April, with the ramifications for audiences, workers and the countrys artistic scene in general as yet unclear.

Egypt has confirmed 59 cases of the new coronavirus so far; many were infected on board a cruise ship in Luxor.

The viral disease emerged in China in December and has so far infected 115,000 people worldwide.

For more arts and culture news and updates, follow Ahram Online Arts and Culture on Twitter at @AhramOnlineArts and on Facebook at Ahram Online: Arts & Culture

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Los Angeles-based Celebrity Chef Bruce will present signature dishes including his porchetta with salsa verde and crispy potatoes; squid ink rigatoni with fresh lobster, braised fennel, Meyer lemon preserves, truffle butter; and others to be announced, alongside new dishes from Adas Chef de Cuisine Dylan Jobsz. A la carte pricing (Pictured: Chef de Cuisine Dylan Jobsz and Executive Chef Bruce Kalman at Adas (Photo courtesy Timeless Cuisine).

James Trees and I have been friends and collaborators for a long time says Kalman of Adas Chef/Owner. So I jumped at the chance to come cook at his new spot. I love the Las Vegas food scene right now, so its fun to come participate in it!

Los Angeles-based Chef Bruce Kalmans Northern Italian cooking style utilizes the abundant and diverse produce of the West Coast to create exquisitely balanced soul-warming flavors. Best known as original Co-owner and opening Executive Chef of the acclaimed UNION in Pasadena, CA, he is currently the Chef/Co-owner of Knead & Co. Pasta Bar + Market in L.A.s Grand Central Market as well as chef partner for Californias Sunkist Growers, helping spotlight the brands local and family-owned citrus growers. He also is the founder of BK Brinery, an artisanal pickle company, currently supplying several prominent restaurants, with retail planned in the near future. Most recently, he was tapped to curate all culinary for Willie Nelsons Luck Reunion festival. In addition to supporting local growers, Chef Bruce is known for his passion for whole animal butchery and sustainability wherever possible.

A native of Northern New Jersey, Chef Bruce rose through the ranks in a variety of eateries near his hometown of Paramus before relocating to Chicago for several Executive Chef positions at restaurants including Okno, Green Dolphin, and Coco Pazzo. In 2011, Kalman landed in Los Angeles to help launch Santa Monicas Misfit, later joining West Hollywoods The Churchill before founding Union.

Kalman has made several notable food tv appearances, including Chopped, Beat Bobby Flay and Knife Fight, savoring victory on all three shows. He is also often recognized as a cheftestant on Top Chef season 15, where he finished in the top 5. Among other accolades, Chef Kalman was nominated for the coveted Rising Star Chef award from the James Beard Foundation.

When not cooking, Bruce enjoys spending time with his wife and son, assisting rocker Dave Grohl with his Backyard BBQ project, and performing as frontman for the chef cover band Foie Grock with fellow chef Duff Goldman.

Twitter: @ChefBKalman | Instagram: @ChefBKalman

When: February 21-23, 2020
By Akbar Mammadov

Since January 2020, Armenian military forces have intensified infiltration and sabotage attempts using large-calibre guns and sniper rifles on the state border with Azerbaijan, killing four Azerbaijani soldiers.

The Azerbaijani State Border Service has recorded eight sabotage attempts by the Armenian military forces between January and March. All these provocations were committed in the direction of Gazakh region where Azerbaijans border combat positions are located. Four Azerbaijani border guards were killed during their military service as a result of the provocations.

It is unknown why Armenian armed forces maintain to violate the ceasefire not only from the front positions in the Nagorno-Karabakh but also from the Gazakh region that is and was not the subject of the Nagorno-Karabakh war.

On January 7, Azerbaijani border guard Farzali Farzaliyev was killed in Armenian attack on Azerbaijan State Border Services (SBS) border combat positions in the direction of Gushci Ayrim village of Gazakh region.

Four days later, a separate border division of SBS in the Gazakh region was subjected to another sabotage by the Armenian forces.

On 15 January, border combat positions of SBS in the direction of Mazama village of Gazakh region were subjected to shelling from large-calibre guns and sniper rifles from the advisory side. In addition, divisions of Armenian armed forces, located near Berkaber village of Icevan region, intensively shelled the highway to the village from the regional centre of Gazakh by using large-calibre guns and sniper rifles.

On 24 February, Azerbaijan solder Alamshah Valiyev was killed while thwarting Armenian attack in the Qazax districts Ayrimli village. The diversion group had used grenade launchers and other large-calibre weapons from the Armenian units located near the Koti village in Noyabmeryan district.

On March 2, the State Border Service and Military Prosecutor's Office, in a joint statement, revealed the result of the investigation into the 24 February attack, saying that the adversarys diversion group sabotaged the ceasefire regime by attacking for the purpose of deliberately killing our military servicemen and occupying the border point.

The joint statement also revealed material support of the Armenian infiltration attempt on the Gazakh district. The evidence included 100-bullet ribbon for PK machine gun, one unit of the unexploded RQ-42 hand grenade, 66 cartridge-cases of 7.62 mm, food bag of the intelligence-diversion group (tinned food, individual water reserve, bakery products) that the adversary used at the time of the armed raid nearby the border point where the incident occurred, and left behind themselves while retreating.

On 5 March, another Azerbaijani border guard, Orkhan Pashzade (24), was killed in Armenian cease-fire violation, nearby the Qushci Ayrim village of the Gazakh district bordering Armenia.

The State Border Service said that the Armenian military-political authority is responsible for the murder of the military serviceman of the State Border Service guarding internationally recognized borders of Azerbaijan.

Armenian forces continued shelling from large-calibre guns and sniper rifles Azerbaijani border combat positions in the direction of Jafarli village of Gazakh region on March 6, from Sevkar and Sarikuyuk villages of Icevan region of Armenia.

On March 7, Azerbaijani soldier Elton Garayev was killed in a gunshot attack by Armenian forces, while performing official duties at the border combat section of the Gazakh separate border division near the Dash Salahly village.

On March 8, Azerbaijans border combat positions on the state border with Armenia in the direction of Gazakh regions Gushchu Ayrim village were subjected to intensive shelling from large-calibre guns and sniper rifles by Armenian Armed Forces units located near the village of Voskepar of Armenias Noyemberyan district.

The conflict between the two countries began in 1988 after Armenias territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, Armenian armed forces occupied nearly 20 per cent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

It should be noted that the United Nations Security Council adopted several resolutions (822, 853, 874, 884) on withdrawal of Armenian armed forces from Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. Moreover, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the resolution (62, 243) titled The Situation in the Occupied Territories of Azerbaijan on March 14, 2008. The resolution reaffirmed continued respect and support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity" of Azerbaijan "within its internationally recognized borders", demanded the "immediate, complete and unconditional withdrawal of all Armenian forces from all the occupied territories of Azerbaijan", and emphasized that "no state shall render aid or assistance" to maintain the occupation of Azerbaijani territories.

Armenia has failed to comply by any legal documents with regards to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

---

Akbar Mammadov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AkbarMammadov97

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Young people are drinking less than ever before. Some reading this will be able to recall the 1990s  the decade of peak alcohol, when drinking was a key part of life for young people. The decade saw the rise of pub and club culture, public displays of drunkenness by young adults and the arrival of new kinds of alcoholic drinks you could buy (alcopops anyone?).

Flash forward to 2020 and the picture is very different. A range of studies from countries where drinking is a big part of the culture confirms a sharp decline in alcohol consumption among young people. Research in Sweden, for example, shows a decline across all types of consumption, from the heaviest to the lightest drinkers. Similarly, rates of binge drinking have gone down and people defining themselves as non-drinkers has increased.

There may be significant health benefits to this change in behaviour. Excessive alcohol consumption is the cause of a number of chronic diseases and bad drinking habits are often created between the ages of 16 and 25. So theres lots to be learnt from the young people who typify how drinking culture appears to be changing.

There are many reasons for the change, which I have recently brought together in a new book with my colleague Fiona Measham. Economic factors, including a wider climate of constraint and austerity, may impinge the time and money young people have available to spend on alcohol. Young people may also be more aware of alcohols health risks.

But changes in drinking behaviour may be just one part of broader changes in todays super-connected youth culture. For example, online technology has made friends and family now instantly accessible via social media and smartphones, and the once central role of pubs and clubs for initiating and consolidating social networks appears to have changed.

The decline could also simply be a redressing of the balance that began with the surge in alcohols popularity during the 1990s. It is unclear what the definitive reason is for the change that has taken place. But there is still plenty to learn from these changes in terms of how to encourage others to adopt healthier drinking patterns.

Story continues

Pros and cons of not drinking

Choosing not to drink alcohol can have implications for peoples social lives. I carried out a study, surveying 500 UK university students who were alcohol drinkers but who were asked about whether they had recently not drank alcohol on social occasions where their peers were drinking.

Nearly half (44%) of the students reported having socialised without drinking alcohol, and reported benefits including higher self-esteem and feeling more productive in life. The main downsides were concerns that not drinking might limit their social lives and fear of missing out. The high proportion of students who had abstained from social drinking in the previous week while in the company of alcohol-consuming friends suggests that going dry while socialising may be more widespread among young adults who do regularly consume alcohol than is typically acknowledged in popular culture.

Not drinking has gained cultural visibility in recent years with the rise of phenomena like Dry January. But questions circle around these initiatives. There is currently limited evidence that these events translate into longer-term moderate drinking and whether or not they target those in the most need of curbing their alcohol consumption is also open to question. So it seems were still some way off harnessing non-drinking as a way to promote moderate alcohol consumption over a sustained period.

Beating the stigma

One of the biggest roadblocks to encouraging young people to drink less is the stigma there still is around not drinking or even drinking in moderation. Many studies point to this, particularly among students. In one study I worked on, interviewees have spoken of experiencing peer pressure to drink, and if they dont drink alcohol feeling like they dont belong or even excluded.

Another study suggests that male non-drinkers may face a double whammy of stigma. Their decision to not drink clashes with expectations of being both a young person (where drinking to excess demonstrates living life to the full) and gender role specific expectations (being told: Why are you not having a drink? Man up!).

Nonetheless, we can expect to see a growth in tolerance toward different drinking behaviour, as more people decide to drink less. This may unlock all sorts of possibilities when it comes to promoting moderate drinking across the population at large. The rise in interest in drink-free challenges, for example, and healthier lifestyles more generally, suggests the cultural climate is ripe for putting non-drinking centre stage in public health promotion materials.

Also, the emergence of sober spaces in young adult social environments is significant. For example, the rise of cafe culture, increased demand for living accommodation where alcohol use is prohibited and activities like sober raves and the conscious clubbing movement. Pubs and clubs are no longer the go-to space for people to socialise, thanks to diverse cultural factors including increased numbers of young people who do not drink and the increased acceptability of non-drinking as a social option.

Understanding these changes is an ongoing process. But shifts in how alcohol is viewed by young adults shows that excessive drinking doesnt have to be the default way of socialising and perhaps we can all have a healthier relationship with booze.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

The Conversation

Dominic Conroy received funding from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) for his PhD research in 2011-2014.
Wild electoral swings and global public-health crises come at you fast. Two weeks ago, Bernie Sanders was in the driving seat of the Democratic primary, and the coronaviruswhile certainly of growing concernhad yet to cause a death in the US; when seven Democratic presidential candidates (all but two of whom have since ended their campaigns) met for a debate in South Carolina on February 25, they didnt face questioning on the coronavirus for 82 minutes, and the word itself was spoken a total of six times in two hours. Now Joe Biden is the runaway favorite for the Democratic nominationFiveThirtyEight gives him a greater than 99 percent chance of winning a majority of delegatesand the virus is wreaking havoc across America, including on the campaign trail. If you ever need a reminder how fast politics/world events can be turned upside-down, early last week we were talking about a possible contested convention, Dave Wasserman, of the Cook Political Report, tweeted last night. Now, maybe no convention?

Six states voted yesterday on Mini Tuesday. Biden won four of themMississippi, Missouri, Idaho, and, very importantly, Michiganwith North Dakota and Washington state not yet called. All day, the contests jostled for attention with the coronavirus, about which there were far too many important developments to begin to list here. At times, the two stories collided. Yesterday afternoon, Biden and Sanders both scrapped their planned election-night events, which were slated to be held in Ohio, after the states governor, Mike DeWine, requested that large indoor events be canceled. (Instead, Biden gave a subdued speech in Philadelphia; Sanders did not appear publicly at all.) Bidens campaign also canceled a rally which had been scheduled for Thursday in Tampa, Florida. And we learned that while Sundays debate in Phoenix will proceed, therell be no studio audience, and media access will be severely restricted. (Those decisions lengthened the list of limitations that the virus has placed on the practice of journalism, which I wrote about in yesterdays newsletter.)

ICYMI: The infinite scroll

Last night, as the primary results started to come through, the all-consuming anxiety gave way, at least in part, to the comfortingly familiar sight of horserace punditry. The homepages of the New York Times, the Washington Post, NPR, and other major news organizations splashed banner headlines about Bidens sweep, atop snapshots of the results. On cable news, the David Chalians and Steve Kornackis of the world broke down the returns and other data points. There were amusing flubslike when CNN accidentally called Mississippi for Sanders (Not, not, not happening, a bemused Wolf Blitzer said)and gloating from establishment pundits, not least Terry McAuliffe and Jennifer Granholm, the former Democratic governors of Virginia and Michigan, respectively, who were on CNN. (Biden won women by 20 points, McAuliffe said at one point. Women! Women! Tell it! Cmon, Terry! Granholm cut in. Im so excited, McAuliffe said.) On MSNBC, the Democratic strategist James Carville said its time to shut this puppy down, referring to the primary as a whole. On NPR, Rep. Jim Clyburnthe South Carolina Democrat whose endorsement of Biden ended up being highly significantechoed that point. Andrew Yangthe former presidential candidate who is not part of the Democratic establishment but is now a paid-up member of the pundit classendorsed Biden live on CNN. Bernie inspired my run, he said. But the math says Joe is our prohibitive nominee.

Early last week, I wrote that parts of the media were doing an inadequate job of linking the campaign to the coronavirus. Since then, the two stories have mixed morethe coronavirus, after all, is affecting pretty much everything. And yet, logistical complications aside, they still feel siloed from each other in important respects. That continues to be a missed opportunity. As I wrote last week, the coronavirus raises questions of national leadership mere months before Americans will vote on their national leader.

And the linkages go deeper than that. Already, the virus is shining a harsh light on deep-rooted societal problemsour employment model, healthcare, homelessness, and so onthat should be central to coverage of electoral politics, but too often feel divorced from it. Media critics spend a lot of time complaining that horserace coverage is superficial. The criticism, while valid, can sometimes feel abstract. The coronavirus is helping illustrate the stakes, for November and beyond. Policy discussions neednt stop just because a frontrunner looks inevitable.

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Below, more on the campaign and the coronavirus:



Some news from the home front: Kyle Pope, CJRs editor and publisher, announced yesterday that Craig Newmark, the philanthropist and founder of Craigslist, has made another significant donation to support our work, particularly around disinformation and the intersection of journalism and the social platforms. My colleague Mathew Ingram has been leading much of this work; you can find his coverage here, and on Galley, CJRs discussion forum.



Other notable stories:

ICYMI: Why did Matt Drudge turn on Donald Trump?

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Jon Allsop is a freelance journalist whose work has appeared in the New York Review of Books, Foreign Policy, and The Nation, among other outlets. He writes CJRs newsletter The Media Today. Find him on Twitter @Jon_Allsop.
A man accused of killing four people told detectives in a recording that he was fed up with racism and that he might as well keep killing as many white men as he could.

Kori Ali Muhammad, a black man who is currently on trial for a shooting spree that took place in California in 2017, could face the death penalty if convicted, Fresno Bee and ABC30 (KFSN-TV) reported.

In a recording shown during the trial, taken by detectives on the day of his arrest, Mr Muhammad told police: I didnt want to do nothing to law enforcement so I just found some white men to kill.

A security camera recorded Muhammad coming up behind 25-year-old motel security guard Carl Williams and shooting him.

Mr Muhammad told officers that while trying to visit a friend in the motel Mr Williams was disrespectful to him.

It starts taking its toll on you and you get fed up with the racism, he said. You get tired of letting things slide."

Earlier testimony alleged that Mr Williams noticed Mr Muhammad and told the motel manager, who asked Mr Muhammad to register and pay a nominal visitors fee.

Mr Muhammad went to the office to register, but the manager testified he felt threatened and kicked out the guest and Mr Muhammad.

The alleged killer said that if he was going down for murder he might as well kill as many white men as he could.

Days after Mr Williams was murdered a gunman shot and killed three other people at random in the downtown area. A 34-year-old, 37-year-old and a 58-year-old man were all shot within a small timeframe.

The first victim was Zachary Randalls, 34, who was sitting in the passenger seat of a Pacific Gas & Electric lorry.

When I walked up to the truck, I saw a Mexican driver and a white guy, Mr Muhammad said on the recording. I didnt want to target the driver because he was Mexican so I shot the white dude.

Reports from 2017 claimed that Mr Muhammad shouted Allahu Akbar (God is Great) during his arrest.

Mark Gassett, 37, and David Jackson, 58, were identified as the other two victims of the shooting.

At the time of the arrest Fresno police chief Jerry Dyer said the massacre had nothing to do with terrorism in spite of the statement he made.

This is solely based on race, he added.

At the time it was reported that on a Facebook page that appeared to be Mr Muhammads a user posted #LetBlackPeopleGo and encouraged black warriors to mount up.

Mr Muhammads defence claims that he is mentally ill.

Additional reporting by Associated Press
CALGARY - Alberta Premier Jason Kenney flew to Ottawa on Wednesday with a list of demands and a key message for the prime minister to focus on the economy.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 11/3/2020 (670 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney says time is of the essence as he takes demands for more help for Alberta businesses to the first ministers meeting in Ottawa this week. Kenney is shown in this Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2020 file photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

CALGARY - Alberta Premier Jason Kenney flew to Ottawa on Wednesday with a list of demands and a key message for the prime minister to focus on the economy.

Kenney and his fellow premiers are to meet with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau amid growing concerns about the novel coronavirus pandemic, a stock market crash and plummeting oil prices.

"We need this government to get refocused on the economy. Enough about dealing with every fashionable issue out there and the virtue signalling, the UN security council, all the rest of it," Kenney told reporters before boarding a flight at the Calgary International Airport.

"We are facing an economic crisis in Canada and we need the national government to act accordingly with total focus on that issue.

"We need that more in Alberta, I believe, than any other part of the country."

Alberta needs similar support to what the federal government gave the auto sector during the global financial crisis in 2008 and 2009, Kenney said.

"We've contributed $600 billion net to the rest of Canada over the past five decades. It's time for Canada to have Alberta's back."

Kenney said he's been talking with energy leaders as well as Ed Sims, president of WestJet Airlines, about the downturn.

"Airlines are hemorrhaging cash right now. And one thing I will take in as a very clear message to Ottawa is any benefit that Air Canada receives as the so-called flagship carrier must be equivalent to the assistance that WestJet receives."

Kenney said it's not a secret that the oil and gas sector is likely to see layoffs over the next few weeks, since many companies have announced plans to slash their 2020 capital budgets.

"A number of our energy companies saw their share valuation go down by as much as 90 per cent in the last 48 hours," he said. "Many of them have basically no cash flow.

"A lot of those oilfield workers who are on rig sites will be laid off and probably won't be going back to work."

Kenney said energy companies have become more lean and efficient over the last five years, but some aren't likely to survive.

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"There are a range of companies that are not well prepared for this downturn. That's part of the problem. This is after five years of fragility, when a number of companies have been leveraging themselves in debt," he said.

"A lot of them cannot cut operating costs any further and they cannot raise equity."

Kenney said he will be pressing the federal government for guarantees that the Trans Mountain and Coastal GasLink pipeline projects will be completed as a way of restoring confidence in investing in Canada.

He also wants Ottawa to provide the provinces with an equalization tax rebate that could be used to help struggling industries. Kenney said in Alberta's case that rebate would be $2.4 billion.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 11, 2020

 Follow @BillGraveland on Twitter
Dior Beauty and Mac Cosmetics UK have introduced strict No Touch policies across all stores and beauty counters amid the coronavirus outbreak.

On Tuesday, one Twitter user shared what they said was a screenshot of an internal email sent to all Mac Cosmetics UK employees.

The email stated that in-store makeup artists were not allowed to use their brushes or wear a brush belt and were no longer permitted to touch or apply makeup on a customer.

The correspondence added that all makeover appointments had been cancelled and that while customers are still allowed to use samples provided in-store, they must use disposable applicators when doing so.

All appointments that are currently booked in have now been cancelled, the notice read.

You can only use disposable applicators and these must be used by the customer only  this means the customer has to use these to apply the makeup, we can only advise.

The Independent contacted a number of Mac Cosmetics UK stores where staff members confirmed that they were unable to conduct in-store makeovers until further notice.

The measures have been introduced to ensure health and safety, however customers are still welcome to come into store where we can assist with helping them choose the right products, one staff member said.

The policy was communicated to Mac Cosmetics staff and the whole of Estee Lauder Companies yesterday.

The staff member added that a time scale on the new policy has not been communicated but that it would be revised and looked at accordingly.

Similarly, a spokesperson for Dior Beauty confirmed to The Independent that it has also "instigated a no touch policy for all counter staff and cancelled all beauty events in-store".

The Independent has contacted Mac Cosmetics UK and Estee Lauder Companies for comment.

The new policy has been introduced as cases of Covid-19 continue to rise.

Earlier this week, UK Chief Medical Officers raised the risk to the public from low to moderate and suggested that in the coming weeks Britons with cold, flu or fever symptoms could be asked to stay at home in self-isolation.

NHS in England has also confirmed it is ramping up testing facilities so that 10,000 coronavirus tests can be performed each day.

According to the latest figures, 382 people are now confirmed to have Covid-19 in the UK  up from 319 on Monday.

Since the publication of this article, Dior has amended its policy to "touch on request".
Next month, OPC Pharmaceutical JSC, one of the top five Vietnamese pharmaceutical firms, will organise its general shareholders meeting to discuss solutions to overcome current difficulties amid stiffening competition. In 2019, OPC witnessed on-year falls of 12 per cent in consolidated revenue and 23 per cent in consolidated after-tax profit.

Thorny path

Other big players are in the same boat as OPC. Traphaco JSC, the countrys second-largest publicly-traded drug maker, has announced its 2019 financial statement, with consolidated profit and revenue continuing to a downward trend after a tough year in 2018.

For instance, Traphaco made VND1.72 trillion in consolidated revenue ($74.8 million) last year, down 4.97 per cent on-year, while its pre-tax consolidated profit fell 0.63 per cent on-year to VND214.8 billion ($9.34 million). A company representative blamed the falls for the whole markets poor state during this period. According to the third quarter 2019 report by IMS Health, the worlds leading provider of market intelligence to the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries, the over-the-counter channel saw no growth, while this channel makes up 92 per cent of Traphacos revenue.

Moreover, the delay in issuance of a circular on drug tenders hindered the firms efforts to take advantage of the ethical drugs or hospital channels.

Similarly, 2019 was also not a rosy year for Hau Giang Pharmaceutical JSC. The biggest publicly-traded drug maker reported consolidated revenue of VND4.41 trillion ($191.7 million), down from VND4.42 trillion ($192.2 million) in 2018. Its pre-tax consolidated profit dropped from VND731.8 billion ($31.8 million) in 2018 to VND713.2 billion ($31 million).

Although Vietnams third-largest domestic drug producer Domesco saw a slight rise in net revenue and profit in 2019, its net revenue of VND1.47 trillion ($64 million) was lower than in 2014s VND1.49 trillion ($64.78 million).

Last year was not the first one that Vietnamese leading drug manufacturers performed poorly. They also faced similar challenges in 2018. Industry insiders blamed the unsatisfactory results among leading Vietnamese businesses for growing expansion among multinational corporations (MNCs), with Novartis, Sanofi, Zuellig Pharma, GSK, Pfizer, and DKSH being top movers.

Last year, Novartis and Sanofi became the first and second MNC to receive an import licence for pharmaceutical trading in Vietnam, thus enabling them to increase imports of brand-name drugs and vaccines into the country.

The Ministry of Health said that many other MNCs are waiting for an import licence, which could result in an increase in drug imports to Vietnam from the current 55 per cent of the total demand. If this happens, Traphaco, HDG, Domesco, and OPC will face more challenges in the future.

Domestic drug firms might continue to face another downtrend in the future, especially when the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) comes into effect, Vaibhav Saxena, a lawyer at Vietnam International Law Firm, told VIR. If so, they will have few opportunities to increase market share, unless they have new effective business strategies.

New solutions

Despite mounting competition, the Vietnamese drug giants are targeting higher profits and revenue growth this year. Specifically, Traphaco aims to make consolidated revenue of VND2 trillion ($87 million), up 16.2 per cent on-year. Imexpharm Pharmaceutical JSC  the countrys fourth-largest publicly-traded drug maker  also wishes to obtain total revenue of VND1.75 trillion ($76.08 million), and profit of VND260 billion ($11.3 million), up 23 and 18.1 per cent on-year, respectively.

In a bid to get out of the impasse, Vietnamese pharmaceutical firms are taking certain steps, such as investing in complying with the EU-GMP and PIC/S-GMP guides, which have been created to observe more stringent manufacturing and health standards and adapt to new technology. They are also exploring the potential of the ethical drugs channel (ETC) to shore up growth.

The companies have strengthened international co-operation in technology transfer to shorten research and development and manufacturing of new high-quality products, thus allowing them to meet the requirements to join the ETC.

However, said Saxena, These companies will find it difficult to meet their targets because more favourable conditions for MNCs to import and trade drugs in Vietnam will come on the back of the EVFTA. It is projected that the agreement will bring more business and investment opportunities to EU pharmaceutical businesses in Vietnam and stiffen market competition.

Saxena continued, This landmark FTA will open the Vietnamese market in fields that the country has been seeking particular solutions to for years, such as intellectual property rights, direct pharmaceuticals imports, and tenders.

According to the WTO Centre of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, pharmaceuticals imports from the EU into Vietnam will be more favourable, accessible, and direct under EVFTA commitments. Competition in tenders for groups of pharmaceuticals to open to EU bidders in the ETC will also be strengthened further.
BAY CITY, MI - As the novel coronavirus continues to spread in the United States and two cases are confirmed in Michigan, those organizing the Bay City St. Patricks Day Parade are weighing whether or not to proceed with the Sunday, March 15, event.

Bay City Mayor Kathleen Newsham, a member of the parades executive board, said the board is meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday to discuss the status of the parade. Two members are in favor of cancelling the parade now out of caution, but its a group decision, she said.

The parade organizers are awaiting a planned press conference by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer sometime Wednesday for more information on Michigans cases, Newsham said.

At this point, were going to wait and see what the message is coming out of her office, Newsham said. If something changes, well get that information out quickly.

If the parade is given the green light to continue, the 66th annual event in Bay City will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday along Center Avenue.

In efforts to curb the COVID-19 outbreak, cities such as Chicago and Boston have cancelled similar St. Patricks Day parade events. There were no confirmed cases in Michigan before Tuesday evening, when Whitmer announced two in Oakland and Wayne counties.

Were very mindful of keeping everyone safe," Newsham said. People come from all over, not just Bay City, to watch the parade."

The first St. Patricks Day Parade was hosted on March 17, 1955 on a weekday with a route that spanned from Center to Monroe, ending at City Hall. According to the St. Patricks Day Parade Association, 10,000 people attended the first Bay City parade and 40 different organizations and groups marched in it.

The parade has since grown in the past 66 years into a widely attended event from visitors across the state. The parade itself has also grown larger, with over 120 entries are currently registered for the 2020 parade.

In 2016, MLive/The Bay City Times reported an average parade attendance of at least 40,000 people. The number of attendees has been reported to have ballooned to more than 100,000 when the event is graced with warm weather, likely making it Michigans largest St. Patricks Day parade.

Read more:

Bay City St. Patricks Day parade marshal Don Carlyon to ride in century old electric car

Michigan monitoring 124 residents potentially exposed to coronavirus

Gov. Whitmer declares state of emergency as first coronavirus cases confirmed in Michigan
An updated catalog of trans-Neptunian objects, and the methods used to find them, could aid in future searches for undiscovered planets in the far reaches of the solar system

Using data from the Dark Energy Survey (DES), researchers have found more than 300 trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs), minor planets located in the far reaches of the solar system, including more than 100 new discoveries. Published in The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series, the study also describes a new approach for finding similar types of objects and could aid future searches for the hypothetical Planet Nine and other undiscovered planets. The work was led by graduate student Pedro Bernardinelli and professors Gary Bernstein and Masao Sako.

The goal of DES, which completed six years of data collection in January, is to understand the nature of dark energy by collecting high-precision images of the southern sky. While DES wasn't specifically designed with TNOs in mind, its breadth and depth of coverage made it particularly adept at finding new objects beyond Neptune. "The number of TNOs you can find depends on how much of the sky you look at and what's the faintest thing you can find," says Bernstein.

Because DES was designed to study galaxies and supernovas, the researchers had to develop a new way to track movement. Dedicated TNO surveys take measurements as frequently as every hour or two, which allows researchers to more easily track their movements. "Dedicated TNO surveys have a way of seeing the object move, and it's easy to track them down," says Bernardinelli. "One of the key things we did in this paper was figure out a way to recover those movements."

Using the first four years of DES data, Bernardinelli started with a dataset of 7 billion "dots," all of the possible objects detected by the software that were above the image's background levels. He then removed any objects that were present on multiple nights--things like stars, galaxies, and supernova--to build a "transient" list of 22 million objects before commencing a massive game of "connect the dots," looking for nearby pairs or triplets of detected objects to help determine where the object would appear on subsequent nights.

With the 7 billion dots whittled down to a list of around 400 candidates that were seen over at least six nights of observation, the researchers then had to verify their results. "We have this list of candidates, and then we have to make sure that our candidates are actually real things," Bernardinelli says.

To filter their list of candidates down to actual TNOs, the researchers went back to the original dataset to see if they could find more images of the object in question. "Say we found something on six different nights," Bernstein says. "For TNOs that are there, we actually pointed at them for 25 different nights. That means there's images where that object should be, but it didn't make it through the first step of being called a dot."

Bernardinelli developed a way to stack multiple images to create a sharper view, which helped confirm whether a detected object was a real TNO. They also verified that their method was able to spot known TNOs in the areas of the sky being studied and that they were able to spot fake objects that were injected into the analysis. "The most difficult part was trying to make sure that we were finding what we were supposed to find," says Bernardinelli.

After many months of method-development and analysis, the researchers found 316 TNOs, including 245 discoveries made by DES and 139 new objects that were not previously published. With only 3,000 objects currently known, this DES catalog represents 10% of all known TNOs. Pluto, the best-known TNO, is 40 times farther away from the sun than Earth is, and the TNOs found using the DES data range from 30 to 90 times Earth's distance from the sun. Some of these objects are on extremely long-distance orbits that will carry them far beyond Pluto.

Now that DES is complete, the researchers are rerunning their analysis on the entire DES dataset, this time with a lower threshold for object detection at the first filtering stage. This means that there's an even greater potential for finding new TNOs, possibly as many as 500, based on the researchers' estimates, in the near future.

The method developed by Bernardinelli can also be used to search for TNOs in upcoming astronomy surveys, including the new Vera C. Rubin Observatory. This observatory will survey the entire southern sky and will be able to detect even fainter and more distant objects than DES. "Many of the programs we've developed can be easily applied to any other large datasets, such as what the Rubin Observatory will produce," says Bernardinelli.

This catalog of TNOs will also be a useful scientific tool for research about the solar system. Because DES collects a wide spectrum of data on each detected object, researchers can attempt to figure out where the TNO originated from, since objects that form more closely to the Sun have are expected to have different colors than those that originated in more distant and colder locations. And, by studying the orbits of these objects, researchers might be one step closer to finding Planet Nine, a hypothesized Neptune-sized planet that's thought to exist beyond Pluto.

"There are lots of ideas about giant planets that used to be in the solar system and aren't there anymore, or planets that are far away and massive but too faint for us to have noticed yet," says Bernstein. "Making the catalog is the fun discovery part. Then when you create this resource; you can compare what you did find to what somebody's theory said you should find."

###

The Dark Energy Survey is supported by funding from the United States Department of Energy Office of Science; the National Science Foundation; funding agencies in the United Kingdom, Spain, Brazil, Germany, and Switzerland; and the participating institutions. A complete list of funding organizations and collaborating institutions is at The Dark Energy Survey website (https://www.darkenergysurvey.org/collaboration-and-sponsors/).

This research was supported by National Science Foundation grants AST-1515804 and AST-1615555 and Department of Energy grant DE-SC0007901.
Wilton police reported three arrests for driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.

The first incident took place on Feb. 2 at approximately 2:22 a.m. when police responded to a report of a one-car accident on Sharp Hill Road. According to police, the driver, Aine Duffy, 22, of Hurlbutt Street in Wilton, crashed her 2016 Honda Civic into a brook. She was taken to Norwalk Hospital.

Police suspected Duffy was under the influence and applied for a search warrant for her blood toxicology report. According to police, the toxicology report indicated her blood alcohol content was 0.19, above the legal limit of 0.08.

Duffy was processed for driving under the influence and released on a promise to appear at Norwalk Superior Court on March 17.

The second incident also involved a Wilton resident. According to police, Griffin Ludwig, 33, of Silver Spring Road, was driving his 2016 Ford Fiesta westbound on Millstone Road above the 25 mph speed limit at 1:45 a.m. on Feb. 29. Police said he was also seen crossing the double-yellow line.

After failing to perform field sobriety tests to standard, Ludwig was taken into custody for driving under the influence. According to police, chemical testing revealed a blood alcohol content of 0.2217. He was released after posting 10 percent of a $250 bond and is to appear at Norwalk Superior Court on March 9.

A motorist called 911 at about 5:35 p.m. on March 5 to report a 2006 Toyota Scion traveling erratically on Danbury Road in the vicinity of Wilton High School. According to police, the caller said they saw the car at one point leave the roadway with both passenger side tires.

Police stopped the car near Cannon Road and after questioning the driver, Mauro Ernesto Juanacio-yuqui, 36, of Willow Street in Danbury, determined he was under the influence. Because the driver spoke little English, a Spanish-speaking officer from Norwalk was requested to assist.

Police said Juanacio-yuqui failed to perform field sobriety tests to standard and was arrested for driving while under the influence. According to police, two breath tests recorded blood alcohol levels of 0.227 and 0.213.

He posted a $250 bond and is to appear in Norwalk Superior Court on March 16.
It is said that Yes Bank never said 'no' to any loan requests. Many have blamed this 'never say no' policy of the bank for the crisis that it has found itself now. But there could be more to the loans as the Enforcement Directorate (ED) continues its probe into the bank's activities.

Yes Bank is said to be sitting on non-performing assets (NPAs) to the tune of Rs 20,000 crore. These bad loans, according to reports were distributed on the directions of Rana Kapoor, the founder, and former CEO.

REUTERS

It is believed that Kapoor received kickbacks for these loans, which did not follow the due process and he then transferred these to several shell companies. ED is now looking beyond the loan given to DHFL and is trying to find out if kickbacks were received by the Kapoor family and others from business houses in lieu of non-initiation of loan recovery processes.

The central agency is probing the scam-hit Dewan Housing and Finance Limited (DHFL) giving a loan of Rs 600 crore to a firm "controlled" by Kapoor's family, that includes his wife and three daughters, in lieu of not recovering over Rs 4,000 crore of loan issued by Yes Bank to the former. They added that the investigators have also zeroed in on Kapoor's purported foreign assets in UK, France and the US to see if the proceeds of crime of money laundering were used to purchase these assets by the banker and his family.

REUTERS

A dozen alleged shell firms, Kapoor family investments of Rs 2,000 crore and over Rs 4,500 crore worth of transactions are under the scanner of the agency at present. The agency has also found that 44 costly paintings were in the alleged possession of Kapoor, one of which was purchased by him from Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. While the Congress party has said that the deal was transparent as payment of Rs 2 crore was received by Vadra from Kapoor through cheque and was reflected in income tax returns, the ED is probing if the painting was owned by her or the All India Congress Committee (AICC). It is also investigating if the provenance certificate (signed by an artist to state his genuine work) was signed by Vadra and under what circumstances. Sources claimed that this Rs 2 crore was used by Vadra to purchase a property in Himachal Pradesh.

AFP

The painting, a portrait of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, was done by celebrated artist M F Hussain and was gifted to Gandhi during the AICC centenary celebrations in 1985. The Congress has rejected the charge as fake, saying there was no illegality in the transaction as the party general secretary had received the money (Rs 2 crore) in cheque and mentioned it in her income tax filings in 2010. Kapoor and his wife are also expected to be confronted by the ED with Kapil Wadhawan, DHFL promoter and CMD. He was arrested by the ED in the Iqbal Mirchi PMLA case and is out on bail at present. A big housing finance company and a financial insurance firm are also under the scanner of the ED for their dealings with Kapoor and Yes Bank.

REUTERS

A particular instance of a popular power generation company taking Rs 500 crore loan from the bank and it later turning NPA (non performing asset) is also being probed by the ED. Sources claimed that the promoter of the firm later sold his prime property at Amrita Shergill Marg in Delhi to Kapoor's wife for about Rs 350 crore and this money was sourced from the housing finance company in a "multi-layered" dubious transaction. This is a case of quid pro quo so that no coercive action is taken by the bank to recover the loan given to the power generation company and this instance is now being probed, they said.

Two more pricey immovable properties at Kautilya Marg and SP Marg in the national capital, alleged to be in control of the Kapoors, are being probed by the agency for being "proceeds of crime". The estimated book value of these three assets is stated to be Rs 1,000 crore. The Enforcement Directorate has said that this case against Kapoor involves proceeds of crime to the tune of Rs 4,300 crore.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-11 22:12:41|Editor: huaxia

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HONG KONG, March 11 (Xinhua) -- The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology announced on Wednesday that their researchers had developed a multilevel antimicrobial polymer (MAP-1) coating that can effectively kill viruses, bacteria and even hard-to-kill spores, and may also be effective against the COVID-19.

Developed by a team led by Yeung King Lun, a professor of the university's Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering and the Division of Environment and Sustainability, the new MAP-1 coating, using a special blend of anti-microbial polymers, is highly versatile with an effective period of up to 90 days.

The coating is designed for use on different surfaces including metals, concrete, wood, glass, plastics as well as fabrics, leathers and textiles without changing the materials' appearance and tactile feel.

Study results show that MAP-1 can inactivate up to 99.9 percent of highly-infectious viruses such as measles, mumps and rubella, and 99.99 percent of the surrogate feline calicivirus (FCV) -- a gold standard for disinfection efficiency and is more resistant than coronaviruses such as the one responsible for COVID-19 epidemic.

According to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency guideline in 2016, being effective against FCV is equivalent to being able to inactivate the coronavirus -- an enveloped virus which are easier to sterilize than the non-enveloped ones.

MAP-1 coating is confirmed to be effective against drug-resistant microorganisms during two field studies done recently by the team in a public hospital and an elderly home. Its use in hospital privacy curtains saw over 98.7 percent reduction in drug-resistant bacteria in 3 weeks.

"We ran a seven-months field trial of the coating on privacy partition curtains in a local public hospital and six months study on bed linens in an elderly home, and the results is very encouraging, with the total amount of bacteria reduced by over 99 percent and 95.8 percent on the curtains and bed linens respectively," Yeung said.

The coating also prevents microbial adhesion on the surface and thus keeping it clean from microbial contaminants.
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Linkedin Lei Xiaolu (The Jakarta Post) Wuhan, China  Wed, March 11, 2020

Recently, it seems that Indonesian scholars have been paying much more attention to the fishing activities of Chinese vessels in the waters southwest of Nansha Qundao (Nansha Islands), describing it as a new action by China. Actually, Chinas fishing vessels have been fishing there for a long time and it is nothing new.

The southwest fishing ground is the unique name of that area given by Chinese fishermen since long ago.

As correctly analyzed in an article published by Global Times on Jan. 6, there is no territorial sovereignty dispute between the two countries. According to the Foreign Ministry spokespersons statements from both sides, the dispute between China and Indonesia is about overlapping maritime claims and relevant maritime interests. In the current situation, the dispute is mainly about fishing rights in the context of the maritime dispute.

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The United States is weighing a ban on travellers from Europe to slow the spread of the coronavirus, a senior US official said Wednesday.

"The question is a live question about how to treat Europe as a whole," said Ken Cuccinelli, the acting deputy secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.

"That is not to the level of using legal authorities to block travel yet. But it is under consideration," he told a congressional hearing.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
For more coverage, visit our complete coronavirus section here.

As many as 24 passengers on the Grand Princess cruise ship that docked in Oakland on Monday will be transferred to the Asilomar State Beach and Conference Grounds in Pacific Grove, officials said Tuesday.

They will be undergoing a mandatory 14-day quarantine in a cluster of buildings separate from visitors and the public, and will not be in contact with Asilomar guests, employees or the general public.

"All the individuals have been screened by medical professionals, and because they have mild symptoms that do not require hospitalization, they cannot be quarantined at Travis Air Force Base," a statement from the Governor's Office of Emergency Services said. "While none of these individuals is known to have contracted novel coronavirus (COVID-19), they will be tested and monitored by medical professionals while at Asilomar."

These residents have endured a lot of stress in the last few days, and our top priority is to protect their health  and the public health of California  until they can return to their homes, said California Health and Human Services Agency Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly. We understand people across California are concerned about novel coronavirus, and thats why were collaborating with our federal partners to ensure that the community surrounding Asilomar is not impacted.

Asilomar State Beach spreads across a rocky coast and sand dunes on the Monterey Peninsula, 120 miles south of San Francisco. The 107-acre property includes the Asilomar Conference Center built by the YWCA in 1913. Famed architect Julia Morgan designed many of the buildings on the property that's known for its stunning ocean views.

ALSO: The two most common symptoms in coronavirus patients, says report

The cruise ship forced to idle for days off the California coast because of a cluster of coronavirus cases on board arrived in port Monday, and dozen of passengers began to leave for military bases, where they would be quarantined or to return to their home countries.

The Grand Princess pulled into the Port of Oakland with more than 3,500 people aboard  21 confirmed to be infected with the new virus. Passengers lining the balconies waved and some left the cabins where they had been in isolation to go on deck.

Many of the nearly 240 Canadians on board left the ship after the critically ill and stood outside two tents displaying Canadian flags. Canada and the United Kingdom were among the countries that sent chartered flights to retrieve their citizens.

U.S. passengers are being flow or bused from the port  chosen for its proximity to an airport and a military base  to bases in California, Texas and Georgia for testing and a 14-day quarantine. The ship is carrying people from 54 countries, and foreigners will be whisked home.

About 1,100 crew members, 19 of whom have tested positive for COVID-19, will be quarantined and treated aboard the ship, which will dock elsewhere after passengers are unloaded, California Gov. Gavin Newsom has said.

The Grand Princess had been held off the coast since Wednesday, because of evidence that it was the breeding ground for more than 20 infections tied to a previous voyage.

Passengers from the previous voyage have tested positive in California and other states. Six Canadians who were on the Grand Princess from Feb. 11 to 21 were also confirmed to have the virus.

Newsom and Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf sought to reassure people that none of the cruise ship passengers would be exposed to the public before completing the quarantine. Officials were trying to decide where the ship and its crew would go next.

The U.S. State Department warned against travel on cruise ships because of increased risk of infection of COVID-19 in a cruise ship environment."

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.

Amy Graff is a digital editor with SFGATE. Email her news tips and photos at agraff@sfgate.com.

MORE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE:
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In the darkness, the team suits up quietly, putting on their helmets and tactical gear. Federal agents lug battering rams, bolt cutters and heavy weaponry by foot up a hill on a residential California street that's softly aglow from street lamps. Then the agents turn onto the walkway of their target's home.

'Police! Search warrant!' one officer yells as agents bang on the front door. 'Police search warrant!' And then three thunderous bangs as the task force breaks down the front door.

Moments later, a reputed member of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, known as CJNG, is walked out in handcuffs.

In early-morning raids Wednesday, agents fanned out across the United States, culminating a six-month investigation dubbed 'Project Python' with the primary goal of dismantling the upper echelon of CJNG and hoping to get closer to capturing its leader, one of the most wanted men in America. There's a $10million reward for the arrest of Nemesio 'El Mencho' Oseguera.

The gang controls between one-third and two-thirds of the US drug market. It is so violent that members leave piles of bodies in streets and hanging from overpasses in Mexico, and they fill the city of Guadalajara with mass graves. They carry machine guns and hand grenades. They once used rocket launchers to shoot down a Mexican military helicopter.

More than 600 people have been arrested during the operation in recent months, more than 15,000 kilos of meth was seized and nearly $20million taken as search and arrest warrants were executed.

About 250 were arrested Wednesday.

DEA agents move in on a residential house during an arrest of a suspected drug trafficker before dawn on Wednesday in Diamond Bar, California. The raid was one of several carried out across the country as part of the DEA's Project Python, a six-month investigation with the primary goal of to dismantling the upper echelon of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG)

DEA agents are briefed in a parking lot prior to storming the home in Diamond Bar. CJNG is one of the world's deadliest cartels, controlling between one-third and two-thirds of the US drug market

Victor Ochoa, 34, was arrested on drug charges. The DEA alleges he acts as a stash house manager for the cartel

The Associated Press had exclusive access to the raid outside Los Angeles and the national command center keeping tabs on the other raids across the country

At the command center tucked inside a nondescript government building in northern Virginia, a group of a dozen analysts and agents sat behind computer screens inside a converted conference room. One of the screen displayed arrests in the raids

The US is offering a $10million reward for help capturing Nemesio 'El Mencho' Oseguera, the leader of CJNG

'El Mencho and his associates prey on the addicts, and they prey on small towns where they can act as bullies and infiltrate these small towns,' said Wendy Woolcok, the special agent in charge of Drug Enforcement Administration's special operations division. 'They promise hope, and they deliver despair.'

For the US, combating Mexico's fastest-growing and most violent gang is a top priority.

Law enforcement officials believe the gang has drug distribution hubs in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Houston and Atlanta. It is believed to have a presence in 24 of Mexico's 32 states.

Unlike other cartels, CJNG shows no reluctance in directly attacking police and army patrols and is blamed for the deadliest attacks against law enforcement forces in Mexico.

In eliminating rivals, it has carried out spectacular acts of violence.

'Their propensity to violence is a big part of it, they're very violent organization, they're a well-armed organization, but really the gasoline that was thrown on the fire was synthetic drugs,' said Bill Bodner, the special agent in charge of the DEA's field office in Los Angeles.

The Associated Press had exclusive access to the raid outside Los Angeles and the national command center.

In Diamond Bar, about a dozen team members prepped early Wednesday for their target - a stately salmon-colored home

A DEA agent checks under cars at the home as other agents searched the rest of the property before the arrest

A law enforcement officer is seen entering the Diamond Bar home with a drug sniffing dog

An agent is seen preparing his weapon before he and about a dozen other agents stormed the Diamond Bar home

In California, about a dozen team members prepped early Wednesday for their target. They searched the home, a stately, salmon-colored Spanish Colonial-style with a large chandelier in the foyer, palm trees in the front yard, and crawled on the ground to look under cars, including a black Lexus, in the driveway. No shots were fired.

Victor Ochoa, 34, was arrested on drug charges. The DEA alleges he acts as a stash house manager for the cartel. It wasn't clear yet whether he had a defense attorney.

At the command center tucked inside a nondescript government building in northern Virginia, a group of a dozen analysts and agents sat behind computer screens inside a converted conference room.

As agents were banging down doors across the country, the phones rang at the command center and analysts recorded the number of arrests and amount of drugs seized on printed worksheets.

An analyst entered the information into a DEA computer screen as other analysts ran phone numbers, addresses and nicknames found inside the homes being searched.

DEA agents are briefed in a parking lot prior to an arrest of the suspected drug trafficker in Diamond Bar on Wednesday

The agents are seen moving in on the home with the weapons raised. No shots were fired

The special agent in charge of the special operations division assembled with her team in front of a heat map - red dots glowing darker and darker as more arrests are made, primarily in Texas, California and New Jersey.

By 9am, more than 60 people had been taken into custody.

Assistant Attorney General Brian Benczkowski, head of the Justice Department's criminal division, called the operation 'the most comprehensive action to date in the Department of Justice's effort to disrupt, dismantle and ultimately destroy CJNG'.

While Mexican drug cartels made their money predominantly from marijuana in past decades, the market has somewhat dissipated with the state-level legalization of cannabis in dozens of states across the US.

Now, they've turned to methamphetamine and fentanyl, selling it at almost 14 times the price it cost to make and flooding the streets of the US, fueling homelessness and the opioid crisis, and leaving behind another trail of bodies: from overdoses.

El Mencho's daughter Jessica Johana Oseguera (left) and his son Ruben 'El Menchito' Oseguera Gonzalez were both arrested during Project Python operations

DEA agents and intelligence analysts take information from field operations as Wendy Woolcok, the special agent in charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration's special operations division(top left), stands next to a monitor displaying arrests

'El Mencho and his associates prey on the addicts, and they prey on small towns where they can act as bullies and infiltrate these small towns,' Woolcok told the Associated Press after the raids on Wednesday

The Jalisco Cartel was formed in 2010 from a wing of the Sinaloa cartel based in the western city of Guadalajara. While it once specialized in producing methamphetamine, like most Mexican cartels it has expanded into multidrug shipments including fentanyl, cocaine, meth and heroin.

The cartel is led by the elusive Oseguera, whose bodyguards once shot down a Mexican military helicopter to prevent his arrest. In recent weeks, prosecutors have brought charges against his son, Nemesio Oseguera, also known as 'El Menchito' and his daughter, Jessica Johanna Oseguera.

And officials say he's more dangerous than reputed Mexican drug kingpin and escape artist Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman, who as leader of the Sinaloa cartel ran a massive drug conspiracy that spread murder and mayhem for more than two decades.

'I think the threat from El Mencho and CJNG is greater right now because in my opinion, at the time Chapo was captured or at the time he was kind of at his at his heyday, so to speak, the Sinaloa Cartel was fractured, it was a little broken up,' Bodner said.

El Chapo was a little flashier, but Mencho and the Jalisco gang see their drug business as just that -- business, Bodner said.

'They have a little bit more discipline. They're not necessarily into the partying and living the good life, it's just about the business of drug trafficking and control, and that's what makes them scarier, Bodner said.

The Jalisco cartel is also known for brazen tactics such as driving around in convoys of pickup trucks marked with the letters 'CJNG' and for circulating videos of heavily-armed cartel gunmen in military-style dress.

While Mexico says it is no longer concentrating on detaining drug lords, the Mexican government has extradited Oseguera's son and has detained some of his associates.

Drug Enforcement Administration agents and intelligence analysts entered the information from the raids into a DEA computer and ran phone numbers, addresses and nicknames found inside the homes being searched

On a heat map showing the arrests, red dots glowed in areas where the majority took place
South Africa: Six new cases of Coronavirus confirmed in SA

The Health Department has confirmed six new Coronavirus cases - bringing the total confirmed cases to 13, with the Western Cape confirming its first case.

All the patients have now been advised. Those who are symptomatic have started receiving treatment.

Some of these patients are already in hospital while some, specifically those who are asymptomatic are in self quarantine, said the Health Department on Wednesday.

The new confirmed cases exclude the outstanding results for the two patients who formed part of the group of 10 that travelled to Italy.

Gauteng

In Gauteng, four cases were reported. Among them a 33 year-old female who had travelled to Italy and returned on 1 March 2020.

Another is a couple - a 34-year-old male and a 33-year-old female - who had travelled to Germany. They returned to South Africa on 9 March 2020.

The fourth case in Gauteng is a 57-year-old male who had travelled to Austria and Italy. He returned to South Africa on 9 March 2020.

KwaZulu-Natal

In KwaZulu-Natal, one case of a 40-year-old male - who had travelled to Portugal was reported. He returned on 7 March 2020.

Western Cape

The Western Cape also recorded one case of a 36-year-old male, who had travelled to multiple countries, including Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Turkey. He returned to South Africa on 9 March 2020.

Contact tracing has also started for all these cases, said the department.

Over 3600 tests conducted

To date, the National Institute of Communicable Diseases has conducted 3 642 tests.

More information relating to these cases will be communicated. We also request that the privacy of the patients and the families continues to be observed by the media and members of the public, said the department.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2020-03-11. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Russia's lower house on Wednesday passed constitutional reforms in their final reading that include the possibility of President extending his rule for another two terms.

A total of 383 State Duma lawmakers voted in favour of the package of constitutional amendments, with 43 abstentions and none against.

The measures must now be approved by the upper house Federation Council and be put to a public vote scheduled for April 22.

Putin announced the package of reforms in January, then repeatedly denied they were meant to extend his grip on power as he approaches the end of his fourth and final presidential term in 2024.

However, on Tuesday another amendment was introduced that would reset presidential terms, making it possible for Putin to run again if the constitutional court allows it.

The changes "are not just justified... they plan... for the strategy of the development of the country," Duma speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said after Wednesday's vote, Russian agencies reported.

Other additions to the constitution include guarantees for pension payouts and minimum salaries, and giving parliament additional power to nominate the head of government.

They also give the president additional powers to fire judges in the country's higher courts and to reject laws passed by parliament.
Arizona State University Professor Alexandra Navrotsky will be honored with the European Materials Research Society (E-MRS) 2020 Jan Czochralski Award.

The award is presented every year to a scientist based on their achievements in advanced materials science. Other eminent American awardees include Mildred Dresselhaus, a physics professor emerita from MIT, in 2010, who also received the 2012 Enrico Fermi Award and the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2014. Distinguished Harvard Professor George Whitesides also received the award in 2014.

Navrotsky is a professor in the the School of Molecular Sciences, part of The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and in the School for Engineering of Matter, Transport and Energy, part of the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering)

A member of the National Academy of Sciences, Navrotsky, who began her academic career at ASU in 1969, left in 1985 for Princeton University and officially returned on Oct. 1, 2019, to head the new one-of-a-kind Center for Materials of the Universe.

"Professor Navrotsky and her group are world leaders in many areas of solid state science, from microscopic features of structure and bonding to macroscopic thermodynamic behavior in minerals, ceramics, and other complex materials," said President's Professor Ian Gould, interim director of the School of Molecular Sciences. "I am very happy to see her recognized with this prestigious and well-deserved award."

"Receiving the E-MRS Jan Czochralski Award was an utter surprise and is a great honor," Navrotsky said. "Czochralski was a pioneer in chemical engineering, Poland has a great tradition in catalysis and materials science, and it will be wonderful to visit Warsaw again and see some of my friends there."

The E-MRS Czochralski Award is comprised of the Czochralski Gold Medal, a plaque and a commemorative diploma which will all be presented to Navrotsky on Sept. 16 of this year at the European Materials Research Society Fall Meeting (Warsaw University of Technology, Warsaw, Poland) where she will deliver a lecture during the plenary session.

Professor Jan Czochralski was one of Poland's most famous scientists. In 1916 after serendipitously dipping a pen into a small crucible of molten aluminum instead of an inkwell, and withdrawing it, he noticed that a thread of aluminum hung from the nib. The thread of aluminum turned out to be a single crystal and so the Czochralski method for single crystal growth was born. His method is currently used for the growth of single crystals of germanium and silicon which are the basis of a vast range of modern electronic equipment and devices.

By advancing high- and low-temperature reaction calorimetry as a foundational research tool, Navrotsky has contributed to a broad spectrum of applications, from mineral thermodynamics to ceramic processing to zeolites.

Navrotsky has published more than 900 scientific papers and received many honors, including the Harry Hess Medal, the Goldschmidt Medal and the Kingery Award. She serves on numerous advisory committees and panels in government and academia, promoting collaborative research across disciplines and institutions.

It was also just announced that Navrotsky's recent article, "Thermochemical Investigation of Lithium Borate Glasses and Crystals," has been selected for one of the Best Paper awards from the Journal of the American Ceramic Society for the past year. The award will be presented during the Journal of the American Ceramic Society awards symposium at MS&T 2020 held Oct. 4-8, 2020 in Pittsburgh.

"In science as in life, every day is a new adventure!" Navrotsky said.

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President Uhuru Kenyatta unveiled the first locally assembled mahindra vehicles in Kenya on Monday, March 9.

The Mahindra Scorpio Single and double cabin pick-ups were assembled at the Associated Vehicle Assembly (AVA Kenya) Mombasa, a subsidiary of Simba Corporation Limited.

READ ALSO: Kenyans to receive final BBI report earlier than expected as referendum beckons

President Uhuru Kenyatta unveils the newly assembled Mahindra cars at State House, Nairobi. Photo: State House.

Source: Facebook

READ ALSO: Meet Maria series actor Bondi aka El-chapo who plays role of notorious bully

Speaking during the launch of the cars at State House, Uhuru directed the National Treasury and the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) to immediately institute actions aimed at reducing taxes for locally assembled vehicles.

Further, to make locally assembled vehicles more affordable and available to Kenyans, I have also directed that the National Treasury and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives hold discussions with financial institutions to create special products for locally assembled vehicles, Uhuru said.

Uhuru inside the Mahindra double cabin car. Photo: State House.

Source: Facebook

READ ALSO: Suleiman Dori alimuonya Uhuru dhidi ya BBI kabla ya kifo chake

With the launch of the two vehicle models, Mahindra Motors has joined the list of globally renowned automotive brands that have chosen Kenya as their home.

Other global automobile brands that are locally assembled in the country include Toyota, Peugeot and Volkswagen.

IG Hillary Mutyambai drives the Mahindra Scorpio Single vehicle on Monday, March 9. Photo: State House.

Source: Facebook

Uhuru emphasized that his administration has prioritised the local assembly of motor vehicles as a means of creating jobs and enhancing technology transfer to boost the manufacturing agenda.

Uhuru drives the Double cabin Mahindra pick-up that was assembled at the Associated Vehicle Assembly (AVA Kenya) plant in Mombasa. Photo: State House.

Source: Facebook

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
YEREVAN, MARCH 11, ARMENPRESS. On March 11, in accordance with the arrangement reached with the authorities of the Republic of Artsakh, the OSCE Mission conducted a planned monitoring of the ceasefire regime on the border of Artsakh and Azerbaijan, in the south-east of Akna, the foreign ministry of Artsakh told Armenpress.

From the positions of the Defense Army of the Republic of Artsakh, the monitoring was conducted by Field Assistants to the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office (CiO) Mihail Olaru (Moldova) and Ognjen Jovic (Bosnia and Herzegovina).

From the opposite side of the border, the monitoring was conducted by Field Assistant to the Personal Representative of the OSCE CiO Ghenadie Petrica (Moldova) and staff member of the Office of the CiO Personal Representative Martin Schuster (Germany).

The monitoring passed in accordance with the agreed schedule.

From the Artsakh side, the monitoring mission was accompanied by representatives of the Republic of Artsakh Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Defense.




SEYCHELLES

Beyond Dramatic Imagery.................. 4

There are several contradictions in the conservation initiative of Seychelles Blue Bond scheme

SSF GUIDELINES

On and By the Water.................. 8

Plans for the Blue Economy and Blue Growth call for proper implementation of the SSF Guidelines

SRI LANKA

Action Stations.................. 11

Sri Lankas National Fisheries Policy needs to be remodelled to incorporate the SSF Guidelines

BRAZIL

Oil and Uncertainty--------------- 14

The latest Atlantic tragedy reaches thousands in Brazil and remains unsolved

OBITUARY

A Towering Intellect..................16

With the death of Sidney Holt late last year, the world lost a towering intellect and a committed conservationist

REPORT

Chewing the Policy Cud..................19

Reflections on the September 2019 ICSF workshop on Indias NIFAP

CHILE

No More Blood and Fire.................. 26

A new type of autonomous social movement seeks to create a democratic and representative Constitution

FISHERIES

Leaving None Behind..................28

Artisanal fishers experiential knowledge can help address many problems, including climate change

INDONESIA

Their Decision, Not Ours.................. 32

How one community in Indonesia manages...
The opposition National Democratic Congress has held a press conference in the northern regional town of Yendi, "exposing the deceptive flagship promises of President Akufo Addo".



The party, in a fact-finding mission, has visited a dried-up dam under the NPP's One village One dam project.



The events marks the 8th edition of the NDC's "Moment Of Truth" series and was held at Adibo in Yendi, a dried up site the Flagstaff House had claimed to have built its so called "one village one dam".



Speaking at the conference on Wednesday, the Communication Director of the party, Sammy Gyamfi said the party embarked on visit to the site in order to give a vivid account of the realities on the ground.



"As a responsible opposition, we seek to redefine the discourse on national issues from the conventional arm-chair debates in Accra, to a facts-driven discourse that measures the true state of affairs on the ground against the fallacious claims of the Akufo-Addo government," he said in a statement.



"And so, in the spirit of evidence-based discourse, we have today brought you to the 1V1D site at Adibo and Nakpachei both in the Yendi Constituency in order to expose the deception behind the so-called flagship 1V1D initiative of President Akufo-Addo."



He reiterated the call that the Governing NPP's claim to give every district a dam was a deception.



"Indeed, we have always maintained that the One Village, One Dam promise, is a trojan gift, deceptive in appearance, and insincerely packaged to hoodwink the good people of Northern Ghana for their votes," the statement read.



"True to our words, the shoddy execution of these 1V1D projects has amply vindicated our long-held position that the whole talk about 1V1D by the Candidate Akufo-Akufo-Addo was a ruse meant for electoral gain and nothing more."



Read full statement below;



A MOMENT OF TRUTH PRESS CONFERENCE ADDRESSED BY THE NATIONAL COMMUNICATION OFFICER OF THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS (NDC), COMRADE SAMMY GYAMFI, AT THE 1V1D SITE AT ADIBO IN THE YENDI CONSTITUENCY.



EXPOSING THE DECEPTIVE FLAGSHIP PROMISES OF PRESIDENT AKUFO-ADDO: THE CASE OF DRIED-UP 1V1D PROJECTS IN NORTHERN GHANA.



Wednesday, 11th March, 2020.



Good morning distinguished friends from the media.



The NDC as always, remains grateful to you for being a reliable partner in our efforts to enrich our multi-party democracy and deepen accountability on the part of those who are in charge of the governance of this country. We thank you for once again accepting to embark on this trip with us all the way to the Yendi Constituency in the Northern Region.



As a responsible opposition, we seek to redefine the discourse on national issues from the conventional arm-chair debates in Accra, to a facts-driven discourse that measures the true state of affairs on the ground against the fallacious claims of the Akufo-Addo government. And so, in the spirit of evidence-based discourse, we have today brought you to the 1V1D site at Adibo and Nakpachei both in the Yendi Constituency in order to expose the deception behind the so-called flagship 1V1D initiative of President Akufo-Addo.



Indeed, we have always maintained that the One Village, One Dam promise, is a trojan gift, deceptive in appearance, and insincerely packaged to hoodwink the good people of Northern Ghana for their votes. True to our words, the shoddy execution of these 1V1D projects has amply vindicated our long-held position that the whole talk about 1V1D by the Candidate Akufo-Akufo-Addo was a ruse meant for electoral gain and nothing more.



It would be recalled, that on 9th June, 2019, the NDC issued a press statement in which we drew attention to governments deceptive implementation of its much-touted 1V1D promise in northern Ghana. In that press statement, we bemoaned the fact that the Akufo-Addo government was serving the people of the north with sub-standard excavated ponds and dugouts instead of the promised small-scale irrigation dams which were intended to serve as a source of irrigation for dry season farming in the north. We further explained, that the 1V1D ponds and dugouts government is delivering, constitute a huge financial loss to the state because they have been poorly constructed and cannot serve their intended purpose nor stand the test of time.



Unsurprisingly, the Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah came out to dismiss our concerns, claiming that 99% of 1V1D projects were without incident and further accused us of engaging in propaganda.



Again, you would recall that in June 2019, following public outrage from various opinion leaders in Northern Ghana over the poor quality of governments 1V1D projects, President Akufo-Addo promised to investigate complaints over the quality of the said 1V1D projects. The Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia is reported to have also ordered that payment to some contractors be halted over shoddy work relative to 1V1D projects they had executed.



I am sure you also remember the bombshell from the Minister of Special Development Initiatives, Hon. Hawa Koomson, who when put on the spot by a journalist to answer questions on the shoddy implementation of 1V1D projects, asserted that the amount of GH256,000.00 allocated by government for each 1V1D project was woefully inadequate to construct any meaningful Dam. These were the exact words of the Minister of State whose Ministry is championing the 1V1D grand deception.



However, ladies and gentlemen, as it has been the stock in trade of the Akufo-Addo government, and despite numerous reports by you in the media which have highlighted the failure of governments 1V1D program, and President Akufo-Addos own pledge to investigate this fraud, the President himself and his Vice, Dr. Muhamadu Bawumia, have been hypocritically pontificating the supposed success of the 1V1D initiative at the least opportunity, as was witnessed during the 2020 State of the Nation Address presented by the President to the august house of Parliament and the Vice Presidents Town Hall meeting recently held in Kumasi.



Only last week, the Minister for Special Development Initiatives herself, mounted a spirited charge both on the floor of Parliament, and in the media, during which she parroted the so-called successful projects under her Ministry, including the fraudulent 1V1D initiative.



Colleagues from the media, we have brought you here today, so that you who are the fourth estate of the realm will ascertain for yourselves, whether or not, the 1V1D project you are seeing here in Nakpachei in the Yendi Constituency even qualifies to be called a dam, let alone a solution to the irrigation challenges of Northern Ghana as deceptive President Akufo-Addo and his 419 government would have us believe.



This dried-up 1V1D project that is before you is one of several excavated ponds and dugouts which have been branded as dams in the five regions of the North by President Akufo-Addo, ostensibly to spur dry season irrigation. We want you in the media to judge for yourselves, and the larger Ghanaian public, whether these dried-up excavated ponds are serving any useful agricultural purpose for farmers in northern Ghana who badly need water for their crops and livestock.



Friends from the media, whenever we in the NDC tell you that President Akufo-Addo and his NPP are a deceitful lot who only major in lofty rhetorics that always end up as pipe dreams, you do not understand. If we had the luxury of time today, we would have toured other parts of Northern Ghana with you, so you can see for yourselves, the scale of grand deception and its attendant financial loss we are talking about in the name of 1V1D.



However, even though we have limited time for this exercise in the northern region, we will while exposing the deceptive dams that President Akufo-Addo is serving the people of north, show you evidence of proper, well-built small-scale irrigation dams constructed by the erstwhile NDC government under the leadership of President John Dramani Mahama at Zakpalsi and Sakpe, both in the Mion Constituency which is just nearby.



Even though the Mahama-led NDC government did not engage in highfalutin sloganeering under the guise of 1V1D, we constructed several dugouts and proper dams which are being utilized for actual dry season irrigation in the north today. Dams such as the Tamne dam in the Garu district and the Zesiri Small Earth Dam are but a few of the small-scale irrigation dams executed by the Mahama government. These small-scale irrigation dams are not sub-standard excavated ponds like the ones you are seeing here today. On the contrary, these are well-intentioned dams, with irrigation facilities to support all-year-round agriculture.



Ladies and gentlemen, the only way the people of the north will see well-constructed small-scale irrigation dams again, is for the H.E John Dramani Mahama to be re-elected as President of the Republic of Ghana in the upcoming general elections. And we know without a shudder of doubt, that as the Lord liveth, truth will surely triumph over lies and good over evil on 7th December 2020. We know that by the grace of God, the visionary, humble and trustworthy John Dramani Mahama will be given another mandate by Ghanaians to rescue our beloved country from the clutches of this deceptive, clueless, corrupt, wasteful and inept Akufo-Addo government and restore this country back on the path of truth, development and progress.



Distinguished friends from the media, we believe we have amply demonstrated to the Ghanaian people through todays trip here, that the 1V1D so-called flagship initiative of the Akufo-Addo government has failed to achieve its intended purpose of driving all-year-round agriculture in Northern Ghana. As you have witnessed for yourselves, these so-called dams are excavated ponds or better still dugouts done to collect and hold-up rain water.



However, as early as November/December, when the raining season had barely ended in the northern part of the country, majority of these excavated ponds began to dry up and had no water for the consumption of livestock, let alone farming activity.



We believe that it would have been more prudent and a judicious use of the taxpayers money if government had channeled the huge resources wasted on these sub-standard and meaningless excavated ponds into proper small-scale irrigation dams like the ones being constructed by JICA in some parts of the country.



We have always maintained that 1V1D like similar other tokenism being championed by this Akufo-Addo government, constitutes a huge financial loss to the state. Since this government is determined to stay the course of wasting our scare resources on such counterproductive ventures, which in most cases only facilitate the plundering of our resources into private pockets, we wish to reiterate the point that a future government of the NDC shall investigate and prosecute all persons associated with such deceptive schemes.



To this end, we wish to sound a strong caution to the likes of Madam Hawa Koomson and others, that they stand as good candidates for prosecution for the offense of willfully causing financial loss to the state when power changes hands.



Ladies and gentlemen, there is no gainsaying the fact that, this 1V1D scam is the greatest fraud ever to be perpetrated on the people of the north by any government in the history of Ghana. What is shows is that, President Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo and his Vice, Dr. Bawumia have no respect for the people of the north nor have their interest at heart. In their desperation for power, they deceived Ghanaians with sweet-sounding lofty promises which were intended solely for electoral gain and never meant to be kept. Today, they have flattered to deceive on all their flagship promises and have been exposed for who they really are. And we know that the good of people of Ghana will hold them accountable for this grand 1V1D scam and their several unfulfilled promises come December 7th 2020.



We thank you for coming, and may God bless our homeland Ghana.



Signed.

COMRADE SAMMY GYAMFI ESQ.

National Communication Officer, NDC









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He spreads his colours through the streets of Bangkok leaving a few hints of joy; the street artist Benzilla has been immersed in pop culture since a young age, but started professionally ten years ago.

I love the idea that my art emits a positive and quirky energy. My work is an outlet that erases every doubt or discouragement from daily life says the artist. While many internationally renowned brands have called upon his services, Benzilla never tires of starting new projects! Im proud to be in Maurice Lacroixs circle of friends! I love its urban and contemporary aesthetics! The AIKON design represents and inspires me a lot! If I had to describe the brand with one word, I would think of borderless!

Benzilla  Maurice Lacroix

Borderless... a word that describes the artist well, according to Stephane Waser, Managing Director of Maurice Lacroix. We love Benzillas boundless creativity, that is expressed just as much in his street art and sculpture as it is in his consumer products. His openness to the world, curiosity and undeniable talent make him a friend that our brand wants to support! Before the artist Benzilla concludes with For me, art is comparable to watchmaking. I love the idea that we can offer a quality creation without breaking a bank!

This is why a partnership with Maurice Lacroix became an obvious choice for the artist who wants to convey this accessibility around him, by painting with the AIKON Chronograph on his wrist.
YEREVAN, MARCH 11, ARMENPRESS. In the frameworks of the EU funded Armenian-Georgian Platform for Policy Development project the Yerevan and Tbilisi Schools of Political Studies organize a series of focus group meetings on fight against corruption, anti-discrimination and tourism for economic growth.

The second Armenian-Georgian focus group meeting on Anti-discrimination took place on 8-9 February 2020 in Dilijan, Armenia. During the two-day event 20 representatives from Yerevan and Tbilisi Schools of Political Studies carried out discussions on equality, human rights and non-discrimination issues in Armenia and in Georgia. The group of young leaders looked into the existing gaps and challenges, as well as underlined the importance of the education and large public awareness raising activities in order to establish culture of tolerance and diversity and to percept equality as a core element for human rights.

Qualified Armenian and Georgian experts presented the situation, legal regulations and policies to overcome the challenges for effective and full protection from the discrimination for all groups. Debates and discussions included topics like discrimination grounds, domestic legislation and international standards, disability, political belonging or social status, religion or belief, equal rights in education, employment and career.

The results of the focus group discussions will be reflected in policy recommendations with concrete actions prepared by experts of the Yerevan and Tbilisi Schools of Political Studies, to support the authorities to combat discrimination and advance equality as a fundamental human right and a basic principle of social justice. The policy recommendation will be presented at the conference to be held in Armenia in June 2020.

Armenian-Georgian Platform for Policy Development project is funded by the European Union Delegation to Armenia under the Rapid Response Mechanism of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Facility. The project is implemented by the Yerevan School of Political Studies in cooperation with the Tbilisi School of Political Studies. Both Schools belong to the Network of the European Association of the Schools of Political Studies.
LAS VEGASOrganizers of the Altitude Intimates Show announced Wednesday morning they are postponing the March 2020 show amid concerns of the COVID-19 virus.

Following the CDCs recommendation on major public events; Altitude Intimates Tradeshow has made the difficult decision to postpone our upcoming 2020 March tradeshow, a letter to registered attendees said. This decision was not made lightly, as this is the time, we all look forward to as an industry for camaraderie, expansion and brand awareness. Let us not forget that Altitude was founded by our industry and for our industry; we pride ourselves in maintaining that above anything.

While this news is incredibly disappointing for all of us, the health and safety of our attendees, volunteers, staff and partners is our top priority, he letter continued.

New dates for the event, which was slated for March 17-19 at the Paris Casino and Hotel Las Vegas, have not been announced.

For more, visit AltitudeShow.com.
A former Scottish government official who has accused Alex Salmond of sexual assault said she suffered flashbacks following the Harvey Weinstein case, a court heard.

The former first minister of Scotland is on trial at the High Court in Edinburgh over accusations of sexual assault.

The woman was first to give evidence and spoke about two alleged incidents, including one charge that the 65-year-old tried to rape her in June 2014.

The woman told the court yesterday she began to suffer flashbacks. She said: "I had started to learn about (the MeToo movement), yes. It was just around that time.

"It was on the back of the Harvey Weinstein case.

"These issues started to be discussed and I started to have what I could describe as flashbacks. I started to come to the realisation at the October/November 2017 period."

The woman had previously told the court that she felt "hunted" by Mr Salmond moments before an alleged attempted rape in Bute House.

It is alleged the incident took place after a dinner at the first minister's official residence.

She told the court on Monday that Mr Salmond had been touching her legs and her shirt and trying to kiss her, then blocked her path when she tried to leave.

The court heard she agreed but on the condition they stayed in separate rooms, which she described as being "a bit of an escape plan".

When she entered her room, it was heard Mr Salmond followed her in with a bottle of red wine, then "pounced" on her, stripped himself naked, took her clothes off and pushed her on to the bed.

The court was then told the complainant waited for Mr Salmond to fall asleep before she went to the bathroom.

She told the court she did not give him any indication that she would welcome such contact.

The woman added: "Why would I want to go out with him? He's a much older man who didn't look after himself."

Evidence was also given about an alleged sexual assault in Bute House beforehand in May 2014.

It was heard the same woman had stayed behind to do work with Mr Salmond when they began doing shots of a Chinese spirit, which she described as an unusual incident. She described Mr Salmond as being "half-cut" and that he was in a "good mood".

The court heard he sat on the floor and asked her to sit next to him.

She said: "He was putting his hand down my top and kissing my face and neck and touching my legs. He was laughing."

It was heard she managed to make her excuses and leave.

His lawyer Gordon Jackson QC lodged a special defence of alibi for the alleged incident in May 2014.

Consent was also given as a defence for three alleged sexual assaults and an alleged indecent assault against three women.

Judge Lady Dorrian earlier told the jury of nine women and six men they must be "impartial" during the trial.

Mr Salmond faces 14 charges of alleged offences against 10 women, all of which he has pleaded not guilty to.

The charges span a period between June 29, 2008 and November 11, 2014, with one sexual assault said to have taken place in the month of the Scottish independence referendum in September 2014.

Mr Salmond - who was Scotland's first minister from 2007 to 2014 - faces a number of other sexual assault charges, as well as two indecent assault charges. His trial continues.
Now Open

11 March 2020

Radisson, one of the best recognized hotel brands, today announced the opening of Radisson Hotel Anapolis at Avenida Oscar Mohn, No. 250, Anapolis, Brazil. This upscale hotel is perfectly positioned in one of the fastest-growing cities in Goias, providing a convenient spot for guests interested in checking out the Brasil Park Shopping, or business travelers visiting companies like Vitamedic orLinea Alimentos. The city's bike-friendly atmosphere, along with the hotel's bike and scooter rentals, allows guests to easily explore the trails at Parque Ambiental Ipiranga and other cultural hotspots, such as the grand fountain at Praca Bom Jesus. The hotel is also conveniently located near Terminal Rodoviario Josias Moreira Braga bus station and Goiania Airport (GYN).

The hotel features 106 guest rooms and suites, all equipped with comfortable bedding, free Wi-Fi, smart TVs and mini bars. For an enhanced stay, guests can reserve a Business Class room, or Imperial Suite for stunning views of the city and nearby Parque Ambiental Ipiranga. Each night's stay is met with a complimentary breakfast served daily at Bento, the hotel's onsite restaurant and bar. Guests can choose from the a la carte menu during the week, Brazilian specialties on Saturdays and an international brunch on Sundays. Room service is also available 24 hours a day.

Guests can take advantage of a variety of onsite amenities, including a fitness center, children's play area, steam room, outdoor pool, hot tub and laundry services. Intimate board meetings and company-wide seminars can take place in one of the hotel's four event spaces, which can accommodate a total of 250 guests. Each room includes access to tables and chairs, high-speed internet and audio-visual equipment. Plus, an onsite event coordinator is available to assist with every detail leading up to the special occasion.
One of Australia's longest-serving Catholic bishops "stood aside" Wednesday amid reports of a police investigation into alleged sex offences.

Bishop Christopher Saunders, who ran the diocese of Broome on the country's west coast, was said to have voluntarily stood aside, with the archbishop of Perth issuing a statement announcing the move.

The decision had been made due to "the particular situation in the Diocese of Broome and concerned for the pastoral care of the clergy, religious and laity of the Diocese", Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe said in a statement.

Reports by broadcaster Seven said police were investigating several serious allegations against Saunders, including sex offences against two young men.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Saudi Arabia ordered state-run oil producer Aramco to boost the kingdoms output capacity by 1 million barrels a day, the latest escalation in a battle for control of the global petroleum market.

While delivering the extra capacity may take years and many billions of dollars in investment, the decision shows that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has little intention of pulling back from his aggressive response to the breakdown of OPECs alliance with Russia and other oil producers.

The countrys energy ministry, headed by Prince Mohammeds half-brother, ordered Saudi Aramco to boost its output capacity for the first time in at least a decade. The worlds biggest oil exporter will raise capacity to 13 million barrels a day from 12 million, it said Wednesday in a statement.

The company is exerting its maximum efforts to implement this directive as soon as possible, Chief Executive Officer Amin Nasser said in a separate statement. Aramco didnt specify when it would reach the higher capacity level or how much investment such an increase would require.

OIL WAR: Americas days as net oil exporter are numbered

This is going to take several years, said Ian Thom, a research director at U.K.-based consultant Wood Mackenzie Ltd. Four or five years might be a rule of thumb for a big, greenfield mega-project. It might be a little easier if they do some expansion at existing operations -- that might be quicker, but its hard to see that generating an additional million barrels a day.

Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman returned last week from Vienna without an agreement by the OPEC+ coalition to make deeper cuts in production to help prop up prices. The failure to reach a deal shattered a partnership between the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and producers such as Russia that had regulated much of the worlds oil supply for more than three years.

Flagging Demand

Oil plunged as much as 31% on Monday after Saudi Arabia and Russia traded shots in an oil price and supply war that threatens to overwhelm markets already reeling from the impact of the coronavirus outbreak on demand. Benchmark Brent crude was trading 89 cents lower at $36.33 a barrel on Wednesday at 9:55 a.m. in London.

Shares in Aramco, known officially as Saudi Arabian Oil Co., declined as much as 1.6% in trading on the Saudi exchange. The stock traded at 30.75 riyals, down 1.3%, giving the company a market value of 6.2 trillion riyals ($1.65 trillion) at 12:55 p.m. in Riyadh. This week, the stock has traded below the 32-riyal level at which the government sold stock in December.

FUEL FIX: Get fresh energy news in your inbox each weekday

Saudi Arabia has more spare capacity than Russia, and that cushion has long enabled it to play a dominant role among producers. Adding supply in times of shortage can dampen price spikes, and the Saudis are showing now that they can wield that power to exert financial pressure on other producers.

The kingdom announced plans more than a decade ago to boost and sustain its capacity at a level of 12 million barrels a day, and it has worked to maintain that by expanding fields including Manifa and Shaybah. Adding 1 million barrels a day of additional spare capacity would cost more than $20 billion, Khalid Al-Falih, the former Saudi energy minster, said in 2018.

Major Undertaking

To add a million barrels per day is a very major undertaking, said Robin Mills, chief executive officer of Dubai-based consultant Qamar Energy. Aramco can draw upon existing plans for big developments that need several years of work, said Mills, who formerly worked as a geologist in the Middle East for Royal Dutch Shell Plc.

The order to boost production capacity highlights the inherent contradiction in Aramcos status as a publicly listed company thats also controlled by the Saudi state. The company sold 1.5% of its shares on the Riyadh stock exchange in December in the worlds largest initial public offering. Yet its beholden to government decisions concerning output and capacity.

This isnt the first time the Crown Prince has exerted influence over Aramcos operations during debates over supply.

He said in April 2016 that the kingdom could boost capacity to as much as 20 million barrels a day, an amount that would roughly equal a fifth of worldwide production. Prince Mohammed made the comments as OPEC ministers gathered in Doha, Qatar for an utlimately doomed meeting aimed at freezing output.

A group meeting later that year brought Russia and others into the output-cutting framework that lasted until its collapse last week.

--With assistance from Javier Blas.

2020 Bloomberg L.P.
An off-duty Philadelphia Sheriffs deputy was hospitalized in stable condition after being shot during a robbery Tuesday night in Delaware County, police said.

The deputy, described as in his mid-30s, was shot in the back while he was in the 1300 block of Alfred Avenue in Yeadon sometime before 10 p.m.

He was transported to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center.

Police said as many as two suspects were being sought. No other details were immediately available.
Greta Thunberg has urged fellow climate activists to protest online and join her in a 'digital strike' as the number of coronavirus cases continue to escalate across the world.

The 17-year-old eco-warrior asked that her 4.1 million followers refrain from attending public gathering and instead unite behind the experts and science in order to 'flatten the curve' and slow the spread of the killer infection.

The figurehead of environmentalism from Sweden told protesters to keep their numbers low but their spirits high by posting a picture of themselves striking with a sign using the Twitter hashtag #ClimateStrikeOnline!'

Taking to social media the climate activist wrote: 'We cant solve a crisis without treating it as a crisis and we must unite behind experts and science. This of course goes for all crises.

Greta Thunberg, 17, from Sweden, asked climate activists to refrain from attending public gatherings and instead protest online

The climate activist took to Twitter to urge her 4.1 million followers to unite behind the experts and science in order to 'flatten the curve' of the killer infection

'Now the experts urge us to avoid big public gatherings for a better chance to #flattenthecurve and slow the spreading of the Coronavirus.

'So I personally recommend that we do as the experts say. Especially in high-risk areas.

'We young people are the least affected by this virus but its essential that we act in solidarity with the most vulnerable and that we act in the best interest of our common society.

'The climate and ecological crisis is the biggest crisis humanity has ever faced but for now (of course depending on where you live) well have to find new ways to create public awareness & advocate for change that dont involve too big crowds - listen to local authorities.

'So keep your numbers low but your spirits high and lets take one week at the time.

'You can join the #DigitalStrike for upcoming Fridays- post a photo of you striking with a sign and use the hashtag #ClimateStrikeOnline! #fridaysforfuture #climatestrike #schoolstrike4climate.'

The eco-warrior told protesters to keep their numbers low but their spirits high and instead protest online

Thunberg (pictured at a European climate strike in Brussels this month) said protesters could instead post a picture of themselves striking with a series of Twitter hashtags

The teenager's impassioned message comes after she joined a handful of protesters outside the EU Council building in Schuman Square, Brussels, Belgium, as EU environment ministers met inside earlier this month.

The activist accused European Union governments of only 'pretending' to urgently tackle the climate crisis and was left unimpressed by the Commission's announcement to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2050.

Calling the plans a 'surrender', Thunberg slammed the urgency of the proposed plans to reduce carbon emissions.

She said: 'When your house is on fire, you don't wait a few more years to start putting it out.

'And yet this is what the Commission is proposing today.'

The teenager's message comes after she joined protesters outside the EU Council building in Schuman Square, Brussels, Belgium, this month

The activist (pictured with protesters) questioned the urgency of the plans made by the Commission

The environmentalist's plea to refrain from public gatherings comes as the number of coronavirus cases in Britain rose to 456, with 83 more patients having been hit with the deadly infection.

Recent statistics revealed 387 cases had been located in England, 36 in patients in Scotland, 16 in Northern Ireland and 15 in Wales.

The virus, which initially saw millions of residents and tourists in China put on lock down to contain the spread, has now been transmitted between humans in 30 countries across Europe, including Spain, Germany and France, according to the World Health Organization.

In Italy the infection has seen more than 10,000 affected and resulted in 631 deaths, with the country now placing 60 million in an unprecedented lockdown to contain the escalating outbreak.

Meanwhile in China, which is home to 1.4billion people, the number of cases have risen to 80,969, with the number of confirmed fatalities hitting 3,158.
New Delhi, March 11 : In an unusual turn of events, the Indian postal service delivered a letter correctly to a person despite it having incomplete address and wrong name.

A Twitter user Navdeep Singh shared the photo of the envelope with the caption: "'Maj NavNeeT Singh, High Court, Panchkula, Haryana'... A distinguished service medal is due to our @IndiaPostOffice for delivering this letter to my residential address facing all odds, and that too in time." In the shared photo, it's not just the address that was incomplete, but the name mentioned was wrong too.

As the post went viral, Twitterati flooded social media with their reactions. A user wrote, "In 1975, a letter written by me to my mother 'Mummy Kapurthala' reached her. Those were the days. Small towns. Postmen could perhaps sense from handwriting. I was among the few young officers, may be." Another wrote, "Some of the established tradecraft of the postal services are beyond modern gadgets." "Sir this is like before 47 when letters were simply postmarked to Gandhiji with no address written below," read one post.

Another user remarked, "They have delivered something to me when even the city and pin code was wrong. They are buggy. But efficient."
As the number of confirmed coronavirus patients in Hungary grows, pundits across the political spectrum ponder the broader social and political implications of the epidemic.

By Wednesday, 13 cases of coronavirus infection had been identified in Hungary. 53 individuals are in quarantine and being tested for the illness. The government, at the recommendation of the Coronavirus Operative Board, has cancelled the March 15 national day celebrations.



In Nepszava, former MSZP Chair Ildiko Lendvai accuses the government of using the coronavirus contagion for political purposes. Lendvai thinks that PM Orban wants to show that he is a strong leader capable of managing an emergency.



Lendvai finds it even more controversial that the government, in her opinion, is using the coronavirus to incite xenophobia by blaming migrants for the spread of the virus in Hungary, and closing Hungarys borders to even the trickle of asylum seekers who until now were able to enter.



In a sarcastic remark, Lendvai wonders if the government will also claim that patient zero was a refugee or a Roma person so that Roma segregation can be justified. (The first two identified coronavirus patients were Iranians, university students on a government-sponsored program.)



Magyar Nemzets Zsolt Bayer finds it sad that Hungary has become the country of ten million coronavirus experts. The pro-government pundit recalls that the opposition has until now accused the government of not taking the threat seriously enough. Bayer finds that accusation absurd.



The government did what is required in an emergency, he asserts, and has also given details of its plans to handle a fully-fledged pandemic as well. Left-wing politicians who demand more are out of touch with reality, Bayer contends.



In Merce, Soma Abraham Kiss fears that the poor, and blue collar workers will be the primary victims of the economic recession which is bound to follow the coronavirus meltdown. The radical left-wing blogger describes as good news the sharp decline in air pollution in China, due to quarantine measures.



He suspects, however, that workers who stay at home will suffer the economic consequences of the suspension of industrial production. There is little hope that the beneficiaries of global capitalism will act in-line with our collective objectives and help poor workers left without income, he writes.



The coronavirus pandemic will have a devastating impact on poor countries, Kiss predicts. All this, he concludes, will result in the death of millions and failing states.



The coronavirus satisfies our psychological need to feel that our world order is under attack, Tamas Leimeszter writes on Mandiner. The conservative blogger does not deny that the coronavirus is a real threat, but he nonetheless suggests that we are overreacting to it.



Leimeszter fears that what he maintains is apocalyptic fear-mongering may become a self-fulfilling prophecy, and heightened hysteria may lead to a complete social meltdown  from which it will not be easy to return to normalcy, even if the coronavirus epidemic is contained.



This opinion does not necessarily represent the views of XpatLoop.com or the publisher. Your opinions are welcome too - for editorial review before possible publication online.

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350 Nigerian Christians killed in first 2 months of 2020: NGO report Group estimates at least 11,500 Nigerian Christians killed since June 2015

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A Nigerian civil society organization claims that no fewer than 350 Christians have been killed across the West African country since the start of 2020 and estimates that about 11,500 Christians have been killed since 2015.

Nigeria has fully become a killing field of defenseless Christians, the Anambra-based nongovernmental organization International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety) said this week in a new special report, titled Nigeria: A Killing Field Of Defenseless Christians.

Available statistics have shown that between 11,500 and 12,000 Christian deaths were recorded in the past 57 months or since June 2015 when the present central government of Nigeria came on board. Out of this figure, Jihadist Fulani herdsmen accounted for 7,400 Christian deaths, Boko Haram 4,000 and the Highway Bandits 150-200.

The organization, which is headed by Christian criminologist Emeka Umeagbalasi, has monitored violence against Christians in Nigeria since 2010 through a team of criminologists, lawyers, journalists, security, and peace and conflict studies graduates.

Nigeria has been marred by violence in the last decade-plus due to the rise of extremist organizations in the northeast like Boko Haram and its splinter group, the Islamic States West Africa Province.

In recent years, massacres carried out by radicalized Fulani herders against predominantly Christian farming villages in Nigerias Middle Belt have also driven communities from their homes.

Additionally, bandit gangs have been responsible for carrying out kidnappings along some major highways.

The United Nations estimates that about 2 million people have been internally displaced across Nigeria and 11 million people in need of assistance. An additional 550,000 are said to be displaced in neighboring countries of Cameroon, Chad and Niger.

While 100 percent of the victims of Jihadist Herdsmen attacks across Nigeria are Christians, the estimated 4,000 Christians killed by Boko Haram were part of the estimated 6,000 [people in total] massacred by the sect since June 2015, the report explains.

Generally, many, if not most of the victims of Boko Haram/ISWAP attacks in Nigerias Northeast are Christians. On the part of Bandits/Highway Kidnappers in Northern Nigeria, most of their rural victims are Muslims while many, if not most, of their roadside victims are Christians traveling to northern or southern parts of the country using the Birnin-Gwari Federal Road, near Kaduna, etc.

For its monitoring and documentation, Intersociety relies on what it deems to be credible local and foreign media reports, government accounts, international rights groups, eyewitness accounts and reports from various Christian bodies in the country.

Intersociety reports that Fulani herdsmen accounted for 250 of the 350 deaths recorded in January and February 2020 while Boko Haram and highway bandit gangs are responsible for 100 deaths.

In the past two months, Intersociety reports that radical Fulani militants have carried out attacks in Nasarawa, Adamawa and Edo in addition to some other locations throughout the country.

Last year, Intersociety reported that no fewer than 2,400 Christians were killed by Fulani radicals in 2018. In 2019, according to the group, between 1,000 to 1,200 Christians were killed by Fulani attackers.

While reports have indicated an increase in deadly Boko Haram attacks beginning in December 2019, Intersociety noted that Boko Haram attacks targeting Christians since January 2020 intensified in Borno, Adamawa and Taraba States.

[The attacks are] claiming between 50 and 70 Christian lives and loss of churches and other buildings belonging to Christians, the report explains, adding that Boko Haram was responsible for killing at least 1,000 citizens in 2019.

Additionally, between 100 and 150 Christian travelers were said to have been abducted on highways since the beginning of the year.

The killings targeted at Christians in Nigeria have continued into the first week of March 2020 leading to hacking to death of over a dozen more, the report reads. Among the worst hit in the latest round of Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen attacks are Plateau State with 70-80 deaths, Kaduna [with] 50 deaths, Kogi [with] 30 deaths, Benue [with] 15-20, Delta [with] 16 and Taraba [with] 10.

In the past 57 months, no fewer than 20 clergymen (including eight Catholic priests and seminarians) have been hacked to death, while no less than 50 were abducted or kidnapped, Intersociety reported.

Earlier this year, Boko Haram kidnapped and then executed the Rev. Lawan Andimi, chairman of the Christian Association of Nigerias chapter in the Michika Local Government Area of Adamawa state.

Other slain religious leaders killed in Nigeria in the past 12 months include the Revs. Clement Ugwu and Paul Offu.

Intersociety also estimated that over 2,000 churches and Christian worship centers have been burned since June 2015, with Fulani herdsmen being responsible for about 1,500 and Boko Haram accounting for 500.

Churches in Benue, Plateau and southern Kaduna states were among the most targeted by Fulani radicals.

In eight years, between 2011 and 2019, Benue State had lost 600 churches and other Christian worship centers to Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen," the report states.

Intersocietys claim that most of the people killed by Boko Haram are Christian contradicts data given out by Nigeria President Muhammadu Buhari in early February.

In an op-ed, Buhari stated that 90 percent of all Boko Harams victims have been Muslims. Buhari claimed that the now-failing terrorists have targeted the vulnerable, the religious, the non-religious, the young and the old without discrimination.

However, weeks later, a member of the Nigerian government, Minister of Information Alhaji Lai Mohammed, acknowledged that terrorists are focusing their attacks on Christians, noting that in the past, that was not the case.

"They have started targeting Christians and Christian villages for a specific reason, which is to trigger a religious war and throw the nation into chaos," he said while distancing the perpetrators from Muslims and noting that Muslims have also been victimized.

Death toll statistics in Nigeria can vary depending on which organization is providing them because of the lack of adequate government record-keeping, International Committee on Nigeria co-founder Stephen Enada previously told The Christian Post.

Enada, who fled to the United States in 2016 after his cousin was killed by Fulani radicals, believes that reported death tolls should be construed as nothing more than estimations.

When you talk about data mining statistics, Nigeria doesnt even have a national data record to even say [what is] our population, Enada explained at the time. So sometimes, if somebody is killed, you dont even have a way to trace a person to his family outside his community because we dont have data.

Because we dont have such data, it is very complicated. Sometimes, when people are killed, they will just do a mass burial where there is no autopsy, post mortem, no record. If you go to these communities, you will see that they dont have any record for the people who died. That is what we are working with.

Last November, the U.K.-based NGO Humanitarian Aid Relief Trust estimated after a fact-finding mission that at least 1,000 Christians were killed in Nigeria from January 2019 until November 2019.

HART, founded by Parliament member Baroness Caroline Cox, estimated that at least 6,000 Christians were killed since 2015.

A HART spokesperson clarified to CP that the 1,000-deaths estimation counts predominantly people killed in Plateau, Southern Kaduna and Taraba states by Fulani Herdsmen but also includes some killings by Boko Haram in Borno state.

The HART spokesperson added that the estimation was partly based on reports from the Kaduna state government and reports from the Plateau state. HART's estimations also include Boko Harams killing of security officers and soldiers believed to be Christians.
The University of Basel is part of the global search for a drug to fight the rampant coronavirus. Researchers in the Computational Pharmacy group have so far virtually tested almost 700 million substances, targeting a specific site on the virus - with the aim of inhibiting its multiplication. Due to the current emergency, the first results of the tests will be made available to other research groups immediately.

Over the past few weeks, the research group in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, led by Professor Markus Lill, has been working with computer-aided methods to identify possible new drugs to combat the current coronavirus outbreak and similar epidemics in the future. In the process, the researchers have tested, albeit virtually, more than 680 substances on one of the virus's key proteins: its central protease.

This "virtual screening" has already identified several interesting substances that have the potential to inhibit the virus's critical enzyme - and thus its further multiplication. "Even if the complete development of a drug to fight this particular coronavirus is likely to exceed the duration of the current epidemic, it is important to develop drugs for future coronaviruses. This will make it possible to nip health crises like this one in the bud in the future," says Lill.

Test results made public

In light of the current crisis, the group took an unusual decision by immediately making the test results publicly available in the form of an open-source preprint. The publication was consulted more than 3,000 times during the first 48 hours alone.

The Basel researchers hope that a larger number of research groups worldwide will test their proposals on the virus and initiate further trials. Normally, when it comes to drug design, the molecules of interest would be experimentally tested with other groups before the results were patented and published. The main focus of other ongoing coronavirus trials is currently on the usability of existing antiviral drugs or the realignment of other drugs.
[March 11, 2020] Cloud Access Security Brokers (CASB) Market is Projected to Grow From USD 8941.1 Million to USD 36910 Million by 2026 with a CAGR of 22.2% | Valuates Reports

BANGALORE, India, March 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- A cloud access security broker (CASB) is a software product or service that sits between the on-premises network of an enterprise and the infrastructure of a cloud provider. The CASB serves as a gatekeeper allowing the company to expand its security policy scope beyond its infrastructure. The global size of the Cloud Access Security Brokers (CASB) market in 2019 was USD 8941.1 million and is expected to reach USD 36910 Million by the end of 2026, with a CAGR of 22.2 % in 2021-26. Cloud Access Security Brokers market is segmented by Type and Application. Based on type, the market is segmented into SaaS, IaaS, and PaaS. And based on the application, the market is segmented into BFSI, Government, Healthcare and Life Sciences, Manufacturing, and others. Cloud Access Security Brokers market competitive landscape provides details and data on key vendors. The report offers a comprehensive analysis and accurate statistics on revenue by the player for the period 2015-2020. Get Free Sample Report: https://reports.valuates.com/request/sample/QYRE-Othe-3P204/cloud_access_security_brokers_market TRENDS INFLUENCING THE CLOUD ACCESS SECURITY BROKER MARKET SIZE The cloud technologies growing adoption has increased security concerns, contributing to a positive influence on global CASB market growth. Governing bodies constantly revamping legislation makes the management of cloud protection services challenging for cloud storage vendors. Outsourcing security solutions has thus become the trend and pushes the CASB market even further.

The need for cloud access security broker solutions and services is proliferating as cloud-based application use has increased among SMBs. Controlled data loss, real-time monitoring capabilities, increased regulatory enforcement and increased acceptance of cloud-based applications are the major drivers responsible for the growth of the cloud access security broker market. View Full Report: https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Othe-3P204/cloud-access-security-brokers-casb-market REGION WISE CLOUD ACCESS SECURITY BROKER MARKET SHARE ANALYSIS North America holds the highest share of the cloud access security broker market due to its increasing IT requirements and security concerns. The U.S. market is expected to have a larger share, as many businesses are adopting cloud services. MARKET SEGMENT BY REGIONS/COUNTRIES, THIS REPORT COVERS North America

Europe

China

Japan

Southeast Asia

India

Central & South America



Inquire for Regional Report: https://reports.valuates.com/request/regional/QYRE-Othe-3P204/cloud_access_security_brokers_market THE KEY PLAYERS COVERED IN THIS STUDY

Palo Alto Networks

IBM Managed Cloud Services

Forcepoint

Imperva, Inc.

Symantec Corporation

Oracle

Microsoft Cloud App Security

Cisco Cloudlock

Fortinet, Inc

Skyhigh Networks

Bitglass

Managed Methods

Ciphercloud

Netskope

Protegrity

Centrify Identity Service

Others MARKET SEGMENT BY TYPE, THE PRODUCT CAN BE SPLIT INTO SaaS

IaaS

PaaS MARKET SEGMENT BY APPLICATION, SPLIT INTO BFSI

Government

Healthcare and Life Sciences

Manufacturing

Others Buy Now: https://reports.valuates.com/api/directpaytoken?rcode=QYRE-Othe-3P204 SIMILAR REPORTS Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB) Application Market By providing a single solution to protect confidential customer information across all cloud or on-premise systems, Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB) removes all the security-related issues. CASB serves as a gatekeeper, enabling organizations to expand beyond their own networks. Cloud Access Security Brokers implement various security measures, including encryption and system profiling. CASBs are especially useful in organizations with shadow IT operations or liberal security policies that allow their own cloud services to be procured and controlled by operating units. The report offers an exhaustive geographical analysis of the global Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB) Application market, covering important regions. The Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB) Application Market report strategically segment the market into type and application. Based on type, the market is segmented into SaaS, IaaS, and PaaS. And based on the application, the market is segmented into BFSI, Industrial, Retail, Education, Healthcare, Service Providers and Others. View Full Report: https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Othe-1Q244/cloud-access-security-broker-casb-application-market Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB) Software Market This report studies the market size of the Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB) software by players, regions, product types(SaaS, PaaS and IaaS) and end industries(BFSI, Industrial Controlling Systems, Automotive, Retail, Education, Healthcare, and Service Providers). Furthermore, the report also analyses the global competitive landscape, market drivers and patterns, opportunities and threats, risks and barriers to entry, distribution channels, distributors and Porter's Five Forces Analysis. View Full Report: https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Othe-4G201/cloud-access-security-broker-casb-software-market ABOUT US: Valuates offers in-depth market insights into various industries. Our extensive report repository is constantly updated to meet your changing industry analysis needs. Our team of market analysts can help you select the best report covering your industry. We understand your niche region-specific requirements and that's why we offer customization of reports. With our customization in place, you can request for any particular information from a report that meets your market analysis needs. Valuates is curating premium Market Research Reports from the leading publishers around the globe. We will help you map your information needs to our report repository of Market research reports and guide you through your purchasing decision. We are based out of Silicon Valley of India (Bengaluru) and provide 24/6 online and offline support to all our customers and just a phone call away. CONTACT US:

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Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/valuatesreports/ View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cloud-access-security-brokers-casb-market-is-projected-to-grow-from-usd-8941-1-million-to-usd-36910-million-by-2026-with-a-cagr-of-22-2--valuates-reports-301021523.html SOURCE Valuates Reports

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GetSwift Limited (ASX: GSW) ('GetSwift' or the 'Company'), a leading provider of SaaS logistics technology, is pleased to announce that it has entered into a put option agreement ("Agreement") with LDA Capital LLC ("LDA Capital"), a United States based private alternative investment group, which has agreed to provide the Company with up to US$45 million ("Commitment Amount") in committed equity capital over the next 36 months. The Company will use this capital (as required) to continue to fuel growth and to hedge against developing global circumstances such as the Coronavirus.

The capital will be accessed by the Company by exercising put options under the Agreement at the Company's election with an aggregate subscription amount of up to US$45 million which allows the Company to draw down funds during the 36-month term of the Agreement by issuing ordinary shares of the Company for subscription to LDA Capital. Any issue of shares by GetSwift is subject to required regulatory and shareholder approvals.

The Company will control the timing and maximum amount of the draw down under this facility and has the right, not the obligation, to draw down up to US$45 million. The Company may issue call notices to LDA Capital with each call notice being a put option on LDA Capital dependent upon the satisfaction of certain conditions precedent, including the requirement that a shareholder(s) enters into a share lending deed with LDA Capital for an equivalent number of shares to that the subject of each call notice. The number of shares subject to a call notice is limited to a maximum of 10 times the average daily number of the Company's shares traded on the ASX during the 15 trading day period before its issue.

The issue price of the shares will be the higher of the average VWAP of shares in the 30 trading period after exercise of the put option and the minimum price notified to LDA Capital by the Company upon exercise of the put option (which can't be less than the VWAP of a share on the Trading Day immediately prior to the date of exercise of the put option).

In addition, the Company has agreed to issue up to 3,959,550 unlisted options to LDA Capital proportional to the amount subscribed by LDA Capital under the Agreement. At the time of issue of shares to LDA Capital pursuant to a call notice, the Company will also issue that number of options equal to the proportion of the total options that the amount subscribed bears to the Commitment Amount. So, for example, if under the first drawing LDA Capital subscribed for the equivalent of US$2 million of GetSwift shares, it would be entitled to be issued with 175,980 options (being 2/45 3,959,550). The unlisted options will have an exercise price equal to 125% of the issue price of the shares subscribed and have a 3 year exercise period.

The Company has agreed to pay a commitment fee of 2% of the Commitment Amount (US$900,000) which is payable as to US$300,000 6 months after the date of the Agreement with the balance payable after the closing price of a GetSwift share on any trading day is equal to or greater than AU$0.75. The Company has also agreed to pay financing fees customary for facilities of this nature in respect of amounts drawn down under the Agreement.

The Company's Board has chosen the method of fundraising provided by the Agreement as it believes it provides flexibility to enable exploitation of the opportunities to develop the business, despite the prevailing stock market conditions. The Company will control the actual amount and the timing of any investment under the Agreement over a period of thirty six (36) months, whilst having the opportunity to receive regular cash injections if considered appropriate and in the interests of the Company and its Shareholders. This should allow the Company to deploy cash as requirements and opportunities occur, rather than fully diluting existing Shareholders immediately for an amount of cash that the Company may not need.

"The Company is pleased to be partnering with LDA Capital and is thankful for the confidence sophisticated investment funds have in both the company's product, commercial viability, executive team and its position in the market. Since inception we have held strongly onto our belief of the direction we as a company are heading in despite the challenges we have faced. The Company intends with these funds to continue its growth, return on shareholder value, as well as ensure that in fluid conditions it can seek a leading position in the last mile sector," GetSwift's Chief Executive Officer Bane Hunter said.

From LDA Capital's Managing Director, Anthony Romano, "GetSwift boasts a best-in-class logistics and workforce management technology, a high calibre management team, and impressive revenue growth over the last 3 years. LDA is delighted to get involved at this critical juncture and we fully support Bane, Joel, and the rest of the GetSwift team as they continue to organically grow their core business units and opportunistically explore value accretive M&A".

About GetSwift Limited

Technology to Optimise Global Delivery Logistics

GetSwift is a worldwide leader in delivery management automation. From enterprise to hyper-local, businesses across dozens of industries around the globe depend on our SaaS platform to bring visibility, accountability, efficiency and savings to their supply chain and "Last Mile" operations. GetSwift is headquartered in New York City and is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX:GSW). For further background, please visit GetSwift.co.

GetSwift is an emerging growth company and is subject to a variety of risks. The Company is not yet profitable, and there can be no assurance that it will achieve profitability. The Company's business and a variety of investment considerations are discussed in more detail in the Company's filings with the Australia Securities Exchange (ASX). Investors are encouraged to review the more complete information contained in such filings.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200310006012/en/

Contacts:

Media enquiries:

John Jannarone:

jjannarone@getswift.co



Investor enquiries:

investors@getswift.co



Company Secretary:

Julian Rockett:

julian.rockett@boardroomlimited.com.au

+61 2 8016 284
Joe Biden took command of the Democratic presidential race in decisive fashion on Tuesday, marshaling a powerful multiracial coalition in the South and Midwest that swept aside Senator Bernie Sanders and completed Bidens rapid transformation from a sometimes-fumbling underdog into his partys likely presidential nominee

Joe Biden took command of the Democratic presidential race in decisive fashion on Tuesday, marshaling a powerful multiracial coalition in the South and Midwest that swept aside Senator Bernie Sanders and completed Bidens rapid transformation from a sometimes-fumbling underdog into his partys likely presidential nominee.

Replicating the combination of voters that delivered him broad victories a week ago on Super Tuesday, Biden won Michigan, Missouri and Mississippi with overwhelming support from African-Americans and with large margins among suburban and rural white voters.

Sanders was more evenly matched with Biden in the West, where Idaho and Washington were too close to call. But there was little doubt by the end of the night that Sanders had lost his recent status as the progressive frontrunner in a race defined for months by feuding and factionalism on the moderate wing of the Democratic Party.

By besting Sanders for a second consecutive week, Biden demonstrated that his successes on Super Tuesday reflected more than fleeting good fortune, and that many Democratic voters had rallied behind his candidacy in a lasting enough way to erase his embarrassing setbacks last month in Iowa and New Hampshire.

Addressing supporters in Philadelphia, in a tone that was more sober than celebratory, Biden said voters had put them a step closer to restoring decency, dignity and honour to the White House and moved to unify the party with an appeal to supporters of Sanders. We share a common goal, Biden said, and together well defeat Donald Trump.

In Tuesdays primaries, Biden assembled a strong electoral coalition that combined his partys most loyal constituencies  including African-Americans, women and union members  with a new wave of moderate white voters who have aligned themselves with the Democrats as refugees from Trumps Republican Party.

Even in his moment of triumph, however, Biden made little headway with the youngest and most liberal primary voters who remained steadfastly behind Sanders even as his national prospects have dimmed. Biden appeared mindful of his deficit with these voters, using his election-night remarks to acknowledge the tireless energy of Sanders voters.

Sanders did not address supporters on Tuesday night, leaving an unusual void in the space his thunderous persona has typically occupied on election nights.

On a night of disappointments, Sanders suffered the most grievous blow in Michigan, the most closely watched contest and the biggest delegate prize of the night. After absorbing a series of unexpected losses last week, Sanders had raced to revive his candidacy in Michigan, a state that four years ago helped power his insurgent challenge to Hillary Clinton.

But even after holding several events across Michigan and mounting some of his most pointed attacks against Biden, most of all for his record on trade, Sanders was routed.

The contest in Michigan held great symbolic significance for both candidates, each of whom has presented himself as uniquely capable of reclaiming the Midwest for Democrats in 2020. Biden has long boasted of his bond with working-class voters there, while Sanders has enjoyed a lasting political glow from his upset victory over Hillary Clinton in the Michigan primary four years ago. His inability to replicate that feat against a more popular opponent, Biden, further undercuts his argument that only a candidate who trumpets far-reaching change can energise voters there.

The Michigan and Missouri results were especially ominous for Sanders because they suggested his strength among rural Midwestern voters in 2016 largely owed to their opposition to Clinton. Against Biden, Sanders was routed across the countryside of both states and saw working-class white voters, a pillar of his campaign four years ago, shift markedly away from him.

More important on Tuesday was the scope of Bidens victories: With 365 delegates up for grabs, the former vice-president was poised to build what could become an insurmountable advantage. If he wins with similarly large margins next week in delegate-rich Florida, where Sanders trails badly in polls, he may make it all but impossible for the senator to catch up.

Bidens victories came against a backdrop of unexpected instability in the economy and widespread fear about the coronavirus as a growing threat to public health  forces that may have further bolstered the former vice-presidents message of steady leadership against Sanders promises of social transformation. The market-rattling outbreak, along with the White Houses uncertain response, has both underscored Trumps political vulnerability and also added to the mood of urgency among Democrats bent on defeating him.

The spread of the coronavirus across the United States also raised the specter that political activities could soon be curtailed or restructured for reasons of public health. Just hours before the polls closed, both candidates canceled planned rallies in Ohio, citing concerns related to the virus. And in his subdued remarks at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, Biden said there was a climate of fear and danger that demanded presidential leadership.

Sanders now faces the unenviable task of mapping a path forward in a race that has exposed the apparent limits of his campaign tactics and political message. While he retains a strong base of support among young and very liberal voters, and has expanded his popularity with many Latinos, he has struggled to make headway with the most important constituencies that resisted his campaign four years ago and has lost ground with some groups that backed him as the only alternative to Clinton.

In Michigan, Missouri and Mississippi, Biden won black voters by colossal margins, including by more than 70 points in Mississippi, where African-Americans made up nearly two-thirds of the primary electorate, according to exit polls. But Biden also won white voters by double digits in both states, and carried white voters without college degrees  a friendly constituency for Sanders in 2016  by a narrower margin.

In a sign that Sanders may struggle to compete with Biden across the Midwest, the exit polls from Missouri showed that Biden carried union households by a 25-point margin over Sanders. That advantage suggests that Sanders populist message and hard-edge criticism of Bidens record on trade had failed to dent the former vice presidents popularity with a key constituency that made up about a quarter of the Missouri electorate.

Mark Brewer, a former chairman of the Michigan Democratic Party, said Sanders had confronted circumstances this time that made the state a tougher battlefield for him. Brewer, who was a supporter of Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, said voters appeared to have made a straightforward assessment of the two candidates electability and that at least for tonight, in Michigan, Biden won that argument.

Its difficult to compare tonight to four years ago: There is an incumbent president, who Democrats are just focussed on replacing, and that was not the case four years ago, Brewer said. Sanders was the underdog four years ago, and frankly Hillary Clinton took the state for granted and did not campaign here vigorously, and so forth. Its really apples and oranges.

Perhaps nothing better illustrated the direction of this primary, though, than the surge in voter turnout. A centerpiece of Sanders campaign has been his promise to win by inspiring a wave of new voters in the primary and general election.

But for the second consecutive week it was Biden who was the beneficiary of a jump in turnout from the 2016 race, often in the sort of suburban jurisdictions that powered the Democrats big gains in the midterm elections. In Oakland County, Michigan, the Detroit suburb where Representative Haley Stevens picked up a Republican-held seat in 2018, Biden was winning by 20 points and turnout was on track to be about twice what it was four years ago.

The next few rounds of primaries are focused on big, diverse states where Biden is seen as having a solid advantage, including Florida and Georgia. And a number of states where Sanders won caucuses four years ago have since switched to hold primary elections, which tend to be less dominated by ideological activists, leaving Sanders without an obvious place to make a comeback.

The contests Tuesday included four states that Sanders carried against Clinton in 2016  Michigan, Idaho, North Dakota and Washington.

But there has been no indication that many Democrats have been having second thoughts about embracing Biden, to whom the partys voters turned abruptly last week as a safe option after a chaotic and confusing primary season. With the race effectively down to just Biden and Sanders, many Democratic leaders have clambered aboard the former vice-presidents campaign.

After Biden carried South Carolina on 29 February, rivals like former Mayor Pete Buttigieg of South Bend, Indiana, and Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota quickly dropped out of the race and endorsed him. Once the Super Tuesday results were known, Michael Bloomberg, the former mayor of New York City, did the same.

By contrast, Sanders has not managed to create a united front even on the left: Warren, a fellow progressive, has declined to issue an endorsement since leaving the race last week.

Biden, 77, and Sanders, 78, have both faced questions about their ages in recent days, as the race has narrowed to two men who would turn 80 within the space of a first presidential term  and as fears of a viral epidemic have rippled through the campaign trail. And supporters of Sanders have been sharply critical of Biden for his halting public manner and comparatively brief remarks at campaign events, with some suggesting that the former vice-president lacked the physical vigour required to win and hold the presidency.

Sanders himself has not gone that far, though in a Fox News forum Monday he criticised Biden for speaking for only a few minutes at one of his campaign rallies over the weekend.

A day later, Sanders used a Fox News forum to deliver a critique of Bidens record but emphasised he had no interest in making personal attacks on Joe.

The two men are slated to meet on a debate stage in Phoenix this weekend, before the Arizona primary Tuesday, in what would be their first one-on-one encounter in the race. Sanders could face pressure on Sunday to inflict real damage on Biden, but doing so could prompt a backlash if by then he is seen as a kind of nuisance challenger with no obvious path to victory.

Many Democrats are eager to turn to the task of challenging Trump directly: Polls show that both Biden and Sanders will be competitive against the president and will probably start the General Election with something of an advantage. By a wide margin, however, Democratic voters say they view Biden as having the best chance of winning in November.

Alexander Burns and Jonathan Martin c.2020 The New York Times Company
NCP chief Sharad Pawar has called a meeting of all his legislators on Wednesday evening. He is likely to address them about the biennial elections for seven Rajya Sabha seats to be held on March 26, said NCP leaders.

We have decided to contest for two Rajya Sabha seats. Pawar saheb and Fauzia Khan [former NCP minister] will be partys candidates for the polls. Both are filing their nomination papers on Wednesday. In the evening, Pawar saheb has called a meeting of all the legislators where they are likely to be addressed about partys strategy for the elections, said a senior NCP leader.

The meeting assumes significance considering the political crisis in Madhya Pradesh following the resignation of 22 MLAs from Congress. There are also speculations that similar Operation Lotus can be adopted by BJP in Maharashtra. However, NCP functionaries have denied any connection between the developments. The legislators meeting was scheduled for Wednesday a week ago and Madhya Pradeshs political crisis occurred today [Tuesday], said an NCP minister. Meanwhile, the state Congress leaders said the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government is stable. The public works department minister Ashok Chavan said, I dont see any threat to MVA government. The situation in state is different than in Madhya Pradesh. State Congress chief Balasaheb Thorat said that there is proper coordination within the alliance and any attempt of BJP to topple the government will be foiled.

Also read: How Jyotiraditya Scindia ran out of patience and time with Congress

Also read: Scindia quits: Will Congress loss be BJPs gain?
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March 11 , 2020 - A set of updated, evidence-based guidelines defining safe levels of exposure to high-frequency electromagnetic fields (EMF) has been published in Health Physics, official journal of the Health Physics Society. The journal is published in the Lippincott portfolio by Wolters Kluwer.

The report by an expert Project Group of the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) seeks "to establish guidelines for limiting exposure to EMFs that will provide a high level of protection for all people against substantiated adverse health effects from exposures to both short- and long-term, continuous and discontinuous radiofrequency EMFs." After a public consultation period, the guidelines were approved by ICNIRP earlier this year.

Report Outlines Evidence-Based Recommendations for Safe Exposure to EMFs

Electromagnetic fields in the high-frequency or radiofrequency range - 100 kilohertz (kHz) to 300 gigahertz (GHz) - are widely used in technologies including communications (such as cell phones and Wi-Fi networks) and home appliances (microwave ovens). They are also used in medical devices, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners, as well as radiofrequency ablation equipment used in medical and surgical treatments.

Replacing previous ICNIRP documents, the new guidelines make recommendations for safe exposure to EMF fields in the high-frequency range. Exposure limits are based on independently verified reports "of sufficient scientific quality and consistent with current scientific understanding." For each substantiated effect identified, the "adverse effect threshold" - the lowest exposure level known to cause the health effect - was identified.

Tissue heating is the main potential harmful effect of high-frequency EMF exposure. Electromagnetic fields can penetrate the body, causing vibration of charged or polar molecules thus leading to kinetic energy and heat. The new guidelines seek to avoid any possible harmful effects by setting limits below the threshold at which any EMF-induced adverse effect can occur. The adverse effects with the lowest thresholds are increased deep body temperature, and excessive local heating. Separate exposure limits are recommended for the whole body, as well as for the head and torso region, and the limbs.

The guidelines include a set of "basic restrictions" on EMF exposure at differing frequencies and times, based on the thresholds known to cause harmful effects. To further protect the general public, the basic restrictions are reduced by factors ranging from 10 to 50. The guidelines also include a set of more easily-assessed "reference levels," calculated to ensure that threshold levels for high-frequency EMF exposure are never exceeded.

The document also includes guidance for "contact currents" which can potentially cause harm when a person touches a conducting object within an electric or magnetic field. It also addresses guidance related to mitigating the risk of harmful exposure to EMF in occupational settings - emphasizing the need for an appropriate workplace health and safety program.

The revised guidelines come at a time of public reports of concerning but generally unsubstantiated harmful health effects of high-frequency EMF exposure - below the exposure thresholds that could cause body or tissue heating effects. As stated in an ICNIRP public information page, "Acute and long-term effects of HF exposure below the thermal threshold have been studied extensively without showing any conclusive evidence of adverse health effects."

###

The report acknowledges gaps in the currently available research evidence concerning substantiated heat-induced health effects of EMF exposure. Periodic reviews are planned to ensure that the guidelines reflect the latest scientific knowledge.

Click here to read "Guidelines for Limiting Exposure to Electromagnetic Fields (100 kHz to 300 GHz)." DOI: 10.1097/HP.0000000000001210

About Health Physics

Health Physics, first published in 1958, provides the latest research to a wide variety of radiation safety professionals including health physicists, nuclear chemists, medical physicists, and radiation safety officers with interests in nuclear and radiation science. The Journal allows professionals in these and other disciplines in science and engineering to stay on the cutting edge of scientific and technological advances in the field of radiation safety. The Journal publishes original papers, technical notes, articles on advances in practical applications, editorials, and correspondence. Journal articles report on the latest findings in theoretical, practical, and applied disciplines of epidemiology and radiation effects, radiation biology and radiation science, and radiation ecology, to name just a few.

About the Health Physics Society

The Health Physics Society (HPS), formed in 1956, is a scientific organization of professionals who specialize in radiation safety. Its mission is to support its members in the practice of their profession and to promote excellence in the science and practice of radiation safety. Today its members represent all scientific and technical areas related to radiation safety, including academia, government, medicine, research and development, analytical services, consulting, and industry in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The Society is chartered in the United States as an independent nonprofit scientific organization and, as such, is not affiliated with any government or industrial organization or private entity.

About Wolters Kluwer

Wolters Kluwer (WKL) is a global leader in professional information, software solutions, and services for the clinicians, nurses, accountants, lawyers, and tax, finance, audit, risk, compliance, and regulatory sectors. We help our customers make critical decisions every day by providing expert solutions that combine deep domain knowledge with advanced technology and services.

Wolters Kluwer reported 2018 annual revenues of 4.3 billion. The group serves customers in over 180 countries, maintains operations in over 40 countries, and employs approximately 18,600 people worldwide. The company is headquartered in Alphen aan den Rijn, the Netherlands.

Wolters Kluwer provides trusted clinical technology and evidence-based solutions that engage clinicians, patients, researchers and students with advanced clinical decision support, learning and research and clinical intelligence. For more information about our solutions, visit http://healthclarity.wolterskluwer.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter @WKHealth.

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Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) won the North Dakota Democratic caucuses, with 100 percent of results in early Wednesday, but former Vice President Joe Biden won most states in the latest string of primaries.

Sanders earned 7,682 votes in the North Dakota caucuses, beating Biden by nearly 2,000 votes.

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii), 38, the only other contender left in the field, won just 89 votes, or 0.6 percent.

Biden won all the other states where the races have been called.

Bidens commanding win in Michigan earned him 71 of the 125 delegates available. Biden won 81 percent of the vote in Mississippi, with 98 percent of precincts reporting, getting him another 29 delegates. Biden won just over 60 percent of the vote in Missouri. He won 40 delegates, versus 23 for Sanders.

The race was close in Idaho but Biden won with 52,679 votes, or 48.9 percent. Biden earned 11 delegates; Sanders got nine.

The race in Washington state was too close to call. With 67 percent of precincts reporting as of Wednesday morning, Sanders had a slight lead335,498 votes to Bidens 333,414.

Both candidates stayed away from the state, where one of the largest coronavirus outbreaks in the nation has occurred. Sanders and Biden also canceled scheduled rallies in Ohio over concerns that large gatherings could facilitate the spread of the virus.

Washington typically votes in primaries in May, but last year the state legislature moved the primaries to March. The state allows voting by mail, a contributing factor to the slow vote counting relative to other states.

Eighty-nine delegates are up for grabs in Washington.

As of 10:07 a.m. ET Wednesday, Biden had 846 delegates to Sanderss 684. Gabbard had two.

Biden, appearing in Philadelphia on Tuesday, told supporters that although theres a way to go, looks like we are going to have another good night.

Biden said that he wanted support from those who support Sanders, thanking the senator and his supporters for their tireless energy and their passion.

We share a common goal. And together, well defeat Donald Trump, he said.

Sanders did not speak publicly but his campaign said he would stay in the race until at least the next debate, which is slated for March 15 in Phoenix, Arizona.

I, for one, am extremely excited about this debate all the moderates are panicking about. The delegate count difference is only about 150 points out of 4,051 total. America finally gets to see Biden defend his ideas, or lack there of, on Sunday, Briahna Joy Gray, Sanderss national press secretary, said in a statement on Twitter.

Some in the party have called on Sanders to exit the race, including Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.), who endorsed Biden for president just before the primary there.

It is time for us for shut this primary down, it is time for us to cancel the rest of these debates because you dont do anything but get yourself in trouble if you continue in this contest when its obvious the numbers wont shake out for you, Clyburn said during an interview with NPR before results came in. He did say his call depended on Sanders not winning any states.

Sanderss supporters have dismissed the calls.

The tougher the primary is for the Democratic nominee, the better, more battle-tested the nominee will be, David Sirota said on Twitter. Establishment demands for silence in the name of unityor for the end of a contested the primarydont serve the cause of defeating Trump. They weaken that cause.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

From The Epoch Times
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 7

Trend:

First of all, Azerbaijani investors should invest in Azerbaijan to make things better here, said Azerbaijans President Ilham Aliyev during a meeting with the staff of the Aghstafa Agro-Industrial Complex.

President Aliyev pointed out that the state treats entrepreneurs with care and support.

The state provided financial support for the creation of this agricultural estate, but investors have invested much more. However, by providing support, the state also provides political support. From now on, the development of entrepreneurship will become the main condition for the development of the country because the key infrastructure projects implemented by the state are close to completion. Therefore, improving the business environment, developing entrepreneurship and creating jobs  all these are integral parts of our state policy. Investors, for their part, set an example for other entrepreneurs by creating such wonderful enterprises, as if saying to them  invest, said the head of state.

President Aliyev noted that first of all, Azerbaijani investors should invest in Azerbaijan to make things better here.

Our population is increasing. In the future, we must provide jobs for the population, which increases by 100,000 people annually. Therefore, economic development and investments should be ahead of demographic development. This is the main goal. Of course, those who have jobs should receive high salaries and their working conditions must be good. I have already said that there is an 8-hour working day and no-one should work more than that. At the same time, all employees must receive a formal salary, said the head of state.

President Ilham Aliyev stressed that shadow economy should not be allowed.

Unofficial employment must not be allowed. There are no and cant be such facts at enterprises such as yours because you have an international approach, and I want all Azerbaijani enterprises to work on the basis of such principles. I have already spoken about this several times, but I want to tell employees again. Especially if we consider that the healthcare system in this region will be moving to compulsory health insurance in April, people should work officially to receive free medical services. Therefore, one of the methods to combat unofficial employment will be compulsory health insurance. Of course, if someone works unofficially, they will lose their pension in the future. In other words, the creation and development of such wonderful enterprises makes me very happy. In particular, I see a consistent policy on the example of this agricultural estate. Because sometimes an enterprise is built  I even participated in the opening of some of them  but after a while it is shut down. It means that the work process wasnt built correctly. Your enterprise is not only operational. In the eight years I have been coming here, I see development and renewal. I see that people are looked after well here. These conditions have been created with great taste. There is a market and a cafe. Everything is done for the people, so that the people of Azerbaijan live better and more comfortably, said President Aliyev.

The head of state said that the Azerbaijani state has sufficient will and ability to ensure this, and the work done in Aghstafa district is a clear confirmation of this.

I congratulate you once again and wish you continued success. I enquired and was informed that the third stage is the last one. But you have other plans too, and I hope that during the next meeting here you will report on new projects. Thank you! added the president.
After being stranded for days off the coast of San Francisco, the Grand Princess cruise ship finally docked at the Port of Oakland on Monday. Twenty-one people aboard the ship, including 19 crew members, are confirmed to to have contracted COVID-19. The process of disembarking the thousands of passengers is underway, yet as of Tuesday, hundreds are still awaiting their first steps on land, after what has been a frustrating, sometimes scary ordeal.

LouAnn and David Wood, a couple in their 60s who are still stuck in cabin 232 on the ship, told us about their experience.

David, who is 6-foot-5 and weighs 300 pounds, says he can almost touch both sides of the room when he reaches out his arms. I can eat about anything, but these meals have been something you wouldnt feed to your dog. Weve had some form of a beef-based stew mixture three nights in a row, says David.

They let us out for 30 minutes on Sunday, and that was the only time weve been outside since Thursday, says LouAnn of Lowville, N.Y. They were given and instructed to wear masks and stand six feet from anyone other than cabin mates.

People waiting on us bringing us food and towels are busting their asses, says David, They are trying to do the best they can with what they have.

Each day, a package is delivered with crosswords and Sudoku puzzles. We are encouraged to keep our minds busy and exercise, but its kind of hard to exercise in such a small room. So you kind of laugh it off, admits LouAnn. Besides watching TV, the Woods have kept themselves busy reading, puzzling, surfing limited Internet, and talking to friends on the phone.

The Woods are not locked in their room, but the hallways are patrolled by personnel wearing shirts labeled Security. LouAnn says, The one time we went outside our rooms, we were told we had to stay inside.

No medical personnel

These two retired nurses find the ships sanitation practices confusing. Before the virus outbreak, cruise staff stood by to make sure passengers washed their hands before meal times. They also didnt want passengers to touch the ketchup, remarks David, who was director of acute care services in his hospital for 15 years. I watched as the waiter would take my plate out of my bare hands with his gloves, put the ketchup on my plate, then turn to the next guy in line and take his plate from his bare hands. Theres obviously contamination from my plate to his, says David.

Weve all been isolated for five days, but I watch on TV as passengers are shuttled off the boat. They are all huddled back together again on the gangway. Its hogwash, he says of the ships health measures.

No medical personnel have come through to check on passengers physically or mentally, report the couple. Over the loud speaker, an announcement has directed anyone with respiratory illness to call a specific number. There could be people dead in these rooms for all I know, says David.

On Friday, they were told to fill out a form to get prescriptions that they may be low on, since most passengers only carried enough medicine until Saturday. David has received only two of the three he ordered. To address mental health, the Woods say theyve only received a piece of paper from Princess Cruises encouraging them to observe daily mental hygiene, like following a routine, taking a shower, and exercising.

Communication with passengers has been inconsistent and limited. Weve found out more information from people calling us or Fox News. We heard from TV that Trump didnt want any of us off the ship. Id like to see him in this room with no sunlight, says LouAnn.

Disembarkment

Upon leaving their port in Hawaii on Thursday after lunch, they were told that the coronavirus was on board the ship and that all passengers had to return to their state rooms. They wouldnt be going to their next port in Mexico and would be headed straight to California. Once they arrived in San Francisco, they were told the sick would be let off first, then the Californians, then the rest of the Americans. The Canadians were reportedly let off the boat yesterday.

The English people across the hall get to leave today. We saw their luggage with green bag tags when we opened our door to get our delivered meal set outside on the floor, says LouAnn.

While interviewing the couple over the phone, an announcement over the intercom was made: Those passengers holding red one luggage tags please make your way to the mid-ship gangway, deck five, mid-ship stairs and elevators. Once again, just a reminder, you should have your masks on, you should have your hand luggage with you, your cruise cards, and make sure youve emptied your safe. Once again, we wish you safe travels and thank you for sailing to Hawaii.

Jody LaPar, the cousin of LouAnn and David Wood, is also concerned about her mom and dad, who are in the cabin next door to the Woods. She says she encouraged her parents to cancel their trip before boarding the ship, but they were determined to go.

LaPar mostly believes that news hasn't accurately reflected her familys situation, partly due to the fact that the majority of the population is not using social media to spread the word.

David Wood estimates that 95% of the passengers are over 65 years of age. I have no idea how to Tweet or Facebook. If we were Jodys age, all this (news) would be all over everywhere, says David.

This afternoons announcement said they should be receiving their tags for their luggage and the hope is that everyone will be disembarked tomorrow.

---

Amanda McCracken is a freelance journalist who writes about health, sports, and travel. You can follow her on Instagram @amandajmccracken or her website www.amandajmccracken.com

MORE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE:
Wednesday, March 11th, 2020 (1:59 pm) - Score 6,606

The Governments Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak MP, has today issued his first 2020 budget and reiterated their plan to invest 5bn of public money to help spread gigabit-capable broadband ISP networks across the UK by the end of 2025, as well as to push it into new build homes.

Due to Brexit and leadership changes, this is also the first budget since October 2018. But we should add that this budget replaces the usual spring statement, so well get another Budget later this year. One advantage of having a General Election just before the budget is that there were never going to be any huge surprises and indeed all of the major funding or policy plans for broadband or mobile connectivity have already been unveiled.

NOTE: At present a little over 14% of the UK (c.4.3 million premises) can access a 1000Mbps+ capable fixed broadband network ( At present a little over 14% of the UK (c.4.3 million premises) can access a 1000Mbps+ capable fixed broadband network ( here ).

In short, this means investing 5bn (focused on helping those in the final 20% of hardest to reach premises) to ensure that gigabit-capable broadband (via full fibre, cable / DOCSIS, 5G etc.) is able to reach every UK home by the end of 2025 (here). Admittedly the focus was previously centred on full fibre until that was watered-down (here), although its still going to be a very difficult target to hit.

The governments existing superfast broadband programme has shifted its focus to delivering gigabit-capable broadband and has already delivered full fibre to over 370,000 premises, said the Budget 2020 document. We assume this is a reference to premises that have benefited from existing funding through various on-going Building Digital UK (BDUK) contracts and voucher schemes etc.

On top of that theyve also promised to extend geographic 4G mobile cover to 95% of the UK by the end of 2025 (this may help the 5G roll-out too), which forms part of a 1bn industry-led Shared Rural Network (SRN) deal that is being supported by 500m from the Government (here). But we should point out that, at the 2017 election, the Government originally promised to achieve this by the end of 2022. Oops.

The aforementioned effort is being supported by various regulatory and legislative changes, most of which were set out in mid-2018 as part of the Future Telecoms Infrastructure Review (FTIR) and Ofcoms related consultations (example).

Despite this we always keep an eye on the budget to see if it offers any new information or pledges. In particular we were keen to see if there would be a funding boost for the 67m Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme (GBVS), which is nearly out of money, or an extension to the current 5 year relief on business rates for new fibre (this period is far too short and Scotland has already opted for 10 years). Sadly neither were mentioned.

Budget Info. for Broadband and Mobile

In the end the Government largely reiterated the aforementioned proposals and offered, although it did reveal the next seven areas that have successfully bid for funding from the third wave of the Local Full Fibre Networks (LFFN) Challenge Fund.

Next 7 LFFN Bid Winners (Wave 3)

North of Tyne (12 million)

South Wales (12 million)

Tay Cities (6.7 million)

Pembrokeshire (4 million)

Plymouth (3 million)

Essex and Hertfordshire (2.1 million)

East Riding of Yorkshire (1 million)

We also got a brief update on the somewhat delayed plan to try and ensure that all new build homes are gigabit-broadband ready when constructed. The Budget announces that DCMS will shortly publish a consultation response which will confirm the governments intention to legislate to ensure that new build homes are built with gigabit-capable broadband, said the document without clarifying what shortly meant.

The lack of any extra funding for the GBVS voucher scheme could, at this point, become an issue because its expected to take until the end of 2021 before all of the necessary framework and legislative policy is in place for the new 5bn gigabit programme (here), which is almost certain to be helmed by the Building Digital UK team.

The BDUK team will of course be keen to keep the roll-out pace going during this period, particularly in rural areas, in order to avoid operators redirecting resources back to their urban builds. Such an outcome would risk damaging the current outside-in build strategy, which is intended to tackle rural areas at the same time as urban ones. Luckily, unlike the GBVS, the 200m Rural Gigabit (RGC) project has plenty of funding left (here).

Meanwhile commercial operators often need to plan their builds around a 15-20 year payback period, which is likely to hit problems unless the existing business rates relief on new fibre is extended. We find it surprising that the UK Government has yet to acknowledge this obstacle and deal with. Failing to do so will be causing some long-term uncertainty (in their models) for network builders.

Otherwise perhaps one of the biggest challenges for that new pot of 5bn will be in ensuring a fair distribution of the funding, not only between devolved regions (Scotland, Wales etc.) but also network operators. The original Phase 1 BDUK programme (2010-2015) was criticised for favouring BT too much but back then there werent many alternatives.

By comparison todays market is chocked full of new alternative networks (AltNets) for FTTP and those wont want to see their future roll-out plans being scuppered by rivals using public investment. Balancing all of this could be difficult, but admittedly with the watered-down 2025 target theres still a big question mark over how long it will now take before full fibre networks reach every home, if ever (the original target was 2033).

Finally, its worth noting that the Government had originally been expected to publish their related National Infrastructure Strategy (NIS) today, which was set to underpin their future ambitions. Unfortunately there has been no announcement about this and recent reports claim that it has suffered another delay until later in the spring.

Before we go, here is a brief recap of what the UK Government has already pledged for broadband infrastructure since 2010 (note: between 2010 and 2015 it was a coalition Government of the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats).

Summary of Previous UK Broadband Developments * The 1.8bn Broadband Delivery UK programme is working to put fixed line superfast broadband (24Mbps+) networks within reach of around 97-98% of premises by the end of 2020 (currently more than 96%). Openreach (BT) hold most of the contracts but a few AltNets are also involved in the later stages (Gigaclear, Call Flow, Airband etc.). Recent contracts target a slightly faster speed of 30Mbps+. * 200m has been put toward a Rural Gigabit Connectivity (RGC) programme until March 2021, which aims to encourage an outside-in approach to building new ultrafast broadband ISP networks by focusing on helping to connect rural areas via vouchers and other schemes (here). Some 100 rural schools are being upgraded to full fibre through this and local homes can get gigabit vouchers. * The Government is working to make it easier for gigabit-capable broadband ISPs and mobile network operators to access buildings  usually big apartment blocks (Multi-Dwelling Units)  where rogue landlords fail to respond (here). As part of this they were also working to mandate Gigabit capable broadband connections for new build homes (here), but were still awaiting an outcome on that. * The legally-binding and industry-funded Universal Service Obligation (USO) for broadband, which will offer a 10Mbps minimum download speed to all  upon request  from 20th March 2020 (1Mbps upload). Most of this is expected to be delivered via EE / BTs 4G network, with only a little from fibre (FTTC/P). * 400m has been provided via the Digital Infrastructure Investment Fund (here), which must be matched by private finance, to help invest in new full fibre (FTTP/B) networks until late 2021 (focused on helping to boost altnet providers). Its hoped that this could foster FTTH/P capable connections for an extra 2 million premises by the end of 2020. * 294m was set aside to support the Local Full Fibre Networks (LFFN) scheme (details, here, here and here), which is funding a programme of local projects to test ways to accelerate market delivery of new full fibre broadband networks (e.g. connection vouchers for businesses, aggregated demand schemes, opening access to existing public sector infrastructure). * 100% business rates relief for new full-fibre infrastructure, backdated for a 5 year period from 1st April 2017 (in 2019 Scotland independently implemented a 10 year period of relief). * 200m to support a programme of 5G mobile / wireless technology trials and spectrum (here). * Various local voucher / subsidy schemes are still on-going to help those areas that suffer slow broadband speeds. * Ofcoms regulatory changes are attempting to boost competition by making Openreach more independent from BT and giving rivals greater access to the operators national network of fibre optic cables and cable ducts/poles. Not to mention improving the overall quality of service (here). * The Government and Ofcom are also supporting various other broadband related measures, such as automatic compensation from ISPs for service faults, improved / cheaper access to build new infrastructure on private land and more enhancements for consumer switching (adding support for FTTP etc.) and phone number portability (making it easier to adopt VoIP etc.). * 75m has been assigned to help improve broadband connectivity in hard to reach areas via the RDPEs Rural Broadband Infrastructure Scheme (here). * Part of the new 3.6bn Towns Fund is due to be used to help improved broadband connectivity cover selected towns (here). Exactly how much of this will go toward broadband remains unclear. Each town/city looks set to receive up to 25 million and most of that will probably be eaten up by improvements to local transport infrastructure.

UPDATE 2:01pm

The first comments are coming in..

Greg Mesch, CEO of CityFibre, said: We are in full support of the Prime Ministers commitment to level-up the country with a full fibre network by 2025. Britain is a service-based economy that runs off the internet, and the internet works best on full fibre. This technology is creating a digital infrastructure that will enable more 5G network services, smart cities, and will establish a platform the country needs to thrive in the future. However, in order to fully achieve this, we need competition to ensure the full fibre rollout in cities and towns across the country continues at speed and no place is left behind.

Evan Wienburg, co-founder and CEO of Truespeed, said: Were pleased to see the government stick to its election pledge and confirm the 5bn in funding for gigabit-capable broadband rollout to harder to reach areas in todays budget, supported by a further 510m to boost mobile coverage in these regions. Todays announcement is a welcome recognition of just how essential future-proofed broadband infrastructure is, and will be, to ensuring the prosperity of communities nationwide, and the continued growth of UK plc. With the latest statistics showing that just 14% of UK homes and businesses have access to full fibre infrastructure, theres no time to waste in allocating this new pot of funding, especially if were to meet the goal of nationwide full fibre accessibility by 2025. The new investment is set to benefit 5 million homes and businesses in harder to reach areas which is laudable, but will still leave many postcodes unaccounted for. The government must take note of the numerous providers up and down the country who are already doing the legwork in equipping these harder to reach cities and communities with gigabit-capable, future-proofed infrastructure. It is crucial the government avoids wasting taxpayers money on overbuilding projects in communities that are already catered for. Instead, we urge the government and Ofcom to work closely with smaller providers who have delivered large areas of full fibre gigabit connectivity, to ensure government intervention continues to encourage private investment across the nation. By ensuring a fair and level playing field for providers, and encouraging healthy competition within the market, we can ensure that everyone  no matter their postcode  is included in the levelling up of our digital economy.

Tristia Harrison, CEO of TalkTalk, said: Investment in levelling up and Britains full fibre future is vital, so todays Budget measures are hugely welcome, particularly getting to harder to reach areas that have been left behind for too long. But for Government to reach its full fibre rollout target, three things are vital: the consumer  so prices are fair; competition  so the 5bn rural subsidy doesnt end in one companys hands; co-operation within industry to deliver for the whole country. As the only major telco to have relocated our whole business to the North of England  we congratulate Government on todays investment and say to other businesses, come on up.

UPDATE 5:34pm

Weve been positively spammed with comments from ISPs this afternoon and now you can enjoy the same.. yay. Feel free to skip these if you too suffer from the condition of comment fatigue, although some of them do go beyond the all too generic reactions and actually offer a few useful opinions.

Broadly speaking almost everybody welcomes the 5bn investment but most are saddened to see that business rates on new fibre have been ignored, again. The current relief is due to end on 31st March 2022 (except in Scotland where they have introduced a 10 year rates relief on fibre!) and a failure to extend this would be very damaging to future plans.

Giles Phelps, Founder and CSO of Spectrum Internet, said: We welcome the confirmation of the 5Bn extra funding for the final 20% and we look forward to working with BDUK in helping to deliver gigabit-capable services throughout South Wales. In particular, we welcome the news of 12M being awarded specifically to South Wales as part of the Wave three LFFN bids. This latest round of funding should compliment our initiative to build full-fibre to 150,000 properties throughout South Wales over the next four to five years.

ISPA Chair, Andrew Glover, said: The 5bn promised for gigabit capable broadband within the Chancellors Budget was a welcome first step, but increased funding alone will not allow the industry to get the job done. Broadband rollout is largely privately funded and in order to provide industry with a chance to meet the Governments 2025 ambition, todays announcements needs to be backed up with further reform on wayleaves, new build legislation, action on street works and further investment into digital and engineering skills. The broadband industry is ready to get the job done, but needs the full support from Government to do so.

Lloyd Felton, CEO of County Broadband, said: We welcome the news that the governments plan to bring gigabit capable broadband to every home and business in Britain by 2025 has taken another step forward today. County Broadband is one of many Independent Network Providers already committed to building and delivering fibre-to-the-property (FTTP) networks across the East of England, backed by a combined private investment commitment that is already in excess of 1.5 billion. The Chancellors announcement that the sector is to receive a 5bn boost to support upgrading rural digital connectivity, together with the news that more private investment in the sector is planned this year, means Independent Networks will have a central part to play in enabling tens of thousands of premises to receive future-ready, full-fibre connections. Upgrading the UKs underlying outdated digital infrastructure is essential to unlock the countrys economic growth potential and will enable households, businesses and communities to move out of the digital slow lane and compete with the rest of the world post-Brexit.

MD & CEO of Hyperoptic, Dana Tobak CBE, said: Todays Budget marked an important step forward in delivering full fibre coverage across the whole of the UK. However, as the Government has consistently recognised, private investors will deliver the significant majority of full fibre rollout in parallel to this investment of public funds. It is disappointing that Government missed this opportunity to support commercial rollout by extending the Full Fibre Business Rates exemption. The clock is ticking on the ambition to deliver full fibre coverage to all in less than five years. With the public element of this policy now secured, Government has a narrow window to secure the right conditions for privately funded rollout  the next Budget will be the final one before the current full fibre business rates exemption expires.

MD of Grain, Rich Robinson, said: Its really positive to see todays budget announcement, in which 5 billion has been allocated to roll out super-fast broadband across rural areas of the UK. At Grain, we are focused on bringing full-fibre broadband to all regions of the UK. Currently, over 80 per cent of our sites are outside of the South East, supporting the Governments levelling up agenda. Were looking to expand further in the future, providing both housebuilders and homeowners with hyperfast, full-fibre, gigabit broadband.

An Openreach Spokesperson said: It is great to see it (5bn) confirmed for rural communities, but the process is just as important as the funding. Given the Governments really ambitious target, the procurement process needs to be simple, fast, and dovetail with commercial investment. The whole industry will also be disappointed to see a lack of movement on business rates. The rates on building full fibre create an additional 1bn liability for us over 20 years, which is equivalent to the cost of building to three million homes.

Daren Baythorpe, CEO of ITS, said: We welcome the budgets commitment to connectivity, giving it the recognition that it is as important as rail and road in terms of our countrys economic future. Achieving 100% full fibre by 2025 was always a tall order, so the shift to gigabit allows for other solutions such as fixed wireless to transition to full fibre while giving the consumer a capable, fit for purpose connection in the meantime. However, it shouldnt be an excuse to not build full fibre where we can. With the race to gigabit well and truly on, we know that the final 20 percent is going to be the most challenging, though a number of altnets including ourselves are working hard to tackle this with great success. The outside in approach goes a long way to providing support; and while rural is a big focus, we still shouldnt underestimate the overlooked areas in plain sight in urban areas. Universal coverage is going to take a lot of collaboration  in our sector and across sectors. For example, stronger links between the telecoms and property sectors to build connectivity into planning from the earliest opportunity  not as an afterthought  just as any other utility or infrastructure would be. Legislative change is also very supportive of barrier busting to help build where its needed and at pace. On a final note, the success of the voucher schemes (GBVS and RGC) have played a huge role in stimulating demand, helping the funding get to the right places. For these reasons, we urge the government to continue with them and review the business rates relief on full fibre too.

Right, thats enough comments for today, no more are needed  .
Hybrid war is ongoing and gaining momentum, Feygin says.

Having failed to achieve its objectives by military means, Russia relies on hybrid aggression and is trying to "occupy Ukraine" from within, says Russian human rights activist and lawyer Mark Feigin.

He has warned that pro-Moscow organizations "are everywhere" in Ukraine, Obozrevatel wrote.

"Military means have not yielded results in the full sense. The war [in Donbas] has been going on for almost six years already. Of course, at some point in 2014, Moscow deliberately suspended aggression, but they haven't achieved a military solution. During the past several years, hybrid aggression manifested in [Russia] occupying social, political, and media structures in Ukraine," said Feygin.

He added that this hybrid war was ongoing and gaining momentum.

Read alsoRussia "hired network of Britons" for intelligence operations  media

"This is an ongoing process. And I must admit, not without success. Until recently, the infamous [Vladimir Putin's recently dismissed aide Vladislav] Surkov was responsible for this, who openly stated in his interview that friendly relations with Ukraine can only be built through coercion," Feygin recalled.

He explains that Surkov's words testify to the "diverse shapes" of Russian aggression. "This is not only direct military aggression. But also the occupation of power, introduction of its agents in various government offices, manipulating public opinion through the media... They've been doing this. It's both TV channels, and other media, public structures, and political parties ... You will find pro-Moscow organizations everywhere," the expert stated.
COLLINSVILE  The Illinois State Police District 11 has announced it is planning to move from its current location at 1100 Eastport Plaza, Collinsville, to a new location, yet to be determined, in St. Clair County.

Illinois State Police Trooper Josh Korando said the Capitol Development Bill approved in Illinois last year provided $55 million for a much-needed, new combined facility for Patrol District 11, Investigative Zone 6 and southern Illinois SWAT capabilities.
Prosecutors $14 mln claim against Moscow Region district ex-head set for March 31

 RAPSI

18:05 11/03/2020

MOSCOW, March 11 (RAPSI)  A court in Odintsovo, a town in the Moscow Region, will begin hearing a lawsuit filed by the Prosecutor Generals Office seeking to forfeit assets of ex-head of the Moscow Regions Serpukhov District Alexander Shestun worth over 1 billion rubles (about $14 million) to the state on March 31, according to information published on the courts official website.

Along with Shestun there are other defendants in the claim, 25 individuals and 20 legal entities.

Shestun stands charged with fraud, money laundering, illegal business and receiving a large-scale bribe, the statement reads.

According to investigators, acting as a head of the Moscow Regions Serpukhov District, from 2003 to 2018, Shestun created 43 commercial organizations through his trustees and ran them. Profits he used for purchasing municipal land plots at bargain prices.

Moreover, between 2008 and 2011, Shestun along with his business partners Boris Krivodubsky and Sergey Samsonov illegally acquired title to four land plots with an area of 10 hectares through affiliated firms and therefore caused damage worth over 64.5 million rubles to the budget. In total, the accomplices sold illegally acquired plots for 160 million rubles. Initially, they bought the land for 628, 000 rubles, case papers read.

The investigation obtained evidence of possession of assets worth about 3.2 billion rubles by Shestun, his business partners, their relatives and other individuals and legal entities.

Last April, the Krasnogorsk City Court in the Moscow Region forfeited 10-billion-ruble ($150 million) worth assets owned by Shestun to the state. The court therefore granted a motion lodged by the Prosecutor Generals Office to seize more than 670 real estate items in the Moscow Regions Serpukhov district and 22 cars. This property status does not correspond to his income, prosecutors stated.
Panaji, March 11 : Goa's Non Resident Indian affairs Commissioner Narendra Sawaikar on Wednesday said that he would write to the Union Ministry for External Affairs and the Indian Embassy in the US to enquire about the well-being of five Goan sailors who are onboard a cruise liner 'Grand Princess', which has been quarantined off the coast of California since March 9.

"Goa NRI Commission has taken note of the news and will write to MEA & Embassy for safety of Goan sailors on Grand Princess at California," Sawaikar tweeted.

The Goa NRI Commissioner acts as a liaison between the state government and the vast expat population of Goans.

Nearly 3,500 people are onboard the cruise liner, out of which 21 have tested positive for coronavirus.

Meanwhile, a Goan sailor with a history of travelling to Italy and Finland has been quarantined in a Goa hospital since his return to the state two days ago, Health Minister Vishwajit Rane said on Wednesday.

"He had come in contact with a coronavirus patient mid-February while he was working on a ship," Rane said in a statement issued to the media on Wednesday.

The Health Minister said that the 27-year-old sailor, who hails from Vasco town in South Goa, had de-boarded the ship and travelled to Finland and Italy before returning to Goa on Monday.

His whereabouts were tracked by Health Ministry officials subsequently, and he was admitted to the isolation ward of the Goa Medical College near Panaji.
The crisis rocking the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, over the abrupt postponement of its 51st convocation ceremony may not be over yet, as lecturers have declared the institutions pro-chancellor, Wale Babalakin, a persona non grata anywhere near the campus.

Rising from its meeting Wednesday, the lecturers, under the umbrella of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), filed out in their hundreds to stage a peaceful protest to the council chamber and around the campus.

Led by the unions chairman, Dele Ashiru, the lecturers, who were armed with leaves and placards, said they had passed a vote of no confidence in Mr Babalakin.

Some of the lecturers who spoke during the protest, accused the council chairman of being selfish in his dealings, saying he travelled to the UK for a birthday ceremony, at a time the university was meant to hold its convocation ceremony.

ASUU said it would not allow the pro-chancellor to treat the university as an extension of his law firm.

But Mr Babalakin has denied that he travelled to UK for any ceremony. He said he is currently on medical trip to Germany.

Earlier, the National Universities Commission (NUC), which regulates Nigerian universities, wrote to the university management to stop the convocation ceremony which was billed to hold between March 9 and 13.

Dr Wale Babalakin

NUCs order, which was contained in a memo addressed to the universitys vice-chancellor, Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, and signed on behalf of the executive secretary, AbdulRasheed Abubakar, by the director in his office, Chris Maiyaki, was a response to a directive from the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu.

The minister, who was reportedly away to Germany on medical vacation at the time, had acted on a copy of the letter addressed to the vice-chancellor by Mr Babalakin, querying the managements audacity to approve the activities lined up to mark the ceremony without his Councils stamp of authority.

Mr Babalakin in his series of letters to the university management, said the council only approved the budget of N70 million presented for the ceremony but that the list of the three beneficiaries of honourary awards and the series of programmes lined up for the ceremony were not approved by the council.

ASUU kicks

In its first reaction to the development, ASUU condemned the postponement, describing it as unfair, insensitive and overbearing.

A statement issued by the union on Friday and signed by its chairman, Dele Ashiru, noted that the union viewed the development as wicked, inhuman, egoistic, retrogressive, unconscionable and satanic.

He said: These latest antics of the pro-chancellor have further confirmed our age-long fears about the destructive machinations of the pro-chancellor in the University of Lagos, in particular, and the entire Nigerian university system in general.

Otherwise, how else can one explain the role of the pro-chancellor in the calamitous postponement of a convocation ceremony without any consideration for the psychological trauma this may cause the graduands, their parents, relatives, the image and reputation of the university? This is apart from the huge human, material and financial resources that have been committed to planning the ceremony.

Mr Ashiru also condemned the action of the education minister and the NUC, saying apart from lacking the power to take action, failure to conduct proper investigation on the matter is an indictment on the Minister.

Babalakins reaction

Reacting to the development, Mr Babalakin said it is not within the power of the lecturers to declare him persona non grata. He said he was not appointed by the union and cannot be removed by the union.

The pro-chancellor, who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES on the phone, said he was not in Nigeria but in Germany for a medical check-up.

He said he did not book his trip until it was clear that the convocation has been postponed.

He said; These people get a lot of things wrong. Why are they directing their protest at me? I did not postpone the convocation. The NUC did.

And you said they claimed I travelled to the UK for a birthday? This is ridiculous. Im in Germany for medical reason and I did not book the trip until the NUC ordered the suspension.

The council chairman said he had not done anything outside the laws governing the university, and that whoever wants to pass comment on the matter should first go through the law establishing the institution and the roles of the governing council.
Ascension Health announced this morning that it has canceled Catholic Mass on Sunday at St. Vincents Hospital and St. Vincents East, due to concerns about the coronavirus, COVID-19.

The Catholic hospital hosted regular Catholic Mass on Sunday at 12:30 p.m. at St. Vincents East, in Roebuck near Trussville, and at 2 p.m. in the main hospital on Birminghams Southside just off University Boulevard at U.S. 31.

Alabama does not have any reported or confirmed cases of COVID-19 yet.

The Catholic Church in Alabama has been encouraging parishioners to take precautionary measures at Mass, such as not drinking from a shared chalice, not shaking hands during the sign of peace, and not taking communion directly on the tongue from the hand of the minister.
India will send a team of doctors to Italy on Thursday to collect swab samples of stranded Indian students for testing before they are brought back here, health ministry officials said on Wednesday.

A team of four doctors -- two microbiologists and two public health specialists -- from the Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital and National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) will leave for Rome on Thursday night.

The officials said the Indian Embassy in Italy has contacted Indian students in the country and asked them to reach to a designated venue where their samples would be collected.

Over 300 Indian students are in Italy at present, according to an official.

The health ministry said the Government of India is undertaking measures to ensure safety and security of its citizens in Iran after it became clear that the country was facing a COVID-19 outbreak.

Indian nationals in Iran include pilgrims, students and fishermen, it said.

On March 7, 108 samples were received from Iran. These samples are being tested at the AIIMS laboratory.

Also, six scientists from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) have been stationed in Iran and they so far have collected swab samples of over 400 Indians stranded there, an official said.

Equipments and reagents have also been dispatched to enable them to setup a lab.

"The first batch of 58 evacuees from Iran arrived on March 10 with 25 men, 31 women and 2 children on board. All evacuees are asymptomatic at present," the ministry said.

So far, India has evacuated 948 passengers from COVID-19-affected countries. Out of these, 900 are Indian citizens and 48 belonging to countries like Maldives, Myanmar, Bangladesh, China, USA, Madagascar, Sri Lanka, Nepal, South Africa and Peru, it said.

The government on Wednesday asserted that it was focusing on bringing Indians stuck in Italy and Iran facing "extreme situation".

The number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus in India has risen to 60, with 10 fresh positive cases -- one each from Delhi and Rajasthan and eight from Kerala -- being reported since Tuesday's update, the ministry said on Wednesday.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
REDWOOD, California, March 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Anodot, the company pioneering the autonomous monitoring space, has launched a public service that monitors locally reported COVID-19 cases, and notifies users when a particular region's numbers change significantly. Those interested can subscribe to email alerts or follow #coronatracker on Anodot's Twitter account (@TeamAnodot).

Anomalous spike in cases detected in Toronto, Canada Despite similar number of COVID-19 cases, South Korea's mortality rate is consistently lower than Italy's

"During the past couple of days a number of our employees voiced concerns over the growth of the virus in their home cities around the world. We began using our own machine learning algorithms to track it, and quickly realized that lending the use of our technology to the global public is the minimum we can do to help during this very difficult time," said David Drai, CEO and Co-Founder, Anodot. "We will continue to look for other potential insights we can offer and hope the information will aid people's decisions, as so many of us are grappling with whether commuting to work, travelling or attending large events puts ourselves and our families at risk."

Anodot is running its algorithms based on publicly available data derived from The Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University.

(See image 1) The blue line indicates the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Toronto, Canada. That number surged abnormally, as marked by the yellow line, from fewer than five cases starting on February 24, 2020 to nearly 30 cases by March 9.

"It's crucial to monitor the rate of newly reported cases and not only the absolute number to better evaluate the situation," said Ira Cohen, Chief Data Scientist and Co-Founder, Anodot. The company's monitoring has already identified the following insights:

1. If the numbers from China are correct, they are well on the path to containment.

2. While Italy and South Korea have an overall similar number of confirmed cases, South Korea has managed to reduce the infection rate over the last week, while the rate in Italy is still increasing (see attached graphs). South Korea also has a much lower mortality rate (0.68%) vs. Italy (~5%), which may be due to having implemented widespread testing.

(See image 2) In the first graph, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in both Italy (blue line) and South Korea (green line), appear to undergo a surge around the same time period, Feb. 21-22, 2020, and with approximately the same number of cases thereafter. The second graph illustrates the total number of confirmed COVID-19 deaths for both countries, and how they both begin following the same trajectory until March 5, when South Korea experiences a sustained drop in fatalities. In the third graph, which depicts both countries' mortality rates, despite the total number of cases that both countries appeared to share at the start of the outbreak, South Korea's mortality rate has never risen above one percent, while Italy's has been between 2-5 percent.

About Anodot

Anodot's Business Monitoring platform uses machine learning to constantly analyze and correlate every business parameter, providing real-time anomaly alerts and forecasts. Fortune 500 companies, from digital business to telecom, trust Anodot's patented technology to reduce time to detection and resolution for revenue-critical issues by as much as 80 percent. Anodot is headquartered in Silicon Valley and Israel, with sales offices worldwide. To learn more, visit www.anodot.com and follow them on LinkedIn , Facebook and Twitter.

Media Contact:

Emma Mazza

[email protected]

+1-518-232-2232

SOURCE Anodot
New Delhi, March 11 : In the wake of coronavirus cases mounting in India, the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways on Wednesday advised states and Union Territories to take all steps for sanitisation of public transport vehicles and terminals.

The ministry issued an advisory that all necessary steps to be undertaken in the public transport vehicles to ensure sanitation of seats, handles and bars at all bus terminals. The ministry also suggested that the public transport should display public health messages in vehicles, bus terminals and bus stops. It also asked states and UTs to take expeditious action and mobilise all necessary support in this regard.

Underlining that the coronavirus (COVID-19) cases have now been confirmed in more than 90 countries, the advisory stated that Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has been coordinating the efforts of the central government in this regard and has also been working with state governments in order to mitigate the impact of the outbreak in India.

The Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways also stressed that a public health situation of this scale required a concerted and whole-of-government approach in order to prevent further importation of cases and to build up a comprehensive and robust response system.

It added, "It is required to step up efforts and fully mobilise all resources to support the efforts of the Health Ministry in preparedness, control and containment measures." At least 10 new cases were reported in India within 24 hours, taking the total number of cases to 60 on Wednesday.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Atkinson  yet again!

by | 11/03/2020

This is part of my post on 2 March, VAR the Truth:

'In 2011, Atkinson sends Rodwell off for a perfect tackle on Suarez. Not only is there no action taken against Suarez, the prick Atkinson has been allowed to referee 4 more derby games since which have been littered with dodgy decisions. You would think, after all the Clattenburg injustice, Poll injustice, or as far back as that other corrupt prick, Clive Thomas, the club would have something to say. With Moss, the villain of yesterday with the red-card trigger happy Manchester born Kavanagh, Atkinson and others knocking about the club should be doing everything they can to ensure we have an impartial ref for the Goodison derby. But no doubt they will say nothing. The FA have been taking the piss out of Everton for years and the club have allowed it.

And here we go again: Atkinson is announced as referee for the Goodison derby onf Monday. Out of all the refs the FA could select, and after the Man Utd fiasco, it's that biased twat yet again.

No conspiracy? ... My arse!

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WASHINGTON, March 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Last September, the National Toxicology Program (NTP) released a draft monograph concluding that "fluoride is presumed to be a cognitive neurodevelopmental hazard to humans." Before finalizing its monograph, NTP asked a committee of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine to review its conclusion and decide whether it is supported by the scientific evidence. In a new report, the Committee finds that NTP's monograph failed to provide adequate support for its conclusion.

The National Academies committee voiced "substantive concerns" with how NTP evaluated the human evidence in the draft of its Systematic Review of Fluoride Exposure and Neurodevelopmental and Cognitive Health Effects. The Committee wrote that NTP "needs to state clearly that the monograph is not designed to be informative regarding decisions about fluoride concentrations for water fluoridation."

The NTP draft monograph stated that its conclusion was based primarily on fluoride exposure levels that are roughly double the concentration used for community water fluoridation. Nonetheless, the NTP document raised concern among many public health leaders and dental professionals who worried that NTP's conclusion might create needless fear or confusion among the public.

"This report by the National Academies makes it clear that NTP's conclusion was not backed up by solid science. Tooth decay is the most common chronic disease among children, and agencies like this need to be careful and cautious before they arrive at weak conclusions that could potentially scare children and adults away from fluoride in water, toothpaste or other products," said Dr. Johnny Johnson, a pediatric dentist who is president of the American Fluoridation Society, a nonprofit 501(c) 4 organization.

The National Academies committee was not asked to adopt a position as to whether fluoride is safe or not. Instead, the Committee was given one task  evaluate NTP's draft monograph by assessing whether its conclusion accurately reflects the scientific literature. The Committee's report stated that NTP would need to conduct and present more analysis before it could reach and support a conclusion about fluoride's effect on neurodevelopment.

Throughout its report, the National Academies committee raises concerns with numerous areas of the NTP monograph. The Committee's concerns include the following:

The studies included in NTP's systematic review "did not undergo rigorous statistical review" and called this "problematic" because some of these studies had issues or errors that "compromised their internal validity."

NTP appeared to have applied its "risk of bias" criteria inconsistently.

NTP failed to address the misclassification of fluoride exposure "thoroughly and consistently," raising the question of whether NTP's evaluations "were sufficient and supported its conclusion."

Researchers should consider potential confounding as they design and analyze a study to ensure that an association is not attributed by error to the wrong variable. With this in mind, the National Academies report identified "many cases in which NTP's evaluation of confounding was insufficient, difficult to understand, or applied inconsistently across studies."

NTP classified some studies as having a low risk of bias even though "the measure of the neurodevelopmental and cognitive outcome was seriously flawed."

NTP's protocol did not disclose the inclusion and exclusion criteria it used for selecting the studies it considered in drafting its monograph. Clarity in this area is "critical for transparency of the process and reproducibility of the findings."

One of the more disturbing concerns raised by the National Academies committee was NTP's decision to use a group called the Fluoride Action Network (FAN) as a source to identify relevant literature. "The process by which FAN identified and selected studies is unclear," the Committee writes, "and that uncertainty raises the question of whether the process could have led to a biased selection of studies. Such a concern raises the need for a formal evaluation of any potential bias that might have been introduced into the literature-search process."

The NTP decision to establish this relationship with FAN is astonishing considering the following facts:

FAN is not a "research" organization. It uses the web and social media to disseminate messages encouraging local communities to oppose community water fluoridation. Additionally, FAN is one of the leading plaintiffs in a federal lawsuit seeking to ban a leading type of fluoride additive that is used for CWF.

FAN has demonstrated a lack of scientific rigor through its interactions with federal health agencies. In 2003, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officials evaluated a set of research articles that FAN had submitted to support its objections to the Sulfuryl Fluoride Pesticide Tolerance Rule. In its evaluation, EPA found that most of the FAN articles "did not require a detailed review" because they suffered from one or more weaknesses, including articles with no toxicity data, articles lacking a clear explanation of methodologies, and papers "that did not contain any data on fluoride."

FAN has a history of making false or inaccurate statements related to fluoride or fluoridation. In fact, the Pew Center on the States identified multiple occasions in which FAN's content included deceptive language.

The weeks that followed the release of the NTP draft monograph demonstrated how poorly NTP misjudged FAN's integrity and intentions. Within days of the monograph's release, FAN and other fluoridation opponents used social media and web-based messages in an effort to scare the public about fluoride. This inflammatory headline on FAN's website home page is only one example. Even worse, the photo that accompanied the FAN home-page story wrongly implied that the NTP monograph was a finished document that had been commercially printed for distribution.

No one can credibly argue that FAN's actions were innocent. NTP's monograph included a statement on its page headers that cautioned readers from interpreting the document as an approved policy or final document. This disclaimer advised readers that the "DRAFT Monograph"  using all caps for the word 'draft'  was being distributed "solely for the purpose of pre-dissemination peer review and does not represent and should not be construed to represent any NTP determination or policy." FAN ignored this disclaimer.

For more information about the American Fluoridation Society, visit https://americanfluoridationsociety.org/.

Contact: Dr. Johnny Johnson at 352-658-0441

or [email protected]

SOURCE American Fluoridation Society

Related Links

https://americanfluoridationsociety.org






Haiti - Security : Magistrates attacked by individuals claiming to be from the PNH





In a note, the Superior Council of the Judicial Power (CSPJ) condemns the attacks on the sidelines of the violent demonstration by police offciers https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30233-haiti-news-zapping.html which were victims Monday March 9, 5 magistrates by individuals wearing hoods and armed, some in uniform, posing as agents of the National Police of Haiti (PNH).



The Magistrates attacked are : Durin Junior Duret Judge at the Court of Appeal of Port-au-Prince and Advisor to the Superior Council of the Judicial Power (CSPJ) as representative of the courts of appeal of Haiti; Judge Bernard Saint-Vil, Dean and Judge at the Court of First Instance (TPI) of Port-au-Prince; Jean-Etienne Mercier Examining magistrate at the TPI of Port-au-Prince; Jean Bellot Donisant, Deputy Judge at the Delmas Peace Court and David Leblanc, Deputy Judge at the Tabarre Peace Court.



In addition in a press release, Eddy Jackson Alexis, the Secretary of State for Communication condemns with the utmost rigor the attack perpetrated on Monday 9 against judge Durin Duret Junior "who was in his vehicle when armed individuals posing as National Police officers opened fire on the magistrate's vehicle."



Secretary of State Alexis expresses "his deepest sympathies and the solidarity of the entire government team to judge Durin Junior Duret, the members of ANAMAH and all the magistrates of the country."



Alexis underlines "this assassination attempt attacks the police institution whose motto is to protect and serve" and denounces the choice by some of violence, in particular armed demonstrations to assert their demands.



The National Association of Haitian Magistrates (ANAMAH) which had already called the Magistrates to be careful https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30126-haiti-news-zapping.html and the Professional Association of Magistrates (APM ) also denounced these attacks against magistrates.



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30233-haiti-news-zapping.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30126-haiti-news-zapping.html



HL/ HaitiLibre


















A woman has captured the amazing moment she walked into her house to find a koala making herself at home on the couch.

South Australian woman Samara Young was shocked when she discovered the large koala mounting the head rest of her couch.

'Legit came home to a koala on my couch,' she captioned the video.

South Australian woman Samara Young returned home to find a koala had made her way into the house and was getting comfortable on the couch (pictured)

It's unclear how the female koala got into the home but she had clearly started to get comfortable.

'Hi,' she says to her new female companion.

As Mrs Young begins to circle around the koala the video cuts out.

After being posted to Stroyful's YouTube the video was viewed more than 400 times.

'I was shocked when I saw the koala, and thought someone must have been playing a joke on me,' Mrs Young said.

'I just sat on the couch near the koala as I didnt want to scare her or stress her out by moving around the house too much.'

Mrs Young then contacted Adelaide Koala Rescue to have them come and collect her.

'Our AKR Rescue Crew member had to convince the intruder to go back outside to a tree,' an Adelaide Koala Rescue spokeswoman said.

'After a bit of a discussion with her it seems there was a misunderstanding.

'Apparently this koala didnt pay attention at Koala School and mistakenly thought shes meant to be an ash-coloured couch bear.'

Some YouTube users were concerned about the animal's welfare.

'It may have needed help. What happened to the koala?,' one user wrote.

'What happened with this gorgeous koala?' another added.

While another user saw the humour in the situation.

'He (sic) didn't mistake it. He (sic) was trying to adapt. How insensitive of you,' the user joked.
TipRanks

One thing is certain already: the market environment for 2022 will not be the same as that in 2021. This may or may not be good for investors, per se, but like every shift in market conditions, it will present opportunities for those prepared to grasp them. Some factors are just reruns. COVID is rearing its ugly head again, threatening us with lockdowns and shutdowns. Thats running against the grain of a resurgent economy, an economy that is trying to gain more traction  but its facing headwi
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 10, 2020) - GoviEx Uranium Inc. (TSXV: GXU) (OTCQB: GVXXF) ("GoviEx" or "Company"), further to the forbearance agreement among the Company, Linkwood Holdings Pte Ltd. ("Linkwood") and Medea Capital Partners Limited ("Medea") dated July 15, 2019, as amended (the "Forbearance Agreement"), announces today that due to market turmoil exacerbated by the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, Linkwood is experiencing significant difficulty liquidating assets to meet the agreed repayment schedule under the Forbearance Agreement and consequently made only a portion of the scheduled payment due for the month of February 2020. The Company is working with Linkwood to review the re-payment schedule taking into consideration the market forces at work, which are beyond the control of Linkwood and the Company.

Pursuant to the Forbearance Agreement, GoviEx agreed to forbear collection procedures to allow Linkwood time to liquidate assets and repay the Loan in full based on ongoing monthly payments, together with default interest at a rate of 11.5%, until July 30, 2020.

Linkwood has made and continues to make payments to GoviEx as they liquidate assets that are being used, in addition to the existing collateral under the Loan, to permit continued repayment of the Loan to GoviEx. The team at Linkwood remains committed to ensuring GoviEx is repaid, in an achievable, structured and timely manner.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

About GoviEx Uranium

GoviEx is a mineral resource company focused on the exploration and development of uranium properties in Africa. GoviEx's principal objective is to become a significant uranium producer through the continued exploration and development of its flagship mine-permitted Madaouela Project in Niger, its mine-permitted Mutanga Project in Zambia, and its other uranium properties elsewhere in Africa.

Story continues

Information Contacts

Govind Friedland, Executive Chairman

Daniel Major, Chief Executive Officer

+1-604-681-5529

info@goviex.com

www.goviex.com

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All information and statements other than statements of current or historical facts contained in this news release are forward-looking information.

Forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties concerning the specific factors disclosed here and elsewhere in GoviEx's periodic filings with Canadian securities regulators. When used in this news release, words such as "will", "could", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "intend", "may", "potential", "should," and similar expressions, are forward- looking statements. Information provided in this document is necessarily summarized and may not contain all available material information.

Forward-looking statements include those that Linkwood will repay the Loan and default interest at a rate of 11.5%, in an achievable, structured and timely manner by July 30, 2020.

Although the Company believes the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurances that its expectations will be achieved. Such assumptions, which may prove incorrect, include the following: (i) Linkwood will continue to meet the Loan repayment obligations as agreed; (ii) that the value of the Linkwood assets to be liquidated for repayment of the Loan will be sufficient to repay the Loan and related interest in full; and (iii) the price of uranium will remain sufficiently high and the costs of advancing the Company's mining projects will remain sufficiently low so as to permit GoviEx to implement its business plans in a profitable manner.

Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations include (i) the inability or unwillingness of Linkwood to meet the Loan repayment obligations; (ii) the value of the Linkwood assets to be liquidated for repayment of the Loan will be insufficient to repay the Loan and related interest in full; (iii) Company's failure to make effective use of the proceeds of the Loan repayment; (iv) the failure of the Company's projects, for technical, logistical, labour-relations, or other reasons; (v) a decrease in the price of uranium below what is necessary to sustain the Company's operations; (vi) an increase in the Company's operating costs above what is necessary to sustain its operations; (vii) accidents, labour disputes, or the materialization of similar risks; (x) a deterioration in capital market conditions that prevents the Company from raising the funds it requires on a timely basis; (x) a deterioration in capital market conditions that prevents Linkwood from realizing sufficient funds from the liquidation of its assets to meet its Loan repayment obligations; and (xi) generally, the Company's inability to develop and implement a successful business plan for any reason.

In addition, the factors described or referred to in the section entitled "Financial Risks and Management Objectives" in the MD&A for the year ended December 31, 2018, of GoviEx, which is available on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com, should be reviewed in conjunction with the information found in this news release.

Although GoviEx has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results, performance, or achievements to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements, there can be other factors that cause results, performance, or achievements not to be as anticipated, estimated, or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate or that management's expectations or estimates of future developments, circumstances, or results will materialize. As a result of these risks and uncertainties, no assurance can be given that any events anticipated by the forward-looking information in this news release will transpire or occur, or, if any of them do so, what benefits that GoviEx will derive therefrom. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this news release are made as of the date of this news release, and GoviEx disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise such information, except as required by applicable law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/53324
Economic activities are resuming in the epicenter of the epidemic. Yesterday only 31 cases of infection. Airports in Hubei reopen; Beijing, Tianjin and Shanghai remain on high alert. Nissan resumes production; 78 million migrant workers return to the factories, 60% of the total. Still problems for small businesses and the unemployed.

Beijing (AsiaNews / Agencies) - The authorities of Hubei, the epicenter of the lung epidemic, announce the gradual resumption of economic activities in the province. In late January, the area, in particular the city of Wuhan, was quarantined to contain the spread of the virus.

The situation in the country is improving. Yesterday, the authorities registered 31 new cases of infection, bringing the total to 80,955. The death toll reached 3,162; 61,000 were hospitalized and only 285 were suspected (on February 8 there were 29,000).

At present, the provinces of Hubei, Henan, Hebei and Jiangxi, such as the cities of Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, remain on high alert. The production restriction will be eased in the counties of Hubei least affected by Covid-19. Yesterday, President Xi Jinping's visit to Wuhan is seen as a green light for the resumption of economic operations.

In some parts of the province, the restrictions were softened as early as March 10th. The Hubei Airports Group, which manages the four local airports, has said that the airports will reopen in the coming days. Nissan, the big Japanese automaker, will reopen the Xiangyang plant this week, albeit partially.

In terms of GDP, Hubei is among the top 10 provinces in China. In 2019, the local economy grew by 7.8% (more than the national average, standing at 6.1%), reaching 4000 billion yuan (507 billion euro).

According to government estimates, 78 million migrant workers (usually residing in rural areas, but employed in urban and industrial areas) have returned to factories, about 60% of the total. In the manufacturing centers of Zhejiang and Guangdong it reaches 70% peaks. Around 2.6 million workers benefited from the government's free transportation program for their travel. Those who work in small industries, and who are without contracts, cannot access these facilities.
Kerala was in a state of partial shutdown on Wednesday as the number of new coronavirus cases in the state rose to 14 and the Left Front government urged the Centre to revoke a circular issued by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) stipulating that those who return from countries where the disease has spread obtain a certificate to prove they are virus-free.

It is highly unethical and uncivilized to ask certificates from people stranded in Italy and South Korea. How can you ask your people not to come to the country in such a trying situation? Some of these countries are overloaded with patients and it is difficult to obtain such papers,chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said in the state assembly.

The Opposition Congress supported his stance. The assembly is likely to pass a resolution on Thursday urging the Centre to withdraw the DGCA circular immediately.

Some of those stranded in Milan and Rome have posted videos narrating their plight. They said they had been forced to disembark from flights to India because the Indian government did not give aircraft permission to fly them back.

We are without food for last two days as all outlets at the airport remain closed. Among stranded are pregnant women and small babies, one of them said. They said they were ready for quarantine at any place and expressed concern that they had been denied entry into their own country.

In Delhi, minister of state for external affairs V Muraleedharan criticised the Kerala government, saying it was playing politics in trying times. The entire country is in a battle mode. How can we take suspected coronavirus patients and others on a single flight? Chances of transmission are high. We will send a team of doctors and segregate and fly them back, he said, adding that Indian embassy officials were in touch with the stranded passengers.

State health officials said that among 14 positive cases in Kerala, the condition of two, the grandparents of an Italy-returned man , who dodged health officials at the airport, was serious. State health minister K K Shailaja said doctors were trying their best to save the lives of the 85-year-old grandmother and 90-plus grandfather.

From imported cases to local transmission, the state with the highest density of population in the country pressed the emergency button after six cases surfaced on Tuesday.

The fresh cases forced the state government to cancel all public events and close down educational institutions to contain the disease. Shailaja called for strict community surveillance, scaling up of contact tracing and tapping local bodies to stop the spread of the disease.

The latest to test positive were the parents of a three- year- old Italy-returned boy admitted in an isolation ward in Kochi.

As many as 2,000 people are under observation; out of these 300 have been admitted to various hospitals. The state is keeping fingers crossed as two dozen test results are expected by Thursday.

At least 42 people, who came from Italy, were quarantined in Kochi in the early hours of Wednesday. We are fighting back with all resources available. What we need is cooperation of people. Two years back we had contained another dangerous virus, nipah, effectively. We will overcome this challenge also, Shailaja said in the assembly.

The state had reported Indias first three cases of coronavirus in January this year. All three were cured.

Two years ago, the state experienced an outbreak of the nipah virus. Although it claimed 17 lives, the outbreak was localised and contained effectively.
TORONTO - Ontario reported five more cases of COVID-19 Wednesday, bringing the total to 42, as the government announced a $100-million contingency fund to deal with the global pandemic in this province, where it will likely continue spreading.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 11/3/2020 (671 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford shakes hands with Chief Cornelius, Wabasse Webequie First Nation, left, and Chief Bruce Achneepineskum, Marten Falls First Nation, centre, after signing a new deal in the ring of fire in Northern Ontario at the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada's annual convention in Toronto on Monday, March 2, 2020. The Ontario government says Premier Ford is in good health and not experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms after attending a conference where one attendant had the virus. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

TORONTO - Ontario reported five more cases of COVID-19 Wednesday, bringing the total to 42, as the government announced a $100-million contingency fund to deal with the global pandemic in this province, where it will likely continue spreading.

Health officials said a recent case of a Sudbury, Ont., man who was confirmed to have the novel coronavirus after attending a large mining convention in Toronto doesn't appear to be evidence of community spread, but that is likely a matter of if  not when.

"Unfortunately it probably is an inevitability," said Ontario's associate chief medical officer of health Dr. Barbara Yaffe. "Certainly the last 24 hours there's been an up-tick in numbers of cases and cases with different characteristics than before, which is concerning. We're very carefully monitoring it."

The man in his 50s from Sudbury attended the Prospectors and Developers Association in Canada convention on March 2 and 3 in Toronto, but it is not yet clear if he recently travelled outside the country or was in close contact with another confirmed case. He is an employee of the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines and its Sudbury office has been shut down, the government said.

Yaffe said it's likely the man acquired the virus at the convention, which was attended by more than 20,000 people from many different countries.

"Although the risk in general is low, it seems that's probably where he got it," she said. "We can't say exactly from whom, but to me it's linked to a particular activity in a particular site, so it's not a general community transmission."

Toronto Public Health is also conducting a detailed investigation of the man's activities while he was in Toronto.

Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ont., which had a "major presence" at the conference, is moving all of its classes online starting Thursday, the school announced.

Premier Doug Ford and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also attended the PDAC mining convention on March 2.

Ford's office said the premier is in good health and not experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms, and he has not been contacted through the process of contact-tracking for the infected man.

Trudeau said he has not been tested for the virus, but is following recommendations of the chief public health officer to keep himself and his family safe.

One of the other new cases reported Wednesday is in a woman in her 30s from Halton Region, who recently returned from the United States and works as a doctor at the Juravinski Cancer Centre in Hamilton. The hospital said she saw patients on March 9 before visiting the Juravinski Hospital emergency department, and had interacted with colleagues and staff. Those people are being contacted, the hospital said in a statement.

The other new cases are a man in his 30s who lives in Toronto and recently travelled to the U.S., a woman in her 30s in York Region who recently travelled to Egypt, a man in his 40s in Ottawa who recently travelled to Austria, and a woman in her 40s who lives in Toronto and recently travelled to the U.S. All of the new cases are in self-isolation.

Health Minister Christine Elliott said Ontario is in the "containment" stage at the moment, though at some point the province probably will have to deal with community spread.

"It is likely that we will move to the next stage, but we have a plan in place to deal with it, as we have a plan in place to deal with any scenario that presents itself," she said.

Ford announced that Ontario has set aside a $100-million contingency fund to deal with COVID-19, and Elliott said the money will likely go toward buying more equipment such as testing kits and personal protective gear, as well as hiring more health-care staff, if needed.

That is in addition to a $1-billion package the federal government announced to help the country's health-care system and economy cope with the novel coronavirus.

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.

The World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic Wednesday.

Ontario will have dedicated assessment centres set up within days and is looking at being able to diagnose people at home, as well as whether restrictions should be in place around large gatherings, Elliott said. It's also putting plans in place in case any hospitals have to be shut down because of coronavirus cases, she said.

Ford said he looks forward to discussing COVID-19 plans with the federal government and the country's other premiers at this week's first ministers' meeting.

Five of Ontario's cases have been resolved, meaning the patients have tested negative for the virus in two tests at least 24 hours apart.

Most people diagnosed with COVID-19 experience mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough, and the vast majority of those who contract the virus recover.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 11, 2020.
Uniteds New Refund Policy: One More Reason to Stay Home

UPDATE: A day after this story was published, United Airlines changed its refund policy for a third time in one week. Now, passengers can receive a refund if United cancels their flight and rebooks them more than six hours earlier or earlier.

The relatively small percentage of customers who are delayed by more than 2 hours, but less than 6 hours, are eligible to cancel and retain the value of their ticket for future use, and in the case of special circumstances can work with our customer contact center to find a resolution, a United spokeswoman said.

ORIGINAL STORY: Should you trust a business that changes its guidelines on refunds after you buy?

Its a question some frequent flyers and I asked over the weekend in the midst of the coronavirus crisis, after a source pointed me to a change United Airlines made on its website. The policy change covered when passengers could get a refund after the airline messed up their plans.

If you bought a ticket before Saturday, March 7  and thought to look at Uniteds website  you would have seen a policy that allowed you to receive a refund in most cases if the airline changed your flight by two hours or more, without your permission. On Saturday, the language changed, from two hours to 25, regardless of whether you bought your ticket before or after the website update.

A United spokeswoman said the airline had the right, since the two-hour rule never appeared in the contract of carriage, the multi-page legal document governing airfares that no one reads. But it still was a policy, clearly listed on Uniteds website. Under its old language, it protected people who had booked a flight on, say, Tuesday evening, only to learn they couldnt fly until Wednesday afternoon. Usually, advanced schedule changes are rare, but theyre becoming more common since United plans to cancel at least 20 percent of flights this spring as travelers avoid airplanes.

That doesnt seem fair, does it?

Story continues

I blogged and tweeted about the policy, and some frequent flyers complained about it online. So did Brett Snyder, who blogs as Cranky Flier. You may not know Brett, but he has an outsize following among airline executives. On Tuesday, Brett, a former airline employee who is normally sympathetic to the industry, gave United his Jackass award, a rare distinction bestowed only on the worst offenders.

United told me late Tuesday that it made another change to the website language. The 25-hour restriction is gone, replaced not by a new number, but by the most vague information you can imagine. Now youre most likely to get a refund, if the scheduled departure or arrival time significantly changes.

What does that mean?

It means the airline can make a case-by-case decision about whether youre due a refund. Maybe youll get one if United cancels your flight and delays you for 24 hours. But perhaps youll be out of luck if the airline cancels your nonstop, and puts you on a one-stop landing six hours later than the flight you bought.

Or maybe youll get a refund if you throw a tantrum but not if you ask nicely. Then again, a tantrum may not work so well, as agents have been told they need not worry about customer satisfaction scores when denying requests. A memo said the airline wants to ensure our frontline is not unfairly harmed in this unique situation.

Now, lets step back. Airlines are facing a crisis level they have not seen since after 9/11, period. They know they cant let money go out the door, so theyre doing everything they can to avoid refunds. Instead, theyre giving credits for future travel.

United President Scott Kirby is even more concerned than his competitors. As other airline executives tried to remain positive, on Tuesday he outlined a scenario in which the airline loses 70 percent of expected revenue in April and May, and the environment does not stabilize for 18 months. Hes even planning for a situation in which the CDC tells people not to fly.

My personal No. 1 objective and all of our No. 1 objectives, as were going through this, is to make sure we take whatever steps are required for United to survive, Kirby said at the J.P. Morgan Industrials Conference.

I get it. Kirby understands the industry is in trouble, and I commend him for doing what it takes to get through. If that means irritating some customers or employees, Im sure hes OK with it.

But lets not forget about trust. If airlines are going to make it, they need passengers to keep buying tickets. And changing the rules on passengers after they buy doesnt seem like the right strategy. (Interestingly, an American Airlines spokesman told me its schedule change policy is codified in the contract of carriage, so if the airline switched it, it could only do it for new bookings.)

To understand why trust is so important, think about what airlines now are asking of consumers. They know travelers dont want to commit to advanced plans, so most carriers are waiving change fees for new bookings. If you book this month and you want to cancel or change dates, many airlines wont charge you extra money.

How altruistic, right?

But what seems like a customer-friendly policy is more an act of desperation. Airlines can handle empty planes for a few weeks or even months, but beyond that, they need money coming in. They must persuade people to book future flights, for events three or six or nine months ahead, even though no one knows what will happen.

If you trust that your airline will take care of you, no matter what, you might book now. But what if theres no trust? Airlines are asking customers for no-interest loans on travel that may, or may not, take place. If airlines show theyre willing to change website copy at any time, without warning, why should passengers give it to them?

Maybe Uniteds passengers are better off waiting. If this pandemic is bad as expected, airfares will stay low for awhile. Whats the rush in buying?

Heres the policy that was in effect from Saturday through Tuesday.

How much does @united want to conserve cash? Before Saturday, after a schedule change of more than two hours, United happily would refund you. The new policy is 25 hours. Spokeswoman said: "We do everything we can to rebook customers in as timely a manner as possible." pic.twitter.com/BgEQ1PsyHA  Brian Sumers (@BrianSumers) March 7, 2020

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Bernie Sanders is remaining in the race - at least through Sunday's Democratic debate - he said Wednesday, noting that while he's behind in the race for delegates he's winning the battle for ideas and the support of young voters.

'On Sunday, I look very much forward to the debate in Arizona with my friend Joe Biden,' Sanders said, as he delivered a statement from Burlington, Vermont at 1 p.m.

The future of Sanders' campaign was in question after his bruising loss in Michigan Tuesday night. 'Last night, obviously, was not a good night for our campaign from a delegate point of view,' Sanders said.

While Mississippi, Idaho and Missouri also went into Joe Biden's column, Michigan was Sanders' last, best path to the Democratic nomination.

That didn't matter.

'We are strongly winning in two enormously important areas, which will determine the future of our country,' Sanders said Wednesday. 'Poll after poll including exit polls show that a strong majority of the American people support our progressive agenda.'

Beyond winning the ideological debate, Sanders said, 'We are winning the generational debate.'

Bernie Sanders announced Wednesday after a bruising set of primaries, including a pivotal loss in Michigan, that he was staying in the 2020 Democratic primary anyway and would debate frontrunner Joe Biden on Sunday in Phoenix, Arizona

Bernie Sanders, giving a statement in Burlington, Vermont, said while his campaign is losing the delegate race and the electability argument, he's winning the battle of ideas and is doing overwhelmingly well with young voters, which he said was enough of a reason to stay in

Jane Sanders (right) drives Bernie Sanders (left) home after he made a statement Wednesday in Burlington, Vermont on the status of his presidential campaign. Sanders said he'll remain in the race for now, but vowed to help beat President Trump

Bernie Sanders is photographed leaving the Hotel Vermont after delivering a campaign update to reporters on Wednesday afternoon. Sanders said he'll remain in the race and debate Joe Biden in Phoenix on Sunday

'While Joe Biden continues to do very well with older Americans, especially those people over 65, our campaign continues to win the vast majority of the votes of younger people - and I am talking about people not just in their 20s, but in their 30s and their 40s, the younger generations of this country continue, in very strong numbers, to support our campaign,' Sanders continued.

'Today I say to the Democratic establishment, in order to win in the future you need to win the voters who represent the future of our country and you must speak to the issues of concern to them,' Sanders added. 'You cannot simply be satisfied by winning the votes of people who are older.'

Sanders conceded that his campaign was also losing the debate over electability.

'I cannot tell you how many people our campaign has spoken to who has said, and I quote, I like what you're campaign stands for, I agree with what you're campaign stands for, but I'm going to vote for Joe Biden because I think Joe is the best candidate to defeat Donald Trump, end of quote. We have heard that statement all over this country,' Sanders said.

'Needless to say, I strongly disagree with that assertion, but that is what millions of Democrats and independents today believe,' the Vermont senator added.

Bernie Sanders spent 'Super Tuesday 2' campaigning in Michigan, which was his last, best hope to win the nomination. With an early call that the state had gone to Joe Biden, Sanders campaign found itself in trouble

Bernie Sanders pulled out all the stops to win Michigan - he even participated in a Fox News Town Hall Monday night - but Joe Biden was able to win the state along with Mississippi, Missouri and Idaho as part of the Super Tuesday 2 races this week

Bernie Sanders (right) walks with rapper Killer Mike (left) as he campaigns in South Carolina the day before the first-in-the-south primary. His loss and Joe Biden's win there turned the top two Democratic candidates' chances around

Bernie Sanders (left) holds hands with one of his most potent surrogates, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (right). The two held rallies all around the country together, including one in December on Venice Beach in Los Angeles. Sanders would go on to win California

Bernie Sanders has attracted thousands to his rallies and points to that attendance to argue that his campaign had more energy than the one being run by former Vice President Joe Biden, who hasn't gotten those kinds of numbers in the flesh

The democratic socialist then turned to Sunday's debate in Phoenix, Arizona.

On Tuesday CNN and the Democratic National Committee, who are hosting the debate, announced it would no longer have an audience, nor would press be able to watch it - and then engage with the campaigns - in the spin room, over coronavirus fears.

Instead Sanders and Biden will be left to their own devices onstage.

Sanders said he planned to prod Biden on his resistance to Medicare-for-all, one of the biggest policy differences between the top two Democratic hopefuls. Sanders supports it while Biden has pitched improving Obamacare. Biden has been so resistant to Medicare-for-all that he said if he wouldn't pick a running mate who backs it.

The Vermont senator said he also planned to push Biden on his education plans - including student debt relief. Sanders supports making public colleges and trade schools tuition-free. He's also pitched wiping out much of the nation's student loan debt.

Sanders also said he'd bring up 'billionaires buying elections' and income inequality.

'So let me conclude the way I began,' Sanders said. 'Donald Trump must be defeated and I will do everything in my power to make that happen.'

'On Sunday night on the first one-on-one debate of this campaign, the American people will have the opportunity to see which candidate is best-positioned to accomplish that goal,' Sanders added.

He left the podium without answering questions.

Two weeks ago, the idea that Sanders' campaign had crumbled to the point that many thought he might drop out Wednesday would be a stunning admission.

At that point, the democratic socialist was coming off a 26.6 point victory over Biden in the Nevada caucuses, showing his new strength among Latino voters.

Sanders had also gotten the most votes in Iowa, though Pete Buttigieg won the caucuses by the traditional delegate standard. He then won his next-door-neighbor state of New Hampshire, though with Buttigieg nipping at his toes.

Meanwhile Biden's campaign looked underwater.

The former vice president - long considered the candidate to beat - came in a disappointing fourth place in the Iowa caucuses and an even worse fifth place in New Hampshire.

His distant second place, according to him on caucus day, was enough, Biden predicted, to turn the ship around.

Then, two weeks ago, Rep. Jim Clyburn of South Carolina - the most powerful black member in Congress - gave his endorsement to Biden.

Biden won the first-in-the-south primary over Sanders by 28.5 points.

That one win was enough for Biden to attract a flurry of endorsements from moderate Democrats, including some of his ex-rivals.

In Dallas, Texas the night before the 14 'Super Tuesday' states voted, Biden appeared with Buttigieg and later Amy Klobuchar and Beto O'Rourke.

Biden then had a better than expected night on 'Super Tuesday,' eventually winning 10 of the 14 states where votes were cast.

Sanders wasn't able to to bite into Biden's hold on African-American voters, especially in southern states like Virginia and North Carolina, which were quickly called for the former vice president.

Sanders eventually won the biggest delegate prize of the night - California - but the narrative was already set: Biden had restored his frontrunner status, especially with surprise wins in states like Massachusetts, Minnesota and Texas.

The week after Super Tuesday only spelled worse news for Sanders as powerful Democrats continued to coalesce around Biden.

The ex-veep got the endorsements of more ex-rivals including Cory Booker and Kamala Harris.

Meanwhile, Elizabeth Warren, who dropped out of the race after a poor Super Tuesday showing, decided not to endorse either candidate.

As a fellow progressive, she might have been able to help Sanders, but she demurred.

With Michigan going for Biden and Washington state basically a tie between Sanders and Biden, the Vermont senator has little room to grow.

And he might face an increasingly hostile Democratic establishment if he refuses to budge and the writing is on the wall.

The Super Tuesday 2 races would make Biden the 'prohibitive favorite,' said Clyburn Tuesday night as the votes were being counted.

'And quite frankly, if the night ends the way it has begun, I think it is time for us to shut this primary down, it is time for us to cancel the rest of these debates,' Clyburn said on NPR. 'Because you don't do anything but get yourself in trouble if you continue in this contest when it's obvious that the numbers will not shake out for you.'

James Carville, who has been on an anti-Sanders tear, also suggested that the Democrats end the primary with Biden's rise.

'Lets shut this puppy down, and lets move on and worry about November,' Carville said Tuesday night on MSNBC. 'This thing is decided. Theres no reason to keep it going, not even a day longer,' the ex-Bill Clinton aide said.
A Tripura BJP leader has asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to legalise the use of cannabis for medicinal and industrial purposes throughout the country even as the BJP-IPFT government in the state continues its campaign against it.

Prasenjit Chakraborty, a BJP leader and former party spokesperson, wrote to the PM on Wednesday requesting him to constitute a high-powered commission to carry out a research on Cannabis medicinal values. He also requested an amendment to the Narcotic Drugs & Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, to allow the production, cultivation, sale, purchase and transportation of Ganja for medicinal and industrial purposes.

Chakraborty is also the founder of a social organization under the banner of Janajagaran Mancha.

I think the Government should constitute a national-level regulatory authority to regulate cultivation, production, sale, purchase, transportation and uses of Ganja in the country.....I am sure Sir, India will highly benefit if Ganja is properly and scientifically used for medicinal and or industrial purposes, the letter reads.

After forming the government in 2018, Tripura chief minister Biplab Kumar Deb started a campaign for a Nasha Mukt Tripura or a drug-free Tripura campaign.

In 2018 and 2019, ganja or cannabis worth Rs. 11.14 crores and Rs. 4.86 crores respectively were impounded in the state.

BJP senior leader Dr Ashok Sinha said, There are two types of cannabis. One has narcotic use while the other has medicinal value. If he is talking about medicinal one, I feel his request is reasonable.
WASHINGTON  Based on early returns Tuesday night, Joe Biden seemed on track to continue his new-found dominance in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination. He won Mississippi, Missouri and Michigan, was tied in the vote at midnight in Washington, and held a lead in Idaho.

Sanders led only in North Dakota, where only 10 per cent of the vote had been counted by midnight.

A week after the 14-state Super Tuesday primaries gave big wins to Biden and narrowed the contest to a two-person race between him and Bernie Sanders, six states voted on a Somewhat-Less-Super Tuesday, with 352 delegates at stake out of the 3,979 total pledged delegates available in all states nationally. It also marked the close of voting in the Democrats Abroad primary, which included Americans living in Canada.

Tuesdays results gave Biden a commanding lead in the contest, with a favourable primary schedule still ahead. For Sanders, who appeared to hold a commanding lead just weeks ago, the path to victory just became more difficult to imagine.

Concerns about holding large events amid the spread of coronavirus prompted both candidates to cancel events planned for primary night.

Speaking in Philadelphia to campaign staff and members of the press, Biden repeated a by-now familiar line about his campaign recently having been declared dead.

Its more than a comeback for this campaign, its a comeback for the soul of the nation, he said of his victories. Promising to take nothing for granted in the weeks ahead, he congratulated Sanders and his supporters for their energy and passion. Were going to beat Donald Trump. Were going to beat him together.

Sanders did not speak Tuesday night, resting at home in Burlingon, Vermont.

Michigan was by far the largest and most important of the states voting Tuesday, with 125 pledged delegates available to be won, and it had been the focus of intense campaigning over the past week by Sanders and Biden.

With 80 per cent of the vote in at midnight, Biden led in Michigan 53 to 38, appearing to be well ahead in both Detroit and its surrounding suburbs.

The result there marked a stark reversal for Sanders, who won Michigan in 2016 in a surprise upset over eventual nominee Hillary Clinton. In the days leading up to Tuesdays vote, he held massive outdoor rallies in Ann Arbor and Grand Rapids, attacking Biden for his past votes on the Iraq War, social security, and trade agreements like NAFTA, and selling himself as the candidate who could motivate voters to turn out to beat Donald Trump.

In a general election, which candidate can generate the enthusiasm and the excitement and the voter turnout we need? Sanders asked a rally Tuesday in St. Louis. If you want to defeat Trump, which all Democrats do and the majority of independents do and some Republicans do, we are that campaign.

The results from South Carolina and Super Tuesday, however, showed that increased turnout seemed to mostly benefit Biden, and that the masses of young voters that the Sanders campaign had expected to motivate were not materializing. Exit polls reported by CNN showed that Sanders indeed won young voters by a dominant margin, but that they made up only 15 per cent of voters, and that Biden had dominated with older voters, who turned out in larger numbers.

Biden made headlines on primary day after a confrontation was captured on video at a campaign event, in which a man accused him of wanting to take away our guns.

Youre full of s - - -, Biden shot back. I support the Second Amendment. As the video went viral, supporters and detractors alike held it up as evidence of Bidens suitability to lead the country.

Washington State, a Sanders stronghold in the 2016 primaries, was the second-largest prize available Tuesday, with 89 pledged delegates available in a primary that relied exclusively, for the first time, on mail-in ballots. At midnight, with roughly two-thirds of the vote counted, the two candidates were tied with 33 per cent of the vote each.

Missouri, where Sanders lost to Clinton by only one per cent in 2016, was won decisively by Biden by 25 per cent margin. In Mississippi, a place where Biden had expected to win big on the strength of his support in the substantial Black community there, he drew more than 80 per cent of votes.

North Dakota, also voted Tuesday. As of midnight, with 10 per cent of the vote reported, Sanders led there 40 per cent to 26 per cent. In Idaho, with 34 per cent of the vote counted, Biden led by 6 points.

The schedule ahead appears to be an uphill battle for Sanders, especially the Florida primary on March 17. Three other states vote next week, all of which Sanders lost to Clinton in 2016.

On a CNN panel as the results came in, former candidate Andrew Yang said hed previously not offered an endorsement because hed liked Bernie Sanders and wanted to let the process play out. It has, he said. The math says Joe is our prohibitive nominee. We need to bring the party together. We need to start working on defeating Donald Trump in the fall.

The math allowing a path for Sanders to win the nomination is growing more and more difficult.

He will likely need some significant event to shake up the race if he is to have any chance at all, with next opportunity being a March 15 debate in Arizona. That will be the first time the two remaining candidates will have the chance to debate head-to-head, an opportunity Sanders supporters anticipate against the famously gaffe-prone Biden, who has appeared unfocused at times in prior debates.

However, its not clear at this stage that even a clear debate victory would be enough to make up the difference. Nothing in this race  or American politics at all  this year has gone as expected, but after his third straight victory in major primary days, Biden appears exceedingly likely to be the Democrat who will take on Trump in November.

With files from the Associated Press

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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 11)  Vice Governor Christian Noveras appealed to tourists on Wednesday to refrain from visiting Aurora province - home to popular surfing beaches - to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease or COVID-19.

The acting governor on Wednesday said there are still no confirmed cases in Aurora or an urgent need to place it on lockdown. However, he said he wants to ensure the virus will not reach to the province.

"Sa mga panahon na ito atin pong hinihikayat ang mga TURISTA na HUWAG MUNANG magtungo sa atin lalawigan hanggat wala pa po tayong kasiguruhan na hindi makakapasok ang nasabing virus sa Lalawigan ng Aurora," said Noveras in a Facebook post.

[Translation: During these times, we are urging tourists not to go to our province until we make sure that the virus will not spread to Aurora.]

Aurora is known for its resorts and surfing spots especially in the municipality of Baler.

Noveras also discouraged residents from attending crowded events and activities. The Department of Health earlier advised the public to practice "social distancing" or maintain a one-meter distance from other people as a precautionary measure against the outbreak.

Noveras took over the helm of Aurora after Governor Gerardo Noveras, his father, was suspended for 90 days in December last year for graft.

The country is under a state of public health emergency due to a confirmed local transmission of COVID-19. At least 49 people have been infected, DOH said.
The Duchess of Sussex held a behind-the-scenes meeting with Commonwealth scholars to hear about their commitment to tackling global challenges ahead of her final official public duty as a senior royal.

Meghan Markle, 38, in her role as patron of the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU), chatted with the students at Buckingham Palace before the Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey on Monday.

Newly-released photographs of the American former actress show Meghan, who was wearing a 330 crepe knit navy cap-sleeve dress with neck scarf detail by Australian designer Scanlan Theodore, listening to one scholar, and in the centre of a group photo in the 1844 Room of the Queen's London home.

The duchess swept her hair into a chic ponytail and teamed her outfit with navy stiletto heels and minimal jewellery.

Meghan Markle, 38, in her role as patron of the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU), chatted with the students at Buckingham Palace before the Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey on Monday

The images were taken by her and Prince Harry's wedding photographer, Chris Allerton.

Meghan told the scholars, who were split into four groups looking at different challenges: 'Everyone is connected because of this very holistic approach to tackling climate change. I love how solution-based you all are.'

A source said: 'She was thrilled to have the chance to meet inspirational scholars doing ground-breaking work in the fields of climate and the environment, sustainable cities, health and innovation and technology.'

Meghan was made royal patron of ACU in January 2019, taking over from the Queen, who held the post for 33 years.

After walking away from the monarchy on March 31, the duchess will continue her links to ACU as patron.

The Duchess of Sussex, pictured in the centre of a group photo in the 1844 Room of the Queen's London home on Monday

The behind-the-scenes meeting took place during the duchess' farewell tour, which culminated in Meghan and the Duke of Sussex appearing alongside other members of the royal family at the Abbey.

Joanna Newman, secretary general of the ACU, said the duchess's understanding of the value of higher education was a key part of her association with the charity.

'She's a very powerful spokesperson for us,' she said.

Timothy Biswick, a University of Leicester research fellow from Malawi, who is looking at microplastic pollution in the oceans, said of the duchess: 'She knows what she's talking about in terms of climate change.

The Commonwealth Day service was Harry and Meghan's final hurrah as senior royals before they bow out and embrace their new life in North America - after announcing their intention to quit in January

'She was talking about things in quite some detail, so you know that this person knows what they are talking about and are passionate about it.'

The students included Commonwealth Scholars, Chevening Scholars and an ACU Blue Charter Fellow, from 11 Commonwealth countries - Malawi, India, Cameroon, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Pakistan, Ghana, Rwanda, Kenya, Malaysia and Sri Lanka.

The Commonwealth Day service was Harry and Meghan's final hurrah as senior royals before they bow out and embrace their new life in North America - after announcing their intention to quit in January.

From March 31, the monarch's grandson and American former actress Meghan will no longer use their HRH styles as they pursue a new life of personal and financial freedom.

Meghan is reported to have flown back to Canada soon after the Commonwealth Service.

From March 31, the monarch's grandson and American former actress Meghan will no longer use their HRH styles as they pursue a new life of personal and financial freedom

Earlier today it emerged how Prince Harry opened his heart about Megxit, being more 'normal' than other royals and how Donald Trump has 'blood on his hands' in two toe-curling phone chats with Russian pranksters posing as environmentalist Greta Thunberg and her father.

The Duke of Sussex insisted he chose to withdraw from royal life to 'protect my son' and said 'we are completely separate from the majority of my family' in hoax calls that give extraordinary insight into his state of mind as the couple quit this year.

When asked about Meghan he admitted candidly that 'marrying a prince or princess isn't all it's made up to be' and that their new life in Canada is 'much better' than serving as senior royals.

In the hoax call, Prince Harry also insisted that his military service had made him 'more normal than my family would like to believe'. Pictured: Harry and Meghan at the Mountbatten Music Festival at Royal Albert Hall on March 7

Harry, who is not believed to have met Greta, also talked about Donald Trump and the world's 'sick' leaders, why he needs to use private jets despite campaigning on climate change and having nothing to do with his uncle Prince Andrew.

Prince Harry also insisted that his military service had made him 'more normal than my family would like to believe' in the bombshell hoax calls revealed by The Sun today.

A spokesman for Harry has said today that they are not commenting on the exchanges.
The Dell employee had returned from the US, including a visit to Texas while the Mindtree employee also had a travel history abroad, the two companies said in separate statements

New Delhi: Two employees working with IT companies Dell and Mindtree have been tested positive for coronavirus, according to company statements.

The Dell employee had returned from the US, including a visit to Texas while the Mindtree employee also had a travel history abroad, the two companies said in separate statements.

"We can confirm two employees of Dell India were tested for the COVID-19 virus following their return home from the United States, including a visit to our headquarters in Round Rock, Texas. One employee tested negative; another tested positive and has since been placed in quarantine," Dell Technologies said.

The company said it continues to take steps to protect Dell Technologies team members and communities by adhering to the health and safety guidelines from the World Health Organization and Centers for Disease Control, and coordinating with local health officials.

Mindtree said that one of its employees returning from an overseas trip tested positive for COVID-19 on 10 March, 2020.

"The employee along with his family members are under quarantine and medical supervision. All measures are being taken to provide the best of medical care to him and his family. The employee self-isolated himself upon return from the trip and did not visit the office or meet any other Mindtree colleagues," the company added.

Mindtree said it has been consciously taking precautions across its operations to fight any untoward incident with its employees.
London, March 11 : With the rise in incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) among adults, it could no longer be considered a disease of older people, according to a study.

Although men in older age groups are well recognised to have higher incidence of colonic and rectal cancer, there is little difference in the incidence rates between men and women aged below 40 years.

For the study, published in the BJS (British Journal of Surgery), the researchers from the University of Bristol, UK, examined data on adults, diagnosed with colorectal cancer in England between 1974 and 2015.

The CRC, also known as bowel cancer, colon cancer, or rectal cancer, is the development of cancer from the colon or rectum (parts of the large intestine).

According to the study, of the 1,145,639 CRC cases among adults aged over 20 years between 1974 and 2015, 2,594 cases were in the 20-29 year age group, 11,406 in the 30-39 year age group and 42,134 in the 40-49 year age group.

The most sustained increase was seen in adults aged 20-29 years, the study said. The magnitude of increases was similar in both sexes and across income levels, it added.

The most pronounced increases was in the southern regions of England, according to the researchers and added, young patients needed more treatment to achieve similar outcomes than older people.

Changes in incidence rates could be used to plan future screening policy, preventative strategies, research agendas as well as increasing public understanding that younger people must be aware of symptoms of colorectal cancer, the researchers said.

The University of Bristol, the research university in Bristol, England, is ranked 49th by the QS World University Rankings 2020. It's ranked in the top 10 of UK universities in 2020.
Anuradha Shukla By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: Widening the ambit of its probe beyond the loan given to DHFL, the investigative agencies are likely to question former directors of the Yes Bank, including its former chairman Ashok Chawla.

"Preliminary investigation found serious breach of corporate governance. All large corporate loans are under scrutiny now. The role of former directors and top management including non-executive chairman will be probed. Expect a series of questioning in the coming days," a senior ED official told TNIE.

Yes Bank sources said Chawla was close to Rana Kapoor and had met RBI governor Urjit Patel to persuade the regulator to give Kapoor one more term as managing director and CEO at Yes Bank. However, Patel rejected this.

Yes Banks audit committee chairman Vasanth V Gujarathi also resigned the same month, citing personal reasons. However, sources said Gujarathi had left because of specific observations made by RBI on issues related to audit and corporate governance in the bank.

"Rana Kapoor only liked yes men. He was the final authority and many times loan applications were rejected without giving any reason. I am not sure that the board members knew about all the dealings. But, yes, there was a feeling that all is not well with the bank," said a former senior executive at the bank, who did not wish to be named.

The investigators had also zeroed in on Kapoors foreign assets in the UK, France and the US to see if the proceeds of money laundering had been used to purchase these assets by the banker and his family.

They are looking into the transaction of all the shell companies, floated by the company and its assets, which are currently estimated at Rs 5,000 crore and all the investments made in the name of his family. Meanwhile, the income tax department is also set to initiate action against Rana Kapoor for possible tax evasion and possession of alleged undeclared foreign assets.

Ashok Chawla

Ex-finance secretary Ashok Chawla was made independent director on the board of Yes Bank on March 5, 2016. He became non-executive chairman on Oct 30, 2016 but resigned after his name appeared in a CBI charge sheet in the Aircel-Maxis case
MTN has announced that Group CEO Rob Shuter will step down from his position at the end of his fixed four-year contract in March 2021.

The company announced the leadership change in its financial results for the year ended 31 December 2019.

The board thanks Rob for the contribution he has made, and continues to make, to MTN, it said.

The succession process will be concluded during the year, enabling a seamless handover.

MTN group chief technology and IT officer Charles Molapisi has been appointed to the group executive committee and the contract of group chief operations officer Jens Schulte-Bockum has been extended until 31 March 2022, added MTN.

Shuter said the company is well-positioned for growth going forward and will continue to optimise efficiencies and improve its digital offerings.

Looking ahead

We are well positioned for growth. Guided by our well-defined BRIGHT strategy, we are building our growth strategy on our digital operator model while optimising efficiencies, capex, and cashflow, Shuter said.

Following data price reductions in South Africa and Nigeria in 2019, we expect price elasticity to improve data revenue growth in 2020, supported by expanded 4G coverage in Nigeria and across the group.

We will continue to scale up our fintech and digital services as well as grow our enterprise and wholesale businesses, he said.

MTN said it has maintained its service revenue, EBITDA margin, capex intensity, and ROE targets and increased its asset disposal target by a further R25 billion over the medium-term.

We will use 2020 to implement our succession process and ensure a seamless handover to the new group president and CEO whilst maintaining our operational execution, Shuter said.

Shuter said that MTN added 18 million customers to reach a total of 251 million over the past financial year, and it increased its data users by 17 million to 95 million.

Fintech customers increased by 7 million to 35 million, and he added that MTN saw improvements in customer experience, market share, and network quality across the group.

MTN did not state who would be appointed as CEO following the end of Shuters contract.
The vast majority of people recover from the new virus. According to the World Health Organization, people with mild illness recover in about two weeks, while those with more severe illness may take three weeks to six weeks to recover. In mainland China, where the virus first exploded, more than 80,000 people have been diagnosed and more than 58,000 have so far recovered.
President Donald Trump says his administration will ask Congress to pass payroll tax relief and other quick measures as a public health and economic maelstrom brought on by the coronavirus drew closer to him personally.

Intending to calm the fears of financial markets over the impact of the epidemic, Trump told reporters Monday he is seeking very substantial relief" to the payroll tax.

Trump also said he was seeking help for hourly-wage workers to ensure they're not going to miss a paycheck and don't get penalised for something that's not their fault."

He stepped forward with the contours of an initiative after markets dropped sharply and as the outbreak spread.

Several Trump confidants in Congress disclosed they were isolating themselves after potential exposure to the virus; one traveled with the president from Florida on Air Force One on Monday; another was his just-tapped new chief of staff.

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

Trump said he would hold a press conference Tuesday to outline the proposals, saying his administration and Congress would be "discussing a possible payroll tax cut or relief, substantial relief, very substantial relief, that's big, that's a big number.

We're also going to be talking about hourly wage earners getting help so that they can be in a position where they're not going to ever miss a paycheck.

As Trump grappled with an epidemic whose consequences he has repeatedly played down, the White House asserted it was conducting business as usual.

But the Securities and Exchange Commission, which monitors financial markets, encouraged employees at its Washington, D.C., headquarters to work from home after an employee there had respiratory symptoms and was referred for coronavirus testing.

And Defense Secretary Mark Esper postponed a trip to India, Pakistan and Uzbekistan that was to begin next Monday, citing the coronavirus crisis, Pentagon press secretary Alyssa Farah said Tuesday.

She said he would remain in the US to help manage the Pentagon response.

On Capitol Hill, handshakes were discouraged and a Pentagon meeting was broken into sub-groups to minimize the number of people in the same room.

Trump returned to Washington on Monday accompanied by Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, who later went into a voluntary quarantine.

He was one of several GOP lawmakers who were exposed to a person at last month's Conservative Political Action Conference who tested positive for the virus.

His office said he was mid-flight on Air Force One when CPAC informed his staff that he had been in contact with the attendee who had the virus.

Once the plane landed, Gaetz was immediately tested.

Vice President Mike Pence, who also spoke at CPAC, said he has not been tested for the virus.

White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham said Trump has not been tested because he has not had prolonged close contacts with any patients and does not have any symptoms.

The White House has been convening meetings with an array of travel and healthcare industry representatives, and was set to host Wall Street executives at the White House on Wednesday to discuss the economic fallout of the epidemic.

Futures in the S&P 500 index, which can indicate how Wall Street will open Tuesday, picked up 3.9 percent early Tuesday.

On Capitol Hill, where many lawmakers are older and have frequent contact with the public, leaders were fielding questions from members and staff about how the complex will be secured.

Leaders have so far shown little willingness to close the Capitol, but meetings were scheduled throughout the day to discuss preparations.

On Monday, Rep. Doug Collins, R-Ga., and Gaetz put themselves in voluntary quarantine because of their contacts with someone at the Conservative Political Action Conference.

Both said they did not have any symptoms but would wait out the remainder of the 14 days since the contact at home. Gaetz last week wore a gas mask to the House vote on the emergency funding bill for the virus response and said he wanted to highlight how Congress could become petri dish for the virus.

Collins had met with Trump last Tuesday night at the White House and shook hands with him Friday when the president visited the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Atlanta headquarters.

Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., whom Trump named Friday as his incoming chief of staff, also went into self-quarantine.

A precautionary test came back negative & he feels great, his spokesman tweeted late Monday.

Meadows has not yet resigned his congressional seat and has not yet assumed his new role at the White House, but he is a frequent visitor.

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Rep. Paul Gosar, R-Ariz., also placed themselves in quarantine after coming in contact with the same person at the conservative conference.

Rep. Julia Brownley, D-Calif., said she met last week with a person who has since been diagnosed with the virus. She closed her office and said she and her staff are self-monitoring and maintaining social distancing practices.

Vast numbers of visitors come to the Hill, especially at this time of year when advocacy groups arrange fly-in trips to lobby and speak to lawmakers, and school groups descend for tours.

In one manifestation of lawmaking in the age of the coronavirus, Rep. Richard Neal, D-Mass., approached a Republican colleague on the House floor Monday for a routine congratulatory handshake after the chamber approved a bill expanding a visa program.

"Shake or bump?" Neal asked Rep. Kelly Armstrong, R-N.D. The two men bumped elbows.
A worker sprays disinfectant as sanitization operations against Coronavirus are carried out in the museum hosted by the Maschio Angioino medieval castle, in Naples, Italy, Tuesday, March 10, 2020. (Alessandro Pone/LaPresse via AP)

While alcoholic beverages are readily available in every nook and cranny of the country, domestic manufacturers of sanitisers and disinfectants are finding it tough to get ethanol, a key ingredient, in adequate quantities thanks to cumbersome procedures and red-tape at state excise departments. With the rising number of coronavirus cases in India, the demand for these products is skyrocketing and firms are struggling to scale up production.

Public health agencies including the World Health Organisation (WHO) have been advising people to maintain personal hygiene that includes the use of sanitisers and disinfectants to prevent the spread of infection. The instructions have led to panic buying and hoarding and manufacturers are struggling to keep pace with the order inflow owing to the unavailability of ethanol.

Many companies also complain that the government gives preference to the liqour lobby while granting alcohol permits over the pharmaceutical industry.

"We need ethanol and isopropanol to produce disinfectants, but the regulatory process to get them is cumbersome and time consuming," said Anil Kumar Singh, General Manager, Technical, at Sceptre, which manufactures disinfectants.

"First we require a drug licence with approval of formula from the state FDA concerned. Then we need to obtain permit from the excise department specifying the quantity to be used. The file will then be moved to the excise department of the particular state, in our case, Uttar Pradesh (UP) where alcohol is manufactured. UP's excise department will then cross-check the request. If it is satisfied, the authorities will give instructions to the distillery that produces alcohol," Singh explained.

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

"Ideally, this should not take more than a week, but it usually takes more than a month. Moreover, if you asked for 10,000 litres, you would get the permit to procure only half of it. It's difficult to scale up production with these constraints," he pointed out.

Spectre's factory at Sonepat in Haryana has been in overdrive for the last one month to meet the demand following the outbreak of coronavirus or COVID-19.

"We have orders for more than 10 times the capacity we can supply," Singh said. The company has the capacity to produce one lakh litres or 20,000 bottles of disinfectants per day.

Another manufacturer who didn't want to be named echoed Singh's views.

"We have an abundance of alcohol, the government should simplify rules for alcohol procurement for industrial use," he said

Manufacturers are also upset over the way the middlemen like traders and retailers take advantage of the situation.

In India, disinfectants are regulated as medical products.

"We are under price regulation. We can't increase prices beyond 10 percent, and retailers can only charge 20 percent. But disinfectants and sanitisers are sold at 300-400 percent margins on the open market, and even on certain e-commerce sites," the manufacturer lamented.
Georgia Waffle House Employee Tests Positive for Coronavirus

A Waffle House worker in Cherokee County, Georgia, tested positive for the COVID-19 coronavirus, according to officials with the chain.

The employee worked at the Waffle House at 1849 Marietta Highway in Canton, located in metropolitan Atlanta.

Twelve employees who worked at the location are now under self-quarantine. The restaurant is also closed, officials told WSB-TV, adding that none of the employees have displayed symptoms of the virus.

Waffle House said the employee was new and only worked at the location for one day on March 1. The patient was taken to the hospital but was later released and is in isolation.

The firm told WSB that the employees who are being quarantined will be paid. Meanwhile, the location is closed for sanitization.

The company said it is working with the Cherokee County Health Department to advise them on how to move forward.

We continue to work with state and local health department personnel for guidance. Our main concern has been, and will continue to be, the safety of our associates and customers, Waffle House said.

To our knowledge, none of those Associates have shown any sign of illness, another Waffle House spokesperson told Fox5.

Waffle House spokeswoman Njeri Boss said the chain will remove condiment caddies from tables due to the virus outbreak, and customers can request them. The restaurant will also tell employees to carry out additional sanitizing measures to make sure employees hands and equipment are not infected with the new virus.

Georgia health officials said there are currently more than a dozen confirmed COVID-19 cases in the state.
Austrian art has evolved past such concerns, but what could the Albertina Modern mean for museumgoers in Vienna? Its mission fills a vacuum in Austrian art history, moving beyond the Austrian favorites Gustav Klimt and Egon Schiele so often on view at the Belvedere or Leopold Museums, and offering an alternative to Mumok and the Kunsthalle Wiens focus on more recent international art and performance.

The president of the Artists Society, Tanja Prusnik, is optimistic about the shared real estate. Synergies are possible, she said. We can bring more people into the Kunstlerhaus. We got our building back in a condition that can bring us further, and were visible again. (The Kunstlerhaus show ReOPENING began on March 6.)

The public-private partnership that enabled the restoration is rare in a country where private arts funding is viewed with suspicion: Mr. Haselsteiners patronage could set a precedent.

Jasper Sharp, a curator at the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, pointed out that the Albertina Modern treads close to the territory of other Vienna museums, and that Mr. Schroder has long been criticized for moving his institution too far from drawings and graphics. But, he added, a historical building in the center of Vienna has been renovated, and a number of important Austrian artists whose work is not always found in permanent collection displays here will now be presented more frequently, he said.

For his part, Mr. Schroder said: I think that many more Austrian artists will be canonized into international art history in the next few years. This is one of our goals. Albertina Modern has to be able to show how rich Austrian art actually was.
Its a dismissive comment uttered, sometimes without much thought, among circles of friends or on social media.

But as the coronavirus reaches a critical point outside of China, simply passing off coronavirus as a flu-like outbreak is a naive move, doctors and virologists have warned.

In Italy in particular, where the countrys health system has been stretched to its limit with an outbreak of more than 10,000 cases, the impact of the virus is not to be underestimated.

In a now-viral tweet, one woman in northern Italy warned the country had made a big mistake in the lead-up to the outbreak in the European epicentre which has sent its death toll soaring beyond 600.

Please, please guys. Here in northern Italy we made one big mistake. Everybody kept saying: Its just flu and now our intensive care units are collapsing, 23-year-old Bianca, from Lombardy, tweeted.

Everybody kept going outside like nothing happened and now our grandparents and parents are dying.

Coronavirus is not flu.

And in a lengthy post on Facebook which has since been shared 32,000 times, Dr Daniele Macchini who is on the frontline of the coronavirus fight in the Italian city of Bergamo, revealed the devastating effect the virus is having on the health system.

Nurses carry a Coronavirus Covid-19 patient with a high bio-containment stretcher in Italy (Getty)

Hospital nursing staff assist people lining up for Covid-19 screening outside Royal Melbourne Hospital in Australia (Getty)

The war has literally exploded and battles are uninterrupted day and night, he said.

The need for beds has arrived in all its drama. One after the other the departments that had been emptied fill up at an impressive pace.

He said the virus must not be likened to the flu.

Explain to me which flu virus causes such a rapid drama. And while there are still people who boast of not being afraid by ignoring directions, protesting because their normal routine is temporarily put in crisis, the epidemiological disaster is taking place, he said.

Inside Italy's coronavirus hospital

Do not underestimate coronavirus

As the virus continues to spread in more countries, Professor Ian Mackay, virologist and associate professor at the University of Queensland, has warned the virus must not be underestimated.

Story continues

Speaking to Yahoo News Australia, he said many people he comes across daily refer to coronavirus as just another flu without seeing it as a big risk.

Its hard to stress how bad this could be if we dont take it seriously.

He noted how advanced medical teams in countries where the outbreak has soared have been forced to make the decision on whether patients live or die due to a lack of beds or staff to cope with the sheer overwhelming number of sick people.

Italy's health system has been pushed to its limit as a result of the outbreak (Reuters)

Were seeing the virus spread and cause a lot of severe disease and while its not death, its still severe disease and its tying up a lot of healthcare resources. Thats not what we see every year from flu, he said.

In recent days Italian media has broadcast footage of ICU units overflowing with patients, with the current situation labelled by Prof Mackay as a cautionary tale.

Weeks before, the plight of medical teams in the Chinese province of Hubei, the original epicentre of the virus, was widely documented as staff worked day and night in their fight against the outbreak.

This virus is not influenza

Last week, the World Health Organization (WHO) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus specifically warned the coronavirus outbreak shouldnt be compared to the flu.

This virus is not SARS, its not MERS, and its not influenza. It is a unique virus with unique characteristics, he said.

Tedros reiterated that Covid-19 causes more severe disease than seasonal influenza.

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has reiterated the effects of coronavirus are more severe than the flu (AP)

While many people globally have built up immunity to seasonal flu strains, Covid-19 is a new virus to which no one has immunity, he said.

That means more people are susceptible to infection, and some will suffer severe disease.

He noted the current global mortality rate sits at 3.4% while seasonal flus sit at less than 1%.

Tedros praised the work of countries working to contain the virus, such as Australia where a cluster of cases has occurred in Sydneys northwest.

We dont even talk about containment for seasonal flu  its just not possible. But it is possible for Covid-19, he said.

It will prevent infections and save lives. Containment is possible.

In a report on coronavirus issued by WHO in February, treating the virus as the flu will only cause further deaths.

Building scenarios and strategies only on the basis of well-known pathogens risks failing to exploit all possible measures to slow transmission of the Covid-19 virus, reduce disease and save lives, the report said.
[March 10, 2020] Toshiba's Latest Enterprise Hard Disk Drives Qualified for Microchip Technology's Adaptec HBAs and RAID Adapters

Toshiba (News - Alert) America Electronic Components, Inc. (Toshiba) announced that Microchip Technology's ("Microchip") compatibility testing of the recently launched 16TB1 3.5-inch2 Enterprise Capacity hard disk drive (HDD) from the MG08 series has been successfully completed on all Adaptec (News - Alert) host bus adapters (HBAs) and Redundant Array of Independent Disk (RAID) adapters. As a result, companies using Adaptec Smart Storage adapters can now also install Toshiba's 16TB Enterprise drives. Enterprise HDDs are usually operated in large networks and connected to the host server system via HBAs or RAID adapters. In this respect, the smooth interplay of hard disk drives and HBA / RAID adapters is essential for the functionality and stability of enterprise and cloud storage systems. The confirmed compatibility of the MG08 series refers to the SATA models MG08ACA16TE (512 byte block) and MG08ACA16TA (4k byte block), as well as to the products with SAS (News - Alert) interface MG08SCA16TE (512) and MG08SCA16TA (4k). Tests were carried out on the Adaptec HBA 1100 series HBAs and the Adaptec SmartRAID 3100 series RAID adapters, and the still widely used predecessor, the Adaptec Series 8 RAID adapters. Not only were the basic functionality and compatibility of the interfaces tested, but also hot-plug tests, power on tests, and reboot tests were performed. Long-term stability was also confirmed by an extended duration test which is conducted by Microchip. The MG08 hard drives have thus qualified for entry on Microchip's compatibility list. Shuji Takaoka, General Manager of Storage Products Sales & Marketing Division at Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation, explains: "Based on the excellent long-term cooperation with Microchip, we were able to qualify the new HDD generation for compatibility with Microchip's adapters shortly after the market launch. This is a very important contribution to the implementation of stable storage systems for the constantly growing amount of data." The previous series of Enterprise Capacity HDDs (MG04 / MG05 / MG06 / MG07) were also tested and qualified in the same way as described above by Microchip in the past. This also applies to the Enterprise Performance drives of the AL12 / AL13 / AL14 and AL15 series. For more information on Toshiba's full line of HDD storage products, https://toshiba.semicon-storage.com.



To learn more about our storage solutions visit the storage blog at https://storage.toshiba.com/corporateblog/ and follow @ToshibaStorage on Twitter (News - Alert). Definition of capacity: Toshiba defines a megabyte (MB) as 1,000,000 bytes, a gigabyte (GB) as 1,000,000,000 bytes and a terabyte (TB) as 1,000,000,000,000 bytes. A computer operating system, however, reports storage capacity using powers of 2 for the definition of 1GB = 230 = 1,073,741,824 bytes and therefore shows less storage capacity. Available storage capacity (including examples of various media files) will vary based on file size, formatting, settings, software and operating system, such as Microsoft (News - Alert) Operating System and/or pre-installed software applications, or media content. Actual formatted capacity may vary. "3.5-inch" means the form factor of Hard Drives. They do not indicate drive's physical size. About Toshiba America Electronic Components, Inc.

Toshiba America Electronic Components, Inc. (TAEC), an independent operating company owned by Toshiba America, Inc., is the US based electronic components business of Toshiba Electronic Devices and Storage Corporation. TAEC offers a wide variety of innovative hard disk drive (HDD) products and semiconductor solutions for data center, automotive, industrial, IoT, motion control, telecom, networking, consumer, and white goods applications. The company's broad portfolio encompasses enterprise and consumer HDDs integrated wireless ICs, power semiconductors, microcontrollers, optical semiconductors and discrete devices ranging from diodes to logic ICs. For more company information, please visit TAEC's web site at http://www.toshiba.semicon-storage.com/. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200310006032/en/

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ANSONIA  Mayor David Cassetti Tuesday ordered all nonessential board and commission meetings canceled for the time being because of coronavirus fears.

The mayors action resulted in the cancellation of Tuesday nights scheduled Board of Aldermen meeting  the first one affected by his order.

I consulted with my staff and with the Naugatuck Valley Health District before reaching this decision, Cassetti said Tuesday. Im going to be conferring with all commission and board heads to discuss their upcoming meetings and determine which are nonessential and can be canceled until this health hazard subsides.

The mayor took the action despite there being no confirmed cases of the coronavirus in the Valley towns.

Cassetti said he will wait until later in the week to determine if he is going to cancel Monday nights 6 p.m. meeting of the Board of Apportionment and Taxation at City Hall or the Planning and Zoning Commissions public hearing on the controversial proposal to build a four-story assisted living center on Pulaski Highway.

Well see how things turn out, he said. If necessary, I may just give the budget to the BOAT members.

The Planning and Zoning meeting was moved from City Hall to Ansonia High School last week because it is expected that several hundred Hilltop residents will attend to raise concerns about the assisted living center proposed for 25 wooded acres on Pulaski Highway, which is also home to Ansonia High School and dozens of single family homes. That meeting is expected to begin at 6 p.m.

On March 2 nearly 200 people filled the Hilltop Hose meeting room to register their opposition to the proposal by Optimus Senior Living of Southhampton, Mass.

Also on the agenda that night is a revised plan from Shaw Funding to build about 200 apartments in two nearly vacant, former factory buildings in the downtown, the Palmer Building and Ansonia Technology Park. Shaw intends to use Tener Contracting LLC of New York and Green U.S. Buildings of Stamford as their contractors.

The Planning and Zoning commission has scheduled a public walk through the buildings for Sunday at 2:30 p.m.

Jared Heon, the commissions chairman, could not be immediately reached for comment as to whether either of those events will take place.

One meeting that wont be canceled is Wednesday nights 6 p.m. Board of Education session at Ansonia High School.

This is an important meeting for us, said Superintendent of Schools Joseph DiBacco. Im going to be presenting my budget to the board.

DiBacco said the school board will also vote on two contracts  one involving the teachers and another involving administrators.

We need to get these done, DiBacco said. Otherwise I may have requested a postponement.

Meanwhile in neighboring Derby, Mayor Richard Dziekan said he is not ordering any widespread meeting cancellations for the time being.

I was on a conference call with the governors office and were implementing all the recommended precautionary procedures, Dziekan said. Were making sure City Hall, public buildings, the schools and the school buses are disinfected daily.

His citys Board of Aldermen are still scheduled to conduct their monthly 7 p.m. meeting Thursday in City Hall.

At that time, the aldermen are expected to advise the newly formed Charter Revision Commission to consider making the mayors position full-time as well as increasing the term from two to four years. As a cost saving measure, they may also consider making all of the citys elective municipal offices four year terms. Whatever recommendations they make will have to be put in the form of questions on the citys November ballot.

City/Town Clerk Marc Garofalo has told the aldermen that those ballot questions need to be prepared by Labor Day.
The body of a child found at the home of a relative of Evelyn Boswell has been confirmed as the missing 15-month-old.

Remains were found last Friday evening at a property in the girl's hometown of Blountville, Tennessee and the child was wearing the 'exact clothing' mother Megan Boswell, 18, said her daughter was in when she went missing.

Other clothing, diapers and toys that would have belonged to the child were also found on the property but the official identification only came Wednesday.

'We have a sad update to pass along in our ongoing search for answers in the death of 15-month-old Evelyn Boswell. Remains found on have been confirmed to be those of the little girl,' the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation announced.

Remains found Friday have been confirmed as Evelyn Boswell (pictured). Her body was discovered at the home of relative

The mother, Megan Boswell, 18, is in jail for allegedly lying to investigators. Pictured, Boswell looks around General Sessions Court in Bristol, Tennessee Monday, March 2

The discovery came after a 17-day search across three states and several tip-offs.

The little girl had not been seen by some family members since mid-December but was not reported missing by Megan until February 18.

Her mother was 'obviously upset' when she was told days ago that police believe they found her daughter's remains, her lawyer said.

Results of an autopsy were still pending.

Megan Boswell, 18, was charged with filing a false report in her daughter's disappearance and has been held in the Sullivan County jail.

Angela Boswell is being held in jail as well, on charges of theft and violating probation in a separate case

Investigators have been searching for young Evelyn since February 19, when an Amber Alert was issued.

Judge James Goodwin increased Boswell's bond on Monday to $150,000, according to news outlets.

Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Special Agent Brian Fraley testified that Boswell has made 'inculpatory statements' during interviews with investigators since her daughter went missing.

Inculpatory statements are legally described as implying or placing guilt.

The toddler's grandmother is also in police custody in connection with the case.

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.

Evelyn's last sighting was initially reported as December 26, 2019, according to the TBI.

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.

Police said Friday that Evelyn's remains were discovered at a property wearing the 'exact clothing' mother said her daughter was in when she vanished

Clothing, diapers and toys that would have belonged to the child were also found. Cops are seen at a home on Muddy Creek Road in Sullivan County Friday

'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.'

A few weeks ago, 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.

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.

Boswell's attorney Brad Sproles declined an interview with the television station WJHL-TV, which was the only TV station in the courtroom Monday.

Sheriff Cassidy (pictured) has previously spoken of his frustrations after the girl's mother had changed her story multiple times during the hunt for her daughter

Community members place items at a memorial for Evelyn Mae Boswell outside of the Boswell family property on Muddy Creek Road in Blountville
State Health Secretary Rachel Levine said at a late afternoon briefing there are now 16 Pennsylvanians who have initially tested positive for coronavirus. Thats up from 15 cases announced earlier Wednesday.

The current count includes two patients whose cases have been confirmed by the federal Centers for Disease Control, and 14 others who are currently defined as presumptive positives form initial tests. State officials consider it highly unlikely that any positive results will turn out to be something different.

There is also one non-resident who has tested positive for coronavirus and is undergoing treatment at a hospital in Montgomery County. For the record, Levine said, that person is being counted as a patient from another state.

The newest Pennsylvania patient is an adult resident of Monroe County in eastern Pennsylvania who fell ill and is currently hospitalized after close contact with another of the previously diagnosed Pennsylvania patients. That means, Levine said, there is still no evidence of confirmed community spread in Pennsylvania.

All told, four of the identified Pennsylvania patients are currently in hospital; the rest are in self-isolation at home. There are other persons who have been in close contact with the patients who are in self-isolation, as well, Levine said.

Nine of the 16 identified cases are in Montgomery County, there are two each in Bucks and Monroe counties, and one each in Delaware, Philadelphia and Wayne counties.

Levine said 173 Pennsylvanians have been identified for testing thus far; 57 of those tests are still pending, and the other 100 came back negative for coronavirus.

Levine said she has no doubt there will be more cases of coronavirus in the state, and we anticipate that community spread will occur." If that happens, she said, the state would likely move to new steps aimed at mitigation, which could include recommendations to cancel or postpone public events in specific regions.

Many communities, colleges and universities have already taken steps to reduce exposures to large crowds. Levine said Wednesday she supports all of those mitigation efforts, but from the state level, we are not mandating mitigation efforts at this time. If we see sustained community spread, things could change."

The secretary continued to urge everyone to take personal precautions like frequent hand-washing, and she urged anyone who is feeling sick not to attend any event or otherwise be around gatherings of people.
Texas A&M University officials announced Tuesday that they are delaying the return of classes after this weeks spring break in response to COVID-19. Classes were set to resume Monday, but students now will not need to return to campus until March 18, according to an update posted on the universitys website.

Blinn College District plans to return from classes next Monday as scheduled following the end of its spring break, according to director of communications Richard Bray.

The delay at Texas A&M will allow for planning and logistics to ensure the provision of all university services in the most efficient, effective and safest way in an effort to stem the spread of the new coronavirus, the announcement said.

Texas A&M is not requiring that all courses move to an online format at this time, a post on the universitys website said.

Professors will be able to decide if its appropriate to take classes online, officials said.

Dining, transportation, health, counseling and other services will be available on a normal schedule Monday and Tuesday, according to the update.
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Indian envoy Taranjit Singh Sandhu met US congressman Michael McCaul here on Tuesday and discussed strategic India and US relations.

Sandhu and the Minority Leader on the House Foreign Affairs Committee McCaul also discussed ways to further deepening of the partnership between the two countries.

"Strengthening #IndiaUS relations on the Hill. I reconnected with @RepMcCaul Minority Leader on the House Foreign Affairs Committee @HouseForeign and discussed the strategic #IndiaUS relations & further deepening of our partnership," Sandhu tweeted.

On Monday, the ambassador met Jim Risch, the Republican chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and discussed ways to strengthen India and US relations.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
SANTA ROSA, Calif., March 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- SRMA, an association of public employees in Santa Rosa, has voted to affiliate with Teamsters 856. The 135-member association includes professionals who work in public works, planning and economic development, housing and community services, recreation and parks, and other departments providing valuable services throughout the City of Santa Rosa.

The affiliation agreement means SRMA members will stand with 450 existing Santa Rosa Teamsters, and over 17,000 members represented by Local 856 throughout Northern California.

"We are excited SRMA is joining our union," said Local 856 Secretary-Treasurer/Principal Officer Peter Finn. "The addition of SRMA will help us continue to build power for all Teamsters 856 members in the City of Santa Rosa."

Founded in 1949, Teamsters Local 856 represents more than 17,000 hardworking members in the San Francisco Bay Area, North Bay, Sacramento, and Central Valley communities.

SOURCE Teamsters Local 856
Piers Morgan has slammed Prince Harry over his 'very woke' hoax phone calls with Greta Thunberg which 'revealed his us against the world attitude.'

The Good Morning Britain host was responding to leaked telephone recordings from Russian hoaxers who contacted the Duke of Sussex at his luxury Canada hideaway on two separate occasions.

Harry - who thought he was talking to Greta Thunberg and her father Savante - claimed President Donald Trump had 'blood on his hands' and would be 'outsmarted' by the teenage environmental activist.

This morning, Piers hit out at the 'woke' Duke of Sussex, and said the hoax call was 'indicative of his kind of mindset.'

Harry claimed that Trump's support of the coal industry was negatively impacting island nations that he and Meghan had visited. The couple is pictured in Fiji in November 2018

The Good Morning Britain host was responding to leaked telephone recordings from Russian hoaxers who contacted the Duke of Sussex at his luxury Canada hideaway on two separate occasions

A cartoon of Prince Harry from the YouTube account of the pranksters who fooled him

He said: 'It's one long whine, he seems very unhappy about everything. It's very woke I'm here to save the world with my wife, it's us against the world it's us against everything.

'There is a lot of turmoil. 'It reveals a kind of mindset about Harry which is kind of sad.

'We shouldn't judge him on a hoax call but it's indicative of his kind of mindset.'

In the calls, which took place on New Year's Eve and January 22, Harry said : 'I think the mere fact that Donald Trump is pushing the coal industry is so big in America, he has blood on his hands'.

He later added: 'Unfortunately the world is being led by some very sick people so the people like yourselves and younger generation are the ones that are going to make all the difference.'

Piers added that Harry was 'perfectly entitled to his opinions' but questioned 'who are all these sick people?'

Piers said that Harry was 'perfectly entitled to his opinions' but questioned 'who are all these sick people?'

Russian hoaxers telephoned the prince at his luxury hideaway in Canada on two separate occasions earlier this year and duped him into believing he was chatting with environmental activist Greta Thunberg and her father, Svante (pictured)

Russian hoaxers Vladimir Kuznetsov and Alexey Stolyarov (pictured) phoned the landline at Harry's luxury home om Vancouver Island where he is currently holed up with wife, Meghan Markle, and their son, Archie

He said: 'Why is that any different to 50-100 years ago. They are Speaking to a young woke progressive ear. Twitter is the young woke brigade

'If Harry and Meghan's role is to now parachute themselves back into the royal world for select events where they are superstars...Where does that leave the comparatively boring royals behind?'

Russian hoaxers Vladimir Kuznetsov and Alexey Stolyarov  known as Vovan and Lexus - managed to get through to Harry at his luxury home on Vancouver Island where he is staying with wife Meghan and baby Archie.

During one of the conversations Harry told also the fake Greta that she should continue to push for climate justice, stating: 'The more people say no to something, the more we should knuckle down and try and make it happen because, you know, if Donald Trump can become President of the United States of America, then anything's possible, right?'
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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / March 11, 2020 / Lucky Minerals Inc. (TSXV:LKY)(OTC:LKMNF)(FRA:LKY)("Lucky" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the deployment of exploration teams at the 100% owned Fortuna Project, located in southern Ecuador. The Company's geological team is led by Mr. Victor Jaramillo, M.Sc.A., P.Geo., Exploration Manager for Lucky Minerals.The Fortuna Project has potential to host three significant types of gold mineralization - epithermal, orogenic, and placer gold - as well as, copper-gold porphyry systems coincident with twelve known volcanic centres on the property (see Plate 5). This latter style of mineralization includes the El Buitre discovery made by the company in 2018. The El Buitre porphyry target on Fortuna 3 is known to host favorable copper-gold mineralization and is a likely target under the Company's memorandum of understanding with First Quantum Minerals Ltd.Lucky's crew is focused on gold discovery on Fortuna and consists of two senior and two junior geologists. Primary objectives are follow-up work of anomalous areas and reconnaissance on the Fortuna 8, 9, and 10 concessions in the northwest, and the Fortuna 11 and 12 concessions in the southern region of the concession area, located in the provinces of Zamora Chinchipe and Azuay. This work is concurrent with work being completed by First Quantum Minerals.Plate 1: Location map of the Fortuna Mineral concessions (Fortuna 1 to 12).Lucky CEO, Adrian Rothwell, stated "To date geological fieldwork has identified several possible volcanic hosted epithermal type gold targets in the northwestern section on the Fortuna 8, 9 and 10 concessions. Subject to the success of this program, we look forward to conducting ground IP/resistivity geophysical surveys and soil sampling in order to define potential drill targets this year. Other priority exploration work now underway is to confirm the occurrence of orogenic type gold mineralization along a metamorphosed Paleozoic belt known in Ecuador as the "Cordillera Real" (Fortuna 11 and 12 concessions)."Plate 2: Map of the Fortuna Project concessions in relation to nearby deposits and prospects.Highlights:Teams have been deployed to assess known areas with the highest potential for the occurrence of gold mineralization and into areas that have never previously been explored by the Company. Work will include surface geological mapping and sampling. This work will focus on mapping areas of alteration and taking rock samples. The objective being, to locate the source of the recently observed gold mineralization in the Shincata River regions, to review known areas with anomalous gold and define new areas. This work will define areas for follow-up ground geophysics, trenching and ultimately drill targets.The Property spans the contact between Paleozoic and Mesozoic basement rocks to the east, and Tertiary volcanics to the west of the Fortuna concessions. Northeast trending and structurally controlled (fault bound) geological belts are found within the concessions (see map below).The westernmost belt is comprised of Tertiary volcanics and has potential for hosting epithermal gold mineralization (Fortuna 8, 9 and 10). The middle belt is mainly of Triassic age rocks and appears to have been pierced by Miocene age intrusions and volcanics. Within this belt (Fortuna 3), the El Buitre porphyry target is located.The Fortuna 2, 6, 7, 11 and 12 concessions lie within a belt of mainly Paleozoic rocks. It has good potential to host orogenic type gold mineralization, as that found in similar type and age rocks in Peru. Below is photo of a siliceous hand specimen taken recently from outcrop by our exploration team in the Fortuna 9 concession. This siliceous rock fragment is typical of epithermal gold systems and has vuggy silica, breccia fragments and alteration minerals such as, jarosite, alunite and limonite clusters. The breccia matrix is composed of mainly silica.Plate 3: Fortuna 9 Hand SpecimenProperty Geology:Plate 4: Fortuna Project Geology MapTwo major geological features stand out. The El Buitre Porphyry and Breccia Zone (Fortuna 3), which consists of a phyllic altered stockwork & breccia zone with anomalous copper, gold and moly. To the west and northwest lies an area of volcanic altered rocks (silica-clay-alunite-jarosite) with areas of quartz stockwork veinlets, including vuggy, colloform and banded quartz textures. This area is anomalous in gold, and hosts potential for outlining epithermal precious metal mineralization, of the type found at the El Mozo gold deposit just south of Fortuna 10. Also, historical gold placer mining to the south and west on the property are good indicators for locating the source of this gold mineralization.It is within these potential gold-bearing zones that will be the focus of this initial phase of exploration for 2020 by the Company.The El Buitre Porphyry target and the hydrothermal phyllic alteration and the geochemical signatures observed appear to be distinct from other type porphyries found in Chile and Peru, as the El Buitre porphyry intrusion is emplaced into an "S-Type" meta-granite of Triassic age and into Paleozoic meta-sediments.Geological and Structural Setting:Landsat image interpretation showing distinct geological belts and structural features is shown in the image below. Also, the location of the El Mozo gold project and the El Buitre porphyry area, in relation to the Fortuna concessions is shown in the figure below.The presence of volcanic domes is significant as gold mineralization (as observed in the El Mozo gold deposit) can be spatially and temporally related. Hydrothermal cells responsible for gold mineralization appear to be controlled by high-angle faults. These same faults can influence the emplacement of volcanic domes, an essential step in the development of gold mineralization.Plate 5: Landsat image interpretation showing circular features, domes and four distinct northeast trending geological belts.About LuckyLucky is an exploration and development company targeting large-scale mineral systems in proven districts with the potential to host world class deposits. Lucky owns a 100% interest in the Fortuna and Emigrant Projects.The Company's Fortuna Project is a royalty-free 550km2 (55,000 Ha, or 136,000 Acres) exploration concession. Fortuna is located in a highly prospective, yet underexplored, gold belt in southern Ecuador. Lucky ha
Lok Sabha on Wednesday took up a discussion on the recent violence in parts of Delhi, with Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury describing it as a defeat of humanity and hitting out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Soon after the suspension of seven Congress members from the House was revoked, Lok Sabha took up the discussion on the "recent law and order situation in some parts of Delhi."

Initiating the discussion, Congress leader in Lok Sabha Chowdhury said while some claimed Hindus won, the others said Muslims won in the violence.

"The fact is that humanity was defeated," he said.

He wondered how violence continued for three days despite the fact that Delhi Police is one of the best equipped in the country.

"The Home Minister (Amit Shah) will have to explain," he said.

Hitting out at the prime minister, he said, Nero fiddled while Rome burned.

He claimed that when Delhi was witnessing violence, Modi was hosting US President Donald Trump in Ahmedabad.
GORIS, MARCH 11, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, representative of the YES campaigning side, today released the draft declaration of the April 5 referendum on Constitutional amendments during a campaign in Goris town.

After the 2018 Velvet, peaceful revolution in Armenia there is a topic which is constantly under circulation according to which it is necessary to give a political assessment to the previous leadership. Currently we have created a declaration of the referendum which will give a political assessment to the political processes that have taken place in Armenia in the past 30 years, the PM said, while reading the text of the draft in Goris.

The first point of the declaration states that starting from 1995 up to the 2018 Revolution, except from the 1999 parliamentary elections, all the remaining national elections didnt express peoples free will. The declaration also touches upon the corruption system and other topics in Armenia before the Velvet revolution.

Pashinyan informed that before March 31 the citizens can present their proposals over the draft declaration to the YES staff.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan started on March 10 the campaign for YES vote in the upcoming referendum which is scheduled on April 5. The PM started his campaign from Syunik province. He is accompanied by his spouse Anna Hakobyan, Minister of education Arayik Harutyunyan, Minister of territorial administration Suren Papikyan and My Step faction head Lilit Makunts. The April 5 referendum proposes to suspend the powers of the President and 6 judges of the Constitutional Court.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan
The problem-solving prowess of a simple slime mold has been harnessed to trace the large-scale structure of the universe

A computational approach inspired by the growth patterns of a bright yellow slime mold has enabled a team of astronomers and computer scientists at UC Santa Cruz to trace the filaments of the cosmic web that connects galaxies throughout the universe.

Their results, published March 10 in Astrophysical Journal Letters, provide the first conclusive association between the diffuse gas in the space between galaxies and the large-scale structure of the cosmic web predicted by cosmological theory.

According to the prevailing theory, as the universe evolved after the big bang, matter became distributed in a web-like network of interconnected filaments separated by huge voids. Luminous galaxies full of stars and planets formed at the intersections and densest regions of the filaments where matter is most concentrated. The filaments of diffuse hydrogen gas extending between the galaxies are largely invisible, although astronomers have managed to glimpse parts of them.

None of which seems to have anything to do with a lowly slime mold called Physarum polycephalum, typically found growing on decaying logs and leaf litter on the forest floor and sometimes forming spongy yellow masses on lawns. But Physarum has a long history of surprising scientists with its ability to create optimal distribution networks and solve computationally difficult spatial organization problems. In one famous experiment, a slime mold replicated the layout of Japan's rail system by connecting food sources arranged to represent the cities around Tokyo.

Joe Burchett, a postdoctoral researcher in astronomy and astrophysics at UC Santa Cruz, had been looking for a way to visualize the cosmic web on a large scale, but he was skeptical when Oskar Elek, a postdoctoral researcher in computational media, suggested using a Physarum-based algorithm. After all, completely different forces shape the cosmic web and the growth of a slime mold.

But Elek, who has always been fascinated by patterns in nature, had been impressed by the Physarum "biofabrications" of Berlin-based artist Sage Jenson. Starting with the 2-dimensional Physarum model Jenson used (originally developed in 2010 by Jeff Jones), Elek and a friend (programmer Jan Ivanecky) extended it to three dimensions and made additional modifications to create a new algorithm they called the Monte Carlo Physarum Machine.

Burchett gave Elek a dataset of 37,000 galaxies from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS), and when they applied the new algorithm to it, the result was a pretty convincing representation of the cosmic web.

"That was kind of a Eureka moment, and I became convinced that the slime mold model was the way forward for us," Burchett said. "It's somewhat coincidental that it works, but not entirely. A slime mold creates an optimized transport network, finding the most efficient pathways to connect food sources. In the cosmic web, the growth of structure produces networks that are also, in a sense, optimal. The underlying processes are different, but they produce mathematical structures that are analogous."

Elek also noted that "the model we developed is several layers of abstraction away from its original inspiration."

Of course, a strong visual resemblance of the model results to the expected structure of the cosmic web doesn't prove anything. The researchers performed a variety of tests to validate the model as they continued to refine it.

Until now, the best representations of the cosmic web have emerged from computer simulations of the evolution of structure in the universe, showing the distribution of dark matter on large scales, including the massive dark matter halos in which galaxies form and the filaments that connect them. Dark matter is invisible, but it makes up about 85 percent of the matter in the universe, and gravity causes ordinary matter to follow the distribution of dark matter.

Burchett's team used data from the Bolshoi-Planck cosmological simulation--developed by Joel Primack, professor emeritus of physics at UC Santa Cruz, and others--to test the Monte Carlo Physarum Machine. After extracting a catalog of dark matter halos from the simulation, they ran the algorithm to reconstruct the web of filaments connecting them. When they compared the outcome of the algorithm to the original simulation, they found a tight correlation. The slime mold model essentially replicated the web of filaments in the dark matter simulation, and the researchers were able to use the simulation to fine-tune the parameters of their model.

"Starting with 450,000 dark matter halos, we can get an almost perfect fit to the density fields in the cosmological simulation," Elek said.

Burchett also performed what he called a "sanity check," comparing the observed properties of the SDSS galaxies with the gas densities in the intergalactic medium predicted by the slime mold model. Star formation activity in a galaxy should correlate with the density of its galactic environment, and Burchett was relieved to see the expected correlations.

Now the team had a predicted structure for the cosmic web connecting the 37,000 SDSS galaxies, which they could test against astronomical observations. For this, they used data from the Hubble Space Telescope's Cosmic Origins Spectrograph. Intergalactic gas leaves a distinctive absorption signature in the spectrum of light that passes through it, and the sight-lines of hundreds of distant quasars pierce the volume of space occupied by the SDSS galaxies.

"We knew where the filaments of the cosmic web should be thanks to the slime mold, so we could go to the archived Hubble spectra for the quasars that probe that space and look for the signatures of the gas," Burchett explained. "Wherever we saw a filament in our model, the Hubble spectra showed a gas signal, and the signal got stronger toward the middle of filaments where the gas should be denser."

In the densest regions, however, the signal dropped off. This too matched expectations, he said, because heating of the gas in those regions ionizes the hydrogen, stripping off electrons and eliminating the absorption signature.

"For the first time now, we can quantify the density of the intergalactic medium from the remote outskirts of cosmic web filaments to the hot, dense interiors of galaxy clusters," Burchett said. "These results not only confirm the structure of the cosmic web predicted by cosmological models, they also give us a way to improve our understanding of galaxy evolution by connecting it with the gas reservoirs out of which galaxies form."

Burchett and Elek met through coauthor Angus Forbes, an associate professor of computational media and director of the UCSC Creative Coding lab in the Baskin School of Engineering. Burchett and Forbes had begun collaborating after meeting at an open mic night for musicians in Santa Cruz, focusing initially on a data visualization app, which they published last year.

Forbes also introduced Elek to the work of Sage Jenson, not because he thought it would apply to Burchett's cosmic web project, but because "he knew I was a nature pattern freak," Elek said.

Coauthor J. Xavier Prochaska, a professor of astronomy and astrophysics at UCSC who has done pioneering work using quasars to probe the structure of the intergalactic medium, said, "This creative technique and its unanticipated success highlight the value of interdisciplinary collaborations, where completely different perspectives and expertise are brought to bear on scientific problems."

Forbes' Creative Coding lab combines approaches from media arts, design, and computer science. "I think there can be real opportunities when you integrate the arts into scientific research," Forbes said. "Creative approaches to modeling and visualizing data can lead to new perspectives that help us make sense of complex systems."

###

In addition to Burchett, Elek, Prochaska, and Forbes, the coauthors include Nicolas Tejos at the Pontifical Catholic University of Valparaiso, Chile; Todd Tripp at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst; and Rongmon Bordoloi at North Carolina State University. This work was supported by NASA.
Australians have been urged to prepare for food shortages as the country struggles to import produce due to the rapid spread of coronavirus.

Shoppers may see a lot less choice in the supermarket, Industry Minister Karen Andrews warns, as many continue to bulk buy.

Ms Andrews said there is no need for Australians to 'panic buy' but there are 'logistical issues' with receiving supply from places the country relies on like China.

She said that major food producers have enough supplies for the next month but it was unclear how they would manage beyond that.

Shoppers have been told there is likely to be a lot less variety of food in supermarkets as Australia struggles to import produce due to coronavirus

Industry Minister Karen Andrews (pictured) will be meeting with 18 of Australia's top industry representatives on Wednesday to discuss the impact coronavirus may have on food supply

'There are logistics issues with getting products out and there may well be some delays,' Ms Andrews told The West Australian.

'Major food producers have been telling me they have adequate supplies to keep producing over the next four to six weeks but I need to know and test what they are going to do beyond that.'

The Industry Minister said that shoppers should instead buy from their local small businesses rather than big supermarket chains.

'I do think that there are opportunities (for new businesses) and I think many businesses are alert to what opportunities there are and what critical needs have not been met,' Ms Andrews said.

She will be meeting with 18 of Australia's top industry representatives on Wednesday to discuss the impact coronavirus may have on supply.

Ms Andrews said that while there was a delay getting supply from China, the epi-centre of the virus, Australia would look to other countries such as India and the US to help.

Supermarkets shelves across Australia have been stripped bare of various products as panic kicks in and shoppers start stock piling.

Toilet paper, hand sanitiser, pasta and canned foods are rare to come by as customers continue to hoard products.

Supermarkets shelves across Australia have been stripped bare of various products as panic kicks in and shoppers start stock piling

Speaking in a press conference on Sunday, Ms Andrews said shoppers would likely see less variety throughout stores.

'I say to Australians: you do not need to go out and buy toilet paper. There are adequate stocks and adequate manufacturing capacity of that in Australia,' she said.

'What might happen over time is that there is less choice. So for example, you might only be able to buy from a particular organisation just a loaf of bread that is either white, or it is wholemeal.

'There won't be the wide variety of products.'

Ms Andrews said a range of global suppliers were suffering.

'There's logistics of getting product in from China. There's also other global suppliers that are having some difficulties with logistics,' she said.

'I would encourage Australians to support their local restaurants, their local food chains. Get out there, buy things that they need from the stores, and make sure that we keep Australian businesses ticking over.'

Ms Andrews said there will be less choice for products in stores such as shoppers only being able to choose between white and wholemeal bread
Amid the political crisis in Madhya Pradesh, over 80 Congress MLAs from the state are expected to arrive in Rajasthan on Wednesday afternoon, sources said.

"The party MLAs are reaching here from Madhya Pradesh," they said.

Earlier, the sources had said that the legislators would arrive at the Jaipur airport at 11 am, but that has been delayed.

Meanwhile, three luxury buses have reached the airport which will be used to take the MLAs to a resort located near the Jaipur-Delhi highway.

It is the same resort where legislators from Maharashtra were lodged in November last year.

All arrangements are being made on the directions of Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, the sources said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
GREENWICH  Effective immediately, work-related out-of-state travel by town employees is restricted as part of an effort to combat the spread of coronavirus, First Selectman Fred Camillo announced Wednesday.

All approvals have been rescinded, but employees can resubmit any trip requests they believe are important to the Office of the First Selectman. In state travel on official business will be allowed, Camillo said, but the situation will be monitored daily and reassessed if necessary.

Camillo said he will hold daily meetings on the towns response to the coronavirus with the towns Department of Health, Department of Public Works, Board of Education, the police and fire departments and Dan Warzoha, the towns emergency management operations director.

If any employee is feeling sick, they should stay home, Camillo said. This also applies if they have a sick family member in their home. If you have not had a flu shot, please consider getting one. While it will not prevent anyone from contacting COVID-19, it will prevent someone from developing both the flu and COVID-19.

As of Wednesday, Greenwichs St. Patricks Day Parade, is still scheduled for March 22. New York City, Boston, Hartford and Danbury have canceled their parades. Local organizers said they would assess the decision next week.

On Tuesday, the town closed the Greenwich Senior Center and banned visitors, including spouses, from Nathaniel Witherell. That ban is part of state mandate to bar all visitors from nursing homes unless the patient is receiving hospice or end-of-life care.

Greenwichs private schools have either gone to remote learning or are beginning their spring breaks early. Most recently, Greenwich Country Day School decided to close on Friday, starting the students two-week spring break early. Meanwhile, faculty will meet Friday to continue planning for the possibility of extended school closure and remote learning.

A student and faculty trip to Rwanda scheduled for spring break has been postponed. Other GCDS-sponsored field trips and extended travel planned for later in the school year will be handled individually.

Out of an abundance of caution, all Greenwich Public Schools will be closed Thursday. The school district will remain closed through next week as we continue to evaluate our circumstances, the district said on its website.

Hospital testing

To conduct testing for the coronavirus, Greenwich Hospital has established a specimen collection station. Testing is only for patients who have been referred by a physicians order, Public Relations Coordinator Magaly Olivero said.

At the request of the physician and with an appropriate physician order, the patient can be tested for a number of respiratory viruses, potentially including COVID-19, Olivero said. The patient will receive results from their physician once the tests are processed and completed.

The test processing itself will not take place at the station.

Greenwich Hospital established the station as a precautionary measure to safeguard the health of our patients and healthcare workers by limiting their exposure to individuals experiencing symptoms, Olivero said.

Donna Spellman, executive director of River House Adult Day Center, said it was business as usual there, but efforts were stepped up to clean and sanitize the facility, which provides activities for local seniors Mondays through Saturdays.

We have everyone washing their hands at the door, Spellman said. And we are not open to any visitors, only our essential staff and our clients. We have no volunteers coming in and no special events.

The Retired Mens Association of Greenwich, which hosts weekly speakers at the First Presbyterian Church, announced that it was suspending its speaker series for at least through the end of March due to coronavirus fears.

The Greenwich Lions Club announced that its annual pancake breakfast fundraiser scheduled for Saturday at Eastern Greenwich Civic Center is postponed.

More information on the coronavirus is available online at www.greenwichct.gov/575/Health-Department.

kborsuk@greenwichtime.com
If Joe Biden wins the Democratic nomination, Ill worry that his candidacy might be doomed. Doomed by Bernie Sanders supporters who, out of pique, will sit out the election; doomed by a throwback messenger with no particularly stirring message; doomed by hints of infirmity that many voters find worrisome and that Donald Trump will exploit with crass efficiency.

If, despite this, Biden wins the presidency, Ill worry that, as a potential one-termer, hell bend too far to appease his partys progressive wing. That hell do so in order to cut a figure for history. That hell over-empower federal agencies, overregulate business and overtax individuals. That hell appoint judges with cramped views of religious liberty and free speech. That hell resume a policy of appeasement toward Iran.

Then again, if Biden wins, there will be other things that, for a change, I wont have to worry about. And most of these will be the things that really matter.

If Biden wins only the nomination, I wont have to worry that theres a fair chance that, in Sanders, a man could be elected president who, without nuance or discrimination, demonizes entire sectors of American industry. I wont have to worry about getting my health insurance taken from me or watch my savings shrink to nothing thanks to monetary policy on the Weimar Republic model. I wont have to worry that the self-described dirtbag left will become to the Democratic Party what the Hannity-Carlson-Ingraham right is to the Republican Party.

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 in 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. 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.

If Biden wins, I wont have to listen to the president call members of my profession the enemy of the American people. Or people of my political viewpoint human scum. Or colleagues stone cold losers. I wont have to spend time wondering whether being an unindicted co-conspirator in a hush-money scandal rises to the level of an impeachable offense. I wont have to steer family conversations away from politics lest they veer into X-rated territory. If Biden wins, the word Stormy will refer only to weather and Daniels only to whiskey.

If Biden wins, I will write column after column opposing him on policy grounds. But at least Ill feel relief that the American people didnt vindicate Trumpism and the nativism and meanness it represents.

If Biden wins, he will amuse, embarrass and probably alarm me with his gaffes, misstatements and memory lapses. But Ill never feel ashamed to think of him as my president, much less to root for his success.

If Biden wins, it will not mean a great American presidency. It will mean a decent one. That will be more than enough for me.
Australia will implement a travel ban on Italy, bringing it into line with Iran, South Korea and China in barring all non-Australian residents from entering the country.

The ban will mean Australians who are currently in Italy will have to undergo 14-days of self-isolation at home if they want to return to Australia, as the Morrison government attempts to control the outbreak of the coronavirus.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Australian residents would be subject to the same isolation period that applies to the other countries for which there are already travel bans.

"That ban will come into effect at 6pm this evening," he said. "Italy itself has effectively put itself into lockdown with travel now, and this largely closes that loop. We already had the enhanced screening measures that are in place."
Trump discusses waiving the payroll tax through the end of the year or indefinitely to shore up economy, says source.

United States President Donald Trump on Tuesday said the coronavirus outbreak would go away and urged Americans to remain calm as the number of confirmed cases climbs, heaping pressure on the White House to boost its response to the health crisis and minimise the blow to the economy.

A steady rise in the number of US cases of COVID-19 has concerned health officials and spurred calls within Congress for action to expand testing and avert an economic meltdown.

About three-quarters of US states now have confirmed COVID-19 cases, with over 800 Americans infected. On Tuesday, Washington states governor warned of tens of thousands more cases without real action and New Yorks governor deployed US National Guard troops as a containment measure in a hard-hit New York City suburb.

It will go away. Just stay calm. It will go away, Trump said after a meeting on Capitol Hill with Republican lawmakers. We want to protect our shipping industry, our cruise industry, cruise ships. We want to protect our airlines industry.

Trump offered no specific details on what had been discussed in a meeting with his top economic officials.

A source told Reuters News Agency that Trump told Republican senators that two options for a coronavirus economic relief plan would be to waive the payroll tax through the end of the year or make the tax cut permanent.

A payroll tax cut would put more money in workers paycheques, helping them absorb coronavirus-related work disruptions and encouraging them to keep spending and grow the economy.

Democrats accused Trump, a Republican, of being more focused on soothing Wall Streets nerves after the stock markets historic 2,000 point plunge on Monday than on protecting the public from the health and economic fallout of the fast-spreading epidemic.

President Trump and his administration should be putting people before corporations, and they should be focused on taking appropriate steps to keep the American people and their economic security safe, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said.

Democrats are pushing for paid sick leave, expanded and free testing for the coronavirus and other measures.

Senate Republicans said they hoped the administration could reach a deal with House Democrats for an economic relief package, including a possible $300bn in payroll tax relief that could help people make rent and mortgage payments, or pay medical bills if family members work hours are reduced during the outbreak.

The White House has come under attack for a lack of epidemic preparation by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and early problems with coronavirus test kits that delayed confirmation of results.

Vice President Mike Pence, who is heading the governments response to the outbreak, said more than one million test kits for the coronavirus were in the field and that four million more were going out this week. We want people to get tested, he said after he and Trump met with health insurer executives.

Pence announced that private US health insurers had agreed to extend coronavirus treatment coverage in all of their plans and waive copayment fees for testing. He did not mention the millions of uninsured Americans.

Outbreak expands

More than 116,000 people have contracted the coronavirus worldwide, with over 4,000 deaths since it surfaced in China late last year, according to the World Health Organization. It has spread to more than 100 nations. Italy, which has the highest death toll outside of China, has put its entire population of 60 million on virtual lockdown.

Along with the more than 800 US cases, there have been 28 deaths, most of them in Washington state, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University. New Jersey on Tuesday reported its first coronavirus death.

At least 35 US states and the District of Columbia have reported infections of COVID-19.

Washington state has been hardest hit, with a nursing home in the Seattle suburb of Kirkland accounting for the bulk of the states 22 confirmed deaths.

Washingtons Governor Jay Inslee on Tuesday said he was considering real action to prevent a rapid increase of cases in the state. Asked whether he was considering mandatory measures to slow the virus, he said: I would not be shocked if we have some news on that in the next few days.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said schools would be closed and public gatherings suspended in a coronavirus hot zone in New Rochelle, a New York City suburb, and deployed US National Guard troops there. New York state has one of the highest numbers of cases, most of them in and around New Rochelle.

The United Nations announced that it would be closing its headquarters in New York to the public until further notice.

In California, the Grand Princess cruise ship docked at the Port of Oakland continued offloading its 2,400 passengers, most of whom will go into quarantine at military bases. The vessel was barred from returning to San Francisco last week due to a coronavirus outbreak on board.

The governors of North Carolina and Colorado on Tuesday declared a state of emergency in their states.

As the outbreak spreads, daily life in the country has been increasingly disrupted, with concerts and conferences cancelled, universities telling students to stay home and take classes online, and more businesses asking workers who can to stay home and work remotely.

US health officials have urged older people, especially those with chronic medical concerns, to avoid big social gatherings, cruise ships and airline flights.

Not every community has an outbreak going on right now, but people should know that this is likely to get worse before it gets better, US Surgeon General Jerome Adams said on the ABC television show Good Morning America.
About 400 military personnel in Taiwan under home quarantine: minister

ROC Central News Agency

03/10/2020 09:09 PM

Taipei, March 10 (CNA) Approximately 400 members of Taiwan's Armed Forces are currently under home quarantine as part of the military's efforts to keep the COVID-19 coronavirus at bay, Defense Minister Yen De-fa () said Tuesday.

The military personnel were asked to remain at home for 14 days because either they or a family member had visited destinations that turned out to be high risk areas for COVID-19, Yen said in a legislative hearing.

The absence of the approximately 400 military personnel will not affect the defense capabilities of Taiwan's Armed Forces, he said.

Since the military instituted its self-quarantine rules in January, there has been at least one period during which as many as 2,000 members, including two generals, were confined to their homes, Yen said.

Yen said the two generals, who have since returned to work, had been placed in home quarantine after transit stops in coronavirus-infected areas on their return from military exchange visits to Nicaragua and Eswatini, respectively.

The military is implementing strict measures to prevent the coronavirus from entering its bases, he said, listing precautions such as limiting interactions between different units.

In response to a legislator's question, Yen said his ministry is not discounting the possibility of including biological warfare simulations in Taiwan's military exercises and that studies and analyses of such developments are in progress.

(By Wang Yang-yu and

Emerson Lim) Enditem/pc

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Democrats and the White House appear to be weeks away from striking a bipartisan package to help the economy and individuals impacted by the coronavirus outbreak  as markets continue to plummet due to the fallout from the epidemic.

The fading hopes of a stimulus to an economy the White House admits will see a 'slowdown' sent the markets crashing again Wednesday.

Nancy Pelosi is prepared to present her economic proposal later in the day Wednesday and put it up for a vote on the House floor on Thursday.

According to a top Pelosi aide, the Democratic leader spoke with Trump's Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin early Wednesday morning to discuss a more bipartisan coronavirus package.

But previous conversations between aides, lawmakers and Trump administration officials show that there is only some overlap in what Democrats want in the economic stimulus package and what the administration is looking for.

Larry Kudlow, Donald Trump's top economic adviser, admitted late Tuesday that he would have to fight his own party for the payroll tax suspension the president has made the centerpiece of his plan.

'I'm not giving up on this,' Kudlow told Fox News Tuesday night when asked about Republican pushback, claiming he would go to bat for the tax cuts.

Tuesday night, the U.S. surpassed 1,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus and 31 people died after contracting the virus  few states have been spared from the fast-spreading respiratory virus

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi appears to be weeks away from striking an economic stimulus package deal as she prepares to put the Democrats' plan up for a vote on the House floor Thursday

'I'm not giving up on this,' National Economic Council Director Larry Kudlow said, admitting that Republicans are against the payroll tax cut, but said he will continue to fight for Trump's preferred package

The Dow plunged 1,000 points in the first few hours markets were open Wednesday morning after opening more than 400 points down from where it closed Tuesday night.

The drop occurred as investors face concerns as lawmakers and Trump cant agree on a package that will rescue businesses facing challenges as coronavirus rocks the nation.

Democrats are critical of Trumps plan, claiming it focuses too much on the market and not enough on relieving financial pressures Americans are facing as result of coronavirus spreading.

While Democrats and Republicans in Congress might come to an agreement on a bill that does not include payroll tax cuts, when the package hits the presidents desk, he could strike down the bipartisan measure.

'I think a lot of people supported it,' Kudlow continued. 'We heard it in the lunch today. President was very well received on this stuff. There's some issues. We will go through the issues.'

'We will look at the financing. We will look at the length of the payroll tax holiday but again, we're dealing - if you're sick at home and you're not getting paid, we're going to help you,' Kudlow vowed. 'That's very important. It's another middle class assistance.'

Senator Lindsey Graham, one of the president's most loyal defenders, even admitted he didn't think the tax cuts were the best way to stimulate the economy in the wake of the coronavirus crisis.

'They had five or six ideas,' Graham said of Trump's proposals, according to Politico. 'Trying to help people that were going to be laid off, targeted packages to parts of the economy that were going to get hit. You know, the inability to travel and hold events, the hospitality industry.'

But he did not show outright support for the payroll tax suspension, claiming Republicans are 'mixed' on that aspect.

'I don't know if that's the best way to do it,' Graham said of the tax cuts. 'The president is pushing it. I will have to sit down and think about it. The money that costs, could it be better to applied to [specific] sectors of the economy.'

Senator Kevin Cramer dismissed the payroll tax cut as more of a 'safety net' than an economic stimulus package.

'Frankly, a short term deferral of taxes or a payroll - short term payroll reduction sounds more like a safety net than a stimulus package, quite honestly,' the North Dakota Republican said. 'It's a stimulus that the economy needs is for good handling of and management of the coronavirus.'

Kudlow pushed back.

'Well, we should be worried about economic growth,' he asserted. 'And as I say, what we want to do is keep the economy as sound as it is.'

He then suggested that without the payroll tax suspension, the booming economy could stagnate.

'It has been a blue collar boom and we'd like to keep it that way. Hence the payroll tax holiday. Now we're talking all the Republican leaders,' he said.

U.S. stock indexes opened down on Wednesday as the whipsaw week continues, with investors growing frustrated about the lack of details on President Donald Trump's proposed fiscal stimulus plan to combat the economic fallout from the coronavirus epidemic.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped as much as 700 points, or 2.7 percent, in early trading. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq were also down more than 2 percent on Tuesday morning.

It follows a day on which Wall Street jumped nearly 5 percent, driven by expectations that Trump would discuss a payroll tax cut and announce other 'major' stimulus measures at a news conference.

Stocks soared in late trading on Tuesday following a report that Trump had pitched a 0 percent payroll tax in a meeting with Republican lawmakers on Tuesday.

Stocks also shrugged off a surprise move by the Bank of England to cut interest rates and support bank lending, which had lifted sentiment in Europe and Asia overnight.

The three main indexes came within a hair's breadth of confirming bear market territory, implying a drop of 20 percent from record highs, on Monday following a collapse in oil prices.

Dow's five biggest losers on Wednesday The following Dow components saw the biggest losses as of 10am: Boeing: -6.4% Dow Inc: -6.1% Nike: -4.9% American Express: -4.6% Walt Disney Co: -4% Advertisement

The S&P 500 is now about 15 percent below its all-time high hit just three weeks earlier.

The current bull market is the longest in U.S. history, stretching back 11 years to the end of the Great Recession.

Analysts now expect the U.S. Federal Reserve to cut rates for the second time this month when it meets next week, pressuring Treasury yields further.

Rate-sensitive U.S. lenders tumbled, with Citigroup Inc, JPMorgan Chase & Co and Morgan Stanley down between 2.2 percent and 3.7 percent in premarket trade.

Stocks also shrugged off Joe Biden rolling into commanding victories in pivotal Michigan and two other states on Tuesday, taking a big step toward the Democratic Party's presidential nomination.

Trump met with Republican senators on Capitol Hill Tuesday afternoon for lunch to discuss an economic bailout plan to combat the fallout from the spread of coronavirus.

While at the Capitol, however, Trump did not meet with Democratic lawmakers, who he needs in order to pass an economic stimulus package in the House.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin is in talks with Pelosi on striking a bipartisan deal. He was present during Trump's meeting with Republican senators on Tuesday

'We're hoping that he and the speaker can pull this together so that we end up not playing partisan games,' Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Tuesday, making it clear he wasn't spearheading any efforts to strike a deal with Democrats

Pelosi's bill, outlined over the weekend by herself and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, will include propping up unemployment insurance, food stamps, paid sick leave and providing free coronavirus testing.

But the House Speaker's bill leaves out the payroll tax cut Donald Trump is forcefully pushing for.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told reporters Tuesday that Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin was speaking with Pelosi to strike a bipartisan deal.

The two have a good relationship and have been able to cut deals in the past.

'We're hoping that he and the speaker can pull this together so that we end up not playing partisan games at a time, which seems to me, to cry out for bipartisan, bicameral agreement. That's what I'm hoping to see,' McConnell said.

Drew Hammill, Pelosi's deputy chief of staff, tweeted that the two talked early Wednesday morning 'to discuss proposals for next #coronavirus legislative response package.'

While both Democrats and the administration are pushing for a bailout plan to be passed within the next few days, it appears the two entities are weeks away from that goal.

The need for a stimulus package comes as markets experienced the worst-ever one day drop on Monday and saw low numbers not experienced since the 2008 financial crisis.

The markets opened nearly 1,000 points down on Monday and over the course of the day dropped around 2,000 points total.

The plummet came as coronavirus concerns continue to rock the nation  and investors  and Saudi Arabia and Russia launched an oil price war as the economy in China  the world's largest oil importer  has been stifled by the coronavirus outbreak.

There was a slight market reprieve on Tuesday as promises of a stimulus package encouraged investors to halt sell-offs and reinvest.

Trump continues to downplay the threat of coronavirus as the confirmed cases in the U.S. surpassed 1,000 Tuesday night and more than 30 people have died after contracting the fast-spreading respiratory virus.

Both Trump and Pelosi are interested in a paid sick leave program to help workers who need to take off work after either contracting coronavirus or in self-quarantine to stop potential spread.

The Trump administration is also looking at extending the tax filing deadline, which falls on April 15 every year.

The effort, a person familiar with the matter told The Wall Street Journal, would be to help lessen the fallout of coronavirus on U.S. families and businesses.

Potentially extending the deadline would act as a bridge loan for people and businesses facing disruptions due to coronavirus  but it isn't clear how far the deadline would be pushed back and who would be eligible for an extension.

Economic fallout from cancelled events grows as New York Auto Show is called off due to coronavirus

The list of cancelled or postponed events that historically have drawn thousands of people each year, from multi-day rock concerts to business conventions, is growing.

On Wednesday, the annual New York Auto Show, scheduled for next month, joined that list.

Organizers officially postponed the event until August due to the spread of coronavirus in the region.

'We are taking this extraordinary step to help protect our attendees, exhibitors and all participants from the coronavirus,' Mark Schienberg, president of the Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association, which operates the show, said on the shows website.

The annual show is held at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in Manhattan.

Automakers have started to unveil vehicles outside of shows, decreasing the shows importance. The coronavirus threat compounds the problem.

Earlier this month the Geneva International Motor Show was abruptly canceled due to the virus.

On Tuesday night, Coachella and Stagecoach music festival organizers confirmed that the popular events scheduled for next month in Southern California are being pushed back to the fall after coronavirus cases were reported in the area.

At the direction of the County of Riverside and local health authorities, we must sadly confirm the rescheduling of Coachella and Stagecoach due to COVID-19 concerns, the organizers said in a statement.
Police have conducted searches and arrested a man as part of their investigation into violent dissident republican activity.

Detectives from the Terrorism Investigation Unit (TIU) carried out searches in the Creggan area of Derry on Wednesday, March 11.

A number of items have been seized and a 41-year-old man arrested under the Terrorism Act. He has been taken to Musgrave Station in Belfast for questioning.

Detective Chief Inspector Paul Rowland said: "Today's search demonstrates that we will continue to work with our communities to disrupt the activities of this small group of people who are intent on using violence. Our priority will always be to protect communities and keep people safe from harm.

"There is no place for this type of activity and the vast majority of people in our communities want to live in a peaceful society.

"I want to appeal to anyone who has information which could assist our investigations to contact us on 101 or, if someone would prefer to provide information without giving their details they can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers and speak to them anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Jerusalem/UNI: Israel President Reuven Rivlin issued a call for a unity government after the official results of the March 2 elections were submitted to him on Wednesday.

Neil Handel, chairman of the Central Elections Committee (CEC) that oversees the elections, handed the president the final results during a ceremony at the President's residence here in the national capital.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's rightwing Likud party gained 36 seats while its main rival, the centrist Blue and White party headed by Israel's former military chief Benny Gantz, garnered 33 seats.

The Joint List, a unity of Arab factions, gained 15 seats, the highest number of seats the party ever won.Netanyahu's bloc, a pro-settler party and two Jewish ultra-Orthodox parties, gained 58 seats together, meaning the long-time leader does not have enough votes to form a coalition government in Israel's 120-seat parliament.

Rivlin urged leaders of all parties to form "a stable government" after two rounds of votes in 2019 ended with a deadlock.He reiterated his outline for a unity government, which includes a rotation scheme in which Netanyahu and Gantz serve as prime ministers.

On Sunday, the President will begin a series of consultations with heads of the factions after which he will announce which leader will he task with forming the next government.Netanyahu's corruption trial is scheduled to begin on March 17. Netanyahu, indicted with bribery, fraud and breach of trust in three separate cases, is the first incumbent prime minister to stand to trial in the history of Israel.
Maharashtra health minister Rajesh Tope on Tuesday said that 289 of the total 304 samples collected have been found negative for coronavirus while "five were found positive". He said that results for 10 samples are pending.

"All 289 people who tested negative for coronavirus have been discharged and sent home. As far as the other 15 whose results are pending or found positive, 12 are admitted in Pune hospitals and the rest in Mumbai," Tope told reporters here.

He said that so far, as many as 1,29,448 passengers from 1,101 international flights have been screened at airports in Mumbai, Pune, and Nagpur.

"The Bureau of Immigration is providing information about people returning from Italy, Iran and South Korea. These three countries are worst affected so all the passengers returning from these three countries are being put under observation since February 21," Tope said.

"All district hospitals and government medical colleges have isolation wards. So far, the government has kept 502 fully equipped beds ready across the state for any kind of situation related to coronavirus," he added.

Tope said that a total of 591 people who came from affected countries have been kept under observation, of which 353 have completed their 14 days mandatory observation period.

He also said that people with coronavirus-like symptoms are also being kept in isolated wards.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Turkish special forces on Wednesday continued to monitor Turkey's northwestern border with Greece.

Thousands of migrants massed on Turkey's border with Greece, after the Turkish government said last month that it would no longer try to contain migrants on its territory.

Last week Turkey deployed 1,000 special forces to its land border with Greece to prevent Greek authorities from pushing back those attempting to cross.

To prevent the crossings, Athens deployed riot police and border guards who in many cases used tear gas, flash grenades and water cannons.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday made the incendiary claim that the Greek authorities' alleged mistreatment of migrants at its border was comparable to "what the Nazis did," and said he would denounce Greece's action at international platforms.

Several clashes have erupted between the migrants and the Greek forces.

Greece says that Turkish security forces fired tear gas from the other side of the border at Greek officers.

Erdogan said Greece's actions have resulted in four migrants' deaths and that around 1,000 were injured. Greece denies accusations of mistreatment.
Afghanistan releases Taliban prisoners

After the US-Taliban deal, Kabul has been expected to release up to 5,000 prisoners and the Taliban was to free 1,000 captives in order to start the intra-Afghan negotiations.

Afghanistans president has formally approved the release of Taliban prisoners starting this Saturday as part of Kabuls efforts to start direct talks with the rebel group.

As per a decree signed by President Ashraf Ghani, the Taliban prisoners would be required to give a written commitment stating they would not take up arms again.

500 PRISONERS WILL BE RELEASED IN EVERY TWO WEEKS

In a tweet on Tuesday night, presidential spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said the decree greenlights the release of Taliban prisoners in accordance with an accepted framework for the start of talks between the government and the rebel group.

The decree, issued to the media on Wednesday, states that 1,500 prisoners would be freed initially. They will be released after a biometric process and in groups of 100 every day over a period of 15 days.

The releasing of the 1,500 Taliban is a goodwill gesture and the process will be started on March 14 at Parwan prisons. Every day 100 Taliban prisoners will be released in consideration of age, health status, and the remaining time of sentenced imprisonment, read the document.

Kabul expects the gesture will bring the Taliban to the negotiation table and has conveyed its conditions for the release of the remaining 3,500 Taliban prisoners.

"With the beginning of the direct talks between the Afghan government and Taliban, every two weeks 500 Taliban prisoners will be released -- provided that a major reduction in violence continues -- until 3,500 more are released, said the decree.

A day after the historic agreement was signed in Qatars capital Doha, President Ghani had clarified that the Afghan government had not made any commitment for the proposed release of Taliban prisoners. The release of the detainees is not in the domain of the US, only the Afghan government has that authority, he said at a press conference in Kabul, and said the countrys parliament would decide the matter.

However, Ghani announced on Monday that a mechanism for the release of Taliban prisoners had been reached, as he took oath as president for another five-year term.
The worlds smallest-known dinosaur has been discovered encased in 99-million-year-old amber.

Researchers found a skull measuring about half an inch, which belongs to the bird-like Oculudentavis khaungraae in northern Myanmar.

They were able to use the specimen to create a computer generated image of the dinosaur that would have measured approximately 2 inches long and weighed around an ounce.

The resin preserved several details of the creature, including 100 sharp teeth and lizard-like eyes.

I was totally blown away, said paleontologist Jingmai OConnor of the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology in Beijing. Its probably the most beautifully preserved Mesozoic bird skull Ive ever seen, and its so weird.

An artists rendering of the Oculudentavis khaungraae, which likely hunted insects (ZHIXIN HAN/China University of Geosciences/AFP via Getty Images)

Prof OConnor said Oculudentavis, which means eye tooth bird, appeared to be smaller than what is considered todays smallest bird, the bee hummingbird.

It possessed around 100 conical teeth with sharp ridges on the edges, suggesting it likely hunted insects.

It also had a large eye socket similar to a lizards eye, with a narrow opening which only let in a small amount of light, indicating it was active during the day.

The discovery, described in the journal Nature, casts fresh light on the evolution of birds, which split from small feathered dinosaurs roughly 150 million years ago.

The skull of the bird-like Oculudentavis khaungraae (XING LIDA/China University of Geosciences/AFP via Getty Images)

Prof OConnor said: Its a little smaller than a bee hummingbird  the smallest bird alive today.

The jaws are filled with 100 teeth. It had these weird eyes staring out looking to the sides. Theres nothing like this alive today.

Its just incredible to uncover this new ecological niche we never even knew existed.

Lars Schmitz, associate professor of biology at the W M Keck Science Department in the US, said: Amber preservation of vertebrates is rare, and this provides us a window into the world of dinosaurs at the lowest end of the body-size spectrum.

Its unique anatomical features point to one of the smallest and most ancient birds ever found.

British palaeobiologist Professor Roger Benson, who was not involved in the study, said the fossil suggests some of the earliest birds evolved to become miniature.

Prof Benson, of Oxford University, said: The study of small vertebrates preserved in amber, their ecosystems and their evolutionary relationships with one another is in a nascent phase.

But Oculudentavis suggests the potential for continued discovery remains large  especially for animals of diminutive sizes.

Additional reporting by agencies
Heartbreaking images show baboon mothers cradling their dead babies and continuing to groom them for up to ten days in new study.

Researchers not only observed such behaviour among grieving mothers in the wild, but also saw male baboons protect the corpses of their young from others.

It remains unclear why baboons exhibit this behaviour, with some experts arguing that it helps the mothers deal with their grief, or results from strong family ties.

Scroll down for video

Heartbreaking images show baboon mothers cradling their dead babies and continuing to groom them for up to ten days in new study

'There are numerous hypotheses to explain primate responses to dead infants,' said paper author and evolutionary anthropologist Alecia Carter of the Universite de Montpellier in France.

'Perhaps the strongest hypothesis is that carrying after death is an extension of nurturing behaviour.'

Dr Carter and colleagues spent 13 years following and observing a troop of Namibian chacma baboons, during which time they witnessed 12 cases of mothers carrying their dead young  including a miscarriage and two stillbirths.

The mothers were seen to carry the dead infants for an average of threefour days, although times varied between one hour and up to ten days.

Another theory to explain the behaviour  the so-called 'unawareness hypothesis'  is simply that the mothers are unable to tell that their baby has died.

However, this appears to be unlikely, as the baboon mothers were seen to treat the dead babies differently, frequently dragging them across the ground by one limb  something never witnessed with a live infant.

'We are not suggesting that the mothers are unaware that their infants are dead, but there is such strong selection on motherinfant bond formation that, once formed, the bond is difficult to break,' Dr Carter explained.

'It's less clear why only some mothers carry or protect their dead infant, but I suspect that a range of factors influence this behaviour.'

Dr Carter and colleagues spent 13 years following and observing a troop of Namibian chacma baboons, during which time they witnessed 12 cases of mothers carrying their dead young  including a miscarriage and two stillbirths

The team also found that male baboons would protect dead infants by threatening observers who got too close.

'This is quite surprising behaviour, because it has rarely been reported by previous studies,' said paper co-author and evolutionary biologist Elise Huchard, also of the Universite de Montpellier.

'Male baboons are not usually very paternal, but they regularly protect their infant from threats, especially from infanticidal attacks.'

Baboons are not the only primates to exhibit such behaviours.

'Other primates have been observed carrying their dead infants for much longer periods of time,' said Dr Carter.

'Chimps and Japanese macaques, for example, have been observed carrying infants for over a month.'

It remains unclear why baboons exhibit this behaviour, with some experts arguing that it helps the mothers deal with their grief, or results from strong family ties. Pictured, a baboon cleans inside the mouth of a dead infant

'However, chacma baboons travel much longer distances on an average day and the desert environment is harsh, making it costly for a mother to carry her infant for long periods,' Dr Carter added.

Baboons live in large multi-sex groups of up to 100 primates, with strong male and female hierarchies.

The full findings of the study were published in the journal Royal Society Open Science.
VALLETTA, March 11 (Reuters) - Malta on Wednesday banned travel with Germany, France, Spain and Switzerland to try to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, Prime Minister Robert Abela said.

The small Mediterranean island imposed similar restrictions on travel from Italy on Monday.

"The decision has been taken on the advice of the medical authorities because of the sharp increase in the spread of the virus," Abela told a press conference.

He said the travel ban would come into force at midnight on Wednesday. People who arrived in Malta from Italy and the other countries before the ban would have to observe mandatory quarantine. The police will make spot checks. Anyone failing to follow orders will face a 1,000 euro ($1,131) fine.

Malta has so far had six confirmed virus cases, all involving people who had visited Italy. No local spread has been reported. No fatalities have been reported. ($1 = 0.8836 euros) (Reporting by Chris Scicluna; Editing by Crispian Balmer)
by Shafique Khokhar

Doctors from the Ahsas-e-Insaniat association treated 650 patients. Cataract surgery costs US0-400. Ashiq Masih was waiting for five months for an operation, but had no money to pay. Globally, 1.6 billion people do not have access to basic health services.

Karachi (AsiaNews)  Caritas Karachi organised a free medical eye camp for Lent, inspired by Pope Franciss message for the 28th International Day of the Sick (11 February).

This gave 51 poor people an opportunity to undergo cataract surgery. One of them was Ashiq Masih, who is grateful to the doctors and Caritas. "God is great, he told AsiaNews; he heeded my prayers and those of other poor people like me.

Doctors and eye surgeons from the Ahsas-e-Insaniat association treated a total of 650 people of all ages in two different sessions.

The first one took place from 23 to 29 February at St Michaels Parish, in the Khuda Ki Basti (City of God) area; the second one was held on Monday-Tuesday in St Lukes Parish, Itehad Town. Both made their place of worship available to doctors and health workers.

Dr Birbal Genani, an ophthalmic surgeon, said that doctors diagnosed a number of vision disorders, medicated infections and, in some cases, prescribed glasses.

The visits allowed us to select 51 patients with cataract problems. On Monday, they were operated at Karachis Al-Khair Eye Hospital. All operations were successful and the bandages were removed yesterday. The patients will be followed in the coming weeks for check-ups and medications.

In Pakistan, the doctor noted, the cost of a cataract operation at a private clinic can cost around US0-400, a huge amount for the poor.

In Ashiq Masihs case, the problem was diagnosed five months ago, but I didn't have the money to pay for the operation. Caritas truly understands the conditions of the poor. This act of generosity pushes me more and more to believe in God who really listens to the poor and needy."

Sharefan Bibi, widow, also saw a doctor at St Lukes. I am full of joy and happiness, she said. I thank, pray for and bless the whole group of Caritas and Ahsas-e-Insaniat. Their work in support of marginalised, suffering and poor people comes from the teachings they received from their families and the institutions for which they work.

Around 1.6 billion people live in precarious conditions worldwide because of political crises and weak government that cannot provide basic medical care, said Caritas Karachi executive secretary Mansha Noor.

This is a serious challenge for global health, he explained. Feeling and taking action against the suffering and pain of the poor is the aim of Caritas.
A Paris court on Wednesday sentenced two men to prison terms of seven and 11 years for their role in a bizarre money-raising scam that involved impersonating a French government minister, sometimes using a silicone mask.

Gilbert Chikli, 54, received the heavier sentence plus a fine of two million euros (USD 2.26 million), while Anthony Lasarevitsch, 35, was fined one million euros on top of his jail term.

The Franco-Israeli pair were on trial for organised fraud and usurping the identity of Jean-Yves Le Drian -- now France's foreign minister, but then minister of defence -- to extort more than 50 million euros from wealthy political, business and religious figures.

They were tried as the alleged masterminds, with five suspected collaborators facing lesser charges.

The scheme, which took place from 2015 to 2016, involved fraudsters posing as Le Drian to ask politicians and executives for financial aid for what they described as secret operations by the French state.

One would appear in video conferences behind a fake official desk, donning a dark suit and a silicone mask of Le Drian.

Chikli and Lasarevitsch denied the charges.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Ulrika Jonsson unveiled her new collarbone tattoo by Little Lou Rose from the Black Rabbit Collective in images uploaded to her Instagram account on Wednesday afternoon.

The Swedish TV presenter, 52, paid tribute to her late father - who died of a brain haemorrhage aged 52 - with her fresh 'pappa' inking, which translates to dad in English.

A fan of body art, the media personality already boasts a collection of pieces, including a phonetic 'fem-uh-nist' tattoo on her arm, 'BCM' on her wrist in honour of ex Brian Monet, a red devil on her bottom, three crowns on her ankle, and a red heart on her back.

'Pappa': Ulrika Jonsson (L) unveiled her new collarbone tattoo by Little Lou Rose (R) from the Black Rabbit Collective in images uploaded to her Instagram account on Wednesday

Alongside snaps of herself at the parlour, the former weathergirl captioned her posts: 'New ink done @blackrabbitcollective by the adorable @littlelourose .#pappa #woveyou.' [sic]

Her mother Gun Brodie left Stockholm to live with her boyfriend in the Netherlands when Ulrika was just eight years old.

The Gladiators host resided in a housing association flat with her father Bo, who she previously admitted 'had no idea about the needs of a young child', despite having 'fond memories of him' and adopting his 'free spirit'.

In honour: The Swedish TV presenter, 52, paid tribute to her late father - who died of a brain haemorrhage aged 52 - with her fresh 'pappa' inking, which translates to dad in English

All in the details: The media personality is a big fan of body art and already boasts a collection of pieces

Like a pro! The blonde pulled a kooky facial expression as she took to the tattoo chair, and captioned the images: 'New ink done... #pappa #woveyou.'

Early beginnings: Her mother Gun Brodie left Stockholm to live with her boyfriend in the Netherlands, with her father raising her from ages eight until 12 (Ulrika pictured with her mum and stepdad Michael Brodie in 1985)

The former Shooting Stars captain told The Telegraph in 2011: 'Id take myself to school and prepare my own meals, which usually consisted of hamburgers or ravioli out of a tin. I got food poisoning because things would go off in the fridge.

'He was an incorrigible womaniser. Sometimes he would have two or three girlfriends on the go, and Id get told off if I said the wrong thing to the wrong person.

'He was very loving towards me, but I grew to hate his girlfriends because I felt they were stealing his affection.'

The Dancing on Ice 2007 contestant later moved to Britain with her mother and stepfather, before forging a successful 30-year career in presenting.

Woman with a message: The TV star displayed her phonetic 'fem-uh-nist' tattoo on her arm on Loose Women in May 2019

Not her first: The Gladiators star also has a tattoo of a heart on her back (pictured 2005)

Regal: Ulrika boasts three crowns on her right ankle (pictured 2003)

Tribute: She paid tribute to her former partner Brian Monet with a BCM tattoo on her wrist (pictured 2010)

Earlier in the month, Ulrika revealed she is still dating the man who ended her five-year sex drought following the breakdown of her sexless marriage to Brian.

The TV presenter also admitted all her friends told her she needed to 'get laid' during her period of only having sex once in eight years.

Speaking on Loose Women, Ulrika revealed she is still seeing the new man in her life after he charmed her by chatting about family and life before they met in person.

When asked if it is now an ongoing relationship, the TV star coyly replied: 'Might be!'

The blonde beauty has been honest about he lack of intimacy in her marriage and admitted she received blunt advice from her friends on the matter.

She's dating! Earlier in the month, Ulrika revealed she is still dating the man who ended her five-year sex drought following the breakdown of her sexless marriage to Brian

She said: 'But all of my friends were saying to me 'you just need to get laid'. I just feel at this point I feel I don't need anyone.'

Ulrika is mother to children Cameron, 25, Bo, 20, Martha, 15, and Malcolm, 11, and admitted she wouldn't discourage her older children from having a one night stand.

She said: 'I don't discourage one night stands. We were taught as girls you should never sleep with someone on the first date, why not?

'It's a natural desire. It's a wonderful thing, if you want to go out and do it then do it.'
China to help build four modern schools in Namibia's rural constituencies

WINDHOEK, March 10 (Xinhua) -- China has provided 200 million Namibian dollars (about 12.8 million U.S. dollars) to construct four modern schools in Namibia's rural constituencies, Chinese ambassador to Namibia Zhang Yiming said Monday.

According to Zhang, the preparations for the construction of the schools in the country's northeast Kavango West region and Zambezi region are at an advanced stage.

"We are looking forward to starting construction as soon as possible," Zhang said.

The Chinese government has played a crucial role in improving Namibia's education sector.

The two governments signed agreements for cooperation on education under which the Chinese government will provide full scholarships to Namibian students.

China has been providing various forms of financial assistance to the country including grants, interest free loans and interest subsidised loans since 1990.
The entire quarantine process against COVID-19 in Sri Lanka is in a stalemate, reliable sources say. According to the videos posted on social media by those who arrival the Island from South Korea revealed the bitter truth.





Facilities to quarantine against COVID-19 in Sri Lanka

Meanwhile, A Sri Lankan tour guide confirmed to be having Coronavirus has been admitted to the IDH hospital, Health Minister Pavithra Wanniaarachchi said today.





He was a tour guide assisting Italian tourists.





He is the first Sri Lankan to be infected with Coronavirus within the country.












Pusatbajumurah.net 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

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A 76-year-old man suspected to be infected with coronavirus died in Karnataka's Kalaburagi, District Health and Family Welfare department said on Wednesday.

An official note of the department in the district headquarters town identified him as Mohammed Hussain Siddiqui, who died in a government hospital on Tuesday.

"His swab samples have been sent for a lab in Bengaluru. The report is awaited," Department officials said.

Siddiqui had recently returned from Saudi Arabia, where he had gone on a pilgrimage, they said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Two immigration officers at Bangkok's main airport have coronavirus and may have handled the passports of visitors to Thailand, a health official said Wednesday.

The men, both working at Suvarnabhumi airport, fell ill on March 7 and 8 respectively and potentially came into contact with arriving passengers in the days before their diagnosis.

One of the officers was among a team leading health screenings of Thai returnees from South Korea -- which has reported the second most COVID-19 infections in Asia after China.

"They were not working at the same spots," Sopon Iamsirithaworn of the Disease Control Department said.

"There is a chance they came into contact with foreigners or touched passports," he added.

Thailand's Interior Minister said Wednesday it will suspend visa-free arrivals from South Korea, Hong Kong and Italy, as well as visa-on-arrival from 18 countries -- including China and India.

All affected visitors must apply for visas at Thai embassies in their own countries and present a medical certificate.

Thailand's economy is heavily reliant on tourism.

The deadly virus has hammered the sector costing the country billions of dollars, mainly after Chinese tourists were quarantined on the mainland or stayed at home.

Many western visitors have also cancelled holidays or deferred bookings as Thai authorities issue a baffling barrage of advice.

After days drip-feeding conflicting information to holidaymakers, health authorities said on Friday there will be no compulsory quarantine for people from countries hardest hit by the virus.

Thailand has reported 59 cases of the new coronavirus, but there are concerns the low figure may be a reflection of very limited testing programme.

Flag carrier Thai Airways said from Friday it will suspend all flights to Italy, where over 630 people have died with around 10,000 infected so far.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Everyone arriving in Israel will be required to self-quarantine for 14 days, its PM says.

Everyone arriving in Israel will be required to self-quarantine for 14 days to prevent the spread of coronavirus, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says.

"All those coming to Israel from abroad will be placed in isolation," he said in a video address posted to Twitter.

Israeli Interior Minister Aryeh Deri said the measure would be effective immediately for all Israelis returning to the country.

It will apply to foreign citizens from Thursday, he added.

The move means that foreign arrivals will have to prove that they have adequate accommodation to be quarantined during their stay in the country.

"After a day of complex discussions, we made a decision: everyone who comes to Israel from abroad will enter the 14-day isolation," Mr Netanyahu said in a statement.

"This is a tough decision, but it is essential to maintain public health - and public health precedes everything."

He added that the ruling would be valid for two weeks.

The measure means that about 268,000 Israelis who are currently abroad would need to quarantine themselves on their return, Israeli media report.

Israel, a country with a population of about nine million, has so far recorded 42 cases of Covid-19, but no deaths.

The country has already imposed restrictions on travellers arriving from several countries including Italy, the worst-hit European country.

In other developments:

The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that the threat of a pandemic is "very real"

Canada has confirmed the first death related to the virus - an elderly male patient in a care home in Vancouver, British Columbia

In France, Culture Minister Franck Riester has become the first member of the government to be infected with the virus. His team said he had spent several days of the past week in parliament, where a number of other cases have been confirmed

In the US, the number of confirmed cases now exceeds 500

A cruise ship carrying thousands of people who were stranded for days due to a coronavirus outbreak is reported to have docked at the port of Oakland, near San Francisco

What is the situation elsewhere?

The number of infections worldwide is now more than 111,000, with about 3,890 deaths.

In Italy, the coronavirus death toll jumped on Monday by 97 to 463. Infections in the country also increased to 9,172, up from 7,375 on Sunday, as Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte described the outbreak as the country's "darkest hour".

Iran also reported 43 new deaths related to the disease in the past 24 hours. At least 237 people have died and 7,161 have been infected across the country since mid-February, although the real figures are believed to be far higher.

China, which has recorded the highest number of fatalities, reported just 40 new cases of Covid-19, the lowest since 20 January.

Although this indicates that the spread there is slowing, senior officials warned against reducing vigilance. BBC
What does recently canonized Cardinal John Henry Newman, Oxford professor, Anglican priest turned Catholic priest, have in common with the ordinary American Catholic university student? This is a story about Newmans ongoing mission with university students in the United States.

by Antonella Palermo

Welcome to Flagstaff, Arizona. Its in the Southwest, USA. About 150 thousand people live there. Its located along famous Route 66 and is a convenient stop for the thousands of tourists attracted by famous sites in the area, such as Grand Canyon National Park.

Its the off-season, so many shops are closed. Scattered groups of Amish people are gathered at the junctions near the gas stations. Its Sunday and a surreal landscape lies before us.

My husband and I are trying to find a place nearby to attend Mass. Google Maps to the rescue! It points us in the direction of Northern Arizona University. After a bit, we head into the semi-deserted alleys of the Campus. Is this the right way? we wonder. Meanwhile, vague memories of the chapel at the largest university in Europe (La Sapienza) where I used to go float in my head.

We arrive. Boys and girls welcome us warmly. Strains of musical instruments being tuned fill the air and give us an idea of the Eucharistic hymns we can look forward to. The space is small. Families and some senior citizens arrive. You can sense that each person has a specific role to carry out in this liturgical setting. The New Age atmosphere, which fills the surrounding region, has not penetrated this space. We have arrived at Northern Arizona Universitys Newman Center.

Gabriel Matthews, Exercise Science major

A large community

Gabriel Matthews, an Exercise Science major, tells us about his involvement at the Newman Center. He explains that its like a home away from home, a place where he can meet friends. One of the things he loves the most about the Newman Center are the Newman Nights. If Gilbert loves the Newman Nights, it means hes a serious Truth Seeker. Thats exactly what a Newman Night is  an opportunity to seek truth in the university. The NAU Newman Center has one Newman Night a week and about 100 students attend it regularly.

Jazzy Zaleski, Business Marketing and Spanish

We also meet Jazzy Zaleski, who studies Business Marketing and Spanish. Shes enthusiastic about the fruitful and mature friendships shes made at the Newman Center which has helped her strengthen her faith. The need for a solid, healthy, joyful social network is evident. According to Maria Yanez, everyone shares the desire to create a strong sense of community.

Maria Yanez, Psychology major, Social Work minor

Cardinal Newmans legacy on University campuses in the United States

Cardinal John Henry Newman pursued truth with such tenacity that he opened himself up to rejection and put his reputation on the line when he entered into communion with the Catholic Church in 1843. It was in Ireland in 1852 that he expounded his thoughts on the fundamentals of and advantages of a university education. Later, these lectures were integrated into a work that is synonymous with Newman: The Idea of a University. Two years later, he became rector of the newly founded Catholic University of Ireland in Dublin (now University College Dublin).

Cardinal Newmans presence on the university campus endured even after his death in 1890. Only three years later, the first Newman Club was founded on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania. Just after the turn of the century, many American Catholic university clubs formed a formal association. This later led to the formation of the National Newman Club Federation.

Currently, the Newman Connection website lists 1,486 Newman Centers in the United States alone. These Centers have provided and continue to provide pastoral care to Catholic university students and to the communities in their area. As the website of the Newman Center at Northern Arizona University (NAU) makes clear, these centers are places were Catholic Jacks are welcome.

Place to call home

Due to this network that takes its name from the recently canonized English cardinal, Cardinal Newman is perhaps more well-known in the United States than in his native country. These centers are present in contexts that are not specifically Catholic. They are a catalyst in a reality where students run a high risk of isolation and risky behavior as they take their first steps away from their families. Sometimes they can feel really alone and isolated on the college campus, Fr Matt Lowry, the Newman Center Chaplain, tells us. And so, to have a place that they can call their home, where they can be safe and learn and grow. Fr Lowrys style is open, dynamic, creative and conversational.

Father Matt Lowry, Newman Center Chaplain

Synod on Young People encourages young adult ministry

Fr Lowry praises Pope Francis style in that he encourages the Church to listen to young people. He recalls the experience of the Synod and says it is a great encouragement for the Church. Its this style that can be found in the Newman Centers: We love questions as we seek the truth, he tells us. We see [Newman] as a great intercessor for us. We want to have a presence here on this campus, and on every campus, so that the students will know that Jesus is walking with them. He even tells us a short story of a non-Catholic student who attended an event sponsored by the Newman Center. He enjoyed it so much that he went back to the Center and participated at Mass. That led him to undertake a journey of faith, much like Newmans. He was received into the community of faith and confirmed as well.

Father Matt Lowry, Newman Center Chaplain

Being a FOCUS missionary

During our visit, we also discover FOCUS: Fellowship of Catholic University Students. FOCUS missionaries want to help students choose Christ on campus, as FOCUS missionary Ashley Kilzer explains. She explains that they invite the students to grow deeper, invest in them[selves] and their spiritual life and in the relationship with the Lord. The Newman Center builds on the relationship that they already have. The college campus provides so many different decisions for college students to choose. The Newman Center, Ashley says, helps the students choose Christ by being so accessible and having Mass, Adoration and all these different events available. It boils down to relationship, so important in young adults lives: The Newman Center offers them a relationship that is different, that satisfies and that brings them ultimate joy in life, Ashley explains.

Ashley Kilzer, FOCUS Missionary

Faith Stenle is from San Diego, California. She tells us that there is a family-oriented atmosphere at the Newman Center. She goes to the Bible Study offered there and enjoys going to the events they organize. Faith is looking forward to going on a retreat. That would be the Lumberjack Awakening! The last one took place the last weekend of February. Check it out!

Faith Stenle, Freshman

Cultivating the culture of life

Micah Meehan comes from Phoenix and interns at the Newman Center. It can get very difficult at times with studies and going to the library and staying on top of course work, Micah confesses. But, he continues, I make time for Christ. He speaks of the Newman Center as a true  hub of Catholicism here in Flagstaff, capable of reaching out to people who may only really know the culture of death. And so I think our mission here is to really cultivate the culture of life that Christ preaches in the Gospel.

Thats the best definition of a Newman Center that we heard.
Harvey Weinstein enters a Manhattan court house as a jury continues with deliberations in his trial on February 24, 2020 in New York City. prison.

Film producer Harvey Weinstein was sentenced Wednesday to 23 years in prison for a rape and sex assault case that ignited the #MeToo movement in the United States.

The sentence in Manhattan state court was less than the maximum 29 years requested by prosecutors, but could amount to an effective life sentence for the 67-year-old Weinstein, who has been in apparently frail health since being jailed following his conviction Feb. 24.

The prison term also was far higher than the five years his lawyers requested from Judge James Burke.

Hours after the sentence was imposed, the Los Angeles district attorney's office said it had begun the proceess of having Weinstein extradited to California so that he can face charges lodged in January that accused him of raping one woman and sexually assaulting a second woman over a two-day period in 2013.

Watching in the Manhattan courtroom as Weinstein was sentenced were all of the women who had testified against the once-feared Hollywood mogul. They were applauded as they exited the room.

"He has been using and abusing people his whole life," prosecutor Joan Illuzzi said after Weinstein was rolled into the courtroom in a wheelchair for the hearing.

Weinstein was convicted at trial of rape and committing a criminal sexual act more than two years after explosive news articles about his alleged serial sexual abuse of women.

Jurors found him guilty of committing a first-degree criminal sexual act by forcibly performing oral sex on production assistant Mimi Haleyi in 2006.

He also had been convicted of third-degree rape for attacking aspiring actress Jessica Mann in a Manhattan hotel room in 2013.

The producer of films including "Pulp Fiction," "Shakespeare in Love" and "Gangs of New York" was found not guilty of the most serious charges: two counts of predatory sexual assault for which he could have been sentenced to life in prison. He also was acquitted of first-degree rape.

"I really feel remorse for this situation, I feel it deeply in my heart," Weinstein told Burke on Wednesday.

"I'm trying to be a better person."

Weinstein gave long, rambling statement to Burke, saying his wives "knew nothing" about his extramarital affairs, complaining that he had not seen his children since the allegations against him were made in late 2017, and boasting of the charity fundraising he did on the heels of the 9/11 terror attacks and Superstorm Sandy.

"I had wonderful times with these people," he said, referring to the two women whose allegations led to his conviction.

"I think men are confused about these issues," Weinstein said. "I'm worried about this country, lots of men like myself are the latest examples."

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Weinstein was sentenced to 20 years in prison for the attack on Haleyi and another three years, to be served consecutively, for the rape of Mann.

If he survives his prison sentence, he will have to serve five years of probation after his release.

Defense lawyers plan to appeal Weinstein's conviction.

One of Weinstein's lawyers, Donna Rotunno, called the sentence "obscene," "obnoxious" and "cowardly."

Another defense lawyer, Arthur Aidala, said it was a "sad day for the New York City criminal justice system," but added, "I have tremendous confidence in the appeals court."

Haleyi and Mann gave statements in court before Weinstein was sentenced.

Mann accused Weinstein of using "his power over the powerless" and called the crime against her "a recurring nightmare."

"Sopranos" actress Annabella Sciorra had testified at the trial that she was raped by Weinstein in her apartment around 26 years ago.

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Sciorra's allegations were not the subject of a separate charge against Weinstein. But her testimony, along with that of five other women, was permitted by the judge to allow prosecutors to show a pattern of conduct by Weinstein to prove that he was guilty of predatory sexual assault against Mann and Haley.

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Scores of other women have accused Weinstein of sexually assaulting them or engaging in less severe forms of sexual misconduct. He has denied all such allegations.

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Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. said in a statement, "We thank the court for imposing a sentence that puts sexual predators and abusive partners in all segments of society on notice. We thank the survivors for their remarkable statements today and indescribable courage over the last two years."

"Harvey Weinstein deployed nothing less than an army of spies to keep them silent. But they refused to be silent, and they were heard," Vance said. "Their words took down a predator and put him behind bars, and gave hope to survivors of sexual violence all across the world."

The New Yorker, in a 2017 article by Ronan Farrow, detailed how Weinstein hired private investigators, including ex-Israeli Mossad agents "to track actresses and journalists" who were working to expose his sexual misconduct. Farrow's original expose about Weinstein played a major role in his downfall.
Vice President Mike Pence, fresh from a conference call with nearly all of the nations governors, spoke this week about how much those governors appreciated President Trumps leadership in the midst of the coronavirus outbreak.

The presidents leadership has made the difference here, Mr. Pence said at a White House news conference on Monday. I heard it again today from 47 governors.

The governors, who find themselves grappling with an escalating national health crisis, have begun raising their own voices in a mix of frustration, gratitude, alarm and pleas for assistance.

The usual partisan stances have been scrambled. Mr. Trump has won praise, particularly from Republican governors, but other members of his party have criticized him for confusing messages and a sluggish response from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. At the same time, some Democrats who are usually critics of the president have praised the federal government and urged a spirit of cooperation, even those Mr. Trump has verbally pummeled.
The implementation of the IMO 2020 marine-fuel regulation has gone completely off script.

Marine-fuel pricing has actually fallen year-on-year and the predicted savings from exhaust-gas scrubbers have increasingly evaporated. What happened and what's next?

The IMO 2020 rule, effective Jan. 1, requires all ships that do not have exhaust-gas scrubbers to burn either 0.5% sulfur fuel known as very low sulfur fuel oil (VLSFO) or 0.1% sulfur marine gasoil (MGO). Ships with scrubbers can continue to burn 3.5% sulfur heavy fuel oil (HFO).

Declining Fuel Spread

Scrubbers worked like a charm earlier in the first quarter because VLSFO was much more expensive than HFO.

In bulk shipping, a time-charter-equivalent (TCE) rate for a spot contract is calculated by taking the spot rate in dollars per ton of cargo and converting it to dollars per day, subtracting voyage costs including fuel. Consequently, if the price of VLSFO is much higher than that of HFO, a scrubber-equipped ship burning HFO earns a much higher TCE rate for the same spot contract than a non-scrubber ship, due to fuel savings.

In early January, a scrubber-equipped VLCC (very large crude carrier; a tanker that can carry 2 million barrels of crude oil) was netting $25,000 per day more in TCE earnings than a non-scrubber ship. A scrubber-equipped Capesize bulker (with a capacity of around 180,000 deadweight tons or DWT) was earning $10,000 a day more than a non-scrubber Cape.

On Jan. 6, the VLSFO-HFO spread peaked at around $350 per ton. A large container ship with a capacity of 10,000 twenty-foot-equivalent units or more, sailing at 16 knots, would burn about 100 tons of fuel per day  meaning that such a ship, if it had a scrubber, was saving $35,000 per day.

All that has changed. On Tuesday, in the wake of the historic 24% slide in the price of crude the previous day, "quotes for compliant fuel [VLSFO] out of Singapore, Rotterdam and Fujairah [were] falling close to 20% on the day," said Clarksons analyst Frode Mrkedal. "HFO bunker fuel has not seen the same moves. This had made fuel spreads non-existent on the day, with scrubber premiums closing in on zero."

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Clarksons estimates scrubber savings are down to just $1,400 per day for Capesizes and $1,200 per day for VLCCs. These represent declines from January highs of 86% and 95%, respectively.

"Based on our latest available prices, fueling HFO in Rotterdam is actually $23 per ton more expensive [than using compliant VLSFO], implying negative spreads," Mrkedal added. This implies a completely unexpected scenario in which it would be cheaper to turn off the expensive scrubber and buy cleaner low-sulfur fuel.

S&P Global Platts began tracking the spread between scrubber-equipped and non-scrubber Capesizes (reference size: 181,000 DWT) in late 2019, via its dual CapeT4 indices. In addition, it has provided FreightWaves with scrubber-savings estimates for three smaller bulker classes: Panamaxes (reference size: 81,000 DWT), Ultramaxes (63,000 DWT) and Supramaxes (57,000 DWT).

While Platts estimates a higher current Capesize premium than Clarksons, the trend in the Platts data looks the same: way down.

Chart data: S&P Global Platts

Not only are savings from scrubbers being squeezed, one of the rationales for installing scrubbers in the first place  to protect against a higher fuel bill  has been undercut. Ship owners are now paying less for IMO 2020-compliant VLSFO than they did for more polluting HFO one year ago.

The average price for VLSFO in the world's top four bunkering hubs was $352 per ton on Monday, according to Ship & Bunker. One year prior, the average price of HFO in those hubs was $428 per ton, equating to a year-on-year savings of 18% for non-scrubber ships.

According to Alan Murphy, CEO of Sea-Intelligence, a research firm focused on the container sector, "Two months ago, IMO 2020 was set to be the carriers' major problematic issue. Today, low-sulfur fuel prices are dipping below the levels for normal fuel last year." Murphy believes marine fuel has the potential to fall even further, "to levels seen in 2015-16," rendering "the cost of low-sulfur fuel the least of the carriers' problems."

What Happened?

The reason for the plunge in scrubber savings is the coronavirus and its effect on global crude pricing, which initially fell due to expectations for decreased demand in China as a result of the Wuhan quarantine and post-Chinese New Year shutdown. Pressure on crude continued to mount as likely demand effects became apparent in Italy, South Korea and now the U.S. The coronavirus then precipitated a dispute between Saudi Arabia and Russia, threatening a price war that has brought crude down further still.

The price of VLSFO has fallen in parallel with the price of crude, but the price of HFO has held up better, squeezing the spread.

In 2019, there were two theories on why the VLSFO-HFO spread would be high and scrubbers would be profitable: Either HFO would stay the same and VLSFO pricing would surge, or alternatively, VLSFO would be on par with where HFO used to be, but the price of HFO would collapse due to a lack of demand. So far, neither has proved correct. VLSFO did indeed surge, but it fell back quickly, and HFO has not collapsed.

On the VLSFO side of the equation, shipowners prepurchased a significant stockpile prior to IMO 2020 implementation, both to protect themselves against price spikes and to ensure quality. A Morgan Stanley research note on Monday pointed out that "the amount of compliant fuel inventory built up in late 2019 created an overhang" and "companies have been producing more VLSFO than initially expected."

On the HFO side of the equation, the volume not consumed by scrubber-equipped ships must be refined into another product, sold for asphalt production, or used as fuel in less-regulated countries. In 2019, there were dire warnings that there would be so much excess HFO that land-based storage would be overwhelmed and it would have to be stored on tankers.

That didn't happen. Asphalt pricing has been surprisingly strong due to new infrastructure projects, and more importantly, certain refiners retooled their systems to process more HFO.

During the quarterly call of crude-tanker owner Euronav (NYSE: EURN) on Jan. 29, the company's head of fuel procurement, Rustin Edwards, explained, "The U.S. Gulf Coast refining system retooled in the third quarter to bring in high-sulfur fuel for full destruction, increasing coke utilization. The Indian refining sector also played a part, ramping up the refining of high-sulfur fuel oil. So in the end, the Russian refining system, which is long high-sulfur fuel oil, found a home for the fuel that they produced and has been shipping large parcels into the U.S. Gulf Coast, and the Middle East refiners long high-sulfur fuel also found a taker in the Indian refiners for the residual that was not going to be consumed by the scrubber-fitted vessels."

What's Next?

It's possible that the narrowing of the VLSFO-HFO spread is a temporary anomaly. VLSFO demand could rise after the inventory that built up prior to Jan. 1 is worked through, and as the Chinese supply chain comes back online and cargo volumes increase. Saudi Arabia and Russia could resume talks and the price of crude could revert (Brent rose 9% on Tuesday). And once the coronavirus is globally contained, economic activity would normalize, and oil prices (and assumedly VLSFO prices) would increase further.

That said, the extreme narrowing of the spread less than three months after IMO 2020 implementation could give ship owners pause about ordering new scrubbers, and could give investors pause about awarding a valuation premium to shipowners that buy scrubbers.

The first wave of scrubber installations is taking much longer than expected due to coronavirus-induced yard delays in China; it will extend throughout this year. The second wave of installations may be less likely given recent events. Morgan Stanley cited a scrubber manufacturer who said a VLSFO-HFO spread of $100 per ton was the "tipping point" where owners make the scrubber-installation decision. If so, the spread has just dipped below that tipping point.

Meanwhile, the jury's still out on share-price upside from scrubbers. Scrubbers have bolstered first-quarter returns for tanker owners, but share pricing is down due to coronavirus (even including the rebound for crude-tanker stocks in recent days).

For dry bulk, scrubbers have allowed owners to break even and avoid steep losses, but stock investors have little interest in dry bulk, given depressed market conditions. A scrubber-focused bulk owner may be the "best house in a bad neighborhood," but stock investors can simply opt to place their bets on a better neighborhood.

Public shipping companies have invested huge sums in scrubber installations. Star Bulk (NYSE: SBLK) has invested $209 million to put scrubbers on 109 ships. But the real cost of installing scrubbers is much higher when opportunity costs are included. Numerous public shipping companies reported weak fourth-quarter results due to out-of-service time for scrubber installations (which are taking 30-60 days apiece) as well the acceptance of below-market rates on voyages used to reposition vessels to the shipyards for those installations.

The "payback period" for massive scrubber investments is calculated via the savings per day, which is based on the VLSFO-HFO spread. Given what's going on now, and how the fuel spread is being compressed by the coronavirus, payback periods look like they could be longer than anticipated.

More FreightWaves/American Shipper articles by Greg Miller

Image Sourced from Pixabay

See more from Benzinga

 2020 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
MONTREAL, QCNoir Male, the awarded interracial gay studio from Mile High Media, together with top gay director Chi Chi LaRue, have now delivered Hard At Work 4 to their many fans of IR gay material. The DVD features cover models Dante Colle, Tyson Rush and Remy Cruz.

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A large scale audit by the industrial regulator has caught about a quarter of businesses under-paying their employees.

Of 1217 businesses who were forced to open their books by the Fair Work Ombudsman, almost half were not complying with their workplace obligations and 296 had to pay back money to their employees.

Fair Work Ombudsman Sandra Parker has criticised employers for being ignorant of their legal obligations. Credit:Paul Jeffers

But the total sum recovered by the campaign  $1.3 million or an average of about $1000 per employer  is dwarfed by other recent pay scandals including Coles' $20 million and Woolworths' $300 million-plus underpayment admissions.

None of the audited businesses have been taken to court, though eight are being investigated for "serious non-compliance" that could trigger legal proceedings.
DENVER  Two Denver police officers plan to return to work following several court rulings saying that they were unjustly fired more than a decade ago after beating a man during an arrest.

The Colorado Supreme Court most recently rejected the case leaving an appeals court ruling that favored officers Devin Sparks and Randy Murr, the Denver Post reported Monday.

The Colorado Court of Appeals ruled last year that the Denver Department of Safety did not have the authority to rescind a previous less-severe disciplinary order and fire the officers.

The officers could receive tens of thousands of dollars in back pay equivalent to 10 years worth of salary, minus money they earned or could have earned, attorney Karla Pierce previously told the Post.

The officers attorney Sean Olson also didnt know how much Sparks and Murr are owed. Both officers intend to rejoin the department, he said. As far as I know, thats the plan, Olson said.

Sparks and Murr were first suspended after injuring Michael DeHerrera during an arrest outside a downtown club in 2009, authorities said. The officers were then disciplined for filing inaccurate reports and later fired after an investigation.

We are acutely aware that this result means that the officers essentially escape the consequences of their conduct, a result that is directly contrary to what the facts compel, the courts ruling said. But agencies and courts must employ just and proper procedures to obtain just and equitable results.

Attorneys for both sides are now expected to negotiate whats next for Sparks and Murr, who both still live in the Denver area, officials said.
The President of the Chamber of Freight and Trade (CFT), Dennis Amfo-Sefah, says the decision to award the 10-year port contract to UNIPASS is a masterstroke of President Akufo-Addo.

Government is simply rolling out a single window platform by making UNIPASS takeover the duplicitous services being provided by CTN-Ghana, West Blue and the Ghana Community Network (GC-Net). All the government is doing is instituting a sole service provider for trade facilitation at the ports. Mr. Amfo-Sefah said in a statement.

Gone are the days when we had ASYCUDA (Automated Systems for Customs Data Collection) which came with a lot of paper trade and export documentations, he added.

Tracing the antecedence of Ghanas port management system, he said Customs first moved to the first generation of Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) introduced by GC -Net.

This, Mr Amfo-Sefah added helped relief port managers from the conundrum of rationalising documentation.

The second generation of the electronic data interchange system which we are currently running is a web-based platform which has come a long way to help trade facilitation. Over the years, government has tried to introduce new technologies; that is IT, into the countrys clearance system. That is why we currently have three vendors providing almost the same service to the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), GC-Net, West Blue and CTN, Mr. Amfo-Sefah said.

The Chamber of Freight and Trade President explained that the governments introduction of UNIPASS, therefore, is a masterstroke that eliminates all sorts of anachronistic paperwork at the port.

The government in its own wisdom thinks that the time has come to introduce a single vendor to unify all activities and services that are provided by all these three vendors onto one single system hence the introduction of UNIPASS. Mr. Amfo-Sefah emphasised.

UNIPASS, which has Ghana Link Network Services as its local partner, was in March 2018 awarded $40 million 10-year window contract to provide paperless services at the port. The contract since then has remained a subject of controversy but according to the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MoTI), the introduction of UNIPASS is expected to make the Ghana National Single Window (GNSW) more comprehensive.

In addition, the UNIPASS system will include a clearance management system, a cargo management system, an information management system and an administration system.

CUPIA Korea, which is assisting the Customs Division to implement the UNIPASS system has described it as an enhanced single window system for trade facilitation.

---classfmonline
San Francisco, March 11 : Following the WHO epidemic call over new coronavirus, Seattle and San Francisco on Wednesday banned all large gatherings.

Washington state Governor Jay Inslee said he is banning gatherings of more than 250 people in several counties to try to curb the spread of the new coronavirus, reports CNBC.

San Francisco health officials also announced they were prohibiting public and private events of 1,000 or more.

Washington state is the hardest-hit state in the US with more than 267 confirmed cases.

"The number of cases doubles every several days and we've had multiple instances of COVID-19 in long-term care facilities where vulnerable persons reside. We expect a large-scale outbreak in weeks and this will be a very difficult time," King County health officer Dr Jeff Duchin was quoted as saying.

The ban in Washington state could be expanded to other counties and will likely be extended beyond March.

Moments later, San Francisco Mayor London Breed said: "We know that this order is disruptive, but it is an important step to support public health".

The coronavirus outbreak was Wednesday declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation (WHO), whose chief expressed his "deep concern" over "alarming levels of inaction" in combating the virus spread.

WHO chief Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the number of cases outside China had increased 13-fold over the past two weeks, killing over 4,000 and infecting more than 1 lakh people.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-11 23:23:10|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi held a phone conversation with Malaysia's new Foreign Minister Hishammuddin Hussein on Wednesday to discuss the ongoing COVID-19 epidemic and how to further strengthen bilateral ties.

Hishammuddin said that Malaysia's new government attaches great importance to its relations with China and regards China as a reliable brother and friend.

The Malaysian side stands ready to work with China to further strengthen the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership and lift bilateral relations to new levels, Hishammuddin said.

Congratulating China on its remarkable achievements in response to COVID-19, Hishammuddin said the Malaysian side believes that China will prevail over the novel coronavirus outbreak at an early date.

Hishammuddin said the Malaysian side is willing to exchange experience in epidemic prevention and control work and enhance anti-epidemic cooperation.

For his part, Wang congratulated Hishammuddin on assuming office and said as the prevention and control work in China continues to improve through arduous efforts, China is confident in winning the fight against the epidemic at an early date.

Wang said China and Malaysia are comprehensive strategic partners and representatives of emerging economies, whose common interests continue to expand.

The two countries should strengthen high-level exchanges and strategic communication, make full use of each other's complementary advantages, and promote comprehensive mutually beneficial cooperation, so as to contribute to each other's development and revitalization, Wang added.

Wang said that at a time when the world is undergoing major changes unseen in a century and emerging economies are developing at an accelerated rate, unilateralism has risen, power politics has resurfaced and multilateral mechanisms have been severely impacted, Wang said.

Wang said that as responsible countries and important cooperative partners, China and Malaysia should jointly safeguard the international system with the United Nations at its core, uphold the international order based on international law, and maintain the multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization as the cornerstone.

China firmly supports Malaysia in hosting this year's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation economic leaders' meeting and is willing to work with Malaysia to promote the meeting to inject new vitality into the regional and global economic growth, Wang said.
Coronavirus Diaries is a series of dispatches exploring how the coronavirus is affecting peoples lives. For the latest public health information, please refer to the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions website. For Slates coronavirus coverage, click here.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with the Rev. Dan Spors, assistant to the rector at St. Peters Episcopal Church in Arlington, Virginia. The conversation has been transcribed and edited for clarity by Dan Kois.

We have had some guidancemaybe not the right termthat came from our bishop, who oversees the Diocese of Virginia. Its maybe more along the lines of suggestions. Two different things that she has been focused on: the passing of the peace, where we all shake hands, and communion.

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When it comes to the passing of the peace, if people instead of shaking hands want to do things like do a fist bump, or bump elbows, wave the peace sign at one another, priests should communicate that that is acceptable. We should maybe even make it part of the practice. Personally, I am a big fan of, if youre not going to shake a hand, a nice solid wave. Fist bumps in the middle of church? That seems a little out of place, but there are good and fitting ways of symbolically passing the peace without necessarily making hand-to-hand contact.

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There are plenty of people in our congregation who already didnt like the peace. They dont like shaking hands in general, and theyve said, Why dont we just get rid of it altogether? Well, because we have theology behind it. And I love the peace. The theology that goes behind it is fun and fantastic, too, it goes back to Jesus.

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Then the other one is the communion cup, because in our tradition, we use a shared cup. We could have a hundred people at church, all drinking from two cups together. At least its cleaner and safer to drink from the cup than it is to take the communion bread and dip it with your fingers into the cuptheres too much risk of transferring whats on your hands into the cup. Drinking straight from the cup is preferred.

I deal with the bread and not distributing the cup to people, but we have a seminarian here, and he said as he was going around with the cup on Sunday, there were some people who had a look of fear in their eyes that he thought was entirely ironic. Here he was saying to them the cup of salvation, as people are afraid to get within five feet of him.

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The church for a long time has said its fine to take the bread only and not the wine, that you still get all of Jesus, even if youre not drinking the cup. The bishop told us she hosted an ordination service last week, and they left the chalice on the altar and nobody drank from it. They just distributed the bread, the host. Even she didnt drink from it. She didnt want to give the impression that this is something that the priests do, but the people arent permitted to do. Thats been done before in the Middle Ages, where only the clergy drank from it and the low common folk werent permitted to.

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Ive been thinking a lot about what role my own physical health and hygiene practices have. I try to be really careful and I try to use the hand sanitizer before Im going to be touching the bread that everybody uses. But there are things that Ive realized just this week that I need to be a lot more mindful of. One that got me is, as Im standing at the altar and the cup and the bread are in front of me and Im picking them up and holding them in front of my face, Im breathing all over these things. Droplets from my mouth could be coming out and landing in the chalice and hitting this bread that were all going to eat. I dont know if the day will come that I have to stand at the communion table with a surgical mask or a N95 mask on. There are many older people, or sick people, who come to church. I visit sick parishioners in the hospital. I dont know. How do I safeguard the health of other people that Im not even aware Im putting at risk? This has challenged me quite a bit.

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I think theres also another aspect of it, beyond the congregations physical health, the psychological and the spiritual part of it, too. Psychologically, doing what we can do to help people to feel safe in the midst of anxiety. And then comforting people who are scared and worried about whats going to happen to the world if this keeps going. One of the great attributes that a church has is that it brings people together, shares the message of hope, especially in the midst of difficult circumstances, and can very much help people to cope through adversity.

And if theres a quarantine that forces us to close down services? Weve done things that weve streamed online in the past. In Lent in the past few years, weve streamed a nightly prayer service over Facebook Live, so theres certainly ways we could make that available to people. We havent talked about that yet.
It's the worst decline in the country's economic development since 2008, Mart Helme says

Mart Helme, Estonian Interior Minister rus.err.ee

The government of Estonia announced that the economic crisis kicked off in the country. The situation has drastically worsened over the last two months. Mart Helme, the Finance Minister said so as quoted by ERR.

"The figures show that there it's the worst fall since 2008. And it will have consequences in real life. The budgets of enterprises will get cut rapidly, and the banks will start calling off their loans or demanding extra funds. The enterprises that are capable of funding themselves with issuing bonds will not be able to do that", he said.

Helme noted that it's the worst situation in the economy of Estonia ever. "We don't have the opportunity to forecast what's going to happen in two weeks or two months", the head of the authority said.

According to the official, the Western governments are now in a much tougher situation than during the 2008 world economic crisis.

Recently, Estonian medics reported the first case of Covid-2019 in this country; a patient is a man who returned from Iran.
Joe Bidens victory over Bernie Sanders in the crucial Michigan primary saw him defeat the Vermont senator among critically important demographics  several of whom supported Mr Sanders over Hillary Clinton in 2016.

The exit polls showing the strength of Mr Biden's victory deal a serious blow to Mr Sanders claim that he is the candidate best placed to defeat Donald Trump, and leave Mr Biden almost certain to win the nomination less than two weeks after his stunning comeback in South Carolina.

Along with Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, which have yet to hold their primaries this year, Michigan was one of the three pivotal states Donald Trump peeled away from Hillary Clinton by razor-thin margins in 2016.

Any Democrat hoping to win the state back must be able to win a broader range of voters and drive turnout higher than she did. Mr Sanders has consistently argued that he can do just that, particularly since the Nevada caucuses, when there were signs he was broadening his coalition.

But at that point, Mr Sanders was facing a divided field of moderates. Now the field has narrowed to two men, Michigans exit polls show him falling short of his 2016 results while Mr Biden outperforms Ms Clinton.

The coalition of voters swinging to Mr Biden in Michigan includes not just black voters and women, both core Democratic constituencies where Mr Sanders been struggling, but also white men both with and without college degrees.

These men, who were crucial to Donald Trumps victory in Michigan and elsewhere, turned out for Mr Sanders in the 2016 primary by a 15-point margin; this time around, they have deserted him for Mr Biden, albeit only narrowly.

Where Ms Clinton narrowly lost to Mr Sanders among white women (51-47), Mr Biden won them over by a comfortable 59-35 among those with college degrees and 55-42 among those without, according to the exit polls.

Mr Sanderss most decisive margins came from the groups he has always been most associated with: voters under 29, where he defeated Mr Biden by 57 points, and those calling themselves very liberal, where he won by 33.

Mr Sanders did win by a hefty margin among Latino voters, following a pattern across the country, but they only made up around 6 per cent of the Michigan electorate.

The importance of building a wider coalition than Ms Clinton can hardly be overstated. According to the exit polls from November 2016, she lost Michigans overall male vote to Mr Trump by a margin of 12 per cent; she lost its white men 64-29 and its white women 51-43.

And while she won overwhelmingly among black voters, they turned out in fewer numbers across the country than in 2012, while white people  who broke for Mr Trump 57-36  did the opposite.

In the end, Donald Trump won Michigan by only 11,000 votes, giving the Democrats hope that they can defeat him there by boosting minority turnout and drawing white voters away from Mr Trump.
WASHINGTON -- The United States Department of Agriculture announced additional disaster assistance available to agricultural producers through the Wildfires and Hurricane Indemnity Program Plus.

It will be for producers impacted by drought and excess moisture in 2018 and 2019.

The USDA's Farm Service Agency will open signup on March 23 for producers to apply for eligible losses of drought and excess moisture.

The USDA is also entering into agreements with six sugar beet processing cooperatives to distribute $285 million to members of those cooperatives who experienced loss in 2018 and 2019. Sugar beet producers who are members of these cooperatives and experienced losses may contact their co-op for more information about how assistance will be administered.

"It's true that farmers and ranchers are no strangers to the impact natural disasters have on their operations, but disaster events the past two years have been atypically widespread, relentless and unforgiving," Secretary Sonny Perdue said in a statement. "In some instances, producers have suffered multiple disaster events in one year or in several years back-to-back. I am pleased that Congress has afforded USDA the authority to continue providing much-needed assistance to producers who have lost so much these last few years."

WHIP+ has been providing payments to eligible producers who suffered losses due to natural disasters in the 2018 and 2019 calendar years.

To be eligible for WHIP+, producers must have suffered losses of certain crops, trees, bushes, or vines in counties with a Presidential Emergency Disaster Declaration or a Secretarial Disaster Designation for natural disaster events occurring in 2018 and 2019.

Those events include hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, typhoons, volcanic activity, snowstorms, wildfires, and now excessive moisture.

Over 50 of Michigan's counties, including Huron and Sanilac counties, are eligible.

Losses in a county not designated as a primary county may be eligible if the producers provide documentation showing that the loss was due to a qualifying natural disaster event.

In 2019, more than $3 billion was made available through a disaster relief package passed by Congress and signed by President Trump, followed by the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2020, passed in December 2019, which provides an additional $1.5 billion for the continuation of disaster assistance program delivery.

More information about program requirements and payment estimates can be found at www.farmers.gov/recover/whip-plus.
The Uttar Pradesh government moved the Supreme Court on Wednesday challenging the Allahabad high court order which directed the state adminstration to remove posters of those accused of vandalism during anti-Citizenship Amendment Act protests in December.

The appeal filed by the state is scheduled to be heard on Thursday by a vacation bench of justices U U Lalit and Aniruddha Bose, said advocate general for Uttar Pradesh Raghvendra Singh.

The high court had on March 9 asked the Uttar Pradesh government not to install such posters "without having the authority of law".

It had directed the district magistrate and the Lucknow police commissioner to submit a compliance report in this regard on or before March 16.
HRW says Greeces move to detain more than 450 people on a naval vessel flagrantly violates international law.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called on Greece to reverse its draconian policy towards more than 450 refugees and migrants detained on a navy ship docked in Mytilene port on the island of Lesbos.

The men, women and children are among those picked up by the Greek coastguard since late February when Turkey decided to stop preventing asylum seekers from reaching the European Union by land and sea.

Since then, hundreds of people have arrived on the Greek islands in the Aegean Sea off the Turkish coast.

Many of those who reached Lesbos, which is already struggling to cope with the number of refugees there, were transferred last week to the ship.

Last week, Greece also announced it would suspend asylum applications for a month  a move condemned by the United Nationss refugee agency (UNHCR).

Greeces decision to detain more than 450 people on a naval vessel and refuse to allow them to lodge asylum claims flagrantly violates international and European law. New: https://t.co/WWxzj8uysG pic.twitter.com/C430oaOwe3  Human Rights Watch (@hrw) March 10, 2020

HRW, quoting a Syrian asylum seeker on board the ship, said many of the 451 people detained were women and children.

Greeces decision to detain more than 450 people on a naval vessel and refuse to allow them to lodge asylum claims flagrantly violates international and European law, the New York-based rights group said in a statement.

The action may amount to an arbitrary deprivation of liberty.

Children not receiving sufficient food

The rights group said that the Greek authorities had denied them access to the dock area where the detainees are being held during the day, or to the vessel where they spend the night.

Bill Frelick, HRWs director of migrant and refugee rights, said: Greece should immediately reverse this draconian policy, properly receive these people in safe and decent conditions, and allow them to lodge asylum claims.

200302085719576

The Syrian asylum seeker who contacted HRW by telephone said most of the detainees were Afghans, but that 118 were Arabs, including Syrians, Iraqis and Palestinians. Somalis, Congolese and others from Africa were also on board.

The children are not receiving sufficient food and clothing, he told HRW.

We had only three toilets for 451 people until today, when they brought five portable toilets. There is no shower, no soap.

Pregnant women were among those detained, but it was not clear if they were getting proper medical care, he added.

He also said he had been denied direct access to a lawyer.

Ankara to file case against Greece

In Lesbos, more than 18,000 refugees live in miserable conditions in and around the infamous Moria camp, which was built to hold fewer than 3,000 people. Tension has escalated on the island with the surge in arrivals last week, with residents as well as refugees and migrants staging protests.

Separately, Turkey said on Wednesday it was preparing a case in the European Court of Human Rights over Greeces treatment of refugees, and added the EU has so far made no concrete offer to deal with thousands trying to enter the bloc.

Turkey, which hosts approximately four million mostly Syrian refugees, fears it may be forced to admit another million following a recent escalation in fighting in northwest Syria where its forces back rebel groups against a Russian-backed government offensive.

In March 2016, Turkey and the EU agreed upon a deal in which Brussels would provide billions of euros in aid to help Ankara finance housing, schools and medical centres for the refugees it hosts on its soil.

But Ankara has repeatedly accused the bloc of not fulfilling its commitments under the deal, including visa-free travel for Turkish citizens and an enhanced customs union.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met European Council President Charles Michel on Wednesday to discuss the issue.
U.S. Ambassador Harry Harris visited Incheon International Airport on Wednesday to see how fever checks on U.S.-bound passengers are going, a day after South Korea's government took over the anti-coronavirus screening mission from airlines. Yonhap



U.S. Ambassador Harry Harris visited Incheon International Airport on Wednesday to see how fever checks on U.S.-bound passengers are going, a day after South Korea's government took over the anti-coronavirus screening mission from airlines.



Harris visited a boarding gate in the Second Terminal of the airport, west of Seoul, and observed officials taking the temperatures of passengers of an Atlanta-bound Korean Air plane and received a briefing about the screening process.



"Terrific visit to Incheon Airport to see 1st-hand ROKG measures to combat COVID-19 & mgmt of travelers to USA. Impressed w/ROK's robust & comprehensive response efforts to limit the virus' spread. Thanks to all for the hard work," he wrote in his Twitter account afterwards.



On Tuesday, the government said it will take over the anti-coronavirus screening mission from airlines and conduct health examinations on passengers boarding flights to the U.S. from the Incheon airport and Gimhae International Airport in the southeastern city of Busan.



The U.S. government has been urging its citizens to reconsider travel to Korea under an elevated travel advisory due to the virus fears, with its health authorities recommending that Americans avoid all nonessential travel here.



Seoul officials have said that the stepped-up quarantine efforts are aimed at preventing any possible outflow of the virus from Korea.



The government said earlier three quarantine facilities will be set up in Incheon and one in Gimhae, and more than 40 quarantine officials to be dispatched to the airports.



Passengers were to undergo fever checks and fill out health questionnaires. If they have a fever of 37.5 C or higher, they will be sent home. They will be quarantined immediately if they test positive for the virus. (Yonhap)


A Coles supermarket in Geelong has being cleaned twice and some staff members have been told to self-isolate after a colleague was diagnosed with coronavirus.

The woman in her 20s became sick on February 29, the same day she returned on flight UA60 from the United States, where authorities believe she contracted the virus. Others on the same flight have also been diagnosed.

A Coles spokeswoman said the staff member, who worked back of house roles at the Waurn Ponds supermarket and had "minimal" contact with customers, was notified about her exposure mid-shift on Saturday afternoon and left the store immediately.

Her tests came back positive on Tuesday, making her Victoria's 20th confirmed case.
There was no calamitous polling error in Michigan redounding to Bernie Sanders benefit this time. There were no surprises in Mississippi or Missouri, either. Joe Biden cleaned up where he needed to clean up in Tuesday nights primaries. Regardless of how the nights final three contests in Idaho, North Dakota, and Washington pan out, Biden will substantially add to his delegate lead over Sanders, with a knockout opportunity arriving in one week.

Bidens lopsided support among black voters has been the story since the South Carolina primary, and they delivered for him again on Tuesday. In Mississippi, two-thirds of voters were black, and Biden won 87 percent of their support to Sanders 11 percent. The latest exit polls said Sanders did a little better in Missouri, earning the support of 22 percent of black voters, and Michigan, where he earned 28 percent. All of these numbers, though, are either down a couple of points or equal to his support in 2016. He had four years to change this. It didnt happen.

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What was damning for Sanders 2020 campaign relative to 2016, though, were his numbers with white voters. Take Missouri, where Sanders lost to Hillary Clinton by one-quarter of a percentage point in 2016 but got blown out on Tuesday night. Sanders won white voters by 9 percentage points in 2016, and lost them, according to the most recent exit polls, by 22 in 2020. In Michigan, Sanders won white voters by 14 percentage points in 2016, and was losing them by 10 in 2020.

Much of this flip comes from rural working-class whites, specificallyand the more results we get from this primary season, the more those rural and working-class white votes for Sanders in 2016 look like protest votes against Clinton. When you combine Clinton-esque support among black voters, overwhelming suburban support, and majority support from working-class whites in a Democratic primary, its possible to win almost every county in state after state. Thats what Biden did in Michigan, Missouri, and Mississippi.

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There was one demographic divide where Biden couldnt seize voters from Sanders, however: Yet again, the age gap between the two candidates supporters was a dizzying chasm. In Michigan, for example, Sanders won two-thirds of voters age 18 to 44 and Biden won two-thirds of voters age 45 or older. It was even more acute on the outer end of that spectrum: Sanders won three-quarters of those age 18 to 29, while Biden won three-quarters of those age 65 and older. The reason these numbers dont cancel each other out is that theres a useful shorthand for older voters: the electorate. Voters over 45 made up 62 percent of Michigan primary voters.

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The strength of Bidens coalition and his lopsided results have given many prominent Democrats excuse enough to begin doing what they do best: declaring the primary over and calling on Bernie Sanders drop out. Priorities USA, one of the leading Democratic super PACs that will spend millions on behalf of the partys nominee, has officially gotten behind Biden. Ex-candidate Andrew Yang, now a CNN commentator, declared Biden our prohibitive nominee and endorsed him. And House Minority Whip Jim Clyburn, whos earned more credit for Bidens turnaround than any other individual, went so far as to suggest the party should shut this primary down and look at canceling Sundays debate.

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Rep. Clyburn on NPR just now: "I think when the night is over, Joe Biden will be the prohibitive favorite to win the Democratic nomination... If the night ends the way it has begun" it's time to "shut this primary down," meaning the DNC should "step in" and cancel future debates.  Miles Parks (@MilesParks) March 11, 2020

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It would behoove party leaders right now to note that the overwhelming majority of Democratic primary voters under the age of 45which is a lot of peopleare depressed right now. The majority of Latino voters, an integral part of Democrats coalition as they try to flip the Sun Belt blue, are Sanders supporters too. A heavy-handed move to shut this primary down, by having the DNC cancel Sanders one last opportunity to change the race before next weeks contests in Florida, Ohio, Arizona, and Illinois, is something that many Sanders voters will remember. Giving Sanders at least, like, a week to make his decision isnt that much to ask.
Amid the political crisis in Madhya Pradesh, a plane carrying 95 MLAs left for Jaipur on Wednesday after the ruling party decided to shift its legislators in a bid to keep its flock together, party sources said.

Those on board the special aircraft which took off from the Bhopal airport include 92 Congress MLAs and three independent legislators, the sources said.

The ruling party MLAs, who reached the Raja Bhoj Airport here in three buses around 12 noon, expressed confidence that the Kamal Nath-led state government will be able prove its majority.

They also said that 10 to 12 MLAs, out of those who resigned on Tuesday after former Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia quit the Congress, will also support the party in the event of a floor test in the House.

"We are going to Jaipur with our MLAs. We will stay there together," state minister Sajjan Singh Verma, considered a close confidante of Chief Minister Kamal Nath, told reporters after the Congress MLAs reached the airport.

Another minister Kamaleshwar Patel said they were confident that the Congress-led state government will prove its majority.

"We will prove our majority. We are going to Jaipur where we will sit together and discuss various issues. This is not happening for the first time. It happened earlier (also)," he said.

State minister Priyavrat Singh said all the party MLAs wanted to "relieve their tension" amid the ongoing political situation.

"So, we are going to Jaipur. We will prove our majority. We have 95 MLAs here (at the airport). Independent MLAs and BSP and SP legislators are also supporting," Singh said before the plane took off.

Asked about the 19 MLAs, who are loyal to Scindia and currently staying in Bengaluru, Singh said of them, 10 to 12 legislators would also support the Congress during the floor test as "they were misled".

He also claimed that Congress leaders are in touch with the MLAs staying in Bengaluru.

On Tuesday, 22 Madhya Pradesh Congress MLAs loyal to Scindia resigned, in a major setback to the 15-month-old Kamal Nath government.

The BJP on Tuesday night shifted its MLAs to Manesar at Gurugram in Haryana, sources in the saffron party said.

The Congress, whose tally before the rebellion was 114, has a wafer-thin majority in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly.

It also has the support of four Independents, two BSP legislators and one SP MLA, but some of them are now likely to switch sides to the BJP.

The BJP has 107 seats in the 230-member state Assembly, whose present strength is 228.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
ALBANY  Gov. Andrew Cuomo will speak with business leaders Wednesday about having employees telecommute and work staggered shifts in order to help reduce the spread of novel coronavirus.

In an interview with CNN's Alisyn Camerota on Wednesday, he said the number of laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases in the state rose by about 20 overnight for an overall 193 cases statewide. Most of the new cases are clustered in New Rochelle, a city just north of New York City that has become the epicenter of cases statewide and a hot spot for coronavirus nationwide. On Tuesday, he ordered a one-mile containment zone around the epicenter.

Cuomo said he expects the caseload to continue rising as the state tests "around the clock" in order to identify, isolate and contain positive cases.

"The virus has actually spread much, much more than we know because we have been so slow on testing in this country," he said. "So now every time we test, we're chasing positive cases and you're going to see the number keep going up. But it's not representative of where this disease is. The disease is much more advanced than we're seeing in any of these numbers."

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Cuomo told Camerota he will ask businesses to voluntarily agree to "reduce density" by running two shifts of workers and allowing employees who can telecommute to work from home.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

As for whether New York City's St. Patrick's Day parade will go on next week, he told Camerota "we're talking about that literally today" and will announce a decision on the parade and other large gatherings on Wednesday or Thursday.

"The calibration is important here," he said. "We don't want to overreact, but we understand we have to take aggressive actions and we're looking at all those large gatherings today."

Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan says Wednesday that Saturday's local parade will be held, though she and Albany County Executive Dan McCoy urged the elderly and the ailing to stay away.

Cuomo said New York has also begun to plan backup facilities  "mobile pop-up hospitals, if you will"  where it could isolate and treat people in the event that hospitalizations from COVID-19 exceed the state's current hospital bed capacity.

"We have enough equipment. We have enough hospital beds," he said. "But if these numbers don't slow we're starting to plan...to make sure we have the capacity for acute cases that need hospitalizations."
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LAS VEGAS, NV / ACCESSWIRE / March 11, 2020 / Talisman Casualty Insurance Company, based in Las Vegas, Nevada, has revealed that they can offer help to businesses on how to avoid claims lawsuits. This is because when businesses participate in their cell captive insurance business model, they are able to benefit from their efficient claims processing because of their application of advanced cutting-edge claims technology for their captive cells. The Talisman Casualty lawsuit avoidance strategy is to use claims technology that substantially boosts the efficiency of the claims process because it can be streamlined within the cell, providing participants a high level of service.Talisman Casualty Insurance Company uses a protected cell captive insurance business model. These protected cells are offered to insurers with seasoned books of business and require a regulated vehicle for transferring risk and directing access to capacity through reinsurance and alternative risk finance markets. Cell captives are made up of a core and a number of cell entities that are kept legally separate from each other. Each cell has certain dedicated assets and liabilities that are ascribed to it. Since the cells are legally separate, the assets of one cell cannot be used for meeting the liabilities of another cell.Talisman Casualty Insurance ensures that different claims management service providers are used to ensure efficient claims processing for each of their cell programs. They also make sure that the delegated claims authority is only given to those service providers that have a wide range of experience in claims management, are the best in terms of integrity and ethics, and are well-versed with the local markets where the claims are made. Through this arrangement, the efficiencies of the claims technology can be streamlined within each protected cell, thus providing participants a high level of claims service.One of the programs offered by Talisman Casualty Insurance Company is the marine program. This is cell captive insurance designed specifically for marine contractors, fishing operations, and other business owners who own assets that are on the water. This marine program is specifically designed for the small to medium sized marine accounts and provides Marine Employers Liability, Hull and Protection & Indemnity, and Comprehensive General Liability. In this marine program, the company's goal is to establish long term relationships with maritime clients to fully understand their business, their risk management methods, and the business forecast so that the insurance coverage provided can be tailor-fitted to fluctuating exposures.Talisman Casualty Insurance Company also offers a cell program for pet professionals. This is a general liability program designed for small business owners who are in the pet industry. These include pet sitters, pet trainer, pet groomers and other pet-related services. This program allows these pet professionals to operate their business risk at a cost that permits them to remain competitive.Another cell program offered is the surety program that provides surety bonds. The surety bond is a guarantee issued by a surety or guarantor to pay a certain amount of money to the obligee in case the principal is unable to comply with an obligation, such as fulfilling the terms of a contract. Thus, the surety bond protects the obligee against losses resulting from the failure of the principal to meet the obligation. The captive insurance model offers an important benefit for surety bonds. This is because there is a smaller number of principals participating in the coverage.There are three types of surety bonds that can be offered. These are the compliance and licensing bonds, payment and performance bonds, and court and legal bonds. Compliance and licensing bonds are used in getting permits or for maintaining a professional license. There are conventional statutory requirements for this kind of bond. Payment and performance bonds are used often in the construction industry to protect the property owner in case the contractor does not complete the job according to the contract and neglects to pay all of his subcontractors and suppliers. Court and legal bonds are used for a wide range of court actions, such as bail, adverse cost judgment, the release of lien, and more.People who are interested in the services offered by Talisman Casualty Insurance can visit their website or contact them on the telephone or through email. They may also want to check on the Talisman Casualty rating.For more information about Talisman Casualty Insurance Company, contact the company here:Talisman Casualty Insurance Company800-318-5317info@ talismancasualty.com Talisman Casualty Insurance Company7881 W. Charleston Blvd, Suite 210 Las Vegas, NV 89117SOURCE: Talisman Casualty Insurance Company
The former chair of Wells Fargo & Co.s board said she resigned to remove a distraction as the scandal-plagued bank works to fix its problems and that the company is well-positioned for a turnaround under new chief executive officer Charlie Scharf.

I believe that today the company has the right team and path forward, Betsy Duke, who quit earlier this week, told lawmakers in Washington on Wednesday. This company must move forward.

Duke and former board member James Quigley, who both resigned Sunday, are appearing for the second in a trio of Wells Fargo hearings this month before the House Financial Services Committee. Wednesdays session is examining the role of the board of directors in the banks egregious pattern of consumer abuses, according to the committee.

Like his former fellow director, Quigley said Wednesday that his position at Wells Fargo was a hindrance. I decided to resign from the board to permit the bank to turn the page, he said.

Duke and Quigley faced a growing chorus of calls for their ousters after Democrats atop the committee last week issued a scathing report on the banks response to a series of scandals.

Their resignations do not absolve them of their failures, Congresswoman Maxine Waters, the committees chairwoman, said Wednesday. Were examining this conduct and this dereliction of duty.

Under questioning from Waters and her fellow committee members, Duke said Wells Fargos board expressed regular concern about managements speed responding to regulatory orders and making risk-management improvements. New CEO Scharf, whose job is not going to be easy, is focused on resolving the banks regulatory issues, Duke said.

Political fallout

Wells Fargos leaders have been in Washingtons crosshairs for years in the wake of consumer scandals that began with the 2016 revelation that employees opened millions of potentially fake accounts to meet sales goals. The company has faced unprecedented political and regulatory fallout, including repeated hearings, record fines for former executives and a growth cap put in place by the Federal Reserve.

Scharf, not yet five months into his tenure atop Wells Fargo, had his own hearing Tuesday, when he told lawmakers that the bank hasnt done enough to turn itself around and is now more focused than ever on fixing its problems.

The sense of urgency within the company is very different today than it was four months ago, Scharf, who became CEO in October, told the committee Tuesday.

Two former Wells Fargo CEOs, Tim Sloan and John Stumpf, stepped down after tough hearings of their own in Washington that included calls for their ousters  resignations noted by Waters during Tuesdays hearing.

Waters said last week that she planned, during Wednesdays hearing, to call for Duke and Quigley to resign. Her partys report, which mentions Duke by name dozens of times, details multiple instances when agencies including the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau took issue with the boards efforts clean up the bank in recent years.

The committees Republicans issued a report of their own and, during Wednesdays hearing, criticized the board for its oversight of the bank.
By David Bautz, PhD

OTC:VIVXF

READ THE FULL VIVXF RESEARCH REPORT

Business Update

Avivagen, Inc. (OTC:VIVXF) is developing products to support animal health, which includes replacing antibiotics in livestock feeds with proprietary compounds that promote the growth and overall health of the animal through support of the hosts innate immune system. Avivagen discovered that -carotene polymerizes with oxygen into a unique class of compounds (oxidized -carotene, OxBC) that promote immunological health and are the basis of Avivagens OxC-beta technology. Antibiotic resistance is a growing worldwide public health problem, and since 80% of antibiotics are used in livestock feeds in the U.S., replacement of antibiotics in animal feed may help alleviate the rise in antibiotic resistant organisms. In addition, regulatory agencies worldwide are calling for the decreased use of or outlawing the use of antibiotics in livestock feed. Numerous studies conducted by Avivagen and its partners has shown that supplementation of feed with parts-per-million levels of OxC-beta Livestock can be used as a replacement for growth-promoting antibiotics while offering the same or better growth and health benefits without contributing to the development of antibiotic resistant organisms. OxC-beta Livestock is currently approved in eight countries, including the U.S. The company has a number of upcoming catalysts over the next six to 12 months, including:

 A trial will be initiated soon to determine if OxC-beta can decrease salmonella in chickens

 Potential approval of OxC-beta Livestock in Brazil, which is the third largest livestock feed market in the world, in the first half of 2020

 Potential for first sale to dairy producers in New Zealand

 Potential for first sale in Mexico, would be the first sale in North America

 Potential for first sale in U.S.

Positive Results from Dairy Cattle Study in New Zealand

On February 24, 2020, Avivagen, Inc. (VIVXF) announced positive and statistically significant results from a study of dairy cattle in New Zealand examining the effect of OxC-beta on subclinical mastitis. The trial was conducted over 42 days at four commercial dairy farms in New Zealand and cows were enrolled into the study based on having a somatic cell count of at least 200,000 cells/mL and a positive test for the presence of mastitis-associated bacteria. Treatment consisted of either control feed with no antibiotics or feed with OxC-beta added. Results of the trial showed that:

Story continues

 There was a 13.9% rate of resolution in the OxC-beta group compared to a 6.9% resolution rate in the control group.

 In the OxC-beta group, there was only a single udder-quarter that developed clinical mastitis during the trial compared to six udder-quarters that developed clinical mastitis in the control group.

Mastitis is one of the largest problems for the dairy industry, for example it costs more than $2 billion in lost production each year in the U.S. (thecattlesite.com) and $400 million in Canada (betterfarming.com). The results announced by Avivagen should have a positive effect on marketing efforts in areas where OxC-beta is currently approved (e.g., U.S., New Zealand, Mexico) and could open a new market opportunity in the high-value dairy industry.

Distribution Agreement with INPHILCO Finalized

On Feb. 18, 2020, Avivagen announced a binding distribution agreement has been reached with INPHILCO, Inc., in which INPHILCO will become a new, key distribution partner for OxC-beta Livestock in the Philippines. INPHILCO will sell OxC-beta Livestock to large integrated feed producers as part of INPHILCOs premix offerings as well as a standalone product. The agreement follows the memorandum of understanding announced in December 2019.

The Philippines is expected to have an estimated annual feed production of 18.2 million metric tons in 2020, with swine and broiler poultry representing approximately 82% of all feed consumption.

Preparing for OxC-beta Approval in China

In Dec. 2019, Avivagen announced it has entered into an agreement with COFCO Biotechnology Co. Ltd. in which COFCO will assist Avivagen in securing regulatory approval for OxC-beta Livestock in China. COFCO is a leading supplier of agriculture products in China, and with 12,000 employees and sales of more than $17.5 billion in 2018 we believe they are a great partner to assist Avivagen in determining what trials of OxC-beta Livestock will be necessary to secure approval for use in chicken feed along with advising on other aspects of the Chinese regulatory pathway.

China represents a tremendous opportunity for Avivagen as the Chinese government has announced a plan to ban all antibiotics in livestock feed by July 2020. In addition, African Swine Fever (ASF) decimated Chinas swine herd in 2019, with an increase in poultry production set to fill the protein supply gap. This increased demand for poultry is being filled by both increased imports to China as well as increased domestic poultry production, which is up 20% since 2018. Some estimates call for Chinese poultry feed production to nearly double over the next five years (Feed Strategy).

OxC-beta Approved in Malaysia

On December 5, 2019, Avivagen announced the approval of OxC-beta Livestock for broilers and swine in Malaysia, bringing the total number of countries in which Avivagen has approval to eight, including the U.S., Mexico, New Zealand, Taiwan, Thailand, Australia, and the Philippines. Shortly thereafter, Avivagen announced the first order of 100 kg for OxC-beta Livestock in Malaysia.

Malaysias government intends to move all chicken production to be antibiotic-free by 2020, thus representing a nice growth opportunity for Avivagen. Most of the 4.8 million metric ton Malaysian feed market is directed toward poultry broilers and layers due to the growing popularity of chicken-based fast food restaurants in the country, including Kentucky Fried Chicken, Nandos, The Chicken Rice Shop, Kenny Rogers Roasters, and Ayamas (USDA, 2017).

Financial Update

On March 4, 2020, Avivagen announced financial results for the first quarter of fiscal year 2020 that ended January 31, 2020. Revenues for the three months ending Jan. 31, 2020 were CAD$247,805 compared to CAD$322,125 for the three months ending Jan. 31, 2019. The decrease was primarily due to decreased proceeds from the sale of OxC-beta products. Selling, general, and administration costs were approximately CAD$0.95 million for the first quarter of fiscal year 2020 compared to approximately CAD$1.1 million for the first quarter of fiscal year 2019. The decrease was primarily due to decreased share-based payments and salary expenses. Research costs were approximately CAD$0.17 million for the three months ending Jan. 31, 2020 compared to CAD$0.16 million for the three months ending Jan. 31, 2019. The increase was due to an increase in trial expenses to support registration.

As of Jan. 31, 2020, Avivagen had approximately CAD$2.7 million in cash and cash equivalents. During the first quarter of fiscal year 2020, the company raised total gross proceeds of CAD$3.0 million from the sale of 6.0 million units, with each unit consisting of one share of common stock and one-half of one common share purchase warrant with an exercise price of $0.75. We estimate that Avivagen has sufficient financing to fund operations into the first part of 2021. As of Jan. 31, 2020, Avivagen had approximately 41.5 million common shares outstanding and when factoring in approximately 2.3 million stock options and approximately 8.7 million warrants the company has a fully diluted share count of approximately 52.5 million.

Valuation

We value Avivagen using an EV/EBITDA multiple based on projected revenues of OxC-beta Livestock. We believe Avivagen is laying the groundwork for a very steep growth rate in revenues in the coming years through a combination of new market opportunities and market expansion. For example, the company is making steady progress on sales in the Philippines and we believe it is only a matter of time before sales begin to ramp up considerably in Asia and other parts of the world, particularly as additional data showing the benefits of the OxBC technology is published.

Due to the fact that Avivagen has a limited commercial history, the financial forecasts we have prepared are educated guesses and are heavily reliant on the company continuing to execute on its business plan to get OxC-beta Livestock approved in as many jurisdictions as possible, signing distribution agreements in each of those jurisdictions, and continuing market expansion through adoption of OxC-beta Livestock by major animal producers.

Our model estimates sales of OxC-beta Livestock of CAD$60 million in 2025, as we believe the company will hit an inflection point following the adoption of OxC-beta Livestock by multiple major animal producers over the next couple of years. Using an EV/EBITDA ratio of 16 (which is derived from the average for pharmaceutical companies found here) and an EBITDA of CAD$23 million leads to an EV of CAD$368 million. Using a discount rate of 20% (derived from CAPM) we arrive at a present day EV of approximately CAD$148 million. The company has approximately CAD$3.5 million in debt, approximately CAD$2.7 million in cash (estimated following the January 2020 financing), and CAD$7.8 million in potential financing from warrant exercises. Accounting for that leads to an NPV of CAD$155 million. Dividing this by the fully diluted share count of 52.5 million leads to a valuation of approximately CAD$2.95 per share. Using the current exchange ratio of $1 CAD = $0.74 USD leads to a valuation for VIVXF of approximately $2.20.

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DISCLOSURE: Zacks SCR has received compensation from the issuer directly, from an investment manager, or from an investor relations consulting firm, engaged by the issuer, for providing research coverage for a period of no less than one year. Research articles, as seen here, are part of the service Zacks provides and Zacks receives quarterly payments totaling a maximum fee of $30,000 annually for these services. Full Disclaimer HERE.
BEIJING (AP)  A man was pulled out alive after being trapped for 69 hours under the rubble of a collapsed virus quarantine hotel in southeastern China in which at least 27 other people died and two remain missing.

The official Xinhua News Agency said the man was sent to hospital immediately after being rescued late on Tuesday afternoon.

A 10-year-old boy and his mother had been rescued around midnight Monday after being trapped for 52 hours. The condition of all three survivors remains unknown.

The updated death toll from the national rescue service was current as of about 9 a.m. Wednesday.

The hotel in the city of Quanzhou had been a quarantine site for people exposed to the new coronavirus, which has infected more than 80,000 people in China though about three-fourths of them have recovered. The virus causes mild symptoms such as fever and cough for most people but can cause serious illness such as pneumonia for others, especially older adults and people with existing health problems.

Most parts of China are quarantining people for 14 days if they are from high-risk areas or even traveled abroad or simply outside their home regions.

Rescuers at the scene of the collapse had protective gear and disinfectant to minimize exposure to the virus.

The building had reportedly been modified illegally before the collapse.
SYRACUSE, N.Y.  Three dozen hotels failed to pay Onondaga County all the room occupancy tax they should have during 2017 and 2018, Comptroller Marty Masterpole announced Tuesday. Those hotels have been notified they still owe a total of $318,000, Masterpole said.

The underpayments were identified during a routine audit of 46 of the countys 114 hotels and motels. The comptrollers office audits hotels on a two-year rotation to make sure they comply with the countys 5% tax on room charges.

The audit found that hotels underpaid more than $223,000, to which the county added penalties and interest totaling nearly $94,000, Masterpole reported.

A similar audit of 51 hotels last year found that 33 of them had shorted the county by about $326,000, then-Comptroller Matt Beadnell reported.

The unpaid taxes represent a small fraction of the more than $7 million in room occupancy taxes Onondaga County collects annually. The county took in $7.1 million in both 2019 and 2018, up from $6.6 million in 2017, the comptroller said.

Masterpole declined to provide a breakdown of how much each hotel failed to pay. But he identified New Jersey-based Tramz Hotels Group as the operator that owes the most in delinquent room taxes.

County Executive Ryan McMahon singled out Tramz during his State of the County Address last month as a company the county is struggling to collect taxes from.

An official at the Tramz administrative office in New Jersey, who identified herself as Mrs. Murad, said the company is trying to resolve its back taxes.

We are working with the county to resolve it, she said.

Tramz owns 11 hotel properties in the Syracuse area, according to its website.
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For three days this week, starting Wednesday, USC will become an online university, joining a growing list of higher institutions keeping students out of classrooms as the coronavirus spreads nationwide.

"This is a crisis that we're in," said USC Provost Charles Zukoski, "and so if we are told we can't bring students together in a classroom, I have to have different ways of delivering that education."

The three-day shift to online is a test of whether USC can effectively institute remote learning for more than 44,000 students if the campus ends up shutting down for an extended period.

UPDATE: University officials said Tuesday night that they've decided to continue online classes after Spring Recess. We'll have more on that decision on Wednesday.

USC has made the decision to continue online classes after Spring Recess, from 3/22 thru 3/29. Additionally, all university-sponsored events, on and off-campus, btwn 3/11 and 3/29 will be canceled or postponed until a later date. Please see more here: https://t.co/u5GQ15ZiEt  USC (@USC) March 11, 2020

"We like to just assume that everybody has Wi-Fi at home, everybody has good connections, everybody has the hardware, but that may not be the case," said law professor Ariela Gross.

Undergraduate Nicholas Guzman has similar concerns. "I don't want to make it sound like it's like the worst Wi-Fi in the world," he said, "but it cuts out for a minute or two or it slows down for a second."

USC is not buying piles of laptops for its students or adding rooms of servers, and will rely on existing commercial software.

This is how USC's shift to online teaching is going to work:

Class participation will be done on Zoom, the video conferencing platform.

Assignments will be turned in and tests will be managed through Blackboard, a classroom management platform.

Professors may continue to hold office hours in person.

Students with disabilities are being asked to talk to their professor and contact the campus Disability Services and Programs office.

USC has a list of frequently asked questions.

A student wearing a USC sweatshirt over his shoulders walks on the University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles, California on May 17, 2018. (ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images)

The shift to online instruction will be a big adjustment for some USC professors.



"I'm really, really, really dumb at this kind of stuff," said Obie award-winning USC playwright Oliver Mayer.

The university is doing a good job training him, he said, on how the 17 students in his undergraduate playwriting class on Thursday will be able to read their plays to one another and virtually raise their hands in the online class.

Some professors wondered if the Zoom video platform can effectively handle hundreds of thousands of additional users.

"All of these universities going to video conference, most of them using the very same program all at once," Gross said. "We don't know what's going to happen. Can [Zoom] handle that?"

Zoom said yes.

"In the case of an unprecedented, massive influx of demand, we have the ability to access and deploy additional servers within hours, and in full compliance with our Privacy Policy to seamlessly scale without any impact to our users," said Zoom spokesman Farshad Hashmatulla by email.

USC joins universities nationwide, including Columbia, Stanford, Harvard, and the University of Washington, that in the past week have suspended in-person classes and shifted instruction online.

UC San Diego informed students on Monday that current classes will continue to meet in person through the end of the winter quarter on Friday, but spring quarter classes that begin on Mar. 25 will be delivered online. UCSD did not say when the shift to online classes would end.

On Tuesday, the California State University Chancellor's Office recommended administrators at its 23 campuses who are planning to shift instruction online suspend classes for several days to carry out the change.

UC Berkeley posted checklists for professors and students to prepare for a shift to online instruction. The campus suspended in-person classes on Tuesday and will decide whether to reinstate them by the end of the spring break on Mar. 29.

USC said the dorms will remain open and the campus has plenty of computer labs and campus Wi-Fi. Spring break is next week, so USC will have time to decide whether to continue classes online.

UPDATES:

8:54 p.m: This article was updated with news that the online classes will now continue after Spring Break.

This article was originally published at noon.
By West Kentucky Star Staff Mar. 11, 2020 | 03:54 PM | PADUCAH





A Trooper with the Kentucky State Police was en route to a separate incident when he noticed a man walking along the side of the road that he was able to identify as 42-year-old Allen Jerome Franklin.







Troopers had been seeking the public's assistance in locating Franklin, who had failed to comply with the Kentucky Sex Offender Registry.







Franklin was arrested and lodged in the McCracken County Jail. He was arrested on a warrant charging him with failure to comply with the sex offender registry.

A man being sought by the Kentucky State Police for failure to comply with the sex offender registry was arrested Tuesday morning.

On the Net:
AUCKLAND, New Zealand, March 10, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Orion Health has developed the first comprehensive pandemic outbreak monitoring platform to alleviate demand on health systems and reduce the risk of further spread of the COVID-19 virus. The Orion Health software that supports this will be offered at no cost to existing and future customers.

Core functionality of the solution includes the ability to remotely monitor and engage patients in their homes, facilitating communication between quarantined people and the healthcare service, as well as maintaining visibility of those recently discharged. The intention is to alleviate spikes in demand on health systems, reducing the risk of further spread of the virus and flattening the epidemiological curve.

Over time the solution will increasingly use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to allow providers to identify patients at risk of deterioration and optimise their care. This will allow resources to be allocated to those most in need.

A globally available website, https://www.covidrisk.com/, will be launched in the next 48 hours to support the different clinical protocols that have been produced by countries and regions to support the unique aspects of their local health systems and the current progression of COVID-19 within their jurisdiction. This site provides a regionally configurable online symptom checker with a background calculation of patient risk based on a number of factors.

From this website the public will also be able to connect into remote patient monitoring functionality in regions where this is available.

Another aspect of the solution is the ability to remotely monitor, at home, health workers who have had exposure to the virus or fallen ill. This functionality can also be used to monitor patients who may have been discharged early in order to free up hospital capacity.

Orion Health CEO Ian McCrae says this unique, comprehensive solution is specifically targeted at reducing the inevitable burden COVID-19 will place on an already stretched health service.

"The software will be offered at no cost to existing and future Orion Health customers around the world for this crisis, and we will also work with non-Orion Health customers to help in the best way we can.

"Providing a widely available assessment tool for COVID-19 will help to reassure the public on the real risk associated with this virus and ease the burden on health systems globally. Individuals will be able to track and monitor their symptoms in their own home and escalate to a health professional only if required and at the appropriate time."

As the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases grow globally, especially in those countries currently in the community outbreak phase of the disease, there will be a need for more people to receive support at home.

SOURCE Orion Health
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11

By Elchin Mehdiyev - Trend:

France expresses gratitude to Azerbaijan for the solidarity shown in the fight against terror, Ambassador of France to Azerbaijan Zachary Gross said in Baku on March 11 - the Day of National Sorrow, dedicated to the memory of victims of terror, Trend reports.

11 March is the European Day in Memory of the Victims of Terrorism that was set up to coincide with the anniversary of the 2004 Madrid bombings that killed 193 and injured over 2,000 people.

The ambassador noted that France is familiar with similar situations in Azerbaijan.

France also faced the same challenges. At the same time, we are grateful to Azerbaijan for tolerance, Zachary Gross added.

The diplomat reminded that French President Emmanuel Macron ordered that March 11 be declared Sorrow Day to commemorate the victims of terror.

Gross said that this is done in order to honor the memory of French citizens and foreign citizens who were victims of the attacks that threaten the interests of the country.

The ambassador added that the country has suffered from numerous events of terror over the past 10 years.

French citizens are attacked by radical terrorist groups. This is a tragedy behind the rejection of democracy and dialogue, Gross noted.
A petition calling for rules on small houses and mobile homes to be eased was submitted to New Zealand's parliament on Tuesday, as residents piled pressure on the government to address a chronic shortage in affordable housing.

The country has the highest rate of homelessness among the 36 wealthy nations of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), with nearly 1 per cent of its population living without a permanent shelter in 2015.

Some 10,000 are said to live in tiny homes in New Zealand.

Tiny houses and mobile homes - including upgraded caravans - can be an "effective, low-cost solution" to the lack of affordable homes, but are regulated as regular homes with high taxes and bureaucratic red tape, said Andrew Crisp, who launched the online petition.

"New Zealand has a serious housing crisis," said Crisp, whose petition was signed by more than 4000 people and presented to parliament by opposition lawmaker Andrew Bayly.
Automechanika Istanbul fair which was initially projected to be held between the dates April 2 to 5, 2020 is postponed to June 25-28, 2020.

Although the 2020 edition was expected to break a new record again and there are no cases confirmed in Turkey, unfortunately in light of the recent unforeseeable developments concerning the increasing speed of virus spread, COVID-19 (Coronavirus) the organisers have decided to postpone it.

Turkeys Leading International Automotive Industry Fair shall now be held on at the TUYAP Fair and Exhibition Centre.

The Coronavirus epidemic has spread at an unforeseeable pace and form and has been classified as an infectious disease by the World Health Organisation with the adverse ripple effects of this epidemic being felt globally, ranging from the economy to healthcare, with national and international authorities all aggreging that it poses a grave and great public health risk.

In this aspect, we have taken into consideration the hinderance that the international travel restrictions and Turkish domestic travel restrictions could cause on potential visitors and exhibitor entities, together with our duties towards the elimination of public health risks, as well as many similar international fairs within the industry, we have decided to amend the dates of the fair and postpone it.

The worlds third largest and Turkeys leading international automotive industry fair shall convene for a 14th time.

2019 was a record shattering year for Automechanika Istanbul with 1397 attendees hosting a grand total of 48,737 visitors hailing from all over the globe. The fair gathers the Turkish, North African, European, and Middle Eastern automotive industries and acts as an indispensable meeting hub for Turkey and the surrounding region.
The country's largest lender State Bank of India (SBI) on Wednesday said it has reduced its marginal cost of fund-based lending rate (MCLR) by up to 15 basis points across various tenors, effective 10 March

The country's largest lender State Bank of India (SBI) on Wednesday said it has reduced its fixed deposit rates for certain tenors and marginal cost of funds-based lending rates (MCLR) across various tenors.

Making it a second reduction in a month, the public sector bank has reduced retail term deposits (less than Rs 2 crore) by 10 to 50 basis points for a few tenors.

Fixed deposits (FDs) maturing between 7 days to 45 days will offer an interest rate of 4 percent as against 4.50 percent earlier.

Interest rates on FDs maturing in one-year and above have been reduced by 10 basis points.

One-year to less than two-year tenor FD will earn an interest rate of 5.90 percent against 6 percent earlier.

FD for similar tenor will fetch an interest rate of 6.40 percent instead of 6.50 percent for senior citizens.

The bank has also reduced interest rates on bulk term deposits (Rs 2 crore and above) by 15 basis points for 180 days and above tenors.

FD rates in the bulk category for tenor of one-year and above will earn 4.60 percent instead of 4.75 percent.

In February, the bank had slashed term deposits rates by 10-50 basis points in the retail segment and 25-50 basis points in the bulk segment.

Further, the one-year marginal cost of fund-based lending rate (MCLR) has been reduced by 10 basis points to 7.75 percent from 7.85 percent earlier, the bank said. The move will make home and auto loans cheaper.

.@TheOfficialSBI cuts lending rates by 10-15 bps across tenors w.e.f Tuesday pic.twitter.com/liDPRngnc0  CNBC-TV18 (@CNBCTV18Live) March 11, 2020

This is 10th consecutive cut in MCLR by the bank in the current fiscal.

Overnight and one-month MCLRs have been reduced by 15 basis points to 7.45 percent each. Three-month MCLR has been revised to 7.50 percent from 7.65 percent.

The new two-year and three-year MCLRs stand reduced by 10 basis points to 7.95 percent and 8.05 percent, respectively.

The rates became effective from 10 March.

On Monday, another state-run lender Union Bank of India had announced cut in its MCLR by 10 basis points across all tenors, effective 11 March.

This is the ninth consecutive rate cut announced by the Mumbai-based bank, since July 2019.

The bank has cut its one-year MCLR to 8 percent from 8.10 percent.

The overnight MCLR has been revised to 7.55 percent, while the new one month rate stands at 7.60 percent, the bank had said.

(with PTI inputs)
Hollywood director Steven Spielberg recently bought the film rights to a novel about Israel Palestine before it was published, something that may take us to a cultural moment of unfortunate deja vu.

In the mid-1950s, powerful Hollywood executives financed the writing of a novel by Leon Uris to sell a pro-Israel agenda to Western popular imagination.

The result was Exodus, a bestseller turned blockbuster film. It narrated a true event (a ship carrying Jewish refugees sailing to Palestine) as the seed of an elaborate myth  a land without a people for a people without a land  which functioned to obscure the indigenous stewards of the land.

It was the romantic happy ending Europe needed following the genocide of its own Jewish citizenry. People lapped it up by the millions and refused to accept that it was anything but absolute truth, with Biblical authority to boot.

But it was  as everyone now knows  a lie.

Palestine already had an ancient, extensive society, and when European Zionists descended on their country, committing well-documented massacres and pogroms to expel them, Palestinians pleaded to the world for help  to no avail. Only when we organised into armed guerillas and hijacked planes was the world finally forced to reckon with our existence.

No longer able to hold the claim that Palestine was ever without her people, Zionists shifted the narrative  through countless films, books, ads  to one that caricatured Palestinians as two-dimensional, irrational Arab terrorists, depictions that still persist in popular media.

Then came the internet, and social media made the world smaller. Suddenly, the masses had access to videos, photos, eyewitness accounts, independent media, human rights audits, and UN reports that laid bare Israels sadistic oppression of Palestinians.

Its complicated and other shifting myths

Israel has floundered over the past two decades, trying to sort out a strategy to deal with this popular unveiling of its colonial rot. It has become harder to obscure Palestinian humanity.

Israel has signed an agreement with Facebook and collaborated with other major social media companies to censor Palestinian pages; it has smeared Israels critics as anti-Semites, destroying careers and worse; it has set up a Lawfare Project to drag students and activists through courts; and it has successfully pushed legislation around the world to criminalise criticism of Israel.

On the cultural front, Israel has been deploying public relations campaigns, as their supporters saturate public conversations with sound bites, like, its complicated  a conflict that has been going on for thousands of years.

Alas, we are fed the discourse of two sides, as if the destruction of a defenceless indigenous society is a matter of two equal parties who simply do not understand each other, but who just need a little nudging  some dialogue maybe  to love each other and viola! Kumbaya, my Lord.

And yet, none of these extensive efforts have dampened the swelling tide of the Boycott Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign, a global popular resistance movement that has engaged millions of people around the world fed up with Israels extraordinary impunity and ongoing colonisation of Palestine.

In short, nothing has come close to duplicating the spectacular advertising feat of Exodus. Until, perhaps, now.

Apeirogon

Enter Apeirogon.

Apeirogon is a geometric shape with an infinite number of countable sides. It is also the title of Colum McCanns latest novel, a kind of infinite boost to Israels two sides discourse.

The novel is more of a biography than fiction. It is based on the real-life story of a friendship between a Palestinian and an Israeli  Bassam Aramin, a Palestinian whose daughter, Abir, was shot in the head by an Israeli soldier in 2007 and Rami Elhanan, an Israeli whose daughter, Smadar, was killed in a suicide bombing in 1997.

Its central message is about the power of empathy, and both men are fully supportive of the book. I spoke with Bassam Aramin, who informed me the three of them will go on tour together. But like Exodus, it tells a true story to sell a much bigger lie.

Colonisers and natives

Imagine this (to borrow from McCanns writing style): Somewhere on the Pine Ridge Reservation, a little girl from the Oglala Lakota Nation, whose head was shattered by a white settlers petulant son, bleeds to death in her fathers helpless arms. Another white settler befriends the Native girls father (it has to be at the white mans behest because the father cant leave the reservation), and a friendship between the two men flourishes from their common anguish of having lost a child. The white mans daughter had been killed by a group of young Braves who attacked an encroaching settlement. The friendship between the two men is real. The loss that haunts them for all their days is the same.

Along comes a novelist, who is so moved by this unusual friendship, the story behind it, and what he feels it represents of hope for the future of the nation that he decides to write a book about them. It is a kind of amplifying-the-voice-of-peace endeavour, born from the stubborn belief that anything can be solved by the benevolent enthusiasm of well-meaning folks.

The writer does not try to gloss over the horrors inflicted on Native bodies. In fact, he presents a true face of colonial gore and trauma. But heres the trick: He presents the violence of a local native rebellion equally, and describes the insecurity and fear that white settlers must tragically endure as a result of Indigenous resistance to their settlements.

There is an implicit parity, you see? All fear is the same, all violence is the same, all insecurity is the same. The Oglala Sioux father tells the writer how he was able to see white humanity for the first time through this friendship. The white man tells him the same about Indigenous humanity.

And just like that, the genocidal engine of American colonialism, which, together with slavery, propelled its entire economy, becomes just a big misunderstanding, a problem to be solved by dialogue, empathy, and the simple understanding that, as McCann quotes his Palestinian protagonists epiphany: They have families, too.

Substitute Palestinian for Oglala Lakota, Palestine for Pine Ridge Reservation, and Israelis for white settlers (although that does not need changing), and you have, in a nutshell, Colum McCanns much-touted, highly anticipated novel, which may well become a blockbuster film.

I want to be clear that I am not comparing or equating forms or instances of injustice. I am trying to make the point  using an understood (in hindsight) historic horror  that it is the height of mendacity to suggest that the stories of individual relationships in circumstances of enormous power disparities are anything but normalisation sideshows, and certainly not a challenge to the machinations undergirding structural oppression.

One can also analogise to Apartheid South Africa in a Bantustan, or Belgium in Congo, or Nazi Germany in the Warsaw ghetto, or the Ku Klux Klan in Mississippi. After all, members of those hideous institutions had families, too, didnt they?

Exodus 2.0

Apeirogon is potentially Exodus 2.0  retooled, rebooted, and adjusted for increasing public awareness of Palestinian suffering under the yoke of unrelenting Israeli terror.

I asked Bassam if he read it. I tried, but it was too painful, he said. I can see why, because McCann stretches the details of the killings of two little girls, spreading little bits here and there over hundreds of pages, adding a new detail with each repetition, until one is not so startled by what was agonising to read the first several times. It is an interesting way to convey the normalisation of violence, if that is what McCann intended.

Interspersed in the story are disparate bits of information stitched together  from bird migration patterns and ancient kings, to the Sistine Chapel and explosives  in a kind of forced profundity that aims to tie together all things everywhere and anytime, all of it, somehow, relating to Israel Palestine.

In other words, its all so very, very complicated.

Take, for example, the idea that the core of Fat Man, the nuclear bomb used by the US to exterminate everything that moved, swayed, hopped, flew, or breathed in the city of Nagasaki, was the size of a throwable rock (presumably in the hands of a Palestinian kid).

The compelling centre of every parents worst fear is threaded through this dizzying kaleidoscope of world trivia. I would have loved the latter, were it not functioning as linguistic smoke and mirrors, blurring what is truly the simplest, oldest story in human history: A powerful group of people stole a land, colonised it, and are going about obliterating its indigenous people.

The Hula wetlands

McCann devotes extensive space in the text to birds  their individual species, migration patterns, and ornithological audits. But nowhere does he mention that around the time Leon Uris was writing Exodus, Israel was draining the Hula wetlands, which they called a malaria swamp. The project was touted as Zionist ingenuity. Jewish Europeans declared they were healing the land, which, they said, had been left to fester by backward Arabs.

In reality, these new European settlers destroyed a vast regional biodiversity treasure, which had been a major feeding station for hundreds of millions of migrating birds. It is estimated that over 100 animal species disappeared from the area or became extinct.

This episode in Zionist history is probably the best analogy for McCanns book: An ambitious project to heal, conceived by foreigners, ignorant of the local terrain, its history and ecology; eager to solve, civilise, and lay claim; well-intended; sure of their own glory; but in reality, profoundly harmful  irreparably so for the most vulnerable lives.

Reinforcing the notion of a complicated conflict of two sides, the book recounts a scene where a gun-wielding Israeli soldier zip-ties, curses at and beats an unarmed Bassam Aramin, whose hands are up in surrender, a pink stain on his palm. Hours later, after the soldier realises the pink stain was from Bassams murdered daughters candy bracelet, not from an explosive, shes really sorry. Who can blame the plantation mistress if shes rightfully a little fearful of dark people with stained palms? As if beating Palestinians at checkpoints isnt routine, or as if Israeli snipers dont murder us for sport, cheering when they get a good clip.

The reader is told several times that Rami Elhanan Gold is from an old family, a seventh-generation Jerusalemite. But we are not told what this means.

First, Rami is one of a tiny minority of Jewish Israelis who can actually trace their lineage in the land before World War II. Second, he is part of an even smaller minority whose ancestry in Palestine goes back before World War I. Third, Ramis ancestors, like all People of the Book (those of monotheistic religions) had been welcomed in Palestine and protected under Muslim rule, which lasted over 1,200 years.

Fourth, none of that stopped Rami or his parents from taking up arms against their non-Jewish neighbours when Zionism promised to give them power and property. What treachery.

The stories McCann chooses not to tell are, well, telling.

For the record, I am at least a 22nd-generation Jerusalemite. Israel kicked me out of my homeland when I was 13. For being an illegal.

No measure of understanding that Israelis have families too will ever compel me to accept forced exile.

Such inconvenient truths, or inconvenient people, have no place in the reductionist colonial narratives of empathy and dialogue.

Who gets to narrate

For years, Spielberg and his family have fundraised for and supported Israel and its occupation of Palestine. That he plans to take this book to the big screen is wholly consistent with his declaration that he would die for Israel.

I do not understand why McCann sold the option to him. My fear is that, just as privileged white men used Exodus to sell a colonial fabrication in 1958, a new set of privileged white men in Hollywood will use Apeirogon to sell a contemporary cultural instalment of colonial mendacity.

I do not know McCann, though I suspect he wrote this book with a sense of solidarity and a desire to foster dialogue. But it is possible to do great harm with the noblest of intentions. The rhetoric of dialogue can be alluring  the idea that talking to find common humanity is all it takes to dismantle structural racism and notions of ethnocentric supremacy. It can make all kinds of people, even victims themselves, become purveyors of injustice.

Dialogue and negotiations  as Palestinians know well after nearly 30 years of doing exactly that  always works in favour of the powerful.

It is clear McCann did extensive research, including long conversations with the main personalities in this book, and perhaps by presenting a true story, he tried to navigate the ethical issues surrounding appropriation. But there is an overarching colonial message of parity that lends itself to Zionist propaganda. Its like Jared Kushner reading 25 books and thinking that qualified him to make the deal of the century, a solution to please all sides of the conflict.

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance.
Technavio has been monitoring the tobacco market and it is poised to grow by USD 167.84 bn during 2020-2024, progressing at a CAGR of almost 4% during the forecast period. The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current market scenario, latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment. Request the latest free sample report of 2020-2024

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200311005562/en/

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Tobacco Market 2020-2024 (Graphic: Business Wire)

The market is fragmented, and the degree of fragmentation will accelerate during the forecast period. 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.

Demand for cigars and smoking tobacco products has been instrumental in driving the growth of the market.

Tobacco Market 2020-2024: Segmentation

Tobacco Market is segmented as below:

Product

Combustible Tobacco Products

Smokeless Tobacco Products

Geographic Segmentation

APAC

Europe

MEA

North America

South America

To learn more about the global trends impacting the future of market research, download the latest free sample of 2020-2024: https://www.technavio.com/talk-to-us?report=IRTNTR30770

Tobacco 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 tobacco market report covers the following areas:

Tobacco Market Size

Tobacco Market Trends

Tobacco Market Industry Analysis

This study identifies use of automated techniques in the manufacturing of tobacco products as one of the prime reasons driving the tobacco market growth during the next few years.

Tobacco Market 2020-2024: Vendor Analysis

We provide a detailed analysis of around 25 vendors operating in the tobacco market, including some of the vendors such as Altria Group, British American Tobacco, China National Tobacco Corporation, Imperial Brands and Japan Tobacco. Backed with competitive intelligence and benchmarking, our research reports on the tobacco market are designed to provide entry support, customer profile and M&As as well as go-to-market strategy support.

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Tobacco Market 2020-2024: Key Highlights

CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2020-2024

Detailed information on factors that will assist tobacco market growth during the next five years

Estimation of the tobacco market size and its contribution to the parent market

Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior

The growth of the tobacco market

Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors

Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of tobacco market vendors

Table of Content

PART 01: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

PART 02: SCOPE OF THE REPORT

2.1 Preface

2.2 Preface

2.3 Currency conversion rates for US$

PART 03: MARKET LANDSCAPE

Market ecosystem

Market characteristics

Market segmentation analysis

PART 04: MARKET SIZING

Market definition

Market sizing 2019

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 PRODUCT

Market segmentation by product

Comparison by product

Combustible tobacco products Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Smokeless tobacco products Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Market opportunity by product

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: DRIVERS AND CHALLENGES

PART 10: VENDOR LANDSCAPE

Market drivers

Market challenges

PART 11: MARKET TRENDS

Rising mergers and acquisitions

Increasing use of automated techniques in manufacturing tobacco products

Online retailing

PART 12: VENDOR LANDSCAPE

Overview

Landscape disruption

Competitive scenario

PART 13: VENDOR ANALYSIS

Vendors covered

Vendor classification

Market positioning of vendors

Altria Group

British American Tobacco

China National Tobacco Corporation

Imperial Brands

Japan Tobacco

PHILIP MORRIS INTERNATIONAL MANAGEMENT

PART 14: APPENDIX

Research methodology

List of abbreviations

About Us

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

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UPDATE: N.J. has 1st possible coronavirus community-spread cases. Coronavirus is amongst us, officials say.

The number of coronavirus cases in New Jersey has increased by eight, bringing the statewide total to 23 positive tests with one death, Gov. Phil Murphy announced Wednesday.

Murphy, who declared a state of emergency Monday, made the announcement during a television appearance ahead of the 2 p.m. briefing planned by state health officials. He said 20 of those who tested positive are currently hospitalized.

My guess is it gets worse before it gets better," Murphy said on News 12, in his first public comments since he had surgery to remove a likely cancerous tumor from his kidney. "And thats not just a statement about New Jersey. Thats a statement about America and the world. We have been preparing for that and we just have to continue to do what we can to stay out ahead of that.

Of the eight new cases, four are in Bergen County with two apiece in Middlesex and Monmouth counties, officials said at an afternoon news conference. The ages of the people who tested positive range from 17 to 66. Five are male, three are female.

The hometowns of the seven of the eight people who tested positive was not disclosed.

COVID-19  the illness caused by the virus  has sickened more than 1,000 people nationwide and led to at least 31 deaths, according to NYTimes.com. One of the new cases announced Wednesday is a 44-year-old Teaneck man, officials in the town confirmed. The states first death, a 69-year-old man with previous health conditions, took place in Bergen County.

In all 80 people have been tested at the state lab - with 57 negative and 23 positive. Another 37 people are being investigated with 20 tests underway at the lab. The lab is awaiting samples from the other 17 people.

On Tuesday, officials said a 69-year-old Little Ferry man, later identified as horse trainer John Brennan died Tuesday at Hackensack University Medical Center. Brennan had pre-existing health conditions including diabetes, hypertension and emphysema. He was revived from an initial cardiac arrest Monday, officials said, but died after a second cardiac arrest Tuesday.

Officials also said on Tuesday that another Bergen County resident and two Burlington County residents tested positive for coronavirus, pushing the state Tuesday total to 31.

The coronavirus outbreak in New Jersey has prompted dozens of school districts to close or call for early dismissals to either clean facilities or plan with staff to switch to online instruction. In addition, many colleges in New Jersey have announced that all classes will be held online for days or weeks.

The state Attorney Generals Office has received more than 90 complaints about price gouging. Excess prices for surgical face masks and hand sanitizer were among the initial 10 complaints last week, but the state hasnt named any of the businesses or identified the complaints.

State health officials also advised residents to stock up on a 14-day supply of food and medicine in the event they need to be quarantined.

Worldwide, more than 115,800 people have tested positive for coronavirus and the deal toll has climbed above 4,100, according to CNN.com.

Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman.

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Clyburn Calls for Shutting Democratic Primary Down as Biden Surges

House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.), a key supporter of 2020 candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden, said he is ready to call off the Democratic primary race and declare Biden the winner.

Six states went to vote on Tuesday night, and Biden won four of them, including Missouri, Idaho, crucial Michigan, and Mississippi, while rival Sen. Bernie Sanders won North Dakota, and Washington state is still up for grabs. Biden currently has 846 delegates to Sanders 684.

I think when the night is over, Joe Biden will be the prohibitive favorite to win the Democratic nomination, and quite frankly, if the night ends the way it has begun, I think it is time for us to shut this primary down, it is time for us to cancel the rest of these debates, Clyburn told NPR. Because you dont do anything but get yourself in trouble if you continue in this contest when its obvious that the numbers will not shake out for you.

After losing in four states to Biden, Sanders didnt reveal his plans moving forward, although some of his supporters and campaign staffers indicated that he would continue until at least the next debate on March 15, which would put Sanders against Biden.

Pressed on the issue, Clyburn told the broadcaster that if Biden were to make a clean sweep on Tuesday, the former vice president would become the prohibitive nominee, adding that the Democratic National Committee (DNC) should step in and make an assessment and determine whether they ought to have any more debates.

House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.) greets Democratic presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden at the National Action Network South Carolina Ministers Breakfast in North Charleston, S.C. on Feb. 26, 2020. (Gerald Herbert/AP Photo)

A prolonged fight between Biden and Sanders, he added, could possibly damage Bidens chances against President Donald Trump in the general election.

People will say things, Clyburn noted, that you cannot overcome.

Last month, Clyburn gave Biden a key endorsement when voters went to the polls in South Carolinas primary. The former vice president then leveraged his success in that state to dominate during Super Tuesday earlier this month.

In the NPR interview, Clyburn said he wants Biden to pick an African American female for his vice president. I really believe that weve reached a point in this country where African American women need to be rewarded for the loyalty that theyve given to this party, Clyburn said.

Other than Clyburn, Democratic political consultant James Carville told MSNBC on Tuesday that voters are claiming they want to shut this thing down after Biden won in several states.

I mean, you can just look all across the spectrum of the Democratic Party and people are saying: weve made our decision, this is who were going with, Carville added.
Universities and companies across the country are closing their campuses amidst fears over the coronavirus - but students and other young people are taking the time to book cheap flights.

Airlines slashed costs on under-booked services, as passengers cancelled or rebooked their plans amid fears of spreading the virus.

Users shared grabs from Google Flight and Skyscanner showing flights from as little as $50 to $300 for flights that normally cost several hundreds, if not thousands of dollars.

Their plans to travel comes as more than 1,000 people in the US have tested positive for COVID-19 across 38 states and the District of Columbia, and 31 people have died.

Scroll down for video

Users shared grabs from Google Flight and Skyscanner showing flights ranging from $50 to $300 for flights that normally cost several hundreds, if not thousands of dollars

Their need to travel comes as more than 1,000 people in the US have tested positive for COVID-19 across 38 states and D.C, and 31 people have died

'Yall these flights are so cheap whos down for a vacation,' shared one woman who included a screengrabs that showed cheap flights to Honolulu, Chicago, Cancun, Denver and Palm Springs.

The flight to Cancun, Mexico, was just $308 for the entire trip.

Another person shared a $49 flight they had found from San Francisco, California, to Australia.

Several people shared that they had been looking over the cheap flights, with some people committing to actually making purchases - including one couple who said they were going to Aruba.

Another person shared a $49 flight they had found from San Francisco, California, to Australia

Several people shared that they had been looking over the cheap flights, with some people committing to actually making purchases

With many universities announcing that they would be moving classes to online, people expressed excitement at taking those classes while on vacation.

'UCSD students leaving their dorm to explore the world now that classes are online and flights are dirt cheap,' said one user.

Another user contemplated buying tickets to NYC for spring break because the tickets were so cheap.

Even parents were getting in on the fun, with one woman sharing a hilarious video of her mother standing in an empty John F Kennedy Airport in New York as she prepared to board a flight to Dubai.

With many universities announcing that they would be moving classes to online, people expressed excitement at taking those classes while on vacation

'How my mother feels about these cheap flights,' the woman said in the video's caption. Her mother tells the virus to stay in its lane.

And while people expressed excitement over the possible travel, others voiced their disappointment.

'Flight tickets are very cheap BUT them d**n hotel prices didn't even come down,' expressed one user.

Another user stated: 'Yall deada*s forgetting to mention all these cheap a*s flights are spirit airlines bitch you gotta fly the plane yourself of course its cheap.'

'Flight tickets are very cheap BUT them d**n hotel prices didn't even come down,' expressed one user

Another user stated: 'Yall deada*s forgetting to mention all these cheap a*s flights are spirit airlines bitch you gotta fly the plane yourself of course its cheap'

Several folks pointed out that flights never needed to be as expensive as they got normally.

Several folks pointed out that flights never needed to be as expensive as they got normally.

'I mad because flights COULD be this cheap all the time and airlines would still make money but NO i guess not,' someone shared.

There were numerous people who pointed out that these brave travelers were risking the health of older people in their family and those at the vacation spots by taking the trips.

The mortality rate for the general population is thought to be between 1 and 2 per cent for the coronavirus.

But this rises to 8 per cent to those in their 70s, and to 15 per cent for over-80s. People with underlying conditions are at even greater risk.

And while the risk for younger people are lower, they can spread the virus just as easily.

Anyone visiting in close proximity to older folks should be very careful about hygiene  by washing their hands and perhaps staying away if they have a cold.

But experts state not to avoid all contact as they believe this will do more harm than good. It could mean they become isolated, exacerbating loneliness.

A California doctor recently announced that three patients under the age of 40 in his care have been placed in intensive care after contracting the virus.
The district administration on



Wednesday invoked the 'Disaster Management Act' to effectively deal with any situation arising out of spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

Till now, 11 positive cases of the viral infection have come to light in Maharashtra. Of these, eight have been reported from Pune, two from Mumbai and one from Nagpur.

District collector Rajesh Narvekar announced the implementation of the Disaster Management Act in Thane.

Narvekar is also chief of the District Disaster Management Authority.

"Since, Thane abuts Mumbai, many tourists travel to or stay in the district. Therefore, it is necessary to take immediate measures to control the infection and prevent the spread of the virus," officials said.

Dr Kailash Pawar, District Civil Surgeon, and District Health Officer of Thane Zilla Parishad (ZP) Dr Manish Renge have been appointed as nodal officers to implement the Act, they said.

Also, responsibilities have been fixed on the police, the municipal corporation, ZP, health, revenue, food and drug administration, education and industrial departments to deal with the situation, the officials said.

Due to enforcement of the law, officers appointed in the disaster management have to create separate medical teams and deploy them full time to deal with suspected coronavirus patients, they said.

Authorities have been given powers to take action against private hospitals not cooperating, they said.

They have also been empowered to act against sale of masks and drugs at exorbitant rates, the officials said.

Instructions for disinfection of places like bus and train stations, malls, hotels, banks and ATMs, among others, have been given, they said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Regulatory News:

Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd. (LN:PSH) (LN:PSHD) (NA:PSH) ("PSH") today announced that it has purchased, through PSH's agent, Jefferies International Limited ("Jefferies"), the following number of PSH's Public Shares of no par value (ISIN Code: GG00BPFJTF46) (the "Shares"):

Trading Venue: London Stock Exchange Ticker: PSH Date of Purchase: 11 March 2020 Number of Public Shares purchased: 28,634 Shares Highest Price Paid Per Share: 1,396 pence 17.96 USD Lowest Price Paid Per Share: 1,334 pence 17.17 USD Average Price Paid Per Share: 1,379 pence 17.75 USD Ticker: PSHD Date of Purchase: 11 March 2020 Number of Public Shares purchased: 24,157 Shares Highest Price Paid Per Share: 17.88 USD Lowest Price Paid Per Share: 17.68 USD Average Price Paid Per Share: 17.78 USD Trading Venue: Euronext Amsterdam Ticker: PSH Date of Purchase: 11 March 2020 Number of Public Shares purchased: 31,546 Shares Highest Price Paid Per Share: 18.10 USD Lowest Price Paid Per Share: 17.10 USD Average Price Paid Per Share: 17.83 USD

PSH will hold these Public Shares in Treasury. The net asset value per Public Share related to this buyback is 27.70 USD 21.13 GBP which was calculated as of 9 March 2020 (the "Relevant NAV"). After giving effect to the above buyback, PSH has 202,562,033 Public Shares outstanding, or 208,261,534 Public Shares calculated on a fully diluted basis (assuming that all Management Shares had been converted into Public Shares at the Relevant NAV). Excluded from the shares outstanding are 8,394,717 Public Shares held in Treasury. The prices per Public Share were calculated by Jefferies.

The number of PSH Management Shares and the one special voting share (held by PS Holdings Independent Voting Company Limited) have not been affected.

PSH also announces that it has published to its website, in accordance with the EU Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1052, details of transactions in its own shares for the past week. Information is available at https://pershingsquareholdings.com/company-reports/other-materials/.

About Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd.

Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd. (LN:PSH) (LN:PSHD) (NA:PSH) is an investment holding company structured as a closed-ended fund that makes concentrated investments principally in North American companies.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200311005772/en/

Contacts:

Media

Camarco

Ed Gascoigne-Pees Hazel Stevenson +44 020 3757 4989, media-pershingsquareholdings@camarco.co.uk
The Kerala police on Wednesday registered a case against a doctor for allegedly propagating false information about an NRI patient with suspected symptoms of coronavirus infection.

The case was filed against Dr Shinu Shyamalan, who works at a private hospital in Thalikkulam, based on a complaint filed by Dr KJ Reena, District Medical Officer (DMO) of Thrissur district.

"According to the complaint, Shinu created unnecessary panic in society. A case under IPC 505 and KP Act 120(O) has been registered against her," Vadanappally police told ANI.

Shinu had claimed, through a social media post, that she had lost her job after informing the government officials about a patient who visited the clinic with suspected symptoms of coronavirus infection.

She further claimed that the patient had come to the hospital without adopting precautions like wearing masks, and later, left for Qatar.

The Kerala doctor further said that she had alerted the police, health authorities and informed the public about him through social media and television.

However, hospital authorities allegedly terminated her after the incident as they feared that the news of the visit of a coronavirus-suspect patient would affect the inflow of patients.

Claiming that she had not divulged the identity of the patient or the hospital, Shyamalan said: "My only anxiety was that samples should have been collected for tests before his departure to Qatar. Then we would have known whether he was infected or not.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-11 07:29:29|Editor: huaxia

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Medical workers clear the facilities after all patients left the Wuchang temporary hospital in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, March 10, 2020. The final batch of 49 patients walked out of the Wuchang temporary hospital at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday. The last two temporary hospitals in Wuhan, the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in central China's Hubei Province, were shut down Tuesday, marking the closure of all 16 temporary hospitals in the city. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua)
Digvijaya Singh on BJP MLA's call to break legs of Congressmen: I'll go to his house to recite Ramdhun

Wish him well under Modi-Shah: Congress on Jyotiraditya Scindia

India

oi-Deepika S

Bhopal, Mar 11: Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh on Wednesday denied allegations that Jyotiraditya Scindia, was sidelined by the party and wished him well Under Modi-Shah.

"No question he was not at all sidelined. In fact, please ask any Congress Leader from MP particularly from Gwalior Chambal Division and you would come to know nothing moved in this area without his consent in last 16 months. Sad. But I wish him well under Modi-Shah Tutelage," tweeted Digvijaya Singh.

"...He sees a great Future for India under ModiShah Govt when our Banks are collapsing our rupee is plummeting our Economy is in shambles and our Social Fabric is being destroyed. So be it,"Singh tweeted.

Scindia betrayed people's trust, ideology: Gehlot

"...he should replace Amit Shah or Nirmala Seetharaman and knowing his talent he would certainly do a better job then either of them. May he grow under ModiShah Tutelage. Our best wishes to you Maharaj," the Congress leader tweeted.

Despite massive rebellion, the Madhya Pradesh Congress has put up a brave face saying the party would prove majority in the floor test.

After securing 114 seats, the Congress came to power in 2018. The House has 230 members. However the current strength has been reduced to 228. The Congress had gone on to form the government with the support of 121 MLAs, which included four independents, 2 BSP and 1 SP MLA.

NEWS AT 3 PM, MARCH 11th, 2020

Meanwhile the Congress continued to make efforts to woo Scindia back. However as of now, it appears as though Scindia has not relented.

Madhya Pradesh Crisis: Congress claims expulsion after Jyotiraditya Scindia resigns

If the 17 MLAs stick to their decision then the strength of the Congress would come down to 104. In the 228 member House, a party needs 115 seats.

The BJP on the other hand has 107 MLAs. It needs 8 more MLAs to hit the majority mark. If the rebels extend support to the BJP, then the party will have 124 MLAs.
Alibaba's AliExpress warns of possible coronavirus delays FILE PHOTO: Employees work at AliExpress office at the Alibaba company's headquarters in Hangzhou

By Sonya Dowsett

MADRID (Reuters) - AliExpress, the global e-commerce platform of Chinese online shopping giant Alibaba, warned customers on Tuesday that there may be some delivery delays due to the coronavirus outbreak.

AliExpress is one of the most downloaded shopping apps globally, part of a growing e-commerce trend in which consumers worldwide buy goods such as mobile phones, vacuum cleaners and dresses directly from manufacturers, mostly based in China.

"Some shipping and logistics are experiencing longer waiting times for processing orders," it said in a Facebook post.

Unlike Alibaba's Tmall or Taobao, which target the domestic market, AliExpress primarily caters to international buyers.

Alibaba is pushing outside of China through divisions such as AliExpress to compensate for slowing economic growth at home and rising competition from the likes of JD.com.

Launched in 2010, AliExpress is particularly popular in Russia, the United States, Brazil, Spain and France, selling items such as jeans for $12.41 and wireless headphones for $6.64. It had more than 79 million annual active consumers in the year ending Aug. 31, 2019, according to Alibaba's website.

Customers complained on Tuesday that orders were not only taking a long time to arrive but were being automatically renewed, instead of being canceled and refunded.

"It doesn't inspire confidence that they renew your order forever and you can't stop it," said Monika Hendry, originally from Poland and now living in Hong Kong, who spent about $10 on a mobile phone holder on Jan. 17 on the site.

"The only answer AliExpress provides is to contact the seller directly if you have any problems but the seller is not responding and then you are stuck. You have absolutely no recourse," she said. "It's a total waste of time."

AliExpress said on Tuesday it was constantly monitoring the situation.

"Some deliveries may be affected but we are working hard to support our sellers in this difficult time while minimizing any inconvenience to our customers," the company said in an emailed statement.

Story continues

Alibaba Group warned in February of a drop in revenue at its key e-commerce businesses as the coronavirus sweeping China hit supply chains and deliveries.

Amazon.com sellers in the United States are bracing for product shortages due to idled factories in China and canceled cargo flights from the country. More than 1 million Amazon sellers source products from Chinese merchants.

The outbreak has claimed more than 3,000 lives and infected more than 90,000 people globally, after spreading from China to 77 other countries and territories.

(Reporting by Sonya Dowsett; Editing by Nick Macfie and David Clarke)
Bengaluru, March 11 : After a techie from software major Mindtree tested positive for coronavirus infection, an employee of Dell India also tested positive following his return from the US.

"Nothing is more important than the health and safety of our employees and communities where we operate. We can confirm two employees of Dell India were tested for the virus following their return from the United States - including a visit to our headquarters in Round Rock, Texas," Dell India spokesperson said on Wednesday.

According to the company's spokesperson, one employee tested negative whereas the second tested positive and has since been in quarantine.

"We continue to take steps to protect Dell Technologies team members and communities by following the health and safety guidelines from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centre for Disease Control, in coordinating with local health officials," the spokesperson said.

The team members in Bengaluru who may have come into contact with the affected employees are working remotely, the company spokesperson added.

"Dell's local environment, health and safety team is in contact with these team members to closely monitor their well-being. All the team members who are set up for work from home are encouraged to do so as part of our connected workplace policy. This helps us reduce foot traffic and congregation in buildings for those whose jobs require them to be in a Dell facility," the company's spokesperson said in a statement.

To help keep sites worldwide safe, we have increased the frequency of deep cleaning and sanitisation of all our workspaces and conference rooms, the company said.

On Tuesday, the techie from Mindtree tested positive on return from an overseas trip, a company official had said.

"One of our Mindtree Minds (employees), on return to Bengaluru from an overseas trip, has tested positive for coronavirus on Tuesday. He, along with his family members, are under medical observation by Karnataka Health Department doctors," said Mindtree Chief People Officer Paneesh Rao in a statement here.

The techie is on way to recovery.

"The software engineer had self-isolated on return from the trip abroad and did not visit any of our facilities or meet any other employee," Rao said.
Identity and access management in 2022 - what will the future look like?

As we enter into 2022, there is still a level of uncertainty in place. Its unclear what the future holds, as companies around the world still contend with the COVID-19 pandemic. Remote working has been encouraged by most organisations and the move to a hybrid working system has become business as usual, for the majority of businesses. Some have reduced their office space or done away with their locations altogether. Following best security practices With all this change in place, there are problems to deal with. According to research, 32.7% of IT admins say they are concerned about employees using unsecured networks to carry out that work. Alongside this, 74% of IT admins thought that remote work makes it harder for employees to follow best security practices. This need to manage security around remote work is no longer temporary. Instead, companies have to build permanent strategies around remote work and security. The coming year will also create a different landscape for small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs). Here are some key predictions for next year and what to start preparing for in 2022: The reality of SMB spending around security will hit home SMBs had to undertake significant investments to adapt to remote working SMBs had to undertake significant investments to adapt to remote working, especially in comparison to their size. They had to undertake significant digital transformation projects that made it possible to deliver services remotely, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Weve seen a shift in mindset for these companies, which are now more tech-focused in their approach to problem solving. According to our research, 45% of SMBs plan to increase their spending towards IT services in 2022. Around half of all organisations think their IT budgets are adequate for their needs, while 14.5% of those surveyed believe they will need more, to cover all that needs to be done. Identity management spending to support remote work For others, the COVID-19 pandemic led to over-spending, just to get ahead of things and they will spend in 2022, looking at what they should keep and what they can reduce their spending on. Areas like identity management will stay in place, as companies struggle to support remote work and security, without this in place. However, on-premise IT spending will be reduced or cut, as those solutions are not relevant for the new work model. Services that rely on on-premise IT will be cut or replaced. The device will lead the way for security We rely on our phones to work and to communicate. In 2022, they will become central to how we manage access, to all our assets and locations, IT and physical. When employees can use company devices and their own phones for work, security is more difficult. IT teams have to ensure that theyre prepared for this, by making sure that these devices can be trusted. Wide use of digital certificates and strong MFA factors Rather than requiring a separate smart card or fingerprint reader, devices can be used for access using push authentication There are multiple ways that companies can achieve this, for example - By using digital certificates to identify company devices as trusted, an agent, or strong MFA factors, like a FIDO security key or mobile push authentication. Whichever approach you choose, this can prevent unauthorised access to IT assets and applications, and these same devices can be used for authentication into physical locations too. Rather than requiring a separate smart card or fingerprint reader, devices can be used for access using push authentication. Understanding human behaviour Alongside this, it is important to understand human behaviour. Anything that introduces an extra step for authentication can lead to employees taking workarounds. To stop this, it is important to put an employee education process in place, in order to emphasize on the importance of security. The next step is to think about adopting passwordless security, to further reduce friction and increase adoption. Lastly, as devices become the starting point for security and trust, remote device management will be needed too. More companies will need to manage devices remotely, from wiping an asset remotely if it gets lost or stolen, through to de-provisioning users easily and removing their access rights, when they leave the company. Identity will be a layer cake Zero Trust approaches to security Identity management relies on being able to trust that someone is who they say they are. Zero Trust approaches to security can support this effectively, particularly when aligned with least privilege access models. In order to turn theory into practical easy-to-deploy steps, companies need to use contextual access, as part of their identity management strategy. This involves looking at the context that employees will work in and putting together the right management approach for those circumstances. For typical employee behaviour, using two factor authentication might be enough to help them work, without security getting in the way. How enterprises manage, access and store identity data There will also be a shift in how enterprises manage, access, and store that identity data over time For areas where security is more important, additional security policies can be put over the top, to ensure that only the right people have access. A step-up in authentication can be added, based on the sensitivity of resources or risk-based adaptive authentication policies might be needed. There will also be a shift in how enterprises manage, access, and store that identity data over time, so that it aligns more closely with those use cases. Identity management critical to secure assets in 2022 There are bigger conversations taking place around digital identity for citizenship, as more services move online as well. Any moves that take place in this arena will affect how businesses think about their identity management processes too, encouraging them to look at their requirements in more detail. Overall, 2022 will be the year when identity will be critical to how companies keep their assets secure and their employees productive. With employees working remotely and businesses becoming decentralised, identity strategies will have to take the same approach. This will put the emphasis on strong identity management as the starting point for all security planning.
Any fair-minded person who reads these reports will see that theyre pretty hard-hitting across the board, he said. And so were no more or less hard-hitting with respect to those countries than we are to other countries that are flagged here for having problems.
The High Court of Australia HAS published its reasons for judgment allowing ASICs appeal from the Supreme Court of Queensland on the question of whether Michael King, the former CEO and executive director of MFS Ltd (also known as Octaviar Ltd), was an officer as defined in s 9 of the Corporations Act 2001(Cth) of MFS Investment Management Pty Ltd (MFSIM).

At the relevant time, MFS Ltd was the parent company of the MFS Group of companies (MFS Group).

MFSIM was a subsidiary in the MFS Group and acted as a responsible entity for several registered managed investment schemes, the largest of which was the Premium Income Fund (PIF).

The court unanimously held that Michael Christodoulou King was an officer as defined by s 9(b)(ii) of the Act because the provision is not limited to those who hold or occupy a named office in a corporation or a recognised position with rights and duties attached to it.

The factual findings of the primary judge that Mr King acted as the overall boss of the MFS Group and assumed overall responsibility for MFSIM were sufficient to establish that Mr King had the capacity to affect significantly the financial standing of MFSIM.

ASIC Commissioner John Price said, ASIC notes today's High Court decision, which sends a clear signal to anyone running a company  in name or in effect  that they should be responsible and held accountable for their actions.

It provides clear guidance on who is an "officer" of a corporation and establishes that the duties and responsibilities to a company, its creditors and shareholders under the Act will apply to individuals who have the capacity to significantly affect the financial standing of a company, Commissioner Price said.

The finding that Mr King was an officer of the subsidiary MFSIM, marks the conclusion of long-running litigation which commenced in 2009 and demonstrates ASIC's commitment to pursuing difficult, long-running actions in the public interest.

The appeal arose from civil penalty proceedings commenced by ASIC against officers and a fund manager of MFSIM in connection with the misappropriation of $147.5 million held by PIF on behalf of unit holders. The misappropriated funds were used to pay debts owed by other entities in the MFS Group.

The appeal was unanimously allowed by Kiefel CJ, Gageler, Keane, Nettle and Gordon JJ.

In the joint judgment handed down by Kiefel CJ, Gageler and Keane JJ, their Honours stated:

If the CEO of the parent company of a group of companies is allowed to act in relation to other companies in the group untrammelled by the duties that attach to officers of each of the other companies in the group, shareholders and creditors would be left exposed to an obvious risk. It would be an extraordinary state of affairs if those who actually determine the course of a company's financial affairs could avoid responsibility for their conduct by the simple expedient of deliberately eschewing any formal designation of their responsibilities. This is especially so in the present case, to provide protection to members of managed investment schemes by imposing duties and responsibilities on the officers of responsible entities.

,
The Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday booked suspended Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) councillor Tahir Hussain under money laundering charges in connection with Delhi violence. Hussain was arrested last week after an FIR was filed against him by the family of an Intelligence Bureau (IB) staffer who was killed in Northeast violence in February.

The agency is probing Hussains alleged links with Popular Front of India (PFI), which is already under scanner in connection with the probe into one of the deadliest incidents of violence the national capital has seen. The ED has also registered a case against PFI.

The Delhi Police had on Monday arrested PFI member Mohd Danish for rioting and criminal conspiracy pertaining to the communal violence in Delhi that has claimed 53 people and left more than 400 others injured. His alleged role in funding the riots and the ongoing agitations against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) in Shaheen Bagh is being also probed, officers privy to the case said.

Thirty-three-year-old Danish was picked up from his home in east Delhis Trilokpuri on Sunday night. He was questioned and later arrested on Monday. Danish was part of the counter intelligence wing of the PFI, an officer of Delhi Polices special cell claimed.

The PFI, meanwhile, said the allegations of the organisations links to communal violence in Delhi are baseless. Popular Front rejects the allegation as baseless propaganda and would like to make it clear that the organisation is unnecessarily being dragged into the incidents in Delhi. Delhi police is using the same tactic that has been tried and failed by police in Sangh Parivar ruled states such as Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh, a statement issued by the organisation said.

Shah Alam, the brother of Tahir Hussain, has already been arrested in connection with IB staffer Ankit Sharmas murder case. He is in police custody and is being questioned.

Hussain is in the custody of Delhi Police at present.
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Heres the bad: The ship, Kapitan Dranitsyn, burned so much fuel that now it, too, has to be resupplied. Another icebreaker is on its way to bring it more fuel.

Such are the logistical complexities of the expedition, known as Mosaic, in which a German research ship, Polarstern, has been drifting with the sea ice in the Arctic Ocean since October with a revolving complement of scientists. The ship is expected to come out of the ice east of Greenland in September after gathering a years worth of data on conditions in the remote Central Arctic.

The Kapitan Dranitsyn left Tromso, Norway, on Jan. 29 with 43 tons of food, fuel and other supplies for the Polarstern, as well as a replacement team of researchers and technicians for what is the third two-month leg of the expedition. The resupply trip was expected to take about two weeks, but the icebreaker ran into trouble from the start, when a storm in the Barents Sea forced it to anchor off Tromso for the better part of a week.

Understand the Lastest News on Climate Change Card 1 of 3 Global temperatures. 2021 was Earths fifth hottest year on record, European scientists announced. The finding fits a clear warming trend: The seven hottest years on record have been the past seven. U.S. emissions bounce back. After a record 10 percent decline in 2020, Americas greenhouse gas emissions rose 6.2 percent in 2021 as the economy began recovering from the pandemic. The uptick underscored the challenges President Biden faces to fulfill his climate agenda. Sounding the alarm. A report on the state of the Arctic highlights troubling and consistent trends in the region that are linked to global warming. Researchers are also growing increasingly concerned about Antarctica, where ice shelves are melting and wilder winds are altering crucial currents.





Once underway, the ship encountered sea ice that had gotten much thicker as the winter progressed  doubling to more than 5 feet, or 1.5 meters, in places. The Kapitan Dranitsyn finally arrived at the Polarstern on Feb. 28.

After several days unloading the supplies and transferring personnel across about a half-mile of ice in dangerous conditions (a wind chill of minus 72 degrees Fahrenheit, or about minus 58 Celsius), the Kapitan Dranitsyn left for the return trip to Tromso. But calculations showed that it would not have enough diesel fuel for the journey.

So on March 3, another icebreaker, the Admiral Makarov, left Murmansk, Russia, with a load of extra fuel to intercept the Kapitan Dranitsyn on its way. Early this week, the two ships were about 350 miles, or roughly 560 kilometers, apart.

Markus Rex, an atmospheric scientist who is Mosaics leader, wrote in a blog post that the delay in resupplying the Polarstern was absolutely in keeping with what had to be expected given the ice conditions.
The opposition in Lok Sabha on Wednesday demanded the resignation of Home Minister Amit Shah for failing to contain the violence in Delhi for nearly three days, even as the BJP accused the Opposition of politicising the situation to further its narrow interests.

As the government came under attack from the opposition during the debate on the recent communal riots in the national capital that have claimed over 50 lives, the BJP members alleged that the violence was a pre-planned conspiracy and the home minister and authorities took pro- active steps to control the situation.

The ruling party said evidence show that stones and petrol bombs were stored in huge quantity to fuel the violence.

Initiating the discussion on "recent law and order situation in some parts of Delhi", Congress leader in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury wondered how violence continued for three days despite the fact that Delhi Police is one of the best equipped in the country.

"The Home Minister (Amit Shah) will have to explain," he said.

Hitting out at the prime minister, he said, Nero fiddled while Rome burned.

When Delhi was witnessing violence, Modi was hosting US President Donald Trump in Ahmedabad, the Congress leader said.

Chowdhury said while some claimed Hindus won, the others said Muslims won in the violence. "The fact is that humanity was defeated," he said.

He said the situation came under control soon after National Security Advisor Ajit Doval visited the violence-hit areas.

"Why could not the Home Minister go... NSA reports to the Prime Minister. Does this mean that the Prime Minister's Office hads lost faith in the home ministry," Chowdhury said hitting out at Shah.

Chowdhury alleged that Delhi High Court judge S Murlidhar was transferred out as he had questioned the failure of the Delhi Police in containing the violence.

He said the "midnight" notification was aimed at preventing adverse strictures against the government.

Nishikant Dubey (BJP) said the transfer was recommended by the Supreme Court collegium and the government had nothing to do with it.

Chowdhury sought resignation of Shah, a demand echoed by TMC's Saugata Roy and N K Premchandran of RSP.

AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi said there is a "tsunami of Hindutva hate" and called for an impartial probe to find the prepatrators of the violence.

Some of his remarks evoked sharp response from the Treasury benches, with at least two Union ministers -- Ravi Shankar Prasad and Kishan Reddy -- registering their protests.

Speaker Om Birla also expunged certain remarks made by Owaisi.

BJP leader Meenakshi Lekhi alleged that some people are taking political benefit out of the incidents of violence.

Referring to the killing of IB officer Ankit Sharma during the riots, she said 400 wounds were found on his body.

"What kind of hatred was this... we should discuss that also," she said, adding the riots were pre-planned.

She also alleged that stones and catapults were found in the house of an AAP councillor and hate speeches were given by an MLA of the party.

"Every tenth home had catapults, which were used in the riots," she added.

Danish Ali (BSP) demanded that certain remarks of Lekhi be expunged.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said members should not take the names of any religion in the debate.

Birla expunged certain names taken by Lekhi and asked her not to name people.

Lekhi said that the government acted pro-actively and riots were controlled within 36 hours.

She also said that the allegations of hate speeches on Anurag Thakur and Parvesh Verma were not relevant as the riots started on February 23.

She added that it was wrong to blame BJP leader Kapil Mishra for the riots.

She alleged that after the speech of Congress leader Sonia Gandhi at Ramleela maidan, people started gathering.

Similar speeches were given by Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi as well, Lekhi said.

"For three months, people are sitting on roads," she said referring to people protesting at Shaheen Bagh against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act.

She added that work to instigate people and propagate extremism was going on since long.

"This government wants to do the of development," she said, adding the government is providing house, power connection and cylinders to people not on the basis of religion.

"Why the opposition is spreading rumours," she said.

She said that the current government "violated the no go zone" and acted on repeal of Article 370 and triple talaq.

She said that opposition members of the House understand the CAA law but are "continuously misleading the people".

Citing certain data on riots, Lekhi said during 1950 to 1964, as many as 243 riots are documented.

When Indira Gandhi was Prime Minister, 337 riots happened during 1966 to 1977 and 1980 and 1984.

Similarly, when Rajiv Gandhi was Prime Minister, 291 riots occurred during 1984 and 1989.

Out of 1094 riots, 871 happened during Congress regime, which was 73 per cent, she added.

"18 big riots happened during Congress regime," she added.

She said that opposition is taking about one riot in Gujarat and they should know that no riots happened in that state after 2002.

She said that the people of Delhi must be feeling guilty as after voting a government which gave free power and water they are now facing such incidents.

She said Doval visited the areas hit by riots as he is incharge of the security of the country.

On the allegation that Home Minister Amit Shah did not act, she listed out meetings of the Home Minister with officers to assess the situation.

T R Baalu (DMK) said that the Delhi riots and the law and order situation of the national capital were discussed in parliaments of the UK, Iran, Indonesia, Turkey and Malaysia.

These countries "are making fun of us", he said.

These all countries have raised concerns over the CAA, he said adding today was the 88th day of protest at Shaheen Bagh "without any problem".

The protest was happening silently and peacefully there because that are managed by minorities, he said.

Baalu said that "what went wrong" as over 50 people were killed in the Delhi violence.

He said that although Delhi Police is efficient in manging the issues, "why all went wrong" on those days.

"The inaction of the police has been advised by the administration," he said.

He also alleged that ABVP, RSS' student wing, is the root cause of the incidents at the Jawaharlal Nehru University in December last year.

He also said that BJP leader Kapil Mishra's "hate speeches" led to these riots.

Tejasvi Surya of BJP alleged that while there was anything anti-Muslim in CAA, the anti-CAA protests had "a lot of anti-Hindu" feelings.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A woman has revealed the shocking moment she discovered that her Tinder date was engaged - before outing him to his heartbroken fiance.

Kimberly Anne, 31, from Palm Beach County, Florida, had been chatted with her latest match for an entire evening before arranging a date - with the pair even discussing how they were both 'looking for someone special'.

But the man, who has not been named, failed to mention that he had asked a long-time partner to marry him just last month, and she had said yes.

A distraught Kimberly recognized her Tinder match as a suggested friend on Facebook and was in 'complete shock' to find his profile stated he was in a relationship.

Despite fears of 'breaking this woman's heart', the legal professional's sense of sisterhood compelled her to tell his fiancee about his cheating ways - and then expose the 'piece of garbage' on Facebook.

Kimberly Anne (pictured), 31, from Palm Beach, Florida, has revealed the shocking moment she discovered that her Tinder date was engaged - before outing him to his heartbroken fiance

The man, who has not been named, failed to mention he had asked a long-time partner to marry him just last month, and she'd said yes. So Kimberly found the fiance and informed her

Despite fears of 'breaking this woman's heart', the legal professional's sense of sisterhood compelled her to tell his fiance about his cheating ways

Despite fears of 'breaking this woman's heart', the legal professional's sense of sisterhood compelled her to tell his fiance about his cheating ways (pictured)

Kimberly said: 'I matched with this guy on Tinder and we were chatting for the entire evening, arranged to meet for a date and exchanged numbers.

'I asked him what he was looking for and he asked me the same question and I told him that I was hoping to find my special someone and he responded with, "I love that".

'He sent me a message on WhatsApp and I asked him why he was messaging me on there instead of just sending a regular text and he just changed the subject.

Kimberly recognized her Tinder match as a suggested friend on Facebook (pictured) and was in 'complete shock' to find his profile stated he was in a relationship

'When I started scrolling on Facebook it brought up suggested friends, and I recognized him immediately from his profile picture. I thought I'd take a look and the first thing I noticed was that it said he was in a relationship.

'Hoping it was old, I clicked on her profile and the first post was an engagement announcement from exactly one month ago.'

She added: 'My first emotion was just complete shock, I could not believe it - I was just flabbergasted.

'I wasn't seriously emotionally invested yet, but I was angry on her behalf that he would do this to her.'

Kimberley (pictured) broke the news to his fiance via Facebook messenger and shared the incriminating messages they had exchanged

The legal professional then exposed the 'piece of garbage' on Facebook (pictured above)

Kimberly confronted the man about her discovery but he responded with - 'wrong person honey'.

Kimberley said: 'I looked again at his Facebook pictures and compared a tattoo on his arm to the pictures on his Tinder profile and it was the exact same tattoo, so I told him this.

'I just felt if the tables were turned I would want her to tell me. I feel women have to support women in these situations - we have to have each other's backs.'

Kimberley broke the news to his fiancee via Facebook messenger and shared the incriminating messages they had exchanged.

Kimberly confronted the man about her discovery but he responded with - 'wrong person honey' (pictured)

Kimberly spoke to the man, who has not been named, for the whole evening and he failed to mention this long-time partner

Kimberly said: 'My whole body was shaking when I was sending these messages because I didn't know how she was going to react.

'I felt so awful and partially responsible that I could potentially be breaking this woman's heart. I said do what you will with this information, I would want to know if it was me. She just said "it's OK it's not your fault, thanks".'

She added: 'I blocked him and unmatched with him on Tinder because I was afraid that there would be some sort of backlash - I didn't want to be harassed by him.'

Kimberly has since heard nothing from the couple but believes they remain engaged as their relationship status and engagement post remain online.

Kimberly said: 'Her response was so calm and minimal that I don't know if she was in shock or maybe this was something that had happened before and she wasn't really surprised by it.

Kimberly shared her ordeal on Facebook but was 'saddened' by the sheer number of responses (pictured) she received from women who have had similar experiences

'I'm afraid that she has decided to forgive him, but that's her choice if that's what she wanted to do. Personally I would have ended the engagement immediately, but maybe she was more understanding than I would have been.

'Later in the day I looked at his profile and saw he had changed his profile picture to one of him and his fiance together hugging. Maybe that was his way of saying that it won't happen again through telling everyone he's totally in love with her.'

Kimberly shared her ordeal on Facebook but was 'saddened' by the sheer number of responses she received from women who have had similar experiences.

Kimberly said: 'I want to believe that this is not something that is common. I've been single for eight months and ultimately want to find my special person - I would like my next relationship to be my last.

'I have to be very careful going forward about what questions I ask and really assess the way they're answering those and continue to see if I can find anything about them online before I get too invested.'
The Bachelor finale has come and gone, but fans are still reeling from the events of last night. And while it wasnt the incredibly original ending that Chris Harrison promised fans, it certainly was dramatic. A large part of that drama actually stemmed from someone who wasnt even a contestant on the show. Bachelor Nation was stunned by the way Peter Webers mother, Barbara Weber, acted towards Madison Prewett.

[Spoiler alert: This article contains spoilers for The Bachelor finale.]

Madison Prewett and Peter Weber | John Fleenor via Getty Images

Peter Webers family was thrilled he got engaged to Hannah Ann Sluss

It was no surprise that Barbara Weber favored Hannah Ann Sluss over Prewett after meeting them both. She literally begged Weber to bring Sluss home to his family. So when Weber chose to get engaged to Sluss, his family was over the moon. Sadly, their engagement was short-lived and he broke things off with Sluss in large part because of his love for Prewett.

Madison Prewett and Weber agreed to try out a relationship

In a strange twist, Chris Harrison went to Auburn, Alabama to give Prewett an update on the bachelor. Prewett then surprised Weber at his home and professed her love for him. When the Alabama native was brought out during After The Final Rose, the pair revealed that they hadnt seen each other since that day. However, they agreed to take things day by day and try to pursue a relationship with one another.

A quick recap of The Bachelor finale 2020

While plenty of Bachelor Nation fans seemed to be supportive of Prewett and Weber entering into a relationship together, one person who wasnt pleased was Barbra Weber. She expressed that she had strong reservations towards Prewett because of her behavior in Australia. The bachelors mother claimed that Prewett was three hours late to meet her and her family, offered no apology, and didnt even want to meet them in the first place. She also maintained that Prewett declared that she was not in love with Weber when prompted and said she had no intention of accepting a proposal.

Did no one catch this?! Barb whispered to Peters dad, Di algo mal tambien. Ayudame (Say something bad too. Help me) #TheBachelor #BachelorFinale pic.twitter.com/abvnXNOp9i  Cassandra Montiel (@CassieMontiel) March 11, 2020

It was clear that Barabara Weber was getting backlash from The Bachelor live audience when she expressed her reluctance to support Prewetts relationship with her son. Thats when Harrison turned to Webers dad, Peter Weber Sr. to ask for his thoughts. Before he could get a word out Barbara Weber whispered something to her husband in Spanish that sent Bachelor Nation into a tizzy.

Fans argue over the Spanish words on Twitter

Some Bachelor fans are convinced that Webers mother said Dile algo mal tambien, ayudame, which translates to say something bad too, help me. and they quickly expressed their outrage about the situation. Wow!!! I thought I saw that. Kudos to Madi for taking the high road!!! Its not about Madi and mom its about Peter and Madi. Mombutt out!!! And like somebody saidMadi is someones daughter too. It was her journey too, one fan wrote on Twitter clearly favoring Prewett.

And if THIS is true, and thats what she said to her husband in Spanish? Yikes. pic.twitter.com/7IFucCkLhm  RealitySteve (@RealitySteve) March 11, 2020

However other members of Bachelor Nation (who are also native Spanish speakers) heard something else entirely and they were quick to jump to Barbara Webers defense. No thats incorrect I heard her say Dile algo mas tambien, ayudama! Translation- Say something more also- help me. Thats what she said pls dont confuse it, one person pleaded about the situation.

Was The Bachelor 2020 the worst season yet?

This season of The Bachelor might be over, but its clear that the drama is just heating up. We have no idea how Prewett and Weber will be able to make a relationship work with this level of hostility from his family. And while Bachelor Nation is split on whether they are Team Madison or Team Barbara, were just pleased that this dumpster fire of a season is finally over.




(Newser)  President Trump on Tuesday proposed eliminating the payroll tax until the end of the year to mitigate the effects of the coronavirus. A few different timelines were discussed during a closed-door meeting with Republican lawmakers, with some talk of the rollback stretching beyond 2020, officials tell NBC News, adding Trump favors a cut that would last at least until November. Payroll taxes are paid by employers and employees to fund Social Security and Medicare. Employees pay 6.2% on the first $137,700 of their income for Social Security, and 1.45% of all their earned income for Medicare, with employers matching those amounts. Under the Obama administration, the Social Security payroll tax was temporarily cut to 4.2%, per CNN. The idea of a 0% payroll tax rate is reportedly being met with resistance from Republican senators, per CNBC.

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Officials tell the Wall Street Journal that the April 15 tax deadline is also likely to be extended, though a specific date hasn't been decided, nor is it clear who would qualify for the extension. Republicans also discussed federal assistance for the shale oil industry, which is suffering as a result of a price war between Russia and Saudi Arabia. "They are talking about specific industries that would be hurt the worst and to try and get first of all this payroll tax deduction," GOP Sen. David Perdue of Georgia tells NBC. "That's at the top of my list as having immediate impact," but "if you're not getting paid, that doesn't help." Any economic stimulus plan would need to be approved by Congress. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Tuesday that Democrats were working on a plan of their own. (Read more President Trump stories.)


By Michael Shannon





Leftists in Virginia have a novel approach to ending the school-to-prison pipeline. They intend to eliminate the transportation component by leaving potential inmates inside the school. As part of the Stop Snitchin' initiative, schools won't be required to report many criminal offenses to the police.







It will be mum's the word as far as the outside world is concerned. School officials will work to promote "restorative justice" while victims can kiss plain old justice goodbye.







The bill to keep victims and victimizer in close proximity has already passed the leftist-controlled House of Delegates and Senate, and only awaits the signature of the governor to become law.







Law Enforcement Today made a list of crimes that formerly required reporting but are now optional. These include, "assault and battery that results in bodily injury, sexual assault, death, shooting, stabbing, cutting, or wounding of any person, stalking, threats, firearm, drug and alcohol violations are also included."







The Democrat's sanctuary for the violent isn't limited to the school campus either. Offenses on school buses or at school-sponsored events would also be included in the legislative mandated cover-up.







This is just another instance of the left imposing their idea of "reform" on an area of public life the majority was unaware was in need of reform  or in this instance repeal.







Who is the intended "reform" beneficiary? Certainly not the victims or their families. As far as they're concerned, authorities could open a pumping station outside the high school if that would help increase pipeline velocity and speed the ejection of predators. Keeping discipline problems in the classroom isn't a teacher preference either. This only benefits an oppositional, budding criminal class and their negligent parents.







Democrats have gone from the War on Crime to our current War on Victims.







The new procedure places the burden of going to the police on the victim, rather than the authorities. What's worse it will make the victim look as if they are the one out for blood  since the school didn't think the offense merited police involvement  instead of the thug who drew blood.







Vicki Manning, a Virginia Beach school board member who hasn't lost her mind, said "victims are going to be further victimized under this bill and the perpetrators are going to be emboldened."







The absolutely infuriating part of this turn-their-child's-other-cheek policy is we already know how the policy ends.







The last stop is Parkland High School.







The fools that ran that school system designed their own end-the-school-to-prison-pipeline. It was wildly successful. The Boston Globe found in the year just prior to the Parkland school system's emancipation proclamation there were 1,056 school-based arrests. By the 2015-16 school year the number had plunged to 385.







The only fly in the ointment was student deaths by gunfire went from zero before implementation of the plan to 17 after the school-to-prison-pipeline was closed, because the Parkland school shooter took full advantage of the sanctuary policy.







The shooter assaulted students twice with no arrest. Made repeated threats with no arrest. He threatened to kill people with no arrest. No reporting and no arrests meant there was no record in the NCIC system regarding his past run-ins with the law. Since he was a blank slate the shooter didn't even get swept into the FBI's "catch and release" anti-terrorism program after the bureau fielded a tip buying a gun was no problemo.







What use are the "universal background checks" on gun sales the Virginia left is demanding without corresponding universal crime reports?







James A. Bacon ran the numbers on the Department of Education's "restorative justice" school discipline initiative. This requires victims sit across from their victimizers while a woolly brained social worker overlooks the intimidation inherent in the arrangement.







Bacon found "restorative justice" only restores nothing. "I compiled one key indicator  the number of assault and battery (no injury) incidents reported  which serves as a rough proxy for disruptive behavior as a whole. The trend line is startling. The number of incidents has nearly tripled in just three years  from 870 to 2,423."







The Democrat's new See-Something-Say-Nothing policy will only make matters much worse.







Most Virginia leftists never reveal plans for open borders bathrooms or decriminalizing crime. I give Del. Mike Mullin (D-Pardon) credit. On his campaign website, he said he's "working to end the school-to-prison pipeline."







But Mullin didn't say that meant reversing the flow.









Michael Shannon (mandate.mmpr@gmail.com) is a commentator and public relations consultant, and is the author of "A Conservative Christian's Guidebook for Living in Secular Times." He can be reached at

. His commentary was distributed by Cagle Cartoons Inc.






As a longtime Butte resident, why should I care whether the upper reaches of Silver Bow Creek are replaced and restored as part of the larger Superfund cleanup? This is a fair question.

Having worked on independent community oversight of Superfund issues in Butte for more than 30 years, to me the answer to this question provides a test case for the principals  and the community's  commitment both to the letter of Superfund law and the foundational values that underpin that law.

Mining made Butte. The citys very existence, its culture, its economy, and its international reputation rise from those origins. And the production of wealth from mining continues today, supporting a major sector of the community. But that history of past wealth production is also a history of environmental degradation and damage on an epic scale: the production of mining wealth here is inseparable from the damages to the surrounding ecology and the health risks of the people living here.

Superfund isnt a law intended to stifle industry, but rather to protect citizens from powerful corporations  like mining companies  when residents lives and livelihoods are threatened by hazards produced by industry. Its a law that spells out consequences for violating a simple concept that we all understand: youre responsible for the harms your actions produce; you break it, you fix it.

Modern mining practices, in large part because of Superfund law, have significantly reduced the damage to human health and the environment that they leave behind. Modern mining operations no longer casually use existing waterways to flush their toxic waste down into someone elses pasture, school ground, drinking fountain, or backyard. Superfund law leads to better corporate behavior.

Buttes active mine is a good example of a site that aims to control the release of potentially harmful materials into the environment. The operator, Montana Resources, takes great care to minimize the potential impacts of the by-products of their production of mineral wealth. Theyve shown that they strive to operate under a do no harm professional standard. MR runs an economically successful industrial operation, and its local management and workforce strive to do it responsibly for the sake of their neighbors and their community.

Its because I believe the MR story is one of a successfully and safely operated mine, that I also believe that Superfund processes must be seen as critically important in restoring the upper reach of Silver Bow Creek. This connection among the creek, the mine, and Superfund weaves the tangled threads of Buttes story as the mining city back together. If told well, and followed up with proper action, the story of Superfund in this part of Butte can become a showcase and an affirmation both locally and nationally that redemption from past harms is actually good for industry.

See, the story of Superfund says, theres the active mine, right across Texas Avenue. And look, heres the re-born stream that past mining cut off from its sources in the mountains above the mine, now bubbling up right at the edge of the active mine site, restored through Superfund-inspired decisions and actions, flowing with clean, clear water from those same mountains and running through the center of the valley as it did before mining started over 150 years ago.

We can have both, and we deserve to have both: economic activity and the restoration of the natural resources that make this such an amazing place to live. Thats why Im so committed to seeking an official follow-through on the community-wide effort to restore Upper Silver Bow Creek from Texas Avenue, just below the active mine site, down to its confluence with Blacktail Creek. Watching EPAs Superfund processes help lead to the eventual restoration of Buttes namesake creek beginning right alongside the active mine site will affirm to me that its doing its job: protecting and restoring the environment in the very shadow of the mining operation that caused its degradation, but whose operator is now serving as a responsible steward for that environment while it helps sustain the regions economy.

If Buttes Superfund negotiators and local leaders can show members of the community that the hard work undertaken by all the parties over the past years can bear such fruit  our namesake reborn stream alongside our thriving mine  it will surely help release us from the hostility and mistrust engendered by 35 years of being held hostage to Superfunds obscure objectives and uncertain outcomes.

To me, this is why restoring the creek matters. May our leaders make it so.

Bill MacGregor is vice president of the Citizens Technical Environmental Committee, and represents CTEC on the Restore Our Creek Coalition.

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FILE PHOTO: A branch location of Fifth Third Bank is shown in Boca Raton

By Katanga Johnson and Chris Prentice

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A senior Democratic senator on Tuesday raised concerns that a federal regulator probing allegations that Fifth Third Bancorp employees created phony accounts may be conflicted because one of its staffers previously worked at the bank.

On Monday, the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) charged Fifth Third with creating fake accounts between 2008 to 2016, in a case that echoes San Francisco-based lender Wells Fargo's own recent scandal.

Fifth Third has said fewer than 1,100 accounts were affected, resulting in less than $30,000 in improper customer charges and that the CFPB's suit was "unnecessary and unwarranted."

During a Senate Banking Committee hearing on Tuesday, Democratic lawmaker Sherrod Brown grilled CFPB Director Kathy Kraninger over her decision to appoint Leonard Chanin, who was deputy general counsel at Fifth Third from March 2017-March 2019, according to his LinkedIn account, as her part-time acting deputy.

Chanin is currently deputy to the chair of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), Jelena McWilliams, who was previously his colleague at Fifth Third when she was its chief legal officer from January 2017 until May 2018. Chanin is splitting his work week between the FDIC and CFPB.

Chanin could not immediately be reached for comment. A spokeswoman for the FDIC declined to comment. Neither Chanin nor McWilliams has been accused of wrongdoing.

Brown raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest the CFPB may face and quizzed Kraninger on what she knew of Chanin and McWilliams' own knowledge of the misconduct.

"FDIC Chair Jelena McWilliams would have known about the fake accounts. She was legal officer at Fifth Third for a couple-year period. Leonard Chanin was also her deputy at Fifth Third before he became deputy at FDIC. He would have known about the bureau's fake-account investigation of Fifth Third," said Brown, who is the top Democrat on the committee.

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"Did you know about his role in the fake account scandal at Fifth Third when you hired him?" he asked Kraninger.

Kraninger said she knew Chanin had worked at Fifth Third, but declined to comment further, citing an ongoing investigation and privacy issues.

From "at least" 2008 to 2016, Fifth Third staff opened accounts without customers' consent, was aware of the misconduct for years and failed to stop it, the CFPB said in civil charges filed in a U.S. District Court in Illinois on Monday.

The CFPB is one of several agencies under the Trump administration that has been accused of being too cozy with the industry it oversees.

(Reporting by Katanga Johnson and Chris Prentice in Washington; editing by Michelle Price and Dan Grebler)
Workers wearing face masks are seen at a construction site for the expansion of Guiyang Longdongbao International Airport as an airplane flies over, in Guiyang, Guizhou Province, China, on March 8, 2020. (China Daily via Reuters)

Chinas Building Work Stalls in February, as Virus Keeps Workers Indoors

BEIJING/TOKYOChinas construction activities were stalled in February as the government extended Lunar New Year holidays and advised people to stay indoors as a precaution against a coronavirus outbreak.

Data from Japans Komatsu, one of the worlds biggest makers of earth-moving equipment, showed use of its machinery in China fell nearly 30 percent to 32 hours last month, from a year ago.

That compares to 59.1 hours in January and 44.9 hours in February last year.

Millions of construction workers in China returned to their hometowns for traditional week-long Lunar New Year celebrations, which kicked off in late January.

But the government extended the holiday for an extra two weeks in a bid to contain the spread of the virus.

Property and infrastructure projects, including the second-phase of the China-Russia natural gas pipeline project, were halted until late February.

The Caixin/Markit Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) showed the sharpest contraction in factory activity on record in February, down sharply to 40.3 from 51.1 in January.

Inventory of construction steel rebar with Chinese traders soared to a record high of 12.23 million tonnes by March 6, up nearly 20 percent on the year, data compiled by Mysteel consultancy showed.

Average utilization rates at cement producers across China last week were 13.71 percent, up 5.13 percentage points on the week. But cement producers in northern China remained mainly shut as resumption at construction sites was still slow.

In an effort to revive the economy hit by the coronavirus outbreak, China has been striving to bring workers back to their posts and enable firms to resume operations, by offering financial support and approving new infrastructure projects.

By Wednesday, 24 regions had lowered emergency response levels to the epidemic. The transport ministry expects all migrant workers to return to their workplaces by early April.

By Muyu Xu and David Dolan
Two Melbourne schools have been forced to close for the rest of the week after three members of staff were diagnosed with coronavirus, as the disease casts a growing shadow over the school year.

A second staff member at Carey Baptist Grammar was diagnosed with the virus on Wednesday, after sharing an office with a colleague who was diagnosed on Tuesday.

Orthodox Jewish school Yeshivah-Beth Rivkah Colleges closed its doors on Wednesday after a teacher who was later found to have coronavirus flew in from Los Angeles with three other families from the college.

Carey Baptist Grammar will remain closed until Sunday. Credit:Gary Medlicott

Carey will remain closed until Sunday while Yeshivah-Beth Rivkah said it will re-assess the situation by Friday evening, before religious services.
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Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) Washington, United States  Wed, March 11, 2020 09:09 671 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2069c5d8e 2 World #USA,#Afghanistan,Taliban,IS,Al-Qaeda Free

The Taliban has shown that it can fight and defeat Islamic State group jihadists in Afghanistan, a top US general said Tuesday, revealing for the first time that it had done so in recent months with "very limited" US military support.

"It was a bloody mess, but they did it," General Kenneth McKenzie, head of the US Central Command, said of the Taliban's virtual defeat of IS in Afghanistan's Nangarhar province in recent months.

McKenzie disclosed the US military support for the Taliban operation in congressional testimony, but provided few details on the role played by US forces.

He was called to testify about the situation in Afghanistan following a peace deal that the United States signed with the Taliban February 29 in Doha.

Under the agreement, the United States committed to the withdrawal of all foreign fores within 14 months in return for a Taliban pledge to tackle jihadists such as the Islamic State group and Al-Qaeda, and hold peace talks with the Afghan government.

"Over the last several months in eastern Afghanistan we've watched the Taliban compress and crush the ISIS presence on the ground in southern Nangarhar province, and they've been very effective doing that," McKenzie said, using an alternate acronym for Islamic State.

"There was very limited support from us," he said, without elaborating further on the role US forces played.

"They have demonstrated a capability to do it. It was a bloody mess, but they did it," the US general said.

"ISIS really now no longer holds ground in Nangarhar province."

McKenzie, however, said he was "less optimistic" about the Taliban taking on Al-Qaeda, the jihadists who plotted the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States from their base in then Taliban-ruled Afghanistan.

"That's something they're going to have to demonstrate that has not yet been demonstrated," McKenzie said.

McKenzie reminded lawmakers that the Taliban must meet its commitments for there to be a withdrawal.

"We don't need to trust them, we don't need to like them, we don't need to believe anything they say, we need to observe what they do," McKenzie said.

McKenzie said that the US military has yet to prepare a military plan for a total withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Andriy Shevchenko, Ukrainian ambassador to Canada, tweeted that the announcement was "an important result."

Iran has agreed to send black boxes from a downed Ukrainian jetliner to Kyiv for analysis, an Iranian official said on Wednesday, a move that would end a two-month standoff over the recordings from the jet.

Top Iranian officials have until now refused to hand over the flight recorders from the Ukraine International Airlines flight, which was shot down by the Iranian military on Jan. 8 with the loss of all 176 people on board, as reported by Reuters.

Farhad Parvaresh, who heads Iran's delegation at the U.N.'s Montreal-based International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), said Tehran's civil aviation authority had also invited other interested countries to participate in reading the data.

This effectively opens the door to the United States, Ukraine, Canada and ICAO itself, people familiar with the investigation said. Air crash investigations are usually left to ICAO's 193 member states.

Read alsoPS752 downing: Iranian delegation to arrive in Ukraine soon  FM Prystaiko

Canadian Foreign Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne described the move as a step in the right direction.

"We welcome those words, but we will judge Iran obviously by their actions," he told reporters. Ottawa has repeatedly pressed Iran to hand over the damaged boxes from the crash, in which 57 Canadians died.

Iran had also made clear it would transfer the boxes to France if need be, Champagne said.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau urged Iran in January to send the recorders to France, one of the few countries with the ability to read damaged black boxes.

Andriy Shevchenko, Ukrainian ambassador to Canada, tweeted that the announcement was "an important result."

Under U.N. rules Iran retains overall control of the investigation while the United States and Ukraine are fully accredited as the countries where the jet was respectively built and operated.

Canada is notionally on a lower rung of official access as the home of many of the accident's victims, but in practical terms it is expected to have an active role following strong pressure from Trudeau, safety experts said.

"We will have our experts there present so we can better assess (if there) was any tampering with the black boxes," Champagne said.

It remains unclear how much cooperation there would be on the probe between the United States and Iran, with relations at their lowest point in years.

Salvatore Sciacchitano, president of ICAO's governing council, welcomed what he said was Iran's confirmation of its intention to have the black boxes analyzed in either Ukraine or France.
Photo Illustration by The Daily Beast/Getty/NBC

For the past weekas the global COVID-19 death toll surpassed 3,800, including at least 22 fatalities in the United StatesNBC News has been promoting celebrity doctor Mehmet Oz as the most visible member of the Today shows so-called Coronavirus Crisis Team.

The 59-year-old Oz, an Oprah Winfrey protege who registered the trademark Americas Doctor as his self-awarded title, has been urging Today viewers to vigorously scrub their thumbs and fingertips as part of a 20-second hand-washing ritual to combat the spread of the pandemic, and on Friday, exhorted people over the age of 60those at highest risk of succumbing to the diseaseto stick close to home.

If I was younger I would go ahead and travel, but if I was older, I wouldntand would avoid crowded places, Oz told Today co-host Craig Melvin, suggesting that senior citizens keep at an arms length distance from strangers. Why take a chance?

That is prudent counsel, to be sure. (Never mind that it directly contradicted Ozs recommendation to 88-year-old William Shatneron Mondays episode of Access Dailythat the apprehensive Star Trek actor proceed with his plans for an international lecture tour: He can go anywhere he wants. Do not make decisions based on fear Weve gotta live our lives.)

The telegenic Oz might well be a talented thoracic surgeonbest known as the host of the popular syndicated daytime program The Dr. Oz Showbut he is hardly an ideal dispenser of medical advice for an increasingly anxious American public.

Hes just a quack, said physician and scientific researcher Henry I. Miller, one of Ozs more vocal critics in the medical community, but by no means unique in his condemnation of, among other transgressions, Ozs enthusiastic endorsements of phony weight-loss remedies, his bogus claims of dangerous levels of arsenic in childrens apple juice, and his willingness to provide a platform to the debunked assertion that genetically modified food causes cancer.

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Hes been dishonest and he has been dispensing misinformation to millions now for years, said Miller, who in 2015 led an unsuccessful campaign to pressure Columbia Universitys College of Physicians and Surgeons to fire Oz from its faculty. I wouldnt trust any of his observations, and dont see how he would have responsible and valid views on coronavirus.

NBC News declined to comment on Ozs critics or his role on the Today show, where he is one of several paid physician-contributorsbut surely the most famous and camera-savvywhove been enlisted in recent days as on-air experts to address viewers coronavirus concerns.

In a statement to The Daily Beast, Oz responded: There are lots of detractors in life who have trouble hearing the truth or engaging in difficult debates about multi-sided topics. I have spent my career with the belief that knowledge is power and I have never shied away from that mantra. We are in the midst of one of the biggest epidemics in recent time and my focus is on educating and calming a fearful public. Thats what we all should be focused on right now.

Oz and the 72-year-old Dr. Millera former Food and Drug Administration official and ex-academic fellow at Stanford Universitys conservative-leaning Hoover Institutionare longtime adversaries. On an April 2015 installment of The Dr. Oz Show, Oz countered Millers headline-grabbing open letter to Columbia University demanding his dismissal by slamming Miller as a paid shill for the tobacco, pesticide, and genetically modified food industries. (Indeed, Miller was dropped as a columnist by Forbes magazine in 2017 after The New York Times reported that one of his 2015 bylined columns largely echoed a draft prepared by employees of Monsanto.)

In addition, Oz noted that one of the letters 10 physician co-signers, Dr. Gilbert Ross, was a convicted felon who served prison time for Medicaid fraud.

Still, most of Ozs critics are not so easily attacked.

Three Mayo Clinic scientistsDr. Jon C. Tilburt, M.D., and PhDs Megan Allyse and Frederic W. Haffertypulled no punches in their February 2017 article in the AMA Journal of Ethics about the troubling questions raised by Ozs public influence.

Should a physician be allowed to say anythinghowever inaccurate and potentially harmfulso long as that individual commands market share? they wrote. In a professional sector whose history and growth is marked by the sustained and rightful denouncement of quacks and quackery an inability to define and fence the epistemic boundaries of scientific medicine from apparent quackery on such a visible scale becomes something akin to a full-scale identity crisis for medicine

Dr. Oz certainly appears to be someone peddling unproven and ineffective remedies for personal gain Yet, he remains immensely popular, prompting us to wonder, if we cant effectively sanction Dr. Oz, whom can we sanction?

Meanwhile, a May 2018 article by Rina Raphael, Fast Company magazines health and technology writer, decried Donald Trumps appointment of Oz to the Presidents Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition.

The inclusion of Dr. Oz took many in the health industry by surprise, especially those who have been following the TV stars snake-oil antics over the last few years, Raphael wrote. Oz has been repeatedly called out for his support of false, deceptive products and unproven medical practices, both from the medical community and consumer watchdog groups.

His appointment clearly speaks in no way to his reputation as a trusted medical source, but rather to his celebrity statusand the ability to parlay that into multiple business opportunities. Perhaps thats what Trump, who has shown a preference for pundits over experts, finds appealing.

More likely, Trump was simply rewarding Oz for letting the then-Republican presidential nominee and his daughter Ivanka onto the Sept. 15, 2016 installment of his syndicated show to tell whoppers, unchallenged, about his physical condition, especially the obvious sham that the obese candidate weighed only 236 pounds. Oz accepted at face value the conclusions of Trumps discredited doctor, Harold Bornstein, who declared that his patient will be the healthiest individual ever elected to the presidency.

Talk about two snake-oil salesman! then-Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill said at the time about Trumps appearance on Dr. Oz.

I mean one of them says, Take a pill and youll be thin from your lips to Gods ear wouldnt we all love that? Not true. Not medically true. Not scientifically true. And Dr. Oz knows it, said McCaskill, who famously dressed Oz down for pushing diet scams during a 2014 Senate hearing.

Trump, meanwhile, is promising things that are totally not true. Lying every time he opens his mouth, McCaskill added. So I think its really a marriage made in heaven.

Ozs legion of critics also includes, but isnt limited to, New Yorker science writer Michael Specter, the British Medical Journal, and Popular Science magazine.

As of this writing, however, it seems highly doubtful that NBC News and the Today show will spend even a second, much less 20, washing their hands of Dr. Oz.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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US coronavirus cases reach 1,000 as millions more testing kits are on the way to labs across the country

We are tracking the latest on the spread of the coronavirus. There are more than 1,000 confirmed cases in the U.S. 30 people in the U.S. have died. Here in California, there are 159 cases confirmed - three people have died.

Butte County Public Health asks public to prepare for arrival of coronavirus

Butte County Public Health is asking everyone to prepare for the arrival of the coronavirus. Right now, public health reps say there are no cases in Butte County. However, the department has declared a local public health emergency. And that's to make sure people understand the risks and to take precautions.

Chico State taking precautions as coronavirus spreads in U.S.

Chico State is clearing out 2 sections of on-campus housing to be used for students to self-quarantine.

This is to give students an option and a place to self-quarantine if they were not able to go home.

City of Biggs moves forward with Butte County Sheriff's Office

The city of Biggs is changing law enforcement service providers. The city council voted unanimously Tuesday night to sign a new contract with the Butte County Sheriff's Office. The Gridley Police Department provided law enforcement in Biggs for the past 19 years.

City of Oroville moves forward with needle program ban

The city of Oroville is working to stop needle distribution in the community - before it begins.

Oroville City Council held a special meeting Tuesday and passed an ordinance banning the distribution of needles.

Super Tuesday recap

Another big election day for Joe Biden. One week after a strong Super Tuesday, CBS News is now projecting the former vice president to win Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, and Idaho. The victories are helping the former vice president extend his delegate lead over Senator Bernie Sanders.
A councillor in Perth's southern suburbs wants the council to investigate sterilising and banning pet cats within the city's limits.

Phoebe Corke, a councillor in the City of Cockburn's West Ward, has put forward a motion for the local government to look at "options for the control of roaming cats in the municipality".

A councillor at the City of Cockburn wants to ban cats across the local government area. Credit:

Ms Corke, who is also a member of the Save Beeliar Wetlands group and a self-confessed nature lover, said the move aimed to protect the area's native wildlife from domestic and feral cats.

The motion will be brought up at the next council meeting on Thursday and calls for the City to investigate the mandatory sterilisation of all cats and a total cat ban. The ban would initially apply to greenfield developments before being rolled out across all of the City of Cockburn.
Rachael Maskell pictured at the 2016 Labour Party conference. (PA)

A second MP has gone into self-isolation amid growing coronavirus fears in Westminster.

Rachael Maskell, the Labour and Co-operative representative for York Central, announced she was taking the measure on Wednesday morning after coming into contact with coronavirus-positive health minister Nadine Dorries.

Dorries, the Tory representative for Mid-Bedfordshire, was the first MP to become infected with coronavirus.

Maskell posted on Twitter:

NHS111 have advised that I self-isolate as a result of a meeting I had with the Government's Mental Health Minister last Thursday who has subsequently tested positive for Coronovirus. Thankfully I am asymptomatic. It is so important that we all follow all public health advice.  Rachael Maskell MP (@RachaelMaskell) March 11, 2020

Maskell later told the PA news agency: Im absolutely fine, obviously its frustrating because there are things I want to get on with.

Im just planning on making more phone calls, more working online. Im not going to be bored, put it that way.

The agency also reported that Dorries had sent a WhatsApp message to Tory MPs saying a member of her staff was ill.

It raises questions as to whether the coronavirus has begun circulating around Parliament, though there are no plans to test any ministers, including Boris Johnson.

The Department of Health said Dorries first exhibited symptoms on Thursday, the same day she attended a Downing Street event hosted by the prime minister to mark International Womens Day.

Johnson is understood not to have exhibited symptoms and not to have come into close contact with Dorries.

Rachael Maskell with Jeremy Corbyn in December. (Paul Ellis/AFP)

In a statement on Tuesday night, Dorries said: As soon as I was informed I took all the advised precautions and have been self-isolating at home.

Public Health England has started detailed contact tracing and the department and my parliamentary office are closely following their advice.

Story continues

Bank of England announces rate cut 0.25% to tackle coronavirus

She later tweeted thanks to her well-wishers, posting:

Thanks for so many good wishes. Its been pretty rubbish but I hope Im over the worst of it now. More worried about my 84yo mum who is staying with me and began with the cough today. She is being tested tomorrow. Keep safe and keep washing those hands, everyone.  Nadine Dorries  (@NadineDorries) March 10, 2020

The news came after the number of cases in the UK rose to 382, and a sixth death in the UK was confirmed on Tuesday.
A discussion will be held on the Delhi violence in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday, after more than a week of protest by Opposition in Parliament.

The development comes after Rajya Sabha deputy chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh on Wednesday chaired an all-party meeting to ensure that the Upper House of the Parliament, which has been witnessing frequent adjournments, functions smoothly.

The BJP has issued a whip to all its Rajya Sabha members to remain in the House during the important discussion.

The Lok Sabha on Wednesday discussed the Delhi violence, in which 53 people had died while around 200 people sustained serious injuries.

During the discussion, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that no incident of rioting took place in the capital after February 25 and added that there was "a deep conspiracy" behind the Delhi riots and no one guilty of violence will be spared.

AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi, on the other hand, demanded a probe by a sitting judge of the Supreme Court or the High Court into the Delhi violence.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Four of Wisconsins conservative-backed Supreme Court justices lashed out against liberal-supported candidate Jill Karofsky on Wednesday, calling her rhetoric against her rival, incumbent Justice Dan Kelly, irresponsible and insulting and deeming her unfit for the bench.

The statements from all the conservative-backed justices except Kelly underscore the divisive politics of the Supreme Court and how Karofskys sharp attacks have unnerved Kelly and the other conservative-backed members of the Supreme Court ahead of the statewide Supreme Court election April 7.

Attacks on the integrity of the court strike at the heart of the judicial system, wrote Chief Justice Patience Roggensack and Justice Annette Ziegler in a joint statement. Such language risks undermining the courts legitimacy with parties, attorneys and the public.

Bringing to light the politics surrounding the nations high court, the statement referenced recent remarks by U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Roberts that Roggensack and Ziegler said differentiate criticism based on the merits of a decision versus reckless rhetoric.

Roberts had recently lambasted comments from U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., directed at conservative-backed justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh as they were hearing a case on abortion rights. Schumer had said the justices wont know what hit them if they vote to uphold abortion restrictions. He had later walked those comments back, explaining that they were directed toward Republicans for putting them on the court.

In this years Wisconsin Supreme Court race, Karofsky has long characterized Kelly as being corrupt for repeatedly siding with the conservative groups that support him. Kelly has shot back at those remarks, calling them disgusting slander. Corruption and slander are both broadly defined legal terms, making them highly charged accusations in a political campaign.

In a statement reacting to the remarks, Karofsky stood by her comments.

Dan Kelly has an indisputable record of siding with right-wing special interests every step of the way, Karofsky said. I will be a fair, tough and independent justice and we are building a people-powered campaign to win. I respect the Justices who have chosen to weigh in and I look forward to working with them to restore public confidence in the judiciary.

Last week the Kelly campaign shared a joint statement from two of the other conservative-backed justices, Rebecca Bradley and Brian Hagedorn, advancing Kellys characterization of the attacks as out of line.

Her slanderous statements about Justice Kellys work on the Court are evidence of her lack of fitness for this bench, Bradley and Hagedorn said. At no point has she actually engaged in a substantive critique of Justice Kellys opinions, reasoning or legal analysis. She simply casts aspersions based on the outcomes of cases, which evidences her own outcome-driven judicial approach.

They said Karofskys critiques of Kelly show she places more emphasis on the political outcome of cases rather than the right result based on the law.

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One British and two American citizens are thought to have been killed in a rocket attack at a military base housing international forces in Iraq.

More than 10 people were also wounded in the attack, US officials have told the Associated Press and Reuters news agencies.

Army Col. Myles Caggins, a US military spokesman in Iraq, said more than 15 "small rockets" hit Camp Taji base, which hosts troops from the anti-Isis coalition, but did not comment on casualties.

Officials did not say which group they believe launched the rocket attack, but Kataib Hezbollah or another Iranian-backed Shia militia group is the likely culprit.

US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Show all 35 1 /35 US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures This photo released by the Iraqi Prime Minister Press Office shows a burning vehicle at the Baghdad International Airport following an airstrike in Baghdad, Iraq, early Friday 3 January AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures The wreckage of the car in which general Soleimani was travelling when a targeted US airstrike struck outside Baghdad International Airport on 3 January Ahmad Al Mukhtar via Reuters US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Demonstrators burn the US and British flags during a protest in Tehran after general Soleimani was killed in a targeted airstrike by American forces Reuters US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures A burning vehicle at the Baghdad International Airport following an airstrike. The Pentagon said Thursday that the US military has killed general Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran's elite Quds Force, at the direction of Donald Trump AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Protesters burn Israeli and US flags as thousands of Iranians take to the streets to mourn the death of general Soleimani at the hands of America EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Supporters of Donald Trump pray at an 'Evangelicals for Trump' campaign event held on the day following the killing of general Soleimani. At the event, the president praised the "flawless strike that eliminated the terrorist ringleader" AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures A huge procession of mourners gather in Baghdad for the funeral of general Soleimani on 4 January AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Thousands of Iranians take to the streets to mourn the death of Soleimani during an anti-US demonstration to condemn the killing of Soleimani, after Friday prayers in Tehran, Iran EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Iraqis perform a mourning prayer for slain major general Qasem Soleimani of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards at the Great Mosque of Kufa AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures A billboard reading 'Death to America and Israel', installed by Iran-backed shiite armed groups at a street in Jadriyah district in Baghdad, Iraq EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures A handout picture provided by the office of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei shows him visiting the family of Soleiman KHAMENEI.IR/AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Thousands of Iranians take to the streets in Tehran EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Pakistani Shiite Muslims burn a mock of a US flag as they hold pictures of General Qasem Soleimani during a protest against the USA, outside the US Consulate in Lahore, Pakistan EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Iran's Ambassador to Lebanon Mohammed Jalal Feiruznia, looks to a portrait of Soleimani, as he receives condolences at the Iranian embassy, in Beirut, Lebanon AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures People make their way on the street while a screen on the wall of a cinema shows a portrait Soleimani in Tehran AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Aziz Asmar, one of two Syrian painters who completed a mural following the killing of Iranian Revolutionary Guards commander Qasem Soleimani poses next to his creation in the rebel-held Syrian town of Dana in the northwestern province of Idlib AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures A demonstration in Tehran AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures An anti-US demonstration to condemn the killing of Soleimani, after Friday prayers in Tehran EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Mujtaba al-Husseini, the representative of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, delivers a speech in the holy shrine city of Najaf AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Pakistani Shiite Muslims burn a mock of a US and Israeli flags as they hold pictures of General Qasem Soleimani during a protest against the USA, outside the US Consulate in Lahore, Pakistan EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Protesters demonstrate in Tehran AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Pakistani Shi'ite Muslims hold pictures of General Qasem Soleimani during a protest against the USA, in Peshawar, Pakistan EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Protesters, holding a photograph of the leader of the People's Mujahedin of Iran Massoud Rajavi, outside Downing Street in London PA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Protesters burn a US flag in Tehran AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures A Syrian man offers sweets to children to mark the killing AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Iranian worshippers attend a mourning prayer for Soleimani in Iran's capital Tehran AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Kashmiri Shiite Muslims shout anti American and anti Israel slogans during a protest AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Iranian worshipers chant slogans during Friday prayers Reuters US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures A protest against the USA, in Islamabad, Pakistan EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Iranians burn a US flag in Tehran EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Supporters of the National Council of Resistance of Iran in Germany (NWRI) protest outside Iran's embassy in Berlin, Germany Reuters US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Supporters of the National Council of Resistance of Iran in Germany (NWRI) protest outside Iran's embassy in Berlin Reuters US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Iranian worshippers in Tehran AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Vehicles of the United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL) patrol a road in the southern Lebanese town of Kfar Kila near the border with Israel. Following morning's killing of Major General Qasem Soleimani, Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah movement called for the missile strike by Israel's closest ally, to be avenged AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Iranian women take to the streets in Tehran EPA

US forces in Iraq have been on high alert in recent months amid increased tensions with Iran and allied militias in Iraq. Those tensions skyrocketed following the US assassination of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has pledged to take "severe revenge" for the killing.

Long running tensions over Iran's nuclear programme spiked in December last year, when a rocket blamed on Iran-backed militias killed a US contractor at a base near Kirkuk, northern Iraq. The US responded with a wave of airstrikes targeting Kataib Hezbollah in Syria and Iraq.

Soleimani was killed in a US airstrike near Baghdad airport before dawn on January 3. Iran responded by launching more than a dozen missiles at two bases housing US personnel in Iraq.

An Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: We can confirm we are aware of an incident involving UK service personnel at Camp Taji, Iraq.

An investigation is underway, it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time.
Bhopal, March 11 : The BJP has added to the anxiety of the beleaguered Kamal Nath government in Madhya Pradesh by releasing audios clips of six rebel former ministers who asserted they had left the Congress of their own volition and continued to support Jyotiraditya Scindia who has joined the BJP.

These clips have countered the state government's claim that the Scindia camp's ministers were made to sign their resignations fraudulently and were seeking help.

Video clips of Tulsi Silawat, Govind Singh Rajput, Mahendra Singh Sisodia, Imarti Devi, Prabhuram Choudhary and Pradyumna Singh Tomar on Wednesday flooded social media, and were being telecast by TV channels.

These former ministers along with other MLAs are staying in hotels in Bengaluru for two days. In all 22 MLAs, including ex-ministers mostly of the Scindia camp, have revolted against the state government.

The clips went viral minutes after Scindia joined the BJP in Delhi indicating that the coup against the Kamal Nath government was planned meticulously.

Former Labour Minister Mahendra Singh Sisodia said, "Jyotiraditya Scindia has not indulged in betrayal. Rather the Congress and Kamal Nathji have betrayed him. Congress came to power in MP after 15 years due to hard labour put in by Scindia," he said.

"Scindia and his people were neglected saying that the coffers were empty. In contrast, Rs 12,000 crore was put in Chhindwara constituency (of Kamal Nath). Are other MLAs and ministers worthless?" he added.

"Is this not our neglect? Is this not the betrayal of people of MP? In the run up to the Assembly polls in November 2018, Congress announced farm loan waiver in 10 days which has still not happened. People ask us about the loan waiver. What was going on in the Vyapam scam - an admission and recruitment racket. Is the government colluding with the accused? We will go where Jyotiraditya Scindia goes. We are united. The day is not far when the Congress will be decimated in MP," he said.

Madhya Pradesh School Education Minister Prabhuram Choudhary is heard saying that "we all 22 MLAs are one today and will remain united tomorrow. We have resigned willingly." Ex-Transport Minister Govind Singh Rajput, Women and Child Development Minister Imarti Devi and Food and Civil Supplies Minister Pradyumna Singh Tomar also echoed the unconditional support to Scindia.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-11 09:33:35|Editor: huaxia

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WINDHOEK, March 10 (Xinhua) -- Namibia's water utility Namwater declared on Tuesday that the country's worst drought in more than 100 years is now over, and NamWater CEO Abraham Nehemia told Xinhua that water use restrictions currently in place in the nation's capital Windhoek would be relaxed.

The drought came to an end thanks to the recent good rainfall received in the three main supply dams feeding water to the central areas, including Windhoek.

The Southwest African nation is a semi-arid country, with the lowest average rainfall in the Southern African region and frequent occurrences of drought.

"The drought is over for now, but because of environmental demand, the water might go fast," Nehemia said.
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America's National Park Service has revealed its most-visited sites of 2019 - and it's the Golden Gate National Recreation Area that comes out on top.

The area, which spans 60 miles of mostly coastal spots north and south of San Francisco, welcomed 15million visitors last year.

It beat the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina and Virginia, which is second with 14.9million visitors, and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park on the North Carolina and Tennessee border, which is third with 12.5million visitors.

The Golden Gate National Recreation Area was the most-visited National Park Service site in 2019. Pictured is Baker Beach, which is part of the area

In fourth place is the Gateway National Recreation Area in New York City and New Jersey, which saw 9.4million visitors, and the fifth most-visited site is the Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall in Washington D.C, which had 7.8million visitors.

The George Washington Memorial Parkway in Virginia is sixth with 7.5million visitors and Lake Mead National Recreation Area in Nevada and Arizona is seventh - also with 7.5million.

Also making the top ten is the Natchez Trace Parkway, which stretches through Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee (eighth, 6.3million), Grand Canyon National Park (ninth, 5.97million) and Gulf Islands National Seashore in Florida and Mississippi (10th, 5.6million).

The National Park Service also released a separate list of the top 10 most-visited national parks in 2019.

The Blue Ridge Parkway, pictured, which stretched through North Carolina and Virginia is the second most-visited National Park site, welcoming 14.9million visitors in 2019

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina and Tennessee had 12.5million visitors in 2019. It came third overall and was the most visited national park

Topping the list is the Great Smoky Mountains National Park followed by Grand Canyon National Park, both of which also feature in the top 10 most visited National Park Service sites.

In third place is the Rocky Mountain National Park in northern Colorado, which welcomed 4.7million visitors last year.

It is followed by Zion National Park in Utah in fourth place with 4.7million visitors and Yosemite National Park in California with 4.4million visitors.

The rest of the top 10 is made up of Yellowstone National Park (sixth, 4million), Acadia National Park (seventh, 3.4million), Grand Teton National Park (eighth, 3.4million), Olympic National Park (ninth, 3.2million) and Glacier National Park (10th, 3million).

The Grand Canyon National Park was the second most-visited national park in 2019. It received 5.97million visitors

Rocky Mountain National Park in northern Colorado, pictured, which welcomed 4.7million visitors last year

Zion National Park in Utah had 4.7million visitors in 2019. The park is characterised by its pink and red cliffs

In total, there were 327.5 million visits to National Park Service sites across the U.S in 2019 - the third-highest figure since records began in 1904.

U.S Secretary of the Interior, David Bernhardt, said: 'The numbers once again affirm that Americans and visitors from around the world love the natural, cultural and historic experience provided by our nations national parks.'

While David Vela, National Park Service deputy director, added: 'The 419 parks in the national park system provide a vast array of opportunities for recreation and inspiration for visitors of all ages.

'With at least one located in every state, national parks offer nearby history, culture and adventure.'
In 2015 Leo Quinn was appointed CEO of Balfour Beatty plc (LON:BBY). First, this article will compare CEO compensation with compensation at similar sized companies. Then we'll look at a snap shot of the business growth. Third, we'll reflect on the total return to shareholders over three years, as a second measure of business performance. This process should give us an idea about how appropriately the CEO is paid.

Check out our latest analysis for Balfour Beatty

How Does Leo Quinn's Compensation Compare With Similar Sized Companies?

According to our data, Balfour Beatty plc has a market capitalization of UK1.5b, and paid its CEO total annual compensation worth UK4.3m over the year to December 2018. While this analysis focuses on total compensation, it's worth noting the salary is lower, valued at UK800k. We further remind readers that the CEO may face performance requirements to receive the non-salary part of the total compensation. As part of our analysis we looked at companies in the same jurisdiction, with market capitalizations of UK773m to UK2.5b. The median total CEO compensation was UK1.4m.

Thus we can conclude that Leo Quinn receives more in total compensation than the median of a group of companies in the same market, and of similar size to Balfour Beatty plc. However, this doesn't necessarily mean the pay is too high. We can better assess whether the pay is overly generous by looking into the underlying business performance.

You can see, below, how CEO compensation at Balfour Beatty has changed over time.

LSE:BBY CEO Compensation, March 11th 2020

Is Balfour Beatty plc Growing?

Balfour Beatty plc has increased its earnings per share (EPS) by an average of 71% a year, over the last three years (using a line of best fit). In the last year, its revenue is up 3.3%.

This demonstrates that the company has been improving recently. A good result. It's good to see a bit of revenue growth, as this suggests the business is able to grow sustainably. You might want to check this free visual report on analyst forecasts for future earnings.

Story continues

Has Balfour Beatty plc Been A Good Investment?

With a three year total loss of 17%, Balfour Beatty plc would certainly have some dissatisfied shareholders. This suggests it would be unwise for the company to pay the CEO too generously.

In Summary...

We compared the total CEO remuneration paid by Balfour Beatty plc, and compared it to remuneration at a group of similar sized companies. Our data suggests that it pays above the median CEO pay within that group.

However, the earnings per share growth over three years is certainly impressive. Having said that, shareholders may be disappointed with the weak returns over the last three years. Considering the per share profit growth, but keeping in mind the weak returns, we'd need more time to form a view on CEO compensation. CEO compensation is an important area to keep your eyes on, but we've also identified 4 warning signs for Balfour Beatty (1 can't be ignored!) that you should be aware of before investing here.

If you want to buy a stock that is better than Balfour Beatty, this free list of high return, low debt companies is a great place to look.

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



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
SYRACUSE., N.Y. -- A reporter from Syracuse.com and The Post-Standard attended a meeting out of state last week where a participant has presumptively tested positive for the coronavirus.

The Syracuse.com employee feels fine and has no symptoms. But that person is staying home and consulting with doctors for further guidance.

Advance Media New York management told employees to stay home today while the companys South Warren Street offices were cleaned. The staffer was in the office Tuesday but will stay home for as long as doctors recommend.

The company said it does not expect the temporary closing to affect its operations.

The safety and well being of our employees is our greatest concern, said Tim Kennedy, Advance Media NYs president. Our employees are used to working from remote locations, so it makes sense to be cautious as our community, like the rest of the U.S., adapts to living with this new virus.

The company plans to reopen its offices Thursday morning. The temporary closing does not impact the companys production facility on Clinton Square.

The person at the conference who presumptively tested positive had mild symptoms, tested positive Tuesday and is self-quarantined, the meeting organizers said. A presumptively positive test result generally means that an initial test was positive but had yet to be confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control.

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.
Ulster Bank has announced it will help customers who lose money because of the coronavirus outbreak.

RBS, the bank's parent company and the owner of Natwest, could offer loan and mortgage repayment deferrals for up to three months.

Self-employed people forced to take time off work after catching the infection, or people who have to self-isolate because of increased risk, are at risk of losing out on income.

A spokesman for Ulster Bank said the bank was monitoring the impact of the virus on customers "to ensure we can support them appropriately through any period of disruption".

He added: "We have a strong track record in working with any customers who are affected by disruption outside of their control."

The bank said it understood there could be circumstances where a personal banking customer could fall into financial difficulties such as a loss of income because of the effects of coronavirus.

The spokesman added: "We will look to understand each customer's situation on a case-by-case basis.

"(We) can offer a number of options to help them manage their finances.

"We would encourage any customer experiencing financial difficulty to get in touch with us."

While there is no single blanket provision, the help that customers could be offered if their finances are in difficulty includes requesting mortgage and loan repayment deferrals for up to three months.

Building society Santander, a major mortgage lender in Northern Ireland, also said it would look at each customer's situation and explore ways to support them depending on their specific circumstances.

The group's support for customers includes the option to potentially defer or reduce repayments.

A Santander spokeswoman said: "Santander has a team of experts on hand to support customers who have been impacted by the coronavirus.

"Anyone who has been affected can talk to us now on 0800 9 123 123."

Nationwide Building Society said it may consider short-term support including mortgage payment holidays, increased credit card or overdraft limits, penalty-free early access to savings in fixed-term accounts and the removal of interest charges on credit cards and overdrafts.

Lloyds Banking Group said there could be payment holidays on mortgages and loans for Lloyds Bank, Halifax, Bank of Scotland and MBNA customers.

Emergency access to fixed-term savings products will also be allowed and fees may not be charged for missed payments on credit cards, loans and mortgages.
Jyotiraditya Scindia joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the presence of party chief JP Nadda on Wednesday. Scindia had quit the Congress party a day earlier, bringing the Kamal Nath government to the brink of collapse.

Scindia had ended his 18-year-old association with the Congress on Tuesday after meetings with Home Minister Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

WATCH: Cong not what it used to be: Jyotiraditya Scindia joins BJP, slams MP govt

At a press conference organised at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi, Scindia said that he was not able to accomplish his dream in Congress and thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah for giving him a place in their family. Here are the highlights from what Scindia said while officially joining the BJP:

* I would like to thank PM Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and JP Nadda for giving me a place in their family. There are two very important dates in my life - September 30, 2001, when I lost my father. It was a life-changing day for me. The second date was March 10, 2020, the 75th birth anniversary of my father. I took a new decision on this day. I always believe in Jan Seva and politics is a way to accomplish that.

* My father tried to work for the country and the state when he was in Congress. But the situation that has been created today, I am not able to fulfil my target of working for the country. Todays Congress is not the same as it used to be.

* Todays Congress party ignores the reality, there is inertia and many people are not given a chance to take leadership role. The situation is same across the country, but in Madhya Pradesh, the dreams that we saw together have been shattered.

* A promise was made to waive farmers loans within 10 days of coming to power. But it hasnt been done even after 18 months. No employment generation happened during this period.

* Transfer racket and sand mafia are operational in Madhya Pradesh. So, I took this decision to be a part of this countrys progress. The country gave huge mandate to the BJP, not once but twice. PM Modi has tremendous ability to work for the benefit of the country, the way he works, the reforms that he brought in different sectors are commendable.
In Italy, where the number of infections has grown exponentially, more than 10,000 cases have been reported and there have been more than 600 deaths. This week, the countrys leader took the drastic steps of imposing a nationwide lockdown that will limit the movement of 60 million people in hopes of containing the spread of the virus. On Wednesday, the country announced even more drastic measures, saying it will stop almost all commercial activity aside from supermarkets and pharmacies.
More than one-third respondents of a flash poll said they want the government to allow only those overseas travellers, excluding PIO/OCI card holders, into India who are having a 'coronavirus free' certificate from home country and boarding port for the next 30 days.

The poll, conducted by online platform LocalCircles, also found that as much as 15 per cent respondents were of the view that the entry of all foreign passport holders (except PIO/OCI) from countries severely affected by the virus should be completely banned in the country for the next 30 days.

The poll was conducted to find out measures that the government should take to control coronavirus infection from spreading further by the entry of foreign travellers in India.

"In response, 34 per cent said India should only allow foreign passport holders of any nationality (except PIO/OCI) into India if they have a 'coronavirus free' certificate from home country and boarding port for the next 30 days.

"And another 18 per cent said arrival of all foreign passport holders (except PIO/OCI) should be banned in India for the next one month," LocalCircles said in the release.

Many countries have imposed travel restrictions, amid the outbreak of coronavirus, which has claimed over 4,000 lives globally.

Amid rising cases of the COVID-19 globally, India on Tuesday barred entry of the nationals of three more countries -- France, Germany and Spain -- suspending the regular as well as e-visas granted to them till date.

The number of confirmed cases of novel coronavirus in the country has risen to 60, with two fresh positive cases -- one each from Delhi and Rajasthan -- being reported, the Heath Ministry said on Wednesday.

Earlier, the government had suspended all regular visas and e-visas granted on or before March 3 to nationals of Italy, Iran, South Korea and Japan, and had made it mandatory for people travelling from or having visited Italy and South Korea to submit certificate of having tested negative for COVID-19 from laboratories authorised by the health authorities of their countries.

Besides, India has also prohibited entry of any international cruise ship, crew or passenger with a travel history to coronavirus-hit countries post February 1, 2020 to its major ports till March 31.

"As many as 15 per cent respondents said arrival of all foreign passport holders (except PIO/OCI) should be completely banned only from countries severely affected by coronavirus into India for next 30 days.

"However, 17 per cent people covered in the polls said we should only allow foreign passport holders (except PIO/OCI) into India from countries severely affected if they have a coronavirus-free certificate from home country or boarding port for the next 30 days," as per the poll.

Nevertheless, another 10 per cent said the current system of allowing arrivals from all countries should continue as it is. "The survey received 7,304 responses from across the country, according to LocalCircles.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Deputy Minister of Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, has urged the youth to show interest in and focus on education in information, communication and technology (ICT) to be able to realise their potential in the current information society.



He said the world was rapidly growing in global trends and technology that enabled communication between young people from every corner of the world, helping to promote dialogue for development.



We all need to know more about the internet of things (IoT) to meet up with the global trends. While access to technology has significantly changed the lives of many young people in developed countries, this is not always the case here, he stated when he visited the Ghana-India Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT in Accra.



He was there to get first hand information about new softwares being developed by the centre to aid Science Technology and Mathematics (STEM) education.



Relevance of ICT



Dr Adutwum noted that access to ICT remained a challenge for the youth in the developing world and that for the country to transform its economy, ICT was needed in the school curricula to enable students to study with the most current technology.



This can only be achieved if we have the critical mass and acknowledge this centre as one that has amassed enough populace for the IT sector. For instance, students and graduates from the centre are being leveraged on from time to time. Their skills are enough to help industries in the country leap forward with regard to their ICT needs, he added.



Consequently, a software centre has been set up in Bolgatanga and a smart technology centre in Sunyani to help those in the area to also have access to the new initiatives in IT.



STEM Education



The Director-General of the Centre, Mr Kwasi Adu Gyan, in an interview with the Daily Graphic disclosed that the centre had been rigorously working towards promoting STEM education in the country over the years.



He said through hard work, the centre had been expanded to other regions to help increase the number of people with experience in IT.



He said some of the courses undertaken on current trends in technology included robot automation, virtual computing, machine learning, blockchain, data entry operations, artificial intelligence, systems operations and cyber security.



Apps



The centre has developed three new softwares, namely Nyansapo Operating System Solutions (NOSS), AITI-SWAYAM Virtual Learning platform and the eTransform project which will be launched soon.

Source: Daily Graphic









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A former Head of State, Abdulsalami Abubakar, has said he doubts whether President Muhammadu Buhari intervened in the feud that resulted in the Kano State Government on Monday dethroning Muhammadu Sanusi II as the Emir of Kano.

According to a report by DailyNigerian newspaper on Tuesday, Mr Abubakar said this in an interview with the Voice of America Hausa service.

Mr Sanusi was dethroned as the 14th Emir of Kano, and banished to a remote local government in Nasarawa for alleged outright disregard for the state government and Kano Emirates traditional norms.

Aminu Ado Bayero was immediately appointed by the state government as the 15th Emir of Kano to replace the deposed emir.

Mr Sanusis legal team led by Abubakar Mahmoud had said it would challenge his banishment to Loko local government area in Nasarawa State.

A Wasted Effort to Reconcile

Following the protracted feud between Governor Abdullahi Ganduje and Mr Sanusi, some Northern elders in December 2019 appointed Mr Abubakar and two APC governors to an 11-member reconciliation and resolution committee to find a lasting solution to the feud.

Mr Abubakar, who was the chairman of the committee, said it did its best by holding separate meetings with the governor and the former emir, the Daily Nigerian reports.

He explained that after a meeting with the two parties, the committee left the governor and the emir to discuss.

The former military ruler said at the end of the exercise, his team submitted a report to President Buhari before he left the country. But he was not sure if he (Mr Buhari) had intervened.

After conclusion of the assignment, we realised that there was amicable resolution to the crisis. Surprisingly, this is what happened at last, he said.

Asked by the interviewer whether the committee had achieved its mandate, he said, Well, I cannot say so in view of the latest development. In my view, all the committees efforts are wasted.

On President Buharis role, he said: I cant really say whether Buhari has a hand in the matter because I am currently not in Nigeria.

But before I left the country, we submitted our report to him, and he expressed willingness to intervene in the matter in order to have amicable resolution, despite being a constitutional matter. I really dont know if he had intervened.

Asked whether it was the presidents silence that led to the emirs dethronement, Mr Abubakar said, Well, as I have said, I dont know whether he intervened or not. But if he actually intervened, I will be surprised if we would find ourselves in this situation.

Presidency reaction

The presidency on Wednesday released a statement saying Mr Buhari played no role in Mr Sanusis ouster.

The President does not have a history of intervening in the affairs of any state in the country, unless the issue at hand is of national consequence. On such matters which impinge on national security, he has a duty of involvement as the law stipulates, Mr Buharis spokesperson, Garba Shehu, said.

As outlined in the Constitution, the appointment or removal of emirs and other traditional leaders is strictly within the jurisdiction of state governments. It is unfair and disingenuous of opposition politicians to try to link the situation in Kano State to the federal government and the Nigerian President.

Mr Shehu kept mum on whether Mr Buhari received or acted on the report of the Abdulsalami committee and what possible actions he took.

Before Mr Shehus statement, a former governor of Kano State, Rabiu Kwankwaso, accused President Buhari of masterminding the dethronement of Mr Sanusi.

Mr Kwankwaso, who appointed Mr Sanusi ll as the Emir of Kano in 2014, told BBC Hausa on Wednesday that Kano State government officials have been saying they were directed to dethrone Mr Sanusi ll. He (Buhari) instructed them.
Elusive SPX Bottom Monica Kingsley - 23 minutes ago S&P 500 reversed sharp intraday losses, and credit markets moved in a decisive daily risk-on fashion. Turnarounds anywhere you look  HYG, TLT, XLK but will that last? VIX having closed where it opened,...

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A lot of jokes have been circulating around about coronavirus and Corona beer, but now there really is a beverage made for COVID-19.

Avery Soda in New Britain, Conn. launched their new flavor, "Coronavirus Cocktail" this past weekend. This may seem unconventional, but General Manager Robert Metz said this is something they often do with topical news events. In years past they have put out: "Swine Flu Tonic," "So Long Osama," "Deflated Ball Brew" and last week, they created a soda for each presidential candidate.

Avery Soda

But he did have some reservations about making Coronavirus Cocktail after a customer suggested it. "We said this one might be a little edgy even for us. We talked it over and decided to do it kind of low key and put it out there," he said.

But when two healthcare professionals came in and found the soda amusing, the company decided to post it on Facebook, and it has been a success. The post has 858 shares and over 200 comments  mostly positive.

Metz said when brainstorming the flavor, they decided to start with a lime base as an ode to Corona beer; they settled on lime, orange as the final flavor. As of now, the soda is only available at the shop in New Britain and is limited to one six pack per customer because they are currently printing the label in-house. But Metz said they have ordered labels and hope to expand availability to local shops next week.

While Coronavirus Cocktail may sound unappetizing, Avery Soda is not afraid of grossing people out. In fact, their "Totally Gross Soda" line, which feature flavors like "Bug Barf," "Dog Drool" and "Monster Mucus," accounts for about 90 percent of their sales, said Metz. This line of sodas is inspired by the company's "make your own soda" program in which kids can come in and experiment with soda flavors. Some of the kids, said Metz, like to mix a bunch of different ones together and create a "totally gross" flavor.

But Metz said despite sounding gross, Coronavirus Cocktail won't be part of this line because it's a temporary flavor. "We hope it doesn't stick around too long."

Metz recognizes that the coronavirus soda may be "a little insensitive on some levels," but the goal is to provide a little comic relief.

"We live in a really stressful world these days, and if you cant have a laugh every once in a while, you're just going to go crazy. We think you just need a little levity," he said. "It's definitely a serious topic and we dont discount that, but I think everyone just needs a little break form all the seriousness."
Keira Knightley retracts her daughter's Disney fairytale ban, and it is one of the most unusual celebrity news that you will ever hear. The reason why Keira did so? Read on below to know why.

The British actress shared that the reason why she bans some fairytale movies and stories to her 5-year old daughter, Edie, is because these fairytales that were aired and made in the past now have outdated story messages. Kiera finds these story messages irrelevant in today's world and she does not agree with some of those story morals Now that Edie is 5-years-old, and that her mother's efforts are futile, she is now watching all the banned fairytales.

An article by Pop Sugar rehashes Keira's appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show back in 2018. Back then, she explained that she also banned the famous tale "Cinderella" from her daughter. Why? It's because it will impart the idea that a rich guy should rescue her. For Keira, her daughter Edie must be the one to save herself. For "The Little Mermaid", despite it being Keira's favorite, it teaches making sacrifices for men. She believes that no one should give up their voice for a man, and so despite the circumstances being tricky, it is banned as well. Even Snow White is prohibited, but there's a profound reason for that. It includes poison, kisses, and a cruel Queen.

The article by USA Today updates us on the ban and how it's going along. As expected, it didn't go as planned. The 34-year-old actress admits that the banned fairytales were seen by her daughter just the same. According to Keira, Edie was able to view all of them now. However, she did handle it well as she made their watching experience a teachable moment.

In her interview with Porter, she said that she was pleased with her daughter's response to Sleeping Beauty. Edie reacted with horror after the prince kissed princess Aurora. For her daughter, the scene of kissing without consent was despicable. Keira was delighted by her daughter's response to doing things with the lack of permission.

Edie has also watched Mulan and loves it, according to Keira. She is happy that her daughter sees the impact of Mulan. However, one of Keira's fear did come true. She said that her daughter now wants to be a princess. She told her daughter than she shouldn't want to be a princess, but aim to be a queen. That is because queens are in charge. The more Keira tells Edie that being a queen is preferable, the more the young girl insists that she doesn't want to be one. She knows that it annoys her mother and to Keira, it is fair enough.

She is raising her children to understand the concept of consent and feminism. Keira is a product of an equal household and maintains to uphold the same standards with her children. She is now challenging the perfect view of motherhood in social media. Keira believes that it is time to contest a single narrative. That the ideal side of motherhood can be a reason to celebrate, but that the rest exists. When she was a first-time mother, the perfect one view narrative isolated her. Now, she knows that isn't the case. That you'll make mistakes and that perfection isn't everything.

Her raising Edie to see the flaws of fairytales is a sign that she's winging it.
But in recent years, researchers have argued that extreme open workspaces may actually decrease the kind of interaction they were meant to encourage, as people cocoon themselves with headphones to avoid chatty colleagues. Noise and a lack of privacy tugged at already frayed nerves. Now, as employers and designers are staring down both major changes in the workforce and rising burnout, theyre figuring out how to strike a balance between the extremes of the 20th century and the 2010s: an office that enables different kinds of work for different kinds of people. The workplace is work, home and Starbucks.
The hecatomb of unsuccessful Democratic candidates raises questions about the current viability of the Democrats that they will have to address in the next four years. It appears that the powers that be in that party were so fixated on the easy disposability of Trump that they gave little thought to making a serious race of it this year. They mixed their own Russian-collusion Kool-Aid, posted it down, and now are discovering that it was hemlock. The party elders apparently thought they had placated the Sanders faction by reserving superdelegates to a second ballot, which neither American political party has needed to hold at its convention for over 80 years. They should have had a clue that taking back the White House could be more of a challenge than they suspected when some of the more promising Democrats, such as Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio, didnt enter the race, and Senator Michael Bennett of Colorado didnt get any traction. As the Russian-collusion fraud collapsed, Trump managed the appointment of a serious attorney general, and the examination of why a Clinton campaign hit-dossier was sold to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court as justification for conducting espionage on the Trump campaign and transition team got seriously underway. It became steadily more evident that 2020 was not going to be a spontaneous national draft of whomever the Democrats put up against the president.

Yet more than 20 people sought the nomination, and many generated considerable interest for a while. First there was Joe Biden. He bumbled and stumbled from the opening bell, and his wife Jill helpfully pointed out to an interviewer that the Democrats had to vote for him even if they had to hold their noses because the other candidates were so unacceptable. She was referring to Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, both hard-left extremists. And she formulated a conclusion that Michael Bloomberg arrived at also, some months later, after Biden had bombed so badly that Bloomberg didnt think there was anyone to put up a serious race against Trump (who the Democrats had been repeating to themselves rhythmically for three years would be easy to defeat). When Biden faded, Warren surged into the lead in the late summer, but she hit a number of explosive fragmentation devices. Trumps sarcastic references to her as Pocahontas highlighted her outright mendacity in falsely claiming to be of Native American descent and exploiting that canard to advance her academic career. Her robotic, schoolmarmish I have a plan for that in response to every policy question as she waved her hands like the back-rotors on helicopters wore thin, especially when she costed her brainwave (shared with Sanders) of depriving 180 million Americans of their present health-care arrangements. Replacing it with a government-directed system for everyone in the country would cost 52 trillion dollars.

Story continues

With this, Warren started to sink beneath the waves, but she rendered the campaign and the country some service yet. Having destroyed her own chances (itself a salutary feat), she had a golden afterburner, an Indian summer to her campaign, by savagely attacking Michael Bloomberg in his first debate, demanding to know if he would release women with whom he had signed agreements closing down their sexual-harassment lawsuits from their agreement not to disclose the details of their complaints. Bloomberg hemmed and hawed as his nascent campaign evaporated. In Bloombergs second debate, she again attacked him like a banshee, accusing him of describing women as fat broads and demanding that someones pregnancy be terminated, as close as Ms. Warren is likely to get to a pro-life statement (apart from her false claim that she was discriminated against as a schoolteacher because she was pregnant). She thus played a key role in killing off two of the leading contenders, herself and Bloomberg. It is also possible that her claim that Senator Sanders had once said to her that a woman would never be president damaged him, though evidently not fatally. (It is almost certainly another of her fabrications.)

But other candidates self-immolated spectacularly and regularly. Cory Booker told Iowans we had to attack global warming like Americans conquered Normandy. (British and Canadians were a majority of the land forces on D-Day, where the objective was liberation, not the conquest of a French province, and provided most of the air and almost all the sea support; Americans should remember the country has had useful allies in good causes.) He never breasted the tape of 2 percent support and was reduced to asking retention as a viable candidate in the interests of diversity, affirmative-action nominating. It didnt fly. Scores of times he erupted: Politics be damned! when announcing a major point of principle that meandered into a tired cliche or untrue truism. Kamala Harris looked like a serious contender at the start, a well-spoken senator from the largest state, a diverse woman, but her own father contradicted her claim to having been a potential beneficiary of school busing for racial balance in schools, and all she could ever do on any issue was call for a conversation. Theres a time to converse and a time to act. She didnt fly.

Others were sillier: Beto ORourke, an instant candidate because he had received the greatest flood of donations in the history of U.S. congressional elections in a monumental effort to defeat Senator Ted Cruz, quickly revealed himself to a national audience as an arm-flapping airhead, sputtering false platitudes about global warming and, as his polls evaporated, announcing that, Second Amendment be damned, he would storm into peoples homes like Robert Muellers amphibious SWAT team arresting Roger Stone and seize Americas guns. He didnt fly either, (though he suffered a minor skateboard injury). Other candidates had no reason or excuse to run and gained no, zero, support: For example, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, who enunciated the jurisprudential maxim that any woman claiming to have been sexually abused or harassed, even decades before and with no corroboration, should be automatically believed  conviction by denunciation; Robespierre and Stalin ride again. She said Bill Clinton, to whom she owed her political career, should have resigned as president when accused by various women of harassment. Bill de Blasio, mayor of New York, welcomed by Trump to the campaign as the worst mayor in America and in New Yorks [400-year] history, the king of potholes, graft, nepotism, and incompetence, made a cameo pass-through and gained absolutely no support.

Tom Steyer, a leftist billionaire (hedge fund), who apparently thought that if Trump could do it, he could, spent $175 million of his own money but struck out in the primaries. Trump didnt use much of his money winning the Republican nomination in 2016; he had planned his campaign carefully and had been one of the most prominent people in the country for 30 years. Steyers campaign was just egotism; it was absurd. Michael Bloomberg was obviously a good deal more serious. He spent $550 million and made a somewhat respectable showing, and presumably got some sort of assurance from Biden that if he is elected he will offer Bloomberg the State Department, which is what he was seeking four years ago from Jeb Bush and Hillary Clinton. He was running essentially as an independent, endorsing policies similar to Trumps except on climate change, which he takes frightfully seriously, but offering a less tempestuous style. It was surprising that he was not stronger in the debates, but he gained enough votes not to be a ridiculous interloper like Steyer. For a man of his wealth and ambitions and age (78), it was worth a (last) try. The most irritating of the candidates was Eric Swallwell, the noisy little jack-in-the-box who was the earliest semi-presentable advocate of the impeachment of the president and who insinuated himself before cameras by always being beside or immediately behind the egregious Congressman Adam Schiff, tactician and manager of the impeachment. He didnt last to the caucuses and folded with commendable swiftness. The only one of the swarm of lesser candidates who had any impact was Andrew Yang, who made some interesting policy points and is considering a run for mayor of New York. (He would be a sizable improvement on de Blasio.)

Something must be said for Marianne Williamson, the fluent and amiable evangelical Christian. Though most of what she said was nonsense, she was a minor influence for civility. The same goes for Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii, an outgoing Sandersite congresswoman, who was denounced, out of the blue, by Hillary Clinton, still the Lady Macbeth of the Democrats, as a Russian asset. The 2020 Democrats are a party of kooks and retreads and charlatans, now reduced to hoping for a pandemic of the coronavirus to give them any room to attack the incumbent. In the terribly difficult year of 1968, with race and anti-war riots all over the country, the assassinations of Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy, and 200 to 400 draftees coming home dead every week from an unexplained, undeclared war in Vietnam being fought for an indefinite objective, Lyndon Johnson, Hubert Humphrey, Robert Kennedy, Nelson Rockefeller, Ronald Reagan, and Richard Nixon (along with Eugene McCarthy and George C. Wallace) were all, at some point, running for president. All of the first group were qualified. The Republicans at least have a capable if idiosyncratic president who is a formidable candidate. As Joe Biden sweeps the primaries, it is a mystery how the Democrats have arrived at this cruel paucity of talent.

More from National Review
A US ex-marine stood trial in Moscow Wednesday on charges that he had attacked police officers, and faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted.

Trevor Reed, 28, allegedly attacked police called by friends after he became very intoxicated and risked walking into traffic.

While being driven to a police station, he purportedly grabbed the arm of a police officer, causing the car they were in to swerve, and elbowed another officer in the abdomen.

The incident happened in August 2019 and Reed, who is from Texas, has been held in a Moscow pre-trial detention centre since then.

Police escorted Reed into the courtroom of Moscow's Golovino district court for the hearing, attended by his parents, sister and Russian girlfriend.

He declined to answer questions from media in the courtroom, saying: "You'll have to ask my attorney." His father Joey Reed told AFP his son had chosen not to plead guilty because he cannot remember the incident.

"He can't plead honestly one way or another," Reed's father said.

"He was extremely intoxicated. He remembers nothing of the evening except people trying to toast him with vodka at a party." US State Department personnel have visited Reed monthly, his father said, and the family has asked them to be present at the trial.

"He's doing all right, he has some back pain and foot issues and stress but he looks well and he says he's being treated fairly" in the detention centre, Reed's father said.

The case has attracted attention owing to the lengthy sentence faced by a US citizen and speculation in Russian and US media that he could be part of a prisoner swap.

Reed's father declined to comment, but said he believed US prisoner swaps historically involved spies, a charge his son does not face.

He said defence lawyers were focusing on "irregularities" in the case, such as why his son was not handcuffed in the police car if his behaviour was violent.

Attorneys also told him that security camera footage did not show the police car swerving.

The family posted bail of $15,000 but the court rejected it, a decision now being appealed.

Russia's highest-profile US detainee is Paul Whelan, who was arrested in 2018 on espionage charges.

He risks up to 20 years in prison if convicted. His trial has not started yet.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 10

Trend:

Two Azerbaijani citizens born in 1960 and 1984 tested positive for coronavirus after returning from Iran, Operational Headquarters under the Cabinet of Ministers told Trend.

Reportedly, those infected have been placed in special hospitals.

As the Operational Headquarters said, the health condition of the patients is stable and relevant measures are taken for their treatment.

Three Azerbaijanis, who previously tested positive for coronavirus (born in 1973, 1997 and 1998) recovered after receiving treatment in special hospitals and have already been discharged.

Other patients infected with coronavirus still continue to receive treatment in the special hospitals and their health condition is under serious control.
Mumbai, March 11 : The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) on Wednesday opened on a negative note during the morning session of the trade.

The Sensex of the BSE opened at 35,468.90 points and touched a high of 35,586.84. The Sensex touched a low of 35,261.92 points.

On Monday, the Sensex closed at 35,634.95 points.

The Sensex is trading at 35,880.08, up by 245.13 points or 0.69 per cent at 9.30 a.m.

On the other hand, the broader 50-scrip Nifty at National Stock Exchange (NSE) opened at 10,334.30 points after closing at 10,451.45 points.

The Nifty is trading at 10,502.75 points, up by 42.70 or 0.42 per cent at 9.30 a.m. on Wednesday.
Concurs repetat pentru selectarea unei companii sociologice, care sa efectueze un studiu tematic "Barometrul opiniei publice in domeniul schimbarilor climatice"
At the centre, the Deputy PM, who is also head of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control directly instructed the epidemic prevention at the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases based in Dong Anh District.

Vietnam has had 30 confirmed cases of infections with 16 having recovered so far.

The Deputy PM requested sectors and authorities at all levels to promote their sense of responsibility to strictly adhere to relevant directions given by the Party Central Committees Secretariat, the Government and the national steering committee.

Officially launched in March 5, the centre is designated to manage and coordinate resources and professional activities to support medical facilities in collecting, isolating, diagnosing and treating Covid-19 patients directly or remotely via information technology and telecommunication facilities.

The centre will develop, revise or update professional instructions for medical diagnosis, examination, treatment and care procedures. It will also establish relevant professional councils to provide direct and online support for medical examination and treatment facilities on the collection, diagnosis and treatment of Covid-19 patients.
(Natural News) The coronavirus outbreak in the U.S. could eventually grow to be as serious as the conditions in Wuhan, the Chinese city considered the epicenter of the global outbreak. This is the warning given by Dr. Marty Makary, a professor at Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, in an interview with CNBCs Squawk Box on Tuesday.

What happened in Wuhan could happen here. Why do we think otherwise? said Makary.

COVID-19 first broke out in Wuhan in late December last year. In response to this, the Chinese government has locked down the city, as well as the province of Hubei. Since then, new cases of COVID-19 have dropped to below 50 a day, at least according to figures from the Chinese government, though the disease continues to spread elsewhere around the globe.

The outbreak is not under control

In his message, Dr. Makary urged Americans to take the disease more seriously. He warned that people may think that the outbreak is under control, however people here are just as vulnerable as those in Wuhan.

The American immune system is not stronger than the Chinese immune system, Dr. Makary told the outlet. Viruses dont care about politics and they dont care about location.

Already, U.S. cases of the disease have passed 1,000 according to data from Johns Hopkins. Of those cases, there have been 28 reported deaths and only 8 recoveries.

Numbers of COVID-19 patients have been growing worldwide. Two of the worst-hit countries, China and Iran, have over 80,000 and 8,000 cases respectively. However, Dr. Makary pointed out that these countries have not been straightforward with their data. He stated that doctors in those countries have come out and stated that their hospitals are overrun.

This fact is supported by reports from Italy and South Korea, both also heavily hit by the virus, but who have also been very transparent. As Dr. Makary pointed out, while Italy has taken drastic measures, their hospitals are still being overrun.

America may not be able to handle a serious increase in cases

Dr. Makary then stated that he worried that the nations health-care system wouldnt be able to handle things if a situation like Wuhan broke out. He mentioned that the U.S currently has about 100,000 intensive care unit (ICU) beds that operate at full or near full capacity. If we get 200,000 critical care cases, were going to be overrun, Dr. Makary warned. So we need to do more.

Bracing for a three-month problem

With this in mind, Dr. Makary has urged Americans to stop all nonessential travel. Additionally, he added that, while he didnt like talking about contingency plans, he felt that people needed to start making them.

Weve got to brace for a three-month problem, stated Dr. Makary. Some examples of contingency plans that Dr. Makary listed included restaurants focusing more on home deliveries and more companies allowing employees to work from home.

He also echoed calls by the American Hospital Association to build and staff up in preparation for the outbreak. Additionally, Dr, Makary pointed to South Koreas response as a model for how other countries, including its own, should handle the outbreak.

Despite having the second-highest number of COVID-19 cases in the world, South Korea has been, for the most part, successful in both containing the spread of the disease, while limiting the number of deaths from it. This is in part due to the country going on a massive testing spree that has allowed them to identify, isolate and treat infected people earlier than in other countries. While he admitted that the U.S. may be behind the curve, he stated that there was time to prepare and that the country should be looking at Wuhan-like numbers when it makes those preparations so as not to be caught out.

Sources include:

CNBC.com 1

CNBC.com 2

Coronavirus.JHU.edu
The Harris County Public Health has joined with Harris Health to establish the Ask My Nurse hotline for residents in unincorporated Harris County who do not have a healthcare provider and who need access to coronavirus-related care.

To date, there have been 15 cases of Covid-19 reported in Texas, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Of 938 cases reported in the United States, there have been 29 deaths.

The Ask My Nurse hotline is available from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week. The number is 713-634-1110. Nurses are available to provide care in both English and Spanish. Ask My Nurse will provide help with access for symptoms assessments and referral to appropriate levels of care in a clinical setting. Harris County will also staff a call line with public health staff who will be available to answer questions from the general public about coronavirus disease (COVID-19), according to a news release.

In addition to providing this triage service for those without access to care, Harris County will also be expanding its capacity to answer questions for the general public regarding COVID-19. For the latest call center phone numbers for Harris County, Fort Bend County, the City of Houston, and the State of Texas, residents should visit ReadyHarris.org or www.hcphtx.org.

The hotline is the latest available resource for residents in the greater Houston region. Other regional resources include:

For Harris County residents: Harris County Public Health at www.hcphtx.org\COVID-19 or www.ReadyHarris.org. Call 832-927-7575 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.

For city of Houston residents: Houston Health Department at www.HoustonHealth.org or www.HoustonEmergency.org. Call 832-393-4220 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays.

For Fort Bend County residents: Fort Bend County Health & Human Services at www.fbchealth.org/ncov. Call 281-633-7795 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Harris Health System: Visit www.harrishealth.org or 713-634-1110 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.

rkent@hcnonline.com
Watching My Wife Die: A True Story: A Christian Perspective on Grieving: a heart-wrenching narrative that opens the readers hearts allowing them to empathize and witness how Christians thrive to survive in many different struggles in life. Watching My Wife Die: A True Story: A Christian Perspective on Grieving is the creation of published author Donald L. Gilleland, an Evangelical Christian who serves as an usher at the Calvary Chapel Melbourne/Viera church located in Viera, Florida. He was also a member of the five-man planning staff that created the National Defense University at Ft. McNair in Washington, DC, and served seven years in the Pentagonone year in the Office of Naval Intelligence and six years in the Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs Office.

Gilleland writes, This book is a discussion of metastatic ovarian cancer which my wife struggled with for more than a year and a discussion of my struggle with grief from watching my wife slowly die over the same period. Interwoven throughout the book are various forms of Christian witness as they related to these struggles.

Donald Gilleland was born in 1935 and was raised in Alton, Illinois. He has a bachelors degree in Communications from Southern Illinois University and a masters degree in public relations from Boston University. Margaret (Peggy) Gilleland was born in 1938 and was raised in Worchester, Massachusetts. She attended but did not graduate from Southern Illinois University where they met in 1957 and married in 1959.

Donald served thirty years in the US military, followed by ten years in the defense industry, retiring as corporate director of public affairs for General Dynamics Corporation in 1994. He also has written and had published over 600 major articles in a variety of nationally and internationally circulated magazines and newspapers and is the author of five books, all of which are available on the Internet or directly from him. Peggy worked as a corporate management analyst until 1981, after which she decided to devote her full-time effort to helping the various communities in which they lived.

Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Donald L. Gillelands new book is an enthralling journal that opens the readers eyes allowing them to see and be inspired by how the faith of a husband saved him from the pain he was feeling after losing a wife who had metastatic ovarian cancer.

With this purpose, Gilleland aims for the readers to treasure every moment they have with their loved ones and to also be aware that cancer is not just an ordinary illness that a person can take in surviving life.

View a synopsis of Watching My Wife Die: A True Story: A Christian Perspective on Grieving on YouTube.

Consumers can purchase Watching My Wife Die: A True Story: A Christian Perspective on Grieving at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or inquiries about Watching My Wife Die: A True Story: A Christian Perspective on Grieving, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919.
The Laws of Steel is the latest installment of Ryuho Okawas Laws series of books, which are released annually and explore a different aspect of human existence in each volume. In contrast to 2019s The Laws of Bronze, which primarily explored the aspects of consciousness pertaining to compassion, self-sacrifice and altruism, The Laws of Steel explores the themes of personal development, success and humility.

Throughout the first segment of the book, Okawa explores self-development techniques and considers the manner in which we may set higher standards for ourselves, in part by choosing an unconventional approach to success. Okawa explores certain concepts made famous by Dale Carnegie, and elaborates upon them in a manner that can be life changing as concerns positive thought.

Okawa goes on to explore the law of cause and effect, providing insight into his own path of success in such a way that any can benefit from it. Okawa speaks from experience, and describes that which he has tested with success. He likewise explores some of Shakyamuni Buddhas teachings about cause and effect, and examines, for example, the life of Shakyamuni Buddha as a success story of starting from zero and attaining the ultimate enlightenment. An important point of emphasis explored is that success is not made in a single leap, but by consistent effort and determination.

Toward the middle of the book, the subject-matter takes a turn toward the political and begins with a critical analysis of socio-economic matters in Japan and the continuing incorporation of artificial intelligence in the job force. Okawa seems confident that there are many jobs that AI cannot perform efficiently when compared with humans, but also considers the reasons that many companies are presently pursuing AI as a replacement for human workers. Okawas stance on work is that it forms a central basis of human function and allows us to contribute something to the world at large.

The socio-political commentary continues with a critique of North Korea, which Okawa perceives as a considerably dangerous threat to the world, and discusses ideal outcomes that may arise from meetings between the US and DPRK. Further exploration is made concerning human rights violations that have been committed by China against certain oppressed regions, including South Mongolia, Xinjiang, and Tibet, and he expresses hope for greater democracy and freedom to develop within China. Okawa furthermore expresses criticism of Donald Trumps Iranian policies, but likewise expresses a hope that the Trump Administration can accomplish positive conditions for the world.

The final segment of the book explores spirituality and faith in the context of ones purpose and mission in the world. Themes of humility and the power of making miracles happen in ones life are likewise elaborated upon. The context of Happy Science, the movement of which Okawa is the CEO, is also examined as it pertains to the betterment of the world. Okawa voices these matters in a practical and approachable manner throughout.

The Laws of Steel covers a spectrum of material that, though seemingly disconnected, is exposed as being intertwined and having intercorrelation. From positive thought to geopolitics, The Laws of Steel is a journey that explores what success is and how to attain it in the contemporary world.

"The Laws of Steel" will be available at all major bookstores nationwide, including Barnes & Noble and Amazon, on March 15, 2020.

IRH Press USA
- A Kenyan visiting Namibia narrated how she bumped into a fellow countryman just by the power of the Kenyan wristband

- A travel blogger named Bonnita Aluoch was approached by a Kenyan while lining up at a restaurant

- The two ended up conversing and catching up on news about their home country

Those who have had the pleasure of visiting foreign countries will tell you how hard it is to cope especially if one has no friends.

This could easily lead one to feel homesick pretty quickly when you consider that your social life is slowly becoming extinct.

READ ALSO: Coronavirus: Rwanda steps up vigilance, asks matatu passengers to wash hands before boarding

READ ALSO: Scientists offer KSh 470k to volunteers willing to be infected with coronavirus in medical experiment

Well, this could have been the same situation one Kenyan in the diaspora, Bonnita Aluoch, a travel blogger - faced while on her escapades in Windhoek, Namibia.

Bonnita shared a touching story on Twitter of how she bumped into a fellow countryman thanks to the Kenyan wristband which identified the man as 'one of our own'.

Were it not for the band, she would have not known that the individual was Kenyan and explained how the guy was in a jovial mood after spotting her.

READ ALSO: Young student causes Meghan Markle to blush after complimenting on her beauty

READ ALSO: Mwanamziki Koffi Olomidei kuandaa tamasha Kenya miaka 4 baada ya kufurushwa

"This band should be added in the Kenyan constitution as a symbol of unity. Met this guy at a KFC queue in Windhoek last night. He was just smiling the whole time. When he got closer he said sasa. That was it! That was the phrase. We went on to speak in Swahili and updated each other on what's happening back home," she said.

The tweet got a lot of attention from fellow tweeps who narrated several stories on how they also got to know someone through the same situation.

Here are some of the beautiful stories that emerged from this post:

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.

I have forgiven my wife for leaving me and our children: Robert Wanyonyi Update | Tuko TV

Source: TUKO.co.ke
NEW YORK, March 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Thousands of patients whose cancer has spread to the bones could benefit from a new minimally invasive approach to fixing painful pelvic fractures, according to a study conducted by orthopedic oncology surgeons at Montefiore Health System.

If cancer spreads from the primary location to the bones, it can cause them to weaken and eventually fracture. Pelvic fractures cause debilitating pain and make it extremely difficult to walk. Traditionally, surgeons perform a total hip replacement to reduce pain and improve quality of life. While this approach is often successful, it is major surgery and comes with risks, including significant blood loss, extended time under anesthesia, risk of infection, risk of dislocation and the need for a longer hospitalization.

Orthopedic oncology surgeons at Montefiore are the first to use a novel approach called the "tripod" technique, for patients with pelvic lesions caused by cancer. This technique uses multiple screws that are placed through very small incisions, connecting the damaged bones and stabilizing the pelvis. It is called "tripod' because the screws are placed in a tripod configuration to support the socket of the hip joint.

"This approach goes against the conventional notion that bone affected by cancer is too weak and needs to be completely replaced," said lead author Rui Yang, M.D., orthopedic surgeon, Montefiore, and assistant professor, Albert Einstein College of Medicine. "Our study shows that using this technique means patients don't need to undergo a longer, more aggressive surgery. They recover and go home quicker, have less pain, and most importantly, can resume therapies targeted at treating their cancer."

This project is part of a larger research effort by the Division of Orthopaedic Oncology that includes the Musculoskeletal Oncology Research Laboratory, which performs basic and translational research as part of the National Cancer Institute-designated Albert Einstein Cancer Center. Their projects focus on rare primary bone and soft-tissue tumors, including osteosarcoma and synovial sarcoma. In addition, the Division of Orthopaedic Oncology routinely participates in a number of institutional and multi-center clinical studies spanning various aspects of orthopaedic oncology. The doctors have presented their findings at several national and international meetings, showing the "tripod" technique is safe, effective, and extremely well-tolerated by patients who were bedridden, in wheelchairs or using assistive devices to walk prior to the procedure.

"We are pleased to find this technique results in better outcomes for our patients," said co-author David Geller, M.D., orthopedic oncologist and vice-chairman, Strategy and Innovation, Orthopaedic Surgery, Montefiore and associate professor of Orthopedic Surgery and Pediatrics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine. "And we are surprised to find that despite conventional wisdom, many of our patients heal their fractures and experience new bone growth."

One patient who benefitted from the "tripod" technique is 58-year-old, 9/11 survivor, Nancy Toussaint. Nancy, who is the caregiver for her elderly parents, was running errands one day when she felt her hips "shift." She managed the discomfort for a few weeks but decided to seek medical advice. Doctors discovered her pelvic bone had fractured as the result of cancer spreading throughout her body. Nancy underwent the "tripod" surgery in September to repair the pelvic fracture and is now undergoing cancer therapy.

"Most of the patients in this study were able to get out of bed and bear weight on the same day as the surgery," said Dr. Yang. "None of them needed a blood transfusion and there were no wound-healing issues. We hope that other surgeons will consider this approach so that patients have one less issue to deal with, while they undergo cancer treatment."

About Montefiore Health System

Montefiore Health System is one of New York's premier academic health systems and is a recognized leader in providing exceptional quality and personalized, accountable care to approximately three million people in communities across the Bronx, Westchester and the Hudson Valley. It is comprised of 10 hospitals, including the Children's Hospital at Montefiore, Burke Rehabilitation Hospital and close to 200 outpatient care sites. The advanced clinical and translational research at its medical school, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, directly informs patient care and improves outcomes. From the Montefiore-Einstein Centers of Excellence in cancer, cardiology and vascular care, pediatrics, and transplantation, to its preeminent school-based health program, Montefiore is a fully integrated healthcare delivery system providing coordinated, comprehensive care to patients and their families. For more information please visit www.montefiore.org. Follow us on Twitter and view us on Facebook and YouTube.

About Albert Einstein College of Medicine

Albert Einstein College of Medicine is one of the nation's premier centers for research, medical education and clinical investigation. During the 2019-20 academic year, Einstein is home to 724 M.D. students, 158 Ph.D. students, 106 students in the combined M.D./Ph.D. program, and 265 postdoctoral research fellows. The College of Medicine has more than 1,800 full-time faculty members located on the main campus and at its clinical affiliates. In 2019, Einstein received more than $178 million in awards from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This includes the funding of major research centers at Einstein in aging, intellectual development disorders, diabetes, cancer, clinical and translational research, liver disease, and AIDS. Other areas where the College of Medicine is concentrating its efforts include developmental brain research, neuroscience, cardiac disease, and initiatives to reduce and eliminate ethnic and racial health disparities. Its partnership with Montefiore, the University Hospital and academic medical center for Einstein, advances clinical and translational research to accelerate the pace at which new discoveries become the treatments and therapies that benefit patients. Einstein runs one of the largest residency and fellowship training programs in the medical and dental professions in the United States through Montefiore and an affiliation network involving hospitals and medical centers in the Bronx, Brooklyn and on Long Island. For more information, please visit www.einstein.yu.edu, read our blog, follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook , and view us on YouTube.

SOURCE Montefiore Health System

Related Links

www.montefiore.org


A farmer up in court over the maintenance of his farmyard said he would sell the cattle today if he could.

Sean Gleeson, of Seefin House, Glenosheen, Ardpatrick, appeared before Judge Marian OLeary in Kilmallock Court on a water pollution offence. It dates back to 2017.

Will Leahy, solicitor for Limerick City and County Council, said it was a farm maintenance matter.

This has been before you umpteen times - 15 or 16, Mr Leahy told Judge OLeary.

Mr Gleeson said the land has to go up for sale.

It is coming out of probate. I want the cattle gone. If I could just get a couple of pound to test them. I dont want them on the land. Im not able. Id sell them today if I could, said Mr Gleeson.

Mr Leahy said cattle are being held on a yard in winter time with no facilities.

You can keep a certain amount on a yard but once you go over that He needs a slurry tank installed. He doesnt engage with us, said Mr Leahy

Aidan Leonard, an agricultural scientist with the council, said the issue is every farmer must have slurry storage.

Effectively he has an earthen hole in the ground. It is not fit for purpose. There is adequate straw bedding. There is no effluent run-off.

There is a build-up of slurry on the yard currently. All effluent must be properly stored. It is not being properly stored, said Mr Leonard.

Judge OLeary put the case to a second calling to allow Mr Gleeson and Mr Leonard converse.

When the case was called later in the court sitting, Mr Leahy asked for the matter to be adjourned until May.

He says he will have the yard in order, said Mr Leahy.

Judge OLeary agreed to the adjournment.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un appears to have fled Pyongyang for fear of the coronavirus epidemic there.

"Intelligence analysis suggests that Kim Jong-un has been away from Pyongyang for a considerable time," a government source here said on Tuesday. "This appears to be connected with the coronavirus outbreak."
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Could a border wall proposed by President Donald Trump halt the spread of coronavirus in the United States? The president seems to think so, but healthcare professionals disagree.

At a campaign rally in South Carolina two weeks ago, Trump made the claim that his proposed wall along the southern U.S. border with Mexico could help contain coronavirus from entering the country and spreading even more.

One of the reasons the [coronavirus] numbers are so good is because of border security, Trump claimed in his speech. We will do everything in our power to keep the infection and those carrying the infection from entering our country.

Trump reiterated the idea in a tweet quoting conservative firebrand Charlie Kirk, who also insisted a border wall could stop the spread of COVID-19. Going up fast, Trump responded to Kirk. We need the Wall more than ever!

Going up fast. We need the Wall more than ever! https://t.co/7TxErJKAgT  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 10, 2020

But healthcare experts disagree that a wall is an effective strategy to combat the diseases spread.

You cant build a wall high enough to keep this out, University of Toronto public health ethics professor Alison Thomson said to Al Jazeera this week. Borders are political barriers, but they are not respected by a virus.

It appears that the head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention agrees with Thomsons analysis, taking a firm stance against Trumps assertions.

Appearing before House lawmakers this week, CDC Director Robert Redfield was asked by Rep. Katherine Clark (D-Mass.) whether any evidence existed that structural barriers like a border wall could help prevent the spread of the virus.

Not that Ive seen, Redfield said.

Total number of confirmed U.S. coronavirus cases at each Tuesday:

Jan. 14  0

Jan. 21  1

Jan. 28  5

Feb. 4  11

Feb. 11  14

Feb. 18  25

Feb. 25  59

Mar. 3  125

Mar. 10  1,004https://t.co/74QzWYbn1p  Mike Baker (@ByMikeBaker) March 11, 2020

Trumps flawed assessments on coronavirus, including his errantly likening it to the flu or calling criticism of his response to it a hoax, have caused others, particularly the presidents most ardent supporters, to not take the spread of the disease seriously. Some have even claimed the virus is entirely made up.

As of Wednesday morning, at least 1,015 cases of coronavirus had been identified within the United States within 38 states, and 31 deaths have resulted from individuals contracting the disease.
"Social distancing is an important component of our pandemic planning, reducing the potential for exposure of the virus if found in our community. The decision to close schools is made by the district, acting in accordance with guidance from the Illinois Department of Public Health and our local health department. At this time, the Illinois Department of Public Health is not recommending closing schools," Sparlin said.
A death-row inmate who killed a Lancaster County mother and her teenage daughter in 2015 was denied an appeal from the nations highest court.

According to the Lancaster County District Attorneys Office, the U.S. Supreme Court will not hear the appeal of Leeton Pie Thomas, 42, who killed Lisa Scheetz and her 16-year-old daughter in a home invasion because they were witnesses in a pending sexual assault case.

Thomas also nearly killed Scheetz 15-year-old daughter.

He had filed to have the Supreme Court hear his appeal, challenging the constitutionality of the death penalty, according to the DAs office.

At the 2017 trial, the surviving daughter identified Thomas as the intruder and killer.

When imposing the death sentence after trial, Judge Dennis Reinaker said Pennsylvania should lift its death-penalty moratorium and put Thomas at the very top of the list.

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.
Just over an hour after polls closed in Michigan, the Associated Press has called the presidential primary race for Joe Biden.

Bidens victory comes after a weekend blitz across Michigan, capped off with a festive rally at a Detroit high school Monday. Democratic hopeful Bernie Sanders, who won Michigans 2016 primary, also made a big push in Michigan in the last few days, holding rallies and sending surrogates across the state.

Biden led Sanders by 12 percentage points as of 9:15 p.m., with 32% of precincts across the state reporting. Early unofficial results showed Biden leading in Wayne, the states most populous county, and Oakland and Macomb counties, suburban communities surrounding Detroit that did not support Sanders in 2016.

See updated results here.

Sanders failed to maintain his strength in parts of the state where he won in 2016, according to early election results.

Sanders held a narrow lead in West Michigans Kent County, where he previously won by 25 points. He was losing in Ottawa County as of 9:15 p.m., where Sanders previously won by 29.84 points.

Sanders won early primary states, but the tide shifted toward Biden when South Carolina voted, and then during Super Tuesday. Michigans contest came after other moderate contenders, including Amy Klobuchar and Pete Buttigieg, dropped out and endorsed Biden.

Michigan is among six states voting today, but is considered the largest prize for Biden and Bernie Sanders. There are 125 delegates are up for grabs, the most of any state voting today.

Sanders and Biden made a big push in Michigan in the last few days, holding rallies and sending surrogates across the state.

Michigan is an important state for Sanders, who pulled off a surprise upset against Hillary Clinton in 2016. He had thousands of Michiganders come out to events in Detroit, Grand Rapids, Flint, Dearborn and Ann Arbor this weekend.

Biden has more delegates after a strong performance on Super Tuesday last week. His campaign appeared to be in trouble early in the race, but now he's the front-runner.

Biden scored endorsements from Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist governor and an army of lawmakers and local officials. Former Democratic rivals Kamala Harris and Cory Booker also joined Biden on the campaign trail in Michigan.

This is an incredibly important election, as we all know, Whitmer said at a Monday fundraiser at the Detroit Atheltic Club. Every day I think about the families across Michigan who need to be able to look up to the leader of our country, who need to know that this is a leader who is going to protect the strides weve made in health care, whos going to deliver on promises about ensuring people have paths to jobs.

Dont expect to get final results tonight. The Michigan Secretary of State said we could be waiting until early afternoon on Wednesday.

Biden, 77, framed the election as a battle for the soul of America. The former vice president argues four more years of Trump in the White House would fundamentally alter the character of the United States and has blamed Trump for a rise in racism and xenophobia.

We have a president now who preys on peoples frailties, he preys on peoples fears. Hes a bully and Ive learned to handle bullies, Biden said at the Monday fundraiser. Theres so many people that right now are hurting. Theyre really hurting. Theyre in a position where they get up every single day. Every day they get up, facing a hell of a lot more than I ever faced, and put one foot in front of the other.

Democrats agree on the need to usurp Trump, but Biden says hes the only candidate who can win back working-class voters in Midwest swing states like Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania. His campaign is also boosted by strong support among African Americans.

Biden clashed with progressive rivals over health care and the legacy of the Affordable Care Act, passed while he was working under President Barack Obama. Biden has proposed building on the ACAs foundation by giving people a choice to opt into Medicare.

Biden previously represented Delaware in the U.S. Senate from 1973 to 2009. Biden ran for president twice, in 1987 and 2007, but has never secured the Democratic Partys nomination.

Read more on MLive:

Bernie Sanders urges college supporters to vote at Ann Arbor rally before Michigan primary

Were going to win it again, Bernie Sanders says of Michigan at Grand Rapids rally

Biden and Sanders compete for black votes ahead of Michigan Democratic presidential primary

The big question for Michigan Democrats: Is Biden or Sanders more likely to beat Trump?

Bernie Sanders says Joe Biden cant take on Trump at Detroit rally before Michigan primary

Kamala Harris to campaign with Biden on Monday in Detroit

Bernie Sanders talks Flint water crisis, recovery at town hall meeting

Joe Biden has Michigan Democrats fired up, Amy Klobuchar says in Detroit area

Gretchen Whitmer to give Michigan a voice in Joe Biden campaign strategy
Another Bergen man tested presumptive positive for the coronavirus, bringing the total to eight cases in the county, officials said Wednesday.

A 44-year-old Teaneck man tested presumptive positive for the coronavirus Tuesday, the same day a Little Ferry man became the states first casualty, said Dean Kazinci, Teanecks township manager.

The man is being treated Holy Name Hospital in Teaneck. No additional information on the man was released as of late Wednesday morning.

He is among the 23 coronavirus cases in New Jersey, according to new numbers provided by Gov. Phil Murphy on Wednesday.

The 44-year-old patient joins two other Teaneck residents who tested presumptive positive for the coronavirus: a 70 year old man who was admitted to St. Josephs University Medical Center, in Paterson, and a 30 year old man who is also at Holy Name Hospital.

The announcement comes the day after John Brennan, 69, of Little Ferry, became the states first death from the coronavirus.

The states first presumptive positive for the coronavirus was a Fort Lee health care worker, who worked and lived in New York but maintained an apartment in Fort Lee. In the week since the first presumptive positive test, the number of infected in New Jersey has ballooned to 23, according to state health officials.

On Tuesday, it was announced that Brennan, a horse trainer, had died from the virus. Brennan had pre-existing health conditions, with a medical history that included diabetes, hypertension, gastro-intestinal bleeding and emphysema, officials said. He came down with a fever and cough that were treated with antibiotics and tamiflu. When his condition didnt improve he was admitted to Hackensack University Medical Center on March 6.

At a press conference in Hackensack Tuesday afternoon, the Little Ferry mayor assured borough residents that more information was forthcoming. Bergen County health officer Hansel Asmar confirmed Tuesday that interviews had started with Brennans family and social circle to ascertain who, if anyone, he had been in contact with.

Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco announced a county-wide state of emergency at the same press conference, also announcing that visitation to Bergen County Health Care Center, in Rockleigh, and Bergen New Bridge Medical Center, in Paramus, had been halted.

Additionally, all county-run schools would be closed for two weeks. Bergen Community College, which is on spring break, would extend the break for an additional week.

On Wednesday, Tedescos office announced that all county-operated senior activity centers would be closed as of 5 p.m. Wednesday until further notice.

Rodrigo Torrejon may be reached at rtorrejon@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @rodrigotorrejon.

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A canine study carried out at the University of Helsinki has described a gene variant in the regulatory region of the retina resulting in the abnormal function of retinal genes and, eventually, in the loss of vision in dogs. The study can benefit the diagnostics and treatment of retinitis pigmentosa, a disease suffered by two million human beings globally.

"For now, changes in the regulatory regions of genes as causes of disease are relatively poorly known. In fact, our recently published study offers, in addition to diagnostics, a valuable model for understanding the biology of the retina and associated diseases," says Professor Hannes Lohi, who headed the study.

Since the 1990s, attempts to identify the genetic cause of retinal atrophy in Miniature Schnauzers have been made all over the world. The breed suffers from progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), which results in complete loss of vision for the dog. Lohi's group identified a number of dogs with the same pedigree in the process of losing their vision, an indication of hereditary disease.

We started compiling research data by comparing eye examination statements, quickly suspecting that more than one form of the disease occurred in the breed. This was an observation central to the progress of the project." Maria Kaukonen, DVM, principal author of the article and postdoctoral researcher at the University of Helsinki

Based on their symptoms, the researchers divided the dogs into two groups, after which subsequent gene analyses demonstrated that the diseases were also different on the basis of the underlying genes. Dogs in group 1 lost their vision by the age of five, while the age of vision loss among group 2 varied more, in addition to which male dogs were overrepresented among the sick dogs.

In addition to regular eye examinations, the study was supplemented by optical coherence tomography (OCT), a technique not previously used in veterinary medicine in Finland. The imaging revealed the complete destruction of photoreceptors, or cells that respond to light stimuli, in the dogs suffering from the type 1 atrophy.

Disease caused by a peculiar gene defect of the regulatory region

"For the longest time, looking for the gene defect felt like looking for a needle in a haystack. We finally made a breakthrough after finding out that some of the healthy dogs have an almost identical locus of chromosome 15, only missing the mutation causing blindness. This implies that the mutation is a recent development," Kaukonen explains.

"The mutation we identified in the regulatory region results in hyperactivity in at least two retina genes previously associated with blindness. This is an interesting and uncommon find, as well as one of the first regulatory region mutations linked to retinal atrophy. Most likely, there are many more similar mutations, but they remain underrepresented in the literature due to the challenge of identifying them," Lohi speculates.

Rectifying previous research findings

"An American study published last year identified the same chromosomal locus as did our analysis, but the PPT1 gene in their proposal is actually associated with a very different disease of the nervous system, leaving us unconvinced. Nevertheless, a commercial gene test was developed on the basis of these ambiguous findings, which has caused a great deal of confusion among dog owners and breeders. The gene variant identified by us has now been tested for in over 1,600 dogs, with the results matching the disease perfectly. Now, we will be able to design a reliable gene test for the breed to support breeding and diagnostics," Lohi enthuses.

The study was part of Kaukonen's recently approved doctoral thesis, which investigated the genetic causes of canine hereditary ocular diseases, and also part of a bigger research effort by Professor Lohi's research group looking into the heredity of ocular diseases. This was also the first study to utilise findings generated by the international DoGA research project headed by Professor Lohi, aimed at expanding the understanding of the canine genome. The DoGA project also employs researchers from the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden.
MONTREAL, March 11, 2020 /CNW/ - GardaWorld, the world's largest private security company, announced today the launch of a new platform to provide real-time information on the spread of the coronavirus. Available to GardaWorld clients, the media, and the public at large, this new tool provides up-to-the-minute updates about affected countries, quarantine measures, travel restrictions, breaking news, and more. From its global operations centre, Crisis24's team of analysts feeds the platform 24/7, which allows users to customize, view and receive alerts for more than 200 countries. To get started, go to: https://www.garda.com/crisis24/coronavirus-updates.

"As the coronavirus continues to spread, we developed this platform to complement our services to our business traveling clients and thereby, helping to fulfill their duty of care and organisational resilience," said Gregoire Pinton, Senior Vice President and Global Head of Travel Security for GardaWorld.

In addition to staying current on the coronavirus, you can also register for emails or texts of up-to-date security alerts and news as well as detailed country reports. These alerts help company make better informed decisions about the safety of their local workforce, their employees working abroad, and those on the move. Register here for free: https://www.garda.com/user/login

About GardaWorld

GardaWorld is the world's largest privately owned security services company, offering cash services, physical and specialized security solutions and, with the Crisis24 portal, the dissemination of vetted information related to international security. A partner of choice for private companies, governments, humanitarian organizations, and multinationals with personnel all over the world, GardaWorld employs more than 102, 000 highly skilled, dedicated professionals who serve a diverse clientele in North America, Africa, Asia and the Middle East. In the complex world we live in, our reputation is based on the quality of our services, as well as the commitment and integrity of our people. For more information, visit www.garda.com.

Media Contact: GardaWorld Media Relations, media@garda.com, +1 514 281-2811 x2700
Biden again showed strength with working-class voters and African Americans, who are vital to winning the Democratic nomination

Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden, accompanied by his wife Jill, speaks to members of the press at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia. AP photo

Washington: Joe Biden decisively won Michigans Democratic presidential primary on Tuesday, seizing a key battleground state that helped propel Bernie Sanders insurgent candidacy four years ago. The former vice presidents victory there, as well as in Missouri and Mississippi, dealt a serious blow to Sanders and substantially widened Bidens path to the nomination.

Biden again showed strength with working-class voters and African Americans, who are vital to winning the Democratic nomination. Sanders hopes on Tuesday rested on states where far fewer delegates were at stake, Idaho, North Dakota and Washington state. Washingtons primary was too early to call late Tuesday. Because all votes there are cast by mail or by dropping them off in a ballot box, many ballots were marked for candidates who have since dropped out.

Tuesday marked the first time voters weighed in on the primary since it effectively narrowed to a two-person race between Sanders and Biden. And the first three large states easily went to Biden, a dramatic reversal for a campaign that appeared on the brink of collapse just two weeks ago. Now it is Sanders, whose candidacy was ascendant so recently, who must contemplate a path forward.

Addressing supporters in Philadelphia, Biden noted that many had declared that this candidacy was dead only days ago but now were very much alive. He also asked Sanders supporters to back him going forward.

We need you, we want you, and theres a place in our campaign for each of you. I want to thank Bernie Sanders and his supporters for their tireless energy and their passion, Biden said. We share a common goal, and together well beat Donald Trump.

It marked a high point for the former vice presidents staff. They sipped beer and broke into an impromptu dance party after his speech, held close to his Philadelphia headquarters.

Even as the contours of the race came into shape, new uncertainty was sparked by fears of the spreading coronavirus. Both candidates abruptly canceled rallies in Ohio that were scheduled for Tuesday night. That set the stage for Bidens remarks in Philadelphia, while Sanders flew home to Vermont and didnt plan to address the public.

Sanders campaign also said all future events would be decided on a case-by-case basis given public health concerns, while Biden called off a scheduled upcoming Florida stop. Still, the former vice president said Tuesday night that hed be announcing plans to combat the coronavirus later this week.
ALBERTAS coronavirus cases have doubled to 14, with the Canadian province reporting one of the cases came from Trinidad and Tobago.

Edmonton CTV News in Canada reported yesterday that the province maintains the risk of contracting the disease is still low as all patients are recent travellers.
(Newser)  An ex-girlfriend of boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. has been found dead. Josie Harris, who reportedly dated Mayweather from 1995 to 2010 and is the mother of three of his children, was found unresponsive in her car at her home in Valencia, Calif., around 9:30pm Monday and pronounced dead on the scene, TMZ reports. The outlet cites law enforcement sources as saying no foul play is suspected. No cause of death has been released. The 40-year-old Harris is survived by sons Koraun, 20; Zion Shamaree, 18; and a 15-year-old daughter Jirah, per the Sun. They were said to have witnessed a September 2010 domestic violence incident after which Mayweather spent two months in prison.

story continues below

Harris, who said she was repeatedly abused by Mayweather, claimed he entered her Las Vegas home while she slept, dragged her by her hair, and beat her in front of their kids. But Mayweather denied that account in 2015. "Did I restrain a woman that was on drugs? Yes, I did," he told Katie Couric, per TMZ. "If they say that's domestic violence, then, you know what? I'm guilty. I'm guilty of restraining someone." He claimed he was only convicted of misdemeanor battery because he was "black," "rich," and "outspoken," per the New York Post. Harris ended up filing a $20 million defamation lawsuit. "It was not Mayweather's 'restraint' of Harris that caused her serious injuries, rather it was his beating of her," her suit read. The case was ongoing. (Read more Floyd Mayweather Jr. stories.)
Review at a glance









T his exhibition is the visual expression of Noel Cowards Dance Little Lady or Nancy Mitfords novel The Pursuit of Love. Its a portrait of a gilded, en-chanted generation, or rather, a series of portraits of the generation which came to be known as the Bright Young Things. They were young in the Twenties and Thirties, too young to have been culled in the Great War, giddy and privileged, and their response to the catastrophe that had just been and the catastrophe that was to come was to go out and party.

Beaton was of the generation, if not of quite the same class, as the set who socialised in London and retreated to country piles, but he knew it was where he belonged. His father was a timber merchant, but he went to Harrow and Cambridge, and like Coward, he was all the more brilliant as an observer of the social scene for having had to work to get into it.

His passport was his camera, and he made the dramatis personae seem even more beautiful, whimsical and exquisite than they were: they marvelled at themselves reflected in his lens. In a defining exhibit, of the Bright Young Things at Wilsford in 1927, the house party is dressed for an 18th-century idyll, a little self-conscious but plainly in their element with baskets of posies.

The beauty of this show is that its limited to the first part of Beatons career. It concludes just before the war, as his stellar time at Vogue ends after he made a silly anti-Semitic jibe in the New York edition of the magazine and before his work as royal and war photographer begins.

So we find Beatons sisters as his first models: he sent them into social orbit by photographing them endlessly and including them in his Book of Beauty of 1930. He begins his self-invention at Cambridge, where he makes the most of amateur dramatics with boys playing girls, and photographs Stephen Runciman looking pensive with a tulip. But after being taken up by Edith Sitwell, his real career begins, as photographer to a set that was brilliant and artistic as well as merely decorative  compare and constrast with modern celebs.

He was well aware of contemporary artistic trends, and played with them. He created the poses and the styles in which we shall always remember the Mitfords, the Sitwells, Stephen Tennant, Whistler and the rest. There are some treasures here, and Robin Muirs fine captions are of a piece with the exhibits.
With the spread of novel coronavirus continuing and March break looming, there are a lot of things to think about before taking a trip outside the country.

The Star asked four epidemiologists to weigh in on the risks that may come with your getaway. Heres what they said:

Dave Fisman, University of Toronto

The difficulty is we dont live in a country where the country restricts your civil liberties on a whim. We dont have strong evidence of transmission in the U.S. because testing has been such a clown car. And, so, on what basis would you tell people the planes are grounded and you cant go forward? There is no basis.

My friends going to Florida are younger people with kids. Im not worried about the risk to them, Im worried by reimportation thats hitting our elderly.

Fisman says if a couple dozen  or a couple hundred  COVID-infected people return to Canada after March break, it could lead into a new cycle of infection.

Im not worried about 10-year-olds, I worry about their grandparents when they come back from Florida, he said. Its a community risk problem where we dont have a lot of leverage to say, You cant travel because you might reintroduce a disease that kills people who arent you. But if you have pre-existing conditions, if youre older than 50, then you probably want to think twice, because youre at risk.

Sue Bondy, University of Toronto

The Canadian government has not stated that people should cancel voluntary travel plans because they are concerned about economic harm and individuals.

If not taking a trip is an enormous cost to the family, right now the government agencies are not instructing you to cancel. Were also part of a society, so we can make our own decisions on how to conduct ourselves, as part of a community.

Of course, some employers might advise against travel, because if you get caught up in a quarantine, or travel restriction, youre taking someone out of supply.

You could be facing a situation like many parts of the U.S., where the number of patients who need care just explodes. Think about the risk to yourself and the risk to the community youre associated with. If you have extended family that are frail, elderly, have pre-existing conditions, you might have motivation to not be part of a trip that has even the slightest risk.

Timothy Sly, Ryerson University

Its an individual decision. I wouldnt go to Iran or Italy at this time and we really dont know the extent of the outbreak because the numbers could be manipulated. All the figures point to this being the best-case scenario; the least could be 20 times more dangerous.

Not travelling is also logical in a human way, its probably better to avoid it. Its probably better to have a quantitative or qualitative logic rather than just adding numbers. However, the vast majority of people will get on planes and head to their destination and theyll come back OK.

We dont know exactly what proportion of people, but a number can become infected and infectious and possibly spread it to others. Even though theyre not a very large proportion, they can be very mildly asymptomatic or presymptomatic so its a bit of a concern.

Isaac Bogoch, University of Toronto

Theres no one-size-fits-all solution. Its important that people be mindful of certain things before they travel. Some trips will go on as planned, but there are risks.

You have to be aware of travel advisories. Know the travel advisories of the country youre in and the country youre going to. If youre travelling from Canada to South Africa, but Japan is a stop along the way, South Africa might not let you in if theyve cancelled incoming flights from Japan. So you need to know where youre going and how youre getting there.

The other thing to be aware of is that the rules may change along the way. You need bulletproof cancellation and travel insurance, and you need bulletproof health insurance as well.

Otherwise, says Bogoch, you may want to reconsider travel plans.

Everyone has their own risk tolerance and risk perception. What works for some people might not work for others. Some people just wont feel comfortable going, and thats of course understandable.

Raneem Alozzi is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Star's radio room in Toronto. Follow her on Twitter: @r_alozzi

Jacob Lorinc is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Star's radio room in Toronto. Follow him on Twitter: @jacoblorinc

Read more about:
It is possible that administrative records will have to enumerate a much larger share of the population as the virus spreads. While it might seem risky to insert new operations into a census already underway, the bureau has convincing evidence that administrative records can improve census-taking.

It is simple. Count a household using administrative records, then compare that count with the census response from that household. The bureau has gotten better at this with time. In 2010 the match rate was around 90 percent  that is, if the 2010 census had been conducted using only administrative data, nine out of 10 people would have been accurately counted. Of course, the census is responsible for a 100 percent count. That accuracy would be easier to reach if nine out of 10 are already counted through records. In fact, the bureau estimates that in-office enumeration, as it is called today, will be 93 percent accurate this year.

This achievement has involved about 150 census employees, with 25 trained to verify that records match census responses. Each verification, incidentally, occurs in seconds.

Even at 93 percent accuracy, the use of administrative records is a more accurate method than longstanding alternatives. For decades, when census takers were unable to get a response from a household, the bureau used answers from proxies, that is, neighbors whose information may or may not have been accurate (there is no way to test). Or a statistical process assigns to a nonresponding household characteristics common to the neighborhood.

In the context of todays viral threat, when millions of residents worry about who comes to the door and thousands of census takers hesitate about putting themselves at risk, the census will weigh its options, possibly making greater use of administrative records than initially planned.

This new process has an unplanned side benefit. The bureau is already fighting disinformation that could stop people from cooperating. For example, a recent Twitter post warned residents in one area that census impersonators with fraudulent IDs were robbing people. The report was fictional, but that was not determined until after a local TV station had amplified it with advice on how to protect against strangers knocking at the door. Such disinformation, even when quickly corrected, increases mistrust. However, they would be no match for the office workers using administrative records to count those people who didnt fill out their census forms. It might also count immigrants who have been scared away from the census by the Trump administrations failed effort to include a question about citizenship.

The use of administrative records is not the only innovation available. The bureau has started to explore whether digital data sources can be successfully incorporated  as they already are in various government economic statistics. If this happens at scale, the 2030 census will look less like the current census than this 2020 census looks like the 1790 census.
House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.) called for the Democratic National Committee to pave the way for Vice President Joe Biden to win the Democratic nomination on Tuesday, NPR reports.

What's happening: Biden is the projected winner of the Democratic presidential primary in Michigan, the biggest contest of the night, as well as in Mississippi and Missouri. Voters are still casting ballots in Idaho, North Dakota, and Washington.

What he's saying: "I think when the night is over, Joe Biden will be the prohibitive favorite to win the Democratic nomination... If the night ends the way it has begun," Clyburn said, per NPR reporter Miles Parks.

He called for the DNC to "step in" and cancel future Democratic debates.

The DNC says it has no plan to cancel the debate.

Why it matters: Clyburn, the highest-ranking black member of Congress, is credited with boosting Biden's campaign after endorsing him before the South Carolina primary and Super Tuesday.

Go deeper: Clyburn says Sanders didn't aggressively seek his endorsement
Jyotiraditya Scindia, who quit the Congress party on Tuesday, has finally joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today. After months of speculations, Scindia parted ways with the grand old party following infighting over various issues with the Kamal Nath-led government. To add to the woes of the Congress party, Scindia will likely take around 22 MLAs with him, who also will join the saffron party. With one of the most important leaders of the Congress party coming to the BJP fold, the Shivraj Singh Chauhan-led party in Madhya Pradesh looks all set to form the government in the state.

Check out all the latest updates on Madhya Pradesh government formation on BusinessToday.In live blog.

3.010 PM: Scindia says he can say with confidence that the aim of public service is not being fulfilled by that party (Congress). "Besides this, the present condition of the party indicates that it is not what it used to be," he adds.

3.05 PM: Jyotiraditya Scindia: There have been 2 life changing events for me - one, the day I lost my father and the second, yesterday when I decided to choose a new path for my life...The Congress party is not anymore the party that it was earlier.

3.00 PM: Jyotiraditya Scindia has started speaking the press conference. Thanks BJP chief JP Nadda.

Delhi: #JyotiradityaMScindia joins BJP at party headquarters, in the presence of party president JP Nadda. pic.twitter.com/YiF3hMXJav  ANI (@ANI) March 11, 2020

2.59 PM: Check live press conference from Jyotiraditya Scindia's induction ceremony.

Delhi: #JyotiradityaMScindia joins BJP at party headquarters, in the presence of party president JP Nadda. pic.twitter.com/YiF3hMXJav  ANI (@ANI) March 11, 2020

2:50 PM: Lok Sabha repeals suspension of 7 Congress MPs.

2:40 PM: Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot : Such a naked dance of power had never been seen earlier

Rajasthan CM: Everyone can see how democracy is being murdered. MLAs are coming to Jaipur, you can see what kind of horse-trading attempts are being made there (in MP). Aisa nanga naach kabhi nahi dekha gaya hai, jo satta mein baithe huye log kar rahe hain. We stand together. https://t.co/QzAAmXL4vF - ANI (@ANI) March 11, 2020

2:35 PM: Jyotiraditya Scindia arrives at BJP headquarters in New Delhi, will join party shortly

2.29 PM: 22 Cong MLAs went to Bengaluru to pressure leadership to nominate Scindia for RS, but no intention to quit party or join BJP, claims Digvijay.

2.27 PM: Scindia could have been Cong nominee to Rajya Sabha but "only Modi-Shah" can give Cabinet post to the "over-ambitious" leader, says Digvijay Singh.

2.26 PM: Senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh claims 13 out of 22 rebel MLAs in Madhya Pradesh have assured "they are not leaving Congress". "Jyotiraditya Scindia was offered deputy CM post in MP, but he wanted his nominee; Kamal Nath refused to accept a "chela"".

1.49 PM: The nameplate of Jyotiraditya Scindia was removed from the Congress office in Bhopal yesterday.

#WATCH Live from Delhi: Jyotiraditya Scindia joins Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), in presence of BJP President JP Nadda https://t.co/xBIMuF4CKZ  ANI (@ANI) March 11, 2020

1.31 PM: As many as 95 MLAs of the Congress-led government in MP will soon be taken to Jaipur. As per information, 22 Congress MLAs will likely join the BJP along with Jyotiraditya Scindia. To prove majority, the BJP needs to show the support of 104 MLAs.

12.47 PM: Jyotiraditya Scindia's induction into the BJP has been delayed by over 2 hours. He will now likely join the party around 2 PM instead of 12.30 PM.

12.22 PM: Confident that govt will survive: Nakul Nath

"MLAs who have gone to Karnataka will soon return to the Congress fold. I am very confident the government will survive," says Congress MP Nakul Nath.

12.10 PM: Crisis in MP: The Congress party has sought disqualification of six of its MLAs and ministers who have sent their resignation letters to the MP Governor. In total, 22 MLAs have resigned the Kamalnath cabinet.

12.08 PM: Sanjay Raut on MP crisis: "There is no rift in the MVA in Maharashtra. There is excellent coordination between Sharad Pawar, Sonia Gandhi and Uddhav Thackeray. If someone is dreaming, let them do so... there is no tax on dreams."

11.59 AM: Rahul Gandhi on MP crisis: "Hey @PMOIndia , while you were busy destabilising an elected Congress Govt, you may have missed noticing the 35% crash in global oil prices. Could you please pass on the benefit to Indians by slashing #petrol prices to under 60? per litre? Will help boost the stalled economy."

Madhya Pradesh: Nameplate of Jyotiraditya Scindia was removed from Congress office in Bhopal yesterday pic.twitter.com/z5rdSRw0HN  ANI (@ANI) March 11, 2020

11.47 AM: Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh arrives at Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath's residence in Bhopal.

11.45 AM: The Congress, meanwhile, is taking MLAs from Bhopal to Jaipur.

Hey @PMOIndia , while you were busy destabilising an elected Congress Govt, you may have missed noticing the 35% crash in global oil prices. Could you please pass on the benefit to Indians by slashing #petrol prices to under 60 per litre? Will help boost the stalled economy.  Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) March 11, 2020

11.40 AM: Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot: "Joining hands with BJP in a time of national crisis speaks volumes about a leaders self-indulgent political ambitions. Especially when the BJP ruining the economy, democratic institutions, social fabric and as well the Judiciary."

Also read: Madhya Pradesh: Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia along with 22 MLAs to join BJP today

11.40 AM: "No question he was not at all sidelined. In fact, please ask any Congress leader from MP particularly from Gwalior Chambal division and you would come to know nothing moved in the area without his consent in the last 16 months. Sad. But I wish him well under Modi Shah Tutelage!" Says Congress leader Digvijaya Singh.

11.39 AM: In a desperate attempt to keep its house in order, Madhya Pradesh Congress has decided to shift its 92 MLAs to a hotel in Jaipur after Scindia left the party.

11.30 AM: Scindia will go from Delhi to Gwalior and reach Bhopal between March 12 and March 13. Scindia quit the grand old party yesterday after being a primary member for 18 years. He shared his resignation letter via his official Twitter account.

11.20 AM: Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh on Madhya Pradesh situation. "Decision taken by Jyotiraditya is unfortunate. In Maharashtra our coalition will last for five years," says Deshmukh.
After an initial denial, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani will sign a decree to release 1,500 prisoned Taliban fighters, as a part of the historic Doha agreement. The prisoner release will be the first move towards initiating intra-Afghan dialogue to put an end to the 18-year-old US war on terror.

Late on March 10, Afghan President's spokesperson announced, "President Ghani has signed the decree that would facilitate the release of the Taliban prisoners in accordance with an accepted framework for the start of negotiations between the Taliban and the Afghan government." The decree said that the prisoner release will begin in the next four days.

The agreement, which will initially see 100 prisoners freed each day, will depend on the Taliban's willingness to significantly limit attacks in the country, he added. The announcement came hours after the US said its forces had started pulling out of two bases in Afghanistan, in line with a deal signed between Washington and the Taliban in Doha last month aiming to end America's longest war.

READ| Taliban likely to flout Afghanistan peace agreement, US intel claims

Diplomats from the Afghanistan, United States, India, Pakistan and other members of the United Nations gathered alongside the Taliban representatives in Doha's Sheraton Hotel on February 29. On Tuesday, Taliban spokesperson Suhail Shaheen notified that the armed group had handed a list of 5,000 prisoners to the US and was waiting for all to be released, as a part of the prison exchange agreement.

"If our 5,000 prisoners - 100 or 200 more or less does not matter, do not get released there will be no intra-Afghan talks," Afghan media said quoting the Taliban. The US and Taliban representatives negotiated for almost 18 months in Doha, before signing the peace deal under multiple conditions.

Ghani's previous denial

The friction within the peace deal flared up on March 2 after the Afghan President declared that his government has not agreed to the prison swap with the Talibani prisoners. "The government of Afghanistan has made no commitment to free 5,000 Taliban prisoners. It is not in the authority of the United States to decide, they are only a facilitator" Afghan President Ashraf Ghani told reporters in Kabul.

Subsequently, the Taliban had refused to participate in the intra-Afghan talks until the release of all 5000 prisoners. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani speaking about the peace deal said that all contents in the agreement are 'conditions-based'. Last week, in Afghanistan, the country's former chief executive Abdullah Abdullah held a parallel inauguration to Ghani declaring himself the President. Refusing to accept Ghani's Presidency, Abdullah also refused the power-sharing deal offered to him a day ago.

READ| Days after the peace deal, US President Donald Trump had 'good talk' with Taliban leader

READ| India to attend Afghanistan peace deal signing between US-Taliban in Doha
COOS BAY, Ore.  A burglar was caught inside the Boys & Girls Club of Southwestern Oregon on Tuesday, police said.

Officers responded to the facility at about 9:20 p.m. with help from other agencies.

After checking the perimeter, police said officers heard someone inside. They said the person was carrying stolen property from inside the building and trying to get it out through a basement door.

The suspect saw officers and ran inside, police said. The suspect was arrested when leaving the building through a door on the opposite side.

Courtney Mitchell, 41, of Riddle was taken to the Coos County Jail on charges of second-degree burglary, second-degree theft, second-degree criminal mischief, unlawful possession of methamphetamine and a parole violation.
(Natural News) As the world reels to-and-fro in reactionary hysteria over the Wuhan coronavirus (CoVid-19) situation, theres one glaring sector of the new crisis economy thats being almost completely overlooked in terms of expanded safety measures: airport security.

According to reports, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) screeners, whose job it is to more closely inspect travelers as they pass through the naked body scanners and get patted down at American airports, are growing increasingly alarmed at the prospect of encountering people who might be infected with the novel disease.

While workers in other fields are being given things like more robust protective masks, these CDC screeners are apparently having to work most unprotected: open-faced and up-close in potentially infected peoples personal space.

Internal documents show that many of these CDC screeners are now petitioning their superiors to get them stronger masks, especially after two of them reportedly contracted the Wuhan coronavirus (CoVid-19) while handling the bodies of travelers passing through Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

Sad news, wrote one senior quarantine official in an email to his colleagues, which reportedly revealed that these two TSA screeners will remain in quarantine until March 17. Let us keep our colleagues at LAX in our thoughts.

A veteran CDC medical official whos been actively involved in this new screening told the media on the condition of anonymity that such a scenario was bound to happen because the agencys higher-ups arent doing enough to keep lower-level workers protected.

They are assuring us we are safe, this person is quoted as saying. If we were safe, screeners would not be getting sick.

Listen below as Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, addresses the circulating theory that the Wuhan coronavirus (CoVid-19) might be a deep state hoax:

Does the CDC want coronavirus to spread?

In her agencys defense, CDC spokeswoman Kristen Nordlund says that airport medical screeners are receiving the protective gear they need based on their respective roles.

Primary screeners who are meeting face-to-face with travelers who recently traveled to China, the epicenter of the Wuhan coronavirus (CoVid-19), are equipped with surgical masks, gloves, and eye protection, she says. Secondary screeners are simply being told to stand at least six feet away from such travelers, and are not given any surgical masks.

The masks being given to primary screeners, known as N-95 respirators, are claimed to be protective against smaller pathogens like coronaviruses, which are known to penetrate deeper into the lungs. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has also warned that ordinary surgical masks, which are currently in short supply, arent designed to block very small particles such as those transmitted by coughs and sneezes.

One of the obvious problems with the CDCs approach, besides the fact that N-95 respirators dont appear to actually work, is that equipping its employees in such a way as to only catch symptomatic travelers fails to account for asymptomatic carriers who are still infectious, despite appearing to be healthy.

Surgical masks wont protect us from getting the virus  they just protect us from infecting someone else, another CDC medical official whos also involved in the airport screening process says. We want to know why we cant wear N-95 masks. Its crazy.

You might as well have a tissue over your face for all the good it will do, this same official added.

When asked specifically about the disparity between the different masks that CDC workers are receiving, Nordlund referred the media to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which couldnt be immediately reached for comment.

As for the CDC workers who may have come into contact with the two confirmed coworker cases, all of them have been ordered to self-quarantine until March 17. The CDC has since issued a new guidance for secondary screeners indicating that N-95 respirators are now optional for them to wear.

For more related news about the Wuhan coronavirus (CoVid-19), be sure to check out Pandemic.news.

Sources for this article include:

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NaturalNews.com
Mohsin Haider Darwish (MHD), the official distributor of MG Motor in the Sultanate recently celebrated the opening of its new showroom in Barka.

The state-of-the-art showroom located in Al Manuma complex, blends convenience, ease of use and best-in-class facilities.

The showrooms VIP launch event took place on 8 th March under the auspices of Sayyid Saud bin Hilal bin Hamad al Busaidi, Minister of State and Governor of Muscat and was presided over by Areej Mohsin Darwish, Chairperson of MHD LLC.

Also in attendance, were a number of Highnesses and Excellencies, together with Tom Lee, MD of Saic Motor Middle East (SMME), as well as senior management and executives from SMME and MHD.

Tom Lee, Managing Director of MG Motors Middle East operations, commented: 2019 was a landmark year for MG in the Middle East. It has been a source of great pride to see so many customers taking to the roads in MG cars, and justifies our efforts, and those of our fantastic partners, to develop our network across the region in the past year alongside the introduction of three exciting, great value models.

Looking ahead to 2020, our strategic focus will be centered on customer experience and providing a first-class aftersales experience. We also plan to introduce new, state-of-the-art technologies into the MG range, maintaining our reputation for being at the forefront of the automotive industry when it comes to the latest technological developments.

Speaking on the sidelines of the showrooms opening ceremony, David Aziz, CEO -Automotive Products, at MHD averred: Barka is one of the areas around the country that has played a pivotal role in helping the MG brand grow substantially. We are hence pleased to now offer our customers an address in Barka itself that will allow us to continue to provide distinct and memorable experiences. We look forward to welcoming customers new and existing to the showroom and showcasing the state-of-the-art facilities and unique experiences we can offer.

The line-up that will be displayed at the Barka showroom, include all of MG Motors best-selling cars including the all-new HS, and the enormously successful RX8, that have already proven extremely popular following their launch in December last year.

Commenting on the opening of the new showroom in Barka, Mohsin Al Bahrani, Director Automotive MHD LLC said, We are delighted to officially be opening our first showroom here in Barka  reflecting the continuing growth and expansion of our MG Motor business here in the Sultanate. In recent months MG Motor has become an increasingly popular brand in Oman, as more and more members of the motoring public recognise its world class engineering, build quality, power and style that are offered across diverse models at affordable prices. We have infact seen people from different walks of life getting attracted to the MG brand; not just in the capital area of Muscat, but also in other regions of the sultanate.

Along with having a full-fledged service and parts facility and trained professionals, the Barka facility will be a complete sales, service and parts outlet for all MG Motor customers in the region.

It is noteworthy that in 2019, MG Motor doubled its market share across the Gulf, and has set an ambitious target to break into the top 10 of manufacturers by the end of 2020.

Impressive performances were recorded in Oman, with around four times as many customers buying MG cars compared to the previous year. The brands partnership with MHD was central to this impressive growth.

MG Motor boasts a network of 25 dedicated retail partners and 24 service centres across the Middle East, delivering the highest standards of customer service. Additionally, it has expanded its regional parts operations, with a bigger parts centre that allows the company to more efficiently service the growing demand from its customers. And for ultimate peace of mind, all MG models come with a six-year or 200,000km certified warranty.

Visitors to the new showroom in Barka will also be able to benefit from the ongoing SUV campaign from MG Motor that has been designed for motorists who love to drive.

On all SUV models including the RX8 and HS, customers can benefit from six years extended manufacturing warranty, 18 months/30,000 km free service, five years roadside assistance and a first years motor insurance free until the end of March. -- Tradearabia News Service
Photo credit: JUSTIN TALLIS - Getty Images

From Town & Country

Prince Harry was reportedly duped into opening up about royal family drama, politics, and more in two phone calls made by Russian pranksters.

The Sun reports that the two hoaxers, Vladimir Kuznetsov and Alexey Stolyarov, allegedly tricked the Prince by posing as activist Greta Thunberg and her father. The calls were reportedly made to the home Harry and Meghan have been living in on Victoria Island in Canada, on New Year's Eve and January 22.

In these conversationsone of which was published on YouTube, with the audio playing over a cartoon of Harry and Gretathe royal was plied into talking about everything from his and Meghan's decision to step back as senior royals, to his thoughts on Boris Johnson and Donald Trump.

Speaking about his and Meghan's choice, Harry said, "I can assure you, marrying a Prince or Princess is not all it's made out to be! But sometimes the right decision isnt always the easy one," per the Sun. "And this decision certainly wasnt the easy one but it was the right decision for our family, the right decision to be able to protect my son. And I think theres a hell of a lot of people around the world that can identify and respect us for putting our family first."

Photo credit: Gareth Cattermole - Getty Images

Asked if normal life was worse than royal life, Harry answered, "Oh no, I think its much better," laughing. He then added, "I was in the military for ten years so I'm more normal than my family would like to believe. But certainly being in a different position now gives us the ability to say things and do things that we might not have been able to do. And seeing as everyone under the age of 35 or 36, seems to be carrying out an activist's role, gives us the opportunity to try and make more of a difference without being criticized."

The pranksters also got him to express his feelings about Trump. "The mere fact that Donald Trump is pushing the coal industry is so big in America, he has blood on his hands," Harry said. "But Trump will want to meet you to make him look better but he won't want to have a discussion about climate change with you because you will outsmart him," he added, believing he was speaking with Greta.

Story continues

As for Johnson, he said, "I think he is a good man, so you are one of few people who can reach into his soul and get him to feel and believe in you. But you have to understand that because he has been around for so long like all of these other people, they are already set in their ways."

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A widow has been stuck in her home for two days with her husband's corpse after the pair were quarantined over his coronavirus diagnosis in Italy.

The woman, from Borghetto Santo Spirito in northwest Italy, was reportedly seen crying for help from her balcony after her husband died at around 2am on Monday.

The body of the man, who tested positive for coronavirus, is understood to have been left inside the apartment until it could be removed 48 hours after his death.

Italy has confirmed more than 10,000 cases of the virus, with 631 deaths reported across the nation as a result of COVID-19.

An employee of municipal company Veritas sprays disinfectant in one of the usually heaving alleyways in Venice today

His widow has not been able to leave her home due to 'quarantine restrictions' as protocol dictates no one is allowed to approach the body, mayor Giancarlo Canepa told CNN.

'Yes, it is true she is still there with the body and we wont be able to remove it until Wednesday morning,' he added on Tuesday. 'Unfortunately, we have a security protocol we must follow.'

Mr Canepa added that the man had refused to be taken to hospital after he tested positive for COVID-19 'otherwise this wouldn't have happened.'

A neighbour told IVG.IT that the widow had been seen crying for help from her balcony after the death of her husband.

A widow was trapped in her home in Borghetto Santo Spirito (pictured) for two days with her husband's corpse after the pair were quarantined over his coronavirus diagnosis in Italy

'Right now the most important thing is to think about this lady, alone with the body of her husband,' they said.

'No one can come close to help her nor comfort her. We hope this is quickly resolved. Our thoughts are with her and on what she is living through.'

It comes amid warnings that Italy's unprecedented nationwide lockdown could be tightened even further, with calls for public transport to be shut down entirely in the hard-hit region of Lombardy.

Italian prime minister Giuseppe Conte today refused to rule out even tougher quarantine measures after the death toll surged to 631 on the first day of the lockdown yesterday, with more than 10,000 cases now confirmed.

Tourists wear face masks at the Piazza Di Spagna after the Italian government imposed national restrictions to control the spread of coronavirus

The Trevi Fountain in Rome, an area often overflowing with tourists, has been deserted since the quarantine began

Conte also promised today that Italy would ramp up spending to help the Italian economy withstand the crisis, saying that 25billion euros (22billion) had been put aside.

Last week the cabinet said it would need just 6.6billion, but the crisis has escalated dramatically since then and the nationwide lockdown has frozen the country's economy.

Italy's valuable tourism sector has also been hit, with many countries and airlines now blocking flights to Italy to stop the spread of the virus.

Landmarks including the Colosseum and the Leaning Tower of Pisa have been shut down while Milan's famous shopping galleries are all but deserted.
A British Airways Airbus A320neo.

Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto/Getty

The European Commission is set to rule on suspending the slot system affecting airlines serving the continent's busiest airports.

The now-controversial system requires airlines to use their assigned slots or risk losing them, even as the spread of COVID-19 drives down demand for air travel.

If the system is suspended, airlines won't have to fly empty "ghost planes" and can limit unnecessary flying.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The European Commission is reviewing its slot rules for airlines operating into major airports following an outcry from the aviation industry as airlines are struggling to fill aircraft.

As COVID-19 continues to affect European countries, airlines are flying unnecessary "ghost flights" in order to maintain their slots. The governing body for the European Union may suspend the rules by the end of Tuesday with Commissioner for Transport Adina Valean citing the urgency to pass the measure quickly in a statement.

"The temporary measure will allow airlines to adjust their capacity in view of the falling demand caused by the outbreak," said Valean.

Current rules require airlines with slots to use 80 percent of their allocations in order to maintain them. The mandate, is to promote competition in the industry by ensuring those airlines with the valuable slots are using them and those who don't risk forfeiting them.

As COVID-19 continues its march across Continental Europe, airlines have been slashing how frequently they fly but a fear of losing slots at major airports has lead to empty aircraft traversing European skies as placeholders for when the industry bounces back to normalcy.

Airlines, government officials, and airport slot coordinators alike have been calling for the suspension of the slot rules to ease the burden on already struggling airlines.

Even before the COVID-19 crisis hit Europe, so-called ghost flights have been used by airlines as placeholders in valuable slots. One of the most notable examples of the practice was British Airways' empty flight between London and Cardiff, costing the UK carrier 2 million, according to the Telegraph, flown for the sole purpose of maintaining a slot at Heathrow Airport.

Story continues

Slots at London's primary international gateway can sell for as high as $75 million as seen with KLM Royal Dutch Airline's sale of a single slot to Oman Air in 2016.

Even before the COVID-19 crisis hit Europe, so-called ghost flights have been used by airlines as placeholders in valuable slots.

Gatwick Airport planes

Aviation-images.com/Universal Images Group/Getty Images

One of the most notable examples of the practice was British Airways' empty flight between London and Cardiff, costing the UK carrier 2 million, according to the Telegraph, flown for the sole purpose of maintaining a slot at Heathrow Airport.

Slots at London's primary international gateway can sell for as high as $75 million as seen with KLM Royal Dutch Airline's sale of a single slot to Oman Air in 2016.

Oman Air

An Oman Air aircraft.

GeographyPhotos/Universal Images Group/Getty Images

A recent sale by Air New Zealand of its slot at Heathrow yielded the flag carrier $27 million, though the purchaser has remained anonymous.

If slot restrictions are alleviated, airlines would save the unnecessary expenses incurred by operating a flight with no passengers, allowing them to focus on building reserves to ride out the industry downturn.

Read the original article on Business Insider
No Time To Die (Credit: MGM/Universal)

There's no doubt that the production of the 25th Bond movie, No Time To Die, was a bit on the turbulent side.

But you'll get short shrift from Daniel Craig if you start talking about the 'Bond Curse'.

The 007 actor, who will be making his last appearance as Bond in No Time To Die, told GQ magazine that 'It pisses me off'.

Read more: Why has No Time To Die been delayed?

Because I'm just like, 'Don't curse our movie'. And also, we're doing our best here, he added.

The tumult was real, however.

First, Danny Boyle, the movie's original director, parted ways with the production, citing creative differences with Eon's Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson (Boyle later hinted that it was loyalty to his writing partner John Hodge, whose idea for the movie caused friction).

Daniel Craig in No Time To Die (Credit: MGM/Universal)

The movie was then delayed, while they secured new helmsman Cary Fukunaga for the role.

Then Craig broke his ankle while filming in Jamaica and had to be flown back to the US for treatment, resulting in another delay the production.

There was also an on-set explosion at Pinewood Studios last summer, which injured a crew-member and caused external damage to the 007 sound stage.

Craig also broached those suicidal remarks he made in the wake of finishing Spectre, remarks which were beamed around the world with little regard for context.

Read more: No Time To Die will connect to Casino Royale

The now-52-year-old actor was asked in the days following an international, multi-location shoot whether he'd be up for doing it all over again, to which he replied he'd rather 'slash his wrists'.

I was never going to do one again, he went on. I was like, Is this work really genuinely worth this, to go through this, this whole thing? And I didnt feel I felt physically really low.

So the prospect of doing another movie was just like, it was off the cards. And thats why it has been five years.

Due to the worldwide outbreak of novel coronavirus, No Time To Die has suffered another setback too, with the release date now delayed from 2 April to 12 November.
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.




Some 470 Taiwanese stranded in the Chinese province of Hubei were due to return to the island on Tuesday night following a compromise between Beijing and Taipei.

The repatriation comes more than a month after the first batch of 247 who had been stuck in Wuhan, the centre of the Covid-19 outbreak, health minister Chen Shih-chung announced earlier in the day.

Talks about repatriating the 1,000 or so Taiwanese remaining in Hubei had foundered as the two sides started playing politics, as one observer described it, over sovereignty.

Taiwan also complained that an infected person had been returned to the island, undermining its efforts to contain the disease.

The two sides have agreed on the method and the list of the people who are to be sent back, Chen said.

The 470 were due to return on Tuesday night on two separate planes dispatched by Taiwans China Airlines and the mainlands China Eastern Airlines.

Both flights would have a 13-member medical team to help in the plane for quarantine and other health care, according to Chen.

All those passengers need to be tested before they are allowed to board the planes, he said, adding upon arrival, those passengers will receive yet another round of medical checks before they are sent to the islands quarantine centres for two weeks.

Around 600 Taiwanese will still be stranded in Hubei after the second round of repatriations, according to Taiwans semi-official Straits Exchange Foundation, which deals with the mainland.

When asked whether the 600 would be returning to Taiwan soon, Chen replied: We will see what to do after the [repatriation] this time  a suggestion that Taipei would wait to see whether this evacuation was in line with its expectations before resuming talks.

Taiwan asked to arrange for evacuation soon after Wuhan was locked down on January 23, but the two sides fell out after the mainland dispatched a China Eastern Airline plane to carry 247 Taiwanese back, one of whom was found to have contracted the coronavirus that causes Covid-19.

Story continues

Following the discovery, the Taiwanese side rejected a proposal from the mainland authorities that they would dispatch more China Eastern Airlines flights to send the remaining Taiwanese back.

Obviously the two sides are playing politics over the issue as both wanted to exercise their sovereignty over the repatriation, said political commentator Jaw Shaw-kong.

Beijing, which sees Taiwan as a breakaway province that must be returned to the mainland fold by force if necessary, does not want to create the impression that the Taiwanese are being evacuated like foreign nationals.

By contrast, Taipei hopes to play up the evacuation flights to highlight its sovereignty, Jaw noted.

Former president Ma Ying-jeou has called for the two sides to take a step back to allow charter flights from China Airlines and China Eastern Airlines to carry the stranded Taiwanese back out of humanitarian concern.

Taiwans mainland-friendly opposition Kuomintang, which has been highly critical of what it regards as the governments stalling of the evacuation due to political concerns, said the compromise between the two sides over the repatriation issue signals a good start.

But there are still some 600 of our compatriots stranded in Wuhan, including those who need to return to Taiwan for schooling, the party said in a statement calling on the two sides to continue to negotiate in goodwill to allow the remainders of the Taiwanese to return home as soon as possible.

But the Mainland Affairs Council, the islands top cross-strait policy planner, said detailed negotiations between authorised channels were needed while full preparatory measures were needed to prevent the outbreak from intensifying on Taiwan.

On Monday, Premier Su Tseng-chang stressed the evacuation of the stranded Taiwanese by charter flights must be in line with the principle of prioritising minority groups and those who have chronic diseases. He said the evacuation must not compromise the governments efforts in containing the outbreak.

Taiwan has now recorded 47 cases of coronavirus infection, including one death.

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This article Hundreds of Taiwanese to return from coronavirus centre after Beijing and Taipei reach deal first appeared on South China Morning Post

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New Delhi, March 11 : The Supreme Court has recommended a longer and fixed tenure for the RBI Governor, as the current procedure undermines the ability of the incumbents of office to be absolutely independent.

"Though the shorter tenure and the choice given to the Central government to fix the tenure, to some extent, undermines the ability of the incumbents of office to be absolutely independent, the statutory scheme nevertheless provides for independence to the institution as such," said a bench headed by Justice R.F. Nariman.

In a recent verdict, the Supreme Court had termed the Reserve Bank of India ban on dealing in cryptocurrency, and virtual currencies such as Bitcoin "unjustified" and a "knee-jerk reaction".

This verdict was considered a major development for the cryptocurrency sector, as the RBI ban, through a 2018 circular, restricted lenders from banking transactions for cryptocurrency exchanges and traders. The apex court made this observation on the tenure of the RBI Governor while dealing with the argument that the RBI's decision, through this circular, do not qualify for judicial deference.

Although the apex court refused to accept the argument that a policy decision taken by the RBI does not warrant any deference, it cited the global practice on the longer duration and fixed tenure of appointment of the central authorities/banks' top leadership and its impact on policy decision.

"World-wide, central authorities/banks are ensured an independence, but unfortunately Section 8(4) of the RBI Act, 1934 gives a tenure not exceeding five years, as the Central government may fix at the time of appointment," said the top court.

The court cited the current practice in the US. "In the United States of America, the Chairman of the Federal Reserve is the second most powerful person next only to the President. Though the President appoints the seven-member Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve, in consultation with the Senate, each of them is appointed for a fixed tenure of fourteen years. Only one among those seven is appointed as Chairman for a period of four years," it observed, citing that with this fixed tenure, all the members of the Board of Governors survive in office more than three governments.

The apex court also cited the European Central Bank headquartered in Frankfurt has a President, Vice President and four members, appointed for a period of eight years in consultation with the European Parliament. "In fact, all countries have central banks/authorities, which, technically have independence from the government of the country. To ensure such independence, a fixed tenure is granted to the Board of Governors, so that they are not bogged down by political expediencies," it said.

The court also noted that the RBI by virtue of its authority, is a member of the Bank of International Settlements, a position which cannot be taken over by the Central government and conferred upon any other authority. "Therefore, to say that it is just like any other statutory authority whose decisions cannot invite due deference, is to do violence to the scheme of the Act," said the court.
A senior police officer here has been arrested for allegedly murdering his lawyer friend in a honour killing case and later dissolving his body in acid to destroy evidence, police said on Wednesday



Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Mufakhar Adeel was arrested on Monday, almost a month after his "mysterious disappearance".

"SSP Adeel has been arrested for allegedly murdering his friend, advocate Shahbaz Tatla, in the name of honour," Lahore Police chief Zulfiqar Hameed said.

After the murder, Adeel dissolved Tatla's body in acid to destroy evidence, he said.

The SSP, who had disappeared a month ago after murdering the lawyer, confessed to his crime in police custody, Hameed said, adding that he was arrested while trying to crossover to Iran.

During his questioning in police custody, Adeel said he killed Tatla for trying to rape his wife. He told police that Tatla had also raped his first wife a few years ago after which he divorced her.

Meanwhile, a source in Lahore Police told PTI that Adeel and Tatla used to throw parties for their friends and wives.

"In one such party, Tatla allegedly had physical relation with Adeel's first wife, both of whom were in a drunken state. Recently in such a party, Tatla again had a physical relation with Adeel's second wife. Adeel got to know about it and planned Tatla's murder," the source said.

As part of his plan, Adeel rented a house in Lahore's Faisal Town where he invited Tatla and strangled him to death and dissolved his body in a drum of acid to destroy evidence, the source said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A Mindtree employee in Bangalore has tested positive for coronavirus on Tuesday. The software major's employee had recently returned from an overseas trip.

"One of our Mindtree Minds (employees), on return from an overseas trip to Bengaluru, has tested positive for Covid-19 on Tuesday. He, along with his family members, are under the medical supervision of the Karnataka Health Department," said Mindtree Chief People Officer Paneesh Rao in a statement.

Rao also said that the employee, who is a software engineer had, was exercising caution and had isolated himself on return from the foreign trip. The software engineer did not visit any Mindstree facility and also did not meet any other employee, reported LiveMint.

Mindtree has sent out a series of advisories on safety measures at workplaces to its employees across the country as well as overseas, according to LiveMint.

"Sanitisation of all high touch points in our facilities, hand sanitisers at lift landing/receptions and other common areas and infrared thermometers have been put in place," Rao added.

According to health officials, the Mindtree employee is being treated and is on road to recovery.

According to Health Ministry, 60 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in India so far. Across the world, over 119,000 people have been confirmed positive for coronavirus. The deadly virus has claimed over 4300 lives across the globe.

The Health Ministry has taken several measures to halt the spread of coronavirus. The Ministry has suspended the vias including e-visas of travelers from France, Germany, Spain, Iran, Italy, South Korea and Japan. The ministry had also asked all Indians to avoid non-essential international travel.

Also read: Coronavirus Live Updates: Number rises to 50 as new cases emerge from Bengaluru, Pune, Kerala

Also read: Coronavirus update: India suspends visas to nationals of France, Germany, Spain
Photo credit: Disney Food Blog - Instagram

From Delish

Bread bowls typically hold all sorts of delicious things like soups and salads, and those are nice and all but let's be real: All any of us truly care about is that carby, delicious bowl-shaped bread. Well now, Disney found the only way to make us love a bread bowl even more...by filling it with melted cheese.

This thing of absolute beauty was spotted by Disney Food Blog. It can be purchased at Les Halles Boulangerie-Patisserie in Epcot at Walt Disney World in Florida. The outside of the bowl is made up of crusty bread while the inside is practically overflowing with gooey and melty cheese. It's not clear on what kind of cheese is inside but honestly, who cares? It's CHEESE.

This golden creation is the newest "soup" option at the cafe, according to Disney Food Blog, though we wouldn't exactly call this a soup but rather a portable pot of fondue. We will agree with Disney Food Blog, who called it "the best thing thats ever happened to us (including weddings, childbirth, and front row Def Leppard tickets)."

It's not clear exactly how long this will be sticking around, so if you do happen to be visiting Disney World right now, I'd suggest you make a stop at Epcot and pick this up. Eat some cheese and bread to your heart's content...and then maybe take a nap? Ride a ride? I dunno, do what you want!

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Many friendships develop naturally, but others need conscious efforts to befriend a new acquaintance or become a better friend to existing pals. To be a likable person that charms people, you can apply mirroring, subliminal touching, smiling, and letting that other person talk about themselves.

Despite of differences, humans are more alike than most people have been conditioned to believe. People can be in denial, but most of us are concerned about what others think of us and want to be liked, which rings true when you join the society in the working world.

A shy and uncomfortable one or a seasoned extrovert can make use of science-backed tips for their professional and personal life.

1. Make note of the other person's eye color.

The color of their eyes is not important but by taking a moment to look and identify its color, you will be giving an adequate amount of eye contact.

You will learn to estimate the right amount of eye contact in social situations, such that too much is creepy and uncomfortable and not enough makes us seem shifty and untrustworthy.

2. Casually touch them.

Casual touch is a powerful catalyst of trust building as demonstrated by many curious and sometimes provocative studies.

However, keep in mind social and cultural norms as touch is less likely to have any beneficial effects if you violate personal boundaries.

3. Spend regular time with people you hope to form bonds with.



The mere-exposure effect indicates that people are wont to liking other people who they are used to or are familiar to them.

Also Read: Psychology Review: Extraverts Are Not as Common as We Think, Study Says

In a study, scientists at the University of Pittsburgh had four women pose as students in a college psychology class. The women came to class in different numbers of times. When the experimenters revealed to male students pictures of the four women, the men demonstrated a greater affinity for those women showed up in class more often.

4. Be in a great mood.

"Emotional contagion" is what transpires when people are influenced by the moods of other people. According to a study from the Ohio University and the University of Hawaii, people can unconsciously feel the emotions of those around them.

Make a note to communicate positive vibes and not be a Debbie Downer.

5. Don't compliment them all the time.

The gain-loss theory of interpersonal attractiveness indicates that your positive comments are impactful if you deliver them only occasionally.

In their 1956 study, University of Minnesota researchers wrote how this theory might work in practice. The scientists concluded that students liked their partners best when the comments went from positive to negative, suggesting that people like to feel that they have won you over in some capacity.

6. Have a sense of humor.

Many people think that a sense of humor is a rare gift and they don't possess the talent. But having a good sense of humor is a skill that can be learned.

But keep context in mind. There are instances when people love to laugh and there are times people need to be serious.

Related Article: Psychology Of Clowns: Why Do Clowns Scare People? A Brief History

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Deposed Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II will be honoured by the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka during its 14th convocation, which b...





Deposed Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II will be honoured by the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka during its 14th convocation, which began on Monday 9 March.





Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof Charles Esimone, who announced this said Sanusi will be honoured alongside, Chairman of Innoson Motor Manufacturing, Chief Innocent Chukwuma and industrialist, Chief Daniel Chukwudozie of Dozzy Group.





All the three will be given the honorary doctorate of the university.





He said the honorary awardees were chosen because of their outstanding positive contributions to Nigerian society at large and the university education in particular.

At the prize giving day today, Vice Chancellor Esimone announced that Ezeh Gabriel Chukwubuikem from the Department of Cooperative Economics and Management and with a CGPA of 4.83, emerged the Overall Best Graduating Student for the 2018/2019 Academic Session.





He said the university will offer employment to all its best graduating students,





Over 2,821 will be awarded a post graduate degree and over 6,750 first degree awardees, with 49 bagging first class.





About 329 will receive doctorate degrees. The ceremony will end 13 March.
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has included pro-Kremlin social-media users, Russia's communications regulator, and an Iranian state body tackling cybercrime on its list of press freedoms 20 worst digital predators that it says represent a clear danger for freedom of opinion and expression.

The Paris-based media freedom watchdog unveiled the list ahead of the World Day Against Cybercensorship to be marked on March 12.

This list, which RSF says is not exhaustive, includes state offshoots and government agencies in authoritarian countries. It also covers private-sector companies specializing in targeted cyberespionage that are based in Western countries such as the United States and Britain.

The authoritarian strongmen behind predatory activity against press freedom are extending their tentacles into the digital world with the help of armies of accomplices, subordinates, and henchmen who are organized and determined digital predators, RSF Secretary-General Christophe Deloire said in a statement.

These accomplices sometimes act from or within democratic countries, Deloire said, adding that opposition to despotic regimes also means ensuring that the weapons for suppressing journalism are not delivered to them from abroad.

In Russia and Iran, the Kremlins troll army, Russias media watchdog Roskomnadzor, and the Iranian Cyberspace Supreme Council use digital technology to spy on and harass journalists and thereby jeopardize peoples ability to get news and information, according to RSF.

It said pro-Kremlin actors use social media to spread false reports and videos, publish personal information, and attack the reputation of journalists.

One of their targets includes Finnish investigative journalist Jessikka Aro, who in a recently published book shed light on the propaganda they spread about those who denounce their activities.

For instance, Russian journalist Igor Yakovenko and the Moscow-based foreign reporters Isabelle Mandraud and Shaun Walker are often targeted by this troll army, according to RSF.

Meanwhile, Roskomnadzor has blocked more than 490,000 websites without warning and without respecting legal procedure and has a secret blacklist of banned sites, the group said.

The government agencys targets have included Ferghana and other news agencies, investigative sites such as Listok and Grani.ru, and political magazines including ej.ru and mbk.news.

Roskomnadzor also blocks platforms and apps that refuse to store their data on servers in Russia or provide the Russian authorities with keys to decrypt messages," RSF said, citing the example of the encrypted messaging service ProtonMail, which was partially blocked earlier this year.

RSF said the Iranian Cyberspace Supreme Council uses online selective access and control, and blocks news websites, platforms, and apps such as Telegram, Signal, WhatsApp, Facebook, and Twitter to enforce state censorship.

Created in 2012 and consisting of senior military and political figures, the council is constructing a firewall using Internet filtering techniques, the watchdog said.

Internet shutdowns are increasingly used to contain and suppress waves of street protests, and to restrict the transmission and circulation of independent information regarded as counter-revolutionary or subversive in nature, it added.
Napa residents need not fear when they receive an envelope with the federal governments letterhead this month. Chances are, its not an audit notice from the IRS or a jury duty summons, but rather the governments invitation to complete the 2020 census.

Its an important piece of mail, and we want to make sure people are actively looking for it rather than it getting lost under the newspaper, said Joshua Green, media specialist for the U.S. Census Bureau.

Between March 12 and March 20, households will receive a paper notice encouraging them to complete the questionnaire online or by phone. Each letter will assign the household an identification code that can then be used to access your specific questionnaire and flag your responses.

However, this code isnt required. Anyone is able to complete the survey, regardless of housing situation, immigration status or incarceration.

We do many surveys throughout every year; this is just the big one. Its the biggest by far, and its not a sample like you would do in a survey. Its an entire count of the entire country, Green said.

Civic participation Filling out your census form is one of the most high-impact ways people can participate in democracy.

Federal law requires the government to count how many people live in the country, where they live and basic data every 10 years. Other demographic information is gathered, too, like age, race, health insurance, educational level and employment. This information is crucial in painting a picture of how the United States is changing, the most pressing needs and how government can best serve its electorate.

Results inform how electoral districts are drawn. Updated numbers influence how many representatives each state gets in Congress and what shape districts take at the local, state and federal levels.

The city of Napa, which is going through its own districting process, is intimately aware of census datas relevance. Its currently using 2010 numbers, per California state law, to create districts for this years council elections, but it will have to rejigger the electoral map next year with the 2020 numbers. Here, and all over, the population findings have a real impact on voter enfranchisement.

If you dont have accurate data, you arent going to draw accurate districts, Green said. The lines that you draw really matter for how fairly youre represented in Congress, and whether a district represents the diversity reflected in your community.

Census information is also critical in determining how funds are allotted for a host of social programs. If certain populations are under-counted, their ability to obtain life-saving and life-giving resources from the government that theyre otherwise entitled to receive is compromised. It also guides how state and federal funds are distributed to school districts, infrastructure projects and hospitals, for example, and it provides the baseline data that companies, big and small, use when making key business decisions.

Green said that while many people dont realize that theres a direct connection between filling out the form and seeing money poured back into their community, that really is whats happening.

ProcessThe Census Bureau expects 95% of residents will receive a letter by March 20 asking them to respond online or by phone. A series of reminder postcards and follow-up letters will go out to non-responsive households by April 16. If a response still hasnt been received shortly after that deadline, the Bureau will be sending out census-takers to take down information in-person during the last week of April.

When people fill out the form, they should answer the questions as if you were responding on April 1, according to Green. Its called Census Day, but its not a deadline, he emphasizes, saying that the survey can be filled out as late as July 31.

We dont want information in motion. Whenever you capture data, you want a particular moment in time, he said. Regardless of what date youre actually filling it out, think about where you were on that date or where you will be on that date.

ConcernsDespite extensive efforts to be inclusive, the Government Accountability Office calls this years census a high risk program in its ability to deliver a comprehensive count. Its 2019 report cites staffing challenges and a potentially inadequately tested IT infrastructure as cause for pause.

A survey released last year by the Census Bureau itself found less than 70 percent of the population intends to respond to the survey, citing unfamiliarity with the process, data confidentiality, and government distrust as broad concerns.

Green was adamant that privacy is a top priority for all Census Bureau employees, each of whom literally swears an oath to uphold that confidentiality and we take it very seriously.

From a data security standpoint, the office uses the latest cyber-security measures, according to Green.

Respondents to the survey also vocalized a more specific fear that the census is used to keep track of people who are in the country without documentation or those who have committed a crime.

Green assures that this is not the case. Individuals are protected by federal law that guarantees exclusive use of the data for statistical purposes and confidentiality for 72 years as well as forbids the transference of any data from the Department of Commerce, which houses the Census Bureau, to any other government entity. Punishment for violating this law is five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, he says.

Thats the message we want to put out there and make sure once people know that once its collected it doesnt go to any other government agency  law enforcement, housing, any agency people can think of, Green said.

Additionally, access to hard-to-count communities is a concern. A combination of hand-delivered paper questionnaires and in-person counts will be used to reach remote, rural populations as well as groups who have been historically difficult to engage like students, immigrants and the unhoused, among others, according to Green.

Incarcerated populations are accounted for, but theyre counted as residents of the location of the prison itself not where they came from prior. Homeless populations are counted by hand during a three-day period at the end of March. Census takers use input from community partners to determine where to go to make sure they find people living on the streets.

The 2010 census yielded a roughly 67% self-response rate nationally, according to the Bureau, meaning one-third of the population didnt volunteer to submit its own information. Census takers then went out into the field to fill in the blanks to get an almost full count, Green said.

Officials hope that moving the process online  an option that wasnt available in 2010  will create a higher self-response rate. The more that people respond to the online form, the fewer census-takers we have to send out, Green said, adding he believes the transition to a digital survey will be net positive.

This year will also be the first that self-responses will be live-tracked in an online response map, which will allow the Bureau to engage groups and regions that arent participating through localized solutions created in real-time with community partners.

If you can communicate to people the benefits that come from participating in the census, thats when they connect. If the federal government doesnt know youre there, they cant send the money to you, Green said.

You may reach Carly Graf at cgraf@napanews.com; 713-817-4692; or via Twitter @carlykgraf.

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Australia has been urged to close its borders, shut down schools and universities and cancel mass events or risk facing a 'complete and utter coronavirus epidemic'.

Grattan Institute's chief executive John Daley called for Scott Morrison to follow the lead of Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore, which have introduced radical social distancing measures to curb the spread of COVID-19.

Mr Daley said while some countries' approaches to the outbreak have impacted their economies, they had been successful in reducing virus cases.

Australia has been warned to close its borders, shut down schools and universities and cancel mass events to reduce the country's coronavirus death rate, according to the Grattan Institute. A woman is seen arriving at Sydney Airport on Wednesday

Dr Muhammad Mohsin, who runs a number of GP clinics, has called for all public events, schools, businesses, childcare centres and universities to be shut down for a month

'One option is that we can introduce very significant social distancing now and also potentially close the airports to foreign travellers. The consequence of that would be you would probably see the number of cases in Australia drop to zero,' he told The Australian.

'The second option is that you keep doing what we are doing at the moment. At some point it is likely that we will start to see significantly more person-to-person transmission in Australia.'

Mr Daley warned if Australia keeps up its 'non-stringent measures like Italy', our cases would climb 'pretty quickly' and the fatality rate would skyrocket.

Dr Muhammad Mohsin, who runs a number of GP clinics, called for all public events, schools, businesses, childcare centres and universities to be shut down for a month.

Grattan Institute's chief executive John Daley (pictured) has called for Australia to follow in the footsteps of Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore, who have put radical social distancing measures in place to curb the spread of the disease

'This is the only way we can avoid a complete and utter epidemic in Australia. Otherwise, the virus will spread and it will devastate our country and our economy. We must do it before winter arrives. This is absolutely critical,' he said.

CORONAVIRUS CASES IN AUSTRALIA: 27,244 Victoria: 20,269 New South Wales: 4,273 Queensland: 1,161 Western Australia: 692 South Australia: 473 Tasmania: 230 Australian Capital Territory: 113 Northern Territory: 33 TOTAL CASES: 27,244 ESTIMATED ACTIVE CASES: 269 DEATHS: 897 Updated: 5.31 PM, 11 October, 2020 Source: Australian Government Department of Health Advertisement

Dr Mohsin said the only way to stop the spread of coronavirus is for workers and students to work and study from home.

A number of schools in NSW and Melbourne have temporarily closed because of the coronavirus, but Education Minister Dan Tehan doesn't expect state-wide closures.

Mr Tehan said it would be more likely for schools in particular areas to close, with the government relying on expert medical advice.

Universities are scaling back their course offerings or providing more online tuition.

But Southern Cross University has gone further, temporarily closing its Gold Coast and Lismore campuses on Wednesday after a staff member visiting from the Philippines tested positive to the virus.

The stark warnings come as Australia's coronavirus cases jump to 129 - surpassing 100 cases just 24 hours earlier.

Fears coronavirus patient, 22, exposed HUNDREDS of revellers to COVID-19 after he partied at one of Australia's most popular nightclubs A man with coronavirus may have exposed hundreds of revellers to the deadly disease after partying at one of Queensland's most popular nightclubs. The 22-year-old man, who attends the University of Queensland, was at Friday's Riverside in Brisbane's CBD on Saturday night. He was confirmed as having the virus on Tuesday, after recently returning from Italy - Europe's COVID-19 epicentre. The man partied at the popular venue between 5pm and 9pm. The 22-year-old man could have infected hundreds of other revellers at Friday's Riverside (pictured) in Brisbane 's CBD on Saturday night between 5 and 9pm Other patrons are being warned they may need to self-isolate if they come down with symptoms. '(He) had fleeting contact with a lot of different people,' Queensland chief medical officer Jeannette Young said. 'They (patrons) don't need to go into home quarantine. 'But they do need to be aware and alert if they develop any symptoms suggestive of an infection - any respiratory-type symptoms, or a fever - they should go and get themselves tested.' The man also attended classes at the university's St Lucia campus in Brisbane on Thursday and Friday last week. The man also attended classes at University of Queensland's St Lucia campus in Brisbane on Thursday and Friday last week Advertisement

China's death toll reached 100 just nine days after it went over 100 COVID-19 cases.

In Italy - Europe's epicentre for the outbreak - 100 people died ten days after the country reached 100 cases.

But only 12 people have died in Japan, whose measures have been more strict.

Italy's alarmingly rapid outbreak of the virus prompted Scott Morrison to announce a travel ban for foreign nationals from Italy from Wednesday night.

It comes as medical experts warned Australia's hospitals will become swamped by thousands of coronavirus patients within a month.

Cases of COVID-19 are doubling every six days around the world - and a similar rate is predicted in Australia.

Professor Raina MacIntyre, the head of Biosecurity at the University of New South Wales's Kirby Institute, said Australia's rate of infection could soon be on par with the rest of the world.

'If it becomes widespread, there is the potential for the health system to be overwhelmed,' she said.

With 129 confirmed cases in Australia, the number could climb to more than 3,200 patients within four weeks, based on the six-day doubling model.

Australian Grand Prix is thrown into turmoil as three F1 team members are placed in isolation after showing signs of coronavirus - before Daniel Ricciardo is withdrawn from media conference

Formula One star Daniel Ricciardo has been pulled out of a scheduled Renault team media conference to protect him from coronavirus, while three crew from other teams have been placed in self-isolation after displaying symptoms of the illness just days out from the Australian Grand Prix.

Ricciardo and teammate Esteban Ocon were due to take part in a media conference on Wednesday at the Albert Park circuit, ahead of Sunday's race but team officials made a call at the last moment to withdraw them and keep them protected from the public going into the weekend.

Australian Formula One star Daniel Ricciardo (right) and teammate Esteban Ocon (left) were due to take questions from reporters, but the conference was cancelled

Our drivers were supposed to be with us for this event but due to the situation we've excused them for the occasion,' Renault team principal Cyril Abiteboul said.

'I hope you understand why we are taking such measures.'

Elsewhere, a member of the McLaren team, as well as two personnel from the US outfit Haas, were put in isolation after displaying flu-like symptoms and being tested for the virus in Melbourne.

This year's race has been under a cloud since the onset of the virus, which has caused major sporting events around the world to be cancelled, postponed or contested without spectators present.

Esteban Ocon Renault F1 Team with Daniel Ricciardo are pictured in Melbourne on Wednesday

Members of all three organisations had their temperatures taken upon arrival in Melbourne and key F1 officials have said a race for championship points will not go ahead without them

A key point of concern for organisers has been the presence of Italian teams Ferrari and the newly rebranded AlphaTauri team, formerly Toro Rosso, as well as tyre supplier Pirelli.

Italy has the highest number of Covid-19 cases outside of China, and the government announced on Wednesday that it would stop travellers arriving from the European nation.

Members of all three organisations had their temperatures taken upon arrival in Melbourne and key F1 officials have said a race for championship points will not go ahead without them.

Next week's race in Bahrain will take place behind closed doors, while the Chinese Grand Prix scheduled for April 19 has been cancelled.
During last years Super Bowl, 100 million US viewers were treated to a most unexpected sight in one of the commercial breaks. It was Andy Warhol doing nothing more than taking bites out of a Burger King Whopper  and adding the occasional bit of ketchup  for 45 seconds.

There was no music, no punchline, just a little, light rustling of the burgers wrapper  in a slowly unfolding scene that culminated with the hashtag #EatLikeAndy. It was about as far removed as one could imagine from the big-budget ads traditionally shown during the Super Bowl.

Reaction on social media was swift, widespread and mostly containing the word bizarre. Why show a low-action clip from 1982, of an artist who died in 1987, at a sporting showcase in 2019? What financial sense did it make also  given that advertising slots at the Super Bowl are the most expensive in the world, costing $175,000 a second?

The answer is that the footage showed a great American artist eating a great American food in the context of a great American occasion. Burger King said the advert was a celebration of the country itself.

If that clip proves anything, its that Andy is still very much with us, says Gregor Muir, curator of a major Warhol show that opens at Tate Modern this month. Hes a timeless figure, and our aim with the exhibition is to show that.

Marilyn Diptych, 1962 ( The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts) ( 2020 The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc. / Licensed by DACS, London)

After a decade working as a commercial illustrator on Madison Avenue, Warhol began his artistic career at the turn of the 1960s. He sprung to fame as a leader of the Pop Art movement, which rejected high-cultural tradition and depicted everyday subject matter instead: in Warhols case, Coke bottles, Brillo boxes and Campbells Soup cans.

Soon he was silk-screening images of Marilyn Monroe and Elvis Presley too. It suggested an artist entirely at one with Americas average Joe. The irony is, of course, that under the current presidents administration, Warhols parents probably wouldnt have been allowed into the United States in the first place. Andrej and Julia Warhola hailed from a tiny village called Mikova on the edge of the Carpathian Mountains, in what today is Slovakia (but in their day was part of the Austro-Hungarian empire). In search of a better life, they moved to Pittsburgh after the First World War, where Andrej worked in construction and where Andy  Andrew Warhola  was born in 1928.

At the start of his career, Andy chose to anglicise his surname, by dropping the a at the end. Whenever asked about his ethnic roots, he declared, I always feel American: 100 per cent. (Interestingly, Warhol and Donald Trump did actually cross paths  at a New York party in 1981. The latter commissioned the former to create a silkscreen portrait of Trump Tower but turned the finished work down, and refused to pay a cent, when he didnt like the colour scheme. I think Trumps sort of cheap, wrote Warhol in his diary.)

The Tate exhibition sets out to show how large an influence Warhol has had on artists after him, especially in the way he embraced different media and means of distribution. In the mid-1960s, after the early burst of Pop works, he took to making films, such as Sleep, in which his friend, the poet John Giorno, can be seen sleeping for five hours.

He also founded Interview, a magazine in which celebrities from Cher to Michael Jackson were interviewed  and which ran for 50 years before its demise in 2018. And lets not forget Exploding Plastic Inevitable, a multi-sensory stage show he conceived for the Velvet Underground, a band he briefly managed.

At the Ritz in London, 1971 (Getty)

In short, he believed an artist could, and should, do more than just hold a paintbrush. An interdisciplinary approach to art is today taken as standard  and thats in no small part thanks to the example set by Warhols adventures decades ago.

His influence extends far beyond the art world, though. Warhol both predates and predicts the society we live in, says Muir. On show at Tate Modern will be 25 paintings from a little-known series of paintings from 1975 called Ladies and Gentlemen. It depicts drag queens and trans women who frequented the Gilded Grape bar, off Times Square  and, in Muirs view, could easily pass for having been made yesterday, in terms of the debates being had now around trans identity and LGBT rights.

Though dead for 33 years, Warhol anticipated the advent of social media. Take his Screen Tests, for example, 472 short films in which visitors to his studio were placed on a chair in front of a video camera and asked to perform solo for three minutes to camera  very much like the YouTube vloggers of today.

Then theres his 1975 book The Philosophy of Andy Warhol, usually described as a disjointed autobiography but better understood as a proto-Twitter account, given its authors propensity for including both the most mundane of details (such as his love of jam on toast) and witty one-liners (such as buying is more American than thinking).

Green Coca-Cola Bottles, 1962 ( The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts) ( 2020 The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc. / Licensed by DACS, London)

He also carried a compact Minox camera with him wherever he went, taking more than 100,000 photographs of friends, food, building facades, shop signs and the like  anticipating the Instagram feeds of our image-saturated age today. I never read, Warhol once said. I just look at pictures. (In his recently published autobiography, Me, Elton John tells the hilarious story of a time he and John Lennon had been taking piles of cocaine in a New York hotel room late into the night, when Warhol knocked at the door. As Elton went to answer, Lennon implored, Dont let him in: hell have his f***ing camera.)

These individual episodes in Warhols career show his innate grasp of communications technology; the speed at which it was changing; and the direction in which it was heading.

He was aware of the inexorable rise of television, particularly with the proliferation of cable channels such as CNN, ESPN, Nickelodeon and MTV in the late-1970s and early-1980s. Warhol declared at the time that television was the medium [hed] most now like to shine in, and he actually presented five episodes of an MTV talk show called Andy Warhols Fifteen Minutes  a job cut short by his death, aged 58, from complications after a gall bladder operation. The shows title referred to his most famous quote: In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes.

With these words, Warhol predicted the coming both of reality TV stars and social media influencers  as the platforms to achieve quick-fire celebrity grew exponentially.

Its often said Warhol was the most important artist of the second half of the 20th century, Muir says. But one might well argue hes the most important artist of the early 21st century too. In a consumerist society, he realised that celebrities are every bit as ubiquitous and disposable as soup cans, Coke bottles and Burger King Whoppers.

Andy Warhol is at Tate Modern, London SE1, from 12 March to 6 September; tate.org.uk
India is the worlds primary supplier of generic drugs but it relies on China for nearly 70 percent of active ingredients to make the medicines.

Editor's note: The total number of people infected with the novel coronavirus is 52.

India is bracing for a potential explosion of coronavirus cases as authorities rush to trace, test and quarantine contacts of 31 people confirmed to have the disease.

It is screening international travellers at 30 airports and has already tested more than 3,500 samples. The Indian army is preparing at least five large-scale quarantine centres.

For weeks, India watched as cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, multiplied in neighbouring China and other countries as its own caseload remained static  three students evacuated from Wuhan, the disease epicentre, who were quarantined and returned to health in the southern state of Kerala.

Prime Minister Narendra Modis government said last week that community transmission is now taking place. India has shut schools, stopped exporting key pharmaceutical ingredients and urged state governments to cancel public festivities for Holi, the Hindu springtime holiday in which people douse each other with coloured water and paint.

Modi cancelled travel plans to Brussels for an India-EU summit amid a rising caseload in Belgium and tweeted that he would not attend any Holi festivities.

Experts fear these precautions wont be enough for Indias beleaguered, under-funded and under-staffed health system to stave off an epidemic. Here are their foremost concerns:

TOO FEW LABS, NOT ENOUGH HOSPITALS

As the virus spread globally, India began bolstering its ability to test and detect the virus. While the National Institute of Virology at Pune remains the main testing facility, the government has identified 35 additional labs for testing.

But concerns remain over Indias overstretched health infrastructure  a single state-run hospital for every 55,591 people on average and a single hospital bed for every 1,844 people. India needs about 10 times more doctors to meet the norms prescribed by the World Health Organization, a shortfall of at least 500,000 doctors.

Experts fear that an epidemic would cause other routine health care functions to suffer.

Everything will become about COVID-19. And other routine services like immunization or taking care of maternal mortality would be affected, said Anant Bhan, a global health and policy expert.

HEALTH CARE INEQUALITY

Indias health performance, an index that includes access to primary care, maternal mortality rates and child health, runs the spectrum, with some states outperforming others by almost 2.5 times, according to the government-run think tank NITI Aayog.

The best performer was Kerala, the small state that found and treated Indias first three cases. The worst was Uttar Pradesh, a state with roughly the population of Brazil that has detected at least six cases. Kerala has a doctor for approximately every 6,000 people, while Uttar Pradesh has one for every 18,000 people. The inequalities are further pronounced between urban and rural areas, with the bulk of the available beds concentrated in Indias cities.

India spent an average of $62.72 per person on health care in 2016, according to WHO, compared to Chinas $398.33.

Inequalities could make prevention even harder. In places with limited access to clean water, washing hands to prevent the spread of the virus is difficult, said Dr. Gagandeep Kang, a microbiologist who heads Indias Translational Health Science and Technology Institute.

Retired virologist and paediatrician Dr T. Jacob John said these inequalities arent just a reflection of not spending enough on health care, but also of not knowing where to spend.

The last time a needs-based survey was done for Indias health care was in 1946, he said, adding that the countrys health management system is very inadequate for Indias existing problems, let alone new ones.

QUARANTINE MILLIONS

Indias health minister told Parliament that the need of the hour is to contain viral clusters, to prevent and break chains of transmission. But in India, with a population of 1.4 billion, that is far from easy.

Take the city of Agra, famous for the Taj Mahal, where six Italian tourists tested positive for the virus. Apart from the 40,000 tourists who visit the monument each day, the city has a population of more than 4 million, with nearly 3,000 people crammed into every square mile. Following WHO advice, the Indian government has told people keep a distance of at least six feet from others.

But anywhere youve a dense population, all the issues of social distancing become challenging, Kang said.

SHORT ON MEDICINES

With the virus lockdown in China resulting in shortages in India, the government halted the export of 13 key drug ingredients and the medicines made from them on Tuesday.

Although India is the worlds primary supplier of generic drugs, it relies on China for nearly 70 percent of the active pharmaceutical ingredients it uses for making medicines.

India has said it has enough stocks, but the governments minister for chemicals and fertilizers told Parliament that there remains an apprehension that supplies of ingredients from China would be disrupted if the epidemic continues.

LONG-TERM RESPONSE

On Thursday, Health Minister Harsh Vardhan met the management of Indias top private hospitals to ask them to work with the government in dealing with the outbreak, and urged them to prepare a pool of beds.

Kang said Indias current approach, which is focused on travelers, might restrict some cases. But eventually, it will have to expand testing to limit the spread of the disease within the country, Kang said. The question, she said, is whether authorities want to do that now, or at the height of an epidemic.
A Lake Forest High School faculty member is also under a self-quarantine after attending a meeting at Vaughn Occupational High School, the Chicago school where a classroom assistant tested positive for the disease. The faculty member was in the same room on the same day as the teachers aide but the two were not in the room at the same time.
[March 11, 2020] Smart Products Bring Business Opportunities to Insurers, Manufacturers

Smart products offer home insurance providers new ways to create operational efficiencies, introduce new services, and increase their value propositions for protecting the home, according to Parks Associates (News - Alert), the research firm. Ayla Networks' Prashanth Shetty, vice president, global marketing, will explore these and other opportunities at the Insurtech Insights conference to be held at the Royal Lancaster in London on Tuesday, March 17. At 2:15 p.m., Shetty will address attendees on how emerging Internet of Things (IoT) technology can drive risk management transformation.

At 9:25 a.m., Shetty will participate in a discussion entitled, "IoT insurance: Is tech-based prevention better than cure for insurers?" Fellow panelists are Paul Middle, propositions development director, RSA (News - Alert); Matt Poll, CEO and founder of Neos Ventures Ltd.; and Jannicke Schumann-Olsen, innovation director for Tryg. In addition to discussing smart consumer products with insurers, Ayla executves will be available to advise manufacturers at:



The Hearth, Patio and BBQ Expo March 12-14 in New Orleans

The Industry of Things World conference March 12-13 in San Diego About Ayla Networks Named one of the fastest-growing technology companies in North America as measured by the 2019 Deloitte Technology Fast 500, Ayla Networks is a provider of edge connectivity, device management and application enablement for the Internet of Things (IoT). Ayla enables the world's consumer device and commercial equipment companies to launch connected products across any sensor, device and cloud. By leveraging the Ayla IoT platform, customers are able to quickly productize and future-proof connected products, while making device data usable for ongoing analytic insights and delivering better business outcomes. More information is available at www.aylanetworks.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200311005734/en/

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The Supreme Court on Wednesday allowed the Trump administration to continue requiring thousands of asylum-seekers to wait in Mexico while their applications are considered, blocking a lower-court ruling that found the policy violated U.S. law and an international humanitarian treaty.

The Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco said last week it would stop enforcement of remain in Mexico at the borders of California and Arizona unless the Supreme Court intervened by Wednesday. In response, the high court voted 8-1, with Justice Sonia Sotomayor dissenting, to leave the policy in place  at least while it considers the administrations appeal of a ruling that declared it illegal.

If the court later agrees to hear the appeal, which appears likely in view of Wednesdays order, it would probably take up the case in the term that starts in October, and rule by the end of June 2021, leaving the policy in place in the meantime.

About 60,000 migrants have been forced to wait for many months in Mexico, under often-dangerous conditions, since President Trumps order took effect in January 2019. Administration officials say the policy was needed to maintain control of the border, and noted that arrivals at the border have diminished under the new rules.

The Justice Department praised Wednesdays court action and said the policy has been critical to restoring the governments ability to manage the Southwest border and to work cooperatively with the Mexican government to address illegal immigration.

Attorney Judy Rabinovitz of the American Civil Liberties Union, representing immigrant-support groups that sued the government, said, Asylum-seekers face grave danger and irreversible harm every day this depraved policy remains in effect.

The Supreme Court took a similar action in September when it suspended a Ninth Circuit injunction and allowed enforcement of a Trump administration policy prohibiting virtually all Central Americans from applying for U.S. asylum if they had traveled through another country without seeking refuge there.

Asylum allows an immigrant to remain in the country, obtain a work permit and eventually apply for citizenship. Under treaties that the United States has signed, it is granted to foreigners who can show a well-founded fear of persecution in their homeland for reasons such as race, religion, political views and membership in a particular social group.

In a Feb. 28 ruling upholding a federal

judges proposed injunction against the remain in Mexico policy, the appeals court said federal law allows asylum-seekers to remain in the U.S., either free or in detention, unless they fall into specific categories of danger, such as drug smugglers, spies and terrorists.

Uncontested evidence in the record establishes that non-Mexicans returned to Mexico under the (policy) risk substantial harm, even death, while they await adjudication of their applications for asylum, Judge William Fletcher said in the 2-1 ruling.

The advocacy group Human Rights First says it has documented more than 1,000 public reports of torture, rape, murder and other violent attacks against asylum-seekers forced to wait in Mexico.

In seeking Supreme Court intervention, the Justice Department contended the policy complied with U.S. law and would not endanger asylum-seekers.

Remain in Mexico does not apply to any alien who will more likely than not face state-sponsored violence, or persecution on account of a protected ground, in Mexico, as long as the asylum-seeker voluntarily expresses such a fear while being questioned, administration lawyers said.

The case is Wolf vs. Innovation Law Lab, 19A960.

Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@

sfchronicle.com Twitter: @BobEgelko
Piers Morgan is taking aim at Meghan Markle once again following her final official royal engagement.

On Monday, the Good Morning Britain presenter blasted the Duchess of Sussex for so many reasons, one of them include her and Prince Harry parading in front of the media ever since they returned to the U.K.

Morgan also brought up the topic of Meghan and Prince Harry choosing not to bring their son Archie along with them on their final rounds of engagement in the U.K.

"Wherever Meghan goes, people get split. She's split from her family, split form her dad, split Harry from William," Morgan said.

Morgan labeled the awkward encounter "painful," saying that their body language says it all.

On the show, the veteran broadcaster took it one step further and suggested how their late mother, Princess Diana, would have hated to see his boys looking so distant.

"Not even a handshake between the brothers. Extraordinary. Diana would have hated this feud," the 54-year-old said before adding that Kate Middleton could barely look at Meghan during Monday's Commonwealth Day service.

Continuing to ruin Meghan and Prince Harry's image, Morgan further said that there is a lot of tension that has been holding the royal family, particularly Queen Elizabeth II, to ransom.

"These two have been laying the law down to the Queen. I bet the Queen's not been okay. Her grandsons are at war."

According to Piers Morgan, people are more worried about the former "Suits" actress, asking if she was okay but nobody has ever asked the Queen if she was.

"People ask, 'Is poor Meghan okay?' but she looks fine to me. She's spent the last few days looking like a Cheshire cat. She's got everything she wanted," he added

"My sole thought is, is the Queen okay? I think she'd had a horrible year and it's been helped in my view by this quite selfish conduct."

Aiming at Meghan, Morgan said that she has to earn support and respect. All-in-all, he believes that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are very divisive because they did not like the criticisms being thrown at them even though they were perfectly justified.

Morgan said that what the tabloids said before were all positive, but then they started being criticized when there were "stuff worth criticizing."

On Monday, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex joined Prince William, Kate Middleton and the rest of the royal family for the Commonwealth Day service. That was also Meghan and Prince Harry's final appearance as working royals.

It was also reported that the Sussexes were sensitive and emotional when the Fab Four did not walk in with Queen Elizabeth II as part of the official royal procession.

The Daily Mail reported that their in-laws, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, stepped in to diffuse the situation and offered to join Meghan and Prince Harry while waiting for Prince Charles, Camilla and Queen Elizabeth II to arrive.
Two Russian jets that flew over the sea near the Alaska coastline were intercepted by US and Canadian aircraft, military officials said on Tuesday.

The two planes were escorted by F-22 and CF-18 aircraft according to the North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD) after they flew as close as 50 nautical miles to the Alaska coast.

NORAD posted about the interception on its Twitter account and shared photos of the incident.

The release states that the Russian aircraft did not enter US or Canadian sovereign airspace and was intercepted by NORAD F-22s, CF-18s, supported by KC-135 Stratotanker and E-3 Sentry AWACS aircraft.

NORAD continues to operate in the Arctic across multiple domains, said General Terrence J OShaughnessy, NORAD Commander.

As we continue to conduct exercises and operations in the north, we are driven by a single unyielding priority: defending the homelands.

The two Russian Tu-142 maritime reconnaissance aircraft remained within international airspace for the duration of the approximate four-hour flight on Monday.

A similar incident occurred in May 2019 when US stealth jets intercepted Russians bombers and fighter jets just off Alaskas western coast.
Egypts first gold mining tender since 2017 is scheduled to take place this year, with new terms and conditions the government hopes will attract major players

In February, Egypts Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources announced that it will launch an international bid round this year for exploration of gold and associated minerals in a number of concessions in the countrys Eastern Desert.

According to the announcement, the Egyptian Mineral Resources Authority (EMRA) has invited international companies to participate in the bidding.

The announcement did not clarify the terms and conditions of the tender, and did not pinpoint the specific areas that will be offered.

Moreover, the announcement of the new bid took place without resolving the fate of the previous international bidding round in 2017, when four companies were selected as winners of the five concessions that had been offered in the Eastern Desert.

The bidding round was launched after the amendment of the mineral resources law.

According to EMRA data, Egypt has 125 known locations that contain massive gold ore reserves, estimated at approximately 7 million ounces.

These huge reserves are being looted by groups who plunder the gold ore illegally and deprive the national economy of the revenues that could be yielded by attracting investments to it.

The winners of the 2017 bid declared that they would suspend their work in the Egyptian market due to the bid terms and condition, which they considered to be prohibitive and a contravention of international standards.

The conditions set eight years as a maximum period for the first phase of each project in each concession.

Moreover, it set the production share mechanism at up to 50 percent of the projects production.

The winning companies also would have had to prepare a feasibility study once the investor reached gold ore capable of being traded. According to this study, a contract would be signed by the investor and the ministry for 15 years, extendable to another 15 years, and a joint company would be established to implement bidding operations.

The conditions also provided that all exploration, development, exploitation, and related operational expenses would be recovered by the investor from the gold production of the concession.

To deal with this situation, the petroleum ministry said in 2018 that it would amend the mineral resources law, including the terms and condition of gold ore exploration.

It assigned English company Wood Mackenzie to prepare these amendments, and it completed its work by the end of 2019.

A new mineral resources law and its implementing regulations were drafted in light of the recommendations of Wood Mackenzies report.

Ahram Online tried to reach ministry officials to identify the terms and conditions of the upcoming bid round and the fate of the 2017 bid, but ministry spokesman Hamdy Abdelaziz told Ahram Online that no details or information on the terms and conditions of the new bidding round or on the fate of the 2017 bid would be disclosed at present.

Meanwhile, an official source, who asked to be anonymous, revealed to Ahram Online that the 2017 bid round was cancelled amicably and all sums that had been paid in accordance with the MoUs that had been signed by the winning companies had been refunded, except that of the English company Veritas Mining Limited, who refused the refund.

The source added that this is the first time that the ministry has opened the door to a gold bid without announcing its terms and conditions, which are necessary for investors to make up their minds.

The terms will be announced on 15 March, simultaneously with the beginning of the bid, which will close on 15 July, the source said.

The new exploration terms are based on a royalty, rent and tax system, cancelling the production share system.

Based on that, the investor will pay 6 percent of the total value of their agreement as royalties, in addition to the rent of for the block, and a tax. The rent and tax percentage have not been decided yet, the source clarified.

According to EMRA data seen by Ahram Online, three of the winning companies have committed to investing $1.233 billion, and they paid 10 percent of this amount, according to the exploration agreements.

Ahram Online contacted Lord Nabil El Nagy, the owner of Veritas Mining Limited, who asserted that he had refused to receive a refurn of the sum he had paid in 2017, which was estimated at $320,000 plus $50,000 as primary insurance.

He added that the EMRA had asked the winning companies to pay such sums within 15 days of announcing the winners, or the companies would be crossed off.

We fulfilled our commitments, and the government should hand the concessions to the winning companies, as there are no legal causes to prevent that, and we already signed reports on receiving our concessions, El Nagy added.

The terms for the 2019 bid round are completely different from 2017, as are aligned with the international bidding systems that are applied in all countries that have a gold mining industry, El Nagy said, adding that he is willing to participate in the new tender, but the government must announce clearly the fate of the 2017 round.

On the other hand, Yossef El Raghi, the general director of Pharaoh Gold Mines NL, which is under the management of Centamin, told Ahram Online the new terms will attract real investments to the gold mining industry in Egypt, unlike the terms of the 2017 round.

Centamin is the owner of the only gold ore productive mine in Egypt, the Sukari mine.

El Raghi added that the royalty, rent, and tax system is followed globally, and it is a promising action taken by the government to enhance the gold mining industry in Egypt, but the bidding system will not attract serious investors.

Bidding will be based on price competitiveness, thus concessions could be endowed to companies that will not reach the production that qualify them to establish productive mines like Sukari, El Raghi noted.

According to Centamins data for the 2018/2019 fiscal year, it paid royalties worth $140,323,648, profit shares to the government of $322,348,363, and taxes estimated at EGP 19,761,985.32.

El Raghi said the winning companies in 2017 lacked experience and had no background in the mining industry, especially in the Egyptian market, and he therefore supported the cancellation of the bid, especially as its terms had not managed to attract weighty companies and investors.

Speaking about the new tender, El Raghi said that he is willing to apply, but it would depend on the nature of the exact terms and conditions.

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Government of India has been forced to take steps to rehabilitate Yes Bank since large number of depositors are involved and they losing their money would affect the morale of the country men in the Indian banking system and procedures.





by N.S.Venkataraman





In several countries, number of medium and large scale private banks have collapsed and gone into liquidation in the past. In such cases, depositors and share holders have lost their hard earned money. When such private banks fail, inevitably the depositors expect that government should protect their interests and ensure that they would get back their deposits. While in some cases, the governments have responded at least partly to the expectations of the depositors, on many other occasions, government have ignored such appeals from depositors and kept silent about the unfolding events which lead to closure of the banks.













Now, the question arises as to what extent the government should be held accountable, if the banks would collapse.





The recent collapse of Yes Bank in India and the Government of India taking steps to ensure the future of this bank by extending financial assistance from government owned State Bank of India has raised lot of questions and concern.





Government of India has been forced to take steps to rehabilitate Yes Bank since large number of depositors are involved and they losing their money would affect the morale of the country men in the Indian banking system and procedures. This would do huge damage to the overall image of Government of India as well as Reserve Bank of India which is a regulator for all banks.





If one would analyse the basic reasons that have caused the sickness and closure of banks, it would be seen that it has happened due to any one or more of the following reasons





 Inefficient management of the banks marked by lack of forward planning and inability to see the writing on the wall. Obviously, in such cases, the steady deterioration in conditions have been allowed to happen, with the management hoping that some developments from somewhere would create favourable conditions for the bank, hoping against hope that condition would improve to retrieve the bad situation.

 Most of the private banks all over the world are founded and managed by family members who have controlling shares, though there could be many distant share holders who do not follow the functioning style of the banks from close quarters. In many of such cases, the bickerings between the second or third generation family members with controlling shares have caused instability.

 Dishonest practices of the management by involving in inside trading, extension of loan to undeserving parties, after taking bribe by promoters and officials for extending loan.





Apart from the above, there could be other reasons in particular situations.





Reserve Bank of India is being accused by everyone of not monitoring the performance of the Yes Bank and scrutinizing its activities adequately well due to whatever reasons. However, the fact is that while the Reserve Bank can broadly monitor the performance of the banks over a period of time, it cannot do micro level monitoring which has to be done by the auditing firms.





In several of such failed banks, the failure of the auditors to forewarn the company management , share holders and depositors and the Reserve Bank of India about the signs of decline in failing banks could be one factor that directly points to incompetence of the auditing team and not rising upto their responsibilities.





Further, the share holders, unlike the depositors have a duty to monitor the banks performance and question the management in case of signs of faultering trends. Share holders rarely do this and in many cases are as ignorant as the depositors about the functioning of the bank.

In such situation , what should the government do in case of failure of private banks ?





Government of India has reacted correctly by asking its own State Bank of India to extend loan to Yes Bank to stabilize its operations. Reserve Bank of India have superceded the directors and appointed its own administrator. Those who accuse Government of India for making State Bank of India pay huge amount by way of loan to Yes Bank have no alternate suggestions as to what the Government of India should do.

While everyone agree that depositors cannot be left in lurch, the question is how to protect the depositors in any other way other than government owned bank virtually taking over Yes Bank.





One observation is that in the process of protecting the future of Yes Bank, State Bank of India has been made a scape goat by being forced to part its money. In other words, it is said that private banks loss is being compensated by the money from public sector bank.





Can such policy be adopted in the case of failure of every private sector bank?





It has been the practice in the past that when large private banks fail, governments do not remain unconcerned but take steps to revive the bank in whatever way possible. This should be so, since the question of morale of the depositors is involved. For example, when Global Trust Bank failed in India, the then Government of India took steps to revive the bank by merging with another public sector bank. Governments all over the world have stepped in to help the large sick private sector banks to revive themselves and ofcourse , corrective steps are initiated and culprits punished. This has been the practice all over the world including USA. Several case studies can be cited,.

It is said that the affairs of private sector banks cannot be managed or monitored by Government of India or Reserve Bank of India adequately. This is not entirely true.





Reserve Bank of India is the regulatory body of the banks and has the duty and responsibility to monitor the performance of the banks. In the case of Yes Bank, it is obvious that Reserve Bank of India did not play its monitoring role adequately for several years until Reserve Bank of India sensed the impending danger. Subsequently , Reserve Bank of India took some steps to warn about the situation.





It should be kept in mind that the role and responsibility of Reserve Bank of India and the Ministry of Finance of Government of India are different. In the case of Yes Bank, obviously, there is sort of inefficient supervision by Reserve Bank of India when such huge loans were extended by Yes Bank.





However, it should also be kept in view that while private banks have to stick to the norms prescribed by Reserve Bank of India in extending loans, private banks have the authority to extend loan to anyone , so long as the prescribed norms of Reserve Bank of India are observed.





While judging Yes Bank , while there appear to be dishonest practices at the top management level, the benefit of doubt should also be given to Yes Bank while judging whether it has taken a legitimate risk in extending loan to a few parties. Banks often face unpredictable situations. For example, the present steep fall in the global price of crude oil have not been anticipated by any agency. This steep fall could severely affect the balance sheet of a few multinational banks , who could have given loans to some oil companies and related business houses based on its anticipation of price for crude oil.





One way out is that fear must be created in the mind of the management and auditors of private sector banks that they cannot escape after causing or not monitoring such financial havoc, if it had happened due to deliberate misgovernance. Government of India , has arrested founder of Yes Bank suspecting his involvement in fraudulent transaction, which is appropriate . Probably, more directors need to be arrested , if their involvement would be detected. What about the auditors of Yes Bank?





Ultimately, while the management of sick banks may be inefficient or dishonest, the statutory auditors should accept the large part of the blame for not monitoring and not warning the share holders and depositors at appropriate time.





It appears, in the case of Yes Bank, the statutory auditors and Reserve Bank of India have a lot to explain , which they have not done so far.
A 21-year-old Cork man facing charges of underage sex and sex assault concerning a teenage girl was today returned for trial.

At Ennis District Court today, the Book of Evidence in the case was served on the solicitor, Stiofan Fitzpatrick, for the accused man who cannot be named for legal reasons.

In the case, it is alleged that the male then aged 17 had sexual intercourse with the then 13-year-old girl in an isolated location outside a Co. Clare town on May 2, 2017.

Last November in court, Inspector Michelle Moloney told Judge Patrick Durcan that while an initial complaint was made over the alleged offences in an isolated location outside a Co. Clare town, the complainant was "reticent" that the case proceed against the accused.

Insp. Moloney said that the DPP was prosecuting the case in the public interest.

She said that the girl has failed to make a written statement of complaint in the case but that her mother is anxious that the case be seen through.

Mr Fitzpatrick told the court previously that no one is saying that there was any coercion or that the girl was forced to have sex.

Mr Fitzpatrick was responding to a query from Judge Durcan who asked was the sexual intercourse consensual except in being breach of the law.

Judge Durcan today sent forward the accused for trial to the next sittings of Ennis Circuit Court.

Judge Durcan sent the matter forward after earlier this year reversing his own ruling that the case can be heard in the district court.

Judge Durcan said that the allegation is very serious and after giving the matter more thought he has now decided to decline jurisdiction and the case will be heard in the circuit court.

The accused is at risk of a tougher sentence in the circuit court if he is convicted.
Thomas Campbell, Photographer

Houston Chamber Choir presents the 2020 gala Take Flight!  An Evening of Wanderlust Awaits to celebrate and honor the accomplishments of the Choirs founder and artistic director Robert Simpson from 6 to 9 p.m. Sunday, April 19.

With the recently won Grammy award being displayed at the event for the first time for the public to see, party-goers will enjoy a New Zealand travel-inspired evening featuring signature cocktails, themed portraits and fine dining.
The manufacturer of an immune booster and viral load suppressor, Centre of Awareness (COA), has called on the government to assist with scientific confirmation of the potential of the supplement to suppress COVID-19 to boost national preparedness to prevent an outbreak of the disease in Ghana.



It said certified by the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), COA FS, which is currently undergoing further scientific investigation locally and internationally to establish its efficacy to cure the human immuno-deficiency virus (HIV) and other viruses, could also be a potential solution to COVID-19.



Addressing a press conference in Accra last Monday, the Executive President of the Centre of Awareness (COA FS) Global Peace Mission, Prof. Samuel Ato Duncan (H.C.), said the call was premised on the fact that samples of COA FS products sent to China about two weeks ago to be tried on some COVID-19 affected persons were yielding positive results.



We sent some COA FS products to China just about two weeks ago to try on coronavirus patients and information reaching us indicates that there has been a significant improvement in the condition of some infected patients who were given COA FS products. Even though it is good news, to us it is not scientific, hence not conclusive," he explained.



He said that was why, due to the cost involved in such scientific investigations to authenticate the cure potency, the centre was appealing to the government to leverage the capacity of the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) of the University of Ghana and other local and international research institutions to conduct further research into COA FS to confirm its clinical potency as soon as possible.



Prof. Duncan said besides being registered with the FDA, COA FS had undergone rigorous scientific laboratory analysis by nationally and internationally recognised research institutions, including the Mampong Centre for Scientific Research into Plant Medicine, Akuapem-Mampong, and the NMIMR.



He said the COA FS had the ability to fight the virus, as prescribed by the WHO, because it could smoke them out from their hideouts in the bloodstream and tissues.



The COA FS also boosted the immune system to fight the smoked-out virus, he added.





The human body is designed to heal itself if only one can allow it to do so. The COVID-19 is not an exception to this, Prof. Duncan stated, adding that augmenting the immune system was necessary for the elimination of the virus.



The Centre of Awareness Global Peace Mission had, for the past 15 years, developed an organic antiviral supplement that had three dimensional effects to combat a wide spectrum of viral infections and had qualified for clinical trials in Ghana, he said.



3D



He said the three-dimensional effects of COA FS herbal medicines were oral, intramuscular and intravenous administration.



The intravenous administration kills viruses in free circulating blood. It has also been established that intravenous administration can stimulate the immune system very fast. These three ways of administration can eliminate viruses from the human body, initiating cure. We believe that it could be the solution to coronavirus infections (COVID-19), he added.



Potential COVID solution



A video documentary shown at the conference had researchers from the NMIMR, the University of Cape Coast, the University of Kwa Zulu Natal, South Africa, and other institutions that had conducted research into COA FS products testifying that they had an 80 per cent ability of reducing viral load within 12 hours of administration to undetectable levels.



The scientists said due to their viral load suppression ability to near non recognition levels, further investigation would help improve on the drugs to become a cure for viral and bacterial infections and other forms of immune-suppressing health conditions, such as coronavirus and affect the COVID-19.



Health sector meeting



Meanwhile, the Ghana Health Service (GHS) has met with Regional Directors of Health to review their preparedness against COVID-19 in the regions to ensure that all gaps in the national surveillance system are addressed and improved by the day.



Briefing the media after the meeting, the Director-General of the GHS, Dr Patrick Kumah Aboagye, said reports he had received indicated that the governments directive to health directorates to designate holding and treatment centres was on course.



Some of these centres are ready, while others are at various stages of completion. We cannot be absolutely ready at any given time; preparedness is a process and we must all appreciate that no matter how robust and all-responsive a system may be, there will always be room for improvement, he said.



Education



Dr Aboagye said public education at the community level was also being intensified through a number of means, such as the use of the local languages at most public gatherings in the regions.



Continuous training of staff is also ongoing. Health screening measures at the Kotoka International Airport, including the thermal thermometers, as well as observation to pick other symptoms, such as difficulty in breathing, flu and others, have been replicated at all points of entry, he said.



Dr Aboagye gave an assurance that Ghana was more than prepared to pick unsuspected cases, as well as prevent an outbreak, adding, however, that we will never be complacent. We are working with international partners to keep improving.



He called on the public not to panic but continue to imbibe basic hygiene, such as frequent washing of hands with soap under clean running water, not sneezing in the open and coughing into the inner part of the elbow.

Source: Daily Graphic









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The Maharashtra Assembly on



Wednesday approved a bill to allow gram panchayat members to submit their caste validity certificates within a year of winning elections.

State Rural Development Minister Hassan Mushrif said in the Assembly that only two days are left for filing of nomination papers for the gram panchayat elections.

The bill, which was unanimously passed by the House, will ensure that the aspiring candidates are not barred from contesting the elections if they do not have a caste validity certificate, he said.

At present, the rule is that a candidate will have to submit his/her caste validity certificate at the time of filing of nominations.

The minister also said that the social justice and rural development departments were working on a comprehensive policy to expedite the process of providing the validity certificate to those having caste certificates.

Meanwhile, during a debate on the bill, Shiv Sena member Sanjay Raimulkar alleged that a government official had demanded a bribe of Rs 1.5 crore for providing the caste validity certificate from him.

To this, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit pawar said the official concerned will be suspended with immediate effect.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Terming the recent developments in Madhya Pradesh an insult to democracy, senior Congress spokesperson Anand Sharma said the saffron party attempts to destabilise non-BJP governments in states

New Delhi: The Congress on Wednesday accused the BJP of being in the "business of poaching and abducting MLAs, and stealing governments", claiming that the party has fine-tuned the art.

Terming the recent developments in Madhya Pradesh an insult to democracy, senior Congress spokesperson Anand Sharma said the saffron party attempts to destabilise non-BJP governments in states.

"The BJP has fine-tuned the art of poaching and abducting MLAs and stealing governments," he said.

Sharma questioned why the BJP was intolerant towards non-BJP governments in the states which have come to power with public mandate.

"The BJP is a ruling party and is expected to follow certain norms and procedures. It is now seriously in business of poaching MLAs and stealing governments," he told reporters at a press conference.

Follow LIVE updates on Madhya Pradesh Political Crisis

Sharma said the Congress condemned the BJP for creating a crisis in Madhya Pradesh by poaching MLAs and taking them to Bengaluru.

"It is against political morality, mandate of people and against principles and precedents of parliamentary democracy," he said.
Ongoing retaliations between the U.S. and Chinese government prevent journalists from working and threaten to critically impede the flow of information during the coronavirus outbreak. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) objects to the use of visa policies as weapons against journalists and calls on China and the U.S. to end reactive punitive measures.

According to a report by the Foreign Correspondents Club of China (FCCC), 22% of the journalists interviewed reported difficulties renewing their press credentials and at least 12 correspondents received only short term visas, valid for six months or less. The FCCC fears that China is preparing to expel more journalists in the near future. Furthermore, in February 2020, three Wall Street Journal reporters were expelled from China for an opinion piece they did not contribute to. On March 2, the U.S. State Department retaliated by announcing a personnel cap on five Chinese state-controlled media entities, based on their designation as government entities as of February 2020, which effectively limits the number of Chinese citizens permitted to work for these organisations in the U.S.

The IFJ said: These retaliatory moves by the U.S. and China limit the flow of information and suppress press freedom. Now, more than ever, in face of a public health crisis, it is essential that journalists are able to report freely and ensure accurate information is available to all. Government policy should not dictate who can and cannot report. The IFJ condemns the use of journalists as political pawns and implores governments to take other avenues to express their opinions.
The campaign for the Democratic nomination has moved at warp speed over the past 10 days, and on Tuesday night it reached a decisive turning point. Barring something unforeseen, Democrats now know that former vice president Joe Biden will be the party's nominee to challenge President Donald Trump in November.

Biden scored a group of victories over Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., on Tuesday, adding to the overwhelming - and unexpected - successes of last week's Super Tuesday. He romped in Mississippi, where he was expected to romp. He won handily in Missouri, where Sanders came agonizingly close four years ago. Most important, Biden won where Sanders could not afford to lose, in the general election battleground state of Michigan.

Biden remains well short of the 1,991 pledged delegates needed for a first-ballot victory at the national convention in Milwaukee in July. But with Tuesday's results, he has solidified his lead in the delegate battle and, with the states that will hold their primaries in the next two weeks, that advantage inevitably will grow. Sanders has little time and few delegates remaining to be selected to have much chance of changing the trajectory.

Arizona, Florida, Illinois and Ohio hold primaries March 17. Sanders lost all four to Hillary Clinton in 2016, in many cases by big margins. By the time those four states tally results next week, just over 60% of the pledged delegates will have been allocated. A week later comes the Georgia primary and probably another big Biden victory. Given the sudden momentum shift the campaigns have experienced, there is little to give Sanders any confidence that he can reverse the trends enough to overtake the surging Biden.

As a result of Tuesday's results, Sanders and Biden now face new - and different - challenges. For Sanders, it is dealing with the question of how long to keep the fight going in a year when defeating the president is the overriding priority for Democratic voters. For Biden, it is making the pivot to a general election campaign, while bringing unity to his own party.

Sanders is no quitter. He has shown in this campaign and in 2016 that keeping on competing hard and arguing his case are his default positions. That's the case even when the odds look long, as they did last fall after he suffered a heart attack and was being written out of the race, only to bounce back and, for a time, become the front-runner for the nomination.

Now he is the underdog, and distinctively so, thanks to the rapid, unprecedented coalescence around Biden's candidacy by former rivals and millions of voters. That leaves Sanders - not at this moment perhaps but sooner than he might like - with the question of how long and how hard he will try to battle against the former vice president and what he will urge upon his passionate following.

Sanders has said repeatedly that the Democratic candidate who has the most delegates - even if that is a plurality and not a majority - should be selected as the party's presidential nominee. He first said that when he believed he would be that candidate. Today, every bit of arithmetic and modeling says that candidate is Biden, with the odds growing that the former vice president could assemble a majority rather than just a plurality of the delegates going into the convention.

Asked Sunday by ABC's George Stephanopoulos whether he would drop out of the race if it were clear that he could not win a plurality, Sanders hedged.

"Look, we will fight for every vote that we can, as we're - as we try to win this election," he said. "I'm not a masochist who wants to stay in the race that can't be won. But right now, that's a little bit premature. Let's not determine what will happen on Tuesday, what will happen in the future."

In that interview, Sanders put down his own markers for success. He said he had "a great chance" to win in Michigan and Washington. Michigan was the state that brought his candidacy back to life four years ago when he shocked Clinton by narrowly winning the state. On Tuesday night, the state fell into Biden's column not long after the polls closed. It was as crippling a loss as Sanders has suffered this year.

Meanwhile, the results in Washington state were just beginning to be reported Tuesday night. But even if Sanders were to win Washington state, the delegate split would be far narrower than it was four years ago, when the contest was a caucus rather than a primary and he won it with more than 70% of the vote.

Four years ago, Sanders balked at endorsing Clinton even at the close of the primaries, after she had won in California and her victory was secured. That led to difficult negotiations between the two camps and a contentious opening to the Philadelphia convention. This year, many Democrats say the party cannot afford to go through a repeat of that experience. What Sanders decides about his candidacy will have a profound effect on efforts to unify the party before, not after, the convention.

But this is more than an issue for Sanders. It is of enormous consequence for Biden as well. Unity demands something of those on the losing side, but it often requires much more of the winning side. Sanders has a following, especially among young voters, for a reason. He has identified ills in an unequal economic system that they are feeling acutely. Biden has fared poorly among younger voters in part because Sanders and his agenda speak to them in ways Biden and his message do not.

Biden and his team have other work to do and less time than it might seem to get it done. Even if Sanders chooses to keep running far into the spring, Biden will have to begin to make a swift pivot toward the general election, with the goal of turning a campaign operation that has drawn criticism even from prominent supporters into a machine capable of waging a general election against the Trump forces.

Biden won states on Super Tuesday where he had spent little or no money, in states where he had held no rallies. He was winning because nearly two-thirds of Democrats appeared to be looking for a more moderate alternative to Sanders, and Biden was the last candidate standing. The deficiencies in his organization that contributed to his loss in Iowa cannot go unattended, say sympathetic Democrats.

Biden will start a general election campaign many months behind the Trump campaign in identifying the voters who will make the difference in November and communicating directly to them. For the November election, he will need to scale up his operation, sharpen his message and reach beyond to voters who either shifted to Trump in 2016 or sat on the sidelines.

Trump remains the great unifier of Democrats, but it will take something more on the part of both Sanders and Biden to bring the party fully and enthusiastically together if the party is to be ready for what promises to be a general election that voters in both parties see as the most important in their lifetimes.
Approaching Ancient Assyria Through Archaeology Leads to New Insights

Dr Bleda DAring deemed it was time for an archaeological approach on the imperialisation of Assyria. 'While there are lot of archaeological studies of Assyrian sites, they are not really trying to address this broader picture of imperialism and how this imperialisation actually worked.' These imperialisation processes are the main focus of the book The Imperialisation of Assyria: An Archaeological Approach, published by Cambridge University Press.

Chain of empires

The Assyrian Empire is the first of a chain of empires in the Near East, DAring explains. 'All in all we are talking about some 2000 years of imperial history that started with this small rather marginal citystate called AAAur.' The Assyrians endured for some 700 years and controlled most of the ancient Near East during the final centuries. 'There were no competitors left, and they even annexed Egypt at some point.'

Secret to success

The question is, how did this happen? 'What do they do differently? What was their secret to success? That is the starting question that I began with, writing this book.' At first glance, the Assyrian's brutality, knack for propaganda, and efficient army answers that question. 'But as you study these things closer, it actually becomes a lot more complex, as it always does. The Assyrians distinguish themselves from other ancient empire builders like the Egyptians and the Hittites in the way they managed to make other peoples opt in an play along with their imperial strategies.' It led to a sustainable imperial system.

An Archaeological Approach

The subtitle of the book is An Archaeological Approach. 'This is a conscious choice. The study of ancient Assyria is dominated by the scholars that can read the texts, which contain an enormous wealth of data, for example about the Assyrian kings.' However, these sources are not without their issues. 'They are propaganda,' DAring elaborates. 'These texts provide only part of the overall picture. They focus on the interactions of the elite, the court, and, of course, the king. You cannot really understand the period only on the basis of texts, though they are, naturally, an important.

Handmaidens of history

This does not mean that there is not a lot of archaeological work being done on Assyrian sites. 'However, little work has been done on the broader picture of imperialism and how this imperialisation actually worked. Archaeologists have been quite happy to be the handmaiden of history, and let the grand picture be presented by the historians, by providing some nice details.' This is the reason for the subtitle. 'I am an archaeologist working from the archaeological data, painting the bigger picture.'

An Assyrian beer brewery, Tell Sabi Abyad, Syria. Leiden archaeologists have excavated in Tell Sabi Abyad for years. ( Peter Akkermans)

Imperial patchworks

While working on the book, DAring's view on Assyria changed enormously. 'You start out with a basic set of assumptions, and then, when you work through the data, you realise that things are much more complex. I assumed that Assyria had a standard way of operating, but when you look closely at the broader archaeological data, you notice that different regions have different trajectories of development.' DAring explains that there is evidence for a constantly shifting balance of power. 'This is something that fits with newer studies of modern empires, like the British Empire and how it operated in India. In concept, the empire consisted of a very homogeneous set of institutions. On the ground, however, things differ enormously from one place to the next and through time. This you cannot see in the textual records, but you see it in the archaeological remains.'
A Cayuga County resident is currently being tested for the coronavirus and is self-quarantining after traveling to a country with ongoing transmission of novel coronavirus, according to the countys health department.

The person self-reported their travel to the countys health department.

The Cayuga County Health Department and Auburn Community Hospital arranged the test.

Seven other county residents are under precautionary quarantine, though none have exhibited any symptoms of COVID-19, the health department said.

As of 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, New York State had 173 coronavirus cases. The only two Upstate New York cases are in Saratoga County. Thirty-six of the cases are in New York City.

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.

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Made In Chelsea's 19th season is set to return on March 23 - and a brand new trailer has been released to get fans in the mood.

And notably, following MailOnline's exclusive announcement that veteran cast members Binky Felstead and Ollie Locke are returning to the fold, the pair are front and centre in the new teaser.

Featuring the show's longest-standing cast members alongside Ollie and Binky, the stars are asked to define Made In Chelsea.

First look: Made In Chelsea's 19th season is set to return on March 23 - and a brand new trailer has been released to get fans in the mood

'Too real for comfort!' says Sophie Hermann, as Mark Francis Vandelli simply utters: 'Vulgar, vulgar, vulgar!'

'We're older, we're a bit wiser I think,' muses Binky, to which Ollie replies: 'Are you wiser?'

She replies, in true Binky style: 'I'm never going to be a scientist or a mathemagician. Is that how you say it?'

'No, it's mathematician!' Ollie corrects her.

Front and centre: Binky Felstead and Ollie Locke are returning to the fold

What is MIC? Featuring the show's longest-standing cast members alongside Ollie and Binky, the stars are asked to define Made In Chelsea

She speaks ze truth! 'Too real for comfort!' says Sophie Hermann

'This is our lives,' Binky goes on. 'The future is really, really exciting.'

Jamie Laing then says to Alex Mytton and Sam Thompson: 'Don't laugh. I'm a really good friend!'

At which the pair laugh.

Olivia Bentley rounds off the trailer with: 'It's my life. It's everything.'

Pearls of wisdom! 'We're older, we're a bit wiser I think,' muses Binky

To which Ollie replies: 'Are you wiser?'

Mark Francis Vandelli simply utters: 'Vulgar, vulgar, vulgar!'

The new season will also see the return of Binky's mother Jane, along with Ollie's fiance Gareth.

The foursome have all been absent from the structured reality series in recent seasons.

The show will pick up with Ollie and Binky returning for a catch-up dinner.

Ollie gets emotional as he tells the group about his recent romance and surprise engagement to long-time friend Gareth.

She replies, in true Binky style: 'I'm never going to be a scientist or a mathemagician. Is that how you say it?' 'No, it's mathematician!' Ollie corrects her

OG star: Fredrik Ferrier is back, in one of his famous turtlenecks

Will they/Won't they? The lines of friendship have become blurred for flatmates Miles Nazaire and Emily Blackwell

Elsewhere, Jamie and Sophie 'Habbs' Habboo are back on track after their dramatic reconciliation in Buenos Aires - and are off to view a plush potential pad together.

Zara McDermott is also in the mood for interior design, suggesting dramatic changes to Sams house and hinting shes keen to cement their relationship.

But trouble is looming when skittish Sam confides in Harry Baron that hes not ready to take the next step.

Jamie Laing then says to Alex Mytton and Sam Thompson: 'Don't laugh. I'm a really good friend!' At which the pair laugh

She's back home: 'This is our lives,' Binky goes on. 'The future is really, really exciting.'

Next steps? Elsewhere, Jamie and Sophie 'Habbs' Habboo are back on track after their dramatic reconciliation in Buenos Aires - and are off to view a plush potential pad together

Meanwhile the lines of friendship have become blurred for flatmates Miles Nazaire and Emily Blackwell.

But with Miles suddenly dating someone new and an admirer about to reveal himself to Emily, will the flatmates ever become bed mates? Or is an impending Chelsea love triangle on the horizon.

Ollie and Gareth will be planning their upcoming wedding, with Binky heavily involved as Ollie's best friend.

Olivia Bentley rounds off the trailer with: 'It's my life. It's everything'

MIC faves Louise Thompson and fiance Ryan Libbey also feature in the series, having made appearances during the last season after some time off-screen.

Ollie said of returning: 'I couldnt be happier to be back home in Chelsea and even more special to be alongside my Binky.

'Its the start of a new adventure as Gareth and I plan our wedding and Im so excited everyone has the opportunity to watch the process. I cant wait to see where this year takes us!'

Glam Gran! Binky's beloved mother and fan-favourite Jane will also be returning

Here come the grooms: Ollie's fiance Gareth will also be joining the cast

Binky added: 'Im so excited to be back with my Made in Chelsea family. It feels like Ive come home!

'To be coming back with my best friend, Ollie and his fiance Gareth as we navigate the next stage of our lives is so exciting and I cant wait for everyone to watch what we get up to this year.'

Binky, 29, and Ollie, 32, were part of the original cast of the show when it premiered in 2011, while Jane, Binky's beloved mother, joined the cast from season two, dropping in and out and giving sage words of wisdom.

Since leaving the show, Ollie has released a book and pursued a career in acting, landing a starring role in recently-released movie Greed, alongside Steven Coogan and Isla Fisher.

Ollie will still be working on acting roles alongside filming Made In Chelsea.

The OGs: Binky, 29, and Ollie, 32, were part of the original cast of the show when it premiered in 2011

Stalwart: Binky was one of the only original cast members to feature consistently for most of the run, from season one through to MIC:Ibiza in 2017

He quit the show originally after its fifth season in 2013, returning again in 2015 during the summer series MIC:LA.

He then stuck round until season 13 ended, returned again for seasons 15 and 16 and has sat the last year or so of the show out.

Binky was one of the only original cast members to feature consistently for most of the run, from season one through to MIC:Ibiza in 2017. She then made a surprise one-off appearance in season 16, the following year.

In and out: Ollie was first to quit the show after its fifth season in 2013, returning again in 2015 during the summer series MIC:LA. He then stuck round until season 13 ended, returned again for seasons 15 and 16 and has sat the last year or so of the show out

Pearls of wisdom: Jane joined the cast from season two, dropping in and out and giving sage advice to the twenty-something cast

Binky left the show to have India, with fellow cast member Josh 'JP' Patterson, who also left at the same time. Following her daughter, Jane also quit the series.

Ollie introduced his fiance Gareth on the show after they got engaged in 2018, but he only appeared briefly and did not join as a regular, uninterested at the time in being on TV.

Ollie took to Instagram on Thursday and shared his thoughts on his and Binky's big return in a cute video with his pal.

He captioned this: 'A PRETTY HUGE ANNOUNCEMENT... WE ARE BACK!!! Me and Binky are back filming together on MADE IN CHELSEA!!

Close-knit: Binky's daughter India, two, won't make an appearance, having only featured briefly on an episode via FaceTime in 2017 with her parents, when the rest of the cast were in Ibiza

'Whist I have been acting and Binky has been busy being an amazing mummy and running her businesses weve managed to film some of the funniest, joyous and most heartfelt moments we have ever put on camera.

'Our friendship is exactly the same but we are now a bit older... Oh and this time there is a wedding to plan!! Xx'

Binky followed suit, adding: '... well you asked for it!! #madeinchelsea'

Made in Chelsea series 19 will officially kick off on Monday 23rd March at 9PM on E4.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-12 01:05:32|Editor: yan

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BRUSSELS, March 11 (Xinhua) -- A batch of medical supplies from China has arrived in Europe and is en route to Italy and Spain, according to Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying.

Hua said on Twitter that "A batch of medical supplies have arrived in Belgium; 1.8 million masks and 100,000 reagents are on the way. The supplies will then be delivered to Italy, Spain and to the frontline."
Bahrain's health ministry announced on March 11 that there were 77 people who had tested positive for coronavirus among the citizens that were evacuated from Iran. The 165 citizens were evacuated from coronavirus-hit Iran on March 10. They were brought back using a chartered plane and tested immediately upon entry into the kingdom.

No reported deaths

The remaining 88 citizens have tested negative for coronavirus but have still been placed under quarantine as a precautionary measure. Bahrain has reported a total of 189 cases, including the 77 citizens that were evacuated from Iran. It has not reported any deaths and a total of 30 people have recovered from the virus.

Globally, 4,380 people have died due to the deadly coronavirus, with the epicentre being in China. The virus has infected more than 1,21,000 people globally and has now spread to North America South America, Europe, New Zealand, and as many as 80 other countries.

No spectators for Bahrain Grand Prix

Bahrain Grand Prix will be held without any spectators in order to contain the spread of coronavirus. The organizers, in consultation with Formula One, announced the development on March 8. The race is scheduled to take place on March 22.

"As an F1 host nation, balancing the welfare of supporters and racegoers is a tremendous responsibility. Given the continued spread of Covid-19 globally, convening a major sporting event which is open to the public and allows thousands of international travellers and local fans to interact in close proximity would not be the right thing to do at the present time. But to ensure that neither the sport nor its global supporter base, is unduly impacted, the race weekend itself will still go ahead as a televised event."

Read: Bahrain Grand Prix To Be Held Without Any Spectators Amid Coronavirus Scare

Read: Bahrain Threatens Untested From Iran With Arrest Amid Coronavirus Outbreak

The statement added, "Bahrains own early actions to prevent, identify and isolate cases of individuals with Covid-19 has been extremely successful to date. The approach has involved rapid, proactive measures, identifying those affected by the virus, of which the overwhelming majority of cases relate to those travelling into the country by air. Aggressive social distancing measures have further increased the effectiveness of preventing the virus spread, something that would clearly be near impossible to maintain were the race to have proceeded as originally planned."

Read: Coronavirus Outbreak: Bahrain Confirms Three New Cases Of Deadly Epidemic

Read: Bahrain Vs Kuwait Live Score, Streaming, Pitch & Weather Report, ACC T20 Semi-final Update
The Madras High Court on Wedensday dismissed a petition by Nalini, a life convict in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, seeking premature release based on a Tamil Nadu cabinet decision, holding that the state governor's consent was mandatory to give effect to it.

The Honourable Supreme Court has held that under Article 161 of the Constitution of India, the Governor is bound by the advice of the Council of Ministers, but yet, it is obligatory that the signature of the Governor is mandatory to authorise the pardon, commutation or release, the court said.

A bench comprising Justices R Subbaiah and Pongiappan rejected the arguments of counsel for Nalini that the Governor's approval was not necessary and the petitioner can be released on the basis of the advice given by the cabinet.

Nalini has filed the habeas corpus petition contending that since the Tamil Nadu Governor had failed to order her release based on the September 9, 2018 recommendation of the state cabinet, she was in illegal detention.

The court said though the cabinet had recommended pre- mature release of all the seven convicts, such advice had not been acted upon and was pending consideration of the Governor.

"The mere advice tendered by the Council of Minister will not entitle the petitioner to get released prematurely unless it was accepted or signed by the Governor," the bench said.

It made it clear that the detention of Nalini cannot be declared as illegal merely based on the cabinet advice.

The petitioner was incarcerated after due trial by the competent court of jurisdiction. The fundamental right or personal liberty guaranteed under Article 14 or 21 of the Constitution has not been infringed.

"Therefore, we are of the view that the Habeas Corpus Petition itself is not maintainable," the court said.

The bench had on February 20 reserved its orders on the petition.

All the seven were convicted by a special TADA court for their role in the assassination of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi on May 21, 1991 by an LTTE suicide bomber during an election rally at nearby Sriperumbudur.

They were sentenced to death, but later it was commuted to life imprisonment.

Besides Nalini, the other life convicts are her husband Murugan, A G Perarivalan, Santhan, Jayakumar, Ravichandran and Robert Pyas.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-11 21:12:24|Editor: huaxia

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TEHRAN, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Iran's President Hassan Rouhani said on Wednesday said that people should minimize all their trips to help government to contain the COVID-19 epidemic, official IRNA news agency reported.

Speaking in the cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Rouhani said these days, people are dealing with new problem which has been unprecedented over the past decades in Iran as well as in other countries.

He called for the change of lifestyle and urged to take the novel coronavirus issue seriously.

The Iranian president said that his administration, medical centers and the Iranian armed forces are involved in the battle against the disease.

Iran's Ministry of Health and Medical Education announced Wednesday that a total of 9,000 people have been affected by the disease, of whom 354 people have died.

Iran announced the first cases of the virus infection in the central city of Qom on Feb. 19.

A team comprising five experts from the Red Cross Society of China arrived in Tehran on Feb. 29. The medical team met with the Iranian Red Crescent Society to discuss how to prevent and control the spread of the virus in the country.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: Eighty-three people, including nine foreigners of India origin, who arrived here on Wednesday from coronavirus hit Italy on an Air Indian flight have been quarantined at the ITBP facility in Manesar near Delhi, officials said.

The Indian Army said 16 children (six female and 10 male) and one infant are among the 83 people.

"Seventy-four individuals are Indian nationals and remaining nine are foreigners of Indian origin (six Italians and three US nationals)," the officials said.

Italy is one of the nations severely affected by coronavirus, with several parts under lockdown to prevent transmission.

The evacuees will be monitored for two weeks by a qualified team of doctors and staff members, to watch for any signs of infection.

"If any individual is suspected to be infected, he/she will be shifted to an isolation facility," the officials added.

Daily medical examination of all 83 people will be done at the facility, they said.

After 14 days, persons with no symptoms will be allowed to go home with their detailed documentation sent to the district, state surveillance units for further observation, the officials said.

Apart from playing games, watching TV and having meals together within a barrack, no one will be allowed to interact with the members of another barrack and definitely not of another sector, they said.

"Those found infected will be shifted to Safdarjung hospital isolation ward for further medical exams and recovery. Samples will be sent to Department of Virology AIIMS and confirmation will be done by the NCDC (National Centre for Disease Control)," they added.

Indian students brought to India from China were also kept at the Army's quarantine centre in Manesar.

The Union health ministry said on Wednesday the number of confirmed cases of novel coronavirus in India has risen to 60, with two fresh positive cases -- one each from Delhi and Rajasthan -- being reported.
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As the coronavirus continues to spread across the globe, whether to travel, and where its safe to go, has become increasingly complicated. Experts say you need to stay informed. Here, their advice on some of the most pressing questions facing people who might be considering traveling.

I have a vacation planned. Is it safe to go?

This is up to you, experts said.

People need to make an individual decision at this point, weighing the risks and benefits, said Scott Weisenberg, an infectious disease doctor at New York University School of Medicine, and director of the universitys Travel Medicine Program.

Weisenberg said travellers should consult with a health care provider and monitor the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website for the most up-to-date travel notices before making a decision. The CDC has recommended travellers avoid all nonessential travel to destinations with Level 3 travel notices. These countries include: China, Iran, South Korea and Italy.

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

If you are an older adult or you have a chronic medical condition, the CDC is advising you to avoid visiting Japan, which now has a Level 2 travel health notice.

If you are thinking about boarding a cruise, the CDC recommends that travellers defer those plans  especially if they have an underlying health condition. Cruises group large numbers of people in very close proximity, which promotes the spread of respiratory viruses, such as the virus that causes COVID-19, according to the agencys website.

For people who are at a higher risk, they should really think carefully about what is the risk of the coronavirus in the area that they are going to, Weisenberg said.

If I cancel my flight, will I get my money back?

It depends. Typically, you would have to at least pay a cancellation fee or booking penalty if you did not buy a fully refundable ticket, which is usually more expensive.

But the coronavirus has hit airlines hard, and many, including Delta, United and American, are loosening their booking policies and suspending cancellation or rescheduling fees.

At the moment, the airlines are being very helpful, said Jonathan Breeze, chief executive of AardvarkCompare Travel Insurance, a travel insurance company. These are not normal circumstances and the airlines are seeing that people are not booking flights, so airlines are offering commercial flexibility.

I cant get my airline on the phone, what should I do?

Obviously, the 800 numbers are overwhelmed, said Michael Holtz, the founder and chief executive of SmartFlyer, a luxury travel agency. Because of the coronavirus and the news, things have just spiralled out of control and a lot of people have questions.

On Tuesday, many of the major airlines in the United States informed travellers that they could expect longer wait times to speak to a customer service agent.

We are receiving more calls than we typically do and your hold time may be longer than usual, a United recorded message said. The wait time was 90 minutes.

Other airlines like Delta, redirected callers to their websites and their apps, where they could find more information about rescheduling or canceling flights, a recorded message instructed. American had the option to leave your contact information for an agent to call you back in the next two hours, the longest you could hold your place in line.

Holtz said the airlines websites and apps are travellers fastest way to answer their questions or change their travel plans.

My advice is to use technology, Holtz said. But in the current situation, when customer service representatives are overwhelmed, he does not recommend resorting to Twitter. Its not necessarily going to make things faster, he said.

If travellers have the good fortune of having a travel agent, they should contact the agent as soon as possible, as many have direct connections with airlines, Holtz said.

What about travel insurance?

Insurance companies have very specific circumstances under which they pay out if you decide to cancel or interrupt your trip.

Choosing not to travel because you are concerned about getting infected with the coronavirus is not one of them, nor is a government advisory, said John Cook, president and chief executive of Quotewright.com, a travel insurance company.

Those covered reasons are very specific and they do not include being fearful of being exposed to a virus and the government telling you not to travel, Cook said.

The answer has been to buy what is called cancel-for-any-reason coverage, which costs more, but usually lets you recoup about 75% of your money, Cook said.

But that option may be disappearing. Jason Schreier, the chief executive of APRIL Travel Protection, a travel insurance company with yearly sales of more than $1.1 billion, said that his companys sales of cancel-for-any-reason insurance had jumped 275% since the outbreak began. As of last week, APRIL stopped selling the upgraded policies, after its underwriters required the company to pull them from the market, saying that it was not meant to cover such a concentrated risk among travellers.

Weve never seen a spike in the any-reason purchases like were seeing now, Schreier said. Its an unprecedented spike, which caused an unprecedented reaction.

Other companies, like Generali and RoamRight have also stopped letting purchasers upgrade to a cancel for any reason policy, according to letters they sent to insurance agents.

But others, including Allianz Global Assistance, are going in the opposite direction and extending their coverage. Epidemics are usually not included in travel insurance coverage, but Allianz has said that for a limited time it will accommodate claims for trip cancellation and emergency medical care for travellers who become ill with the coronavirus. Those who cancel their trips to China, South Korea and the Lombardy and Veneto regions of Italy would also be covered, said Daniel Durazo, director of marketing and communications at Allianz Global Assistance USA.

Will I be quarantined when I come back?

Possibly.

If you travel to a city that does not have a large number of confirmed cases  or perhaps no cases at all  but the number of confirmed cases rapidly increases during your stay, it could affect what happens when you return home, Weisenberg said.

You might be restricted on your re-entry, Weisenberg said, adding that you could be asked to quarantine yourself at home, or be placed in a special facility.

Even if you are not quarantined by health officials, some companies are requiring employees who have been traveling to work remotely, he added. And things are changing rapidly.

Those answers may vary depending on ongoing public health changes, Weisenberg said. Once we have widespread testing available, then it will be easier for travellers to have a better idea of what the risk is in different areas.

Some places in the United States have declared states of emergency. Can I still travel to those places?

More than 10 states have declared a state of emergency or a public health emergency, including Washington, California, New York and Florida. As a practical matter, that does not affect travel  flights are not cancelled and the CDC has not issued any travel restrictions. States of emergency are used by local and state governments to help them shift funding, as well as to have the authority to close schools and other facilities.

You can go there, Weisenberg said. The main risk would be to your health.

There could be other consequences, however. Your employer, for example, might decide that you have to self-quarantine once you have returned to your home state. Check and see what policies are in place before you travel.

Should I just stay home?

As of right now, Weisenberg cautioned travelers who might be tempted by a cheap airfare to put a lot of thought into whether they should book. Their safest option is to limit travel until the world has a better understanding of the virus, he said.

Think it through, dont go on a whim, he said.

c.2020 The New York Times Company
Queensland is directing extra resources to deal with the threat of coronavirus, however the state Health Minister insists the disease is still well contained.

Extra resources are being put in place on the Gold Coast, with a fever clinic already established at Gold Coast University Hospital.

Health Minister Steven Miles toured the facility on Wednesday, and said a second fever clinic would be opened at the nearby Robina Health Precinct on Thursday.

Mr Miles was hesitant to give a list of all the fever clinics in Queensland, saying the list would grow and shrink on a needs basis.
But as the crisis mounts, cosmetics companies, whose very business relies upon the now-discouraged practice of touching ones face, are evaluating their regular practices.

Coty created a global response team that meets daily to actively monitor the situation very closely. Sephora has its employees wiping down front door handles with Clorox wipes hourly, though early this week consultants in at least one store were still applying makeup from common testers to customers. The company has canceled an annual convention, Sephoria, and said in a statement, in part: At Sephora, the health and safety of our clients, employees and their families is our first priority. We are monitoring the global Covid-19 outbreak very closely, following the guidance recommended by our government, health officials and local leadership.

Gucci Westman, a makeup artist and the founder of Westman Atelier, a makeup brand, canceled a Feb. 23 trip to Milan and Paris, where she planned to attend events, see clients and do the makeup for the fashion designer Rosie Assoulins presentation, which was called off.

Whats going to happen is actresses and models will probably end up bringing their own makeup to shoots, or at least their own brushes, Ms. Westman said, quickly adding: Im a freak about washing my brushes, but if youre in contact with all these people, makeup artists who have done shows in Milan? You dont really want to kiss those people who have been in Milan.

Makeup is a daily pick-me-up for many even in difficult times, and there is an oft-cited economic indicator known as the Lipstick Effect (more recently debunked). This time around Chris Ventry, a vice president in the consumer and retail practice of management consultancy SSA & Company, optimistically predicted what he called the Longwear Foundation (or Mascara) Effect.
A New York man who threatened to kill Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) has been sentenced to a year in prison.

Patrick W. Carlineo, Jr., who threatened to put a bullet in Omar was sentenced to serve 12 months and one day in prison, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorneys Office on March 6.

In addition to the death threat, he was also convicted of possession of firearms that were legally prohibited due to a previous conviction of Criminal Mischief in the Second Degree in 1998.

The 56-year-old of Addison, New York, pleaded guilty to threatening Omar and being a felon in possession of firearms last November.

Chief U.S District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr., ordered Carlineo to forfeit six firearms and hundreds of rounds of ammunition.

According to the Attorneys Office, Carlineo called Omars office in Washington, D.C. on March 21, 2019, at 12:20 p.m. and her staff answered the call.

Carlineo said during the call: Do you work for the Muslim Brotherhood? Why are you working for her, shes a [expletive] terrorist. Somebody ought to put a bullet in her skull. Back in the day, our forefathers would have put a bullet in her [expletive]  Ill put a bullet in her [expletive] skull, the staff member recalled.

The call was immediately reported to the United States Capitol Police Threat Assessment Section and they began the investigation along with the FBI.

On April 5, investigators found a loaded handgun, three rifles, shotguns, and hundreds of rounds of ammunition at Carlineos New York apartment.

Omar is a Member of the United States Congress from the 5th Congressional District in Minnesota. Carlineo made the call because he believed that she supports Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood and considered her election to the United States Congress illegitimate, according to the Attorneys Office.

After Carlineo pleaded guilty in November, Omar wrote a letter to the judge requesting a system of compassion to be applied in his sentencing.

The letter read: Who are we as a nation if we respond to threats of political retribution with retribution ourselves? The answer to hate is not more hate; it is compassion.

Punishing the defendant with a lengthy prison sentence or a burdensome financial fine would not rehabilitate him. It would not repair the harm he has caused. It would only increase his anger and resentment.
In China, where the coronavirus pandemic originated and where the vast majority of cases and fatalities have occurred, the government took severe, authoritarian measures to stop the spread of the virus. In addition to placing its citizens under electronic surveillance to monitor their travel, and rounding up anyone suspected of contracting an infection, China locked down entire provincesincluding the Wuhan province, where the virus appears to have first appeared.

The strict measures left hundreds of millions of Chinese citizens effectively locked down, leaving them with a lot of free time on their hands. And despite the fact that porn is banned in the country, searching for porn online is exactly how the quarantined Chinese people chose to pass the time.

Perhaps because porn is illegal in China, many of the internet searches used slang, or coded terms, according to a study by English-language China news site Abacus.

On Chinas largest search engine, Baidu, searches for the word maopian saw a surge as the coronavirus crackdown took hold. What is maopian? According to Abacus, the word is a popular slang term for porn, though it translates roughly as hair movie.

Even after Chinese workers were supposed to return to work in mid-February searches for porn-related terms continued to remain at steady, high levels, breaking the typical pattern that sees the searches spike on weekends and then sink during the week.

Other code words for porn searched by the locked-down Chinese citizens included Europe and US all free to watch, as well as A movie, presumably an abbreviation of adult movie, according to the Abacus report.

In fact, Chinese porn searches were so heavy that researchers in the United States who attempted to gather data on the Chinese coronavirus response used the volume of porn searches as an indicator of how many people were remaining home, according to John Brownstein, chief innovation officer at the Boston Childrens Hospital, who conducted research on Chinas attempts to stem the viral outbreak.

Though porn is banned in China, actually enforcing the ban in a country of nearly 1.4 billion people is a tall order. China relies on reports from its own citizens, offering rewards equivalent to $120,000 for informants who rat out porn producers.

That sum is more than 10 times the average annual wage of a Chinese worker.

Photo by GangstonTech / Wikimedia Commons
Guide for Returning to Campus

In the current environment, the health and safety of students, faculty, and staff remain our top priority. To that end, we have taken several important steps that are consistent with the requests of government leaders and health officials.
KAMPALA  The Ministry of Finance has asked the Ugandan Embassy in Beijing, China to refund money sent to its account the by mistake.

Although Cabinet had direct the ministry to send $61,800, the Ministry of Finance transferred $600,000 on the request of the education ministry.

Now, the Secretary to the Treasury, Mr. Keith Muhakanizi has ordered the Embassy to transfer USD 538,200 (approx. UGX 2 billion) back to the Contingency Fund with immediate effect.

As youre aware, on 28th of February, this Ministry (Ministry of Finance) transferred USD 600,000 through the Ugandan Mission in Beijing to support affected students. However, upon receive of the Cabinet extract number, we noted that theres a discrepancy between the amounts therein and that in the letter from the Ministry of Education and Sports, Mr. Muhakanizi wrote.

He added: The purpose of this letter, therefore, is to direct you to return the excess 538200 back to Contingencies Fund account.

Ugandan students have been sending messages of serious concern over lack of food and other supplies after being confined in hostels.

The government says 105 Ugandan students are in Wuhan city universities where 65 are known government-sponsored students, while 40 are on private sponsorship.

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11.03.2020 LISTEN

Anadarko Petroleum Corporation has set a new record in Ghanas nascent petroleum sector by selling its assets in the Jubilee Field and the Tweneboah-Enyera-Ntomme (TEN) Project to its global competitor at a price never seen before.

The company used 13 years to nurture its two stakes in Ghanas foremost oil and gas fields for them to be worth US$2.5 billion in a deal that is now set to introduce the French oil giant, TOTAL S.A., into the countrys upstream petroleum sector.

In fact, despite witnessing four major transfers of assets, technically called assigning and assumption of interest, in the period following oil discovery in 2007, none of the sales hit the one billion US dollar mark.

And if one is minded to extend it to the general economy, the Anadarko-TOTAL S.A. deal could as well be the mother of all takeovers in the history of mergers and acquisitions (M&As) in the country.

Mr Michael Cobblah, who has led the successful execution of series of M&As in the country, told the GRAPHIC BUSINESS on March 2 that in recent times, I am not sure there has been a deal worth up to that amount.

Sabre-PetroSA

Until the Anadarko-TOTAL S.A. deal last year, the priciest takeover in the industry, which was also the second of its kind, involved the controversial acquisition of Sabre Oil and Gas Holdings Ghana Limited by PetroSA in 2012.

It involved the takeover of Sabres operations in Ghana, which had a 4.05 per cent stake in the Jubilee Fields, South Africas national oil company.

That deal was reportedly worth US$480 million although PetroSA later reported that the value had increased to US$500 million after including contingencies in the cost of transaction.

Be it US$480 million or US$500 million, the value of that transaction is now five times lower than the US$2.5 billion that TOTAL S.A. reportedly agreed to pay for Anadarkos assets in Ghana.

And there are genuine reasons why.

Volume of assets

Although both sales occurred in fields that were producing oil in the Jubilee Fields (in part), Anadarko used more years to nurture its assets than Sabre did prior to the sale.

Also, this is the first time that an oil exploration and production company has sold such a sizeable amount of its interest in an oil filed that is in active production in Ghana.

Thus, beyond the value, the deal is also the largest transfer of interest in the industry.

Until the sale last year, Anadarko had been operating in Ghana since 2006, within which period it owned 24.077 per cent in the Jubilee Field, which is Ghana's first and jewel oil field, and 17 per cent in the TEN Project, an integrated oil and gas project.

Now, those assets are set to become the assets of TOTAL S.A., the Paris-based E&P firm that reported revenue of about US$209.4 billion in 2018, should the government approve the transaction.

Other sales

The petroleum sector witnessed its first acquisition in May 2011 when the E.O. Group, a Ghanaian-owned firm, sold its stake in the Jubilee Fields to Tullow Oil Ghana.

The transaction involved the transfer of the companys 3.5 per cent stake in the field to the operator in return for US$305 million.

After that transaction came the Sabre-PetroSA deal in 2012 which was followed by six years of no transfers in the sector.

In 2018, however, Norwegian billionaire, Mr Kjell Inge Roekke, made a strong entry into the country through a controversial deal that introduced his petroleum company, Aker Energy, into the country.

The company paid US$100 million for Hess Ghanas 50 per cent stake in the Deepwater Tano Cape Three Points block (DWT/CTP).

Genesis of Andarko sale

But how did the Anadarko-TOTAL S.A. deal come into being?

Last year, Occidental Petroleum, an American petroleum company, acquired the global operations of Anadarko in a transaction that would later introduce TOTAL S.A. into Africas burgeoning upstream petroleum sector.

As part of the agreement to acquire Anadarko, Occidental agreed to sell Anadarkos operations in Africa to TOTAL SA.

That transaction led to the transfer of Anadarkos assets in Ghana, Mozambique, Algeria and South Africa to TOTAL S.A. at US$8.8 billion.

Number crunch

US$2.5bn

If one is minded to extend it to the general economy, the Anadarko-TOTAL S.A. deal of US$2.5 billion could, as well, be the mother of all takeovers in the history of mergers and acquisitions (M&As) in the country.

----graphic.com.gh
U.S. Ambassador to Korea Harry Harris, right, checks a thermal imaging camera at the departure lobby of Incheon International Airport, Wednesday. Korea started fever checks and other health examinations on U.S.-bound passengers on the same day. Later in the day, Harris said he was impressed by the Korea's robust and comprehensive response to the COVID-19 outbreak, according to the embassy. / Yonhap
Armenian News - NEWS.am presents a daily digest of top news as of 11.03.2020:

 A soldier of the Armenian Armed Forces was killed in fire by the Azerbaijani side, the Defense Ministry said in a statement.

Zohrab Sianosyan (born in 1984) was fatally wounded as Azerbaijani side opened fire on Tuesday afternoon in the direction of one of the military units in Armenias southwest. An investigation has been launched.

Meanwhile, the Armenian MFA has issued a statement regarding the incident. According to it, regular attempts by Azerbaijan to escalate the situation on the state border with Armenia attest to the deliberate nature of Azerbaijans attempts to undermine regional security and peace.

 Lydian Armenia company employees have filed a lawsuit, said Liana Hovsepyan, a representative of Lydian Armenia company.

According to her, it has been two years since the Amulsar goldmine has been closed illegally, and the employees have been unable to enter their workplace.

There have been various inspections to restore their rights so that they can work, but no solution has been given so far, she said. Seeing that the government is not supporting us, having lost our last faith in the government and the prime minister, we had to file a lawsuit with a group of employees last week, she said.

 The funeral of the 43-year-old woman who was killed on March 5 in Gyumri, Armenia, took place Wednesday in the city, Armenian parliament vice speaker Lena Nazaryan, who was present at the funeral, wrote on her Facebook.

Gyumri Municipality told Armenian News-NEWS.am that the funeral was organized by the city hall because this womans relatives had refused to do so.

By the way, none of her relatives, including her son who lived with his aunt after his father's death, attended the funeral.

The womans 13-year-old daughter, who also had suffered a beating from the 28-year-old man, is currently in hospital in Yerevan; in recent days, there has been a positive shift in her condition.

The man has been already arrested and a criminal case, on charges of causing intentional harm to health, has been instituted in connection with the incident.

 The American dollars (USD) exchange rate against the Armenian dram (AMD) comprised AMD 483.03/$1 in Armenia on Wednesday; this is up by AMD 0.94 from Tuesday, CBA reported.

The exchange rate for one euro was AMD 546.11, the rate of one UK pound totaled AMD 625.86, and the rate of one Russian ruble made up AMD 6.75 in the country.

 The 29-year-old man who was diagnosed with coronavirus in Armenia on March 1 is undergoing another checkup. All others with whom he has interacted and who are currently isolated at a hotel in Armenias Tsaghkadzor will also be tested.

According to the Armenian health ministry, the patient is currently under doctors supervision.

Doctors say there will be another test if the results of the second test are negative. If the results of both tests are negative, the patient will be checked out of the hospital, and the same goes for those under quarantine.

Meanwhile, there have been 4,378 deaths and 121,242 infections so far from coronavirus worldwide. A total of 66,908 patients recovered and were discharged from hospitals.
Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), right, raises his hand as former Vice President Joe Biden makes a point during a Democratic presidential primary debate in December. Both candidates cancelled scheduled rallies in Cleveland Tuesday night. Read more

WASHINGTON  Democratic presidential candidates Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden abruptly canceled scheduled rallies Tuesday night in Cleveland amid concerns over the spread of the new coronavirus  as public health fears began transforming the 2020 race.

Sanders had been planning to speak at a convention center in Cleveland as results from six states voting in the Democratic presidential contests began rolling in. But he pulled the plug only about three hours before it was scheduled to start, and his campaign announced that decisions on future events would be made on a case-by-case basis.

Out of concern for public health and safety, we are canceling tonights rally in Cleveland. We are heeding the public warnings from Ohio state officials, who have communicated concern about holding large, indoor events during the coronavirus outbreak, Sanders' campaign spokesman, Mike Casca, said in a statement. All future Bernie 2020 events will be evaluated on a case by case basis.

A Biden spokesman initially suggested the former vice president's own event in Cleveland would go on as scheduled, but his campaign subsequently released a statement saying it was off.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine declared a state of emergency after three individuals from Cuyahoga County, which includes Cleveland, tested positive for the virus that causes COVID-19.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia.

Sanders is 78. Biden is 77.

The vast majority of people recover from the virus. According to the World Health Organization, people with mild illness recover in about two weeks, while those with more severe illness may take three to six weeks to do so.

On Sunday, President Donald Trump's campaign communications director Tim Murtaugh said, The campaign is proceeding as normal. But the campaign hasnt announced another rally to follow the presidents last one in North Carolina on March 2. Up until now, it had been keeping a steady pace of rallies this year. The 73-year-old president is still scheduled to travel to Las Vegas and Denver this week for fundraisers and a speech to the Republican Jewish Coalition.

Anthony Fauci, the nations leading infectious disease expert, has stopped short of calling on candidates to put a pause on political rallies. But he also isn't faulting anyone who chooses to do so, saying that what they're probably acting on is what they would consider for their citizens, an abundance of caution.

I wouldn't criticize them for that. They're using their own individual judgment," Fauci said. And to me, I think that that would be proven.

But he also added: This is a something in motion. This is an evolving thing" so if you're talking about a campaign rally tomorrow in a place where there is no community spread, I think the judgment to have it might be a good judgment.

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.
KOCHVILLE TWP, MI  With coronavirus now in Michigan and the World Health Organization declaring the disease it causes, COVID-19, a global pandemic, Saginaw Valley State University has joined a growing list of colleges and universities canceling in-person instruction and moving classes online.

SVSU President Donald J. Bachand sent an email to students just before 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 11, notifying them that in-person instruction is to be suspended effective Monday, March 16, through at least Friday, April 17, among other precautionary measures the university is taking. The letter addressed to the campus community reads:

"We care about you, and your health and well-being. The State of Michigan has confirmed two individuals have contracted the COVID-19 virus. We are monitoring the latest guidance from the state and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.

"The SVSU leadership team meets daily to discuss the status of this outbreak and SVSUs operations. The team had a conference call with the Saginaw County Health Department this morning and is communicating with the department frequently. At this time, the risk for contracting the virus in our area is low, but this is a rapidly developing situation. Please remember that race or ethnicity has no bearing on the likelihood of becoming sick or transmitting disease.

"Effective today (March 11), SVSU is suspending all university-sponsored international travel through at least June 30. We strongly advise faculty, staff and students to avoid personal international travel, as well.

"We strongly discourage SVSU-sponsored domestic travel by faculty, staff and students, as well. Faculty, staff and students should consult with their supervisor prior to any trips. We may further restrict domestic travel with little advance notice, as circumstances warrant.

"We are suspending face-to-face instruction for lecture and discussion classes and moving to online or remote instruction, effective Monday, March 16 and through at least Friday, April 17. All instructors will contact their students no later than Wednesday, March 18 to provide further information about course delivery. We are continuing to work with faculty and staff on laboratory and performance classes, and the university will provide additional guidance.

"We will re-evaluate the need for remote learning before April 15 and will provide further information at that time. During this time period, students doing purely remote work can return to their permanent place of residence but for students who remain on campus, we will maintain operations in our residence halls and dining services. For campus dining, we will be taking steps to increase grab and go options and reduce communal dining.

"Academic and student support services, as well as business operations, will remain open.

"At this time, SVSU is evaluating the upcoming public events we are scheduled to host. We are planning to hold events scheduled for this weekend and will make a decision regarding future events later this week. We will continue our enhanced cleaning and sanitation procedures, and we will encourage our visitors to practice good hygiene, as we all should be doing, and to consider their personal health in connection with the implications of large gatherings. Again, this could change with little advance notice.

"Symptoms of the COVID-19 virus include: a cough, a fever greater than 100.4 degrees, and shortness of breath. If you exhibit these symptoms, please call-in sick, avoid contact with others and call your health care provider. It is important to call ahead so that health care agencies can provide appropriate assessment, care and instructions. Please know that many health insurance plans offer tele-medicine services. Individuals who have been sick should remain home until their fever has been gone for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medicines.

The health and welfare of our entire campus community is our highest priority. We will continue to update the campus community with the latest information surrounding the COVID-19 virus, and will update our www.svsu.edu/coronavirus webpage.

Elsewhere in Michigan, Central Michigan University and Michigan Technological University officials announced on Wednesday they are suspending in-person classes and moving to online instruction because of coronavirus COVID 19. Both universities are on spring break now, and officials say theyre attempting to prevent returning students from bringing coronavirus onto campus. In addition, Michigan State University has cancelled in-person classes and moved to online classes, effective noon Wednesday.

Also on Wednesday, Bay City Public Schools Superintendent Stephen C. Bigelow halted the districts attendance incentives and urged any student or staff member who is ill to stay home.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Tuesday, March 10, announced Michigans first coronavirus cases and declared a state of emergency. The World Health Organization has declared the coronavirus crisis to be a global pandemic.

Were going to keep Michigan safe and were going to be prudent," Whitmer said, adding she intends to meet with officials Wednesday to determine what further measures to take. A related announcement is expected Wednesday afternoon, according to a press release from the governors office.

Michigan is the 38th state to have a confirmed case of coronavirus COVID-19. Nationwide, there have been nearly 1,000 reported cases and 31 deaths.

COVID-19 symptoms, which include fever, cough and shortness of breath, may appear within two to 14 days of exposure to the virus.

PREVENTION TIPS

Much like how you would try to prevent the flu, you want to stay away from people who are sick and practice good hygiene, says the CDC.

The latter means thoroughly washing your hands for at least 20 seconds, especially after using the bathroom and before eating. Avoid touching your mouth or face unless your hands are clean.

Use household cleaners to disinfect commonly touched objects and surfaces. Use disinfectant wipes to clean your hands or surfaces such as shopping-cart handles when out in public.

Some people are going the extra step and using smartphone sanitizers as a precaution, but a disinfecting wipe used lightly on the outside will likely work fine, too.

For the latest information, visit Michigan.gov/coronavirus or CDC.gov/coronavirus.

Find more coronavirus coverage from MLive here.

Related news:

Bay City St. Patricks Day Parade organizers meeting to discuss coronavirus threat

8 things to know about coronavirus now that its in Michigan

Michigan Joint Information Center activated to support states coronavirus response

Coronavirus Q&A, 15 things to know about COVID-19s spread
T he Menier Chocolate Factory has lowered the price of its tickets in a bid to keep the theatre full during the coronavirus outbreak.

The theatre is selling all remaining March tickets for its production of Indecent for 20.

The Menier has taken inspiration from Broadway producer Scott Rudin, who has reduced the price of tickets for usually sold-out productions of To Kill a Mockingbird, West Side Story, The Lehman Trilogy, Whos Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and The Book of Mormon to $50 in an attempt to keep New York theatres full.

Artistic Director of the Menier, David Babani, said: "We are enormously proud to be staging Paula Vogel's award-winning Indecent  it's an extraordinary piece of theatre with a company that deserves to be seen.

Inspired by Scott Rudin's stance on Broadway, we have decided to sell all remaining tickets for March's performances at 20. Our doors are open, and we want to share this important piece of theatre with audiences across the capital."

March's best theatre - in pictures 1 /14 March's best theatre - in pictures The Seagull March 11-May 30, Playhouse Theatre Marc Brenner City of Angels March 5-September 5, Garrick Theatre Johan Persson Pretty Woman From March 2, Piccadilly Theatre Oliver Rosser Blithe Spirit March 5-April 11, Duke of Yorks Nobby Clark The Seven Streams of River Ota March 6-22, National Theatre Shoe Lady March 4-21, Royal Court Niall McDiarmid The Effect March 19-May 30, Boulevard Theatre Getty Images Indecent March 13-May 9, Menier Chocolate Factory Johan Persson Love, Love, Love March 5-April 4, Lyric Hammersmith Theatre Helen Maybanks All of Us March 18-May 16, National Theatre Spencer Murphy I Think We Are Alone Until March 21, Theatre Royal Stratford East Tristram Kenton

Indecent focuses on the behind-the-scenes story of the 1923 New York staging of Sholem Aschs play God of Vengeance.

The play, set in a brothel, became controversial at the time after showing the first-ever lesbian kiss on an American stage, with the cast and crew later indicted for obscenity. It runs in London from March 13 to May 9.
Another former executive who worked for Ukraine's wealthiest billionaire, Rinat Akhmetov, has been appointed to the country's cabinet amid a government reshuffle that started last week.

Vitaliy Shubin was named acting energy and environmental protection minister, the Kyiv-based investment bank Concorde Capital said in a note to investors.

He was appointed on March 10, according to the government web portal, and previously served as first deputy of the ministry.

Before joining the cabinet, Shubin worked as an executive for two companies of Akhmetov's energy holding, DTEK, between 2011 and 2014.

Deputy Economy Minister Pavlo Kukhta was also appointed acting economy minister on March 10.

He is a longtime advocate for creating a farmland market and has called for the privatization of thousands of inefficient state enterprises.

Western analysts have said lifting the moratorium on the sale of farmland could be a huge driver of economic growth in the coming years. Ukraine is one of just six countries, including Cuba and North Korea, that doesn't have a land market.

However, powerful interests inside the country have opposed land reform and other policies pushed by former Prime Minister Oleksiy Honcharuk.

On March 4, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and his ruling Servant of the People party in parliament instituted a government shake-up, ultimately putting Denys Shmyhal in charge of the government.

Shmyhal, 44, was named deputy prime minister in February. He previously served as head of the regional administration in the western Ivano-Frankivsk region, where he made a name for himself as a business-friendly governor.

In 2017-2019, Shmyhal worked as an executive at DTEK. A native of Lviv, Shmyhal headed different businesses for most of the previous decade before entering civil service at the Lviv regional administration. He has studied abroad, mainly in Belgium, Canada, Georgia, and Finland.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Wednesday he would keep Turkey's border open for refugees until the EU had met all his demands, while comparing Greece's response to the crisis to the Nazis.

"Until all Turkey's expectations, including free movement, ... updating of the customs union and financial assistance, are tangibly met, we will continue the practice on our borders," he said in a televised speech.

Turkey's decision at the end of February to re-open its border for refugees sparked a row with Brussels, as well as harsh exchanges with Greece.

Greece has tear-gassed thousands of migrants trying to break through and been accused of beating and stripping migrants of their belongings if they made it across the border.

"There is no difference between what the Nazis did and those images from the Greek border," Erdogan said.

Greece has denied using violence and accused Turkey of pushing desperate people into dangerous attempts to enter Europe.

Erdogan said he opened the gates in order to pressure Europe into providing greater assistance with the Syrian conflict, where Turkey has fought to push back a regime offensive on the last rebel stronghold of Idlib.

"With the warming of the weather in the spring, the influx of irregular migrants heading to Europe will not be limited to Greece but spread all over the Mediterranean," he warned.

But he reiterated that Turkey hopes for a fresh agreement with Brussels ahead of the next EU leaders' summit on March 26.

Turkey already hosts some four million refugees -- most of them Syria -- and fears another mass influx as the regime, backed by Russia and Iran, pushes to retake Idlib.

Although Erdogan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin agreed a ceasefire for the province last week, previous deals have proved temporary and the Turkish president said Wednesday that minor violations have already been reported.

Turkey agreed to stop migrant departures under a 2016 deal with Brussels, but says it has not received all of the six billion euros promised, nor have several other demands been met, including enhanced trade and visa arrangements.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Russias State Duma adopts bill on amendments to Constitution

 RAPSI, Vladimir Burnov

11:17 11/03/2020

MOSCOW, March 11 (RAPSI)  The lower house of Russian parliament, the State Duma, passed a bill on amendments to the Constitution in the third and final reading on Wednesday.

Amendments are to be introduced into several articles of the Constitution concerning Federal Structure, President of the Russian Federation, Federal Assembly, Russias Government, Judiciary and prosecutors office, local governance.

The document specifies provisions on social guarantees for citizens such as fixing of regular pension indexation and minimum wage.

The amendments also fix definition of children as the countrys wealth and fix in the Constitution a provision reading that the state must create conditions for their cultural, intellectual, moral and physical development.

The bill also touches authorities. The residence qualification for presidential candidates is to be increased from 10 to 25 years. The Constitutional Court would be authorized to check draft laws on the request of a Head of the State. Governors, judges, government and parliament members and other officials would be banned from having foreign citizenship and residence permit.

A president would gain a right to appoint security agencies chiefs and regional prosecutors after consultations with the Federation Council.

Primacy of the Constitution over international treaties is to be fixed in the Constitution. Restrictions on the number of presidential terms are to be lifted and thus the acting Head of State will be allowed to hold the office again.

The All-Russian vote on the Constitution is scheduled for April 22. The date of the voting is to be a legal public holiday, it is to be held from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time.
Joan and Randy Fairnie, he a former manager for Imperial Oil in Western Canada, attended Shen Yun Performing Arts at Calgary's Southern Alberta Jubilee Hall, March 10, 2020. Randy enjoyed the recognition of the soul and the soul's journey that Shen Yun depicted. (Gary Bai/The Epoch Times)

CALGARY, AlbertaShen Yun Performing Arts is astounding the worlds cultural trendsetters on its 2020 tour. In Calgary, Alberta, on March 10, 2020, seasoned theatergoers attended the classical Chinese dance performance and praised the herculean effort undertaken by its artists to revive Chinas ancient culture that was once almost lost.

We Love That Spirituality in Shen Yun

Randy Fairnie is a former manager at Imperial Oil who, with a background in mechanical engineering, oversaw Western Canadas pipelines.

I really love this show, Fairnie said about Shen Yun. I thought the choreography was really good. I love the dancing and  the mix of Chinese and Western. Fairnie took in the New York-based production with his wife Joan at the Southern Alberta Jubilee Hall on March 10.

I love the 3-D, he added in reference to Shen Yuns patented digital backdrops that leave audiences a gasp by transporting the live performers into the sky and to other dimensions. Im an engineer, so I love the 3-D thing that [they] had at the back. It just made so much sense. And I really thought the physical conditioning of the dancers was amazing.

If it was on next year or the year after, I would come again, he added.

The Fairnies appreciated the values that Shen Yun portrayed in their 20 or so vignettes, values such as courage, benevolence, and faith in the Creator, which Chinese people have passed down since time immemorial.

I would say the recognition of the soul and the souls journey is one of the stepping stones I saw, Fairnie said.

They seem like very Christian values to us, said Joan, Randys wife. So we love that spirituality threaded through.

Business owner Mark Gillett (L) and his wife Pearl attended Shen Yun Performing Arts at Calgarys Southern Alberta Royal Jubilee Hall, on March 10, 2020. (Gary Bai/The Epoch Times)

Love for Others Grows Larger

Business owner Mark Gilletts feeling about Shen Yuns divine connection began even before he arrived at the Southern Alberta Jubilee Hall.

I think that, as someone of faith, that [Shen Yun] connected in that it was saying that we are not here just as temporary beings. We have an eternal purpose, and this is much of what the Chinese culture is rooted in, in many centuries past, and its really nice to see that continue. And this is why I came. When we were walking in the mall and we bought tickets for this, I felt Gods voice tell me that if I bought tickets, God would give me a love for the Chinese people. And so as I sat in the audience, I could feel that love growing and it will continue to grow.

Gilletts impression of Shen Yun overall was that It was beautiful! Very well done, very professional.

His wife, Pearl, also felt it was superb. Yes, very professional. Costumes were incredible.

[Shen Yun] is really excellent, Gillett continued. I really enjoyed the content, too, because it seemed that it was really filled with meaning and theyre really trying to say something significant to us. And part of that is that there is a heaven, and there is values that are far greater than this temporary world.

Brian Whitelaw, Chief of Security at the University of Calgary, attended Shen Yun on March 10, 2020, in Calgary and called the show exceptional  very engaging, very entertaining. (Gary Bai/The Epoch Times)

Universal Values Resonate with Shen Yun Audience Member

The University of Calgarys Chief of Campus Security Brian Whitelaw was also in attendance on March 10 in Calgary and shared Fairnies and Gilletts appreciation for Shen Yuns artistry and depth of meaning.

I think [Shen Yun] is exceptional. I think, certainly the setting, the story, the connection to Chinese culture, traditional culture, is exceptional and very engaging, very entertaining, Whitelaw said, adding that he enjoyed the music as well as the positive values in the performance.

Shen Yuns live orchestra is unique in the world in how it blends the classical orchestration style of the West with expressive instruments and melodies from China.

The orchestra always makes it a great addition, Whitelaw said, marveling at Shen Yuns bold choice of sending a live orchestra with its company of dancers around the world. Im sitting close enough to the orchestrathe choreography and the music align beautifully.

Elaborating on his comment about seeing Chinese culture, traditional culture in Shen Yun, Whitelaw discussed the courage and benevolence that had stood out to other audience members, too. I think this is a fantastic theme to unite a show to the world that brings traditional Chinese values that are maybe hidden, or part of the old life or the old way that doesnt get a chance for expression, he said.

Whitelaw expressed enthusiasm for those core values which are recognized by many of the worlds people.

Its fantastic, the connection to, certainly, traditional values, to spiritual belief, and of course the sense of heaven, and the greater beings and the Creator, is amazing, he said.

With reporting by Gary Bai 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.
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Book by former PGC officer highlights unusual wildlife encounters

Dick Bodenhorn has published a book highlighting some of the unusual encounters he had while working with the Pennsylvania Game Commision.
Currently Crave has locations across the southern United States and is starting to expand throughout the mid-west and Northeast. Crave offers Delivery, Catering, and order ahead. Most locations have outdoor patios, and Drive thru's where available. Also available are food trucks for those franchisees that want to operate a Crave on wheels, and not go the traditional building route. Crave has also developed an APP which allows customers to earn rewards, collect loyalty points, see specials, get alerts and more.

In 2019 Crave was named #16 on the top movers and shakers, for Innovative restaurant brands and executives. Additionally, Crave was just awarded the Best BBQ Restaurant Franchise in the Southern USA . "We strive to continue to be one of the fastest growing hot dog and bbq franchises offered in the US. We take pride in our quality and service and are flattered it was recognized."

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Contact: Samantha Rincione, 516-316-7420, [email protected]

SOURCE Crave Franchising LLC
With the sharp uptick in coronavirus cases, New Orleans City Council members turned their focus Tuesday to the virus' impact on the city's economy, and the tax revenue that provides government's lifeblood.

Representatives from the tourism, health care, education, transportation and nonprofit industries all expressed concern about the potential financial hit they could take as the economy slows, at a time when many of them need extra cash to implement emergency plans.

+4 Mayor's masked ball postponed indefinitely due to coronavirus concerns The New Orleans United Negro College Fund's Mayor's Masked Ball that had been set for Saturday is postponed indefinitely due to coronavirus co

Tourism organizations were at the top of that list, telling council members they are doing their best to allay the concerns of visitors who may be second-guessing their travel to the city.

"Our primary goal is to retain the business that we have coming into New Orleans as much as possible with the environment that we know now," said Mark Romig of New Orleans & Co.

But that's not happening in every case: At least three conventions have already been canceled. Council members stressed that if event cancellations continue in a city that relies on sales taxes and tourism to pay for essential services, New Orleans will need to do some serious belt-tightening.

"Not only do we pride ourselves on these large gatherings, but we depend on them for our fiscal health," Councilman Jason Williams said.

Metairie St. Patrick's Day Parade events canceled amid coronavirus fears Jefferson Parish President Cynthia Lee Sheng announced Wednesday the cancellation of Sunday's St. Patrick's Day Parade in Metairie and the Old

Though Congress last week allocated $8.3 billion in emergency funding for states and cities to respond to the novel coronavirus, that money is primarily focused on immediate needs related to the outbreak, like efforts to expand research and send more test kits to states.

A second stimulus package is being debated, though members of Congress and President Trump are at odds about exactly what relief should be offered.

The first presumptive case of COVID-19 was confirmed in Louisiana on Monday in a Jefferson Parish resident who was hospitalized in Orleans Parish. Since then, 12 other cases have emerged.

Amid the worsening news, Mayor LaToya Cantrell called off several parades, including Saturday's St. Patrick's Day procession, citing health concerns.

The New Orleans Wine & Food Experience, set for next week, has also been called off. And organizers of the New Orleans Bourbon Festival announced Tuesday that their event would be postponed.

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Romig's group is trying to dissuade cancellations and work with groups to instead delay their events until later in the year, when more is expected to be known about the COVID-19.

Otherwise, the virus will create "a ripple effect... including the loss of business for our restaurants, hotels and other components of our tourism economy, which then directly affect our men and women who work in the industry," he said.

Already, his group is estimating that it will see up to a 30% decrease in its own budget this year, as hotel sales taxes tank.

The city's public schools, too, are pondering how a drop in sales taxes will impact them. They are also looking at the cost of ensuring that every child has a computer and a school lunch delivered to their homes should schools need to suspend face-to-face classes.

"Once a positive case is identified at the schools, school closure is likely, but it is dependent on a case-by-case basis," said Tiffany Delcour, chief operations officer for NOLA Public Schools.

She and Superintendent Henderson Lewis Jr. asked the council for estimates on potential sales tax losses, which Williams said the city would provide when they are ready.

Another agency heavily dependent on local sales taxes is the Regional Transit Authority. The agency, which derives 80% of its funding from sales taxes, has been working in recent weeks to sanitize its buses and streetcars daily, inside and out. The agency is also looking at how it can operate if a large portion of employees needs to work from home, RTA CEO Alex Wiggins told the council.

City transit will run in New Orleans "as long as it is safe to do so, while also mitigating the effects of COVID-19," he said.

Officials with the New Orleans Council on Aging were already grappling with hundreds of residents on a waiting list for Meals on Wheels due to a lack of funding.

The agency was already in a financial pinch since city officials have not yet signed its annual contract, said Howard Rodgers III, the group's executive director. And the cyberattack the city suffered last year has kept it from receiving its share of tax money that comes in from the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, he said.

"Additional Meals on Wheels is cost prohibitive" at this time, Rodgers said, though he noted the group is hoping to get money from the United Way.

The local debate about the virus' economic impact comes a day after state leaders said the falling price of oil and the effects of the coronavirus could have a negative effect on the state's budget.

Staff writer Jeff Adelson contributed to this report.
JEFFERSON CITY (AP)  Joe Biden won the Democratic primary in Missouri on Tuesday, adding to momentum that began on Super Tuesday while consolidating support among moderate voters in crucial conservative-leaning states.

Biden defeated Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders in Missouri in his push for the chance to face Republican President Donald Trump in November.

As of 10 p.m., with 85 percent of precincts in Missouri reporting, Biden had 60 percent of the Democratic ticket vote.

In St. Francois County, a total of 7,440 voters (or roughly 21% of registered voters in the county) came out to the polls for the Missouri Presidential Preference Primary. Like Missouri, St. Francois County voters picked Joe Biden as the Democratic Party nominee for president with 2,288 votes or 58% while Bernie Sanders received 1,408 votes or 36%. On the Republican ticket, Donald Trump received 3,400 votes or 98% of the Republican vote.

The candidate's ability to beat Trump was seen as vital by Missouri's Democratic primary voters, according to a poll of 1,858 voters in Missouri conducted by AP VoteCast for The Associated Press by NORC at the University of Chicago. About 9 in 10 voters said it was very important to pick a nominee who could beat the president.

Black Missouri voters were especially supportive of Biden  about three quarters picked him over Sanders. Among them was Keith Williams, 72, of Ferguson. He voted for Biden, even though he fears it wont matter in the fall election.

Ill vote for Biden in November, but I dont think Trump will lose, Williams, shaking his head, said.

But another black voter, 70-year-old Charles Jones of Jefferson City, felt better about Biden, saying he believes he can unify a fractured nation.

Hes just a down-home man, Jones said. I trust him.

The Associated Press called the Missouri race at poll closing, before any results were released, because the AP VoteCast survey showed Biden with a wide lead. It also showed the lead was spread through all parts of the state, among both men and women, as well as among both white voters and African American voters. The AP also called Mississippi for Biden at poll closing.

Things didn't always go smoothly at election sites across Missouri. A polling place in St. Louis had to relocate after a man who had just voted backed his vehicle into the building and went back inside and knocked over equipment. St. Louis County had polling site equipment problems. The mayor of Kansas City reported trouble  with his own ballot.

No one was hurt in the incident in St. Louis and the man was taken into custody, but it took nearly an hour before voters could be redirected to another polling place, the city's election director, Gary Stoff, said.

I dont think there was anything about his voting -- at least he didnt give any indication  that caused him to explode the way he did, Stoff said. Right now, we really don't know why.

Election Day got off to a rough start in St. Louis County, Missouri's most populous county, when the electronic poll books, used to check people in, had trouble syncing with the county's system. The problem was compounded with some poll workers failed to switch to a manual system to print ballots.

The problems were apparently resolved within the first hour, but some voters turned away in frustration without casting ballots. Stream estimated that at least 50 of the county's roughly 400 polling sites were impacted.

They got flustered," said St. Louis County Election Director Rick Stream. Voters left, they had to go to work. That's on us, we should have had everything working properly.

Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas said he struggled to vote at his polling site because workers couldn't find his name on the voter registration list. He said it turned out that his name had been entered backwards  with his last name listed as his first name.

Missouri, Michigan and Mississippi  where Biden claimed victories Tuesday  were among six states holding presidential primaries, along with Idaho, North Dakota and Washington. Biden was looking to build upon the momentum from last week's primary victories in what has become essentially a head-to-head battle with Sanders.

Patrick Sanders, a 22-year-old college student in Kansas City, said he voted for the presidential candidate with his same last name, partly because of his ideas for expanding health care coverage.

There is a shot with him of something that is different, that is much more hopeful than what we have now," Sanders said.

Whoever wins the Democratic nomination could face an uphill battle to carry Missouri in November against Trump. The last Democrat to carry Missouri was President Bill Clinton, in 1996. Barack Obama narrowly lost in Missouri in 2008, but the state has turned decidedly Republican since then. Mitt Romney carried Missouri by 9 percentage points in 2012, and Trump won the state by 19 percentage points on the way to victory in 2016.

Concerns about the coronavirus forced some late scrambling in Kansas City and St. Louis County, when two senior living facilities backed out of serving as voting sites less than 24 hours before the polls opened. Election authorities posted signs at the facilities redirecting voters to a nearby church in Kansas City and a union hall in the St. Louis suburbs.

About 150 of the 3,200 poll workers in St. Louis County canceled shortly before the election because of coronavirus concerns, as did 77 of the roughly 800 poll workers in Kansas City, local election officials said.

Some polling places, including ones in St. Francois County, provided hand sanitizer for voters and stocked up on disinfectant wipes for the equipment and pens. Greene County Clerk Shane Schoeller said special gloves were available for people to sign in or vote on touchscreens, and voters also were welcome to bring their own pens to mark paper ballots.

We want them to feel comfortable exercising the right to vote," Schoeller said.

Daily Journal staff contributed to this report. For nationwide coverage of Tuesday election see page A6

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BOSTON - A federal judge ordered a new trial Wednesday for a retired U.S. Army colonel convicted of bribing Haitian government officials, saying his lawyer failed to adequately defend him.

Joseph Baptiste, of Fulton, Maryland, was convicted by a jury in June of soliciting bribes from undercover federal agents who posed as potential investors in a proposed $84 million port project in the Mole-Saint-Nicolas area of Haiti. Roger Richard Boncy, a businessman who lived in Spain, was also found guilty in the bribery scheme.

Prosecutors said Baptiste, a dentist who served 23 years in the Army, and Boncy told agents they would funnel the payments to Haitian officials through a non-profit Baptiste controlled that purported to help impoverished residents of Haiti.

U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs cited errors, omissions, and general lack of diligence by Baptistes attorney in her decision. The lawyer didnt review certain documents and recordings prosecutors gave him before trial, didnt subpoena any witnesses and only cross-examined two of the governments six witnesses, Burroughs wrote.

While he was not required to perform all of the numerous steps available to him to prepare for trial, the fact that he performed so few and in such a cursory manner is undeniably deficient, the judge wrote.

An email seeking comment was sent to the attorney, Donald LaRoche. A spokeswoman for the U.S. attorneys office in Boston declined to comment.

Burroughs said Boncy is also entitled to a new trial and that the two men should be re-tried together.

Daniel Marx, who began defending Baptiste after the trial, said his client should never have been prosecuted in the first place and is grateful the judge concluded the man didnt get a fair trial.

He never paid a single dollar in bribes to anyone in Haiti. Dr. Baptiste only sought to encourage development in a poor country that he cares deeply about, Marx said in an email.
At least 17 reporters and editors were directly involved with the coverage of the trial. Alan Feuer, another Metro reporter, worked closely with Ms. Ransom. Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey, the reporters who broke the story about allegations against Mr. Weinstein, wrote articles examining the larger repercussions of the case.

Days before the verdict, Mr. McKinley gave reporters various assignments. The goal was to get in touch with the jurors to reconstruct their mind-set during deliberations. Of course, its not always possible to reach jurors. But when they do speak with the press, they can sometimes reveal improprieties in jury behavior.

After the all-guilty verdict in the trial of Joaquin Guzman Loera, the drug kingpin known as El Chapo, who had led one of the most powerful cartels in Mexico, one juror called a reporter from Vice News.

It was the first  and only  glimpse of their private deliberations, recalled Mr. Feuer who covered the trial daily. When jurors speak, he said, it can and often does help build credibility for the jury system when they step out of the shadows and explain themselves.

The juror said they had broken the rules by following news coverage throughout the trial and lying to the judge about it. Mr. Guzmans attorneys asked, unsuccessfully, for the judge to consider a retrial.

After the trial for the murder of Etan Patz, a 6-year-old listed as missing for decades, ended with a hung jury in the spring of 2015, one juror said he didnt feel the evidence against Pedro Hernandez was strong enough. The store clerk had years earlier confessed to strangling the boy and throwing his body in the garbage in 1979.

As prosecutors prepared a second trial, former jurors met with them, highlighting the evidence they found most damning.
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
Nadine Dorries attended a string of public events around Westminster coming close to hundreds of people in the toxic two-week period where she may have been carrying coronavirus but had no symptoms, MailOnline can reveal today.

The Health minister was at a No 10 Downing Street event celebrating International Women's Day attended by Boris Johnson, his partner Carrie Symonds, ministers including Liz Truss and VIPs such as Olympian Kelly Holmes last Thursday.

Earlier in that day she held a meeting with Labour's Rachael Maskell, who is now in self-isolation for a fortnight after speaking to the NHS' 111 service.

The MP for Mid-Bedfordshire also held a surgery attended by 12 people in her constituency and went for a pub lunch with a local Tory party chief hours before she fell ill on Friday.

Her parliamentary office in the Norman Shaw North building close to Whitehall and her ministerial office in the Palace of Westminster are both sealed off today after Ms Dorries and a member of staff but were taken ill with coronavirus.

Ms Dorries' symptoms began on March 6, however, the 14-day incubation period means she could have been first exposed to coronavirus on February 21. She met hundreds of people including large numbers of MPs at meetings and events in Westminster and in her constituency before she first felt poorly five days ago.

MailOnline has charted her public events and engagements since late February.

MailOnline has pieced together Ms Dorries' movements in the 14 days period before she fell ill - and the events that have followed her diagnosis yesterday, which saw her office sealed and a member of her staff also ill after she came into contact with hundreds of people

February 26: Nadine Dorries speaks at an event to reduce suicides and self harm in Britain's jails - at a time where she may have already been exposed to coronavirus but was not showing any symptoms

Tuesday February 25

Nadine Dorries spoke on stage at the Keeping Safe Conference at Westminster's Abbey Centre.

The event was organised by groups including the Samaritans to discuss ways to prevent suicide in prison and reducing soaring levels of self-harm. Ms Dorries' portfolio at the Department of Health is Patient Safety, Suicide Prevention and Mental Health.

Saturday February 29

Ms Dorries celebrated the 84th birthday of her mother at a restaurant, believed to be near her Gloucestershire home.

Ms Dorries said last night she was most worried about her elderly mother, who is living at her home and 'began coughing' yesterday. She will be tested today.

February 29: Ms Dorries shared this picture of her mother on her 84th birthday at the end of last month, which included a party at a restaurant near their home. The Tory MP says her mum has developed a cough

Wednesday March 4

The MP spoke in the Commons after being part of the Tory team that drew up legislation to tackle coronavirus before she fell ill.

As well as standing at the Despatch Box she was in close proximity to hundreds of MPs as she voted on legislation.

Thursday March 5

Labour MP Rachael Maskell has been advised to self-isolate after meeting Nadine Dorries - who has tested positive for coronavirus.

Ms Maskell tweeted: 'NHS111 have advised that I self-isolate as a result of a meeting I had with the Government's Mental Health Minister last Thursday who has subsequently tested positive for Coronovirus.

'Thankfully I am asymptomatic. It is so important that we all follow all public health advice.'

That evening Ms Dorries was at no 10 Downing Street for the International Women's Day event hosted by the Prime Minister

March 4: Ms Dorries was last on the floor of the Commons last Wednesday where she was helping shape Britain's response to the coronavirus crisis

Labour's Rachael Maskell revealed she has called 111 and was advised to self-isolate after a meeting with Ms Dorries, whose title is Minister for Patient Safety, Suicide Prevention and Mental Health

Dozens of women and girls were present to hear Boris Johnson's speech.

But it is understood the PM had no close contact with Ms Dorries at the event, and has no symptoms, meaning he does not need a test.

A Downing Street spokesman said Mr Johnson "wished Nadine Dorries a speedy recovery".

Those also attending also included Mr Johnson's pregnant fiancee Carrie Symonds, International Trade Secretary Liz Truss and athlete Dame Kelly Holmes. MailOnline has asked Ms Truss and Ms Holmes' spokesmen whether they have had contact with Ms Dorries that day and if they will be tested.

Children from schools in Blackburn and Bournemouth were also said to have attended.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks at 10 Downing Street in London last Thursday, in an event attended by Nadine Dorries, as well as International Trade Secretary Liz Truss (in red next to the podium) and Olympian Kelly Holmes (in a black suit, two places to Ms Truss's left)

Friday March 6,

The day she first felt ill, Nadine Dorries spent around two and a half hours holding a surgery at her constituency at Flitwick hall, near Milton Keynes, MailOnline can reveal.

She saw 12 members of the public and dealt with 6 different cases.

Steve Dixon, from the Mid Bedfordshire Conservative Association, said he then had lunch with her  just the two of them - at an unnamed rural pub nearby before she headed home to Worcestershire.

Mr Dixon said it wasnt until she got home that she started feeling ill.

Having spent several hours with Ms Dorries while she was carrying the virus he has now chosen to self-isolate on discovering she has covid 19.

The constituency surgery was held last Friday at a rented room at the Flitwick Club in Flitwick. There were about 12 people there and Nadine must have helped with about five or six cases over 2.5 hours.

Afterwards I joined her for lunch at a pub a neighbouring village'.

March 6: Ms Dorries met around 12 constituents at the Flitwick Conservative Club before going for a pub lunch hours before she began feeling ill

Over the weekend she experienced the classic symptoms of the disease - a dry cough, high temperature and vice-like pain in her chest.

Yesterday she tested positive and the news emerged yesterday evening.

A government source said: As with everything, we are being guided by the science on this. This will be treated like any other standard case.

Officials are conducting the standard process of contact tracing and identifying anyone who has shown symptoms.

The Conservative MP sent a message to the Tory MP WhatsApp group this morning asking them to come forward if they were near her in Parliament because it is 'hard to remember everyone'.

She told colleagues: 'My staff member has gone down with it too. I haven't yet given a list to the contact tracers. If you sat next to me in the tea room or library etc please let me know'.

March 11: Ms Dorries has texted Tory MPs (her WhatsApp message is pictured) urging them to come forward if they believe they bumped into her or sat near her at Parliament
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BELLEVUE  A school building at 2610 116th Ave. N.E. has sold for almost $4.8 million, according to King County records.

The seller was child care operator Bright Horizons, which acquired the land in 1998 for $310,000, then developed it.





. . .
But the city has since extended the recommendation to include people at the church March 4 through March 6, to account for the days Smith was there. Smith played at a funeral on March 6, and those who attended that service are also being alerted, the church said in an email to members. City officials want people to stay isolated until two weeks have passed since their last time at the church.
Nang Sangkhan, or Miss Lao New Year, pours water mixed with frangipanis and perfume over the head of a statue as she takes part in "Pi Mai Lao," or Lao New Year celebrations in Vientiane in a file photo.

Authorities in Laos are urging the public to suspend or postpone all unnecessary social events including weddings and Lao New Year celebrations in an attempt to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

In a public notice, the Lao government told the people to take strict precautions and avoid large gatherings.

The Southeast Asian country has yet to report a single confirmed case, but there are confirmed cases in neighboring Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia. Laos also borders China, where the first COVID-19 outbreak occurred in December.

An official of Laos Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism confirmed to RFAs Lao Service that the government had issued the advisory, saying, Yes, our ministry has warned those planning events to postpone them if possible.

If they have to hold [the events] please make them small and simple, the official said.

The official also said that hotels and restaurants should comply with new suggested operating procedures.

If a restaurant wants to host a dinner reception, it should be short, only one hour or so, the official said.

The COVID-19 committee will inform the public once the outbreak is over.

Miss Lao New Year

Meanwhile in Luang Prabang province, local authorities decided to scale down festivities for the Lao New Year (April 13-15). Under normal circumstances, the Lao New Year holiday would include local festivals nationwide, including the Miss Lao New Year beauty pageant held in Luang Prabang.

But an official of the Luang Prabang Administration Office told RFA on March 9 that public events have all been canceled.

Our office sent out a notice banning all large public gatherings, even during the Lao New Year celebration. Only necessary traditional rituals will be allowed. All other unimportant social events have been suspended, he said.

On March 11, Luang Prabang issued an official notice stating that the Miss Lao New Year pageant was cancelled by the provincial governor on the recommendation of the Lao prime minister. The cancellation of the April 10-11 pageant also means there will be no Miss Lao New Year parade through the streets of Luang Prabang city and its accompanying carnival atmosphere.

Hoteliers and restauranteurs in the city had been expecting a slight increase in income because of the pageant, but now they are expecting losses.

Right now, our patronage is just half of what it used to be, a restaurant owner in the citys downtown area told RFA.

We were expecting a big increase in sales during the New Year, but now its been canceled. Were in trouble, the restauranteur said.

A hotel owner told RFA, As soon as the New Year celebration was canceled, we saw a lot of reservation cancellations.

Meanwhile, Thailand-based Bangkok Airways will begin suspending flights to the Lao capital Vientiane starting March 29.

Were going to cancel the Bangkok-Vientiane route because of the coronavirus outbreak and because of the lower number of travelers, an employee of the airline told RFA.

As of Wednesday afternoon there were 59 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Thailand, 35 in Vietnam, three in Cambodia and 80,921 in China.

Reported by RFAs Lao Service. Translated by Max Avary. Written in English by Eugene Whong.
The statistics of citizens who contracted the coronavirus are dramatically growing. Until now, many people have been hospitalized in various hospitals, including 94 patients in Imam Reza hospital, 49 individuals in Qaem hospital, and 183 others in Shariati hospitals.

The source explained the location of Shariati hospital, where the vast majority of infected people are kept there. Shariati hospital is located in an outlying and out-of-access area, and many people are not aware of it. The hospital is placed in a corner of Mashhad, at the beginning of Torqabeh-Shandiz crossroads and behind large trees aged between 20-70 years old. Coronavirus patients who are in critical conditions are transferred by ambulances to this hospital at 3:00 p.m. Its said that 70 percent of these patients will probably lose their lives, the citizen said.

Notably, while the government has yet to announce the genuine figures of serious cases, its nightly transfers such cases to this out-of-the-way medical center. The source also said, Hospital officials take cellphones of the medical staff and nurses to curb the leak of information about what is happening there. Officials have considered a closet where they keep communication devices during the staffs shift. They refer anyone who refuses this measure to the security sector, the citizen added.

In Behesht-Reza cemetery, twelve corpses of people who died of coronavirus were buried in a day alone. The province is under the red condition.

On the other hand, the Qaem hospital witnesses heavy daily traffic of ambulances which transfer coronavirus patients. Sometimes, officials of the hospital take the peoples cellphones or ban them from entering the center to prevent the leak of information about the virus spread. Qaem hospital seriously suffers from the lack of appropriate devices and around half of the nurses avoid working in the hospital.

Another citizen also reported, One of our relatives was working in a pharmacy. She is a 29-year-old pharmacist doctor. She regrettably contracted coronavirus. Due to her serious respiratory difficulty, the family has paid 2.5 million tomans for only one oxygen capsule.

Additionally, the regime is adopting measures that increase the risk for citizens. On the morning of March 4, another Mashhad resident said, Some while ago, the Astan-e Quds or Mashhad seminary had purchased a broken factory Sepahan in Torqabeh city. The factory was shut down, but several homes and villas were built in the ten-acres yard of the facility. After the coronavirus emergence in Qom, the regime transferred around 40 mullahs and placed them in the factory. They are occasionally seen in Torqabehs markets. Local people acknowledged that Until now, we have witnessed on several occasions that Astan-e Quds trucks and the Revolutionary Guards pick-ups carry cargo for these mullahs since they have been transferred to this area.

Notably, while the supreme leader Ali Khamenei and his staff were eventually compelled to temporarily cancel the Friday prayers in the province capitals, Khameneis representative in Mashhad Ahmad Alamolhoda severely criticized this action. This objection shows that despite the death of several officials, the regimes advocators are still willing to waste the lives of their proponents under so-called traditional expectations.

#Iran regime was eventually compelled to cancel the Friday prayers in provinces center, however, #Khameneis representative in #Mashhad Ahmad Alamolhoda criticized this adoption. The mullahs endanger even their proponents health while they enjoy the best medical care!#COVID19 pic.twitter.com/4JwfuUt6qK  Ali Latifi (@alilatifi684) March 7, 2020

Read More:

Even Regime Officials Are Dying from Coronavirus Cover-Up in Iran
It was one of the most anticipated royal reunions in years, with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle making their final appearance as senior members of the royal family.

And royal fans couldnt help but notice a series of awkward moments between the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and the rest of the Windsors - most notably between Meghan Makle and Camilla - in London yesterday.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle appeared awkward as they stood in church with the rest of the family. Photo: Getty Images

Things looked a bit frosty between Camilla and Meghan Markle. Photo: Getty Images

The whole clan donned their best glad rags for the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey, with all eyes on the familys every move.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were one of the first couples to arrive at the church, with Meghan looking stunning in a green Emilia Wickstead dress, a matching William Chambers fascinator and a black Gabriella Hearst bag.

Meghan beamed from ear-to-ear- until her stepmother-in-law Camilla, walked in a bit later, alongside her husband, future king, Prince Charles.

Meghan curtsied to Charles, whom she famously has a close relationship with, however things were a bit more awkward between the duchess and Camilla, with Meghan simply nodding and looking down.

The moment didnt go unnoticed online, with people taking to Twitter to express their shock at the hostility between the pair.

How rude was Meghan with Camilla, totally snubbed her. Snubbing Camilla is not a good idea Meghan.. shes the wife for the man who bought you the attire you are wearing and the wife of the man holding the purse strings, one person wrote.

Harry seems to be glaring at Camilla, perhaps Charles told them both off after Meghan ruined her speech day & who could blame Camilla, it was a good speech & very important, another person wrote.

Indeed, it was reported yesterday that Camilla was infuriated with Meghan, after the Duchess of Sussex uploaded a photo to Instagram after her visit to the National Theatre, on the same day Camilla gave a poignant speech at the Women of the World Festival.

Its believed Camilla had been planning the speech for up to a year and was upset at being upstaged by the Duchess of Sussex.

Story continues

This was the final appearance for Meghan Markle and Prince Harry on their 'farewell tour' of the UK. Photo: Getty Images

Of course it was known Harry and Meghan would be doing engagements this week, some privately, but everyone was in agreement that Camillas speech should take precedence. Unfortunately, some people had other ideas, a source told the Daily Mirror.

Meghan broke a pledge not to overshadow Camillas vital campaign against abuse by demanding the pictures of her private visit to the National Theatre be published the same day.

Prince William slammed

The moment at Westminster Abbey wasnt the only awkward encounter between the Sussexes and the rest of The Firm.

Fans have also slammed Prince William and Kate Middleton online for snubbing the Sussexes, after a video showed them warmly greeting Prince Edward and his wife Sophie, Countess of Wessex.

As the couples took their seats inside the church, Meghan was seen to mouth hi to William and Kate, while giving a small wave, with Harry also saying hello.

William briefly nodded in the Sussexes direction before he and Kate promptly sat down, continuing a more animated conversation with Sophie, Countess of Essex and Prince Edward seated behind them.

Got a story tip or just want to get in touch? Email us at lifestyle.tips@verizonmedia.com.
Police here have arrested a man in connection with a bomb explosion at the house of Nepal's former communication minister on Wednesday.

A pressure cooker bomb went off at the house of former communication minister Gokul Banskota at Madhyapur Thimi Municipality, 12kms east of Kathmandu, police said.

However, Banskota is not residing in the newly-constructed house.

Police have arrested Dev Prasad Gurung, a district leader of the Nepal Communist Party, a breakaway faction of the Maoist Party, in connection with the blast.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Shanti Raj Koirala said the explosion caused partial damage to a wall and glass of the house.

The glass of a private van was also broken in the incident along with the window panes of two nearby houses, he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Amid the political crisis in Madhya Pradesh, over 80 Congress MLAs from the state are arriving in Rajasthan on Wednesday, sources said.

"The party MLAs are reaching here from Madhya Pradesh," they said.

The legislators are expected to reach Jaipur airport at 11 am and will be staying at a resort located on the Delhi Road here, the sources said.

All arrangements are being made on the directions of Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, they added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Rebecca Frasure is finally home, ending her coronavirus ordeal by bending down to scratch her cat Quil after nearly two months on a cruise ship and then living in isolation as one of the first Americans known to contract COVID-19.

The Forest Grove woman, who is 35 and works for a medical health plan in Oregon, is also one of the first Americans known to recover from the new coronavirus.

Frasure left with her husband in January for an Asian cruise aboard the Diamond Princess and was diagnosed with the virus on Feb. 6. She spent nearly a month at a hospital in Tokyo after testing positive.

Her only symptoms were a light cough and a slight fever, she said. And those subsided with time, even as she kept testing positive for the virus.

Now, she wants people to know that while the new coronavirus certainly causes understandable anxiety, her experience was that its manageable. And isolation, while tough, is important.

It prevented the spread, she said. It was no fun, for sure, but you know, you gotta do what you gotta do.

Her symptoms were so mild, Frasure said, that had she not been tested by Japanese health officials, she wouldnt have given her symptoms a second thought.

That changed when test after test showed she still had the virus. She was released from the hospital only after two back-to-back tests showed she was in the clear.

Frasure returned Tuesday to an Oregon that is in a profoundly different mood than when she left. Then, the disease was just a news item about some faraway country. Now, the state is in the throes of what could be Oregons own epidemic.

When Frasure got news of her illness, there were still no known COVID-19 cases in Oregon and no Americans had yet died. Now, Oregon health officials say there are probably hundreds of cases in the state, in addition to the 19 reported by Wednesday.

Across the world, more than 118,000 have fallen ill and 4,600 people have died. In the U.S., about 1,100 people have been diagnosed with COVID-19 and 31 have died, according to a New York Times database.

States are taking increasingly aggressive measures to stem the viruss spread. Washington, which has been hardest hit by the spread of the disease, this week banned gatherings of more than 250 people, closed schools and enacted regulations limiting how many people can visit relatives in nursing homes.

Because of Frasures mild symptoms, her main struggle with the coronavirus was limited primarily to the isolation that she felt in Tokyo  not the disease itself.

What was toughest for her, she said, was not being able to be with her husband, Kent Frasure, who was quarantined on the cruise ship most of the time she was hospitalized. She said it also was hard to communicate with the hospital staff.

For Oregonians scared about the outbreak, Frasure urged basic protections  the same advice local, state and federal officials have been giving regularly: frequent handwashing and staying home if sick.

And for those who do get the virus, she said, its important to remember that the majority of illnesses are mild, her own infection being one such example.

More than 80 percent of cases have mild symptoms, according to a Chinese study that included nearly 45,000 confirmed cases.

Of even greater potential damage than the disease itself, she said, is panic that an epidemic can cause.

You either approach it with fear, or you approach it with courage, Frasure said. And, you know, fear is never the way to go.

-- Fedor Zarkhin

fzarkhin@oregonian.com

desk: 503-294-7674|cell: 971-373-2905|@fedorzarkhin

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
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Authorities in Ho Chi Minh City are urgently searching for a British man who remains unquarantined after arriving in Hanoi on the same flight as a confirmed novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patient this month.

Groman Manthew James Knight, 32, flew from London to Hanoi on flight VN0054, operated by national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines, according to the municipal Center for Disease Control.

On the same flight was a 26-year-old Vietnamese woman who was confirmed as Vietnams 17th COVID-19 patient on Friday last week.

Knight arrived in Hoi An City in the central province of Quang Nam on March 5 and stayed at An Ha Hotel in Son Phong Ward.

He left Hoi An for Ho Chi Minh City on March 7.

Authorities have not been able to locate the man for isolation, which is required for all passengers on the flight VN0054.

The Briton has not left Vietnam, but his exact whereabouts is unknown as he refused to provide authorities with his hotel address, the Ho Chi Minh City CDC said in a dispatch on Wednesday.

The CDC requested that local health authorities search for the British tourist and have him quarantined as per regulations.

Patient No. 17 was confirmed after Vietnam had reported no new infection since February 13.

Around a dozen patients in the country are linked to the woman, including her chauffeur and aunt, who drove her to the hospital.

The novel coronavirus, which first emerged in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in December 2019, has infected over 118,800 people and killed nearly 4,200 globally, according to Ministry of Health statistics.

Vietnam has so far confirmed 39 infections, including 25 Vietnamese, two Chinese nationals, one Vietnamese American, nine British citizens, one Mexican, and one Irish national.

Sixteen of the patients had recovered and been discharged from the hospital by February 26, while 23 others are being treated.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
Amaravati, March 11 : A lawyer suffered critical injuries while two leaders of opposition TDP had a narrow escape in an attack allegedly by the workers of ruling YSRCP in Andhra Pradesh's Guntur district on Wednesday.

The vehicles carrying Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leaders Bonda Umamaheswara Rao and Buddha Venkanna and Andhra Pradesh High Court advocate Kishore came under attack by alleged activists of YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) in Macherla assembly constituency.

Advocate Kishore suffered serious head injuries and escaped in his vehicle towards the nearby Telangana border for safety. The TDP leaders claimed that the attackers on10 motorcycles and in two cars chased them.

Rao said the attackers were armed using heavy logs and iron rods. When a police official tried to rescue TDP leaders, the YSRCP activists also damaged his car.

The TDP leaders said they came under attack when they were on way to oversee the process of filing of nominations by the party candidates for local body elections and lodge a complaint about tearing up of nomination papers of a candidate.

TDP national President N. Chandrababu Naidu condemned the murder attempts by YSRCP Macherla leaders on TDP leaders and advocate. He demanded that DGP Gowtham Sawang take responsibility for the police failure to prevent these attacks.

Naidu said the local SP was informed in advance about the TDP leaders' visit to complain to local officials about tearing up of election nomination papers of TDP candidate at Bodaraveedu.

The former Chief Minister said it was total failure of the police and the Election Commission as they had not taken preventive steps despite the TDP complaining to them against the YSRCP's "atrocities".

The TDP chief alleged that the YSRCP activists became uncontrollable and were now attacking even the police officers. He said the TDP would complain to the Governor and to the court about the murder attempts on TDP leaders and the advocate. The CM and DGP should take responsibility if anything happens to the lives of TDP leaders and the injured advocate, he added.
JAKARTA (Reuters) - Dutch King Willem-Alexander apologized on Tuesday for the "excessive violence" inflicted on Indonesia during his country's colonial rule, the monarchy's first such admission of regret to the Southeast Asian nation.

The apology addressed the violence by Dutch forces during the period from Indonesia's declaration of independence in 1945 until 1949, when the Netherlands recognized it as an independent nation.

"I would like to express my regret and apologize for excessive violence on the part of the Dutch in those years," King Willem-Alexander said at the presidential palace in Bogor during a visit to Indonesia.

"I do so in the full realization that the pain and sorrow of the families affected continue to be felt today," he said in his speech, a copy of which was posted on the website of the Royal House of the Netherlands.

The Dutch government has previously apologized to Indonesia and paid some damages to survivors for violence carried out during colonial rule.

In 2011, Tjeerd de Zwaan, then the Dutch ambassador, apologized for killings in 1947 in a village in the province of West Java. Two years later, de Zwaan also apologized for killings in 1947 on the island of Sulawesi.

Last year, a Dutch appeals court in the Hague ordered the hearing of a lawsuit by five Indonesians who hold the Netherlands responsible for the execution of their fathers by Dutch soldiers in 1947.

During the four-day trip, the king and his wife Queen Maxima are set to visit the ancient capital of Yogyakarta and the Sebangau National Park in Indonesia's province of Central Kalimantan on Borneo, according to the royal website.

In his speech, the king also offered condolences for seven people killed when two boats collided in Central Kalimantan during preparations for the royal visit.

Indonesia has agreed on new partnerships with the Netherlands on women's issues, peace, and security, as well as on the control of contagious diseases, President Joko Widodo said on Tuesday.

From 1800 to 1949, the archipelago was a colony of the Netherlands known as the Dutch East Indies, and an important source of wealth, thanks to the trade in spices, precious metals and minerals.

(Reporting by Stanley Widianto; Editing by Ed Davies and Clarence Fernandez)
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Former Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang endorsed Joe Biden for president after the former VP put up another string of primary wins.

Yang said on CNN, Joe Biden will be the Democratic nominee, and Ive always said that Im going to support whoever the nominee is, so I hereby am endorsing Joe Biden, to be not just the nominee for the Democratic Party, but the next President Of The United States. I say this having supported Bernie Sanders in 2016. Bernie was an inspiration for me. He inspired me to run, but the math says Joe is our prohibitive nominee. We need to bring the party together. We need to start working on defeating Donald Trump.

Video:

The Yang Gang is now Ridin With Biden.

Yangs comments are proof that the Democratic Party is unified in the common cause of wanting to beat Donald Trump more than they have wanted anything since Barack Obama ran for his first term in 2008.

It looks like the Democratic primary is over, and all the focus moving toward making Trump a one-term president.

For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.

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The Democratic Party establishment will limit Bidens exposure to journalists and protect him from Bernie Sanders, 78, who does not show any signs of faltering. Over Sanders objections, the March 15 CNN debate format had been shaped to favor Biden. The candidates will sit down rather than stand toe-to-toe. Due to the coronavirus, there will be no live audience, and they will take questions, whether from the public or from journalists had not yet been established.
A person wearing a respiratory mask as part of precautionary measures against the spread of the new COVID-19 coronavirus, walks across a deserted Piazza del plebiscito in Naples. AFP Photo

Rome: The boisterous hum of Rome dwindled to a whisper and police patrols kept people apart in cafes as Italy enforced an extraordinary, sweeping lockdown in hopes of not becoming the next epicenter of the spreading coronavirus epidemic now that life in China is edging back to normal.

Infections in Italy topped the 10,000 mark  more than anywhere but China  and the number of deaths from the virus rose Tuesday to 631 from 463 a day earlier, Italian Civil Protection authorities said.

Police across the country patrolled cafes to ensure owners kept customers 1 meter (3 feet) apart during daylight hours and then enforced a strict 6 p.m. closure order.

Its bad. People are terrorized, said Massimo Leonardo, who runs a market stall. Ive never seen anything like it.

For most, the coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. But for a few, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illnesses, including pneumonia. More than 119,000 people have been infected worldwide and over 4,200 have died.

By encouraging many of Italys 62 million people to stay home and further drying up what was left of the countrys already battered tourism industry, the lockdown could increase the likelihood of a recession, dealing another blow to reeling global markets.

Italys economy, the third-largest of the 19 countries that use the euro currency, relies heavily on industries requiring the physical presence and proximity of workers: tourism, manufacturing, and retail.

Italians shouldnt leave home unless for work, health care or necessities such as grocery shopping, the premiers office said. Early closures of shops, cafes and restaurants amounted to a seismic restriction in a country that prizes its gastronomy, luxuries and cafe culture.

Ill do whatever they tell me to do, Rome florist Stefano Fulvi said. If I have to close, Ill close.

Italy also found itself increasingly sealed off as other countries sought to keep infections contained.

Malta and Spain announced a ban on air traffic from Italy. British Airways and Air Canada suspended all Italy flights. Austria barred travelers from crossing the border without a medical certificate.

Slovenia closed its border with Italy, and Albania banned Italy air and ferry traffic. Britain, Ireland, Hong Kong and Germany strengthened travel advisories and urged their citizens to leave.

Even the Vatican erected a new barricade at the edge of St. Peters Square.

Get out of northern Italy if youre there, said Erik Broegger Rasmussen, head of consular services for Denmarks foreign ministry.

But in China, the diminishing threat prompted President Xi Jinping to visit the central city of Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak, on Tuesday and declare: We will certainly defeat this epidemic.
Airport staff prepare to check passengers arriving at Entebbe Airport, Uganda, for coronavirus (AFP via Getty)

A father and daughter have been arrested in Uganda for giving out a fake coronavirus vaccine, it has been reported.

The pair were arrested in the Mayuge district, about 75 miles from the capital, Kampala, according to the BBC.

Scientists have yet to develop a vaccine against Covid-19, the disease caused by coronavirus.

On Tuesday, a UK health chief warned that a vaccine may never be found.

Read more: Government has made 'serious mistake' in tackling coronavirus

There have been more than 116,000 cases of coronavirus worldwide, according to John Hopkins University, including 4,088 deaths. More than 64,000 people have recovered after contracting the virus.

There have been no cases of coronavirus in Uganda. In the north of the continent, there have been 20 cases in Algeria and 59 in Egypt, where one person has died from the disease.

Health experts are said to be puzzled at the low coronavirus rate across African countries.

Read more: How UK response to coronavirus outbreak compares to EU

Police in Uganda said they had received reports that people were being given some kind of mixture to purportedly inoculate them against the coronavirus.

Two people were arrested but have since been released on police bond, the BBC reported.

Screening at Entebbe Airport in Uganda, where there have been no coronavirus cases (AFP via Getty)

Samples of the liquid concoction they allegedly gave out have been taken for testing at a government forensic laboratory in Kampala.

Police believe the suspects gave the fake vaccine to people for free in the hope of later charging a fee for it.

Meanwhile, England's deputy chief medical officer Dr Jenny Harries said on Tuesday that the start of the UK peak of the coronavirus outbreak is expected within the next 10 to 14 days.

She said "many thousands of people" would contract coronavirus as the disease continued to spread in the UK.

Watch the video below
By West Kentucky Star Staff Mar. 11, 2020 | 03:10 PM | PADUCAH





On Tuesday, the Paducah Police responded to the report of a man swinging a knife around and scaring customers at the mall. Officers say they were able to locate the man and identified him as 22-year-old Tavarus Farrow.







Officers say they were able to smell marijuana on Farrow, then searched his backpack and clothes. According to officers, as they attempted to search him, he broke free and ran through the parking lot and across Hinkleville Road. He reportedly threw his jacket down in a restaurant parking lot and was caught a short time later behind a convenience store at James Sanders Boulevard and Hinkleville Road.







After inspecting the jacket, officers say they found a glass pipe with possible methamphetamine residue inside. According to officers, they also found a used syringe in his backpack.







Farrow was arrested and lodged in the McCracken County Jail. He is being charged with first-degree possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), first-degree fleeing or evading police, resisting arrest, second-degree disorderly conduct, tampering with physical evidence, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

A Tennessee man is facing charges after a disturbance at Kentucky Oaks Mall.
(CNN)  The second person ever to be cured of HIV is still free of active virus more than two years on, a study published by medical journal The Lancet HIV revealed on Tuesday.

Two and a half years ago, Adam Castillejo -- previously identified as the "London patient" -- finished HIV antiretroviral therapy.

He underwent a stem cell transplant to treat lymphoma and his donor carried a mutation known as CCR5-delta 32, which made him resistant to HIV.

Researchers said that in treating his lymphoma, they believe Castillejo, now 40, was cured of HIV.

HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a life-long viral infection that attacks the body's immune system and can have significant health consequences. There is no widely available cure, however, the virus is treatable with a combination of drugs known as antiretroviral therapy that reduces the amount of virus in a person's blood and it is preventable by using PrEP, which was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in 2012.

According to UNAids there were 37.9 million people globally living with HIV in 2018.

"Our findings show that the success of stem cell transplantation as a cure for HIV, first reported nine years ago in the Berlin patient, can be replicated," said Ravindra Gupta, lead author of the study and a professor in University of Cambridge's clinical microbiology department.

Unlike the Berlin patient -- identified later as Timothy Ray Brown -- Castillejo underwent only one stem-cell transplantation instead of two and did not have radiotherapy to his entire body as part of his treatment.

Castillejo represents a step toward a less intensive treatment approach, the authors said.

Still, given the invasive nature of the experimental treatment, the authors caution its widespread use.

"It is important to note that this curative treatment is high-risk, and only used as a last resort for patients with HIV who also have life-threatening haematological malignancies," Gupta said. "Therefore, this is not a treatment that would be offered widely to patients with HIV who are on successful antiretroviral treatment."

Since Castillejo is only the second reported patient to undergo this experimental treatment successfully, the authors note that he will require continued, but much less frequent, monitoring for re-emergence of the virus.

Sharon Lewin, director of the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity at the University of Melbourne, said that the case was an "exciting advance" but should be viewed in context.

"It's hard to know if this is a cure, only time will tell, but this is looking very promising," Lewin said in a statement sent to CNN.

"This case is an exciting advance, but we need to also place it in context -- curing people of HIV via a bone marrow transplant is just not a viable option on any kind of scale. We need to constantly reiterate the importance of, prevention, early testing and treatment adherence as the pillars of the current global response to HIV/AIDS. And maintain the search for an HIV cure," she added.

In an interview with the New York Times, Castillejo said that he decided to reveal his identity after years of difficult treatments and moments of despair.

"This is a unique position to be in, a unique and very humbling position," Castillejo told the newspaper. "I want to be an ambassador of hope."

Kat Smithson, director of policy at the National AIDS Trust, applauded Castillejo for sharing his experience, adding that there is a stigma around HIV which can make it difficult for some people to seek help.

"His story helps raise much-needed awareness of HIV, but broader than that it's a story about incredible resilience, determination and hope," she said in a statement to CNN.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Second person cured of HIV is still free of active virus two years on."
New Delhi: Indian stock market indices were unable to hold early gains and continued to follow the downward trend in a volatile session on Wednesday. At 10:28 am, the benchmark BSE Sensex was trading down 41.22 points, or 0.12%, to 35,593.73, while the Nifty 50 fell 30.50 points, or 0.29%, to 10,420.95. Yes Bank, Raymond, RBL Bank, Lakshmi Vilas Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Infosys and Adani Gas were among the key stocks in news today. Read on to know more:

Yes Bank: Yes Bank Ltd shares surged 39% after the lender managed to restore ATM cash withdrawal services, access to netbanking portal as well as IMPS and NEFT services.

Raymond: Raymond Ltd shares dropped 4% after companys lifestyle business CEO Sanjay Behl decided to step down from his current role.

RBL Bank: RBL Bank Ltd shares shot up 15% after the lender said it remained adequately capitalized with a capital adequacy ratio of 16.08% with Tier-1 at 15.02%.

Lakshmi Vilas Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank: Lakshmi Vilas Bank Ltd shares gained 5% on reports that Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd (down 2%) has jumped in to acquire majority stake in the lender.

Infosys: Infosys Ltd shares declined 5% after the IT firm said it has written off $4.5 million it had invested in US-based startup Waterline Data Science.

Adani Gas: Adani Gas Ltd shares jumped 4.8% after the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal upheld the Competition Commission of Indias order on company for abuse of dominant position, but reduced the quantum of penalty.

Welspun Corp: Welspun Corp Ltd shares cracked nearly 19% even as the company won major offshore pipes supply contract in Australia.

Granules India: Granules India Ltd shares climbed 6.8% after shareholders approved buyback worth Rs 2,500 crore.

Wonderla Holidays: Wonderla Holidays Ltd shares were down 4.6% after the company decided to temporarily close the Kochi Park from 11 March to 20 March 2020 due to the coronavirus outbreak.
If schools are closed because of coronavirus, will everyone still get paid? Will school employees have to use their sick days if their buildings are shut down? If staff members require quarantine or catch the virus, will they be paid for the days theyre absent from work? What if theyve already used most of their allotted sick days for the year?

As the novel coronavirus spreads into more American communities, these are some of the biggest questions that dont yet have clear or uniform answers.

Advocates for closing schools argue that keeping people from gathering in large groups is one of the most effective methods for preventing further spread of the virus. But closing schools also could squeeze parents who serve vital functions in their communities, deprive students who depend on schools for meals, and disrupt in-person instruction that would be particularly valuable for vulnerable students who are struggling academically.

Shutdowns in some communities can be especially hard on school employees who dont have much, if any, paid time off.

Congress and White House officials are reportedly negotiating a nationwide paid leave policy that would include public school workers, but the details and timing of the policy remain vague. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., and U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., have introduced a bill that would mandate all employers nationwide to provide 14 days of paid leave in the event of an emergency like the coronavirus outbreak. President Donald Trump and White House officials have floated the possibility of tax cuts and other unspecified relief measures .

But for now, states and districts are wrestling with difficult decisions on their own.

A Crucial Calculation

I dont know that its fair to say that theres one general approach that everyone is taking, said Francisco Negron, chief legal officer for the National School Boards Association. Decisions on when to close and how to compensate employees are going to be really impacted by everything from the geographic location to the demographics to the size of the district, he said. Theyre also affected by state mandates for annual instructional time .

The crucial calculation, Negron said, is the well-being of employees, balanced against the operational needs of the school district. His organization is recommending school boards make leave policy decisions based on the severity of the outbreak in their communities and that they consider offering sick leave pools, allowing employees with an overabundance of sick leave to donate some to those with fewer available days.

In most cases, local school boards have the final say on how sick leave is administered for teachers and nonteacher personnel alike, taking into account recommendations from school officials and labor unions where applicable.

Teachers in several states are legally prohibited from collective bargaining, and many nonteacher employees and contractors lack union representation.

Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, is calling for a broad federal sick leave in cases of pandemics and global health emergencies. That would enable school districts to implement liberal paid leave policies that are beyond what is in contracts or statutes.

People shouldnt have to think about whether or not they must go to work if they have a fever because theyre not going to be able to provide for their families, she said.

The sudden scramble to encourage school staff members to stay home while weighing the pros and cons of closing schools offers a reminder of the ongoing challenges K-12 education faces. Teachers are in short supply in some regions, and the same goes for substitute teachers. Major gaps in funding and resources dictate how robustly schools can respond to an emergency, as well as how much access students have to educational materials and basic necessities like meals.

Reasonable Relief for Staff

In Washington state, which so far has seen the largest number of COVID-19 deaths among U.S. states, leave policies for educators are typically governed by collective bargaining agreements between local unions and school districts, according to Linda Mullen, a spokesperson for the Washington Education Association. The statewide union is recommending districts and unions modify those agreements now, as they would for more typical snow-related closures.

Teachers in the Seattle Public Schools, which enrolls more than 53,000 students, accrue one sick day each month. This spring, if the district closes, teachers will use sick leave for the first three days, and then the district will cover the remaining days off, up to 14 total, according to Tim Robinson, a district spokesperson. The same applies for teachers who take off because they have the virus or have been placed in quarantine. If it goes beyond that, theyre back to a situation where they would need to take sick leave, Robinson said.

Sheila Redick, executive director of HR strategy and operations for Seattle Public Schools, said in a statement that the ad hoc policy was inspired by nearby districts seeing a spike in teacher absences and forced quarantining.

We knew that a strategy was necessary to assist employees in the event that they become similarly impacted, she said. The approach was developed in such a way that it would provide some reasonable relief to staff.

Schools in Texas may take a different approach, having dealt with long-term closures in the aftermath of devastating hurricanes and tornadoes, according to Karen Smith, chief financial officer of the Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District in suburban Houston.

Smiths district has a separate emergency closure leave policy that kicks in when the entire district shuts down as a result of a disaster or epidemic. All employees, excluding substitute teachers and temporary workers, receive 10 days of paid leave. The school board has the authority to waive additional days if necessary, Smith said.

Some Districts Have No Plans Yet

The Parkrose School District in Oregon allots two emergency days each year for teachers to take off with normal compensation. If the district were to close for a longer period of time, we would have to go back to the unions and the board to negotiate what those days would be, said Sharie Lewis, the districts director of business services operations. Staff would get paid normal wages during the closure, and all decisions about the number of sick days used would be made once the closures are over, she said.

The district has two main unions: one for teachers and other certified staff members, and another for noncertified employees like cafeteria staff and maintenance workers. If members of one union need more sick time than members of the other, its possible the unions could come to a leave-sharing agreement, Lewis said.

While many of the ramifications of widespread school closures remain hypothetical at this point, organizations that advocate for nonteacher personnel have already sprung into action. The American Association of School Personnel Administrators (AASPA) is working on resources that will identify the challenges facing nonteacher employees, according to Kelly Coash-Johnson, executive director of AASPA.

Joe Rugola, executive director of the Ohio Association of Public School Employees, has begun meeting with his organizations professional staff to strategize advocacy should members be out of work for a prolonged period. The plan is to push for uniformly continuing pay for all affected employees in the event of a closure.

When people are talking about public education and public schools, they typically tend to think about the teachers, Rugola said.

But that leaves out secretaries, bus drivers, custodians, food service workers, classroom assistance, maintenance staffers, and other people who keep the education system afloat: If the kids dont get to school, if they dont have anybody to give them their medicine, clean up their classrooms, and feed them their food, obviously instruction doesnt move, he said.

Districts in Ohio have dealt with many emergencies over the years, including several outbreaks of the more commonplace flu earlier this year. Rugola is optimistic that districts and state officials will be sympathetic to his members demands, especially since public schools represent the most significant employers in many parts of the state, including cities like Columbus.

Still, no one can predict exactly what will happen in the coming weeks, and where the burden will fall to compensate school workers affected by the outbreak. Matthew Hardy, a spokesman for the California Federation of Teachers, said his organization, like many others, is still assessing what the landscape is out there.

We certainly expect and advocate that our members have a voice in the discussionsnot only clearly communicated with, but are actively engaged at school sites and at the district levels in order to advocate for our members and for our students, he said.
El-Sisi and Conte also discussed the latest developments related to the murder of Italian student Regini and the situation in Libya

Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi offered condolences over the deaths from the coronavirus outbreak in Italy during a phone call on Wednesday with Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte.

El-Sisi stressed Egypt's support for the government and people of Italy, and offered to provide any "possible support" to help the country, which is the scene of Europe's worst outbreak of the new coronavirus.

Italy, which went into an unprecedented lockdown on Tuesday, now has more than 10,100 confirmed cases of the fast-spreading virus and 631 deaths.

During the telephone conversation, El-Sisi and Conte discussed cooperation in light of the outcome of talks between the two leaders in Cairo in mid-January.

They also exchanged views on regional issues of mutual interest, particularly the developments in Libya, where rival factions are fighting for control of the capital Tripoli.

The two leaders also discussed the latest developments in the investigation into the murder of Italian student Giulio Regeni in light of the current cooperation between investigators from both countries.

The Egyptian president "reaffirmed his full support for cooperation between the authorities of the two countries to reveal the circumstances of the case," the statement added.

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One of the women who acted a prior bad act witness, who alleged she was raped by Weinstein, was also present, as well as an actress who testified that Weinstein allegedly masturbated in front of her and groped her seven years ago, and a now costume designer who claimed that Weinstein said he would sign her up to his new films if she had a threesome with him and his assistant.
Employees go through a temperature check upon entering the headquarter of Vietnam Electricity (EVN) on March 10, 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Viet Trung.

Hanoi and Saigon companies are letting staff work from home as Vietnam records a series of new coronavirus patients in less than a week.

Ngoc on Tuesday began a week working from home after her boss made the decision to shut down most activities in Hanoi to limit the spread of the novel coronavirus.

"I have had three online meetings this morning. Im even busier than while in the office," said Ngoc, employed by an e-payment company.

Tung, an employee at a cryptocurrency payment company in the capital, has been allowed to work from home starting Monday until the outbreak is contained. "I concentrate better in the office but with the ongoing situation its better to work from home."

Many companies in Hanoi have let their employees work from home this week after Vietnam confirmed its 17th coronavirus patient on Friday and another 17 since, most were passengers on a flight from London to Hanoi on March 2.

The city has quarantined Truc Bach Street in downtown Ba Dinh District where the 17th patient lives, with local authorities preparing 1,000 beds at various hospitals to brace for more coronavirus infections.

With 18 new confirmed cases in the country as of Tuesday, many of whom having been traveling in the past few days, companies in HCMC are also taking precautions.

Kim Thanh, who works at a foreign-invested tech firm here, said she and her colleagues had been asked to work from home indefinitely. They will receive internet stipends during this time.

Quoc Sang, who works for a U.S.-invested company in District 1, has been asked to isolate himself for 14 days after returning from Singapore.

Other businesses that could not let their staff work from home are taking the highest safety measures.

All employees at the headquarters of national utility Vietnam Electricity (EVN) in Hanoi this week must undergo temperature checks and wear face masks upon entering the building, located a kilometer from locked down Truc Bach.

Restrooms and elevators in the building are disinfected several times a day, and staff must declare their health status. They have been asked to refrain from eating at restaurants around the neighborhood.

Most employees say they support the work from home campaign to combat the epidemic.

Sang said: "I believe this is the right thing to do for the good of the community."
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-12 00:33:29|Editor: huaxia

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Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks at a press conference at the PM's office in Jerusalem on March 11, 2020. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Wednesday the allocation of 10 billion new shekels (2.8 billion U.S. dollars) to help the Israeli economy counter the impact of coronavirus. (JINI via Xinhua)

JERUSALEM, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Wednesday the allocation of 10 billion new shekels (2.8 billion U.S. dollars) to help the Israeli economy counter the impact of coronavirus.

Netanyahu said, "Besides the health challenge, the coronavirus poses a huge challenge in the economic field as well. We will use the amount as first aid to stabilize Israel's economy, along with helping the health system."

Of the total amount of the aid package, 8 billion shekels will be allocated for low-interest loans to small and medium businesses.

In addition, 1 billion shekels will be used to increase the supply of drugs, purchase medical equipment, prepare the hospitals for more patients and prepare medical teams.

The remaining 1 billion shekels will be spent on "special needs," including the crisis management regarding to police, firefighters and prisons.

In addition to this package, Netanyahu noted that a separate individual help will be given to the Israeli aviation industry, which was severely affected by the virus outbreak.
(Bloomberg) -- Alphabet Inc.s Google told its staff in North America, the U.K. and Europe to work at home unless they must go into the office, becoming one of the latest companies seeking to protect workers from the spreading coronavirus.

The Mountain View, California-based tech giant is recommending workers stay out of their offices until at least April 10, according to an internal memo seen by Bloomberg. The company had already sent home its Seattle-area workers, where the virus has had the highest number of cases in the U.S.

Googles expanded work-at-home policy came as the World Health Organization classified the coronavirus outbreak as a pandemic. Cases of Covid-19, the illness caused by the virus, have reached almost 120,000 worldwide with more than 4,300 deaths.

Google told staff Wednesday in the U.K. and Europe they should work from home, according to a person familiar with the plans who didnt want to be identified.

The goal of businesses moving to work-from-home arrangements is to significantly reduce the density of people and lower health risk in offices, the memo said.

The note also recommended contract workers, who make up as much as half of the companys overall workforce, work from home if they were able. Google also said last week it would keep paying the thousands of hourly workers who do jobs such as serving food, cleaning offices and providing security, through the crisis.

To contact the reporters on this story: Gerrit De Vynck in New York at gdevynck@bloomberg.net;Nate Lanxon in London at nlanxon@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Alistair Barr at abarr18@bloomberg.net, Andrew Pollack

For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com

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Byrds Books / Contributed photo

Bethels Byrds Books is scheduled to host young-folks author and poet Leslie Bulion, as she share some amphibian antics on Sunday, March 22.

Bulion, from Durham, will be at the independent bookshop to celebrate the publication of her latest book, Amphibian Acrobats.
Scandinavian history, that is. Bernie Sanders calls himself a socialist and has demonstrated a lifelong devotion to Communist regimes in the USSR, Cuba and Venezuela. But now that he is running for president, he deflects accountability by claiming that by socialist he means countries like Sweden and Denmarkcountries which are not in fact socialist and which have, in many ways, more conservative policies than we do.

Bernie finally was called on his evasion by Martha MacCallum in Fox Newss Town Hall. Congressman Dan Crenshaws comment is on point:

Bernie: Im not an expert on Sweden. Yeah those free-market economies arent his thing. Bernies socialism is more of the Soviet Union, Castro, Maduro variety. https://t.co/PiOzkBWl5c  Dan Crenshaw (@DanCrenshawTX) March 10, 2020



So Bernie is not an expert on the current economy in Sweden? Or, if the question had been framed that way, on Denmark. Fine. But then, dont tell voters your goal is to make the U.S. more like contemporary Sweden and Denmark.

As inept a candidate as Joe Biden is, he is lucky to have an opponent as lame as Bernie Sanders. No wonder the DNC changed the rules to bar Tulsi Gabbard from future debates!
Seven million Australians could lose their jobs to robots or have them partially replaced by artificial intelligence in the next 15 years.

Modelling conducted by the Australian Computer Society found 2.7million jobs nationwide could be replaced entirely by 2034 - with male-dominated industries like mining and construction among those most heavily affected.

The female-focused healthcare industry will likely keep more of their human labour, but half of the sector may still be automated or augmented by technology.

A Rio Tinto autonomous mining truck is pictured. 2.7million jobs nationwide could be replaced entirely by robots by 2034, and the mining industry is one of those most heavily affected

The female-focused healthcare industry (top of chart) will likely keep more of their human labour, but half of the sector may still be automated or augmented by technology

Financial and insurance services may be 65 per cent computer-assisted or reliant, while that figure is estimated at 60 per cent for the information, media and telecom sectors.

56 per cent of the jobs set to disappear are held by men, the Technology Impacts on the Australian Workforce report found.

In a worrying prediction for Australia's future workers, the report warned there could be a shortfall of 400,000 jobs despite the new jobs created by automation.

'The required allocation of the automated workforce into safer/future roles will require an agile workforce to take advantage of new job creation,' the report said.

'We estimate that under the current circumstances, Australia will be able to capture 85 per cent of the potential new jobs created by technological advancements. This could result in structural unemployment of nearly 400,000 people.'

Structural unemployment refers to unemployment caused by industrial change which leads to a mismatch between the skills workers have and the skills required by an economy.

Australia Post's prototype autonomous robot - nicknamed 'Billy the Box' - is pictured in 2017. Transport, postal and warehousing industries may be 65 per cent computer-assisted or reliant by 2034

The CEO of the Australian Computer Society Andrew Johnson said 'micro-credentialling' could help workers get ahead of the technological curve.

By taking short certification courses between five days and six months, workers could upgrade their skills to help them change job position.

This brand of re-skilling the ACS calls a 'job corridor' will help Australians to move into jobs less threatened by artificial intelligence, The Australian Financial Review reported.
A 29-year-old man, who was



detained for a drunken brawl, died in a police lockup after allegedly suffering from a 'breathing problem' in Gujarat's Surat city on Wednesday, police said.

Vimal Yadav, a factory worker, was held under preventive detention at Pandesara police station since Tuesday evening, after the police received a call about his involvement in a drunken brawl, an official said.

On Wednesday morning, when Vimal told officials at the station that he was having difficulty breathing, they did not take him seriously, the deceased's brother Vinay Yadav alleged.

Even after Vimal's family informed the police about his breathing problem, the officials refused to take him to a hospital on time, resulting in his death, he claimed.

When Vimal was finally rushed to a civil hospital, he was declared brought dead, he said.

A case of accidental death was registered and a probe will be carried out to ascertain police negligence, deputy commissioner Vidhi Chaudhary said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
By Online Desk

Soon after inducting him in BJP, the saffron party named Jyotiraditya Scindia as one of its Rajya Sabha candidates from Madhya Pradesh in a list of 11 candidates released on Wednesday evening. The other candidate from MP is Harsh Singh Chauhan.

Apart from 11 candidates it is fielding, the BJP has alloted two seats to its allies. From Jharkhand, the BJP has given ticket to its state chief Deepak Prakash, and to Ramilaben Bara and Abhay Bharadwaj from Gujarat. In Maharashtra, the BJP has fielded Udayan Raj Bhosale and will support NDA constituent, Republican Party of India-A's chief Ramadas Athawale for the second seat. Vivek Thakur is the candidate from Bihar, while from Assam, the party will support ally Bodoland People's Front (BPF) leader Biswajit Daimary from one seat, while fielding party leader Bhuvaneshwar Kalita from the second seat. Rajendra Gehlot is the party candidate in Rajasthan. BJP General Secretary Arun Singh said that the list of candidates was finalised in a meeting of the party's Central Election Committee on Tuesday which was chaired by party President J.P. Nadda, and attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and other senior minister and leaders.

A day after resigning from the Congress, Jyotiraditya Scindia joined the BJP on Wednesday in presence of the ruling party's president JP Nadda and hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his leadership, saying the country's future is secure in his hands.

Welcoming him into the BJP, Nadda recalled the party's founder and Jyotiraditya's grandmother Vijaya Raje Scindia and said, "he is joining his family and we welcome him."

Thanking Prime Minister, Home Minister Amit Shah and Nadda, Scindia said they have given him the platform to serve the people.

"Pained" and "distressed" for not able to serve the people in his previous organisation, he said the Congress is living in denial and it is not the same party what it used to be.

Hailing Modi for his leadership, Scindia said the country's future is secure in his hands.

Talking about Madhya Pradesh, the erstwhile Congress leader said the dream which he saw with his former colleagues for the state has been shattered in the last 18 months.

(With agency inputs)
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 11)  The Health Department confirmed Wednesday that six Filipinos on MV Grand Princess, a cruise ship quarantined held off in the United States have contracted COVID-19.

They are among the 96 Filipinos who have acquired the viral disease caused by a new coronavirus outside of the Philippines, according to the Health Department.

Government officials said they are still planning for the repatriation of the Filipinos on the cruise ship, where around 529 Filipino crew members and nine Filipino passengers are on board.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Teddyboy Locsin Jr. said Tuesday that local officials just need the US government to give them time to find a landing field for the plane that will fetch the Filipinos from the ship.

Grand Princess, operated by Princess Cruises, had been held off California after two passengers tested positive for the virus, with one of them dying.

Most of the Filipinos abroad who had contracted COVID-19 were on board another cruise ship  the MV Princess Diamond, also operated by Princess Cruises, saw 80 Filipinos on board test positive for the new virus.

Five Filipinos in Hong Kong, three in Singapore and two in the United Arab Emirates have also contracted the virus, according to the Health Department.

Of the Filipinos abroad with COVID-19, 64 have recovered. Sixty-two of them were passengers on Diamond Princess, while a Filipino in Hong Kong and another in Singapore have also been cleared of the disease.

The number of people who had contracted COVID-19 in the Philippines has reached 49 as of Wednesday, with the Health Department confirming 16 new cases of the viral disease.

Worldwide, COVID-19 has killed more than 4,200 people, mostly in China, since the outbreak began in Wuhan City in Hubei province in December last year. It has infected over 118,000 people globally.

According to the World Health Organization, the most commonly reported symptoms are fever, dry cough and shortness of breath. WHO said 8 in 10, or around 80 percent, of infected patients experience "mild illness" and eventually recover from COVID-19. Some 14 percent experience severe illness while 5 percent were critically ill, the WHO said.

To prevent infection, authorities are urging people to practice regular hand washing, cover the mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing, and avoid close contact with those who show respiratory symptoms.
But many of the people who cause problems are likely the ones who could benefit from a long-term city partnership with a mental health service provider.
SAN FRANCISCO, March 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The global next generation sequencing market size is expected to reach USD 23.7 billion by 2027, expanding at a CAGR of 11.7%, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. Numerous advantages offered by high throughput sequencing over other genetic technologies such as sanger-seq and microarray is one of the key driving forces of the market for Next Generation Sequencing (NGS). Furthermore, increasing availability of low input DNA sampling methods that decrease the overall operational costs is anticipated to accelerate the use of next generation sequencing across various research and clinical applications.

Key suggestions from the report:

In 2019, oncology was estimated as the application with the largest revenue share in the market for next generation sequencing

This can be attributed to the fact that the technology has been largely adopted to decipher the link between cancer and genetics

Moreover, NGS-based genetic testing for cancer predisposition can significantly improve the health outcome and reduce the mortality rate, thereby driving adoption in this segment

The targeted sequencing segment has dominated the revenue share owing to its various benefits over the whole genome segment with respect to the depth of coverage and multiplexing capacities

Significant price drop in sequencing the whole genome is anticipated to drive the segment at a lucrative growth rate

Based on workflow, sequencing accounted for the major revenue share in 2019 in the market for next generation sequencing and is anticipated to maintain its dominance over the forecast period

Being a key step, the end-users are making major investments in the seq-step, compared to sample preparation and data analysis

Moreover, the key developers are engaged in introducing new seq-platforms with enhanced capabilities and efficiency. These factors have led the segment in terms of revenue over the past years

Academic research entities are the largest end-users in terms of revenue generation owing to the high penetration of seq-technology in research activities

On the other hand, this technology is making continued growth in clinical research and within clinical settings

A substantial number of researchers are engaged in conducting translational research to accelerate the adoption of seq-technology in clinical diagnostics

North American accounted for the maximum revenue share owing to the presence of integrated platform base in U.S.

Presence of Illumina, the major player of next generation sequencing market for U.S. is another major factor that has driven the revenue share of this region in the past years

Asia Pacific is projected to mark fastest growth owing to the increase in number of domestic developers in China coupled with the expansion of molecular diagnostics area

Some major participants in the market for next generation sequencing are Illumina Inc.; F Hoffman-La Roche Ltd.; QIAGEN; Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.; and BGI

The companies are collaborating with diagnostic players to extend the use of their platforms in clinical settings

For instance, Illumina has partnered with China's KingMed Diagnostics for use of its platform in oncology and hereditary disease testing.

Read 267 page research report with ToC on "Next Generation Sequencing Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Application (HLA Typing, Consumer Genomics), By Technology, By Workflow, By End Use, By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2020 - 2027" at: https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/next-generation-sequencing-market/

Technology offered by New England Biolabs that employs magnetic beads in the template assembly process is anticipated to significantly improve the sample preparation protocols for next generation sequencing. Furthermore, recent technological advancements such as the use of Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) for genome library automation allow next generation sequencing in a single day at a reasonable cost. These advancements are anticipated to proliferate the number of users of next generation sequencing over the forecast period.

This technology has captured the attention of several companies and investors operating across various domains including basic research, drug discovery and development, reproductive health, and consumer genomics. In addition, the plummeting cost and the added value of next generation sequencing data over conventional ones is anticipated to positively impact the diversification of this technology in other clinical areas, resulting into a lucrative revenue growth.

Grand View Research has segmented the global next generation sequencing market based on application, technology, workflow, end use, and region:

NGS Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027)

Oncology



Diagnostics and Screening





Screening







Sporadic Cancer









Inherited Cancer







Companion Diagnostics







Other Diagnostics





Research Diagnostics



Clinical Investigation



Infectious Diseases





Idiopathic Diseases





Inherited Diseases





Non-Communicable/Other Diseases



Reproductive Health



NIPT





Aneuploidy







Microdeletions





PGT





Newborn Genetic Screening





Single Gene Analysis



HLA Typing /Immune System Monitoring



Metagenomics, Epidemiology & Drug Development



Agrigenomics & Forensics



Consumer Genomics

NGS Technology Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027)

Whole Genome Sequencing



Whole Exome Sequencing



Targeted Sequencing & Resequencing



DNA-based





RNA-based

NGS Workflow Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027)

Pre-sequencing



NGS Library Preparation Kits





Semi-automated Library Preparation





Automated Library Preparation





Clonal Amplification



Sequencing



NGS Data Analysis



NGS Primary Data Analysis





NGS Secondary Data Analysis

NGS End-use Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027)

Academic Research



Clinical Research



Hospitals & Clinics



Pharma & Biotech Entities



Other Users

NGS Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027)

North America



U.S.





Canada



Europe



U.K.





Germany



Asia Pacific



China





Japan



Latin America



Brazil



Middle East & Africa

&

South Africa

Find more research reports on Biotechnology Industry, by Grand View Research:

Biomaterials Market - Biocompatibility, low toxicity, and renewable nature of polymeric biomaterials make them potent drug delivery agents in controlled and targeted drug delivery, thus providing lucrative opportunities for biomaterials market growth.

Biocompatibility, low toxicity, and renewable nature of polymeric biomaterials make them potent drug delivery agents in controlled and targeted drug delivery, thus providing lucrative opportunities for biomaterials market growth. Downstream Processing Market - The growing demand for advanced technologies in the purification of recombinant proteins produced by animal cell cultures to create high-value products of modern biotechnology propels downstream processing market growth.

The growing demand for advanced technologies in the purification of recombinant proteins produced by animal cell cultures to create high-value products of modern biotechnology propels downstream processing market growth. Stem Cells Market - Advances in tissue engineering strategies hold the potential to draw attention to the treatment of several chronic disorders. Automation in adult and cord blood processing and storage is expected to drive stem cells market growth significantly.

Gain access to Grand View Compass, our BI enabled intuitive market research database of 10,000+ reports

About Grand View Research

Grand View Research, U.S.-based market research and consulting company, provides syndicated as well as customized research reports and consulting services. Registered in California and headquartered in San Francisco, the company comprises over 425 analysts and consultants, adding more than 1200 market research reports to its vast database each year. These reports offer in-depth analysis on 46 industries across 25 major countries worldwide. With the help of an interactive market intelligence platform, Grand View Research helps Fortune 500 companies and renowned academic institutes understand the global and regional business environment and gauge the opportunities that lie ahead.

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What just happened? Microsoft has revealed it was part of a team that took down the Necurs botnet. The network had infected over nine million devices worldwide, making it one of the worlds largest botnets. It was used to send malware-packed spam emails, steal login details, deliver ransomware, and more.

Tom Burt, Microsoft's vice-president for customer security and trust, said the company worked with partners across 35 countries to disrupt the prolific botnet. This disruption is the result of eight years of tracking and planning and will help ensure the criminals behind this network are no longer able to use key elements of its infrastructure to execute cyberattacks, he wrote.

First identified in 2012, Necurs is believed to be operated by a Russia-based hacking group who sell or rent access to the infected devices to other criminals . During a 58-day period in the investigation, it was found that one Necurs-infected computer sent a total of 3.8 million spam emails to over 40.6 million potential victims.

Microsoft and the others took down the botnet by breaking its domain generation algorithm (DGA), which generates random domain names that get turned into websites.

Necurs authors register the domains that are generated by its DGA weeks or months in advance, which allowed Microsoft and the team to disrupt the botnet. We were able to predict over six million unique domains that would be created in the next 25 months, said Burt.

Microsoft reported these domains to their respective registries in countries around the world so the websites can be blocked and thus prevented from becoming part of the Necurs infrastructure. By taking control of existing websites and inhibiting the ability to register new ones, we have significantly disrupted the botnet.

Once it broke the DGA and took control of Necurs infrastructure, Microsoft and its partners were able to cripple the botnet and create a map of the bots locations across the world. The company is now working with ISPs and CERT teams to notify affected users so they can remove the malware from their infected devices.

Central image credit: Nicescene via Shutterstock
Tourists arriving in Australia say they are more concerned about getting coronavirus here than in Asia, and fear locals are too relaxed about the seriousness of the virus.

Sydney Airport was as busy as usual on Wednesday as thousands arrived back home from holidays, business trips and personal travels overseas.

The threat of coronavirus was front and centre in the minds of most travellers, either because they were had a mask on - or due to the fact the person next to them did.

But many of those who flew into Australia on connecting flights from Asia said they were shocked by the lack of coronavirus checking - and told how temperature guns had been held to their heads pre-flight to check for signs of sickness.

Cloris Liu (pictured) flew in from Thailand on Wednesday, two weeks after she left China. She said she was worried that Australians were not taking the threat of coronavirus 'seriously'

With gloves on his hands and two different types of masks at the ready, this man talks with two police officers after stepping off a flight from Asia at Sydney Airport on Wednesday morning

Cloris Liu was among those to fly in on Wednesday, two weeks after she left China.

In that time she has been cooped up in a Thailand hotel as part of the government's third-country quarantine policy.

Ms Liu said she was happy to arrive back in Australia to see her boyfriend, but is not sure why people her aren't treating the threat of COVID-19 more seriously.

'I'm a little bit (concerned) that there's not many people wearing masks, it is like they are not taking it seriously,' she told Daily Mail Australia.

'I'm from near Beijing and my city is pretty safe compared to Wuhan province.

'Everyone over there is wearing masks, you have to self-regulate and check out your temperature before you leave the house.

'If you go to a shopping mall they are checking your temperature at the door before you can enter.'

Other arrivals said they had also experienced diligent checking at shops and markets overseas.

Christina Pushik (pictured) had been working in Manilla, but was flown home early by her boss as the spread of the virus ramped up

While many travellers wore masks onboard their flights (left), some were took precautions to a whole new level (right)

A health officer checks the body temperature of a traveller as they prepare to board a flight at Kuta Airport in Bali, Indonesia

Temperature checking is commonplace at airports and gathering spots, such as supermarkets and shopping centres, throughout much of Asia

But while there were checks aplenty before they boarded their Sydney-bound flights, there was not a temperature gun in sight inside the international airport terminal.

Poll Is Australia doing enough to prevent the spread of CORONAVIRUS? Yes No Is Australia doing enough to prevent the spread of CORONAVIRUS? Yes 860 votes

No 2944 votes Now share your opinion





Christina Pushik had been working in Manilla, but was flown home early by her boss as the spread of the virus ramped up.

She said that everywhere in the Philippines were

'They are scanning temperatures at shopping centres and everyday when I went into the office,' Ms Pushik said.

'The concern is in the incubation period, because people don't know they have it for a fortnight

'I have a son and husband so that's what is concerning.'

The inconsistent stance on coronavirus prevention internationally extends to airlines.

Just moments after a team of pilots and flight attendants from Japan Airlines walked off the plane with faces covered, a Malindo Air crew followed completely mask-free.

Another woman, who did not want to be named, said she was shocked when she got to Kuala Lumpur airport and saw just how many Australians were not wearing masks.

'I was quite surprised... a lot of western people were very relaxed about it, as if there is nothing going on,' she said.

Two Japanese Airlines flight attendants walk off the plane with their faces covered. They told Daily Mail Australia they had worn the masks during the duration of their flights from Tokyo

Just moments later a pilot and air hostess from Malindo Air walked through the terminal mask-free

Betty Cottrell and Helen Moore (pictured) who flew in from New Orleans said they believed the reaction to coronavirus - particularly the panic-buying of toilet paper - was 'a bit over the top'

CORONAVIRUS CASES IN AUSTRALIA: 27,244 Victoria: 20,269 New South Wales: 4,273 Queensland: 1,161 Western Australia: 692 South Australia: 473 Tasmania: 230 Australian Capital Territory: 113 Northern Territory: 33 TOTAL CASES: 27,244 ESTIMATED ACTIVE CASES: 269 DEATHS: 897 Updated: 5.31 PM, 11 October, 2020 Source: Australian Government Department of Health Advertisement

'There's been a huge growth in cases and deaths in the last few weeks and it's going to keep growing.

'I've been carrying around hand sanitiser, always wearing a mask and taking immune boosters, and really trying to avoid anyone who is sneezing!

'In Malaysia people were a lot more cautious, almost everyone is wearing masks but here you are in the minority - I think that's going to change soon.'

However for Betty Cottrell and Helen Moore who had flown in from New Orleans, the reaction to coronavirus - particularly panic-buying toilet paper - is 'a bit over the top'.

'In the U.S people are not walking around concerned, you really only hear about it on the news reports,' Ms Cottrell said.

'Now we're home we'll just be diligent with washing our hands. I think the reaction is a bit over the top - it's just like any other flu.'
The government said on March 11 that it will suspend all tourist visas in a sweeping attempt to prevent the spread of coronavirus as cases across India continued to rise.

"All existing visas, except diplomatic, official, U.N./international organizations, employment, project visas, stand suspended till 15th April 2020," the health ministry said in a tweet.

The advisory said anyone with a "compelling reason" to travel to the country could contact their nearest Indian mission, but it was not clear if the ban would include short-term business visas.

The order will come into effect from 1200 GMT on March 13.

Separately, the government issued a statement saying that the decision to suspend visas until April 15 was taken by a group of ministers. The government also urged Indian nationals to avoid all non-essential travel abroad.

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



#CoronaVirusUpdate

1. All existing visas, except diplomatic, official, UN/International Organizations, employment, project visas, stand suspended till 15th April 2020. This will come into effect from 1200 GMT on 13th March 2020 at the port of departure.  Ministry of Health (@MoHFW_INDIA) March 11, 2020

The government advisory on March 11 is one of the most wide-reaching advisories since the outbreak began in late December.

On March 11, the government suspended issuing visas to citizens of France, Spain and Germany until further notice. Such restrictions were already in place for citizens of China, Italy, Iran, Japan and South Korea  the five countries worst hit by the outbreak of the virus.

India has also closed a border with neighbouring Myanmar to counter the coronavirus outbreak. "As a precautionary measure (to prevent) transmission of coronavirus/COVID-19, the international border with Myanmar has been closed ... until further orders," N. Biren Singh, chief minister of Manipur, which shares a border with Myanmar, said in a tweet on Tuesday.

The total cases of coronavirus in the country rose to more than 60 on Wednesday, according to government data.

All travellers, including Indians who visited China, Italy, Iran, Republic of Korea, France, Spain and Germany, and arrived in India after February 15, 2020, shall be quarantined for a minimum 14-day period.

The ministry also said the visa-free travel facility granted to overseas citizen of India (OCI)- cardholders will also be kept in abeyance until April 15, 2020. This suspension will also take effect on March 13.

Also read | Coronavirus outbreak: 10 positive cases in Maharashtra, says CM Uddhav Thackeray

(With inputs from Reuters)
Krueger: With some care over the years, the old family barn keeps standing
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 10

Trend:

The first plenary meeting of Azerbaijan's Parliament of the 6th convocation was held on March 10, Trend reports.

The chairman, vice-chairmen of the Parliament, as well as chairmen and vice-chairmen of parliamentary committees were elected at the meeting.

As a result of the voting, Sahiba Gafarova was elected Speaker of the Parliament.

Born in 1955, Gafarova graduated from the Azerbaijani Pedagogical Institute of Russian Language and Literature named after M.F.Akhundov and Azerbaijan University of Languages (in English philology) with honors.

Since 1981 to the present, she has been working at Baku Slavic University. In 2000-2004 she was dean of the faculty of Western European languages and head of the department of English philology at Western University, vice-rector for international relations of Baku Slavic University.

Gafarova is a specialist in the theory of literature, modern Russian and American literature, the author of more than 70 scientific and educational works, programs, and study guides. She is engaged in research on gender issues in philology. Sahiba Gafarova is Doctor of Philology, professor.
The Boeing CST-100 Starliner spacecraft is pictured at the companys Commercial Crew and Cargo Processing Facility in Florida, undergoing inspection after its Orbital Flight Test.

NASA has still not decided whether it will require Boeing to complete a second uncrewed test flight of the company's CST-100 Starliner spacecraft, which failed to reach the International Space Station in its first attempt in December 2019. But the agency may have a game plan ready by the end of the month.

In a teleconference with reporters on Friday (March 6), Kathy Lueders, manager of NASA's Commercial Crew Program, said that NASA is "shooting for the end of the month to have a review between ourselves and Boeing." After making their decision about the best path forward for Boeing's troubled Starliner program, the reviewers will deliver a plan to the head of NASA's Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate, Doug Loverro.

However, it could still take a while before NASA can announce when the next Starliner mission will launch  and whether there will be astronauts on board  because NASA and Boeing expect to spend "several months" fixing a myriad of technical problems on Starliner, Loverro added during the teleconference.

Related: Boeing's 1st Starliner flight test in photos

Following Starliner's failure to reach the International Space Station on Dec. 20, a joint NASA-Boeing independent review team identified 61 "corrective actions" to address two major software problems and a communications issue that arose during the mission, called Orbital Flight Test (OFT).

Three big problems

The first problem that became apparent had to do with the spacecraft's on-board timer, which had pulled an incorrect time from the Atlas V rocket on which it launched. Because the so-called "mission elapsed timer" was 11 hours off, Starliner did not complete an orbit insertion burn after launching into space, and that prevented it from completing its mission.

A second critical software problem was identified later on during the flight, shortly before Starliner began to make its way back to Earth for a parachute-assisted landing. A valve-mapping error in the spacecraft's service module could have potentially caused an in-space collision after that disposable part of the spacecraft separated from the crew module.

The third major problem was a temporary drop in communications between Starliner and NASA's Tracking and Data Relay Satellites, which transmit data between spacecraft and data stations on Earth. If this communications dropout had not happened, ground controllers could have potentially corrected the timing issue and manually commanded the spacecraft to do its orbit insertion burn. NASA and Boeing are still investigating the cause of this communications issue, which appears to have been radio interference, but Boeing officials have said that it could be solved by replacing Starliner's antenna.

A "high-visibility close call"

Loverro said that NASA is now designating the OFT mission a "high-visibility close call," which the agency defines as an incident during a space mission in which "the potential for a significant mishap could have occurred and should be investigated to understand the risk exposure and the root cause(s) that placed equipment or individuals at risk," according to NASA's Commercial Crew blog.

"We could have lost a spacecraft twice during this mission," Loverro said. "We could have lost it at the beginning of the mission  and we could have lost it at the end of the mission. But thankfully the Boeing guys were able to go through the software and the Johnson [Space Center] guys were able to test it and find the errors. So it's clearly a close call."

While NASA and Boeing have only identified these three specific issues, the review team has come up with a list of 61 corrective actions. That doesn't necessarily mean that there are 61 separate problems with Starliner, Jim Chilton, senior vice president at Boeing Space and Launch, said in the teleconference. Rather, he said the list is of "61 ways to get better in three categories."

When asked if NASA could make that list of 61 corrective actions available to the public, Loverro said, "I don't know. We haven't had that conversation with Boeing, and we'd have to have that conversation."

Boeing's first CST-100 Starliner spacecraft on the ground at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, shortly after landing on Dec. 22, 2019. (Image credit: Bill Ingalls/NASA)

Next steps

In addition to implementing specific software fixes to address the three critical issues previously disclosed, Boeing has been asked to more broadly improve its engineering and testing procedures for new spacecraft. In the engineering department, NASA has asked Boeing to "strengthen its review process, including better peer and control board reviews, and improve its software process training," according to the NASA blog.

NASA has also asked Boeing to "increase the fidelity in the testing of its software during all phases of flight," and to perform full, end-to-end ground tests during mission simulations  something the company did not do before launching Starliner.

The review team is also looking to identify possible organizational issues that could have contributed to the problems with Starliner. NASA plans to conduct a "organizational safety assessment" while performing an evaluation of the workplace culture at Boeing as well as NASA's Commercial Crew Program.

"We're going to look at both Boeing's organizational processes and NASA's organizational processes in order to go ahead and make sure we truly do learn from this event, and that we know how to fix it and make sure it doesn't happen again," Loverro said.

Boeing was originally scheduled to launch the first crewed test flight of its Starliner spacecraft to International Space Station in the summer of 2020, but that mission has been postponed indefinitely as the company works with NASA to prove that the spacecraft can safely transport astronauts to and from space.

Meanwhile, SpaceX, the other private company that NASA has commissioned to fly astronauts to the space station, is gearing up to launch the first crewed mission of its Crew Dragon spacecraft in May, following a successful uncrewed test flight in March 2019.

Email Hanneke Weitering at hweitering@space.com or follow her @hannekescience. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook.
March 10, 2020, marked Dakuku Petersides last day in office as the director-general of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safet...





March 10, 2020, marked Dakuku Petersides last day in office as the director-general of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).





Bashir Jamoh succeeded Peterside who has occupied the office for four years since his appointment in 2016.





Jamoh is expected to spend four years in office as NIMASA DG.





NIMASA was created on August 1, 2006, when the National Maritime Authority was merged with the Joint Maritime Labour Industrial Council.





The agency is responsible for the development, protection and manpower training in the shipping industry. It also monitors marine pollution and spillage in Nigerian waters.





Tweets shared on the agencys Twitter handle showed that a valedictory programme was held for Peterside on Tuesday.





glimpse into Jamohs life up till the moment his appointment as NIMASA DG was approved. Here is aglimpse into Jamohs life up till the moment his appointment as NIMASA DG was approved.





ACCOUNTANT AND AUTHOR





Jamoh can be described as an accountant because to some extent, he practised as one.





He holds a diploma in accounting from the Institute of Administration at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. He bagged this degree in 1986.





In May 1987, he joined the Farmers Supply Company as the accountant for produce purchase. In 1989, he became the assistant produce purchase manager of the company and subsequently became the principal procurement officer.





The new NIMASA DG also explores his literary prowess; having published a book Harnessing Nigerias Maritime Assets  Past, Present & Future.





REACHED MANAGEMENT LEVEL SINCE 2003

Jamoh joined NIMASA in 2003 as an assistant chief commercial officer for the eastern and central zones; a management level position.





He occupied the role for four years serving as a desk officer for shipment operations, computing applications for the 3% NMA levy and monitoring the inward/outward movement of vessels from various ports under the eastern & central zonal offices namely: Port Harcourt port, Onne port, Warri/Sapele port, Calabar port.





By March 2007, he was appointed as the assistant chief administrative officer/ chief administrative officer, training.





RISEN THROUGH THE RANKS

In total, Jamoh has spent 17 years out of his 56 years on earth working at NIMASA.





During this 17-year period, he has occupied seven positions within the agency.





Perhaps as a mark of his versatility, he belongs to 15 professional bodies ranging from management, logistics and transport, transport administration and maritime economics to mention a few.





He is also the current president of the Chartered Institute of Transport Administration of Nigeria (CIoTA).





BUHARIS FATHER

Jamoh was probably guided by intuition to name his Buhari. Not knowing that he would be appointed to a place of authority by his sons namesake.





His son is named Buhari Bashir Jamoh.




My heart is beating together with this golden era of China-Sri Lanka relations. Its my greatest privilege to be posted and dedicate myself as Ambassador of China to Sri Lanka.





by Cheng Xueyuan & Zou Yuecui





Dear all my friends in Sri Lanka:





Greetings from Beijing!





My wife and I have already left Colombo and returned to China on 29th February,after I completed my tenure of 2 years and 1 month as Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka. Please pardon me for not biding a good farewell to each of you due to an extremelytight and busy schedule before we depart. During last week when we were settling down in Beijing, I went through the photos, and all the faces and scenes captured reminded me so vividly of yesterday-like memories. When writing this letter with a strong feeling of Nostalgia, I realized that some part of my heart has been left behind with this beautiful island country thousands of miles away from China.





Amb. Cheng Xueyuan and Mme. Zou Yuecui





My heart is with the breath-taking beauty of the island. During my tenure, I am fortunate to travel around all the nine provinces of Sri Lanka, witness with my own eyes the beauty of this Indian pearl, and take many postcard-like pictures. To the south, the gem-blue seawater in Mirissa attracts surf-lovers from all over the world. To the east, the flour-white beach of Trincomalee seems like a paradise. In the central, the green plantations in Nuwara Eliya grow the world-renowned Ceylon tea. To the north, brown soil of Vavuniya conceives the hope of post-war reconstruction. Sri Lanka is already my most familiar and loved country outside China.





My heart is full of the true friendship of Sri Lankan people towards Chinese people.I remember the smiling faces of local children when I donated schoolbags at the Al-Mina Maha school in Mannar. They wrote my name on their palmsto express appreciations. I remember when my wife and I visited St Sebastian church in Negombo and those kids who suffered from Easter Sunday attacks, the longing for peace and stability in their eyes. I will always remember when China is fighting COVID-19 with all-out efforts, the firm support and solidarity in various ways from the general public of Sri Lanka.Recently, First Lady of China Mme. Peng Liyuan wrote a letter back to the girls of Devi Balika Vidyalaya, thanking them for their heart-warming message and drawings which fully represent the cordial friendship between the two peoples of China and Sri Lanka.





My heart is excited by the Belt and Road Initiative joint-construction in Sri Lanka. Although originated by China, the BRI belongs to the world and helps Sri Lanka's economic and social development, bringing benefits to our two countries and people. During the past two years, I have accompanied different friends and colleagues, both from China and Sri Lanka, to pay field visits to mega projects for dozens of times, including Colombo Port City, CICT, Hambantota Port, Southern Expressway Extension and National Nephrology Hospital in Polonnaruwa, jointly accelerating the projects development. Regularly I held briefings and discussions with Chinese and Sri Lankan scholars and journalists, in the embassy or even on the Lotus Tower, to contribute more ideas to high-quality construction of BRI.





My heart is beating together with thisgolden era of China-Sri Lanka relations. Its my greatest privilege to be posted and dedicate myself as Ambassador of China to Sri Lanka. With the tremendous support from Sri Lankan side, no matter from which political party, ethnic or religious group, I work under the important consensus and guidance of the leaders of our two countries.On the reception of the 70th anniversary of the funding of the Peoples Republic of China, I was highly honored and delighted to see the then President, Prime Minister, Speaker and Opposition Leader all gathered and attended the event regardless of their political differences. Within only three days before I left, leaders of Sri Lanka were happy to accept my farewell call-ons out of their busy schedule. Hon. PMMahinda Rajapaska, Hon. Speaker Karu Jayasuriya and former PM Hon. Ranil Wickremesinghe showed their great kindness and held farewell meals for me and my wife out of protocol routines.





The concrete friendship between China and Sri Lanka is an inherited fortune of Master Fa Xians travel 1600 years ago and Admiral Zheng Hes visit over 600 years ago. It is founded bysigning of the Rice-Rubber Pact60 years ago and the construction of the BMICH 50 years ago. It is also rooted in our joint efforts to safeguard our independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity together during the past decades. It will only be further enhanced when we jointly develop our two countries and build a community with a shared destiny. The great waves of our friendship shall never be stopped or prevented, as behind them are 1.4 billion plus 21 million people.





My dearest friends, I left the country with concern for both people of China and Sri Lanka, since COVID-19 epidemic is still spreading across various countries. At this crucial challenging moment, I firmly believe that under the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China, with President Xi Jinping as the core, China will surely win this battle against the virus and contribute to the well-being of the people in China as well as the world. Sri Lankans are our brothers and sisters. We are willing to provide any assistance within our ability to prevent and control the epidemic. Helping each other is always the cornerstone of China-Sri Lankan relations, as well as the big international family.





Farewell, Sri Lanka! Best wishes and Ayubowan to all my Sri Lankan friends. One day I believe, we will definitely reunite again!





( Cheng Xueyuan has served as the Chinese Ambassador in Colombo)
A man was found hidden underneath a car seat when U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents searched a vehicle crossing from Mexico.

The shocking finding took place early Sunday morning when an 18-year-old female U.S. citizen arrived at the Calexico West port of entry in California.

Border Patrol agents at the booth subjected the driver to an additional examination and used a police dog to screen the woman's vehicle, CBP said in a statement.

A 48-year-old undocumented immigrant (pictured) from Mexico is busted by CBP while he was hiding under the rear seat of a car driven from Mexico to California by an 18-year-old female U.S. citizen Sunday

CBP agents were led by a search dog to the rear seat of a vehicle where a Mexican man was found hiding after

The 48-year-old Mexican national was discovered lying under the Mitsubishi's rear seat.

The officers removed the man from the car and took him into a secure area for processing.

The driver was also taken into custody and transferred to Imperial County Jail to face criminal proceedings.

It is unknown if it was the Mexican man's first unlawful entry attempt into the United States.

'The primary focus of our national security mission is to protect the American homeland from all threats,' said Pete Flores, the CBP Director of Field Operations for San Diego.

'Although we routinely encounter individuals attempting to enter our country illegally, this incident serves as another example of the inhumane tactics human smugglers will utilize in order to circumvent our laws.'

CBP reported a slight rise in apprehensions [30,068] in the month of February along the southwest border following a decline in the arrests of undocumented migrants crossing the United States-Mexico border in the previous three months.

Immigration officials registered 33,517 apprehensions in November, 32,854 in December and 29,206 in January.
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Linkedin Marchio Irfan Gorbiano (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, March 11, 2020 14:08 671 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2069d623d 1 National COVID-19,COVID-19-Indonesian-patients,coronavirus,Wuhan-coronavirus,Wuhan-coronavirus-in-Indonesia Free

Indonesia reported its first death from the coronavirus on Wednesday, a 53-year-old COVID-19 patient and foreign citizen identified as Case 25.

The Health Ministrys disease control and prevention director general Achmad Yurianto said Case 25 died at around 2 a.m. on Wednesday after nearly three days of receiving treatment.

The patient was admitted to the hospital in an already severe condition caused by preexisting illnesses including diabetes, hypertension, hyperthyroidism and years-long obstructive lung disease, Achmad said.

He said the coronavirus infection had worsened the patients immune system, which had further exacerbated her preexisting illnesses. So the coronavirus was not the main cause [of the patients death], but it had worsened her condition.

Read also: Lawmakers call for better coordination to detect COVID-19 as Indonesians test positive abroad

Achmad did not disclose the nationality of Case 25, however, he said the embassy of her country had been notified when she tested positive for the virus, and that her body was already in the process of being taken home.

He also did not reveal where Case 25 had been hospitalized, but said her husband had been by her side during her treatment.

There have so far been 27 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Indonesia.

As of Wednesday, Achmad said that two of the patients, Case 6 and Case 14, had tested negative for the virus after receiving treatment and were ready to be discharged. The patients had been ordered to self-isolate at home after being discharged as a precautionary measure, he said.
Mohammad Hanifnejad, Saeed Mohsen and Ali Asghar Badizadegan, all veterans of the ill-fated Freedom Movement, wanted to set up a progressive, patriotic, and democratic Muslim group that would set the stage for the overthrow of the Shah and the establishment of a democratic government.

The MEK founders were not the first to advocate for this, but throughout the 1950s and 1960s, even since the US coup against the popular Prime Minister, Dr. Mohammad Mossadeq, dissident groups and anyone who advocated for democracy was brutally crushed by the Shah and his secret police force (SAVAK).

Over the first six years, the MEK founders and their 20 or so leading members were able to introduce a new, systematic and comprehensive vision of Islam that was nothing like Islam being spouted by the Shah. (It is also completely different from the current ruling mullahs, who consider that they are the only ones allowed to interpret Islam.)

However, in August and September 1971, the SAVAK conducted a series of raids on the MEK, arresting all MEK leaders and 90% of its core activists. They were subjected to months of imprisonment and torture before the founders and two members of the MEKs leadership team  Mahmoud Asgarizadeh, and Rassoul Meshkinfam  were executed by firing squad on May 25, 1972.

These MEK members and leaders became widely known throughout Iran for their defense in the Shahs military courts, where they defied the dictator and his corruption and became pioneers in the anti-Shah struggle. This struggle continued in their memory until the Shah was overthrown by the people in the 1979 revolution. (Although, the revolution was usurped by the mullahs.)

There was one member of the MEKs original leadership that lived to see the revolution. Massoud Rajavi was arrested by SAVAK, tried in the Shahs military tribunals, and sentenced to death, like the rest of his comrades.

However, his older brother, Professor Kazem Rajavi, who was well known for his academic and human rights work in Switzerland, launched a major international campaign to save Massouds life.

This campaign was joined by several prominent European and international human rights advocates, including Amnesty International, future French President Francois Mitterrand, and the prominent French Philosopher Jean-Paul Satre. Eventually, the Shah was forced to commute Massouds death sentence to life imprisonment.

Massoud took over the leadership of the MEK after the execution of the founders and, soon after his release, while taking back the organization from Marxist usurpers, he declared the mullahs reactionary and backward interpretation of Islam as the biggest threat to the democratic wishes of the Iranian people.

He has continued to lead the MEK to this day, even though he was forced to flee Iran for his safety.

Fifty-five years after its start, the MEK is the Iranian peoples best hope for democratic change, but the world must support the MEK.

Read More:

Who Are the MEK and How Can Topple Irans Regime?
Court decision paves way for posthumous appeal for Abdel Basset al-Megrahi, who died in 2012 after denying involvement.

The conviction of the only man found guilty of the 1988 Lockerbie aircraft bombing has been referred for an appeal to Scotlands High Court of Justiciary.

The Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission said on Wednesday the family of Libyan intelligence officer Abdel Basset al-Megrahi, who died in 2012, could instruct an appeal over his conviction for the attack on Pam Am flight 103, which was blown up over the Scottish town of Lockerbie in December 1988 en route from London to New York.

Al-Megrahi, who denied being involved, died in Libya in 2012 after being released three years earlier by Scotlands government on compassionate grounds following a diagnosis of terminal cancer.

He first appealed his conviction in 2002 but this was refused by Scotlands High Court.

The following year he appealed to the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission and the case was referred to the High Court for a second appeal in 2007. However, he abandoned this in 2009.

In 2018, the commission said it would conduct a full review of the conviction to decide whether to refer the case for a fresh appeal. Its main findings were made public on Wednesday.

In 2003, former Libya leader Muammar Gaddafi accepted his countrys responsibility for the bombing and paid compensation to the victims families, but did not admit to personally ordering the attack.

Scotlands top prosecutor said in 2014 that no evidence had emerged to cast doubt on the conviction.

However, his family and some relatives of the Scottish victims have doubted his guilt.

Most of the victims of the explosion over the Scottish town of Lockerbie in Scotland were Americans on their way home for Christmas. Eleven people died on the ground as the New York-bound jet crashed when a bomb exploded in its hold some 40 minutes after leaving Londons Heathrow airport.

This is a major development, said Al Jazeeras Nadim Baba, reporting from London. In the last few years, his legal team have been calling for it to be opened up again.
It has been more than a month since the lockdown prompted by China's biggest health emergencies brought normal life to a complete standstill in the country - from travel bans to being publicly shamed for not wearing masks, the residents have seen it all.

Amid this grim scenario, a Chinese man went ahead and lied about being infected with coronavirus in order to avoid going to the office. Reportedly, he informed his office one day about his supposed health condition.

Reuters

After claiming that he had Coronavirus, his office shut down all its operations for three days and quarantined all the employees.

To make things sound credible the man said that he was exposed to the deadly pathogen while shopping at a local supermarket when a patient was present in the shop.





However, on being questioned by the police in China, the man seemed to have mixed up facts about how he contracted the virus and that's when officials saw through the gaps in his story.

The cops soon found that the documents furnished by him as proof of his presence in the supermarket were forged.

Twitter

The accused was thus arrested and sent to 3 months in prison for spreading misinformation. Following his jail term, he needs to serve an additional 6 months in probation.

There have been similar cases of patients risking the lives of others for their own selfish interests - like the family in Kerala that concealed their travel history to get away from being tested positive for thee virus.

Reports state that a couple (in their 50s) and their son(24) who hail from Ranni in Pathanamthitta district of Kerala, with recent travel history to Italy, evaded health screening at the airport.



PTI

Amid a spike in the number of patients in Kerala over the last few days, state health minister, KK Shailaja, on Tuesday said thet hiding one's travel history would be considered a crime. "According to Public Health Act, people hiding their travel history, which can lead to the spread of the infectious disease, is a crime," NDTV quoted her as saying.







The novel coronavirus outbreak that surfaced in China's Wuhan in December last year has claimed over 4,000 lives and affected over one lakh people worldwide.

The infectious disease spreads through contact with respiratory droplets spread during coughing and sneezing, doctors say. Besides keeping contact to a minimum with an infected person, the preventive measures include frequent washing of hands and use of hand sanitisers.
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Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Geneva, Switzerland  Thu, March 12, 2020 00:23 670 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2069eaec6 2 World WHO,COVID-19,pandemic,health,virus Free

The new coronavirus outbreak can now be characterized as a pandemic, the head of the World Health Organization said Wednesday.

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said he was alarmed by the spread and severity of the outbreak, along with a lack of action taken to combat it.

"COVID-19 can be characterized as a pandemic," he told reporters in Geneva.

He said he expected the number of cases and deaths would grow in the coming days and weeks.

"We have never before seen a pandemic sparked by a coronavirus," he said.

He also said hard-hit Iran was trying its best to control the outbreak but needed more supplies.
The licence was issued by Congos Insurance Regulation and Control Authority (ARCA) to Global Pioneer Insurance, which is majority-owned by FSGs Congo-based subsidiary, whose main business is minerals and security, the report said.

ARCA also issued insurance licences to Kenyan firm Mayfair Insurance, pan-African Sunu Group, and three insurance brokerages. These moves are part of the Congolese regulators efforts to liberalise its insurance sector and spur economic development in the Central African nation of around 92 million people.

According to the report, FSG is working closely with major Chinese investment company CITIC, and it also provides services to Chinese businesses operating on the African continent.
Lao villagers told to relocate from an area used for rock-blasting by a Chinese company are refusing to move, saying the compensation they are being offered is much less than what was originally promised, sources say.



Ten families in the Naheung village of Vientiane provinces Hin Heup district were initially told they would be paid 250 million kip (U.S $28,237) each for moving away from the blast zone and a road used by the company to transport rocks, village sources say.



But the offered payout has now shrunk in the hands of local authorities to 80 million kip (U.S.$9,036), one villager told RFAs Lao Service in a recent interview, adding that only one of the 10 families has accepted the lower amount so far.



The company said it would pay the villagers through the village head, who they said would give the villagers either 250 or 200 million kip [per family], but the village head has said he wont distribute that amount, RFAs source said, speaking on condition of anonymity.



Reached for comment, the village leader said that 250 million kip had never been offered, and that 200 million kip was the amount proposed as compensation. He declined to answer when asked why villagers were saying that 80 million kip was now the amount on offer, though.



Speaking to RFA, a Naehung villager said that the nine families holding out for full payment would accept 200 million kip compensation if the larger amount of 250 million kip could not be arranged, but that 80 million kip was too low.



RFA attempts to contact the Chinese Rock Grinding Company, which breaks up rock for use by construction firms and other business concerns, for comment this week were unsuccessful.



Laos often comes under criticism for land grabs in which authorities seize land from people for development projects without paying them fair compensation for lost crops, property, and livelihoods.



Rights groups say the illegal appropriations violate basic human rights and that such land grabs are a major cause of social tensions in Laos and in neighboring countries in Southeast Asia.



Reported and translated by Sidney Khotpanya for RFAs Lao Service. Written in English by Richard Finney.
"Remember, remember," said James Carville, in his signature southern drawl, "this is all about November."

Carville's reference to "The Fifth of November," the poem celebrating Guy Fawkes, reflected on not the failed 1605 plot to blow up the British Parliament but the faltering effort of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) to win the White House.

Carville, the longtime Democratic strategist and MSNBC analyst, urged Sanders on Tuesday night to drop out of the race and allow former vice president Joe Biden to focus on a general election matchup with President Trump. Biden seized control of the Democratic presidential contest with four more decisive wins, including Michigan, the night's biggest prize.

"Let's shut this puppy down, and let's move on and worry about November," Carville said. "This thing is decided. There's no reason to keep it going, not even a day longer."

Carville's comments echoed similar sentiments earlier in the day from Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C., who the political strategist said "literally saved the Democratic Party."

Clyburn, whose endorsement ahead of last month's South Carolina primary was considered instrumental in helping to resuscitate Biden's campaign, told NPR the Democratic National Committee should step in and end the primaries and additional debates if Sanders failed to win any of the six contests. (The two are scheduled to debate Sunday in Phoenix.)

Biden captured wins in Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri and Idaho on Tuesday. Two other states - North Dakota and Washington - continued to count ballots into early Wednesday.

"I think when the night is over, Joe Biden will be the prohibitive favorite to win the Democratic nomination, and quite frankly, if the night ends the way it has begun, I think it is time for us to shut this primary down," Clyburn said to NPR on Tuesday. "It is time for us to cancel the rest of these debates - because you don't do anything but get yourself in trouble if you continue in this contest when it's obvious that the numbers will not shake out for you."

The suggestion that Sanders immediately step aside was rejected by many on social media. Among those critics was Nina Turner, co-chair of Sanders's national campaign, who described Carville's perspective as arrogant.

"So glad to be informed that James Carville gets to make the decision for the people in the remaining states who have not cast a ballot yet," Turner tweeted.

Speaking with Rachel Maddow and Brian Williams of MSNBC, Carville, grinning from ear-to-ear in a green "Veteran" hat and gold LSU sweater, commended Sanders' influence but reiterated that "voters want to shut this thing down."

"We gotta acknowledge that he created a movement, he did some truly remarkable things in American politics," he said of Sanders. "We also can't diss these Democratic voters who are just coming out in every corner of this country and saying, let's get on with this thing."

As noted by Carville, FiveThirtyEight has put Biden's odds of winning the Democratic nomination at higher than 99 percent. While Biden remains well short of the 1,991 pledged delegates needed to secure a first-ballot victory at the party's national convention in Milwaukee this summer, his early success enhances his prospects of growing his lead after the coming primaries, The Washington Post's Dan Balz reported.

In the MSNBC segment, Maddow questioned Carville on whether it was better to end the primaries and have the Biden campaign court Sanders's supporters instead of fighting them. That process seemed underwayin Biden's victory speech on Tuesday night, with the former vice president thanking Sanders and his backers "for their tireless energy and their passion."

"Vice President Biden is not trying to force him out," Carville replied. He added, "You have to have respect for democracy."

But Sanders' supporters, such as the collective People for Bernie, seemingly brushed off the advice of both the pundit and the South Carolina congressman late Tuesday.

"Never surrender," the group tweeted.
'Stay-at-Home' Order Stuns Italians as Some Question Enforcement

By Jamie Dettmer March 10, 2020

The Italian government may turn to the army to buttress the police in enforcing a dramatic "stay-at-home" order imposed Monday by Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte to try to retard the spread of the coronavirus contagion.

Announcing the decision in a televised address to the nation, Conte said limiting the movement of people throughout the country was absolutely essential. "I am going to sign a decree that can be summarized as follows: I stay at home," Conte said. "Travel must be avoided across the entire peninsula unless it is justified by professional reasons, by cases of need or for health reasons."

He added, "We know how difficult it is to change our habits but there is no time." He said, "Our habits must be changed now. Today is our moment of responsibility. We cannot let our guard down ... Everyone needs to play their part."

His move extends a quarantine, set up Sunday, which covered 16 million Italians living in the region of Lombardy and more than a dozen nearby provinces in the north of the country, where the virus first appeared in Italy in the village of Codogno on February 20.

Since then, the number of confirmed cases has soared to 9,172 with 463 of those infected succumbing to the virus. There's also rising concern in Italy about the death-to-cases ratio, which is running at 5 percent, much higher than other countries struggling with coronavirus.

Italian officials acknowledge they do expect the drastic order to spark some civil unrest, but they believe a sense of patriotism  as well as fear of the deadly virus  will persuade most Italians to observe the restrictions on their movements. On Sunday, inmates rioted at 27 prisons in protest over the suspension of visits from family and friends.

Italians in normally bustling cities like Rome and Milan woke Tuesday to empty streets and a surreal quiet. "Citizens must know that this is not about changing their lifestyle just for one or two weeks," warned Stefania Salmaso the head of the Italian national center for epidemiology. She warned the restrictions "will likely have to be kept for a long time" as the peak of the contagion is not expected in the north of the country to be reached until mid-April and in the south several weeks later, according to disease modelers and epidemiologists.

Some think the order does not go far enough and that the government has introduced a fatal flaw by allowing Italians to move around, if they "self-certify" by signing a document supplied by the police stating they have to travel for work or for health reasons or because of an emergency.

Virman Cusenza, editor of the influential Rome-based newspaper Il Messaggero, criticized the order, saying relying on self-responsibility is a mistake."

The risk of exposing entire communities, national public health, to potential contagion is very high," he said in an open letter to Conte. He also criticized the penalties for abuse  a fine of 230 euros ($262) and a possible jail term of three months  as too weak. "This is not the dissuasive way for those who transgress. We must ensure a real tightening in the name of public health, not palliatives. In short, block everything. But really stop," he said.

Compliance checks will focus on highways and railway stations with the Carabinieri and traffic police questioning people and asking them about their "self-declarations." Ordinary roads will mainly be checked by municipal and other local police forces. But some Italians question how the no-movement measure can be seriously enforced on 60 million people  and they worry whether the move, the most sweeping travel restrictions imposed since the Second World War, will be sufficient to slow the transmission of the virus.

Politicians in southern regions of the country say they expect to see an abrupt jump in their infections rate because of what they describe as a bungled introduction of a quarantine Sunday on much of the north country on Sunday, which prompted an exodus to the south of thousands of people from the northern regions of Lombardy and Veneto.

Under the new order, all open-air gatherings of people are banned, as are sporting events and sporting facilities, including swimming pools, spas, sport halls and ski resorts, which have been closed. All museums and cultural venues, along with nightclubs, cinemas, theaters and casinos have been ordered shut. Restaurants and bars are allowed to stay open between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m., but diners must be kept at least one meter apart. And the ban extends an earlier closure of all schools and universities to April 3."

People are starting to understand the gravity," said Andrea Sterpino, the owner of the bar and restaurant San Rocco in the Lazio village of Celleno. "People are very fearful of the virus," he added.

The nationwide lockdown, the most radical measure taken by a European country so far to try to slow the spread of the coronavirus, has left thousands of foreign tourists and visitors in Italy in a quandary. Many airlines have suspended flights to and from Italy until early April, including British Airways, Ryanair and Delta.

Italian officials say the new measure should show some results in terms of a declining number of cases within two weeks, and they look at China as the model for their action. While the number of cases continues to spiral in Italy, China reported only 17 deaths and 19 new cases Monday, the lowest figure since January.

Neighboring European countries are closely watching Italy's dramatic move, fearing that they too might have to follow suit. Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis has urged Italy to ban its citizens from leaving the country.

Italian critical care specialists have issued a stark warning to their colleagues in other European states, saying they will need to set aside a large number of intensive-care beds for the virus when it starts surging in their countries.

In a letter to the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine, they said that up to 10 percent of all those infected need intensive care, and acknowledged that hospitals in the north of Italy had become overwhelmed. "We wish to convey a strong message, they said. "Get ready! Increase your total ICU capacity. Identify early hospitals that can manage the initial surge in a safe way. Get ready to prepare ICU areas for COVID-19 patients  in every hospital if necessary."

In the north of Italy, doctors say they are having to make heart-breaking life-death decisions about who to treat because of limited resources.

A critical care doctor working on coronavirus cases in northern Italy says the virus is nothing like the flu. In a post he shared on Facebook, Dr. Daniele Macchini says the disease is a "tsunami that has swept us all," and describes how medical staff are working non-stop at his hospital in the northern town of Bergamo. "The situation is now nothing short of dramatic ... The war has literally exploded and the battles are uninterrupted day and night. Let's stop saying it's a bad flu," he wrote.

He warned the virus doesn't only affect the elderly and that plenty of younger people "end up intubated in intensive care." He criticized people who say on social media they are not afraid and complain "because their normal lifestyle habits are "temporarily" in crisis  all while an epidemiological disaster is taking place.

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Model-actor Milind Soman took everyone by surprise on Tuesday with an excerpt from his new book where he revealed that in his childhood he was enrolled in an RSS shakha. But that was not it. The yesteryear's hearthrob, who gives major fitness goals even at 54, said that he is baffled to see the rightwing organization being projected as communal.

Talking about his childhood memories, Soman writes, The other thing that happened around the time I started swimming was my enrolment with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, or the RSS.

He recalls that his father believed that a young boy would benefit greatly, in terms of disciplined living, physical fitness and right thinking, by being a part of the RSS.

Soman says that he is surprised over the portrayal of the RSS nowadays. His experiences have been different, he says in the book, where the children would march in khaki shorts, do yoga, chant Sanskrit verses and, of course, have "fun" with his mates there.

When I read today all the subversive, communal propaganda the media attributes to RSS shakhas, I am frankly baffled. My memories of what happened at our shakha between 6 and 7 p.m. each weekday evening are completely differentwe marched about in our khaki shorts, did some yoga, worked out in a traditional outdoor gymnasium with no fancy equipment, sang songs and chanted Sanskrit verses that we did not understand the meanings of, played games and had a bunch of fun with our fellows, read the excerpt from his book 'Made in India', which was first published in The Print.

However, his praise for the RSS seemed to split Twitter into two. While some saw no problem with Soman's recollections, his fond shakha memories did not sit so well with others.

And some even said that they did not find the heartthrob "hot" anymore.

Milind Soman is now cancelled. aparna (@FuschiaScribe) March 10, 2020

I never thought we would have to *cancel* Milind Soman someday. Why, universe, why? Sarita (@ViolentVeggy) March 10, 2020

To some fans, however, he has become all the more relevant now.

So all of a sudden @milindrunning isn't hot anymore because he shared an honest experience from when he was 10? Just because it doesn't portray @RSSorg as communal or dogmatic?Like he's waiting for a hotness certificate from you bit**es & your 'love handles' lol.#milindsoman https://t.co/f1p9h9An51 Sowrav Bhowmik (@SowravBhowmik) March 10, 2020

While the debate has been raging for over day now, Soman himself seems to have been left baffled.

Trending at 54 for an experience I had at the age of 10. wish it was about swimming, which was at the same time! he wrote in a tweet.
Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Managing Director, Mrs Hadiza Bala-Usman Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), has dismissed claims that Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai is her boyfriend.

There were insinuations that Usman, who was a Chief of Staff to El-Rufai during his first tenure, became head of the maritime agency because of her relationship with the governor.

Speaking on a programme aired by Television Continental to mark the International Womens Day, the NPA boss, I am definitely not his (El-Rufais) girlfriend. The governor is my mentor and my boss. He has been very supportive of my career and the career of every other woman that has worked for him.

Read Also: Kano Has Lost A Golden King: El-rufai

She further stated that some people are out to pull down women who are doing well in politics. As you are aware, Kaduna State is the first state in Northern Nigeria that has an elected female deputy governor. So, you can see he has that commitment to having women in positions of authority so that rumour is completely untrue.

These are the things they say to women to pull us down. They say for everything you have done in terms of showcasing your competence they always reference and attribute it to the fact that you are in a relationship with another person.

The bottom line is that you got a job and you perform, so when people reference that you got there because you were somebodys girlfriend, that is a pull her down, she said.
A special court on March 11 extended the Enforcement Directorate (ED) custody of Yes Bank founder Rana Kapoor till March 16. Kapoor was arrested on charges of money laundering.

During the hearing, the ED told the special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court that Kapoor had sanctioned loans worth Rs 30,000 crore to different entities during his tenure.

Kapoor, 62, former MD and CEO of the private bank, was arrested by the ED here on March 8 under provisions of the PMLA as he was allegedly not cooperating in the probe.

He was earlier remanded in the ED custody till March 11. As his remand ended on March 11, he was produced before special court judge P P Rajvaidya.

The court extended his ED custody till March 16 as the central investigating agency had sought it for further probe.

While seeking his custody, the ED told the court that loans worth Rs 30,000 crore were given to various entities when Kapoor was on the bank's panel.

"Of this, Rs 20,000 crore turned into bad debts. We need to be probe in great detail how the money has travelled," the agency told the court.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had last week 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.
- Scientists from Queen Mary BioEnterprises Innovation Centre are working on creating a vaccine for the virus

- This will require them to recruit 24 volunteers who will be injected with weaker strands of the coronavirus and help them make observations

- The patients will then be quarantined for the two weeks, which is a period given for those who have been exposed to the virus

- Scientists around the world are working on 35 different vaccines to help fight the coronavirus

Scientists in London are recruiting 24 individuals to help in the fight to stop the spread of the deadly coronavirus.

Queen Mary BioEnterprises Innovation Centre in London, UK, is willing to pay around KSh 470,000 to infect 24 volunteers with the disease.

READ ALSO: Young student causes Meghan Markle to blush after complimenting on her beauty

Queen Mary BioEnterprises Innovation Centre in London is offering KSh 470,000 to inject 24 volunteers with the deadly virus Photo: Daily Mail

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Vanessa Bryant shares touching photo of eldest daughter in front of Kobe, Gianna mural

According to Daily Mail and other international news outlets, the volunteers will be injected with two weaker strains, 0C43 and 229E, of the virus that will give them similar symptoms.

A vaccine developed by a company named Hvivo will then be tested on the patients to observe the outcome.

They will be quarantined for the two weeks, 14 days, which is a stipulation for those said to be infected or experience similar symptoms.

READ ALSO: Vanessa Bryant shares touching photo of eldest daughter in front of Kobe, Gianna mural

Scientists around the world are working on 35 different vaccines to help fight the coronavirus Photo: Quartz

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Kenya vs South Africa: KOT troll SA musician over provocative 'light-skin' tweet

It is reported that companies around the world are working and testing on other 35 vaccines to help combat the deadly virus.

Meanwhile, in Kenya, there was a scare after an Asian man who exhibited familiar symptoms died in a Nairobi hospital.

The 65-year-old man had just arrived in Kenya from India and was admitted to a private health facility after falling ill.

Officials said the deceased exhibited symptoms similar to those of coronavirus and his samples were collected to ascertain the exact cause of death.

Health officials are also tracking down his travel history and nonetheless, India is also battling an outbreak of H1N1 whose symptoms are similar to COVID-19

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 Civil Aviation Ministry has asked domestic airlines to consider providing flight cancellation option without any fee to customers who are seeking to cancel their journey plans amid coronavirus concerns, according to a DGCA official.

All domestic airlines, including government-owned Air India, have announced a waiver on re-booking charges in case a customer does not want to travel on the designated date but none of them, barring GoAir, has given the choice to cancel the ticket.

"The Ministry has already asked them (the airline) to consider it (providing cancellation option)," a senior DGCA official told PTI.

He was asked whether the regulator was mulling directing domestic carriers to offer free of charge cancellation option as well as giving the same facility for rescheduling an existing ticket.

Domestic air carriers have already announced various measures such as cancelling flights to the affected regions and waivers on rescheduling fee, among others, in the face of coronavirus concerns.

Many countries have imposed travel restrictions, amid the outbreak of coronavirus, which has claimed more than 4,000 lives globally so far.

The Wadia group-owned private carrier GoAir has said it will not charge any fee on cancellation or rebooking of tickets till April 30 due to the coronavirus fear.

The GoAir offer is for all bookings made between March 8 and April 30 and for the travel period between March 8 and September 30, according to the airline.

But the waivers can be availed only if tickets are rebooked 14 days before departure.

GoAir also said that a customer will have to pay the fare difference while rebooking a flight.

Prior to GoAir's announcement, IndiGo offered to waive of rescheduling charges on tickets booked between March 12 and March 31 for its domestic and international flights on similar concerns.

It, however, did not give the customer the option of cancellation. On March 9, other carriers Air India, Air India Express, SpiceJet and AirAsia India too said that they will not charge any fee for rebooking of their flights amid the coronavirus concerns.

Air India and its international budget arm Air India Express said passengers can reschedule their tickets free of cost for new bookings made during a certain period of time in the wake of coronavirus outbreak.

One free change of travel date would be permitted for new bookings made till March 31, Air India tweeted on Monday.

"In view of coronavirus situation and travel advisory issued, one free change permitted for pax to postpone any international or domestic bookings on AI network to all existing bookings with travel date till 30th April 20," the national carrier said in the tweet stating the condition that the tickets must be re-issued on or before May 31.

In case of re-routing, the applicable difference of fare would be charged, it added.

Air India Express, which flies to 13 international destinations with most of them in the Gulf, said free date change would be available to fresh bookings made between March 12-31.

"In view of the uncertain travel situation due to COVID-19, free date change will be permitted up to three days prior to the flight departure, for all new bookings effected between March 12 to March 31, for travel up to April 30, " Air India Express said in a statement. Cancellation charges would be levied by both the airlines if a customer decides to cancel the ticket.

Another budget carrier SpiceJet has also decided not to charge change fee on the tickets booked for travel between March 12-31.

It would also be applicable on new bookings for travel between the same period, according to a tweet from the airline, adding a passenger re-booking the flight will have to pay the fare difference.

Bengaluru-headquartered no-frills carrier AirAsia India has extended free rescheduling of tickets for all travel till March 31 on existing and new bookings. The travel can be rescheduled to any date, as per a tweet by the airline.

Tata-SIA joint venture airline Vistara has also waived cancellation and rescheduling charges for bookings made on or before March 1.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Argentina and Colombia on Wednesday announced that travelers from the countries worst-affected by the new coronavirus would be isolated to protect the wider population.

Argentina was the first country in Latin America to register a coronavirus-related death on Saturday, with Panama announcing another on Tuesday.

Buenos Aires announced a two-week isolation period for people arriving from China, Italy, France, Germany, Spain, Japan, South Korea and the United States.

"This is not voluntary, it's not a recommendation. If you don't comply you'll be committing a crime, which is putting the public health at risk," President Alberto Fernandez told FM Delta radio station.

"The person who complies with the 14-day quarantine is obliged to shut himself away at home alone."



Fernandez said Argentina was considering barring travelers from Italy, the worst affected European country and one from which many Argentines are descended and where they still have family.

Argentina has registered 19 coronavirus cases and one death, a 64-year-old man who had arrived in Buenos Aires from France. In Latin America, only Brazil has registered more cases with 34.

Colombia has seen only three cases so far but also announced measures against travelers arriving from certain countries.

"Given the implications of the quarantine by China, Italy, Spain and France, the national government is adopting the preventive isolation of people coming from those countries to protect the collective health," President Ivan Duque said on Twitter.

Colombia's first infection was detected in a 19-year-old woman who arrived in Bogota on Friday from Milan.

Two more cases were confirmed on Monday -- in a 34-year-old man and a 50-year-old woman, both of whom had been in Spain.

On Tuesday, Chile was the first Latin American country to announce a quarantine on arrivals from Spain and Italy, who will be placed under the surveillance of health authorities.

Worldwide, almost 120,000 coronavirus cases have been recorded in 110 countries and territories, killing more than 4,300 people.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
President Klaus Iohannis stated on Wednesday that "people expect a recoil in the economy" after the coronavirus crisis is over, adding that a plan of measures is in the making.

"It's very clear, and this is something that I have also learned from the other European leaders, that people expect a recoil in the economy after the coronavirus crisis ends. We hope it ends in a few weeks after which, it's clear, we don't want to waste any time and we already have a plan of measures in the making," Iohannis said at the Victoria Palace, where he chairs the first meeting of the Interinstitutional Working Group to assess the economic, financial and budgetary impact generated by the effects of COVID-19 (GLI-ECOROM) in Romania.He showed that interim Finance Minister Florin Citu assured him that there would be no issues with payments."There will be some consequences, even if I've learned from the Finance Minister that he prepared very well for this situation. Today, at Cotroceni, he assured me when we had a discussion that there won't be any issues with the payments in the coming months, but, certainly, in the middle of the year, when we draw the line, an assessment will surely be made and then, at the respective moment, I want to know that the measures are either underway or in the making, in order to move on well," Iohanis explained.The head of state was asked whether Romania is prepared in case of an epidemic. "This is what we want to elucidate. (...) I have confidence in the Orban Government and I believe that the most suitable measures will be found," Klaus Iohannis said.He showed that the Group will also tackle support measures for companies.The President said that all the pieces of information must be taken from the authorities. "If you watch TV and see politicians giving advice to everybody as they know it all, I advise you to change the channel. Take advice from the authorities, the authorities are prepared, they give you the best advice and they are, as they say, on the lookout. What the authorities in charge of managing the crisis communicate, that is the indication which is best to follow," Iohannis said, when asked about the requests of some politicians to declare a state of emergency.
- An NGO in Ghana says it has produced a herbal medicine which can kill the virus that causes the Covid-19 disease

- The Center of Awareness Global Peace Mission (COAGPM) say their drug has been administerd on some coronavirus patients and the response is positive

- Our Manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in

A research-based non-governmental organization in Ghana, Center of Awareness Global Peace Mission (COAGPM) claims to have come out with some herbal medicine which can cure the deadly coronavirus and other viral infections.

According to the executive president of COAGPM, Dr. Samuel Ato Duncan the medicine which is made from local herbs has the potential of killing the virus causing the Covid-19 disease.

He made the revelation on Monday, March 9 in Accra at the British Council Auditorium.

READ ALSO: The next NDC government wont disappoint Ghanaians - Mahama

Dr. Ato Duncan further explained that the Centre in the last 15 years has developed an organic antiviral medicine that has three-dimensional effects to combat wide spectrum of viral infections.

He said this research costed them over $20 million without support from any donor agency or government.

Speaking to the media at the program, Dr. Duncan also noted that the herbal medicine produced has no chemical bases, thus minimal side effects.

READ ALSO: Bawumia could not propose to me - Samira drops bombshell

He said some of the products were sent to China and so far initial reports say, there has been a significant improvement in the conditions of some patients who were administered the products.

We, therefore, suggest to the Ghana Government, World Health Organization (WHO), to join hands with the Center and the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana to conduct research on the COA products as early as possible to ascertain their effectiveness against coronavirus clinically, he pleaded.

The Covid-19 disease which started in Wuhan in China is caused by a member of the coronavirus family that has never been encountered before. Like other coronaviruses, it has come from animals.

As of 9 March, more than 110,000 people have been infected in more than 80 countries and 62,000 people have recovered from the coronavirus sofar.

Yenkasa: Coronavirus: Is Ghana ready? | #Yencomgh

READ ALSO: Ghanaians to enjoy significant drop in fuel prices in next pricing window

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
The first case of coronavirus has been confirmed in the Baluchistan province of Pakistan, neighboring India. The total number of coronavirus cases in Pakistan has increased to 19. The news agency ANI, quoting the Pakistani newspaper Dawn, has reported that the new patient is a 12-year-old boy who went to Iran with his family and has returned through the Taftan border. The child is placed in an isolation ward. According to the news agency AFP, for the first time in the last five days in South Korea, cases of coronavirus have seen an increase.

5,000 Taliban prisoners may be released, Afghan government gives big chance

Baluchistan government spokesperson Liaquat Shahwani said that the child has been admitted to the Fatima Jinnah Hospital. Children's relatives are being investigated. On the other hand, the Health Department of Sindh has said that two more cases of coronavirus have been confirmed. In this way, 15 cases of coronavirus have been reported in Sindh province alone. According to the health department of Sindh province, one patient has come from Syria via Doha while the rest has returned from Iran to Pakistan via Dubai. The government of Sindh has held a meeting on measures to stop the virus from spreading.

Corona wreaking havoc in Italy, people of this age more infected

Sindh government has suggested people to avoid going to crowded places. Not only this, the provincial government is planning to install a virus screening sensor at Karachi Airport. According to the news agency ANI, the cases of coronavirus in Asia are constantly increasing. The virus spread from Wuhan city of China has now spread to 105 countries of the world. More than 115,000 cases of this virus have been reported worldwide, while around 4,000 people have died due to infection.

American prisoners in Iran jail can get freedom, US openly warns
Prince William and Kate Middleton recently experienced an awkward reunion with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge briefly interacted with Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, at the Commonwealth Day service, an event that will be the couples last as active members of the royal family. With Harry and Meghan set to leave the royal family, heres an inside look at their reunion with the Cambridges.

Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, Prince William, and Kate Middleton | Phil Harris/Pool/AFP via Getty Images

The royal family unites for Commonwealth Day

Most of the senior members of the royal family were on hand for the Commonwealth Day service. Although Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles joined Queen Elizabeth for the procession, Prince William and Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, backed out of the march at the last minute.

Harry and Meghan were also not part of the procession and were seated ahead of William and Kate inside Westminster Abbey.

Prince William Says Brief Hello to Meghan Markle and Prince Harry While Kate Avoids Eye Contact https://t.co/AqWgEGVOnD  People (@people) March 9, 2020

The former actress donned a green gown for the event, matching her dress with a hat from designer William Chambers. Meghan and Harry were seated one row behind Prince William and Kate, with Prince Edward and his wife, Sophie, Countess of Wessex, beside them.

The event is the last time Meghan and Harry will appear beside other senior members of the royal family. While the reunion went off without any major missteps, the interactions between the Cambridges and the Sussexes were a bit awkward.

Inside Prince William and Kate Middletons awkward reunion

Despite being within a row of each other, Prince William and Kate hardly interacted with Harry and Meghan. According to Express, the couples briefly said hello when they first arrived but barely said anything after that.

In fact, Harry and Meghan were far more interested in Edward and Sophie than anyone else. Shortly after the event, Patricia Treble, an expert on the royals, highlighted how uncomfortable the Sussexes and Cambridges appeared.

#Kate spent months trying to be peace maker it didn't work but she's now standing up to Harry and Meghan she completely snubbed and blanked them and Prince William is not ready to buy the rudeness and lack of respect from his younger brother Harry& his wife to their grandmother pic.twitter.com/IEHfRkQop3  Joy Musa (@Joywesey) March 10, 2020

AWKWARD: Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex are in the second row of royal seats, Treble wrote on social media. Prince Edward makes a point of chatting with them while Prince William and Kate, Duchess of Cambridge appear to have no interaction with Harry and Meghan.

At one point during the service, Harry was so deep in conversation with Edward that he had his arm wrapped around Meghans chair so that he could get a better view. All the while Prince William and Kate kept to themselves in the row directly in front of the Sussexes.

Harry and Meghan, of course, are due to leave the royal family starting March 31. The two are expected to return to Canada soon to reunite with their son, Archie Harrison, who was left in the care of a nanny.

Did Queen Elizabeth send a hidden message to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle?

During Queen Elizabeths Commonwealth speech, Her Majesty emphasized the importance of unity, despite the diversity they share. According to Express, she also seemingly added a secret message to Harry and Meghan.

When she mentioned all of the connectivity that the Commonwealth nations share, Queen Elizabeth explained how all of the decisions they make have consequences.

Looking to the future, this connectivity means we are also aware, perhaps as never before, that wherever we live, our choices and actions affect the well-being of people and communities living far away, and in very different circumstances, she stated.

This was the SNUB heard 'round the world. Icy cold, awkward and distant  that's all that's left of Harry and William's relationship. https://t.co/AT5dQmNYhn  Wayne Dupree (@WayneDupreeShow) March 9, 2020

While Queen Elizabeth did not mention Harry and Meghan by name, she could have been subtly referring to their move to North America. The two are currently staying in a home in Canada, a Commonwealth nation, and are expected to spend the majority of their time somewhere in North America.

Harry and Meghans exit, meanwhile, will be re-examined in 12 months. At that time, Queen Elizabeth no doubt hopes that the pair will reconsider leaving the royal family.

Prince Charles avoids physical contact at Commonwealth Day service

While many royal watchers are sad to see the couple go, Prince William and Kate will be increasing their royal workload in the months to come. Their busy schedules, however, may be hampered by the coronavirus, something that was a topic of interest during the Commonwealth Day service.

During the process, fans noticed that Charles was refusing to shake hands with people in the audience. Instead, he was spotted giving everyone a namaste greeting to avoid physical contact.

Prince William and Duchess Kate barely acknowledged Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at an event today  and it was caught on video. Watch the awkward moment here: https://t.co/6fOy4oQ3Ke  Us Weekly (@usweekly) March 9, 2020

The coronavirus scare comes amid concerns about Prince William and Kates upcoming visit to Australia. The two are scheduled to tour the country to raise awareness about the bush fires that have been devastating the area.

But with Australia dealing with an increase in coronavirus cases, it is possible that William and Kate postpone their trip until a later date.

Prince William and Kate Middleton have not commented on the reports surrounding their recent reunion with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
The senator representing Niger South, Bima Enagi, has introduced a bill that seeks to ban the importation of generators in Nigeria.

The bill, titled a bill for an Act to prohibit/ban the importation of generating sets to curb the menace of environmental (air) pollution and to facilitate the development of the power sector, was one of the six bills read for the first time on Wednesday.

The bill prescribes, at least, ten years imprisonment for any person who knowingly sells generator sets.

Other details of the bill obtained by PREMIUM TIMES shows that the ban shall not include generator sets used for essential services which include:

* Medical purposes (hospitals and nursing homes and healthcare facilities).

* Airports.

* Railway stations/services.

* Elevators (lifts).

* Escalators.

* Research Institutions, and

* Facilities that require 24 hours electric power supply.

Approval for exclusion shall, however, be obtained from the Minister in charge of Power, who shall brief the Federal Executive Council quarterly on approvals granted.

READ ALSO:

The bill further directs all persons to stop the use of electricity generating sets which run on diesel/petroI/kerosene of all capacities with immediate effect, in the country.

This bill seeks to ban the importation and use of generating sets (generators) in the country and to curb the menace of environmental pollution which leads to potential health hazards it poses to the whole nation, part of the document read.

The lawmakers are expected to debate the details of the bill on another legislative day.

The introduction of the bill comes four months after the Senate rejected a resolution to temporarily ban the importation of generators.
Neighbours cast & crew due to visit UK and Ireland for filming and a 35th anniversary fan event later this month have now been postponed.

Alan Fletcher and Jackie Woodburne were set to travel to Dublin to film scenes for the 10 Peach drama.

Due to the current coronavirus situation and cautions around international travel, cast who were flying in from Australia will no longer be visiting the UK for the Neighbours 35th anniversary celebrations, a statement said.

Whilst this is obviously very disappointing, the wellbeing of all our cast and crew is our utmost priority.

Filming in Dublin with Alan and Jackie has therefore been cancelled for now. However, we love our UK and Irish audience and will definitely be back in the future.

Fremantle is understood to have halted all staff worldwide from non-essential international travel.

Yesterday a Wentworth Con event was announced for Melbourne this June by Foxtel.
The slain Marines were identified in the release as Gunnery Sgt. Diego D. Pongo, 34, of Simi Valley, California; and Capt. Moises A. Navas, 34, of Germantown, Maryland. They were both assigned to the 2nd Marine Raider Battalion at Camp Lejeune.

NC school board candidate fired over racial slurJACKSONVILLE  A man who won a North Carolina school board primary has been fired from his job and asked to withdraw from the race because of a slur about black people that he posted on social media.

Eric Whitfield is one of four Republicans on the November ballot for the Onslow County Board of Education race. Whitfield posted the racially offensive comment last week on Facebook, using a controversial term referring to African Americans, news outlets reported.

Whitfield made the comment on a post from Al Burgess, who is the former head of the local NAACP and a member of the Jacksonville Planning Advisory Board. Burgess post was discussing the nomination of Mark Robinson, who won the Republican nomination for North Carolinas lieutenant governor. Burgess and Robinson are both African American.

Burgess said he isnt sure why Whitfield took exception to his comments on Robinson.
A prison has installed landline telephones in every cell so inmates can now call a helpline in the middle of the night if they are feeling sad or depressed.

The pioneering counselling service has been introduced in a bid to tackle suicide rates.

All 150 cells at the La Moye prison on Jersey now have a phone which prisoners can use at any time to anonymously call four fellow inmates who have been trained by the Samaritans.

Each on-shift 'listener' has undergone a ten-week training course.

All 150 cells at the La Moye prison In Jersey now have phones, so prisoners can anonymously call four inmates who have been trained by the Samaritans

If the scheme is successful, the Samaritans are keen to see it rolled out nationally.

It is the brainchild of the jail's governor. Nick Cameron, who said he wanted to help inmates who could be struggling in 'the small, dark hours' and believes that prisoners are more likely to talk to colleagues than official counsellors.

He said: 'The dark thoughts of suicide and depression often occur in the middle of the night or the early hours of the morning.

'It's an important, simple initiative and means that someone who is struggling in the small, dark hours of the morning with depressive thoughts about taking their own life can talk to someone.

'Prisoners are uniquely placed in that they can talk about the prison experience, which is something Samaritans cannot do.'

The Samaritans currently run a 'Prisoner listener service' - a suicide prevention scheme, staffed by prisoners - but it is limited to arranged, face-to-face meetings between vulnerable prisoners and listeners.

Mr Cameron added: 'What we have done is put in place a scheme where listeners are not only accessible on a face to face basis but also via their in-cell phones at any time of day.

'Most prison cells are locked at around 5pm and then don't open again until 7am which means there are almost 12 hours when a prisoner is isolated in their cell.'

Any prisoner can apply to be a listener, but Mr Cameron said many would be excluded due to safety concerns.

Two other prisoners are currently being trained to bring the total at Jersey to six.

Mr Cameron said: 'We obviously need to be sure about their motivations for doing it and also the Samaritans need to know they are getting people who will be able to handle the job.'

Any potential candidates will have to go through a vetting process before they are allowed to take part.

The chosen prison listeners will sign up to a rota, taking one week shifts each, so calls made during that time will come through to them.

Samaritans branch prison support officer Jose said: 'If a prisoner is struggling they might not want to be seen to be contacting Samaritans, as they might worry about being perceived as weak.

'Every call is free, not recorded and totally anonymous. There are no current plans to roll this out nationally and it will depend on each prison and prison service as to whether they have the facility to implement this.

'However, the time will come when the scheme is an integral part of the support provided by Samaritans to all prisons.'
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-11 23:19:35|Editor: huaxia

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SHANGHAI, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Construction resumed Wednesday on the Shanghai Planetarium, a branch of the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum, and is due to be the world's largest of its kind in terms of gross floor area when it officially opens in 2021.

Located in the Pudong New Area, the planetarium occupies a gross floor area of 38,164 square meters, about half of that of the Louvre in Paris.

Twenty-two workers resumed work Wednesday, accounting for about 15 percent of the total. As more workers return, their safety and health will be ensured, according to the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum.

Strict preventive measures have been taken, with temperature detection, information registration and disinfection of hands and shoes required for all entering the construction site, it said.

According to the museum, five temporary quarantine houses have been set up at the site to prepare for those with high body temperatures.

The construction site and office areas are disinfected twice a day while frequently visited places including restrooms and lifts are disinfected three times a day. Preventive materials such as facial masks, disinfectants and body temperature monitors are fully prepared, it added.

The planetarium is designed with a main building and ancillary facilities such as an exploration center for youth and two observatories for the public.
Kiss me, Im Irish, eh? Not this St. Patricks Day, laddie.

At least not in Morristown, where Mayor Timothy Dougherty is advising attendees of the annual St. Patricks Day Parade there on Saturday that, even if a strangers eyes are smiling, their lips and cheeks should be off limits.

Nearly 20 St. Patricks Day parades are set to step off this weekend, through Friday, Saturday and Sunday, despite concerns over the coronavirus. The South Amboy parade was postponed Wednesday, borough officials said. It will now take place May 16.

Dont kiss anyone you dont know, Dougherty stated on the towns Facebook page Tuesday afternoon, in a message meant to minimize the spread of the coronavirus.

Carry sanitizer if you have it, Dougherty added, reiterating more standard advice from the federal Centers for Disease Control and other health experts. Wash your hands throughout the day. Take the same precautions you would if you had the flu. And be sure to follow the guidance of local health officials and the CDC.

West Orange parade organizers said the situation  which by Tuesday had developed to 15 confirmed cases of the virus in New Jersey and the first death reported in the state  was being monitored, but the parade would still go as planned. Common sense guidelines were being encouraged, they said.

The public perception of the threat can easily be overshadowed by the fear of the unknown and misinformation. said West Orange Mayor Robert Parisi. The overall situation is best left to the advice of experts in the field who are better suited to guide us. I would urge everyone to enjoy the parade while being aware of the stated precautions with a heighten sense of awareness. I look forward to seeing the many familiar faces at the parade as planned.

If you would like updates on New Jersey-specific coronavirus news, subscribe to our Coronavirus in N.J. newsletter.

Steve Strunsky may be reached at sstrunsky@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @SteveStrunsky. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips
Quick action  and a bit of a heads-up  by anyone who may have been exposed to COVID-19 are key to containing the virus, according to regional healthcare providers.

Those who may have been exposed to the virus, which first was detected in Wuhan, China, in late 2019 and since has spread around the world, are advised to stay home but call their primary care provider, hospital emergency department or local health department to make them aware of the exposure, according to Passavant Area Hospital.

They also should start wearing a face mask as soon as possible to contain any infected secretions that could be passed along, the hospital said in a statement.

The virus can spread between people within about a 6-foot range through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

Illinois now has 19 reported cases of people infected with the virus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Morgan County Health Department also advises patients to call ahead before simply showing up at a healthcare facility.

More Information Timing helps colleges' study abroad programs Timing may have been key in avoiding COVID-19 exposure for a group of MacMurray College students who were studying abroad last semester. "They got back before it hit," said Todd Spann, interim director of communications and marketing at MacMurray. "Students got back in December. At the moment, it's not affecting us in terms of the studying abroad program." Illinois College's study abroad and travel programs also have not been affected by COVID-19's spread, but their leaders are carefully monitoring the situation, according to the college. College representatives also have met with local and state health officials to ensure the college is prepared and a Coronavirus Preparedness Taskforce has been created. "The information around the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is rapidly changing, and I have established a task force to work on an emergency protocol should a confirmed case of COVID-19 be identified in this region," IC President Barbara A. Farley said in a statement. "There are currently no cases of coronavirus at Illinois College and/or in the immediate region. IC is working with local and state authorities to ensure we are prepared should that change in the future." See More Collapse

We are still doing our surveillance and investigations, said Jacquie Barringer, director of nursing for the department. (There are) a lot of unknowns with this.

In a further preventive effort, the health department is emphasizing the benefits of washing ones hands and not touching ones face  particularly the eyes, nose and mouth  to further prevent the spread of the virus, Barringer said.

Passavant also suggests performing frequent hand hygiene  using alcohol-based sanitizer or washing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds  and practicing respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette, such as coughing and sneezing into your elbow, immediately discarding used tissues and performing hand hygiene immediately afterward.

Illinois Department of Public Health is operating three testing labs  in Chicago, Springfield and Carbondale  that meet the states current testing needs, though commercial testing expansion is anticipated this week.

A sample of patients who present with flu-like symptoms also are being tested for COVID-19 at 15 hospitals statewide  seven in Cook County, three elsewhere northern Illinois, three in central Illinois and two in southern Illinois  to monitor for the presence of the virus in communities.

Passavant and its affiliates prepare for all types of emergencies, the hospital said, noting that it has plans, processes, equipment and supplies in place to care for patients, including those with infectious diseases.

HSHS Medical Group in Jacksonville also is working to reassure people with COVID-19 concerns.

Patients should feel safe and confident in coming to HSHS Medical Group Multi-specialty Care in Jacksonville with any respiratory or health concern, including coronavirus, said Keith Griffeth, HSHS Medical Group vice president of quality.

The medical group is following CDC and state health department guidelines in screening and treating patients with the virus, Griffeth said, referring people with specific questions about the virus to IDPHs hotline at 1-800-889-3931, the IDPH website or the CDC website.
"Serving in the military changes you. The shades and degrees of change vary for everyone, but no one is ever the same as...
A 52-year-old tour guide from Angoda became the first case of coronavirus in Sri Lanka, health authorities said on Wednesday.

The first case of the viral infection in the country was identified last night from the country's western province wherein the victim recalled that he had recently provided services to an Italian tour group, a media release issued by the Presidential Secretariat was cited by local Sri Lankan newspaper Daily Mirror.

Health officials further informed that preliminary tests conducted on the patient were positive for coronavirus, and therefore, he has been quarantined at the Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH) in Angoda for further treatment.

Earlier a 43-year-old Chinese tourist was found to be infected with the coronavirus upon her arrival and admitted to the IDH reporting the first case in Sri Lanka. The woman fully recovered from the infection and returned to China last month.

The coronavirus, officially known also COVID-19, was first detected last December in Wuhan, in central China, and has spread to across 107 countries worldwide.

The global death toll from the virus is now over 4,260, with more than 118,100 confirmed cases, according to Johns Hopkins University.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
There are no new confirmed or probable cases of coronavirus in New Zealand with the Ministry of Health response now moving into a long "stamp it out and slow it down phase".

Ministry of Health director-general of health Dr Ashley Bloomfield provided the update on the novel coronavirus on Wednesday afternoon.

"For a fourth consecutive day, there are no additional confirmed or probable cases to report.

"One patient, one of our confirmed cases, was discharged home from Auckland City Hospital yesterday."

New Zealand has so far had five confirmed cases and two probable cases of the Covid-19 coronavirus.

A probable case from the Grand Princess cruise that was being treated at North Shore Hospital is also now home, says Ashley.

"Of the other confirmed cases, none are requiring hospital care at this point." All close contacts have been contacted, and are being checked on daily basis.

A prospective case in Northland returned a negative test result, says Ashley.

A person at the Tool rock concert at Auckland's Spark Arena and was tested for coronavirus can expect to find out today if they've contracted the illness.

"We will wait and see if the symptoms they have are from Covid-19."

On Wednesday, there were 28 tests being done around the country for coronavirus, he says.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

"In terms of what we can do in New Zealand ... not putting yourself or others at risk when you are unwell," says Ashley. People should not go to work if they are ill.

"All of us are probably guilty, at times, if we've got a bit of a runny nose, we go to work ... this is a time when we have to be much more strict with ourselves."

This is particularly important for large gatherings, such as the upcoming March 15 service and the Pasifika Festival.

"Please stay home if you're unwell, and watch them on TV or enjoy doing something else."

Good cough and sneeze etiquette are imperative at this time, he says.

Ashley wants to thank everyone who had gone into self-isolation. It is one of the most powerful tools available to tackle the illness, he says, noting the two most useful items to combat it were hand sanitiser and soap.

Ashley says people should not be going out with their keep-cups if they're symptomatic, referring to a report that MacDonald's had become wary of accepting reusable cups.

A message will go out to all aged-care facilities warning anyone considering visiting they should stay away if in any way ill, Bloomfield said.

The director-general of health said there were nine million respirator masks in New Zealand stocks, and he was quite confident this supply would be sufficient.

BACK TO WORK

The first of the hospital staff who were asked to self-isolate after caring for the cruise passenger who was a probable case are now returning to work, says Ahsley.

"Today, as everyday, there is a number of tests being run ... Healthline continues to take a large number of calls," he says.

The line received more than 2000 calls yesterday, double the usual number.

Healthline is also making calls.

"We've used a range of ways to reach out to those causal contacts, including Healthline," he says.

It was unusual to reach every casual contact, but evidence showed it was important to reach 80 per cent of people classified as close contacts with a case to contain the illness, he says. This had been achieved.
University and College Union (UCU) General Secretary Jo Grady has revealed the unions initial moves towards a sellout of its members striking at universities nationally. This week, staff are striking for the final five days of a 14-day stoppage spread over the last four weeks.

Grady said March 5, We have made it crystal clear to employers that we are not inflexible we have extended an olive branch to employers by offering to compromise on some of the demands which we started our industrial action with.

Without providing details that the employers representatives have been receptive in principle to commitments on workload, job security, and equality, Grady affirmed the UCU negotiators willingness to make significant concessions on the other elements of the dispute, relating to pay.

They have indicated that an offer of a 3 percent increase in pay to members could resolve the dispute. This is significantly lower than the 3 percent plus RPI (a total of at least 5.2 percent) which we initially demanded, and which would still not go far enough to compensate for a decade of persistent wage suppression by employers.

On pensions, Grady again made unsubstantiated claims of progress in the employers position, before revealing, Until now, we had maintained that employers needed to cover all of the contribution increases that have been imposed since 2017, so that members would return to paying only 8 percent of their salary. Yesterday, our negotiators indicated that they would be willing to recommend an offer of 8.4 percent. The UCU have previously allowed employers to increase members pensions contributions from 6.5 percent in 2011 to 9.6 percent in October 2019. The employers plan to increase this to 11 percent in 2021.

Higher education workers are striking against attacks on pay and pensions that are the direct result of the UCUs sellout less than two year ago, in April 2018. The union demobilised mass resistance on the part of workers and students to establish a Joint Expert Panel (JEP) on pensions with the employers, who have continued to pursue their own agenda.

The Universities UK (UUK) employers body representing universities involved in the pensions part of the dispute said of the proposals in Gradys statement, It is very clear from our consultation with employers that [the suggested deal] is not affordable for the vast majority and includes further conditions, not published on their website, that are wholly unacceptable to employers.

Gradys statement exposes the fraud promoted by the UCU Left faction and its supporters that the resignation of the unions previous leader, Sally Hunt, and her replacement by Grady had transformed the union into an accountable and staunch defender of workers rights.

The UCU Left is politically led by the Socialist Workers Party, which is well represented in the highest echelons of the UCU bureaucracy. The day after Gradys statement, UCU Left negotiators on the Four Fights dispute (workload, security, equality and pay)Mark Abel, Marian Mayer, Jo McNeill, and Sean Walliswrote an article to insist, Nothing is on the table and nothing has been agreed. Just a few paragraphs later they admit that the 3 percent pay deal was, and is, a genuine offer to try to resolve the dispute Their real concern is that the General Secretary put out a statement on Thursday that was neither discussed nor agreed with the negotiators.

Grady jumped the gun and revealed the retreats underway before her left allies in the union bureaucracy felt able to force them on the membership.

UCU Left initially backed Jo McNeilla Labour Party memberas their candidate for UCU General Secretary during the May 2019 elections. After Grady secured 64 percent of the vote in the second round of counting, the UCU Left warmly toasted her victory. Its website cheered Union takes a leap to the left UCU Left look forward to working with Jo Grady to transform UCU into a democratic fighting union that can send shivers down the spine of every employer.

A Socialist Worker article declared, Jo Grady win represents a shift towards the left, and claimed, The result can be a boost for workers who want their union to put up more of a fight to defend workers rights and education.

Grady, a former union co-branch secretary and pensions officer who was elected to the UCUs National Executive Committee last year, came to prominence as a founding member of USS Briefsa collection of UCU members who wrote articles explaining aspects of the 2018 pensions dispute. The group was part of a range of unofficial organisations which sprung up in response to the widespread anger over the unions treachery throughout 2018, including Our UCU, UCU Rank and File and the Branch Solidarity Network. The perspective of USS Briefs, however, was always limited to offering polite advice to the UCU leadership on how best to conduct its affairs.

With the UCU discredited among wide sections of higher education workers, Grady came forward to dissipate that sentiment. After her election, Our UCU wrote on its website that the democratic uprising has now been translated through to the ballot box The members have spoken and the immediate purpose behind this site has been realised. It will remain online, but it is not intended to add any new content.

Gradys leadership has changed nothing. Her manifesto describes the April 2018 sellout deal as an extraordinary victory. She only casually mentions that even this required striking branches to come together to reject a deal agreed by our own General Secretary that March. This involved thousands of workers descending on mass to the UCUs HQ in London and denouncing Hunt as she attempted to push through the sellout.

The June 2018 walkout of the UCU leadership from its own conference, to avoid motions of censure, is briefly referred to as an embarrassing event for our union.

Fortunately, Grady continues, this years Congress is set to consider rule changes, proposed by the recently established Democracy Commission.

This Democracy Commission, held in December 2019, failed to pass motions either limiting the powers of the General Secretary or unelected officers, or giving branches more control over the conduct of strikes.

The current wave of strikes is being been carried out under the same perspective as the last. The union refuses to oppose the well advanced marketisation of the higher education sector and call for a broad strugglein alliance with other workers employed in education at all levelsin defence of education as a social right. To do so would cut across the UCUs aim of securing for itself the right to negotiate constant concessions as a well-paid labour management service.

Instead, the union went into this years strikes by proclaiming as its goal: we need to put pressure on employers to work with us to accept the findings of the JEPthe same organisation Grady criticised for failing to deliver confidence, accountability and transparency. This bankrupt programme reached a new low earlier this month, when Grady sent Conservative government Universities Minister Michelle Donelan an open letter appealing to her to put pressure on the employers representatives.

The letter begins, Congratulations on your recent appointment as Universities Ministerit is a hugely important brief at a crucial time for the higher education sector and finishes, During the 2018 strikes one of your predecessors, Sam Gyimah, made a valuable intervention along these lines [pressuring employers!] and we would appreciate your support in pushing for a resolution as quickly as possible.

Education workers must take the struggle out of the UCUs hands and organise rank-and-file committees across all sectors on a socialist programme for the defence of high-quality, publicly funded education as a universal right. The Socialist Equality Party will lend every assistance possible to these efforts.
Peter Weber ended up with Madison Prewett after first proposing to Hannah Ann Sluss on Tuesday's shocking finale of season 24 of The Bachelor.

The 28-year-old pilot, however, did not get engaged to Madison, 23, saying instead that 'taking it one step at a time, one day at a time is possibly the smartest way to go with this.'

The show's ending previously was billed as 'unspoilable,' since not even Peter knew if Madison would stay with him until they spoke at the finale's live show.

Season finale: Peter Weber and Madison Prewett reunited and declared their love for each other on Tuesday's season finale of The Bachelor on ABC

Three months before, the pilot seemed thrilled to ask Hannah Ann, a 23-year-old model from Knoxville, Tennessee, to marry him in Alice Springs, Australia.

Peter had second thoughts almost immediately, realizing that his feelings for Madison hadn't disappeared, despite obvious 'compatibility' issues.

After breaking up with Hannah Ann, Peter told Madison that he still loved her, and they announced live in front of a studio audience that they would reignite their relationship.

Hannah Ann, whom Peter had previously described as 'the biggest sweetheart you ever met,' was understandably furious, chastising him for stringing her along.

Disapproving parents: The two-hour finale featured Peter's parents Barbara and Pete Sr sharing their doubts about Madison

'Words are powerful, Peter,' she emphasized. 'Either you don't mean what you say, or you don't understand the weight of your words. So which one is it?'

Peter's mother, who called Hannah Ann 'an angel from heaven,' glared at Madison.

'All his friends, all his family, everyone that knows him knows that it's not gonna work,' Barbara Weber declared, as the foster parent recruiter squirmed in her chair.

Icy stares: Madison exchanged icy stares with Peter's disapproving parents

'I am telling you that I love Madison, and that should be enough,' Peter told Barbara. 'Please, please. Listen to me.'

As the two-hour finale opened, Peter prepared to propose to Hannah Ann in Australia, calling her his 'person' and saying that she was 'the most beautiful spirit I've ever met.'

'I am so incredibly in love with Hannah Ann,' Peter insisted. 'I am choosing Hannah Ann because I am 100 percent certain, and I want to choose her every single day.'

Australia proposal: The two-hour episode opened with Peter in Australia proposing to Hannah Ann Sluss

Peter picked out a pear-shaped Neil Lane ring and called Hannah Ann's father to get his blessing, though he nearly passed out when he heard that Hannah Ann might not show up.

The model sensed Peter was 'torn' between her and Madison, as he'd told her the night before that his heart was in two places, and she didn't know Madison had left.

When Hannah Ann arrived, Peter made a romantic proposal that had them both crying.

Romantic moment: When Hannah Ann arrived, Peter made a romantic proposal that had them both crying

Peter told her that he cherished their time together, and knew he had to follow his heart, offering, 'You're thoughtful, you're caring, you're selfless, you're passionate, and above all else, you're one of a kind. And my heart chooses you forever I never want to let you go.'

Hannah was surprised that he picked her, exclaiming, 'So you love me? Oh my gosh!'

'Of course I love you,' Peter said, beaming. 'I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you.'

Tender moment: Hannah was surprised that he picked her, exclaiming, 'So you love me? Oh my gosh!'

He got down on one knee, and held out a ring, adding, 'Hannah Ann, will you marry me?'

'Oh my word, yes!' Hannah Ann replied, as he slipped the ring on her finger. 'I can't believe you're all mine. I get to love you forever. This is amazing!'

When Peter returned to Los Angeles, he told his nervous parents the news, dragging it out at first to suggest he chose Madison, then revealing it was Hannah Ann.

One knee: Peter dropped to a knee and slipped the ring on Hannah Ann's finger

Good times: Hannah Ann and Peter celebrated with champagne after getting engaged

The family: Peter's family including brother Jack, Barbara and Peter Sr waited for Peter's announcement

Barbara screamed and sobbed, calling Hannah Ann 'my daughter' as they spoke on FaceTime.

During the Los Angeles live show, Barbara's face was tight as Peter confessed that he still loved 'Madi.'

His break-up with Hannah Ann, which happened a month after their engagement, was then shown.

Great news: Barbara screamed and sobbed, calling Hannah Ann 'my daughter'

Video call: Hannah Ann spoke via FaceTime with her future in-laws

In an uncomfortable conversation, Peter told her that he didn't doubt his love for her, but was 'struggling' because he couldn't give her his 'entire heart.'

It wasn't just because of Madison, he later clarified, but because Hannah Ann felt more for him than he did for her, and he knew she deserved better.

Hannah Ann told him she had always seen them 'working through things together,' but affirmed, 'if you can't give me that love in return, then that's not a relationship.'

Month later: Peter and Hannah Ann were shown a month later having a tough conversation

'I never intended to give my heart to two people,' Peter swore, grateful for the fact that Hannah Ann had always stood by him.

'You took away from me my first engagement,' the model noted. 'I trusted you, and that's what you have continued to ask me to do: ''Be patient with me, have faith in me, trust in me''.'

'I'm so sorry,' Peter repeated. 'This is not what I ever, ever envisioned, ever.'

First engagement: Hannah Ann chastised Peter for taking away her 'first engagement'

'Imagine me,' Hannah Ann said, holding up her ring. 'I said ''yes,'' and I get this? Why didn't you just let me go? Instead of taking this away from me.'

When Peter said he was sorry again, she asked, 'For what? For not being man enough to follow through with your words?'

'I can't even look at you anymore,' Hannah Ann concluded, handing the ring back to Peter. 'I don't need anything more from you. You've done enough damage.'

Words matter: The Tennessee model told Peter that he wasn't man enough to follow through with his words and said she couldn't even look at him anymore

Peter tried to make things right again before she left, but Hannah Ann said she couldn't trust him, explaining, 'I feel betrayed enough. You betrayed me. And you know it, right?'

Peter nodded, and Hannah Ann said that acknowledgment was enough for her to 'get my life back on track now. Where it originally was before.'

Her ex-fiance walked Hannah Ann to a car, and stuck his head inside, saying, 'I'm sorry.'

Taking off: Peter walked his ex-fiancee to a car and said he was 'sorry'

'Peter, leave,' Hannah Ann protested, holding up her hand. 'Bye.'

Hannah Ann during the live show confessed she had known something was 'off' with Peter, and claimed he had manipulated her into trusting him.

She said Peter told her that letting her walk away would be one of the greatest regrets of his life, and after their breakup told her parents that he wished he had met her outside reality TV.

The hand: Hannah Ann was done hearing from Peter as she raised her hand and told him to leave

Peter also did not give her any indication that he still had feelings for Madison and did not disclose until the moment of the proposal that Madison had left the show.

'I had no idea to what I was saying yes to,' Hannah Ann pointed out.

Peter said he had been 'grieving' Madison's departure and wanted to be sensible about choosing Hannah Ann, whom he knew loved him so much.

Live show: Hannah Ann during the live show confessed she had known something was 'off' with Peter, and claimed he had manipulated her into trusting him

In response, Hannah Ann sniped that she should have seen 'red flags' when Peter said he wanted to reach out to his ex, Bachelorette star Hannah Brown, 25, to 'find closure with her.'

'Word of advice,' she said. 'If you want to be with a woman, you need to become a real man.'

After Hannah Ann left the stage, show host Chris Harrison, 51, revealed that he had flown to Madison's Auburn, Alabama, hometown to see if she still loved Peter.

Sage advice: 'Word of advice. If you want to be with a woman, you need to become a real man,' Hannah Ann told Peter

Madison affirmed that she did, and called leaving the pilot 'the hardest thing I've ever had to do,' telling Chris she couldn't eat or sleep in the days after her decision.

She said she wished she'd done things differently, and when Chris told her that Peter was single again, she immediately agreed to meet with him in Los Angeles.

When she saw him, Madison told Peter she still had 'so much love' in her heart for him, and he said the same, acknowledging that he had made 'a million and one mistakes.'

The host: Chris Harrison revealed that he went to Auburn, Alabama to see Madison after Peter and Hannah Ann broke up

Second chance: Madison liked the idea of a second chance with Peter and agreed to go to Los Angeles to see him again

On the live show, the two of them testified again to their love, even though they had been 'hurt' and put 'through the wringer' for it.

'I've made more mistakes than you could ever make as the Bachelor, but I'm still sitting on a couch next to you right now,' Peter told Madison. 'Through everything, that makes me happy.'

In the crowd, Barbara looked on stonily, telling Chris that she 'clicked right away' with sweet Hannah Ann, while her interaction with Madison had been 'rocky.'

Together again: On the live show, the two of them testified again to their love, even though they had been 'hurt' and put 'through the wringer' for it

She said Madison made the Webers wait three hours to meet her in Australia, 'because she didn't want to come in,' and never apologized to them.

'When I asked her if she was madly in love with my son, she said no, and that she would not expect a proposal in four days,' Barbara added. 'How do you expect a mother who loves her son with all of her heart to take that?'

Asked for a response, Madison kept mum out of 'love and respect for Peter's family.'

Long wait: Barbara said Madison made the Webers wait three hours to meet her in Australia, 'because she didn't want to come in,' and never apologized to them

'At the end of the day, it is what it is,' she opined. 'Can't change the past, and there's a lot that is out of my control. I came into this journey and I said I was going to be unashamed of who I am and undeniably myself, and that is something I have done throughout this entire journey.'

Peter agreed, recognizing that his family's concern came from 'a place of love.'

'I know how she feels for me, and I know how I feel for her,' he told his parents. 'And I just ask that you guys can give me that chance. And trust me.'

Trusting time: 'I know how she feels for me, and I know how I feel for her. And I just ask that you guys can give me that chance. And trust me,' Peter told his parents

'This is my journey, too,' Madison insisted. 'This isn't just Peter choosing me. This is me choosing Peter.'

Chris asked Barbara how the family could 'turn the page' on their relationship with Madison.

'He's going to have to fail to succeed,' Barbara said as the audience gasped, adding that none of Peter's family members and friends thought it would work.

Fail to succeed: 'He's going to have to fail to succeed,' Barbara said of her son's relationship with Madison

Chris asked Peter's father for his thoughts and Barbara leaned over and told her husband in Spanish to also say something bad about Madison to help her.

Peter's father focused on the obstacles facing them and noted that it wasn't the right way to start a relationship.

'Honestly, this is about me and Peter, this is about our journey, this is something just he and I should be talking about,' Madison reiterated.

As the show ended, Chris introduced Claire Crawley, 38, who will make her debut as the new Bachelorette on May 18, after previously being featured on four Bachelor-franchise shows.

Their journey: 'Honestly, this is about me and Peter, this is about our journey, this is something just he and I should be talking about,' Madison reiterated

Next up: As the show ended, Chris introduced Claire Crawley, 38, who will make her debut as the new star of The Bachelorette
Apart from its own MLAs, the Congress is also keeping a close watch on four Independents who are supporting the party-led state government

Madhya Pradesh Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Govind Singh addresses Congress legislature party meeting at CMs residence in Bhopal on Tuesday. PTI photo

Bhopal: In a bid to keep its flock together, the crisis-hit Madhya Pradesh Congress has decided to shift its 92 MLAs either to Jaipur or some other place.

The move comes after 22 Congress MLAs loyal to former Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia resigned on Tuesday, pushing the 15-month-old Kamal Nath government to the brink of collapse.

We are going to take our 92 MLAs and those supporting our Madhya Pradesh government to a hotel, a senior Congress leader said on Wednesday.

The legislators would be taken either to Jaipur or some other Congress-ruled state like Chhattisgarh, a party source said.

Apart from its own MLAs, the Congress is also keeping a close watch on four Independents who are supporting the party-led state government.

On Tuesday, 22 Congress MLAs from Madhya Pradesh resigned soon after Scindia quit the party.

The development reduced the Congress government in the state to minority.

The state Congress unit is now making all efforts to save the Kamal Nath-led government.

The BJP on Tuesday night shifted its MLAs to Manesar at Gurugram in Haryana, sources in the saffron party said.

The Congress, whose tally before the rebellion was 114, has a wafer-thin majority in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly whose current effective strength is 228.

It also has the support of four Independents, two BSP legislators and one SP MLA, but some of them are now likely to switch sides to the BJP.

The BJP has 107 seats in the state Assembly.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-11 17:14:46|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Psychological experts said steady efforts in mental health prevention are needed as people's psychological status changes along with the situation of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) epidemic in China.

The general public has remained psychologically stable thanks to the importance that has been put on people's mental health during the outbreak, said Fang Xin, a psychologist with Peking University Hospital.

China has dispatched 415 psychological counselors to Hubei Province to offer mental counseling services to patients and medical workers, according to National Health Commission figures.

A total of 613 free hotlines have been available to individuals seeking psychological help during the outbreak, according to He Qinghua, a senior official with the National Health Commission.

As the epidemic situation improves in China, "the fear about the coronavirus among the public eases, and the psychological differences among different groups emerge," said Gao Wenbin, a researcher with the Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

"People's mental health needs can no longer be met just by listening to them and cheering them up," Fang said.

Experts are referring to new mental health risks that might arise as China continues to resume work and production.

He Jingli, director of a mental health counseling center for minors based in Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, said the center has recently received more calls about personal relationships and daily life.

Preparations are being made across China. In Jiangxi, more than 600 volunteers with professional knowledge are recruited to join psychological professionals in offering counseling services via social media to community residents. In Shanghai, online platforms have been launched to provide psychological counseling around the clock.
Three Formula One personnel are in self-isolation and being tested for coronavirus, as the Australian Grand Prix Corporation denied suggestions it lobbied the federal government to hold off on an Italy travel ban to allow the Ferrari team into Australia.

Officials from the Haas and McLaren Formula One teams confirmed that members of their crews had gone into self-isolation on Wednesday after showing symptoms of the virus.

The Australian Grand Prix and Ferrari narrowly escaped an unprecedented travel ban on Italy, allowing the $60 million race and more than 300,000 spectators to file into Melbourne despite growing coronavirus fears.

News of the crew members going into self-isolation came hours after local hero Daniel Ricciardo cancelled a planned sponsor and media appearance for Renault because organisers did not want him to be exposed to a crowd of people in an enclosed space.
Many coronavirus jokes were made, the past Chamber of Commerce executive director was fondly remembered, and some of the people who help make Lebanon a better place were honored on Friday night at the 2019 Lebanon Community Distinguished Service Awards.

Rebecca Grizzle, the new executive director of the Chamber of Commerce, offered first bumps but no handshakes as she mingled with the crowd at the Boulder Falls Center. On stage, she led the crowd in singing If Coronavirus Scares You, Wash Your Hands.

But the mood became more serious when she talked about Shelley Garrett, the longtime leader of the Lebanon Chamber who died last spring.

This is our first DSA in  over 20 years that we have not had Shelly Garrett, Grizzle said as she introduced a slide show remembering Garrett. I watched that this morning.  Ive got to tell you I felt feelings and I hate that because Im not a feelings-feeler. But, we move on.

Dave Gillott was honored as the Man of the Year. The award was presented to him by Tre Kennedy on behalf of last years winner, Nick Brooks. Gillott is an elementary school teacher and a part of the Laura Gillott Home Team at Keller Williams Realty.

There were a number of nominations for this individual, Kennedy said of Gillott. And in each and every one there was a constant theme.  To quote just a few: He has helped me in so many ways. He would never, ever turn down an opportunity to help somebody. He is the first to lend a hand wherever he is needed and there is nothing he wouldnt do for someone who needed it.

Jenni Grove was honored as the Woman of the Year. She was introduced by Betty Schmidt, the winner of this award for 2018.

You dont get to thank anyone when you win the award, so Im going to take a couple of minutes to say thank you. It was very humbling to win it last year, Schmidt said.

She then introduced Grove, who is the marketing director at The Oaks in Lebanon.

She has a servants heart. She is an inspiration to others. She is a fearless leader, Schmidt said, singling out Groves mentorship of other women through the creation of the Professional Womens Lunch. She is a champion for women.

Grove was also honored as the Chamber Ambassador of the Year and The Oaks was named the Large Business of the Year.

Dala Johnson was named the Senior First Citizen.

She provides countless volunteer hours to make Lebanon a better place to live. In volunteering, she is always the first to arrive and the last to leave and inspires others to join in, said Dr. Robert Wimmer, who announced the award.

Chris Meek was honored as the Junior First Citizen. That award was presented by Jennifer Larsen.

Sharon Hails was recognized as the Volunteer of the Year. Mike and Betty Van Atta were recognized as the Small Business owners of the year for the creation of the MBVA building and their efforts to support Lebanons downtown.

Paula Newman was named the Business Leader of the Year.

Mary Garner was the recipient of the Frankie Gray "Answering the Call" Award for her work at the Chamber of Commerce in the period after Garrett's passing.

"Despite her personal loss and grieving, Mary stepped up to the task of running the chamber in a seamless manner, taking on many additional roles," Grizzle said.

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March 11, 2020



Nursing staff gives new solution 90%* staff satisfaction rating and new transport process 94%*; workflow improvements help flagship site for leading health system deliver on Quadruple Aim

Amsterdam, Netherlands and Miami, FL, U.S.  Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA), a leading health technology company, and Jackson Health System, one of the nations largest public health systems, today announced new findings from a performance improvement evaluation at Jackson Memorial Hospital. The evaluation looked at the impact of its new Enterprise Monitoring as a Service (EMaaS) model six months after its deployment as part of a groundbreaking Philips partnership . Nursing staff gave the new model a 90%* satisfaction rating, up from 8%* prior to the new system [1]  an 82% improvement. The hospital also estimates it will save 13,331 staff hours from workflow improvement and automation of manual tasks. Moreover, the new patient transport process has reduced the time it takes to connect a patient to a transport monitor from 5 minutes to 3.9 seconds  saving staff more than 4 minutes and 56 seconds per patient and helping to earn a 94%* overall satisfaction rating from nursing staff.

Jackson Memorial Hospital, a nonprofit tertiary care teaching hospital in Miami, is the centerpiece of Jackson Health System. The 1,550 licensed bed hospital is focused on continuous improvement, including standardization of patient monitoring solutions for all acuity levels and settings, as well as improving accuracy of data. By adopting the EMaaS model, Jackson can move away from traditional capital outlay models, which can require buying the monitoring technology, consumption-based engagement or paying for monitoring capacity per patient. Moreover, it will give the hospital better performance visibility, utilization transparency and other improvements across the enterprise.

Standardizing Jackson Memorials patient monitoring has simplified the staffing and management of our Central Monitoring Unit, said David Zambrana, the former CEO of Jackson Memorial Hospital and current EVP for Hospital Operations of Jackson Health System. It has also simplified the work required to electronically send patient data to our Electronic Medical Records system, managing the network and interfaces over time. Our partnership provides the ongoing support and proactive management we want for a life-critical capability that we rely on 24/7*.

Story continues

The new Philips patient monitoring solution is also interoperable and automates clinical data sharing, which saves time by quickly making critical information  such as a patients vital signs  directly available to staff through the Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system. Moreover, Philips will continue to provide technical support, including helping Jackson to design solutions that seamlessly integrate with core IT systems such as the EMR. Philips will also help Jackson identify clinical workflow optimization opportunities, provide continuing education and assist with asset and data management.

Forward thinking healthcare systems like Jackson want to achieve the Quadruple Aim and realize they need to move away from transactional relationships to true partnerships, both with their patients and their vendors, in order to provide quality care at a lower cost, said Vitor Rocha, Chief Philips North America and member of the Executive Committee, Royal Philips. Working together, we have developed the EMaaS model, which provides them with a state-of-the-art, scalable patient monitoring solution that reduces their per capita cost of care, while allowing them to improve the patient and staff experience. By automatically sharing vital patient information through the EMR, they are creating a more seamless experience, helping their staff to deliver the right care at the right time.

*This data is exclusive to Jackson Memorial Hospital. Results from case studies are not predictive of results in other cases. Results in other cases may vary.

[1] 90% of the clinical team surveyed in critical care units indicated they were somewhat satisfied or highly satisfied when asked to rate their overall satisfaction with the current patient monitoring system at Jackson Memorial Hospital.

For further information, please contact:

Silvie Casanova

Philips North America

Tel: +1 781-879-0692

Email: Silvie.casanova@philips.com

Kathy OReilly

Philips Global Press Office

Tel: +1 978-221-8919

Email: Kathy.oreilly@philips.com

Jackson Health System

Jackson Health System is an integrated healthcare delivery network with more than 12,000 employees. It has been a central provider of medical services and healthcare leadership for residents of Miami-Dade County for more than a century. The centerpiece of Jackson Health System is Jackson Memorial Hospital, a world-class regional center of specialized care that functions as the primary teaching hospital for the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine. Jacksons robust network also includes two community hospitals, a childrens hospital, a rehabilitation hospital, a behavioral health hospital, a network of urgent care centers, two long-term care nursing facilities, and both primary and specialty care centers across Miami-Dade County. The new Jackson West Medical Center campus is under development in the City of Doral, and will feature a 100-bed inpatient hospital, adult and pediatric emergency rooms and outpatient services. Owned and supported by the taxpayers of Miami-Dade County, Jackson is governed by Public Health Trust Board of Trustees under the auspices of the Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners.

About Royal Philips

Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) is a leading health technology company focused on improving people's health and enabling better outcomes across the health continuum from healthy living and prevention, to diagnosis, treatment and home care. Philips leverages advanced technology and deep clinical and consumer insights to deliver integrated solutions. Headquartered in the Netherlands, the company is a leader in diagnostic imaging, image-guided therapy, patient monitoring and health informatics, as well as in consumer health and home care. Philips generated 2019 sales of EUR 19.5 billion and employs approximately 80,000 employees with sales and services in more than 100 countries. News about Philips can be found at www.philips.com/newscenter .

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Imagine you've gone through a lengthy hiring process and have shortlisted two candidates for a coding job. In terms of education, skills, and achievements, they're relatively equal.

But even though they've both arrived at the same "place" in terms of qualifications, there is one difference.

Sheila is a natural; it's almost like she was born to code.

Kaley is a grinder; she's worked long and hard to develop her skills.

Which one will you hire?

Research says you'll probably hire Sheila, the "prodigy."

Even if you said, going into the process, that what you value most is motivation, hard work, and perseverance.

In one experiment, researchers gave participants background on two (fictitious) musicians. One was said to have inborn talent (the "natural"), the other to have worked hard (the "striver") to develop skill. Participants then listened to the same recording and were asked to rate the performance.

Even though the only difference was the background story, participants preferred the natural. That was especially true when the participants were professional musicians -- oddly enough, the more they knew about music, the more influenced they were by their bias against strivers.

And even though, going into the experiment, they said talent is less important than training.

Granted, business is different than music. So the researchers conducted another experiment, this time using two fictitious entrepreneurs as the test bed. Both had the same skills and ability, but the "natural" was said to have those skills early on, while the "striver" gained those skills through experience.

Then participants listened to the same one-minute recording of each entrepreneur's business proposal and were asked to rate the pitch: likelihood of success, perceived talent, skill demonstrated ... even their willingness to become an investor in the fictitious company.

By now you know what happened: Participants preferred the natural over the striver. In fact, people who were themselves investors or entrepreneurs preferred the natural even more.

Even though there was no difference in the actual pitch. And even though before the experiment they claimed to value motivation and hard work much more than natural talent.

So does that mean you should prefer strivers to naturals? Of course not. Sometimes naturals plateau, sometimes they don't. Sometimes strivers plateau, sometimes they don't.

But there is a case to be made for people who have worked hard to develop their skill, especially in terms of mindset. People with a growth mindset -- who believe that intelligence, ability, and skill can be developed through effort -- tend to stay the course and see roadblocks as challenges, not obstacles, compared with those with a fixed mindset.

In simple terms, if things have always come easily to me, when the going gets tough I am more likely to give up.

If things haven't come easily, when the going gets tough my experience tells me that eventual achievement has nothing to do with who I "am" but with who I work hard to become.

But that doesn't mean you should always hire strivers, either.

So how do you avoid a bias toward naturals without skewing too heavily toward strivers?

Before you start the hiring process, decide exactly what skills, experiences, and attributes you need: the problems the ideal candidate will solve, and the value the ideal candidate will bring to your organization.

Then measure candidates against that set of criteria.
Were trying to look at the positives, like maybe our international flight will be less crowded, joked McCann. Were being as responsible as we can: packing hand sanitizer, bringing wipes and trying to avoid anyone who appears to be sick. Were hoping the islands are a little more insulated than the mainland of Greece.
The Karaga festival attracts people from all over the south. (Photo: Satish B)

Bengaluru: The Karaga festival is important to Bengaluru. It is celebrated over nine days with pomp and colour and distribution of panaka a concoction of lime juice and jiggery. This year, it falls on March 31.

There has not been a year when the Karaga festival was not held. It did not stop when the plague outbreak rattled the country. It did not stop when the British imposed curfew in 1940.

So will the coronavirus stop the Karaga festival in Bengaluru this year?

Then, on April 2 and 3, Karnataka will celebrate Sriramanavami. It has statewide importance.

Will that celebration be limited to the home too?

The coronavirus scare hangs as dark cloud over both celebrations.

The organizers of the Karaga festival, the Dharmaraya Swamy Temple Management Committee, the Muzrai department and the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) are worried sick, in a manner of speaking.

Several coronavirus positive cases are being quarantined in hospitals and then the death of a patient in Kalaburagi yesterday has triggered speculation that it was due to the coronavirus.

Given such a leadup, no one knows what decision will be taken by the civic authorities should the corona scare intensify in the coming days.

Rajagopal, president of the Dharmaraya Swamy Temple Committee which organizes the event in coordination with the city administration said, I am 76 years old. I have never seen the Karaga festival stopped for any reason. We are confident it will be celebrated this year, come what may.

He said some practices may have to be modified as a coronavirus precaution: such as stopping distribution of panaka (sacred juice) and buttermilk to devotees. Insteam, they could be given certain fruits as prasadam.

An assistant priest at the Gaali Anjaneyaswamy temple, manoj Bhattacharya said, The celebrations have been happening uninterrupted for 135 years.They will go ahead this year too.
Firms are cancelling meetings and business trips, disinfecting their premises and sending their employees to work from home.

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A lack of clarity and unpredictability characterise the situation in the business sector facing the impact of the COVID-19 virus in Slovakia. The virus poses a number of risks - not all of them immediate. In the meantime companies in Slovakia are adopting measures to protect their employees from contracting the COVID-19 virus. Nevertheless, instead of sick employees, companies are endangered by slowed down supplies from abroad as well as decreasing orders. The overall impact the COVID-19 virus will have on the Slovak economy is still unknown. But analysts agree that the economic growth would be lower than that originally expected of around 2 percent.

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The situation is still very unclear, said Tibor Lorinz, analyst with Tatra Banka, as cited by the SITA newswire. He added that the worst scenarios envision the crisis situation lasting as long as one year or even a year-and-a-half. It is almost certain that it has negatively affected the global as well as Slovak economy, but we dont know how much yet.

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Michal Lehuta, analyst with VUB bank, sees two negative shocks that may hit the small and extremely open Slovak economy. The first one will be caused by the drop in orders from abroad while foreign trade might show signs of weakening already in March. The second shock will be caused by a cancellation of events, closure of schools and quarantine measures.

Logically, the most affected sectors will be transport, culture and tourism, but also sales of durable goods, like cars, Lehuta told SITA. This is why the Slovak economy may be affected more than others.
TRIPOLI, Libya - Yazan, a 1-year-old Libyan boy, was born with congenital heart disease. With just one chamber, the organ pumped so little blood that when Yazan cried, his skin turned black. Without surgery, he would not survive.

But Yazans country, Libya, has only one heart surgeon who cant possibly perform surgeries on 1,200 or so infants born every year with heart defects. Of those, typically some 150 are in dire need of surgery and die in their first year, said William Novick, an American pediatric cardiac surgeon.

His international team of experts, part of the Novick Cardiac Alliance, regularly flies into Libya to perform surgery on patients like Yazan.

To me this is simply an unacceptable situation that needs our attention, said Novick, who lives in Memphis, Tennessee.

The medical trips help prop up Libyas fragile health care system, which the World Health Organization has described as overburdened, inefficient and short of medicine and equipment.

Libya has been plunged into chaos since 2011, when a civil war toppled longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi, who was later killed. Eastern-based opposition forces attacked Tripoli last spring to wrest it from control of the weak U.N.-backed government. The fierce round of fighting has killed hundreds of civilians, including at least 13 children since mid-January.

Novicks team was the best, and perhaps last, hope for Yazan. But that meant his family had to travel to the most dangerous place in the war-ravaged country  the capital Tripoli, where the Tajoura National Heart Center is located.

Yazans odyssey from his small desert hometown barely skirted the wars front lines. With key highways blocked because of fighting, his family took a 1,500-kilometre (932-mile) detour.

You cant come to Tripoli like before, said Yazans father, Im Saleh Mohamed Abudulfetah.

On Feb. 26, Yazans perilous trek culminated in a five-hour surgery. Yazan is one of 1,000 children treated by Novicks group since it first came to Libya after the 2011 uprising.

In the operating room, Novick and his team chatted calmly as they cut open Yazans chest. They sewed together two large veins carrying blood from Yazans head and connected them to his pulmonary artery. That sent oxygenated blood straight to his lungs.

Eventually, exhausted nurses wheeled Yazan out of the operating theatre, his tiny body covered in bandages and tubes, to tell his parents the news. They expected Yazan to recover well, and with a follow-up operation, live a normal life.

Under the fluorescent light of the intensive care unit, Abudulfetah touched his babys soft hair, murmuring words of prayer. Yazans belly rose and fell with steady breath. His cheeks were even flushed a subtle pink.

As a young medical resident at the University of Alabama, Novick, now 66, witnessed the suffering of children with congenital heart disease and the staggering disparities in health services. He became determined to try to give children with heart problems the care they need, no matter where theyre born.

While still a resident, Novick began recruiting experts to help him trek to places where treatable heart disease means death due to a shortage of specialists and other restrictions.

Over nearly three decades, Novick and his colleagues have made hundreds of trips to 32 countries including Ukraine, Nigeria, Iraq, Iran and Columbia.

Novicks Libya team in February consisted of 20 volunteers: cardiologists, surgeons, nurses and anesthesiologists. The Associated Press accompanied them as they performed 10 complex open-heart surgeries in the countrys west. The group flies home from Tripoli next week after completing dozens more operations.

Political power in Libya today is divided between the two rival governments in the east and west of the country and a patchwork of armed groups and foreign countries that support either administration.

Were on both sides of the conflict zone, said Novick. And that is a specific goal of ours, to be apolitical and help the children.

Novicks group not only drops in a few times a year, but also trains Libyan doctors and nurses to build up the countrys critical health care system.

Were not going to be here forever and we shouldnt be here forever, he said.
With confirmed coronavirus cases increasing around the globe, it wouldnt be shocking if a few celebrities came down with the illness  but Daniel Radcliffe isnt one of them.

Earlier this week, a rumor spread that Radcliffe, 30, had tested positive for the COVID-19 virus, thanks to a hoax tweet from a fake BBC News Twitter account, @BBCNewsTonight.

However, the "Harry Potter" actor does not have coronavirus, his team confirmed to TODAY.

Not true, said a representative for Radcliffe.

The Twitter account that spread the false rumor had no affiliation with the real BBC, but it shared a convincing-looking tweet with the news of Radcliffes diagnosis.

BREAKING: Daniel Radcliffe tests positive for coronavirus, the tweet read. The actor is said to be the first famous person to be publicly confirmed.

The Twitter account that shared the hoax tweet has since been suspended. Buzzfeed tracked down some anonymous members of the Twitter group who spread the false rumor.

Participants said they created the hoax because they thought it was funny or because they were manipulating peoples minds, according to Buzzfeed.

This hoax is an extreme example, but its a reminder that there is plenty of false information floating around the internet about the coronavirus.

The World Health Organization has a website devoted to debunking common myths about COVID-19.

One myth is that the virus can be transmitted via goods from China or other countries affected by COVID-19. This is not true, the WHO says.

Even though the new coronavirus can stay on surfaces for a few hours or up to several days (depending on the type of surface), it is very unlikely that the virus will persist on a surface after being moved, travelled, and exposed to different conditions and temperatures, the organization wrote.

The WHO debunked another myth making the rounds, which claims that coronavirus cannot be transmitted in hot or humid climates.

From the evidence so far, the COVID-19 virus can be transmitted in ALL AREAS, including areas with hot and humid weather, the organization said. Regardless of climate, adopt protective measures if you live in, or travel to an area reporting COVID-19.
TICKERS: OXY

Source: Streetwise Reports (3/11/20)

Occidental Petroleum's two recent moves are reviewed and commented on in a Raymond James report.



In a March 10 research note, Raymond James analyst Pavel Molchanov reported that Occidental Petroleum Corp. (OXY:NYSE) cut both its capex and dividend in response to the recent "meltdown in the oil market." Molchanov added, "We are emphatically not fans of the latter move, although we acknowledge that at [a] sub-$40 West Texas Intermediate [oil price], it would have been hard to avoid."

Molchanov discussed the steps Occidental took. For one, the Texas-based company reduced its 2020 capital spend by 30% to $3.53.7 billion from $5.25.4 billion. "Our sense is that Occidental's new level of spending will result in a low to mid single-digit production decline over the next 12 months," he wrote.

Two, the oil & gas exploration and production company cut its quarterly dividend by 86%, to $0.11 per share from $0.79. The new yield is 3.2%. "This is genuinely frustrating and disappointing to see, especially after the repeatedly, consistently stated commitment to the dividend from management, including after the Anadarko deal and, in fact, just last week," commented Molchanov.

Company management did say its dividend is only sustainable above a $40 WTI oil price. "However, we had thought, wrongly, that the company would hold out for a price improvement, at least for several quarters, before taking such a step," Molchanov noted.

Taking both changes into account, Raymond James estimated "all-in 2020 cash flow neutrality at $36 WTI," meaning Occidental Petroleum can fund the new capex and dividend amounts without borrowing. Additionally, "we expect costs are certain to decrease, for the company and indeed the entire industry. Thus, we believe the point of neutrality has room to come down further."

Raymond James has a Strong Buy rating but no target price on Occidental Petroleum. The stock is trading now at around $11.80 per share.

[NLINSERT]

Disclosure:

1) Doresa Banning compiled this article for Streetwise Reports LLC and provides services to Streetwise Reports as an independent contractor. She or members of her household own securities of the following companies mentioned in the article: None. She or members of her household are paid by the following companies mentioned in this article: None.

2) The following companies mentioned in this article are billboard sponsors of Streetwise Reports: None. Click here for important disclosures about sponsor fees.

3) Comments and opinions expressed are those of the specific experts and not of Streetwise Reports or its officers. The information provided above is for informational purposes only and is not a recommendation to buy or sell any security.

4) The article does not constitute investment advice. Each reader is encouraged to consult with his or her individual financial professional and any action a reader takes as a result of information presented here is his or her own responsibility. By opening this page, each reader accepts and agrees to Streetwise Reports' terms of use and full legal disclaimer. This article is not a solicitation for investment. Streetwise Reports does not render general or specific investment advice and the information on Streetwise Reports should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Streetwise Reports does not endorse or recommend the business, products, services or securities of any company mentioned on Streetwise Reports.

5) From time to time, Streetwise Reports LLC and its directors, officers, employees or members of their families, as well as persons interviewed for articles and interviews on the site, may have a long or short position in securities mentioned. Directors, officers, employees or members of their immediate families are prohibited from making purchases and/or sales of those securities in the open market or otherwise from the time of the interview or the decision to write an article until three business days after the publication of the interview or article. The foregoing prohibition does not apply to articles that in substance only restate previously published company releases.

Disclosures from Raymond James, Occidental Petroleum Corp., March 10, 2020

ANALYST INFORMATION

Analysts Holdings and Compensation: Equity analysts and their staffs at Raymond James are compensated based on a salary and bonus system. Several factors enter into the bonus determination, including quality and performance of research product, the analyst's success in rating stocks versus an industry index, and support effectiveness to trading and the retail and institutional sales forces. Other factors may include but are not limited to: overall ratings from internal (other than investment banking) or external parties and the general productivity and revenue generated in covered stocks.

The analyst Pavel Molchanov, primarily responsible for the preparation of this research report, attests to the following: (1) that the views and opinions rendered in this research report reflect his or her personal views about the subject companies or issuers and (2) that no part of the research analyst's compensation was, is, or will be directly or indirectly related to the specific recommendations or views in this research report. In addition, said analyst(s) has not received compensation from any subject company in the last 12 months.

RAYMOND JAMES RELATIONSHIP DISCLOSURES

Certain affiliates of the RJ Group expect to receive or intend to seek compensation for investment banking services from all companies under research coverage within the next three months.

Raymond James & Associates, Inc. makes a market in the shares of Occidental Petroleum Corporation.

Additional Risk and Disclosure information, as well as more information on the Raymond James rating system and suitability categories, is available here.
Wizz Air airline cancels several flights from Germany and Spain to Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca and Timisoara, starting on Wednesday, in the context of the spreading of the novel coronavirus, informs the company.

The flights in question are those from: Memmingen/Munchen West, Dortmund, Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg, Madrid, Nurnberg, Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden and Frankfurt Hahn.The airline also underscored that the passengers who travel from the high-risk areas (the red zones) will be placed in quarantine for 14 days at the special quarantine facilities when they arrive in Romania."Starting on March 11 2020, the Romanian authorities implemented measures meant to limit the coronavirus epidemic. These measures will stay into force until further notice. The passengers who travel from the high-risk areas will be placed in quarantine for 14 days in the special quarantine facilities when they arrive in Romania," reads a press release of the Wizz Air airline on Wednesday sent to AGERPRES.According to Wizz Air, the passengers to be placed in quarantine are those who travel from Italy, the Hubei province in China, certain regions in South Korea, the Hautss de France, Ile de France, Grand Est, Bourgogne France Comte and Auvergne Rhones Alpes regions in France, the Baden Wurttemberg, Bayern and Nordrhein Westfalen regions in Germany and the Madrid region in Spain.Wizz Air informs that the passengers who were affected by this change and who booked their flights directly on wizzair.com or by using the mobile application of the airline will be automatically informed through an e-mail and they will be able to choose between a free of charge rebooking, a full refund or a refund of 120 per cent of the initial amount as a WIZZ credit."The passengers who booked their flights through the tour operators - including the online tour operators - should get into touch with the company wherefrom they bought their tickets," reads the release.Moreover, all the passengers who arrive from regions in China, France, Germany, South Korea, Spain and Iran (yellow zones) will be informed with respect to the authorities' decision regarding the 14-day quarantine.Wizz Air recommends passengers to contact the relevant authorities for the exact details and to confirm the eligibility and travel conditions. Moreover, the passengers are asked to consider changing their flights to alternative destinations or cancel them, if necessary.Wizz Air announced on Tuesday that it will suspend its flights on the routes to Tel Aviv and Eilat starting on March 12, following a decision of the Israeli authorities to placed in a 14-day quarantine all passengers who arrive in this country, as part of the measures taken by this country to limit the spreading of the coronavirus.On March 9, the airline had announced the suspension of all its flights on the routes between Romania and Italy following the Romanian authorities' decision to ban flights between the two countries between March 9 and March 23 2020, included.
State public health officials disclosed a coronavirus case in Multnomah County on Tuesday, marking the first known case in Oregons most-populated county, and the states 15th positive test overall.

The Multnomah County patient, who is between the ages of 55 and 74, is receiving treatment for the illness at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Portland, officials said.

Most people in Oregon who have tested positive for the virus, known as COVID-19, have been from neighboring Washington County. The virus has also been found in five other Oregon counties: Douglas, Jackson, Klamath, Marion and Umatilla.

The states first case was identified Feb. 28.

CORONAVIRUS IN OREGON: THE LATEST NEWS

With new tests every day, here are three key developments to know now:

TESTING: The Oregon Health Authority received a new supply of coronavirus test kits from the federal government, one day before officials were set to run out. The new kits from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention allow for testing of up to 4,800 people, according to the state. Health officials described each step involved in testing people and analyzing samples for the virus.

RESPONDING: Portland-area event organizers are trying to decide whether or not their shows will go on amid as coronavirus spreads throughout the community. Several events, each expected to draw hundreds of people, have already canceled, and the list keeps growing.

TRACKING: The Oregonian/OregonLive is monitoring the virus as it spreads in Oregon and across the U.S. Follow our comprehensive map and tracking tools, which are updated in near real-time, to spot new cases and fatalities as they are reported.

-- The Oregonian/OregonLive staff

Subscribe to our coronavirus newsletter:
New Delhi, March 11 : DMK leader and Member of Parliament T.R. Balu on Wednesday demanded a judicial inquiry by a committee headed by a retired judge of the Supreme Court into the riots that rocked several localities of noth-east Delhi in the last week of February.

Speaking in the Lok Sabha during a discussion on Delhi riots, Balu said the February 24 violence in north-east Delhi was triggered by BJP leader Kapil Mishra's statements.

Stating that the Delhi Police had entered Jamia Millia Islamia campus without permission and assaulted the students, Balu said the ABVP caused trouble in JNU on January 5, while Delhi Police stood by and watched. The former Union minister said students, minorities and the judiciary are under attack.

Balu said the Prime Minister and the Home Minister should personally reach out to the riot victims to instil confidence in them. He demanded that damaged schools and madrasas in riot-affected areas of Delhi should be repaired and compensation paid to the victims.

The Lok Sabha discussion on the Delhi riots began on Wednesday afternoon. Earlier, Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chaudhary and the BJP's Meenakshi Lekhi spoke at length on the issue.
As disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein is awaiting sentencing, the public is learning about even more disturbing allegations against him while his lawyers are asking for mercy.

Read on to find out what newly unsealed court documents claim Weinstein said about actress Jennifer Aniston, why his defense team is asking for a light sentence, and whether hes getting special treatment at Rikers Island.

Harvey Weinstein | JOHANNES EISELE/AFP via Getty Images

Weinstein said Jennifer Aniston should be killed over assault claim

Court papers detailed what Weinstein allegedly said about Aniston when he heard she told someone that the former film producer assaulted her by inappropriately touching her.

According to the documents, in 2017 Weinsteins spokeswoman sent him an email from the National Enquirer because the publication was planning to cover the Friends stars claim.

Not sure if you saw this one. Jennifer Aniston, wrote Sallie Hofmeister, a senior executive at the powerhouse Sitrick public relations company. Jennifer confided to a friend that during the production of the 2005 movie Derailed Weinstein sexually assaulted her by pressing up against her back in [sic] grabbing her buttocks.

The Enquirer also wrote, Through the years he would frequently stare at her cleavage/breast and move his mouth around making Jennifer uncomfortable.

Harvey Weinstein and Jennifer Aniston | Richard Corkery/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images

After seeing the emails, Weinstein allegedly texted Hofmeister with the words: Jen Aniston should be killed.

Weinsteins publicist Stephen Huvane denied the allegations at the time and the Enquirer never published the story.

His lawyers want mercy now

While this news is making headlines, Weinsteins lawyers are asking for some mercy on their client ahead of his sentencing Wednesday.

The Associated Press reported that instead of getting anywhere close to the maximum 29-year term, Weinsteins attorneys are hoping for some leniency and are asking that their client only be given five years behind bars.

[Weinstein] cannot walk outside without being heckled, the court filing to Judge James Burke reads. He has lost his means to earn a living. Simply put, his fall from grace has been historic, perhaps unmatched in the age of social media.

Harvey Weinstein and Jennifer Aniston | Kena Betancur/Getty Images

The papers also said, the grave reality is that Mr. Weinstein may not even outlive that term making it a de facto life sentence.

Is Weinstein getting special treatment in prison?

Following his Feb. 24 conviction, Weinstein was admitted to a New York City hospital for high blood pressure and heart palpitations. After several days there, he was taken to Rikers Island. It was reported that he was getting special treatment there including having an entire floor to himself and being protected from other prisoners.

A senior Department of Corrections source told TMZ that the ex-movie producer was under 24-watch and being kept on the 6th floor of the main building away from any other prisoners. This was to ensure his safety, however, officials later told the media outlet that Weinstein has cellmates.

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Indian Country is once again falling victim to the Trump administration's disastrous tribal homelands agenda with the withdrawal of a legal opinion that was meant to overcome hurdles in the fee-to-trust process

With no formal announcement, the top legal official at the Department of the Interior withdrew the opinion on Monday. The move confirmed fears voiced by tribal leaders barely a month ago about the Trump administration's failure to consult Indian nations on decisions affecting one of their biggest issues -- their homelands.

"It appears there is something going on underneath our noses, behind closed doors, that could undermine our sovereignty and our ability to have our tribal lands protected by the United States, which we paid for in advance through the blood and life of our ancestors, our natural resources and our lands," Cheryl Andrews-Maltais, the chairwoman of the Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe told Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Tara Sweeney in Washington, D.C., on February 11.

After hearing the complaints at the National Congress of American Indians winter session, Sweeney -- who has served in her political position within the Trump administration for more than 18 months -- promised tribes she would "advocate" for their interests within the department. But she acknowledged that the real power was out of her hands.

"I have to tell you that the Solicitor's Office sets the position for the department," Sweeney told tribal leaders, who had urged her to stop the department from withdrawing the opinion. "My role is one of advocacy, and advocacy for clarity and decision-making."

Well they did it. The Trump administration withdrew a legal opinion that was meant to help tribes restore their homelands in the wake of a disastrous Supreme Court decision. #Carcieri #TribalHomelands https://t.co/DAZvUFdrgl pic.twitter.com/4v6GatwZoN  indianz.com (@indianz) March 10, 2020

The official document withdrawing the opinion confirms that Sweeney is the one being told what to do when it comes to tribal homelands. It was delivered to her by another official with more authority -- Solicitor Daniel Jorjani

Jorjani was only confirmed to his legal position last September. Sweeney arrived at Interior a year prior.

But Jorjani's memo makes it clear that he is indeed the one who "sets the position for the department" -- and that includes the Bureau of Indian Affairs . To replace the opinion he has withdrawn, he has developed "procedures" to help government attorneys determine when a tribe can restore its homelands under the provisions of the Indian Reorganization Act

"This guidance derives from an interpretation of [the IRA] that better reflects Congress' and the department's understanding in 1934 of the phrase 'recognized Indian tribe now under federal jurisdiction,'" Jorjani told Sweeney in the two-page memo.

Jessie "Little Doe" Baird, the vice chairwoman of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, and Cheryl Andrews-Maltais, the chairwoman of the Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe, stand at a microphone during the executive council winter session of the National Congress of American Indians in Washington, D.C., on February 11, 2020. Photo by Indianz.Com (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)

According to Jorjani, the opinion he withdrew did not fully address the uncertainties that arose in Indian Country following the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Carcieri v. Salazar . The 11-year-old ruling concluded that only those tribes that were "under federal jurisdiction" in 1934 could benefit from the IRA's land provisions.

"Considerable uncertainty remains, however, over what evidence may be submitted to demonstrate federal jurisdictional status in and before 1934," Jorjani wrote in his memo. "Because of this, many applicant tribes spend considerable time and resources researching and collecting any and all evidence that might be relevant to this inquiry, in some cases prompting submissions totaling thousands of pages."

Jorjani further asserts that the Solicitor's Office began reviewing the prior legal opinion back in 2018 in order to "remove such uncertainties and to assist tribes in assessing eligibility" under the IRA. But tribal leaders have made it clear that they never asked for such a review -- which was initiated without consultation or public notice, except for some off-hand comments made by another political official during the first year of Donald Trump's presidency.

Tribal leaders also have said they stand by the earlier opinion, known internally as M Opinion 37029 . which was written by Hilary Tompkins , who was the first Native American and the first Native woman to serve as Solicitor of the Interior.

"Don't let them pressure you into doing the wrong thing," Jessie "Little Doe" Baird , the vice chairwoman of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe , told Sweeney during NCAI's meeting last month. "Don't let them pressure you into doing the wrong thing,"

"You decide what's appropriate and inappropriate for Indian Country," Baird said, appealing to Sweeney's senses as a fellow Native woman and mother.

Yet Sweeney, as the first Alaska Native and only the second Native woman in history to serve as the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs, appears completely powerless to stop policy decisions that appear to have been set in course before she even set foot in the door. While Jorjani was only recently confirmed as Solicitor, he was already asserting his influence well before Sweeney had a chance to weigh in.

While serving as the "Principal Deputy Solicitor Exercising the Authority of the Solicitor Pursuant to Secretary's Order 3345. Amendment No. 18," Jorjani in June 2018 put a halt to all fee-to-trust applications in Alaska -- Sweeney's home state. As with the withdrawl of the legal opinion, the decision was made without tribal consultation or public notice.

Nearly two years later, tribes in Alaska remain in the dark about the status of Jorjani's review. And so is Sweeney, as she admitted last month at NCAI.

"The land-into-trust issue with respect to Alaska is still under review," Sweeney told a tribal leader from Alaska -- another fellow Native woman -- on February 11. "I don't have any other information to provide you at this time."

WOW. A day after hailing the "historic" addition of an Alaska Native to the team, the Trump administration has withdrawn -- pending "further review" -- an Obama-era legal opinion that affirmed the rights of tribes in Alaska to restore their homelands https://t.co/q89IVhGRpi pic.twitter.com/1i4KrcDMRo  indianz.com (@indianz) June 29, 2018

Congress enacted the IRA, in part, to correct for the failures of the allotment era of federal Indian policy , during which tribal nations lost 90 million acres between 1887 and 1934. Much of the land was lost to fraudulent dealings and takings by state and local governments, who were allowed to impose taxes on individual Indian allotments.

Through the fee-to-trust process, tribes and Individual Indians can start to restore the lands they lost. But it's been slow-moving: since 1934, less than 10 million acres has been acquired in trust by the BIA, with most opposition coming from states and local governments.

The Carcieri decision was a direct outcome of hostile government litigation. In February 2009, the governor of Rhode Island got the Supreme Court to stop the Narrangansett Tribe from acquiring 31 acres for a housing project, based on the grounds that the tribe was not "under federal jurisdiction" in 1934.

Despite the tribe's long history of dealings with colonial and other governments, the United States did not formally acknowledge its relationship until 1983, long after the passage of the IRA.

We were the last to come into this federal system," Hiawatha Brown , a Narragansett council member, later said at a D.C. rally in support of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, whose reservation in neighboring Massachusetts could be taken out of trust as a result of a Caricieri challenge.

"We are going to be the first to be removed," Brown said of his fellow Indian nations who are in the same situation. "Its apparent.

Daniel Jorjani serves as the Solicitor of the Department of the Interior. Still image: DOI

Carcieri, however, did not explain what "under federal jurisdiction" meant, essentially leaving it up to the executive branch to decide. In response, the Obama administration developed a two-part test to determine whether a tribe meets the standard. M Opinion 37043, which was issued in 2014, formalized the two-part test

"If the M Opinion is going to be vacated, my understanding," Baird said last month, "is that it is going to be replaced with regulations that will make it impossible -- nearly impossible -- for tribes to place its land in trust if they were recognized after 1934."

Jorjani's memo on Monday does not make reference to potential regulations. But his office notably did not attach the guidance he has drafted to the copy that was posted on the Solicitor's website. One tribal advocate who works closely with the department was told that the guidance consists of an even lengthier analysis of the "under federal jurisdiction" test, the result being that it will indeed be harder for recently-recognized tribes to acquire lands.

Another advocate was more blunt about the latest action coming from the nation's capital. Chris Stearns , a citizen of the Navajo Nation, worked on Indian policy as a Congressional staffer. He was the first Native person to chair the Washington State Gambling Commission and recently became the first Native person to win a seat on the city council in Auburn, Washington.

Stearns called the withdrawal of the legal opinion " a terrible decision that makes it clearer than ever that the #Trump Administration stands against tribal self-determination, self-sufficiency, economic opportunity, and basic rights for tribal citizens ."

a terrible decision that makes it clearer than ever that the #Trump Administration stands against tribal self-determination, self-sufficiency, economic opportunity, and basic rights for tribal citizens. https://t.co/vtkElrKO5j  Chris Stearns (@stearnsseattle) March 11, 2020

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HARTFORD  In a somber, first-of-its-kind meeting, legislative leaders on Wednesday agreed to support Gov. Ned Lamonts emergency declaration on the coronavirus that will extend to at least Sept. 9.

The 10-member panel  called the Declaration of Public Health Emergency Committee  included the leaders of the legislative Public Health Committee, and met for 17 minutes to confirm the ground rules for the states initial response to the pandemic.

The committee, required under state law, confirmed that local and regional Health Department officials are empowered to quarantine state residents in the six-month health crisis.

Senate President Pro Tempore Martin M. Looney, D-New Haven, said it is likely the first time in state history that such a body has convened to consider a public health emergency.

This is uncharted territory for us all, Looney said. This is going to require a significant amount of leadership at the municipal level as well and continued cooperation and coordination between state emergency preparedness officials and those operating at the municipal level.

Senate Minority Leader Len Fasano, R-North Haven, stressed that the bipartisan response to the crisis has been important, particularly Gov. Ned Lamonts leadership.

I would just ask for patience and understanding because its a lot more complicated than it appears on its surface, said House Minority Leader Themis Klarides, R-Derby, noting that some public cancellations, such as the state high school tournaments, have met with mixed public response.

Later in the day the General Assembly adopted special rules that will extend the deadlines for committees by three days and allow lawmakers to participate in committee votes via telephone.

Public hearings have been postponed for at least a week. Legislation cannot move forward without having a public hearing.

We have been meeting for three days and this is a case of first impression for us, said Klarides of the unusual circumstances that have rocked normal life in Connecticut. As youve all seen, things are changing from day to day and sometimes minute to minute. We have decided to do this for the next week and reassess it on a daily basis.

On Thursday, Friday and over the weekend, the State Capitol, the Legislative Office Building and the historic Old State House a mile away will be closed for special cleaning.

kdixon@ctpost.com Twitter: @KenDixonCT
India and China rank second globally as hubs for technology innovation, according to a survey conducted by consultancy firm KPMG.

US has topped the global chart, it added.

"India's climb to the second position in the survey rankings lends credence to how we as a country are committed towards setting up strong innovation ecosystems.

"Bengaluru's entry in the top 10 rankings, is another sign that the city is doing well in the areas of modern infrastructure, attracting skilled talent, investment fundings etc," Satya Easwaran, Head - Markets Enablement & Technology, Media and Telecom, KPMG in India said in a statement.

KPMG surveyed 810 technology industry leaders globally for the study.

"With the potential innovation headwinds China is now facing, and US policies encouraging more tech professionals to return to or remain in India, the future bodes well for Indian innovation. This is bolstered further by the urbanisation and younger demographic trends that are moving in the right direction, along with the increase in venture capital that India has seen in the last two years," the report said.

The ranking was decided on the basis of scores given for availability of modern infrastructure, including high speed bandwidth, urban locale that attracts young professionals, at least one research intensive university, availability of investment funding, and pipeline of skilled talent.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A rare 1,300-year-old coin featuring the face of a little-known Saxon King has sold for 32,000 after the metal detectorist who found it spent three years battling to prove its historical importance.

The coin was discovered by Andy Hall while searching a muddy field in Wiltshire for buried treasure.

When he tried to get it valued he had trouble proving it was real due to its depiction of the barely known Ludica, Saxon king of Mercia in the 9th century AD.

The silver penny was dismissed by experts as fake as the king was virtually unknown and the date - 826AD - didn't match with historical records.

Mr Hall set out to prove them wrong before putting it up for auction this month - and helped to re-write the history books in the process.

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The 9th century Saxon coin was first dismissed by experts as a fake as it featured the head of a virtually-unknown king but later proved real after the metal was dated

Mercia included London in the 9th century and the record books state that the city fell to the Wessex King Ecgberht at the Battle of Ellandun in 825AD.

Hall's find proved Mercia still retained London in 826AD and that it didn't fall under Ecgberht's control until after Ludica was killed a year later.

He was determined to prove the experts wrong and had his coin examined and subject to metallurgical analysis - confirming it was the real deal.

It had been expected to sell at auction in London for 15,000 but went under the hammer for 32,000.

With auction house fees added on the total price paid by the buyer was 41,200.

Hall will split the money with the owner of the land he found it on but he intends to take his family to Disney World, Florida, with his share.

Coin expert Nigel Mills said the Ludica coin could have been lost forever had Hall not been so determined to prove it was genuine.

This history-changing 1,300 year old coin sold for over 32,000 after owner Andy Hall proved the silver penny was real

'The view from eminent experts at the time was 'this coin cannot exist because Mercia did not have London in 826AD and therefore the coin must be a fabrication.'

'The problem when something as new and radically different as this coin comes to the market is that one naturally questions its authenticity and it comes down to the person who found it to prove it is genuine,' said Mills.

'Andy was given the coin back and he had to go to several museums to find out where he could have it tested.

'When the result came back that it was irrefutably right, those same experts had to hold up their hands and acknowledge it.

'It is a tremendous result and we are glad that all of Andy's hard work has paid off. The price the coin achieved reflects its uniqueness and historical rarity.'

Mr Mills explained that coin was a piece of propaganda at the time it was struck.

He added: 'These coins would have the name on the moneyer on the reverse but this unique example has the city of London on it.

'What it is telling is that although Wessex was expanding, London was still ruled by King Ludica of Mercia. It is proclaiming that he still retained London.'

Hall unearthed the coin in four inches of soil on farmland in Coombe Bissett, Wiltsshire and said he knew it was a Saxon silvery penny straight away.

'I had to Google Ludica to find out who the monarch was,' he said.

'I then sent photos and details to the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge as that is where new discoveries of early medieval coins are registered.

'I organised a meeting at the Fitzwilliam Museum and received a positive reception although the issue was still concern over its authenticity so I agreed to take the coin back and approach specialists myself.'

According to the historical record, London fell to the Wessex King Ecgberht (pictured) as a result of the outcome of the Battle of Ellendun in 825 AD. However, Mr Hall's coin proves that Mercia still retained London in 826 AD

He said he has a love for history and so wanted the historical important of the coin recorded so had the scientific surveys completed on the metal.

'I was over the moon when I first read the analysis results, I re-read them about five times,' said Hall. 'Even though I was expecting a positive result I felt enormous relief.'

'I knew I had dug it up, but there is always the thought that it may have been a contemporary forgery or a 19th century fantasy piece.

'I felt that at last my patience and determination over the last three years had paid off, even though it seemed impossible at times.

'It's very satisfying to have made a very tiny contribution to our knowledge of the period.'

Experts and scholars dismissed the silver penny Andy Hall, (pictured) unearthed in a muddy field, as it featured the head of a virtually-unknown Saxon king

The coin has the bust of Ludica facing right with the legend LUDICA REX MER while the reverse features the inscription LUN/DONIA/CIVIT in three lines.

TV historian Michael Wood said: 'It is a really fascinating discovery and paints a fascinating picture of a 'very shadowy figure'.

'Ludica was a former dux or ealdorman in Mercia who became king of the Mercians after the death of King Beornwulf in battle with the East Angles,' he said.

'A later source John of Worcester says he invaded East Anglia in revenge but was also killed with five of his ealdormen'

Hall found the penny buried around four inches deep in the mud during a one-off visit to farmland at Coombe Bisset, Wiltshire, in the January of 2016

'Very few coins have ever been found with his name on and none like this. It is unique and a really remarkable find - especially with the London moneyer,' said Wood

'London became the richest centre of trade in the ninth century, but it was a Mercian city coveted by the West Saxons.'

He said what is fascinating about the period in time is the warface between the once great Mercian kingdom and the rising power of West Saxons.

'There was a whole series of battles in the 820s as the Mercians attempt to keep their overlordship alive,' said Wood.

'It's the start of the struggles that will lead to the creation of a single kingdom of England a century later. We would all love to have found that - it's a real rarity.'
Former Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein was sentenced to 23 years in a New York state prison on Wednesday on charges of sexual assault and third-degree rape, US media reported.

67-year-old Weinstein, who was once one of Hollywood's most powerful figures, was convicted of first-degree criminal sexual act last month, based on the testimony of Miriam Haley, and rape in the third degree, based on the testimony of one-time aspiring actress Jessica Mann.

"If Harvey Weinstein had not been convicted by this jury, it would have happened again and again and again," Haley said in court, as reported by CNN. "I'm relieved he will now know he's not above the law. I'm relieved there are women out there who are safer because he's not out there."

The verdict by the New York jury was hailed as a turning point in the widespread #MeToo movement which found exposure following sexual-abuse allegations against Weinstein.

Weinstein arrived at Wednesday's hearing in a wheelchair. He had been in state custody since last month's verdict and has had several health issues.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The UN Security Council has adopted a resolution to welcome the recent progress in the peace process in Afghanistan.

Resolution 2513, which won the unanimous support of the 15-member council, welcomed the significant steps toward ending the war and opening the door to intra-Afghan negotiations enabled by two accords signed between the US and the Taliban and between the US and the Afghan government. Xinhua reported.

The resolution on Tuesday welcomed the intention of all Afghan parties to pursue the successful negotiation of an inclusive political settlement and a permanent and comprehensive cease-fire.

It emphasizes the importance of the effective and meaningful participation of women, youth, and minorities, and affirms that any political settlement must protect the rights of all Afghans and respect the strong desire of Afghans to achieve durable peace and prosperity.

The resolution urges the Afghan government to advance the peace process, including by participating in intra-Afghan negotiations through a diverse and inclusive negotiating team composed of Afghan political and civil society leaders, including women.

It called on the Afghan government and the Taliban to pursue in good faith additional confidence-building measures to create conditions conducive to a swift beginning and the success of intra-Afghan negotiations and a durable peace, including additional reductions in violence to significantly reduce civilian casualties and allow for increased support for Afghanistan prior to agreement on a permanent and comprehensive cease-fire, as well as the release of prisoners.

It also called on all states to provide full support to promoting the successful negotiation of a comprehensive and sustainable peace agreement.

The Security Council expresses its readiness, upon the commencement of the intra-Afghan negotiations, to consider the start of the review of the status of designations of individuals, groups, undertakings and entities on the sanctions list against the Taliban.

It welcomes the efforts of regional cooperation for regional development, and stresses the importance of and regional economic cooperation for the reconstruction of Afghanistan.
An Indian and an Afghan national were apprehended by CISF personnel at the IGI Airport here for allegedly carrying about Rs 1.3 crore worth of foreign currency in an illegal manner, officials said on Wednesday.

They said passengers Harish Singh and Mohammed Ehsan Rahim (holding an Afghanistan passport) were intercepted on Monday night at the Indira Gandhi International Airport with the currency in their bags.

The foreign currencies included Dirham, Saudi Riyal and Qatari Riyal and the passengers were bound for Dubai on an Air India flight, they said.

As the duo could not explain the reason for carrying such high-value currency, they were handed over by the CISF staff to Customs authorities for further investigation, the officials said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Excelsior House Hotel

In Texas, people and properties alike often compete for which is the first, oldest and most Texan.

Texas Monthly solves at least one of these quandaries in its most recent The Texanist column, in which it discusses which is the oldest hotel in this state: Excelsior House Hotel in Jefferson and the Menger Hotel in San Antonio.
The Galaxy M11 is Samsungs upcoming budget smartphone, and both its design and partial specs have been confirmed by Google. To be more specific, a render of the device, along with specs, surfaced on the Google Play Console.

If you take a look at the image provided above, youll be able to see the front side of the device. So, this Google Play Console render doesnt really confirm the design of the back of the Galaxy M11, but at least we know what to expect on the front.

The Galaxy M11 design confirmed, display camera hole will be included

The Galaxy M11 will include a display camera hole. That hole will be placed in the top-left corner of the device. Youll notice that the bezels on this phone are not that thick, except for the bottom one.

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That bottom bezel is considerably thicker than the rest of them. The phone offers rounded corners, and the same goes for the display corners. All the physical buttons are placed on the right-hand side of the device.

This listing also confirms that the phone will feature an HD+ display. A resolution of 1560 x 720 is listed on the website. Android 10 will come pre-installed on the phone, along with Samsungs custom UI.

This website also suggests that the phone will be fueled by the Snapdragon 450. That is Qualcomms entry-level processor, and you can expect this device to be extremely affordable.

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The device will include 3GB of RAM

Samsung will also include 3GB of RAM inside of this device. That may be the only variant of the phone, well see once it becomes official.

The Galaxy M11 will not be available all over the place. This phone will probably be reserved for some markets only, as its an entry-level phone. Were presuming it will launch somewhere in Asia, it may arrive to India first.

It is also worth noting that the Galaxy M11 got approved by the Wi-Fi Alliance about two months ago. So, we knew that the phone is coming, but did not have any information about it, until now.

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We still do not know what will this phones display size be, but if rumors are to be believed, it will be somewhere around 6 inches. You can also expect a rather large battery to be included.

This will become one of the cheapest smartphones Samsung announced this year, if not the cheapest one. It will probably be made out of plastic, and offer one or two cameras on the back.

Were still not sure if Samsung plans on including a fingerprint scanner on the device. If it does, then it will be placed on the back of the device.
A man accused of killing four men in California in suspected race hate crimes, told detectives in a recorded interview that he purposely hunted down white people as his victims.

A horrifying recording of Kori Ali Muhammad's confession was played in Fresno, California Monday as a court tried to determine whether the April 2017 murders warrant the death sentence.

He explained on the recording how the killing of motel security guard Carl Williams III, 25, led to the slaying of Zachary Randalls, Mark Gassett, and David Jackson.

'I didn't want to do nothing to law enforcement so I just found some white men to kill,' Muhammad - who is black - told police in a chilling video from shortly after his arrest.

The recording was played Monday in the California trial of Kori Ali Muhammad on Monday

He's pictured in the 2017 police interview. 'I didn't want to do nothing to law enforcement so I just found some white men to kill,' Muhammad told police in a chilling video from shortly after his arrest

Muhammad said he tried to visit a friend at the motel in April 2017, but Carl Williams III (pictured left), 25, was disrespectful to him so he shot him. Muhammad said about Zachary Randalls (right), 34: 'When I walked up to the truck, I saw a Mexican driver and a white guy. I didn't want to target the driver because he was Mexican so I shot the white dude'

Mark Gassett (left), 37, and David Jackson (right), 58, were then slain in the downtown area

Muhammad, who was 39 at the time, told cops he was fed up with racism against black people and since he was suspected of killing of one white man he may as well kill more.

Muhammad said he tried to visit a friend at the motel in April 2017, but Williams was disrespectful to him.

According to earlier testimony, Williams noticed Muhammad and told the motel manager, who asked Muhammad to register and pay a nominal visitor's fee.

Muhammad went to the office to register, but the manager testified he felt threatened and kicked out the guest and Muhammad.

A security camera recorded Muhammad approach from behind the guard and shoot him.

On the police recording, Muhammad spoke about disrespect and racism.

'It starts taking its toll on you and you get fed up with the racism,' he said. 'You get tired of letting things slide.'

After the original shooting, Muhammad ran behind the motel and climbed onto the roof of a nearby 7-Eleven, where he hid through the night.

The next morning, a Friday, he watched police officers investigate the crime scene and by evening he was in a ravine, where he told police he conducted voodoo rituals for three days. Muhammad told investigators he is Muslim but prays to seven different gods.

After emerging from the ravine Sunday, he cut his braided hair and burned it, altering his appearance from the 'wanted' photos police would release while searching for him in the death of the security guard.

Kori Ali Muhammad held up a Nation of Islam newspaper in court in Fresno, California Monday. Muhammad previously told investigators he is Muslim but prays to seven different gods

Muhammad spent Monday moving west within the city between different hiding places.

On Tuesday, Muhammad headed over to a store called The Brass Unicorn in search of crystals to use for more rituals. But it was closed, so he stopped at a Starbucks to use the WiFi. While on the run, five days after the shooting, Muhammad learned via a news app that he was wanted for Williams' killing.

After he saw that he was wanted for murder, Muhammad told officers 'he was not going to go down for shooting a security guard for disrespecting him but that he was going to kill as many white males as possible'.

Several days after the motel shooting, three more men were slain, beginning with Zachary Randalls, 34, who was in a Pacific Gas & Electric truck.

'When I walked up to the truck, I saw a Mexican driver and a white guy,' he said. 'I didn't want to target the driver because he was Mexican so I shot the white dude.'

Mark Gassett, 37, and David Jackson, 58, were then slain in the downtown area.

Muhammad immediately acknowledged he had been arrested 'because I killed those people and the security guard'.

Muhammad's defense says he was mentally ill at the time.

This undated photo from video provided by KFSN abc30 shows Kori Ali Muhammad in court in Fresno, California. Muhammad told detectives in a recorded interview he was fed up with racism against black people and since he was suspected of killing of one white man he may as well kill more

Muhammad's defense says he is mentally ill. He could face the death penalty if he is convicted

'This is telling me that he knows exactly what's going on,' Fresno police detective Miguel Alvarez previously said. 'He knows exactly what occurred earlier.'

Alvarz noted Muhammad even returned with officers to the crime scenes and demonstrated his actions.

'As he spoke about the shooting and shooting individuals, he did so in a very callous manner,' Alvarez added.

But in court Monday he refused to sit through the entire confession. The defendant had done similar previously in the trial which is in its second week.

Footage from Monday showed his attorney Richard Beshwate tell the judge: 'Mr. Muhammad informs me he would like to go back to his cell.'

Judge Jonathan Conklin asked Muhammad: 'Recognizing your right to be present, you're asking to return back to your cell?'

Muhammad responded, 'Yes sir,' and flashed a Nation of Islam newspaper with a photograph of the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad on as he left the court.

Muhammad could face the death penalty if he is convicted, the Fresno Bee and ABC30 (KFSN-TV) reported.

In a previous interview from jail, Muhammad admitted to the killings and told KGPE: 'Someone has to fight for all the people who died at the hands of racist white men.

'I wasn't thinking like... I'm going to kill, kill, kill. All I knew was white supremacy has to die and the people who benefit from white supremacy... are white men.'

The 39-year-old, who said he's been a victim of racial discrimination his entire life, added: 'I gave my life for the freedom of my people, the ultimate freedom of my people.'
ALBANY  New York will contract with more than two dozen private laboratories around the state to boost the number of daily coronavirus tests being performed statewide, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Wednesday, as the states confirmed case count passed 200.

Cuomo said the state spoke with 28 labs that specialize in virology and have existing relationships with the state Department of Health. All have agreed to begin testing as soon as they get the go-ahead from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, he said. While some already have FDA approval for certain testing, others don't and are awaiting word from the federal government.

"The FDA needs to sign off on the actual protocols of some of these tests, and that is still complicating the situation," Cuomo said Wednesday afternoon. "But this will greatly increase our testing capacity as we get these 28 labs up and running."

New York is currently testing "way over" 500 cases a day, according to state Health Commissioner Howard Zucker. Zucker and Cuomo couldnt say how many more tests will occur once the labs get approval, though, only that it will make a big difference.

With 216 cases reported as of Wednesday afternoon, New York was second only to Washington state for number of coronavirus cases in the U.S. Westchester County still had a majority of the cases (121), followed by New York City (52), Nassau County (28), Suffolk County (6), Rockland County (6), Saratoga County (2) and Ulster County (1).

Of those, 32 people have been hospitalized, Cuomo said. The rest are quarantined at home and recovering, he said.

"I understand it's a virus, I understand it sounds like a bad science fiction movie," he said. "This is not the Ebola virus, we've dealt with that. That was a much more dangerous, frightening virus. The facts here actually reduce the anxiety."

Nevertheless, the World Health Organization declared the spread of COVID-19 a pandemic for the first time Wednesday, but urged governments not to use the declaration as an excuse to stop containment and mitigation measures.

SUNY switches to distance learning amid coronavirus outbreak

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Social distancing

In the Capital Region and across the state, so-called social distancing measures continue to be taken.

Notably, the State University of New York and City University of New York systems, which collectively serve hundreds of thousands of students across more than 80 campuses, announced they would be transitioning to distance learning for the rest of the spring semester.

While the campuses will technically remain open, students will be sent home starting March 19, Cuomo said. Exceptions will be made for certain hardships, he said, such as students who lack housing anywhere else and students whose coursework is done in lab settings.

Private colleges are planning similar transitions to remote learning. The College of Saint Rose in Albany canceled classes for the rest of the week and said it will be moving them online by Monday. Students are being asked to check out of residence halls by Sunday. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy canceled in-person classes and is moving online, as well.

Businesses, meanwhile, are being urged to shift employees to telecommuting and to stagger shifts in order to help reduce potential spread. Cuomo said he spoke to hundreds of business leaders, mostly in New York City, on Wednesday and asked them to voluntarily implement these measures.

He did not say whether state agencies are taking similar actions, but said the state will guarantee two full weeks of paid leave for all state employees who are quarantined as a result of coronavirus. This rule will apply to all state employees, regardless of civil service classification, bargaining unit, and part time or accrual status, he said.

"My guess is when we go back and we look at this we will find that there were many people who had coronavirus, where it resolved, and nobody even knew about it," he said.

Events that would normally draw large numbers of people are under intense scrutiny as coronavirus spreads.

The NCAA announced Wednesday that all of its men's basketball tournament games, including those scheduled next week at the Times Union Center in Albany, will be played with no spectators. Only essential staff and limited family members will be in attendance. The ban extends to the NCAA women's basketball and wrestling championships, as well.

Restaurants and businesses near the Albany arena say theyll face losses  not just from lost foot traffic but from extra food and drinks that have already been ordered, and hotel rooms that have already been booked.

Upcoming St. Patricks Day parades may also be on the chopping block. While Albany and Hoosick Falls have said they will still hold theirs  albeit while urging the elderly and frail to stay away  Cuomo suggested Wednesday that New York Citys will likely be suspended at the recommendation of health officials.

Look, you dont want to shut down society, right? Because thats massively disruptive to the economy, to life, et cetera, he said. But your main concern here is the public health crisis and its balancing the two.

Health measures

While 80 percent of people who contract the novel coronavirus will develop mild symptoms that resolve on their own, health officials are particularly worried about the 20 percent who go on to develop more severe symptoms. When mild, COVID-19 resembles a cold or flu. When severe, it can cause pneumonia, reduced oxygen flow to essential organs and even death.

There is currently no treatment and no vaccine for the illness, despite illegal marketing ploys claiming otherwise. State Attorney General Letitia James said Wednesday that she had to order two companies to cease and desist selling and marketing supposed treatments for the virus.

Hospitals and nursing homes around the Capital Region are ramping up security measures and visitation guidelines to reduce possible contact with people at risk for severe symptoms, which includes the elderly, people with underlying medical conditions, and people with compromised immune symptoms.

Area hospitals said theyll begin screening all visitors by the end of the week. Anyone who reports fever and/or respiratory symptoms, close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, or travel in the past 14 days to geographically affected areas will be turned away.

Some nursing homes are going even further and suspending all visitors.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

On Wednesday, Schenectady County said its barring all visitors to the countys Glendale Nursing Home, and that the decision was made based on guidance from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which is issuing such advice to any nursing homes in or adjacent to counties with confirmed cases.

Saratoga County response

The Capital Region only has two known cases of COVID-19 so far, reported Saturday in Saratoga County.

A husband and wife from Northumberland, a rural town northeast of Saratoga Springs, tested positive after the wife attended a conference in Miami where she had contact with a Pennsylvania resident who tested positive. The 57-year-old husband works as a pharmacist at CVS in Queensbury.

Warren County health officials called about 400 people Monday who picked up prescriptions from the man on March 2 and March 4, and said none were experiencing symptoms. Four CVS employees and four people who received flu shots from the pharmacist were quarantined, as well as four others who had contact with the employees or flu shot recipients.

On Wednesday, state health officials said they were in the process of setting up a command post at the Saratoga Spa State Park administration building to coordinate local response efforts. Swabs taken from suspected and potential cases will be collected at the site.

Saratoga County Administrator Spencer Hellwig said Wednesday evening that there have been no reported spread in the community as a result of the two local cases.

Saratoga County is appreciative of the states support in containing and mitigating the impact of COVID-19 on our communities and establishing a specimen collection staging area, he said in an emailed statement. All along, our Board of Supervisors, Department of Public Health, Office of Emergency Services, and other departments have been working hand-in-hand with state agencies to prepare for and respond to this situation.

Members of a Clifton Park health club were informed late Tuesday, however, that two people infected with coronavirus had been to the club last Thursday and participated in a spin class. In an email to members, VENT Fitness said that Saratoga County health officials believed the risk of infection to others at the gym was low.

"The Saratoga County Department of Health contacted VENT Fitness on March 9th to inform us of a potential exposure at the Clifton Park location," the club's email states. "They determined a group that attended a specific class were most at risk and are contacting this group of individuals directly to determine next steps. ... It may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads."

William Lia Jr., president of Vent Fitness, said the club responded swiftly upon learning of the situation.

"I was very proud of our team to be able to provide accurate and transparent information to our membership about how we might be impacted by a global health crisis in less than 24 hours from being notified of the situation from the Saratoga DOH," Lia said in an email Wednesday morning.

In a briefing Tuesday at the Capitol, Cuomo said "there is a debate about how long the virus can live on a hard surface," and added that it is possible the virus can surface on a hard plastic or stainless steel surface for two or more days.

"If thats the case that would be a significant issue as to why is may be transmitting the way it does," the governor said.

On Tuesday morning, Vent Fitness workers had posted signs throughout the gym about the steps the club is taking to clean the facility and urging members who feel ill to stay home. They also encouraged members to wash hands frequently.

Vent Fitness uses an electronic system to check members into spin and other exercise classes, which will make it easier for the club to determine who had been in the spin class with the two people later found to be infected with the virus.

The gym is encouraging staff and members to have limited contact with others at the club, increasing availability of sanitizing gels, wipes and sprays, and stepping up cleaning efforts in compliance with Centers for Disease Control guidelines.

The state Department of Health and Saratoga County Health Department have been in the midst of a rigorous case-contact investigation since the moment we learned of these positive cases and will continue in that diligent effort., said Gary Holmes, a spokesman for the state Health Department.

Brendan Lyons, Rachel Silberstein and Michael Williams contributed.
Starting this week, New Yorkers all across the state will get a letter from the federal government. It will ask everyone to participate in the decennial count of the United States population, through a combination of mailings, door-knockers and  for the first time  online forms. This census count provides the federal government more up-to-date information on demographics and population shifts in the country, which is then used to determine how much federal aid New York will get as well as how much political representation the state will have for the next 10 years.

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about this years count.

Why does the census matter?

New York is at risk of losing one or possibly two congressional seats, especially if the state is undercounted in the census. The data generated from the 2020 census will also be used to guide the states redistricting process.

In addition, the census determines how much federal funding New York will get in the future for programs such as Medicaid, food stamps and Section 8 housing vouchers. For context, New York received $73.3 billion through 55 large federal programs in fiscal year 2016, an allocation guided by 2010 census figures, according to the George Washington Institute of Public Policy. Overall, census data helps determine how Washington doles out more than $675 billion in funding.

Who should participate in the census?

Everyone living in the 50 states, Washington D.C. and the five U.S. territories  Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands  is supposed to be included in the census.

What is the timeline of the census?

New Yorkers will be able to complete their census form online starting on March 12. Everyone should also be sent two initial mailings from the U.S. Census Bureau encouraging them to fill out their census forms. If you dont fill it out, you will receive up to three more reminders by mail to do so through the end of April.

If you dont participate in the census before May, the federal government will send employees called enumerators to knock on your door to try and count you. If you dont open your door, they will reach out to your neighbors to get details about your household instead. This can produce more inaccurate census information, which is why officials try to encourage people to self-respond before the door-knocking phase, which will continue through July.

Census workers will not get in touch with people by phone or email, which is important to note since census scammers sometimes try to reach New Yorkers this way. The census bureau has a guide to identifying their employees, who must carry a photo ID with a U.S. Department of Commerce watermark and a bag or laptop with the census bureaus logo.

What questions are on the census?

There are 12 questions on the 2020 census form. It asks for the number of people living in your home as of April 1, the relationships between them, and demographic information for all members. This includes name, sex, age, race and whether a respondent has Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin. The form also asks if the respondent owns or rents their home. The U.S. Census Bureau also has a guide online explaining why each of those questions are asked.

You are allowed to skip questions when filling out the census form online, by mail or by phone. However, too many skipped questions may lead to a census enumerator knocking on your door. We tell people the more questions you leave blank, the higher probability that someone may knock on your door to collect the remaining information, Jeff T. Behler, director for the Census Bureau's New York Regional Office, told City & State. But if you fill everything out and you just say I'm not going to include my birthday, we're not going to follow up on something like that. The census bureau also assures participants reluctant to answer certain questions that it legally cannot release identifiable information about individuals or households under any circumstances for the next 72 years.

The census will also not ask for a Social Security number or financial information, so if someone claiming to be a census worker asks for this information, dont respond.

Is there a citizenship question on the census?

No. A proposed citizenship question was dropped from the census last summer and will not be included in the 2020 census. Everyone living in the United States, including undocumented immigrants and other non-citizens, is supposed to fill out the census.

Which person should be filling out the form?

Anyone in a particular household can fill out the form and, ideally, they should fill out one form for the whole household. This means even roommates should fill out one census form together.

People can technically fill out the census multiple times at the same address, however. If each person living at the same address responds the census individually, without including other people living at the home, the U.S. Census Bureau combines those responses. But if everyone at that address filled out a census form which includes everyone else living with them, only one response would be accepted since the forms are identical. Similarly, if someone is incorrectly counted at two different addresses, only one response would be accepted.

Where should I be counted?

People should be counted where they are residing on April 1. College students living away from home should be counted at the on-campus or off-campus residence they live most of the time, even if they are home on April 1. Visitors staying at your home on that day but who will return to another U.S. address should be counted at their original address, while foreigners visiting on vacation or business should not get counted. Young children, roommates and people staying in your home who have no other residence should all get counted.

People living in homeless shelters, prisons and nursing facilities get counted at those locations. The U.S. Census Bureau will work directly with universities, prisons and homeless shelters to generate a list of people living at their respective institutions for the purposes of the 2020 census. The federal government will conduct a count specifically for people who are homeless between March 30 and April 1.

How will the digital census work?

The online form, which can be filled out on a computer, smartphone or tablet, is accessible at the following URL: https://my2020census.gov/. Participants can either input a code included in the mailing the Census Bureau sends to them or manually type in their address to access the form. There is a video preview walking through what the online form looks as well. And though the census will be primarily online, it can also be completed by phone, by calling 844-330-2020, or by mail.

There are lingering concerns about how smoothly the online rollout will go. The federal government has only test run the digital census once, in Rhode Island in 2018. And fears remain that it will be hampered by hacking attempts, phishing scams and misinformation. The census bureau has argued that its cybersecurity measures, such as encrypting census data, will suffice.

Is there anything else new this year?

For the first time, everyone will be allowed to write in an ethnic descriptor alongside their racial identity. That way, people can be listed as both white and Irish or both black and Nigerian, for example. It will also count Sikhs for the first time.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday confirmed 10 positive cases of coronavirus in the state so far, including eight positive cases in Pune.

"Among the 10 cases, eight are from Pune and two from Mumbai," Thackeray told reporters.

He also said, "The Assembly session will be completed by Saturday or Sunday so that the people sitting in the session can work on the coronavirus issue."

On whether the schools and colleges will be closed in the wake of coronavirus, Thackeray said, "Class 10 examination is going on right now. So wait for two days, all schools and colleges will be closed if needed."

Speaking on the decisions taken in the meeting, state Health Minister Rajesh Tope said, "Several decisions were taken including increasing the number of labs in the state and training of the experts, who had come from Delhi to deal with isolation wards, will continue for three more days."

Due to coronavirus, people who are not members of the Assembly will also be not allowed to sit during the session, he added.

Earlier today, the Central government said that with 10 more people confirmed positive for novel coronavirus, the total number of COVID-19 cases in India has jumped to 60.Out of the 60 cases, 36 are Indian citizens.

Six of the eight new cases are from Kerala and one each from Rajasthan and Delhi according to the ministry.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Health Protection Surveillance Centre in Ireland has confirmed nine new cases of Covid-19 in the Republic.

They include:

 Four males from the south of the country associated with travel;

 One female from the south of the country who came into contact with a confirmed case;

 One male from the south who came in contact with a confirmed case;

 Two males from the east of the country associated with travel;

 One male from the east of the country who came into contact with a confirmed case.

There are now 43 confirmed cases in the Republic of Ireland.

The Health Protection Surveillance Centre in Ireland has confirmed nine new cases of Covid-19 in the Republic of Ireland bringing the total to 43. pic.twitter.com/Reaxk96zuN  Aine McMahon (@AineMcMahon) March 11, 2020

Irelands chief medical officer has urged healthy members of the public to not wear gloves and masks amid the Covid-19 outbreak.

Speaking at a press briefing in Dublin on Wednesday, Dr Tony Holohan said: We do not recommend masks and gloves and other protective material for the general public.

We would encourage people to be responsible in their purchasing decisions because if we are in a situation where there is limited supply, people who are diagnosed will require these materials.

Dr Holohan has said it is gratifying that people are helping others who have to self- isolate.

A social solidarity movement has begun on Twitter where members of the public can volunteer to help people in their community with errands while they have to self-isolate.

Chief Medical Officer Tony Holohan said face masks and gloves are not recommended for the general public and asked people not to stockpile such items.#COVID19ireland pic.twitter.com/GUcAjzEauF  Aine McMahon (@AineMcMahon) March 11, 2020

He said: These practical measures of social solidarity that support people is self isolation situations can be very helpful. It is something we are very good at in this country.

As we step through this and as maybe there are more cases, we may get to to a point where individuals with minor illness will be staying at home and there will be more people in restricted movement situations for an extended period of time.

All sorts of practical issues will arise where they need to have their dog walked or to get groceries. These measures where societies are beginning to organise themselves -it is gratifying to hear that is happening.

If people are making those kinds of arrangements, that is a good thing.

Chairman of the Covid-19 Expert Advisory Group Cillian De Gascun said 2,300 people in the Republic of Ireland have been tested for the virus.

Dr De Gascun confirmed six of the nine cases that were associated with travel, came from Italy.

Meanwhile, the first death of patient with Covid-19 in the Republic was earlier confirmed.

Dr Holohan said: I would like to extend my condolences to the family and friends of this patient.

I urge the media and the public to respect their privacy at this difficult time.

We continue our efforts to interrupt the transmission of this virus. It will take all of us, collectively to succeed. Please continue to follow public health advice.

Knowing the symptoms of #COVID19 will help you get the treatment if you need it. Learn how to tell the difference between #Coronavirus #Flu and the #CommonCold.



Spread the message not the virus.@HSELive | @CMOIreland | @hpscireland pic.twitter.com/mDuK7Gdm13  Department of Health (@roinnslainte) March 11, 2020

And the head of the Irish Health Service Executive (HSE) says the Republic is entering a new phase of coronavirus.

In a tweet, Paul Reid said: We are entering a new phase in #Covid19. I fully support our hospitals who have to make decisions on restricting visitors based on clinical risk, patient and public safety.

Please do as we urge and our ask will increase as we progress.

Mr Reid did not elaborate further on the tweet. The Republic is currently in the containment phase with 34 cases of Covid-19, bringing the overall total on the island of Ireland to 52.

We are entering a new phase in #Covid19. I fully support our hospitals who have to make decisions on restricting visitors based on clinical risk, patient and public safety. Please do as we urge and our ask will increase as we progress. @HSELive  Paul Reid (@paulreiddublin) March 11, 2020

The Government has called for employers to play their part of the national response to tackling coronavirus by continuing to pay staff who have to self-isolate.

Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe urged employers to do all they can if someone is not able to come to work over fears of contracting Covid-19.

Mr Donohoe said he recognises the financial burden firms may face as employees who have symptoms need to self-isolate.

It comes as 34 cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed in the Republic of Ireland.

Speaking from Government Buildings in Dublin, Mr Donohoe said: We are joining with employers and unions today calling on all employers who do have employees who make the decision that they need to go into a period of isolation, to continue to pay them as normal in recognition of the great challenge that we are now facing.

Minister for Business @HHumphreysFG outlines the measures available for businesses & employers to help mitigate the impact of the coronavirus. @Paschald has appealed for employers to play their very full part. pic.twitter.com/wGskoQEMit  Cate McCurry (@CateMcCurry) March 11, 2020

We recognise that for some employers, this may well be a challenge.

We understand the financial dimensions that are involved in this.

On Monday, the Government unveiled a financial aid package worth up to 2.4 billion euro.

Under the plans private sector workers affected by coronavirus will receive 305 euro per week from their first day of illness.

Mr Donohoe said these plans have been put in place for public health reasons.

We recognise that for many workers within our country, taking this decision is one that does have financial consequences and we want to ensure that the measures are in place to minimise financial concerns as employees, and as employers make decisions in relation to their own health, Mr Donohoe added.

This is the reason why on Monday, Minister (Heather) Humphreys and I, in conjunction with the Government, made the decision in relation to the availability of illness payments, the qualifying period that is necessary before you can access that payment and we also increased the value of that payment by over 100 euro.

Minister for Business Heather Humphreys outlined a number of measures which Irish businesses can avail of to help stem the impact of the coronavirus outbreak.

She said: We have introduced a number of supports this week including a 200 million euro working capital scheme.

That means any business that is impacted by the coronavirus can make an application for assistance.

It will help them with the liquidity problems because cash flow and liquidity will be one of the first issues that will face businesses.

Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe (Brian Lawless/PA)

There is a 200 million euro enterprise fund available while enterprise offices are offering vouchers of between 2,500 euro and 10,000 euro.

The situation is changing from day to day and we will continue to work with stakeholders to respond to ongoing developments, Ms Humphreys added.

Im asking businesses to show some flexibility and solidarity with the workers in terms of sick pay.

Ms Humphreys also urged the public not to panic buy adding that retailers have ensured her there is a sufficient supply chain.

I would say to people, do not panic buy as that in itself causes shortages, she added.

Mr Donohoe said the escalating challenges around coronavirus will influence the political discussions around forming a government.

This will be a very demanding political exercise but we are truly in extraordinary times, Mr Donohoe added.

The Department of Foreign Affairs is now advising against non-essential travel to four areas in Spain  Madrid, Vitoria and Labastida in the Basque Country and La Rioja  due to an increase in the number of Spanish coronavirus cases.

TRAVEL ADVICE 2/2: re #COVID19 .This evening we are upgrading our overall security status in respect of Spain to exercise a high degree of caution & advising against non-essential travel to the following areas: Madrid, Vitoria & Labastida in the Basque Country and La Rioja.  Simon Coveney (@simoncoveney) March 11, 2020

Deputy Irish Premier Simon Coveney tweeted: A significant number of new #COVID19 cases confirmed in Spain, on mainland & Balearic & Canary Islands. If u are in Spain, monitor developments closely & follow advice from Local Authorities.
Anusha Ravi By

Express News Service

BENGALURU: When Jyothiraditya Scindia went knocking on BJPs doors to pull off a coup against the Kamal Nath government, saffron party Central leaders turned to experts of resort politics and logistics  BJP leaders from Karnataka.

Not one, but three state leaders reportedly competed to take the responsibility of the MLAs, but ultimately the mantle fell on MLA and party general secretary Arvind Limbavali.

On the day Scindia resigned from the Congress, BJP sources told The New Indian Express that the plan to bring down the Kamal Nath-led Congress government in Madhya Pradesh was devised at least 20 days before March 3, the day four MLAs from MP  Bisahulal Singh, Raghuraj Kansana and Hardeep Dang of Congress and Independent MLA Surendra Singh Shera Bhaiya  landed in Bengaluru.

While Limbavali was apparently Union Home Minister Amit Shahs first choice, names of Deputy Chief Minister Dr Ashwath Narayan and Tourism Minister C T Ravi, too cropped up.

Limbavali, who is the Mahadevapura MLA, was summoned to New Delhi in the second week of February to apprise him of the plan.

When he was asked to take the help of Ravi and Narayan, he is said to have turned it down.

ALSO READ | AICC dials Karnataka leaders, but gets busy tone, languid response

Limbavali insisted that he will work alone. Limbavali told Shah that previous experience made him hesitant as others took credit for his work and he rather worked alone, a source close to the MLA said.

When two MLAs under his watch returned to Bhopal, the operation was almost deemed untenable, but Limbavalis ability to convince the rebels gave the BJP leadership the confidence to shift more MLAs to Bengaluru.

On March 9, 10 more MLAs landed in the city. On Tuesday, 19 MLAs including six ministers lodged in Bengaluru resigned from their posts, officially signing a death warrant for the Kamal Nath government.

For the last one week, Limbavali, who was instrumental in arranging the logistics and accommodation for Congress and JDS MLAs during the political crisis in Karnataka last year, has been playing the perfect host.

Sources close to him said that he along with his brother-in-law and CV Raman Nagar MLA S Raghu, under whose constituency HAL Airport falls, escorted Madhya Pradesh MLAs to resorts and hotels owned by their friend and confidant  a top executive of a prestigious construction and hospitality firm.

The plan is now to let MP MLAs go back to Bhopal only around March 26, when the Rajya Sabha elections are held.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian has made public a draft manifesto ahead of a constitutional referendum slated for April 5 in which citizens will be asked to approve the termination of powers of several High Court judges.

Pashinian and his political team accuse Constitutional Court Chairman Hrayr Tovmasian and six other judges of maintaining ties to Armenias former leadership and impeding reforms that they say are aimed at creating an independent judiciary.

They believe that the Constitutional Court members elected before the 2015 constitution was fully enforced in April 2018 must be removed from office and new judges must be elected to replace them.

Opposition parties accuse the prime minister of seeking to gain undue control over the Constitutional Court. They have refused to engage in campaigning against the proposed amendment, rejecting the referendum as unconstitutional.

Speaking at a public rally in Goris in Armenias southern Syunik province, Pashinian read out the draft of the Yes campaigns manifesto that he said is open for proposals to be elaborated before being finally adopted and published several days before the referendum.

It says that by approving changes to the constitution the people are closing the page of the presence of illegitimate state bodies and officials in Armenia.

The text of the proposed manifesto, in particular, states that in the period from 1995 to 2018 when the non-violent, velvet peoples revolution took place, the official results of all nationwide elections did not reflect the free will of the people, except for the results of the 1999 parliamentary elections that were nullified by the October 27, 1999 terrorist attack on parliament.

According to the draft manifesto, along with the process of rigging elections in Armenia a corrupt system was being formed leading to systemic corruption. Pashinian emphasized that systemic corruption existed in Armenia until the 2018 revolution and was expressed by widespread bribery, the vicious system of kickbacks from government spending, the establishment of artificial economic monopolies, the fusion of business and presidential, legislative, executive and judicial powers.

Under this system, the presidential, legislative, executive and judicial authorities, including the Constitutional Court, largely served their own personal and group interests, ignoring the national and state interests of the Republic of Armenia and the Armenian people and principles of rule of law in the country, hindering Armenias progress and the well-being of its people. As a result, many senior government officials have illegally accumulated enormous amounts of wealth, Pashinian continued.

The restitution of wealth illegally accumulated by high-ranking state officials, according to the draft manifesto, is an inalienable right of the Republic of Armenia and its people. This process should take place exclusively in a legal way, with the formation of an effective law-enforcement system in the Republic of Armenia, an independent judiciary, including an independent and legitimate Constitutional Court, the prime minister underscored.

Pashinian also called for the formation of effective mechanisms for separating business from power. Power cannot be a means for accumulating wealth or preserving the accumulated wealth, he said.

According to the document, only an electoral system that ensures the free expression of the will of the people can be a guarantee of a state administration system with effective mechanisms of checks and balances. Therefore, the people of Armenia will not tolerate any illegal influence on the will of voters, any falsification, misrepresentation or neglect of the ballot results.

Pashinian took a vacation on March 10 to kick off a series of public rallies in Armenian provinces and capital Yerevan ahead of the referendum.

By contrast, the No campaign represented by a group of lawyers has said it will not be holding any public rallies, but will limit its campaigning to Facebook posts about alleged violations and reports to the Central Election Commission.

Its representatives have criticized the Pashinian-led campaign for allegedly using administrative resources. Officials have rejected the criticism.

Head of the Central Election Commission Tigran Mukuchian told RFE/RLs Armenian Service (Azatutyun.am) on Wednesday that the election body has not yet received any formal complaint regarding any violations during the campaign. He said that according to their observations, in general the campaign is taking place in accordance with the principles stipulated by the legislation concerning the holding of elections and referendums.

The Prosecutors Office, meanwhile, said that out of 19 reports of administrative violations related to the referendum campaign they are currently probing only two, with the rest having been dismissed after no evidence of any violations has been found.

In December, Constitutional Court Chairman Tovmasian was charged with abuse of power while he was serving as justice minister in 2010-2014. He has denied the accusation as politically motivated.

Earlier in December, a controversial law gave Tovmasian and the six other Constitutional Court members financial incentives to resign before the end of their mandates. None of them has accepted the offer.
Los Angeles, March 11 : Actor Charlie Sheen has slammed Corey Feldman for accusing him of raping the late child actor Corey Haim during the filming of their 1986 film "Lucas".

Feldman resurfaced the claims in the new documentary, "(My) Truth: The Rape of Two Coreys". The film also lists the other men who assaulted him and his friend Haim, reports metro.co.uk.

Denying the allegations, Sheen's rep said: "These sick, twisted and outlandish allegations never occurred. Period. I would urge everyone to consider the source and read what his mother Judy Haim has to say." Even Haim's mother came out in support of Sheen.

"I feel that this is a huge accusation without any proof and without my kid being here to defend himself. I stand firm, that Charlie DID NOT. This of course never happened. Sadly, Feldman has lost his mind and the horrible thing is he thinks this is a great way to commemorate the 10 year anniversary of my son's death," she said.
YURI KADOBNOV/AFP via Getty Images

MOSCOWThe deed is done. Russias parliament voted Wednesday383 to 0to change the constitution so Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin can hold on to the presidency until 2036. That is to say, until he is in his 83rd year of life and 36th year in power.

This is a shock to some, but not exactly a surprise. It feels so Soviet.

Putins Power Is Built on Spying, but Its Also His Prison

On Tuesday the big pitch for the change was made by Valentina Tereshkova, an 83-year-old general and member of parliament, who has the distinction of being the first and youngest woman ever launched into outer space. That was in 1963, when Nikita Khrushchev was running the USSR.

Putin knows much more than all of us, Tereshkova said, presenting a plan to reset the number of his presidential terms, thus dropping the legal barrier to his repeated reelections. Why do we need to create some artificial constitutions? We should be honest, open, consider publicly, and cancel all limitations on the number of presidential terms in the Constitution. Or, if the situation demands and people want that, let the current president run again for this position.

Putin spoke from the same tribune shortly afterward and said Tereshkovas idea to free him of any reelection limitations could be acceptable pending the plebiscite he announced at the end of February: Obviously, only in case the citizens support such an amendment, say yes during the all-Russia vote on April 22.

Putins opponents were furious. That was a Brezhnev-era, poorly directed performance, ex-MP, opposition leader Dmitry Gudkov told The Daily Beast. Putin must be feeling almighty, and hopes to live forever. The move further weakens such checks and balances as exist in Russias government. By 2024 he is going to be 72 years old, his shrinking popularity rating is going to be even lower than now, so the only way for him to stay is to turn into a brutal dictator or a monarch.

Putin is always eager to show the world his importance and show his people his thinly gloved iron fist. In recent days he has made headline after headline. Most dramatically, he decided to break Russias agreement with the Saudi-dominated Organization for the Petroleum Exporting Countries to limit production, thus launching an oil price war. And Saudi Arabias Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was only too happy to accept the challenge.

Story continues

One reason is to fulfill the Kremlins long-held dream of ending the U.S. shale oil and gas revolution, which is uneconomical when prices are low. But the immediate effect was to crash world markets.

U.S. President Donald Trump, who has courted Putin as a buddy and counted Saudi Arabia a strategic partner, quickly blamed both, along with his usual scapegoat: Saudi Arabia and Russia are arguing over the price and flow of oil. That, and the Fake News, is the reason for the market drop!"

For Putin, the oil price war is a risky strategy. Russian economists and businessmen have watched in shockeven panicas has much of the rest of the world. But Russian newspapers bannered headlines like Nezavisimaya Gazetas: The low oil price becomes the Kremlins geopolitical weapon. U.S. producers are teetering on the verge of bankruptcy, it said.

Last year Putins close friend Igor Sechin, the chairman of Rosneft, Russias leading oil company, called Russias 2016 oil production agreement with OPEC a strategic threat that played into U.S. hands.

Putin and Sechin were so eager to ruin American fracking companies, that they hit the entire Russian business, Gudkov told The Daily Beast. That was an ultimately strange decision.

But however erratic, even dangerous, his policies might appear, more than 60 percent of Russians support Putin, which may be one reason that the parliamentarians who disapproved of the changes to the constitution abstained rather than vote no.

Putin continues to build his ideology on glorifying Russias Victory in World War II and what he sees as the Russian character. Shortly after the seizure and annexation of Crimea in 2014, prompting major sanctions by Europe and the United States, Putin sought to soar above the controversy by comparing Russian values to those of the West in somewhat mystical terms: A Russian man is not focused inside on his own beloved self. Our soul is broader.

This might have come as a surprise to people who see the countrys politics and economy dominated by the coterie of hugely self-indulgent oligarchs around Putin, but it still touched a chord.

On May 9, the Kremlin is organizing a remarkable celebration to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the victory over the Nazis in World War II with a huge military parade in Red Square. The Kremlin repeatedly and publicly invited Trump to join. But on Tuesday, Moscow announced that the U.S. leader turned down Putins invitation to join the military parade on the Red Square. The Kremlin did not explain the reason for Trumps refusal, but according to the Associated Press, White House officials and Trump allies feared that the trip to Moscow in an election year could be politically damaging.

For Putin, its certainly damaging. He made a big deal of the invitation. Earlier he said the anniversary is important for all the nations who fought in the anti-Hitler coalition. We are waiting and well be glad if they come. If notthat is their choice. But I think that would be a mistake for them.

But the political price is relatively small for a man whos now positioned to be, effectively, president for life. And Trump should pay attention whenever Putin refers to Trumps actions as a mistake, especially now as Putin consolidates his authoritarian rule.

The Puppet Master of Putins Kremlin Is Out, but His Sinister Policies Are Still In

Until recently, Kremlinologists believed that Putin wanted to balance between the technocrat dealing with the economy and the demands of the siloviki or securocratsmany of them former KGB officers and operatives like himself who have become very powerful and very rich thanks to his patronage.

But last month Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedevs cabinet resigned after Putin set his sights on unending power. Now Sechin, one of the powerful leaders of the hawks, does not have any opponents left, Kirill Kharatyan, founder and deputy editor in chief of Kommersant newspaper told The Daily beast. The new PM Mikhail Mishistin is a servant, not a baron.

This time the states strategy is reminiscent of North Korea, Kharatyan said. Putin must be thinking: Russia has tons of money, there is no state debt, we should not be shy. But in fact, the reserve Russia has is about half a trillion dollars, almost the budget of the Pentagon. The attempts to destroy Americas shale gas might succeed, but only for a couple of years.

And still, Putin would be in power.

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THE tourism sector has already suffered job losses as a result of the Coronavirus outbreak, the chief executive of Tourism Ireland has said.

Niall Gibbons said some companies have already let people go as a result of falling demand in the sector.

Meanwhile, the chief executive of IDA Ireland Martin Shanahan said investment decisions by companies looking to set up in Ireland are "slowing" because firms are scaling back global travel.

Mr Gibbons said the uncertainty around when the crisis might end was proving problematic. Speaking on the margins a St Patricks Day business lunch in Washington DC, he said: "We already have seen some enterprises let people go already. It is an industry that depends on the demand pipeline and demand pipeline, particularly in the corporate sector, has dried up. Bookings have dried up in the leisure sector as well.

"So that just makes things difficult for certain operators on the ground, but the government have announced a package of measures, including liquidity, which I think is going to be important for the industry as it heads into the next number of months."

Mr Gibbons said all marketing by the State tourism agency had been scaled back until such time as the crisis abates. He said that Tourism Ireland has a recovery plan for its marketing when the time comes.

He said: "It's very much evolving on a daily basis right now, but I've been through every crisis that the industry has thrown up over the last 18 years. What's different about this one I suppose is that there's a major public fear aspect to it, which is preventing people from flying, and not just about coronavirus itself or it's also the worry that being quarantined summer for 14 days which people couldn't afford to happen to them."

Mr Gibbons also said that the spread of Covid-19 poses an "unprecedented and extremely serious" threat to Irish tourism, with firms reporting "very few new bookings".

Mr Gibbons said the tourism promotion agency was reviewing its marketing activity given the rapid falloff in tourist traffic. Hotel, restaurant and pub representative groups have reported falls in trade ranging from 15pc to 40pc driven by a slump in visitors in the run-up to cancelled St Patricks festival events.

He said: 2020 was already going to be a challenging year for tourism, with issues like Brexit and the delayed delivery of the Boeing 737 Max aircraft. Covid-19 is an extremely serious development which is affecting all of our key source markets.

We are in daily contact with our tourism industry partners and we know that they are reporting significant cancellations and very few new bookings, he said.

Mr Shanahan said that companies were feeling their way through the crisis at the moment and a clearer picture of the scale of its impact would emerge in the coming weeks.

At the moment my sense is that investment decisions have been postponed or delayed because the activity around them cant happen. That isnt to say that we have lost any investments at this point, he said.

He said global growth would be affected and that this would impact on foreign direct investment. He said it wasnt a case of Ireland losing investment opportunities but whether they will even exist.

Enterprise Ireland chief executive Julie Sinnamon said that the agencys Brexit contingency planning had proven very useful in the context of the Coronavirus. She said the biggest impact on its client companies was with supply chains.

So we're working with them in terms of trying to get them to develop new supply chains across the system. Obviously, the immediate impact for a lot of companies is the loss of business and cash flow implications of that, she said. rning on the back of todays publication by the Central Statistics Office of Irelands tourism performance in the final quarter of 2019.

Read More

Even before the Covid-19 threat, the latest CSO figures suggest that Irish tourism had already ended its decade-long run of strong growth amid last years Brexit anxiety and slowing global growth.

It said tourism in the October-December quarter rose by 0.5pc to 2.4 million visits versus the same quarter of 2018. But visitors spending within the country sagged by 4.4pc to 1bn.

While expats trips home to visit friends and family jumped by 9pc, holiday and business travel both declined.

Arrivals from residents of Britain rose in the quarter by 1pc to 928 million. But Irelands second-largest market for visitors  the US and Canada  saw numbers slump by 8pc to 474 million.
School nurses have a critical role to play as schools grapple with responding to coronavirus.

They can advise district leaders on how best to communicate key information from health authorities to their school communities. They can oversee their schools tactics for limiting the spread of the virus, through handwashing demonstrations and talking to parents. And their health expertise can help administrators make important decisions about limiting large group gatherings or ramping up cleaning schedules.

But not every school has a full time nurseor any type of dedicated health professionalto lean on. Almost 25 percent of schools have no nurse all, according to a 2016 workforce study by the National Association of School Nurses. Nearly 40 percent of schools employed full-time nurses, while 35 percent had part-time nurses, the study found.

In a separate analysis of 2015-16 federal data, the American Civil Liberties Union found that there is one full-time nurse for every 936 students nationallyexceeding the recommended ratio of one nurse for every 750 students.

I have confidence that some school systems have the nursing capacity to provide factual information to help reduce stigma, to assess students for illness, to educate school communities about those nonprescription interventions that are so essential to health that we should be doing all the timelike washing your hands for 20 seconds, covering coughs and sneezes, cleaning high-touch surfaces, said Laurie G. Combe, president of the National Association of School Nurses.

But thats not the case for every school community.

By playing the essential public health role, school nurses can free up administrators to make other important policy decisions about how to respond to a coronavirus case or outbreak in their communities, Combe said.

The nurses role can range from small to large, said Rachel Orscheln, an associate professor of pediatrics and infectious diseases at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

They can include a variety of strategies such as making sure something simple as handwashing is performed routinely in the schools; making sure there is access to alcohol-based hand sanitizers for the children; providing education regarding handwashing.

They can also review health records to ensure that students are up-to-date on their routine childhood vaccinations, including for influenza.

Promoting childhood vaccination as a way to keep kids healthy overallits something really important for school nurses to do, Orscheln said.

And, of course, school nurses should be paying close attention to the symptoms students exhibit when the visit the nurses office and to student absences.

So if your school does have a nurse, here are some best practices for how to deploy them right now, as well as practices nurses should avoid.

What School Nurses Should Do During the Coronavirus Outbreak

 Use your nurses or other health professionals to keep current on developments from reputable sources like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state and county health agencies: With the situation changing rapidlyincluding the number of local cases and states where the coronavirus is presentits important for districts to have a designated individual or team keeping track of that information. School nurses are well positioned to do so.

School nurses are going to be a key player in helping to fill that information [role] for their own schools, Orscheln said. They can seek out the most appropriate resources, like ...the Centers for Disease Control, which often provides information for the public. They can be a venue by which that information can be passed on both to the rest of the school and to families. Its probably likely that people can find information from a variety of different sources, so steering them to the most accurate and up-to-date information is really critical. And health professionals within schools can really serve that role.

 Establish a relationship with local health departments: Many local and state health agencies have a liaison who works with school districts. School nurses should already be in contact with that individual, but it becomes even more important to do so as the coronavirus spreads in the United States.

In the nearly 54,000-student Klein Independent School District near Houston, Yvonne Clarke, the districts health services coordinator, is in constant contact with Harris County health officials.

I am that go-between to get information for our district, Clarke said. Then I can translate that into everyday language and share that with other team members.

Information from the CDC or the county, for example, can be used to help district administrators create educational campaigns, informational letters to parents and guardians, make adjustments to district cleaning schedules, or in some cases, make the decision to close one or more schools.

 Review your districts and schools communicable disease plan: School nurses should be part of helping to develop their districts communicable and infectious disease plans, and while they are commonly reviewed annually, this is a good opportunity to dust them off and make changes to ensure they are applicable to this current unfolding health crisis.

Clarke sits on Klein ISDs safety and security committee, which is not often the case in many school districts.

Shes also responsible for providing input and updating the sections of the districts emergency management plan on pandemics and biological incidents, districtwide first-aid requirements, and on managing shelters and mass-care facilities. Nurses are also part of the emergency planning teams at individual schools, she said.

Unlike many districts, Klein ISD has, at minimum, one registered nurse and one clinic assistant at each of its 41 elementary and middle schools. Each of the six high schools has at least two registered nurses and a clinic assistant, Clarke said. The staffing level can increase, depending on enrollment and other conditions, including the number of health incidents at a school.

Melinda Vose, a retired school nurse who will be filling in at Arrowhead Union High School in Hartland, Wis., said while the coronavirus may be a new and evolving situation, nurses have past experiences that set them up well to help schools manage whats happening now.

This is a unique situation that were in, Vose said. But were always dealing with outbreaks of influenza, pertussis, or other potentially infectious diseases, monitoring immunization records. So this is just standard nursing practices for nurses.

 Translate medical information for staff and school community: Every industry has its industry-specific lingo that can be confusing or hard to understand for those on the outside. Nurses can help translate medical jargon and other directives into easy-to-understand language for administrators, principals, students, and parents. And they can collaborate with physical education and homeroom teachers, who both cover health in their classes, on how best to make that information grade-level appropriate. Having someone with a nursing certification who can interpret that for people who dont have the expertise is vital, Clarke said.

Vose and her colleague, Kristi Kirk, also a nurse at Arrowhead Union High, worked in schools during the H1N1 flu pandemic in 2009. They said there is far more demand for information about the coronavirus. As a result, they have been proactively looking for educational materials to share with the superintendent or post around the high school.

 Act as a liaison to answer health-related questions from parents and staff: Parents may need help understanding the information the district sends home. Nurses can play a key role in explaining what that means for individual children in the school, based on their medical histories.

 Model good prevention techniques: Schools have been asking students to wash their hands properly, cough into their elbows, and take other steps to prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses and the coronavirus.

School nurses can run demonstrations, particularly for younger students to show them the correct way to do so.

Its probably true that children arent always necessarily informed about the best ways to wash their hands and certainly about the amount of time it takes to properly wash your hands, Orscheln said. I think demonstrations could be effective.

What School Nurses Shouldnt Do Amid the Coronavirus Outbreak

 Dont wing it: Rely on legitimate health sources, like the CDC and local health departments to get the latest information and make informed decisions.

The landscape keeps changing and those entities have the most up-to-date information, Orscheln said. Any of us trying to make it up as we go along is going to be ineffective.

 Dont do random temperature checks: First of all, it would be hard to do. But it would also be ineffective, as it captures a childs temperature at just that one moment in time, Orscheln said.

But school nurses can check temperaturesas they would have done anywayif the student comes to the nurses office with other symptoms.

It would be hard to implement a widespread temperature screening, and again, youre really just getting one data point, she said. You check the temperature now, [the students temperature] can spike a temperature in three hours. ... Most children who have fever also have other symptoms. They appear unwell; so I think it is unlikely youll find significant numbers of ill children merely by screening with temperature alone.

Thats the policy that Arrowhead Union High is using. The school got a new infrared thermometer, which can measure temperatures from a distance, after concerns about the spread of coronavirus spiked. Its just a much easier way to take a temperature, according to Kirk. But temperature checks are only used when a student enters the office and he is not feeling well.

Kirk said she will not be taking the temperature of a kid who is coming in to get a medication.
Twice a day, Bonnie Polin, 78, drives a few miles to visit her husband at his nursing home in Portland, Oregon. She sits with him while he eats breakfast and tells him stories that she knows he probably wont remember.

I fell in love with him because he was so damned smart, and now hes in the end stages of Parkinsons disease, Polin said of her husband, Gerald, 83, a retired psychiatrist. But hes still as handsome as ever.

Polin paused early one morning last week when she arrived for a visit and noticed a new sign posted at the entrance. In response to the worsening coronavirus outbreak, officials at the Avamere Crestview of Portland, an adult care facility, like untold numbers of other nursing homes across the country in recent days, had decided to ban visitors.

Polin read the sign twice. Then she darted past it and went looking for her husband. In the nearly 58 years since they got married, the pair had rarely spent a day apart. When Polin found him, asleep in his wheelchair, she grabbed his hand.

She knew she wouldnt have long.

Sweetie, Im not going to be able to come see you for a while, she recalled telling him.

She explained that there was a serious new virus spreading in Oregon and across the country and that elderly people were at higher risk  though she doubts he understood any of that. A minute later, a nursing home staff member arrived and told Polin she needed to leave.

She kissed her husband and told him goodbye; he didn't reply.

I dont know when Ill see you again, she told him, before heading for the exit.

Bonnie Polin usually visits her husband, Gerald, at his nursing home, twice every day. (Leah Nash / for NBC News)

For Polin and thousands of others with relatives in nursing homes, the coronavirus outbreak has ushered in a painful new normal. After a nursing home outside Seattle became the U.S. epicenter of a deadly outbreak that has killed at least 18 residents, senior living facilities around the nation have begun banning visitors, in the hopes of preventing similar tragedies.

Many nursing homes have been restricting visits from people with flu-like symptoms and those who have recently traveled abroad. But in recent days, as the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the U.S. has grown, many facilities announced that they would begin prohibiting social visits altogether.

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As every day unfolds, it becomes clearer that the skilled nursing sector and the assisted living sector face one of the most significant challenges, if not the most significant challenge, in our histories, said Mark Parkinson, president and CEO of the nursing home trade group American Health Care Association, which Tuesday announced new national guidance recommending that nursing homes prohibit visits from anyone other than health care providers and other essential workers. The evidence has become overwhelming that the mortality rate to COVID-19 for people that live in our buildings is shocking.

Although many patients have reported only moderate symptoms, experts say people over the age of 70 are at serious risk of respiratory failure or death. Parkinson said experts were telling him that the death rate for people over the age of 80 might well exceed 15 percent, though government officials say it wont be possible to calculate a true mortality rate until far more people are tested.

On Monday, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that state officials had barred visitors from senior living facilities in New Rochelle, a New York City suburb at the center of an emerging outbreak in the region. Later that evening, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued national guidelines for nursing homes, including a recommendation to limit or end social visits from loved ones.

Public health officials say these drastic measures are needed to slow the spread of the coronavirus among those most vulnerable to it.

Image: Campbell waves while talking through a window to her husband at a long-term care facility linked to several confirmed coronavirus cases in the state in Kirkland (DAVID RYDER / Reuters)

As the outbreak worsened at the Life Care Center in the suburbs of Seattle last week, news reports revealed the tragic consequences that can follow when a nursing home is put on lockdown  a grim foreshadowing of what experts worry could be repeated across the country in the coming weeks.

Some of those cut off from their elderly loved ones at Life Care said they were struggling to learn basic details about what was happening in the facility. Others said they feared they would never see their parents or grandparents again, given their poor health. Photos of a gray-haired woman standing at a window, trying to talk to her quarantined husband on the other side of the glass, made national headlines.

Full coverage of the coronavirus outbreak

Bryan James, an epidemiologist at the Rush Alzheimers Disease Center in Chicago, said nursing homes are probably doing the right thing by restricting access until the outbreak is brought under control. But those decisions come at a cost, said James, who studies the way peoples social connections affect their health as they age.

I think that by isolating people and saying that their family members cant come to see them, you can very well see scenarios where people begin losing a sense of purpose in their lives, James said. That social connectedness is incredibly important in keeping people going every day and keeping people healthy.

James said relationships with friends and family help people stay mentally sharp as they grow older. He worries that prolonged restrictions on nursing home visits could be devastating for some residents, particularly those already in very poor health. Some, he said, might be forced to spend their final moments alone.

We already have the problem of people dying alone in this country at such high numbers, he said. And now I worry that were going to have even more people dying alone in hospice without their loved ones next to them, even though their families desperately want to be with them.

PICTURE

Yvonne Michael, an epidemiologist at Drexel Universitys Dornsife School of Public Health in Philadelphia, said nursing homes that ban visitors might need to plan additional social activities to keep residents from feeling isolated.

But that wont help family members on the outside.

At the end of the day, it might be harder for the person outside the nursing home than the one inside of it, Michael said. For the family members on the outside, that sense of hopelessness  of not being able to be with their loved one who needs them  could also be devastating.

PI8CTURE

Bonnie Polin was just beginning to shake the guilt that shed carried since shed made the decision a year ago to move her husband to a facility that could provide nursing care.

Shed met Gerald in 1961, at a play. He sat down next to her after the first intermission. She was a sophomore at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. He had just graduated from medical school.

We started talking that night, Polin said, and then never stopped.

She studied to become a psychologist, and for decades afterward, she and her husband worked together at his medical practice.

It was such a joy to be with him, Polin said. Thats part of my problem now. We had such a good life together. I dont want to let it go.

They loved their work. They loved their two children. And they loved to travel abroad.

She first noticed the tremor in his fingers when he was in his late 60s. They were holding hands at a movie. She hoped it was nothing, but he knew right away that wasnt true. For years afterward, as Parkinson's disease made its slow march, he continued to work. Then she noticed his intellect and memory begin to slip. For years, she refused to put him in a home, but eventually, he became a danger to her and to himself.

I couldnt keep picking him up off the floor, Polin said. It was unsafe for both of us.

Her son, Dr. Richard Polin, a neurosurgeon, told her it was time to move his father from the senior center where theyd been living together and into a facility with skilled nursing care. One nearby, so she could still visit him often. He hadnt considered the possibility that a global outbreak might keep them apart.

Dr. Richard Polin told his mother, Bonnie, that it was time to move his father into a nursing home. (Leah Nash / for NBC News)

Im not complaining about the policies, Richard Polin said. I think the policies are probably correct. But its just devastating for people like my parents.

Its been more than a week since Polin has been allowed to see her husband. She calls every day, but he needs an aide to hold the phone to his ear, and someone is not always available. Video calls would only confuse him. But she likes to hear his voice.

She tells him that she misses him. That shell come to see him as soon as she can.

Its heartbreaking for me, Polin said. Because he cant understand why I havent been coming.

Most of the calls end the same way, she said.

She tells him she loves him and that she hopes to see him soon; he tells her to come right away with the suitcases.

Lets leave for Europe, he says.
The FBI is reportedly looking into yet another death linked to 'cult' mom Lori Vallow in the wake of her children's disappearance last September.

Joseph Ryan, Lori's third husband, died of an apparent heart attack in 2018 - 14 years after the couple divorced in 2004.

Two years later Joseph's death is getting a second look from investigators as they search for his and Lori's daughter Tylee Ryan, and the son she adopted with her next husband, Joshua 'JJ' Vallow.

Tylee, 17, and JJ, seven, were last seen in Idaho in September but were never reported missing by their mother, who is currently facing felony charges for neglect and desertion.

The FBI is reportedly looking into the death of Lori Vallow's third husband Joseph Ryan (pictured). Joseph died of an apparent heart attack in 2018, 14 years after he and Lori divorced

Lori is currently facing felony charges of neglect and desertion over the disappearance of her children Tylee Ryan and Joshua 'JJ' Vallow, who were last seen in Idaho in September. The mother is seen during a court hearing last week in Madison County, Idaho

Authorities began searching for the children in late November after Lori and her new husband Chad Daybell fled their home in Idaho when police began asking questions about where the children were.

The case expanded as police opened investigations into a string of suspicious deaths linked to the couple.

Chad's previous wife Tammy Daybell died in October, less than three weeks before he married Lori.

Lori's fourth husband, Charles Vallow, was shot dead by her brother Alex Cox in July.

Cox himself died in mid-December.

It appears that Ryan has now joined the list of deaths being investigated in the case, as Phoenix police say they recently provided the FBI with information about his death, AZFamily.com reported on Wednesday.

A medical examiner's report indicated that Joseph died of a heart attack. His body was cremated and therefore cannot be exhumed.

Joseph and Tylee are seen together in an undated photo. Court papers indicate Lori and Joseph were engaged in a fierce custody battle over Tylee for years after their 2004 divorce

Tylee, 17, and JJ, seven, were last seen in Idaho in September but were never reported missing by their mother or the man she married weeks later, prolific doomsday author Chad Daybell

Timeline of JJ and Tylee's disappearance July 11: Lori Vallow's husband, Charles Vallow, is killed by her brother, Alex Cox, in Arizona August: Lori moves children JJ and Tylee to Rexburg, Idaho September 23: The last time JJ was seen at his school in Idaho October 19: Chad Daybell's wife Tammy dies at their Idaho home October 25: A friend of Tylee receives a text from her phone November 5: Lori and Chad marry November 26: Out-of-state relatives ask Idaho police to perform a welfare check on JJ. Lori and Chad claim he is in Arizona with relatives. Police also learn Tylee has not been seen since September, either November 27: Police execute a search warrant at Lori and Chad's home, discovering the couple have fled Idaho December 11: Tammy Daybell's body is exhumed from the Utah cemetery December 12: Lori's brother, Alex Cox, believed to have died in Arizona December 21: Police issue a press release about JJ and Tylee, revealing they believe their disappearance is linked to Tammy's death December 24: Lori and Chad issue a statement through an attorney saying they love their son and daughter and look forward to addressing 'allegations once they have moved beyond speculation and rumor' December 30: Police accuse Lori and Chad of lying to investigators and say they believe the couple know where the kids are or what happened to them January 26: Lori and Chad are seen for the first time in months as police serve two search warrants in Kaua'i January 30 Lori misses court deadline to produce the children to authorities February 20: Lori is arrested in Kauai Advertisement

In the wake of JJ and Tylee's disappearance, several family members have expressed concern over the fact that not one but two of Lori's previous husbands had died in the last two years.

One relative told AZFamily.com that after Joseph's death aged 59, Lori called him 'evil' and said that 'God took care of him'.

The relative said Lori collected money from Joseph's life insurance policy but did not say how much it was worth.

Lori and Joseph married in 2001 and welcomed daughter Tylee the following year before divorcing in 2004.

Court documents indicate they were engaged in a fierce custody battle over Tylee for years afterward.

In 2007, Lori's brother Alex was arrested in Travis County, Texas, after he attacked Joseph with a stun gun and threatened to kill him after a custody exchange.

The following year, Alex pleaded guilty to a second-degree aggravated assault charge and served three months in jail.

Twelve years after the incident with Joseph - who died of an apparent heart attack aged 59 in 2018 - Alex killed Lori's next husband, Charles Vallow, in a similar custody exchange.

Charles had gone to Lori's home in Chandler, Arizona, to pick up there adoptive son JJ - who has autism - when the couple got in an argument.

Alex intervened and ultimately shot Charles in the chest.

Police initially determined that he acted in self defense - but the case was reopened amid a multi-state search for JJ and Tylee.

Cox himself died aged 51 on December 12 in Gilbert, Arizona. His death is now under investigation as police wait for an autopsy to determine the cause.

The body of Chad's previous wife Tammy was exhumed from a grave in Utah the day before Cox's death. The autopsy results have yet to be released.

Lori's estranged husband Charles Vallow (pictured together) was shot dead by her brother Alex Cox in Arizona on July 11

Chad's wife Tammy Daybell (pictured together) was found dead under mysterious circumstances in October, just two weeks before he married Lori

Lori's brother Alex Cox (pictured) died under mysterious circumstances on December 12

Neither Lori nor Chad has been named as a person of interest in any of the deaths - though family members say it's no coincidence that so many people have died around them in such a short period of time.

Relatives believe that the deaths and the children's disappearance are directly related to Lori and Chad's alleged involvement in a dangerous doomsday cult.

The couple fled Idaho in late November just as police discovered that JJ and Tylee had been missing for months.

Authorities tracked them down in the Kauai town of Princeville on January 25 and served Lori with a court order requiring her to physically produce the children to authorities in Idaho within five days.

She failed to meet the deadline, prompting her arrest on February 20.

An Idaho warrant charged her with two counts of felony child desertion and nonsupport of children, as well as three misdemeanor counts of resisting and obstructing an officer, solicitation of a crime and contempt of court.

Lori was extradited to Rexburg, Idaho, last week and is currently being held on $1million bond at Madison County Jail.

She is next scheduled to appear in Madison County Magistrate Court for a preliminary hearing on March 18, where prosecutors will need to prove there is enough evidence to support the felony charges her before the case can proceed to District Court.
The royal photographer who made headlines last week with his breathtaking photo of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle walking through the rain has been praised for 'another gorgeous shot' of the Duchess of Sussex.

Award-winning photographer Samir Hussein captured a stunning black and white photograph of the Duchess of Sussex, 38, as she arrived at Westminster Abbey with husband Prince Harry, 38, for her final royal appearance on Monday.

Royal enthusiasts gushed over the 'beautiful image' after it was shared on Hussein on his Instagram account, with one insisting that it exudes 'Hollywood glamour', while another said Meghan was giving 'goddess vibes'.

It comes days after Hussein won global acclaim for a snap of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex sharing an umbrella as they arrived for the Endeavour Fund Awards last Thursday night.

Breathtaking: Award-winning photographer Samir Hussein captured this stunning black and white photograph of the Duchess of Sussex, 38, as she arrived at Westminster Abbey with husband Prince Harry, 38, for her final royal appearance on Monday

Making headlines: It comes days after Hussein won global acclaim for this snap of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex sharing an umbrella as they arrived for the Endeavour Fund Awards

Sharing his most recent snap, Hussein wrote: 'Meghan, Duchess of Sussex attends the Commonwealth Day Service - her final engagement before stepping back as a senior Royal'.

One follower commented: 'And another gorgeous one.' 'Impeccable style and Godess vibes', agreed another while a third gushed: 'Gorgeous shot Sam! Congratulations.'

A fourth simply penned: 'Stunning photo.'

Megan donned an emerald green ensemble as she arrived for the Commonwealth Day service, featuring an exquisite caped dress by designer Emilia Wickstead with a matching hat by William Chambers.

However Hussein's photograph was shared in black and white, adding a poignant touch to the moment. The image captures an otherwise 'ordinary' moment and makes it extraordinary.

Another hit: Hussein won praise after he shared the photo of Meghan on his Instagram account

Praise: Followers quickly took to social media to gush over the 'beautiful image' which one insisted exuded 'Hollywood glamour', while another said Meghan was giving 'Godess vibes'

The photographer enjoyed widespread attention following his incredible photo series from the Endeavour Fund Awards at Mansion House last week.

Commenting on the image, which some fans claimed was so good it could be used on the Sussexes' Christmas card, Hussein said: 'It's a one in a million when all the elements you could wish for as a photographer come together - perfect timing, great lighting, strong symbolism and amazing subjects make this a magical photo I am extremely proud of.'

Robert Jobson, author of The Royal Family Operations Manual published by Haynes, told MailOnline: 'I think in the photos - particularly from the guys in the street - the couple looked blissfully happy, relaxed, all smiles.

Monochrome magic: Meghan wore an exquisite caped dress by Emilia Wickstead with a matching hat by William Chambers as she joined husband Prince Harry, 35

'It also seemed by the way they worked the room and dealt with the media attention that they were enjoying being back.

'It sensed, and always have, that should their priorities change there would be a way back for Meghan and Harry inside the royal fold should they want it.'

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex on Monday carried out their final official engagements as senior working royals. They will stop using their HRH titles at the end of this month.
It started on February 24, the eve of President Donald Trump's visit to India, when supporters of a controversial new citizenship law, seen by many as discriminatory against the country's minority Muslim population, clashed with people protesting against it.

The clashes erupted after at least one Hindu politician warned India's police in a public address that if they didn't break up the protests against the new law, he and others would do it for them. Mobs of people armed with iron rods, sticks, Molotov cocktails and homemade guns ransacked several neighborhoods, killing people, setting houses, shops and cars on fire.

Two weeks later, more than 5,000 Muslims find themselves living in at least three makeshift camps. The clusters of tents are overcrowded and lacking some basic amenities for sanitation and hygiene  a dangerous situation amid a global coronavirus outbreak. COVID-19 cases have been reported in the city of almost 19 million.

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Muslims displaced from their homes in Delhi, India, rest at a makeshift camp set up in the capital city's predominantly Muslim Mustafabad neighborhood, March 9, 2020. CBS/Arshad R. Zargar

More than 1,500 people, mostly from the Shiv Vihar area in Delhi, which saw some of the worst violence, are now living in the Mustafabad camp alone.

"The future looks so bleak"

"I can never go back to that house again," Khadija Khatoon, 30, who escaped the violence in Shiv Vihar, told CBS News. Her 18-month-old daughter Sajida was lying next to her, with a bandage on her back, as she spoke.

"When I saw mobs setting houses on fire, we locked our front door and went to our rooftop to save ourselves. There, a spark of fire hit my daughter on the back she cried in immense pain but I couldn't do anything at that moment," Khatoon recalled. "I remember the scene vividly, it still haunts me."

Her family managed to jump onto the roof of an adjacent house to escape the rioters.

Story continues

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Residents at a camp for internally displaced Muslims in India's capital bury Aas Mohammad, 26, whose body lay unidentified for a week after it was discovered in a drainage ditch following violent religious clashes in the city, on March 9, 2020. Arshad R. Zargar

Many people have been reported missing. Police have recovered at least 11 decomposed bodies from drains over the last two weeks, and there's fear that more may have met the same fate. Silence fell over the Mustafabad camp Monday as the body of Aas Mohammad, 26, was lowered into the newest hole in a graveyard dotted with at least a dozen fresh graves.

"I am worried for my children," said Khatoon caressing her daughter. "I don't want them to face what we have faced. Home seems to be a distant dream now the future looks so bleak."

The government has started giving compensation to the families of those killed and injured. But rehabilitation is a long process. Many families aren't ready to go back and rebuild their homes in neighborhoods with mixed Hindu and Muslim populations, like Shiv Vihar. They say they'd rather move permanently to Muslim-majority areas like Mustafabad.

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Mohammed Dilshad sits on a bed in a makeshift camp for internally displaced residents in Delhi, India, March 9, with both arms in casts about a week after he was attacked during sectarian clashes in the Indian capital. CBS/Arshad R. Zargar

"What's the point of going back and remaining in constant fear of getting attacked again?" asked Mohammed Dilshad as he lay on a bed in the Mustafabad camp with both his arms in casts. He was attacked by a mob on February 25 along with four friends on the outskirts of Shiv Vihar.

"I may have been lucky this time, but that may not be the case next time," he said.

He said his friend Naseem Ahmad's cousin wasn't so lucky. He was found dead inside his burned home on the third day of violence, Ahmad said.

A team of doctors at the Mustafabad camp have seen early signs of depression and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) developing in the survivors.

"Many people have reported insomnia and nightmares and come to us for anti-depressants, but we can't prescribe those drugs," Dr. Rukhsana Choudhary, a physician at the relief camp, told CBS News. A team of mental health counsellors is expected to join the physicians soon.

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Dr. Rukhsana Choudhary consults residents at a makeshift camp for Delhi residents displaced by religious violence, in the Indian capital's Mustafabad neighborhood, March 9, 2020. CBS/Arshad R. Zargar

"It's a multidimensional crisis we haven't even started thinking about so many aspects: for example the schooling of the displaced children," said another aid worker, who didn't want to be named.

Police have detained or arrested more than 2,000 people in connection with more than 700 criminal cases registered over the violence.

Fight over the new law

The new Indian citizenship law at the heart of the Delhi violence, meanwhile, is still on the books. It makes it easier for persecuted minorities from the three neighboring nations of Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh to get Indian citizenship - unless they are Muslim.

Critics say the law is unconstitutional for singling out a religious group, and many see it as part of broader efforts by Prime Minister Narandra Modi's Hindu nationalist government to marginalize the country's Muslim minority.

India's Supreme Court is scheduled to hear almost 150 petitions against the so-called Citizenship Amendment Act, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has sought to join the court case against the new law.

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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- New York City education officials announced Tuesday evening that parent-teacher conferences for middle schools and District 75 schools scheduled this week will still take place -- just not in person -- due to the coronavirus, or COVID-19.

Instead, parent-teacher conferences on Thursday and Friday will occur by phone or virtually, according to a coronavirus update posted Tuesday on the Department of Educations (DOE) website.

If families arent able to connect during the March 12 evening conference or the March 13 afternoon conference time, schools will offer a more flexible schedule based on school and parent schedules throughout the rest of March. Schools will proactively update their school communities on scheduling and participating in the phone or virtual conferences by Wednesday.

To get ready for the conferences, families can access their childs report card through the New York City Schools Account (NYCSA). The account is an app that lets you see your students grades, attendance, fitness results, schedule, and more.

*** CLICK HERE FOR FULL COVERAGE OF CORONAVIRUS IN NEW YORK ***

The DOE also said in the update that if a school has a trip planned in the upcoming days, parents should confirm details with the principal. Cancellation of school trips is at the principals discretion, the DOE said.

There have been no official public school closings in New York City, and no private, Catholic or public school closings on Staten Island.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced a new policy Monday that if a student or staff member tests positive for COVID-19, that school will be closed for at least 24 hours. The local Health Department will notify schools if and when a school must close due to COVID-19.

During the initial 24-hour closure, the school will immediately take steps to disinfect the buildings where the student or staff had contact prior to testing positive for COVID-19, and the state will perform an assessment to make a determination going forward in that particular school district.

Mayor Bill de Blasio said during a press conference Monday that closing schools in New York City is currently not on the menu here.

"Is there a theoretical scenario where that could happen? Of course, but is it anywhere near to where we are now? No, he said.

In the event a student is sick -- complaining of fever, cough, or shortness of breath -- that child should be taken to the school nurse. The nurse will ask the student to wear a face mask, call for parental pick up, and recommend calling a medical provider for instructions. Any student with respiratory symptoms and fever should wait in a supervised setting with a closed door, away from other students, according to the DOE.

OTHER CANCELLATIONS

On Sunday, New York City announced it is banning all public school international trips for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year.

We had canceled school trips to five affected countries, said de Blasio, during a press conference on Sunday. We are now taking the next step and were banning school international trips across the board out of an abundance of caution.

Schools and colleges in New York City and New York State are taking measures to combat the deadly disease, such as daily deep cleanings, canceling of study abroad programs, and even canceling in-person classes in lieu of virtual learning.

Cuomo announced during a press conference on Wednesday that State University of New York (SUNY) and the City University of New York (CUNY) classes will be moving online next week for the remainder of the spring 2020 semester.

The governor said the state and city universities, which include students at the College of Staten Island (CSI) in Willowbrook, will move to a distance learning model on Thursday, March 19, and -- except for special situations -- campuses will remain closed for the rest of the semester.

Wagner College is canceling all classes beginning Wednesday for the remainder of the week at its Grymes Hill campus and instructing students to prepare for online courses, according to an email sent to the school community on Tuesday.

When students return from spring break -- which will be from March 16-21 -- they should be prepared for at least one week of online courses, from March 23-27. Effective immediately, all college events are canceled through March 30, including club meetings.

On Monday, St. Johns University suspended face-to-face instruction at all its campuses -- including the Grymes Hill location -- until March 27 due to the coronavirus, according to a public alert message on the schools website. St. Johns also canceled all university events through March 27.

CASES IN NEW YORK

On Wednesday, Cuomo announced there were 212 confirmed coronavirus cases in New York State, which includes 48 confirmed cases in New York City. The first man who tested positive for the coronavirus (COVID-19) on Staten Island is an EMS worker.

New York is now officially the second-most affected state, behind Washington State.

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FOLLOW ANNALISE KNUDSON ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER.
By Stacey Burling, The Philadelphia Inquirer

Now is not the time to visit Grandma if she lives in a nursing home or assisted-living facility, an organization that represents senior health providers said Tuesday.

Faced with a potentially shocking death rate from the new coronavirus, the group recommended that nursing homes and assisted-living facilities allow visitors only for critical or time-sensitive reasons such as hospice-related visits, complete medical authorizations, etc. It added that routine social visits are strongly discouraged.

Mark Parkinson, president and CEO of the American Health Care Association (AHCA) and its subsidiary, the National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL), said he was worried that the mortality rate for the population his members serve could be even higher than the 15% that one Chinese study reported among people over 80. Nursing home and assisted-living facility residents are almost all over 80, he said, and most have underlying health conditions that raise their risk. If coronavirus spreads in their buildings, he said, mortality could be extremely high.

He called the restrictions nearly unprecedented.

The owners of the Bishop White Lodge at Cathedral Village nursing facility in the Roxborough section of Philadelphia was among the first locally to take action, closing the facility to visitors on Saturday. Others in the area, including the assisted living facility at Foulkeways in Lower Gwynned, have followed suit.

Nineteen of the 20 people who have died of COVID-19, the disease caused by new coronavirus, in Washington state had ties to Life Care Center of Kirkland, a nursing home where infection spread, according Public Health- Seattle & King County. Two other facilities in that area, one that includes independent and assisted-living and one that provides skilled nursing care, have announced they had one patient each who tested positive after hospitalization.

David Gifford, the organizations chief medical officer, said the new guidance is not a complete ban on visitors, but is meant as much as possible to prevent spread of the virus into this highly vulnerable population.

Many of the residents have expressed to us they are pleased with the guidance, Gifford said during a teleconference Tuesday. My parents have asked me not to visit them.

Facilities were also urged to screen all people entering their buildings for business reasons, including employees, for signs of respiratory infection, such as fever, cough and shortness of breath. Facilities should also insist that everyone wash their hands or use disinfecting hand gel before going inside.

Newly admitted residents should also be screened and isolated if they have respiratory symptoms, Gifford said.

Facilities should explore other ways that families and residents can communicate as well as make sure that emergency contacts records are up to date. AHCA said tours of facilities should stop and that residents should not go on outings in the community.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued similar, but more detailed, recommendations for nursing homes Tuesday.

NCAL pointed out that enforcement of some of the recommendations could be harder in assisted-living facilities, where residents tend to be healthier and have more freedom to leave their buildings and where buildings often have more entrances.

Gifford called for giving the senior work force priority for viral testing so that nursing homes and assisted-living facilities are not understaffed because people are sick with other diseases that have similar symptoms. He also said states should relax their medical licensing rules so that nurses and doctors can cross state lines to work in areas with staff shortages.
Technavio has been monitoring the LTE base station market and it is poised to grow by USD 29.37 bn during 2019-2023, progressing at a CAGR of over 17% during the forecast period. The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current market scenario, latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200310005703/en/

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global LTE Base Station Market 2019-2023 (Graphic: Business Wire)

The market is concentrated, and the degree of concentration will accelerate during the forecast period. 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.

Increasing investments in small cell infrastructure has been instrumental in driving the growth of the market. Request latest free sample report of 2020-2024

LTE Base Station Market 2019-2023: Segmentation

LTE Base Station Market is segmented as below:

Product

Macrocell

Small Cell

End-user

Rural and Remote

Urban

Enterprise

Geographic segmentation

The Americas

APAC

EMEA

To learn more about the global trends impacting the future of market research, download latest free sample of 2020-2024: https://www.technavio.com/talk-to-us?report=IRTNTR30476

LTE Base Station Market 2019-2023: Scope

Technavio presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources. Our LTE base station market report covers the following areas:

LTE Base Station Market Size

LTE Base Station Market Trends

LTE Base Station Market Industry Analysis

This study identifies growing investments in LTE-A as one of the prime reasons driving the LTE base station market growth during the next few years.

LTE Base Station Market 2019-2023: Vendor Analysis

We provide a detailed analysis of around 25 vendors operating in the LTE base station market, including some of the vendors such as Huawei Technologies, Nokia, SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS, Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson and ZTE. Backed with competitive intelligence and benchmarking, our research reports on the LTE base station market are designed to provide entry support, customer profile and M&As as well as go-to-market strategy support.

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LTE Base Station Market 2019-2023: Key Highlights

CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2019-2023

Detailed information on factors that will assist LTE base station market growth during the next five years

Estimation of the LTE base station market size and its contribution to the parent market

Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior

The growth of the LTE base station market

Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors

Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of LTE base station market vendors

Table of Content

PART 01: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

PART 02: SCOPE OF THE REPORT

PART 03: MARKET LANDSCAPE

2.1 Preface

2.2 Preface

2.3 Currency conversion rates for US$

PART 04: MARKET LANDSCAPE

Market ecosystem

Market characteristics

Market segmentation analysis

PART 05: MARKET SIZING

Market definition

Market sizing 2018

Market size and forecast 2018-2023

PART 06: FIVE FORCES ANALYSIS

Bargaining power of buyers

Bargaining power of suppliers

Threat of new entrants

Threat of substitutes

Threat of rivalry

Market condition

PART 07: MARKET SEGMENTATION BY END-USER

Market segmentation by end-user

Comparison by end-user

Rural and remote Market size and forecast 2018-2023

Urban Market size and forecast 2018-2023

Enterprise Market size and forecast 2018-2023

Residential and SOHO Market size and forecast 2018-2023

Market opportunity by end-user

PART 08: CUSTOMER LANDSCAPE

PART 09: MARKET SEGMENTATION BY PRODUCT

Market segmentation by product

Comparison by product

Macrocell Market size and forecast 2018-2023

Small cell Market size and forecast 2018-2023

Market opportunity by product

PART 10: GEOGRAPHIC LANDSCAPE

Geographic segmentation

Geographic comparison

APAC Market size and forecast 2018-2023

Americas Market size and forecast 2018-2023

EMEA Market size and forecast 2018-2023

Key leading countries

Market opportunity

PART 11: DRIVERS AND CHALLENGES

Market drivers

Market challenges

PART 12: MARKET TRENDS

Rising technological developments

Increased adoption of FDD-LTE

Growing investments in LTE-A

PART 13: VENDOR LANDSCAPE

Overview

Landscape disruption

PART 14: VENDOR ANALYSIS

Vendors covered

Vendor classification

Market positioning of vendors

Huawei Technologies

Nokia

SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS

Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson

ZTE

PART 15: APPENDIX

Research methodology?

List of abbreviations

About Us

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

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Confirmations may have to be postponed at short notice, priests need to find an alternative to passing collection baskets and those vulnerable should not attend funerals, the Catholic Bishops have said.

In a step up in efforts to combat the spread of coronavirus, a new guidance containing more far-reaching directives, has been issued.

The Irish hierarchy met in Maynooth today and issued a statement on liturgical considerations in the context of the coronavirus crisis.

In it they said that as bishops, their first concern at this time has to be for the elderly, the ill and those with underlying medical conditions.

They said they were presenting their directives in the light of current public health authority advice in Ireland, north and south, aware that these might have to change at very short notice.

The guidance brings into force new directives in addition to those already in place in relation to the emptying of water fonts, communion in the hand, the sign of peace and the use of hand sanitisers.

The bishops have now directed that priests provide an alternative to the practice of passing collection baskets through the congregation.

Furthermore, those with underlying conditions and those who are considered vulnerable are dispensed from attending Sunday Mass and Mass on holy days like St Patricks Day. They are advised to use alternatives like parish radio broadcasts and parish webcams.

Those who do attend services are asked to keep a safe distance from one another while in church.

The bishops warn that Confirmations may have to be postponed at very short notice in the light of future advice from the public health authorities.

Those Confirmations that go ahead will see the faithful anointed with a cotton bud containing the oil of chrism ensuring that there is no direct contact. This method will also be used for baptisms.

Priests administering the Sacrament of the Sick will do it with either a cotton bud or a surgical glove.

Read More

On the sensitive matter of funerals, the bishops have stressed that though the community of faith will always seek to surround the funerals and burials of its deceased members with love and respect, people with underlying conditions, or who are vulnerable, should not attend funerals. When sympathising, people should not shake hands.

The bishops also signal that they may yet take more radical steps in relation to funerals in the event of a deterioration in the situation though they stress that the Church will always stand with the bereaved and do its best to ensure a Christian burial for those who request it.
A British woman died in hospital in Bali today after being diagnosed with coronavirus while on holiday with her family.

The 53-year-old reportedly suffered from existing health conditions, including diabetes and chronic lung disease.

She checked into a private hospital with a fever on March 3, four days after arriving with her husband and four children at the Four Seasons Hotel, according to reports.

She was transferred to the islands biggest hospital in a critical condition two days ago, where she died early this morning, the head of Balis Covid-19 taskforce Dewa Made Indra confirmed.

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

It is the first confirmed case of Covid-19 in Bali and the first death recorded in Indonesia.

The womans husband is in hospital under observation and four children remain in a hotel under quarantine. Mr Indra said all 21 people she had been in contact with had been traced and are self-isolating, adding that the woman was cremated today in agreement with her family.

A spokesman for the UK Foreign Office said: We are supporting the family of a British woman who has died in Indonesia and are in contact with local authorities.

It came as more than 60 passengers and crew aboard a river cruise boat in Cambodia are being held in quarantine after a British passenger tested positive.

The Viking River Cruises liner was under police guard today moored on the Mekong River outside the town of Kampong Cham.
Thomas S. Rimel, Jr., Dunmore President Tom Rimel said, "It is an honor to have the opportunity to lead the organization. I have the utmost respect for my colleagues past and present that have built a solid organization. I look forward to leading the continued improvements in our business and growing more valuable to our customers."

Dunmore announced today that Thomas S. Rimel, Jr. has been chosen as the new president. Prior to his new role, Rimel held the Chief Operating Officer position with Dunmore since 2017. With over 20 years of industry and leadership experience, he is well positioned to lead the evolution and growth of the organization.

Rimel attended the University of Maryland where he earned a B.S. In Chemical Engineering and later earned an M.B.A. from LaSalle University in Philadelphia. He started his career working in technical and commercial roles for companies such as DuPont, International Paper, and Adhesives Research, Inc. Since joining Dunmore, Rimel has held leadership roles in sales, operations, and research and development (R&D). Rimel has played an integral role in the strategy and execution of sales growth in new markets, manufacturing improvements, and strategic acquisitions.

Rimel's cross functional experience at Dunmore in combination with new tools brought in by parent company Steel Partners will be invaluable for the future of the organization. Dunmore's sustained success has come from the company's strong partnerships, emphasis on product development, process capabilities, and operational efficiencies. Rimel's new leadership of Dunmore will continue to build on this foundation to ensure the future success of the organization.

Rimel said, "It is an honor to have the opportunity to lead the organization. I have the utmost respect for my colleagues past and present that have built a solid organization and taught me so much. I look forward to leading the continued improvements in all aspects of our business and growing more valuable to our customers."

About DUNMORE

Dunmore is a global manufacturer of engineered coated and laminated films and foils with manufacturing facilities in the U.S and Germany. Dunmore offers film conversion services such as coating, metalizing and laminating along with contract film manufacturing and custom film product development. Dunmore produces coated film (https://www.dunmore.com/products/coated-films.html), metallized film and laminated film substrates for the aircraft, spacecraft, photovoltaic, graphic arts, packaging, insulation, and electronics industries. Dunmore is a Steel Partners company, and is ISO 9001:2015 and OSHA VPP Star certified. For complete information on Dunmore's products, services and industries served, please visit https://www.dunmore.com.
Prince Charles has again adopted the namaste greeting as he met Ant and Dec and other celebrities at the Princes Trust awards.

The royal has been avoiding shaking hands amid the coronavirus pandemic, and has instead used a Buddhist greeting when meeting people.

On Monday, he used it at the Commonwealth Day service, while his son Prince Harry took to elbow bumping with Craig David.

And on Wednesday, Charles used the greeting at the awards, where he was meeting ambassadors for his charity which support young people who are unemployed, struggling at school and at risk of exclusion.

The Prince of Wales greets Pierce Brosnan with a Namaste gesture. (Press Association)

The Prince of Wales goes to shake the hand of Sir Kenneth Olisa, The Lord-Lieutenant of Greater London. (Press Association)

But he soon realised his mistake. (Press Association)

Instead he went back to the namaste gesture. (Press Association)

It comes as his mother, the Queen, starting shaking hands again at her Buckingham Palace audiences.

Last week she donned gloves during an investiture ceremony, but then had them off the next day for an audience. Earlier this week, she avoided shaking hands when meeting the Sri Lankan High Commissioner but then shook hands with Professor Mark Compton, Lord Prior of the Order of St John.

On arrival, Prince Charles was photographed going in for a handshake, only to quickly pull his hand back and laugh.

Turning to Dame Martina Milburn, Charles said: Its just so hard to remember not to.

Read more: Queen shakes hands again after coronavirus ban

The Prince of Wales greets Levi Roots at the palladium. (Press Association)

Charles met Chris Ramsey, the comedian, ahead of the awards. (Press Association)

Charles greets Michaela Coel (centre) with a Namaste gesture. (Press Association)

The Princes Trust awards were hosted by Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly at the London Palladium, and rewarded young people who have succeeded against the odds.

The awards included a performance by Craig David, and was a star-studded affair, with Pierce Brosnan attending, as well as Richard E Grant and Chris Ramsey.

Also at the event was Pierce Brosnan and James Norton, sportswoman Dina Asher-Smith and musician Ronnie Wood.

The Prince of Wales also referenced Covid-19 during his speech at the London venue, acknowledging that the plans had been changed because of the spread of the virus.

Read more: Chancellor announces 30bn coronavirus spending package

Michaela Coel and Richard E Grant elbow bump as they take to the stage to present an award. (Press Association)

Charles meets Craig David at the Prince's Trust awards. (Press Association)

He said: Due to circumstances beyond our control we are not joined by as many of those who make such an immense difference to my trust internationally, as we originally planned.

Story continues

However, I just wanted to thank them for all their continued support and dedication to my trust.

He also joked about Ant and Decs string of accolades, saying: They recently won their 19th National Television Award for best presenter.

So perhaps it is a little bit refreshing for them to be handing out awards rather than receiving them for a change.

Richard E Grant wore black gloves and elbow-bumped Bafta-nominated actress Michaela Coel as they took to the stage to present Charleigh Morritt with the rising star award.

Prince Charles on stage at the awards on Wednesday. (Press Association)

Ant returns the greeting as people avoid shaking hands. (Press Association)

Charles founded the Princes Trust in 1976, to help people aged between 11 and 30 who are leaving care, facing homelessness or have mental health problems.

Three in four of the people helped by the trust go on to find work.

Winners on the night included Heathfield Community School who raised money by running bingo nights and selling vegetables they had grown to then entertain the 54 residents of Moorhaven Care Home with Christmas presents and dinners.

Read more: Prince Charles urges world to react to climate change with same urgency as coronavirus

Charleigh Morritt was also recognised for overcoming crippling anxiety which saw her unable to leave her home. She is now a full-time law student.

Charleigh struggled to leave the house due to anxiety when her mum heard about our Fairbridge programme. Charleigh managed to take those first steps to come along and she hasn't looked back. Now she's studying Law at university. Read her story here: https://t.co/qgkfiahNBS pic.twitter.com/Azyrhz2kA4  The Prince's Trust (@PrincesTrust) March 11, 2020

On stage, the hosts joked about the panic buying situation, particularly in relation to toilet paper.

McPartlin quipped that the winners would be leaving here with a holiday, a new car and lifetimes supply of toilet roll.

Donnelly replied: No, thats the other show, thats Saturday Night Takeaway. This is the Princes Trust.

McPartlin said: Oh, I always get those mixed up. Although we had big cheers on the free toilet roll. That went down well, didnt it?

Royal Family members have been making a few jokes about coronavirus at engagements in the last few weeks, but Charles also used it to point out that global responses can be facilitated to serious threats.

On Tuesday, he called for a similar level of response to climate change as has been given to coronavirus.
In the final weeks of 2019, a novel coronavirus outbreak occurred in the city of Wuhan, in central China. As the world welcomed a new decade, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) opted to suppress information about the emerging crisis until it could no longer remain hidden.

Nearly two months after mainland Chinese authorities acknowledged the outbreak and the existence of the contagious virus, the crisis has spread round the globe, assuming epidemic proportions in multiple regions. The number of infected beyond Chinas borders is now in the tens of thousands, with more than 1,000 having succumbed to the virus. The stock market has plunged as experts warn of a possible economic recession.

A variety of factors have facilitated the rapid spread of the coronavirus, officially termed SARS-CoV-2, and the disease that it causes, COVID-19. Globalization has brought the peoples of the world into closer contact, increasing the risks of a worldwide pandemic.

Yet the heaviest-hit regions outside China all share a common thread: close or lucrative relations with the communist regime in Beijing.

Medical Crisis, Political Peril

Under political or economic influence from the Peoples Republic of China (PRC), many foreign entities and politicians, including international organizations, have been swayed to the extent that they take the side of the CCP, accommodating the pernicious communist system and turning a blind eye to unspeakable crimes committed by the mainland Chinese authorities.

Recent decades have seen the PRC greatly expand its power in economic and geopolitical affairs. Deceiving the world with a narrative of Chinas peaceful rise, the communist regime has lured foreign governments and international firms to invest in Chinas rapidly developing markets.

But the CCP has never abandoned its ideological tenets of class struggle and totalitarian control. In the 30 years since the Tiananmen Square massacre, and from the start in 1999 of the persecution of the spiritual practice Falun Gong to todays systematic persecution of all faiths and independent thought, the state of human rights in the PRC has only worsened.

The true nature of the CCP and communism has long been known to readers of The Epoch Times. Fifteen years ago, The Epoch Times published the editorial series Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party, igniting a grassroots movement in China to reject communism. Since 2004, more than 350 million people have renounced their ties to the Party and its affiliated youth organizations.

Seen in conjunction with the CCP-hijacked geopolitical environment of today, the geographical distribution of what the World Health Organization (WHO) now calls a coronavirus pandemic highlights the ultimate peril facing those who align themselves with the specter of communism.

Outside China, the spread of COVID-19 has been most severe in Italy, Iran, South Korea, and Japan. Not all of these countries are located near China, but all have extensive interests in the PRC.

Italy, the most heavily affected country outside China as of March 10, was the first (and only) G-7 nation to sign onto the PRCs Belt and Road Initiative (BRI, also known as One Belt, One Road). In an attempt to prop up its weakening economy, Italy has also sought to capture the Chinese market for selling its luxury goods.

With the outbreak now forcing Rome to put the country under lockdown, such prospects have been put on hold.

Italy also has signed scores of sister-city agreements with China, with the cities of Milan, Venice, and Bergamo included among them. These are the areas hardest-hit by the virus.

In the Middle East, Iran has seen a surge in the number of infections, particularly among government officials.

The Iranian regime has had a comprehensive strategic partnership with China since 2016, and its ties with Beijing began years before that. In violation of international sanctions, Iran has imported embargoed materials from China, while continuing to sell oil to the PRC. The Islamic Republic allowed flights in and out of four major Chinese cities until the end of February.

On-the-ground footage taken by Iranian citizens is reminiscent of the tragedy playing out in Wuhan, with overworked medical staff, despondent patients, and body bags lining hospital floors.

And while official figures released by the Iranian authorities show deaths and confirmed cases trailing behind Italys numbers, it is likely that the real scale of the outbreak remains grossly underreported. Reviewing available data, an epidemiologist cited by The Washington Post on March 5 estimated that the actual number of people infected in Iran could have been up to 28,000, nearly five times what the regime had reported.

In South Korea, the public has grown increasingly critical of President Moon Jae-in for refusing to ban Chinese tourists at large and instead only barring entry for those who recently traveled to Hubei Province, the epicenter of the epidemic in China.

More than 1.4 million people have signed a petition to the Presidential Blue House calling for Moon to be impeached. The petition text reads, Seeing Moon Jae-ins response to the new epidemic, we feel that he is more of a President for China than Korea.

Historys Lessons



Despite its proximity to, and extensive business with, mainland China, Taiwan has seen a relatively small number of infections.

On Jan. 26, John Hopkins University identified Taiwan as having the second-highest risk of epidemic spread outside China. However, robust prevention measures have proven effective.

Taiwan officials began to board planes and assess passengers on Dec. 31, 2019, after Wuhan authorities first confirmed the outbreak. In early February, Taiwan banned entry to foreign nationals who have traveled to the PRC. As of March 10, there are just 47 confirmed cases in Taiwan. The self-ruled island has been held as a model for epidemic control, despite being repeatedly denied participation in the CCP-friendly WHO.

As China affairs commentator Heng He put it, Taiwan has a clear understanding of the communist regime and may be the only state that learned the lessons of the 2003 SARS outbreak, which also began in China.

In Hong Kong, which has seen millions of residents stand up to Beijings encroachment on the citys freedoms and rule of law since last year, the outbreak has been similarly subdued.

By contrast, Japan, albeit not geostrategically aligned with the PRC, placed profit over prudence. With millions of Chinese traveling to Japan for shopping and sightseeing annually, the country was slow to close its borders to mainland arrivals.

Recently, the CCP has attempted to portray its draconian handling of the coronavirus epidemic as a triumph for the Partys authoritarian system. But the Chinese historical record is more sobering. Throughout the centuries, plagues and other calamities signaled the downfall of imperial dynasties.

Taking history as a mirror, as ancient Chinese scholars did, it is apparent that the coronavirus pandemic is a calamity linked with the CCP and its 70 years of brutal rule. And today, the world is an interconnected community. Any country, community, or organization that keeps too close to the CCP and falls for its deception will taste the bitter fruits of that involvement.

From The Epoch Times
The trust is broken between the board and the Black community.

Tope Adefarakan minced no words as she led a presentation Tuesday night by Black parents to the Peel District School Board.

Her words underlined months of tension between the two sides, tensions that bubbled up to the surface in the summer of 2019 and escalated to such a point that they continue to create new flashpoints even as the provincial government completes a review of the state of anti-Black racism in the school board.

Flanked by at least 15 parents, Adefarakan made five demands that included the removal of school resource officers (or police), access to the boards race-based data and the establishment of dedicated Africentric schools by the board.

Were deeply concerned about our children and how they are excessively punished through detentions, suspensions and expulsions, Adefarakan said.

When a 6-year-old child is shackled by the ankles, shackled by the wrists, made to lie on her stomach for 28 minutes, this is anti-Black racism. When our children are handed off to the police, criminalizing them, dehumanizing them, how is that providing a safe learning environment for our children? she asked, as her supporters chanted, shame, shame.

At the end of her presentation, the group turned around, faced the public, raised their fists in the air and said, We will not be silenced. We will not be stopped. Black students matter.

The proceedings were marked by repeated boos from the audience. At one point, when the chair called for order, someone in the crowd replied, Or what? Youll call the police?

The board called police during the public meeting on Feb. 25 saying one of the trustees felt threatened. Vice-chair David Green told the Star then Im in fear of my life and added that he was feeling intimidated.

The relationship between the Peel District School Board and the Black community plunged to a new low even before Tuesday nights public meeting, after the board banned a prominent advocate from all of its properties. Its a move the community sees as a heavy-handed silencing tactic.

The board sent a letter of trespass to Idris Orughu dated March 9, days after he won an advocacy award from the city of Brampton. The letter, viewed by the Star, accuses him of making harassing and threatening comments to members of the board resulting in the requirement for police intervention.

It barred him from entering any Peel school board properties until June 2021.

Threatening  thats the one word thats most shocking, Orughu told the Star. Whom did I harass? When, where, what were the words said by me?

When asked about the alleged threats and why the board sent the letter ahead of the meeting, the board declined to comment. In light of privacy obligations, the board is unable to provide comment in respect of your questions at the time, Peter Joshua, the boards director of education, under whose name the letter was sent, told the Star.

Orughu said the meeting when police were called had become heated after the new trustee chair Brad MacDonald shut down a motion to prevent police from coming to schools and handcuffing children.

Of course people were angry. A lady was angry and she really challenged him. The chair said if she didnt keep quiet it would be a private session, Orughu said. We were all outside there talking, thinking how horrible this had been. When we were there we saw police officers and we were like, what? They didnt say anything, they just walked by.

The next day, Orughu read the Stars account of Green feeling threatened. It was when he received the trespass warning from the board that he says he realized he was being viewed as threatening.

But if I threatened him on Feb. 25, why did the police not speak to me then?

Peel parents see this as part of a broader silencing tactic even while the board is undergoing a review by the Ministry of Education that is due to become public any day soon.

Parent advocate Mangaljit Dabb says the board has made a few changes that suggest it is bracing for a tough review and has taken steps to soften the blow.

Among those moves:

It changed the trustee on the parent involvement committee from Kathy McDonald, who is challenging the board over anti-Black racism, to Will Davies who is seen more as an establishment man. (He was also exonerated for referring to the predominantly Black and brown students of McCrimmon Middle School as McCriminal.)

It called the police on the community at the Feb. 25 public meeting.

It cut down the time parents can delegate (or make a presentation) to the board from 10 minutes to five. On Tuesday, the trustee chair said those times could be cut when people were going to speak on the same topic.

It sent a trespass letter to Orughu and a letter of warning to parent advocate Kola Iluyomade, saying he was making derogatory remarks about schools and trustees in emails to them. Iluyomade himself views this as a silencing tactic. The board said it could not comment on that letter either.

We want (the) ministry to be involved and say remove these notices, Dabb said. They (the two men) werent violent, nobody was hurt, nobody threatened anyone.

For his part, Orughu says he has never engaged one-on-one with the trustees. This is attacking my character. Essentially, what youve done is tell me I have violent tendencies. You have to tell me when they have been exhibited.

Orughu says he plans to pursue this with all legal means possible. They cannot stop me.
Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex attended their final royal engagement as senior members of the British royal family. On March 9, the pair attended Commonwealth Day as president and vice-president of the Queens Commonwealth Trust.

It was the very last engagement on their extremely packed and hectic schedule that began in late February 2020 when the couple returned to the U.K. for the first time since announcing Megxit at the top of the year.

Commonwealth Day was also the first time the Sussexes publically interacted with Prince William and Kate, Duchess of Cambridge this year. From the video footage, it was all very awkward. We know that Prince Harry and Prince William have a ton of tension between them. Heres what was said according to lip-reading experts.

Queen Elizabeth kicked Meghan Markle and Prince Harry out of her Commonwealth Day processional

Things were already awkward before Commonwealth Day when it was announced that the Sussexes had been booted from Queen Elizabeths processional. Instead of walking in with Queen Elizabeth, Prince Charles, and, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, the Sussexes were quietly shown their seats.

Confirmed: The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will not be part of the Queens procession through Westminster Abbey at the start of the Commonwealth Service as they make their final official appearance as senior royals #HarryandMeghan, Daily Mails royal correspondent Rebecca English.

Prince William and Kate Middleton pulled out of the processional last minute

It was initially thought that Queen Elizabeth pulled both the Cambridges and the Sussexes from the processional to spare the foursome any close examinations over their interactions. Now, it appears that Prince William and Kate made that choice on their own.

Hello! Magazine is reporting that the Order of Service that was released prior to the event included the Cambridge, but they pulled out of the procession at the very last minute.

Meghan and Kate sat in different rows and did not appear to interact, Prince William and Prince Harry, however, had one very tense interaction.

The Duchess of Sussex waves to the Duke & Duchess of Cambridge as they arrive at the #CommonwealthDay Service pic.twitter.com/G5S4382d0w  Royal Central (@RoyalCentral) March 9, 2020

This is what Prince Harry and Prince William actually said to each other at Commonwealth Day

According to Royal commentator Camilla Tominey. the Daily Telegraphs lip-reader gave the lowdown on the brothers conversation. When Harry sit down he says to Meghan, he just said Hello Harry to me and that was it and Meghan smiles, Tominey explained. We dont know whether he was referring to William or dignitaries he had just been getting including Boris Johnson.

Then, when Prince William sat down, he turned to Kate and said, This whole handshaking thing is weird. Were going to have to put a load of hand gel on after this. Prince Harrys full quote which he is claimed to have said to Meghan was: He literally said: Hello, Harry and that was it and he didnt say anything more than that.

The hand gel Prince William was referring to is due to the coronavirus outbreak. Unfortunately, it doesnt look like the Sussexes or the Cambridges will be mending any fences anytime soon.
Bernie Sanders is continuing his presidential campaign and will debate former Vice President Joe Biden this weekend, the senator from Vermont confirmed Wednesday.

Sanders held a press conference Wednesday afternoon in Burlington, the day after six Democratic primaries.

Last night, obviously was not a good night for our campaign from a delegate point of view, Sanders said Wednesday.

Biden had a strong performance Tuesday, winning multiple states including Michigan, where 147 delegates were up for grabs. Biden currently leads by over 100 delegates.

The former vice president has seen significant support from African Americans, suburban women and older white voters. His strong performance Tuesday followed a comeback surge after victories in 10 states on Super Tuesday, and a decisive victory in South Carolina after Sanders had climbed in national polls on the heels of wins in early states.

He also picked up a string of endorsements from former candidates who dropped out, including New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker and California Sen. Kamala Harris.

Just over a week ago, many of the pundits declared this candidacy was dead, Biden said Tuesday. But it looks like were going to have another good night.

Sanders downplayed Bidens recent wins on Wednesday, said his campaign is engaging younger voters and winning the ideological campaign.

Biden and Sanders will face off on Sunday. CNN anchor Jake Tapper, CNN chief political correspondent Dana Bash, and Univision anchor Jorge Ramos will moderate the debate.

Related Content:
WASHINGTON  Sen. Charles E. Schumer's comments directed at two U.S. Supreme Court justices last week prompted the New York Republican Party to file a complaint Wednesday with a state committee overseeing the conduct of attorneys.

"Sen. Schumers threatening attacks were outrageous, dangerous and completely unacceptable, said state GOP Chairman Nick Langworthy. He embarrassed the state of New York, his office and our country with his actions and he must be held accountable."

Schumer, a Harvard Law School graduate, has been registered as a practicing attorney in New York since 1976.

Schumer acknowledged last week he should have used different words after he said President Donald Trump's court appointees, justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, "will pay the price" and "will not know what hit you" if they rule in favor of abortion restrictions in a case pending before the nation's highest court.

Schumer made the remarks at a rally with activists outside the court. They drew an unusual rebuke from Chief Justice John Roberts who called his comments "threatening," "inappropriate" and "dangerous." Trump also condemned the remarks and Senate Republicans called on Schumer to apologize.

Schumer said his words "did not come out the way there were intended to," but defended his message, insisting he was standing up for women and abortion access.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

Of course I didnt intend to suggest other than political and public opinion consequences for the Supreme Court and it was a gross distortion to say otherwise," Schumer said.

The New York Republican Party pushed last week for the Senate to censure Schumer, but Senate Republicans declined to do so.

Chuck Schumer was on the steps of the Supreme Court fighting to protect a womans right to choose, which is under legal assault," said Schumer spokesman Angelo Roefaro. "He acknowledged last week that while he should have chosen better words, they were a reference to political implications for Republicans that would occur from scaling back womens rightsnothing more.
The Department of Health (DOH) yesterday denied rumors that an elderly coronavirus patient has become the second person to die of the disease in the Philippines after a flurry of new cases brought the total number of patients in the country to 33.

DOH Assistant Secretary Maria Rosario Vergeire told reporters at the departments headquarters in Sta. Cruz, Manila that the oldest infected patients  case PH6, a 62-year-old male, and case PH9, an 86-year-old male  are both alive and in what she characterized as guarded condition.

This means because of co-morbidities or other illnesses on top of contracting COVID-19, that they are in somewhat critical condition as of now, and they are being monitored closely in our referral hospitals, Vergeire said in English and Filipino. She added that the rest of the countrys patients are in stable condition.

Of the 33 total cases in the Philippines, 28 are Filipino and the rest are foreign nationals: three Chinese, one Taiwanese, and one American. Twenty-one are men, and 12 are women. The youngest, PH15, is a 24-year-old Filipino man, and the oldest, PH9, is an 86-year-old American man.

Vergeire speculated that the reason the majority of the cases are in Metro Manila is because of the presence of several major ports of entry in the area, which may have led to the entry of virus carriers. But she maintained that testing is still ongoing in several regions across the country.

Vergeire reminded the public to continue practicing proper hand hygiene, cough etiquette, and social distancing  or maintaining a one-meter distance from anyone coughing or sneezing.

We also advise everyone from visiting public places and/or attending mass gatherings at this critical time. Only with your cooperation and support can we win the fight against COVID-19, she added.

Read: Government greenlights COVID-19 testing kits developed by Filipino scientists

Story continues

Vergeire also addressed the growing concern surrounding the limited supply of testing kits, of which there are only around 2,000 for the countrys 104 million residents. Despite the well publicized concerns, she insisted that the number of kits is adequate based on the current number of cases and the number of requests for testing.

Meanwhile, Food and Drug Administration Director-General Eric Domingo said in an interview with radio station DZMM this morning that new testing kits developed by the University of the Philippines scientists will be ready to use in a week. Domingo added that they have yet to get approval from the World Health Organization (WHO), a process that could take three months.

Right now, the kits are ready. And when the developers showed us [the kits] accuracy, it came out very accurate. So what were asking is even without the validation of WHO, we can use it. But [the testing] will be done alongside confirmatory genetic sequencing. So if someone tests positive on the kit, their genetic sequence will also be checked for a complete characterization of the virus, Domingo said.

According to the Department of Science and Technology, which funded the research, the local testing kit will cost PHP1,320 (US$26)  just one-sixth of the cost of foreign-made kits, which go for PHP8,500 (US$168).

This article, Health Department denies rumors of 2nd COVID-19 death, but two patients critical, originally appeared on Coconuts, Asia's leading alternative media company. Want more Coconuts? Sign up for our newsletters!
I was extremely disappointed to read state Rep. Garth Everetts comment that many Pennsylvania House members are supporting gerrymandering reform simply to stop their constituents from pestering them.

If such is the case  if these representatives who have signed on as cosponsors of reform bills HB 22 and HB 23 end up not supporting reform  then their constituents should make sure to vote against them in the next election.

I would hope that all people who want gerrymandering reform will contact their representative to make sure he or she is taking steps to see that HB 22 and HB 23 are brought up for a vote soon. Time is very short.

Most Pennsylvanians want their vote to count. They want to see an end to gerrymandering in Pennsylvania. They want their representatives to represent their wishes, not the other way around.

Putting up false fronts is not acceptable. For more information on HB22 and 23 or how to contact your legislator, visit FairDistrictsPA.

Kenneth Baumert

Emmaus
Prince Harry has opened his heart about Megxit, being more 'normal' than other royals and how Donald Trump has 'blood on his hands' in two toe-curling phone chats with Russian pranksters posing as environmentalist Greta Thunberg and her father.

The Duke of Sussex insisted he chose to withdraw from royal life to 'protect my son' and said 'we are completely separate from the majority of my family' in hoax calls that give extraordinary insight into his state of mind as the couple quit this year.

When asked about Meghan he admitted candidly that 'marrying a prince or princess isn't all it's made up to be' and that their new life in Canada is 'much better' than serving as senior royals.

Harry, who is not believed to have met Greta, also talked about Donald Trump and the world's 'sick' leaders, why he needs to use private jets despite campaigning on climate change and having nothing to do with his uncle Prince Andrew.

Prince Harry also insisted that his military service had made him 'more normal than my family would like to believe' in the bombshell hoax calls revealed by The Sun today. A spokesman for Harry have said today that they are not commenting on the exchanges.

His candid views came during two revealing conversations with hoaxers posing as Swedish climate activist Greta, 17, and her father Svante in calls on New Year's Eve and January 22.

And even when the chats became bizarre, including when fake 'Greta' talks about an arranged marriage to six-year-old Prince George and the need to move penguins to the North Pole, Harry doesn't appear concerned and keeps chatting.

Two Russian pranksters Alexei Stolyarov and Vladimir Kuznetsov 'tricked' Prince Harry into believing they were climate change activist Greta Thunberg and her father Svante

The prince also claimed Mr Trump had 'blood on his hands' over his climate credentials and labelled the British political system 'broken'.

He was duped by Russians Vladimir Kuznetsov and Alexey Stolyarov, who posted the footage online.

Harry, 35, is thought to have taken the calls on New Year's Eve and January 22 while staying on Vancouver Island in Canada. During the calls, the prince:

Said that he and Meghan were finding normality 'much better' than royal life;

Said the world was being run by 'some very sick people';

Insisted his beleaguered uncle, Prince Andrew, is 'completely separate from me and my wife';

Dismissed criticism over his frequent flying and insisted the couple flew 'nowhere near as much as most people who do it for a night or weekends'.

Vladimir 'Vovan' Kuznetsov, 30, and Alexei 'Lexus' Stolyarov, called Prince Harry twice on a landline at his home on Vancouver Island. The pair then allegedly animated the conversation and posted it on YouTube

The two Russians claimed to be Greta and her father Svante, pictured right

Prince Harry and Meghan, pictured on Monday, attended their last official Royal engagements this week

What Harry said to fake Greta Thunberg after her was duped into opening up on Megxit, the royals, Trump, Boris and climate change The Russian pranksters have managed to con other high profile people such as Elton John On Megxit 'You can call me whatever you want  Harry is fine. [Asked about Megxit]. Um, it's, that's probably a conversation for another time, there's lots of layers to it and lots of pieces to the puzzle. 'But sometimes the right decision isn't always the easy one. 'I can assure you, marrying a Prince or Princess is not all it's made out to be! 'And this decision certainly wasn't the easy one but it was the right decision for our family, the right decision to be able to protect my son. 'And I think there's a hell of a lot of people around the world that can identify and respect us for putting our family first. 'But, yeah, it's a tricky one, but we will start a new life.' On their new life in Canada 'Oh no, I think it's much better (than royal life). You forget, I was in the military for ten years so I'm more normal than my family would like to believe. 'But certainly being in a different position now gives us the ability to say things and do things that we might not have been able to do. 'And seeing as everyone under the age of 35 or 36, seems to be carrying out an activist's role, gives us the opportunity to try and make more of a difference without being criticised (chuckles)'. On being stripped of titles and losing royal privileges 'No, no, again you mustn't believe what you read, no one has stripped us of our titles. 'Because of a technicality within the family, if we are earning money separately from within the family structure, then we obviously have been asked not to use our titles in order to make money, which we would never do. 'But the press managed to jump on that to make it look like we had been stripped.' On charity work 'I think at the moment, my wife and I, we were being directed towards starting a foundation but we actually decided there is probably enough foundations out there doing amazing work. 'And there's a hell of a lot of money being passed around the world and there are so many problems but we thought we'd just take a moment and see if there was some form of other organisation or different entity we could create that could bring people together, rather than us just starting a foundation. We don't think the world needs necessarily another foundation from us. 'So we are just taking a little bit more time to think about how we can use our platform and how we can use our voice to try and encourage real change and real difference as opposed to, you know, small incremental changes. 'As we all know, the world's problems seem to be getting bigger and seem to be happening far quicker . . . I think the solutions are far quicker to enable as well, but there needs to be a real shift in mindset. We try and do our best. 'I've spent many, many years being criticised by the media for doing all sorts of things and trying to change the way we think, um, and I can sympathise but at the same time applaud the work that all of you are doing because it's not an easy time and the world is a troubled place and can be very easy to give up and I think what you guys are doing absolutely remarkable'. On Donald Trump 'The mere fact that Donald Trump is pushing the coal industry is so big in America, he has blood on his hands. 'But Trump will want to meet you to make him look better but he won't want to have a discussion about climate change with you because you will outsmart him. 'Whether you have an option to meet President Trump or an option to meet Boris Johnson, I think I would always. 'It's far more important to have an open dialogue and have conversation with these people than not' On Prince Andrew 'I have very little to say on that. 'But whatever he has done or hasn't done, is completely separate from me and my wife. We operate in a way of inclusivity and we are focusing on community. And so we are completely separate from the majority of my family.' On Boris Johnson 'I think he is a good man, so you are one of few people who can reach into his soul and get him to feel and believe in you. 'But you have to understand that because he has been around for so long like all of these other people, they are already set in their ways. 'They believe what they want to believe, they believe what they have been told. 'What you are now saying to them is not only inconvenient but is completely against everything they have ever believed. 'So that is what you're up against, up against changing habits, as you know'. On the climate 'Unfortunately, the world is being led by some very sick people, so people like yourselves and (the) younger generation are the ones that are going to make all the difference. 'People need to be woken up and the only way to wake people up from what effectively is a consciousness crisis is, I think, you need to be doing extreme things. 'What you need to do is make real big changes that actually shock people, and it's that shock factor that wakes people up.' On the Election 'The fact that our choice was between those two individuals in my mind, I think, probably creates more of an observation that the system itself might be broken. 'There's a lot that the leaders of today can learn and can listen to people like yourself.' On using private jets 'Unfortunately there is very few alternatives. We have to fly on commercial planes all over the world. Nowhere near as much as most people who do it for a night or weekends.' 'Certainly for my family, to protect my family, from these people, as you can well understand. 'I have to put protections and safety of my family first and these people are never-ending.' On the media 'The best advice I can give on that is to be able to see through the fear. 'What they don't understand is the battle we are fighting against them is far more than just us. 'So I think one of the, what I've always believed, one of the strongest ways to change mindset and be able to raise consciousness and be able to create self-awareness among people, is to challenge the media and say you have a responsibility and you are accountable for everything you are feeding people because you are brainwashing people, so this is far bigger than just us.' Bizarre exchange on Greta marrying Prince George Fake Greta says she a distant member of the Swedish royal family Harry replies with a chuckle: "Oh wow, so we are related? Greta says: "Yeah its true, and if it will help me in fighting for climate change, should I arrange a dynastic marriage, do you think? I think it'll help." The prince is heard responding: "I am certain it'll help The giggling 'Greta' - aged 17 - then says: "I found some candidates that suits me - James Windsor and Prince George. "Their ages I think are very suitable for my marriage. It will help.." Harry then replies laughing: "I am sure I can help." On moving penguins to the North Pole A Russian translation of the words shows her asking: "Now we are dealing with an issue of moving penguins from Belarus to their native land, the North Pole. "About 50 penguins were stuck at customs in Belarus. "That's terrible. And we are searching for some ship maybe to transport these poor penguins to their native land." Greta's fake father then said: "North Pole...perhaps you have some contacts for people who can help us?" Harry replies: "I do have a man who deals with the North Pole. "He is in Norway, he can help as maybe he knows all the right people. I'll give you the contacts on email. 'This recording ends with 'Greta' saying: "That's nice. That's good". Advertisement

Prince Harry is told Greta Thunberg wants to marry Prince George - and is duped into believing the climate activist is a member of Swedish royalty Prince Harry was told that Greta Thunberg wanted one day to marry Prince George, according to one of the calls by Russian pranksters. Te royal is duped that the climate activist is a distant member of the Swedish royal dynasty. Harry replies with a chuckle: 'Oh wow, so we are related?' The exchange gets even more absurd as the fake Greta says: 'Yeah its true, and if it will help me in fighting for climate change, should I arrange a dynastic marriage, do you think? I think it'll help.' The prince then responds: 'I am certain it'll help.' The giggling 'Greta' then says: 'I found some candidates that suits me - James Windsor and Prince George. 'Their ages I think are very suitable for my marriage. It will help.' Harry then replies laughing and adds: 'I am sure I can help.' This is despite Prince George being aged six, and James Windsor, only son of Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, and Sophie, Countess of Wessex, being 12. The recording becomes even more bizarre when 'Greta' asks Harry for assistance moving 50 penguins from the landlocked ex-Soviet state of Belarus to the North Pole. A Russian translation of the words shows her asking: 'Now we are dealing with an issue of moving penguins from Belarus to their native land, the North Pole. 'About 50 penguins were stuck at customs in Belarus. 'That's terrible. 'And we are searching for some ship maybe to transport these poor penguins to their native land.' Greta's fake father then said: 'North Pole...perhaps you have some contacts for people who can help us?' Harry is said too reply: 'I do have a man who deals with the North Pole. He is in Norway, he can help as maybe he knows all the right people. 'I'll give you the contacts on email.' This recording ends with 'Greta' saying: 'That's nice. That's good.' Advertisement

Stolyarov and Kuznetsov have previously targeted the likes of Elton John and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders.

During the two telephone conversations, Harry spoke about his feelings over the Megxit issue and condemned both Donald Trump and Boris Johnson.

The two Russian pranksters claimed to be Greta and her father Svante, and contacted the prince on two occasions.

From March 31, the monarch's grandson and American former actress Meghan will no longer use their HRH styles as they pursue a new life of personal and financial freedom, mostly in North America.

According to the tapes, which reportedly feature Prince Harry, he comments on his decision to step down from the royal family.

He tells the Russians: 'And this decision certainly wasn't the easy one but it was the right decision for our family, the right decision to be able to protect my son.

'And I think there's a hell of a lot of people around the world that can identify and respect us for putting our family first.

'But, yeah, it's a tricky one, but we will start a new life.'

The audio continues with Harry confiding: 'You forget, I was in the military for ten years so I'm more normal than my family would like to believe.

'But certainly being in a different position now gives us the ability to say things and do things that we might not have been able to do.'

Harry, believing he was talking to Greta and her father said: 'The world is a troubled place and it can be very easy to give up and I think what you guys are doing is absolutely remarkable.

'Unfortunately the world is being led by some very sick people so the people like yourselves and younger generation are the ones that are going to make all the difference.

'The usual way things have been done over the last how many years has not had the effect that it needs to.

'I think people need to be woken up and the only way to wake people up from what effectively is a consciousness crisis is, I think, you need to be doing extreme things.

'And small steps or giving out prizes doesn't make any difference these days.

'I think what you need to do is make real big changes that actually shock people, and it's that shock factor that wakes people up.

Prince Harry, pictured with Meghan was taking part in his final engagements as a member of the Royal Family

'Because at the end of the day we are all the frog that has been put in cold water and brought to a boil without realising.'

Other royal hoaxes: How the Queen and Princess Diana and a nurse treating Duchess of Cambridge for morning sickness were targeted by pranksters In 1995 Canadian DJ Pierre Brassard, pretending to be Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien, was put through to the Queen. The pair spoke for around 15 minutes and he even managed to elicit a promise that she would try to influence Quebec's referendum on proposals to break away from Canada. Princess Diana was hoaxed by broadcaster Victor Lewis-Smith who posed as Professor Stephen Hawking. He got through to the Buckingham Palace switchboard after pretending to be his PR man. Lewis-Smith then used electronic voice technology to imitate Hawking. The conversation included banter about Prince Charles, Fidel Castro and Bill Clinton, and Diana even used the F-word during the 18-minute chat. When asked about 'Wills's' welfare, Diana says: 'Oh, he's doing very well at Eton.' The cheeky fake Hawking replied: 'No. I meant Will Carling', who the Princess was alleged to be having an affair with. In 2012, a nurse who was treating the Duchess of Cambridge while she was pregnant took her own life after being duped by hoaxers. Jacintha Saldanha had been tricked by two Australian radio DJs who impersonated the Queen and the Prince of Wales into giving a condition update on Kate, who was suffering severe morning sickness at the private hospital. Advertisement

He also condemned US President Donald Trump over his fossil fuel policy.

He said: 'I think the mere fact that Donald Trump is pushing the coal industry is so big in America, he has blood on his hands.

'Because the effect that has on the climate and the island nations far, far away, again out of sight out of mind.

'But we've visited those places and I'm sure you have as well. People's lives have been completely destroyed.

'People are dying every single month by some form of natural disaster created from this huge change in our climate.'

When asked about Prince Andrew's relationship with Jeffery Epstein, Harry was quite circumspect.

He said: 'I have very little to say on that.

'But whatever he has done or hasn't done, is completely separate from me and my wife. We operate in a way of inclusivity and we are focusing on community.

'And so we are completely separate from the majority of my family.'

The pranksters told Harry that Donald Trump had run away from 'Greta'.

Harry responded: 'What a surprise.

'But Trump will want to meet you to make him look better but he won't want to have a discussion about climate change with you because you will outsmart him.

'Whether you have an option to meet President Trump or an option to meet Boris Johnson, I think I would always.

'It's far more important to have an open dialogue and have conversation with these people than not.'

He urged the fake Greta to seek a meeting with Boris Johnson, claiming: 'I think he is a good man, so you are one of few people who can reach into his soul and get him to feel and believe in you.

'But you have to understand that because he has been around for so long like all of these other people, they are already set in their ways.

'They believe what they want to believe, they believe what they have been told.

'What you are now saying to them is not only inconvenient but is completely against everything they have ever believed.

'So that is what you're up against, up against changing habits, as you know.'

The prince also provided advice about dealing with the media.

He said: 'The best advice I can give on that is to be able to see through the fear.

The two Russian pranksters claimed to be Greta and her father Svante, and contacted the prince on two occasions. Pictured: The video clip posted to YouTube with the prank call

'For most, all of my life, I've always been part of a family and part of a country that is scared of the tabloid media because they have so much power and influence and no morals (chuckles).

Who have these Russian jokers pranked in the past? The Russian hoaxers who tricked Prince Harry have a long list of celebrity scalps including Sir Elton John. Vladimir Kuznetsov and Alexey Stolyarov, also known as Vovan and Lexus, posed as Vladimir Putin in 2015 and spoke to Sir Elton about gay rights in Russia. The singer said it was 'a great privilege to speak to one of the most influential people in the whole world.' It required Mr Putin to personally call the singer to clear it all up. Last month, they uploaded a phone call with US presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders on to their YouTube channel, which has almost 100,000 subscribers. The senator also believed he was chatting to Greta Thunberg. In January, they tricked US Congresswoman Maxine Waters into promising to help people on the fictional island of 'Chunga-Changa'. Advertisement

'From the moment that I found a wife that was strong enough to be able to stand up for what we believe in together, has basically scared them so much that they've now come out incredibly angry, they've come out fighting, and all they will try and do now is try and destroy our reputation and try and, you know, sink us.

'But what they don't understand is the battle we are fighting against them is far more than just us.

'So I think one of the, what I've always believed, one of the strongest ways to change mindset and be able to raise consciousness and be able to create self-awareness among people, is to challenge the media and say you have a responsibility and you are accountable for everything you are feeding people because you are brainwashing people, so this is far bigger than just us.

'Even though they want to make it personal they are scared because we are some of the first two people willing to stand up to their bullying and my wife, we can't stand back.

'It hasn't been very nice. It's been horrible but we will come out of it stronger people.'

A spokesperson for Prince Harry said they would not be commenting on the calls.

Royal sources told The Sun it was 'completely natural' for Prince Harry to want to talk to Greta.

How could Prince Harry be fooled twice? Commentators say royal looks 'extremely foolish' after taking two calls from Russian hoaxers pretending to be Greta Thunberg Royal commentators today said Prince Harry has been made to look 'extremely foolish' in two calls from Russian pranksters and said it was 'very unwise' for him to speak so openly on the phone. The Duke of Sussex was duped into believing he was speaking to climate activist Greta Thunberg as he opened his heart about Megxit, told how Donald Trump has 'blood on his hands' and how he chose to withdraw from royal life to 'protect my son.' His candid views came during two revealing conversations with hoaxers posing as Swedish Greta, 17, and her father Svante in calls on New Year's Eve and January 22 while he was staying on Vancouver island with Meghan Markle. Royal commentator and former Editor of International Who's Who, Richard Fitzwilliams, told MailOnline that Harry has is in a 'vulnerable period' and suggested he may have been duped because of his 'open nature'. He said: 'It was clearly very unwise to speak so openly about sensitive issues, not once but twice. Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams, left, said Prince Harry has been made to look 'extremely foolish' while Prince Charles' biographer Tom Bower, right, said he had been careful not to reveal his 'demons and dilemmas' 'It would only have been sensible to have had his staff verify who was calling and asking so many questions, the invention of Greta's father indicates that these are skilled hoaxers who have fooled several celebrity victims. 'Harry has an open nature and he is in a vulnerable period where he has jettisoned the values he has been brought up with. 'He says it is 'to protect my son' and there is no doubt that the revelations that he and the rest of the royals family see things differently is abundantly clear.' Mr Fitzwilliams said the release of the tapes may have been timed to cause 'the maximum embarrassment' and his views on Trump will be 'no surprise'. He added: 'We know Harry admires Greta Thunberg as he praised her at the Royal Albert Hall at the OnSide awards ceremony in November 2019 though I don't think they have met. 'This hoax will make him look extremely foolish.' Prince Charles' biographer Tom Bower told MailOnline that he believed Harry was careful not to reveal too much about his 'demons and dilemmas' and gave 'nothing away.' He said: 'It shows how careful he was. 'He gave nothing away except that he really does believe that Archie is in danger which is odd. From what? 'He was careful not to explain his demons and dilemmas. He didnt even trust Greta.' Advertisement

Prince Harry says Donald Trump has 'blood on his hands' and is one of the 'sick people' running the world in phone call with hoaxers who posed as Greta Thunberg



Prince Harry has blasted Donald Trump in a secretly recorded phone conversation, claiming the US President 'has blood on his hands' and is one of the 'sick people' running the world. Russian hoaxers telephoned the prince at his luxury hideaway in Canada on two separate occasions earlier this year and duped him into believing he was chatting with environmental activist Greta Thunberg and her father, Svante. In the bombshell conversations, Harry hit out at the commander-in-chief for his environmental policies, stating: 'I think the mere fact that Donald Trump is pushing the coal industry is so big in America, he has blood on his hands'. He later added: 'Unfortunately the world is being led by some very sick people so the people like yourselves and younger generation are the ones that are going to make all the difference.' Meanwhile, Harry also told the fake Greta that she could 'outsmart' the commander-in-chief - with whom she publicly sparred last year after he criticized her for being named Time magazine's 'Person of The Year'. The two phone conversations between Harry and the pranksters took place on New Year's Eve and January 22, according to The Sun. Russian hoaxers Vladimir Kuznetsov and Alexey Stolyarov  known as Vovan and Lexus - phoned the landline at Harry's luxury home om Vancouver Island where he is currently holed up with wife, Meghan Markle, and their son, Archie. The duo allegedly pretended to be Greta and Svante Thunberg and were transferred through to the prince. Prince Harry has blasted Donald Trump in a secretly recorded phone conversation, claiming the US president 'has blood on his hands' and is one of the 'sick people' running the world Russian hoaxers telephoned the prince at his luxury hideaway in Canada on two separate occasions earlier this year and duped him into believing he was chatting with environmental activist Greta Thunberg and her father, Svante (pictured) During one of the conversations Harry told the fake Greta that she should continue to push for climate justice, stating: 'The more people say no to something, the more we should knuckle down and try and make it happen because, you know, if Donald Trump can become President of the United States of America, then anything's possible, right?' He added: 'I think there are some good leaders, political leaders around the world, and at the moment it's severely unbalanced and in favor of bad leaders. 'And now I'm confident within the next five to 10 years things will change, but we can't wait five or 10 years.' Meanwhile, Harry went on to claim that Trump's support of the coal industry was negatively impacting island nations that he and Meghan had visited. 'The effect that [Trump's coal policy] has on the climate and the island nations far, far away, again out of sight out of mind,' Harry stated. 'But we've [he and Meghan] visited those places and I'm sure you have as well. People's lives have been completely destroyed. 'People are dying every single month by some form of natural disaster created from this huge change in our climate'. Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg watches intently as President Donald Trump enters the United Nations to speak with reporters in New York Russian hoaxers Vladimir Kuznetsov and Alexey Stolyarov uploaded the conversations to YouTube accompanied by this animation Harry went on to claim that Trump's support of the coal industry was negatively impacting island nations that he and Meghan had visited. The couple is pictured in Fiji in November 2018 However, Harry told the fake Greta that she should not turn down an opportunity to meet with Trump if asked. 'Trump will want to meet you to make him look better but he won't want to have a discussion about climate change with you because you will outsmart him. 'Whether you have an option to meet President Trump or an option to meet Boris Johnson, I think I would always,' Harry stated according to The Sun. 'It's far more important to have an open dialogue and have conversation with these people than not. Prince Harry himself met with Trump during his visit to the United Kingdom last June. However, Meghan Markle was accused of 'snubbing' a meeting with the US president, after earlier calling him a 'misogynist' and 'divisive'. Prince Harry is reported to be close with Barack and Michelle Obama. The Prince and former POTUS are pictured in 2017 Back in 2016, Meghan, who is a US citizen, stated: 'I'm voting for Hillary Clinton, not because she is a woman, but because Trump has made it easy to see that you don't really want that kind of world that he's painting.' According to reports, Meghan and Harry are also reluctant to move to the United States while Trump is still president, choosing to relocate to Canada after their split from the Royal Family. Meanwhile, Trump has also been a critic of Meghan in the past, but has denied describing her as 'nasty'. Back in 2018, the President also missed out on an invite to Harry and Meghan's Royal Wedding. Prince Harry is close with Barack and Michelle Obama - but also refrained from inviting them to the event in the interest of appearing politically neutral.

By Andrew Court For Dailymail.com
Associated General Contractors of East Tennessee honored four award recipients for outstanding contributions to the construction industry and ushered in new board leadership at its Annual Meeting and Awards Ceremony.

Award recipients included:

Adman Electric for Excellence in Innovation in offering new client efficiencies through pre-fabrication processes;

Wright Brothers Construction for Excellence in Education and Workforce Development in supporting and investing in career awareness and training;

T.U. Parks Construction for Excellence in Safety Leadership for creating a culture that protects and ensures the welfare of employees; and

Jim Bivens with Stowers Rents as Ambassador of the Year for outstanding industry engagement, professional representation, and volunteer contributions.

"We are always proud to recognize the incredible work and dedication of our members each year during our awards ceremony, said Nic Cornelison, chair of AGC of East Tennessee. Our association is strong because of the efforts of our members and our board. Our newest board members bring their talent, energy and insightful perspectives to our board as we continue to grow to meet our communitys needs.

AGC of East Tennessee also welcomed new members to its Board of Directors:

James Tyson, President, and Founder of Tyson & Associates Construction Company, Inc.; Robert Parks, Project Manager and Director of Safety with T.U. Parks Construction Company; Andrew Faw, President of Fulmer Concrete Construction; and Richard Rose, an attorney with Miller & Martin.




Will Nguyen (C) is escorted by policemen to a courtroom for his trial in Ho Chi Minh City, July 20, 2018.

Vietnam is adopting the techniques of fellow Communist state China when it comes to televising forced confessions of human rights advocates and other political prisoners, a Spain-based rights NGO said in a report on Wednesday.

In the report Coerced on Camera: Televised Confessions in Vietnam, the NGO Safeguard Defenders identified 21 people since 2007 who had been forced by authorities to confess on TV, and found videos for 16 of them.

Of the 16, 14 were human rights defenders -- rights lawyers, citizen journalists, villagers protesting against land grabs  while one was a state oil executive accused of corruption and another was a farmer charged with murder.

That number is likely much much higher, the group said in a statement.

Vietnam's poor human rights record makes it more than likely that many of these victims are also routinely exposed to arbitrary detention, mental and physical torture and threats, it said.

Like China, some of Vietnams victims are made to frame their crimes as being anti-state or anti-Party, a reflection of how authoritarian countries criminalize dissenting or critical voices, said the group, which in 2018 produced a landmark report on Chinas televised forced confessions.

Like China, Vietnamese victims confessed to anti-State crimes and thanked the authorities for showing them the error of their ways, it said.

The report noted that Hanois forced-confession broadcasts have long been less sophisticated than those of Beijing, but said Vietnamese authorities have started raising their game in recent years.

Starting in 2017, the confession news packages appear to become more elaborate, it said.

Family members forced to confess in murder case

Among examples of the more slick confession videos, it said, was that of William Nguyen, a U.S. citizen of Vietnamese descent and the only foreigner subject to the practice.

He was shown carefully framed against a blue background and an attempt was made to make it seem natural and not a simple police questioning session, they said of Nguyens confession in 2018, when the graduate student from Houston, Texas, found guilty of disturbing public order for taking part in rare, large-scale protests and then deported to the United States.

This year, Vietnamese state television went even further in showing the confessions of family members of elderly community leader killed by Vietnamese police during a land protest outside Hanoi in January.

Le Dinh Kinh, 84, was shot and killed on Jan. 9 by police who attacked his home in Dong Tams Hoanh village in an early morning assault that involved about 3,000 security officers from the police and armed forces.

On 13 January, just four days after the attack, four villagers, including Kinhs son, grandson, adopted daughter and another male relative, appeared on state broadcaster VTV1 to confess to taking part in the violence. Their faces were bruised and cut. All four were accused of murder, the report said.

The case is an extremely sensitive one for the Party and clearly it was at pains to urgently control the narrative, said Safeguard Defenders.

This explains why four coerced confessions were airedan unusually high numberand the sensitive story was reported at length in an effort to persuade the public, many of whom may also have felt sympathetic towards the villagers, it said.

In an interview with RFAs Vietnamese Service on Wednesday, Vu Quoc Ngu, Director of the NGO Defend the Defenders, said the report aims to remind many different countries that they have ignored human right abuses in Vietnam.

Safeguard Defenders wants to raise concern from international organizations about this issue, hoping that they will call on Hanoi to end human rights abuses and comply with the signed international commitments, he said.

Televised forced confessions violate Vietnamese laws under the 2015 Penal Code forbidding extortion of confessions and also go against articles of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which Vietnam signed in 1982, Ngu said.

We need voices to pressure the Vietnamese Communist Party to comply with laws and international commitments, he added.

Reported by RFAs Vietnamese Service. Translated by Huynh Le. Written in English by Paul Eckert.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-11 18:08:49|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Holding an electronic thermometer, 56-year-old Syed Zulfiqar Hussain Abbasi from Pakistan, carefully tests the body temperature of each person who enters a compound in Maizidian Street in Beijing's Chaoyang District, known as the city's "embassy area."

"I have been in China for more than 20 years. I'd like to use my language advantage to serve the foreigners living in this area," Abbasi said.

According to Chang Fang, an official with the street office, about 60,000 residents are living in the six compounds on the street, among them, there are close to 10,000 people from 93 foreign countries. Fifteen foreign embassies are located in the area, with two international organizations and several foreign-related institutes.

Foreign volunteers have helped a lot with the virus prevention works in the area, said Chang.

According to data from a survey conducted at the end of 2018, Beijing has about 142,000 foreign population and 37,000 international organizations.

With the ongoing fight against the novel coronavirus, many foreign residents chose to stay and defend Beijing, the city that they have lived in and worked at for years.

Maria Renee Cruz from Bolivia has lived in Beijing for 10 years. As hospital staff, and a Chinese, Spanish and English speaker, she signed up to volunteers in her neighborhood in Shunyi District, taking people's body temperature, teaching medical knowledge about the virus and making multi-language posters about the virus prevention habits.

"I want to do my bit to help Beijing, my second hometown, to overcome the epidemic and get back to normal as soon as possible," said Cruz.

As the city postponed the opening of the spring semester for schools, Lorin Charles Ledger from Canada, who works as an English teacher in Beijing, launched online English classes for her students.

Varma Suresh from India, who has stayed in Beijing for seven years, is also one of the foreign volunteers in his community. "I have sent videos I took on streets and supermarkets back to my family and friends in India, letting them know that we have enough supplies, and they have nothing to worry about with the strict prevention measures in Beijing," he said.

"I did not pay much attention to the coronavirus outbreak at the very beginning," said an Australian named Tim Coghlan, living near Chaoyang Park. "It was only after community workers and volunteers came to me to introduce the latest situation and posted a bilingual version of 'A Letter to Foreign Residents,' that I began to realize the seriousness of the epidemic."

Local authorities said Monday that foreigners in Beijing would be included in the city's community health management system as part of its efforts to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

According to the city's foreign affairs office, the municipal government's hotline 12345, emergency hotline 120 and the hotline for the capital airport are all available in eight languages to provide foreigners in Beijing with necessary support and assistance during the epidemic.

The official website of Beijing's foreign affairs office has opened a column in eight languages for daily updates on the COVID-19 cases in the capital. "Beijing Waishi," its official account on China's social media platform WeChat, also provides the latest policies and information about the respiratory virus.

"I receive several messages from Beijing's foreign affairs office's WeChat account every day. And I've been told that I could dial the hotline 12345 for further information about the coronavirus," said an American named Hewitt.

"I firmly believe that with the strong measures taken by the Chinese government, the day of overcoming the epidemic will not be far away," he added.
Famous exorcist priest recounts how he met the devil

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A famous Catholic priest who was formally trained as an exorcist is recounting how he came face to face with the devil.

Though he is now deceased, the story of Father Gabriel Amorth has been captured in a new memoir penned by author Marcello Stanzione. In The Devil Is Afraid of Me: The Life and Work of the World's Most Famous Exorcist, Stanzione describes the life of this priest in Rome, who is said to have performed over 60,000 exorcisms over the course of his 30 years as an exorcist priest.

During one such exorcism in 1997, Amorth reportedly encountered not just a demon but Satan.

The afflicted young man came into a small room where Amorth ministered to people and the priest felt confronted by evil.

His curses and threats were aimed solely at the exorcist; then he began spitting at him and preparing to attack him physically, Stanzione recounted in the book. "Screaming and howling, the demon burst forth and looked straight at him, drooling saliva from the young mans mouth.

Amorth then rebuked the foul spirit and demanded that it tell him its name.

The man glared at the priest and replied, snarling: I am Lucifer.

The priest continued to pray and recited verses of the Roman Rite of Exorcism but the demon "resumed his shrieks, making the possessed turn his head back and his eyes roll" and the demonized man "remained like this with his back arched for a quarter of an hour.

As the exorcism session went on, the room became extremely cold and ice crystals formed on the windows and the walls.

The young man's body became so stiff that he became hard and started levitating, hovering three feet in the air, as the priest continued to command that the demonic spirit leave the man.

According to the book's online description, Amorth also explains how the actions of the Evil One can be recognized, how demonic spirits enter human beings, the methods by which humans can become demonized, and why no possibility for salvation exists for fallen angels, among other questions and spiritual considerations.

A typical exorcism he conducted lasted an average of 30 minutes, and Amorth would do five per morning, with breaks in between. He reportedly considered it as effective to perform the rite via Skype or telephone.

The Italian-born Amorth, who is said to have known he was destined for the priesthood when he was 10 years old, died in September 2016 at the age of 91.

Amorth founded the International Association of Exorcists, headquartered in Rome, in 1990.

The new book comes as demand for exorcisms has increased worldwide, necessitating an effort to train more priests and pastors to conduct them.

In May of last year, for the first time in 14 years, the Roman Catholic Church opened up its annual exorcism class in Rome to every major Christian denomination.

I'm here to understand the Catholic perspective. We are fighting the same enemy in the name of the Lord, even if there are some parts of the Anglican Church that have lost belief in Satan, course participant Benjamin McEntire, a Protestant priest from Alaska, said at the time.

Amid a proliferating secularization, satanic groups have grown significantly, particularly among the young and on social media, attendees at the course concurred.
NORWALK  There was no direct contact between a Norwalk Community College student who is self-monitoring for the coronavirus and anyone with a confirmed case of COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, according to school officials.

The student is self-monitoring out of precaution, Kellie Byrd-Danso, the dean of student affairs at the school, said Wednesday.

The decision to close the college for the rest of the week was also made as a precaution after consultation between school officials and Connecticut State Colleges and Universities President Mark Ojakian, Byrd-Danso said.

There are no confirmed cases of the virus at NCC. The college closing is also out of caution, so that a deep cleaning can take place, she said.

Cheryl DeVonish, CEO for Norwalk Community College, announced on Tuesday that the school would be closed for the remainder of the week after officials learned a student had potentially come into contact with a person with the coronavirus.

The student and the students family have not shown any signs of illness, she said, but they are self-monitoring at their home for 14 days, per federal and state guidelines.

Students and faculty who shared class with the student in question were made aware of the situation, Byrd-Danso said in statement on Wednesday.

Classes beginning at 6 p.m. Tuesday and through the end of spring break  March 22  were canceled, DeVonish said.

College offices will reopen March 16. Classes will resume after spring break on March 23.

We would like to remind you, once again, that this is being done out of an abundance of caution and people should continue to remain calm and stay vigilant, DeVonish said.

All COVID-19-related incidents in the city are being monitored and overseen by the Norwalk Health Department, according to city spokesman Josh Morgan.

Health department officials did not respond to a request for comment on Wednesday.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-11 16:24:48|Editor: huaxia

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Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits patients who are being treated and sends regards to medical workers who have been fighting the epidemic on the front line day and night, encouraging them to firm up confidence in defeating the epidemic, by video calls at the Huoshenshan Hospital in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, March 10, 2020. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

"The visit is important for the Chinese people, especially in the current conditions, when there is such a test not only for the Chinese people, but also for a number of other countries," said Andrey Ostrovsky, deputy director of the Institute of Far Eastern Studies at the Russian Academy of Sciences.

BEIJING, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping's inspection trip to Wuhan on Tuesday has demonstrated his care for people's health and safety and assured the world of China's confidence in the final victory over the novel coronavirus, international experts and scholars have said.

On Tuesday, Xi went to Wuhan, the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak in central China and the provincial capital of Hubei, for an inspection of the epidemic prevention and control work in Wuhan and Hubei.

Andrey Ostrovsky, deputy director of the Institute of Far Eastern Studies at the Russian Academy of Sciences, said Xi's visit to Wuhan shows a leader's responsibility and demonstrates that he cares about his people.

"The visit is important for the Chinese people, especially in the current conditions, when there is such a test not only for the Chinese people, but also for a number of other countries," Ostrovsky said.

Diaa Helmy, secretary-general of Cairo-based Egyptian-Chinese Chamber of Commerce, said that Xi's visit is a message of appreciation to people living in Wuhan during the epidemic.

It also reflects the solidarity among all segments of the Chinese society, from the leaders to the citizens, he said.

Xi's inspection trip to Wuhan has brought support and encouragement from China's top leadership to people in the city, said Yu Hong, a senior research fellow at the East Asian Institute of the National University of Singapore.

Subhomoy Bhattacharjee, a consultant at the Research and Information System for Developing Countries based in India, said the news of Xi's visit to Wuhan has increased the world's optimism about China's development prospects.

The expert said he believes that China, as an economic engine, will gradually mobilize global production capacity.

Wuhan's experience has proved that epidemic containment can be achieved, and that China's experience in combating the epidemic is scientific and effective, which offers inspirations to the whole world, he said.

Iryna Nykorak, chief executive officer of the Silk Road Association of Ukraine, said that as people now live in a globalized world, the novel coronavirus is a common challenge facing all countries.

The Chinese government has taken effective measures to deal with the epidemic, shared its experience and information with other countries, and done as much as possible to prevent the epidemic from spreading to other countries, she noted.

China has played a fundamental role in the world's fight against the epidemic, she added. 
UW Education Now More Accessible, Affordable for Wyoming Students

The University of Wyomings Cowboy Commitment financial pledge will benefit Wyoming students seeking college education. (UW Photo)

The cost of higher education has risen in recent years, leaving many prospective students wondering if college is right for them. The University of Wyoming has implemented new financial pledges to alleviate the stress of that decision.

UWs mission is to provide Wyoming citizens with an education that is both affordable and accessible, and new financial aid packages help fulfill that promise. The Cowboy Commitment, approved in fall 2019 by the UW Board of Trustees, is a financial pledge that includes both merit- and need-based funding to offset education costs for in-state students and families. It will be given to incoming first-year students from Wyoming starting college in fall 2020.

It includes commitments of $6,500, $3,500, $1,500 and $500 for high school graduates in the state, based upon their academic performance. There also is a $4,000 award for transfer students from Wyoming community colleges who have 75 or fewer academic credits and a grade-point average of at least 3.0.

As part of the effort, trustees allocated up to $1 million for need-based aid for in-state students.

Students must confirm their enrollment at UW by Friday, May 1, to be eligible for Cowboy Commitment funding.

Its no secret that the costs of higher education have been rising. Now, perhaps more than ever, students and families are carefully considering the financial ramifications of a college education over the long term, says Kyle Moore, UWs associate vice provost for enrollment management. A degree from UW prepares students academically and will develop their character in only the ways this flagship university can. A degree from UW is recognized as a true investment in the students career path -- and also an investment in this great state. These new financial pledges will open up higher education to more folks throughout Wyoming, which will benefit all who live here.

The Cowboy Commitment is just one portion of UWs mission to Wyoming and its citizens, and the university is committed to deliver quality education to as many in-state students as possible; limit student loan debt for Wyoming families; and maintain the cost of attending UW for students from lower-income Wyoming families.

Any Cowboy Commitment funding is in addition to dollars from the state Hathaway Scholarship Program, creating one of the nations most robust financial aid packages, Moore says.

For the highest-achieving in-state students -- those with an ACT score of more than 32 and a high school grade-point average of at least 3.96 -- the university will provide an award of $6,500. Wyoming students with an ACT score of more than 28 and a high school grade-point average of 3.88 will receive a $3,500 award, on top of what they receive from the state Hathaway Scholarship Program. Those with an ACT score of about 25 and a GPA of 3.69 will receive $1,500, and those with an ACT score of about 22 and a GPA of 3.26 will receive $500.

Additionally, the $1 million in need-based aid will significantly close the gap for students whose families cant afford the post-Hathaway cost to attend UW, helping cover up to 81 percent of the cost of attending the university.

The $4,000 award for Wyoming community college transfers will be capped at 125 students annually. It is an increase from the universitys previous award of $1,000 for those students.

For more information about the Cowboy Commitment, visit www.uwyo.edu/cowboycommitment.
Coronavirus Quarantines Add to Tensions in Israel, West Bank

By Linda Gradstein March 10, 2020

Israel has imposed strict regulations for a two-week quarantine for all arriving Israelis and tourists because of the coronavirus outbreak. With the measures taking effect just before the Passover and Easter holidays, both Israelis and Palestinians are bracing for an economic hit. In the West Bank town of Bethlehem, Palestinians have declared a state of emergency and the normally bustling streets are empty.

Anybody landing in Israel will have to enter an immediate two-week quarantine as Israeli officials imposed strict new rules hoping to stop the spread of coronavirus. Tourists have until Thursday to leave the country and then they will have to prove they have a place where they can be quarantined.

As of Tuesday, 58 Israelis have been diagnosed with the coronavirus although the number is expected to rise. Dr. Arnon Afek, the director of the Sheba Medical Center - Israel's largest hospital - compares the Israeli government's measures to the drastic approach taken by China.

"So Israel is doing just the same. And when we look at what is happening in Italy and we still don't know what will happen in the U.S., I think that what Israel has done is remarkable and I hope that it will at least delay the arrival of corona to our community," he said.

Last week, Israel announced that anyone arriving from several European countries including Italy, France and Switzerland would have to go into home quarantine. That would apply to an estimated 80,000 Israelis who either returned from abroad or had contact with someone with the virus. Among those infected, one man, a Palestinian bus driver from east Jerusalem, was in serious condition after catching it from Greek tourists who had been on his bus.

The new rules coincided with Israel's lively holiday, Purim, which involves wearing costumes and drinking. Many large events and parades were canceled. They also come ahead what are normally busy shopping and tourist seasons leading up to Passover and Easter.

Two smaller Israeli charter airlines Arkia and Israir said they were suspending operations, and the national Airline El Al has begun laying off 1,000 workers. Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion airport has been almost empty and hundreds of flights have been canceled.

Economic fallout

Economists estimate the damage will be more than a billion dollars each month. Some health officials say the restrictions are likely to continue into the summer.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel is working hard to find new solutions to the crisis.

He said that Israel is trying to develop a home testing kit for Corona which will make it easier to limit the number of people in quarantine.

In Bethlehem, not far from Jerusalem, church bells tolled over an empty Manger Square, where Christians believe Jesus was born. The Palestinian Authority closed off the town last week after seven hotel workers were diagnosed with coronavirus. A group of American pilgrims, who were originally stuck in a hotel in the nearby West Bank town of Beit Jala, were allowed to leave after they all tested negative.

The Palestinian Authority announced that all schools and universities would be closed for the next 30 days. Tourists were turned away and sent back to Israel.

Concern is growing that coronavirus could reach the densely populated Gaza Strip. Under an Israeli blockade for years, health workers fear the Hamas-controlled enclave does not have enough medical facilities or proper sanitation to deal with the virus. On Tuesday, there were no cases reported in Gaza, but officials say they are watching the situation closely.

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This is the latest effort by Vietnam in the fight against the acute respiratory disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19).

Data collected through the apps will enable the domestic health sector to discover cases in need of medical support in the fastest and most effective manner.

The Ministries of Health, and Information and Communications have suggested all Vietnamese use NCOVI to report their health status, while staying updated on relevant information.

Meanwhile, passengers entering Vietnam are recommended to use the Vietnam health declaration app for the same purposes.

As of late March 9, Vietnam had reported 31 COVID-19 infection cases, of which 16 have been discharged from hospital after their complete recovery. The latest 15 cases, including five Vietnamese and 10 foreigners, are currently in quarantine.
SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Police on Wednesday (March 11, 2020) busted a terror module linked to banned terror outfit Hizbul Mujahideen and arrested three terrorists in this connection. According to reports, the Kupwara Police and 5 Bihar Regiment busted the HM module active in the Kralpora area of Kupwara district after receiving a tip of in this regard.

At least three terror associates affiliated with banned terror organization HM were also arrested in the joint operation.

Those arrested are said to be in close contact with high-profile terrorist commander Bashir Peer alias Imtiyaz Alam operating across from the PoK.

The arrested terrorists have been identified as - 1) Aijaz Ah Payair S/o Gh Mohd Payair r/o Kunan Poshpora Kupwara; 2) Mohd Altaf Payair S/o late Gh Qadir Payair r/o Dardsun Kupwara; 3) Ab Rouf Malik S/o Gh Ahmad Malik r/o Dardsun Kupwara.

According to the J&K police, these individuals were active in the area for the last 8 months and were involved in various subversive activities like providing shelter/ logistic support to terrorists.

The trio was also tasked with recruiting youths from the Kupwara district. During the course of the investigation, a large cache of arms/ ammunition and other incriminating material was also recovered.

An FIR No 13/202O U/s 13, 18, 39 ULAP Act & 7/25 IA Act has been registered at the Police Station Kralpora and further investigation is underway.
NEW HAVEN  Yale University students will have all their classes moved online until at least April 5 because of concerns over coronavirus, officials announced Tuesday.

Once spring recess wraps up, the university said classes will be held using Zoom, Canvas or other online tools through April 5 at the earliest.

The universitys spring break began March 6 and continues through March 23.

We know classes take many forms across the university, so this shift to online teaching and learning raises many questions, the announcement said. Deans will be communicating with their faculty and students to provide further details in the days ahead.

Faculty members and graduate student teaching assistants have been provided information about how to convert their courses to online instruction.

As we approach April 5, we will reassess the situation and communicate next steps, the announcement said.

But its not the just the shift to online classes that will impact Yale students.

The university has asked student to remain home after spring break as well.

For undergraduate students currently on campus, the university has asked that those students make every effort to return home as soon as possible, and no later than Sunday, March 15.

Undergraduates will have the support of the university in meeting their academic requirements remotely while at home, the announcement said.

The college recognized that some undergraduate students consider New Haven to be their home or cannot leave the university at this time. The university will provide separate instructions for those students, who will also take their classes online.

The university said all graduate and professional students are urged to remain off-campus and participate in online instruction unless being on campus is necessary because of research or academic programs.

Throughout this time, the university will remain open and continue to provide custodial and limited dining services.
MANILA, Philippines  Another Filipino migrant worker in Hong Kong tested positive for novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the Philippine Consulate General said.

In a statement Tuesday, the consulate said it has received information from Hong Kong authorities that a fifth Filipino is placed under quarantine after contracting the virus.

In a separate tweet, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Brigido Dulay said the Filipino worker is asymptomatic.

A fifth Filipino worker has tested positive for Covid-19, according to our PH Consulate in Hong Kong. The worker, who is asymptomatic, is currently confined in a HK quarantine facility.  Dodo Dulay (@dododulay) March 10, 2020

The consulate also reported that there are four other Filipinos currently under quarantine for having contact with their virus-infected employers.

In an earlier statement, the consulate said the first Filipino to test positive for coronavirus has recovered and has been discharged from the hospital.

The Philippine Consulate General in Hong Kong is extending all necessary assistance to them, it said.

The post DFA: Hong Kong reports 5th case of Filipino infected with COVID-19 appeared first on UNTV News.
Empty shelves for hand sanitizers seen at a store in New York City. There are now 20 confirmed coronavirus cases in the cFP)

New York: The United States has entered a major phase of shutdown with normal life getting majorly disrupted and the economy in turmoil as coronovirus (COVID-19) cases jumped up steadily across the country. This, even before testing for the virus is to begin on a massive scale with authorities stating that 4 million testing kits will reach the states by the end of this week.

As of Tuesday evening, the total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the US stood at 781 with 27 deaths, topped by Washington state with 23 and California and Florida accounting for two deaths each, as per figures released by the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center.

New York state, which topped the US with the most number of cases at 142 on Tuesday, moved to impose a containment area in New Rochelle where the National Guard is being deployed for delivering food and cleaning.

What is causing concern is that the Trump administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) appear to have moved in late with their mitigation efforts because only on Monday did they launch a website www.coronavirus.gov listing details of what to do for individuals and businesses and advising residents to adopt social distancing as much as possible.

In the meantime, the country has already gone into shutdown mode. Employees of major companies including Amazon, Google and Facebook are working from home while several universities, colleges and schools across the country have done away with physical classes and teaching online.

Harvard University on Tuesday, on the lines of Columbia and Stanford Universities a day earlier, shut shop and advised students not to return to campus after the spring break until further notice.

Meanwhile, Apple put off its slated launch of the iPhone 9 due to the coronavirus outbreak. The company was to have unveiled the new phone late March ahead of its release in stores in April.

Even as the US stock market tumbled further on Tuesday due to crashing oil prices following a fallout between OPEC nations and Russia on containing oil production, as well as the global coronavirus outbreak, president Donald Trump on Tuesday confabulated with US senators and congressmen at Capitol Hill and urged them to sanction an economic package that includes a payroll tax credit for all the affected persons.

Health officials believe that the mitigation of the virus is a near-impossible task as they say that the steps being taken by the US Government, the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) are too little and too late.

As per estimates of the US Department of HHS, at least 2 lakh people would need intensive medical care by way of hospitalization over the next few weeks whereas the total ICU beds in the various hospitals in the country do not top one lakh.

While admitting that the administration does not know how many people have been tested so far for the virus, HHS secretary Alex Azar has said that they expect nearly four million testing kits to reach the states by the end of this week.

While health officials have advised against old people (over 60 years) to stay indoors and avoid travel and going to public places, in signs of fears of the unknown, most US residents of all age groups are already avoiding supermarkets and theatres.

In the meantime, essential items like wipes, hand sanitizers and masks have virtually disappeared from the shelves or available online at exorbitant prices.

Health officials, who are the first responders in treating the coronavirus patients, are seeking precautionary kits for themselves including masks and gloves even as several officials including US senator Ted Cruz and a few Congressmen have on their own quarantined themselves after interacting with a coronavirus patient at the Conservative Political Action Conference that was held between February 26-29 in Maryland.

President Donald Trump was one of the attendees at this meet.

Among senior officials who tested positive for COVID-19 late on Monday was Rick Cotton, executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

when asked by the media on Monday, vice-president Mike Pence said he did not know whether President Trump has been tested for the virus.
Vehicle production across all categories is likely to be critically hampered due to the coronavirus outbreak in China as many automakers in India import about 10 per cent of their raw materials from the neighbouring nation, auto industry body SIAM said on Wednesday.

Indian auto industry had already maintained an inventory in the beginning of the year in anticipation of the Chinese New Year holiday but with the current lockdown in China, supply for BS-VI vehicles is likely to get impacted, SIAM President Ranjan Wadhera said in a statement.

The auto industry body said disruption in availability of these parts is likely to critically hamper production across all segments, namely passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, three-wheelers, two-wheelers and gravely affecting electric vehicles.

"Manufacturers are exploring alternatives to fulfil their supply chain demands but that would also take a substantial amount of time to reach stable production scale as these components would need regulatory testing," he added.

Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) has been in touch with the government with specific recommendations on behalf of the auto industry, he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
H arvey Weinstein has been sentenced to 23 years in jail after being convicted of rape and sexual assault.

The 67-year-old disgraced movie mogul was last month found guilty of sexually assaulting former production assistant Mimi Haleyi in 2006 and raping an aspiring actress in 2013 Jessica Mann.

His lawyers had asked Justice James Burke of the New York state Supreme Court to consider his age and ailing health and hand him a five year sentence out of a possible 29 years.

Weinstein, wearing a suit, and the six women who testified against him were in court for the proceedings.

In an emotional statement in court, Ms Haleyi spoke of the trauma she had endured since the attack, saying, "It scarred me deeply, mentally and emotionally, perhaps irreparably, perhaps forever."

Ms Mann also spoke, recalling the moment during the trial when she left the witness box in tears and then could be heard screaming from an adjacent room.

"The day my screams were heard from the witness room was the day my voice came back to its full power," she said.

"Rape is not just one moment of penetration. It is forever."

Harvey Weinstein was last month convicted of sexual assault and rape / Getty Images

Weinstein, who has maintained that any sexual activity was consensual, also spoke in court, saying he had fond memories of his accusers.

Looking back during the trial at emails they exchanged, he said, he thought they had a good friendship: "I'm not going to say these aren't great people. I had wonderful times with these people. I'm just genuinely confused. Men are confused about this issue."

During the sentencing hearing, prosecutor Joan Illuzzi asked Burke to impose 25 years or "near" 25 years in prison for his conviction on a charge of criminal sexual act in the first degree involving Ms Haleyi and to impose a consecutive sentence for the third-degree rape conviction involving Ms Mann.

Prosecutors in court filings last week said the sentence should reflect not only the crimes of which he was convicted, but a "lifetime of abuse towards others."

More than 100 women, including famous actresses, have accused Weinstein of sexual misconduct stretching back decades, fueling the #MeToo movement against sexual abuse and harassment. Weinstein has denied the allegations and said that any sex was consensual.

Judge Burke also heard from Weinstein's lawyers, who pleaded for leniency because of his age and frail health.

Weinstein has been awaiting sentencing in New York's Rikers Island jail, where he was moved last Thursday after a 10-day hospital stay at Bellevue Hospital where he underwent a procedure to clear a heart blockage.

He used a walking frame throughout the trial and arrived at the courthouse in New York on Wednesday in a wheelchair because of back problems from a car crash last summer.
The national restaurant company continues to diversify its portfolio, most recently acquiring the made-from-scratch craft food and craft beer restaurant

MINNETONKA, Minn., March 11, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BBQ Holdings, Inc., a company known for its BBQ restaurants including Famous Daves, Clark Crew BBQ and Real Famous BBQ has officially acquired Granite City Food & Brewery. The acquisition took place on March 10, 2020 and has immediately gone into effect for the 18 restaurants in Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska, Montana, Tennessee, Indiana, Michigan, South Dakota and North Dakota.



Founded in 1999 as a single store restaurant in St. Cloud, Minnesota, the brand has built a strong reputation in the Midwest for its award-winning craft beer and made-from-scratch craft food. The brands chef driven menu is designed to introduce guests to innovative new cuisine choices and flavor profiles. The Minnesota-based restaurant brand has separated itself from competition in the segment through craft beer expertise, on-site brewing and customer experience.



As an originator of the craft beer trend, with a strong and consistent product across all of its locations, Granite City Food & Brewery is a fantastic addition to the BBQ Holdings portfolio, said Jeff Crivello, Chief Executive Officer of BBQ Holdings. We intend to leverage and utilize much of our infrastructure in an effort to absorb this iconic brand to ensure an accretive transaction. Expected cash EBIDA accretion for 2020 is $2,250.000, based on approximately 9 months of operation under BBQ Holdings.

BBQ Holdings, Inc., has plans to bring back the founder of Granite City, Steve Wagenheim, in an effort to operate the stores with a guest-first attitude. During his 14 years with Granite City, and inclusive of over 50 restaurant openings with Granite City and other brands, Wagenheims vision has always been to create an exceptional guest experience by delivering outstanding hospitality and distinctive value to all guests.

Story continues

ABOUT BBQ HOLDINGS INC.:

BBQ Holdings, Inc. (BBQ) BBQ Holdings is a national restaurant company engaged in the ownership and operation of casual and fast dining restaurants. As of March 9, 2020 BBQ Holdings has four brands with 144 overall locations in 33 states and three countries, including 50 company-owned and 94 franchise-operated restaurants. While BBQ Holdings continues to diversify its ownership in the restaurant community, it was founded with the principle of combining the art and science of barbecue to serve up the very best of the best to barbecue lovers everywhere. BBQ Holdings, through partnerships, has extended Travis Clarks award winning line of barbecue sauces, rubs and seasonings into the retail market. Along with a wide variety of BBQ favorites served at their BBQ restaurants, BBQ Holdings newest addition, Granite City Food and Brewery, offers award winning craft beer and a made-from-scratch, chef driven menu featuring contemporary American cuisine.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Jennifer Hoch

No Limit Agency

312-526-3996

jennifer@nolimitagency.com

A PowerPoint accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f7afc5cf-ccea-4735-847d-38b5a409c4cc
All volunteer staff over the age of 60 have been sent home from all Houston- area Memorial Hermann hospitals amid safety concerns over the risk of infection from the COVID-19 virus. COVID-19, commonly known as the coronavirus, is most dangerous to children and adults over the age of 60.

Earlier this morning, hospital administration told all volunteer and non-essential staff older than 60 to leave the hospital and stay off premise until further notice.

ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: 4 more coronavirus cases identified in Houston area; region's total reaches 12

Per guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, effective immediately we are asking that Memorial Hermann volunteers 60 years and above - who are at a higher risk of developing severe symptoms from COVID-19 - to not report to their volunteer shifts at any Memorial Hermann facility until further notice, said Drew Munhausen, Senior Media Relations Representative for Memorial Hermann Hospitals

Volunteer staff between the ages of 18 and 59 were allowed to remain in the hospital at their own discretion.

We also respect and completely understand the decision by any of our volunteers who choose not to volunteer during this time, Munhausen said. As the COVID-19 situation continues to evolve, Memorial Hermann is taking every precaution to further safeguard the health of our community and workforce, including our dedicated volunteers.

ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: Houston and coronavirus: Contagion expert on what you should do

This decision is being made out of an abundance of caution and helps protect our volunteers from unnecessary risk.

At this time, essential staff such as doctors and nurses over 60 are still working in the hospital.

Earlier this month, a man in Fort Bend County tested presumptively positive for the disease, the first diagnosis of its kind in or around the Houston area. There are currently 12 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the Houston area, according to the CDC.

claire.goodman@chron.com

CORONAVIRUS IN HOUSTON: All of the latest news, numbers and analysis to keep you up-to-date
The largest refugee settlement in the world is a vibrant place where the lives of Rohingya Muslims are in some ways better than they were in Myanmar, the World Food Programs representative in Bangladesh told BenarNews in a recent interview.

Richard Ragan heads an operation that supplies all food delivered to Rohingya refugees in southeastern Bangladesh, spending about $11 million per month on the effort.

WFP fed 878,032 Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh in January, according to its most recent country brief. It also pays thousands of refugees daily to provide services in what Ragan described as one of the most sophisticated camp structures Ive ever seen.

Its very vibrant. Its alive, Ragan said of Kutupalong Refugee Camp.

Rohingya will tell you, for the first time in their life, they feel free, they are able to worship, they are able to move  the situations that brought them there are clearly not good, but the end state of it is, their life in some ways is better, he said.

Ragan, who lives in Dhaka, was in Washington last week to discuss budgeting, policy and programming with officials in the United States, the biggest donor to the WFP and Bangladesh for the Rohingya operation.

The United Nations last week launched an appeal for more than $800 million this year to support some 855,000 Rohingya refugees and 444,000 Bangladeshis in host communities in southeastern Bangladesh.

On March 3, Washington donated $59 million, bringing its total humanitarian assistance to Rohingya refugees and related communities in Bangladesh to almost $820 million since August 2017, when an outbreak of violence by Myanmar security forces sent around 800,000 fleeing across the border, the State Department said.

In his March 4 interview with BenarNews, Ragan provided a close look at how that money is spent, and an unusually positive depiction of life in the refugee camps.

BenarNews: What are the top concerns of WFP Bangladesh?

Richard Ragan: My top concerns are trying to get people to go back home  to try to work to create conditions on the other side of the border which will attract people to return home 

We take care of a quarter million people on the Rakhine side as well, we are one of the biggest humanitarian actors on the other side of the border, so we have a good sense of whats happening in Myanmar as well as what I see in Bangladesh.

BN: What is your assessment?

RR: Conditions arent ripe for people to return. Theres been an uptick in violence over the last couple of months  people dont see the stability that they need to make decisions to go home.

The Rohingya crisis has been with Bangladesh since its independence, its not a new crisis.  Theres been a consistent effort on the Myanmar side to push people out. And there remain 600,000 Rohingya still, on the other side of the border, which we are obviously concerned about  their welfare, the security issues they face, the potential that they might be pushed out to Bangladesh in the future.

BN: How do you feed the Rohingya in Bangladesh?

RR: If you look back at big refugee crises of 20 years ago, you provided [on site] handouts of grain, pulses, oil  [in a] crisis-like environment, with big queues of people lining up.

What we are doing in Bangladesh is different.  We have, basically, stores where we give Rohingyas a digital entitlement of the equivalent to $7 per person ... per month. Then they can go to shops and they can purchase one of 19 different food items; fresh vegetables, fish, eggs, things that you normally wouldnt see in a traditional refugee environment.

The other benefit about this is, these are Bangladeshi business people that are managing the supply chain. We have contracts with businesses based locally in the Coxs Bazar area and some of the other contractors are in Chittagong and from Dhaka. They are providing the commodities.

We are transacting roughly the equivalent of $6 million per month through these stores, so its a big business opportunity for people who are involved in this.

BN: All of this food is being produced by Bangladeshi farmers?

RR: Yes.

Richard Ragan, the resident representative for World Food Program Bangladesh, gestures during an interview with BenarNews in Washington, March 4, 2020. [Ashif Entaz Rabi/BenarNews]

BN: Do you have a plan for food production inside the camps?

RR: The [Bangladesh] government has restricted work and employment, because there is desire to not hurt the competitive market for the host community, so officially, jobs arent allowed.

But you have to manage the camps. This is a city of a million people, basically  you have to have all the different structures in place to manage the city, which means drainage of the roads, cleaning out the toilets, slope stabilization of land...

So the way we have done that is, rather than call them employees, they are volunteers. They get a volunteer stipend .

In WFP, we probably have around 10 to 12 thousand volunteers doing labor for us on a daily basis, so we manage a pretty big work force ... both men and women.

Rohingya will tell you, for the first time in their life they feel free, they are able to worship, they are able to move, they are able to go into these stores and shop, which is something that they werent allowed to do in Rakhine. So, theyre stateless, pushed out of their home, and suffered genocide. The situations that brought them there are clearly not good, but the end state of it is, their life in some ways is better.

There isnt a Rohingya that you speak to who doesnt want to go home. I think if given the choice of saying, stay in the camp and go to the e-voucher shop versus go home, they are going to all say I want to go home. But those conditions dont exist yet. So you do the best with what youve got.

BN: What is your opinion about relocating Rohingya to Bhasan Char Island?

RR: It is going to be more expensive, because anytime you divide the population, you put a population on an island, for us to manage it, its going to be more costly.

BN: Are you seeing hunger in communities around the refugee camps?

RR: Yes.

BN: What are the impacts of the Rohingya presence on the host community?

RR: Its crowded. Theres a whole lot of new people, the size of two districts [where the camps are located] quadrupled. Its in an environment that has always been under-developed, under-invested in.  I view it really as an opportunity in a lot of ways, because theres a lot of investment being made into these two districts infrastructure, a lot more attention being made on some of the longer-term development challenges.

BN: With all these things in place, isnt it a disincentive for repatriation?

RR: You know, the pull to go to your place of origin is strong and theres still 600,000 people on the other side of the border. This has been historically where these people are from. I think theyd go back if the conditions were safe enough, and they were given the kind of liberties to live the kind of life that they would want to live.

BN: In your assessment, when will they be going back?

RR: I dont see a lot of daylight at this point.

One of the things thats really important is to hold Myanmar accountable. We, the international community, cant let people forget what happened.  Theres nobody in these camps that doesnt have a story of something terrible happening to them.

Ashif Entaz Rabi contributed to this report.
The deadline for students from third level institutions with an innovative business idea, technology or solution to apply to this years 39th Enterprise Ireland Student Entrepreneur Awards, co-sponsored by Cruickshank, Grant Thornton and the Local Enterprise Offices is this Friday, 13 March 2020.

Finalists will be selected to compete for several awards such as the Cruickshank Intellectual Property High Achieving Merit Award, the Grant Thornton Emerging Business Award and the Local Enterprise Office ICT Award.

The overall winner will share in a 35,000 prize fund and receive mentoring from Enterprise Ireland to develop the commercial viability of their concept. The winners will also share in a 30,000 consultancy fund that will enable them to turn their ideas into a commercial reality.

NUI Galway student Christopher McBrearty was named as last years Enterprise Ireland Student Entrepreneur of the Year for his cancer detection technology, NanoDetect  which provides an advanced PSA screening technology to GPs and hospitals that will improve detection rates of prostate cancer.

StomAssure, an implantable alternative to the current stoma treatment method developed by students in Cork Institute of Technology was awarded the Cruickshank Intellectual Property Award while the Grant Thornton Emerging Business Award went to Ulster Universitys Jenny Gregg of Crafted Equestrian. Crafted Equestrian creates products for the equestrian market that positively impact the lives of horses and their owners, a patented pressure relieving girth that prevents girth galls.

The Local Enterprise Office ICT award was presented to Micron Agritech from Technological Institute Dublin. Their innovative Tastail Kit allows farmers to instantly test their animals on-site for parasites, receiving an instant text with results, as opposed to the current 3-5 day waiting time. The company has gone on to receive Competitive Start Funding from Enterprise Ireland and is now a High Potential Start-Up.

Richard Murphy, Manager of LEO Support, Policy & Co-ordination Unit, Enterprise Ireland said, For close to forty years, the Student Entrepreneur Awards have been a hot bed for entrepreneurship in Ireland. Last years awards attracted 1,000 high quality, innovative entries that identified challenges across a range of sectors and provided solutions to overcome them.

Nurturing this talent and helping to foster that entrepreneurship is essential in driving Irelands global reputation in business.

We are looking to support great ideas with fast growing export potential and if you have an idea with a strong commercial focus then the Student Entrepreneur Awards is the right competition for you. It could be the first step on the way to becoming a business leader in 2020.

The award winners will be announced at a ceremony in NUI Galway on June 12th later this ye
Meghan Markle wears Preen By Thornton Bregazzi Glenda dress to QCT network meeting before stepping down from royal duties. (Getty Images)

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Meghan Markle never fails to impress with her style choices, and her chic outfit for her recent engagement at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday evening has attracted a lot of attention.

The Duchess of Sussex showed off the full look on the Sussex Royal official Instagram account, as she posed for a picture with husband Prince Harry, as well as the young leaders of the Queens Commonwealth Trust (QCT).

The post has already racked up almost 500,000 likes on the photo-sharing site.

Markle, 38, wore a toffee-coloured asymmetric dress from the British designer label Preen by Thornton Bregazzi for the network meeting that took place last week but was shared on Instagram on Tuesday.

Buy it: Preen By Thornton Bregazzi Glenda Dress | 925 from Net-A-Porter

The Glenda asymmetric plisse-georgette midi dress boasts pleated detail, as well as a round neck and long sleeves.

The design also has a fitted waist, as well as gathered detail in the centre of the dress to create the asymmetric hem.

The good news is the dress is still available to buy, so fans can emulate Markles outfit.

The dress costs 925, and comes in sizes extra small to extra large, although some sizes are selling out fast.

The outing came just hours after the couple joined the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge for the annual Commonwealth Day Service, which took place at Londons Westminster Abbey.

Markle opted for an emerald green outfit earlier in the day.

She wore an Emilia Wickstead Cape Dress, which she paired with a matching hat, and a pair of nude heels.

The recent engagements mark the final outings for the couple - who have son Archie together - before they officially step down from royal duties on March 31.

Story continues

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Italy, with a sizable elderly population especially at risk, at first responded by closing off 11 small towns in the north. But the virus had apparently already escaped the region, and a surge in respiratory cases overwhelmed the Lombardy hospital system. Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte announced on Monday restriction of movement on an unprecedented scale, essentially locking down the entire country of 60 million people. It is too soon to know whether this will work, but here again there seems to be value in canceling large events, urging people to work from home where possible, closing schools and insisting on changes in daily habits. Mr. Conte properly declared, Im about to take a measure that we can summarize with Im staying home. Our habits need to change.
PHOENIX  Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey signed a bill Tuesday requiring information gathered in state-sponsored endangered species surveys on private property to be kept secret, even from federal agencies charged with protecting plants and animals from potential extinction.

Republicans who pushed the proposal through the Legislature said the shield is needed to protect private property rights. Minority Democrats unsuccessfully argued that if the new policy becomes law it will hinder public monitoring of recovery plans for endangered plants and animals.

The bill was approved along party lines in the House and Senate.

The measure applies to information collected by state agencies, and violations would carry a $25,000 fine. The state would be barred from sharing information on what biologists find about endangered species publicly or with federal agencies charged with protecting endangered species through recovery plans.

Republican Rep. Gail Griffin sponsored the House measure and said during a committee hearing last month that the proposal would actually encourage private property owners to let surveyors onto their property. The opposite is true now because of fears any discovery could lead to land-use restrictions, she said.

We want to entice property owners to assist in counting any specific species that might be on their property, Griffin said. Currently  if I thought endangered species were on my property Id have a no trespassing sign on my property. So this is an enticement.

The Sierra Clubs Arizona chapter director, Sandy Bahr, testified at that House hearing that information collected by public agencies doing surveys should always be public. She said making it secret would prevent any public monitoring of efforts to help species recover.

Bahr said Tuesday that she believes the new law is intended to help big developers whose projects could be delayed or halted if an endangered species is discovered on their property.

Whenever theyre looking to not provide information to the public, it usually means theyre trying to hide something, Bahr said. And in the case of endangered species, its usually something that is not beneficial to the species or its recovery.

A spokesman for Ducey did not respond to requests for comment on his reasons for signing the bill. It will be retroactive to Jan. 1.
A key witness who placed murderous doctor Harold Shipman at a murder scene which helped police to convict the serial killer has spoken publicly for the first time.

Gloria Ellis was the next-door neighbour of Winifred Mellor - one of the hundreds of victims who died at the hands of Shipman in Hyde, Greater Manchester in the 1990s.

In a new Channel 5 documentary - Shipman: 5 Mistakes That Caught A Killer - Gloria recalls how she saw the doctor visit the 73-year-old widow's home where, unbeknownst to her, she was murdered.

He then returned hours later and feigned the discovery of her dead body, after Gloria let him in with a spare key.

Gloria Ellis was the next-door neighbour of Winifred Mellor. In a new documentary, Gloria recalls how she saw the doctor visit the 73-year-old widow's home where - unbeknownst to her - she was murdered, before returning hours later. She let him into her neighbour's home where he feigned the discovery of her body

In 1999 Shipman, then 52, was convicted of the murders of 15 of his patients, including Winifred. But further inquiries found evidence he killed more than 250 victims during his medical career, 80 per cent of which were elderly women.

Speaking in the Channel 5 documentary about the five key mistakes Shipman made that led to him being caught, Gloria explains how her testimony helped police connect him to a crime scene, resulting in his conviction.

Recalling the afternoon when Winifred was murdered in her own home on Corona Avenue, Hyde, on May 11, 1998, Gloria explained: 'I was Winifred Mellor's friend and neighbour.

'I was doing my ironing at about three o'clock when I saw a man pull up. He came up the street and up past my window.

In 1999, Harold Shipman, then 52, (pictured) was convicted of the murders of 15 of his patients including Winifred. But later inquiries found evidence he killed more than 250 victims during his medical career - 80 per cent of which were elderly women

'I heard Mrs Mellor's gate go because I heard a clinky noise, so I assumed he'd gone into Mrs Mellor's. He had short hair, a grey beard with a moustache, glasses on and a maroon car, and that's when I saw him. I knew it was three o'clock because I had to leave and pick up my children from school.

FIVE MISTAKES THAT CAUGHT OUT HAROLD SHIPMAN 1) Established a suspicious pattern by killing elderly women 2) Lied to a victim's neighbour 3) Forged a victim's will 4) Used morphine as a killer drug 5) Failed to understand his own computer system. Advertisement

'I came back, and I was watching BBC News at six o'clock when he knocked at the door.

'The same man that had been there in the afternoon was there and asked if I had a spare key for Mrs Mellor's house.

'I said to him, "I've seen you before, you were here this afternoon" and he turned around abruptly and for some reason, I didn't know why, he was annoyed that I'd seen him in the afternoon.

'We went into the house and Mrs Mellor was sat up proper, fully dressed, and she just looked like she'd gone to sleep. I sat outside and cried, I'd never seen anyone dead and she was a friend, a lovely friend.'

At first, Gloria regarded Shipman as just another GP on a house call, until he started appearing on the news regularly, which is when she went to the police.

'I remember seeing it on the telly. It was a film of his surgery and him coming out the back,' she recalled.

Winifred Mellor, pictured, was one of the hundreds of victims of the serial killer doctor, who took the life of his patients in Hyde, Greater Manchester in the 1990s

'I said, "That's him, he's the one I saw at Mrs Mellor's. That's his car as well." I was shocked. Really shocked.

'I thought, "It's got to be him. He's got to have murdered Mrs Mellor."'

Gloria then spoke to the police, sparking a breakthrough in the case as this was the first time they could tie Shipman to a place and time of death.

But it wasn't only Gloria's testimony that helped to convict Shipman. Local priest Father Denis Maher, who is now retired from working at St Paul's Church in Hyde, explains in the documentary how he had an unusually high number of parishioners who died suddenly.

'I would go to visit a family after a patient died, and it would come up that they were a patient of Dr Shipman,' Father Maher explained.

Recalling coming to Winifred's home to meet her family following her death, Father Maher revealed that Dr Shipman also appeared on the doorstep.

Local priest Father Denis Maher, pictured, who is now retired from working at St Paul's Church in Hyde, explains in the documentary how he had an unusually high number of parishioners who died suddenly

'Shortly after I arrived, the doorbell rang. I opened the door, Dr Shipman breezed past and went immediately for his three daughters. He said there was no need for the post-mortem or an autopsy because he'd seen her in her final days and could sign the death certificate.'

Both the local funeral directors and another GP practice in the area also had suspicions about the doctor - but an initial police investigation saw no cause for concern.

Bernard Postles, the retired Detective Chief Superintendent in charge of the investigation, explained: 'Funeral directors noticed many patients were dying in same circumstances. The pattern was many of these people were fully dressed and sitting up, with a cup of tea by their side, it looked to be it was a sudden event, but it was very unusual for people to die in that situation.

'People were still going about their daily business and suddenly died. They began to talk to other professionals in the town about it.'

A group of GPs from a surgery across the road from Shipman's practice were often asked to sign a form as a secondary to allow the patients to be cremated.

Bernard Postles, the retired Detective Chief Superintendent in charge of the investigation, explained: 'Funeral directors noticed many patients were dying in same circumstances. The pattern was many of these people were fully dressed and sitting up, with a cup of tea by their side, it looked to be it was a sudden event, but it was very unusual for people to die in that situation'

The documentary explains how Shipman's first mistake was establishing a pattern and drawing attention to himself, which established his nickname of 'Dr Death' long before a police investigation.

But it wasn't until he forged one of his victim's wills that everything led to him and concerns were raised.

Clumsily he used his own typewriter, the keystrokes of which matched the words on the document exactly.

A police computer expert described how he examined Shipman's PC and found he had falsified his patients' medical records after they died in an attempt to prove that they had been seriously ill.

'His big mistake there was thinking the computer would erase the earlier entries. Shipman was unaware that all the previous information remains stored on the machine forever,' he explains.

Another error was his murder method. He injected his victims with morphine, which stays in the system long after death. When the police began digging up some of his patients' bodies, a pathologist found the drug still present in many of them.

Later, Shipman tried to claim that one elderly victim was a drug addict who administered the morphine herself. But by then, detectives had proof he was a liar.

Shipman: 5 Mistakes That Caught A Killer airs on Thursday 12 March at 10pm on Channel 5.
(TNS)  Brianna Mishoe is a student in Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical Colleges pre-nursing program at the school in South Carolina. Her eyes are set on becoming a registered nurse.On Thursday, Mishoe got a first-hand look at what the college will be able to offer students embarking on their nursing education.OCtech held the grand opening and ribbon-cutting for the college's new $12.5 million, 30,000-square-foot Nursing Building Thursday afternoon."It is nice," Mishoe said. "It is really motivational because it makes you realize how hard you need to work to get here.""They have newer technology here and newer and funner stuff to work with," she said. "I think it is better for getting experience in this building."North resident Annie Robinson is also in OCtech's pre-nursing program and will begin work in the new building in August."I think it is really innovative and I like how they can divide the classes up but then leave it and have a big space for everybody, she said."It is really cool and it encourages people to come in here, she said.The students joined with community members and college leaders to celebrate the opening of the state-of-the-art facility.The building features a larger, tiered lecture hall, computer lab and study rooms. It has a 30-station skills practice lab, simulation labs with the latest technology and faculty offices.The labs help provide students the necessary skills to prepare them for a real-world clinical setting. Office space also provides students with areas to meet with advisers and instructors.The computer lab provides students with a place to prepare class notes, complete assignments, access online work and print necessary documents.Currently, there are over 200 nursing students at the college and about a dozen instructors.OCtech President Dr. Walt Tobin recalled when he was interviewed for his position back in 2011. One of his priorities was bringing a new nursing building to the campus -- a building that would better reflect the quality of the nursing students that go through the program."We really wanted a 21st-century facility," Tobin said. "We wanted the interior aspect of this building to be one in which to prepare our students for what the world of work will look like.""We have a skills-based, technology-based program that is hands-on and our faculty spends a lot of time with our students getting them ready," he said. "In order for us to continue to produce more and enroll more and to attract people to this institution and this program, our faculty needed the space."As an aside, Tobin said he still would like to build one more building before he retires. He did not specify what building he had in mind.Orangeburg Mayor Michael Butler offered an invocation."We need more nurses," Butler prayed. "Bless this school so we can get more nurses."Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter, D-Orangeburg, said, "You should appreciate the fact that we have a real jewel here at Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College."To the students here and to the nursing faculty, thank you so much for what you do. Please know you are filling a need in the health care workforce that has to be filled."She encouraged students to remain in the area."Yall please stay. Don't go anywhere. We need your bright minds here, Cobb-Hunter said.Orangeburg County Councilman Johnny Ravenell recalled being a student at OCtech back in the 1970s."We have a state-of-the art facility here," Ravenell said. "The atmosphere is so great.""This means a lot," Calhoun County Administrator Ted Felder said. "I have been able to watch Calhoun and Orangeburg counties work together on partnerships that mean so much to both counties."Dr. William Molnar, Lower Savannah Council of Governments executive director, said, "We are so happy of your bright future and to be part of this beautiful building."The LSCOG helped acquire nearly $2 million in U.S. Economic Development Administration funding for the project.In addition to the federal funding, the project received $6 million from the state; $500,000 from Orangeburg County; $32,000 from Calhoun County; and about $1 million from the OCtech Foundation. The remaining money, about $3 million, came from the colleges capital projects fund.Students have been using the building since January. The original grand opening in early February was postponed due to severe weather.
Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar spoke by phone with his Russian counterpart Sergey Shoigu March 10 about the progress of the bipartisan protocol over Idlib that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan signed in Moscow on March 5.

Earlier, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu confirmed that the Russian military delegation arrived in Turkey to discuss concrete parameters of the security corridor along the M4 highway, a strategic roadway that traverses Syria east to west through Idlib province. The parties will also discuss details for joint Russian-Turkish military patrols of the highway from the settlement of Trumba (roughly a mile to the west of Saraqeb) to the settlement of Ain al-Havr.

Why it matters: Ever since Putin and Erdogan agreed on terms for a new deal on Idlib, both parties have eyed reinforcing their own positions in Syria amid the holding cease-fire.

Erdogan flew to Brussels to demand concrete support from his NATO allies in Syria. His pledge was meant to be felt by the Europeans as thousands of refugees flocked to the border with Greece after Turkey said it would no longer keep them on its soil.

Meanwhile in Russia, military and analyst circles have been discussing options for beefing up the Syrian air defense systems to halt future possible Turkish  as well as Israeli  raids on Syrian military and associated facilities.

Syria couldnt down the Turkish F-16 with its S-200 since its an old system; it really belongs to the previous generation.  The geographical landscape around Idlib is also such that it hampers S-200 to successfully track aircrafts, wrote Alexey Podberezkin, head of the Center for Political and Military Studies at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations, in his op-ed for Sputnik.

If they had systems of a more advanced modification, such as S-300, the chances of downing Turkish jets would have been higher, he argued.

Talk less, say more: On March 10, the Russian Defense Ministry dismissed Erdogans statements that the Turkish army had destroyed eight Pantsyr air defense missile/gun systems. It noted that only two Syrian Pantsyrs were damaged as a result of mass attack by Turkish combat unmanned aerial vehicles.

[Turkeys statements] have nothing to do with the real state of things and are nothing but an exaggeration," the ministry argued.

The Russian military clarified that most of Syria's air defense systems, including the Pantsyr systems, are deployed near Damascus, and only four of them are being used near the Idlib de-escalation zone.

Whats next: The statement by the Russian military is remarkable in that it signals Moscow is more reluctant now to concede its own positions in the information struggle with Turkish narratives on Idlib. By allowing the Turkish military to conduct an offensive on Assads positions for well over two days, Russia, in a way, paid Erdogan for the loss of almost 40 servicemen with its own reputation among the Syrians. Now that the new deal is in place placating Erdogans rhetoric makes less sense, but having Turkey deliver on its commitments  old ones as much as new ones  is a priority.

Know more: Check out a Russian angle on why the new deal on Idlib matters from Maxim Suchkov, and see the Turkish take by Metin Gurcan.
(Adds three-year note auction results, analyst comments) By Karen Pierog CHICAGO, March 10 - U.S. Treasury yields on Tuesday rose from all-time lows as global oil and stock markets rebounded after huge losses on Monday fueled by an oil price war and growing concerns over the economic impact of the coronavirus. The 10-year note yield was last at 0.775%, well above its new record low of 0.318%. "You do have some further talk of fiscal stimulus in the United States and Europe and Japan that's giving some confidence," said Stan Shipley, fixed income strategist at Evercore ISI in New York. U.S. stock indices were higher on stimulus hopes, recovering some of the losses they suffered during Monday's biggest one-day percentage fall. President Donald Trump and Republican lawmakers discussed stimulus plans to bolster the economy on Tuesday afternoon. At an earlier White House meeting with healthcare executives, Trump said his administration intended to help airlines and the cruise line industry. Oil also regained some losses from its biggest one-day decline since the Gulf War in 1991, as the possibility of economic stimulus encouraged buying and Russia signaled that it may yet hold talks with OPEC about cooperation on output cuts. Thirty-year Treasury yields, which fell to a record low of 0.702% on Monday, last traded at 1.272%. After tumbling to a 5-1/2-year low of 0.251% on Monday, two-year Treasury yields were trading at 0.483%. The Treasury Department saw soft demand for a $38 billon sale of three-year notes, with especially weak interest from direct bidders. These include large central banks such as China's and Japanas, and some fund managers. Direct bidders took only 3.71% of the sale, while indirect bidders took 52.26% and dealers bought 44.03% of the notes. The Treasury will also sell $24 billion of 10-year notes on Wednesday and $16 billion of 30-year bonds on Thursday. "If there is kind of tepid demand, maybe that leads to yields moving a little higher," said Collin Martin, a fixed income strategist at Schwab Center for Financial Research in New York. "Given that our yields, at their very, very low level, are still positive and above those of places like Japan and Germany, that's likely to keep demand pretty strong," Martin added. March 10 Tuesday 2:06PM New York / 1906 GMT Price Current Net Yield % Change (bps) Three-month bills 0.42 0.4275 0.039 Six-month bills 0.41 0.4177 0.047 Two-year note 101-66/256 0.4827 0.136 Three-year note 102-84/256 0.5729 0.198 Five-year note 102-100/256 0.6356 0.210 Seven-year note 102-144/256 0.747 0.236 10-year note 106-236/256 0.7745 0.277 30-year bond 118-20/256 1.2719 0.334 DOLLAR SWAP SPREADS Last (bps) Net Change (bps) U.S. 2-year dollar swap 6.25 -6.00 spread U.S. 3-year dollar swap 2.00 -9.25 spread U.S. 5-year dollar swap 5.00 -5.25 spread U.S. 10-year dollar swap 3.25 -6.00 spread U.S. 30-year dollar swap -41.50 -10.00 spread (By Karen Pierog in Chicago and Karen Brettell in New York; Editing by David Gregorio and Will Dunham)
ROCHESTER, N.Y., March 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- OyaGen, Inc. announced today new unpublished results from collaborative research with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases' Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick, MD, suggesting strong dose-dependent antiviral activity of its lead compound OYA1 against live SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent for COVID-19, based on in cell culture infectivity studies.

About OYA1. OYA1 has broad-spectrum antiviral activity in laboratory-based assays against the coronaviruses SARS-CoV-2 and MERS-CoV and also is a dual target-specific antiviral against filoviruses such as Ebola virus. OYA1 was strongly more effective than a positive-control compound, chlorpromazine HCl, at inhibiting SARS-CoV-2 from replicating in cell culture. OYA1 had prior FDA approval as an investigational new drug for treating cancer in the 1960s but was abandoned for a lack of efficacy. Studies at that time demonstrated safety in nonhuman primates and human adults when dosed daily or weekly. Side effects may include cardiac toxicity in children when dosed every day. Side effects may be due to the slow metabolic turnover of OYA1 as demonstrated in earlier studies in mice, which suggested the compound may persist in tissues for greater than 12 days following a single dose, especially in heart tissue where cell turnover is low. However, its long half-life in tissues suggests that a single dose or weekly dosing may be sufficient for antiviral treatments.

OyaGen, Inc. will conduct further studies for the safety and efficacy of OYA1 in treating COVID-19 as necessary for regulatory approval. The company anticipates that inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 using OYA1 will serve as a stop-gap treatment until appropriate vaccines are developed. OYA1 may also prove timely in addressing the need for combination therapy for SARS-CoV-2 to avoid the emergence of drug-resistant virus.

OyaGen Inc is a privately held biotechnology company located in Rochester, NY. OyaGen is focused on the identification and early development of novel therapeutics for the treatment of viral diseases including HIV, Coronavirus and Ebola.

For more information on OyaGen, Inc., please visit the company's website at www.oyageninc.com and follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/OyaGeninc, or call OyaGen, Inc. at (585) 697-4351.

SOURCE OyaGen, Inc.
Area emergency management officials are taking steps to prevent the possible spread of coronavirus in Gage County.

Sheriff Millard Gus Gustafson and emergency management director Lisa Wiegand discussed what steps their departments are taking to identify and prevent any possible cases of COVID-19, should the virus be found in Gage County.

As we look at protecting our rural fire departments, dispatchers are now asking a lot of those preempt questions if theyre in response, such as if a patient is coherent, dispatchers are instructed to ask the patient if theyve been anywhere, are you coughing are you sneezing, so that information can go through the radio system before they respond to that activity, Wiegand said. They have protocols in place but theyre reinforcing those protocols.

The update followed an announcement Wednesday morning from the Department of Health and Human Services that a fifth presumptive positive case of COVID-19 had been reported in the state.

The department was awaiting final confirmation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

A press release from the department said the person is from northeast Nebraska and will be transferred to the biocontainment unit at Nebraska Medicine/University of Nebraska Medical Center.

Contact investigations have been initiated and were rapidly assessing potential exposures to determine next steps, the press release stated. All identified close contacts will self-quarantine and be actively monitored twice daily by public health officials for fever and respiratory symptoms.

Gustafson said law enforcement is also taking precautions to keep the virus out of the jail.

Starting (Tuesday) I approved a protocol for those coming to the jail, he said. It will take a little bit longer in the booking process before theyre brought into the facility, but if theyre arrested and brought in theyll have to go through the questionnaire, and if they answer two of the four questions positive well contact medical and go from there. Were trying to gear up and be prepared in case something happens.

Area groups are also struggling to keep supplies in stock, Wiegand, who is also the treasurer of the Gage County Fair Board, said finding hand sanitizer for the upcoming spring nationals event has proved challenging.

This morning, I was trying to get hand sanitizer and so forth and those stockpiles are gone, she said. Were all scrambling to find some of those supplies to serve the public.

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An Air India Milan-New Delhi flight, which arrived in the capital on Wednesday, was not screened for coronavirus infection before leaving the Italian city and was so treated as "a sensitive flight" as well as quarantined upon arrival here.

"A flight from Milan came without screening for COVID19. Air India AI138 was treated as a sensitive flight and had to be cleared on remote bay only at T3 Airport, New Delhi. The flight had 80 passengers," customs officials told ANI.

Officials said they have completed all formalities of screening the passengers and goods at the isolation bay in the Indira Gandhi International Airport.

On Tuesday, Italy's Civil Protection Department confirmed that 8,514 people have been tested positive for the coronavirus and 631 have died.

The whole of Italy - a country of some 60 million people - was placed under quarantine as the government stepped up efforts to tackle the coronavirus outbreak that has infected more than 10,000 people.

All sporting events, schools, and universities have been cancelled. Places of public gathering such as cinemas, theatres, and nightclubs remain closed. Religious ceremonies including funerals and weddings will also be postponed.

On Monday, the Indian consulate in Milan had advised Indian nationals to comply with travel restrictions and follow the protocols.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
[March 11, 2020]

STC Direct Takes Top Honors for 2019 Efforts

KING OF PRUSSIA, Penn., March 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Pennsylvania direct marketing and sales firm STC Direct was recently honored for exceptional results achieved on behalf of a reputable telecommunications company during 2019. The Campaign Cup, awarded to the top-performing office among those engaged in the same campaign throughout the U.S.

STC Direct, led by President Justin Sgro, has earned the prestigious distinction numerous times over the past few years, both for quarterly and annual results achieved. Sgro praised his team's continued commitment to exceeding expectations.

"It's always a thrill every time we are fortunate enough to be recognized for our collective efforts," said Sgro. "We're always looking forward and will continue to put our all into bringing the best value to the client."

Promoting a corporate culture based on teamwork and integrity, STC Direct represents Fortune 500 clients in a variety of industries. The company place a priority on professional development and self improvement and was named one of the Nation's 101 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For in 2019.

In addition to its southwestern Pennsylvania headquarters, STC Direct has offices in Lexington, KY, Houston, and Phoenix.

Like STC Direct on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.

About STC Direct

STC Direct is a growth-focused outsourced marketing and sales company based in Pennsylvania that works to develop and expand the client's customer base while increasing their brand awareness and market share. Providing superior service to both customers and the client is of utmost importance at STC Direct, as is giving back to their community. For more information, call 610-265-5783 or contact them at www.stcdirectphilly.com.









Contact: Justin Sgro

610-265-5783



View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/stc-direct-takes-top-honors-for-2019-efforts-301021802.html

SOURCE STC Direct
West Bank: young Palestinian killed by soldiers, media Dozens wounded, according to report

(ANSAmed) - TEL AVIV, MARCH 11 - A young Palestinian on Wednesday was killed during clashes between demonstrators and Israeli soldiers in Jabal al-Arma, a hill near Nablus (in the southern West Bank), Palestinian news agency Maan reported, identifying the youth as Mohammed Hemayel, 18.



According to the news agency, dozens of demonstrators were wounded by rubber bullets and intoxicated by tear gas. In a separate incident in the same area, a Jewish teen was wounded by Palestinian attackers. He was not seriously injured, according to reports.



The hill of Jabal al-Arma hosts an archaeological site that has for days constituted a point of friction between the local Palestinian population and settlers in the area. The first incidents were reported a few days ago when, with the support of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA), locals set up a national flag as a first step towards the institution of a permanent Palestinian position opposed by settlers. The Israeli army has repeatedly intervened to disperse Palestinian demonstrators and on Wednesday - according to local media - an escalation was reported on the ground.



Meanwhile a young Jew is in serious condition after he was attacked with stones near Nablus by Palestinian assailants after his car was stopped on a road. ''He was the victim of attempted murder'', said a settlers' leader from the area. (ANSAmed).




Police are now searching his home, his computer and phone, and talking to his family and friends to ascertain a motive. They are also gathering CCTV to trace his movements prior to the attacks. The scene at Coppin Grove in Hawthorn where two women were stabbed, one fatally. Credit:Jason South How the stabbing rampage unfolded The horror rampage started about 11pm on Wednesday. Ibrahim was noticed by two PSOs at Jolimont station when he made a "loud noise or yell" at the end of the platform. They went up to him and asked if he needed help with directions.

They had a short conversation before the offender slashed one of them with a kitchen knife on the cheek and arm. The PSO is in a stable condition and was due to have surgery on Thursday. Police said the man then ran through Yarra Park and police are trying to establish whether he boarded a train at Richmond train station, or got on a tram near Punt Road. Shortly after, two women were arriving at their Hawthorn home on Coppin Grove when the man approached them. He spoke briefly to the pair before attacking themwith a knife. One woman, 30, died at the scene. The other woman, 31, screamed, alerting neighbours who called police, but the man had already fled towards Kew. The surviving woman was taken to The Alfred hospital in a critical condition. Her condition improved during the day and she was stable by the afternoon. Residents told The Age of their shock at waking to the sound of ambulances and a police helicopter hovering overhead shortly before midnight.

Helen Hounslow said she heard a car horn before a police dog began running through her yard. "There was flashlights through our windows and I looked out the window and all of a sudden you see police officers with a German shepherd going down and jumping the fence and stalking the house," she said. Forensic police inspect the scene in Walpole Street, Kew, where police found the attacker. Credit:Jason South Soon after, Ibrahim approached a 59-year-old man walking along Cotham Road in Kew. Similar to his attack on the PSO, Ibrahim struck up a brief conversation with the 59-year-old man before pulling out a knife.

The victim staggered to a nearby tram stop where he dialled triple zero himself, which police Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton described as a "very brave act". "He made the call because obviously he is worried about the community more than himself. He is worried about what else this guy is going to do," Mr Ashton said. "I think it's a tremendously brave act." Paramedics attempted CPR on the victim but he could not be saved. Attacker shot dead Police found Ibrahim walking on nearby Walpole Street a short time later and used a Taser and a number of other non-lethal options to try to subdue him, before he was shot on Walton Street.

"He was called on to surrender by police and refused to do so," Mr Weir said. "The ball was in his court. He's made the decision and our members have acted accordingly, in my view. "We just heard three shots, there wasn't much noise," resident Jan said. "I was half asleep ... I'm a little bit nervous but these things happen." Forensic police inspect the scene in Walpole Street, Kew. Credit:Jason South Georgia Sassi, 21, said she was about to fall asleep when she woke to aggressive shouting by what sounded like several men.

"It got heated very quickly ... Then I heard a police officer say 'put your hands up', then three loud gunshots," she said. "It was so scary. It sounded so close to my window that it could have been in my backyard. Countless times I've come home at that time and it could have been anyone out there." Jolimont train station was closed on Thursday and crime scenes were set up on several streets in Kew and Hawthorn. Cotham Road in Kew remains closed in both directions between High Street and Glenferrie Road. Two men who lived in the same unit block as the two woman attacked overnight return to the scene. Credit:Jason South On Coppin Grove, two men, believed to have witnessed part of the incident, returned to the crime scene late on Thursday morning.

The two residents, one wrapped in a medical blanket and both barefoot, were comforted on the street by police before being escorted into a nearby property. Tarpaulins were used to cover bloodied items left strewn across the grass next to the women's black Mazda sedan. Mr Ashton said police talk to many people over the counter every day and there was no concern the attacker was presenting "any kind of terror threat" when he spoke to officers in 2018. "They attempted to engage the man, he attempted to attack the police officers again with a knife and three officers have fired upon that person at that location and he has been fatally wounded by police at that time." Police at a tram stop in Kew where a man was stabbed to death. Credit:Jason South

"I've received a briefing from our counter-terrorism command this morning," Mr Ashton said. "At this stage, they have done a pretty thorough search so far and it hasn't revealed any known links to terrorism that they are aware of. "In fact, we are short of motivation at this time as to why he has done what he's done and committed such very serious offending against the community." Police are awaiting toxicology reports to determine whether the attacker was drug-affected. Police Minister Lisa Neville commended police. "They acted in the interest of community safety and as quickly as they could to contain this situation and bring this person under control," she said.
A worker sprays disinfectant in a hallway inside a Manila office building, as the Philippines takes steps to prevent COVID-19 from spreading, March 11, 2020.

Indonesia on Wednesday recorded its first death from the novel coronavirus, while the neighboring Philippines announced that a second person there had died of COVID-19 and the World Health Organization officially declared the fast-moving global outbreak a pandemic.

A 53-year-old British woman who had tested positive for the virus after arriving in Bali late last month for a vacation on the Indonesian island died at a local hospital, said Dewa Made Indra, the head of Balis COVID-19 task force. The woman also suffered from diabetes, hypertension and a chronic lung disease, he said.

Her treatment was carried out in accordance with the procedure for COVID-19 patients, he told journalists.

John Nickell, a spokesman for the British Embassy in Jakarta, confirmed the womans death from the virus.

We are supporting the family of a British woman who has died in Indonesia and are in contact with local authorities, he said in a statement.

At least 21 people who came into contact with the woman were being monitored for possible symptoms, Indra said.

The woman was among eight new novel coronavirus cases confirmed by the Indonesian health ministry on March 10. On Wednesday, officials said that seven more cases had been detected, bringing the nationwide total to 34 after Southeast Asias most populous country announced its first cases on March 2. Authorities said 735 people had been tested for the virus.

A medical worker dressed in protective gear pulls a gurney from an ambulance at Sanglah Hospital in Bali, Indonesia, March 11, 2020. [Reuters]

In the Philippines, health authorities said late Wednesday that a second person diagnosed with COVID-19 had died of the disease, in the first death recorded in the country since early February.

The Department of Health (DOH) confirms circulating reports regarding the death of a confirmed COVID-19 patient in Manila, the department announced in a statement without going into details other than saying it was currently gathering and validating more information on the reported death.

The department also confirmed 16 new cases of the coronavirus that raised the nationwide number to 49 detected cases, a number that has spiked since late last week.

Earlier this week, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte declared a national health emergency over the viral outbreak after health authorities on Saturday confirmed the first locally transmitted case of COVID-19.

On Wednesday in the Philippine capital, health workers assisted by the fire department sprayed disinfectant in normally crowded areas of Manila, including City Hall, near the central market as well as in the district of Santa Cruz, home to some of the citys slums.

Mall operators banned people who had a fever from going into their shops, and stationed guards who wore masks and were armed with temperature guns to check visitors.

The DOH and deployed surveillance teams are now conducting extensive information-gathering and contact tracing activities on the new cases, the health department said, promising to provide more details as soon as the information became available.

Two of those who tested positive were among 445 Filipinos who were repatriated after serving as crew members or were passengers on the Diamond Princess, a cruise ship that docked in Japan last month. As many as 35 Filipinos tested positive for the virus while on the ship, and were treated in Japanese hospitals.

From the beginning, DOH was aware of the risk that some of the repatriates might test positive for COVID-19. This is why strict infection prevention and control measures were enforced during the quarantine period to protect our people and the health workers attending to them, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said.

We commend the health workers who have been tirelessly caring for our repatriates for the past month. First, those from Wuhan, and now those from Japan. Their dedication to their work and their countrymen is truly inspiring, Duque said.

The outbreak has forced the cancellation of crucifixion reenactments scheduled for April 10 in farming villages around San Fernando city, north of Manila. About a dozen Catholics have themselves nailed to wooden crosses on Good Friday as penance for their sins in an event that attracts thousands of tourists, Agence France-Presse reported.

COVID-19, which first broke out in Chinas Wuhan city, has been spreading rapidly across the globe in recent weeks, with more than 113,000 cases detected in at least 109 countries and territories. At least 4,000 people have died, mostly in China, according to the latest information from the World Health Organization (WHO).

On Wednesday in Geneva, the U.N. agency finally came out to declare the outbreak a pandemic.

This is the first pandemic caused by a #coronavirus, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a message posted on Twitter.

We cannot say this loudly enough, or clearly enough, or often enough: all countries can still change the course of this pandemic. This is the first pandemic that can be controlled, he added.

Visa on arrival revoked

Meanwhile, Thai officials announced that they were revoking visa-on-arrival programs with 18 nations and Taiwan following a meeting on COVID-19. Included on the list are China, India, Mexico, Russia and Saudi Arabia.

Travelers must seek visa at Thai Embassy and go through screening such as having medical certificate to lessen chance of spreading COVID-19, Interior Minister Anupong Paochinda said after the meeting.

Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha, who also attended the meeting, announced a harsher stance.

Travelers from South Korea, China including Hong Kong and Macau, Italy and Iran must be quarantined at home with officials monitoring their conditions  All visitors must apply for a visa like in the past, he said.

Thai officials announced six new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, bringing the nationwide total to 59.

Included among them were two immigration officers at Bangkoks Suvarnabhumi airport, who may have handled passports from infected travelers, a health official told AFP.

In Malaysia, officials reported 20 new cases on Wednesday, increasing the total to 149. The health ministry reported it had been alerted by its counterparts in Brunei that one of the sultanates confirmed cases had been to a gathering at a mosque in the Malaysian state of Selangor attended by 10,000 people, before returning home and showing symptoms.

On Sunday, Bangladesh confirmed its first three cases of COVID-19, two people who had traveled to Italy  one of the global hotspots of the viral outbreak  and a family member of one of the victims.

Wilawan Watcharasakwet in Bangkok contributed to this report.
What happened

Oil prices are snapping back today following yesterday's historic sell-off. Crude closed more than 10% higher on the day, fueled in part by a rash of spending cuts across the oil sector.

That powered a ferocious rally in the midstream sector. Enable Midstream (NYSE:ENBL), for example, was up a jaw-dropping 131% at 3 p.m. EDT, while NuStar Energy (NYSE:NS), Noble Midstream Partners (NASDAQ:NBLX), and Western Midstream Partners (NYSE:WES) all rallied more than 20% by the mid-afternoon.

So what

Yesterday's sell-off in the oil patch pummeled pipeline stocks. Several industry leaders tumbled more than 15%, while smaller midstream companies fell even further as investors bailed on the energy sector following oil's worst one-day decline since 1991. Fueling the sell-off in pipeline stocks were fears that the crash in crude oil prices might cause drillers to go bankrupt, which would affect their ability to pay midstream companies for transporting their production. That would affect the sector's ability to maintain its high-yielding dividends.

Even after today's rally, investors remain concerned that a wave of dividend cuts could be forthcoming. Enable Midstream, for example, still yields an eye-popping 28%, a clear sign that investors don't think it can maintain its current payout level. They hold similar views on the sustainability of the payouts of NuStar Energy (current yield 19%), Western Midstream (35%), and Noble Midstream Partners (50%).

The reason investors believe that these payouts won't last much longer is that oil companies will need to adjust their spending plans to the new reality of $30 oil. They'll produce less oil and gas, which will affect the volumes flowing through the gathering systems these companies operate.

Western Midstream has already experienced this firsthand. Its top customer, oil giant Occidental Petroleum (NYSE:OXY), slashed its capital spending plan and dividend following yesterday's oil rout. It probably won't ship as much volume through Western Midstream's assets, which would negatively affect its cash flow and ability to maintain its sky-high payout.

Noble Midstream, Enable Midstream, and NuStar Energy have similar risks because they focus on gathering oil and gas directly from wells. With energy companies likely finishing fewer wells this year, these companies will bear the brunt of that impact.

Now what

The market was worried about the long-term sustainability of these high-yielding energy companies long before crude crashed into the $30s. It now seems almost certain that many will have no choice but to reduce their high payout levels and redirect that cash toward paying down debt. Investors should thus avoid smaller midstream companies with sky-high yields.
In a last-minute change of plans, some Grand Princess cruise ship passengers who were brought to Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland will now be quarantined in their home states rather than in San Antonio, sowing confusion at multiple levels of government.

San Antonio officials were under the impression early Wednesday that another plane full of evacuees from the ship, where nearly two-dozen were diagnosed with the virus, would soon be headed to Lackland. But in a mid-afternoon call, federal officials said they will move the 74 non-Texans housed on the base to their own states and replace them with Texas passengers who have not yet left the California evacuation sites.

Over the next few days, Mayor Ron Nirenberg said evacuees will be shuffled around, with planes ferrying evacuees to final destinations closer to their homes. Eventually, only Texans will be housed at the hotel on Lackland that has been used since early February for federal coronavirus quarantines.

The abrupt change caps days of confusion among local officials about the federal governments plans for a third quarantine at Lackland, which has already hosted more than 200 evacuees from China and the Diamond Princess, another cruise ship where a cluster of coronavirus cases surfaced.

Adding to the turmoil, Nirenberg said San Antonio officials were also given incorrect head counts for the nearly 100 evacuees who had arrived at Lackland late Tuesday. Only 24 Texans  not 91  were among the 98 people who were flown from northern California, he said.

On ExpressNews.com: Inside the release of the Diamond Princess evacuees

Over the past two days, Nirenberg said the conversation between local, state and federal officials has been centered on making sure no state would be overwhelmed in its capacity to respond to the threat of coronavirus.

We know theres community spread in cities around the country. We know theres suspicion of community spread even in Texas, Nirenberg said. We can work to prevent that from happening, but we have to be realistic that its an infectious disease.

The reversal appears to be a relenting by the U.S. Health and Human Services Department, which had originally planned to quarantine non-Californian passengers at Lackland and Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Georgia.

As around 2,500 passengers were being disembarked early this week from the Grand Princess at a port in Oakland, Calif., San Antonio officials, with the support of the governors office, had already begun asking federal officials to alter their procedures for the third quarantine.

The requests included treating coronavirus patients with mild symptoms on the base and flying those who were medically cleared directly from the field at Lackland, rather than sending them to San Antonio International Airport after their quarantine.

Numerous hospital transports had taken place with the two previous groups of evacuees, at the behest of the Defense Department, which has not wanted anyone with the virus to remain on the base. Local officials repeatedly raised concerns that the transports could potentially expose the public to the highly contagious virus and burden local hospitals, which they said need to be available to treat members of the community who may contract coronavirus.

Local officials and members of San Antonios federal delegation also were trying to overcome shaken confidence in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which has overseen the quarantines at Lackland. They had been alarmed when the agency discharged from the hospital an evacuee from Wuhan who still had the virus in her system, a mix-up that sparked a struggle over the release of the Diamond Princess evacuees.

With a new group of evacuees on the way, city leaders asked federal officials for a copy of the written procedures on testing, treatment, transfer and quarantine of the new evacuees, but hadnt gotten one as of Wednesday morning.

As a result, confusion had swirled around how the new quarantine would be handled.

On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio, Bexar County in battle with the CDC over evacuees

Then Gov. Greg Abbott stepped in.

Earlier this week, his office said the Texas Center for Infectious Disease, a state-run tuberculosis hospital in San Antonio that has isolated and treated evacuees with coronavirus, would only provide care for Texans. Nine patients remained there as of Wednesday, according to city officials.

Abbotts office also said federal officials had assured him that non-Texan patients wouldnt go to area hospitals.

The governors spokesman, John Wittman, said state resources like TCID needed to be reserved for Texans, in the event that the virus spreads widely across the state. The decision had raised questions about where the CDC would direct infected evacuees who are not Texas residents if they became ill.

As of Wednesday morning, when the City Council met in an emergency session to discuss local efforts to combat the coronavirus, there was no good answer.

All of the evacuees at Lackland were symptom-free when they left California, City Manager Erik Walsh told the City Council. However, they are required to quarantine to ensure they havent been exposed to the virus, which is believed to have a lengthy two-week incubation period.

In a statement, CDC spokesman Joe Smith said the passengers already at Lackland and Dobbins will start their quarantines there and complete their isolation in their home states.

Although Nirenberg said he was told over the weekend that all the evacuees would be tested, city officials now say tests will only be mandatory for those who develop symptoms of COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the virus. Smith said the evacuees will also be offered voluntary testing, but noted that the federal government cannot coerce anyone to be tested.

On ExpressNews.com: Calm the panic: With impending release of cruise ship evacuees, San Antonio health officials begin pivot to community coronavirus plan

Concern over how to handle the large number of potentially exposed cruise ship passengers coincided with the burgeoning outbreak. The World Health Organization on Wednesday declared the spread of coronavirus had reached pandemic levels, on the same day that Texas announced a case of community spread in Montgomery County, where a person tested positive for the virus despite no relevant travel history or contact with a coronavirus patient.

The virus has infected more than 1,000 people in the U.S. and killed at least 37 so far. In Texas, 21 people in North Texas and the Houston area have been diagnosed with the virus, counts that dont include evacuees brought to San Antonio.

CDC officials have recommended that people who are susceptible to the virus, including those who are older or have underlying health conditions, begin making preparations to remain close to home for some time.

Lauren Caruba covers health care and medicine in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read her on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | lcaruba@express-news.net | Twitter: @LaurenCaruba
The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, on Tuesday, rejected a request to return stolen funds especially the ones linked to the late Head of State, Sani Abacha, to the federation account.

Mr Malami was reacting to the call made by a human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, that the recovered money ought to be paid into the federation account and shared among the federating units.

The AGFs posiiton was contained in a statement by his spokesperson, Umar Gwandu and titled, Looted funds: Dont confuse public with myopic views  Malami replies Falana.

The justice minister said Mr Falana made erroneous assertion on the process of disbursement and use of recovered stolen funds based on the provisions of the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission Act and Section 153 (1) (n) of the Nigerian Constitution.

Mr Malami added that it, depicts a rash analysis devoid of clear legal foundations.

Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission Act has nothing specific on funds recovered from indicted public officers or assets recovered internationally, the AGF said. It merely mentions accruals and disbursement of revenue from the Federation Account. So, questions of recovery of stolen funds from indicted public officers and illicit assets recovered internally are not contemplated by the spirit of the law internationally and are appropriately dealt with by other relevant laws. One cannot impute into legislation what is not specifically and expressly mentioned.

It is, therefore, misleading to give the impression that recoveries and usage of stolen funds stashed abroad are provided for by the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission Act. More so when recoveries are product of by multiple jurisdictional legislations, thereby bringing recoveries into the purview of conflict of laws, he added.

The AGF said Section 80 (1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) contemplates exceptions to funds not payable into the federation account.

He added that, The recovery of stolen assets and the subsequent uses to which these funds may be employed are subject to international agreements between Nigeria and the affected countries, thereby bringing conflict of laws into contemplation.

Importantly also, these repatriated funds are based on cooperation and mutual assistance agreements, especially the United Nation Convention against Corruption and Implementation of the Global Forum on Asset Recovery (GFAR) Principles on the Repatriation of Stolen Assets.

In recent years, the federal government had recovered massive amounts of looted funds, a large portion stolen by Mr Abacha and stached abroad while in power.
By AFP

KABUL: The Afghan government will gradually release 5,000 Taliban prisoners starting this week if the insurgents significantly reduce violence, President Ashraf Ghani's spokesman said on early Wednesday, seeking to resolve a dispute that has delayed peace talks between the militants and Kabul.

The announcement came hours after the US said its forces had started pulling out of two bases in Afghanistan, in line with a deal signed between Washington and the Taliban in Doha last month aiming to end America's longest war.

The government will "release 1,500 Taliban prisoners as a gesture of goodwill" starting on Saturday, with another 3,500 to be freed after negotiations begin, spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said on Twitter. The agreement, which will initially see 100 prisoners freed each day, will depend on the Taliban's willingness to significantly limit attacks in the country, he added.

The decision attempts to resolve one of the long-running spats that has stymied potential peace talks between the insurgents and the Afghan government. Although the Taliban were due to start talks with Kabul on Tuesday, negotiations were delayed because the insurgents' demanded as a prerequisite the prisoner release in exchange for 1,000 captives.

Ghani had refused but Wednesday's decree signalled a softening of his stance, with the proviso that none of the released prisoners would return to the frontlines.

According to the decree, after the first 1,500 captives are freed, a further "500 Taliban prisoners will be released every two weeks" once negotiations begin. US negotiator Zalmay Khalilzad welcomed the announcement and urged the Afghan government and the Taliban to meet "immediately" in Qatar to sort out prisoner details.

The State Department voiced confidence that Afghan peace talks would open soon, saying Ghani was speaking to rivals and would name a negotiating team "in the coming few days."

ALSO READ| US begins troop withdrawal from Afghanistan 10 days after inking deal with Taliban

UN backs deal

The UN Security Council on Tuesday endorsed the US-Taliban deal, a rare step for an agreement involving insurgents. The Council urged the Afghan government "to advance the peace process, including by participating in intra-Afghan negotiations".

Under the US-Taliban deal, foreign forces will quit Afghanistan within 14 months, subject to Taliban security guarantees and the insurgents holding talks with Kabul. The US is initially supposed to cut its troop presence from about 12,000 currently to 8,600 by mid-July, and close five of its roughly 20 bases across the country.

Troops have started leaving one base in Lashkar Gah, the capital of Helmand province in the south, and another base in Herat in the west, a US official told AFP on the condition of anonymity. Helmand is where US and British forces fought some of the bloodiest campaigns of the 18-year war.

The initial drawdown comes as the Taliban, which see themselves as having achieved "victory" over America, test the Pentagon's resolve to protect local partners by conducting dozens of low-level attacks against Afghan forces.

The US has only responded to a few of these attacks, but the State Department warned Tuesday that the level of violence was "unacceptable." In the previous 24 hours, the insurgents carried out attacks in 32 out of 34 of the country's provinces, killing seven people including two civilians, interior ministry spokesman Nasrat Rahimi told AFP.

The Taliban have ramped up attacks since halting a week-long partial truce in place until the signing of the Doha accord, ending a welcome reprieve for ordinary Afghans who have born the brunt of the deadly violence.

Under the US-Taliban deal, the militants are to prevent groups including Al-Qaeda from using Afghanistan as a base to threaten the security of the US and its allies.

In congressional testimony on Tuesday, a top US general, Kenneth McKenzie, said the Islamist extremist Taliban have been "very effective" against the Islamic State group in Nangarhar province over the last few months. "There was very limited support from us," he said, without elaborating.

Kabul chaos

There was no immediate reaction from the insurgents to Ghani's decree on the prisoners, which followed a deepening political crisis in Kabul. Ghani's rival Abdullah Abdullah also declared himself president and held a simultaneous swearing-in ceremony on Monday, minutes after Ghani took the oath for his second term.

A member of the Taliban's leadership council - the Quetta Shura - told AFP on Tuesday the insurgents had delivered a list of the 5,000 captives they wanted freed to the Afghan government. But he accused Kabul of acting in bad faith, alleging that "the government (planned) to release only those prisoners who are elderly, very ill, or those whose sentences have expired".

Kabul did not respond to the allegations, but Ghani's decree on Wednesday said that "prisoners will be released based on their age, health status and the remaining jail term".
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667,000 boxes of cookies will be distributed to local Girl Scout families at 7 drop sites, including the two largest: Cowabunga Bay at 900 Galleria Dr. and Berger Allied Moving and Storage at 600 East Cheyenne Ave. The event will take place on Saturday, February 8 at 9:00 a.m.  Noon. Cowabunga Bay will also host a special Scout Days for Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts on June 20-21.

The 667,000 boxes of cookies will be distributed to local Girl Scout families on Saturday at seven drop sites across Southern Nevada during the annual cookie mega drop. Cowabunga Bay will be the largest drop site distributing over 103,000 boxes of cookies in less than 3 hours helping to prepare Girl Scouts and Troop Leaders for the start of cookie booths on February 14.

Traditional Girl Scout cookie booths begin on Friday, February 14 and end on Sunday, March 1.

2,500 Southern Nevada Girl Scouts are anticipated to sell over 885,000 boxes of cookies in 2020. All proceeds raised during cookie season stays in Southern Nevada and helps Girl Scouts attend camp, fund trips, and complete service projects. The ultimate goal of cookie season is to help fund troop activities and to teach Girl Scouts about the importance of financial literacy.
By Brian Nguyen

Health experts are urging hospitals and insurance to waive fees and costs associated with being tested and treated for coronavirus. Many Americans simply cant afford the costs of testing, treatment and quarantine. This means many will forgo going to the doctor until its really badleading to further community infections and the spread of the disease. If we want to stop coronavirus, one of the most important things is to make sure people get the medical care they need. If people avoid treatment because of worries over costs, things will only get worse. However, fiscal conservatives caution that this would be a huge cost and may negatively impact the economy. What do you think?

In this New York Times article, health policy expert John Graves lays out exactly why our current healthcare system can be a barrier to containing the coronavirus outbreak.

The health insurance system is designed to make you think twice to seek care every time you get a runny nose, fever and cough, said John Graves, a health policy expert at Vanderbilt University. Even though identifying people with the virus in the early stages is critical to preventing a spread of the disease, Dr. Graves said, many people are likely to wait out any symptoms to avoid expensive care.

The U.S. government put a family in mandatory isolation. Now they're left with a $3,900 surprise hospital bill.



Profiting during an outbreak is not only cruelit threatens public health. All needed tests, treatment, and vaccines must be made free for all. https://t.co/4MRQwyuHlR  Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) March 3, 2020

South Korea has been able to tamp down the spread of coronavirus in its communities thanks to aggressive programs designed to get people to come forward and be treated.

South Korea has conducted 190,000 tests thus far, capacity of 15,000 a day.



"If doctors suspect a COVID-19 case, they can proceed with testing without restriction. Of course, the testing is conducted free of charge."  Victoria Kim (@vicjkim) March 9, 2020

A relative in China messaged me concerned about the spread of the coronavirus in the US and urged me that if I feel sick to go get free testing & treatment like how ppl did in China. I had to break it to him that the US does not give out free healthcare under any circumstance lol  . (@mqmq_mmqq) March 8, 2020

The Tylt is focused on debates and conversations around news, current events and pop culture. We provide our community with the opportunity to share their opinions and vote on topics that matter most to them. We actively engage the community and present meaningful data on the debates and conversations as they progress. The Tylt is a place where your opinion counts, literally. The Tylt is an Advance Local Media, LLC property. Join us on Twitter @TheTylt, on Instagram @TheTylt or on Facebook, wed love to hear what you have to say.
Afghanistan's Abdullah Abdullah, front left, greets his supporters after being sworn in as president in Kabul, Afghanistan on March 9, 2020. (AP Photo)

US Starts Troop Pullout, Seeks End to Afghan Leaders Feud

KABUL, AfghanistanThe United States began withdrawing troops from Afghanistan, the U.S. military said March 10, taking a step forward on its peace deal with the Taliban while also praising Afghan President Ashraf Ghanis promise to start releasing Taliban prisoners after he had delayed for over a week.

The U.S.Taliban deal signed Feb. 29 was touted as Washingtons effort to end 18 years of war in Afghanistan. The next crucial step was to be intra-Afghan talks in which all factions including the Taliban would negotiate a road map for their countrys future.

But Ghani and his main political rival, Abdullah Abdullah, were each sworn in as president in separate ceremonies March 9. Abdallah and the elections complaints commission had charged fraud in last years vote. The dueling inaugurations have thrown plans for talks with the Taliban into chaos, although Ghani said March 10 that hed start putting together a negotiating team.

The disarray on the Afghan government side is indicative of the uphill task facing Washingtons peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad as he tries to get Afghanistans bickering leadership to come together. In an early March 10 tweet, Khalilzad said he hoped the two leaders can come to an agreement on an inclusive and broadly accepted government. We will continue to assist.

U.S. military spokesman in Afghanistan Sonny Leggett said in a statement March 10 that the military had begun its conditions-based reduction of forces to 8,600 over 135 days.

Currently, the U.S. has about 13,000 soldiers in Afghanistan8,000 of whom are involved in training and advising Afghanistans National Security Forces, while about 5,000 are involved in anti-terror operations and militarily supporting the Afghan army when they are requested.

Ghani had been dragging his feet on releasing some 5,000 Taliban prisoners, something agreed to in the U.S.Taliban deal. Ghani promised March 9 to announce a decree to free the prisoners after the U.S. and a number of foreign dignitaries appeared to back his claim to the presidency by sending their representatives to his inauguration.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo released a statement March 9 saying, We also welcome President Ghanis announcement that he will issue a decree March 10 on Taliban prisoner release.

Taliban officials said late March 9 that a flurry of biometric identifications were being conducted on Taliban prisoners, hinting at a mass release, according to prisoners currently in lockup. The Taliban officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they werent authorized to talk to the media.

Sohail Shaheen, the Talibans spokesman in Doha where the insurgent group maintains an office, wrote on Twitter March 10 that the names of the 5,000 prisoners are with an American delegation and the list cannot be manipulated, without elaborating.

In his tweet, Shaheen said any prisoners handed over will be verified before being accepted. The Associated Press contacted a Taliban prisoner in Afghanistans Pul-e-Charkhi Jail on the outskirts of Kabul who said four Taliban had been released March 9 and another three on March 10. The seven had completed their sentence, said Maulvi Niaz Mohammad in a telephone interview.

They were not part of the 5,000 on the Taliban prisoner list, he said. Mohammad, who had also been interviewed by The AP in the prison in December, is in telephone contact with the Talibans Prisoners Commission, which is headed by Maulvi Nooruddin Turani, a former Taliban justice minister and a violent enforcer of the Talibans strict code of conduct.

Meanwhile, Pompeo said he strongly opposed the establishment of a parallel government in Kabul, despite early signs of one emerging. Abdullah had quickly sent his vice presidents to occupy the official offices March 9, ahead of Ghanis plan to send his vice presidents to their offices March 10.

Pompeo warned against any use of force to resolve political differences. Both candidatesbut particularly Abdullahare backed by warlords with heavily armed militias, underscoring fears they could use force to back their candidate.

The U.S. has said its partial troop withdrawal over an 18-month period provided for in the deal will be linked to the Taliban keeping their promises to help fight terror in Afghanistan, but not to the success of talks between the Taliban and the Afghan government.

Over the weekend, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahed said the insurgent group was committed to its agreement with the U.S. and called on Washington to do its part to make sure its prisoners were freed.

ISIS claimed responsibility for a rocket attack that took place during Ghanis inauguration ceremony. ISIS also claimed a brutal attack last week on a gathering of minority Shiites that killed 32 and injured scores more. The U.S. in reaching its deal with the Taliban said it expected the Taliban, which has been battling Afghanistans ISIS affiliate, to further aid in the effort to defeat ISIS.
Thousands of Australians will soon receive a warning letter from the Tax Office as it cracks down those who left cryptocurrency earnings off their return.

The ATO will be targeting up to 350,000 Australians who sold cryptocurrency during the 2017/2018 financial year.

The letters will warn recipients to correct their tax return and identify any potential undeclared profits or losses made from their investments by April 1 or they could be audited.

The ATO is sending out a letter to cryptocurrency investors warning them they may have left earnings for the online currency off their tax return. Picture is an example of the letter

A spokesperson told news.com the ATO published a Data Matching Protocol for cryptocurrency last year that revealed many may have been unaware they needed to claim the online currency.

'Our campaign is designed to help raise awareness and give people the opportunity to fix any mistakes,' a spokesperson said.

They recommended investors keep records such as receipts, the date of the sale and the value of the cryptocurrency in Australian dollars at the time of the transaction.

The ATO said many people may not have known they are required to declare cryptocurrency profits and losses

Mark Chapman from H&R Block said several of its clients had already received the cautionary email.

While Mr Chapman said many of those receiving the letter may have not have known they were required to include the investment but others may have not declared them deliberately.

'You do also get people who may well have known the tax implications, but assumed the ATO would never find out because it is all done online and it is not in Aussie dollars  it is very much a virtual transaction, so some people out there have assumed the ATO couldn't follow the money, which is obviously not correct. ' Mr Chapman said.

'If you are buying or selling shares, you probably know there's the potential to have to pay capital gains, and it's the exact same situation with bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies.'

The letters will warn recipients to correct their tax return and identify any potential undeclared profits or losses made from their investments by April 1 or they could be audited

It follows a similar crackdown in October last year that saw the ATO send out a letter asking people to include additional rental income earned from services such as AirBnb in their tax return.

The ATO said at the time the letter was designed to educate people that they needed to pay tax for rental income even if it was earned through the online services.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted the ATO for comment.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-11 17:51:03|Editor: xuxin

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Firefighters spray water to extinguish fire at a slum in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on March 11, 2020. A massive fire swept through one of the largest slums in Bangladeshi capital Dhaka Wednesday, destroying hundreds of homes and leaving thousands displaced. (Str/Xinhua)

DHAKA, March 11 (Xinhua) -- A massive fire swept through one of the largest slums in Bangladeshi capital Dhaka Wednesday, destroying hundreds of homes and leaving thousands displaced.

The slum, called Rupnagar Bosti, shelters about 100,000 residents.

Twenty-five fire fighting units rushed to the spot, Russel Shikder, a fire department duty officer, told Xinhua on Wednesday.

The blaze was doused at about 1:00 p.m. local time, said the official, adding the exact cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained.

The fire from the slum reportedly spread to at least one nearby six-storey building.

A committee has been formed to investigate the fire, another fire official said, who did not like to be named.

He said 200 homes, made of scrap sheet iron, plastic and cardboard were destroyed fully or partially.

No casualties have so far been reported.

Fires are common in Dhaka slums where hundreds of thousands of people are crammed in shacks along rail and waterways.

In Dhaka alone, every year fires leave thousands of slum dwellers homeless.
UPPER THUMB  There is a renewed interest in repairing the 114-year-old Caro Dam.

One of the dams two floodgates failed in April 2014, which has caused lower water levels in the Cass River and in the Caro Lake since then.

Although there have been variety of suggestions of how to fix the dam, they have all been cost-prohibitive.

Eric Fox has privately owned the dam since about 2003, and he does not have the estimated $60,000 it would cost to repair the dam. The reason the one floodgate broke is because of one the trunnion pins on it rusted through.

The one remaining food-gate that is still functioning is under pressure from debris that has built up. If the second gate fails, the Cass River could become just a creek.

Because the dam is privately owned, Fox can leave the broken gate, repair the gate with a Michigan Department of Environmental Quality permit, or remove the dam with a MDEQ permit.

Also, the state could step in and condemn it and have it removed.

Without the dam, the level of the Cass River could drop another two feet, which would greatly impact recreational boating and fishing.

Over the last few months, the possibility of having the Tuscola County Economic Development Corporation take over ownership of the dam has been discussed, said Tuscola County Commission Chair Thom Bardwell.

At the last meeting for EDC, the EDC board moved to purchase the Caro Dam, but the board expressed concern in regards to EDC owning the dam, Bardwell said, noting there will be more to come on this matter.

For the last few years, Tuscola Commissioner Kim Vaughan has taken up the cause of trying to find options to get the dam fully functional again.

Ive been working hard on trying to get repairs to the dam," Vaughan said. "I honestly believe putting the water back in the Cass River is a huge plus and benefit to the county as a whole. Ive reached out to the public about this and had nothing but positive responses."

So Im reaching out again, but we have met some local opposition to our project" Vaughan continued. "Im asking all my followers and all the residents to send support of Caro Dam letters.

Letters can be sent to the EDC at 141 S. Almer St., Caro 48723.

This would be a huge help," Vaughan said. "Tell friends, anybody and everybody, to write if you are in support of this project. We need to receive as much support as we can with in the next couple of weeks. If they remove that dam, the water is completely gone for ever.

The dam was originally built in 1906 to provide water for the Michigan Sugar Company. It was reconstructed in 1928 as a hydroelectric dam to provide power to Caro, but it had been out of service for several years when Fox bought it.

As part of the Cass River development in 2015, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers stabilized the 163-year old Frankenmuth Dam with a $3.5 million project. The work included construction of a rock-ramp structure and stone weirs on top of the dam to form a step-pool of 300 feet downstream from the current dam head to allow fish passage upstream to spawn. Fish were then planted in the Frankenmuth area.

If a similar repair could be done to the Caro dam, it would help raise the rivers water levels.

People from throughout the Thumb use the Cass River and Caro Lake for fishing, kayaking and canoeing. Chippewa Landing south of Caro off M-24 has a boat launch that was used a lot until the water level went down.

The Cass River Greenway committee, which is a grassroots group, has been working to clean up the Cass River, develop it as an eco-tourism attraction, and is trying to have the waterway designated a national water trail.

For about 12 years, CRG members and volunteers have cleaned up sections of the river each year.

Efforts the last two years have focused on cleaning up sections of the river from Cass City toward Caro.

Over the years the clean-up effort has removed tons of garbage out of the river. Some of the items that have been removed have included axles, chairs, sections of old farm equipment, and several hundred tires.
Dr. Naderi recognized as a Top Doctor for 2020 by FindaTopDoc.com Dr. Naderi is double board-certified by the American Board of Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery and the American Board of Otolaryngology, two of the most widely recognized institutions in the medical community.

Dr. Shervin Naderi, double board-certified facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon in Chevy Chase, MD, and the Greater Washington D.C. area, has been selected to appear on the 2020 list of top doctors by findatopdoc.com, a resource which helps patients find doctors in their area and book appointments online.

Dr. Shervin Naderi, MD, FACS, is a renowned plastic surgeon at the Naderi Center for Cosmetic Surgery & Skin Care. Dr. Naderi is best known for his expertise in performing rhinoplasty and injectable treatments. He received his fellowship training as a face specialist and has significant experience in teaching other surgeons and dermatologists the art of injecting Botox, Dysport, and dermal fillers.

Known to have a passion for mentoring other young surgeons, Dr. Naderi gives frequent talks and Grand Round lectures at many highly esteemed medical centers, including the George Washington University School of Medicine. He is also a clinical assistant professor of Facial Plastic Surgery at the Indiana University School of Medicines Department of Head & Neck Surgery where he teaches residents both traditional and cutting-edge techniques in rhinoplasty and facial plastic surgery.

In addition to being a surgeon and educator, Dr. Naderi has authored a number of scientific articles and has written chapters in established surgical textbooks for head and neck plastic surgeries, including rhinoplasty and facelift surgery. He serves as a Board Examiner for the American Board of Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery.

Today, Dr. Naderi is most concerned with facial plastic surgery of the nose (rhinoplasty) and facial rejuvenation procedures using Botox and dermal fillers. Dr. Naderi is double board-certified by the American Board of Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery and the American Board of Otolaryngology, two of the most widely recognized institutions in the medical community.

Dr. Shervin Naderi has two office locations in the Greater Washington D.C. area, one in Reston, VA, and the other in Chevy Chase, MD. His patients come from all over Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia, Philadelphia, and other parts of the country. Dr. Naderi also sees patients from around the globe, traveling from as far as Canada, England, Spain, Russia, and Iran.

The Naderi Center is staffed by expert plastic surgeons who offer highly specialized surgical and non-surgical care. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Shervin Naderi in Chevy Chase, MD, or Reston, VA, call 301-222-2020 or visit https://www.virginiafacialplasticsurgery.com.
Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google, speaks to the media before the opening of the Berlin representation of Google Germany in Berlin on January 22, 2019.

Google recommended that employees from the U.K., Europe, Middle East and Africa work from home beginning Thursday until further notice, the company confirmed Wednesday.

The only remaining region conducting business as usual at this point is Latin America, which a Google spokesperson said could change as the situation evolves.

The latest measures come amid Alphabet's attempts to mobilize its workforce of more than 300,000 workers to deal with the COVID-19 crisis. The World Health Organization declared the coronavirus outbreak a global pandemic. The outbreak has killed more than 4,291 people and infected at least 119,470 people around the world.

On Monday, CNBC reported that the company blocked all external visitors from coming into some of its offices, including New York and the San Francisco Bay Area where its Mountain View, California, headquarters are located. It also canceled all on-site job interviews. Tuesday, Google told its more than 100,000 North American employees to stay home amid the virus until at least April 10.

Alphabet's top executives, including CEO Sundar Pichai and CFO Ruth Porat, urged employees to stay motivated to run Google's global infrastructure amid sweeping changes and fears around the virus spread, CNBC reported last week.

"We know this is a very unsettling time for everyone," Pichai said in an internal email, adding that the company has security and "resilience" teams running a 24-hour command center to help executives monitor the situation as it progresses.
If you own shares in Quaterra Resources Inc. (CVE:QTA) then it's worth thinking about how it contributes to the volatility of your portfolio, overall. In finance, Beta is a measure of volatility. Volatility is considered to be a measure of risk in modern finance theory. Investors may think of volatility as falling into two main categories. The first type is company specific volatility. Investors use diversification across uncorrelated stocks to reduce this kind of price volatility across the portfolio. The second type is the broader market volatility, which you cannot diversify away, since it arises from macroeconomic factors which directly affects all the stocks on the market.

Some stocks are more sensitive to general market forces than others. Some investors use beta as a measure of how much a certain stock is impacted by market risk (volatility). While we should keep in mind that Warren Buffett has cautioned that 'Volatility is far from synonymous with risk', beta is still a useful factor to consider. To make good use of it you must first know that the beta of the overall market is one. Any stock with a beta of greater than one is considered more volatile than the market, while those with a beta below one are either less volatile or poorly correlated with the market.

Check out our latest analysis for Quaterra Resources

What QTA's beta value tells investors

Zooming in on Quaterra Resources, we see it has a five year beta of 1.95. This is above 1, so historically its share price has been influenced by the broader volatility of the stock market. Based on this history, investors should be aware that Quaterra Resources are likely to rise strongly in times of greed, but sell off in times of fear. Beta is worth considering, but it's also important to consider whether Quaterra Resources is growing earnings and revenue. You can take a look for yourself, below.

TSXV:QTA Income Statement, March 10th 2020

Could QTA's size cause it to be more volatile?

Story continues

Quaterra Resources is a rather small company. It has a market capitalisation of CA$13m, which means it is probably under the radar of most investors. It has a relatively high beta, suggesting it is fairly actively traded for a company of its size. Because it takes less capital to move the share price of a small company like this, when a stock this size is actively traded it is quite often more sensitive to market volatility than similar large companies.

What this means for you:

Since Quaterra Resources tends to move up when the market is going up, and down when it's going down, potential investors may wish to reflect on the overall market, when considering the stock. In order to fully understand whether QTA is a good investment for you, we also need to consider important company-specific fundamentals such as Quaterra Resourcess financial health and performance track record. I urge you to continue your research by taking a look at the following:

Financial Health: Are QTAs operations financially sustainable? Balance sheets can be hard to analyze, which is why weve done it for you. Check out our financial health checks here. Past Track Record: Has QTA been consistently performing well irrespective of the ups and downs in the market? Go into more detail in the past performance analysis and take a look at the free visual representations of QTA's historicals for more clarity. Other High-Performing Stocks: Are there other stocks that provide better prospects with proven track records? Explore our free list of these great stocks here.

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



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
DETROIT (Reuters) - Democratic presidential contender Bernie Sanders will speak publicly on Wednesday afternoon for the first time since his rival, Joe Biden, took firm control of the partys nominating race on the day before by scoring victories in four U.S. states.

Sanders will provide a campaign update at a 1 p.m. EDT (1700 GMT) news conference in his home state of Vermont, the U.S. senators campaign said. Aides did not respond when asked for details about what Sanders might say.

Former Vice President Biden notched decisive primary victories in Michigan and three other states on Tuesday, taking a big step toward the partys nomination to take on Republican Donald Trump in November and casting doubt on the future of Sanders fading White House bid.

Sanders, who scored a win in North Dakota but had hoped for an upset victory in Michigan to boost his flagging chances, was forced to cancel an election night rally in Cleveland due to concerns over the coronavirus and has yet to comment on the results.

Biden, 77, has already begun to look ahead to the general election, calling for party unity and making an appeal to supporters of Sanders, 78.

We share a common goal, and together we are going to defeat Donald Trump, Biden said in Philadelphia, thanking Sanders and his supporters for their energy and passion.

Just two weeks ago, Sanders was seen as the front-runner after an impressive win in Nevada in mid-February, while Biden and the other moderate candidates continued to split the vote of the partys centrists.

But the former vice presidents dominant performance in South Carolina on Feb. 29 prompted Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg to drop out and endorse Biden. The momentum carried Biden to a series of commanding victories on March 3s Super Tuesday contests in 14 states. Billionaire Mike Bloomberg dropped out after that vote and also endorsed Biden.

On Tuesday, Bidens wins in Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi and Idaho were powered by a broad coalition of supporters, including women, African Americans, those with and without college degrees, older voters, union members and all but the very liberal, according to exit polls by Edison Research.

On Wednesday Edison called North Dakota for Sanders around 7:15 a.m. CDT (1215 GMT), after results showed he had received 53% of the vote to Bidens 40%. The last state, Washington, still remained too close to call on Wednesday afternoon, according to Edison.

The loss in Michigan, where Sanders had won during his 2016 Democratic primary campaign, will heighten pressure on the senator, a self-styled democratic socialist, to exit the race and help Democrats prepare for a bruising campaign against Trump.

Voters across the states said on Tuesday they trusted Biden more to handle a major crisis by roughly 2-to-1 over Sanders, exit polls showed, a possible sign the fast-spreading coronavirus outbreak helped boost Bidens appeal as a steady and experienced hand.

PARTY RALLIES AROUND BIDEN

After the victories, there was a growing sense of inevitability surrounding Bidens candidacy.

Former rival Andrew Yang endorsed him, joining other Democratic candidates who have dropped their presidential bids and now support Biden, including Buttigieg, Klobuchar, Kamala Harris and Cory Booker.

The math says Joe is our prohibitive nominee. We need to bring the party together, Yang said on CNN.

One of Sanders most influential supporters, liberal U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, acknowledged the depth of his defeat.

Theres no sugarcoating it, she wrote on Instagram. Tonights a tough night.

Michigan was the biggest, most competitive of the six states that held nominating contests on Tuesday. It is also a crucial battleground that Trump narrowly and unexpectedly won in 2016, which along with wins in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin propelled his ascent to the White House.

The Biden wins could be too much for Sanders to overcome, with the contest shifting to large states including Florida, Ohio and Georgia, where Biden is seen as a clear favorite.

By the end of March, about two-thirds of the nearly 4,000 delegates to Julys Democratic nominating convention will have been allocated.

Biden had won 158 delegates to Sanders 100 by Wednesday morning, giving him an overall lead of 786-645 in the race for the 1,991 delegates needed to win the nomination outright, according to Edison Research.

Bidens big margin of victory on Tuesday - including a stunning 66-percentage-point victory in Mississippi - was fueled by strong support from the states African-American voters.

In Washington state, Biden and Sanders were in a virtual tie, with more than two-thirds of the votes counted.

The math is now clear. Joe Biden is going to be the Democratic nominee, Guy Cecil chairman of the Democratic super PAC Priorities USA, said on Twitter, adding that the fundraising group would do everything we can to help him defeat Donald Trump.
Britons have been told to leave Italy and go home as the country shuts down everything in a drastic bid to stop a coronavirus outbreak.

The nation is grappling with the worst epidemic in the world outside China and more than 10,000 people have now caught the infection there. 631 have died.

The UK Foreign Office today urged British people to fly home while they still can as the Italian government urges tourists to leave and airlines are cancelling flights.

In a statement officials said: 'The Italian authorities have advised against travel for tourism purposes throughout Italy, and that tourists already on holiday in Italy should end their travel, unless it is necessary, to return to the place where they live.'

Plane tickets out of Italy are quickly becoming hot property after British Airways, Easyjet, Jet2 and WizzAir cancelled all of their routes between Italy and the UK.

Ryanair is flying normally until Saturday, when it will stop for almost a month, and Easyjet said it would operate 'rescue flights' in the coming days.

One couple from Hertfordshire spent 600 in their desperate bid to get out of the country, driving through the night from Milan to Turin to ensure a seat to London.

Others who have returned in the last 24 hours said the situation was nowhere near this bad when they left and many now face two weeks in isolation at home in case they've caught the coronavirus.

Sam and Mark McVey, from Hertfordshire, spent 600 on their desperate bid to get out of Italy last night and had to drive from Milan to Turin after their flight was cancelled

Torino Airport in Turin, northern Italy, is pictured almost deserted today as Italians are barred from travelling and tourists are being urged to go home

A statement from the Foreign Office today said: 'British nationals remain able to depart Italy without restriction.

'Airports remain open throughout Italy. However, the Italian authorities have advised against travel for tourism purposes throughout Italy, and that tourists already on holiday in Italy should end their travel, unless it is necessary, to return to the place where they live.

'Airline schedules are subject to change and some flights are being cancelled.

'We therefore advise all remaining British tourists in Italy to contact their airline operators to arrange return to the UK as soon as possible.'

Numerous airlines have cancelled flights and Ryanair, one of the last remaining British fliers, will stop its service from Saturday.

Britons must now abandon their holidays and try to get a seat on one of the last flights home.

HOW CAN PEOPLE GET HOME FROM ITALY? WHAT DO I DO IF I'M TRAPPED IN ITALY? Ryanair is guaranteeing that all its customers in Italy can get a flight home before they stop going there on Saturday until early April. Other airlines such as BA may also choose to send empty planes to Italy to evacuate passengers whose flights were cancelled. The UK Government could also send planes like the ones used to repatriate people from China last month. CAN PEOPLE STILL FLY HOME FROM ITALY TO THE UK? Although a number of airlines, including British Airways, easyJet, Jet2 and WizzAir have cancelled some or all of their flights to and from Italy, Britons in the country can still fly home directly. Ryanair will continue to fly as normal until Saturday - with customers in Italy able to fly home before then if required. EasyJet has cancelled its flights to and from Italy for approximately a month. Spanish airline Vuelling is running some flights. Italian airline Alitalia has stopped flying out of Milan Malpensa and limited flights from Milan Linate to only domestic routes, but it continues to fly internationally out of Rome. CAN PEOPLE TRAVEL OUT OF ITALY BY ROAD OR RAIL? Austria has banned Italians from crossing its border but trains continue to run between the two countries. Staff are reportedly getting off at the border crossings and turning back. Switzerland's border is open and trains are still running, although Italian citizens face more detailed checks when passing into the country  they will be expected to produce work permits. Slovenia has closed its border for all non-commercial traffic. France's border remains open. The border with Croatia is also still open and authorities said they would not close it unless it was decided by the EU. But people arriving from the virus-hit north could face two weeks of quarantine. WHAT DOES ITALY'S LOCKDOWN MEAN FOR ITALIANS? Italian citizens are being urged not to travel around the country unless in emergencies, and are being prevented from flying abroad. Checkpoints on roads and at terminals will reportedly be checking people's paperwork to work out if they have good enough reasons to travel. Public trains and buses will continue to run, although people are being urged not to use them unless they have to, and no airports have been closed yet. Advertisement

Sam and Mark McVey, from Hertfordshire, stumped up a massive 600 for their flights home this morning after driving 90 miles from Milan to Turin to catch it.

Their flight from Milan was cancelled after the resort they were staying in shut down over the weekend.

Sam, 52, told MailOnline: 'We arrived at the resort in the Three Valleys, Champoluc, in Val dAosta, on Saturday. Sunday, our first day on the slopes was fantastic.

'But on Monday morning we found that everything had been shut down.

'The ski-lifts were closed, all the restaurants and bars were closed and most of the shops. Fortunately we found a little deli that was open and we bought some bread, eggs and pasta.

We changed our EasyJet flight from Milan to come back the next day. But it got cancelled overnight. I thought we would be stranded in Italy with no way to get home.

'So we stayed up all night looking for flights and managed to get this Ryanair flight from Turin. We left the resort at 4am managed to get one of the last flights out of Italy.'

Meanwhile, travellers arriving from Italy say they have received conflicting advice about how to act on their return.

Passengers arriving on Ryanair flights from Turin and Venice have told how misleading information is still on display at Londons Stansted Airport stating only visitors to Italys 'red zone' in the north must self-isolate.

But the latest advice from Public Health England is that travellers from all of Italy must stay at home for 14 days whether or not they have any symptoms.

Retired couple Michael and Wendy Bull from Harlow, Essex, must now self-isolate for 14 days after spending a weekend break in the Italian Alps near Turin.

Mr Bull, 67, told MailOnline: 'Ryanair staff told us that we must self-isolate for 14 days after arriving from Italy.

'But the notice board in the arrivals hall says you only need to self-isolate if you have been in the red zone  Lombardy and other regions that have been worst affected.

'We know we must self-isolate for 14 days but that not what the notice boards are saying.

'We normally look after our grandchildren and we have a wedding and a funeral to go to, but we want to do the right thing and stay at home.

'Our daughter-in-law has already got us some shopping in so we should be ok.'

Finance worker Ricardo Traini told how he would book an apartment to spare his flat-mates from possible exposure to the virus, after returning from Italy.

Mr Traini, 34, from east London, told MailOnline: I went to the Turin area to visit my relatives. But now I understand I must stay away from everyone for 14 days.

I am trying to book and AirBnB because I share a flat and I dont want to infect my flat-mates.

Self-employed worker Josh Wardle told how he will lose hundreds of pounds from self-isolating after visiting his girlfriend in Turin.

Michael and Wendy Bull, from Essex, said they will now have to miss a wedding and a funeral while they self-isolate for two weeks, while finance worker Ricardo Traini said he will have to rent a room somewhere so he doesn't put his flatmates at risk

24-year-old Josh Wardle, from Derbyshire, said he is self-employed and will lose money now that he has to go into isolation

The 24-year-old from Derbyshire, told MailOnline: 'I am a stair-lift engineer and if I dont work I dont get paid. But Im going to follow the advice and self-isolate for two weeks.

'When I went to Italy a week ago this was not an issue. Turin was not in the red zone. Now its like a war zone.

'But I didnt got out. We stayed at her apartment and got some shopping delivered. I had not seen my girlfriend for months so I was determined to go.'

People in Italy are facing increasingly difficult trips home to the UK after British Airways and Jet2 yesterday announced they were cancelling all flights between the two countries.

Ryanair will continue to fly as normal until Saturday - with customers in Italy able to fly home before it stops all international flights from the virus-hit nation until April 8.

EasyJet has cancelled all of its flights between Italy and the UK.

Italian airline Alitalia has stopped flying out of Milan Malpensa and limited flights from Milan Linate to only domestic routes, but it continues to fly internationally out of Rome. Budget Spanish airline Vuelling is also running some flights.

A couple flying into London from Venice last night claimed they were given forms to fill out in case health officials had to track them down if a passenger was diagnosed  but nobody collected the forms.

And a family who returned from northern Italy in half-term were reportedly told they did not need to self-isolate but, when one of them fell ill, only two were quarantined in a hospital to wait for test results which were eventually negative. The daughter was allowed to go to school.

Thousands of Brits returning from Italy have said they are confused and frustrated by the Government's travel advice, with some passengers admitting they had no idea they were supposed to self-isolate at home for two weeks.

Italy has the highest coronavirus death rate in the world. The virus, which is particularly dangerous for old people,

People flying into the UK from Gatwick from Italy said they were allowed to travel as normal  they will now be expected to isolate themselves at home for two weeks in case they have caught the coronavirus

British Airways has cancelled all of its flights to and from Italy because of the coronavirus outbreak there (Pictured, a BA arrivals board at Heathrow Airport)

At least 382 people in the UK have been diagnosed with the coronavirus and six have died

Experts say the UK  where the number of coronavirus cases started to take off last week  is just two weeks away from being in a situation as bad as Italy's

People have also been surprised to find they are still able to travel as normal, facing no health checks or questioning at the British border, despite the impending threat of a major coronavirus outbreak in the UK.

Italy is now the worst-hit country outside of China  more than 10,000 people there have caught the illness and at least 631 have died. The UK has now recorded more than 450 cases and six patients have died.

IS THE UK HEADING FOR AN ITALIAN-STYLE CORONAVIRUS CRISIS? The UK could be heading straight for a coronavirus crisis like the one which has crippled Italy, leading experts have warned. Italy last night put all of its 60million people into lockdown and banned movement between cities in a drastic bid to contain the outbreak, which has infected 9,000 people. But one scientist tracking the outbreak in the UK said Britain is following the same trajectory and could end up in a similar situation as Italy within two weeks. The number of cases in Italy has rocketed from just three on February 21 to at least 9,172. While in the UK it has jumped from nine to 321. Professor Mark Handley, at University College London, compared the rate of coronavirus infection in Italy, which is in crisis, to that in the UK, Germany, France, Spain, the US and Switzerland and found they're growing at the same rate Advertisement

Denise Owens, who returned from Venice last night after a holiday with her husband, said there had been signs of precautions being taken but they were not followed through.

She told MailOnline: 'While on the plane we all had to fill out forms so they could trace all passengers if one became ill.

'I went to hand mine in on the plane but was told we had to hand them in inside the airport, but there was no-one to give these forms to. Nobody was interested. Mine is still in my bag.'

Another family who visited the north of Italy during February half-term said they were told they didn't need to self-isolate when they came home.

Silvia Monchelato and her family, who have lived in London for 15 years, returned in the same week that Italy's rampant outbreak started to spiral out of control.

They were told by NHS 111 that they did not need to isolate, she told MailOnline, but she and her son were taken into quarantine when he started to feel ill  but her daughter was sent back to school.

Mrs Monchelato, who is Italian but has had both her children in the UK, had been to Veneto, one of the northern Italian regions at the heart of the country's outbreak and returned on February 26.

She called an ambulance when her son started to have trouble breathing.

She said: 'When [paramedics] arrived they told me to get off with my son and my daughter headed off to school.

'They took us to St Mary's Hospital and kept us inside the vehicle for about two hours until a team came to test us for the coronavirus.

'After this, with security, masked medical staff [came and] took us inside the hospital to a cubicle and locked us inside for four days until the negative test result arrived.

'What if the test had been positive? My daughter who travelled with us went to school all week, free to infect others.

'The measures that the British government is taking are not at all logical, consistent or protective.'

Silvia Monchelato and her family returned from Italy in half-term but were told they didn't need to self-isolate. She and her young son were taken into quarantine for four days at a hospital in London after he fell ill and was picked up by an ambulance  he later tested negative

Mrs Monchelato and her son were picked up in London by an ambulance staffed by a paramedic in a hazmat suit, and they were taken into isolation in case he had coronavirus

People in Italy are facing increasingly difficult trips home to the UK after British Airways and Jet2 yesterday announced they were cancelling all flights between the two countries.

Ryanair will continue to fly as normal until Saturday - with customers in Italy able to fly home before it stops all international flights from the virus-hit nation until April 8.

EasyJet has cancelled most of its flights at Milan, Venice and Verona but is still flying between other parts of Italy and the UK. The airline said anyone who has not been contacted can assume their flight is scheduled as normal.

The budget airline also flies to England from airports in Bologna, Turin, Livorno, Ancona, Rome, Naples, Bari, Brindisi, Sicily and Sardinia. These services are not affected by cancellations, according to the firm's website.

Vuelling is also running some flights.

Italian airline Alitalia has stopped flying out of Milan Malpensa and limited flights from Milan Linate to only domestic routes, but it continues to fly internationally out of Rome.

The UK's outbreak started in earnest last week when the number of confirmed patients more than doubled from 23 to 51 between Saturday, February 29, and Tuesday, March 3.

Government officials have decided not to move to the second stage of Prime Minster Boris Johnson's coronavirus action plan, and remain in the first phase which focuses on trying to contain and stop the virus.

The number of coronavirus cases confirmed in the UK has risen to 382 and more than 26,000 people have been tested

NHS CAN NOW TEST 10,000 PEOPLE FOR CORONAVIRUS EVERY DAY NHS England has ramped up its coronavirus testing capacity so 10,000 swabs can be done every day as it braces for an explosion of cases. The health service is currently conducting around 1,500 daily tests. By comparison, South Korea has been able to swab up to 15,000 patients every day for the virus despite having a population of 50million compared to Britain's 66million. Currently there are around 100 testing centres in England and every sample has to be sent to one of 12 Public Health England laboratories. It means patients must wait around 48 hours for test results to come back. But now local NHS hospital labs are being equipped with test kits so they can conduct them on-site without having to send samples away. Most of the people tested should get a result back within 24 hours, according to PHE. So far more than 26,000 tests have been conducted by public health officials in England, with 324 testing positive so far. The UK-wide total is 382 but more cases are expected later today. Advertisement

They have, however, admitted that they expect a 'significant' outbreak to take hold in Britain.

England's deputy chief medical officer, Dr Jenny Harries, predicted 'many thousands of people' would get COVID-19.

Most people only get a mild illness and don't need medical help, while others may be hospitalised and a small proportion will get pneumonia and die.

Dr Harries told Sky News: 'We currently have relatively few cases here, which is why we are still in the containment phase [the first step of government action plan].

'Obviously we will have significant numbers in a way in which the country is not used to.

'This is the sort of thing that professionally we're trained for and very rarely see, almost in a professional lifetime.

'Large numbers of the population will become infected because it's a naive population, nobody has got antibodies to this virus currently.

'We will see many thousands of people infected by coronavirus, that's what we're seeing in other countries and the important thing for us is to make sure that we manage those infections.'

Engineer Anna De Luca, 30, who lives in Brighton and arrived at Gatwick yesterday, said: 'There were no checks at all. So I said, I will take some responsibility and wear the mask - even if its useless.

'But even in Naples they did a check, and told us to stay one metre away from the next person. And then on the plane there was nothing. We werent given any information.

'I just asked a man working here, he said maybe you should phone 111, but there were no checks at all.'

Anna De Luca (left) nor Carmine Loru (right) both flew home to England from Italy yesterday but said they weren't given any information about the Government's new rule that anyone returning must self-isolate for two weeks

RYANAIR, BA AND JET2 CANCEL ALL FLIGHTS TO AND FROM ITALY UNTIL APRIL Ryanair, British Airways and Jet2 have today cancelled hundreds of flights to and from Italy until April at the earliest and easyJet has also grounded most of its services leaving thousands of customers stranded in the coronavirus-hit country. BA has axed its 60 flights a day to cities including Milan, Venice and Rome while Jet2 has gone even further and cancelled all its Italian trips for almost six weeks until April 26. Ryanair today announced it had cancelled all flights from March 14 until April 9, but has told thousands of Brits trapped in Italy they can switch their return flight to come home before Saturday. EasyJet has stopped the majority of its flights to northern Italy but planes will still fly from southern cities such as Rome and Naples despite a blanket travel ban imposed by the Italian government as deaths reached almost 100 per day yesterday. Advertisement

Carmine Loru, 39, who arrived at Gatwick on a flight from Florence, said that he had been given no information about self-isolation.

Mr Loru, whose family live in Florence, said: 'There is a lot of paranoia in Italy, but here there is not even anybody checking us.

'I read on the BBC that Im supposed to stay at home for 14 days, but nobody said anything about that on the plane. In Florence they didnt tell us anything about what to do in London.'

Retired greengrocer Martin Rudd claimed the public hand-sanitiser pumps at Stansted Airport were empty and there was no up to date health advice when in the arrivals hall when he arrived from Pisa yesterday.

The 64-year-old said: 'I'm in a high-risk group  I'm diabetic and I've had a triple heart by-pass  so I'm taking precautions.

'The hand-sanitiser pumps are empty and the only information is on a notice board in the arrivals hall. There isn't any one checking to see if people are unwell or taking anyone's temperature.'

Mr Rudd, who had been on holiday in northern part of Italy but outside the original 'Red Zone' with his partner Linda Collis, booked an earlier flight after the Italian government announced a nationwide lock-down.

He said: 'My son called warned us last night that travel restrictions were changing so I booked an earlier flight so we've come home this morning. In fact the plane was practically empty. There were on about 15 people on the flight.'

Mr Rudd said he was taking a taxi home and would stay indoors for the required 14 days in accordance with the latest advice from Public Health England.

He said: 'I've got grandchildren so I don't want to infect them. I'm well prepared. I've got lots of food in, everything I need.

'I bought a load of hand sanitizer before we left, in fact I took six bottles with us to Italy and I've been cleaning my hands after touching anything.'
Aside from the fact that [Otto Ohlendorf] killed 90,000 Jews, Im sure he was quite the gentleman.

Benjamin Ferenczs sharp words in a 2019 interview with 60 Minutes left no doubt as to the lingering sentiment from the Einsatzgruppen Trial, a proceeding in which the then-27-year-old Ferencz served as chief prosecutor and one the Associated Press called the biggest murder trial in history.



Born in Transylvania in 1920, Ferencz, now the last surviving prosecutor of the Nuremberg Trials, emigrated with his family to the United States just 10 months after he was born. After graduating from Harvard Law School in 1943, Ferencz enlisted in the U.S. Army and was given the job of anti-aircraft artillery gunner.

Ferencz reminisced about the Armys odd job placement in a 2016 interview with the Washington Post, noting, In their typical [Army] brilliance, being a Harvard Law School graduate and an expert on war crimes, they assigned me to clean the latrines in the artillery and do every other filthy thing they could give me.

Why? Because I was a Harvard man. I was never high and mighty. They didnt care. They were a bunch of idiots.

The outspoken Ferencz, who barely registered over five feet tall, eventually rose to the rank of sergeant as a member of General George Pattons Third Army. Action during the Normandy invasion followed, as did breaking through the Maginot and Siegfried lines, crossing the Rhine, and bitter fighting in the Battle of the Bulge.

It was Ferenczs last Army assignment, however, that would forever alter the trajectory of his life.

Tasked with gathering credible evidence of Nazi war crimes for the Armys War Crimes Branch, Ferencz encountered the depths of human depravity. The Germans maintained meticulous death registries at the camps of Buchenwald, Mauthausen, Flossenburg, and Ebensee. These registries, which Ferencz was ordered to collect, contained the names of millions of victims.

Camps like Buchenwald, Mauthausen, and Dachau are vividly imprinted in my minds eye. Even today, when I close my eyes, I witness a deadly vision I can never forget [] Ferencz recalled in an interview with the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.

After Ferenczs honorable discharge in 1945 General Telford Taylor, then the chief prosecutor of the Nuremberg Trials, recruited Ferencz to return to Germany and work with a team of investigators tasked with uncovering the horrors of the Nazi regime.



(US Holocaust Memorial Museum, courtesy of Benjamin Ferencz)

It was there that Ferencz and his colleagues discovered the dossiers of the Nazi mobile death squads, the Einsatzgruppen  roving extermination squads that targeted Jews, Roma, homosexuals, political dissidents in Eastern Europe, communists, and Soviets. In the subsequent trial, the International Military Tribunal determined that nearly two million Jews were murdered by the Einsatzgruppen.

Death was their tool and life their toy, Ferencz told the judge during the opening statement of United States of America v. Otto Ohlendorf et. al. If these men be immune, then law has lost its meaning, and man must live in fear.

Ferencz continued, Vengeance is not our goal, nor do we seek merely a just retributionthe case we present is a plea of humanity to law

This Nazi doctrine of a master race  an arrogance blended from tribal conceit and a boundless contempt for man himself. It is an idea whose toleration endangers all men. It is, as we have charged, a crime against humanity.

All 22 men prosecuted by Ferencz were convicted. Most were sentenced to death. (Defendant Emil Haussmann died prior to the trial.)

After Nuremberg, Ferencz returned to New York with his wife, Gertrude, and spent several years tracking down and recovering the unclaimed heirlooms of Europes murdered Jews.

Motivated by what he saw during the Vietnam War, Ferencz quit his private practice and worked to establish an International Criminal Court with the power to investigate and charge individuals and nations of genocidal acts and war crimes.

The ICC was finally established in July 2002. Notably, the U.S. signed the treaty, but Congress did not ratify it.

Crimes are committed by individuals, not movements, Ferencz told the Washington Post. You have to hold the people responsible in courts.

Now in his 101st year, Ferencz remains a vocal advocate for the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice.

Following the American airstrike that killed Iranian general Qassem Soleimani, the New York Times published a Letter to the Editor by Ferencz in which he wrote, I view such immoral action as a clear violation of national and international law.

In this cyberspace world, he continued, young people everywhere are in mortal danger unless we change the hearts and minds of those who seem to prefer war to law.

*Story updated on March 11, 2021.
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Financial Services Commission Chairman Eun Sung-soo speaks at a national policy committee meeting at the National Assembly at Yeouido, Seoul, Wednesday. Eun said the financial authority would seek to assist the troubled internet-only bank in increasing its capital. / Yonhap
Recently, a friend said she was taking a break and going to where the strawberries grow in this season. Mahabaleshwar, is one of the most suited places for strawberry cultivation. In fact strawberries from here, contribute to about 85 percent of the total production of strawberries in the country.

My friend insists that the strawberries that come from Mahabaleshwar are the sweetest! She is probably right, but thats not the only reason why the city is famous.

Present day Mahabaleshwar came into existence in the year 1829-30. The magnificent scenic points, the perennial springs, streams, and waterfalls of Mahabaleshwar plateau, with its year round superb climate drew the English and others to Mahabaleshwar. By the end of the 19th century it had become an attractive popular hill station of world renown.

Mahabaleshwar, a hill station in Satara district of Maharashtra is located in the Western Ghats. Old Mahabaleshwar, a historical village located about 7 km away, on a vast plateau at an elevation of about 1200 ft, surrounded by valleys on all sides, with temperature touching 8 degrees celsius during the winter.

However, the low humidity level makes it comfortable even in summer. The monsoon however is very heavy, which is why the surrounding area has a well preserved forest, mostly with undisturbed wildlife diversity. One can still see the Indian gaur, giant Malabar squirrels, leopards and leopard cats, sloth bear, sambar and other types of deer, civets and mongoose, porcupine and more.

Mahabaleshwar and Old Mahabaleshwar have many tourist points and temples to see, with old architectural designs. There are also a number of viewpoints, some named during colonial times by the British who went on holiday to these places. An important place is the Arthur seat point is named after Sir Arthur Malet (1806-1888), a British officer who had lost his wife and children in a tragic ferry mishap on the Savitri River. From that day onwards, Sir Arthur would sit and gaze at the River Savitri every single day.

Locally Old Mahabaleshwar is referred to as Kshetra Mahabaleshwar - a holy and sacred place with three important temples. These are the Mahabaleshwar temple, the Panchganga temple, the Krishna temple. There is also a Hanuman temple, which stands at the highest point reaching 4721 ft bove sea level. The Mahabaleshwar Temple has just completed its Shivaratri Festival, an event that is celebrated with great enthusiasm every year.

Located just 150 km southwest from Pune and 340 km from Mumbai, the Mahabaleshwar temple attracts thousands of worshippers during Shivaratri. As per historical records, the temple was built in 1215 AD in what is known as the Hemadpanti style. What is most interesting is that the temple houses what is said to be Shivas bed, damru and trishul, which date back to around 300 years. It is said that every morning, the bedsheet is found crumpled and many worshippers believe that it confirms Shivas presence at night in the temple.

The Pancharanga temple is said to be 4500 years old. It was built in the 13th century by the Yadava King Singhandeo and improved in the 16th and 17th century. While there is no historical evidence, this restoration may have been done by Chandra Rao More and Shivaji. Located at the convergence of five rivers - the Krishna, Venna, Savitri, Koyna and Gayatri, it is believed that these five rivers originate from the Gomukhi inside the temple.

Behind Panchganga temple, there is a small trail that leads to Krishnabai temple where the Krishna River is worshiped. It is built overlooking the Krishna valley and in 1888 by a ruler of Ratnagiri on the Konkan coast. The temple has a Shiva lingam and a beautiful statue of Krishna. A small stream of the river flowing from a cow-face (gomukh) falls on a Kunda or water tank. Stone carved columns and ceilings are the special characteristics of this temple. An old temple, it has gathered moss and is almost in ruins and is not visited much by tourists, but provides a splendid view of the River Krishna.

Mahabaleshwar is the source of the Krishna River that flows across Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telengana and Andhra Pradesh. The legendary source of the river is a spout from the mouth of a statue of a cow in the ancient temple of Mahadev in Old Mahabaleshwar. Legend has it that Krishna is Lord Vishnu himself as a result of a curse on the Trimurtis (3 gods) by Savitri. The river tributaries Venna and Koyna are said to be Lord Shiva and Lord Brahma themselves.

What is interesting is that apart from Krishna, three other rivers also come out of the gaumukh (mouth of the cow). These rivers travel some distance before merging with Krishna which flows east towards the Bay of Bengal. These rivers are the Koyna, venna (also known as Veni) and Gayatri. The Savitri river flows westward towards the Arabian Sea.

The Venna Lake is one of the major tourist attractions of Mahabaleshwar. The lake is surrounded by trees on all sides and the temperature recorded here fluctuates between 0 C-4 C , several times during winter despite being in a tropical area. Because of the occasional low temperatures during winter, frozen dew drops have been reported and the areas surrounding the whole lake seems to turn white.

One of the popular sights of Mahabaleshwar are The Three monkeys, named because of the natural sculpture of the stones which look like three monkeys sitting beside each other and portraying, Gandhijis Three Wise Monkeys. Wilson Point is another popular spot for tourists. Named after Sir Leslie Wilson, the governor of Bombay (1923 t0 1926), Wilson Point at 1493 is the highest point in Mahabaleshwar. Known as Sindola Hill during the colonial rule, Wilson point is the only location where both sunrise and sunset can be seen. It offers spectacular views in all directions.

Other sights worth seeing is Pratapgarh, a fort built by Shivaji near Mahabaleshwar and is known for its history. This was where Afzalkhan, Commander of the Bijapur Army, was defeated and killed by Shivaji. Also located near Mahabaleshwar are the Lingmala Waterfalls. The water here falls from a height of 600 feet. The water of this splendid waterfall cascades into the Venna Lake, divided by projecting rocks and turning into a multiple tier.

(This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text.)

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Four more New Jersey members of Congress endorsed Joe Biden for president on Wednesday, a day after his victory in Michigan made him the clear favorite for the Democratic presidential nomination.

The endorsements by Reps. Donald Norcross, D-1st Dist., Josh Gottheimer, D-5th Dist., Bill Pascrell Jr., D-9th Dist., and Mikie Sherrill, D-11th Dist., meant that seven of the states 10 Democratic federal lawmakers now have endorsed the former vice president.

They all had lined up behind fellow New Jerseyan Cory Booker until he ended his presidential campaign in January.

Defeating Donald Trump and replacing his inept and corrupt government is our highest priority, Pascrell said.

Gottheimer and Sherrill initially had thrown their support to Mike Bloomberg after Booker withdrew.

Vice President Biden is a lifelong public servant who has shown time and again that he understands what is at the heart of America, Sherrill said. "His compassion and his understanding of the needs of working families have always defined him.

Booker and Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, D-12th Dist., backed Biden on Monday after his victories in South Carolina and on Super Tuesday resurrected his campaign.

Reps. Tom Malinowski, D-7th Dist., and Donald Payne Jr., D-10th Dist., had endorsed Biden earlier, and Rep. Andy Kim, D-3rd Dist., announced his support after his second choice, Pete Buttigieg, ended his campaign.

No one in the delegation has endorsed Bernie Sanders in what has become a two-person race for the presidential nomination.

Thats an indication of the more moderate bent of the states Democratic Party, despite New Jerseys reputation as a reliably blue state in federal elections. The more moderate Democratic candidate won three competitive primaries against more liberal opponents in 2018, and all three went on to win Republican-held congressional districts.

Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JDSalant or on Facebook. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.

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The Opposition in Lok Sabha on Wednesday demanded the resignation of Home Minister Amit Shah for failing to contain the violence in Delhi for nearly three days, even as the BJP accused the Opposition of politicising the situation to further its narrow interests.

As the government came under attack from the Opposition during the debate on the recent communal riots in the national capital that have claimed over 50 lives, the BJP members alleged that the violence was a pre-planned conspiracy and the home minister and authorities took pro- active steps to control the situation. The ruling party ...




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11 March 2020

Hilton (NYSE: HLT) today announced the signing of an agreement to debut a Hilton Hotels & Resorts hotel in El Salvador. The 198-room Hilton San Salvador is scheduled to open in July 2020, representing a new country for Hilton's growing portfolio of 160 hotels and resorts welcoming guests across the Caribbean and Latin America. Officially forming part of the World Trade Center Complex, Hilton San Salvador is owned and developed by Grupo Agrisal, and will welcome guests to the country's capital, known for its black-sand beaches, surfing and vibrant nightlife.

Nestled in the prestigious Colonia Escalon neighborhood which offers one of the best San Salvador Volcano views, the existing property will start a renovation project led by Gensler Costa Rica, before reopening as the 198-room Hilton San Salvador. With more than 30,000 square-feet of meeting and event space, the hotel boasts the country's biggest conference center within a hotel featuring 27 meeting rooms, two ballrooms, two boardrooms and 16 flexible meeting rooms. Hotel guests will enjoy an array of recreational and dining options including an outdoor pool and fitness center, as well as onsite signature dining, bar and Specialty Coffee Shop.

With direct flights from several cities in the U.S., including Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles and Atlanta, El Salvador is gaining popularity and encouraging tourism with expansive shopping malls, boutiques and upscale dining in top urban areas across San Salvador. Described as a hidden gem of Central America, San Salvador is surrounded by green-tipped volcanoes and centrally located to all of El Salvador's picturesque attractions including coffee plantations, beaches and National Parks. Being the country's leading financial, commercial and industrial center, San Salvador is also the Central America hub for several airlines.
A year ago, Hachette imprint Grand Central books quietly acquired the rights to publish Woody Allen's memoir Apropos of Nothing. Yet when the book was finally scheduled for an April 7 release, all hell broke loose. Dozens of staff members in Hachette staged a walkout to protest against the company's decision to publish the controversial film director's autobiography.

Their decision comes after his now-adult daughter Dylan Farrow alleged that he molested her as a child. Allen himself has denied any wrongdoing, and after two separate investigations in the 1990s, he was never charged.

"It's a huge conflict of interest and wrong," one unnamed Hachette employee told The Guardian. Asked if they'd called for the book to be withdrawn, the employee added: "It's not up to us - it's up to the higher-ups if they want to hear our voices."

Journalist Ronan Farrow, whose book on the #MeToo movement was also published by Hachette, also criticised the move. As someone who has long believed Dylan's account of events, he also threatened to cut ties with the publisher if the memoir was published.

In an eviscerating statement, Farrow also noted that Dylan had "never been contacted to respond to any denial or mischaracterisation of the abuse she suffered at the hands of Woody Allen".

Last Friday, the company cancelled publication of the book. "The decision to cancel Mr Allen's book was a difficult one," a statement from Hachette read. "At HBG we take our relationships with authors very seriously, and do not cancel books lightly."

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Naturally, the moment has sent shockwaves through the entire publishing industry. Author Stephen King hit out at the publisher for the U-turn, noting on Twitter: "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."

In another Tweet, King continued: "If you think he's a paedophile, 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... In America, that's how we do it."

Hachette's decision to drop Woody Allen as an author certainly raises some interesting questions about censorship. Some have expressed displeasure that a company has kowtowed to the "outrage mob", noting that it sets a worrying precedent. Many note that where there is Dylan Farrow's highly credible account on one side, there's the fact that Allen was never charged after two investigations. Others point out that whatever his perceived or alleged crimes, Allen should be allowed a voice.

But what do people within the Irish publishing industry make of it all? Would they publish Woody Allen's memoirs, or pull it in the face of mounting criticism?

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Sarah Davis-Goff, co-owner of Tramp Press, says that her independent publishing company wouldn't have published Allen's book in the first place.

"We at Tramp Press have a pretty strict no-asshole rule," she says. "[Hachette] were wrong to sign the book, which was on the lookout for a home once other major publishers had turned it down.

"They were wrong to conceal from Woody Allen's estranged son Ronan Farrow, who they also publish, that they had acquired it: they were wrong in concealing from the majority of their employees that they were working on it until almost the last moment."

Of the idea that this is a move that constitutes a step backwards for free speech, Davis-Goff adds: "Being de-platformed is obviously not the same as censorship. Censorship is not the same as being held accountable for bad ideas, or bad acts.

"Free speech is about the right to communicate ideas and opinions without fear of being persecuted by your government. I would argue that Woody Allen has not even been de-platformed; it's very likely that another big publisher will buy up rights for a huge but undisclosed sum.

"Obviously it's interpreted by many who are used to hearing the sound of their own voices as the right to go on imposing these voices on people, and the right not to countenance feedback from those who may disagree with them.

"Nobody has a right to a certain platform; nobody has a right to be published by a certain company for a certain amount of money. I'm honestly not sure it's possible for even a relatively wealthy man to be censored."

Davis-Goff also notes that it's the powerless who actually struggle from the consequences of censorship, and lack of opportunity for free speech.

"We've had pretty good examples of that here in Ireland," she reveals. "The Catholic Church had the power to censor, and incredible writers like Edna O'Brien felt the harm of that."

Mariel Deegan, general manager at New Island books, observes that the decision is not strictly an attack on free speech.

"Publishers pass on manuscripts all the time - it's not censorship, it's a commercial decision," she observes. "[Hachette] have reverted rights to Allen and should he wish his voice to be heard, he could publish it online or independently. An attack on free speech would be if there was an injunction against publication."

As to how she sees the case as a whole, she adds: "Honestly I'm not sure how I feel. In principle I believe publishing should make space for diverse voices but in practice would I personally publish someone I felt was 'contemptible', to quote PEN America? Probably not.

"From a purely pragmatic point of view, I'm astounded Hachette acquired it in the first place - it must have been clear it would end in tears - or that there was such a shroud of secrecy around its publication and release," she adds.

"I think listening to moral outrage regarding unproven allegations is not a good thing, but publishers are businesses and if the moral outrage is going to mean no one is going to buy a book then it's not a clever decision to publish it."
The arrival of the coronavirus has plunged the stock market and led to calls for a massive government economic-stimulus package to remedy a possible recession. Reflexive calls for fiscal stimulus are often popular during recessions, for obvious reasons: Voters love tax cuts and spending benefits. Celebrity economists get to show off their mathematical models and play the role of economic savior. And politicians can hand out popular benefits, while claiming to fix the economy.

Fiscal stimulus may be the wrong tool to address a health crisis in which people decide not to leave their homes. (Where would they spend their rebates? How does this address broken supply chains?) Better to provide targeted relief, such as family-leave benefits to those who lose pay owing to workplace shutdowns.

But more broadly, do temporary infusions of government spending or tax cuts actually stimulate economic growth? The record is not particularly strong.

As background: Every dollar that Congress injects into the economy must first be taxed or borrowed out of the economy. So in a typical, full-employment economy, government spending merely redistributes purchasing power from one part of the economy to another. It is the equivalent of trying to raise a swimming pools water level by taking water from one end and dumping it into the other end. (Yes, government could fund new spending through the printing press, but that would be monetary stimulus, rather than fiscal stimulus.)

Keynesian stimulus theory argues that recessions are usually driven by sagging demand, which leads to insufficient spending and idle resources. In that instance, proponents assert that government can borrow those idle savings out of the private economy and then either spend them directly or redistribute them to the people more likely to spend them. Savings become spending, idle resources are put to work, demand rises, and the economy recovers.

Ultimately, the efficacy of stimulus is measured by the multiplier, the amount of new economic activity generated by each dollar of new government spending or tax cuts. A multiplier of one means that $1 trillion in government spending would add $1 trillion in new GDP.

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As described above, much of the multiplier depends on the degree to which government stimulus spending is putting idle resources to work, versus just redistributing existing spending. And that depends on where the money comes from.

Consider two extreme hypotheticals.

In the first case, imagine a person who was about to spend $1,000 at a store, a business that had planned to invest $1,000 in new equipment, or a bank that would usually make a $1,000 loan. Instead, they lend that money to Washington to spend (by buying a Treasury bond). In that case, the multiplier is zero  no new spending is added to the economy. They have merely transferred purchasing power from consumption or investment over to the government.

In the second case, the government borrows $1,000 from a bank, business, or person that was not going to spend it  the money was sitting in safes, idle bank reserves, or Scrooge McDucks basement cash pile. In that case, the multiplier can be one  or even higher, because that $1,000 in new spending can be recycled through the economy multiple times.

Which of these hypotheticals better reflects reality during a recession? There is a vigorous academic debate on both sides, yet both theory and practice better support a small multiplier. As Harvard economist Robert Barro writes: A much more plausible starting point is a multiplier of zero. In this case, the GDP is given, and a rise in government purchases requires an equal fall in the total of other parts of GDP  consumption, investment and net exports. (Barro adds that deeper research shows a multiplier slightly above zero).

The multiplier is small because, in the modern economy, idle savings are not common  even during a recession. The vast majority of savings deposited in banks are lent to others to spend. Dollars borrowed from abroad will have their GDP effects offset by a higher trade deficit (the balance of payments must net to zero). And where there are idle savings  in safes, mattresses, excess bank reserves  it is not clear that most of Washingtons deficits will be funded by these sources. In fact, despite common assumptions that banks fund most stimulus spending out of their excess reserves, less than 5 percent of all Treasury securities are held by banking institutions. Households and investors hold much more of the national debt. The Federal Reserve buying securities would inject new spending into the economy, although that becomes monetary stimulus and can be done without stimulus legislation

Noted University of Chicago economist John Cochrane also explains the ineffectiveness of fiscal stimulus:

First, if money is not going to be printed, it has to come from somewhere. If the government borrows a dollar from you, that is a dollar that you do not spend, or that you do not lend to a company to spend on new investment. Every dollar of increased government spending must correspond to one less dollar of private spending. Jobs created by stimulus spending are offset by jobs lost from the decline in private spending. We can build roads instead of factories, but fiscal stimulus cant help us to build more of both. This form of crowding out is just accounting, and doesnt rest on any perceptions or behavioral assumptions. Second, investment is spending every bit as much as is consumption. Keynesian fiscal stimulus advocates want money spent on consumption, not saved. They evaluate past stimulus programs by whether people who got stimulus money spent it on consumption goods rather than save it. But the economy overall does not care if you buy a car, or if you lend money to a company that buys a forklift.

In fairness to John Maynard Keynes, he was writing in the 1930s when the financial system was in chaos and there were significant idle savings for the government to borrow and spend. That is not the situation in the modern economy.

Nor have government stimulus initiatives showed much success over the past 50 years. Temporary tax rebates in 1975, 2001, and 2008 all failed to stimulate growth. While the massive 2009 stimulus is often cited as a success, a closer inspection reveals otherwise. The economy was already out of recession by the summer of 2009, before more than a small fraction of the stimulus had even been implemented. And despite $2 trillion in stimulus costs (including subsequent legislation through 2013), the economic recovery saw the economy grow at just half the annual rates projected by the White House and the Congressional Budget Office. In fact, the recovery performed even weaker than the White House and CBOs zero-stimulus projections.

The same factors occurred for total employment. White House economists predicted in early 2009 that enacting the stimulus would raise total employment by 3.3 million over current levels by the fall of 2010  versus a decline of 0.4 million without a stimulus. The bill was enacted, and actual employment declined by an additional 3.5 million over that period. The stimulus didnt cause the further jobs decline, but there is little evidence it slowed the decline either.

After all, using the common average multiplier of 1.5 (higher for spending, lower for tax relief), the $2 trillion in stimulus bills over that period should have created a $3 trillion burst of GDP that  given the size of the output gap  would have overheated the economy. Not only was the recovery extraordinarily sluggish (even given the severity of the recession), but Stanford economist John Taylor shows that the sub-components of the economy (consumption, investment, government purchases) did not significantly move in the directions predicted by the Keynesian models.

Stimulus bills are seen as successful because the theory is non-falsifiable. When the economy does not respond to stimulus, such as the 2001 and 2008 rebates, advocates often claim the policies must have been too small. But when the economic downturn ends  as virtually all do eventually  any enacted stimulus will get the credit, even when it was implemented after the recession ended, and missed every economic benchmark.

Nevertheless, disputing the efficacy of fiscal stimulus earns a furious response from many Keynesian economists, whose sophisticated mathematical models of the U.S. economy provide an air of scientific certainty. Economists who question these macroeconomic models are often treated like physicists who have inexplicably denied the of existence of gravity. But while economic models can offer insights, the idea that a $20 trillion U.S. economy consisting of 330 million individual actors (who are part of a much larger global economy) can be reduced to a series of airtight mathematical equations  in which government planners can just pull a fiscal stimulus lever  is part of what F. A. Hayek famously called the fatal conceit. And it becomes a parody when these models are further simplified to government spending (times) multiplier equals added GDP.

Numerous economic studies claim that past stimulus policies have been successful. However, many of those studies are built on a house of cards. For example, some studies purport to show the benefits of these policies by focusing on the pockets of the economy where new federal spending supported local jobs and spending. This proves only that when resources are redistributed across an economy, the recipients do better than the donors. It provides no insight into the aggregate economic effects.

A more common type of analysis simply ignores the actual economic performance and declares the authors predictive models to be correct. For example, CBO was asked to determine the accuracy of its Keynesian prediction that the 2009 stimulus would create significant economic activity. Yet instead of analyzing the post-stimulus economy to determine the real multiplier, CBO simply re-released its earlier multiplier predictions, and  surprise!  found that it exactly matched itself. CBO essentially assumed its own conclusion of a large multiplier, which effectively rigged the result.

At the time, CBO director Doug Elmendorf admitted, We dont think one can learn much from watching the evolution of particular components of GDP . . . over the last few quarters about the effects of the stimulus, . . . so we fall back on repeating the sort of analysis we did before. And we tried to be very explicit about it that it is essentially repeating the same exercise we did rather than an independent check on it. He added that if the stimulus bill did not do what it was originally forecast to do, then that would not have been detected by the subsequent analysis. And yet this application of the begging the question fallacy is perhaps the most common methodological approach in pro-stimulus studies.

This does not mean that fiscal stimulus is completely worthless. Surely some idle resources get transferred to the government, creating a multiplier slightly above zero. Additionally, tax and spending policies can affect economic growth in other ways, such as by increasing productivity or putting resources to more-efficient uses. Extended unemployment benefits or safety-net spending can be justified on humanitarian grounds. Aid to affected industries can be justified to prevent destabilizing bankruptcies. On the other hand, the new debt adds permanent annual interest costs to the federal budget. If the goal is to fight a recession, monetary policy is a much more effective tool.

The basic idea that fiscal stimulus increases economic activity on a dollar-for-dollar basis is not backed up by theory or the available evidence. Surely, this approach will remain popular  politicians buy votes and look active, while voters get new benefits. Unfortunately, the record suggests that fiscal stimulus will not rescue the impending economic downturn.

More from National Review
The Duchess of Sussex wowed in breathing outfits and dazzling colours on her final royal engagements - wearing 26,400 worth of new clothing for the brief five day visit.

Since joining the royal family Meghan Markle, 38, has become renowned for her love of glamorous designer clothes and expensive jewellery, with the royal rarely seen in the same outfit twice.

Her farewell tour was little different, with the Duchess ticking off some of her go-to designer labels, including Givenchy and Victoria Beckham as well as some of trendy high-street brands, like Topshop.

She also used the opportunity to shine a light on causes close to her heart by choosing to wear jewellery that aligned with her personal interests and held a connection to charities.

Meghan Markle, 38, wore a total of 26,400 of new clothing on her five-day farewell tour, ticking off some of her favourite designer labels including Victoria Beckham and Givenchy (pictured, attending the Endeavour Award's on Thursday night as she arrived back in the UK)

The Duchess stepped out in a floor-length red gown by Safiyaa Kalika dress worth 1,295 and a Manolo Blahnik Capri Red Satin Clutch costing 1,260 for the Mountbatten Festival of Music on Saturday

Since joining The Firm in May 2018, Meghan has maintained her A-list celebrity style.

On almost every appearance she was seen wearing high end designers such as Givenchy and Victoria Beckham.

After joining the royal family, the cost of Meghan's clothes for work engagements has been covered by Prince Charles through the budget he gives the couple from the Duchy of Cornwall.

Whether or not they will continue to receive this stipend from Charles remains to be seen.

Meghan's first day back in the UK on Thursday proved her most expensive, with the royal stepping out for lunch at the Goring and visiting the National Theatre in an outfit worth 14,174

Since her return to London on Thursday, Meghan has delivered a masterclass on diplomatic dressing - championing eight British labels during her and Harry's last engagements as working royals.

In conjunction with International Women's Day, the duchess has also ensured her wardrobe was dominated by female designers, wearing innovative pieces by Victoria Beckham and Stella McCartney, to name but a few.

Her first day back in the UK proved by-far her most expensive, with the Duchess opting for an ensemble worth 14,174 while attending a lunch at The Goring and visiting the National Theatre.

And later that night she stepped out in a stunning Victoria Beckham gown with a new Stella McCartney handbag.

The Duchess opted for a showstopping emerald ensemble for her final public event as a royal at Westminster Abbey yesterday, with the prices totting up to 2,790

In one of her last solo engagements as a working royal, Meghan showcased three female designers in one outfit as she spoke with delighted pupils at the Robert Clack Upper School in Dagenham, east London on Friday.

Through her carefully selected outfit choices, Meghan also paid a touching tribute to her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana.

The mother-of-one opted for a caped emerald green dress by Emilia Wickstead and matching hat with a netted fascinator by William Chambers as she attended her last official engagement in London before stepping down from royal duties alongside Prince Harry and returning to Canada.

And, perhaps in a nod to her late mother-in-law, the look closely resembled that worn by Diana when she was pregnant with Prince William in 1982, aged 22, wearing a green coat dress and similarly netted fascinator.
The Delhi Commission For Protection of Child Rights has directed a school here to ensure that a student who was shot in her right hand during the recent northeast Delhi riots be allowed to take her exams after she has healed.

The directions were given in a notice issued by DCPCR member Anurag Kundu on Monday. The notice also sought an action taken report in the matter.

The girl is a resident of Hassanpur area in northeast Delhi.

A class 9 student of a government school in northeast Delhi, the girl was shot in the hand during the communal violence last month and she will miss her exams, the commission said.

"Our city has faced a great plight and our children have gone through trauma that no child should (face). In light of this, the Commission asks you to ensure that she may be allowed to give her exams when she is healed and her year does not go in vain," the DCPCR said.

According to the girl's mother, "She was standing on the terrace of our house on February 25 when she was shot in the hand. The rioters were firing in the air and that is when she got injured. She was taken to St.Stephen's Hospital where she was operated upon. She is still recovering and has severe pain in her right hand."



She said their house is located near the entry of the lane and there was violence outside their lane.

The girl's mother said the exams began on Wednesday and it seems unlikely that her daughter will be able to appear for them.

"We have to go for a check-up tomorrow. Her hand is hurting and she won't be able to write. We are talking to the school authorities," she added.

The communal violence in northeast Delhi last month claimed 53 lives and left over 200 people injured.

Areas like Chand Bagh, Bhajanpura, Gokulpuri, Maujpur, Kardampuri and Jaffrabad were worst-affected by the violence which erupted after clashes between supporters of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and those opposing it spiralled out of control.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Starting this summer, you wont only have to travel to the Galaxys Edge for fresh Disneyland adventures. On July 18, the resorts California Adventure Park will unveil Avengers Campus, a Marvel-ous new realm populated by all of your favorite Marvel Cinematic Universe citizens, from Captain Marvel to Spider-Man. In fact, the wall-crawler will be borrowing a trick from a certain man of steel from another comic book universe, performing aerial tricks above the sprawling campus that will inspire parkgoers to look... up in the sky.

Spider-Man swings overhead at Avengers Campus in Disneyland (Photo: Disneyland Resorts)

Like Disneylands popular Star Wars realm, Avengers Campus is a fully immersive experience that features rides, in-person encounters and, of course, a shawarma joint.

Concept art for the Marvel-themed section of Disneyland, Avengers Campus (Photo: Disneyland Resorts)

In addition to the existing Guardians of the Galaxy  Mission: Breakout!, where the galactic adventurers have to find their way out of the Collectors booby-trapped Fortress, which involves more than a few free falls, the campus will feature some brand-new attractions. Web Slingers: A Spider-Man Adventure, invites riders to swing alongside Peter Parkers alter ego (played, of course, by Tom Holland) as he attempts to save New York from an invasion of the Spider-Bots.

Spider-Man swings into action at Disneyland's Avengers Campus (Photo: Disneyland Resorts)

The interactive ride will blend 3D-enhanced virtual landscapes with physical sets like a lab where Peter will enlist visitors in the Worldwide Engineering Brigade  WEB, for short  which is all about building the next generation of next-gen MCU technology.

Spider-Man leads parkgoers in some superhero training at Avengers Campus (Photo: Disneyland Resorts)

If youve already sampled everything on the extensive cantina menu at Galaxys Edge (we recommend the braised shaak roast), Pym Test Kitchen will give you new culinary (quantum) realms to explore. This part of the campus allows budding food scientists to play with the size and scale of their meals, and test-run dishes like plant-based meatballs and panini sandwiches. Their parents, meanwhile, can check out the adjoining Pym Tasting Lab, which highlights the craft behind craft beers. Other dining locations include Shawarma Palace and Terran Treats, where churro spirals kick off the many dessert options.

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Visit the Pym Test Kitchen when you stop by Avengers Campus this summer (Photo: Disneyland Resorts)

Avengers Headquarters serves as the hub of Avengers Campus, and its the place you might see, say, Black Widow tangling with the Taskmaster. But superhero sightings will happen throughout the campus, especially at the Sanctum, where Doctor Strange shows off his mastery of the mystical arts.

Doctor Strange greets parkgoers at Avengers Campus (Photo: Disneyland Resorts)

And you cant exit Avengers Campus without visiting both gift shops. The WEB Suppliers store is filled with take-home science stuff, from non-evil Spider-Bots to a spider web kit. For general Avengers merch, stop by the Campus Supply Pod, which has everything from hoodies to toys. If youre not already a true believer in Marvels creative might, one trip to Avengers Campus will have you shouting Excelsior!

Avengers Campus will open on July 18 at Disneyland Resorts Disney California Adventure Park.

Read more from Yahoo Entertainment:
Director Dibakar Banerjee was not interested in exploring the dynamic of a typical relationship between a man and woman in "Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar", which he says, is his attempt to make something twisted on gender and patriarchy.

Even the names are a flip on gender expectations as the female lead is known as 'Sandeep' while the male protagonist is called 'Pinky'.

Backed by Yash Raj Films and starring two mainstream Bollywood stars in Parineeti Chopra and Arjun Kapoor, the film will "provoke, intrigue and unsettle" the audiences, the director said.

"The thought was to look at gender in a way we hadn't looked at before. I was not really satisfied with the template of a typical relationship between a man and a woman. Why make a film about it? That's when, certain things that I've always wondered about, came together. In this case, it's gender," Dibakar told PTI in an interview.

The director, known for films such as "Khosla Ka Ghosla", "Love Sex Aur Dhokha" and "Shanghai", is not new to subverting expectations and predictable scenarios to tell stories that stand apart in Bollywood.

"Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar", he said, gave him a chance to play off Bollywood's own "unsaid and implicit patriarchy" through the two actors.

"The big studios are famous for that kind of patriarchy and that kind of marginalisation of women, that kind of male gaze. Even when you have films that sort of break the male gaze, the confusion is even more apparent because in the same film, the gaze keeps changing because we are taught to appease the masses, give them what they want. We need the male gaze and we need the female as a consumption material for that male gaze," he said.

Parineeti, Dibakar said, is a talented actor, but has been at the receiving end of Bollywood's patriarchal approach.

"They have played a couple before in films where the patriarchy has been nauseating. It's a part of their life. They have to survive. Parineeti has been on the receiving end of that kind of a patriarchal divide and treatment. In so many films, she is such a talented actress, (but has been) there as the target of the gaze," he said.

"Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar", marks Parineeti and Arjun's third film together after their full-fledged debut "Ishaqzaade" in 2012 and "Namaste England" (2018).

"The kind of profile Arjun and Parineeti have, I had this opportunity to do something slightly interesting and twisted. These opportunities happen once in a while," the director said.

For Dibakar, who has always maintained that he makes films "cheap", the idea is to make his movies "as interesting as possible while knowing that it will provoke and intrigue and unsettle, rather than sort of give the audience 'everything is okay' bill."



The big idea, the filmmaker said, was to explore the collision of two Indias, also divided by class.

"In India, along with gender, we have another great divide, which is the class divide. I wanted to overlap these two divides, because Adi (producer Aditya Chopra) and I kept talking about the two Indias and how these two survive cheek by jowl.

"They are like hundred metres apart from each other but the Indian from India one has got less chances of meeting an Indian from India two than he has of meeting a German tourist. I found these two layers of the two Indias and the gender quite interesting to overlap," he said.

In the film, the two characters belong to different classes, Dibakar said.

"They have almost zero chance of meeting each other meaningfully, and are forced to not only be together but run from a common enemy and then lean on each other to survive while hating each others guts. I found that quite interesting and everything started from that premise," he said.

"Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar" was earlier supposed to hit the screens in 2018. It was later pushed to 2019 but it didn't release last year.

Asked whether the delay in the release of the film was worrisome, the director, whose last theatrical outing was "Detective Byomkesh Bakshy!" in 2015, said he is used to unpredictability in life.

In the meanwhile, he went on to do two Netflix anthology projects in "Lust Stories" and "Ghost Stories".

"You're speaking to the director of 'Khosla Ka Ghosla' and 'Oye Lucky, Lucky Oye', whose release coincided with the Taj attack (in 2008). There are many things that I have braved, not braved but endured in my life. This wasn't something that was happening to me for the first time.

"As I'm aging, I'm realising that I'm beginning to care less and less about where and when and how to caring a little more about what happens," Dibakar said.

His next project, another Netflix film "Freedom", starring Naseeruddin Shah, Manisha Koirala, Kalki Koechlin, Zoya Husain, and Neeraj Kabi.

"Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar" is slated to be released on March 20.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
 Close Donald Trump shakes lots of supporters hands amid coronavirus outbreak

Coronavirus cases continue to rapidly increase in the US with 1,135 confirmed across the country and at least 37 deaths, and the World Health Organisation has officially declared it a pandemic.

President Trump and his administration faced backlash for its slow response to the novel virus. But one member of the administration, National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien, claims China initially "covered up" the outbreak, which cost global communities "two months" to respond.

In an attempt to curb fears, Trump is working with lawmakers on a stimulus package to address economic fallout from the virus. Also under consideration is delaying the 15 April tax deadline. House Democrats are revealing their own relief package on Wednesday without consulting lawmakers across the aisle.



Trump called an emergency meeting with health officials to address the growing number of cases. Dr Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, says the pandemic "will get worse". Now the president will be addressing the nation later on Wednesday evening about the coronavirus and what his administration intends to do to combat the spread.

But state officials are taking matters into their own hands when dealing with their individual states. Governor Jay Inslee announced he would be prohibiting any large gatherings of more than 250 people in the Seattle area. Seattle Public Schools also announced it would close starting on Thursday for at least two weeks. Washington state made these decisions over concerns coronavirus cases could rise to 60,000 by mid-May.



Other states have reacted to the coronavirus outbreak by cancelling their own large gatherings. St Patrick's Day parades were cancelled in Chicago, New York City, Philadelphia, and Dallas. Also, Washington DC, which announced a state of emergency on Wednesday, released a health advisory imploring the public to avoid large gatherings of 1,000 people or more.



The stock market plummeted again over concerns of the coronavirus pandemic. The Dow closed the day with a 1,500-point loss, ending its 11-year streak in a bull market.

Italy has made drastic measures in an attempt to curb its own coronavirus outbreak by shuttering all shops besides grocery stores and pharmacies. The country made the decision after it experienced its largest single day jump in cases with 12,462 confirmed and 827 deaths.




TMC MP Saugata Roy on Wednesday said Home Minister Amit Shah should resign for "failing" to control the riots in Delhi and demanded a judicial inquiry by a sitting Supreme Court judge.

Participating in a discussion on the violence in Delhi in Lok Sabha, Roy said the Delhi riots happened 72 years after Mahatma Gandhi was killed by a Hindu fanatic.

"Gandhiji has been murdered again in Delhi by, you know who," Roy said while addressing the Chair.

Taking on BJP MP Meenakshi Lekhi for defending BJP leaders for their controversial remarks, which he claimed instigated the violence, Roy said he has seldom heard such a communal speech ever.

Dubbing the BJP MP as "Devil's Advocate", Roy said, "She spent five minutes defending the most hated man. May I quote (William) Shakespeare and call her the Devil's Advocate?...She is the best Devil's Advocate possible. She has also been an advocate for the Delhi Police which has shown total inaction and ineptness in this whole riot in Delhi."



Thereafter Roy trained his gun at Shah, who was present in the house while the TMC MP was speaking.

He said that when the riots started on February 24, Home Minister Shah was sitting in the front row at Motera Stadium (in Gujarat) welcoming US President Donald Trump.

"When Mr. Shah should have been in Delhi Police control room, he was welcoming Mr. Trump at Motera. There was no order to the police. Then on 25th, things went out of control. Armed mobs fought with each other on the streets of Delhi," Roy said.

Demanding resignation of Shah, Roy raised questions on NSA Ajit Doval's visit to the riots-affected areas on February 26 and asked what was the Home Minister doing.

"Is it NSA's business to control ordinary law and order situation? Why was the Home Minister absent in action? There is no explanation for the same," he said.

The TMC leader said he feels bad standing face-to-face with Shah.

"He is still young, he has a good future. He should acknowledge responsibility for his failure to control or stop Delhi riots and bring peace in three days. In the name of God, go and do not stay in the Home Minister's position," Roy said, adding he is the man who could not prevent riots in Delhi, at a place 10 kilometres away from the Home Ministry.

Roy demanded a judicial inquiry into the riots by a sitting Supreme Court judge and complete rehabilitation for all the riot victims.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
When Western Australias top health officials meet in East Perth on Wednesday afternoon, nurses union boss Mark Olsen will not be there.

The Australian Nursing Federations WA secretary says he has no idea in this day and age  why they would call a large gathering in the current climate of COVID-19 fears.

WA's ANF boss Mark Olsen says restrictions should be placed on eddential medical items. Credit:File image

This is a war-type situation, Mr Olsen said on Wednesday morning.

Now is the time we get to control this virus.
The man can be seen carrying a fishing rod as he approached the store at 2am

A man who allegedly spent three hours outside a high-end fashion boutique with a fishing rod trying to lift a $700 Versace necklace off a mannequin has been arrested.

The 43-year-old man allegedly created a hole in the window at the Le Style store in Little Collins Street, in Melbourne's CBD, at 2am on Monday, February 24.

He allegedly maneuvered the fishing line through the hole to steal the gold designer necklace that featured a Medusa head.

After a two-week hunt, investigators raided a home in Melton West - 44km from the scene of the alleged crime - on Wednesday morning and arrested the unidentified man.

CCTV footage showed the man in a grey tracksuit pants and a blue Lonsdale windcheater carrying a fishing rod as he approached the store.

The man allegedly used a shorter rod at first but realised it wasn't long enough and came back with a larger one, The Age reported.

He also allegedly disappeared when disturbed by traffic but came back when the roads were quieter.

Security footage has been released of a middle-aged man allegedly using a fishing rod to steal a Versace necklace from a mannequin

'It's fairly blatant and quite bold as well, to have someone with a fishing rod in the middle of the night in the city. It's very unusual,' Detective Senior Constable Bede Whitty said at the time.

Police found a fishing hook in the jewellery store.

The accused underhanded angler is in custody and expected to be charged with theft and burglary-related offences.
11.03.2020 LISTEN

Hon. Awua Ababio

Director of Diaspora Affairs at the Presidency

Nananom and leaders of Ghanaian Communities Worldwide

All Protocol Observed

Distinguished Congregation

On behalf of the Organisation of Ghanaians Abroad, OGHA and the Ghanaian Community in France Council, GHACIF, I wish to congratulate the President and People of the Republic of Ghana on the Occasion of Ghana's 63rd Independence Day Celebration.

We Ghanaians in France have an immense privilege to celebrate this occasion with Hon. Awua Ababio, Director of Diaspora Affairs at the Office of the President. We have Ghana's legendary musician, Nana Kwame Ampadu and the superstar Gospel musician in Uniform, Chief Superintendant of Police Kofi Sarpong. We shall be listening to them.

This clearly identifies the Ghanaian Community in France as the capital of Ghana's Diaspora. We are urged to progress as one people.

Let us work hard together in love and unity in order to remain as an example for other communities to emulate.

We must look to this Independence day as a new age for our country, a new hope for our country and a new era to bring about more dynamism into our government and compatriots.

63 years is a new opportunity to restore hope and optimism,

Presbytery and members of the Church of Pentecost Paris, thank you for this all inclusive opportunity to thank God and celebrate Independent Ghana at age 63.

God Bless our homeland ... Ghana

Osei Mensah Michael(President)

Organisation of Ghanaians Abroad/

Ghanaian Community in France Council
Kenyas only female white giraffe and her calf have been killed by poachers at Ishaqbini Hirola Community Conservancy, Garissa county.



In a statement released by Ishaqbini Hirola Community Conservancy, it was gathered that the bodies of the two giraffes were found in a skeletal state after being killed by armed poachers in Garissa in eastern Kenya.



The female giraffes calf was the second birth reported in August last year, resulting in a family of three white giraffes in the country.



The facility's manager Mohammed Ahmednoor who described the incident as a big blow to their efforts of conserving the rare and unique species, revealed that only a lone bull remains after the sad incident.



He said;

This is a very sad day for the community of Ijara and Kenya as a whole. We are the only community in the world who are custodians of the white giraffe. Its killing is a blow to tremendous steps taken by the community to conserve rare and unique species and a wakeup call for continued support to conservation efforts, Ahmedoor said.



This is a long term loss given that genetics studies and research which were significant investment into the area by researchers, has now gone to the drain. Further to this, the white giraffe was a big boost to tourism in the area."



The white giraffe made headlines in 2017 after its discovery, with its unique white hide. Its unique colour is not caused by albinism but a condition known as leucism; which means they continue to produce dark pigment in their soft tissue, giving them dark eyes.









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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B400bn stimulus package to ease virus impact approved

THAILAND: The cabinet has given the green light to a stimulus package expected to inject 400 billion baht into the economy to reduce the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic.

economicsCoronavirusCOVID-19

By Bangkok Post

Wednesday 11 March 2020, 08:35AM

Yaowarat area in Bangkok is less crowded due to the impacts of the coronavirus outbreak. Photo: Wichan Charoenkiatpakul

The package was proposed at a meeting of economic ministers.

The controversial B2,000 cash handouts to selected groups of people, which sparked intense public criticism after being proposed by the economic ministers on Friday (Mar 6), was not included in the package approved by the cabinet yesterday (Mar 10).

Economists have downgraded Thai economic growth projections, mainly due to the impact of the coronavirus epidemic. Kasikorn Research Centre emerged as the most pessimistic among research houses, slashing its forecast for the countrys GDP growth this year to 0.5% on the expectation that the outbreak will wipe B410bn off tourism receipts.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said yesterday that the B400bn package was a first-phase measure that could be followed by second-phase action if the impact persists.

Finance Minister Uttama Savanayana expressed confidence that the stimulus package will ease conditions for the public and businesses reeling from the impact of the virus.

The package will inject an estimated B400bn into the economy in a bid to return growth to positive territory.

The short-term measure will last for a few months, after which the COVID-19 situation will be assessed again.

According to the Finance Ministry, the package will cover all sectors since it will benefit 14.6 million low-income earners who account for 22% of the population, a total of 50,000 village funds nationwide, 7.2 million farming households (30% of all households nationwide) and 3 million small-and-medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) or 99% of all business enterprises. The package is expected to create 14 million jobs or about 85% of all employment nationwide.

It will provide assistance to the general public and to SME entrepreneurs.

It includes soft loans worth 150 billion baht, which the Government Savings Bank (GSB) will lend to commercial banks at just 0.01%, so commercial banks can grant loans at 2%. Each bank borrower can take out a loan of no more than 20 million baht.

The package also includes a moratorium on principal payments, debt payments extension, and the right to borrow from special financial institutions such as the GSB and the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives, Mr Uttama said.

The Bank of Thailand (BoT) will also allow SMEs and general customers who are bank debtors to undergo debt restructuring without any stain on their credit history.

Other measures include easing debt-classification criteria to help virus-impacted debtors, and giving banks more flexibility to approve loans in order to give debtors sufficient liquidity.

The BoT has also called on commercial banks to lower the minimum payment limit for credit-card holders to 5% from the 10% ceiling, Mr Uttama said.

Meanwhile, the Social Security Office (SSO) has rolled out measures to promote employment, including 30 billion baht in soft loans starting at 3% interest for SSO-registered entrepreneurs, Mr Uttama said.

The government will reduce withholding tax from 3% to 1% from April to September, and SMEs can use expenses incurred by salary payments from April to July to claim deductions of up to three times to spur employment, the minister said.

In a move to restore capital market confidence, the government will invest more than 65% of the Super Savings Fund (SSF) in companies listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand, and will offer higher tax benefits to attract more public investment in the SSF.
Two teams could throw yet another cloud over the 2020 season opener in Melbourne, according to Germany's Auto Bild.

Correspondent Ralf Bach said there is a very real possibility that Red Bull will lodge an official protest against the legality of Mercedes' new 'DAS' steering system.

"From our perspective, the system does not comply with the rules," Dr Helmut Marko confirmed.

"So we will protest when Mercedes uses the system in Melbourne."

The Red Bull official also told Auto Motor und Sport: "Our lawyers are checking whether the DAS system is legal."

The second team that may be preparing a protest in Australia is Renault. Bach reports that the French outfit suspects that Racing Point copied some of Mercedes' technical solutions 1-1, which is not allowed.

Meanwhile, Mercedes had to alter the design of its rear brake ducts after winter testing. According to Auto Motor und Sport, the FIA told the world champions that an air intake, whilst technically legal, was against the 'spirit' of the rules.

Racing Point may also have been affected by the same new technical directive, the report added.

It is also believed that, prior to Melbourne, Mercedes managed to rectify the engine problems that were encountered in winter testing.

(GMM)
COUNSEL for veteran comedian Sil Fox, who denies groping a woman as he had a photo taken with her on a night out, has made an application for the case to be dismissed.

Sylvester "Sil" Fox (86) has pleaded not guilty to sexual assault of a woman at a bar in the city-centre's south-side on December 17, 2018.

He has gone on trial at Dublin District Court. The State had concluded its case on March 25 last and the case was adjourned.

Today defence counsel Emer Ni Chuagain lodged a written application for a dismissal to be considered by trial Judge Paul Murphy.

The non-jury hearing resumes on March 23 next.

Mr Fox, who grew up in the Liberties in Dublin but has an address at Wellington Lawn, Templeogue, D6, was remanded on continuing bail.

The trial heard he had been asked for a selfie picture with the middle-aged woman who had been on a Christmas night out with friends.

The complainant said Mr Fox came up to her group and said, Hi ya girls, are you looking for men and there was blatant chorus of no and he said f**k you and turned away from us but that was described by another witness as banter or a joke.

Mr Fox was a performer popular with her parents generation and she wanted a photo with him to show her father. She tapped him on his side and he agreed.

She gave her phone to her friend to set up the picture as Mr Fox turned and asked if they were ready. She told him she liked a broach of a clown he had on the lapel of his jacket.

She remained seated as he leaned over. He put his right hand on the back of her chair and his left hand in front as he stood to her side, she said.

The woman claimed that as her friend said Smile, Mr Fox proceeded to put his hand on to my lap, on to my groin and he tickled my vagina, and doing so he said, You will always remember where this picture was taken.

She was stunned and did not say anything and he scurried away, she told the court. I was sick, stunned, I was floored, oh my God, this man has interfered with me, she said.

She turned to her friends and said to the three of them, that man is after groping me, hes after sexually assaulting me.

The night continued and there was joking and laughing. After the band finished she confronted Mr Fox who was talking to other men.

She asked him if she could have a word, One of the men said excuse me, we are sharing a joke, That was Barry Murphy from Apres Match, the court heard.

She said she told Mr Fox, You sexually assaulted me, you groped me, and you are a dirty old man. His reply, she claimed, was You should be so lucky and she then told him she would put you on Facebook.

The complainant alleged he told her this is ridiculous, this is stupid.

She told the court her reply was You are a dirty old man, what you did was inappropriate, The woman said that while she and Mr Fox walked over to her group he commented You are all mad f**king b***hes and she told him that was inappropriate and nasty.

Cross-examined by the Mr Fox's barrister (instructed by solicitor Michael French) she said the assault lasted for 30 seconds, as the photograph was taken. Asked why she was smiling in the photo she said she was shocked and did not know what to say.

She said three quarters way through he whispered in her ear and groped her vagina.

She did not think it was an accident or that his hand slipped. She realised what was happening and stopped smiling but the photo had been taken, she said.

The woman alleged he put his hand on her and tickled with his fingers, and it lasted split seconds. Asked why she said in her statement split second only, she said that was a typo and should have said split seconds.

She could not explain why a friend who was present had a different recollection of what she told her Mr Fox had whispered.

Counsel said the first garda she reported it to also had different version.

She told her friends at the same time, she said. Her comment about putting him on Facebook was spur of the moment and she was not computer literate, she said.

She agreed it was unusual for someone to stay at the same location after they had sexually assaulted someone.

CCTV evidence was shown to her and she agreed it took three seconds, not 30, to take the photo and her hand was going toward Mr Fox as he leaned in.

She accepted his left hand could be seen in front on the table as the photo was taken and his other hand was on the back of the chair.

Counsel suggested it was impossible and she replied that she did not know.

One of her friends told the court she understood the complainant had said he would have touched her vagina if she had not been carrying weight.

Detective Garda Shane Behan took a statement from Mr Fox who later came to Pearse Street station voluntarily. He also had handwritten account of the night and agreed to be interviewed. He did not require a solicitor for the interview.

He told the detective he was there with friends but was not intoxicated.

He said she was a liar and trying to ruin my name.

He denied the allegation completely and said that is a load of crap.

She had put her hand around him, he said.

In his own notes he stated he was speaking to Barry Murphy when the complainant later approached with the allegation. In his note he asked if drink had given her false courage and where is it in the photo?. He wrote that he was a mass going Catholic and as a result of health problems 11 years ago his libido had vanished.

He accused her of trying to ruin his reputation.

He said he had never been accused of anything improper during 50 years in showbiz. I have been in hundreds of selfies, as far as I am concerned I am being shafted, he wrote in his account.

Detective Behan agreed with the defence that Mr Fox had no prior convictions and had never been accused of an offence before.
Workers from Solarcity install solar panels on a home in California in this file photo. (Steve & Michelle Gerdes/Flickr/CC BY-NC-ND)

California Republicans Introduce Batch of Environmental Bills

California Republicans have introduced a new package of environmental measures to prevent wildfires, promote better forest management, support public transit, expand a state park, and tackle energy challenges.

Republican Leader Marie Waldron (R-Escondido) submitted a budget request letter to secure funding to manage vegetation growth near streets and roads to reduce the likelihood of sparks from vehicles causing brush fires. Her letter will be considered by budget subcommittees this spring.

We need to make sure we are better prepared for natural disasters, Waldron said in the March 9 media release announcing the bills. Vegetation management is a vital step to avoiding future wildfire devastation.

Assemblyman James Gallagher (R-Yuba City) introduced three bills, Assembly Bill 1941 (AB 1941), AB 1942, and AB 2444, to redefine renewable energy sources, provide more money to healthy forest programs and streamline CEQA [California Environmental Quality Act] requirements.

California must get smarter about its climate policies, Gallagher said in the release. Century-old infrastructure, tinderbox forests and catastrophic fires have devastated our communities and eliminated our carbon reductions.

Assemblymember Marie Waldron (R) at the California State Capitol with Gold Award recipient Kyra Sakamoto (L) of Girl Scouts of Northern California, on June 22, 2016. (Kelly Sullivan/Getty Images for Girl Scouts)

Republicans have a better way that reduces carbon emissions, prevents catastrophic fire and actually makes energy affordable and safe.

Wildfire Risks

About two months before former California Gov. Jerry Brown left office in 2019, President Donald Trump chided the state government over its forest management policies in the wake of deadly wildfires.

There is no reason for these massive, deadly and costly forest fires in California except that forest management is so poor, Trump wrote on Twitter in mid-November, threatening to withhold federal funds. Billions of dollars are given each year, with so many lives lost, all because of gross mismanagement of the forests. Remedy now, or no more Fed payments!

President Donald Trump views damage from wildfires in Malibu, Calif., on Nov.17, 2018. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

In November 2018, the deadly Camp Fire broke out in Northern Californias Butte County, killing 85 people, burning more than 150,000 acres, and destroying about 19,000 structures. The fire lasted for 17 days.

According to the Associated Press, in response to Trumps criticism, Brown said: Managing all the forests everywhere we can does not stop climate change. And those who deny that are definitely contributing to the tragedies that were now witnessing, and will continue to witness in the coming years.

Brown did, however, quietly sign two legislative bills aimed at improving the states fire management before Gov. Gavin Newsom was sworn in Jan. 7, 2019.

In a recent interview with The Epoch Times, former California Republican Party chairman Ron Nehring said the state has failed to dedicate enough resources to removing dead trees and brush from forested areas that pose a high risk of wildfires.

Someone has to go in and take that stuff out and create fire breaks  Until we do those things, were going to continue to see this. This is nothing new. Its not like this is some surprise, said Nehring, who has served on Californias Board of Forestry and Fire Protection.

They are lacking the political will in Sacramento to allocate the resources necessary to do that, so the wildfires we see are the result of the natural environment in California  and not a result of climate change, or anything else, for that matter, he said.

According to a recent Stanford University study, about 84 percent of the 300,624 wildfires in California over the last decade occurred in high-risk areas. About 75 percent were started on roadsides, and nine percent at the sites of power utility structures.

Solar Panels, Tax Credits

Assemblyman Devon Mathis (R-Visalia) introduced two environment-related bills. If passed, AB 2359 will create a tax credit for homeowners who install a solar power battery bank to accompany their existing solar panels.

He also proposed AB 3046 aimed at establishing an Energy Bill of Rights and a council to create solutions to meet the states environmental goals without hurting the economy.

For too long, we have sat on the sidelines and watched as members of the Legislature tackled the issue of climate change in drastic and counterintuitive ways, Mathis said in the release. I am proposing innovative ways to address the state of our planet that takes the wellbeing of every day Californians into account and makes real change for our state.

Public Transit, Commute Times

Assemblyman Tom Lackey (R-Palmdale) introduced AB 1848 to address long commute times and encourage the use of public transit to decrease the environmental impacts of commuting.

My district is home to one of the longest commutes in the nation. These commuters are the backbone of our economic success in Southern California and every day they choose between extreme traffic congestion and a failing public transit system, Lackey said.

By transferring $4 billion from High-Speed Rail to the Southern California Regional Rail Authority, we encourage commuters to take an active role in the technological advances of the 21st century and a practical step in making California more sustainable.

Trees, Green Space

Assemblyman Phillip Chen (R-Brea) introduced AB 2021 that would expand the Chino Hills State Park.

Waldron introduced an assembly resolution coauthored by Assemblyman Randy Voepel (R-Santee), to celebrate the benefits of Californias natural resources on Arbor Day. California Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a proclamation declaring March 7, 2020, as Arbor Day.

Wildflowers bloom at Chino Hills State Park in Chino Hills, Calif., on March 12, 2017. One of the bills in a package of environmental bills introduced by Republican legislators in California includes expanding this park. (Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images)

Arbor Day is a chance to highlight the important role trees and vegetation play in keeping our air clean, Voepel said in the release. March 7 serves as a reminder to plant a tree, prune existing plants to safeguard against fire hazards and appreciate all that nature has to offer.
Much has been said about the differences between baby boomers, Gen-Xers, and millennials  but a new survey found that the three generations have a lot in common when it comes to homeownership preferences.

According to the survey, conducted by Coldwell Banker Real Estate, almost all boomers (born between 1946 and 1964), Gen-Xers (born between 1965 and 1980) and millennials (born between 1981 and 1996) agree that owning their own home is important.

But thats not all they agree on  a majority of all three generations (79% of boomers, 79% of Gen-Xers, and 81% of millennials) value the location of their home over its size. And all three generations (98% of boomers, 98% of Gen-Xers, and 94% of millennials) also agree on the importance of living in a safe neighborhood.
There has been 142 cases of Coronavirus in New York State, however there have been no confirmed cases of Coronavirus in or around Oneida County. It is flu season, and the Catholic Diocese of Syracuse has decided to take steps to ensure that no viruses are being spread in Catholic churches. Father Joseph Salerno is a Pastor at Our Lady of Lourdes Church. He talked about why the church is taking precautionary moves locally.

"Were trying to make transmission of this virus as minimal as possible and as best as we can, so take into consideration the people who have gathered here and especially those who might be directly behind you."

Those attending mass are encouraged to refrain from extending hands during the sign of peace. A simple smile or nod is acceptable.

Holy Communion should be received in the hand rather than on the tongue, and patrons should refrain from drinking from the chalice.

Those distributing communion should be practicing good hygiene, including hand washing before and after communion. Pastors may also take additional steps like suspending the use of holy water.

The hand sanitizer in the church's fonts is not meant as a replacement for holy water. Its merely a reminder to use good hygiene while youre in church. Father Salerno doesnt want to create any kind of panic, but he does feel the churchs actions are an important step in keeping people from contracting the corona virus.

"Because we have very little if any protection against that particular virus, however the flu really seems to be rearing its ugly head as well, and we need to be conscious of that, so its not about coronavirus alone. Its about healthy practices."

The Diocese is encouraging the current practices until health officials have better treatment options available.

To keep up on the most current information about the spread of the Coronavirus, you can visit the Center for Disease Control and Prevention website at: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus
A bill to remove one level of appeals in death penalty cases won approval today in the Alabama House Judiciary Committee.

The legislation, by Rep. Connie Rowe, R-Jasper, would send death penalty case appeals directly to the Alabama Supreme Court, skipping the Court of Criminal Appeals.

The legislation was initiated by Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth, who said he brought the legislation in response to the deaths of seven Alabama law enforcement officers from gunfire over a 13-month period. But it applies to death penalty cases involving all types of victims.

An identical bill won committee approval in the Senate two weeks ago.

Rowe said the intent is to speed up an appeals process that sometimes lasts for decades.

Rowe and other advocates for the bill said the change would leave multiple appeal steps in place, including those on the federal level.

Rep. Tim Wadsworth, R-Farley, voted against the bill. Wadsworth said the Criminal Appeals Court step is important because its one of those for which an indigent defendant has a right to legal representation. Wadsworth said thats not the case on federal appeals, although legal organizations often volunteer to represent death row inmates.

Low-income (defendants) will not have same opportunities to go to federal court," Wadsworth said.

Rep. Merika Coleman, D-Birmingham, also voted against the bill. Coleman said she understood the frustrations that lengthy appeals cause for victims families because she said shes lost two family members to homicides. But Coleman noted that shortening the appeals could mean that scientific advances that could exonerate a defendant could come too late because of a streamlined process.

Rowes bill moves to the House.
Ontario is preparing to open out-of-hospital assessment centres to quickly screen and test people who may have COVID-19 and may offer drive-thru options so people can be screened for the novel coronavirus in their cars.

The dedicated assessment centres will help keep people away from already busy emergency departments as the province prepares for a potential surge in people seeking testing for COVID-19. The strategy will relieve pressure on hospitals and protect hospital patients, staff and visitors from being exposed to the virus.

Michael Garron Hospital in Toronto plans to open its COVID-19 Community Assessment Centre by mid- to late March. The centre will have a separate entrance from the hospital and will be designed to include a drive-thru component that will allow health-care workers to quickly assess people from their cars.

Drive-thru assessments will only be implemented should there be an increased need for testing, and would likely only be available by appointment, said Mark Fam, vice president of clinical programs at Michael Garron Hospital (formerly Toronto East General Hospital). Several regions around the world, including South Korea, where COVID-19 is spreading in the community, are using the drive-thru assessment model with success, he said.

It really is a drive thru; you get a quick (nasal) swab that will be sent for testing, answer a few screening questions and then are able to drive back home, Fam said. It keeps people in their own cars, its a quick process and they can receive their lab results virtually. Thats an example weve seen around the world that we are implementing here.

Ontario has yet to formally announce detailed plans for dedicated COVID-19 assessment centres, though its clear they are in the works.

During this delay, some community physicians are creating their own policies for how to manage the fast-moving situation with COVID-19 in the province.

Dr. Dina Kulik, a pediatrician and founder and director of Kidcrew in Toronto, said her patient population, including newborns and children with compromised immune systems, is among the most vulnerable to health complications from viruses, including COVID-19.

Because of these risks, Kulik is now telling patients who have travelled anywhere outside Canada, or who have been in contact with people who have travelled outside the country, and who have illness, such as respiratory symptoms and fever, to seek medical attention at their local emergency department. After two weeks, these patients can return to her clinic if they have no symptoms of COVID-19.

If I can minimize potential exposure, I believe Im providing the best care to my patients and the community as a whole, said Kulik, who also works as an emergency medicine physician at The Hospital for Sick Children. The only way to test and minimize exposure to other people is to do proper screening and testing in a hospital setting.

In a statement to the Star, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Health said the province is actively working with specific hospitals and has requested that they submit applications to establish dedicated assessment centres. Plans for the centres will be in place this coming week, the spokesperson said.

The Star was able to confirm several Toronto area hospitals, including University Health Network, Unity Health Toronto and Mackenzie Health, are working on plans for assessment centres.

On Tuesday, Ontario health officials announced one new COVID-19 case  a patient who recently travelled to Switzerland and is now in self-isolation  bringing the number of cases in the province to 36. Canada had at least 93 cases of the respiratory illness as of midday Tuesday, including 39 in British Columbia, 14 in Alberta and four in Quebec. One person, a man in his 80s, died of the illness on Monday in Vancouver.

At Queens Park, Health Minister Christine Elliott came under fire from opposition parties Tuesday for not revealing more details about the assessment centres and the provinces broader plan to deal with potentially wider spread of the new coronavirus.

We are currently assessing the appropriate sites for assessment centres, she told reporters. Not every hospital is going to be an appropriate place for testing. We are setting that up right now so that should the situation escalate then we will have the place for them to be assessed.

Elliott would not reveal how many locations will be established or where they will be.

That hasnt been finally determined as yet because we need to make sure we have appropriate geographic distribution. That is being discussed right now and we should have a plan in place very shortly.

Dr. Jerome Leis, Medical Director of Infection Prevention and Control at Torontos Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, said the province knows it needs to act soon to curb a potential surge in COVID-19 patients from overwhelming the health system.

We cant get these assessment centres up and running fast enough, he said, adding the province and its health partners want to ensure they are thoughtfully implemented with clear communications to the public on how they work.

The centres will only be for people who have been screened, either by telephone or a virtual assessment, and may require an appointment, Leis said.

They are not for people who just want to get tested, he said. There will be clear criteria for people who should or shouldnt visit the centres.

A recent report in the Canadian Medical Association Journal analyzed data on COVID-19 testing in Toronto emergency departments. The study  a snapshot of early cases in a one-month period  showed the number of people being assessed for COVID-19 in hospitals is increasing, an indication the province will continue to see more cases of the coronavirus.

Leis, a co-author of the study, said it also showed the majority of patients undergoing testing are not acutely unwell, which means many do not need to be treated or even assessed in a hospital. The findings are further evidence creating additional assessment and testing options outside the hospital is needed, he said.

With that kind of model, we can hopefully limit the number of potential exposures of COVID-19 to emergency departments. That (increase in patients) can be unsafe, and it can also amplify the epidemic and block access to the most acutely ill patients.

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath said the provinces health minister should be more forthcoming on details of measures being contemplated to show the people of Ontario the government has a handle on these things with public health officials already warning person-to-person spread in the community is imminent.

Horwath also called on the Ford government to release a comprehensive COVID-19 emergency response plan for Ontario that would outline specific strategies to help hospitals, businesses and people cope with the impacts of the new virus.

On Tuesday, the Nova Scotia Health Authority opened eight dedicated COVID-19 assessment centres even though the province currently has no confirmed cases.

At Torontos Michael Garron Hospital, staff are working with community partners to pinpoint the best location for its dedicated assessment centre. The hospital had proposed opening an assessment clinic in an area with other medical offices and a senior centre, but Fam said other locations are now on the table to lessen concerns from the community.

Currently, the hospital is seeing between five and 10 people a day come to its emergency department for COVID-19 screening, though staff know the numbers will likely increase, Fam said. So far, no confirmed cases have been identified at the hospital, he said.

No matter its location, the assessment centre will be near the emergency department so that very sick patients can be treated immediately. It will also include a virtual component to help keep people who may have symptoms of COVID-19 at home, Fam said.

Given that most patients who develop COVID-19 have mild symptoms and can recover at home in self-isolation, the assessment centres will be key in efforts to keep people out of hospitals that dont need to be in hospitals, said Dr. Isaac Bogoch, an infectious disease expert at Torontos University Health Network.

The real question is, is that going to be sufficient? The answer is maybe, Bogoch added in nod to other countries like Italy, Iran and South Korea that have seen their hospital systems swamped by the new coronavirus after its devastating spread through China.

Updated: Mark Fam is vice president of clinical programs at Michael Garron Hospital. This article has been updated to correct the spelling of Fams name.
Portland State University is strongly encouraging its 26,000-student campus to move to online classes for the remainder of its winter term, including next weeks final exams, a school spokeswoman said.

Were trying to reduce in-person gatherings whenever possible, PSU spokeswoman Christina Williams said.

As more than 30 universities around the country canceled in-person classes and instituted online learning to slow the novel coronavirus spread, Oregons universities have stayed open, following guidance issued Sunday by the Oregon Health Authority.

That guidance recommended against closing campuses where cases of COVID-19 are not present. But Oregon has conducted limited testing for the virus, creating a misleading picture of the viruss community spread. Not everyone who has wanted to be tested has been.

As recently as Tuesday, the University of Oregon cited the lack of confirmed cases in the area as a reason the campus remained open.

Three University of Oregon professors currently living in Italy, where the entire country has been locked down to slow the virus spread, called on university and state leaders to act more decisively. The three professors cited what they called glaring shortcomings in Oregons response and said the university should immediately institute online-only classes, cancel travel and meetings and large conferences.

We cannot help but notice the profound disconnect between the response in Italy and the response being taken by the Oregon Health Authority, the University of Oregon, and the larger community, they wrote. To date, the state and the university have not recognized the seriousness of the situation. There remains only a short window of time to be proactive rather than reactive.

The letter was signed by Melissa Graboyes, a medical history and African history professor, Alfredo Burlando, an economics professor and Eleonora Redaelli, a public policy professor currently in Milan. Graboyes, currently in the Veneto region with Burlando, her husband, confirmed their authorship. She said she and Burlando left Milan two weeks ago after the first reports of community spread.

COVID-19s rapid spread through Italy shows that actions that seem courageous todaythe idea that the university stays open to serve its students in the midst of this difficult timemay seem foolhardy and needlessly risky when viewed just a few days later, the three professors wrote.

A University of Oregon spokeswoman did not immediately respond to questions.

Portland State has not yet decided what to do after finals conclude next week, its spokeswoman said. The schools spring break begins the week of March 23.

Were actively monitoring it on an hourly basis, Williams said. Its an evolving situation that no one has encountered before.

Other universities are currently discussing their plans. The University of Portlands leadership team was meeting at noon Wednesday.

A spokesman for Oregon State University said the school would have an announcement about important matters today at 3 p.m.

Here is the full letter from the University of Oregon professors.

 Rob Davis

rdavis@oregonian.com

503.294.7657; @robwdavis

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
A California student who recently returned home from Italy has quarantined himself in an RV outside his parents' home because he 'wasn't screened at two major airports'.

Jake Eastman, 20, who attends Santa Rosa Junior College, was studying abroad with a group of students when the coronavirus spread across Italy, where there are more than 10,000 confirmed coronavirus cases and 631 deaths.

Italy's prime minister, Giuseppe Conte, recently placed the entire country on lockdown in an attempt to stop the spread of the virus.

Eastman, who was feeling bad while he was Italy, said his parents purchased him a flight home on March 4 before the lockdown was put in place.

California student, Jake Eastman (pictured holding Lysol outside of RV), who recently returned home from Italy has quarantined himself in an RV outside his parents' home because he 'wasn't screened at an airport'

Eastman (pictured in the RV), who attends Santa Rosa Junior College, was studying abroad with a group of students when the coronavirus spread across Italy, where there are more than 10,000 confirmed coronavirus cases and 631 deaths

Eastman said his parents purchased him a flight home on March 4 and he has been in self-quarantine ever since. Eastman is currently self-quarantining in his parents' RV (right) outside their home (main)

'I went to the doctor and found I had a sinus infection,' he told CBS. 'And then, the next week, immediately after was the coronavirus outbreak.'

Eastman's mother, Kate, told the station that 'no one's actually directly said that he had to be in quarantine'.

'He actually went through two major airports without any screening or anyone asking where he was coming from. We were shocked,' she added.

Santa Rosa Junior College canceled their study abroad program in Florence last week.

The college attempted to get all 22 of their study abroad students out of Italy by Wednesday, but some learned on Monday that their flights back to the US had been canceled.

But the students were able to get flights out of Italy on Wednesday morning.

Students returning from Italy will be allowed to complete their studies online.

Eastman's claim that he wasn't screened upon arriving to the US isn't the only one making headlines.

Eastman's mother, Kate (left), said that 'no one's actually directly said that he had to be in quarantine'

Kate said that her son 'actually went through two major airports without any screening or anyone asking where he was coming from'

In the US, there are more than 1,000 confirmed cases of the virus and 31 deaths

Americans returning on the last flights out of locked-down Milan have said they were stunned to discover that there was still no screening for coronavirus upon arriving in New York on Tuesday.

Dominique Gioia, a 20-year-old student at SUNY New Paltz who was doing a semester abroad in Milan, was supposed to stay through end of May, until New York Governor Andrew Cuomo ordered all SUNY and CUNY students home from programs abroad.

She told DailyMail.com: 'In Milan airport, they took my temperature and I had to fill out a form. [The airport official] just held a little temperature thing to my forehead and then told me to go. That was it.'

Gioia says she and her fellow students were not screened after landing at New Yorks John F. Kennedy International Airport, adding: 'I was asked one question about why I was in Milan and then I was waved through.

'I was surprised because I thought this (coronavirus) was a whole big mess. But it doesnt seem serious the way they were handling it.'

She and about a dozen other fellow students from New Paltz were in Italy programs. Gioia described Milan as a virtual ghost town. 'The streets were barren,' she said. 'They closed everything.'

'Our program got cut short so we had to leave,' she added. 'Our school ended our program while we were there and said if we stayed, they couldnt help us or anything. And now were here. Im frustrated.'

Elizabeth Ross, another American passenger flying home from Rome after studying for two months in the city, told DailyMail.com: 'Right as we were going through security they had you stand in a spot and they took your temperature, with the body scanner, very quick, very easy.

'Before we boarded the flight we did have to fill out a paper that was very basic, it asked personal information, where you had traveled recently and if you had exhibited any symptoms of coronavirus.

Italy's prime minister, Giuseppe Conte, recently placed the entire country on lockdown in an attempt to stop the spread of the virus. An ecological operator disinfects the Ponte delle Guglie on Wednesday in Venice, Italy

Any movements in and out are allowed only for work reasons, health reasons proven by a medical certificate. A woman walks on an empty subway in Milan, Italy on Wednesday

'After scanning your boarding pass and right before you got on the plane they scanned again, and then boarded the plane and no trouble from there. On this side, nothing that I know of.'

One traveler, from Rhode Island, said they were not screen in either Italy or the US but simply asked to fill out a health form.

In response to the claims, the US embassy said: 'Italy has expanded temperature screening to all air travelers upon arrival on all international (including European) and domestic flights arriving in Italy's major airports as well as upon departure for most non-Schengen countries.'

The State Department has told Americans to 'reconsider travel to Italy' but is still yet to issue its strongest warning of 'do not travel'.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have issued a Level 3 warning - their highest - to avoid all nonessential travel to Italy.

They say on their website: 'To slow the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) into the United States, CDC is working with state and local public health partners to implement after-travel health precautions.

'Depending on your travel history, you will be asked to stay home for a period of 14 days from the time you left an area with widespread or ongoing community spread (Level 3 Travel Health Notice).'

There have been more than 121,000 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in the world and more than 4,300 deaths.

In the US, there are more than 1,000 confirmed cases of the virus and 31 deaths.
By Alexander Nazaryan

March 10, 2020 " Information Clearing House " - Despite vows to drastically expand the coronavirus testing regime, federal and state public health authorities have tested only 6,563 people for the coronavirus as of Tuesday morning, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and numbers provided by all 50 states.

That count includes people tested by the federal government and by state laboratories. Because those laboratories may not always report people who tested negative for the coronavirus, the true number of people tested is probably somewhat higher.

Confusion about that exact number persists even at the highest reaches government. Earlier on Tuesday, Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said he couldnt provide the figure. We dont know exactly how many because hundreds of thousands of our tests have gone out to private labs and hospitals that currently do not report in to CDC, he said in a CNN appearance.

That number stands in stark contrast to the promises made by leading members of the Trump administrations coronavirus task force, who have variously asserted that 75,000 people would be tested by last weeks end and that laboratories across the United States would have the capacity to conduct 1.5 million tests by the beginning of this week.

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Neither claim appears to yet be close to realized, angering some Washington lawmakers. We are in a crisis, and there are questions about our preparedness and ongoing response efforts, Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., said on Tuesday morning. Im very concerned  and, I think, we all are  about our nations capabilities for coronavirus. Other countries have been testing thousands of people for weeks, but the U.S. is woefully behind the curve.

The nations ability to test for the coronavirus was hampered early on because a test created by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was found to have a contaminated reagent, meaning that one of its three markers  the one that would indicate a person was not infected  was not operational.

The CDC eventually corrected that error but also had to grapple with the fact that by keeping the coronavirus tests within its own purview, it was severely limiting the numbers who could be tested. It has since allowed private and university laboratories to conduct testing, while also vowing to stock public health labs with sufficient quantities of the coronavirus test.

Still, the lag is evident, robbing epidemiologists of precious days as they seek to contain the spread of the disease.

Private laboratories are expected to intensify their own testing efforts, but as of Monday morning, Mark S. Birenbaum, who heads the National Independent Laboratory Association, said he was uncertain of how many of his members had begun to test for the coronavirus.

Many have not, he wrote in a text message.

CDC spokesman Richard Quartarone said that as of Monday evening, the Atlanta-based public health agency had tested 1,707 people. On March 3, that number had been 1,200 people, which means the CDC has tested 507 people in the last week, or about 72 per day.

In a congressional hearing on Tuesday, CDC Director Robert Redfield, MD, said that state laboratories had tested 4,856 people. The source of that statistic is not clear: The day before, both the White House and the CDC said that information was not available. An industry group representing public laboratories also said it had not yet gathered the data.

State laboratories had tested 3,280 people as of Monday evening. That number is derived from the COVID Tracking Project, started by Denver-based venture capitalist Jeff Hammerbacher and journalists from the Atlantic, put the number of people tested by state labs at a somewhat lower 3,280. The data compiled by Hammerbacher slightly understates the number of people tested, since some states report only positive test results.

South Korea, by contrast, has performed well over 100,000 tests. An analysis by Business Insider found that the U.S. lags badly behind other nations in the share of its population that has been tested (the analysis, however, appears to exclude people who were tested by state labs).

At the same time, public laboratories cannot be relied upon to carry the brunt of the testing burden. On the whole, Michelle Forman, a spokesperson for the Association of Public Health Laboratories, estimates that public laboratories will be able to test only 10,000 patients per day, and that is when all 100 facilities are running at full capacity.

The White House did not respond to a request for comment.

" Source "
Originally, the CVE-2019-0090 vulnerability was considered a firmware bug, which allowed a malicious actor with physical access to the CPU to escalate privileges and execute code from the CSME by obtaining the Chipset Key. Intel attempted to fix this issue with a patch released in May 2019.

Mark Ermolov, a lead specialist of OS and hardware security at Positive Technologies, compared the Intel chip flaw to a similar error in the BootROM of Apple mobile platforms.

Both vulnerabilities allow extracting users encrypted data. Here, attackers can obtain the key in many different ways. For example, they can extract it from a lost or stolen laptop in order to decrypt confidential data, Ermolov explained in a blog post on Positive Technologies website.

However, Positive Technologies recently discovered that the bug can also be exploited through local access, such as via malware on a device, not necessarily through only physical access. The firm also noted that no amount of further updates can fix the vulnerability.

Applying the patch for SA-00213 prevents the ISH (Integrated Sensors Hub) exploitation vector, but doesnt fix the bug in CSME boot ROM, Ermolov said in a statement to ZDNet.

Positive Technology researchers have recommended that users of Intel CPUs should disable the CSME-based encryption of data storage devices, or even migrate to tenth-generation or later Intel CPUs which do not have the issue.
The Trump administration has ordered that all top-level coronavirus meetings be treated as classified by federal health officials.

The unusual restriction has resulted in the exclusion of health staffers and government experts without security clearances from interagency meetings.

Officials inside the Trump administration spoke with Reuters, claiming the restrictions have hampered efforts to contain the coronavirus.

We had some very critical people who did not have security clearances who could not go, an official said. These should not be classified meetings. It was unnecessary.

The sources claim the National Security Council ordered the classification.

Recommended Republicans block emergency sick leave bill amid coronavirus outbreak

John Ullyot, an NSC spokesman, claimed any allegations of obfuscation by the agency were incorrect.

From day one of the response to the coronavirus, NSC has insisted on the principle of radical transparency, he said.

He maintained that the administration has cut red tape and set the global standard in protecting the American people under President Trumps leadership.

Coronavirus-related meetings at the department of health and human services were held in a Sensitive Compartmentalized Information Facility, which are normally used by military and intelligence operations.

The HHS has the rooms in the event it needs to respond to a chemical or biological attempt.

One of the officials Reuters spoke to for the piece suggested the White House imposed the restrictions not to protect national security but to keep the information limited to an inner circle as a means to prevent leaks.

Critics of the move have called it a cover up.

One possible explanation for the secrecy is Donald Trumps focus on maintaining market stability.

Mr Trump has been downplaying the coronavirus, suggesting that it will be short lived and will go away on its own. On the same day the White House advised the public to avoid large crowds, the president scheduled a rally in Wisconsin. And Fox News pundit Geraldo Rivera went onto Fox News to plead that Mr Trump stop shaking hands with supporters, lest he contract coronavirus himself.

During a press conference on Tuesday, Mr Trump said that the US consumer is ready, and the consumer is so powerful in our country with what weve done with tax cuts and regulations cuts and all of those things, he said. The consumer has never been in a better position than they are right now.

According to the Associated Press, Mr Trump suggested Americans would keep travelling and continue to stimulate the economy regardless of the pandemic.

You know, a lot of people are staying here and theyre going to be doing their business here, he said. Theyre going to be travelling here. And theyll be going to resorts here.

An ethics lawyer interviewed by the AP, Kathleen Clark, suggested Mr Trumps focus on economic stability is motivated by self-preservation.

If there is any public health shutdown of restaurants, conventions, and meetings, that will impact his property and his finances, she said. I think a reasonable person can conclude that he is motivated by personal interests.

In a story by Vanity Fair, Noah Bookbinder, the executive director for the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics watchdog group in Washington, suggested it was especially difficult to place Mr Trumps priorities since he refused to sell his businesses when he became President.

We have to ask with almost every major policy decision whether hes acting in the countrys interest or his own interest. In a time of crisis like this, being able to trust our institutions, that our government is making the right decision for our health, economy, and security, is incredibly important, Mr Bookbinder said.

Electoral concerns may also explain President Trumps desire to keep information on the outbreak tightly controlled and to keep Americans travelling and spending money.

Recommended CDC director contradicts Trump on border wall and coronavirus

One of Mr Trumps most potent campaign talking points is the substantial gains made on the stock market during his time in office. However, stocks have plummeted since the coronavirus made landfall in the US. Though the virus is not the only force tanking the market  Russia and Saudi Arabia are also dueling over oil prices - it is undeniably a major factor.

The economic ramifications of the coronavirus are increasingly likely to weigh heavily on Trumps re-election chances and quite possibly could cost him re-election, Dan Eberhart, a Republican donor, told TIME.

Heading into the election with a weakened economy  or, worse, a recession  puts Mr Trump in a difficult position. If the economy tanks, the response of Mr Trumps administration  fair or not  will likely be faulted.
In a news conference Wednesday, the director-general of the World Health Organization encouraged countries to, change the course of this pandemic. Photo: Ted S. Warren/Associated Press
A planned pedestrian bridge linking Kangaroo Point to the City Botanic Gardens will need to be redesigned if the state government goes ahead with a superyacht docking trial.

A fight between City Hall and the state government was sparked on Wednesday after Brisbane Times revealed a trial in the works would allow superyachts to dock below the Kangaroo Point Cliffs.

The proposed bridge would connect Alice and Edward streets and Scott Street or Thornton Street.

Lord mayor Adrian Schrinner had previously announced plans for a $190 million cycling and pedestrian bridge to span that section of the Brisbane River.

He said the size of superyachts would require the bridge to be built higher than the Captain Cook Bridge, which would increase its footprint and make construction more expensive.
UK to introduce digital services tax

The UK Government will introduce a digital services tax based on a two per cent levy on sales for certain digital businesses, chancellor Rishi Sunak has confirmed.

The tax, which will be in place for 1 April, will apply to the revenues of search engines, social media services and online marketplaces which derive value from UK users.

The Treasury said the measure will ensure that large multinational businesses make a fair contribution to supporting vital public services.

The proposal has previously faced criticism from US policy-makers, with treasury secretary Steve Mnuchin warning American authorities would respond with retaliatory tariffs on British companies.

France delayed plans for a similar levy, while the US also warned the UK that the move could scupper chances of a transatlantic trade deal.

But with previous forecasts suggesting it could raise 500m a year, Sunak vowed to press on with the tax, saying: This will ensure the amount of tax paid in the UK reflects the value these businesses derive from their interactions with, and the contributions of, an active user base.

Chris Sanger, EYs head of tax policy, said: The Chancellor chose to proceed with the new Digital Services Tax that was invented under his predecessors predecessor. There has been much speculation that the Chancellor might defer the introduction, having seen the debate between the US and France. Following the threat of tariffs, the French government agreed to defer collection DST on this years revenue until 2021.

Despite the governments own scorecard showing the advancing of the liability due to the way that the government accounts for tax, the chancellor has followed his French counterpart by deferring payment into 2021. More widely, despite the changes since the tax was introduced, it still seems that the Exchequer believes it will raise 440m per year.
Spring Branch ISD updated students and families about ongoing plans concerning coronavirus (COVID-19) and is seeking input from those in the district.

The notice comes as the district prepares to take off for Spring Break for the week of March 16-20.

In a letter sent out by Linda H. Buchman, associate superintendent for community relations, the districts plans regarding current coronavirus concerns were expressed.

SBISD senior staff continues to closely monitor information concerning coronavirus (COVID-19) and follow the guidance and expertise of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), city of Houston Health Department, Harris County Public Health and Texas Department of State Health Services, Buchman said in the letter.

Of concern to many families is what may happen to students with perfect attendance.

Many of our schools recognize students for perfect attendance, and secondary schools have considered attendance as a criteria for final exam exemptions, Buchman reported. To reinforce our message that students remain at home if they are ill, we are modifying criteria for both perfect attendance and final exam exemption considerations.

According to the letter, the perfect attendance timeline for students is now Aug. 15 through March 13. For final exams, exemptions will now conclude as of March 13, 2020. All other campus criteria for exam exemptions will still apply.

According to Buchmans letter, any student who stays home due to a coronavirus-related reason will have the absence excused.

Travel

The districts school-approved traveling will be curtailed.

In the coming weeks, many of our students have district-approved trips scheduled with their peers and families, Buchman reported. As of today, March 10, 2020, out of an abundance of caution and until further notice, SBISD is revoking its approval of all domestic and international district-approved student trips.

The decision to curtail trips does not currently affect UIL activities.

The district is also asking families and employees within the district to voluntarily complete a travel survey. The survey is for those who traveled outside the U.S. over the past 14 days through March 31.

To complete the survey go to https://tinyurl.com/y53njlzg.

While we cannot mandate families to report travel, we strongly urge you to do so, Buchman said. Our campus administrators will follow up, if appropriate, with families of students who may be traveling out of the country through the month of March.

We ask students, parents and staff who plan to travel in the upcoming weeks to monitor and comply with all CDC and local health and governmental agency recommendations.

Information

Spring Branch ISD is maintaining its own COVID-19 update page at https://tinyurl.com/yx34edp2.

Other sources of information, according to Spring Branch ISD, include:

Houston Health Department (https://bit.ly/2020Coronavirus).

Harris County Public Health (http://publichealth.harriscountytx.gov).

Texas Department of State Health Services (https://dshs.texas.gov/coronavirus).

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/index.html).

World Health Organization (www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus).

rkent@hcnonline.com
One of the actresses who accused Harvey Weinstein of sexual harassment has said she cried tears of amazement when he was sentenced to 23 years in prison.

The Hollywood mogul, who has been accused of violating scores of women, was convicted last month for assaulting a production assistant at his apartment in 2006, and third-degree rape of another woman in 2013.

Weinstein was sentenced by Judge James Burke at the Manhattan Supreme Court in New York on Wednesday.

Mira Sorvino, who previously made allegations against Weinstein, tweeted: 23 years. Harvey Weinstein has been sentenced to 23 years in prison for his crimes of rape and sexual assault.

23 years. Harvey Weinstein has been sentenced to 23 years in prison for his crimes of rape and sexual assault. I literally cried tears of amazement, gratitude that the justice system has worked on behalf of all of his victims today.  Mira Sorvino (@MiraSorvino) March 11, 2020

I literally cried tears of amazement, gratitude that the justice system has worked on behalf of all of his victims today.

The American actress is among the many women who have accused the disgraced film producer of sexual misconduct, along with the likes of Rose McGowan, Ashley Judd, Gwyneth Paltrow, Angelina Jolie and Jennifer Lawrence.

Rosanna Arquette, another of his high-profile accusers, told of her gratitude to all the silence breakers, including McGowan, and all the survivors of weinstein and the brave women who testified.

She also hailed the incredible investigative reporting of Ronan Farrow and other journalists.

Gratitude to all the silence breakers especially Rose and all survivors of weinstein to the brave women who testified and to the incredible investigative reporting of Ronan farrow who uncovered the sabotage and spying and to david Remnick thank you Rich McKuen and ny times.  rosanna arquette (@RoArquette) March 11, 2020

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Farrow, the son of actress Mia Farrow and filmmaker Woody Allen, was one of the first journalists to report on allegations against Weinstein, in 2017.

The sentencing of Weinstein, 67, has also been praised as a major moment for the silence-breakers and for women battling everywhere for their right to work in a safe workplace without fear of abuse and harassment by Times Up UK, part of the global movement against sexual harassment.

Times Up UKs chairwoman, Dame Heather Rabbatts, said in a statement: For us at Times Up UK the courage of the silence breakers inspires our work as we focus on how the culture has to change to ensure no-one has to say #MeToo again.

Harvey Weinstein (Mary Altaffer/AP)

What this trial shows us is that there is no greater power than a group of women who know their rights.

When we work together, we can effect change, change that will shift the power balance and support and give hope to women for years to come.

Actress Jameela Jamil tweeted her congratulations to the incredible women who took this monster on, in spite of how maliciously he retaliated.

The British star added: You have made a huge leap forward for all women with this victory. Also so much love to @RonanFarrow.

Fieldfishers Jill Greenfield, who is running the UK civil litigation against Weinstein, said that his sentencing is a hugely positive step for UK victims.

Ms Greenfield, a personal injury solicitor, added: They provided background information to the DA before the trial, and written submissions for consideration for sentencing by Judge Burke.

There is some satisfaction for them having had their say and in knowing that the court in New York took into account what happened to them in the UK.

Now Weinstein is locked up, it must be time to question the enablers around him, who allowed his abhorrent criminal behaviour to go unchecked for so long.

Civil proceedings for the UK victims continues.

Weinstein will also face charges in Los Angeles, after allegedly raping a woman at a hotel in Los Angeles in 2013, and for allegedly sexually assaulting a woman in a Beverly Hills hotel suite the next night.

He claims that any sexual activity was consensual.
A passenger has been arrested for licking his hand and wiping it on a handrail on the Belgian subway, forcing the train to be taken off service and disinfected.

The unidentified man, who appears intoxicated, can be seen removing his mask before bringing his hand to his mouth and licking it.

He then brings his right hand up to the vertical rail and grips it, before rubbing it along the bar.

In the footage posted on the 9 March, the man can be seen cradling his can of beer on the Belgium subway system

The man, who the Brussels public transport system said was intoxicated, can be seen pulling down his face mask

He then lifts his right hand up to his mouth and licks his fingers while eyeing the vertical Brussels subway rail in front of him

The Brussels Intercommunal Transport Company, the capital's public transport provider, tweeted shortly after the event: 'The man (intoxicated) was arrested by the police and our security service.

'The subway train was withdrawn from service to be disinfected.

'Thank you for your message.

'Our metros are cleaned every day.'

The video, posted by a user who preferred to remain anonymous, was uploaded to Twitter on Saturday and social media users were outraged by the man's behaviour.

Soon after he reaches out and grabs the rail in his palm before rubbing it up and down on the Brussels subway train, much to the disgust of social media users and the woman who posted the incident on 9 March

Not yet satisfied, the man then makes sure his spit is well distributed on the Brussels subway hand rail

Miss Dior said (in translations): 'Is this a big joke? He is disgusting.'

Some called for ministerial intervention.

Jean Stalker said (in translation): 'We could report it to the government but they don't give a damn.'

Dimx recommended 'criminal punishment'.

Belgium's health ministry said on Sunday the number of coronavirus cases in the country had reached 200.

It said the virus had started to circulate locally among the Belgian population, and two members of staff at the Council of the European Union were among the infections.
Legislation intended to give judges more discretion on denying bail to some violent offenders moved a step closer to becoming law today.

The Senate Judiciary Committee approved the legislation by Rep. Chip Brown, a Republican from Mobile County. Its a two-bill package, and one of the bills is a constitutional amendment that would require voter approval. Committee approval today puts the bills in position for a vote in the Senate.

The House of Representatives passed the legislation two weeks ago without a dissenting vote.

The legislation is named Aniahs Law after Aniah Blanchard, the college student who was abducted in Auburn last year and shot to death. The man charged in her death was out on bail after being charged with several other violent offenses.

Blanchards parents and stepparents have spoken in support of the legislation. Her father, Elijah Blanchard, was at todays committee meeting.

The Alabama Constitution says those charged with crimes have a right to bail unless they are charged with capital offenses. Browns constitutional amendment would expand that exception to the right to bail to cover a number of crimes listed in the second bill, HB 113, including murder, assault, kidnapping, rape, sodomy, sexual torture, domestic violence, human trafficking, burglary, arson, robbery, terrorism, and aggravated child abuse.

Bail would not be automatically denied, but prosecutors could request a hearing asking a judge to deny bail. Brown said the judge could grant or deny the request for a hearing and, if a hearing is held, grant or deny the request to deny bond.

Defendants would be allowed to testify at the hearing, present witnesses, and cross-examine witnesses, according to the legislation.
A Bangladeshi national was sent back after he was found with high body temperature during coronavirus screening at Akhaura Integrated Check Point in Tripura, said a health official.

The person, identified as Tushar Mohammad Rubyer Islam, 22, is a resident of Bangladeshs Chittagong.

During coronavirus check up at ICP on Tuesday, the medical help desk found he was having high temperatures. And he was sent back, said Dr. Debasish Das, west chief medical officer.

Till now, there is no case of coronavirus in Tripura, said Family Welfare and Preventive Medicines director Dr. Radha Debbarma.The health department has advised people either to avoid or postpone mass gatherings till the coronavirus spread is contained.

The department asked people to adopt required restrictions on mass gatherings in order to avoid acute respiratory illness, influenza like illness and also coronavirus.

Help desks would be set up at Dharmanagar Railway Station in North district of the state, one of the entry points for people from Assam and other states.

Two Border Haats of the state with Bangladesh might be closed for the time being as part of precautionary measure.

The Land Custom and the Border Security Forces (BSF) authorities have been asked to issue directives to their staff to maintain hygiene.

 ....immigrants with suspected case history and suffering from any respiratory symptoms should be assessed properly before their entry into our state. Moreover, all Border Haats may be closed for the time being in consultation with Bangladeshi authorities, the health department said in its notification.

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U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-12th District) is hosting a teleconference along with several health experts to tackle the coronavirus scare that is sweeping across the world.

So far no one in Michigan has contracted the virus, but numbers worldwide and across the U.S. are rising daily.

The meeting, set for 5 p.m. March 12, is open to the public and should last about an hour.

Prior registration is required, though, and can be done at bit.ly/338mEwn.

Dingell has monitored the coronavirus and worked with the Centers for Disease Control and related federal agencies to ensure all preventative measures are taken to monitor and educate the public on the virus, her office said.

Last week, the House approved $8.3 billion in funding to respond to the coronavirus, including support for state and local health agencies, vaccine and treatment development, and loans for affected small businesses.
A Bay Area man who randomly stabbed two sisters on a commuter train platform in 2018, killing one and wounding the other in an attack with racial undertones, was convicted of first-degree murder on Tuesday.

A jury in Alameda County court also found the man, John Lee Cowell, 29, guilty of attempted murder and the special circumstances count of lying in wait, a form of premeditated homicide in which the victim is unsuspecting.

Mr. Cowell slashed the throat of Nia Wilson, 18, who died, and stabbed Letifah Wilson, 27, while they were boarding a Bay Area Rapid Transit train in Oakland, Calif., on July 22, 2018. Another sister, Tashiya Wilson, was with them when they were attacked, but was not injured.

In the trials next phase, which begins Wednesday, the jury must decide whether Mr. Cowell is criminally insane. He has a history of violence and mental illness.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: In a scathing attack on the Centre in Lok Sabha over the recent Delhi riots, AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi on Wednesday said there is a "tsunami of Hindutva hate" and called for an impartial probe to find the perpetrators of the violence.

Some of his remarks evoked sharp response from the Treasury benches, with at least two Union ministers -- Ravi Shankar Prasad and Kishan Reddy -- registering their protest.

Speaker Om Birla also expunged certain remarks made by Owaisi.

Participating in a discussion in Lok Sabha on the Delhi violence, he urged Hindus to "save the soul" of the country and claimed that around 1,100 Muslims are under illegal detention.

Owaisi said calling it communal riots would be a joke and alleged that what happened was a "pre-planned pogrom".

Calling for an impartial probe, Owaisi said that "Ankit's life cannot have a premium over the life of Faisan, just because the latter was a muslim".

These individuals were among those who died in the violence that happened last month.

"We will die saving the Constitution. We will not allow the carnage to continue," Owaisi said, adding that a committee headed by a Supreme Court or a High Court judge should carry out an inquiry into the violence.

An all-party team should also visit the violence-affected areas, he said.

Thanking Sikhs for helping Muslims during the violence, Owaisi said they are the "small lamps in the tsunami of Hindutva hate".

Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said that during such a discussion, Owaisi has made comments that would increase tensions.

Hitting back at Owaisi, Minister of State for Home Affairs Kishan Reddy claimed that thousands of Hindu settlements were removed by Owaisi's party in Hyderabad.

AAP member Bhagwant Mann claimed that people were brought from outside to incite violence and that it was a "sponsored riots".

CPI's K Subbarayan said that hate speeches was a reason and that the central government was complicit in the riots.

Democracy is in crisis and it was pre-planned riots, CPI-M member A M Ariff said, alleging that the government was "killing the country's secular nature".

He also referred to banning of two Malayalam television channels regarding their coverage of Delhi riots and transfer of Justice Muralidhar.

Ariff also demanded the resignation of the home minister.

Condemning the violence, NCP member Amol Ramsing Kolhe wondered whether hate speeches cannot be controlled, and flagged concerns about "religious nationalism".

Taking a dig, he remarked that "if there is a heart in the 56-inch chest," then they would say that there were shortcomings in dealing with the situation.

IUML leader P K Kunhalikutty said "majority of the minority community" are scared due to plans for NRC and NPR.

While claiming that the Citizenship Amendment Act was the first law passed in the name of religion, he said India is becoming a theological state.

Thomas Chazhikadan (KC-M) alleged it was a "government- motivated" violence.

BJP member Sanjay Jaiswal criticised the Congress and mentioned about various incidents of violence that happened during the rival party's rule.

He also said that "people should not be burnt just because they lost 2019 elections".

National Conference member Hasnain Masoodi said the government has promoted a culture of impunity and that there was total negligence.

K R K Raju (YSRCP) said it should be probed why the violence happened, especially when US President Donald Trump was visiting the country.
WASHINGTON  President Donald Trump's campaign announced an event in Wisconsin hours after two Democratic presidential candidates cancelled rallies and the White House suggested people "avoid crowding" due to the coronavirus.

The president will attend a "Catholics for Trump" event at the Wisconsin Center in Milwaukee on March 19, his campaign said Tuesday. The event appeared to be different from one of Trump's rallies  which draw thousands of supporters to arena settings  but it was not immediately clear how many people the campaign expected.

About an hour before the campaign announcement, the administration's coronavirus task force held a briefing at the White House in which Vice President Mike Pence and the nation's leading public health officials were flanked by a sign that cautioned people to "avoid crowding" and to consider limiting attendance at large gatherings.

Public health officials have been pressed for days about whether the Trump campaign should limit its massive rallies, which the president has held regularly since winning the 2016 election. Those questions have intensified as local officials have canceled several high-profile events because of the virus, including the St. Patrick's Day parade in Boston and the South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas.

More: Trump delays release of economic package for coronavirus

More: Gaetz tests negative for coronavirus but will continue with 14-day self-quarantine

The president, who passed on holding a rally in the key state of Michigan ahead of that state's primary Tuesday, currently does not have a formal rally scheduled.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases speaks in the briefing room of the White House on March, 10, 2020

"I think thatll be a decision thats made literally on a day-to-day basis," Pence told reporters when asked about the rallies on Tuesday.

Aides to Trump's campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders, who are competing for the Democratic nomination, both canceled campaign rallies in Cleveland, Ohio, on Tuesday night, citing public health and safety concerns. Three cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in Ohio in Cuyahoga County, where Cleveland is located.

Story continues

Trump carried Wisconsin in 2016 and the state is a battleground this year.

Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, offered a nuanced answer on Monday when asked about the safety of the rallies.

"You know, I can't comment on campaign rallies. It really depends," he said.

"If you're talking about a campaign rally tomorrow, in a place where there is no community spread, I think the judgment to have it might be a good judgment," he said. "If you want to talk about large gatherings in a place where you have community spread, I think thats a judgment call. And if someone decides they want to cancel it, I wouldnt publicly criticize them."

President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally in North Charleston, S.C., on Friday.

Contributing: Rebecca Morin

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump to hold Wisconsin campaign event as Biden, Sanders drop rallies
A non-mandatory financial obligation has limited impact on evaluating M&A (mergers and acquisitions) deals. However, once binding, it becomes an important component (typically, as a downward financial adjustment) in valuing the target business. It also brings concerns around ensuring future compliance and potential liabilities of past misdemeanours.

In this article, we briefly discuss the key amendments proposed to the corporate social responsibility ("CSR") regime introduced by the recently passed Companies Amendment Bill 2019 ("2019 Companies Bill") (which is yet to become effective), and its potential impact on public M&A deals.

Change in CSR regime

The CSR regime in its original form solemnised a 'good corporate samaritan' by requiring companies (in existence for three years, and with prescribed turnovers or net worth) to either spend at least 2% of their average profits or explain their failure to do so - an ambivalent policy of 'comply or explain'.

This was sought to be amended by the 2019 Companies Bill on two key fronts: first, by making the CSR spend mandatory (without an option to avoid compliance by providing an explanation) and second, by criminalising non-compliance by making it punishable with a monetary fine and potential imprisonment of up to three years.

Expectedly, this evoked a strong reaction from the corporate community ultimately leading to a roll-back of the criminalising provisions. Based on recommendations set out in the Report of the High-Level Committee on Corporate Social Responsibility 2018 (chaired by Injeti Srinivas, Secretary of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs) issued on 7 August 2019 ("HLC 2019"), the government appears to have (in our view, wisely) decided to categorise non-compliance with CSR as a civil offence (as opposed to a criminal one). The HLC 2019 has also recommended (i) carrying forward of unspent CSR balance for three to five years, and (ii) making CSR spends tax-deductible.

Impact on public M&A deals

Based on amendments proposed in the 2019 Companies Bill, the CSR regime looks to effectively evolve into a mandatory spending system (a departure from its 'comply or explain' regime) tagged with potential financial liability for non-compliance. This would likely result in certain additional considerations in deal-making, including:

Value adjustment: a mandatory CSR spend of 2% of the average net profits of a listed company or its subsidiaries meeting the prescribed threshold (i.e turnover of Rs 1,000 crore or more or net worth of Rs 500 crore or more, or a net profit of Rs 5 crore or more during the immediately preceding financial year) ("CSR Contributing Company") would have an adverse impact on cashflow of the CSR contributing company.

To take a simple example, if the average net profit is Rs 100, the company would face a mandatory cash outflow of Rs 2 (which could earlier have been avoided with an explanation).

An investor would need to factor the financial implications of the mandatory CSR spend into working capital or other cash linked requirements of the CSR contributing company - in effect, calling for a cash adjustment to the underlying cashflow of the business plan.

This assessment may become commercially significant in a down performing year, with the quantum of CSR spend being benchmarked to previous (outperforming) years and the actual CSR spend is required to be made in the current (down performing) year.

On the other hand, if HLC 2019's recommendation of making CSR spends tax-deductible is implemented, a significant positive impact on overall financials of the CSR contributing company could be expected.

CSR Pipeline: A mandatory CSR regime would require investors to ensure that the CSR contributing company has in place adequate avenues for its CSR obligations. The inability to identify and deploy CSR funds in a timely manner would result in adverse consequences for the CSR contributing company, and accordingly investors would need to seek appropriate contractual safeguards on account of any related losses.

Looking Ahead

With the latest round of proposed amendments, the CSR mandate has received a shot in the arm and the level of compliance in CSR spends is expected to increase promptly. Through such developments, it is important that investors do not lose sight of the double-edged sword in CSR - to comply and impact cashflows, or fail and become liable for penalties. In this light, it will be interesting to observe its impact on potential public M&A deals going forward.

(Abhishek Dadoo is Principal Associate and Sharvarie Sohoni is Associate at Khaitan & Co)

Also read: Hero MotoCorp opens first-ever training center for women at Ambala

Also read: Relief for corporates! Modi govt approves amendments to remove criminality under Companies Act
CLEVELAND, Ohio - The booming business at Ohios casinos and racinos continued in Feburary, with gambling revenue up 11% over a year ago, after 19% gain in January, reports from the states casino control and lottery commissions show.

Through the first two months of the year, the four casinos and seven racinos reported $338.9 million in revenue, after paying out winnings, up 14.6% from $296.7 million at the same time last year. A third of this money is forwarded to the state in the form of taxes and fees.

Every property across the state posted stronger numbers last month than in February 2019 as revenue for the month rose from $155 million to $171.4 million.

This included, in the Cleveland/Akron market:

* JACK Thistledown Racino, up 15.7% to $12.5 million.

* JACK Cleveland Casino, up 9.9% to $18.7 million.

* MGM Northfield Park, up 11.3% to $22.5 million. The Northfield Park racino was still branded as Hard Rock Rocksino a year ago, though it was being run by MGM.

Helping the revenue, February had 29 days this year, versus 28 in 2018, and five Saturdays this year instead of four. Saturdays typically account for about a fifth of the business in a given week.

Hollywood Casino Columbus was the top-performing casino, with $20.4 million in revenue from slot machines and table games, the Ohio Casino Control Commission reported.

MGM Northfield Park led among the slots-only racinos. Wagering on horses at the racinos is not included in the totals reported by the Ohio Lottery Commission.

Below are details for each Ohio casino and racino. Ohio casinos

Statewide Feb.. 2020 Feb. 2019 Revenue $75.9 million $70.0 million Table games $24.9 million $23.4 million Slots $50.9 million $46.6 million JACK Cleveland Casino Revenue $18.7 million $17.0 million Table games $8.8 million $8.8 million Slots $10.0 million $8.3 million Slots payout 92.3% 92.3% JACK Cincinnati Casino Revenue $19.9 million $17.8 million Table games $8.5 million $6.5 million Slots $11.4 million $11.3 million Slots payout 92.0% 91.6% Hollywood Toledo Revenue $17.1 million $16.1 million Table games $2.6 million $2.7 million Slots $14.5 million $13.4 million Slots payout 91.0% 90.6% Hollywood Columbus Revenue $20.2 million $19.1 million Table games $5.1 million $5.4 million Slots $15.1 million $13.7 million Slots payout 92.3% 91.9% Source: Ohio Casino Control Commission Ohio racinos Statewide Feb. 2020 Feb. 2019 Slots $95.5 million $85.0 million Pct. payout 90.8% 90.7% JACK Thistledown Racino Slots $12.5 million $10.8 million Pct. payout 90.6% 90.5% MGM Northfield Park Slots $22.5 million $20.3 million Pct. payout 91.0% 90.9% Hollywood Mahoning Valley Slots $11.1 million $10.2 million Pct. payout 90.2% 90.0% Scioto Downs Slots $16.3 million $14.1 million Pct. payout 90.5% 90.7% Miami Valley Gaming Slots $16.1 million $14.4 million Pct. payout 91.3% 91.4% Belterra Park Slots $6.5 million $6.0 million Pct. payout 90.9% 91.4% Hollywood Dayton Slots $10.4 million $9.3 million Pct. payout 90.7% 89.9% Source: Ohio Lottery Commission

Rich Exner, data analysis editor for cleveland.com, writes about numbers on a variety of topics. Follow on Twitter @RichExner. Follow casino coverage at cleveland.com/casino.

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MGM Northfield Park, JACK racino, casino properties closely watching coronavirus issues

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Ohio casinos, racinos hit jackpot in smashing January gambling record

Ohio Lottery through 7 months is on target for a record fiscal year

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Ohio casinos, racinos set record with $1.94 billion in gambling revenue in 2019

Michigan makes move to become Ohios 4th neighbor with legal sports gambling

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If jazz is looking to reinvent itself  or catch its breath and take stock of how much it already has in the past 10 years or so  the music of Shabaka and the Ancestors might be a good place to start.

A relatively recent partnership between the British saxophonist Shabaka Hutchings, 35, and a group of South African musicians from the same generation, the Ancestors music isnt like any other jazz being played today  even in South Africa  but that doesnt mean it cant be a model. Their second album, We Are Sent Here by History, due Friday, seems to argue that by escaping any single context or outside expectation, a group can hit upon a kind of liberation thats fresh enough to be useful.

One thing thats come up in our conversations, and has been transmitted into the narrative of the album, is the fact that we need to try to imagine what the future can hold idealistically, Mr. Hutchings said from London in a phone interview. We need to start articulating our utopias, articulating what needs to be burned and what needs to be saved.
Wing Commander Nauman Akram of Pakistan Air Force (PAF) was killed in a fighter jet crash near the Pakistan Museum of Natural History Park here.

Pakistani authorities confirmed that the F-16 crashed during the preparations for March 23 parade.

Videos of the incident show massive plumes of smoke and a projectile crashing to the ground near Shakarparian.

A board of inquiry has been ordered by the Air Headquarters to determine the cause of the accident, Dawn reported.

Islamabad Mayor Sheikh Anser Aziz said officials from the Pakistan Army and PAF have cordoned off the area and will conduct any further rescue operations.

Last month, a PAF trainer aircraft crashed on February 12 during a routine training mission near Takht Bhai in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Mardan district.

It was the third PAF training aircraft crash on a routine training mission.

Moreover, On February 7, a PAF Mirage aircraft, which was also on a routine operational training mission crashed near the Lahore-Multan Motorway.

Earlier in January, A PAF aircraft crashed on a training mission killing all three onboard.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai has named dethroned Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II as Chancellor of Kaduna State University, KASU.

Sanusi succeeds the pioneer Chancellor, His Highness, Malam Tagwai Sambo, the Chief of Moroa, who was appointed to the role in 2005.

A statement from Sir Kashim Ibrahim House announced the new appointment.

On behalf of the government and people of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufai is delighted to appoint His Highness, Muhammadu Sanusi II as the Chancellor of the Kaduna State University. In public life, His Highness has demonstrated a strong commitment to education.



The Kaduna State Government has no doubt that as Chancellor, His Highness Muhammadu Sanusi, would provide symbolic and substantive leadership in raising the profile of KASU as an emerging centre of learning on the national and global level.

This appointment of the new chancellor comes at an exciting moment for KASU which is transiting to a multi-campus structure with presence across the state, a statement issued by Muyiwa Adekeye, Special Adviser to the Governor (Media & Communication), said.

According to the statement, Muhammadu Sanusi II replaces the pioneer Chancellor, HH Malam Tagwai Sambo, the Chief of Moroa, who has served in that role since 2005. Governor El-Rufai has conveyed the profound appreciation of the government to HH Malam Tagwai Sambo for the long years of distinguished service to KASU and the state.

Malam Nasir El-Rufai welcomes with gratitude the consent of His Highness Muhammadu Sanusi to serve as Chancellor of KASU and as Vice-Chairman of the board of KADIPA.

The Kaduna State Government is grateful that HH Muhammadu Sanusi II continues to support and assist the realisation of the governance objectives of the Kaduna State Government.

Follow Us on Facebook  @LadunLiadi; Instagram  @LadunLiadi; Twitter  @LadunLiadi; Youtube  @LadunLiadiTV for updates
The number of cases in Europe continues to rise, with more than 10,000 in Italy A UK health minister, Nadine Dorries, is among 382 cases in Britain There are now more than 1,000 confirmed cases in the US.German Chancellor Angela Merkel has warned that according to experts, 60-70% of the German population could become infected with the coronavirus.
Pictures, letters, diplomatic documents, archival documents, press copies in the possession of the Romanian Academy Library illustrating both the role played by Alexandru Ioan Cuza in the Union of 1859 and the measures he took for the modernisation of the state during the seven years of his rule, as well as aspects of his private life, are on display in an exhibition called "The 200th birth anniversary of ruler Alexandru Ioan Cuza," opened on Wednesday in the Theodor Pallady Hall of the Romanian Academy Library.

Among the items is the draft Constitution approved by Cuza in 1864, an electoral bill, diplomatic correspondence, decrees and orders bestowing various titles and medals on Cuza by foreign chancelleries.Mounted at the exhibition are also pictures of the unionists, as well as of commissioned officers who participated in the ousting of Cuza in 1866, vintage images of Barlad, the ruler's hometown, of Iasi and, his palace in Ruginoasa, sketches of the palace furniture made to order by Jean-Paul Mazaroz & Ribaillier furniture factory, and also two documents confirming the election of Alexandru Ioan Cuza as ruler over Moldavia and Wallachia, the text of the oath he took upon enthroning, the Proclamation of the ruler to the Romanians and the letter congratulating the Elective Assembly, the sketch of a letter addressed by Cuza to Emperor Napoleon III announcing his double election, documents issued by the Sublime Porte in recognition of the election, diplomatic documents and congratulatory letters sent by the European chancelleries.Ioan-Aurel Pop, chairman of the Romanian Academy, said that the most appropriate place to honor Cuza's memory, "through testimonies left behind, which are tangible, is the Library of the Romanian Academy, a treasure trove of Romanian culture.""Honouring Alexandru Ioan Cuza at the Romanian Academy is not only a privilege, but it is also a duty of the institution, because the Romanian Academy, as you know, was established by the Literary Society under there rulership of Alexandru Ioan Cuza. The only thing left for the Royal Chancellery to do on April 4 was to issue an official document in that regard. As the father of the Romanian Academy he should be honored here, regardless of people and times," said Pop.Nicolae Noica, honorary member of the Romanian Academy and general director of the library, mentioned that this month it is Cuza's 200th birth anniversary."This month marks 200 years since the birth of Alexandru Ioan Cuza. My colleagues, under the guidance of Mrs Dumitrescu and Mrs Macovei, wanted to mark this event by this beautiful and special exhibition. (...) There is one thing I want to say: in 1859, when he was speaking in Parliament after his election he said: we have to do everything, to arrange the administration, to build roads, to build channels, to do works for the good of this country. Well, I add now, 200 years later, that we also have a duty, to do everything for the Library of the Romanian Academy, for the formidable assets that are found here, to promote them, to show them to everyone," said Noica.The exhibition is mounted by the Office of Manuscripts, Rare Books and the Cabinet of Prints. Curators are Gabriela Dumitrescu, head of the Office of Manuscripts, Rare Book, and Catalina Macovei, head of the Cabinet of Prints of the Library of the Romanian Academy.It is open March 11-21, Monday to Friday, 10:00hrs-16:00hrs. Admission is free.
Democratic presidential hopeful former Vice President Joe Biden speaks, flanked by his wife Jill Biden, at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia on March 10, 2020. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images)

Biden Broadens Path to Nomination With Win in Michigan, 3 More States

Former Vice President Joe Biden built a significant lead over Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) in the Democratic primary race on March 10, scoring a key victory in the battleground state of Michigan and picking up wins in Missouri, Mississippi, and Idaho.

Sanders won North Dakota. The two candidates were toe-to-toe in Washington state with two thirds of the votes counted.

The elections in the six states marked the first time voters weighed in since the contest narrowed to a two-person race on Super Tuesday, when Bidens campaign made a dramatic comeback after underwhelming performances in Iowa, New Hampshire, and Nevada.

Addressing supporters in Philadelphia, Biden noted that pundits had declared that this candidacy was dead only just over a week ago, but now were very much alive. He also asked Sanders supporters to back him going forward.

Sanders didnt make a public statement after his losses when he returned home to Vermont late March 10, a departure from his usual practice on primary nights. The senator wrote a tweet in the early evening expressing concern over voter suppression.

At a time when Democrats correctly attack Republicans for voter suppression, to see voters standing in long lines for hours in Michigan and around America is an outrage, Sanders wrote.

Both candidates canceled rallies for late March 10 in response to recommendations from officials concerned over the spread of the coronavirus. In the address to supporters on March 10, Biden gave a nod to Sanders.

I want to thank Bernie Sanders and his supporters for their tireless energy and their passion, Biden said. We share a common goal, and together well beat Donald Trump.

The March 10 results compound the lead Biden secured on Super Tuesday. The candidates now head to the March 17 primary contests in the populous states of Florida, Ohio, Illinois, and Georgia. Polling averages tallied by Real Clear Politics suggest Biden is the clear favorite in Florida and Georgia.

The two Democratic candidates will face each other in a live debate, but without a live audience, on March 15, according to the Democratic National Committee.

In 2016, Sanders upset Hillary Clinton by winning in Michigan. His loss to Biden in the state could undermine his argument of appealing to working-class voters and that he could expand the electorate with new young voters.

One of the few bright notes for Sanders was his strength among young voters, but the turnout among the group was not enough to help him. Sanders won 72 percent of those under 30 in Missouri and 65 percent in Michigan, according to AP VoteCast. The senator was roughly even with Biden among voters ages 30 to 44.

Theres no sugarcoating it. Tonights a tough night, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y), one of Sanderss highest-profile supporters, said on Instagram. Tonights a tough night for the movement overall. Tonights a tough night electorally.

Although six states voted, Michigan, with its 125 delegates, got most of the attention. Trump won the state by only 10,704 votes during the general electionhis closest margin of victory among Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. Those states gave Trump the narrow edge in the 2016 Electoral College after Clinton won the popular vote.

Biden has secured 847 delegates to the national convention, compared with Sanderss 685. An additional 682 delegates are on the line on March 17. Either candidate can secure an outright victory before the convention by winning 1,911 delegates.

Sanders vowed to concede if Biden had more delegates by the time of the Democratic national convention in July. He also promised not to drop out regardless of the results on March 10.

In addition to the powerful groups now siding with Biden, the former vice president has picked up the endorsements of many of his former presidential rivals, including billionaire Michael Bloomberg, Sen. Kamala Harris, Sen. Cory Booker and, as of March 10, entrepreneur Andrew Yang.

The math says Joe is our prohibitive nominee. We need to bring the party together, Yang said on CNN.

Neither candidate had public events scheduled for March 11. That may work in Bidens favor, as the 77-year-old has repeatedly stumbled into gaffes and arguments with voters on the campaign trail.

On March 10, Biden told a Detroit auto worker that he was full of [expletive] after the man asked how Biden planned to get the votes of union workers who are concerned about his stance on gun rights. Biden grew impatient and pointed at the mans face, prompting the worker to say, This is not OK. Biden responded by calling the man a horses [expletive].

The Sanders and Trump campaigns spotlighted a video of the incident. The Biden campaign didnt respond to a request for comment.

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
Two Russian businessmen who illegally visited Russia-occupied Crimea have been banned from entering Ukraine for three years, the Ukrainian Interior Ministry's press service has reported on Facebook.

"Two Russian businessmen, a man and a woman who illegally visited the temporarily occupied territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, were identified by border guards at Kyiv's Zhuliany Airport yesterday while checking a flight from Warsaw. They were planning to get U.S. visas in our country," the report reads.

According to the report, the persons expected the procedure for obtaining U.S. visas in Ukraine to be faster than in Russia.

"From now on, these entrepreneurs will have enough time to wait for a U.S. permit outside Ukraine, because they have been banned from visiting our country for three years due to the violation of the rules of entry into and exit from the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine," the Interior Ministry said.

op
The medical examiners office ruled the death an accident, stemming from opioid toxicity compounded by asthma. The students mother, Dixiana Perez, rejected the finding, saying the death stemmed from neglect. She said her son should have been taken to a hospital.
Burma Myanmars Suu Kyi Still Barred From Presidency as Proposed Charter Change Fails

The Constitutions Article 59(f), which bars Daw Aung San Suu Kyi from the presidency, remains in place. / The Irrawaddy

YANGONA constitutional provision that bars Myanmars de facto leader, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, from becoming president remains in place, as the National League for Democracy (NLD)s proposal to scrap the internationally and domestically notorious restriction failed to garner the required support of over 75 percent of lawmakers during a vote on Wednesday.

The Constitutions Article 59(f) prevents a person from becoming president if their spouse, either of their parents, any of their children or their childrens spouses are citizens of a foreign country. The article is widely viewed as targeting a specific individual: State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, whose children are British, as was her late husband.

Repealing that restriction was among 114 amendments to the charter proposed by the NLD. Among all the ruling partys proposals, it faced the strongest opposition from the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) and military-appointed lawmakers during the previous two weeks of parliamentary debate on charter reform.

As expected, when the Union Parliament voted on the amendment proposals for a second day on Wednesday, the NLDs proposal regarding Article 59(f) received 393 votes in favor (just over 60 percent of lawmakers), with 242 lawmakers (37 percent), voting against it. The other lawmakers took leave on Wednesday.

To pass, any proposed change to the charter requires the approval of more than 75 percent of lawmakeror at least 491 MPs.

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.

USDP lawmaker and former lieutenant-general U Thaung Aye said blocking the NLDs bid to scrap Article 59(f) was a victory for the nation.

The sovereignty of the country was successfully kept in the hands of our ethnic brothers and sisters, and the presidency and vice presidency kept clear of foreign influence We dont want it [Article 59(f)] to be repealed, the former officer told reporters in Naypyitaw.

In September, the military bloc in Parliament submitted its own proposal that would also apply the prohibition to ban a person from becoming a Union minister, or a state or regional chief minister, if any member of their immediate family is a foreign national. The military lawmakers said it was needed to prevent spying by foreign countries, treason, and foreign interference in the countrys internal affairs. That proposal has yet to be voted on by Parliament.

Around 150 nationalists rallied in Naypyitaw on Tuesday to show their opposition to any amendment or repeal of Article 59(f). They attempted to enter the Parliament compound, but were denied access, as they had not sought permission in advance.

According to posts circulated on social media, the nationalists, clad in identical T-shirts whose color resembled that of military uniforms, praised military lawmakers for their stand against scrapping the article.

Along with the proposed removal of Article 59(f), all of the other 15 proposals on which MPs voted on Wednesday failed to pass, falling short of the required more than 75 percent of lawmakers.

Among the amendments that failed to pass on Wednesday were an NLD proposal to reduce the minimum age for the president from 45 to 40; and another that would have reduced the militarys dominance of the countrys most authoritative security body, the National Defense and Security Council (NDSC), along with its power to take control during a state of emergency, while also making the Supreme Court indisputably the countrys highest legal authority. The Constitution currently places the Supreme Court under military courts-martial in terms of legal authority.

The NDSC includes the president, two vice presidents (one of whom is appointed by the military), 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 that the two deputy parliamentary speakers be added, as the current 11 members already include deputies such as vice presidents and the deputy commander-in-chief. It also sought to exclude the border affairs minister from the council. The proposals to amend the NDSCs composition received approval from about 63 percent of lawmakers.

Meanwhile, a proposal submitted by the military and USDP lawmakers seeking to give broader powers to the military-dominated NDSC, including the power to call for the dissolution of Parliament, was also rejected. It received just 216 votes in favor, accounting for just over 33 percent of lawmakers.

The Union Parliament will continue voting on the remaining constitutional amendment proposals until March 20.

Htet Naing Zaw contributed reporting from Naypyitaw.

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(Photo : Screenshot from: Mark Zuckerberg Official Facebook Page)

Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan will now be funding a huge increase in testing the Coronavirus or COVID-19 in the San Francisco Bay Area.





Read Also: Send Your Applications Now! Penn State University and Other Orgs Will Fund Your Coronavirus Research





This will be through two of their philanthropic groups

The Facebook CEO has announced on his personal Facebook page that he and his wife Priscilla are now organizing the funding that they have been planning to do through the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative and the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub. These Philanthropies will be funding two new Medical Diagnostic Machines or the MDM.

Zuckerberg has said in his post that, "As part of our response to the coronavirus outbreak, our team at the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative is working with UCSF and Stanford to quadruple the Bay Area's testing and diagnostics capacity. We're funding the acquisition of state-of-the-art FDA approved COVID-19 diagnostic machines that will significantly increase the Bay Area's ability to test and diagnose new cases. We're also bridging connections between clinical labs at Stanford and UCSF to help distribute the testing load throughout the area."

This move is similar to Microsoft co-founder Bill Gate's announcement to use his own personal funds to help aid the strict limitations on the federal government's coronavirus testing. While Zuckerberg aids the Bay Area, The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which is partnering with the University of Washington, will be funding at-home testing kits for Coronavirus for Seattle area's residents which marked the first COVID-19 case that surfaced in the United States.

Zuckerberg and Gates have also funded and backed a disease tracker

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan pledged $3 Billion in 2016 to help fight infectious diseases wherein they chose biochemist Joe DeRisi to co-helm the pair's first investment which is the $600 million Chan Zuckerberg Biohub research center.

With their help, a cloud-based open-source bioinformatics pipeline for metagenomic sequencing called IDSeq has been developed to track down diseases and can be used for the Coronavirus outbreak.

This is a computer code that was created that can go through every genetic material that is extracted from a sample provided. Running the IDSeq only needs a sequencer that users know how to operate and an internet connection.

This has proved to detect the spread of known pathogens and actually serves a heads up for new ones that are yet to emerge. In fact, when a team ran a sample through this, the results showed that most of the reads completely matched the virus in Wuhan just weeks before the outbreak and that scientists can tell that this coronavirus is related to SARS but has not yet been characterized.

With their goal to spread the research to more scientists, especially those who are under-resourced and have limitations when it comes to research, Biohub has partnered and teamed up with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The Grants from this foundation have brought 10 teams of researchers from various countries to learn more and understand how to use IDSeq in the with resources from the Biohub.

This metagenomic sequencing can make a lot of difference when it comes to diseases such as the coronavirus. The IDSeq can tremendously help scientists all over the world detect any kind of pandemic that can happen in the future.





Read Also: Coronavirus Doesn't Just Affect Humans; Lab Animals Also Face Danger

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
NEW YORK, March 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- EasyKnock, the first institutionalized residential sale leaseback company in the United States, announced today at the LeadingRE Conference in Las Vegas, the launch of its ground-breaking programMoveAbility for Realtors. Realtors can now close deals they would otherwise lose to iBuyers. With MoveAbility, the realtor assists home sellers in getting the money they need to purchase their next house before their current house is listed on the market. Addressing a huge gap in the marketplace, MoveAbility for Realtors provides a revenue-generating bridge tool that allows realtors to secure a client, receive commission upfront, and close more deals.

"We developed MoveAbility for Realtors because they are an integral part of the American home selling process. Instant offers and iBuyers have been cutting realtors out of the picture. Now we are putting the power back in their hands," said Jarred Kessler, CEO and founder at EasyKnock. "Through our referral program, realtors can finally stop losing clients/deals, and even provide an elevated experience for their clients."

Through the referral program, the referring realtor secures an instant commission of 1% with a guaranteed 6 month exclusive listing, and their client receives the money they need to make the down payment of their next house without first having to move.

Here are the benefits of MoveAbility for Realtors:

Instant commission to the realtor

Provides clients instant liquidity

Increases client retention and deal velocity

"Existing mortgage balances and contingent offers make it increasingly difficult for sellers to close on their next home. MoveAbility for Realtors makes it easy for clients to purchase their next home without a rushed move," said Jarred Kessler, CEO and founder at EasyKnock.

The launch of MoveAbility for Realtors comes on the heels of the successful launch of EasyKnock's MoveAbility program, the company's consumer-facing option.

For more information on MoveAbility for Realtors, please visit www.easyknock.com/partners . To learn more about EasyKnock, visit www.easyknock.com .

About EasyKnock

Founded in 2016, EasyKnock is the United States' first technology-enabled residential sale-leaseback company that brought American homeowners Sell and Stay and MoveAbility. Through EasyKnock's programs, homeowners can access the money they need to achieve their goals. With Sell and Stay, homeowners access the value in their home without moving, with the flexibility to buy back their house or move at any time. MoveAbility serves as a bridge product for homeowners planning on moving in the near-term. They can access the value of their home immediately without a rushed move. Headquartered in New York City and Charlotte, North Carolina, EasyKnock currently provides its innovative financial products to homeowners across 50 states.

SOURCE EasyKnock

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BEIJING, March 11 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese mainland reported 11 new confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on Tuesday outside Hubei Province, the epicenter of the outbreak, down from 890 on Feb. 3, according to the National Health Commission Wednesday.

Of them, 10 cases, including six in Beijing, two in Shanghai, and one in Shandong and Gansu each, were imported from outside the Chinese mainland. The Chinese mainland saw a total of 79 imported COVID-19 cases as of the end of Tuesday, showed the commission figures.

The commission said it received reports of 24 new confirmed cases on Tuesday from 31 provincial-level regions and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, including 13 from Hubei of which all were from Wuhan, the provincial capital.
College students across the Bay Area started packing up their dorm rooms to move back home after several universities, hoping to curb the spread of the coronavirus, urged them to leave campus.

Stanford University and San Francisco State University asked students to leave campus for the foreseeable future and continue their coursework online from home.

Dozens of universities and colleges across the region, state and country have canceled all events and in-person classes, shifting to online instruction. But some colleges took that a step further a day or two later, telling students they should leave if they can.

Given the suspension of face-to-face courses, it is our expectation residents will make every effort and use resources to return home, San Francisco State officials said in a letter to students Tuesday evening. Residents should await additional guidance from the University on returning to campus.

While the dorms would remain open for those who cant leave, students were asked to turn in their keys if they were leaving and to pack whatever they would need for the next few weeks.

At Stanford, undergraduates were asked to leave and not return until further notice. Students who are unable to leave would be allowed to remain on campus there as well, officials said. On Wednesday, the university announced two more cases of coronavirus. One case was confirmed in Stanford Medicine, and the other case was confirmed on the main campus, university officials said. Last week, officials announced that a Stanford Medicine faculty member tested positive for the new coronavirus.

Within the past few days, UC Berkeley, City College, Golden Gate University, University of San Francisco, Sonoma State, and San Francisco State joined the growing list of higher education institutions restricting community gatherings and face-to-face contact in classrooms, despite few if any confirmed cases of the virus on campuses.

The changes in those institutions alone affect an estimated 140,000 students.

The decision to suspend in-person classes and urge students to go home is not an unreasonable disease control strategy at all, said Dr. George Rutherford, a professor at UCSF, adding dorms, military barracks and prisons are congregate living areas where diseases spread easily.

Yet, in some cases, college offers a stable living situation, with health care, food and job opportunities that students might not have at home, said Renee Ryberg, a research scientist at Child Trends, a research organization.

Sending students home likely disproportionately impacts students who are already disadvantaged, she said. In addition, to go home students may need to travel  they may need to get on a plane, a train or a bus, which people are trying to avoid.

The conversion to online classes has left college students reeling and wondering when they will go back to normal lectures instead of sitting in dorm rooms or even hometown bedrooms and paying tuition to watch professors online.

Its frustrating and disappointing, students and professors said. But understandable as the country faces a pandemic.

This week, Stanford undergraduate Olivia Arballo Saenz got ready for a noon class  Race and the War on Drugs  from her dorm room, flipping on the computer while still in her pajamas.

For most of Arballo Saenzs classes, the transition has been relatively seamless, the third-year undergrad said, with live lectures online and student participation via videoconferencing or chat rooms.

But the campus is a ghost town, with many students heading home to finish the quarter rather than staying at Stanford. With spring break days away, this wasnt the college life shes used to.

I feel like everything has been canceled all student life events, religious life events canceled, she said. No one is really in a party mood.

After spring break next week, few students were expected to return.

Now Playing: Here is what you need to know about the coronavirus. Video: Manjula Varghese

Elsewhere, colleges expected to continue operating normally except shifting to remote learning.

At City College, the Board of Trustees declared a state of emergency Monday, suspending face-to-face classes, meetings and events as of Friday. The college also moved up spring break by a week to allow for a transition to online and modified learning starting March 30.

By planning this temporary suspension in this way, we achieve the goal of maximum social distancing and reduction of health risk, said President Shanell Williams in a statement.

Its unclear how the virus would impact courses that require personal interaction like dance, theater or culinary classes, or whether those graduating this spring would get to walk across a stage to receive their diplomas.

Its also unclear whether college tours, which help students decide where to go in the fall, will still happen in the coming weeks.

The goal, college and university officials said, was to slow the spread of the virus.

We understand that implementing these changes with such limited notice will have broad impacts and will be challenging and disruptive for many of you, said UC Berkeley Chancellor Carol Christ in her statement announcing the shift to remote learning. We appreciate your patience and cooperation.

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.

On Tuesday, the first day of the shift at Cal, electrical engineering and computer science Professor Murat Arcak taught his linear systems class  with 900 students enrolled  in an echoing lecture hall. Three students showed up. They werent supposed to be there.

Arcak was lecturing via a live webcast, allowing students to ask questions online while also recording the lecture for future viewing.

It was a little odd, he said, to be speaking in front of hundreds of empty seats.

Its been very chaotic, he said, citing the logistics of setting up remote office hours and lab times. But were dealing with it.

San Francisco State physics and astronomy professor Chris McCarthy said that preparing for online classes is going well, except for lab classes, which usually require hands-on work.

Were not going to convey the caliber of educational content this year that we usually do. This is done out of necessity and, really, were saving lives. We think of it in that way. An environment where multiple people are in one small area  for instance, a dorm  is less safe than when theyre dispersed in the community.

Nursing student Lo Scheiner is having a harder time dealing with remote learning.

She was scheduled to learn how to do a head-to-toe assessment in her San Francisco State nursing program, but without a practice patient, the task wasnt possible.

You actually have to have someones lungs to listen to, said Scheiner, 35.

Its unclear whether the cancellation of in-person courses will push back the completion of the program, which requires hands-on practice.

Its so ironic, she said. Right now we need this kind of training so we can be taking care of people.

Nanette Asimov contributed to this story.

Jill Tucker is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jtucker@sfchronicle.com Twitter @jilltucker
The Enforcement Directorate has charged Rana Kapoor with money landering and criminal conspiracies, among other things. Poor demand and large-scale cancellations due to the coronavirus contagion have weighed upon the Indian aviation industry. Disrupted supply of raw materials from China has Indian auto manufacturers worried about shortfall in prodcution across the board, and even delay in BS-VI rollout.

1. Yes Bank crisis: ED puts Rs 20,000 crore NPAs blame on Rana Kapoor

Yes Bank founder Rana Kapoor denied the allegations and said he was being made a scapegoat. He added that when he left the bank, the NPA of Yes Bank was only one per cent.

2. Air fares crash due coronavirus; IndiGo, Air India, SpiceJet, Vistara feel the pinch

Indian domestic airlines might soon start suspending flights on domestic routes as air travel demand suffers due to coronavirus outbreak.

3. SIAM warns coronavirus to hit auto production, BS-VI rollout

While auto manufacturers have started looking for alternatives, it would take a long time to reach stable production scale as these components will need regulatory testing.

4. IRCTC share: Market's bullet train runs out of steam in 10 sessions, what lies ahead?

Share price of IRCTC has lost 38 per cent from its all-time high of Rs 1,995 hit on February 25, 2020. Rs 1 lakh infused into IRCTC stock on February 25 would have turned to Rs 61,463 today.

5. Gold price recovers on hopes of economic revival amid coronavirus scare

Gold price in India fell today, in line with international rates on hopes of global economic stimulus efforts to cushion the economic impact of the coronavirus that continued to spread rapidly.
Donald Trump has shaken hands with a crowd of cheering fans, despite official advice to avoid the greeting amid a growing coronavirus outbreak which leaves older patients particularly at risk.

The 73-year-old US president made physical contact with a row of supporters shouting we love you and good job after touching down in Florida.

Mike Pence, the vice-president, has said that neither he nor Mr Trump will stop shaking hands, despite authorities advising against it.

As the president has said, in our line of work, you shake hands when someone wants to shake your hand, he said. The president will continue to do it, I will continue to do it.

The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has urged people to stop using the greeting to avoid spreading or catching the flu-like virus, which has infected over 950 people and been involved in 30 deaths in the US to date.

The national health body has advised older adults  who are at higher risk of getting very sick from this illness  to take particular care to avoid catching Covid-19.

Mr Trump  who has previously described himself as a germaphobe  has continued to offer handshakes to people despite the growing outbreak, including to the crowd of fans waiting for him to arrive in Orlando, Florida for a fundraising event on Monday.

The president has also shaken hands with the chairman of a conservative conference who had reportedly come into contact with an attendee later diagnosed with coronavirus.

Recommended What would happen if Trump got coronavirus

A Fox News correspondent has pleaded with colleague Sean Hannity to tell Mr Trump to stop using this physical greeting for the good of the nation.

Its a bad example, we dont need it, Geraldo Rivera said.

The US president said earlier this week that he was open to testing for coronavirus, after several members of Congress were exposed to an infected person at the CPAC conference.

Doug Collins  who Mr Trump shook hands with last week  is now among politicians in self-quarantine after being exposed to the virus.

Republican Senator Ted Cruz has said he will be staying at home in Texas after touching the person who tested positive for Covid-19 at the conference.

The US president attempted to reassure the American public over the virus on Tuesday, saying were prepared, and were doing a great job with it.

He said: Just stay calm. Itll go away, just stay calm.

Covid-19 has now infected over 110,000 people in the world after the first cases were reported in the Chinese city of Wuhan towards the end of last year.

Nearly 4,300 people have died from the flu-like disease, which can develop into pneumonia, according to a Reuters tally.

The White House has been approached for comment.
[March 11, 2020] Biosight Raises $19M in Series C Funding to Support Clinical Stage Oncology Programs

AIRPORT CITY, Israel, March 11, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Biosight Ltd., a pharmaceutical development company developing innovative therapeutics for hematological malignancies and disorders, today announced the raising of a $19M Series C financing.

The investment is led by Israel Biotech Fund (IBF) with participation by SBI JI Innovation Fund, Arkin Bio Ventures, and additional new and existing investors. The new capital will advance the clinical development of Biosights lead asset BST-236 (aspacytarabine), currently being investigated in a Phase 2b study as a single-agent, first-line treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). We are thrilled with this financing, said Dr. Ruth Ben Yakar, Chief Executive Officer of Biosight. The increase of our investor base as well as the continued support from our existing shareholders are testaments to the potential of BST-236 as an important new therapy to cancer patients with limited therapeutic options. With this funding we are well positioned to complete enrollment of our ongoing Phase 2b trial in patients with AML, and to advance BST-236 to additional indications to address the unmet needs in the treatment of patients who are currently medically unfit to receive intensive chemotherapy. Dr. David Sidransky of IBF said, The encouraging interim data presented at the 2019 ASH Annual Meeting bolster our confidence in the ability of BST-236 to serve as a safer and more tolerable chemotherapy agent. We believe BST-236 has the potential to dramatically change standard of care for patients with hematologic malignancies and are thrilled to partner with the Biosight team to help the company succeed in its clinical development. About BST-236 (Aspacytarabine)

BST236 (aspacytarabine) is a novel proprietary anti-metabolite. It is composed of cytarabine covalently bound to asparagine, acting as a pro-drug of cytarabine. Cytarabine serves as the backbone of AML therapy for over 40 years due to its superior efficacy, however, it is associated with severe bone marrow, gastrointestinal, and neurological toxicities, which significantly limit its use, especially in older and medically compromised patients. Due to its unique kinetics and metabolism, BST-236 is designed to enable high-dose therapy with lower systemic exposure to free cytarabine and relative sparing of normal tissues. As such, BST-236 may serve as a superior therapy for AML and other hematological malignancies and disorders, including for older adults who are unfit for intensive therapy.



BST-236 was granted Orphan Drug Designation from the FDA, which entitles Biosight to seven years of market exclusivity upon BST-236 marketing approval for the treatment of AML. Integrated results from an ongoing Phase 2b study and a completed Phase 1/2a study of BST-236 as a single-agent first-line AML therapy for patients unfit for standard chemotherapy were presented at the ASH 2019 Annual Meeting. The data include a 57% complete remission (CR) rate in de novo AML patients, a 45% CR rate in patients with adverse cytogenetics, and a potential increase in overall survival. For more information regarding the Phase 2b clinical study of BST-236, please visit www.clinicaltrials.gov .

About Biosight Ltd.

Biosight is a private clinical-stage biotech company, developing innovative therapeutics for hematological malignancies and disorders, including acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). For additional information, please visit www.biosight-pharma.com . About Israel Biotech Fund

Israel Biotech Fund is a venture fund focused on at or near clinical stage biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies with exceptional technologies or product opportunities. The Fund provides its portfolio companies not only with capital, but with executive talent, strategic, operational, and business development resources, enabling them to design and execute clinical development programs efficiently and successfully. The Managing Partners are joined by a group of top-tier biotech industry experts who act as venture advisors of the Fund and its portfolio companies. Additional information about Israel Biotech Fund is available at www.israelbiotechfund.com . About Arkin Bio Ventures

Arkin Bio ventures is a pharma and biotech specialized strategic partnership established in 2016 by Arkin Holdings, a leading Israel-based life sciences investor, and the Phoenix Group. Arkin Bio ventures invests globally in promising innovative pharmaceuticals in pre-clinical and early clinical stages and offers a distinctive combination of practical pharmaceutical knowledge, wide acquaintance with the market along with significant financial capabilities. Contact:

Chuck Padala

646-627-8390

LifeSci Advisors, LLC

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A Palestinian teenager was shot dead in the occupied West Bank as Israeli security forces opened fire to disperse crowds protesting against encroaching Israeli settlers.

Another 18 demonstrators were wounded by rubber-coated metal rounds fired by Israeli troops in the town of Beita, near the city of Nablus, on Wednesday, the Palestinian health ministry said.

The teenager, identified as 15-year-old Mohammed Hamayel, died as a result of being shot in the face with live ammunition by the [Israeli] occupation during the clashes, it said in a statement.

According to Maan news agency, at least three Palestinians were also arrested.

Al Jazeeras Nida Ibrahim, reporting from the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah, said on-site medics treated more than 112 injuries, adding at least one more person remains in critical condition.

Locals in the area say Jabal al-Armeh [al-Armeh mountain] is a very high area  one of the highest in the Nablus area, and settlers have been eyeing this location for years, since the 1980s, Ibrahim said.

There have been confrontations between Palestinians and Israeli settlers there. Usually, settlers like to settle on high areas  on hilltops  this is a way for them to keep an upper hand if anything happens, including demonstrations, she said.

Demonstrators have been staging sit-ins in the hilltop village of Jabal al-Armeh since February 28 to deter illegal Israeli settlers from establishing a settlement outpost.

Beita Mayor Fuad Maali said the settlers renewed their attempt to reach the top of the mountain overnight, but hundreds of the towns residents had camped out to block the effort.

The Israeli military said about 500 Palestinians were burning tyres and throwing rocks at the soldiers during what it described as a violent riot.

We are aware of a report regarding a killed Palestinian and several injured. The incident will be reviewed, an army statement said.

Palestinians stand in tear gas during clashes withIsraeli armed forces [Jaafar Ashtiyeh/AFP]

Most of Israels settlements in occupied East Jerusalem and occupied West Bank are built with the governments permission. Outposts are constructed without authorisation and are illegal under Israeli law but still receive government support and financial assistance.

Under international law, settlements and outposts are illegal.

With the signing of the Oslo Accords, settlement-building was to cease, but Israel continued to expand existing settlements on Palestinian land.

Palestinians say settlers have become emboldened after US President Donald Trumps Middle East plan was announced in January, following which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged to annex settlements.

On Tuesday, Palestinian leaders slammed the Israeli defence ministrys approval of planning for a road that would separate Palestinians and Israeli commuters east of Jerusalem  a highly controversial move meant to help advance a settlement plan in the strategically sensitive E1 region.

Israels plan to expand the Maale Adumim settlement had been frozen since 2012 under international criticism, before it was revived by Netanyahu two weeks ago.

A week before Israels third election in less than a year that took place earlier this month, Netanyahu pledged to build 3,500 new illegal settler homes in the E1 region of the occupied West Bank.

Some 600,000 Israeli settlers live in the occupied West Bank and Israeli-annexed East Jerusalem among about 2.9 million Palestinians.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the NIH National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, testifies about Coronavirus, COVID-19, during a Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, March 3, 2020. Saul Loeb | AFP | Getty Images

A top U.S. health official said the worst is yet to come with the coronavirus outbreak that has already infected more than 1,000 people across the nation and resulted in at least 31 deaths. "I can say we will see more cases and things will get worse than they are right now," Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told the House Oversight and Reform Committee on Wednesday at a hearing on the nation's preparedness for the outbreak. Fauci said COVID-19 is at least 10 times "more lethal" than the seasonal flu, even if the mortality rate drops far below the World Health Organization's current estimate of 3.4%.

The 2003 SARS epidemic, which began in November 2002 and ran through July 2003, had a mortality rate of 9% to 10%, he said, meaning roughly 10% of the people who caught it eventually died. Since COVID-19 emerged in China two and a half months ago, "it clearly is not as lethal ... but it certainly spreads better," he said, adding seasonal flu has a mortality rate of 0.1%. The WHO's estimated mortality rate for COVID-19 started off at 2%, Fauci said. If you count all the estimated cases of people who may have it but haven't been diagnosed yet, the mortality rate is probably closer to 1%, he said, "which means it's 10 times more lethal than the seasonal flu." The H1N1 "swine flu" epidemic in 2009 was even less lethal than regular seasonal flu, Fauci said. While COVID-19 cases are slowing in China, where the outbreak originated in December, it's picking up pace across other parts of the world. Italy has the most cases outside of China with roughly 10,150 infections, followed by Iran with 9,000 infections and South Korea with more than 7,700, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. In the U.S., the number of cases erupted over the last week to more than 1,030 spread across at least 36 states, according to Johns Hopkins. The COVID-19 outbreak is just weeks underway in the U.S. How much worse it gets depends on two things, Fauci said: containing the influx of infected people coming from other countries and containing local outbreaks within the U.S. "Bottom line is it's going to get worse," he added.

Once there's widespread community transmission, or if health officials can't trace back the origin of localized outbreaks, that's when the country won't be able to "effectively and efficiently contain it," Fauci said. Local and state officials have taken various measures to try to contain the virus, including closing schools, canceling parades and other public events, and even, in New York, mobilizing the National Guard to the "containment zone" in the hard-hit community of New Rochelle. When pressed by lawmakers for an estimate of eventual fatalities in the U.S., Fauci said it will be "totally dependent upon how we respond to it." "I can't give you a number," he said. "I can't give you a realistic number until we put into the factor of how we respond. If we're complacent and don't do really aggressive containment and mitigation, the number could go way up and be involved in many, many millions." Dr. Robert Redfield, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, confirmed that COVID-19 has now killed 31 people in the U.S. Globally, there are more than 119,000 confirmed cases and at least 4,291 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins. President Donald Trump summoned the panel of witnesses to an emergency meeting at the White House later Wednesday, cutting the hearing short, Committee Chairwoman Rep. Carolyn Maloney said at the top of the hearing. "This morning we were informed that President Trump and Vice President [Mike] Pence have called our witnesses to an emergency meeting at the White House. We don't know the details, just that it's extremely urgent," said Maloney, D-N.Y. The White House didn't immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment. White House officials later told reporters the meeting was scheduled yesterday as "part of the administration's ongoing whole-of-government response to the coronavirus."
An Amber Alert has been issued for a 4-year-old boy who was abducted in McClain County.

Omar Murillo reportedly was taken from his custodial parents about 6:45 p.m. Tuesday in the 1200 block of North Atkins Hill Road near Goldsby, according to a news release from the McClain County Sheriff's Office.

He is Hispanic and is described as 3 feet tall and about 40 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing gray Skechers sneakers, navy blue sweatpants and a black long-sleeve shirt.

Omar reportedly was taken by Karen Jasmin Murillo, 19, who reportedly was driving a tan 1997 Saturn two-door car with Oklahoma license plate HKL 619.

Karen Murillo reportedly was suicidal and made threats via text message that she would kill the child and herself. Law enforcement officials reportedly do not know where she was headed.

Anyone with information should contact the McClain County Sheriff's Office in Purcell.

Stetson Payne 918-732-8135 stetson.payne@tulsaworld.com Twitter: @stetson__payne
(Kitco News) - Barrick Gold (NYSE:ABX) said today it will spend an initial investment of $1.3 billion to expand the process plant and the tailings facility at its Pueblo Viejo gold mine in the Dominican Republic.



The company said extending the mine's life will increase exports by $22 billion and generate more than $4 billion in taxes at a gold price of $1,500 per ounce.



Between 2013 and 2016 Barrick Gold touted that Pueblo Viejo paid $1.8 billion in direct taxes and last year its exports accounted for more than 38% of the countrys total.



The expansion is needed to enable the mine to exploit the lower grades in the orebody. The expansion is not intended to process ore from outside the current concession area.



Barrick said it successfully commissioned the mines Quisqueya 1 power plant to natural gas, cutting greenhouse gases by 30%. By Kitco News For Kitco News Follow @kitconewsnow www.kitco.com

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication.
MP: 25 BSF personnel among 618 COVID-19 cases found in Indore district in one day

Madhya Pradesh Crisis: What went wrong for Congress

India

oi-Deepika S

New Delhi, Mar 11: Jyotiraditya Scindia, the scion of Madhavrao Scindia and a close aid of Rahul Gandhi ended his long-time association with the Congress party, in a move that pushed the Madhya Pradesh state politics into utter turmoil.

He took the decision to sever his ties with the Congress on the day of his father Madhavrao Scindia's 75th birth anniversary.

In his resignation letter, Scindia cited his departure was work-inprogress for the past year, that amounted to a stab at the Gandhis for not taking him seriously.

Explained: How the numbers stack up in Madhya Pradesh today

Scindia, a leading Congress figure for years, is likely to join the BJP in Bhopal on March 12, along with his supporters and several Congress MLAs.

The Congress also announced his expulsion for "anti-party activities" as the crisis looming over the Madhya Pradesh government led by Chief Minister Kamal Nath deepened.

But now the question is, why is Jyotiraditya Scindia headed for the BJP?

The 49-year-old leader was long upset with the Congress as he believes that Nath and Digvijaya Singh, another party satrap in the state, were working in tandem to marginalise him.

Kamal Nath seems to have downlayed Scindia's ability to topple the government with MLA's support, as he was directly managing these MLAs.

After Karnataka - Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Rajasthan to witness BJP's Saffronisation?

There is proper communication with the Congress leaders and the high command. Top leaders in New Delhi, knew that Scindia, like many other young leaders, would be upset but failed to step in wherever needed.

The core problem remains that issues of leadership structure. The party is in never ending transition phase for succession since last two decades.

Where did the Congress go wrong?

There is a huge vacuum in the approach between party chief Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul Gandhi. There was an ideological betwen the old guards and the young once in the grand old party.

The leaderless Congress and Rahul's absence from Delhi gave Nath an upper hand. Scindia's own equation with Rahul had become distant once the Congress lost Lok Sabha elections 2019.

Madhya Pradesh crisis: Congress, BJP moves its legislators in which its parties are in power

While Nath and the Gandhis remained mum after Holi shocker, many leaders showed displeasure with Scindia's move while many believed that Scindia's exit was a significant loss for the party.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Wednesday, March 11, 2020, 11:15 [IST]
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The Miss Vietnam pageant has been suspended indefinitely over the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) fear, organizers told Tuoi Tre (newspaper) on Wednesday.

The beauty contest was scheduled to start in May but COVID-19s complicated developments have driven the organizers to delay it till an unknown date, a spokesperson said.

It was slated to last from May to August, with a press conference scheduled for March.

This is a sensitive moment when our country is struggling to curb the COVID-19 epidemic, Le Xuan Son, chief organizer, was quoted by the spokesperson as saying.

So we have decided to postpone Miss Vietnam even when everything has been prepared."

The contest is still receiving applications but a new date is up in the air, Son said.

This uncertainty is our biggest challenge, he added.

But we still have to be ready to organize the beauty pageant in time, depending on the complications of the epidemic.

First held in 1988, the 2020 Miss Vietnam competition should be the 16th edition.

This is a national beauty pageant for women aged 18 to 27.

The current Miss Vietnam titleholder is Tran Tieu Vy, who was crowned on September 16, 2018 in Ho Chi Minh City

Vietnam has confirmed 35 COVID-19 patients so far, with 16 having fully discovered and been discharged from the hospital by February 26.

The other 19, including eight Vietnamese, nine British citizens, one Mexican, and one Irish national, are being treated in isolated hospital wards.

Patient No. 17, a resident in Hanoi, was confirmed on Friday last week after Vietnam had reported no new infection since February 13.

About a dozen positive cases have been traced to this female patient, as they had traveled on the same plane from London that landed at Noi Bai International Airport in the Vietnamese capital on March 2.

She seemed to conceal her trips to Italy and France to dodge mandatory quarantine when carrying out immigration procedures at Noi Bai.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
A radical tyre insert design from a UK polyurethane firm is combating punctures on extreme mountain trails. Putting a complex 3 dimensional moulded shape inside a mountain bike tyre may not seem like an obvious thing to do. But, when a bunch of lunatic downhill mountain bikers from the Lake District wanted to stop their tubeless tyres being punctured, and expensive wheel rims being damaged on sharp trail rocks, they turned 
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City of Jackson

As the mayor of Jackson, Chokwe Antar Lumumba represents Mississippi's largest city of Democratic primary voters.

In February, he endorsed Bernie Sanders for the party's nomination, securing a coveted endorsement from a progressive rising star and underscoring the Vermont senator's decades of organising history in communities where other presidential candidates have rarely stepped foot.

Days later, Joe Biden's resurgent campaign won crucial victories in the party's race for the nomination, with older black voters carrying Biden's win in several states.

When the then-34-year-old Lumumba was elected in 2017, he promised to make Jackson "the most radical city on the planet." His father, Chokwe Lumumba Sr, who served as mayor before his death in 2014, arrived in Mississippi from Detroit in the 1970s and launched a career in black activism.

His son's overwhelming election in 2017  receiving 94 per cent of the vote  didn't reflect the rising tide against the legacy of white supremacy in the state but the fruits of radical black organising in the south, which has long argued that the region is not a red-state stronghold but a seat of black power held hostage by conservative legislatures enshrined through gerrymandering and systemic racism.

As a rising progressive Democrat in the Deep South, he was courted by Joe Biden, Michael Bloomberg and Pete Buttigieg for his endorsement.

First, Lumumba and several other mayors representing majority-black cities in the South  Steve Benjamin of Columbia, South Carolina, LaToya Cantrell of New Orleans and Randall Woodfin of Birmingham, Alabama  asked for the campaigns to consider "a kind of human rights and development agenda that is essential for our cities to meet the needs of residents and move our economies forward."

Combined, their cities represent nearly 2 million people, including 345,000 Democratic voters, and 196 Democratic delegates.

Story continues

"And because our states' presidential primaries occur in the first few months of the presidential primary season, we fully intend to make the challenges our cities face and the priorities of our Southern communities front of mind for your campaigns," the mayors wrote in a letter to the campaigns.

The mayors urged for policies that address poor air quality and environmental concerns in a region where the poorest are the most vulnerable to the climate crisis and refinery pollution, and where cuts to federal housing and food programmes have threatened housing stability and overburdened community food pantries.

Their letter called for public transit and infrastructure investments, a higher federal minimum wage, bolstering federal safety nets, health policies that support black mothers and indigenous families, and other commitments to economic, social and racial justice.

Mississippi is often ranked as the least-healthiest state in the US, from the stark numbers of children in poverty to the rates of low birth weights.

"When people asked me how I felt the morning after Donald Trump was elected, I told them, 'I woke up in Mississippi,'" Lumumba tells The Independent. "When we're told the country is experiencing success economically, or we're told that we're dealing with the recession  we don't feel it in Mississippi. We're always at the bottom. We're at the bottom when it comes to wealth, education and health, and none of those things are coincidental."

The state's poor health outcomes also underline his support for a Medicare for All, Sanders' signature policy plan to guarantee equal access to healthcare for all Americans through a nationalised platform.

"If the right to vote was the struggle of the 20th century, the right to healthcare must be the struggle for the 21st century," Lumumba says. "We look at it like it's some outlandish goal when nations all around us are doing it. ... The value of a human life should not be attached to your net worth."

Jackson also is a college town, with thousands of people living in and around the city while attending, working for or serving students from the region's seven universities. Sanders' proposal to eliminate college debt begins to repair "a dynamic where we're telling our children they can be anything they want to be yet we're attaching this financial burden to them," Lumumba says.

He also challenged the campaigns to address the country's crumbling roads and infrastructure against the rising tide of climate threats and lack of sustainable development.

"That requires investments in cities," he says. "If we're building more tanks  to protect what? To protect the nation that doesn't have the basic needs it requires?"

The mayor also relied on the results of a "people's caucus" that petitioned and challenged representatives of four candidates on issues of criminal and economic justice, healthcare and education.

Mississippi Votes director Arekia Bennett organised the caucus as part of the Movement for Black Lives, which tasked its membership to host unofficial voting caucuses in their respective cities.

The Mississippi caucus included 139 people from across the state.

Sanders overwhelmingly won the first and second rounds.

From that process, "the Sanders campaign demonstrated consistency not only in the policies that addressed the concerns people in Jackson had, but it demonstrated consistency with the respect of a candidate who we've seen a history of his commitment to those issues," Lumumba says.

The day after the results, Lumumba announced his endorsement.

Lumumba also has a history alongside the senator, who stood on the picket line with striking Nissan workers in the state as they fought to unionise, and joined an economic justice forum hosted by the mayor on the 50th anniversary of the killing of Martin Luther King Jr.

Lumumba says: "He stood with us then as we look at the larger issue of economic justice and how economic justice plays a role in so many ancillary problems in our society, and how it contributes to other large problems like racism."

Mayor Benjamin ultimately endorsed Michael Bloomberg, who's no longer in the race. Mayor Woodfin supports Joe Biden. Mayor Cantrell has not yet announced her endorsement.

In February, Lumumba announced his endorsement for Bernie Sanders.

He quotes Martin Luther King Jr's 1961 remarks: "Call it democracy, or call it democratic socialism, but there must be a better distribution of wealth within this country for all God's children."

"That's right on point," Lumumba says. "This idea of being radical, speaking up for what you see  I'm not interested in pageantry, I'm not interested in a coronation and doing the same old thing. Because the same ol' thing has been a failed practice and a failed policy for my people."

While the senator's campaign has pointed to support from an unprecedented working class coalition of people of colour, it's one that hasn't been carried by older black voters, who represent a significant number of Democratic voters and helped thrust Biden to a decisive victory in South Carolina, the electoral litmus test for the power of "the black vote."

Analysts have pointed to a relative conservatism among older black voters, who have largely been risk-averse, particularly when faced to choose between white candidates, after generations have literally fought for their vote without any explicit promise their interests are represented once in office. Fearing the existential threat of a second Trump term, those voters perceive a "safe bet" in a less-polarising Democratic figure in Barack Obama's former vice president.

"I believe that our community  and I don't want to speak in monolithic terms  but a portion of people who reside in black communities across the nation want to select a candidate that they feel has viability and is in position to advance past their concerns," Lumumba says. "What we see is a consensus, and some of it media-related, around one candidate that they believe is in the best position to do that. I think that's dangerous."

He says that shallow election analysis has failed to address policy, leaving a majority of voters in the dark as institutional Democrats converge around Barack Obama's former vice president.

"Dig a little deeper for me, and tell me what your policies are," Lumumba says of Biden. "I had the opportunity to see what you did with Obama, or what Obama's policies were, but I want to know, how do you see my community? And I want you to demonstrate to me how my community  that has never been valued to the extent it needs to  will be valued in your administration."

Read more

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Sanders takes socialist message to Fox News on eve of crucial election

Sanders says it was disgusting to see Nazi flag at Arizona rally
SAN FRANCISCO, March 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The global silicon carbide market size is projected to touch USD 7.18 billion by 2027, exhibiting a revenue-based CAGR of 16.1% over the forecast period, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. Rising demand from semiconductors is likely to remain a key driving factor as the product improves efficiency, reduces form factor, and operates at high temperatures.

Key suggestions from the report:

Green silicon carbide segment is anticipated to progress at a CAGR of 10.1%, in terms of volume, over the forecast period owing to the increasing production of semiconductors that are further used in various electrical and electronics applications, such as transistors, solar cells, and LEDs

Steel segment accounted for a revenue share of 21.1% in 2019 owing to the increasing demand for steel from various end-use, industries, such as automotive, construction, and oil and gas. Silicon carbide is used as a deoxidizing agent, abrasive, and refractory in the steel industry

Electrical and electronics is among the fast growing segments with a CAGR of 10.8% in terms of volume from 2020 to 2027. The growth is attributed to the increasing demand for semiconductors owing to the increasing utilization of renewable sources of energy across the globe

Asia Pacific is projected to witness a CAGR of 17.9% in terms of revenue over the forecast period, owing to the growth of the manufacturing sector in countries including China , India , Japan , and South Korea

North America is expected to witness a CAGR of 7.6% in terms of volume over the forecast period owing to the increasing product utilization in electronics, aerospace, and defense industries

Major players in the silicon carbide market include AGSCO Corporation; Carborundum Universal Limited; Dow Chemical Co.; Entegris, Inc.; ESD-SIC b.v.; ESK-SIC GmbH; Grindwell Norton Ltd; and Saint Gobain Ceramic Materials GmbH.

Read 94 page research report with ToC on "Silicon Carbide Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Product (Black & Green), By Application (Steel, Automotive, Aerospace, Military & Defense), By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2020 - 2027" at: https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/silicon-carbide-market

The aforementioned properties of Silicon carbide (SiC) semiconductors along with its advantages over silicon makes it suitable in applications such as automotive and aerospace and defense industries. High temperature resistant materials are widely used in these industries, thus, there is increasing adoption of SiC semiconductors in power electronics, which in turn is likely to drive the SiC market growth over the forecast period.

The strategic initiatives adopted by the key players in the semiconductor industry are expected to play a key role in the growth of the SiC semiconductors industry. For instance, in January 2019, Cree, Inc., signed a multiyear supply agreement of silicon carbide wafers to STMicroelectronics. These rapid developments are expected to positively influence the growth of the silicon carbide market over the forecast period.

In Asia Pacific, the rising population along with adopting urbanization is expected to propel the development of smart cities and smart houses, which in turn is anticipated to boost the demand for silicon carbide power modules in electric vehicles. China is one of the largest automobile producers in the world, accounting for 29.1% in 2018. Increasing production of automobiles is anticipated to fuel the product demand over the coming years.

Key market players Carborundum Universal Limited; Entegris, Inc.; AGSCO Corporation; Dow Chemical Co.; ESD-SIC b.v.; Saint Gobain Ceramic Materials GmbH; ESK-SIC GmbH; and Grindwell Norton Ltd. Most of the market players are focused on capacity expansions and mergers and acquisitions to meet the growing demand for silicon carbide. For instance, In November 2018, Entegris announced the expansion of the manufacturing capacity of its facility located in Kulim, Malaysia by 30%. In the expansion project, new tooling, molding machines, and numerous updates to the assembly area were installed to support the increasing silicon carbide wafer and reticle handling demand.

Grand View Research has segmented the global silicon carbide market on the basis of product, application, and region:

Silicon Carbide Product Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027)

Black Silicon Carbide



Green Silicon Carbide

Silicon Carbide Application Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027)

Steel



Automotive



Aerospace



Military & Defense



Electrical & Electronics



Healthcare



Others

Silicon Carbide Regional Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027)

North America



U.S.



Europe



Germany



Asia Pacific



India





China



Central & South America



Brazil



Middle East & Africa

Find more research reports on Advanced Interior Materials Industry, by Grand View Research:

Filters Market - Rapid technological advancements coupled with growing demand for filtration for industrial, commercial, and household purposes is anticipated to drive the filters market.

Rapid technological advancements coupled with growing demand for filtration for industrial, commercial, and household purposes is anticipated to drive the filters market. Ammunition Market - Rising demand for defense equipment in militaries owing to increasing geopolitical tension across the globe is expected to drive the demand for ammunition.

Rising demand for defense equipment in militaries owing to increasing geopolitical tension across the globe is expected to drive the demand for ammunition. Welding Products Market- Rapid industrialization and growing investments in infrastructural developments in major economies such as U.S., U.K., China , India , and Brazil are the factors anticipated to propel the welding products market growth.

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About Grand View Research

Grand View Research, U.S.-based market research and consulting company, provides syndicated as well as customized research reports and consulting services. Registered in California and headquartered in San Francisco, the company comprises over 425 analysts and consultants, adding more than 1200 market research reports to its vast database each year. These reports offer in-depth analysis on 46 industries across 25 major countries worldwide. With the help of an interactive market intelligence platform, Grand View Research helps Fortune 500 companies and renowned academic institutes understand the global and regional business environment and gauge the opportunities that lie ahead.

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One of the dirtiest, germ-laden things you own is something you keep with you all the time, and touch many, many times a day.

Your smartphone is undoubtedly filthy, and in the time of coronavirus, its time to clean it up and wipe it down.

That your phone is crawling with bacteria, viruses and even fecal material is not just a matter of speculation. Medical literature is full of studies that show smartphones are crawling with things that can cause disease. And that can include viruses like the type that cause SARS or COVID-19.

For example, a World Health Organization report cited data discovered during the 2003 SARS outbreak that the virus that causes it  and which is of the same type as the coronavirus  can live on glass for up to 96 hours.

ON YOUR LAP: How to clean your filthy, disgusting laptop

And then, of course, theres that University of Arizona researcher who, in 2017, declared that your smartphoone is probably dirtier than most toilet seats. Raise your hands if youve ever talked on the phone while sitting on the toilet (and then wash your hands).

The question of disinfecting your phone arose this week when Apple reversed its longstanding advice to not use disinfecting wipes on iPhones and iPads. The company had said those cleaning products could damage or remove the screens oleophobic coating that repels body oils. This coating is why simply rubbing a microfiber cloth over the screen cleans it easily.

But an Apple support document about cleaning its products now includes a section that says using disinfecting wipes (70 percent isopropyl alcohol) is safe.

That advice can apply to other smartphone brands, since they tend to use the same glass and coatings, though there may be exceptions. For example, if you own a newer folding-screen smartphone such as Samsungs Galaxy Fold or Flip Z, check the documentation and online support documents for those phones before reaching for alcohol-drenched wipes.

Here are some suggestions for cleaning your phone and keeping it that way. Obviously, wash your hands before you start!

HOUSTON HOW TO: What you need to know about the novel coronavirus

 Apples cleaning instructions are simple and straightforward: Using a 70 percent isopropyl alcohol wipe or Clorox Disinfecting Wipes, you may gently wipe the hard, nonporous surfaces of your Apple product, such as the display, keyboard, or other exterior surfaces. Don't use bleach. Avoid getting moisture in any opening, and don't submerge your Apple product in any cleaning agents. Don't use on fabric or leather surfaces. Use a clean, dry, preferably microfiber cloth afterwards to remove any residue.

This can also apply to any screen you touch. Got a Windows 10 PC with a touchscreen? It probably needs disinfecting, too.

 Dont just clean the screen. Remove the phone from its case, assuming you use one (and you should!), and wipe down the back, edges and buttons.

 I checked with Smartish, the Austin-based smartphone case designer, about how to clean plastic-based cases and screen protectors. Plastic and silicone cases also can be wiped down with alcohol-based disinfecting wipes, or a solution of water and alcohol you make yourself. Smartish recommends not using disinfecting wipes on plastic and glass screen protectors, as they can leave a residue. Use the homemade alcohol-and-water solution. Dry with a clean cloth.

Release Notes: Get Dwight Silvermans weekly tech newsletter in your inbox

 Leather cases require a different process. The same Apple document that warns against using disinfecting wipes on leather suggests using a clean cloth with warm water and mild hand soap, though it warns cleaning may change the appearance of the leather. And it also says using leather soap will definitely change the appearance.

 Newer, higher-end smartphones are water-resistant, so it is possible you could actually wash your phone with soap and water. If you do this, avoid getting soap into its crevices along the edges of buttons, power ports, headphone jacks and the like. And I would recommend using Ivory soap, which has no oils or moisturizers  its the closest thing to pure soap you can buy.

 Got $80 to burn? Phone Soap uses shortwave ultraviolet (UV-C) light to kill bacteria and viruses. Pop your phone in the case and its bathed in UV-C light, which has been shown to kill airborn viruses and bacteria on surfaces.

 Perhaps the best advice I can give is to avoid handing your phone to anyone. You may be obsessive about keeping your hands clean, but you dont know where everyone elses mitts have been. Fortunately, sharing of smartphones isnt a common thing.

Since iPhones are not typically shared widely, I would think this is less of a risk than more publicly accessible items, Dr. Peter Hotez, dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at the Baylor College of Medicine, told me via Twitter direct message.

Still, some people do it more often than others. I know someone who uses the headphone-jack device offered by Square to take credit cards as part of her business. She recently ordered Squares terminal, which comes with a contactless payment system for use with Apple Pay or Google Pay, and its own screen for signatures.

She no longer has to hand her phone to her clients, but heres hoping she wipes down that new Square screen regularly.

dwight.silverman@chron.com

twitter.com/dsilverman

houstonchronicle.com/techburger
March 11 marks the one-year anniversary of the last White House televised daily briefing conducted by the press secretary.

Team Trump killed the daily press briefing as part of its effort to control the political narrative and evade accountability.

Prior to that last briefing by Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the Trump administration had held less than half the number of daily press briefings than the Obama and Bush II White House did during their first three years in office, according to Reporters Without Borders.

The press group wants the televised press briefing back.

On the one-year anniversary of the last official, televised White House press briefing, RWB is calling on the Trump administration and all future presidential administrations to re-establish this long-standing American democratic tradition, Dokhi Fassihian, executive director of RWB USA, said in a statement. President Trumps use of chopper talks and other press formats create the illusion of transparency, but this is smoke and mirrors. The reality is that a once-guaranteed, direct line of sight into the government has been extinguished.

Those chopper talks held in front of the noisy Marine One, which has its blades whirring, seldom last more than a couple of minutes. They give the illusion that Trump is available to the press even while hes on the move. RWB pans chopper talks because they are performative, rather than substantive.

The first White House briefing occurred in 1896 during Grover Clevelands administration, when a reporter for Washington Evening Star stationed himself outside the building to pick up scuttlebutt from officials entering and leaving the building. Other journalists soon followed suit.

Teddy Roosevelt invited the gang inside and gave them their own permanent space in the West Wing.

Stephanie Grisham, who succeeded Sanders, might as well turn the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room into a museum.

The public isnt buying the misinformation spread by Donald Trump about coronavirus.

The president has said people could go to work while sick and that Covid-19 is going to mysteriously disappear as the weather warms.

He has downplayed coronavirus as just another seasonal flu and has a hunch that the World Health Organizations estimate of the Covid-19 death rate is false.

Americans aren't falling for Trumps sunny outlook. 90 percent of us view coronavirus as a serious threat, according to the United States of Anxiety survey from APCO Worldwide.

Sixty percent of Americans worry about catching Covid-19 and most of the respondents expect the virus will disrupt their workplace in 2020.

As for presidential prognostics, only 10 percent of Americans rely on Dr. Trump for information about coronavirus.

His fake news media are the leading sources of Covid-19 information, cited by 58 percent of respondents.

People turn to national media at twice the rate than they do the Centers for Disease Control (28 percent), which was the site of Trumps big March 6 photo-op in which he held up a picture of the virus.

That image of the red-hatted president playing the role of scientist-in-chief will provide rich fodder for Joe Bidens presidential campaign.

Poor timing department. The World Travel & Tourism Council has postponed its global summit that was penciled in for late April in Mexico to the early fall as the group is optimistic that the industry, which is hammered by the impact of the Covid-19 global pandemic, will have begun its economic recovery by then.

WTTC CEO Gloria Guevara looks forward to hosting the summit in the autumn and expects that it will serve as a global platform to discuss the sectors recovery and future plans.

Good luck.
Light Therapy Market Overview

Global light therapy market is growing at a rapid pace, mainly due to the rising demand for non-invasive treatments. Applications of light therapy are increasing widely, comprising treatments of a myriad of diseases ranging from sun damage and acne to mTBT and skin cancer. Technological advances have offered some exciting possibilities to revolutionize the treatment procedures further. Resultantly, the light therapy market size is increasing year by year on a global platform.

According to Market Research Future (MRFR), the global light therapy market is poised to touch a valuation of approximately USD 1,112.16 MN by 2025, registering 5.1% CAGR during the review period (2019-2025). Rising numbers of dermatological disorder cases and psychological conditions are fueling the growth of the market. Also, the increasing adoption of light therapy to provide non-invasive yet hugely effective treatment methods push market growth.

Avail Free Sample Copy at https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/8366

Additionally, factors such as the rapid increase in population, urbanization, and global economy substantiate the growth of the market excellently. Growing prevalence of SAD (seasonal affective disorder) and improving reimbursement policies offered by health insurance providers to cancer, psoriasis, neonatal jaundice, and eczema patients boost the market growth. Increasing research & development investments made by industry players impacts the light therapy market growth.

On the other hand, side effects associated with the therapy, such as nausea, headache, eye pain, burning sensation, itching, and agitation, hampers the growth of the light therapy market. Also, lack of awareness about light therapy in developing regions impedes market growth severely. Nevertheless, rising government support to spread awareness about the treatment would support the light therapy market growth, commutatively.

Global Light Therapy Market  Segmentation

The analysis has been segmented into five major dynamics.

By Product: Light Box, Floor & Desk Lamps, Light Visor, Handheld Devices for Skin Treatment (HDST), Dawn Simulator, Light Therapy Bulbs, and others.

By Application: Psoriasis, Vitiligo, Eczema, Acne Vulgaris, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), Sleeping Disorders, and others.

By Light Type: Blue Light, Red Light, White Light, and others.

By End-User: Homecare Settings, Dermatology Clinics, and others.

By Regions: Europe, Americas, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, and Rest-of-the-World.

Beneficial effects of light therapy are well known, and today the light therapy is used to treat a myriad of conditions. Every light visible or non-visible (ultraviolet light) has specific effects on the human body. Different types of colored lights are used to treat depending upon the condition. For instance;

Blue Light: is increasingly used to treat a range of skin conditions. From sun damage and acne to mTBT and skin cancer. Also, the blue light exposure therapy is useful in healing people with mild traumatic brain injury, sleep disorders (insomnia).

Red Light: The red light therapy (RLT) is majorly used in joint pain and arthritis treatment. This therapeutic technique is also used to treat aging & trauma effects on the skin, such as wrinkles, scars, and incurable wounds, among other conditions. There are a whole lot of studies going on to find if RLT can be effective in treating muscle atrophy, slow wound healing, and bone density issues caused by weightlessness during space travel.

White Light: Bright/ white light therapy improves mood & energy by triggering the release of serotonin. It also improves sleep & focus by resetting circadian rhythm to its natural state & regulating melatonin. Hence, white light therapy is used to alleviate symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), winter blues, and sleep disorders caused by an interruption in circadian rhythm.

Global Light Therapy Market  Regional Analysis

North America dominates the global light therapy market, heading with the rising demand for non-invasive procedures, and the increasing prevalence of dermatological disorders. High per capita healthcare expenditure is another key factor increasing the light therapy market share of the region. Moreover, the growing number of centers offering light therapy alongside the well-developed light therapy devices market in the region.

The US, backed by technological advances and finding support for R&D to bring improvements in the therapy, accounts for the major contributor to the market growth. Furthermore, the presence of the well-established players impacts the growth of the regional market, positively. The North American light therapy market is expected to create a large revenue pocket during the period 2019  2025.

Europe stands the second leading position in the global light therapy market. The market growth majorly attributes to increasing awareness about the benefits of light therapy devices. Besides, the rise in the adoption of light therapy devices alongside the resurging economy in the region fosters regional market growth. Moreover, factors such as the technologically advanced facilities and increasing R&D funding support from the government contribute to the market growth in the region. The European light therapy market is estimated to expand at a phenomenal CAGR over the assessment period.

The Asia Pacific light therapy market is expected to perceive the fastest growth by 2025, registering a modest CAGR from 2019 to 2025. India and China lead the regional market growth due to the availability of cost-competitive treatment options. Moreover, spurring growth in the healthcare sector, huge population, and large unmet needs in the treatment of psychological conditions like depression and anxiety in the region provide impetus to the market growth.

Global Light Therapy Market  Competitive Analysis

The light therapy market appears highly competitive and fragmented due to several well-established players forming a competitive landscape. Key Players are motivated to bring innovations in the therapy with minimum adverse effects, as well as to target emerging applications to leverage growth opportunities. They are focusing on R&D in order to develop the therapy further. To drive market competition, players incorporate strategic initiatives such as mergers & acquisitions, collaboration, expansion, and product launch. Multinational companies acquire small yet promising companies from emerging markets.

Browse Complete Report with TOC at https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/light-therapy-market-8366

Light Therapy Market Major Players:

Players leading the light therapy market include Northern Light Technology (Canada), Beurer (Germany), Nature Bright (Taiwan), BioPhotas (US), Koninklijke Philips (Netherlands), Verilux (US), Chal-Tec GmbH (Germany), Lucimed SA (Belgium), Zepter International (Switzerland), and Lumie (UK), among others.

Industry/Innovation/Related News:

February 26, 2020 - Researchers at the University of Sheffield announced that they have been successful at synthesizing a new compound that can improve the success rate of photodynamic therapy when treating cancer. The new compound uses sharp infrared light to damage cells directly and potentially improve the success rate of photodynamic therapy PDT. However, the problem with PDT is its penetration that does not always kill cells deep within a cancerous tumor, allowing tumors to grow back again. Sensitizer is a key compound in PDT, in which a light-sensitive medicine given to the patient. And when activated by light, it produces highly reactive oxygen-based species that kill the cancer cells.

For More See Healthcare Related Reports News

Global Biosimulation Market

Healthcare Quality Management Market

Global STD Testing Devices Market

About Market Research Future:

At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.

MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by Components, Application, Logistics and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.

In order to stay updated with technology and work process of the industry, MRFR often plans & conducts meet with the industry experts and industrial visits for its research analyst members.

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Market Research Future

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Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com
Russian President Vladimir Putin said that he and his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump address each other by the first name.



"He calls me Vladimir, I call him Donald," the Russian leader told TASS in an interview for the project entitled "20 Questions with Vladimir Putin".

The Russian head of state confessed it was difficult to say who of the U.S. presidents, starting from Bill Clinton, who left the White House in January 2001, he felt most at ease with. "I had fairly constructive relationships with each of them," Putin noted, adding that he shared "good relations" with George W. Bush, who was the U.S. president in 2001-2009.
Initially, psychopaths appear reliable, devoted, and trustworthy, but, suddenly and without provocation, become unreliable, with no regard for how their actions affect the situation, regardless of its importance. Once viewed as honest and sincere, they do a sudden about-face and begin lying without concern, even in small matters when there is no benefit in lying.

Because psychopaths have mastered the art of deception, those around them are slow to accept the abrupt change. When psychopaths are confronted with their lack of responsibility, honesty or loyalty, it generally has no impact on their attitude or future performance. They are unable to perceive that other people value truthfulness and integrity.

 Charles Montaldo is a writer and former licensed private detective who worked with law enforcement and insurance firms investigating crime and fraud.

Undecided Independents, and discouraged Republicans should read A Very Stable Genius: Donald J. Trumps testing of America (Penguin Press, 2020) by Philip Rucker and Carol Leonnig. The book provides a description of the 45th president that matches Montaldos picture of a psychopath. The tome moves from DonnyTs acceptance of the 2016 Republican nomination to be their candidate, (Nobody knows the system better than me, which is why I alone can fix it.) to July 2019. Of 25 chapters and an Epilogue, titles give clues, some of which include: Paranoia and Pandemonium; The Road to Obstruction; Impeding Justice; Unhinged; and Breakdown.

The book is based on over 200 sources, administrators, friends, and advisers to the president, most of whom cooperated as long as they remained anonymous. Many of the interviews were recorded. The journalists remained as objective as possible and their reporting was rigorous. Private scenes were reconstructed from observer memories, calendars, diary entries, memos, and correspondence.

From the beginning unreliability, multifarious lies now numbering about 17,000, deception, and lack of integrity abound. Staff members came and went. Some were honorably trying to put country before loyalty to Der Fuhrer, such as Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis who quit in protest to Trumps decision to withdraw American forces from Syria and his rejection of international alliances. Five other officials left as well including Eric Chewning and Rear Adm. Kevin M. Sweeney, chiefs of staff to the United States Secretary of Defense. Others left because they displeased their Master, or were criminals convicted, tried, found guilty, sentenced, and serve terms or await sentencing. These include the likes of Paul Manafort, Michael Cohen, Michael Flynn, Rick Gates, George Papadopoulos, and Roger Stone.

Most key positions are filled with acting heads not requiring Congressional approval. This came about when many highly qualified candidates refused to serve, leaving the openings to unqualified sycophants.

Trump has hollowed out the State Department, turned the Justice Department into his hit squad, turned agencies such as the Department of Education, the Department of Housing & Urban Development, and the Veterans Administration over to unqualified hacks.

And yes, the Russians DID interfere with the 2016 election to help DonnyT by hacking emails and spreading propaganda on social media. They are doing it now. They have been lauding Bernie Sanders to boost his base. They want him to be the Democratic candidate. Then they turn on him: Hes too old; he isnt a Democrat; hes Jewish (with the rise of antisemitism over the past three and a half years that will lose votes); hes a Democratic Socialist and you know what happened to Soviet Socialism  it turned into communism, and hey he honeymooned in Moscow for cryin out loud; his promise for this-and-that-for-everybody-and-somebody-else-pays for it might work in Belgium or Sweden but not in the good old US of A. Vladimir Putin couldnt have it better.

Beyond July 2019, the coronavirus has focused on Trumps gutting the Center for Disease Control, defunding other health agencies and his poor response to a real crisis.

Super Tuesday made it clear: Voters want normalcy, decency, diversity, and quality to replace Trump and his cronies.

Ed Fisher writes a weekly column for the Morning Sun.
Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards speaks in the House Chambers for the opening of the 2020 general legislative session in Baton Rouge, La., Monday, March 9, 2020. Edwards announced to the legislature that Louisiana today had its first confirmed case of the virus in Jefferson Parish. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) ORG XMIT: LAGH105
An array of 8,280 solar panels off Middle Road was approved by the zoning board after proponent NextGrid reached agreement with neighbors on several issues, including noise and a buffer area. FILE PHOTO

CHATHAM  An agreement between neighbors and a California-based renewable energy company on a buffer area has cleared the way for approval of a solar power array off Middle Road.

The zoning board of appeals on Feb 27 approved a special permit for NextGrid's solar facility on the 15-acre sandpit owned by J.W. Dubis and Sons. The facility could be generating power by summer.

Property owners along West Pond Road, Pond Road, Goose Pond Road and Middle Road had raised questions about noise from the inverter used in the 8,280 solar panel array as well as what they saw as an inadequate vegetated buffer between the facility and abutting homes. Those concerns have been addressed, said NextGrid attorney William Litchfield, and neighbors now support the project.

We are completely in favor of the project, concurred Brewster attorney Christopher Senie, representative of several neighbors.

West Pond Road residents Steve Jesus and Pattie Brockwell said while the process was lengthy, painful [and] expensive, they were grateful to NextGrid for agreeing to a compromise plan.

The compromise gives NextGrid the size array they want while minimizing the impact to our neighborhood, our peace and quiet and by extensive our property values, they wrote in an email. They added that they've supported the project and its aims, but wanted to ensure that it did not impact their quality of life.

Changes to the plan include moving the inverter and battery to the center of the property and the retention of an extensive natural buffer along the eastern boundary, Litchfield said. The buffer will be supplemented by a six-foot hedge planted on a four-foot berm along 300 feet of the border with West Pond Road, which will provide visual protection for neighbors. Additional plantings will be added at the request of other neighbors. The low-glare panels will face south, away from any homes in the neighborhood.

Litchfield said the inverter is barely audible 50 to 150 feet away, and by placing it more than 300 feet from the nearest neighbor, there will be no noise at all. The solar panels will be enclosed within a fence, which will be at least 100 feet away from the nearest homes, he said.

The 3.3 megawatts of power that the facility will generate will be sold to Eversource, and the town and rate payers will be offered discounted electricity through the Massachusetts Smart Program Community Solar Benefit, Litchfield said.

Abutters and for that matter, as far as I know, anyone in the community is eligible to join that program, Litchfield said. Your electricity isn't going to be free, but there is a slight reduction in kilowatt hours. The town already generates some 70 percent of its electricity usage via solar arrays at the nearby capped landfill and on several town buildings.

The new use will provide an important if small environmental benefit and is inherently quiet and nonintrusive, especially compared to the gravel and sand pit the property has hosted for the past 70 or so years, Litchfield said.

It should take about two months to complete the work, he said, requesting zoning board approval of longer-than-usual construction hours of 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays and 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays. Frankly there is a time issue here, Litchfield said.

In a perfect world we might be done by Memorial Day, but we can't guarantee it, he said.

Litchfield noted that the town recently received state designation as a Green Community; one of the criteria is easing permitting for renewable energy projects. This project has been in the permit pipeline for months.

After five or six sessions with the planning board, ease may be newly defined, he commented.

The zoning board vote granting the permit was unanimous.

I think we should congratulate the neighbors, because when something like this comes in your backyard, it really pulls at your heartstrings as to what you have and what it means, said board member David Nixon.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-11 19:49:19|Editor: huaxia

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To effectively contain the COVID-19 epidemic, Wuhan has closed off all 7,148 residential communities.

The key is to ensure that residents can get what they need, in coordination with the authorities, without leaving their compounds. So that everyone can stay safely at home until the epidemic is over.

The close-off management of residential communities is also being adopted in Beijing, Anhui and some other places.

This is how China combats the coronavirus.

BEIJING, March 11 (Xinhua) -- The most effective way to contain the COVID-19 epidemic is to reduce human contact. To this end, Wuhan has closed off all 7,148 residential communities.

During this period, each community can have only one entry/exit point. Residents must take their temperatures, and have their identity checks before being allowed in or out of the community. They are also told to try to avoid going out and to carry their access cards with them.

Property management companies, neighborhood committees and government personnel all work together at the entry/exit points. They are responsible for monitoring and finding potential cases in the community to ensure the safety of all residents.

Neighborhood committees are self-governing organizations at grass-roots levels, elected by residents or family representatives. They take charge of solving local public affairs and civil disputes, and assist local authorities to ensure social security and public health.

Of all the 7,148 communities, 3,159 are managed by property management companies, and the rest are old open communities.

The open communities are the biggest cause of concern for local authorities during Wuhan's lockdown. However, this issue can only be addressed by neighborhood committees or government personnel. For example, these types of communities may be surrounded by construction materials, which may have created entrances and exits.

To solve the inconvenience caused by the lockdown, the government requires that, except for some specific posts, all civil servants and cadres of state-owned enterprises should work with volunteers to buy food, supplies and medicines for its residents.

With the help of government, neighborhood committees liaise with large supermarkets and sellers and send them their residents' purchasing lists.

For one family, there could be a request for a dozen or several dozens of items. The supermarkets and sellers will pack the goods ordered, and deliver them to the front gate of the community. The community manager will then notify residents to collect their goods.

For the elderly who have difficulty in walking, their shopping will be taken directly to their doors.

To solve the lack-of-transportation problem, the relevant departments send government cars to help with the shortage of public transportation.

These preventative measures and strict lockdown regulations have helped the number of newly confirmed cases in Wuhan decline.

The close-off management of residential communities is being adopted in Hubei, where Wuhan is located, Beijing, Anhui and some other places.

The key is to ensure that residents can get what they need, in coordination with the authorities, without leaving their compounds. So that everyone can stay safely at home until the epidemic is over.

This is how China combats the coronavirus.

Director: Shan Xu

Executive Director: Zhang Xiaoxue, Feng Chun, Wang Ting, Guan Hongfei

Coordinator: Yang Guang, Liu Pei

Production Staff: Jiang Yudong, Li Dongze, Shang Junwei

Visual Design: Wang Jiadong, Guo Chao

Script Translators: Helen Bentley, Luo Zhen

Voiceover: Bluiris

Liaowang Institute Data Media Lab;

Department of China News for Overseas Service

Xinhua News Agency
During his time at Houston Ballet as choreographic apprentice in 1989, and later as choreographic associate from 1995 to 2008, he created seven ballets  Although the company has returned to his popular full-length Peter Pan several times over the years, and In Dreams in the 2017/18 season, [Pretty Things] is McIntyres first new work for the company in nearly two decades.  Dance Magazine
The following list includes recent reports from the Midland County Sheriffs Office and the Midland Police Department. Compiled by reporter Mitchell Kukulka.

Monday, March 9

9:39 p.m.  A citizen called 9-1-1 to report a tan Chevy Impala that was "all over the road" in Greendale Township. The vehicle was spotted and a traffic stop was initiated for a minor traffic violation. The 73-year-old Saginaw driver said she could not see the lines very well due to the rain. A verbal warning was issued.

4:02 p.m.  A 38-year-old Lee Township man was arrested on a warrant out of the 75th District Court after a traffic stop in Greendale Township.

3:51 p.m.  Officers responded to a vehicle crash in the 800 block of South Saginaw Road.

3:35 p.m.  Officers responded to a vehicle crash in the 2000 block of North Saginaw Road.

12:16 p.m.  Officers responded to a hit-and-run crash in the 2200 block of Jefferson Avenue.

11:53 a.m.  Officers responded to a drug overdose in the 4000 block of Holland Drive.

7:13 a.m.  A deputy was dispatched to a Warren Township business in reference to a vehicle hitting a gas pump earlier in the night.

6:46 a.m.  Deputies responded to a report of failure to pay for $25.01 in fuel from a Coleman service station.

Sunday, March 8

11:59 p.m.  Deputies were dispatched to a Hope Township residence in reference to a possible assault between a 42-year-old Hope Township man and his 40-year-old City of Midland brother. It was a mutual altercation between the two males, after an ongoing verbal dispute. There were no injuries. The 42-year-old was the aggressor during the verbal argument, but the 40-year-old male went "hands on" first. The 42-year-old was not interested in pursuing criminal charges.

11:31 p.m.  Officers responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle and performed a warrant arrest in the area of Arbury Road near Jefferson Avenue.

9:52 p.m.  Deputies responded to a car-deer crash in the area of North Jefferson Road near East Farmington Lane in Larkin Township.

9:24 p.m.  Officers performed a warrant arrest in the 3500 block of Isabella Street.

9:12 p.m.  A deputy was dispatched to the area of North Meridian Road near West Wackerly Road in Jerome Township in reference to a car-deer crash.

8:51 p.m.  Deputies responded to a car-deer crash in Greendale Township.

8:08 p.m.  A deputy was dispatched to a Midland Township residence in reference to a car-deer crash that occurred in the area of East Ashby Road and South Patterson Road.

4:45 p.m.  Officers performed a warrant arrest in the 1300 block of Eastlawn Drive.

4:11 p.m.  Officers responded to a vehicle crash in the area of Greenway Drive and Lambros Drive.

3:43 p.m.  A Larkin Township official reported a suspect damaged fencing within the Township Park off North Jefferson Road.

2:31 p.m.  Officers responded to a vehicle crash in the area of Orchard Drive and North Saginaw Road.

1:34 p.m.  Officers performed a warrant arrest in the 4400 block of Waldo Avenue.

12:30 p.m.  Officers responded to a vehicle crash in the area of Eastman Avenue and West Wackerly Street.

1:10 a.m.  A deputy was dispatched to a City of Coleman business in reference to a car-deer crash that occurred in Geneva Township.
COVID-19 cases in India rise to 43 with 3 in Kerala and 1 in Kashmir testing positive

The number of COVID-19 cases in India rose to 43 as of today with 5 more testing positive in Kerala. The 5 cases from Kerala reported yesterday are 3 family members with travel history to Italy and 2 of their relatives who came in contact with them.

While three of the 43 have been discharged from hospitals, there are 40 active cases of COVID-19 in the country.

Four new cases of COVID-19 have been reported since yesterdays update  one from Ernakulum in Kerala, one from Delhi, one from Uttar Pradesh and one from Jammu.

The family of 3 from Kerala is reported to have visited relatives and attended few functions and their contacts are being traced.

43 samples have tested positive out of the 3,003 samples tested for COVID-19 with 2,694 samples having returned negative results.

A total of 8,74,708 international passengers from 8,255 flights have been screened at airports till now with 1,921 passengers identified as symptomatic. 177 of them have been hospitalised. 33,599 passengers are under observation. 21,867 passengers have completed their observation period, a union health ministry release stated.

The health ministry has appealed to people to reveal their travel history and fill the details in self-declaration forms properly.

Meanwhile, health authorities have clarified that the patient from Murshidabad who died in hospital in West Bengal was tested negative for COVID-19 and hence, so far no death has been reported due to COVID-19 in the country.

Union minister of health and family welfare Dr Harsh Vardhan is continuously monitoring and reviewing the status, actions taken and future preparedness of states.

The health ministry has again appealed to the people to observe the Dos and Donts, including coughing etiquettes, hand-washing and to avoid large gatherings.
When former public school teacher Bridget Hernandez saw how some educators treated students with special needs, she said she had to do something for the kids she felt were being overlooked.

"I saw a teacher once tell a student with special needs that he was never going to amount to anything," Hernandez said. "It hurt my heart and made me furious."

After much prayer and the support of her family, Hernandez said she decided to quit her local teaching job and open up Building Bridges Academy (a K-12 homeschool program) for students with special needs like autism at her home on the city's Southeast Side.

"To work with kids like this, you have to have patience, you have to be understanding and, most of all, you have to have love," Hernandez said. "I knew I could give them that."

The program started last September and is open from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday to Friday year-around, Hernandez said. Through her program, students, not only learn their required academics, but Hernandez said she also teaches them life skills such as cooking and cleaning.

READ ALSO: San Antonio woman snaps photos of memorials as a tribute to those who have died

"The goal is to teach them life skills so that they don't have to depend on other people," she said. "We just want to help them grow."

Hernandez added her students will also participate in vocational work at H-E-B and Walgreens to help them possibly land a job one day at either of the businesses.

Although the program only has eight students, Hernandez said she plans to enroll more in the future after she expands her academy to a larger space.

"I want to help as many of these kids as I can," she said. "They have so much heart and so much passion. They may look a little bit different or act a little bit differently, but they have a lot of heart.

"In my program, we show empathy, we show humility and we treat these kids with dignity and respect. We treat them as if they were ours and that is what these parents love."

If other parents have questions about the program and the cost, Hernandez encourages all to contact her through her Facebook page at Building Bridges Academy.

Priscilla Aguirre is a breaking news reporter and general assignment writer. Read her on our breaking news site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com | priscilla.aguirre@express-news.net | @CillaAguirre
Matt Schlapp, chairman of the American Conservative Union, arrives to introduce President Donald Trump during the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) at National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland, February 29, 2020.

The operator of the Maryland hotel which recently hosted a major conservative political convention has denied claims by conservative activist Matt Schlapp that state health officials "did 2,000 screens all around the hotel" for the coronavirus after an attendee tested positive for the disease.

Schlapp said Monday on Twitter and later in a Fox News interview that Maryland health officials had told his American Conservative Union that those screenings were done after they learned a man at the Conservative Political Action Conference had been diagnosed with the coronavirus days after the conference ended Feb. 29.

Several members of Congress announced Monday that they were self-quarantining because they had contact in late February with the man during CPAC at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, which is located in National Harbor, just outside of Washington, D.C.

The annual conference run by ACU is a highlight of conservatives' calendars, and was attended by President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence this year.

"They did 2,000 screens all around the hotel," Schlapp told Fox News host Laura Ingraham via Skype from his home, where he was in self-quarantine because of his exposure to the same CPAC attendee.

"They found nothing," he said.

"Several days ago they came to us and said there's nothing to be alarmed about," said Schlapp, a lobbyist who is the ACU's chairman.

Schlapp's wife, Mercedes Schlapp, now works for President Donald Trump's reelection campaign, and previously served as director of strategic communications in the Trump White House.

Allison Sitch, a spokeswoman for Marriott, the company that operates the Gaylord National, in an email to CNBC, contradicted Matt Schlapp's claim.

"It is my understanding that no screens of either people or facilities has been performed at the property," Sitch said.

She did say that Marriott has been in contact with local health authorities "and are following their guidance about this situation. "

"We take hotel hygiene and cleanliness very seriously and have already taken a number of additional steps to perform enhanced cleaning of areas of the hotel where the conference was hosted," she said.

At a meeting Monday of hundreds of Gaylord National workers, the hotel's general manager "was flat out asked if that was true" that thousands of screenings had been performed at the hotel on the heels of CPAC, one of those workers told CNBC.

"And he [the manager] said, 'No,'" the worker said. "According to the general manager there's been no sort of mass screening of employees ... he flat out denied it."

A health official from Prince George's County, Maryland, who was also present at that meeting, said he "did not have any knowledge that the state of Maryland had screened thousands of employees" at the hotel, the worker said.

A spokesman for the Maryland Health Department said in an email, "I don't have any information on this," when first asked if any coronavirus screening was done at the Gaylord National.
By Kyle Lovern In the Bible, the apostle Paul reminded those who would listen of[Read More]
[March 11, 2020] Cologix Adds Microsoft Azure ExpressRoute Onramp in Vancouver

DENVER, March 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Cologix, a network-neutral interconnection, ecosystem and hyperscale edge data center company, today announced that customers now have access to Microsoft Azure ExpressRoute with a new onramp at its VAN1 interconnection hub in Vancouver's primary carrier hotel at 555 West Hastings Street. Cologix offers customers the ability to connect to Azure ExpressRoute from Cologix's three data centers throughout Vancouver, supporting private connections to Azure, Microsoft 365 and Microsoft Dynamics 365. Azure ExpressRoute provides key benefits to enterprises looking to build hybrid cloud environments, including: Private connections that bypass the public Internet

Lower latency by traversing the shortest path to the Microsoft Azure

Predictability and optimized speed when leveraging Azure ExpressRoute

Scalable, densely connected and customizable colocation opportunities "We are fortunate to offer Microsoft onramps in our major markets across Canada  Montreal, Toronto and now Vancouver," said Cologix's President & Chief Revenue Officer Laura Ortman. "Direct and private connectivity to hyperscale service providers like Microsoft is pivotal to support digital transformations, delivering services to end users at the digital edge to seamlessly access solutions and services. This private, dedicated access to Azure ExpressRoute and Microsoft services provides customers with faster, more reliable, and more secure access to build and scale infrastructures and support disaster recovery with up to 100 Gbps connectivity and lower network costs. Customers can also access ExpressRoute via Cologix Access Marketplace, a virtual, on-demand solution that enables Cologix's customers to dynamically provision services through a single connection and an easy-to-use portal." "Our collaboration with Cologix allows us to connect customers privately, predictably and scurely to deploy and manage their hybrid cloud infrastructures," Ross Ortega, Partner Program Manager, Microsoft Azure Networking at Microsoft Corp. "We're expanding Microsoft Azure ExpressRoute connections in Vancouver to support the growing market demand for services at the digital edge alongside Cologix's local interconnection hubs, its dedicated ecosystem and its data center platform."



Enabling access to Azure ExpressRoute brings valuable depth to the Cologix Platform, which provides end users with tools to optimize and future-proof their IT strategies through access to more private onramps to public clouds, more certified network partners to reach public clouds and more cloud service providers than competitors across Canada. Connectivity Leader in Vancouver

Just commissioned, Cologix's VAN3 customizable data center is located at 2828 Natal Street. The new interconnection hub delivers 5 MW of power for high-density customer needs and up to 40 kW per cabinet across 42,000 square feet of data center space. With 100% green, renewable energy, VAN3 offers N+1 cooling, redundant UPS systems and N+1 generators. Designed for ultra-efficiency, VAN3 offers hot air containment system that enables the outside climate to cool the data center for the majority of the year.

At the Harbour Centre, Cologix's VAN1 facility operates the primary Meet-Me-Room (MMR) in Vancouver, enabling connectivity to 20+ unique networks and direct access to the Vancouver Internet Exchange (VANIX). VAN3 and VAN2 at 1050 West Pender Street are connected via high-count fibre to VAN1. Customers interested in accessing ExpressRoute services in Vancouver can contact [email protected] for more details. Additional resources Learn more about VAN3

Learn more about Cologix and Microsoft Azure

Learn more about Cologix Access Marketplace For more information or to request a tour of any of our facilities, please contact [email protected]. About Cologix Inc.

Cologix provides reliable, secure, scalable hyperscale edge data center solutions from 29 prime interconnection hubs and 4 hyperscale capacity facilities across 10 strategic North American markets. Over 1,600 leading network, managed services, cloud, media, content, financial services and enterprise customers trust Cologix to support their business critical infrastructure and connect them to customers, vendors and partners. Our dedicated, experienced local teams and scalable solutions enable us to provide industry-leading customer service and the ability to successfully support customers at the Internet's new edge. For a tour of one of our data centers in Ashburn, Columbus, Dallas, Jacksonville, Lakeland, Minneapolis, Montreal, New Jersey, Toronto or Vancouver visit www.cologix.com or email [email protected]. Follow Cologix on LinkedIn and Twitter. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cologix-adds-microsoft-azure-expressroute-onramp-in-vancouver-301021197.html SOURCE Cologix Inc.

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To the Editor,

Having attended the Town council meeting this past Thursday, I was disturbed by the seeming lack of communication displayed by the attendees, both those there ex officio, and those who testified and expressed interest in the matter of additional verbiage to be added to the zoning ordinances as the continuing controversy surrounding the attempt to establish a Transitional Living  facility in a well-established residential area of York with many families with young children who feel that their safety is put at risk by this particular facility.

Despite the articulate gentleness with which Ms. Hubbard expressed her desire to see that an exemption to the R-3 special use permit language be included for occupancy of 6 or less, the potential for abuse of this policy is high, consequently I and others strongly disagree with making this exemption. I believe that all areas of residential zoning should require issuance of a special use permit to establish specialized housing of this sort.

Regarding the controversial establishment of the Transitional Living facility on the corner of 9th and East, I would submit that the following items need to be considered before issuing a permit to the corporate entity seeking to open this facility.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-11 06:46:51|Editor: huaxia

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UNITED NATIONS, March 10 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Tuesday asked the international community to help Afghanistan seize the opportunity of peace.

The situation in Afghanistan is at a critical time with huge challenges in the peace process, political dialogue, security situation, and economic development. But at the same time, there are also great opportunities, said Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations.

The international community should work together to help all parties in Afghanistan seize the opportunity and address the challenges, he told the Security Council after the adoption of a resolution to welcome a recent U.S.-Taliban agreement.

China welcomes the agreement between the United States and the Taliban and the U.S.-Afghanistan joint declaration, said Zhang, adding that the Afghan parties and the United States should work together to actively implement the U.S.-Taliban agreement.

In the implementation, efforts must be made to ensure that the foreign troops stationed in Afghanistan are withdrawn in an orderly and responsible manner so as to avoid a security vacuum, and in particular to prevent the comeback of terrorist organizations, Zhang said.

In this regard, the international community should continue to support the capacity building of the Afghan national security forces, he added.
OTTAWA - Parliament's spending watchdog urged federal politicians to ask the government why it is holding on to an extra $105 million that it collected on U.S. steel and aluminum during its trade fight with the Trump administration.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 11/3/2020 (670 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Rolls of coiled coated steel are shown at Stelco before a visit by the Chrystia Freeland, Minister of Foreign Affairs, in Hamilton on June 29, 2018. Parliament's spending watchdog says the government is holding on to an extra $105 million that it collected on U.S. steel and aluminum during its trade fight with the Trump administration. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Peter Power

OTTAWA - Parliament's spending watchdog urged federal politicians to ask the government why it is holding on to an extra $105 million that it collected on U.S. steel and aluminum during its trade fight with the Trump administration.

Wednesday's report by the parliamentary budget officer says the government committed to return to affected industries $1.3 billion in surtaxes it charged on U.S. steel and aluminum imports in 2018 and 2019. But the PBO said the government will return $105 million less than it assessed in surtaxes on the U.S. metals.

"Parliamentarians may wish to seek clarity regarding the scope of the surtax revenues committed to be returned and which industries are the intended recipients of spending measures funded by surtax revenues," the PBO said.

Randy Hoback, the Conservative trade critic, said his party will be pushing the Liberals for answers.

"The government needs to come clean on where they used that money."

Canada imposed the duties as part of its broader $16-billion package of retaliation on various American products after the Trump administration placed duties of 25 per cent on steel and 10 per cent on aluminum during the acrimonious renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement in 2018.

The United States said it was imposing the metals' tariffs  which also hit Mexico  to stop the flood of cheap Chinese steel into North American markets, but the Trudeau government branded the move as arbitrary and illegal.

"In response to the U.S. tariffs and Canadian retaliatory surtaxes, the government of Canada has made statements committing to return assessed surtaxes to the businesses and workers in the affected industries," the PBO said.

But the government has not specified publicly which industries are to receive the funds, said the report. It also said that some of the surtax revenue was given to the federal government's trade commissioner service and to a government innovation fund that was aimed at the aluminum and steel sectors.

Hoback said all the money the government collected should have been given "dollar for dollar" to affected industries because that is what the government pledged to do.

"That was never the intent of that money. That money was supposed to flow through to the government and come back to the industries," said Hoback. "We want to know why that didn't happen."

The U.S. lifted the tariffs last May, as the three North American countries moved forward with their new continental trade deal. The countries agreed to establish a process for monitoring the steel and aluminum trade between them.

In May 2018, U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said the tariffs were being imposed on Canada and Mexico to prevent a flood of cheap Chinese steel into the U.S. through its NAFTA partner countries.

Ross also said the U.S. was imposing the tariffs because the trade talks were taking too long, even though they were being imposed under a section of American trade law that gives the president that authority to do that to protect national security.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 11, 2020.
This file photo shows a roadside kiosk and passers-by below a sign saying "My country is the best" on the main road into Sinuiju, a North Korean city on the border with China

North Korean authorities are quarantining suspected COVID-19 patients in overpriced accommodations and then passing the bill on to them, demanding that patients pay for their quarantine in full before they are allowed to return to their homes, sources in the country told RFA.

As of Tuesday afternoon, Pyongyang has still not reported a single confirmed case of the disease, but outside experts believe it to be extremely unlikely that the virus is not spreading there. The country has taken extreme measures to limit its spread over the past month, including cancelling large events and locking down entire counties near the Chinese border.

Sources say that the people are grumbling, as they see the governments quarantine terms as yet another government tactic to extract money from vulnerable people.

A resident of Dandong, China, just across the Yalu river border from Sinuiju, told RFAs Korean Service Saturday, I talk to my relatives living in Sinuiju and hear local news every day from them.

Sinuiju is currently quarantining suspected coronavirus patients in rural areas outside of the city, serving them three meals a day of just rice mixed with corn and soup, said the source.

He added that one of his relatives was also under quarantine.

We have to pay for the cost of room and board during the whole quarantine period, and theyre only giving them rice soup. They charge us five Chinese yuan (U.S. $0.72) a day and it must be paid to the authorities after they are released from isolation, said the source.

North Koreas local currency is the won (KPW), not to be confused with the South Korean won (KRW), but for all intents and purposes it is nearly worthless, so most commerce is conducted in U.S. dollars or Chinese yuan. The average monthly salary supplied by the communist government in won amounts to less than $5.00.

Five yuan is enough to buy two kilograms (4.4 lbs) of rice in local markets. Residents are furious at the authorities because they arent helping us out. They are just trying to exploit us, the source said.

According to the source, some of the people in quarantine have been there for nearly two months, and could be bankrupted since they expected to have to pay for their entire stay.

The Sinuiju municipal government began quarantining people who had been to China and those who had been in contact with them or their family members starting on Jan. 20, the source said.

They say none of the people quarantined then were released yet. But they should start trickling out on the 11th of this month, said the source.

When the quarantine first began, they said the isolation would be 15 days, but soon after, they increased it to 30 days, thenagain to 40 days. If the person who was put under isolation on January 20th is released on March 11th, the isolation period will have been 50 days, the source said.

Another source, also in Dandong described to RFA the conditions of squalor that the people in quarantine are subjected to.

The quarantine location has no electricity, so they light candles and go to bed right after dinner. This routine is repeated day after day and its not much different from being in a correctional camp.

Correctional camps are a common fixture in North Korea. Convicted criminals of even minor offenses are routinely given hard labor sentences to be served in these facilities.

The second source said that the coronavirus has rendered Sinuiju little more than a ghost town.

My relatives say there arent many people on the streets these days. Its eerily quiet, as there are not many people in the local market and in other places that are usually bustling with humanity,

Economic losses

Despite Pyongyangs apparent unwillingness to acknowledge the virus likely presence inside North Korea, state media Tuesday reported for the first time that the governments efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19 was putting the nation at risk for heavy economic losses.

According to South Korea-based experts, the report, published on the propaganda website Uriminzokkiri, reveals that North Korea is ill-equipped to handle a potential outbreak.

So far, North Korea has been hiding facts out of fear that theregime might be shaken, but now its telling the truth, Cho Han Bum of the Korea Institute of National Unification told RFA Tuesday.

This is because its hard to get foreign aid if they hid the facts. In addition it could be that the government is releasing information gradually to ease the severity of the shock, because the publics discontent and agitation might explode if they keep [the truth] hidden, he added.

Cho Bong Hyun, the director of the IBK Economic Research Institute, told RFA that the revelation shows that the economy of North Korea has deteriorated to a point where the people are having a hard time making a living.

Late last month, North Korea first disclosed the existence of about 7,000 people under medical observation within its borders.

Reported by RFA, Joonho Kim and Jeong Eun Lee for RFAs Korean Service. Translated by Leejin Jun. Written in English by Eugene Whong.
Vicky Kaushal is one actor that many in the Hindi film industry believe is going to make it big. The actor has won critical acclaim for his performances in every movie he has been a part of, and has also risen to prominence among audiences after Uri: The Surgical Strike.

However, it was not all easy for Vicky as he recounted that during his struggling days, he was even willing to pay to be cast in films. The passion that he has for his craft, he said that he just wanted work and to do good acting.

News18 quoted Vicky as saying, "I just wanted work and do good acting. I would always get selected in top 2 or 3 during auditions, but they would reject me after asking my budget. I would think that 'maybe, they have rejected me because of my budget.' So then, I started asking them their budget. When I said I would do in their budget, they would still reject me. Then I said I would work for free, they would still not take me. At last, I had to say that I would pay but give me work."

Vicky made his acting debut with a small role in Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana. His breakthrough movie was the 2015 film Masaan which was directed by Neeraj Ghaywan. He eventually went on to be parts of films like Raman Raghav 2.0, Raazi, Lust Stories, Sanju and others. For Uri, Vicky won his first National Award.

Last seen in the horror film Bhoot - Part One: The Haunted Ship, Vicky's next film is Sardar Udham Singh directed by Shoojit Sircar. The film is a biopic on the revolutionary freedom fighter Udham Singh who assassinated General O'Dwyer for his hand in the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. Sardar Udham Singh is currently in post-production, and is scheduled for release on October 2, 2020.

ALSO READ: Vicky Kaushal Does Not Plan His Career; Says It Will Make Him Rigid As An Actor

ALSO READ: Has Vicky Kaushal Hiked His Fee Post Uri's Success? The Actor Reveals The Truth


Over a decade of experience under his belt gazing at the traders terminal, Kusal Kansara an engineer with specialisation in Satellite Communication found his love in creating, testing, & optimizing machine learning algorithm to develop trading strategies.

We spoke to Kusal on the sidelines of traders' carnival in Jaipur in March, and he confessed that if he was not an Algo trader or into trading then he would want to get into genetic engineering.

Kusal is India Strategist-Algo trading at Curl Analytics which is a tech firm with four key verticals: 1) Algo Trading, 2) Artificial Intelligence, 3) Robotics, and 4) Blockchain.

His inspiration is Linda Bradford Raschke who is an American financier, operating mostly as a commodities and futures trader, and Jim Simons algorithmic juggernaut.

(Tune in to the podcast for more)

Disclaimer: The views and investment tips expressed by investment experts on Moneycontrol.com are their own and not that of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.
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ALBANY - Albany County officials joined together Tuesday to request that U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer consider bestowing the Congressional Medal of Honor to late a Marine captain from Clifton Park.

The county Airport Authority CEO Philip F. Calderone and County Executive Daniel McCoy said that John J. McKenna IV deserved the honor as he was killed trying to save a fellow Marine during a sniper attack in Fallujah, Iraq, in 2006.
Harris County and Houston officials said that the region has its first case of community spread COVID-19 in a press conference in which a health emergency and closure of the Rodeo were also announced.

County Judge Lina Hidalgo said that the Montgomery County case announced Tuesday night has been determined to be community spread, unlike earlier cases that were linked to travel in areas where travelers came into contact with infected people. She said she had talked to health officials in Montgomery County and that officials in the region are staying in contact.

Harris County health officials Tuesday night asked some passengers who returned to Houston on a flight from Italy a week ago to self-isolate after testing confirmed a woman on the plane has the new coronavirus.

Montgomery County officials announced a first case of the new coronavirus there, a man in his 40s being treated at an unspecified local hospital.

At the time they said they were not aware that it was related to travel and hoped to get more information.

In a news release, the county said that healthcare providers are following strict guidelines from the CDC in interactions with the patient, who is isolated at the hospital.

Another just announced case in Harris County outside the city involves a woman in her 20s whod been living in Italy. She contacted her healthcare provider after exhibiting mild flu-like symptoms upon returning to her home in the southwest quadrant of the county.

Fourteen people in the Houston region have now been diagnosed with COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus.

Harris County officials called for the isolation of passengers who sat in the business/first class section of a Lufthansa (LH309) flight from Florence to Frankfurt March 3 (10:05 a.m.-11:45 a.m.); and in the business/first class section of a United Airlines (UA47) flight from Frankfurt to Houston the same day (1:50 p.m.-6:10 p.m.). Other passengers do not need to isolate themselves.

The officials added that such passengers should contact their local health department for additional guidance and their healthcare provider by phone before going to the facility if they need to seek treatment.

The woman did not require hospitalization and is quarantined at home, where she is recovering.

Local testing found the woman was presumptively positive for the virus. It still must be confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.

Previously, doctors confirmed the virus in six patients in Harris County (two of them in Houston) and six in Fort Bend County. All were passengers on the same cruise line in Egypt.

The Pennsylvania-based company that advertised the package, Gate 1 Travel, has since canceled all its Nile River cruises through May 31. It also has provided the CDC with copies of its passenger manifest from the Feb. 12-19 cruise as well as subsequent sailings during the following weeks, spokesman Marty Seslow said.

There are now 17 confirmed cases in Texas. Collin County health officials in north Texas this week confirmed three cases of the virus there  a man, his wife and their 3-year-old child. The man traveled to California for a business trip in late February, officials said.

todd.ackerman@chron.com
An unusual downpour submerged streets in Ca Mau City in the namesake Mekong Delta province on Tuesday afternoon amid a historic dry season that has hit many parts of the region.

It started pouring in Ca Mau City at around 4:00 pm on Tuesday.

Trinh Xuan Hung, director of the Hydro-Meteorological Center of Ca Mau Province, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper on the same evening that heavy rains occurred in Ca Mau City and Cai Nuoc Town in Cai Nuoc District, while smaller showers were reported in other parts of the province.

Rainfall was measured at 700 millimeters and lasted nearly two hours in Ca Mau City.

According to the observation of Tuoi Tre reporters, inundation occurred along various streets in the city after the rain.

Notably, Phan Ngoc Hien Street, Nguyen Trai Street, Tran Hung Dao Street, and Nguyen Ngoc Sanh Street were calf-deep under rainwater.

A motorcyclist struggles through rainwater after a downpour in Ca Mau City, Ca Mau Province, Vietnam, March 10, 2020. Photo: Thanh Minh / Tuoi Tre

The flooding resulted in chaotic traffic at different intersections in the city, as many motorbikes broke down due to the rainwater.

This is an unseasonal rain in the middle of the dry season. If this rain had occurred in the countryside or the U Minh Ha cajuput forest, it would have been as precious as gold, Hung said.

According to leaders of U Minh Ha National Park, the parks entire forest stand, which covers a total area of 8,527.8 hectares, has been hit by severe drought.

More than 423 hectares of the forest is in the highest risk of wildfire.

Five provinces in the Mekong Delta including Kien Giang, Ben Tre, Tien Giang, Ca Mau, and Long An have declared a state of emergency after drought and saline intrusion broke records in the region.

Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has approved VND350 billion (US$15 million) in aid for these five provinces to combat drought and salt intrusion.

A mini-truck struggles through rainwater after a downpour in Ca Mau City, Ca Mau Province, Vietnam, March 10, 2020. Photo: Thanh Minh / Tuoi Tre

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Biden wins more states, endorsement: 4 key takeaways from 6-state primary day

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Voters in Idaho, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota, and Washington State took to the polls on Tuesday to determine the presidential nominee for the Democratic Party.

Tuesday also marked the final day of voting for the Democrats Abroad Global Presidential Primary, which has a total of 13 delegates.

The once crowded Democratic field has been boiled down to three contenders: former Vice President Joe Biden, United States Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, and Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii.

Here are four important takeaways from the events of Tuesday. They include Biden winning big, a symbolic victory, and the latest major endorsement offered by a former presidential hopeful.

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Are the Chinese citizens angry with their governments initial denials and the subsequent handling of the Coronavirus outbreak? Yes, they are. Or maybe they arent. There really is no way to tell. Or is there? It turns out that Chinas social media users have created a new language to somehow beat governments censorship on Coronavirus, or COVID-19, chatter. No one really knows that the government is censoring and when or for what reason. Or what conversations the cyber cops may be busy scrubbing off social media and the internet. A research by Amnesty International has pointed out how the social media users in China are self-censoring and modifying the words they use, to beat the surveillance on their chats. Now it will be Pandas and Noodles and the Truth, across social networks and messengers in Chinaif you dont want to be in trouble.

The research suggests that people are using the abbreviation zf to refer to the government, jc to refer to the police, guobao (which means "national treasure") or panda images to represent the domestic security bureau and mentions of the Communist Partys Publicity Department (also known as the Propaganda Department) are referenced as Ministry of Truth from the George Orwell novel 1984. Chinese citizens are using wh and hb to refer to Wuhan and Hubei.

Have you read?

WeChat is Censoring Coronavirus Keywords, Because China Doesnt Like Bad Press?

China Has Made Spreading Rumours on Social Media A Crime as it Battles The Coronavirus Outbreak

Since Chinas National Red Cross and its ability to distribute supplies has been questioned, netizens anticipated Red Cross would be censored and replaced it with red ten (the Chinese character for ten  Shi resembles a cross). When people express suspicions that supplies had been mishandled by the national Red Cross society, hashtags such as supplies are reded began trending, says Amnesty.

Any critical references to the politicans in China arent taken very kindly to. The research suggests that social media users in the country are reviving the abbreviation F4. It started out as a Taiwanese boy band which became incredibly popular in the early 2000s, but is now used to refer to four regional politiciansthe governor of Hubei province, the secretary of Hubeis Communist Party Committee, the mayor of Wuhan and the party secretary of Wuhan. Most of the responsibility for the botched response to the Coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan rests on the shoulders of these four political figures.

In case you were wondering, Vietnamese pho noodles is used to refer to VPNs, methods that are essential to access websites otherwise blocked by the Great Chinese Firewall.

And it does get absurd at some stage, as one would expect. Similarly, a parents complaint on Weibo about his child being bad at learning was instantly removed. Why? Because in Chinese, the Presidents surname means learning. In this context, to say learning is bad must be censored, say the researchers.

Earlier this month, a Citizen Lab report had revealed that popular instant messaging app WeChat is censoring certain keywords, particularly any references of the Coronavirus, COVID-19, Wuhan, President Xi Jinping or Dr. Li Wenliang who had blown the lid off the outbreak much before the Chinese government had to accept what happened. Between January 1 and February 15, 2020, we found 516 keyword combinations directly related to COVID-19 that were censored in our scripted WeChat group chat. The scope of keyword censorship on WeChat expanded in February 2020. Between January 1 and 31, 2020, 132 keyword combinations were found censored in WeChat. Three hundred and eight-four new keywords were identified in a two-week testing window between February 1 and 15, the researchers say.

The alternate language and a new social media dictionary might be enabling messaging across the country, where freedom of speech isnt exactly a priority. But it is also time consuming, and the energies would be better channelized elsewhere if the struggle for freedom of speech wasnt there.

This month, the new cyberspace regulations went Live in China in the midst of the measures to contain the Coronavirus, or COVID-19 outbreak. Among the long list of dos and donts released by the Cyberspace Administration of China in the Regulations on the Ecological Governance of Network Information Content, one guideline that truly stands out is the one that reads spreading rumors and disturbing the economic and social order under Article 6 which headlines Producers of online information content may not produce, copy or publish illegal information containing the following contents.

One would suspect it is only a matter of time perhaps before this language will need updating.
Jacy Lewis/Reporter-Telegram

Midland Mayor Patrick Payton went to social media on Tuesday to offer a spiritual message for the challenges Midlanders and his other social media followers face.

Payton, the former senior pastor at Stonegate Fellowship, talked about people finding themselves in another economic fight, global health concerns and mounting fear and uncertainty. He then led readers through passages in the Bible -- specifically Psalm 118 and Philippians 4 -- and ended by saying, lets keep loving God, loving one another and fighting through our current challenges for one another.
The spotlight is back on the role of auditors in flagging the ongoing crisis at YES Bank.

The accounting standard regulator, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), plans to review the financial statements of YES Bank for the financial year 2017-18 (FY18) and FY19, and check whether there have been any lapses on the part of the auditors. The audit fraternity points out that one of the key challenges in undertaking audit of banks relates to reconciling divergences between the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the banks when it comes to recognition of non-performing assets ...
While travel enthusiasts across the globe are confined to their home countries due to the coronavirus epidemic, the Rich Kids of Instagram are suffering from no such problems.

Avoiding the arguably unfashionable hygiene masks some of us mere commoners have resorted to, the financially fortunate have opted for masks with matching gloves by Louis Vuitton and Fendi.

Elsewhere, they need not worry about being sneezed on by questionable co-commuters on the tube, train or plane, as they simply take private jets and yachts.

And where the unfortunate few are confined to their mansions, they make sure their Lamborghini is right by the swimming pool with them.

While travel enthusiasts across the globe are confined to their home countries due to the coronavirus epidemic, the Rich Kids of Instagram are suffering from no such problems. Tair Marassulov from Russia shared a snap of his matching Louis Vuitton mask and gloves, writing 'F*** coronavirus'

Meanwhile Savannah DeLane Morris from Charleston didn't need to avoid germy trains, tubes or planes as she caught a private jet and enjoyed a sip of champagne amid the chaos

And despite being just 13, Russian model Mark Berman also stocked up on a Louis Vuitton mask as he jetted across the world to continue completing his work assignments

Meanwhile Indonesian blogger Resti Yani didn't need to worry about anti-bacterial spray as she whipped through the salty airs of Mauritius on a private boat

And a blogger from an unknown location kept up with the designer mask trend by donning a Fendi version during his luxury travels

Meanwhile a Rich Kid of Albania wore a full on balaclava to be sure of avoiding germs, showing that cash was the only thing he was stockpiling

British TV personalities Nicole Bass and Georgia Harrison showed that the only way they were prepared to travel is with personalised luggage and proivate planes

Max Logan of Miami proved being quarantined would be no problem for him as he had a Lamborghini and semi-clad girlfriend to keep him company

Vialinam, from Moscow, braved the journey to Dubai where she treated herself to a Mercedes G wagon to whip around in
WASHINGTON, March 3 (Reuters) - International travel to the United States will fall 6% over the next three months amid growing concerns about the coronavirus outbreak, the U.S. Travel Association forecast Tuesday.

The group said the predicted drop would be the largest decline in international inbound travel since the 2007-2008 financial crisis. U.S. airlines have canceled all flights to and from China until late April and cut other flights to Asia and Europe, while the Trump administration has barred nearly all non-U.S. citizens who have recently visited China or Iran from entering the United States. Numerous large gatherings that draw lots of international visitors have also been canceled. (Reporting by David Shepardson Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)
The new communication technologies that see technology as the catalyst of the social and political changes.





by Zulkifli Nazim





Politics and communication are nearly synonymous; all politics, after all, is nothing more and nothing less than communication applied in the service of power. Only by understanding the relative access to and control over information and communications technology, which has grown ever more complex over the centuries, can we understand the ebb and flow of politics, of culture, and of the human condition itself. - William Bernstein





Everything a politician utters, they say, goes viral. The establishment despises them, donors cant influence them, and the media cannot tame them. They have ignored the traditional rules of politics and now, politics will never be the same. Their success is a threat to the progress of our country.













Looking at the striking parallels between commerce, education, and politics, it isnt just coincidence. In fact, its inevitable. In the past decade, the information environment has inverted from information scarcity to information abundance, and the effects are evident in every corner of society.





In political science, the Overton Window represents the range of acceptable opinions in society. The Overton window is the range of policies politically acceptable to the mainstream population at a given time. It is also known as the window of discourse. Rather than controlling speech itself, people can control speech by determining the limits of acceptable conversation.





Before cable and satellite TV invaded our world, the limits of acceptable speech were enforced by political parties, who, due to their incentives for mass appeal, encouraged political centrism. With the stroke of a pen, small groups set narratives for the masses. Newspapers and television stations monopolized the distribution of information within their local territory. Through their power, they built social cohesion by eliminating diverse opinion and creating a shared intellectual ground.





Pundits appear eager to portray the partisan battles waged during election time as reaching new lows where dirty politics were concerned. Yet despite massive media interest in dirty politics and academic investigations into many aspects of this soft underbelly of democratic elections, very little is known about the way the public responds to news about dirty politicswhether the misdeed is a vandalism or a more serious allegation of election fraud. The public are not neutral when news about a political misdeed surfacesinstead the public see the misdeed through partisan lenses.





Political parties depended on the media to spread their ideas. Through favors and relationships, political parties win elections for their politicians. Similar to media, commerce, and education, the status quo stayed the same. Like lions in the wild, wealthy and connected our local politicians and their families thrived in the Mass Media environment. Like in commerce and education, political outcomes perpetuated the status quo. Money and connections with the media swayed elections as much as the voters themselves.





Now many in the media and the public are discovering what psychologists and political scientists have long known: people engage in motivated reasoning, which means that citizens are biased information processors who uncritically accept favorable information about their party or team, but disdain, disapprove and reject unfavorable information about their side.





In other words, According to the theory of motivated reasoning, subjects typically show contempt by derision and ridicule that causes cognitive dissonance - that is, good news about the opposition or bad news about ones party.





We have concern that runs deeper than this regarding motivated reasoning. While it is not new nor very surprising that people interpret the meaning of facts and deem their importance according to their partisan orientations.





The medias monopoly saw its first cracks with the rise of cable, and now, due to Satellite TV and the internet, the Mass Media environment is going to crumble. The internet  where everyone can find, select, edit, and distribute content  has already left its mark. The Overton Window has been shattered. The media is no longer a barrier against diverse thought and opinion. Extreme opinions, which were once squashed by the Mass Media environment, can survive on the internet, where a viral message can spread to every corner of the globe. In response to the new media environment, political parties have adopted a new set of rules and strategies.





The new communication technologies that see technology as the catalyst of the social and political changes. Media creates an apathy in which people are content to know rather than do something. In this context, media provides information about the events and the receivers demonstrate some superficial concern on media about the events while the importance of real action is neglected. Consequently, the receivers are drugged into the inactivity like they are under the influence of narcotics. One of the main assumptions of this approach is that, increasing dosages of mass communications sometimes unpredictably transform the energies of the receivers from active participation into passive knowledge.





Exposure to this flood of information may serve to narcotize rather than to energize the average reader or listener.





The interested and informed citizen can congratulate himself on his lofty state of interest and information and neglect to see that he has abstained from decision and action. He comes to mistake knowing about problems of the day for doing something about them. His social conscience remains spotlessly clean. He is concerned. He is informed. And he has all sorts of ideas as to what should be done. But, after he has gotten through his dinner and after he has listened to his favored radio programs and after he has listened to the repeated late news telecast of the day, it is really time for bed.





Disinformation on social media can negatively impact our elections. election-related misinformation could keep registered voters from the polls. Provision must be made by law for officials to report and correct bad information that appears on social media.





Confronting that tsunami of distortion is a challenge even for the most powerful officials.





Political parties are a set of relationships and a wealth of tactical knowledge. They consist of partisan media members, advertisers, donors, associations, interest groups, consultants, and of course, politicians. Political parties built intimate relationships with donors to fund their advertising efforts.





Voter interests were a means, not an end. In exchange for voter support, political parties ensured the election of their politicians by building relationships with editors, journalists, and media executives.





Can we detect a change in this trend?





Understanding trends and patterns helps election officials communicate proactively The Government has to address a serious and growing problem impacting elections. Social media can be an unreliable source. Platforms circulate and amplify disinformation and distortion from legitimate-sounding sources so quickly that fiction appears as truth. Those posts get liked and shared, and the lies spread.





In an ideal world, elections should be two things: free and fair. Every adult, with a few sensible exceptions, should be able to vote for a candidate of their choice, and each single vote should be worth the same.





The many democratic electoral systems in use around the world attempt to establish political considerations such as accountability and the need for strong, stable government. This system scores well on stability and accountability, but in terms of fairness it is a dud. People have developed a system where votes for anyone other than the winning candidate are frowned upon and disregarded.





This is a critical issue that has to addressed because: Elections are key to almost every other issue we work on, and they are the most important way to hold our political leaders accountable; the vote is the only political power that many people have; and our elections are not transparent, fair or honest today. Many citizens are denied the right to vote or are severely discouraged from voting. There is much evidence that past elections have been hacked and almost all elections systems are still very vulnerable to electronic distortion whether from insiders, corporate interests or foreign countries. Election outcomes are also often rigged through gerrymandering where Voting Districts are divided unfairly to one's advantage; and the lack of limits on campaign spending encourages corruption and control of elections by the rich and powerful.





Millions are being spent on political campaigns, but only pennies to protect the vote itself. The primary focus should be to reform the election process - voter suppression must be totally abolished so that all citizens can vote and all votes are counted accurately. And the election will absolutely be free, fair, transparent and honest; and accurately reflect the will of the majority of the people.





Max Weber's image of a society without a soul has become something of a popular lament. People are not always articulate about their discontents, but numerous signsunstable voting patterns, a return to religious orthodoxy, increases in antisocial behavior, opposition to scientific and technological advance, a withdrawal from public issues into private worlds, and the rise of irrationalityindicate, for reasons both sound and unsound, a feeling of discontent with progress. Capitalist economics and liberal democratic politics have prepared the basis for the good life, but its actual attainment seems just beyond the possible.
The coronavirus scare has hit the premier Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore, forcing it to postpone the annual convocation on March 20, a source said on Tuesday.

In view of the Covid-19 outbreak and the advisories by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and the World Health Organisation to avoid large gatherings, we have decided to postpone the convocation 2020 scheduled for Friday, March 20, said IIM-B Director G. Raghuram in an internal mail, sourced by IANS, to the institute.

He said all the stakeholder groups were consulted and the postponing decision has been taken based on their inputs and subsequent deliberations, keeping in mind everybodys safety.

I would also like to assure you that while we are geared to contain the spread of the virus on campus, we have taken this decision to avoid putting you and your family at risk, both due to travelling and large gathering, Raghuram said.

In February, the institute announced that Tata Sons Executive Chairman N. Chandrasekaran would be the chief guest at the 45th IIM-B convocation.

Raghuram said the respective course programme offices will get in touch with the students pertaining to the receipt of degrees in the mail.

Meanwhile, Covid-19 fears prompted IIM-B to ask its students who travelled abroad recently to visit the campus doctor immediately.

We have information that PGP 2 (MBA second year) students have visited foreign countries during the break. Such students are requested to visit the institute doctor immediately, said another internal mail on Tuesday sourced by IANS.

An IIM-B source confirmed to IANS that six students who would be passing out soon visited Holland via Italy recently.

All those who have come in contact with people who have travelled abroad are also requested to visit the institute doctor for his advice, said the internal IIM-B mail.

Groups of students also visited Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Coorg, the source confirmed.

On Tuesday, the Karnataka Health Department declared four positive Coronavirus cases in Bengaluru, a family of three and another man with travel history to US via Dubai and London respectively.

The IIM-B offered the option of taking rest or working from home for people exhibiting symptoms such as cough, sore throat and fever.

It is also planning a round of sanitising the entire administrative building, classes and Management Development Centre (MDC) building on campus.

IIM-B has also made hand sanitisers available at public places within the campus and is sanitising the auditorium before and after events.

IIM-B is also subjecting all visitors to a body temperature check at the main gate and anybody showing signs of high body temperature are being referred to the doctor.

The institute has also cancelled and rescheduled some events with high outside people participation, said the mail with a copy to the director of the institute, Dean Administration M. S. Narasimhan and campus doctor Ravi Kumar.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-11 10:07:34|Editor: Liu

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CANBERRA, March 11 (Xinhua) -- A government review has warned of "critical gaps" in Australia's climate science capability.

The review, which was ordered by the National Climate Science Advisory Committee and conducted by the Centre of Excellence for Climate Extremes, found that Australia's atmospheric modelling has lagged behind other countries.

As a result, Australian scientists' ability to understand climate change has been impeded.

There are 466 full-time staff and students investigating climate processes but not enough are focused on atmospheric physics and weather phenomena that affect heatwaves and rainfall in Australia.

"The loss of expertise in these areas represents a critical threat to Australia's ability to understand and predict such phenomena into the future. The shortage of expertise in these areas requires urgent correction," the report said.

"The report concludes that a transformation of climate processes research into a community working collectively towards national goals in a common science framework is essential.

"Given the underpinning role of processes research for all other climate research this transformation provides the foundation for providing solutions to the climate-related societal challenges ahead."

In order to address the shortcomings in coordination, the report called for the establishment of a "community-wide research network."

Responding to the report, a spokesperson from the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment told the Guardian Australia that it would "help ensure the government's climate science activities are better coordinated and prioritized."

"The government is committed to climate science investment and is progressing the establishment of an enhanced climate science advisory group that will build on the work of the National Climate Science Advisory Committee to ensure that Australian decision makers have continued access to world class scientific information," the spokesperson said.
ELSAH  The next free program in the Hosmer-Williams Lecture Series hosted by the Historic Elsah Foundation is planned for 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 19, at Farley Music Hall in Elsah.

In his presentation, From the Monticello Female Seminary Archives: The Civil War Letters of Capt. David W. Norton to Mary (Mollie) Chapman, Springfield writer Mark Flotow will discuss correspondence between a young lady attending Monticello Female Seminary and an Union Army officer stationed in Tennessee.
Aam Aadmi Party lawmakers on Wednesday staged a protest inside the Parliament complex over the ongoing Yes Bank crisis, demanding that the defaulters who are "friends" of the BJP must be held accountable.

AAP MPs Sanjay Singh, Bhagwant Mann, N D Gupta and Sushil Gupta demonstrated the protest in front of the Mahatma Gandhi statue and raised slogans like "bank defaulters must be put behind bars".

Singh claimed that the "Yes Bank was looted by the friends of the BJP leaders and they must be held accountable for their actions and put behind bars".

He has also given a Zero Hour notice in the Rajya Sabha over the issue.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) last week superseded the board of Yes Bank and put a 30-day moratorium, capping the withdrawal limit at Rs 50,000.

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.

Following the announcement, panic gripped the bank's customers, who queued before ATMs and bank branches to withdraw money. They were also not even able to access Internet banking and other services like digital payments through another party's platform. Forex services and credit card purchases, among others, were also impacted.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Morocco and Hungary are discussing means of strengthening their cooperation in the field of treatment, storage and management of water resources and road infrastructure.

This comes as Moroccan Minister of Equipment, Transport, Logistics, and Water, Abdelkader Amara, is visiting Hungary.

The minister visited on Monday several water infrastructures including a groundwater and surface water treatment plant in the city of Siofok near the capital Budapest, where he was briefed about the facilities and techniques used in this structure.

The visit enabled the Moroccan delegation to learn about the actions carried out by the Hungarian government in the field of water resources management, which constitutes a national priority, as is the case in Morocco, which has adopted a strategic plan for the period 2020-2027 and the National Water Plan for the period 2020-2050.

Amara discussed with Hungarian officials ways of boosting cooperation ties and partnership in the field of water management and underlined Moroccos potentialities in the field of water resources treatment, storage and management.

Talks also covered the two countries respective experiences in water treatment and desalination, the fight against floods and the negative impacts of climate change.

The director general of a Hungarian pilot water management and desalination company, Adrian Kish, noted that Hungary wishes to develop its partnership and cooperation with Morocco, especially with regard to new technologies for the sustainable management of water resources through mobile units.

He said he is confident that Morocco, which has significant potential in the industrial field, can develop water treatment techniques and that Hungary can take advantage of these techniques for the management of its water resources through pilot projects in the two countries.

The Moroccan minister also conferred on Tuesday with Secretary of State for Transport, Laszlo Mosoczi, on means to strengthen cooperation between the two countries in the fields of transport and road safety, with focus on new technologies. The two sides discussed the possibility to sign an agreement in this area and to set up a joint committee to monitor the implementation of the international transport agreement between the two countries that entered into force in 2000.

In this connection, he visited a government pilot project in the western city of Zalaegerszeg, which focuses on the development of environment friendly automatic vehicles and improvement of road safety.
By IANS

NEW DELHI: As the number of COVID-19 cases rose to 60 on Wednesday after fresh cases were reported in India, the Health Ministry mandated 14 days of self-imposed quarantine for passengers with travel history to China, Hong Kong, Republic of Korea, Japan, Italy, Thailand, Singapore, Iran, Malaysia, France, Spain and Germany. The Ministry directed such passengers' employers to facilitate work-from-home from the date of their arrival in India.

"Among the new cases, eight were reported on Wednesday from Kerala and one each from Rajasthan and Delhi. The total 60 cases in the country include three Kerala patients who have recovered and have been discharged from the hospital," said the Ministry in a statement.

"The government has undertaken evacuation operations from several countries in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak to bring back Indian citizens as well as nationals from other countries," said the statement.

The government said Indian nationals in Iran include pilgrims, students and fishermen. On March 7, 108 samples were received from Iran. Those samples are being tested at a laboratory in All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).

The government also said that six scientists from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) have been stationed in Iran. Equipment and reagents have also been dispatched to enable them to set up a lab. The first batch of 58 evacuees from Iran arrived on Tuesday with 25 men, 31 women and 2 children on board. All evacuees are asymptomatic at present.

So far, the government has evacuated 948 passengers from COVID-19-affected countries. Out of these, 900 are Indian citizens and 48 belong to Maldives, Myanmar, Bangladesh, China, USA, Madagascar, Sri Lanka, Nepal, South Africa and Peru.

Earlier, as Wuhan city in Hubei province of China became the epicentre of COVID-19 and there were hundreds of Indians stuck in the city, Air India operated two special flights for the evacuation bringing back 654 passengers, including 647 Indians. The evacuees were housed at Manesar and Chhawla quarantine facilities set up by Indian Army and ITBP for 14 days. They were tested twice and were found negative for COVID-19 and were discharged on February 18.
This undated file photo provided by the Virginia Department of Corrections shows Lee Boyd Malvo.

Lee Boyd Malvo, who as a teen was part of a two-person sniping crew that killed 10 people and wounded three around Washington, D.C., in 2002, was married this month while serving life in prison, his legal team said.

Carmeta Albarus, a mentor to Malvo who testified at his trial in 2003, said the wedding took place at Red Onion State Prison in southwest Virginia.

"Over the past 17 years, he has grown despite his conditions of confinement," she told the Associated Press. "He has grown into an adult, and has found love with a wonderful young lady.  It was a beautiful ceremony."

Malvo was 17 when he and John Allen Muhammad went on a killing spree in Maryland, Virginia and Washington in October 2002. The duo killed several others across the United States as they made their way to the area.

Dubbed the D.C. sniper or Beltway sniper attacks, the killings sparked widespread fear in the region as people were shot, seemingly at random, in public places such as parking lots and gas stations. Malvo and Muhammad modified the back seat and trunk of a sedan, creating a sniper's nest to carry out the attacks.

Malvo, now 35, was sentenced to life in prison without parole. A new Virginia law allows for people who committed crimes before 18 and sentenced to life terms to be eligible for parole after 20 years in prison. Malvo, however, faces life sentences over three jurisdictions.

Virginia law makes 'DC sniper' Lee Boyd Malvo eligible for parole, ends Supreme Court case

Muhammad was executed in 2009.

Speaking with The Washington Post, Albarus said Malvo and his bride, who was not identified, held hands during the ceremony. "I believe the institution was very accommodating," Albarus, a social worker who worked with Malvo and wrote a book on the case, told the newspaper.

Attorney Craig S. Cooley, who represented Malvo in his original trial and appeals, told the Post that Malvo's wife is "a very impressive young lady. Educated. Her eyes are wide open."

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She began writing to Malvo about two years ago and soon started visiting him in prison, the attorney said.

"She sees the good and sees Lee as Ive always seen him, and I think the world would have seen him had Muhammad not taken over his life," Cooley told the Post.

Malvo's defense team has argued that the much-older Muhammad coerced the juvenile into the killings, teaching him marksmanship and acting as a father figure.

Contributing: The Associated Press

Follow USA TODAY's Ryan Miller on Twitter @RyanW_Miller

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: DC sniper Lee Boyd Malvo marries while serving life in prison
Al-Mashat is credited with executing substantive reform in Egypts tourism sector, achieving its highest ever revenues in 2019

The Council of Arab Business Women has chosen Egypts Minister of International Cooperation Rania Al-Mashat as its person of the year 2020.

In a statement released Wednesday, the council said that the choice is attributed to Al-Mashats achievements and successes over her professional career.

Al-Mashat served as a consultant to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) senior economists in Washington, Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) sub-governor, and she adopted structural reforms in the tourism sector when she served as minister of tourism, reforms that aimed at attaining sustainable touristic development in accordance with global standards.

Al-Mashat's efforts in the tourism sector resulted in improving the sector significantly, raising tourists headed to Egypt by 40 percent and achieving the highest revenues in the sector's history, at $12.6 billion in 2019, according to the Council of Arab Business Women statement.





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President Xi Jinping arrived in Wuhan, capital of Central China's Hubei province, on Tuesday morning to inspect work on the prevention and control of the novel coronavirus.

During the tour, Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, will pay visits to medical workers, People's Liberation Army commanders and soldiers, community workers, police officers, government officials, volunteers, patients and local residents.

Related Stories:

>>Xi visits patients, medics at Huoshenshan Hospital in Wuhan

>>Xi visits community residents, frontline workers in Wuhan
Fire outbreak can happen because of several reasons. Las Vegas is very famous everywhere for being a place that has a lot to offer to its tourists. This place is always filled with a lot of people and has different events going on 24*7 so a fire outbreak can happen anytime.

This is one of the primary reasons why several places in Las Vegas have hired fire watch services. Fire watch service will ensure that your process is not getting hindered because of any fire outbreak.

Where Is The Fire Watch Service Needed?

If the place does not have a decent firefighting device like fire extinguisher, water sprinkler system or fire alarm, then they will need a fire watch service. The task of fire watch service is not limited to just finding out the source of the fire but also to help the people in situations of fire outbreak.

The fire outbreak can happen anywhere, irrespective of whether the place has very reactive or hazardous material or not. The sites in Las Vegas that need fire security services are:

Special events

Residential complexes

Exhibition and concert venues

Hotels

Restaurants

Retail malls and stores

Commercial buildings or Business Park

Theatres

Construction site

Manufacturing or industrial unit

Colleges and schools

Nursing home and hospitals

Services Offered By Fire Watch Security

Even if a person is taking all the needed precaution, still accidents can occur anytime. Fire can arise due to several reasons, two of them being poor awareness and carelessness.

The services which are offered by fire watch security will not only help to handle the panic situation, but it will also provide other benefits like insurance coverage. Apart from that, the services which are provided by the fire watch securities are:

24/7 Patrolling: Fire watch guards will perform 24/7 patrolling on the place. So it will not only reduce the probability of facing any fire outbreak, but it will also ensure that if anything happens, they will be present to take action at the right time. Las Vegas Fire Watch Services offer 24/7 patrolling to ensure proper safety.

Fire watch guards will perform 24/7 patrolling on the place. So it will not only reduce the probability of facing any fire outbreak, but it will also ensure that if anything happens, they will be present to take action at the right time. Las Vegas Fire Watch Services offer 24/7 patrolling to ensure proper safety. Equipment: The fire watch guard will come with different types of fire security equipment like a fire alarm, water sprinkler, fire extinguisher etc. If the place does not have all this then just by hiring them, they can avail all these equipment.

The fire watch guard will come with different types of fire security equipment like a fire alarm, water sprinkler, fire extinguisher etc. If the place does not have all this then just by hiring them, they can avail all these equipment. Trained: Ordinary people will get panicked in situations of fire outbreak, but professional fire guards are trained to handle the case with the right technique. Even if someone is stuck in the building, they will be able to rescue them at the right time. According to https://www.bbc.com, kids are taught about fire safety.

Ordinary people will get panicked in situations of fire outbreak, but professional fire guards are trained to handle the case with the right technique. Even if someone is stuck in the building, they will be able to rescue them at the right time. According to https://www.bbc.com, kids are taught about fire safety. Fire Department: If there is an outbreak of fire, then the fireguard will reach the fire department to provide all the relevant information related to the incident.

Conclusion

Fire watch services can prevent property damage, avoid loss of life and minimize the liability. Similar places like factories that deals with storing chemicals will have high chances of catching fire. The fire watch guard will help to minimize the danger and save people in the moment of crisis.
Ukrainian society should further raise its "culture of referenda", the former official believes.

If Ukraine holds a referendum on the status of Donbas, Russia may gain control over all key decisions in Ukrainian politics, former Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, Oleksandr Danyliuk, opined, commenting on Bill "On the All-Ukrainian referendum" that is now open for public discussion.

"This is a very dangerous topic, a dangerous tool... The opportunities for manipulation are such that they'll be asking people but eventually get what they want. I am rather cautious about referenda because we must raise our culture of referenda. There haven't been many of them held," the ex-secretary of the NSDC told Obozrevatel.

Danyliuk gave an example of referenda that had taken place in European countries: "Switzerland, for example. Local issues there are put for a local referendum, so they'd been raised on this. They'd learned for so many years that if they make a decision, they bear responsibility for it ... If we look at the UK, where the Brexit referendum took place  there was a lot of manipulation there. Secondly, Britons weren't used to the referendum, they didn't understand what it was. Some people voted not because they stood for Brexit, but simply out of spite. And now they have to live with it."

Read also"Pro-Moscow organizations everywhere": Expert speaks of Kremlin agents in Ukraine

Russian propaganda, Danyliuk says, is now actively operating in Ukraine, while paternalistic-minded people are not used to expressing their will through a referendum.

"Therefore, people are supposed to be asked, but I'd be very cautious about this, especially when it comes to issues such as the status of Donbas. The consequence may be that we will lose the opportunity to influence our [political] course. Russia once sought to do precisely this  to limit us, so that the so-called 'representatives of Donbas' set up their own 'people's militia', as well as influence key decisions for the entire Ukraine," Danyliuk said.
A waiter works in a beach with a few Western tourists, which is usually full of Chinese tourists, amid fear of coronavirus in Phuket

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand will temporarily suspend issuing visas on arrival to visitors from 19 countries and territories, including China, to contain the spread of the coronavirus, its interior minister said on Wednesday.

The suspensions were the latest measures imposed in the tourism-reliant Southeast Asian country, which has reported 59 cases of the virus and one death so far. Globally, over 113,000 people have been infected in over 100 countries.

"People from any country who want to come will need to apply for a visa with our embassies," Minister of Interior Anupong Paochinda told reporters.

"Thai embassies everywhere will ensure that no sick people will travel to Thailand."

Visa on Arrival (VoA) will be suspended for nationals of all 19 countries and territories previously eligible, including Bulgaria, Bhutan, China, Cyprus, Ethiopia, Fiji, Georgia, India, Kazakhstan, Malta, Mexico, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Uzbekistan, and Vanuatu, according to a list provided to reporters by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

However, Russian passport holders will not be affected by the suspension of the visa on arrival from Russia, as they can still travel to Thailand and stay for 30 days under a visa waiver agreement, an official at the ministry told Reuters.

Visa exemptions will be cancelled for South Korea, Italy and Hong Kong, Anupong said.

"These measures will solve the problem of foreigners arriving from risky zones," he said.

Anupong said he would start the process immediately but it was not immediately clear when they will be effective.

Chatree Atchananant, director-general of the foreign ministry's Consular Affairs Department, said visa applicants will need to present medical certificates and insurance as part of the screening at Thai embassies.

Last week, Thailand designated South Korea, China, Macao, Hong Kong, Italy and Iran as "dangerous communicable disease areas."

Thai authorities urged people arriving from the six places to self-quarantine for 14 days.

(Reporting by Patpicha Tanakasempipat and Panarat Thepgumpanat; Editing by Kim Coghill, William Maclean)
Leh, the capital of the Union territory of Ladakh will be the venue for the main event for International Yoga Day on June 21 and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend it, AYUSH Ministry officials said on Wednesday.

Modi is expected to perform yoga asanas based on the Common Yoga Protocol. The event is likely to be attended by 15,000 to 20,000 people.

"The event of IDY 2020 promises to be unique and different since such a large congregation for yoga will be taking place in a high altitude location like Leh for the first time," Ayush Minister Shripad Naik said.

Industry bodies like CII, FICCI, Institute of Company Secretary and educational bodies like CBSE, NCERT, UGC and DAV have already prepared programmes for June 21.

Last year the event was held in Ranchi.

The AYUSH ministry, which is the nodal body to oversee the annual celebrations, has organised several programmes since the inception of International Yoga Day in 2015.

In Delhi, the main event will be held at Rajpath and it will be organised by the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) along with the ministry.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Supreme Court will on Thursday hear a petition filed by Uttar Pradesh government against the Allahabad high court decision ordering removal of hoardings containing photos and other personal details of anti-CAA protesters.

A vacation bench of justices UU Lalit and Aniruddha Bose will hear the petition.

The high court had on Monday ordered Lucknows District Magistrate and Commissioner of Police to remove these hoardings. The court said the states action violates Article 21 of Constitution and is an infringement of privacy.

Privacy is an intrinsic part of right to life and liberty under Article 21 of the Constitution of India, and the actions of the state government amount to an unwarranted interference into it, a bench of chief justice Govind Mathur and justice Ramesh Sinha had ruled.

The DM was directed to submit a compliance report in the court on or before March 16, and the proceedings will stand closed when it is filed.

The court also took a strong view of the state governments argument that the matter should not have been taken up suo motu by way of a public interest litigation. Courts are meant to impart justice and no court can shut its eyes if a public unjust is happening just before it, the order had said.

The Allahabad High Court had further observed that the accused persons were not fugitives, and there was no necessity in a democratic society to publish personal data and identity of the accused, especially when the state government has already sought recovery of compensation from such people.

Twenty-one people died in the violence over three days (December 19-21) across Uttar Pradesh, according to government data. There is no data available on whether there were any deaths in police firing. Similarly, there is no estimate available on damages to properties. The police have registered around 300 first information reports (FIRs) and arrested some 1,200 people.

The Uttar Pradesh Police had last week put up several hoardings across Lucknow, identifying those accused of violence during the protests. The hoardings carried names, photographs and residential addresses of the accused, leading to concerns over their safety. The accused were also asked to pay for the damage to public and private property within a stipulated time, or have their properties seized by the district administration.






TOKYO  Nissan is likely to pull out from a venture capital fund it runs with alliance partners Renault and Mitsubishi Motors, as part of the Japanese automaker's drive to cut costs and conserve cash, two sources said.

Nissan will formally take a decision on whether to leave the fund, Alliance Ventures, by the end of this month, the two Nissan insiders told Reuters, declining to be identified because the information has not been made public.

The likely move comes after Nissan's junior partner, Mitsubishi Motors Corp, told an alliance meeting last week that it would no longer continue to inject money into the fund, one of the sources said.

The decision to leave the Amsterdam-based fund was all but a done deal, the other source said, adding: "Of course we're out. The house is on fire."

A Nissan spokeswoman said it was speculation and declined to comment. A Mitsubishi spokesman said no decision had been made.

The move comes as Nissan  which has seen its earnings slump  is now facing a downturn in China, its biggest market, due to the impact of the coronavirus outbreak. China sales plunged 80% last month.

It also highlights the extent of the automaker's cost-cutting under new CEO Makoto Uchida, who is under pressure for a quick turnaround.

Alliance Ventures is aimed at finding "learning opportunities" for the alliance through investing in startups, and is supposed get up to $200 million (153.3 million pounds) a year from the three alliance partners, although it never achieves that full amount, the first source said.

It was set up under former alliance head Carlos Ghosn, whose dramatic arrest in Japan culminated in an escape to his childhood home of Lebanon in December. Ghosn faces multiple charges in Japan, including of under-reporting earnings and misappropriation of company funds, all of which he denies.

According to its website, the fund was set up with a $200 million initial investment and aims for up to $1 billion by 2023. Portfolio companies include WeRide, a Chinese robo-taxi startup and Tekion Corp, a cloud-based retail platform for cars.

Story continues

"It wasn't established by Ghosn as a way to make money. It was for those learning opportunities we get from investing in smart startups," the first source said.

"But given the tough financial situation we are facing, we are looking at investment return."

Reporting by Norihiko Shirouzu; Editing by David Dolan/Louise Heavens/Susan Fenton.
An elderly woman has become the first person to die of Coronavirus in the Republic of Ireland.

The patient suffered from respiratory symptoms before a doctor decided to test for Covid-19.

She was diagnosed when the test came back positive and died earlier today despite treatment at a hospital in the east of the country.

Chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan said: 'I would like to extend my condolences to the family and friends of this patient.

'I urge the media and the public to respect their privacy at this difficult time.

Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe (pictured) earlier urged employers to do all they can if someone is not able to come to work over fears of contracting Covid-19. It came as an elderly woman became the first to die in the Republic of Ireland of the virus

'We continue our efforts to interrupt the transmission of this virus. It will take all of us, collectively to succeed. Please continue to follow public health advice.'

Meanwhile, the head of the Irish Health Service Executive (HSE) tweeted that the Republic was entering 'a new phase' of coronavirus.

Paul Reid said: 'We are entering a new phase in Covid19. I fully support our hospitals who have to make decisions on restricting visitors based on clinical risk, patient and public safety.

'Please do as we urge and our ask will increase as we progress.'

Mr Reid did not elaborate further on the tweet. The Republic is currently in the containment phase with 34 cases of Covid-19, bringing the overall total on the island of Ireland to 52.

The head of the Irish Health Service Executive (HSE) Paul Reid tweeted that the Republic is entering 'a new phase' of coronavirus

Mr Harris (pictured) previously said anyone concerned that they may have coronavirus symptoms should immediately isolate themselves from others and contact their GP by phone

MailOnline has contacting the Department of Health for comment.

The Government has called for employers to 'play their part' of the national response to tackling coronavirus by continuing to pay staff who have to self-isolate.

Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe urged employers to do all they can if someone is not able to come to work over fears of contracting Covid-19.

Mr Donohoe said he recognises the financial burden firms may face as employees who have symptoms need to self-isolate.

It comes as 34 cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed in the Republic of Ireland.

Speaking from Government Buildings in Dublin, Mr Donohoe said: 'We are joining with employers and unions today calling on all employers who do have employees who make the decision that they need to go into a period of isolation, to continue to pay them as normal in recognition of the great challenge that we are now facing.

'We recognise that for some employers, this may well be a challenge.

'We understand the financial dimensions that are involved in this.'

Last month government ministers on both sides of the Irish border held talks on how to co-ordinate their response to the coronavirus spread. Pictured: Mr Harris holding a coronavirus leaflet at Dublin Airport on February 28

On Monday, the Government unveiled a financial aid package worth up to 2.4 billion euro.

Under the plans private sector workers affected by coronavirus will receive 305 euro per week from their first day of illness.

Mr Donohoe said these plans have been put in place for public health reasons.

'We recognise that for many workers within our country, taking this decision is one that does have financial consequences and we want to ensure that the measures are in place to minimise financial concerns as employees, and as employers make decisions in relation to their own health,' Mr Donohoe added.

The first case in Northern Ireland was made public last month. Pictured: A man wearing a facemask in Dublin Airport

'This is the reason why on Monday, Minister (Heather) Humphreys and I, in conjunction with the Government, made the decision in relation to the availability of illness payments, the qualifying period that is necessary before you can access that payment and we also increased the value of that payment by over 100 euro.'

Minister for Business Heather Humphreys outlined a number of measures which Irish businesses can avail of to help stem the impact of the coronavirus outbreak.

She said: 'We have introduced a number of supports this week including a 200 million euro working capital scheme.

'That means any business that is impacted by the coronavirus can make an application for assistance.

'It will help them with the liquidity problems because cash flow and liquidity will be one of the first issues that will face businesses.'

There is a 200 million euro enterprise fund available while enterprise offices are offering vouchers of between 2,500 euro and 10,000 euro.

The first case of coronavirus confirmed in the Irish Republic is a man who contracted the killer virus in northern Italy. Pictured: Health Minister Simon Harris meets staff running a coronavirus public awareness campaign in Dublin Airport

'The situation is changing from day to day and we will continue to work with stakeholders to respond to ongoing developments,' Ms Humphreys added.

'I'm asking businesses to show some flexibility and solidarity with the workers in terms of sick pay.'

Ms Humphreys also urged the public not to panic buy adding that retailers have ensured her there is a sufficient supply chain.

'I would say to people, do not panic buy as that in itself causes shortages,' she added.

Mr Donohoe said the escalating challenges around coronavirus will influence the political discussions around forming a government.

'This will be a very demanding political exercise but we are truly in extraordinary times,' Mr Donohoe added.
There's a battle of economic might in the global oil patch, and it's rapidly turning into a tussle of wills between the leaders of Saudi Arabia, Russia and the U.S.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, 34, escalated an oil-price war on Tuesday with a move to flood the market with crude, a day after the oil market suffered its deepest rout since 1991. Russian President Vladimir Putin helped kick off the fight in the first place to inflict a blow on the U.S.

At stake is the future of the oil market and the U.S. shale industry, and President Donald Trump's next move could be key.

The U.S. has become the world's biggest oil producer, making it a target for the Saudis and Russians, who rank just below. Trump, whose November re-election bid gets tougher with the spread of coronavirus and each downward tick of key economic indicators, promised Monday to help struggling U.S. shale drillers. He could still exert influence over Saudi Arabia, which benefits from American military support.

Trump called the prince on Monday to discuss the price war, according to two people familiar with the situation.

"It's no longer about economics," said Chris Weafer, chief executive officer of Macro Advisory, a Moscow-based consultancy. "All three of them are hurting at this price."

At first glance, the U.S. should be the loser. Drilling in the Permian Basin of West Texas and New Mexico is far more expensive than in Siberia or the Saudi desert. Permian shale producers need an average of $40 to $50 a barrel to break even, according to Rystad Energy. That's well above current prices. Producers have already been weakened by lenders reluctant to finance their drilling and the coronavirus, which has squeezed demand around the world.

But the grudge match is less about oilfield economics than it is about raw power. On that measure, Trump might seem to be in a more comfortable position. While the price war launched by Riyadh and Moscow is feeding directly into their own oil revenues, it's likely to help U.S. motorists who are the world's single largest source of oil demand.

Trump cheered on the fall in prices on Monday, tweeting that the drop in oil prices was "good for the consumer."

For Riyadh and Moscow, on the other hand, it's life and death. Saudi Arabia depends on oil for nearly 70% of its fiscal income, according to the International Monetary Fund. For Russia it's 40% -- including gas.

Both Prince Mohammed and Putin have taken measures to strengthen their authoritarian holds on their countries. Prince Mohammed had two senior members of the Saudi royal family rounded up over the weekend on the grounds they were plotting a coup. Putin is overhauling the Russian constitution in a move seen as paving the way for him to retain influence after his current term -- his last under existing limits -- ends in 2024.

If the price war persists for months, economic resilience would determine the winner. Here, Saudi Arabia appears in be in a weaker spot. Riyadh needs more than $80 a barrel to balance its budget, higher than at almost any other time in the past 20 years. If it comes to tapping the piggy bank, the kingdom's cash reserves are $500 billion -- down a third from their peak in 2014.

Russia, on the other hand, has spent the past five years resetting its economy to a lower oil price and rebuilding reserves to $570 billion. While sustained economic pain would come at an awkward time for the Kremlin, as Putin has promised to improve living standards, the budget has some resilience built in. After the shock of the oil-price slump and U.S. sanctions in 2014, Moscow has lowered the price at which its budget breaks even to about $50 a barrel from $115 in 2013. (Russian companies can turn at profit at a much lower oil price.)

Trump, in contrast, may feel the impact soonest in the domestic political arena. The U.S. oil industry's pain could hurt his popularity in Texas, which his Democratic opponents are eyeing as a potential battleground state. The price plunge is ricocheting across U.S. financial markets -- a potential soft spot given the president's own touting of high stock prices as rationale for his re-election.

"The trigger for the U.S. to get involved is if this oil-price drop endangers financial stability," said Bob McNally, founder of oil consultant Rapidan Energy Group and a former official in the George W. Bush administration.

Indeed, despite Trump's tweet on Monday, several U.S. officials indicated they were far from happy with the oil price war that triggered the sharpest drop in equity markets since 2008.

In a statement Monday, the U.S. Energy Department referred to "attempts by state actors to manipulate and shock oil markets." U.S. Senator John Cornyn, who represents Texas and its shale drillers, suggested the Trump administration get tough with the Saudis.

"I hope there will be direct communication with the kingdom and with the crown prince about what they've done, because they depend on us for their security in large part from Iran," Cornyn said. "I just think they didn't recognize the consequences of what they've done and what the impact might be."

And U.S. Treasury Secretary Stephen Mnuchin met Monday with the Russian ambassador to Washington and "emphasized the importance of orderly energy markets," according to a statement.

With economic pain being felt in all three countries, some traders are speculating darkly about the potential for escalation in the war of wills. Trump has already shown his willingness to use tariffs and sanctions to achieve his political aims, while Russia and Saudi Arabia are engaged in political and military power struggles across the Middle East and beyond.

"If this was President [Barack] Obama, you'd have more confidence that the administration would do nothing and would let the oil price find its own level," Weafer said. "With President Trump, you simply don't know what he's going to do."

- - -

With assistance from Bloomberg's Steven T. Dennis, Gregory L. White, Anya Andrianova, Michael Shepard and Jennifer Jacobs.
Now that Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have officially wrapped up their last engagements as senior members of the royal family, the couple is able to settle into their new life in Canada. And it looks like they could potentially have a royal visitor sooner than expected.

Princess Anne is set to spend time in Canada in her role as Commodore-in-Chief of the Royal Canadian Navy, attending a handful of engagements between May 1 and May 3. Though nothing has been suggested by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex publicly, this would be the perfect opportunity for the Princess Royal to personally pay them a visit at their new residence.

Since late fall, Meghan and Harry, their 9-month-old son Archie and their two rescue dogs have been ensconced at an elegant mansion on Vancouver Island. Perched on the shores of the Saanich Inlet of North Saanich, British Columbia, the home is truly a sight to behold.

According to the Mirror, the $14 million dollar mansion is fit for, well, royalty. Not only does the 10,000 square-foot home boast a pizza oven, a game room, a wine tasting room and, strangely, a 17th century imported French fireplace, but it also features a guest cottage for visitors. Of course, the well-appointed home also includes many bedrooms and bathrooms, as well as a formal dining room, a two-story living room, a wet bar and a media room.

Princess Anne has traveled to Canada several times in the past. In 2014, she flew to North America with her husband to attend the Remembrance Day celebrations in Ottawa.

However, if the Princess Royal decides to not pay a visit to the duke and duchess during her short trip, they will most likely be reunited when the couple returns to the U.K. to attend the Queen's birthday.

RELATED: Why Is Princess Anne, Not Charlotte, the Princess Royal?
A 46-year-old man from Delhi with travel history to three countries including Italy tested positive for novel coronavirus on Wednesday, taking the number of such cases in the national capital to five, according to Delhi government's health department.

There are nine members in his family and apart from his mother, others are asymptomatic, it said.

The man, a resident of west Delhi's Janakpuri, is admitted to RML Hospital.

He is having history of travel to Japan, Geneva and Italy, the health bulletin issued by the city government said.

The surveillance of 50 houses located in the neighbourhood has been done, the government said.

Till now, 1,58,883 passengers from COVID-19 affected countries have been screened at the Delhi airport and kept under observation. As many as 3,534 passengers coming from the coronavirus-hit countries were screened at the airport on Wednesday.

Awareness drives are being conducted in vulnerable areas like markets, JJ clusters, unauthorized colonies, ISBTs, railway Stations and metro stations etc.

A meeting was held by Delhi Chief Secretary to review setting up of quarantine centres for asymptomatic coronavirus suspect cases.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Services that live stream sermons from churches across the country are gearing-up for a spike in demand as vulnerable parishioners are advised to avoid mass gatherings - including Mass - during the Covid-19 outbreak.

Tony Bolger, CEO of one of these services called ChurchServices.TV, believes they could provide a "lifeline" to people isolated by the virus.

Churches are particularly central to parishes in country areas, and they could play a really important role in keeping people informed, inspired and connected even if theres a complete lock-down," Mr Bolger said.

A priest could deliver the service to an empty church, or even if a priest couldnt leave their home, our system allows them to record messages and broadcast from their mobile phone. So priests could speak to parishioners directly from their home, give them advice or perform a sermon from their home oratory.

We fully expect to see an increase in viewers and weve put plans in place to make sure that we can keep the system operational despite the coronavirus outbreak. If we see a further lock-down there could be a real need for the Church to communicate with people electronically," he said.

Last year, the company made 22,500 recordings, many of them funeral masses but also weddings and baptisms, so that people who may not have been able to attend on the day could catch up with the service later online.

ChurchServices.TV currently operates in eight churches in Cork and many more nationwide. This week, it is installing cameras in two more churches in county Cork alone.

Every day we get unsolicited emails telling us what a difference our service made to them," Mr Bolger said. I think it provides a lifeline to many people."

We were the first to live stream from churches in 2005 and weve been developing and expanding our services ever since. We now have Parish TV which goes beyond live streaming Masses but priests can record messages and share information about the parish which could be very useful with the coronavirus," he said.

MCN Media, a company which also live streams church services from parishes around Ireland is also preparing for an increase in demand. A spokesperson for MCN said that the company is installing cameras in more churches every month.

The Irish Catholic Bishops Conference has issued advice to both parishioners and priests.

The conference said that sermons, including on St Patrick's Day Mass, would continue but vulnerable people should worship from home instead.

Hand sanitisers are to be provided at each church entrance, Holy water fonts are to remain empty and people should keep a distance between themselves and others and avoid shaking hands.

Priests must sanitise their hands before and after administering Holy Communion which should only be received into the hand and alternatives should be found to passing collection baskets.

Anointing during confirmations, baptisms and when caring for the sick should be done with a cotton bud or surgical gloves, the Conference advised.
The World Health Organization has said Ireland's response is 'coherent' but encouraged health officials here to involve community organisations in helping to trace people with the virus while also questioning the disinvestment in public health medicine in Ireland and other countries.

During the press conference in Geneva where WHO announced that the Coronavirus is now a pandemic, they were asked by an Irish Independent reporter if Ireland was doing enough to combat Covid-19.

Dr Mike Ryan, Executive Director of the WHO Health Emergencies Programme, replied on behalf of the organization. The Irish man from Curry, on the Sligo/Mayo border, has been involved in previous efforts to control SARS and the Ebola virus.

"I think Ireland has demonstrated through the HSE, the Health Surveillance Protection Centre and the office of the Chief Medical Officer a very coherent response under the leadership of the Minister of Health and the Emergency Committee which has been a good all of the Government structure.

"I think Ireland is still sticking very much mixed and comprehensive strategy of still doing aggressive contact tracing and case isolation linked to measures ... I believe you've cancelled Saint Patrick's day celebrations as part of the social distancing measures.

"I believe Ireland is finding that balance between one or measures aimed at chasing the virus and aimed measures aimed at creating enough social distance to suppress the transmission of the virus. I think the concerns you have an Ireland may be more related to the capacity of the system to cope with a surge of cases in the hospital system and I think all countries in Europe are concerned about that right now.

"But the again looking at the overall strategic approach in Ireland we would say that it is a comprehensive strategy and we are ready in WHO to offer any technical advice and assistance said that's needed.

"But I think we need to also remember that thing public health services in many countries are rather small and we have seen disinvestment in public health all around the world and a deprioritisation of public health all around the world at times and I believe Ireland probably has no more than 60 or 70 full-time public health consultants or professionals and there are many others working at lower levels of the system.

"So if I was to offer any advice we do need to everywhere increase the number of individuals who are working in the public health approach and that doesn't mean for contact tracing, you don't need a trained medical professional to do contact tracing, you can accelerate and amplify the number of contact tracers almost instantly using other civil servants, other volunteers and using community organisations.

"Speaking with the Italian Government last night they were very much going to use their community organisations to leverage and improve contract tracing. So maybe in Ireland and others seeing who we can rapidly amplify the impact of public health officials by using communities, public health and others would maybe be an option but obviously that is for Dr (Tony) Holohan (Irish chief medical officer) and others to decide.

Dr Maria Van Kerhove, Infectious Disease Epidemiologist; MERS-CoV Technical Lead at the WHO Health Emergencies Programme, said questions must continue to be asked of the response in Ireland and other countries.

"These questions of are we doing enough? Are individual countries doing enough? These are the right questions. Each country needs to look at what they're doing how well they are prepared - identify the gaps in their preparedness in terms of their actions and take action on that. It isn't a one size fits all as we've been saying but asking the question are we doing enough regularly and repeatedly is really critical," he said

Read also: CORONAVIRUS NOW A PANDEMIC

FULL TEXT OF REMARKS

Good afternoon.



In the past two weeks, the number of cases of COVID-19 outside China has increased 13-fold, and the number of affected countries has tripled.

There are now more than 118,000 cases in 114 countries, and 4,291 people have lost their lives.

Thousands more are fighting for their lives in hospitals.



In the days and weeks ahead, we expect to see the number of cases, the number of deaths, and the number of affected countries climb even higher.



WHO has been assessing this outbreak around the clock and we are deeply concerned both by the alarming levels of spread and severity, and by the alarming levels of inaction.



We have therefore made the assessment that COVID-19 can be characterized as a pandemic.

Pandemic is not a word to use lightly or carelessly. It is a word that, if misused, can cause unreasonable fear, or unjustified acceptance that the fight is over, leading to unnecessary suffering and death.



Describing the situation as a pandemic does not change WHOs assessment of the threat posed by this virus. It doesnt change what WHO is doing, and it doesnt change what countries should do.



We have never before seen a pandemic sparked by a coronavirus. This is the first pandemic caused by a coronavirus.



And we have never before seen a pandemic that can be controlled, at the same time.

WHO has been in full response mode since we were notified of the first cases.

And we have called every day for countries to take urgent and aggressive action.



We have rung the alarm bell loud and clear.

===



As I said on Monday, just looking at the number of cases and the number of countries affected does not tell the full story.



Of the 118,000 cases reported globally in 114 countries, more than 90 percent of cases are in just four countries, and two of those  China and the Republic of Korea - have significantly declining epidemics.

81 countries have not reported any cases, and 57 countries have reported 10 cases or less.



We cannot say this loudly enough, or clearly enough, or often enough: all countries can still change the course of this pandemic.



If countries detect, test, treat, isolate, trace, and mobilize their people in the response, those with a handful of cases can prevent those cases becoming clusters, and those clusters becoming community transmission.



Even those countries with community transmission or large clusters can turn the tide on this virus.

Several countries have demonstrated that this virus can be suppressed and controlled.

The challenge for many countries who are now dealing with large clusters or community transmission is not whether they can do the same  its whether they will.

Some countries are struggling with a lack of capacity.

Some countries are struggling with a lack of resources.

Some countries are struggling with a lack of resolve.



We are grateful for the measures being taken in Iran, Italy and the Republic of Korea to slow the virus and control their epidemics.



We know that these measures are taking a heavy toll on societies and economies, just as they did in China.



All countries must strike a fine balance between protecting health, minimizing economic and social disruption, and respecting human rights.



WHOs mandate is public health. But were working with many partners across all sectors to mitigate the social and economic consequences of this pandemic.



This is not just a public health crisis, it is a crisis that will touch every sector  so every sector and every individual must be involved in the fight.

I have said from the beginning that countries must take a whole-of-government, whole-of-society approach, built around a comprehensive strategy to prevent infections, save lives and minimize impact.



Let me summarize it in four key areas.

First, prepare and be ready.



Second, detect, protect and treat.



Third, reduce transmission.



Fourth, innovate and learn.

I remind all countries that we are calling on you to activate and scale up your emergency response mechanisms;



Communicate with your people about the risks and how they can protect themselves  this is everybodys business;

Find, isolate, test and treat every case and trace every contact;



Ready your hospitals;



Protect and train your health workers.

And lets all look out for each other, because we need each other.



===



Theres been so much attention on one word.



Let me give you some other words that matter much more, and that are much more actionable.



Prevention.

Preparedness.

Public health.



Political leadership.

And most of all, people.



Were in this together, to do the right things with calm and protect the citizens of the world. Its doable.



I thank you.
President of Ukraine is convinced that, despite the resistance of the opposition, the law on the agricultural land sale market will be adopted by the Verkhovna Rada

Open source

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledged his responsibility for the land reform and promised to complete it. He made this statement in an interview with Bloomberg, according to his press service.

"Land reform is a reform of both the president and the government - we are all responsible. It is the most difficult reform because for almost 30 years no one could even begin the discussion of the bill in committees. We will complete this reform," Zelensky assured.

He noted that voting for the land market bill in the second reading was only the first stage of land reform. In the future, it is necessary to adopt a law on the referendum and to regulate land cadasters.

Zelensky is convinced that, despite the resistance of the opposition, the law on the agricultural land sale market will be adopted by the Verkhovna Rada.

As we reported earlier, according to Davyd Arakhamia, chairman of the Servant of the Peoples parliamentary faction, the final voting on the land market bill will be held in April.
It's been a very mild start to the month of March across the Front Range and Plains, but an approaching storm system will briefly flip the switch back to winter into this weekend.

The storm system will first bring the threat for heavy rain and flooding across the Southwest.

Gusty east to southeast winds will be among the first signs of the approaching storm system in places like Denver and Colorado Springs late Thursday and into the day on Friday. Aside from a few snow showers across the Colorado and Wyoming Rockies during the day on Thursday, much of the region will remain dry ahead of the approaching system.

The storm system is expected to spread rain and mountain snow across the entire Four Corners region by Friday as it continues its trek eastward.

With marginally cool air in place across the Four Corners region into the day on Friday, snow levels are expected to remain rather high across the Wasatch Range and in southwestern Colorado as precipitation moves in.

CLICK HERE FOR THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP

Through the day Friday, accumulating snow may be limited to locales above 8,000 feet across the mountains of the interior West.

Colorado Springs will definitely experience a bit of weather whiplash Thursday into Friday as temperatures take a massive swing. Temperatures in the lower 60s Thursday afternoon will likely be swapped out for highs in the middle 30s Friday.

Along with the much colder air on Friday, accumulating snow is expected to fall along the Front Range as well. In Denver, a mixture of rain and snow is expected to expand northward and reach the metro area by the afternoon hours.

This is not expected to be a blockbuster storm by any means along the Front Range, but most locales along the Interstate-25 corridor in Colorado will likely have a slushy coating to an inch or two before all is said and done Saturday.

As temperatures continue to lower into Friday evening, travel along interstates 25, 70,76 and 80 could become tricky in Colorado, Wyoming, Nebraska and western Kansas, as snow accumulates.

Story continues

Outside of the accumulating snow in the Rockies, North Platte, Nebraska, may end up with some of the highest snowfall totals as the storm moves through Friday night.

By the time the snow exits the area into the day on Saturday, a swath of 3-6 inches of fresh snowfall is possible across a large swath of western and central Nebraska.

In true Front Range fashion, temperatures will quickly rebound into the start of the weekend, melting any fresh snow that fell. Following the snow during the day on Friday, both Denver and Colorado Springs are expected to climb back into the 50s on Saturday.

As the storm system tracks eastward to start the weekend, a combination of drier air and higher temperatures will begin to diminish the snow threat across the Midwest. However, portions of interstates 70 and 80 in eastern Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa and Missouri, will continue to be monitored.

Seasonably warm air is expected to persist into early next week across the Front Range, but another storm system that will bring accumulating snow and January-like cold to the interior Northwest is expected to usher in a round of well below-average temperatures into midweek next week.

Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
ALBANY  Capital Region hospitals announced Wednesday that they're tightening their visitor restrictions in order to prevent the spread of novel coronavirus.

By the end of this week, visitors will begin to be interviewed at hospital entrances to determine if they have fever and/or respiratory symptoms, have had close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 (the illness caused by the virus), or have traveled in the past 14 days to geographically affected areas including China, Iran, Italy, Japan or South Korea. Anyone who answers yes to any of the above will not be allowed to enter.
HERNDON, Va., March 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Suitebriar , a Google Cloud Premier partner and leading G Suite deployment company, is pleased to announce that Christopher Jones will join the leadership team in the newly created role of Chief Revenue Officer. Jones was previously an Enterprise Account Executive and Territory Manager at Google Cloud in San Francisco, one of the company's most strategic geographic markets.

Christopher Jones Joins Suitebriar in Newly Created Role of Chief Revenue Officer

As CRO, Jones will implement revenue-generating strategies, which create long-term customer and business value. He will drive scale and profitability by expanding Suitebriar's go-to-market strategy and sales functions.

"Chris has the breadth of business experience and proven track record, including the ability to forge major client relationships and strategic partnerships that we believe, are critical to helping lead Suitebriar into the future," said Bevan Reilly, Co-Founder. "We are on a positive growth trajectory at Suitebriar and are very well-positioned to continue building on our strong momentum. I am excited to work with him - as is the entire leadership team - on Suitebriar's next phase of growth."

"I am truly honored to join an extraordinary company as Suitebriar's CRO," said Jones. "I look forward to capturing the next wave of growth in this rapidly evolving market by placing customer success at the core of the business model, while differentiating our brand through continuous innovation to our suite of technology solutions and managed services."

Prior to joining Google, Jones was Business Development Manager at Citigroup Private Bank in San Francisco. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Columbia University and an MBA from UC Berkeley, Haas School of Business.

About Suitebriar

Suitebriar Inc. is a boutique cloud technology implementation & support firm focused on Google Cloud solutions. Their team of seasoned IT professionals has helped hundreds of businesses of various sizes and industries, including real estate, technology, retail, and manufacturing, implement the cloud technology solutions that allow them to remain successful in today's competitive marketplace. As a Google Cloud G Suite Premier Partner, Suitebriar provides the industry benchmark for G Suite migration, change management & training, development, and technical support. Suitebriar's clients include CENTURY 21 Canada, West Liberty Foods, Hamilton Healthcare System, Mynd Property Management, and The Motorcycle Company. For more information, visit www.suitebriar.com .

Contact:

Meghan Donovan

2072008459

[email protected]

SOURCE Suitebriar
Democratic presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders addresses a 'Future to Believe In' rally at the Family Areana on March 14, 2016 in St. Charles, Missouri.

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., will win the North Dakota Democratic presidential caucus, NBC News projects.

North Dakota has 14 delegates at stake, the smallest prize offered during the March 10 Democratic contests. Sanders took eight delegates while former Vice President Joe Biden, his chief Democratic rival in the 2020 election, won six.

Sanders' victory comes after Biden earned a series of early wins Tuesday.

Biden won Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi and Idaho. Of those states, Michigan boasts the largest pledged delegate count, with 125 on the line.

Washington, the sixth state voting on Tuesday, remains too close to call.

In the 2016 Democratic primary, the Vermont senator also won North Dakota, sweeping then-Democratic rival Hillary Clinton with 64% of the vote to her 26%, according to NBC News.

The latest round of primaries came a week after Super Tuesday, during which Biden won surprise victories and eked out a pledged delegate lead over Sen. Bernie Sanders. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii remains in the race, but the contest for the Democratic nomination has fallen largely between Biden and Sanders.

So far, Biden has secured 837 delegates and Sanders has secured 689, according to NBC News. To win the Democratic nomination, the victor needs 1,991 delegates.

In the latest Real Clear Politics national polling average, Biden, the Democratic front-runner, has 53.5% of support, while Sanders has 35.5%.

In the last two weeks, Biden has received a slew of highly coveted endorsements from his former Democratic rivals who have since dropped their 2020 bids. Former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, along with with Sens. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, Cory Booker of New Jersey and Kamala Harris of California, endorsed him, citing him as the candidate best positioned to beat Trump in November.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., who dropped out last week, has yet to endorse a candidate.
BANGKOK : Thailand on Wednesday cancelled the grant of visa on arrival for 18 countries and visa exemption for three others to contain the spread of the coronavirus , the country's interior minister said.

Previously, nationals of 18 countries or territories could use their passports or travel documents to apply for Visa on Arrival (VoA) at Thai immigration checkpoints.

The 18 places include Bulgaria, Bhutan, China (including Taiwan), Cyprus, Ethiopia, Fiji, Georgia, India, Kazakhstan, Malta, Mexico, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, and Vanuatu.

Visa exemption will be cancelled for South Korea, Italy and Hong Kong, the minister said.

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.

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New National Security adviser Robert OBrien at the White House in Washington, on Oct. 23, 2019. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

National Security Advisor Underlines Military as Cornerstone of America First

The National Security Council has now been cut to 110 policy professionals, half the number under the previous administration, said National Security Advisor, Robert OBrien, as he underlined U.S. military prowess as a cornerstone of President Trumps America First policy.

OBrien explained how the U.S. military was pivoting away from counter-terrorism to tackle renewed great power competition, particularly with China in the Pacific.

During a wide-ranging speech and discussion at the Heritage Foundation on March 11, OBrien said that the Space Force had attracted an incredible number of talented Americans for recruitment, praised the Marine Corps for tearing up their playbook to focus on China, emphasized that the role of the National Security Council was to serve the president, and said that Beijing had covered up the coronavirus outbreak for two months.

President Trump has done more for the national security in three years than any other president in a three year period, said OBrien, pointing to the National Security Strategy and National Defense Strategy documents, which underpin the shift in strategy to tackle an era of renewed great power competition with Russia and China.

He said that like Reagan, Trump sought peace through strength, noting the rapid development of U.S. hypersonic missiles, the push towards a 355-ship Navy, and the establishment of the Space Force.

An artistic rendition of DARPAs Hypersonic Technology Vehicle (HTV-2). China is also researching hypersonic weapons. (DARPA)

A defining aspect of the presidents tenure in office and a core principle key behind America First is the need to maintain overwhelming military power, said OBrien.

OBrien explained that he had continued to trim down the National Security Council (NSC), which had ballooned in size during the previous administration and taken on operational responsibilities which he has since been stripping out.

I felt it was time to get back to the Brent Scowcroft model, said OBrien, in reference to a more limited advisory role for the council.

Asked about Beijings response to the coronavirus, OBrien said that a cover-up had cost the world two months.

Theres lots of open-source reporting from China, from Chinese nationals, that the doctors involved were either silenced or put in isolation or that sort of thing, so that word of this virus could not get out, OBrien said.

I think we could have dramatically curtailed what happened in China and whats now happening across the world, OBrien said.

One of the modernization priorities of the military is tackling space, which is seen as an increasingly significant domain of warfighting and security.

Logo for the newly-created Space Force. (U.S. Space Force)

In space, America is leading the world, said OBrien. The world has changed and what happens in space will affect the outcome of future conflicts. What happens in space, does not stay there.

He said that the newly-minted Space Forcethe first service to be established since the Air Forcehad drawn great interest for recruits, something recently mentioned by the head of the air force.

The number of talented Americans, both inside and outside of the armed services, that want to be part fo the space force is truly incredible, said OBrien. In establishing the space force, the President and Congress captured the imagination of the American People, he said.

Narrowing the Size and Role of the NSC

Asked about the role of the NSC, OBrien said that he had been cutting down the number of policy professionals since he took on the role six months ago.

Under President Obama, the NSC staff had ballooned to almost 250 police professionals, he said. When I assumed office, that number was still over 175. six months into my tenure weve streamlined to between 110 and 115, he said.

OBrien said that he stresses to the staff that their role is to serve the president with advice.

NSC relies on staff on detail from other departments, such as the Pentagon, said OBrien, because it has a very small budget.

The detailees are coming over not to represent the organization at the NSC, but coming over to staff the president of the United States and to give him advice, he said.

New National Security adviser Robert OBrien at the White House in Washington, on Oct. 23, 2019. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

Its not there to be operational,  said OBrien. I think thats maybe a fundamental change from the perhaps where the last administration was.

When I got there I was told there were folks making calls from NSC out to forward operating bases, I was told they were folks making calls out to ships. There were folks who were regularly calling embassies and that sort of thing. It had become a very operationalized organization.

OBrien said that some staff appeared to think the NSC was a career opportunity and tried to stay as long as possible. I think that there were some folks who probably had the idea that they knew better how to conduct the foreign policy of the United States better than the elected president of the United States.

He said that if NSC staff couldnt put their disagreements with the president aside, then the NSC wasnt the right fit for them. He said that such people would be better off back in their agencies, not trying to make policy or thwart policy, or make policy or perhaps going to run for Congress or state senator.
Examining China Maple Leaf Educational Systems Limited's (SEHK:1317) past track record of performance is an insightful exercise for investors. It allows us to reflect on whether or not the company has met or exceed expectations, which is a great indicator for future performance. Today I will assess 1317's latest performance announced on 31 August 2019 and compare these figures to its longer term trend and industry movements.

See our latest analysis for China Maple Leaf Educational Systems

How Did 1317's Recent Performance Stack Up Against Its Past?

1317's trailing twelve-month earnings (from 31 August 2019) of CN657m has jumped 21% compared to the previous year.

However, this one-year growth rate has been lower than its average earnings growth rate over the past 5 years of 35%, indicating the rate at which 1317 is growing has slowed down. What could be happening here? Well, lets take a look at whats transpiring with margins and whether the entire industry is experiencing the hit as well.

SEHK:1317 Income Statement, March 11th 2020

In terms of returns from investment, China Maple Leaf Educational Systems has fallen short of achieving a 20% return on equity (ROE), recording 15% instead. However, its return on assets (ROA) of 9.7% exceeds the HK Consumer Services industry of 7.1%, indicating China Maple Leaf Educational Systems has used its assets more efficiently. Though, its return on capital (ROC), which also accounts for China Maple Leaf Educational Systemss debt level, has declined over the past 3 years from 13% to 11%.

What does this mean?

China Maple Leaf Educational Systems's track record can be a valuable insight into its earnings performance, but it certainly doesn't tell the whole story. Positive growth and profitability are what investors like to see in a companys track record, but how do we properly assess sustainability? I suggest you continue to research China Maple Leaf Educational Systems to get a more holistic view of the stock by looking at:

Story continues

Future Outlook: What are well-informed industry analysts predicting for 1317s future growth? Take a look at our free research report of analyst consensus for 1317s outlook. Financial Health: Are 1317s operations financially sustainable? Balance sheets can be hard to analyze, which is why weve done it for you. Check out our financial health checks here. Other High-Performing Stocks: Are there other stocks that provide better prospects with proven track records? Explore our free list of these great stocks here.

NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the trailing twelve months from 31 August 2019. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures.

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



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
Amber Heard's former assistant claims the actress verbally and mentally abused her after drug and alcohol binges and described working for her as a 'nightmare' from which she has still not recovered.

Kate James, who worked for Heard between 2012 and 2015, said the abuse was so severe that it left her emaciated with stress and 'permanently mentally scarred'.

By contrast, she said Heard's then-partner Johnny Depp was 'calm' and 'thoughtful', offered to entertain her son while she was working, and never used violence.

Amber Heard's former assistant has claimed the actress was routinely abusive to her during wine and MDMA binges, while Depp (right) was 'calm' and 'thoughtful'

James (left, with Heard on a shopping trip in 2012) described the actress as a 'classic bully' who enjoyed making other people feel small

James spoke out in a legal declaration seen by The Blast as Heard and Depp prepare to battle it out in a $50million defamation lawsuit in Virginia.

In her declaration, James outlines how she spent large amounts of time with Heard during her employment - sometimes up to seven days a week, often in intimate settings where she saw her nude or semi-nude.

That is significant, she says, because many of Heard's allegations of physical abuse date to that time period - and she never saw any evidence of it.

Instead, she claims to have seen ample evidence of Heard's own abusive behavior, which was often directed at her.

'Amber was regularly verbally and mentally abusive and would often scream at me... over the smallest things,' she wrote.

'She would fly into blind rages where no-one could reason with her, and even if I was trying to offer an explanation, I didnt think that she could hear me as she was so angry.'

James claims the actress would often binge on wine and drugs - specifically magic mushrooms and MDMA - and text her abuse throughout the night.

'When I woke up in the morning, there would almost always be a barrage of incoherent abuse sent to me from Amber by text between around 2am and 4am.

'I discovered later that she had gone ahead and deleted all evidence of abusive texts from that ICloud account,' she claimed.

The abuse was so severe, that James said it left her emaciated from stress and caused concern among her friends and family.

James claims she often spent seven days a week with Heard in intimate settings that included seeing her nude, but never saw any signs of physical abuse she claims to have suffered

After recognizing that she was being abused, James was fired in 2015 - the same year Depp and Heard married.

Speaking about her relationship with Depp - which she admits was limited because Heard wouldn't let people get close to him - she said he always came across as a 'calm' and 'shy' person.

She added: 'On more than one occasion where I had to bring my son back to work with me after picking him up from school.

'Johnny would be there and would hang out with him, teaching him how to play the guitar. He would be patient and kind with him.'

A spokesman for Heard said: 'This is a statement from a disgruntled former employee who was fired for poor performance and clearly has an agenda and an axe to grind.

'These ridiculous allegations have no basis in fact and no relevance to these proceedings.'

Depp claims that Heard's allegations that she was a victim of domestic violence were an 'elaborate hoax' designed to generate positive publicity and advance her career.

His lawsuit specifically relates to a column Heard penned for the Washington Post in which she talked about being the victim of abuse, without naming Depp.

In his suit, Depp says the article 'depends on the central premise that Ms. Heard was a domestic abuse victim and that Mr. Depp perpetrated violence against her.

'Ms. Heard is not a victim of domestic abuse; she is a perpetrator,' he argues.

Separately, Depp is also suing The Sun newspaper in London also for defamation after he was branded a 'wife-beater' in an article.

The actor appeared at the High Court last month for a hearing at which the judge ruled his legal team must disclose audio tapes of conversations he had with Heard during their relationship.

Lawyers for the Pirates Of The Caribbean star told the court last week that the recordings, which have been the subject of recent press reports, include Miss Heard appearing to discuss having been physically violent towards Mr Depp.

James spoke out as Depp sues Heard for defamation in a $50million lawsuit in Virginia, and sues The Sun newspaper in London (pictured at court last month) also for defamation

Depp's lawyers say that Heard's claims to be a victim of domestic violence were a 'hoax' designed to drum up publicity and advance her career

David Sherborne, representing Mr Depp, said the evidence 'demonstrates in her own voice that she was not a victim of domestic abuse, but rather that she was the aggressor'.

He added that, in the recordings, Miss Heard is apparently heard to say that no-one would believe Mr Depp if he claimed to be a victim of domestic violence.

The judge also ordered further disclosure from Mr Depp in relation to documents from the couple's divorce proceedings, and to provide more detail to show what steps he has taken to obtain his medical records.

However, the judge refused NGN's application for further disclosure in relation to text messages sent by Mr Depp to his friend, British actor Paul Bettany.

During the hearing on February 26, lawyers for NGN said texts sent by Mr Depp during his relationship with Miss Heard are 'very damaging' to his case.

Adam Wolanski QC said Mr Depp's previous legal team, from whom he parted company on February 11, had 'accidentally' disclosed 70,000 text messages to NGN's lawyers.

The barrister said the messages included texts sent to actor Paul Bettany, in November 2013, in which Mr Depp wrote: 'Let's burn Amber.'

He also wrote: 'Let's drown her before we burn her!!! I will f*** her burnt corpse afterwards to make sure she is dead.'
Telecom Italias TIM Brasil and Telefonicas Vivo have jointly contacted Ois financial adviser to discuss initiating negotiations targeting a potential joint acquisition of Oi Groups mobile business.

The Brazilian operators confirmed to their shareholders that they had reached out to Bank of America Merrill Lynch about potentially splitting Ois assets between them, or buying them in whole or in part, so that, in the event of the completion of the operation, each of the interested parties will receive a portion of that business.

TIM Brasil noted that such an arrangement would allow it to compete more effectively by allowing it to improve cost efficiencies and quality of services, facilitating growth. Vivo added that the deal boosting investment opportunities across Brazils mobile sector.

Oi acknowledged the interest with a statement that underlined the market interest in its mobile unit while noting that no binding agreement had been struck. The beleaguered operator first held talks with Telefonica and Telecom Italia over the sale of its mobile unit in September 2019.

With a debt burden of BRL65.4 billion ($14.1 billion), Oi will be keen to find a buyer that best serves its strategy, and to this end it could be looking into alternative buyers. The bankruptcy request filed by Oi in June 2016 was the largest in Brazils history.
Heated verbal exchangebetween



Minister K Sudhakar and former Speaker K R Ramesh Kumar in the assembly over disqualification of 17 MLAs last year, continued to disrupt the proceedings on Wednesday, with both opposition and treasury benches pushing for a privilege motion and demanding action.

Chaotic scenes and adjournments marked the House proceedings, with both sides not ready to budge.

As the House met for the day, around 11 am, senior Minister K S Eshwarappa accusing Congress MLA Ramesh Kumar of using "expletive" during a debate last evening, demanded his apology and that he be kept out of the proceedings.

Sudhakar, against whom expletive was allegedly used by Kumar, said, the words used were unpardonable and he should be heard, as he has given notice.

Leader of Opposition Siddaramaiah then demanded that he be allowed to speak first as he had given notice on Tuesday itself.

The Congress leader on his part has accused Sudhakar of breaching Kumar's privilege by allegedly making derogatory remarks against him.

Intervening, Speaker Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri said he has received breach of privilege notice from both sides and would allow it only after the question hour as per rules.

Though Congress expressed its agreement with the Speaker about letting them raise the matter after question hour, BJP legislators including Ministers said, Ramesh Kumar should be suspended.

Pointing out that Kumar was not inside the House, some ruling party MLAs even called him "escapist" and demanded action against him.

Strongly objecting to it, Siddaramaiah questioned the ruling party's intentions in running the house smoothly.

As this was followed by heated arguments between both sides, the Speaker adjourned the House for 15 minutes.

When the house met after much delay at 12:55 pm, the chaos continued.

As the Speaker allowed Minister Jagadish Shettar to speak, who was requesting permission to raise a point, Siddaramaiah objected to it and said he had given notice first.

He said, "this is not correct, it looks like government doesn't want the House to function, they don't want discussion on the budget, they are purposely blocking the proceedings of the House".

However, some BJP MLAs reacted to this by shouting slogans "shame shame Ramesh Kumar".

As his repeated attempts to conduct the proceedings failed, the Speaker adjourned the House for lunch.

Sudhakar, while speaking during a special discussion on the Constitution on Tuesday evening had made critical remarks against the decision of Kumar, as speaker, to disqualify 17 Congress-JD(S) MLAs under the anti-defection law, including him.

Angered by this Kumar, who opposed discussion on the subject, amid heated argument between BJP and Congress members allegedly uttered the expletive, which aggravated the situation and had resulted in pandemonium in the House last evening.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
DES MOINES  William Burt said his heart was racing, and that he was holding back tears of joy.

Burt, a Waterloo man who became the chief advocate and face of a legislative movement, watched Tuesday as Gov. Kim Reynolds signed into law the legalization of mobile barbershops in Iowa.

Burt cuts hair at Grays Barber Shop in Waterloo, and has created a mobile barbershop he calls Kut Kings. His goal is to make the service a nonprofit so he can provide haircuts to Iowans in need across the state.

Reynolds invited Burt to participate in Tuesdays bill-signing ceremony at the Iowa Capitol. With his mobile barbershop in the background, Burt stood right next to Reynolds as she signed the bill and handed him the first pen she used.

When I started this mission, I didnt see myself being the voice that everyone is telling me that I am. Im still having a hard time believing that Im the voice for the state or for this mission, Burt said. But its been wonderful leading the mission. So Im saying feed me to the wolves, and Ill lead the pack. I feel good about that, not having the opportunity and then having to fight for it and were here today.

Reynolds praised Burt for his determination and passion, and for making the most of a second chance in life.

Burt served roughly 3 years in jail, he said, for domestic abuse and drug charges. Since being released in 2008, he has earned a degree from the College of Hair Design, plus his bachelors and masters degrees from the University of Northern Iowa.

He had a really good idea to serve his community to bring a mobile barbershop to underserved people in the city of Waterloo, children from low-income households, veterans with disabilities, or really anyone without access to a barber. Williams idea had a significant hurdle, and that was that Iowa law didnt allow mobile barbering. So the law needed to be changed, and today were making that change, Reynolds said. Those of us who work in the Capitol got to know William as hes been knocking on doors and hes been working on this issue for over a year now. Williams story is one of a young man who took his second chance to make a difference, both for himself and for his community.

Rep. Ras Smith  a Democrat from Waterloo, a friend of Burts and the legislations author  praised Burt for his persistence in advocating for the law change.

Its a beacon for more than just this man, Smith said of Burt. Its like, if you try hard, if you work through no matter what barriers are put in front of you, you can still achieve something thats great.

The legislation, Senate File 155, goes into effect immediately.

Moments after the bill was signed into law, Burt planned gave a haircut to Sen. Dan Zumbach, R-Ryan, another lawmaker who supported the bill, in his mobile barbershop right there on the Capitol grounds.

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ROME - Oxfam said the arrival of the rainy season in Yemen in the coming weeks threatens to provoke a new spike in cholera cases.

It said more than 56,000 people have been infected since the start of this year, and more than 2.2 million since 2017.

It is increasingly difficult to help the population due to a war that has been going on for five years and has already registered 12 million civilian victims and more than 100,000 victims overall.

Oxfam said at five years since the start of the most serious humanitarian crisis in the world, as evidenced repeatedly by the United Nations, the international community seems to have forgotten about it.

In a statement, Oxfam said the total number of cases in 2019 was the second-highest increase in infections since the outbreak of the epidemic: more than 860,000 suspected cases with more than 1,000 victims, just under the one million registered in 2017. "While the health system is near collapse, with only half of the structures operating in the country due to bombings and other clashes in recent years, the number of infections could increase with the arrival of the rainy season in April," said Paolo Pezzati, Oxfam Italia policy advisor for humanitarian emergencies.

"It would be the umpteenth hit for a population that has already suffered unspeakable horrors," he said.

After having registered the highest number of cholera cases in 2017, northern Yemen remains the area at the highest risk due to the nearly complete lack of sources of clean water, above all in the five governorates of Sana'a, Hajjah, Hudaydah, Taiz and Dhamar.

"The people of Yemen once again must face a very difficult challenge, with the rest of the world nearly completely indifferent," Pezzati said.

"The lack of water and food exposes the population, above all the poorest and most vulnerable communities, to epidemics such as this one. Ten million people are on the verge of famine, more than 17 million don't have access to clean water and sanitation services," he said.
The primary industry participants include Honeywell; American Telecare; Roche; Philips Healthcare; Bosch; Biotronik; Intel; Welch Allyn; Health anywhere Inc.; Johnson & Johnson; and Covidien Plc.

PUNE, India, March 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Remote surveillance systems are projected to play an important role in managing chronic diseases, including an early warning system, a health care system, progress trackers, trust builders and capacity builders. The Remote Cardiac Monitoring System Market is expected to grow with rising geriatric populations and demand for healthier lifestyles, quality care and cost-effective treatments. The government's support programs and innovation are expected to bode well for market growth. It is predicted by the World Health Organization (WHO) that the proportion of the geriatric population in 2050 is expected to reach 16.0 percent. The increasing geriatric population and increased vulnerability to chronic conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and sleep disorder are expected to have a positive impact on the demand for the product in the coming years. It is anticipated that efforts by device manufacturers to develop advanced products will further propel the development. Biotronik, for example, conducted a study using its Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) to prove the effectiveness of its TRUST Trial tool. The preliminary findings showed that remote monitoring of patients decreases visits to the clinic by 43 percent. Within the next six years, these technological advances are expected to serve as growth opportunities for this Remote Cardiac Monitoring System Market.

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The increasing prevalence of cardiovascular attacks, and their associated risk factors, encourages numerous public and private organizations to undertake campaigns to raise awareness about the condition and lung diseases. This is one of the key drivers that cardiac monitoring organizations such as the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation focus on raising awareness of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) to minimize SCA mortality and morbidity. In addition, several vendors spread awareness about Cardiovascular Disease CVDs to reduce the burden of curative healthcare. These factors will increase demand for CVD diagnostic and treatment methods, increasing the sales of cardiac monitoring devices.

The detailed research study provides qualitative and quantitative analysis of remote cardiac monitoring system market. The market has been analyzed from demand as well as supply side. The demand side analysis covers market revenue across regions and further across all the major countries. The supply side analysis covers the major market players and their regional and global presence and strategies. The geographical analysis done emphasizes on each of the major countries across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa and Latin America.

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Key Findings of the Report:

The vital sign monitoring systems are commonly used, and the category is expected to see the fastest growth over the forecast period. As heart rate monitor is considered as the dominant sub-segment of the sector due to the increasing prevalence of cardiac disorders globally.

Hospital-based patients were the leading end-use segment in 2018, accounting for 80 percent of the Remote Cardiac Monitoring System Market share due to the prevalence of a significant number of patients with cardiovascular disorders and associated testing facilities in hospitals worldwide.

The global remote cardiac monitoring systems market is expected to dominate North America which is 38.2% of global market share and Europe . Asia Pacific is projected to be a region with huge cardiac monitoring market potential. Primary factors for the same include a growing population with cardiovascular disorders and growing investments towards cardiac care.

which is 38.2% of global market share and . is projected to be a region with huge cardiac monitoring market potential. Primary factors for the same include a growing population with cardiovascular disorders and growing investments towards cardiac care. The companies showcasing a wide geographical presence have a large share of the overall market. The cardiac monitoring companies concentrate on various growth strategies, such as M&A, acquisitions, alliances, regional extensions, and new product releases to improve their presence in the industry. The primary industry participants include Honeywell; American Telecare; Roche; Philips Healthcare; Bosch; Biotronik; Intel; Welch Allyn; Health anywhere Inc.; Johnson & Johnson; and Covidien Plc.

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Remote Cardiac Monitoring System Market:

By Product

Vital Signs Monitor



Special Monitors

By Application

Hospital-Based Patients



Ambulatory Patients



Home Healthcare

By Geography

North America



U.S





Canada





Mexico





Rest of North America



Europe



France





The UK





Spain





Germany





Italy





Nordic Countries





Denmark







Finland







Iceland







Sweden







Norway





Benelux Union





Belgium







The Netherlands







Luxembourg





Rest of Europe



Asia Pacific



China





Japan





India





New Zealand





Australia





South Korea





Southeast Asia





Indonesia







Thailand







Malaysia







Singapore







Rest of Southeast Asia





Rest of Asia Pacific



Middle East and Africa

and

Saudi Arabia





UAE





Egypt





Kuwait





South Africa





Rest of Middle East & Africa

&

Latin America



Brazil





Argentina





Rest of Latin America

Get Full Information of this premium report@ https://www.absolutemarketsinsights.com/reports/Remote-Cardiac-Monitoring-System-Market-2019-2027-465

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Absolute Markets Insights assists in providing accurate and latest trends related to consumer demand, consumer behavior, sales, and growth opportunities, for the better understanding of the market, thus helping in product designing, featuring, and demanding forecasts. Our experts provide you the end-products that can provide transparency, actionable data, cross-channel deployment program, performance, accurate testing capabilities and the ability to promote ongoing optimization.

From the in-depth analysis and segregation, we serve our clients to fulfill their immediate as well as ongoing research requirements. Minute analysis impact large decisions and thereby the source of business intelligence (BI) plays an important role, which keeps us upgraded with current and upcoming market scenarios.

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(Alliance News) - Global Ports Holding PLC on Wednesday said it will suspend its dividend for 2019 while the cruise port operator waits for more visibility with regard to the coronavirus outbreak.

Shares in Global Ports were 11% lower at 160.46 pence each in London on Wednesday afternoon.

The firm explained: "The board and management team remain alert to the fact that the situation is still evolving, and the company continues to monitor the situation closely. In light of this unprecedented level of disruption to global trade and the cruise industry and the associated short term uncertainty, the board of Global Ports has decided that it is prudent and in the best interests of all stakeholders to temporarily suspend the dividend for full year 2019, until the situation becomes clearer."

For 2019, revenue is expected to fall 5.5% to USD117.9 million from USD124.8 million, with adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation expected to come in USD77.0 million. This would represent an 8.0% fall from USD83.7 million in 2018.

The company said that so far, it has seen no "meaningful impact" from the spread of the coronavirus.

Global Ports added: "Year to date at Port Akdeniz, our largest commercial port, General & Bulk volumes are up strongly year-on-year. While Container volumes, which include significant export volumes of blocked marble to China, are tracking in line with management expectations year to date. However, the marble mining industry has seen some disruption, with industry events such as marble fairs being cancelled or postponed, and this could negatively impact future volumes."

Looking to the rest of 2020, the company said it has seen an increase in reservations at its Mediterranean ports as some operators look to move their cruise ships away from Asia.

The firm added: "However, this benefit is likely to be largely offset by lower cruise ship occupancy rates in the short term and particularly the potential negative impact of call cancellations as a result of countries putting in place temporary travel restrictions."

Following a "competitive sales process", Global Ports said it has entered into exclusive negotiations with a buyer of Port Akdeniz, Turkey.

"Although there can be no certainty as to the timing or that the terms of a sale will be agreed. A further announcement will be made when it is appropriate to do so," Global Ports said.

By Eric Cunha; ericcunha@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
New Delhi: Suspended AAP councillor Tahir Hussain on Wednesday (March 11) was booked under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), he will be probed for any suspected links with PFI.

One case has been filed against Tahir and one case against PFI. Earlier, ED was questioning PFI for its alleged involvement in Shaheen Bagh and anti-CAA protests link.

Tahir was arrested by Delhi Police on March 5 for his alleged involvement in Delhi riots. On March 6, Tahir was produced by the police before a Delhi court and sent to 7-day police custody.

On Sunday, Delhi police had arrested Tahir's father, son and few neighbours who were also accused of helping Tahir in inciting riots in the northeast Delhi and murder of Police Intelligence Bureau (IB) officer Ankit Sharma.

The names of those arrested by the police include - Tariq Hussain, Liaquat, Riyasat and Tariq Rizvi. Delhi police will also interrogate Tahir's wife once as she returns to her residence.

The violence in areas of North- East Delhi including - Jaffrabad, Maujpur, Babarpur, Chand Bagh, Bhajan Pura and Mustafabad claimed over 50 lives and 250 were left injured in the incident.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 11)  Patients with suspected COVID-19 do not have to pay the costs of testing for the viral infection, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said Wednesday.

"Yung pagsusuri ng specimen, yung nose and throat swabs, libre po ito," Health Secretary Francisco Duque III responded to Kabataan Partylist Rep. Sarah Elago during a House hearing on measures undertaken to contain the illness in the country.

[Translation: The tests run on the patient's nose and throat swabs are free.]

This was confirmed by Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, who is also a member of the inter-agency task force for the management of emerging infectious diseases.

Duque said the state health insurer will to a certain extent cover their members' medical costs associated with COVID-19. The disease is caused by SARS CoV-2, also known as novel coronavirus.

Each member of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation could avail of a health package worth 14,000, he added.

He said a PhilHealth member diagnosed to have moderate pneumonia is entitled to a medical coverage worth 16,000. Meanwhile, once the beneficiary developed severe pneumonia, hospitals could charge PhilHealth up to 32,000, he added.

Currently, each coronavirus test kit costs around 8,000. A patient will have to undergo tests at least three times. Aside from the confirmatory test, a COVID-19 patient must be tested twice before being discharged from the hospital.

On Tuesday, the food and drug regulator issued a certificate allowing the use of the COVID-19 detection kit developed last month by scientists from the University of the Philippines National Institutes of Health.

The new kit is set for field validation study, which will be supported by the Philippine General Hospital and the University of the Philippines' National Institutes for Health (UP NIH), Nograles said, citing Dr. Raul Destura, the inventor of the kit.

At this point, they just need to conduct validation of 500 tests for COVID-19 to enable them to conduct clinical sensitivity analysis as a pre-condition set by the FDA. Once it passes the clinical tests, the FDA will grant full access by all hospitals, as guided by the DOH, the official added.

Nograles also said some private hospitals have intended to join the study, so the UP NIH could secure approval by the NIH's ethics committee by Friday.

Duque said he was told the test kits are 95-percent accurate and reliable, but admitted he has yet to read an official report about them.

He added the kit needs to go through the vetting process of the World Health Organization.

However, WHO Representative to the Philippines Rabindra Abeyasinghe told lawmakers they have not been made aware of the FDA-approved kits yet.
3 1 of 3 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Elizabeth Fischer / Courtesy NiAID Show More Show Less 3 of 3





A North Texas toddler has become one of the relatively small group of children globally to test positive for COVID-19, and is likely among the first young children in the U.S. to have the disease.

The 3-year-old child and both parents tested positive for the novel coronavirus, The Dallas Morning News reported Tuesday. The child's father initially tested positive over the weekend after returning to Frisco from a trip to California, and the other two family members' results were disclosed Tuesday.
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When is the best time to pass legislation mandating comprehensive sex education for public school students? Apparently, its in the wee hours of the morning.

After a heated debate in the House chambers of the Washington state Legislature, a vote was cast just before 2 a.m. SB 5395 passed in the Democratic-controlled house. It will now go on to the Senate (Democratically controlled) and then to Governor Jay Inslee, a Democrat. When it becomes law, comprehensive sex education will be taught in all grades by 2023.

Beginning in the 2021-2022 school year all seventh-12th grade students will receive the latest comprehensive sex-ed curriculum. In school year 2022-2023, kindergarten through sixth grade students will receive age appropriate instruction.

Proponents indicate that the youngest students will learn social-emotional subjects, offering instruction on healthy friendships and avoiding unwanted touching. However, a page from the second grade curriculum shows explicit drawings on how to self-touch.

Republican state Representative Vicki Kraft reviewed the curriculum and was concerned that teaching fourth-grade students about vaginal, oral, and anal sex was far too explicit. Republican state Representative Mike Steele argued: We should leave some innocence for these children. Im not sure why were rushing to remove the innocence from our youth. We put so much on them already. I dont know why we think its appropriate to put more, to put such weight upon their backs at such young ages.

While the Republicans did everything to defeat SB 5395, even tacking on 220 amendments  due to the Democrat majority in the House, the amendments were defeated one by one. As was noted during the legislative debate, the sex education curriculum directs students to go to the Planned Parenthood website. Planned Parenthood has a vested interest in having another generation of kids needing their birth control supplies, STD testing, and abortion services.

Having reviewed the proposed curriculum, it is indeed graphic in its pictorial descriptions of sex acts. Another Republican representative, Robert Sutherland stated, Im offended at the pornography that were going to be forced to teach our children. Im offended at what this government is doing to the parents out there. The presiding House Democrat, Tina Orwall, banged her gavel at Sutherland and advised him to keep his remarks to the policy being debated. As if his concern wasnt warranted.

While the legislation provides a parental opt-out for their children, the majority of Washington State students will be learning far more than they need to know, and the ramifications will be seen in Generation Next.
If you own shares in PyroGenesis Canada Inc. (CVE:PYR) then it's worth thinking about how it contributes to the volatility of your portfolio, overall. In finance, Beta is a measure of volatility. Modern finance theory considers volatility to be a measure of risk, and there are two main types of price volatility. The first category is company specific volatility. This can be dealt with by limiting your exposure to any particular stock. The second sort is caused by the natural volatility of markets, overall. For example, certain macroeconomic events will impact (virtually) all stocks on the market.

Some stocks are more sensitive to general market forces than others. Beta is a widely used metric to measure a stock's exposure to market risk (volatility). Before we go on, it's worth noting that Warren Buffett pointed out in his 2014 letter to shareholders that 'volatility is far from synonymous with risk.' Having said that, beta can still be rather useful. The first thing to understand about beta is that the beta of the overall market is one. Any stock with a beta of greater than one is considered more volatile than the market, while those with a beta below one are either less volatile or poorly correlated with the market.

Check out our latest analysis for PyroGenesis Canada

What we can learn from PYR's beta value

Given that it has a beta of 1.75, we can surmise that the PyroGenesis Canada share price has been fairly sensitive to market volatility (over the last 5 years). If the past is any guide, we would expect that PyroGenesis Canada shares will rise quicker than the markets in times of optimism, but fall faster in times of pessimism. Beta is worth considering, but it's also important to consider whether PyroGenesis Canada is growing earnings and revenue. You can take a look for yourself, below.

TSXV:PYR Income Statement, March 11th 2020

Does PYR's size influence the expected beta?

PyroGenesis Canada is a rather small company. It has a market capitalisation of CA$52m, which means it is probably under the radar of most investors. Relatively few investors can influence the price of a smaller company, compared to a large company. This could explain the high beta value, in this case.

Story continues

What this means for you:

Since PyroGenesis Canada tends to move up when the market is going up, and down when it's going down, potential investors may wish to reflect on the overall market, when considering the stock. This article aims to educate investors about beta values, but it's well worth looking at important company-specific fundamentals such as PyroGenesis Canadas financial health and performance track record. I highly recommend you dive deeper by considering the following:

Financial Health: Are PYRs operations financially sustainable? Balance sheets can be hard to analyze, which is why weve done it for you. Check out our financial health checks here. Past Track Record: Has PYR been consistently performing well irrespective of the ups and downs in the market? Go into more detail in the past performance analysis and take a look at the free visual representations of PYR's historicals for more clarity. Other High-Performing Stocks: Are there other stocks that provide better prospects with proven track records? Explore our free list of these great stocks here.

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



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
An exhibition at the Nation Design & Craft Gallery in Kilkenny has had its launch cancelled.

The launch of Generation exhibition at the National Design & Craft Gallery, was due to take place on Thursday, March 12.

"We regret to announce that the official opening of Generation, scheduled for Thursday 12 March at the National Design & Craft Gallery, will not be taking place. Due to concerns over the Covid-19 virus, Jean Blanchaert, who was due to travel to Kilkenny to open the exhibition, will no longer travel to Ireland and we have come to the difficult decision that it would be prudent not to proceed in hosting a large public gathering at this time.

"Generation will be open to the public as planned from Friday, 13 March and the exhibition will continue until 21 June 2020. Please remember to check NDCG.ie for any other updates during this time.

"During the exhibitions run, we hope to host a curators' tour as well as inter-generational Meet the Makers conversations and will announce these dates once confirmed. We will also be sharing exhibition images on our social media channels (@NDCGallery) along with short videos of the curators discussing works of the makers featured."




Various South Korean providers launched digital services providing real-time information about the availability of face masks at designated stores on Wednesday as the country strives to solve a mask supply crunch amid the novel coronavirus outbreak.







Ten mobile application and online service developers have started to offer information on mask stockpiles at state-designated retailers, according to the National Information Society Agency.







An open application programming interface (API) has been publicly available since Tuesday evening, allowing programmers to create various online and mobile services using the country's data on face masks.







Such mobile apps and web services show the locations of authorized stores and how many masks they have in stock, helping people avoid visiting multiple stores to make their purchases.







They will display mask availability using four different colors. A store colored green means 100 or more masks are available, while yellow means there are fewer than 100 masks. Red means there are fewer than 30 masks in the store, while grey means masks are sold out.







South Korea's leading web portal operators, Naver and Kakao, will also provide mask stockpile information using their interactive maps.







South Korea began a rationing system for face masks on Monday amid growing public anger. Citizens have been waiting in long lines for hours to buy masks provided via public channels.







Under the new measure, citizens are able to buy only two protective masks per week from state-designated retailers, including pharmacies and post offices, on designated days of the week, depending on the final number of their year of birth. (Yonhap)


STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  An alleged gang member came to Staten Island with a loaded gun.

And after his guilty plea on Wednesday to a weapon charge, Jahquan Jordan will leave the borough with a felony conviction and a prison sentence.

The events unfolded about 8 p.m. on Jan. 23 when sharp-eyed cops spotted Jordan, then 20, on Brighton Avenue near Jersey Street in New Brighton, said police.

Police told the Advance the defendant was wanted on a prior complaint.

Online state court records show a warrant for Jordans arrest had been issued the day before in Brooklyn state Supreme Court for failure to appear in court.

Jordan, who was free on his own recognizance, was awaiting sentence in Brooklyn for a prior conviction of attempted-criminal weapon possession, said those records.

When officers approached the defendant, he allegedly bolted.

Jordan didnt get far; he was nabbed a short distance away near Brighton Avenue and Tilden Street, police said.

Cops found a loaded Hi-Point .40-caliber handgun in his possession, said a police spokeswoman.

The defendant gave officers a false name when they arrested him, police said.

Field Intelligence and Anti-Crime officers from the 120th and 121st precincts assisted in the bust, according to a post on the 121st Precinct Twitter feed.

Afterward, Police Commissioner Dermot Shea praised the officers.

Last night, our Staten Island cops were hard at work, going into harms way to take this illegal/defaced firearm off our streets and arresting the gang member carrying it.



Another example of the great work your cops do every day. pic.twitter.com/P4p4hacOU8  Commissioner Shea (@NYPDShea) January 24, 2020

Last night, our Staten Island cops were hard at work, going into harms way to take this illegal/defaced firearm off our streets and arresting the gang member carrying it, Shea posted on his social media account. Another example of the great work your cops do every day.

Jordan was indicted on charges of criminal weapon possession, criminal firearm possession and resisting arrest.

He pleaded guilty in state Supreme Court, St. George, to a felony count of attempted second-degree criminal weapon possession to resolve the case.

A tall, thin man garbed in a tan sweatshirt and sweatpants, Jordan made no statement beyond admitting guilt and responding to procedural questions.

In exchange, hell be sentenced on March 26 to two years in prison and two years post-release supervision.

Hopefully, my client learns from this experience and uses his time wisely, defense lawyer Mark J. Fonte said outside court. I am glad I was able to bring closure to the matter.

Assistant District Attorney Andrew Botelho is prosecuting the case.
Passenger traffic at Portland International Airport fell sharply last week, dropping 10% amid the coronavirus outbreak as airlines continue ratcheting back flights.

The economic impact is going to be big. We have a high level of uncertainty and its rapidly changing, said chief Dan Pippenger, chief operations officer of the Port of Portland, which runs PDX. He spoke at the port commissions meeting Wednesday.

Last week was the first full week after coronavirus cases were identified in Oregon.

Delta Air Lines said Monday it will cancel flights between Portland and Tokyo through May 31, after having earlier ratcheted those back from daily to three days a week.

United Airlines has canceled four of the 20 routes it flies in Portland and discount carrier Sun Country Airlines said it wont fly between Portland and the tourist destinations of Honolulu, Las Vegas and San Francisco this summer.

We do anticipate more reductions in flight schedules, though its uncertain when that will happen, Pippenger said.

The port declined to provide passenger volume numbers because it said those are collected confidentially by the Transportation Security Administration. But the port said a little more than 31,000 vehicles used its parking lots last week, down 14% from the same week in 2019.

Use of the long-term lot was down about 8.5% while the short-term lot -- favored by business travelers -- was down 18.2%.

The port anticipates less revenue as a result of flight reductions, according to Pippenger. He said the port is beginning to explore ways to reduce costs but didnt specify what those will be.

-- Mike Rogoway | mrogoway@oregonian.com | twitter: @rogoway | 503-294-7699

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
The Irish Natura & Hill Farmers Association (INHFA) have called on the Minister for Agriculture to establish a Taskforce to assist farmers that could be affected by the coronavirus.

In expressing concern on the impact this could have on farm families National President Colm ODonnell stated how the coming weeks will be very demanding on all farmers, especially our suckler and sheep farms who will be calving and lambing down their stock.

This stated the INHFA President is stressful for farmers at the best of times but the added pressure of poor weather conditions and the potential risk posed by the coronavirus means many farmers are in a very vulnerable position."

Farmers he added need to know that support is there if they contact the virus and are unable to carry on farming. This support needs to be available through advice and on the ground assistance so as to avoid possible animal welfare issues. It is continued ODonnell the view of the INHFA that the Department of Agriculture is best placed to co-ordinate and deliver this support, which should at a minimum involve the following

 A National Taskforce involving Department Staff and other stakeholders such as Teagasc, Farm Relief Service, Co-ops and Farming Organisations. The responsibility is to work with Government, other agencies, Banks etc. and to oversee a support structure in each DVO Region

 At National level the taskforce will need to ensure that farmers with the virus can easily avail of the State-funded Illness benefit which will rise to 305/week.

 They will also need to ensure flexibility from our Banks and Lending Institutions and where required rescheduled loan repayments and ensure working capital through extended overdraft facilities.

 At DVO level we need manned telephone lines that farmers can contact if sick with the virus, so assistance can be provided in the form of advice and farm labour

 In order to provide personnel for the telephone lines and other requirements we suspend all farm inspections and re-deploy the staff.

 At county/DVO level there will be a need for ongoing co-operation between Department of Agriculture, Farm Relief and other farm labour providers, Teagasc and other Farm Advisors, the Co-ops and the Farming Organisations to ensure farmers have the support they need in terms of labour, fodder and cash

ODonnell stressed the need to get this taskforce up and running as soon as possible and is hopeful that the Minister will recognise the merits in this. However, he also acknowledged that this could take a week or possibly longer and in the meantime has called for the following measures to be implemented, to assist farmers diagnosed with the virus

 The immediate pay-out of the balancing payments in GLAS and Sheep Welfare.



 The re-opening of GLAS with an up-front payment to assist the many farmers currently frozen out.

The farm leader concluded by stating how farmers need to know that there is support there for them and the measures we have detailed here can form the basis of that support. He further added that all support measures must be accessible to all affected farmers and not have terms and conditions that excludes as what happened with the fodder transport scheme the BEAM Scheme.
Has Prince Harry realized the mistakes he committed that he now regrets choosing Meghan Markle over his royal life?

The Buckingham Palace confirmed that Prince Harry and Meghan finally said goodbye to the royal family as they attended their final royal engagement during the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey on March 9.

The event marked the first time they were together with the members of the monarchy ever since they announced their decision to live a private life and become financially independent away from the U.K.

However, the Duke of Sussex looked like he is regretting stepping his foot outside of the palace, and his reaction during the event was pointed out by a royal expert.

According to royal expert Phil Dampier during his interview with Dan Wootton on talkRADIO, Harry looked like he was having trouble. Meanwhile, his wife Meghan seemed to have already loosened up.

"It was looking very difficult for Harry," Dampier said, referring to the contrasting emotions of the royal couple. "But Meghan looked very, very relaxed as she has done for the last few days in these last final engagements."

Dampier went on and claimed that the Duchess could be really happy now that she got what she wants and she will no longer need to sit to any royal engagements anymore.

Meghan bid goodbye to her royal life after one year, 10 months, and 12 days -- or 682 days -- since she married Harry and became part of one of the most prestigious families in the world.

"At the moment, I reckon Harry probably was thinking, 'what have I done?'" the royal expert continued.

Snubbed for the Last Time?

Queen Elizabeth II called Prince Harry and Meghan, through the Buckingham Palace, to return to the U.K. to formally end their royal engagements before they officially call everything done on March 31.

According to Royal commentator Alastair Bruce, he believed that Her Majesty just did something that showed whether the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are "either in or out" of the royal family at the same venue where she was crowned.

"This is the last time we'll see the Duke and Duchess of Sussex with the Queen and the Royal Family on engagement, and it's significant that is at Westminster Abbey," Bruce said while talking with Sky News.

Bruce recalled how Queen Elizabeth II pledged to dedicate her life to the Commonwealth. The Westminster Abbey also witnessed how she took her oath and responsibilities when the coronation in 1953 took place -- an event that signaled the promise of a lifetime service of the Queen.

"It's abdication from the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to step away from that by their own choice. The Queen's pointing out that you're either in or you're out," Bruce explained.

Last year, Prince Harry and Meghan, who was pregnant with Archie at that time, stood in the gothic abbey alongside Prince William and Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge.

However, this year, they sat in the second row behind Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Charles, Camilla, Prince William, and Kate throughout the service.
Representative image

The number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus in the country has risen to 52, with two fresh positive cases -- one each from Delhi and Rajasthan -- having been reported. Of these 52 cases, 36 are Indian nationals and 16 are Italians, said the Union Health Ministry on March 11.

The breakup of confirmed coronavirus cases among Indian nationals

Kerala: 9Uttar Pradesh: 9Delhi: 5Karnataka: 4Maharashtra: 2Ladakh: 2Rajasthan: 1Telangana: 1Tamil Nadu: 1Jammu and Kashmir: 1

Punjab: 1

Amid rising cases of the coronavirus pandemic globally, India - on March 10 - barred the entry of nationals of three more countries, France, Germany and Spain, suspending the regular visas - as well as e-visas - granted to them till date.

The ministry has further asked people to refrain from traveling to China, Italy, Iran, the Republic of Korea, Japan, France, Spain and Germany, and advised them to avoid non-essential travel abroad.

COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine  one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show

In an advisory issued on March 10, the ministry urged all incoming international passengers returning to India to self-monitor their health and follow the recommended DOs and DONTs.

Also read | Coronavirus patients are stable, showing signs of recovery: Harsh Vardhan

It has been done because more than 100 countries across the world now have reported cases of coronavirus, and people traveling to these countries or those who have traveled abroad might come in contact with people affected with the virus during their stay or even while in transit at the airports.

The ministry has also put more than 1,400 people, who were in contact with the coronavirus-infected people, under surveillance till date. Also, 404 Indian contacts of the US citizen tested positive for COVID-19 in Bhutan have been identified and put under surveillance in Assam, said the ministry.

Meanwhile, The Karnataka government has started a campaign called 'Namaste over Handshake' on March 11, which encourages people to greet in the traditional Indian style to tackle the spread of coronavirus.

The campaign also includes health advice on how people can protect themselves from the infection by adopting hygiene practices, such as regularly washing hands, to prevent the spread of the virus.

Kerala has already done it. The state has till now reported nine cases which includes the three patients who were discharged in February following recovery.

India seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar has hinted that they might limit the usage of saliva to shine the white ball during the first ODI against South Africa in Dharamsala on March 12 as a precautionary measure in the wake of the deadly novel coronavirus outbreak.

Bhuvneshwar, however, said a decision on this would be taken by the team doctor during a meeting later on March 11.

The current outbreak of coronavirus disease was first reported on December 31, 2019, in Wuhan City of China. Since then, the overall confirmed cases on the mainland reached 80,778 by the end of March 10, including 3,158 people who died of the disease in the last three months, 16,145 patients undergoing treatment and 61,475 discharged after recovery, said China's National Health Commission (NHC).

(With inputs from PTI)
By Laman Ismayilova

Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum invite you to enjoy Azerbaijani carpet weaving art on March 13.

The exhibition is the first project implemented jointly by museums of the two countries.

The main goal of the project is to conduct research on the scientific attribution of Azerbaijani carpets, stored in the museum's collection.

The exhibition will feature Azerbaijani carpets of the 17th-19th centuries.

The exhibition is co-organized by the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Azerbaijan Cultural Ministry, National Carpet Museum and Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum. The project is initiated by Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum. The exhibition will last until June 13.

Unique Azerbaijani carpets are well-known all over the world for their quality and high artistic value. Besides, amazing and fantastic carpets of Azerbaijan represent a real mystery, leading one inside the fairy tales full of majestic feelings.

The Land of Fire has seven carpet producing regions including Baku, Shirvan, Guba, Tabriz, Karabakh, Ganja and Gazakh and each of them has their own technology, typical patterns and colors.

Colorful Karabakh carpets, which are classified in four groups, represent a fabulous symphony of the most delicate shades of the amazing Karabakh nature.

Karabakh carpets still retain their glory, featuring in many prestigious international auctions, estimated at tens of thousands of dollars. Samples of the Karabakh carpet weaving as cultural heritage of Azerbaijan, kept in major museums, including the Louvre, Hermitage, and adorn the Vatican and the White House.

---

Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz


Pin Kaow Thai Restaurant, with locations at 1974 N. Rainbow Blvd and 9530 S. Eastern Ave, will celebrate Valentines Day with festive cocktails and a special menu for two, available exclusively from Wednesday, Feb. 12 through Sunday, Feb. 16.

Couples will begin their meal with a champagne toast for two. The appetizer course will include a sampling of coconut shrimp, crab rangoons and spring rolls, followed by two cups of tom yum chicken soup. The entree course, intended for sharing, will include New York Strip steak with green curry, as well as cashew nut seafood. The meal will end on a sweet note with sweet coconut rice with butterfly pea flower. The prix fixe menu will be priced at $90 per couple.

Available exclusively at the S. Eastern Blvd location, specialty cocktails will include the Pretty in PinKaow, a mix of Suntory gin, elderflower liquor with a hint of lemon, as well as simple syrup, lime and champagne, priced at $10. The drink comes with a side of butterfly pea flower tea, which is poured tableside over the drink to create a vibrant color. The Cupids Arrow is a mix of Suntory whisky, muddled clementine and ginger-lemongrass syrup, priced at $10.
A pilot and four government workers are dead after a plane crashed into a beach in northern Queensland.

The aircraft plummeted to the ground in bad weather conditions in Cape York on Wednesday morning, as a tropical cyclone formed in the Coral Sea.

It had made two attempts to land before crashing on its third approach, having left Cairns bound for the small town of Lockhart River.

The small plane, a twin-engine Cessna 404 Titan, crashed near the town around 9.30am, with an investigation now underway to determine the the cause of the crash.

Lockhart River Mayor Wayne Butcher told the Australian the weather was dangerous thanks to a cyclone brewing off the coast.

Six people are feared dead after a plane carrying government workers crashed in wild weather. Pictured is a Cessna 404 similar to the crashed aircraft

'We had the low (pressure system) come over at 10am. There was a lot of rain and bugger all visibility,' Mr Butcher said.

It had taken off from Cairns Airport around 8.20am, and was due at Lockhart River Airport just before 10am.

When it failed to arrive at the airfield, officials started a search but it proved difficult thanks to the high winds and lashing rain.

The plane was eventually discovered on a remote beach four miles from the airfield, but the bodies have not yet been recovered because of the dangerous weather.

'There are some monsoonal winds and rain up there at the moment, so they are providing some challenging conditions,' Acting Chief Superintendent Chris Hodgman.

'It will take some time for repatriation.

'Tomorrow, well have a further nine staff flying to Lockhart from the disaster victim investigation squad and well be doing a joint investigation with the Australian Transport Safety Bureau.'

The plane was last heard from at 9.30am when it made two attempts to land near the town.

The wreckage of the plane was found by police on a beach at 1:20pm on Wednesday near the town of Lockhart River on Cape York in northern Queensland

On Wednesday morning, the Bureau of Meteorology issued a warning for damaging winds and heavy rainfall in the area.

It warned that a low pressure system was likely to produce 'damaging wind gusts and heavy falls' in areas of the northeast coast.

The dangerous system, which came with winds of 90km/h, hit the Cape York Peninsula around the same time that the plane crashed.

Flash floods also formed after more than 160mm of rain fell in just six hours.

The Cessna 404 ten-seater aircraft was reported missing at 11.30am on Wednesday and is registered to West Australian company Aerohire, according to News Corp.

The region has been battling vicious tropical weather that has resulted in several days of strong winds and heavy rain.

Lockhart River Mayor Wayne Butcher said earlier on Wednesday that he didn't believe anyone survived the crash, initially saying there were six on board.

The aircraft was reported missing at 11.30am on Wednesday and is registered to West Australian company Aerohire

'The plane has just been found on the beachfront, and there are no survivors, there are six people that we know of for now,' he said on Wednesday afternoon.

'It is all government workers out of Cairns on a charter, we don't know the department.'

Queensland Police conducted a joint search with Australian Maritime Safety Authority after the plane was declared missing, sending out two helicopters and a jet ski to locate the wreckage.

Mr Butcher said it was just the latest tragedy to hit the area after a passenger jet previously crashed in 2005 and killed all 15 people on-board.

'We are sending our condolences and our thoughts to all the families and those involved.

'We had a cyclone hit us this time last year, it's just one tragedy to the next.'

Local business owner Tim Layton said rain had been constant in the area.

'I live on top of a hill and it has a good view and this morning we couldnt see anything because of the rain and the cloud,' he told the Daily Telegraph.

'The rain has been constant.

'It has been ground-soaking weather.'
The Afghan government will gradually release 5,000 Taliban prisoners starting this week if the insurgents significantly reduce violence, President Ashraf Ghani's spokesman said early Wednesday, seeking to resolve a dispute that has delayed peace talks between the militants and Kabul.

The announcement came hours after the US said its forces had started pulling out of two bases in Afghanistan, in line with a deal signed between Washington and the Taliban in Doha last month aiming to end America's longest war.

The government will "release 1,500 Taliban prisoners as a gesture of goodwill" starting Saturday, with another 3,500 to be freed after negotiations begin, spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said on Twitter.

The agreement, which will initially see 100 prisoners freed each day, will depend on the Taliban's willingness to significantly limit attacks in the country, he added.

The decision attempts to resolve one of the long-running spats that has stymied potential peace talks between the insurgents and the Afghan government.

Although the Taliban were due to start talks with Kabul on Tuesday, negotiations were delayed because the insurgents' demanded as a prerequisite the prisoner release in exchange for 1,000 captives.

Ghani had refused but Wednesday's decree signalled a softening of his stance, with the proviso that none of the released prisoners would return to the frontlines.

According to the decree, after the first 1,500 captives are freed, a further "500 Taliban prisoners will be released every two weeks" once negotiations begin.

US negotiator Zalmay Khalilzad welcomed the announcement and urged the Afghan government and the Taliban to meet "immediately" in Qatar to sort out prisoner details.

The State Department voiced confidence that Afghan peace talks would open soon, saying Ghani was speaking to rivals and would name a negotiating team "in the coming few days."



The UN Security Council on Tuesday endorsed the US-Taliban deal, a rare step for an agreement involving insurgents.

The Council urged the Afghan government "to advance the peace process, including by participating in intra-Afghan negotiations".

Under the US-Taliban deal, foreign forces will quit Afghanistan within 14 months, subject to Taliban security guarantees and the insurgents holding talks with Kabul.

The US is initially supposed to cut its troop presence from about 12,000 currently to 8,600 by mid-July, and close five of its roughly 20 bases across the country.

Troops have started leaving one base in Lashkar Gah, the capital of Helmand province in the south, and another base in Herat in the west, a US official told AFP on the condition of anonymity.

Helmand is where US and British forces fought some of the bloodiest campaigns of the 18-year war.

The initial drawdown comes as the Taliban, which see themselves as having achieved "victory" over America, test the Pentagon's resolve to protect local partners by conducting dozens of low-level attacks against Afghan forces.

The US has only responded to a few of these attacks, but the State Department warned Tuesday that the level of violence was "unacceptable." In the previous 24 hours, the insurgents carried out attacks in 32 out of 34 of the country's provinces, killing seven people including two civilians, interior ministry spokesman Nasrat Rahimi told AFP.

The Taliban have ramped up attacks since halting a week-long partial truce in place until the signing of the Doha accord, ending a welcome reprieve for ordinary Afghans who have born the brunt of the deadly violence.

Under the US-Taliban deal, the militants are to prevent groups including Al-Qaeda from using Afghanistan as a base to threaten the security of the US and its allies.

In congressional testimony on Tuesday, a top US general, Kenneth McKenzie, said the Islamist extremist Taliban have been "very effective" against the Islamic State group in Nangarhar province over the last few months.

"There was very limited support from us," he said, without elaborating.

There was no immediate reaction from the insurgents to Ghani's decree on the prisoners, which followed a deepening political crisis in Kabul.

Ghani's rival Abdullah Abdullah also declared himself president and held a simultaneous swearing-in ceremony on Monday, minutes after Ghani took the oath for his second term.

A member of the Taliban's leadership council -- the Quetta Shura -- told AFP on Tuesday the insurgents had delivered a list of the 5,000 captives they wanted freed to the Afghan government.

But he accused Kabul of acting in bad faith, alleging that "the government (planned) to release only those prisoners who are elderly, very ill, or those whose sentences have expired".

Kabul did not respond to the allegations, but Ghani's decree on Wednesday said that "prisoners will be released based on their age, health status and the remaining jail term".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Roberta Ann Madden went to meet our Lord and savior, Jesus Christ, on March 8, 2020. Roberta Ann Dwyer was born on March 17, 1933, the eldest daughter of Robert and Margaret (Gregor) Dwyer. She initially lived on the family farm outside of Kendall, Wisconsin, in the area known as Little Ireland, but later moved to a farm located between Kendall and Clifton.

Being the oldest living child, she was issued a drivers license at the age of 14 years so she could help with transporting her younger siblings to school and help with grocery shopping and other family errands. She graduated as salutatorian of Kendall High School in 1951.

She married John (Joe) Madden on Jan. 7, 1956. They moved to Rockford, Illinois, where Joe worked for Ingersoll Rand, they built a new house, and they welcomed two children into the world. They moved to Elroy, Wisconsin, in 1960. Together, they had six children, five of whom lived to adulthood.
Walmart, the US retailer which owns Flipkart, has asked Flipkart's online fashion retailer Myntra to streamline their processes in order to increase profits. This includes shutting down small warehouses across India, bringing down the level of stored inventory and reducing discounts offered by Myntra.

"There is a strong focus on the profitability and processes at Myntra and it may come at the expense of growth," a person familiar with the developments at Myntra told The Times of India. As per sources, there are clear instructions for Myntra to reduce discounts by 13 to 14 percent. The small warehouses that do not meet Walmart's standards have been asked to be shut down. According to sources, these measures are expected to impact sales of Myntra in the short run.

Reducing stored inventory will lead to Myntra unlocking working capital. "In the fashion business, you will have to offer heftier discounts to clear old stocks and that means burning cash. Walmart does not have the appetite for such losses in fashion. They would rather do that through Flipkart Fashion than Myntra," said a senior executive, who wished to remain anonymous.

Walmart had brought 77 percent stake in Flipkart back in 2018 for $16 billion. This deal included all the subsidiaries of Flipkart such as online fashion retailers Jabong and Myntra. Flipkart had shut down Jabong in February and has been directing all customers to Myntra ever since.

Myntra CEO Amar Nagaram had said the rapid growth for Myntra was possible because of a strong local leadership team that was able to comprehend the demands of the domestic market.

"Myntra is on a healthy growth path and will continue to move forward in our strategic direction, with focus on bringing the best brands to our customers," said Nagaram.

Flipkart owns 70 percent of the online fashion retail market in India, this accounts for 10 percent of the total apparel market in India. The Indian apparel market is estimated to be worth $59 billion by 2022, according to McKinsey's Fashion Scope.

Also Read: Flipkart's Myntra narrows consolidated losses to Rs 178.7 crore for 2017-18

Also Read: Flipkart shuts down Jabong; to concentrate on Myntra
[March 11, 2020] upGrad Brings Placement Opportunities to First-time Job-seekers Across 300+ Cities in India

Partners with corporates across BFSI and Technology sector to provide placements across tier I, II, III cities as part of its Academy business model MUMBAI, March 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- upGrad, online higher education company, partners with major corporates across BFSI and Technology sector to provide placement opportunities to the remotest corners of India with over 300 cities, thereby getting 'Bharat' to work. The initiative is being undertaken by the upGrad Academy Business vertical, which extends upskilling opportunities to the first-time job seekers and placement guarantee on successful completion of the program. The salary package starts from INR 2.5 lakhs per annum, with job opportunities majorly looking into the area of sales. While 1000 learners have been placed so far, the company plans to cater to over 10,000 jobs in the next financial year. Nonetheless, the initiative has also received more than 1.5 lakh enquiries from across India. Speaking about upGrad Academy, Mayank Kumar, co-founder & MD, upGrad said, "With such opportunities, we are trying to create an impact towards achieving the $1 trillion economy goal for India, which requires the entire Bharat to goto work. Academy Business vertical works on a 'Source-Train and Deploy model' which enables large organisations who are looking at mass recruitment in their level 1, 2 roles, to have a skilled-ready workforce and as we move ahead, we look forward to onboarding more companies targeting similar goals."



The recent Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) suggests that India's unemployment rate has moved upwards to 7.78 percent in February 2020, highest in the last four months. Education companies can play the role in bridging this gap by giving access to job opportunities to the masses, and by helping the corporates get industry-ready talent. To know more, enquire at: [email protected]

About upGrad: Founded in early 2015, upGrad offers online programs for working professionals. In a short span of around 5 years, upGrad on-boarded over 21.5K paid learners and impacted more than 370K individuals globally, making it India's largest online higher-education company, basis gross revenue generated from the Indian market in FY18-19. upGrad provides programs in the areas of Data Science, Technology, Management and MBA to college students, working-class and enterprises. These programs are designed and delivered in collaboration with top-notch universities like IIT Madras, IIIT-B, BITS Pilani, MICA, NMIMS Global Access, Duke CE, Deakin University, Liverpool John Moores University and others. To further enhance the learning experience, a comprehensive ecosystem has been built which includes one-on-one mentoring, peer-to-peer learning, industry networking and most importantly expert career guidance providing learners holistic support to elevate their careers to the next level. The company has been awarded the title of 'Best Tech for Education' by IAMAI in 2019. The company received the 'Best Education Brands' award by Economic Times and has made it to LinkedIn's 'Top 25 Startups' two years in a row in 2018 and 2019.

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
Stocks in the news today: Here is a list of top stocks that are likely to be in focus in Wednesday's trading session based on the latest developments.

Vedanta: India Ratings has revised Vedanta's outlook to 'negative' from 'stable'.It has also affirmed the company's long-term issuer rating at 'AA'.

Asian Paints: The company promoters have released pledge on equity worth 1.45% shareholding in the company from March 3-9, 2020.

ABB India: The company has approved the sale of solar inverter business for Rs 100.6 crore on slump sale basis to FIMER's India arm.

Muthoot Finance: The company board plans to consider interim dividend and fundraising at its meet scheduled on March 17, 2020.

Mangalam Organics: The company informed the exchanges that it has settled tax dues under 'Sabka Sath Sabka Vikas' scheme, amounting to Rs 13.42 crore.

Diamant Infrastructure: The board of directors of the company is scheduled to hold a meeting on March, 16, 2020 to consider & apply for one-time settlement proposal for the loan availed from Union Bank of India.

Lupin: The pharma major has won the coveted India Pharma Leader Award at the India Pharma 2020 and India Medical Device 2020 conference.

Cadila: The company announced that Zydus Cadila and XOMA Corporation have entered into a licensing agreement to advance an IL-2-based immuno-oncology (IO) drug candidate that combines Zydus' IL-2 with XOMA's novel anti-IL-2 monoclonal antibody.

RPP Infra Projects: The company has won new order worth Rs 77.52 crore. The company announced that it has won an order to execute "Rehabilitation and Modernization" of Anicut and Channels in the area - Thanjavur and Cuddalore District, Tamil Nadu and is expected to be completed within 24 months.

City Union Bank: The lender has inaugurated 3 new branches on March 09, 2020, at Aundipatti (Theni District, Tamil Nadu), Thirupapuliyur (Cuddalore District, Tamil Nadu) and Vallikavu (Kollam District, Kerala).

Kavit Industries: The company said it has started manufacturing of reprocessing of Plastic Granules from the various plastic raw materials and trading of the Plastic Granules as well as masterbatches in addition to the current ongoing commercial activity of trading of edible oil.
"The Extraordinary Ordinary gives young people one of the most important things necessary - conversations, Conversations about learning how to navigate challenging and scary moments in life. To see these scenarios on the screen allows the audience to reflect on the fact that they are not alone in their experiences and even when it's scary, they could be understood and get help when they are willing to speak about what they are experiencing. Kudos to Natalie and her team for creating such a relevant and impactful movie," said Liz A. Garcia performance expert.

"The Extraordinary Ordinary" is a gripping and heartwarming narrative that seeks to challenge the stigmas associated with mental health, trauma, and recovery. The EO recognizes the courage of those young adults struggling in silence everywhere by challenging an outdated narrative and telling compelling and unconventional stories that reflect a commitment to discovering and amplifying awareness of mental health issues. The project was also an official selection at the Los Angeles Diversity Film Festival (LADFF), Glendale International Film Festival (GIFF), and Awareness Film Festival. The film won 'Best Film About Women's Empowerment' at GIFF, and the leading lady, Maddison, won first place as 'Best Actor' at LADFF.

"I have always been more fascinated by films that played late at night on Sundance and IFC. Those were the channels that had introduced me to beautiful, yet haunting films, such as "Thirteen," "Mysterious Skins," and so much more. States Natalie Rodriguez: "These were the stories that kept me up at night, replaying over certain scenes and wondering how important it was (or even why I disagreed) for something to be spoken of or shown. I am sure many know how both 'Thirteen' and "Mysterious Skins" deal with social issues such as self-love, self-harming, sexuality, and drugs."

--

Extraordinary Pictures is a production company that seeks to entertain and inform. Creating a narrative that inspires awareness and social change. For interview requests or to attend Extraordinary Ordinary movie premier please contact Joseph Benjamin of Prophecy PR - [email protected]

SOURCE Extraordinary Pictures

Related Links

https://www.extraordpictures.com/


City dwellers take more antibiotics than people in rural areas; children and the elderly use them more often than middle-aged people; the use of antibiotics decreases as education increases, but only in rich countries: These are three of the more striking trends identified by researchers of the NRW Forschungskolleg "One Health and Urban Transformation" at the University of Bonn in a recent study. They evaluated 73 publications on the use of antibiotics in the outpatient sector around the world. The subject is of great importance: Too many antibiotics are still being administered. Possible consequences are resistances: Already there are hardly any effective drugs available against some bacteria. The study will be published in May in the International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health, but is already available online.

Most antibiotics are taken by patients whose illness does not require hospitalization. In Germany, these cases account for about 85 percent of all prescriptions; EU-wide the rate is even slightly higher. But what factors promote the use of antibiotics in the outpatient health sector? Scientists have been interested in this question for some time. It is largely undisputed that too many antibiotics are used overall. This promotes the development of resistances and thus ensures that these weapons, which are actually the sharpest tools against bacterial infections, are gradually blunted.

The current study summarizes the present state of knowledge on this issue. The scientists involved evaluated a total of 73 publications on the driving factors of antibiotic use in the general population. "We were interested not only in individual parameters such as age or education, but also in geographical contexts and socio-cultural factors," explains Dennis Schmiege, who is pursuing his doctorate at the University of Bonn (Center for Development Research (ZEF)) under supervision of Prof. Mariele Evers (Department of Geography) and Prof. Thomas Kistemann (Institute for Hygiene and Public Health).

600 possible influencing variables evaluated

Together with his colleague Dr. Timo Falkenberg, he evaluated almost 600 variables and arranged them into about 45 groups. For each of the groups, the review paper lists whether they are to be considered potentially influencing factors according to current findings. There is relatively good evidence that children and seniors are more likely to take antibiotics than middle-aged people. In contrast, a higher level of education tends to have a restraining effect. However, this association is reversed in poorer countries - "probably because there it is more likely to be the well-educated people who either have access to the health system or who can afford to visit a doctor or buy a drug in the first place," assumes Schmiege.

Among the geographical parameters the discrepancy between urban and rural areas stands out: Several publications show that the use of antibiotics is higher in urban areas. "We suspect that this has something to do with better access to doctors' surgeries and pharmacies," explains Schmiege. The concentration of doctors indeed appears to be also one of the driving factors. In contrast, higher drug prices reduce the amount of antibiotics sold.

There is still comparatively little research on which socio-cultural parameters promote the use of antibiotics. National culture seems to have a certain influence: For example, citizens of "masculine" societies, which are considered to be more competitive, use more antibiotics on average. The situation is similar in societies that are traditionally considered to avoid uncertainty. "Overall, however, we still see a clear need for research in this area," emphasizes Dennis Schmiege.

Elsewhere, the study situation also shows a clear imbalance: Lower- and middle-income countries are clearly underrepresented compared to richer ones, which is another point that future research projects should help to remedy, the scientist believes.

###

The study was conducted within the framework of the NRW Forschungskolleg "One Health and Urban Transformation", which is a graduate school funded by the Ministry of Culture and Science of NRW. It is conducted by the University of Bonn in cooperation with Hochschule Bonn-Rhein-Sieg, University of Applied Sciences (H-BRS) and the United Nations University - Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS) in Bonn. Further information on the Forschungskolleg is available on the website http://www.zef.de/onehealth.html.

Publication: Dennis Schmiege, Mariele Evers, Thomas Kistemann and Timo Falkenberg: What drives antibiotic use in the community? A systematic review of determinants in the human outpatient sector; International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheh.2020.113497

Contact:

Dennis Schmiege Forschungskolleg One Health and Urban Transformation" Center for Development Research (ZEF) University of Bonn Tel. +49-(0)228-736719 E-mail: d.schmiege@uni-bonn.de
Baker Beach may be the most scenic beach in San Francisco  a postcard-worthy view of both the ocean and the Golden Gate Bridge  but the beach also has plenty of San Francisco history. A recent search in The Chronicle archives turned up dozens of negatives showing San Franciscans enjoying the beach during the mid to late 20th century, as well as Chronicle stories about notable events at the beach  including one deadly one.

The beach was originally known as Bakers Beach, named in 1866 for the Baker family, who owned a dairy farm in the area.

An almost unknown nook with an ideal climate for fine bathing, a reporter wrote in a Sept 1, 1889, Chronicle story. Right in the entrance of the Golden Gate, where the surf beats most furiously over the bar, and trade winds howl past the crags of Lobos and Bonitas points, there is a little bay which has escaped the notice of all save a few campers.

The beach, like others in San Francisco, can be sparsely populated during the foggy summer, but when the fog takes a break and the temperature rises, city dwellers flock to the beaches. On such a warm day in 1959, Bakers Beach gained unwanted notoriety as the site of the only fatal shark attack in San Francisco history.

Even though the beach had signs advising against swimming because of undertow and currents, two San Francisco State students waded along the shore and swam out about 50 yards. They had been in the water about 10 minutes when Shirley ONeill noticed her friend Albert Kogler struggling.

She turned to look at him and saw a big, black shape and what looked like a tail flip over. The Chronicle wrote. Its a shark, Albert screamed again. Go back. Go back.

She swam to the beach and got a line to pull him back to shore. People on the beach helped notify the police department, but it was the Coast Guard that had the proper vehicles to climb down to the beach and back to deliver him to the hospital.

Kogler died from blood loss two hours later in the hospital. ONeill won an award for her heroism but in the immediate aftermath she was more concerned about her friends soul. ONeill, a devout Catholic, asked if she could baptize him while he was on the beach waiting for help to arrive, and did so with waters from the surf nearby.

The first anxious question she asked her priest when she emerged from a drugged sleep yesterday afternoon was: Is salt water all right for a baptism? reporter Arthur Hoppe wrote.

Despite earnest scientists telling The Chronicle that man-eating shark attacks were extremely rare, authorities closed beaches for several weeks following the attack.

While located within the Presidio, Bakers Beach was always accessible to the public. But in 1973, it was transferred from the U.S. Army to the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Picnic tables, fire rings, barbecue grates and restrooms were installed, and the parking lot was expanded. It was at this point, with little fanfare, Bakers Beach became Baker Beach.

In more modern times Baker Beach has become known for more offbeat pastimes, including nude sunbathing on the northern part of the beach. In 1986, the first Burning Man event was held on the beach when Larry Harvey and Jerry James burned an effigy of a man on the beach during the Summer Solstice. They continued the ritual for several years until 1990, when park staff refused to let them burn the Man anymore. Harvey and James conducted the burn a few days later in a Nevada desert, where the event would find its full-time home.

More from the Archive The Vault Home of the San Francisco Chronicle's archive and more than 150 years of journalism covering the Bay Area and beyond.

More from Chronicle Vault

 Not Your Century podcast: 1918  the flu pandemic.

 Angel Island for sale? In the 1940s, the jewel of the bay was on the block.

 Something completely different: Sex Pistols in San Francisco  the lewd, crude punk pioneers 1978 invasion.

 A big valley: How Hetch Hetchy Valleys natural beauty was sacrificed to quench S.F.s thirst.

From the Archive is a weekly column by Bill Van Niekerken, the library director of The Chronicle, exploring the depths of the newspapers archive. Its part of Chronicle Vault, a twice-weekly newsletter highlighting more than 150 years of San Francisco stories. It is edited by Taylor Kate Brown, The Chronicles newsletter editor. Sign up for the newsletter here and follow Chronicle Vault on Instagram. Contact Bill at bvanniekerken@sfchronicle.com and Taylor at taylor.brown@sfchronicle.com.
There have been conflicting reports about the possibility of another round of talks for the small committee at the Constitutional Committee in Geneva writes Enab Baladi.

Media sources affiliated with the Syrian regime are promoting the idea of holding a new round of meetings for the Constitutional Committee in Geneva. A source from the Syrian opposition delegation denied this to Enab Baladi, and explained the latest developments regarding the third round of meetings.

The local Al-Watan newspaper on Tuesday, quoted what it described as diplomatic sources as saying that there are international efforts to hold a new meeting for the small committee to discuss the Syrian constitution in Geneva before the end of this month.

The newspaper claimed that the United Nations proposed that the round be held on Mar. 22, 2020, and will last one week as usual.

The newspaper confirmed that the United Nations team and Special Envoy Geir Pedersen are working on setting an agenda, but so far he has not determined an answer from the opposition delegation, after the regime delegation presented its proposals to the Deputy Special Envoy, Khawla Matar, nearly two weeks ago.

It added that there is an international desire to hold a new round of negotiations, especially after the signing of the Moscow agreement regarding Idleb.

The opposition clarifies

A member of the Constitutional Committee in the opposition delegation, Riyad al-Hassan, confirmed that the opposition delegation had received the latest proposal through Pedersen and that the response to the proposal was also sentcontrary to what Al-Watan reported.

On Wednesday, Hassan told Enab Baladi that the matter was now in the hands of the regime, noting that what was happening now is an exact repetition of what happened in the second round of the Constitutional Committee, which failed due to the regimes failure to present a proposal consistent with and abiding by the authority and mandate of the Constitutional Committee.

Hassan said that the regimes delegation in the second round asked to discuss what it called national pillars. In contrast, the opposition had presented five proposals that adhere to the committees authority.

Regimes proposal

Hassan said that the regime delegations proposal for the next round presented to the special envoy is no different from what the regime had done before in terms of derailing the Constitutional Committee at the heart of its work on the constitution, and moving towards insisting on discussing political issues unrelated to the constitution.

He pointed out that the opposition delegation informed Pedersen that such proposals, which fall outside the authority and mandate of the Constitutional Committee, should be rejected by the Special Envoy and the Secretary-General of the United Nations, and that there was no need to present them to the opposition delegation as an opportunity for the regime to promote its lies.

There is no date scheduled for a new round of the Constitutional Committee, according to Hassan, and the arrangements that were underway to hold the third round were canceled by the United Nations.

This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
(Natural News) Did you know that in the state of New York theres a natural gas power plant currently in operation that has its own bitcoin mining rig? Its known as Greenidge Generation, and about $50,000 dollars worth of the virtual cryptocurrency is mined there daily using gobs of fossil fuel energy.

Located in New Yorks Finger Lakes region, the 65,000-square-foot facility is equipped with some 7,000 crypto mining machines that are capable of generating about 5.5 bitcoins per day. Built in 1937, the facility was originally a coal plant, but was later converted to natural gas.

This so-called server farm consumes roughly 15 megawatts (MW) of its 106 MW capacity to harvest invisible bitcoins, a process that as weve reported in the past requires massive amounts of energy, and is thus typically more expensive than its worth.

At Greenidge, however, a behind-the-meter power scheme has made mining bitcoins cost effective, at least according to the guys making it all happen. After many hydro power plants jacked up their formerly inexpensive energy prices after bitcoin became a thing, these bitcoin miners came up with their own solution using natural gas.

After the price of bitcoin plummeted from its all-time high of around $20,000 back in late 2017 to under $8,000 today, many miners called it quits because it simply wasnt worth it anymore to dredge up the fake money. But those running the rigs at Greenidge have somehow made it profitable again.

Even with the upcoming halvening event, expected in May, which will cut the network returns of bitcoin mining in half, the Greenidge crew is of the persuasion that it will still be in their best interest to continue mining bitcoin the way theyre currently mining it.

We are in a favorable market position regardless of how the halving materializes, says Tim Rainey, the CEO of Greenidge. Due to our unique position as a co-generation facility, we are able to make money in down markets so that were available to catch the upside of volatile price swings.

Bitcoin is a fossil fuel hog

Regardless of how you view the legitimacy of bitcoin, what these Greenidge guys have done is a remarkable example of creative ingenuity. At the same time, its an environmental nightmare if you believe the narrative of Greta Thunberg and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC), who believe that continued fossil fuel use is going to destroy the planet.

The fact that it takes 15 MW of power, or 15 million watts of electrical power per hour, to mine five-and-a-half units of a completely nonexistent digital currency per day shows that bitcoin is far worse for the environment than cow farts, gas-powered vehicles, and humans beings breathing.

Greta the climate alarmist should be out there in front of Greenidge protesting in her Arnold Schwarzenegger-gifted Tesla about the absurdity of spending so much energy on something that, for all intents and purposes, if a figment of peoples imaginations.

The decentralization aspect of crypto currency does, in fact, give value to these digital coins, assuming theyre truly anonymous and not controlled by some hidden private central bank. But whats required to keep it all in operation leaves quite the carbon footprint, if you believe in such things.

In effect, Bitcoin is powered by coal, wrote Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, in a piece several years back that warned about the bitcoin bubble.

Even worse, the increasing computational complexity of the Bitcoin algorithm means that the same amount of energy which generated $100 worth of Bitcoin just a year ago only generates about $10 worth of Bitcoin today.

For more related news about bitcoin, including all the entities that have been burned by this Ponzi scheme over the years, be sure to check out BitRaped.com.

Sources for this article include:

Bloomberg.com

NaturalNews.com

NaturalNews.com
SAN DIEGO, March 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Fox Financial Planning Network (FFPN), a leading consulting company for wealth management firms and the institutions that serve them, has rebranded to AdvisorTouch. The name change came about to differentiate the company and better represent the company's offerings. With the rise of financial advisor "networks" in recent years that offer mostly technology discounts and a community, the company wanted to differentiate their offering. AdvisorTouch is providing a more comprehensive, integrated service by providing the training, tools, resources and materials for advisors to immediately use and customize for their own firms. The company is pleased to officially roll out its new name and branding.

AdvisorTouch provides wealth management firms with the resources they need to work efficiently and deliver exceptional client services, no matter which business model they have chosen to work under. The company mission is to provide the workflow templates, tools, training, systems and practice management ideas to assist firms with organizing both their client-facing and back office activities. Uniting systems, technology, practice management and human capital creates an efficient, profitable and enjoyable wealth management business for all involved. And just as important, delivering excellent service transforms clients into raving fans.

The company has now crossed the ten-year mark of helping hundreds of wealth management firms transforming their businesses. Because the company is ever evolving and innovating, this month AdvisorTouch is announcing a totally new interactive social platform with the training, resources, tools and systems to run a great, efficient business for Advisors and their staff. Introducing the Collaborative: https://advisortouch.com/collaborative

AdvisorTouch is nationally known for providing innovative solutions for advisors, and the institutions that serve them. Our deliverables and consulting enable firms to work more efficiently and systematize their processes, yet still be able to personalize the delivery of financial advice. The company was founded by Deborah Fox who has been a practicing financial advisor in her own firm for 30 years and known for being one of the earliest adopters of moving her business into the cloud and incorporating detailed workflows, processes and web-based technology to work more efficiently and profitably. Deborah was recently recognized as one of the ten industry Innovators for 2020 by InvestmentNews.

By originally launching Fox Financial Planning Network, Deborah sought out to solve the industry problem concerning the lack of advisor adoption and implementation of best practices, tools and technology. With its proprietary approach to initiative rollouts, AdvisorTouch is able to collapse timeframes for quick results. AdvisorTouch serves firms of all sizes from solo advisors to mid- and large-size wealth management firms.

AdvisorTouch is also known in the industry for its comprehensive and customizable workflow system with a large template library that is integrated into Redtail and Wealthbox CRMs. The integrated templates save wealth management firms dozens of hours of time by preventing them from having to build the workflows from scratch in their CRM. The AdvisorTouch templates can be utilized within all CRMs that include a workflow component.

About AdvisorTouch

AdvisorTouch has been transforming the way advisors operate by providing the tools, templates, workflows and consulting to systematize the delivery of financial advice. AdvisorTouch provides a comprehensive set of resources enabling wealth management firms to increase profitability, ensure compliance, scale their practice, while growing their firms.

Learn more about AdvisorTouch at www.AdvisorTouch.com.

For Further information:

Media Contact: Deborah Fox, CEO & founder

AdvisorTouch

E-mail address: [email protected]

Phone: 858-768-2520

SOURCE AdvisorTouch
Vietnams e-commerce market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 16.3 percent from 9.4 billion USD last year to 17.3 billion USD in 2023, data analytics company GlobalData forecast.

Vietnams e-commerce market is projected to grow 16.3 percent from 9.4 billion USD last year to 17.3 billion USD in 2023, according to GlobalData.

Singapore-based Business Times on March 10 cited a GlobalData report saying Vietnams e-commerce market has doubled over the past five years, with total online spending expanding from 3.9 billion USD in 2015 to 9.4 billion USD in 2019.

While the traditional payment instruments such as cash, cards and bank transfers are widely used for e-commerce purchases, consumer preference for alternative payments is on the rise, said Nikhil Reddy, a banking and payments analyst at GlobalData. There is a growing demand for faster and convenient payment means, especially among tech-savvy millennials.

According to a GlobalData survey, cash is still the most preferred payment mode, making up 35.6 percent of e-commerce purchases. Alternative payment solutions are gradually gaining ground, accounting for 15.5 percent. MoMo is the most preferred alternative payment in Vietnam, followed by PayPal.

Meanwhile, global firms are investing in Vietnamese e-commerce companies, looking to ride on the strong growth.

In 2018, Tiki received 5.3 million USD and 44. million USD funding from VNG Corporation and Chinese investor JD.com, respectively. In the same year, Sendo secured 51 million USD from SBI Group (a Japan-based financial services company) and other investors. Furthermore, Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba invested an additional 2 billion USD in Lazada, one of the leading e-commerce companies in the country./.

E-commerce and FMCG markets shaken by outbreak Amid the current coronavirus epidemic, the fast-moving consumer goods and e-commerce sectors have experienced a tumultuous period.
Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said that Russias representatives will participate in the meeting of the OPEC+ technical committee in March.



"Yes, our representatives will be present," TASS cited him as saying. Novak recalled that the format of Russia's relations within the framework of the charter (cooperation of oil-producing countries has remained. "We continue monitoring the situation with our colleagues," the minister stressed.



Earlier a source in the Energy Ministry said that the OPEC+ Joint Technical Committee (JTC) involving Russia would be held on March 18.
The Afghan government has offered to release 1,500 Taliban prisoners, saying it is "impossible" to release more, as demanded by the Taliban to start peace talks envisaged under a deal with the United States.

Sediq Sediqqi, the spokesman for Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, told a news conference on March 11 that another 3,500 would be set free as certain conditions are met.

"The Taliban want all 5,000 prisoners released at once, which is impossible," Sediqqi said, adding the release could begin on March 14.

The prisoner release is intended to build trust between the Western-backed government in Kabul and kick off direct talks to end the 18-year war in the country.

But Suhail Shaheen, spokesman for the Taliban in Doha, said the peace accord signed with Washington last month stipulated that "first 5,000 prisoners would be freed and then the Afghan dialogue would be initiated."

Shaheen said in a tweet that the Taliban would only accept an agreement for all prisoners named on a list it gave to the Afghan government.

"Our very condition is that the detainees are acceptable if verified by our team," he tweeted.

"Also, they must be those detainees whose names are included in the list," he wrote in a separate tweet.

Further muddling the path toward talks, the Tolo News agency reported on March 11 that the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) considered it illegal to release inmates who are accused of being involved in war crimes or crimes against humanity.

"According to the national and international laws, the president does not have the authority to release those individuals who are accused of being involved in war crimes and crimes against humanity," Tolo quoted Naeem Nazari, the deputy head of the AIHRC, as saying.

Under its deal with the United States, endorsed by the UN Security Council on March 10, the Taliban must continue its reduction in violence and bar extremist groups from operating in areas under their control.

Despite the agreement, fighting has continued in various parts of the country.

"The Taliban will be responsible, not the Afghan government, if this process fails," Sediqqi said.

The United States also agreed to reduce its troops from about 12,000 to 8,600 within 135 days.

The long-term plan is for the United States and its NATO allies to withdraw all troops within 14 months.

The United States early this week began pulling out troops, but the U.S. State Department on March 10 said the current level of violence by the Taliban is unacceptable to advancing the peace process.

"We acknowledge the Taliban have taken steps to stop attacks against the coalition and in cities. But they are killing too many Afghans in the countryside. This must change," spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said in a statement.

Fresh political instability has also threatened the prospect of talks between all sides.

Two separate swearing-in ceremonies took place in Kabul on March 9 for Ghani and his main rival, former Chief Executive Officer Abdullah Abdullah, after a disputed presidential election in September.

Afghanistan's Independent Election Commission says Ghani narrowly won the vote, but Abdullah alleges the result is fraudulent.

In an apparent show of support for Ghani's presidency, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on March 9 said that Washington opposes "any action to establish a parallel government."

With reporting by Reuters, the BBC, Tolo News, and RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan
MIAMI, FL  Joslyn Jane headlines in four new releases that include two pervy self-produced titles.

Janes ManyVids store is up-to-date with her best content. The 5 9 PAWG with natural 34G breasts rose to fame as Officer Jane on Black Patrol before going on to produce and star in scores of titles across many genres, is a top 150-ranked MV Girl on the platform.

Leading the pack of new releases is Janes fauxcest scenario, Hairy Bushed Horny Mom Fucks Her Son, in which the blonde is distracted by her horny stepson.

Also premiering on Janes ManyVids store is the kinky big boob clip, Tit Worship with Kimmie Kaboom, which has Jane mixing mammaries with the southern BBW star.

Jane and Kaboom are reunited in the latter's latest tease and denial release, I Think Somebody Is Watching Us

Joslyn Jane is always busy producing a stream of exclusive never-before-seen content for her ManyVids store, as well as performing for select studios. Professional producers interested in working with Jane may contact her via [email protected]

Follow Joslyn Jane on Twitter @xxxjoslyn and Instagram @josjane6996.
Senator calls on Justice Department to investigate Pornhub

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A U.S. senator has called on the Department of Justice to investigate PornHub for having videos of actual sexual assaults on its website.

Senator Ben Sasse of Nebraska, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Oversight, sent an open letter to Attorney General Bill Barr on Monday regarding the issue.

In several notable incidents over the past year, Pornhub made content available worldwide showing women and girls that were victims of trafficking being raped and exploited, explained Sasse.

Pornhub must not escape scrutiny. I therefore request that the Department open an investigation into Pornhub and its parent entity MindGeek Holding SARL for their involvement in this disturbing pipeline of exploiting children and other victims and survivors of sex trafficking.

Sasse cited a few incidents, including a Florida man arrested last October for trafficking a 15-year-old girl and uploading videos showing her sexual exploitation to websites including Pornhub.

In another instance, your Department charged the two owners and two other employees of a popular pornographic film production company with a variety of sex trafficking offenses for employing a disturbing array of deceptive and coercive means to force women to make pornography that they later uploaded to Pornhub against their will, continued Sasse.

Indeed, the problem of Pornhub streaming content featuring women and children victims of sex trafficking reached the point in November that PayPal cut off services for Pornhub, refusing to facilitate this abuse any longer.

One of the most popular websites in the United States, Pornhub boasts of having had around 42 billion visits worldwide in the year 2019, or about 115 million visits each day.

Last month, Megha Mohan of the British Broadcasting Corporation reported that dozens of people had videos of their sexual assaults uploaded to Pornhub.

The BBC highlighted the case of Rose Kalemba, a 25-year-old who spent months in 2009 trying to get Pornhub to take down a video of her being raped as a teenager.

"The titles of the videos were 'teen crying and getting slapped around,' 'teen getting destroyed,' 'passed out teen.' One had over 400,000 views," explained Kalemba to the BBC.

"The worst videos were the ones where I was passed out. Seeing myself being attacked where I wasn't even conscious was the worst."

While Pornhub initially ignored her requests to take down the videos, they eventually relented when she created a new email address and posed as a lawyer threatening legal action.

For its part, Pornhub sent the BBC a statement claiming that the Kalemba incident happened before their current owners took control of the website.

Since the change in ownership, Pornhub has continuously put in place the industry's most stringent safeguards and policies when it comes to combating unauthorized and illegal content, as part of our commitment to combating child sex abuse material, stated the site.

The company employs Vobile, a state-of-the-art third party fingerprinting software, which scans any new uploads for potential matches to unauthorized material and makes sure the original video doesn't go back up on the platform.
If you've ever gotten a paycheck, you've probably looked with scorn at the amount of taxes that get withheld from your pay. Not only do you have to have money taken out of your check for your income taxes, but the federal government also takes extra money to cover payroll taxes.

Now, in response to economic concerns about the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak, President Trump is looking at ways to provide financial stimulus in an effort to forestall a recession. One proposal that the White House is reportedly pitching is to eliminate payroll taxes for the rest of 2020. Doing so would put more money in the pockets of millions of Americans. Below, we'll take a look at the proposal and what it would mean for the typical worker.

What you're paying now in payroll taxes

Payroll taxes are imposed on workers to provide revenue for Social Security and Medicare. The current total rate of payroll taxes is 7.65%. That's composed of a 6.2% withholding tax for Social Security and a 1.45% withholding tax for Medicare.

However, there's a limit on the wages that get considered to determine the amount of Social Security withholding tax. That number changes each year, and for 2020 the limit is $137,700. If your earnings for the year are more than $137,700, you'll stop having to pay the 6.2% Social Security payroll tax once your year-to-date pay rises above that level. The 1.45% Medicare portion of the payroll tax has no such limit, so you'll keep paying that amount throughout the year regardless of what you earn.

Employers also have to pay payroll taxes. If you're an employee, your employer pays an equal 7.65% of your wages to the federal government to cover its portion of payroll taxes. Those who are self-employed end up covering both halves of the payroll tax liability, with a combined rate of 15.3%.

What the White House wants

President Trump reportedly wants to suspend the payroll tax through the end of the year. An outright elimination of the tax would make paychecks bigger, putting more money in the hands of American consumers and presumably helping to boost spending and economic activity. Those making $52,000 a year would see their take-home pay rise by $76.50 a week. That'd add up to nearly $3,000 for 2020 if the cuts take effect starting April 1.

The proposal leaves some questions unanswered, though. So far no one's said anything specific about payroll taxes on pay earned so far in 2020, with the assumption being that the federal government would keep any taxes already collected. That's fine for employees, but for gig workers and others who typically make quarterly estimated tax payments, there's uncertainty about how they'd figure out how much of their earnings came before or after a payroll tax suspension took effect.

Similarly, it's not clear whether high-income earners would benefit from a slashing of the payroll tax. Those with annual incomes of $500,000 and up are likely to go above the $137,700 wage base limit on Social Security payroll taxes before the measure could get through Congress and get signed into law. If they've already paid their maximum tax for the year, then the suspension of taxes won't save them any money. Helping the wealthy might not be a priority for President Trump, but the answer to that question could have an impact on the cost of the proposal.

Will a payroll tax cut really happen?

Discussions between the White House and Republican congressional leaders about potential economic stimuli are taking place, and the payroll tax proposal will inevitably be part of their agenda. With control of Congress divided between Republicans and Democrats, any measure would need bipartisan support. Many see that as being unlikely in an election year, but for those hoping for some financial relief if the economy starts to sputter toward recession, the prospect of a modest but significant boost in pay looks good right now.
The reputation of Mexico for hosting embattled foreign leaders is well known. While people such as the Cuban in exile, Jose Marti, persisted in the 19th century, the tradition was developed more strongly in the 1930s.

The Mexican revolution's hero, Lazaro Cardenas, gained the presidency in 1934. Cardenas was a strong supporter of nationalization, as was the then president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. He also welcomed Spanish Republicans who fled Franco.

A Gulfstream G550 of the Mexico Air Force landed in the Bolivian jungle on 12 November 2019.On board was Evo Morales, Bolivia's president for 14 years, who had won his fourth win in the election three weeks earlier.

Morales stepped foot in his home country 15 hours later, following diversions to avoid a diplomatic incident. He was the last in a lengthy list of refugees in Mexico, which included politicians, musicians and activists.

His victory in 2006 was a milestone in a country that had a majority of indigenous peoples for 500 years in the second class. Bolivia's indigenous peoples were not even capable of entering the Plaza Murillo in the 1950s, La Paz's main political capital. Morales was the very first indigenous Bolivian president.

His triumph demonstrated more than representative. Abetted by the wares blast, he presented far-reaching social and monetary changes that brought a large number of Bolivians out of destitution - doing as such at a quicker rate than some other nation in South America.

In spite of the fact that he was one of the 'Pink Tide' of Latin American radicals in office during the 2000s, Morales' prevalence was remarkable for its monetary sober-mindedness and, for a long time, he was a moderate, democratic communist.

In 2016, during his third term, Morales called a sacred choice to look for another command. Despite the fact that he stayed mainstream, even supporters started to ponder whether he was moving towards autocracy and his movement was crushed with 51 percent of the votes.

After a year, referring to maligning during the choice battle, Morales effectively engaged the established court to deny the outcome and let him run in October 2019.

Morales' fundamental opponent right Carlos Mesa, who was president from 2003 to 2005 and had been compelled to leave following well-known fights.

Morales was the leader in the first-round vote yet, given his choice annihilation, investigators expected a genuine test in case of a run-off. Morales would require an edge of 10% to be sheltered.

In the hours after the decision on 20 October, surveys showed that Morales would have been denied a by and large win. After a deferral, it was declared on 24 October that Morales had made sure about 46.83 percent of the vote and Mesa 36.7 percent.

Bolivia quickly fell into a political crisis as Morales' supporters and rivals conflicted the nation over. Enemies looked for a keep an eye on the official capacity to forestall autocracy; supporters saw a Washington-supported upset.

On 11 November, after the military pulled back its help for Morales, he surrendered and loaded up the plane for Mexico.
IRVING, Texas and LIVONIA, Mich., March 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Avantax Wealth Management welcomes the Making Investing Personal multi-generational financial planning team, a long-standing $90 million1 advisory firm in Livonia, Mich. The team has a strong commitment to forging close client relationships that focus on long-term planning versus transactional investments.

With over 75 years of combined financial industry experience, the team includes Financial Advisors Terence Reed, CFP, Elizabeth Marshall, AIF, Melissa Rubingh, AIF, Ryan Cohen, AIF, and Tax Manager Michael Park, ATP.

Reed said that chief among the reasons he and his firm chose Avantax were like-minded business philosophies and a desire to forge a long-term relationship with a broker-dealer that provides ample support to advisors helping their clients with financial and tax matters related to their investments.

"Avantax is very up-to-date on technology, and we decided our team should partner with a broker-dealer that can help guide us and our clients not just for today, but for decades to come. We feel our team is merging onto a fast track with a company that is going quickly in the same direction," Reed said. "Avantax shares our view that the future is through holistic advisory practices where the advisor works hand-in-glove with clients, supported by technology, to illustrate how we can achieve their goals. That includes assisting clients on both financial and tax-related matters, and we feel Avantax can help by partnering us up with local CPA practices to assist with more complicated tax and business situations."

Advisor Melissa Rubingh said Avantax presented an attractive blend of being a large, well-established business, while still providing personalized service.

"We wanted a firm that would ensure our client matters were processed in a timely fashion, along with a knowledgeable back office that can easily assist on more complicated situations. From our first round of phone calls with Avantax, it was clear that this partnership would be a great fit," said Rubingh. "It was also important that Avantax has such a strong relationship with Fidelity and NFS. Our clients wanted to know we are continuing to affiliate with large and reputable companies, and we have that with Avantax."

Formed by last year's combination of HD Vest and 1st Global, Avantax continues to invest in technology and other resources to further strengthen its support of firms like Making Investing Personal.

Avantax Welcomes the Making Investing Personal Advisory & Tax Team

"I strongly believe that the Making Investing Personal team realized from the beginning that they weren't going to be just a number with Avantax. They're a savvy, multi-generational advisor with their sights set on growth, and we're looking forward to taking that journey with them," said Tim Stewart, vice president, business development for Avantax. "Avantax is constantly looking for new and innovative ways to help our advisors' growth, whether organically or inorganically. We have the network, technology and attractive access to growth capital, to help growth-minded advisors accelerate their plans and achieve their personal and business goals."

About Avantax Wealth Management

Avantax Wealth Management (which comprises the Wealth Management business of Blucora, Inc.) offers a tax-advantaged approach for comprehensive financial planning. Through its Tax-Smart approach, Avantax representatives help clients leverage taxes to create financial growth opportunities. Most financial companies treat taxes as an afterthought, or not at all, even though taxes are one of life's most complex and costly expenses. Avantax uses technology, tax and wealth management insights to uncover tailored and advantageous opportunities across our clients' financial lifecycles to help enable better long-term outcomes.

Media Contact:

Tony Katsulos

Director, Communications

Avantax Wealth Management

(972) 870-6654

[email protected]

Avantax Wealth ManagementSM is the holding company for the group of companies providing financial services under the Avantax name. Securities offered through Avantax Investment ServicesSM, Member FINRA, SIPC. Investment advisory services offered through Avantax Advisory ServicesSM. Insurance services offered through licensed agents of Avantax Insurance AgencySM and Avantax Insurance ServicesSM. 6333 N. State Highway 161, Fourth Floor, Irving, TX 75038, 972-870-6000.

The Avantax family of companies exclusively provide investment products and services through its representatives. Although Avantax Wealth Management does not provide tax or legal advice, or supervise tax, accounting or legal services, Avantax representatives may offer these services through their independent outside business. This information is not intended as tax or legal advice. Please consult our firm and your legal professional for specific information regarding your individual situation.

Fidelity Investments and National Financial Services LLC (together "Fidelity") is an independent company, unaffiliated with Avantax Wealth Management ("Avantax"). Fidelity is a service provider to Avantax. There is no form of legal partnership, agency affiliation or similar relationship between your financial advisor and Fidelity, nor is such a relationship created or implied by the information herein. Fidelity Clearing & Custody Solutions provides clearing, custody, or other brokerage services through National Financial Services LLC or Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC, Members NYSE, SIPC 919907.1.0.

1 As of Jan. 30, 2020

SOURCE Avantax Wealth Management
Driving in Missouri provides a constant reminder from license plates that the state will celebrate its 200th birthday next year. But the conception of the state through the Missouri Compromise  a U.S. congressional effort signed 200 years ago by President James Monroe on March 6, 1820  also merits remembrance. That compromise in Washington, done in our name and at the request of residents in what is now Missouri, gave new life to slavery and doomed hundreds of thousands of more African Americans to a lifetime of bondage, rape and torture. We must not gloss over that or whitewash our past in a rush to throw confetti and eat birthday cake.

The year 1820 is celebrated in stone in the state Capitol as the year Missouri was organized as a state. Left unsaid under the dome is that the 1820 move breathed new life into the evil institution of slavery, allowing it to expand into even more states, as it would with Arkansas in 1836 and Texas in 1845. After congressional debates for more than a year stalled over admitting Missouri as a slave state  since that would tip the balance in the Senate and electoral college toward the slave states  the compromise also brought in Maine as a free state.
Former Vice President Joe Biden and his wife Jill Biden appear at the National Constitution Center on March 10, 2020, making a last-minute stop in Philadelphia after a primary election night rally in Cleveland was canceled due to the coronavirus. Read more

We said in our inaugural newsletter last week that Pennsylvania could still play a key role in the Democratic primary. Seems the voters in Michigan and elsewhere had other ideas.

Following his commanding Super Tuesday performance, Joe Biden's romp last night in Michigan  where Bernie Sanders had scored an upset against Hillary Clinton in 2016  put the former VP squarely on the path to the nomination. But there are still lessons to be learned from what happened last night and what it means for November here, so read on.

Also in this edition, we look at how the coronavirus might impact the campaign in Pennsylvania. After both Biden and Sanders canceled their election night rallies yesterday, Biden flew to Philly, where his campaign is based, for a lower-key celebration.

Biden shows he can rebuild the Blue Wall in Pa.

Donald Trumps path to the White House in 2016 ran through Midwestern battlegrounds like Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Michigan, states Democrats long considered their "Blue Wall."

It was Michigan where Sanders revived his 2016 primary campaign against Clinton. That didnt work this time, with Biden winning the state by 16 points. Biden not only ran up the score among black voters, he also won by double-digits among voters 45 and older, women, union households, nonunion households, college graduates, and people without college degrees, exit polls said.

Sanders' inability to hold onto voters in more rural areas he won in 2016 is something we were already watching play out here. Julia recently talked to Democrats who backed Sanders in the Pennsylvania counties where he beat Clinton, and found that many of them were voting more against Clinton than they were for Sanders. Visit Inquirer.com first thing tomorrow morning for Julia's full story on that.

Despite the mounting losses, Sanders said today that he's staying in the race. And regardless of how competitive the primary remains here, last nights results in Michigan are instructive for Pennsylvania.

The two states share similar demographics. Remember, too, that Clinton beat Sanders in Pennsylvania. The Keystone State, which holds a closed primary limited to registered Democrats, could be an even tougher state for Sanders than Michigan, where independents who might gravitate to Sanders can vote. Biden won among Democrats in Michigan last night by 22 points, exit polls show.

"Quite frankly, the support Bernie Sanders had in 2016 is not necessarily indicative of the base of support, or his ability to turn them out maybe, in 2020," Jim Wertz, chairman of the Erie County Democratic Committee, told us this morning.

Our colleague Jon Tamari has more here on what Michigan said about how Democrats can win Pennsylvania.

One more thought: If the primary does wrap up soon, expect to hear more about Pennsylvanias manufacturing economy. Jon reported this week that Trumps pledge to revive manufacturing jobs in Erie County has come up short. Erie is one of three counties in Pennsylvania that voted for Barack Obama before swinging to Trump, so any slip in support for the president there could be big.

Topic of the week: The coronavirus and 2020

In just one day, the scope of the coronavirus effect on the election started to become clear. Biden and Sanders both canceled rallies in Cleveland. The Democratic Party announced that Sundays debate won't have a live audience. And election officials are trying to grapple with how to protect voters without disenfranchising them.

Get ready for live-streamed rallies, virtual bus tours, and some Purell with your I Voted stickers.

We asked elections officials in Pennsylvania how the state is preparing. Most were short on details said theyre working with local health departments.

We have started talking about making sure we dont do any events that inadvertently accelerate the spread, said state Sen. Sharif Street, vice chair of the state Democratic Party.

Street said health officials suggested campaign events include at least three feet between people  not the typical image of a packed rally.

The new no-excuse absentee ballots and early voting, available for the primary, could help ensure people who dont want to be in crowded areas can still vote.

What were paying attention to

Overheard on the campaign trail

A lot of this group already had one foot out the door. They might actually be part of Trumps base now."  Brian Schaffner, a Tufts professor who has researched Sanders-Trump voters, on some of the people who backed Sanders over Clinton in Pa. and elsewhere.

On our radar

Theres a new labor and business coalition forming in Western Pennsylvania to fight environmental policies its stakeholders see as bad for jobs.

Pittsburgh Works Together, a union and business-backed group that includes members of the building trades, the steamfitters, operating engineers, and companies like U.S. Steel and CNX Gas, is launching Thursday in Pittsburgh with a mission to oppose legislation and policies that could hurt industry jobs.

Why it matters: Democrats in Pennsylvania have been divided over natural gas drilling. The tension has played out in the primary and is likely to have a role in the general election. Pittsburgh Works Together is also an unlikely pairing of rank and file union members and their bosses, with money behind their message. The group is financially backed by both the unions and energy and manufacturing companies. The coalitions creation comes after Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto said in the fall that he opposed any new petrochemical plants in western Pennsylvania. Organizers say the 501c6 (a nonprofit organized to promote businesses) is about giving labor and business a more unified say in how Pittsburgh rebuilds itself.
Nicole Nafziger and Azan Tefou might be finished with the 90 Day Fiance franchise, but theyre not finished with each other. Or with keeping fans on the hook when it comes to their relationship. After tons of teases about her current relationship with Tefou on Instagram, Nicole Nafziger has finally revealed that shes visiting Azan Tefou in Morocco. However, there has yet to be any news about momentum in their relationship or a marriage coming any time soon. Heres what we know so far.

Two failed marriage attempts with Azan Tefou

Nicole Nafziger and Azan Tefou of 90 Day Fiance | TLC

Many 90 Day Fiance fans have been left wondering when Azan Tefou and Nicole Nafziger are going to the knot, if ever. And perhaps thats not a surprising concern, given that the two have already had two failed marriage attempts.

Their first attempt at marriage fell through when Nicole Nafziger and Azan Tefou decided to try and tie the knot in Morocco. Unfortunately, Nafziger apparently didnt bring along the right paperwork for her marriage to Tefou.

However, the two prepared for another attempt at marriage. This one was a bust as well, but the issue was time and money. According to Nafziger, who answered a fan on Instagram, it just wasnt the right timing to make it happen.

Nafziger said, Too much pressure not enough time or money. You cant rush this kind of stuff. Do it in the right moment and it wasnt the right moment yet.

Since then, fans have been wondering if the two will ever get married. Its been a long time with no substantial updates, so many fans have begun to assume that it just wont ever happen.

Azan Tefou canceled their last trip

Nicole Nafziger has been hinting for some time that shes planning on visiting Azan Tefou in Morocco soon. However, 90 Day Fiance fans thought the trip might fall through. And it wouldnt be the first time this has happened.

Azan Tefou actually canceled the last trip he and Nicole Nafziger had planned together, and the reasoning seemed a little shady. The two were supposed to see one another in Grenada, but Tefou canceled the trip among what he alleged was a family emergency.

When TLC asked Nafziger about the cancelation, she told them, Its been a couple of weeks since the trip to Grenada was canceled. I am a little disappointed because I was really excited about it. The day we were supposed to leave, Azan called me and told me that hes not going to be able to come.

Tefou never seemed to clarify what the emergency was all about. On 90 Day Fiance the two chatted about it.



So is everything OK with that family emergency?Nafziger asked Tefou

Yeah. Thank God, like, really like, things are getting better now. Seems like everythings good, said Tefou. Notably, there were no specific details included in his answer.

Thats good I was worried. I know my familys been asking what your family emergency is but I keep telling them that you and your family didnt want to talk about it. Im just sad that I didnt get to see you like we planned. I was just excited, said Nafziger.

Nicole Nafziger visits her 90 Day Fiance love in Morocco

Despite all of the nonstarters in their relationship so far, Nicole Nafziger is confirmed to be visiting Azan Tefou in Morocco once again.

Nafziger posted a photo of herself and Azan Tefou together on her Instagram and captioned it, So happy to finally be with my love again.

Nafziger also shared a photo of her plane landing in Morocco on her Instagram story, so it seems as if shes actually there with Tefou, and that the photo isnt an old photo, as some fans have suggested on Instagram.

However, it remains to be seen if Nafzigers latest trip to Morocco will result in any sort of change in her relationship with Azan Tefou.
Michael S. Schwartz

Weeks after being benched by MSNBC after making misogynistic comments about Bernie Sanders supporters, Dr. Jason Johnson is out at digital outlet The Root, The Daily Beast has confirmed.

The political commentator appears to have removed the affiliation from his Twitter bio, and his contact information no longer appears on The Roots authors page. Sources at The Root confirmed that he is no longer employed by the site.

Johnson, who served as politics editor of the influential African-American-focused news and culture website owned by G/O Media, drew widespread outrage last month after claiming racist white liberals support Sanders, who has done nothing for intersectionality.

I dont care how many people from the island of misfit black girls you throw out there to defend you, he added in the Feb. 21 appearance on SiriusXMs The Karen Hunter Show.

His comments, particularly those about black women who support Sanders, resulted in calls for his firing as a paid contributor for MSNBC, where he had become a fixture of Democratic primary analysis. I hope we can have political disputes without engaging in open racism and sexism, Sanders national press secretary Briahna Joy Gray tweeted about Johnson. This misogynoir is disappointing, but not surprising from [him].

In a statement on Twitter, the political commentator apologized, saying his comments were harmful and unnecessary.

Several days later, The Daily Beast reported that MSNBC had quietly benched Johnson. After making nearly 40 on-air appearances in the first two months of 2020, including post-game coverage of the several Democratic primary debates and votes, the Morgan State University professor was nowhere to be found during MSNBCs coverage of the Nevada caucuses.

He has yet to return to MSNBCs air.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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NEW DELHI: Jyotiraditya Scindia, one of the pillars of Congress in Madhya Pradesh, on Wednesday (March 11, 2020) joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the party's headquarter office in New Delhi. Addressing the press conference at the BJP HQ, Scindia said, "I would like to thank BJP chief JP Nadda Ji, PM Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah that they invited me to their family and gave me a place in it.

"There have been 2 life-changing events for me - one, the day I lost my father and the second, yesterday when I decided to choose a new path for my life, '' he added.

Scindia also accused his former party Congress of corruption and said that it is not the same party which it was earlier.

"I have worked for my state and my nation through Congress but the party is not same anymore, there is widespread corruption in the party, sand mafias and farmer distress," Scindia said.

''There is a denial of reality in Congress, it has changed what the party used to be. I was hurt and distressed as I was not able to serve the people in my previous organisation,'' Scindia told reporters.

Stating reasons what forced him to quit his former party of several years and why he decided to join the saffron camp, Scindia said, ''I can say with confidence that the aim of public service is not being fulfilled by that party (Congress). Besides this, the present condition of the party indicates that it is not what it used to be.''

While praising the PM Narendra Modi for his extra-ordinary leadership, Scindia said, ''Country's future is totally secure in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's hands. The dream we saw for Madhya Pradesh has been shattered in 18 months.''

Scindia who resigned from the Congress on Holi (March 10, 2020) after he was sidelined by the leadership started his journey with the BJP in presence of party president Jagat Prakash Nadda and other senior party leaders.

Scindia went to BJP headquarter at Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Marg in New Delhi along with party spokesperson Jafar Islam, who played a key role in getting the former Congress leader to join his party. Scindia is likely to get the Rajya Sabha ticket from the BJP.

The 49-year-old former Lok Sabha MP from Guna resigned from the Congress and posted his letter to party's interim president Sonia Gandhi on his Twitter handle soon after meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah in New Delhi on Tuesday.

He had joined the Congress party on December 18, 2001, following the death of his father and the then sitting MP from Guna Madhavrao Scindia in an airplane crash in Uttar Pradesh on September 30, 2001.

He won Guna Lok Sabha seat in a by-election on February 24, 2002, and was re-elected the May 2004 General Election. He won again in the 2009 and 2014 Lok Sabha elections but lost to BJP's Krishna Pal Singh Yadav in 2019.
Manama

Housing Minister Bassim Al Hamer has stressed that the Housing Ministry gives top priority to the directives of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Premier, in implementing its final services and infrastructure plans at Salman City and the New Bahrain Cities projects.

He affirmed the ministrys keenness to provide all services and public amenities in those cities in co-ordination with the competent authorities. The minister pointed out that the ministry is currently reviewing implementation of the procedural schemes for general plans approved for the new cities.

He noted that the New Bahrain Cities projects are given a great importance by the government be it in terms of building the units or providing public services and infrastructure.

He added that building the new cities is a main pillar in carrying out social housing projects included in plans to implement the royal order to build 40,000 housing units. He underlined the housing commitments included in the Government Action Plan, pointing out HRH the Crown Princes continuous follow-up on this issue.

The Housing Minister was speaking during an inspection visit to Salman City, in the presence of Housing Ministry Undersecretary Shaikh Abdulla bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, Assistant Undersecretary for Housing Projects Sami Abdullah Buhaza, officials and architects.

He got updated on the ministrys readiness to launch new projects within the efforts to provide 25,000 housing units included in the Government Action Plan and stemming from the royal order to build 40,000 housing units.

The Housing Minister inspected the sites allocated to build 303 housing units and 1402 flats in the city for which tenders have been completed in preparation to start the construction work.
[March 10, 2020] LTE Base Station Market | Increasing Investments in Small Cell Infrastructure to Boost Growth | Technavio

Technavio has been monitoring the LTE (News - Alert) base station market and it is poised to grow by USD 29.37 bn during 2019-2023, progressing at a CAGR of over 17% during the forecast period. The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current market scenario, latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200310005703/en/ Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global LTE Base Station Market 2019-2023 (Graphic: Business Wire) The market is concentrated, and the degree of concentration will accelerate during the forecast period. 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. Increasing investments in small cell infrastructure has been instrumental in driving the growth of the market. Request latest free sample report of 2020-2024 LTE Base Station Market 2019-2023: Segmentation LTE Base Station Market is segmented as below: Product Macrocell

Small Cell End-user Rural and Remote

Urban

Enterprise Geographic segmentation The Americas

APAC

EMEA To learn more about the global trends impacting the future of market research, download latest free sample of 2020-2024: https://www.technavio.com/talk-to-us?report=IRTNTR30476 LTE Base Station Market 2019-2023: Scope Technavio presens a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources. Our LTE base station market report covers the following areas:



LTE Base Station Market Size

LTE Base Station Market Trends

LTE Base Station Market Industry Analysis This study identifies growing investments in LTE-A as one of the prime reasons driving the LTE base station market growth during the next few years. LTE Base Station Market 2019-2023: Vendor Analysis

We provide a detailed analysis of around 25 vendors operating in the LTE base station market, including some of the vendors such as Huawei Technologies, Nokia, SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS, Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (News - Alert) and ZTE. Backed with competitive intelligence and benchmarking, our research reports on the LTE base 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 LTE Base Station Market 2019-2023: Key Highlights CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2019-2023

Detailed information on factors that will assist LTE base station market growth during the next five years

Estimation of the LTE base station market size and its contribution to the parent market

Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior

The growth of the LTE base station market

Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors

Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of LTE base station market vendors Table of Content PART 01: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY PART 02: SCOPE OF THE REPORT PART 03: MARKET LANDSCAPE 2.1 Preface

2.2 Preface

2.3 Currency conversion rates for US$ PART 04: MARKET LANDSCAPE Market ecosystem

Market characteristics

Market segmentation analysis PART 05: MARKET SIZING Market definition

Market sizing 2018

Market size and forecast 2018-2023 PART 06: FIVE FORCES ANALYSIS Bargaining power of buyers

Bargaining power of suppliers

Threat of new entrants

Threat of substitutes

Threat of rivalry

Market condition PART 07: MARKET SEGMENTATION BY END-USER Market segmentation by end-user

Comparison by end-user

Rural and remote - Market size and forecast 2018-2023

Urban - Market size and forecast 2018-2023

Enterprise - Market size and forecast 2018-2023

Residential and SOHO - Market size and forecast 2018-2023

Market opportunity by end-user PART 08: CUSTOMER LANDSCAPE PART 09: MARKET SEGMENTATION BY PRODUCT Market segmentation by product

Comparison by product

Macrocell - Market size and forecast 2018-2023

Small cell - Market size and forecast 2018-2023

Market opportunity by product PART 10: GEOGRAPHIC LANDSCAPE Geographic segmentation

Geographic comparison

APAC - Market size and forecast 2018-2023

Americas - Market size and forecast 2018-2023

EMEA - Market size and forecast 2018-2023

Key leading countries

Market opportunity PART 11: DRIVERS AND CHALLENGES Market drivers

Market challenges PART 12: MARKET TRENDS Rising technological developments

Increased adoption of FDD-LTE

Growing investments in LTE-A PART 13: VENDOR LANDSCAPE Overview

Landscape disruption PART 14: VENDOR ANALYSIS Vendors covered

Vendor classification

Market positioning of vendors

Huawei (News - Alert) Technologies

Nokia

SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS

Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson

ZTE PART 15: APPENDIX Research methodology?

List of abbreviations 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/20200310005703/en/

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A RSS worker was attacked on Wednesday, in a fresh incident in the cycle of violence in the city for the past few days after the assault of a Hindu outfit leader as Tamil Nadu police chief J K Tripathi reviewed the situation.

Police said two people were detained on Wednesday in connection with the attack on a Hindu Munnani leader last week which set off retaliatory attacks including, hurling of petrol bomb on a mosque in this communally sensitive city.

The RSS worker was injured in an attack by four unidentified people at his shop in Sundarapuram area and had been admitted to a private hospital, they said.

Police Commissioner Sumit Saran visited the Sundarapuram area where the RSS worker was attacked.

More than 1,000 police personnel have been deployed as tension gripped parts of the city since the attack on Hindu Munnani Secretary Madukkarai Anand on March 5 when he was returning home after attending a pro-CAA dharna and hurling of a petrol bomb on a mosque within hours.

On Tuesday, the Hindu Munnani office here came under petrol bomb attack while a functionary of the SDPI was beaten up by some unidentified people.

Police have already arrested two people for hurling the petrol bomb at a mosque in Ganapati.

Director General of Police Tripathi arrived here on Wednesday afternoon and took stock of the situation with senior police officials at the commissionerate.

Tripathi discussed the security measures to ensure the safety of the public and the need to put an end to the cycle of violence.

The meeting was attended by West Zone Inspector General of Police K Periaiah, Sharan and other senior officials, police said.

District Collector K Rajamani warned of stringent action against those spreading rumours, triggering communal tension.

Meanwhile, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Special Intelligence Cell, O Vetriselvan was put on waiting list, reportedly for intelligence 'failure' and ACP Crime Branch P Chandrasekar appointed in his place, official sources said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Chelsea Lauren/WireImageDanzig has announced a pair of shows in support of his upcoming Elvis Presley covers album, Danzig Sings Elvis.

The dates take place April 17 at the Bimbo's 365 Club in San Francisco, and April 22 a the Roosevelt Hotel Grand Ballroom. For the shows, which are described as having a "special Vegas-club vibe," the Misfits frontman will be accompanied by a pianist and a nightclub-style band.

Danzig Sings Elvis, which was first announced way back in 2014, will finally be released on April 17.

Danzig will sing Danzig -- specifically, 1990's Danzig II: Lucifuge -- at the Psycho Las Vegas festival, taking place in August.

Copyright  2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
(Bloomberg Opinion) -- Act 1 of the Kabuki theater being played out in Brussels went according to script. Talks between the European Union and Recep Tayyip Erdogan over the fate of millions of refugees in Turkey ended after each side had restated its position and its dissatisfaction with the other.

Then the Turkish president went home, to fulminate anew about the perfidious Europeans who shirk their responsibility in dealing with a terrible humanitarian crisis. European leaders, in turn, will rail against the cynical Erdogan who uses that crisis to extort more aid.

Both sides know that these histrionics, while they play well to domestic audiences, will not advance the plot. Soon, the curtain must rise on Act 2, in which the players move toward some kind of resolution. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has already indicated a willingness to do so. Her European colleagues will take some persuading.

It would help everybody, but especially the refugees, if the players could move swiftly to Act 3, in which Europe pledges more resources, and Erdogan agrees  grudgingly, and with many vituperative asides for the gallery  to keep the refugees in Turkey. Since that is the only possible outcome, the sooner it comes the better.

Paying Erdogan off quickly will spare the refugees, who already endure unimaginable hardship, the indignity of being used as props in this ugly farce. To be herded to the European border in the false hope of salvation, and then be turned back by tear gas and bullets, is surely a form of human-rights abuse.

There is no gainsaying the scale of the crisis or the plight of the human beings it embroils: the UN Refugee Agency estimates there are more than 4.1 million refugees in Turkey, including 3.7 million from Syria. The recent fighting in Syrias Idlib province set off a fresh exodus toward Turkey, and it is unlikely any of the hundreds of thousands now living in flimsy tents will invest much hope in the ceasefire agreed between Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin. When the fighting inevitably resumes, the press of desperate Syrians on Turkeys border will grow exponentially.

Story continues

Common decency requires the EU to improve the financial terms of the 2016 deal, in which the Europeans agreed to supply Turkey $6 billion in aid for the refugees. But since this is not a morality play, it is more likely they will respond to Erdogans blackmail: pony up, or I send the refugees your way.

For those who may have forgotten the paroxysms of fear and xenophobia that convulsed Europe five years ago, before Turkey stanched the flow of refugees, a sobering reminder came last week. As a few thousand refugees, egged on by Erdogan, tried to cross over into Greece, the government in Athens invoked an emergency clause of European treaties and suspended accepting asylum applications. There were threats of violence from local vigilantes, and dire warnings from far-right politicians across Europe.

Now imagine  as Erdogan would very much like you to  what happens when hundreds of thousands of Syrians (and Afghans, Central Asians and Iranians) try to make that crossing. The EU leadership can accuse Erdogan of weaponizing the refugees, but they must accept a large share of the blame for failing to reform their migration systems and leaving themselves open to Turkish threats.

There is just a sliver of hope that the Europeans will take some of the refugees, at least the most vulnerable. Perhaps the German plan for a coalition of the willing (rather than the entire EU membership) to take some more might be revisited. The consensus required for Erdogans other pressing demand, visa-free travel for Turkish citizens throughout the EU, is unlikely to materialize.

Erdogan might conceivably agree to a postponement on that item; beyond that, he has little room for maneuver. The presidents political fortunes have recently declined: His AK Party lost elections in most major cities last year, and former acolytes are setting up political parties to challenge him. His ambitions on the international stage have suffered reversals in Syria; for all the nationalist fervor he was able to orchestrate with his military thrusts there, the ceasefire deal with Putin has left many Turkish positions besieged and vulnerable.

Erdogan desperately needs a political win, and the Europeans, for the most part, desperately want to keep the refugees away from their borders.

So, gnash their teeth as they may, the Europeans will cough up the additional aid Erdogan wants. To imagine a different ending would require plot twists beyond the ken of a Kabuki writer, never mind the limited imagination of the players in this tawdry tableau.

To contact the author of this story: Bobby Ghosh at aghosh73@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: James Gibney at jgibney5@bloomberg.net

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Bobby Ghosh is a columnist and member of the Bloomberg Opinion editorial board. He writes on foreign affairs, with a special focus on the Middle East and the wider Islamic world.

For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com/opinion

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Amendments must now be approved by two-thirds of regional parliaments before being put to a public vote on April 22.

Russian politicians overwhelmingly approved amendments to the constitution submitted by President Vladimir Putin, including the option for him to run for two more terms in the Kremlin.

About 160 senators in the upper house Federation Council backed the constitutional reforms on Wednesday with one voting against and three abstaining.

They must now be approved by two-thirds of Russian regional parliaments before being put to a public vote on April 22.

In a speech ahead of the Federation Councils vote, speaker Valentina Matviyenko called the passing of the amendments one of the most important issues in [Russias] modern history.

Putin must have the right to participate in new competitive elections, she said.

He raised Russia from its knees [and] is considered one of the worlds great leaders, she said.

She hailed the amendment introduced on Tuesday that would give Putin the chance to run again when his current term ends in 2024, by effectively resetting the clock on previous presidential terms.

Putin opened the door to constitutional changes that would allow him to remain in power until 2036, but said he favoured term limits once the country became politically mature.

Putin, 67, who in January unveiled a major shake-up of Russian politics and a constitutional overhaul, is required by the constitution to step down in 2024 when his second sequential and fourth presidential term ends.

Opposition activists said they planned to protest what some called the rewriting of the constitution in the interests of the ruling elite.

One group said it had applied for permission to stage a demonstration on March 21.

A former KGB officer, Putin has dominated the Russian political landscape for two decades.
Heartseed and ITOCHU CHEMICAL FRONTIER Sign Capital Alliance Agreement to Explore iPSC and Cardiomyocyte Business Opportunities

Details Category: DNA RNA and Cells Published on Wednesday, 11 March 2020 09:34 Hits: 1249

TOKYO, Japan I March 10, 2020 I Heartseed Inc. (hereinafter Heartseed), a Tokyo-based biotechnology company developing iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes for the treatment of heart failure (HF), today announced it has entered into agreement with ITOCHU CHEMICAL FRONTIER Corporation (headquartered in Minato-ku, Tokyo; President & CEO Tsutomu Miyazaki, hereinafter ICF) to form a financial business partnership. In accordance with the partnership, ICF will invest in Heartseed in an extension round of its Series B financing.

ICF is a fully owned subsidiary of ITOCHU Corporation, one of the largest general trading companies, and plays a key role in fine and specialty organic chemicals in the group.

Through this partnership, Heartseed will leverage ICFs global network of academia and research institutions to explore iPS-Cell and Cardiomyocyte-related business opportunities.

Heartseed previously announced it raised 2.8 billion yen (approx. US$26 million) in the Series B in November 2019 from SBI Investment, JMDC, Gene Techno Science, Nissay Capital, SMBC Venture Capital, and Astellas Venture Management LLC.

Heartseed expects to initiate Phase 1/2 clinical trial for its lead pipeline HS-001 for HF with reduced Ejection Fraction (HFrEF) in late 2020. Heartseed is also supporting an investigator-initiated clinical trial for Dilated Cardiomyopathy led by Keio University. Keio University expert panel approved its clinical trial plan in February 2020.

About Heartseed

Heartseed Inc. was founded in 2015 to develop and commercialize cardiac regenerative medicine developed by Prof. Keiichi Fukuda and his group at the Department of Cardiology, Keio University, Tokyo. Heartseed has original technologies throughout the process of manufacturing and delivering iPSC-derived cardiac regenerative medicine, including purification, cell delivery and iPSC production.

Company Name: Heartseed Inc. Established: November 30, 2015 President : Keiichi Fukuda Headquarter: Art Complex Center 302, Daikyocho 12-9, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan Shareholders: Founders/Employees/Angel Bridge/Astellas Venture Management/Shibuya Corporation/

SBI Investment, JMDC, Gene Techno Science, Nissay Capital, SMBC Venture Capital Website: http://www.heartseed.jp/en/index.html

For more information on Heartseed, please visit http://www.heartseed.jp/en/index.html

SOURCE: Heartseed
Additional reporting by Kevin O'Neill

Laboratory capacity is to be ramped up across the country after 10 new cases of Covid-19 were confirmed, bringing the total in the Republic to 34.

Tests of 1,784 suspected cases have been run in Ireland to date  an increase of 1,387 tests in one week.

Department of Health now plans to significantly increase testing capacity by expanding to regional laboratories, with Cork, Limerick, Galway, and Waterford tipped to come on stream over next couple of weeks.

This increased capacity would mean that thousands of tests can be run on a weekly basis, said Dr Tony Holohan, chief medical officer with the Department of Health, adding that 98% of all suspected cases in Ireland have tested negative so far.

Of the 10 new Covid-19 cases confirmed to the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC), one was a male healthcare worker in the south associated with hospital transmission; one was a female healthcare worker in the east, which was a possible hospital transmission; three males in the south, as well as one male and one female in the east, are associated with travel from an affected area; one male and one female in the west, as well as one female in the south, are associated with close contact with a confirmed case.

The HSE is now working to identify any contacts the patients may have had, to provide them with information and advice in order to to prevent further spread.

Two members of staff at Ervia are among those who have tested positive for the coronavirus.

In a statement, Ervia, the parent company for Gas Networks Ireland and Irish Water, confirmed that it had been advised by two individuals that they have tested positive for the coronavirus.

Both recently returned home from an affected area in Europe, the statement read. The crisis management team in Ervia has been meeting over the past number of weeks to co-ordinate the response across both businesses to ensure the safety and well-being of staff and maintenance of services.

Ervia had protocols already established, these individuals self-isolated before being diagnosed and did not return to work following their trip abroad. Staff in Ervia have been notified of these developments.

But despite the increase in cases, Dr Holohan said he is not convinced that schools need to close to combat the outbreak at this stage.

At a point in time, this is still something that might be of value, but were not convinced that it will be, he said.

Given that any measures introduced to combat the virus which would have a social and economic impact may be in place for a considerable period of time, Dr Holohan said that these should only be deployed at at a point in time that is appropriate and not before theyre necessary or likely to work.

The National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET), which Dr Holohan chairs, has now decided that the HPSC will formally update guidelines for healthcare workers returning to work following exposure to a confirmed case, as per recommendations from the Expert Advisory Group (EAG).

Confirmed cases who are clinically appropriate can remain in their home, in self-isolation, NPHET said.

However, this is subject to the development of criteria for their discharge from self- isolation by the EAG today.

Socially restrictive actions around hospitals and nursing homes are not necessary at this moment in time, NPHET stated.

The body advised that blanket socially restrictive actions around hospitals and nursing homes are not currently necessary, but encouraged proper hygiene to protect vulnerable groups.
Mohammad Hussein Siddiqui, who returned from Saudi Arabia last month, died in Kalaburagi, Karnataka on March 10, 2020. Officials are conducting tests on his samples to rule out coronavirus infection.

Kalaburagi: The final rites of a man whose death was attributed to suspected coronavirus were held this afternoon under strict medical supervision by the health officials of Kalaburagi district.

Mohammad Hussein Siddiqui, 76, a religious leader of Kalaburagi, was admitted to a hospital following a complaint of cough due to viral pneumonia.

Siddiqui went to Saudi Arabia on January 29 and returned a month later. He was first admitted to a hospital in Kalaburagi following complaints of cough and other symptoms. Doctors screened him for the Covid-19 coronavirus a couple of days back. He did not respond to treatment and died yesterday at around 11 pm.

His body was sanitized by health officials before handing it over to his family. District health officer M A Jabbar instructed those conducting the final rites of Siddiqui not to touch the body with bare hands and use other protective measures during burial.

Samples drawn from Siddiqui have been sent to a laboratory in Bengaluru. The report is expected by Thursday.

There have been no other cases of suspected coronavirus in Kalaburagi district.
One reason Syracuse University took the unusual step of moving classes completely online: A moral obligation to the Central New York community as concerns heighten about the spread of the coronavirus in the U.S.

Vice Chancellor Michael Haynie sat down for a one-on-one interview with syracuse.com to discuss the reasons for SUs latest step in response to the coronavirus.

He shared concerns about students returning to campus after spring break, possibly from areas  ranging from Westchester County to China  that have seen community spread of the coronavirus.

Were about to launch 15,000 students out there into the world, and the idea or at least the normal routine that a week from then, they come back  that really is why we think its a prudent and appropriate step for us to take this action," Haynie said. We think it really is in the best interest of not just the campus community but Central New York.

About 5,000 current SU students are from Downstate, according to Haynie. Thousands more hail from other affected areas such as southern California, China, Florida and northern New Jersey. Together, students from those areas make up about 50% of the student population, Haynie said.

Chancellor Kent Syverud appointed Haynie to manage the universitys response to the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19.

Haynie served for 14 years as an officer in the U.S. Air Force before entering academia. He has a doctorate in entrepreneurship and business strategy and helped found SUs Institute for Veterans and Military Families. Since Haynie came to Syracuse in 2006 to work as a professor in the Whitman School of Management, he has risen to a No. 2 spot at SU, vice chancellor for strategic initiatives and innovation.

Haynie said he met with faculty experts on infectious diseases, and has consulted health experts nationally and locally to prepare a response to the coronavirus.

The vice chancellor knew taking the extraordinary step of shifting all classes online would raise questions. The university hasnt taken a step like this since the Vietnam War protests of the 1970s.

Haynie noted that most college-aged students at SU are not particularly vulnerable to coronavirus symptoms. Yet, the university also considered the potential for students to carry the virus and possibly spread it to more vulnerable populations here in Central New York.

If you look at what we know so far about the coronavirus, young people, people the ages of most of our students, the complications from the virus really are most pronounced in older individuals," Haynie said. "What that highlights to us is we have a moral obligation to think about the community broadly, but also our faculty and our staff.

The university has advised faculty and staff who are sick to stay home. Haynie said SU would release further guidance to employees about work-from-home and other relevant policies.

SU will begin to shift classes online beginning Friday, when students are scheduled to begin a week of spring break. Students are asked to stay home until at least March 30. SU will communicate further guidance at that time or prior.

Haynie confirmed there have not yet been any cases of coronavirus involving members of the Syracuse University community, either on campus or in Onondaga County.

Spring break travel, however, could mean a rapid change in circumstances.

We talked to a lot of people," Haynie said. At the end of the day we just think this is the right thing to do for our campus community.

More coronavirus news:

Public Affairs Reporter Julie McMahon covers courts, government, education and other issues affecting taxpayers. She can be reached anytime: Email | Twitter | 315-412-1992

Thanks for visiting Syracuse.com. Quality local journalism has never been more important, and your subscription matters. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work.
Oil prices fell heavily Wednesday, reversing gains made earlier in the day, as Saudi Arabia moved to boost output capacity in an escalation of a price war with Russia. West Texas Intermediate fell 1.7 percent to about $33 a barrel while Brent crude was off 1.7 percent at $36 a barrel. Both contracts had been up as much as four percent earlier in the day. Crude markets have been in turmoil since the start of the week after Riyadh slashed prices following a bust-up with Moscow over output cuts, leading to the biggest one-day drop for almost 30 years. Prices had risen strongly on Tuesday and early Wednesday, however, as investors focused on promises by US President Donald Trump to launch stimulus measures to combat the economic impact of the coronavirus outbreak. But energy titan Saudi Aramco's announcement that it would raise production capacity by one million barrels per day to 13 million bpd halted the rally in its tracks -- and prices quickly fell back into the red. The company said it had received instructions from the energy ministry to raise capacity. Trump had promised to introduce measures to combat the virus epidemic such as assistance to airlines and cruise companies, two especially hard-hit industries -- but investors are growing worried about the lack of concrete action. "The market rally based on Trump's economic stimulus alone is unlikely to be sustainable" given the amount of oil that will soon be hitting the market, Howie Lee, an economist at Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp, told Bloomberg News. This week's oil rout was triggered by Riyadh driving through the biggest price cuts in two decades at the weekend, following Moscow's refusal to agree to reduce production. Saudi Arabia and others from oil-exporting cartel OPEC led a push last week to reduce output further to shore up prices amid slumping demand due to the new coronavirus. But Moscow, the world's second-biggest oil producer, blocked the move -- signalling an alliance with OPEC that was aimed at supporting the market was unravelling. sr/mtp Saudi Aramco
The British Army killed 13 civilians on Bloody Sunday in Londonderry in 1972, a fourteenth died later in hospital

A man shot and wounded on Bloody Sunday was allegedly humiliated by a soldier threatening to put another bullet in him, the High Court has heard.

Lawyers for Patsy O'Donnell's family claimed one of the paratroopers grabbed him by the hair and told colleagues: "Chaps, there will be blood flowing tonight".

Aged 40 when he was shot in the shoulder by the soldier during the events in Derry in January 1972, Mr O'Donnell died in 2006.

Relatives of the father-of-six are suing the Ministry of Defence (MoD) for the injuries and damages inflicted on him.

Thirteen unarmed people were killed during a civil rights march in the city.

Another of those wounded on the day, which became known as Bloody Sunday, died later.

In 2010 the Saville Inquiry into the shootings established the innocence of all of the victims.

Those findings led to David Cameron, the British Prime Minister at the time, issuing a public apology for the soldiers' actions.

He described the killings as "unjustified and unjustifiable".

Liability is accepted in legal actions taken against the MoD by those bereaved or injured.

Proceedings instead centre on the level of damages in each case, with more than 3million in total paid out to date.

Opening the claim on behalf of Mr O'Donnell, Karen Quinlivan QC said he had been shot while taking cover at Glenfada Park North.

He was arrested with other civilians and escorted to Columbcille Court, the court heard, where he was photographed and struggled to assume a search position due to his injuries.

"He describes a soldier pulling his head back by the hair and saying to him 'You are a Fenian b****** and I hate Fenian b*******'," Mr Quinlivan alleged.

"He also said 'You have a bullet in you and when we get you down to the barracks you'll have another one in you. You mark my words'.

"The same soldier said to other soldiers 'Chaps, there will be blood flowing tonight'."

Arguing that he must have been terrified, counsel added: "Despite his injuries, soldiers instead of seeking medical attention for Mr O'Donnell subjected him to violence and further humiliation."

Following his release from hospital, he was unable to return to his job with an asphalt company for up to eight months.

It was claimed that he was frequently stopped by soldiers and police, and had his home raised, after Bloody Sunday.

His work as a roofing contractor was also allegedly frustrated by being detained during trips across the border into Co Donegal.

"Patsy O'Donnell regarded his identification with Bloody Sunday as a life-long burden," Ms Quinlivan contended.

"It led to his being harassed by the Army and police."

In a statement to the Saville Inquiry before he died at the age of 74, Mr O'Donnell said: "I do, however, still feel bitter about what happened me and the fact that I am probably classed by some people as a gunman and am under suspicion for doing something wrong.

"I am not and have never been involved in that sort of thing. I hope that this Inquiry will get to the truth."

Objecting to the harassment allegations, David Ringland QC argued that the issue was being raised for the first time as the case opened.

Mr Justice McAlinden adjourned the action to allow time to deal with the new part of the claim.

He said: "This is an unfortunate outcome for all concerned, for the family of the deceased.

"But it's a matter which needs to be properly addressed and looked at."
When Dublin guitarist and producer Gavin Ralston lost his five-year battle against bowel cancer last September, he left behind not only bereaved family and friends but also numerous musical projects from his prolific career, writes Ellie O'Byrne

One of said projects was his contribution to trad fusion collective Jiggys, most recent album: Hypernova.

Ralston enjoyed playing with the loose collective of world musicians; he last appeared live with them at a music festival in Kazakhstan in the summer of 2018. By the time Hypernova was in production, his health had worsened. But he still contributed.

Gavin played bass on one track on the album, Seamaisin, and were delighted to have it on the album, Jiggy bodhran player Robbie Harris says.

We also recorded the title track in his studio in Wicklow. He was very sick at that session, but was in great spirits and full of his usual positivity.

Jiggy are a world music fusion act that meld traditional Irish sounds flute, uilleann pipes, bodhran and fiddle  with Indian percussion, rock, rap and Persian influences.

Their debut album, Translate, hit number one in the World Music Charts not only in Ireland, but in EU countries including France and Poland, as well as the US and Australia. Months later, in 2018, their video for a track called Silent Place, featuring footage of dancers from all over the world, went viral; to date, it has generated 35 million views across different platforms.

They call themselves more of a collective than a band, which is the reason why guitarist Gary OBrien, from Castlegregory in Co Kerry, never found himself sharing a stage with Ralston, who played bass and guitar, he explains.

Myself and Gavin wouldnt have shared the stage because if he was there, I wasnt and vice versa, OBrien says.

Gavin was a powerhouse of a musician, so well-respected in Irish music. Losing him was a huge blow to the band, and to everyone who knew him.

OBrien, who also plays in West Kerry trad group Polca 4, says the sense of community and camaraderie that comes with playing live with Jiggy would appeal to any musician.

Its great craic, he says. Its a mad bunch of musicians from different backgrounds; its exciting to be involved with.

The technical challenges in collaborating with musicians of very different traditions are surprisingly few, he says. It requires a bit of work, but generally someone will come up with a riff or a tune and then Robbie and [Indian percussionist] Koushik Chandra Shekar will come in; theres a bit of back of forth, but it all seems to happen quite naturally. Weve kind of found the Jiggy sound.

Its a sound very much inspired by the work of other world fusion acts like Afro-Celt Soundsystem, with whom Robbie Harris has toured, and the UKs Imagined Village; a sound built on a belief in the universality and unifying force of music and dance.

Following the Irish launch of Hypernova, and before a packed summer calendar of international festival appearances kicks in, Jiggy are set to tour India in March, with gigs in New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata.

It will be the bands second time playing gigs in India.

We were really well received last time, so were really looking forward to going back, OBrien says. The Uilleann pipes seem to really catch peoples attention in India, because people wont have seen the instrument before, so they think its quite unusual.

But a lot of our music is embedded in Indian rhythms and beats, so it was great seeing peoples reactions to the music out there. Its ingrained in Indian musical culture to respond to complex beats, and our audiences really seemed to get the melding of the Irish and Indian beats. We had an absolute blast last time.
The Russian pranksters have conned other high profile people such as Sir Elton John

On Megxit

'You can call me whatever you want  Harry is fine. [Asked about Megxit]. Um, it's, that's probably a conversation for another time, there's lots of layers to it and lots of pieces to the puzzle.

'But sometimes the right decision isn't always the easy one.

'I can assure you, marrying a Prince or Princess is not all it's made out to be!

'And this decision certainly wasn't the easy one but it was the right decision for our family, the right decision to be able to protect my son.

'And I think there's a hell of a lot of people around the world that can identify and respect us for putting our family first.

'But, yeah, it's a tricky one, but we will start a new life.'

On their new life in Canada

'Oh no, I think it's much better (than royal life). You forget, I was in the military for ten years so I'm more normal than my family would like to believe.

'But certainly being in a different position now gives us the ability to say things and do things that we might not have been able to do.

'And seeing as everyone under the age of 35 or 36, seems to be carrying out an activist's role, gives us the opportunity to try and make more of a difference without being criticised (chuckles)'.

On being stripped of titles and losing royal privileges

'You mustn't believe what you read, no one has stripped us of our titles.

'Because of a technicality within the family, if we are earning money separately from within the family structure, then we obviously have been asked not to use our titles in order to make money, which we would never do.

'The press managed to jump on that to make it look like we had been stripped.'

On charity work

'I think at the moment, my wife and I, we were being directed towards starting a foundation but we actually decided there is probably enough foundations out there doing amazing work.

'And there's a hell of a lot of money being passed around the world and there are so many problems but we thought we'd just take a moment and see if there was some form of other organisation or different entity we could create that could bring people together, rather than us just starting a foundation. We don't think the world needs necessarily another foundation from us.

'So we are just taking a little bit more time to think about how we can use our platform and how we can use our voice to try and encourage real change and real difference as opposed to, you know, small incremental changes.

'As we all know, the world's problems seem to be getting bigger and seem to be happening far quicker . . . I think the solutions are far quicker to enable as well, but there needs to be a real shift in mindset. We try and do our best.

'I've spent many, many years being criticised by the media for doing all sorts of things and trying to change the way we think, um, and I can sympathise but at the same time applaud the work that all of you are doing because it's not an easy time and the world is a troubled place and can be very easy to give up and I think what you guys are doing absolutely remarkable'.

On Donald Trump

'The mere fact that Donald Trump is pushing the coal industry is so big in America, he has blood on his hands.

'But Trump will want to meet you to make him look better but he won't want to have a discussion about climate change with you because you will outsmart him. Whether you have an option to meet President Trump or an option to meet Boris Johnson, I think I would always.'

On Prince Andrew

'I have very little to say on that.

'But whatever he has done or hasn't done, is completely separate from me and my wife. We operate in a way of inclusivity and we are focusing on community. And so we are completely separate from the majority of my family.'

On Boris Johnson

'I think he is a good man, so you are one of few people who can reach into his soul and get him to feel and believe in you.

'But you have to understand that because he has been around for so long like all of these other people, they are already set in their ways. They believe what they want to believe, they believe what they have been told.

'What you are now saying to them is not only inconvenient but is completely against everything they have ever believed.

'So that is what you're up against, up against changing habits, as you know'.

On the climate

'Unfortunately, the world is being led by some very sick people, so people like yourselves and (the) younger generation are the ones that are going to make all the difference.

'People need to be woken up and the only way to wake people up from what effectively is a consciousness crisis is, I think, you need to be doing extreme things. What you need to do is make real big changes that actually shock people, and it's that shock factor that wakes people up.'

On using private jets

'Unfortunately there is very few alternatives. We have to fly on commercial planes all over the world. Nowhere near as much as most people who do it for a night or weekends.'

'Certainly for my family, to protect my family, from these people, as you can well understand. I have to put protections and safety of my family first and these people are never-ending.'

On the media

'The best advice I can give on that is to be able to see through the fear.

'What they don't understand is the battle we are fighting against them is far more than just us.

'So I think one of the, what I've always believed, one of the strongest ways to change mindset and be able to raise consciousness and be able to create self-awareness among people, is to challenge the media and say you have a responsibility and you are accountable for everything you are feeding people because you are brainwashing people, so this is far bigger than just us.'

Bizarre exchange on Greta marrying Prince George

Fake Greta says she a distant member of the Swedish royal family

Harry replies with a chuckle: "Oh wow, so we are related?

Greta says: "Yeah its true, and if it will help me in fighting for climate change, should I arrange a dynastic marriage, do you think? I think it'll help."

The prince is heard responding: "I am certain it'll help

The giggling 'Greta' - aged 17 - then says: "I found some candidates that suits me - James Windsor and Prince George. "Their ages I think are very suitable for my marriage. It will help.."

Harry then replies laughing: "I am sure I can help."
Im sure my wife and children will understand and respect all Im doing to protect the health of others. If they dont, I wont hear their complaints because theyll have to live in the basement until Im done social distancing. (The dog can stay. Coronavirus rules have banned me from touching my face, so I need a different face to touch. Its a symbiotic relationship, as the dog enjoys a good face rub.)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, March 11, 2020 17:30 671 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2069dfa07 1 Business Indonesia,SOEMinistry,SOEs,share-buyback,banking,infrastructure,mining,JCI Free

A dozen state-owned enterprises listed on the local stock exchange will buy back their shares to prop up prices which have dropped sharply in the past few days amid fears the new coronavirus outbreak would further worsen the countrys economic outlook.

Arya Sinulingga, an aide to State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) Minister Erick Thohir, said that the 12 state companies had allocated between Rp 7 trillion (US$489 million) and Rp 8 trillion to buy their shares from the public.

The twelve companies include Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BBRI), Bank Mandiri (BMRI), Bank Negara Indonesia (BBNI), Bank Tabungan Negara (BBTN), construction company Wijaya Karya (WIKA), Adhi Karya (ADHI), Pembangunan Perumahan (PTPP), Jasa Marga (JSMR), Waskita Karya (WSKT), mining company Aneka Tambang (ANTM), Bukit Asam (PTBA) and Timah (TINS), as told by Arya.

The share buyback is needed as the prices of their shares have fallen far below their book value, Arya told reporters on Tuesday.

The state companies had begun their share buyback program and that it was up to them to decide when the share buyback practices would be stopped, Arya said after the Financial Services Authority (OJK) issued a regulation on Monday evening to allow listed companies to buy back their shares without prior shareholders approval.

The new policy allows the listed companies to buy back up to 20 percent of their paid-up capital in a bid to push up their share prices. This is as an effort to stimulate the economy and reduce the impact of the significantly fluctuating market, the OJK said in a statement.

The Jakarta Composite Index (JCI), the main price indicator on the IDX), fell further by nearly 2 percent on Wednesday after losing 6.7 percent on Monday. The index lost 17 percent this year amid growing fears over the global spread of the new coronavirus.

Read also: OJK relaxes buyback rules as Indonesian stocks nosedive more than 6%

Shares of state companies listed on the local stock exchange have fallen by between 10 percent and 40 percent since the start of the trading this year.

State-owned construction firm Adhi Karya told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday that the company would buy back their shares as required by the government.

Adhi will make a share buyback. The plan is under study, Adhi Karya corporate secretary Parwanto Noegroho said. He added that the information disclosure related to the buyback would be announced following the OJK circular letter.

Bank Mandiri corporate secretary Rully Setiawan told the Post in a written statement that the bank had approved an approval from the SOEs Ministry to buy part of its shares which have been sold to the investing public.

Bank Mandiri will closely monitor the market condition, Rully said on Tuesday, adding that a study on the technical, legal and taxation aspects needed before the share buyback was conducted.

Read also: Bourse announces new trading suspension policy on brink of bear market

Meanwhile, Jasa Marga head of corporate finance Eka Setya Adrianto said in Jakarta on Tuesday that the company was still studying the option at the moment but he was reluctant to explain the details of the share buyback plan.

Coal miner Bukit Asam finance director Mega Satria said on March 3 that the company would wait for stable market conditions and OJK approval before buying back its stocks.

When asked whether PTBA would buy back its stocks this month, Mega said; were not sure when. We still wait and see. Were also not sure how much we will buyback. 

He went to say that Bukit Asam still held 330 million treasury stocks that we want to sell, actually, but we have to look at the market condition. The stocks were part of the stocks it bought from the market some time ago.

Norman Harsono contributed to the story
A man in Rome, Georgia, said he was initially sent home after he went to the hospital with flu-like symptoms and later tested positive for coronavirus.

Clay Bentley told ABC News on Wednesday that on March 1 he sang in the more-than-100-member choir at the Church at Liberty Square in Cartersville, Georgia.

MORE: Coronavirus live updates: World Health Organization declares coronavirus outbreak a 'pandemic'

Bentley said he went home after church and woke up Monday morning, feeling so sick he went to urgent care in Rome, Georgia. When they checked his vitals, he said, his oxygen levels were really low and he was sent to a hospital.

"I was so weak that I couldn't even stand up," he told ABC News.

Tune into ABC News Live at noon ET every weekday for the latest news, context and analysis on the novel coronavirus with the full ABC News team, where we will try to answer your questions about the virus.

At Redmond Regional Medical Center, the medical staff ran additional tests on him for the flu and pneumonia but he said the tests all came back negative.

MORE: Coronavirus map: Tracking the spread in the US and around the world

"Then they asked me if I had been out of the country," he recalled, "and I told them 'No.' ... So they sent me home, and over the next four days, I got really bad. ... I called the hospital Friday morning. ... [I said:] 'I'm not getting any better. ... I don't know what I'm supposed to do.' So they told me to come back to the hospital. And, that's when they saw it was really bad."

When he returned to the hospital, he was tested for coronavirus, and the test came back positive.

PHOTO: Clay Bentley of Georgia is quarantined at a hospital in Rome, Georgia. He said his symptoms appeared on March 2, a day after he sang in a choir at Church at Liberty Square in Cartersville, Georgia. (ABC via Facetime)

"I just assumed I had the flu," said Bentley, who described his symptoms as "basic flu-like symptoms," including no energy, difficulty breathing, body aches, chills and fevers.

Bentley is currently quarantined in the hospital.

"I have had the flu before, but I ain't never felt this bad," he said.

Story continues

He said he'd been told that seven or eight people in the choir were in the hospital.

MORE: As the number of coronavirus cases rises, why is Italy being hit so hard?

In a letter to its members shared with ABC News, the Church at Liberty Square said that it had learned on Wednesday from the Northwest Georgia Department of Public Health that there were "two confirmed positive cases" of coronavirus among people who'd attended Sunday morning services in the last two weeks.

The church told its members that it was immediately sanitizing its campus according to guidelines from the Environmental Protection Agency and would be canceling Wednesday services. The church said it would resume normal Sunday services.

"On a personal and pastoral note, my heart goes out to all those affected by this illness and any illness going around. Please know that God is with you, and we will get through this together. This is not a time for panic and fear, but rather a time to be wise and trust in our loving and faithful God," said senior pastor Jacob King.

MORE: Coronavirus testing on the rise in US, but experts say its not enough

Bentley told ABC News his wife had not been tested for coronavirus but that she was being quarantined at home for two weeks. He said she was told to go home because she wasn't displaying symptoms.

"I've been around her the whole week," he said. "They have not tested her, and I don't understand."

Although Bentley said doctors were giving him breathing treatments and antibiotics, he expressed frustration over the hospital sending him home when he first came in.

"If they had tested me for coronavirus when I first came to the hospital, I wouldn't have got in such bad shape before they were able to start helping me," he said. "They let me get to the worst that I could possibly get before they started trying to help me."

PHOTO: Clay Bentley of Georgia is quarantined at a hospital in Rome, Georgia. He said his symptoms appeared on March 2, a day after he sang in a choir at Church at Liberty Square in Cartersville, Georgia. (ABC via Facetime)

Redmond Regional Medical Center's spokeswoman confirmed in a statement that Bentley, who had given the hospital permission, had tested positive for coronavirus and that were two patients with the virus at the hospital.

"Redmond Regional Medical Center has protocols in place to care for patients with infectious diseases, and we have been working diligently to ensure we are prepared for potential issues related to COVID-19. ... We are following infection prevention protocols for COVID-19 patients, including isolation, to help ensure the safety of our colleagues, patients and visitors, and we continue to work closely with the CDC and the Georgia Department of Public Health," said spokeswoman Andrea Pitts in an email to ABC News.

Pitts said further that "as part of our preparations for coronavirus, we have been reinforcing infection prevention protocols, and last week we implemented new screening procedures at hospital entrances as a proactive measure. We have positioned supplies at points of entry, so that any potential symptomatic patient who arrives can be properly masked and immediately isolated to protect our colleagues and other patients."

ABC News' Felicia Biberica contributed to the reporting in this story.

Editor's Note: A previous version of this story said that Bentley's adult son and grandson were also quarantined. That is not true. We regret the error.

Man battling coronavirus speaks out: 'I ain't never felt this bad' originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Tesla CEO Elon Musk.

Jae C. Hong/AP

Tesla's biggest investor, Baillie Gifford, believes it's a "better-run" company these days, thanks in large part to Tesla's chairwoman.

James Anderson, head of global equities for the firm, told the Financial Times that Tesla Chairwoman Robyn Denholm provides "emotional" support for CEO Elon Musk.

Denholm, one of two women on Tesla's board, has been there since 2014 and is the only board member besides Musk with automotive experience.

She was named chairwoman in 2018 following Musk's infamous "funding secured" tweet and the subsequent settlement with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Tesla's biggest institutional investor believes the company is in better shape these days thanks to the "emotional" support its chairwoman is providing CEO Elon Musk.

James Anderson, the head of global equities for Scottish investment firm Baillie Gifford, Tesla's biggest institutional shareholder, said in an interview with the Financial Times that he feels "more comfortable" these days, thanks in large part to the changes Tesla has made to its board in recent years.

Baillie Gifford owns a 7.5% stake in Tesla, which is worth about $9.7 billion. The firm considered selling part of its stake last year, reportedly convening an internal assessment called "Devil's Advocate" to help it decide.

"We thought he was getting things wrong," Anderson told the FT, but the firm is now bullish on Tesla and Musk, saying it's a "better run" company these days.

He pointed specifically to Chairwoman Robyn Denholm, who he said has given Musk "'emotional' support and allowed him to focus on leading the company," according to the FT.

Denholm has been on Tesla's board since 2014 and was named chairwoman in 2018 after Musk was stripped of the title following his infamous "funding secured" tweet and the subsequent Securities and Exchange Commission investigation and settlement. Denholm previously worked at telecoms company Telstra, where she was chief financial officer, and worked at Toyota in Australia for seven years. Of Tesla's eight board members besides Musk, Denholm is the only one with any automotive experience. There is one other woman on Tesla's board: Kathleen Wilson-Thompson, the former global head of human resources for Walgreens Boots Alliance.

Story continues

At the time of Denholm's appointment, analysts were hoping for a board chair who could keep Musk in check following his erratic Twitter use. Beyond the tweet that attracted the attention of the SEC, Musk referred to a British cave diver working on the Thai cave rescue in 2018 as a "pedo guy" on Twitter, which resulted in a defamation suit (Musk was cleared in 2019.)

"Twitter is part of everyday business for many executives today," Denholm said in 2019, shortly after she was named chair of the board. "From my perspective, he uses it wisely."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Boeing customers have cancelled orders for dozens of 737 MAX planes as a clouded travel outlook due to coronavirus adds to the jet's woes, according to figures released Wednesday.

Shares of the aerospace giant dove further after it reported 43 cancellations for the MAX in 2020 as of the end of February in a monthly update on its website.

The company also experienced a big drop in plane deliveries, which stood at 30 at the end of February, compared with 95 in the year-ago period.

Boeing has said it expects the MAX to receive regulatory approval to resume flights at mid-year, but if that holds, the jet will return at a highly uncertain time for airlines.

Carriers around the world have canceled thousands of flights as the coronavirus effectively shuts down key markets like China and Italy and chills demand generally.

Shares of Boeing plunged 11.9 per cent to UD 203.59, with the orders report adding to another bad day for US stocks more broadly.

Boeing had been down steeply even before the figures following a Bloomberg story that the company will make use of all of a USD 13.8 billion loan obtained from banks last month.

The MAX has been grounded for the last year after two crashes that killed 346 people, spawning numerous lawsuits and investigations.

On Tuesday, families of victims of the second crash on an Ethiopian Airlines plane commemorated the one-year anniversary of the catastrophe.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
French Connection slid to a loss last year as the gloom on UK high streets took its toll.

The fashion retailer missed its guidance for the year after trading in the second half was considerably worse than expected following a poor festive period.

It said revenue fell 11.4 per cent to 119.9m for the 12 months to 31 January as it was weighed down by store closures and the difficult retail trading environment.

Chairman and chief executive Stephen Marks said the companys performance has not been as anticipated and the business has not been assisted by potential uncertainty due to the Covid-19 coronavirus.

French Connection slipped to an underlying loss of 2.9m during the year, from an 800,000 profit in the previous year.

It said like-for-like sales continued to decline in the UK and Europe, falling 2.5 per cent over the period.

The company said it has also been hit by its closure programme, which saw 11 high street stores, three outlets, and four concessions shut their doors.

It also took a 500,000 hit from the closure of its joint venture in Hong Kong and China.

However, the company said it was pleased with the continued good performance of its wholesale business in the US and has good forward orders in the UK, to be delivered during the first half of the year.

Mr Marks said: We believe the trading landscape in the UK is unlikely to improve in the short term and this has a potential impact on both the retail and wholesale businesses.

Against this background, we are working hard to ensure we are operating as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible while working closely with all our trading partners to maximise business with them.

Shares in the company tumbled 8.5 per cent to 16.9p in early trading on Tuesday.

PA
In December 2017, my friend, whom Ill call LM, and her sisters visited their elderly father for Christmas. During that visit, he told her a few of his wishes, just in case something should happen to him.

At the time, he had gone so far as to have his will drawn up, but he hadnt finalized it. In addition, he hadnt authorized anyone to have power of attorney in case of illness.

LM isnt sure if he didnt sign his will because he feared facing his mortality, wanted to save money or hesitated about who should move into his apartment if he died. All she knows is that hed done 99% of the process, but didnt complete it.

A week later, in January 2018, he fell ill and was hospitalized. Then, family hell broke loose.

The story is a bit complicated. As Tolstoy wrote in the beginning of Anna Karenina, Every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way. Like other 19th century novels, LMs story stems from contested estates, suspicion between family members and expensive legal battles.

Her fathers girlfriend became verbally abusive.

LMs aunts  her fathers sisters  had sued her father in the mistaken belief that he, as trustee of their fathers trust, had collected more than his fair share.

Meanwhile, paying for her fathers care during his 2-months long hospitalization became complicated. Without a signed power of attorney, and in the face of a draining lawsuit, LM and her family had to declare a conservatorship for her fathers assets.

Her father died in February 2018 without a will, and with his estate under legal attack from his own sisters.

Tanya Feinleib, an estate-planning and probate attorney and shareholder at Langley & Banack in San Antonio, says this type of conservatorship or guardianship can be an expensive and cumbersome court-supervised process.

LM describes three kinds of costs stemming from her father not signing his will or to assigning the power of attorney to a loved one.

The first is time.

LMs father died more than two years ago. She and her two sisters have just this past month settled the probate case, as well as the lawsuit with her aunts. Two years is a long time to remain suspended in a legal process, made worse by the mixture of mourning, family strife and uncertainty.

The second cost is the most obvious one: dollars drained from her fathers estate.

LM calculated that her fathers estate paid 13 times more than necessary, for lack of a power of attorney, and 3 times more than necessary for lack of a will. When she includes the costs of settling the lawsuit with her aunts, more than 30% of her fathers estate was lost because of unclear communication and unfinished estate planning.

More than $500,000 remained in probate, and then drained by a third, over two years.

But the third cost was the worst.

Whats even more tragic are the physical, psychological and spiritual costs of siblings who used to love each other growing to hate each other, she said. The worst cost imaginable to me would be to be so insanely angry with a sibling that you couldnt find it in you to forgive them, to say goodbye to them on their deathbed or even attend their funeral. That still makes me cry when I think about it.

A 2016 Gallup poll found that 44% of American adults have a will. This number varies by age, with only 14% of those aged 18-29 having a will (Millennials, amirite?), and 68% of folks over age 65. OK, boomer.

Im now talking to the 32% of you without a will. What are you thinking? Do it. Do it now.

You should expect the cost  for a family without complicated trusts or an ultra-high net worth  to range between $1,000 and $2,500 to prepare a will and power of attorney documents. Feinleib says there are legal aid providers in many cities, including Houston and San Antonio, who offer free wills and powers of attorney for people who qualify. Some employers offer an employee assistance program for free or subsidized time with an attorney, which you could use to get your will done.

It may be tempting to try to save money without an attorney. However, Feinleib says web-based or artificial intelligence-assisted will preparation could happen in our lifetime, but dont count on it yet.

For now, with respect to handwritten wills and off-the-internet wills, Feinleib warns, when they go wrong, they tend to be extremely expensive on the probate side.

LMs main reason for speaking with me about her experience was to encourage other people to get this done right away  so families can avoid the heartache hers has suffered.

I think its the most loving thing you can do for your family, Feinleib says. Your incapacity is going to be one of the worst moments of their life. By properly preparing for that time, she says, you give your family a great gift.

The expenses and turmoil endured by LM and her family were avoidable. Every person needs to have a plan in place for who will make decisions regarding health care if they become incapacitated, Feinleib says.

Would you like to know the worst, most ironic part of this? Two years following her fathers death, and years of expensive litigation, LMs mother has still not prepared her own will.

LM herself is a certified financial planner, and one of her sisters is an attorney. And they still cant convince their own mother to prepare her will.

After two years of probate hell and family struggle, LM was in a state of near-disbelief when she told me this, caught somewhere between shock and bursting into tears.

Michael Taylor is a columnist for the San Antonio Express-News and author of The Financial Rules for New College Graduates.
YES Bank share price rose for the second consecutive session today after the private lender's newly appointed administrator Prashant Kumar assured depositors that their money was safe and the Rs 50,000 limit on withdrawals could be lifted by Saturday. Share price of YES Bank gained up to 38.59% to Rs 29.45 compared to the previous close of Rs 21.25 on BSE. It was the top gainer on Nifty today.

YES Bank stock opened with a gain of 9.88% at Rs 23.35 today. The stock closed 35% higher at Rs 28.80 on BSE. On Nifty, the stock closed 36.71% higher at Rs 29.05.

Yes Bank crisis: NEFT enabled for payment of credit card dues, loan EMIs

The mid cap stock has declined 89% in last one year and fallen 48% since the beginning of this year. There were only buyers, no sellers for the stock in morning trade. Market capitalization of the lender rose to Rs 6,491 crore on BSE. 6.19 lakh shares of YES Bank changed hands amounting to a turnover of Rs 1.53 crore in early trade. The stock has gained 358% since it hit all-time low of Rs 5.55 on March 6.

However, the stock is still down 91.09% from its 52 week high of Rs 285.90. RBI on March 5 superseded the bank's board and capped withdrawals by depositors at Rs 50,000. The central bank also superseded the board of YES Bank and appointed Prashant Kumar, former Deputy Managing Director and CFO of State Bank of India, as administrator. This led to 85% percent crash intra day on the YES Bank share counter on March 6.

RBI digs into Yes Bank's past; to check if auditor warned about lender's health

The stock hit its all time low and then bounced back nearly 200% after RBI governor Shaktikanta Das met finance ministry officials to resolve YES Bank crisis. Das assured of an early solution and swift action within one month.

By Aseem Thapliyal
Some ride-share drivers are nervous. As coronavirus cases increase across New Jersey the state, drivers are disinfecting their cars between rides, cracking windows if someone has a cough  and even turning down ride requests from the airport.

I wont pick people up at the airport, said Roger Hare, a part-time Uber and Lyft driver in the Burlington County and Philadelphia areas. You dont know where theyre coming from.

NJ Advance Media spoke with five New Jersey ride-share drivers. Three of them said theyre avoiding pickups at airports and four of them said they are routinely disinfecting their cars, either before and after a shift or in between each ride. All five said that theyre taking precautions to remain healthy. Because they drive part time, they might stop driving altogether if the outbreak spreads.

Hare said he has good reason to be worried about picking up airport passengers. Before he decided to stop, he picked up three passengers from an airport, two coming from California and a friend coming from Seattle. In recent weeks, Washington state has seen nearly 300 cases of the coronavirus and several deaths.

If Im gonna get it, Id rather not get it from something I could have prevented, Hare reasoned, noting that he has a 5-year-old child at home and was recently diagnosed with diabetes. If I get it from a neighbor, it is what it is. But if I got it from someone I picked up? Thats something different.

Hare is taking additional precautions. Before and after every shift, he wipes down his seats and door handles. When he starts a shift, he said, his hands stay on the wheel and he tries to not touch much else. And while he used to get out and help riders who had stored bags in his trunk, he said, hes not doing so anymore to prevent picking up germs.

If the coronavirus spreads further, he said, he might stop driving for a while.

For its part, Uber has advised drivers that they are allowed to not accept or cancel rides if the driver feels their safety is at risk. In an email sent to drivers and obtained by NJ Advance Media, CEO Dara Khosrowshahi warned drivers not to discriminate against passengers.

If you feel uncomfortable picking up a passenger or completing a delivery for safety reasons, you can choose to not accept or cancel. But it is absolutely against Ubers Community Guidelines to discriminate against anyone based on their race or national origin, the email reads.

The email also says Uber will provide drivers with cleaning supplies for their cars and is instituting a leave at the door policy for UberEats delivery drivers so they dont come into contact with customers. Uber also said it will provide 14 days of financial assistance to drivers who are diagnosed with COVID-19. Those drivers accounts will be suspended if they are diagnosed, the company said.

Shirley Tamborini, a Lyft driver in the Bergen County and Hackensack areas, also said shes not picking up passengers from the airport. She said shell drive people to the airport but wont sit in the queue or accept passengers after she drops someone off. The other day, she said, she got panicked when someone requested a ride from the airport.

You dont know where people are coming from, she said. Thats a little more of my concern, like where have you been?

But Tamborini also said shes taking things a step further.

Youre gonna laugh at me, but I am carrying Lysol wipes, disinfectant wipes, tissues, Lysol, Purell and baby wipes, she said. Its for everybody. I get out in between rides and I Lysol the doors and the seats.

Tamborini, who also works full time in the medical field, said she knows she can be a little extreme, but she has a routine after she drops a passenger off: She pulls over and parks, gets out of her car, and wipes and sprays down the door and handle the passenger used. Then she sprays disinfectant on the seat where the person sat. If a person starts coughing during a ride, she said, she cracks a window. Thankfully, the weather has been warm, she said.

If its false protection, its helping me, said Tamborini, who said she has four grandchildren to think of. I dont know whos getting in my car and Im not taking any chance.

Tamborini also said that shes dropped off a half-dozen or so passengers at the train station, and, before they left, sent them away with wipes so they could clean their train seats.

They love it, they go, You are well prepared! she said. Some people are so thankful.

During the outbreak, Lyft is advising its drivers to take precautions so they avoid getting sick such as using hand sanitizer and ensuring they cough and sneeze into their elbows. A spokesperson wouldnt answer a specific question about its airport pickup policy during the outbreak but pointed to its safety website, where drivers are only advised that discriminating against passengers on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, gender identity, physical or mental disability, medical condition, marital status, age, or sexual orientation can lead to deactivation.

The company also said drivers can be deactivated if they are diagnosed with COVID-19 and continue to drive.

In a statement, the company said its partnering with the company EO Products to distribute 200,000 bottles of hand sanitizer and other cleaning products to drivers for free. The Lyft spokesperson also said that it will provide funds to drivers if they are diagnosed with COVID-19 or placed under quarantine by a public health agency but wouldnt specify how much a driver might receive or how the money would be distributed.

Tom Hugaboom, an Uber driver in Sussex County and North Jersey, said he disinfects his car after each passenger leaves. He uses Lysol spray to disinfect door handles, seats and other surfaces he and the passenger touched and also offers Purell hand sanitizer to his riders. Hugaboom, though, said hes continuing to pick people up from the airport. He knows hes allowed to skip those rides or cancel but said hes accepting those rides for now.

If you pull up and they look sick, you have the ability to make that decision, he said, noting that canceling rides can count against drivers.

Other drivers, though, said theyre not as worried. Jason Stern, who drives for Lyft and Uber when hes commuting from his home in Monmouth County to his job in Bergen County, said he thinks avoiding passengers at the airport is an overreaction. Many flights to and from some of the most affected areas are already canceled, he reasoned, so the people hes picking up are probably healthy. Plus, he argued, if hes dropping someone off at the airport, its possible they could have been in Italy or Washington or another region with a lot of cases already.

Driver Jason Stern tried to purchase disinfecting wipes at the Old Bridge WalMart but was out of luck. (Photo courtesy Jason Stern)

Were at the point now where if everyone is afraid of an airport then you shouldnt go to a shopping mall, he said. I cant be thinking about it cause then Id be afraid of my own shadow.

Stern is, however, trying to stock up on hand sanitizer and wipes, as well as other nonperishables, for both his family and his riders. He was able to find a small bottle of scented hand sanitizer at a womens clothing store, he said, but none elsewhere. He said he uses that periodically when he drives.

Like other drivers, though, he said he might stop driving if the outbreak worsens.

I cant live in fear, he said. Its smart to be prepared, (but) theres a difference between being prepared and being afraid.

J. Dale Shoemaker is a reporter on the data & investigations team. He can be reached at jshoemaker@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JDale_Shoemaker.

If you would like updates on New Jersey-specific coronavirus news, subscribe to our Coronavirus in N.J. newsletter.
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For the first time in the 2020 Democratic primary, Sen. Bernie Sanders did not address his supporters on Election Night.

Sanders did not speak on Election Night:

NEWS: Bernie Sanders will not speak or appear in public to address tonight's results, his campaign says.  Reid J. Epstein (@reidepstein) March 11, 2020

However, his aides were on Twitter attacking Biden:

Bernie is not speaking tonight, but his aides are on Twitter attacking Joe Biden and previewing Sunday's debate. https://t.co/dMDU8OUcpL  Reid J. Epstein (@reidepstein) March 11, 2020

In reality, there isnt much that Sen. Sanders can say. By convincingly winning Michigan, Joe Biden laid waste to Sanderss argument that he can bring out a coalition of young people and blue-collar workers that can win Midwestern states like Michigan.

It is also clear that all of the momentum is on Joe Bidens side. Biden has the bigger coalition, and it is showing up to vote.

The tweets from Sanderss campaign aides are a signal that the Senator from Vermont wont be dropping out of the race this week, but in this case, the silence of the Sanders campaign speaks volumes. The campaign issued no official statement, and the candidate made no remarks.

In a week, it will likely be impossible for Sanders to catch Biden, and the election night silence is a sign that the end is near for the presidential campaign of Bernie Sanders.

For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.

Follow Jason Easley on Facebook
NUR-SULTAN -- Kazakh lawmakers have begun discussing a controversial law on protest rallies that has been criticized by rights defenders as failing to meet international standards.

Chairman of the parliamentary committee for legislation and judicial reforms, Nurlan Abdirov, introduced the legislation on March 11 to the lower house chamber, the Mazhilis.

The bill was drafted after President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev publicly promised to remove a regulation that forced organizers of protest rallies to obtain permission from authorities to hold events. The promise came after mass rallies were dispersed by police before, during, and after a presidential election in June 2019.

Critics, however, says the bill replaces the obligation to obtain permission to hold protest actions from authorities with a new step that organizers must inform authorities in a timely manner about rallies only where no more than 250 people would participate.

For bigger rallies, it still would be necessary to obtain permissions, the rallies would be allowed only in specially designated sites, and stricter repercussions would follow potential violation of the regulations.

Meanwhile, three feminist activists were summoned to police over their participation in an unsanctioned rally on March 8, International Women's Day, in Almaty.

Arina Osinovskaya said she is suspected of violating regulations for mass gatherings, while Fariza Ospanova says she is suspected of minor hooliganism.

Bakhytzhan Toreghozhina, an Almaty-based human rights activist, said on March 11 that another feminist activist, Leila Makhmudova, had also been summoned to police over the March 8 rally.
Manama

Following the Cabinets directives, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has called upon all Bahraini citizens not to travel in this period unless absolutely necessary, due to the outbreak of Coronavirus (COVID-19) in a number of countries, in order to ensure their safety and health. The Foreign Ministry also stressed the need to follow instructions when having to travel.

The Cabinet chaired by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister on Monday urged citizens to be cautious and follow preventive health guidelines procedures introduced to contain the spread of COVID-19, particularly amidst its outbreak across a large number of countries globally.

The session stressed that legal measures will be taken against all individuals who do not comply with the quarantine and isolation measures under implementation. The maximum penalties prescribed in the Public Health Law No. (34) of 2018 outlines failure to comply with quarantine measures is punishable by imprisonment for a period of at least three months and a fine no less than BD1,000 and no more than BD10,000, or one of these two penalties.

The Cabinet recognised the importance of following the Ministry of Healths instructions to those arriving from Italy, South Korea, Egypt and Lebanon during the past two weeks to self-isolate for 14 days, and to schedule their medical examination by visiting www.moh.gov.bh/covid19 or calling 444, whilst avoiding contact with others.

HRH the Crown Prince reviewed the latest developments regarding the global spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and wide-ranging measures Bahrain is implementing to contain the spread of the virus within its borders.

HRH the Crown Prince also reviewed plans to evacuate Bahraini citizens from the Islamic Republic of Iran, in line with the directives of HM King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, to safeguard the well-being of citizens and residents.

The Cabinet suspended all business travel for government employees across all levels and urged all citizens to minimise their travels wherever possible. The Ministry of Healths Department of Public Health has announced it has suspended a dentist working at a private dental clinic in Seef area and referred him to the Public Prosecution.

The ministry noted that the individual in question did not follow the specific guidelines given, which included mandatory self-isolation for 14 days, after arriving into Bahrain from a COVID-19 affected country.

The ministry has taken the necessary measures to ensure the health and safety of the community by closing the private dental clinic, and testing all individuals who had been in contact with the dentist. The ministry underlined that the individual had violated the Health Law no (34) of 2018.
Allentowns Muhlenberg College is halting its in-person instruction Friday and forcing all students to move out of the dorms by Saturday afternoon in response to the spread of the coronavirus.

Interim college President Kathleen E. Harring announced the decision to take courses online in a letter to students, which the college posted late Tuesday evening. College officials have been watching as the cases of COVID-19 in Pennsylvania and neighboring states has quickly grown, she writes.

Our primary concern is always to provide our students with an outstanding educational experience while caring for the health and well-being of our community, Harring said. ...While there are currently no confirmed cases of COVID-19 on campus, through our consultation with epidemiologists, health authorities and internal experts, we understand that eventually the virus will reach our community. At this point in time, that means taking action on behalf of our students, faculty and staff.

The announcement comes as there are 14 presumed-positive cases of the novel coronavirus in Pennsylvania. And New Jerseys reported its first death related to the virus with the count standing at 15.

The private liberal arts college in Allentown enrolls about 2,225 students, who just returned from spring break on Sunday. A growing number of American universities and colleges are opting to take higher ed online in hopes of slowing the spread of COVID-19.

Muhlenberg plans to continue to offer classes on campus through Friday and begin offering alternate modes of instruction starting March 18 and continuing through April 13, according to the letter. Harring promised students more information in the coming days.

All students must move out of their on-campus housing no later than 2 p.m. Saturday. Muhlenberg is not bringing home students in study abroad and study away programs.

Seniors will graduate on time in May as long as they meet their course requirements, Harring promised.

I understand that this is disappointing news, and I want to assure every student that we are committed to seeing you through the semester and will do all we can to support your success, she said. There will be more twists in the road ahead, but I am confident in our plans because you have shown me that the Muhlenberg student community is strong and resilient.

The college will only continue to offer room and board to students who have no other option but to remain on campus, such as students from countries with travel restrictions or whose legal residence is on campus, the letter states. Those students will receive instructions for applying to stay in campus housing.

For students in locations with large numbers of confirmed cases, we have considered the perspective that students are better off staying on campus rather than going home, the letter states. In the email you will receive from housing and residence life tomorrow, you will learn how to apply to remain on campus, and your request will be considered on a case-by-case basis with direct guidance from the CDC and local health departments.

The letter promises more information by the end of Wednesday for the colleges Division III athletes.

Moravian Colleges Director of Marketing and Communications Michael Corr said administrators at the Bethlehem school have been meeting with faculty this week to develop preliminary plans to move classes online at some point, but no decision has been made.

As part of that process, some classes will be taught online next week, he said in an email late Tuesday.

The situation could change quickly, he added as preparations continue.

Sara K. Satullo may be reached at ssatullo@lehighvalleylive.com. If theres anything about this story that needs attention, please email her. Follow her on Twitter @sarasatullo and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries can now get tested for COVID-19 without a written order from a physician, which will make it easier for individuals to get screenings in drive-up sites and pharmacies.

Testing is vital, and CMSs changes will make getting tested easier and more accessible for Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, CMS Administrator Seema Verma said in announcing the change that will be in effect throughout the public health emergency.

The announcement means that any health care professional, including pharmacists who are enrolled in Medicare as a covered laboratory, will be able to order the coronavirus test and CMS will pay for it. CMS will also cover tests individuals take at home and some antibody testing to help determine whether someone may have developed an immune response to the virus and therefore might not be at immediate risk for COVID-19 reinfection.

Telehealth options expanded

Patients can now get telehealth services from an expanded group of health care professionals, including physical and occupational therapists and speech language pathologists, under changes CMS officials say will help ensure that beneficiaries dont have to leave their homes and risk exposure to COVID-19.

CMS is also waiving the requirement that telehealth sessions must be conducted using video technology, meaning Medicare will pay for telephone-only visits, allowing beneficiaries who do not have access to the internet to still communicate with their medical professionals.

Medicare has been gradually ramping up the use of telehealth in recent years. But while Medicare Advantage plans have been allowed to offer liberal telehealth benefits for several years, beneficiaries of original Medicare have had more limited telehealth benefits, amounting to brief virtual check-ins. And beneficiaries would not generally be able to get telehealth services in their own homes. About 40 million Americans are enrolled in original Medicare.

Tuesdays announcement will allow all Medicare beneficiaries to see their doctors remotely for the kind of routine checkups and monitoring of chronic conditions that would normally be done in a providers office. A Medicare enrollee, for example, who has diabetes, can now confer with his or her doctor without leaving the house, and a medical professional can order a new medicine or refill a prescription without needing to see the patient in person. Nursing home residents will also be able to have telehealth consultations with their doctors.

And, while regular Medicare copays will apply to telemedicine visits, CMS officials say that during the coronavirus emergency, providers can waive or reduce cost sharing for telehealth visits.

Clinicians on the front lines will now have greater flexibility to safely treat our beneficiaries. Verma said in a statement announcing the telehealth expansion.

Medicare releases guidelines for non-COVID-19 care

Hospitals in states that have reached phase 1 of the administrations reopening plan can begin providing non-COVID-19 care that has been postponed since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, Medicare officials announced late Sunday.

For areas that have fulfilled the federal recommendations to begin phasing in a relaxation of the restrictions designed to slow the spread of the coronavirus, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued a set of guidelines for how hospitals can begin to offer medical care not associated with COVID-19.

In March, CMS asked hospitals to stop providing elective surgeries and other procedures not related to the coronavirus to avoid strain on the health care system. The suspension resulted in outpatient surgical facilities mostly being shut down.

As states and localities begin to stabilize, it is important to restart care that is currently being postponed, CMS said in its announcement. The guidance applies to some elective procedures, care for chronic diseases and some preventive care. CMS also encouraged patients and providers to continue to use telehealth wherever possible, but noted that some medical care must be provided in person.

We are providing a road map for providers to offer some forms of non-coronavirus-related care to asymptomatic patients, CMS Administrator Seema Verma said Monday on a conference call with reporters. These are recommendations, and every state and local officials will need to assess the situation on the ground to determine the best course forward, including that they have the equipment and supplies necessary to handle the non-virus care, she added.

CMS says hospitals that have adequate facilities and staff to handle non-virus care should establish non-COVID care zones to treat patients for conditions not related to COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus. Guidelines for providing this care include:
Bernie Sanders chose not to give a speech Tuesday night after getting an electoral drubbing from Joe Biden in Michigan, Missouri and other states.

It was a defeat that one of his most prominent supporters, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, did not deny.

'Let's talk about it. Someone says tell us it'll be ok. There's no sugar coating it, tonight's a tough night, for the movement overall,' the first-term lawmaker and left wing firebrand said in a video live-feed posted to her Instagram account. 'Tonight's a tough night electorally,' she added.

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., visits outside a polling location at Warren E. Bow Elementary School in Detroit, Tuesday, March 10, 2020. He decided not to make a speech Tuesday night as poor results came in against Joe Biden

The assessment underlined Sanders' own acknowledgement through his absence. Both he and Biden had cancelled planned election night rallies due to the coronavirus. But Biden chose to deliver somber remarks before staff at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia where he thanked Sanders in a gesture typical of victory speeches.

It was not immediately known if Sanders still intends to fight a long primary battle against Biden as he did against Hillary Clinton in 2016, after a night when delegate math swung decisively against him.

'I want to thank Bernie Sanders and his supporters for their tireless energy and their passion. We share a common goal, and together we'll defeat Donald Trump. We'll defeat him together,' said Biden.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez addressed the state of the race in a video chat

Ocasio-Cortez acknowledged the 'tough night electorally,' days after rallying with Sanders in Ann Arbor, Michigan

'We share a common goal, and together we'll defeat Donald Trump. We'll defeat him together,' Joe Biden said in remarks directed at Sanders supporters

Biden appeared with his wife, Jill, in Philadelphia

Caliph Mathis carries the podium that had been set up for Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden away after his primary night rally was cancelled at the Cuyahoga Community College Recreation Center due to the threat posed by the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) on March 10, 2020 in Cleveland, Ohio

A supporter of Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., holds a sign outside the Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland before a campaign rally, Tuesday, March 10, 2020, in Cleveland. The Cleveland rally was canceled due to concerns about COVID-19

U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) greets U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders during a rally at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan, U.S. March 8, 2020. But it was Joe Biden who won Washtenaw County, where the school is located

'There's no sugar coating it, tonight's a tough night, for the movement overall,' said Ocasio-Cortez, just days after speaking to cheering Sanders supporters

Sanders was at his home in Burlington.

Biden was leading him 53 to 38 in Michigan, a state cast as a must-win where Sanders scored an upset over Clinton in 2016. In Missouri, Biden was up 60 to 35 with 84 per cent of precincts reporting. In Mississippi, it was a total blowout, with an 81 to 15 margin with 87 per cent of the vote in, thanks to Biden's huge lead among black voters.

In Washington state, it was a horse race with 68 per cent of the vote in.

The lopsided win was taking its toll in delegate math, with Biden holding an edge in states voting in the coming days, including delegate-rich Florida.

Said Andrew Yang, who endorsed Sanders in 2016 but swung to Biden on air Tuesday: 'The math isn't there' for Sanders.' Yang's campaign slogan was MATH, Make America Think Again.

Biden's big wins followed stunning victories on Super Tuesday and in South Carolina. Both were followed by a round of endorsements from former rivals.

The two top Democrats are scheduled to debate Sunday in Arizona.

Biden is still short of the 1,991 to win the nomination outright, and Sanders could choose to fight him all the way to the convention in Milwaukee this summer. Sanders has said the candidate who secures the most delegates should be the nominee, even if they only get a plurality of them.
We support this legislation and the beginning of this very important conversation," Match Group chief executive Shar Dubey said in an online post.

San Francisco: Match Group, the parent company of dating apps such as Tinder, on Tuesday publicly endorsed a US bill others in the tech industry fear will erode online privacy and speech in the name of fighting child abuse.

US senators unveiled the bipartisan measure last week, aiming to curb images of child sex abuse by forcing tech platforms to cooperate with law enforcement on encryption or risk losing the legal immunity for what is posted on their websites.

Digital rights activists have joined the tech sector in arguing this move is an indirect way to weaken online encryption in the name of better law enforcement access.

They say it erodes two cornerstones of the online ecosystem: strong encryption to keep data secure, and a liability shield which enables social media platforms to allow users to post content freely.

We dont casually lend our support to this legislation, Match Group chief executive Shar Dubey said in an online post.

We must balance concerns around privacy with concerns around safetywhich sometimes can be in conflict.

Match Group has a line of dating apps including Tinder, Match.com, OkCupid and Hinge.

We as tech leaders should engage with lawmakers in thoughtful dialogue and work on establishing guidelines and practices to make the online world a safer place for our kids, Dubey said.

We support this legislation and the beginning of this very important conversation.

A hearing is set for Wednesday on the measure, which is backed by victims rights organizations.

Lawmakers say the billEliminating Abusive and Rampant Neglect of Interactive Technologies Act (EARN IT) -- allows companies to earn their liability protection, by gaining certification of compliance from a commission of government, industry, legal and victim group representatives.

Encryption has been a point of contention between tech firms and law enforcement for decades.

Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter.
Coronavirus FAQ

What is the coronavirus?

The coronavirus outbreak started in Wuhan, China, in late 2019 and has spread worldwide. The new virus causes a disease known as COVID-19. The virus is part of a larger family of coronaviruses, which can lead to illnesses ranging from a mild common cold to more severe respiratory diseases such as SARS and MERS.

Who is at risk and what are the symptoms?

Public health experts say the new coronavirus is more contagious than the seasonal flu. The majority of people who become sick experience mild symptoms, but some become more seriously ill. People who contract the virus can develop pneumonia, and some have died. People who are elderly or have underlying medical issues are at greater risk of becoming more severely sick. Symptoms of the virus include a cough, fever and shortness of breath.

What should I do if I develop symptoms?

The North Dakota Department of Health advises that people call their health care provider to tell them about recent travel or exposure, and to follow their guidance. Try to avoid contact with other people in the meantime.

What can I do to prevent the virus from spreading?

The health department advises that people wash their hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer for at least 20 seconds. People who are sick should stay home from work or school, both to protect themselves and others with whom they would come in contact. Avoid touching your face, cover a cough or sneeze with a tissue or an elbow, clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces, and avoid contact with people who are sick.

Where can I find more information?

North Dakota Department of Health: www.health.nd.gov/coronavirus

U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov
Waterways Ireland wishes to advise all boat owners and those along the waterways that the flood levels are receding on the Shannon, Erne, Barrow and Lower Bann.

We would like to ask our users to take care when travelling along Ireland's inland waterway and be aware of the following.

Read Also: Lough Allen Hotel Drumshanbo delays opening due to Covid-19

Precautions to take in post flood conditions:



 Waterways Ireland operations staff are preparing the jetties, quays, slipways and other facilities for reactivation as the floods recede. It is anticipated that it will take up to three weeks for all jetties, quays, slipways and other facilities to be fully operational.

 Boat owners and those along the waterways should be aware that surfaces may be slippery, access to jetties can be difficult as gangways and pontoons are elevated, that flood damage may be encountered in some locations.

 Boat owners and those along the waterways should proceed with additional caution while the clean-up work is ongoing.

Waterways Ireland thanks all boat owners and those along the waterways for their co-operations in relation to this matter.

Read Also: Leitrim pharmacies take proactive measures to prevent pread of Covid-19
Amid a rebellion by senior leader Jyotiraditya Scindia and supporter MLAs that threatens to bring down the Kamal Nath government in Madhya Pradesh, the Gwalior royal's son Mahanaryaman on March 10 evening tweeted that his family was never power hungry.

The Yale University graduate, in two tweets, welcomed the decision of his father to snap ties with the Congress, stating it took courage to "resign from a legacy".

"Sad it had to come to this," his first tweet, from the handle @ASCindia, said.

The second tweet read, "I am proud of my father for taking a stand for himself. It takes courage to resign from a legacy. History can speak for itself when I say my family has never been power hungry. As promised we will make an impactful change in India and Madhya Pradesh wherever our future lies."

While Mahanaryaman's Twitter handle is not a verified one, a leader close to Jyotiraditya, Pankaj Chaturvedi, confirmed the account belonged to the former Guna Lok Sabha MP's son.

"Mahanaryaman completed a management degree from the US last year. He could not participate in the Lok Sabha campaign of his father because of his final exams. Now he is helping his father and getting acquainted with people and workers," Chaturvedi said.

Earlier in the day, Jyotiraditya Scindia quit the Congress following a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and is likely to join the BJP.
This new partnership with Lexile and Quantile promises to be a valued resource in furthering student achievement and career-readiness. Alabama educators will now have access to additional data-driven resources, to further the overall effectiveness of classroom engagement and student learning.

The Alabama State Department of Education will report Lexile and Quantile student measures, beginning with the spring 2021 administration of the Alabama Comprehensive Assessment Program (ACAP).

MetaMetrics, developer of the Lexile Framework for Reading and the Quantile Framework for Mathematics, today announced Alabama joins a growing number of states providing teachers measures that link assessment to reading and math instruction.

The Lexile and Quantile Frameworks place both the student and instructional material on the same scale to match the learner with reading and math resources at his/her ability level. When students receive Lexile and Quantile measures from a state assessment, their test scores become more actionable, allowing teachers and parents to connect assessment to instruction.

At the Alabama State Department of Education, we are committed to ensuring that all students not only graduate from high school but are also equipped for success during the next phase of their lifelong journey, said Elisabeth Davis, Ed.D., Assistant State Superintendent of Education for Student Learning. By reporting Lexile and Quantile measures from our new state assessment program (ACAP), we are providing all schools statewide with powerful tools and career planning resources to accelerate and individualize student achievement.

Alabama educators will have free access to the premium version of the Lexile & Quantile Hub, an online platform that ties the students measures directly to learning and planning resources. Featured on the Hub are the Lexile and Quantile Growth Planners, tools to help Alabama meet its ambitious goal of ensuring all students graduate ready for success in college and careers.

Our goal is to ensure every child in our state has every opportunity to thrive, said State Superintendent of Education Dr. Eric Mackey. This new partnership with Lexile and Quantile promises to be a valued resource in furthering student achievement and career-readiness. Alabama educators will now have access to additional data-driven resources, to further the overall effectiveness of classroom engagement and student learning. Creating valuable partnerships like this, ensures Alabama achieves generations of student success.

With the Growth Planners, students, teachers and parents can forecast growth toward college and career readiness, identify the reading and math demands needed for entry into hundreds of careers, and explore job market data at the national and regional levels.

The Growth Planners data-driven career planning features are powered by the worlds leading providers of job market data and analytics, Burning Glass and O*NET.

It is exciting to collaborate with the Alabama Department of Education to help state educators leverage Lexile and Quantile measures to better understand students individual learning needs, said Malbert Smith, CEO and co-founder of MetaMetrics. Every year, more than half of all U.S. students receive Lexile and Quantile measures.

MetaMetrics is an education technology organization that offers scientifically valid, universal scales for measuring reading and listening (Lexile) and math (Quantile) with plans to develop measures for oral reading fluency and writing. The Lexile and Quantile Frameworks measure student ability and the complexity of the content they encounter. For more information, visit metametricsinc.com.


India on Wednesday evening suspended most visas including visa-free travel facility extended to Indian-origin foreigners from Friday to 15 April in an effort to stop instances of incoming travellers spreading the infection in the country.

A government announcement said all visas except those issued to diplomatic, official, international organisations, employment and project visas were being suspended till 15 April. The restrictive policy would come into force from 1200 GMT on 13 March at the port of departure (5.30 pm IST on 13 March).

The group of ministers tasked to oversee the governments response also ordered suspending visa-free travel facility granted to Overseas Citizens of India card holders till April 15 2020. This means that only travellers who board aircrafts to India before 1200 hours GMT may be allowed to enter the country.

The Health Ministry, which was given special powers under the countrys Disaster Management Act to take requisite steps to control the spread of coronavirus, has also advised all incoming travellers including Indians to avoid non-essential travel and cautioned that they can be quarantined for a minimum of 14 days on their arrival in India.

#CoronaVirusUpdate



1. All existing visas, except diplomatic, official, UN/International Organizations, employment, project visas, stand suspended till 15th April 2020. This will come into effect from 1200 GMT on 13th March 2020 at the port of departure.  Ministry of Health (@MoHFW_INDIA) March 11, 2020

Indias decision to severely curtail people from travelling to the country comes against the backdrop of the National Institute of Virology, the lead agency for testing for coronavirus, or Covid-19 infection, confirming that 60 people had already been confirmed to have tested positive. The number is expected to continue to increase over the next few days.

Wednesdays travel restrictions coincided with the World Health Organisation declaring the coronavirus infection, or Covid-19, as a pandemic.

In the days and weeks ahead, we expect to see the number of COVID19 cases, the number of deaths, and the number of affected countries climb even higher. We have, therefore, made the assessment that COVID-19 can be characterized as a pandemic, WHO director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a press conference in Geneva.

If countries detect, test, treat, isolate, trace, and mobilize people in the response, those with a handful of COVID-19 cases can prevent those cases becoming clusters, and those clusters becoming community transmission, Ghebreyesus said.

In India, the central government has also told states to invoke the British-era Epidemic Disease Act, 1897 to enforce all advisories. The 1897 Act gives the states power to take special measures and issue orders to inspect people travelling in public transport and take steps to segregate people suspected to have contracted the infection in hospitals or other temporary accommodation.

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Tyson Foods, Inc. (NYSE:TSN) isn't a name that brings high technology to mind  pork and poultry farms seem far removed from the clean, abstract world of IT networks and satellites. But behind all the oinking and clucking, Tyson has detected a need for some powerful digital upgrades if it's going to keep its facilities full of porkers, chickens, and beeves competitive as it pushes aggressively into the cutthroat international meat market of the 21st century. To do that, it's looking to a third party digital service company and downsizing its in-house IT department, all in the name of rounding up bigger profit growth in the near future.

Tyson styles itself a technology company

Tyson's need for high quality, ultramodern IT infrastructure to manage its business comes from its evolving business model. According to research cited by Tyson, 98% of growth in demand for protein (that is, meat) during the next five years will happen outside the USA. While the meat industry will continue to sell within America's borders, demand is at or near its peak, and it may even decline as plant-based meat substitutes continue gaining popularity.

Tyson has to coordinate large-scale operations across the globe in real time to remain competitive. The need for high-speed information technology to support this is key to making the entire plan succeed. Managing a supply chain that stretches across multiple continents, meeting both global and local standards, responding rapidly to shifts in demand, and predicting consumer trends in remote, widely varied markets all require a reliable and lightning-fast digital "central nervous system" to achieve.

The company currently racks up approximately $7 billion in annual international meat sales. Most of this, about $5 billion, is still produced in and exported from the US, with $2 billion produced abroad. Practical considerations such as cost and transport are driving it to invest in production capacity elsewhere around the globe. Tyson bought a 40% stake in Brazilian poultry giant Grupo Vibra in August 2019, inking a partnership at the same time, to sell chicken not only to Brazilian customers but also as a source for poultry exports to China, the Middle East, and even Europe.

One year earlier, in August 2018, Tyson bought Keystone Foods for nearly $2.2 billion, giving it eight protein production plants in the Asia-Pacific region, including facilities in South Korea, China, Australia, Malaysia, and Thailand. A $340 million February 2019 acquisition gave Tyson control of BRF SA's poultry facilities in the UK, the Netherlands, and Thailand, the latter including hatcheries and breeder operations alongside butchering and processing plants.

Electronics tie this far-flung empire of pigs and chickens together. Tyson's Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Scott Spradley stated in a company blog post, "I would say that our vision is to become a technology company that happens to provide the world with good food."

This closely echoes the famous declaration by Domino's Pizza (NYSE:DPZ) CEO Patrick Doyle that Domino's is a tech company that delivers pizza. Given Domino's success at remaining competitive in the restaurant sector through aggressive use of new technologies, Fools investing in food stocks might reasonably infer that Tyson is following a strong, effective strategy in its own branch of the food industry. By unintentionally mirroring Domino's single-minded pursuit of turning the latest IT advances into competitive advantage, it stands a better chance of remaining viable long-term.

Why Tyson chose outside help

Tyson hired an as-yet undisclosed IT company to handle its digital infrastructure because its network is too big and complex for its in-house tech department. According to Scott Spradley, in 2018 Tyson's chicken operations alone included 3,700 farms, and the company also has large beef and pork sectors. Spradley also indicated some goals of its digital communications:

Monitoring warehousing and transport in real time.

Auditing animal welfare to meet company and government standards.

Using drones and remote sensing, linked to the industrial Internet of Things (IoT), to inspect buildings and animals.

Provide machine learning for robotic meat cutting and processing.

Use blockchain to monitor food safety, track shipments, and handle payments.

The cost savings and efficiency gains offered to a far-flung global meat enterprise by these electronics communications channels are obvious. Around 330 IT workers are expected to be laid off or transferred to employment at the third-party digital technology company. The $52 million in restructuring costs related to this (and approximately 170 other, unrelated layoffs) are a drop in the bucket compared to the multibillion-dollar profits Tyson could potentially realize through strong international expansion.

Analysis of the move by University of Arkansas business school associate dean Alan Ellstrand notes that it's hard for a food company's IT department to stay abreast of the latest developments. Hiring a company that's already up to speed with leading advances in blockchain technology, robotics, and other complex operations makes sense for a company like Tyson, according to Ellstrand.

From the viewpoint of investors, it appears that Tyson is making a smart move. There is high growth potential in the international meat market, far beyond that still existing in the mostly saturated USA protein sector. Coordinating a huge operation that makes the most efficient possible use of resources to generate profits and minimize costs, across multiple countries separated by language, culture, physical space, and a host of local government regulations, requires powerful modern digital connections to keep all the moving parts acting in sync. Tyson has a potentially very lucrative strategy, and its hiring of necessary digital expertise shows it's taking the positive steps needed to make ongoing growth happen.
Election officials in US states holding primary contests this month are scrambling to come up with contingency plans.

Relatively unscathed by the growing coronavirus epidemic so far, the United States presidential campaign got a dose of reality on Tuesday when Democratic contenders Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden both cancelled major events because of the outbreak.

The Sanders campaign said it had called off a rally scheduled for Tuesday night in Cleveland, Ohio amid concerns about the virus.

Mike Casca, a spokesman for the 78-year-old Vermont senator, said the campaign is cancelling the event out of concern for public health and safety. Sanders had been set to speak there as results from Democratic primary voting taking place in six states rolled in Tuesday night.

We are heeding the public warnings from Ohio state officials, who have communicated concern about holding large, indoor events during the coronavirus outbreak, Casca said. Senator Sanders would like to express his regret to the thousands of Ohioans who had planned to attend the event tonight.

A Biden spokesman initially suggested the former vice presidents own rally in Cleveland would go on as scheduled, but his campaign subsequently released a statement saying that event was off as well.

On Monday, Biden told NBC News that he would heed the advice of health authorities regarding his rallies.

Im looking to the CDC for advice on that, Biden said, referring to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Were going to follow the recommendations of the experts  and if they conclude that there shouldnt be big indoor rallies, then well stop big indoor rallies.

Beyond the rallies, election officials in states due to hold primary contests on Tuesday and later this month are scrambling to come up with contingency plans in the event of the further spread of the virus.

Voters, some in masks, wait in line to cast their ballots in the Democratic primary at a polling station in Houston, Texas [File: Callaghan OHare/Reuters]

Government officials in Florida, which holds its primary March 17, urged voters to consider voting early in its contest, and Arizona  voting the same day  braced for the possibility of poll workers staying home out of fear or because they are ill. State officials are combing through a statewide volunteer database to identify potential replacements if needed, according to the Arizona Department of State.

In Cook County, Illinois, which includes the city of Chicago, officials are seeking the power to extend voting hours on March 17, reassign early voting locations and even change voting days in the event of extraordinary circumstances, according to Frank Herrera, a spokesman for the county clerks office.

In Michigan, one of six states voting on Tuesday, officials told poll workers to sanitise voting booths and other equipment regularly throughout the day. Washington state  the hardest-hit state in the country  caught a break because its Tuesday contest is vote-by-mail.

In Mississippi, which is also voting on Tuesday, Secretary of State Michael Watson offered health tips and advice.

Were encouraging voters to make sure they wash their hands as often as possible and continue to practice good hygiene, he said in a statement. With no confirmed cases in our state, we obviously still want to remain cautious. We encourage all Mississippians to go vote.

On Sunday, President Donald Trumps campaign communications director Tim Murtaugh said that campaign was proceeding as normal. But the campaign hasnt announced another rally to follow the presidents last one in North Carolina on March 2. Up until now, it had been keeping a steady pace of rallies this year.

Anthony Fauci, the National Institutes of Healths leading infectious disease expert, has stopped short of calling on candidates to put a pause on political rallies. But he also isnt faulting anyone who chooses to do so, saying that what theyre probably acting on is what they would consider for their citizens: an abundance of caution.
ATHENS, March 11 (Reuters) - The Greek government dismissed on Wednesday a report in The New York Times newspaper that it was holding illegal migrants who cross the border from Turkey at a secret "black site" where they are denied access to lawyers and cannot file asylum claims.

Tens of thousands of migrants have been trying to get into Greece, a European Union member state, since Turkey said on Feb. 28 it would no longer keep them on its territory as part of a 2016 deal with Brussels in return for EU aid for the refugees.

Greece has used tear gas and water cannon to deter the migrants and says it has stopped more than 42,000 people from entering its territory over the past two weeks.

In its article, The New York Times quoted migrants who said they had been captured by Greek security forces, stripped and beaten and held in a complex of buildings near the border.

Using satellite imagery and mobile phone data, the newspaper said the site was near the village of Poros, in the northeast, not far from the Greek-Turkish border in the Evros river delta.

"There is no secret detention centre in Greece," government spokesman Stelios Petsas told reporters, adding that if an international newspaper knew about the site, it wasn't secret.

"All issues related to guarding the borders or issues of security are transparent. The constitution is being applied... and there is nothing secret."

On March 3, Greece passed a decree suspending asylum applications for a month and allowing for the immediate deportation of any migrants seized crossing the border.

Erdogan's decision to open the border appears designed to put pressure on the EU to provide more aid for some 3.6 million refugees and migrants Turkey is hosting. Ankara says it has received only about half of some 6 billion euros promised by the EU under the 2016 deal for the refugees.

The New York Times article, citing video evidence and witness testimony, also alleged that Mohammed Yaarub, a 22-year-old Syrian from Aleppo who was shot dead near the border last week, had been killed by a Greek security officer.

Petsas, the government spokesman, reiterated Greece's previous denials that its forces have killed any migrants.

"We have categorically denied there was such an issue, at least on the part of Greece ... This is organised Turkish propaganda and the spreading of fake news," he said. (Reporting by George Georgiopoulos; Writing by Luke Baker; Editing by Gareth Jones)
A class 12 student was rescued in Jammu and Kashmir's Samba district on Wednesday, almost a month after she was allegedly abducted on her way home from school in Jammu, officials said.

A man had lodged a complaint at Bari Brahmana Police Station alleging that his daughter was abducted by one Mohmmad Javed while she was returning home after her practical exam from Sarore belt on February 12, they said.

A case was registered and a special team was constituted to rescue the girl and arrest the accused, police said.

Based on the leads developed during the investigation, the girl was rescued and Javed was arrested during a raid in Sarore area, they added.

Further investigation is going on, police said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Photo: The Canadian Press

Joe Biden decisively won Michigans Democratic presidential primary, seizing a key battleground state that helped propel Bernie Sanders insurgent candidacy four years ago. The former vice-president's victory there, as well as in Missouri, Mississippi and Idaho, dealt a serious blow to Sanders and substantially widened Biden's path to the nomination.

Biden again showed strength Tuesday with working-class voters and African Americans, who are vital to winning the Democratic nomination.

Sanders won North Dakota and awaited results from Washington state. Washington's primary was too early to call, and because all votes there are cast by mail or by dropping them off in a ballot box, many ballots were marked for candidates who have since dropped out of the race.

The six-state contest Tuesday marked the first time voters weighed in on the primary since it effectively narrowed to a two-person race between Sanders and Biden. And the first four states on Tuesday went to Biden, a dramatic reversal for a campaign that appeared on the brink of collapse just two weeks ago.

Now it is Sanders, whose candidacy was ascendant so recently, who must contemplate a path forward. He said at a news conference in Vermont on Wednesday afternoon that he will stay in the race and plans to appear at the Democratic debate against Biden on Sunday.

Addressing supporters in Philadelphia, Biden noted that many had declared that this candidacy was dead only days ago, but now we're very much alive. He also asked Sanders supporters to back him going forward.

We need you, we want you, and theres a place in our campaign for each of you. I want to thank Bernie Sanders and his supporters for their tireless energy and their passion, Biden said. "We share a common goal, and together well beat Donald Trump.
The UK's two percent tax on large, multinational tech companies goes into effect on April 1st. As much as big tech companies in the US may object, this is not an April Fools' Day joke. Unsurprisingly, the US government strongly objects.

The UK first announced the "digital services tax" in 2018, and after a couple rounds of review, it's ready to be enacted. The new legislation will levy a two-percent tax on the revenue from search engines, social media services and online marketplaces that derive value from UK users. It will only apply when companies make more than 500 million (about $650 million) from those digital activities and when more than 25 million (about $35 million) of that revenue is derived from UK users. So companies like Amazon, Apple, Facebook and Google will be impacted.

Initially, the UK government predicted the tax could raise more than 400 million ($512 million) annually. The UK still believes the best long-term option would be new international corporate tax rules, and it says it is "committed to dis-applying" the digital service tax if such rules are put in place.

The EU has proposed stricter tax laws for large tech companies, including a 3 percent tax on tech giants with global revenues of more than 750 million, but those are still being debated. Countries from Germany to Austria, Italy and South Korea have considered their own tax bills. Last year, Apple agreed to pay France 500 million euro (about $570 million) in back taxes.

When France proposed a three percent tax on revenues earned on digital services, President Trump threatened a tariff on French wine. The two reportedly reached an agreement, the details of which are still vague. The UK seems to be leading the way, and its new bill could spur more international tax reform.
SALT LAKE CITY, March 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- AgilePQ, a software company providing highly advanced data security for the Internet of Things (IoT) and post-quantum computing, formally announced its acquisition of Centri, an IoT cybersecurity company known for technology that performs over-the-air retrofits of existing devices.

"Centri's technology is a force multiplier with AgilePQ," said Paul Clayson, AgilePQ's chief executive officer. "Centri and AgilePQ have been building different but complimentary world-class solutions for a market suffering from massive data breaches. This combination strengthens the solutions of each company in post-quantum cybersecurity technology and expands our experienced and talented team of security engineers. The core Centri technology particularly aids our delivery in providing end-to-end security for mobile network operators using a variety of cellular and wireless protocols to connect IoT devices,"

According to Michael Mackey who came to AgilePQ in the acquisition and now serves the company's chief technology officer, "While robust, Centri's technology was based on legacy encryption that will become increasingly vulnerable in the future and which already cannot fit on resource constrained IoT devices. And we were not alone. We see companies of all sizes relying on last century's secure methods to protect themselves as we enter the era of quantum computers. AgilePQ offers a solution that is as elegant as it is powerful. With an incredibly small footprint that allows it to fit on any device and provide post-quantum protection it will define the future of security. We now deliver fully encrypted, post-quantum security to the smallest of IoT devices (Class 0-2 devices). We can deploy on a SIM card, as a direct software integration, embedded in a processor or through other delivery methods."

As part of the acquisition, AgilePQ now deploys the benefits of nine Centri patents to add to its portfolio of 17 issued, and 16 pending patentsall focused on data security and cryptographic implementation.

To learn how AgilePQ's technology solutions can integrate with your products, either in development or already deployed, visit AgilePQ.com.

About AgilePQ

AgilePQ provides quantum-safe enterprise and cellular Internet of Things (IoT) security solutions. Headquartered in Salt Lake City, with offices in Seattle, the company has developed a complete IoT endpoint security solution for the evolving edge that is quantum-safe. The AgilePQ SLiM IoT solution fits in 2.4 KB and can confidently provision, deploy, identify, authenticate, and authorize all IoT devices, no matter how small. SLiM integrates seamlessly with an organization's existing network and cloud infrastructure, including endpoint devices incapable of using legacy IPSec. For more information, please visit agilepq.com.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Benjamin May

[email protected]

(202) 413-0119

SOURCE AgilePQ

Related Links

https://agilepq.com


Hallandale Beach, FL -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/11/2020 -- Emmet Barber had his dreams of great vision come true with a bladeless Z-LASIK monovision procedure from Braverman Eye Center. Growing up in Mississippi and New Hampshire among other places, Emmet had worn glasses since the age of 6. As he grew older, Emmet's vision didn't get any better and while he could see close things quite clear, it was nearly impossible to focus in on any object far away. Barber did wear contact lenses for some time, however, he soon realized that the lenses caused dry eyes and other additional issues.



When he moved to South Florida, his condition became quite serious and troublesome. That's when his Hollywood optometrist Justine Chen suggested that maybe LASIK was the answer. She recommended Dr. Stanley Braverman, a well-renowned LASIK specialist in Hallandale, with over 20 years of Lasik experience. So, Emmet started doing his research.



"There were like four doctors I looked at," he recalled. "Two of them said that my vision was so poor, they didn't want to do it. That was the toughest part because it was my vision we were dealing with. Plus, you never got to meet with the doctor - just his assistants. That wasn't very encouraging."



However, this all changed when he stepped foot into Braverman Eye Center. He knew this was the place for him. He felt completely at ease and very comfortable. "First of all, 20 minutes after I got to the office, they took me inside and the first person that met with me was Dr. Braverman," he explained. "I can tell you that in five minutes he not only told me that he could get me seeing better than ever before, but he took me through every step of the process."



Emmet knew that Dr. Braverman was his "dream maker" who could get rid of his vision issues and his need for glasses. Barber had Bladeless LASIK Monovision procedure for both of his eyes: one eye for distance and one for seeing near. With exceptional results, the surgery was life-changing for Emmet and the experience is something he is still talking about.



Barber recalled, "Right after the surgery, I could see and had no pain. They sent me home with a covering so I wouldn't touch the eyes, instructions and some Tylenol, which I never had to take one at all. It was so amazing and still is. I really have to say that the job that Dr. Braverman's Refractive Surgery Coordinator Rosemary Hartford did throughout the entire process, was something that I cannot put into words. She was there every step of the way and answering any questions or concerns that I had."



About Braverman Eye Center

Braverman Eye Center has built its reputation on integrity and the highest standards of care. They provide high-quality eye care to patients throughout South Florida, primarily serving the eye care needs of patients in Hallandale Beach, Hollywood, however, they do see many patients from other surrounding communities in Dade, Broward and Palm Beach County, Florida. They pride themselves on providing the most efficient, professional and personal Optometric and Ophthalmologic care possible. They will do their best to honor one's trust by providing the valued care and respect that each individual patient deserves to receive.



For more information, please visit- https://www.bravermaneyecenter.com
Workers cut up coal carts at the Datai coal mine in Mentougou, west of Beijing, on Dec. 18, 2019. (Greg BakerAFP via Getty Images)

US Professor Pleads Guilty to Charges Related to Secretly Working for Chinese Research Institute

A U.S. professor has pleaded guilty to fraud after concealing his participation in a Chinese state-run job recruitment program.

Dr. James Patrick Lewis, 54, was a tenured physics professor at West Virginia University (WVU) from 2006 to August 2019. He specialized in studying molecular reactions used in coal conversion technologies.

He was charged with federal program fraud and pleaded guilty to the one-count charge, according to a March 10 press release by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).

He agreed to be employed as a professor by Chinas state-run research institute, the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), under a program called Thousand Talents Plan, while he was still a professor at West Virginia University, according to prosecutors.

This case represents an attempt to serve China to the detriment of West Virginia University and the United States, said U.S Attorney Bill Powell in the press release.

The DOJ pointed out that the Thousand Talents Plan is one of the most prominent Chinese recruitment programs, which seek to lure overseas talent and foreign experts to bring their knowledge and experience to China and reward individuals for stealing proprietary information.

Beijing rolled out the Thousand Talents Plan in 2008 to aggressively recruit promising science and tech researchers from foreign countries to work in China.

In the contract with CAS, Lewis agreed to maintain an active research program that yielded publications in high quality, peer-reviewed journals, and to provide research training and experience for Chinese Academy of Sciences students, according to the DOJ. The contract stipulated that Lewis was to be a CAS professor for at least three years.

Under the Thousand Talents Plan, he was promised benefits, including a living subsidy of one million yuan (about $143,000), a research subsidy of 4 million yuan (about $573,000), and a salary of 600,000 yuan (about $86,000), according to the press release.

He would have to work full time in China for three consecutive years, starting at the latest Aug. 8, 2018, for no less than nine months per year, in order to enjoy those benefits.

With the intention of going to China, Lewis made a fraudulent request to WVU in March 2018, asking to be released from his teaching duties for the 2018 fall semester so he could become a primary caregiver for a child he and his wife were expecting three months later. WVU granted his request for the parental work assignment.

Lewis defrauded a public university into giving him leave, so that he could satisfy his competing obligations to a Chinese institution, which he hid from the school, said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers, in the press release.

Lewis spent all but three weeks in China during the 2018 fall semester, while his newborn child was still in the United States.

During the same period, he continued to receive his full salary from WVU based on the parent work assignment, obtaining fraudulently $20,189 from the university, according to the DOJ.

FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigations) agent Robert Jones noted that while participation in a talent plan such as Lewiss is not illegal, investigations have revealed participants are often incentivized to transfer proprietary information or research conducted in the U.S. to China, he said in the press release.

Lewis has agreed to pay $20,189 in restitution to WVU as a part of his plea agreement. He could face up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, according to the DOJ.

The Research

On March 29, 2018, CASs Beijing branch announced on its website that one of its affiliated institutes, the Institute of Coal Chemistry, had successfully recruited Lewis under the Thousand Talents Plans program to recruit foreign experts.

The announcement also stated that the foreign expert program, which was rolled out in 2011 with the goal of recruiting non-Chinese experts, had successfully recruited 381 foreigners.

Lewis was also a co-author of a 2019 paper published in the scientific publication The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters. In the paper, Lewis is listed as being affiliated with three institutes: WVU; the State Key Laboratory of Coal Conversion at CASs Institute of Coal Chemistry; and Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Materials Genome Engineering at Beijing Information Science and Technology University.

Chinese state-run media Global Times, in a 2017 article published on its WeChat account, pointed out that the foreign expert program offers a research subsidy between 3 and 5 million yuan (about $28,570 to $47,600), and a one-time subsidy of 1 million yuan.

The article cited a comment by Jin Jianmin, director in charge of the foreign expert program at the State Administration of Foreign Expert Affairs, which is a department under Chinas Ministry of Science and Technology.

Jin said that as more foreign experts are being recruited to China year after year, there has been a trend of foreigners recruiting other foreigners.
Press Release

March 11, 2020 GORDON PRESSES NEED TO STOCKPILE TO ADDRESS SHORTAGES ARISING FROM EMERGENCIES OR DISASTERS To avert shortages arising from disasters such as the reported shortages of supplies in different parts of the globe due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) scare, Senator Richard J. Gordon reiterated the need for the government to stockpile on strategic supplies. Gordon reiterated this during the continuation of the hearing conducted by the Committee on Government Corporations and Public Enterprises on Senate Bill No. 1347 which seeks to amend the charter of the Philippine International Trading Corporation in order to empower it to handle the proposed stockpiling. "Ang amendment dito ay in-empower natin iyong PITC na maghandle ng strategic and critical supplies para sa ganun mayroon tayong gamit hindi katulad ngayon na nauubusan tayo ng masks. Naubusan tayo ng PPEs, naubusan tayo ng gamot. So, ang gagawin dito palaging mayroon silang stocks," he said, adding that the bill is about intelligence gathering, not against any human enemy but against the enemy of man which is basically sloth, lack of vision and, you know, no forward thinking and "bahala na" attitude. Gordon, who chairs the committee, said the PITC's capital stock would be increased, adding that the they will consider increasing to P5-billion the P1-billion proposed by Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez to ensure sufficient stocks of necessary supplies but the senator also pointed to the need for regular assessment of threats and inventory of stocks such as face masks, personal protective equipment, long shelf-life food like canned goods and rice, medicines, and blood bags, to name a few. He also explained that the bill authorizes the PITC to create warehouses in strategic places, like what other countries do, or make arrangements with manufacturers for the storage of the procured supplies. "The idea is to preposition the equipment and strategic supplies so that when we need it, it's out right away. And hindi iyong kakapa-kapa tayo," Gordon, who authored the bill, stressed.
In a move to accommodate employees in its New York City headquarters who are concerned about the impact of the new coronavirus outbreak, Penguin Random House is offering New Yorkbased staffersthe ability to work from home.

In a memo, PRH US CEO Madeline McIntosh said that the company knows of no one in the PRH community who has been exposed to the virus. Still, McIntosh wrote, given the quickly-moving developments in the New York City region, I know that many people may no longer feel comfortable commuting or working in our New York City offices. Therefore, if any of you working at 1745 or 1450 Broadway (DK) can work from home, we encourage you to speak with your supervisor to make plans to do so.

McIntosh noted that the publisher's two offices will remain open and operational and that the enhanced cleaning protocols the company has been using the last several weeks will continue. She also emphasized that, given the geographic nature of the spread of the virus, it does not plan to issue company-wide guidelines for the U.S. Instead, McIntosh wrote, our leadership and task force teams will continue to constantly monitor the situation in the communities where we operate and make decisions for their locations and populations.

If the threat of the virus demands more aggressive measures, McIntosh said plans are in place. We have business continuity and contingency plans in place in order to ensure that PRH remains able to fulfill our ultimate goal: to get books into the hands of readers around the world, she wrote. That being said, we are focused first and foremost on maintaining the health and well-being of our employees. That priority will guide all of our planning and preparation now and in the future. In the meantime, please take care of yourselves and your families.
RTHK: New York deploys the National Guard to fight virus

New York is deploying National Guard troops for the first time in the coronavirus crisis to help contain the spread of the disease from an infection-hit suburb of New York City, the state's governor said on Tuesday.

Andrew Cuomo said authorities would set up a one-mile radius "containment zone" around the epicentre of an outbreak in New Rochelle in suburban Westchester county.

Cuomo explained that all facilities in the zone that hold large gatherings, such as schools and temples, would be closed for two weeks beginning on Thursday.

"We're also going to use the National Guard in the containment area to deliver food to homes, to help with the cleaning of public spaces," Cuomo said.

There have been 173 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in New York state, including 108 in Westchester County, home to New Rochelle where the majority of infections have been detected.

Cuomo told reporters that businesses in the containment zone will remain open and that people will be free to come and go as they wish, insisting there is no quarantine.

"You're not containing people, it's facilities," he said.

"It is a dramatic action but it is the largest cluster in the country. This is literally a matter of life and death," Cuomo added.

The area is centred on a synagogue in New Rochelle, a city of 80,000 inhabitants just north of New York City, which was attended by the state's first case -- a lawyer working in Manhattan.

The United States has more than 800 confirmed cases of the deadly virus, according to a running tally by Johns Hopkins University.

Twenty-eight people have died, 23 of those in Washington state.

No one has died in New York. (AFP)

This story has been published on: 2020-03-11. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
The Dimitrie Gerota Hospital of Bucharest went into quarantine Wednesday, with the inpatients and the staff staying there for 14 days, according to head of the Emergency Management Department (DSU) Raed Arafat.

"Regarding the Gerota Hospital, it has entered quarantine today, as the inpatients and hospital staff will stay in quarantine for 14 days, during which time the inpatients will be cared for further and investigation and testing will be performed to make sure the outbreak stops there as much as possible," said Arafat, at a news conference at the Interior Ministry (MAI) headquarters.He said there were many people who came in contact with a patient who came from Israel infected with the new coronavirus, and tested positive."This is why we take this measure at the level of the MAI, because the hospital operates under the authority of MAI. The Medical Department is monitoring the situation and is continuing the epidemiological investigation with the epidemiologists of MAI and other bodies to identify all the people with whom that person came into contact," said Arafat.
American history, Elias Rodriques writes at The Nation, has always been a weapon in the hands of Ta-Nehisi Coates. Hes not wrong. Coates often uses history to undermine Americas idea of itself as a beacon of freedom and democracy. Sometimes he does this by narrating stories of horrible acts from the days of slavery or Jim Crow: a lynching, for instance, or a racist bank deliberately making a predatory loan, or a white mob running a black family out of the home it bought in a majority-white area. At other times he will simply state a historical fact and have it function as a moral indictment all on its own. Antebellum Virginia, he writes, had seventy-three crimes that could garner the death penalty for slavesand only one for whites.

Coates in his historical work is a moralist through and through: His historical reconstructions are driven both by a fierce moral commitment to contemporary racial equality and by outrage at the horrors of Americas past. His essays on such topics as reparations and mass incarceration are peppered  and quite impressively so  with references to historians. Before making policy recommendations, he is always careful to consult historical scholarship and make connections between the racial issues of the present and the racist policies of the past.

Studying American history has convinced Coates that America is ontologically  in its very essence  a racist country. In Between the World and Me, a memoir written as an open letter to his son, Coates tells his teenage boy that the police departments of your country have been endowed with the authority to destroy your body. In America, he adds, it is traditional to destroy the black body  it is heritage. The condemnation continues in his collection of essays, We Were Eight Years in Power. America is literally unimaginable without plundered labor shackled to plundered land, he writes. Slavery and the terrorism that followed were not incidental elements in American history, but at its core. All of which leads him to conclude that white supremacy is a force so fundamental to America that it is difficult to imagine the country without it.

Story continues

Yet if Coates the historian is a moralist, Coates the political philosopher is a cynic. Interspersed throughout his work are brief observations about the nature of man and of politics which, if systematically explored, could dramatically undermine his interpretation of Americas essence.

Coates the political philosopher argues that most countries are founded on some crime, some form of oppression. He therefore explicitly rejects the idea that America is exceptionally evil: Theres a fundamental problem at the heart of this country, he said in an interview with Isaac Chotiner, but that doesnt make this country particularly original. . . . Its not unusual to have a premise on which a state is founded and to have deep problems in that premise that continue to recur in that states history and actually threaten its existence all the way through.

Coates the philosopher suggests that exploiting the weak is a universal human desire, one embedded in human nature. He believes that whites are  like any other people  mostly self-interested. Nobody gives up their privilege willingly; they must always be compelled to do so. Coates asks, What people anywhere on this earth has ever, out of a strong moral feeling, ceded power? Can I say that I  we  are any different? The answer, he goes on to say, is no: If there is a power that has ever surrendered itself purely out of some altruistic sense of justice, I have yet to come across it.

Coates holds that every nation and individual generates myths in order to obscure the hard truths they do not wish to face. All of us need myths, he writes in his memoir, The Beautiful Struggle. Elsewhere he elaborates, arguing that myths fulfill the helpful role of getting us not to see the past as it really was:

I know now that all people hunger for a noble, unsullied past. . . . All of us dream of some other time when things were so simple. I know that that hunger is a retreat from the knotty present into myth and that what ultimately awaits those who retreat into fairy tales, who seek refuge in the mad pursuit to be made great again, in the image of a greatness that never was, is tragedy.

In Between the World and Me, Coates combines his cynical view of human nature with his penetrating observations about the role of myth in sustaining peoples positive conceptions of themselves. He writes that his education, particularly in history, began the process that would . . . break all dreams, all the comforting myths of Africa, of America, and everywhere, and would leave me only with humanity in all its terribleness. And there was so much terrible out there, even among us. For Coates, myths never survive contact with the facts of history.

There are, in sum, two sides to Coates: the moralist historian of the United States on the one hand, and the cynical philosopher of human nature on the other. Coates the historian argues that America is a criminal nation, that whites have committed unspeakable (perhaps unforgivable) atrocities against blacks, and that Americas perception of itself as a bastion of liberty is nothing more than a myth. Coates the philosopher seems to respond by saying: Yes, very well, but then all nations are criminal nations, all people with power wield it tyrannically over those beneath them, and all nations  indeed all people  need their myths. Unfortunately, the two sides never actually enter into conversation with each other, so the tensions between them go unresolved.

It is not that Coates has contradicted himself, but that his work leaves readers with a series of positions that do not yield a clear conclusion. It is unclear, for instance, why Coates would continually point out that America is a nation founded on plunder if America is unexceptional in that regard. After all, it is different to say, American has committed awful crimes than to say, Most countries, including America, have committed awful crimes. Coates has made both types of statements, but the emphasis is always on the former. He rarely mentions the crimes of other nations; his books explore the oppression black Americans have faced, not the oppression suffered by other peoples. Why?

Coates has offered a Chomsky-esque reply to this question, arguing that the reason he focuses on Americas failings is because he is an American citizen. As he puts it, Im an American, so I write about America, and race has a place in that. Conservative defenders of the United States have a powerful rejoinder to this argument. They will readily concede to Coates that the history of American slavery is shameful. But they will point out that the very desire to enslave others is universal, that slavery has existed all over the globe ever since the development of agriculture, and that the movement for abolition only arose in a few European countries (and their colonies) in the recent past. Americas relationship to slavery is special  not for having it, but for destroying it. Our moral assessments of the nation, the conservatives conclude, should reflect this historical reality.

As weve seen, Coates (as political philosopher) actually grants most of the conservatives premises; he just rejects their pro-America conclusion. But he offers no explanation as to why. If the desire for domination is universal  and both sides of this debate agree that it is  why is it that some societies broke the historical trend by making efforts to diminish oppression and promote the equal treatment of all their citizens? Conservatives have a range of theories to explain this phenomenon: It was the Enlightenment, theyll say, or the wisdom of the Founding Fathers, or the benign influence of the Judeo-Christian tradition. Such theories may or may not be compelling, but they are at least attempts to answer a question that Coates has not grappled with.

Coatess concession that evil is innate to human beings needs to be reconciled in some way with his beliefs about the wicked essence of the United States. He cannot simply concede the former point without somehow incorporating it into his larger worldview. If (as he says) evil is universal, he has to provide an account of why America managed to abolish an evil institution that had existed for thousands of years. What was it about the United States that permitted this accomplishment? Should the fact that America did abolish slavery, in rebuke to the traditions of most past societies, soften our judgment of its history? And what indeed is Americas essence, assuming it has such a thing? Oppression and freedom coexisted at the moment of its founding, but why is it that as time progressed the former withered away and the latter grew? There is much to commend in Coates, but his work does not answer these questions. It merely raises them.

More from National Review
In the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, Air India Boeing fleets pilots body Indian Pilots Guild (IPG), has urged the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to exempt pilots from the mandatory pre- and post-flight breath analyser (BA) test.

In a letter to Arun Kumar, director-general of DGCA on Tuesday, IPG pointed out that the testing equipment might carry the Covid-19 virus that could spread to the crew.

According to DGCA civil aviation rules (CAR), it is mandatory for all pilots to undergo the BA test before take-off and after landing. Air India has around 1,600 pilots, of which around 800 operate only on the Boeing aircraft.

The letter written to Kumar read: While this epidemic lasts, mass use of any equipment without proper sterilisation, compounds the possibility of propagation of this deadly virus through any individual during early incubation of the virus.

Citing an example, IPG requested the aviation regulator to exempt its pilots from the BA test. It said, Recently, cognisance of this was taken by your good office and communicated to all operators on February 7, under which operating crew out of Kerala were exempted from breath analysers. We request similar directions be issued to stop the pre-flight medical examination until such time as the situation normalises. Recently, the aviation regulator asked doctors and paramedics to check airport staff for symptoms of coronavirus before conducting the BA test. If a staff member is found with symptoms he/she will be removed from duty till recovered.
A Cathay Pacific flight attendant and six more members of a tour group that recently visited Egypt were among the nine new Covid-19 cases confirmed in Hong Kong on Wednesday, taking the city total to 129.

A government announcement late on Wednesday confirmed that all eight travellers from the tour group, together with the guide, had been infected with the deadly coronavirus, as the health authorities scrambled to trace those in close contact with them.

The number of infection cases worldwide has surpassed 118,200, with Italy the worst-hit country outside of China, as governments across the world imposed stringent travel restrictions to reduce the risk of contagion.

The reaction has triggered a wave of cancellations of tours to Europe from major travel agencies in Hong Kong, affecting hundreds of holidaymakers.

The 22-year-old infected Cathay flight attendant, who returned to the city on flight CX320 from Madrid on March 8, is the first confirmed case in the aviation industry in Hong Kong.

She served more than 10 or 20 rows [of passengers], in certain sections of the cabin. We will trace passengers she has served during the flight and those who worked closely with her, said Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan from the Centre for Health Protection.

The most important lesson learned is that, if staff have symptoms, even just mild symptoms, try to avoid going to work.

The flight attendant visited Amsterdam from February 21 to 24, before returning to Hong Kong and later flying to Madrid, Chuang added.

In a statement, Cathay said it understood the outbreak had caused anxiety for employees and customers. It has told all crew on that flight to stay home for now, check their temperatures regularly and watch out for symptoms. The aircraft has been sent for deep cleaning.

The infected flight attendant lives in Mau Lam House, Kwong Lam Court in Sha Tin. A mainland Chinese traveller on the same flight, CX320, was confirmed as infected earlier.

Story continues

Before Wednesdays announcement, three travellers from the Egypt tour group, including a Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) employee, were formally diagnosed with Covid-19.

The government announcement late on Wednesday showed that all eight travellers were infected, along with the tour guide.

The first new case in that group is a 57-year-old FEHD employee who lived in the Bellagio in Tsing Yi, but worked at the Cheung Chau Municipal Services Building.

He returned to work on Tuesday after the overseas trip and dined with colleagues. His 52-year-old wife is the second case.

The FEHD has arranged for co-workers in close contact with him to be quarantined in government facilities. Their office will be disinfected.

The third new infection from the group is a 59-year-old woman, the wife of the FEHD employee who was diagnosed earlier. They live in the Fu Heng Estate in Tai Po.

The fourth is the Egypt tour guide from Sunflower Travel Service, who lived in Telford Garden in Kowloon Bay. Though he has not visited the agencys office after his return, he has eaten with friends, who will now be traced by the health authorities.

The fifth and sixth confirmed on Wednesday are a retired couple, both aged 63, who lived in the Laguna City in Lam Tin.

Of the two other new cases not from the Egypt group, one is the daughter of a man infected earlier. Before she tested positive on Wednesday, she was staying in a government quarantine centre for 14 days until March 1 because she was a close contact of an infected person.

Her case stands out because her incubation period was 21 days, longer than the usual 14 days.

A published study has found that, among 100 infections, one has an incubation period of more than 14 days, said Chuang.

She stressed that a quarantine period of 14 days was suitable, as practicalities must be also be considered.

The other non-tour group case from Wednesday is a 31-year-old woman who took Cathay Pacific flight CX250 from London to Hong Kong on February 29.

On Tuesday, the Hong Kong government announced it was extending travel restrictions to people arriving from La Rioja, Madrid, and the Basque Country in Spain, as well as all of Italy, the Bourgogne-Franche-Comte and Grand Est regions in France, North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany, and Hokkaido in Japan.

The restrictions were expected to come into effect at midnight on Friday.

Arrivals from those places would be placed in mandatory quarantine in government facilities for 14 days.

Chinese University respiratory medicine expert Professor David Hui Shu-cheong described the measures as timely and prudent.

Quarantine centres are preferred to home quarantines for these people because more surveillance tests like deep throat saliva samples are taken there, he told a radio programme on Wednesday.

He said if the number of people returning from those regions exceeded the capacity of quarantine camps, then some could be placed in these centres for the first 10 days, and the final four days at home. But Hui conceded the measure relied on honest reporting by travellers who might not come back directly from those affected countries.

Therefore, the penalty for false declaration must be clearly stated in both the written and electronic forms, he said.

Separately, the Hong Kong Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service said it had updated its blood donation policies. People who have been to areas with active transmission of Covid-19 in the community would need to suspend blood donation for 28 days after departing there.

Areas with the restricted measures included mainland China, South Korea, Italy, Iran, Bourgogne-Franche-Comte and Grand Est in France, North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany, Madrid, La Rioja and Basque Country in Spain, and Hokkaido in Japan.

Constitutional affairs minister Patrick Nip Tak-kuen said earlier that he and four other government officials who had been to Wuhan to oversee the airlift of stranded Hongkongers from the outbreaks epicentre had tested negative for the virus and would return to work on Wednesday.

More from South China Morning Post:

This article Daily coronavirus tally for Hong Kong rises to 9, with all members of an Egypt tour now confirmed as infected, along with a Cathay Pacific flight attendant first appeared on South China Morning Post

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Quetta [Pakistan], Mar 11 (ANI): Pakistan's Balochistan province has reported its first confirmed case of the novel coronavirus bringing the countrywide tally to 19.



The new patient here is a 12-year-old boy who had travelled with his family to Iran and crossed back into the country via the Taftan border, Dawn reported.

"The boy has been placed in an isolated ward," Dawn quoted Medical Superintendent of the Fatima Jinnah Hospital, Noorullah, as saying.

Balochistan government spokesperson Liaquat Shahwani said that the tracing and testing of the boy's family are ongoing.

"Their blood samples were sent to the laboratory because of the family's history of travelling to coronavirus-infected areas in Iran and so far only a 12-year-old child was diagnosed with the disease," Shahwani said.

Meanwhile, the Sindh Health Department has confirmed two more cases of the deadly virus, taking the total tally to 15 in the province.

According to the Health Department, one of the patients had arrived in the country from Syria via Doha and others arrived from Iran via Dubai.

"The department is in the process of tracking down all their contacts for testing. This brings the total number of cases to 15 in Sindh," a health department statement said.

The Sindh government chaired a high-level meeting to discuss measures to contain the spread of the virus. It is yet to issue an advisory to avoid large public gatherings.

The provincial government is also planning to put its own thermal sensors for virus screening at Karachi airport.

Pakistan has shown a lukewarm approach to coronavirus as cases in Asia continue to increase.

The deadly virus which originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan has affected more than 105 countries and has infected more than 115,000 people globally with nearly 4,000 deaths. (ANI)


NASHUA, N.H., March 11, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Dresner Advisory Services today announced that the 2020 Real Business Intelligence conference will be moved to later in the summer. The Real BI Conference is the only industry event for business and IT communities focused completely on real world best practices and proven methods for business intelligence, analytics, information management, and performance management.



The 2020 Real Business Intelligence Conference will now be held August 11-12, 2020, at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Tang Center in Cambridge, MA. The focus of the two-day, single track event will be on strategies for success, providing attendees with pragmatic and actionable takeaways. Registration for this premier event is open at www.seebeyondthenoise.com .

Acting with an abundance of caution, and with public safety in mind, we decided it would best to move our event from the spring to the summer, said Howard Dresner, conference chair of the 2020 Real BI Conference. In moving our event out by three months, we are hopeful that the coronavirus outbreak will have eased by then.

The premier event features an exciting roster of topics and speakers, including:

How Charts Lie: What You Design is Not What People See: The Power and Danger of Data Visualization - Professor Alberto Cairo, Professor of visual journalism at the University of Miami School of Communication and author of How Charts Lie

The Derivation of Unique Solutions and Future Trajectories through the Simultaneous Exploration of Intrinsic Multi-Domain Synergies - Astronaut Story Musgrave (Retired)

Storytelling with Data: Bringing Data to Life Through Pictures and Story - Cole Nussbaumer Knaflic, CEO and author of Storytelling with Data

Understanding Emotional Needs and Experiential Desires of Consumers through Data Analytics - Gebhard Rainer, CEO of Sandals Resorts

The Shape and Substance of Data and Analytics in a Distant Place and Time: Explorations of Khipu Accounting in the Inca Empire - Professor Gary Urton, Archaeology Professor at Harvard University and an expert on the Incan Empire and the Khipu

For more information, visit www.seebeyondthenoise.com . Winter pricing is in effect through March 21, 2020.

About Dresner Advisory Services

Dresner Advisory Services was formed by Howard Dresner, an independent analyst, author, lecturer, and business adviser. Dresner Advisory Services, LLC focuses on creating and sharing thought leadership for Business Intelligence (BI) and related areas such as advanced and predictive analytics, enterprise planning and end user data preparation.
Pet cats have a 'catastrophic impact' on local wildlife populations when they are allowed to roam free, a new study into their behaviour claims.

Researchers from North Carolina State University branded domestic cats a conservation concern because they kill billions of native prey each year.

Moggies killed up to ten times more wildlife than their wildcat cousins, according to the team - who say keeping them indoors could be the answer.

They tracked the movements and counted the prey of 925 pet cats from the US, UK, Australia and New Zealand as part of their study.

Birds landing on driveways and baby rabits munching on lawn grass were some of the animals most in danger from house cats left to roam outside.

Scroll down for video

Domestic cats can have big effects on local wildlife, according to a citizen-science project that tracked house cats using a GPS tracker as seen here. They then counted their prey

The researchers focused on the ecological impact of house cats - as opposed to feral cats - and enlisted hundreds of pet owners to track them.

The team monitored the distances travelled by the pet cats - which spent their days both indoors and outdoors - using GPS tracking devices.

Owners also recorded the number of dead critters they brought home which was then divided by the area in which the cats hunted.

Some adjustments were made to the prey count as cats do not necessarily bring all their kills home.

Figures for domestic cats were then compared to the jungle cat, which is about the same size as a house cat and results showed pet cats have up to a ten times greater impact on wildlife than wild predators.

Owners reported their pets killed an average of 3.5 times a month - similar or higher than the per animal ecological impact of wild carnivores.

But the effect is amplified by the high density of cats in neighbourhoods.

Pet cats killed an average of 14.2 to 38.9 prey per 100 acres per year.

Much of the damage to wildlife was done in disturbed habitats like housing developments.

This effect was mostly concentrated close to the cat's homes with most of their movements within a 300ft radius of their house.

Younger cats and those living in rural areas had slightly larger home ranges.

Researchers concluded domestic cats have a greater ecological impact than native predators, concentrated closer to home.

'Since they are fed cat food, pets kill fewer prey per day than wild predators, but their home ranges were so small that this effect on local prey ends up getting really concentrated,' said Lead author Roland Kays.

'Add to this the unnaturally high density of pet cats in some areas, and the risk to bird and small mammal population gets even worse.

'We found that house cats have a two- to ten-time larger impact on wildlife than wild predators - a striking effect.'

The team found that house cats left outside to roam would kill up to ten times more prey than their nearest wild equivalent predators. Stock image

Dr Kays said keeping cats indoors was a potential solution to the problem.

'We knew cats were killing lots of animals - some estimates show that cats in North America kill from 10 to 30 billion wildlife animals per year,' he said.

'We didn't know the area in which that was happening, or how this compared with what we see in nature.

'The easiest thing we can do to counteract this and help protect wildlife is to keep our cats indoors.'

Study co-author Rob Dunn said: 'Humans find joy in biodiversity, but we have, by letting cats go outdoors, unwittingly engineered a world in which such joys are ever harder to experience.'

The research has been published in the journal Animal Conservation.
Moscow, March 11 : Russias Lower House of Parliament on Wednesday gave its final approval to a series of constitutional reforms that could scrap the two-term Presidential limit and allow Vladimir Putin to extend his time in power into the 2030s.

Having alternated between President and Prime Minister since 2000, Putin has given his backing to a reform that would make him eligible for two more six-year terms in power come the 2024 elections. The measure means he could serve until 2036, Efe news reported.

Russian Presidents are limited to just two terms as things stand.

More than the required two-thirds of MPs in the State Duma gave their backing to the controversial package of amendments on a final reading, meaning it heads for debate in the Senate.

It will also need the approval of the Constitutional Court. Putin has said he will put the changes, the most sweeping since the collapse of the Soviet Union, to a referendum in April.

The Communist Party was the only parliamentary group to vote against the proposal to rework the Presidential term limits.

Anti-Putin political activists have called for mass protests in the coming days.

Just after the announcement, Moscow mayor Sergey Sobyanin banned public gatherings of more than 5,000 people, citing coronavirus restrictions.

Addressing the State Duma on Tuesday, Putin approved a package of 169 amendments to the constitution.

"Together, regardless of all other matters, we have managed to do a lot to make the country stronger," he said.

"I'm convinced that we will do much more good together - in any case until 2024, and then we will see." In addition to numerous social issues, such as annual indexation of pensions and support for large families, the amendments included a proclamation of Russians' faith in God, a definition of marriage as the union of a man and woman and a ban on giving away any Russian territory.

They would also grant more powers to Parliament.

Putin first announced the proposed reforms during his State of the Nation address earlier this year, prompting the immediate resignation of former Prime Minister and Putin-ally Dmitry Medvedev and his cabinet.
By Elias Biryabarema

KAMPALA, March 11 (Reuters) - Uganda's gold exports more than doubled in 2019 compared with the previous year, according to data from the central bank seen by Reuters on Wednesday. An official attributed the surge to soaring demand for bullion and larger refining capacity.

The east African country shipped $1.25 billion worth of gold last year, compared with $514.8 million exported in the previous 12 months.

Adam Mugume, executive director in charge of research at the central Bank of Uganda, told Reuters the spike was due to a growing international demand for gold and a boost in Uganda's refining capacity.

"There's high demand for gold. Most people are moving away from currencies into gold holding," he said. "So long as there's demand for gold people will source for it from all over."

Shipments of gold had been negligible for Uganda but they started to rise sharply after a major refiner, Africa Gold Refinery, opened shop in 2016.

Uganda's gold shipments stood at under $10 million about decade ago, but in 2018 gold for the first time overtook coffee as Uganda's biggest export. Three more smaller refineries have since been commissioned, adding to the country's processing capacity and allowing Uganda to slowly emerge as a regional gold trading hub despite low domestic production of the metal.

Mugume estimated Uganda's own domestic gold production, mostly dominated by small-scale wildcat miners, at less than $50 million. The four refineries source their gold from regional countries, including Democratic Republic of Congo, where rights activists previously blamed parts of the mineral trade for fuelling militia violence.

Mugume said last year's jump in exports was also caused by the large consignment of gold that the African Gold Refinery imported from sanctions-hit Venezuela and subsequently re-exported. In the near term, Uganda is likely to continue recording large year-on-year increases in bullion exports as the country continues to grow as the region's trading hub for the metal, he said.

(Reporting by Elias Biryabarema; editing by Katharine Houreld and Steve Orlofsky)
GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Former President George W. Bush is scheduled to headline an annual scholarship fundraiser for Davenport University.

The university made the announcement Wednesday, March 11 about the planned appearance of the 43rd U.S. president.

The 23rd annual Excellence in Business Gala is scheduled for May 15. University President Richard J. Pappas annually interviews a guest for the audience at the gala.

Weve had some exciting speakers, Pappas said. This came about by a number of fantastic donors willing to cover the former presidents fee. So were excited to be a host for the featured speaker.

Pappas said he hopes the interview will feel like a personal conversation with the former president.

Itll be close and personal of a former president and itll be fun, said Pappas. I think theyll learn a lot and theyll be benefiting our students.

Pappas plans to ask the former president about several items, including his experience having a president for a father, challenges facing the nation in the 21st century, his current work at the George W. Bush Presidential Center and his time as president during 9-11.

The gala, now in its 23rd year, has raised $2.5 million for student scholarships since it started. Its the universitys largest annual event where all the money raised goes to students.

Davenport will also recognize J.C. Huizenga, chairman of the Huizenga group, as a top business leader from West Michigan during the event.

Davenport University is a non-profit, private university with about 7,500 students. Campuses are located across Michigan and online.

The gala is set to be held at DeVos Place at 303 Monroe Ave. NW in Grand Rapids. Tickets are $250 a piece, or there are multiple sponsorship levels ranging from $1,000 to $50,000.

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NEW HAVEN  A Superior Court judge Monday ruled that prosecutors had shown sufficient probable cause to go forward with the charge of murder against Emanuel Dominguez-Villagomez in the death of his wife at their home in Cheshire.

Dominguez-Villagomez, 32, of Mountain Road, faces the charge in connection with the death of his wife, Monica Dominguez, last September. He is also charged with risk of injury to a child because two children, ages 11 and 1 at the time, were at home when their mother was being repeatedly stabbed. The defendant is the biological father of the younger child.

Dominguez died at St. Marys Hospital in Waterbury on Sept. 15, four days after the attack.

Following a second day of states evidence in the case, Superior Court Judge Jon M. Alander ruled the state had established probable cause to prosecute at a trial on its assertion the defendant intended to cause the death of his wife and did cause her death.

Alander cited testimony by two Cheshire police officers and a Cheshire police detective who responded to the home on the night of the episode.

He admitted he had an altercation with his wife, with knives, Alander said. He admitted he grabbed the knife. When asked about the wounds, the officer said the defendant said: I went crazy.

Alander added: Based on the number of wounds, one might infer the defendant went crazy.

Alander quoted testimony given Monday by Dr. Jacqueline Nunez of the chief states medical examiners office. She said the autopsy she performed on Dominguez revealed a total of 30-40 stab wounds, including two long wounds to her neck. Nunez observed a total of 10 sharp wounds to the victims neck, 13 sharp wounds to her head and four wounds to her torso, as well as about 13 wounds to her hands.

Nunez told Senior Assistant States Attorney John P. Doyle Jr. that the cause of death was forced sharp trauma of the neck and head. Asked for the manner of death, Nunez replied: Its a homicide.

Alander noted the prosecutors had also shown evidence of a motive for the attack: He believed she was engaged in an extra-marital affair. Court records show Dominguez had initiated divorce proceedings against Dominguez-Villagomez last July.

When he issued his ruling Monday, Alander also noted testimony Dominguez told an officer as she lay bleeding in her home: He tried to kill me. She added he was her husband. And she said he had stabbed her because He say I cheated on him.

During Nunez testimony, Doyle took her through dozens of photos from the autopsy. The photos provided graphic detail of the extent of the wounds.

The defendant, who has a short beard and wears glasses, was dressed in an orange prison jumpsuit because he is being held in lieu of $1 million bail. He looked at the photos on a computer screen and showed little or no emotion.

During a brief cross-examination of Nunez by defense attorney Norm Pattis, she pinpointed the most prominent wounds as sharp injuries to the left side of her neck.

Pattis asked Nunez to repeat the timetable of the September events: that Dominguez was stabbed Sept. 11 but did not die until the early morning hours of Sept. 15.

Were her injuries exacerbated by the care she received at the hospital? Pattis asked.

I dont believe so, Nunez replied.

Pattis also had Nunez repeat her wording that the cause of death was from complications of the wounds.

Doyle then asked: Those injuries caused her eventual death? Nunez said this was correct.

After court adjourned, Doyle said: We thank the court for listening to our presentation. We are satisfied with the outcome. We move forward with the murder charge.

Pattis said afterward he had no comment other than: Sad case.

randall.beach@hearstmediact.com
A Komodo dragon has given birth to three hatchlings, without the involvement of a male partner.

The dragon, named Charlie, gave birth to the hatchlings, Onyx, Jasper and Flint at the Chattanooga Zoo in August 2019 in Tennessee.

At the time, the zoo was unable to verify if successful breeding had taken place between Charlie and the male, Kadal, who had been placed with the female dragon.

In a post on Facebook, the zoo explained why it had taken so long for the origin of their birth to be confirmed.

"At the time, it was unknown if they were a product of breeding with our male, Kadal, or if parthenogenesis had occurred. DNA results show that the hatchlings were, in fact, reproduced through parthenogenesis!"

Parthenogenesis is unusual, with the first cases recorded in 2006 in the UK at both London and Chester Zoo, according to Scientific American.

The publication explained how it works, saying: "In parthenogenesis, the mother's half-set of chromosomes doubles up to generate the full complement. Hence, the offspring derives all its genes from the mother, but they are not a duplicate of her genome."

They reported that only "0.1 percent of all vertebrate" are able to reproduce asexually.

Recommended Komodo dragon attacks tourist in Indonesia national park

Explaining how parthenogenesis developed, the zoo wrote that the process developed in the wild due to their isolated nature.

"In the wild, Komodo dragons mainly live isolated and often become violent when approached, which has allowed these animals to evolve to reproduce both sexually and parthenogenetically."

Announcing the news, the zoo playfully posted: "Our Komodo Dragon hatchling DNA results are in!

"*Maury Voice* Kadal, you are NOT the father!"
Juliana MacDowell, Leaving Home (Conch Town Music)

Juliana MacDowell recorded much of her new album in Key West, Florida, where she lives for part of the year, far from the music bizs biggest stages.

Leaving Home makes her talent hard to miss, however. MacDowell's second album, and the first for the new indie label Conch Town Music, is as sunny as the Keys and a melodious showcase for her fine singing and songwriting.

MacDowell's brand of pop draws from folk, rock and country. While much of it is bouncy and upbeat, there's a bluesy hue to her expressive alto that's especially appealing, as is the contrast between her upper and lower register.

Leaving Home grabs the ear and invites a smile right out of the gate with the opener I Like, which  as elsewhere  benefits from Matt Backer's inventive guitar work. Horns propel the title cut, a voyage of discovery that leads MacDowell to a happy ending. And the piano-and-strings ballad Midnight Hour offers a reminder that life isn't all beautiful sunsets, even in Key West.

On the fiddle waltz Two Kinds of People, MacDowell sings, I deserve to be heard. She's absolutely right.
Particularly, Tri Viet 1 Solar Power Plant and Bach Khoa A Chau 1 Solar Power Plant, each with a capacity of 30MW, are operational since May 2019.

The two power plants, which are located in Tay Ninh, Vietnam, are expected to be in stable operation, producing electricity under 20-year power purchase agreements (PPAs) with state-run Electricity of Vietnam (EVN).

According to newswire Kaohoon, through its arm Bright Green Power Co., Ltd., Gunkul Engineering has pumped altogether $60.6 million into the Vietnamese solar parks.

Gunkul Engineering officially confirmed that its subsidiary Bright Green Power Co., Ltd. bought into two solar power plants in Vietnam

Specifically, Bright Green Power has purchased all ordinary shares of Singapore-backed An Yang Pte., Ltd. and Yun Yang Pte., Ltd.  the owner of the two solar plants  from Sungrow Power Pte., Ltd.

The push into solar has been driven partly by a desire for cleaner energy sources.

The latest movement is part of Gunkul Engineering's future plan to jump on the solar bandwagon. It is rumoured that the Thai firm would spend approximately $95.9 million, in line with its plans of increasing investment in Vietnam.

The combination of government incentives and large pools of available capital is also spurring the growth of renewables in Vietnam.

Vietnam enacted its strategic orientations for energy development through to 2030 with a vision for the next quarter of a century. The country has also 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, to boost renewable energy development.

Preparation for a new programme of corporate power purchase agreements is underway to lure greater funding into the sector.

Gunkul Engineering, founded in 1982, is a Thailand-based corporation specialising in integrated renewable energy and electrical systems business. However, its stock is still flying low, at around TBH2.44 (7.8 US cents) per share as of March 11, according to data compiled by Marketwatch.
YEREVAN, MARCH 11, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian had a working meeting today with Head of the Food Safety Inspectorate Georgi Avetisyan, the Presidential Office told Armenpress.

At the meeting the officials discussed the operation of the Food Safety Inspectorate, as well as issues relating to the process of ensuring food safety in Armenia. Mr. Avetisyan introduced the activity fields of the structure led by him.

Due to the spread of the novel coronavirus around the globe, the Armenian President highlighted enhancing the control on food safety and sanitary-hygienic conditions of restaurants, cafes, etc.

The President considered vital the idea of making Armenia a regional hub in the field of food safety and holding discussions with the respective international organizations and leaders of several countries on this path.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan
Nine countries from around the world - Djibouti, Grenada, Malawi, Myanmar, Saint Kitts and Nevis, San Marino, Sri Lanka, Suriname and Zimbabwe - have unveiled their Expo 2020 Dubai pavilions, each designed by young and emerging talented students, and in line with the Expos wider aim to engage, involve and empower the next generation, said the organisers.



Inspiring and empowering the youth as innovators and thought leaders of tomorrow is crucial to Expo 2020 and its legacy, with Expo staging a host of initiatives involving young people before, during and after the six-month event, they stated.



Hind Al Boom, Manager, Director General Office, Expo 2020 Dubai, said: "The upcoming event is our chance to bring the world together in a spirit of hope and optimism for the future, and what could be more optimistic than spotlighting talented youth from around the world?"



Teams of students from all these nine countries had researched the history of their countries, the national priorities and development challenges to create their official pavilion designs before working alongside Expo 2020 to bring them to life, she explained.



From the futuristic laboratory that is the San Marino Pavilion, where visitors can actively take part in building the countrys future, to experiencing Malawi through the inspiring story of a young child, each offers unique and impactful insights into the country, culture and progress.



Djiboutis funky shipping container-style pavilion, for example, presents the country as a land of trade, tourism and technology, while the enchanting "spice isle" of Grenada will introduce its flourishing chocolate and nutmeg industries with a stunning abstract nutmeg sculpture.



Kerlyn Ariel Anne Frank, the winning student from Grenada, described the experience as "extremely fulfilling".



"Now I can say that I have been part of putting Grenadas culture, talent and potential out there for the world to see, showing that we are participants in the global economy," she said.



A wide array of student disciplines  from design and art to economics, technology and sustainability  is reflected in the diverse pavilion designs and experiences, and cements Expo 2020 Dubais core vision of "Connecting Minds, Creating the Future".



A multi-disciplinary team from the University of Moratuwa - comprising communications students, product and fashion designers, as well as students of architecture and agriculture - collaboratively came up with the idea to represent Sri Lankas dynamism and adaptability through a sense of flowing water.



Jeevani Siriwardena, the Deputy Commissioner-General for Sri Lanka, and Director-General of the Sri Lanka Export Development Board, said: "Encouraging the youth to think out of the box and to reach out to communities with helping hands creates more empathetic and reflective individuals, and sets them on a course to be better and capable social-serving leaders in the future."



With the inspiring theme of "open for business", the young designers of the Zimbabwe Pavilion are eyeing a brighter future  portraying their nation as an untapped jewel of Africa, rapidly diversifying into new areas of growth, while the Myanmar Pavilion takes visitors on a quiet, spiritual journey that promotes a value-based lifestyle, stated Al Boom.



Nature, culture and history are at the heart of the multi-sensory Saint Kitts and Nevis Pavilion  designed by secondary school students  where visitors will be able to see, touch, taste, smell and hear the secrets of the islands, before "walking through water" at the colourful Suriname Pavilion which explores the countrys nature-based beauty and health products, she explained.



According to her, the Expo School Programme will provide unique learning opportunities to UAE school students via curriculum materials and visits to the Expo site.



The UAEs 140,000 full-time university students are also invited to experience specially-curated tours, while Expo Live  Expo 2020s global innovation and partnership programme  has provided 47 teams of UAE students with grants, exposure and support to help develop their creative solutions to pressing challenges, she added.-TradeArabia News Service
Following Saturday's precinct caucuses, the two major parties are embarking on a heavy six-week schedule of assemblies and conventions at the county, district and state level to vote candidates onto the June primary ballot and nominate delegates to this summer's national conventions.
People

Ola Kaellenius
The late Princess of Wales' former private secretary has warned the Windsors not to 'underestimate' the 'media blitz' Prince Harry and Meghan Markle could unleash.

Patrick Jephson, from the UK, told how the Duke, 35, and Duchess of Sussex, 38, will soon be free to unleash 'revenge' interviews and tell-all books.

'There may be much to mock about Megxit but the joke will be on the Windsors if they underestimate the media blitz Meghan and Harry will soon be free to unleash,' he said, speaking to The Times.

'Sussex revenge for perceived slights and injustices could be rapidly launched from American chat show studios, and who will be surprised when Meghan: Her True Story tops the Christmas bestsellers?'

Patrick Jephson, from the UK, has warned of the 'media blitz' Prince Harry, 35, and Meghan Markle, 38, could unleash. Pictured, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex attend the Commonwealth Day Service 2020 on March 9 in London

The late Princess of Wales' former private secretary told how it wouldn't be a surprise to see them do 'revenge' interviews. Pictured, Oprah Winfrey arrives at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle for the wedding of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry

The couple count the likes of US chat show hosts Oprah Winfrey and James Cordon as friends - and both made the guest list and were seen arriving at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle for the royal wedding on 19 May 2018.

Patrick went on to say that it will become apparent in time whether the Palace has the essential means to protect itself.

His comments come after the royal couple's decision to step down as 'senior royals' in a bid to become more financially independent - and just days after the pair attended the Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey for their last official engagement.

Princess Diana's former private secretary, who was in the role from 1988 to 1996, also told how the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are one step ahead when it comes to their media game.

The late Princess of Wales with her sons William and Harry during a holiday with the Spanish royal family at the Marivent Palace in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, August 1987

'The Sussexes have weaponised private engagements, professional images of which are quickly copyrighted and posted on their Instagram feed, as a simple but devastating tactic for outflanking the Palace press office,' he added.

Meghan Markle has already started her new life after flying straight to Canada from the Commonwealth Day Service to reunite with baby Archie, while Prince Harry has stayed in the UK.

The Duke of Sussex was reportedly in Buckingham Palace yesterday for a series of meetings to plan his future work in the UK, as reported by The Telegraph.

It is understood that Harry will fly back to Vancouver Island soon, where the couple have been living in recent months their son at a luxurious 14million waterside mansion.
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Linkedin Arya Dipa (The Jakarta Post) Bandung, West Java  Wed, March 11, 2020 17:49 671 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2069e1906 1 National BPBD,disaster-victims,earthquake,sukabumi,West-Java,BMKG Free

A magnitude-4.9 earthquake rocking some western parts of West Java on Tuesday afternoon injured at least three people and damaged more than 200 houses across the province.

According to the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), the earthquake struck at 5:18 p.m. on Tuesday, with an epicenter located 13 kilometers northwest of Sukabumi regency at a depth of 10 km.

Rahmat Triyono, the head of the tsunami and earthquake division at the BMKG, said the quake would not cause a tsunami because the epicenter was under land.

West Java Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD Jawa Barat) operational control manager Budi Budiman Wahyu said there were no fatalities caused by the incident. However, three people in Mekarsari village, Kalapanunggal district, Sukabumi suffered minor injuries.

The victims were brought to a nearby clinic in the village. They have received treatment, Budi told The Jakarta Post via text message on Tuesday.

The disaster agency recorded that at least 202 houses were damaged during the earthquake. The most affected region was Kalapanunggal district, where 48 houses were destroyed or severely damaged, while 154 others suffered from minor to moderate damage.

BPBD Jawa Barat also reported damage in other districts, such as Parakansalak, Cidahu and Kabandungan.

As many as 173 individuals were displaced by the incident, Budi said.

BMKGs Rahmat said the shallow earthquake occurred on a strike-slip fault, where two tectonic plates moved in parallel but in opposite directions to one another.

The earthquake was also felt in Bogor and several parts of Jakarta, the BMKG reported. (nal)
The opposition Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in Chennai on Wednesday staged a walkout from the Assembly expressing disappointment over not passing a resolution against Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and Population Register (NPR).

Speaking to reporters later, DMK president and Leader of Opposition M K Stalin said, "We are continuously demanding AIADMK govt to pass a resolution against Citizenship Amendment Act and Population Register. In the last budget session also there was no reply and now Revenue Minister RB Udayakumar is saying that we have to implement it and nobody is affected by it."

On February 17 also, the political quarter had staged a walkout from the Assembly alleging that they had asked that a resolution be brought in the House against the CAA but the Speaker did not allow it.

"The Speaker has set a wrong example by denying us time to speak on a resolution against CAA. Since there was no discussion on this issue in the Assembly before, it would not be wrong to have a discussion on it now," DMK chief MK Stalin had told reporters outside the House.

The party further alleged that they are not satisfied with Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami's explanation over issues being discussed in the House.

"Washermanpet people have been protesting non-stop. It is a misleading campaign by Chief Minister Palaniswamy that protesters indulged in damaging government property. His explanation is not satisfactory, hence DMK walked out of the Assembly," Stalin had stated.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Todays General Audience was adapted to the coronavirus crisis. The pontiff encouraged people to face every situation, even the most difficult, with strength, responsibility and hope. He warned against forgetting the Syrians suffering on the border between Greece and Turkey. For him, even in the most corrupt person yearns for the good.

Vatican City (AsiaNews)  Pope Francis focused again on patients and health workers in todays General Audience. He used the occasion to thank all Christians who are praying, and to express his closeness to the people of Syria and the Syrians caught on the border between Turkey and Greece.

As a result of the coronavirus outbreak, both St Peter's Square and the St Paul VI Hall were empty today. To prevent large gatherings, the Wednesday General Audience was held in the Pope's private library (pictured) in the presence of ten priests.

In his reflections, the pontiff talked again about the cycle of catechesis on the Beatitudes, focusing his meditation on the fourth: Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied (Mt 5:6).

Hunger and thirst are crucial needs, about survival. This must be clear: It it is not a question of a generic want, but a vital and daily need, like food. But what does being hungry and thirsty for justice mean? We are certainly not talking about those who want revenge; on the contrary, in the previous beatitude we spoke of meekness.

Certainly, injustice hurts humanity; human society urgently needs equity, truth and social justice. Let us remember that the evil suffered by women and men in the world reaches the heart of God the Father. Which father would not suffer from the pain of his children? The Scriptures speak of the pain of the poor and oppressed, which God knows and shares. Because he heeded the cry of oppression raised by the children of Israel, as the Book of Exodus tells us (cf. 3:7-10), God came down to free his people.

Yet the hunger and thirst for justice that the Lord tells us about is even deeper than the legitimate need for human justice that every person carries in their heart. In the same Sermon on the Mount, a little further on, Jesus spoke of a justice greater than human law or personal perfection, saying: [U]nless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the kingdom of heaven (Mt 5:20). This justice comes from God (cf. 1 Cor 1:30).

"In the Scriptures we find a deeper thirst than the physical thirst, which is a desire found at the root of our being, explained Francis. In every heart, even in the most corrupt one  far from goodness, there is a yearning for light, hidden under the rubble of deception and errors. There is always a thirst for truth and goodness, which is the thirst for God. It is the Holy Spirit that sparks such thirst: He is the living water that has shaped our dust; He is the creative breath that gave it life.

For this reason, the Church has to proclaim the Word of God to everyone, filled with the Holy Spirit because the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the greatest justice that can be offered to the heart of humanity, which has a vital need for it, even if it does not realise it.

For example, when a man and a woman get married, their intention is to do something great and beautiful, and if they keep this thirst alive, they will always find the way to go forward, amid problems, with the help of Grace.

Young people too have this hunger, and must not lose it! We must protect and feed in the hearts of children this desire for love, tenderness, and acceptance, which they express through their sincere and luminous impulses.

Everyone is called to rediscover what really matters, what they really need, what makes life good as well as what is secondary, what we can do without. In this beatitude, Jesus proclaimed that one thirst will not be disappointed, a thirst that, if met, will be satisfied and will always be successful, because it corresponds to the very heart of God, to his Holy Spirit which is love.

At the end, the pontiff also offered words of encouragement to the people of Italy to face every situation, even the most difficult, with strength, responsibility and hope". He also turned his thoughts to the sick, and those who care for them, as well as the people of Syria.

At this point in time, I would like to speak to all those who are sick with the [corona]virus, who are suffering from this illness, and to the many who are uncertain as to whether they too are ill.

I sincerely thank the hospital staff  doctors and nurses  and the volunteers who at such a difficult time stand alongside the people who are suffering. I thank all Christians, all men and women of good will who are praying during this period, all united, regardless of which religious tradition they belong to. Heartfelt thanks for this effort.

Last but not least, I would not want such pain, such a major epidemic to make us forget about the unfortunate Syrians suffering on the border between Greece and Turkey: a people suffering for years. They have to escape from war, hunger, and disease. Let's not forget our [Syrian] brothers and sisters, so many children, who are suffering over there.
Work on moves to reduce noise on the M4 motorway could begin in April or May.

At the Clane-Maynooth Municipal District committee meeting on March 6, Cllr Paul Ward asked Kildare County Council officials to confirm that work will start on the resurfacing of the road and the introduction of noise reduction measures.

In a report, the members were told that the M4 resurfacing scheme between Junction 7 Maynooth and Junction 8

Kilcock (on both sides of the carriageway) is programmed to be awarded in March with a start date of late April/early May 2020. The material to be used is a 10mm stone mastic asphalt, the meeting was told.

Cllr Ward said that was good news.

Area Engineer, Shane Alyward, said that the new surface would be quieter than the current one.

SEE ALSO: Travel concessions offered due to coronavirus outlook

In February this year, Kildare North TD, Catherine Murphy, was told by Transport Infrastructure Ireland of proposals in to resurface the full length of the Leixlip- Maynooth- Kilcock motorway over the coming years and that work on the section of road between Maynooth and Kilcock would start in the coming months.

She was told the proposals will also consider the feasibility of inserting a bus lane along the route.

Deputy Murphy said that while the resurfacing works completed back in 1994 worked very well for a significant period, it was clear that the surface had deteriorated recently and the subsequent noise pollution from the road is negatively impacting nearby communities.

SEE ALSO: more Kildare stories

The proposed new surfacing is 10 mm Thin Wearing Course (Stone Mastic Asphalt) which would be classed as a low noise surfacing and will significantly mitigate against the noise problem currently being experienced, she said.

The resurfacing has been sought for some time.

In March 2016, for example, hopes rose that a major refurbishment on the M4 motorway in north Kildare could relieve noise problems for residents living nearby later that year or early 2017 but a timescale was not available.

At the Maynooth Municipal District meeting on March 9, 2016, former Director of Services, Niall Morrissey, said that the Council was talking to Transport Infrastructure Ireland about the timescale for resurfacing the M4 and the type of material to be used adjacent to residential areas.

Mr Morrissey said then: These works are scheduled to take place in 2016 or early 2017. Once the timescale is agreed, he would update the members. He said that information is subject to confirmation.

Cllr John McGinley, who retired as a councillor last year, and who raised the issue at the time had asked that sound barriers be erected along the M4 at Kilcock, Leixlip and Maynooth and that the road be resurfaced from Leixlip to Kilcock with low noise emitting tarmacadam.

Cllr McGinley said he was sceptical the work will be done in 2016, but, he told that meeting, if it was done it would be fantastic.

Mr Morrissey replied that he had visited residences in the area and understood the problem. He said he was pushing for low noise tarmacadam to be used but like everything else, it is down to money.
"Pandemic is not a word to use lightly or carelessly. It is a word that, if misused, can cause unreasonable fear, or unjustified acceptance that the fight is over, leading to unnecessary suffering and death"-@DrTedros

The World Health Organization on Wednesday declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic.

The shift to "pandemic" means that slowing coronavirus spread is the goal, not stopping it we are beyond any hope of containment, despite Donald Trump's lies.

From today's WHO briefing with Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, video embedded below:

"In the past two weeks, the number of cases of #COVID19 outside  has increased 13-fold & the number of affected countries has tripled. There are now more than 118,000 cases in 114 countries, & 4,291 people have lost their lives"-@DrTedros #coronavirus  World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) March 11, 2020

"Thousands more are fighting for their lives in hospitals. In the days and weeks ahead, we expect to see the number of #COVID19 cases, the number of deaths, and the number of affected countries climb even higher"-@DrTedros #coronavirus  World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) March 11, 2020

"WHO has been assessing this outbreak around the clock and we are deeply concerned both by the alarming levels of spread and severity, and by the alarming levels of inaction"-@DrTedros #COVID19  World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) March 11, 2020

 BREAKING  "We have therefore made the assessment that #COVID19 can be characterized as a pandemic"-@DrTedros #coronavirus pic.twitter.com/JqdsM2051A  World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) March 11, 2020

"Pandemic is not a word to use lightly or carelessly. It is a word that, if misused, can cause unreasonable fear, or unjustified acceptance that the fight is over, leading to unnecessary suffering and death"-@DrTedros #COVID19 #coronavirus  World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) March 11, 2020

"Describing the situation as a pandemic does not change WHO's assessment of the threat posed by this #coronavirus. It doesn't change what WHO is doing, and it doesn't change what countries should do"-@DrTedros #COVID19  World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) March 11, 2020

"We have never before seen a pandemic sparked by a #coronavirus. And we have never before seen a pandemic that can be controlled at the same time. WHO has been in full response mode since we were notified of the first cases"-@DrTedros #COVID19  World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) March 11, 2020

"We have called every day for countries to take urgent and aggressive action. We have rung the alarm bell loud and clear"-@DrTedros #COVID19 #coronavirus  World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) March 11, 2020

"As I said on Monday, just looking at the number of #COVID19 cases and the number of countries affected does not tell the full story"-@DrTedros #coronavirus  World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) March 11, 2020

"Of the 118,000 #COVID19 cases reported globally in 114 countries, more than 90 percent of cases are in just four countries, and two of those   and   have significantly declining epidemics"-@DrTedros #coronavirus  World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) March 11, 2020

"81 countries have not reported any #COVID19 cases, and 57 countries have reported 10 cases or less. We cannot say this loudly enough, or clearly enough, or often enough: all countries can still change the course of this pandemic"-@DrTedros #coronavirus  World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) March 11, 2020

"If countries detect, test, treat, isolate, trace, and mobilize their people in the response, those with a handful of #COVID19 cases can prevent those cases becoming clusters, and those clusters becoming community transmission"-@DrTedros #coronavirus  World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) March 11, 2020

"Even those countries with community transmission or large clusters can turn the tide on this #coronavirus. Several countries have demonstrated that this virus can be suppressed and controlled."-@DrTedros #COVID19  World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) March 11, 2020

"The challenge for many countries who are now dealing with large #COVID19 clusters or community transmission is not whether they can do the same  it's whether they will"-@DrTedros #Coronavirus  World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) March 11, 2020

"Some countries are struggling with a lack of capacity. Some countries are struggling with a lack of resources. Some countries are struggling with a lack of resolve."-@DrTedros #COVID19 #coronavirus  World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) March 11, 2020

"We are grateful for the measures being taken in ,  and  to slow the virus and control their #COVID19 epidemics. We know that these measures are taking a heavy toll on societies and economies, just as they did in "-@DrTedros #coronavirus  World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) March 11, 2020

"All countries must strike a fine balance between protecting health, minimizing economic & social disruption & respecting human rights"-@DrTedros #COVID19 #coronavirus  World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) March 11, 2020

"WHO's mandate is public health. But we're working with many partners across all sectors to mitigate the social and economic consequences of this #COVID19 pandemic"-@DrTedros #coronavirus  World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) March 11, 2020

"I have said from the beginning that countries must take a whole-of-government, whole-of-society approach, built around a comprehensive strategy to prevent infections, save lives and minimize impact"-@DrTedros #COVID19 #coronavirus  World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) March 11, 2020

"Let me summarize it in 4 key areas. 1 Prepare and be ready. 2 Detect, protect and treat. 3 Reduce transmission. 4 Innovate and learn"-@DrTedros #COVID19 #coronavirus  World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) March 11, 2020

"I remind all countries that we are calling on you to (2):

-ready your hospitals

-protect and train your #healthworkers

-let's all look out for each other"-@DrTedros #COVID19 #coronavirus  World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) March 11, 2020

"There's been so much attention on one word. Let me give you some other words that matter much more, & that are much more actionable: Prevention. Preparedness. Public health. Political leadership. And most of all, People"-@DrTedros #COVID19 #coronavirus  World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) March 11, 2020
Given federal constraints around cannabis, there are large gaps between knowledge and use in the United States, Worster said. The value of all cannabis-based research is that it slowly increases our understanding of what conditions, symptoms and aspects of the plant are medically beneficial, tolerated and safe. The more we know, the more this enables us to look at specific conditions, symptoms and effective dosing that may be amenable to cannabis-based therapy.
SAN DIEGO, Calif., March 10, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Ubiq Security, announced today that it was voted Best Newcomer by over 250 partners and 600+ attendees at this year's XChange conference, hosted by The Channel Company at the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa in San Antonio, Texas.

Ubiq was selected for this award by leading solution providers, highlighting its innovative products, services and partner programs as major drivers. This award recognizes Ubiq's dedication to enabling solution providers to evolve their security and privacy practices to be data-centric.

Ubiq has developed a multi-patented software platform that secures data throughout its entire lifecycle  from inception, processing, analytics, to storage. This approach is vastly different from traditional perimeter-based security strategies, which rely on adding layers of security technologies around data.

This introduces an exciting opportunity for partners, as Ubiq's solution can be implemented with nearly no interruption to user experience, secures data across laptops, servers, cloud, IoT, etc., removing the need to manage multiple point solutions. Ultimately, giving customers the ability to derive maximum value from their data, while also mitigating risk of theft.

"XChange draws the IT channel's elite technology vendors  vendors that are devoted to providing forward-thinking technology solutions and business strategies to help solution providers be the most profitable today and, in the future," said Bill Jones, senior vice president and general manager, events, The Channel Company. Through their products, programs and services, these vendors have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to helping solution providers capitalize on market trends and the ever-changing needs of their customers to achieve lasting success. We thank Ubiq and thank all the recipients of 2020 XCellence Awards for their valuable contributions to today's digitally-driven channel."

"We were astounded by the reception we received at this year's XChange event. It was obvious by the feedback we received that partners are looking for innovative data security solutions that aren't just another add-on to an already overloaded perimeter. The concept of securing the data itself isn't new, but how Ubiq solves this, and in such a seamless and frictionless manner is what sets us apart. Partners looking to help customers better secure and manage the privacy of their data, are adding Ubiq into their solution set. Partners also appreciate that we launched Ubiq with a channel-centric go-to-market strategy  putting the partner opportunity front and center," said Steve Pataky, CCO for Ubiq Security.

The Channel Company's XChange March conference, held this year in San Antonio, Texas, from March 1-3, provided attendees with empowering insight, actionable business strategies and unmatched peer connections. Attendees learned from industry leaders, who presented the latest technologies, programs and business models that are enabling solution providers to realize lasting success.

To view the full list of 2020 XChange XCellence Award winners, visit https://event.thechannelco.com/xchange-march/awards

About Ubiq

Ubiq was founded on the belief that data should be private, secure, and efficiently accessible throughout its life cycle, empowering organizations to derive maximum value from their data, while radically mitigating the risk of its theft and compromise.

We enable customers to achieve this through their entirely transparent and multi-patented data-first driven security and privacy platform, that secures data everywhere and enables only authorized system and user access. The lightweight software stack easily integrates into existing applications, IoT devices, or installs onto endpoints and servers - on-premise, on the edge, or in the cloud.

Ubiq has been awarded San Diego Venture Group's Cool Companies of 2019, Enterprise Security Magazine's Top 10 Encryption Vendors of 2019, and The Channel Company's Best Newcomer XCellence Award 2020, and has presence across North America, Asia Pacific, and Japan.

For more information, visit www.ubiqsecurity.com or follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.

About The Channel Company

The Channel Company enables breakthrough IT channel performance with our dominant media, engaging events, expert consulting and education, and innovative marketing services and platforms. As the channel catalyst, we connect and empower technology suppliers, solution providers and end users. Backed by more than 30 years of unequaled channel experience, we draw from our deep knowledge to envision innovative new solutions for ever-evolving challenges in the technology marketplace. www.thechannelco.com and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.

SOURCE Ubiq Security, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.ubiqsecurity.com


Senior journalist and activist Ajit Bhuyan will be an independent candidate for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections from Assam.

The Congress and All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) have extended their support to Bhuyan.

Since the term of the three seats ends on April 9, the elections will be held on March 26 this year.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
This potent tumor suppressor gene, silenced or mutated in most tumor tissues, could be turned back on to trigger a powerful immune attack on the tumor

Tumors have figured out various ways to prevent the immune system from attacking them. Medicine, for its part, has fought back with cancer immunotherapies. The major approach uses checkpoint inhibitors, drugs that help the immune system recognize cancer cells as foreign. Another method, CAR T-cell therapy, directly engineers peoples' T cells to efficiently recognize cancer cells and kill them.

But not all patients benefit from these approaches, which work for just a minority of cancer types, and CAR T-cell therapy carries significant risks. New research from Boston Children's Hospital, published March 11 in Nature, adds another strategy to the arsenal, one that could potentially work in more types of cancer. It reactivates a gene called gasdermin E, harnessing an immune response we already have but that is suppressed in many types of cancer.

"Gasdermin E is a very potent tumor suppressor gene, but in most tumor tissues, it's either not expressed or it's mutated," says Judy Lieberman, MD, PhD, of the Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine (PCMM), the study's principal investigator. "When you reactivate gasdermin E in a tumor, it can convert an immunologically 'cold' tumor -- not recognized by the immune system -- into a 'hot' tumor that the immune system can control."

In the study, Lieberman and colleagues showed that 20 of 22 cancer-associated mutations they tested led to reduced gasdermin E function. When they re-introduced gasdermin E in a mouse model, they were able to trigger pyroptosis and suppress growth of variety of tumors (triple-negative breast tumors, colorectal tumors, and melanoma).

Heating up the immune response

The team also showed, in mouse tumor cell lines, how gasdermin E works. Normally, when cells die, including most cancerous cells, it's through a process called apoptosis, a quiet, orderly death. But if gasdermin E is present and working, cancer cells go down in flames, through a highly inflammatory form of cell death called pyroptosis.

As Lieberman's team showed in live mice, pyroptosis sounds a potent immune alarm that recruits killer T cells to suppress the tumor. The team is now investigating therapeutic strategies for inducing gasdermin E to rally that anti-tumor immune response.

"What we're suggesting is that if we can turn on the danger signal, which is inflammation, we can activate lymphocytes more fully than with other immunotherapy approaches, and have immunity that is potentially much broader," says Lieberman. "Combining activation of inflammation in the tumor with approved checkpoint inhibitor drugs could work better than either strategy on its own."

###

Companies interested in collaborating with the scientists to further the research in this area should contact the Boston Children's Technology and Innovation Development Office at TIDO@childrens.harvard.edu.

Zhibin Zhang, PhD, and Ying Zhang, PhD in the Lieberman lab were co-first authors on the paper in Nature. and Hao Wu, PhD, of PCMM was a collaborator. The study was supported by the NIH Tetramer Core Facility, NIH R01 AI139914, a Charles A. King Trust Fellowship, and a Department of Defense Breast Cancer Breakthrough Fellowship Award.

About Boston Children's Hospital

Boston Children's Hospital is ranked the #1 children's hospital in the nation by U.S. News & World Report and is the primary pediatric teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School. Home to the world's largest research enterprise based at a pediatric medical center, its discoveries have benefited both children and adults since 1869. Today, 3,000 researchers and scientific staff, including 8 members of the National Academy of Sciences, 21 members of the National Academy of Medicine and 12 Howard Hughes Medical Investigators comprise Boston Children's research community. Founded as a 20-bed hospital for children, Boston Children's is now a 415-bed comprehensive center for pediatric and adolescent health care. For more, visit our Discoveries blog and follow us on social media @BostonChildrens, @BCH_Innovation, Facebook and YouTube.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 10) Even if the bid to keep the Philippines' Visiting Forces Agreement with the United States prevails, President Rodrigo Duterte can still decide to reject future joint military activities under the pact, a former Supreme Court justice warned Tuesday.

Retired Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio told CNN Philippines' The Source that the Supreme Court's possible nod for Senate concurrence in ending treaties which would in turn deem the countrys VFA withdrawal notice as ineffective may not have a huge effect as the chief executive will ultimately have the last say.

"That means the notice of withdrawal is ineffective, it's not valid," Carpio said of a possible high court ruling. "But if the President doesn't want any activies under the VFA to take effect or to be conducted, then he will say okay, no activity whatsoever under the VFA."

That decision of the Supreme Court stays, but the President, because he has the prerogative to do it, he can just refuse to conduct any military exercise... It is as if there's no VFA because he refuses to conduct any activity under the VFA," he added.

The upper chamber asked the high court Monday to require its concurrence in the termination of treaties. In their petition for declaratory relief and mandamus, lawmakers suggested that the government's withdrawal from or termination of an international agreement should first have approval of two-thirds of all the members of the Senate.

The petition filed by Senators Vicente "Tito" Sotto III, Franklin Drilon, Richard Gordon, and Panfilo "Ping" Lacson does not directly challenge the military deal between the two countries, but rather covers the ambiguity on the Senate's role in treaties.

President Rodrigo Duterte, however, remained firm on his stance and dismissed the Senates plea, theorizing that this may just be a political move by lawmakers to win votes from Filipinos in America.

Some lawmakers and experts had divided views on whether or not there is a need for Senates concurrence, but Malacanang previously promised to heed the Supreme Courts decision on the matter.

On Duterte's order in February, the Philippines notified the US that it is terminating the two-decade-old military pact, which covers the treatment of either troops when they are in the US or the Philippines. The 1998 deal between Washington and Manila includes provisions on lax visa and passport policies for US troops, and rights of the US government to retain jurisdiction over its military personnel, among others. The notification starts the 180-day period after which the pact officially ends.

EXPLAINER: The Visiting Forces Agreement

Despite the treatys abrogation, this years Philippine-US Balikatan exercise is expected to push through in May, with around 10,000 troops expected to join.

PH message to China: You can do whatever you want

Carpio, a known vocal critic of the administrations policies on the maritime dispute with China, further warned that the VFAs termination would send a wrong message to the East Asian giant.

RELATED: Carpio: PH inviting China to seize West Philippine Sea with VFA's end

He said the move would allow China to seize natural resourcesincluding the Reed Bank (Recto Bank)with the neighboring nation free to build navy and air bases around the West Philippine Sea.

Reed Bank is our substitute for Malampaya. Once we run out of gas in Malampaya, there's only one area where we can get the gas as of now, that's Reed Bank. If China is there... with the air and naval base in Scarborough Shoal, they can have now the means to control that area, Carpio said.

The message to China is, you can do whatever you want in the West Philippine Sea now. China doesnt respect us, he added.

The Recto Bank is an underwater feature in the West Philippine Sea that is also being claimed by Beijing. Carpio earlier also warned that China can seize the gas reserves from the area, should Manila fail to pay its multi-billion peso loan deals.
Company Announcement

Copenhagen, Denmark; March 10, 2020  Genmab A/S (GMAB) announced today that Anthony Mancini will join the company as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, effective March 23, 2020. Mr. Mancini will be responsible for overseeing Genmabs Commercial, Corporate Development, Business Development and Information Technology functions. He will join the Executive Management Team of Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Jan van de Winkel, Chief Development Officer, Dr. Judith Klimovsky, and Chief Financial Officer, Anthony Pagano. Mr. Mancinis responsibilities will include the successful direction, planning, and execution of all aspects of Genmabs commercial strategies and the further optimization of the organization to achieve its inspirational vision of transforming cancer treatment and bringing its own differentiated therapeutic products to the market.

Mr. Mancini brings to Genmab strategic and operational leadership as well as a consistent track record of growth across North America, Europe and Australia. Mr. Mancini has held positions of increasing responsibility in sales, marketing and general management; leading launches and alliances across various therapeutic areas including Oncology, Hematology, Cardiovascular, Immunology, Metabolic Disease, and Virology. Most recently, he led Bristol-Myers Squibbs US Innovative Medicines Unit, a team of over 1100 people focused on Immunology & Cardiovascular diseases.

I am delighted to welcome Anthony to the Executive Management Team in the newly created role of Chief Operating Officer, and look forward to his contributions in building our growing global operations during this transformational stage for Genmab, said Jan van de Winkel, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Genmab. Anthony shares our determination to bring truly differentiated new cancer treatments to the market that will deliver on our commitment to improve patients lives while fostering a culture of excellence and passion for innovation. On behalf of the Board of Directors and the full Global Leadership Team, I warmly welcome Anthony to Genmab.

Story continues

Mr. Mancini will be based in Princeton, New Jersey, U.S., whilst traveling regularly to Genmabs other sites in Copenhagen, Denmark, Utrecht, The Netherlands, and Tokyo, Japan. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from the University of Ottawa, Canada, an MBA from Clemson University, South Carolina, USA, and participated in the General Management Program, CEDEP at INSEAD, Fontainebleau, France.

About Genmab

Genmab is a publicly traded, international biotechnology company specializing in the creation and development of differentiated antibody therapeutics for the treatment of cancer. Founded in 1999, the company is the creator of three approved antibodies: DARZALEX (daratumumab, under agreement with Janssen Biotech, Inc.) for the treatment of certain multiple myeloma indications in territories including the U.S., Europe and Japan, Arzerra (ofatumumab, under agreement with Novartis AG), for the treatment of certain chronic lymphocytic leukemia indications in the U.S., Japan and certain other territories and TEPEZZA (teprotumumab, under agreement with Roche granting sublicense to Horizon Therapeutics plc) for the treatment of thyroid eye disease in the U.S. Daratumumab is in clinical development by Janssen for the treatment of additional multiple myeloma indications, other blood cancers and amyloidosis. A subcutaneous formulation of ofatumumab is in development by Novartis for the treatment of relapsing multiple sclerosis. Genmab also has a broad clinical and pre-clinical product pipeline. Genmab's technology base consists of validated and proprietary next generation antibody technologies - the DuoBody platform for generation of bispecific antibodies, the HexaBody platform, which creates effector function enhanced antibodies, the HexElect platform, which combines two co-dependently acting HexaBody molecules to introduce selectivity while maximizing therapeutic potency and the DuoHexaBody platform, which enhances the potential potency of bispecific antibodies through hexamerization. The company intends to leverage these technologies to create opportunities for full or co-ownership of future products. Genmab has alliances with top tier pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. Genmab is headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark with sites in Utrecht, the Netherlands, Princeton, New Jersey, U.S. and Tokyo, Japan.





Contact:

Marisol Peron, Corporate Vice President, Communications & Investor Relations

T: +1 609 524 0065; E: mmp@genmab.com

For Investor Relations:

Andrew Carlsen, Senior Director, Investor Relations

T: +45 3377 9558; E: acn@genmab.com



This Company Announcement contains forward looking statements. The words believe, expect, anticipate, intend and plan and similar expressions identify forward looking statements. Actual results or performance may differ materially from any future results or performance expressed or implied by such statements. The important factors that could cause our actual results or performance to differ materially include, among others, risks associated with pre-clinical and clinical development of products, uncertainties related to the outcome and conduct of clinical trials including unforeseen safety issues, uncertainties related to product manufacturing, the lack of market acceptance of our products, our inability to manage growth, the competitive environment in relation to our business area and markets, our inability to attract and retain suitably qualified personnel, the unenforceability or lack of protection of our patents and proprietary rights, our relationships with affiliated entities, changes and developments in technology which may render our products or technologies obsolete, and other factors. For a further discussion of these risks, please refer to the risk management sections in Genmabs most recent financial reports, which are available on www.genmab.com and the risk factors included in Genmabs final prospectus for our U.S. public offering and listing and other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which are available at www.sec.gov . Genmab does not undertake any obligation to update or revise forward looking statements in this Company Announcement nor to confirm such statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances after the date made or in relation to actual results, unless required by law.



Genmab A/S and/or its subsidiaries own the following trademarks: Genmab; the Y-shaped Genmab logo; Genmab in combination with the Y-shaped Genmab logo; HuMax; DuoBody; DuoBody in combination with the DuoBody logo; HexaBody; HexaBody in combination with the HexaBody logo; DuoHexaBody; HexElect; and UniBody. Arzerra is a trademark of Novartis AG or its affiliates. DARZALEX is a trademark of Janssen Pharmaceutica NV. TEPEZZA is a trademark of Horizon Therapeutics plc.

Company Announcement no. 11

CVR no. 2102 3884

LEI Code 529900MTJPDPE4MHJ122

Genmab A/S

Kalvebod Brygge 43

1560 Copenhagen V

Denmark



Attachment
Russian pranksters on Wednesday said they duped Prince Harry into believing he was speaking to environmental campaigner Greta Thunberg, after The Sun newspaper gave details of hoax calls.

"It was us", Vladimir "Voyan" Kuznetsov told AFP in response to the British tabloid's front-page report, which said the prince was duped into two chats with him and Alexei "Lexus" Solyarov.

The pair, known as "Vovan and Lexus", have made a habit of fooling politicians and pop stars in prank calls.

Their previous victims include Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, pop icon Elton John and Prime Minister Boris Johnson himself when he was foreign secretary in 2018.

In the conversations, which took place in December and January, the prince was tricked into believing he was speaking to Thunberg and her father, Svante.

The daily reported he gave his support to Thunberg and attacked US President Donald Trump for his stance on climate change.

"Unfortunately the world is being led by some very sick people so the people like yourselves and younger generation are the ones that are going to make all the difference," the prince reportedly said.

"I think the mere fact that Donald Trump is pushing the coal industry is so big in America, he has blood on his hands."



The Russian pair reportedly also coaxed Harry to discuss his decision to quit frontline royal life as well as to comment on leading politicians.

On British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Harry was said to have added: "He is a good man, so you are one of few people who can reach into his soul and get him to feel and believe in you. But you have to understand that because he has been around for so long like all of these other people, they are already set in their ways."



On his move to North America with wife Meghan and baby Archie, Harry was quoted as saying it was "the right decision to be able to protect my son" from constant media attention.

"It's a tricky one, but we will start a new life," he added.

The Duke of Sussex insisted "no one has stripped us of our titles", saying the British press had exaggerated the issue of their future royal status.

"We obviously have been asked not to use our titles in order to make money, which we would never do," he said.

The pranksters apparently even managed to steer Harry towards the scandal that has engulfed his uncle Prince Andrew over a friendship with late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

"I have very little to say on that," the prince reportedly said.

"But whatever he has done or hasn't done, is completely separate from me and my wife... we are completely separate from the majority of my family."



Harry is also said to have hinted at tensions inside the British monarchy's inner circle when asked by the hoax callers if normal life was worse than royal life.

"Oh no, I think it's much better," he replied, before adding: "You forget, I was in the military for 10 years, so I'm more normal than my family would like to believe."



Kensington Palace did not immediately respond to a request for comment when contacted by AFP.

Royal sources were quoted as saying by The Sun that it was "completely natural" for Harry to want to talk to Thunberg.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Joel S. Marcus, Executive Chairman and CEO of Alexandria Real Estate Equities and Medal of Honor recipient and retired U.S. Navy Master Chief Special Warfare Operator Britt Slabinski "We are profoundly grateful to those in the armed services and their families who have sacrificed so much for the sake of their missions, the defense of our nation and the safeguarding of our freedoms, which we can never take for granted." Joel S. Marcus, Executive Chairman and Founder of ARE

Last Thursday, dedicated patriots and supporters gathered at the New York Marriott Marquis for the Navy SEAL Foundations New York City Benefit Dinner, a cornerstone of the organizations fundraising efforts. This annual event recognizes the courage, commitment and sacrifice of the Naval Special Warfare (NSW) community, and this years event served to commemorate a milestone for the organization: twenty years of support for the Naval Special Warfare community.

The Navy SEAL Foundation was pleased to recognize Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. and its Executive Chairman and Founder, Joel S. Marcus, as the 2020 Navy SEAL Foundation Patriot Award Recipients. The NSF Patriot Award recognizes individuals and organizations that contribute greatly to our nation and it serves to recognize those who embody the values that epitomize the SEAL community. Mr. Marcus and his team at Alexandria have supported the Foundation since 2010, investing in programs to enrich resiliency, health, and welfare for the SEAL community.

Medal of Honor recipient and retired U.S. Navy Master Chief Special Warfare Operator, Britt Slabinski presented the award to Mr. Marcus at Thursdays event. Joel served his nation as a medic in the Air Force. Its there, perhaps, while watching fellow service members return home traumatized by war that his convictions and compassions were cemented, said Slabinski. His commitment to those that serve continues as he focuses all that Alexandria has to this end. He is a man who knows that intellectual capital is as crucial as financial capital, a man who believes teamwork is vital to all great success. A man who believes courage is a choice and he makes that choice every day. A man who lives by his convictions regardless of the cost and a man whos compassion for humanity is unwavering.

"On behalf of the women and men who make up the Alexandria family, we are deeply humbled, honored and blessed to accept the prestigious 20th anniversary Patriot Award," said Mr. Marcus. "We are profoundly grateful to those in the armed services and their families who have sacrificed so much for the sake of their missions, the defense of our nation and the safeguarding of our freedoms, which we can never take for granted. We all have a responsibility to ensure that our national heroes remain healthy and resilient and that, along with their families, they receive the tools they need to live full, productive and happy lives."

After dinner, Theodore Roosevelt IV, BUD/s Class 36, and great-grandson of President Theodore Roosevelt delivered a moving tribute to the members of NSW who are no longer with us.

Retired U.S. Navy Four-Star Admiral William H. McRaven delivered the evenings keynote address and spoke about the virtues of the SEAL warrior by breaking down the SEAL Creed one section at a time. He spoke of honor and sacrifice and he described those who wear the SEAL Trident as men who stand ready to defend our nation, no matter the personal cost.

Said McRaven, So, if you want to know about the men you are supporting tonight, they are sons, and brothers, fathers and husbands, uncles and cousins. They are disciplined, hard-working, and determined to be the best at their craft. They are relentless in their pursuit of excellence. If you are their friend, they will die for you. If you are the enemy they will die to stop you. They will never quit, no matter what the cost. He continued, Above all, in spite of their occasional shortcomings, they are honorable men who believe they are fighting for a noble cause. And you should know that they believe in you, the American citizen. They fight for you because you have shown, time and again, that you are worth it.

McRaven left the stage only to be called back up by the 15th Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Russell R. Smith, 9th Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy James L. Herdt, 7th Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Duane R. Bushey, and Naval Special Warfare Force Master Chief Bill King where, to everyones surprise, they bestowed him with the title of Honorary Master Chief.

This years New York Benefit was chaired by Christopher D. Heinz and co-chairs included Bloomberg Philanthropies, BNBuilders, Vanessa and Henry Cornell, Metka and Jack Daly, DPR, Fiona and Stanley Druckenmiller, Eastdil Secured, Caroline and Ed Hyman, Eugenia and David Janke, Daniel S. Loeb, Anton LeRoy/BTIG, Michael J. Muldoon, Sean Parker/Parker Foundation, Harvey Schwartz, Truebeck Construction, Cindy and Tom Wagner, Alan Waxman/Sixth Street Partners and The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company. Trident Sponsors included Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc./Alexandria Venture Investments, Drue Heinz Charitable Trust, Heinz Family Foundation, Barbara and Joel Marcus, Nancy and Howard Marks, and the Zide Family Foundation. The 40-plus member Benefit Host Committee was led by Deron J. Haley, Anton LeRoy, and Brendan Rogers.

The 2021 Navy SEAL Foundation New York City Benefit Dinner is scheduled for March 4, 2021.

About the Navy SEAL Foundation:

The mission of the Navy SEAL Foundation (NSF) is to provide immediate and ongoing support and assistance to the Naval Special Warfare (NSW) community and its families, and this year they are commemorating 20 years and over $220 million invested in programs serving this dynamic community.

U.S. Navy SEALs have been in sustained combat for nearly two decades, performing hazardous work in unforgiving environments at an unrelenting pace. NSW operators are currently deployed in over 30+ countries across the globe and can spend up to 270 days each year in harm's way.

The Navy SEAL Foundation stands behind these warriors and their families by providing a comprehensive set of programs specifically designed to improve health and welfare, build and enhance resiliency, empower and educate families and provide critical support during times of illness, injury or loss.

Like the community it serves, the Navy SEAL Foundation is a high performing organization committed to excellence. NSF has been awarded the coveted 4-Star rating from Charity Navigator since 2011 and has earned a perfect score of '100' each year since 2016 for financial health, accountability, and transparency, placing NSF in the top 1% of rated charities. Ninety-five cents of every dollar donated goes directly to programs or is retained for future mission use.

The Navy SEAL Foundation is a 501c3 national non-profit charitable organization. TAX-ID 31-1728910. NSF is a non-federal entity, nor is it a part of the Department of Defense or any of its components, and it has no governmental status. To learn more, visit https://www.navySEALfoundation.org.
Meghan, Duchess of Sussexs family drama has been ongoing since before she was married to Prince Harry. Ever since her half-brother and sister expressed their disappointment about not receiving invitations to Meghan and Prince Harrys wedding, fans around the world have been well aware of the awkward situation that she is dealing with to this day.

As we know, Meghans dad, Thomas Markle, had originally planned to fly to England in order to walk his daughter down the aisle. But then staged paparazzi photos and health issues caused him to back out at the last second.

Since then, Meghan has been estranged from just about all of her family members except for her mom, Doria Ragland. This hasnt stopped the Markle family from voicing their opinions regarding Meghan and Prince Harry over the last few years.

Meghans half-sister and father, in particular, have been extremely outspoken about so many issues involving the royal couple. Since the surprising announcement of Prince Harry and Meghan stepping down as senior royals, Thomas Markle has been unfairly accusing Meghan of dumping all her family.

Thomas Markles take on Megxit

Almost immediately after Meghan and Prince Harry announced their decision to step back as senior royals, Thomas Markle made a statement about how he felt.

So, what did Meghans estranged dad have to say? Well, he said that their resignation was embarrassing and that they have brought hurt to so many people around them. Markle also talked about how he felt that Meghan should have known what she was getting into by marrying the grandson of the queen and that the couples leaving England is the wrong decision.

Although there is nothing stopping Markle from talking openly about how he feels, it seems pretty unfair that he is so opinionated about a situation that he is not personally involved in. Given that he is estranged from his daughter, and doesnt have a relationship with Harry either, hes not exactly relevant to their decision.

Meghans relationship with her dad

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex | Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images

To say that Meghan and her father have had a complicated relationship is a huge understatement. According to Good Housekeeping, Markle has been living in Mexico for the last few years.

Right up until the days immediately before the royal wedding, he seems to have had a pretty good relationship with Meghan. Everyone was pretty surprised when Markle backed out of going to the wedding, and he and Meghan havent spoken since.

At one point, Markle even went so far as to release details of a personal letter that Meghan wrote to him, and he has also done more than his fair share of interviews. There is no doubt that Meghan and Prince Harry are deeply hurt.

The sad reality is that Markle is not only estranged from his daughter but has never actually met his son-in-law or grandson, Archie Harrison.

Thomas Markle unfairly accuses Meghan of dumping all of her family

It has been a few months since Meghan and Prince Harry announced their departure from the royal family and Markle has taken the opportunity to speak to the media more than once.

So, what is he saying now? Well, it seems that Meghans dad is accusing her of dumping not only him but the entire family, including her mothers side, and even the royals.

While he didnt go into detail of anything that may have happened between himself and Meghan, he stressed the fact that she has cut just about everyone off, and he is saying just how upset he is. Markle went on to say that Meghan and Prince Harry are being disrespectful to so many different family members.
Thursday 12

Fary: Hexagone (Netflix streaming anytime) French comedy phenom Fary (theres a collection of words you dont hear often) puts a playful spin on questions of identity, culture and more in this epic, two-part stand-up special.

Waka & Tammy: What the Flocka? (WE 8pm) For those who have been wondering why oddball rap star Waka Flocka Flame and his wife Tammy Rivera dont have their own docu-reality showyou can stop wondering. Now they do.

Friday 13

100 Humans (Netflix streaming anytime) In Netflixs latest social experiment (Netflix calls them social experiments and not crappy reality shows), 100 people from diverse backgrounds are subjected to various experiments that explore age, sex, happiness and various other aspects of being human.

Bloodride (Netflix streaming anytime) This Norwegian horror anthology is set among the doomed passengers of a spectral bus barreling toward a gruesome, unknown destination.  Pretty much describes any journey on Greyhound, as far as Im concerned.

Stargirl (Disney+ streaming anytime) Jerry Spinellis young adult novel (not to be confused with the the upcoming Stargirl TV series based on the DC comic) lands on Disney+. The film (shot right here in New Mexico) relates the story of a quirky, colorful, ukulele-playing teen (Grace VanderWaal) who shows up at an Arizona high school, falls in love, tries to fit in and transforms the lives of those around her.

The Pale Horse (Amazon Prime streaming anytime) Amazon adapts Agatha Christies twisty, supernatural-tinged murder mystery in this two-part miniseries. Rufus Sewell (Dark City), Georgina Campbell (Krypton) and Sean Pertwee (Gotham) are among the cast members embroiled in some Wicker Man/Midsommar style folk magic.

The Valhalla Murders (Netflix streaming anytime) An Olso detective (Gunnar Bersi Bjornsson) returns to his native Iceland to help police hunt for a serial killer. Now thats some Nordic noir!

Saturday 14

Dance It Out (Lifetime 8:30am) Billy Blanks Jr. (son to fitness guru, martial arts actor and inventor of Tae Bo Billy Blanks) hosts the worlds first moving fitness talk show. Every week guests share their soul-affirming stories of overcoming major life challenges through dance and movement. Like Shakira said, Hips dont lie.

Sunday 15

Transformers Cyberverse: Battle for Cybertron (Cartoon Network 8am) Is it me or is there always some battle going on on planet Cybertron? Oh well. This four-part movie will explain the latest Transformer/ Decepticon dust-up.

Titanic: Conspiracy of Failure (Science Channel 6:30pm) For those still obsessed with the Titanic, this hour-long special uses the latest science to explain why it sank.

Monday 16

The Plot Against America (HBO 10pm) In this alternate history drama, a working-class Jewish family in New Jersey watches as xenophobic aviator- turned- politician Charles Lindbergh wins the presidency and turns America toward fascism. David Simon and Ed Burns (Homicide: Life on the Street, The Corner, The Wire) are the creators behind this series based on the speculative novel by Philip Roth.

Tuesday 17

Shaun the Sheep: Adventures from Mossy Botton (Netflix streaming anytime) After 170 TV episodes, two feature-length films and a 30-minute Christmas special, stop-motion specialists Aardman Animations (producer of Wallace & Gromit) returns its too- clever- for- his- own- good farm animal to his sitcom-style roots.

Niall Fergusons Networld (KNME-5 9pm) Scottish historian Niall Ferguson studies the intersection of social media, technology and the spread of cultural movementsfrom 19th century witch-hunting through the American Revolution and on to the nightmare visions of Orwells 1984.

Wednesday 18

Motherland: Fort Salem (Freeform 7pm) Three young witches with basic training in combat magic prepare to defend the country (Canada, in this case) against looming terrorist threats by using supernatural tactics and weapons. I cant help but feel that Homeland would have been several seasons shorter if Claire Danes had teamed up with Sabrina the Teenage Witch.

True Terror with Robert Englund (Travel Channel 8pm) Actor Robert Englund (better known as cinematic serial killer Freddy Krueger) travels the country digging up creepy regional tales of death, murder and the supernatural.
Denmark is on coronavirus lockdown, becoming the second country in Europe to grind to a halt as the life-threatening disease rips across the continent.

Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen declared that all Danish schools, universities, and kindergartens will be shut for two weeks to slow the spread of the bug.

Tough new measures will also include banning indoor events with 100 or more participants, and sending non-critical public sector employees home.

Private sector workers will also be encouraged to work from home, after the Danish Patient Safety Authority reported 442 new cases this week. The country now has 617 confirmed cases.

The urgent action follows the World Health Organization's designation of coronavirus as a pandemic, as it blasted 'inactive' governments for fueling the crisis.

Pictured: Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen holds a press conference on the escalating coronavirus crisis in her country, in Copenhagen, March 10, 2020

Ms Frederiksen said: 'Under normal circumstances, a government would not present such far-reaching measures without having all the solutions ready for the many Danes concerned. But we are in an extraordinary situation' (pictured, EU summit, February 2020)

According to The Local, the Prime Minister added: 'We will not get through this as a country without a cost. Businesses will close. Some will lose their jobs. We will do what we can to mitigate the consequences for employees' (pictured, March 11, 2020)

In a press conference yesterday, Ms Frederiksen said: 'This will have huge consequences, but the alternative would be far worse.

'Under normal circumstances, a government would not present such far-reaching measures without having all the solutions ready for the many Danes concerned.

'But we are in an extraordinary situation.'

According to The Local, the Prime Minister added: 'We will not get through this as a country without a cost. Businesses will close. Some will lose their jobs.

'We will do what we can to mitigate the consequences for employees.'

Sren Brostrm, director of the The Danish Health Authority, called the disease 'not only a threat for Denmark, but for the whole world'.

Pictured: WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus at a press briefing, March 9

The Danish Government previously announced that it would shift its coronavirus strategy from 'containment' to 'delay' as the number of cases rose.

The move signalled the new effort to divert resources from preventing the infection coming to Denmark to slowing down its spread domestically.

It comes as the WHO blamed 'alarming levels of inaction' by governments across the planet for fueling the escalating coronavirus crisis.

The UN agency said it was 'deeply concerned by the alarming levels of spread and anxiety' as the number of global confirmed cases surpassed 120,000.

Director-General of the UN agency Dr Tedros Adhanom also blasted governments for ignoring repeated WHO pleas to take urgent and aggressive action, with cases of the deadly illness outside of China having risen 13-fold in the space of a fortnight because of escalating crises in Italy, Iran, Spain, Germany, and France.

The WHO said: 'Pandemic is not a word to use lightly or carelessly.

'It is a word that, if misused, can cause unreasonable fear, or unjustified acceptance that the fight is over, leading to unnecessary suffering and death.'

Denmark's Prime Minister has preempted Boris Johnson's anticipated decision to formally move the UK into the 'delay phase' of battling coronavirus.

The Prime Minister will chair an emergency Cobra meeting tomorrow, and meet with Labour figures to brief them on planned emergency laws - including closing schools, banning large gatherings, and ordering the country to work from home.

His administration was accused of 'playing roulette' with people's lives as the eighth confirmed death in the UK by the disease was announced today.

Richard Horton, chief editor of the prestigious Lancet medical journal, blasted the Government's dithering, saying: 'The UK Government - Matt Hancock and Boris Johnson - claim they are following the science.

'But that is not true. The evidence is clear. We need urgent implementation of social distancing and closure policies.

'The Government is playing roulette with the public. This is a major error.'

One UK victim was a woman in her 70s with underlying health problems from Dudley, West Midlands. The second was an 'elderly patient' with a number of chronic conditions at the George Eliot Hospital in Warwickshire.

Meanwhile, Health Minister Nadine Dorries made the shock announcement that she is self-isolating for a fortnight after being diagnoses with coronavirus.

Panic spread in Westminster as a total six MPs quarantined themselves, for fear they had contracted the virus after coming into contact with the 62-year-old.

Another Cabinet minister, unnamed by The Daily Telegraph, has also self-isolated, prompting fears that Mr Johnson could have contracted the virus. Symptoms often take days to appear, meaning the Prime Minister could already have the bug.

Pictured: Boris Johnson with Chancellor Rishi Sunak in the House of Commons (March 11)

Pictured: Health Secretary Matt Hancock (left) and Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty (right)
At least eight offences were



registered and a 22-year-old man was arrested here for allegedly uploading and circulating child pornography on social media, police said on Wednesday.

The police on Tuesday arrested Sahib Shakti Modak for uploading pornographic videos and photographs of children, an official said.

As a part of 'Operation Black Face', a nationwide campaign against child pornography, the Mumbai police's crime branch received information about social media accounts, which were used to upload and circulate child porn, he said.

The Cyber Police Station analysed the data shared on Facebook, Instagram, Google, Youtube, Twitter, WhatsApp and Imgur, he said.

At least eight offences under the Information and Technology Act 2008 were registered against users of social media accounts from which videos and photos were uploaded and shared, he said.

The National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children of America keeps a tab on child pornography across the world and shares information with certain countries through FBI, the official said.

According to the data from the National Crime Record Bureau, around 25,000 cases of child pornography have been reported till January this year and tip lines for 619 cases were received, he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Falcon and the Winter Solider (Credit: Disney/Marvel)

Concerns over the spread of coronavirus have halted filming of the new Marvel series Falcon And The Winter Soldier.

The series, set to air on Disney+, has been filming in the Czech capital of Prague, but Variety has confirmed that the shoot has now been suspended.

Cast and crew from the series, which stars Anthony Mackie and Sebastian Stan, have been recalled to the production base in Atlanta.

Read more: Peter Rabbit 2 release postponed over coronavirus

The Czech government has already banned all public events with an expected attendance of 100 people or more, including film screenings.

Only yesterday it was announced that the Prague International Film Festival will also be cancelled, and rescheduled for later in the year.

The shoot had previously been disrupted in during its location shoot in Puerto Rico, after earthquakes struck in January.

Read more: Chinese premiere of No Time To Die axed

It's not the only major production to be halted due to the outbreak of novel coronavirus.

Last month, the shooting of the new Mission: Impossible movie was axed in Venice, after the virus took hold in the Veneto and Lombardy regions of Italy.

The Paramount studio said that it was exercising 'an abundance of caution' in suspending the shoot at the time.

The whole of Italy is currently locked down, with most travel now banned and cases of the virus now topping 10,000.
Long-time Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia crossed over to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday, leaving the Madhya Pradesh government tottering and both parties scrambling to send their legislators far away from the state capital.

Amid reports that he will be the BJP's nominee from the state for the Rajya Sabha, and speculation that he could join the Union Cabinet in the impending reshuffle after the Rajya Sabha polls on March 26 and the end of the Parliament session on April 3, Scindia said he was pained at not being able to serve people and he ...
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 11/3/2020 (670 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Colonel Mario Dutil returns to the courtroom after a break during his court martial at the Asticou Centre in Gatineau, Que., on June 10, 2019. The criminal case against Canada's top military judge has collapsed. The Canadian Armed Forces' top prosecutor, Col. Bruce MacGregor, says he is withdrawing all charges against chief military judge Col. Mario Dutil in a case that had been seen as a key test of the military justice system. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

OTTAWA - The criminal case against Canada's top military judge has collapsed.

The Canadian Armed Forces' top prosecutor announced Wednesday that he was withdrawing all four charges against chief military judge Col. Mario Dutil in a case that had been seen as a key test of the military-justice system.

Dutil was first charged by military police in January 2018 over allegations of having had an inappropriate relationship with a subordinate and signing a travel claim that contained false information. He was the first person to be charged while serving in that role.

Dutil's deputy, Lt.-Col. Louis-Vincent d'Auteuil, presided over the court martial at first, but eventually recused himself and refused to name another military judge to take over, saying two of them had conflicts of interest and the third wasn't bilingual enough.

Col. Bruce MacGregor, the director of military prosecutions, subsequently asked the Federal Court to order one of those judges to preside over the case.

MacGregor insisted on keeping the case within the military-justice system rather than the civilian system, arguing it was the most appropriate venue to weigh the charges against Dutil.

But Federal Court Justice Luc Martineau rejected MacGregor's request last week, saying that an order to have one of the other judges take the case would do irreparable damage to Dutil's constitutional right to a fair trial.

Martineau said the tidiest solution would be to name an outside civilian judge to hear the case, but also that the real problem is that the law on military justice never contemplated a scenario where the military's top judge would face charges himself.

In announcing the withdrawal of the charges against Dutil, MacGregor said he would not appeal Martineau's decision even as he insisted that all military personnel, "regardless of rank or appointment, are held to the same, highest standard of conduct.

"In this specific case, alleged wrongdoing was reported and investigated by proper authorities, charges were laid and moved forward in accordance with the law," MacGregor said in a statement.

"However, after conducting a detailed review of the Federal Court's decision to dismiss my application for judicial review, and carefully considering all circumstances surrounding this case, I believe that it is no longer in the public interest to proceed with this trial."

Asked why MacGregor didn't seek to have the Federal Court or the military's appeal court hear the case, as Martineau recommended, a spokeswoman said that decision would ultimately rest with d'Auteuil "and is not an option open to the director of military prosecutions."

While the prosecutor's decision is independent, Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan told The Canadian Press that the government would review the case to determine what improvements need to be made to the military justice system.

"I look forward to getting briefed up from the JAG (judge advocate general) from this decision and we will look towards improving this," Sajjan said in reference to the military's top legal officer. "One thing I can assure you, the military justice system will make the changes necessary."

Dutil, who has been the chief military judge since 2006, was originally charged with eight counts in relation to allegations he had an inappropriate relationship with a subordinate and knowingly signed a travel claim for $927.60 that contained false information.

Four of the charges were dropped at the start of the court martial in June 2019, where Dutil's lawyer served d'Auteuil with a subpoena before challenging the presiding judge's impartiality and asking him to recuse himself.

A publication ban covered details of that portion of the hearing, which included Dutil testifying about his relationship with d'Auteuil, whom he described as a "confidant," but was later lifted before d'Auteuil recused himself.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 11, 2020.
NEW YORK, March 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Society of the Friendly Sons of Saint Patrick in the City of New York, the oldest charity in New York City, today announced that it has decided to cancel its Anniversary Dinner, scheduled for March 17, 2020, in the interest of the health and safety of its members. This marks the third time in the Society's two hundred thirty six year history that the Anniversary Dinner has not been held. The previous two occasions occurred in 1847 and 1848, when funds were sent to Ireland to assist in relief efforts of the Great Famine.

The Society will continue its mission to provide charity in our communities and hopes for the health and safety of its members, their families and friends, particularly at this anxious time. It is also initiating a special member appeal to facilitate its charitable giving, which has been prioritized in favor of scholarships for New York City students, Irish arts and cultural organizations and immigration assistance.

The office can be reached at (212) 269-1770 or [email protected]

SOURCE The Society of the Friendly Sons of Saint Patrick in the City of New York

Related Links

http://www.friendlysonsnyc.com


JAYAPURA, Indonesia (AP)  Attacks by gunmen on security forces near the world's largest gold mine in Indonesia's restive Papua province have killed one police officer and wounded three others, police said Tuesday.

Attackers believed to be members of the West Papua Liberation Army, the military wing of the Free Papua Organization, ambushed a police patrol from a hill on Saturday, killing one officer and injuring two others, Papua police chief Paulus Waterpau said.

In a second attack, gunmen shot at a police car on Tuesday, injuring another officer, he said.

The attacks occurred in the mining town of Tembagapura in Papua, where rebels have been fighting a low-level insurgency for independence.

Riza Pratama, a spokesman for PT Freeport Indonesia, the company that runs the Grasberg copper and gold mine, said gunshots were heard near its work area, prompting the company to turn on sirens to warn employees and their families who live on the site.

He said the company has urged workers to be vigilant, but the attacks would not affect its operations.

The U.S. company Freeport-McMoRan owned 90% of the Grasberg mine when it started operating in Indonesia's easternmost Papua region in 1973. PT Inalum, an Indonesian state-owned mining company, took over a 51.2% stake of the mine from the U.S. company in 2018.

The mine has been hit by arson, roadside attacks and blockades.
Skin diseases affect half of the world's population, but many treatments are not effective, require frequent injections, or cause significant side effects. But what if there was a treatment that eliminated injections, reduced side effects, and increased drug effectiveness? A skin therapy with these properties may be on the horizon from Mark Prausnitz's Drug Delivery Lab at the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Microscopic STAR Particles Offer New Potential Treatment for Skin Diseases Play

In a study to be published on March 9, 2020, in the journal Nature Medicine, Prausnitz and his team of researchers report on research using a skin cream infused with microscopic particles, named STAR particles. To the naked eye, STAR particles look like a powder, but closer inspection reveals tiny microneedle projections sticking out from the particles like a microscopic star. A particle-containing cream could potentially facilitate better treatment of skin diseases including psoriasis, warts, and certain types of skin cancer.

Following the successful study of his microneedle patches for vaccination, Prausnitz and postdoctoral scholar Andrew Tadros have advanced the technology with the objective of treating skin conditions by simply rubbing STAR particles on the skin. In a study in mice, skin cancer tumors were treated with 5-fluorouracil, a cancer therapy drug that works by limiting replication of abnormal cells. Tumor growth was inhibited only when the drug was rubbed on the skin above the tumor in combination with STAR particles, whereas the drug without STAR particles was much less effective.

Andrew Tadros and I teamed up to adapt the microneedle technology and make it useful, especially in dermatologyMicroneedle patches are good at administering drugs or vaccines to a small area of skin, but many dermatological conditions are spread over larger areas. Rather than trying to make really big patches, which would be difficult to use, we ultimately arrived at STAR particles that can be rubbed on the skin  just like any skin lotion  and poke tiny holes in the skin to better deliver drugs." Mark Prausnitz, Regents Professor and J. Erskine Love Jr. Chair in the Georgia Tech School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

STAR particles are mixed into a therapeutic cream or gel and applied to the skin, painlessly creating micropores in the skin's surface that dramatically  but temporarily  increase skin permeability to drugs.

The problem is that most drugs are not absorbed well into skin, so often a drug needs to be given to the whole body by pill or injection just to treat the skin. Exposing the whole body to dermatological drugs often leads to unwanted side effects such as nausea or organ damage. Fortunately, the barrier layer of skin  called the stratum corneum  is thinner than the width of a human hair. While STAR particles are tiny, they are large enough to poke through this barrier layer when rubbed on the skin and let drugs enter the body through the micropores without pain.

More effectively delivering medicine directly to where it's needed could improve treatments for patients dealing with many kinds of skin diseases. Oral methotrexate is a common course of treatment for psoriasis  a dermatological condition in which skin cells build up and form scales and itchy, dry patches  but because the therapy is systemic, it exposes the whole body to a drug that can cause serious side effects like diarrhea, hair loss, and liver problems.

Prausnitz said doctors must weigh the costs of exposing the whole body to a drug versus treating psoriasis topically, which may be less effective. That's where STAR particles could provide value.

"Based on our studies, you could feasibly combine methotrexate with STAR particles into a cream and localize the therapy where it is needed," Tadros said. "The STAR particles in the cream would enable drugs to get into skin and treat diseases locally, right where it needs to be treated, and without exposing the whole body to the drug."

Skin creams that deliver drug therapies could widen the range of compounds administered topically, Prausnitz and Tadros suggested. Non-medicinal creams infused with STAR particles have been tested on humans, who generally reported experiencing a mild and comfortable tingling sensation, but no pain or skin irritation.

Each STAR particle is no larger than a millimeter, with sharp and strong microneedle structures protruding from the surface that are 100 to 300 microns long. While the particles are barely perceptible to the human eye, the microneedles on them are not. Moreover, when mixed in with a cream, the STAR particles disappear from sight. The research team uses a laser to make the particles from ceramic materials like titanium dioxide, a common ingredient in sunscreens and other cosmetic products.

"Titanium dioxide is a common material that we have adapted to make STAR particles," said Prausnitz. "The material is well established, but it's the star-shaped geometry of the particle that's new."

Prausnitz said he hopes to scale the STAR particles for commercial use not only in dermatology, but for cosmetic purposes as well, where they could potentially deliver anti-aging treatments without injections or other harsh procedures.

"Our research philosophy is to develop an understanding of biomedical science and engineering technology, and then bring them together to create something that is practical and can benefit patients," Prausnitz said.

Prausnitz and Tadros have started a new company called Microstar Biotech that's working to commercialize the STAR particle technology.

"Georgia Tech has been instrumental in enabling us to bring this research to the forefront of the medical field, but universities can only do so much," said Prausnitz. "Commercialization by a company is the mechanism to bring this novel research to the public for their benefit, and I'm hopeful for the future of STAR particles."

Results of the study are published in the March issue of the medical journal Nature Medicine. This work was supported financially by the Georgia Research Alliance and as a joint project of the CDC Foundation and UNICEF.

Prausnitz and Tadros are inventors of the STAR particle technology used in this study and have ownership interest in Microstar Biotech LLC, which is developing technology related to this study. They are entitled to royalties derived from Microstar Biotech's future sales of products related to the research. These potential conflicts of interest have been disclosed and are overseen by the Georgia Institute of Technology.
In a dramatic move to slow the spread of the coronavirus in one of the most affected regions of the country, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Seattle suspended all public celebration of Mass, effective immediately, becoming the first Catholic archdiocese in the country to do so.

This is out of an extreme measure of caution, the archbishop of Seattle, Paul D. Etienne, said in a video message on Wednesday. Despite our best efforts, this epidemic is going to continue to spread.

Priests, he said, should continue to privately celebrate the Eucharist each day.

It was the most significant example of how the coronavirus is increasingly disrupting religious life across the United States, from a mosque in the Seattle area that canceled traditional Friday prayer services last week to Kentucky, where the governor on Wednesday urged all churches to cancel services.

Also on Wednesday, the Episcopal bishops in Virginia and Washington, D.C., announced that all churches in the dioceses would be closed for two weeks, including the Washington National Cathedral, which has held presidential funerals and is a focal point of Christian life in the capital.
Kajol Devgn, Neha Dhupia, and Shruti Haasan have thanked their fans as they achieved 10 million views on their latest women-centric short film -- 'Devi'. (Photo: ANI)

New Delhi: Kajol Devgn, Neha Dhupia, and Shruti Haasan have thanked their fans as they achieved 10 million views on their latest women-centric short film -- 'Devi'.

The 45-year-old Kajol expressed her happiness and celebrated the 10 million views in an Instagram post, where she wished her fans on the auspicious occasion of Holi.

In the caption, she wrote: "10 million and counting. Whew! Thank u guys for making Devi the fastest-growing short film in recent times. Happy Holi. Peace to All. Safe Always."

'Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior' actor also shared a glimpse from the sets while she is seen keeping her head down with her eyes closed.

Neha Dhupia also made sure to share her joy on clocking 10 million views and thanked her fans for sharing their love.

In the caption, she wrote, "Womanhood. We celebrate you. We salute you today and everyday. Thank you for the love for Devi. 10 million views and counting. Kajol and our Devi's, you are all."

Neha also shared a random photo from the shooting set where she and Kajol are seen hugging each other.

Besides Kajol and Neha, Shruti Haasan also took to social media to express her gratitude to her fans. Sharing her proud moment, in a long Instagram post, she wrote, "Devi touches 10 million views! So happy and proud to be a part of something so powerful and unique in its rendition."

"Most importantly I'm beyond thankful that it has reached so many people and touched upon their conscience. A big Thank You to all the incredible women in this picture, our director Priyanka Banerjee but the biggest thank you to Ryan Ivan Stephen and Ashes In Wind, for making this and then making me a part of it!"

In the same caption, she added, "It's nice to see two people who take action and move forward. Everyone sits around the table with opinions and interjections but very few actually take it that extra step toward being a part of the narrative change. Very very proud of both you darlings."

'Ramaiya Vastavaiya' actor also shared a monochromatic collage photo comprising the snaps of all the lead actors -- Shruti Haasan, Kajol, Neha Dhupia, Shivani Raghuvanshi, Yashaswini Dayama, Mukta Barve, Rama Joshi, Sandhya Mhatre, and Neena Kulkarni.

Directed and written by Priyanka Banerjee, the short movie features Shruti Haasan, Kajol, Neha Dhupia in the lead roles. The story is based on a tale of nine women, who navigate through an unusual sisterhood that is forced upon them by circumstances.
Ontario is setting aside a $100 million contingency fund to fight COVID-19, Premier Doug Ford says after days of pressure to detail plans to combat the new coronavirus declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization.

The money will go toward medical supplies, protective gear, testing kits, hiring of staff and other measures deemed necessary, Health Minister Christine Elliott said Wednesday as she revealed a strategy to designate some hospitals COVID-19 centres if necessary.

We will have to see how things transpire, she added, noting that would leave remaining hospitals clear for other medical needs.

Ford moved to reassure Ontarians that his government has a plan for every scenario as the province waits on pins and needles for signs of person-to-person transmission of the virus, which health officials have long expected given infection patterns elsewhere.

Our number one priority for the people of Ontario is your health, to make sure that youre safe, Ford told reporters after opposition leaders were briefed on preparations for the illness spreading rapidly around the world.

As it changes our plans are being tweaked. It depends on the scenario, the premier added. We have a plan for every scenariowe have a full, detailed assessment plan from every single ministry in government.

To date, there has been no unexplained community transmission of COVID-19 in Ontario, where cases have been travel-related  although health officials are concerned about a Sudbury man in his 50s who works for the Ministry of Energy, Northern Development and Mines and who has tested positive with a case.

His illness is believed to be linked to a mining convention in Toronto on the last weekend of February that attracted more than 20,000 people from around the world. Public health officials in Toronto and Sudbury are trying to determine where he may have come in contact with the virus.

We cant say exactly from whom, said Dr. Barbara Yaffe, Ontarios associate chief medical officer of health.

Ford and several of his cabinet ministers attended that convention  along with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau  but the premier said he feels fine and has not been warned to take any precautions.

I dont have any concerns, said the premier, who is heading to Ottawa for meetings with Trudeau and others Thursday and Friday on dealing with the virus.

Ontario also has its first case of a health worker with COVID-19, a Halton woman in her 30s who recently returned from Hawaii and is an oncologist at the Juravinski cancer hospital in Hamilton.

Authorities said Ontario is not at the point where bans of mass gatherings are necessary, but did encourage people or groups planning large events to consider risk levels depending on where attendees are coming from, their ages and whether events are inside or outside, where fresh air mitigates transmission of germs.

With many employers warning staff they will have to self-isolate for 14 days if they travel to global COVID-19 hot spots, Ford said this province does need to follow New Brunswick which has announced a similar protocol for schoolchildren who travel internationally over March break.

Right at this stage I would say no.

Opposition leaders said they appreciated the briefings, although NDP Leader Andrea Horwath was disappointed at a lack of specifics on what Ontarians can expect to deal with on a personal level and maintained the more information the better.

That concern was echoed by Green Leader Mike Schreiner, who noted I think the government heard that message.

MPP John Fraser, the Liberal leader in the legislature, said he is confident the government is transfixed with responding to the coronavirus with a number of committees of senior staff and outside experts considering numerous angles.

Its important to concentrate on the basics of hand washing, cough etiquette and staying home if youre sick to make sure Ontarians develop good habits that can prevent the spread of COVID-19 and keep demands for medical services as low as possible.

We dont need to get ahead of ourselves, he said. Theres enough time to criticize in this place. Right now lets work together.

Read more about:
Japan's Cabinet approves bill enabling Abe to declare state of emergency amid COVID-19 outbreak

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 16:27, March 10, 2020

TOKYO, March 10 (Xinhua) -- The Cabinet on Tuesday approved a special bill to enable better provisions to be made to combat the COVID-19 outbreak and empowering Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to declare a state of emergency if necessary as the infections continue to rise.

The bill, which will be effective for a period of up to two years, is a revision of an existing law on novel influenza and has been made applicable to COVID-19.

It will be valid until February 2022 as COVID-19 was officially classified as a designated infectious disease in Japan in February.

The bill is likely to clear the lower house of parliament on Thursday and the upper house a day later as the ruling Liberal Democratic Party-led coalition holds a majority in both chambers.

Under the new amended law, the government would have extended powers once a state of emergency has been declared for particular parts of the country.

Regional governments will be able to instruct local people to stay at home, issue closures to schools and restrict the use of locations that facilitate large groups of people gathering together or cancel large scale events all together.

Local governments will also have the authority to demand that supplies deemed essential to combating the spread of COVID-19 be sold to them or requisitioned and authorities will also be able to temporarily commandeer private land or facilities for the purposes of providing medical care.

"Given that individual rights would be suppressed after an emergency declaration, I would thoroughly examine its potential impacts when making a decision," Abe told a budget committee session on Monday.

Under the current law the prime minister does not have the legal grounds to forcibly close schools or cancel events, although the Japanese prime minister has requested such measures to be taken.

As the new law will restrict some rights of the people, opposition parties have been concerned that checks and balances be maintained to ensure citizens' freedom as much as possible.

The main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and the Democratic Party for the People, to this end, are of the opinion that Abe should seek the approval of parliament before being allowed to declare a state of emergency.

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Graca Machel, widow of late Nelson Mandela, ex-President of South Africa, has expressed her solidarity with Muhammadu Sanusi, deposed ...





Graca Machel, widow of late Nelson Mandela, ex-President of South Africa, has expressed her solidarity with Muhammadu Sanusi, deposed emir of Kano state.





The Kano executive council chaired by Abdullahi Ganduje, the governor, removed Sanusi as emir on Monday for disrespecting the office of the governor.





In a statement on Tuesday, Machel who is the founder of The Grace Machel Trust, a Pan-Africa advocacy organisation, said she was saddened to learn of Sanusis dethronement.





She described Sanusi as a bold inspiration for leaders to hold themselves to account.

She also expressed her readiness to be of help to the deposed emir during this challenging time and urged Sanusi to remain strong and resilient as critics of progressive thinking and action find themselves on the wrong side of history.





I am deeply saddened to learn of you bring relieved of your official duties as Emir of Kano and held by government authorities, the statement read.





I am sending you this message of solidarity in the hopes that it provides you, in some small measure, with reassurance and a degree of comfort that you are not alone in your valiant struggles to confront corruption and the social ills burdening Northern Nigeria.





Your influential voice as a man, as a traditional leader, and as a religious authority challenging the status quo is sorely needed not only in Nigeria, but throughout Africa.





Your Highness, we hold you in very high regard and count on your knowledge, expertise, experience and wisdom to continue to lift the continent to higher heights. We proudly count you among the Graca Machel Trusts International Board of Advisors and stand with you in your courageous efforts to speak truth to power.





Your convictions are powerful ones that ring loudly in the hearts and minds of all those who value human dignity and equality and the causes you are fighting so steadfastly for cannot be silenced.





Rest assured that critics of progressive thinking and action find themselves on the wrong side of history. Please remain strong and resilient. We are praying for your safety and your freedom.
Paul Gosar joked about meeting with Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg after he came into contact with an individual who tested positive for coronavirus.

Gisburg is 86-years-old, making her a much higher risk of falling fatal to the virus if she were to contract it.

'Fact check: there is no truth to the rumor that @SenTedCruz and I asked for a joint meeting with Justice Ginsburg,' Gosar posted to Twitter Tuesday night.

He then tagged Washington D.C.-based radio host Chris Plante, caiming 'Good one. #thatsnotnice.'

It doesn't appear, however, that Plante ever publicly made a joke about the Arizona Republican meeting with the Supreme Court Justice.

Republican Representative Paul Gosar joked about meeting up with Ruth Bader Ginsburg after he came in contact with someone who tested positive for coronavirus

Supreme Court Justice Ginsburg is at a higher risk of contracting the virus as she's 87-years-old and medically compromised due to her four bouts of cancer and breaking three ribs in 2018

Gosar (left) appeared to be referencing a joke made by radio host Chris Plante (right), but there seems to be no evidence that the host ever publicly made a joke that the congressman should meet with Ginsburg

After announcing his self-quarantine, Gosar posted a tweet claiming he would rather die in battle than from a sickness. He also posted an image of cover art from the Korean film 'The Great Battle'

In fact, he didn't even host his normally scheduled radio show on Tuesday, and instead his fellow talk-show host Vince Coglianese filled in.

Gosar and Republican Senator Ted Cruz were informed over the weekend that they had come in close contact with an individual at the Conservative Political Action Conference at the end of last month who later tested positive for coronavirus.

The two GOP lawmakers said they were not experiencing any symptoms, but said they would be self-quarantining for the whole week in an attempt not to spread the virus.

Health experts recommend those above 60 and those who come in frequent contact with the elderly take extra precautions not to contract coronavirus since older people are at a higher risk.

Ginsburg is among the most vulnerable not only due to her age, but also because of her medical history.

The liberal Supreme Court Justice is a four-time cancer survivor and in 2018 fell and fractured three ribs.

Most recently she announced in January that she was cleared of cancer after undergoing three rounds of radiation for pancreatic cancer over the summer.

Gosar, a dentist before he became a congressman, did not have the opportunity to respond to a request for comment since his Capitol Hill office is closed as he self-quarantines at his home in Arizona for the remainder of the week.

After Gosar announced in a statement to Twitter Monday he was quarantining himself, he posted another tweet claiming he was questioning 'mortality.'

'Been thinking about life and mortality today. I'd rather die gloriously in battle than from a virus,' Gosar posted, even though he claimed to be feeling 'great.'

'In a way it doesn't matter. But it kinda does,' he continued, including an image of a scene from a war movie.

Gosar and fellow Republican Ted Cruz self-quarantined after coming into close contact with an individual who contracted coronavirus. Gosar also closed his office in Washington while he remains at his home in Arizona

Republican Matt Gaetz also came in contact with CPAC's 'patient zero,' and later took a ride on Air Force One with Donald Trump. But the Florida congressman said he tested negative for coronavirus

Even though Donald Trump also attended CPAC, he has not quarantined himself or given any signals that he will slow down his campaign schedule  including his massive rallies.

The president also invited Florida Representative Matt Gaetz on Air Force One earlier this week, and the Republican found out he also came in contact with the individual at CPAC.

Trump said Tuesday at the Capitol that he didn't feel any need to get tested for coronavirus, especially after Gaetz was tested and cleared.

The president has continued to downplay the threat of coronavirus, even as the number of confirmed cases in the U.S. surpassed 1,000 Tuesday night and the death toll is upwards of 30.

Gosar's own siblings campaigned against him by endorsing his Democratic opponent in the Arizona House election in 2018.

The congressman has nine siblings, and six of them publicly endorsed his Democratic opponent in videos released two months before the midterm elections.

The siblings said they were concerned about their brothers far-right views on immigration, health care and white supremacists.

'I'm just hoping either in this election cycle or next, the people get the idea that he's just not fit for that office and he needs to be removed,' his brother David Gosar said.

But after clinching the nomination, Gosar was pretty much a shoe-in for a win in Arizona's 4th district where most counties voted for Trump in 2016 with a pretty large margin.
Federal officials on Monday released groundbreaking rules that will let patients download their electronic health records and other health care data onto their smartphones.

Patients should have control of their records, period. Now thats becoming a reality, said Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar. These rules are the start of a new chapter in how patients experience American health care.

Officials said the rules likely will give patients a greater say in health care decisions and put an end to a long-standing practice in which some doctors and hospitals resist handing complete medical files over to patients upon demand. Many of the provisions are set to take effect in 2022.

The days of patients being kept in the dark are over, said Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Seema Verma. In todays digital age, our health systems data-sharing capacity shouldnt be mired in the Stone Age.

Yet the new rules also have raised concerns about privacy as technology companies, such as Google, Microsoft, Apple and Amazon, open up new markets for providing medical records through mobile apps. Major EHR vendor Epic, for instance, has warned that freer flow of medical records could spur the unwanted sale of data or other unauthorized uses.

Family members may be shocked to find that their most personal health data has been mined and sold by data brokers and is now known by others, Epic CEO Judy Faulkner wrote last June in opposing the rules.

Administration officials said they have taken privacy considerations into account and would require developers to attest to plans to protect the security and use of medical data.

Verma took a swipe at Epic in an interview with Kaiser Health News and Fortune.

Were not afraid to take on special interests to do whats right for patients. Some people disagree because they want to keep the data, she said. The reality is that patient data belongs to patients. It doesnt belong to EHR companies.

Verma said the nations health care system remains hugely expensive and inefficient as repeat tests drive up costs and, perhaps most importantly, doctors are forced to provide care with an incomplete clinical picture, especially at a time when the health care systems could be under stress.

With the handling of the COVID virus, the urgent need for coordinated integrated care could not be clearer, she said.

Donald Rucker, who coordinates health information technology policy for HHS, said the new rule will allow patients the ability to manage their health care the same way they manage their finances or the travel or other parts of their life on their smartphone.

While Epic, the maker of the most-used electronic health records software, led a campaign to derail the rules, its chief competitor, Cerner Corp., argued the rules were long overdue.

Consumers should have the right to access the health care information their providers have about them and dictate where they want it to go. Although existing laws allow patients to access their data, it doesnt work, Cerner CEO Brent Shafer said in a statement.

The rules also attempt to prevent EHR vendors from silencing critics of their software products. The government wants to encourage doctors and other users of EHR technology to share their experiences about software problems by prohibiting so-called gag clauses in sales contracts. That could free users to criticize EHR systems, including more open discussion of flaws, software glitches and other breakdowns.

Botched Operation, an investigation published by Kaiser Health News and Fortune last year, found that the federal government has spent more than $36 billion on the EHR initiative. Thousands of reports of deaths, injuries and near misses linked to digital systems have piled up in databases over the past decade -- while many patients have reported difficulties getting copies of their complete electronic files, the investigation found.

Consumers have long sought to be more in the loop on health care decisions in a user-friendly form. Many specifics about how that will happen, including how patients would make sense of complex pricing policies for purchasing health care and insurance and assessing quality, remain unclear, however.

To cut down on exorbitant surprise medical bills, Verma said, the CMS new rule would require insurers to let patients know which medical providers are in their networks. One study found that such bills  often not covered by insurance  have struck more than half of American adults.

For well over a decade, federal officials have struggled to set up a digital records network capable of sharing medical data and patient records. In 2004, President George W. Bush said he hoped to have a digital record for most Americans within five years. In early 2009, the Obama administration funneled some $36 billion in economic stimulus money to help doctors and hospitals buy the software needed to replace paper medical files.

Despite the slow progress, federal officials remain optimistic that digital records will save the nation billions of dollars while reducing medical errors, unnecessary medical testing and other waste  and encouraging more Americans to take a bigger role in managing their health care by comparing prices.

Trump administration officials on Monday sought to blame the Obama administration for creating what they called a tower of Babylon, in which doctors and health systems couldnt seamlessly share patient information or talk to one another.

Its led to a tremendous amount of frustration on the part of medical professionals and patients as physicians, interacting with patients, oftentimes spend more time looking at computer screens than they do into the eyes of the people theyre trying to heal, said White House official Joe Grogan.

New rules for digital charts

The Department of Health and Human Services on Monday issued two rules to give patients greater access to their electronic health records.

Among the key provisions:

Patients must be able to access their medical records on a smartphone at no cost and can share those records as they choose.

Health systems must be able to exchange information about patients past medical treatments or conditions.

Information blocking practices (that is, anti-competitive behaviors) by health care providers, developers of electronic medical records and others are prohibited.

Electronic medical record certification requirements are updated so that health professionals can discuss safety and usability concerns without being bound by gag clauses in software sales contracts.

Insurers are required to share health claim data with patients on Medicare and Medicaid through a mobile app.

Insurers must advise patients of their network of health providers through an app.

This article was first posted on Kaiser Health News. It also appeared on Fortune.
Drivers who run red lights at two Tigard intersections beginning Wednesday should expect citations in their mailboxes soon.

The City of Tigard announced that photo red light enforcement cameras, that had been installed in early January, are finally online and have cleared all of the Oregon Department of Transportation requirements and inspections.

The city had announced earlier in the year that the cameras were going live, but ODOT regulations kept them dark.

Beginning Wednesday, photo enforcement will go live at the intersections of OR 99W and 72nd Avenue and OR 99W and Hall Boulevard.

The camera at OR 99W and Durham Road will have a brief warning period, then will begin issuing citations on March 23. Warning letters will be sent to drivers who run red lights that intersection through March 22.

Traffic enforcement cameras take high-resolution photos and videos of infractions that then are reviewed by police. Once a violation is confirmed, the ticket is mailed to the motorist. The ticket includes a photo and a link to the video.

The citation amount for these violations is $265, a base fine set by the State of Oregon.

Tigard police note that the equipment at these intersections has the capability to monitor speeding violations. This option is being considered. For more details log onto www.tigard-or.gov/police

***

TUALATIN 7:44 a.m.: Crash partially blocks the ramp from Nyberg Road overpass to I-5 northbound. Expect delays.

Update 8 a.m.: Moved to shoulder. No longer blocking.

***

NORTHEAST PORTLAND 7:05 a.m.: Crash on on the shoulder of Northeast Killingsworth Street just under I-205.

***

VANCOUVER 6:47 a.m.: Crash on I-5 southbound in the right lanes near Fourth Plain Boulevard.

Update 7:05 a.m.: Cleared to right shoulder.

#pdxtraffic UPDATE/Looks like the far right merge lane is getting by, and then the left two lanes on I-5 SB at Fourth Plain. Expect delays #VanWa pic.twitter.com/zFEn6HA9hL  PDX Traffic Alerts (@TrafficPortland) March 11, 2020

***

GLENDOVEER 6:33 a.m.: Crash on Northeast 125th Avenue near Glisan Street.

***

MARQUAM BRIDGE 6:25 a.m.: A rollover crash has the ramp from I-405 southbound to I-5 northbound closed. Drivers should use I-405 northbound to access I-5 and I-84.

Update 6:35 a.m.: Cleared.

#pdxtraffic UPDATE/All lanes of I-405 SB to I-5 NB (Marquam Bridge) are currently closed for this crash. pic.twitter.com/GZHV7AtzJj  PDX Traffic Alerts (@TrafficPortland) March 11, 2020

***

Northeast Interlachen Lane in east Multnomah County will be closed 7 a.m.-7 p.m. at various locations between Fairview Lake Way and 215th Avenue daily through Tuesday, March 17 for sewer work.

Slide debris cleanup will close OR 214 just south of Silverton during the day through Thursday, March 12.

The Oregon Department of Transportation will close the highway so crews can remove debris left over from an earlier landslide. Closure hours are 8 a.m.-4 p.m. daily through Thursday. The road is closed from Quall to Forest Ridge roads, mileposts 37.50 to 38.93. Passenger vehicles should follow a signed detour using Quall Road. Local traffic will be allowed between Quall and Cougar Flat roads.

The detour is length-restricted so large trucks will not be able to use it. Variable message boards will be placed in advance to warn truck traffic of the upcoming closure. Large trucks will need to avoid traveling through this area during the restricted days/hours.

Check back throughout the morning for the latest commuting updates and follow us on Twitter: @trafficportland

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
As national crackdown to contain coronavirus gets under way, Italians tell us how they are changing their daily routine.

Rome, Italy  Late on Monday, Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte announced a nationwide lockdown to limit the spread of coronavirus, which will be enforced until at least April 3.

There wont be a red zone, Conte told reporters. But there will be Italy, a whole protected zone.

People will be allowed to travel only if there are urgent, verifiable work situations and emergencies or health reasons, he said.

Al Jazeera talked to several people in the country about their new normal.

I don  t think the country will open again on April 3

Stefania Pandakovic, 35, head of the book and manuscript department at a Milan auction house.

[Photo courtesy Stefania Pandakovic]

I am showing my five-year-old daughter videos to explain what is happening. She understood this is something out of the ordinary as she stopped going to the kindergarten long ago. I told her there is a widespread flu, which transmits very quickly. I told her the flu doesnt affect children, but that we need be extra careful for her grandparents. We are trying to establish a new routine to get the glimpse of a normal life.

I just visited my parents, who also live in Milan, to show them how to buy groceries online and get it delivered to avoid going out, though delivery slots in supermarkets are often busy. I am worried about the lack of places for patients inside hospitals, especially if I think about my parents. I dont think the country will open again on April 3 and that the epidemic will slow down any time soon.

I have been attending yoga classes online

Federico (not his real name), 43. Lives in Casalpusterlengo, one of the first areas put under lockdown two weeks ago.

I went to hospital with my father for unrelated health issues. The hospital of Lodi looked like a sinking Titanic.

I have been working from home and had all my meetings through Skype, talking to my girlfriend over WhatsApp and attending yoga classes online.

Now that the original red zone has been lifted and the whole country is under lockdown, my daily habits wont change. I will continue to stay home.

I am mad at some peoples behaviour; we saw some running away from the enlarged red zone over the weekend or going to ski resorts. This was highly irresponsible and showed a lack of public spirit. I hope people have understood the seriousness of the situation we are in at the moment.

 I only went out a couple of times to buy groceries 

Sessen Berhane Beraki, 32, from Asmara, Tigrinya translator and interpreter mostly for asylum seekers. Lives in Milan.

[Photo courtesy Sessen Berhane]

Ive been living in Milan for almost a decade and this is not the city I have come to know over the years. At times, it looks like a ghost city. In some streets you understand people still live there just because laundry hangs outside.

I am scared that this seems to be spiralling out of control and that people might not get access to treatments any more.

There is an overwhelming amount of information and one doesnt know whom to believe.

The epidemic is real. I am not wearing a mask but continuously wash my hands, which have become very dry. I only went out a couple of times to buy groceries.

I am terrified at the idea that this might reach Eritrea. We lack basic medicines there. In Europe, at least, infrastructure, hospitals and medical staff are very well organised. We would never be able to overcome such a disaster back home.

Venice has become a ghost town

Gianfranco della Valle, coordinator at Italys hotline for victims of trafficking and/or exploitation. Lives in Venice.

We witnessed a sort of schizophrenic communication in Veneto. We received directions from Rome, which were in turn softened by our regional representatives. This contributed to the general confusion.

My children are home and attend classes online. They are not happy but are adapting. I drastically reduced social contact. Until the weekend, especially the youth were seen around Venice drinking aperitifs in crowded places in the evening, as if nothing happened. Now it seems people are starting to understand the seriousness of the situation we are all in.

We stopped providing our services to the people we assist on the street to protect our staff. But we translated health instructions for them on how to cope amid the crisis and personally called them on the phone, still keeping our medical support services open in case of emergencies.

Venice has become a ghost town. For a city that just lives off tourism this is a dramatic situation.

We have [relatively] free mobility and shops are still open

Diego Ubfal, 39, assistant professor at Bocconi University in Milan, originally from Argentina.

Measures were initially weak, merely recommending people to limit interaction in a few areas. This led some people to play down the infection and others to panic. More draconian measures have been implemented over time, and little by little people started to gauge the gravity of the situation.

Still, we have a [relatively] free mobility at the moment and shops are still open. The latest news is that a full closure of all non-essential activities has been proposed.

I stopped having dinner outside since the epidemic started in Codogno.

Two weeks ago, the university I work for gave us instructions on how to teach online. Meanwhile, all meetings and seminars have been suspended. Everything is carried out online. I still go to work on campus because of the instruments available there but the class is empty and I am isolated in my office. The majority of the students are connecting to the universitys platform at the same time.

It feels like the government closed the stable door after the horse bolted

Giancarlo Genta, 55, shop owner. Lives in Asti.

Giancarlo Genta pictured [Elisa Oddone/Al Jazeera]

I wear a mask because I was involved in a serious accident years ago and spent six months in a coma. I am a subject at risk. The new measures have had a direct effect both on my personal and business lives. People are frightened to leave their home and go shopping. Probably the latest containment measures are a bit exaggerated as we heard many saying this was just a bit more than a flu. Who would have thought about such an escalation? Now, all of a sudden it sounds like we are all going to die.

Still, I adapted to the new measures. I rarely go out, I wear a mask. My mother is old and used to live with me but I took her to my sisters after Asti was declared a red zone over the weekend.

I stopped meeting up with friends. We talk on the phone a lot. Police made me close my shop yesterday at 6pm. Sharp. Its strange to be taking such measures now; it feels like the government closed the stable door after the horse bolted.

My flatmate and I dont even stay close to one another at home

Steven Eromonsle, 21, originally from Nigeria. In Italy for the past four years. Lives in Turin.

Steven Eromonsle pictured [Elisa Oddone/Al Jazeera]

I am afraid of being infected, so I stay far from other people, wear a mask and continuously wash my hands. I share a flat with a friend of mine and he is also strictly sticking to the new health regulations and precautions. We dont even stay close to one another at home.

For now, I am not afraid about this epidemic reaching my native country, Nigeria. I am more worried about Italy, the country that is hosting me and where I work.

I am employed in a supermarket in Turin. Our boss gave us gloves to wear all the time during shifts since late February, telling us to respect a safety distance among employees.
The Maharashtra government has



approved the implementation of "happy hour" for autorickshaws, slashing the fare prices by 15 per cent between 12 pm and 4 pm as recommended by Khatua panel, a government resolution stated.

It has, however, rejected the four-member panel's recommendation about the same for local "kaali-peeli" cabs and app-based taxis, he said.

A government resolution was issued on Monday about the approval of some clauses in the Khatua panel's report.

This decision has irked the city's autorickshaw unions, who have threatened to oppose the move and approach the government.

When contacted, officials of the state transport department were unavailable for comment on the issue.

The Khatua panel had recommended 15 per cent discount in taxi and autorickshaw fares between 12 pm and 4 pm, barring the minimum fare first 1.5 km.

"The new concept will turn lean hours to happy hours, especially for housewives and senior citizens who normally don't have a fixed schedule for their outings," the panel report stated.

The panel had also suggested the same discount for conventional "kaali-peeli" taxis and app-based cabs.

In GR, the government, however, rejected the recommendation for local taxis and app-based cabs, stating that it won't be "feasible".

Meanwhile, the autorickshaw unions expressed their displeasure at the government's move.

"We are going to oppose the happy hour discount that the state government has approved," said Shashank Rao, leader of Mumbai Autoickshaw Men's Union.

Maharashtra Rickshaw Chalak Sena's chief Rajendra Desai said no auto driver or union will accept the move.

"If needed, we will form an action committee of all the unions to fight this decision," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
File image: Jyotiraditya Scindia

A day after quitting the Indian National Congress, senior leader and former Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on March 11.

BJP National President JP Nadda and Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament (MP) Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, among others, were present at the induction ceremony at the party headquarters.

Scindia had tendered his resignation from the party on March 10, stating that he wanted to look ahead at a fresh start to reflect and realise the aspirations of "my people and my workers".

The development came right after Scindias meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

The Congress, however, said it had expelled Scindia for anti-party activities.

In a day of rapid political developments, 21 MLAs  reportedly close to Scindia  had also tendered their resignations to the Madhya Pradesh Governor.

The development comes amid high political drama in the state ahead of the Rajya Sabha elections on March 26 and the Budget session of the Assembly scheduled for March 16.

Earlier on March 9, 17 MLAs  reportedly loyal to Scindia  were flown to Bengaluru, Karnataka where the BJP is in power.

Reports then suggested that this was a part of the internal tussle within the Congress' Madhya Pradesh unit, where tensions between the Scindia and Chief Minister Kamal Nath faction had been simmering ever since the formation of the government in 2018.

The Congress holds a thin majority in the 230-member Assembly with its own 114 MLAs and support of two legislators of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), one of the Samajwadi Party (SP) and four Independents.

The BJP has 107 legislators while two seats are vacant.

Also read: Ahead of floor test in Madhya Pradesh Assembly, heres how numbers stack up for the two sides

On March 3, in a late-night political drama in the state, the Congress claimed that the opposition BJP took eight MLAs to a hotel in Haryana as part of a conspiracy to topple the Kamal Nath-led government.

On March 5 morning, the Congress held a press conference in New Delhi - in which it claimed that the BJP 'abducted 14 MLAs' to bring down its government in Madhya Pradesh.

However, the BJP attributed the entire political drama to the internal bickering of the Congress, saying that the saffron party has nothing to do with this.

Who is Scindia? Why is this development important?

Rumblings within the state Congress unit were on for some time before the crisis blew out in the open, with legislators and ministers loyal to Scindia indicating that the Kamal Nath government will "face crisis" if he is neglected and another saying that he will be the first to support Scindia's new party, if he decides to float it.

Jyotiraditya is the scion of the Scindia family of Marathas which ruled the Gwalior state in pre-independent central-India.

His grandmother Rajmata Vijaya Raje Scindia was once a prominent figure in the Jana Sangh.

Jyotiraditya was born on January 1, 1971 in Bombay (now Mumbai) to Madhavrao Scindia and Madhavi Raje Scindia. He studied at Campion School in the city before being sent to The Doon School in Dehradun.

He pursued Economics at the Harvard University from where he graduated in 1993. In 2001, he completed his Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from Stanford Graduate School of Business. He also roughed it out with various jobs with Merryl Lynch; the UN in New York; Morgan Stanley in New York, Hong Kong and Mumbai.

He jumped into politics after his fathers demise. In 2002, he won the bypoll for the Guna Lok Sabha seat in Madhya Pradesh, earlier held by his father. He was re-elected from Guna in the 2004 Lok Sabha election.

In 2007, Jyotiraditya was inducted into the Manmohan Singh cabinet as the Minister of State (MoS) for Communications and Information Technology. He was re-elected in 2009 and appointed as the MoS for Commerce and Industry. In 2012, he was made MoS for Power with independent charge.

Scindia, during the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, retained his constituency of Guna but could not manage the feat during the 2019 Parliamentary polls, losing out to a former aide.
Brussels [Belgium], Mar 11 (ANI): European Parliament (EP) President David Sassoli said he has self-quarantined himself at his Brussels home as a precautionary measure after having traveled to Italy over the last weekend.



"I have decided after having been in Italy over the last weekend, as a precaution, to follow the indicated measures and to exercise my function as president from my home in Brussels in compliance with the 14 days indicated by the health protocol," Sassoli said in a statement posted by the European Parliament.

Italy has imposed a country-wide lockdown to contain the novel coronavirus as the cases crossed 9,100 with 463 deaths reported as of Monday, Xinhua reported.

Sassoli added that a country-wide lockdown would have consequences on Italian members of the European Parliament.

The novel coronavirus "obliges everyone to be responsible and to be cautious" and is "a delicate moment for all of us," Sassoli added.

However, the European Parliament would continue to perform its duties even as the deadly virus is widespread in Europe.

Based on the latest situation in Italy, the European Parliament has updated its measures to protect health.

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control said that coronavirus has reached all countries of Europe.

As per the World Health Organisation (WHO), the novel coronavirus belongs to the family of zoonotic viruses that spread from animals to humans.

The symptoms of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus include running cold, sneezes, and coughs while in severe cases respiratory problems, shortness of breath, kidney failure or even death.

The deadly virus originated in Wuhan, China has affected more than 105 counties and has infected more than 115,000 people globally with nearly 4,000 deaths. (ANI)


His spokesman said that after the verdict, he was taken to Bellevue and had heart surgery to have a stent implanted before he was taken to Rikers. His team has alluded to various other health conditions, and he attended his trial with the aid of a walker  attributed to his back surgery weeks before the proceeding, though it was criticized by many as a stunt to elicit sympathy.
When now 11-week-old pup Mandy first came to the BARC Animal Shelter in Houston, the poor dog was suffering from serious medical conditions after being found as a stray in a landfill.

Mandy, a Black Mouth Cur mix, was five weeks old when she was found in the dump. Shelter officials said she was battling sarcoptic mange, upper respiratory infections, eye infections, entropian, and ringworm. Thanks to her foster mom, Lynette Bodmer, a BARC adoptions coordinator, Mandy has fully recovered and is ready to be adopted into a new family. Mandy knows how to "sit" and shelter officials say she is a sweetheart.
A YouTuber who has an impressive 700,000 YouTube follower has accused the fashion industry of never inviting her to events because of the way she looks.

Georgia Rankin, 21, has a form of skeletal dysplasia which caused her bones to fuse together when she was a toddler, stopping her from growing.

Standing at 2ft 7 inches tall, Rankin appeared on This Morning today, four years after the show propelled her to social media stardom.

Now posting under the YouTube name MakeupJunkieG, Rankin has amassed a huge following with her make-up and beauty tutorials, but says the fashion industry still never asks her to get involved with campaigns or even invites her to events.

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Hugely successful influencer Georgia Rankin, 21, has a form of skeletal dysplasia which sees her stand at just 2ft 7 inches tall. She's amassed a huge YouTube following with her beauty tutorials - but says she's largely ignored by the fashion industry

On This Morning today, she told hosts Holly Willougby and Phillip Schofield that while the fashion industry send her products, they never invite her to glamourous events

The 21-year-old has launched a new campaign to put pressure on fashion brands to include more diverse models

The 21-year-old, who says she was given a huge confidence boost when her followers first began to grow, revealed that while brands will happily give her products to review, she never gets invited anywhere, a reflection, she thinks, on the lack of diversity in the industry.

She told This Morning hosts Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby about her new campaign to make the industry more aware of 'realistic people', saying: 'It doesn't matter about your followers, but it does matter about your appearance.

'It's quite hard to see a good diverse mix of people in campaigns, it's still really rare.'

Rankin continued: 'I get sent the products but I don't get the invitations. I'm still trying to push for it.

'I promote products on my Instagram, but other models get invited to big events. The generations beneath me are going to grow up on social media, and they're not seeing realistic people. It can affect how you feel, it's really sad.'

The would-be model recently stripped off to her underwear for her first photo shoot, something she agreed was empowering

A video from one of Rankin's YouTube posts; she last appeared on This Morning in 2016 to raise funds for a new wheelchair

Rankin also told the show that she suffers from constant pain because of her condition

Rankin's parents Andrea, 42, a school admin assistant, and police officer Simon, 44, knew something was wrong with their daughter soon after she was born - but her condition remains so rare that she has never officially been diagnosed

She told the show that she hopes the campaign will put pressure on fashion companies to be more inclusive

She also lifted the lid on what it was like to strip off for her underwear for her first photo shoot.

Rankin revealed: 'I had no idea! I was thinking that my first shoot would be really chilled, I'd be fully clothed - that's scary enough!'

However, she said disrobing actually empowered her and she wouldn't rule out doing it again, saying: 'It did something to me, any photoshoot now, that's fine!'

Her condition is so rare than she has never been officially diagnosed.

Rankin's parents Andrea, 42, a school admin assistant, and police officer Simon, 44, knew something was wrong with their daughter soon after she was born.

In 2014 and 2016 she appeared on This Morning and proved a huge hit with Holly and Phillip

She wasn't able to keep her food down and lost weight rapidly.

Rankin was diagnosed with a life-threatening bowel condition called tufting enteropathy by experts at Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Warrington, Cheshire, where she lives with her parents.

Rankin pictured celebrating her 18th birthday; she's since made a career out of her YouTube channel

She was fed through a tube for the first ten years of her life and suffered from constant infections and septicaemia.

Doctors told her parents she may not make it - but she battled on.

When Andrea and Simon realised that their daughter was smaller than her primary school friends they took her back to the hospital.



There they learned the devastating truth: that she suffered from osteoporosis, an inherent bone weakness, and would never grow again. #

In 2014 and 2016 she appeared on This Morning, the latter seeing her social media career receive a huge boost, as viewers warmed to her bubbly personality.
VIENNA, March 10 (Reuters) - Austria is banning indoor events of more than 100 people and outdoor events of more than 500 in a bid to slow the spread of the coronavirus, Interior Minister Karl Nehammer said on Tuesday.

The measure is part of a package that also includes denying entry to people arriving from Italy with only a few exceptions. The measures were announced by Nehammer and Chancellor Sebastian Kurz at a joint news conference. (Reporting by Francois Murphy; Editing by Andrew Heavens)
Myanmars Army filed a defamation lawsuit against Reuters news service for its coverage of the shelling of a Rohingya village in Rakhine State that resulted in the death of two women in January. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) condemns the armys action and calls for adjudication by the Myanmar Press Council.

On January 25, Reuters reported on the shelling of Kin Taung village. Two women were killed in the attack, one of which was pregnant, and seven others were wounded. The incident happened just two days after the Hague-based International Court of Justice ordered Myanmar to protect the Rohingya against further atrocities. The army rejected allegations from various parties about the attack, including a local lawmaker and the Arakan Army (AA) that it was responsible for the shelling. The AA also denies it was behind the attack.

Maung Kyaw Zan, a member of the national parliament for Buthidaung township in northern Rakhine state, told Reuters that shells fired from a nearby battalion hit Kin Taung village in the middle of the night. But at a press conference on February 3, the army claimed the account was biased and referred specifically to the story headline citing the member of parliaments accusation. It said it had filed a complaint to the Myanmar Press Council (MPC), which adjudicates disputes between authorities and news media.

But on March 10, the acting station head of police in Buthidaung township, Police Lieutenant Kyaw Thu, confirmed Reuters was being sued by the army under section 66D of the Telecommunications Act. He said the army was also suing the local lawmaker.

Reuters reported that it was unable to independently confirm the details of the incident. This is in part due to the fact that reporters are banned from the area. In response to the criticism, a Reuters spokesperson said it stood by its reporting and updated the story to fully reflect the position of the Myanmar military.

In terms of its ethical obligations, Reuters has followed accepted practice by updating its story and providing a right of response to the military, according to the IFJ. The fact that journalists are not freely able to access areas of Myanmar to report the facts remains a major obstacle for press freedom and the publics right to know.

The IFJ said: Disputes between aggrieved parties and the media should be dealt with by the appropriate body, which is the Myanmar Press Council, not just delivered bluntly to the courts. IFJ condemns the ongoing intimidation of Myanmars media by using defamation as a tool of censorship and control.
Gets bids for 24.09 lakh shares by 17:00 IST on 11 March 2020

The initial public offer (IPO) of Antony Waste Handling Cell received bids for 24.09 lakh shares today, 11 March 2020, as against 48.24 lakh shares on offer, as per the National Stock Exchange of India (NSE) website data at 17:00 IST. The issue was subscribed 0.50 times.

The issue opened for bidding on 4 March 2020. It was slated to close on Friday, 6 March 2020. However, the company extended its closure date and revised the price band as it failed to receive full subscription on the final day.

The issue closure date has been extended till 16 March 2020. The price band has been revised to Rs 294-300 per share compared with the original band of Rs 295-300 a share.

The company on 3 March 2020 raised Rs 60.94 crore from anchor investors, ahead of its initial share sale. The company allotted 20.65 lakh shares at a price of Rs 295 per share to a total of 3 anchor investors, viz. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Vantage Equity Fund and 238 Plan Associates LLC, which received 65.6%, 18% and 16.4% of the total anchor portion, respectively.

Incorporated in 2001, Antony Waste Handling Cell is one of the top five players in the Indian MSW (municipal solid waste) management industry with an established track record of 17 years, providing full spectrum of MSW services which includes solid waste collection, transportation, processing and disposal services across the country, primarily catering to Indian municipalities. It is among the key players in landfill construction and management sector with in-house expertise for landfill construction along with its management. The company has also entered into the waste-to-energy (WTE) segment which is at the top of the MSW value chain.

The company is currently undertaking projects for the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai, the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation, the Thane Municipal Corporation, the North Delhi Municipal Corporation, the Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation, the Mangalore Municipal Corporation and the Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority. It is also currently undertaking a project for Jaypee International Sports. As of 1 January 2020, its consolidated fleet consisted of 1,089 vehicles and 6,579 full-time employees. There were 17 ongoing projects.

The IPO consisted of two parts, i.e., offer for sale (OFS) of 57 lakh equity shares by existing share holders (private equity investors) and fresh issue of equity shares aggregating upto Rs 35 crore. The OFS of up to 57 lakh equity shares comprises up to 13,90,322 equity shares by Leeds (Mauritius); up to 20,85,502 equity shares by Tonbridge (Mauritius); up to 7,69,917 equity shares by Cambridge (Mauritius); and up to 14,54,259 equity shares by Guildford (Mauritius).

The company proposes to utilize the net proceeds (from fresh issue of equity) towards reduction of the consolidated borrowings of the company by infusing debt in its subsidiary AG Enviro Infra Projects for repayment and prepayment of portion of their outstanding indebtedness to the extent of Rs 30 crore and general corporate purposes.

Antony Waste Handling Cell reported net profit of Rs 27.78 crore and net sales of Rs 218.62 crore in the six-months ended September 2019.

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As a personal finance reporter at CNBC, when the stock market drops, as it has from the coronavirus outbreak, I write stories reminding our readers to remain focused on their long-term goals and to resist panic.

Beneath that advice, however, I usually have a nagging feeling  a wish that I was more worried by the latest drop in the Dow. The reality for me, and for many of my friends in their late 20s and early 30s, is that we don't have enough savings on the line to care all that much. I think of Bob Dylan's lyric from his song, "Like a Rolling Stone": When you ain't got nothing, you got nothing to lose.

Indeed, many of us have nothing invested. Fewer than a third of millennials, often considered those born between 1981 and 1996, are saving in a 401(k) retirement plan, according to Charles Schwab's 2019 Modern Wealth Survey. Not even 1 in 5 of us has an investment account. Overall, nearly half of Americans don't own a single stock.

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One of my friends, an adjunct English professor, said the recent stock market woes "means nothing to me." At 26 years old, she has no investments and just $2,000 saved. "I don't even know why or how a stock market crash would affect me waking up, going to work and living my life," she said. "It seems abstract."

How could it not when you don't have any money at stake?

"I don't know a whole lot of people that actually care or pay attention to the stock market, in our generation at least," said Katie McBeth, a copywriter at the software company Intuit in Boise, Idaho. She didn't start saving in the market until last year, at 28.

She has around $11,000 earmarked for retirement now, "more than I've ever had."

I'm also fortunate to be in the minority of people my age who is saving in a 401(k) plan at all. Still, I'm not putting away nearly as much as the experts recommend. They say I should save at least 15% of my income to secure a comfortable retirement; I'm saving just 7%.

I'm limited by the hundreds of dollars I need to direct each month to my student loan debt.

My circumstances are common. The typical college graduate without student debt will have nearly double the amount saved for retirement by the age of 30 (around $18,000) as those with the debt ($9,000), according to recent estimates by the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College. The average monthly student loan bill, after all, is nearing $400.

Wage stagnation is yet another factor working against us. Millennials earn 20% less than baby boomers did at a similar age, according to a recent report, "The Emerging Millennial Wealth Gap," from nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank New America. Just 60% of millennials in their 20s are considered middle-class today, compared with 70% of baby boomers at that age, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development found.

All of this means fewer young people are able to put their money into the stock market.

Around 20% of people under 40 are investing less than $100 a month, according to a recent survey by robo-advisor Betterment. And nearly 10% of them say they're not investing anything. A spokesman for Fidelity, meanwhile, told me the median 401(k) account balance for its millennial clients is just $11,600. Most experts say you'll need $1 million  or more  in retirement.

"This generation is one that is often more focused on immediate needs," Kelly Lannan, vice president of young investors at Fidelity, told me. "It's a lot harder to imagine buying in to something that they won't touch for decades."

I had around $12,000 saved in my 401(k) plan, and built up thousands in a brokerage account with Betterment, but then emptied out the latter to cover a credit card balance that was racking up interest. One in 3 millennials owes $5,000 or more in credit card debt, Betterment found.

Even if I'm making progress in my savings for retirement, I wonder when or if I'll ever be able to meet other goals, like buying a house, starting a family or just feeling more financially safe.

Young people do have one advantage: We're young. Even if most of us aren't able to save as much as we'd like to or need to, what we do put away now has the advantage of decades of compounding growth ahead of it.

For example, saving just $200 a month, starting at the age of 25, will leave you with more than $430,000 at 65, assuming a 6.5% annual return, retirement savings expert Ed Slott has calculated for me. If you waited until 37 to start this routine, at 65 you'd have just $180,000. And among millennials who have been saving in a 401(k) plan with the same employer for a decade straight, the average balance is closer to $150,000, the Fidelity spokesman told me.

"Time is the greatest money-making asset an individual can possess," Slott said.

In other words: Not being able to invest as much as you'd like to can't prevent you from investing what you can. Now.

If you're a millennial with a healthy investment account balance, the standard advice applies: Despite the recent large drops in the market, stocks have historically bounced back and prove fairly fruitful over the long-haul. A $50,000 investment in U.S. stocks in 1950 grew to more than $87 million by this year, according to data provided by Morningstar. And even stock-heavy portfolios took under four years to fully recover from the devastating 2007-2008 financial crisis.

"The biggest mistake one can make in this financial environment is attempting to react to or predict the market," said Lannan at Fidelity. Her advice: "Invest consistently and stick to a plan, even during the bad times."

That's what I plan to do, and hopefully one day the bad times will feel more, well, bad.
In 1949, during the Cold War anxiety about communist subversion, Robert Gordon Sproul, president of the UC system, proposed that university employees sign an oath attesting that they were not members of the Communist Party or other organizations advocating violent revolution. Protests, litigation and the firing of some non-signers ensued. Then fears of domestic communists abated, and a court ended the oath in 1967. The UC system subsequently adopted this policy: No political test shall ever be considered in the appointment and promotion of any faculty member or employee.
Some of the nations largest companies are sending a message: bills negatively affecting LGBTQ citizens are bad for business.

More than 40 businesses, a few with connections to Alabama, signed an open letter published through the Human Rights Campaign, a national LGBTQ advocacy organization, on Wednesday morning opposing the more than one dozen bills across the nation that will affect the lives of LGBQT employees.

The Alabama Senate passed the Vulnerable Child Compassion and Protection Act, also known as SB 219, last week. This moves the legislation to the state House or Representatives. If the bill passes the House, the act will make it a felony for doctors to prescribe puberty-blockers or hormones to minors. This same bill was also introduced in the state House as HB303.

Company leaders who signed the letter are saying the bills like these dont reflect their companies' values of inclusion, fairness and equal treatment. The legislation will also negatively impact their bottom lines because less inclusive practices leads to less employee productivity and customer service, business leaders said.

"These bills would harm our team members and their families, stripping them of opportunities and making them feel unwelcome and at risk in their own communities, the letter states. As such, it can be exceedingly difficult for us to recruit the most qualified candidates for jobs in states that pursue such laws, and these measures can place substantial burdens on the families of our employees who already reside in these states.

The following businesses have signed the letter:

AEO Inc.

Airbnb

Amalgamated Bank

Amazon

American Airlines

Apple

Asana, Inc.

AT&T

Bayer US LLC

Ben & Jerry's Homemade, Inc.

Boehringer Ingelheim USA

Capital One

Corning Incorporated

CSAA Insurance Group

Dow Inc.

Dropbox Inc.

Eastern Bank

Google

Hilton

IBM Corp.

IKEA North America Services, LLC

Instacart

Levi Strauss & Co.

Lush Fresh Handmade Cosmetics

Lyft, Inc.

Marriott International, Inc.

MassMutual

Microsoft

Mobilize

Nike, Inc.

PayPal

Salesforce

SunLife

Sustainable Food Policy Alliance,

including member companies Danone

North America; Mars, Incorporated;

Nestle USA; and Unilever United States

TechNet

Trillium Asset Management

Uber

Unilever United States

A couple of these businesses have roots in Alabama. A few of them have expanded or are expanding their footprints in the state. Amazon is expected to hire 1,500 people for its new fulfillment center in Bessemer, which is projected to open up this month. Lush Cosmetics announced in February the summer opening of its second Alabama store at Huntsvilles Bridge Street Town Centre. Apple CEO Tim Cook is from Alabama and graduated from Auburn University.

All three of these companies joined in on the warning that bills promoting discrimination influence their decisions about where they will invest and grow.

Americas business community has consistently communicated to lawmakers at every level that such laws have a negative effect on our employees, our customers, our competitiveness, and state and national economies, the letter stated.

Carmarion Anderson, HRCs Alabama state director, testified against the Vulnerable Child Compassion and Protection Act during a public hearing at the Alabama House Health Committee last month. Under the act, doctors will face felony charges and up to a decade in prison for prescribing puberty-blockers or hormones to anyone under 19. It also forbids teachers, principals and school counselors from withholding from parents information that a student identifies as transgender.

Rep. Wes Allen, R-Troy, who is sponsoring the bill at the state House, has said gender dysphoria is a mental disorder. Thus, minors should receive mental health treatment rather than medication. This goes against a 2018 American Academy of Pediatrics policy statement saying that transgender identity is not a mental disorder and that medications to suppress puberty and cross-sex hormones can be part of a broad-based gender-affirmative care model.

Before the Alabama Senates passage, Sen. Vivian Davis Figures, D-Mobile, questioned whether lawmakers should place restrictions on decisions that should be between parents and their children.

Anderson, who is a transwoman herself, said during a conference call announcing the letter that culturally competent healthcare is essential for transgender and non-binary people.

All transgender people --but especially transgender kids -- deserve to be able to live their lives in a safe environment, to be able to be supported by the people who love them and to get the health care that they need, she said.
A friend of his owned the place and wanted to sell it. I had no business plan or money, and I took it over in 2017, Sliozis said, adding that he helped his friend name the place before Sliozis ever owned it. It was not a dream to run a business and I have no restaurant experience. My grandpa owned a hot dog/doughnuts shop and my mother always said, Youre the spitting image of him!
The roster of presidents who could not conquer crisis when it arrived is long and inglorious  James Buchanan, who failed to stop the South from seceding; Grover Cleveland, who failed to stem the Panic of 1893; Herbert Hoover, who failed to overcome the Great Depression; Jimmy Carter, who failed to end the Iranian hostage standoff until his last minutes in office.

But there are others who rose to the occasion, probably none more than Abraham Lincoln, who found his country falling apart when he took the oath and responded with calm determination and a willingness to work with rivals in a common cause. Roosevelt took office at the depths of the Depression and likewise projected confidence and took decisive action while still leveling with the American people about the scope of the challenge.

While Mr. Trump has tried to reassure the public, saying that the coronavirus was under control and would go away, he has not sounded to many ears as if he were fully acknowledging the scope of the problem.

Ms. Goodwin said Roosevelt demonstrated the way to balance messages in his inaugural address in 1933. While the speech is often remembered for his line that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself, he also made a point of telling Americans that only a foolish optimist can deny the dark realities of the moment.

Instinctively, he is trying to stem the panic, Ms. Goodwin said. But what has to be connected to that is the recognition of the problem.

When World War II threatened, Roosevelt invited Republicans into his cabinet to foster national unity. As the virus spread over the weekend, Mr. Trump declared that he would skip the annual bipartisan St. Patricks Day luncheon out of disdain for Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who led his impeachment and ripped up his State of the Union address.

Other presidents effectively took on dire if less daunting crises. Theodore Roosevelt marshaled the full resources of the government, including the Army and Navy, after the devastating San Francisco earthquake of 1906. Lyndon B. Johnson rushed to New Orleans immediately after Hurricane Betsy, visited a darkened shelter, illuminated his face with a flashlight and called out: I am your president. I am here to make sure you have the help you need.
Daniel Acker | Bloomberg | Getty Images

Upcoming trade negotiations between the U.S. and the U.K. are raising concerns over a relaxation of food standards in Britain. The countries are due to have a first round of negotiations later this month, as they aim to agree on new trade ties before the end of the year. However, given that both nations have different rules on food production, consumer groups in the U.K. are worried about what this could mean for food standards. "There is a major difference in food production methods," Sue Davies, food and trade policy expert at consumer research group Which?, told CNBC Wednesday, explaining that the U.S. uses hormones in dairy and meat production, as well as antimicrobial treatments that are forbidden in the U.K. One of the most controversial issues is chlorinated chicken, which has become something of a flashpoint in Britain when it comes to debates over a U.S.-U.K. trade deal.

There's a massive difference in chemicals' use. Nick Dearden Director of Global Justice Now

The process involves washing chicken in chlorine to remove bacteria, and is used in the U.S. but banned in the U.K. This is because European Union (EU) experts argue it allows for poor hygiene along the supply chain, mainly in farms. However, with the U.K.'s departure from the EU, the British government won't have to comply with EU regulations and will therefore be able to redefine its food standards. "We feel the standards that we have are good. We want to maintain them," Davies said during a phone call. She said that there's always room for improvement, but "we need to hold on to what we have got." The U.K. government has not fully ruled out allowing U.S. chlorinated chicken into Britain. However, in the government's mandate to trade talks with the U.S. it said it will "uphold the U.K.'s high levels of public, animal and plant health, including food safety." Nick Dearden, director of the campaign group Global Justice Now, told CNBC that the issue is about more than just chlorinated chicken. He said he was "very, very worried" about the use of hormones, intensive animal farming and antibiotics used in the U.S. "There's a massive difference in chemicals' use," he added.

Bread on display in the Publix grocery store in Florida. Jeff Greenberg
TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's Sharp Corp said on Wednesday it has filed a patent infringement lawsuit against U.S. TV brand Vizio Inc and two others, seeking an injunction to ban one of Vizio's TV products in the United States.

Sharp, a unit of Taiwan's Foxconn, said Vizio's 70-inch TV product uses liquid crystal display (LCD) panels that allegedly infringe twelve panel-related patents owned by Sharp.

The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, targets Vizio as well as Chinese panel maker Xianyang CaiHong Optoelectronics Technology Co (CHOT) and Hong Kong-based contract manufacturer TPV Technology Ltd.

Sharp brought the alleged infringement issue to CHOT in November last year, but the Chinese panel maker failed to stop infringing the patents, it said.

(Reporting by Makiko Yamazaki, editing by Louise Heavens)
The Coronavirus conference, which was supposed to hold this month, has been cancelled due to coronavirus.



The Council on Foreign Relations has canceled a roundtable called Doing Business Under Coronavirus scheduled for Friday in New York due to the spread of the deadly virus.



CFR has also canceled other in-person conferences that were scheduled from March 11 to April 3, including roundtables in New York and Washington and national events around the U.S.



The CFRs confabs are joining a long list of canceled or postponed gatherings, including the official meeting of the International Nidovirus Symposium which was postponed to 2021.



The Nidovirus Symposium which happens only once every three years, was set to take place this May 10 to 14 in the Netherlands. The plan for this year's gathering was to exchange information about coronavirus and work towards a solution.



In an email sent to Quartz, Marjolein Kikkert, a microbiologist at the Leiden University Medical Center who was leading the conferences planning committee, said she and the planning committee were hoping they could avoid cancelling the meeting in order to exchange as much information as possibleespecially about the new coronavirus circulating.



Unfortunately, her hopes were dashed as attendees were hesitant about registering.



Kikkert said to the publication: We started noticing that people were hesitating to register due to all the uncertainty. The expanding outbreak in Europe in the last week made us feel we should take responsibility and set the good example as coronavirologists to not further spread the virus ourselves.



Nidovirus is an order of viruses that includes coronaviruses, like SARS-CoV-2 (the novel coronavirus going around now), SARS-CoV (severe acute respiratory syndrome, which emerged in 2003), and MERS (Middle Eastern respiratory syndrome, which emerged in 2012). The order also includes arteriviruses, a group that can infect horses, pigs, monkeys, and mice; and roniviruses, a group that can infect shellfish.



Usually, attendees would present research, find collaboration opportunities, and get to know other members of a relatively small field within microbiology.



The group is still trying to figure out if they can share information remotely some time in May, although it would be a challenge because some of the attendees were planning to come from China; time differences complicate the scheduling.



Normally, about 150 to 200 scientists attend the meeting, according to Bart Haagmans, virologist at Erasmus Medical Center in the Netherlands, who was also planning the meeting. Kikkert hopes that, by postponing the physical meeting, the conference next year can have even more attendees.









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Students at Quest Montessori School were recently honored in a statewide writing competition for their pieces. Pictured: Auburn Cole, students Annabel Rarick and Delia Tanzi-Buchbaum, and Diane Champa. Submitted photo.
Bids are being accepted through March 18, but masks are already in high demand. On Tuesday, the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention loosened its guidelines to match generally those of the World Health Organization, which recommends respirators only for procedures that cause the patient to cough, sending tiny virus particles into the air. Facemasks are an acceptable alternative when the supply chain of respirators cannot meet the demand, the CDC said in a statement that is expected to unsettle health care workers who have been trained to use the more protective gear during contagions.
Kareem Shaheen is a journalist who reported in Syria for five years. He was one of the few Western journalists to go inside Idlib, the last rebel-held province that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has failed to capture. Its become a refuge of last resort for people whove had to flee their homes again and again. In December, Assad launched what was meant to be a final campaign against the city, leading to a brutal humanitarian crisis. Yet throughout all this, Shaheen saw that the international response remained troublingly indifferent. There is a cease-fire in Idlib for now, but the people who live there are still looking to flee. The question isnt just where they will goits whether the rest of the world will care.

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On Wednesdays episode of What Next, I spoke with Shaheen about the ongoing Syrian conflict, the people within Idlib, and the worlds reaction to the countrys suffering. Our conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Mary Harris: As you see it, the human lives in and around Idlib have been forgotten, both by the international community and the Syrian government.

Kareem Shaheen: Idlibs just a piece of territory, right? Assad wants to end the war decisively. Hes militarily been able to reclaim all these parts of the country with Russian and Iranian help. But Idlib is the largest piece of territory that they want to reclaim: They dont want to leave an area that could potentially be a refuge for rebels to rebuild and relaunch their insurgency against the regime. The government wants to end the war decisively because part of ending the war could mean that the international community will begin to accept Assad as the legitimate head of the Syrian state. That could eventually lead to reconstruction funds coming in, or the lifting of sanctions. Once all these Western countries realize that the war is decisively over, then he can begin to reclaim that status as a member of the international community and try to seek funds and support to rebuild the country and enrich his government.

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So this is about closing the book.

The reality of the situation right now is that the Syrian regime is really vulnerable because various parts of the country that are under Assads control are impoverished. People dont have enough to buy food. The currency has collapsed because of the economic crisis in neighboring Lebanon. The country is still under sanctions. Officials are unable to provide basic staples like fuel and food to ordinary people. And there are some rumblings of discontent in parts of the country that have been pacified by Assads forces. Theres all this unhappiness and destitution and poverty that the government has to contend with. And its going to be unable to contend with it in the long term if there is no reconstruction aid, if there isnt a lifting of sanctions and a return to a normal state of affairs with the international community.

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It sounds kind of desperate. On March 6, a cease-fire was announced in Idlib. How long do you think it will last?

No cease-fires in Idlib have held for very long because they preserve a status quo that is untenable. The regime wants to reclaim the entire country, and made very clear that it wants to do so. The Syrian government and Russiawhich is supposed to be a guarantor of the ceasefiresjointly violate these cease-fires and bomb civilian areas and try to reclaim them militarily from the rebels whenever the situation suits them. So I dont think a cease-fire is something that will hold in the long term, because its in nobodys interest to maintain the status quo. Civilians dont feel safe in Idlib because the regime keeps violating the cease-fire, but they dont want to return back to their homes. So theyre stuck in this area near the Turkish border, and their situation becomes more desperate by the day.

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Weve spent so many years in the international community talking about our responsibility to protect civilians, our responsibility to ensure that mass atrocities, like those in the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda or even during the Holocaust, would not go unpunished. What I realized was that all this talk of never again and international law and the international order were meaningless. They were not worth the paper on which they were written.

Youve expressed this frustration as a journalist that you spent years telling these heartbreaking stories, and nothing seemed to matter when you came back to Canada. It was like a different world where people didnt seem to even know what you were talking about in the years since youd been away. I wonder if you think about what would matter, what would cause some kind of action, and what youve thought about that.

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I dont know if anything will cause any kind of action. The sad truth is that I dont think there is a limit to what we will tolerate. We were so inwardly focused on concepts like human rights and fundamental rights and the freedoms of ordinary human beings and the right to even just live somewhere where people are not being bombed to death all the time. These now seem like outmoded, outdated concepts. After nine years of war in Syria, its become normal to bomb hospitals, its become normal to besiege civilians. These are not even chemical weapons attacks. The regime got away with this without any real punishment. This slow erosion of the international order and international law thats been happening for nine years is something that should really give us all pause as we contemplate the far-reaching implications of the conflict and our decision not to act to stop it from continuing to unfold.

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Youve seen a lot over the course of your reporting. Do you feel OK? Do you feel safe?

I dont know if there is a right answer to that question. Its really hard for a lot of journalists to treat their mental health seriously because they think of the actual people theyre covering and what they went through and what they continue to go through. And it somehow feels a bit frivolous to think about our own mental health and taking care of ourselves, because the people were writing about are going through so much more.

Listen to the full episode using the player below, or subscribe to What Next on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts.
New Delhi [India], Mar 11 (ANI): Union Minister of State (MoS) for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai on Wednesday said a total of 14,864 Bangladesh nationals have been granted citizenship after signing of India-Bangladesh Land Boundary Agreement in 2015.



"After signing of the Indo-Bangladesh Land Boundary Agreement, 14,864 Bangladeshi nationals were granted Indian Citizenship under Section 7 of the Citizenship Act, 1955," Rai said in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha.

As per the data, while 40 migrants from Afghanistan were Indian citizenship, 25 people from Bangladesh and 809 from Pakistan were given citizenship, respectively in 2019.

Elaborating the criteria to identify religious minorities of Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan who have faced religious persecution in their respective countries and who seek citizenship under Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in India, the Minister said: The Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 (CAA) aims to facilitate grant of citizenship to migrants belonging to Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi, and Christian communities from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh who have entered India on or before December 31, 2014, and who have been exempted by the Central government by or under clause (c) of sub-section(2) of section 3 of the Passport (Entry into India) Act, 1920 or from the application of provisions of the Foreigners Act, 1946 or any Rule/order made thereunder."

"The migrants covered by this Amendment Act can submit applications for grant of citizenship after appropriate Rules are notified by the Central Government," he added.

Rai was answering the questions by a Rajya Sabha member Ravi Prakash Verma from Uttar Pradesh. (ANI)


An eerie image has emerged of a medical officer wearing a plastic suit boarding a plane to treat a potential coronavirus patient.

Jen Gehrt, from Seattle, posted a photo to Twitter on Wednesday taken by her friend during an Air New Zealand flight from Vancouver to Auckland.

The picture shows a man decked in protective gear making his way through an aisle towards the passenger.

Air New Zealand confirmed that flight NZ23 was met by paramedics and Ministry of Health officials on arrival in Auckland on Wednesday morning after someone became unwell in-flight.

A spooky image posted online shows the protective extremes being taken by medical authorities amid the COVID-19 outbreak

Jen Gehrt took to Twitter to share her friend's eerie experience during a flight to New Zealand on Wednesday

A Ministry of Health New Zealand Spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia St John Ambulance crew that attended wore PPE in accordance with their protocols but the patient was not diagnosed with coronavirus.

'This case did not meet the definition for COVID-19,' they said.

So far, New Zealand has had five confirmed cases of coronavirus since the illness broke out in China at the end of last year.

CORONAVIRUS CASES IN AUSTRALIA: 27,244 Victoria: 20,269 New South Wales: 4,273 Queensland: 1,161 Western Australia: 692 South Australia: 473 Tasmania: 230 Australian Capital Territory: 113 Northern Territory: 33 TOTAL CASES: 27,244 ESTIMATED ACTIVE CASES: 269 DEATHS: 897 Updated: 5.31 PM, 11 October, 2020 Source: Australian Government Department of Health Advertisement

All patients have been discharged from hospital and are continuing their treatment from home.

On Wednesday, the Ministry of Health NZ announced that the spread of the virus in the country is currently under control.

'Most people don't need to worry about attending public events or going to school  practising good hand hygiene will do the most to keep you safe and well,' it said in a statement online.

'The risk of an ongoing outbreak of COVID-19 in New Zealand remains low.'

Meanwhile, the total number of confirmed cases in Australia have jumped to 123, including three deaths.

Worldwide there have been 114,000 confirmed cases in 107 countries, with more than 4,200 recorded deaths.
WASHINGTON, March 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Office of Inspector General (OIG) for the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) announced that a Miami-area business owner was sentenced for her role in a scheme to defraud EXIM.

On February 27, 2020, Ada Larrea de Quesada (de Quesada), 75, the owner of Millenium Natural Manufacturing Corp. (Millenium) of Doral, FL was sentenced by Judge Ursula Ungaro in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida in Miami, FL. De Quesada was sentenced to 36 months of probation including six months of home confinement. De Quesada was also ordered to pay $387,548.46 in restitution as well as a $100 Special Assessment Fee. De Quesada pled guilty on December 19, 2019, to one count of False, Fictitious or Fraudulent Claims involving a scheme to defraud EXIM.

According to court documents on or about September 17, 2014 in Miami-Dade County, in the Southern District of Florida and elsewhere, de Quesada did knowingly make and present, and cause to be made and presented to EXIM, an agency of the United States, a materially false, fictitious and fraudulent claim upon and against EXIM. This claim indicated that one of Millenium's international customers had defaulted on payments of invoices guaranteed by EXIM, knowing that the claim was false, fictitious, and fraudulent, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 287 and 2.

This case was prosecuted by the Major Crimes Division of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida. The case was investigated by EXIM OIG in Washington, D.C.

EXIM is an independent federal agency that helps create and maintain U.S. jobs by filling gaps in private export financing. EXIM provides a variety of financing mechanisms to help U.S. exporters sell goods and services abroad.

EXIM OIG is an independent office within EXIM. The OIG receives and investigates complaints and information concerning violations of law, rules or regulations, fraud against EXIM, mismanagement, waste of funds, and abuse of authority connected with EXIM's programs and operations. Additional information about the OIG can be found at www.exim.gov/oig. Complaints and reports of waste, fraud, and abuse related to EXIM programs and operations can be reported to the OIG hotline at 888-OIG-EXIM (888-644-3946) or via email at [email protected].

SOURCE Export-Import Bank of the United States, Office of Inspector General

Related Links

http://www.exim.gov


By Rajendra Jadhav

MUMBAI, March 11 (Reuters) - India's exports of sugar to Malaysia so far in 2020 have nearly tripled over the figure for all of last year, as Kuala Lumpur steps up purchases to placate New Delhi in a trade dispute that halted its palm oil exports to India, trade officials said.

The record buying could also help India, the world's biggest producer of sugar, to cut stockpiles that are squeezing domestic prices.

India had been the biggest buyer of Malaysian palm oil for five years, but purchases ground to a halt after the January curbs, a retaliation for then prime minister Mahathir Mohamad's criticism of New Delhi's policy regarding its Muslim minority. .

"This year Malaysia was aggressively buying Indian raw sugar, which was a pleasant surprise," Praful Vithalani, president of the All India Sugar Trade Association (AISTA), told Reuters.

The trade body's data shows Malaysia has imported 324,405 tonnes of sugar from India this year. That compares with India's exports last year of around 110,000 tonnes and a 2008 record of 313,406 tonnes, according to trade estimates.

Malaysia imported a total of 1.95 million tonnes of raw sugar in 2019, data from the International Sugar Organization on Refinitiv Eikon shows. It typically buys more from Brazil and Thailand than from India.

Kuala Lumpur's sugar purchases from India could easily surpass 400,000 tonnes in 2020, as some shipments are still in the pipeline, said a Mumbai-based dealer of a global trading house.

Kuala Lumpur may have asked refiners to give preference to India in sugar purchases, said another Mumbai-based dealer, adding, "It's an effort to please India."

Both dealers sought anonymity as they were not allowed to speak with media.

In January, MSM Malaysia Holdings Berhad, the southeast Asian nation's top sugar refiner, said it would buy 130,000 tonnes of raw sugar from India, worth 200 million ringgit ($49.20 million), in the first quarter.

Story continues

Malaysia has set itself a month's deadline to resolve the dispute over palm oil, its new Commodities Minister Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali said on Wednesday, adding that he wanted to send a delegation to India as soon as possible.

"Malaysia can show that it is buying more goods from India than Indonesia," a Mumbai-based refiner said, adding that higher imports of farm commodities would give Malaysia grounds to argue in negotiations that New Delhi should resume palm oil purchases.

Indonesia is the world's biggest producer of palm oil, followed by Malaysia.

India, hoping to reduce its vast surplus stocks of sugar, has approved an export subsidy of 10,448 Indian rupees ($142) per tonne of the sweetener for the marketing year that will end on Sept. 30. ($1=73.7325 Indian rupees) (Reporting by Rajendra Jadhav; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)
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The father of three young children killed by an alleged drink driver in Sydney's west last month says he still 'cannot fully comprehend' the tragedy that shocked Australia.

Almost six weeks since the Oatlands tragedy, Danny Abdallah said he and his wife Leila are no closer to coming to terms the deaths of their son Antony, 13, and daughters Angelina, 12, and Sienna, 9.

The three Abdallah children and their cousin Veronique Sakr, 11, were killed in a horror accident as they walked to get ice cream on February 1. Police allege Samuel William Davidson, 29, was drunk when he lost control of his ute and ploughed into the group.

Mr and Mrs Abdallah, and Veronique's parents Bob and Bridget Sakr, gathered on Wednesday night - the 40th day since their children's deaths - as is tradition in the Maronite Christian faith, marking the end of the family's grieving period.

In scenes reminiscent of their funerals less than a month ago, large photos of each of the children sat on the alter at the front of Our Lady of Lebanon co-cathedral in Parramatta.

Mr Abdallah told the packed congregation during the emotional service how crucial his faith has to both he and Mrs Abdallah since the tragedy, and said they believe the four children are now 'with God'.

Danny Abdallah told the packed congregation at the 40-day mass for the four children killed in the Oatlands tragedy that he and wife Leila are struggling to 'comprehend' the horror accident

Sitting in the same spot where just weeks earlier tears had flowed readily at the funeral for their three children, Mr and Mrs Abdallah offered the packed congregation a comforting smile

Just as they did at the funeral for their three kids, Danny and Leila Abdallah sat with their daughter Leanna in between them

Antony, 13, Angelina, 12, and Sienna Abdallah, 9, (all left) and their cousin Veronique Sakr, 10, (right) were be mowed down by an alleged drunk driver as they walked to get dessert on Bettington Road, Oatlands, about 8pm on Saturday, February 1

Grieving mothers Bridget Sakr and Mrs Abdallah hold each other's hands before addressing Wednesday's memorial mass

'Our hearts are in a lot of pain and our minds cannot fully comprehend all that has happened,' Mr Abdallah said.

'However as for me, me and my house, we will serve the Lord. Please, do what only you can do to give us strength.

Our hearts are in a lot of pain Danny Abdallah

'We know Antony, Angelina, Sienna and Veronique are in glory with you. You called them home at this time and I trust you know best.'

As Mr and Mrs Abdallah entered the church with their surviving daughter Leanna in between them, the hundreds at the service rose in unison.

In almost the exact same spot where just weeks ago tears had flowed freely, today Mrs Abdallah offered the congregation a comforting smile.

During the service Monsignor Shora Maree praised Michael Sakr, the older brother of Veronique for his 'inspiring' efforts at her funeral.

The packed mass memorial at Our Lady of Lebanon Church in Harris Park marks the end of the families' grieving period

Mr Abdallah looks over the picture of his cousin Bridget's daughter Veronique, which sat next to similar images of her three cousins Antony, Angelina and Sienna

'Our hearts are in a lot of pain and our minds cannot fully comprehend all that has happened,' Mr Abdallah (pictured with his son ) said

Danny Abdallah holds his twin boys' hands as they look over the photographs of Sienna (left) and Angelina (right) on the alter

Leila Abdallah (pictured on Wednesday night) started 'The Four Angels' blog to remember her three children and their cousin.

At the completion of his sister's service, Michael joined his school bandmates and led the funeral procession from the church grounds.

'After all you had to go through, I think that spirit you have... you led and stood up, that's doing God's work,' Monsignor Maree said.

Monsignor Maree also told the congregation how both Mrs Abdallah and Mrs Sakr had in recent weeks dreamed about their daughters Angelina and Veronique.

'Both of them had the dream separately and the two girls were preoccupied, almost busy, but yet happy,' he said.

Mrs Sakr looks upon the photograph of her smiling daughter Veronique during the 40-day memorial mass on Wednesday

Mrs Abdallah (left) and Mrs Sakr (right) had the same dream about their daughters Angelina and Veronique in recent weeks, the congregation heard

At the same church just weeks earlier Antony, Sienna and Angelina were farewelled by almost 2000 mourners (pictured)

Followers of the Maronite religion believe the souls of the dead remain on Earth for 40 days after their deaths.

Wednesday night's mass symbolises the leaving of the children's souls from Earth.

Antony, Angelina, Sienna and Veronique were walking with three other cousins to go and get ice cream at the local shop when they were allegedly rundown by Samuel William Davidson.

The 29-year-old had allegedly spent the day drinking before getting in the driver's seat of his ute.

As he drove down Bettington Road, Oatlands, at speed he allegedly lost control and veered onto the footpath - ploughing into the group.

Four children died instantly, while their cousin Charbel Kassas remains in hospital in a serious condition.

Danny Abdallah (third right) and his wife were inundated with comforting words from mourners at the mass memorial

During Wednesday night's mass Monsighor Shora Maree praised the 'inspiring' efforts of Michael Sakr (pictured) who bravely lea a marching band at the front of the funeral procession for his 11-year-old sister Veronique

Michael and his bandmates walked ahead of the hearse carrying his sister Veronique's coffin, as hundreds of school kids lined the street in a guard of honour

This is the heartbreaking final selfie taken just moments before the Oatlands tragedy. (L to R) Mabelle Kassas, Angelina Abdallah, Sienna Abdallah, Veronique Sakr and Leanna Abdallah, all pose happily for the photo just minutes before 8pm on February 1, Saturday

In the days after the tragedy, thousands of people flocked to the crash site to pray and leave floral tributes for the four kids

Mrs Abdallah last week shared the heartbreaking last selfie taken by the cousins just a few hundred metres up the road from where four of them would be killed.

'Their last sunset walk on this earth. Saturday 1/2/2020 before God called them back home,' the devastated mother posted next to the photo on Facebook.

She has also started a blog called 'The Four Angels' to remember her three children and their cousin.

'I've started a page where I will be sharing what's in my heart, the wonderful gift my children were and how blessed I was to have them in my life,' Mrs Abdallah wrote.

'Thank you so much for your kind words and the support during this difficult time.'

Davidson, 29, is facing 20 charges over the crash including four of manslaughter and is due to face the Parramatta Local Court on April 1
Singapore is bracing for a harder hit to tourism than initially expected from the coronavirus as the outbreak spreads to more than 100 countries, impacting global travel plans, Minister for Communications and Information S Iswaran said.

Now its really the fact that theres a global spread of this virus and therefore we will have to reevaluate certainly the numbers, Iswaran said in an interview Wednesday.

Just last month, Singapores tourism chief forecast that tourist arrivals and spending could drop by 25% to 30% this year because of the outbreak, making it worse than the 2003 SARS pandemic.

The city-state is losing about 18,000 to 20,000 tourists a day and that could plummet further if the situation persists, Keith Tan, chief executive officer of Singapore Tourism Board, said in mid-February.

With the economic fallout expected to grow, Singapore is already mulling another round of aid for businesses. Unveiling its 2020 budget last month, the government pledged S$6.4 billion ($4.6 billion) in dedicated support, including a S$4 billion stabilization package.

A second support package may be introduced if necessary, local media has reported, citing Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat.

Iswaran, who is also Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations, declined to elaborate when asked about the scale of any second support package on Wednesday.

We are prepared to do more, but it has to be a response to the situation, he said.

2020 Bloomberg L.P.

(This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text.)

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There are plenty of people who dream of owning a recreational vehicle at some point in their life. Its hard not to wonder what it would be like to really travel the country. For some it might seem like a lofty goal, but it is not as far off as some drivers may think. With proper planning and foresight, it can be fairly easy to acquire an RV.

Thankfully, drivers arent beholden to the biggest RVs out there for freedom. There are plenty of smaller campers available that offer the same freedom as well. The biggest concern for purchases like this is how you will afford it. Desert Autoplex knows how scary thinking about your finances can be, but the dealership offers its own solution.

Desert Autoplex has its own financing center that can help drivers ease into their new RV. By working directly with the dealership, drivers know they are getting service they can trust. This reliable service and skill will make the entire purchase process smooth and easy. The dealership even offers a credit approval form on their website. If drivers are interested, then they are encouraged to reach out to the dealership via their website or over the phone at 480-964-2277. Desert Autoplex also has a physical location at 2260 E Main St, Mesa, AZ, 85213.
MARIGOT:--- During the recent carnival festivities held on the French side of the island, members of the Rotary Club of St. Martin Sunset took to the streets of Marigot to distribute free hand sanitizers in recognition of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Month.

Providing clean water, Sanitation, and Hygiene, and Child Health Care are some of Rotarys key focus areas and Rotary clubs worldwide display their commitment to improve sanitation and promote good hygiene habits among families and particularly children within their communities. It is estimated that 1,400 children die each day from diseases caused by poor sanitation and hygiene practices, diseases that could be prevented by implementing good hygiene habits and improved sanitation.

The month of March is observed as Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Month by Rotary clubs worldwide and to commence the month of activities, Rotary Sunset distributed 400 custom made hand sanitizers to spectators during the childrens parade. The hand sanitizers were branded with the clubs logo and were specifically given to children at the parade to promote good hygiene practices.

With the increase in numerous viral infections as well as the Coronavirus, which has recently grabbed the attention of our local community, the presentation of these sanitizers was indeed timely. It is important that we continue to advocate the importance of good hygiene practices, not only when there is a worldwide epidemic, but on a daily basis. We found it imperative to do our part in contributing to the health and wellbeing of those who are most vulnerable, our children. The focus was not just to give out hand sanitizers but to provide helpful tips on the proper of hand sanitizers and the importance of washing your hands, Roylyka Roache, Public Relations Chair, stated.

The Rotary Club of St Martin Sunset would like to thank the President of FCDSM Luciana Raspail for granting the club permission to execute the distribution. The club will continue to bring awareness to the importance of good hygiene practices, proper coughing and sneezing etiquette among children and adults in hopes to minimize the spread of germs and bacteria, island-wide.

The Rotary Club of St. Martin Sunset meets every second and fourth Monday of the month at Carl N Sons Unique Inn and Conference Facilities in Cole Bay at 7:30 pm. The club can be contacted via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or via the official Facebook page at facebook.com/rotarysxmsunset.
A defiant Bernie Sanders has pledged to stay in the Democratic primary race in spite of recent losses, promising to force Joe Biden to take a stand on the progressive issues that have animated the Vermont senators campaign and political career.

In a speech shortly after a second devastating night for his campaign that has left a path to the nomination increasingly slim, Mr Sanders acknowledged that his campaign is losing the electability argument with voters, but claimed that the vast majority of Americans agree with his positions on universal healthcare, climate change and the criminal justice system, among other issues.

He also argued that his campaign has been losing elections to Mr Biden in part due to the former vice presidents strong support among older voters  but claimed he attracts younger voters who he said are the future of the country.

While Joe Biden continues to do very well with older Americans, especially those people over 65, our campaign continues to win the vast majority of votes of younger people, and I am talking about people not just in their twenties, but in their thirties and their forties, Mr Sanders said, citing exit polls.

Today I say to the Democratic establishment, in order to win the future you need to win the voters who represent the future of our country, and you must speak to the issues of concern to them, he continued.

The defiant statement came just a day after Mr Sanders lost in several states on so-called Super Tuesday 2, which fell just a week after Super Tuesday, when the largest portion of delegates were awarded in the primary cycle. Mr Biden was seen as the decisive victor on both days, even as Mr Sanders managed wins in delegate rich states like California and smaller states like North Dakota.

But those losses have already sparked premature obituaries for the Sanders campaign, with analysts arguing that the former vice presidents current polling and delegate lead gives him an all but insurmountable lead on his path to the nomination.

Mr Sanders acknowledged that deficit, but seemed poised to more directly take the fight to Mr Biden, and prove to show voters why he believes he is the best chance Democrats have to take on Donald Trump this November.

On Sunday, I very much look forward to the debate in Arizona with my friend Joe Biden, Mr Sanders said, before promising to press him on climate change, healthcare, criminal justice reform and other issues.
NEW YORK (AP)  Harvey Weinstein was sentenced Wednesday to 23 years in prison for rape and sexual assault, a sight the Hollywood moguls multitude of accusers thought they would never see.

Weinstein, who has been accused of violating scores of women, was convicted last month of raping a woman in a New York City hotel room in 2013 and forcibly performing oral sex on another woman at his apartment in 2006. He faced a maximum of 29 years in prison.

Both women that Weinstein was convicted of assaulting  a once-aspiring actress and a former TV and film production assistant  spoke in court Wednesday before Judge James Burke announced the sentence, confronting Weinstein again after their testimony helped seal his conviction at the landmark #MeToo trial.

The once-aspiring actress that Weinstein was convicted of raping in 2013 recalled the moment during the trial when she left the witness stand in tears and then could be heard screaming from an adjacent room.

"The day my screams were heard from the witness room was the day my voice came back to its full power," she said.

"Rape is not just one moment of penetration. It is forever."

The Associated Press has a policy of not naming people who have been sexually assaulted without their consent. It is withholding the rape accuser's name because it is not clear whether she wishes to be identified.

Weinstein, who has maintained that any sexual any sexual activity was consensual, also spoke in court, saying he had fond memories of his accusers.

Looking back during the trial at emails they exchanged, he said, he thought they had a good friendship: "I'm not going to say these aren't great people. I had wonderful times with these people. I'm just genuinely confused. Men are confused about this issue."

Burke also heard from Weinstein's lawyers, who pleaded for leniency because of his age and frail health, and prosecutors, who said the man once celebrated as a titan of Hollywood deserved a harsh sentence that would account for allegations of wrongdoing dating to the 1970s.

Under state law, Burke was able to consider evidence outside the scope of the trial in forming his sentence.

In their sentencing letter, prosecutors outlined 16 examples they said showed Weinstein "trapped women into his exclusive control" so he could sexually assault them, starting when he was working as a music producer in Buffalo in 1978.

Weinstein was sentenced a week shy of his 68th birthday, and his lawyers argued that a lengthy prison term would, in effect, be a life sentence. They sought a five-year sentence, the mandatory minimum on the more serious of the two charges that jurors found him guilty of.

Weinstein used a walker throughout the trial and arrived at the courthouse Wednesday in wheelchair because of back problems from a car crash last summer, has a condition that requires shots in his eyes and last week had a stent placed to unblock an artery.

The agency that runs New York's state prisons said every inmate is evaluated to determine which facility meets his or her security, medical, mental health and other needs.

The New York case was the first criminal matter to arise from accusations of more than 90 women, including actresses Gwyneth Paltrow, Salma Hayek and Uma Thurman.

Weinstein was convicted on two counts: criminal sex act for the 2006 assault on the production assistant and rape in the third degree for a 2013 attack on another woman.

He was acquitted of the more serious charges against him of first-degree rape and two counts of predatory sexual assault.

Now that Weinstein has been sentenced, his lawyers can move forward with a promised appeal.

Weinstein was charged in California with raping a woman at a Los Angeles hotel on Feb. 18, 2013, after pushing his way inside her room, and sexually assaulting a woman in a Beverly Hills hotel suite the next night.

Three more sexual assault cases under investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department and Beverly Hills police could mean that hell face additional charges. No details have been provided on these cases.

By MICHAEL R. SISAK, TOM HAYS and JENNIFER PELTZ, The Associated Press
Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are voicing increasing concern about President Donald Trump's agreement with the Taliban, pressing the top U.S. commander for the Middle East and Central Asia on Tuesday about the deal's counterterrorism assurances for the United States.

In particular, lawmakers, including the third-highest ranking Republican in the House, say there are no verification mechanisms in place to ensure that the militant group breaks ties with al Qaeda, the terror group whose members the Taliban harbored ahead of the Sept. 11th attacks.

Gen. Kenneth McKenzie, head of U.S. Central Command (CENTOM), expressed his own skepticism about that commitment, telling the House Armed Services Committee that he had strong doubts about the Taliban's ability or will to do so.

MORE: What's inside the US deal with the Taliban to end war and bring home troops

"That's something they're going to have to demonstrate that has not yet been demonstrated," he said.

But he said built into the agreement is the ability for U.S. forces to remain at sufficient levels and ensure a break, so that al Qaeda can't again threaten the U.S. homeland from Afghanistan.

PHOTO: Afghan Taliban militants and villagers attend a gathering as they celebrate the peace deal and their victory in the Afghan conflict on US in Afghanistan, in Alingar district of Laghman Province on March 2, 2020. (AFP via Getty Images, FILE)

McKenzie also condemned the Taliban's recent attacks on Afghan government forces, saying the levels of violence were "not consistent with the movement toward a negotiated settlement, and they are not consistent with the undertaking they made." An Afghan Interior Ministry spokesperson told ABC News Tuesday that the militant group launched 32 attacks in 15 provinces in the last 24 hours, killing seven people -- including two civilians, and wounding 28 others.

The deal, signed on Feb. 29 by chief U.S. negotiator Zalmay Khalilzad, requires the U.S. to draw down its approximately 13,000 troops to 8,600, and close its five major military bases by mid-July. In exchange, the Taliban agreed to enter peace negotiations with an Afghan national delegation and vowed to cut ties to terror groups, including al Qaeda, with which it has had a long relationship.

Story continues

MORE: US starts to withdraw troops from Afghanistan as peace negotiations face 1st delay

Explicitly, a full U.S. withdrawal is tied to the Taliban preventing "any group or individual, including al-Qaida, from using the soil of Afghanistan to threaten the security of the United States and its allies."

That means not giving them a safe haven on Afghan soil, legal status -- like asylum -- or travel documentation, such as visas or passports.

McKenzie seemed dour about the road ahead, saying if the number of violent Taliban attacks continue, "my advice would be to not continue that reduction" of U.S. troops.

PHOTO: Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the leader of the Taliban delegation, and Zalmay Khalilzad, U.S. envoy for peace in Afghanistan, shake hands after signing an agreement at a ceremony in Doha, Qatar, Feb. 29, 2020. (Ibrahem Alomari/Reuters, FILE)

But he maintained that the deal gives the U.S. that flexibility and "ample time" to ensure the Taliban follow through on its commitments.

"We don't need to trust them. We don't need to like them. We don't need to believe anything they say. We need to observe what they do," McKenzie said Tuesday.

Still, while the deal outlines that the Taliban must "instruct" its members "not to cooperate" with groups like al Qaeda, the Taliban did not outright repudiate the terrorist organization in the agreement -- and several lawmakers now have said that there is no mechanism in the deal to verify the Taliban commitment, even in the agreement's annexes that are classified.

MORE: In historic call, Trump speaks to Taliban leader amid concerns about deal with US

While the Taliban have read and agreed to those classified sections, the administration said they will not be released to the American public. Members of Congress, however, were able to read them in classified facilities on Capitol Hill starting last week.

After reading last Wednesday, Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyom., said, "My concerns remain," adding "The documents do not include in them the things that Secretary [of State Mike] Pompeo said they would," including enforcement mechanisms for the Taliban commitment to break with al Qaeda.

It was in response to what Pompeo had just two days earlier told Fox News in an interview, "Verification matters. We'll have the ability to see what they're doing."

Cheney added, "What we have seen with this agreement now concerns me as much as the Iranian nuclear deal did, now that I have seen the documents, now that there seems to be still no verification mechanism by which we are gonna enforce any of the so-called Taliban promises."

PHOTO: Secretary of State Mike Pompeo shakes hands with Taliban negotiator Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai during a signing ceremony in Doha, Qatar, Feb. 29, 2020. (U.S. Department of State)

Members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee received an additional classified briefing by the deputy U.S. negotiator Molly Phee, a career diplomat who previously served as the U.S. ambassador to South Sudan, and acting Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs Alice Wells, who led initial talks with the Taliban before Khalilzad took over.

But the briefing left some still dissatisfied. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., tweeted afterwards that he was "more concerned" that "Trump got fleeced."

MORE: Dispute over prisoners, deadly attacks in Afghanistan threaten US deal with Taliban

"The Taliban's security guarantees are so vague as to be effectively void. It's not clear how we will track whether they are indeed renouncing terrorist groups," he added.

Criticism of keeping the annexes classified has also grown. Pompeo recently told CBS News as "military implementation documents," it was important to keep them secret "to protect our soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines." However, Cheney and others have pointed out that they are available to the Taliban, which U.S. forces have battled for nearly two decades.

MORE: Afghan female mayor wants Trump admin to ensure Taliban talks protect women

"The administration is telling a terrorist group the conditions (such as they are) of our withdrawal from Afghanistan, but not telling the American people. This is wrong. And it serves no national security purpose," New Jersey Rep. Thomas Malinowski tweeted.

Still, at least one top lawmaker voiced support for the administration's approach. After meeting Pompeo on Monday, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said he had "complete confidence" in him, in particular praising his and Defense Secretary Mark Esper's "clear-eyed view" of the Taliban talks.

"Any deal regarding the future of Afghanistan will have a strong American homeland security component," he added.

ABC News' Aleem Agha contributed to this report.

Top US commander voices doubt about Taliban commitments, as skepticism in Congress grows originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Boeing plans to cash out a $US13.8 billion ($21.2 billion) loan meant to cover costs related to the grounding of the 737 Max passenger jet, a person familiar with the matter said on Wednesday, as recent market volatility creates new risks at a time when the company's business is already in a historically fragile state. And in an extraordinary step the company said it would put a hold on all new hires pending a "review of priorities and critical needs."

Boeing's 737 Max has been grounded for nearly a year. Credit:Bloomberg

The company's stock closed 18 per cent lower on the news. The cash-out decision was reported earlier by Bloomberg News and separately confirmed by the person familiar with the matter, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to discuss it publicly.

In a letter to employees Wednesday, Boeing's top managers said the company is taking steps to "preserve cash" and relieve pressure on its suppliers.

"We're also taking steps to address the pressures on our business that result from the pain our customers and suppliers are feeling," wrote chief executive Dave Calhoun and chief financial officer Greg Smith. "It's critical for any company to preserve cash in challenging periods. That's why we're implementing steps similar to what many companies are doing right now."
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TWITTER PAGE LINK FOUND TWITTER PAGE twitter.com/#!/semuwemba DESCRIPTION Founder of 'Ugandans At Heart'(UAH) & UMBS /Blogger ACCOUNT CREATED ON 07 Jan 2011 LOCATION United Kingdom TWEETS 327 FOLLOWERS 783 LISTED 18
MOHALI: The management of a government school for meritorious students in Sector 70, Mohali, has been booked after a 16-year-old student was found dead in the hostel under mysterious circumstances, police said on Wednesday.

The body of the boy, a medical stream student of Class 11, was found hanging from the shower in a bathroom of the school hostel on Tuesday, the police said.

There were injury marks on the neck and chin, station house officer, Mataur, Rajiv Kumar said, adding that the report of the three-member team constituted for the post-mortem is awaited.

The boy belonged to Morinda town, 25km from here, but stayed in the hostel.

A case was registered against the school management under Section 304-A (death due to negligence) of the Indian Penal Code.

The school is among the 10 meritorious schools set up from the 2014-15 session under the Society for Promotion of Quality Education for Poor & Meritorious Student of Punjab for students from government schools who score more than 80% in matriculation.

The schools are residential and affiliated to the Punjab School Education Board. They are for Classes 11 and 12 with the aim of placing deserving students into professional colleges at the all-India level. Apart from Mohali, other such schools are in Amritsar, Bathinda, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Talwara, Ghabdan, Ferozepur and Gurdaspur.
They are such ordinary people with such unremarkable dreams. And if Hilary Bettiss 72 Miles to Go is a quiet, conventional drama with a penchant for endearingly cornball humor, that suits the story of a family that wants more than anything to blend in, to live regular American lives. The plays poignancy lies in how mercilessly difficult that is, and how precarious for all of them.

Billy and Anita first met in the desert  he an Arizonan out with his church group, bringing water to migrants, she a Mexican fleeing danger with her little boy, Christian, who will grow up not knowing Spanish and having no idea that he isnt an American citizen like Eva and Aaron, the children Billy and Anita have together.

Directed by Jo Bonney at Roundabout Theater Companys Laura Pels Theater, 72 Miles is not about the recent crisis at the border, or not directly anyway. Unfolding from 2008 to the spring of 2016, it encompasses a time of cautious optimism for young people like Christian, who called this country home and hoped the Obama administrations Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals policy would allow them to stay.

In the character breakdown in the script, Bettis (Alligator) describes each family member other than Anita as either Chicana or Chicano  an American of Mexican descent. This play is about various ways of being American, with or without the documentation to prove it.

It is also about carrying a low-level fear inside you all the time, a worry that the authorities are coming for you, or your brother, or your mother. And about the pain of having to live without the physical presence of someone you need, someone who is 72 miles, one phone call and a world away.
To prevent infection of the novel coronavirus, 44 people have died from alcohol poisoning in the Khuzestan and Alborz in Iran.

This was over misguided efforts to ward off the new coronavirus by drinking bootleg alcohol. "Some of the citizens of Ahwaz had heard that drinking alcohol could help them fight the coronavirus, so they used it as a preventive measure," explained Ali Ehsanpour, spokesman of Ahwaz University of Medical Sciences.

The outbreak of the virus in the Islamic republic is one of the most alarming.

Drinking alcohol is prohibited in Iran for all people except for some non-Muslim religious minorities. This has been implemented since the establishment of the Islamic Republic government in 1979. Lethal cases of poisoning caused by bootleg liquor are regularly reported by local media.

The bootleg alcohol was made from methanol, which is found in antifreeze, solvent, and fuel, in a failed attempt to prevent contracting the coronavirus. Bleach was used to mask the color. The component makes it far more toxic than ethanol, the kind of alcohol safe to drink.

According to the Ahwaz University of Medical Sciences, 218 people were confirmed to have been hospitalized in the western province of Khuzestan.

Out of the surviving patients, one is reportedly now blind while others are in a critical condition.

8,042 have been diagnosed with the novel coronavirus in Iran and 291 were killed due to the virus, making it the hardest hit country in the Middle East.

According to Mohammad Aghayari, deputy prosecutor of the city of Karaj, meanwhile, there had been 7 fatalities from alcohol poisoning in the province of Alborz.

Also Read: Iran Holy-Shrine-Lickers Arrested Amid Coronavirus

Iran has the most deaths attributed to the coronavirus in the Middle East.

In Khuzestan, more people have died from alcohol poisoning than from the coronavirus, with more than 30 people who died from poisoning and 18 who have died from the virus.

The rumor also has made its rounds throughout Indian social media and was debunked by the World Health Organization (WHO). It was also alleged that spraying alcohol or chlorine can prevent the coronavirus from entering the body.

Alcohol is banned, so Iranians were using industrial alcohol sold in supermarkets as sanitizers.

Other rumors and unscientific treatments on how to fight the virus have been widespread on social media.

Iran is having trouble mitigating the spread of the virus with a shortage of sanitizers and preventive gear especially for the medical staff across the country. Both domestic mismanagement and international sanctions have affected the country's health system during the current outbreak.

The COVID-19 epidemic has hit all of 31 provinces in Iran.

The fatalities had drunk methanol after being "misled by content online, thinking they were fighting coronavirus and curing it," according to Aghayari.

Large quantities of methanol can lead to blindness, liver damage, and death.

Tito's Vodka was trending last week after warning users that vodka products cannot be used as hand sanitizers to protect themselves against the spread of coronavirus.

Related Article: Novel Coronavirus: How It Compares to SARS, MERS

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The oil price rout this week may be a chance for the industry to restructure and could ultimately be a positive for the market, a strategist said on Wednesday.

The oil markets tanked Monday, plunging over 20% following a disagreement on production cuts between OPEC and its allies. Russia declined to lower output last week, and Saudi Arabia announced Saturday that it will offer discounts to its official selling prices next month. The kingdom is also reportedly planning to raise production.

Benchmark international Brent crude oil futures were trading around $37 a barrel on Wednesday afternoon in Asia. Benchmark U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures were around $34 a barrel. Both grades were trading above $40 a barrel last week.

Despite the depressed prices, the response from Saudi Arabia and Russia is "long-term rational" for them, said Damien Courvalin, head of energy research at Goldman Sachs.

Low-cost producers like Saudi Arabia have been supporting prices for years through supply cuts  which in turn boosted higher-cost producers like shale companies in the U.S. and enabled even greater output from the shale producers.

The latest market developments will allow for the restructuring and rebalancing of supply to take place, Courvalin told CNBC, who expects oil prices to stay low  around $30 a barrel for Brent crude  for two quarters.

"This is more about a restructuring of supply  less activity by high-cost producers for low-cost producers to roll," said Courvalin.

And there will be a point at which there will be a "material change" in the landscape where overall production would fall due to low prices. A higher price for crude will then emerge as supply falls.

"A couple of quarters of $30 is of course, painful for those (major) producers," said Courvalin, as Saudi Arabia and Russia both sell below cost. But they will gain market share.

The transition period will eventually lead to a smaller fiscal deficit for Saudi Arabia, and higher net revenue in 2021 for both Saudi and Russia, he said.

"That transition delivers beneficial economic gains even a year from now, so I think that's the important part to focus on," said Courvalin. "Yes, there is a lower price. It has negative impact, much more so on those high-cost producers than those low-cost producers. But it is, for the long-term, an economic benefit ultimately," said Courvalin.

The industry restructuring will also benefit the U.S. marketplace in the long-term too, as shale production in the U.S. is more expensive than oil production in other countries. This will allow the shale sector to adjust in order to benefit shareholders and in turn the U.S. economy, he added.

There has been a lack of investor appetite in the shale sector "despite the significant production growth that we've seen at artificially supported prices," he said. "The sector really hasn't delivered economic growth and shareholder returns."
Sydney University academics have been told to plan how they would teach their courses remotely if campus is shut down, as interstate and overseas institutions close to stop the spread of coronavirus.

Lecturers who run face-to-face classes have been asked if they could deliver elements of their course online, or whether those lessons could be rescheduled. The university is also investigating remotely-supervised exams.

In an email seen by the Herald, academics have also been asked to provide a week-by-week explanation of which virtual lessons could be delivered through an online module that could be accessed anytime, and which could be run via video conferencing.

Sydney University has been asked to plan how it would teach remotely if its campus is shut down. Credit:Paul Jones

It comes as the academics' union pushed back against austerity measures announced by the university, saying workloads were making staff sick, and staff freezes could lead to thousands being out of work over the coming months as contracts expire.
OCEANA COUNTY, MI - The village of Shelby will no longer shut off water service to customers who have not paid their water bills amid growing concern about the spread of coronavirus, local officials announced Wednesday.

The news comes one day after Gov. Gretchen Whitmer declared a state of emergency across the state of Michigan following the states first confirmed cases of COVID-19, the novel coronavirus that has been deemed a global pandemic by the World Health Organization.

In order to encourage residents to wash their hands often, one of the key recommendations from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to slow the diseases spread, the village of Shelby will suspend all water shutoffs.

Knowing that we do water shutoffs, it doesnt make sense that we encourage people to wash their hands and at the same time shut off your water for nonpayment, Shelby Administrator Robert Widigan told MLive. We want to do whatever we can to suppress the spread of this.

The village is also restoring water service to any homes that have been shut off, Widigan said.

Water service has been restored to all residences in Detroit, where at least 3,000 homes have had water service shutdown this year.

In Shelby, people who do not pay their water bills will see a 10 percent fee added to their bill during each month of nonpayment, but no suspension of service. According to Widigan, that fee is the standard penalty for nonpayment of water bills.

Thats already in place in our policy, that if you dont pay by a certain time, theres a penalty, he said. Nothings changing for the policy, we just wont be physically shutting off water anymore.

The policy will be in effect until further notice, Widigan told MLive. Residents who remain unable to pay their bills after water shutoffs are resumed can be put on a payment plan, he said.

Widigan said about 10 to 20 households in the village are on the water shutoff list at any given time.

The CDC has recommended standard precautions against contagions, which include washing ones hands often with soap and warm water for 20 seconds.

The Detroit Coronavirus Water Restart Plan," announced Monday, will be in effect for as long as the outbreak, according to city officials. The state of Michigan will cover service costs for the first 30 days; after 30 days, Detroit residents will have to pay $25 per month to restore water service, no matter how much they owe.

On Tuesday evening, Gov. Whitmer declared a state of emergency, after two Michigan residents - a woman in Oakland County who had recently traveled internationally, and a man in Wayne County who had recently traveled domestically - were confirmed presumed positive for coronavirus.

Both people are of middle age, according to health officials, and in the hospital.

We are taking the identification of COVID-19 in our state very seriously, said Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, chief medical executive and chief deputy for health during an announcement of the first cases Tuesday night. We continue to urge Michiganders to take precautions to prevent the spread of this virus in our state.

In addition to regular hand-washing, people are encouraged to avoid touching their faces, to regularly wipe down surfaces and objects with disinfectant wipes, and to maintain distance from people who are sick.

Symptoms of the respiratory disease may appear in between two and 14 days, and include fever, coughing and shortness of breath. People who think they are exhibiting symptoms should stay home, except to receive medical care.

Older people and people with underlying medical conditions, such as heart or lung disease, are most at risk.

Michigan became the 38th state in the country to have a confirmed case. Earlier in the day, state officials said that 124 Michigan residents were being monitored for possible exposure, and were in self-quarantine.

As of Wednesday, all classes at Michigan State University have been transitioned to online-only instruction, and the state Legislature is voting on a $25 million crisis response package.

To date, 31 Americans have died of the disease.

Elsewhere around the globe, COVID-19 has infected some 120,000 people, and killed more than 4,300.

Read more on MLive:

Coronavirus Q&A, 15 things to know about COVID-19s spread

Michigan State moving to online classes starting today because of potential coronavirus case

Michigan officials set to approve $25 million in spending for response to coronavirus threat

Gov. Whitmer declares state of emergency as first coronavirus cases confirmed in Michigan

8 things to know about coronavirus now that its in Michigan

Michigan Joint Information Center activated to support states coronavirus response
Intelligence Community officials told lawmakers in closed-door briefings that Russia is not actively interfering in U.S. elections on behalf of a particular candidate, the New York Times reported Tuesday.

The [Intelligence Community] has not concluded that the Kremlin is directly aiding any candidates re-election or any other candidates election, read an unclassified report given to the lawmakers. Nor have we concluded that the Russians will definitely choose to try to do so in 2020.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D., Ca.) pushed back against that conclusion in the first of two briefings by intelligence officials, saying their assessment differed from a classified hearing in February. After the February hearing, given by top election security official Shelby Pierson, Democrats reported that intelligence officials had concluded Russia was attempting to boost President Trump in the U.S. elections.

However, other intelligence officials subsequently told media outlets that Pierson had exaggerated the extent of their findings in the hearing, and Democrats leaked that interpretation to the media.

Two intelligence officials defended the conclusions of the March briefings, saying agencies had based their conclusions on concrete facts separate from political considerations, the Times noted. The officials giving the briefings took care to emphasize the lack of direct evidence that Russia was attempting to boost any particular candidate.

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Joe Biden added two more states to his win column on Tuesday night: Missouri and Mississippi.

According to the New York Times, the former vice president is projected to carry both states when all the votes are counted.

The fact that the two races were called immediately upon the polls closings in those states means the margin isnt even close. Its also a continuation of a trend we saw last week when Biden beat Bernie Sanders by monster margins in places like Virginia, North Carolina and Alabama.

Biden wins Missouri and Mississippi, according to projections based on exit polls. Hes ahead by more than 20 in Missouri and nearly 60 in Mississippi https://t.co/TXfcbqYXW6  Nate Cohn (@Nate_Cohn) March 11, 2020



Biden overtook Sanders in the all-important delegate race following Super Tuesday and has carried that lead into today, where its likely to continue to expand as he wins more contests.

While the Sanders campaign will point to the raw delegate number as evidence that the race is still close between the two candidates, even small leads are hard to overcome. For Sanders, its only going to get harder as Biden continues to win.

When all the delegates are allocated from tonights contests, it may be time for Bernie Sanders to reassess his candidacy and determine whether its in the best interest of the Democratic Party and the country to extend this bruising primary campaign any further, particularly since he knows it wont likely change the outcome in his favor.

Biden is winning everywhere, not just the south

As Super Tuesday showed, Joe Biden isnt a regional candidate winning only southern states because of strong support from the African American community. His victory in South Carolina was resounding, but his Super Tuesday wins showed that it was no fluke.

The former vice president is winning diverse states all across the country, from Minnesota in the midwest, to Massachusetts and Maine in the northeast, to Texas in the deep south.

Bidens big victories in Missouri and Mississippi only bolster his campaigns argument that he can be competitive and turn out voters anywhere on the map.

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A 45-year-old man tested positive



for novel coronavirus infection in Nagpur on Wednesday, officials said.

The man had returned to the city from the US on March 6, they said.

"He tested positive for coronavirus on Wednesday. He has been admitted to the city-based India Gandhi Government Medical College and Hospital (IGGMCH)," district collector Ravindra Thakare told PTI.

An official of the IGGMCH said that the man underwent tests at the hospital, which confirmed the infection.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
200 Georgians will be delivered today from Italy by flight Rome-Tbilisi - GeorgianJournal
A big story of the Democratic primaries is the rise of the so-called pragmatic black voters who revived former Vice President Joe Biden's flagging presidential campaign.

But there's a flip side to this story that no one is paying attention to:

What happened to all those radical black voters who should be rallying to Sen. Bernie Sanders' side?

Not many seem to know it, but there is a long and vibrant tradition of socialism and radical political leadership in the black community. Many of black America's most beloved and respected leaders were socialists.

The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was a socialist, according to many historians. W.E.B. DuBois was a socialist, and so were civil rights leaders A. Philip Randolph and Bayard Rustin. The most prominent black philosopher today, Cornel West, is a socialist and Sanders' supporter. Hip-hop artists, such as rapper "Killer Mike" and Chuck D of Public Enemy, are also big Sanders supporters.

There is arguably no group in America that should be more suspicious of unfettered capitalism than blacks. Slavery, for example, was driven as much by greed as racism. And blacks lost half of their wealth due to the 2008 economic collapse.

"You can't have capitalism without racism," Malcolm X once said.

So as he seeks to blunt Biden's momentum in Tuesday's primaries, why hasn't Sanders been able to tap more into this black radical tradition? And why don't more people know about it?

When every cool black leader seemed to be a socialist

African Americans used to hear socialist jargon all the time.

But "people aren't used to hearing it anymore," says Solomon Russell, a spokesman for a national group called the Black Socialists in America, when asked why Sanders' emphasis on class and race hasn't drawn more black support.

"If you go back to what was being talked about in the black power movement and the civil rights movement in the '60s, it's not dissimilar at all to what was being said."

Among black people, socialism was once fashionable.

Stokely Carmichael, the civil rights activist who coined the term "black power," changed his name to Kwame Ture in honor of two African socialists leaders.

The founders of the Black Panther Party -- best remembered for their berets, leather jackets and guns -- were inspired by socialism and Marxism as much as they were by the right to carry weapons.

It was not uncommon to hear black leaders talk about "working class solidarity," the "oppressed masses" and "revolution."

"Every major progressive social movement in this country has had a lot of socialists in it," the historian Michael Kazin recently said in a New Yorker interview.

Even the Communist Party, vilified by many Americans, was viewed with sympathy in parts of the black community.

During the Jim Crow era, blacks such as Richard Wright, acclaimed author of "Native Son," joined the Communist Party in part because it had a reputation for speaking up for racial justice when America's two major political parties were largely silent.

It was the American Communist Party, for example, that helped lead the defense of the Scottsboro Boys, a group of nine young black men who were falsely accused in 1931 of rape by two white women and all but one were sentenced to death by all-white jurors.

How Sanders defines his socialism

"Socialism isn't a dirty word to African Americans," says Jerald Podair, an author and history professor at Lawrence University in Wisconsin. "I'm not saying that all African Americans are socialists, but ... they're not going to have this 'I smell something bad' reaction to the word."

A recent poll backs Podair up. Almost two thirds  65 percent  of African Americans have positive impressions of the term socialism, compared to 35 percent of whites, according to the Pew Research Center.

Socialism is, however, still a misunderstood word. That may be part of Sanders' challenge.

What does it mean? It often depends on your point of view.

Sanders calls himself a "democratic socialist." In a speech last year, he defined what it means to him. Just as the Bill of Rights guarantees people political rights, every person should have basic economic rights: quality health care, a good education, a good job with a living wage and a clean environment, he said.

Democratic Socialists point to examples such as Canada's national health care system, France's nationwide childcare program and the wide-ranging welfare state in Sweden as models of democratic socialism.

"We must recognize that in the 21st century, in the wealthiest country in the history of the world, economic rights are human rights," Sanders said at the time. "That is what I mean by democratic socialism."

Sanders and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Sanders has tried to blend calls for both economic and racial justice.

His campaign website is filled with calls to treat "structural racism" and eliminate mass incarceration. He's talked about being arrested for resisting segregation, and he invoked King in one of his most recent speeches when he said:

"When Trump attacks socialism, I am reminded of what Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said: 'This country has socialism for the rich, rugged individualism for the poor.' ''

Sanders' invocation of King is a shrewd move. There is arguably no more revered leader in the black community.

Yet many still do not know King is widely considered a Democratic Socialist. Given the political realities of his time, King could not have publicly admitted that he was a Democratic Socialist. His enemies frequently called him a communist and the FBI targeted King with harassment and a lengthy smear campaign.

But King often talked like a socialist. In a speech he gave one year before he died, King said the civil rights movement must address "restructuring the whole of American society," and ask questions "about a broader distribution of wealth."

"You see, my friends, when you deal with this, you begin to ask the question, 'Who owns the oil?' You begin to ask the question, 'Who owns the iron ore?' You begin to ask the question, 'Why is that people have to pay water bills in a world that is two-thirds water?' ''

When King traveled to Norway in 1964 to receive his Nobel Peace Prize, he talked with open admiration about the economic systems in that country and in neighboring Sweden.

King was even drawn to socialism as a young man.

In a letter to his then-future wife, Coretta Scott, a 20-something King wrote:

"I imagine you already know that I am much more socialistic in my economic theory than capitalistic. And yet I am not so opposed to capitalism that I have failed to see its relative merits... So today capitalism has outlived its usefulness. It has brought about a system that takes necessities from the masses to give luxuries to the classes."

King's last project is one of the best examples of his socialist beliefs. His "Poor People's Campaign" proclaimed goals that are now associated with Democratic Socialism: a guaranteed national income, universal health care and a federal jobs program.

"Had he lived, at some point King would have said, 'I am an African American socialist,' " says Podair, the historian.

So what happened to the radical black tradition?

Why don't more people today hear about this radical tradition in the black community? It's been obscured by a constant focus on "pragmatic" black voters in the Democratic primaries.

Russell, the spokesman for the Black Socialists in America, cites another reason: The grim historical lessons many blacks draw from any attempts at radical political change.

Many of the black community's most radical leaders were either assassinated or their organizations destroyed by the FBI's counter-intelligence program, he says. The rise of conservativism in the years following the civil rights movement also cooled the revolutionary fervor in the black community, he says.

"The arresting and jailing and murder of black organizers and leaders was seen as a lesson not to go that path again," Russell says.

History makes another lesson clear for many black voters: Lasting radical change often comes disguised in a series of smaller steps, another historian says.

"Even when slavery was abolished, it was incremental -- it began with the Emancipation Proclamation, and led up to the 13th Amendment," says Ravi Perry, chair of the political science department at Howard University in Washington. "Same thing with civil rights. We didn't just have one huge sweeping bill that changed everything. First we focused on public transportation, then voting rights, then fair housing. There were incremental steps."

Radicalism doesn't mean much if you lose

Black voters flocking to Biden also realize something else, Perry says:

"You can't do anything until you win first. Many who did not vote in 2016 or stayed home or voted for (Green Party nominee) Jill Stein, I think many of them learned their lessons."

Sanders must address these challenges if he is going to fare better with black voters in Michigan, Mississippi and the four other states holding primaries or caucuses Tuesday.

One way to describe the roadblock he faces in the black community is to recount an anecdote from the life of Carmichael, the civil rights activist who despised capitalism.

Carmichael was so committed to radical change that he'd answer each phone call with the same greeting: "Ready for the revolution." He was literally still talking about revolution on his death bed, at 57 from prostate cancer.

Sanders' weakness with African American voters does not mean the black community isn't ready for a revolution in the Trump era. But blacks' collective attitude in 2020 may best be described as this:

First, we need someone to beat Trump. Then we'll talk about the revolution.
Nearly 100 cruise ship passengers arrived Tuesday night for quarantine at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, and a second planeload was expected, possibly bringing the total to as many as 380 evacuees  a number far larger than state and local officials initially expected.

Besides the influx of another wave of evacuees, Lackland is about to undergo another jolt: The Air Force is suspending family gatherings at its weekly basic military graduation exercises until further notice to lower the risk of coronavirus transmission.
Passengers waiting to disembark from a coronavirus-hit cruise ship in California faced frustrating delays Tuesday, despite US President Donald Trump saying the operation was going "incredibly well." The Grand Princess arrived at a sealed-off wharf at the port of Oakland in San Francisco Bay on Monday after days stranded at sea with 21 confirmed infections on board. California Governor Gavin Newsom admitted the start of the operation had been slow, with just 676 people taken ashore by early Tuesday afternoon from roughly 2,400 passengers. "We're going to need to see an increase in those processing in order to turn this ship around," he told a news conference. "We don't want to see it here for more than a week." Trump earlier told a White House meeting that the "big ship that came in yesterday" was "going along incredibly well." Health Secretary Alex Azar said it was "a very complex operation" but "progressing well," with all Californian residents expected to leave the ship Tuesday. Two people infected with the virus were among those immediately taken for medical care in ambulances, overseen by emergency workers equipped with gowns, gloves, respirators and face shields. After an overnight pause, more masked passengers were escorted in small groups from the Grand Princess to ambulances and waiting buses Tuesday. "The captain said they hope to have us all off by tomorrow night," passenger Carolyn Wright, a 63-year-old from New Mexico, told AFP. "We are getting really frustrated that they still have not told us where our ultimate destination will be," she added. Princess Cruises, the operator, said the evacuation would be a "multiple day process." - 'Isolate' - US residents leaving the ship were to be quarantined for 14 days at military bases in California, Texas and Georgia. But doubts emerged after Nevada unveiled its own plan to bring all 49 of its passengers -- who do not have symptoms -- directly to the state for quarantine at their homes. "We have received confirmation from the federal government accepting all the conditions" of the plan, the Nevada governor's office said in a statement. Passengers who were taken to hospital but found to be stable will be quarantined in hotels and motels throughout California, Newsom said. Foreign passengers were being flown to their home countries. Canadian Foreign Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne said 228 Canadians were repatriated and would be quarantined for two weeks after landing at the Trenton air force base. The 19 crew members who tested positive for coronavirus did not have symptoms and remained on the ship Tuesday, in isolation in their cabins, Princess Cruises said. Newsom said the original plan to quarantine all crew on the ship once it leaves Oakland was being reconsidered. Some members of the crew -- which is disproportionately Filipino -- could instead be repatriated, he said. A Florida couple travelling on the Grand Princess filed a $1 million lawsuit against the ship's operator alleging negligence. Princess Cruises had "exposed plaintiffs to actual risk of immediate physical injury," a copy of the complaint filed at a Los Angeles court Monday said. Newsom said it was now "incumbent upon seniors and those with any medical conditions, not to go on cruise ships, and to begin to socially isolate themselves from larger crowds." Some 28 people have died of the coronavirus in the US, with almost 1,000 cases reported according to a Johns Hopkins University tally.
Dr. Brenda Weis, MSPH, PhD, Administrator, Office of Public Health, right, updates on new Coronavirus cases, during a press conference at the Montgomery County Emergency Operation Center.in Eagleville, PA on Tuesday. Read more

Imagine refusing to buy homeowners insurance because youd rather not spend the money. Then your roof rips off in the middle of a hurricane. Then, it rains for another five weeks straight.

This is the coronavirus situation in Delaware County, where decades of Republican control prior to historic elections in November have left Delco as possibly the most populous county in the United States without its own health department and now, quite urgently, as coronavirus has emerged in suburban Philadelphia, with no local control over suspected cases as they emerge.

Every other nearby county and city together have scores of dedicated professional staff working cases as they arise. Delco, however, does not. It is at the mercy of the state Department of Health, whose staff in an emergency operations center two hours away in Harrisburg are running response and investigations of reported cases in the county of more than a half million people.

Republicans who controlled this county for over a century are to blame. They repeatedly resisted calls to create a health department. Democrats who won in November said coronavirus hit before they could fix what Republicans had effectively broken.

What we have: A potentially dangerous situation as the trajectory of infection by this fast-spreading virus remains unclear but is rising with each day.

The state is not just responsible for helping Delco. It must assist the other counties in Pennsylvania without departments if and when cases emerge there  less developed counties that, like Delco, also chose to subsist off the state balance sheet instead of paying to protect their own people.

One question I heard repeatedly from people close to the situation: What will happen to Delco coronavirus cases if and when cases pop up in many more counties?

The problem is with something like a coronavirus, which is a complicated response, the Pennsylvania Department of Health is severely underfunded and understaffed. They will be doing similar responses in all of the [other] counties without county health departments in Pennsylvania and their resources will be very stretched, said Rosemarie Halt, who heads a public health committee with the county League of Women Voters, which has pressed for a Delaware County health department for years.

So far, the most frustrating thing locally has been the states refusal to share anything but bare-bones information about the single known case so far of COVID-19 in Delaware County.

Delaware County is so densely populated. Were right on top of each other, said State Sen. Tim Kearney, a Democrat who two years ago won the seat held by Republican Tom McGarrigle. So its frustrating when theres no mechanism in place for this kind of information.

 READ MORE: Pennsylvania isnt releasing details on coronavirus cases because of a decades-old law

The state is releasing only the information required under the law. Meanwhile, all its epidemiologists continue handling things out of an operations center in the capital city.

Our infectious disease specialists are here in Harrisburg, said Health Department spokesperson Nate Wardle. Theres no need to have our state epidemiological team out of the counties.

This is little comfort in Delco considering how things are being handled right next door in Montgomery County, where a Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia cardiologist working out of a King of Prussia medical building has emerged as a possible source of coronavirus contagion.

 READ MORE: CHOP cardiologist positive for coronavirus saw about 24 patients in week before hospitalization

In Montgomery County, a former National Institutes of Health employee runs a sprawling Office of Public Health. Its a big department, and in recent days its staff have been chasing down and then disclosing to the public detailed information about an escalating number of confirmed cases. Even its food-safety licensing agents have been visiting grocers and restaurants to urge preventive deep cleanings if they believed someone there may have had contact with a coronavirus-exposed person.

Montgomery County has about 100 staffers on the ground  80 of them Health Department workers -- now deployed to coronavirus. Theyre performing investigations and reaching out to businesses where presumptively infected people may have gone, OPH administrator Brenda Weis told me Tuesday.

"Were in an all-hands-on-deck mode, Weis said. 

None of this is happening in Delaware County, where Weis, incidentally, said she had been working with officials in recent months to help get a health department off the ground.

The frustration in Delaware County is evident.

A few days ago, one Republican and one Democratic state senator asked state Health Secretary Rachel Levine to release more than the exceptionally scant information her office has issued about the reports from Delco.

Were the largest county by population that doesnt have a health department in the entire country, said newly elected Democrat Monica Taylor, vice chair of the Delaware County Council.

What that means: If someone believes they contracted coronavirus, county officials are prohibited from handling it. They cant initiate testing or even call anyone who may have contacted that person.

As it is right now, Taylor told me, we dont have the jurisdiction to do the contact tracing. Were just not allowed to."

Weve been trying to be very proactive with this because of the fact when we came into office we didnt have a health department," Taylor added. "Thats why we started immediately with the process of trying to create one. But it takes 18 to 24 months.

Fiscal conservatives love to preach about personal responsibility. Funny how, in Delco, we see that meant shirking the responsibility to fully protect the public welfare. Lets hope things do not get worse before they get better.
TORREMOLINOS, SpainA and MALAGA, Spain, March 10, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --A Peter Morrison, President, Skal International, the world's largest organization of tourism industry leaders from all sectors, announced today several steps to assist Skal's membership with the coronavirus epidemic by keeping them informed on developments which are shareable with their global customer base. "First of all," said Morrison, "Skal stands in solidarity with the victims of the coronavirus.A Any loss of life is tragic and any illness, even if cured later, brings disruption and anxiety.A We are following closely all of the cases of quarantining people, whether it be shutting down a city like Wuhan or keeping passengers on a cruise ship." "In terms of the travel industry, Skal International is monitoring all of the developments and evaluating the impact that fear of the coronavirus is having on travel.A We know that airline reservations are falling, hotel occupancy is down, some attractions like the Louvre Museum in Paris have closed temporarily, and cruise ships are seeing decreased sales.A Skal is working with the United Nations World Tourism Organization and following reports from the World Travel and Tourism Council to help keep our members better informed." As of March 10, coronavirus cases have exceeded 100,000 with over 4000 deaths.A Almost 60% of these cases have recovered with 86% of the remaining cases in mild condition and 14% in serious or critical condition.A Currently, nearly 80% of the cases are in China with only South Korea, Italy, and Iran having more than 5000 cases each.A Several other countries have a thousand or less cases. "Skal embraces the recommendations of the UNWTO and the WTTC," says Morrison.A "They recommend responsible travel.A Gloria Guevara, President and CEO of the WTTC and former Tourism Minister of Mexico, made this statement, 'One death is one too many from any virus but now is not the time to panic.A We understand there is a huge concern about COVID-19.A However, it's important to remember that fatality rates remain very low and the chances of contracting the virus for the vast majority of people are very remote if they travel responsibly and observe simple hygiene measures.'A Skal endorses this statement." Morrison announced that Skal International will begin posting relevant statements from the UNWTO, WTTC, and other internationally recognized industry sources on its website www.skal.org.A In addition, Skal will provide updates on key airline route modifications, key attractions closures, changes in major industry events, and other important developments. "Skal is going to play a supportive role in this challenge and work hard to keep our members informed," concludes Morrison.A "By standing together, both the travelling public and the tourism industry will emerge in a healthy situation in the coming months." Contact

Skal International General Secretariat:

Avda. Palma de Mallorca, NA 15 a 1A

Edificio EspaAa 29620

Torremolinos a MAlaga, SPAIN

Phone: +34 952 389 111

Email: skal@skal.orgA

Website: www.skal.orgA Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1122360/Skal_International_Logo.jpg
New Delhi, March 11 : Participating in a discussion on Delhi riots in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, Trinamool Congress MP Sougata Roy termed Bharatiya Janata Party leader Meenakshi Lekhi "Devil's advocate" when she tried to defend BJP's Kapila Mishra over his "hate" speech.

"Lekhi's speech can be termed as hate speech. She is a Devil's advocate," Roy said.

Echoing Mamata Banerjee, he said Delhi riots were a "planned genocide" and listed the sequence of events, which, he claimed, had led to riots in northeast Delhi on February 23. It turned deadly on February 24 and February 25.

Roy said first students were attacked. Later, BJP leaders made provocative statements, women agitators in Shaheen Bagh were abused, BJP's Anurag Thakur raised "Goli maro" slogan, the Home Minister spoke about "current in Shaheen Bagh", Mishra issued an ultimatum, and the riots started.

He said Home Minister Amit Shah was at the Motera Stadium welcoming US President Donald Trump when five people were killed in Delhi. The first meeting between the Home Minister and the Delhi Chief Minister took place the next day, not on the day riots begun, he added.

The MP from Dum Dum in West Bengal asked why was National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval looking after the law and order situation in Delhi. "Doval should have been in Kashmir," he said.

Reminding the House of the Naroda Patiya massacre on February 28, 2002, Roy said, "We haven't forgotten Naroda Patiya. I feel bad standing face to face with Shah. You are still young. Unless you acknowledge failure and seek remedy, you will remain the man who couldn't control riots barely 10 km from your home." In connection with the four-day Delhi riots, 254 FIRs have been registered and over 900 people arrested or detained. It claimed 53 lives in areas like Jafrabad, Chand Bagh, Kardampuri, Shiv Vihar and Brijpuri and Karawal Nagar in northeast Delhi.

Among over 350 injured, 87 received gunshots, between February 24 and February 25. As many as 79 houses, 52 shops, five godowns, four religious places, three factories and two schools were set ablaze during the riots, as per the Delhi Police record.
Sometimes, as the lawyers say, res ipsa loquitur, meaning the thing speaks for itself. I believe these three excepts, both individually and in juxtaposition, say a great deal about the war against coronavirus.

From Jason Van Schoor, flagged in Links yesterday:

First, Lumbardy is the most developed region in Italy and it has a extraordinary good healthcare 3/ The current situation is difficult to imagine and numbers do not explain things at all. Our hospitals are overwhelmed by Covid-19, they are running 200% capacity 4/ Weve stopped all routine, all ORs have been converted to ITUs and they are now diverting or not treating all other emergencies like trauma or strokes. There are hundreds of pts with severe resp failure and many of them do not have access to anything above a reservoir mask. 5/ Patients above 65 or younger with comorbidities are not even assessed by ITU, I am not saying not tubed, Im saying not assessed and no ITU staff attends when they arrest. Staff are working as much as they can but they are starting to get sick and are emotionally overwhelmed. 6/ My friends call me in tears because they see people dying in front of them and they con only offer some oxygen. Ortho and pathologists are being given a leaflet and sent to see patients on NIV. PLEASE STOP, READ THIS AGAIN AND THINK. 7/ We have seen the same pattern in different areas a week apart, and there is no reason that in a few weeks it wont be the same everywhere, this is the pattern: 8/ 1)A few positive cases, first mild measures, people are told to avoid ED but still hang out in groups, everyone says not to panick

2)Some moderate resp failures and a few severe ones that need tube, but regular access to ED is significantly reduced so everything looks great 9/ 3)Tons of patients with moderate resp failure, that overtime deteriorate to saturate ICUs first, then NIVs, then CPAP hoods, then even O2. 4)Staff gets sick so it gets difficult to cover for shifts, mortality spikes also from all other causes that cant be treated properly.

By e-mail, from National Nurses United:

Registered nurses are outraged to learn that the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) on Tuesday further weakened its guidance on measures to contain COVID-19. These changes include, among other things, rolling back personal protective equipment (PPE) standards from N-95 respirators to allow simple surgical masks; not requiring suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patients to be placed in negative pressure isolation rooms at all times; and weakening protections for health care workers collecting diagnostic respiratory specimens. These are moves that National Nurses United nurses say will gravely endanger nurses, health care workers, patients, and our communities If nurses and health care workers arent protected, that means patients and the public are not protected, said Bonnie Castillo, RN and CNA/NNOC and NNU executive director. This is a major public health crisis of unknown proportions. Now is not the time to be weakening our standards and protections, or cutting corners. Now is the time we should be stepping up our efforts... In addition to lobbying almost every federal health agency, the presidential administration, and members of Congress, and California health agencies to step up protections, NNU recently surveyed RNs nationwide, finding that the vast majority of the nations health care facilities are unprepared for COVID-19, with only 29 percent of nurses reporting that their hospitals have a plan in place to isolate a coronavirus patient, and only 30 percent saying their employer has enough personal protective equipment if there is a rapid surge in patients with possible COVID-19 infections. Many hospitals and healthcare facilities have failed to provide adequate personal protective equipment to nurses working with COVID-19 patients. Some facilities are telling nurses to continue to work while asymptomatic, even though theyve been exposed to the virus and might be contagious. Testing at hospitals has been sporadic.

From David Wang, a technology expert at a global macro research firm based in Hong Kong and Beijing, from his personal blog at Covid Observations from Beijing, March 11 (I encourage you to read the entire piece):
Almost 300 Victorian businesses and organisations  including one of Australias largest property developers, Mirvac  are urging the Andrews government to set an emissions target for the next crucial decade in step with the global push to keep warming to less than 1.5 degrees.

In an open letter, published in The Age today and organised by Environment Victoria, the coalition call on the state government to take heed of the unprecedented bushfires and the warming climate.

Bushfires in East Gippsland.

Without urgent action to reduce the pollution overheating our planet, we are on track for temperatures ... beyond our ability to cope, the open letter says. By doing whats right in this moment of crisis you can send a clear signal to other states and countries.

Some of the 285 signatories on the open letter include Mirvac, Powershop, Future Super, Keep Cup, Plan International, World Vision and local Victorian councils.
Actor Varun Dhawan made a special appearance in the selfie video of a photographer, wishing everyone a very happy Holi. Pandey ke sabhi saathiyon, sabhi doston, sab ko bohot bohot happy Holi wish karna chahta hoon (I want to wish Pandeys friends a very happy Holi), he says in the clip, before he is requested to give a special shout-out to the paparazzos gaon (village) Nepal.

Nepal desh hai, gaon nahi (Nepal is a country, not a village), Varun corrects him, before extending warm wishes to the citizens of Nepal. The video is being widely shared on social media by several fan clubs of the actor.

Varun will be seen next on the big screen in his father David Dhawans Coolie No 1 reboot, opposite Sara Ali Khan. While he will step into Govindas shoes in the remake of the 1995 blockbuster, she will essay the role originally played by Karisma Kapoor.

Coolie No 1, which also features Shikha Talsania, Paresh Rawal and Jaaved Jaaferi in key roles, is scheduled to release on May 1.

After Coolie No 1, Varun was supposed to begin shooting for Shashank Khaitans comedy thriller titled Mr Lele. However, the filmmaker took to Twitter last week to announce that the film has been shelved due to date issues.

Also read: Ahmed Khan defends Baaghi 3s illogical action, wonders why Indians applaud Fast & Furious films

Hi guys, here is an update on Mr Lele. Karan, Varun and I have mutually decided to postpone the shooting of the film. Its a script we all love and Im sure will revisit soon. But scheduling the film was turning out to be very tough, as the film has a solid ensemble cast and the dates were just not falling into place. Im very sure Varun and I will collaborate soon, either on Mr Lele itself or on something new, as collaborating with him has always been the most joyful and fulfilling experience in my life, he wrote in a statement shared on Twitter.

Follow @htshowbiz for more
Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor poses in the official group photo at the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington on Nov. 30, 2018. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images)

Justice Sotomayor Recuses Herself From Case on Electoral College Electors

Justice Sonia Sotomayor has recused herself from one of the faithless electors cases pending before the Supreme Court because of her friendship with one of the parties involved in the lawsuit.

The clerk of the court informed the parties in a letter on Tuesday that Sotomayor would not participate in the case that will decide the enforceability of Colorado laws that threaten to penalize a presidential elector if they refused to vote for the candidate they pledged to support, commonly referred to as faithless electors. The case is cited as the Colorado Department of State v. Michael Baca, et al.

The Justice believes that her impartiality might reasonably be questioned due to her friendship with respondent Polly Baca, the clerk, Scott Harris, wrote in the letter (pdf). The initial conflict check conducted in Justice Sotomayors chambers did not identify this potential conflict.

Harris added that Sotomayor will still participate in a similar case from Washington state, cited Chiafalo v. Washington. The two cases, which were initially consolidated, will be heard separately.

Polly Baca, a former Democratic Colorado legislator, is one of the respondents in the Colorado case who sued the state to block the enforcement of its law that direct how electors perform their duties and impose consequences when they fail to do so.

Baca and Sotomayors relationship has been previously reported by local media. The Denver Post reported in 2009 that Baca was Sotomayors front-row guest at her confirmation hearing. After the confirmation hearing, Baca also called Sotomayor to congratulate her.

Were all excited about your nomination and confirmation, Baca said in the call, reported the Post at the time. We wanted you to know how proud and honored we are.

Polly, you know how much I love you, and how much I love your senators, who both voted for me, Sotomayor replied.

The Supreme Court agreed to review the two cases in January and oral arguments for the case is scheduled for April 28. The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in August last year that Electoral College members in the Colorado case are free to vote for the presidential candidate they prefer and cant be bound by the popular vote in their respective states. This prompted the state to appeal to the Supreme Court.

When an elector does not vote for a candidate who was chosen by the popular vote, some states provide that the deviant vote be canceled, and the elector replaced, according to FairVote.org.

Meanwhile, some states allow the vote to stay but would impose a penalty on the elector. Some states also allow both the canceling of the vote and a penalty.

Both Washington and Colorado have laws that direct how electors perform their duties and enforce consequences for casting a vote that deviates from the will of the people.
Dan Tsao at EMei restaurant, at Ninth and Arch in Chinatown. Business has been down 40 percent since coronavirus started spreading in the U.S. Read more

Around midday on Wednesday afternoon, Reading Terminal Market was bustling. The aisles were perhaps a little less choked, but customers still snaked around the corners of the Rib Stand and Little Thai Market, and diners waited for seats at Shanghai Gourmets counter.

A few blocks east on Arch Street, the scene inside EMei restaurant was quieter. A handful of diners were scattered around the sleek Chinatown dining room. A regular came in to pick up his lunch. See you next week, he said reassuringly as he left.

According to EMei owner Dan Tsao, business has been down significantly since coronavirus cases unrelated to foreign travel were confirmed in the U.S. late last month. That decline followed other economic blows that have stemmed from coronavirus coverage both here and abroad. And further news that two major medical conferences scheduled at the Convention Center this month were canceled did not bode well for the area, Tsao said.

It started with Chinese New Year, the weekend of Jan. 25. As festivities were canceled in Beijing and Hong Kong, EMei received several abrupt cancellations as well, including two large parties that had booked private rooms for their New Years banquets. Tsao estimates the cancellations  which tallied up to about 75 people  accounted for a loss of about $3,000 that weekend.

We still did fine, because [that] Saturday and Sunday, we were still packed. People walk in and fill the space.

After New Years, however, EMeis business dipped as news reports from China grew increasingly worrying. But the pace began picking up again. Two weeks ago, we thought we were relieved, you know? That its picking up. Spring is coming, Tsao said.

Then, news broke that there were confirmed cases in New York and Washington state. Business dropped by 40%, he said. Hes avoided cutting shifts or salaries  as a business owner, you have to provide stability, he said  but the slowdown has resulted in fewer tips for his waitstaff. One waitress recently quit, probably for that reason, he said.

According to Tsao, part of the problem is EMeis customer base. Because the Szechuan restaurants cuisine (among Inquirer critic Craig LaBans favorites) is so spicy, it resonates strongly with the areas Chinese population and international students, but less so with American diners . Concerned relatives are urging their loved ones to stay inside, Tsao said.

Especially young professionals, the kids at school  they have parents. Their parents are really nervous. [They] say, Hey, dont go out tonight. Stay home.

He spoke from experience: His father and sister in China message him on WeChat, pleading him to stay home. His mother, who moved last year to live with him and his family in Bryn Mawr, discourages Tsao and his wife from taking their kids out to eat.

Every time, my mom says, Dont go! Dont go! he said. "I say, Mom, if everybody has your opinion, how can our restaurant survive?

So were still going out, maybe even two times a week.

Tsao found some encouragement this week, when 30-plus employees from Visit Philadelphia came in for lunch, filling up the dining room.

They came all the way from 17th Street. They paid for the whole meal and they leave a $100 tip for every waiter.  I said, You dont have to do that.' I said, Your presence  your gesture coming over here  is already much appreciated. But they insist.

That is the true brotherly love of Philadelphia, Tsao said.
PRINCETON, N.J., March 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Differentiating itself by presenting unique and innovative global emergency assistance solutions to the group benefit insurance industry, Assist America, Inc. is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year.

Established in 1990 in Princeton, New Jersey, Assist America has remained a privately-owned company while successfully becoming a global player in the assistance industry with foreign offices and Operations Centers strategically located in:

Beijing, China

Hyderabad and Mumbai, India

and Bangkok, Thailand

Manila, Philippines

Beirut, Lebanon

Queretaro, Mexico

Today, Assist America partners with more than 110 leading insurance companies around the world to provide reliable global emergency assistance to their 40 million members.

"I suppose you'd have to have been there thirty years ago. We wanted people who were believers, people who thought they could make impossible things happen" shares George Howard, Founder and Owner of Assist America. "We imagined Assist America one day being a sort of mini-United Nations, with many nationalities and languages working together in harmony. We made some bold decisions and did things a lot of people thought would never work. But here we are, thirty years later, right where we dreamed of being."

In a world in which the average life span of companies is diminishing, Assist America has succeeded in establishing itself as a stable and leading provider of travel assistance solutions by focusing on the employee benefit and group insurance market; a disruptive and innovative business strategy that has withstood the test of three decades. Assist America is also known for being a true business partner to the world's leading insurance companies. Assist America attributes its success to providing comprehensive services designed to address basic travel inconveniences to serious accidents and their impact on individuals and families.

"This a great time to be in the assistance business as global business and leisure travel increases year on year with our members exploring the world in ways that they should" observes Brian Mulligan, Assist America's President & CEO. "Assist America continues to build on our founder's dream by pursuing the bold tradition of providing innovative assistance solutions through a diverse team of believers in our mission."

PR Contact:

Lucie Hughes

Marketing & Communications Manager

[email protected]

609 921 0868 ext. 229

SOURCE Assist America, Inc.

Related Links

www.assistamerica.com


(Newser)  Democratic presidential candidates Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden abruptly canceled scheduled rallies Tuesday night in Cleveland amid concerns over the spread of the new coronavirusas public health fears began transforming the 2020 race. Sanders had been planning to speak at a convention center in Cleveland as results from six states voting in the Democratic presidential contests began rolling in. But he pulled the plug only about three hours before it was scheduled to start, and his campaign announced that decisions on future events would be made on a case-by-case basis, the AP reports. A Biden spokesman initially suggested the former vice president's own event in Cleveland would go on as scheduled, but his campaign subsequently released a statement saying it was off.

story continues below

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine declared a state of emergency after three individuals from Cuyahoga County, which includes Cleveland, tested positive for the virus that causes COVID-19. On Sunday, President Trump's campaign communications director Tim Murtaugh said, The campaign is proceeding as normal. But the campaign hasnt announced another rally to follow the presidents last one in North Carolina on March 2. Up until now, it had been keeping a steady pace of rallies this year. The 73-year-old president is still scheduled to travel to Las Vegas and Denver this week for fundraisers and a speech to the Republican Jewish Coalition. Anthony Fauci, the nations leading infectious disease expert, has stopped short of calling on candidates to put a pause on political rallies. But he also isn't faulting anyone who chooses to do so. (Read more coronavirus stories.)
Singles already complain quite a bit about meeting people in the age of dating apps  but now, thanks to coronavirus, it seems dating has just gotten a whole lot harder.

The Washington Post reports today that fear of catching COVID-19  and jokes about it  have virtually taken over online dating, with users adding virus jokes to their bios and talking about the disease to break the ice.

But it's also stopping some people in their tracks, making them think twice about meeting in person and even unmatch with people who've recently traveled to other countries.

Love is dead? There have been new reports about the impact the coronavirus outbreak is having on people's dating lives, with some saying it's caused a lot of issues (stock image)

The end of romance as we know it: A number of Twitter users have commented on the fact that COVID-19 is taking a toll on their dating lives

For some, the spread of COVID-19 is a good starting point to bond with strangers, and many are cracking jokes about it on Tinder, Bumble, Hinge, and other apps.

'"Corona virus & chill"... or is that too soon to put on a dating app?' asked one Twitter user.

Others suggest to their potential dates that they could go into 'quarantine' together.

But for some, its not a joking matter. A few users have reported getting fewer matches, with some expressing worry over meeting someone who'd recently traveled outside the country.

'I was talking to a man on tinder and I told him I was traveling and he said with this corona virus!? Then unmatched me,' tweeted comedian Nicole Byer.

Sajmun Sachdev, 36, a single woman living in Montreal, told the Washington Post that that she was chatting with a cute guy when he mentioned he has just gotten back from China  and she balked.

'Im not sure that this is totally worth it,' she said. 'There must be someone else I can meet.'

No contact! A few people said that they'd had dates canceled because of coronavirus, while others joked that keeping a distance from people would put a dampener on any romance

Taking a break: One person said that they needed to take a break from dating in order to properly disinfect their phone

Perfect excuse: Some welcomed the opportunity to take a break from dating

'I dont think anyone really wants to rush meeting in person, given everything,' added Meghan Lloyd, 28, from San Francisco.

'Were just chatting longer than is usual.'

It's not just apps, either. On man based in the UK tweeted: 'My speed-dating evening tomorrow now cancelled due to coronavirus fears. Self-isolation indeed!'

There are also other factors keeping people from getting dates on the calendar.

Former Bachelorette contestant Michael Garofola told WaPo that he has been having a hard time scheduling a date with someone he met on the app Raya because she's had to work late due to the virus' impact on commerce.

The apps are aware of the potential problems. Tinder is even running a pop-up on the app that encourages people to stay safe.

'Tinder is a great place to meet new people,' it says. 'While we want you to continue to have fun, protecting yourself from the coronavirus is more important.'

However, any changes in activity may be based on demographics  or which apps people use.

Experts: Tinder shared a warning with its users about the importance of good hygiene and hand washing in light of the outbreak

Taking a poll: OKCupid called on its users to take part in survey about their feelings on coronavirus, revealing that 88 per cent of people would still be willing to go out dates

OKCupid conducted a survey this week which found that 88 per cent of users around the world are dating as usual. In the US, it's 92 per cent.

In fact, it's possible that coronavirus is actually leading to more dating app activity, since more and more people are staying inside and working from home.

Questions: OKCupid were asked whether or not they would meet up with people during the outbreak, and whether they would be annoyed about dates being canceled

OKCupid has seen a seven per cent increase in new conversations over the past five days, and Match has also reported a surge in activity.

However, more swiping and chatting doesn't necessarily lead to in-person dates.

But the question remains: Should people be adjusting their dating activity in light of the virus?

Rachel DeAlto, the chief dating expert for Match, told the Washington Post that COVID-19 presents an opportunity to be a bit pickier.

She suggests chatting over FaceTime or Skype before meeting.

Dr. Natasha Fuksina, Diplomate of American Board of Internal Medicine, agrees that meeting virtually first might be a good route.

'It will lessen some of the fears and help build trust and a relationship going forward,' she told Mashable.

'I do not believe we need to shut down dating amid the coronavirus,' added Dr. Taylor Graber, an anesthesiology resident at the San Diego with University of California San Diego.

'In young, healthy adults, there is a very low risk of contracting serious consequences of the illness.'
Australia risks worse wildfires than this seasons record-breaking blazes unless it reduces emissions and phases out fossil-fuel exports, climate scientists warned.

In a report titled Summer of Crisis, the Climate Council lobby group said Australian governments ignored warnings from scientists for at least a decade about an impending bushfire disaster.

If we fail to take strong action to rapidly phase out coal, oil and gas as part of a global effort, the impacts of climate change, including worsening extreme weather, will continue to escalate, the report said. Further denial and delay in taking action on emissions guarantees a worsening of disasters into the future.

The wildfires razed an area the size of England, killed more than 30 people and a billion animals and smashed the nations tourism industry. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has repeatedly emphasized the importance of Australias vast coal and natural gas resources to the economy, playing down the nations role in global emissions.

Rains helped put out the last fire in New South Wales, Australias most populous state, earlier this month, ending more than 240 days of blazes. Yet while the precipitation replenished Sydneys reservoirs, much of the state is still in drought after the hottest and driest year on record.

For the first time since early July 2019, there is currently no active bush or grass fires in #NSW. Thats more than 240 days of fire activity for the state. #nswfires #nswrfs pic.twitter.com/NpjF3lAHKa

 NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) March 2, 2020

Worsening extreme weather is clearly driven by a warming climate, the report said. Australia urgently needs a plan to cut our domestic greenhouse gas emissions to net zero and to phase out fossil fuel exports, because we are one of the worlds largest polluters.

Key Details From the Report:

It was the worst bushfire season on record in New South Wales

An estimated 800 million animals were killed in the state and 1 billion nationally

 These figures are likely underestimated, as they only include mammals, reptiles and birds, and do not include animals that would have starved post bushfires in burned habitats.

 These figures are likely underestimated, as they only include mammals, reptiles and birds, and do not include animals that would have starved post bushfires in burned habitats. 14% of the adult population, or 2.9 million people, were directly affected by threat or damage to homes or being forced to evacuate, while 80% were indirectly affected

Fires released between 650 million and 1.2 billion tons of carbon dioxide. The median estimate of 900 million tons is roughly equivalent to the annual emissions from commercial aircraft worldwide

Around 5.8 million hectares of temperate forest burned in New South Wales and Victoria, more than a fifth of the total. Typically less than 2% of forests are burned out annually

 More than half of the Gondwanan rainforests, which are normally too damp to burn, were affected

 More than half of the Gondwanan rainforests, which are normally too damp to burn, were affected Major population centers including Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Canberra were affected by dangerous air quality due to bushfire smoke for many weeks

Mounting costs make it difficult to estimate the economic impact

 The tourism sector is estimated to lose at least A$4.5 billion ($2.9 billion) after a drop of 10-20% in international visitors booking holidays to Australia

 23,000 insurance claims with a value of A$1.9 billion were filed from Nov. 8 to Feb. 14.

Copyright 2022 Bloomberg.

Topics Climate Change Australia
5.3k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard

Republican Senators have already spoken out against the idea, but Trump is pushing cutting payroll taxes to 0% to fight coronavirus.

CNBC reported:

President Donald Trump, in a meeting with Republican lawmakers on Capitol Hill Tuesday, pitched a 0% payroll tax rate that would last through the rest of this year, a White House official told CNBC.

.

Republican senators have reportedly been skeptical of a payroll tax cut, which has been pushed by Peter Navarro, one of Trumps leading advisors on trade policy.

GOP Senators are more than skeptical, they are already opposing the idea:

John Cornyn, a member of Senate GOP leadership, has little appetite at this point for tax cuts aimed at spurring economy. I usually love tax cuts but I think its a little bit premature.  Manu Raju (@mkraju) March 9, 2020

The White House is putting out proposals that will go nowhere to create false hope in the stock market. It is telling that Trump has said nothing about expanding paid sick leave, or incentivizing telecommuting arrangements for employers.

Trump wants to bail out the oil and gas industry, and cut payroll taxes, which would do nothing to prevent the spread of coronavirus or help people who get sick.

The payroll tax cut isnt a real solution. It is another ploy by Trump to boost his sagging reelection campaign.

For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.

Follow Jason Easley on Facebook
At least 10 wounded as barrage of Katyusha rockets hits Taji military base near Baghdad where US personnel are housed.

At least three US-led coalition soldiers have been killed after multiple rockets hit an Iraqi base housing US and coalition troops on Wednesday, according to a statement by Operation Inherent Resolve.

The statement added that at least 12 more soldiers were injured during the attack, which is under investigation by the coalition and Iraqi security forces.

In a statement released on Thursday, Iraqi President Barham Salih condemned the attack and pledged to investigate and hold accountable those responsible.

A number of coalition consultants and trainers within the international coalition operating in Iraq were killed in the attack, the statement read.

An assessment of the incident is under way, a senior official from the administration of US President Donald Trump said.

We are closely following the situation at Camp Taji, the official said on Wednesday. We are not going to get ahead of the assessment and investigation, which are ongoing.

The rocket attack was the 22nd against US military interests in the country since late October, an Iraqi military commander said.

US Army Colonel Myles Caggins, a US military spokesman in Iraq, said on Twitter more than 15 small rockets hit the base, but provided no further details.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Britains Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab vowed to hold accountable the people behind the attack.

In a phone conversation late on Wednesday, the pair underscored that those responsible for the attacks must be held accountable, the US State Department said.

Camp Taji, located just north of Baghdad, has been used as a training base for a number of years. There are as many as 6,000 US troops in Iraq, training and advising Iraqi forces and conducting counterterrorism missions.

Previous rocket attacks targeting US soldiers, diplomats and facilities in Iraq killed one US contractor and an Iraqi soldier. None of the attacks has been claimed, but Washington accuses pro-Iran factions of being responsible.

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Two days after the death of an American in rockets fired on an Iraqi military base in Kirkuk at the end of last year, the US army hit five bases in Iraq and Syria used by the pro-Iran Iraqi armed faction Kataib Hezbollah.

Kataib Hezbollah was designated a foreign terrorist organization by the US Department of State in 2009.

Tensions rose further between Washington and Tehran after a US drone strike killed the powerful Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, head of Kataib Hezbollah, in Baghdad on January 3.

The assassination brought tensions between the two countries almost to the breaking point.

The US leads an international coalition  comprising dozens of countries and thousands of soldiers  formed in 2014 to confront the armed group ISIL (ISIS).

While ISIL has lost the vast territory it once held in Iraq and Syria, sleeper cells remain capable of carrying out attacks.

The Iraqi parliament voted to expel all foreign soldiers from the country in the wake of the killing of Soleimani, a decision that has still not been acted on by the government.

The outgoing government, which resigned in December in the face of mass protests, has yet to be replaced because of a lack of agreement in Parliament  one of the most divided in Iraqs recent history.
An increasing number of schools districts across New Jersey are announcing early dismissals or closures for coronavirus related planning or cleaning, while several are shutting down because someone associated with the school was possibly exposed to COVID-19.

New Jersey health officials announced Tuesday that a 69-year-old Little Ferry with serious pre-existing medical conditions died after testing positive for coronavirus, the states first death related the illness. As of Tuesday, 15 people in New Jersey have tested positive for coronavirus. None are school children.

Officials said there are 20 coronavirus tests pending and another 31 potential cases under investigation.

Most New Jersey colleges have also made announcements about closures and online classes.

Here are the latest school closings and early dismissals in New Jersey:

BERGEN COUNTY

 The Bergen County Technical Schools and Special Services School District are closing for all students starting Wednesday through Friday March 20. The county declared a state of emergency on Tuesday.

 Bergenfield schools will operate on an early dismissal schedule Friday.

 Bogota schools will hold a single session day for students on Thursday to prepare for potential school closures related to coronavirus.

 Dumont schools will have a half day on Friday to prepare for potential school closures related to coronavirus.

 Garfield schools will have an early dismissal on Thursday and Friday to prepare for school closures if they become necessary.

 Glen Rock Public Schools will be closed on Monday, March 16, so staff can further develop plans in case of long-term school closures.

 Little Ferry schools will close at 12:30 p.m. on March 19, to plan with staff to continue education in case of a prolonged closure.

 Lyndhurst schools will close early on Thursday to plan for any possible closures in response to coronavirus.

 Mahwah schools will be closed Friday so staff can prepare a coronavirus plan.

 North Arlington schools are scheduled to close early on Thursday and Friday to continue planning and preparing for a potential school closure, the district superintendent announced.

 The Frisch School, a private school in Paramus announced last week it be closed for several days after dozens of its students were potentially exposed to the coronavirus at a bat mitzvah in New York last month.

 Paramus schools are closed Wednesday on so faculty can receive needed comprehensive training in remote instruction.

 Ridgefield Park schools are be closed Wednesday to prepare for the possibility of home-based instruction for students.

BURLINGTON COUNTY

 Delran schools will operate on delayed opening schedule on Monday and Tuesday in order to plan for the possibility of the state asking the district to shut down due to coronavirus.

 Westampton schools l have an early dismissal on Thursday so teachers can make a coronavirus plan.

CAMDEN COUNTY

 Collingswood and Oaklyn schools will have an early dismissal Thursday and Friday for staff planning about a potential coronavirus closing.

 Eastern Regional High School in Voorhees is closing at 12:05 p.m. on Thursday and Friday so staff can put together a coronavirus plan.

ESSEX COUNTY

 Cedar Grove schools have an early dismissal on Thursday so staff can develop plans in case students are required to work from home due to coronavirus.

 Fairfield schools will have a single-session day on Thursday to prepare for the potential of a school health-related closure.

 Millburn schools will be closed on Thursday so staff can prepare for the possibility of distance learning in case schools are forced to close.

 Montclair schools will be closed on Friday for professional development for staff if schools are required to close in the future. The district announced Monday that a staff member was being tested for coronavirus and was in self-quarantine at home until her laboratory results were returned.

 Peoples Prep in Newark will be closed until March 16 after a staff member found out that he spent time with people who were in a location where someone who now has a confirmed case of COVID-19 had been at some point earlier in the week.

HUDSON COUNTY

 Jersey City schools will close at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday to begin to plan and coordinate with staff for potential satellite learning options.

MERCER COUNTY

 Robbinsville Schools have cancelled events through March 21.

 Trenton schools have canceled classes on Thursday for planning and Friday for cleaning.

MIDDLESEX COUNTY

 East Brunswick Public Schools and school activities will be closed/cancelled through Sunday, March 15 after a confirmed positive case of coronavirus in East Brunswick.

 Middlesex Borough schools are closed Friday to make coronavirus plans.

 North Brunswick Township Schools will be closed Thursday out of an abundance of caution after a confirmed positive case of coronavirus in East Brunswick.

 South Brunswick schools were closed Wednesday because a student might have been exposed to coronavirus after two township residents attended a private party in Princeton with two people from Boston who later tested positive for the virus. Remote Learning will also be in effect on Thursday, March 12 and Friday, March 13.

 South River Public Schools will be closed Thursday, March 12 due to a recently identified case of coronavirus in a neighboring town said. As of this time, there are no known cases of COVID-19 in South River.

MONMOUTH COUNTY

 Brielle School District will have an early dismissal on Monday, March 16.

 Henry Hudson Regional School District, Atlantic Highlands, and Highlands schools will have an early dismissal on Friday, March 13.

 Keyport schools will have an early dismissal Thursday and Friday so staff members can make plans for a potential coronavirus closing.

 Little Silver schools canceled after school activities (excluding aftercare) this week for cleaning.

 Red Bank Regional High School is closed Wednesday after the sibling of a student tested positive for coronavirus. Starting, Thursday, March 12, the school will transition to a virtual school instructional plan until further notice.

OCEAN COUNTY

 Jackson School District will have a 2-hour delayed opening on Friday to finalize coronavirus preparations.

PASSAIC COUNTY

 Wayne schools are closed Friday for an extensive cleaning of our buildings, district officials said.

SOMERSET COUNTY

 Bridgewater-Raritan schools will have an early dismissal on Monday for coronavirus planning.

UNION COUNTY

 Cranford schools will be closed Monday as the district puts together its coronavirus plan.

 Elizabeth schools are closing at 12:15 p.m. on Monday for a staff in-service meeting on coronavirus.

 Hillside schools will be closed Friday for a deep cleaning.

 Plainfield Public Schools will be closed on Friday, March 13 for coronavirus planning.

 Roselle schools are closed Wednesday so that school and office buildings can be sanitized after the district learned that a staff member made contact with someone who was recently diagnosed with coronavirus. Depending on the test results, the district will operate on an early dismissal schedule on Friday for students only.

 Scotch Plains-Fanwood schools are closed Wednesday so staff can prepare if the coronavirus forces a long-term closure.

WARREN COUNTY

 Warren Hills Regional schools are closed Wednesday to develop coronavirus preparedness plans.

Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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By Mar. 10, 2020



We are excited to welcome back some of our local animal helpers this year!" according to Nature Station Interpretive Naturalist Monica West. "Special guests will include Four Rivers K9 Search, Rescue and Recovery, Calloway County Humane Society Pet Therapy Program and Cassidy's Cause Therapeutic Riding Academy. These handlers and their service animals will be available for the whole event."



Explore and learn more about how animals help humans and how humans can help animals! There will be a variety of activities to do, so we recommend planning at least a three hour visit. Girls are encouraged to bring SWAPs to exchange with other scouts. Although the event is dedicated especially to Girl Scouts, all are welcome!



Ongoing activity stations, open 10 am to 3 pm, include:

Cocoon Selfie Station - Brownie Bug Badge

Buggy Craft - Brownie Bug Badge

Life In a Log - Brownie Bug Badge

Make an Animal House - Junior Animal Habitats Badge

Bobcat Origami - Daisy Journey

If I Were a Bird - Daisy Journey



Scheduled live animal programs include:

Incredible Insects - Brownie Bug Badge, 10:30 am, 12 pm, 1:30 pm and 2:45 pm

Precious Prairies - Junior Animal Habitat Badge - 11 am, 12:30 pm and 2 pm

Animals of the Future - Cadette Animal Helpers Badge - 11:30 am, 1 pm and 2:15 pm



Call 270-924-2299 for more information. See the complete flyer at https://www.landbetweenthelakes.us/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Girl-Scout-Day-2020-Flyer.pdf. Seniors and Ambassadors are encouraged to help. Contact Monica West to volunteer, mwest@friendsoflbl.org.



The Friends of Land Between the Lakes have partnered with the Land Between The Lakes National Recreation Area of the USDA Forest Service to provide interpretive and informative services along with support services for those visiting the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area.



More information is available at www.friendsoflbl.org.

The Friends are supported through business and personal memberships, gift shop sales and other contributions.





GOLDEN POND - Calling all Girl Scouts: Girl Scout Day at the Woodlands Nature Station, 3146 Silver Trail Road, in Cadiz, inside Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area, is focused on learning all about Animals A to Z this year. Join us on March 21 from 10 am until 3 pm for family-friendly activities and programs specifically geared toward Daisy, Brownie, Junior and Cadette badge and journey requirements. Admission is $7 for adults, $5 for ages 5 - 17 and free for ages 4 and under.
ANKARA, Turkey - Turkeys president on Wednesday made the incendiary claim that the Greek authorities alleged mistreatment of migrants at its border was comparable to what the Nazis did, and said he would denounce Greeces action at international platforms.

In his weekly address to his ruling partys legislators, Recep Tayyip Erdogan also said there would be no change to his governments policy of allowing migrants to cross into Europe, until the European Union fulfills obligations set out in a 2016 Turkish-EU deal that helped stem a migrant crisis.

Thousands of migrants massed on Turkeys border with Greece, after the Turkish government said last month that it would no longer try to contain migrants on its territory.

To prevent the crossings, Athens deployed riot police and border guards who in many cases used tear gas, flash grenades and water cannons. Several clashes have erupted between the migrants and the Greek forces. Greece says that Turkish security forces fired tear gas from the other side of the border at Greek officers.

Erdogan said Greeces actions have resulted in four migrants deaths and that around 1,000 were injured. Greece denies accusations of mistreatment.

There is no difference with what the Nazis did and the images from the border with Greece, Erdogan said. To open fire, fire tear gas and use boiling water on innocent people whose only aim is to save their lives and build a better future for their children is barbaric in the true meaning of the word.

Under the 2016 agreement, the EU offered Turkey up to 6 billion euros ($6.7 billion) in aid for the Syrian refugees it hosts, fast-tracked EU membership as well as a revision of Customs Union agreement.

We will continue the current (open borders) measure on our borders until all of our expectations are concretely met, Erdogan said.

In Athens, Greek government spokesman Stelios Petsas said Erdogan was constantly trying to undermine the climate with such kinds of statements. He quoted Greeces Jewish council as saying the situation had nothing to do with the Holocaust.

Greece ... does not accept lessons in human rights and the respect of international law from the Turkish president, Petsas said, accusing Turkey of engaging in an organized and co-ordinated operation.

We continue to do our job. Our job is the protection of the Greek and the European borders, Petsas said. We are saying to everyone that they mustnt try coming in through the window. There is a door. Whoever is entitled to protection can knock on it and receive the protection they are entitled to by international law. But they will not enter through the window.

Petsas also said the Turkish ambassador to Greece had been summoned to the foreign ministry, after Greeces coast guard said Wednesday that a Turkish patrol boat deliberately attempted to ram a Greek patrol boat in Greek territorial waters near the island of Kos. The collision caused minor damage to the Greek vessel, and there were no injuries, the Greek coast guard said.

Meanwhile, additional forces arrived from Cyprus, Austria and Poland to help Greece patrol the border with Turkey, said Panagiotis Charelas, head of the Greek Federation of Border Police.

For us that means a great helping hand and great strength that we draw from this support, finding colleagues from other European countries next to us, he said.

Erdogans comments came days after he travelled to Brussels for talks with top EU officials after which the sides agreed that teams headed by EU foreign policy chief Josep Borell and Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu would review the 4-year-old migration deal.

Cavusoglu said Tuesday the teams would try and come up with a road map in time for a EU summit on March 26.

The global humanitarian aid group, Mercy Corps, meanwhile criticized the Turkish-EU deal as fundamentally flawed and said the dispute was an opportunity to revisit how we treat those fleeing conflict.

A solution that closed off borders, and options, to refugees should never have been hailed a success, said Selena Victor, Mercy Corps Senior Director of Policy and Advocacy. The cost of the deal was tens of thousands of lives in limbo in Greece, profound stress, ongoing trauma and a loss of hope.

We have an opportunity to choose a path of dignity, humanity and compassion. Halting the asylum process and holding fleeing families back with water cannons is not the answer, she said.

The Turkish president has in the past also compared other European countries, notably German and the Netherlands to Nazis, sparking tensions with these nations.

___

Associated Press reporters Elena Becatoros in Athens, Greece, and Costas Kantouris in Kastanies, Greece, contributed to this report.
Job Title: Assistant WASH Officer

Organisation: United

Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

Duty Station: Uganda

Vacancy Notice Number: Internal/ External Vacancy Notice No. 005/2020

Position Number: 10030498

Position Grade:

NO-A

About US:

The Office of the

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees was established on December 14,

1950 by the United Nations General Assembly. UNHCRs mandate under the Statute

of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees is to lead

and co-ordinate action for international protection to refugees; seek permanent

solutions for the problems of refugees and safeguard refugee rights and

well-being. UNHCR has an additional mandate concerning issues of statelessness,

as it is given a designated role under Article 11 of the 1961 Convention on the

Reduction of Statelessness.

Job Summary: The Assistant WASH Officer will be responsible

for provision of professional technical support on activities within the areas

of Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH) in the locations in the Areas of

Responsibility (AOR). Furthermore, the incumbent will assist in formulating

appropriate project proposals and assistance activities that should be

incorporated into the relevant operation programmes of UNHCR. The WASH Officer

is supervised by Programme Officer and will receive the technical backup and

support from the Senior WASH Officer in Branch Office- Kampala.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:



Contribute

to the delivery of WASH services to persons of concern in order to meet the

UNHCR standards of assistance.



Act as a

focal point on water, sanitation, hygiene promotion within UNHCR Office.



Coordinate

the activities of WASH Partners, other UN agencies, governmental and

nongovernmental counterparts, to ensure delivery of WASH services to beneficiaries

that meet UNHCR standards of assistance.



Facilitate

adoption of harmonized methodology.



Contribute

towards the development of WASH strategies for UNHCR in key aspects of WASH.



Contribute

to the budgeting and planning processes and financial management of the

programme in the area of WASH.



Formulate

project submissions including budget to respond to identified needs in

collaboration with appropriate authorities, implementing partners and UNHCR

programme and technical sectors.



Actively

participate in the plans for any new refugee settlement or settlement extension

identified.



Jointly

with the technical staff of the Partners, update detailed needs and resource

assessments and revise designs of technical plans as necessary, taking into

account practical aspects of implementation, and relevant technical

specifications and guidelines.



Provide

technical support to Partners on all water, sanitation, hygiene promotion and

environment related issues, to ensure quality, cost-effectiveness,

sustainability and environmental soundness in their implantation and in

accordance with UNHCR policies, standards and priorities.



Facilitate

capacity strengthening activities of UNHCR WASH staff and its Partners to

address key areas of WASH importance to refugees and other persons of concern

to UNHCR.



Monitor

the implementation of the ongoing water, sanitation, hygiene and environment

projects administered directly by UNHCR and Partners.



Review

the quantity and quality of water offered in the settlements jointly with the Partners,

carry out an assessment on the quantities of water provided to refugees and

related water losses.



Review

the sanitation situation in the settlements and jointly with the sanitation

Partners carry out an assessment of the latrine coverage in the settlements and

their physical conditions based on UNHCR standards.



Review

the ongoing hygiene promotion activities and make any necessary recommendation

for improvement.



Report

regularly on WASH activity implementation, while maintaining accurate records

of the relevant WASH performance indicators.



Prepare

regular sectorial reports and submit material for preparation of periodic

project monitoring reports as required by the Sub Office, Branch Office and

HQs.



Perform

any other relevant tasks as required

Key Results:



The

needs of persons of concern in the country are assessed and analysed in a

participatory manner and using an Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective

to form a firm basis for planning.



WASH

activities are established in a timely manner, regularly monitored and reported

on in compliance with established guidelines and procedures.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:



The

ideal candidate for the United Nations UNHCR Assistant WASH Officer job

placement should hold an Undergraduate degree (equivalent of a BA/BS) in

Water/Civil/Environmental Engineering/Water Resources Development plus minimum one year of previous work experience in Water/ Sanitation/Environment or a related

field dealing with large scale WASH activities and Integrated Water Resource

Management is required.



Knowledge

and experience of local government systems, working with Ministry of Water and

Environment and development projects is required.



Excellent

knowledge of English (written / oral / comprehension) is required.

Desirable Qualifications





Proficiency

in basic computer software such as MS Access, Excel, Powerpoint, Word, water

modelling software (EPANET), GIS Software (MapInfo, Arc GIS), AutoCAD



Advance

training in water, sanitation or Public Health Engineering.



Experience/training

in hydrology and geo-physical investigations.

Competencies



Judgement

and Decision Making



Analytical

Thinking



Planning

and Organizing



Stakeholder

Management

How to Apply:

All interested

Ugandan nationals who wish to join the United Nations High Commissioner for

Refugees (UNHCR) in the aforementioned capacity are encouraged to click on the

link below and follow the application instructions after reviewing the job

details.

Click Here

Deadline: 12th March 2020

For more of the

latest jobs, please visit https://www.theugandanjobline.com or

find us on our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/UgandanJobline
What Does the Bible Say about Suffering and Endurance?

While the Bible does speak about how earthly things and states of being are temporary, the reason we are to endure is different than in the ancient sources for this too shall pass.

In the Bible, believers are called to endure for a purpose. Endurance is necessary to overcome the trials of this life. It is necessary to spread the Gospel. It is important because if the believer endures to the end, there is glory with the Savior in eternity. This too shall pass calls to endure because there will be a temporary reprieve from a current state of suffering before the next one comes. Often, the Bible discusses suffering and endurance together. To develop and cultivate one, a person must experience the other, but it is all for a purpose.

Verses about suffering and endurance do acknowledge that hard moments pass, but their context is different.

Some Bible verses about suffering include:

John 16:33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.

These words come directly from the Lord Jesus. He acknowledges that believers must share in trials and hard times. They will endure, because Jesus has already won the victory over death - a victory in which they will share. The tribulation shall pass away, and it is assured.

Hebrews 13:6 So we can confidently say, The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?

The writer of Hebrews acknowledges the difficulties of life. In fact, there is an expectation not only of financial woes, marital discord, and loss, but of persecution and perhaps even martyrdom. Yet there is neither fear nor worry. These trials are small in the face of a mighty God, and the promise of eternal life.

Romans 2:2-5 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

These verses fly in the face of worldly expectations. Not only does it acknowledge the suffering and trials of the world, but that believers can rejoice in their trials because it produces endurance, good character, and increases hope. Unlike the phrase this too shall pass, Pauls words of wisdom do not merely accept suffering as an inevitable part of the life-cycle, but a source of personal improvement that brings the individual closer to God.

Philippians 3:8,12 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ ... Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.

Many theologians believe Paul wrote this from prison towards the end of his life. He had lost much and suffered much. But for Paul, everything he lost was worthless in the face of the magnitude of who Jesus is, and what He has done for us. He chose to press forward in his faith, striving to be more Christ-like, because He was now a part of the family of God. This attitude toward suffering, embracing it as something in which the believer can glorify the Lord, is an important part of spiritual growth. It is not just enduring the pain, but using it for Gods glory.

Photo credit: Getty Images/milkos
(Newser)  Much is being made of Joe Biden's Tuesday night win in Michiganand, on the flip side, Bernie Sanders' loss there and what it means for the candidate. But there's another 2020 candidate who should be just as concerned by Biden's victory, say pundits: President Trump. A sampling of opinions:



At CNN, Chris Cillizza declares "electability" one of Tuesday night's winners. He allows that for a long time he's kind of dismissed it as something that's "in the eye of the beholder." But what Super Tuesday II's exit polling reinforced is that Democratic voters "hugely valued a candidate they believed could beat Trump"and think that's Biden. "In Michigan, 6 in 10 voters said nominating a candidate who can beat Trump was more important than choosing a candidate they agree with on issues. In that group, Biden beat Sanders by 31 points."

At the Washington Post, EJ Dionne explains why Trump should be alarmed, and he sings a tune similar to Cillizza's: "In primary after primary, Democratic voters have made clear that ridding the nation of Trump matters more to them than any particular issue. This was true again in Michigan, Missouri and Mississippi." And while only 3 in 10 Michigan voters said they would be "enthusiastic" if Biden emerges as the nominee, only 1 in 10 said they'd be upset. Biden's ascension "is thus an affair of the head at least as much as of the heart. It reflects a quiet judgment that Biden is a safe choice who will not alienate voters Democrats need against Trump."

story continues below

And more of the same from Katie Herzog at the Guardian, who says Tuesday proved that for Democrats, "debates don't matter, media endorsements don't matter, grassroots campaigns don't matter, money doesn't matter, big promises don't matter, scandal doesn't matter, gaffes don't matter and having the support of the Democratic Socialists of America's Brooklyn branch and everyone under 30 doesn't matter either." Here's what matters to them: beating Trump.

At the New York Times, Matt Flegenheimer and Katie Glueck write that Biden might be about to deliver a major political shock: "a short, orderly primary." But they do observe that his political 180 in the last couple weeks "has not changed the underlying weaknesses that defined him through the early states," from his blunders to losing his cool to the apathy he generates among young people and progressives. They also note that Sanders' proponents have argued that his record is similar to Hillary Clinton's, and that Trump is sure to use the same line of attack as he did in 2016.

Sure, Biden has his flaws. But at Politico, Tim Alberta writes "the big takeaway" from Michigan "isn't that Biden is a spectacular candidate." It's "that he doesn't need to be." Democratic turnout surged in Michigan and Biden outperformed Clinton's 2016 performance in some key demos there. If there's a repeat come November, Trump could lose Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania, which he won by just 77,744 votes total in 2016. If that happens, "There goes the White House."

So it's time for Sanders to hang up his hat, writes David Frum at the Atlantic. Sure, his team can come up with reasons to stay in, "but the justifications will be excuses. Everything they say they want to do for their principles and their movement can be better done by building health-care coalitions in the US Senate" amidst the coronavirus epidemic. "The only thing they can actually do by prolonging Sanders's campaign is sustain Trump in his work of defamation against Biden."

(Read more Election 2020 stories.)
Some county clerks in New Jersey are encouraging people to apply to vote by mail ahead of the June primary election amid coronavirus concerns, while officials plan for added sanitation measures at crowded polling places.

In a news release, Mercer County Clerk Paula Sollami Covello said she is suggesting residents apply for a mail-in ballot for the election on June 2 to avoid being infected by COVID-19 at populated polling places.

The recent outbreak of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) has made it necessary to prepare and plan for a variety of outcomes. Mercer County election officials are taking a lead to ensure a successful primary election, the county said in a news release. The Clerks Office would like to remind residents that their goal as Mercer election officials is to ensure that the democratic process continues uninterrupted and that voters voices be heard and recorded."

Vote-by-mail applications may be downloaded online on the state Division of Elections website. The last day for the County Clerks Office to receive a vote-by-mail application by mail in time for the Primary Election is May 26, according to the Mercer County clerk.

Mercer County has had no coronavirus patients, but a 62-year-old man from Riverton who tested positive for COVID19 works in a professional office in Robbinsville, Mercer County. The office has been closed and cleaned.

Other county election officials are monitoring the situation closely after New Jersey officials declared a state of emergency and the number of cases rose to 15.

Burlington County Clerk Joanne Schwartz said the county has long been encouraging residents to vote by mail, but is now ramping up those efforts by distributing more vote-by-mail applications at houses of worship and nursing homes.

The CDC is also encouraging election officials to push early voting and voting at off-peak times, in addition to mail-in ballots.

Up until coronavirus, people were worried about hacking. Now, theyre worried about getting sick," she said.

Schwartz said the state has shared information on how to avoid the spread of the virus at polling places, including by having hand sanitizer available at check-in and routinely disinfecting voting equipment.

One idea is having voters put Purell on their hands before touching screens and again when coming out of the booth, Schwartz said.

Alicia DAlessandro, a spokeswoman for the New Jersey Department of State, said the state had two phone calls within the past week with the Department of Homeland Security and Center for Disease Control about guidelines for keeping polling locations safe. That information was shared with counties, she said.

Another precautionary measure being taken, she said, is providing single-use, disposable ear covers for device headphones used by voters with vision impairments.

Last year, DAlessandro says, the state helped each county develop plans to address how to handle a number of scenarios that may interfere with the administration of elections, including a hypothetical viral outbreak.

We work every day to protect New Jersey voters and their access to free and fair elections, and that means anticipating and planning for these possibilities, even as we hope they never occur," DAlessandro said.

In Bergen County, where the first coronavirus patient in New Jersey died, Deputy County Clerk Steve Chong said his office has been discussing the topic too. He expects a big increase in mail-in ballots this year anyway, even despite coronavirus fears.

He said 10 times more people in Bergen County are registered to vote by mail this year than last year due to a bill signed by Gov. Phil Murphy allowing people who apply for mail-in ballots to receive them permanently.

Were watching the situation. But if if you cannot come to the poling site due to the coronavirus, you have to vote by mail," Chong said.

Avalon Zoppo may be reached at azoppo2@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @AvalonZoppo. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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So not happy together. Photo: John Fleenor/ABC via Getty Images

Hannah Ann Sluss, reality televisions version of a final girl, was utterly shocked when The Bachelors Peter Weber proposed to her after an emotionally tumultuous week in Australia. One month later, she hardly flinched when she got up, handed him back the ring, and left for good.

Such a scene ended the couples very short engagement, which was brought forth after Peter admitted he still had lingering feelings for fellow contestant Madison Prewett. (A woman whom, it should be noted, is greatly disliked by his mother.) Despite Peter declaring during his proposal that it was never a question he would choose Hannah Ann and that his heart chooses her forever, during an arranged Los Angeles rendezvous by the show several weeks later, he initiated a breakup due to not being able to give my entire heart to you, and you know why that is. He also repeatedly apologized for taking away Hannah Anns first engagement. You took the most precious moment that I can ever imagine away from you, she scolded him. Because you selfishly didnt want me to walk away or send me home.

I dont need anything more from you. Youve done enough damage. Here you go, heres this, she added, tossing him the ring. Im done, I mean that. You betrayed me, and you know it, right? See, thats all I need to hear. Ill be able to move forward knowing that youve owned up to it. Im going to get my life back on track now, where it originally was before.

The estranged couple were brought together for the first time since their breakup during the live After the Final Rose segment, where Hannah Anns glorious fury was still intact. (So much so that Peters mother, Barbara, frequently applauded her for the ethering of her son.) You knew exactly what to tell me to keep me with you, she told Peter. And one of the more important things you told me was that letting me walk away would be the biggest regret of your life. Words are powerful, Peter. I was always going to stand by you, even through the worst, and you told me things that kept me with you. Even after our breakup, you reached out to my parents saying that you were just processing your emotions, and that you wished more than anything we had met outside reality TV. How does that make any sense? You signed up to be The Bachelor. Intriguingly, Hannah Ann also said that Peter contacted his ex Bachelorette windmill pal, Hannah Brown, during their engagement period. Given the last word, she told Peter this:

Weve been through a lot together, and I should have really picked up on the first red flag to give to me, when you wanted to reach out to Hannah Brown to find closure with her. So looking back on it, our engagement involved three women  me, you still being in love with Madison and proposing to me, and your need for closure with Hannah Brown. That is three women involved in our engagement. So a word of advice, if you want to be with a woman, you need to become a real man.

Despite Hannah Anns situation seemingly putting her in a prime position to ascend to Bachelorette stardom, Clare Crawley has already been announced as the franchises next leading lady. Perhaps those Paradise shores, which have historically been good to Hannahs, will be a solid alternative instead.
LEBANON, NH - The burden of cancer is on the rise in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) such as Honduras. Few people in rural Honduras have access to cancer screening of any kind. A research team comprised of Honduran oncologists and scientists from Dartmouth's and Dartmouth-Hitchcock's Norris Cotton Cancer Center wanted to test a new model of "multiphasic" cancer screening event that offered testing for multiple types of cancer in a single screening experience. The team chose a rural area in mountainous Honduras and engaged local community leaders in identifying potential barriers to participation. Together, they developed simple strategies to mitigate the barriers and potentially maximize participation.

"Each of three screening events attracted people from more than 30 different rural communities. Over the three events, 1,175 participants were screened and 190 received recommendations for follow-up testing within the urban cancer center. Of those 190, 88% of them adhered to the recommendation and sought follow-up care," reports Kathleen Lyons, ScD, Senior Scientist. "And even though there is a recognized 'men's health gap' worldwide, particularly in LMICs, the local community asked us to screen men while at the same time counseling us that the men might not attend. Actually, they did participate, and it was gratifying to see that almost all who were identified as at-risk complied with referral for clinical follow-up."

The international research team called CLARO, which stands for Community-Led Action Research in Oncology, is active in engaging community leaders to identify local Honduran priorities and challenges in oncology. Together, CLARO generates new knowledge to devise cancer prevention strategies that could be deployed in any rural setting around the world. "For example, we scheduled the screening events on weekend days, close to home, arranged transportation, fed participants a hot meal, and used local champions to issue personal invitations," says Lyons. "At each event, participants were screened for two to five different types of cancer to maximize what could be their only screening opportunity, ever."

CLARO's findings, "Feasibility of Brigade-Style, Multiphasic Cancer Screening in Rural Honduras" are newly published in ASCO's Journal of Clinical Oncology - Global Oncology under senior author, Honduran oncologist, Suyapa Bejarano, MD.

From the beginning, CLARO designed a screening approach that can be done anywhere that people can come together. Most of the onsite volunteers were Honduran medical students, but similar medical students are available in most every country. "Involving them in cancer screening builds capacity long-term in their future medical practices where they can utilize many of the techniques that they learn," notes Lyons. The spaces the team used are also like those everywhere: "Small concrete schools with simple cubicles made by the men of the community. Headlamps eliminate the need for electricity and our technique for tracking medical records onsite involves paper, pencil, and zip-top plastic bags."

The team is developing a "toolkit" of their process that can guide other communities through the collaborative process of designing large-scale screening events that can be customized to meet individual community needs. Dartmouth's long-term partners in Dar es Salaam Tanzania at the Ocean Road Cancer Institute are taking a different approach by screening at workplaces. "We look forward to collaborating with them to build our knowledge of what works across multiple geographic and cultural differences," says Lyons.

Curbing the rise of cancer in LMICs with prevention and early detection via community-based cancer screening is a strategy proven to be feasible to implement and welcomed by local people.

###

Kathleen Lyons, ScD, is a senior scientist at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center and an investigator in the Cancer Population Sciences Research Program at Dartmouth's and Dartmouth-Hitchcock's Norris Cotton Cancer Center. Her research focuses on developing, testing and disseminating scalable behavioral interventions to maximize health and well-being of cancer survivors.

About Norris Cotton Cancer Center

Norris Cotton Cancer Center, located on the campus of Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center (DHMC) in Lebanon, NH, combines advanced cancer research at Dartmouth College's Geisel School of Medicine in Hanover, NH with the highest level of high-quality, innovative, personalized, and compassionate patient-centered cancer care at DHMC, as well as at regional, multi-disciplinary locations and partner hospitals throughout NH and VT,. NCCC is one of only 51 centers nationwide to earn the National Cancer Institute's prestigious "Comprehensive Cancer Center" designation, the result of an outstanding collaboration between DHMC, New Hampshire's only academic medical center, and Dartmouth College. Now entering its fifth decade, NCCC remains committed to excellence, outreach and education, and strives to prevent and cure cancer, enhance survivorship and to promote cancer health equity through its pioneering interdisciplinary research. Each year the NCCC schedules 61,000 appointments seeing nearly 4,000 newly diagnosed patients, and currently offers its patients more than 100 active clinical trials.
Some Nigerian lawyers have questioned the constitutionality of the banishment of Muhammadu Sanusi, following his dethronement as Emir of Kano.

With a stroke of the pen, the former Emir, on Monday, was stripped of his royal title and exiled to a neighbouring state, Nassarawa on grounds of insubordination and disrespect for lawful authorities including persistent refusal to attend official programmes and meetings organised by the government.

According to the governments representative and the managing director of Kano Road Traffic Agency (KAROTA), Bappa Danagundi, Mr Sanusis banishment is in line with tradition and for peace to reign in Kano.

As a reformist and leading voice against poor conditions in the North, Mr Sanusi had, at different times, been accused of playing partisan politics in the 2019 election against Governor Abdullahi Ganduje.

Last year, Mr Ganduje broke down the former Kano Emirate into five emirates, in an attempt, many viewed, to whittle down the power and influence of Mr Sanusi.

He, afterwards, appointed Mr Sanusi as the head of Council of Chiefs to oversee the new emirates.

Many believed Mr Sanusis appointment was a poisoned chalice to his earlier vehemence against the creation of the new emirates. This trailed the perceived power tussle between the duo.

However, his dethronement has drawn the ire of many Nigerians on the virtual space and mixed reactions have trailed his banishment as many questioned its constitutionality.

This is not the first time an Emir would be dethroned.

It would be recalled that Mr Sanusis grandfather, Muhammad Sanusi l, was also deposed in 1963 and banished to Azare town, now in Bauchi State. He was accused of misappropriation of Kano Native Authoritys funds.

But a former governor of Kano State, Late Abubakar Rimi, brought him back to Wudil town where he died in the early 1990s.

Other deposed Northern monarchs include the Emir of Muri, Umar Abba Tukur (1986); Sultan Of Sokoto, Ibrahim Dasuki (1996); and Emir of Gwandu, Mustapha Haruna (2005).

The duo of Messers Tukur and Haruna later sought redress in court against their banishment and they won.

Lawyers reactions

For Frank Tietie, a human rights advocate and executive director of Citizens Advocacy for Social and Economic Rights (CASER), Mr Sanusis offence can not be prosecuted under any criminal law in Nigeria.

His inability to perform well, according to Kano state government, should not be an offence to be banished for.

If the people think he is a threat to traditionally upheld beliefs, thats their problem.

I cannot accept that he is banished, it is unconstitutional, he said.

He said the 1999 Nigerian constitution provides for every Nigerian the right to personal liberty and that no person should be deprived of such liberty.

Section 41(1) of the Constitution provides thus: every citizen of Nigeria is entitled to move freely throughout Nigeria and to reside in any part thereof, and no citizen of Nigeria shall be expelled from Nigeria or refused entry thereto or exit therefrom.

He said it would be injurious to the Nigerian citizenship that such a thing as banishing a fellow Nigerian in his country could be attributed to it.

A lawyer, Johnson Omede, said Mr Sanusis banishment was unconstitutional and a flagrant disregard to the laws of the federation, adding that the archaic practice of banishment of deposed Emirs; a colonial practice that has no basis under the Nigerian law or the Constitution.

Citing the case of the Nigerian Court of Appeal in Attorney General Kebbi State against former Emir of Gwandu, Mustapha Jakolo, as a similar case of power tussle, he said the court pronounced it as illegal, unconstitutional and gross violation of the rights of the Emir.

According to Funmi Falana, a rights activist, the banishment is a violation of the right to human dignity as the deposed monarch was whisked away from his home without recourse to a fair hearing.

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PREMIUM TIMES reported how Mr Sanusi was forced out of the palace and taken to Loko, a remote town in Nassarawa State. He was later moved to Awe, an urban setting in the same state, following the appeal of Emir of Loko to Governor Abdullahi Sule.

Mrs Falana condemned Mr Sanusis subjection to public ridicule and humiliation, saying it is an infringement of his right to free movement.

Abimbola Ojenike, another lawyer, said the action amounts to an unconstitutional interference with fundamental rights cannot be validated as customary practice or law.

A custom or customary law is invalid if it is repugnant to natural justice, equity and good conscience or incompatible directly or by implication with any law that is in force. The custom or practice of banishment fails fatally on this test, he said.

He argued that the inaccessibility of Kano State Emirate Council Law of 2019 under which the deposed Emir was prosecuted, opened a room for contention.

The law must be interpreted in its context and would be valid only to the extent of its consistency with the 1999 Constitution. Any state law that engenders (a) violation of the constitution is invalid. Its much more offensive when state legislation interferes with fundamental rights that are enshrined in the basic structure of the constitution,

For Judith Agbotean, the issue of banishment in Nigeria is incompatible with the law for the time being because the constitutional provision of the right to movement and private life, invalidates it.

The way forward

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mike Ozekhome, said not only were the governments actions contrary to the Nigerian Constitution but, also to Articles 4, 5 and 6 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, Cap A9 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

To ensure the enforcement of the deposed Emirs fundamental human rights, he said, court redress must be sought after.

Legal machinery might be set in motion as Mr Sanusis legal team, led by Abubakar Mahmoud, on Tuesday, said it would challenge his banishment.

While the deposed Emir said he would recline to fate and accept his dethronement, Mr Mahmoud said his team would take legal actions against his banishment because it is illegal, unconstitutional and a clear abuse of power.

It remains unclear whether Mr Sanusi would challenge any of the actions taken against him on Monday.
"May the work I've done speak for me."

Believing that one who has been given much should give back with equal measure, Anita has been a faithful philanthropist.

After two years as a social case worker in the Detroit area, Anita, looking for another way to help people, enrolled in the University of Michigan Law School. She served as Assistant Attorney General for the State of Michigan before joining The Dow Chemical Company Legal Department. Serving her department as United Way Campaign solicitor ultimately resulted in her serving on the United Way board and numerous others.

She and her husband have contributed heavily to Michigan educational institutions, the arts, the Midland Food Pantry and Backpack Buddies programs, and various faith and social welfare networks.

Deeply committed to the betterment of the Midland community, she has hosted informal workshops for members of the Black community encouraging their interest in philanthropy and investment in support of local needs.

EDITOR'S NOTE: As part of Women's History Month, the Daily News is publishing some of the portraits of local women who are part of the "Explore 20/20 Vision: Seeing HERstory" exhibit on display in the Alden B. Dow Museum of Science & Art at the Midland Center for the Arts. The exhibit, open through April 26, takes an in-depth view of women's contributions to the nation and the local community that shaped the last 100 years in the United States. The exhibit highlights many local Michigan women making a difference today and the change makers of tomorrow.
Update:

San Antonio police identified the person who allegedly killed a retired Converse Police Department assistant chief on Tuesday night.

Jeanne-Nicole Bernice Coutros, 23, faces charges of intoxicated manslaughter and evading arrest.

Original story:

A 23-year-old woman was charged with intoxicated manslaughter after killing a retired Converse Police Department assistant chief on Tuesday night.

The woman was fleeing from police when he hit a Lincoln SUV, killing 59-year-old Rodney Rheiner, who was in the passenger seat of the Lincoln, according to San Antonio police.

Police said an officer noticed the suspect was driving erratically in a Toyota Tacoma on the 14300 block of Nacodoches near Bell at around 11 p.m. and attempted to pull him over.

The suspect stopped abruptly in the left traffic lane, but when the officer approached the truck, the suspect took off, SAPD said. The officer thought the driver was pulling off the roadway and followed the Tacoma, but then noticed it was speeding up and passing vehicles in the center turn lane. The officer turned off his emergency lights, notified dispatch of the situation and continued to the call he was assigned to, SAPD said.

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SAPD policy prohibits officers from engaging in a vehicle pursuit for traffic infractions, ordinance violations, non-violent misdemeanors and non-violent felonies, the department said. Fleeing from an officer is not considered a violent felony therefore, vehicle pursuits are not authorized based on the fact the vehicle is fleeing, the policy reads.

The suspect continued down Nacogdoches, driving at a high rate of speed mostly in the center turn lane, SAPD said. As the driver attempted to make a left turn onto Friesenhahn Court, another vehicle pulled in front of her to also make a left turn. The Tacoma swerved into oncoming traffic to avoid the second vehicle and hit the SUV Rheiner was in.

The crash was near where the attempted traffic stop took place, SAPD said.

Rheiner was transported to the hospital but later died from his injuries.

The suspect is suspected of driving under the influence and was arrested at the scene, police said.

Taylor Pettaway is a breaking news reporter and general assignment writer. Read her on our breaking news site, MySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com | taylor.pettaway@express-news.net | @TaylorPettaway

Editor's Note: The story has been updated to say the suspect is a woman.
US Insurance Firms to Cover Coronavirus Costs

By VOA News March 10, 2020

U.S. health insurance companies will cover costs for coronavirus testing, Vice President Mike Pence said at a White House meeting Tuesday with company executives.

"All of the insurance companies here today or before today have agreed to waive all co-pays on coronavirus testing and extend coverage for coronavirus treatment in all of their benefit plans," Pence said.

Pence said the companies will also pay for costs to provide telemedicine care to patients so that they do not have to leave home.

U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to announce a proposed economic stimulus package Tuesday in response to the outbreak after discussing it earlier in the day with Senate Republicans. Included in the proposal is a payroll tax cut, an idea that has drawn opposition from some Republicans and Democrats.

Senate Democratic Leader Charles Schumer said Tuesday the top priority for the U.S. should instead be accelerating testing capabilities.

"I think the U.S. has done a very good job in testing," Trump told reporters after meeting with the senators. "It will go away, just stay calm."

Xi visits Wuhan

Chinese President Xi Jinping traveled Tuesday to the city of Wuhan for his first visit since the area became the center of a coronavirus outbreak that has infected more than 80,000 people and killed 3,100 in China.

Xi, wearing a mask, met with medical workers and patients at several sites in Wuhan, capital of the Hubei province, including a hospital that was built in days specifically for COVID-19 patients.

"Through arduous efforts, there has been a promising turn in epidemic containment in Hubai and Wuhan, and we have achieved important interim results," state media reported Xi as saying.

Xi, who also inspected efforts to control the outbreak, visited Wuhan as health officials reported 19 new cases Tuesday, part of a continuing trend of fewer and fewer infections in China as the virus spreads more rapidly in other countries. About 70% of China's cases have already recovered.

'Very real' threat

Part of China's response was to lock down large areas to try to prevent the virus from spreading at large gatherings or among travelers going to other areas in the country.

Italy is now taking the same strategy after becoming one of the largest outbreak sites outside of China, with more than 9,000 cases and 460 deaths.

The Italian government initially put restrictions on the northern part of the country, but Tuesday brought the start of travel restrictions to the entire country of 60 million people.

In Iran, officials said Tuesday the coronavirus has killed 54 more people, bringing the death toll in the Islamic Republic to 291.

The head of the World Health Organization said Monday that the coronavirus has gained a foothold in so many countries that "the threat of a pandemic has become very real." But WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus voiced optimism, as well, saying, it "would be the first pandemic in history that could be controlled."

Outbreaks in U.S.

In the United States, which has about 700 cases and 28 deaths from the virus, several areas with outbreaks are banning large gatherings, while major universities, including Harvard, Stanford, the University of Washington and Ohio State University are holding classes only online.

In New York state, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced the establishment of containment areas to combat the virus in the city of New Rochelle. Large gathering locations such as schools and places of worship within a one-mile zone of the city have been ordered to close for 14 days. New Rochelle is located in Westchester County, which is developing as the epicenter of the outbreak in the state.

The outbreak has prompted Defense Secretary Mark Esper to cancel an upcoming overseas trip.

"Out of an abundance of caution, the secretary of defense has decided to postpone his travel to India, Uzbekistan and Pakistan until a later date to remain in the U.S. to help manage the DoD response" to COVID-19, his press secretary said.

Four members of the U.S. Congress are self-quarantining after having contact at a recent political conference with someone who tested positive. Incoming White House chief of staff Mark Meadows may have had contact and is also isolating himself until Wednesday.

Trump, who spoke at the conference and had contact with several people who had direct contact with the infected person, has not been tested for the coronavirus.

White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham said in a statement late Monday the president "has neither had prolonged close contact with any known confirmed COVID-19 patients, nor does he have any symptoms," and that White House doctors will monitor him.

Elsewhere, Germany reported its first two deaths from the coronavirus, but Chancellor Angela Merkel warned against thinking that it is in vain to try to halt the spread of the virus.

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A Portlaoise man who caused a drunken disturbance in public has been placed on a peace bond for one year and told to abstain from alcohol.

At last weeks sitting of Portlaoise District Court, Philip Gannon (35),with a listed address at 39 Doctor Murphy Place, Portlaoise, was charged with being intoxicated in a public place, and using threatening or abusive behaviour, at Kilminchy, Portlaoise, on October 22 last year.

When the case first came before the court last year, Sgt JJ Kirby gave evidence that the accused was harassing members of the public outside the pharmacy.

When the gardai arrived they found him drinking beer in a highly intoxicated state.

He was unsteady on his feet and shouting at members of the public, so the gardai arrested him.

He resisted arrest and tried to wrestle a garda to the ground, in the process pulling the gardas stab vest off.

The accused had 29 previous convictions.

Defence, Ms Louise Troy said the accused was currently residing at the psychiatric unit of Portlaoise hospital and he has very little family support.

Judge Catherine Staines said he causes havoc when he drinks and asked was there a psychiatric report on the accused.

Ms Troy replied that she could try to obtain one.

The matter was put back to March 5 for a psychiatric report.

When the case retunred to court last week, Judge Staines imposed a peace bond for one year, with a condition attached that the defendant must abstain from alcohol.
Up to 1,575 new homes can now be built on underused land in the city, but the rezoning of industrial land falls well below the original plan to provide 3,500 houses and apartments.

There is now enough land rezoned in Dublin to build 52,000 homes, but all these sites are at different stages of development.

Dublin City Council has rezoned industrial lands scattered across the city to allow residential development. However, the scale of the plan was slimmed down after local objections.

The two biggest sites up for rezoning were in Santry, which had the capacity to build 1,200 homes. These were pulled due to opposition as residents were worried about high-rise developments and traffic issues.

The Department of Education had also said if the rezoning had gone ahead school places in the area would need to be reviewed.

Another large site in East Wall was withdrawn after the Office of the Planning Regulator said the land was set aside for an eastern bypass under Dublin Bay, which may be built in the future.

Of the 17 sites councillors ultimately voted on, 16 of them were rezoned.

The exception was the proposal to rezone the Greenmount Industrial Estate in Harold's Cross.

Jobs

A number of sites in Coolock, Ballyfermot, Drimnagh and Crumlin will have to have master plans before planning permission can be applied for.

The zoning on those sites was changed to mixed use to protect existing jobs in industrial parks.

The original 20 sites making up 55 hectares were intended to be rezoned for home building.

Assuming 100 units per hectare, and that half the land would be used for residential and the other for commercial, the sites had the potential to provide 3,000 to 3,500 additional homes in the city. However, from the original plan to rezone enough land to build 3,500 homes, the final number ended up at 1,575 units.

The primary objection from councillors was that most of the planning applications would go straight to An Bord Pleanala as Strategic Housing Developments, in which the council would not have any say.

The council's management said there was an obligation to provide as much land for house building as possible in areas close to the city. The big advantage is these sites are all well serviced with transport links, roads, water and drainage and are in already built-up areas.

Dublin City Council chief executive Owen Keegan revealed there was enough land zoned in the city to build 52,000 homes.

Meanwhile, the council also passed a motion calling on the new government to bring in a two-year minimum rent freeze.

Fianna Fail councillor Mary Fitzpatrick said it was even more relevant because of the coronavirus outbreak as people working in the gig economy, the self-employed and contractors were seeing their incomes devastated.

Fianna Fail's motion was supported by Sinn Fein, the Labour Party, Green Party and Social Democrats but opposed by Fine Gael. That party's councillor James Geoghegan said a rent freeze might result in more landlords leaving the market.
A Biju Janata Dal (BJD) delegation led by its leader Prasanna Acharya on Wednesday met Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the parliament here.

The delegation demanded the central government to return Rs 545 crore, which was deposited in the Yes Bank, to the trust of Jagannath Temple in Puri.

Speaking to ANI, Acharya said, "The minister has assured us that all the money of the temple will be returned."

The central bank suspended the board of directors at India's fourth-largest private bank and imposed the withdrawal limit on account holders till April 3 citing its poor financial health due to bad loans.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
New Delhi, March 11 : Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Wednesday announced the withdrawal of the suspension of all seven Congress MPs after all members in the House in a voice vote gave their nod to the proposal presented by Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Arjun Ram Meghwal.

Birla took the decision following a short debate by members representing their parties in the House. The debate began in the Lower House after an all party meeting was chaired by the Speaker in his chamber in Parliament.

Before announcing the withdrawal of the March 5 suspension order against the Congress MPs, Birla said: "All members have expressed their views. They talked about India's unity. Whenever the question is raised against Parliament, all members try to maintain the dignity of the House because it is a temple of expectations of 130 crore Indians." "Everybody wants that Parliament should be sacred. Last two sessions have been excellent. Despite disruptions, the House was not suspended. I am personally unhappy over whatever incident happened in the House in the last few days. Showing placard in Parliament, throwing papers and other things was not good.

"I was told that there had been similar disruptions in the past too. But, I want to ask if these were good things and were they necessary." Referring to the all party meeting, Birla said several parties assured that their members will not come to the well.

"I am happy over this assurance. Agreement and disagreement is a natural instinct. But we should not cross the limits and respect the dignity of the House. I don't want to take decisions to suspend members of the House for their conduct." The Congress members who had been suspended included T.N. Prathapan, Dean Kuriakosh, Gaurav Gogoi, Unnithan, Gurpreet Singh Aujala, Benny Behanan and Manikkam Tagore.

The suspension was to remain in place for the rest of the Budget Session which ends on April 3.

The action came about after the Congress party MPs snatched a copy of a Bill, tore the papers and tossed them at Rama Devi who was in the Chair at the time.

Parliament resumed proceedings on Wednesday after it was adjourned on March 6.

Ever since Parliament resumed the Budget session on March 2, the Congress MPs had been disrupting proceedings with slogans demanding the resignation of Home Minister Amit Shah over the violence that shook several parts of northeast Delhi from February 23 to 25.
Harris County health officials are asking some passengers who returned to Houston on a flight from Italy a week ago to self-isolate after testing confirmed a woman on the plane has the new coronavirus.

The case, the fifth in Harris County outside the city of Houston, involves a woman in her 20s who had been living in Italy. She contacted her healthcare provider after exhibiting mild flu-like symptoms upon returning to her home in the southwest quadrant of the county.

Fourteen people in the Houston region have now been diagnosed with COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus.

Harris County officials Tuesday night called for the isolation of passengers who sat in the business/first class section of a Lufthansa (LH309) flight from Florence to Frankfurt March 3 (10:05 a.m.-11:45 a.m.); and in the business/first class section of a United Airlines (UA47) flight from Frankfurt to Houston the same day (1:50 p.m.-6:10 p.m.). Other passengers on the flight do not need to isolate themselves.

The officials added that such passengers should contact their local health department for additional guidance and call their healthcare provider before going to the facility if they want to see a doctor.

The woman did not require hospitalization and currently is quarantined at home, where she is recovering.

Local testing found the woman was presumptively positive for the virus. It still must be confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.

Earlier Tuesday, Montgomery County officials Tuesday announced a first case of the new coronavirus there, a man in his 40s being treated at an unspecified local hospital.

It was not immediately clear if that case is related to travel, specifically the Nile River cruise where all 12 of the area people previously diagnosed the past week contracted the infection. Montgomery County officials said they hope to have the patients travel history and other information Wednesday.

Like it was in the woman returning from Italy, the test for the Montgomery County man was presumptively positive and still must be confirmed by the CDC.

In a news release, the county said that healthcare providers are following strict guidelines from the CDC in interactions with the patient, who is isolated at the hospital.

Previously, doctors confirmed the virus in six patients in Harris County (two of them in Houston) and six in Fort Bend County. All were passengers on the same cruise line in Egypt.

The Pennsylvania-based company that advertised the package, Gate 1 Travel, has since canceled all its Nile River cruises through May 31. It also has provided the CDC with copies of its passenger manifest from the Feb. 12-19 cruise as well as subsequent sailings during the following weeks, spokesman Marty Seslow said.

There are now 17 confirmed cases in Texas. Collin County health officials in north Texas this week confirmed three cases of the virus there  a man, his wife and their 3-year-old child. The man traveled to California for a business trip in late February, officials said.

todd.ackerman@chron.com
Mangaluru head-quartered on Wednesday said it is well capitalised, fundamentally strong bank and depositors need not worry about safety of their money.

"We have been consistently maintaining CRAR above the minimum prescribed by the RBI as well as the bank's internal policy. As per the audited balance sheet as on 31 March 2019, Capital to Risk Weighted Assets Ratio (CRAR) of stood at 13.17 per cent which is well above the minimum regulatory prescription," Managing Director and CEO Mahabaleshwara M S said in a statement.

Allaying fears of depositors, he further said the bank is in existence for over 96 years which is built on the trust of its 11 million satisfied customers across the country, is well capitalized, professionally managed and a fundamentally strong bank.

Mahabaleshwara appealed customers not to be carried away by any misleading and absurd reports on the on the television or social media.

"Across the globe, the health of a bank is measured by referring to Capital to Risk Weighted Assets Ratio (CRAR) and not by referring to the so called M-Cap (market capital) to deposit ratio," he said.

Earlier last week, the Chief Economic Adviser Krishnamurthy Subramanian had also clarified that globally also the M-cap ratio is not the right metric to measure banks' health and financial position.

Besides, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) as well as SBI chief Rajnish Kumar and other banking experts have categorically endorsed the views and asserted that in India are well capitalized and are safe and healthy.

Karnataka Bank was the third private sector lender on Wednesday that came up with statements on its financial position. Earlier in the day, RBL Bank and Karur Vysya Bank (KVB) had also issued statements, urging depositors not to fall prey to unfounded rumours in the aftermath of the Yes Bank crisis that has shaken customers confidence in the banking system.
Coronavirus Outbreak Updates:The government on Saturday put the number of coronavirus positive cases in the country at 84 and issued directives to states specifying list of items and norms of assistance for containment of COVID-19 under their disaster funds

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"Death of a 68-year-old woman from West Delhi (mother of a confirmed case of COVID-19), is confirmed to be caused due to co-morbidity (diabetes and hypertension). She also tested positive for COVID-19," ANI reported.

This is the first death due to COVID-19 in the National Capital, which reported six cases of the flu-like disease that has claimed more than 5,000 lives worldwide and infected more than one lakh people in 116 countries.

India recorded the second death due to the novel coronavirus pandemic on Friday night after a 68-year-old woman passed away in Delhi's Ram Manohar Lohia hospital.

"We will defeat this threat," Trump told a news conference, adding, "When America is tested, America rises to the occasion."

At the White House, where Trump made the emergency decree, drug company executives vowed to work together and with the government to quickly expand the country's coronavirus testing capabilities, which are far behind those in many countries.

The United States declared a state of emergency on Friday as many European countries went on a war footing amid mounting deaths. President Donald Trump has said the step will 'open up access to up to $50bn' and ordered all 50 states to set up centres to deal with the virus and activate contingency plans.

These items will remain under the essential commodities segment till the end of June, reports said, which is a move aimed at ensuring availability at reasonable prices and cracking down on hoarders/black marketeers.

The Centre declared masks (two-ply and three-ply as well as the N-95 variety) and hand sanitizers as 'essential commodities' in the wake of the coronavirus scare leading to shortages and black marketing of these items.

"US Mission India posts, in light of the global COVID-19 pandemic, are cancelling immigrant and nonimmigrant visa appointments from March 16, 2020, onward. Your visa appointment stands as cancelled. Once Mission India resumes regular consular operations, appointments will be made available and you will be able to reschedule," read the statement.

The US embassy and consulates in India are cancelling both immigrant and non-immigrant visa appointments from 16 March in view of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

"Programs such as Music in the Park and Drama Manchana to be held during this period will also be postponed," said Gehlot.

Ramping up the precautionary measures in its fight against the coronavirus pandemic, the Ashok Gehlot-led Congress government in Rajasthan has ordered closure of schools, colleges, coaching centers, gyms and cinema halls till 30 March.

Posts on his official Facebook and Twitter accounts said that "The Armed Forces Hospital and (diagnostic laboratory) Sabin have returned a negative test result for COVID-19." Bolsonaro included a photo of himself flexing.

Bolsonaro and a large Brazilian entourage, including cabinet ministers, met with Trump and other senior US officials last weekend at Mar-a-Lago. One of the party, Bolsonaros communications secretary Fabio Wajngarten, tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday and is in quarantine.

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who met with President Donald Trump in the United States less than a week ago, has tested negative for coronavirus, a post on his Facebook page said on Friday.

"Our message to countries continues to be: You must take a comprehensive approach. Not testing alone. Not contact tracing alone. Not quarantine alone. Not social distancing alone. Do it all."

On Friday, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said that Europe was now the 'epicentre' of the disease. "Europe has now become epicenter of COVID-19 pandemic, with more reported cases and deaths than the rest of the world combined, apart from China. More cases are now being reported every day than were reported in China at the height of its epidemic.

Most of Africas reported cases were foreigners or people who had travelled abroad.

The fast-spreading COVID-19 has now taken a foothold in 19 countries in Africa, a continent facing a challenge due to lack of health services. Kenya, Ethiopia, Sudan, Guinea and Mauritania all confirmed their first cases of the novel coronavirus on Friday.

"Tournaments affected include the YONEX Swiss Open 2020, YONEX-SUNRISE India Open 2020, Orleans Masters 2020, CELCOM Axiata Malaysia Open 2020, and Singapore Open 2020, as well as a number of international Grade 3 tournaments," the BWF said.

The situation, it said, has been aggravated by heightened travel and quarantine restrictions in place and the subsequent extreme logistical complications this causes to the movement of badminton athletes.

The BWF said in a statement that the escalation of the COVID-19 outbreak globally has forced it to cancel or postpone all tournaments from 16 March to 12 April.

The India Open badminton tournament was on Friday suspended at least till 12 April after the Badminton World Federation (BWF) decided to halt all events from 16 March due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The toll from the outbreak in had reached 3,189 as of the end of Friday, up by 13 from the previous day. All of the latest deaths were in the central province of Hubei, the epicentre of the outbreak, and 10 of them were in Hubei's provincial capital of Wuhan.

China on Friday reported 11 new confirmed cases of coronavirus, up from eight cases a day earlier, the country's National Health Commission said on Saturday. This brings the total number of confirmed cases in China so far to 80,824.

The Italian government hopes that stricter containment measures  including an almost total lockdown of shops, bars, and other commercial activities  will help curtail the fast-spreading virus, which has now its epicenter in Europe, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

The total number of cases rose to 17,660 from 15,113 the day before, an increase of some 17%.

The toll in Italy due to the novel coronavirus continued to be on the rise, reaching 1,266 after recording the highest daily jump on Friday. According to the latest figures provided by the Italian Civil Protection Department, 250 more people died of disease in the last 24 hours.

"The number of coronavirus positive cases in Maharashtra has gone up to 19 after one case each was reported from Mumbai and Ahmednagar on Friday," Tope told reporters outside the state legislature complex in Mumbai.

The two new cases were reported from Mumbai and Ahmednagar, he said.

With two more people testing positive for COVID-19 in Maharashtra, the number of infected individuals in the state has gone up to 19, state Health Minister Rajesh Tope said on Saturday.

"All RSS workers should cooperate with administration to create awareness among public and to face this challenge successfully," Sangh's executive head Joshi said in a statement.

"In view of the seriousness of the pandemic COVID-19 and in the light of instructions and advisories thereof issues by the Union and the state govts, the Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha (ABPS) meeting scheduled in Bangaluru has been suspended.

The annual meeting of the Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha (ABPS) was to be held in Bengaluru from 15 to 17 March to decide on the organisation's future course of action.

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh suspended its three-day annual meeting of its highest decision-making body scheduled to begin on Saturday, RSS general secretary Suresh 'Bhaiyyaji' Joshi said.

Florida politicians such as US Senator Rick Scott had expressed concerns about coming into contact with the Brazilian president's press secretary Fabio Wajngarten, who tested positive after joining Bolsonaro in a visit to Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate last weekend.

Mayor Francis Suarez said in a Friday statement that he was not feeling any symptoms and advised anyone who shook hands with him or was close to him since Monday to self-isolate for 14 days.

The mayor of the city of Miami has tested positive for the new coronavirus after meeting with a Brazilian senior official who was also in close proximity to President Donald Trump.

An isolation ward has been set up at the Tihar jail in Delhi as a precaution against the novel coronavirus. While all inmates have been checked and they have not displayed symptoms, new inmates are being screened and will be kept in different wards for three days. Around 17,500 inmates are lodged at the jail currently.

The Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam (BAPS) Swaminarayan Sanstha, which runs about 100 temples in the US, over the weekend in particular is visited by thousands of devotees every month.

COVID-19, which has been declared as a pandemic by the World Health Organisation, has claimed over 5,000 lives, including 41 in the US, and infected more than 134,000 people globally.

In view of the rapid spread of the novel coronavirus, the Swaminarayan sect has announced to close all its temples globally and suspend routine activities until further notice as part of its efforts to protect the health of volunteers, visitors and local communities.

Announcing closure of schools, colleges, and theatres, and many public events, including the Indian Premier League (IPL), were also postponed as the Union Health Ministry on Friday put the number of confirmed cases at 82.

There are 83 people in total who are infected with the novel coronavirus, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said on Saturday. On Friday, several states across India went into battle mode to contain the spread of COVID-19.

The couple, who recently returned from their honeymoon in Italy, were put under quarantine after the husband showed symptoms of the disease. However, the health officials informed that the wife escaped from Bengaluru on 8 March, took a flight to New Delhi and travelled to Agra to be with her parents.

The wife of a Google techie who earlier this week had tested positive for COVID-19 in Bengaluru, has been infected with the virus in Agra on Friday, The Times of India reported.

It is hard to quantify exactly how much money is at stake but theatres in Delhi alone may incur a loss of Rs 2 lakh to 10 lakh in the coming 10 days without earning a single penny, said film distributor Joginder Mahajan, who is also the general secretary of the Motion Pictures Association in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

With theatres in parts of the country under lockdown, shootings stalled and promotional events and interviews on hold due to the spread of coronavirus, the television and film industries are facing huge losses , say experts.

"We have evacuated the IIPM building as a precautionary measure," a company official said on Saturday adding the place was being sanitised.

An internal communication from the office here read, "We have received information about a situation of a team member from the IIPM building, who may have been in proximity to an individual with suspected COVID-19."

The development comes after the Karnataka government advised IT and other professionals working in air-conditioned places to work from home for time being, for about a week, to prevent the spread of the COVID-19.

The Infosys in Bengaluru has evacuated one of its satellite office buildings following reports of its employee coming in the proximity with a suspected coronavirus patient.

Speaking to Firstpost, one of the company's official said, "We also have a comprehensive pandemics response plan which is based on WHO and local government recommendations. In the light of the rapid spread of coronavirus, we are constantly monitoring the situation, following applicable government directives and ensuring regular communication with our employees across the world. We have put in place several measures; including increased precautions at our facilities, travel advisories, remote working, and a dedicated helpdesk, to ensure employee safety and business continuity.

After evacuating one of its satellite office buildings in Bengaluru in an attempt to fight coronavirus out, Infosys said it has well-defined disaster recovery and business continuity plans at various levels.

"There is a major rise in the manufacturing and export of personal protective equipment as people rush to medical stores to get their hands on either N95 or surgical face masks to protect themselves from the threat of coronavirus.The major demand is witnessed from Indian cities and mostly for reselling purposes. Along with the mask, the demand for mask making machines has also surged by 250 percent," Chhettri added.

Speaking to Firstpost, Mr. Sandip Chhettri, COO, TradeIndia.com said, " In the last 15 days, the demand for sanitizers has increased by 559 percent; face mask has increased by 334 percent; hand wash has increased by 81 percent; and disposable gloves has increased by 66 percent. Apart from the three major cities (Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru), the demand has also surged in Hyderabad, Kolkata, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Gurugram, Surat, Pune, Srinagar, etc."

Amid the coronavirus alarm in India, the sale of face masks, sanitizer, and gloves have soared in the country. The demand for these protective products has skyrocketed to the tune of over 500 percent in the last 15 days, compared to the previous 15 days. The virus that has so far killed over 5,000 people and has affected over 1.4 lakh people worldwide, as a result increasing the demand for personal protective equipment in Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru and other major cities of India.

"On reviewing the advisory issued by the Government and in view of the opinion of public health experts including medical professionals and also considering the safety and welfare of all the visitors, litigants, lawyers, court staff, security, maintenance and support staff, student interns and media professionals, the Competent Authority has been pleased to direct that the functioning of the courts from Monday (16 March) shall be restricted to urgent matters with such number of Benches as may be found appropriate," another notification stated.

The top court, in a notification issued on Friday, announced that six benches of the court will sit and take up urgent matters from 16 March.

In view of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the functioning of the Supreme Court will be restricted to urgent matters from Monday when six benches will sit to hear such cases.

"The Kingdom's government decided to suspend international flights for two weeks (Starting from Sunday 15 March) as part of its efforts to prevent the spread of coronavirus," the foreign ministry tweeted.

As a precautionary measure to fight the coronavirus outbreak, Saudi Arabia on Saturday said it would suspend international flights for two weeks .

One person has died so far, according to Reuters news agency.

On Saturday, Thailand recorded seven more new coronavirus cases, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the Southeast Asian country to 82, health officials said.

A 55-year-old from Hubei province could have been the first person to have contracted the viral infection on and cases rapidly began piling up since then, the report said, without revealing the gender of the individual.

Chinese authorities have so far identified at least 266 people who were infected in 2019. All the 266 individuals came under medical surveillance at some point, Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported.

The first case of novel coronavirus can be traced back to 17 November, 2019, in China's Hubei province, which subsequently became its epicentre as it rapidly spread at home and abroad before Chinese health officials could identify the deadly virus, according to a media report on Friday.

The spokesperson had earlier said Pakistan was ready to extend assistance to its neighbours.

"The threat of COVID-19 requires coordinated efforts at global and regional level. We have communicated that SAPM (special assistant to Prime Minister) on Health will be available to participate in video conference of SAARC member countries on the issue," the tweet read.

In a tweet posted early Saturday morning, the spokesperson said the Special Assistant (Health) to Prime Minister Imran Khan had been deputed to participate in a proposed video conference call on measures to deal with COVID-19.

A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi proposed the SAARC nations to work together to control the fast-spreading coronavirus, a spokesperson for Pakistan's Foreign Affairs ministry responded, acknowledging the need for "coordinated efforts at global and regional levels".

Coles Group chief executive officer Steve Cain said there are some additional limits on certain items in each store and has temporarily suspended change-of-mind refunds.

Coles customers will be limited to two packets of pasta, flour, rice, paper towels, paper tissues and hand sanitiser per transaction, it confirmed on Friday.

Coles and Woolworths have introduced a limit on purchase of some goods to ensure there is enough for everyone, especially the elderly, by preventing people from stockpiling.

Supermarket giants have put limits on purchase of food staples to prevent panic buying sparked by the COVID-19, according to Australian Associated Press.

She said remote New Zealand had been relatively unscathed by coronavirus so far, with six confirmed cases and no fatalities, but the evidence showed the numbers would inevitably rise in the face of a global pandemic.

Ardern said the "unprecedented and far-reaching" measure would come into effect from midnight on Sunday and affect all inbound travellers except those from Pacific island nations.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced that all international visitors must quarantine themselves upon arrival for 14 days to help slow the spread of COVID-19.

The move comes after Bhutan recently issued a notification to the Alipurduar district administration informing it about a halt in tourist and business activities in the wake of coronavirus outbreak, he said.

The West Bengal Police, which mans the border gate on the Indian side in Jaigaon in Alipurduar district, stopped the movement of goods and travellers from India to Bhutan on Friday evening, the official said.

The West Bengal government has sealed the state's border with Bhutan in the wake of novel coronavirus outbreak, a senior official said on Saturday.

Air India will also send another flight to Milan on Saturday to bring back stranded Indians. This flight is scheduled to take off around 12 pm- 1 pm on Saturday and it will land on Sunday morning at 7.45 am Delhi airport, Ali said. So far 83 Indians from Italy have already arrived in the country

The government has also sent a team of four doctors from the Ministry of Health to Rome. They have reached Rome with sufficient material and reagents to collect samples of Indians there for onward testing in India.

"As per the need, more such special flights will be operated to bring back Indians who have tested negative. India is also coordinating treatment of positive people in Iran as per protocol," the official said.

A Mahan Air flight carrying Indian pilgrims stranded in coronavirus-hit Iran is expected to land on Saturday in Delhi, Ministry of Civil Aviation Joint Secretary Rubina Ali said.

The authorities at the Nigambodh cremation ground had earlier denied to cremate the woman in order to prevent the spreading of the virus. The number of confirmed cases in the country rose to 83 on Saturday.

The woman, who passed away in Delhi's Ram Manohar Lohia hospital, was the the second death recorded in India due to COVID-19. The first one was reported in Karnataka on Thursday.

After initial refusal, the Nigambodh Ghat allowed the funeral of the 68-year-old woman who succumed to coronavirus in Delhi on Friday. The funeral will take place inside CNG supplied crematory.

KK Aggarwal, President, Heart Care Foundation of India (HCFI) and Confederation of Medical Associations of Asia and Oceania (CMAAO), said, "The elderly and the sick may have an immune response that is dangerous. This is referred to as a cytokine storm. There is an overproduction of immune cells that flood into the lungs, causing pneumonia, inflammation and shortness of breath. Therefore, utmost care must be taken with the elderly and they should avoid going outdoors specially to crowded places or commuting in public transport for the time being.

However, for others, it is a good idea to teach them the basics including calling up a specialist in case of an emergency or symptoms. They can even video call the doctor for their appointment since they may not be able to venture out much.

Senior citizens who stay alone must keep some important things in mind to deal with the outbreak. Those who have elderly at home should also consider these tips to keep any complications at bay. 1. Take everyday precautions. Make sure to eat medications on time and keep all vitals under check 2. Keep away from others who are sick, limit close contact, and wash your hands often. Avoid crowds as much as possible 3. Eat foods that are rich in antioxidants and help in building your immunity levels. Include dark and green leafy vegetables and whole grains 4. Senior citizens nowadays are technologically sound and understand how to use smartphones. This can help them keep up with their appointments, etc.

Asserting that his government was taking all necessary steps to prevent the spread of the virus in the state, the chief minister said a meeting of senior officials has been convened to discuss the COVID-19 situation.

The samples of two others with suspected symptoms of the virus have been sent to the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune, he said.

The patient with travel history to Italy has been admitted to the state-run Gandhi hospital in the city for quarantine purpose, Rao told the assembly.

Another case of COVID-19 was confirmed in Telangana on Saturday taking the total number of those infected to two, Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao said.

The spokesperson, however, announced that "all examinations of the university and schools will be held as per schedule". He said students may consult teachers via e-mail for help (if required).

"During a special meeting of top university officials presided over by Vice Chancellor Prof Tariq Mansoor, it was decided today that all conferences, workshops, educational tours and sports programmes have been postponed till 31 March," AMU spokesperson Omar Peerzada told PTI.

The Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) on Saturday suspended all classes, including sessional tests, till March 22 as a precautionary measure in view of novel coronavirus threat.

In all of our offices, we are moving to flexible work arrangements worldwide outside of Greater China, he added. That means team members should work remotely if their job allows.Apple reopened all 42 of its branded stores in China on Friday.

Apple Inc said late on Friday it will close all its retail stores, except those in Greater China, for the next two weeks to minimize the risk of coronavirus transmission. "We will be closing all of our retail stores outside of Greater China until March 27," Apple CEO Tim Cook wrote in a letter apple posted on the company's website.

He further said, out of over 11 lakh passengers who were screened at 30 airports only 3,225 were referred to tests.

Speaking at "Wings India 2020" an aviation-related event being held here, the Union Minister said there would be a drop of 15 to 20 percent in domestic air traffic for time being due to the virus concerns.

Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Saturday said so far nearly 12 lakh passengers coming from abroad have been screened for coronavirus at various airports across the country.

"If it were technically necessary to consider mechanisms of restriction or stronger surveillance we would have to take into account not that Mexico would bring the virus to the United States, rather that the United States could bring it here," he told a news conference."

Mexico so far has confirmed 16 cases of the coronavirus, with no deaths. In the United States, 41 people have died.

Mexico could consider measures at its northern border to slow the spread of the coronavirus into its relatively unaffected territory, health officials said on Friday, with an eye to containing a US outbreak that has infected more than 1,800 people.

According to The Times of India, the man was first admitted to in the isolation ward of the SPM Civil Hospital on Friday night after health officials came to know that he came in close proximity with a female doctor who tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday and at present undergoing treatment at KGMU.

A 20-year-old man, resident of Indiranagar, was shifted to the isolation ward of the King Georges Medical University (KGMU) in the morning after lab test confirmed.

On Saturday, second confirmed case of the novel coronavirus was reported in Lucknow. The first confirmed case was recorded in Telangana.

"80 percent of our expected business was from home. And after Delhi, Jammu and Kerala, there were orders to shut down theatres in Bihar, Karnataka, and UP though the UP CM has left the decision to the theatre management, and the big hit was when Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai, Pune, and Nagpur were also declared out of bounds," Mirror reports Vijan as saying.

In a recent interview with Mumbai Mirror, producer Dinesh Vijan said the box office figures are likely to take a major hit, especially since the film cannot be screened in Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, Kerala, Mumbai, Karnataka, and Uttar Pradesh.

Despite coronavirus pandemic, Irrfan Khan and Radhika Madan-starrer Angrezi Medium, which hit theatres on Friday, has performed well on its opening day at the box office, picking up Rs 4.03 crore at the ticketing counters.

"There were six to seven options discussed during the meeting between team owners and BCCI including a curtailed IPL," a BCCI source told PTI on conditions of anonymity after the meeting.

The BCCI on Friday suspended the IPL from 29 March to 15 April and also called off the ODI series against South Africa.

The BCCI on Saturday discussed the option of conducting a curtailed Indian Premier League with the eight IPL franchise owners in wake of the COVID-19 pandemic that has led to the event being suspended by a fortnight.

"There will be a review of the situation on 30 March, following which further decision will be taken," they added.

Internal examinations of these institutions will also remain suspended during this period, the officials said.

All educational institutions in West Bengal will remain shut till 31 March in the wake of coronavirus threat, officials said on Saturday. Board examinations will, however, continue as per schedule.

He said to Mumbai Mirror, "The government or industry associations might come out with some new instructions tomorrow, and we will have to adhere to them. So, we cant predict anything."

Kangana Ranaut is heading to Chennai for the third schedule of Jayalalithaa biopic Thalaivi, which is supposed to start from next week. Shailash R Singh, who is financing the directorial, says it is going to be a 45-day schedule, and will be filmed in Chennai and Hyderabad.

Even as authorities take measures to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus pandemic, the makers of the Jayalalithaa biopic , Durgavati, Sherni, and Mumbai Saga are braving the odds to continue filming their projects.

"Four persons, including two women, had come to the Indira Gandhi Government Medical College and Hospital (IGGMCH) on Friday morning to give their blood samples for suspected coronavirus infection. They were kept in the isolation ward. However, at night they left the hospital without informing the authorities, a police official said.

According to police, the four persons were later traced and asked to return to the hospital. Their test results are awaited.

Four persons admitted to a government-run hospital in Nagpur for suspected coronavirus infection, returned home without informing the authorities, police said on Saturday. The incident occurred late Friday night, they said.

An ex-gratia relief of Rs 4 lakh will be given to kin of families who died of COVID-19. Cost of hospitalisation for managing patients as fixed by State Government, will also be provided.

The government has decided to treat COVID-19 as a notified disaster for the purpose of providing assistance under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), reported ANI.

For those who want to delay their travel arrangements due to the outbreak, the airline will waive all change fees for any bookings through the end of March.

"The ground staff you meet at our international terminals  at check-in counters and boarding gates  will be wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) appropriate for their role. This gear may include masks, gloves and shoe covers, which are appropriately disposed of at regular intervals," read the note.

Listing out the precautionary measures to combat the fast-spreading novel coronavirus, IndiGo has put out a note saying that the airline is ensuring compliance with the best advice from medical authorities and the government.

The World Health Organisation has said that countries need to conduct rigorous screening and testing to stem the spread of coronavirus. WHO said that public awareness, restriction on mass gatherings and constant vigilance could help battle the pandemic.

Board of Control for Cricket in India said that Matches of Paytm Irani Cup, Senior Women's One-Day Knockout, Vizzy Trophy, Senior Women's One-Day Challenger, Women's Under 19 One-Day knockout, Womens Under 19 T20 League, Super League & knockout, have been put on hold till further notice.

A doctor couple, who returned from Saudi Arabia recently, has been quarantined for fourteen days in their home in Assam's Barpeta district, officials said on Saturday. The couple, who work at the Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed Medical College and Hospital, will be under observation of the state health department for the next fourteen days, they said.

"This is not going to be a quick situation. This is going to be weeks, months and people should caliberate their expectations according to this... My guess is there are thousands and thousands of cases walking around the state of New York, Cuomo said at a press conference.

New York state now has more cases than any other state in the U.S. as the number of newly confirmed infections surged by 30% overnight to 421, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Friday.

His comments came as several European countries reported a rise in confirmed cases and deaths.

The World Health Organization (WHO) says Europe has now become the "epicentre" for the global coronavirus pandemic. Speaking at a press conference in Geneva, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that 132,000 cases of Covid-19 and 5,000 deaths have been reported to WHO.

Health authorities in Spain say coronavirus infections have reached 5,753 people, of which almost 3,000 are in the capital, Madrid. That represents a national increase of more than 1,500 in 24 hours. No new figures for deaths were immediately announced, but as of Friday, Spain had recorded 120 COVID-19 deaths.

Indo-Tibetan Border Police said that after completing the requisite quarantine period and being tested negative twice in 16 days of stay, 110 evacuees from Wuhan, China have left the quarantine facility at New Delhi's Chhawla in different batches. Only two of the evacuees left at the facility

Elsewhere in the state, ten coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Pune, four each in Mumbai and Nagpur, and one each in Thane and Ahmednagar.

Two persons who had recently returned from Dubai were confirmed to have contracted the coronavirus in Maharashtra's Yavatmal city on Saturday, a snior official said. It took the number of confirmed cases in the state to 22. The two patients were among a group of nine who had returned from Dubai on 1 March. All of them were placed in quarantine.

Six benches of the Supreme Court will on March 16 take up only 12 urgent matters each to avoid overcrowding of court rooms following the decision to restrict the apex court functioning in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. Among the important matters which have been listed for hearing on Monday are anticipatory bail pleas of civil rights activists Gautam Navlakha and Anand Teltumbde, accused in the 2018 Bhima Koregaon case, and a petition by a Nirbhaya case convict.

His comments came even as the central government has asked people not to pay attention to "false rumours" that the novel coronavirus was spreading through non-vegetarian food like eggs, chicken, mutton and seafood.

"Coronavirus has come because of the people who kill and eat animals. When you kill an animal, it creates a sort of energy that causes destruction in that place. This is the reason why it is spreading in the entire world," he claimed.

Asking for forgiveness from the virus on behalf of meat eaters, he pledged that Indians will never eat meat again.

After consuming a glass of cow urine at the 'gaumutra party' held here on Saturday, Swami Chakrapani, who claims to be president of the Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha that organised the event at its premises here, claimed that coronavirus is an "avatar" that has come to punish those who eat non-vegetarian food.

People lined up for their share of the "miracle liquid" being poured from kettles into 'kulhads', believing that it will protect them from coronavirus or cure them in case they have already been infected. It was not a medicine or herbal concoction being served in the clay cups but cow urine.

Accoridng to PTI, Health Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu told reporters: "All cinema halls, gyms, swimming pools in Punjab shall remain closed till further orders after midnight of March 14. All public gatherings including sports events, conferences, cultural events, fairs and exhibitions shall also not be held till further orders". He said the step has been taken "to prevent and control the spread of COVID-19". When asked if shopping malls too would be shut, Sidhu said there was no such plan as of now.

A day after closure of all educational institutions in the state till 31 March, the Punjab government ordered a shut down of cinema halls and banned public gatherings including cultural events till further notice to prevent the spread of coronavirus, report PTI

Thus, so far across the state, ten coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Pune, eight in Mumbai, four in Nagpur, two in Yavatmal and one each in Thane and Ahmednagar.

Of the new patients confirmed in Mumbai, one is resident of the city while others are from Kamothe, Vashi and Kalyan, all peripheral towns. All are admitted to Kasturba Hospital here and their condition is stable, BMC deputy director, health, Daksha Shah said.

Samples of four patients, one from Mumbai and three from adjoining areas, test positive for coronavirus, PTI quotes civic officials as saying, taking the number of confirmed cases in Maharashtrato 26 and those in Mumbai to eight.

"Coronavirus infection is a respiratory disease which spreads through droplets and the probability of mortuary or disposal staff contracting the virus from the dead is unlikely as against in case of high-risk pathogens like Ebola and Nipah which have very high chances of spreading through direct contact with body-fluids of the deceased," PTI quotes the official as saying.

Amid a controversy over the cremation of the 68-year-old woman who died in Delhi after being infected with novel coronavirus, the Union health ministry has begun working on framing guidelines for handling the bodies of those who die of the disease. Though it is unlikely that coronavirus infection could spread from handling of a body, the guidelines are being drafted to dispel any misconception and raise awareness regarding spread of the disease from a deceased, a health ministry official said.

The Maharashtra government issued a circular asking all schools and colleges in the state's urban areas to remain closed till 31 March as a precautionary measure, reports PTI. A circular issued by the government said all schools and colleges in the jurisdiction of municipal corporations, municipalities and nagar panchayats will remain closed till month-end. Examinations of class X and XII as well as universities will take place as per the schedule, the circular said. The announcement was also made in the state Assembly.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lead India at a video conference of SAARC nations on Sunday at 5 pm to chalk out joint strategy to fight coronavirus, PTI quoted the Ministry of External Affairs as saying.

According to PTI, the state government also announced that all exams up to Class 9, if underway, will be postponed. However, the board exams for Class 10 and 12 will continue.

The Maharashtra govt on Saturday announced the closure of all malls till 31 March in the state in a bid to contain the spread of the coronavirus. Making the announcement, health minister Rajesh Tope said that the order does not apply to grocery shops which sell commodities.

Trump spent time last weekend at his private club in Florida with at least three people who have now tested positive.The Brazilian Embassy in Washington announced late Friday that the country's charge d'affaires, Nestor Forster, tested positive after sitting at Trump's dinner table. So, too, have a top aide to Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro and an individual who attended a fundraiser Sunday with Trump, according to two Republican officials who spoke to news agency AP on condition of anonymity in order to discuss private health matters.

Trump has had multiple direct and indirect contacts with people who have tested positive for the pandemic virus. On Friday, he declared a state of emergency as schools and workplaces across the country shuttered, flights were canceled and Americans braced for war against the health threat.

The White House announced Saturday that it is now conducting temperature checks on anyone who is in close contact with President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence, reports AP. The move is being taken out of an abundance of caution in response to the coronavirus outbreak, said Judd Deere, a White House spokesman.

A 24-year-old man, who returned from Spain, tested positive for the coronavirus in Jaipur, ANI quotes the Rajasthan Health Department as saying. According to the Indian Express , he flew from Madrid to Delhi and then to Jaipur by Air India Flight 491. The government has begun contact tracing, IE quoted a senior health official as saying.

An IIT-Roorkee student with suspected symptoms of coronavirus has been admitted to the isolation ward of a hospital in Haridwar, PTI quoted officials as saying. The 26-year-old M.Tech student had recently returned from Japan. He was kept under observation of a team of doctors at IIT hostel for 10 days and brought to the isolation ward of a government hospital after he complained of cough, a district hospital official said. His swab samples have been sent to Delhi for testing, the official said.

The home ministry said funds earmarked under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) can be utilised for procurement of essential equipment and measures taken to quarantine people. It issued a two-page directive to all states specifying "list of items and norms of assistance for containment of COVID-19 virus in India, eligible from SDRF".

According to the health ministry, Kerala has reported 19 positive cases, Maharashtra 14, Uttar Pradesh 11, Delhi seven, Karnataka six, Ladakh three, Jammu and Kashmir two, and Rajasthan, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Punjab one case each.

The government on Saturday put the number of coronavirus positive cases in the country at 84 and issued directives to states specifying the list of items and norms of assistance for containment of COVID-19 under their disaster funds.

According to PTI, the state government also announced that all exams up to Class 9, if underway, will be postponed. However, the board exams for Class 10 and 12 will continue.

The Maharashtra govt on Saturday announced the closure of all malls till 31 March in the state in a bid to contain the spread of the coronavirus. Making the announcement, health minister Rajesh Tope said that the order does not apply to grocery shops which sell commodities.

Trump spent time last weekend at his private club in Florida with at least three people who have now tested positive.The Brazilian Embassy in Washington announced late Friday that the country's charge d'affaires, Nestor Forster, tested positive after sitting at Trump's dinner table. So, too, have a top aide to Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro and an individual who attended a fundraiser Sunday with Trump, according to two Republican officials who spoke to news agency AP on condition of anonymity in order to discuss private health matters.

Trump has had multiple direct and indirect contacts with people who have tested positive for the pandemic virus. On Friday, he declared a state of emergency as schools and workplaces across the country shuttered, flights were canceled and Americans braced for war against the health threat.

The White House announced Saturday that it is now conducting temperature checks on anyone who is in close contact with President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence, reports AP. The move is being taken out of an abundance of caution in response to the coronavirus outbreak, said Judd Deere, a White House spokesman.

In another order, the district magistrate said permissions for public programmes till 15 April is being cancelled with immediate effect in a bid to prevent the coronavirus spread. Permission needs to be taken from the administration for any such programme if absolutely unavoidable, it stated, adding that failure to comply with the order would prompt legal action against the offender. "These public programmes, however, do not include wedding functions and closure of cinema halls. These include programmes like religious, political congregations, musical or cultural events organized by schools or colleges, etc where a large number of people gather," Singh told PTI.

The restriction is applicable on private and public use of swimming pools in schools, colleges, hotels and residential societies, the district administration said in an order. "In the wake of precautionary measures being taken to check and control coronavirus (COVID-19), the usage of all swimming pools in Gautam Buddh Nagar which are primarily located in schools, hotels and societies, among other places, is completely banned till 15 April," District Magistrate Brajesh Narain Singh said in the order.

Swimming pools in Noida and Greater Noida will remain closed, while public problems, including religious and political congregations, will not be allowed till 15 April as a precautionary measure to combat the coronavirus outbreak, officials said on Saturday.

The second case was reported in the capital, Islamabad, according to Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) spokesperson Waseem Khawaja. The woman, who arrived in Islamabad from the United States, was brought to PIMS two days ago. She is in critical condition and has been put on a ventilator, Khawaja told PTI.

Pakistan reported two new cases of coronavirus, bringing the total number of positive cases to 30, reports PTI. Officials said that the first case was reported from the capital, Islamabad. Health and Population Welfare Department, Sindh, reported that the 20-year-old patient from Karachi had no travel history but his father returned from the UK recently.

An 82-year-old woman became New Yorks first coronavirus fatality, Reuters reported authorities as saying. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said the woman, who had previously suffered from emphysema, was hospitalized in Manhattan on 3 March. He told reporters that the states tally of cases had risen to 524. Nationwide, more than 2,000 people have been infected and 48 have died.

Ramban District Magistrate Nazim Zai Khan also imposed restrictions under section 144, CrPC in the district with an immediate effect for a period of 15 days to ensure effective implementation of the prescribed precaution to prevent danger to human life, health or safety and keeping in view the prevailing health situation due to coronavirus.

The spokesperson said Kishtwar District Development Commissioner Rajinder Singh Tara has imposed a ban on the assembly of more than five persons at any public place in the entire district, including Kishtwar town and its adjoining areas, with an immediate effect for a period of one month. "This order has been issued as a precautionary measure and is in consonance with the advisory issued by the government to the public, whereby they have been advised not to venture out in large numbers and to avoid any type of mass gatherings, crowds, congregations and functions," the spokesperson said, quoting Tara.

Prohibitory orders have been imposed in Kishtwar and Ramban districts of Jammu and Kashmir in view of the prevailing health emergency due to the coronavirus outbreak, PTI quoted an official spokesperson as saying. The orders under section 144, Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) will remain in force for a month in Kishtwar and for 15 days in Ramban, he added.

Section 54 lays down that "whoever makes or circulates a false alarm or warning as to disaster or its severity or magnitude, leading to panic, shall on conviction, be punishable with imprisonment which may extend to one year or with fine".

In the letter, Pardeshi said BMC had made preparations to tackle the situation but rumours were being spread on social media platforms like WhatsApp, Twitter, Facebook etc,which may lead to panic.The BMC chief demanded action against such people under Section 54 of the Disaster Management Act 2005.

Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation chief Praveen Pardeshi wrote to citypolice commissioner Param Bir Singh demanding strict action against those spreading rumours about the novel coronavirus outbreak.

Coronavirus Outbreak Updates: The Maharashtra govt on Saturday announced the closure of all malls till 31 March in the state in a bid to contain the spread of the virus.

Samples of four patients, one from Mumbai and three from adjoining areas, test positive for coronavirus, reports PTI.

A 71-year-old man who had returned from Saudi Arabia and was suspected to have coronavirus infection died during treatment in Maharashtra's Buldhana district on Saturday afternoon, PTI quoted a hospital official as saying. He was also suffering from diabetes and high blood pressure.

Indo-Tibetan Border Police said that after completing the requisite quarantine period and being tested negative twice in 16 days of stay, 110 evacuees from Wuhan, China have left the quarantine facility at New Delhi's Chhawla in different batches. Only two of the evacuees left at the facility.

More than 4,000 people who had come in contact with 84 coronavirus cases are under surveillance, says the Health Ministry.

The home ministry has said that Rs 4 lakh will be paid as ex-gratia to the families of the people who lose their lives due to the novel coronavirus. The help will also be extended to those involved in relief operations or associated in response activities.

Mexico could consider measures at its northern border to slow the spread of the coronavirus into its relatively unaffected territory, health officials said on Friday, with an eye to containing a US outbreak that has infected more than 1,800 people.

Mexico so far has confirmed 16 cases of the coronavirus, with no deaths. In the United States, 41 people have died.

Mexican Deputy Health Minister Hugo Lopez-Gatell said contagion from the United States was a threat.

"If it were technically necessary to consider mechanisms of restriction or stronger surveillance we would have to take into account not that Mexico would bring the virus to the United States, rather that the United States could bring it here," he told a news conference."

After initial refusal, the Nigambodh Ghat allowed the funeral of the 68-year-old woman who succumbed to coronavirus in Delhi on Friday. The funeral will take place inside CNG supplied crematory.

The woman, who passed away in Delhi's Ram Manohar Lohia hospital, was the the second death recorded in India due to COVID-19. The first one was reported in Karnataka on Thursday.

The authorities at the Nigambodh cremation ground had earlier denied to cremate the woman in order to prevent the spreading of the virus. The number of confirmed cases in the country rose to 83 on Saturday

The West Bengal government has sealed the state's border with Bhutan in the wake of novel coronavirus outbreak, a senior official said on Saturday.

The Infosys in Bengaluru has evacuated one of its satellite office buildings following reports of its employee coming in the proximity with a suspected coronavirus patient.

The development comes after the Karnataka government advised IT and other professionals working in air-conditioned places to work from home for time being, for about a week, to prevent the spread of the COVID-19.

An internal communication from the office here read, "We have received information about a situation of a team member from the IIPM building, who may have been in proximity to an individual with suspected COVID-19."

There are 83 people in total who are infected with the novel coronavirus, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said on Saturday. On Friday, several states across India went into battle mode to contain the spread of COVID-19.

The toll in Italy due to the novel coronavirus continued to be on the rise, reaching 1,266 after recording the highest daily jump on Friday. According to the latest figures provided by the Italian Civil Protection Department, 250 more people died of disease in the last 24 hours.

The total number of cases rose to 17,660 from 15,113 the day before, an increase of some 17%.

Ramping up the precautionary measures in its fight against the coronavirus pandemic, the Ashok Gehlot-led Congress government in Rajasthan has ordered closure of schools, colleges, coaching centers, gyms and cinema halls till 30 March.

"Programs such as Music in the Park and Drama Manchana to be held during this period will also be postponed," said Gehlot.

This is the first death due to COVID-19 in the National Capital, which reported six cases of the flu-like disease that has claimed more than 5,000 lives worldwide and infected more than one lakh people in 116 countries.

India recorded the second death due to the novel coronavirus pandemic on Friday night after a 68-year-old woman passed away in Delhi's Ram Manohar Lohia hospital.

A second coronavirus patient is reported to have died in India on Friday. The latest victim of the deadly COVID-19 disease is a 69-year-old resident from Delhi, CNN-News18 reported. The victim was undergoing treatment in Delhi's RML hospital, the news channel said.

US president Donald Trump is likely to declare the spread of the coronavirus pandemic in America as a 'national emergency', The New York Times reported on Friday. To do so, he would be invoking the Stafford Act to facilitate more federal aid for states and municipalities.

"Trump is under increasing pressure to act as governors and mayors nationwide step up actions to mitigate the spread, closing schools and canceling public events. The president said he will hold a news conference at 3 pm in Washington," the report said.

The government on Friday declared that masks, including N95, and hand sanitisers as 'essential commodities' in the wake of the coronavirus scare leading to shortages and black marketing of these items.

These items will remain under essential commodities segment till June-end, a move aimed at ensuring availability at reasonable prices and cracking down on hoarders/black marketeers. The government has notified an order under the Essential Commodities Act to declare masks (2 ply and 3 ply surgical masks, N95 masks) and hand santisers as essential commodities up to 30 June, 2020. An offence under the Essential Commodities Act can attract imprisonment up to 7 years.

Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that three more people have tested positive for the novel coronavirus in the state on Friday. He said that of the three new cases, one is an Italian, another is an Indian who returned from the UK, and the third is a patient with travel history to Italy and Germany.

Reports on Friday reported a clarification from Maharashtra health minister Rajesh Tope, who said that malls and theaters will remain open in Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Navi Mumbai, and Pimpri-Chinchwad districts.

Earlier Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray was quoted as saying that all malls, theatres, gyms, and swimming pools will be shut in the five districts in light of the spread of coronavirus in the state.

The Maharashtra government has shut all malls, gyms, cinema halls, and swimming pools in Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Navi Mumbai, and Pimpri-Chinchwad from midnight on Friday in light of the increasing cases of coronavirus in the state. Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, speaking in the state's Assembly, also said that the government has declared the spread of COVID-19 in the five districts as an 'epidemic'.

The Union health ministry on Friday evening said that the cases of the novel coronavirus have risen to 81 in India, with fresh cases being reported in Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, and Maharashtra.

Reports said that one more confirmed case of the novel coronavirus emerged in Maharashtra's Pune on Friday, after two cases were reported in Nagpur. The total cases of COVID-19 in Maharashtra are 17.

The IPL 2020, which was earlier scheduled to be held on 29 March, has now been postponed to 15 April, News18 reported.

Addressing the media on steps taken by the Uttar Pradesh government to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus, chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday announced that all schools and colleges where examinations are not going on will be shut till 22 March.

Adityanath also said that seven people in Agra, two in Ghaziabad and one each in Noida and Lucknow have tested positive for COVID-19.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday proposed that the leadership of SAARC nations could chalk out a joint strategy to fight coronavirus and set an example for the world. He said the SAARC leadership can discuss via video conferencing ways to keep their citizens healthy.

"Our planet is battling the COVID-19 Novel Coronavirus. At various levels, governments and people are trying their best to combat it," Modi tweeted.

South Asia, which is home to a significant number of the global population, should leave no stone unturned to ensure that the people are healthy, he said.

"I would like to propose that the leadership of SAARC nations chalk out a strong strategy to fight coronavirus. We could discuss, via video conferencing, ways to keep our citizens healthy," he said.

Social distancing is the biggest solution to curtail the spread of pandemic, said Deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia in Delhi while speaking on the precautionary measures taken against the spread of the coronavirus.

"DMs and SDMs have been asked to strictly follow the guidelines meted by the health ministry," said Sisodia.

Launching a tirade against the Centre over its lack of swift response to curtail coronavirus outbreak, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday said the Narendra Modi-led government was in a "stupor" and the economy would be destroyed if a strong action is not taken.

The Indian economy will be destroyed if strong action is not taken. The government is in a stupor," the former Congress chief tweeted.

The Indian rupee fell by another 16 paise to 74.44 against the US dollar as financial markets around the globe continued to feel jitters of coronavirus pandemic.

A day earlier, the Indian currency had tumbled by 60 paise to close at a new 17-month low of 74.28 amid coronavirus pandemic fanning global economic recession fears.

Meanwhile, the global crude oil benchmark Brent Futures fell 0.87 percent to trade at $32.93 per barrel.

Mainland China reported eight new confirmed cases of coronavirus and seven additional deaths on Thursday, the countrys National Health Commission said on Friday. Most of the fatalities occurred in Hubei province.

That brings the total accumulated number of confirmed cases in mainland China so far to 80,813. The toll from the outbreak in mainland China had reached 3,176 as of the end of Thursday, up by seven from the previous day.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus wife, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, has contracted the novel coronavirus. Sophie, came back from a speaking event in the United Kingdom with flu-like symptoms, her husband announced Thursday.

"She is feeling fine, and her symptoms are mild," according to a statement from the Prime Ministers office.

Justin will isolate himself and run his government from home for 14 days as a result.

The Karnataka health department commissioner said that a 76-year-old man from Kalaburagi who passed away and was a suspected patient of coronavirus has been confirmed positive for for the flu-like disease. "Contact tracing, isolation and other measures are being taken. The Telangana government has also been informed as he went to a hospital there," he said.

The Centre on Thursday said that to fight the spread of Coronavirus, the Command Hospital (NC), Udhampur, Jammu and Kashmir under the aegis of HQ Northern Command has set up 4 isolation wards with a 100-bed capacity and a team of specialist doctors to manage the suspected coronavirus patients.



Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that two more people have been tested positive for the novel coronavirus in Kerala. Vijayan said that the two cases were reported from the Thrissur and Kannur districts. The total number of Coronavirus positive cases rose to 16 in the state.

According to reports, the infected people have travel history with Dubai and Qatar.

According to India Today, the Kerala government said that people with flu-like symptoms shouldn't visit old age homes.

The Centre on Thursday decided to expedite clearances to bulk drug projects by considering them "out of turn", as cases of the novel coronavirus rose in India. In a notification, the Environment Ministry said the expeditious environmental clearances given to units involving active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) and bulk drug intermediates will ensure overall preparedness and availability of drugs to reduce the impact of the outbreak, PTI reported.

The Union Territory of Ladakh on Thursday reported a third case of the novel coronavirus, soon after Delhi and Karnataka also recorded fresh cases of the flu-like disease. According to the last notification by the Union health ministry, the total cases of coronavirus in India are 73.

A 26-year-old man who returned from Greece has tested positive for coronavirus, making it the fifth case in Karnataka, the health department was quoted as saying by PTI. The patient has been admitted and isolated at a hospital and his condition is stable, a department media bulletin said.

The report quoted sources as saying that the patient is from Mumbai. He travelled from Greece to Mumbai on 6 March, and came by flight to Bengaluru on 8 March. He had been to office on 9 March, during which he is said to have spoken to four of his close friends and gone back home after a few hours.

The sixth case of coronavirus was reported in Delhi on Thursday, reports said. The last confirmed count of total cases in India was 73, according to the Union health ministry.

The Arvind Kejriwal government in Delhi on Thursday declared the coronavirus outbreak as an 'epidemic' in the National Capital, and said that all theatres, schools, and colleges will be shut till 31 March.

According to CNN-News18, the government has also invoked the provisions of the epidemic Act. Speaking to reporters, Kejriwal said that all public places, including malls, public and private offices will have to be mandatorily disinfected everyday.

"After reviewing the measures, we have put in place some more. We have sufficient beds for quarantine facility, under-construction hospitals are also being prepared for quarantine. Over 500 beds are ready for sick people.

Today we have declared this as an epidemic in delhi, public places, malls, shops, public and private offices have to be disinfected everyday," he said.

The Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday advised against conducting the IPL tournament scheduled to begin on 29 March in light of the spread of the coronavirus pandemic in India. The number of cases in India on Thursday stood at 73 as various ministries took steps to curb the further spread of the disease.

In its weekly briefing on Thursday, the MEA said, "It is for the organizers to decide whether to go ahead with it or not. Our advice would be to not do it at this time but if they want to go ahead, it is their decision."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, amid the cases of coronavirus in India rising to 73 on Thursday, said that no Union minister will travel abroad in the coming days as part of the Centre's efforts to curb the spread of the pandemic in the country.

"The government is fully vigilant about the situation due to COVID-19 Novel Coronavirus. Across ministries and states, multiple steps have been proactively taken to ensure safety of all. These steps are wide-ranging, from suspension of Visas to augmenting healthcare capacities," he said in a series of tweets.

The BSE Sensex plunged over 2,919 points on Thursday in its biggest one-day fall in absolute terms as the coronavirus pandemic wreaked havoc on global markets. After nose diving over 3,204.30 points during the day, the 30-share index settled 2,919.26 points or 8.18 per cent lower at 32,778.14.

All travellers, including Indian nationals, arriving from or having visited China, Italy, Iran, Republic of Korea, France, Spain and Germany after 15 February will be quarantined for a maximum period of 14 days.

"This will come into effect from 12.00 GMT on 13 March at the port of departure," said Ministry of Health and Welfare.

Addressing the media on preparedness for COVID-19 pandemic, Luv Aggarwal, an official from the Health Ministry said, "Out of the 73 positive cases reported in India so far, 56 are Indians and 17 are foreigners."

One more person with travel history to Iran tested positive for COVID-19 in Ladakh on Thursday, taking the total number of cases in the Union Territory to three, a senior government official was quoted by PTI as saying.

His family members have been moved to the isolation centre at Heart Foundation Hospital here, they said.

The man was part of a group that had gone to Iran on a pilgrimage.

In response to the coronavirus pandemic, the ongoing budget session of the Maharashtra Legislature has been curtailed by a week and it will conclude on Saturday.

The session, which began on 24 February , was earlier scheduled till 20 March.

Union health minister Dr Harsh Vardhan spoke about all the measures and efforts taken by the government to prevent the spread of coronavirus in Lok Sabha on Thursday.

He urged local leaders to discourage large gatherings in public spaces and asked them to cooperated with the centre to ensure all preventive measures are taken. He told the Upper House that screening is currently being done in 30 airports across India and 15 labs have been set up to test for the virus.

Speaking on the coronavirus outbreak in the Lok Sabha, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday spoke about the precautionary measures taken up by the government to fight the spread of COVID-19 in India.

"229 out of 529 samples of Indians stranded in Iran have tested negative for coronavirus," Jaishankar said.

A 45-year-old person tested positive for coronavirus in Nagpur taking the total number of confirmed cases in Maharashtra to 11, officials said on Wednesday.

"A 45-year-old person tested positive for coronavirus. The patient is currently undergoing treatment in a special ward of IGMC Nagpur and has a travel history to the US," Nagpur District Magistrate and Collector Ravindra H Thakare told reporters in Mumbai.

The total number of positive cases of coronavirus in Maharashtra rose to 11, including two from Mumbai, eight from Pune and one from Nagpur.

After opening 34,472.50 points, Sensex dropped to 33,876.13. Meanwhile, Nifty tanked 470.35 pts to 9,988.05. Tata Steel, ONGC, State Bank of India (SBI) shares dipped over 8 percent while Reliance Industries fell over 7 percent.

Global shares too crumbled after US President Donald Trump said America will suspend all travel from Europe as he unveiled measures to contain the coronavirus epidemic that has resulted in a heavy human and economic toll worldwide.

Italy has shut all stores except for pharmacies and food shops in a bid to halt the spread of the novel coronavirus that has killed 827 in the country in just over two weeks.

Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte announced the latest wave of restrictions in a dramatic appeal to the nation that came with the country of 60 million battling its biggest crisis in generations.

Under pressure to respond to the novel coronavirus, President Donald Trump on Wednesday suspended all travel from Europe to the United States for 30 days starting on Friday in order to fight outbreak.

Trump said the travel restrictions did not apply to the United Kingdom. He did not provide a list of countries but said simply the restrictions applied to all of Europe.

The advisory issued by the Centre on Wednesday evening, issuing travel restrictions on visas for travellers, also said, "All incoming travellers, including Indian nationals, arriving from or having visited China, Italy, Iran, Korea, France, Spain and Germany after 15 February, 2020 shall be quarantined for a minimum period of 14 days. This will come into effect from 1200 GMT on 13 March 2020."

The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday said that the global body had assessed that the outbreak of the novel coronavirus is a can be characterised as a pandemic.

"WHOs mandate is public health. But were working with many partners across all sectors to mitigate the social and economic consequences of this #COVID19 pandemic," the statement was quoted as saying by ANI.

The Mizoram government formally sealed the state's borders with neighbouring countries and states, barring a few entry and exit points, to prevent the spread of novel coronavirus.

Two persons from Mumbai on Wednesday tested positive for coronavirus, taking the number of confirmed cases in Maharashtra to 10, chief minister Uddhav Thackeray said. Eight persons have tested positive in Pune, he said.

CDC Director Robert Redfield said that the coronavirus deaths in the US are now up to 31. With new deaths reported and the number of confirmed coronavirus cases exceeding 1,000, American lawmakers and health officials have set up containment zones and quarantine areas and sought to limit contact with those who might be infected.

Two patients admitted at a hospital in Mumbai have tested positive for the virus, taking the total number of cases in Maharashtra to seven. According to The Hindu, the two had travelled to Dubai with the same group as the Pune couple who has tested positive for the virus.

Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray held a review meeting with Pune divisional commissioner and district collector through video- conferencing to discuss the steps being taken to tackle the novel coronavirus.

A 53-year-old British woman hospitalised on the resort island of Bali has died from the coronavirus, Indonesias first recorded death from the disease, said officials.

The 45-year-old man who tested positive for coronavirus has recovered with results of his samples coming out negative and as of now there are no confirmed virus cases in Tamil Nadu, PTI quoted state Health Minister C Vijayabhaskar as saying.

The new coronavirus has killed 63 more people, raising the death toll to 354 in Iran, AP quoted a health ministry person as saying during a live televised briefing. The number of confirmed cases has risen to 9,000, said the AP report.

India prohibited entry of any international cruise ship, crew or passenger with a travel history to coronavirus-hit countries post 1 February, 2020 to its major ports till 31 March. The government said international cruise ships will be allowed only at ports having thermal screening facilities for passengers and crew members. If any passenger/crew member of cruise ships show symptoms of coronavirus, disembarking will not be permitted, it added.

The total number of coronavirus confirmed cases in India crossed 50 on Wednesday amid fresh confirmations of infections in Rajasthan. An 85-year-old man in Jaipur, who had returned from Dubai on 28 February, has tested positive for coronavirus, a state government official said on Wednesday, was the newest addition, taking the current toll to 60. Meanwhile, the health condition of an 85-year old woman being treated for COVID-19 at the isolation ward of the government medical college hospital in Kerala is serious, health officials said on Wednesday.

Eighteen more people have tested positive for coronavirus  eight in Kerala and two in Karnataka, five in Maharashtra and one in Jammu and Kashmir, as the number of such cases went up on Tuesday. Amid the COVID-19 scare, a combination of two anti-HIV drugs was used for the first time in India in the treatment of two patients. The health ministry said the total number of confirmed cases has risen to 50, adding the rest are being retested for confirmation. If the fresh cases declared by the state governments are taken into account, the figure goes up to 60.

India on Tuesday also barred entry of the nationals of three more countries  France, Germany and Spain  suspending the regular as well as e-Visas granted to them to date. "All regular (sticker) Visas/e-Visas granted to nationals of France, Germany and Spain and issued on or before 11 March and who have not yet entered India stand suspended with immediate effect," said a Bureau of Immigration notification issued late Tuesday night.

Regular visas, including e visas, granted to all foreign nationals who have travel history to these countries on or after 1 February and who have not yet entered India also stands suspended, it said.

Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan told reporters that six new cases of the coronavirus have been confirmed in the state, taking the total number of infections in the state to 17 on Tuesday. Keeping in mind the fresh rise in cases, Vijayan announced severe restrictions, including the closure of educational institutions and cinema houses till the month-end, in a bid to halt its further spread.

Vijayan said at least 1,116 people are under observation  149 in isolation wards of various hospitals and 967 under home quarantine.

Late on Tuesday, Shailaja said two more confirmed cases were detected in Kerala with the parents of a three-year-old boy, who tested positive for COVID-19 in Kochi on Monday on the family's return from Italy, being the latest patients.

In Kerala, schools and colleges and cinemas will remain closed in the state till 31 March. Classes 1 to 7 of all schools  state, CBSE and ICSE boards  will remain shut and examinations which have begun for them will be put on hold. Examinations for Class 10, Class 12 and vocational higher secondary will, however, continue. Final examinations of Classes 8 and 9 also will proceed as usual.

Fourteen of the 21 Italian nationals and an Indian national, lodged in a quarantine camp at Indo-Tibetan Border Police's (ITBP) facility in Chhawla, had been infected with the coronavirus. The Italians were part of a group of 23 tourists who had visited Rajasthan last month. The driver accompanying them,  an Indian national  was also infected. On of the tourists of the group is currently quarantined in Jaipur after he tested positive. His wife was also infected and is under observation. 14 of them have now been sent to the Medanta hospital in Gurugram, Haryana.

With inputs from agencies
President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov has today visited the Alley of Martyrs in Baku.

A guard of honor was lined up for the Turkmen President here.

President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov paid tribute to Azerbaijani heroes who gave their lives for the country`s independence and territorial integrity.

He laid a wreath at the Eternal Flame monument.

A military orchestra played the national anthems of Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan.

The Turkmen President enjoyed a panoramic view of Baku as he was informed on the history of the Alley of Martyrs and redevelopment works carried out in the capital of Azerbaijan.

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Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Leading Big-4 firm EY announced earlier this week that Diana CHOU, Founder and Chairperson of Dragon General Aviation Group (DGA Group - parent company of LVOYAGE, L'VOYAGE Travel, JET8 and Aerochine ) , was chosen as one of 22 women founders selected for the EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women Asia Pacific Class of 2020.

Ms Chou remarked: I am honoured to be recognized for the success that DGA Group has achieved over the past 20 years in pioneering general aviation in Asia its very special to be recognized as the only Hong Kong company in this years cohort of the Asia-Pacific program.

Launched in the US in 2008, the EY program has identified more than 500 women entrepreneurs across different industries.

Diana CHOU continued: We aim to lead Asias general aviation industry by championing education, safety and innovation. We are a customer-centric organization committed to providing tailored solutions for our clients and providing them with unrivaled knowledge to make informed business decisions.

About Dragon General Aviation Group

http://www.dga.group

Dragon General Aviation Group (DGA) is an exceptional model of general aviation expertise and performance. For 20 years, we have been at the forefront of the general aviation industry in Hong Kong, China and Macau; and offer a track-record of experience and partnerships that is unequalled in the region. This growth has been built on a foundation of astute entrepreneurship, sound business values and enduring business networks.

DGAs reputation extends beyond the Greater China region. Leading international company such as Bell Helicopter has sought our service solutions to help them develop their businesses in China, Hong Kong and Macau, while Asian government bodies regularly seek DGAs counsel on general aviation issues.

Through DGAs offices in Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, Ningbo, Zhenjiang and Malaysia, the company offers end-to-end solutions that include aircraft acquisition and leasing as well as after-sales service, charter consultancy and maintenance. DGAs private aviation expertise is significant and covers the full range of aircraft; from private jets to turboprops and helicopters.



Aerochine Aviation | Helicopter acquisition and maintenance http://www.aerochine.com

LVOYAGE | Private jet chartering and consultancy service http://www.lvoyage.aero

Jet 8 | Aircraft acquisition, resales and consultancy http://www.jet8.com

LVOYAGE Travel | Bespoke travel consultancy and travel products reservations http://www.lvoyage.aero

Media contact

Coco Chun

cchun@lvoyage.aero | +852 2868 3678
The Union Cabinet may approve a bailout plan for the stressed telecom industry later this week, according to a report by The Times of India.

The rescue package may include a staggered payment schedule for pending Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) dues, the report said.

The telecom department - along with the finance ministry and NITI Aayog - is working on the bailout plan, the report said.

Telecom companies have been given a deadline of March 17 to pay AGR dues worth a combined Rs 1.47 lakh crore to the Department of Telecommunications (DoT). The Supreme Court is expected to hear the matter on that date,

Moneycontrol could not independently verify the story.

While the government wants to abide by the orders of the Supreme Court, which remains the top priority, it also wants to ensure that there are no monopolies that are created in the sector, and that all the companies are given a viable option to pay back the massive dues, a source told The Times of India.

There could be an interest charged on the staggered payments, the source added.

The staggered payments might give telecom players some time to raise funds and clear the dues.

According to the DoTs estimate, Vodafone Idea owes around Rs 53,000 crore, Bharti Airtel dues are around Rs 35,000 crore. Tata Teleservices dues have been pegged at about Rs 13,000 crore.
A new eco-friendly market in Camden built out of 88 recycled shipping containers opened today.

Designed by architect Eric Reynolds, one of the original pioneers of Camden Market in the 1970s, the entire 26,000 sq ft three-storey Buck Street Market claims to be zero-plastic.

Its 80 chefs and retailers say they will not use plastic packaging, and some energy used by the market will be generated by the composted food waste it produces.

The market opens on the site of the original market on Buck Street, famous for its large green sign.

The ground level will offer sustainably-produced items from Camden-based businesses, while the first floor will offer food stands run by small start-ups, and a fine-dining option.

Fine dining: A dish at Adrian Martin's Wildflower in Buck Street Market

Visitors will be able to eat a menu largely created from foraged ingredients at Wildflower restaurant  the first London enterprise from 28-year-old Irish celebrity chef, Adrian Martin.

Martin believes he is offering the first ever fine dining restaurant inside a shipping container. His seven-course tasting menu, available for 60 per head from today, includes scallops with smoked Alexander root and wild turbot with courgette flower and sweet spicy broth.

He said: We first went out to look at it and this place was two containers in a field outside London somewhere. Its mad.

Me and my brother did all the decorating ourselves, its all new.

Im biased, but there is nothing in Camden like this.

A rooftop bar, opening later this month, will be a craft cocktail venue seating around 60 people. It will open until 10pm in summer months.

Miguel Barclay, 35, who made his name with One Pound Meals cookbooks, has lived in Camden for 10 years and will launch his first venue selling pizza by the slice on the rooftop.

The 30 best street food vendors in London 1 /40 The 30 best street food vendors in London The Athenian Street food in Greece is all about the souvlaki: spit-roasted meat, pulled or shaved off the skewer, squeezed inside a fluffy grilled pita with yoghurt, tomato, red onion, parsley and chips  yes, chips. The Athenian champions the Mediterranean-style kebab at its growing number of sites across the UK, having begun as a small street food stall. Pick up souvlaki wraps filled with pork, chicken, halloumi or ground lamb and beef, and load it with a selection of sauces and oregano-dusted fries. @jakesfoodbible BBQ Dreamz Not content with impressing London street food fans, Filipino food concept BBQ Dreamz went on to charm primetime TV viewers earlier this year, when it won investment on BBC Twos My Million Pound Menu. Having traded at KERB sites and Brockley Market over the years, its now gearing up for its first bricks-and-mortar venue. Satay curries come laden with pineapple, coriander, peanuts, spring onion and more, while sticky adobo chicken wings pack a punch. One of its signature dishes is traditional lechon kawali, a crispy pork belly dish which is cooked in a sous vide for 24 hours. Jake Davis Bread Ahead This Borough Market favourite has a flourish with flour, and its baked goods have wooed all of London, with shops now to be found in Chelsea and Soho. Its London Bridge bakery and stall continues to be the warm centre of its operation, however, with foodies still flocking. Its bread is understandably legendary and a take-home must-try, but for a grab-and-go sweet treat, its tricky to beat Bread Aheads doughnuts. Regular flavours include chocolate, vanilla cream, raspberry jam and praline, with fillings famously overflowing. Steven Joyce Baba G's Baba Gs has been trading in London for over a decade, with its signature dish offering a spiced-version of a UK street food favourite. Its Bhangra Burgers fuse the practised patty and bun combination with an array of Indian-inspired flavours  for example, its lamb jalfrezi burger tops a spiced patty with mango pulp, mint raitha and onion salsa. Baba Gs also found success on My Million Pound Menu, catching the eye of Michelin-starred chef Atul Kochhar. The team has since opened its first permanent restaurant in Camden Market, where its street food stall also still trades. Club Mexicana Were starting off this list with a vegan offering  not because vegan is trendy, but because its very, very good. Meriel Armitages Club Mexicana offers meat-free versions of Latin American classics: tacos are filled with baja tofish (tofu cooked in seaweed to give it a fishy flavour) and jackfruit carnitas. Its now a permanent resident at Londons first vegan pub The Spread Eagle, but you can still find Club Mexicana at street food markets. Only Jerkin' Only Jerkin is so keen on putting Caribbean flavours into its dishes that it even injects an unexpected one into its frying batter. The chicken nuggets at this KERB favourite are made with a ginger beer batter, triple dipped for frying and flavoured with jerk seasoning. Pair them with jerk fries and sauces such as chilli mango aioli, or get them sandwiched in coco bread for the Only Jerkin burger. Deeney's Scotland isnt overly known for its street food culture, but Deeneys has different ideas. These sarnie purveyors offer a hangover-saving twist on a classic Scottish ingredient  meet the haggis toastie. Deeneys Macbeth sandwich mixes the divisive offal sausage with cheddar, caramelised onions, rocket and mustard, and toasts it until gooey. Add bacon for a Hamish Macbeth or choose vegetarian haggis for a Lady Macbeth. Biff's Jack Shack Guilty pleasures dont have to be made of meat, especially when Biffs Jack Shack is serving filthy AF vegan junk food. This animal product-free food vendor specialises in deep-fried jackfruit, a south Asian fruit that has a meaty texture when cooked. Try a portion of jackfruit wingz first, which come with their own bone-like sugar cane spear at the centre, before moving onto the Samuel Hell Jackson burger: a jackfruit patty topped with chipotle slaw, jalapenos, American cheeze and more. Sub Cult Sub Cult has been playing the long game in the London sandwich world, serving its New York-style subs at street food stalls five years before clinching its first permanent shop in June. Its full-loaded and quirky flavoured rolls include the Subterranean, which comes filled with portobello mushrooms, truffle mayonnaise and stilton, and the Sub Marine, made with slow-cooked pork, marinated squid, salsa verde, crackling and scallops. Black Bear Burger We dont know about you, but we could always do with another burger. Over at the Shoreditch location of Boxpark and Street Feasts Canary Wharf haunt Giant Robot, Black Bear Burger serves fully stacked patties with enviable gusto. The signature offering is a real bear hug of a burger: an aged beef patty is topped with American cheese, onion jam, pancetta bacon and garlic mayo. KraPow Baba Gs might have triumphed in its episode of My Million Pound Menu, but also competing was Northern Thai-inspired street food stall KraPow. The stall is named after its signature dish: KraPow Moo is a stir fry, popular for its comfort food credentials. Pork, basil and chillies are fried in soy, oyster and fish sauces, served over rice and topped with a fried egg. Alternatively, get yourself some gai tod, a crispy fried chicken dish dressed chilli, garlic, lime, fish sauce and rice wine vinegar. Luardos This Mexican street food van has been trundling around London since most vendors were a mere twinkle in their founders eyes. Since 2007, Luardos has been serving up tortas, tacos and burritos bursting at the seams with quality, fresh ingredients in either one of its two vans  one called Jesus, one called Mary. Its carnitas burritos is a particular draw, stuffed with pork that has been slow-cooked with fennel and orange. Toby Allen The Cheese Wheel Few street food vendors in London beat this one for theatre. If youre not already excited by the prospect of hand-rolled bucatini and fettucine pasta with toppings like wild mushroom, pancetta and truffle puree, maybe the cheese wheel will do it. Every portion of pasta here gets a good swirling while still hot inside a 40kg, partially hollowed wheel of grana padano, leaving a coating of melted cheese behind. Horn OK Please At first glance, odd name  its a slogan often seen on the back of vehicles in India inviting cacophonous honking. It does, however, give you a taste of the bustling streets that inspired Horn OK Pleases vegetarian street food. Top of the bill is the moong daal dosa: a lentil flour dosa is cooked to order and filled with a spiced potato filling. Its served with chana chaat  a a chickpea salad made with sev, pomegranate seeds and yoghurt  which also accompanies its handmade samosa. Flank This street food stop may be named after one cut of meat, but chef Tom Griffiths certainly doesnt stop there. Get to grips with nose-to-tail eating at Flanks stalls, where the burger is made with a mixture of flank (obvs), brisket and short rib. Alternatively enjoy 16-hour smoked brisket on a buttered Afghan naan with dill pickle, chilli sauce and kewpie garlic mayo. Mama's Jerk Mama Charlotte is the mama in question here, the late mother of Mamas Jerks founder. Its her tried, tested and much-loved Jamaican recipe that youll get a taste of here. Its slathered over chicken, which is left to marinade for 24 hours, before the meat is chargrilled to order and served up inside handmade dhal puri roti wraps. Order with a side of sweet deep-fried plantain and lashings of Mamas mango mayo and hot pepper pickle. Oli Baba's Love cheese? Love fried stuff? Of course you do. Oli Babas knows the feeling, and thats why it specialises in halloumi fries: deep fried, chip-like sticks of the Cypriot squeaky cheese. The portion comes drizzled with pomegranate molasses, zaatar yoghurt and chilli honey, before being sprinkled with sumac, mint and pomegranate seeds. Elsewhere on the menu youll find more Middle-Eastern inspired treats, including fattoush salad and toasted pita sandwiches. Koolcha Koolcha came to Londons street food scene via quite a different path than most. The Boxpark Wembley spot is the brainchild of Michelin-starred chef Rohit Ghai, whose impressive CV includes the likes of Jamavar, Gymkhana, Trishna and more. Koolcha is his casual dining concept that serves up curries, biryanis, grilled sandwiches and stuffed kulcha breads either to eat in or take away at the north London food court. The grilled paneer tikka sandwich for 5 is a particular steal. Tim Atkins Dumpling Shack Before it bagged a coveted spot in the revamped Old Spitalfields Market, Dumpling Shack would open at Broadway Market every Saturday to queues of fans waiting for its famously fabulous dumplings. It now serves them up everyday in Shoreditch, and the quality has persisted. Dumpling Shacks shengjianbaos are its most lauded dish  pork and leek pan fried soup dumplings which ooze brothy goodness  but spice nuts should head for the dan dan beef noodles or prawn wontons served swimming in chilli oil. Monty's Deli Cured meat fans: Montys Deli has a trick or two up its sleeve for you. The first is its house-cured pastrami, and the second is its melt-in-the-mouth salt beef  firmly among the best in London. Choose to get one, the other, or both stacked high inside one of its reuben sandwiches with Swiss cheese, mustard, sauerkraut and Russian dressing on toasted light rye. Montys Deli recently announced its bricks-and-mortar Hoxton site was sadly due to close, but it still runs two market stalls in the capital. Nonna's Gelato Nonnas Gelato is pretty good at keeping its cool, but prepare to get hot under the collar for its exciting flavour combinations. Inspired by her nonnas (grandmothers) legendary gelato recipe, owner Sophia serves up the classic Italian dessert with some contemporary twists. Regular flavours include salted toffee apple, Kentish cobnut and a ripple made with dark chocolate and Hackney-hailing Five Points Porter. You can find them not far from the brewery at Broadway Market on summer Saturdays. Mother Clucker Mother Clucker is more than a chortle-inducing name  it also rules the roost when it comes to Londons fried chicken scene. The street food stalwart started serving its food from a converted US ambulance at the Truman Brewery back in 2013, and since then its tea-brined, buttermilk soaked and twice battered fried chicken has earned quite a fan base. Dishes include its signature chicken tenders served with lime mayo and hot pepper sauce, and the Cluck Bun, which sandwiches chicken strips in a brioche bun with iceberg lettuce, cheese and more lime mayo. You can now also find Mother Clucker at a permanent restaurant in Exmouth Market. Pleasant Lady Not only is jian bing the ultimate Chinese street food, but its also a pretty good hangover cure. The crepe-like pancake is cooked fresh on a hot plate, before being filled with egg, spring onions, herbs, crispy wonton strips, a nutty sauce and a choice of meat fillings including chicken and iberico pork. You can find such a treat at either Pleasant Ladys hole-in-the-wall hatch on Greek Street, or at its slightly roomier stall in Old Spitalfields Market. Daniel Hambury What the Pitta A lot of us have had kebabs wed rather forget  but What the Pitta is a guilt-free experience. This street food vendor offers completely vegan kebabs, made doner-style but with grilled pieces of spiced seitan. The babs come either in a box with chips, or wrapped up in fresh bread with soya tzatziki, homemade hummus, salad and chilli sauce. Alternatively, swap the soya for homemade falafel with all the trimmings. Mother Flipper No relation to the aforementioned chicken fryers Mother Clucker, Mother Flippers naughty name is a front for some even dirtier burgers. This KERB favourite leaves no patty left unturned in its quest to provide you towers of flavour-filled fast food, with a menu encompassing every ingredient of your burger-filled dreams. For the full experience, get the Dirty Barbie: two beef patties slathered in American cheese and barbecue sauce, topped with candy bacon and onion, both of which have been fried in maple syrup. Bian Dang Foodies all over the world love a bit of fried chicken, and the Taiwanese are no exception. This east Asian version is typically flattened into thin strips before frying, and Taiwanese lunch box specialist Bian Dang marinades its chicken in garlic and soy first before coating it in sweet potato flour for crunch. The KERB trader also serves up boneless fried pork chop or crumbed oyster mushrooms, all boxed up with rice, pickles, stir fried vegetables and a marbled tea egg. Katsu Wrap London loves a chicken katsu curry  but why confine the Japanese fried meat to one dish? Katsu Wraps takes the crunchy, panko-breadcrumbed chicken and wraps it up in a globetrotting meal the approximate size of your forearm. Packed with a mountain of salad, hummus and chilli oil, the katsu chicken is served in a burrito-like folded tortilla of all things  it shouldnt work, but it really, really does. Kolkati Its not just in Mexico and the Middle East that they know how to wrap it up  Kolkati proves that Indian food can bundle it up with the best of them. This Camden Market trader serves kati rolls: flaky paratha flatbreads which are cooked in ghee and rolled up to hold a variety of spiced up ingredients. Fillings include masala chicken and paneer, which come drenched in lashings of coconut and coriander raita, as well as tamarind and date ketchup. Burger and Beyond Prepare to get messy  youre going to need a napkin or five on hand to tackle one of Burger & Beyonds impressive patties. One of the burgers on the menu at its stalls is appropriately named the Hot Mess, and serves a 45-day aged beef patty with pepper jack cheese and jalapenos, dripping with chipotle mayo. Alternatively, you can take on the B.B.B., which contains two slices of American cheese, crispy bacon, pickled onions and burnt butter mayo. Kappacasein Its easy to make a cheese toastie, right? Kappacasein takes the hot sarnie game one step further and makes its own cheese too. This street food vendor is actually a dairy from south east London, which serves up one of the best toasties in the capital at its Borough Market stall. The secret is its own Ogleshield cheese, perfected by owner William Oglethorpe for optimum, flavourful melting. Its mixed with Montgomery cheddar, leeks, garlic and onion, all pressed between two slices of Poilane bread.

He said: This will be a place in Camden to hang out and thats the main thing.

Craft workshops and events on sustainability will also be on offer.

Buck Street Market is owned by billionaire entrepreneur Teddy Sagis investment firm LabTech.
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The U.S. response to coronavirus reminds me of recent disasters when official facts were at odds with the reality I encountered.

Governments have a long history of lying to their people about the risks of illness, either as a way to minimize political damage or to drum up hatred for the other. China was accused of covering up the true breadth of the SARS epidemic in 2003, perhaps for months, leading to a larger global spread than otherwise would have happened. With the coronavirus, the Chinese government was more open, but still kept the World Health Organization (WHO) and other experts off their soil until recently.

Overnight, the number of recognized cases jumped by 15,000, largely because the WHO recognizes clinically diagnosed cases that the Chinese government refused to acknowledge.

In 2010, a massive earthquake struck Haiti. One public health official put the number of deaths at 250,000, and the figure stuck, despite no evidence to support it. International non-governmental organizations and the Haitian government all benefited financially from exaggerated figures, and the media reported the numbers with little scrutiny. Subsequent studies demonstrated deaths in the 45,000-80,000 range, still a massive tragedy but of a different order of magnitude.

In 2016, Hurricane Matthew devastated the south of Haiti, and, in that case, the government benefited from a reported death toll below the accurate number. Officials didnt want to be blamed for lack of preparedness or incompetence in the response, so reported a death only when they had identified a body. An unidentified body didnt count, and a missing person whose body had not been recovered didnt count. Based on local numbers, Reuters reported over 1,000 deaths at a time when the official count was only 336. I personally counted 1,500 deaths from interviews with town leaders in the south.

Hurricane Dorian hitting the Bahamas last year produced much the same story. I interviewed several people who personally saw dozens of bodies. The government didnt want a spotlight on the poor living conditions of Haitian immigrants in the two hardest-hit islands. Undocumented immigrants are unlikely to report those missing to avoid the risk of people being deported from shelters. Single men working in the country illegally who were washed away in the storm had nobody to report them missing. Two months after the storm, the Royal Bahamian Police confirmed a death toll of only 67, an absurdly low number.

I witnessed the government of Rwanda fabricate health care statistics, from maternal and neonatal mortality to number covered by national health insurance. Rwanda may have become a victim of its own success, reaching the ceiling of what can reasonably be achieved so quickly that playing with numbers became the only way to report ongoing progress to donors. The same can likely be said for the Cuban government.

And as of today, North Korea and Russia have not acknowledged a single case of coronavirus despite the fact that all of Chinas other neighbors report thousands.

Examples of this kind of obfuscation in the U.S. abound, from President Bushs weak response to Hurricane Katrina in 2005 to President Obamas sluggish reaction to the 2014 Ebola epidemic to Congress failure to allocate more money to combat Zika in Puerto Rico and Florida in 2016. More recently, President Trump has proposed slashing the budgets for the NIH, CDC, and USAID, the organization that offers aid to other countries.

This kind of insular thinking isolates the U.S., minimizes cooperation, and will undoubtedly lead to more deaths in other countries as Americans do less for people outside their borders. Gutting budgets for CDC and NIH is similarly shortsighted and, while it may not impact our response to the coronavirus, reduced funding will degrade our ability to respond to future epidemics. Allocating resources only in an emergency, as we did last week with an $8.3 billion package, is always more expensive and less effective than long-term planning and maintenance of public health infrastructure.

The severe lack of testing in the U.S. is, at best, bureaucratic incompetence and, at worst, greed in the form of the health care industry profiteering in an emergency. It most likely reflects a political desire to keep the number of cases artificially low, so people continue to travel and spend for the benefit of the economy.

My best estimate is that the U.S. has a few thousand cases  mostly undiagnosed  at this point. In two weeks, when testing is fully rolled out, I expect the number will top 10,000 combined across nearly every state in the union.

We are staring down the barrel of an epidemic with a 1 percent mortality rate and a 15-20 percent hospitalization rate, with 5-10 percent requiring intensive care and mechanical ventilation, numbers similar to the situations in northern Italy and China, where long-term quarantines have been put in place. Capacity for patient care could be overwhelmed in the U.S. requiring tent hospitals in parking lots, ICUs in emergency rooms, and cities on lockdown to prevent further spread.

Dont believe the federal numbers at present and rely on your local health authorities for direction. Events should be canceled, travel minimized, and work done from home whenever possible. COVID-19 is coming to a town near you.

If youre scared, youre right to be, but dont listen to the political spin of either side. Do what you can to minimize your risk. Be prepared, wash your hands, and sanitize your phone regularly. Dont touch your face when out in public. Use this as an incentive to quit smoking or lose weight.

Most importantly, try to spread as much love and compassion as possible.

Vincent DeGennaro, Jr. is an internal medicine physician and president, Innovating Health International. He blogs at An American Doctor in Haiti and can be reached on Twitter @DoctorGlobal.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com
Queen Maxima of the Netherlands is well-known for her colourful wardrobe and today she made no exception - opting for two cheerfully bright ensembles when in Indonesia.

Refusing to let a little rain dampen her spirits, the Dutch royal, 48, stepped out in a elegant cream dress as she toured Yogyakarta with her husband King Willem-Alexander.

The couple were welcomed by His Highness Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X and Her Highness Radu Hemas at Kraton Palace, before meeting locals and visiting the Gadjah Mada University.

Later in the day, Maxima changed into an orange polka dot frock as the royal pair continued their third day of engagements during their four-day tour of the nation.

Queen Maxima of the Netherlands is well-known for her colourful wardrobe and today she made no exception - opting for two cheerfully bright ensembles when in Indonesia (pictured)

Refusing to let a little rain dampen her spirits, the Dutch royal, 48, stepped out in a elegant cream dress (above) as she toured Yogyakarta with her husband King Willem-Alexander

King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima share a smile as they watch traditional dancers

Maxima pulled out all the stops for her first outfit of the day, sporting a large GREEN hat to complement her sophisticated frock.

With sleeves that flared towards her hands and a billowing, knee-grazing hemline, the monarch's dress was the picture of elegance.

She teamed the statement garment with a pair of drop earrings and matching necklace, before sweeping her hair into a side bun.

King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima are welcomed by His Highness Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X (pictured left)

King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima pose with His Highness Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X and Her Highness Radu Hemas at Kraton Palace

King Willem-Alexander speaks with His Highness Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X as the two meet in Yogyakarta

King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima arrive in Yogyakarta for the second-day of their tour today

Adding the final touches to her glamorous ensemble, the royal donned cream gloves with a coordinating clutch.

It comes after it was announced that the Dutch royals would not shake hands due to fears of the Coronavirus. Exceptions will be made at a few events.

Upon arriving in Yogyakarta, the King and Queen of The Netherlands were welcomed by His Highness Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X and Her Highness Radu Hemas at Kraton Palace.

Maxima (pictured left) pulled out all the stops for her first outfit of the day, sporting a large cream hat to complement her sophisticated frock

Maxima (pictured with her husband) teamed the statement garment with a pair of drop earrings and matching necklace, before sweeping her hair into a side bun

Maxima and her husband are treated to a performance from traditional Indonesian dancers while at Kraton palace

The Dutch royal couple speak to those that live in 'connected Kampoeng', a neighbourhood where residents have been able to improve their living conditions thanks to the arrival of the internet

King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima walk through Kampoeng Connected and meet locals during the second day of their four-day tour of Indonesia

Queen Maxima holds a gift after visiting the village Kampoeng Connected and the shop The Voice of Jogja in Yogyakarta

They then met locals at the 'connected Kampoeng', a neighbourhood where residents have been able to improve their living conditions thanks to the arrival of the internet.

The couple also visited the Gadjah Mada University, where their trip focused on scientific cooperation between Indonesia and the Netherlands.

For her second outfit of the day, Maxima sported an orange polka dot frock and complementary straw hat, while standing next to her grinning husband.

The couple could be seen laughing and standing arm-in-arm as they posed at the Prambanan Temple.

For her second outfit of the day, Maxima (pictured) sported an orange polka dot frock and complementary straw hat, while standing next to her grinning husband
A man from Houston has been arrested for attempting to smuggle firearms, including two AK-47s, and more than $13,000 into Mexico, according to an arrest affidavit filed on Monday.

READ MORE: Narcotics, cash obtained after Laredo PD raid in south Laredo

Ismael Diaz was charged with export and attempt to export firearms and bulk cash smuggling.

A black Ford Excursion attempted to exit the United States via the Juarez-Lincoln International Bridge at about 6:15 p.m. March 6. U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers conducting outbound inspections identified the driver as Diaz. The vehicle had a total of nine occupants. Diaz gave a negative declaration for weapons, ammo or more than $10,000 in cash.

Diaz allegedly stated he was traveling from Houston to Michoacan, Mexico. CBP officers referred the Ford to secondary inspection, where an X-ray scan on a speaker box revealed an anomaly, according to court documents.

Diaz was detained and escorted to the detention area. CBP officers conducted a pat down of Diaz and discovered $13,749 on his person, states the affidavit.

Homeland Security Investigations special agents took over the investigations. Diaz allegedly agreed to a post-arrest interview.

Diaz stated he and a cousin loaded up the speaker into the Ford Excursion. Diaz was going to transport the speaker box into Mexico, states the affidavit.

He further stated he was aware of declaring the money and claimed he declared $11,000.

A search of the speaker box yielded two AK-47s with a magazine each, a Glock 22 pistol with a magazine, a Smith and Wesson pistol with a magazine, an AR-15 lower receiver, an AR-15 upper receiver and an AR-15 magazine.

READ MORE: Laredo PD investigating 2 separate deaths

Diaz did not claim knowledge of any weapons or magazines, states the affidavit.
For more coverage, visit our complete coronavirus section here.

San Francisco Mayor London Breed announced a ban on all events larger than 1,000 people across the city Wednesday on Twitter. The ban will apply to all events at Chase Center, including Golden State Warriors games, the Chronicle reported.

As a result of the ban on large gatherings, Thursday's game against the Brooklyn Nets will be played without fans, the Warriors confirmed in a statement. All paying fans will receive refunds. ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported on Wednesday morning the Warriors would play their home games in an empty arena for the foreseeable future.

"San Francisco will officially ban large events over 1000 people, including Warriors games. Effective tomorrow, the ban will last at least 2 weeks," San Francisco Supervisor Matt Haney tweeted shortly after the Chronicle's report. "Other counties and states have taken similar steps. Public health must be first priority."

The potential ban mirrors the steps taken by Santa Clara County on Monday evening, when the county announced an identical ban on gatherings of 1,000 people until the end of March. Santa Clara's ban makes such gatherings a crime, enforceable by the sheriff's office.

Other sporting events dealt with the consequences of San Francisco's ban on Wednesday. The Giants-A's exhibition game, scheduled to be played on March 24 at Oracle Park, will be canceled, the Giants announced on Wednesday morning.

On Tuesday evening, Mission Local's Joe Eskenazi reported that "multiple San Francisco officials" were lobbying the Warriors to take preemptive action against the coronavirus.

I have personally spoken to the head of the Warriors organization, Rick Welts, Supervisor Aaron Peskin told Mission Local. I have expressed my desire that they do this voluntarily before, in the days ahead, we do it as an emergency public health order. Its not a matter of if. Its a matter of when. I hope they come to that conclusion before we make them come to that conclusion.

This is a breaking story. Further information will be added as it becomes available.

MORE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE
The White House has ordered federal health officials to treat top-level coronavirus meetings as classified, an unusual step that has restricted information and hampered the U.S. government's response to the contagion, according to four Trump administration officials.

The officials said that dozens of classified discussions about such topics as the scope of infections, quarantines and travel restrictions have been held since mid-January in a high-security meeting room at the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), a key player in the fight against the coronavirus.

Staffers without security clearances, including government experts, were excluded from the interagency meetings, which included video conference calls, the sources said.

'We had some very critical people who did not have security clearances who could not go,' one official said. 'These should not be classified meetings. It was unnecessary.'

HHS boss: Alex Azar's department held coronavirus meetings in a SCIF, banning experts without security clearances, after an order from the White House which he fought. The order came from the national Security Council

What is he hiding: Robert O'Brien (left) head the National Security Council in the White House and dined with the Trump family on Saturday at a dinner for Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro.

The sources said the National Security Council (NSC), which advises the president on security issues, ordered the classification.'This came directly from the White House,' one official said.

The White House insistence on secrecy at the nations premier public health organization, which has not been previously disclosed, has put a lid on certain information - and potentially delayed the response to the crisis.

COVID19, the disease caused by the virus, has killed about 30 people in the United States and infected more than 1,000 people.

HHS oversees a broad range of health agencies, including the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which among other things is responsible for tracking cases and providing guidance nationally on the outbreaks.

The administration officials, who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity, said they could not describe the interactions in the meeting room because they were classified.

An NSC spokesman did not respond to questions about the meetings at HHS.

But he defended the administrations transparency across federal agencies and noted that meetings of the administration's task force on the coronavirus all are unclassified.

It was not immediately clear which meetings he was referring to. 'From day one of the response to the coronavirus, NSC has insisted on the principle of radical transparency,' said the spokesman, John Ullyot.

He added that the administration 'has cut red tape and set the global standard in protecting the American people under President Trumps leadership.'

A spokeswoman for the HHS, Katherine McKeogh, issued a statement that did not address questions about classified meetings.

Using language that echoed the NSC's, the department said it that it agreed task-force meetings should be unclassified.

Transparency pledge: Holding meetings in secret is exactly the opposite of what was promised by Mike Pence at one of his briefings on the crisis

Critics have hammered the Trump administration for what they see as a delayed response to coronavirus outbreaks and a lack of transparency, including sidelining experts and providing misleading or incomplete information to the public.

State and local officials also have complained of being kept in the dark about essential federal response information.

U.S. Vice-President Mike Pence, the administration's point person on coronavirus, vowed on March 3 to offer 'real-time information in a steady pace and be fully transparent.'

The vice president, appointed by President Donald Trump in late February, is holding regular news briefings and also has pledged to rely on expert guidance.

The meetings at HHS were held in a secure area called a 'Sensitive Compartmentalized Information Facility,' or SCIF, according to the administration officials.

SCIFs are usually reserved for intelligence and military operations. Ordinary cell phones and computers can't be brought into the chambers. HHS has SCIFs because theoretically it would play a major role in biowarfare or chemical attacks.

A high-level former official who helped address public health outbreaks in the George W. Bush administration said 'it's not normal to classify discussions about a response to a public health crisis.'

Attendees at the meetings included HHS Secretary Alex Azar and his chief of staff Brian Harrison, the officials said. Azar and Harrison resisted the classification of the meetings, the sources said.

HHS did not make Azar or Harrison available for comment.

One of the administration officials told Reuters that when complex issues about a quarantine came up, a high-ranking HHS lawyer with expertise on the issue was not admitted because he did not have the proper security clearance.

His input was delayed and offered at an unclassified meeting, the official said.

A fifth source familiar with the meetings said HHS staffers often weren't informed about coronavirus developments because they didn't have adequate clearance. He said he was told that the matters were classified 'because it had to do with China.'

The coronavirus epidemic originated in China and the administration's main focus to prevent spread early on was to restrict travel by non-U.S. citizens coming from China and to authorize the quarantine of people entering the United States who may have been exposed to the virus.

One of the administration officials suggested the security clearances for meetings at HHS were imposed not to protect national security but to keep the information within a tight circle, to prevent leaks.

'It seemed to be a tool for the White House - for the NSC - to keep participation in these meetings low,' the official said.
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Brussels, March 11, 2020The European Parliament should strengthen protections for journalism in draft legislation on terrorist content online, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

An internal EU document leaked by Politico on March 6 appeared to show that proposed amendments to a draft EU regulation dealing with terrorist content online fail to fully reflect input from media and civil society groups. The regulation is pending final negotiation with other EU institutions.

The leaked amendments, which CPJ has reviewed, do not include independent judicial review of requests to delete or hide such contenta requirement that was previously included and based on feedback from rights groups. The draft suggests government officials in any EU country could ask service providers who host content to take it down within one hour, an approach that CPJ and other advocacy groups say significantly limits the scope for assessment or appeal. The requests could be implemented across borders throughout the European Union, according to the leaked draft.

While the draft reviewed by CPJ says the regulation will not apply to content disseminated for journalistic purposes and will take freedom of the media into account, it does not explain how. Journalistic content and the source material necessary in order to report and verify the news can be subject to removal in efforts to combat terrorist and violent extremist content online, as CPJ has reported.

The European Parliament must demonstrate that protecting journalists rights in the fight against illegal content really matters, both for the EU and for other governments around the world, said Tom Gibson, CPJs EU Representative. Now is the time for elected officials to insist on judicial oversight and resist far-reaching provisions which could have a problematic impact on journalists and the news for years to come.

CPJ emailed Patryk Jaki, the European Parliaments Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs rapporteur on the terrorist content online regulation, to confirm the veracity of the document published by Politico, but did not hear back before publication.

Automated tools to prevent the publication of flagged and illegal content, such as upload filters, are not required in the latest draft, though they had previously been put forward by the European Commission. The international digital rights group Access Now has found that such filters fail to fully assess context, can restrict legitimate content, and that their misapplication can easily lead to the censorship of journalists.
A plan to undo a portion of Mobiles 35-year-old form of government is a scheme and a full-out assault on our citizens, three members of the City Council said Wednesday.

The joint statement from the councils three black members  Levon Manzie, Fred Richardson and C.J. Small  hinted at a political and racially sensitive clash over the future of city government.

Mobile County Sheriff Sam Cochran touched off the battle at a morning news conference at Government Plaza when he introduced the Grow Mobile Now initiative. The plan, Cochran said, is to gather enough petition signatures to force a special election asking whether city voters support eliminating the councils supermajority requirement.

Presently, under the law, a five-vote supermajority of the seven-member City Council is required to pass ordinances, regulations and other significant matters. Most other cities in the state require only a simple majority.

The joint statement by Manzie, Richardson and Small said: The supermajority was put in place to ensure all our citizens are represented in city government, after a court ruled they had not been.

The statement referred to a federal ruling in the 1980s that led to the creation of the Zoghby Act in 1985, which set up the citys present form of government.

Prior to 1985, the city operated under a three-member commission form of government. The Zoghby Act was designed specifically for Mobile to establish more equal representation for minorities with seven City Council districts.

Elephant in the room

Cochran, though, said the issues that existed in 1985 are no longer in play today.

Twice, we elected a black man with a white majority and twice we elected a white man with a black majority, said Cochran, referring to the past two mayors in Mobile  Sam Jones, who is black, and Sandy Stimpson, who is white.

The more pressing issue, he said, is racially polarized politics, which he described as the elephant in the room.

Last year, a 4-3 City Council vote blocked a special annexation election sought by Stimpson. The councils vote was split along racial lines: Manzie, Richardson and Small voted No, while the four white members  Gina Gregory, Joel Daves, John Williams and Bess Rich -- voted to support the election.

Manzie, Small and Richardson said their views on the issue werent about race but whether the city could afford to take in a large new population.

The annexation, had it been approved, would have added 13,000 people to the city, most of them white, boosting Mobiles population to No. 2 in the state, and above 200,000. Right now, Mobile  with a population estimate of 189,572  trails Birmingham (209,880), Montgomery (198,218), and Huntsville (197,318). An AL.com analysis last year, however, showed that even if Mobile annexed the residents, it would be at No. 2 for only a brief period of time since Huntsville is on track to surpass Birmingham as Alabamas biggest city within the next five years.

The additional residents would have changed the racial demographics in Mobile from 50.4% black and 45.4% white to 48.8% black and 46.7% white.

In Alabama and other Southern states, racially polarized voting has ruled the ballot boxes in major elections: Sizable majorities of white voters tend to support Republican candidates, and black voters back Democrats.

Adam Bourne, the chairman of the Mobile County Republican Party who attended Cochrans news conference, said that decisions on the local level  where partisan politics are not supposed to be at play  should be whats best for the city as a whole.

I dont think annexation would have had a tremendous political impact on the city, said Bourne. I think the same candidates elected today could get elected after annexation. We have to look at growing the whole region."

The Mobile County Democratic Executive Committee sees things differently. In a news release, the group condemned Cochrans efforts and called them discriminatory and divisive in the strongest of terms.

It is the responsibility of the city council to represent the needs and concerns of their constituents and that is exactly what they have done, the Democratic Committees statement reads. The citizens of Mobile made clear they are opposed to the city taking on new responsibilities when we have not yet met the challenges we already face. It is outrageous that a handful of politicians unhappy with that outcome are now attempting to take away the voices of tens of thousands of Mobile city residents.

Annexation and jurisdictions

Cochran said the annexation impasse, along with concerns about the city possibly rolling back public safety services within its 1.5-mile to 3-mile-wide police jurisdiction, spurred him to act. The sheriff said the rollback of the police jurisdiction, currently under consideration by the City Council, would force the Sheriffs Department to spend $4.8 million per year to patrol the unincorporated areas that have long been patrolled by Mobile city police.

That would leave me with 70,000 people to police and a cost of $4.8 million to hire more deputies, said Cochran. It would be disastrous for the city.

Cochran said he understands the risks involved by backing the Grow Mobile Now effort. For instance, if Cochran is successful in getting the supermajority vote eliminated, there is no guarantee that voters in the unincorporated areas of Mobile would support a referendum to come into the city.

Under that scenario, Cochrans department would be faced with the prospects of patrolling the unincorporated areas that voted against annexation.

But the sheriff said he believes there is strong support for annexation west of the city where a host of neighborhoods have sprouted up in the past 20 years.

Ive seen some surveys that have been done in areas and it was 70% that they wanted to annex into the city, said Cochran.

He noted that some past annexation efforts met mixed results from voters. At least in the past  they gave people the right to vote, Cochran said.

Del Sawyer, who heads up the West Mobile Annexation Committee that actively pushed for the approval of the annexation election last year, said the people he interacts with in the unincorporated areas are big supporters of joining the city of Mobile.

Petition drive

This is the first organized effort to upturn the supermajority requirement since 2001 and 2002.

Back then, a group called the Committee for a Referendum gathered around 3,600 signatures  based on 10% of the registered voters who participated in the prior city election  to force the issue.

But that petition effort was disputed and, in 2002, Mobile County Circuit Judge Herman Thomas ruled that more than 1,000 signees lived outside the city or were not qualified voters.

Cochran said his effort requires close to 5,000 signatures, and that he planned to gather 20,000. He said that merit-based employees who work within the Sheriff Department werent being encouraged to sign a petition.

Petitions can only be signed by city of Mobile residents.

Cochran said hes still seeking volunteers to assist in the petition drive, and hes hoping to get some businesses to support the effort as well.

The last effort, I would say that a lot of politics were involved, Cochran said. The judge tossed out the names of people who were registered voters. By throwing those out, they did not have enough signatures to go forward.

He added, Well have legal representation. Well continue to address (the signature requirement).
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-11 19:42:25|Editor: xuxin

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RABAT, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Morocco confirmed on Wednesday two new cases of COVID-19, the ministry of health said in a statement.

The two cases are the wife and daughter of a French tourist who tested positive for the COVID-19 on Sunday and was declared as the third confirmed case in Morocco, the statement added.

The condition of the three tourists, who arrived in Morocco on Saturday, is stable and they are under medical care at a hospital in Marrakech in central Morocco.

Morocco recorded on Tuesday its first death from COVID-19.

A 89-year-old woman who just returned from Italy died in Casablanca from the novel coronavirus, said the ministry of health.
A 16-year-old fanboy apologized to Prince Harry for hugging the princess after the Duchess of Sussex visited Robert Clack Upper School in Dagenham, England.

Aker Okoye has been a long fan of Meghan Markle. With the beauty and charisma that the Duchess has, no wonder that many would want to meet her and many would want to know why Prince Harry fell in love with the former American actress.

Meghan Markle has been a well-known feminist and in honor of International Women's Day, she visited the Robert Clack Upper School where she asked a male student about what the day meant for them. Luckily, the school's head boy Aker Okoye was allowed to join her on stage.

Okoye was astonished by the beauty of Meghan Markle and he gave a big hug to the Duchess. The Duchess also laughed after Okoye exclaimed, "She really is beautiful, innit?"

In a news article published a day after the event, it was reported that Okoye asked for an apology to Prince Harry. He said: "I hope you didn't mind me cuddling your wife. I was just overwhelmed and shocked to see her arrive at my school."

In an interview with Okoye, he recalled what happened during that day and he described it as the best moment in his life and he also explained why he wrote an apology letter to Prince Harry.

In the recently published article, Okoye said that he wanted to clear up everything most especially for hugging Meghan Markle. He explained: "If that was my wife and I had this random child [hug her] ... I don't think he's threatened by it [but] I thought it was polite to do so. It was out of my own kindness. If Meghan Markle wasn't as big as she is, I would still say sorry for that. I just thought it was genuinely polite to do so. It didn't feel as if I was forced into it."

However, even though Okoye felt that he needs to write an apology letter to the Prince but the footage during the event showed on how Meghan happily embraced the hug of Okoye. She even smiled and laugh. It is just that Okoye was amazed to meet the Duchess of Sussex.

Okoye admitted that he was very amazed and he also recounted that Meghan Markle asked for his name. He cannot remember everything about what happened during that day but one thing is just for sure for him, Meghan Markle was very cool.

The funny part during the event was his speech which he said was impromptu. He was not able to prepare for it. He said that he used to speak in front of the public but not in front of a royal. It is something that made him so nervous.

It is a very rare opportunity to meet Meghan Markle in person and have a hug with her. He described the Duchess as very humble, an amazing person, down-to-earth, and very inspirational. No wonder why Prince Harry fell in love with her. She is truly beautiful inside and outside.
Coronavirus update: World Health Organisation has classified coronavirus a pandemic. Meanwhile, India invoked Section 2 of Epidemic Diseases Act to deal with coronavirus. Earlier today, two employees from tech companies Mindtree and Dell have tested positive for the deadly coronavirus in India. Both these employees have a travel history to abroad. Besides, in what could be the first death due to coronavirus in India, a patient suspected of being infected with COVID-19 virus, has died in Hyderabad. However, no official confirmation has been received from the Telangana government so far. A total of 83 individuals, who arrived from Italy on Air India flight today, have been quarantined at Army facility at Manesar, Haryana. Out of 84 people, 74 are Indian, six are Italian and rest three are from the United States.

Also read: Coronavirus Live Updates: India scraps all visas as WHO declares COVID-19 'global pandemic'

Check all the latest updates on coronavirus outbreak on BusinessToday.In live blog

10.44 PM: French President Emmanuel Macron will now greet his counterparts with a namaste, tweeted Ambassador of France to India Emmanuel Lenain.

PrAsident Macron has decided to greet all his counterparts with a namaste, a graceful gesture that he has retained from his India visit in 2018 pic.twitter.com/OksoKjW7V8 a Emmanuel Lenain (@FranceinIndia) March 11, 2020

Also read: SBI Cards IPO: Check allotment status, stock listing date, expectations

10.15 PM: WHO characterises coronavirus as 'pandemic'

Ys BREAKING Ys



"We have therefore made the assessment that #COVID19 can be characterized as a pandemic"-@DrTedros#coronaviruspic.twitter.com/JqdsM2051A a World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) March 11, 2020

9.45 PM: India invokes Section 2 of Epidemic Disease Act to deal with coronavirus crisis. Decisions related to health lie with the states, but by invoking Section 2 of the Epidemic Diseases Act, advisories and directions of Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare can be enforced across the country.

6.51 PM: "Government has decided that all public and private educational institutions will suspend their teaching and class work till March 31. However, board and competitive examinations will take place as per schedule," said Bhupinder Kumar, director of National Health Mission in Jammu and Kashmir.

Bhupinder Kumar, director of National Health Mission in Jammu & Kashmir: Govt has decided that all public & private educational institutions will suspend their teaching & class work till March 31. However, board & competitive examinations will take place as per schedule. pic.twitter.com/XQn23x7Sxx a ANI (@ANI) March 11, 2020

6.50 PM: Karnataka government has issued temporary regulation 'Karnataka Epidemic Diseases, COVID-19 Regulations, 2020' which aims to prevent spread of the disease. According to the regulation, all government and private hospitals should have flu corners for screening of suspected cases of COVID-19, ANI reported. Moreover, persons, institutions or organisations found guilty of using print or electronic media to spread misinformation on COVID-19 will be punished, the news agency further said.

6.46 PM: Three suspected cases of coronavirus under observation in West Bengal.

6.44 PM: Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray chaired a high-level meeting over preventive measures and preparations for coronavirus.

Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray today chaired a high-level meeting over preventive measures and preparations for Coronavirus. pic.twitter.com/FtmLYKmVdI a ANI (@ANI) March 11, 2020

5.58 PM: Japanese Olympic organising committee executive member Haruyuki Takahashi plans to propose the possibility of postponing the 2020 Tokyo Olympics due to the coronavirus outbreak. The event is scheduled to happen between July 24 and August 9.

5.09 PM: 71 Chinese workers quarantined at construction site in Nepal

A total of 71 Chinese workers engaged at a construction site in Nepal have been placed under quarantine after their return to the Himalayan nation from China, an official said.

The Chinese workers, who returned to Nepal between March 4 and 6 from Chengdu and Beijing after celebrating the Chinese New Year, have been kept in isolation at the Pokhara Regional Airport project where they work.

"They had already been quarantined in China for 14 days before embarking for Nepal. As neither we nor the workers wanted to take any chances, we decided to place them in quarantine again," said airport project manager Binesh Munkarmi.

The workers' temperature is being checked three times a day, he said.

"We've informed the Province Health Directorate about the quarantine of Chinese workers. So far, everyone's is normal," Munkarmi said.

(PTI)

5.02 PM: "Srinagar Municipal Corporation has unanimously passed resolution to restrict public gatherings in Srinagar, and close schools and coaching centres in view of coronavirus transmission threat," says Srinagar Mayor Azim Mattu.

#JammuAndKashmir Junaid Azim Mattu, Srinagar Mayor: Srinagar Municipal Corporation has unanimously passed resolution to restrict public gatherings in Srinagar, and close schools & coaching centres in view of #Coronavirus transmission threat. pic.twitter.com/4LQBi5KwMb a ANI (@ANI) March 11, 2020

4.54 PM: Cinema halls in the Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Reasi and Udhampur districts closed till March 31 due to coronavirus scare.

Jammu: Cinema halls in the 5 districts- Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Reasi and Udhampur closed till March 31. #CoronaViruspic.twitter.com/CaQ0kC1nxQ a ANI (@ANI) March 11, 2020

4.33 PM: So far, Government of India has evacuated 948 passengers from COVID-19 affected countries, said Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Out of these, 900 are Indian citizens and 48 belonging to different nationalities including Maldives, Myanmar, Bangladesh, China, USA, Madagascar, Sri Lanka, Nepal, South Africa and Peru, the ministry added.

4.28 PM: Centre advises states to step up sanitation in public transport, bus terminals

All states and union territories have been asked to step up sanitation and hygiene in all public transport vehicles to contain the spread of coronavirus, the Road Transport and Highways Ministry said on Wednesday.

The states and union territories have also been advised to step up sanitation at bus terminals and stops, the ministry said.

"It advised all the states to take up necessary steps in public transport vehicles to ensure sanitation of seats, handles and bars," the ministry said.

(PTI)

3.45 PM: No entry for cruise ships with travel history to coronavirus-hit nations

India on Wednesday prohibited entry of any international cruise ship, crew or passenger with a travel history to coronavirus-hit countries post February 1, 2020 to its major ports till March 31.

To prevent the spread of the deadly virus, the Ministry of Shipping said it will allow only such international cruise ships to call on its major ports that had intimated their call to the ports by January 1, 2020.

The government said international cruise ships will be allowed only at ports having thermal screening facilities for passengers and crew members. Master of Vessel will have to submit documents related to crew, passengers regarding travel to/from coronavirus-hit nations to port. If any passenger/crew member of cruise ships show symptoms of coronavirus, disembarking will not be permitted, the government said.

(PTI)

3.33 PM: 83 individuals quarantined in Manesar today

A total of 83 individuals, who arrived from Italy on Air India flight today, have been quarantined at Army facility at Manesar, Haryana. Out of 84 people, 74 are Indian, six are Italian and rest three are from the United States.

3.29 PM: Special Secy, H&FW, Sanjeeva Kumar, says total 60 confirmed cases of novel coronavirus have been reported in the country so far.

Special Secy, H&FW, Sanjeeva Kumar informed that total of 60 confirmed cases of novel #coronavirus are reported in the country so far. He said, total 948 passengers from covid affected countries are evacuated by India including 900 Indians & 48 foreign nationals

Report:Bhupendra pic.twitter.com/CQXg320Feo a All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) March 11, 2020

3.23 PM: Dell, Mindtree employees test positive

Two employees from tech companies Mindtree and Dell have tested positive for the deadly coronavirus in India. Both these employees have a travel history to abroad. - PTI

3.19 PM: 900 Indians evacuated from affected countries

EAM S Jaishankar tells the Rajya Sabha that India has evacuated as many as 948 persons so from countries affected by the deadly virus. OF this, as many as 900 are Indian nationals.

3.08 PM: Total coronavirus cases in Italy

In Italy, over 10,419 people are infected with the deadly coronavirus and as many as 631 people have died. The entire country has virtually been lockdown.

3.06 PM: Total cases cross 3,100 in China

Total infections in mainland China stood at 80,778 with 24 new cases by Tuesday, while 22 more deaths took the toll to 3,158, the National Health Commission said on Wednesday. -Reuters

3.03 PM: Foreign minister S Jaishankar in the Rajya Sabha: "As many as 108 samples were received in India on March 7. People who tested negative were brought back yesterday. Samples of 529 more Indians are being tested in NIV Pune."

2.55 PM: Indian citizens are advised to refrain from travelling to China, Iran, Republic of Korea, Italy and Japan.

2.36 PM: First COVID-19 death in Hyderabad?

In what could be called as the first death due to coronavirus in India, a patient suspected of having infected with COVID-19 virus, has died in Hyderabad. However, no official confirmation has been received from the Telangana government so far. The patient, who was earlier admitted at Gulbarga Institute of medical Sciences (GIMS), reportedly died at a private hospital in Hyderabad yesterday night. Later, the body was brought to his native place in Kalaburagi, Karnataka, for last rights.

2.30 PM: The Delhi govt has called a special assembly session on NRC-NPR issue, coronavirus situation on March 13.

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???? ????? ???? ???? ?????? ????? corona ?? ?? ?? ????? a Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) March 10, 2020

2.25 PM: Railways takes measures to meet coronavirus challenge

Indian Railways has geared up its entire machinery in a big way to take comprehensive measures on prevention of Corona COVID 19 virus infection. Minister of Railways and Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal has directed the Railway Board to ensure that adequate prevention measures are put in place across Indian Railway system. The Chairman Railway Board, Vinod Kumar Yadav, has taken meeting with all General Managers through Video Conference on 5th and 6th March 2020 to review the preparedness and convey priorities and directions.

2.12 PM: Chhawla Quarantine facility update

Total 14 days of quarantine completed at ITBP Quarantine facility, Chhawla, New Delhi. Sampling being done for final test of 112 wuhan evacuees, including 36 foreign nationals by ITBP doctors. Reports will come out tomorrow. If tested negative, all of them will be released in a couple of days.

Delhi: 14 days of quarantine of 112 Wuhan (China) evacuees including 36 foreign nationals, has completed at ITBP Quarantine Facility in Chhawla. Sampling being done for their final test by doctors. Reports awaited. #CoronaViruspic.twitter.com/IcJ4k1zNs6 a ANI (@ANI) March 11, 2020

2.09 PM: Grofers says it has taken out measures to deal with coronavirus outbreak

All essential supply chains are functioning normally, both at Grofers and its suppliers

The company is committed towards sticking to honest pricing

Stringent screening has been implemented to make sure all employees are healthy

Travel has been put on hold between locations and offices

Precautions have been taken to avoid inter-mingling of supply chain and offline footfalls in stores

2.07 PM: Kerala releases map of route taken by three-member family

The Kerala government has released a map of the route taken by the three-member family, which returned to the state from COVID-19 hit Italy, on February 29, with an aim to track all those who had come in contact with them. All the places visited by the family upon their return have been mentioned in the map, so that people can voluntarily inform authorities if they had come in touch with them.

1.46 PM: Govt issues advisory on hygiene in public transport

Ministry of Health: "To prevent the spread of COVID-19, hygiene and sanitation to be stepped up at all bus terminals and display of public health messages to be ensured on public transport vehicles, bus terminals and bus stops."

1.36 PM: Indian bowlers might limit usage of saliva for shining ball: Bhuvneshwar Kumar.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Indian cricketer: We have a team of doctors with us who are advising us on dos and don'ts on #Coronavirus and today we have a meeting with them, if they will advise us to not use saliva on the ball then we will follow it. #INDvsSApic.twitter.com/Ra9Ig7axA7 a ANI (@ANI) March 11, 2020

1.29 PM: Thailand cancels visa on arrival for Indians

Thailand on Wednesday cancelled the grant of visa on arrival for 18 countries and visa exemption for three others to contain the spread of the coronavirus, the country's interior minister said. Previously, nationals of 18 countries or territories could use their passports or travel documents to apply for Visa on Arrival (VoA) at Thai immigration checkpoints. - Reuters

1.20 PM: A 76-year-old man suspected to be infected with coronavirus dies in Karnataka's Kalaburagi, PTI reports citing government sources.

1.14 PM: Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan says efforts on to improve internet quality

"As more people will be working from their homes, efforts were taken to improve the quality and availability of broadband internet. Food will be delivered to families under observation. Respective DCs will ensure this," says the CM.

1.10 PM: Kerala on high alert

State has been put under high alert after 17 positive cases of coronavirus. All public programmes suspended till this March 31. Educational institutions of Classes up to 7 will remain closed. No change in exams for Classes 8 to 10. The state government has also launched a massive awareness programmes across the state.

1.06 PM: Kerala asks Cochin airport staff to place themselves in quarantine

ACK Nair, director of Cochin International Airport Limited: A passenger flew down from Italy some days ago. Later, he tested positive for coronavirus. Keeping this in view, we have asked the airport staff who came in his contact to place themselves under home quarantine.

1.00 PM: Several hundred students stuck in Italy

Hundreds of students from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh have been stranded in Italy, which has be completely shut after over 600 deaths due to coronavirus. Italy saw 36 per cent jump in COVID-19 deaths on Tuesday, the Civil Protection Agency said, which is the largest rise in absolute numbers since the contagion came to light on February 21.

12.54 PM: Govt figures on coronavirus

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare: "10 news cases of #COVID19 confirmed. 8 cases are from Kerala and 1 each from Rajasthan & Delhi. Total cases rise to 60 across the country."

12.18 PM: Farmer buries 6,000 chickens in Karnataka

Coronavirus scare in India has led to a steep fall in chicken prices, forcing poultry farmers to dump chickens. In one such case, a poultry farmer in Karnataka dumped 6,000 chickens, all around a month old, after unfounded fear of transmission of coronavirus from chicken, reports The Times of India.

12.06 PM: Masks placed on idols at Varanasi temple

The 'Shivling' at Prahladeshwar temple have been covered with a mask and posters have been put up in temple appealing devotees to not touch the idols.

11.56 AM: M&M Chairman Anand Mahindra shares a motivational tweet in wake of coronavirus scare in India. "The world is consumed by fear of COVID-19, but here's one ninety plus lady, Mrs. Kaur, who won't be scared at all, in my opinion! She looks like she's ready to outrace the virus. What an inspiration," says the tycoon.

The world is consumed by fear of COVID-19, but hereas one ninety plus lady, Mrs. Kaur, who wonat be scared at all, in my opinion! She looks like sheas ready to outrace the virus. What an inspiration. pic.twitter.com/t6nKrayCTZ a anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) March 11, 2020

11.53 AM: Delhi HC on coronavirus

The Delhi High Court has asked the central and Delhi governments to file response on the pleas seeking proper preventive measures to control.

11.49 AM: Coronavisus update from J&K

Rohit Kansal, Principal Secretary Planning, Jammu & Kashmir: All primary schools, cinema halls and Anganwari centres in the 5 districts, Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Reasi and Udhampur to be closed till March 31. - ANI

11.37 AM: India reported 18 new cases of coronavirus on Tuesday, taking the number of total cases to 62.

Positive from Kerala: 8

Maharashtra: 5

Karnataka: 4

J&K: 1

11.34 AM: The number of new coronavirus cases in India has jumped to 62.

11.30 AM: An Apple employee has tested positive for coronavirus in Ireland. "One of our employees in Cork has been confirmed to have COVID-19," Apple said in a statement.

11.00 AM: In wake of coronavirus, Vietnam has also suspended visa exemptions for eight countries, including the United Kingdom, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Sweden, France, Germany and Spain.

10.50 AM: Govt must prevent cases in Maharashtra: Devendra Fadnavis

"Government should take decision to control and prevent more cases in Maharashtra. At the same time it's necessary that people don't panic about the situation," said former Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis.

10.40 AM: Five positive cases in Pune: Health Minister

"Five positive cases in Pune. Forty people who went to Dubai have been traced. They are under observation and people who were in primary for secondary contact of these people are also under observation," said Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope.

10.33 AM: Three people under observation in Maharashtra

Three people in Maharashtra district are under observation as they had travelled to Dubai with four persons in Pune who have tested positive for the coronavirus, a health official said here on Tuesday. The persons from Beed did not show any symptoms of the virus but were under watch as a precaution, he clarified.

10.26 AM: Not scared, says West Bengal BJP chief

West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh on Tuesday appeared to downplay the global coronavirus scare, asserting that thousands of people at temples across India drink water with their hands and also consume 'prasad', but "nothing happens" as they have the blessings of god. Ghosh said the humankind, which have conquered the world and reached the moon, are now scared of coming out of their homes.

10.19 AM: 58 people evacuated from Iran

The first batch of 58 evacuees from Iran arrived on Tuesday, with 25 men, 31 women and 2 children on board. All the evacuees are monitored and clinically stable presently.

10.17 AM: More than 1,400 contacts have been put under surveillance for these positive cases, till date. Also, 404 Indian contacts of the US citizen tested positive for COVID-19 in Bhutan have been identified and put under surveillance in Assam.

10.16 AM: Coronavirus meet cancelled due to coronavirus

The Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) has cancelled a meet, 'Doing Business Under Coronavirus', which was scheduled to be held in New York on Friday. The reason for cancelling the roundtable is believed to be coronavirus itself. As per Bloomberg, the CFR has also cancelled all meetings that were supposed to be held between March 11-April 3.

9.40 AM: Death toll rises to 60 in South Korea

South Korea has reported 242 new cases of coronavirus compared with only 35 a day earlier, bringing the total in Asia's worst outbreak outside mainland China to 7,755, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) said. The death toll rose by one to 60.

9.20 AM: Total cases cross the world (WHO figures)

Global cases: Over 113,851

Global deaths: Over 4,015

9.17 AM: A Mindtree employee, who had a travel history to abroad, has been tested positive for coronavirus...the employee and his family members have been quarantined, reports CNBC TV18.

9.05 AM: Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams appeals to NRI devotees to avoid temple visit at Tirumala for 28 days from the day they have landed in India, reports India Today.

8.58 AM: British health minister tests positive for coronavirus

British junior health minister Nadine Dorries has tested positive for coronavirus and is self-isolating, she said on Tuesday. Dorries said she took all the advised precautions as soon as she was told of her diagnosis. Public Health England has started detailed contact tracing and the department and my parliamentary office are closely following their advice. -- Reuters

8.55 AM: Three cases from Punjab

Five-year-old symptomatic child, who came from Italy recently, admitted to a Gurdaspur hospital in Punjab. Two suspected cases also admitted to PGI Chandigarh.

8.46 AM: Spreading disease is a crime: Kerala Health Minister

Kerala Health Minister KK Shailaja says as per the Public Health Act, people who are supporting or hiding anything that leads to spreading of the disease is a crime. "Those who are not revealing their travel history of coming back from affected areas and countries will be considered a crime," she adds. "If they become positive, they will spread the disease. So we are asking them to reveal their identity and contact health department. Chief Minister has announced that hiding travel history is a crime & proper action will be taken," says the Kerala Health Minister.

8.38 AM: Coronavirus to cost global economy up to $2 trillion: UN

The coronavirus outbreak could cost the global economy up to USD 2 trillion this year, the UN's trade and development agency said, warning that shock from the epidemic will cause a recession in some countries and depress global annual growth to below 2.5 per cent. -- PTI

8.35 AM: India bars more countries

Amid the rising cases of coronavirus affliction globally, India on Tuesday barred entry of the nationals of three more countries -- France, Germany and Spain -- suspending the regular as well as e-Visas granted to them till date.

8.35 AM: Coronavirus death toll jumps 36% to 631 in Italy

The death toll from an outbreak of coronavirus in Italy has jumped by 168 to 631, an increase of 36%, the Civil Protection Agency said on Tuesday, the largest rise in absolute numbers since the contagion came to light on Feb. 21. The total number of cases in Italy, the European country hardest hit by the virus in Europe, rose to 10,149 from a previous 9,172, an increase of 10.7%. The head of the agency said that, of those originally infected, 1,004 had fully recovered compared to 724 the day before. Some 877 people were in intensive care against a previous 733. -- Reuters

8.31 AM: Number could soon rise up to 59

The health ministry says many are being retested for confirmation (of COVID-19). Once the fresh cases declared by the state governments are taken into account, the figure will go up to 59 or even more.

8.22 AM: Travel advisory to employees

The government has said that if people, who have travel history to below-mentioned countries, are working in some organisations/institutions, their respective employers are advised to facilitate work from home during this period.

8.20 AM: Avoid non-essential travel: Health ministry

Indian citizens are advised to avoid non-essential travel abroad.Indian citizens are strongly advised to refrain from travelling to China, Italy, Iran, Republic of Korea, Japan, France, Spain and Germany, says the Ministry of Health.

8.15 AM: New travel advisory for international passengers

All incoming international passengers returning to India should self-monitor their health and follow required do's and dont's on COVID-19, says the government advirosry. Those having travel history to China, Hong Kong, Republic of Korea, Japan, Italy, Thailand, Singapore, Iran, Malaysia, France, Spain and Germany have been advised to undergo self-imposed quarantine for 14 days from date of their arrival.

8.10 AM: Govt puts additional visa restrictions

With respect to restrictions on visa, all regular visas (including e-wisas), which have been granted to nationals of France, Germany and Spain on or before March 11, 2020, where these foreigners have not yet entered India, stands suspended.

8.05 AM: New guidelines on coronavirus

Passengers travelling from/having visited Italy or Republic of Korea & desirous of entering India will need certificate of having tested negative for COVID-19 from designated laboratories authorised by health authorities of these countries from today, says the government.

8.00 AM: Six new coronavirus cases in India

India reported six new cases of coronavirus on Tuesday: three (3) from Bengaluru (with travel history from the US via Dubai); one (1) more from Bengaluru with travel history from US via Heathrow; and two (2) from Pune (travel history from Dubai).
Inside Hook

As businesses continue to scramble to prevent the spread of coronavirus, MGM Resorts in Las Vegas has announced it will close all of its buffets beginning on Sunday (March 15) as a precaution.

The Buffet at Aria, Buffet at Bellagio, MGM Grand Buffet, Cravings at the Mirage, Buffet at Luxor, and Buffet at Excalibur will all be closed, but the company stressed that the move is not permanent. These changes are temporary and will be evaluated on a weekly basis, MGM Resorts director of media relations Brian Ahern said in a statement.
Three Wayne State University Press employees have filed individual complaints with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Michigan Department of Civil Rights, charging Wayne State University with discrimination on the basis of race and retaliation against them. The three employeeseditor-in-chief Annie Martin; editorial, design, and production editor Kristin Harpster; and marketing and sales manager Emily Nowakwere fired on February 7 during a meeting called by Jon Cawthorne, the dean of the Detroit universitys library system, who at the time was tasked with oversight of the press. Interim director Tara Reeser was also present at that meeting, as was a university human resources representative, who informed the three that their services were no longer required.

After two weeks of controversywhich included an open letter condemning the firings and demanding reinstatement signed by 85 authors and others affiliated with the university, as well as another one signed by the WSU Press advisory council of 17 faculty membersthe three employees were rehired to their former positions on Feb. 21 and returned to the office on Feb. 25. They are now back at work under the supervision of the current interim director, Kathy Wildfong, who reports to WSUs chief of staff and v-p of communications, Michael Wright, as Cawthorne was relieved of that responsibility a week after the firings. Reeser resigned as interim director and left the university altogether shortly after the transfer of responsibility for the press from Cawthorne to Wright.

In individual documents that contained similar wording filed on March 3, the three employees each claim that Reeser had on or about 2018 attempted to interfere with the hiring process by demanding that only African-Americans be considered for any open positions at the press. (Reeser is white, while Cawthorne is African-American.) Each employee also stated that last summer, the three together notified the universitys human resources department that Reeser was making racially bias [sic] requests. Furthermore, the three allege, on or about November 2019 Cawthorne and Reeser were involved in an inappropriate relationship and that this was reported to the universitys HR department. Each employees allegations conclude with the statement, I believe I was subjected to retaliation and discharged due to my race, Caucasian, in violation of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended.

Jennifer McManus of Fagan McManus, a Detroit-area law firm, released to PW yesterday a joint personal statement made by the three WSU Press employees expanding upon their allegations in which the three stated, "Filing an EEOC complaint charging WSU with retaliation and discrimination is the last thing any of us wanted to do. We are happy to be reinstated, but our firing still hasnt been explained. Given WSUs stunning lack of transparency, we feel they left us no choice. We still dont know why we were fired in the first place."

The three said that they had filed a complaint with the university concerning Reeser's insistence upon hiring African-American candidates for any open positions at the press, which resulted in their HR rep recommending an investigation, but then they were switched to a new HR rep who was "more directly aligned with" Reeser and Cawthorne. After repeating their complaints to their new HR rep, and also expressing their concerns about Reeser and Cawthorne's "unusual personal relationship," the three were fired "without explanation, a move we believe to be retaliatory."

Also, the three allege in the statement, "at least two of our three jobs were either quietly filled by or in the advanced stages of being filled by African-American candidates who, while talented in many ways, have little experience in the business of book publishing, marketing, or acquisitions."

They added: "We are not opposed in any form or fashion to working for or hiring African-Americans or any other people of color. In fact, the need for further diversity and inclusion in the non-profit sector and publishing in general is a widely discussed issue within the university and the publishing industry. What we are opposed to is our terminations and the subsequent lack of answers from WSU. They refuse to give us any assurances that what happenedand again, we still dont know what happenedwill not happen again, not to us, not to our colleagues, not to our vendors and partners, and not to our authors. We want to hold leadership accountable. We hope our EEOC filing advances a productive conversation," as the university will now have to provide the three and their lawyer with more information regarding what led to the action.

In response to PW's query, WSU's director of communications, Matt Lockwood, declined comment, stating that since a complaint has been filed, on advice of WSU counsel, it would be "inappropriate" to respond in the media.
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New Delhi, March 11 : The auto part supply chain disruption due to the lockdown in China over the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak is expected to critically hamper India's automobile production across all segments, the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) said on Wednesday.

According to Rajan Wadhera, President, SIAM, many automakers in India import about 10 per cent of their raw materials from China. Consequently, the disruption in availability of these parts are likely to critically hamper production across all segments, namely passenger vehicles (PV), commercial vehicles (CV), three-wheelers (3W), two-wheelers (2W) and electric vehicles (EVs).

Furthermore, Wadhera emphasised that with anticipation of the Chinese New Year, the industry had maintained an inventory at the beginning of the year, but with the current lockdown in China, supply for BSVI vehicles is likely to get impacted.

"Manufacturers are exploring alternatives to fulfil their supply chain demands but that would also take a substantial amount of time to reach stable production scale as these components would need regulatory testing," Wadhera was quoted as saying in a statement.

Additionally, he said that SIAM has been in touch with the Centre with specific recommendations on behalf of the auto industry.
Lawyers for sex abuse survivors have allegedly revealed more people are seeking legal action against George Pell as Australia's highest court weighs up his future.

Several people have allegedly come forward to press new claims against the disgraced 78-year-old cardinal who was convicted of child sexual abuse in 2018.

Civil action may be taken stemming from some of the criminal charges that did not go to trial, unnamed legal sources reportedly told The Australian.

If the new allegations are proven, the Catholic Church's Ballarat diocese or the church's insurers could have to pay compensation relating to Pell's time in the Victorian city.

Disgraced cardinal George Pell, 78, will have his bid for freedom heard by the full bench of the High Court in Canberra over two days of hearings starting Wednesday

Pell is currently behind bars awaiting a High Court decision on his future.

The 78-year-old is one year into his six-year sentence, handed down last year for sexually abusing two choirboys at St Patrick's Cathedral while he was Archbishop of Melbourne in 1996.

A full bench of the High Court - either five or seven justices - will start hearing his legal team's final bid for his freedom in Canberra on Wednesday.

Pell was convicted by a jury in 2018 of raping one 13-year-old choirboy and sexual assault of another. The first boy gave evidence against Pell; the second died in 2014.

Pell maintained his innocence through two trials - the first ending in a hung jury - and last year's Victoria's Court of Appeal hearing which upheld the verdict in a 2-1 ruling.

The High Court has not formally granted Pell's application for appeal, instead referring it 'for argument'.

That means after the hearing, the court can refuse the application for special leave, or approve it. It can then either allow or dismiss the appeal.

The trial centred around five or six minutes after Mass when the jury found the abuse occurred.

The seven justices that make up the full bench of the High Court of Australia

The jury did not accept the defence claim the sacristy after Mass was a 'hive of activity' which would not have given Pell the required opportunity to offend.

Pell's lawyers are arguing the appeal on two grounds.

First they say the Court of Appeal majority - Chief Justice Ann Ferguson and President Chris Maxwell - erred in requiring Pell to prove the offending was 'impossible' in order to raise reasonable doubt.

They say there was evidence which in combination raised and left doubt as to Pell's guilt, but the judges 'examined each piece of evidence in isolation'.

His lawyers Bret Walker SC and Ruth Shann also argue that believing the complainant's account did not eliminate reasonable doubt.

'The majority accepted there was some evidence supporting the applicant's contentions of impossibility on virtually every matter raised,' they said.

The third judge, Justice Mark Weinberg, found in Pell's favour, noting the prosecution was required to eliminate any reasonable possibility there was no opportunity for offending.

This was the right approach, Pell's lawyers say.

Secondly, they argue since the majority found there was a reasonable doubt as to the existence of any opportunity for Pell to have offended, they made an error in concluding the guilty verdicts were not unreasonable.

They want Pell's convictions on five charges to be quashed, resulting in his immediate release from prison.

Canberra's High Court where George Pell's case will begin on Wednesday (stock picture)

But prosecutors countered the submissions by accusing the defence of giving the court an 'incomplete and inaccurate picture of the facts', glossing over evidence supporting the complainant.

'The fact that the appellate court considered there to be multiple views of the evidence open to the jury, including a view consistent with innocence, does not necessarily mean that the jury verdict was unreasonable,' chief crown prosecutor Kerri Judd QC wrote in joint submissions with trial prosecutors Mark Gibson QC and Angela Ellis.

'The assessment of the evidence is a matter for the jury.'

The High Court is also expected to examine whether Victoria's Court of Appeal judges were legally allowed to watch video recordings of trial evidence in considering the case.

They watched evidence of 12 witnesses, including the complainant, visited St Patrick's Cathedral and examined the ornamental robes worn by Pell at the time.
Former Democratic presidential hopeful Andrew Yang has thrown his support behind Joe Biden, adding to a string of endorsements for the former vice president as he surges towards his partys nomination.

Speaking on a CNN panel as results were announced in several key primaries, Mr Yang cast his endorsement in pragmatic terms. I believe that Joe Biden will be the Democratic nominee, he said, and Ive always said Im going to support whoever the nominee is.

So I hereby am endorsing Joe Biden to be not just the nominee for the Democratic Party but the next president of the United States.

Mr Yang made clear that his endorsement was far from a rejection of Bernie Sanders. I say this having supported Bernie Sanders in 2016, Bernie was an inspiration for me, inspired my run. But the math says Joe is our prohibitive nominee, we need to bring the party together, we need to start working on defeating Donald Trump.

An entrepreneur and venture capitalist, Mr Yang entered the Democratic race having never before held elected office. His trademark policy was the freedom dividend, a universal basic income of $12,000 a year that would be given to every American independent of ones work status or any other factor.

Mr Yang proved a surprisingly strong fundraiser and qualified for several Democratic debates, raising his profile far higher than had been expected. He became something of a cult figure; The New York Times called him the internets favorite candidate, and he attracted a devoted following nicknamed the Yang Gang.

However, Mr Yangs appeal turned out to have a ceiling. He never rose into the top tier, and ultimately dropped out after posting a meagre result in the New Hampshire primary. Speculation has since circulated that he could make another run at public office  perhaps the mayoralty of New York City.

When he endorsed Mr Biden on CNN, Mr Yang was asked why he had picked the former vice president when his positions on many big-picture issues, such as economics and health care, align him more closely with Mr Sanders. In response, he flipped the question onto Mr Biden.

Referring to his and Mr Sanderss appeal to younger, more left-wing voters, Mr Yang cautioned that Mr Biden could not take their support for granted.

We need to start doing the work of improving Americans lives on the ground, because too many Americans have seen their way of life disintegrate over the last number of years, and Bernies been calling out those problems and tapping into the frustration in the right way.

And so if Joe says this is going to be a return to business as usual, hes in danger of losing many of the young people that came out for Bernie, that supported my campaign, he said.
Croatia's Minister of Sea, Transport and Infrastructure, Oleg Butkovic, welcomed EU ministers with a handshake - and sometimes a hug and a kiss - at an EU transport meeting in Opatija on Wednesday, in contradiction to virus prevention measures. Croatia heads the six-month rotating presidency of the European Council and various informal meetings are hosted by the country.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia.

The vast majority of people recover from the new virus. According to the World Health Organization, people with mild illness recover in about two weeks, while those with more severe illness may take three to six weeks to recover.

In mainland China, where the virus first exploded, more than 80,000 people have been diagnosed and more than 58,000 have so far recovered.

(Picture Credit: representative image/pixabay)
Brent Barton

Barton is a lawyer who formerly served as the Democratic representative for House District 40 - Oregon City in the Oregon Legislature.

Democrats and Republicans in the Oregon Legislature may not agree on much, but everyone agrees that the recent legislative session was a failure. This fiasco seems likely to repeat in future sessions, but two modest amendments to the Oregon Constitution would improve the legislative process for everyone.

First, we should lower the quorum requirement from two-thirds of legislators per chamber to a simple majority. This change would bring Oregon in line with most other states and prevent the minority party from hijacking the session by fleeing the state.

Second, we should raise the threshold to pass policy bills, but not budget bills, from a simple majority of legislators to two-thirds in the short session. This would focus activity on budget fixes and consensus legislation, exactly as voters intended when adopting annual sessions in 2010.

Share your opinion Submit your essay of 500-700 words on a highly topical issue or a theme of particular relevance to the Pacific Northwest, Oregon and the Portland area to commentary@oregonian.com. Please include your email and phone number for verification.

Democrats currently wield three-fifths supermajorities in both the Oregon House and the Senate, leaving Republicans with almost no leverage in the legislative process. However, the Oregon Constitution is unusual in that it requires two-thirds of legislators for a quorum to conduct business. This leaves Republicans with only one tool: They can shut down the Legislature by not showing up at the Capitol.

The two parties portray this tactic in starkly different terms: Democrats regard it as a dereliction of duty, while Republicans portray it as a legitimate procedural tactic. Oregon history puts it somewhere in between. Although denial of quorum has a long history, it has always been regarded as a nuclear option, only to be deployed in the most extreme circumstances, perhaps every decade or two. It has never been routine legislative practice anywhere in the United States.

Republicans legislators consider the proposed cap and trade legislation an existential threat to their districts, such that it justifies use of this extreme tactic. This argument rings hollow to their Democratic colleagues because Senate Republicans also walked out in 2019 to temporarily block passage of an education-funding bill. They came back after securing concessions including a commitment to kill legislation regarding gun storage and school vaccinations.

In essence, Republican legislators appear to be normalizing the nuclear option of denying quorum, something that is inconsistent with a functional legislative branch. Oregon should join most other states, including Washington, in lowering its quorum requirement a change that would encourage parties to compete for relevance by winning elections, not fleeing Salem.

However, Republicans do have a legitimate gripe that Democrats have used the short legislative session to push through complex policy bills. At its best, the Legislature is a refining process that uses public input to transform ideas into actionable policy. This process takes more time than the short session allows.

Voters adopted annual sessions to allow lawmakers an opportunity to revisit the budget as well as pass consensus legislation. Unfortunately, the short session has been used to push through complex policy agendas since its inception.

Just as we should amend the Oregon Constitution to lower the legislative quorum from two-thirds to a simple majority, we should increase the threshold to pass policy bills, but not budget bills, in the short session from a simple majority to two-thirds. This would allow the Legislature to update the budget and pass consensus policy bills supported by both parties.

Partisan competition is a fact of legislative life. But we should minimize this friction in the short session by channeling it into the long session, where parties and legislators can duke out competing ideas  a fight they shouldnt be allowed to evade by running to Boise.
Whilst it may not be a huge deal, we thought it was good to see that the Virgin Australia Holdings Limited (ASX:VAH) CEO, MD & Director, Paul Scurrah, recently bought AU$99k worth of stock, for AU$0.10 per share. Even though that isn't a massive buy, it did increase their holding by 81%, which is a arguably a good sign.

See our latest analysis for Virgin Australia Holdings

Virgin Australia Holdings Insider Transactions Over The Last Year

In fact, the recent purchase by CEO, MD & Director Paul Scurrah was not their only acquisition of Virgin Australia Holdings shares this year. They previously made an even bigger purchase of AU$196k worth of shares at a price of AU$0.17 per share. So it's clear an insider wanted to buy, even at a higher price than the current share price (being AU$0.075). It's very possible they regret the purchase, but it's more likely they are bullish about the company. In our view, the price an insider pays for shares is very important. It is generally more encouraging if they paid above the current price, as it suggests they saw value, even at higher levels.

While Virgin Australia Holdings insiders bought shares last year, they didn't sell. The average buy price was around AU$0.14. I'd consider this a positive as it suggests insiders see value at around the current price. The chart below shows insider transactions (by individuals) over the last year. If you click on the chart, you can see all the individual transactions, including the share price, individual, and the date!

ASX:VAH Recent Insider Trading, March 11th 2020

Virgin Australia Holdings is not the only stock insiders are buying. So take a peek at this free list of growing companies with insider buying.

Does Virgin Australia Holdings Boast High Insider Ownership?

Looking at the total insider shareholdings in a company can help to inform your view of whether they are well aligned with common shareholders. We usually like to see fairly high levels of insider ownership. From looking at our data, insiders own AU$3.2m worth of Virgin Australia Holdings stock, about 0.5% of the company. However, it's possible that insiders might have an indirect interest through a more complex structure. I generally like to see higher levels of ownership.

Story continues

What Might The Insider Transactions At Virgin Australia Holdings Tell Us?

It's certainly positive to see the recent insider purchase. We also take confidence from the longer term picture of insider transactions. However, we note that the company didn't make a profit over the last twelve months, which makes us cautious. While the overall levels of insider ownership are below what we'd like to see, the history of transactions imply that Virgin Australia Holdings insiders are reasonably well aligned, and optimistic for the future. So these insider transactions can help us build a thesis about the stock, but it's also worthwhile knowing the risks facing this company. Every company has risks, and we've spotted 1 warning sign for Virgin Australia Holdings you should know about.

But note: Virgin Australia Holdings may not be the best stock to buy. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies with high ROE and low debt.

For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions, but not derivative transactions.

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



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
The City Council on Tuesday moved swiftly through a list of petitions and referrals.

Pittsfield City Council Moves Marijuana Amendment to Subcommittee

PITTSFIELD, Mass.  City Council sent a list of items to departments and subcommittees including an outdoor marijuana cultivation amendment to Ordinance & Rules.

City Council moved through its business quickly Tuesday and, in just over a half-hour, moved on some lingering petitions and addressed some new ones.

One of the more notable petitions was the outdoor marijuana cultivation amendment that would limit growth in neighborhoods.

In February, the Community Development Board acted on a petition from Councilor at Large Earl Persip who wanted to restrict outdoor marijuana cultivation in residential areas.

The board looked at different zoning amendment scenarios with different minimum lot sizes, different setbacks, and elimination from specific zones. As the restrictions ramped up, cultivation was pushed farther out of the city and the board was hesitant to all but eliminate outdoor cultivation in certain zones.

Instead, it compromised and recommended an amendment that would allow outdoor marijuana cultivation in residential districts as long as they are 500 feet away from homes.

Ordinance & Rules will review the amendment in April.

The council briefly touched on COVID-19 and sent a petition from Ward 1 Councilor Helen Moon asking for an overview of the citys response plan for the virus to Public Health and Safety.

Moon, who did not attend the meeting because she was feeling ill, had Council President Peter Marchetti read a statement:

"With the news of COVID-19 in our community, I think it is important for the city to take a proactive approach ... I would like this to be referred to Public Health and Safety so that the Public Health Department can give the council and residents the plan forward."

Last weekend, Berkshire Medical Center confirmed that a patient has tested as presumptive positive for COVID-19. Since then, communities have taken precautions such as shutting down public buildings for deep cleaning.

The council referred a second petition from Moon to the same committee requesting a presentation on opioid use disorder in the city.

The council referred a communication from the Traffic Commission to implement alternate side parking to the public works commissioner for further review.

Alternate side parking is a traffic law that dictates which side of a street cars can be parked on a given day. Its proponents say it allows for more efficient seasonal cleanup and can improve better traffic flow.

The council did have some questions about how the new parking situation would be enforced or if it would be cost-effective.

Public Works Commissioner Ricardo Morales said he thought some form of alternate parking would be more enforceable and more efficient but these details have to be worked out.

"It may not be the right thing but I think we can agree that what we have now is not working," he said. "It is all on the table."

The City Council received a communication from the Traffic Commission to create a "No Parking Zone" on the east side of McKay Street with a possible bump out. This was sent to Public Works for review.

The council tabled an allocation of $150,000 from the Pittsfield Economic Development Fund to go toward the purchase of equipment needed to open the proposed brewery and restaurant on North Street.

Earlier this month, Robert Trask, who plans to open the proposed 41 North Tap Room, went before the City Council's Committee on Community and Economic Development to request the allocation.

Although not discussed, within the council packet was some follow up from the city's Conservation Agent Rob Van Der Kar about the proposed John's Building Supply expansion project, which had raised some conservation concerns.

He wrote although mitigation is needed, he anticipates full cooperation with the applicant.

"Please know that this office fully expects the continued cooperation of the applicant and will ensure that complete enforcement of the violation is fulfilled," Van Der Kar wrote. "It is also the intent of this office to sign-off on the building permit application following the issuance of the Enforcement Order, but before site restoration is completed, that would allow work to commence at 850 Crane Avenue."

Last month, the Finance Committee approved a five-year tax increment financing agreement with John's Building Supply providing it some tax relief for the construction of a new 8,000 square foot retail and office space at 850 Crane Ave.

During the meeting, there was some concern about wetland encroachment but Director of Community Development Deanna Ruffer said the Van Der Kar was working with John's Building Supply to rectify any issue and that no violation had been issued.

In a memo, Van Der Kar wrote it was found that the work proposed was not located within an area subject to the jurisdiction of the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act, however, an area bordering the parcel had undergone some recent activity without authorization.

He wrote that it was confirmed that this work had been done by John's Building Supply and after further surveying, it was found that 80 cubic yards of fill had been placed within the area within 33 feet of an on-site "Bordering Vegetated Wetland."

The office refrained from signing off on a building permit and will be issuing an enforcement order to remove the fill material and restore the vegetation in the buffer zone, he wrote.

 The council appointed Councilor at Large Yuki Cohen to the Cultural Development Board and Kimberly Loring to the Board of Health.

 The council accepted the donation of a used RAD, or "Rape,Aggression, Defense," suit from Williams College to the Police Department. It is valued at $700.

 The council authorized the mayor to finalize and execute an Affordable Housing Restriction from the Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity. This is in relation to $90,000 in Community Preservation Act funds the council awarded to a housing project at 52-62 Gordon St. in 2019.

 The council accepted a grant of $3,750 from the Massachusetts Office of Health and Human Services.
Former Vice President Joe Biden picked up a big win in Michigans presidential primary Tuesday night, defeating U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders.

Both Biden and Sanders were campaigning hard for the state, as Michigans 125 delegates were the biggest prize of the six states with March 10 presidential primary elections. But Biden came out with a commanding lead in early returns, and the race was called in his favor by several news outlets shortly after 9 p.m.

As of 10 a.m. Wednesday, Biden held a 16.5-point lead over Sanders with 100 percent of precincts reporting. It was a big defeat for Sanders, who carried the state during his 2016 primary run against Hillary Clinton.

Sanders won early primary states this cycle, but the tide shifted toward Biden when South Carolina voted, and then during Super Tuesday. Michigans contest came after other moderate contenders, including Amy Klobuchar and Pete Buttigieg, dropped out and endorsed Biden.

It could be a bit longer before a final vote tally becomes clear - Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson predicted an early afternoon finish for counting due to an uptick in absentee ballots and same-day registrations. Keep tabs on the latest results here.

While youre waiting, heres a recap of what we learned last night in Michigans presidential primary.

Eliott Hoff casts his vote at Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Kalamazoo, Michigan on Tuesday, March 10, 2020. Hoff was the last person to cast his vote at Mt. Zion Baptist Church, coming in at 7:59 PM. (Kendall Warner | Mlive.com)Kendall Warner | MLive.com

1) Democratic primary turnout increased from 2016.

With 100 percent of precincts reporting, more than 1.58 million votes have been counted so far in Michigans Democratic presidential primary.

The count well eclipsed the 2016 total of 1.2 million votes cast.

One contributing factor is the states same-day voter registration and no-reason absentee voting policies, which were enacted in 2018 via a voter-approved ballot initiative. Tuesdays election was the first statewide test of the new rules, and the state saw a big uptick in absentee ballot requests from previous cycles.

But Michigan is an open primary state, meaning a person doesnt have to be a registered party member to vote in a party primary. A lack of competition in the Republican party primary likely meant there was some crossover from independents and Republicans, and the high interest in the 2020 race likely also played a role.

U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, D-Vermont, speaks on Saturday, March 7, 2020 at Mott Community College in Flint. The town hall focused on racial and environmental justice. Sanders, D-Vermont, is one of the final Democratic presidential candidates prior Tuesday's primary. (Jake May | MLive.com)The Flint Journal, MLive.com

2) Sanders campaigned hard in regions he won last cycle. He still lost them.

Sanders pulled off an upset victory in Michigan against Clinton in 2016, and winning the state again was considered crucial to maintain momentum after a disappointing Super Tuesday finish.

He spent considerable time in Michigan ahead of the primary, appearing in a string of weekend events around the state and even sticking around to meet with Southeast Michigan voters on Election Day.

But he failed to maintain his strength in counties he previously won with double digits, losing counties like Ottawa, Grand Traverse, Washtenaw and Kalamazoo to Biden, and failed to make inroads in other areas.

Sanders was winning just one county, Ingham, as of 1 a.m. Wednesday, and only by a slim margin. With 100 percent of precincts reporting, Biden also took the lead there, completing his statewide sweep.

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer looks on during a campaign stop for democratic presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden at Renaissance High School in Detroit, on Monday, March 9, 2020. (Mike Mulholland | MLive.com)Mike Mulholland | MLive.com

3) Biden benefited from big-name endorsements.

After Super Tuesday, South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg and U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, both moderates, dropped out of the presidential race and endorsed Biden. Endorsements from U.S. Sens. Kamala Harris and Cory Booker came soon after.

Biden also scored a key endorsement from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who joined the campaign as a national co-chair. She and Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist, as well as several members of Michigans Congressional delegation and state legislature, stumped for Biden at events leading up to the primary.

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer is introduced during a campaign stop for democratic presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden at Renaissance High School in Detroit, on Monday, March 9, 2020. (Mike Mulholland | MLive.com)Mike Mulholland | MLive.com

4) Whitmer coalition appears to be sticking.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer pulled together a broad coalition of the electorate for her win in 2018  one that propelled her to a 53-44 win over general election opponent Bill Schuette.

She focused on pragmatic, dinner-table issues like fixing the roads, improving education and clean drinking water. And when every leading candidate was asking for her advice leading up to Michigans primary election, she urged them to do the same .

Areas Whitmer performed well in tended to lend Biden big support, as well. In Oakland County, she won by 22 points in the 2018 primary election. With 86 percent of precincts reporting, Biden is ahead by 21 points there.

President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally in Charlotte, N.C., Monday, March 2, 2020. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn)AP

5) Donald Trump won the Republican primary, but not quite everyone supported him.

Incumbent President Donald Trump handily won Michigans Republican primary, taking 93.73 percent of the vote with 100 percent of precincts reporting.

Michigan state law required Republicans to hold a presidential primary, but the state party adopted changes last year that all but assured its delegates will go to Trump and not his long-shot GOP challengers.

The state partys delegate apportionment rules were changed to require candidates to receive at least 20 percent of the primary vote in order to receive any delegates.

Despite the overall support, 4.16 percent of Republican primary voters were uncommitted in the primary. Bill Weld, Mark Sanford and Joe Walsh each came in with less than 1 percent of the vote.

University of Michigan students and others lined up to register to vote for the Michigan presidential primary at Ann Arbor city hall Tuesday, March 10, 2020.Ryan Stanton | The Ann Arbor News

6) Same-day registration surge couldnt save Sanders, and resulted in long lines.

This election was the first statewide test of same-day registration in Michigan, and it showed  particularly in college towns.

Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson said Tuesday night that 13,000 people registered and voted on Tuesday, whereas four years ago they would not have been able to.

Long lines materialized in university towns, including Ann Arbor, East Lansing, Ypsilanti and Kalamazoo, where Sanders enjoyed strong support. But Tuesday night, Biden was on track to win even some university towns.

Max Nagle drops his vote off as voters cast absentee ballots for the upcoming Michigan Democratic primary at Ann Arbor City Hall, 301 E. Huron St. on Wednesday, March 4 2020.Jacob Hamilton/MLive.com

7) Michigan voters had the option to spoil their ballots. Some did, many didnt.

Under Michigans current voting rules, voters whod turned in absentee ballots had the option to spoil their ballots and cast another one if they changed their mind or their candidate dropped out of the running.

That ability became more relevant as several high-profile candidates withdrew from the race ahead of Michigans primary.

In all, 36,574 ballots were spoiled ahead of Election Day.

Nearly 170,000 ballots were cast for candidates no longer actively running for the presidency. Mike Bloomberg, who campaigned heavily in Michigan before dropping out, earned 4.62 percent of the statewide vote.

This article was updated Wednesday morning to reflect updated election results.

Related coverage:

Two weeks ago Bernie Sanders was the front-runner. Now hes the underdog in must-win Michigan

Michigan voters at the polls: 'Making sure my vote is counted

Final Michigan primary results may not be available until early afternoon Wednesday

New election rules complicate predictions on Michigan primary vote turnout

With narrowed presidential primary field, some Michigan voters wonder When is it going to be our turn?

5 things to watch in Tuesdays Michigan primary results

Who is on the Michigan presidential primary ballot? Democrats and Republicans clash on March 10

The big question for Michigan Democrats: Is Biden or Sanders more likely to beat Trump?

Michigan election is Tuesday, and its not just a presidential primary

Bernie Sanders urges college supporters to vote at Ann Arbor rally before Michigan primary

5 things to watch in Tuesdays Michigan primary results
Vital face-to-face talks with the EU over a post-Brexit free trade deal could be postponed over coronavirus fears, Michael Gove revealed today.

Talks are due to take place in London from March 18, following last week's inconclusive discussions in Brussels.

But the senior Cabinet minister told MPs this morning that the two sides were discussing the practicalities given that there are coronavirus cases in both capitals.

Asked by the Future Relationship with the European Union Committee whether negotiations could be impacted by the spread of coronavirus and whether face-to-face meetings would continue, Gove said: 'It's a live question.

'We were looking forward to the joint committee meeting in the UK on the 30th of this month and we were also looking forward to the next stage of the negotiations going ahead.

'But we have had indications today from Belgium that there may be a specific ... health concern.'

Health minister Nadine Dorries fell ill on Friday and was diagnosed with coronavirus on Tuesday evening

Mr Gove also said that while Britain planned to produce a draft free trade agreement ahead of those talks, a decision had not yet made on whether this would be published.

A spokesman for the European Commission said the second round of talks was still scheduled to go ahead.

It came as it emerged Boris Johnson is not being tested for coronavirus despite being at a reception with infected health minister Nadine Dorries.

Downing Street said the PM did not need to be checked as he was showing 'no symptoms' and had not been within two metres of the quarantined MP.

Despite MPs saying he should be tested, sources also insisted there was less risk because Mr Johnson regularly washed his hands.

Ms Dorries has revealed she has put herself into isolation, just days after attending a reception at No10 with the PM.

The Tory MP gave a speech in the Commons on Wednesday night, was in the tea rooms with other politicians, and held a surgery on Saturday for 50 of her constituents. She is believed to have started feeling ill on Thursday, before deteriorating the following day.

The 62-year-old had the virus and she is now said to be recovering - although she voiced fears for her 84-year-old mother, who is living at her home and 'began coughing' yesterday.

Mr Johnson attended a Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey with the Queen on Monday.
Railway hospitals have been provided with over 1,000 isolation beds for treating suspected coronavirus cases and more than 12,000 beds for quarantining them at different locations, an official statement said on Wednesday.

Control rooms and telephone helplines have been set up at all railway hospitals, it said.

According to the statement, Union Railway Minister Piyush Goyal has directed the Railway Board to ensure that adequate preventive measures are put in place across the Indian Railway system.

Railway Board Chairman Vinod Kumar Yadav held a meeting via video conference with all general managers to review preparedness and convey priorities and directions, it said.

"Railway hospitals have been provided with 1,100 isolation beds for fever-related cases, for treating suspected coronavirus cases with availability of necessary protective gears," the statement said.

Further, the Railways has identified 12,483 beds for quarantine at different locations across the country, it stated.

"Information, Education, & Communication (IEC) material (posters and pamphlets) regarding coronavirus (COVID-19) are being prominently displayed for awareness of general public in local language at railway stations and in trains and are also being distributed to patients visiting hospitals and in railway colonies," the statement said.

The Railways said audio and video clips are being played at railway stations to spread awareness. Public announcements are being made at stations.

"In Railway hospitals, persons with fever are being separated from other patients. Separate wards with specific signage for fever cases have been established. Medical staff has been deployed at such areas having proper protective gears," it said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
On 4 January 2011 Salmaan Taseer, the governor of Punjab in Pakistan, was walking through Kohsar Market in Islamabad when he was shot 27 times by one of his own bodyguards, Mumtaz Qadri. Qadri then calmly handed himself in to his colleagues, and as press arrived smilingly told the cameras that he had killed Taseer because he was a blasphemer.

Taseers crime had been advocating for clemency for Asia Bibi, a Christian farm labourer who had been accused of blaspheming against the Prophet Muhammad after a squabble with her Muslim neighbours. Under Pakistan Penal Code, the crime carries a mandatory death sentence.

Frenzy around the blasphemy law means that even those who question it, like Taseer, are labelled as blasphemous. Although the blasphemy law has long been a flashpoint in Pakistan, Bibis case sparked international outcry, with world figures, including the Pope, calling for her release.
Dateline: Vietnam

A man with a blood-alcohol content that was 1,119 times the recommended level nearly died before doctors administered 15 cans of beer. According to the Daily Star, Nguyen Van Nhat's life was saved when doctors at General Hospital in Quang Tri, Vietnam, administered the beer directly to his stomach. Nhat was unconscious when he was admitted to the hospital after consuming a dangerous amount of methanola form of alcohol sometimes used in homemade liquor. Methanol is much more toxic than ethanolthe alcohol usually found in alcoholic beveragesand can cause death in users. Public Health England says: Absorption of methanol is rapid, but the onset of metabolic toxic features may be delayed for several hours, particularly if co-ingested with ethanol, which delays methanol metabolism due to competitive inhibition. After appearing at the hospital, Nhat's condition continued to deteriorate as his body broke down the methanol, leading doctors to make the unconventional decision to administer beer directly into the man's system to interrupt the process. Doctors immediately transfused three cans of beer into Nhats stomach. The patient's body subsequently prioritized breaking down the beer's ethanol over the methanol, slowing the toxic effects and allowing doctors to perform dialysis. One can of beer was then administered to him every hour for 12 hours until he became conscious again.

Dateline: Thailand

A US Marine jungle survival training exercise has prompted People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) to condemn the Marine Corps for killing king cobras and drinking their blood. The Washington Times reports that US Marines met in Thailand for the annual Cobra Gold exercise, where soldiers learn basic survival skillslike which plants and animals are safe to eatfrom their Thai counterparts. The Marines released photos taken during the training session that show American soldiers eating scorpions and drinking king cobra bloodviable food source options for Marines who are lost in the jungle and low on supplies. The training is meant to prepare soldiers for the possibility of being separated from their unit in enemy territory. But following the recent release of photos that depict soldiers drinking cobra blood, PETA wrote a letter to Marine Corps Commandant Gen. David Berger recommending that the armed forces branch take immediate action to replace this barbaric exploitation of animals with cutting-edge, technology-based survival training courses that will better prepare troops. The group said that killing live animals was unnecessary when other options were available. SERE [Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape] specialists are already using virtual reality to prepare Air Force pilots for worst-case scenarios, and interactive video games that have food procurement components are now on the market, wrote Shalin Gala, PETAs vice president for international laboratory methods. The letter also pointed out that the lush environment of a jungle offers many vegan options.

Dateline: New Zealand

A surfer recently fought off a great white shark by punching it in the eye. The New Zealand Herald reports that Nick Minogue was attacked by the shark while surfing at Pauanui Beach in New Zealand last month. I was quite a long way out, there was quite a solid swell running, Minogue said. I was just paddling along and got hit on the side of my elbow and forearm. By the time I realized what was going on, its teeth were definitely latched on to the front section of the board. Luckily, Minogue remembered hearing that sharks dislike being hit on the nose or in the eyes. So I actually shouted at it 'foff!' and went to punch it in the eye and missed, he said. Then I pulled my fist back and shouted 'f off!' again and got it right smack bang in the eye. It's quite a big eye, about three knuckles across, and its eye kind of looked up and rolled up. In between the two punches, it crunched down a bit more on the board and then disengaged its teeth, got its jaws off and then I got brushed by the dorsal fin and the tail fin and swam off. Minogue and one other surfer quickly returned to shore. Once safely on dry land, Minogue realized his arm had been wounded by a single shark tooth. Pauanui Surf Life Saving club captain Stuart Upjohn treated and bandaged the wound. Department of Conservation marine scientist Clinton Duffy later said that the bite marks left on the surf board and Minogue's description were consistent with a great white shark.

Dateline: The Internet

As the world panics over the threat of a novel coronavirus, COVID-19, coronavirus-themed pornographic films are being uploaded to a major adult site. According to Vice, internet users are turning to coronavirus pornography as a way to escape the anxiety surrounding outbreaks of the actual virus. As of this writing, a search for content tagged with the word coronavirus on the adult site PornHub yields over 150 results. Many of the videos found in the results feature men and women wearing protective face masks while engaging in sexual activity. Most of the videos appear to be made by people who are currently observing quarantine procedures happening in Chinaalthough the veracity of these claims is unsubstantiatedbut others include participants wearing biohazard suits and one even features sexualized footage of a woman giving hand-washing instructions. But some commentators have pointed out that many of the videos appear to promote negative stereotypes about Asian people.
Banks and other large financial companies in major cities across the world ramped up their emergency measures to combat the spread of the coronavirus on Tuesday, with Barclays Plc and BlackRock Inc confirming one case in their New York offices. The steps including telling staff who had been exposed to someone with the virus to self-quarantine for 14 days, splitting operations so that some staff work from home or back-up locations and deep cleaning offices. Barclays told staff on Tuesday that a trading floor employee in its Midtown Manhattan office tested positive for the virus and ...
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Anthony Fauci testifies at a Senate hearing regarding the coronavirus in Washington on March 3, 2020. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times)

Coronavirus Outbreak Will Get Worse: Top US Health Official

The outbreak of the new coronavirus in the United States will get worse, a top public health official told lawmakers on Wednesday.

How much worse well get will depend on our ability to do two things: to contain the influx of people who are infected coming from the outside, and the ability to contain and mitigate within our own country, said Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health, during a House oversight hearing in Washington.

Bottom line, its going to get worse, he said.

Fauci referenced outbreaks in the past, saying his prediction that the situation will get worse was based on how the new virus is spreading in an uncontained manner in some areas.

Large clusters have driven the number of cases up in New York just outside New York City, Washington state just outside Seattle, and Silicon Valley in California.

He said that the new virus is 10 times more lethal than the seasonal flu, which has a mortality rate of around 0.1. percent. U.S. officials previously pegged the mortality rate between 0.1 and 1 percent, though some countries have reported higher rates. The worldwide rate with confirmed cases only is 3 percent, Fauci said. Counting asymptomatic and other mild, unconfirmed cases, the rate is likely around 1 percent, he added.

Asked by a lawmaker if he could give a trajectory for how many Americans could get infected by the new virus, which causes a disease called COVID-19, Fauci said he could not.

Kirkland Fire and Rescue ambulance workers walk back to a vehicle after a patient was loaded into an ambulance at the Life Care Center in Kirkland, Wash., near Seattle on March 10, 2020. (Ted S. Warren/AP Photo)

I cant give you a realistic number until we put in the factor of how we respond. If we are complacent and dont do really aggressive containment and mitigation, the number could go way up and be involved in many, many millions, he said.

If we talk to contain, we could flatten it. So theres no number answer to your question until we act upon it.

Dr. Nancy Messonnier, director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), told reporters on Monday that many people in the country will be exposed to the new virus.

Its fair to say, as the trajectory of the outbreak continues, many people in the United States will, at some point in timeeither this year or nextbe exposed to the virus, she said.

And theres a good chance many will become sick, she added.

Federal officials have repeatedly referenced data from a joint World Health Organization-China study that found about 80 percent of confirmed cases experience mild or moderate symptoms, including pneumonia. Fauci explained the finding on Wednesday as 80 percent recovering without substantial intervention.

The other 20 percent of patients in China required hospitalization, with some needing intensive care and some requiring assistance breathing, according to the study.

A notice hangs near the cash register at a bagel shop in New Rochelle, N.Y., on March 11, 2020. (Julie Jacobson/AP Photo)

The majority of deaths from COVID-19 take place among older people, officials have stressed. Dr. Robert Redfield, Director of the CDC, told lawmakers that most deaths in the United States have been among those aged 70 or older, and the average age of death in Italy, which has the second highest number of deaths in the world, is over 80.

Federal officials in recent days have asked older Americans to be cautious and take preventative measures, including avoiding crowds and not taking non-essential trips.

COVID-19 has symptoms similar to the flu, including fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Theres no vaccine or proven treatment, though many patients have recovered.

Ways to prevent catching the virus include avoiding sick people, frequently washing hands, and not touching ones face with unwashed hands.

People who become ill are being asked to stay home from work and call their doctor or healthcare provider. Depending on the severity of the symptoms and the persons history of contacts and travel, they might be asked to isolate themselves at home or travel to a hospital.

As of Wednesday morning, more than 990 cases of COVID-19, and 31 deaths from the disease, were reported the CDC, according to Redfield.
Directions in Research's Paul Izzo Joins Logit

Toronto-headquartered research and data collection firm The Logit Group has hired Paul Izzo as Vice President, Sales & Business Development. He joins in the US, after 21 years at Directions in Research.



Logit provides a full range of data collection capabilities, while also delivering advanced programming and reporting expertise. Izzo (pictured) joins after more than two decades at data collection and tabulation specialist Directions in Research, which has call center facilities in Grand Rapids, MI and San Jose, Costa Rica. Since 1999, Izzo has served as Directions in Research's Executive VP.



In his new role, Izzo will be responsible for expanding Logit's client base in the US marketplace, while overseeing sales and growth initiatives. He takes on the same job title as his former colleague Ginger Blazier, who joined Logit in October after sixteen years at Directions In Research.



Commenting on the latest appointment, Managing Partner, Anthony Molinaro, said: 'I've had the pleasure of working with Paul over the years and his professionalism and 'client first' attitude makes him a tremendous resource to both our team and our clients. His hands on approach to projects allows him to develop innovative solutions to complex data execution problems. As we focus on our continued growth in the US, Paul will serve as an integral part of that expansion'.



Web site: www.logitgroup.com .




A former Russian police officer suspected of ordering the planting of drugs on investigative journalist Ivan Golunov last year has been remanded in custody.

The Moscow City Court on March 11 rejected Igor Lyakhovets' request to transfer him to house arrest or release him on bail.

Lyakhovets and four other former Moscow police officers, Akbar Sergaliyev, Roman Feofanov, Maksim Umetbayev, and Denis Konovalov, were detained on January 29 as suspects in the high-profile case that sparked public outcry in June 2019.

A day later, they were charged with abuse of service duties, falsification of evidence, and the illegal handling of drugs.

Konovalov, who is charged with forging documents related to the probe, was transferred to house arrest from a detention center in February after he made a deal with investigators and testified in court that his former superior, Lyakhovets, had ordered him to plant drugs on the reporter.

Earlier on March 11, the Moscow City Court ruled that Maksim Umetbayev will also remain in custody.

Decisions on the appeals by Sergaliyev and Feofanov, who also requested transfer under house arrest or release on bail, are pending.

The 37-year-old Golunov, who works for Latvia-based information outlet Meduza, was arrested in June in Moscow for allegedly attempting to sell illegal drugs.

He was released several days later after the charges were dropped following a public outcry. The case sparked an investigation into his detainment over the charges and also into why Golunov suffered bruises, cuts, a concussion, and a broken rib during the ordeal.



In mid-July, police officers who detained Golunov were fired along with their supervisor for violating the journalist's rights.

After Golunovs release, Russian President Vladimir Putin fired Major General Yury Devyatkin, the head of the Moscow police department's drug control directorate, and Major General Andrei Puchkov, the police chief in Moscow's western administrative region, over the case.

The authorities announced in November that the case had been classified, a decision harshly criticized by Golunov's lawyers, who called the move an attempt to cover up the "wrongful arrest" of their client.



In a very rare move, the prosecutor's office of Moscow's western district apologized to Golunov in February for his illegal prosecution.

With reporting by TASS, Interfax, and Rapsinews
Disney Plus Hotstar began offering on-demand content from the American entertainment firm in India 18 days before schedule

New Delhi: Content from Disney Plus, the streaming platform from Disney, is now live in India via Hotstar, 18 days before its announced launch date of March 29.

The Hotstar app, now rebranded as Disney Plus Hotstar, on Wednesday started showing Disney Plus content such as "The Mandalorian", "Diary of a Future President", "The World According to Jeff Goldblum", documentary "One Day at Disney" and "High School Musical: The Musical - The Series".

Other shows are "Pick of the Litter", "Lady and the Tramp", "Encore", "Noelle" and "Pixar In Real Life".

However, this does not seem to be the full launch. A Hotstar spokesperson was quoted as saying by TechCrunch that the firm is testing Disney+ in India ahead of the launch. A limited release of the beta version of the Disney+ Hotstar app is currently being tested with a small number of consumers, in preparation for the full-fledged app launch on 29th March, the spokesperson was quoted as saying.

At present, Disney Plus Content is available at no extra charge, with Hotstar users paying Rs 999 per year.

Hotstar says it has 100 million active users a month and that at its peak consumption that number was as high as 300 million active users a month.

Uday Shankar, president of the Walt Disney Company Asia Pacific and chairman for Star and Disney India, is set to make an announcement on March 13 about the full launch of the streaming service in India.

Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter.
London, March 11, 2020

FPT Industrial, the global powertrain brand of CNH Industrial N.V. (NYSE:CNHI / MI:CNHI), today announced that it has acquired Potenza Technology, a company specialized in the design and development of electric and hybrid powertrain systems.

This acquisition represents another step in FPT Industrial's path towards electrification, one of the pillars of its multi-power strategy.

"Sustainable powertrain technology is of increasing global focus and concern, and here at CNH Industrial, we are committed to delivering solutions, which not only reduce emissions and enhance productivity, but which deliver futureproof technology for the long term," said Hubertus Muhlhauser, Chief Executive Officer, CNH Industrial. "This, our latest acquisition, is further testament to this."

"FPT Industrial is acknowledged as a leader in alternative propulsion systems, and the acquisition of Potenza Technology will further enhance our brand's accelerating development of sustainable electric powertrains across a range of operating segments," said Annalisa Stupenengo, President Powertrain, CNH Industrial.

Potenza Technology, based in Coventry UK, has been at the forefront of electric powertrain technology since 1999. The Company has specific expertise in functional safety, battery management systems for traction battery packs, and electric and electronic systems design and development.

CNH IndustrialN.V.

Sign up for corporate news alerts from the CNH Industrial Newsroom:

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Attachment
By SA Commercial Prop News

Texton Property Fund CEO Marius Muller.



The current economic situation being experienced in South Africa is putting pressure on the commercial real estate industry, resulting in some tenants battling to meet contractual rental payments.

On the sidelines of Texton Property Fund's results for the six months ended in December, the company reduced its interim dividend, declaring 16,09c a share, which droped 55.5% from the previous period.

The Fund said arrears from Tenants have climbed by more than a third in an environment characterized by limited economic growth and oversupply of office space.

Its distributable earnings decreased 8.8% to R120.9m, with revenue from the UK falling after the disposal of assets.

Vacancies slightly decreased from 9.2% at 30 June 2019 to 9% at 31 December 2019.

The groups UK property interests were under pressure from continued uncertainty over Brexit during its half-year, the group said, while in SA several speculative property developments came to market in Gauteng even as tenants looked for bargains.

During the period the group sold a noncore office building in Newcastle, known as Tesco Chobe,

Texton said arrears from clients rose 38.7% to R17.9m, though it noted that December was a slow period, and collections should pick up in its second half.

Our operating environment will remain challenging for the foreseeable future, characterised by pressure on rental incomes and an increasing cost environment, Texton said.

Leases are taking longer to sign with tenants driving hard negotiations, the group said.

In the UK, the victory of the Conservative Party in recent national elections should boost investor confidence, though uncertainty over the UKs trade deal with the EU persists, the group said.

Texton, which was formed in 2006 and listed on the JSE in 2011, was known as Vunani Property Investment Fund until 2014.

The group has a property portfolio of R4.2bn, of which 60.9% is in SA, and the rest in the UK.
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"Our work establishes that there is a subgroup of people for whom their occupation can make them more susceptible and more vulnerable to reduced kidney function," said Dally. "Previous research on CKDu has looked at this health crisis as an occupational disease. While occupation plays a role in contributing to the disease, it does not tell the full story."Until now, most research on this international epidemic has examined how working conditions contribute to the disease. The Center's research is one of the first studies to consider how community health risks factors may impact the health and safety of workers."Researchers have mostly focused on workers' exposures on the job in the search for the causes of this epidemic," said Dr. Newman, Professor, and director of the Center's research program addressing the health of workers in Latin America. "This study provides the first direct evidence that we need to step back and consider what else is contributing to kidney disease in communities--even before people join the workforce."Based on this study, the research team recommends that blood pressure and renal function screenings become a routine part of health monitoring for workers and community members at risk of CKDu, specifically those performing intense labor in hot environments. The Center for Health, Work & Environment is conducting additional research projects exploring other potential risk factors contributing to CKDu as part of its mission of promoting the health, safety, and well-being of all workers.Source: Eurekalert
Six people are feared dead after a plane carrying government workers crashed in wild weather.

The wreckage of the plane was found by police at 1:20pm on Wednesday on a beach near the town of Lockhart River on Cape York in northern Queensland.

It is not known if anyone survived the crash.

Six people are feared dead after a plane carrying government workers crashed in wild weather. Pictured is a Cessna 404 similar to the crashed aircraft

The wreckage of the plane was found by police on a beach at 1:20pm on Wednesday near the town of Lockhart River on Cape York in northern Queensland

The plane was last heard from at 9.30am when it made two attempts to land near the town.

The Cessna 404 ten-seater aircraft was reported missing at 11.30am on Wednesday and is registered to West Australian company Aerohire, according to News Corp.

The region has been battling vicious tropical weather that has resulted in several days of strong winds and heavy rain.

Lockhart River Mayor Wayne Butcher said he didn't believe anyone survived the crash.

'The plane has just been found on the beachfront, and there are no survivors, there are six people that we know of for now,' he said.

'It is all government workers out of Cairns on a charter, we don't know the department.'

The aircraft was reported missing at 11.30am on Wednesday and is registered to West Australian company Aerohire

Queensland Police conducted a joint search with Australian Maritime Safety Authority after the plane was declared missing, sending out two helicopters and a jet ski to locate the wreckage.

Mr Butcher said it was just the latest tragedy to hit the area after a passenger jet previously crashed in 2005 and killed all 15 people on-board.

'We had a cyclone hit us this time last year, it's just one tragedy to the next,' he said.
NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP satellite passed over the Southern Indian Ocean and provided forecasters with a visible image of newly formed Tropical Storm 21S.

The Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instrument aboard Suomi NPP provided a visible image of Tropical Cyclone 21S that revealed strong thunderstorms circling the center of circulation. Strong storms were also in the southeastern quadrant of the storm which extended to the coast of Western Australia.

At 0900 UTC, (5 a.m. EDT) Tropical Cyclone 21S was located near latitude 16.4 degrees south and longitude 116.9 degrees east, about 253 nautical miles north-northwest of Port Hedland, Australia. 21S was moving to the south and had maximum sustained winds near 35 knots (40 mph/65 kph). The storm is not expected to strengthen much before it makes landfall in Western Australia.

The Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) expects 21S to move south-southeast and pass over Exmouth as a tropical storm. Exmouth is a town located on the tip of the North West Cape in Western Australia. JTWC forecasters expect that 21S will dissipate after two days.

Tropical cyclones/hurricanes are the most powerful weather events on Earth. NASA's expertise in space and scientific exploration contributes to essential services provided to the American people by other federal agencies, such as hurricane weather forecasting.

###

For updated forecasts from the ABM, visit: http://www.bom.gov.au

By Rob Gutro

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Last year, Inspector General Michael Horowitz released a report detailing serious omissions and errors in the FBIs FISA applications for surveillance on Page, whom they suspected of conspiring with the Russians to interfere in the 2016 election. Page was never charged with a crime, and Horowitz has been highly critical of the FBI for emphasizing incriminating information to the court while not sharing facts that suggested Pages innocence.
3 1 of 3 Hearst Connecticut Media file photo Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Ebrahim Noroozi/AP Show More Show Less 3 of 3





NORWALK  Norwalk Community College will be closed for the remainder of the week after the college learned a student has potentially come into contact with a person with the coronavirus, officials said.

Classes beginning at 6 p.m. Tuesday and through the end of spring break  Sunday, March 22  are canceled, said Cheryl DeVonish, chief executive officer for Norwalk Community College, in an announcement Tuesday night.
The event held March 7 featured an afternoon tea, silent auction and a short program. Several newly established ISU Honors Programs scholarships were awarded at the tea. The Honors Program at ISU only accepts 100 new high-achieving students each year, and it is the only program in the state authorized to award the prestigious Honors Degree.

Those new awards included the Heithoff Scholarship, a newly endowed award created by the Heithoff family from Meridian, to support hard working Honors students carrying part- or full-time jobs and demonstrating commitment to their community. ISU Credit Union awarded scholarships for Excellence in Business and Excellence in Community Service, and ISU Credit Union provided scholarships recognizing student perseverance.

We are really excited to announce and award the new scholarships this year and we would like to thank everyone and every business that supported this years event, said Shannon Kobs Nawotniak, director of the University Honors Program and associate professor of volcanology.

Kailey McDaniel received the inaugural Heithoff Scholarship for $600.

The Heithoff scholarship is a brand-new endowed scholarship in the program so it is going to be continuing forever, Nawotniak said. It was created by J.D. and Nasdina Heithoff, whose two sons, Daniel and Drake, have been in our program. They very generously wanted to support ISU Honors students in the future.

Daniel finished his bachelors degree in marketing and management last year and is graduating with his MBA this spring. Drake will earn his exercise science degree in December and is completing a minor in business.

J.D. Heithoff provided the reason his family created the new Honors Program scholarship: We simply want to give a little help to an energetic, thoughtful, caring and hard-working person who is striving to earn their college degree, Heithoff said. We want to assist somebody who understands what it means to work, somebody who knows how important a college degree is, and a person who somehow still finds a little time to give back to their community or their college through volunteering or mentoring.

Idaho Central Credit Union awarded four $500 ICCU Scholarships for Perseverance. The recipients were Jaylan Aliev, Abigail Eatinger, Bailey Vahsholtz, and Sarah Doblinski.

ICCU really wanted to identify students who have really had to overcome adversity, hardship and challenges beyond the norm and help them to be able to thrive and excel in their studies, Nawotniak said.

ISU Credit Union gave two $500 ISUCU Scholarships for Excellence in Business and two $500 ISUCU Scholarships for Excellence in the Community Service.

The community service award recognizes students who are going out and making a real difference in their communities, Nawotniak said. It is easy as a student to get so busy that they struggle to find the time to give back, but we have phenomenal students in our program who prioritize serving the University and the greater Southeast Idaho communities. The recipients of this award were MaKenna Winnett and Adriene Pavek.

The second pair of ISUCU awards was aimed at students who are studying business in either a major or a minor and have a vision of what they want to do in the business community. This scholarship was awarded to Megan Busz and Victoria Steckline.

These students have a vision for their careers, including innovative problem solving. Theyre getting the support to create and adapt businesses here at ISU in the College of Business, she said.

Nawotniak stressed the importance to the students of these new scholarships and other support the ISU Honors Programs receive.

People have the misperception that honors kids all have full ride scholarships, but the truth is they need financial support very much, she said. High-achieving doesnt mean financially secure. We have students every year that have to make hard decisions about whether they have the financial means to complete their degrees, and scholarships like these can make all the difference in the world.
Hugh Jackman looked dapper as he attended the Montblanc Smart Headphones and Summit 2+ launch party in New York City on Wednesday.

The 51-year-old Greatest Showman star cut a suave figure in a navy blue tailored suit, which he paired with a white shirt and black tie.

The X-Men actor showed off his new designer watch as he posed by the media wall.

Suave: Hugh Jackman looked dapper as he attended the Montblanc Smart Headphones and Summit 2+ launch party in New York City on Wednesday

Hugh went clean shaven for the occasion, and slicked his hair back in a stylish quiff.

He finished off his sophisticated look with spectacles and black dress shoes.

The A-lister was joined at the event by fellow actors Gabriel-Kane Day-Lewis, Dylan Sprouse and Quincy Brown, and Victoria's Secret model Martha Hunt.

Flashy: The X-Men actor, 51, showed off his new designer watch as he posed by the media wall

Smart: He finished off his sophisticated look with spectacles and black dress shoes

It comes after the musical theatre star urged fans to get their skin checked in a video posted to Instagram last month.

'Just had my three-month check-up,' Hugh said while sitting in the car outside his doctor's office.

'Just a reminder to go get your check-up, it only takes five seconds. I'm all clear. It gives me peace of mind, so just do it.'

Star power! The A-lister was joined at the event by fellow actors Gabriel-Kane Day-Lewis (centre), Dylan Sprouse (second from right) and Quincy Brown (right), and Victoria's Secret model Martha Hunt (second from left)

Hugh's wife, Deborra-lee Furness, noticed his first skin cancer on his nose in 2013 and encouraged him to get it checked.

Since then, he has been vocal about his struggles with basal cell carcinoma.

He often raises awareness of skin cancers and encourages others - especially his fellow Australians - to wear sunscreen.
King County reported 74 more cases of coronavirus Tuesday, bringing the total in that Washington county to 190, on top of at least 78 reported cases in seven other counties across the state.

The new cases represent a 64% one-day increase in positive COVID-19 tests reported in Washingtons most populous county.

Outside of Seattle, the biggest surge in Washington cases came in Pierce County, home to Tacoma, where confirmed cases more than doubled, from 7 cases reported as of Monday to 16 on Tuesday. They include a child under the age of 10 in Tacoma and two people from Joint Base Lewis-McChord: a service member and spouse. The two are in quarantine off-base, the Washington military base confirmed Tuesday.

King County health officials said expanded access to testing is responsible in part for the big jump in positive tests.

Healthcare workers caring for coronavirus patients and people who have had close contact with persons with the virus both have elevated risks of catching it.

County health officials doubled down on advice theyve been giving in hopes of slowing the spread of the disease.

Employers should encourage and enable as many employees as possible to telecommute and follow other guidance for businesses.

People and organizations should avoid convening large groups of people and consider postponing events and gatherings.

Everyone should stay home when sick. Do not go out in public when you are sick. If you are ill and want to seek care, call your doctors office first before going in.

Many of the Seattle areas coronavirus cases and all but one of its 22 deaths are tied directly to nursing homes. Three have had at least one patient die from COVID-19 and seven more have had at least one patient or employee test positive. The state has two additional confirmed deaths, one in Snohomish County and one in Grant County.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

-- Betsy Hammond; betsyhammond@oregonian.com; @OregonianPol

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
Fridays column by Jacqueline Smith (We should have a bigger role in choosing a president) was a civics lesson many of us may have forgotten, and many may not have learned. Pity.

The impeachment hearings and trial ignored the advice/cautions/warnings of the Founding Fathers. Pity. So be it.
She starred as Betty Draper on the acclaimed TV series Mad Men.

And on Tuesday, January Jones, 42, gave back as she hosted an evening of shopping to benefit the Children's Hospital Los Angeles Fifth Annual Make March Matter Fundraising Campaign.

The actress showed off her enviable figure in a black and gold patterned halter dress at the charity event.

Stylish: January Jones showed off her enviable figure in a black and gold patterned halter dress at a fundraising event in Los Angeles on Tuesday

Her sleeveless outfit had a slit skirt that featured long black tassels that revealed her legs.

She added a pair of black leather over-the-knee boots.

Jones rocked a chin-length blonde bob blown out for volume.

Star power: Her sleeveless outfit had a slit skirt that featured long black tassels that revealed her legs and she added a pair of black leather over-the-knee boots

Good cause: The actress, 42, hosted a shopping evening at the Jonathan Simkhai store in West Hollywood in aid of Children's Hospital Los Angeles Make March Matter Fundraising Campaign

Charity night: She posed for photos with clothing designer Jonathan Simkha

Jones hosted the three-hour fundraising event at the Jonathan Simkhai clothing store in West Hollywood.

It's part of a month-long series of endeavors raising money for CHLA, a nonprofit pediatric academic medical center dedicated to offering more than 350 specialty programs and services to help the health of children.

The South Dakota-born star, who's starred in the films Love Actually, The Boat That Rocked, Unknown and X-Men: First Class, is a single mother to son Xander, eight.

She currently stars in the Netflix drama series Spinning Out.

Star of big and small screen: The blonde beauty played Betty draper in Mad Men and has starred in the films The Boat That Rocked, Unknown and X-Men: First Class
US Begins Troop Drawdown Amid Deepening Afghan Political Crisis

By Ayaz Gul March 10, 2020

Officials in Afghanistan say a presidential decree is expected to be issued Tuesday that would set in motion the process of releasing thousands of Taliban prisoners as the U.S. military begins a troop drawdown in the countrysteps outlined in a deal with the Islamist insurgent group aimed at ending the nearly 19-year-old war.

The U.S.-Taliban agreement sealed in Qatar 10 days ago requires all American and coalition forces to leave the country in the next 14 months, subject to insurgent counterterrorism assurances and commitments the Taliban would seek a political reconciliation with other Afghan stakeholders. "

U.S. Forces Afghanistan (USFOR-A) has begun its conditions-based reduction of forces to 8,600 over 135 days," said U.S. military spokesman Col. Sonny Leggett. There are about 13,000 troops stationed in the country.

Leggett underscored the drawdown would ensure the U.S. military retains necessary means and capabilities to provide support to Afghan security forces and conducted counterterrorism operations.

The crucial next step of opening peace negotiations between Afghan parties to the conflict requires the release of up to 5,000 insurgent prisoners from Afghan jails in exchange for 1,000 detainees, mostly government security forces, in Taliban custody.

The proposed intra-Afghan talks, originally scheduled for March 10 as stated in the U.S.-Taliban deal, could not take place due to reluctance by President Ashraf Ghani to allow the prisoner swap. That has been coupled with a deepening political crisis stemming from the long-running controversy over the legitimate winner of the contentious Afghan presidential vote.

The national election commission last month declared incumbent Ghani the winner of the disputed Sept. 28 polls. But his main rival and governing partner in the outgoing government, Abdullah Abdullah, rejected the outcome as "fraudulent" and vowed to establish his own government.

Dueling inaugurations

On Monday, both Ghani and Abdullah took part in parallel swearing-in ceremonies, fueling the political crisis and posing a serious challenge to the U.S.-led peace initiative to end decades of hostilities in Afghanistan.

The divisions have raised questions about whether Afghan political forces and civil society would be able to form an inclusive team to engage in peace talks with the Taliban.

Monday's unprecedented political development is troubling for Washington and the rest of the international community, though most of the diplomatic missions in Kabul, including the U.S. Embassy, attended Ghani's inauguration.

Dawa Khan Meenapal, the deputy Afghan presidential spokesman, acknowledged Tuesday, while speaking to VOA, the prisoner swap issue and the presidential swearing-in were to blame for the delay in opening negotiations with the Taliban.

Meenapal said President Ghani is set to issue a decree by the end of Tuesday on a Taliban prisoner release. He added that a list of negotiators for peace talks with the Taliban team has also been prepared.

"The United States strongly supports a unified and sovereign Afghanistan and is engaged in intensive efforts for peace," Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement in reaction to the Afghan political tensions. But he emphasized that Washington was strongly opposed to any action to establish a parallel government and the use of force to resolve political rifts.

"We welcome President Ghani's statement at his inauguration March 9 that discussions and negotiations will continue for the next two weeks to come to an agreement on an inclusive government which unifies the country and prioritizes peace," Pompeo noted.

Afghan government sources said a first batch of about 1,000 Taliban prisoners would be released after the presidential decree takes effect. The sources would not say how long it would take for authorities to free the rest of the detainees.

Taliban officials alleged Tuesday that Afghan authorities were trying to release ordinary detainees from jails in the guise of a prisoner swap in their bid to keep key insurgent inmates in custody.

"We have shared details of 5,000 persons [Taliban prisoners] with the American side and the list cannot be tampered with," Taliban political spokesman Suhail Shaheen warned in a statement.

"Whether these persons are handed over to us in a desert or inside Afghan jails, our team will thoroughly countercheck their identities before accepting them back," Shaheen said.

Afghan officials have not immediately responded to Taliban allegations.

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Rishi Sunak handed small and medium-sized businesses a coronavirus lifeline today as he said the government will cover the cost of sick pay linked to the deadly outbreak.

The Chancellor used his Budget to announce a fighting fund worth more than 2 billion which firms with fewer than 250 employees will be able to access.

Companies will be able to claim refunds for statutory sick pay paid to any staff who are off work because of coronavirus for a period of up to 14 days.

Meanwhile, Mr Sunak also announced that statutory sick pay will be extended so that it applies from day one of an illness rather than from day four.

It will also be made available to 'all those who are advised to self-isolate' because of coronavirus even if they have not displayed symptoms.

The announcements represent a major intervention by the government as it tries to stop disruption caused by coronavirus from sinking British businesses.

Rishi Sunak today announced that small and medium-sized companies will able to obtain refunds from the government for coronavirus-related sick pay

Mr Sunak's Budget contained a 30 billion stimulus package which the government hopes will keep the UK economy afloat during the coronavirus outbreak

Delivering his first Budget this afternoon, Mr Sunak said: 'The best way to support people is to protect their jobs and we do that by supporting our businesses.

'The measures I have announced today on statutory sick pay are crucial to support those who need to take time off work but that cost would be borne by business.

'And if we expect 20 per cent of the work force to be unable to work at any one time the cumulative cost would hit our small and medium-sized businesses hard.

'So in recognition of these exceptional circumstances today I am taking a significant step.

'For businesses with fewer than 250 employees I have decided that the cost of providing statutory sick pay to any employee off work due to coronavirus will for up to 14 days be refunded by the government in full.

'That could provide over 2 billion for up to two million businesses. This will significantly ease the burden on businesses.'

Mr Sunak also announced that the sick pay system will be simplified so that workers will no longer have to get a note from a doctor in order to be eligible.

Instead, people will be able to simply ring the NHS 111 non-emergency number to obtain the necessary documentation.

For the self-employed, it will be made easier for them to access the benefits system should they fall on hard times while a 500 million hardship fund will also be set up.

That cash will be used by local councils to help vulnerable people who are in financial difficulty.

The measures form part of a 30 billion package which the government hopes will stimulate the economy and protect jobs against coronavirus disruption.

He also announced a 1 billion business rates holiday for retail, leisure and hospitality firms with a rateable value of under 51,000 and a 3,000 cash grant to businesses eligible for small business rates relief.

Mr Sunak said: 'Taken together, the extraordinary measures I have set out today represent 7 billion to support the self-employed, businesses and vulnerable people.

'To support the NHS and other public services, I am also setting aside a 5 billion emergency response fund - and will go further if necessary.'

Other plans represented another 18 billion of 'additional fiscal loosening' and 'that means I am announcing today, in total, a 30 billion fiscal stimulus to support British people, British jobs and British businesses through this moment'.
One woman in Harlem who wanted to be tested was told by health care workers not to worry about her coronavirus-like symptoms. In Brooklyn, a woman had to wait to get tested until her mother tested positive for the virus. One doctor at a hospital network has turned away patients who probably had the coronavirus because they did not meet the current testing criteria.

President Trump has proclaimed that anyone who wants to get a coronavirus test can. Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo has declared that the state should be testing 1,000 people a day.

In New York, at least, the reality seems far more complicated.

Numerous interviews with doctors, hospital administrators and health officials this week revealed a confused and often troubled testing system in New York that has left many people who believe that they have been exposed to the coronavirus deeply frustrated.

The accounts suggest that the state and local governments have at times struggled to roll out one of the most effective means for responding to the epidemic: widespread testing.
The Congress Legislative Party held a meeting in Bhopal on Tuesday which was attended by 94 MLAs while 20 MLAs did not turn up for the meet, as per sources.

The numbers game seems to be tilting towards the BJP, which has 107 MLAs in the House which has a current strength of 228.

But if the 20 MLAs resign and their resignations are accepted, the strength of the House would come down to 208 with 104 as the majority mark, something the BJP already has. There are two BJP MLAs who have openly revolted against the party, whose number could go down to 105.

The Congress has to manage at least 11 MLAs, if 20 MLAs defect the party, to defeat the BJP on the floor of the House.

The Samajwadi Party has 1 MLA, the Bahujan Samaj Party 2 and there are 4 Independents.

So the Congress is banking on more BJP MLAs to defect the party besides luring its own MLAs back into the party with ministerial posts.

The BJP has to manage its own flock and see that the Congress MLAs in Bengaluru do not go back to their parent party.

Congress leader Shobha Oza said that "many MLAs have been misguided."

Chief Minister in his last ditch effort is reportedly sending his ministers to Bengaluru to meet the rebel MLAs.
A transgender actress has refused to star in a new West End play - an adaptation of the novel Breakfast On Pluto - in a row about casting.

Kate O'Donnell had been cast as the mother of the lead character, Patrick/Pussy Braden, in a new musical version of Patrick McCabe's book at the Donmar Warehouse in London.

The novel, which was shortlisted for the 1998 Booker Prize, tells the story of a trans woman's escape from a fictional Irish town and alcoholic foster mother.

O'Donnell was due to play Ma Braden, who is not a trans character, but pulled out of the production in protest after the part went to Irish actor Fra Free.

Transgender actress Kate O'Donnell (above in Gypsy at Manchester's Royal Exchange) has refused to star in a musical version of the novel Breakfast On Pluto

O'Donnell told BBC News: 'I could not be in a show where a trans woman is once again seen as a main a dress as this perpetuates the idea that this is what a trans woman is and leads to violence, even death.

'I know that the production has countered the uproar about this: they did try to cast a trans person. But I would suggest that they didn't try hard enough.

'I was offered the part and realised with the heaviest of hearts - because West End theatre production roles do not come along every day, especially when you're a trans performer - that I was going to have to decline the role'

In a post on Twitter, O'Donnell added: 'While @Donmar Warehouse are thrilled the trans community [are] less thrilled once again we are left out of the telling of a trans story.

'I was cast to play Pussy's adopted Mother but had to decline due to a cis man being cast to play her. It's been a sh*t few days.'

The actress said that the show's producers didn't try hard enough to find a trans performer for the role.

'I was offered the part and realised with the heaviest of hearts - because West End theatre production roles do not come along every day especially when you're a trans performer - that I was going to have to decline the role,' she told BBC News.

In a statement, the show's producers said: 'The partners offered Kate O'Donnell the role of Ma Braden in line with their usual casting processes.

'Kate declined the role and we all respect her decision.'

The stage version of Breakfast on Pluto, which was also made into a 2005 film featuring Cillian Murphy, is due to open in the capital in October, following runs in Galway, Dublin and at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre.
Iran Health Minister Says Coronavirus Epidemic Will Peak In April As Deaths Hit 354

03/11/20

Source: Radio Farda

The deadly novel coronavirus epidemic will continue to expand in Iran at least until April 8, before it starts to ebb, the director of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), Ali Askari, has cited the Iranian Health Minister as saying.



Iranian nurses have been showing high spirits while fighting coronavirus

Speaking to the state-run TV's Channel one, Ali-Askari noted, "The Minister of Health told a session of the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) that, if everything goes well, the novel coronavirus will reach its peak on April 8."



In other words, the Minister, Saeid Namaki, meant that from April 8 onwards, the epidemic begins declining.



At the session, Namaki has also maintained that he expected the decline to continue until June 20, by which time the crisis will be over.



Based on official data published by the Ministry of Health, 9,000 people in Iran have been infected by the virus, while 354 have died of its related disease, Coronavirus Disease 2019, or Covid-19. However, unofficial data show around 1,000 people in Iran have died of the illness, so far.



Official Iran's statistics on coronavirus as of March 11th

Infections: 9,000

Deaths: 354

New Cases: 958

Recovered: 2,959

Meanwhile, the deputy speaker of Majlis (Islamic parliament), Massoud Pezeshkian, has lambasted Namaki for his indecisiveness in containing the virus.



Speaking at the IRIB's prime time news slot, Pezeshkian insisted, "One cannot fight diseases by a muddle-through approach."



Referring to Majles' Health Commission emergency session attended by Saeid Namaki, the deputy speaker argued, "Yes, until reaching the peak of the disease, many people lose their lives; but that is what we should prevent."



In the meantime, the situation in several provinces and cities of Iran has been described as "critical."



The coronavirus emergency unit at a hospital in Isfahan

(photo by ISNA)

The killer virus is swiftly soaring in Khorasan Razavi province, northeast Iran, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Health, announced late Tuesday.

The capital of the province, the country's second-largest city, Mashhad, is the holiest Shiite site in Iran.



Hit hard by the fast-spreading coronavirus, Mashhad, is experiencing the worst economic crisis in decades. The number of foreign tourists in the city has dropped to zero, a local hotelier lamented.



According to the Health Ministry's officials, at least 89 have so far fallen victim to Covid-19 in Khorasan Razavi.
Vladimir Putin, Russia's president, as he speaks during his annual state of the nation address in Moscow, Russia, on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2020.

Russia's parliament backed changes to the constitution Wednesday that would allow President Vladimir Putin to run for president again in 2024.

On Wednesday, the lower house of parliament (the State Duma) voted in favor of changes that would allow Putin to run for the presidency again when his current term in office ends.

Putin has run Russia for 20 years, whether as president or prime minister. He has alternated between the roles as the constitution currently does not allow for presidents to serve more than two consecutive terms in office.

The proposed amendment to the constitution would remove this barrier to Putin running for office again in 2024. The country's constitutional court now has to approve the changes before a national referendum is held on the amendment (and others, including an expansion of the parliament's authority) on April 22.

"Putin now looks likely to run for president again when his term expires in 2024, rather than retaining power by transitioning to an alternative office. The amendment will almost certainly get the required approval from the parliament, the court, and the public in the vote planned for 22 April," analysts at Eurasia Group said in a note Tuesday.
(Photo : Screenshot from: NPR Organization Official Website)

With the novel Coronavirus or COVID-19 getting worse every day and wreaking havoc globally, organizations, foundations, companies, and schools have been coming together to try and build a better understanding of this virus and to speed up research and development of vaccines, diagnostics, therapeutics, and research.

Read Also: Coronavirus Doesn't Just Affect Humans; Lab Animals Also Face Danger

Fundings for research have been put out by different groups

To further speed track the research for Coronavirus, different groups from all over the world have been trying to fund and help various types of projects regarding the virus.

Groups such as Gilead Sciences Inc., Inovio Pharmaceuticals Inc., Johnson & Johnson, Moderna Inc., Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc., Sanofi, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Ltd., Vir Biotechnology Inc., Penn State, The Government of Canada, Wellcome Trust, Gates Foundation and possibly more, have been giving it their all and contributing to the global response to the Coronavirus or COVID-19, along with the World Health Organization (WHO).

The Canadian Government have their own plans as well

The Government of Canada has plans of providing further preliminary information and rapid research to contain the Coronavirus.

They will be funding applications for projects with the proposed topics that include, medical countermeasures research, social and policy countermeasures, development and evaluation for tools, clinical trials, cultural dimensions, public health response, and so many others.

This research will be launching along with the help of the international partners, including the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Global Research Collaboration for Infectious Disease Preparedness (GloPID-R), Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC).

Theses groups have various objectives but only one main goal in mind

According to Penn State, who has recently issued a request for proposals for projects regarding the Coronavirus, "We encourage proposals that seek to establish interdisciplinary teams, and we are very happy to help matchmake where groups are looking for others with the expertise they do not have, with this call, we want to encourage Penn State researchers to use their intellectual and technical firepower to help mitigate both the initial impacts of the outbreak and the longer-term management. SARS-CoV-2 is likely here to stay."

Penn State has aimed to aid researchers with the university's unique research technologies to help contribute to addressing the global novel COVID-19 or Coronavirus.

Other projects that are funded by the university includes the decision support around prevention of the virus and some control measures, the development of engineering tools, biosensors, and environmental sensors, improved diagnostics, the study of animal reservoirs and human behavior, economic analysis, business analysis and development of epidemiological studies.

In the situation that our planet is in, seeing organizations, groups, nations, and basically the human race together to fight this devastating virus is a completely good thing and just what we all need.

You can send in applications to Penn State here.



Read Also: Black Rain Falls Over Japan. Is the Japanese Government Secretly Burning Bodies of Coronavirus Victims?

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
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The fears of a global slowdown due to coronavirus becoming a pandemic has led to a sharp correction in global equities. It is now taking a toll on the grey market premium of SBI Cards and Payment Services, a subsidiary of the country's largest lender State Bank of India.

The grey market was earlier quoting the scrip at a premium of Rs 350-380 per share on the issue price of Rs 755. It fell to Rs 65-70 on March 11, the day of allocation of shares.

Experts feel that the 80 percent fall in premium was expected given the current equity market environment.

"This decline is only after a sharp correction in Nifty in the past few weeks and can be attributed to a culmination of various factors. Coronavirus fears can be one reason but then the US 10-year bond yields are below 1 percent and there is fear psychosis across the globe over escalation of virus issues. Hence, the fall in SBI Cards premium in the grey market can be a pure sentimental effect," Nirali Shah, Senior Research Analyst at Samco Securities told Moneycontrol.

Also read - Have you applied for SBI Card IPO? You can check the allotment status here

The Rs 10,340-crore public issue of SBI Card received a stellar response from investors and was oversubscribed by 26.54 times during March 2-5.

However, the coronavirus-led sell-off may affect its listing price.

COVID-19 has spread to over 112 countries with more than 1.13 lakh infected cases and over 4,000 deaths. The number of new cases is rising constantly putting major economies on red alert.

This has led to a sell-off in Indian equities as well. Since February 19, the Nifty and Sensex fell more than 13 percent, in line with global peers amid global recession fears.

Impact on Listing

Allocation of SBI Card shares is due later today and listing is expected to be on March 16.

Experts expect the scrip to list at "much-lesser" premium if not flat.

"We believe the expected 40 percent premium has now to shrink only 8-10 percent. Even, further fall is expected if the COVID-19 virus spread its roots rapidly in India too," Manali Bhatia, Senior Research Analyst at Rudra Shares & Stock Brokers Ltd said.

Gaurav Garg, Head of Research at CapitalVia Global Research Limited - Investment Advisor also said, "Grey market premiums have been declining due to coronavirus-led market turmoil. Because of this, it is expected that there would not be any significant listing gains from the IPO."

Prashanth Tapse, AVP Research, Mehta Equities also does not expect any big upside listing. "The current grey market premium suggests the listing for SBI Card could be around Rs 800-850 versus earlier expectation of more than Rs 1,000-1,100 per share."

According to Nirali Shah, coronavirus panic can lead to a subdued listing.

Nonetheless, experts are optimistic about the long-term growth of the stock.

"For the long term horizon, SBI Card would do well. Hence, investors should hold the stock for next few years for good returns," Gaurav Garg said.

Nirali Shah also said eventually markets will recognize the potential of SBI Card and investors will receive smart appreciation in the medium term.

Prashanth Tapse, too, said the business visibility of SBI Card is healthy in the longer term.

: The views and investment tips expressed by investment expert on moneycontrol.com are his own and not that of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday paid tribute to the victims of Delhi violence, which erupted in parts of the capital city recently.

"I pay my tribute to all those who lost their lives in riots in Delhi and extend my condolences to their grieving families," Home Minister Shah said in the Lok Sabha at the outset of his reply to the debate on Delhi violence.

Earlier, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Meenakshi Lekhi said that the recent incidents of violence in the North-East Delhi were in the making for months.

Lekhi also criticised the Congress party, stating that "some people have the history of setting things ablaze."

At least 53 were people killed and more than 200 sustained injuries in the violence.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, March 11, 2020

The Jakarta administration is falling short of its responsibility to disclose detailed emissions data of factories that contribute to air pollution, environmental advocacy groups have said.

The Indonesian Center for Environmental Law (ICEL) is calling for more details in the administration's periodic report on the private sector's emissions.

Prevailing regulations require all local administrations, including Jakarta, to collect emissions data from businesses that might harm air quality and that the businesses report the results of their pollution control assessments. The 1999 government regulation on air pollution control orders local administrations to perform an assessment on air pollution control at least once a year, while the 2012 government regulation on environmental permits says that businesses have to file their reports once every six months.

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India issued a fresh travel advisory on Tuesday, urging all travellers  both Indian nationals and foreigners  arriving from coronavirus-affected countries to stay under home quarantine for at least 14 days. The advisory makes a special mention of those travellers who are arriving from 12 high-risk countries.

China, Hong Kong, South Korea, Japan, Italy, Thailand, Singapore, Iran, Malaysia, France, Spain and Germany are among the 12 high-risk nations.

France, Germany and Spain were added to the list after confirmed coronavirus cases in the country reached 60. The fresh advisory has removed Indonesia, Vietnam and Nepal from the list.

The advisory calls for passengers with travel history to affected high-risk countries to undergo self-imposed quarantine for a period of 14 days from the date of their arrival and their employers to facilitate work-from-home for such employees during this period, a Union health ministry statement said.

Compulsory quarantine

All incoming international passengers returning to India must self-monitor their health and follow the recommended DOs and DONTs since more than 100 countries across the world now have reported cases of Covid-19 and travellers to these countries, or any person having travelled abroad, might have come in contact with people affected with Covid-19 during their stay there or even while in transit at airports, the advisory said.

The United States was added to the list of high-risk countries in the March 8 travel advisory, but removed, without any explanation, two days later.

Visa restrictions

All regular visas [including e-visas] issued...on or before 11.03.2020, and where these foreigners have not yet entered India stands suspended. Regular visas [including e-visas] granted to all foreign nationals who have travel history to these countries on or after 1.2.2020 and who have not yet entered India also stands suspended, the advisory said.

However, visas of all foreigners already in India remain valid and they may contact the nearest Foreigners Regional Registration Office/Foreigners Registration Officers (FRRO/FRO) through e-FRRO module for extension/conversion of visa or grant of any consular service, if required. The Bureau of Immigration under ministry of external affairs is looking into the matter.

People travelling from, or having visited, Italy or South Korea will need a certificate of having tested negative for Covid-19 from the designated laboratories authorised by the health authorities of these countries to enter India as a temporary measure.

Restricted entry for cruise ships

The government has restricted entry of cruise ships at Indian ports. Only international cruise ships, which had planned and intimated their call to an Indian port by January 1 will be allowed entry. However, the ships will be directed to those ports that have thermal screening facility for passengers and crew.

Any international cruise ship or any member of its crew or any passenger having a travel history of visiting any of the Covid-19 affected countries after February 1 will not be permitted to enter any Indian port till March 31.

Shipping agent/master of vessel to submit all documents related to crew and passengers , said the release.

Exemptions from such restrictions have been made for diplomats, United Nations officials and other international bodies, Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) cardholders and air crew from the above mentioned countries on entry.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Rhythma Kaul Rhythma Kaul works as an assistant editor at Hindustan Times. She covers health and related topics, including ministry of health and family welfare, government of India. ...view detail
By Express News Service

KALABURAGI: A 76-year-old man suspected to have been infected with the coronavirus died in Kalaburagi on Tuesday night.

In a joint press conference here on Wednesday, Kalaburagi Deputy Commissioner Sharath B and the District Health Officer said Mohammad Hussain Siddiqui, the president of the Kalaburagi district qazi association, died due to suspected COVID-19. They said Siddiqui was admitted to a private hospital in Kalaburagi a few days back after he complained of breathing problems and cough.

His throat swabs were collected three days ago and sent to the Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute for testing. Meanwhile, the patient's relatives took him to the Care Hospital at Hyderabad against medical advice. Care Hospital of Hyderabad discharged Siddiqui on Tuesday asking them to get treatment at Kalaburagi only. He was brought dead to the Gulbarga Institute of Medical College Hospital at 11.00 pm, said the DC and DHO.

Both the DC and SHO said that the report on the throat swab is expected by Wednesday evening or Thursday morning. They said the cause of his death cannot be established until the report was received. All the family members of Siddiqui who came to Kalaburagi with the body have been kept under observation and about 30 people who were in touch with the deceased were being examined, they added.

"The rumours floating in the media regarding the death of a 76-year-old man from Kalaburgi owing to Covid-19 are false. His sample for Covid-19 has been collected and sent for testing. The media is requested to help the government in creating awareness and not creating panic," said Pankaj Kumar Pandey, Commissioner, Health.

Dr Nawaz, principal investigator, VRDL, and head of the microbiology department said the man had symptoms of cough and fever but they are not sure if he died of COVID-19.
InterCloud, the leader in fully managed software-defined cloud interconnect services, today announced a new investment to bolster InterCloud's premium and secure hybrid and multi-cloud application transport services in Europe. Its network expansion strategy centers on providing the fastest time to market and excellent connectivity services to its customers.

InterCloud and euNetworks, a Western European bandwidth infrastructure company, have signed a pan-European agreement for bandwidth infrastructure services. This agreement will supply InterCloud with a multi-100Gbps core backbone capacity across Europe and will activate connectivity to over 420 data centers, accelerating and simplifying deployment of last mile access to InterCloud customer's sites.

This new agreement will also enhance InterCloud's cloud native platform with euNetworks' Cloud Connect solution, delivering direct access to all the key cloud platforms. This immediately expands the reach and resilience of InterCloud's advanced cloud connectivity experience for its customers.

With the development of a software integration between the InterCloud platform and euNetworks' infrastructure, InterCloud's customers will benefit from the unique experience of a DevNetOps journey backed by a market-leading availability and performance SLA. This integration will expand the connectivity catalog available and will bring into the market differentiated service flavours to match service mesh designers expectations in terms of quality of experience and cost efficiency.

"With ever growing requirements for performance and bandwidth from our customers, we decided that now was the right time to set up a future proof agreement with a network services partner capable of supporting these needs," said Benjamin Ryzman, Chief Technology Officer of InterCloud. "We have been using euNetworks successfully for key backbone and last mile circuits. The proven performance, the support and expertise of the euNetworks team as well as the capabilities of their infrastructure were key in our decision to entrust them with our European expansion."

"We are delighted to be supporting InterCloud as they continue to expand their service offering and capability to their customers," said Kevin Dean, Chief Marketing Officer of euNetworks. "Our footprint and direct access to key cloud platforms delivers a good fit for InterCloud's native cloud platform and how they want to develop it further. We look forward to continuing to work closely with the InterCloud team, supporting them with bandwidth infrastructure services."

About InterCloud

InterCloud allows global companies to seamlessly interconnect their multi-cluster resources. Thanks to its global application platform, InterCloud is the only SDCI (Software-Defined Cloud Interconnect) provider capable of delivering an end-to-end managed turnkey service, enabling companies to simplify their infrastructures, offering them greater visibility and control over their multi-cloud applications.

About euNetworks

euNetworks is a bandwidth infrastructure company, owning and operating 17 fibre based metropolitan networks connected with a high capacity intercity backbone covering 51 cities in 15 countries across Europe. The company leads the market in data centre connectivity, directly connecting over 420 today. euNetworks is also a leading cloud connectivity provider and offers a targeted portfolio of metropolitan and long haul services including Dark Fibre, Wavelengths, and Ethernet. Wholesale, finance, content, media, mobile, data centre and enterprise customers benefit from euNetworks' unique inventory of fibre and duct based assets that are tailored to fulfil their high bandwidth needs.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200311005053/en/

Contacts:

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CMO InterCloud Interconnect Smarter

anissa.sersoub@intercloud.com +33 (0)7 88 25 55 32

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Hannah Britt Senior Director, Marketing IR eu Networks

15 Worship Street London EC2A 2DT

hannah.britt@eunetworks.com email

+44 7717 896 446 mobile
Andrea Vocab Sanderson has been named the citys newest poet laureate, the first African-American to hold the post.

Sanderson officially will step into the role in a public investiture ceremony at 6 p.m. March 31 in City Council Chambers.

The poet laureates charge is to promote and preserve the art form while celebrating the citys history and culture.

It is truly fulfilling a dream of mine to step into this honorable role and serve my city, Sanderson said in a statement. I admire and love all of the poets laureate that came before me and consider it a blessing to rise to the occasion and create initiatives that promote artistic expression celebrating the literary arts. I love San Antonios poetry community and look forward to contributing to its growth.

On ExpressNews.com: Big Mama blogger talks about new book

Sandersons work has appeared in the Raven Review Literary Magazine, the Texas Observer and in the anthology Pariahs. She co-founded Write Art Out and founded and serves as host of Jazz & Poetry with Purpose. She also works with young people at the Bexar County Juvenile Detention Center, helping them put their feelings into words.

Andreas work in the community is exemplary of the role of a poet laureate. She has changed our community for the better with her words, her commitment and her authenticity, Mayor Ron Nirenberg said in a statement. We are fortunate to have a dedicated individual like her embedded in our community, working with our youth and inspiring others with words.

The poet laureate position was created in 2012. Each poet serves for two years. Sanderson follows Carmen Tafolla, Laurie Ann Guerrero, Jenny Browne and Octavio Quintanilla.
[March 11, 2020] Global DisplayPorts Industry

NEW YORK, March 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- DisplayPorts market worldwide is projected to grow by 3.6 Billion Units, driven by a compounded growth of 29.2%. DisplayPorts, one of the segments analyzed and sized in this study, displays the potential to grow at over 29.2%. The shifting dynamics supporting this growth makes it critical for businesses in this space to keep abreast of the changing pulse of the market. Poised to reach over 4.4 Billion Units by the year 2025, DisplayPorts will bring in healthy gains adding significant momentum to global growth.

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p02043285/?utm_source=PRN

- Representing the developed world, the United States will maintain a 26.8% growth momentum. Within Europe, which continues to remain an important element in the world economy, Germany will add over 151.8 Million Units to the region's size and clout in the next 5 to 6 years. Over 131.9 Million Units worth of projected demand in the region will come from Rest of Europe markets. In Japan, DisplayPorts will reach a market size of 226.8 Million Units by the close of the analysis period. As the world's second largest economy and the new game changer in global markets, China exhibits the potential to grow at 34.8% over the next couple of years and add approximately 866.1 Million Units in terms of addressable opportunity for the picking by aspiring businesses and their astute leaders. Presented in visually rich graphics are these and many more need-to-know quantitative data important in ensuring quality of strategy decisions, be it entry into new markets or allocation of resources within a portfolio. Several macroeconomic factors and internal market forces will shape growth and development of demand patterns in emerging countries in Asia-Pacific, Latin America and the Middle East. All research viewpoints presented are based on validated engagements from influencers in the market, whose opinions supersede all other research methodologies. - Competitors identified in this market include, among others, ADLINK Technology Inc.

Advanced Micro Devices Inc.

Analogix Semiconductor Inc.

ATEN International Co. Ltd.

Digital View Group

Integrated Device Technology Inc.

Intel Corporation

Molex Inc.

NXP Semiconductors N.V.

Parade Technologies Inc.

PNY Technologies Inc.

Quixant Ltd.

STMicroelectronics N.V.

Texas Instruments Inc. Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p02043285/?utm_source=PRN I. INTRODUCTION, METHODOLOGY & REPORT SCOPE

II. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

1. MARKET OVERVIEW

DisplayPort: A High Performance Display Interface Technology

Recent Market Activity

VGA, DVI, HDMI and DisplayPorts: Evolution of Display Technologies

DisplayPort Versions: A Review

Global Competitor Market Shares

DisplayPorts Competitor Market Share Scenario Worldwide (in %):

2020 & 2029 2. FOCUS ON SELECT PLAYERS

ADLINK Technology, Inc. (Taiwan)

Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (USA)

Analogix Semiconductor, Inc. (USA)

ATEN International Co., Ltd. (Taiwan)

Intel Corporation (USA)

Molex, Inc. (USA)

NXP Semiconductors N.V. (The Netherlands)

Parade Technologies, Ltd. (Taiwan)

PNY Technologies, Inc. (USA)

STMicroelectronics N.V. (Switzerland)

Texas Instruments, Inc. (USA) 3. MARKET TRENDS & DRIVERS

Rise in Adoption of Thunderbolt 3 Benefits Demand for DisplayPorts

Expanding Market for AR VR Devices Unfurl New Opportunities

4K and 8K TVs - An Expanding Market for Display Ports

DisplayPort over USB-C - A High Performance Video Interface

Multi-Stream Transport (MST) - A Preferable Choice for Multiple

Screen Users

Smartphones Offer Strong Prospects for DisplayPorts

Personal Computing Devices Continue to Augment Demand

Rise in DisplayPort Certifications across Various Device

Categories Strengthens Market Prospects

DisplayPorts & HDMI Technologies in Consumer Electronics:

Complementary or Competitive?

Developing Countries Drive Future Market Growth

Key Chinese and Taiwanese DisplayPort Connector & Cable

Assembly Suppliers

Growing Demand fo High Resolution Video Content and Displays





4. GLOBAL MARKET PERSPECTIVE



Table 1: DisplayPorts Global Market Estimates and Forecasts in

Thousand Units by Region/Country: 2018-2025

Table 2: DisplayPorts Global Retrospective Market Scenario in

Thousand Units by Region/Country: 2009-2017

Table 3: DisplayPorts Market Share Shift across Key Geographies

Worldwide: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

III. MARKET ANALYSIS

GEOGRAPHIC MARKET ANALYSIS

UNITED STATES

Market Facts & Figures

Market Analytics

Table 4: United States DisplayPorts Market Estimates and

Projections in Thousand Units: 2018 to 2025

Table 5: DisplayPorts Market in the United States: A Historic

Review in Thousand Units for 2009-2017

CANADA

Table 6: Canadian DisplayPorts Market Estimates and Forecasts

in Thousand Units: 2018 to 2025

Table 7: Canadian DisplayPorts Historic Market Review in

Thousand Units: 2009-2017

JAPAN

Table 8: Japanese Market for DisplayPorts: Annual Sales

Estimates and Projections in Thousand Units for the Period

2018-2025

Table 9: DisplayPorts Market in Japan: Historic Sales Analysis

in Thousand Units for the Period 2009-2017

CHINA

Table 10: Chinese DisplayPorts Market Growth Prospects in

Thousand Units for the Period 2018-2025

Table 11: DisplayPorts Historic Market Analysis in China in

Thousand Units: 2009-2017

EUROPE

Market Facts & Figures

Market Analytics

Table 12: European DisplayPorts Market Demand Scenario in

Thousand Units by Region/Country: 2018-2025

Table 13: DisplayPorts Market in Europe: A Historic Market

Perspective in Thousand Units by Region/Country for the Period

2009-2017

Table 14: European DisplayPorts Market Share Shift by

Region/Country: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

FRANCE

Table 15: DisplayPorts Market in France: Estimates and

Projections in Thousand Units for the Period 2018-2025

Table 16: French DisplayPorts Historic Market Scenario in

Thousand Units: 2009-2017

GERMANY

Table 17: DisplayPorts Market in Germany: Recent Past, Current

and Future Analysis in Thousand Units for the Period 2018-2025

Table 18: German DisplayPorts Historic Market Analysis in

Thousand Units: 2009-2017

ITALY

Table 19: Italian DisplayPorts Market Growth Prospects in

Thousand Units for the Period 2018-2025

Table 20: DisplayPorts Historic Market Analysis in Italy in

Thousand Units: 2009-2017

UNITED KINGDOM

Table 21: United Kingdom Market for DisplayPorts: Annual Sales

Estimates and Projections in Thousand Units for the Period

2018-2025

Table 22: DisplayPorts Market in the United Kingdom: Historic

Sales Analysis in Thousand Units for the Period 2009-2017

SPAIN

Table 23: Spanish DisplayPorts Market Estimates and Forecasts

in Thousand Units: 2018 to 2025

Table 24: Spanish DisplayPorts Historic Market Review in

Thousand Units: 2009-2017

RUSSIA

Table 25: Russian DisplayPorts Market Estimates and Projections

in Thousand Units: 2018 to 2025

Table 26: DisplayPorts Market in Russia: A Historic Review in

Thousand Units for 2009-2017

REST OF EUROPE

Table 27: Rest of Europe DisplayPorts Market Estimates and

Forecasts in Thousand Units: 2018-2025

Table 28: DisplayPorts Market in Rest of Europe in Thousand

Units: A Historic Review for the Period 2009-2017

ASIA-PACIFIC

Table 29: Asia-Pacific DisplayPorts Market Estimates and

Forecasts in Thousand Units by Region/Country: 2018-2025

Table 30: DisplayPorts Market in Asia-Pacific: Historic Market

Analysis in Thousand Units by Region/Country for the Period

2009-2017

Table 31: Asia-Pacific DisplayPorts Market Share Analysis by

Region/Country: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

AUSTRALIA

Table 32: DisplayPorts Market in Australia: Recent Past,

Current and Future Analysis in Thousand Units for the Period

2018-2025

Table 33: Australian DisplayPorts Historic Market Analysis in

Thousand Units: 2009-2017

INDIA

Table 34: Indian DisplayPorts Market Estimates and Forecasts in

Thousand Units: 2018 to 2025

Table 35: Indian DisplayPorts Historic Market Review in

Thousand Units: 2009-2017

SOUTH KOREA

Table 36: DisplayPorts Market in South Korea: Recent Past,

Current and Future Analysis in Thousand Units for the Period

2018-2025

Table 37: South Korean DisplayPorts Historic Market Analysis in

Thousand Units: 2009-2017

REST OF ASIA-PACIFIC

Table 38: Rest of Asia-Pacific Market for DisplayPorts: Annual

Sales Estimates and Projections in Thousand Units for the

Period 2018-2025

Table 39: DisplayPorts Market in Rest of Asia-Pacific: Historic

Sales Analysis in Thousand Units for the Period 2009-2017

LATIN AMERICA

Table 40: Latin American DisplayPorts Market Trends by

Region/Country in Thousand Units: 2018-2025

Table 41: DisplayPorts Market in Latin America in Thousand

Units by Region/Country: A Historic Perspective for the Period

2009-2017

Table 42: Latin American DisplayPorts Market Percentage

Breakdown of Sales by Region/Country: 2009, 2019, and 2025

ARGENTINA

Table 43: Argentinean DisplayPorts Market Estimates and

Forecasts in Thousand Units: 2018-2025

Table 44: DisplayPorts Market in Argentina in Thousand Units:

A Historic Review for the Period 2009-2017

BRAZIL

Table 45: DisplayPorts Market in Brazil: Estimates and

Projections in Thousand Units for the Period 2018-2025

Table 46: Brazilian DisplayPorts Historic Market Scenario in

Thousand Units: 2009-2017

MEXICO

Table 47: DisplayPorts Market in Mexico: Recent Past, Current

and Future Analysis in Thousand Units for the Period 2018-2025

Table 48: Mexican DisplayPorts Historic Market Analysis in

Thousand Units: 2009-2017

REST OF LATIN AMERICA

Table 49: Rest of Latin America DisplayPorts Market Estimates

and Projections in Thousand Units: 2018 to 2025

Table 50: DisplayPorts Market in Rest of Latin America:

A Historic Review in Thousand Units for 2009-2017

MIDDLE EAST

Table 51: The Middle East DisplayPorts Market Estimates and

Forecasts in Thousand Units by Region/Country: 2018-2025

Table 52: DisplayPorts Market in the Middle East by

Region/Country in Thousand Units: 2009-2017

Table 53: The Middle East DisplayPorts Market Share Breakdown

by Region/Country: 2009, 2019, and 2025

IRAN

Table 54: Iranian Market for DisplayPorts: Annual Sales

Estimates and Projections in Thousand Units for the Period

2018-2025

Table 55: DisplayPorts Market in Iran: Historic Sales Analysis

in Thousand Units for the Period 2009-2017

ISRAEL

Table 56: Israeli DisplayPorts Market Estimates and Forecasts

in Thousand Units: 2018-2025

Table 57: DisplayPorts Market in Israel in Thousand Units:

A Historic Review for the Period 2009-2017

SAUDI ARABIA

Table 58: Saudi Arabian DisplayPorts Market Growth Prospects in

Thousand Units for the Period 2018-2025

Table 59: DisplayPorts Historic Market Analysis in Saudi Arabia

in Thousand Units: 2009-2017

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

Table 60: DisplayPorts Market in the United Arab Emirates:

Recent Past, Current and Future Analysis in Thousand Units for

the Period 2018-2025

Table 61: United Arab Emirates DisplayPorts Historic Market

Analysis in Thousand Units: 2009-2017

REST OF MIDDLE EAST

Table 62: DisplayPorts Market in Rest of Middle East: Recent

Past, Current and Future Analysis in Thousand Units for the

Period 2018-2025

Table 63: Rest of Middle East DisplayPorts Historic Market

Analysis in Thousand Units: 2009-2017

AFRICA

Table 64: African DisplayPorts Market Estimates and Projections

in Thousand Units: 2018 to 2025

Table 65: DisplayPorts Market in Africa: A Historic Review in

Thousand Units for 2009-2017 IV. COMPETITION

Total Companies Profiled: 62

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p02043285/?utm_source=PRN

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ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.

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(Kitco News) - Ivanhoe Mines (TSX: IVN) promoted its chief financial officer, Marna Cloete, to the position of president effective today.



Under the leadership of Cloete, the company will review the organizational structure with the aim to unlock the many synergies that exist between the various shareholders and stakeholders.



Cloete is a registered Chartered Accountant and holds a Masters Degree in taxation from the University of Pretoria. Ms. Cloete has been with Ivanhoe Mines for 14 years and has extensive knowledge of the companys asset base and operational personnel. In her capacity as CFO, she gained detailed knowledge of the jurisdictions where the companys assets are located and will continue to work closely with all of Ivanhoe Mines shareholders and stakeholders.



Ivanhoe's current President, Tony S. Giardini, will leave Ivanhoe Mines after a short transition period.

By Kitco News For Kitco News Follow @kitconewsnow www.kitco.com

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication.
Naomi Campbell, a stunning British model and actress, has a long list of credits she can talk about. When we think about the work she has done, things such as fashion shows and magazine covers often come to mind, and it is pretty safe to say that Campbell is a household name. She has done so much wonderful work during her career, and to say that she is successful is a huge understatement.

Campbell has even been involved in reality television, and she is the inspiration for so many who choose to devote their lives to the world of modeling. In terms of acting, she has been just as successful, appearing in shows like Empire and American Horror Story: Hotel. What many people may not know is that Campbell does more than just acting and modeling! One time, she was actually the matchmaker behind a royal marriage.

Naomi Campbell introduced one of her modeling friends to a prince

So, how does a supermodel like Naomi Campbell take credit for a royal marriage? Well, it turns out that she was the one who introduced model Kendra Spears and Prince Rahim at a party, and the two hit it off immediately! According to Harpers Bazaar, Campbell was friends with both Prince Rahim and Spears. Her idea to set them up was one of the best she ever had, as the couple officially became husband and wife in 2013. Now to Love reports that Spears converted to Islam in order to marry her prince, and she hasnt looked back since.

Who is Kendra Spears?

Prince Rahim and Princess Salwa Aga Khan | Gary Otte/AKDN/Getty Images

For those who may not know, Hello! Magazine reports that Kendra Spears is an American model who has done extensive work alongside Campbell. She has been extremely successful herself, walking the runway for designers including Calvin Klein, Diane von Furstenberg, and Louis Vuitton. Her classic good looks have helped her go far in her career, after getting her start as a teenager when she was the winner of a modeling contest.

Transitioning to a princess

So many people dream of becoming a princess, and for Kendra Spears, that dream came true. According to Daily Mail, the model now goes by the name Princess Salwa Aga Khan, and she is enjoying the best of both worlds. The princess continued her modeling career even after becoming married, although some aspects of her life certainly did change. Born in Seattle, Washington, Spears almost immediately knew that she wanted Prince Rahim to be her husband. After meeting, they were engaged for a few short months before tying the knot in a lavish Muslim ceremony at Bellerive Castle in Geneva, Switzerland. Rather than donning a wedding gown from one of the designers that she has modeled from, Spears instead wore an ivory sari embroidered with gold details and she looked absolutely spectacular.

Their marriage is still going strong

Prince Rahim and Princess Salwa Aga Khan | Gary Otte/The Ismaili via Getty Images

They have been married for several years now, and it looks like Prince Rahim and Princess Salwa Aga Khan are extremely happy and living life to the fullest. The couple appears to be doing extremely well and are the parents of two adorable children, Princes Irfan and Sinan. It looks like dreams really do come true, and the royal couple seems to be absolutely thriving at this point in their lives. As we know, Naomi Campbell is truly a woman of many talents, and we have to say that she can definitely call herself a successful matchmaker. Not many people can say that they are behind a famous royal marriage, but for Campbell, it all appears to be in a days work.
LONDON, March 5, 2020  While the UK legal market has been growing recently, with revenues up again in 2018-19, the market is facing rising competition from U.S law firms and alternative legal service providers, including the Big 4 consulting firms.

Those are among the conclusions of the 2020 State of the Legal Market in the UK report from Acritas and Peer Monitor, both part of Thomson Reuters, and the Legal Executive Institute. The UK legal market remains dominated by some of the worlds largest law firms, and many of those firms are also dominant players in the global field, including the Magic Circle firms.

But the report notes that the next decade clearly is not going to be plain sailing for UK law firms. It notes a surge of new entrants in the market, including a renewed focus on legal services from the Big 4 accounting firms, as well as U.S.-based law firms aggressively pursuing market share. Of the top 100 UK Star lawyers as rated by Acritas that changed firms last year, 30 went to U.S. firms. Many had been associates at their previous firm and moved to partner positions at their new firm. Overall, U.S. firms grew their UK lawyer headcount by 5.8 percent last year, especially in tax, employment, litigation and corporate practices.

As talent becomes increasingly mobile, firms need to be mindful of how lateral moves mean not only loss of talent but also negatively impact the employer brand of the firm, said Lisa Hart Shepherd, vice president of Research and Advisory Services at Thomson Reuters. When a firm loses a top-performing lawyer, they lose both their expertise and strength in their client relationships, which are two of the top drivers of how a law firms brand is favourably viewed by its clients.

The competitive landscape is shifting rapidly, continued Hart Shepherd, Firms need to take a more pro-active approach in retaining both talent and clients. More than ever, competitors stand ready to take market share at every opportunity.

Competitive pressures are growing in other areas as well. A 2019 Thomson Reuters survey found that the Big 4 and other alternative legal service providers (ALSP) now account for more than four percent of client budgets, and are growing at double-digit rates.

In spite of the growing competition, the report concludes that UK law firms with a global presence and strong reputations are more likely to face a positive outlook as they will be better positioned to balance growth across multiple global markets.

A full copy of the 2020 State of the Legal Market in the UK can be downloaded here.

Acritas

Acritas, part of Thomson Reuters, is the worlds leading provider of global legal market intelligence. We know that your success depends on the quality of your decisions. Empirical data provides the best foundation for informed decision-making and successful strategy development. That is why our experts only make recommendations to clients based on the most robust research insights. With Acritas you can be sure to find the information you need to improve business performance and sharpen your competitive edge. For more information, go to www.acritas.com.

Thomson Reuters

Thomson Reuters is a leading provider of business information services. Our products include highly specialized information-enabled software and tools for legal, tax, accounting and compliance professionals combined with the worlds most global news service  Reuters. For more information on Thomson Reuters, visit tr.com and for the latest world news, reuters.com.

CONTACT

Sarah Thompson

Acritas

sthompson@acritas.com

Jeff McCoy

Thomson Reuters

+1.651.687.4091

jeffrey.mccoy@thomsonreuters.com
Youngsters who use e-cigarettes are nearly five times more likely to go on to try tobacco, research published yesterday says.

The study adds considerable evidence to the theory that vaping can be a gateway to smoking cigarettes.

Many health experts view e-cigarettes as a crucial tool in the fight against tobacco and Public Health England has repeatedly endorsed the devices.

But others are worried about unresolved safety concerns and their use by young people.

Youngsters who use e-cigarettes are nearly five times more likely to go on to try tobacco, research published yesterday says. The study adds considerable evidence to the theory that vaping can be a gateway to smoking cigarettes. (File photo)

Schoolchildren in England are now more likely to have tried e-cigarettes than traditional cigarettes. More than one in three 15-year-olds have used the devices despite the fact it has been illegal to sell them to under-18s since October 2015.

The research, led by scientists at the University of Bristol, combined the results of 17 studies to investigate whether non-smokers who tried e-cigarettes were more likely to go on to tobacco.

The data, which included under-30s in the UK, US, the Netherlands, Germany, Canada and Mexico, found that using e-cigarettes increased the odds of subsequently smoking tobacco by a factor of 4.6, when compared with those who had never vaped.

The researchers said that after years of falling tobacco use, widespread uptake of e-cigarettes had created a new generation of smokers. Among the under-18s the effect was even greater, they said.

Data, which included under-30s in the UK, US, the Netherlands, Germany, Canada and Mexico, found that using e-cigarettes increased the odds of subsequently smoking tobacco by a factor of 4.6, when compared with those who had never vaped. (File photo)

If this age group was excluded from the data, the odds of taking up cigarettes was 3.17 times higher among vapers than non-vapers.

But if under-18s were included, the multiplier rose to 4.87.

The scientists, who are funded by the research arm of the NHS, the British Heart Foundation and Cancer Research UK, stressed that the findings were not definitive. For example, they said the link could be explained by the tendency of rebellious teenagers who try e-cigarettes to be more likely to experiment with smoking.

They wrote in the journal Tobacco Control: In adolescence, risk-taking is common and decision making for health-risk behaviours is influenced by peers, societal influences and parental monitoring.

But they said there was some evidence of a causal link, with all the data going consistently in the same direction.

They added: There are plausible causal pathways (e.g. nicotine addiction, similar hand-to-mouth actions for both behaviours).

This suggests the results provide some support for a causal relationship between e-cigarette use and later smoking.

This is in line with the theory that e-cigarettes act as a gateway to smoking.

E-cigarettes have historically not delivered nicotine as effectively as cigarettes, so that e-cigarettes may not be adequate to satisfy users who become more heavily addicted to nicotine.
As public health officials in communities across the country prepare for the continued spread of the coronavirus, both state and federal prisons could face major hurdles if officers or prisoners contract COVID-19.

ABC News has reviewed an internal document sent to the nation's Bureau of Prisons facilities, and sources said the document doesnt provide adequate answers to combating the virus.

The internal document details proper protocols including guidance from BOP stating an employee cant return to work if by doing so they would jeopardize the health of others.

Tune into ABC News Live at noon ET every weekday for the latest news, context and analysis on the novel coronavirus, with the full ABC News team where we will try to answer your questions about the virus.

The document doesnt touch on visitation for inmates or transporting them facility to facility. Courthouses in the Southern District of New York have already sought to restrict entry to people who traveled to China, South Korea, Japan, Italy and Iran and anyone who has been in contact with or has COVID-19.

One source at a Florida facility told ABC News that the Bureau doesnt have the ability to order more cleaning supplies and doesnt have enough wipes to sanitize the inmate transport buses. The source also said there arent enough N95 masks to cover half the staff, adding that most are of small size. Photos reviewed by ABC News of the facility show empty hand sanitizer pumps placed throughout.

MORE: Gun found at facility where Epstein died by suicide as conditions continue to decline

The source said there are currently more questions than answers.

On Wednesday, the Bureau of Prisons declined to provide guidance on what they were doing citing the fluid nature of the virus. However, they did say they are using a "comprehensive approach"

"The BOP has an internal web-based system for reporting infectious diseases and outbreaks, allowing access to health care and correctional professionals system-wide," a spokesman told ABC News in an email. "The Bureau of Prisons is providing information to staff and inmates regarding practicing good hygiene and other information regarding BOP's initial and preventive preparations. As the COVID-19 outbreak continues to evolve, the BOP updates and refines its recommendations, guidance, and protocols, and will continue to provide helpful information to staff, inmates and federal, state and local partners."

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Currently, they are not stocking COVID-19 test kits and "testing of inmates will occur if clinically warranted."

PHOTO: The Rikers Island jail complex stands in New York with the Manhattan skyline in the background, June 20, 2014. (Seth Wenig/AP, FILE)

The spokesman said as of Wednesday, there are no known cases of the virus at any BOP facility.

"The Bureau of Prisons is providing information to staff and inmates regarding practicing good hygiene and other information regarding BOP's initial and preventive preparations. As the COVID-19 outbreak continues to evolve, the BOP updates and refines its recommendations, guidance, and protocols, and will continue to provide helpful information to staff, inmates and federal, state and local partners," a bureau spokeswoman told ABC News over the weekend.

Joe Rojas, the Southeast regional representative for the Council of Prisons, the union that represents BOP officers, told ABC News that leaders have to think of the "worst-case scenario."

"You have one inmate that has a virus, it'll affect everybody, staff and inmates, because it's in a confined space," he continued.

Rojas said that there is "no leadership at all" when dealing with the potential for coronavirus in federal prisons.

State prison facilities around the country, from large state facilities to smaller county facilities, are also preparing for the virus.

A spokeswoman for the California Department of Corrections told ABC in a statement that there is a working group between "health care executives, public health nurses, custody and prison operations executives, occupational safety experts and department planners responsible for business continuity."

MORE: Move of Epstein's former prison warden stalled due to investigation: BOP

They say that health services will continue.

"We are also ensuring that inmates coming into the CDCR system, or transported to county jail to attend court hearings, are receiving a comprehensive health screening and assessment by health care professionals when they are processed into and out of an institution," a spokeswoman continued.

"Visitation is one of the most important services we provide to incarcerated persons and their loved ones. At this time, we have no intention of closing visiting at our institutions, including overnight family visits. However, we do ask that if a person feels sick with fever, cough, or difficulty breathing to please not enter a CDCR institution until they are no longer displaying symptoms."

In New York State, facilities have already begun increased screening and will issue questionnaires. The New York Department of Corrections is already warning visitors about longer than normal visitation wait time.

In Chenango County, NY, Sheriff Ernest Cutting told ABC News it is business as usual with a few different procedures. Cutting, who oversees the Sheriffs Department which has 66 inmates currently in custody. He said that inmates are being asked if theyve traveled out of the country.

"We always ask them if they're sick, anyway. Generally, inmates here in New York, go into medical isolation for a few days when they first come in, just to make sure we can control any sicknesses or illnesses that they may have," he explained. "We can operate every day with the thought that we have to protect ourselves, we have to protect citizens an ... just conversation and dialogue and using gloves when they're needed. Its just kind of how we operate daily.

Jeremy Desel, a spokesperson for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice said in a video released on their Facebook page, that they have procedures and plans in place to deal with an outbreak of a disease. While they have not yet done so, procedures include limiting visitation and transport.

MORE:Bureau of Prisons director cutting internet access, technology usage for staff to 'limit distractions'

He said all the procedures are outlined in a manual specific to controlling disease outbreaks.

Ohio officials recently stopped visiting access for inmates, as fear of the virus spread throughout the state.

PHOTO: Inmates at the Virginia Beach City jail receive their meals in August 2019. (L. Todd Spencer/The Viriginian Pilot/TNS via Newscom, FILE)

Across the Atlantic in Italy, where the virus has brought the country to a standstill, six prisoners died and 50 escaped after riots broke out in six prisons across the country, according to reports. Inmates lit mattresses on fire in one prison and in another, took officers hostage and stole their keys. In Milan, the epicenter of the outbreak, prisoners were seen standing on roofs after the prison limited visitor access and put the prison on lockdown.

Rojas also told ABC News that riots in Federal prisons are a legitimate concern and that it is something of which leaders should be wary.

ABC News' Alexander Mallin contributed to this report.

State prisons prepare for coronavirus but federal prisons not providing significant guidance, sources say originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
A company specialising in making dog meat dishes has claimed that eating dogs is a way for Chinese people to show their 'cultural confidence'.

Fankuai Dog Meat from eastern China made the statement in a blog post while protesting against a proposed law which bans people from consuming pets in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

The brand claims that lawmakers in the city of Shenzhen drafted the proposal to appease the West.

Fankuai Dog Meat, a company based in eastern China, has claimed that eating dogs is a way for Chinese people to show their 'cultural confidence'. It boycotts a proposal by lawmakers from Shenzhen, which bans the locals from consuming dog meat to improve food safety

Volunteer veterinarians treat sick and wounded dogs rescued from a truck heading towards the Yulin Dog Meat Festival in an improvised shelter in Guangzhou, China, on June 22

Fankuai produces a wide range of dishes, including hand-shredded dog meat, spicy dog meat and dog meat braised in a turtle broth.

Based in the county of Pei in Jiangsu Province, the firm is named after an ancient Chinese general who allegedly made his living by butchering dogs in his early years.

The company published the strongly worded article last Thursday to condemn the potential policy from Shenzhen, which borders Hong Kong.

The commentary blasted the city's plan as a 'denial to thousands of years of Chinese food culture'.

It claimed that relevant officials had stood on the opposite side of the general public and drawn the proposal to appease the West, which is used to 'bullying' Chinese culture.

It also said that the proposal represented 'extreme dog lovers' and created 'inharmonious social atmosphere'.

Fankuai blasted Shenzhen's plan as a 'denial to thousands of years of Chinese food culture' in a now-deleted commentary published last Thursday. Pictured above, a man wearing a face mask carries his pet dog on a street in Jiujiang in China's central Jiangxi province on March 6

It then argued that people in various Chinese provinces 'have a history of eating dogs for two to three thousand years', therefore the proposal 'strips people of their freedom of eating dog meat'. Pictured above, a Chinese woman holds her dog that is wearing a protective mask

The firm said it supported Beijing's new law to ban the eating of wild animals, but criticised the Shenzhen authority for extending the restriction 'infinitely' to including 'livestock'.

It then argued that people in various Chinese provinces 'have a history of eating dogs for two to three thousand years', therefore the proposal 'strips people of their freedom of eating dog meat'.

The article went on to allege that the proposition from Shenzhen protected the interests of 'extreme dog lovers'.

'Extreme dog lovers are influenced by the extremist thoughts from the West and appease Western rubbish culture without limit,' it wrote.

The author concluded its criticism by urging Shenzhen not to pass the law.

The post has been removed from the company's WeChat account after it had sparked an uproar among Chinese animal activists.

The company has refused an interview request from MailOnline on the matter. One representative cited 'sensitive topics' as the reason for the rejection.

The annual Yulin Dog Meat Festival is one of the most controversial food festivals in China and sees thousands of dogs cruelly killed, skinned and cooked with blow-torches before being eaten by the locals. The picture shows butchered dogs at a stall in Yulin on June 21, 2018

Animal activists have demanded the Chinese government prohibit the consumption of dogs for years.

The annual Yulin Dog Meat Festival is one of the most controversial food festivals in China and sees thousands of dogs cruelly killed, skinned and cooked with blow-torches before being eaten by the locals.

If this proposal from Shenzhen gets passed, it will be the first of its kind in the country.

Apart from dogs, the proposed act bars snake, frog and turtle meat from the dinner table.

Lawmakers from Shenzhen, a city of around 13 million people, published the proposal on February 25 on its government's website.

The public had until March 5 to send in their feedback to the document.

Fankuai's controversial claims came after a Chinese scholar said that the country should ban the eating of dogs and cats completely, not just in Shenzhen, to 'restore its international image'.

Guo Changgang, an academic from Shanghai, called for Beijing to set up legislation and impose the restriction across the country.

Guo Changgang (pictured), the head of the History Research Centre of the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, said China should establish a relevant law to protect companion animals

'The consumption of dog meat and cat meat has never been a social custom that is 'widely accepted by the people',' claimed Mr Guo, the head of the History Research Centre of the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences.

He acknowledged the government's efforts to crack down on the wildlife trade to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.

But he hoped that national lawmakers could extend the protection to cover companion animals.

'Eating wild animals, dog meat and cat meat is one of the important elements that damage China's international image,' he wrote on news app Toutiao.

At least 4,380 people have died and more than 121,800 have contracted the disease globally

A man wears a mask as he looks at an empty St. Peter's Square after the Vatican erected a new barricade at the edge of the square on Tuesday. Italy entered its first day under a nationwide lockdown after a government decree extended restrictions on movement to the whole nation

People wearing masks sit in a subway train in Milan, Italy, on Wednesday. In Italy, the government extended a coronavirus containment order previously limited to the country's north to the rest of the country beginning Tuesday, with soldiers and police enforcing bans

China's top legislative committee last month passed new legislation to ban all trade and consumption of wild animals.

Beijing is yet to revise its wild animal protection law, but the passage of the proposal was 'essential' and 'urgent' in helping the country win its war against the epidemic, wrote state newspaper People's Daily.

The exact source of the novel coronavirus remains unconfirmed. Scientists speculate that it originated in bats, snakes, pangolins, or some other animal.

In China alone, the health crisis has claimed at least 3,158 lives and infected more than 80,900 people.

And globally, at least 4,380 people have died and more than 121,800 have contracted the disease. More than 100 countries are now trying to contain the contagion.

Experts from the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention said tests proved that humans caught the virus from animals at the Huanan Seafood Wholesales Market.
By AFP

GENEVA: Switzerland reported its first case of new coronavirus on Tuesday, after outbreaks were identified in its main neighbours Austria, France, Germany and Italy.

"It's confirmed," a spokeswoman for Switzerland's federal health office told AFP, adding that more details about the case would be released later on Tuesday.

ALSO READ: Bus passengers from Italy blocked in France due to coronavirus scare

The case was found in the Italian-speaking Ticino canton on the border with Italy, the canton said on its website announcing a press conference for 1600 GMT.

Switzerland on Monday had said the country was in a state of "heightened vigilance" because of a surge in Italy.

ALSO READ: Italy witnesses 27 per cent hike in coronavirus cases as Spain quarantines hotel

Prior to this case, the country had tested some 300 suspect cases that were all found to be negative.

The government said on Monday that it had stepped up testing on patients with flu-like symptoms and was working to raise awareness at all border points.
Midland-Odessa Transportation Alliance officials are seeking donations to help cover the costs of signage for a stretch of road being named for slain Midland Police Department Officer Nathan Hayden Heidelberg.

MOTRAN, in conjunction with the MPD, asked Midland County to pass a resolution providing for the designation of Farm-to-Market Road 307 from Interstate 20 to FM 1379 as the Officer Hayden Heidelberg Memorial Highway. This segment of FM 307 symbolically connects his dedication to law enforcement, linking his burial site in Greenwood Cemetery to the MPD firing range. The road also goes by his family home.
The director of a trendy Bondi bar accused of underpaying staff while taking luxury holidays has hit back at the allegations, claiming she's been 'thrown under the bus'.

Julia Rose Gelonese is set to face the Federal Court next month after a year-long investigation by the Fair Work Ombudsman into her management of Upper East Side restaurant and bar, which is frequented by socialites in Sydney's eastern suburbs.

The Instagram influencer faces a hefty fine of up to $12,600 while the company could be penalised by up to $75,000 if the allegations are proven.

A number of chefs and floor staff had walked off the job within months of the bar's grand opening in 2017.

Those staff members - many of whom were in Australia on student or working holiday visas - alerted the Fair Work Ombudsman to their plight, alleging underpayment or in some cases no payment at all.

Ms Gelonese broke her silence on Wednesday as the allegations and upcoming court proceedings were made public.

Julia Rose Gelonese (pictured) will face court action by the Fair Work Ombudsman who allege she underpaid staff while the director of trendy Bondi bar Upper East Side

She told Daily Mail Australia all alleged underpayments had been finalised and hoped the action proposed by the Fair Work Ombudsman would be dropped.

She told another publication she had been 'thrown under a bus' by the Ombudsman.

'It is not an easy industry to make a living in and being in Bondi is difficult given how seasonal it is,' Ms Gelonese told the Wentworth Courier.

'There are many businesses, even the giants, who are doing it tough ... (the Fairwork media release) can ruin businesses and this makes it even tougher because they are so quick to say ''let's throw them under the bus''.'

The trendy bar (pictured) in Sydney's eastern suburbs is frequented by socialites

Julia is the sister of Claudia Gelonese (pictured right) who pleaded guilty to ripping off her childcare centre bosses to help pay for her elaborate wedding reception at Sydney's Luna Park

A statement of claim seen by Daily Mail Australia reveals Ms Gelonese took over sole directorship of Upper East Side from her boyfriend Ussi Da Silva in September 2019.

By this point the business was facing debts of close to $100,000 to other businesses as well as the outstanding amounts owed to its staff, the claim states.

At the same time she and Mr Silva were allegedly unable to pay staff, the couple are accused of portrayed themselves on Instagram as living a lavish life that included overseas holidays.

Ms Gelonese has 44,000 Instagram followers but has set her account to private.

Ms Gelonese told Daily Mail Australia the payments to her employees had now been 'finalised', however Fair Work alleged the grand total was yet to be determined.

In addition to paying her staff, Ms Gelonese claimed the debts owed to a number of businesses had also been settled.

Under the court action being taken by the Fair Work Ombudsman she could be hit with up to $75,000 in fines if found guilty.

Ms Gelonese took over sole directorship of the restaurant in September 2019 from boyfriend Ussi Da Silva (pictured), who had racked up debts of more than $100,000 to other businesses, according to court documents

The Ombudsman's investigation into Upper East Side began in March 2019 and quickly found they had likely breached 11 areas of restaurant award and two of the national employment standards.

When Ms Gelonese did not meet the Fair Work Ombudsman's compliance deadline, the case was taken before the Federal Court.

In a statement, Sandra Parker of the Fair Work Ombudsman said that in the wake of major cases of underpayment by celebrity chefs including George Colambaris and Neil Perry, they were 'cracking down' on the hospitality industry.

'Under the Fair Work Act, inspectors can issue a Compliance Notice if they form a belief that an employer has breached certain workplace laws,' Ms Parker said.

Ms Gelonese's decision to take over as the director of her boyfriend's business could cost her up to $75,000 in fines from the Fair Work Ombudsman - including personal fines of $12,000

Since opening in 2017 the bar has become popular among reality TV stars such as Sam Frost (back row, second from right)

'Where employers do not comply with our notices, a court can order them to pay penalties in addition to back-paying any affected employees.

'The Fair Work Ombudsman is cracking down on alleged underpayments in the fast food, restaurant and cafe sector, particularly when it involves migrant workers.'

Upper East Side opened in 2017 and quickly became a popular location for the social media lovers of Sydney's east, who flocked to the venue to take photos beneath its fairylight-lit roof.

Home and Away star Sam Frost and Instagram models such as Madi Edwards, and Bianca and Yasmin Wilshin were among the regulars customers.

But in addition to allegedly underpaying employees, the venue also ran up debts of $95,606 to businesses who had provided food, alcohol and other services.

Roxy Jacenko (pictured) and her firm PR Sweaty Betty provided services for Upper East Side worth $10,102 - but was never paid

ASIC documents seen by Daily Mail Australia reveal Mr Da Silva (pictured) owes $95,606 to a number of Sydney-based businesses

Upper East Side became popular on the Bondi scene with social media influencers wanting to take photos beneath the bar's fairy light lit roof (pictured), but

The businesses pursing the bar included Roxy Jacenko's prominent PR firm Sweaty Betty, which was owed $10,102.

One outstanding bill from a labour hire company was for $37,000.

ASIC documents seen by Daily Mail Australia listed some of the companies who had outstanding debts owed to them when Mr Da Silva was still in charge.

The biggest debt was the $36,745 owed to consultancy firm JRM Hospitality.

It was understood JRM was engaged by the bar to employ staff after a number of chefs and other staff walked off the job suddenly in mid-2017.

Ms Jacenko's firm was employed to promote the popular bar, but their invoices went unpaid and the matter ended up before the NSW Local Court.

Former Miss Universe Australia winner Laura Dundovic (pictured) poses for a photo outside Upper East Side

Instagram models like Madi Edwards (left) and former Love Island star Cassidy McGill (right) are among the stars regularly in attendance at the restaurant

Mr Da Silva (pictured) sits on the steps outside Upper East Side in Bondi

While the PR maven had the finances to employ a legal team to fight her battle, many small businesses left out of pocket by Upper East Side management could not.

Among them were several liquor and wine companies who provided alcohol to the bar but never had their invoices paid.

$11,880 was owed to Gateway Liquor, while small wine distributor Vintage and Vine was out of pocket $8,790.

Ms Gelonese told Daily Mail Australia the debts had been settled on behalf of Upper East Side and said she hoped the action proposed by the Fair Work Ombudsman would end up being dropped.
Celebrity blogger, Linda Ikeji has been recognised by the Babajide Sanwo-Olu led administration of Lagos state for her contributions to the state and achievements as a woman.

The mother of one and media mogul received the honour in a letter sent to her on International Womens Day.

Also Read: Linda Ikeji Laments On Cost Of Maintaining Her Bentley

Linda took to her Instagram page to reveal this feat to her followers.

The Linda Ikeji brand has continuously broken boundaries and challenge our notions of sustainable livelihood, opening up a previously underutilized sector of the economy a part of the letter reads.

See her post below:
Sharad Pawar said he has full confidence in Kamal Nath, whose 14-month-old government is on the brink of collapse Jyotiraditya Scindia's resignation

Mumbai: NCP president Sharad Pawar on Wednesday said he has full confidence in the capabilities of Madhya Pradesh chief minister Kamal Nath, whose 14-month-old government is on the brink of collapse following the resignations from Jyotiraditya Scindia and MLAs loyal to him.

Pawar, a former Congressman, said if talks had been initiated with Scindia, who joined the BJP on Wednesday, a day after quitting the country's oldest political party, the present situation won't have arisen in the adjoining state.

Talking to reporters, he said, "People believe that Kamal Nath can do miracles. It will be known in the next one or two days if it will really happen. I don't know the composition of the Madhya Pradesh Vidhan Sabha.

NCP Chief Sharad Pawar: We are waiting to see what happens in #MadhyaPradesh. People have faith in Kamal Nath Ji's abilities. pic.twitter.com/rvkcRzSsdN  ANI (@ANI) March 11, 2020

He added, "But, if there was a dialogue with "raja saheb" (Scindia), this situation wouldn't have arisen. He wanted to be given new responsibilities after his defeat in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. But, this is not Congress culture and it is not easy."

Asked if the Congress was at fault, Pawar avoided a direct reply, saying, "I don't know about whether it was Congress fault. But it was felt that opportunity should have been given to a good person."

The former Union minister rejected criticism that Congress lacks strong leadership. "There is leadership in the Congress and it is capable."

The Maratha strongman ruled out a Madhya Pradesh-like political drama playing out in Maharashtra.

"The Maha Vikas Aghadi government in Maharashtra is doing well and is on the right path. There is no doubt that the MVA government will last its full term," he said.

The fact that the media has not got any material to write against it (MVA government) means all is well, he said.

Pawar was full of praise for Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.

"He is doing good (work) and taking everyone along," said the NCP chief, whose party is one of the constituents of Shiv Sena-led government.

To a question on speculation that days of the MVA government are numbered after the eminent fall of the Nath regime, Pawar quipped, "The Shimga (Holi) festival just got over and there is no other mahurat left for the Opposition."

Stating that the Yes Bank crisis did not happen in a day, Pawar said India's economic situation is a cause of concern.

"What was the department of banking doing? It is answerable. The details will be out after a probe," he said.

Pawar said he along with non-BJP leaders like Mamata Banerjee, HD Deve Gowda, Sitaram Yechuri and Yashwant Sinha had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking immediate release of former Jammu and Kashmir chief ministers Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti.

"What is their crime? This sends a wrong message in the valley. Jammu and Kashmir is a sensitive state (now a Union Territory) and it is wrong to allow the sentiments of the people to be against the country," he said.

On Muslim reservation, Pawar said Minority Affairs Minister Nawab Malik had highlighted the NCP stand on the issue and the party stood by it.

Asked about the need for an SIT probe into the Koregaon-Bhima violence, Pawar said, "I am not aware if the government will form the SIT. But our demand stays."

Asked about the upcoming Rajya Sabha polls, he said the NCP has not yet fielded a second candidate so there is no question of withdrawing.

Pawar, a sitting Rajya Sabha MP, on Wednesday filed his nomination papers here for the March 26 election to the Upper House of Parliament.

"The three alliance partners (Sena-NCP-Congress) will sit together today or tomorrow morning and take a final decision. The second candidate will file papers tomorrow," Pawar said.

Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, his deputy Ajit Pawar, NCP ministers, Congress leaders Balasaheb thorat and Ashok Chavan, were prominent among those present when Pawar filed his nomination.

Nineteen rebel Congress MLAs, including six ministers, are camping in Bengaluru, while three others (Bisahulal Singh, Aidal Singh Kansana and Manoj Choudhary) are in other places.

All of them have resigned from the assembly in support of Scindia, pushing the Nath government in deep crisis.
There is a long-standing critique of the Democratic Partyof both its leaders and its votersthat says it has been self-destructively obsessed with the goal of installing a savior figure in the presidency. This obsession, the theory goes, comes at the expense not just of winning congressional and statewide legislative races but of keeping voters usefully engaged during the time between elections. (Think of the power that highly motivated NRA members exert over members of Congress, despite usually holding what public opinion polls say are minority positions on gun legislation.) In 2008, Barack Obamaa messianic figure if there ever was one!won 69 million votes nationally; in the 2010 midterms, Democratic House candidates received fewer than 40 million. The party lost nearly 1,000 state legislative seats during Obamas term, the campaign mailing list that could have been deployed to create grassroots pressure on moderates during Affordable Care Act negotiations was ignored, etc. As one of the individuals running for the chairmanship of the Democratic National Committee in 2017 put it, Dems have a habit of treating the presidency like its the only office that matters. (That individualPete Buttigiegannounced his campaign for president less than two years later.)

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Donald Trumps election did a great deal to change this perspective. The Womens March and the travel ban protests spawned activist groups and inspired many Dems to run for office for the first timeoften successfully. (There were 60 million votes for Democratic House candidates in the 2018 midterms.) But the savior complex around the presidency persisted in the shooting-star candidacies of young, Obama-lite figures such as Beto ORourke and Buttigieg; in the speculation about landslide-triggering runs by liberal superstars like Michelle Obama and Oprah Winfrey; and even, as Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said Tuesday night, the idea that Bernie Sanders could beat Trump with a popular wave of first-time voters.

Well, Joe Biden has effectively sealed his status as the presumptive Democratic nominee for president, and no one is expecting or has expected him to save anything, including his own campaign.

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Choosing Biden was based entirely on a theory of necessity. His flaws are evident, which is why he finished fourth and fifth in Iowa and New Hampshire. Hes still capable of delivering inspiring rhetoric but talks over himself, makes errors, and even becomes agitated when required to get into details. Hes enthusiastic when talking about Obamas accomplishments, but presents almost no vision of what his own administrations achievements might look like. (During a recent rally in Detroit, the section of his speech about the tangible things hed use the presidency to do, once you subtract the parts about restoring Obama initiatives like participation in the Paris climate accords, was about as long as the one about childhood bullying under Trump.) But voters and party leaders were unable to settle on any of the many available non-Biden, nonBernie Sanders candidatestoo young, too female, too not an actual Democratand have decided Sanders himself is too risky despite widespread sympathy for his goals. So its Uncle Joe by a nose, thanks in part to the goodwill he built up under Obama and in part to all the other horses having died.

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The understanding that Biden cant get this done by himself was implicit in his surge. He got a crucial, late endorsement from South Carolina Rep. James Clyburn, who continued providing assistance Tuesday night by suggesting that the Democratic Party cancel any potential Sanders-Biden debates. He won Texas and a number of other Super Tuesday states after another wave of endorsementsmost prominently from Buttigieg, ORourke, and Amy Klobuchar, who all appeared with him at a lively election-eve rally in Dallas. At that rally, neither Buttigieg nor Klobuchar mentioned any part of Bidens platform. Instead they described his character, using words like decent, decency, empathy, and dignityportraying him as, in essence, an American Queen Elizabeth who will project our values gracefully as head of state.

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After that triumph, Biden didnt appear in public until Saturday. Tuesdays biggest primary was in Michigan, where Sanders held four rallies in the past week, giving speeches that lasted up to 45 minutes; the Vermont senator also spoke at large outdoor events in Chicago and St. Louis, appeared on three Sunday talk shows, and held a town hall event on Fox News. Biden, in total, held events in Detroit, Missouri, and Mississippi at which he spoke for 15 to 20 minutes. But he also added endorsements from Cory Booker, Kamala Harris, and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, and ended the day having widened his delegate lead over Sanders.

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The Biden 2020 campaign isnt about following its nominal leader, or even listening to him; its about the party pushing him over the line collectivelyand about making plans to give him the necessary support once hes in office, as Bookers endorsing statement alluded to in references to winning races up and down the ballot and thinking of a presidential victory as the floor rather than the ceiling of Democratic Party potential. Bidens sudden viability coincided with popular Democratic Montana Gov. Steve Bullocks announcement that, after fending off months of entreaties to enter his states Senate race, he will go ahead and attempt to flip the seat, while Arizona and Maine flip-aspirants Mark Kelly and Sara Gideon have also expressed a preference for running down ballot of Biden rather than Sanders. Progressives eulogizing Elizabeth Warrens presidential campaign have emphasized the prominent role that she can still play, going forward, in the Senate.

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On Monday, Axios published a list of figures, compiled via Biden confidants, that hes said to be considering for Cabinet positions. The list made no sense ideologicallyWarren and JP Morgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon are both under consideration to run Treasury, apparently, while both Warren and the avowedly moderate Amy Klobuchar are in the mix for vice presidentbut made a lot of sense as a signal that the prospective nominees camp knows hell be judged by the helping hands he surrounds himself with, and that hell need to maintain a connection to all the partys factions, if he reaches the Oval Office. Its not him, in other wordsits us.

For more on Joe Bidens run, listen to What Next.
Russian President Vladimir Putin promised support in creating the most favorable working conditions at a meeting with investors on Wednesday, TASS reports.

"For my part, I can once again say that we will do everything in order to create the conditions for your work, despite all the difficulties that we face," the president said.

Putin said that he considers the upcoming conversation particularly useful, given the turbulent economic environment in recent days.

"Our meeting with you was planned before, so to speak, various turbulent processes began in the energy markets, and after them in the stock and foreign exchange markets. The more useful, it seems to me, the more interesting our today's conversation will be," he said.

Putin expects the Russian economy to survive turbulence and grow stronger.

"Im sure that Russia will go through this turbulent period with dignity, calmness, moreover, well talk about it now, I think you will support me, there is every chance that the key sectors of the Russian Federations production will come out of this situation much stronger and ready for further serious competition, "he said.
Appointment

11 March 2020

Hani Akkari has been appointed General Manager of one of Doha's fastest growing hotels, Alwadi Hotel MGallery Collection locate in Msheireb Downtown Doha. With a hotel career spanning Europe and the Middle East, Akkari comes to Alwadi Hotel with more than 15 years' experience at some of the world's most recognized luxury properties.

Mr. Akkari started his career in 2007 gaining valuable experience in France at Four Seasons Luxury Hotels and Resorts - Cote D'Azur- France, followed by Hilton Arc De Triomphe - Paris, France in a managerial role. His career took him to join the pre-opening team at Sofitel Abu Dhabi Corniche, UAE, where he was promoted to Director of Rooms Division, overseeing every aspect from operations to financing, ensuring and exceeding every guest's expectations by providing an unparalleled experience.

An ACCOR veteran, he then transferred to Sofitel Al Khobar, KSA as Executive Assistant Manager and then moved to Alwadi Hotel MGallery Collection - Doha, Qatar where he led the pre-opening team as Director of Operations into a successful opening and transitioned to Acting General Manager.

Mr. Akkari holds a European Bachelor in Hotel Management at EcoleHoteliere de la Rochelle - France and Master Certificate in Hospitality Management - Focus on Hotel Revenue and Financial Management at Cornell University.
Australians can claim a Centrelink sickness allowance payment if they contract the coronavirus - but only if they apply within the next nine days.

The allowance is geared towards those who are temporarily unable to work because of a medical condition but is scheduled to expire on March 20.

Australia's minister for social services confirmed those who had contracted the COVID-19 virus were eligible if they did not have paid sick leave with their employer.

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People wait in line in front of the Royal Melbourne Hospital to be tested for the coronavirus on Tuesday. Australians can claim a Centrelink sickness allowance payment if they contract the virus - but only for the next nine days

In nine days though most Australians who receive the payments will transfer onto the JobSeeker allowance, which the government says will streamline the welfare claim process.

Other allowances being ended are the Newstart Allowance, Wife Pension, Bereavement Allowance and the Widow B Pension.

The JobSeeker payments require more obligations to be met by some applicants though to be eligible.

In just over a week most Australians who receive the payments will transfer onto the JobSeeker allowance, which the government says will streamline the welfare claim process but critics say will make it harder for people with coronavirus to claim

Minister for social services Anne Ruston (left) said those forced into isolation because of the coronavirus would be granted an exemption from the increased obligations of the new payments

As confusion grows over the effect of the administrative change on coronavirus sufferers, minister for social services Anne Ruston said those forced into isolation would be granted an exemption from the obligations.

CORONAVIRUS CASES IN AUSTRALIA: 27,244 Victoria: 20,269 New South Wales: 4,273 Queensland: 1,161 Western Australia: 692 South Australia: 473 Tasmania: 230 Australian Capital Territory: 113 Northern Territory: 33 TOTAL CASES: 27,244 ESTIMATED ACTIVE CASES: 269 DEATHS: 897 Updated: 5.31 PM, 11 October, 2020 Source: Australian Government Department of Health Advertisement

She said those in isolation could ask Services Australia, the government department who deliver welfare payments, for what is called a Major Personal Crisis Exemption.

That would mean they don't need to provide a medical certificate and would give them a 14-day grace period from meeting the obligations.

'People who are unable to work due to COVID-19, who would have qualified for Sickness Allowance will be able to qualify for JobSeeker Payment under the same rules and at the same rate of payment,' she told 10Daily.

The Australian Unemployed Workers Union has hit out at the government though over the changes, telling 10 Daily information about the exemptions was not readily available.

'Its staggering that they havent made this advice public, put it on their website, sent messages to income support recipients. It shows a real lack of regard and care for some of the most vulnerable people in our community,' the union said.

Western Australian Greens senator Rachel Siewert said she feared some who were sick with the virus would be unable to navigate the process, particularly older Australians.
She threw her eldest son Brooklyn an epic '100,000' 21st birthday party to remember at the family's Cotswolds home over the weeks.

But it was back to reality for Victoria Beckham as she ran errands in west London on Wednesday.

The fashion designer, 45, was more 'Sporty' than 'Posh' by slipping into form-fitting black workout gear from her Reebok collaboration as she parked her 150,000 Mercedes 4x4 G Wagon outside her home.

Out and about: Victoria Beckham stepped out in form-fitting gear as she ran errands in London after Brooklyn's epic '100,000' 21st birthday bash

Switch-up: Victoria was more 'Sporty' than 'Posh' by slipping into form-fitting black workout gear from her Reebok collaboration as she parked her 150,000 Mercedes 4x4 G Wagon

The mother-of-four teamed her leggings and sweater with a pair of bold neon yellow sneakers, while sheltering her eyes with a pair of dark shades.

The collar of her top had the word 'Reebok' emblazoned around the neckline and she wore her brunette locks down and in a relaxed style.

She looked deep in thought as she headed back to her car following her outing.

Putting her best foot forward: She looked deep in thought as she stepped out of her car in her neon yellow trainers

On her way: The mother-of-four teamed her leggings and sweater with a pair of bold neon yellow sneakers, while sheltering her eyes with a pair of dark shades

Hair today: She wore her brunette locks down and in a relaxed style for her low-key look

It's been a busy week for the Beckham family as far as birthdays are concerned and the night before, Victoria celebrated her mother Jackie Adams's birthday.

The fashion designer and her sister Louise treated their supportive mum to a gourmet lunch at upmarket London venue Harry's Bar.

Joined by their dad Tony, the family posed for a picture to commemorate the special day.

Glam: Posh looked naturally beautiful as she stepped out into the street

No wonder she's wearing shades: It's been a busy week for the Beckham family as far as birthdays are concerned and the night before, Victoria celebrated her mother Jackie Adams's birthday

Love is all you need: 'I hope you have the most perfect day xx kisses @jackie.adams_ @louisesadams xxxx', she captioned the snap

Let me take a selfie: Victoria posed for a pouty selfie as she shared her latest Victoria Beckham Beauty offering on Instagram

Victoria wrote: 'Happy birthday to the most amazing mum and best friend x We all love you more than you could could ever know xxx.'

'I hope you have the most perfect day xx kisses @jackie.adams_ @louisesadams xxxx', she captioned the snap.

Victoria also offered her 28million followers an sneak peek at the food they ate, including the 'poshest avocado'.

The foursome tucked into sugary coffees following the main course and snacked on chocolate covered beans and sour sweets.

Happy birthday! Brooklyn partied with his close friends at his 6 million Cotswolds home during his 21st birthday bash, said to be worth 100,000 (pictured with rapper Stormzy)

Family festivities: Victoria celebrated her mother Jackie Adams' birthday in style on Tuesday, treating her to lunch at Harry's Bar
Richard Bondurant at his company, R. F. Bondurant Plumbing and Heating in Media, is one of dozens of victims of payroll processor Myles Hannigan, who stole $3.4 million in intended tax payments from small-business clients. Read more

Richard Bondurant built his small heating and plumbing repair business in Media guided by a few simple principles: Keep your word, do right by your employees, and always pay your debts on time. That served him well for 35 years.

Then, the IRS came calling.

In 2015, Bondurant discovered that the firm he hired to handle his companys payroll taxes  Delaware County-based Payroll Professionals Inc.  had failed to make payments for years. Although the money had been regularly drawn from his accounts, federal tax collectors now insisted he owed more than $200,000 in unpaid taxes, interest, and penalties. They demanded he pay up at once.

I didnt understand, said Bondurant, 64. I already paid the money. I did everything I was supposed to do.

And he wasnt alone. In what one federal prosecutor described as one of the most extreme abuses of trust he has seen, Payroll Professionals Inc. and its owner, Myles Hannigan, stole from dozens of small businesses, nonprofits, and corporations across the Philadelphia region between 2009 and 2015, leaving them stuck with millions of dollars in sudden tax debts quietly amassed over years.

The victims range from a Philadelphia animal shelter, a food bank in Chester, a suburban Roman Catholic parish, and Mural Arts Philadelphia to scores of small, family-run businesses whose owners are all now struggling to survive the devastating financial consequences.

Some, like Bondurant, have had to postpone retirement. Others have laid off employees or shuttered their firms. And still more have dipped into personal finances to pay off their crippling debts. The financial black hole grew so overwhelming for West Chester insurance broker Albert Tegler Jr., according to his family, that the 77-year-old suffered a stroke and eventually died.

Im not the same person I was before all this, said Kevin McFadden, the owner-operator of a Glenolden construction company. I spend all my time with lawyers and accountants. ... I just feel helpless.

But as much as they consider themselves victims of Hannigan, Bondurant, and the others now say they are being victimized again  by an unforgiving IRS and lawmakers in Washington who have repeatedly watched as crimes like Hannigans occurred without enacting reforms that might have prevented them.

Hannigan is serving a four-year sentence after pleading guilty to tax fraud and other charges. But affected business owners say theyll be dealing with the fallout long after his release.

Hes [in] jail, Bondurant said. But were still trapped in prison.

Playing a shell game

The multibillion-dollar third-party payroll processing industry owes its existence to the thousands of business owners nationwide who dont have time, staffing, or interest in calculating and paying the necessary federal, state, and local tax withholdings on their employees earnings.

Millions of American workers receive paychecks cut through these independent contractors. And when working as they should, payroll processors free up companies to focus on more central aspects of their businesses.

The IRS makes clear on its website that in the event of a default, employers remain liable for unpaid taxes. Still, it was his clients desire to outsource those aspects of their businesses that allowed Hannigan, 48, of Newtown Square, to perpetrate his crimes for so long.

The first public signs of trouble emerged in 2015, when Aston Township, which had contracted with Payroll Professionals Inc. for nearly a decade, sued Hannigan over a nearly $300,000 delinquency notice it received from the IRS. The suit was dropped as Hannigan, chalking it up to a mistake, quickly repaid the debt.

But only Hannigan knew at the time that the money had come from the tax withholdings of another client Mardinly Enterprises, an engine repair and maintenance company, that employs about 50 workers in Broomall.

The companys owner, David Mardinly, began receiving delinquency notices from state and federal taxing authorities shortly after. And just as he had done with Aston, Hannigan dismissed it as a temporary oversight and promised to promptly resolve the issue.

But this time the tax collectors kept coming. Mardinly reported Hannigan to the IRS.

Only after an investigation that took years did the scope of Hannigans crimes and the number of victims become clear.

He had basically been playing a shell game for years, Mardinly said. He was running a Ponzi scheme.

Taking advantage of loopholes within the IRSs payment system, Hannigan routinely stole from one client to pay the tax obligations of another. To avoid detection, he would change addresses on file with the IRS so that delinquency notices came to his offices in Media instead of to the businesses that were on the hook for the debts. He forged power of attorney letters, giving him greater control over his clients money.

And, exploiting a feature of the IRS system designed to allow payroll processors to easily correct their own mistakes, Hannigan would routinely deposit money into clients IRS accounts, making it appear as if their bills had been paid  only to take it back out again.

Federal prosecutors stopped counting by the time they had tallied nearly $3.3 million in losses and 35 victims, saying it was enough to charge Hannigan.

But those crimes, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Bologna wrote in court filings, cannot be measured solely by numbers and can only be understood through the tremendous price paid by his victims. Nowhere was that sentiment more clear than at Hannigans sentencing hearing last month.

A venting of outrage

Dozens of business owners packed U.S. District Judge Chad F. Kenneys sixth-floor courtroom in Center City to vent their outrage over the damage Hannigan had done to their companies and their careers.

Sister Sandra Lyons, director of the Bernardine Center food pantry in Chester, told the court she could have provided more than 412 meals to low-income individuals  some 8,000 pounds of food  with the $13,281 tax obligation Hannigan left her owing.

At St. John Fisher Catholic parish in Upper Chichester, parishioners filled the collection plate to cover their churchs $60,000 debts, its lawyer Nelson J. Sack said.

Others, like Bob Gress, who runs a heating and air-conditioning repair company in West Chester, wrote letters to the judge. Gress had been friends with Hannigan since high school. Theyd served in each others wedding parties and vacationed together with their families.

Their bond didnt stop Hannigan from ripping him off, too. He left Gress with an outstanding $750,000 tax bill.

I was a trusting person by nature," Gress said. "Myles has ruined that for life.

But it was the children of Albert Tegler  the West Chester insurance broker who died earlier this year under the strain of his debts  who elicited tears in the gallery.

It was all too much for him, said Teglers son Tom. The stress caused his heart to explode." Then, turning to Hannigan, he added: "I want you to carry that with you.

For his part, Hannigan blamed his alcohol addiction and turned to the crowd to apologize shortly before he was escorted off to prison.

I dont have a defense for what I did to all of you, he said. But I will work as hard as I can, to do as much as I can, to make every person in this room whole.

Few are holding their breath. Normally, federal authorities might move to liquidate ill-gotten assets of a defendant like Hannigan and use the money to fulfill the $3.2 million he has been ordered to pay back to his victims.

But prosecutors say they havent been able to figure out what Hannigan did with any of the missing funds. Although he lives in a 5,500-square-foot, $971,000 home in Newtown Square and sends his children to private school, he claims he is now nearly destitute, and he was represented in court by a public defender.

Meanwhile, the same government that paid for Hannigans lawyer continues to come for his victims.

This cant be the way this runs

A spokesperson for the IRS declined to discuss efforts to collect from Hannigans victims, saying the agency was barred from discussing individual taxpayer accounts.

But in interviews with The Inquirer, dozens maintained they had been treated hostilely and repeatedly given wrong information by tax collectors about how much they will have to pay and how to resolve their debts.

Although most victims praised the IRSs law enforcement wing for putting Hannigan behind bars, the agencys collections arm is a separate division, and even sympathetic federal investigators and prosecutors have been unable to do much to alleviate the victims plight.

Some say they were instructed during the investigation not to fire Hannigan so agents could continue collecting evidence against him  a holding pattern that went on for years as their tax debts, interest, and penalties grew.

They watched all this time as 100 different businesses got defrauded and interest was adding up, said Bondurant, owner of the Media heating and plumbing repair firm. This case was a money-maker for the IRS.

Madeline and David Butler, who run a Yeadon-based event production company, reject an accusation they say was lobbed at them by one tax collector, who despite Hannigans crimes suggested they should have kept better watch on what he was doing with their money.

They sat in Hannigans office on the phone with the IRS after receiving their first delinquency notice in 2015 and watched to make sure he moved money into their companys tax account to satisfy their debts.

Before hanging up, they confirmed with the IRS that they were no longer in arrears. Only later, after receiving more orders for payment of back taxes, did they discover that Hannigan had pulled the funds right back out again moments after they left.

We werent just trusting Myles with this, Madeline Butler said. We asked the IRS to assure us that everything was OK. Now, somehow, this is our fault? This cant be the way this runs.

But if dozens of payroll processing fraud cases similar to Hannigans that have emerged in recent years prove anything, it is far from uncommon. Many used the same techniques as Hannigan to avoid detection.

And although bills have been put forth in Washington and more than a dozen states, including Pennsylvania, calling for further regulations like licensing or bonding for third-party payroll processors, nearly all have failed.

Bill Dunn, director of government relations for the American Payroll Association, said hes sympathetic to the victims of such payroll processor frauds. But his organization is opposed to onerous new requirements on an industry primarily made up of honest business owners.

The industry is already regulated, he said. Third-party payroll processors are federally required to register with the IRS and undergo background checks. "This isnt the Wild West.

Dunn pointed to Maine, the only state that requires all third-party payroll processors to be bonded, ensuring that if they default, their victims debts will be covered. The law has prompted several payroll processors to shut down or leave the state, Dunn said, and forced regulators to lower the bond requirements.

Most of these are not large companies; theyre small businesses, Dunn said. We dont want the cost so high that payroll providers cant afford to stay in business.

But Gress, the West Chester heating and air-conditioning repairman, wonders where that leaves him. Hes a small business owner, too  facing a $750,000 tax debt that he thought he already had paid.

This isnt the first time this has happened, he said. And unless the IRS or the government changes things, it wont be the last.
EVANSTON, Ill. and BEER-SHEVA, Israel -- Northwestern University and BGN Technologies, the technology transfer company of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU), announced today the initiation of a U.S.-Israel consortium led by both universities for the development of new technologies to solve global water challenges.

The multi-institutional, international program, called the Collaborative Water-Energy Research Center (CoWERC), has a total budget of $21.4 million, including a $9.2 million grant over 5 years from the U.S. Department of Energy and Israel's Ministry of Energy together with the Israel Innovation Authority. CoWERC is part of the U.S.-Israel Energy Center program administered by the U.S.-Israel Binational Industrial Research and Development (BIRD) Foundation.

Working at the intersection of water and energy, the team will research, develop and commercialize technology in three areas: energy-efficient enhanced water supply, wastewater reuse and resource recovery, and energy-water systems. All CoWERC projects are binational and include university, national laboratory and industrial partners. Technology development efforts will culminate in pilot testing at water and wastewater facilities in both Israel and the U.S. After being validated, the new technologies could potentially be implemented around the world.

"Water and energy are inextricably linked: water purification and distribution are primary uses of energy, while water is essential for energy production," said Aaron Packman, professor of civil and environmental engineering in McCormick School of Engineering and director of Northwestern's Center for Water Research. "CoWERC will enable us to develop new technologies that will reduce the energy needed for desalination, improve recovery of water and energy, and support safe water reuse."

"We are excited to launch together with our partners this very unique water-energy binational initiative," said Amit Gross, professor of environmental and water sciences at the Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research and director of the Zuckerberg Institute for Water Research (ZIWR) at BGU.

"Interestingly, urban wastewater contains more energy than the amount needed for its purification," said Moshe Herzberg, professor of environmental engineering at ZIWR. "Our aim is to recover this energy, along with nutrients, and reuse the treated water."

Professors Packman and Herzberg co-direct CoWERC.

The highly collaborative consortium includes partners from leading research institutions, water utilities and private companies. Led by Northwestern University, the U.S. team includes Argonne National Laboratory, Yale University, DuPont Water Solutions, Evoqua Water Technologies, Hampton Roads Sanitation District (HRSD), Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, CycloPure and Current. Led by Ben-Gurion University, the Israeli team includes the Technion Israel Institute of Technology, Mekorot-Israel National Water Company, Fluence Corporation and the Galilee Society.

###
The Bucks County Health Department on Tuesday night announced the countys first two presumed positive cases of the coronavirus known as COVID-19.

The additional cases bring the total of presumptive positive cases in Pennsylvania to 14. None had been reported in the Lehigh Valley as of 11 p.m. Tuesday, although St. Lukes University Health Networks section chief of infectious diseases told lehighvalleylive.com earlier in the day that he thinks its inevitable that the COVID-19 will eventually turn up in the region.

The other Pennsylvania cases include one just to the north of the Lehigh Valley in Monroe County, eight in Montgomery County and one each from Delaware, Philadelphia and Wayne counties. No one has died, although one adult from Montgomery County is reported to be hospitalized in critical condition, the Bucks County Health Department notes in a statement.

Both Bucks cases involve adults living in the same home; they had attended an out-of-state gathering where they came into contact with two other people who later tested presumptively positive for coronavirus, the statement says. Both are in isolation at their home with mild symptoms, it says.

Getting a case here in Bucks County was simply a matter of time, Dr. David Damsker, director of the Bucks County Health Department, says in the statement. Given that the vast majority of those infected, including our two cases, will have mild symptoms, I want to continue to stress that we remain calm, while taking the virus seriously.

Damsker says its significant that neither case is the result of community spread, meaning that the two adults contracted the virus through contact with an infected individual while out of state, rather than from an unidentified source within Bucks County.

Nick Falsone may be reached at nfalsone@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @nickfalsone. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
We have assembled a cross-functional team, including clinical, administrative and operational leaders. This team meets daily and reviews the systems, supplies, people, and communication aspects to inform our readiness, planning and activities, the statement reads. We continue to work diligently to provide all of our patients, visitors, staff and the communities we serve with safe and effective care.
Every attempt to raise environmental taxes and fees encounters opposition from the public because they don't know how the money is spent.

The common principle of all types of environmental taxes is polluters have to pay to cover the expenses spent to improve pollution situation. However, many people still find it difficult to understand the differences and efficiency of each type of tax.





While the environmental protection tax is indirect tax targeting the products that cause adverse effects to the environment (users have to pay this tax), the environmental protection fee is a direct charge imposed on polluting sources in production (producers have to pay this tax).

The common principle of all types of environmental taxes is polluters have to pay to cover the expenses spent to improve pollution situation. However, many people still find it difficult to understand the differences and efficiency of each type of tax.

The purposes of the environmental protection tax are creating sources of revenue for the state budget and restricting the use of polluting goods.

Under the Environmental Protection Tax, there are eight items subject to the tax, including oil, petrol and lubricants; coal; HCFC solution; plastic bags; and 4 types of drugs that are of restricted use, including herbicides, termiticides, forest preservatives and warehouse disinfectants.



Meanwhile, environmental protection fees aim to create revenues to cover the costs of environment management, protection and investment and to prevent polluters from discharging treatable pollutants into the environment.



There are currently three types of environment protection fees applied to wastewater, solid waste and mining activities.



The National Assemblys annual budget spending estimates and Ministry of Finances reports in 2012-2016 showed that roughly VND26.3 trillion is spent a year on environmental protection tasks. The figure is higher than the revenue from environmental protection tax of VND21.2 trillion.



However, analysts said the spending is unreasonable and ineffective, while little money has been invested in large high-technology projects.



Meanwhile, environmental protection fees are not a big source of revenue. Over VND2.1 trillion worth of environment protection fees from wastewater was collected in 2017.



Local authorities complained that the revenue was not high enough to cover the expenses of building and maintaining sluices for wastewater drainage alone, not to mention wastewater treatment.



Experts pointed out a big problem in spending money: the environmental protection fee from wastewater may not be used to fix water pollution problems, but it may be used for soil, solid waste or air pollution.



Hoang Duong Tung, former Deputy General Director of the Environment Directorate General, said the regulations need to be stricter to be sure that revenue from fees can be used for the right purposes.



The Ministry of Finance is drafting an e amended decree on collecting environmental protection fee from emissions. Some groups of lobbyists for clean air have proposed settng up a regulation that at least 70 percent of collections from the fee will be used directly for works to minimize air pollution.

Thien Nhien

Da Nang to host ASEAN environmental meetings The 21st Meeting of the ASEAN Working Group on Coastal and Marine Environment (AWGCME) is slated to take place from May 13-15 in the central city of Da Nang, according to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.
Expressing concerns after five persons have been diagnosed with COVID-19 in Pune, Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday said the state government should adopt a proactive approach to tackle the spread of coronavirus.

"Proactive work is required. If the government takes some decision we will support them. The decision must be taken after considering experts. At the same time, it is necessary that people do not panic about the situation. Precautions and care should be taken whenever required," Fadnavis told media here.

Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope informed that five persons have been tested positive for coronavirus in Pune so far and 40 people who returned from Dubai have been screened for the deadly disease.

On Tuesday, Sanjeeva Kumar, Special Secretary (Health) said the total number of positive cases of coronavirus reached 50 and of these 34 are Indian nationals and 16 are citizens of Italy.

He also said that there has been no death in the country due to coronavirus so far.

"The government is keeping a close watch and taking effective steps to contain the spread of coronavirus," Kumar had said at a press conference here.

He also informed that Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan has spoken to the health ministers of Kerala, Rajasthan, Delhi, Haryana, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Karnataka and Maharashtra and Lieutenant Governors of Union Territories of Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir to ascertain the status of health of patients and to offer help from Centre if required.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Prince Hilliard Eta, the national vice-chairman(South-South) of the ruling All Progressive Congress(APC) has stated that Adams Oshiomhole is in his current predicament because his adversaries intend to remove him from power to weaken the Party against 2023 elections.

Speaking with newsmen in Abuja, Eta further called on party members to pacify the trouble makers of the party.

We should be mindful of the consequences of our actions because they are distracting our President who is settling down after he won his second term to provide the dividends of democracy to Nigerians.

Read Also: APC May Lose Forthcoming Election If Oshiomhole Remains National Chairman

I happen to know that there is this move by some of these people to weaken the party and get some people out so they can form another political group to challenge the party in 2023. But, that can be done without heating up the polity the way they are doing now.

Those who love this party must call the troublemakers to order, whatever happens to this party between now and 2023 will affect the democratic fabrics of this country. So, we must be mindful of not just the corporate health of APC but that of the entire Nigerians.
Six senior leaders of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) which is headed by former Andhra Pradesh chief minister Chandrababu Naidu, have quit right before the local body elections dealing the party a big blow.

Four of the six leaders who quit TDP in the last 48 hours have joined rival YSR Congress party led by current chief minister Jagan Mohan Reddy.

Former minister P Ramasubba Reddy, a TDP leader for the last two decades, resigned and joined YSRC in Jagans presence on Wednesday.

Reddy, who lost the assembly elections from Jammalamadugu seat in Kadapa district said he quit since the TDP had lost peoples confidence.

Nobody believes in the TDP and its president N Chandrababu Naidu now. It was evident from the way YSRC swept the last assembly elections. The TDP has not been able to find candidates to contest even the assembly elections, he said.

Describing Jagan as a dynamic leader, the former minister said he was joining the YSRC unconditionally and would take up whatever responsibility he would be entrusted with in the party.

Another senior leader from the same district S V Satish Reddy, who was the deputy chairman in the state legislative council, also resigned saying that there was no recognition for him in the TDP.

Satish Reddy, who had contested against late Y S Rajasekhar Reddy and later also against his son Jagan Mohan Reddy, said despite his loyalty and efforts to sustain TDP in the YSRC bastion, he wasnt trusted and recognised.

Former lawmaker from Visakhapatnam Panchakarla Ramesh Babu also quit the TDP stating his unhappiness with the high command.

He accused Naidu and his son Nara Lokesh for allegedly ruining the party and slammed TDPs opposition to turning Visakhapatnam into states executive capital as proposed by the Jagan government.

Babu, however, did not specify if he would join the YSRC.

Former minister and TDPs MLA in the legislative council, Dokka Manikya Varaprasada Rao from Tadikonda in Guntur district quit the party and joined the YSR Congress party on Tuesday.

Similarly, former MLA from Kanigiri assembly constituency in Prakasam district, Kadiri Babu Rao, who had been with the TDP since its inception in 1982 and a close follower of senior actor and TDP lawmaker Nandamuri Balakrishna, also resigned from the party stating the TDP had no future in the state.

He, too, joined the YSRC in the presence of Jagan on Tuesday.

Reacting to the resignations, TDP official spokesman Varla Ramaiah said the party had nothing to lose with the defection of leaders into the YSRC. We are capable of grooming new leaders for the party, he said.

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Undocumented foreigners, mostly Chinese, wait for the paperwork required to leave Korea, outside the Jeju Immigration Office on Jeju Island, March 3. Yonhap



By Jung Min-ho



Nearly 1,500 undocumented Chinese have fled the Korean island of Jeju in the past six weeks amid coronavirus fears.



According to the Jeju Immigration Office Tuesday, 1,492 Chinese nationals without valid visas had applied to leave the island between Feb. 1 and March 8.



But so far, only 818 have returned because most airlines had suspended services there. The rest are now waiting for their turn after Spring Airlines, a Chinese budget carrier, decided to resume services temporarily to take them back this week.



"My husband and I decided to return to China because it would be safer there," a Chinese woman, 38, was quoted as saying by Newsis, a local news agency. "We are ready to leave Korea for good."



Since emerging in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December, COVID-19 has spread around the world. Korea is among the worst-affected countries, with more than 7,700 confirmed cases and 61 deaths, as of Wednesday morning.



Fears have grown rapidly, especially on Jeju that has the biggest cluster of undocumented foreigners, who have limited access to information and government support. So far, four people have contracted the virus on the island.



After media reports about many undocumented foreigners fleeing Korea in fear of the virus, some Koreans took issue with the government's recent policy, which allows them to reenter Korea if they leave by June, urging authorities to prevent them from taking advantage of it.



A petition against the policy on the Cheong Wa Dae website has gathered 5,200 signatures in the past six days.



"They were busy making money (before the outbreak) and now they are fleeing because of the disease  The policy should be scrapped," the petitioner wrote.



According to the Ministry of Justice, about 14,000 undocumented foreigners, mostly Chinese, live on Jeju  an island with a population of 670,000.


*Editor's Note: Gamut Classic Theatre announced March 12 that it is canceling its shows, including "An Enemy of the People," due to coronavirus concerns.

Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen wrote An Enemy of the People in 1882, mainly as a response to public outcry over his previous play, Ghosts, which drew scorn from some for its perceived attacks on the hypocrisy of 19th century morality.

Gamut Classic Theatre is currently staging a production of An Enemy of the People, as adapted in 1950 by the great American playwright Arthur Miller (The Crucible, Death of a Salesman). A battle between brothers over the potential health risks of a small fishing villages renowned spa remains at the center of the show, but Miller has played down or eliminated some of the originals hard edges, particularly discussions about eugenics.

The play, which focuses on the cost of what today is known as speaking truth to power, poses a question that still resonates: Without power, what good is the truth?

An Enemy of the People follows efforts of a doctor to make public the fact that the spa water is contaminated and may pose a threat to users. But the spa is a major economic draw for the small town, and the doctors brother, who is mayor, tries his best to keep the information from being released.

Most of the town takes the mayors side, and the doctors life is soon disintegrating.

An Enemy of the People still has punch: In 2018, the Chinese government canceled a touring production of the An Enemy of the People over its anti-government themes.

Gamuts show, which is directed by F.L. Henley Jr. and stars Clark Nicholson and Mark Lubbers, is on stage through Sunday.

Broadway origins

For many people, Barefoot in the Park is an endearing romantic comedy from 1967 starring two fresh-faced young actors named Jane Fonda and Robert Redford.

But it has a backstory from Broadway, where the late playwright Neil Simons longest-running hit was on stage at the Biltmore for 1,530 performances. A production of Simons original work is scheduled to open at Oyster Mill Playhouse on March 20.

The plot is nothing special: newlywed couple Corie and Paul Bratter adjust to married life in a leaky New York City apartment. Hes a little uptight about the future, while shes a free spirit who thinks he just needs to loosen up by running barefoot in the park.

But Simons second play, which made its debut in 1963, amply demonstrates the deft comic timing that would come to distinguish his many subsequent works, ranging from The Odd Couple to Biloxi Blues.

Oyster Mills production, directed by Michael Hosler, features Samantha Speraw and Josh Lebo as the Bratters, while Anne Marino plays Cories loopy mother. The show will run through April 5.

Farce

Chambersburg Community Theatre kicks back into action with Nanas Naughty Knickers, a ribald comedy about sexy lingerie for the senior set.

Written in 2010 by Katherine DiSavino, Nanas Naughty Knickers is an often-ridiculous farce about an 80-something grandmother named Sylvia whos planning to augment her income with an online business selling Saucy Slips to elderly women. Her visiting granddaughter Bridget is horrified when she learns of this, fearing her Nanas illegal boutique might get her arrested, evicted or both.

The farcical elements kick into high gear when deliveries of extremely revealing outfits start showing up just as Bridget is attempting to shut things down. Audiences are likely to find themselves in, well, stitches, as elderly models prepare for a fashion show.

CCTs production, directed by Tom Amick, features Vicki Gontz as Sylvia and Alaina Wheelis as Bridget. Bonnee Wendle has the delicious part of Vera, Sylvias friend/accomplice, who is prepared to model the skimpiest of negligees despite two hearing aids and a walker.

Nanas Naughty Knickers will be on stage at Capitol Theatre for two weekends, March 20-22 and March 27-29.

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By West Kentucky Star Staff

Mar. 07, 2020 | PADUCAH

By West Kentucky Star Staff Mar. 07, 2020 | 02:52 PM | PADUCAH

The City of Paducah, Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce, and Greater Paducah Economic Development are partnering to provide a free seminar for the public to learn about Opportunity Zones in Kentucky, including two in Paducah.



The public is invited for the free event Wednesday from 8:30 to 9:30 am at The Commerce Center, Paducah Bank Room, 300 South 3rd Street.



The Federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 led to the designation of two tracts in Paducah along the Ohio River as Opportunity Zones. An Opportunity Zone is an economic development tool that provides an incentive to investing in those tracts. Investors can see a deferral and reduction of capital gains taxes for investments.



Jason Rainey will provide an overview of Kentucky's Opportunity Zones and how the zones were selected, in addition to how the program benefits western Kentucky. Paducah Main Street Director Katie Axt will also provide information about Paducah's two zones and the Prospectus of Projects for Paducah.



Axt said, "Paducah is fortunate to have zones selected along the Ohio River in downtown Paducah, and the census tract just north of downtown. In the Prospectus of Projects for Paducah, you'll find a variety of potential residential, commercial, and mixed-use projects. There is a wide target audience for this seminar. I feel that accountants, attorneys, financial advisors, developers, the business community, and anyone with capital gains tax will find the presentation and discussion beneficial."






University of Illinois scientists, with help from members of the Illinois Corn Growers Association, have developed a new, scalable method for estimating crop productivity in real time. The research, published in Remote Sensing of Environment, combines field measurements, a unique in-field camera network, and high-resolution, high-frequency satellite data, providing highly accurate productivity estimates for crops across Illinois and beyond.

"Our ultimate goal is to provide useful information to farmers, especially at the field level or sub-field level. Previously, most available satellite data had coarse spatial and/or temporal resolution, but here we take advantage of new satellite products to estimate leaf area index (LAI), a proxy for crop productivity and grain yield. And we know the satellite estimates are accurate because our ground measurements agree," says Hyungsuk Kimm, a doctoral student in the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences (NRES) at U of I and lead author on the study.

Kimm and his colleagues used surface reflectance data, which measures light bouncing off the Earth, from two kinds of satellites to estimate LAI in agricultural fields. Both satellite datasets represent major improvements over older satellite technologies; they can "see" the Earth at a fine scale (3-meter or 30-meter resolution) and both return to the same spot above the planet on a daily basis. Since the satellites don't capture LAI directly, the research team developed two mathematical algorithms to convert surface reflectance into LAI.

While developing the algorithms to estimate LAI, Kimm worked with Illinois farmers to set up cameras in 36 corn fields across the state, providing continuous ground-level monitoring. The images from the cameras provided detailed ground information to refine the satellite-derived estimates of LAI.

The true test of the satellite estimates came from LAI data Kimm measured directly in the corn fields. Twice weekly during the 2017 growing season, he visited the fields with a specialized instrument and measured corn leaf area by hand.

In the end, the satellite LAI estimates from the two algorithms strongly agreed with Kimm's "ground-truth" data from the fields. This result means the algorithms delivered highly accurate, reliable LAI information from space, and can be used to estimate LAI in fields anywhere in the world in real time.

"We are the first to develop scalable, high-temporal, high-resolution LAI data for farmers to use. These methods have been fully validated using an unprecedented camera network for farmland," says Kaiyu Guan, assistant professor in the Department of NRES and Blue Waters professor at the National Center for Supercomputing Applications. He is also principal investigator on the study.

Having real-time LAI data could be instrumental for responsive management. For example, the satellite method could detect underperforming fields or segments of fields that could be corrected with targeted management practices such as nutrient management, pesticide application, or other strategies. Guan plans to make real-time data available to farmers in the near future.

"The new LAI technology developed by Dr. Guan's research team is an exciting advancement with potential to help farmers identify and respond to in-field problems faster and more effectively than ever before," says Laura Gentry, director of water quality research for the Illinois Corn Growers Association.

"More accurate measurements of LAI can help us to be more efficient, timely, and make decisions that will ultimately make us more profitable. The last few years have been especially difficult for farmers. We need technologies that help us allocate our limited time, money, and labor most wisely. Illinois Corn Growers Association is glad to partner with Dr. Guan's team, and our farmer members were happy to assist the researchers with access to their crops in validating the team's work. We're proud of the advancement this new technology represents and are excited to see how the Guan research team will use it to bring value directly to Illinois farmers," Gentry adds.
Colleges see themselves as natural hotbeds for viral transmission because they host large groups of people who live and work together for long periods.

The decision to move to virtual instruction was not made lightly, Lawrence S. Bacow, Harvards president, wrote in a letter to the university community, announcing that the school would begin online courses by March 23, after its spring recess.

Despite our best efforts to bring the universitys resources to bear on this virus, we are still faced with uncertainty  and the considerable unease brought on by uncertainty, Mr. Bacow wrote. It will take time for researchers, a good many of them who are our colleagues, to understand enough about this disease to mount a reliable defense against it.

The list of schools that have announced plans to cancel in-person classes has topped more than two dozen, and higher education officials expect more announcements throughout the week. Among other schools that have announced they will transition to remote instruction are Stanford, Columbia, Princeton, the University of Washington, New York University and Ohio State University. Some have said they will not reopen this semester.

It isnt an exaggeration to say that this is the biggest shock to the higher education system in a generation, said Ted Mitchell, the president of the American Council on Education, which represents presidents and administrators at more than 1,700 colleges, universities and related organizations.
The Madras High Court on Wednesday set aside a single judge's order which had held Puducherry Lt Governor Kiran Bedi cannot interfere in the day-to-day affairs of the elected government in the union territory.

It ruled that the Centre will take the final decision in matters referred by the Administrator (Bedi) in case of difference of opinion between her and the union territory government.

The court, however, cautioned that the Central government has to act within the limitations of the Constitution, subject to the laws made by the Parliament and follow the legislative intent and should not be disbalanced by executive misinterpretation.

First bench comprising Chief Justice A P Sahi and Justice Subramonium Prasad, which allowed appeals by the Centre and the Administrator (Bedi), also said it expects the elected government headed by the Chief Minister and the Lt Governor shall work in unison and not in division.

The order is the latest in a series of litigations over the alleged power tussle between Chief Minister V Narayanasamy and the Lt Governor.

The matter had even reached the Supreme Court last year which, however, asked the Centre to challenge the single judge's order before a division bench of the high court.

The bench said the role of the government and the Administrator in Puducherry were intertwined and the final decision to be made by the Central government under orders of the President if there be a difference of opinion in the event the Administrator makes a reference.

In his April 30, 2019 order Justice R Mahadevan had observed that the elected government functioning through a council of ministers could not be defeated by the acts of an administrator who is also functioning under the provisions of the Constitution.

He had passed the order on a petition by Congress MLA K Laksminarayanan challenging two communications issued in January and June, 2017 by the Union Home Ministry "elevating" the power of the administrator.

The legislator had cited instances of alleged interference in the day-to-day affairs by the Lt governor, forcing government officials to be in WhattsApp groups, interfering in financial matters, holding review meeting with officials, and thereby bypassing the elected government.

Challenging the order, the Union Home Secretary and the Puducherry Administrator filed the present appeal.

Allowing it, the bench in its 156-page order said: "We hold that the impugned judgment on the basis of parallel being drawn between a state and a Union Territory was not appropriate and the same cannot be achieved by a decree of Court of law, the reasoning being not far to see that under the Constitution it is only the Parliament which can by law grant such equal status."



The single judge, therefore, may have arrived at a conclusion on the basis of certain other parallels but that, in the court's opinion, were not sufficient to allow the writ petition in the terms it has been done, it said.

"We have no option, therefore, but to set aside the impugned judgment... but the same is subject to observations made herein above, with liberty to the Central Government to take appropriate steps in the event a reference is made to it by taking a concrete decision on the issues so raised on a reference being made under the 1963 Rules of Business read with the 1963 Act," the bench said.

The judgement elaborately discussed about the roles to be played by the Council of Minister of Puducherry, Chief Minister of Puducherry and the Union Government and the Administrator/ Lieutenant Governor and rules governing them.

The Central government through the Home Ministry under orders of the President exercises a referral role to umpire a decision in the event the Administrator makes a reference as per the 1963 Rules for its decision.

Such a decision should rest on a sound foundation based on objective material and a rational subjective satisfaction recording a firm opinion.

The court noted that the Union Territory of Puducherry and its legislature as well as its system of governance is distinct.

It therefore cannot be given an equivalent status that of a state through a judicial verdict given its present Constitutional and legal structure but it is still not a belonging but a pride of the nation and a native pride of the people of Puducherry amidst its diverse geographical locations, it said.

"We, therefore, expect that the popularly elected Government headed by the Chief Minister and the Administrator/Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry shall work in unison and not in division," the judges said.

This expectation had been more elaborately spelt out in paragraphs 284.2, 284.3 and 284.6 of the Constitution Bench judgment of the Supreme Court in the matter of State (NCT of Delhi) vs. Union of India and another, they added.

On the proposition of powers as entailed in the rules, the bench clarified that it was only residuary part as contained in Chapter IV which is within the domain of the Administrator.

Here, the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers may not be required, but at the same time the word discretion and the phrase special responsibilities do not belittle the role of the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers as contained in Chapter III of the said rules, it added.

On the Centre's order that the Administrator has powers to directly interact with the officers, the bench said: "It may be pointed out that the Administrator can call for papers that has to be complied with by the Secretary of the Department and certain classes of matters are to be submitted to the Administrator through the Chief Minister."



The purpose was that if the Administrator has any difference of opinion, the same can be referred to the Central government for the decision of the President.

The aid and advice of the Council of Ministers, therefore, was binding to the said extent that the Administrator cannot on his(her) own outright reject a proposal or direct the authorities to act otherwise, but can differ and refer the matter to the Centre, it added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A top U.S. commander has voiced his disappointment at the level of violence being used by the Taliban, claiming that attacks are higher than the February 29 peace deal allows, as the military begins to pull out of two Afghan bases.

Gen. Kenneth McKenzie, head of U.S. Central Command (CENTOM) and the top U.S. commander for the Middle East, revealed his skepticism Tuesday that the Taliban had the ability or the will to break ties with al Qaeda.

The United States signed an agreement with the Taliban on February 29 under which the end off all ties to the terrorist group responsible for the September 11 attacks was a main requirement.

The plan calls for a phased withdrawal of U.S.-led foreign forces if the Taliban keeps its commitments and for the start of talks between the insurgents and an Afghan government delegation on a political settlement to end decades of conflict.

Speaking to the House Armed Services Committee, however, McKenzie said that he would recommend against full withdrawal of American troops if Taliban attacks continued at the current levels of violence.

Hillary Clinton also criticized the deal on Tuesday claiming that it was rushing a peace that 'will not hold anyway'.

U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Kenneth McKenzie, commander of U.S. Central Command, claims he does not advise a full withdrawal from Afghanistan after recent Taliban attacks

Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton spoke on Tuesday at United Nations Headquarters on a panel about including women in the peace process in Afghanistan

Afghan men cry at a hospital after they heard that their relative was killed during an attack in Kabul, Afghanistan, on March 6. The attack was one of many that has concerned a top U.S. commander about the future of the United States' peace deal with the Taliban

US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad, pictured left, and Taliban co-founder Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, pictured right, shake hands during the signing ceremony of the US-Taliban peace agreement in Doha, Qatar, on February 29

U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Kenneth McKenzie, Jr., left, walks to a House Armed Services hearing Tuesday where he warned about recent Taliban violence

'That's something they're going to have to demonstrate that has not yet been demonstrated,' McKenzie said of the Taliban's promise to cut al Qaeda ties.

He added that there is a clause built into the agreement that will allow U.S. forces to remain in Afghanistan at sufficient levels to ensure al Qaeda can not threaten the United States.

The withdrawal comes with the condition that the Taliban prevents 'any group or individual, including al-Qaeda, from using the soil of Afghanistan to threaten the security of the United States and its allies'.

McKenzie continued to say that the levels of violence and recent Taliban attacks on Afghan forces were 'not consistent with the movement toward a negotiated settlement, and they are not consistent with the undertaking they made'.

With Taliban attacks at its current level, McKenzie argued 'my advice would be to not continue that reduction'.

'We don't need to trust them. We don't need to like them. We don't need to believe anything they say. We need to observe what they do,' he added.

The statement came as the U.S. began withdrawing troops from two Afghan bases.

The US military spokesman in Afghanistan, Sonny Leggett, said in a statement Tuesday that the military had begun its 'conditions-based reduction of forces to 8,600 over 135 days'.

Currently, the US has about 13,000 soldiers in Afghanistan - 8,000 of whom are involved in training and advising Afghanistan's National Security Forces, while about 5,000 are involved in anti-terror operations and militarily supporting the Afghan army when they are requested.

The US will close five of its 20 bases across the country and has committed to removing all forces in 14 months

Afghan Taliban fighters and villagers attend a gathering as they celebrate the peace deal signed between US and Taliban in Laghman Province, Alingar district on March 2, 2020

America also praised Afghan President Ashraf Ghani's (pictured) promise to start releasing Taliban prisoners after he had delayed for over a week

Troops have started leaving one base in Lashkar Gah, the capital of Helmand province in the south, and another base in Herat in the east, a US official told AFP on the condition of anonymity.

America also praised Afghan President Ashraf Ghani's promise to start releasing Taliban prisoners after he had delayed for over a week.

The US-Taliban deal signed on February 29 was touted as Washington's effort to end 18 years of war in Afghanistan.

The next crucial step was to be intra-Afghan talks in which all factions including the Taliban would negotiate a road map for their country's future.

But Ghani and his main political rival, Abdullah Abdullah, were each sworn in as president in separate ceremonies on Monday.

Abdullah and the elections complaints commission had charged fraud in last year's vote.

The dueling inaugurations have thrown plans for talks with the Taliban into chaos, although Ghani said Tuesday that he'd start putting together a negotiating team.

Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, foreground left, delivers the keynote speech at an event entitled 'Group of Friends of Afghanistan' Tuesday at the United Nations

Earlier on Tuesday at the United Nations, Clinton appeared to take a swipe at the U.S. deal with the Taliban, saying: 'It is difficult to have an agreement when you leave out the government of the country that you are expecting to uphold and live under that agreement.'

Speaking at an event on Afghan women's rights, she also stressed the need for women to be at the negotiating table.

'Afghan women today are rightly afraid... that the gains they have made with all of our help will be washed away in a rush to achieve a peace that will not hold anyway,' Clinton said.

'This is not just morally wrong, this is dangerous.'

The Security Council resolution emphasized the importance of including women, youth and minorities and ensuring any political settlement protects their rights.

Mahram Ali (right), 68, sits while waiting for an ambulance to carry the dead body of his 17-year-old daughter Fariba (left) from the hospital to their home after gunmen attacked a political gathering in Kabul, Afghanistan. There has been a high level of violence since the peace deal

Afghan men carry the coffin of a victim who was killed in Friday's deadly attack on memorial ceremony in Kabul, Afghanistan. A U.S. commander voiced concern about the violence

An Afghan police officer stands guard as relatives bring the bodies of the victims to a protest following an airstrike on February 15. U.S. forces have begun to pull out of the country

The United States warned the Taliban on Tuesday that the current high level of violence by the insurgents was 'not conducive to advancing the peace process' as the United Nations Security Council backed a U.S.-led push to end Afghanistan's 18-year war.

'We acknowledge the Taliban have taken steps to stop attacks in cities and against major bases,' Deputy U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Cherith Norman Chalet told the U.N. Security Council.

'But more needs to be done and we urge them to also reduce violence against Afghan forces in the countryside to give intra-Afghan negotiations and peace the opportunity to succeed,' she said after the 15-member council unanimously adopted a U.S.-drafted resolution on Afghanistan.

The U.N. resolution welcomed 'the significant steps towards ending the war and opening the door to intra-Afghan negotiations' enabled by separate U.S. agreements with the Taliban and the Afghan government.

The council also expressed a 'readiness upon the commencement of the intra-Afghan negotiations to consider the start of the review of the status' of Taliban sanctions.

Compounding the challenges faced by Afghanistan, an escalating political feud is also threatening political chaos.

Afghan President Ghani was sworn in for a second term on Monday, but the ceremony was marred by a rocket attack and his political rival, former chief executive Abdullah Abdullah, held his own inauguration ceremony.

Both Ghani and Abdullah say they are Afghanistan's rightful leader following a disputed election in September.

'We are strongly against the establishment of any parallel administrations or government structures and we call on all concerned to come together and resolve differences constructively,' British U.N. Ambassador Karen Pierce said in remarks directed at Adbullah.
[March 11, 2020] Riverside Insights Partners with ConnecME Education Marking a New Era of Cutting-Edge Assessment Available in the Middle East

ConnecME Education, the leading provider of international education solutions in the Middle East and North Africa, has launched an exclusive partnership with Riverside Insights, a well-established provider of evidence-based, psychometrically sound assessment solutions that measure ability, academic achievement and growth, and developmental milestones. ConnecME Education is an international education company that provides tailored educational solutions for schools, universities, and government departments. This alliance will facilitate, develop, and deliver world class assessments to the Middle East and North Africa. Through its portfolio of proven and precise assessment solutions, Riverside Insights offers the clarity and perspective needed to unlock individual potential, create opportunities to thrive and enrich the lives of all learners, from early childhood throughout their academic journeys, and for the rest of their lives. "We are excited by this opportunity to partner with ConnecME and the opportunity it affords us to support efforts to elevate potential in this part of the world as we never have been able to before," said Deval Clearwater, Vice President, Product Management, Marketing and International for Riverside Insights. ConnecME Education is excited to build awareness and increase the presence of Riverside Insights in the region, and to bring the exceptional portfolio of assessments to the MENA region. CEO of ConnecME Education Mohammad Shadid said, "Bringing Riverside Insights' extensive history and catalogue to the Middle East and North Africa Region in a new way is something we are proud and excited about. We look forward to thispartnership and to working together across the region"



This alliance will increase accessibility of universities, schools and corporations to Riverside flagship products such as: the Woodcock-Johnson family of products, Iowa Assessments, CogAT, and the Battelle Developmental Inventory. These assessments offer insights to various stakeholders - from ministries of education and health, to school administrators and clinicians to parents and teachers and caregivers - all with the goal of helping unlock the potential of each person across their life journey. About Riverside Insights

Riverside Insights, a leading and respected developer of research-based assessments, is led by a powerful mission: to provide insights that help elevate potential. Through its portfolio of proven and precise assessment solutions, Riverside Insights offers the clarity and perspective needed to unlock individual potential, create opportunities to thrive and enrich the lives of all learners throughout their lives. For more information, visit www.riversideinsights.com. ABOUT ConnecME ConnecME is an international educational company that understands the importance of empowerment and global citizenship. With our strong partnerships, we aim to provide tailored educational and career solutions to meet the unique needs of schools, universities, associations, certifying bodies, and government departments. Our goal is to provide students and lifelong learners with opportunities to help them become globally competitive and to attain excellence and recognition in the global domain. We view our role as one of continuous support to students and candidates in helping to open more doors to opportunities both home and abroad. For more information, visit www.connecme.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200311005109/en/

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Yet another local hospital is caring for a patient who has a presumptive case of the new coronavirus.

Tulane Medical Center said it was informed by the Louisiana Department of Health on Tuesday night that a patient in its care has tested positive for COVID-19. The hospital didnt immediately release further details about the patients condition.

The hospital said it had isolated the patient and taken other precautions to ensure the safety of other patients, hospital employees and visitors, such as screening people for symptoms at its doors.

While we know this can potentially be an inconvenience to those who visit and those who count on our health system, we want to reinforce our responsibility to always put the health and safety of all patients, visitors, colleagues and physicians first, Dr. Bob Lynch, Tulane Health System CEO, said in a statement. The precautions we put in place earlier this week worked as intended, and the risk of infection to our other patients and our staff is very low.

Other hospitals with patients include the VA Medical Center, University Medical Center and Touro Infirmary.

Louisiana officials said that the number of coronavirus cases in the state had jumped to six as of Tuesday night, all of them in the greater New Orleans area.
The Cy-Fair ISD board of trustees approved renovations for elementary schools in the district, combining efforts and scope of both their 2014 and 2019 bond projects.

The renovations were approved during the March 5 regular school board meeting following a work session meeting on March 2. Matt Morgan, assistant superintendent for facilities and construction, said renovations include projects from both the 2014 and 2019 bonds.

We only want to disturb the campus once, he said during the work session. Its very hard to move a campus out, move them back in, come back a few years later and do a renovation again. Were trying to combine that scope.

Renovations for Holbrook Elementary, Post Elementary and Kahla Middle School will cost $5,539,000. The Fiest Elementary renovations will cost $11,855,000 and the Copeland, Gleason and Sheridan elementary school renovations will cost $26,271,000.

Morgan said renovations for Post and Holbrook elementary schools and Kahla Middle School will begin this summer while renovations for Fiest, Copeland and Sheridan elementary schools will begin September. All of the renovations are expected to be completed by August 2021.

As for security features, Fiest, Copeland and Sheridan elementary schools will receive numerous security improvements like classroom phones, lockdown buttons and segmented classrooms. Segmented classrooms, which can combine four or more separate classrooms in one room, are meant to protect and secure students more easily during emergency situations. Each school will receive four more classrooms to accommodate the new segmented format.

Were also going to bring our art and music rooms up to district standards, Morgan said. Were going to improve the security at the front desk, were going to add additional card readers on all exterior doors. Were going to add additional impact resistant glass in high traffic areas, were going to add the classroom phones.

Post Elementary School will be receiving a new asphalt parking lot with concrete and Kahla Middle School will receive improvements to its track. Gleason Elementary School and Post Elementary will also receive eyewash stations.

More Information For more information on Cy-Fair ISD bond projects, visit https://www.cfisd.net/en/bond/bond-2019/project-overview. See More Collapse

When asked by board member Tom Jackson about how the schools are handling sanitation, in regard to coronavirus, Morgan said the district is taking precautions. Recently, cases of the coronavirus were reported in Harris County.

Currently our operations team is installing hand sanitizers in every classroom, Morgan said. Weve also got ... hand sanitizing stations scattered throughout the district throughout bathrooms (and) the cafeteria. So were taking those measures for sanitation.
We expect more earnings downgrade going forward, though it is not similar to the 2008 crisis in the US, Mark Mobius of Mobius Capital Partners said in an interview to CNBC-TV18.

The impact of supply shortage will be seen with a lag of 1-2 months as we do not think we are in the last stage of panic, he further added.

The lower oil prices are good for India, China & a number of other countries, while it is less onerous for India to import fuel and it is good for the economy, said Mark Mobius.

He expects there could be a further 3-4 percent decline in the US markets. However, he does not think there will be a recession in the US markets.

The real recovery will not come in the US markets for the next few months, he feels.

Globally, countries are impacted by the shortage of coronavirus testing kits and unless there is intense isolation, the spread in India can be as big as China.

He believes that there are opportunities in financial space after Yes Bank fiasco and he likes the consumer space.
Charlie Campbell accompanies his mom, Dorothy, 88, to see her husband, Gene, 89, through his window at the Life Care Center nursing home in Kirkland, Washington, on March 5.

ASON REDMOND/AFP via Getty Images

The Life Care Center in Kirkland, Washington, is the center of a tragic coronavirus outbreak.

Since February 19, 26 residents have died, 13 of whom were confirmed to have COVID-19, the illness caused by the virus. In total, 19 deaths in the state have been tied to the center.

Over 50 nursing-home residents have contracted the virus. Some staff members and first responders have also exhibited flu-like symptoms but haven't been tested yet.

Because the coronavirus spreads via droplets when people are in close contact and is especially risky for people over 80, a nursing home can be a dangerous breeding ground for an outbreak.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Before the coronavirus hit the Life Care Center in Kirkland, Washington, 120 seniors lived there. Now there are fewer than 50.

The long-term care facility, about 20 minutes north of Seattle, has been battling a coronavirus outbreak for weeks. Since the outbreak started, 26 of the center's residents have died, 13 of whom were confirmed to have COVID-19, the disease the coronavirus causes. Some others who died have not yet been tested.

King County's public-health agency said in a statement on Tuesday that 19 deaths in Washington had been linked to the Life Care Center outbreak.

Given that the US's death toll sat at 31, the fatalities tied to the center made up 61% of the nation's total.

Over 51 coronavirus cases have been confirmed among Life Care residents. Those experiencing acute symptoms have been transferred to hospitals. Still in the facility are 49 residents, 21 of whom have been diagnosed with COVID-19.

The Life Care Center, where residents and employees have contracted the coronavirus.

David Ryder/Reuters

Healthcare workers and first responders were exposed

All residents at the center have been tested for the virus, said Tim Killian, a spokesman for the center, though the results of 12 tests are still pending and four came back inconclusive. The center's staff continues to care for the residents who are still there, but about 70 staff members have also presented symptoms of COVID-19.

Story continues

Six have recovered, and two are back at work, but 64 are still quarantined at home. Of these 64 employees, about half have not been tested for the coronavirus because of test shortages. Killian said he hadn't been given an answer about why the facility didn't have enough tests.

First responders who answered calls from the Life Care Center last month were exposed to the coronavirus too. Twenty-seven firefighters and three police officers are under quarantine, and Kirkland Patch reported that 12 of them were experiencing flu-like symptoms.

Firefighters are now required to wear personal protective equipment when responding to any calls from the Life Care Center, a Kirkland representative said.

'We've had patients die relatively quickly'

The first COVID-19 patient was transferred from Life Care Center to a local hospital with acute respiratory symptoms on February 19, though they hadn't been diagnosed yet. The first confirmed cases at the nursing home were announced a week and a half later.

For some of that time, the center continued to accept visitors.

"We've had patients who, within an hour's time, show no symptoms to going to acute symptoms and being transferred to the hospital," Killian said at a news conference on Sunday. "And we've had patients die relatively quickly under those circumstances."

Because the coronavirus spreads via droplets when people are in close contact  within 6 feet  a nursing home can be a dangerous breeding ground for an outbreak.

The virus' death rate so far is highest among people older than 80, according to data from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. People with preexisting health conditions  a category in which many nursing-home residents fall  also face a higher risk. (The Life Care residents who have died were in their 40s through 90s with underlying health problems.)

Death Rate by Age Range Coronavirus

Shayanne Gal/Business Insider

Health officials haven't pinpointed how the Life Care outbreak started  the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has not yet identified "patient zero" there, Killian told reporters, and the facility has been too busy treating the residents to prioritize tracing the virus' spread to its source.

Because people come in and out of the center to visit residents frequently, it's possible that someone who had an undetected case of COVID-19 brought it in. The virus was spreading undetected in Washington for weeks before officials realized it.

COVID-19 cases have been confirmed at other nursing homes too

Ten long-term care facilities in the greater Seattle area have confirmed coronavirus cases, Seattle and King County's public-health agency said this week.

Gov. Jay Inslee on Tuesday directed nursing homes and assisted-living facilities to limit residents to one visitor a day.

The entrance to the Life Care Center.

David Ryder/Getty Images

"One thing that is clear is that nursing homes and hospitals are potentially at greater risk, and we are really going to have to think hard about what can be done to protect them," Tom Frieden, a former CDC director, said in a media briefing last week. There are 1.3 million people in nursing homes around the US.

The Washington State Department of Health has confirmed at least 265 cases of COVID-19 statewide.

At least 31 people in the US have died from the coronavirus: 24 in Washington, three in California, two in Florida, one in New Jersey, and one in South Dakota. The US has reported more than 1,000 coronavirus cases in total across 38 states and Washington, DC.

Read the original article on Business Insider
ANN ARBOR, MI -- One of the first Michigan patients diagnosed with COVID-19, the illness caused by the novel coronavirus, is being treated by the University of Michigan Health System, officials said.

The patient, one of two state officials say have tested presumptive positive for coronavirus, is stable, Michigan Medicine officials said Wednesday morning, March 11.

One of the patients is an Oakland County woman with a recent history of international travel. The other is a Wayne County man who had a recent history of domestic travel, state officials told MLive. Both are middle-aged.

Gov. Whitmer declares state of emergency as first coronavirus cases confirmed in Michigan

Officials declined to say where within the health system the patient is being treated.

Michigan Medicines main hospital is in Ann Arbor. The health system also has locations across the state, including Northville, Novi and Grand Rapids, though many of those locations specialize in things such as family medicine and cancer treatment.

The hospital system is preparing for potential surges in confirmed cases by tracking and ordering additional supplies, such as masks and hand sanitizer, Spokeswoman Mary Masson said. The system can also create containment units or separate rooms, she said.

If necessary, we have the ability to set up a respiratory isolation containment unit, and we have additional isolation rooms on multiple units, Masson wrote in an email.

A statement from Michigan Medicine said precautions are in place to minimize exposure risks to others.

Based on that, risk of infection is low for our employees and visitors, even if you work in our hospitals or near the unit where the patient is isolated, according to the statement.

Petition to move classes online due to coronavirus started by University of Michigan student

The hospital has not yet established visitor restrictions but has been asking people who are sick not to visit for several weeks, Masson said.

No cases have been confirmed in Washtenaw County, the Washtenaw County Health Department confirmed Wednesday. Fifteen cases have tested negative for the virus, officials said.

In general, hospitals have containment strategies for respiratory illnesses, Health Department spokeswoman Susan Ringler-Cerniglia said. Protocol could be the same for COVID-19, meaning a case in a nearby hospital is not necessarily part of the community spread risk.

Ann Arbor Public Schools cancels after-school activities as it plans for coronavirus

PREVENTION TIPS

Much like how you would try to prevent the flu, you want to stay away from people who are sick and practice good hygiene, says the CDC.

The latter means thoroughly washing your hands for at least 20 seconds, especially after using the bathroom and before eating. Avoid touching your mouth or face unless your hands are clean.

Use household cleaners to disinfect commonly touched objects and surfaces. Use disinfectant wipes to clean your hands or surfaces such as shopping-cart handles when out in public.

Some people are going the extra step and using smartphone sanitizers as a precaution, but a disinfecting wipe used lightly on the outside will likely work fine, too.
Hallie Jackson is a mom!

On Monday, NBC News' chief White House correspondent welcomed her first child  a baby girl  with her partner, NBC News reporter and producer Frank Thorp.

Hallie Jackson and Frank Thorp welcomed their baby girl, Monroe Jackson Thorp, on Monday. (Hallie Jackson)

They named their daughter Monroe "Ro" Jackson Thorp in honor of Jackson's great-great-grandfather. The 5-pound, 9-ounce bundle of joy was due in early April but arrived a few weeks early.

While we were not expecting the child of two journalists to arrive 3 1/2 weeks ahead of her deadline, Ro clearly saw no need to wait any longer,'' Jackson told TODAY. "It just makes us all the more eager to see the world through her big, curious eyes.

"Everyone tried to prepare me for how overwhelmingly awesome it is to meet your child for the first time, but nothing could have prepared me for the experience of watching Hallie bring Ro into this world with such amazing strength and grace,'' Thorp said to TODAY. "Im so excited to show our little Ro the world as a family."

Jackson was due in April but joked that her daughter arrived

Jackson, 35, announced she was expecting back in November during a Sunday Mail segment with Sunday TODAY host Willie Geist.

Hallie, do you have some news for us this morning? Willie asked.

Jackson then showed a photo of her and Thorp holding a onesie with the phrase "Guess what?" written across it.

We are so excited!" she gushed to Willie, adding, "I feel awesome, a lot of exhaustion the first trimester but we're halfway there."

She later shared the adorable pic on Instagram, captioning it, "Our best adventure yet."

Thorp shared the same shot on his page, writing, "Every day is an adventure with @hallie_gram by my side, and I cant wait to show this little person the world as a family!! Sleepless nights start in April!"

Jackson first teased her "very special surprise" in a tweet the day before urging viewers to tune in to hear the big announcement.

cheers to a hilarious morning filling in on @TODAYshow! back at it tomorrow with @WillieGeist... and a *very special* surprise  see you then... pic.twitter.com/K23ZTYJT5w  Hallie Jackson (@HallieJackson) November 16, 2019

She also hinted at what kind of a mother she aspired to be during a Sunday Mail segment with Willie in May 2019, during which she answered a viewer's question about which TV mom is her favorite.

"I love 'Modern Family.' I like Gloria. Sofia Vergara, her character. She's fun. She's hilarious," said Jackson.

Congratulations, Hallie and Frank!
Cases of coronavirus could be about to explode as plunging temperatures create an ideal environment for viruses to spread.

Scientists are yet to find out if the novel coronavirus, which causes the disease Covid-19, is spread more easily in cold or warm weather.

But Australia's Department of Health said people were more likely to congregate in enclosed spaces in winter making the transmission of the virus much more likely.

'The difference in colder weather is that people tend to congregate more in closed spaces where heating exists, and closer contact makes transmission easier,' a departmental spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia on Wednesday.

Cases of coronavirus could be about to explode as plunging temperatures create an ideal environment for the virus to spread

CORONAVIRUS CASES IN AUSTRALIA: 27,244 Victoria: 20,269 New South Wales: 4,273 Queensland: 1,161 Western Australia: 692 South Australia: 473 Tasmania: 230 Australian Capital Territory: 113 Northern Territory: 33 TOTAL CASES: 27,244 ESTIMATED ACTIVE CASES: 269 DEATHS: 897 Updated: 5.31 PM, 11 October, 2020 Source: Australian Government Department of Health Advertisement

UNSW Virology Professor Bill Rawlinson said the same things that help colds and flu spread in winter would provide the perfect conditions for coronavirus.

'Nasal stuffiness is caused by cold,' he said.

'The thermal cold makes your nose swollen and red. This also promotes the growth of viruses.'

Professor Rawlinson said people in close contact would rapidly spread the virus to each other by droplet infection.

It is still to early to know whether the coronavirus would be seasonal, Professor Rawlinson said, but it was related to other coronaviruses that are, so he expects it would likely follow the same pattern.

John Hopkins University epidemiology professor Stefan Baral said he expects the virus to be worse in winter.

Dr Baral said people go outside more in warmer weather which corresponds with a decrease in upper respiratory tract infections.

'As were outside more, we just expect less of those types of infections to take place,' he told the Boston Herald.

However University of Queensland virologist Ian Mackay said he did not expect any seasonal variation in Covid-19 because it was so new the first wave could infect up to 80 per cent of the population.

'The pandemic is so new and novel to the immune system it's more likely to push through any kind of seasonal effect,' he said.

'We're all susceptible to the infection as we have no herd immunity.'

Tips on how to fight coronavirus in winter * Don't touch your eyes, nose or mouth unless you have first washed your hands with soap or disinfected them with hand sanitiser * Get enough vitamin D * Multiple peer-reviewed studies have found vitamin D protects you from viral respiratory infections * Keep warm, avoid stuffy noses which help viruses incubate * Give up smoking, lose weight - having other lung illnesses or diabetes with coronavirus makes it worse * Coughs and sneezes spread diseases: isolate yourself if sick * If you are sick and must go out, wear a facemask to stop you spreading your germs to everyone else * If you need to cough and sneeze, do it into a tissue or the crook of your elbow, not your hand * Keep up social distancing to avoid droplet infection from others * Wash hands frequently especially before meals, if washing isn't possible use alcohol-based hand sanitiser * Keep good ventilation and wipe down surfaces with disinfectant regularly Sources: The BMJ, Department of Health, experts interviewed Advertisement

Part of the reason people are more susceptible to respiratory illnesses in winter is because of a lack of vitamin D, which is made by the skin when the sun hits it.

In winter there is less sunlight, and people tend to go outdoors less, potentially leaving them vitamin D deficient, even in sunny Australia.

A global study of more than 11,000 participants in 2017 found unequivocal evidence that vitamin D, also found in fatty fish such as salmon and eggs, helps the body fight acute respiratory infection.

The study conducted an analysis of 25 randomised controlled trials, and was published in the prestigious peer-reviewed medical journal The BMJ.

It found daily small doses of Vitamin D were more effective in protecting from acute respiratory infection than larger weekly doses.

Carlos Camargo of the Department of Emergency Medicine at the Massachusetts General Hospital, the study's senior author, said most people think of vitamin D as being critical for bone health.

'Our analysis has also found that it helps the body fight acute respiratory infection, which is responsible for millions of deaths globally each year,' he told the Harvard Gazette.

People with dark skins need more vitamin D that pale-skinned people as the same melanin which protects the skin against UV rays also hampers its ability to make vitamin D in response to sunlight.

University of Queensland virologist Ian Mackay said vitamin D can be helpful in winter when we get a little bit less sun, but that people could just take a multivitamin.

Experts say making sure you have enough vitamin D in winter can help protect you from viruses

While some media had reported that Covid-19 lived for longer on surfaces in cold weather than hot weather, this was based on earlier studies of different viruses. It has not yet been confirmed and remains unknown.

Professor Raina MacIntyre, the head of biosecurity at the University of New South Wales's Kirby Institute, said the maximum time the virus lives on surfaces is 4-6 days, with one study showing possibly 9 days.

'Temperature is a factor, certainly, but it is not the driving force behind transmission. We have seen epidemics in hot countries such as Singapore and Thailand,' she told Daily Mail Australia.
ASIC has permanently banned Mark Goldenberg from engaging in any credit activities.

He is also banned from performing any function involved in the engaging in of credit activities (including as an officer (within the meaning of the Corporations Act 2001), manager, employee, contractor or in some other capacity).

Goldenberg was the Chief Operating Officer, General Manager, Property Analyst and sole shareholder of Superfunded Pty Ltd (Superfunded).

Superfunded operated an illegal early access to superannuation scheme in Perth, enabling people to use their superannuation savings to buy a home.

Mr Goldenberg and Superfunded engaged in credit activities but neither he, nor Superfunded, held an Australian credit licence, or were authorised credit representatives of an Australian credit licensee.

ASIC found that Mr Goldenberg contravened credit legislation and had been involved in a contravention of credit legislation. ASIC also found that it has reason to believe that Mr Goldenberg is not a fit and proper person to engage in credit activities as he does not possess the attributes necessary for engaging in credit activities.

As a result of Mr Goldenbergs conduct and ASICs finding that it has reason to believe that Mr Goldenberg is not a fit and proper person to engage in credit activities, ASIC determined that Mr Goldenberg is likely to contravene credit legislation.

The banning order for Mr Goldenberg has been recorded on ASICs publicly available Banned and Disqualified Persons Register.

Mr Goldenberg has the right to appeal to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal for a review of ASICs decision.

The banning of Mr Mark Goldenberg follows an ASIC investigation into Superfunded.

Further ASIC action includes an application to the Federal Court, resulting in the winding up and appointment of a Liquidator to Superfunded on 12 March 2018.

ASIC had previously obtained a range of interim injunctions in the Perth Federal Court on 9 November 2017 against Superfunded, Mr Mark Goldenberg and Mr Max David Goldenberg, the sole director of Superfunded.

ASIC banned Mr Max Goldenberg from providing financial services and engaging in credit activities for a period of eight years on 8 August 2019.

Mr Mark Travis Goldenberg was permanently banned from providing financial services in May 2009.
The Frosty has long been Wendys piece de resistance.

The Ohio headquartered fast-food chain was wise to transmute said frozen dairy dessert to their new breakfast menu, in the form of a Frosty-ccino, swirling cold-brew coffee with Frosty mix over ice.

As far as morning caffeinated indulgences go, one could do much worse for $2.49 (before tax for small, $2.79 for large).

As with the standard Frosty, there are chocolate and vanilla options. On a recent weekday morning at a Huntsville, Ala. Wendys, I asked a cordial cashier there which she liked better. She said she was a vanilla girl, so heeded the advice.

Sinatra smooth and Jay-Z rich, if this Vanilla Frosty-ccino was served in a Starbucks cup instead of a clear plastic Wendys receptacle, they could charge two or three more bucks for it. And thanks to the cold brew, the caffeine cooks. Not Boogie Nights levels of acceleration, but your a.m. definitely speeds up.

Wendys recently threw its red pigtails into the breakfast game, which Wendys has never really been a national factor in. In Huntsville, Wendys serves breakfast until 10:30 a.m., starting 6:30 a.m. drive-thru and 9 a.m. dining room.

AL.com staffers in Huntsville, Birmingham and Mobile checked out items from the new menu. Being 2020 media employees, we met up digitally afterward in the Slack instant messaging platform to chat about it.

Thought we had the Frosty-ccino covered during this initial taste-test. But since that didnt end up being the case, and the Frosty being a signature Wendys item well-suited to breakfasting, went back next day to try one. Easily the most effective and noteworthy breakfast item I had there. The previous morning there, tried a Honey Butter Chicken Biscuit, as a combo with seasoned potatoes and soda ($5.19).

All hail, the Frosty-ccino. As far as the chicken biscuit and other Wendys breakfast items go, below are edited excerpts from a Slack conversation thereof with fellow AL.com writers Shauna Stuart in Birmingham and Lawrence Specker in Mobile.

Honey Butter Chicken Biscuit from Wendy's new breakfast menu. (Matt Wake/mwake@al.com)

Matt Wake: Lets rock. So, after consuming Wendys new breakfast for the first time, walked out the door there thinking they should add some gasoline pumps too, because my biscuit and potatoes were gas-station-food level quality. What were your first thoughts after your Wendys breakfast today?

Shauna Stuart: So, true to form, I fell behind this morning and ran into Wendy's at 10:26 on the dot. They had already started flipping the menu over to the lunch menu. I got lucky! People always talk about Chick-fil-A hospitality, but the crew at Wendy's is always so nice! They made something special for me.

Lawrence Specker: My guys were making the flip too but they were happy to oblige my order for a ridiculous quantity of breakfast stuff. They were great about it.

Wake: That would be the best thing I could say. The cashier was super friendly. Which was a little unexpected because if they just added breakfast it would kind of make working there suck more because you have to get there earlier now. The cashier even asked me if I wanted to use the coupon on the ad inserts they had stacked on the counter. Saved us two bucks!

Stuart: I was going to order the Maple Bacon Chicken Croissant, but they were out of chicken and bacon?! Let me be more specific. They would have had to cook the bacon and the chicken and they had transitioned to the lunch menu. Instead, the crew made me a sausage, egg, and cheese croissant. It was tasty. Im not a huge fan of sausage, but the eggs were the winner here. Cooked to perfection for the sandwich. I also got the sausage, egg and cheese burrito. It was a lot smaller than I thought it would be. I only picked at it. Im going to have it tomorrow morning!

Enjoyed the first few bites of my Wendy's breakfast sandwich with sausage, egg, and cheese. (Shauna A. Stuart)

Specker: I took the liberty of using several of my (Mobile AL.com office) hub-mates as guinea pigs. Veteran editor Dewey English raised the Baconator for a great spicy kick that starts slow and accelerates as you enjoy your breakfast sandwich. Veteran food writer David Holloway seconded that, saying that bacon and sausage together are a marriage made in heaven, (but) the slightly piquant sauce kicks it to new, dizzying heights. My favorite by far. Would order it.

Wake: Lawrence, would you say the spicy sauce/spiciness was the best thing about the Baconator?

Specker: Yeah, that's my opinion and the general consensus here as well. Theres a little bit of a mystery there. It does seem as if theres a spicy sauce that elevates the Baconator. But Wendys doesnt mention it in the description. It just says theres a swiss cheese sauce, which doesnt sound spicy at all. So maybe the spiciness comes from the sausage and the cheese sauce amplifies it somehow. Whatever, it works.

Stuart: The most outstanding item to me is the eggs. Fast food eggs are tricky and Wendy's mastered the high volume over-easy egg.

Wake: Fast food eggs are often shady/synthy.

Opened up the Wendy's sausage, egg, and cheese burrito. Not blown away. I would jazz this up with some onions, beans, and hot sauce. (Shauna Stuart for AL.com)

Specker: To me these were typical fast-food eggs. I'm prepared to play along with the polite fiction that they were extruded by a chicken and removed from the shell by a human. The basic Sausage, Egg & Swiss Croissant didnt get a lot of love here, and it wasnt hard to figure out why. The Swiss cheese doesnt pop visually or in terms of flavor. When it fades into the absorbent matrix of the croissant, youre left with a serviceable -- but, in the words of one tester, meh, -- sausage and egg sandwich.

Wake: I've definitely had better chicken biscuits out of gas stations.

Specker: Ouch! But you have to admit "gas station" is a very broad bracket.

Wake: Its on the low end of gas station. The potatoes were standard issue potato wedges. Youve had these a million times at a million places. Its one big long potato blur. At 9:15 I was one of three customers in the dining room at this location. There were a couple cars in the drive thru. The McDonalds two doors down had a drive-thru line wrapping around that building. Guessing at least some of Wendys customers were McDonalds runoff.

Seasoned Potatoes from Wendy's new breakfast menu. (Matt Wake/mwake@al.com)

Specker: But they're peppery! And not as greasy as those little tater-tot hash brown things!

Wake: Did you find the actual items closely resembled the marketing images? Or was it more like when a persons social media profile pic was of 20 pounds and/or half a head of hair ago?

Stuart: There is no earthly way they could wrap that croissant sandwich in that foil paper and have it keep its original form.

Wake: Live by the croissant, die by the croissant ...

Stuart: I would have been surprised if it WASNT squished. Then I would have had questions.

Specker: I expect a difference between the depictions and the reality. This stuff didnt quite live up to its glamour shots, but the difference wasnt extreme. Responses to the Maple Bacon Chicken Croissant were mixed here in Mobile, but still positive. IT guy Andrew Morgan said the heavy sweetness went well with the salty spicy kick of the potato wedges. Wendys take on the croissant isnt as croissanty as some. Theyre lighter than a roll or a hamburger bun but theyre not quite as airy as a true croissant. That said, theyre also less likely to disintegrate and dump their contents in your lap as you try to eat one while driving.

Wake: Final question: Three words you'd use to describe your Wendy's breakfast today? My three words would be, "friendly and edible."

Specker: Bacony and filling.

Stuart: The right hype. It was hyped exactly right. They served exactly what they said they would!

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Moroccos Health Ministry confirmed this Wednesday afternoon a sixth coronavirus case.

The patient is a French woman of Senegalese origin. The 64-year old woman arrived in Fez from France on Thursday, March 5.

The woman showed coronavirus symptoms on March 7, the ministry said.

Health authorities announced two more cases earlier in the day. The new patients are the wife and the daughter of the third coronavirus carrier reported in Morocco, a French tourist who arrived in Marrakech on March 7 with his family.

The two were already quarantined by the Moroccan medical teams within the frame of the prevention measures before the confirmation of their infection with the virus.

The three French nationals are currently receiving all necessary medical care and their condition is not worrying, according to health officials.

The two first coronavirus cases reported in Morocco, a 39-year old man and an 89-year old woman, both came from Italy, the epicenter of Europes coronavirus epidemic. The old woman, who was suffering from chronic respiratory and cardiovascular diseases passed away on Tuesday.

Some 300 persons who had been in contact with the confirmed cases are under observation.

Health authorities announced that the country is in the first phase of the novel coronavirus outbreak as all confirmed patients contracted the virus abroad.
In the wake of the announcement of a confirmed coronavirus case in Rochester , Mayo Clinic started collecting patient samples for COVID-19 testing today at "a drive-thru" site in northwest Rochester.

Tents and heating lamps were set up this afternoon outside Mayo Family Clinic Northwest, at 4111 U.S. Highway 52 North, near Target Marketplace.

Vehicles were being ushered into the tents by Mayo Clinic security officers, and medical personnel wearing protective gear would go out to the vehicles. Specimens will be sent to the Minnesota Department of Health for analysis.

Mayo Clinic is requiring telephone screening for patients before they are referred to the drive-thru site.

"Patients will need to have a phone screening first to determine if testing is appropriate. Then, patients will be directed to the drive-thru location if it is appropriate for them to have testing," wrote Mayo spokesperson Ginger Plumbo. "We are not charging anything extra for the drive-thru."

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Plumbo explained that Mayo Clinic is following the lead of other health care organizations with this process.

"Transmission of the virus is increasing nationwide, and other institutions have successfully used the drive-thru approach. Patients who meet the criteria for testing are directed to the location," she wrote. "The drive-thru approach reduces the need for other critically constrained resources."

This drive-thru process originated in South Korea, where health officials have been testing hundreds of people for virus.

As the virus has blossomed in the U.S., clinics in Colorado, Connecticut and Washington started using the same procedure.

As a public service, we've opened all Health and COVID-19 related stories to everyone regardless of subscription status. Support local journalism by subscribing: https://www.postbulletin.com/subscribe/
Its time for DEA to blitz Afghanistan. DEA should commit additional manpower and resources to fill the vacuum created by the U.S. militarys drawdown. It may seem strange to call for an expanded role after the Trump administrations recent peace treaty with the Taliban and the publics growing weariness with Americas longest war, but DEAs real value is not in interdicting narcotics shipments or blowing up clandestine labs in the mountains.

DEAs forte is infiltrating criminal groups.

An evil cabal thrives in Afghanistan and spreads the scourge of heroin around the world. Roughly the size of Texas, Afghanistan produces approximately 80% of the global heroin supply and boasts the most acreage under poppy cultivation -- the plant used to produce opium, morphine, and heroin. Afghanistans opiate sales surpass the value of its legal exports, and illicit drugs remain a significant percentage of the countrys GDP. Afghanistan has become the factory supplying the worlds heroin, but narcotics are not the biggest threat -- that is terrorism.

Southwest Asia hosts the highest concentration of terrorist groups on earth. Drugs and terrorism is a lethal combination, and only DEA is equipped to counter narco-terrorism. Classical narco-terrorism involves trafficking groups engaged in violence to further their economic growth, but modern narco-terrorism has expanded to include terrorist groups funding violence with drugs, groups driven by both violent ideology and profit, and the symbiotic relationship between drug traffickers and terrorists.

Terrorism requires funding, and illicit drug trafficking is extremely profitable, making these criminal enterprises natural partners. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, 37% of designated terrorist groups have some connection to drug trafficking. The United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime estimates $150 million the Talibans income is derived from the opiate trade. Afghanistan has become the axis of evil forces, where terrorists and traffickers build fortunes by turning powder into blood.

The Trump administrations ill-advised peace treaty with the Taliban will fail, because negotiated peace is impossible with radical ideologues who believe they need to subjugate or murder anyone who disagrees with them. There is no substantial difference between ISIS and the Taliban, or with any other radical Islamic group which embraces violence. The only way to defeat terrorists is to imprison or kill them. As the U.S. disengages and withdraws troops from Afghanistan, the region will attract Islamists, traffickers, and other nefarious criminals like a black hole, and continue to be the frontline of the War on Terror.

DEA is the answer.

Both a federal law enforcement agency and an intelligence agency, DEA utilizes counterdrug strategies to investigate narco-terrorism. DEAs proactive investigations rely on human source development, telephone intercepts, buy-busts, undercover meetings, and other aggressive police tactics. The agencys primary enforcement teams are self-contained, ten-agent groups, which gather intelligence, collect evidence, and make arrests. Using the same agents for every aspect of an investigation, from identifying targets to executing search warrants, has proven highly effective. DEAs strategy is to disrupt and dismantle criminal organizations by targeting key leadership and then using the criminal justice system to incarcerate them. This methodology is equally effective against terrorist groups, which structure themselves like transnational criminal syndicates.

DEAs strategy has been successful. DEA arrests more offenders than the FBI, despite having approximately one-third as many agents, and a significant number of those arrests are the leadership of organized criminal enterprises. With 239 domestic offices and 91 foreign offices in 68 countries, DEA has worldwide reach. Unleashing DEAs potential in Afghanistan will reduce the threat of Islamic extremism.

DEA is uniquely suited to deny funding to extremist groups by targeting the drug trafficking organizations that support them. DEAs has the ability to develop vast informant networks, quickly turn intelligence into operations, and use the narco-terrorism law to incapacitate terrorists. Aggressive policing and judicial incarceration are efficient and effective ways to remove terrorists from the battlefield.

Reopened its Kabul Country Office in 2003, DEA assigned its first two permanent agents the following year. The office swelled to close to one hundred personnel as the mission grew and American tax dollars poured into the country. DEA assigned agents, analysts, air crews, and support personnel to mentor Afghan police, interdict opiates flowing out of the country, collect intelligence, and dismantle drug trafficking groups.

DEA achieved many victories, including record-setting drug seizures, the first narco-terrorism arrest, and conviction of the worlds most prolific heroin trafficker. DEAs counterterrorism intelligence also saved many American, Coalition, and Afghan lives. The agencys management trumpeted its Afghan cases to Congress, but during the 2010s, DEAs focus swung to domestic operations and the size of the Kabul Country Office dwindled.

Only one percent of heroin consumed in the U.S. originates in Southwest Asia, but the number of American users is not the justification for increasing DEAs presence. Without a strong American influence, evil will grow and spread across Southwest Asia, but DEA can mitigate the threat by identifying and eliminating narco-terrorists.

DEA has the expertise, but it needs to concentrate on terrorist leadership and drug kingpins, not on contraband seizures. Seizing drugs without dismantling the criminal organizations behind them is unproductive. Without widespread poppy eradication, its difficult to reduce volume of opiates produced in the worlds primary source country. Even if law enforcement actions inhibit the supply chain, traffickers raise prices to counter scarcity and continue to profit. Seizures dont work but using DEA tactics to build criminal cases against narco-terrorists and then judicially prosecuting them will keep the enemy on their heels.

Increased DEA presence is not an endorsement of nation building. After almost twenty years and one trillion dollars sunk into Afghanistan, the Afghan police are still plagued by incompetence and corruption. DEAs training and mentoring of the National Interdiction Unit and the Sensitive Investigations Unit has produced decent results, but the real success will come from amplifying DEA footprint and using aggressive tactics to dismantle transnational narco-terrorist groups.

Nor is ramping up DEAs efforts a call for endless war. There are strong political and economic arguments for reducing the U.S. presence in Afghanistan, but every time the U.S. withdraws from an unstable country or region, bad things happen. Law enforcement agencies serve a different role than the military, but a vital one, and as U.S. soldiers depart, DEA needs to enhance its numbers.

Now is a critical time for DEA to reengage in Afghanistan. As the military departs and the country descends into lawlessness, DEAs impressive human intelligence networks will thrive. When the U.S. is eventually forced to return to Afghanistan to eliminate the next threat, DEAs continual presence will make our fighting forces more effective. Afghanistan is a hotbed of Islamic radicalism, and DEA needs to step up and fight.

Jeffrey James Higgins is a retired DEA supervisory special agent and an expert in narco-terrorism. He made the first narco-terrorism arrest and convicted the worlds most prolific heroin trafficker.
The police administration



here in Maharashtra has requested political parties to curtail their processions and other events planned on the occasion of Shiv Jayanti on Thursday in view of the coronavirus scare, an official said on Wednesday.

As many as 11 cases of the deadly viral disease have been reported so far in the state.

"As a precautionary measure to stop spread of the coronavirus, the police administration in Aurangabad has requested all political parties to curtail their programmes and reduce crowded gatherings," Police Commissioner Chiranjeev Prasad told PTI.

"Shiv Jayanti (the birth anniversary of Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji) is an issue of sentiment and we shall not put restrictions on its celebration.

"But to avoid spread of the coronavirus, we have requested political parties and other organisations to curtail their programmes. But if they want to go ahead with their original events, they should take proper care and follow guidelines," he said.

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray is scheduled to attend a Shiv Jayanti event at Kranti Chowk here.

Asked about the request from the police and events planned by the MNS on Thursday, a functionary said the party has obtained all necessary permissions.

"We have obtained all necessary permissions for rallies and other events. The police have requested us to curtail them," MNS district president Suhas Dashrathe.

While the state government's official Shiv Jayanti celebrations are held on February 19 each year, the Shiv Sena believes the birth anniversary of Shivaji Maharaj should be observed as per the 'tithi' (Hindu calendar).

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Alberta has announced five new cases of COVID-19, bringing the provinces count to 19.

All of those cases are travel related, said Deena Hinshaw, chief medical officer of health, speaking to reporters Wednesday.

One is a man in his 30s in the Edmonton area whose symptoms began March 6. He underwent an unrelated procedure at the Misericordia Hospital on March 6 and 7, and was diagnosed with COVID-19 on Monday.

Hinshaw said all staff and patients at the hospital who were potentially exposed will be directly contacted by Alberta Health Services.

Three of the new cases are in an area thats considered by health officials to be the Calgary zone, stretching as far as Banff and Canmore.

They are a man in his 20s and two women in their 30s. There is also a case in the Central zone, a woman in her 30s. The Central zone makes up a large swath of central Alberta, including Drumheller, Red Deer, Rocky Mountain House and Lloydminster.

Hinshaw said all the new cases had recently returned from travel from a variety of countries, including Iran, Egypt, Spain, Mexico or the United States.

Alberta is now asking all travellers returning from Italy to self-isolate for 14 days. Formal screening will be conducted at airports. Travellers who returned from Italy in the past several weeks should also self-isolate, just as travellers returning from Iran and the Hubei province have been asked to do.

As well, all Albertans returning from anywhere are being asked to monitor their symptoms and to avoid large public gatherings.

The World Health Organization has officially declared the outbreak a pandemic. Hinshaw said COVID-19 is more contagious than SARS, and requires preparation even though the risk in Alberta is low. The province is moving forward to support doctors with personal protective equipment.

COVID-19 is not like other threats we have seen in the past decades, she said.

All the cases in Alberta are people who recently travelled or are close contacts of recent travellers.

Several cases were linked to the quarantined Grand Princess cruise ship and the MS Braemar cruise ship, which returned in early March.

Albertans showing signs of influenza should call Health Link at 811 to be directed to an assessment centre. They should not go to the hospital or to a clinic, and should refrain from visiting loved ones in long-term care facilities.

There are now 39 cases in British Columbia, four in Quebec, one in New Brunswick and 37 in Ontario.

Read more about:
This summer, Avengers will assemble at Disney California Adventure in Anaheim.

The new section revolving around the Disney Marvel Cinematic Universe and its heroes, called Avengers Campus, will make its debut July 18 Disney Parks revealed Wednesday.

Details about the new park section have been a bit sparse. Disney previously dropped some hints about forthcoming rides and attractions, but this week, several months before the scheduled opening, the company went big with specifics.

In addition to the already-operating Guardians of the Galaxy ride, called Mission: Breakout!, Disney California Adventure will open another big attraction starring Spider-Man and the franchise's star Tom Holland. Called WEB Slingers, the interactive offering from the park sees guests "team up with Spidey and help capture the out-of-control Spider-Bots before they wreak havoc on the [Avengers] Campus."

Other new aspects are immersive, not unlike Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, which Disneyland opened in 2019. Families can train with the Dora Milaje, Wakanda's most elite warriors; they can be among the first to see Iron Man's new armor, called the Mark 80; they can encounter the Taskmaster, the villain in the Black Widow's upcoming film; and they learn all about Doctor Strange's mystic arts at the "ancient" Sanctum.

"Doctor Strange will train recruits in the ways of the mystic arts by bringing this ancient Sanctum to life with powerful spells," Disney Parks details. "At night, the Sanctum glows even more vividly with majestic colors and lights, pulsating with mystic energy."

RELATED: You'll be able to 'shoot webs out of your wrist' like Spider-Man in Disneyland's Marvel land

And, when new recruits are running on empty, they can hit the Pym Test Kitchen  named for "Ant-Man" luminary Hank Pym  where they'll be serving up "normal foods at unusual scales" like a large, multi-portion panini or spaghetti with mini-meatballs, and, for the parents, craft beers poured from a reverse draft system where, "thanks to the food scientists, the glass fills from the bottom up."

The land will also include a shawarma joint (a nod to a post-credits "Avengers: Endgame" scene), and an intergalactic restaurant inspired by Taneleer Tivan, where "The Collector" will reveal "concoctions he has conceived to lure guests to his Fortress," like churro spirals.

But the centerpiece of the land will be Avengers Headquarters, where fans can catch appearances by Captain America, Black Widow, Black Panther or Spider-Man as swings above the building's roof 60 feet up. Outside, Loki, Ant-Man and the Wasp, the Guardians of the Galaxy (of course including Groot) will patrol the grounds.

"We crafted an original story that ties all the experiences together in ways that are authentic to these characters," says Scot Drake, portfolio creative executive for Walt Disney Imagineering. "We worked side-by-side with teams that brought the Avengers films and comics to life to create a place that champions the next generation of heroes."

Disney California Adventure opens Avengers Campus on July 18, 2020.

Alyssa Pereira is an SFGate digital editor. Email: alyssa.pereira@sfgate.com | Twitter: @alyspereira




Spring break is a popular tradition among students in the United States.

As the name suggests, spring break is a time in the spring when schools suspend classes and let students take a break from their studies. Many students choose to travel to popular tourist destinations for a vacation, which often lasts a week.

For some young people, spring break is more than tradition. It has become a rite of passage - something they feel they must experience before becoming adults.

For college students, spring break may involve drinking large amounts of alcohol. So, not surprisingly, a common word of advice for spring breakers is not to drink too much.

This spring break, there is a new worry: the new coronavirus first identified in China. With concerns about the coronavirus, some students may be wondering if they should cancel their spring break travel plans.

Florida, in the southeastern United States, is one of the most popular destinations for spring break travelers. With its beaches, theme parks and solid infrastructure, large numbers of college and university students travel there each spring.

The Associated Press (AP) reports that the city of Orlando, in central Florida, is the most visited tourist destination in the U.S.

Not only students on spring break, but people from all over the world visit the Orlando areas theme parks. These parks include Universal Orlando and SeaWorld Orlando. The AP story notes that in 2018, 75 million people visited the Orlando area.

Tampa Bay is another part of Florida where students often go for spring break. The Tampa Bay Times reported the areas first case of COVID-19. Some travel experts told the newspaper that the virus is not affecting peoples travel plans. They base this on hotel cancellation numbers. However, others experts say it is too early to tell.

American Vice President Mike Pence is the government official responsible for organizing the countrys effort against the coronavirus outbreak. Pence said in a public statement that travel in the United States was safe for healthy people.

But he has warned that other people may want to carefully consider any travel plans. He said those most at risk are older adults with serious or chronic underlying health conditions.

Many college students choose to travel overseas for spring break. Popular destinations include coastal areas in Mexico, the Bahamas and the Caribbean.

This year, because of concerns over the virus, some colleges and universities are warning against international travel to affected areas.

The University of Southern California and the University of Oklahoma are advising students against international travel during spring break.

The Miami Herald notes that these universities are requiring students who travel to affected areas to self-quarantine upon returning to the U.S. for 14 days.

The University of Southern California has this warning on its website:

Advisory: Do Not Travel Internationally over Spring Break: All students, faculty and employees are strongly advised against all international travel  including popular spring break destinations such as Cabo San Lucas and Cancun in Mexico.

Before making or canceling travel plans, experts are urging Americans to check with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website for the latest on travel restrictions.

Im Anne Ball.

And I'm Caty Weaver.

Anna Matteo wrote this story based on several news articles. George Grow was the editor.

______________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

tourist  n. one that makes a tour for pleasure or culture

destination  n. a place to which a person is going or something is being sent

beach  n. a shore of a body of water covered by sand, gravel, or larger rock fragments

theme park  n. an amusement park in which the structures and settings are based on a central theme

infrastructure  n. the basic equipment and structures (such as roads and bridges) that are needed for a country, region, or organization to function properly

outbreak  n. a sudden rise in the incidence of a disease

chronic  adj. continuing or occurring again and again for a long time

underlying  adj. used to identify the idea, cause, problem, etc., that forms the basis of something

quarantine  n. the period of time during which a person or animal that has a disease or that might have a disease is kept away from others to prevent the disease from spreading

faculty  n. the group of teachers in a school or college
The human rights activist is guarded in a secret location. He risks between 8 and 15 years in prison. He accused Xi Jinping of mismanaging the coronavirus crisis, the trade war with the US and protests in Hong Kong. Chinese intellectuals criticize the regime; some in the West praise him.

Beijing (AsiaNews / Agencies) - Human rights activist Xu Zhiyong is imprisoned in a secret prison for "inciting subversion against state power".

Recently, he called on Chinese President Xi Jinping to resign over his personal failures. Friends and family members say that the former Law professor at Beijing University now risks between 8 and 15 years in prison. They claim to have obtained the information from the Beijing police after repeated requests.

The restrictive measures to which Xu is subjected, pending the completion of the investigation, can last up to six months, and do not allow contact with the family and his lawyer. His fiancee Li Qiaochu is detained on the same charge and in the same manner.

On the run for some time, after attending a meeting with democratic activists in Xiamen (Fujian) last December, Xu was arrested on February 15 in Guangzhou (Guangdong) during a "health check" to prevent the spread of coronavirus ( Covid-19).

The academic, founder of the New Citizens Movement, is a well-known critic of the Communist Party. He was imprisoned in January 2014, serving a four-year sentence, for his ideas in defense of democracy, and for denouncing the corruption of Chinese leaders.

Xu published an article on the web in early February claiming that Xi was "unable to handle" the coronavirus crisis. His accusation is that the regimes clampdown on freedom of expression has contributed to the uncontrolled spread of lung infection. For the activist, the Chinese president has also failed in addressing the tariff war with the United States and pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong.

Not only that, Xu attacks the "supreme leader" for what he calls "extravagant" projects: the Belt and Road Initiative, which should increase the country's geopolitical influence by improving commercial links between Asia, Africa and Europe; the "Xiong'an New Area", which aims to create three special development areas in the internal province of Hubei; and the national "poverty alleviation" program.

In the past, Xu accused the Chinese president of having created a "new model of totalitarianism". While in the West mulls the idea that the dictatorial nature of the regime has favored the containment of the epidemic in China, he - as well as Xu Zhangrun and He Weifang, other academics critical of the Party and its leadership - have raised their voices to emphasize that the repressive and tyrannical action of the authorities actually caused delays in the response, thus leading to the expansion of Covid-19.
A lack of test kits for the new COVID-19 coronavirus is still obscuring the extent of the outbreak in the U.S., but for a critical period in February, there were no functional federal tests and "local officials across the country were left to work blindly as the crisis grew undetected and exponentially," The New York Times reports. The coronavirus has now infected more than 1,000 people in 36 states and Washington, D.C., according to Johns Hopkins University's count.

The first U.S. outbreak was in Washington state, where authorities confirmed the first patient  suffering from respiratory problems after visiting Wuhan, China  only after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention made an exception to strict testing criteria. In Seattle, Dr. Helen Chu, an infectious disease expert who was part of an ongoing flu-monitoring effort, the Seattle Flu Study, asked permission to test their trove of collected flu swabs for coronavirus.

State health officials joined Chu in asking the CDC and Food and Drug Administration to waive privacy rules and allow clinical tests in a research lab, citing the threat of significant loss of life. The CDC and FDA said no. "We felt like we were sitting, waiting for the pandemic to emerge," Chu told the Times. "We could help. We couldn't do anything."

They held off for a couple of weeks, but on Feb. 25, Chu and her colleagues "began performing coronavirus tests, without government approval," the Times reports. They found a positive case pretty quickly, and after discussing the ethics, they told state health officials, who confirmed the next day that a teenager who hadn't traveled abroad had COVID-19  and the virus had likely been spreading undetected throughout the Seattle area for weeks. Later that day, the CDC and FDA told Chu and her colleagues to stop testing, then partially relented, and the lab found several more cases. On Monday night, they were ordered to stop testing again.

"In the days since the teenager's test, the Seattle region has spun into crisis, with dozens of people testing positive and at least 22 dying," the Times notes. "The scientists said they believe that they will find evidence that the virus was infecting people even earlier, and that they could have alerted authorities sooner if they had been allowed to test." Read more about the red tape at The New York Times.

More stories from theweek.com

CDC advises Americans to avoid 'nonessential' Europe trips. State Department urges no foreign travel.

Coronavirus is 10 times more lethal than the seasonal flu, Trump's task force immunologist says

A Seattle-area hospital and Italy show what awaits America's health care system if coronavirus surges


A major construction project in the UAE, where Tenderd is currently beta testing its A.I. vision technology It is very exciting to see a company from the UAE taking on the construction industry, and injecting much-needed innovation. The team at Tenderd have proven themselves to be capable executors, and making a name for themselves.

Tenderd, a Y-Combinator backed startup based in the UAE, has today announced that it has been placed in the top 10 in the Middle East category in Fast Companys 2020 Most Innovative Companies.

Arjun Mohan, the founder of Tenderd, voiced his excitement on being recognised by Fast Company. Its a pivotal moment for startups serving the construction sector in the region, seeing that this industry is one of the biggest influencers to the economy, yet receives the least attention from innovative technologies.

We are always looking for new technologies that enable us to increase work site efficiency, this is why we engage with Tenderds equipment rental marketplace for our EXPO 2020 project and Dubai Hills project, said Wei Chuanhai, President Assistant at China State Construction Engineering Corporation.

Tenderd, which launched just a little under 2 years ago has grown to become the largest heavy equipment rental marketplace in the region, with operations in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. Tenderd counts on influential investors such as Paul Graham, Paul Buchheit, Peter Thiel, Dynamo Ventures, Revel Partners, Rainfall Ventures, Global Founders, and BECO Capital.

It is worth noting that the MEA construction market is valued at $635 billion, and growing at 9% CAGR - fastest in the world. Tenderd is leveraging machine learning technology to improve productivity and cost management on project sites. To support its ambition, Tenderd has developed Tenderd Track Vision jointly with Google and Nvidia - to utilize video data to estimate the productivity of construction sites.

It is very exciting to see a company from the UAE taking on the construction industry, and injecting much-needed innovation. The team at Tenderd have proven themselves to be capable executors, and making a name for themselves, said Tamer Ahmed, Equipment Superintendent at WBG, a major contractor in Abu Dhabi.

All machines rented through Tenderd are tracked through its proprietary Tenderd Track platform. The platform is available on desktop and mobile and provides contractors with actionable data to better manage the efficiency and cost of their rented equipment. This is a procurement category that is usually overlooked and relegated to the inefficient paper process. The Tenderd platform enables contractors or developers to have unparalleled control over spend and efficiency of this supply chain that plays a pivotal role in all large scale construction projects.

Tenderds technology platform can ultimately standardize and change how equipment is utilized in our industry, said Chris Ratcliffe, Workshop Manager at Overseas AST, a leading contractor based in Dubai, UAE.

About Tenderd: Tenderd is a heavy equipment rental marketplace, which helps contractors and developers rent and manages construction equipment in a systematic and efficient way. From real-time productivity monitoring to predictive maintenance alerts, Tenderd offers a comprehensive software platform to rent and manage equipment more effectively.

To learn more, visit http://www.tenderd.com.

Media contact: Chong Siong, csiong@tenderd.com
Health Ministry on Wednesday released a comic developed by PGIMER and Panjab University on Coronavirus to make the children aware and make them understand how to prevent infection.

This comic 'Kids, Vaayu and Corona: Who wins the fight?' is a brainchild of Dr.Ravindra Khaiwal and Dr.Suman Mor.

"There are growing concerns and perceived threat about the Coronavirus among ordinary citizens. The parent should talk to the children and resolve their queries, so they do not panic. However, sometimes parents might be busy, and they might not be able to resolve their questions. Inspired by my own children's queries, I wrote this comic," said Dr.Ravindra Khaiwal, Additional Professor of Environment Health, School of Public Health, Department of Community Medicine PGIMER, Chandigarh.

He also mentioned that the suggestion from children helped to make it more tempting to read and learn.

Dr.Suman Mor, Additional Professor and Chairperson, Department of Environment Studies, Panjab University, mention that they were working on comics for air pollution awareness, and sudden outbreak of coronavirus inspired them to make use of the developed characters to fight the threat of coronavirus.

"We were working on comics for air pollution awareness, and sudden outbreak of coronavirus inspired them to make use of the developed characters to fight the threat of coronavirus. The comic is designed to learn, along with fun, and motivate children to be a hero of prevention by defeating corona and other infectious germs," she said.

The comic 'Kids, Vaayu and Corona: Who wins the fight' can be downloaded from the website (mohfw.gov.in/corona_comic_PGI.pdf).

Prof.Jagat Ram, Director, PGIMER, appreciated the efforts and said this comic would make children aware of the threat of Coronavirus and how to remain safe through simple precautionary steps.

"Health ministry is also planning to translate this book in various Indian languages, and soon the comic will be available in other languages such as Hindi and Punjabi," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11

Trend:

The next plenary meeting of Azerbaijan's Parliament of the 6th convocation will be held on March 13, Trend reports on March 11.

The first plenary meeting of Azerbaijan's Parliament of the 6th convocation was held on March 10, at which new chairman, vice-chairmen of the Parliament, as well as chairmen and vice-chairmen of parliamentary committees were elected.

Earlier it was reported that the meeting will be held on March 17.
MUSKEGON, MI  The former CEO of a health clinic that rescinded its closure announcement has filed a whistleblower lawsuit claiming it had a sexually hostile working environment.

Sheila Bridges filed the lawsuit Feb. 21 against MGH Family Health Center, which does business in Muskegon Heights as Muskegon Family Care, and one of its former board members.

The lawsuit claims that she was fired on Nov. 27 after she called police regarding the actions of Jeffrey Melton, who was vice president of the clinics board at the time.

It also claims that officials at Muskegon Family Care made false statements to others that implied Bridges had embezzled from the health clinic. The Michigan State Police has announced it is investigating possible embezzlement involving staff members at the clinic.

Melton not only denied the allegations, but laughed about them.

Her allegations are totally false, Melton said. I never engaged in any inappropriate activity at Muskegon Family Care during my 15 years of being on the board.

Muskegon Family Care attorney Salvatore Pirrotta declined to comment on the pending litigation.

"Muskegon Family Care looks forward to having the judicial process work as its supposed to, Pirrotta said.

The clinic, serving an estimated 20,000 patients, announced on Feb. 17 that it would close on March 13 due to complicated financial troubles. That announcement came three days after about two-thirds of the clinics employees were terminated.

However, on Feb. 28, Dan Oglesby, who replaced Bridges as CEO, announced the clinic would not be closing. The clinic, which offers medical, dental and behavioral health services, serves mostly low-income patients.

Bridges lawsuit claims that Melton made inappropriate comments about her body and that she received information that he was creating a sexually hostile/discriminatory work environment for female employees.

The lawsuit, filed in Muskegon County Circuit Court, claims that Bridges told Melton she intended to tell the board about his misbehavior and he in response accosted her on November 26, 2020 (sic). Bridges called the police, who escorted Melton off the premises but didnt arrest him, the lawsuit states.

The next day, and in retaliation for her calling the police, the defendants terminated Ms. Bridges employment, the lawsuit states.

When asked by MLive if he accosted Bridges, Melton laughed and denied it.

Were supposed to be her bosses and she calls the police on someone whos supposed to be her boss, Melton said. Thats hilarious to me.

He said he left willingly when asked to by police who were just doing their job.

Melton said he resigned the day after Bridges was terminated, saying Im not getting paid for all of this frustration.

Bridges lawsuit states that her termination came despite stellar performance evaluations, receiving multiple pay raises and bonuses.

Muskegon Family Care tax returns show that Bridges was paid $522,899 in 2016-17, a figure that dropped to $461,113 in 2017-18.

Tax returns also show that the board in 2015-16 approved a $288,567 loan to Bridges, with the purpose stated as personal residence. As of June 30, 2018, she had repaid about $8,000 of the loan, according to the health clinics 2017-18 tax return.

However, Melton said he didnt vote on such a loan.

I know I didnt vote on that, he said. I would never approve of a loan to an employee making the kind of money she was making to purchase a residence. Not just no, but hell no.

Read more on MLive:

Police investigate possible embezzlement from Muskegon Family Care

Muskegon health clinics new CEO makes stunning announcement it wont close

Fired workers lawsuit claims Muskegon Family Care health clinic violated federal law
Barbara Neely, an unheralded social activist who in her 50s became an award-winning writer of mystery novels centered on a savvy black maid who doubles as an amateur detective, died on March 2 in Philadelphia. She was 78.

Ms. Neelys family announced her death through her publisher, Brash Books, without providing further details, except to say that she had been ill for a short time.

Ms. Neely was not the first black female mystery writer. Nor was Blanche White the first fictional black sleuth. But Blanche was probably the first fictional black maid to solve a murder while working for a wealthy white family, and to go on to become an avocational gumshoe in a series of books from a mainstream American publisher.

Blanche was an opinionated woman, imbued with the passion of the author. Ms. Neely had taught prison inmates, fought for abortion rights, assailed violence against women and, through her activism and storytelling, ennobled working mothers, defied stereotypes and confronted bigotry and class discrimination, both directed against blacks and within the black community.
Over a billion Android smartphones are reportedly vulnerable to hacks. A new report claims that the devices running on Android 7.0 that have not been updated are at risk of the attack.

These billion devices are highly vulnerable as they no longer receive any security updates. Based on the data received from Google, Which? reported that over 40 percent of the 2.5 billion Android smartphone users worldwide are at risk of data theft, ransom demands and other kinds of malware attacks.

The report includes results from tests conducted on Motorola, Samsung, Sony, LG, and other smartphones. In terms of devices tested, the list includes Galaxy S3 and Sony Xperia S, which were released around 2012.

"It is very concerning that expensive Android devices have such a short shelf life before they lose security support, leaving millions of users at risk of serious consequences if they fall victim to hackers," Kate Bevan, Editor at Which? said in a statement.

Bevan added that Google and other phone manufacturers need to be upfront about security updates and inform users till when they will receive the security updates and what measures are to be taken when they stop receiving security updates.

"The government must also push ahead with planned legislation to ensure manufacturers are far more transparent about security updates for smart devices  and their impact on consumers, Bevan said.

Android users are advised to update their smartphones to the latest security patch available. To check for the latest update, you can go to Settings > System > Advanced system update.

Users should only download apps from the Google Play Store and not any third-party app store or website to avoid installing any malware.
THE training of Bord na Mona workers in the retrofitting of houses has begun in Mount Lucas.

About 90 employees of the energy company have signed up for a six-day training programme run by the Laois & Offaly Education and Training Board (LOETB).

The programme, for which a QQI certificate in thermal insulation will be awarded, teaches the skills of house insulation, ventilation and air tightness.

The training is taking place at a purpose-built bungalow in a warehouse at the National Construction Training Facility.

Bord na Mona say that the numbers engaged in the training represent about 25 per cent of the employees who will be affected by the ESB decision to close the two peat-burning power stations in Shannonbridge and Lanesborough.

Once trained the workers will be employed in retrofitting of homes in the Midlands, a 20m project which was announced by the Government in Budget 2020.

The training is being delivered by Tomas O'Leary, managing director of a Wicklow-based firm of architects, MosArt, which has developed expertise in the area of NZEB (near zero energy buildings).

We're burning the planet, humans are basically burning the earth, said Mr O'Leary, speaking at the formal launch of the training programme on Wednesday.

The planet will be around for ever but our future is in a bit of a predicament now unless we fix things. And 40 per cent of carbon emissions are from buildings.

Buildings are the big problem. If we can fix buildings we can fix climate change and we might be around for a few more generations.

He said the solution is as simple as improving the insulation in buildings to eliminate draughts and mould and the consequent excessive burning of fossil fuels.

Mr O'Leary said his objective is to create an elite construction crew at Mount Lucas to facilitate the Government's aim of making one million homes energy efficient.

We are not teaching people to do it ok or just good enough. We are going to teach people to do it right, to do it properly and to feel that in their gut and to leave no stone unturned.

Mr O'Leary told the Tullamore Tribune his firm is very focussed on delivering high performance buildings and houses for Irish people.

We're trying to create a new generation of high quality homes in Ireland.

MosArt has delivered similar training around the world for a number of years and their involvement in the LOETB project resulted from a request from the board's skills manager Padraig Boland late last year.

Joe Cunningham, chief executive of the LOETB, said the training being developed in Mount Lucas will benefit workers in the long-term as the Midlands transitions from dependence on Bord na Mona.

There's an opportunity and a responsibility, certainly on statutory agencies such as ourselves, the Education and Training Board and local authority, to support the organisation, the employees and indeed the communities with that transition.

He said a Midlands retrofit traineeship will be developed.

We want to best position the community here in west and north Offaly for that particular pilot scheme once it comes on.

This is the start, we'll continue to develop programmes because no doubt given the changing times we're all in at the moment, the needs of the region will change over time as well and it'll be our job, in negotiation with other interagency members to respond to that.

A 26-week programme for the Peatlands Rehabilitation Traineeship is also being developed for about 210 workers who will be staying in Bord na Mona and assisting with the return of the bogs to nature.

To comply with its Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) licence, Bord na Mona is obliged to carry out works on bogs which are no longer being used for peat production.

Ciaran Butler, learning and development specialist with Bord na Mona, said this programme will be delivered in association with Teagasc.

There will be four weeks of block training initially, and then three to four weeks of on the job training, including one day a week with Teagasc.

We're trying to give people learner currency for the future. So if you leave Bord na Mona in three years time, if rehabilitation finishes, you have a pathway into construction, forestry, tourism or something like that, said Mr Butler.

A pilot group began the training last week. Peatland rehabilitation will involve work such as the removal of drainage, pipes, pumps, railway lines and electricity cables.

That would be the basic rehabilitation. We're now trying to get into the space of returning the bog to a carbon sink so that they do something positive for the environment.
[March 11, 2020] Market Momentum Builds for New Cloud Collaboration Solution as Jenne, Inc. and Avaya Sign Strategic Agreement to Offer Avaya Cloud Office

Jenne (News - Alert), Inc., a value-added technology distributor and cloud master agent, has been named by Avaya (NYSE:AVYA) as a master agent for its Avaya Cloud Office by RingCentral (News - Alert) offering. Business partners, resellers and agents who sign with Jenne to provide this new offer, which combines RingCentral's leading Unified Communications-as-a-Service (UCaaS) platform with Avaya (News - Alert) technology, services and migration capabilities, will have access to all of Jenne's industry-leading service and support to be successful. Avaya is a global leader in solutions to enhance and simplify communications and collaboration, and Avaya Cloud Office provides a single solution for all communication needs, including calling, chat, meetings and collaboration, file and desktop sharing, and task management. "Jenne is excited to offer Avaya Cloud Office which will allow our agents to offer their end-customers the ability to quickly transition to the communication mode that's right for them," said Patrick Howard, vice president of vendor management and marketing, Jenne, Inc. "One click is all it takes to start a call, join a meeting, contribute to a team chat or share content. Plus, Jenne offers our agents unparalleled value-added service and support to help them get started." "Adding Avaya Cloud Office to our portfolio provides Avaya customers and partners with access to a full suite of cloud solutions, and we are pleased to have Jenne working alongside us as a master agent to bring this new UCaaS offer to market," said Frank Ciccone, Avaya SVP, North America Sales. "Avaya Cloud Office enables usersto benefit from Avaya enterprise-grade technology and capabilities with the ease and speed of the leading cloud unified communications platform to meet their unique requirements and budget. We are launching the solution globally beginning March 31, and we are excited to help drive our customers' journey to the cloud."



Jenne was Avaya's first Master Agent when Avaya launched its agent program in 2018. Since then, Jenne's outstanding agent support led Jenne to become Avaya's leading Master Agent for Avaya's UCaaS business, resulting in Avaya naming Jenne as its 2019 Avaya Cloud Partner of the Year at Avaya ENGAGE in February. For more information on how to get started with Avaya Cloud Office with Jenne, contact [email protected].

About Jenne, Inc. Jenne, Inc. is a leading U.S. based value-added distributor and master agent of technology products and solutions focusing on unified communications and collaboration, networking and infrastructure, video conferencing, physical security, the Internet of Things (IoT) and the cloud, including equipment and software for the Enterprise and SMB markets. Founded in 1986, Jenne is committed to providing value added resellers, integrators and service providers with a broad product selection, competitive pricing, on-time accurate delivery, outstanding technical support plus ongoing sales and technical training through Jenne University. More than 180 companies partner with Jenne including Avaya, ADTRAN, Extreme Networks, Hanwha Techwin, Jive, Konftel, Mitel, Lifesize, Panasonic (News - Alert) Business Telephones, Panasonic Security, Plantronics, Razberi, RingCentral, Spectralink, Status Solutions, Vidyo, VTech, and 8x8. The company is headquartered in Avon, Ohio. About Avaya Businesses are built on the experiences they provide, and every day millions of those experiences are built by Avaya (NYSE: AVYA). For over one hundred years, we've enabled organizations around the globe to win - by creating intelligent communications experiences for customers and employees. Avaya builds open, converged and innovative solutions to enhance and simplify communications and collaboration - in the cloud, on-premise or a hybrid of both. To grow your business, we're committed to innovation, partnership, and a relentless focus on what's next. We're the technology company you trust to help you deliver Experiences that Matter. Visit us at www.avaya.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200311005441/en/

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New York (AFP) - Boeing will suspend most hiring and overtime pay as it works to conserve cash in the face of twin crises over the 737 MAX and a massive slowdown in travel due to coronavirus, the company said Wednesday.

Shares of Boeing plunged more than 18 percent in another bruising day for Wall Street as the company announced the belt-tightening measures after disclosing dozens of MAX plane cancelations.

In addition, sources confirmed the aviation giant already essentially tapped a $13 billion loan package finalized just last month.

"It's critical for any company to preserve cash in challenging periods," Boeing Chief Executive David Calhoun wrote in a message to workers.

He announced the company would limit travel and bar overtime except in "critical" cases, and pause new hiring pending a review.

"The year ahead is shaping up to be as challenging for our business as any in the recent past," said the message co-signed by Chief Financial Officer Greg Smith.

"On top of the work of safely returning the 737 MAX to service and the financial impact of the pause in MAX production, we're now facing a global economic disruption generated by the COVID-19 coronavirus."

The announcement came as Boeing reported 43 cancelations for the MAX in 2020 as of the end of February in a monthly update on its website.

The company also experienced a big drop in plane deliveries, which stood at 30 at the end of February, compared with 95 in the year-ago period.

The MAX has been grounded for the past year after two crashes that killed 346 people, spawning numerous lawsuits and investigations.

The anemic orders suggest another rough year for Boeing financials after the company in 2019 suffered its first annual loss in more than two decades.

Boeing last month reached agreement with a consortium of large banks for a $13 billion two-year credit agreement to finance its activities.

Sources confirmed to AFP a Bloomberg report that it planned to draw down all of the funds as early as this week.

Story continues

- Coronavirus hit -

Boeing has said it expects the MAX to receive regulatory approval to return to the skies at mid-year, but that would come at a highly uncertain time for airlines.

Carriers around the world have canceled thousands of flights as the coronavirus effectively shuts down key markets like China and Italy and chills air travel more broadly.

United Airlines President Scott Kirby said Tuesday at an investor conference that net bookings to Asia and Europe over the last few days are "now down 100 percent."

The company has developed contingency plans in case revenue falls 70 percent in April, a scenario it does not expect.

"Based in part on what our experts have told us, as testing expands in the US, many more cases are likely to turn up in many more communities around the country," Kirby said. "As such, we're planning for domestic bookings to deteriorate further in the weeks to come."

"We're obviously planning for scenarios that are probably worse than any of you have in your model, we think it will actually be better than that, but it's better to plan aggressively," Kirby added.

Shares of Boeing plunged 18.2 percent to $189.15 Wednesday, the biggest drag on the Dow, which fell almost six percent on another bleak day on Wall Street.

The White House is working on a stimulus package that could include help for the travel industry and to American consumers, but no details have been announced yet.
Dutch prosecutors accused Russia on Tuesday of interfering with the probe into the downing of flight MH17 and casting a "dark shadow" over the trial of four suspects in the disaster. Moscow had tried to track down witnesses in the trial that started on Monday in the Netherlands, leaving some in fear for their lives in case they were identified, prosecutors said. Three Russians and a Ukranian are on trial over the 2014 crash of the Malaysia Airlines jet in rebel-held eastern Ukraine with the loss of all 298 people on board, 196 of them Dutch. "There are clear indications that Russian security services are actively attempting to disrupt efforts to establish the truth behind the shooting down of flight MH17," prosecutor Thijs Berger told judges. Russian spies had also tried to hack Malaysian and Dutch authorities investigating the crash, he said. "Seen as a whole, this information casts a dark shadow over these proceedings," Berger said. The trial opened in the absence of the suspects -- Russian nationals Igor Girkin, Sergei Dubinsky, Oleg Pulatov and Ukrainian citizen Leonid Kharchenko. Pulatov is the only one represented by a lawyer and he denies all involvement. International investigators say the Boeing 777 was hit by a Russian-made BUK surface-to-air missile, fired from territory held by pro-Moscow rebels battling Kiev. - 'Campaign of disinformation' - Relatives of those who died have repeatedly called for the trial to examine the role of Russia in the crash. "The court has made it crystal clear that the Russian government is staging a campaign of disinformation," Anton Kotte, a board member of a foundation for MH17 victims, said Tuesday. "And we will have to be prepared for much more distortion of the truth as the case proceeds." Kotte lost his son, daughter-in-law and grandson. Moscow has repeatedly denied any involvement in the crash of MH17, or in eastern Ukraine generally. Pulatov's defence lawyer rejected the prosecutor's "sharp" comments, saying the remarks on witness safety were "not only premature, but highly public". "I wonder why the Dutch authorities at the same time when it suits them, ask for the cooperation of the Russian Federation," lawyer Boudewijn van Eijck said. Prosecutors have said Russia was trying to trace potential witnesses in the trial, some of whom will testify anonymously. "The use of Russian security services to discover the identify of witnesses in this investigation is a very real scenario," Berger added. "Several witnesses in this investigation say that they fear for their lives if their identities were to come to light." - 'Fear of reprisals' - The prosecutors added that Russian security services were already "accused of multiple murders that have been committed in various European countries". Special protection had been given to one witness, who was willing to be named later in the proceedings but was remaining anonymous for now given the security concerns, prosecutors said. Only referred to as M58 at this stage, the witness was a Russian volunteer attached to a separatist unit close to the BUK when it was launched on the day MH17 was shot down. The witness had testified that Russian military personnel -- whom separatists said were from Russia's FSB security agency -- were with the missile at the launch site, they added. "Once it became clear in the following hours that it was not a military aircraft but civilian flight, MH17, the disinformation campaign started immediately," prosecutor Dedy Woei-a-Tsoi said. Another witness identified only as S24 had "expressed a fear of reprisals by the Russian Federation". And a third, known as V9, had asked to remain anonymous because "I might get picked up by Russian special services," the prosecution added. The case was adjourned for two weeks and will resume on 23 March.
It means our leaders being as truthful and honest as possible, including admitting mistakes and things we simply dont know, said Wilbur Chen, an infectious-disease physician at the University of Maryland. The solution is not as simple as announcing a lockdown, because the second you do that here, youre going to have people panicking and jumping into their cars, which is the exact opposite of what youre trying to achieve.
She's best-known as the daughter of Jude Law and Sadie Frost, but is making waves all of her own in the fashion industry.

And Iris Law turned heads as she attended the launch of her Iris By Iris capsule collection for Mulberry at the brand's Regent Street store on Tuesday evening.

The model, 19, put on a leggy display in a khaki minidress teamed with a snakeskin-print jacket as she made a cheery departure from the event with her boyfriend, artist Jyrrel Roberts, 22.

Model moment: Iris Law turned heads as she attended the launch of her Iris By Iris capsule collection for Mulberry at the brand's Regent Street store on Tuesday evening

Accentuating her frame with patent black sandals, Iris accessorised her outfit with a multicoloured Mulberry bag from her new capsule collection and gold hoop earrings.

The catwalk queen kept her brown tresses slicked back into a low bun and opted for a minimal makeup look with a slick of mascara and a light pink lipstick.

Jyrrel opted for a low-key look for the event, teaming a teal and mustard plaid shirt with aubergine-coloured trousers and a black beanie hat.

Inside the bash, the model showed off her style as she swapped her snakeskin print jacket for a geometric print trench coat.

Plenty to smile about: The model, 19, made a cheery departure from the event with her boyfriend, artist Jyrrel Roberts, 22

Walk on the wild side: Iris, the daughter of Jude Law and Sadie Frost, put on a leggy display in a khaki minidress teamed with a snakeskin-print jacket

Strutting her stuff: Accentuating her leggy frame with patent black sandals, Iris accessorised her outfit with a multicoloured Mulberry bag from her new capsule collection

The star's mother Sadie showed her support as she too attended the launch event.

Sadie, 54, exuded elegance in a figure-hugging black dress as she proudly posed alongside her daughter.

Iris was last seen walking the runway at the Miu Miu Fall Winter 2020 show on the last day of Paris Fashion Week.

She wore a dress which featured a sheer top over a knitted bandeau with polka dot embellishment and black detailing.

Supportive mother: Iris' socialite mother, Sadie Frost, attended the launch event and posed for pictures with her while holding the Mulberry Iris bag

Smitten: The couple put on a loved-up display as they left the event arm in arm

The dress went into a full-bodied puffball skirt that rested above her knees with a frill.

Iris has previously discussed growing up with famous parents and how she is managing her newly found fame.

In an interview with ES Magazine, she said Jude, 47, and Sadie, 54, who divorced in 2003 following six years of marriage, had given her normality in her childhood despite their A-list status.

Iris explained: 'My dad was really young, he'd had all his kids [with Frost] by 30. Mum, too, she also had a baby face.

'I can never tell [her age] in pictures, I'll say, ''What, you had three kids by that age?'' She looks 17.

Radiant: Iris kept her brown tresses slicked back into a low bun and opted for a minimal makeup look with a slick of mascara and a light pink lipstick

Fashion collaboration: The model and Mulberry Creative Director Johnny Coca posed for a photo

'I'm not in the position to know what it was like [to have experienced fame] as overwhelming as my dad experienced. But I'm not pressing for [fame] and I'm also not pressing against it.'

Jude and Sadie have three children together; actor and model Rafferty, 23, Iris, and Rudy, 17.

Sadie also has son Finlay, 29, from her first marriage to Spandau Ballet's Gary Kemp, 60.

Jude has daughter Sophia, 10, from a brief relationship with American model Samantha Burke and daughter Ada, five, from a short romance with aspiring singer songwriter Catherine Harding, also known as Cat Cavelli.

Striking: Iris was last seen walking the runway at the Miu Miu Fall Winter 2020 show on the last day of Paris Fashion Week
by Mike Maher | Nationals Correspondent | Tue, Mar 10th 9:37pm EDT

Nationals outfielder Juan Soto went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in Tuesday's loss to the Miami Marlins. The homer was his second of the Spring.

Fantasy Impact:

Soto had a breakout 2019 and looks to be in midseason form already in the Spring. He will no longer have Anthony Rendon protecting him in the lineup, but he is a solid bet for 90+ runs and RBI, 30+ home runs, give or take 10 stolen bases, and a batting average north of .275.
Five people are confirmed dead after a light plane crashed in wild weather on the Cape York Peninsula, with authorities finding the wreckage on a beach near the local airstrip.

During a search of the wreckage the bodies of the 39-year-old pilot and four male passengers aged 63, 62, 57 and 49 were located.

All five men are from the Cairns area. The four passengers were staff with QBuild - a unit in the Queensland Government's Department of Housing and Public Works.

Five men have died following an aviation incident in Lockhart River this morning. Credit:Queensland Police

Police believe the aircraft crashed into sand dunes as wild weather including monsoonal rain and high winds whipped the region.
SCHENECTADY  Plans to demolish and build a larger McDonalds restaurant in the Upper Union Street business district appear to be on hold as neighbors continue to express their displeasure with the proposed changes.

After McDonald's pulled its application from the agenda of the January planning commission meeting, the city offered to hold a special hearing to consider the proposal, which needs site plan approval as well as a special use permit and multiple variances.

On Wednesday, John Reeher, who co-owns the McDonalds at 1673 Union St. with his wife, Kathie said "we're just weighing our options." He declined further comment. The couple own several other McDonald's in the region.

Some in the local neighborhood association worry the proposed more modern 4,350-square-foot McDonald's with 38 parking spaces and the addition of a second drive-thru could destroy the character of the area and could cause problems for pedestrians and clog traffic on Union Street.

They also object to McDonalds razing the current 3,309-square-foot building, which currently has 34 parking slots and one drive-through that customers can access from Union or Dean streets. The plan also called for demolishing another commercial building to the west that previously held Simon's Mens Wear and Mr.Wasabi.

We think there is enough room on that site for them to re-configure the building to make it fit better without tearing it down or even adding that second entrance on Union Street,  said Tom Carey, president of the 12309/Upper Union Neighborhood Association.

He recalled a recent meeting he and a few members of the neighborhood group had earlier this year where they shared some ideas with representatives from McDonalds corporate.

They listened, were very polite, we made some suggestions about the way they could re-orient the building and make it better and they kept coming up with reasons they couldnt do it, added Carey.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

Eric Wagner, an area construction manager on the Schenectady project with McDonald's corporate office in Massachusetts, did not return a call Wednesday seeking comment.

Planning Commission Chairwoman Mary Moore Wallinger said Wednesday that she's hopeful McDonalds will consider some of the design standards the city has in place to protect the character of the Upper Union Street area.

Carey said thats all they want.

All were asking is that they follow the design guidelines that the city has established and give us a project that fits in with the neighborhood and respects the character of the neighborhood, said Carey. We hope we can find a solution that works for everybody.
AKRON, Ohio  A woman was wounded Monday while sitting in her vehicle in the North Hill neighborhood by a gunman who opened fire as he rode by on a bicycle, police say.

It was one of two shootings Monday under investigation by police. Both incidents sent the victims to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

At 10:40 a.m. Monday, a 29-year-old woman was sitting her parked car on the 100 block of West Dalton Avenue. The woman tells police that an unknown male rode by on a bicycle and shot her, wounding her in the leg. The suspect, who was wearing all black clothing, rode off in an unknown direction, police say.

Officers were called to the 1100 block of LaCroix Avenue in the Sherbondy Hill neighborhood at about 3 p.m. Monday. They found a 30-year-old male on nearby West Thornton Street with a gunshot wound to his upper body. A shell casing was found at the scene.

Officers believe the victim was involved in an altercation with two males between the ages of 20 to 25 before being shot. The suspects, who were wearing black clothing, ran off in an unknown direction, police say.

Anyone with information can contact detectives at 330-375-2490 or Summit County Crimestoppers at 330-434-COPS. Individuals can also send tips by texting TIPSCO to 274637. Callers can remain anonymous.

More crime-related content on cleveland.com:

Trio pleads guilty in crime spree including killing of Cleveland liquor store clerk during shootout

Woman killed in shooting in Clevelands Euclid-Green neighborhood

Duo arrested after miles-long, high-speed chase with troopers across Cuyahoga County indicted on felony charges

Shoplifting suspects who struck off-duty North Olmsted police officer near Great Northern Mall indicted, court records say

North Royalton man who tried to gouge out police officers eyes pleads guilty
CellGate "While we sell our products and service on a national basis, we think there is a huge opportunity to gain better market share of the multi-tenant property access control market that is literally in our own backyard. "Ken Shaw, Vice President of Sales, CellGate

Cellular access control manufacturer, CellGate, is now a member of the Apartment Association of Greater Dallas (AAGD). The AAGD has over 1,000 apartment owner and management company members, who represent 2,700 properties in the eleven counties surrounding the City of Dallas. It also includes an additional 750 companies that provide professional services and products to these property owners and management companies.

CellGate has a number of cellular and internet-based access control products that are ideal for vehicle and pedestrian gate entrances of multi-family residences, thus AAGD membership was an ideal opportunity for the company to network and market these products to the decision-makers in the local area.

We are so excited to meet the other members of the Apartment Association of Greater Dallas, said CellGates Vice President of Sales, Ken Shaw. While we sell our products and service on a national basis, we think there is a huge opportunity to gain better market share of the multi-tenant property access control market that is literally in our own backyard. Plus, it is always gratifying to be able to see in person how our products improve the living experience for both a multi-tenant property resident and the propertys managers.

CellGate currently has three products it markets and sells to multi-family properties, all from their Watchman line. The Watchman W460, Watchman W461 and new Watchman XL are all gate access control systems that can provide live streaming video of visitors at the gate, directly to a tenants smart phone. These multi-tenant options can work on either the Verizon or AT&T cellular networks, or with a hard-wired internet connection. Many multi-tenant properties are moving to cellular-based gate access control options in recent years due to the high cost of new landline installation, tenants desire to have access control from their smart phones, and property managements desire to have more feature-rich security options that can be easily controlled from a web portal or their own wireless devices. CellGates multi-tenant product offerings come with a single internal camera and can include up to 3 external cameras for additional security. In addition, CellGates WXP Expansion panel can be added to these systems to control up to 4 other property gates and doors.

Shaw reiterated the importance of meeting AAGD members in person, and having the ability to demonstrate how Cellgates technology works. We are really looking forward to the networking opportunities AAGD membership provides, and to exhibiting at their trade shows, said Shaw. Seeing our products in action, and how they can make multi-tenant property residents lives easier, is such a joy and we cannot wait to be more active in our own local market.

CellGate has been providing access control and security monitoring products utilizing cellular network technology since 2006. They are the only technology company with a complete suite of cellular-based security productsencompassing streaming video, smart keypad entry, voice and camera solutions. With their easy-to-use smart phone applications and proprietary TrueCloud web-based portal built on Microsoft Azures cloud service, CellGate offers flexibility found in no other access control or monitoring solution. Visit http://www.cell-gate.com to learn more.
Australians returning to Perth from Italy on two flights on Wednesday evening have been instructed to self-isolate, as other non-residents on the flights were turned away at connecting stops in Dubai and Doha.

The passengers would have been midway through their journey when the Federal Government announced a ban on any travellers from Italy being permitted into Australia due to coronavirus fears.

The flight touched down in Perth on Wednesday afternoon, with many on board wearing masks. Credit:Heather McNeill

Among the hundreds of passengers arriving at Perth Airport were dozens wearing masks and one man pushing a trolley overflowing with large boxes of toilet rolls.

Italian national, Laura, who did not want her surname published, said there was commotion among airport staff when she arrived in Dubai Airport from Rome.
Mayor's Voting Trouble Redux

Kansas City Mayor Says Being Mistaken For 'Lucas Quinton' Points To Larger Issues With Voting Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas made national headlines Tuesday when he tried to vote in Missouri's presidential primary but was incorrectly told by an election worker that he wasn't in the system. Lucas was eventually able to vote Tuesday evening, but said his experience was part of a larger issue with voting and called on Missouri to increase funding for elections and offer mail-in voting.

Kansas City Evictions Cont'd

Affiliates of KM-TEH Realty continue to pursue evictions Hide Transcript Show Transcript JACKSON COUNTY EVICTION COURT. MATT: SINCE JULY OF LAST YEAR, WE'VE BEEN REPORTING ON KM-TEH REALTY. WE'VE ALSO REPORTED THAT TEH IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST OF VICTORS HERE IN THE KANSAS CITY AREA. 23:26. -- THAT'S ALL WHILE TENANTS HAVE SAID THOSE LANDLORDS WON'T FIX PROBLEMS, OR PAY FOR UTILITIES, LEAVING PEOPLE SCRAMBLING.

City Hall Assurances

'Right now the professionals are telling us that we can handle this tournament without a risk to public health,' says KC mayor Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas addresses the coronavirus and the Big 12 tournament this weekend.

Kansas City Considers Medicial Supply Scarcity

Area hospitals work to conserve protective masks, gowns KANSAS CITY, Mo. - As the coronavirus continues to spread around the world, hospitals in the Kansas City metro are working to conserve personal protective equipment, such as masks and gowns. Children's Mercy locations and Saint Luke's Health System have pulled masks from their public entrances and now require people to ask for them.

Brit Cosplay Exposes Out Of This World Hotness

Rita Ora EXCL: Singer embodies the sexy sci-fi warrior in racy shoot Rita Ora transformed into a sexy sci-fi warrior for her latest shoot, as she teased the release of her new single How To Be Lonely. The British hitmaker, 29, donned an incredible blue wig and gold armour as she channelled her inner Wonder Woman for the sexy photo shoot.

Cruising Toward Crackdown

White House considers cruise ship shutdown amid coronavirus crisis The White House is awaiting a cruise-ship industry proposal on preventing coronavirus before deciding whether to actively discourage Americans from boarding the vessels to prevent the further spread of the disease.

Prez Putin Power Play

Russia's Vladimir Putin just got one step closer to being president for life Vladimir Putin is making plans to be president for life. In an abrupt - if not totally shocking - move, Russia's State Duma (its lower house of parliament) proposed a constitutional amendment on Tuesday that would reset presidential term limits to zero, allowing Putin to run again for president in 2024, when his tenure is supposed to expire.

Forever Royal

Prince Andrew 'dipping his toe' back into royal life despite Jeffrey Epstein ties Prince Andrew is "dipping his toe" back into royal life - even as US officials are furious at his failure to cooperate with the Jeffrey Epstein investigation, according to a report Tuesday. The disgraced Duke of York, 60, was photographed Monday at a memorial service for a senior courtier - with friends telling the Sun he was there with the blessing of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II.

Coronavirus Crackdown

DNC announces no audience at upcoming primary debate because of coronavirus outbreak With the coronavirus pandemic sweeping across the nation, Democrats announced Tuesday that the CNN-Univision Democratic presidential debate set for this weekend will be held without an audience.

Local Summer Sounds Echo

The Beach Boys coming to Kauffman Center this summer KANSAS CITY, MO (KCTV) -- The Beach Boys are making their debut at the Kauffman Center this summer. They will perform in Muriel Kauffman Theatre at 7:30 p.m. on August 3. Tickets start at $54 and go on sale to the public at 10 a.m. Friday.

Charitable Life Lesson

KC church helps teens find prom dresses A Kansas City church is making sure that every girl who wants to go to prom has her perfect dress."Rather than getting a $20 or $30 dress, we'd rather them have a $600 dress they can get for absolutely no cost," said Laura Wesche, a volunteer at Blessed Dress KC.The prom boutique is in the basement of Central United Methodist Church.

Spring Rains Coming Soon

Tracking several storms over the next two weeks Have the umbrellas ready because a spring time rainy pattern is setting up. Sure, over the last 25 days it's rained only twice. Once on February 24 and then on Monday, March 9. But Monday's rain was a record for the date, (1.73" at Kansas City International) and may just be the beginning of a very wet weather pattern that will continue for the next two weeks.

For our most dedicated readers we gather this collection featuring, community news and info from across the nation, around the world and beyond . . . For purposes of education, parody, discussion and the public trust . . .And this is thefor right now . . .
WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump announced Wednesday night that he will instruct the Treasury Department to allow individuals and businesses negatively affected by the coronavirus to defer their tax payments beyond the April 15 filing deadline.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 11/3/2020 (670 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

President Donald Trump, joined by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, right, speaks to reporters after meeting with Republican senators, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, March 10, 2020. Trump wants Congress to pass payroll tax relief as he looks to calm financial markets' fears over the impact of the coronavirus epidemic. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump announced Wednesday night that he will instruct the Treasury Department to allow individuals and businesses negatively affected by the coronavirus to defer their tax payments beyond the April 15 filing deadline.

In an address from the Oval Office, Trump said he would use his emergency authority to allow individual taxpayers ad businesses to defer paying their taxes by next months deadline if they have suffered adverse effects from the spreading virus.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told Congress earlier Wednesday that the payment delay would have the effect of putting more than $200 billion back into the economy that would otherwise go to paying taxes next month. He did not indicate what the new deadline would be.

Mnuchin told reporters that the delay would cover virtually all Americans other than the super-rich.

He said the delay would not apply to large corporations or very wealthy taxpayers but he did not offer any specific income or asset thresholds that would be needed to qualify for the delay.

President Donald Trump, joined by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, right, speaks to reporters after meeting with Republican senators, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, March 10, 2020. Trump wants Congress to pass payroll tax relief as he looks to calm financial markets' fears over the impact of the coronavirus epidemic. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Mnuchin told a House Appropriations subcommittee that the administration could grant the tax delay without having to go to Congress for approval.

Mnuchin said the delay would allow individuals to not pay their taxes by the April 15 deadline. The IRS would also waive interest payments or other penalties for missing the deadline.

Under current IRS rules, taxpayers can get an automatic extension on filing their tax returns but they are required to pay tax on the estimated amount they will owe when they do file.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin stands up after testifying on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, March 11, 2020, during a House Appropriations subcommittee hearing on the FY'21 budget. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

Members of Congress have urged the administration to take this step amid the coronavirus crisis.

Jen Zoratti | Next A weekly look towards a post-pandemic future delivered to your inbox every Wednesday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement.

Given the growing nationwide concerns regarding the potential spread and the resulting economic and public health impact of such an outbreak, we urge you to act quickly and remove one source of stress that individuals face during the crisis, Sens. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., and Patty Murray, D-Wash., said in a letter to IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig.

The American people should not have to worry about filing IRS forms in the middle of a public health emergency, the two senators wrote.

In addition to using emergency authority to allow taxpayers who have been affected by the virus to defer their taxes, the president said, effective immediately, he would have the Small Business Administration start providing low-interest loans for businesses in states and U.S. territories that have been affected by the virus.

He said these loans would help small businesses overcome the economic disruptions that have been caused by the virus. In addition, he said he would request that Congress boost this loan pool by providing an additional $50 billion in funding for the SBA.

Trump said he would also take emergency action to provide financial relief to allow working Americans who have been affected by the virus to stay at home if they are ill, quarantined or taking care of others dealing with the coronavirus.

He said he would ask Congress to provide additional funding for this worker relief.
Harvey Weinstein was sentenced to 23 years in a New York state prison on Wednesday, bringing to a close a monthslong trial that saw six women testify to the former movie producers pattern of sexual assaults.

This sentence is at the upper end of the range Weinstein was facingthe minimum was five years and the maximum was 29 years in prison for the two felony convictions a jury handed down on Feb. 24. If the jury had found him guilty of the two more severe predatory sexual assault charges prosecutors brought against him, he could have received a life sentence. Instead, jury members rejected those chargesand, implicitly, Annabella Sciorras rape accusationleaving Justice James A. Burke with a lower range of sentencing options.

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Even so, at 67, Weinstein is still probably looking at an effective life sentence. And the judges decision to disregard Weinsteins continued plea, until moments before his sentencing, that he was totally confused by the accusations and believed every sex act was consensual, sends a strong message of support for survivors of sexual violence whose stories dont fit an easily graspable narrative of victimization and trauma.

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The defense spent its time in court, and in media appearances, arguing that Jessica Mann and Miriam Haley couldnt possibly have felt theyd been sexually assaulted by Weinstein, since they had subsequent sexual contact with him and sent friendly sounding messages to him years later. Along with prosecutors, Mann and Haley attempted to explain that people can respond to sexual assault in any number of ways, including making efforts to normalize the relationship and protect themselves from having to acknowledge that theyve been victimized. They refused to allow that solicitous emails or bouts of consensual sex could negate or disprove instances of rape. The jury accepted that uncommonly nuanced narrative of trauma, and it seems the judge did, too.

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Most of the allegations against Weinstein will never be assessed by judges or juries because of expired statutes of limitation, the many nondisclosure agreements Weinstein had his victims sign, and prosecutors reluctance to bring difficult-to-prove sexual assault cases into courts of law. As a result, this case came to represent the dozens of stories of Weinsteins sexual misconduct that have been made public over the past few years. Jury members were instructed to limit their deliberations to the few accusations that were delivered in court, but judges have a lot more leeway when they decide on a sentence. They can take into account previous criminal behavior, the impact on victims, and any mitigating factors in the defendants life. Burke wasnt able to make judgments on the many other rapes women have accused Weinstein of committing, but, at the very least, he could evaluate the stories of the three supporting witnesses prosecutors brought in to support the main victims testimonies. Each accused Weinstein of additional sex crimes. And when prosecutors asked Burke for a long sentence for Weinstein, they mentioned the many other allegations that had never made it to court, stretching back to a woman who said he raped her on a work trip in 1978. Weinsteins full history of sexual misconduct, adjudicated and alleged, surely played into Burkes decision to give him a hefty sentence for his crimes.

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There are sounds of rejoicing at this long overdue comeuppance for one of the most famous, powerful, and prolific sexual abusers in known modern history. And yet, there is a plaintive note alongside it: A jury couldnt even convict Harvey WeinsteinHarvey Weinstein!of all the charges brought against him. A judge couldnt give Harvey WeinsteinHarvey Weinstein!the maximum sentence. Dozens of women have accused him of sexual misconduct; six testified, in this case, to his brutal sexual assaults. It still wasnt enough to convince judge or jury that hed earned the harshest penalty. Six women braved an unrelenting media spotlight, a team of ruthless well-paid defense attorneys, and the man whod sexually assaulted them to seek accountability for all the other women hes allegedly abused. In the end, their combined stories were enough to outweigh Weinsteins denials. But in the wake of a case that was always going to be read as representative of what the broader #MeToo movement has earned, theres still a twinge of loss.
By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - American Airlines Group Inc <AAL.O> said Tuesday it has signed a strategic partnership deal with Qatar Airways and is reviving its codeshare agreement.

The largest U.S. airline also said it is considering launching service from the United States to Doha.

Starting in 2015, the largest U.S. carriers argued their Gulf rivals were being unfairly subsidized by their governments, distorting competition and costing U.S. jobs - something the Gulf carriers deny.

"The issues that led to the suspension of our partnership two years ago have been addressed, and we believe resuming our codeshare agreement will allow us to provide service to markets that our customers, team members and shareholders value," said American Chairman and Chief Executive Doug Parker in a statement.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Akbar Al Baker said in a statement the strategic partnership "will bring together two of the world's largest airline networks, increasing choices for millions of passengers and providing seamless connectivity to a significant number of new destinations."

Pending government approvals, American will place its code on some Qatar Airways' nonstop and connecting flights to and from the United States and Qatar Airways' hub in Doha, allowing American's customers access to additional destinations in the Middle East, East Africa, and Asia that it does not serve.

Qatar Airways will place its code on select flights going beyond American's hubs in Dallas-Fort Worth, Chicago O'Hare, Philadelphia, Miami, New York-JFK and Los Angeles, and on American's international flights to and from Europe, the Caribbean, Central America and South America.

Parker and American President Robert Isom said in a note to employees on Tuesday that the airline has "gotten more strategic about where American's metal is deployed and when to enter joint businesses and alliances with partners to strengthen and complement our network. We will continue to act strategically to expand and deepen our global partnerships."

Story continues

American in June 2017 notified Qatar of its decision to terminate its codeshare relationship.

Earlier this month, Brazilian budget airline Gol <GOLL4.SA> signed a codeshare agreement with American Airlines. American also announced it was expanding its relationship with Alaska Airlines <ALK.N>, which is also joining the global airline network oneworld that includes Qatar and American.

In April 2019, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the administration was scrutinizing Qatar Airways' acquisition of a 49% stake in Air Italy, which had been flying to U.S. destinations since 2018 in a move seen by U.S. lawmakers as flouting a deal not to add new flights to the domestic market.

Qatar Airways and another investor agreed earlier this month to put Air Italy into liquidation.

(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Himani Sarkar)
Lucas County Corrections Center

A plastic surgeon in Ohio has been arrested on charges of drugging and raping multiple women while they were unconscious.

Dr Manish Gupta has been charged with sex trafficking, dispensing controlled substances and aggravated sexual abuse.

Two of the charges above carry a maximum sentence of life in prison. Dr Gupta waived his right to a preliminary hearing.

The 49-year-old was arrested on Friday and subsequently booked into the Lucas County Corrections Center.

Through a search warrant, authorities found controlled ketamine and diazepam, sex toys and camera equipment among his belongings at his residence and his offices.

In January 2019 authorities started investigating Dr Gupta after a woman who worked as an escort, whom he had met at a convention in September 2016, accused him of drugging her before performing sex acts on her.

The woman told the authorities that she didn't remember much after she drank a glass of wine and a home drug test showed she had tranquillizer in her system.

She did not go to the police at the time, but looked Dr Gupta up on a dating website used by other escorts and saw complaints from other women accusing him of drugging and raping them.

In 2014, one of his employees found a memory card which appeared to show him having sex with a woman who looked unconscious.

Dr Gupta runs two plastic surgery offices in the Toledo area and one in Taylor, Michigan.

Additional reporting by the Associated Press

Read more

Famed plastic surgeon Dr Bumbum charged with murder over patient death
New Delhi, March 11 : The "Ramcharitmanas" is undoubtedly one of the greatest lyrical compositions in Hindi literature. Writing in the 16th century, Tulsidas chose to pen verses in Awadhi rather than Sanskrit, thus breaking with the literary tradition, and, importantly, making Lord Ram more relatable to the lay person.

Pavan K. Varma, author of the best-selling "Adi Shankaracharya: Hinduism's Greatest Thinker", has selected some of the most evocative stanzas from Ramcharitmanas, offering a succinct commentary for each that capture the very core of the original in "The Greatest Ode to Lord Ram: Tulsidas's Ramcharitmanas; Selections & Commentaries," published by Westland.

While centering the philosophical aspect of the Ramcharitmanas -- the immutability of the soul over the merely corporeal; the transience of worldly pleasures; and the placing of wisdom above knowledge -- the book describes a devoted son, a loving sibling, a committed lover, an ideal ruler and also a human, almost bereft of divinity. Indeed, Ram is a god and a man; he is comprehensible.

"Tulsidas' seminal work employs a unique poetic linguistic tool that unravels even the most profound concepts with utmost simplicity, blending philosophy with breathtaking verse. Varma's compelling new selection and commentary achieves this effect by combining the aesthetics, romance and imagery of the original work with the unadulterated spirituality that sparkles through the conduct of a great god," the publisher said in a statement.

Pavan K. Varma is a writer-diplomat and now in politics, where he was till recently an MP in the Rajya Sabha. He was earlier advisor to the Chief Minister of Bihar, in the rank of a Cabinet minister.

He was Ambassador to several countries, and also Director of the Nehru Centre in London, official spokesperson of the MEA, and Press Secretary to the President of India. Author of over a dozen successful books, Pavan K. Varma was conferred an honorary doctoral degree for his contribution to the fields of diplomacy, literature, culture and aesthetics by the University of Indianapolis in 2005.

He was also conferred the Druk Thuksey, Bhutan's highest civilian award, by the King of Bhutan in 2012. In 2018, on the instructions of the Shankaracharya of Sringeri, Varma was conferred an honorary doctorate by Sri Sharada Institute of Indian Management.
Following a minor online uproar, it has been confirmed that actor Daniel Radcliffe hasnt been infected by the coronavirus. The speculation began after a fake tweet claiming that the Harry Potter star had become the first high-profile victim of the virus began doing the rounds online.

Not true, the actors publicist told BuzzFeed News. BREAKING: Daniel Radcliffe tests positive for coronavirus, the false Tweet said. The actor is said to be the first famous person to be publicly confirmed.

The tweet fooled thousands of Twitter users, including a couple of prominent journalists. The fake account was registered under the username @BBCNewsTonight, and used the BBCs logo. It has since been suspended.

BuzzFeed contacted some of the people involved in the hoax, who revealed that the tweet had made over 300000 impressions. Asked why they pulled the stunt, one member of the group behind the account said that it was done in jest, because the internet was lowering societys IQ. Deceiving other humans innocence by the numbers on a tweet. I could write a tweet right now but no one would believe it unless it has the right amount of numbers, one person was quoted by BuzzFeed as saying.

They said they chose Radcliffe randomly. We needed someone who was famous but not famous enough to be unbelievable, one person said. We [found] a celebrity that people care about but [didnt] really have relevant fame, said another. People love Daniel Radcliffe as a childhood star, but he isnt popular on social media.

Radcliffe will next be seen in the action film Guns Akimbo, co-starring Samara Weaving. The novel coronavirus has infected close to 120000 people worldwide, including 52 in India.

Follow @htshowbiz for more
Smartphone owners are being given new rights to have their device repaired under laws introduced by the EU that could put an end to 'throwaway culture'.

Manufacturers will made to fix broken electronic devices under the EUs new Circular Economy Action Plan (CEAP), which will also cover the UK despite Brexit.

The plan, unveiled on Wednesday by the European Commission, will give Europeans the right to repair by making devices easier to fix.

The laws, which will also apply to tablets, laptops and printers, focus on a more circular economy  where electronic resources are kept in use as long as possible.

Major tech companies making devices hard to fix, including Apple, Samsung and Huawei, is creating an electronic and electrical rubbish mountain  wasting resources and blighting the environment, say green campaigners.

Scroll down for video

Reducing the lifespan of a product may drive sales, but this comes at the expense of consumers, workers and the planet, says a coalition of European organisations that lobby for repair-friendly devices

Video by Right to Repair Europe

The laws will help achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, as the disposal of mountains of electronic waste (e-waste) emits harmful chemicals into the atmosphere.

Forcing manufacturers to recycle electrical components from broken devices will help the environmental impact of dumped devices containing non-reusable parts.

Many products break down too easily, cannot be reused, repaired or recycled, or are made for single use only, said Frans Timmermans, executive vice president-designate of the European Commission.

There is a huge potential to be exploited both for businesses and consumers.

With today's plan we launch action to transform the way products are made and empower consumers to make sustainable choices for their own benefit and that of the environment.

As part of the changes, products manufactured in the EU will have longer product lifetimes, unnecessary packaging of devices will be reduced, while the sustainability and the circular potential of batteries will be boosted.

One particular focus will be on avoiding waste altogether and transforming it into high-quality secondary resources  all part of a circular economy.

The EUs economy is still mostly linear, Timmermans said, meaning raw materials are collected, transformed into products and then discarded as waste.

Only 12 per cent of secondary materials and resources being brought back into the economy, he said.

A more circular economy, however, will mean disposed components, both from renewable and non-renewable resources, are increasingly returned to manufacturing facilities.

To achieve climate-neutrality by 2050, to preserve our natural environment, and to strengthen our economic competitiveness, requires a fully circular economy, Timmermans said.

EU stats estimate that less than 40 per cent of electronic waste in the EU is thought to be recycled

Eight in 10 Europeans agree that manufacturers should make it easier to repair devices, while less than 40 per cent of e-waste in the EU is recycled, according to EU stats.

Right to Repair, a collation of European organisations that advocate easy device fixes, said the plan is in recognition of the frustration consumers experience when 'stuff breaks down too quickly and cannot be reused'.

The group has been petitioning the EU to require manufacturers like Samsung, Huawei and Apple to design repairable products and provide spare parts and repair information with their sales.

It says that consumers would prefer to fix their devices rather than buy new ones after a few years, but repairs are often too difficult, expensive or even impossible for this to happen.

The European Commissions Circular Economy Action Plan unveiled today hits all the right notes to make right to repair a reality in Europe, Right to Repair said in a blog post.

While the strategy remains thin on the details, it provides plenty of reason to feel hopeful.

Promises will now need to be matched with concrete initiatives.'

Broken white goods are creating an electronic and electrical rubbish mountain - wasting resources and blighting the environment, according to green campaigners

The EU says half of total greenhouse gas emissions and more than 90 per cent of biodiversity loss and water stress come from resource extraction and processing, in part due to device manufacturing.

After a device is discarded and e-waste is warmed up, toxic chemicals are released into the air damaging the atmosphere.

E-waste in landfills can also seep toxic materials seep into groundwater, affecting animals and plants.

We only have one Planet Earth, and yet by 2050 we will be consuming as if we had three, said Virginijus Sinkevicius, European Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries.

'The new plan will make circularity the mainstream in our lives and speed up the green transition of our economy.'

CEAP is part of the European Green Deal  the EUs roadmap for making its economy sustainable.
Note: District officials announced Thursday afternoon that all San Francisco public schools will close for three weeks. Read the story here.

Cases of the coronavirus will inevitably hit students and staff in San Francisco classrooms, but for now, all public schools will remain open across the city, officials said Wednesday.

After careful consideration and hours of consultation and despite calls from parents to shut down to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the 132 schools serving 56,000 students in the district will remain open, said San Francisco Unified School District Superintendent Vincent Matthews.

Even though the city has declared a public health emergency, schools are an essential service, providing meals, security and resources to children and families, Matthews said.

Keeping schools open outweighs the benefits of citywide closure, he said. Plans could change as the situation unfolds.

On Tuesday, the San Francisco Archdiocese announced it would close all of its 90 schools through March 25 after a Riordan High School student tested positive for the coronavirus.

The archdiocese officials did not consult with the San Francisco Department of Public Health prior to making that decision, according to Dr. Grant Colfax, the departments director.

Some other private and public schools throughout the Bay Area have closed.

Oakland school officials also announced schools would remain open and sought to calm fears related to the news that two students, one from Oakland Technical High School and one from Oakland High School, had potential exposure to a confirmed case of coronavirus.

The students were under self-quarantine for 14 days, said district spokesman John Sasaki. There were no known cases among district staff or students and county health officials did not recommend any closures, he added.

This is a tough situation for everyone, Sasaki said.

San Francisco school officials shut down Lowell High School for several days after the parent of a student tested positive for COVID-19. The school reopened today, but its unclear whether districts like San Francisco will be able to recoup state funding for the days a school is closed, if the closure was considered a precaution rather than the result of a declared epidemic. In Lowells case, that would be a loss of nearly $200,000 each day the school was closed.

On Wednesday, officials in Seattle  which has been hard hit by the coronavirus  announced the closure of all city schools for at least the next two weeks.

The announcement by San Francisco district officials that schools will remain open for now came shortly after city officials announced a ban on all community events with more than 1,000 people, including Warriors games, theater and music performances.

The ban does not impact schools even though many have more than 1,000 students and staff because schools are considered an essential service. The ban applies to nonessential gatherings, Matthews said.

Some district staff members disagreed with the decision.

Right now, we have a period of calm where we can see the tsunami coming at us and apparently what we are going to do instead is put our heads in the sand and act like nothings happening when in fact theres so much more we can do, said Cris Garza, 38, a seventh-grade English teacher at Everett Middle School. It feels totally unacceptable that this is happening. It feels like were putting peoples lives at risk.

Colfax said that the decision to keep schools open was made using the best science and information.

Its not certain that the repeated and short-term closure of schools is effective, he said.

In San Francisco, we know the virus is here, he said. It is only a matter of time before individual students and staff members at schools have a diagnosis of COVID-19.

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.

When that happens, the district and health officials will look at the individual circumstances and determine whether closing will make a significant difference, he said.

Matthews stressed that students and staff who have symptoms of illness should stay home. In addition, students absences will be excused should parents decide it is best for their children not to attend school.

In recent days, attendance has dipped some, Matthews said.

In addition, the district will honor all sick leave requests for staff and teachers who need it, including those in higher-risk populations.

Children are not considered among the more vulnerable populations, Colfax added. If children stay home, many will likely be cared for by grandparents or others who are at high risk of serious illness from the virus.

In addition, because the Bay Area is so mobile from county to county, preventive closures likely would have little effect on containing the virus, he said.

Yet the situation is shifting rapidly and its possible that a more regional approach will emerge, resulting in widespread closures. Families should have plans in case of local or widespread shutting of schools, Colfax said.

San Francisco has been through challenging health crises in the past, said Mayor London Breed, who joined school officials Wednesday for the announcement. Breed pointed to the H1N1 virus as well as HIV/AIDS. This will be a challenging time for us, but we will get through it.

San Francisco Chronicle writer Otis R. Taylor contributed to this story.

Jill Tucker is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jtucker@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @jilltucker
The U.S. is probably already in recession thanks to the fear-induced slowdown from the coronavirus, economist Alan Blinder said Wednesday.

"I wouldn't be one bit surprised if when we look back at the data, it is decided ... that the recession started in March," Blinder, a former Federal Reserve vice chairman and now a professor at Princeton, told CNBC's "Squawk Alley." "We won't know that. It takes months to get the data that would be relevant to a call like that. But it wouldn't be a bit surprising to me."

While a recession is often defined as two consecutive quarters of negative economic growth, there are other measures, such as dramatic changes in the unemployment rate, that also are considered. Ultimately, the National Bureau of Economic Research is the arbiter. The Great Recession was deemed to have started in December 2007, but the NBER didn't declare it until a year later.

Blinder said the cause of the current downturn is "fear of shopping" and being in public places where the COVID-19 strain can be spread.

"You can understand why people don't want to go to restaurants, shopping malls, not to mention travel," he said. "Spending on all of those categories has probably plummeted and much faster than our system catches it."
Yalonda M James / The Chronicle 2019

A federal judge in San Francisco has dismissed a lawsuit seeking to stop CalSavers, the state-run retirement program for private-sector workers in California.

The lawsuit, filed by the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, sought to block CalSavers on grounds that it is an employee-benefit plan preempted by the federal Employee Retirement Income Security Act. U.S. District Judge Morrison England ruled that it is neither an employee benefit plan nor does it relate to an ERISA plan. On these grounds, the Court concludes that CalSavers is not preempted.
A man who attacked a woman in Iran in an alleged row over her veil was humiliated when she fought back in front of passers-by.

Footage shows the bearded man harassing the woman on a pavement before kicking her into the road - only for her to grapple with him and push him against a wall.

Reports on social media said the man had confronted her because she was not wearing her veil properly, a sensitive subject in hard-line Iran.

Iranian activist Masih Alinejad, who has spearheaded a campaign against the compulsory wearing of the veil, said that 'many Iranian woman face this'.

This footage shows how a man who attacked a woman in Iran in an alleged row over her veil was humiliated when she fought back in front of passers-by

'In broad daylight in Iran, a woman walking in the street is physically harassed by a pro-regime vigilante due to her hijab,' is how Alinejad described the video.

'Next time they tell you compulsory hijab is a small issue, show them this video.'

She added: 'I've talked to this 42-year-old woman. She said she went to the police station to file a complaint.

'Yet, the authorities refused to arrest the man because 1) she only faced internal injuries 2) the man said he was voluntarily enforcing morality codes.'

At the start of the clip, the bearded man is walking towards the camera and notices the woman walking the other way on the pavement.

He stops and appears to scold her, but she initially ignores him and walks on.

The man then turns around and follows her, continuing to lecture her before standing in her path to stop her walking away.

He then turns violent by aiming a kick at her with his right foot, knocking her off the pavement and into the road between two parked cars.

After dodging another blow, the woman fights back and starts to grapple at the man's face, continuing to tussle with him despite tripping on the kerb.

She eventually pushes the surprised man in the face and forces him backwards against a wall, before he throws her off again.

By this point, two passers-by had noticed what was happening and tried to stand between them to protect the woman from the attack.

At the start of the clip the bearded man is walking towards the camera and notices the woman walking the other way on the pavement, proceeding to confront her

The man turns violent by aiming a kick at her with his right foot, knocking her off the pavement and into the road between two parked cars, but she fights back and forces him against a wall

The scuffle continued despite attempts by passers-by to break the two people up, until a larger crowd of people had gathered around them and the woman's veil had completely come off

But far from being scared, the woman resumed her counter-attack with the two passers-by abandoning their attempts to intervene.

The scuffle continued until a larger crowd of people had gathered around them and the woman's veil had completely come off. The man then walked out of shot, with reports saying that he had fled in a car.

The Islamic dress code, in place since the 1979 revolution, considers veiling obligatory for any woman older than 13 in Iran.

Offenders face fines, whipping or a prison sentence.

Amnesty International says women and girls are regularly stopped in the street by morality police and vigilantes in Iran.

Some protests against the dress code have erupted in recent years with protesters seeing the veil as a sign of oppression against women.

At least 39 women were arrested in 2018 in connection with anti-hijab protests, according to Amnesty.
Kendall Jenner's Moon Whitening Pen is now available to buy in the UK. (Moon)

Yahoo Lifestyle's editors are committed to independently selecting wonderful products at great prices for you. We may receive a share from purchases made via links on this page. Pricing and availability are subject to change.

If you spend more than your allotted screen time scrolling through Instagram (guilty), or are a fan of Keeping Up With The Kardashians, chances are youve already laid eyes on oral care brand, Moon.

The US brand launched in America in May 2019 with its hero product: an affordable teeth whitening pen co-created with model Kendall Jenner.

Unsurprisingly, the celebrity endorsed product quickly became the brand's best-selling item.

The aesthetically pleasing brand also covers all of your dental-care needs from toothpastes and brushes to floss. All of which are comprised of natural, vegan, and PETA-certified cruelty-free ingredients.

Tempted to try it? One of Moon's hero products, the teeth whitening pen, is currently on sale at Boots, reduced to only 10.

Want to know if it's worth the hype? We put it to the test.

Kendall Jenner has posted about the pen numerous times on her Instagram, one caption read: "cant stop using my new favorite thing". (Moon)

At first, I was more than dubious about the product that promised instant brightening. However, a quick scroll through its reviews on Moons website had me intrigued, as 141 out of 160 customers gave the product the highest five-star rating.

The best whitening kit Ive ever had. Kudos Kendall," read one review.

Meanwhile another stated: I thought people saying they noticed a difference the first time were crazy, but I noticed a HUGE difference.

As someone who has tried a smorgasbord of teeth whitening strips, I was definitely up for trying anything that didnt leave my jaw sore and with a whole lot of dribble.

Indeed, the pen is very easy and quick to use, simply click the top and brush a thin layer onto your teeth. The brush also gave me better precision and piece of mind that every tooth was fully covered.

Kendall Jenner and Moon founder Shaun Neff co-created the Teeth Whitening Pen. (Moon)

You then simply have to wait 30 seconds before closing your mouth where youre met with not one toxic taste.

Story continues

Thats probably because the paraben-free gel is made up of an antioxidant blend of honeysuckle flower extract, strawberry extract, lavender oil and fresh vanilla mint flavour.

Whats even better? Theres no downtime.

Naturally, Moon recommend you dont eat or drink anything for 10-30 minutes and that you dont use it in combination with coffee, tea, red wine or substances that may impact the whitening effect.

But, apart from that, you can continue with your day. So you no longer have to set aside an evening for your monthly teeth whitening/ dribble session.

After half an hour I waited for that sensitivity to hit - but it never came. Even after using the pen every day for five days there was no irritation.

The Moon pen was easy to use cruelty. (Moon)

As for the whitening effects, I can see why people say they see immediate effects, albeit in my case, a subtle difference.

After a week, however, I did see my teeth had become a shade or two whiter. Was it a Hollywood smile? Absolutely not.

But, for 10, no hassle and an easy user experience that didnt leave me dribbling or with sensitivity, would I recommend? Absolutely.

So, if youre looking to give your teeth a little at-home refresh for an upcoming occasion, this is definitely a worthy option.

Moon Oral Care Kendall Jenner Whitening Pen | 10 (Was 20) from Boots

Also available at Cult Beauty
A married couple with suspected



coronavirus symptoms was admitted to Nashik district civil hospital on Wednesday, hospital sources said.

According to the sources, a 52-year-old man and his 49-year-old wife from Nashik had gone to Dubai as tourists on February 29.

"They returned on March 7. As they complained of cough and throat pain, they were admitted to the hospital today. Their throat swab samples will be sent to the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, soon," they said.

With these two new admissions, the number of suspected coronavirus patients admitted to the hospital has gone up to four, the sources said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In his speech in Sisian today, Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan touched upon the incident that took place in Stepanavan two days ago and apologized to the young man from Kurtan village. He particularly stated the following:

Yesterday a video showing that the boy has health problems was posted on the Internet. Now I want to analyze my actions and ask myself if I said or did anything wrong to the villager, our dear Mekhak Arakelyan. I want to admit that I made two mistakes. First, I overestimated my ability to assess a persons health condition, and second, I underestimated the fact that a citizen may feel shy when talking to the Prime Minister. I want to apologize to Mekhak Arakelyan and to all citizens of Armenia for these two mistakes. We all make mistakes, but we wont be dishonest and insidious towards citizens, especially since Im certain that his family is in everyones focus as a result of my conversation with Mekhak, and I hope the support he receives will be support for his advancement.

Pashinyan also stated that, based on his notion, a healthy man must work and take care of his family.

On March 7, during Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyans visit to Lori Province, 34-year-old resident of Kurtan village Mekhak Arakelyan approached the Prime Minister and asked him for help. During the live broadcast, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan scolded the man and urged him to work and build a home and not address the Prime Miniser with such issues.

Yesterday, Armenian News-NEWS.ams correspondent visited the wagon in which Mekhak lives with nine other members of his family, including four minor children, and found out that Mekhak has several health problems and lives in very bad conditions. The video sparked great reaction among all circles of the public. Several people have expressed the desire to help Mekhak, and since yesterday, several public and political figures have been expressing the opinion that the Prime Minister was unfair when he scolded Mekhak and many were calling on Pashinyan to apologize to Mekhak.
On March 10, the armed formations of the Russian Federation violated ceasefire in the Joint Forces Operation (JFO) area in eastern Ukraine 17 times.

The enemy used 120mm and 82mm mortars banned under the Minsk agreements, antitank missile system, grenade launchers of different systems, heavy machine guns and small arms to fire on positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the press center of the JFO Headquarters reports.

In the zone of action of tactical force East, the Russian-led forces shelled antitank missile system, grenade launchers of different systems, heavy machine guns and small arms near Pisky (11km north-west of Donetsk); 82mm mortars, grenade launchers of different systems  outside Novoselivka Druha (36km north-east of Mariupol); 82mm mortars, grenade launchers of different systems, heavy machine guns and small arms  in the area of Avdiivka (17km north of Donetsk); heavy machine guns and small arms  near Vasylivka (20km north of Donetsk); 82mm mortars  in the area of Shyrokyne (20km east of Mariupol); sniping fire was recorded outside Pavlopil (25km north-west of Mariupol).

In the zone of action of tactical force North, the enemy fired 82mm and 120mm mortars, mounted antitank grenade launchers near Orikhove (57km north-west of Luhansk); 82mm mortars, automatic mounted grenade launchers and heavy machine guns  outside Khutir Vilnyi; 120mm mortars, mounted antitank grenade launcher  in the area of Novooleksandrivka (65km west of Luhansk); 82mm mortars, grenade launchers of different systems, heavy machine guns  near Luhanske (59km north-east of Donetsk); 120mm mortars  outside Myronivsky (75km north-east of Donetsk); grenade launchers of different systems, heavy machine guns and small arms  in the area of Novoluhanske (53km north-east of Donetsk) and Zalizne (42km north-east of Donetsk); 82mm mortars, heavy machine guns and small arms  near Novhorodske (35km north of Donetsk).

In addition, the enemy opened provocative fire from automatic grenade launchers and small arms on disengagement area No.3 Bohdanivka-Petrivske. Russian-led forces also used antitank missile system to shell military truck of Ukrainian troops near Pisky, killing one Ukrainian soldier immediately. Another one serviceman died from sustained wounds later. Seven soldiers were wounded, another one injured.

As a result of the enemy attacks on Ukrainian positions, one soldier was killed and another one sustained combat injury.

Today, the enemy has not opened fire yet.

ol
People, wearing protective face masks following an outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), are pictured outside Tokyo station in Tokyo

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's government plans to spend 430.8 billion yen ($4.1 billion) in a second package of steps to cope with the fallout of the coronavirus outbreak, two government sources with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters on Tuesday.

The government also plans to adopt fiscal measures totalling 1.6 trillion yen to support corporate financing as part of the package, due to be announced later on Tuesday, the sources said on condition of anonymity, as the plan is not public yet.

($1 = 104.6500 yen)

(Reporting by Takaya Yamaguchi; Writing by Tetsushi Kajimoto; Editing by David Dolan and Chang-Ran Kim; Editing by David Dolan)
A day after announcing his resignation from Congress, Jyotiraditya Scindia is likely to join BJP on Wednesday in the presence of the ruling party's president JP Nadda.

According to sources, the BJP is likely to name him as one of its candidates for the Rajya Sabha polls in Madhya Pradesh and is also confident of forming the government in the state with his help as 22 MLAs including Scindia's supporters have resigned from the state Assembly reducing the Kamal Nath government to a minority.

BJP's media cell sent out a message saying an "eminent personality" will join the party in the presence of its president JP Nadda.

Peeved with his marginalisation in the Congress, Scindia met Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday and then the two leaders went to the prime minister's residence where they held talks for over an hour.

Soon after meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the disgruntled Madhya Pradesh Congress leader tendered his resignation to party president Sonia Gandhi saying it was time for him to move on.

Scindia took the decision to sever his ties with the Congress on the day of his father Madhavrao Scindia's 75th birth anniversary.

Scindia, four-time MP, first got elected from Guna in Madhya Pradesh in 2002 after winning a by-election necessitated by his father's demise. He was only 31 years old at that time.

He gradually made his way up the Congress ladder becoming Minister of State for Communications and IT in 2007 during the Congress-led UPA-1. In 2009, he became Minister of State for Commerce and Industry and in 2012 was appointed Minister of State for Power during UPA-2.

After the Congress lost the 2014 General Election, Sonia Gandhi named him the party's chief whip in the Lok Sabha.

He is expected to be nominated by the BJP for Rajya Sabha from Madhya Pradesh.
A sharp drop in the US prompted Goodbody to cuts its earnings forecast for Swiss-Irish food group Aryzta.

Shares in the bakery group climbed as much as 10pc yesterday - lifted by the wider market and weak earnings.

Overall, underlying earnings at the company fell 6.3pc on a like-for-like basis to 170m in the six months to January.

In Europe, underlying ebitda was 100.7m, up 2.8pc, according to interim results from the group. However, in the North American market, underlying ebitda fell by 23pc to 46.5m, while the rest of the world reported a 3.5pc decline in ebitda to 22.7m.

In the near to medium term, the North American underlying ebitda margin expectation has been revised to high single digits.

Aryzta CEO Kevin Toland said factors impacting upon North American profitability "are being addressed" and the company expects an improved performance in the second half of the year.

Elsewhere, Aryzta said its cost-saving initiative - Project Renew - is "gathering momentum", with cumulative savings of 57.4m since its launch.

Net debt is at its lowest since 2013. The company, which bakes burger buns for McDonald's, saw revenue fall 3.2pc to 1.65bn during the period.

Looking to the full year, the company expects earnings to improve year-on-year, assuming no material or prolonged impact from the coronavirus.

Analysts at Goodbody Stockbrokers said they are likely to lower Aryzta's full-year earnings forecast by around 4pc, largely due to the group's "challenging performance and outlook" in North America.
A Delhi court on Tuesday remanded Shahrukh, the man who had opened fire at police during violence in North-East Delhi last month, to 14-day judicial custody.

New Delhi: A Delhi court on Tuesday remanded Shahrukh, the man who had opened fire at police during violence in North-East Delhi last month, to 14-day judicial custody. He was presented before a duty Metropolitan Magistrate on expiry of his three-day custody previously.

The Delhi Police sources have revealed that it has recovered a pistol and the car of the accused in which he had fled from the spot.

Shahrukh initially kept roaming around in the National Capital before slipping away to Punjab and Uttar Pradesh's Shamli from where he was arrested on Tuesday.

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.
Argentina, Colombia and Peru on Wednesday announced that travelers from the countries worst-affected by the new coronavirus would be isolated on arrival. Argentina was the first country in Latin America to register a coronavirus-related death on Saturday, with Panama announcing another on Tuesday. Buenos Aires announced a two-week isolation period for people arriving from China, Italy, France, Germany, Spain, Japan, South Korea and the United States. "This is not voluntary, it's not a recommendation. If you don't comply you'll be committing a crime, which is putting the public health at risk," President Alberto Fernandez told FM Delta radio station. "The person who complies with the 14-day quarantine is obliged to shut himself away at home alone." Fernandez said Argentina was considering barring travelers from Italy, the worst affected European country and one from which many Argentines are descended and where they still have family. Argentina has registered 19 coronavirus cases and one death, a 64-year-old man who had arrived in Buenos Aires from France. In Latin America, only Brazil has registered more cases with 34. The Panamanian victim was also 64 and already suffering from diabetes complications associated with bacterial pneumonia. Colombia has seen only three cases so far but also announced measures against travelers arriving from certain countries. "Given the implications of the quarantine by China, Italy, Spain and France, the national government is adopting the preventive isolation of people coming from those countries to protect the collective health," President Ivan Duque said on Twitter. Peru followed suit by declaring a two-week "home isolation" for people coming from those same four countries, while also announcing the start of the new school year would be pushed back two weeks from March 16 to March 30. Announcing the news on television, President Martin Vizcarra, who was flanked by four ministers, said the Andean country had recorded 13 cases of the virus. Colombia's first infection was detected in a 19-year-old woman who arrived in Bogota on Friday from Milan. Two more cases were confirmed on Monday -- in a 34-year-old man and a 50-year-old woman, both of whom had been in Spain. On Tuesday, Chile was the first Latin American country to announce a quarantine on arrivals from Spain and Italy, who will be placed under the surveillance of health authorities. With 17 cases, Chile's total is surpassed regionally only by Argentina and Brazil. In total there have been around 140 cases in Latin America. Worldwide, almost 120,000 coronavirus cases have been recorded in 110 countries and territories, killing more than 4,300 people. China, where the virus originated, has been the worst affected country with more than 80,000 cases and over 3,100 deaths, although it says more than 60,000 people have been cured. Outside of China, Italy has the most cases with more than 10,000 and over 630 deaths, while Iran (9,000 cases, 354 deaths) and South Korea (7,755 cases, 60 deaths) have been similarly affected.
via heinrich.senate.gov

Late last week, Senator Martin Heinrich (D-New Mexico) held a press conference to note the introduction of two powerful pieces of legislation designed to ameliorate multigenerational poverty in New Mexico and the rest of the US, too.

The two-generation system links services for parents and children in such a way as to enable success and increase opportunities; parts of the measure have already been signed into law. Heinrich used the press call to remind constituents that he and Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine) recently re-introduced the rest of the bipartisan bill for consideration in the US Senate.

Using a relatively new service model that research has shown successful in addressing the problem, Heinrich discussed the introduction of the Two-Generation Economic Empowerment Act and the Pathways to Health Careers Act. Both measures enlist the use of a two-generation model in their unique approach to solving one of our states most daunting problems.

Heinrich also spoke about the Pathways to Health Careers Act, legislation that would build on current grant-giving activities, especially in the Health Opportunity Grant Program, which provides essential funding for mothers and fathers in families who are trying to expand their professional and economic horizons by attending college.

Weekly Alibi was there for the Senators teleconference, listening, taking notes and analyzing the legislation designed to make New Mexican families more economically secure, educationally successful, healthy and filled with well being to boot.

Background

Endemic, multi-generational poverty continues to plague the citizens of New Mexico, a state where the median income is just below $47,000 per year. While the median income in the US has risen more than 8 percent over the past three years, it has only risen 2.5 percent in New Mexico.

A massive research report published by the Brookings Institution in 2016 examined case studies of poverty in American communities, including in McKinley County, N.M. In some areas of that part of the state, poverty levels hover just over the 40 percent mark, indicating multi-generational situations wherein many individuals were affected in each family studied.

The Enduring Challenges of Concentrated Poverty in America was a landmark document in that it identified ongoing endemic poverty as the underlying source of societal problems like addiction and crime but did so in a way that contrasted with some of the methodologies used by sociologists to study the problem in the past.

One of the outcomes of this new way of thinking is called the the two-generational model. In it, services for entire familes are bundled to increase the probability of their success. The legislation introduced by Heinrich will ensure that this model becomes a priority in the United States and especially in New Mexico.

The Phone Call

Heinrich began his discussion by introducing some experts with him in on the conference call to discuss endemic poverty. They included Anne Mosle of The Aspen Institute who is executive director of the Institutes Ascend program, as well as James Jimenez, the executive director of New Mexico Voices for Children.

The Aspen Institute is a think tank devoted to humanistic studies; Ascend is a policy program at Aspen that is designed to bring education and economic opportunities to families using a two-generation approach.

The Plan

Heinrich then began to discuss the latest plan in the war against poverty while increasing economic viability in the state by telling reporters that the bill has the potential to change the way we approach poverty in New Mexico and across this country.

He continued and expanded on the importance of the legislation and the new approach to a persistent issue by telling reporters, Although weve seen signs of economic recovery over the last decade, far too many families in New Mexico and across our nation are still struggling to make ends meet and, frankly, cant escape multi-generational poverty.

Heinrich then indicated that he believes that tapping into the state of New Mexicos Land Grant Permanent Fund to expand pre-K and early childhood education in the state is a fine idea. Further, the Senator hoped that Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham and leaders in the state legislature would keep building momentum and working toward that goal.

But he also emphasized that we also need to do more to make the federal resources for families far more effective. Thats why I introduced the bipartisan Two-Generation Economic Empowerment Actto increase opportunities for families living in poverty.

Heinrich said that such an approach, mandated by the two-generation model, was necessary because the federal governments current approach to poverty is simply not working well enough. The way the federal government tries to increase opportunities for working families is not working well enough to address the daily challenges that those families face.

Adding the personal human touch thats made the Senator a favorite with New Mexico voters for two terms now, Heinrich said he could relate because he was a parent and understood that the overarching duties of a father and mother often led to personal sacrifice, up to and including pursuing new educational goals.

The new legislation, Heinrich reiterated, would join together programs for children and their parents, whereas programs in the past had been separate and sometimes hard to navigate.

Heinrich said, right now, for the most part, programs for low-income children and low-income parents comes from separate funding streams. This phenomenon causes siloing and fragmentation, the Senator rightly argued. Because of this and other factors, families became discouraged from participating, he added. But Heinrich is sure that the two-generational approach will be a game changer.

The two-generation approach aligns and links existing systems and funding streams. It then targets services toward both children and parents at the same time. We should use the two-generation approach to make services more effective and increase economic security, educational success, social capital and the health and well being of whole families.

Health Careers

In addition, Heinrich spoke about initiatives to provide grant money to low-income state residents who engage a career in the health care industry. This legislation builds on the success of the Health Profession Opportunity Grants Program, using the same two-generation approach that combines job training with critical family supports that low-income parents need to succeed in achieving their health care career goals. Highly trained health care workers, who are often paid much more that the minimum wage, are in high demand these days.

In combination, both measuresas well as their timely and informative introduction by Heinrich and his associates in this case, Mosle and Jimenezdemonstrate a high level of tuned-in leadership guiding New Mexico toward a brighter future.
The case of Vinasun and Grab is setting a bad precedent

At the Court of Appeals, the Supreme People's Procuracy of Ho Chi Minh City has issued the latest verdict to the prolonged legal battle between Vinasun and Grab Vietnam. However, the trial panel rejected the procuracys protests as well as both companies appeals and decided to uphold the first instance verdict that requires Grab to pay compensation to Vinasun.

Bad precedent for fair competition?

The Supreme Courts verdict has sent a negative message to both local and foreign tech mulling over investing in Vietnams fast-growing digital economy, especially for disruptive firms. The verdict also sets a bad precedent for traditional businesses to file a lawsuit against disruptive businesses anytime.

Also, it encourages traditional businesses to choose the easy route by suing competitors rather than constantly innovating themselves to gain a competitive edge. Above all, the short-sighted protectionism will pose challenging business conditions for high-tech companies as well as foreign investors.

Protecting old business models fro Industry 4.0 trends?

The Supreme People's Court of Ho Chi Minh City upheld the first instance judgment despite the protests of the Peoples Procuracy of Ho Chi Minh City. The move goes against the governments direction to develop the digital economy in the era of Industry 4.0. It also sets a bad precedent that sluggish businesses can sue strong competitors.

In fact, disruptive businesses have applied technology to improve the lives of people and connect thousands of small- and medium-sized enterprises on sharing-economy platforms. Therefore, the protection of old business models over the disruptive ones will dampen the investment climate.

With the short-term protectionism, it is clear that traditional taxi operators are not willing to innovate themselves and apply technology to grow their business. The case is a bad precedent against the trends of competition in the market. It is obvious that more companies will take advantage of the court to dismiss their rivalries. Without technology, how can Vietnam pursue its Industry 4.0 goals?

Arguments of the two sides

At the Court of Appeal on March 10, 2020, Truong Dinh Quy, deputy director-general of Vinasun, said that the inspection results show Vinasuns loss of earnings and decline in market capitalisation, damages which Vinasun fully attributed to Grabs "illegal" activities in Vietnam.

The representative of Vinasun made comments at the hearing

Meanwhile, Grab's representative said that under Decision No.24/QD-BGTVT, Grab was allowed to sign business co-operation contracts with co-operatives to provide its software application and assist drivers through the app. The ride-hailing company acts as an intermediary.

Grab also pointed out violations in the first instance procedure. There are no persuasive grounds for the Appellate Court to determine that the firm has violated the regulations on transportation business and the Pilot Project under Decision 24. By interfering with the executive power of the government, the court has opened up the floodgates and set a bad precedent for more unfair and anti-competitive lawsuits to surface.

If any business is unhappy with the nature of another business in future, it will similarly be able to abuse and take advantage of the courts to sue their competitors and obtain a judgment in complete disregard to the policy conclusions of the competent government authorities.

The legal representative of Grab making the case to the trial panel

In addition, the First Instance Court failed to summon Ministry of Transport as well as a key witness who conducted the damage assessment report [Cuu Long Valuation and Inspection JSC (CVIC)] to court, despite multiple requests. The Appellate Court judgment cannot be made based on CVICs findings if there remain many misconceptions, flawed assumptions, and inaccurate methods CVIC has used in calculating damage. Vinasuns alleged damages were caused by various factors inherent to its business model which are unrelated to Grab. There is also no basis to assert that the cost of Vinasuns idle cars were caused solely by Grabs business activities.

According to the Peoples Procuracy of Ho Chi Minh City, Grab is authorised to operate in Vietnam. The new tech business model is implemented in the five pilot cities and provinces. Decision 24 provides legal grounds to define Grab. Thus, Grabs businesses are legal in Vietnam.

There are persuasive grounds for the First Instance Court to claim Grab as a transport business. The procuracy said that Vinasuns loss of earnings is attributable to several factors, including governance, management, service quality, technology, and changing customer demand, among others. Therefore, there is no causal link between Grabs operations and Vinasuns damages.

Based on these arguments, the procuracy said it was baseless for the first instance court to order Grab to pay VND4.8 billion ($208,700) in damages (incurred from idle vehicles) to Vinasun. The procuracy suggested that the trial panel of the Supreme Court accept Grabs requests and the procuracys protest instead of Vinasuns requests.
Bahrain's Ministry of Health will implement additional measures and guidelines within its International COVID-19 Repatriation Programme (ICRP) to ensure that the health and safety of citizens and residents within the kingdom remains safeguarded, a senior official said.

Out of the 165 passengers within the first group of the International COVID-19 Repatriation Programme (ICRP) from Iran, 77 passengers had tested positive for COVID-19, with 88 testing negative, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health, Dr Waleed Al Manea was quoted as saying by Bahrain News Agency. The passengers arrived in Bahrain yesterday.

He highlighted that the ministry has initiated yesterday the ICRP, evacuating the first group of Bahraini nationals from Iran, via a chartered plane.

Dr Waleed noted that the Ministry has followed comprehensive health guidelines, in line with WHO guidelines, to ensure all passengers returning to the kingdom are thoroughly tested.

Dr Waleed further noted that the passengers with active COVID-19 have been swiftly transferred for isolation and treatment, whilst the other passengers have been transferred for quarantine for further monitoring.

Given the high volume of passengers testing positive for the virus, Dr Waleed underlined that further health measures and guidelines will be added within the ICRP, to ensure that the health and safety of citizens and residents within the kingdom remains safeguarded.

Furthermore, he emphasised that additional flights to repatriate citizens will be scheduled in a manner which ensures that the kingdoms testing, isolation, quarantine and treatment capacities are maintained in line with WHO established guidelines.
And while Dr Whitaker said the sperm extract would not have had the rape victims DNA in it, he considered it extremely unlikely it could have had an opportunity to be spilled in the lab and then been left undetected for 13 months before finding its way into the AJM42 container. Another difference that I would be alert to is that the extract is now a liquid which is kept frozen in the laboratory and so that needs to be out. It needs to have thawed, he said. DNA liquid form ... tends to degrade and dry out, so again it needs to have persisted in the environment. It needs to have evaded all our cleaning regimes and controls, etcetera. Considering that it dried and now becomes a flaky residue, that itself then has still got to get by some mechanism into these pots.

Dr Whitaker said the source, mechanism and opportunity for the contamination to have occurred was very low. But I stress, we cant say never which is why I positioned it on my subjective scale right down at the bottom end, he said. Dr Whitaker said if any escaped DNA was present in the lab for 13 months, it didnt contaminate any other exhibits tested in the lab during that time. DNA expert says highly probable Ms Glennon scratched Mr Edwards Prosecutor Carmel Barbagallo said it was the states case Mr Edwards DNA was found underneath Ms Glennons fingernails because she had fought him in the moments before her murder.

The accused man's DNA has gotten into the mixed DNA profile ... as a result of Ms Glennon scratching the accused man, or otherwise engaging with him in a violent and physical altercation at the time of, or close to her death, she said. Ciara Glennon Dr Whitaker agreed Ms Glennons torn left thumbnail on an otherwise well-manicured hand suggested she had inflicted the scratch on her attacker with significant force. The considerations under that scenario are that Mr Edwards is present at the scene together with Ms Glennon, scratching occurs and that involves force that will promote the transfer of DNA to the nails, that's a one-step transfer which we call primary transfer," he said. "So comparing and contrasting the pathways, we've got a one-step pathway under the first proposition, but a multiple step pathway under the alternative [contamination theory].

"On the probability of the evidence, if Ms Glennon had scratched Mr Edwards ... I would couch this on my subjective scale as moderately high to high." The proven contaminations with Pathwest lab During the trial, 10 recorded instances of contamination within the Pathwest lab have been recorded in relation to the 17,000-odd Macro Taskforce exhibits tested over two decades. Nine out of the ten contaminations were by Pathwest scientists either involved in, or regularly present in the lab, during examination and testing of the samples. Of the nine occasions, at least seven of them occurred prior to staff having to wear hair nets during DNA testing, and at least four before staff were required to wear face masks.

The increases to personal protective wear required inside the DNA lab grew as DNA technologies advanced and became more sensitive over time. The one example of an unrelated exhibit contaminating a Macro-related item was in 2002, when a twig from Jane Rimmers crime scene recovered the DNA of the female victim of an unrelated crime whose intimate swabs were tested days earlier in the lab. An investigation concluded the contamination was likely linked to a tube batch which was used for both extractions. Mr Yovich also referred to a contamination event that occurred in a UK lab in 2007, when an ex-employees DNA was detected on a DNA test negative control blank 16 months after they had resigned.

Justice Stephen Hall. An investigation into the event concluded while the staff member didnt have access to the DNA lab, she had had regular access to its freezer, as did scientists. Mr Yovich, during the two times he brought up the incident, failed to mention that it was not known when the contamination occurred, suggesting it had occurred 16 months after the employee had resigned. Having read the incident report, Justice Hall clarified with Mr Yovich during his cross-examination of Dr Whitaker that the contamination could have occurred while the employee was still in the lab, but was not detected until later. Dr Whitaker said he was not aware of any example of DNA lasting longer than a year in the lab environment before contaminating an exhibit.

A situation of a staff member in a cold room who's been in there frequently  so DNA might build up and be detected later  is different to a single forensic item that has very little DNA on it appearing over a period of time, Dr Whitaker said. "We conceive they could happen, but we try to put it under a level of reasoning and rationalism as to whether or not it's probable." Mr Edwards DNA profile a match to DNA found under Ms Glennons fingernails Following Mr Edwards arrest in 2016, DNA testing carried out on his reference sample when compared to the male DNA profile found underneath Ms Glennons fingernails, matched at every loci. Institute of Environmental Science and Research forensic scientist Susan Vintiner said her analysis of the samples in 2017 found Mr Edwards was at least 80 million times more likely to be the contributor of the DNA profile compared to any other white Australian male not related to him.

Mr Edwards has admitted the DNA recovered from Ms Glennons fingernails matched his profile, but claimed he did not know how it got there. Mr Yovich, during his opening statement at trial in November, accepted the chance of contamination was remote, but not impossible. We accept that a scratching event, a direct scratching event of the sort that the state will rely on in proving a connection between the DNA found on these samples and the death of Ciara Glennon is a more likely circumstance, maybe a much more likely circumstance than a chance social contact, he said. And again, we do not put forward a specific chance, innocent, social contact to explain the DNA. We accept as well that the chance of contamination in a lab is usually remote although secondary transfer is known and documented in the literature.

But in circumstances where other incidents of contamination are known to have occurred we say, known to have been undetected for some time, your Honour will have to consider just how remote the chance was here and whether it can be safely ruled out even if it was remote. On the eve of his triple murder trial, Mr Edwards admitted to the 1995 abduction and rape of a 17-year-old girl from Claremont, and a 1988 Huntingdale sex attack carried out on an 18-year-old woman. He originally pleaded not guilty to the charges and allegedly repeatedly feigned disbelief at his DNA appearing on items relating to the attacks during his police interview, Ms Barbagallo said. Evidence since heard in his murder trial has revealed Pathwest testing had concluded it 100 billion times more likely the DNA found on the rape victim's pants, and a semen-stained kimono left at the scene of the sex attack, belonged to Mr Edwards than any other person not related to him.
Prime Minister Viktor Orban has pledged government support for economic players that suffer losses due to the new coronavirus.

Speaking at an event organised by the Hungarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MKIK), Orban referred to a new action plan in the making to protect the economy, and asked the chamber to collect and forward by the end of April feedback from economic players concerning which sectors are expected to experience difficulties.



Orban said that rather than introducing blanket macroeconomic measures, specific sectors such as tourism would need targeted help, and the government is prepared to create the appropriate financial conditions.



The budgets for this year and next will be redrafted to take into consideration additional billions of euros needed for economic stimulation measures, he added.



Solutions must be geared towards ensuring that the economic downturn does not match that of the 2008-2009 economic crisis, he said, adding that Hungary must maintain its growth advantage over the EU.



Orban said preparations must be made for a global pandemic, adding that everyone must step out of their comfort zone.



Photo: Gergely Botar kormany.hu
The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced the pandemic of the new Chinese coronavirus Covid-19 in the world. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhan Ghebreyesus stated this at a press conference, according to the organizations Twitter page.

A pandemic is not a word that should be used easily or carelessly. This is a word that, if used improperly, can cause unreasonable fear or unjustified recognition that the struggle is over, which leads to unnecessary suffering and death, - Gebreyesus.

WHO has conducted outbreak assessments around the clock and is concerned about the alarming rate of spread and complexity of the disease, as well as the level of inactivity.

As we reported before, Foreign Ministry of Ukraine, in the conditions of Covid-19 spread, created the situation room for coordination of the work of the ministry, involved authorities and international organizations to protect the citizens of Ukraine abroad

The situation room was created upon the initiative of Foreign Minister of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba.

Coronavirus is quick and dangerous. The Foreign Ministry, however, should be quick to guarantee the security of our citizens. That is why, today, I created the situation room in the ministry and pages of operative information. Firstly, for our citizens; wherever they stay, they should get the necessary information in time and should rely on the untrustable sources. Secondly, each citizen of Ukraine should feel the protection of the Ukrainian state, which will provide necessary support and aid, the minister stated.
Alexis Stephens

ProPublica has hired Alexis Stephens as public relations director. Stephens joins ProPublica from economic and social equity-focused think tank PolicyLink, where she was a senior communications associate, developing and executing outreach strategies and messaging for the nonprofits research. She was previously a journalism fellow for the urban affairs news organization Next City. Stephens specializes in strategic communications, storytelling and media engagement that centers on the voices and lived experiences of communities of color. At ProPublica, she will spearhead the efforts to expand the reach and impact of the organizations journalism through PR, partnerships and other strategies.

Chip Scarinzi

Hill+Knowlton Strategies has appointed Chip Scarinzi senior vice president, technology in the U.S., based in San Francisco. Scarinzi joins H+K from Ketchum where, as senior vice president, he helped to build the companys tech presence in the Bay Area and across the network. He was previously with H+K as an account coordinator in its New York office. H+K global president Richard Millar said that Scarinzi has an 18-year track record of helping tech and consumer brands tell better stories, and his passion for storytelling is ideal for driving H+Ks growth strategy.

Ben Cowles

ARPR has brought on Ben Cowles as senior demand generation director, a newly created position. His hiring follows a rapid growth in the agencys digital portfolio. Cowles was previously VP account director at Digitas North America. He has also served as a partner at OgilvyOne Worldwide, as well as director of its 360 Degree Program. Cowles has worked with such clients as United Healthcare and Comcast, for whom he led customer acquisition direct marketing for its Xfinity Mobile service. ARPR says that more than 55 percent of its clients currently use inbound marketing and lead generation service offerings.

(L-R) Mike Schatz, Jennifer Lewow, Dale Bump

Hothouse has promoted Dale Bump, one of the agencys founders, to executive vice president of brand strategy. Bump previously served as creative director. The agency has also hired Mike Schatz as VP/group creative director and Jennifer Lewow as design director. Schatz comes to Hothouse from Blue Sky Agency, where he was a creative director, writer and producer. Lewow was previously a design director at Wunderman Thompson, where she worked with companies including Shell, Pennzoil, the Atlanta Falcons, Spirit Airlines and Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mike and Jennifer will play pivotal roles in elevating our storytelling and design capabilities in partnership with Dale, said Hothouse president Jon Katinsky.
Military leaders from the United States, Morocco, Tunisia and Senegal will modify the size and scope of African Lion to minimize exposure of participating service members from the US and partner nations to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), announced the US Africa Command.

The safety and protection of all of our forces  US and partner nation  is a priority. Modifying the exercise still improves readiness while minimizing risk to protect both US and partner forces, said Gen. Stephen J. Townsend, commander of US Africa Command, after testifying Tuesday on Capitol Hill.

While the scope of the exercise will adjust, our commitment to our African partners endures, Gen. Townsend said

Scheduled to start March 23, the US-led African Lion exercises in Morocco were supposed to involve 9,300 troops from eight nations. The exercise will now include only portions that do not require lodging of troops in close quarters. It will also include the academics portion that has already begun.

The decision to modify the size and scale of the exercise was made after several weeks of monitoring the COVID-19 situation and in close coordination with host nation military and government leaders.

Weve made tremendous gains in terms of our partnerships with the Moroccan, Tunisian and Senegalese forces, as well as our ability as a headquarters to forge a coalition across multiple countries, force components, national and international organizations. That experience alone makes our military stronger, and our countries more secure, said Maj. Gen. Roger Cloutier, commanding general of US Army Africa, which executes the annual exercise.

While the scope and size of African Lion 2020 has changed, planning continues for the exercise in 2021, Africom said.

African Lion is an annually scheduled, bilateral US and Moroccan sponsored exercise designed to improve interoperability and mutual understanding of each nations tactics, techniques and procedures.

The drills, sponsored by the US Africa Command (AFRICOM) and the US Army Africa (USARAF), involve various types of training, including command post, live-fire and maneuvering, peace keeping operations, an intelligence capacity-building seminar, aerial refueling/low- level flight training, as well as medical and dental assistance projects.

Besides Morocco and the USA, military personnel from other countries, including Egypt, Mauritania, Senegal, Tunisia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Spain , the United Kingdom, Australia, and Portugal are invited to take part in the African Lion exercise.

African Lion enhances the interoperability of the US, its partner nations, and regional organizations in order to contain regional instability, conduct peace operations, counter violent extremist organizations (VEOs), maintain cross-border security, and counter transnational threats.
Masks hung in the air in the Mayu village. Photo: Li Hao/GT

As China's capital, Beijing has strengthened preventative measures for migrant workers living in the city's "urban villages" to control the spread of COVID-19. The city has been given the highest priority after Wuhan in containing the virus.

There were 7.46 million migrants working in Beijing from other regions of China as of 2019, statistics showed. Many of them have started to return to the capital after staying in their hometowns for the Chinese Spring Festival holidays, which was extended due to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus. This gradual migration poses high risks and pressures for preventative work in migrant populous areas in Beijing. Communities in the capital have made significant efforts in preventing the virus from entering the capital while ensuring the safety and comfort of migrant workers.

As of Monday, Beijing accounted for 429 of the 17,721 confirmed cases of coronavirus across the country.

Strengthened measures include non-contact temperature monitoring, entry and exit monitoring, round-the-clock inspections, temporary disinfection rooms and comprehensive disinfectant spraying every two hours at the Mayu village, the largest "urban village" in Shijingshan district, Beijing.

About 60 percent of the nearly 10,000 residents in Mayu are migrant workers, including more than 300 tenants from Hubei Province who have not yet returned to Beijing. They mostly work in the capital's booming service sectors, such as online take-out and express delivery.

In Mayu, more than 1,000 people have returned. Around 40 returnees per day on average come back from their hometowns in recent days.

More than 400 are still in isolation at home, reporting their body temperature in the community administrative WeChat groups regularly upon request every day. They are not allowed to leave the community except for special needs such as medical treatment or pregnancy inspection. Basic necessities can be ordered online and delivered by community officials. Besides, to avoid the excessive influx of migrant workers, the community has mobilized landlords to persuade tenants to delay their journeys back to Beijing. Some landlords promised partially waive rents if tenants delay their returning dates.

Tents are used to set up temporary disinfection rooms at the community's entrance where the epidemic prevention workers come in every two hours for a full disinfection spray.

To better cope with the rush of returning tenants, some senior Party members and retirees have joined the volunteer scouts to establish shifts on a 24-hour cycle.

"Communities are now more flooded with migrants and young workers than they were during the SARS outbreak in 2003, which requires more advanced protection measures," a staff worker in Mayu community told the Global Times.

"We need to make sure that all preventative moves are in place, but it cannot be achieved at the expense of their [migrant workers'] basic rights. We keep them notified on the basis of protecting their privacy," said the worker.

Most of the convenience and grocery stores in the community have not yet opened, with the exception of one supermarket that provides residents with basic needs.

Liu Jincai, 50, a migrant worker from Cangzhou, North China's Hebei Province, suffered a big loss from the closure of his barbecue restaurant because of the outbreak.

Liu's family of six now crowds in an apartment of less than 50 square meters and spends more than 200 yuan on daily expenses.

"Health and safety are always the top thing. It's been a tough time for migrant workers like me, but seeing more people coming back and fewer confirmed coronavirus cases reported every day, I believe we can get through it soon," Liu told the Global Times.

Moreover, the Beijing Municipal Government has set up an online data sharing platform to mobilize the orderly safe return of migrant workers to their posts in Beijing.

It helps realize information sharing among enterprises, migrant workers and transportation authorities.

The local government has deployed special trains and buses and served more than 100 people returning to Beijing.
Franchise taxes aren't taxes on franchise businesses, as you may assume from the name. Instead, states require certain entities, such as corporations or limited liability companies, to pay a tax for the privilege of doing business there. Franchise taxes are separate from state income tax that's imposed on businesses.

Continue reading to find out if your business owes franchise tax and what consequences you may face if you don't pay.

What is franchise tax?

Several states levy a tax on companies for doing business in the state. That tax is often called a franchise tax, but it could also be known as a capital stock tax, commercial activity tax or another name.

Dan De Jong, senior tax manager for KPMG, likens state franchise taxes to pizza restaurants. Every pizzeria owner puts their own spin on their pizza recipe, but they all use the same basic ingredients. No matter how the state calculates it, you'll be paying a price for operating in that state.

States use economic nexus to determine a company's local presence and whether the business makes enough of an economic impact to be charged taxes, including franchise taxes. In Mississippi, for example, any business that operates for profit or economic gain is considered to have nexus in the state and must pay state income taxes. Mississippi also levies a franchise tax based on the company's assessed property values or the value of "capital employed" in the state. Capital employed gives a snapshot of how a company is investing its money.

Here's a list of states with a franchise tax or something similar:

Alabama

Arkansas

California

Connecticut

Delaware

Georgia

Illinois

Louisiana

Massachusetts

Mississippi

Nebraska

New York

North Carolina

Oklahoma

South Carolina

Tennessee

Texas

Wyoming

Washington, D.C.

Franchise taxes vs. income taxes

Franchise taxes are based on the net worth of a business while income taxes are based on information found on your profit and loss statement. Franchise taxes are figured using the equity section of your balance sheet, said Angela Acosta, a managing partner at accounting firm BDO. This section includes your reported assets and liabilities, which shows your net worth when liabilities are subtracted from assets.

You would pay your franchise taxes annually whenever you normally file your tax return. If you follow the calendar year, your tax return would be due in April, unless you file for an extension to pay later in the year.

Who has to pay franchise tax?

If you do business in multiple states, you would owe franchise taxes in each state where those taxes are required. Although individual states determine which business entities are subject to franchise taxes, corporations are most likely to be targeted.

For instance, all active and inactive corporations in North Carolina owe franchise tax in addition to corporate income tax. LLCs that have elected to be treated as a corporation for tax purposes would also need to pay franchise taxes.

However, Texas requires a range of businesses to pay franchise tax, including corporations, LLCs, partnerships, banks and various business and professional associations.

You may be able to apply for a franchise tax exemption, depending on the nature of your business. Organizations in Texas that have obtained a 501(c) federal tax exemption could apply for state exemption, for example.

How to calculate franchise taxes

Franchise taxes are imposed on a business's wealth, usually derived from net worth. Because franchise taxes are not related to income, they could present a financial burden to some businesses.

"When these franchise taxes are imposed on an entity's net worth, the obligation to pay them is not contingent on the business entity having made a profit that year," De Jong said. "These taxes can be due even in a year that the business entity had a loss."

Your state may impose a varied or fixed franchise tax:

Varied franchise tax rate: Franchise tax rates commonly vary by state and are usually based on a company's investments in that state, which is calculated through apportionment. That way, you won't be taxed on your entire net worth, just your net worth that's associated with the business you do in individual states.

State departments provide the apportionment formula businesses should use to calculate their franchise taxes.

In North Carolina, franchise tax is calculated based on the largest of the following base options:

Net worth

55 percent of appraised ad valorem tax value of all tangible business property in North Carolina

Actual business investment in tangible property in North Carolina

Flat franchise tax rate: Some states require businesses to pay a flat rate.

In Louisiana, the initial franchise tax is $110, then business owners must pay $1.50 for each $1,000 of capital used in business in the state up to $300,000, and $3 for each $1,000 exceeding $300,000.

Check your state tax laws to find out how to calculate your franchise taxes. Your state's department of revenue would likely be the best starting point.

"In every state, there are statutes and regulations," said Acosta of BDO. "That's what tax professionals use to understand the rules."

Be sure to understand and follow GAAP: Business owners must follow Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, or GAAP, when creating financial statements to ensure they pay the right amount in taxes. GAAP is a group of standardized accounting practices for businesses. State taxation procedures follow GAAP, so you should adhere to the same standards to avoid miscalculating your tax responsibilities.

Consequences of not paying franchise taxes

Failing to pay franchise taxes could threaten your business's statewide presence. You may lose your ability to conduct business in the state, Acosta said. Losing your legal right to operate could also mean not being able to file lawsuits or enforce contracts in the state.

Corporations usually need to obtain a certificate of good standing from their local secretary of state's office showing the company is legally compliant in order to take out a loan, buy or sell property or conduct other types of business. If you don't stay up to date with your franchise taxes, your business would be taken out of good standing, Acosta said.

The state could also impose penalties and fees on businesses that fail to pay proper franchise taxes. In Delaware, failure to pay franchise taxes would result in a $200 penalty, plus 1.5 percent in monthly interest on the penalty and the unpaid taxes. Delinquent businesses in Texas would owe a $50 fee for late reports, as well as a 5 percent penalty on taxes filed one to 30 days late or a 10 percent penalty on taxes paid more than 30 days late. You may also be charged interest beginning 61 days after the due date.

The final word on franchise tax

Expanding your business beyond state lines would increase your annual tax responsibilities. Depending on where you operate, you may need to pay for the privilege of doing business in a particular state.

State-level franchise taxes take your business's net worth into account, charging you based on your share of investments in that state. Each state has its own method for calculating franchise taxes, and you'd need to pay taxes in each state that imposes them.

It may be challenging to keep up with the rules and regulations in each state where you do business but failing to do so could result in major penalties for your business. You could face fines or lose your legal ability to operate in a state.

Check with state offices, such as the state's department of revenue, to make sure your business remains compliant.
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Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani on Tuesday issued a decree to release Taliban inmates on parole, and the release of the first 1,500 prisoners will start on March 14, an official confirmed on Wednesday.

According to the decree about 5,000 Taliban prisoners will be released gradually.

All prisoners who will be released in accordance with the decree must make a written commitment to guarantee they would not return to the battlefield, Sediq Sediqqi, chief presidential spokesman said on Twitter.

The Afghan government will release the first 1,500 Taliban inmates within 15 days starting March 14. Every day 100 Taliban prisoners will be released in consideration of age, medical condition, and the remaining time of sentenced imprisonment.

Every prisoner must pass through a biometric registration process, Sediqqi said.

The remaining 3,500 Taliban prisoners will be released during and after intra-Afghan negotiations.

According to the decree, after the start of the intra-Afghan talks, 500 Taliban prisoners will be released every two weeks, and during this period a major reduction in violence should be witnessed, until the remaining 3,500 prisoners are released.

President Ghani earlier said the Taliban prisoners' release will lead to a reduction in violence.

"Fortunately, we have reached a framework where significant reduction in violence will take form in exchange for releasing Taliban prisoners, so that people can feel its tangible outcomes," Ghani said on Monday during his presidential inauguration.

Zabiullah Mujahid, a purported Taliban spokesman, on Tuesday said that the outfit has handed "the United States a detailed list of 5,000 inmates which no one can alter."

The United States and the Taliban inked a peace deal on Feb. 29 in the Gulf state of Qatar, while Kabul and Washington also issued a joint declaration on the same day.

According to the agreements, the United States and coalition forces will leave Afghanistan within 14 months and the Taliban will take part in intra-Afghan peace talks.
Simon Cowell joined his ex-girlfriend Terri Seymour as she hosted her daughter Coco's fifth birthday party on Tuesday.

The music mogul, 60, and his girlfriend Lauren Silverman, 42, later held a smaller celebration for Coco and Terri- and Simon's son Eric, six, was invited too.

Terri, 48, pulled out all the stops for Coco, who was greeted by Princess Anna and Queen Elsa and treated her to a two-tier Frozen cake, topped with figurines of the Disney characters and a number five.

Sweet: Simon Cowell joined his ex-girlfriend Terri Seymour as she hosted her daughter Coco's fifth birthday party on Tuesday

Terri shared a slew of snaps on Instagram from the celebrations.

She wrote alongside a sweet video of Coco and Eric running around with a dozen balloons 'Thank you @simoncowell & #LaurenSilverman for the cutest Birthday lunch #balloons and #Cupcakes'.

In another photo, Coco beamed as she posed with Anna and Elsa.

Frozen: In another photo, Coco beamed as she posed with Anna and Elsa

Magical: Terri treated her to a two-tier Frozen cake, topped with figurines of the Disney characters and a number five

Every inch the proud mother, Terri wrote on Instagram: 'Today our beautiful, sweet Coco turned 5!! Happy Birthday to our kind, snuggly, funny, smart and curious angel. We love you so very much.'

Terri welcomed Coco to the world with boyfriend Clark Mallon back in 2015, describing her daughter as a miracle baby.

The TV star had previously been told by doctors she may not be able to have a family after she was diagnosed with systemic lupus when she was 15, and then suffered a burst bowel due to peritonitis in her early 20s.

Birthday hugs: Simon and Lauren's son Eric also attended the Disney themed bash

Disney themed: Terri pulled out all the stops for Coco, who was greeted by Princess Anna and Queen Elsa

She previously told the Brampton Guardian: 'That was a very harsh realization to face when you're so young.

'I guess I spent a lot of time throughout my 20s and 30s wondering whether it would even be able to happen.

'Now I feel so lucky to be a mummy.'

Along with her TV career, Terri is also known for previously being in a relationship with music mogul Simon.

In a previous interview with DailyMail.com, former model Terri claimed Coco and Eric are 'boyfriend and girlfriend'.

She revealed: 'Coco and Eric are like this. They are really good friends we go on lots of playdates. Eric calls Coco his girlfriend, so it's scary.'

Terri and Simon were an item for eight years before their split, with the music mogul rumoured to have given her a 6 million 'parting gift'.

He then went on to become engaged to Afghan-born make-up artist Mezhgan Hussainy in 2010, but they split in February 2012.
Two persons from Mumbai on Wednesday tested positive for coronavirus, taking the number of such cases in to 10, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said.

There are eight positive cases in Pune, the chief minister told reporters at Vidhan Bhawan.

Thackeray also indicated that the ongoing budget session of state legislature, scheduled till March 20, may be curtailed in view of the situation.

Health officials said the two persons from Mumbai who tested positive for had come in close contact with two Pune residents who had returned from Dubai recently and tested positive for coronavirus.

A statement by the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme of the Public Health Department, said an "aggressive contact tracing activity" is in progress on a war footing after two Dubai returnees from Pune were found positive for positive coronavirus two days ago.

"On Wednesday, two close contacts of these persons from Mumbai were found positive. Both are co-passengers of the index cases and part of the Dubai tour troup," it said.

"Till Wednesday, 1,38,968 travelers from 1195 flights have been screened at Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur international airports. As per the new guidelines from central government, travelers coming from all countries are being screened at international airports," it said.

The Bureau of Immigration is regulary providing list of all passengers coming from high risk countries like Iran, Italy and South Korea for necessary follow up, it said.

All travelers who have come after February 21 from these three countries are being followed by Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme functionaries, it said.

"Field surveillance is also actively going on all across the state in search of people coming from the Corona affected areas. Till today, the state has 635 travelers coming from coronavirus-affected areas.

"From January 18 till date 349 symptomatic travelers have been isolated in identified isolation facilities. At present 18 travelers are still in hospital at Pune while 15 at Mumbai," it said.

Suspected cases have also been isolated at Nagpur and Pimpri Chinchwad, the statement said.

"To increase surge capacity and for future preparedness, the state has established isolation wards in all district hospitals and government medical colleges. As of today, the state has 502 isolation beds available," it said.

"All international travelers are being screened at airports and all symptomatic travelers are referred to identified isolation wards.Asymptomatic travelers coming from 12 countries (China, Honkong, Thailand, Singapore, South Korea, Japan, Nepal, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Iran and Italy) are being referred to IDSP for regular follow up for 14 days," it said.

Till Wednesday, of the 635 travelers, 370 have completed their follow-up of 14 days, it said.

Apart from Mumbai, Pune and Thane travelers are also being monitored in Gadchiroli, Nanded, Buldhana, Yavatmal, Nagpur, Wardha, Sangli, Ahmednagar, Amaravati, Palghar, Jalgaon, Chandrapur and Satara districts, it said.
Emerald Society Pipe Band walks down Delaware Avenue near Chestnut Street toward the Irish Memorial for the St. Patrick's Day Celebration in Philadelphia, PA, Sunday, March 17, 2019. This year's St. Patrick's Day parade was canceled amid fear of the spread of the new coronavirus. Read more

The decision to cancel Philadelphias St. Patricks Day Parade was made Tuesday night by organizers who were swayed after public health officials announced they had confirmed the citys first case of the new coronavirus.

Michael J. Bradley Jr., the grand marshal of the parade who has also served as its director for nearly two decades, said Wednesday that hes 100% at peace with the decision, which to his knowledge marks the first time the parade has been entirely canceled.

He said after the Tuesday afternoon announcement of the first city case, the St. Patricks Day Observance Association feared government officials would cancel the parade by the end of the week, and they wanted to get ahead of the situation.

We think that its total overreaction by people, but if one person is sick right now and doesnt know they have it and they march, then next week the headlines are The parade caused this,  Bradley, 63, of Havertown, said. We would never recover from that negative publicity.

The announcement to cancel the Sunday parade was made after a slew of other events had been canceled in the city and around the world as the new coronavirus spreads, solidifying itself as a global pandemic. More than a dozen people in Philadelphia and bordering counties have tested presumptive positive for the coronavirus, which causes flulike symptoms, and more are quarantined.

 READ MORE: Canceled in Philly: The list of events, festivals, concerts called off because of coronavirus

Authorities in Boston, Chicago, and New York have also canceled St. Patricks Day parades.

After Philadelphia city officials announced the first case, Health Commissioner Thomas Farley recommended people avoid gatherings of more than 5,000 people to tame the spread of the virus. City officials specifically asked potential parade-goers to stay home and watch the event on television.

 READ MORE: National expert on spread of flu pandemic: Cancel Philly St. Patrick's parade

But pressure mounted to cancel the event entirely amid the backdrop of history: More than a century ago, Philadelphia officials went ahead with a parade as the 1918 Spanish flu spread, a move that experts say in part led to the deaths of thousands of Philadelphians. A Harvard epidemiologist who is an expert in the response to that pandemic said Tuesday: Waiting until you know you have a problem is courting a catastrophe.

Bradley said the final call to cancel the parade was made by marshals and board members who were initially split on whether to cancel, but after discussing the ramifications, made a nearly unanimous decision to call it off. They wanted to decide early enough to give people coming in from out of town as much time as possible to cancel travel plans.

After the call was made, Bradley said he alerted Mayor Jim Kenney, who was supportive. Kenney tweeted that he appreciated the groups willingness to take the health and safety of the marchers and the attendees into account.

Bradley said organizers considered postponing the parade, but ultimately decided against it. He said that more than a decade ago, a parade was postponed due to weather and it was terrible  only a handful of groups attended.

As for this Sunday, Bradley and many others are still planning to celebrate privately and will march around Center City, South Philadelphia, and Delaware County in observance of the holiday.

Im not afraid of this, by any means, he said. I think that people are still going to go out."
Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
After two months and 30 women, The Bachelor star Peter Weber has finally chosen the one. But not after some added drama, even after the final rose was handed out in Australia.

So did Weber end the show engaged to his future wife? And if so, who was it? The answer is not that simple.

On Monday night, Weber received some strong advice from his family to pick Hannah Ann. It was revealed that the long-teased scene with Webers mother, Barbara, calling for him to bring her home to us was in reference to Hannah Ann.

Weber made it clear that despite the connection his family saw between the two of them, he still had strong feelings for Madison. However, it appeared his decision was later made for him when Madison decided to leave the show because of their different lifestyles.

STREAM THE BACHELOR: Hulu Live TV

With only Hannah Ann left, Weber did propose and leave the show with her. But it wasnt quite the happy ending Hannah Ann and his family imagined.

Instead, after the final rose episode was shot, Weber broke off the engagement with Hannah Ann during a recorded meet-up. During a emotional exchange, he admitted he doesnt have strong enough feelings for her and cant continue their relationship. Hannah Ann leaves after saying she wants to be with someone who can return the same feelings she has.

After the breakup, host Chris Harrison meets with Madison to tell her that Weber is now single. Madison admits she regrets leaving the show and leaves for Webers hometown in Los Angeles to give their relationship a second chance.

During Tuesdays live finale, Weber reveals the two hadnt seen each other since their meet-up in L.A., but admits hes in love with Madison. Then, Madison comes out on the live show and states she still loves Weber.

So where does that leave their relationship?

I think well take it one day at a time, Weber said when asked that question.

His family did not like the change in heart. Hell have to fail to succeed, his mother said about his relationship with Madison.

But Weber held strong, stating that I love her and that should be enough.

If you missed any of this season of The Bachelor," you can watch every episode on demand on Hulu Live TV.

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Bellaire artist Larry Garmezys work is both intellectually and aesthetically pleasing, combining the scientific principles of geology with the color-intensive responsiveness of photography.

Being the featured artist at Archway Gallery this month, in participation with FotoFest 2020, Garmezy represents the under-represented artistry of Bellaires residents.

Garmezys work can be described as either macro or micro. From his stunning landscape photography of the Canyon de Chelly on the Arizona and New Mexico border that highlights the stark contrasting shadows of ancient rock fractures to the frozen-in-time ripples of Big Springs Island Park, Idaho that produce impressionistic color schemes, Garmezys exhibition is literally Mostly Water, Some Rock.

Photographers would ask me who my hero is, Garmezy said, and they would expect me to say something like Ansel Adams or whatever. For me, its Cezanne, Monet, and Van Gogh. And thats also why Im happy to be in this gallery. Im not in a photography gallery. Im in an art gallery.

With only two Archway resident photographers, Garmezys photography simultaneously stands out and blends in with watercolor-like photographs that could easily be mistaken as paintings.

Archway first opened in 1976 intending to create a gallery completely run by the artists themselves. At the start, Archway only had 11 members and was in the C.G. Jung Center. Since 2008, Archway has been at 2305 Dunlavy St. with almost 4,000 square feet of space, owned by 30 artists.

Art can be a lonely thing, Garmezy said. Youre in your studio. You might have a show somewhere every couple of years. Here, this is a family. We see each other all the time. Everyone comes to openings. You ask for advice and you get it. Ive gotten great critique here from people who arent photographers and its improved my work in the nine years since Ive been here.

Garmezy attended Amherst College in the mountains of central Massachusetts and graduate school for geology at Penn State. He retired from Shell Oil after 32 years of traveling the globe and, buoyed by his lifelong love of photography, started his art career in 2007. Mostly Water, Some Rock is his fourth solo show since becoming an Archway resident artist in 2011.

One of Garmezys favorite pieces, a Monet referenced photograph titled Giverny, is a detailed close-up of a moving spring with the ripples distorting the monkey flowers underwater, making them appear either magnified or shrunk.

Captured at one-eighth of a second, he enlarges the image, creating an impressionistic photographic with giant, obscured flowers that represent only about a foot wide length of the spring in real-life.

Garmezy knows his natural earth background plays an important role in his art.

Being a geologist, I think I learned how to train my eye to look, not at just the big picture, Garmezy said, but to see important details within it and how they relate to the whole. I can see things that are more hidden for most people because I sort of understand what will happen if I look close.

Garmezys featured artwork is the first thing audiences see when they enter the gallery, but Archways exhibitions continue past Garmezy with artwork from the other gallery owners, including the other Bellaire resident, Becky Soria.

Born in Bolivia, Soria began her artistic career in the 1980s, referencing Palaeolithic and Neolithic iconography in her painting, seeking to depict her ideas, not as objective representations, but rather as tunnels into realities as she experiences them, according to Archways website.

Im interested in painting womens issues, Soria said, but my paintings arent contemporary. Theyre mostly semi-abstracted and strong. Showing how women used to be goddesses in the ancient world.

Archways main challenges are that of any other gallery- getting people in the door, being relevant, adapting to weather events- but Archway is unique because the artists themselves have a stake at keeping the gallery alive like they would a business.

Archway has a variety of events that are put on every month, from live musical performances and figure drawing sessions, that keep the gallery running and relevant.

Its a special place in Houston and more people need to know about it, Garmezy said, because its really for all the arts. We love it when people buy our work, but we also love it when they show up for music and charity events and all the rest. Its a cool place.

Mostly Water, Some Rock is available from March 7 to April 2 and is open to the public. For more information go to archwaygallery.com.

ryan.nickerson@hcnonline.com
Poland's prime minister on Wednesday said the government has decided to close down all educational and cultural facilities for two weeks to stem the spread of the coronavirus, which has infected 25 people in the EU member to date.

"The fight against the spread of the virus is a priority for us," Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki told reporters.

He said all schools, nurseries, universities, theatres, cinemas, museums and operas will be closed from March 12 to 25, although parents will still be able to leave their children at school on Thursday and Friday in order to get organised for the rest of the time.

"To those who will not be going to school and university: this isn't a vacation, it's not time off. It's a public quarantine," Health Minister Lukasz Szumowski told reporters at the same press conference.

"We should spend this time at home, isolated, trying not to contaminate others... Let's be responsible, let's try to be reasonable and spend this time at home," he added.

Poland had earlier already banned mass gatherings and expanded health checks to include all of its borders: with Germany, the Czech Republic, Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania, Slovakia and the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
TOWN OF GENEVA  After a four-week run this winter, the ice castle is being hailed as a success that drew big crowds to a new location.

We were able to open, and people enjoyed the experience, ice castle site manager Jesse Stone said. It was a safe and enjoyable experience, and that is what is important.

Although attendance estimates have not been released, officials said the ice castle at Geneva National Resort attracted approximately as many as last year, when some 90,000 people visited the attraction at Riviera Beach in Lake Geneva.

Stone, who works for the company Ice Castles LLC, said this winters castle drew people from distances up to six hours away.

VISIT Lake Geneva said many area hotels reported significant numbers of room bookings attributed to ice castle visitors.

Were not surprised that visitors came from far and wide, VISIT Lake Geneva marketing director Deanna Goodwin said.

The visitor center for VISIT Lake Geneva fielded a number of calls, emails, and walk-in visitors asking for information about the ice castle. Tourism staff members assisted castle goers with recommendations on hotels, shopping, dining, events, and other local attractions.

It certainly had a positive impact on many businesses throughout the area, Goodwin said. We also engaged with many followers on our social media pages who were looking for information or sharing their ice castle experiences.

Geneva National Resort also is reporting a positive impact as host of the ice castle.

Spokeswoman Barbara Karabas said the town of Geneva resort was able to give seasonal staff employees more hours to help serve the crowds turning out for the ice castle.

We had a great experience with the Ice Castles team, Karabas said. Most of Ice Castles employees on-site were locals, so this felt very much like a community project.

Stone agreed that there was a strong working relationship with Geneva National.

It was great to work with Geneva National, their leadership, ownership and their staff, Stone said. They were very flexible and patient with us, and we couldnt have asked for a better relationship this season.

The ice castle made its debut in the Lake Geneva region last winter, attracting about 90,000 people during a six-week run on Riviera Beach. Organizers moved to Geneva National this winter for more space to build a bigger attraction.

Construction crews began assembling the icy structure in early December, but unseasonably mild weather slowed their progress along the way.

The interactive frozen funhouse features fountains, slides, tunnels and other features that are popular with camera-toting visitors. It is outfitted with colored lights for nighttime visitors.

The ice castle season officially started on Jan. 31 and reported sold-out crowds on the weekends.

The attraction closed Feb. 23 as warmer weather moved into the region.

Stone said he does not view the four-week run as a disappointment because it did not last longer.

For us, something is something, he said. We are grateful that we had the time that we did, and thought it was a great experience.

Looking ahead to next winter, Geneva National hopes to bring Ice Castles LLC back for another season.

We are in discussions currently, Karabas said. It is too soon to tell if the attraction will be returning next year, but we certainly hope so.

Stone said those discussions will take place during the summer.

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Britons had their holiday plans thrown into further doubt today as Turkey became the latest tourist hotspot to be hit by coronavirus.

Turkish officials announced the country's first case today after a man with a high fever and a cough was isolated after testing positive.

Britons made more than 2.5million visits to Turkey last year, many of them travelling to the popular beaches of the Turkish Riviera.

Tourism accounts for around 13 per cent of Turkey's economy and industry leaders are already demanding financial help from the government.

It comes as the number of coronavirus infections in Madrid, Spain jumped from 782 to 1,024 overnight - with 2,089 cases and 49 deaths now recorded across the nation.

A health worker sanitises a taxi in the Karaagac district of Turkey, which has today confirmed its first case of coronavirus

Around 31 of these deaths have taken place in the capital, health officials said today.

Turkish health minister Fahrettin Koca confirmed early this morning that a Turkish man had tested positive for the virus.

'This is the first case confirmed in our country. The findings show the diagnosis of coronavirus was made early and if the virus has spread it is limited,' he said.

'Our country is prepared for this, all measures to prevent the spread [of the virus] have been taken,' he said, referring to screening and testing programmes.

Tourism minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy had met industry officials in Ankara just before the first case was announced to discuss possible repercussions of the outbreak.

The Tourism Evaluation Council said it had suggested financial support for tour operators and airlines, reductions in utility costs, and measures to increase bookings.

A man wearing a face mask stands in front of the Suleymaniye mosque in Istanbul, in a country which draws more than two million British visitors a year

An Istanbul municipal health worker disinfects the Taksim Republic Art Gallery today to prevent the spread of coronavirus

The sector was 'starting to be negatively impacted', it added, even before Turkey was confirmed to have a virus case.

The UK Foreign Office was already warning tourists that all international passengers are being screened with a thermal camera when they arrive in Turkey.

'Those displaying signs of a temperature will then be referred to a medical adviser,' the FCO advice says.

'You should comply with any additional screening measures put in place by the authorities.'

In addition, tourists who had recently been in China, South Korea, Iran, Iraq or Italy would not be allowed into Turkey over virus fears.

People with residency permits may be allowed in but will be tested and could be ordered into quarantine, officials say.

It is not yet clear whether any further restrictions will now be implemented.

A man wears a protective mask in Seville after Spain banned all air traffic from Italy, closed schools and blocked fans from football matches due to the coronavirus outbreak

The number of coronavirus infections in Madrid, Spain jumped from 782 to 1,024 overnight - with 2,089 cases and 49 deaths now recorded across the nation (Pictured: Seville)

Turkeys beaches along its western and southern coasts are popular tourist destinations, as well as the historic city of Istanbul.

The Foreign Office says British nationals made more than 2.5million visits to Turkey in 2019.

According to Turkish figures for 2018, the most recent available, Britons were the fourth-largest group of foreign visitors.

Visitors from Russia, Germany and Bulgaria made up the top three.

Turkey becomes the last major economy to report an outbreak, after it was praised by world health bosses for its 'vigilant, cautious' health measures.

Ankara has said that all 81 of its provinces are geared up to handle a potential outbreak and that it has set up seven test centres across the country.

Turkey says it has developed its own testing kit, which it is also exporting to other countries, to get faster results.

All of Turkey's neighbours have reported cases, including Iran which is one of the world's worst virus hotspots.

In an interview hours before the announcement of the first case, Irshad Shaikh, the WHO Health Security Program Leader in Turkey, praised Ankara's preventative measures and good organisation, saying it had been 'very lucky, vigilant and cautious'.

The WHO has been in contact with health officials in Turkey on legislation, risk management, testing and screening practices, among other issues, he said.

'In all those areas...Turkey has taken that to heart.'

'Turkey is an advanced country, and most of the systems were already there. What was needed was to make sure they are quick to this outbreak,' Shaikh said.
Kolkata/Hyderabad, March 11 : The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday carried out searches at over 16 locations in Hyderabad and Kolkata in connection with its probe into a chit fund case, officials said.

A senior CBI official related to the probe said that multiple teams were carrying out searches at the offices of Ashok Group of Companies and the residential premises of its officials in Hyderabad and Kolkata for cheating investors to the tune of Rs 20 crore.

The CBI official said that a case against the company was registered at the Economic Offences (EO) unit in Kolkata on the directions of the Supreme Court. He said that the company had promised huge rate of return on the investments made in the company.
The second patient who was cured of HIV, has no remissions from HIV for more than two years already, as reported from a research published by The Lancet HIV on Tuesday.

Adam Castillejo was called the "London patient" when he started treatment about 2.5 years ago and has since completed the HIV antiretroviral therapy.

The treatment that was administered included a stem cell transplant treating his lymphoma, with a mutation from the donor cell that is called CCR5-delta 32, that increases resistance to HIV.

According to researchers when his lymphoma was treated, Adam Castillejo who is 40-years old is cleared of HIV.

HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is an infection that is viral which assaults the immunity systems of individuals, with consequences that impact health seriously. The only way to cure it is by treating it with a combo of drugs, known as antiretroviral therapy which lessens the viral content in the patients' blood. Preventing it with PrEP, that is already approved by the US FDA administration from 2012.

Based on the findings of UNAids, there are 37.9 million individuals infected with HIV in 2018.

According to Ravindra Gupta, lead author of the study (University of Cambridge's clinical microbiology department), the success of using stem cell transplantation to cure HIV is first heard of about 9 years ago in a Berlin patient. Medical experts want to check if this could be duplicated in another patient. The second HIV patient was cured with almost the same treatment.

Also read: Six RAF Typhoon Jets Intercept Russian Planes as They Reach the Scottish Territory

As an adjoining Washington state legislators voted for a lesser penalty for purposely exposing a sex partner to the HIV virus.

Compared to Timothy Ray Brown, the Berlin patient, the London patient only had one stem cell transplant, not two like the Berlin patient, and there's no radiotherapy done to his entire body which is part of the treatment. Both patients had differences done when undergoing treatment.

Approaches to the London patient is one of a less intensive treatment approach, according to the authors of the study.

Authors express misgiving with the invasive nature of the treatment, which is still essentially experimental for the most part.

Gupta commented," Using this curative treatment is a high-risk option, allowable only if it is the last resort for patients with HIV that are diagnosed with dangerous haematological malignancies." He added that not all patients will be offered the treatment unless they need it.

Castillejo is just the second patient to be treated with this experimental procedure with success, the researchers said the London patient needs to be monitored, to track if the HIV virus does re-assert itself.

In an interview, Sherwin Lewin, the director of the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity at the University of Melbourne, cited the London patient as an exciting advance, viewed in context is needed that the procedure is promising and time will determine its efficacy.

According to Castillejo in an interview with the New York Times, he decided to come out in public to reveal himself as the London patient, after years of treatment and despair whether he can be cured.

Finally identifying himself as the London patient cured of HIV, and the second success of the treatment, he wants to be an ambassador of hope.

Related article: Hand-washing vs. Hand Sanitizers: Which Works Better to Avoid Coronavirus Spread?

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March 10, 2020

News

By Claudette Roulo

Defense.gov

DOD Confronts Coronavirus Head-On

The Defense Department is taking positive action to protect people, safeguard critical national security missions and capabilities and support the whole-of-government approach to confronting the spread of the coronavirus, or COVID-19, DOD spokesman Jonathan Rath Hoffman said today.

Combatant commanders have the authority to take measures to protect personnel from exposure to the new virus, Hoffman said during a press briefing with other DOD officials at the Pentagon. That may mean modifying, postponing or cancelling some training, he said.

Training continues on a smaller scale in South Korea, Hoffman said, though a larger joint exercise was postponed late last month. The commander of U.S. Forces Korea has been at the forefront of DOD's response in containing COVID-19, he said, having "taken measures that have been highly, highly aggressive and effective in confronting it and helping secure his personnel from exposure."

Planning continues for other exercises, he noted, such as the Defender 2020 division-size exercise scheduled for this spring in Europe.

"A lot of folks get a vote in as far as participation [in joint exercises] is concerned, but as far as we're concerned now, that exercise is good," said Navy Rear Adm. William D. Byrne Jr., the vice director of the Joint Staff.

At the Pentagon, one of largest office buildings in the world, Hoffman said educational materials are being distributed and good hygiene practices are being reinforced. The visitor entry process is under evaluation, he said, and people are practicing social distancing for meetings and briefings. One example of that distancing effort is that chairs in the press briefing room are now spaced six feet apart.

Across the force, three active-duty service members  one in South Korea, one in Europe and one in the U.S.  four family members, one government civilian and one contractor have so far been diagnosed with COVID-19, said Air Force Brig. Gen. Paul Friedrichs, the Joint Staff surgeon, during the briefing. "All are doing well at this point," he said.

The department is taking these precautions because COVID-19 is a new virus and scientists are still learning about how easy it is to spread, Friedrichs said. "And in particular, in an environment like this  enclosed spaces  we're trying to figure out the best way to mitigate the risk until we have solid data on that," he added.

All 13 of DOD's clinical labs can run the necessary tests to determine whether a person has COVID-19, the general noted.

"The Department of Defense has had plans for dealing with disease outbreaks like this for years," Friedrichs said. Each base has a plan that is coordinated with local authorities, he added.

"If we go back to any successful response, it starts with a strong local public health authority and good plans that are not unique to one employer, like the DOD, but to the whole community," the general said.

Friedrichs later told reporters that the No. 1 thing he'd like to know about COVID-19 is whether it's seasonal. "Because if it is seasonal, then it will start to burn out in the next couple of months," he said. "And that buys us a little bit more time until the fall when it comes back. And that means that we have more time to work on medical countermeasures, work on vaccines, and all the other things that we have for the flu."

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Victoria's state budget could forecast a deficit this year for the first time in almost 30 years, with Treasurer Tim Pallas saying the government is no longer "chasing surpluses" in the May budget.

His comments came as the economy reels from the impact of the coronavirus outbreak, which has crashed the global sharemarket and is expected to shave $7 billion from the state's economy over the next two years.

Mr Pallas walked away from his previously bullish stance on a surplus on Wednesday, saying the government would prioritise public health and wellbeing and do "whatever is necessary to protect the welfare of Victorians".

Treasurer Tim Pallas has stopped "chasing surpluses or courting deficits". Credit:AAP

"These are very uncertain times and we're seeing high levels of volatility in terms of many economy settings and I can't give you a confirmation of our position at the moment," Mr Pallas said.
Africas richest man, Aliko Dangote, will begin production of oil from two assets he snapped up from Royal Dutch Shell Plc in July, adding a new source of income to a fast-expanding business empire.

In an interview with Bloomberg, the group executive director at Dangote Industries Ltd, Devakumar Edwin, said Mr Dangote is working with Chinese and Malaysian contractors and has completed a development plan for the Kalaekule field on its Oil Mining Lease 72 asset.

Work will then move to an undeveloped KI discovery on Block 71, a small shallow water asset in south-eastern Niger River delta.

We are looking at the first phase of 20,000 barrels a day but our objective is to expand it to 100,000 barrels a day for the two blocks.

If everything goes well, we can do that in 12 to 15 months because we are already doing the 3D seismic studies, Mr Edwin was quoted as saying.

Production from the fields is expected to feed Mr Dangotes privately built refinery which is expected to start work early 2021, with 650,000 barrel a day.

The refinery is expected to double Nigerias refining capacity and while providing cost savings helps in meeting the increasing demand for fuels.

According to Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Mr Dangotes net worth is about $15.6 billion, the majority of which he got from his 85 per cent stake in publicly-traded Dangote Cement. He holds the shares in the company directly and through his conglomerate, Dangote Industries.

Dangote Groups main publicly traded businesses are Dangote Cement, Dangote Sugar, Dangote Flour Mills, and Nascon Allied Industries.

The group makes up about one-third of the market capitalisation of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.
A ll remaining British tourists have been told to leave Italy and come home, in new Foreign and Commonwealth Office travel advice.

The FCO's advice surrounding travel to Italy was updated on Wednesday, as 631 people were confirmed to have died after contracting Covid-19.

The Italian authorities have advised all tourists to end their travels and to return to where they live.

The Foreign Office has now doubled down on that advice and told all remaining British tourists in Italy to contact their airline operators to arrange a return to the UK as soon as possible.

Police officers wearing protective masks stand at a boarding gates / AFP via Getty Images

An FCO spokesperson told The Evening Standard: "British nationals remain able to depart Italy without restriction. Airports remain open throughout Italy. However, the Italian authorities have advised against travel for tourism purposes throughout Italy, and that tourists already on holiday in Italy should end their travel, unless it is necessary, to return to the place where they live.

"Airline schedules are subject to change and some flights are being cancelled. We therefore advise all remaining British tourists in Italy to contact their airline operators to arrange return to the UK as soon as possible."

It came after Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said on Wednesday that Italy will ramp up spending to help the economy cope with the impact of the coronavirus, earmarking 25 billion euros ($28.3 billion) to tackle the growing crisis

Italy pledged 25 billion euros to tackle the growing crisis / AFP via Getty Images

Last week the cabinet said it would need just 7.5 billion euros, but since then the emergency has escalated dramatically and the entire nation is under lockdown, freezing much economic activity in a nation that was already flirting with recession.
A 34-year-old man has gone on trial in Belfast where he stands accused of raping his mother on two separate occasions

A 34-year-old man has gone on trial in Belfast where he stands accused of raping his mother on two separate occasions.

As the case against the accused opened yesterday, the jury of seven men and five women heard how the complainant initially thought she was dreaming, before jumping out of bed and confronting her son.

A recorded police interview with the complainant in the wake of her allegations was played to the court.

In the recording, the complainant said the incident occurred in the early hours of February 3 last year. She also told police that this wasn't the first time her son raped her.

The accused, who cannot be identified to protect the identity of his mother, has denied raping her last February, and on a prior occasion between August and October 2018.

Before the police interview was played, the jury heard from Crown barrister Charles MacCreanor QC, who said this was a case of a drunken woman being sexually taken advantage of by her son.

Mr MacCreanor said that on the evening of Saturday, February 3, the complainant had been at her sister's house, where she drank most of a 10-glass bottle of vodka. She arrived back at her north Belfast home at around 3am and spoke to her son, who was in his room playing his PlayStation.

She then went to bed, but woke a short time later as she felt someone having sex with her.

The complainant thought she was dreaming, but after jumping out of bed and turning on the light, she discovered her son crouched down at the end of her bed wearing a pair of orange boxer shorts.

Mr MacCreanor said the complainant confronted her son and starting yelling at him. He denied raping her and said he had been in her room as he was looking for a cigarette.

During this confrontation, the complainant told her son that she believed he had done the same thing to her on a previous occasion when she had been sleeping. The prosecutor said: "She then rang her daughter, this was around 4.30am, to tell her about what her son had just done."

After telling her son to get out of the house, he started to walk to his ex-partner's home. He was later arrested and interviewed, and when the allegations were put to him, he denied raping his mother.

When asked about the incident in the early hours of February 3, the accused agreed that his mother has been drinking and returned home at 3am.

He claimed that after they said goodnight, he went into her room to get a cigarette. He told police the lighter fell out of the packet in the dark, he heard it bounce, and was on his hands and knees looking for it when the light went on and his mother accused him of having sex with her. He told police that after she made this allegation in the bedroom, he asked her, 'Are you f****** serious?', and she told him to get out of the house.

In the taped police interview which was played in court, the complainant confirmed she was drunk when she arrived home. She said that before going to bed, she had a chat with her son, they kissed each other on the cheek, said 'I love you' and that her son told her, 'Mummy, away to bed, you're drunk.'

She told police she "got into bed and literally conked out", but that she later woke up as someone was having sex with her.

In the interview, she told police: "I had a vague idea, thinking this has happened before. I was lying there thinking I'm definitely not dreaming, then I dived out of bed. I walked to the bottom of the bed and there he was, on his hunkers."

She said she confronted her son and said to him: "You just physically raped me in my sleep. Get out now."

The complainant was medically examined and two injuries were noted by a doctor, who concluded they were caused by blunt force trauma as a result of sexual intercourse. At hearing.
While discretionary spend by global enterprises is likely to negatively impact all Indian IT firms, more revenues from products and less exposure to financial services segment are likely to lessen the impact for HCL Technologies and Tech Mahindra.

IT services firms such as HCL Technologies and Tech Mahindra are said to be better placed than their bigger peers Infosys and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) to withstand the impact of the coronavirus outbreak.

According to analysts, while discretionary spend by global enterprises is likely to negatively impact all Indian IT firms, more revenues from products and less exposure to financial services segment are likely to lessen the impact for HCL Technologies and Tech Mahindra.

HCL Technologies and Tech Mahindra are more defensive large-cap stories to play amidst the coronavirus outbreak, given higher annuity through IMS (infrastructure management services) and product revenues for the company.

"Similarly, higher exposure to defensive segments like telecom and lower exposure to banking, financial services and insurance, (BFSI) - only 13 per cent of revenues - work for Tech Mahindra, said an ICICI Securities report.

All IT services companies have widened their travel restrictions from China to many other nations, including Italy, France, Singapore, South Korea, and Japan.

Several of them even have imposed a restriction on non-essential travel to the US, which accounts for 60 per cent of the revenues of Indian IT companies.

While travel and automotive sectors have been severely impacted due to the ongoing spread of COVID-19, cancellations of meetings, travel plans and other such business disruptions are likely to pull down global growth in the current year.

Analysts have already started factoring in the effect of a global slowdown on the IT spend of companies.

Typically, discretionary spends are mainly instrumental for driving large transformational projects.

During a slowdown or uncertain business environment, clients hold back such expenses first, though spends on ongoing research and development (R&D) continue to run the business.

According to ICICI Securities, Infosys and TCS would be impacted more if coronavirus continues to spread, given their higher exposure to discretionary spends.

In theory, Infosys should be impacted more than TCS on a relative basis if coronavirus issue lingers, given its higher exposure to discretionary spends.

"However, a lower base and wallet share gains should ensure that its growth is not markedly different from TCS in FY21 and FY22, the note said.

R&D spends are generally more resilient in an uncertain macro relative to IT spends, which puts HCL Technologies in a good stead, it added.

In a research note, another brokerage firm IndiaNivesh said HCL Techs product business from its recently acquired IPs (intellectual properties) from IBM provides it assurance in revenue flows.

Photograph: PTI Photo
SAN JOSE, Calif., March 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- StradVision, whose AI-based camera perception software is leading the way toward the future for ADAS systems and Autonomous Vehicles, opened a new office in Germany in February, which will allow the company to more directly assist its German automotive partners with mass production projects.

The new office is located in Munich. Among StradVision's ongoing projects in Germany are an SAE Level 2 ADAS project, and an SAE Level 4 Autonomous Vehicle project.

StradVision's German office will act as a regional EU office, featuring both local staff plus engineering and business units from its headquarters.

CEO Junhwan Kim said the expansion to Germany highlights StradVision's commitment to stay as close to its partners as possible, in order to provide the most efficient and fastest solutions to deploy ADAS and Autonomous Vehicles on a mass scale.

"Our presence in Germany will be essential to maintaining robust global growth, because German automakers are key leaders in the development and deployment of ADAS and AVs around the globe," Kim said. "We will replicate the success we've seen already with our partners in China by maintaining a strong presence on the ground near our German partners."

Andreas vom Felde, StradVision's German Business Development Director, said the company's presence in Germany will be extremely beneficial as StradVision's work throughout Europe continues to grow.

"We will aggressively expand our footprint in the entire EU, as there are multiple production projects incoming in the near future, and this German presence will make those projects much more successful," vom Felde said. "Our primary goal is to bring the safest and most accessible ADAS & AV solutions to Europe, and our new German office will help us achieve that goal."

Beyond the production projects already launched, StradVision is working on a variety of cutting-edge R&D projections to enhance its software, such as pedestrian and vehicle behavior prediction, animal detection, an auto labeling tool and much more.

StradVision's SVNet software enables safety features including: Lane Detection, Traffic Light & Sign Detection/Recognition, Object Detection and Free Space Detection. SVNet also prevents collisions by detecting lanes, abrupt lane changes and vehicle speeds, even in poor lighting and weather conditions.

StradVision has multiple mass production projects ongoing in China and Europe  involving SUVs, trucks, sedans and self-driving buses. StradVision has also earned the coveted Automotive SPICE CL2 certification, as well as China's Guobiao (GB) certificate  and is already deploying ADAS vehicles on Chinese roads.

About StradVision

StradVision is an industry pioneer in vision processing technology, providing the software that allows Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) in Autonomous Vehicles to reach the next level of safety, accuracy and driver convenience, and help usher in the era of the fully Autonomous Vehicle. Learn more at https://stradvision.com.

SOURCE StradVision

Related Links

https://stradvision.com


The University of Pittsburgh is cancelling classes scheduled for next week and moving all classes to virtual learning alternatives beginning March 23 through the end of the spring semester to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus outbreak.

In an email to the campus community, Chancellor Patrick Gallagher wrote: Our guiding principles in navigating this challenge have been to take all the necessary steps to minimize risk to our university community while seeking to continue our primary mission of educating, performing vital research and serving the local community.

Gallagher said there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 on or near any of the universitys campuses at this time but the number of confirmed cases is growing in Pennsylvania and elsewhere in this country.

This realitycoupled with the fact that most of our undergraduate students are traveling during spring break (happening this week) significantly heightens our risk of resuming normal academic activities. As a result, we must act to stave off the even greater risks associated with bringing everyone back together on our campuses, Gallagher stated.

The school is asking students who left campus for spring break to not return immediately. The campus, however, will remain open for those unable to return home or prefer to remain on campus. Dining facilities will remain available for those students.

Students who decide to move out of a residence hall will received a prorated reduction of room and board charges on their student account, he stated. Further, they will receive communication from their instructors about next steps for their courses.

While a number of other colleges and universities have announced their coronavirus response plans that extend spring break an extra week or go to remote learning for at least a limited time period as Penn State announced it was doing earlier on Wednesday, most have kept resuming face-to-face instruction as an option for later in this semester.

But like Pitt, the University of Pennsylvania on Wednesday and West Chester University, the largest state-owned university, announced on Tuesday they are going entirely to a remote learning approach for the remainder of this semester.

Jan Murphy may be reached at jmurphy@pennlive.com. Follow her on Twitter at @JanMurphy.

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India's exports of sugar to Malaysia so far in 2020 have nearly tripled over the figure for all of last year, as Kuala Lumpur steps up purchases to placate New Delhi in a trade dispute that halted its palm oil exports to India, trade officials said. The record buying could also help India, the world's biggest producer of sugar, to cut stockpiles that are squeezing domestic prices. India had been the biggest buyer of Malaysian palm oil for five years, but purchases ground to a halt after the January curbs, a retaliation for then prime minister Mahathir Mohamad's ...
Late last summer, John Austin and Charlotte Williamson Eisenhauer met to talk about the 2020 Republican Party primary.

Both Austin and Eisenhauer were long-time Republicans who had grown frustrated watching the dysfunctional state of their party under the local leadership of Cynthia Brehm.

Austin, a real-estate appraiser, and Eisenhauer, a businesswoman who has worked for her familys oil-and-gas company, each decided to be the change they wanted to see. Independently of each other, both of them committed to challenging Brehm in this years primary.

When they got together, Austin and Eisenhauer found they were operating on the same wavelength. Both of them knew the best chance to unseat Brehm would come from a single, united opposition campaign. Dividing the anti-Brehm vote would make things more complicated.

Austin asked Eisenhauer to step aside for him. Eisenhauer asked Austin to step aside from her.

Neither one complied.

Last Tuesday, the GOP primary produced a close three-way race. Brehm finished with the most votes (33.5 percent), but Austin (31.4 percent) managed to take her to a runoff. Eisenhauer finished third with 24.9 percent of the vote.

Austin, 51,now has become the sole hope for local Republicans who have gnashed their teeth for the past two years while Brehm has subjected the party to one embarrassment after another.

There were Brehms threats to pull out of the joint county primary; her unfounded allegations of elections-office impropriety during last years mayoral runoff; her December 2019 altercation with party activist Monica Rojas Stone, which resulted in a police report in which an officer described Brehm as highly irate, irrational and angry.

There also was the sordid history of Brehms relationship with her husband, Norman, who pleaded guilty in 1999 to exposing himself to Cynthias then 14-year-old daughter. The Army Criminal Investigation Command also found probable cause to believe Norman Brehm previously committed forcible sodomy against two other children and exposed a third child to adult and child pornography.

On ExpressNews.com: Garcia: GOP activist breaks her silence on altercation with Brehm

These personal dramas and conspiracy-mongering antics have obscured what has been the central point of Austins campaign: that Brehms fundamental incompetence has made it impossible for the party to raise money or organize volunteers for Republican candidates.

The one general election to happen on Brehms watch, in November 2018, was a disaster for local Republicans. There were 60 election races on the local ballot which featured both a Republican and a Democratic candidate. Democrats carried Bexar County in 55 of them.

Im not even worried about (Brehms) personal issues, Austin said. That has nothing to do with why Im running. It may have to do with some of the people asking me to run, because different folks have different reasons. But I think everybody can agree that the job performance has been poor.

Austin, a 1986 graduate of Lee High School, is the husband of Daphne Previti Austin, a former district court judge who was one of the many San Antonio Republicans swept out of office in the 2018 midterms. She will be on the ballot again in November as the Republican nominee for the 386th District Court bench.

I think I have some leadership skills, John Austin said. I want to bring the party together. Were gonna unify back, get all the factions back together and move forward.

The whole idea of having a local party is to help our candidates get elected. How do you do that? You meet voters, you get the voters energized and you tell people that theyre actually a Republican instead of a Democrat.

Eisenhauer plans to meet with both Austin and Brehm. But shes leaning toward endorsing Austin.

On ExpressNews.com: Podcast: Challenger for GOP chair preaches unity

During her campaign, Eisenhauer stressed the divisions within the party were not created, but merely exploited, by Brehm. Eisenhauer argued the GOP establishment marginalized and ignored the far-right members of the party for years, which caused that faction to rebel. Brehm is the product of that rebellion.

I want to make sure that John understands that, Eisenhauer said. Thats what I was trying to heal by my candidacy and I really tried hard to not favor either side.

Brehm has been in vintage form since last weeks primary, exploiting legitimate concerns about election glitches  a delay in the posting of results when computers crashed; printers at some voting centers being plugged into the wrong ports  to offer the absurd suggestion that something nefarious took place.

Standing alongside a bipartisan group composed of the demagogic dregs of our local political scene  including indicted former Constable Michelle Barrientes Vela and blustery election perennial Weston Martinez  Brehm called for a complete do-over of the primary election.

She also found time to verbally harass a news-conference attendee for holding an Austin campaign sign.

Change cant come fast enough for the Bexar County Republican Party.

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
Prison Police officers stand guard after an ambulance (Rear) entered the SantAnna prison during a protest of inmates' relatives in Modena, Emilia-Romagna, in one of Italy's quarantine red zones on March 9, 2020. (Piero Cruciatti/AFP via Getty Images)

Italy Reports 196 New Deaths From Coronavirus in 24 Hours

PM says all stores other than pharmacies and groceries are closed

Italian health officials on Wednesday reported 196 deaths from the COVID-19 coronavirus in the past 24 hours, representing a 30 percent increase over the previous day.

As of Wednesday, 827 people have died and confirmed cases rose more than 20 percent to 12,462, making Italy the worst-affected country in the world outside of mainland China. Italys emergency manager, Angelo Borrelli, in announcing the new figures, said that 1,045 people have recovered, according to the state-backed ANSA news agency.

Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, meanwhile, announced later that all stores except pharmacies and grocery stores are now closed. Italy must now go another step by closing all shops and businesses except for food stores, pharmacies, and other stores that sell essential items, he said, according to AP.

The advice is always the same: only go out for what is strictly necessary and indispensable, he said.

Conte said that authorities might restrict movement across the country even further, coming two days after essentially placing the whole of Italy under quarantine.

The main objective is to protect citizens health, but we must take into account that there are other interests at stake. We must be aware that there are civil liberties that are being violated. We must always proceed carefully, Conte remarked to reporters, according to Reuters.

Experts have speculated that Italys high fatality rate is because the country has the oldest population in Europe. About 23 percent are aged 65 or older, noted Reuters, and elderly people appear to be more susceptible to the virus.

A worker sprays disinfectant as sanitization operations against Coronavirus are carried out in the museum hosted by the Maschio Angioino medieval castle, in Naples, Italy on March 10, 2020. (Alessandro Pone/LaPresse via AP)

In Europe, COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in every single country, while France and Germany have reported daily spikes in cases, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. German Chancellor Angela Merkel told reporters that between 60 and 70 percent of the countrys population could get infected, and the priority now is to slow the spread to allow healthcare systems to function.

Elsewhere, South Korean officials confirmed 242 new cases, bringing the total to 7,755, while nearby Japan confirmed 54 more cases, CNN reported. Western countries appear to be struggling to contain the epidemic, and the number of cases in the United States has now reached at least 1,000, as several states declared emergencies.

In the past couple of days, for more than one week, we have been seeing an increase, said Yasuyuki Sahara, Senior Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Health, on Tuesday night, CNN reported

Whats more, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a global pandemic, which means the illness is spreading far and wide across the world.

People wearing protective masks walk through Florence as Italy battles a coronavirus outbreak, in Florence, Italy, on March 7, 2020. (Jennifer Lorenzini/Reuters)

In the past two weeks the number of cases outside China has increased thirteenfold and the number of affected countries has tripled, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a news conference Wednesday. In the days and weeks ahead, we expect to see the number of cases, the number of deaths and the number of affected countries to climb even higher.

The virus, which emerged in mainland China in late 2019, includes symptoms such as a fever, cough, shortness of breath, and it can cause pneumonia.
Avril Doyle made the claim in a case at the High Court

Former MEP Avril Doyle has accused the chief executive of the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB) Denis Egan of engaging in "a cover-up" in relation to the controversial inspection of her daughter's yard.

Ms Doyle made the allegation while giving evidence in a High Court defamation case, which has its roots in the inspection of her horse trainer daughter Liz's premises.

IHRB head of security Chris Gordon is suing the Irish Racehorse Trainers Association (IRTA) for defamation over a letter about his role in the inspection of the yard in March 2014. He also claims he was defamed when IRTA chairman Noel Meade later said in a newspaper interview that members were angered by the conduct of some officials during inspections.

Mr Gordon was part of a team from the IHRB and the Department of Agriculture who went to Liz Doyle's yard in Kitestown, Co Wexford.

The court has heard the inspection arose out of the discovery of a lodgement document during an investigation into John Hughes, a retired department vet who was convicted of possession of 6kg of a drug called Nitrotain.

The initials LD were found beside the 200 lodgement.

Liz Doyle has denied this was a reference to her, and this was quickly accepted by the IHRB.

But giving evidence yesterday, her mother said during the inspection, Mr Gordon had said Liz Doyle, rather than just the initials LD, had been found on the lodgement.

The court has previously heard Mr Egan wrote Liz Doyle's name in the margin, followed by a question mark, but Mr Gordon did not know this at the time.

Ms Doyle said she was shocked when this was put to her daughter as Mr Hughes was "the last person" she would have dealings with.

The former MEP claimed "an old Garda trick" was used to attempt to entrap her daughter into an admission of buying performance-enhancers.

Ms Doyle said she was not given a copy of the lodgement to photocopy, but her daughter was presented with one the following month at Fairyhouse by IHRB deputy head of security Declan Buckley.

However, the Doyles say the document produced at Fairyhouse was different from the one they saw at the inspection. In her evidence, Ms Doyle said she believed Mr Buckley was "protecting" Chris Gordon and Denis Egan.

"He was doing what he was told. He was covering for his superiors," she alleged.

Under cross-examination from Tom Hogan SC for Mr Gordon, Ms Doyle agreed that she was suggesting Mr Egan was engaged in a cover-up.

"Yes. And I stand over those words very clearly," she said.

Her allegations have been denied. The case, which has been ongoing since February 4, continues before Mr Justice Bernard Barton and a jury.
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Today, Octarine Bio IVS, a synthetic biology company developing functionally superior cannabinoid and psychedelic tryptamine derivatives, announced that the company has received funding from Vkstfonden. Vkstfonden is the Danish State's investment fund whose mission is to create a return on investment by contributing to the development of the Danish ecosystem.

Were thrilled to be backed by the Danish State's investment fund, Vkstfonden. This really gives a quality stamp on our technology, business plan and team. The funding will allow us to rapidly expand our R&D, says Nethaji Gallage, CEO of Octarine.

Octarines mission is to harness synthetic biology to develop functionally superior cannabinoid and psychedelic tryptamine derivatives to improve the health and well-being of people worldwide. Natural cannabinoids suffer limitations as therapeutics due to inherent issues such as insolubility, psycho-activity, chemical instability and low bioavailability. Octarine has developed in-cell enzymatic platforms to expand the chemical diversity of cannabinoids, allowing the production of superior molecules with improved chemical and pharmacokinetic properties.

Psilocybin and other psychedelic tryptamine derivatives are gaining momentum as breakthrough therapies for several neurological and psychological disorders. Development of this unique class of molecules is hindered, however, by limited access to a reliable and cost-effective supply. Octarines biosynthetic platform provides scalable and cost-effective production of a range of natural and novel tryptamine derivatives for application as pharmaceutical drugs.

We are very excited to support Octarine on their journey towards growth and scaling of their technology. Octarine is working in one of the promising areas of biotechnology, synthetic biology. The companys unique fermentation platform enables production of active compounds from plants in a very sustainable manner. This is an important aspect for Vkstfonden, as we are continuously looking for green technologies, says Lene Gerlach, investment manager, Vkstfonden. "The diversity of the team and the fact that the company is a university spin-out have also played a significant role for our decision to invest.

For more information, visit http://www.octarinebio.com.
GAYLORD, MI  Two leaders of a Northern Michigan district of the Michigan State Police are on administrative leave after an internal investigation revealed improper conduct related to the promotion and selection process.

On Monday, March 9, the MSP Seventh District commander and assistant commander were place on administrative leave for violating the department policy, the agency announced in a news release.

While MSP has not identified the personnel placed on leave, other news organizations are reporting that Cpt. Michael Caldwell is the commander and Mike Hahn is the assistant commander. The commanders name is also listed on the agencys website.

The MSP has a long-standing tradition of demanding the highest possible standards of professional conduct from its enlisted and civilian members, the MSP statement said. To that end, all allegations of misconduct are aggressively investigated. Policy violations are investigated thoroughly and acted upon in a manner consistent with labor law and collective bargaining agreements.

They will remain on leave until the disciplinary process is complete; a date of their return was not given. In the interim, the Sixth District commander will serve as the acting commander of the Seventh District, according to the agency.

The MSP Seventh District has its headquarters in Gaylord. There are four posts: Gaylord, Cadillac, Alpena and Houghton Lake. The district covers 19 counties in northern lower Michigan: Wexford, Manistee, Benzie, Leelanau, Grand Traverse, Roscommon, Missaukee, Crawford, Kalkaska, Emmet, Charlevoix, Antrim, Cheboygan, Otsego, Alpena, Alcona, Montmorency, Oscoda and Presque Isle.

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Putin approves changes to stay in power until 2036

If the constitutional court gives its blessing to the amendment and it is backed in a nationwide vote in April, Putin could serve another two back-to-back six-year terms.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday opened the door to constitutional changes that would allow him to remain in power until 2036, but said he favored term limits once the country became politically mature.

Putin, who in January unveiled a major shake-up of Russian politics and a constitutional overhaul, is required by the constitution to step down in 2024 when his second sequential and fourth presidential term ends.

CONSTITUTIONAL COURT WILL CALL THE LAST DECISION

But addressing the State Duma, the lower house of parliament, he gave his qualified blessing to a proposed change to the constitution that would formally reset his presidential term tally to zero. The proposal to remove restrictions for any person, including the incumbent president ... In principle, this option would be possible, but on one condition - if the constitutional court gives an official ruling that such an amendment would not contradict the principles and main provisions of the constitution, Putin said.

He said US President Franklin D. Roosevelt serving four terms because of the upheaval his country was going through at the time was an example of why presidential term limits were sometimes superfluous.

In conditions when a country is experiencing such shocks and difficulties, of course ... stability is perhaps more important and must be a priority, he said, adding that Russia was still recovering from the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union.

Were he to do that, and his health and electoral fortunes allowed, he could stay in office until 2036 at which point he would be 83.
Baboon mothers living in the wild carry dead infants for up to ten days, according to a new study led by UCL and Universite de Montpellier.

The research, published in Royal Society Open Science, is the most extensive study on baboons, reporting on 12 cases of group responses to infants' deaths, including a miscarriage and two stillbirths, recorded over 13 years in wild Namibian chacma baboons.

Chacma baboons live in large multi-sex groups, with strong linear male and female hierarchies. One group of baboons can range anywhere from 20 to 100 primates.

Anthropologists observed baboon mothers in the Namibian desert carrying dead infants for varying lengths of time, ranging from one hour to ten days, with the average length being three to four days. During this time the mother grooms the dead infant frequently.

Lead author, Dr Alecia Carter (UCL Anthropology and Universite de Montpellier), said: "There are numerous hypotheses to explain primate responses to dead infants. Perhaps the strongest hypothesis is that carrying after death is an extension of nurturing behaviour.

"We are not suggesting that the mothers are unaware that their infants are dead, but there is such strong selection on mother-infant bond formation that, once formed, the bond is difficult to break. It's less clear why only some mothers carry or protect their dead infant, but I suspect that a range of factors influence this behaviour."

While there are a number of hypotheses, the researchers believe the most plausible are the 'grief-management hypothesis', which suggests that mothers carry the dead infant as a way of dealing emotionally with their loss, and the 'social-bonds hypothesis' which suggests that mothers carry their infants because of the intense social bond mothers and infants share during life.

Other possible explanations for the behaviour include the 'unawareness hypothesis' which suggests that the mother lacks the cognitive ability to discriminate between 'dead' and 'unresponsive but alive', and that continued care is ultimately an adaptive behaviour in case the unresponsive individuals recover.

Primate mothers are unlikely to be unaware that their infants are dead, however, as they treat the corpse very differently to live infants, even if they are sick and lethargic. For example, dead infants are frequently carried by a limb or dragged along the ground; this is never done with live infants.

Researchers believe a range of factors influence the length of time a mother carries her dead infant, including the mothers' age, infant cause of death and the climate conditions.

Dr Carter adds: "Other primates have been observed carrying their dead infants for much longer periods of time. Chimps and Japanese macaques for example have been observed carrying infants for over a month. However, chacma baboons travel much longer distances on an average day and the desert environment is harsh, making it costly for a mother to carry her infant for long periods."

The researchers also observed that male 'friends' - who had been associated with the mother and her infant during its life and are usually the fathers of the infant - protect the dead infant, either by threatening observers that came close or, on one occasion, sitting near and grooming the dead infant when the mother moved away temporarily.

Last author on the study, Dr Elise Huchard (Universite de Montpellier), said: "This is quite surprising behaviour, because it has rarely been reported by previous studies. Male baboons are not usually very paternal, but they regularly protect their infant from threats, especially from infanticidal attacks. That is where a male baboon kills another male's offspring in order to mate with the mother."

###

The research was carried out with Stony Brook University and Zoological Society of London, and funded by the Leakey Foundation, the Animal Behavior Society (USA), the International Primatological Society, the Explorers Club Exploration Fund, Primate Society of Great Britain, the Gibbs Travelling Research Fellowship, Newnham College, Fondation des Treilles, and Agence Nationale de la Recherche Labex IAST.

Notes to Editors

For more information or to speak to the researchers involved, please contact:

Natasha Downes, UCL Media Relations. T: +44 (0) 20 3108 3844 / +44 (0) 7990 675 947, E: n.downes@ucl.ac.uk

Carter, A.J., Baniel, A., Cowlishaw, G., Huchard, E., 'Baboon thanatology: Responses of filial and non-filial group members to infants' corpses' will be published in Royal Society: Open Science Wednesday 11 March 2020, 00.01 UK time and is under a strict embargo until this time.

Additional material

Images are available to download here: https://we.tl/t-gOZKyYLtXu

Please credit: Alecia Carter

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By Easton Sanders Mar. 10, 2020 | 10:11 PM | PADUCAH





Nouri presented the findings of the 2019 study, which included public input from a four hour event that took place on February 14. The study analyzed the current available parking within a 12-block area, with particular focus being placed on the lot at Broadway and 2nd Street which is city-owned.





The study reviewed how parking might be affected by the proposed City Block project, and also attempted to identify current parking needs and recommendations.





The city-owned lot, which is being developed by a private developer, would include a four and a half story hotel on Jefferson, and a three story residential and commercial complex along Broadway. Between the two would be a town square as well as 172 public parking spaces. The study also identified 560 total total spaces within the one block area of the project.





According to Nouri, there wouldn't be a need for more parking with this project, saying there is plenty of room for growth in the downtown area.







"When it comes to city block redevelopment, we are proposing that no action is required." Nouri continued, "When you see the numbers, there is a surplus of parking that's out there that could be used for additional growth downtown."







Out of the entire twelve block area, the study was reportedly able to identify 608 off-street public parking spaces, 541 off-street parking spaces with 'neighbor agreements', and 563 on-street and curbside parking spaces for a total of 1,712 spaces.







The study also looked into how many spaces were being utilized during weekdays and weekends in November and December that assume daily usage as well as their usage during special events. The study reportedly revealed that the average usage on a normal weekend and weekday is 22 percent.







The study also ventured into strategies to better manage the existing parking places in the downtown area, and planning for future growth. Some of those results included identifying and marking current on-street parking spaces and exploring the possibility of angled parking spots in certain areas, determine accessible parking spots, upgrading lighting and signs, securing spots in city-owned lots to be used by employees of downtown businesses, and evaluating the possible need for a parking garage in the future.





You can learn more about the parking study at the link below.

At Tuesday's Paducah City Commission meeting, Project Manager Mohammad Nouri, with Concepts21, gave a presentation on the parking assessment study.

On the Net:
Nelson Mandelas wife, Graca Machel has expressed sadness over the dethronement of Muhammadu Sanusi II as Emir of Kano.

KanyiDaily had reported that Sanusi was dethroned on Monday, March 9, 2020, over alleged disrespect to the office of the state governor and other government agencies.

Consequently, the monarch was banished to Nasarawa State where is expected to spend the rest of his life in exile.

Reacting to the development in a letter of solidarity, Machel reassured Sanusi that he is not alone in the struggle to confront corruption affecting Northern Nigeria.

She stressed that she would continue to stand with Sanusi in his courage to always speak the truth to those in power.

The letter partly reads: I am deeply saddened to hear of you been relieved of your official duties as emir of Kano and authorities

I am sending you this message of solidarity in the hopes that it provides you in some small measure with reassurance and a degree of comfort that you are not alone in your valiant struggles to confront corruption and the social ills bordering Northern Nigeria.

Your influential voice as a man, as a traditional ruler and a religious authority in challenging the status quo is sorely needed not only in Nigeria but throughout Africa. You are a bold inspiration for leaders to hold themselves to account all in their power to improve the wellbeing of all its citizens under their watch, especially women and children.

Meanwhile, Kano state government has already named one of the sons of late Emir of Kano, Ado Bayero, Aminu Ado Bayero as the 15th Fulani Emir of the state.

This is after Sanusi had accepted his dethronement as an act of God and destiny.
Researchers in the Schroeder and Moore groups at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have published a new study that illustrates how changes in the polymer sequence affect charge transport properties. This work required the ability to build and study chain molecules with high levels of precision.

The paper, "Charge Transport in Sequence-Defined Conjugated Oligomers," was published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society.

Chain molecules or polymers are ubiquitous in modern society, with organic electronic materials increasingly used in solar cells, flat panel displays, and sensors. However, conventional materials are generally made by statistical polymerization, where the order of the subunits or monomers -- the monomer sequence -- is random.

"Traditional polymerization methods do not give us a perfect level of control of sequence," said Charles Schroeder, the associate head and Ray and Beverly Mentzer Professor in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and a full-time faculty member at the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology. "As a result, it has been challenging to ask how the monomer sequence affects its properties."

The researchers developed a method called iterative synthesis to deal with the problem. "Protein synthesis in our cells occurs by adding the amino acids one by one. We use the same method for making synthetic polymers where we add distinct monomers in a one-by-one fashion. This allows us to precisely control the sequence in a linear arrangement," said Hao Yu, a graduate student in the Schroeder Group, and the Moore Group led by Jeff Moore, the Stanley O. Ikenberry Endowed Chair and professor of chemistry.

After making the materials, the researchers studied their charge transport properties using single molecule techniques. In this way, they were able to measure the conductance through single chains, much like a 'molecular wire.'

"Molecular wires are generally good at transporting charge," Schroeder said. "We wanted to know how the charge transport properties change if the overall sequence changes."

Yu added molecular anchors at both ends of the chain molecule to enable the characterization. "We used a technique called the scanning tunneling microscope-break junction method, where the anchors link to two gold electrodes and form a molecular junction," said Songsong Li, a graduate student in the Schroeder Group. "Then we impose an applied bias or voltage across the molecule, and this allows us to measure the charge transport properties of these polymers."

"Currently the synthesis method is labor intensive," Schroeder said. "Moving forward, we are developing automated synthesis methods in the Beckman Institute to generate large libraries of sequence-defined molecules."

"The implications of this work are significant," said Dawanne Poree, program manager at the Army Research Office that supports the work. "It's often been wondered if the sequence-dependent properties observed in biological polymers could translate to synthetic polymeric materials. This work represents a step toward answering this question. Additionally, this work provides key insights into how molecular structure can be rationally designed and manipulated to render materials with designer properties of interest to the Army such as nanoelectronics, energy transport, molecular encoding, and data storage, self-healing, and more."

###

The work was supported by the U.S. Department of Defense by a multidisciplinary university research initiative through the Army Research Office, an element of the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command's Army Research Laboratory.

Editor's Note: The paper "Charge Transport in Sequence-Defined Conjugated Oligomers" can be found at https://doi.org/10.1021/jacs.0c00043.

For more information, contact Charles Schroeder, 217-333-3906, cms@illinois.edu.
I am an attorney campaigning full time for election to the Illinois Supreme Court. Prior to the campaign, I worked at the number one law firm for pro bono service in the country, Jenner & Block, where I earned the firms prestigious pro bono award for service on behalf of the vulnerable. I served clients in cases in the Supreme Court of the United States and courts across the country. I worked on some of the worlds largest and most complex cases, and also on behalf of the worlds most marginalized. I worked for plaintiffs and defendants, citizens and asylees, victims and the accused. My practice included appeals and post-convictions, civil rights, criminal defense, domestic violence orders of protection, immigration, investigations, and complex commercial litigation in antitrust, contracts, employment, environment, insurance, intellectual property, and securities. During that time, I served as the chair of the Chicago Bar Associations Committee on Alternative Dispute Resolution, co-authored the 2018 Illinois Civil Practice Guide, and authored articles on legal theory and court systems (e.g., https://www.epsteinforsupremecourt.com/files/epstein_legal_theory_article.pdf & https://www.epsteinforsupremecourt.com/files/epstein_and_thomas_wrongful_evictions_article.pdf). I also co-founded an online court of arbitration designed to promote access to justice and social responsibility by dramatically reducing legal costs, leveling the playing field for woman and minority arbitrators, and preventing the cover-up of sexual misconduct and discrimination based on race, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Additionally, I joined with two friendsa public defender and a police officerto found a nonprofit called Perspective to the People that partnered with Ald. Taliaferro and a block club in Chicagos Austin neighborhood to provide free citizen-owned security cameras and solar panels to homeowners in an area with concerns about crime. And I served (and continue to serve) on the board of directors for the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs and on the Young Professionals Council of the Lawndale Christian Legal Center. Prior to that, I worked as a judicial extern to Judge Edmond Chang in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, where I drafted opinions and conducted legal research; and as a research assistant to University of Chicago Law School Professor Anthony Casey. I am proud of my legal experience, and proud also that I had a successful career before becoming an attorney. I worked in policy, politics, government, and business. Most significantly, I was the director of government relations for a global provider of early childhood education, working with the White House, Congress, and government at all levels to promote subsidies and tax credits to enable children from low-income families to attend high quality child care. In that role I directed the advocacy efforts of 17,000 employees. At the same time, I founded a nonprofit called Word Up DC that attempted to provide educational services to inmates in the D.C. jail. Unfortunately, Word Up DC was frozen out when a new mayoral administration took office, but I forged ahead, taking the reins of a nonprofit called America Educates and turning it into a fiscal sponsor that supported education programs across the globe. One of those programs was the Ikirwa School in the small Meru village of Midawe, Tanzania. To support the school, I briefly lived and worked alongside its founder, Gasper Mbise. While there, we engaged the schools Member of Parliament, Hon. Ole Medeye, to hold his first ever event with Meru people, and successfully compelled him to help bring electricity to the village. Prior to that work, I worked in the British House of Commons for Member of Parliament Adrian Bailey, where I developed campaign strategy to combat a rising white nationalist party in Britains West Midlands and anti-bullying legislation that was introduced in Parliament. Across the years I also worked in insurance consulting for Corporate Executive Board; for the Illinois Department of Employment Security; as an intern for Representatives Schakowsky, Emanuel, and Shea-Porter; and as the National Committeeman for the D.C. Young Democratsin which capacity I proudly testified in support of D.C.s pioneering marriage equality ordinance.
If the payroll tax cut were to extend from April through the end of the year, it could cost close to $700 billion, according to estimates from the Penn Wharton Budget Model at the University of Pennsylvania. Asked how such a measure would be financed, Mr. Kudlow told reporters at the White House that he did not yet have an answer.

I think over time, well make it up with much better economic growth, he said.

Both Republicans and Democrats were cool to the idea. Senator Lindsey Graham, Republican of South Carolina and usually a staunch Trump ally, said the reaction among Republican senators had been mixed, adding, I have to think about that.

Senator Lisa Murkowski, Republican of Alaska, said she and other Republicans had questions about how a payroll tax would be paid for and how long it would last. She also raised concerns over the fiscal solvency of the Social Security Trust Fund, which is supported by payroll taxes.

While it might have great stimulative effect, Ms. Murkowski said, I think we need to be looking at the overall impact.

Democrats argued that Congress should focus on narrowly tailored measures that could be delivered quickly.

We asked the economists what really can stimulate the economy fast, and there were things like food stamps  because people would spend that fast  unemployment insurance, refundable tax credits, Ms. Pelosi said. What we are doing has to be related to the coronavirus crisis.

Trump administration officials, congressional aides, lawmakers and lobbyists involved in the stimulus discussions suggested on Tuesday that the negotiated package would be built on bipartisan agreement: protecting Americans who lose their jobs or are unable to work as a result of the coronavirus.
The swift and well-guarded moves that preceded Jyotiraditya Scindias formal entry into the Bharatiya Janata Party were overseen by former party president and Union home minister Amit Shah.

It was Shah who met Scindia on Tuesday and later accompanied him to Prime Minister Narendra Modis 7, Lok Kalyan Marg residence to clear the decks for the former Congress leaders entry into the BJP. The two leaders are understood to have been in touch, both directly and through intermediaries, for several weeks now.

According to one state functionary, the royal family of Baroda also played a role in initiating dialogue between Shah and Scindia.

Also watch: Why Jyotiraditya Scindia quit Congress | Madhya Pradesh crisis

A senior BJP functionary said Scindias resignation from the Congress will not only help the BJP reclaim Madhya Pradesh, a bastion that it had lost in the 2018 state assembly poll, after being in power for three consecutive terms; but also lead to the emergence of a new leadership in the state.

Also read: The modern face of Indian politics grand old party

He is a young, dynamic leader, who has the experience of being in charge at the state as well at centre. Right now there are senior leaders such as Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Narendra Tomar, but the party has to have younger leaders to take it further, said the functionary quoted above.

A second functionary said Scindias joining will help the BJP strengthen its position in the Gwalior-Chambal region of the state, considered a Scindia stronghold.

In the 230-member Madhya Pradesh assembly 34 seats are in this region. The region is also considered a pocket borough of the erstwhile royal family of Gwalior. In the last assembly election, the Congress had an edge over the BJP after winning 75% seats in the region, while the BJPs tally went down from 18 in 2013 to seven in 2018.

The BJP has also redoubled its efforts in the region which is the hot bed of caste politics and it was here the protests against dilution of the SC/ST prevention of atrocities Act was seen the most. The BJP, which has been working on social engineering to expand its vote bank, has been wooing the SC and ST communities in the region.

Also read: How Jyotiraditya Scindia ran out of patience and time with Congress

For now, there is speculation that Scindia may join the cabinet at the Centre, which will provide a boost to the talent in the government, given the former Congress leaders administrative experience, energy and ability to articulate key policy issues.

According to people aware of the developments, even as there was speculation that Scindia would leave the Congress party, a host of state leaders were unsure whether he would join the BJP formally or float his own party.

The negotiations were limited to Shah and Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan. On Monday this issue was also discussed with BJP president JP Nadda when Shah met him, said the second functionary.

Following a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with Shah, Scindia announced his resignation from the Congress and later joined the Bharatiya Janata Party in the evening.

There was no word on what transpired at the meetings Scindia held with Shah and Modi.

The BJP had been closely watching the developments unfold in the state, but did not make any move to topple the Kamal Nath government. Only when it became clear that intra-party disagreements which were evident in the form of open rebellion by MLAs made it untenable for the Congress government to continue, did the BJP take proactive steps. Many MLAs had reached out to the BJP, dismayed by their partys leadership, said a BJP functionary aware of the details.

Also read: Indecisiveness hits Congress yet again as Jyotiraditya Scindia heads for BJP

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BOGOR, Indonesia  King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands apologized Tuesday for his countrys aggression during its colonial rule of Indonesia and formally recognized the Southeast Asian countrys independence date, in his first state visit to the former Dutch colony.

The kings apology was conveyed after he and Queen Maxima were hosted by Indonesian President Joko Widodo and his wife, Iriana, at an official ceremony in the ornate colonial-style presidential palace in Bogor, just outside the capital, Jakarta.

The Netherlands did not initially apologize for its 350 years of colonial rule and aggression until 2013, when the Dutch ambassador expressed remorse for a series of massacres carried out by the Dutch military to crush resistance against colonial rule in Java and Sulawesi islands after Indonesias 1945 declaration of independence. That apology came only after the victims widows took the Dutch government to court.

In line with the previous statement by my government, I would like to express my regret and apologize here for the excessive violence on the part of the Dutch in those years, the king said Tuesday at a joint news conference with Widodo. I do so with full awareness that the pain and sorrow of the affected families will be felt for generations.

Indonesia declared its independence from Dutch colonial rule on Aug. 17, 1945, but the Netherlands refused to acknowledge it and fought unsuccessfully to maintain control of the lucrative Asian outpost. It finally recognized the country as an independent nation in December 1949.

Indonesian authorities claim some 40,000 people were killed during the fighting, while most Dutch historians estimate the dead at about 1,500.

A 1968 Dutch report acknowledged violent excesses in Indonesia but argued that Dutch troops were conducting a police action often incited by guerrilla warfare and terror attacks. The Dutch government has never prosecuted any soldiers for the killings despite a U.N. report condemning the attacks as deliberate and ruthless as early as 1948.

The 2013 apology by the Dutch ambassador cleared the way for the biggest-ever Dutch trade mission to Indonesia in November 2013, led by Prime Minister Mark Rutte.

Subsequent apologies were made by Dutch Foreign Minister Bert Koenders in 2016 and Rutte late last year during visits in Indonesia. But unresolved demands from those affected by past war crimes still loom large over the monarchs current visit.

The four-day state visit by the royal couple, who arrived in Jakarta on Monday, aims to deepen economic ties with Indonesia.

Andi Jatmiko and Niniek Karmini are Associated Press writers.
(Bloomberg Opinion) -- Marketing for the Grand Princess cruise ship advises prospective passengers to Expect the extraordinary when they take sail. Last week, that promise was exceeded when helicopters lowered Covid-19 test kits to a poolside deck as the ship floated off San Francisco. Twenty-one passengers and crew members tested positive for the coronavirus. This week, the ship docked in Oakland, California, and started disembarking passengers, to be sent for medical care or into isolation. But those cruisers werent the only ones to face an extraordinary end to their vacation: Elsewhere, on-board Covid-19 outbreaks have sickened hundreds and sent luxury liners on desperate searches for ports at which they can dock.

The human toll from the virus is steep; so, too, is its effect on the public image and finances of the $45 billion cruise industry. The weight of the U.S. government is against it, with the State Department now warning all Americans not to travel by cruise ship. It aint pretty, Richard Fain, CEO of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., one of the worlds largest cruise companies, said last week. In fact, to use a technical term I learned in business school, it sucks.

Royal Caribbeans stock fell as much as 19% Monday, amid a broad market selloff, but rebounded Tuesday as President Donald Trump suggested government help might be coming to the industry. Also Tuesday, S&P Global Ratings said it might cut the cruise companys bond rating, as well as that of rival Carnival Corp.

Fains pain is unlikely to generate much public sympathy. But with tourism accounting for roughly 10% of global gross-domestic product and employment, its worth acknowledging. If the worlds economy is to recover quickly from coronavirus, tourism will need to recover, too. Covid-19 is a more serious threat than the other health and safety issues that have plagued cruises over the decades. Turbulence is sure to follow, but cruises  like the rest of the global tourism industry  arent sunk.

Story continues

The birth of the cruise industry dates to the 1960s, and so does its image as a floating incubator for human illness. Outbreaks of gastrointestinal illness were linked to (among other issues) bad water, shrimp cocktails and living in close quarters with thousands of strangers. Although governments in the U.S. and elsewhere have implemented comprehensive inspection programs that have reduced the occurrence of shigellosis and other diarrhea-inducing bugs, theres still no avoiding them. Indeed, just last month, a Princess Cruises ship cut short a 14-day Caribbean trip when hundreds of passengers and crew came down with suspected norovirus.

Meanwhile, outbreaks of respiratory illnesses like the flu (and Covid-19) are common enough on cruise ships that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention publishes guidelines on how to manage them. The World Health Organization has long warned that cruises pose health risks to older passengers  the demographic that happens to be the cruise industrys prime demographic. On Sunday, a top U.S. health official told elderly Americans, just dont get on a cruise ship.

It doesnt end there, either. Passengers have been stranded on ships, such as the infamous 2013 poop cruise (during which a fire knocked out power and sewage systems), regularly fall off cruise ships, and have even been threatened with violent death and drowning, such as during the Costa Concordia sinking in 2012. Yet, remarkably, none of these incidents, individually or collectively, has managed to stall the industrys growth over the decades. In fact, its been accelerating. Between 2009 and 2019, straight through the depths of the Great Recession, global passenger numbers increased every year, going from 17.8 million to 30 million.

Is Covid-19 the problem that grounds the fun? For now, it doesnt look good. The Wall Street Journal reports that some Mediterranean cruises are operating with 20% fewer passengers, compared with a year earlier. Meanwhile, the worlds biggest cruise lines have canceled most Asia-Pacific cruises. It doesnt help, either, that social media is filled with users reacting to each cruise ship outbreak by asking, Why would anyone go on a cruise?

But even with these problems, the cruise industry has plenty of reasons not to worry. First, and perhaps most important, the traveling public has a decades-long record of not caring. Nothing is permanent, explained Frank Del Rio, chief executive of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd, in a recent interview. Customers do have a relatively short memory, thank God. Next, long-term demographics favor the travel industry  especially cruises. Cruises have attracted a younger clientele in recent years, but older passengers (in 2018, 51% of passengers were over age 50) with time to sail remain the key, recession-proof industry demographic.

Finally, there is China. Only 10% of its citizens have traveled internationally, and yet the country is already the worlds biggest source of outbound travelers. Cruises have been a direct beneficiary of that growth: Between 2012 and 2016, Chinese passenger counts grew by an average of almost 80% per year. Most of these passengers, like their counterparts elsewhere, wont be deterred once the pandemic situation resolves. In fact, thanks to the Chinese governments determination to put the country back to work, Chinese travel bookings are rebounding.

Most of those bookings are likely work-related, but its just a matter of time before pent-up demand (intensified by weeks in quarantine) results in new vacation bookings. A recent survey of Chinese travel consumers found that more than half plan to go somewhere within three months of the coronavirus crisis being resolved  and one-quarter within one month. Already smaller boutique cruise lines are reporting that business is holding steady or even growing as cruises are reconfigured into shorter-term voyages targeting travelers in the vicinity of cruise terminals.

As governments and cruise lines manage shipboard coronavirus onto land and out of the news, bookings should rebound across the industry. Thats good news for a global economy that could badly use some, and a cruise industry that thrives on being remembered as a safe and accessible getaway. Even in the midst of a crisis, the next vacation is just around the corner.

To contact the author of this story: Adam Minter at aminter@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Stacey Shick at sshick@bloomberg.net

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Adam Minter is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist. He is the author of Junkyard Planet: Travels in the Billion-Dollar Trash Trade and the forthcoming "Secondhand: Travels in the New Global Garage Sale."

For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com/opinion

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After months of unease with the Indian National Congress leadership, Jyotiraditya Scindia resigned from the party he had been associated with for around 18 years on March 10.

Shortly after Scindia tender in his resignation to Congress interim President Sonia Gandhi, the party said it had expelled the 49-year-old leader from Madhya Pradesh.

These developments came after Scindia met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi, a day after Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs) loyal to him had been moved to Bengaluru.

In his resignation letter addressed to Gandhi, Scindia said this path had been "drawing itself out over the last year," alluding to the infighting within the party's state unit.

"While my aim and purpose remain the same as it has always been from the very beginning, to serve the people of my state and country, I believe I am unable to do this anymore within this party," Scindia said in his letter, adding that in order to "reflect and realise the aspirations of my people and my workers it is best that I now look ahead at a fresh start."

The development came amid high political drama in Madhya Pradesh ahead of the Rajya Sabha elections on March 26 and the Budget Session of the Legislative Assembly scheduled for March 16.

Reports suggest that Scindia, head of Gwaliors royal family, is likely to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The Congress has been blaming the BJP for engineering the crisis.

The BJP maintained it had no role to play in the recent development, but its leaders added that they would welcome Maharaja, as Scindia is commonly referred to in the state, to the party if he chooses to.

The saffron party is also seeking a floor test against the Chief Minister Kamal Nath-led government.

A floor test is a constitutional mechanism used to determine if the incumbent government enjoys the support of the legislature.

The date of the floor test is still unclear.

Also read | Explained: What is a floor test or trust vote

On March 10 itself, 21 MLAs considered close to Scindia tendered their resignations. If these 21 resignations are accepted by Speaker NP Prajapati, the Kamal Nath government will no longer command majority in the House.

The total strength of the Madhya Pradesh Assembly is 230. However, two seats are currently vacant. So, the working strength of the House is 228, making 115 the majority mark.

Congress (including those 21 MLAs) has 114 seats in the House. It has so far survived with the help of two members of Mayawatis Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and one from Akhilesh Yadavs Samajwadi Party (SP). There are four other Independents in the Assembly.

A lot depend on what happens with the resignations. It is only the Speaker who can accept or reject an MLAs resignation, not the Governor. If these 21 MLAs join the BJP before the Speaker acts on their resignation, it would invite action under the anti-defection law.

Also watch: All you need to know about the anti-defection law

If the Speaker accepts those 21 resignations, the strength of the House will be reduced to 207  making 104 the new majority mark.

Remember, the BJP has 109 MLAs in the Assembly  enough to form the government. Congress tally will be reduced to 93. Even if BSP and SP MLAs were to support Congress, it would still fall short of the majority mark.

All sides are expected to issue a whip to its MLAs. In political parlance, a whip is a written order which demands party members to be present in Parliament or a state assembly if an important vote is scheduled, and also asks them to vote in a particular way.

Also read: What is a whip and can it be defied?

BJP shifted its MLAs to a hotel in Gurugram  a state governed by the party. It was reported that Congress too was planning to move its MLAs to Jaipur  a state it currently governs.

Meanwhile, MLAs close to Scindia continue to be in Bengaluru.

Senior Congress leader and former chief minister Digvijaya Singh told NDTV on March 10 that the government will take the floor test, adding that there was no question of CM Nath stepping down. However, it admitted that the task was numerically difficult.
Newbridge Parish Priest Fr Paul Dempsey will celebrate his final Mass in Newbridge this weekend before he becomes the new Bishop Of Achonry.

A large congregation is expected in St Conleths Parish Church on Sunday at 11am.

A parish spokesperson said: All are welcome.

Join us to give Fr Paul your blessings and prayers as he heads off to the Achonry Diocese.

Fr Paul has been invited to local schools and community groups in recent days as they wish him well in the new phase of his career.

The Parish team and staff gathered on Friday last to pay tribute to Fr Paul and present him with a cake.



Fr Paul also visited the Patrician Secondary School where he was presented with a jersey in the school's colours with BISHOP emblazoned on the back.

The priest met with teachers in the staff room as part of a send-off from the school.

Last week he and Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin, Denis Nulty, attended the confirmation of 180 young people in St Conleth's Church.

Fr Paul has been visiting the Achonry Diocese in recent weeks to familiarise himself with his new role.

He has also been present at Mass at the Cathedral of the Annunciation and Saint Nathy in Ballaghderreen, Co Roscommon.

He took the time to meet parishioners, children from local schools, priests and religious after mass.

Fr Paul was appointed Parish Priest of Newbridge and Administrator of Caragh and Prosperous Parishes on September 2015.

He has spent all of his career in Co Kildare as his first appointment after his ordination in 1997 was as curate in Clane & Rathcoffey Parish.

It was during this time that he started a weekly article in the Leinster Leader.

After seven years he moved to Kildare town as curate and was also appointed Youth Director and Vocations Director for the diocese by Bishop Jim Moriarty.

During this time, Fr Paul organised two diocesan World Youth Day pilgrimages to Cologne (2005) and Sydney (2008) as well as many other youth initiatives.

In 2008, Fr Paul completed an Honours Masters Degree in Theology in the area of Faith & Culture at the Milltown Institute, Dublin.

He then became Curate of Naas, Sallins and Two-Mile-House in 2009.

The Diocese of Achonry includes parts of Mayo, Roscommon and Sligo with 23 parishes and 48 churches.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-11 07:25:14|Editor: Xiang Bo

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UNITED NATIONS, March 10 (Xinhua) -- The Security Council on Tuesday adopted a resolution to welcome the recent progress in the peace process in Afghanistan.

Resolution 2513, which won the unanimous support of the 15-member council, welcomes the significant steps toward ending the war and opening the door to intra-Afghan negotiations enabled by two accords signed between the United States and the Taliban and between the United States and the Afghan government.

The resolution welcomes the intention of all Afghan parties to pursue the successful negotiation of an inclusive political settlement and a permanent and comprehensive cease-fire.

It emphasizes the importance of the effective and meaningful participation of women, youth, and minorities, and affirms that any political settlement must protect the rights of all Afghans and respect the strong desire of Afghans to achieve durable peace and prosperity.

The resolution urges the Afghan government to advance the peace process, including by participating in intra-Afghan negotiations through a diverse and inclusive negotiating team composed of Afghan political and civil society leaders, including women.

It calls on the Afghan government and the Taliban to pursue in good faith additional confidence-building measures to create conditions conducive to a swift beginning and the success of intra-Afghan negotiations and a durable peace, including additional reductions in violence to significantly reduce civilian casualties and allow for increased international support for Afghanistan prior to agreement on a permanent and comprehensive cease-fire, as well as the release of prisoners.

It calls on all states to provide full support to promoting the successful negotiation of a comprehensive and sustainable peace agreement.

The Security Council expresses its readiness, upon the commencement of the intra-Afghan negotiations, to consider the start of the review of the status of designations of individuals, groups, undertakings and entities on the sanctions list against the Taliban.

It welcomes the efforts of regional cooperation for regional development, and stresses the importance of international and regional economic cooperation for the reconstruction of Afghanistan.
New Delhi: TV actress Kamya Panjabi and her businessman husband Shalabh Dang celebrated their one month wedding anniversary in the most adorable way possible. The celebrations began with a midnight surprise by Shalabh for Kamya. He got a chocolate pastry for his wife and decorated it with a candle and some chocolates. Sharing a picture from the celebration, Kamya wrote, "30 days of Mrs and Mr Dang. Midnight surprise by patidev."

She also posted a picture of them kissing each other during their wedding festivities and captioned it as, "How I got so lucky I would never know. Happy one month of Mr and Mrs Dang to us. Shalabh Dang, I love you."

The day called for a double celebration as their one-month wedding anniversary coincided with Holi.

Kamya Panjabi and Shalabh Dang married in a grand ceremony on February 10. The wedding was a private affair with only family and close friends in attendance. Later, the newly-weds hosted a grand reception for the TV stars and friends in Mumbai. The pre-wedding festivities included mehendi and haldi ceremonies. They also hosted a mata ki chowki at home.

Here are snippets from Kamya and Shalabh's wedding ceremonies.

On the work front, Kamya currently stars in 'Shakti - Astitva Ke Ehsaas Ki'. She has previously worked in shows like 'Banoo Main Teri Dulhan' and 'Maryada: Lekin Kab Tak?'. She is also known for her stint in 'Bigg Boss 7'.
Appointment

11 March 2020

Aaron Whitten has been appointed general manager of the new Kimpton Armory Hotel Bozeman. The property is the first Kimpton in Big Sky Country and is slated to open spring 2020. The Bozeman property is conveniently located one block off of Main Street in the historic 1941 National Guard Armory building.

In this new role, Whitten will oversee day-to-day operations for the 122-room hotel, which includes three dining venues and an on-site music hall. One of his first responsibilities will be building the team and instituting Kimpton brand standards across the property's venues.

Whitten, who has earned top performance marks in the Kimpton all company guest satisfaction evaluation for three years in a row, has served in numerous leadership roles at properties world-wide. Prior to moving to Bozeman, Whitten was the hotel manager for Kimpton Alexis Hotel-Seattle, Previously, he assisted with the launch of the first Kimpton Hotel in Europe, while serving as the director of food and beverage for Kimpton Dewitt Hotel-Amsterdam Area, Netherlands. Whitten started his Kimpton career as the food and beverage general manager at Shaker + Spear and Pennyroyal at the Kimpton Palladian Hotel-Seattle. While there, he was recognized for achieving two years of company leading revenue growth.

Prior to Kimpton, Whitten held a number of operations and management positions at food and beverage outlets in Las Vegas, including assisting in the launch of Estiatorio Milos at The Cosmopolitan Las Vegas and Restaurant Charlie in The Palazzo.
Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo presides over a meeting with senior military leaders at the Ministry of National Defense complex in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, March 9. Jeong said the military should take active and pre-emptive measures in the nationwide efforts to contain the COVID-19 outbreak, as the country faces a military threat from North Korea's missile provocations and a nonmilitary threat from the virus at the same time. Courtesy of Ministry of National Defense



Military urged to set new manuals for time of epidemics



By Jung Da-min



South Korea is now facing both conventional and nonconventional security threats at the same time.



Among the traditional threats is North Korea's weapons development. The North resumed missile launches this year, firing multiple short-range projectiles over the East Sea on March 2 and 9, in what it claims to be continued winter-time exercises.



At the same time, the COVID-19 situation has shown that an infectious disease can be a nonconventional security threat as it affects the country's defense posture.



The COVID-19 spread has put the military under a "quasi-war" situation. Since the military reported its first infection of a Navy member who visited the southern city of Daegu, which has become an infection hotbed since mid-February, the number of COVID-19 patients inside the military has increased to 38 as of March 11. As a result, the military has been enforcing strict quarantine measures, restricting travel of its personnel and canceling outdoor military exercises.



The United States Forces Korea (USFK) has also reported nine infections as of March 11, with one of them being a USFK soldier and the others being family members or civilian employees with the USFK. Raising its alert level to "high" to put its members at health protection condition Charlie, the second-highest level behind Delta, it is keeping strong preventative control measures in place, restricting travel of its personnel to and from military bases.



Joint exercises between South Korea and the U.S. have also been affected. In late February, the allies decided to delay their regular springtime joint exercise, a combined command post training that was scheduled to kick off March 9. Following the postponement, the South Korean military's other joint drills with foreign militaries have also been delayed or cancelled over concerns regarding the virus.



Among such exercises is joint counter-terrorism training between South Korea and Mongolia. The South Korean Army was planning to send 18 members of its special forces to Mongolia for the drills in late April, but the Mongolian side asked for the exercise to be delayed.



While military exercises to counter traditional threats are being halted, the South Korean military has stepped up to actively engage in the government's efforts to contain COVID-19, especially after the administration raised its national alert level to the highest "red" on a four-tier system, Feb. 23.



Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo held a meeting with senior military commanders Feb. 28 and called on the military to "mobilize all of the resources needed in time of war," saying the current situation was no different from a wartime situation. The military has since been mobilizing service members to sites of "battle" against the virus such as hospitals or factories manufacturing protective gear such as face masks.





Army soldiers disinfect vehicles near Gyeongsan Station in Gyeongsan, North Gyeongsang Province, March 4. Yonhap





Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo, second from left, visits a face mask manufacturer in Anyang, Gyeonggi Province, March 7, to encourage Army soldiers who have been assisting in mask production there. Courtesy of Ministry of National Defense





Members of the Armed Force CBR (chemical, biological and radiological) Defense Command's special taskforce spray disinfectant inside a building at Kyungpook National University in virus-hit Daegu, March 4. Courtesy of Ministry of National Defense



Seventy-five new graduates of the Armed Forces Nursing Academy have received media attention, as they headed to the Armed Forces Daegu Hospital to help patients in the virus-hit city, right after their graduation and commissioning ceremony, March 3.



Minister Jeong held a second meeting with senior military commanders March 9 and ordered the military to take measures to support the government's newly introduced mask rationing program.



"Our military should be committed to protecting lives and the safety of our citizens in a time of crisis where the military threat from North Korea's missile provocations and the nonmilitary threat from the virus infections exist at the same time, taking active and pre-emptive measures," Jeong said.



So far, about 1,100 military medical personnel have been mobilized for COVID-19 containment efforts, while military units are also mobilizing service members for other tasks including mask production and transportation.





Newly commissioned Armed Forces nursing officers receive instruction at the Armed Forces Nursing Academy in Daejeon, March 2, a day before they head for Daegu, the southern city hit hard by the COVID-19 epidemic. Korea Times photo by Wang Tae-seok
A man has been shot in a daylight gun attack near a popular north London park.

The victim, 26, suffered non-life threatening injuries after he was hit in Haringey.

According to Scotland Yard: 'We're working at the scene of a shooting at 5pm in St Ann's Road, N15. A male victim has been taken to hospital.'

Police confirmed his injuries were not 'life threatening'.

The Air Ambulance rushed the man to hospital for emergency treatment.

Anyone with information on the attack is asked to call 101 citing the reference 5708/Mar11.

The Metropolitan Police secured the scene of the today's shooting at Chestnuts Park, Haringey

The London Air Ambulance attended the scene of this afternoon's shooting in Haringey
Joe Biden will win the Michigan primary, NBC News projected Tuesday, in a crushing blow to his last serious Democratic presidential rival, Bernie Sanders.

The former vice president continued a run of early success Tuesday as he tried to put distance between himself and the Vermont senator in his push for his party's nomination. He will also win primaries in Mississippi and Missouri, as well as Idaho, NBC News projects. Sanders will carry the North Dakota caucus, NBC projects.

As the mounting victories carried Biden closer to becoming his party's standard bearer, he gave subdued remarks in Philadelphia after coronavirus fears forced his campaign to cancel a planned rally in Cleveland. Projecting another "good night" on Tuesday, he said "we are a step closer to restoring dignity, decency and honor to the White House."

As the night's results trickled in and his projected delegate lead over Sanders ticked higher, Biden suggested he had knocked Sanders out of contention and urged the party to unify to beat President Donald Trump in November.

"I want to thank Bernie Sanders and his supporters for their tireless energy and their passion. We share a common goal  and together we'll defeat Donald Trump," he said at the National Constitution Center.

Biden led polls of Michigan heading into the day. Sanders, looking for a spark for his campaign, hoped to duplicate 2016, when surveys showed him trailing Hillary Clinton by a wide margin before he narrowly won the state.

The Vermont senator's campaign put an emphasis on winning Michigan, and not only because it awards 125 pledged delegates, the most of the six states voting on Tuesday. Biden won at least 65 delegates compared to Sanders' 45, according to an NBC tally. With 93% of the vote in Wednesday morning, Biden had 52.9% of the vote in the state, while Sanders had 36.5%.

Biden has opened up a bigger lead in the national delegate tally, according to NBC. The former vice president had 836 compared to Sanders' 686 as of Wednesday morning. A candidate will need at 1,991 delegates to win a majority at the Democratic National Convention, which is scheduled for July in Milwaukee.

Winning the critical general election state was seen as helping Sanders slow Biden's roll toward the nomination. Biden's bid for the White House was revived when a handful of presidential rivals and a slew of Democratic officials began backing him before and after his victory in the South Carolina primary 10 days ago.

Success for Biden in Michigan, along with another state favorable to Sanders in Washington, was expected to all but crush the senator's hopes of winning the Democratic presidential nomination.

A senior aide to Sanders told NBC News that he does not plan to deliver remarks Tuesday evening to address the results.

In the final days before the primary, Sanders hammered into Biden for supporting the North American Free Trade Agreement, which he has criticized as a job killer in Michigan's auto industry. He also highlighted past Biden comments suggesting he would freeze Social Security benefits  messaging indicating the Sanders campaign saw the need to cut into the former vice president's support among older and white working class voters to win the state.

But he failed to replicate the success of his upstart 2016 bid.
The novel coronavirus (also known as COVID-19) has been dominating the news media coverage these last few weeks. We dont know what COVID-19 means for the immediate future, as the situation is very fluid and changes moment to moment. We have seen that it is capable of being transmitted in human-to-human contact and we have seen what some other countries with an outbreak have done (i.e., China and Italy with widespread quarantines). One thing not necessarily discussed much in the media is the likelihood of drug shortages, nor the is impact of such potential drug shortages, due to COVID-19, discussed much.

Congressional Letters

Rubio and Murphy

Before the COVID-19 began to spread in the United States, Senators Marco Rubio and Chris Murphy sent a letter to the Dr. Stephen Hahn, the Commissioner of the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In the letter, the Senators note that the United States imported over $12 billion in food, drugs, and medical devices from China in 2018 and that China is one of the largest producers of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs).

The Senators write, While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC] stated its unlikely the 2019-nCoV will spread to the United States from these products, we are concerned that the pandemic could impact the FDAs ability to monitor compliance with good manufacturing standards and the ability for Chinese manufacturers to maintain supplies to meet demand in the United States and the growing demands in China. Despite that, they do ask whether the FDA has the resources to ensure that COVID-19 does not impact the supply of food, drugs, and devices to the United States.

Hawley

Senator Josh Hawley sent a letter to the FDA on February 24, 2020, regarding the reliance of manufacturers on China and asking for answers as to how the agency plans to mitigate potential drug and medical device shortages.

Pascrell and Menendez

Then, on February 25, 2020, Representative Bill Pascrell and Senator Robert Menendez also sent a letter to the FDA, opining that the outbreak is a potentially calamitous risk to the medical product supply chain and asking for more details on the agencys plan to ensure the safety and security of drugs and personal protective equipment sourced from China.

FDA List of Drugs with Significant China Connections

Also, on February 25, 2020, the FDA released a list of twenty drugs that are either made in China or produced solely from APIs from China. According to the Regulatory Affairs Professionals Society, the FDA has indicated that none of these firms has reported any shortage to date. Further, the FDA has noted that it has been in contact with over 180 manufacturers to remind them of their responsibility to notify the FDA if they anticipate supply disruptions and to ask them to evaluate their entire supply chain for APIs and other components manufactured in China.

FDA Statement Regarding Drug Shortage

Then, on February 27, 2020, the FDA issued a statement indicating that it is aware of a drug shortage related to an API manufacturer affected by COVID-19. However, the FDA did not  and said it could not  disclose which drug is in shortage due to being confidential commercial information. Generally speaking, under the Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act, once a drug shortage has been identified, it has to go on a drug shortage list. However, the legislation also allows the FDA to use its discretion in not making certain information public if the agency finds that disclosing the shortage may adversely affect public health.

The FDA did acknowledge that it did recently add to its drug shortages list. Some recent additions include Avycaz (Allergans injection for complicated intra-abdominal infections) and pindolol (a high blood pressure drug offered by Sun Pharma, Mylan, Bayshore Pharmaceuticals, and ANI Pharmaceuticals).
U.S. Food and Drug Administration Approves Opdivo (nivolumab) + Yervoy (ipilimumab) for Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) Previously Treated with Sorafenib

Details Category: Antibodies Published on Wednesday, 11 March 2020 13:49 Hits: 1957

Opdivo + Yervoy is the first and only dual immunotherapy approved in this setting

Approval based on CheckMate -040 trial in which Opdivo + Yervoy showed an overall response rate of 33% (16/49; 95% CI: 20-48) in this patient population1

Opdivo + Yervoy combination is now approved to treat four types of cancer

PRINCETON, NJ, USA I March 11, 2020 IBristol Myers Squibb Company (NYSE: BMY) today announced that Opdivo (nivolumab) 1 mg/kg plus Yervoy (ipilimumab) 3 mg/kg (injections for intravenous use) was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients who have been previously treated with sorafenib.1,2 Approval for this indication has been granted under accelerated approval based on overall response rate and duration of response seen in the Opdivo + Yervoy cohort of the Phase 1/2 CheckMate -040 trial.1,2,3 Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in confirmatory trials.1,2

HCC is an aggressive disease in need of different treatment approaches,4,5,6 said Anthony B. El-Khoueiry, M.D., lead investigator and associate professor of clinical medicine and phase I program director at the Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California (USC) and the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center. The overall response rate observed in the Opdivo + Yervoy cohort of the CheckMate -040 trial underscores the potential of this dual immunotherapy as a possible treatment option for patients.1

In the CheckMate -040 cohort of HCC patients previously treated with sorafenib, after a minimum follow up of 28 months,1 33% (16/49; 95% CI: 20-48) of patients responded to treatment with Opdivo + Yervoy; 8% (4/49) had a complete response (CR) and 24% (12/49) had a partial response (PR).1 Duration of responses (DOR) ranged from 4.6 to 30.5+ months, with 88% lasting at least six months, 56% at least 12 months and 31% at least 24 months.1 Overall response rate (ORR) and DOR were assessed by Blinded Independent Central Review (BICR) using Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors version 1.1 (RECIST v1.1).1 ORR assessed by BICR using modified RECIST was 35% (17/49; 95% CI: 22-50), with a CR reported in 12% (6/49) of patients and a PR reported in 22% (11/49) of patients.1

Opdivo is associated with the following Warnings and Precautions including immune-mediated: pneumonitis, colitis, hepatitis, endocrinopathies, nephritis and renal dysfunction, skin adverse reactions, encephalitis, other adverse reactions; infusion-related reactions; embryo-fetal toxicity; and increased mortality in patients with multiple myeloma when Opdivo is added to a thalidomide analogue and dexamethasone, which is not recommended outside of controlled clinical trials.1 Please see the Important Safety Information section below, including Boxed WARNING for Yervoy (ipilimumab) regarding immune-mediated adverse reactions, as well as select safety information from CheckMate -040.

The incidence of liver cancer is rising in the United States, and HCC is the most common and aggressive form of the disease,4,5,6,7,8,9 said Andrea Wilson, president and founder, Blue Faery: The Adrienne Wilson Liver Cancer Association. Todays approval provides a new option for patients with HCC previously treated with sorafenib, giving the community more hope.1

Opdivo + Yervoy is the only dual immunotherapy approved by the FDA in this setting. The therapy features a potentially synergistic mechanism of action that targets two different checkpoints (PD-1 and CTLA-4) and works in complementary ways.1

We recognize there is a critical need to provide patients with aggressive forms of cancer, like HCC, new treatment options that may offer clinically meaningful and ultimately durable responses, said Adam Lenkowsky, general manager and head, U.S., Oncology, Immunology, Cardiovascular, Bristol Myers Squibb. Todays announcement builds on our legacy in pioneering immunotherapy treatments and is an important step in our commitment to transforming patients lives through science.

Opdivo + Yervoy was granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation for this indication and a Priority Review from the FDA.

*Dr. Anthony B. El-Khoueiry is a paid consultant for Bristol Myers Squibb.

About the CheckMate -040 Trial Design

CheckMate -040 (NCT01658878) is a Phase 1/2 open-label study that included a cohort of patients with HCC who progressed on or were intolerant to sorafenib and received Opdivo + Yervoy.1,10 The trial included patients who were PD-L1 expressors and non-expressors.3 Key eligibility criteria included histologic confirmation of HCC and Child-Pugh Class A cirrhosis status.1 Additional eligibility criteria included those who were infected with active HCV or active HBV, or were uninfected.1,3 Patients with active autoimmune disease, brain metastasis, a history of hepatic encephalopathy, clinically significant ascites, infection with HIV, or active co-infection with HBV and HCV or HBV and HDV were excluded.1 Patients with known fibrolamellar HCC, sarcomatoid HCC, and mixed cholangiocarcinoma and HCC were also excluded.3 A total of 49 patients were treated with Opdivo 1 mg/kg IV and Yervoy 3 mg/kg IV every three weeks for four doses, followed by Opdivo 240 mg every two weeks until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.1 The major efficacy outcome was ORR, as assessed by BICR using RECIST v1.1 and mRECIST.1 Duration of response was also assessed.1

Select Safety Profile from CheckMate -040 Study

The safety of Opdivo 1 mg/kg and Yervoy 3 mg/kg was evaluated in 49 patients.1 Serious adverse reactions occurred in 59% of patients receiving Opdivo + Yervoy.1 Treatment was discontinued in 29% of patients and delayed in 65% of patients for an adverse reaction.1 Serious adverse reactions reported in 4% of patients were pyrexia, diarrhea, anemia, increased AST, adrenal insufficiency, ascites, esophageal varices hemorrhage, hyponatremia, increased blood bilirubin, and pneumonitis.1 The most common adverse reactions (reported in 20% of patients) were rash (53%), pruritus (53%), musculoskeletal pain (41%), diarrhea (39%), cough (37%), decreased appetite (35%), fatigue (27%), pyrexia (27%), abdominal pain (22%), headache (22%), nausea (20%), dizziness (20%), hypothyroidism (20%), and weight decreased (20%).1

Indications

OPDIVO (nivolumab), in combination with YERVOY (ipilimumab), is indicated for the treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma.

OPDIVO (nivolumab), in combination with YERVOY (ipilimumab), is indicated for the treatment of patients with intermediate or poor risk, previously untreated advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

OPDIVO (nivolumab), in combination with YERVOY (ipilimumab), is indicated for the treatment of adults and pediatric patients 12 years and older with microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) or mismatch repair deficient (dMMR) metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) that has progressed following treatment with a fluoropyrimidine, oxaliplatin, and irinotecan. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on overall response rate and duration of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in confirmatory trials.

OPDIVO (nivolumab), in combination with YERVOY (ipilimumab), is indicated for the treatment of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who have been previously treated with sorafenib. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on overall response rate and duration of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in the confirmatory trials.

Bristol Myers Squibb: Advancing Oncology Research

At Bristol Myers Squibb, patients are at the center of everything we do. The focus of our research is to increase quality, long-term survival for patients and make cure a possibility. Through a unique multidisciplinary approach powered by translational science, we harness our deep scientific experience in oncology and Immuno-Oncology (I-O) research to identify novel treatments tailored to individual patient needs. Our researchers are developing a diverse, purposefully built pipeline designed to target different immune system pathways and address the complex and specific interactions between the tumor, its microenvironment and the immune system. We source innovation internally, and in collaboration with academia, government, advocacy groups and biotechnology companies, to help make the promise of transformational medicines, like I-O, a reality for patients.

About Bristol Myers Squibbs Patient Access Support

Bristol Myers Squibb remains committed to providing assistance so that cancer patients who need our medicines can access them and expedite time to therapy.

BMS Access Support, the Bristol Myers Squibb patient access and reimbursement program, is designed to help appropriate patients initiate and maintain access to BMS medicines during their treatment journey. BMS Access Support offers benefit investigation, prior authorization assistance, as well as co-pay assistance for eligible, commercially insured patients. More information about our access and reimbursement support can be obtained by calling BMS Access Support at 1-800-861-0048 or by visiting www.bmsaccesssupport.com.

About the Bristol Myers Squibb and Ono Pharmaceutical Collaboration

In 2011, through a collaboration agreement with Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Bristol Myers Squibb expanded its territorial rights to develop and commercialize Opdivo globally, except in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, where Ono had retained all rights to the compound at the time. On July 23, 2014, Ono and Bristol Myers Squibb further expanded the companies strategic collaboration agreement to jointly develop and commercialize multiple immunotherapies  as single agents and combination regimens  for patients with cancer in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan.

About Bristol Myers Squibb

Bristol Myers Squibb is a global biopharmaceutical company whose mission is to discover, develop and deliver innovative medicines that help patients prevail over serious diseases. For more information about Bristol Myers Squibb, visit us at BMS.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, Facebook and Instagram.

Celgene and Juno Therapeutics are wholly owned subsidiaries of Bristol Myers Squibb Company. In certain countries outside the U.S., due to local laws, Celgene and Juno Therapeutics are referred to as, Celgene, a Bristol Myers Squibb company and Juno Therapeutics, a Bristol Myers Squibb company.

References

Opdivo Prescribing Information. Opdivo U.S. Product Information. Last updated: March 2020. Princeton, NJ: Bristol Myers Squibb Company. Yervoy Prescribing Information. Yervoy U.S. Product Information. Last updated: March 2020. Princeton, NJ: Bristol Myers Squibb Company. Yau T, Kang YK, Kim TY, et al. Nivolumab + Ipilimumab Combination Therapy in Patients With Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Results From CheckMate 040. Presentation at American Society of Clinical Oncology congress, May 31-June 4, 2019. Kumari R, Sahu MK, Tripathy A, et al. Hepatocellular Carcinoma Treatment: Hurdles, Advances and Prospects. Hepatic Oncology. 2018;5(2):1-14. Carusa S, Calatayud AL, Pilet J, et al. Analysis of Liver Cancer Cell Lines Identifies Agents With Likely Efficacy Against Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Markers of Response. Gastroenterology 2019;157:760776. Alqahtani A , Khan Z, Alloghbi A, et al. Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Molecular Mechanisms and Targeted Therapies. Medicina 2019; 9 (55):526. Cronin KA , Lake AJ, Scott S, et al. Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer, Part I: National Cancer Statistics. Cancer. 2018; 2785-2800. SEER. Liver and Intrahepatic Bile Duct Cancer, CSR 1975-2016. https://seer.cancer.gov/archive/csr/1975_2015/results_merged/sect_14_liver_bile.pdf. Accessed February 25, 2020. American Cancer Society. What is Liver Cancer? https://www.cancer.org/cancer/liver-cancer/about/what-is-liver-cancer.html. Accessed February 25, 2020. ClinicalTrials.gov. An Immuno-therapy Study to Evaluate the Effectiveness, Safety and Tolerability of Nivolumab or Nivolumab in Combination With Other Agents in Patients With Advanced Liver Cancer (CheckMate040). https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01658878 . Published August 7, 2012. Updated January 21, 2020. Accessed February 25, 2020.

SOURCE: Bristol-Myers Squibb
Prince Harry has blasted Donald Trump in a secretly recorded phone conversation, claiming the US President 'has blood on his hands' and is one of the 'sick people' running the world.

Russian hoaxers telephoned the prince at his luxury hideaway in Canada on two separate occasions earlier this year and duped him into believing he was chatting with environmental activist Greta Thunberg and her father, Svante.

In the bombshell conversations, Harry hit out at the commander-in-chief for his environmental policies, stating: 'I think the mere fact that Donald Trump is pushing the coal industry is so big in America, he has blood on his hands'.

He later added: 'Unfortunately the world is being led by some very sick people so the people like yourselves and younger generation are the ones that are going to make all the difference.'

Meanwhile, Harry also told the fake Greta that she could 'outsmart' the commander-in-chief - with whom she publicly sparred last year after he criticized her for being named Time magazine's 'Person of The Year'.

The two phone conversations between Harry and the pranksters took place on New Year's Eve and January 22, according to The Sun.

Russian hoaxers Vladimir Kuznetsov and Alexey Stolyarov  known as Vovan and Lexus - phoned the landline at Harry's luxury home om Vancouver Island where he is currently holed up with wife, Meghan Markle, and their son, Archie.

The duo allegedly pretended to be Greta and Svante Thunberg and were transferred through to the prince.

Prince Harry has blasted Donald Trump in a secretly recorded phone conversation, claiming the US president 'has blood on his hands' and is one of the 'sick people' running the world

Russian hoaxers telephoned the prince at his luxury hideaway in Canada on two separate occasions earlier this year and duped him into believing he was chatting with environmental activist Greta Thunberg and her father, Svante (pictured)

Russian hoaxers Vladimir Kuznetsov and Alexey Stolyarov (pictured) phoned the landline at Harry's luxury home om Vancouver Island where he is currently holed up with wife, Meghan Markle, and their son, Archie

During one of the conversations Harry told the fake Greta that she should continue to push for climate justice, stating: 'The more people say no to something, the more we should knuckle down and try and make it happen because, you know, if Donald Trump can become President of the United States of America, then anything's possible, right?'

He added: 'I think there are some good leaders, political leaders around the world, and at the moment it's severely unbalanced and in favor of bad leaders.

'And now I'm confident within the next five to 10 years things will change, but we can't wait five or 10 years.'

Meanwhile, Harry went on to claim that Trump's support of the coal industry was negatively impacting island nations that he and Meghan had visited.

'The effect that [Trump's coal policy] has on the climate and the island nations far, far away, again out of sight out of mind,' Harry stated.

'But we've [he and Meghan] visited those places and I'm sure you have as well. People's lives have been completely destroyed.

'People are dying every single month by some form of natural disaster created from this huge change in our climate'.

Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg watches intently as President Donald Trump enters the United Nations to speak with reporters in New York

Russian hoaxers Vladimir Kuznetsov and Alexey Stolyarov uploaded the conversations to YouTube accompanied by this animation

Harry went on to claim that Trump's support of the coal industry was negatively impacting island nations that he and Meghan had visited. The couple is pictured in Fiji in November 2018

However, Harry told the fake Greta that she should not turn down an opportunity to meet with Trump if asked.

'Trump will want to meet you to make him look better but he won't want to have a discussion about climate change with you because you will outsmart him.

'Whether you have an option to meet President Trump or an option to meet Boris Johnson, I think I would always,' Harry stated according to The Sun.

'It's far more important to have an open dialogue and have conversation with these people than not.

Prince Harry himself met with Trump during his visit to the United Kingdom last June.

However, Meghan Markle was accused of 'snubbing' a meeting with the US president, after earlier calling him a 'misogynist' and 'divisive'.

Prince Harry is reported to be close with Barack and Michelle Obama. The Prince and former POTUS are pictured in 2017

Back in 2016, Meghan, who is a US citizen, stated: 'I'm voting for Hillary Clinton, not because she is a woman, but because Trump has made it easy to see that you don't really want that kind of world that he's painting.'

According to reports, Meghan and Harry are also reluctant to move to the United States while Trump is still president, choosing to relocate to Canada after their split from the Royal Family.

Meanwhile, Trump has also been a critic of Meghan in the past, but has denied describing her as 'nasty'.

Back in 2018, the President also missed out on an invite to Harry and Meghan's Royal Wedding.

Prince Harry is close with Barack and Michelle Obama - but also refrained from inviting them to the event in the interest of appearing politically neutral.
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drlindsey.com is very popular in Facebook, Twitter and Stumble Upon. It is liked by 365 people on Facebook and it has 3228 twitter followers. Furthermore its facebook page has 10751 likes.

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PAGE TITLE Dr. Lindsey Duncan - Naturopathic Doctor & Certified Nutritionist : Dr. Lindsey Duncan DESCRIPTION KEYWORDS OTHER KEYWORDS lindseys, capsules, lindsey, superfoods, healthy, lindsey duncan, read more



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TWITTER PAGE LINK FOUND TWITTER PAGE twitter.com/#!/drlindseyduncan DESCRIPTION Naturopathic doc & nutrition expert trekking the globe in search of nature's best medicines. Tweeting it up from the jungles of Thailand to Dr. Oz's green room. ACCOUNT CREATED ON 22 Jun 2009 LOCATION Austin TWEETS 434 FOLLOWERS 3228 LISTED 40
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Published March 11, 2020

University of Louisiana Monroe President Nick J. Bruno, Ph.D., released a letter to the students, faculty and staff, providing information on the universitys preparations for the spread of coronavirus.

The presidents letter is as follows:

I want to keep you updated on the latest information regarding the coronavirus (COVID-19) and its impact to campus.

Gov. John Bel Edwards confirmed on Tuesday, March 10 that Louisiana now has six presumptive cases of COVID-19. Because these are presumptive cases, further testing is required to confirm the patient has the virus. All presumptive cases are in the New Orleans area.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that are common throughout the world. These viruses, at times, can evolve and infect people, then spread through human-to-human contact.

The CDC states that human coronavirus spreads similar to the flu or a cold  through the air by coughing or sneezing; through close personal contact, like touching or shaking hands; by touching an object or surface with the viruses on it.

While the risk of contraction for the general population is low, older adults and people of all ages with severe underlying health conditions  such as heart disease, lung disease, and diabetes are at higher risk for developing serious COVID-19 illness.

I encourage you to stay informed on preventative measures that can be taken. Some preventative measures issued by the University of California San Diego are:

Wash your hands with soap for 10-20 seconds and/or use a greater than 60% alcohol-based hand sanitizer whenever you return home from ANY activity that involved locations where other people have been.

No handshaking! Use a fist bump or elbow bump.

Use only your knuckle to touch light switches, elevator buttons, etc.

Clean surfaces frequently, such as countertops, light switches, cell phones, and other commonly touched areas.

Open doors with a closed hand or your hip, especially important for the bathroom and commercial doors.

Use disinfectant wipes at the stores when available to wipe shopping cart handles.

Cover coughs or sneezes with your elbow. Do not use your hands.

Contain  if you are sick, stay home until you are feeling better.

What is the University doing to prepare?

ULM has canceled one study abroad program, the MBA study abroad program in Hong Kong. Also, ULM canceled a two-week exchange program with visiting students and faculty members from Japan, along with a scholar from Japan that had a one-year planned stay. The University of Louisiana System has also canceled a program in Italy.

The university will release a revised travel policy that applies to all students, faculty, and staff, with guidelines to follow during university-sponsored travel or personal travel. The revised travel policy states:

(1) All university-sponsored travel to Level 1 or greater countries as defined by the CDC is prohibited;

(2) Discourages international personal travel;

(3) ULM strongly urges extreme caution and judgment for your personal domestic travel; the university continues to monitor conditions within the United States and take appropriate action relative to travel if warranted;

(4) 14-day quarantine period for travelers to CDC listed Level 1 or greater countries

(5) Mandatory reporting of travel to Affected Countries to the Director of Environmental Health and Safety;

Communication regarding the revised travel policy will be sent out this week. Shane Dykes, Director of Environmental Health and Safety, will be the campus point of contact for this process. Mr. Dykes will regularly provide updates regarding interim coronavirus policies.

ULM is aggressively reviewing its Business Continuity Plan. The university is a complex organization, and each department is reviewing business practices to determine if it is possible to work remotely, if needed. Some university functions cannot work remotely, and there will be guidance in place for employees that must report to work.

The success of our students is a top priority of ULM. Academic Affairs is exploring online instruction options. It is anticipated that a full Business Continuity Plan will be completed within a week.

The university janitorial/custodial staff has begun to clean all high touch surfaces every day, such as countertops, tabletops, and doorknobs with CDC recommended cleaning and disinfecting products. The janitorial and custodial staff is also continuously refilling all campus antibacterial and soap dispensers.

Additionally, the College of Health Sciences and College of Pharmacy will be hosting a COVID-19 seminar that will share information and research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as well as other resources, and address some of the most frequently asked questions and myths related to COVID-19. The seminar is free and open to the public and will be held Tuesday, March 17 at 12 noon, in the Terrace (7th floor of the University Library). The event will also be livestreamed on the ULM Facebook page.

ULM is committed to the health and safety of our students, faculty, and staff. We are following guidelines and best practices in alignment with the CDC, Governor John Bel Edwards Coronavirus Task Force, and the University of Louisiana System.

Please be sure to download the ULM Safe App to stay up to date on campus alerts.

I will continue to keep you informed as we continue to monitor the situation.

Resources

For more information, visit http://ldh.la.gov/Coronavirus.

The latest information on the coronavirus in the U.S. and worldwide can be found on the CDC website.

Nick J. Bruno, Jr., Ph.D.

President
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg met with chief executives of the country's biggest banks on Wednesday to discuss the economic impact of the coronavirus as lenders pledge to support customers thrown into financial strife by the crisis.

As the government prepares to announce its stimulus package, Mr Frydenberg attended a Sydney meeting with top bankers chaired by Commonwealth Bank chief executive Matt Comyn, who is also chairman of the Australian Banking Association (ABA).

From left: Ross McEwan, CEO of NAB, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, and Peter King, Westpac's acting chief executive. Credit:Peter Braig

Also attending the meeting were National Australia Bank chief and Ross McEwan and Westpac acting chief executive Peter King, while ANZ Bank chief Shayne Elliott dialled into the meeting after the bank imposed restrictions on domestic travel by staff this week.

Amid volatility on financial markets, the bankers and Mr Frydenberg discussed the economic outlook, how banks would support customers affected by the virus, and how banks could share data with the government on unfolding economic trends.
A leading elderly rights campaigner has called for more targeted supports to help vulnerable older people through the coronavirus crisis.

Paddy OBrien, who organises the Over 60s in Cork, Irelands largest talent competition for people over 60, before he goes ahead tomorrow with one of its many local heats in Na Piarsaigh GAA club on the citys northside.

He said anxiety levels in the elderly have rocketed with reports of the first death of a Covid 19 patient in Ireland, and against the backdrop of panic buying and talk of lockdowns.

If I thought there was any risk or danger, Id cancel (the Over 60s heat). But this does not classify as a mass public gathering according to public health guidance and until the HSE says otherwise, its business as usual, but with added precautions.

People are anxious. This event will ease the anxiety for a few hours. I started the Over 60s in 1977 to combat loneliness. For some, its the only social outlet they have."

But Mr OBrien said while Irelands population is ageing, the services for that age group have not kept pace. He urged the HSE to increase the number of home help workers and the hours they have and urged public health experts, who are directing people towards online sources of information, to remember that not everyone is comfortable using computers.

Some elderly people I deal with can barely use a mouse, he said.

Meanwhile, the Cork Lifelong Learning Festival, scheduled to run from March 29 to April 5, has been cancelled.

Event coordinator, Siubhan McCarthy said the welfare of attendees, hosts and participants was their primary concern.

Separately, the HSE said its too early to comment publicly on its plans for its vacant buildings as part of its coronavirus crisis response.

Work is continuing at St Marys healthcare campus in Gurranabraher on a possible isolation ward while a former cancer support house near UCC is being adapted for use as a sterile accommodation hub for frontline healthcare workers.

A spokesperson for the HSE said: We will communicate with the public as and when various plans are finalised, but it would be confusing and unhelpful to say any more until these plans are confirmed.

We are not in a position to confirm at this stage about specific plans for any building, but we would like to reassure the public that no building will be used for any purpose which isnt suitable for either the building or the environment."

Coronavirus in brief
Burlington: While acknowledging his perhaps insurmountable deficit in the Democratic race, Bernie Sanders has vowed to press ahead with his presidential campaign at least long enough to debate Joe Biden this weekend and try to force him to answer questions about economic inequality and the country's fraying social safety net.

Democratic presidential candidate Senator Bernie Sanders. Credit:AP

The Vermont senator offered no further details on what his campaign may look like before or after the last two major candidates left in the Democratic presidential nomination spar Sunday night, US time, on stage in Arizona.

The only thing on Sanders' public schedule was taping an appearance on Wednesday's Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.

And that will continue to raise questions - as unlikely as it may seem less than two weeks after losing his once commanding front-runner status - about how long Sanders will persist against increasingly daunting odds, especially as the pressure within his own party increases exponentially.
CLEVELAND, Ohio  The Cuyahoga County Board of Health made no effort to check whether the bus that carried someone infected with the coronavirus from a Washington, D.C. conference back to Cleveland last week was disinfected before being used again.

As a result, board spokesman Kevin Brennen said Wednesday that the board does not know whether subsequent riders might have become exposed to the virus after the bus returned from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee conference, which concluded on March 3.

In response to questions posed by cleveland.com, Brennan also said the board does not intend to belatedly check whether the bus poses a health hazard to the public because the board does not regulate vehicles and transportation.

We did not have any sort of interaction or follow-up concerning the bus, he said. Id recommend calling the [trip organizers] to see what they know about it.

A Jewish Education Center employee, one of three confirmed cases of the coronavirus, traveled on the bus with an unknown number of students returning from the conference, prompting several students from various schools to quarantine themselves.

The Jewish Federation of Cleveland, a partner of the Jewish Education Center, told cleveland.com that it did not organize the trip and does not have information about the bus that was used.

The Board of Health presumes that the bus owner would have awareness to follow cleaning protocols recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Ohio Department of Health, Brennen said.

Say the company who owned bus called us and asked what to do, he said. Wed instruct them to go to the CDC and follow their cleaning instructions.

The CDC website says that people can get infected by the coronavirus, or COVID-19, by touching contaminated surfaces or objects, and then touching their mouth, nose or eyes, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads.

At a Wednesday morning news briefing, health board officials also defended their decision Tuesday not to identify the schools attended by the students who returned from the conference on the bus.

Brennan said the decision reflected an effort not to stigmatize the students who may pose no public health hazard.
An undated stock image of an infant. (Christiana Bella/Pixabay)

Baby Dies After Being Left Next to Space Heater, Two Arrested

A 5-month-old boy found dead at a Georgia home had died after being left next to a space heater, said officials, who later arrested the mother and her boyfriend on murder charges.

Jalicia Aquanetta Kent, 28, and Quantious Trenard Hodges, 30, were questioned by sheriffs officials before they were charged with homicide in the case, authorities told the Macon Telegraph. The baby boy, Imir Kent, was found dead at the scene at 7 a.m., Bibb County Coroner Leon Jones said.

It was reported that Kents 5-month old son was placed in front of a space heater at approximately 10:00 p.m. on March 9, 2020 and was never checked on by either subject, Bibb County sheriffs officials told the paper.

The baby was allegedly left unattended in a car seat, said officials.

Chief Coroner Leon Jones told WMAZ that the boy was found dead at a home in Macon on Tuesday. Three people, including the childs 28-year-old mother, were home at the time, but Jones said it isnt clear who made the 911 call.

The mother was in another bedroom and supposedly the baby got out of the car seat onto an electric heater, Jones told the Telegraph, adding that the boy suffered multiple burns.

Hodges was the one who found the boy, officials told WMAZ.

The Bibb County Sheriffs Office and Division of Family and Children Services are investigating the case.

The baby boys mother, her boyfriend, and her boyfriends brother lived in the home, according to officials.

An autopsy is scheduled in the case.

Anyone with information can call the Bibb County Sheriffs Office at 478-751-7500 or Macon Regional Crimestoppers at 1-877-68CRIME.
The Belgian-born, Israeli-based director Vanessa Lapa showed her film S peer G oes to Hollywood: The Unbelievable Second Career of the Good Nazi at the 70th Berlin International Film Festival. The WSWS spoke to the director.

* * * * *

WSWS: Speer Goes to Hollywood is directed against the portrayal of Albert Speer as the good Nazias he depicted himself. His book Inside the Third Reich is still being published in Germany by the Ullstein publishing house with a glowing introduction.

In your directors note for the films premiere in Berlin, you write: This film is about my personal awakening with regard to Speers role, as well as his attempts to lull the whole world into forgetfulness. What exactly do you mean by that?

Vanessa Lapa

Vanessa Lapa: You shouldnt take Albert Speers book from the shelf until a new foreword is published by a historian such as Magnus Brechtken. I regard Brechtkens 2017 work, Albert Speer: A German Career, as definitive. This is my request to Ullstein.

In my opinion, there is no such thing as a good Nazi, but, like most people outside Germany, I knew very little about Speer. When I started to study the documents, including those from the Nuremberg trials, I came across many things I did not previously know.

I didnt bother so much about whether Speer knew about this thing or the other. Of course, he was a liar. But, above all, I tried to find out what he actually did and deconstruct his own words . For example, his exploitation of slave workers in the armaments industry, which took completely inhuman forms.

I knew of course who Krupp was and the role played by his factories in the war and for the Nazi Party, but I was not aware in detail of how closely Krupp was connected to Speer and how they treated the workforce. This is perhaps the most terrifying aspect of Speers role. If I have to say anything personally about Albert Speer, then it is that he was a man for whom human life had no value at all.

WSWS: The film deals with the extreme exploitation of forced labour in the arms industry. Do you see a connection between fascism and capitalism?

VL: Im not a historian and I dont know enough about it. But if I simplify your questioni.e., whether there is a relationship between politics and money, between power and money, personal and financial interests and fascist oppressionthen my answer is very clear: Yes!

WSWS: In the discussion that took place after the films premiere in Berlin, you spoke about historical truth and the rewriting of history. Could you elaborate?

VL: I said that the dividing line between history and his story is very thin. In the film, I show how easy it is to distort history. If Speers film had actually been made in Hollywood, many would have accepted his version as fact.

We have to take the danger of historical revisionism very seriously.

WSWS: What do you think about the growth of the far-right Alternative for Germany [AfD]? Its leader, Alexander Gauland, declared that the Holocaust was just a piece of bird shit in Germanys successful history.

VL: Such statements are particularly dangerous because the surviving witnesses of the Holocaust are gradually dying out. The return of fascist tendencies is terrifying, not only here in Germany, but all over the world.

WSWS: Have you heard of Jorg Baberowski, a history professor at the Humboldt University in Berlin, who declared in the magazine Der Spiegel that Hitler was not vicious?

VL: Yes, I read an article about it. I dont know enough about German politics and the academic world here and can only say that such declarations are very dangerous in Germany and also all over the world. Are there any journalists writing articles against his position?

WSWS: Apart from us, practically no one has commented on it; instead, students are being attacked by the media and the university administration. ...

VL: I can only repeatthis is extremely dangerous. People like Speer and todays right-wing extremists are people who make a conscious decision in favour of fascism. Under certain political, geographical and economic conditions, the situation can change suddenly and lead to catastrophe.

WSWS: Your film shows scenes from Goethes Faust with Gustav Grundgens portraying Mephistopheles. Are you referring to the Faustian characteristics of German intellectuals who sell their souls to the devil rather than endanger their careers and wealth?

VL: Certainly, some people follow the AfD out of ignorance and lack of education. But there are also those who are educated and use their knowledge to distort the truth. The best example is Albert Speer himself, who was well-educated and liked to quote Andre Malraux and Voltaire in his conversations.

WSWS: What message would you like to convey to our readers?

VL: Be very careful, read between the lines, think twice before making any decision to go to war, remember what happened back then and study history.

What the Nazis did was not millions of years ago, and they were not animals or monsters, but rather people who opted for a definite policy, fascism.

The most important thing is that we cannot remain silent. Elie Wiesel once said: Silence never helps the oppressed. It only helps the oppressor. I think that is extremely relevant today. With my film, I want to issue a call to take seriously and oppose the right-wing danger in every country.
Turkey on Wednesday reported the first case of coronavirus.

Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said the patient was a man who had recently returned from a trip to Europe.

More than 100,000 people have already been infected with COVID-19 in the world, the majority have recovered, and about 4,000 have died.

The coronavirus outbreak was first registered in December 2019 in China's Wuhan. In Europe, the most coronavirus-affected country is Italy. A difficult situation is also developing in France and Germany.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
(Newser)  Bernie Sanders' chances of winning the Democratic nomination just got much more difficult. The AP called all-important Michigan (125 delegates) for Joe Biden Tuesday night. Sanders won the state in 2016 in a stunning upset over Hillary Clinton, but he could not repeat the magic. He trailed Biden by 12 percentage points with more than half the results counted, per CNN. The former VP earlier won in Mississippi (36) and Missouri (68) by wide margins. Polls also have closed in North Dakota (14), Idaho (20) and Washington state (89), but those races have not been called.

story continues below

Exit polls from the early states show that Biden got strong support from African-American voters, reports the Washington Post. Late deciders and older white voters also tended to go Biden's way. Sanders won Washington state in 2016, and he had a decent chance of winning there again on Tuesday, per Politico. Still, the loss in battleground Michigan is seen as a serious blow to his chances of winning the nomination. A total of 352 delegates were up for grabs Tuesday, which means that nearly half of all delegates in the 2020 primary will have been awarded when the latest results are tallied. (Both candidates have canceled rallies because of the coronavirus scare.)
London, March 11, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Artificial Intelligence (AI) in supply chain market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 45.3% from 2019 to 2027 to reach $21.8 billion by 2027.

Artificial intelligence has emerged as the most potent technologies over the past few years, that is transitioning the landscape of almost all industry verticals. Although enterprise applications based on AI and Machine Learning (ML) are still in the nascent stages of development, they are gradually beginning to drive innovation strategies of the business.

Download Free Sample Report Now @ https://www.meticulousresearch.com/download-sample-report/cp_id=5064

In the supply chain and logistics industry, artificial intelligence is gaining rapid traction among industry stakeholders. Players operating in the supply chain and logistics industry are increasingly realizing the potential of AI to solve the complexities of running a global logistics network. Adoption of artificial intelligence in the supply chain is routing a new era or industrial transformation, allowing the companies to track their operations, enhance supply chain management productivity, augment business strategies, and engage with customers in digital world.

The growth in the AI in supply chain market is mainly driven by rising awareness of artificial intelligence and big data & analytics and widening implementation of computer vision in both autonomous & semiautonomous applications. In addition, consistent technological advancements in the supply chain industry, rising demand for AI-based business automation solutions, and evolving supply chain complementing growing industrial automation are further offering opportunities for vendors providing AI solutions in the supply chain industry. However, high deployment and operating costs and lack of infrastructure hinder the growth of the artificial intelligence in supply chain market.

In this study, the global artificial intelligence(AI) in supply chain market is segmented on the basis of component, application, technology, end user, and geography.

Based on component, AI in supply chain market is broadly segmented into hardware, software, and services. The software segment commanded the largest share of the overall AI in supply chain market in 2019. This can be attributed to the increasing demand for AI-based platforms and solutions, as they offer supply chain visibility through software, which include inventory control, warehouse management, order procurement, and reverse logistics & tracking.

Based on technology, AI in supply chain market is broadly segmented into machine learning, computer vision, natural language processing, and context-aware computing. In 2019, the machine learning segment commanded the largest share of the overall AI in supply chain market. The growth in this market can be attributed to the growing demand for AI based intelligent solutions; increasing government initiatives; and the ability of AI solutions to efficiently handle and analyze big data and quickly scan, parse, and react to anomalies.

Based on application, AI in supply chain market is broadly segmented into supply chain planning, warehouse management, fleet management, virtual assistant, risk management, inventory management, and planning & logistics. In 2019, the supply chain planning segment commanded the largest share of the overall AI in supply chain market. The growth of this segment can be attributed to the increasing demand for enhancing factory scheduling & production planning and the evolving agility and optimization of supply chain decision-making. In addition, digitizing existing processes and workflows to reinvent the supply chain planning model is also contributing to the growth of this segment.

To gain more insights into the market with a detailed table of content and figures, click here: https://www.meticulousresearch.com/product/artificial-intelligence-ai-in-supply-chain-market-5064/

Based on end-user, artificial intelligence(AI) in supply chain market is broadly segmented into manufacturing, food & beverage, healthcare, automotive, aerospace, retail, and consumer packaged goods sectors. The retail sector commanded the largest share of the overall AI in supply chain market in 2019. This can be attributed to the increase in demand for consumer retail products.

Based on geography, the global artificial intelligence (AI) in supply chain market is categorized into five major geographies, namely, North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa. In 2019, North America commanded for the largest share of the global AI in supply chain market, followed by Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa. The large share of the North American region is attributed to the presence of developed economies focusing on enhancing the existing solutions in the supply chain space, and the existence of major players in this market along with a high willingness to adopt advanced technologies.

On the other hand, the Asia-Pacific region is projected to grow at the fastest CAGR during the forecast period. The high growth rate is attributed to rapidly developing economies in the region; presence of young and tech-savvy population in this region; growing proliferation of Internet of Things (IoT); rising disposable income; increasing acceptance of modern technologies across several industries including automotive, manufacturing, and retail; and broadening implementation of computer vision technology in numerous applications. Furthermore, the growing adoption of AI-based solutions and services among supply chain operations, increasing digitalization in the region, and improving connectivity infrastructure are also playing a significant role in the growth of this AI in supply chain market in the region.

The global artificial intelligence in supply chain market is fragmented in nature and is characterized by the presence of several companies competing for the market share. Some of the leading companies in the AI in supply chain market are from the core technology background. These include IBM Corporation (U.S.), Microsoft Corporation (U.S.), Google LLC (U.S.), and Amazon.com, Inc. (U.S.). These companies are leading the market owing to their strong brand recognition, diverse product portfolio, strong distribution & sales network, and strong organic & inorganic growth strategies.

The other key players operating in the global AI in supply chain market are Intel Corporation (U.S.), Nvidia Corporation (U.S.), Oracle Corporation (U.S.), Samsung (South Korea), LLamasoft, Inc. (U.S.), SAP SE (Germany), General Electric (U.S.), Deutsche Post DHL Group (Germany), Xilinx, Inc. (U.S.), Micron Technology, Inc. (U.S.), FedEx Corporation (U.S.), ClearMetal, Inc. (U.S.), Dassault Systemes (France), and JDA Software Group, Inc. (U.S.), among others.

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Key questions answered in the report-

Which are the high growth market segments in terms of technology, application, end-use industry?

What was the historical market for artificial intelligence in supply chain across the globe?

What are the market forecasts and estimates for the period 2019-2027?

What are the major drivers, restraints, opportunities, and challenges in the global artificial intelligence in the supply chain market?

Who are the major players in the global artificial intelligence in supply chain market?

How is the competitive landscape in the global artificial intelligence in supply chain market?

What are the different strategies adopted by the major players in the global artificial intelligence in supply chain market?

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Artificial Intelligence in Manufacturing Market by Offering (Hardware, Software, and Services), End-use Industry (Semiconductors and Electronics, Energy and power, Pharmaceuticals, Chemical, Medical Devices, Automobile, Heavy Metal and Machine Manufacturing, Food and Beverages, Others), Technology (Machine Learning, NLP, Context-Aware Computing, and Computer Vision), Application (Predictive Maintenance, Material Movement, Production Planning, Field Services, Quality Management, Cybersecurity, Industrial Robotics, and Reclamation), and Region - Global Forecast to 2025

Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare Market by Product (Hardware, Software, Services), Technology (Machine Learning, Context-Aware Computing, NLP), Application (Drug Discovery, Precision Medicine), End User, And Geography - Global Forecast To 2025

Artificial Intelligence in Retail Market by Product (Chatbot, Customer Relationship Management), Application (Programmatic Advertising), Technology (Machine Learning, Natural Language Processing), Retail (E-commerce and Direct Retail)- Forecast to 2025

Automotive Artificial Intelligence Market by Offering (Hardware, Software), Technology (Machine Learning, Deep Learning, Computer Vision, Context Awareness, Natural Language Processing), Process (Signal Recognition, Image Recognition, Voice Recognition, Data Mining), Drive (Autonomous Drive, Semi-autonomous Drive), and Region  Global Forecast to 2025

Artificial Intelligence in Security Market by Offering (Hardware, Software, Service), Security Type (Network Security, Application Security), Technology (Machine Learning, NLP, Context Awareness,), Solution, End-User, and Region - Global Forecast to 2027

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Charyn Willams, from Mullingar, Co Westmeath, cleans the hands of son Harry at one of the hand sanitisers at the racetrack. Photo: Gerry Mooney

As birthday presents go, they don't come more perfect than winning your ninth Champion Hurdle trophy on the first day of Cheltenham.

Limerick horse-racing magnate JP McManus was all smiles in the winner's enclosure as he celebrated turning 69 by claiming victory in the feature race with his 2/1 favourite Epatante.

Superbly piloted by Barry Geraghty, a huge roar erupted from the crowd as they watched the champion jockey clock up his fourth win in the prestigious race, much to the delight of British trainer Nicky Henderson.

Heavily backed by the Irish contingency in attendance, a chorus of 'happy birthday' rang out from the parade ring as McManus described the win as "very special".

"The way Barry did it, he gave her a peach of a ride. Nicky had her in mint condition," he said.

"Full marks to the team. What can I say about Nicky? He has the numbers to prove it.

"You'd never get tired of this. It's a great feeling. I was delighted that Barry rode her with such confidence, he bided his time."

Geraghty's wife Paula was "thrilled". She looked stylish in her navy ensemble and Edel Ramberg headpiece and had travelled over with her sister Liz and a group of pals.

Expand Close Stylish: Gillian Gilbourne and Rachel Oates, from Millstreet, Co Cork, at Cheltenham on day one of the festival. Photo: Gerry Mooney / Facebook

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Whatsapp Stylish: Gillian Gilbourne and Rachel Oates, from Millstreet, Co Cork, at Cheltenham on day one of the festival. Photo: Gerry Mooney

"If there's nothing else for the week, that's brilliant to win and great on JP's birthday, it makes it extra special," she told the Irish Independent.

"He made that look easy. I enjoyed that one, I have to say. He was as cool as a breeze. We're just thrilled; we'll celebrate that one."

Festival fever dominated any fears over the coronavirus outbreak on the opening day of the annual meeting.

Any concerns over ploughing ahead with the large-scale event were put to rest - for now at least - by the determined army of die-hard racing fans who poured through the turnstiles from early on.

Expand Close Racegoers watch a close finish during the first day of the festival. Photo: Gerry Mooney / Facebook

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Whatsapp Racegoers watch a close finish during the first day of the festival. Photo: Gerry Mooney

A total of 60,634 people were in attendance at the track on day one, a drop of 9pc from last year's figure.

Trilby hats and green country tweed was all the rage among the predominantly male attendees who were in high spirits for the start of what is widely described as an endurance test for racing fans.

Plenty of Irish had also made the trip over, including Wexford couple Katie McGivern and Tom Hore. They had left their two children under two with their granny as they relived some happy memories, having last come over together six years ago.

"We booked it ages ago so we made sure we did it. There is a bit of concern, but we had it all booked and planned so were coming regardless. The airport was empty but the flight was packed this morning. We're just here for one night," Katie said.

Getting into practice ahead of today's Ladies Day event was an uber-glam Gillian Gilbourne, from Co Cork.

She looked chic in a cream coat and matching headpiece by Marc Millinery.

"I just love it. I was a bit concerned about the weather but it's after drying up.

"We're over for the whole week and the same people are over this year again. We're coming about six years now," she said.

She was there with her equally stylish friend Rachel Oates, from Kerry, who had designed her own hat to match her powder-blue ensemble.

"I'm here for two days and then I'll decide what or not to stay on," she said.

She believed racecourse chiefs had properly prepared for the large-scale event, noting the hand sanitisers dotted around the course.

Large stands bearing the cleansers and the motto 'Don't Pass it On' were in evidence all around the track.

"I think as long as people are being sensible and washing their hands; it's just basic hygiene which everyone should have anyway," Rachel added.

There were also some blue-bloods in attendance, to the delight of royal fans, with Zara Tindall enjoying the day out with her former rugby star husband Mike.

And on the track, the Irish raiders got off to a strong start on day one. They clocked up three victories courtesy of Tipperary jockey Rachael Blackmore aboard Honeysuckle, in addition to Put The Kettle On, both of whom were trained by Henry de Bromhead.

Later in the afternoon, the curtain came down on day one with another Irish win in the last race, as the 12/1 shot Ravenhill, trained by Gordon Elliott, came home first past the post.
There are quite a few types of tax reliefs that you can claim to reduce your chargeable income and thus pay less in taxes, and some of the biggest reliefs you can get are from any insurance policies that you may own.

If this is your first time filing your taxes, claiming for your insurance premiums is not as straight forward as putting the total premium you pay for your policy each year. The premium is broken down into a few charges, such as Life, Medical, and Others. It is important that you make the proper claims for income tax relief when filing your tax returns in Malaysia, because you may end up overstating the amount in your tax filing and risk being penalised for this error.

In this article, we will walk you through claiming tax reliefs for your insurance payments. More precisely, we will help you identify what to look out for in your annual insurance statements, as well as how exactly to claim for tax reliefs for your insurance in your income tax returns form (ITRF).

What are the income tax reliefs offered for insurance?

When it comes to insurance policies, these are the claimable tax reliefs offered for Malaysia personal income tax:

Malaysia Income Tax Relief Claim Allowed Life insurance and EPF  Up to RM7,000 for life insurance public servants  Up to RM3,000 for life insurance and up to RM4,000 for EPF for non-public servants Education and medical insurance Up to RM3,000 for self, spouse, or child Private retirement scheme (PRS) and deferred annuity Up to RM3,000

What is an annual insurance statement?

Your annual insurance statement, also sometimes called an annual premium statement, is a document that lists out your insurance plans with that particular insurer, the amount of premium paid for that year, and the types of coverage you are entitled to. These details will be vital in helping you claim your insurance tax reliefs.

Here is how a typical annual insurance statement would look like:

How to read your annual insurance statement for tax relief claims

For the purposes of income tax relief claims, you will need to depend on your annual insurance statement to know how much you are entitled to claim for. Most insurers already make this quite easy for you, as the statement will break down the amount you can claim under Life, Medical, Critical Illness (also sometimes referred to as Medical/Life), and others.

Your different types of insurance or coverage will need to be properly sorted out and claimed accordingly under the different types of income tax relief available for insurance. Heres a table to help you match your insurance types to the right category:

Claim under Types of Insurance/Coverage Life insurance premium Life 100% of premium claimable Disability 100% of premium claimable Life/Education 100% of premium claimable

Alternative: Claim under Education and medical insurance if your nominee is a child Education and medical insurance Education 100% of premium claimable Medical 100% of premium claimable Critical Illness 60% of premium claimable Alternative: Claim 100% under Life insurance premium if your critical illness insurance is attached to your life insurance Private retirement scheme (PRS) and deferred annuity Annuity/Deferred Annuity 100% of premium claimable

Do note that premiums paid for accidental and waiver riders are not eligible for tax reliefs.

In your online tax filing form, heres where you should enter the corresponding amounts in your premium statements (highlighted in red):

Examples

To illustrate how you should calculate your insurance tax reliefs, heres a scenario: an individual has three insurance plans with AIA that includes a few types of coverage. Here are his annual insurance statements:

In the example above, the statement expressly states the amount of premium paid for each coverage type. From here, its as simple as adding up the amount for each coverage type. Note that for Critical Illness, the individual can either claim 60% of that amount under Education & Medical Insurance, or 100% of it under Life Insurance. Play around with the figures: the aim here is to maximise claims from both Life Insurance and Education & Medical Insurance since they are two separate allocations.

Based on the three statements provided above, heres how the calculation for tax relief claims will look like:

Life insurance premium Education and medical insurance PRS and deferred annuity Statement 1 1,321.47   Statement 2 981.99 2,018.01  Statement 3 1,565.10 140.94

(60% x 234.90)  Total 3,868.56 2,158.95 

In other words, the individual is actually entitled to claim RM3,868.56 under Life insurance and RM2,158.95 under Education & Medical insurance. However, the Inland Revenue Board (IRB) has specified that an individual can only claim a maximum of RM3,000 for Life insurance (non-public servant) as well as RM4,000 for Education & Medical insurance, respectively.

Since the RM3,000 Life insurance allocation has been maxed out, it makes more sense to claim the remaining Critical Illness insurance under Education & Medical insurance, even if the individual can only claim 60% of the amount.

As such, the final insurance tax reliefs will ultimately look like this:

As mentioned earlier, some insurers provide annual insurance statements that have been prepared especially for income tax relief claims, where the premiums are already itemised to easily show how much you can claim for each relief. If that is the case, then all you need to do is to input the figures provided in your statement into your income tax return form  no need for calculations!

***

By protecting yourself and your loved ones with your insurance plans, you also reduce your total taxable income (and hence paying less income tax overall). This is actually one of the many ways the Malaysian government is encouraging Malaysians to be insured.

Hopefully, this will help you better understand how to claim your insurance tax reliefs. If you have any other questions about filing your tax income, do check out our Income Tax page or any of these articles below:

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(Photo : Screenshot From Pride of the Nile Tours and Travel Facebook Page) White Giraffe Drone

In a recently reported news that showed just how unfair this world can be when the livelihood of certain species are not closely monitored. A rare white giraffe mother and her baby calf were just recently gunned down by certain poachers who although were guarded by Kenya itself in the Ishaqbini Hirola Conservancy, poachers were able to gun down and kill this giraffe for sport which puts these already rare giraffes in danger. If anti-poaching drones were regularly deployed, the monitoring of the giraffes could have at least safeguarded them from potential threats made by the poachers even before they happen.

The Kenyan wildlife sanctuary was where the skeletal state of these two giraffes were found

The finding of the skeletal frames of these two giraffes sparked an outrage as the Kenyan wildlife sanctuary takes the safeguarding of their animals very seriously. The Kenyan wildlife service were called to examine the surroundings of the conservancy to find the two giraffes who had been missing for quite an unusual amount of time. Once the bones were found, the professionals conducting the search party stated that the bones had been present for at least four months!

Read Also: Giant Sea Bass vs. Extinction: How Superhero Scientists Will Save Them?

Manager of the reserve assumed responsibility

The manager of the Garissa County reserve in Kenya, Mohammed Ahmednoor, released a statement in a news press release saying "This is a very sad day for the community of Ijara and Kenya as a whole. We are the only community in the world who are custodians of the white giraffes," while also noting the fact that Kenya has been doing a good job in safeguarding these animals but the poachers were just really able to penetrate their good way of life. Great emotion was felt as Mohammed Ahmednoor announced that these acts were "a blow to tremendous steps taken by the community to conserve rare and unique species," and that this was a "wake-up call for continued support to conservation efforts."

The popularity of the white giraffe grew from a video posted on YouTube

There is a video on YouTube showing the family of three giraffes stretching their necks to look beyond the trees and eat their leaves as opposed to how other animals eat grass. The video was able to gain millions of views and was featured in several news reporting platforms like The Guardian, USA Today, Inside Edition, and the most important of all, National Geographic. The video was not limited to these platforms as they have also spread all over social media.

Read Also: [Warning] Cattle Innovation Around Colorado River Puts 53 Fish Species at Risk!

The use of anti-poaching drones could solve this matter

Accodring to reports by WWF, the illegal wildlife trade has been able to climb to the fourth of items being illegally traded along with drugs, counterfeiting, smuggling people, and other illegal activities, products, or even entities being traded. The estimated worth of this industry has already reached $4.5 billion dollars annually and is becoming a worldwide problem as some animals are already on the brink of extinction because of these acts. Drones are a cheap way to cover a huge area to both survey and keep track of certain animals roaming around. If only proper drone technology was deployed, we may not have had to experience the loss of the white giraffe mother and her baby calf.

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
This content is from: People and Culture

By John Harrison
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-11 15:08:49|Editor: huaxia

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Tourists are seen on the observation deck of Jin Mao Tower in east China's Shanghai, March 12, 2020. Shanghai Tower, China's highest building, reopened its "Top of Shanghai Observatory" tourist attraction starting on Thursday. Two other landmarks also started receiving tourists from Thursday, including the Shanghai Oriental Pearl Tower and the Shanghai Jinmao Tower. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe)

SHANGHAI, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Shanghai Tower, Chinas highest building, will reopen its "Top of Shanghai Observatory" tourist attraction starting on Thursday.

The observatory allows visitors to enjoy a 360-degree birds-eye view of the city's renowned buildings, natural beauties and sky.

Two other landmarks will also start receiving tourists from Thursday, including the Shanghai Oriental Pearl Tower and the Shanghai Jinmao Tower.

Tourists will be required to pre-book tickets with their identity certification online and arrive at the pre-booked time.

Visitors should wear facial masks, take body temperatures and show a barcode indicating health status before entering the attractions.

Shanghai rolled out a guideline for the municipality's tourist attractions to combat the novel coronavirus epidemic, as businesses gradually resumed since March 7.

Shanghai Disney Resort partially resumed operations on March 9 with a limited number of shopping, dining and recreational experiences available in Disneytown, Wishing Star Park and Shanghai Disneyland Hotel, while Shanghai Disneyland remained temporarily closed.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-11 19:59:45|Editor: xuxin

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Afghan chief presidential spokesman Sediq Sediqqi speaks during a press conference in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan, March 11, 2020. Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani on Tuesday issued a decree to release Taliban inmates on parole, and the release of the first 1,500 prisoners will start on March 14, an official confirmed on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Rahmatullah Alizadah)

KABUL, March 11 (Xinhua) -- A spokesman for the Afghan president said Wednesday that gradual release of Taliban inmates was depending on Taliban group's meeting the conditions, including bringing reduction in violence and fighting.

"The Tuesday's presidential decree facilitated the release of the Taliban prisoners in accordance with an accepted framework for the start of negotiation between the Taliban and the Afghan government," spokesman Sediq Sediqqi told reporters.

"The releasing of Taliban prisoners and restoration of peace and security in Afghanistan are interrelated and the Taliban must prove that the release of the inmates will lead to a reduction of violence. The significant reduction in violence will take form in exchange for releasing Taliban prisoners, so that people can feel its tangible outcomes," Sediqqi said.

Replying to query about the formation a national negotiating team for conducting face to face talks with the Taliban, Seddiqi said "the list has been finalized and would be shared with the people of Afghanistan soon."

The intra-Afghan peace negotiation was enabled by two agreements signed between the United States and the Taliban and between the United States and the Afghan government late last month.

The negotiating team has "limited authority" as it will negotiate with the Taliban and will hear from Taliban representatives about their demands, but the team has no authority to decide on sensitive issues and will share it with the government, he said.

On Tuesday night, Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani issued a decree to release about 5,000 Taliban inmates on parole, and the release of the first 1,500 prisoners will start on March 14, according to Sediqqi.

According to the agreements, the United States and coalition forces will leave Afghanistan within 14 months and the Taliban will take part in intra-Afghan peace talks.
Popular human rights activist, Deji Adeyanju has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to stop what he described as false imprisonment of former Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi.

After his dethronement on Monday, the former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor was banished to Awe Local Government in Nassararwa State.

Also Read: Buhari Behind Sanusis Removal, Kwankwaso Alleges

Pictures of the new residence of the former Emir in Nassarawa has surfaced online and it has led to questions on the freedom of Sanusi on social media.

Joining in on the topic, Adeyanju pointed out that the governor, Abdullahi Ganduje doesnt control the security forces, hence, he urged the president to ensure the former monarch get his freedom.

See his tweet below:

Ganduje does not control Police & DSS who are detaining SLS, Mr. President must put an end to this false imprisonment now. It is barbaric to be doing this in 2020.  Comrade Deji Adeyanju (@adeyanjudeji) March 11, 2020
B rits who were quarantined aboard a cruise ship off the coast of California are being flown home.

The 135 nationals who were on the Grand Princess are expected to arrive at Birmingham Airport this morning, the Foreign Office has confirmed.

Upon arrival they will be transported to their homes and expected to quarantine for 14 days, the Standard understands.

The boat had been held off the coast of California before being permitted to dock in the port of Oakland.

NHS England ramps up Coronavirus testing

A Foreign Office spokesman said: The safety, health and welfare of British nationals is always our top priority, and we have been working tirelessly with the US authorities to ensure all British nationals who wished to return could do so.

The Grand Princess pulled into the Port of Oakland and had more than 3,500 people aboard.

Coronavirus: All you need to know about self-isolation

Some 21 of them were infected with the new virus.

It was carrying people from 54 different countries and had been held off the coast since Wednesday before docking on Monday.

It came after another ship, the Diamond Princess, was on lockdown off the coast of Japan last month due to the virus. Some 700 passengers ended up becoming infected aboard the vessel.
U.S. Border Patrol agents from the Laredo Sector rescued several individuals from potential drowning and environmental perils, over the weekend.

READ MORE: Houston man arrested at Laredo bridge for alleged smuggling of AK-47s, $13K

The first rescue occurred shortly after 12 p.m. on March 7, when agents stationed at the Hebbronville Border Patrol Station received a call about an individual that was lost, southwest of Hebbronville, Texas. Agents with the assistance of Air and Marine Operations (AMO) responded and quickly located the individual who did not require medical assistance. The individual, a Mexican Citizen, was illegally in the country and taken into custody.

The second rescue occurred later the same day, when agents from the Laredo West Border Patrol Station received notice of an individual lost in the brush northwest of Laredo. With the assistance of AMO, agents were again able to locate the individual, who was from the country of Mexico and illegally in the country. The individual was in good health, provided drinking water and subsequently taken into custody.

The third rescue occurred during the early afternoon hours of March 8, when agents from the Laredo South Border Patrol Station spotted an individual trying to cross the Rio Grande River illegally near downtown Laredo. The individual, a woman from the country of Honduras, was trying to cross with a flotation device that failed. Agents quickly rescued the individual and provided necessary aid before taking her into custody.

The final rescue occurred later in the afternoon of March 8, when the Laredo Sector Marine Unit spotted a male individual attempting to cross the Rio Grande River near west Laredo. The agents were able to rescue the individual who was struggling to stay afloat. Agents quickly provided first aid until emergency medical services arrived to evaluate the individual and determined him to be in good health, and not in need of further medical attention. The individual, who was from the country of Honduras, was subsequently taken into custody.

READ MORE: Narcotics, cash obtained after Laredo PD raid in south Laredo

To report suspicious activity such as immigrant and/or drug smuggling, download the USBP Laredo Sector App or contact the Laredo Sector Border Patrol toll free at 1-800-343-1994.
CARLTON, Minn.  A Cloquet, Minn., man allegedly admitted to multiple people that he killed his pregnant girlfriend and her 20-month-old son, though a motive has not been publicly identified.

Sheldon James Thompson, 33, was arraigned Tuesday, March 10, in State District Court on two counts of intentional second-degree murder and one count of second-degree murder of an unborn child.

Authorities said 27-year-old Jackie DeFoe was found dead Saturday inside her residence from stab wounds. Her son, Kevin, was pronounced dead from blunt-force trauma. An autopsy later revealed that DeFoe was 13 weeks pregnant at the time of her death.

A criminal complaint states that police were summoned to the residence on the Fond du Lac Reservation within the city of Cloquet to conduct a welfare check after a "concerned citizen" contacted authorities regarding a Friday conversation with Thompson.

"(Thompson) was acting unusual and, when asked what was the matter, made a statement indicating that he had killed (DeFoe), and made a gesture indicating strangulation," the complaint states. "Defendant also made a statement that he had killed the child."

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On scene, officers from the Fond du Lac and Cloquet police departments observed damage to the house's front door and a knock was met with no response.

Police spoke with a Fond du Lac Housing Division employee who reported performing work at the residence Friday and finding it "in disarray, which was unusual," according to the complaint. The worker said both bedroom doors were closed and that he did not go inside.

After obtaining a search warrant, officers entered the house and found DeFoe dead inside a closet in one of the bedrooms. The complaint states that there were multiple "deep lacerations" on her body, including one to the front of her neck. Kevin was found dead in the other bedroom with bruises around the head.

The complaint states that Thompson was known to be in a relationship with DeFoe and intermittently resided in the house, but was not present at the scene. Officers initiated a search, eventually speaking with a woman who reported picking him up in Cloquet and driving him around before dropping him off along the side of a road.

Thompson himself called 911, providing a location and indicating a desire to turn himself in, the complaint states. But he was not present when police arrived.

An extensive search ensued with the assistance of numerous agencies, including a Minnesota State Patrol helicopter, before authorities arrested Thompson on Sunday night in the woods near Mission Creek Road in Perch Lake Township.

Authorities said the investigation led to "a number of witnesses" who reported that Thompson had told them he killed DeFoe and Kevin.

Thompson was quiet when he appeared in court Tuesday, confirming his name and birth date and muttering "yeah" to a series of questions from Judge Rebekka Stumme, who appointed the public defender's office to represent him.

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The judge granted Carlton County Attorney Lauri Ketola's request to set bail at $1 million and deny any referral for pretrial release. Defense attorney Joanna Wiegert argued for his release with supervision, saying Thompson is a lifelong resident of the area and has been cooperative with the court process.

But Stumme cited the serious nature of the charges, which each carry a maximum of 40 years in prison, and concerns for public safety in setting cash-only bail.

Thompson has multiple prior felony and misdemeanor assault convictions, including several cases involving domestic violence. He remains on probation in Minnesota for violating a domestic abuse no-contact order and is on supervised release in Wisconsin after serving a prison term in another domestic case.

His next court appearance was scheduled for Monday, March 16.

Around 80 community members, relatives and friends attended a walk and memorial for the victims Monday on the reservation. More than four in five indigenous women and men have experienced violence in their lifetimes, and one in three experienced violence in the past year, according to a 2016 report from the National Institute of Justice.
Under the U.S.-Taliban deal, the United States agreed to withdraw about a third of its 12,000 military forces in Afghanistan within 135 days of the signing, a process the U.S. command in Kabul announced Monday had begun. If the Taliban complies with its own obligations  not to attack U.S. or NATO troops and break ties with terrorist organizations such as al-Qaeda  the rest of the U.S. and alliance force is to withdraw by May of next year.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-12 01:18:32|Editor: yan

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ROME, March 11 (Xinhua) -- The Trevi Fountain, the largest Baroque fountain in Italian capital Rome and one of the most famous fountains in the world, was sealed off on Tuesday as part of a wider effort exerted by Italy to contain the spread of the coronavirus, which has killed 631 people in the country.

Appearing in several notable films, such as Roman Holiday and The Sweet Life, the fountain in the center of the city is not only a landmark but also symbolizes the Italian capital's vibrant history.

Its closure, taken by the government as a measure to avoid people gathering, dampened some Italians to some extent despite their tolerance.

"I heard all about the lockdown and I know there's a crisis, but it really hit home when I couldn't even see the Trevi Fountain," Stefania Risi, a 39-year-old accountant from Bergamo in northern Italy, told Xinhua.

Risi is now stuck in Rome due to the nationwide lockdown put by the government since Tuesday. The lockdown requirs people like Risi to seek special permission to travel within the country.

"I thought I'd make the most of it and go for a walk," Risi said on her way back to her sister's house. "Of course I would stay away from crowds and wash my hands and do all the things the authorities suggest. But I couldn't even do that (for a walk)."

Italy decided to put the entire country in lockdown until April 3, restricting people movements, closing schools, museums and prohibiting sporting events, concerts and cinemas.

The authorities encourage people to stay at home. Essential businesses like supermarkets and pharmacies are open but are restricting access to keep crowd sizes small.

While calling on the public to resist panic, the authorities explained that the restriction on movement is an unfortunate but necessary step to contain the virus.

As of Tuesday, Italian authorities said that more than 8,500 people in the country have tested positive for the virus and 631 people have died.

The numbers have made Italy the hardest-hit country outside China.

"Everyone feels pressure and anxiety from this kind of rapid and dramatic change of circumstances," Alessandro Amadori, a psychologist and the vice-president and head of quantitative research for the Piepoli Institute, an opinion research organization, said in an interview. "But from a psychological perspective, fear of the coronavirus is creating a second disease at least as damaging as the virus itself: economic uncertainty."

Economists say it is still too early to predict the full impact the spread of the virus will have on the Italian economy. But it will be significant.

The Italian Stock Exchange lost nearly 15 percent of its value in the first two sessions this week and the economic slowdown that sparked selloff has clouded the fate of many of the country's 6.2 million companies, the vast majority of them with fewer than a half dozen employees.

"When there is a protracted crisis, these (smaller) companies will suffer more than larger companies," Alessandro Poll, a professor of economic statistics at Rome's Sapienza University, told Xinhua. "If the coronavirus crisis lasts another two or three months or more, I worry that a large number of these smaller companies will be crippled or fail."
A worker, wearing protective face mask following an outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), is pictured on an almost empty street in Yokohamas Chinatown, south of Tokyo, Japan, on March 10, 2020. (Edgard Garrido/Reuters)

Japan Announces $4 Billion Coronavirus Package, Not yet Eyeing Extra Budget

Japan on March 10 announced a second package of measures worth about $4 billion in spending to cope with the fallout to the economy of the coronavirus outbreak, focusing on support for small and mid-sized firms.

The package, totaling 430.8 billion yen ($4.1 billion) in spending, shows how much pressure policymakers are under to bolster fragile growth and stem the risk of corporate bankruptcies, as event cancellations and a slump in tourism threaten to hit the broader economy hard.

To help fund the package, the government will tap the rest of this fiscal years budget reserve of about 270 billion yen, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said.

Ill carry out necessary and sufficient economic and fiscal management without hesitation or delay, while fully ascertaining economic moves and effects on the peoples livelihoods from now on as well, Abe said at the end of a meeting of the governments economic advisory council.

The move is likely to affect what the Bank of Japan decides at its March 1819 policy review.

The central bank will aim to ensure that companies hit by the virus outbreak do not face a financial squeeze before the end of the current fiscal year in March, Reuters has reported.

Finance Minister Taro Aso said on Tuesday there was no need yet for a bigger extra budget, adding that the fallout from the outbreak so far had not reached the scale of the 2009 financial crisis.

We need to ascertain the current situation, Aso told reporters after a cabinet meeting. If was not yet clear if the government needed an extra budget, he said.

Men walk past an electronic stock board showing Japans Nikkei 225 index at a securities firm in Tokyo, Japan, on March 9, 2020. (Eugene Hoshiko/AP Photo)

Financial Support

As well as support for businesses, the new package will fund improvements to medical facilities, ease the supply and demand of masks, promote working from home, and provide subsidies to working parents who must take leave because of closed schools.

Aso said financing will focus on small and tiny businesses in need of financing over the next two to three weeks.

The financial watchdog has urged credit associations and regional banks to hold hearings with small businesses about their financial situation, he added.

Japan will boost 1.6 trillion yen in special financing for small- and mid-size firms hit by the virus, Abe said, up from about 500 billion yen previously announced.

Reuters first reported the second packages size earlier on Tuesday and the financing on Monday.

As part of the second package, Abe has said a government-affiliated lender would offer funds effectively at no interest and without collateral to small firms whose sales slumped amid the outbreak.

The virus has infected tens of thousands of people globally, with the accompanying economic disruption undermining Japans export-led economy.

The worlds third-largest economy shrank by the most since a 2014 sales tax hike in the quarter to December, intensifying fears of an economic downturn.

The outbreak comes at a critical time for Japan, shattering hopes of a gradual economic recovery fueled by strong domestic demand just as it prepares to host the summer Olympic Games in July and August.

The epidemic has prompted heavy selling of riskier assets and a scramble into assets such as the yen, perceived as safe havens during times of financial distress.

By Tetsushi Kajimoto and Daniel Leussink
Jan Jekielek Senior Editor Follow

Jan Jekielek is a senior editor with The Epoch Times and host of the show, "American Thought Leaders." Jans career has spanned academia, media, and international human rights work. In 2009 he joined The Epoch Times full time and has served in a variety of roles, including as website chief editor. He is the producer of the award-winning Holocaust documentary film "Finding Manny."
President Trumps trade war with the EU took centre stage in Washington on Wednesday at the first of the weeks St Patricks celebrations.

The Irish Ambassador to America Daniel Mulhall addressed the crowd at the Irish Business Leaders Luncheon, in the place of the absent Taoiseach who had delayed his trip to deal with the Coronavirus outbreak at home.

Mr Mulhall delivered the speech, which was supposed to be delivered by the taoiseach, taking aim at Trumps trade war with the EU, which has seen raised tariffs imposed on Irish goods.

Mulhall criticises US trade tariffs on EU, after President Trump began restructuring the more than $1 trillion US trade relationship with the European Union, complaining that their position on trade is worse than China.

"The Irish butter on your bread, the Irish cream liquor you'll enjoy later now costs more," Daniel Mulhall told the crowd.

But we're prepared to bear the extra cost.

It hurts our consumers and our stocks, we hope that current talks between our EU Trade Commissioner Phil Hogan will negotiate a resolution.

Rather than focus on tariffs we want to scale up investment in the United States.

He went on to add that anti-immigration sentiment has no place in Irish society and was demonstrated in the most recent election, where far-right candidates received tiny percentages of the votes.

Adding that Cead Mile Failte was a way of life for Ireland its people.

The inclusion of the immigration stance was another notable difference between Ireland and the US under President Trump who has rallied against immigration from certain countries.

Coronavirus also played a notable role in the speech as both countries grapple with the outbreak.

Mr Mulhall added that the crises will only be tackled by sound evidence-based policy and international cooperation.

The Taoiseachs first official event in the American capital will be the Ireland Funds dinner, which will honour House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, on Wednesday evening after arriving late in the afternoon.

The Taoiseach has 24 hours of engagements in Washington, on Thursday he will meet the Vice President, President Trump and attend the annual Speakers lunch.

The annual Ambassador's reception is not going ahead due to Coronavirus fears.

The Taoiseach's St Patricks Day programme ends on Thursday evening.

On Friday, he will participate in the Cabinet Committee on Covid 19, which will happen via teleconference.
Bernie Sanders has raised the alarm about voting problems in the Michigan Democratic primary, demanding the states authorities make sure there are no obstacles to voting, and pointing to nationwide efforts at voter suppression.

Mr Sanders tweeted his concern: At a time when Democrats correctly attack Republicans for voter suppression, to see voters standing in long lines for hours in Michigan and around America is an outrage.

Election officials must address these problems immediately, and if necessary, keep polling places open longer.

Mr Sanderss state political co-ordinator, Abshir Omar, reported that one student voting at Michigan State University had waited for more than an hour to vote before giving up, saying this is bulls**t, I cant wait this long, I have to get to work.

Given the Democrats badly need to win Michigan in order to beat Donald Trump, the spectre of voting problems there has them deeply concerned.

Just days before the 2016 election, the Michigan Democratic Party sued the Trump campaign, claiming it was engaged in efforts to intimidate and obstruct white liberals, young women and black voters. Similar lawsuits were filed in Arizona, Nevada, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

Legal battles over voter access in Michigan continue to this day. One current battle in the state focuses on Republican-backed measures restricting organisers from helping people fill in absentee ballots or using a vehicle to transport them to the polls unless they cannot walk.

Another state that has spent years making it harder to vote is Wisconsin, another crucial 2020 battlefield. Starting in 2010 under Republican governor Scott Walker, Wisconsin not only passed tough voter ID laws but restricted early voting hours, gerrymandered district boundaries in favour of Republicans and made it harder to register to vote.

As with similar moves in other states, the measures have been criticised for targeting groups that tend to cast Democratic votes. In 2016, Hillary Clinton lost the state to Mr Trump by only 22,748 votes  less than 1 per cent.

However, in good news for Democrats, a recent effort that would have thrown nearly 300,000 people off the states voter rolls was recently overturned in the Wisconsin Appeals Court.

The Democratic primary has seen serious pressure on the voting process in other states besides. In Texas, some voters were forced to wait in line for as long as five hours on Super Tuesday. Black and Latino neighbourhoods were disproportionately affected.

Recommended Democrats fear Trump could win enough Latino support to win election

This is part of a pattern thats playing out across the country. Democrats have for years been trying to expand the pool of swing states to include former Republican strongholds like Texas, Arizona and even Georgia. They are doing this by appealing to and organising the demographics where they do best  in particular with young people and black and Latino voters.

Texas, still run by Republicans at the state level, is just one of several states to have reduced the number of polling stations and introduced strict voter ID laws. These measures have proliferated since a 2013 Supreme Court decision struck down a key provision of the Voting Rights Act that forced jurisdictions with a history of discrimination to seek approval before changing their laws.

Among the states to have taken advantage of their new freedoms following the decision are several Republican-governed southern states with many black voters who tilt towards the Democrats.

One law in North Carolina, which has lately been considered a swing state, was blocked by the Supreme Court in 2017 after a federal appeals court described it as an effort to target African-Americans with almost surgical precision.

Unless the Democrats can overcome voter suppression efforts that target these groups, they will struggle to get on the front foot again.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 11)  President Rodrigo Duterte has expressed willingness to resolve disputes, although publicly, with Metro Manila water concessionaries Maynilad Company, Inc. and Manila Water Services Inc., which supposedly have onerous contracts with the government.

Sabi 'ko, mag-areglo tayo. Well, of course, I can. I can talk to you. But it must be in public, Duterte said in a speech during a gathering of municipal mayors on Tuesday night.

[Translation: I said, lets settle. Well, of course, I can. I can talk to you. But it must be in public.]

However, he said he cannot assure the utility firms will not be "prosecuted for graft and corruption or plunder" as billions of pesos are allegedly involved.

In his speech, the chief executive again denounced the two concessionaires, which he branded as the biggest fish that his administration had caught in its campaign against corruption.

Last year, Duterte ordered the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System to revoke the two firms' contract extensions until 2037. With the cancellation, both concessions will end in 2022 or 25 years since the contracts were awarded in 1997.

But Manny Pangilinan-led Maynilad and Ayala-led Manila Water are now in the middle of negotiations for a new concession agreement with the administration, which officials said may be finalized in the middle of the year.

Duterte is also set to meet Pangilinan soon, his former aide Senator Bong Go previously said. But no other details about the meeting were released.

In March last year, Manila Water was forced to implement a bill waiver program covering 1.2 million customers for March last year. It served as relief to its customers who were affected by massive water service interruptions, the company has said.

The east zone concessionaire was also penalized by the MWSS board with a 1.13-billion fine. Of the amount, 600 million has been earmarked for the construction of a new water source.

Last August, the Supreme Court also imposed a 921-million fine after Manila Water supposedly failed to put up sewerage systems for its service areas as required by the Philippine Clean Water Act.

An international tribunal had ordered the government to pay Manila Water 7.4 billion in losses stemming from rejected water rate hikes in 2015. In a similar case in 2017, the government was directed to reimburse 3.4 billion for Maynilads losses.

But in December, the two water firms said they will no longer demand payment from the government arising from their arbitral tribunal win, after Duterte threatened to sue them.

CNN Philippines Melissa Lopez and Glee Jalea contributed to this report
In view of COVID-19 outbreak, the Government of India on Tuesday issued an additional travel advisory imposing travel restrictions on persons arriving to India from coronavirus-affected countries.

The countries are Italy, South Korea, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Thailand, Singapore, Iran, Malaysia, France, Spain and Germany.

The government informed about the suspension of visas of foreign nationals from the aforementioned countries and those with travel history in these nations on or after February 1.

"With respect to restrictions on visa, all regular visas which have been granted to nationals of France, Germany and Spain on or before March 11 and where these foreigners have not entered India stand suspended," the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said in a release.

"Regular visa granted to all foreign nationals who have travel history to the aforementioned countries on or after February 1 and who have not yet entered India also stands suspended," it added.

With 10 more people confirmed positive for novel coronavirus, the total number of COVID-19 cases in India has jumped to 60, the government said on Wednesday.

Out of the 60 cases, 36 are Indian citizens.

Six of the eight new cases are from Kerala and one each from Rajasthan and Delhi according to the ministry.

Coronavirus, which originated in Wuhan city of China, has now spread to more than 90 countries and has killed over 3800 people worldwide.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
KENT, Ohio -- Hundreds of Kent State University students were moving out of dorms Wednesday, a day after the university canceled in-person classes and encouraged residential students to go home as a precaution against the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus.

Cleveland.com caught up with some of the students as they packed up their gear, sometimes with the aid of parents, and talked about what the rest of the semester might look like with online classes scheduled to begin March 16 and spring break to begin a week later.

Jaret Vincent, a freshman digital sciences student from Cambridge, said it feels weird to leave campus and have to take classes online.

Vincent moved out of his residence hall Wednesday afternoon after his dad, Rick, got off work.

It sucks, Rick Vincent said as he packed up the familys SUV. It is what it is, I guess.

The Vincents said they werent too sure what to believe regarding the seriousness of the coronavirus outbreak.

Three people in Cuyahoga County on Monday were confirmed to have the coronavirus, and on Tuesday, Gov. Mike DeWine recommended that colleges cancel face-to-face classes, as well as other measures including banning spectators from concerts and sporting events, as a precaution to contain the spread of the virus.

On Wednesday, DeWine announced that a Stark County man tested positive for the virus, marking the states first case of community spread, a term meaning that the infected person had not recently traveled to a country where there is a coronavirus outbreak or have contact with a confirmed case.

Kent State on Tuesday strongly encouraged its 5,777 residential students to return home, but said the dorms will remain open with reduced dining options. Online classes will run from March 16 to 20. Spring break is scheduled for March 23 to 29. After that, classes will continue online. In-person classes are schedule to resume on April 13.

Megan Baker, a freshman art education major from East Liverpool, was also packing up her belongings on Wednesday, and said she was really upset about leaving.

I just paid a $500 monthly tuition payment, and my birthday is in two days, Baker said. But its nice to have an extra long spring break.

Baker said her education classes can be easily held online, but she had concerns about her art classes.

I dont even know if I can get into the studio right now, she said. All of my supplies are in there.

Emily Holman, a transfer student from Michigan, said she was not sure how her online architecture classes will work. She was on campus Wednesday afternoon because she had a doctors appointment, and was planning to leave Thursday morning.

Its a really hands-on program, Holman said of her architecture classes. Right now were working on models, so I have to take all my supplies home from the studio.

Holman said shell communicate with her architecture professors and classmates via video chat, but it wont be the same as face-to-face instruction.

It kind of sucks. I really enjoy the hands-on studio environment where you can ask questions to people who are right there, Holman said. It will be different now.

Laura Mendes Ortolan, an architecture student from Brazil, said she, like many other international students, has no choice but to stay on campus.

I dont have anywhere else to go, she said.

Kent State has 1,375 international students attending the main campus this semester, according to a university spokeswoman.

Mendes Ortolan said she was disappointed to hear that classes will be held online.

I came here for my exchange year, and I came here for the classes, she said. Were still going to have classes online, but its different than seeing and talking to them [professors and classmates].

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Google has urged all of its 100,000 employees across the US and Canada to work from home if they can as the company aims to minimize the risk of coronavirus spreading.

The search giant's parent company Alphabet sent out a memo on Tuesday to its workers in 11 offices across North America, recommending that they work remotely until at least April 10, if their roles permit it.

The new recommendation is an expansion of a similar guideline it gave to employees in the Washington state office last week.

Google has since upgraded its work from home status in the New York and San Francisco offices from voluntary to recommended.

Google has urged all of its 100,000 employees across the US and Canada to work from home if they can as the company aims to minimize the risk of coronavirus spreading. pictured above the NYC office

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 last 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 tech giant has urged all of its 100,000 employees in 11 offices across the US and Canada to work from home if they can. Advertisement

'The goal of businesses moving to work from home arrangements is to significantly reduce the density of people and lower the health risk in offices, and also reduce the burden on the local community and health resourced, enabling those in need to get quicker support,' the Google memo read.

Most of the big companies, including Google, Amazon, Microsoft and Facebook began urging employees in Seattle to work from home last week as the coronavirus outbreak worsened across the state.

The majority of US deaths related to coronavirus have been linked to a nursing home facility in Seattle.

Separately, a Google spokesperson said the company is temporarily banning ads for medical face masks on its platform 'out of an abundance of caution'.

Google said it is establishing a COVID-19 fund, by which all its temporary staff and vendors can take paid sick leave if they show symptoms of the virus or are unable to come to work due to being quarantined.

Apple, which advised all 12,000 employees at its Cupertino headquarters to work from home last week, also extended its offer to employees at most of its global offices this week.

CEO Tim Cook sent a memo out saying employees in its global offices could work from home if their roles allowed for the duration of this week.

In his memo, Cook described the coronavirus outbreak as an 'unprecedented event' and a 'challenging moment'.

It was an expansion of provisions Apple had given to all staff at the Santa Clara Valley offices named Apple Park last week in which they were urged to work from home.

Apple, who advised all 12,000 employees at its Cupertino headquarters (above) to work from home last week, also extended its offer to employees at most of its global offices this week

Microsoft 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

Those employees were told that the precaution was being taken following recent guidance from public health officials.

The staff at the Santa Clara Valley campus were advised that offices would remain open but that they were 'encouraging team members' to stay away.

An estimated 83,000 workers have been affected by the closures and work-from-home policies within these three companies alone.

On Monday Amazon advised employees in New York and New Jersey to work-from-home.

Amazon.com Inc extended its work advisory to include staff on the East Coast Monday as they and other corporations aim to lower the risk of COVID-19 transmission among their ranks.

'We continue to work closely with public and private medical experts to ensure we are taking the right precautions as the situation continues to evolve,' Amazon said in a statement.

Staff on the west coast were advised to isolate themselves last Wednesday after it was revealed a Washington Amazon employee had been infected.

The company's Seattle headquarters is just 12 miles from a nursing home that has been at the center of the outbreak in Washington state.

Amazon.com Inc extended its work-from-home advisory to include employees in New York and New Jersey on Monday. NYC office above

Amazon confirmed late Tuesday that the employees had tested positive for coronavirus after going home sick from work on February 25. An Amazon spokesperson 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. Amazon was one of the first U.S. companies to crack down on employee travel due to the outbreak, banning all 'non-essential' work trips.

Twitter, Facebook, Salesforce and Microsoft made similar moves on the West Coast.

Facebook 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.
A Jammu and Kashmir youth and his Nepalese friend were drowned while taking bath in the Ganga here on Wednesday, said police.

The incident occurred at Sai Ghat of the river where a group of four friends visiting here from Delhi had gone to take bath, said Senior Sub-Inspector Sujit Kumar of Muni Ki Reti police station.

While bathing in the river, two of them were swept away by strong currents, he said.

Police swung into action on being informed about the incident by their friends.

Their bodies, however, could not be recovered by rescue personnel and divers till evening, the official said, adding the search operation will resume tomorrow.

The drowned youths were identified as Tushar Kaushik, 26, from Riasi in J&K and Rayal Paudal from Nepal, Kumar said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Ahead of the full launch, a limited release beta version is being tested among a small group of users

Disney Plus Hotstar began offering on-demand content from the American entertainment firm in India 18 days before schedule

New Delhi: Content from Disney Plus, the streaming platform from Disney, is now live in India via Hotstar, 18 days before its announced launch date of March 29.

The Hotstar app, now rebranded as Disney Plus Hotstar, on Wednesday started showing Disney Plus content such as "The Mandalorian", "Diary of a Future President", "The World According to Jeff Goldblum", documentary "One Day at Disney" and "High School Musical: The Musical - The Series".

Other shows are "Pick of the Litter", "Lady and the Tramp", "Encore", "Noelle" and "Pixar In Real Life".

However, this does not seem to be the full launch. A Hotstar spokesperson was quoted as saying by TechCrunch that the firm is testing Disney+ in India ahead of the launch. A limited release of the beta version of the Disney+ Hotstar app is currently being tested with a small number of consumers, in preparation for the full-fledged app launch on 29th March, the spokesperson was quoted as saying.

At present, Disney Plus Content is available at no extra charge, with Hotstar users paying Rs 999 per year.

Hotstar says it has 100 million active users a month and that at its peak consumption that number was as high as 300 million active users a month.

Uday Shankar, president of the Walt Disney Company Asia Pacific and chairman for Star and Disney India, is set to make an announcement on March 13 about the full launch of the streaming service in India.
Marc Thibault was groggy and surrounded by beeping machines, but he was alert enough to know what it meant when he looked up and saw a priest, wearing protective gear, by his bedside at the Miriam Hospital in Rhode Island.

Holy cow, he thought to himself. Im 48 years old and Im getting my last rites.

Mr. Thibault, one of the first Americans diagnosed with the novel coronavirus, recounted days of pain and fear in his first interview Tuesday, speaking from the intensive-care unit at the Providence hospital where he has been for 13 days, fighting the illness that attacked his lungs.

I was one inch from death, he said, his voice weary. No doubt about it. No doubt about it.

Roughly 80 per cent of COVID-19 cases tend to be mild or moderate, and more than 62,000 people globally have recovered. Older people or those with underlying health conditions are at a higher risk.

Mr. Thibaults ordeal began with a much-awaited school trip abroad, a journey to Europe from Feb. 14 to 22 that went through Italy. Two others from the trip also tested positive, although they werent hit as hard as Mr. Thibault.

The married father of two is the popular vice principal of student life at San Raphael Academy, a private Catholic school in Pawtucket, a suburb of Providence. He knew travel would expand his students minds and was thrilled to chaperone the nine-day adventure that began in Milan and ended in Barcelona.

When the group of 38 people left the U.S., coronavirus was certainly in the news but there were no cases of community-spread coronavirus in Italy and no CDC travel warning in effect, the school said in a previous statement.

When the group landed in Milan, Mr. Thibault thought it was strange to see people in haz-mat suits in the airport, but everything seemed calm. The group headed to Cinque Terre on the Italian Riviera, and began what would be just two days of sightseeing in Italy.

But just in that short period, he began to hear about Italy cordoning off some towns, and by the time they left for the French Riviera he was relieved to be leaving Italy.

It was apparently too late. Italy would become one of the hardest-hit places for the virus.

A self-described germaphobe, Mr. Thibault isnt sure exactly how he became infected. He said he used hand sanitizer constantly on the trip. But the groups local tour guide said he felt like he was coming down with the flu, and he and Mr. Thibault passed a microphone back and forth to talk to the students. Mr. Thibault is unsure if the tour guide ever tested positive.

Mr. Thibault had no symptoms during the trip, but he felt unusually sluggish on the flight back to the U.S.

Something is wrong, he told his wife when he finally got home to Rhode Island near midnight on Saturday, Feb. 22. He went straight to bed, and then the next day, went to a walk-in clinic. Mr. Thibault has asthma, but he exercises everyday and said he rarely gets sick.

He said he told the clinic he had been to Italy and wondered aloud if he could have the novel coronavirus. He was told he didnt fit the criteria at the time for the test because he didnt really have the symptoms, which can include a fever or shortness of breath.

He stayed home from work, but just got worse, with growing fatigue, a dry cough and something that resembled bronchitis. He went to a hospital but was again told he didnt meet the criteria for the test, he said.

Doctors there were concerned, however, and Mr. Thibault said he quickly got a call from the Rhode Island Department of Health, which told him to get tested immediately.

A health department spokesman said the agency cant comment on any specific patient, but noted that the CDCs guidance for testing has evolved. We have reviewed each Rhode Island case carefully, the spokesman said. In each of those instances, the health-care facilities involved all responded appropriately.

By Thursday night, Feb. 27, Mr. Thibault was at the Miriam Hospital, where he tested positive for the virus and was admitted right away.

He says the virus now hit him like a hurricane. He was weak and had trouble breathing. The hospital whisked him into the ICU, where nurses donned hazmat-style suits to enter his room.

They inserted a breathing tube, and put another tube down his throat for medicine to deal with pneumonia that developed in his lungs, he said.

Gagging and coughing, Mr. Thibault said he felt scared. His lungs would fill with saliva and nurses would dash in and clear them out, only to have to do it again two hours later.

The feeling of choking. That was the worst part, he said. You feel like youre asphyxiating, and youre panicking because you cant breathe.

The agony went on for days.

His wife, and his two children, ages 20 and 15, were unable to visit, lest they become infected, too.

Just get through the next hour, the next hour, the next hour, Mr. Thibault told himself. Its just one time you quit and then youre dead.

Even though he was partially sedated, his mind kept spinning.

Last week, he forced himself to write a note to his wife, telling her that if his lungs collapsed, to not keep him on life support.

I just didnt want to have that on my wifes shoulders. I just didnt want her to do that, he said. Im glad she never had to read that note.

Slowly he began to get better. The doctors took out his breathing tube and to his relief, his lungs picked up the pace. When he could speak, he thanked the nurses.

What these people did for me in that last two weeks, Im forever indebted to them, he said.

He said he is coming through this and hopes to be able to leave the hospital by the weekend. He said he has turned on the television and caught up on the news of the escalating virus. He is worried some people dont realize how serious it can be and hopes people are taking the recommended safety steps, from washing hands frequently to staying home when sick, to avoid community spread.

It almost killed me, he said. Its alarming when I hear people minimize it as a simple cold. It was no simple cold for me.
Nazareth Inscription study questions link to Jesus tomb; not everyone agrees

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A study by Oklahoma University and Harvard University has challenged the view of some scholars that the ancient marble tablet known as the Nazareth Inscription had been installed in the region in response to the empty tomb of Jesus, as well as the claim by some others that it indicates that His disciples stole His body from the tomb.

The Nazareth Inscription has no connection with Jesus Christ or early Christianity, the researchers wrote in the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, according to The Sunday Times.

The researchers claim that the marble is from the Greek island of Kos and the inscription was ordered by Caesar Augustus, decades before Christ, in response to an event described in an ancient poem in which the people of Kos broke into the tomb of the tyrant-ruler in the 30s BC, Nikias, and desecrated his corpse, according to Associates for Biblical Research.

The study suggests that Wilhelm Froehner, the man who purchased the Nazareth Inscription and died leaving a note saying that it was sent from Nazareth, was misled about the provenance of the stone in an effort to get more money for the artifact.

The Inscription, kept in the National Library of France in Paris, carries an edict of an unnamed Roman emperor saying no one is allowed to open tombs and the act is punishable by death.

However, in an academic paper on the Nazareth Inscription, Dr. Clyde Billington argues that there are six features in the marble which do not fit a non-Jewish, gentile context.

First, there is no reference to bodies being dug out of the ground, only of their being extracted from tombs and graves, Billington writes. Second, there is no reference to human ashes being scattered or to the urns of cremated individuals being stolen or destroyed. Third, there is no reference made to coffins, and most Roman inhumation burials of dead bodies were in wood or lead coffins.

He continues, Fourth,  there is an assumption of the existence of family tombs, and the gentiles in the Roman Empire did not have family tombs. Fifth, there is no reference to cemeteries, in which almost all Greco-Roman burials were made. And six, sepulcher-sealing stones  were not used for inhumation burials by gentiles in the Roman Empire. In other words  the Nazareth Inscription fits very well within a Jewish family tomb context, but it does not fit at all within a gentile Greek or Roman context.

Writing for Christian Today, the Rev. Dr. Pieter Lalleman, a tutor in Biblical Studies at Spurgeons College, asks, Who discovered the inscription? Why was it sent to Froehner? And was it discovered in Nazareth or merely sent from there? He points out that Nazareth was a market for ancient objects.

Lalleman adds, The latest research may have established that the marble used for the inscription stems from Kos, but that does not decide where the text was written or what it was about  One thing is certain: we cant use this enigmatic edict as evidence for the resurrection. Having said that, some connection cannot be ruled out either.
11.03.2020 LISTEN

Observer One is my name. You can call me O One, and I stand for the good of all. #ToGodAndCountry! Yeah, as my name indicates, I sniff around with keen interest in matters of interest. One such matter that is raging, causing a stir in my spirit, has to do with the bizarre vetting that took place at the Okaikwei Central Constituency.

Surely, NII KOMETEY HAS NO CAUSE TO WORRY ABOUT HIS DESQUALIFICATION! He has nothing to lose, unlike the other. From the look of things, I am firmly convinced that the Nii Kometey brand can turn Okaikwei Central NPP upside down if care is not taken. All it will take is a simple decision to go independent. Forget about precedence. His support-base is massive and very capable.

It is said that campaign towards this years general elections will be issues-based - such as comparative achievements, deeds, goodwill and ones general appeal, which is also informed by ideas, policies and initiatives that make positive impact on peoples lives.

First of all, as I gathered, Nii Kometey was disqualified on terribly stinky flimsy grounds. One being that one or two of those who endorsed his forms had fake membership IDs. The second being that he must nurture the party for two years haven served a twelve-month suspension which happened over a year ago. This means serve the party for another two years before he can merit contest for any office whatsoever.

Laughably, the chairperson of the committee quoted article 12 clause 1 of the New Patriotic Partys Constitution to back that assertion. I would like to urge you my reader to fetch the NPPs constitution from google and you will be blown away what you find there.

However, the purpose of this writeup is to point it out to the vetting committee, that the manner in which they handled the vetting of Nii Kometey Tetteh was so unprofessional. It was gravely vicious! Seriously, I dont know how best I can describe the whole process other than to liken it to something that was stage-managed. Hence, may I urge you to read further because theres a lot to talk about in addition to snippets of what transpired at Nii Kometeys vetting which, as I see it, was a done-deal for the committee. As one of the audience put it: The vetting room apparently, unknown to us, was a little theatre with a stage meant for Eleven characters to perform a play to an audience of twenty plus. He continued: As we observed, an act that was meant to be performed by a crew of Eleven was easily executed by only Three (out of the five performers).

Now, heres a glimpse of one scene in the drama  but I will show it to you with a question. For instance, if you must submit to an enquiry, how would you feel if the one probing you makes a comment like because I WANT TO NAIL YOU FURTHER into the coffin!? Just tell me, how would you feel?

Seriously, I am of the view that common sense, which is not usually common, would tell you no, if I speak this way and manner people might think that I have been influenced or bought. The vetting that lasted for just about fifteen minutes was so dramatic and an eye-saw! Nail you into the coffin? Question is, were we in a vetting program or at a burial of service of someones enemy? Im told the few who were there were confused and taken aback at the turn of events. No wonder the good people of Okaikwei Central were completely chapfallen upon hearing the news of Nii Kometeys disqualification. A gentleman who is presently the only hope of true democracy, freedom, unity and progress for the NPP party in the constituency, how could he be met with this diabolical and shambolic tyranny. Anyway, these notwithstanding, we are very confident that the appeals committee, made up of highly revered and respected people, matured, and in fact, people of unmatched integrity would not disappoint. Then also, I call on Hon. Patrick Boamah to man up and call the bluff of the committee if he is truly a fellow who really cares about the people he claim to be leading in the Okaikwei Central Constituency. Do this, Mr. Patrick, because it might help you maybe in a little way as you try to prove if youre indeed performing. And I want the leadership of the party to be informed, that the calm in the constituency today is purely based on the trust in the calibre of personalities on the appeals committee. Our expectation is that the report from the committee will be exactly what transpired at the vetting so that the appeals committee would not be swayed.

What I mean is that, the reasons for the disqualification were pronounced right there and then. I am now picking information that the membership card matter in not an issue. Hence the whole issue concerning Nii Kometeys ordeal centers around his twelve months suspension. I will be giving you grounds for which I believe that Nii Kometeys disqualification was in a sense, literally stage-managed.

It is so awful, disgusting and terribly disheartening, that the party that prides itself of being pioneers of democracy, at least, in the fourth republic of Ghana, would go on this distasteful tangent to suppress the will of the people in its bid to protect others, much of whom are so selfish, mean and a threat to their own party members and the same people who brought them to power. If NPP truly believes in democracy, they must show it in every sense of the word. Rumour has it that people like Hon. Osei Kyei Mensah, Hon. Attakyia and the likes have literally become tasteless and undesirable albatross on their respective constituencies. SO it is! Because whilst their constituents are so tired and pissed off with them and really want them removed, the party is busily wasting precious but scarce resources to protect them. On certain grounds the party may have valid arguments regarding the reason to protect these individuals. A cursory look into the squad from the opposition would reveal that the NPP cannot afford to do away with the likes of Osei Kyei Mensah. Of course, which of the incoming ones poses the experience and mettle required to face the likes of Haruna Iddrisu, the Ablakwas and the new baby with hyper-sharp teeth Sam George. Here then comes the big question: What at all is it that makes the party conceive the idea of protecting somebody like Patrick Boamah.

Now, one thing I have learnt regarding parliamentary candidature is that anyone who wish to contest on the partys ticket must be popular. Really? Let any concerned national party executive visit the constituency and enquire or better said, investigate Boamahs record and relationship with the constituency ahead of his coming. You would be shocked the amount of work that was done by the then ward/polling station chairpersons in the constituency just to sell him to the delegates. Patrick Boamah was a total stranger - and truly so. No one knew him.

You ask: How then did he get the opportunity that has brought him to where he is now? Im not surprised at that question at all! The then incumbent MP, Elizabeth Sackey, who was also literally hand-picked from elsewhere to contest on their behalf had so disappointed them in so many ways. Truth is, Patrick was nowhere near doing anything with the party in the constituency. He had no relationship with Okaikwei Central NPP. And this is what happened: Some handful of people had observed that Boamah, holding no political office had helped some individuals secure support from MASLOC. It was then rumoured that hes quite well connected so they thought he was going to do a great job of bringing or exposing constituents to more of such opportunities. One constituency executive tells me that one of the things they believed in Boamah was a sense that he would champion the needs of women, youth development, and welfare of party members; delegates in particular. Sneaking into one ward meeting around Fadama with a delegate friend, I couldnt believe how the entire attendants lamented on their displeasure at how much they have been deceived. Deceived because they now realize, that Elizabeth Sackey possibly may have done at least a little more in the sense that they can point to some few people who got the chance to further their education among other things. Now, with the numerous sectoral opportunity allocations to MPs, they challenge Boamah to show them one single person he has helped with any of those opportunities. Instead of responding or attending to these core matters, hes rather going around castigating and spewing venom on the very ones that hand-picked and shepherded him into who he is today. A delegate tells me: Boamah simply hates people with potential. He detests anyone who appears to be on top of issues. Very intolerant. You dare not attempt to get him to account for his stewardship. Ask a question and youre shut down like were in some elementary saito. Nii Kometey says: I see a world in the future in which we understand that all life is related to us and we treat that life with great humility, dignity and respect. Very thoughtful, right! Boamah simply cannot bring himself to this kind of thinking towards the very people who made him. And knows it too well, that hes such a disappointment, incompetent and a failure. Hes not ignorant that the same people have what it takes to dribble him out of power without sweat. And they will do it! They will push him out of office without sweat.

I can confidently tell you on authority, as supported by the true situation on the ground, that Patrick Boamah is very unpopular to both the NPP fraternity of Okaikwei Central and their counterparts from the NDC. My mentioning of NDC in relation to the matter at hand is not a joke, nor a mere writing gimmick or a goof. Many of our opponents in Okaikwei Central are willing to show gratitude to Nana Addo for all the great interventions he has brought that theyre also enjoying but they simply want nothing to do with Patrick. About three months ago, we had one top official visit the constituency and to our surprise, he lamented and I quote: so you people, dont you have anyone to contest Boamah, why do you allow this to continue? Well, thats some food for thought. But lets come back to the substantive issue at hand.

If you have so many people both within and outside the party calling for the removal of Boamah, it stands to reason, that any effort aimed at protecting him would yield no good fruit. As a party, when we hear prophets say that God has rejected former president Mahama, were happy, right? I dare say that it is the same with Boamah! The people are just waiting for an opportunity to vote him out. And any attempt to deny them that opportunity would be met with a crunch opposition. One thats so uncharacteristic of Okaikwei Central constituents but do not be fooled. For your information, the people are ready to fight their own course if the party fails to bring their ears to the ground. I say this because by far, actions of party leadership suggest that their hands are open and ready to receive the gift that they are calling for!

Moreover, for Nii Kometey Tettehs disqualification, the questions from one particular member of the panel, which centered on that baseless, illegal and sinisterly suspension instigated by Patrick Boamah and his allies are very curious. This is not an attack but a telling of what really pertains on the grounds. Get to the constituency and listen to what accounted for his suspension and your conclusion will not be different.

We've been talking about change, suggesting that Patrick Boamah must be voted out to make way for Nii Kometey. That's absolutely true! But our call for change goes beyond removing Boamah. First and foremost, many of us support this change because it is the desire of the people of Okaikwei Central Constituency. Desire thats founded on very solid grounds. To the extent that our political opponents are even supporting him so they will add their votes to him and 4MoreForNana. Secondly, Patrick Boamah is power-drunk from all indications! I say this because in politics, the number-one pointer to whos power-drunk is when they go about attacking, maligning, and doing politics with shear propaganda. The second is when their heralds only spread fake news to cover their failure and unpopularity. Moreover, when one is an incumbent, what we expect is politics based on track record and achievements, deeds and satisfaction. The situation on the grounds in Okaikwei Central is entirely different. Just get to the grounds and you will be shocked how party members have become so scared of talking during meetings. Everybody must dance to his drums which offers no rhythm. Hes so self-centred, self-imposing and oppressive - practicing favouritism and selective rule. There's so much fear, preventing party members from approaching to seek help from our own MP including executives. The statement we're making with our call is LET THE RIGHTEOUS RULE!

Let me tell you one thing: Patrick Boamahs nightmare is that his contender is an indigenous! The delegates are confident and convinced that Nii Kometey is simply one of their own. He has been with them for years. He has served, sacrificed, struggled with them. Hes a true foot-marshal in the constituency, and whose service-to-party credential is unmatched! Were in 2020, right? Nii Kometey has served in all levels of foot-soldierism since 1992. He is very conversant with the rudiments of Okaikwei Central NPP. He knows the pains and anguish of the people because he is in it himself. With his level of knowledge in how things are run and the endless opportunities available for the people, they have so much confidence in him that he is more than capable of delivering on his promise. No wonder his campaign mantra has been A PROMISE BEYOND HOPE. A promise beyond hope, as I examine, is because when they grieved, he grieved with them. When they cried, he cried with them! He shares in their disappointments. He knows their needs because he suffered the same needs. He talks about unity because hes been a victim of the otherwise. Truth is, Nii Kometey remains the only thorn in Boamahs flesh because Nii Kometey is a young man with a big heart. Patrick is in power, but Nii Kometey is the one that is approached for help by majority of constituents, delegates and executives. Hes very humble and welcoming. Approachable and helpful. Never turns people down no matter what! Nii Kometey is simply the peoples man! Period!
New Delhi, March 11 : Union Home Minister Amit Shah expressed sorrow over the Delhi riots on Wednesday, while defending the Delhi Police's role in containing the violence.

Hitting out at the opposition in his reply to the debate on the Delhi violence in the Lok Sabha, he said: "I would like to place on record that after February 25, no incident of rioting took place. There have been attempts to politicise these riots." Shah defended the Delhi Police whose role has come under sharp criticism for allegedly not doing enough.

"Questions have been asked about what the Delhi Police was doing. Police were on the ground then, police will also probe and submit a report in coming days. I would like to praise the Delhi Police for not allowing the riots to spread to other areas," he said.

He claimed that the Delhi Police contained the rioting within 36 hours.

Noting that neither did he go to Taj Mahal along with US President Donald Trump or attend the dinner hosted in his honour by President Ram Nath Kovind, he said that instead, he was strategising with officials of the Delhi Police.

Shah also said that it was at his insistence that National Security Advisor Ajit Doval went to the riot-torn areas. On being asked why did he not visit himself, he said the priority was to control the situation.

Shah told the house that the narrow lanes in the riot-torn areas of northeast Delhi made it difficult for the Delhi Fire Service to reach the spot instantly. He also mentioned the presence of "anti-social elements" as a reason for the riots being prolonged.
President Donald Trump awarded the nation's highest civilian honor on a retired four-star Army general.

Jack Keane received the Presidential Medal of Freedom Tuesday during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House.

He served as the chief operating officer of the Army for more than four years and directed 1.5 million soldiers and civilians in 120 countries.

He was in the Pentagon when terrorists crashed a jetliner into the building on Sept. 11, 2001, and he provided oversight and support for the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Jon Shapley/Staff photographer

Four Houston Chronicle journalists attended a conference last week where a participant has had a presumptive positive test for novel coronavirus.

Organizers for the National Institute for Computer-Assisted Reporting (NICAR), which hosted the conference in New Orleans, issued a statement Tuesday alerting attendees of the positive test. More than 1,000 journalists attended the conference from Wednesday through midday Sunday. NICAR is part of Investigative Reporters and Editors, known as IRE.
The lack of action by the United Nations after the brutal slaying of the dissident Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi raises questions about the organisation's credibility, his fiancee said. It was high time for the UN -- and individual countries -- to take action against those responsible, Hatice Cengiz added. A UN rights expert who wrote a damning report on the killing also regretted the "disappointing" response from UN chief Antonio Guterres. More than 17 months after his murder, Hatice Cengiz was at the UN in Geneva this week to press her case for justice for Khashoggi, a harsh critic of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Khashoggi, a Washington Post contributor and US resident, was killed on October 2, 2018 while at Saudi Arabia's consulate in Istanbul to obtain paperwork ahead of his wedding to Cengiz. Turkish officials say a 15-man Saudi squad strangled him and cut his body into pieces. His remains were never found. Riyadh insists he was killed in a "rogue" operation. The killing brought international condemnation, but Cengiz told reporters Monday that the lack of follow-up action was "causing me and others to question the validity of the UN". Speaking through a translator, the Turkish researcher said it was high time for the UN to "assert themselves as the body that has a right to bring sanctions... to punish those who are guilty". She urged world nations to launch a proper investigation and stop putting ties with Saudi Arabia before their values. Many European nations were "really uncomfortable" with the "hideous crime", said Cergiz. "I'm here especially to encourage the countries that (do not wish to) keep political and economic interests ahead of everything else," she said. "Although I personally was most affected by this, the whole world knew about it." - UN chief 'disappointing': rapporteur - Agnes Callamard, the UN special rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, echoed her position Monday. In June last year, she released a damning report that found "credible evidence" linking the Saudi crown prince to the killing. The independent rights expert, who does not speak for the UN but who reports her findings to it, urged the global body to initiate an international criminal probe. "What's happening right now is a major indictment of the capacity of the international community to hold governments to account," she told AFP. Callamard said world nations "should not be held hostage of the Saudi unwillingness and inability to meet their obligations". She urged UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres to be more bold, saying the institution was "weak" on dealing with targeted killings. "It is disappointing that the secretary-general has not done or said much about the killing," the expert said. "The UN... is far too politicised to conduct a proper inquiry into a targeted killing and it has no easily accessible mechanism to do so." Callamard called on Turkey to put the suspects on trial in absentia about the case and said countries attending the G20 in Riyadh in November would be "almost in acquiescence with the situation". - 'Coup' arrests - Despite a torrent of international condemnation over the murder of Khashoggi, Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler Prince Mohammed appears to have strengthened his position. Saudi authorities have detained three princes including King Salman's brother and nephew for allegedly plotting a coup, three sources told AFP on Saturday, signalling Prince Mohammed's tightening grip on power. The detentions cast aside the last vestiges of potential opposition to the crown prince. "What do you expect after someone has killed a person in a consulate?" said Cengiz. "We have sent them a message that they can get away with this."
Key benchmark indices reversed early trend and traded with losses in morning trade. The Nifty traded at 10,400 level. Metal stocks continued to witness selling pressure. At 10:27 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, was down 63.67 points or 0.18% at 35,571.28. The Nifty 50 index was down 49.45 points or 0.47% at 10,402.

The broader market traded lower. The S&P BSE Mid-Cap index was down 0.69% while the S&P BSE Small-Cap index was down 0.32%.

The market breadth, indicating the overall health of the market, was almost even. On the BSE, 902 shares rose and 970 shares fell. A total of 118 shares were unchanged. In Nifty 50 index, the breadth was negative with 15 stocks advancing while 35 stocks declining.

Buzzing Index:

The Nifty Metal index slumped 1.4% to 1,991.70, extending its losing streak to fifth consecutive session.

The index has tanked 14.18% in last five trading sessions from its previous closing high of 2320.75 posted on 3 March 2020.

Prices of industrial metals continued to remain under pressure as countries failed to contain COVID 19 virus which can heighten worries of a slowdown in global economic growth. China is reportedly the largest producer and consumer of industrial metals. Given such a dominant market share any slowdown in the Chinese economy has a major impact on metal prices and global markets.

Jindal Steel & Power (down 2.78%), JSW Steel (down 2.75%), Hindalco Industries (down 2.58%), Tata Steel (down 2.58%), NMDC (down 2.1%), Vedanta (down 1.63%), Tata Metaliks (down 0.56%) and National Aluminium Company (down 0.16%) were top losers in metal segment.

Stocks in Spotlight:

ABB India was down 2.30%. The company informed that its board approved the sale of its solar inverter business on slump sale basis to Marici Solar India for value of Rs 100.6 crore. The company's board, on 9 July 2019, had granted in-principle approval for sale of company's solar inverter business to the Italian company, FIMER S.p. A. The board's stake sale decision is in line with ABB Group's strategy of ongoing systematic portfolio management to strengthen competitiveness, focus on quality of revenue and higher growth segments.

Wonderla Holidays slumped 3.15%. Wonderla Holidays said that the company has decided to temporarily close Kochi park from 11 March to 20 March, 2020 in view of the emerging situation in the State of Kerala, consequent to the reported coronavirus cases

Goa Carbon declined 4.2% to Rs 181.25 after the company said its production tanked 86.81% to 2378 MT in February 2020 from 18026.80 MT in February 2019. On a sequential basis, production declined 86.33% from 17,393.540 MT reported in January 2020.

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UPDATE: Coronavirus reaches Lehigh Valley; Northampton County case puts Pa. total at 21

Another patient in the Poconos has tested positive for the new coronavirus, a global pandemic that has now appeared in three counties adjacent to the Lehigh Valley.

The latest case of COVID-19 is the second in Monroe County and was announced in a Wednesday afternoon briefing by Pennsylvania health officials. It brings the states total positive tests to 16.

The newest patient, an adult, was hospitalized after they were in contact with another person who tested positive for the coronavirus, Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Rachel Levine said.

State health officials for the first time also gave more detail on the status of Pennsylvanias testing: Of 173 tests conducted, 100 were negative, 57 are still pending, 14 are presumed positive and two have been confirmed by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention -- one each in Delaware and Wayne counties.

Montgomery County has the majority of Pennsylvanias cases with nine. Bucks County, immediately south of the Lehigh Valley, has two. Philadelphia reported its first case on Tuesday.

Additionally, an adult from out of state also is hospitalized in Montgomery County, which health officials said does not count toward Pennsylvanias total.

Health officials said outbreaks in New York and New Jersey could explain why Pennsylvanias cases are clustered in the east. New Jersey reported its first death from the new coronavirus on Tuesday.

Levine says the state supports decisions to close campuses and cancel events around the state, though the government is not requiring it.

In the meantime, residents are urged to limit their potential for exposure  wash hands, cover your coughs and sneezes. If you feel unwell, stay home from school or work and wear a mask to limit the spread of any disease.

For more information on the coronavirus, consult your state health department at health.pa.gov or www.nj.gov/health and the CDC website.

Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@lehighvalleylive.com. If theres anything about this story that needs attention, please email him. Follow him on Twitter @SteveNovakLVL and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
MP govt doomed as 20 ministers resign; Jyotiraditya Scindia quits Cong

Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia has resigned from the Kamal Nath-led government in Madhya Pradesh and quit the Congress party, leaving the Congress government in Madhya Pradesh with no other option than resign.

Reports said 20 ministers, including 16 cabinet ministers, have resigned from the government in Madhya Pradesh.

Scindia today met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and home minister Amit Shah, raising the prospects of his joining the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP).

The Congress leader also made public his resignation letter addressed to Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

The resignation letter, dated 9 March 2020, states "this was a path that has been drawing itself out over the last year."

Besides Scindia, 16 cabinet ministers of the Congress government in Madhya Pradesh resigned on Monday night and requested the chief minister to reconstitute the cabinet. According to the chief minister's office, the ministers, including home minister Bala Bachchan, finance minister Tarun Bhanot and law minister PC Sharma, tendered their resignations to Kamal Nath at a late night cabinet meeting.

Scindias coup comes a day after 17 Madhya Pradesh MLAs supporting him went incommunicado. Chief minister Kamal Nath was forced to rush back to Bhopal from Delhi after supporters of Jyotiraditya Scindia, including a minister, reached BJP-ruled Karnataka by a special flight later on Monday.

Reports said these MLAs were shifted to a private resort in Whitefield.

The Congress party, meanwhile, has declared failure in wooing Scindia back to its fold to save itself. Congress said Scindia has been dismissed from the party.

The party high command is sending emissaries, including Rajasthan deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot to Scindia in order to win him back, but without success.

Chief minister Kamal Nath said it is the handiwork of BJP to destabilise Madhya Pradesh government, even as former Madhya Pradesh chief minister and BJP leader Shivraj Singh Chouhan maintained that his party was not interested in toppling the government and termed the developments as the internal matter of the ruling party.

This is the Congress internal mater and I would not like to comment on it. We had said on the first day that we are not interested in bringing down the government," he tweeted.
Joe Biden won Michigans Democratic primary on Tuesday, seizing a key battleground state that helped propel Bernie Sanders insurgent candidacy four years ago

Washington: Joe Biden won Michigans Democratic primary on Tuesday, seizing a key battleground state that helped propel Bernie Sanders insurgent candidacy four years ago. The former vice president's victory in Michigan, as well as Missouri and Mississippi, dealt a serious blow to Sanders, who is urgently seeking to jump-start his flagging campaign.

Sanders could still get a boost later in the night in Idaho, North Dakota or Washington state. But fewer delegates were at stake than in Mississippi, Missouri and Michigan, where Biden's decisive performance again showed his strength with working-class voters and African Americans, who are vital to winning the Democratic nomination.

It's a dramatic reversal of fortune for Biden, whose campaign appeared on the brink of collapse just two weeks ago. Sanders opened the nomination process with strong showings in Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada, but Biden rebounded in South Carolina and built on that success with a surprise Super Tuesday rout last week.

Sanders had been hoping to pull off a victory in Michigan, where his win four years ago lent much-needed credibility to his 2016 primary challenge of Hillary Clinton. The state is also vitally important since President Donald Trump's win there was so narrow four years ago that Democrats are desperate to show they have the strength to flip it back.

Even as the contours of the race took shape, however, the campaigns faced new uncertainty amid fears of the spreading coronavirus. Sanders and Biden both abruptly canceled public events in Ohio that were scheduled for Tuesday night. Sanders' campaign said all future events would be decided on a case-by-case basis, while Biden called off a scheduled upcoming stop in Florida. The Democratic National Committee also said that Sunday's debate between Sanders and Biden would be conducted without an audience.

As soon as polls closed in Mississippi and Missouri at 8 pm Eastern time, The Associated Press declared Biden the winner in both states Democratic presidential primary.

The AP called Biden the winner over Sanders even though state officials had yet to release any results from Tuesdays election. The news agency did so based on results from AP VoteCast, its wide-ranging survey of the American electorate. That election research captures the views of voters on whom they vote for, and why.

Tuesday marked the first time voters weighed in on the primary since it effectively narrowed to a two-person race between Sanders and Biden. It showed that Sanders had yet to really broaden his appeal among African Americans after earlier setbacks in the South on Super Tuesday. Biden, meanwhile, kept up momentum after a dominant South Carolina victory.

With 125 delegates at stake, Michigan got most of the attention Tuesday. Trump won the state by only about 10,000 votes during the general election in 2016, his closest margin of victory between it, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin  the three states that gave Trump the edge in the Electoral College after Clinton won the popular vote.

Biden is hoping his showing can convince voters he's the candidate who can win Michigan back for his party against Trump. Sanders, who has vowed not to drop out regardless of Tuesday's results, may be unable to catch Biden, and perhaps only be left trying to deny him an outright delegate win ahead of the Democratic National Convention this summer in Milwaukee.

AP VoteCast survey showed Biden leading among both men and women, as well as among both white voters and African American voters.

Sanders had predicted victory in Michigan and scrapped a scheduled Mississippi stop to spend more time there. Biden went there less frequently, but sought late-breaking support there and toured an auto plant in Detroit on Tuesday.

Youre the best damn workers in the world! Biden shouted through a megaphone at the auto plant as workers in hard hats chanted, Joe! Joe!

Biden now frequently ticks off the names of six former presidential rivals who have endorsed him just in the past week, saying he is "the candidate that they think can win." The former vice president has campaigned in recent days with two of them, Senator Cory Booker and Kamala Harris, and appeared with Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer. All three have been mentioned as possible vice presidential picks if Biden wins the nomination.

It wasn't all good feelings, though. At the auto plant, Biden was interrupted repeatedly by protesters angered by his support for the North American Free Trade Agreement and reluctance to embrace sweeping environmental proposals outlined in the Green New Deal. In a scuffle with demonstrators, Biden senior adviser Symone Sanders was knocked to the ground but unhurt.

Biden also endured a testy exchange with a worker who accused him of actively trying to end our Second Amendment right. Biden responded, You're full of shit, and went on to say that while he supports the Second Amendment, Do you need 100 rounds? His gun control plan reinstates the assault weapons ban and includes a voluntary buyback program for assault weapons, stopping short of a mandatory buyback program that some of his opponents had supported in the primary.

Although he has rejected notions he could drop out of the race if Tuesday goes badly, Sanders says he is now battling the Democratic establishment."

"In a general election, which candidate can generate the enthusiasm and the excitement and the voter turnout we need? Sanders asked.

Detroit neighbours Fayette Turner and Margaret Marsh were split on which to support: Turner voted for Sanders on Tuesday, while Marsh voted for Biden. But they agreed on one thing: the desire to beat Trump.

"Anybody but Trump," Turner, 64, said. Marsh, 69, said her family has identified as Republican her entire life -- until Trump took office.

I think Biden's the sanest one left," Marsh said. "Hopefully he'll have a good vice president.
By AFP

ANKARA: President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Wednesday he would keep Turkey's border open for refugees until the EU had met all his demands, while comparing Greece's response to the crisis to the Nazis.

"Until all Turkey's expectations, including free movement, updating of the customs union and financial assistance, are tangibly met, we will continue the practice on our borders," he said in a televised speech.

Turkey's decision at the end of February to re-open its border for refugees sparked a row with Brussels, as well as harsh exchanges with Greece.

Greece has tear-gassed thousands of migrants trying to break through and been accused of beating and stripping migrants of their belongings if they made it across the border.

"There is no difference between what the Nazis did and those images from the Greek border," Erdogan said.

Greece has denied using violence and accused Turkey of pushing desperate people into dangerous attempts to enter Europe.

Erdogan said he opened the gates in order to pressure Europe into providing greater assistance with the Syrian conflict, where Turkey has fought to push back a regime offensive on the last rebel stronghold of Idlib.

"With the warming of the weather in the spring, the influx of irregular migrants heading to Europe will not be limited to Greece but spread all over the Mediterranean," he warned.

But he reiterated that Turkey hopes for a fresh agreement with Brussels ahead of the next EU leaders' summit on March 26.

Turkey already hosts some four million refugees -- most of them Syria -- and fears another mass influx as the regime, backed by Russia and Iran, pushes to retake Idlib.

Although Erdogan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin agreed a ceasefire for the province last week, previous deals have proved temporary and the Turkish president said Wednesday that minor violations have already been reported.

Turkey agreed to stop migrant departures under a 2016 deal with Brussels, but says it has not received all of the six billion euros promised, nor have several other demands been met, including enhanced trade and visa arrangements.
Armenia has confirmed three new cases of coronavirus. This is what Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan wrote on his Facebook page.

Today, unfortunately, Armenia recorded three new cases of coronavirus.

Two of the infected are citizens of Armenia aged 45 and 27, and one is a citizen of Italy, who is 51 years old and works in Armenia. All three arrived from Italy.

The circle of their interactions is being clarified in order to isolate them, and according to preliminary information, it isnt a large circle.

The citizen of Italy and one of the citizens of Armenia dont have complaints, but the other citizen of Armenia has pneumonia.

The patients were registered as soon as they arrived.

Predicting that there were going to be questions why the government didnt make a decision to stop flights from Italy, I must say that the government considered the possibility several times and came to the conclusion that the potential infected people can arrive in Armenia from Italys neighboring countries such as France and Austria since there are no restrictions within the EU.

In other words, with the same logic, the government had to close borders with other EU member states, especially since the coronavirus is also spreading to other countries across Europe.

Now airline companies have decided to cancel flights from Italy.

I must say that the people staying at Golden Palace Hotel and the first diagnosed patient are fine and have no complaints.

Dear compatriots, I ask you to keep calm and follow the advice of the Ministry of Healthcare regarding the preventive measures, he wrote.
Lucio Delgado was excited when he went to the post office last month to pick up an envelope from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Enclosed were the results of a citizenship test that Delgado, a 23-year-old green card holder from Mexico, thought he had aced. He and his sister, who accompanied him, opened the envelope in the post office.

The letter inside said he had failed the reading portion of the test and was ineligible for naturalization.

Delgado, who is blind, was crushed.

When he took his test in May, the reading section had not been available in Braille. At an appointment with federal agents months later, he explained the problem and thought they were prepared to help him.

He decided to share his story publicly.

I thought, Well, I doubt I am the only blind immigrant or immigrant with disabilities who has been denied his or her naturalization request due to a mistake, he said.

The exposure seemed to work: Immigration authorities scheduled an appointment with Delgado for next week. But his lawyer, Darcy Kriha, said publicity might not work for everyone trying to navigate the daunting bureaucracy that is often associated with immigration.

Its not hard to imagine that there have been undocumented people and their families who have not come forward because theyre afraid of being deported, Kriha said. Were going to be working on trying to figure out how widespread the problem is and how it impacts undocumented individuals who have much more to lose.

Citizenship and Immigration Services has acknowledged its challenges in the past. The results of a self-evaluation in 2018 showed that individual employees had a strong commitment to accessibility for people with disabilities.

Despite this commitment, USCIS identified gaps and barriers, many of them systemic or procedural in nature, the report said.

It said there had been problems with accommodating requests efficiently and a lack of materials in Braille.

USCIS 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 Friday. If USCIS 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.

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.

Delgado and his relatives, who now have green cards, live in Pembroke Township, Illinois, a rural area about 70 miles south of Chicago that is one of the poorest places in the state.

Delgado prepared meticulously for his citizenship test, which includes a civics exam with questions about American history and government and an English test that involves reading and writing.

He went to an optometrist for documentation to prove that he was blind. He requested a Braille reading test months before his appointment. He scoured the Citizenship and Immigration Services website for practice tests and took every one he could find.

On the day of the exam, he traveled two hours on public transportation to the agencys office in downtown Chicago. He said he aced the civics part of the test  no wrong answers  and completed some of the English exam orally.

But when it was time to test his reading skills, an agent told him that the agency did not have the materials in Braille and offered a version of the test in large print instead.

And of course I had to say, Im totally blind, Delgado said.

The agent, he said, told him to go to another eye specialist  an ophthalmologist this time  within a month to get further proof of his blindness. But Delgado is uninsured.

I had some doubts because I was wondering, Why do they want me to visit another eye specialist? he said.

He made calls to Citizenship and Immigration Services and eventually was able to set up another appointment. Once there, agents told him they would probably be able to smooth things out so he could be naturalized.

So when the letter arrived at the post office last month, Delgado was hopeful  until his sister told him what it said.

I felt like my world was crumbling, he said.

That might have been the end of it. But Delgado shared his story with friends on social media, who encouraged him to contact news outlets. It worked: CBS Chicago first reported on his story. And last week, an agent with Citizenship and Immigration Services called Delgado to make another appointment, he said.

I was astonished, he said. I didnt know what to say.
WASHINGTON - Defying a veto threat, Congress has approved a bipartisan measure to limit President Donald Trumps authority to launch military operations against Iran.

The House gave final legislative approval to the measure Wednesday, 227-186, sending it to Trump. The president has promised to veto the war powers resolution, warning that if his hands were tied, Iran would have a field day.

The resolution, sponsored by Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., declares that Trump must win approval from Congress before engaging in further military action against Iran. Kaine and other supporters say the measure is not about Trump or even the presidency, but instead is an important reassertion of congressional power to declare war.

Six Republicans joined 220 Democrats and independent Rep. Justin Amash of Michigan to support the measure. Six Democrats and 180 Republicans opposed it. In the Senate last month, eight Republicans backed the resolution.

The resolution sends a clear message that the American people dont want war with Iran and that Congress has not authorized war with Iran, said Rep. Eliot Engel, D-N.Y., chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

While tensions with Iran have abated since a U.S. drone strike that killed Irans top general in early January, the resolution clarifying Congress power to declare war is still important, Engel said.

Congress doesnt have to wait until the president alone decides to use military force again, Engel told House members during floor debate Wednesday. Its our responsibility to do something, because we know the tensions could flare up again at a moments notice. Iran has not been deterred as the administration promised.

Texas Rep. Michael McCaul, the top Republican on the Foreign Affairs Committee, called the war powers measure divisive and irresponsible and based on a false premise.

It orders the president to terminate hostilities against Iran. The problem is, for the other side, we are not engaged in hostilities in Iran, McCaul said.

If the U.S. military launches strikes in Iran, I believe that the president would need to come before this body to ask for a new authorization for the use of force, McCaul said. But that is not what we are facing.

The House vote marked a rare exertion of authority from Congress, which also moved to impose restrictions on U.S. involvement with the Saudi-led war in Yemen last year after U.S.-based journalist Jamal Khashoggi was killed in a gruesome murder at Saudi Arabias consulate in Turkey. Trump promptly vetoed that measure.

The Democratic-controlled House passed a separate, nonbinding resolution on Iran in January, a few weeks before the Senate approved Kaines resolution. Two-thirds votes in the House and the GOP-run Senate would be needed to override an expected Trump veto.

Kaine hailed the House vote.

For years, Congress has abdicated its responsibility on matters of war, but now a bipartisan majority in both the Senate and House has made clear that we shouldnt be engaged in hostilities with Iran without a vote of Congress, he said in a statement.

The legislation doesnt prevent the president from defending the United States against imminent attack, but instead demands that the decision of whether or not we go on offence and send our troops into harms way should only be made after serious deliberation and a vote of Congress, Kaine added. If President Trump is serious about his promise to stop endless wars, he will sign this resolution into law.

In a statement of administration policy, the White House said the resolution should be rejected because it attempts to hinder the presidents ability to protect U.S. diplomats, forces, allies and partners, including Israel, from the continued threat posed by Iran and its proxies, including militia groups and foreign fighters in Syria.

Iran has a long history of attacking United States and coalition forces both directly and through its proxies, the White House said, adding the congressional resolution could hinder Trumps ability to protect U.S. forces and interests in the region.

This joint resolution is untimely and misguided. Its adoption by Congress could undermine the ability of the United States to protect American citizens whom Iran continues to seek to harm, the White House said.

Tehran responded to the U.S. attack on its top general, Qassem Soleimani, by launching missiles at two military bases in Iraq that house American troops. The attack caused traumatic brain injuries in more than 100 U.S. soldiers, the Pentagon said.

Democrats and Republicans alike criticized a briefing by the Trump administration shortly after the drone strike, saying U.S. officials offered vague information about a possible attack being planned by Iran but no substantial details.

Kaine has long pushed for action reasserting congressional power over military conflict. At the request of Republican senators, he removed initial language that targeted Trump in favour of a generalized statement declaring Congress has sole power to declare war. The resolution also directs Trump to terminate use of military force against Iran or any part of its government without approval from Congress and commends Trump for killing Soleimani, who was long designated a terrorist by the U.S.

No one lamented the loss of Mr. Soleimani. No one, said House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md. Thats not what this bill is about.

The resolution is about our Constitution, the authority of this body to declare or not declare war, Hoyer added. It ought to be the representatives of the people that take them to war, not a president  any president, Democrat or Republican. This is about our responsibility.
The Philadelphia St. Patricks Day Observance Association late Tuesday night announced that it had canceled Sundays parade.

After heartfelt consideration and serious conversation with officials from the City of Philadelphia, the St. Patricks Day Observance Association has decided to cancel the parade and all events related to the 2020 Philadelphia Saint Patricks Day Parade. This decision was made with significant input from civic and parade participants. While this decision is disappointing, we acted with a general concern for the well-being of everyone, the association posted on its Facebook page at 9:45 p.m.

Earlier, officials had said they would go ahead as planned Sunday, but they urged spectators not to attend.

Because of the threat of coronavirus, the city had asked parade organizers to tell people to turn on their TVs and not attend in person, Philadelphia Managing Director Brian Abernathy said.

The organizers were understanding of the citys position," Abernathy said before the parade was canceled. They are still planning to have the parade with the understanding that wed prefer folks not attend.

City officials had been grappling with what to do about the parade against an unnerving historical backdrop: The decision just more than a century ago to go ahead with a World War I Liberty Loan parade on Broad Street during the 1918 flu pandemic. Epidemiologists now view that parade as a classic blunder that led to a spread of a disease that claimed 12,000 lives in Philadelphia.

 READ MORE: Celebrate Philadelphias wave of pestilential death: Mutter Museum will mark the great flu pandemic with parade and exhibit

Harvard epidemiologist Marc Lipsitch, an expert on the nations response to the 1918 pandemic, urged Philadelphia on Tuesday to cancel the parade. He noted that Boston canceled its St. Patricks Day parade Monday hours after he spoke out against holding it.

Waiting until you know you have a problem is courting a catastrophe, Lipsitch said.

Lipsitch is the coauthor of a 2007 scholarly article that explored how different American cities responded to the 1918 influenza pandemic. Particularly striking, the article found, was the high death rate in Philadelphia, which responded slowly to the disease, and St. Louis, which was quick to shut down a wide array of public events.

The death rate in Philadelphia was twice that of St. Louis, hitting 719 fatalities for every 100,000 residents compared with 347 per 100,000 in the Midwestern city.

"There is nothing about the present situation, with respect to the lifesaving value of public health measures, that is substantially different from the 1918 influenza situation, " said Joshua Plotkin, professor of natural sciences at the University of Pennsylvania who has studied the spread of infectious diseases.

Other cities, including Dublin in Ireland, have canceled their parades, while New York and Chicago have signaled they will go ahead with their celebrations.

Doctors had urged Philadelphia to cancel the parade in 1918, but their warnings could not overcome the war fever then gripping the city. Some 200,000 people lined Broad Street on a day that was capped off by a concert led by John Philip Sousa.

On Oct. 3, 1918, five days after the parade, Philadelphia closed all schools, churches, theaters, pool halls, and other gathering places. Despite those measures, 800 people died from the flu in Philadelphia on Oct. 12, the deadliest day of the outbreak in the city.

 READ MORE: Coronavirus has shut down schools and events. Heres why that helps, short- and long-term.

In the 2007 article, published in the journal of the National Academy of Sciences, Lipsitch and coauthors Richard J. Hachett and Carter E. Mecher dug into public health data to look at death rates in 17 U.S. cities and to contemporary news accounts to see how the cities had responded. Among other public health measures, cities took such steps as isolating the ill; closing schools, houses of worship, theaters, and dance halls; and banning public funerals and crowding on streetcars.

The found that for the cities as a group, death rates from influenza were 50% lower in those that tackled the problem quickly.

The main lesson of the work is that early intervention saves lives. It slows down the transmission, it flattens the curve, Lipsitch said. " That means the total number that get infected is lower and the peak is lower."

Lowering the peak, he said, gives hospital and doctors more time to address a lighter caseload of patients.

 READ MORE: Coronavirus has shut down schools and events. Heres why that helps, short- and long-term.

In a paper released this month, Lipsitch and other researchers cited new evidence that a quick response saves lives. They contrasted data from Wuhan, the center of Chinas outbreak, and Guangzhou, a Chinese metropolis to the south of Wuhan. Guangzhou, quicker to take social distancing steps to attack coronavirus, had only 271 hospitalization on its peak day.

Wuhan, the study found, had 19,425.
Not so long ago, the Manitoba Chamber of Commerce surveyed members on all sorts of things and found more than 50 per cent said climate change was a concern for their business.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 10/3/2020 (671 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Not so long ago, the Manitoba Chamber of Commerce surveyed members on all sorts of things and found more than 50 per cent said climate change was a concern for their business.

They also learned that about 75 per cent did not have a formal climate action plan in place for their business.

That sort of reality framed the process that saw the chamber team up with the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) to produce a Climate Action Toolkit for Manitoba Business that was released this week. It offers practical guidance and resources that will help the 39,000 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)  98 per cent of all the businesses in the province  prepare for the effects of climate change.

The toolkit includes links to existing resources, case studies of successful approaches to climate change that some businesses have undertaken and a check list that can help businesses stick to whatever plan they decide on.

Chuck Davidson, president of the Manitoba Chamber of Commerce, said, "With an issue as broad and complex as climate change, you throw it out there and people dont know what to do. This provides a little information about what is happening, it points to scientific resources, like the Prairie Climate Centre that looks at some of the impacts that are going on, and policy influences as well."

Manitobans sometimes like to think were above the fray when it comes to other global challenges. But as Philip Gass, senior policy analyst at IISD said, "Manitoba is experiencing frequent severe weather events, rising temperatures, unpredictable rain patterns and other challenges resulting from climate change."

The hope is that with more people having good information on hand, the chances increase that positive steps can be taken.

Some might question the usefulness of such an initiative, thinking it is unlikely one small company could have any impact on what is a global phenomenon.

Darren Swanson, an associate at the IISD who helped produce the toolkit, said individual action really does matter.

"They start to add up," he said. "If one business starts to do something interesting and has good success on reducing carbon emissions that raises the bar and expectations for other businesses. It also provides a nice road map of experience for others to build on."

Supplied Falcon Trails Resort has just completed the installation of a major solar power array, adding to smaller existing solar power installations.

The toolkit includes a few case studies of Manitoba companies who have taken steps to reduce their emissions like the Brandon company, Greenstone Building Products, that has developed something called insulated composite envelope panels that are significantly lighter and stronger than traditional options and exceed energy efficiency standards.

Another is Falcon Trails, an eco-resort on Falcon Lake that offers a luxury, off-the-grid experience.

Caleigh Christie, the general manager of Falcon Trails  built by her parents about 20 years ago  said environmental sensitivity wasnt just an afterthought for them.

"An environmental mandate has been front and centre for us since we started the resort 23 years ago," she said.

The resort just finished installing a major solar power array, adding on to a collection of smaller existing solar power installations. As well, cabins include features like compostable toilets and gravity-fed water systems.

A key element of the Falcon Trails example is that it has been a successful business for many years.

"We have increased our occupancy rates every year and in the past 10 years they have doubled," she said.

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The toolkit is rich in information and back-up resources and the checklist is separated into two categories  the home game and the away game.

"We have tried to simplify the process," Davidson said. "The home game addresses actions a business can take within its own facilities, like the building and vehicle fleet for instance. The away game is about understandings clients and the supply chain."

As part of the process putting together the toolkit, IISD and chamber staff met with businesses across the province gaining valuable grassroots input that shaped the project.

Swanson said, "The forums were fabulous in all parts of the province. At every stop there were instances of businesses doing something interesting. There are lots of examples. It was quite encouraging in that way. Many also spoke about the barriers they experienced. It is important to talk about those as well."

The Climate Action Toolkit for Manitoba Business can be found online at www.bit.ly/Climate-Action-Toolkit.

martin.cash@freepress.mb.ca
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En espanol | Health care continued to be the most important issue on voters minds during this Democratic primary season as contests were held in six more states on Tuesday. Former Vice President Joe Biden won Idaho, Michigan, Missouri and Mississippi, and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders took North Dakota. Washington state's primary remained too close to call on Wednesday.

Voters over age 50 dominated the electorate in Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi and Washington, according to exit poll data reported by CNN. Exit polls were not conducted in Idaho and North Dakota. The available data also showed a higher turnout among women than men.

The next milestone in the 2020 presidential campaign comes Sunday, when Biden and Sanders are scheduled to debate on CNN, at 8 p.m. ET. The campaigns and the network jointly decided that, due to the coronavirus, there will be no live audience for the debate, which will take place two days before primaries in Arizona, Florida, Illinois and Ohio.

Here's a snapshot of the electorate in the four Tuesday contests for which CNN and NBC News reported exit poll data.

Michigan

Turnout: 54 percent women

Age: 52 percent over age 50

Most important issue: Health care (41 percent)

Missouri

Turnout: 54 percent women

Age: 62 percent over age 50

Most important issue: Health care (47 percent)

Mississippi

Turnout: 58 percent women

Age: 62 percent over age 50

Most important issue: Health care (42 percent)

Washington

Turnout: 58 percent women

Age: 67 percent over age 50

Most important issue: Health care (37 percent)
EAST HARTFORD, Connecticut, March 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Cyient, a global engineering and technology solutions company, today announced that it has won two Pratt & Whitney supplier awards for 2019. The company won the Supplier Innovation Award for the seventh consecutive year and the Supplier Highest Productivity Award for the fourth year in a row.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1122769/Cyient_award_Pratt_and_Whitney.jpg

The awards announced at the annual Pratt & Whitney Supplier Summit, recognized Cyient's continued commitment in delivering unparalleled productivity and cost savings. In 2019, Cyient received approvals for multi-million dollars in cost savings that were realized through several supplier saving proposals. The company also created multiple proposals for patent creation.

Anand Parameswaran, Senior Vice President, Aerospace and Defense, Cyient, commented on the occasion, "We are humbled and honored yet again to be recognized by Pratt & Whitney for these prestigious supplier awards. Innovation is engraved in our culture at Cyient, and we strive to reinvent best practices to help our customers solve complex industry challenges. We look forward to delivering efficiency, productivity, and innovation to Pratt & Whitney for years to come."

"In 2019, Cyient delivered value to Pratt & Whitney through innovative engineering solutions that increased productivity and efficiency. This not only enables Pratt & Whitney to sustain a competitive advantage in the marketplace, but also allows us to focus on our core competencies," said Chris Kmetz, former Vice President, Engineering Module Centers at Pratt & Whitney and current Vice President, Engineering for Carrier.

"These awards are a testament to the incredible work executed by our forward-thinking engineers who instill innovation into every solution. Our long-standing relationship with Pratt & Whitney has always been and remains very important to Cyient. We look forward to continuing to exceed expectations and delivering significant value to our customer," added Tom Edwards, President, North America, Cyient.

About Cyient

Cyient (Estd: 1991, NSE: CYIENT) is a global engineering and technology solutions company. As a Design, Build, and Maintain partner for leading organizations worldwide, Cyient takes solution ownership across the value chain to help customers focus on their core, innovate, and stay ahead of the curve. The company leverages digital technologies, advanced analytics capabilities, and its domain knowledge and technical expertise, to solve complex business problems.

With over 15,000 employees globally, Cyient partners with customers to operate as part of their extended team in ways that best suit their organization's culture and requirements. Cyient's industry focus includes aerospace and defense, healthcare, telecommunications, rail transportation, semiconductor, geospatial, industrial, and energy.

For more information, please visit www.cyient.com

Follow news about the company at @Cyient.

Media Relations

Perfect Relations Vishal Thapa Mobile: +91 9701834446 Email: vthapa@perfectrelations.com Perfect Relations Sagar Kumar Mobile: +91 7376406057 Email: sagar.kumar@perfectrelations.com







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The Taoiseach's annual breakfast meeting at the American Vice President's home will be closed to media this year.

The event, which is due to take place on Thursday morning, caused significant media coverage last year after Leo Varadkar, who brought his partner Dr Matt Barrett with him, went viral after giving a speech about acceptance.

Vice President Mike Pence, is a conservative Christian, who has a history of anti-LGBTQ remarks and positions against same-sex marriage.

As the former governor of Indiana in 2015, Mr Pence signed a religious freedom law that allowed businesses to refuse services to LGBTQ customers.

The arrival of Ireland's openly gay leader to meet with Mr Pence and his wife Karen, at the US Naval Observatory created considerable attention before the event had even started.

During last year's breakfast, Mr Varadkar went on to make a speech and acceptance and equality.

"I stand here, leader of my country, flawed and human, but judged by my political actions and not my sexual orientation, my skin tone, gender or religious beliefs," Mr Varadkar said, adding that "we are all God's children".

The video of Mr Varadkar's speech quickly went viral, racking up thousands of views, and was seen as a direct response to Mr Pence's previous positions.

The office of the Taoiseach have said they do not know why the media are not invited to the Thursday event, and will be closed to the press at the Vice President's office request.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-11 04:07:48|Editor: huaxia

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GENEVA, March 10 (Xinhua) -- China urges relevant parties to immediately lift unilateral sanctions against Iran to prevent further harm to the human rights of the Iranian people, a senior Chinese diplomat has said.

Liu Hua, Special Representative for Human Rights of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, told the on-going 43rd session of the UN Human Rights Council on Monday that imposing external mechanisms without the consent of the countries concerned is not conducive to dialogue and cooperation, and does not play a role in promoting and protecting human rights.

Liu said that the international community should treat the human rights situation of Iran in an objective and fair manner, understand the challenges Iran faces as a developing country in promoting and protecting human rights, and listen more to the Iranian government and the demands of its people.

The unilateral sanctions imposed by relevant countries on Iran have had a significant negative impact on the human rights of the Iranian people, and have also restricted the United Nations and other organizations from providing humanitarian assistance to Iran, she said.

The Chinese diplomat highlighted that it is crucial time at this moment for the Iranian government and its people to fight the COVID-19 epidemic.

"China is providing support to the Iranian side within its capacity, including providing testing kits and other anti-epidemic materials, and sending a team of volunteer experts to help Iran fight the epidemic. China also calls on all parties to strengthen cooperation with Iran on epidemic prevention," Liu said.

She also highlighted that China has always advocated that all countries should address human rights issues through constructive dialogue and cooperation, oppose politicization, selectivity, double standards, and confrontational practices, and does not support the practice of "naming and shaming" and publicly pressuring.
Washingtons coronavirus caseload could climb dramatically  from 64,000 to 250,000 people -- if the state doesnt take immediate action, Gov. Jay Inslee said Tuesday, as he announced new measures to stem the outbreak.

If we are going to stop this epidemic or seriously slow it down, we need to look at whats coming in Washington state, Inslee said. Not just what is here today.

Washington is the hardest-hit state in the country with COVID-19. There are now 267 coronavirus cases in the state and 24 people have died, most associated with one nursing home.

Inslee said the state of 7 million people has many more undiagnosed cases of the disease, perhaps at least 1,000 right now, and without concerted steps to prevent the spread, the cases could double within five to eight days.

If you do the math, it gets very disturbing, Inslee said.

The extrapolation means that within two months if the state doesnt act, 64,000 people could be infected in Washington within two months, he said, and could go up to 250,000 within two weeks after that. The calculation is based on consultation with Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infections Diseases, doctors with the World Health Organization and local experts, Inslee said.

He called it the best assessment we have from our epidemiologists and we have spent hours and hours looking at the science on this because were a science-based state.

Washington has now enacted new regulations for nursing homes. Among those new requirements, residents can have only one visitor per day and that visitor must be an adult and can spend time only in the residents room. Employees must also now be checked for COVID-19 symptoms at the start of each shift.

Officials in Oregon, which with 15 patients has far fewer known coronavirus cases than Washington, have said in the past that there could be a few hundred cases in the state.

As of Tuesday, Oregon state and regional health officials said the state hasnt estimated a worst-case scenario of how many people might need serious treatment and when they would institute more measures.

The Oregon Health Authority did not immediately respond to questions about case estimates.

For now, Oregon health leaders urge residents to follow guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Older adults and those suffering from a chronic condition like diabetes or heart disease should take steps to prevent infection by not traveling and by avoiding crowds, and they should stock up on supplies, food and medicine.

Later Tuesday, the state issued new guidelines for nursing homes, assisted living and residential care facilities, calling on them to curb community outings and restrict visitors to essential people only. Health officials also said visits by essential people should be only two per resident at a time and the visitors must be screened for respiratory or other symptoms tied to COVID-19 and for recent travel to coronavirus hot spots.

-- Fedor Zarkhin fzarkhin@oregonian.com desk: 503-294-7674|cell: 971-373-2905|@fedorzarkhin Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
(Natural News) Dr. Thamrin Usman, a professor of chemistry at Tanjungpura University in Indonesia, recently gave an interview about the diversity of tropical plants in West Kalimantan (that) have a lot of compounds that can strengthen the immune system and ward off coronavirus. And one of the plants he mentioned thats definitely worth noting is mitragyna speciosa, more popularly known as kratom.

This popular natural alternative to pain medications, which hails from the same plant family as coffee, contains a special compound known as chloroquine, or Cq, that research shows is powerfully combative against coronaviruses. Theres more than just one coronavirus in the world  just look at the label on a standard disinfectant spray bottle to see for yourself  and Cq could be a type of master key that protects against all of them.

By looking at the chemical structure of chloroquine molecules that contain secondary and tertiary amine compound structures, it can be considered to use kratom leaves because mitragynine compounds in kratom are actually secondary and tertiary amines, Dr. Usman is quoted as saying.

Other immune-boosting nutrients that Dr. Usman recommends in light of the Wuhan coronavirus (CoVid-19) crisis include vitamin C, which has a warming effect on the body in much the same way as ginger and other spices. He also points to virgin coconut oil as yet another powerful antiviral.

This material has been proven to boost the bodys immune system, he says about all of these natural remedies.

Listen below as Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, discusses other known antiviral herbs and minerals that may be effective in warding off the Wuhan coronavirus (CoVid-19):

Is this why the FDA wants to ban kratom?

The painfully obvious elephant in the room is the fact that kratom remains under relentless attack by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which continues to bizarrely claim that its dangerous and addictive in the same way as opioid pharmaceuticals.

This is utterly false, of course, and par for the course when it comes to the FDAs crusade of lies and deception about natural healing remedies. But whats interesting is that kratom has received special attention by the FDA over the past several years as the agency has literally been working overtime to stamp it out of existence.

As we reported last summer, the FDA was actually caught trying to collude with the government of Indonesia, where most of the worlds kratom is currently grown, to prohibit farmers there from growing it. If successful, this affront to health freedom would cut America off completely from any substantial kratom supply.

Besides the obvious reason that kratom, like many other natural plants, competes with Big Pharma, the impetus behind the FDAs ongoing crusade against it could be more nuanced. Is it possible that the FDA well knew in advance that a coronavirus crisis would eventually emerge, which is why the agency has been trying to eliminate kratom from the supplement market?

While we may never learn the definitive answer to this question, its at least highly suspicious that this news about Cq emerges from the Far East right as the Wuhan coronavirus (CoVid-19) has broken containment here in the U.S., developing into a full-blown global pandemic before our very eyes.

To be clear, this is not to say that kratom is necessary a cure for coronavirus. Only in the same way that vitamin C and coconut oil possess unique antiviral properties is kratom a potential option for keeping people healthier, and less prone to disease, during whats quickly shaping up to be the worst global pandemic since the Spanish flu of 1918-20.

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:

Kratom-Culture.com

NaturalNews.com
The spread of Covid-19 in Europe has led to a drop in the number of air travellers, but many airlines are still operating nearly empty flights under European Union regulations on time slots. Industry groups have called for more flexibility to limit the economic and environmental impact of the crisis.

Air France, British Airways, EasyJet and Wizz Air were a few of the carriers to announce on Tuesday they were cancelling all or some flights to Italy, where the government has restricted the movement of its entire population to slow the spread of Covid-19.

But regardless of cancellations, many airlines are still operating nearly empty ghost flights to Italy and around Europe, sending thousands of tonnes of carbon emissions into the atmosphere from planes carrying few or no passengers.

In one example, while Air France cancelled 20 percent of its flights in Europe and 30 percent to northern Italy, a French journalist captured an image of a nearly empty cabin on one of the airline's Rome-to-Paris routes last week.

The image shows a nearly empty cabin. The journalist, Francois Beaudonnet, reported there were 14 passengers on the flight.

Why nearly empty planes still fly

Airlines continue to operate such flights because of worldwide regulations on slot allocation, the times allocated by airports for departures and arrivals.

Known familiarly as the use it or lose it rule, an airline has to maintain at least 80 percent of activity in each of its time slots; otherwise, it risks losing them to a competitor.

The rule was designed to ease saturation at big international airports and to regulate competition between airlines. The European Union introduced the rule in 1993, defining a slot as the scheduled time of arrival or departure available or allocated to an aircraft movement on a specific date.

But in periods that see abrupt declines in the number of passengers, airlines continue to operate flights, despite the economic loss and environmental impact, in order to retain their shares of the time slots.

Calls for waiver

Public officials and industry groups have called on regulators to temporarily suspend the use it or lose it rule.

British Secretary of State for Transport Grant Shapps has called on UK regulators as well as the European Commissioner for Transport, Adina Valean, to waive the rule.

Temporary relief now makes both environmental and financial sense, Shapps wrote on Twitter.

The International Air Transport Association has recommended suspending the rules governing slots for the 2020 season due to the impact of Covid-19.

The European Airport Coordinators Association recommended a waiver until the end of June 2020 at the latest as a first step, with a provision for a possible extension should the Covid-19 outbreak crisis continue

European Commission sources have told media they are working on a solution to let companies retain their slots during abrupt drops in the number of people travelling by air.

Regulators have already waived slot rules on a rolling basis for flights to China and Hong Kong in earlier stages of the coronavirus outbreak.

Broader waivers are not unprecedented. Restrictions were eased at the time of the 9-11 attacks in 2001, the Sars epidemic in 2002-2003, and during the financial crisis of 2009.
Visitors wear protective masks in wake of the deadly novel coronavirus, at General Hospital, Ernakulam (PTI)

Kochi: As many as 10 persons who arrived from Italy on Tuesday night have been admitted with Covid-19 coronavirus symptoms at Ernakulam government medical college hospital. A total of 52 Keralites from Italy including women and children reached Cochin international airport on Tuesday late night.

Ten passengers having virus symptoms were immediately shifted to the medical college hospital while 42 others are put under observation in Aluva Taluk Hospital.

Two infants and two pregnant women are also admitted in the taluk hospital.

Swab samples of all passengers have been sent to National Institute of Virology, Alappuzha.

In the wake of more number of passengers arriving from virus infected countries, the health authorities have decided to set up isolation facilities at government hospitals at Muvattupuzha and Karuvelipadi and also at Ayurveda medical college hospital, Tripunithura.

Facilities have already been set up at Aluva taluk hospital.

Meanwhile, condition of the two aged patients, parents of the Italy returned person, continues to be critical. Efforts are on to save the lives of the 85 and 92 old patients, though they have many other health age related complications, said health minister K.K Shailaja.

Condition of the other 12 Covid patients in the state is stable.

The health authorities have started backtracking to identify persons in the contact list of the Italy returned family in Pathanamthitta. Route map of their travel history has been prepared. All those who were present in the shops, offices and public places during the familys visit are being identified and put under isolation.
Bryan Dilworth about to feast on salt-baked chicken wings at Tasty Place on Jan. 14, 2020, a few days before the Chinatown favorite closed for good. Read more

I got a call Monday morning that anyone would dread, the news that a good friend had died suddenly. Bryan Dilworth  concert promoter, bon vivant, devoted family man, frequent dinner companion, and formidable destroyer of steamed crabs  was gone at age 51 due to a pulmonary embolism.

How could this be? We had just shared lunch.

I instantly grieved for Bryans wife and son, then his massive circle of friends. And since we were about the same age, his passing also made me think not simply about how finite life is, but how each of our precious minutes are spent. Ive met very few people who lived quite as intensely, as generously, or as joyfully as Bryan Dilworth did.

We were introduced a dozen years ago by a mutual friend who brought him along as a guest on a review meal  and we instantly bonded over the power of good food and became fast friends. Bryan was always up for a spontaneous dining adventure, ravenously hungry, and always seemed to be able to pause whatever major concert deal he was in the middle of wrangling for an opportunity to share lunch or an omakase feast.

I knew Bryan was a big deal in Phillys music world. But he didnt brag about it. Our relationship was quite separate from that universe, crafted entirely at the table over years of shared meals.

And you wouldnt know his mover-shaker status from being around him. Bryan did not sport fancy airs to display any sense of self-importance. He seemed to strive for the opposite effect, showing up to all manner of restaurants in rumpled sweats, a cockeyed Phillies cap, and several days worth of scruff.

Thats how he came to dinner with me one night at Bar Volver, showing up late for a reservation at Jose Garces fancy venue in the Kimmel Center. But he had an offer I couldnt refuse: Ive been killing the slot machines at SugarHouse  lets get some great champagne!

Ive been a fan of Bruno Paillard Brut Premiere Cuvee ever since, but mostly because I shared it with Bryan, who was always generous when he didnt need to be. His phone lit up perpetually during our meals with texts from acquaintances requesting free tickets to events. He always shrugged like it was no big deal, happy to pass on the perks of his good fortune to others.

While Bryan could fit in with the sophisticates when it was required (we also dined together at Vernick Food & Drink and Hiroki), he was most happy feasting in the down-to-earth corners of Phillys food scene. The all-you-can-eat crab nights in the private clubs of Port Richmond (as a Marylander, he worshiped crabs). He was all in for a cash-only pizza-hoagie run to Angelos Pizzeria South Philly. He even had a signature cheese move at Pats Steaks  Whiz on the bottom, American on top  a calculated overload of processed cheese to compensate for any shortcomings in the meat.

 READ MORE: Bryan Dilworth, longtime Philadelphia concert promoter, has died at 51

Few places, though, were as dear a lunch spot to us as Tasty Place, the subterranean Cantonese kitchen in the back corner of a basement supermarket in Chinatown, where the greatest salt-baked chicken wings in Philly could be found.

Bryan always marveled at the oil drum-sized barrels of MSG stored on the restaurants open shelves and once asked the waitress if Tasty Place used any in their cuisine. Just a little bit! she said with a wry smile, pinching her fingers in the air. It became one of Bryans favorite catchphrases for years to follow whenever he weighed the balance between moderation and indulgence. Indulgence usually won.

So when Tasty Place announced it was closing in January, I knew with whom I needed to share that final meal. We met on short notice, poured the tea, and talked about dumplings, ho fun noodles, music, children, wives, and life, especially the challenge of caring for sick elder parents.

You know whats scary, he told me, is that once theyre gone were next.

The somber mood instantly turned cheerful, though, when a plate of those chicken wings arrived for the last time, their crackle-fried crusts scattered with chile peppers so fresh they radiated heat. We went silent as we devoured them, methodically stripping the blades clean of juicy flesh with ease until it was just a plate of bones. When we were done, he conceded with genuine melancholy that he was going to miss them, just a little bit.

Bryan Dilworth was the ultimate wing man, indeed. But theres nothing little about the hole he leaves in the lives of those who knew him and had a chance to share his table.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha on Wednesday took up a discussion on the recent violence in parts of Delhi, with Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury describing it as a defeat of humanity and hitting out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Soon after the suspension of seven Congress members from the House was revoked, Lok Sabha took up the discussion on the "recent law and order situation in some parts of Delhi."

Initiating the discussion, Congress leader in Lok Sabha Chowdhury said while some claimed Hindus won, the others said Muslims won in the violence.

"The fact is that humanity was defeated," he said.

He wondered how violence continued for three days despite the fact that Delhi Police is one of the best equipped in the country.

"The Home Minister (Amit Shah) will have to explain," he said.

Hitting out at the prime minister, he said, Nero fiddled while Rome burned.

He claimed that when Delhi was witnessing violence, Modi was hosting US President Donald Trump in Ahmedabad.
The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has expressed concern over the dethronement and banishment of former Emir of Kano...

The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has expressed concern over the dethronement and banishment of former Emir of Kano State, Muhammadu Sanusi II by the Umar Ganduje-led state government.





The body called on President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene by ensuring that Sanusi enjoys all his rights and freedom of movement, as clear demonstration for leadership, respect for civility, democratic core values and the constitution.





Auwal Ibrahim Musa, CISLAC Executive Director, in a statement on Tuesday also condemned the disproportionate deployment of government mercenaries including the Police and other security institutions to amplify tussles and public harassment.





It said: We received the dethronement as nothing but clear infringement of the fundamental rights as guaranteed under Sections 34, 35, 36, 40 and most especially section 41 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, which safeguards the right of every citizen of Nigeria to move freely throughout Nigeria and to reside in any part thereof.

We vehemently and categorically uphold our position on citizens right to freedom of expression and movement as guaranteed under Section 39 and 41 of the Constitution. There is no justification for the humiliation, inhumane and degrading treatments as imposed on Sanusi upon his banishment.





Just as the pronounced banishment by the State Government contravenes Section 35 of the Constitution which safeguards every persons right to his/her personal liberty, stating that no person should be deprived of such liberty except in circumstances set out in Subsection 35(a-f), given the procedure permitted by law as none of such procedure is followed in the instance case.





We urge all government institutions including the security institutions to refrain and dissuade from undemocratic and inhumane actions that is tantamount to harassment, intimidation and oppression of citizens on the basis of exercising their legal mandates.





CISLAC further called on the civil society, media and well-meaning Nigerians to rise up in discouraging unconstitutional and undemocratic actions against any citizen.





Meanwhile, Sanusi, a former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, has taken action against his banishment.








Clutch Co, LLC, a Washington D.C.-based B2B ratings and reviews platform for IT, Marketing, and Business Services providers, received a first minority investment from Susquehanna Growth Equity.

The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. In conjunction with the transaction, Scott Feldman will join Clutchs Board of Directors and Josh Elser will join as a Board Observer.

The company intends to use the funds to further enhance its customer experience and product offerings.

Led by Mike Beares, Founder and CEO, Clutch provides a B2B ratings and reviews database which gives buyers unbiased ratings, reviews, and insights to help customers find B2B services firms that deliver, enabling them to make the best buying & hiring decisions. The company serves hundreds of thousands of buyers every month by providing detailed ratings and reviews on over 180,000+ IT, Marketing, and Business Services firms across 500+ segments.

FinSMEs

11/03/2020
A leading biosecurity expert has warned Australias coronavirus mortality rate could be higher than that of China as the virus continues to spread across the country.

University of NSW Professor Raina Macintyre has warned the countrys ageing population could mean the death rate soars beyond the 3 to 4 per cent mortality rate the World Health Organisation and authorities in China have estimated.

While Monday saw a surge in cases at Sydney schools, Prof Macintyre said younger Australians were least at risk and urgent action was needed to protect older generations.

With an ageing population and a more severe illness in older people, Australia may see a proportionately greater morbidity and mortality impact than China, she explained in the Sax Institutes Public Health Research & Practice journal.

According to Statista, 12.6 per cent of Chinas population is over 65, compared to Australias 15.6 per cent.

People are seen wearing face masks in Sydney on Monday amid a spike in cases across the city. Source: AAP

We should persist with all feasible measures for as long as possible, Prof Macintyre said.

Travel bans and quarantine are proven interventions, and especially critical for infections with pre-symptomatic or asymptomatic transmission.

Australias three deaths to date, from 102 cases, have been people aged 78, 82 and 95.

The elder two were from the Dorothy Henderson Lodge aged care facility in Macquarie Park where handfuls of residents were placed into isolation after a nurse at the residence tested positive for the virus.

The facility is one of several locations in a cluster of suburbs in Sydneys northwest to have confirmed coronavirus cases, with the locations, including a hospital and childcare centre, having several links.

Prof Macintyre warned facilities with a high density of people, including schools and sporting and entertainment venues, were potential breeding grounds for the virus and unnecessary events should be avoided.

She said the government would have a difficult to decision to make when it came to softening the blow of the economic impact of the virus and protecting the publics health.

Story continues

Australia's coronavirus cases as of 11AM on Tuesday.

While cases in NSW make up about half of all cases in Australia, Prof Macintyre praised NSW Healths quick action to try and identify the viruss source and those who may have been in contact with confirmed cases. There are currently 55 confirmed cases in the state.

Victoria closes first school amid virus outbreak

With the outbreak largely occurring in the countrys east, Victoria closed its first school amid fears of contraction.

Carey Baptist Grammar School in Kew will be closed to staff and students on Tuesday after an adult member of its community developed symptoms consistent with COVID-19.

"The health and safety of our community is our first priority," principal Jonathan Walter wrote in an email sent to parents on Monday night seen by AAP.

"Carey has been in contact with both the Department of Health and the Department of Education to ensure we have the latest information and advice.

"Based on this advice, Carey has made the decision to close the whole school for the day on Tuesday, March 10 while we assess the situation."

Carey Baptist Grammar School in Kew is Victoria's first school to close due to coronavirus. Source: Google Maps

The person had been in direct contact with someone confirmed as having the coronavirus and is being tested, Mr Walter said.

Carey Grammar is the fourth school to shut down because of the widening coronavirus crisis; the other three are in NSW.

The closure comes as three new coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Victoria taking the total to 15 and prompting a special meeting of cabinet ministers.

Premier Daniel Andrews' security and emergency management cabinet committee will meet on Tuesday morning to discuss the state's coronavirus preparations.

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.
With a margin of nearly 1,100 votes, the Crestwood School District bond proposal passed on the third attempt to ask voters for money for the district.

The millage, which will raise about $40,000 a year, passed 3,552-2,467.

The district asked for the millage in case a state rollback drops it below the maximum 18-mills allowed to be levied.

Basically, if we lose funding from the state of Michigan on our millage rates, this would kick in to protect us up to $40,000, school Supt. Youssef Mosallam said. So it is a security blanket that our businesses in the community would put around our students if we lose funding due to cuts from the state government.

The same millage failed twice in 2019 by less than 300 votes each time.

The ballot language read in part, Shall the limitation on the amount of taxes which may be assessed against all (non-homestead) property  be increased by 3 mills ($3.00 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) for a period of 16 years, 2019 to 2034, inclusive, to provide funds for operating purposes.

Funds from the millage go to support about 3,900 students across five schools. The district has an annual operating budget of $45 million.

The district is currently utilizing the (money) to grow our robotics team and program, Mosallam said. Without the additional millage, this program may suffer.

After the millage failed twice last year, school board members chose to put the same language on the ballot again.

Operating millages are a critical source of funding for Michigan public schools, and the state assumes local districts will levy that revenue as part of the annual per-pupil foundation allowance distributed to schools each year.

In 2014, voters approved a millage to bring the total to 18.9038 mills to provide a cushion for Headlee rollbacks, but the district has seen rollbacks in four of the last six years, eliminating the cushion and bringing the total tax rate below the 18 mill maximum. The district is hoping the 3 mills will provide enough of a cushion to protect against future rollbacks going forward.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-11 18:32:33|Editor: xuxin

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Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca attends a press release in Ankara, Turkey, March 11, 2020. Turkish health minister on Wednesday announced the first case of the novel coronavirus in Turkey. A male citizen was tested positive for the coronavirus on Tuesday evening, Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca told reporters. The patient had returned from Europe, contracted the virus there and suffered high fever and coughing, said the minister, noting that the patient was completely isolated. (Photo by Mustafa Kaya/Xinhua)
Senior Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leader Rama Subba Reddy joined the ruling YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) in the presence of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy at its party office here on Wednesday.

Rama Subba Reddy, after joining the YSRCP, said that he took the decision to change allegiance on the suggestion of his supporters.

"I do not believe in the present TDP leadership. YSRCP will sweep the upcoming local body elections," Reddy told reporters here.

The development comes two days after former TDP MLC Dokka Manikya Vara Prasad joined YRSCP, while another TDP leader, SA Rehaman along with his family members and associates, also joined the ruling party in the state.

The local body polls will be conducted later this month.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
CLEVELAND, Ohio  Workers in Ohio have fewer paid sick days than the national average, causing many to fear the state is at risk of a novel coronavirus outbreak now that the first cases have been confirmed here.

About 75% of private-sector workers in the United States had access to paid sick leave in 2019, according to Labor Department data. (For public-sector workers, its more than 90%.) Only 65% of private-sector employees in Ohio and other industrial Midwest states have access to paid sick time, according tan analysis of federal data by the liberal Economic Policy Institute in Washington, D.C. The Eastern Southern U.S., at 62%, is the only region with a lower percentage of workers without paid sick days.

Fewer than one-third of the bottom 10% of wage earners have paid sick days, said Elise Gould, an EPI senior economist. They frequently include service jobs, such as those in fast food, in which workers are often in direct contact with the public.

Low-wage workers in particular can have a hard time making ends meet, and they dont want to risk economic security, she said If people have access to paid sick days, they're much more likely to stay home, and therefore there's less likelihood for that contagion to spread.

Also at risk of working while sick are employees, of any income level, whose employers offer paid sick time they cannot currently access for a variety of reasons, Gould said. These include employees with paid sick days or Paid Time Off (PTO), or the equivalent, who havent yet accrued the benefit for 2020. About 40% of private-sector workers in the U.S. had access to personal leave and sick leave in December 2017, according to the Labor Department.

On Monday, Ohio confirmed its first three COVID-19 cases, which are in Cuyahoga County.

In addition to a lower percentage of sick days, there are other factors that could potentially leave Ohio vulnerable to the spread of coronavirus. They include Ohio being one of only eight states where the rate of residents without health insurance increased in 2018, according to census data released last fall.

Ohio is vulnerable for economic reasons as well. Manufacturing is the second-largest employment sector in Northeast Ohio. Many of these companies, especially those in the auto supply chain, rely on parts from suppliers in China.

The federal $8 billion emergency spending package aimed at attacking coronavirus doesnt address paid sick days. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Democrat of California, and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Democrat of New York, are pushing for an economic package that will include paid sick leave. U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, a Democrat from Connecticut, introduced a bill last week that includes requiring employers to allow their workers to gradually earn seven paid sick days and provide an additional 14 days of paid sick leave during a public health emergency. U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, Democrat of Ohio, said Tuesday he would introduce a similar bill.

Workers, even those with sick days or personal time, could potentially benefit. Absent any government order, or individual employer policies, employers usually arent required to pay you even if you find yourself in a 14-day quarantine, said Sharona Hoffman, professor of law and bioethics and co-director of the Law-Medicine Center at Case Western Reserve University School of Law. Employers arent legally required to honor employee requests, such as those to work remotely, even if public health experts say such practices could help slow the spread of coronavirus, she said.

The Ohio Chamber of Commerce is recommending its members follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines to prevent the spread of coronavirus. The CDC recommends that sick leave policies are flexible and consistent with public health guidance, which includes actively encouraging sick employees to stay home. Julie Wagner Feasel, the chambers vice president for communications, said the chamber has emailed CDC recommendations and related information to its members as well as shared this information on social media.

We believe reasonable employers will be flexible due to this illness, she wrote in an email to The Plain Dealer.

Gould of EPI, and others worried that a lack of paid sick days will encourage the spread of coronavirus, are especially concerned about food service and other industries dominated by low-wage workers, who interact with the public.

Homa Moheimani, manager of media and communications for the Ohio Restaurant Association, said the organization is recommending that members follow CDC and other government guidelines regarding the spread of coronavirus, but arent advising them regarding paid sick time.

Thats up to the business owner, she said of paid sick days. All I can say is that our members want to make sure that their employees are healthy because that's what they have to do to comply with the law. So, ultimately, the law prevails.

A study released this week by the National Bureau of Economic Research said that fewer ill employees go to work in states with mandated sick pay. Perhaps, patterns of coronavirus infection in the U.S. will also shed light on the impact of paid sick leave. For example, how will what occurs in Ohio be different from the Pacific region, which includes Seattle, the site of the countrys first recorded outbreak? More than 90% of workers in the Pacific region have paid sick days, according to EPI.

Its too early to draw such contrasts, said Peter Zimmerman, professor of pathology at the Center for Global Health and Diseases at CWRU. Many of those testing positive for COVID-19 in Seattle have been nursing home residents, for which the issue of paid sick days is irrelevant because they are mostly retired, he said.

The EPI said uninsured workers and others without health coverage risk spreading the disease because they often cant afford to follow the CDCs recommendation to contact a health care provider if they either have or were exposed to coronavirus. About 744,000 Ohioans didnt have medical insurance in 2018, up 58,000 from the year before, according to census data.

Coronavirus potentially puts businesses and workers in Ohio at economic risk, said Pierre David, a professor at Baldwin Wallace University School of Business and an international logistics expert.

[The] virus effect on the supply chain is starting to be felt, he wrote in an email. As plants in China and elsewhere (Italy, Korea) close down to prevent the spread of the virus, products are not getting manufactured and will not be delivered. Companies are going to miss out on supplies in the very near future, and some likely are already, especially if their supply chain involves plants that closed... [in] mid-February in the Wuhan area.

Northeast Ohio businesses are being affected in other ways. Robert Rodman is president of Sprintpak Inc., a production welding business in Homerville in Medina County. He said the dust masks he provides to his employees usually sell for $1.85 apiece. Now, he sees them selling for up to $10, as the general public buys them while mistakenly believing that wearing such masks will leave them less susceptible to being infected with the coronavirus.

If it continues, Im going have to pay $10 apiece, said Rodman, who has about a two-month supply of masks. I dont really have any choice. I cant have employees breathing welding fumes.

Read more coronavirus coverage:

Jewish Education Center employee tests positive

4 Hawken students quarantined after exposure on bus trip

Hawken, Laurence, Laurel, University students on bus

Ohio coronavirus hotline offers information, advice

Cleaning products that kill the coronavirus

Should I cancel my trip? Experts say it depends.

Masks not necessary, hand-washing is best
The rapid spread of the coronavirus pandemic throughout Europe and the United States has exposed the complete unpreparedness of even the most developed economies for large-scale health emergencies. In the US, 624 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in at least 34 states and 26 people have died, while the Trump administration has done nothing to provide testing or halt the spread of the disease.

Decades of austerity have eviscerated social services in America, and left millions without access to health care, clean water and job protections such as paid sick leave. Public education has been systematically defunded by both the Democrats and Republicans, drastically lowering the numbers of nurses, janitors and pscyhologists, while increasing the ratio of students to teachers. In addition, basic supplies such as soap, toilet paper and paper towels are not sufficiently provided at thousands of schools, creating the conditions for infectious disease to spread rapidly in schools, and in turn throughout communities across the country.



Detroit teachers sickout protests in 2016 to demand improved school conditions

Schools are particularly vulnerable because parents who lack health insurance or cannot afford to take time off of work to take their children to a doctor are often forced to send them to school sick.

For countries that have cases of community transmission, including the US, the World Health Organization has recommended closing schools in order to reduce exposure. Globally, roughly a dozen countries have implemented widespread school closures, affecting over 290 million children. As of Monday, merely 507 schools have been closed or are scheduled to close in the US, roughly 0.4 percent of the total and affecting only 363,357 out of 56.6 million students.

A recent study at the University of Michigan, which analyzed data from the 1918-19 Spanish flu pandemicwhich killed 75,000 Americans and as many as 100 million people worldwidefound that keeping children at home was an effective way to prevent the spread of the pandemic. The studys author, Dr. Howard Markel, wrote that cities and schools that acted fast, for lengthy periods of time, had the lowest death rates.

While school closures are ideal from an epidemiological standpoint, schools are also key community centers that provide myriad services on which students and their families rely. An estimated 29.8 million students eat school-provided lunches every day, including 20.2 million students that depend upon free lunches, while 11.77 million students also depend upon free breakfast at school.

In addition, schools provide shelter for homeless students, therapy for many of the roughly 35 million students that have endured trauma and vital social connections with peers and adults. Needless to say, no plans are in place at the national or state levels to mitigate any of the harmful effects of school closures, with individual districts and schools left to themselves to provide these needs. Many parents have no resources for childcare and cannot afford time off from work to care for their children if the schools close. Moreover, there are an estimated six to seven million teachers, school bus drivers, cafeteria workers, aides and other school employees who would lose their income.

The World Socialist Web Site spoke with teachers in California and Michigan to discuss these themes, and the dangers posed by the coronavirus.

Lizzy, a math teacher at Mission High School in San Francisco, California, told the WSWS that the school district has done next to nothing to prepare teachers and students for the spread of coronavirus. This is despite the fact that there are already 13 confirmed cases in the city, and 70 across the Bay Area region.

Three weeks ago, the SFUSD School Board announced that they would be implementing $26 million in budget cuts, prompting over 100 teachers, students and family members to protest the school board meeting the following week. Lizzy took part in the protest and has been discussing the danger of coronavirus with her coworkers.

Lizzy

Lizzy said, Weve mostly just gotten emails from the district saying to wash your hands. Theres been no real discussion at all, besides within staff. The school has just said that were not closed, and that theyre in communication with public health officials. Lizzy shared that Mission High has one nurse for over 1,200 students, while other schools in the district have no nurse at all.

In the email, it says do not go to school if youre sick. But I know a lot of teachers who do go to work sick, because theyre saving their sick days for maternity leave, or for when their kids are sick. If schools do close down, will the school year go longer? Are we going to get paid for time off from school?

There hasnt been any talk about disinfecting our school, and its generally not very clean. Theres been cuts to the number of custodial staff. We also had a big rat problem last year. Theres been construction in the Mission District in San Francisco, due to gentrification, and these rats resettled in the school.

Contemplating what would happen to her students were the school to close, Lizzy stated, Mission High serves the highest number of homeless students in the district. I think the impact of school closures will be really intense. I dont know what plans will be in place. We have a lot of students who are chronically absent anyways, but when they do show up to school are receiving vital services. Im worried that if school closes for two weeks, then my chronically absent students will just disappear. It will be incredibly disruptive.

Commenting on students that rely on schools for their meals, Lizzy said, I have no idea what would happen with those students that rely on school lunches. Eating and having shelter throughout the day is essential.

Lizzy noted the extreme inequality in the city, stating, California has among the highest income inequality and I think addressing that requires more than just taxing the rich and corporations. From a socialist perspective, government housing has to be expanded. I feel it on a personal level, walking through the Mission and seeing homeless people every day and having chronically absent students.

Shane, who has worked in education for over 20 years, teaches at Sojourner Truth Independent Studies School in Oakland, California. He spoke on the dangers posed by coronavirus and the crisis in public education. Following the betrayal of the Oakland teachers strike last year by the Oakland Education Association (OEA), the district has further slashed the budget and resumed its plan to close or merge up to one third of all schools in the district.

Oakland High students supporting their teachers on strike

Shane stated, For our two public schools on campus we have a nurse come once or twice a week. The nurse assigned to us has to split time with many different sites. OUSD has about 20 nurses for 88 schools. OUSD neglects all of its students when it comes to wraparound healthcare services on campus

Speaking on the lack of preparations for school closures due to the coronavirus, Shane said, No preparations have been made for lunches or care of children in the event of closures. The district is shamefully negligent in providing wraparound services in a normal context, and they will be even worse if there is a significant outbreak of coronavirus.

Commenting on the poor state of education and health care, Shane stated, The ruling class has never adequately funded public education in the US and never will. Public education cuts are an annual feature of federal, state and local governments. In the wealthiest country in the world its quite common to go to a hospital for a routine checkup or procedure and come out in a body bag. Some sources put medical error as the third leading cause of death in the U.S. Unfortunately, this virus will continue to take a toll on mostly workers and their families.

In a country that features absurd levels of wealth inequality, it seems safe to surmise that low-income working class communities will be hit hard by coronavirus and the lack of healthcare options available for treatment. Then with the markets determining who can afford the vaccine, coronavirus will be another in a long line of healthcare nightmares for U.S. workers, similar and likely worse than the opioid crisis, measles outbreaks, Swine Flu, Hepatitis A, HIV, to name but a few.

The WSWS also spoke with a paraprofessional who works for Detroit Public Schools, where in 2015-16 teachers conducted sickouts to expose filthy, crumbling and mold-infested buildings. Fully half of the aging public schools in the city have been rated unacceptable or unsafe.

The paraprofessional explained that school employees are being left on their own to deal with the threat of coronavirus and inadequately cleaned buildings. He stated, They make it an individual responsibility to stop coronavirus, telling us to use hand sanitizer, but its airborne and it really could be a pandemic. They try to give the illusion everything will be okay. Thats not just the local authorities, but Trump and the Democrats. This is a life-and-death crisis. Its a scientific problem and it especially affects all workers with social jobs dealing with people.

Over the last two weeks, we have one more janitor. They come and clean the handles on the doors. Having one more janitor is great, but it would take more to clean up the whole school. It is understaffed.

Due to the poverty-level pay, many teachers, janitors or parapros have quit for other jobs or other districts, he explained. As a result, The students and staff are in a building that is not safe physically and mentally to learn in. With only a few janitors, the whole building cannot be cleaned daily, so it also has rodent problems. With moisture coming in from the ceiling, especially during the fall, there were rats in our classroom.

A teacher in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, told the WSWS that even in this wealthier suburb of Detroit, the district is in no way prepared for the spread of coronavirus. She reported that the district has ordered two Clorox 360 cleaning devices, but they have yet to arrive and could still be weeks away.

The Clorox 360 contains electrostatic sprayers that deliver sanitizing spray to surfaces quickly and efficiently and can cover 18,000 square feet per hour. The spray kills 99.9 percent of bacteria in five seconds and kills cold and flu viruses, MRSA, and norovirus in two minutes or less, while sanitizing soft surfaces and inhibiting the growth of mold and mildew.

The fact that such technology exists and is not being made readily available to every city and school in the US and internationally is a testament to the bankruptcy of the capitalist system, which curtails science and technology and subordinates all social needs to the profit motive of the capitalist class. To halt the spread of coronavirus and ensure the well-being of the population, teachers and all workers must mobilize themselves to demand trillions to fund sanitation and health care programs, full paid leave for all workers, a comprehensive plan to close schools while expanding essential services for students, free child care programs for parents and full compensation to laid off teachers and school employees.
The belief that "real men" must be strong, tough and independent may be a detriment to their social needs later in life. A study co-authored by a Michigan State University sociologist found that men who endorse hegemonic ideals of masculinity -- or "toxic masculinity" -- can become socially isolated as they age, impacting their health, well-being and overall happiness.

When we age, there are certain ways that we can ensure we maintain our health and well-being. Having people with whom we can talk about personal matters is a form of social support. If people only have one person that they can share information with, or sometimes even no people, they don't really have an opportunity to reflect and share." stef shuster, MSU assistant professor in Lyman Briggs College and the Department of Sociology

shuster said that when issues arise, like health or financial problems, it puts individuals in an incredibly disadvantaged position if they don't have anyone to share this with, which also might have negative consequences for their mental health.

"Social isolation is common among aging adults. Changes such as retirement, widowhood or moving to a new home can disrupt their existing friendships," said Celeste Campos-Castillo, one of shuster's co-authors and an associate professor in the Department of Sociology at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

"Older men who endorse the ideals of toxic masculinity can become siloed off as they age," shuster said. "Not all older men are at risk -- just those who favor a particular set of ideals."

The researchers analyzed nearly 5,500 U.S. older women and men from the Wisconsin Longitudinal Survey, which administered the Hegemonic Masculinity for Older Men Scale.

The study -- published in the journal Sex Roles -- is one of the first to treat masculinity as a spectrum rather than a simple yes-or-no binary category.

"A lot of gender research is based on simplistic binaries of women or men, feminine or masculine, either you're hegemonically masculine or you're not," shuster said. "Because of the data set that we're using, our study actually looks at masculinity on a spectrum."

The study also found that embracing toxic masculinity is self-harming.

"Often, toxic masculinity is a term that we use to describe how masculinity affects other people, especially women," shuster said. "But our study shows how toxic masculinity also has detrimental consequences for the men who subscribe to these ideals. The very premise of hegemonic masculinity in some ways is based on the idea of isolation because it's about being autonomous and not showing a lot of emotion. It's hard to develop friendships living this way."

As baby boomers prepare to retire from the workforce, they face challenges in finding and sustaining healthy friendships. The researchers suggest social isolation may be alleviated by embracing an alternative understanding of masculinity that doesn't rely on independence and toughness as the only way to be "real men," or at least easing up on the principles of hegemonic masculinity.

Still, shuster recognizes that the higher men score on the scale of hegemonic masculinity, the less likely they are to change their views or seek help.

"Can you change someone's ideological principles? I think that's a harder sell than trying to get people to believe that social isolation is incredibly detrimental to their health," shuster said. "It's about learning how to offer tools for people not to be socially isolated and helping them develop the capacity to recognize that all of the ways they have upheld being so-called 'real men' is not going to work for them as they age."
Wednesday, March 11

ADULT ARCHERY

An adult education archery class will begin at 6 p.m. at the Administration Building, 420 Main St., in Anaconda. The class will run through April 1. The cost is $ 7 plus a registration fee the first night. Adult archery league will follow the class starting at 7:15 pm. Individual NFAA and FITA scoring will occur over the five week period. A slight use/target fee will be added. Details: Ray Haffey, 406-491-8578.

BINGO FUNDRAISER

The High Altitude Speed Skating Oval is having its annual bingo fundraiser at 6:30 p.m. at the Knights of Columbus, 224 W. Park St. Doors open at 6 p.m. Bingo packets are $20 with extra cards available to purchase. There will be a 50/50 draw, door prizes, and food for purchase. All ages welcome. All proceeds go to the skating oval. Details: Lori, 406-723-4839.

BROWN BAG LUNCH

The Butte-Silver Bow Public Archives will continue its Brown Bag Lunch series at noon at the archives, 17 W. Quartz St. Montana author Doug Ammons will present Dynamic Butte in Time Lapse," part of a project he has been working on for several years to retell Montana history, and Butte in particular, in a novel way. Guests are encouraged to bring a sack lunch. Coffee and water will be provided. For details, call 406-782-3280.

TECH LECTURE

Richard Prodgers will give a presentation about Soil Health  Temporal Changes in Coversoil (Clean Borrow) on the Silver Bow Creek Superfund Site at 4 p.m. in the Chemistry/Biology Building, room 102. All are welcome.

CLUBS AND MEETINGS

BUTTE

Preceptor Beta, Beta Sigma Phi, will hold its St. Patrick's Day party at 6:30 p.m. in the home of Gwen Waggoner, 2601 Bayard St. Please bring your secret sister cards. Costumes optional.

United Veterans Council will meet at 7 p.m. at the American Legion building, 3501 Wynne Ave.

The Butte Sunrise Kiwanis Club meets at 7 a.m. at Perkins Restaurant. Guest speaker Dr. Dennis Janecke will talk about dental technology.

Butte Chess Club meets from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Butte Public Library (first floor).

Overeaters Anonymous meets at 6 p.m. at Gold Hill Lutheran Church, 934 Placer St. Details: 406-533-5454.

Women's AA meetings are at 6:30 p.m. at The Springs, 300 Mount Highland Drive.

Wii games are played from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Butte Public Library's Teen Zone.

PEO Chapter AC will hold a meeting at 7 p.m. For details, call 406-533-0042.

Butte Kiwanis will meet at noon at Perkins. Guest speakers Joe Kasperick and Deanna Johnson will speak on tax preparation contributions and deductions. Details: Bob Worley, 406-494-2047.

Line Dancing Class with Colleen Klobucar is from 1:30 to 3 p.m. at the Butte YMCA. Members get in free; non-members pay $5.

Living Word Prayer Group meets at 7 p.m. at Holy Spirit Church, 4400 Continental Dr. For more details, call Sue Walsh at 406-593-1218.

DILLON

Kiwanis Club of Dillon meets at noon at the Beaverhead Brewery, 218 S. Montana St., Dillon. Guest speaker will be Matt Peterson, assistant athletic director at Montana Western.

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DAVIS, Calif., March 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in California is now accepting proposals for its Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) program. Up to $750,000 is available for one- to three-year grants. The maximum award amount for any project will not exceed $125,000 in fiscal year 2020. Proposals are due by May 8, 2020.

CIG is a voluntary program to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies in conjunction with agricultural production. Proposed projects should augment existing NRCS technical tools (planning, assessment/delivery) to better facilitate conservation on farms and ranches.

"As an Agency in a dynamic world we need to constantly adapt our technical tools to match them to the ever-evolving natural resource challenges found on California farms and ranches," says NRCS California State Conservationist Carlos Suarez. "CIG grants are a great way to open ourselves to the ingenuity available in both public and private partners and organizations."

CIG projects are expected to lead to the transfer of conservation technologies, management systems, and innovative approaches to agricultural producers, into NRCS technical manuals and guides, or to the private sector. CIG generally funds pilot projects, field demonstrations, and on-farm conservation research.

In 2020, NRCS California is prioritizing proposals that improve the "technical toolbox" to address the following on-farm resource concerns: improve plant and forest health/productivity; improve air quality associated with agricultural operations; work with agriculture operations to protect surface and groundwater quality; work with agriculture operations to protect surface and groundwater quantity; improve soil health; and enhance habitat for terrestrial and aquatic species. Applicants are encouraged to explore the complete announcement to better match their proposals to these needs: www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/ca/programs/financial/cig/.

Funds will be awarded through a statewide competitive grants process and in 2020 will not include a pre-proposal process. Eligible applicants include state and local government, nongovernment organizations, Tribal governments, eligible private business and individuals. Contact Erik Beardsley at [email protected] for more information.

Applications must be received by 5 p.m. (Pacific) on May 8, 2020. Applications must be submitted electronically through www.grants.gov, and a PDF of the complete application must be emailed to [email protected]. Both submissions must be received by the submission deadline.

For information on past California projects go to: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/ciglanding/national/programs/financial/cig/cigsearch/

SOURCE USDA - Natural Resources Conservation Service

Related Links

http://www.ca.nrcs.usda.gov


Washington: Bernie Sanders' presidential campaign has collapsed under the weight of its own fantasies.

After his poor performance on Tuesday night (Wednesday AEDT) it is clear that the 78-year-old democratic socialist will not be the Democratic Party's nominee. Joe Biden, the former vice-president, will face off against Donald Trump in November.

After leading in the early contests, Bernie Sanders' presidential hopes are dimming. Credit:AP

Sanders' theory of victory was that his vision of a political revolution would reshape the electoral map  not just in the Democratic primary, but the general election as well.

His ambitious progressive agenda and grassroots campaigning machine were supposed to drive young voters to the polls in unprecedented numbers. His economic populism was supposed to appeal to the white working-class voters who swung to Donald Trump in 2016.
Los Angeles, March 11 : Disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein once suggested that global icon Jennifer Aniston "should be killed".

A New York Times report revealed the statement, as mentioned in a previously sealed court documents that were made public on Monday, reports hollywoodreporter.com.

Weinstein made the statement about the "Friends" star in 2017, during the start of the #MeToo movement, which was created in response to the sexual misconduct allegations made against him.

It is being claimed that he was apparently furious when he learned that the National Enquirer was planning to report that he also sexually assaulted Aniston.

Image Source: IANS News

Several records show that a spokeswoman for Weinstein forwarded him an email from the Enquirer.

"Not sure if you saw this one. Jennifer Aniston," wrote Sallie Hofmeister, a senior executive at the public relations firm Sitrick and Company.

The Enquirer's email read: "Jennifer confided to a friend that during the production of the 2005 movie 'Derailed', Weinstein sexually assaulted her by pressing up against her back in, grabbing her buttocks... Through the years he would frequently stare at her cleavage/breast and move his mouth around making Jennifer uncomfortable." "We also quote a source close to Jennifer who tells the Enquirer: 'Harvey was infatuated with Jennifer Aniston. He had a massive crush on her and constantly talked about how hot she was'," further read the email.

Image Source: IANS News

After 45 minutes, Weinstein replied to the Hofmeister's email.

"Jen Aniston should be killed," he wrote.

The Enquirer never published the claims. A representative for Aniston denied them, and Weinstein's spokesperson declined to comment.

The emails were included in previously sealed documents filed in Manhattan Supreme Court. They were made public before Weinstein's sentencing on Wednesday for raping a hairstylist and forcibly performing oral sex on a production assistant for "Project Runway".

-- Syndicated from IANS
Falling crude oil prices will help reduce current account deficit by 25 basis points to 0.7 percent of the GDP in FY2021, says the Wall Street brokerage Bank of America Securities. Crude has fallen by over 45 percent since the coronavirus outbreak in China since January, which has now spread to over 110 countries.

Following Russia's decision not to cut production as suggested by the oil cartel Opec, Saudi Arabia has decided to up production and cut prices earlier this week, which led to a steep 30 percent plunge in crude prices on Monday.

The forecast is based on its assessment of crude trading at around $36 a barrel through the next fiscal, the brokerage said in a note on Wednesday, adding cheaper crude can potentially boost consumption by 0.4 percent of GDP as well if the government passes on at least half of the price fall to end consumers.

The brokerage has also cut its FY2021 growth forecast for the country by 20 basis points (bps) to 5.4 percent, and global growth to 2.2 percent, down 60 bps.

It has also slashed the country's real GVA growth forecast by 10 bps to 4.8 percent for FY2020 and by 20 bps to 5.4 percent for FY2021.

But if there is a global recession pulling down world GDP growth to 1.4 percent, domestic growth in FY2021 will likely drop to 4.4 percent, it warned.

Another plus of the falling oil prices is the likely repo rate cuts by the RBI at the next three MPC meeting to the tune of 25 bps each in April, June and October policy reviews.

The brokerage also says the RBI should snap up more dollars to shore up forex reserves to guard against contagion and sees the reserves touching at $550 billion next fiscal.

"We estimate that a conservative RBI would ideally want the forex reserves at $550 billion. Lower oil should raise the RBI's forex intervention by $6 billion to $31 billion in FY2021. As this constricts RBI OMO, we continue to expect the RBI to switch to forward purchases in the forex market to fund the fiscal deficit," says the report.

But on the negative, lower oil prices will snap FPI flows by $5 billion given the risk-off in financial markets, it warns.

"We see the drop in oil prices as relatively beneficial for the economy as it is a major oil importer buying almost 84 percent of its domestic demand. We cut FY21 CAD by 25 bps to 0.7 percent of GDP as we see Brent falling by $9 a barrel to $45. Lower oil prices also can potentially release 0.4 percent of GDP for additional consumption in FY21" the brokerage said.

It expects the RBI to cut rates by 75 bps from 50-75 bps earlier and the US Federal Reserve by another 50 bps on March 18.

A $7 a barrel plunge in crude should narrow the FY21 CAD down to 0.7 percent of GDP, and if the fall is $10 a barrel then CAD should come down to 0.3 percent of GDP.

This is because the oil subsidy bill could shrink to Rs 10,000 crore from Rs 40,000 crore in FY21 if the crude trends at $45 a barrel, saving $4.3 billion or 0.1 percent of GDP.

This can on the positive side boost consumption to the tune of Rs 1,00,000 crore or 0.4 percent of GDP to consumption if the drop in oil prices is fully passed on to consumers. The government could withhold 33-50 percent of the price drop to fund the fiscal deficit.
Technavio has been monitoring the liquefied natural gas (LNG) market and it is poised to grow by USD 50.22 bn during 2020-2024, progressing at a CAGR of about 6% 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 the latest free sample report of 2020-2024

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200311005627/en/

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Liquefied Natural Gas Market 2020-2024 (Graphic: Business Wire)

The market is fragmented, and the degree of fragmentation will accelerate during the forecast period. 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 LNG production has been instrumental in driving the growth of the market.

Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Market 2020-2024: Segmentation

Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Market is segmented as below:

End-User

Power

Industry

Others

Geographic Segmentation

Americas

APAC

EMEA

To learn more about the global trends impacting the future of market research, download the latest free sample of 2020-2024: https://www.technavio.com/talk-to-us?report=IRTNTR30656

Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) 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 liquefied natural gas (LNG) market report covers the following areas:

Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Market Size

Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Market Trends

Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Market Industry Analysis

This study identifies growing demand for LNG bunkering as one of the prime reasons driving the liquefied natural gas (LNG) market growth during the next few years.

Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Market 2020-2024: Vendor Analysis

We provide a detailed analysis of around 25 vendors operating in the liquefied natural gas (LNG) market, including some of the vendors such as BP, Chevron, Exxon Mobil, Qatargas Operating Company and Royal Dutch Shell. Backed with competitive intelligence and benchmarking, our research reports on the liquefied natural gas (LNG) 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

Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Market 2020-2024: Key Highlights

CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2020-2024

Detailed information on factors that will assist liquefied natural gas (LNG) market growth during the next five years

Estimation of the liquefied natural gas (LNG) market size and its contribution to the parent market

Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior

The growth of the liquefied natural gas (LNG) market

Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors

Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of liquefied natural gas (LNG) market vendors

Table of Content

PART 01: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

PART 02: SCOPE OF THE REPORT

2.1 Preface

2.2 Preface

2.3 Currency conversion rates for US$

PART 03: MARKET LANDSCAPE

Market ecosystem

Market characteristics

Market segmentation analysis

PART 04: MARKET SIZING

Market definition

Market sizing 2019

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 END-USER

Market segmentation by end-user

Comparison by end-user

Power Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Industry 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

EMEA Market size and forecast 2019-2024

APAC Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Americas 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

Growing demand for LNG bunkering

Growing use of FLNG vessels

Commoditization of LNG

PART 12: VENDOR LANDSCAPE

Overview

Landscape disruption

Competitive scenario

PART 13: VENDOR ANALYSIS

Vendors covered

Vendor classification

Market positioning of vendors

BP

Chevron

Exxon Mobil

Qatargas Operating Company

Royal Dutch Shell

PART 14: APPENDIX

Research methodology

List of abbreviations

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/20200311005627/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/
Lithuanian English

Lithuanian electricity transmission operator LITGRID AB (business ID 302564383, registered office address Virsuliskiu skg. 99B 13, Vilnius, Lithuania), informs that on 9th March 2020 the opinion of The Audit Committee of the holding company UAB EPSO-G was received on Capacity Remuneration Mechanism Auction IT system sale and purchase contract between LITGRID AB and BALTPOOL UAB (hereinafter referred to as Transaction).

On 6th March 2020 the Audit Committee of EPSO-G UAB considered the Transaction and stated that:

Conclusion of the Transaction complies with the market conditions (after evaluation of the terms and conditions of similar contracts concluded by LITGRID AB with unrelated parties, the Transactions price and other material terms and conditions are in line with market conditions).

Transaction is fair and reasonable with respect to the shareholders of LITGRID AB, who are not a party to the Transaction (LITGRID AB has a statutory obligation which requires the acquisition of the Capacity Mechanism Auction IT System which is the subject of this Transaction).

The individual authorized by LITGRID AB to provide additional information:

Paule Pupinyte-Bruziene

Head of Communications

phone: +370 611 20958,

e-mail: Paule.Pupinyte-Bruziene@litgrid.eu
When I heard Taapsee Pannu say "Just a slap? Par nahi maar sakta," I had goosebumps. Most women I know felt the same because an issue like this had never been addressed on a large scale. In fact, violence in relationships was romanticised as a way of expressing 'intense love'.

In the film, Taapsee Pannus character, Amrita is married to Vikram which is played by Pavail Gulati. They are shown as a very ordinary couple who seem pretty content with their monotonous lives. She is a housewife by choice and he wants to climb on the top of his career ladder as quickly as possible. Mind you, when I say she is a housewife by choice, it is just that. She is not forced into this life and she actually enjoys it.

All in all, neither seems to mind the others lifestyle since it is pretty convenient for both of them and all is calm in their household.

Twitter

Unfortunately, soon enough, you get to see him slapping her at a party which leaves the audience shocked because of how abruptly it happens and then, the film gets to its main point,Thappad.

After that, the same routine is shown to us but sans the love they initially shared with each other. Once Amrita fails to wrap her head around the fact that her husband did not even have the decency to condemn his toxic act, she leaves. All this while, she is constantly told by family members, Bas itni si baat? which unsurprisingly introduces us to the idea of how normal it is for a man to hit his wife.

Now, for you to know what unfolds later, please go and watch the movie because the cinematic genius that it is, only watching it with your own eyes can do justice to the script and screenplay. The actors have adequately captured their characters essence and there is not a single moment that they drift away from their on-screen personas.

Twitter

No points for guessing that when I watched Thappad, it absolutely won me over and left me overwhelmed. What failed to impress me are the reviews the film has been getting ever since its release. Everyone is aware of IMDb -- an online database of information on films, television shows, etc. and a lot of people depend on its validation to decide a films credibility. I wont waste your time any further and just show you a screenshot of the reviews Thappad has received from men and women around the country.



IMDb

IMDb

If your thought process is the same as mine, you must have immediately noticed the blatant difference between how the men have rated the film in comparison to women. What is a persons review about a film based on? The acting, the script, the takeaway from the film? So, if the male side of the society feels that Thappad should be a low-rated film, they obviously disagreed with the films concept.



Now, that should worry you. It should worry you because the films narrative is based on something much bigger than Just a slap? It is majorly focused on what happens afterwards -- the husbands ignorance towards the wrongful act he committed, his complete neglect of the fact that he needs to apologise, the familys Eh reaction to the whole ordeal. If Pannus character wasnt broken enough after the slap, the events which followed definitely pushed her to the ground.

The film loudly reeks of how we have normalised male entitlement in our own families. The fact that men have rated it on a low scale is a loud enough example of they do not see that as a truth. The fact that women have given it a high rating is a louder example of how they have finally recognised this problem. Since the film also shows women who are so deep-rooted in the ideologies of patriarchy, it is important to point out that women in real life do not agree with it. If that wasnt the case, the ratings would have been on the same sentiment -- That it was just a slap and women should shut up and deal with it. Basically.

Twitter

Remember the time when Kabir Singh released and there was a whole dialogue around the film being problematic since it glorified toxic relationships and abusive partners? The fact that it earned a whopping 380 crore is evidence enough that most people did not find Kabir Singhs narrative to be an issue that needs to be addressed on a larger scale.



Contradicting the flawed ideology that Kabir Singh was based on, Thappad was literally a slap on its not-so-21st century concept of how a relationship should function.

Twitter

Domestic violence is an extremely dark truth of our society; from the poor to the rich, no one is excluded from this evil practice that goes on behind closed doors. The fact that our men do not find it to be a problem is scary because these are the same men who are our fathers, the same men we will marry, the same men who will be our sons. The fire that ignited in every woman when we heard Amrita say Just a slap? Par nahi maar sakta could not outshine the patriarchal beliefs that our society swears by. For men, it was more of a Baat ka batangad banane wala hisaab and what infuriates me even more is that if they are okay with it happening on a screen, they must be doing it to the women in their own lives because, like I said before, Itni si baat?



Another major observation that I paid attention to was the age group the reviews were segregated in. While younger men are still living in the grey area of not making up their minds about how they feel about it by giving the film an average rating, the older generation is where the more prominent problem lies. It is proof that they were most probably taught that slapping your wife is not a big deal because like a dialogue in Kabir Singh goes, When a woman is in love, her priority is changed Understand this.So, if you are a woman who is in love with her boyfriend/husband and he decides to inflict violence on you, keep loving him because itni si toh baat hai or Aurato ko sehna padta hai.

Till the day we dont stop making movies like Kabir Singh super hits and spew hate on movies like Thappad, the idea of feminism will be forever lost.
Wolters Kluwer Publishes its 2019 Annual Report

Agenda and Convocation Notice AGM Available Online

March 11, 2020  Wolters Kluwer, a global provider of professional information, software solutions, and services, today released its 2019 Annual Report and Sustainability Data Report. The Financial Statements for 2019, as included in the 2019 Annual Report, will be proposed for adoption at the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders (AGM) on April 23, 2020.

The agenda with explanatory notes and the convocation notice for the AGM are now available at www.wolterskluwer.com/agm . The agenda for the AGM includes the proposal to distribute a total dividend over the 2019 financial year of 1.18 per ordinary share. If approved, this will result in a final dividend of 0.79 per ordinary share. Furthermore, the proposals to appoint Mr. Jack de Kreij and Mrs. Sophie Vandebroek and to re-appoint Ms. Jeanette Horan as members of the Supervisory Board are on the agenda. The proposals to adopt the amended remuneration policy for the members of the Executive Board and the remuneration policy for the members of the Supervisory Board are also on the agenda.

The information for the AGM includes an update of issued share capital on which votes can be cast at the meeting. The AGM will be held at Hotel Casa Amsterdam, on April 23, 2020.

The 2019 Annual Report, with integrated selected sustainability information, and the 2019 Sustainability Data Report, are available in PDF on www.wolterskluwer.com .

About Wolters Kluwer

Wolters Kluwer (WKL) is a global leader in professional information, software solutions, and services for the healthcare; tax and accounting; governance, risk and compliance; and legal and regulatory sectors. We help our customers make critical decisions every day by providing expert solutions that combine deep domain knowledge with specialized technology and services.

Wolters Kluwer reported 2019 annual revenues of 4.6 billion. The group serves customers in over 180 countries, maintains operations in over 40 countries, and employs approximately 19,000 people worldwide. The company is headquartered in Alphen aan den Rijn, the Netherlands.

Wolters Kluwer shares are listed on Euronext Amsterdam (WKL) and are included in the AEX and Euronext 100 indices. Wolters Kluwer has a sponsored Level 1 American Depositary Receipt (ADR) program. The ADRs are traded on the over-the-counter market in the U.S. (WTKWY).

For more information, visit www.wolterskluwer.com , follow us on Twitter , Facebook , LinkedIn , and YouTube .

Financial Calendar April 23, 2020 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders April 27, 2020 Ex-dividend date: 2019 final dividend April 28, 2020 Record date: 2019 final dividend May 6, 2020 First-Quarter 2020 Trading Update May 20, 2020 Payment date: 2019 final dividend ordinary shares May 27, 2020 Payment date: 2019 final dividend ADRs August 5, 2020 Half-Year 2020 Results September 1, 2020 Ex-dividend date: 2020 interim dividend September 2, 2020 Record date: 2020 interim dividend September 24, 2020 Payment date: 2020 interim dividend October 1, 2020 Payment date: 2020 interim dividend ADRs October 30, 2020 Nine-Month 2020 Trading Update





Media Investors/Analysts Annemarije Derogee-Pikaar Meg Geldens Corporate Communications Investor Relations t + 31 172 641 470 t + 31 172 641 407 annemarije.pikaar@wolterskluwer.com ir@wolterskluwer.com

Forward-looking Statements and Other Important Legal Information

This report contains forward-looking statements. These statements may be identified by words such as expect, should, could, shall and similar expressions. Wolters Kluwer cautions that such forward-looking statements are qualified by certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and events to differ materially from what is contemplated by the forward-looking statements. Factors which could cause actual results to differ from these forward-looking statements may include, without limitation, general economic conditions; conditions in the markets in which Wolters Kluwer is engaged; behavior of customers, suppliers, and competitors; technological developments; the implementation and execution of new ICT systems or outsourcing; and legal, tax, and regulatory rules affecting Wolters Kluwers businesses, as well as risks related to mergers, acquisitions, and divestments. In addition, financial risks such as currency movements, interest rate fluctuations, liquidity, and credit risks could influence future results. The foregoing list of factors should not be construed as exhaustive. Wolters Kluwer disclaims any intention or obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Attachment
YEREVAN, MARCH 11, ARMENPRESS. American business magazine Forbes prepared a list of 17 most beautiful places to visit this spring, including also Armenias second largest city, Gyumri.

The list has been prepared based on the opinions of some travel experts.

With new budget airline routes to Gyumri from Germany and Greece, Armenia's second city is finally stepping into the spotlight for more than just its association with the 1988 Spitak Earthquake. Spring is a fantastic time to visit Gyumri as the harsh winters subside and flowers saturate the city as it prepares to celebrate Easter with juicy fruits and heaping plates of pilaf. Gyumri is home to hip cafes, several cultural spaces, unique places to stay and Armenias most humorous locals, the article published in Forbes says.

The author of the article advises travelers to taste Panrkhash, a dish made from cheese and lavash, while in Gyumri.

The list of the 17 most beautiful places to travel to this spring also includes London, Vancouver, Tbilisi, Mexico, as well as several cities of Morocco, Iceland, Pakistan, US and Peru.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan
By Trend

In its statement on March 10, the Operational Headquarters under the Azerbaijani Cabinet of Ministers made recommendations and appeals to the citizens and certain agencies, Trend reports on March 10 referring to the Operational Headquarters.

Proceeding from these appeals, as well as in support of proactive state measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus in the country, the opening ceremony of the Deniz Mall in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, which was scheduled for March 12, is postponed for an uncertain period.

To prevent the spread of coronavirus, the Operational Headquarters recommended relevant structures not to hold mass events in the near future and cancel those which have been already set.

The Operational Headquarters also recommended the citizens to avoid the crowded places.

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Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Bujumbura, Burundi (PANA) - Some 356 Burundian refugees from the 2015 electoral crisis, including 234 men and 122 women, were due to return to their regions of origin on Wednesday after their repatriation from neighboring Tanzania, the public radio announnced
OTTAWA - The federal government rolled out a $1-billion package Wednesday to help the country's health-care system and economy cope with the novel coronavirus outbreak as the number of cases in Canada grew, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau warned that the situation could get worse, and the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 11/3/2020 (671 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

OTTAWA - The federal government rolled out a $1-billion package Wednesday to help the country's health-care system and economy cope with the novel coronavirus outbreak as the number of cases in Canada grew, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau warned that the situation could get worse, and the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic.

Multiple health authorities reported a flurry of new positive tests for COVID-19, including one person at Canadian Forces Base Trenton repatriated from a cruise ship docked in California, and a man in Sudbury, Ont., who had attended a large mining conference in Toronto.

That conference included appearances by Trudeau, Ontario Premier Doug Ford, and federal Natural Resources Minister Seamus O'Regan and Mary Ng, the minister of small business and international trade.

O'Regan and Ng are in self-isolation awaiting test results after showing symptoms of a respiratory illness, although O'Regan believes he has a simple head cold and Ng thinks she is suffering from asthma and a cold.

With more than 118,000 people sickened around the world, including more than 100 in Canada, the WHO called on countries to mitigate the social and economic impacts while minimizing the disruption to everyday life.

Trudeau said Canada's government is considering more measures to contain COVID-19, such as what to do with incoming cruise ships, on which the disease has been known to spread, while warning cases could climb.

He demurred on when the government would opt for stricter measures like community-wide lockdowns, such as those in China and Italy.

"It's not about time. It's about the situation and the facts on the ground. We will closely monitor what is needed to be done to keep Canadians safe," Trudeau said, flanked by key ministers and Canada's chief public health officer.

"While we are prepared for a wide range of scenarios, we will focus right now on what needs to be done now and endeavour to make sure that is enough, that we don't have to take future steps."

In Washington on Wednesday night, President Donald Trump said the U.S. will suspend all travel from Europe, excluding the U.K., starting Friday for 30 days.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau responds to a question during Question Period in the House of Commons Tuesday March 10, 2020 in Ottawa. Trudeau plans today to announce federal funding to help provincial health-care systems cope with the increasing number of new coronavirus cases and to help Canadian workers who are forced to isolate themselves. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

The outbreak has caused an upheaval in the Canadian economy, the cancellation of major conferences and events like the World Figure Skating Championships that were scheduled for next week in Montreal, changes in travel plans and workplace travel bans like those now imposed on parliamentary groups. Yukon Premier Sandy Silver said on Twitter he won't attend a meeting with Trudeau and other premiers beginning Thursday "out of an abundance of caution."

The Public Health Agency of Canada says the risk to the general population is low and most people diagnosed with COVID-19 experience manageable symptoms like a fever or cough. For some, such as seniors and those with compromised immune systems or pre-existing conditions, the illness can be more severe.

The first presumptive case east of Quebec was reported on Wednesday in New Brunswick.

Jennifer Russell, the province's chief medical officer of health, says the case involves a woman between 50 and 60 years old in the southern part of the province. The woman recently travelled from France and is in self-isolation.

Among the Canadians diagnosed with the illness so far, fewer than 15 per cent have required hospitalization. One has died, a man who lived in a nursing home in Vancouver.

"I kind of have to quarantine myself from the public," said 24-year-old Paul Redman, who has the genetic lung disorder cystic fibrosis and was on Parliament Hill on Wednesday to meet with MPs about drug regulations.

He added later that Canadians should "be aware that there are people who are very vulnerable out there, such as myself. If (I) get a cold, I could die."

Individual behaviour  like washing hands and coughing into the crook of an elbow  can slow the spread of the infection.

Still, the government has been preparing its response "as if it was a pandemic," said Health Minister Patty Hajdu, adding that the WHO's labelling the outbreak a pandemic wasn't a surprise, nor did it change the trajectory of federal plans. In the afternoon, she told a House of Commons committee the government expects between 30 and 70 per cent of Canadians could contract the disease.

Half of the $1-billion spending package will go to help provinces and territories prepare and react, and pay for protective gear like masks and gowns for health workers. Ontario's government added $100 million for its response Wednesday, which could be used to hire more staff in the province.

A smaller portion of the spending eases access to federal benefits for workers whose livelihoods are disrupted by COVID-19, aiming to make it easier for people with more precarious jobs to stay home, avoid infecting others, and get income supports quickly.

Minister of Health Patty Hajdu looks on as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks during a news conference on the coronavirus situation, in Ottawa, Wednesday March 11, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Federal officials are eyeing ways to help those who don't qualify for employment insurance receive benefits, possibly providing grants as was done during the SARS outbreak in 2003.

Federal lending is also going to ramp up to help businesses get credit to handle the economic shock, similar to a program during the financial crisis just over a decade ago that provided $11 billion to 10,000 firms.

The reaction from business and labour groups was that the funding is a start to deal with the uncertainty about the depth and duration of the economic shock to the country.

The Business Council of Canada said it made sense to "hold off on major economic stimulus measures" until more is known. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce called it a "a positive and pragmatic approach to the global risks of the spreading virus."

Hassan Yussuff, president of the Canadian Labour Congress, said the package could help avoid job losses given he has heard stories of impending layoffs in the air-travel industry, and of seafood processors in Atlantic Canada watching demand for exports to China drop.

Politically, the package landed with more of a thud, with opposition criticism that the Liberals waited too long into the outbreak to act.

Jen Zoratti | Next A weekly look towards a post-pandemic future delivered to your inbox every Wednesday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement.

Conservative finance critic Pierre Poilievre said the Liberal response was short on specifics, including what exactly the spending will achieve, while the party's health critic Matt Jeneroux said he wanted the Liberals to expand arrivals screening for passengers coming from countries where the virus is rampant, including Italy.

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said the Liberals should consider getting banks and credit-card companies to ease payments for those affected.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 11, 2020.

 With files from Stephanie Levitz and Laura Osman

 Follow @jpress on Twitter

Note to readers: This is a corrected story. A previous version misspelled the last name of Hassan Yussuff.
Mujtaba Abba, the principal private secretary to the deposed Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido has announced his resignation from the Kano palace, Premium Times reports.

According to the report, Abba, who is a half brother to the recently dethroned Emir relinquished his title as the Falakin of Kano, following the dethronement of his principal, Sanusi.

Read Also: Sanusi: Disrespecting A Governor Is Not Criminal Offence  Apostle Suleman

A copy of his resignation letter which was released by Premium Times reads in part:

I write formally to inform you that from Monday, March 9th, 2020, I have voluntarily resigned my position from principal private secretary of Sarkin Kano Muhammad Sanusi ll.

In addition, I have also voluntarily relinquished the title of Falakin Kano.

I hereby wish to express my sincere gratitude to the emirate council for offering me opportunity to serve and I also thank the entire staff of the emirate council for the cooperation they rendered to me during the period of my service. Please accept the assurance of my esteemed regards always.
Four new coronavirus cases have been confirmed in NSW on Wednesday afternoon, taking the state's total to 65.

The new COVID-19 patients include three women in their 20s and 30s who recently returned from Italy together.

The fourth - a man in his 70s - is a contact of a resident at the Dorothy Henderson Lodge nursing home where two residents have died of the virus.

Four new coronavirus cases have been confirmed in NSW on Wednesday afternoon, taking the state's total to 65

Southern Cross University closed its campus in the Northern Rivers region on Wednesday after a visiting staff member tested positive.

The Lismore campus is one of two campuses closing amid outbreak fears after the staff member attended a series of workshops from March 4 to 6 before returning to the Philippines on Saturday.

The man also visited the university's Gold Coast campus.

On Wednesday morning, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the travel ban would be extended to Italy - effective from 6pm

Southern Cross University vice-chancellor Adam Shoemaker on Wednesday said in a statement that 45 people are believed to have come into contact or proximity with the man during his time in Australia.

CORONAVIRUS CASES IN AUSTRALIA: 27,244 Victoria: 20,269 New South Wales: 4,273 Queensland: 1,161 Western Australia: 692 South Australia: 473 Tasmania: 230 Australian Capital Territory: 113 Northern Territory: 33 TOTAL CASES: 27,244 ESTIMATED ACTIVE CASES: 269 DEATHS: 897 Updated: 5.31 PM, 11 October, 2020 Source: Australian Government Department of Health Advertisement

'In conjunction with health authorities, the university has commenced contacting each individual,' Professor Shoemaker said.

University operations vice president Allan Morris said the campuses would be cleaned on Wednesday.

On Wednesday morning, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the travel ban would be extended to Italy - effective from 6pm.

Australian residents can fly but must self-isolate for two weeks when they land.

The same rules are in place for Iran, South Korea and mainland China.

'The situation in Italy is now commensurate with the other countries where we previously had travel bans put in place, so we'll be extending that travel ban to Italy now,' Scott Morrison said in a press conference on Wednesday morning.

A passenger wearing a mask and gloves arrives at Sydney Airport on Wednesday morning

As coronavirus continues to hammer the economy, the government will hand out cash payments of $500 in a bid to prevent a recession, it has been reported.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison is due to announce a range of measures to boost the economy tomorrow.

According to Sky News, they will include $500 one-off payments to pensioners and Newstart recipients.

The government will also legislate to give tax breaks for small and medium businesses.

The stimulus package will total around $20billion, almost double the $10billion figure that has been previously speculated.
Dozens of Western Massachusetts residents, including two city officials, are under quarantine after possible exposure to people diagnosed with coronavirus.

While the majority of cases in Massachusetts are tied to foreign travel, medical professionals in the Berkshires are confronting community spread of the virus.

Seven presumptive positive diagnoses of the disease, named COVID-19, have been reported in Berkshire County, the sole county in Western Massachusetts so far to report any cases. The total number of patients with the respiratory infection statewide rose to 92 on Tuesday, according to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. All but one of the cases are presumptive positive. Testing by the state public health is considered presumptive until confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control.

Five residents sought treatment at Berkshire Medical Center reporting severe flu-like symptoms starting March 1. The patients were admitted for treatment and remained hospitalized as recently as this week, the Boston Globe reported.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health waited to test the patients for about five days after they were admitted to the hospital, the Globe reported.

While caring for the patients, nurses and other staff at the hospital were potentially exposed, according to the Globes report. Nurses wore face masks but not eye shields and gowns, as recommended for medical professionals treating COVID-19 patients.

Hospital staff who came into contact with the patients have been furloughed for 14-days, a spokesperson for the medical center said.

The Massachusetts Nurses Association, which represents nurses at Berkshire Medical, said 70 employees are quarantined. Of the 70 staff members, 54 are nurses, the newspaper reported. Two additional people have tested positive since the five patients were admitted for treatment at the hospital.

North Adams Mayor Tom Bernard announced this week that he and City Councilor Jason LaForest would be isolating themselves after possible exposure. LaForest developed mild symptoms Tuesday morning, according to a statement from Bernard. The city officials will work from home pending test results.

The mayor said he and LaForest have an obligation to model best practices and follow instructions set out by public health officials. Bernard added that he has heard many people use the phrase abundance of caution, which guided his decision to self-isolate.

As a father, nurse, and elected official, I take precautions for the transmission of and illness extremely seriously, LaForest said in a statement shared by Bernard. Hopefully my symptoms are related to a simple cold and not the COVID-19 virus."

Communities are taking steps to prevent further potential spread.

Barbara Malkas, superintendent of public schools in North Adams, canceled events, including field trips, workshops and seminars, through April 17. Classes and internal business will continue until further notice, according to Bernard.

School buildings in the city were disinfected over the weekend as well, and district employees will follow heightened protocol, with a focus on high touch points, the mayor said, adding that nurses at the Berkshire Public Health Alliance and other medical staffers are conducting contact investigations of cases of the illness.

North Adams city officials had a meeting Tuesday with representatives from Northern Berkshire EMS, which reported that first responders will follow an updated set of dispatch and patient contact protocols, according to Bernard.

This means that the way that patients and caregivers interact with EMS staff may look different but will not cause delays in emergency response or the quality of care received from EMS, the mayor said.

The community is working closely with the Regional Emergency Planning Committee as well to share information and best practices, according to the mayor.

We understand that hearing news of cases of COVID-19 in our community will be unsettling for some residents and visitors, Bernard said in his statement. City and school district staff remain committed to providing a rational, measured, commonsense response.

Roughly 400 have been tested as of Tuesday afternoon, state officials said. The commonwealth is receiving an additional 2,000 kits, expanding access to testing within Massachusetts.

Baker warned Tuesday that more cases will be reported in the near future as more testing is done" due to the increase in availability of testing.

Middlesex County, Massachusetts most populated county, has the highest number of confirmed coronavirus patients, with 41 as of Tuesday. Norfolk has the second highest number: 22 cases. Suffolk County follows closely with 20. Worcester and Essex counties each have one case.

For the vast majority of people, the virus is not deadly. Older adults and people with underlying health concerns are the most at risk.

Comment on this story on MassLives Facebook page.

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The Delhi Commission For Protection of Child Rights (DCPCR) has issued a notice to a school here to ensure that a student, who missed her exams since she was shot in the hand during the recent northeast Delhi riots, be allowed to take them after she is healed.

The student, a class 9 student of a government school in northeast Delhi, was shot in the hand during the communal violence last month and missed her exams, the commission said.

"Our city has faced a great plight and our children have gone through trauma that no child should. In light of this, the Commission asks you to ensure that she may be allowed to give her exams when she is healed and her year does not go in vain," the notice said.

The notice was issued on Monday by DCPCR member Anurag Kundu. It also sought an action taken report in the matter.

The communal violence in northeast Delhi last month claimed 53 lives and left over 200 people injured.

Several areas in northeast Delhi, including Chand Bagh, Bhajanpura, Gokulpuri, Maujpur, Kardampuri and Jaffrabad, were the worst affected by the violence triggered by clashes between those protesting the Citizenship Amendment Act and those supporting it.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Aramco will boost its crude oil output capacity by one million barrels per day, taking the overall daily figure to a potential 13 million, Deutsche Welle reported on Wednesday.

"Saudi Aramco announces that it received a directive from the Ministry of Energy to increase its maximum sustainable capacity from 12 million bpd to 13 bpd," the company said in a statement to the Saudi Stock Exchange.

A day earlier, the oil company said it will increase its output by 300,000 barrels per day from April 1 but will now appear to be upping the ante further by increasing its capability by another 700,000.

Aramco did not say when the additional boost will occur. The Saudi firm is locked in a dispute with Russia, which has also said it is considering increasing its output as oil prices continue to fluctuate due to the acrimony.

Oil prices on Monday fell by over 30 per cent, the biggest fall since the 1991 Gulf War after Saudi Arabia slashed its export oil prices over the weekend in retaliation to Russia's refusal to agree to further production cuts.

The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) are hoping to broker an agreement whereby both scale down their outputs.

OPEC's concerns are that a drastic increase in oil distribution will flood global energy markets and place further pressure on prices.

Meanwhile, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said discussions are continuing with OPEC and that Moscow will send a representative to the organisation's joint technical committee meeting in Vienna on March 18.

Novak also raised concerns about the market's unpredictability due to the coronavirus outbreak, according to Deutsche Welle.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said he was optimistic common sense will prevail and that there is no need to panic.

.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
T he morning we meet, Catherine Cho has just completed her Life in the UK test, a 24-question multiple-choice exam that makes up part of the application process for British citizenship. She passed with flying colours  despite a particularly tough one concerning the number of jurors in a Scottish court trial  before heading to Bloomsbury publishers for another round of questioning: this time her first ever interview. With hands wrapped around a mug of tea, the literary agent turned author admits its been a surreal morning.

Cho wrote her debut book, Inferno: A Memoir, as a way of coming to terms with the postpartum psychosis she suffered after the birth of her son in 2018. From memory loss and sleep deprivation to twisted hallucinations and violent paranoid episodes, no details are spared.

When I thought before about someone being schizophrenic or experiencing psychosis, I would think of hearing voices. But I hadnt really considered how visceral it really feels, she says. The main struggle for me was that you truly cant differentiate between whats real and whats not real. The loss of a sense of time was incredibly frightening. Your brain thinks youre experiencing the same moment hundreds of times; thats really disorientating, and incredibly terrifying.

In honest and intricate detail, Inferno traverses between past traumas and present-day experiences. Its difficult to know where the story of psychosis begins, she writes. Was it the moment I met my son? Or was it decided in the before, something rooted deeper in my fate, generations ago?

Cho never set out to become an author, but after she was involuntarily sectioned in a psychiatric ward two years ago, writing was the way she regained her grip on reality. I kept a journal from the very beginning, explains Cho. It helped me figure out what was happening, and it kept me on track when I was going through depression for a couple of months after [the psychosis].

In Inferno, she refers to the checklist of truths scrawled on a piece of paper that would go on to become the starting point of the book. I am alive. Real. I am married to James. Real. James loves me. Real. I have a son. Real.

Postpartum psychosis is thought to affect one or two in every 1,000 mothers, but Cho points out that less severe feelings of dissociation are extremely common.

Youre changing your role and your identity and of course going through a very physical experience, so its not surprising. Im hopeful that by showing what it actually feels like to be in a psychotic episode, maybe it will help us take away our preconceptions.

I am alive. Real. I am married to James. Real. James loves me. Real. I have a son. Real.

While Cho now lives in London with James, she was hospitalised in New Jersey, during the final leg of the couples month-long trip to the US to introduce their baby to friends and family. She felt scrutinised by both her own parents and her in-laws  Korean culture dictates that mother and baby should stay indoors for the first 100 days after giving birth  and the stress of travelling coupled with medical issues, sleep deprivation and the weight of familial expectations all contributed to a stress-induced psychosis.

Cho, who interlaces the book with her own past traumas, and the stories passed down to her from her grandmother, say she sees Inferno as an examination of all the things that make up a person. You think, What is my identity, who am I? What are the stories that make me who I am? 

As the memoir slips between vignettes of the past, we learn about a harrowing relationship with an abusive ex-boyfriend. I didnt deal with it. I wanted to set it aside and get rid of it as soon as possible, but I realised the residual effect that it had on me was still there. I think the book helped me trace that. In my psychosis he was such a present figure. It made me realise I hadnt fully understood what had happened.

Two years on, she has a happy and healthy son, who loves books and stories. Though Cho faces a 50 per cent chance of a repeat psychosis, she does want more children in the future, and despite the horrors she went through, coming out the other side taught her the value of monitoring her mental health.
Christine Assange, the mother of WikiLeaks' publisher, Julian Assange, has warned that her sons life is at heightened risk due to the danger he could contract the coronavirus infection in Britains Belmarsh Prison. After almost a decade of arbitrary-detention and the refusal of the authorities to provide him with adequate medical care, his immune system is severely compromised.

In a tweet on Monday night, Christine Assange wrote: New concerns for my sons life... Julian [is] chronically ill/at higher risk of dying from coronavirus, also known as COVID-19. She cited a news report stating that coronavirus spreads quickly in prison and that healthcare in prisons is substandard.

Assange in Belmarsh Prison sometime after his arrest on April 11 last year

Her tweet noted that Julian Assange is being detained without charge and is non-violent. The brutal conditions of his imprisonment are one prong in the British campaign to extradite the WikiLeaks publisher to the US, where he faces Espionage Act charges and life imprisonment for exposing American war crimes. Christine Assange concluded by demanding that her son be immediately bailed.

Her warnings have been echoed by leading medical experts, who are signatories to a series of letters by Doctors4Assange.

Since November, the group, composed of more than 100 eminent doctors, has demanded that the British government release Assange from Belmarsh Prison and transfer him to a university teaching hospital so that he can receive adequate medical care. Their calls, which have included warnings that Assange could die if immediate action is not taken, have been ignored by the British government and Labour opposition, as well as the government and Labor opposition in Assanges home country, Australia.

In comments to the WSWS yesterday, Dr Stephen Frost, a specialist in diagnostic radiology and leading member of Doctors4Assange, stated: Given what we know about this case, Mrs Assange is right to be concerned. Julian Assange, because he is immuno-compromised, following years of arbitrary detention first in the Ecuadorian Embassy and latterly in Belmarsh prison, is necessarily at higher risk of contracting any viral or bacterial infection, including infection by coronavirus.

He should be released on bail immediately, so that he can access the health care which he urgently requires. The UK government is effectively playing Russian roulette with Julian Assanges life.

Frost referenced the finding of United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture Nils Melzer that Assange has suffered psychological torture as a result of his persecution, noting that it was ignored by the British authorities. He concluded: If Julian Assange should die in prison, the UK government will be culpable.

Lissa Johnson, a clinical psychologist and spokesperson for Doctors4Assange, declared: Julian Assange is absolutely at increased risk from the coronavirus in Belmarsh prison. As a torture victim suffering ongoing psychological torture, his physical health was already in a precarious state before the coronavirus outbreak. The incessant and extreme activation of stress physiology under conditions of psychological torture can seriously compromise immunity, such that simple viral and bacterial infections can rapidly become life threatening. More complex and novel viruses such as COVID-19 pose an even greater threat.

As long ago as 2015 medical and human rights experts warned that anything more than a trivial illness could prove fatal for Julian Assange. His health is even more fragile now, and the Corona virus only renders those warnings more urgent and more dire.

Johnson stated: If Julian Assange does succumb to coronavirus or any other catastrophic illness in prison, it will not be an accident. It will be a foreseeable result of prolonged psychological torture and wilful medical neglect.

Johnson called for Assange to be released from prison immediately and for the extradition proceedings against him to be dropped.

Dr Bill Hogan, who works in internal medicine in the US concurred, stating: It is also true that individuals under extreme stress are more susceptible to acquiring infections. Given the evidence of Julians torture, the lack of relief from the circumstances to which his torture has been ascribed, and the multiple eyewitness accounts that document Julians dramatic physical deterioration, I can state with high confidence that Julian is indeed more susceptible to infections generallyand coronavirus specificallythan the general population.

The warnings come amid a rapid spike in the number of coronavirus infections globally. The shambolic official response to the virus in the US, Britain and internationally, has underscored the consequences of a decades-long assault on public healthcare. Prisoners are particularly vulnerable, due to the limited medical care they receive and their enforced confinement among other inmates.

This morning, the Independent reported that the Howard League for Penal Reform has written to the British Ministry of Justice, demanding to know what measures have been taken to protect prisoners from a potential outbreak.

The letter noted the unhygienic conditions prevailing in many prisons and warned that the disease could flourish if there is an outbreak under conditions of overcrowding, poor ventilation and a high proportion of inmates with compromised health. It expressed surprise that there appears to have been no statement from the Ministry of Justice as to the precautions being taken.

The Independent continued: A recent report by the Nuffield Trust think tank showed prisoners in Britain frequently had hospital appointments cancelled and received less healthcare than the general public, with as many as four in 10 hospital appointments made for a prisoner cancelled or missed in 2017-18largely due to a lack of prison staff available to transport and guard prisoners while at hospital.

It noted that concerns are growing that a dwindling prison workforce would be unable to provide basic necessities, such as food and security, for the UKs 84,000 prisoners.

Overnight, Dita Saliuka, whose brother died in Belmarsh Prison in January, tweeted: What are the plans for UK prisons for Covid2019?  Healthcare in prisons is poor and there are prisoners with underlying health conditions that deserve the same healthcare as the rest of us or they will die!

Saliuka and her family have rejected official claims that her brother Liridon Saliuka died as a result of self-inflicted injuries. They have claimed that there were repeated delays to his autopsy and that he had recently been moved to a standard prison cell, despite having been assessed as permanently disabled by a doctor.

Saliukas death was one of a series at Belmarsh, dubbed the UKs Guantanamo Bay because of its brutal conditions. Last month a 36-year-old inmate was found dead after sustaining massive head injuries during a bashing.

Assanges confinement in the prison is of a piece with the broader assault on his legal and democratic rights by the British authorities. During the first week of US extradition hearings which began on February 25, the WikiLeaks editor was repeatedly stripped naked and handcuffed, before having his legal documents stolen by prison guards. He was placed in a bullet-proof glass box at the back of the courtroom, preventing him from following proceedings or instructing his lawyers.

The warnings of Christine Assange and the doctors underscore the urgency of the fight for Assanges immediate and unconditional freedom. The reports demonstrate that this struggle is inseparable from the defence of the social and democratic rights of the working class, including to high-quality healthcare.
(Alliance News) - Gem Diamonds Ltd on Wednesday reported a full-year earnings decrease with carats recovered also falling, and the average value slipping.

In 2019, revenue was down by almost a third to USD182.0 million from USD267.3 million, the gem producer said.

Pretax profit from continuing operations was 69% lower at USD24.1 million from USD78.7 million.

Carats recovered from its Letseng diamond mine in Lesotho fell 10% to 113,974 from 126,875.

Average value slipped 23% to USD1,637 per carat from USD2,131.

"The challenging operating and market conditions in 2019 required Gem Diamonds to demonstrate its resilience. The prolonged weakness in the rough diamond market affected producers across the industry. Drivers underlying this trend included an oversupply of rough diamonds and funding issues affecting buying patterns in the middle market. While the prices achieved for Letseng's high-quality goods had held up in 2017 and 2018, during 2019 prices were impacted by the overall weakness in the market," Gem Diamonds explained.

The amount of diamonds recovered which were larger than 100 carats also fell in 2019, to 11 diamonds, from 15 in 2018.

Chief Executive Officer Clifford Elphick said: "Gem Diamonds delivered solid operational results which together with the targeted gains of the Business Transformation programme and continued emphasis on cost controls, confirmed our status as one of the lowest-cost producers in the industry."

The company said its Business Transformation scheme has secured USD55 million in savings to date, leaving it on track to deliver cost cuts of USD100 million the end of 2021.

Shares in the company were untraded in London on Wednesday morning, last quoted at 48.25 pence each.

By Eric Cunha; ericcunha@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
Many employees are arriving early at work and leaving late, according to a survey. (Tyler Franta/Unsplash)

Millions of Brits are spending years of their life working unpaid outside of their standard working hours, a new study reveals.

A survey of 2,000 Brits by Hitachi Personal Finance has revealed how much time Brits are spending working past their contracted hours and what else the nation could be doing with this time.

The research found nearly half (49%) of British people arrive at work early each day, and 48% admitted to staying late every day.

Read more: How does overworking affect your health?

Looking more closely at those who are arriving early to work, a third (32%) are working an extra 147 days in their lifetime by getting to the office 20 minutes early each day. Additionally, 15% of Brits are working an extra 330 days  thats nearly a year  by arriving at the office 45 minutes before their shift starts.

Whats more, 2% are tallying up a one year and two months worth of overtime by getting to work an hour earlier than they are contracted to. In total, this means that Brits are wasting 917 days on unpaid work across their lifetime, just by arriving early to work each day.

And for those working after their shift ends, three in 10 Brits (30%) are spending a further 147 days at work in their lifetime, staying late by 20 minutes each day, and 14% are working an extra 330 days in their lifetime by leaving work 45 minutes after theyre supposed to.

READ MORE: Why leaving work on time is good for your career

Even more shockingly, 5% of Brits rack up an extra one year two months overtime in their lifetime by leaving the office an hour or more after they should be going home. Overall this means that Brits are putting in an extra two-and-a-half-years work in their lifetime, just by sticking around the office when their shift ends.

In total, these figures show that Brits are working 1,834 days  or five years  unpaid across their working lives, just by starting work early and finishing late. Thats an extra 42 days each year.

With three in five Brits (61%) saying they would rather have a good work-life balance than a high salary, the prospect of a bigger wage packet is potentially not what is keeping UK workers in the office for longer, but perhaps the pressures and workload they are facing in their jobs.

Story continues

READ MORE: Cash-strapped Brits work longer hours but struggle to make ends meet

Delving into the industries that are most likely to work overtime, the top five are media/PR/marketing (68%), emergency services (65%), finance and HR (63%), sales (61%), accounts and artist/designer/creative (60%).

Vincent Reboul, managing director of Hitachi Capital Consumer Finance, said: Its very interesting to see the sheer amount of people in Britain who are working way past their contracted hours. Its shocking to see that the hours spent simply by arriving to work early or leaving late adds up to six weeks per year, or over five years in a lifetime.

Although sometimes putting in the extra hours at work is necessary, our time is precious and we should aim to spend it wisely, whether that's with our loved ones, focusing on our wellbeing or maybe even learning a new skill or two.
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Every year, 15 million babies are born too early, with 1 million never making it to their next birthday. And in low-resource settings, the outlook is even more dire. Half of babies born at 32 weeks or earlier will die; whereas in high-resource settings, almost all of these babies survive.

To help bridge this gap, an interdisciplinary team of Northwestern University researchers has developed a new wireless, battery-charged, affordable monitoring system for newborn babies that can easily be implemented to provide clinical-grade care in nearly any setting.

The new devices also exceed the capabilities of existing, wired monitoring technologies to provide information beyond traditional vital signs, including crying, movement, body orientation and heart sounds. These soft, flexible sensors also are far gentler on newborns' fragile skin, and their wireless capabilities allow for more skin-to-skin contact with parents.

Not only can this technology lower risks by monitoring premature babies, it can also is monitor pregnant women during labor to ensure a healthy and safe delivery and reduce risks of maternal mortality. By closely monitoring the most vulnerable patients, physicians can be alerted to intervene before the infant or mother become seriously ill.

Details about the technology will be published March 11 in the journal Nature Medicine, with extensive tests on newborns at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago and Prentice Women's Hospital in Chicago. The sensors described in the paper also are now being tested on newborns at Aga Khan University Hospital Nairobi, Kenya and on pregnant mothers in the University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka, Zambia.

'From the hospital to the home to the field'

Led by Northwestern's John A. Rogers, a pioneer in the emerging field of bio-integrated electronics, the research team developed the sensors last year and tested them on babies in the United States. Now, with support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Save the Children, his team is deploying the devices internationally, starting with hospitals in Ghana, India, Kenya and Zambia.

"We designed our technology to offer affordable, clinical-grade monitoring capabilities for use anywhere in the world -- from the hospital to the home to the field," Rogers said. "Using advanced concepts in soft electronics, we achieved devices that are safe, easy to use and patient-centric. We included in our research a focus on features to allow application in low-resource settings in the developing world, where this type of technology has the greatest potential to improve and possibly save lives."

"The new technology represents a monumental advance in neonatal and pediatric care," said Dr. Debra Weese-Mayer, a pediatrician in autonomic medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, who co-led the study with Rogers. "This is not strictly about making critical care systems 'wireless', this is about thinking expansively about what non-traditional variables we need to incorporate to more fully study health and ensure stability."

Rogers is the Louis Simpson and Kimberley Querrey Professor of Materials Science and Engineering and Biomedical Engineering in Northwestern's McCormick School of Engineering and professor of neurological surgery in Feinberg. He also is executive director of the Querrey Simpson Institute for Bio-electronics at Northwestern. Weese-Mayer is the Beatrice Cummings Mayer Professor of Pediatric Autonomic Medicine at Feinberg and chief of pediatric autonomic medicine at Lurie Children's Hospital.

Reliable in areas without stable power

The new study builds on previous research conducted in the Rogers lab. Last February, Rogers and his collaborators published results from a study conducted at Lurie Children's Hospital and Prentice Women's Hospital in Chicago. Here, researchers tested a pair of wireless, battery-free, flexible sensors on premature babies. The sensors proved to be as precise and accurate as traditional wire-based monitoring devices that interfere with parent-baby cuddling and physical bonding.

To move these platforms from Chicago into the developing world, Rogers' team added a small, thin, rechargeable battery to give the device stable, reliable power for operation in rural settings and to improve the wireless operating range. The team also added extra sensing capabilities to monitor crying, movement and heart sounds.

"We couldn't just drop our existing technology into other countries and different settings without taking their specific needs into account," Rogers said. "We wanted to understand the broader landscape and to develop a technology that is easy-to-use, helpful and practical. We knew that we needed to build the foundations for highly robust, reusable devices, applicable in regions with limited facilities and resources."

"Some areas experience rolling blackouts every day and uneven internet coverage," said Dr. Shuai (Steve) Xu, a Northwestern Medicine dermatologist and co-first author of the study who leads deployment of the system on the ground. "People in these areas need a practical device that works and is cheaper to manufacture."

Sensors send data to mobile devices

The sensors use radio frequencies to wirelessly transmit data from the baby to nurses' station displays. They also can send data directly to a smartphone or tablet.

"The beauty of the technology is that it can operate with a wide range of mobile devices without sacrificing accuracy, relative to the most sophisticated systems used in hospitals today," Xu said. "You don't need expensive equipment that requires a specialized bioengineer and I.T. department to install. You pull out your mobile device, connect to our sensors, and you're taking care of patients."

Implementing technology abroad

Xu, the medical director of the Querrey Simpson Institute for Bio-electronics, assistant professor of dermatology and pediatrics at Feinberg and assistant professor of biomedical engineering at McCormick, has spent the past six months leading a team of engineers in setting up the technology in hospitals in Kenya and Zambia, working with nurses and physicians. The program will involve testing the sensors on 15,000 pregnant women and 500 newborn babies by mid-2021.

"This is a collaborative team effort," Xu said. "We've spent a lot of time working with and listening to physicians, nurses and health care workers in each location. We want to make sure that our technology is useful and helps solve problems they face every day. It's been incredibly motivating."

So far, 42 babies in Kenya have worn the wireless sensors alongside gold-standard, traditional monitoring systems so researchers could do a side-by-side, quantitative comparison. After validating the device at Aga Khan University Hospital, the team plans to move the technology to low-resource hospitals in rural Africa, where the need is greatest.

"The urgency of need in Nairobi is significant, but nothing compared to that in the rural areas," Rogers said. "There's room for improvement everywhere, but the added value of making affordable health care monitoring systems is so much higher in these settings."

Collaborating with nurses abroad

Rogers and Xu said the early feedback from hospital nurses has been invaluable. The sensors work in pairs -- one on the chest and one wrapped around a foot. In an earlier version of the technology, nurses worried that the chest sensor might be too large for small, fragile newborns. Rogers and his team immediately responded to this feedback to make a smaller, thinner chest device.

"The nurses have been enthusiastic about the new iteration," Rogers said. "These latest platforms also are giving us great data. When we put the sensor on the baby, it starts working immediately, in nearly any setting or location."

Nurses also have struggled with perfecting the foot sensor's alignment. If the sensor is not correctly wrapped around the foot, then the data are not as accurate.

"It takes some practice to quickly align the foot sensor," Rogers said. "So we designed a system that lights up as red, yellow or green -- incorrect, close or in the right place -- depending on the accuracy of the alignment, to provide feedback to the caregiver."

'Mothers love our sensors'

The team also has received encouraging feedback from parents, who benefit from more physical bonding or "kangaroo care." Dennis Ryu, a Ph.D. student in the Rogers lab, spent six weeks on the ground at Aga Khan University Hospital in Nairobi, Kenya and University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka, Zambia with plans to return this spring.

"Mothers love our sensors because they can have more skin-to-skin contact with their babies," Ryu said. "Kangaroo care has profound benefits for the mother and baby, including bonding, better sleep and less stress."

"Suggestions come directly from speaking to people on the ground and directly observing how our sensors are used," Xu added. "It really is a bi-directional information flow."

What's next?

With an exclusive license to the technology from Northwestern, Rogers and Xu launched Sibel Health to scale the technology and to earn FDA approval later this year, with a focus on maternal, fetal, neonatal and pediatric health. More recently, Sibel announced a strategic partnership with Drager, a leading international safety and medical technology company that focuses on products that protect, support and save lives.

Next, Rogers and Xu plan to incorporate artificial intelligence into the sensors to extract insights from the data and provide health care professionals with recommendations for care.

"These systems are generating half a gigabyte of data for one patient a day. That's a lot of physiological information," Xu said. "We'd like to use clinically validated algorithms that could, for example, tell us if a baby is likely to develop sepsis within the next 24 hours based on their vital signals. Then we could have ventilators and antibiotics ready to escalate care almost proactively. For pregnant women, we're working with Dr. Jeffrey Stringer -- the director of the division of Global Women's Health at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill -- with funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to more quickly identify danger signals in low-resource settings."

Rogers estimates these new wireless sensors could appear in U.S. hospitals within the next year. His team also expects to send sensors to more hospitals in countries around the world as part of an ongoing international effort to improve affordable health care monitoring.

"We believe that our technology could significantly enhance the quality of neonatal care around the world," Rogers said. "We think in terms of a 'NICU of the future,' available anywhere."

"The vision is bold," Xu said. "We want to see these sensors in every country, monitoring the first heartbeat to the last in our most vulnerable patients."

###

The paper's first authors, who are all from Northwestern, are Ha Uk Chung, Alina Rwei, Aurelie Hourlier-Fargette and Dr. Xu.

The study, "Skin-interfaced biosensors and pilot studies for advanced wireless physiological monitoring in neonatal and pediatric intensive care units," was supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (award numbers OPP1182909, OPP1193311 and INV-000787), the Gerber Foundation, Save the Children (award number 999002170), National Institutes of Health (grant number TL1TR001423) and the National Science Foundation (grant numbers 1400159, 1534120 and 1635443).

Editor's note: Rogers and Xu have financial interests in and affiliations with Sibel Health. Northwestern University has financial interests (equities, royalties) in Sibel Health.
The battle for control of the global oil market intensified again on Wednesday as Saudi Arabia promised to increase production capacity and the United Arab Emirates said it plans to pump as much as possible next month. Riyadh said it will boost capacity to an unprecedented 13 million barrels a day, doubling down on Tuesdays pledge of extra output in April.

The UAE, a close Saudi ally, then promised to push more crude to customers than it normally produces. These are fresh shots in an all-out war that has seen prices crash and the outlook for the market darken as ...
An African American senator from Birmingham said today it was a slap in the face of black citizens to bring back to the Senate floor legislation that penalizes cities for moving or altering historical monuments.

Sen. Rodger Smitherman, D-Birmingham, held a rope on the Senate floor to symbolize the threats of lynching and oppression his ancestors faced during the time of the Confederacy and its aftermath.

Smitherman made his comments as the Senate considered amending the Alabama Memorial Preservation Act, which the Legislature passed in 2017. Under the law, the city of Birmingham was fined $25,000 for placing plywood covers around a Confederate memorial in Linn Park.

Sen. Gerald Allen, R-Tuscaloosa, who sponsored the original legislation, is sponsoring a bill this year amending the law.

It means nothing to you all that we hurt," Smitherman said. Not at all. Every time you bring back this crap up, it reminds us. Yes, it reminds us. That our great grandparents and great great grandparents had to suffer through this stuff. That what those boys who had us as their slaves thats your gallant heroes on these monuments remind us of.

Allens bill would change the fine a local government entity would pay for moving or altering a historical monument in place for 40 years or more. The law currently says the fine is $25,000, which is what Birmingham was charged. Allens bill would change that to $5,000 a day for each day a violation continues.

Allen said he understood Smithermans reaction but stands by the intent of his bill.

I can understand where hes coming from but at the same time what were trying to do is preserve and protect all history, Allen said. And thats where were trying to accomplish today. And although the years have gone by and the history it wasnt pretty, ugly, sometimes just awful. But it is what it is. And how can you tell the complete story if you start taking away things? And you cant. You cant tell the whole story.

The Senate did not take a vote on the bill. Allen agreed to set aside the bill temporarily today after Smithermans objections. The Senate adjourned without bringing it back up.

Sometimes its hard for other people to walk in peoples shoes and to be able to reflect what impact a situation would have on them," Smitherman said after the Senate adjourned. "So when you saw that rope, that was the illustration to show them, this goes back to the time when people were hung. Some of those people are being honored for having slaves. And for mistreatment of slaves. And for hanging of slaves. And no, we dont appreciate that at all.

Smitherman also said the bill was unnecessary because the Birmingham case showed that the law worked as it was intended. He said it would be wrong to subject cities to larger fines that could accrue at $5,000 a day.
The Delhi High Court Bar Association (DHCBA) on Wednesday passed a resolution to protest a proposed consumer regulation which includes lawyers within the purview of service providers, making them answerable to consumer fora in the country.

The association said its members will wear white armbands on Thursday as a mark of protest against the proposed rules under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.

"(The Delhi High Court Bar Association has) resolved that upon taking notice of reports appearing in the media about the proposed framing of rules under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 so as to surreptitiously and in a most clandestine manner, include advocates within the purview of service provider under the Act, thereby making advocates amenable to jurisdiction under the consumer fora," the resolution said.

The DHCBA said that it will make a representation to the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution seeking withdrawal of the proposal.

"The Bar Association and the legal fraternity cautions the government against going ahead with the said misconceived and mischievous proposal failing which the Bar Association will be compelled to launch a strong agitation against the ill-conceived move," the resolution stated.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Statement on President Duterte's certification of CITIRA as urgent

By Senator Pia S. Cayetano

Chairperson, Senate Ways and Means Committee

I welcome President Rodrigo Duterte's certification as urgent the Senate's version of the Corporate Income Tax and Incentives Rationalization Act (CITIRA).

This Presidential directive underscores the urgency to forge a more fair, efficient, and accountable tax system - one that should foster a stronger economy amid the many challenges our country is facing.

The certification also affirms the position earlier taken by our top economic managers, finance experts, and various business organizations fully backing SBN 1357.

The Senate version of CITIRA is a result of the successive discussions our committee conducted with investors to address their concerns. And what we repeatedly heard from various stakeholders is that we need to pass this measure.

Like the President, I am hopeful that passing CITIRA will end all uncertainty, assure investors of a more level playing field in terms of doing business in the country, and lead to a brighter and more sustainable future for all Filipinos.
MUMBAI: A Mumbai court on Wednesday (March 11, 2020) extended troubled private sector lender Yes Bank founder Rana Kapoor's Enforcement Directorate (ED) custody till March 16.

Kapoor was arrested by the ED on Sunday after hours-long questioning in Mumbai and was remanded to the agency`s custody till March 11 by a PMLA court.

The agency had sought further custody of Kapoor for questioning in connection with several allegations of financial misconduct against him.

The ED, as well as the CBI, have registered separate cases against Rana Kapoor, his wife, their three daughters - Rakhee Kapoor Tandon, Roshni Kapoor and Radha Kapoor - and Dewan Housing Finance Ltd (DHFL) promoter Kapil Wadhwan for hatching a criminal conspiracy from April to June 2018 between for extending financial assistance to DHFL by Yes Bank Ltd.

It is alleged that the Kapoors were paid kickbacks of Rs 600 crore for extending financial assistance to DHFL by Yes Bank Ltd.

Kapoor was arrested by the ED on Sunday after hours-long questioning in Mumbai and was been sent by a Mumbai court in the agency`s custody till March 11.

It may be noted that three of Kapoor's Delhi-based properties amounting over Rs 1,000 crore are under the ED scanner and th agency plans to sell them.

The three properties -- 40, Amrita Shergill Marg; 18 Kautilya Marg, Chanakya Puri; and in the Diplomatic Enclave on Sardar Patel Marg -- are not directly linked to Kapoor but officials said that he had tasked some top property dealers here for hunting some buyers to sell these assets to.

It is learnt that all the properties are linked to Kapoor`s wife Bindu Kapoor, who is also under the scanner as ED probes suspicious transactions of around Rs 4,300 crore.

Bindu Kapoor bought a luxurious bungalow at 40, Amrita Shergill Marg - a prime location in Lutyens` Delhi - in the name of her company Bliss Abode Ltd while the other two properties belong to Bliss Villa (Delhi) Private Ltd.

Known for a flamboyant lifestyle and penchant for publicity, Kapoor, sources said, wanted to shift his base in the US, the UK or France by selling properties in Delhi and Mumbai soon after he got a tip-off about ED`s investigation against him.

It is suspected that he did not want to leave any of his property in India before shifting his base, said the source, adding the ED has begun probing his three prime properties in Delhi which have a value of more than Rs 1,000 crore.

The source said that the property at Amrita Shergill Marg was bought from Avantha Realty, Gautam Thapar`s company which had borrowed money from Yes Bank.

According to sources, Kapoor`s wife had bought this property in the name of her company Bliss Abode Ltd on account of a loan default by Avantha Realty. Yes Bank`s exposure to Avantha Realty was Rs 500 crore.

Bliss Abode Pvt Ltd had bought this property by raising Rs 380 crore from a Mumbai- based non-banking financial company. The address of Bliss Abode is also the same as the property bought.

Yes Bank allegedly, instead of going for a procedure under the RBI`s suggested guidelines to recover the loan, sold the property for a bare minimum price of Rs 380 crore to Bliss Abode Pvt Ltd. Amrita Shergill Marg is one of the most prime areas of Delhi and sources said that the property was priced at around Rs 450 crore.

The Chanakya Puri property is in the name of Bliss Villa (Delhi) Pvt Ltd which was incorporated on September 9, 1971. It is classified as a non-government company and is registered at the Registrar of Companies, Delhi.

Its authorised share capital is Rs 20,000,000 and its paid-up capital is Rs. 18,374,800. The Directors of Bliss Villa (Delhi) Private Limited are Bindu Kapoor, and Ajita Madhukar Potdar. The third property in Diplomatic Enclave on Sardar Patel Marg is also a prime property linked to Rana but more information about the property could not be gathered.

It is learnt that the selling price of the Chanakya Puri and Sardar Patel property was fixed Rs 350 crore and Rs 250 crore, respectively.

The ED has not only started its probe into these three Delhi-based properties but also another property in Mumbai which was bought by Rana`s family on tony Altamount Road in Mumbai in 2018 for Rs 128 crore.

Jointly owned by Citibank and GlaxoSmithKline, the property is next to Mukesh Ambani`s 27-storey Antilla.

(With Agency inputs)
A special court in Mumbai on Wednesday extended Yes Bank founder Rana Kapoors custody with Enforcement Directorate till March 16. Kapoor has been held by the probe agency on the charges of money laundering.

The Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday told the special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court that Kapoor had sanctioned loans worth Rs 30,000 crore, out of which loans to the tune of Rs 20,000 crore have turned into non-performing assets (NPA). The agency is now looking into the accounts which have turned NPA.

Kapoor, 62, former MD and CEO of the private bank, was arrested by the ED in Mumbai on March 8 under provisions of the PMLA as he was allegedly not cooperating in the probe.

Kapoor was produced before the special PMLA court on Wednesday by the ED, which sought his further custody for seven more days. The court later extended Kapoors custody to ED till March 16.

On being produced Kapoor, was asked by the court if he had any complaints of ill-treatment against the officers of ED. Kapoor, who admittedly suffers from hearing ailment, told the court that he has been taken for treatment and has no complaints against the agency.

The ED counsel Sunil Gonsalves later began his arguments and told the court that Kapoor and his family are linked to 78 companies. The agency claimed they are scanning the companies which are linked to Kapoor and his family.

Gonsalves contended that the agency is now checking if the money worth Rs 20,000 crore have been diverted to the 78 companies linked to Kapoor and his family and if there was quid pro quo.

The ED also claimed that they needs to check where the money has gone and if the transactions were genuine.

The special judge however, sought documents from the agency to support their claim. You dont bring documents in support of the ground you raise, the court told agency. The agency later produced records of forensic audit of the Yes bank for the perusal of the court.

The plea was later objected by Kapoors lawyer Satish Manashinde saying that when Kapoor left the bank the NPA account was only 1% of the total loan. He alleged that Kapoor has been made scapegoat.

The defense raised questions on searches conducted by the Enforcement Directorate at Kapoors house much before the case was registered. Manashinde argued that when ED conducted searches, CBI had not registered a case. Predicate offense was registered much later by CBI and before that ED began probe and case of ED was registered, defense lawyer contended.

As per law ED can begin probe only after a predicate offense is registered by other agency for financial fraud.

The ED countered the issue and claimed that the searches were conducted in respect of case of money laundering against DHFL. It was during that the agency found material related to money laundering by Kapoor and hence separate case was later registered.

Manashinde further contended that when he left the bank the condition of the bank was much better but the management which subsequently took over failed.I cannot be held responsible for the failure of the present management, Manashinde argued.

Manashinde denied the allegations that Kapoor recieved kick backs for giving loan. He added that no bribe was taken. Kapoor was hightest paid banker and received amost Rs 50 crores per year from the bank since 2004 till recently, Manashinde argued added that he had recieved awards from various institution as best banker.

The defense further argued that there cannot be allegations of money laundering in the transactions of bank with DHFL as the money taken was much prior to the said transaction.

The agency claimed that Yes Bank bought debentures worth Rs.3700 crores of DHFL. In lieu of the same DHFL sanctioned a Rs.600 crore loan to Doit Urban Ventures Pvt Ltd, a company in which Kapoors daughters are directors. The loan was given without adequate collateral.

The defense contended that all the three daughters have given security and they are capable of returning the loan amount of Rs 600 crores and it was never in form of kick backs. He also said there are documents to show how the said money is utilised.
In his first Budget as Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak today announced a wave of coronavirus-battling measures

It was a Budget that was supposed to be about the Boris Bounce, but instead the Chancellor ended up trying to contain coronavirus.

Battling the effects of a coronavirus outbreak and the UK's attempts to stop it spreading were the cornerstone of Rishi Sunak's first Budget.

He pledged a massive wave of support for business, particularly small firms, and offered a helping hand on sick pay to those caught by the virus.

A hoped for stamp duty cut failed to arrive, but so too did a feared raid on pension tax relief and a mansion tax.

There was still time for plenty of Budget measures though, some stated in the speech and others somewhat hidden. Below we list the main Budget stories you need to know about and the key points in brief.

'This is vital but we may need more help': Businesses cheer their Budget lifeline as the Chancellor delivers help for firms battling coronavirus

High earners get pension tax relief boost in the Budget to fight NHS crisis stopping doctors working

Home buyers left disappointed as a Budget stamp duty cut fails to arrive, but delayed hike for foreign investors may trigger a mini-London boom

Fuel duty frozen for tenth consecutive year as reluctant Chancellor concedes that 'many people still rely on their cars'

Car tax for some drivers could rise to 2,000-a-year: Proposal buried in the Budget would see huge hikes

Budget slashes grant to buy an electric car by 500 to just 3,000 and removes it for cars costing more than 50k, including Tesla's Model S and X

Doing it for the kids! Budget hands young savers a boost as Junior Isa allowances more than double to 9,000 from April

Government pushes businesses to go greener as taxes are raised for gas bills - but frozen for electricity rates

Rural areas promised better internet as government pledges 5bn towards speedy broadband and 510m towards 4G coverage

BUDGET 2020 IN BRIEF

This is Money picked out all the key points of Chancellor Rishi Sunak's crucial financial presentation and is bringing them to you all in one place to get you up to speed at a glance.

Please refresh the page for the latest updates



NOVEL CORONAVIRUS SPECIAL MEASURES

-The Chancellor began at 12.34 by addressing the novel coronavirus outbreak. 'We will get through this together' Sunak said. The Government is doing 'everything it can' to keep the UK 'healthy and financially secure.'

-Sunak said there is likely to be a 'temporary disruption' to the economy, while up to a fifth of the working age population could be off at any one time.

-The total spent on fiscal stimulus measures to fight the impact of the virus will be 30billion. 'One of the most comprehensive packages anywhere in the world', Sunak says.

-Whatever extra resources the NHS needs to cope with the coronavirus 'it will get' he pledges, beginning with a 5billion emergency response fund.

-Sunak said statutory sick pay will be available for 'all those who are advised to self-isolate' even if they have not displayed symptoms. Businesses with less than 250 staff will get refunded for two weeks of pay if workers need to stay at home.

-The 'Coronavirus business interruption loans scheme' will support companies through the crisis with banks to offer loans of up to 1.2million to small and medium-sized businesses.

-For the coming year the 'exceptional step' of abolishing business rates for businesses with a rateable value below 51,000 will be taken.

-A 3,000 cash grant to be available to businesses eligible for small business rates relief.

ECONOMY, BUSINESS AND PUBLIC BORROWING

-The Office for Budget Responsibility has 'slightly reduced' its forecast for GDP growth compared to its March 2019 forecast.

-Without accounting for the impact of coronavirus, the OBR has forecast growth of 1.1% in 2020, 1.8% in 2021 and then 1.5%, 1.3%, and 1.4% in the following years.

-The Chancellor said the OBR forecasts inflation of 1.4% this year, increasing to 1.8% next year and then remaining on or around target for the rest of the forecast period.

-Sunak said the OBR forecasts a current budget surplus in every one of the next five years, with borrowing increasing from 2.1% of GDP in 2019/20 to 2.4% in 2020/21 and 2.8% in 2021/22.

-The OBR forecasts that headline debt will be lower at the end of this Parliament than it is currently, falling from 79.5% this year to 75.2% in 2024/25.

-Sunak said research and development investment will be increased to 22billion a year.

-The Science Institute in Weybridge, Surrey to get a 1.4bn funding boost

-There will be an extra 900m for research into nuclear fusion, space and electric vehicles.

-The Chancellor said he will establish Treasury offices in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and open a new 'economic campus' in the north with over 750 staff.

-Sunak said the government is providing an additional 640million for the Scottish Government, 360million for the Welsh Government, 210million for the Northern Ireland executive and 240million for new city and growth deals.

TAXATION AND MINIMUM WAGE

-The National Insurance threshold will increase from 8,632 to 9,500, cutting taxes for 31 million workers by around 100.

-The Chancellor said ministers would publish a new remit for the independent Low Pay Commission to have a formal target of the National Living Wage reaching two-thirds of median earnings by 2024 'as long as economic conditions allow' -a rate of more than 10.50 an hour.

-VAT charges on sanitary products widely known as the 'tampon tax' will be abolished.

-Sunak said he will introduce a 'plastics packaging tax' charging manufactures and importers 200 per tonne on packaging made of less than 30% of recycled plastic.

-The government will freeze the levy on electricity from April 2022 and raise the levy on gas to help tackle climate change.

-Corporation tax will remain at 19%.

-The Chancellor announced VAT on digital publications including books, newspapers, magazines and academic journals is being abolished from 1 December.

-The lifetime limit for entrepreneurs' tax relief will be cut to 1million from 10million.

ALCOHOL, TOBACCO AND FUEL DUTIES

-Sunak said the planned increase in spirits duty will be cancelled and that duties for beer, cider and wine drinkers will be frozen as well.

-Fuel duty will be frozen for another year.

-'Red diesel' tax relief scheme to be abolished 'for most sectors'.

-Tobacco duty is going up by inflation plus 2%.

ROADS AND OTHER INFRASTRUCTURE

-27billion to be invested in Britain's road's with 50 million potholes repaired.

-Spending on flood defenses is to be doubled to 5.2billion. 120million available immediately to repair all defences damaged in the recent winter floods.

-A total of 600billion will be invested over the next five years. 'If the country needs it we will build it,' Sunak says.

-Sunak said the Budget provides 5billion to get gigabit-capable broadband into the hardest to reach places and 510million of new investment for the shared rural mobile phone network. He says that means 4G coverage will reach 95% of the country in the next five years.

-The Chancellor adds that 'the OBR has said today's Budget will be the largest sustained fiscal boost for 30 years.'

EDUCATION

-Sunak said he is providing every region in the country with funding for special 16-19 maths schools, an average of 25,000 per year for secondary schools to invest in arts activities and 30million a year to improve PE teaching.

-The Chancellor said he is committing 1.5billion of new capital over five years to improve the further education college estate.

THE NHS

-Sunak announced 6billion of new funding to support the NHS over this Parliament.

-This will pay for 50,000 more nurses, 50 million more GP surgery appointments and work to start on 40 new hospitals, Sunak says.

-The Chancellor pledged a package of measures to benefit the NHS including clamping down on 'aggressive tax avoidance, evasion and non-compliance' with extra funding for the HMRC to secure 4.4billion of extra revenue.

-Sunak said the immigration health surcharge is being raised to 624, with a discounted rate for children.

HOUSING

-Sunak said the government will extend the affordable homes programme with a new multi-year settlement of 12billion.

-There will be 1.1bn from the Housing Infrastructure Fund to build nearly 70,000 new homes in high demand areas across the country, he says.

-He announced a 1billion 'building safety fund' to ensure all unsafe combustible cladding is removed from buildings above 18 metres tall.





ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE CHANGE

-Sunak said 30,000 hectares of trees will be planted over the next five years and 35,000 hectares of peatland will be restored.

That's equivalent to a forest larger than Birmingham, according to Sunak.
WASHINGTON  House leaders on Tuesday struck a bipartisan deal to overhaul surveillance laws just days before a trio of F.B.I. investigative tools expires, raising the possibility of a last-minute breakthrough in a politically complex debate over civil liberties and national security.

The changes would install new privacy protections  including adding a skeptical voice to secret court deliberations when the F.B.I. wants to eavesdrop on Americans under certain circumstances  but stop short of more sweeping limits favored by some civil libertarians in both parties that are viewed skeptically by national security officials and centrist lawmakers.

If it becomes law, the bill would represent Congresss response to a damning inspector general report that uncovered numerous errors and omissions by the F.B.I. in applications under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, or FISA, to wiretap Carter Page, a former Trump campaign adviser, during the early stages of the Russia investigation.

But even if the House passes the legislation, the bill could face obstacles in moving quickly through the Senate, where it would need 60 votes to overcome any filibuster. It would also need to be signed by President Trump, who has been unpredictable on surveillance policy issues while displaying a hazy understanding of their details.
SOAVE, Italy - Italian Premier Giuseppe Contes decision to lock down the entire country brought some welcome clarity to my family life after weeks of growing uncertainty about how to behave in a time of coronavirus.

I live that stereotype of the multi-generational Italian family, next door to in-laws, both over 80 and suffering from a collection of non-debilitating ailments common for their age. I also live with two teenagers, one of whom in particular has chafed against any suggestion that his social life should be curtailed just when the virus has freed him from that age-old adolescent burden: school.

So as I continued to commute to my job as an Associated Press correspondent based in Milan, the capital of Lombardy, from a small town in neighbouring Veneto, the virus seemed both near and far.

Near, because the two regions were quickly identified as hot spots with growing numbers of infections and two so-called red zones  but far, because no one we knew was sick, and many of the restrictions were still theoretical. They boiled down to frequent hand-washing.

Virus fear escalated in mid-February as I covered Milan Fashion Week, shoulder-to-shoulder with fashion types from all over the globe, and where the closing show by Giorgio Armani was streamed without an audience as a precaution. But the closest cluster  not yet a red zone  was still an hour away.

As the first restrictions took effect in Veneto and Lombardy  closing schools, museums, cinemas and bars after 6 p.m.  we scoffed at the reactive panic shopping. What were people doing with all that toilet paper? We had flour and pasta aplenty at home. And who needs a shopping cart full of bottled water? The taps werent being turned off.

The first day of the new measures was supposed to be the start of a three-day family break for Carnival in Nice, on the coast in neighbouring France. But our sociable son woke up with a fever and stomach flu symptoms, and we decided it was better not to chance crossing the border as Italy became a focal point in coronavirus coverage.

Normally we would have gone, stomach flu or not, and instructed the teen to sleep in the car, reasoning that the sea air would do him good. The painful decision to cancel seemed particularly wise after hearing reports of Italian cars being stopped in France for temperature checks. Imagine being found out transporting a feverish 16-year-old: the personal horror, the probable headlines.

Back at work, I wrote about social distancing, about how Italians habit of kissing could be part of the problem, before the 1-meter (yard) distancing rule started to gain currency. At home, we began a weeks-long struggle to impress upon invincible youth how vulnerable the elderly are to the virus.

I compensated for our dashed holiday by taking my daughter spring clothes shopping in teen-focused stores where we no longer had to queue for dressing rooms. We ate out in empty restaurants. We had facials. We had to order ice cream at a table, not at the counter. It was the same when we wanted a quick refreshment after 6 p.m.  sit at a table, dont just stand at the bar.

Cities were empty, parking places too easy to find, but we didnt feel particularly discouraged to be out. In fact, a hashtag began to circulate: #milanononsiferma, or #milandoesntstop. By being out -- as long as we washed our hands frequently -- we were doing our civic duty.

Then virus cases skyrocketed, with Italy registering the most infections outside of China. My in-laws stopped going to the grocery store, instead ordering online. And they stopped kissing their grandchildren every morning and evening, as has been their habit.

Finally, my children got remote homework assignments, and teachers started organizing video classes  even if the app sometimes failed. The notion of a holiday was over.

Then this past weekend, we saw the red zone expand from two distant dots on the map  east and west  to provinces just 30 minutes each direction. A Sunday family dinner with my kids four cousins -- who are also going stir-crazy with no school  was cancelled by the new travel ban out of Lombardy.

Also scratched were my plans to hop over on a free day and see Venice in its newfound quiet after a hotel owner with zero rooms booked because of the virus described the glassy surface of the Grand Canal absent boats transporting Venetians and their wares.

Finally, on Monday evening, the red ink of the restricted travel zone soaked through the entire map of Italy, which had become one big hot spot. The same day, the first confirmed case was announced on Facebook by the mayor of our town. Suddenly, the virus was just near. And Conte declared the new Italian motto: I stay at home.

When I told my son, standing at his Playstation, about the national lockdown until April 3, he looked dejected. How many days is that? What am I going to do for a month? But for the first time in three weeks, he accepted he couldnt go out that night.

___

Follow AP coverage of the virus outbreak at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak
PARIS  Six men who netted over $50 million in a brazen and elaborate scheme by impersonating a French defense minister and asking wealthy individuals and institutions to pay for fake, off-the-book government operations were convicted on Wednesday of fraud by a criminal court in Paris.

Two of the men, Gilbert Chikli, 54, and Anthony Lasarevitsch, 35, whom investigators called the masterminds of the plot, were sentenced to 11 years and seven years in prison and fined 2 million euros and 1 million euros ($2.3 million and $1.1 million).

Mr. Chikli reacted angrily after the verdict on Wednesday, calling the trial a scandal and accusing prosecutors of having brought the case at the behest of Jean-Yves Le Drian, Frances defense minister from 2012 to 2017.

You should be ashamed, prosecutor of the rich, he shouted in the courtroom.

Four other men, ages 27 to 49, who were suspected of varying levels of involvement in the scheme, received sentences of 15 months to five years in prison  some of the time suspended  as well as fines of between 40,000 and 100,000. The court found a fifth man not guilty.
By a letter dated March 9, 2020, and addressed to Emir of Kano, Muhammed Sanusi II, issued and signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Kano State, Usman Alhaji, the Emir of Kano, Muhammed Sanusi II (Sanusi Lamido Sanusi ) was communicated that he had been deposed from the throne of Emir of Kano by the Kano State Government.

The letter stated that the Kano State Executive Council during its meeting on March 9, 2020, approved of and directed the immediate removal and dethronement of Emir Sanusi as the Emir of Kano, and also his relocation to Nasarawa State, an act which the letter claimed was done in line with the relevant provision of the Kano State Emirate Council Law of 2019. The letter further stated that the decision to depose the Emir was taken due to the Emirs general disrespect to lawful instructions from the authorities, including ( the ) President, and refusal to attend official programmes and meetings organized by Government, acts which were viewed as an act of insubordination. The letter claimed that the decision to depose the Emir was reached to safeguard the sanctity, culture, tradition and prestige of the Kano Emirate which was established and sustained over one thousand years ago.

Following the delivery of the letter on the deposed Emir, he was arrested, forcibly removed by a horde of security agents, including (reportedly) the Kano State Commissioner of Police, and flown out of Kano into exile. Contemporaneously, a new Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, until March 9, 2020, the Emir of Bichi in Kano State, was announced in the stead of the dethroned Emir, and given his staff of office. A fait accompli, so to speak.

Although the letter of dethronement of Muhammed Sanusi II did not indicate the location of his exile, it was reported that he was being exiled to Loko in Nasarawa State. It is, thus, safe to assume that there is an executive order or instrument, stipulating the location of his banishment, conditions of his restriction in that location and the duration of his exile. There are unconfirmed reports that upon arrival in Nasarawa State, the Nasarawa State Government has taken a decision to resettle the Deposed Emir at Awe, Nasarawa State instead of Loko, as initially indicated.

Upon being informed about his deposition, and while the order for his physical removal from the palace was about to be enforced, the Deposed Emir was said to have accepted his dethronement in good faith, taking same as an occurrence in accordance with Allahs will. He reportedly prayed for peace in his domain and solicited support for his successor. Having reportedly accepted his dethronement with equanimity and fortitude of his Islamic faith, some have wondered why the dethronement and banishment of the Emir should continue to be of concern to Nigerians. The short answer to this poser is that Kano State is part of Nigeria. The lawful or unlawful exercise of statutory powers or executive authority over the dethroned Emir in that State is a matter of public interest, nay a matter of national interest that any Nigerian may hold, express and disseminate opinions on. Moreover, given the implications of the dethronement and banishment of Emir Sanusi for Nigerias constitutional democracy, respect for the fundamental human rights of citizens, and the observance of the rule of law, it is our considered view that regardless of the reported acquiescence of the Deposed Emir in his deposition and banishment and condoning of same, there is good reason to conduct a legal debate on the legality and constitutionality of the actions of the Governments of Kano and Nasarawa States. Since we live under the same legal order and share the same political space in the Nigerian territorial jurisdiction, Nigerians are entitled to debate whether the actions against the deposed Emir are justifiable and acceptable in a democratic society, which is governed by the rule of law and not ruled by the vestiges or relics of feudal norms. In any case, accepting, accommodating and tolerating the abuse of the fundamental rights and civil liberties of fellow citizens because the victims are not complaining or are not in a position to complain is not one of our values as Nigerians and as human beings. The biblical concept of acting as the keeper of ones brother has been incorporated into Nigerias jurisprudence. That service was rendered to the Nigerian legal system by the Supreme Court, per Andrews Otutu Obaseki, JSC and Kayode Eso, J.S.C ( both of blessed memory) in the case of Fawehinmi v Akilu, 1987, 4 NWLR, (Pt 67), 797 at pg.832, and pg.846 . In that case, while expanding the scope of the legal doctrine of locus standi, the Supreme Court held that Chief Gani Fawehinmi had the locus standi to seek to prosecute, as a private prosecutor, those who were suspected to have assassinated Dele Giwa, his friend, to whom he was a lawyer and confidant. Said Obaseki, J.SC the peace of the society is the responsibility of all persons in the Country and as far as protection against crime is concerned, every person in the society is each others keeper. Since we are all brothers in the society, we are our brothers keeper. If we pause a little, and cast our minds to the happenings in the world, the rationale for this rule will become apparent.

Abdullahi Ganduje, Governor of Kano State

In conducting or participating in a public discourse pertaining to the constitutionality and lawfulness of acts of government, its respect for the legal and constitutional rights of citizens, and observance of the tenets of the rule of law, no Nigerian is a busybody or meddlesome interloper. Everyone has the argumentum standi.

In the spirit of brother-keeping, we hereunder raise the following issues on the dethronement and banishment of Emir Muhammed Sanusi II, for public consideration:

1. Is the dethronement of Emir Muhammed Sanusi II in compliance with the relevant provisions of the Kano State Emirate Council Law of 2019?

2. Is the dethronement Emir Muhammed Sanusi II not in violation of his right to fair hearing, guaranteed by Section 36 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 ( as amended), especially when he was not availed of the opportunity to defend himself against the fresh allegations of general disrespect to lawful instructions from the authorities, including President, and refusal to attend official programmes and meetings organized by Government, acts which were viewed as an act of insubordination to the Governor of Kano State, allegations on which his dethronement was premised?

3. Does the Kano State Emirate Council Law of 2019 exclude or dispense with the requirement of affording the dethroned Emir a fair hearing and an opportunity to defend himself, either orally or in writing, against the allegations which were made against him by the Executive Council of Kano State ( his accuser, judge and enforcers of the punishment awarded against him) before proceeding against him and dethroning him; and if so, is the Kano State Emirate Council Law of 2019 and the dethronement and banishment action taken thereunder not unconstitutional, null and void, having regard to the supremacy clause under Section 1(3) of the Constitution, and Section 36 thereof, guaranteeing the right to fair hearing?

4. Is the dethronement of Emir Muhammed Sanusi II not unconstitutional given the fact that the real particulars of the acts of insubordination alleged against him were the lawful exercise of his right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; and his right to freedom of expression and the press, including freedom to hold opinions and to impart ideas and information without interference?

5. Is the eviction and forcible removal of Emir Muhammed Sanusi II, vi et armies, following his deposition not unlawful, illegal and unconstitutional, having regard to the provisions of the Kano State Tenancy and Recovery of Residential Premises Law, which stipulates the lawful mode of recovery of possession of premises from a tenant (statutory, at will or at sufferance); and having regard to the provision of Section 6(6)(b) of the Constitution, which stipulates that the Court shall be the arbiter and determiner of a civil dispute ( allegation of insubordination, removal as Emir and dethronement) between the Government and a citizen?

In order to aid the understanding of this formulated legal question or issue, we refer to the decision of the Court of Appeal (Benin Division) in Alele  Williams v. Sagay (1995) 5 NWLR (Pt. 396) 441; and the decision of the Supreme Court in Anya v Iyayi 1993, 7 NWLR, (Pt. 305) , 290 for illustration. Professor Itse Sagay and Professor Festus Iyayi (Late) were dons in the University of Benin. Following the termination of their employments in May 1987 purportedly under the now repealed Public Officers (Special Provisions) Decree No. 17 of 1984, at the direction of the Military Government, they were forcibly evicted from their residences on the University Campus on July 31, 1987. They challenged their forcible evictions in the High Court, claiming exemplary damages, and contending, amongst other sought reliefs, that in spite of the termination of their employments, the recovery of possession of their residential premises was still subject to the provisions of the Rent Control and Recovery of Residential Premises Edict of Bendel State, 1977, a law which clearly stipulated the due process of recovering possession of residential premises. The court agreed with them and awarded them exemplary damages. They later won their nine year litigation for reinstatement in the Supreme Court.

Itse Sagay

Relying on the above case law illustration, it is our humble view that the Deposed Emir, whose predecessor was described elsewhere as a public servant, ought not to have been forcibly evicted from his official quarters or residence, following his removal and dethronement, in violation of the due process of law governing the recovery of residential premises, except we accept that the rule of law must be displaced by the rule of force.

6. Is it lawful, constitutional and permissible in Nigeria for an executive authority (State Executive Council or Governor) to banish an emir or send an emir on exile from his domain, following the emirs deposition, and restrict the emirs movement or confine him to a location within or outside the state where the emir is dethroned?

7. Is the action of the Kano State Government observant of the rule of law stated in the decision of the Court of Appeal in Attorney General & Commissioner of Justice, Kebbi State vs. HRH Al- Mustapha Jokolo (2013) LPELR-22349 where the banishment and deportation of the Respondent, by the Kebbi State Government, incidentally to Nasarawa State, as a deposed Emir of Gwandu, were held to be unlawful and unconstitutional?

8. Was the arrest and forcible removal of Emir Muhammed Sanusi II from the Palace of the Emir of Kano, his detention by restraint, and forced relocation to, and confinement in Nasarawa State, by an executive deposition and deportation order, lawful and constitutional, having regard to the rights of the deposed Emir to the dignity of the human person, to personal liberty, to private and family life, to peaceful assembly and association, and to freedom of movement respectively guaranteed by Sections 34, 35 37, 40, and 41 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended?

9. Specifically, was the arrest and detention of the deposed Emir Muhammed Sanusi II not in contravention of the provision of Section 35 of the Constitution and other relevant provisions of the Criminal Procedure Law of Kano State and the Police Act, governing arrest and lawful detention which legally are in consequence of a reasonable suspicion that a person is about to commit an offence, is committing an offence or has committed an offence?

10. Was it lawful and constitutional to have arrested the deposed Emir Muhammed Sanusi II without a warrant of arrest which is issued by a prescribed authority in relation to an allegation of commission of crimes for which the dethroned Emir Muhammed Sanusi II may be investigated and arraigned before a court of competent jurisdiction were he to have committed an offence?

11. Does the state-wide executive authority of the Kano State Government under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and other enabling laws extend to, and cover Nasarawa State to give the Emir Muhammed Sanusi II Deposition and Deportation Order executive effect and operational force and validity outside Kano State, and in Nasarawa State?

READ ALSO:

12. Can the Kano State Government or the Kano State Executive Council lawfully banish Emir Muhammed Sanusi II or send him on an exile to Nasarawa State, following his dethronement, and have him detained or confined in Nasarawa State on the basis of the exercise of its executive authority, the territorial scope or jurisdiction of which does not extend beyond Kano State ?

13. By what law, reciprocal (mutual) legal assistance protocols or interstate exercise of executive authority would it be permissible in law and under the Constitution for the Kano State Government, in exercise of its real or assumed executive authority, to have the deposed Emir Muhammed Sanusi II detained or confined in Nasarawa State?

14. Under what law or statutory powers is Nasarawa State acting as a receiving and implementing state regarding the Emir Muhammed Sanusi II Deposition and Deportation Order?

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15. Is it lawful and constitutional to detain and confine the deposed Emir in a location in Nasarawa State or in any location in Nigeria akin to his serving a prison term pursuant to a conviction and imposition of sentence by a court of law following a criminal trial, when he has not been accused of commission of any criminal offence, investigated for same, duly arraigned and prosecuted for the offence, and convicted of the offence, and in relation thereto sentenced to a prison term, in accordance with the rule of law?

16. Is Kano State and Nasarawa State feudal enclaves within the Federal Republic of Nigeria, with a distinct and separate legal order or are both states subject to and governed by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria?

In the days and months to come, there is need to resolve these issues not only in the court of public opinion, but also, in the court of law. It is in the interest of justice that these issues are fairly resolved.
This week San Francisco International Airport provided an early peek at the second phase of the $2.4 billion Harvey Milk Terminal 1, current home to JetBlue and Southwest, and soon, American Airlines.

SFO's Terminal 1 reconstruction is a massive project that is opening in phases through 2023. In July 2019, the first phase opened, including a new ticketing area and nine gates.

UPDATE: Opening of the new phase of T1, originally scheduled for late March, has been postponed indefinitely due to the COVID-19 crisis.

The airport plans to complete and open the second phase, which includes an additional nine gates, a new ticketing lobby and baggage claim areas. It also includes new signage across a glassy roadside facade, a new SFO Museum exhibit, and a cool new play area for kids.

Don't miss a shred of important travel news! Sign up for our FREE bi-weekly email alerts

There are three new restaurants in the space, too: Bistrot Bay Area, an Italian market; Goldilocks bakery for Filipino fare and Flyaway by Drakes, a full service restaurant and bar. All of this will be framed by six new public art installations.

SFO

Also, American Airlines will move into its new digs from Terminal 2 and open a big new Admirals Club on March 24.

The project will also provide a new behind-security connection to the nearby International Terminal (A side), which will provide gate space for both domestic and international flights  the new space being large enough to harbor two giant Airbus A380s.

Take a spin through the slideshow at the top of this post for the first look at this fabulous, bright and beautiful new space.

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.
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Coronavirus concern is everywhere. We're stocking up on hand sanitizer, toilet paper and guns. We're Googling it at a wild rate. Cancel culture has a whole new meaning.

As people navigate the COVID-19 landscape, there have been questions about the safety of taking public transportation.

The messaging in some parts of the country has been ... mixed. In New York City, for example, officials assured the public that the subway was safe -- but also to avoid them if they could.

So what about Los Angeles? Here's a quick guide to public transit in the time of coronavirus.

(James Bernal for LAist)

AM I AT AN INCREASED RISK ON PUBLIC TRANSIT?

Studies in recent years show there is a link between public transit use and the spread of disease. That shouldn't be too much of a shock -- people sharing enclosed spaces like buses and trains ups the risk just like spending time in airplanes and elevators.

A 2018 study examined New York City's public transit and modeled a scenario of pandemic-level influenza, similar to one that started in 1957. Researchers found that just 4% of transmissions would occur via the subway, suggesting that "interventions targeted at subway riders would be relatively ineffective in containing the epidemic," according to the study authors.

It's definitely worth noting that NYC's public transit system carries waaaaay more riders than the L.A. County Metropolitan Transportation Authority -- as in nearly 1.3 billion more trips a year, according to 2018 data.

So are you at increased risk of getting coronavirus on public transit in L.A.? That largely depends on the behavior of people who may be infected-- and the response from transit agencies.

L.A. Metro spokesman Dave Sotero noted that, to date, there have been no reported incidences of coronavirus on the system and no known links between public transit and the spread of the disease in the county.

The agency is taking several steps "to ensure that our system remains as safe and clean as possible," he told LAist this week.

WHAT IS L.A. METRO DOING ABOUT THIS?

L.A. Metro has formed a Contagious Virus Response Task Force, according to a recent press release, and are in regular communication with the county health department and CDC.

The system is operating as usual at the moment, though Sotero said the agency will follow the guidance of public health officials "should there be any instances of the virus on the transit system." The task force is updating L.A. Metro CEO Phillip Washington on a daily basis, Sotero said.

The agency has also "strengthened cleaning at major transit hubs," officials said. Metro's custodial staff is focusing attention on "high touch point areas," Sotero explained, including doors, handrails along stairs and escalators, and TAP vending machines. Two shifts of custodian crews are cleaning "on an ongoing basis," he said.

L.A. Metro officials say employees are continuing to clean and disinfect all its buses and trains once a day, which happens overnight at their respective divisions. (Courtesy Los Angeles Metro)

Those "major transit hubs" include Union Station, the 7th Street / Metro Center station, and the El Monte station, though agency officials did not provided a full list of where the ramped up cleaning efforts are happening.

Sotero said Metro staff continue to clean and disinfect all its buses and trains once a day, which happens overnight at their respective yards.

"We're picking up trash, we're sweeping or mopping, we're cleaning the panels and we're using disinfectants to wipe down surfaces," Sotero said, adding that each station continues to be power washed weekly using high pressure, high temperature water.

Metro officials "will be reviewing our cleaning protocols to ensure they're adequate," Sotero said, and the agency will "be responsive to what the need is" should it receive new recommendations from public health officials.

Metro has launched an internal educational campaign for its roughly 11,000 employees to help them understand and prevent the potential spread of COVID-19. Employees working in public are now being asked to wear gloves, Sotero said.

The agency is also in the process of producing a public-facing campaign to keep riders informed, including printed pamphlets and new signage on the system, Sotero said.

What about the potential impacts to ridership? Metro's ridership data shows overall trips dipped in January from the previous year, but Metro buses gained more than 700,000 riders compared to Jan. 2019 (rail ridership fell by more than 800,000 boardings in that same timeframe). Ridership was actually up in February compared to the same month in 2019 -- though the leap year plays a big role there (the final tally for this month will be available in mid-April).

WHAT CAN PUBLIC TRANSIT RIDERS DO?

(Chava Sanchez/LAist)

L.A. County public health officials offered these tips for how to protect yourself and others while taking public transit:

If you're sick, stay home. That's the single best protection against coronavirus -- and any other infectious disease, according to Barbara Ferrer, director of L.A County Public Health.

"[L.A. Metro] can do all the cleaning in the world, but if sick people continue to come out, use public transit, cough on other people, sit closely to other people, stand closely to other people, they'll just continue to [spread infections]," she said. "Not just the possible spread for COVID-19 but the spread of influenza and other kinds of infectious diseases that are in our midst."

Whenever possible, leave about six feet of space between you and anyone with a cough or fever. That presents some obvious challenges on public transit, so, if possible, take less crowded buses and trains. That may mean leaving earlier or later for work -- which isn't a possibility for some who rely on the system to get to their jobs on time.

Keep your hands clean. Use sanitizer (with at least 60% alcohol) after touching common surfaces like handrails, turnstiles, handles and poles.

Do less with your hands. Use your hip or back of your hand when passing through turnstiles and avoid touching your face with unwashed hands.

Health officials have advised that masks should be worn by people already sick, those caring for the sick or else only when recommended by medical professionals.

Cal State Northridge student Kenny Uong is a frequent Metro rider who takes the system to the San Fernando Valley campus from his home in Glendale. He's made it a new habit to wash his hands -- or use sanitizing wipes if there isn't a restroom nearby -- as soon as he gets off a train or bus.

"I've noticed that more passengers are wearing face masks and using hand sanitizer," Uong told me this week. "Allergy season coinciding with the coronavirus spread is unfortunate because as soon as one person coughs or sniffles because of a stuffy nose or cold, other passengers start giving them death stares."

WHAT ABOUT OTHER LOCAL TRANSIT AGENCIES?

The city of L.A.'s Department of Transportation "is coordinating its actions based on recommendations of local health agencies," according to spokesman Colin Sweeney.

The city-run bus service recently increased cleaning from every 48 hours to once a day, Sweeney said. Cleaning crews are using Zep Spirit II, a hospital-grade disinfectant.

We encourage Angelenos to practice healthy hygiene amid the spread of the Coronavirus;

 Avoid touching your face

Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds

 Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue or use the crook of your arm pic.twitter.com/7kabxC8ND9  LADOT (@LADOTofficial) March 9, 2020

Foothill Transit is continuing to clean and disinfect its buses daily, according to agency officials.

For more information on L.A. County's coronavirus response, visit the public health department's website.

MORE ON CORONAVIRUS:

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Correction: A previous version of this story misspelled Kenny Uong's name. LAist regrets the error.
The man, a native of Vasco town in South Goa, was working on a ship and returned to the coastal state two days back

Panaji: A 27-year-old man from Goa, who travelled to Italy and Finland last month and came in contact with a coronavirus patient, has been kept at an isolation ward of a state-run hospital after he complained of cough and fever, Goa Health Minister Vishwajit Rane said on Wednesday.

The man, a native of Vasco town in South Goa, was working on a ship and returned to the coastal state two days back, Rane said.

"He had come in contact with a coronavirus patient mid-February while he was working on a ship," the minister said in a statement issued here.

He had cough and fever since the last two days after he returned, Rane said, adding that he has been kept at an isolation ward of the Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMCH).

The man left for working on a ship in June last year. He travelled to Finland and Italy last month, he said.

The patient had not touched the shore as he continued working on the ship. He returned to Goa by a Qatar Airways flight, Rane said.

Earlier, samples of two foreign travellers who were kept under observation at GMCH for suspected novel coronavirus infection tested negative on Monday evening. They were subsequently discharged from the medical facility.

The state health department has kept 19 patients under home observation, as per the latest official information.

The Mormugao Port Trust in Goa has banned the entry of cruise vessels till 31 March in view of the novel coronavirus threat, a senior official earlier said.

Infections in Italy topped the 10,000 mark more than anywhere but China and the number of deaths from coronavirus rose to 631 on Tuesday from 463 a day earlier, Italian Civil Protection authorities said.
ESSEX  State Sen. Norm Needleman, D-Essex, will join the East Hampton Clean Energy Task Force for a discussion on energy and industry initiatives March 30 at 6 p.m.

The Essex first selectman, co-chairman of the legislatures Energy & Technology Committee, will present information on 2020 priorities and important legislative points of interest, according to a press release.

Im excited to get the chance to discuss pressing and pertinent possible changes through legislation with local leaders, learning about their perspectives and finding ways to move Connecticut into the future, Needleman said in a prepared statement.

The release lists priorities being discussed by the Energy & Technology Committee this year, which include:

Senate Bill No. 175, An Act Concerning Electricity Shutoff Notifications, would require utility companies to broaden their notice requirements for customers prior to service shutoffs. Emails, text messages and phone calls would now be required services. The companies would additionally need to report numbers of utility service terminations, disconnections and reconnections, and would see the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority examine current practices and report to the General Assembly.

House Bill 5351, An Act Concerning Certain Programs and to Incentivize and Implement Electric Energy Storage Resources, would encourage the state to deploy a thousand megawatts of electric energy storage in the next decade, initiate programs and funding for electric energy storage, and permit the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection to solicit proposals for similar storage projects.

House Bill 5225, An Act Concerning Consumer Protections for Customers of Electric Suppliers, would define telesales call, or any communication regarding information about product sales or contracts; add requirements for electric suppliers regarding telesales calls; permit fines, restitution or a combination of those punitive measures of those requirements are broken; and prohibit utilities customers from transfers or assignments without prior approval.

For information, contact Marty Podskoch, a member of the EHETF, at 860-267-2442 or podskoch@comcast.net.
Four Hudson County school districts have indicated that schoolwork will continue online if academic buildings close in response to the coronavirus outbreak, and all have been instructed by the county to survey how many of their students do not have internet access.

Few, however, have communicated plans to the community or have indicated when they might have to close their schools.

School districts across the county are creating plans for 14 to 21 days of remote teaching after a Friday conversation with the Hudson County Office of the Department of Education, Hoboken Superintendent Christine Johnson said in a digital newsletter to parents.

Every district in the state is required to have 180 instructional days per year, and 14 days of remote instruction during the health crisis can potentially count toward fulfilling that requirement.

We have not been asked to close by the New Jersey Department of Education or Health, or the local/regional health departments, Johnson wrote. However, we are currently working to develop our plan and submit it to the Hudson County Office of Education this coming week for approval.

Each district was also told to select a school that would distribute breakfast and lunch during closures, she said.

While there have been 23 cases of coronavirus, including one death, reported in New Jersey, Hudson County has only had one case  a 32-year-old West New York man, who is reportedly at home recovering.

Many districts throughout the state have closed or held half days to prep for potential long-term closures. Harrison, Bayonne, Jersey City and Weehawkens schools have indicated they are planning to use Google Classroom and other digital learning tools if and when they close.

Over the next couple of weeks, you will be hearing more about our district learning plan that all students and staff have been practicing through the Google Platform, Harrison Public Schools director of compliance and crisis management James Doran wrote. In the event of a mandated school closure, students will complete their lessons from home, via their laptops, smartphones or other internet ready devices.

While each of the other districts have sent letters to parents, most have little detail beyond reminders to keep children with fevers home and about how to contain colds.

The Union City school district posted on Instagram Tuesday that there are not yet plans to close any of its schools. In the comments, community members and students pleaded for them to be shut.

If you say you care about our safety and health then do it and prove it, one user wrote.

Secaucus is the only district that has planned more than one half day for crisis planning. Schools there will rotate having half days through Tuesday. Meanwhile, Hudson Regional Hospital distributed some 3,000 bottles of hand sanitizer to Secaucus students and staff on Wednesday.
Mo. AG sues Jim Bakker show, ministry for selling Silver Solution as possible coronavirus cure

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Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt is suing televangelist Jim Bakker for misrepresenting a product on his show, promoting it as a cure for the coronavirus.

Bakker and his guest, Dr. Sherrill Sellman, claimed in an episode of "The Jim Bakker Show" last month that a Silver Solution product could cure strains of the virus, which is now sweeping the globe and leading to large event cancellations and countries imposing quarantine orders in certain regions in an attempt to help contain the virus.

This influenza, which is now circling the globe, youre saying that Silver Solution would be effective, Bakker asked during the Feb. 12 broadcast.

Sellman, a naturopathic doctor, replied: Well, lets say it hasnt been tested against this strain of the coronavirus, but its been tested on other strains of the coronavirus and has been able to eliminate it within 12 hours.

The Silver Solution was priced at over $80 on the show.

The lawsuit names both Bakker and Morningside Church Productions as defendants. Bakker's organization is headquartered in Blue Eye, Missouri, an incorporated village that is part of the Branson Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Jim Bakker and Morningside Church Productions has an opportunity, in a pretty short timeframe, to answer certainly the allegations that weve made and itd be our hope that they no longer represent that this 'Silver Solution' can cure the coronavirus, Schmitt said in an interview with Ozarks First on Tuesday.

Other federal and state government entities have also taken action against Bakker.

The Food and Drug Administration and the office of New York Attorney General Letitia James have both sent cease and desist letters to Bakker after his program aired. The FDA letter stated that no known vaccination or over-the-counter treatment exists to treat the coronavirus.

The 2019 novel coronavirus poses serious consequences to public health, and consumers are concerned as to how they can best protect themselves and their families, James said in her letter.

Your shows segment may mislead consumers as to the effectiveness of the Silver Solution product in protecting against the current outbreak.

The Missouri Attorney General's office asserts in its lawsuit that Bakker and Morningside violated the state's Merchandising Practices Act, and asked for a restraining order and permanent injunction demanding Bakker cease selling the solution as a viable treatment for the virus.

The Christian Post reached out to "The Jim Bakker Show" for comment and will update this article when a response is received.

Bakker is known for selling a variety of religious and health products in response to disasters and potential end times scenarios during his broadcasts.

According to data released by the World Health Organization that is updated daily, 118,318 people worldwide have been infected with COVID-19 since it emerged late last year in China, and 4,292 people have died. Vaccines for the virus are being developed but the trial process to test its safety and efficacy will likely take more than a year. Responses to the virus have varied by nation depending on the infection rate.

On Wednesday, WHO designated the coronavirus as a pandemic. Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of WHO, said the number of cases outside China has grown 13-fold over the past two weeks.

"Several countries have demonstrated that this virus can be suppressed and controlled," he said. "The challenge for many countries who are now dealing with large clusters or community transmission is not whether they can do the same  it's whether they will."
A tour guide in Hanoi was announced the 39th novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patient in Vietnam on Wednesday.

The new case was confirmed by the Ministry of Health in the evening.

The 25-year-old tour guide works for Amazing Ninh Binh Company.

He lives in Cau Giay District, Hanoi.

He was in contact with an infected British visitor who had arrived in Vietnam on March 2 aboard flight VN0054 from London, which was operated by national carrier Vietnam Airlines.

He took the Briton to Ninh Binh Province in northern Vietnam for a vacation, according to national broadcaster VTV.

The neighborhood where the tour guide stays was disinfected on Tuesday night.

The owner of the house he is renting and her child have been taken to a quarantine zone.

The patient suffered a slight fever, no cough, and no shortness of breath. He was hospitalized around 9:00 pm on Sunday.

His test returned positive on Wednesday afternoon.

He is isolated in stable health at the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Hanoi.

Forty people who had close contact with the tour guide will be quarantined at hospitals near their places of residence, said Nguyen Khac Hien, director of the Hanoi Department of Health.

About 200 others who were in contact with the forty have been required to self-isolate at home, he added.

Four other patients were confirmed the same day, three of them linked to patient No. 34 in south-central Binh Thuan Province, who returned from the U.S. on February 29. The other case is an employee at a location of Dien May Xanh, a major electronics store chain, in Da Nang.

The Da Nang patient was in close contact with two infected Britons from the same flight VN0054.

Vietnam has confirmed 39 positive cases of the viral infection so far, with 16 having fully recovered and been discharged from the hospital by February 26.

About a dozen cases are traced to patient No. 17, who was diagnosed on Friday last week after Vietnam had reported no new infection since February 13..

She seemed to hide her visits to France and Italy when carrying out immigration procedures at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi.

Vietnam requires those arriving from countries where there is a major COVID-19 outbreak to be quarantined in designated zones.

The Southeast Asian country will suspend visa-free travel for eight European countries, including Denmark, Norway, Finland, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Germany, France and Spain, from March 12 over COVID-19 concerns.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
Italy was officially put on lockdown by its government as the country reported the most COVID-19 cases in the world outside of China.

Citizens are encouraged to stay in their homes and large public events are currently banned as the number of coronavirus cases continues to skyrocket. As of March 10, Italy has over 10,000 cases and 600 deaths.

The outbreak has prompted other countries to either ban or warn against travel to Italy.

Canada has issued its second highest level of a travel advisory for Italy, advising its citizens to avoid non-essential travel. Air Canada has also suspended all its flights to Italy starting March 11.

Cities usually filled with tourists and locals are deserted as the country tries to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Heres a look at some of those tourist hot spots like youve never seen them before.
He appeared in last night's episode of C4's The Bake Off for Stand Up To Cancer

Louis Theroux impressed with his cookie which was designed to replicate a pizza

Louis Theroux became the first ever baker to receive three handshakes in a Signature Challenge in The Bake Off for Stand Up To Cancer.

In last night's episode of the Channel 4 show, the filmmaker bagged the infamous handshakes for his very first bake  one each from judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith, along with another from host Noel Fielding.

And viewers were quick to take to Twitter to praise the much-loved documentarian for his success - before adding they hope he 'washed his hands afterwards.'

'Of course Louis Theroux got a handshake. It's what he deserves,' praised one, while a second congratulated: 'Do you think The Great British Bake Off is deliberately teasing us with all these handshakes.'

Louis Theroux received three handshakes in last night's episode of Channel 4's The Bake Off for Stand Up To Cancer. Pictured, receiving a congratulatory handshake from Paul Hollywood

The filmmaker than encouraged Prue Leith to take his hand, and quickly found himself receiving his second handshake

During the show, the first batch of famous faces were asked to make a giant biscuit, a classic bake, and a tough showstopper challenge - a choux sculpture depicting the celebrity's perfect day.

And Louis proved he was just at home in the kitchen as he was making documentaries when he made Bake Off history.

He impressed with his cookie which was designed to replicate a pizza , and featured raspberry icing and grated white chocolate.

But while Paul's handshake was sincere, Louis offered his hand to Prue, with the judge joking: 'Why am I shaking your hand? I don't agree!'

Not wanting to be left out, presenter Noel Fielding offered Louis his third and final handshake (pictured)

Louis' cookie was designed to look like a pizza and featured raspberry icing and grated white chocolate (pictured)

Noel then followed suit and joked: 'Two handshakes...now three! This handshake means nothing.'

Nevertheless, Louis was chuffed with his accomplishment, and took to Twitter and penned: 'Three handshakes. THAT HAS NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE!!'

Meanwhile, others were more concerned for Louis' health and hygiene following his skin contact with others amid the coronavirus outbreak.

'Three handshakes for Louis Theroux...good job recorded pre-#coronavirusuk' wrote one, while a second penned: 'I hope Louis is going to wash his hands after three handshakes in a row.'

But despite his success in the first challenge, Louis was beaten to the judge's star baker, with Jenny Eclair pipping him to the post.

The filmmaker (pictured) was delighted with his accomplishment and took to Twitter and penned: 'Three handshakes. THAT HAS NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE!!'
MEDIA COURTHOUSE  A 17-year-old Haverford boy pleaded guilty last week in the shooting of another teen during a drug deal gone bad.

James McCauley, of the 100 block of Friendship Road, entered an open guilty plea before Delaware County Court of Common Pleas Judge Anthony Scanlon March 2 to charges of reckless endangerment, firearms not be carried without a license and receiving stolen property.

Assistant District Attorney Gina Gorbey did not recommend a sentence due to the open nature of the plea, but defense counsel Chuck Peruto indicated McCauley faces a maximum sentence of 101/2 to 21 years if the three charges are run consecutive.

McCauley had been charged with attempted murder, among other offenses, for shooting 18-year-old Marquis Mays in the face during a marijuana sale on Feb. 12, 2019.

Haverford police were dispatched to the area of Rose Tree Lane and Glen Gary Drive around 8:15 p.m. for a report of a gunshot victim in the roadway. Officers found Mays with a pool of blood around his head in the middle of Rose Tree Lane, suffering from an apparent gunshot wound to the right side of his face.

Township Officer Christopher Viola testified at a preliminary hearing last year that blood was squirting from the victims eye and his breathing sounded like a death rattle. Mays was transported to Lankenau Trauma Center and later transferred to Jefferson University Hospital for treatment.

During their investigation, Haverford Detective Mathew Hufnal and Delaware County Detective Vincent Ficchi found Mays and another person had arranged to buy an ounce of marijuana from McCauley that night.

John Turner, 33, testified at the preliminary hearing that he and his 14-year-old cousin were in a car operated by McCauley when McCauley said he had to meet someone. Turner, who was in the back seat, said the vehicle was parked in front of a residence along Rose Tree Lane when three dudes walked up to the car.

Turner said two of the males got in the back seat with him, squeezing him in the middle. The third male stayed at the corner. Soon after McCauley pulled off, Turner said the individual to his left asked, Yo, you got that?

Turner said there was some haggling between McCauley and that person before they arrived at a price of $375. Turner said neither he nor his cousin were in the car when the shooting occurred. He testified he heard a noise, but did not know what it was and did not see anyone injured when he and his cousin returned to the car.

McCauley hit the gas and took off, according to Turner. When his cousin asked McCauley what happened, McCauley allegedly responded, I f- shot that kid.

Ficchi testified that a .40-caliber bullet recovered from the victims neck was fired from a Springfield Armory firearm found in the rear yard of the victims home. The firearm was found in a rut under a detached shed. The firearm was reported stolen in February 2018 in Haverford.

Scanlon has set sentencing for May 4 pending a presentence investigation, psychological evaluation, and drug and alcohol evaluation.

-Daily Times Photographer Pete Bannan contributed to this story
Special Aide to former President John Dramani Mahama, lawyer Godwin Edudzi Tamakloe, has alleged that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has rejected several international invitations which would have featured him (Akufo-Addo) sharing the podium with former President John Dramani Mahama.



Commenting on the ex-president's "no show" during the country's 63rd Independence Day Celebrations which took place in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region and the viral image of an empty chair with his (ex-President John Dramani Mahamas) name embossed on it, Lawyer Godwin Edudzi Tamakloe, who failed to provide an explanation as to why his boss could not show up, stated on Okay FMs 'Ade Akye Abia' Morning Show, President Akufo-Addo feels intimidated by the presence of his political adversary at official functions.



President Akufo-Addo has rejected several invitations that Mahama has been featured on; both local and international programs. You should know how the President takes some of these things; someone like that feels that if he is at an event and you come there, you will take away his shine and so he does not feel comfortable to see you around".



"You may recall an incident where the President deliberately avoided a handshake with the former President at an event to honor the late Kofi Annan . . . The truth is that the President is not comfortable seeing John Dramani Mahama in his presence . . . There are some international programs that the President declines the invitation for the fact that the former President will be at the same function, he alleged.



'Childish' & 'Flippant'



But a Deputy Minister for Information, Pius Enam Hadzide, speaking on the same platform said if former President Mahamas reason for not showing up at the 63rd Independence celebration was because President Akufo-Addo refused to exchange pleasantries at a state function, then it was childish.



That cannot be the basis for making a decision to shun a national celebration, an important event on the calendar of Ghana like the Independence anniversary; that the President didnt shake hands with John Mahama. It cannot be correct . . . that is a flippant excuse and childish, he stated.



The Deputy Information Minister also dismissed the allegation that GTV deliberately failed to provide coverage of former President Mahama's arrival at the 62nd Independence Day celebration in Tamale.



It is not true that someone instructed GTV not to give the former President John Mahama any coverage . . . in fact, GTV can prove the several coverages they gave to John Mahama sitting close to former President Rawlings, Mr Hadzide stated.









Source: Daniel Adu Darko/Peacefmonline.com/[email protected]









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Lucky wins MAP corporate excellence award

11 March 2020

Lucky Cement Lt has won the Management Association of Pakistan's Corporate Excellence Award in the cement sector category. Syed Noman Hasan, Executive Director of Lucky Cement Ltd received the award at the 35th MAP Annual Corporate Excellence Award Ceremony in Karachi on 9 March.



Syed Noman Hasan, Executive Director, Lucky Cement Ltd, remarked, "We accept this award with great pride and are extremely grateful to all our employees and stakeholders for helping us achieve repeated success over the years."



He added, "Lucky Cement is determined to continue making efforts in elevating the company to new heights. We are firmly invested in meeting the needs of our stakeholders and ensure to follow prudent business practices with a wider objective of contributing to the economic growth of Pakistan."



Lucky Cement received the award based on having the best corporate practices and governance in the cement sector. The primary criteria for this award emanates from best corporate and management practices as reflected by leadership, corporate governance, customer and market focus, human resources strategic planning andcommunication, social responsibility, risk management, IT infrastructure, service delivery and security.

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The members of the Ambedkar Periyar Study Circle at University of Madras went on a protest on Wednesday afternoon against the appointment of JNU VC Jagadesh Kumar Mamidala to the Search Committee to identify their new VC. Several students and faculty members have raised questions over the appointment of the controversial VC to the panel.

On Wednesday, the students marched from their library to the main gate, spoke on why they did not want the VC to be on the search committee and then burnt his pictures in protest. "We don't think the administration will speak to us or engage with us on this issue. But maybe the syndicate will meet and hopefully we can spread the word more. We are also running a signature campaign," a student said.

The APSC released a statement on Tuesday, condemning the move to put the VC on the panel who they believe is "RSS-affiliated". The VC has been in the limelight over the last few years as JNU students have frequently protested against him, accusing him of implementing 'anti-student' policies, not following the reservation policy properly, attempting to 'privatise' education and most recently, for the recent violence on campus. He was especially criticised for not meeting the students who had been injured in the mob attack. The Students' Union and the Teachers' Union have also demanded the VC's resignation on various occasions.

Citing these reasons, the APSC students called for a protest and demanded that Mamidala be removed from the search panel. The APSC members say they fear the saffronisation of the campus, "We are worried we will get an RSS-affiliated VC and we will lose our democracy. Already we don't have a Students' body here and we will lose whatever remaining rights we have. The University will also close doors to students who come from socially and economically backward backgrounds just like how the reservation policy was violated in JNU," students say.
(Newser)  A day before France banned gatherings of more than 1,000 people, some 3,500 of them gathered to break a world record. The village of Landerneau in northwestern France, home to the annual Festival of the Starry Moon, was betting on breaking the world record for the "most people dressed as Smurfs" set by 2,762 people in Lauchringen, Germany, in February 2019. The attempt looked to be in jeopardy from the spreading coronavirus, which had infected nearly 1,000 people in France by Saturday. But the Smurfs weren't to be deterred. Some 3,500 people in blue body paint met at a parking lot, where they danced and sang. "There's no risk, we're Smurfs ... We're going to Smurferize the coronavirus," one attendee glibly told AFP. Another dismissed the virus as "no big deal."

story continues below

The event, attended by 3,549 "Smurfs" in beards and Phrygian hats, smashed the previous record, though the results still need to be certified by Guinness World Records, per the Washington Post. In neighboring Italy, where 16 million people were placed on lockdown on Sunday, people couldn't help but wonder at what cost. One newspaper, La Repubblica, described the event as "potentially a very dangerous viral bomb." Indeed, the CDC notes the virus spreads "between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet)." Landerneau Mayor Patrick Leclerc has defended the event, however. "We must not stop living," he told AFP on Tuesday. "We figured that a bit of fun would do us all good" considering the feeling of "ambient gloom." (Read more France stories.)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-12 01:08:55|Editor: yan

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BERLIN, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Leading German economists presented guidelines for an economic emergency plan on Wednesday with measures to prevent the country's economy from crashing due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The economists supported the German government's economic aid package of 12.4 billion euros (14 billion U.S. dollars) as well as financial support for companies with liquidity problems as a result of the epidemic.However, "the need is already there for more far-reaching steps," the report read.

On Sunday, the German government had agreed on a comprehensive aid package to cushion the economic consequences of the coronavirus outbreak. One of the measures was that the hurdles for receiving short-time work compensation were lowered significantly.

Access to short-time work benefits and the associated reimbursement of social contributions was "particularly expedient and effective," the economists noted.

If bankruptcies and layoffs in Germany could be prevented, then "the chances are good that the economy can quickly recover after the wave of infection subsides and that lost production will be recovered," according to the seven economists.

In order to mitigate the economic effects of the outbreak, it would be important to abandon Germany's balanced budget policy and to "make use of the room for maneuver that the debt brake offers," the economists said.


DALLAS (dpa-AFX) - AT&T said it will retire $4 billion of its common stock. The two accelerated share repurchase ASRs are expected to bring total common shares retired in 2020 to more than 250 million through April.



The company chief financial officer John Stephens told an investors conference that the recent addition of preferred equity to its capital structure has been well received. AT&T will also continue to retire debt with the goal of a net debt-to-adjusted EBITDA ratio in the 2.0x to 2.25x range by the end of 2022.



Stephens briefly discussed AT&T's reaction to the coronavirus. He said the company is focused on its employees and customers and has taken precautions to help protect their health and safety.



He also said the company is applying lessons learned from network disaster recovery efforts in coordinating with the authorities on the response to the virus.



Stephens said that while he can't speak on behalf of any specific supplier, the company hasn't seen a significant impact in its supply chain at this point.



AT&T expects the successful launch of AT&T TV will drive store traffic in addition to bundling opportunities. HBO Max is also a key part of AT&T's strategy; it will enable the company to pair unique premium video content with wireless, pay TV and broadband.



Stephens stated that he expects bundling opportunities will also increase Unlimited plan adoption, with 5G initially available only on AT&T's upper tier Unlimited plans.



Stephens said the company expects AT&T TV to be an important part of AT&T's portfolio of services in 2020.He also said that AT&T's initial focus for the HBO Max streaming platform will be on the domestic launch and securing uptake among existing HBO customers and then expanding to other customers, including via attractive bundling offers.



Stephens noted that AT&T has a significant opportunity to grow penetration in its fiber footprint, both with consumers and businesses. The company has seen significantly better bundling rates for broadband with AT&T TV.



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Convicted rapist Harvey Weinstein arrived in a New York court in a wheelchair on Wednesday for the final act of his rape trial as he listened to his two victims deliver their emotional impact statements.

The disgraced Hollywood producer faces between five and 29 years in prison for raping aspiring actress Jessica Mann in 2013 and forcibly performing oral sex on production assistant Mimi Haleyi in 2006.

Weinstein, who looked gaunt and pale, stared straight ahead as both Mann and Haleyi addressed the court and told of how their attacks had impacted their lives.

Haleyi, who was the first to deliver her statement, sobbed as she told the court that women are safer now that he is behind bars as she revealed that Weinstein crushed her spirit and altered the course of her life.

She said the attack on her in Weinstein's Soho apartment in 2006 came at a 'very vulnerable point' in her life.

'He attacked me with physical force, with no regard It diminished my confidence and faith in people. It was very embarrassing and hurtful,' she said.

'I eventually buried it, I minimized it. .. because that was my coping mechanism. In reality, this incident altered the course of my life. He crushed a part of my spirit.

Harvey Weinstein (pictured on February 24) was in Manhattan Criminal Court on Wednesday for his sentencing hearing where he will learn just how long he'll stay in prison for his landmark #MeToo conviction.

Jessica Mann, the woman Weinstein was convicted of raping, and Mimi Haleyi, the woman he's accused of sexually assaulting, arrived in court on Wednesday ahead of his sentencing

'At the time, I thought I was alone in this. I didn't understand the extent of Harvey Weinstein's calculated behavior. The pattern is obvious. I have no doubt if Harvery Weinstein was not convicted by this jury, he would have again and again.

'I am relieved that there are women out there who are safer because he's not out there.'

She said that testifying against him was a way of healing given she had spent the past few years living in fear that he would retaliate against her.

'I have never felt vengeful. I just felt sad for myself, I felt sad for everyone he hurt and sad even for him for having done this to himself.'

Haleyi said the attack scarred her deeply, made her rethink her career in the entertainment business and left her feeling paranoid and afraid of retaliation.

She said she avoids dating because she doesn't want to hurt people, have them feel embarrassed or distance themselves when they find out what happened to her.

Mann, in her statement, said she wished she had been able to fight Weinstein off when he raped her in a Manhattan hotel.

'I am forced to carry that experience until I die,' she said.

Mann said that 12 people found Weinstein guilty of raping her but that he was 'baffled at finally being held accountable' because he still denies any wrongdoing.

She addressed the maxiumum four-year sentence Weinstein could face on her charge alone by comparing it drug offenses that could have a 20-year sentence.

'How am I not worth more than cocaine?' Mann said.

Mann added that she now wanted to create a future 'where monsters no longer hide in our closets'.

All six women who testified during his trial - Mann, Haleyi, Annabella Sciorra, Tarale Wulff, Dawn Dunning and Lauren Marie Young - sat behind prosecutors in the packed courtroom for his sentencing.

Apart from Mann and Haleyi, the other four women will not permitted to speak at his sentencing under state law.

Weinstein's defense lawyers Donna Rotunno and Damon Cheronis are pictured arriving in court on Wednesday

Weinstein's defense attorney Donna Rotunno urged the judge to impose the minimum sentence.

She argued that is was never possible for Weinstein to have a fair trial because of his high profile case.

Rotunno said there were a number of people who wanted to speak out in support of Weinstein but claimed they were afraid to come forward for fear of retribution.

'No matter what happens here, judge, nobody really wins. For Mr Weinstein, no matter what this court does, we're really looking at a de facto life sentence,' she said.

Rotunno also raised his deteriorating health and the relationship he has with his two youngest children as reasons for a minimum sentence.

'Judge, Mr Weinstein is a sick man. He has a multitude of medical issues,' Rotunno said.

She said he had a wonderful relationship with his six and nine-year-old children.

'The loss of his daily presence in his life is going to have a major impact,' she said.

Weinstein was convicted on two counts on February 24: A criminal sex act for the 2006 assault on Haleyi and third degree rape for the 2013 attack on Mann.

On the criminal sex act count, he faces between five to 25 years in prison, while the third-degree rape count carries a maximum penalty of four years in prison.

Weinstein was acquitted of first-degree rape and two counts of predatory sexual assault stemming from actress Annabella Sciorra's allegations of a mid-1990s rape.

The other three women who have accused Weinstein of assault were brought in to testify as prosecutors sought to show he had a pattern of behavior.

The film producer maintains his innocence and contends that any sexual activity was consensual.

Weinstein's lawyers are seeking the minimum sentence of five years in prison because of his age and frail health.

Weinstein, who turns 68 next week, used a walker throughout the trial following recent back surgeries.

He has been awaiting sentencing in New York's Rikers Island jail, where he was moved last Thursday after a 10-day hospital stay at Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan where he underwent a procedure to clear a heart blockage.

Once Weinstein is sentenced, he'll be transferred from the city's jail system to the state prison system. The agency that runs New York's state prisons said every inmate is evaluated to determine which facility meets his or her security, medical, mental health and other needs.
Fewer cruise ship passengers have been arriving at Nassau, the capital, in recent weeks. Yet for local merchants, those losses have been offset to some extent by guests at hotels such as the Baha Mar resort, one of the biggest in the Bahamas. It has seen only a slight decrease in its upcoming bookings and is still anticipating brisk business during spring break and Easter, according to Robert Sands, the resorts senior vice president of government and external affairs.
The death of a 76-year-old man who had recently returned from Saudi Arabia was not linked to coronavirus, Karnataka Minister B Sriramulu said on Wednesday. The ministers clarification came minutes after the health department rebutted unconfirmed reports linking the mans death to coronavirus, or Covid-19.

Sriramulu told reporters that the man, whose condition had deteriorated shortly after his return to the country, was suffering from pneumonia, hypertension and asthma. The government is awaiting the results of the coronavirus tests from the National Institute of Virology, Bengaluru, the minister said.

He is reported to have died last night in an ambulance while being moved between Karnataka and neighbouring Telangana.

The dead man had returned to Kalaburgi on February 29 and was admitted to hospital for flu-like symptoms on March 5. His family had moved him to a hospital in Hyderabad against medical advice.

Karnataka Health Minister B Sriramulu said the old man was only a suspected case of coronavirus, not confirmed. The district health department has taken some precautions for the funeral of the deceased. This should not create any unnecessary confusion and fear, said Sriramulu, according to news agency IANS.

Sriramulu has, however, ordered suspension of the health officer of Kalburgi district 500 km from Bengaluru on the charge that he had revealed details about the patient including his name.

The top virology institute has confirmed 60 cases of novel coronavirus in the country, with two fresh positive cases - one each from Delhi and Rajasthan - being reported.

The figure includes five positive cases reported in Delhi and nine persons who were diagnosed with the infection in Uttar Pradesh till Wednesday morning. The total number of 60 confirmed cases includes 16 Italians, the health ministry said on Thursday.
EDWARDSVILLE  From daily operations to spring break, school officials are emphasizing communication in response to growing coronavirus concerns.

Metro-East Lutheran High School Principal Dr. Jay Krause said preparedness and precautions are of high priority for those who will participate in holy week, or spring break.

To say we havent talked about it as a school is an understatement, Krause said. We have planned for some what if scenarios and if something happened in the area.

Prior to holy week  which runs from March 30 through April 3  interim week offers students one-week courses through unique learning experiences. Part of interim week includes groups of students traveling to New York City, Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand.

Krause said as of right now, all trips are still planned. The school is working closely with health officials and the agency planning the trips to determine what actions, if any, should be made.

As of Tuesday, Cambodia has only seen one confirmed case, Thailand has seen 53 cases with one death and Vietnam has seen 32 cases.

Krause asked families to please let us know of travel plans.

He added that the school is prepared to allow students and staff to move learning to the security of their own homes, through the use of iPads, and that no major events have been canceled or altered.

More Information Coronavirus - what to do if you think you have it According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, here are measures to take to prevent the spread of illness of people with confirmed or suspected COVID-19:  Monitor your symptoms before seeking care  Call ahead before visiting your primary doctor  Stay home except to get medical care  Wear a facemask  Clean your hands often  Cover your coughs or sneezes  Separate yourself from other people and animals in your home For more information about how the coronavirus is impacting local sports, see The I on Local story on Page C1. See More Collapse

For Edwardsville School District 7, events are still on as scheduled but no the district is taking a more reactive approach.

Right now, we do not have any plans to cancel any events and there is not any plans to cancel any games. I even had someone ask if we were going to cancel graduation, no plans to do that at this point, Jason Henderson, District 7 superintendent. We are going to wait and see what happens over these next few weeks and months. Were going to have to be a little bit reactive in this; we are trying to be as proactive as we can but as we dont quite know whats going to happen.

Henderson did explain that an emphasis is being put on handwashing and disinfecting of high-touch areas throughout the district. He added that on Wednesday, he will meet with Madison County superintendents of schools and the Madison County Health Department to discuss how to create a unified front and a gameplan in case the virus was to find its way into schools.

Henderson said that while he cannot tell families to cancel spring break plans, he asks families to notify the district of plans to leave the country.

What makes this difficult is that theres so many different scenarios about how things could make their way into District 7, he added. Its one thing if you could have one test positive that is a student, but its another thing if a parent tests positive, or its a totally different thing if someone has a parent that has been exposed, but it might not actually be a [confirmed] case.

Father McGivney Catholic High School could not be reached by the time of publication.
Jamia Millia Islamia's Dr. Zakir Husain Library, which was damaged in alleged police action in the university on December 15 last year, was reopened for students after nearly three months on Wednesday.

The library is fully functional now, the varsity said.

Dr Zakir Husain Library, the central library of Jamia, was reopened after extensive renovation and face lifting, university PRO Ahmad Azeem said.

"With a seating capacity of nearly 800, consisting of a reading hall, research floor, reference and periodical section and a well-equipped digital resource centre, comprising 150 computers, the library resumed all its services today.

"The textbook and research sections of the library remain open till midnight and witness huge footfall," he said.

Azeem said effort has been made to provide better facilities to students by installing LED lights and bringing new and comfortable chairs.

"Despite (all) odds, the library has been able to utilise its budgetary allocation completely and renew its subscription to electronic databases," he said.

The period of three months when the library was closed was utilised to migrate library management software to an open source software from a commercial one for more effective integration and discovery of resources, he added.

After a protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act near Jamia turned violent on December 15, police personnel entered the university to nab "outsiders" who had entered the campus to hide.

In an estimate submitted to the Human Resource Development Ministry, the Jamia administration said the university suffered damages worth Rs 2.66 crore to its property due to the police barging inside the campus without permission.

The universities two libraries, not far from each other, were where the majority of the damage happened.

The damage occurred to CCTV cameras, which were allegedly broken, tubelights, AC units, doors, glass windows and library tables.

The old library remains closed.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)


MBABANE - While the country intensifies its preparedness for the coronavirus, it is also a blessing in disguise for locals in various fields who are unemployed.



Following the approval of a budget to get the country prepared for the disease, the Ministry of Health is set to hire close to 200 health practitioners and other professionals in different fields.



The people who will be needed in the fight against the virus, as contained in the report, include nurses for different departments, health staff for laboratories, volunteers for community engagements and training, frontline and on-call doctors and decontamination sprayers. Some of them will be hired on a temporary basis while others will be engaged on 12-month contracts.



Contained



Furthermore, there will be others who will be engaged when the need arises. This is contained in the Report on the Finance Sessional Committee on the Supplementary Bill, Bill No.5 of 2020 which was approved by the House of Assembly on Monday.

This is the Bill that will facilitate a budget of E100 million for the Kingdom of Eswatini to fight the coronavirus. For now, the Ministry of Health will be given E48 million while the balance will be placed under Head 60.

The report contains a breakdown of how the budget will be utilised for purposes that include strengthening health at ports of entry, capacity building of laboratories on specimen collection, training of community health volunteers and ensuring infection and prevention and control (IPC) precautions among others. The breakdown reflects that the ministry intends to recruit eight staff members for the strengthening of the countrys ports of entry.



These, according to the breakdown, will be hired on a contract of 12 months and the money that has been budgeted for stands at E180 000.



Some of the activities that will be involved under this field include procuring and installing thermo scanners and hand-held scanners. The type of equipment to be installed or mounted includes nine medical thermal scanners and 35 handheld scanners.

There will also be a need to procure rechargeable batteries for hand calibration of buffer stock thermos.

Also included are seven tents, 15 temporary toilets.



A three-day workshop for 30 people has also been included under this field. For the capacity building of the point of entry, the ministry has planned to have 150 participants for a one-day meeting of all officers at Customs, Security, Immigration and Agriculture Departments.



For purposes of capacity building of laboratory on specimen collection, packaging, storage and shipment, the ministry intends to engage 15 temporary additional nurses and the budget has been set at E60 000.

The capacity building function includes activities such as printing and disseminating protocols for specimen collection and shipment.



The ministry also wants training on hazardous material transportation to be conducted.

A laboratory managers meeting is also included plus a training and certification for the handling of infectious substances for identified lab personnel and orientation on referral procedures in health.



Communication



Another key function which has been added in the plan is that of risk communication management and community engagement, where the ministry plans to ensure that there is both internal and partner coordination.



The activities will include identifying members of multisectoral risk communication and community engagement (RCCE) response where the aim is to develop standard operating procedures (SOPs) defining roles and responsibilities of different stakeholders in community communication.



Furthermore, the ministry wants to ensure the provision of regular information on the evolution of the outbreak and country preparedness.



For the regions, the ministry has planned that there will be eight dialogues.

The media has not been left out as a plan has been put in place to conduct sensitisation meeting for media houses.
The Bachelor Season 24 finale aired its dramatic conclusion on Tuesday, March 10. And quite frankly, the only thing to say is this  Were finally free. The last two hours of the ABC reality series had fans split, from the final rose ceremony to the After the Final Rose segments. So who did Peter Weber pick in The Bachelor finale  Madison Prewett or Hannah Ann Sluss? Viewers still dont know how to feel about the ending.

[Spoiler alert: The Bachelor Season 24, Episode 11 & 12.]

Peter Webers mom chooses Hannah Ann Sluss over Madison Prewett in The Bachelor finale

Peter Weber from The Bachelor | Randy Holmes via Getty Images

When The Bachelor Season 24, Episode 11 finale began, Weber arrived in Alice Springs, Australia, where the 28-year-old met up with his family. Pilot Pete recapped what happened with Sluss and Prewett during Fantasy Suite week. Of course, Webers family was concerned with Prewetts hesitations. But ultimately, they trusted Weber would make the right choice.

Regardless, Sluss was the first one to meet the family in Australia. And right off the bat, Webers family seemed to approve. Sluss made it clear she was there for Webers heart and truly loved him. She even won over Webers mom, Barbara. Even so, Weber revealed his heart was with both women. But ultimately, the bachelor needed to speak with Prewett to clear his mind.

Before Prewett met Webers parents for the second time, she opened up about her feelings. The Auburn alum revealed how hurt she felt after Weber admitted he was intimate with other contestants even after she asked him not to. Prewett also said she loved the bachelor. However, she was hanging on by a thread and just needs something to feel confident in their relationship. Nevertheless, Weber convinced Prewett to meet him halfway and continue on.

Finally, Prewett met up with Webers parents, and they pointed out a few of their concerns. Prewett was honest about her feelings for Weber and explained her own feelings about Fantasy Suite week. However, she didnt convince Webers family and began doubting herself. In the end, the family grew even more worried because Weber seemed to be waiting for something that may or may not materialize. Meanwhile, Prewett began seeing all the differences in their lifestyles.

After Prewett left, Barbara told her son that Prewett wasnt there for him. The Weber matriarch then praised Sluss, noting she could see how much the model loved him. Hannah Ann loves you with all her heart. Dont let her go  Bring her home to us, Barbara said. We will welcome her with open arms.

Weber shut down his moms pleading immediately, claiming what she was doing wasnt fair. You gotta stop, he said. Its destroying me.

Peter Weber picks Hannah Ann Sluss after Madison Prewett eliminates herself in The Bachelor finale

Weber and Prewetts final date on The Bachelor ended in a breakup. Prewett made it clear she loved Weber, but she decided it was time to surrender. And in the end, Prewett took herself out of the equation because she wanted Weber to find his perfect match.

After the split, Weber and Sluss went on their final Bachelor date. They seemed to have a fun time together, but Sluss noticed something off about Weber. Then in the evening, Weber told Sluss his heart was being torn in two different directions. Given this was the day before the final rose ceremony, this was not what Sluss wanted to hear. Weber also did not say anything about his breakup with Prewett.

The Bachelor Season 24, Episode 12 continued on Tuesday, March 10. The next morning, Weber made his decision, and he chose Sluss. I am choosing Hannah Ann because I am 100 percent certain and I want to choose her every day, Weber said. The 28-year-old also called Sluss father, who gave his blessing.

Meanwhile, Sluss was still struggling in her hotel room. She was worried about Webers comments the night before. And ultimately, she was scared about her heart being broken because she wasnt sure if Weber wanted her as much as she wanted him.

After Sluss cast her doubts, host Chris Harrison told Weber he wasnt confident Sluss was coming to the final rose ceremony. Naturally, Weber panicked. But eventually, Sluss showed up. And following a wobbly walk to Weber, the bachelor told his final choice Prewett left two days prior. Weber then proposed to Sluss. They ended things in Australia engaged.

Peter Weber dumps Hannah Ann Sluss in The Bachelor finale

After filming The Bachelor finale, Weber told his parents about his engagement to Sluss. They expressed their excitement and everyone was all smiles. But then a month after the proposal in Australia, Sluss and Weber got together. The bachelor revealed he couldnt continue their relationship because he couldnt give Sluss his whole heart.

You took away from me, my first engagement. You took that away from me. I trusted you, and thats what you have continued to ask me to do, Sluss said. She then called Weber out for not keeping his word. I dont need anything more from you. Youve done enough damage. Heres this, Sluss said, handing back the ring. Were done. I mean that. Weber then continued to apologize. But Sluss didnt believe a word.

Im sorry, but your words, you cant be true to them, she said. So why would I hear you out anymore? I feel betrayed enough. You betrayed me. And you know it, right? Ill be able to move forward knowing you owned up to it. Im going to get my life back on track now.

Sluss continued: Im strong and Ive been my own rock throughout this and you dont have to worry about me.

Then in the Bachelor live studio, Sluss confronted Weber. She expressed her frustration with Weber, noting he knew what to say to keep her on the show. Either you dont mean what you say or you dont know the impact of your words, Sluss said.

She then stressed Weber proposed to her without telling her the full extent of his feelings for Prewett, claiming he downplayed them during the proposal. I had no idea what I was saying yes to, Sluss said. You know if you told me where your head was at  you knew the outcome wouldve been different. The most hurtful part was you couldnt respect me enough to have that open conversation with me.

Finally, Sluss ended the conversation. She revealed Weber contacted The Bachelorettes Hannah Brown after their engagement. And basically, its a big mess. To be with a woman, you need to be a real man, Sluss said.



Peter Webers final pick on The Bachelor is Madison Prewett

When Weber broke things off with Prewett, The Bachelor crew went to Alabama. Harrison spoke with Prewett and told her everything that went down. Weber got engaged to Sluss and eventually, broke things off. Prewett looked relieved.

It breaks my heart, its good. Its a lot of things, Prewett said. She also revealed she would take a second chance in a heartbeat. Harrison confirmed this was that chance. They flew to L.A. to surprise Weber. The pair reunited and they appeared happy. Weber and Prewett both shared theyre still in love with each other  but what now?

During After the Final Rose, Weber and Prewett confirmed they will take their relationship one day at a time moving forward. Weve both been hurt. I know theres a lot of healing both of us have to do, Weber said. Ive made more mistakes than you can ever make as the bachelor. But Im still sitting on the couch next to you now. And that makes me happy. I dont know what that means.

He continued: I know how we both feel about each other. I think one step at a time, one day at a time is the smartest way to go with this  the way I feel for you has never changed.

Meanwhile, Webers mom, Barbara, wasnt sure about the relationship. She revealed the first part of the finale didnt show the extent of Prewetts family visit. She claimed Prewett had the family waiting for three hours beforehand and didnt apologize. Later, Prewett told the family she wasnt madly in love with Weber and wouldnt accept a proposal. So it was easier to accept Sluss.

In the end, Prewett appeared to agree to disagree. But even so, Barbara said Weber will just have to fail to succeed. Meanwhile, Webers father, Peter Sr., saw the obstacles and noted it was an issue so early on in the relationship. Anybody who is watching the show would understand that there are so many differences to overcome, he said. When youre getting into a relationship, that beginning should be the brightest spot. And it was anything but. So

Weber defended his relationship with Prewett. Im telling you I love Madison and that should be enough, he said. Then Prewett acknowledged it was time to move forward.

The Bachelor Season 24 finale ended with uncomfortable silence. Weber and Prewett may be together  or working towards healing their relationship  but the family is not on board. Meanwhile, The Hollywood Reporter confirmed Weber wont be making the press rounds after the finale. So, as Harrison said, we wish them the best.

Read more: The Bachelor: Are Colton Underwood and Cassie Randolph Still Together? Their Instagram Feeds Tell You Everything
A two-train subway collision in Mexico City killed a man, injured 41 people and disrupted service Wednesday on the bustling metro system serving this megalopolis of over 20 million people.

Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum said via Twitter that one of the trains apparently reversed into the other by accident the previous night, shortly before midnight.

Twenty-five of the injured were treated at the scene, and the other 16 were taken to hospitals, Sheinbaum said. All the injuries were light to medium and not life-threatening.

Metro authorities said the two drivers of the trains were among those hurt.

Images of the accident published in local media showed wrecked subway cars derailed in the Tacubaya underground station, and rescuers carrying people away.

Metro director Florencia Serrana said there would be an outside investigation into the crash.

The Mexico City Metro system, one of the world's largest and most transited, has seen at least two serious accidents since it opened five decades ago.

In 2015 a train failed to brake in time and smashed into another at the Oceania station in the city's north, injuring 12 people. Authorities later blamed double human error.

In the most serious incident, two trains collided at the Viaducto station in 1975, killing at least 31 and injuring more than 70, according to the national newspaper El Universal.

Tacubaya is a key station for the Metro system, with three of its 11 lines intersecting there, and there were reports of system disruptions during the Wednesday morning commute.

Metro authorities said service on Line 1 would be reduced throughout the day with Tacubaya and a neighboring station out of action and 45 buses deployed to bridge the gap of about 2.5 miles (4 kilometers).

Mexico's Metro system transported more than 1.6 billion passengers in 2018, according to official figures, or about 4.4 million per day.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Commuting to Manhattan has its woes. Even Saturday Night Live head writer Colin Jost can remember the bus-to-ferry-to-train struggles.

The Grymes Hill native detailed his hour-and-a-half commute to and from Regis High School in an essay recently published by The New Yorker.

I took a bus, then a ferry, then a subway  which, when you type it into Google Maps, looks like youre emigrating from China to San Francisco in the eighteen-forties, Jost wrote.

Of course, the SNL writer had strong opinions about the Staten Island Ferry.

WATCH SNL ON HULU

Riding the ferry was not a yacht life style, he wrote. The bins under the seats were marked Life Jackets but should have been marked A Hundred Rats Live Here.

As for the trip back to Staten Island, I was always on edge when I travelled home alone late at night, he wrote. I was very conscious of never smiling, because I was afraid that if I smiled someone would punch me. I actively tried to look sad, and, in keeping with my living-in-my-head approach to life, I would invent awful things that had happened to me to tell a robber so that he would feel guilty and then not rob me.

Jost is expected to share more experiences from his life in his new novel, A Very Punchable Face, which is set to hit shelves April 14. You can purchase the book on Amazon at a discount.
In line with the previous statement by my government, I would like to express my regret and apologize here for the excessive violence on the part of the Dutch in those years, the king said Tuesday. I do so with full awareness that the pain and sorrow of the affected families will be felt for generations.
Francis Chan discovers link between birth mother, move to Hong Kong: 'It's confirmation of Gods goodness'

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Francis Chan shared a personal story about his new neighborhood in Hong Kong and a connection his late missionary mother had to it  an unlikely event he said highlights Gods goodness and grace.

So I just have to tell you a story about Gods grace, Chan, the former teaching pastor of Cornerstone Community Church in Simi Valley, California, said in a recent video. Were getting to move to Hong Kong last week, and Im here now. We were going to move into this neighborhood, Sham Shui Po, because a friend of mine was planting house churches here, another buddy of mine right down the street had set up an office for me where theyre caring for the poor.

[I kept asking] 'Lord, is this the place?' Im trying to figure out the will of God.

While packing for the big move, Chan said he came across a folder containing pictures of his birth mother. The pictures show his mother nearly 70 years ago as she was living in Hong Kong.

Now, my mom gave birth to me and died while she was giving birth to me in San Fransisco. But these pictures were of her in Hong Kong, and she was in the same neighborhood and she was a believer doing ministry right here 70 years ago, like its dated and shows the exact location," Chan explained.

She was doing ministry in this building right behind me, he said.

She walked this neighborhood and prayed to God, God, can I have an impact here? 70 years ago. I can see God going, OK, its not going to be the way you think. Youre going to go to San Fransisco, give birth to a son, and youre going to die in the process, and hes going to come back here.

When I saw that and I realized where it was, it was just confirmation of Gods goodness, the popular pastor said, adding he believes him finding the pictures was Gods grace telling him, youre on the right direction.

In November, Chan announced he would be moving his family to Asia sometime in February 2020.

Nine years ago, while we were in Hong Kong, Lisa and I both felt God was calling us to move there, Chan wrote in an online update, adding that they enjoyed their "dependence on God in unfamiliar, uncomfortable places."

Chan shared how he was in Myanmar traveling "from hut to hut with a translator, sharing the Gospel with people who had never heard about Jesus" and the more he did it, the more he realized he wanted to do this for "the remainder of my life."

"I have no idea how long I will stay in Hong Kong," Chan said. "We will just try to discern the Spirits leading daily."

During a sermon last month, the Crazy Love author revealed that he and a team of other Christians had witnessed the miraculous healing of several people in a rural village located in Myanmar, including two deaf children.

"I'm going, 'God, please, please hear,'" he recalled. "People started coming forward for healing."

"Every person I touched was healed," Chan said. "I have never experienced this in 52 years. I'm talking like a little boy and a little girl who were deaf. We laid hands, she starts crying and smiling. These are not Christians who have even heard about Jesus, and she's freaking out. We lay hands on her little brother, we lay hands on him, and he starts hearing for the first time."

Chan also admitted that the experience was out of his "comfort zone," but "man, it happened. It happened."

"I thought I had faith, but my faith was at another level," he noted. "And I think there are some things that contributed  some of it was just faith in His Word, that when Jesus says, 'I am in you and you are in Me,' to take that literally."

Chan explained that although he disagreed theologically with some of his team members, he believes God was "honored by this fight for unity, and I believe God was honored by this pursuit of the unreached, and obeying the Great Commission and we saw power."

"And I don't know that that means it will happen every time," he continued. "My theology says I don't think it will happen everywhere ... but best I understand Scripture, He wants me to believe in my unity with Him, this power that I have because He and I are one. He wants to believe that you and I can become perfectly one."
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Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) Beijing, China  Wed, March 11, 2020 17:11 671 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2069df4bf 2 World #China,#coronavirus,Beijing,quarantine,arrivals Free

Beijing on Wednesday ordered people arriving in the city from any country to go into 14-day quarantine as China reported an increase in imported coronavirus cases, threatening its progress against the epidemic.

China has made major strides in its battle against the virus, prompting President Xi Jinping to visit Wuhan, the central city at the heart of the global epidemic, on Tuesday and declare that it has "basically curbed" the spread of the disease.

The number of new infections has dramatically fallen in recent weeks but Wednesday showed a slight uptick from the previous day due to the increase in imported cases.

Zhang Qiang, a city government official, said at a press conference on Wednesday that those landing from "non-epidemic countries" will also have to stay at home for 14 days.

People arriving in Beijing for business trips must stay in a designated hotel and undergo a nucleic acid test for the virus, he added.

Travellers flying into Beijing Capital International Airport from high-risk countries are now handled separately from other passengers, reported state media on Tuesday.

Flights from Italy, Iran, South Korea and Japan will arrive at a designated area of the terminal, an airport staff member told AFP on Wednesday.

Normally the busiest in China by passenger volume, the airport was much quieter than usual on Wednesday morning.

The staffer added that travellers who need to be quarantined would be sent to the nearby New China International Exhibition Centre, where AFP journalists saw security guards standing next to a red carpet.

There were 22 more deaths and 24 new cases nationwide on Wednesday, according to the National Health Commission.

Ten of the new cases came from abroad -- most from Italy, the worst-hit country outside China.

Six of the imported cases were in Beijing.

Beijing had already required quarantine for people arriving from hard-hit countries including South Korea, Iran, Italy and Japan.

China has now reported 79 cases imported from abroad.

The country, however, has made significant progress in curbing domestic infections.

New cases in Wuhan fell to a new low, with 13 infections reported on Wednesday, while only one other non-imported case was recorded elsewhere in the country.

Wuhan and its surrounding province, Hubei, have been under lockdown since late January in an unprecedented effort that has prevented 56 million people from venturing to other parts of China.

But with Hubei reporting zero cases outside Wuhan for several days in a row, the province announced Tuesday that it would allow healthy people in low-risk areas to travel within the province.

The virus has infected nearly 81,000 people in China so far, with a large majority having already recovered. The national death toll rose to 3,158 on Wednesday.

The global death toll from the new coronavirus has passed 4,000 and the outbreak has spread to over 100 countries.
When Sao Paulo, Brazil, reported Latin Americas first case of the new coronavirus last month, South Florida had reason to worry. Sao Paulo is Latin Americas most populous city. Its population has strong ties to Italywhere coronavirus is so rampant, its northern provinces have been locked downand Paulistas travel there frequently. And each day, scores of flights leave Sao Paulos airports destined for Miami in Florida, USA.
Before our time in the Marine Corps, some of the equipment issued to Marines, specifically helmet covers, shelter halfs (1/2 of what some call a pup tent), and ponchos, had green camouflage on one side and brown on the other. Rolling the shelter half to fit onto the haversack pack, folding the poncho, and fitting the helmet cover took some time. For the sake of uniformity, every Marine would have his equipment arranged in the same manner, with the two-colored camouflage items folded so only one color showed. This was especially important when it came to Marines in formation. However, on occasion, one unit might have had the "Brown Side Out," while another unit had the "Green Side Out." This resulted in one unit having to unpack, unroll, unfold, reroll and refold their gear. An affectionate saying for this was "Green Side Out, Brown Side Out, Run in Circles, Scream and Shout. While Marines don't have two-sided different color camouflage any longer, and the "Green Side Out, Brown Side Out" reference is lost on modern Marines, similar situations can and do occur. We describe these as "clusterf----," which means about the same thing as "SNAFU."

Same type of scenario can be used to describe the hype being spread by the mainstream media, the Democrats, etc. about the coronavirus/COVID-19: it's a "clusterf---."

The president spoke to the nation as of late last week...the major themes were "it's not too bad (yet), actions taken early (restricting travel from infected parts of China early worked), continue to go about your daily lives, sneeze into a tissue you then throw away, or into your sleeve at the elbow if you don't have a tissue, and wash your hands. There is more to this story about the outbreak and spread of coronavirus/COVID-19 that will unfold over time. But most experts say don't get alarmist and ring the pandemic bell, just yet.

Remember Ebola, SARS, H1N1, H3N2, MERS, Zika, etc.? The coronavirus is just the latest disease outbreak to pose a global, potentially pandemic threat. It is not and will not be the last.

We're currently about three months into the emergence of the coronavirus in Wuhan, Hubei Provence in Central China. Hubei Provence has a population of about sixty million, with some eleven million living in the city of Wuhan. As of today, there have been some 84,000 people infected worldwide, the majority (79,000) of whom are in China. Taking China as an example, Hubei in particular, some 7K have been infected out of a population of 60M. That's a whopping 0.76%. Statistically, depending on the strain, between 5% and 20% of Americans contract influenza in a given year.

The CDC estimates that influenza has resulted in between 9 million and 45 million illnesses, between 140,000 and 810,000 hospitalizations, and between 12,000 and 81,000 deaths annually since 2010. An estimated 80,000 Americans died of flu and its complications the winter of 2018  the disease's highest death toll in at least four decades. The mortality rate for SARS was 11%.

Right now, you are more likely to die of influenza, the common flu, than the coronavirus. Thus far, the coronavirus is presenting itself as a generally "mild" virus; its fatality rate of about 2.3% is considered "low," and those most at risk of dying from it are likely already compromised with pre-existing health conditions or immunity issues, at risk to severe respiratory infection, elderly, or otherwise unwell.

In general, relatively few cases are seen among children, though they can potentially be hosts and spread the virus.

Age Death Rate* 80+ years old 14.8% 70-79 years old 8.0% 60-69 years old 3.6% 50-59 years old 1.3% 40-49 years old 0.4% 30-39 years old 0.2% 20-29 years old 0.2% 10-19 years old 0.2% 0-9 years old no fatalities *Death Rate = (number of deaths / number of cases) = probability of dying if infected by the virus (%).

Politically, it doesn't matter what Trump's response to the coronavirus is. Democrats, their elite pals, NeverTrumps, and the mainstream media want an economy-crushing issue to wield against him. They've been searching far and wide for something to drag the economy down (the only possible way to beat Trump based on the "cast of clowns" vying for the Democratic nomination) and since "Russia," "Ukraine," and "impeachment" didn't work, now they're selling a special brand of malarkey describing President Trump's COVID-19 response as too little, too late, doomed to fail, etc. Lo and behold, the mainstream media are selling it as hard as the Democrats and NeverTrumps. When all else has failed, the Democrats are trying to make this the "coronavirus election." Hopefully, that scenario will explode in their faces as time and the outbreak progress.

President Trump's acting White House chief of staff and OMB director, Mick Mulvaney, said recently: "Is it real? It absolutely is real  there's no question about it. But you saw the president the other day... This is not Ebola. It's not SARS[.]" Fatality is "someplace between 1 and 2 percent fatal[.] ... Is that serious? It absolutely is  there's no question about it, OK? But it's not a death sentence."

Mulvaney scolded the press and the left for how they have portrayed the situation. "We took extraordinary steps four or five weeks ago. Why didn't you hear about it? What was still going on four or five weeks ago? Impeachment, and that's all the press wanted to talk about[.] ... The reason you're seeing so much attention [paid] to it today is that they think this is going to be what brings down the president. That's what this is all about." Mulvaney said he got a note from a reporter recently asking, "What are you going to do today to calm the markets?" Mulvaney replied, "[R]eally what I'd like to do today to calm the markets is tell people turn the television off."

What can Americans do to assist in the effort to slow or stop the spread of coronavirus?

WASH YOUR HANDS! Studies have discovered that only about 70% of people who go to the toilet wash their hands afterward; and of those that do, only 50% do it right. "The other 30% don't [wash their hands at all]." Researchers argue that if more people were to wash their hands frequently and correctly, it would significantly slow down the rate at which diseases are likely to spread. A recent study indicated that at most, 1 in 5 people in an airport have cleaned his hands at any given moment in time (i.e., 20% of airport population). If 60% rather than 20% of air travelers maintained clean hands, it could slow down the spread of infections by almost 70%, according to the researchers. Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. 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. Follow the CDC's recommendations for using a facemask. The CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a facemask to protect themselves from respiratory diseases, including COVID-19. Facemasks should be used by people who show symptoms of COVID-19 to help prevent the spread of the disease to others. The use of facemasks is also crucial for health workers and people who are taking care of someone in close settings (at home or in a health care facility). If soap and water for hand-washing are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.

That's good enough advice for us. Turn off mainstream media television, take a deep breath, listen to what government experts like the president's Coronavirus Task Force and the CDC have to say. There isn't any reason to start panic-purchasing anything. Stay calm and wash your hands (a lot).

Lt. Col. J.C. "Seamas" Brader had 20-plus years of active duty in the USMC, most of the time serving as an intelligence officer before retiring in 2003. He has deployed many times, including in Iraq. He currently works as a consultant / technical writer / analyst / project manager for Infinity Support Services, Headquartered in Virginia.
BEAVERTON, Ore., March 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Technology companies Tektronix and Coherent Solutions today announce an exclusive partnership agreement to provide fully-integrated optical communications platforms to new and existing customers in support of the growing global demand for communications across the telecom, datacom, defense/aerospace and semiconductor markets.

"Tektronix and Coherent Solutions are strongly committed to providing industry-leading test & measurement solutions for high-bandwidth optical communications," says Amy Taylor, general manager of performance solution at Tektronix. "When coupled, Coherent Solutions IQTransmitter products and Tektronix AWG products create a complete optical communications platform."

Together, these two companies will provide fully-integrated Optical Modulation Analyzer (OMA) systems, using Tektronix's DPO70000SX/DX oscilloscopes and Coherent Solutions IQReceivers. Capabilities of this platform include the generation of coherently modulated signals such as 64QAM to address the high-speed communications market. Complex optical modulation is a critical development path for engineers who are looking for test and measurement systems to support product roll-out for 400G/800G and transmission rates of up to 1TB/s. Tektronix oscilloscopes integrated with Coherent Solutions DSPs will pave the way for engineers to develop coherent transceivers in an efficient process that is both compliant to the current standards and enables them to conduct advanced research beyond the standards.

Andy Stevens, CEO of Coherent Solutions says, "We've seen a surge of interest in OMA systems as engineers look to keep up with developments in high-speed optical technologies and also deploying coherent technology in new areas. It's the perfect time for our companies to align our expertise, and we're confident the partnership will bring significant benefits to our customers and the wider optical communication industry over the next few years."

About Coherent Solutions

Coherent Solutions develops and manufactures advanced photonics test and measurement equipment to meet the needs of world-leading scientists, engineers and manufacturers. From enabling pioneering experiments to driving highly-efficient production testing, Coherent Solutions works with customers across the globe to solve complex problems with simple, intuitive solutions. Find out more at www.coherent-solutions.com .

About Tektronix

Tektronix, Inc., headquartered in Beaverton, Oregon, delivers innovative, precise and easy-to-operate test, measurement and monitoring solutions that solve problems, unlock insights and drive discovery globally. Tektronix has been at the forefront of the digital age for over 70 years. More information on our products and solutions is available at Tek.com .

Follow us on Twitter , Facebook , Instagram , and LinkedIn to stay connected. Learn more from our engineers on the Tektronix blog and read our latest announcements in our Newsroom .

Tektronix is a registered trademark of Tektronix, Inc. All other trade names referenced are the service marks, trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.

SOURCE Tektronix, Inc.

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Linkedin Arya Dipa (The Jakarta Post) Bandung  Wed, March 11, 2020 19:13 671 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2069e5f0b 1 National COVID-19,West-Java,Wuhan-coronavirus-in-Indonesia,COVID-19-Indonesian-patients,West-Java-Health-Agency,tracing-COVID-19,health-ministry Free

West Java Health Agency head Berli Hamdani Gelung Sakti said the agency faced difficulties in tracing the spread of COVID-19 in the region, a measure that has been taken following the Health Ministrys recent announcement on a confirmed 27 cases in the country.

The agency only had a basic knowledge of the backgrounds of Case 1 and Case 2, as well as other COVID-19 patients that had contact with Case 1 and Case 2, said Berli.

They, however, did not have the elaborate documents concerning the said cases and patients, while such data would be important to conduct the trace to prevent the virus from widely spreading in the region, which is a home of 46.5 million people, he added.

It is important for us to know [the cases and patients] by name. However, up until now, the Health Ministry has not given us any information on the [confirmed] patients, Berli said during the officiation of West Java COVID-19 Information Center in Bandung on Tuesday.

Read also: COVID-19: Referral hospitals in West Java lack protective gear, medical equipment

Officials from the Health Agency of West Java province were ordered to trace all of the medical team members that were in contact with Case 1 and Case 2. Furthermore, officials at the city level can trace all of the people outside the medical team that are in contact with the confirmed patients.

Meanwhile, personnel at the puskesmas [community health facility] were told to educate the locals [about the disease and its prevention] to avoid mass panic, Berli said.

As of Tuesday, the West Java Health Agency had monitored 633 people concerning the COVID-19 infection. The close monitoring was conducted due to 633 peoples history of traveling or having direct contact with people from the COVID-19 clusters.

As many as 235 out of the 633 have finished their monitoring process.

In the close observation level, the agency has observed a total of 53 people in isolation facilities. Twenty-three of them have been discharged from the facilities. (gis)
Movies. White people sit around all day thinking up that s**t. And then they believe it! Thats Harry Belafonte speaking in the most powerful film role of his career, playing a lethal black gangster in Robert Altmans Kansas City (1996, now back for timely viewing on Blu-Ray from Arrow Releasing). This is not exotic Calypso Harry, beloved by white liberals for Caribbean crooning. Belafonte created a characterization for the ages  a suave yet surly black man committed to opposing every form of oppression that he has known. Named Seldom Seen for his stealth and uncommon boldness, he embodies the African-American entrepreneur ideal as the multitasking proprietor of the jazz nightspot The Hey Hey Club, which doubles as a gambling joint. He also owns a neighborhood cab company, runs numbers, and peddles weed. He is as fearless as he is feared, but it is Seldom Seens daring that makes him a classic movie figure  he is, finally, a sympathetic monster.

The sympathy is of special interest today. Belafonte, who was formerly known as a U.S. civil-rights activist, currently identifies as a supporter of Venezuelan Communist dictator Hugo Chavez and has endorsed presidential candidate Bernie Sanders. The mystery of how Belafonte evolved is rooted in Seldom Seen, a role molded from the sublimated anger that informs todays Black Lives Matter resentment. Yet the generation that knows Jim Crow America only from hearsay ought to know what Belafonte explicates in this aggrieved, damaged, nonpareil persona.

When Seldom Seen speaks, Belafonte utters some of the most scathing observations ever heard in an American film. (His disquisition on death surely inspired August Wilsons praise-blasphemy in King Hedley II.) Seldom Seen indicts FDR as well as Marcus Garvey. What Samuel L. Jacksons belligerence reduces to vulgarity, Seldom Seen endows with specific, socially based malice. Not just angry, he invests his ire with pain. This allows Belafonte to go where his peer Sidney Poitier could not; his poisonous soliloquies are the heart of Kansas City, voicing dreamed-for revolution as well as the terror of revenge. While the Millennial Belafonte may proclaim this vagrant hope, Seldom Seen conveyed its spiritual cost. That the jazz-infused Kansas City has a hip-hop ending is perfect: We watch Seldom Seen, still living Kansass Plessy v. Ferguson segregation, as a lonely man counting his blood money.

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***

Belafonte and Altman, working before the era of wokeness and politically correct orthodoxy, had the impudent genius to be provocative. As collaborators, they transcended the mid-century tradition of Hollywood movies that saw race as either a problem or a matter of protest. They made sure Seldom Seen would galvanize the films abrasive yet trenchant Depression-era narrative.

Seldom Seen comes into view as the central figure in this oblique gangster tale: White telegraph worker Blondie (Jennifer Jason Leigh) begs him to spare the life of her husband, petty hood Johnny OHara (Dermot Mulroney). When her entreaty is refused, Blondie kidnaps Carolyn Stilton (Miranda Richardson), the dope-fiend wife of a Kansas City politician, hoping to put legal pressure  or backroom enforcement  on Seldom Seen.

This is how Altman and Belafonte look into the dark heart of American race relations  which is to say, the vibrant, blood-pumping impulses of competition and survival. Seldom Seens hate story contrasts Blondies love story. (The moment he comes kissing-close to Johnny dares suggest the strange intimacy of race hatred.) In Leighs equally original characterization, Blondie is enamored of Jean Harlow and Hollywood ideas of glamour; a photo of her and Johnny, striking a Bonnie-and-Clyde pose, portrays the pitiful autonomy sought by the gullible working class, which is no less pathetic than Carolyns desiccated bourgeois marriage. Blondies movingly intimate female revelations with Carolyn are audacious  recalling Altmans artsy, quasi-feminist 3 Women (1977)  but Kansas City connects them to an even wider view of American intimacy.

The films interracial storyline (including a teenage Charlie Parker and his mother) follows the improvisatory discipline of jazz and how it expresses American plurality and independence, the individual proclaiming himself among community  the essential Altman theme.

No Millennial filmmaker seems capable of Belafonte and Altmans insight about society and personality; identity politics have muddled contemporary media. Its crucial to realize that Seldom Seens charitable impulse has been lynched; he no longer has the black mans loving heart that Buggin Out (Giancarlo Esposito) talked about in Do the Right Thing or the fraternal instinct of Tory Kittless Slim in Dragged across Concrete. Still, Seldom Seen is a real mover, not a political poseur like Jesse Jackson, Danny Glover, Cornel West, and Chuck D, who display their frustration ineffectually by pinning their hopes on Bernie Sanders.

Altman could recognize this anger through his sensitivity to varieties of American experience, but Belafonte has never allowed himself to publicly admit it until giving this great, seething performance. These two beloved American artists had planned to join forces on a revision of Amos n Andy, but this authentic tragic vision is their legacy. Thats why Seldom Seens profane indictment of Hollywood  White people sit around all day thinking up that s**t. And then they believe it! applies to Green Book, Moonshine, 12 Years a Slave, Parasite, Joker, Knives Out, and more.

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TUCSON, Ariz.  A Pima County sheriffs deputy seen on video tackling a teenage quadruple amputee at a Tucson-area group home last year will not face charges, prosecutors said.

The Pima County Attorneys Office could not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Deputy Manuel Van Santens use of force on a 15-year-old boy was unnecessary, Nicol Green, the offices chief trial counsel, said in a letter Tuesday.

The mere possibility that the level of force used was excessive is not a sufficient basis upon which to file criminal charges against the deputy, Green wrote.

Deputies went to the group home in September after a worker called 911 to report the teen had knocked over a trash can and made verbal threats. Another teen used his cellphone to film part of Van Santens interaction with the boy, who has no arms or legs.

The start of the eight-minute video shows the deputy tussling on the kitchen floor with the boy, who is screaming and cursing. The deputy then uses his body to pin the teen on his side. After about two minutes, the officer gets up. He then talks to the teen, telling him to shut the hell up. He was then arrested on disorderly conduct charges.

The boy did not suffer any physical injuries, according to his attorney, Samuel Jurgena. Jurgena did not immediately return an email seeking comment Wednesday.

Green said the force Van Santen used to push the teen against a wall would have been considered excessive if the teen wasnt already resisting.

The boy, whose name is being withheld by The Associated Press because of his age, publicly shared the video in November. After it surfaced, Pima County prosecutors dropped the teens disorderly conduct charges. Van Santen, an 11-year veteran, was put on administrative leave.

Stephen Portell, an attorney for Van Santen, declined to comment Wednesday because he had not yet spoken with his client. After the videos release, the deputy issued a statement that he had followed standard training from the sheriffs office.

I was there to secure individuals who might be a threat to themselves, the staff and other residents. This was all confirmed upon my arrival and before I entered the building, Van Santen said.
Mumbai, March 11 : Mumbai went into high alert after two persons tested positive for the Covid-19, taking the total afflicted in the state to 7, including 5 in Pune, an official said here on Wednesday.

The two latest cases here have described as close to the Pune patients who had returned from a Dubai trip last along with a 40-member tour.

The two patients are currently undergoing treatment in an isolation ward in Kasturba Hospital after their test reports were received on Wednesday, an official of Communicable Diseases Control Programme said.

While the state government has appealed to the people not to panic, as many as 138,968 passengers have been screened till Wednesday at the three international airports in Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur.

Besides, as per revised rules of the Centre, all passengers arriving from Iran, South Korea and Italy are being notified to the Bureau of Immigation. From February 29 till date, a total of 635 passengers from these affected countries have landed in Maharashtra.

Since January 18, 349 people with suspected coronaVirus symptoms were admitted to various hospitals in the state of which 312 have tested negative so far and discharged after completing their 14-day quarantine.

Presently, 18 suspected Covind-19 patients are still in Pune hospitals and 15 in Mumbai hospitals whose test reports are awaited besides CoronaVirus suspects in government hospitals in Nagpur and Pimpri-Chinchwad.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Given a Louis Vuitton Keepall full of money and a round-trip ticket to the American city of your choice for a no-holds-barred shopping spree, you won't find a better destination than Los Angeles in 2020. (A credit card with some free space will also suffice.) That's because the city has reinvented itself as a global style capital, this time thanks to a cadre of both totally new and long-established independent retailers who are giving the city's fashion scene a soul.

Shopping here, you'll discover a retail landscape that unfolds like a Bosch painting. The highest of the highs and the hippest of the lows. You will see blue-chip-gallery-quality art. You will find a pair of black trousers so perfect you might cry. You will see gender revolutions in fashion and beauty playing out in real time. You will hear the price $60,900 floating between bars of a Lizzo song. You'll see a functioning skate bowl at a skate shop with valet parking. You will run into some celebrities and many celebrity stylists. You might visit a store that used to be a porn director's garage, or a make-believe mansion constructed on Melrose. You may be asked to confront the politics of consumption. You will go to Erewhon for lunch.

L.A.'s shopping scene is both as glitzy and luxurious, and as gritty and weird, as the city itself. Fed by a steady supply of radical new made-in-L.A. brands, and a celebrity class with a new taste for sophisticated dressing, the city's retail stalwarts have expanded and gotten more ambitious. Meanwhile, new boutiques have sprung up like wildflowers in a vacant lot. If you think back eight or nine years ago, L.A. was nothing, says Mac Hadar, who runs H.Lorenzo, which opened a stand-alone men's store in 2018 in West Hollywood after nearly 40 years in business. But lately it has become one of the most important cities for fashion today, on par with Paris.

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But shopping the epic canvas that is Los Angeles retail isn't as convenient as taking a stroll down Madison Avenue in New York City or through the Lenox Square mall in Atlanta. To figure out how to crack it, I embarked on an L.A. Tour de Jawnz that saw me log 51.2 miles over the course of five days. The City of Angels did not disappoint.

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Art and Commerce: Part 1

These days, walk into most stores and you can feel the Amazon-size specter of e-commerce lurking in the corners, waiting to wipe the place out. Not so much at L.A.'s temples of advanced and exclusive tastes, where the vibe still feels distinctly pre-internet. At the venerable Maxfield on Melrose, opened in 1969, I half expected a young Christian Slater to pop out from behind a rack of hoodies, until I realized the hoodies were Off-White.

Founded by Tommy Perse (father of T-shirt mogul James), Maxfield is where Larry David should have gone shoe shopping on Curb Your Enthusiasm. Maxfield is a place to see and be seen, but it's also a place to indulge in strange fashion and design fantasies that can't be fulfilled anywhere else. It's famous for introducing L.A. to Comme des Garcons and Yohji Yamamoto in the early '80s and somewhat infamous for selling a selection of shrunken heads alongside vintage Birkins a few decades later. On the day I swung by, it was in the midst of its 50th-anniversary celebration, which featured 50 days of collaborative drops with some of the store's most loyal partners. Day one? A pair of Chrome Hearts toilet plungers that sold, I was told, in less than an hour ($1,800 for the one with silver details, $9,000 for the gold). At Maxfield, capital and clout coexist in easy harmony. Among the anniversary drops still available was a Damien Hirst-designed lobster-red regimental jacket emblazoned with a massive crystal skull ($30,000), next to a selection of Louis Vuitton bags customized by Virgil Abloh.

I was more enticed by the racks of men's ready-to-wear, where I clocked a few tweedy blazers made by reclusive designer Paul Harnden, whose clothes are exceedingly rare in the wild. Slightly more in the realm of financial possibility was a gorgeously cut double-breasted overcoat in kelly green cashmere by Casablanca. I put it on and flicked myself up in an enormous mirror; a security guard hustled over to admonish me for taking a photo. No fit pics allowed? Maxfield, I thought, really is 50 years old.

West Hollywood's elevated-fashion emporium Just One Eye, on the other hand, is built for Instagram. Hirst looms large here too. Literally: A Damien Hirst cherry-blossom painting the size of a climbing wall anchors the space, which is so big you could fit a 747 inside. Art collector and Just One Eye founder Paola Russo has sprinkled at least a dozen holy shit art moments throughout the store, courtesy of Hirst, Takashi Murakami, and John Chamberlain, whose Hawkfliesagain sculpture guards the entryway. If at first the clothes feel almost beside the point, the extensive selections from The Row, Prada, and Wales Bonnerall brands that play well with the art worldare almost enough to jog your memory that, yes, you did come to Just One Eye to look at clothes.

Sometimes the clothes are the art. Near a couple of Brad Pitt-designed club chairs, I found a row of grungily dyed canvas Chuck Taylors (pictured above). I grabbed my size. A helpful sales associate delivered the bad news: They cost $25,000. They were made out of a Nate Lowman painting that had been chopped up into 18 pairs of sneakers. Ah, well, I said, gingerly putting them down. I'm going to think about it.Only 11 pairs remained.

The Celebrity Fashion Nexus

In an age when a Timothee Chalamet fit can become an honest-to-God news cycle, how does one keep up with menswear's relentless pace? Well, you can just shop where famous style gods do. When I stopped by Silver Lake mainstay Mohawk General Store, a sales associate took great pleasure in informing me that Frank Ocean had come in a few days prior and bought the last pair of Jacquemus jeans in my size. At Departamento, a new menswear boutique in the Arts District downtown, cofounder Andrew Dryden told me that Ocean and Tyler, the Creator, just had a shopping bro-date there.

Accessed through a blank white sliding door in the back of a Maru Coffee, Departamento has a bit of a speakeasy vibe. But rather than feeling pretentious or played out, the setupa windowless, grotto-like space filled with mirrors and racks of clothesfeels low-key and private, like a safe space to indulge in radical style experiments. How about a plunging buttonless silk shirt by sexy Parisian label Ludovic de Saint Sernin? Or a tactical nylon coat by security-state-core label GR10K? The space was chosen specifically for its privacybefore Departamento was even a store, it was a service that helped celebrity stylists source rare fashion. So when they opened a brick-and-mortar location, Dryden and his partner, Joseph Quinones, designed it so they could quickly close it to the public when, say, Offset drops by.

It's easy to see why some of the most interesting A-list dressers of our time gravitate toward Departamento. Everything in the shop, Dryden notes, comes from a fashion lover's perspective. I've always been struck by the absurdity of carrying brands that are so design-forward and then stripping them down to the basic level of T-shirts and hoodies in a store. So runway pieces from Loewe and Marni hang next to The Letters, an underground Japanese label with a western, rockabilly DIY vibe you won't find anywhere else. In a store run by real enthusiasts, it is hard to feel like you are being tricked or played. Feeling adventurous, I picked up a pair of groovy flared trousers ($355) by indie L.A. label Second/Layer.

New User Experiences

When Dover Street Market opened down the street from Departamento at the end of 2018, many took it as a sign that Los Angeles had arrived as a global fashion city. That's the power of the specialty store started by Comme des Garcons creative director Rei Kawakubo and her husband, CdG president Adrian Joffe, which has become a beacon for avant-garde designers and driptastic dressers from Tokyo and New York (and now L.A.). Because Dover Street stocks an enormous quantity of runway fashion from the likes of Gucci, Balenciaga, Raf Simons, Sacai, and a host of Comme des Garcons brands, along with plenty of clothes made by upstart iconoclasts like Kiko Kostadinov and Craig Green, few stores are doing more to define fashion's bleeding edge.

But on a recent stroll through the maze-like installations that fill the sprawling floor, I was happy to discover something different: Dover Street's new beauty space, curated by the artist Race Willard. Here, I thought, is where Dover Street can do for grooming what it did for fashion. L.A. is a city that is known for its superficiality, Willard told me as we looked at jewel-toned vials of face oil. But the beauty shelves are serving a higher purpose. This space, he said, is about inclusivity. Men whose beauty knowledge doesn't extend beyond bar soap will recognize products (a $4 Cetaphil face wash), as will the most hard-core beauty blogger (a $120 antioxidant collagen face mask by Knesko). Everything is arranged without regard to sex or brand, like a post-gender CVS. For the bags under my eyes, I bought Dr. Nigma's Beauty in a Bottle supplements ($85) and The Nue Co.'s magnesium spray ($35). Makeup and other fun product categories were to be added soon and sold in the same spirit: Come one, come all.

I found myself in another temple to emerging and avant-garde fashion, H.Lorenzo North Robertson. HLNR, as it's known, is an outpost of H.Lorenzo's Los Angeles retail mini empire, which also includes two stores on Sunset Boulevard and a late-season/archival spot downtown. HLNR is the most experimental of the four storesthere are solar panels attached to the facade, and on the day I stopped by, every mannequin I spotted in the windows was wearing a Marine Serre balaclava. Unlike at Dover Street, the store is merched for men and women separately, except for a marble-countered accessories and sneaker zone, where I found a pair of candy-colored women's Kiko Kostadinov x Asics Gel-Korika sneakers. I asked a Comme-clad sales associate whether they had them in a men's size. Rather than give me the flat no I heard elsewhere, she pulled up an Excel order sheet on her laptop and shot team Kiko an email asking to place a special order.

In the meantime, I wandered off and found the perfect pair of black trousers ($395) by a Korean brand called The Museum Visitor. After I tried them on and, regrettably, returned them to the rack, Kiko Kostadinov's team got back to us: The sneakers only went up to a women's size 10. Bummer.

Later, I dropped by H.Lorenzo Men, the group's new shop on Sunset. As Mac Hadar walked me around the racks of Bottega Veneta, Sies Marjan, and Namacheko, he explained why the company was not just expanding at a time of contraction but investing heavily in store fixtures and one-off pop-ups. I really feel like retail is becoming more important, he said. It's important to give the customer an experience, whether it's doing different installations or a proper build-out. The store was impressive, the racks suspended from cage-like apparatuses that stretch to the ceiling, nearly every surface finished in a moody concrete gray. But sometimes, I thought, the best experience a customer can ask for is even simpler: personal help tracking down a graileven if it turns out that your size doesn't exist. Try getting that on the internet.

The Luxest of Basics

We all go shopping to try on new identities, but it's not often that a retail experience feels utterly transportive. It did when I slipped on the pair of Charvet slippers provided in the changing room at Chez Olsen, also known as The Row store, on Melrose Place. With interiors designed by Montalba Architects, the West Coast home for Mary-Kate and Ashley's uber-luxe, minimal men's and women's line resembles a modernist house that has been trucked down from the Hills, complete with a pool in a central courtyard, midcentury furniture throughout, and Man Ray prints hanging on the walls. As I padded around in the slippers and a pair of gorgeous black jeans, touching the label's almost upsettingly soft suede jackets and sublime double-breasted suits, I could have been a Hollywood producer with a few Oscars on my mantel, or Jonah Hill on awards night. A sales associate told me he turns away bloggers and Instagram influencers who come to the store to take photos by the pool. Ha ha, I thought as I twirled around in an unlined hopsack overcoat in a super-crunchy wool-mohair fabric. After genuinely considering liquidating my net worth for it, I returned it to the rack. Fantasy can be dangerous.

The Elder Statesman in West Hollywood offers another version of the good life. Save for the odd tie-dye shirt, practically everything in the store is made of cashmere, from a stuffed dolphin to a handwoven blanket that costs more than a used Prius. The Elder Statesman tends to be thought of as a top-shelf stoner brand, and one can see why: Yes, there are the marijuana-leaf sweaters, but I can think of no more pleasurable experience than getting enormously baked and touching everything in the store. The flagship, ringed by cacti from Ojai, opened in 2014 in a converted bungalow that used to have a koi pond in the back. We had to relocate the koi when we got the spot, Elder founder Greg Chait told me. The zen remains. On the day I dropped by, the winter sun was casting long shadows through the store's massive bay doors, which were swung open to let in the warmth. As I sank into a chair, upholstered in cashmere, and closed my eyes, I sensed what the brand was really selling. I feel pretty comfortable knowing that when people walk in here, they're going to feel good, Chait said.

It seems less obvious that a T-shirt brand would require an immersive retail universe. Until I visited the Lady White Co. store on Hyperion Avenue. Lady White opened in late 2019 in a whitewashed converted garage that once belonged to one of L.A.'s prominent early porno directors. The boxy white shelves where he once displayed his reels are now stacked with T-shirts and sweatshirts in basic, neutral colors. Which seems simple enough. But Lady White Co. caters to an enlightened consumer, the kind of person who knows the difference between Sanforized and un-Sanforized cotton, the kind of person for whom layering is not a game.

It's fun to come into a store and discover something that you haven't seen a hundred times on Instagram before. Phillip Proyce, owner of Lady White Co.

As I considered the heaviest hoodie I had ever felt, constructed out of high-gauge French terry, owner Phillip Proyce informed me that every Lady White garment is made within five miles of the store. The garments may look simple, but each T-shirt seam is an opportunity to nerd out. I think people can feel when they come in that we love the clothes, said Proyce as he explained how he discovered one of the last guys in L.A. who can do blistering-stitched cuffs. (Believe me, you want those.) If that sounds too wonky for your freakish fashion tastes, a back room serves as a pop-up space; Japanese workwear label Phigvel was there the day I dropped in, and San Francisco's menswear upstart Evan Kinori would be setting up shop next. (Up the street, sister store Counter-Space sells vintage midcentury furniture and curios sourced from Italy, France, and Japanobjets d'vibe for the artisanal fashion fan.) It's fun to come into a store and discover something that you haven't seen a hundred times on Instagram before, Proyce said. Trying on the brand's original T-shirt, I couldn't help but agree. It was just a white tee, but had a sturdy double-needle-binded collar, no side seams, and a fantastically crisp hand. Finding the perfect tee (two for $99)now, that's rare indeed.

Wizardy Clothes by Local Legends

Back in 2016, GQ Style declared RTH, on La Cienega, to be the coolest store in America. Four years later, not much has changed. RTH has long been the key to unlocking Los Angeles style. Proprietor Rene T. Holguin's visionary assemblage of reworked vintage mechanics jackets, blousy shirts, reengineered drop-crotch Levi's, and a rotating mix of leather accessories feels unmoored from fashion, a universe unto itself. Every time I step inside the little hut strewn with peace signs, dream catchers, and Yves Klein-blue paint, I find something unexpected. This time: a heavy denim western shirt recast with a cinched waist, a crisp poplin shirt that went down to my knees (and which made me consider joining the prairie style movement), a green vase with the texture of a river stone, a polka-dot neckerchief (because why not!). I settled on a turtleneck shirt in a deadstock plaid fabric with a wide, cropped body and extra-long ribbingone of the strangest-fitting garments I'd ever tried on ($185). RTH is barely available online, but this month its collaboration with A.P.C. hits stores around the world. The collection will also be available at the store, and if you ask me, it's worth making the pilgrimage.

RTH has a strong cult following in L.A., but no store in L.A. is as mysterious, or as polarizing, as New High Mart in Los Feliz. When I told one friend I was going, he laughed and cryptically wished me good luck. New High Mart bills itself as an offline retailer of everyday wear and wares, sourced mostly from Japan. Seems chill, right? Except you can't just walk in off the streetevery customer must be admitted by an employee or the bearded, somewhat mythic figure that is the owner. Another friend framed the entrance like a test: If you dress too fashiony, you might get asked some questions. Same goes if you look like you'll violate the store's strict no-phone policy.

I can't say I wasn't a little nervous when I walked up to New High Mart's simple storefront on a Saturday morning. To enter, you ring a doorbell and wait. (Signage is sparse, so trust your GPS to find the entrance.) But there was no vibe check at the doorI was quickly let in by a young employee wearing rumpled overalls. Inside, I discovered the effect of NHM's secrecy: It is basically unspoiled by fashion, a gem that could be located in a narrow Tokyo alley. One section is devoted to a killer selection of gardening outfits: white rubber boots, straw hats, vintage smocks, and an assortment of tools for tilling and potting. Another to tons of Japanese incense, hot chili oil, and tea sets. The clothes are simple, textural, and artisanal. I was drawn to the drapey linen pants, overdyed surplus flannels, and a pair of super-wide cutoff chinos ($280) that, sadly, were slightly too cropped for me. As far as arguments for an offline lifestyle go, New High Mart makes an extremely compelling aesthetic case.

The Post-Streetwear Shuffle

After a requisite stop at Erewhon for an organic hot-bar bowl, I dropped by Union, which heralded La Brea's transition into the streetwear stripStussy and Stampd are next door, OVO is nearby, and a Carhartt WIP just opened on the block. Union has always marched to its own beat (swerving to high fashion when everyone was obsessed with sneakers), and with the rise of Trump, Union owners Chris Gibbs and Beth Birkett haven't exactly stuck to sports. The day I dropped in, Tucker Carlson was getting roasted by Cornel West in Kahlil Joseph's BLKNWS, a video art piece that debuted at last year's Venice Biennale, playing above a rack of clothes. The in-house Union line sells tees that quote Malcolm X: BALLOT OR THE BULLET. When I talked to Gibbs, he told me, As almost the residue of the type of clothing that we like to offer is a certain level of education. And that education is free. It's also good business. Last year Union released a collaboration with Nordstrom, which brought the Union experiencefeaturing exclusive products from the likes of Awake NY, Cactus Plant Flea Market, Fear of God, and Marniinto a dozen Nordstroms across the country. If that wasn't a sign of where retail's gravity has shifted, Nick Wooster, the former Bergdorf Goodman men's fashion director, was there when I dropped in, buying a crocheted Bode shirt. I love supporting Chris and Beth, Wooster said as he handed over his credit card.

Early on a Thursday evening, I stopped by Supreme on North Fairfax, not quite sure what to expect on the brand's infamous weekly drop day. But there was nobody lined up outside, save for a few teenage skaters smoking cigs and drinking beers. Inside, the racks were stocked with what I consider the good stuffsturdy outerwear, rigid chinos, and retro-normcore jumpers that are basically always available. Anything bearing the label's covetable box logo surely sold out within minutes that morning. Despite its reputation as ground zero for fuccbois, the place looked and felt inside like an actual skate shop. Supreme's still got it, I thought, as the kid behind the counter brusquely passed me the brand's new Phaidon monograph ($50; comes with a free sticker).

Art and Commerce: Part 2

The most satisfying, exhilarating, and, I would argue, important store I visited in L.A. was located in the least assuming location of all: on the second floor of a Chinatown plaza, in a space no larger than my tiny Brooklyn bedroom. It is only open (for now) on the weekends, but more than any other store I visited, Classic Hits, run by artist and Come Tees designer Sonya Sombreuil, is actively creating the conditions under which cool retail projects can actually exist. First, there's the batshit selection. Where else can you find Online Ceramics lot tees alongside a pair of purple overdyed Cactus Plant Flea Market jeans hanging next to a silk shirt with an allover print of a grinning Grimace? (The Grimace shirt was homemade by a customerwhen he walked in wearing one, Sombreuil immediately placed an order.)

There are no real parties anymorefashion, and really small brands especially, are filling people's need to commune. Sonya Sombreuil, owner of Classic Hits

Sombreuil has been part of L.A.'s underground and DIY scene for half a decade, and the store is her attempt to weave together the city's subcultures and to put on artists and creatives who need a place to go. There are no good DIY venues, there are no real parties anymore, there are no shows, and I feel like fashion, and really small brands especially, are filling people's need to commune, Sombreuil said. Classic Hits is an open invitation. I couldn't resist buying a dad hat by a brand, if it can even be called that, called Meaningless Possessions.

It felt like I had reached the source of something, the beating heart of what's been making the L.A. scene vital. Or at least what gives stores a purpose in the e-commerce age. The chichi boutiques, the specialty shops, the avant-garde fashion outletsaren't they all trying to capture the authenticity and community of a place like Classic Hits? Before I left, I Venmo'd Sombreuil $145 for the hat and a white long-sleeve Come Tee, screen-printed with a psychedelic garden on the back. It's a political thing, Sombreuil said as we stepped outside, to shop at a physical location.

Samuel Hine is a GQ associate editor.

A version of this story originally appeared in the March 2020 issue with the title "Blue Chip Art, Psychedelic Cashmere, and DIY Tees: Why L.A. Is The Best Shopping City In America."

More from GQs Shopping Issue:

Originally Appeared on GQ
By West Kentucky Star Staff Mar. 11, 2020 | 12:04 AM | WESTERN KENTUCKY





Alec Foust told West Kentucky Star he had been studying in Italy as part of a study-abroad program when he was asked to return home. According to Foust, after the U.S. Department of State issued a level three travel advisory for Italy, his home university sent him a notice indicating it was time to make the trip back to the states.







Italy is currently one of the hardest hit countries in regards to COVID-19 infections. As a result, the country is under a mandatory four-week quarantine which is affecting 16 million people.



With approximately 10,000 people infected within Italy, nearly 500 have died as a result of the virus.





Foust says they had arrived at the Catholic University of Sacred Heart in Milan before the semester began in February 24. A week before the semester began there were numerous cities to the south of Milan that had shut down, with the number of infected individuals growing rapidly. At this point the University began delaying classes to be cautious.





When Foust began his journey back home, airline officials checked his temperature. He says that after he was able to show that he didn't have a fever, he was allowed to board the plane. After arriving home, he placed himself in isolation out of an abundance of caution.







He said, "I don't think I have anything but I don't want to risk it."







Foust is currently staying with his parents and says that his family is also limiting their interaction with the community, just to be safe. He is continuing his final semester coursework through the Italian university online.



At a press conference on Tuesday, Governor Andy Beshear announced that eight people in the Commonwealth had tested positive for COVID-19. So far the virus has only popped up in Harrison, Feyette, and Jefferson counties.



A Benton man is in self-isolation after returning home from Italy.
When thinking about how a Canadian court might have handled the Harvey Weinstein trial, one thing is for certain: his sentence would have been a lot lower.

The convicted rapist and disgraced Hollywood mogul was handed a 23-year sentence Wednesday in a New York court for rape and sexual assault against two women.

A jury of seven men and five women had found Weinstein guilty in February of raping an aspiring actress in a New York City hotel room in 2013 and sexually assaulting production assistant Mimi Haleyi at his apartment in 2006 by forcibly performing oral sex on her.

In Canada, the Criminal Code stipulates that a person found guilty of sexual assault will face a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years. But Ontario criminal defence lawyers said cases here dont often get the maximum term of imprisonment, and its likely that Weinstein would have been given a lesser term.

Ottawa criminal defence lawyer Michael Spratt estimated the overall sentence would have been closer to five years in Canada, given Weinsteins lack of criminal record, and the systems focus on rehabilitation, and restraint and taking into account health considerations.

Toronto-based lawyer Angela Chaisson said two to three years imprisonment would be the typical range for penetrative sexual assault, though she said she could see Weinstein getting closer to four years as a trial judge may be tempted to impose a hefty sentence to communicate the communitys denunciation.

Two to three years is extremely low, Chaisson said, but its low for a reason, because our Canadian system is based around the idea of rehabilitation at its core.

She also said she hoped that the sentencing would lead people to reflect on incarceration and its relationship to the larger feminist movement.

Sexual violence will not end with the prison system, she said. We can feel affirmed when somebody who has caused women extreme harm is being held accountable, and we can feel that while still asking for a transformative way forward that is not rooted in incarceration.

Spratt said Canadas Supreme Court has said that the maximum term of imprisonment for criminal offences should be reserved for the worst offenders committing the worst offences. He said people looking at this countrys criminal justice system may have a knee-jerk reaction that Canadian sentences are too low, if they compare 23 years to a hypothetical sentence of five to seven.

The bulk of expert evidence and criminological research actually paints Canadas sentencing practices in a very positive light, compared to the United States, he said. Its because of restraint and that nuanced rehabilitation approach that Canada has fared very well when looking at rates of recidivism, rehabilitation and protection of the public.

Another key difference between the New York trial and a Canadian court is that there are no statute of limitations in Canada, meaning there is no ban on prosecuting a historical sexual offence.

In the Weinstein case, actress Annabella Sciorra testified Weinstein barged into her apartment, raped her and forcibly performed oral sex on her in the mid-1990s. Prosecutors were not able to prosecute that allegation on its own because of its age, but tried to use Sciorras testimony to help establish a pattern of behaviour and prove the most serious charges in the case: two counts of predatory sexual assault. The jury acquitted Weinstein of those two counts.

In Canada, you can go to the police at any time and make an allegation of sexual assault that can have happened 20 minutes ago, two years ago, 40 years ago, it doesnt matter, Chaisson said.

Historical sexual assault cases arent uncommon cases in our court system because we dont have a statute of limitations.
Being counted in the census, says David Rubenstein, the philanthropist who is also the author of The American Story: Interviews with Master Historians, is the companion act of voting.

The People Count traces the nations growth from the first census, which took 18 months and counted 3.9 million people (white landowners, their families and relatives and indentured servants). It then takes us to 1860, when nearly four million slaves were included and Native Americans were counted for the first time; 1870, when the census no longer enumerated slaves as a separate category; 1880, when, for the first time, more Americans were living beyond the boundaries of the original 13 states than within them; and 1890, when the counting was conducted with a rudimentary computer system.

The People Count vividly evokes the impact of race in America from the nations very beginning and explores why some people counted less than others.

Ever wonder why seven of the 15 presidents before Abraham Lincoln came from Virginia? Slaves were ineligible to vote, but among the many compromises  or betrayals  agreed to by the founders, the South got to count each of them as three-fifths of a white person for purposes of representation. That formula gave Southern states 47 of the 105 congressmen after 1790. By one estimate, not counting slaves at all would have given the South only 33.

To see that the census was created in a way that counted and didnt count African-Americans  what could make that point about more real, more stinging, more challenging? said Louise Mirrer, the president and chief executive of the historical society.

The timely exhibition has been curated by Mazy Boroujerdi, adviser to the David M. Rubenstein Americana Collection; Michael Ryan, vice president of the New-York Historical Society; and Sue Ann Weinberg, director of the societys Patricia D. Klingenstein Library.
A man set to give evidence at the William Tyrrell inquest, who twice stood trial for murder in connection with the death of a 17-year-old schoolgirl, had marks on his arm "like where finger marks had gouged skin out" the day after a woman's body was found in the nearby river, the inquest has heard.

Frank Abbott, who appeared by video link from prison, was arrested more than 20 years after the body of Helen Harrison, 17, was found in a shallow grave in the Hawkesbury region in 1968.

The inquest into missing boy William Tyrrell has heard that a witness was tried twice for murder in connection with the death of a schoolgirl, although he was acquitted. Credit:ninevms

Abbott was tried twice for murder after his arrest in 1994. The first jury could not reach a verdict and the second acquitted him.

He was living near the Herons Creek Timber Mill, about eight kilometres from the house in Kendall on the Mid North Coast from which William disappeared in 2014. His property and the saw mill were searched by detectives as recently as August last year.
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Linkedin Panca Nugraha (The Jakarta Post) Mataram  Wed, March 11, 2020 11:18 671 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2069cc196 1 National MS-Albatros-cruise-ship,Lombok,West-Nusa-Tenggara,Wuhan-coronavirus-in-Indonesia,COVID-19,coronavirus-free,tourists,Mataram,cruise-ship Free

Hundreds of passengers disembarked the MS Albatros on Monday morning to start their holiday on the West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) island of Lombok, following the Mataram Port Health Authority's (KKP) declaration that the vessel and all aboard were coronavirus-free.

Mataram KKP head Wayan Diantika said all passengers and crew on board Albatros had to undergo medical check-ups before the ship was allowed to dock at the resort island.

"Before the ship docked, our team boarded the cruise ship to check the passengers' travel and medical documents. We carried out medical check-ups in accordance to the standard operating procedures. We also scanned all passengers with a thermal scanner," Wayan said on Tuesday.

The cruise liner, carrying 317 crew and 344 passengers from various countries, was finally permitted to dock on Monday at Gili Mas Port in Lembar district, West Lombok regency.

Read also: Viking Sun passengers disembark in Bali after COVID-19 health clearance

Lalu Bayu Winda, the head of the West Nusa Tenggara Transportation Agency, said all crew and passengers were free of the novel coronavirus.

"Based on the KKP's report, all passengers are healthy," said Bayu, adding that he had also boarded the vessel on an inspection.

He said that the Bahamian-flagged Albatros, operated by German company Phoenix Reisen, implemented a high health standard.

"When I went [aboard] with the officers from the Mataram KKP and the Lembar Port Authority [KSOP], we were also required to undergo an onboard check-up. So they also have strict prevention measures," he said.

Bayu added that the ship's medical staff would check all passengers before they reboarded.

"We will carry out similar precautionary measures for all cruise ships that [enter] West Nusa Tenggara to ensure that all of our residents are safe," he said.

Read also: Is cruising still safe? Will I be insured? What you need to know about traveling during the coronavirus crisis

The Albatros passengers are scheduled to visit several tourist attractions in Lombok, including the NTB State Museum, Lingsar tourism village, Kuta Mandalika Beach and a Sasak traditional village.

Albatros is traveling from Monaco to Italy, and stopped at several ports in Australia before embarking on the Indonesian leg of its itinerary on March 5 to 12. Its next scheduled port of call is Singapore, according to Cruise Mapper.

Earlier, NTB Governor Zulkieflimansyah stated he would welcome all tourists and cruise ships visiting the province.

"We will carry out measures to prevent coronavirus infection, but we don't need to panic or be paranoid about tourists coming to our region," he had said. (nal)
A 76-year-old man from the district headquarters town of Kalaburagi suspected to be infected with died on Tuesday night, and the exact cause of his death is being ascertained, officials said.

Health Minister B Sriramulu on Wednesday said there is no confirmation that the death was due to and test reports of his samples were awaited.

The man had recently returned from

Earlier, the district health and family welfare department said the man was suspected to be infected with

The state reported four positive cases yesterday, the minister said.

"There is no need for any fear..the person who died in Gulbarga (Kalaburagi), we have no information that he has died due to coronavirus. We are waiting for reports, once we get the reports, we will inform," Sriramulu said.

Speaking to reporters here, he said the person had gone to in January end and came back on February 29.

On his return, he was down with fever and took treatment at a private hospital. Later, on the advice of doctors or family he had gone to Hyderabad, the minister said.

The person had severe asthma history, blood pressure, and appendicitis, among other things, and he died, the minister said.

A senior health department official later clarified the man died on the way back from Hyderabad around 11 pm on Tuesday.

Listing the chronology of events, Additional Chief Secretary (Health) Jawaid Akhtar said the person got treated at an OPD of a private hospital in Kalaburagi on March 5, the next day he got admitted and on March 9 he got shifted to Hyderabad.

Sriramulu said all four COVID-19 positive cases reported in the state are stable.

Precautionary measures have been taken at places visited by the four people who tested positive and those who had come in contact with them.

Meanwhile, the State government issued a notification with temporary regulations regarding COVID-19 and to take special measures to be observed by the public to prevent outbreak of the disease.

It would be called 'The Epidemic Diseases, Covid-19 regulations 2020.'



The state government has also decided to postpone all international conferences in the state with immediate effect till further notice.
National carrier Air India on Wednesday night announced temporary suspension of its flight services to Rome, Milan and Seoul.

While services to Rome (Italy) are being discontinued from March 15 to March 25, flight operations to Milan (Italy) and Seoul in South Korea will remain suspended between March 14 and March 28, an airline official said.

The decision came following the government suspending all visas, except a few categories such as diplomatic and employment, till April 15 to prevent the spread of coronavirus on Wednesday.

"All existing visas, except diplomatic, official, UN/International organisations, employment and project visas, stand suspended till 15th April 2020. This will come into effect from 1200GMT on 13th March 2020 at the port of departure," an official statement said.

Visa-free travel facility granted to Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) card holders is also kept in abeyance till April 15, it said.

All incoming travellers, including Indian nationals, arriving from or having visited China, Italy, Iran, Republic of Korea, France, Spain and Germany after February 15 will be quarantined for a minimum period of 14 days, the statement said.

Passengers of an Air India flight from Milan to New Delhi, which landed at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport on Wednesday, were screened as part of the ongoing preventive measure.

"The operating crew of the flight has self-quarantined for 14 days," an Air India official said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Harvey Weinstein's two ex-wives refused to vouch for him before a judge, who sentenced the disgraced film mogul and convicted sex offender to prison for 23 years.

He had desperately asked Eve Chilton, his first wife and former assistant, and his second wife Georgina Chapman, a British actress and fashion designer, to put in a good word in with the judge following his February 24 conviction for sex crimes in a landmark #metoo case, according to the New York Post.

Both, however, refused to submit letters on his behalf, a source tells the New York Post.

Harvey Weinstein's two ex-wives refused to vouch for him before a sentencing judge, who sentenced the disgraced film mogul and convicted sex offender to prison for 23 years. He is seen leaving a Manhattan courthouse Wednesday afternoon after being sentenced

Weinstein had desperately asked Eve Chilton, his first wife and former assistant, to vouch for him before the sentencing judge in a landmark #MeToo case, but she refused, says a source

Weinstein also asked his second wife Georgina Chapman to put in a good word for him with the sentencing judge, but the actress and fashion designer also turned him down, the source said

Judge James Burke on Wednesday sentenced Weinstein to 20 years on a criminal sex act charge for forcibly performing oral sex on production assistant Mimi Haleyi in 2006.

Burke also sentenced Weinstein to 3 years for third degree rape for an attack on actress Jessica Mann in 2013.

Weinstein, 67, who is in poor health and will not be eligible for parole for 20 years, could potentially spend the rest of his life in prison after his sentence was handed down in Manhattan's criminal court.

Weinstein, without the ex-wives, was left with support from only a few, including his best friend, retired physician Bill Currao.

Currao had appeared in court for most of the trial to show his support, the source told the Post.

Weinstein, without the ex-wives backing him up, was left at the mercy of Judge James Burke on Wednesday, who sentenced the disgraced film mogul (pictured in court in an artist's rendering) to 23 years in prison

Judge James Burke sentenced Weinstein to 20 years on a criminal sex act charge for forcibly performing oral sex on production assistant Mimi Haley. Weinstein, center, faces victims seated in the front row as he makes his sentencing statement in court Wednesday

Judge Burke also sentenced Weinstein to three years for third degree rape, for an attack on actress Jessica Mann in 2013. He is pictured in an artist's rendering being wheeled out of court after the sentencing Wednesday

The former Hollywood producer's defense team slammed the punishment as 'obscene' and already vowed to appeal.

Weinstein and Chilton were married in 1987 and divorced in 2004.

The couple had three daughters: Remy was born in 1995, Emma in 1998 and Ruth in 2002.

Chapman, a regular cast member on Project Runway All Stars and cofounder of the fashion label Marchesa, married Weinstein in 2007.

She left him in the wake of sex abuse allegations in 2017 and divorced him a year later.

At the time, more than 90 women made accusations of rape, assault, or sexual harassment against him. The couple had two children, Dashiel and India.

Judge Burke, who oversaw the trial, ordered Weinstein to serve the sentences consecutively and sentenced him to five years post release supervision for each charge.

Weinstein and Chilton were married in 1987 and divorced in 2004. They are pictured before the split during 32nd Annual Promise Ball in New York City

Chapman, a regular cast member on Project Runway All Stars and co-founder of the fashion label Marchesa, married Weinstein in 2007 and divorced in 2018. Both are pictured in East Hampton, New York

'Although this is a first conviction, this is not a first offense,' the judge said before revealing the prison sentence. Weinstein maintained a blank face and did not visibly react.

Weinstein, who still faces separate sex crimes charges in Los Angeles, was wheeled out of the court in his wheelchair immediately after and will now be taken to the maximum security Downstate Correctional Facility in Fishkill, New York.

After two of his accusers confronted him in court with their victim impact statements, Weinstein broke his courtroom silence to say he felt 'remorse for this situation' but said he was perplexed by the case and the #MeToo climate in which it unfolded.

He offered no apology to his victims.

'We may have different truths, but I have remorse... For all of you and for all the men and women going through this crisis right now in this country,' Weinstein said, adding he was worried about 'thousands of men' being denied due process in the #MeToo era.

'I'm totally confused. I think men are confused about these issues,' he said in a calm but creaking voice, adding that he had fond memories of his accusers and believed he had a 'serious friendship' with both Mann and Haleyi.

'I can't stop looking at Jessica and Mimi and hoping something maybe from our old relationship could emerge,' he said.

Looking back during the trial at emails he exchanged with his accusers, he said he thought they had a good friendship.

'I'm not going to say these aren't great people. I had wonderful times with these people,' he said.
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Linkedin Rizki Fachriansyah and Ary Hermawan (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, March 11, 2020 19:50 671 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2069e6c66 1 National COVID-19,COVID-19-Indonesian-patients,coronavirus,Wuhan-coronavirus-in-Indonesia,outbreak-in-Indonesia Free

Within the first few weeks of the initial COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan, Hubei province, China in January, the Indonesian government took several measures to prevent its citizens from coming into direct contact with individuals from the outbreak epicenter and other regions with confirmed cases.

These measures included grounding all flights to and from mainland China, as well as issuing a travel ban on countries that have reported confirmed COVID-19 cases as the government attempted to maintain its then-zero-case record.

The playing field has changed, however, as Indonesia has now been made to confront the possibility of community transmissions  in which a patient with no travel history to countries with virus outbreaks or no specific contact with other infected patients  within its borders since the announcement of the first confirmed COVID-19 cases on March 2.

The government reported the first possible community transmission of COVID-19 on Tuesday, after a citizen with no link to certain confirmed cases or a history of travel to affected countries tested positive for the virus. The 33-year-old man was Indonesias 27th confirmed COVID-19 patient.

Nusa Indah Room where the isolation room of a patient No. 25 foreign nationals infected with the COVID virus 19 who died after being treated at Sanglah Hospital on 2.45 pm at the Bali Governor's Office Wednesday 11/03/2020. (JP /Zul Trio Anggono )

We suspect that [Case 27] is a local transmission. We are currently tracking the source of transmission because this is not an imported case and its still unknown which cluster he is part of, said the Health Ministrys Disease Control and Prevention director general, Achmad Yurianto.

The governments latest announcement seemed to have confirmed the disconcerting possibility of there being an entire swath of undetected COVID-19 cases who may have come into contact with other individuals within their circles, therefore starting a cycle of so-called community transmissions that would go on to affect other regions within and even beyond the countrys borders.

The countrys 27th confirmed COVID-19 patient was only the latest in a growing string of cases involving local citizens who might have contracted the virus from an unknown source, making transmissions of its kind particularly difficult to trace.

The Australian state of Victoria announced on March 8 its latest confirmed COVID-19 case involving a 50-something Indonesian woman who tested positive for the coronavirus.

The woman, identified only as Case 12, flew from Jakarta to Perth on Feb. 27  four days before the Indonesian governments official announcement of the first two COVID-19 cases in the country.

The Victoria administration then urged locals to avoid the vicinity of a Vietnamese restaurant where the woman was known to have dined on March 6 to avoid the risk of viral transmission.

Yurianto claimed that the woman could have contracted the virus in the Vietnamese restaurant, but some have doubted the claim, saying the woman was diagnosed with COVID-19 on March 8 and had already shown symptoms on Feb. 29. With the incubation period ranging from 14 to 28 days, it is more likely that the woman was infected in Indonesia.

Two days later, the Singaporean Ministry of Health announced that two of its most recent COVID-19 patients likely contracted the virus in Indonesia.

A 65 year-old Indonesian man  identified as Case 152  was an imported case who arrived in Singapore on March 7, according to the ministry.

Prior to his arrival in Singapore, the man reported early symptoms on Feb. 28 and sought treatment at a hospital in Jakarta on March 2, but it was still unclear whether he undertook tests for the coronavirus. He was only later found to have tested positive for COVID-19 on March 8 in Singapore.

On the same day, the Singaporean government announced Case 153, a Singaporean woman who was likely to have contracted the virus in Indonesia while she visited her sister who had pneumonia from Feb. 25 to 28  three days before the official announcement of the first confirmed COVID-19 cases in Indonesia.

West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil (center) monitors information related to the spread of COVID-19 at the Command Center as well as the COVID-19 Information and Coordination Center in Bandung, West Java, Tuesday, March 10, 2020. (JP /Arya Dipa)

The above cases, along with their elusive points of viral transmission, have raised concerns regarding possible community transmissions by which a number of Indonesian citizens had already contracted the coronavirus from undetected cases in the country prior to their overseas trips.

An Indonesian medical scientist based in Singapore, who declined to be named, said he believed a wider contagion had taken place in Indonesia than what has been reported.

It is possible that many cases go undetected in Indonesia based on what we know so far from the imported cases from Indonesia in Singapore and Australia, he said.

He argued that while the disease may not be as deadly as many people fear, we should not take the virus outbreak lightly. This disease disproportionately kills the elderly. If you are infected, it may not be a problem, but you can transmit it to your parents.

Community transmission is considered a game-changer in any epidemic in that it subverts previously discernible patterns, since specific sources of viral transmission become difficult to track down, according to the World Health Organization.

Bayu Krishnamurthi, who headed the National Committee for Avian Flu Control and Pandemic Preparedness from 2006 to 2010, previously told the Post that community transmission is a more serious situation than direct transmission.

Bayu, however, cautioned that it was too early to conclude that community transmission had taken place. "We need to check if a community transmission truly occurred," he said. "If it did, then new measures to [handle the virus] are needed."

Syahrizal Syarief, an epidemiology expert from the University of Indonesia, said that conducting contact-tracing on the countrys 27th confirmed COVID-19 case would be difficult because the point of transmission remained unknown.

The expert, however, said the situation was still under control.

As long as the government follows the standard procedures, I dont think it will be a problem. Standard protocol entails conducting contact-tracing as early as possible to contain the spread, he said, adding that Singapore had 17 cases with no clear origins of infection.

Indonesia reported its first death from the coronavirus on Wednesday, a 53-year-old COVID-19 patient and foreign citizen identified as Case 25.

By Wednesday, there were 34 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the country.
First trial of its kind finds that treatment with triple artemisinin-based combination therapies (TACTs) is effective.

TACTs were safe and well tolerated, but showed slightly higher rates of vomiting and some minor changes in the electrical activity of the heart compared to existing treatment that uses two drugs.

Drug resistance is a major threat to malaria control and elimination. The authors say that triple therapies are potentially an immediately available new treatment option that could improve outcomes in countries with multidrug resistant malaria.

The first clinical trial of two triple artemisinin-based combination therapies for malaria finds that the combinations are highly efficacious with no safety concerns.

Published in The Lancet, the study of 1,100 people with uncomplicated falciparum malaria from eight countries compared people receiving the current national first-line treatment combining two drugs, with two forms of triple therapy (dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine plus mefloquine and artemether-lumefantrine plus amodiaquine).

The triple therapies (known as triple artemisinin-based combination therapies - TACTs), combine existing treatment consisting of two drugs (artemisinin-based combination therapies - ACTs) with a second partner drug that remains present in the blood to target the malaria parasites for longer. TACTs add additional antimalarial activity and provide mutual protection for the partner drugs, and researchers believe that it might provide effective treatment and could potentially delay the emergence of antimalarial drug resistance.

ACTs have contributed substantially to the reduction in the global burden of malaria. However, progress is now threatened by the emergence and spread of artemisinin and artemisinin partner-drug resistance in southeast Asia. Emerging multidrug resistance in the malaria parasite has led to a series of treatment policy changes, but this means fewer treatments are available and new compounds are not becoming available quickly enough in countries facing drug resistant malaria.

With the risk of the spread of multidrug resistant malaria to India and sub-Saharan Africa, it is important to find new treatments to treat drug-resistant infections and help prevent the emergence of multidrug resistance.

"With the increasing failure of conventional ACTs, the use of TACTs might soon become essential for treatment of malaria in the Greater Mekong subregion in southeast Asia. This region is aiming for accelerated malaria elimination before the growing drug resistance renders Plasmodium falciparum malaria close to untreatable. The TACTs we studied here could prevent a resurgence of malaria that often accompanies spreading antimalarial drug resistance." says senior author Professor Arjen Dondorp, Mahidol-Oxford Research Unit, Bangkok, Thailand. [1]

Co-author, Dr Chanaki Amaratunga, Mahidol-Oxford Research Unit, Bangkok, Thailand, says: "Because two well-matched partner drugs provide mutual protection against resistance, deployment of TACTs is expected to extend the useful life of the few effective available and affordable antimalarial drugs. Fortunately, to date, artemisinin resistance has not worsened in southeast Asia and has not spread to sub-Saharan Africa, so these drugs still provide useful antimalarial treatment when used in combination. To ensure we reduce resistance as much as possible, it is important that we avoid waiting for resistance to emerge and spread before changing malaria therapies." [1]

The new study was an open-label randomised controlled trial including 1,100 patients aged 2-65 years from 18 hospitals in eight countries (Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar, Laos, Bangladesh, India and the Democratic Republic of the Congo). Participants were included if they had acute, uncomplicated P falciparum malaria alone or mixed with non-falciparum species, and a temperature of 37.5C or higher, or a history of fever in the past 24 hours. People who had been treated with artemisinins in the past week, and people with a history of problems with the electrical activity of their heart were not included in the study.

The ACTs and TACTs assigned in the trial depended on the first-line ACTs used in the country where the participant was being treated. In some cases, where a country's first-line treatment changed during the trial (due to that treatment beginning to fail due to resistance), the comparison treatment in the trial was also changed. Doses varied by drug combination and location, and all drugs were administered orally.

Participants in Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, and two sites in Myanmar were assigned to either dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine or dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine plus mefloquine. Due to changes in Cambodia's first-line treatment, at three sites participants were later assigned to either artesunate-mefloquine or dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine plus mefloquine. In Laos, one site in Myanmar, Bangladesh, India, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, participants were assigned to either artemether-lumefantrine or artemether-lumefantrine plus amodiaquine.

The researchers assessed the efficacy of the treatment based on the complete cure of the infection assessed after 42 days of follow-up (comprised of absence of malaria parasites as well as clinical symptoms). They also recorded any adverse events associated with the treatments.

Overall, 17% of participants were given dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine (183/1,100 people), a quarter were given dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine plus mefloquine (269 people), 7% were given artesunate-mefloquine (73), 26% were given artemether-lumefantrine (289), and 26% were given artemether-lumefantrine plus amodiaquine (286).

In 15 sites, the study was stopped before target recruitment was reached because of a sharp decrease in malaria cases in those study sites, but their data still contributed to the analysis. In addition, 113 patients were excluded from the more strict "per protocol" analysis.

Six patients discontinued the study drug and started standard antimalarial treatment due to abnormal baseline laboratory results or extension of the QTc-interval. Their results were included in the trial.

In Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam, efficacy of the TACT dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine plus mefloquine was greater than for the ACT dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine (98% [successful treatment in 149 of 152 people] vs 48% efficacy [67/141 people], respectively). While in Myanmar, which used the same treatments, the efficacy of the ACT was similar to the efficacy of the TACT (91% [42 of 46 people] vs 100% [42 of 42 people], respectively).

In the three Cambodian sites where the drugs tested were changed during the trial, the efficacy of the TACT dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine plus mefloquine and the ACT artesunate-mefloquine were comparable (95% [69/73] vs 96% [68/71], respectively).

Comparing the TACT artemether-lumefantrine plus amodiaquine and the ACT artemether-lumefantrine in five countries, the authors found that their efficacies were similar (98% [281/286] vs 97% [279/289], respectively).

Both TACTs were well-tolerated and safe, although vomiting within an hour of treatment was more common after dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine plus mefloquine than after dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine (3.8% [30/794 people] vs 1.5% [8/543 people]), and adding amodiaquine to artemether-lumefantrine led to some changes in the electrical activity of the heart (ie, extended the electrocardiogram corrected QT interval - mean increase at 52 hours was 8.8 milliseconds for the triple therapy vs 0.9 milliseconds for the double therapy), which does not have clinical importance.

The incidence of serious adverse events was similar after treatment with ACTs or TACTs. Overall, 24 serious adverse events were reported in 1,100 patients, of which 11 were judged to be possibly (n=10) or probably (n=1) drug related.

"The TACTs used in this study combine existing antimalarial drugs and could be made available in the near future and might buy important time before new antimalarial compounds become available. In areas not yet affected by antimalarial resistance, TACTs might have the potential to delay the emergence and spread of antimalarial resistance and could help prevent importation of drug resistance from the Greater Mekong subregion, but we will need more research to confirm this." Concludes Dr Rob van der Pluijm, lead author of the paper, from the Mahidol-Oxford Research Unit, Bangkok, Thailand. [1]

The authors note some limitations in their study, including that it did not include many children - who are the main group affected by malaria. Since the study was open-label (ie, patients knew which drug they were receiving), this may have affected reporting of symptoms and adverse effects but the authors say it is unlikely to have affected efficacy.

Writing in a linked Comment, Professor Philip Rosenthal (who was not involved in the study), University of California, San Francisco, USA, says: "These new results suggest that TACTs might replace ACTs. The addition of mefloquine to dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine rescued the regimen from unacceptably poor efficacy, and mefloquine might additionally restrict selection of resistance to piperaquine. If safety and tolerability remain acceptable in follow-up studies, use of optimally dosed and formulated TACTs to treat P falciparum malaria might soon be appropriate in regions with artemisinin resistance. However, most cases of P falciparum malaria occur in regions without established artemisinin resistance... Thus, this study offers promise for TACTs in regions with artemisinin resistance, but whether we should implement TACTs in other areas is uncertain. In any event, TACTs should be seen as a stopgap; novel combination therapies to treat malaria are greatly needed."

###

NOTES TO EDITORS

This study was funded by UK Department for International Development, with additional contributions from Wellcome Trust, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, UK Medical Research Council, and US National Institutes of Health. A full list of authors institutions is available in the Article.

The labels have been added to this press release as part of a project run by the Academy of Medical Sciences seeking to improve the communication of evidence. For more information, please see: http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/AMS-press-release-labelling-system-GUIDANCE.pdf if you have any questions or feedback, please contact The Lancet press office pressoffice@lancet.com

[1] Quote direct from author and cannot be found in the text of the Article.

Peer-reviewed / Randomised Controlled Trial / People
A former policewoman who was tasked with guarding a severed head and witnessed one of her colleagues get shot dead has been paid out $750,000.

Rebecca Sandstrom took her insurer to the NSW Supreme Court after her claim for permanent disability was denied five years ago.

Ms Sandstrom, who was stationed in Sydney's west in Bankstown, developed chronic post-traumatic stress disorder following several horrific cases over the span of three years.

Ms Sandstrom, who was stationed in Sydney's west in Bankstown, developed chronic post-traumatic stress disorder following several horrific cases over the span of three years (stock)

In 2009 she was part of a team sent to a crime scene in Pheasants Nest, where a woman's dismembered body had been discovered.

Ms Sandstrom, who had been on the job for four years, was tasked with guarding the body parts before they were placed into evidence bags to be transported.

Another incident was a suicide, one of three she attended during her service, where she was left covered in the victim's blood.

She was one of the first on the scene and attempted to perform CPR on the man.

Ms Sandstrom also watched one of her colleagues, William Crews, get fatally shot in 2010.

The same day she was placed on leave and never returned to duty.

In 2009 she was part of a team sent to a crime scene in Pheasants Nest, where a woman's dismembered body had been discovered (stock)

Justice Michael Slattery found she could never work again, based on evidence given by Ms Sandstrom, her colleagues and medical experts.

'The Court accepts that she can in her mind still on occasions see this woman's bagged head on the back seat of the vehicle,' he wrote in his judgement.

'She says even now in her own car she will turn back to look for something and she sees the murdered womans head on the back seat of her car.

'As Ms Sandstrom says, "it still scares me". The Court accepts that these images spontaneously flood into the plaintiffs conscious thoughts beyond her control.'

He ordered the insurance company pay her a total of $752,818 over two policies.

For confidential support call the Lifeline 24-hour crisis support on 13 11 14 or Mensline 1300 789 978
WekalO has designated Shailesh Manjrekar as Head of AI and Strategic Alliances. He has vast experience in managing and making emerging businesses across Asia, USA, and EMEA.

FREMONT, CA: The company which offers the worlds fastest shared parallel file system and is a leader in high-performance, scalable file storage for data-intensive applications, WekaIO has appointed Shailesh Manjrekar as Head of AI and Strategic Alliances.

Before joining the company, he was working for a leading provider of data storage and management solutions for data-driven customers, SwiftStack as Head of AI, responsible for Product, Solutions, and Corporate Development.

Manjrekar has vast experience in managing and making emerging businesses across Asia, USA, and EMEA, and that is why he is considered as a seasoned IT professional. He has experience of over two decades in spanning AI and Deep Learning, Enterprise Business applications, Cloud Native applications, and Intent-Based Networking. He also has an established background in providing effective product management, solutions marketing, and strategic alliances, along with a strong sense of business development vision and leadership to his new position.

Here in WekalO, he will handle strategic technical alliances of the company, aligning Wekas product roadmap and validating the software on critical platforms in our target markets and use cases, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML), genomics, finance, and high-performance computing (HPC). In addition, he will play a vital role in the leadership team in strategic and corporate planning.

Vice president of marketing at WekaIO, Barbara Murphy, says that they are excited to welcome Shailesh to the WekaIO team. He believes that the strength of their business relies heavily on the power of their partnerships and alliances, making them stronger together. So he thinks that Manjrekars experience in forming relationships and establishing operational efficiencies will be an invaluable asset in this alliances role.

Manjrekar pursued an MBA from San Jose State, College of Business, Certification in Mastering Project Management from Haas School of Business, UC Berkley. He also earned a BS in Electrical Engineering from the University of Mumbai.

See Also: Subramanian on Simplifying Enterprise Architecture

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TSX: TML

OTCQX: TSRMF

TORONTO, March 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - Treasury Metals Inc. (TSX: TML) and Platinex Inc. (CSE: PTX) ("Platinex") have entered into a non-binding heads of agreement between the two companies (the "Transaction") to create the largest combined gold focused property package in the Shining Tree District, in northern Ontario. The highlights of the agreement are, namely:

Treasury will transfer a 100% interest in its 280 claim unit 5,045 Ha. (12,466 ac.) Shining Tree Fawcett East property (the "Shining Tree East Property") to Platinex, to create the largest combined gold focused property package in the Shining Tree District, in northern Ontario (the "Shining Tree Property"). The Shining Tree Property is located on 21 kilometres of the Tyrrell-Ridout Deformation Zone which also hosts both IAMGOLD's Cote Lake gold deposit and Pan American's Juby deposit;



Treasury will transfer to Platinex royalties comprising four Ontario and Chile based exploration projects covering gold, PGM's and base metal opportunities (the "Royalties") to enhance Platinex's existing royalty portfolio;



In consideration for acquiring the Shining Tree East Property and the Royalties, Platinex will issue to Treasury 12,500,000 common shares ("Consideration Shares") of Platinex and 5,000,000 non-transferable common share purchase warrants ("Consideration Warrants") of Platinex. Each Consideration Warrant will be exercisable at a price of $0.05 per share for a period of three years from the date of issuance, provided that if the closing price of the common shares of Platinex ("Platinex Shares") is equal to or greater than $0.30 for a period of 20 consecutive trading days, Platinex will have the right to increase the exercise price of the Consideration Warrants by giving a written notice to Treasury that the exercise price shall be increased to $0.15 per share on the date that is 10 days from the date of such notice. In addition, Treasury shall not exercise the Consideration Warrants if such exercise would result in Treasury owning 20% or more of the issued and outstanding Platinex Shares;



Treasury will contribute operational efficiencies between the two companies with a view to provide effective management going forward to advance the Shining Tree Property;



Treasury will undertake to support Platinex's management for a two-year period in shareholder votes;



Platinex will grant Treasury a first right of refusal to participate in further financings of Platinex shares for a period of two years to maintain its percentage interest; and



Treasury will have the right to appoint a nominee to the board of directors of Platinex.

Completion of the Transaction is subject to further due diligence and the parties entering into a formal agreement on or before March 31, 2020.

Mr. James R. Trusler, Chairman of Platinex, stated, "It's exciting to have the close working relationship with Treasury Metals. With the addition of the Shining Tree East Property, Platinex's Shining Tree Property holdings will total 19,895 Ha (49,304ac). The expanded property will now adjoin the Pan American property in Tyrrell Township which hosts the 4 million ounce Juby gold deposit and close proximity along east west structures to the Cote Lake gold project. Significant potential for commercial gold deposits has been revealed in past exploration on Platinex's property and management is especially looking forward to examining the underexplored 21 km stretch of the Tyrrell Ridout deformation zone which is the key locus for gold mineralization in Shining Tree and underlies the property. Platinex will seek further consolidation and strategic initiatives within the district."

Mr. Greg Ferron, Treasury Metals Inc.'s CEO, stated that, "The consolidation of the Shining Tree properties provides multiple benefits and efficiencies between the two groups. We are very excited to make use of the Platinex team's significant wealth of knowledge of the area to see them develop our underutilized project in conjunction with theirs. The Transaction makes for a compelling land package in a very prospective exploration camp that is starting to see a great deal of activity."

Qualified Person

Technical information in this press release has been reviewed and approved by Adam Larsen, P. Geo, who is the qualified person under the definitions established by National Instrument 43-101.

To view further details about the Goliath Gold Project, please visit the Company's website at www.treasurymetals.com.

Follow us on Twitter @TreasuryMetals

About Treasury Metals Inc.

Treasury Metals Inc. is a gold focused exploration and development company with assets in Canada and is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange ("TSX") under the symbol "TML" and on the OTCQX Best Market under the symbol "TSRMF".

Forward-looking Statements

This release includes certain statements that may be deemed to be "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that management of the Company expect, are forward-looking statements. Actual results or developments may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Treasury Metals disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, save and except as may be required by applicable securities laws.

SOURCE Treasury Metals Inc.

Related Links

www.treasurymetals.com


YEREVAN, 11 MARCH, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs Armenpress that today, 11 March, USD exchange rate up by 0.94 drams to 483.03 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 1.01 drams to 546.11 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate up by 0.05 drams to 6.75 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 3.41 drams to 625.86 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price down by 210.35 drams to 25712.65 drams. Silver price up by 3.38 drams to 265.09 drams. Platinum price up by 10.76 drams to 13495.37 drams.
Dozens have been protesting for the past three years, demanding army return their land confiscated during the civil war.

Chandraleela Jasinthan was a school teacher in a northern Sri Lankan village when, in the last days of the civil war, the army forced her and her neighbours out of their homes. More than a decade later, their land is still held by the military.

For more than three years, Jasinthan and dozens of other women in Keppapilavu have held one of the longest protests in Sri Lankas history at the entrance to an army camp they say was built on their ancestral land.

The men say they have to work, that they are afraid of the army. But for us women, this land is our security, our right  if we do not fight for it, who will? said Jasinthan, 43.

We lost everything in the war; why must we also lose the land we have lived on for generations? These are our homes, our livelihoods, she said.

Thousands were killed in Sri Lankas war  which lasted from 1983 to May 2009  and tens of thousands were displaced, fleeing violence or forced from their homes in the north and east of the country.

Human rights groups say many of those who left their homes had their properties seized. In Keppapilavu, some 142 hectares (350 acres) of land is still held by the army, according to the Peoples Alliance for Right to Land.

Former President Maithripala Sirisena had promised to return all private land in the northern and eastern provinces by December 31, 2018. But the deadline was not met, according to land rights groups.

A watchtower in an army camp in Keppapilavu, where more than a decade after wars end, the army still holds land claimed by Sri Lankan Tamils [Rina Chandran/Thomson Reuters Foundation]

Army spokesman Chandana Wickramasinghe said approximately 85 percent of the private land that was held by the armed forces in the north and east had already been handed over to the legitimate owners.

The remaining land is of tactical importance and is vital for national security, he said.

Releasing the remaining lands will depend on the situation subsequent to the accessing of security parameters  a timeline is not a matter that can be discussed at present, he told the Thomson Reuters Foundation in emailed comments.

Uprooted

Chellamma Singharatnam, a spry 87-year-old who fled her home in Puthukkudiyiruppu, northeastern Sri Lanka, as the army advanced in May 2009, had to resort to a hunger strike to get her home back.

Chellamma Singharatnam sits outside her home in northern Sri Lanka that was taken by the army during the decades-long war, returned to her after she staged a hunger strike [Rina Chandran/Thomson Reuters Foundation]

When she and her family returned after nearly three years in displacement camps, they learned that the army had taken over both her house and her daughters home.

After several petitions, Singharatnam went on a hunger strike outside the district secretariat office. Other women from the village joined her, and the strike lasted a month.

In the end, the army agreed to return the homes, although they had been badly damaged, she said.

There was trash everywhere, the furniture was broken, even the doors and windows were gone, she said.

We had to borrow money, and only managed to repair one house so far. We had no assistance, and dont know when we can fix the other house, she said, sitting outside her home.

Dysfunctional legal systems, corruption, lack of transparency and accountability, and the loss of land records make it difficult to resolve land disputes during and after a war, according to researchers.

The Tamil ethnic minority in Sri Lankas north and the east were uprooted several times during and after the conflict that raged between the separatist forces of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and the Sri Lankan army.

The army used confiscated land to set up camps and high-security zones, thwarting the return of those who fled.

Even where land was released, there was inadequate assistance for land clearance and livelihood aid, Human Rights Watch said in a 2018 report.

Some land is also being used for commercial purposes, including agriculture and tourism, it said.

Wickramasinghe said lands held by the army are fully utilised for welfare purposes and recuperation purposes.

Occupied

During the war, tens of thousands of Sri Lankan Tamils sought refuge in neighbouring India, particularly in the southern state of Tamil Nadu.

The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) began facilitating their return to Sri Lanka in 2011, and has so far helped 8,529 refugees return, said Menique Amarasinghe, UNHCRs country representative.

Several thousand refugees have also returned on their own, but 100,000 Sri Lankan Tamils remain in India, many in camps.

More than two-thirds of returning refugees are landless, according to human rights groups. About 30,000 people are still considered internally displaced; many have lost their homes and land.

Restitution of land is critical to peace-building as it recognises violations and ensures the restoration of rights, including freedom of movement and an adequate standard of living, according to the Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA), a think-tank in Colombo.

In the Sri Lankan context, land is a critical aspect of ones identity and belonging, said Bhavani Fonseka, head of research and advocacy at CPA.

An army camp in Keppapilavu, northern Sri Lanka, where the army still holds land claimed by Sri Lankan Tamils who fled during the decades-long war [Rina Chandran/Thomson Reuters Foundation]

Reparations  including the restitution of land  if implemented correctly, can contribute to long-term peace-building efforts and prevent further marginalisation of war-affected communities, she said.

Sri Lankan authorities promised returning refugees a small plot of land, but it can be a long wait.

Taking matters into their own hands

Last year, about 100 former residents of the northern island of Iranaitivu boarded more than 24 boats from the mainland, returned to their island, and occupied it peacefully.

They had been uprooted in 1992 by the army, lived on the mainland for years, only able to return to their island to fish and harvest coconuts.

They had hoped to return to their homes in 2009 after the war ended, but the Sri Lankan Navy said the island was of strategic importance and barred them from returning.

After numerous petitions, women  particularly widows who had struggled to make a living without access to the island  staged a year-long protest from 2018, demanding the return of their land.

The local Catholic church supported the residents return last year, and the Navy conceded, retaining a small portion of land for its use.

More than 100 former residents now live on the island and are campaigning to get the Navy off the island entirely, said Maria Jeyaseelan, one of the protest leaders.

We are once again able to farm and fish and earn a living, even if we are not living as well as before, she said. But our wish is to get back all our land.

For Jasinthan and the other women protesting for the return of their ancestral land in Keppapilavu, women like Jeyaseelan and Singharatnam give them hope.

Jasinthan has been summoned to court several times  including the day after her husband died  because of the protests. She said she has received threats, and has installed security cameras at her home and acquired a pair of guard dogs.

As a widow, it is harder to go against the army. But this land is all we have, so we are going to continue to protest till we get it back, she said.

This reporting was supported by the International Womens Media Foundations Howard G Buffett Fund For Women Journalists.
CloudCar CloudCar's expertise is in improving and simplifying a drivers engagement with their infotainment system and then seamlessly integrating it into their overall driving experience. Our partnership with what3words further extends this philosophy for a simplified and accurate navigation process.

CloudCar, Inc. a Silicon Valley company and leading provider of infotainment services for the automotive industry, and location technology provider what3words have partnered to simplify in-vehicle navigation. The partnership improves the experience for drivers, allowing them to navigate to a what3words address within their embedded infotainment system. what3words addresses are more accurate than traditional street addresses, meaning both a more efficient journey and a better customer experience.

Many drivers are familiar with the frustration of trying to speak or manually type a long street address into their car navigation system, only to find they have to pull over to enter it correctly or rely on a passenger to help by using a mobile device instead. what3words has overcome this challenge in a truly innovative way by dividing the entire planet into a grid of 10-foot squares. Each square has been given a unique what3words address made of three words. For example, the front door of what3words London office can be found at ///filled.count.soap. Similar what3words addresses are located far apart to avoid confusion and reduce errors, while an intelligent AutoSuggest feature helps drivers correct mistakes immediately to ensure they get to the correct destination, even when theres no street address.

We are pleased to add CloudCar to the growing number of companies able to offer our unique addressing technology. said what3words Partnerships Director, George Hall. Because CloudCar is a tier-1 supplier to the automotive industry, this one-time integration makes this solution accessible to both existing and future OEM customers of its production-proven infotainment platform.

CloudCars on-board and cloud-based infotainment infrastructure is designed to improve the drivers experience with access to media, events, restaurant and parking reservations, as well as linking personal calendars, all from within the vehicle. CloudCars integrated platform allows drivers to either speak or type in a what3words address, receive the precise destination from the what3words servers and then initiate a normal turn-by-turn navigation to their destination.

CloudCar's expertise is in improving and simplifying a drivers engagement with their infotainment system and then seamlessly integrating it into their overall driving experience. We are always on the lookout for novel technologies and content to advance these goals said Mark Bowlby, Director of Partnerships at CloudCar. Our partnership with what3words further extends this philosophy for a simplified and accurate navigation process.

ABOUT CLOUDCAR

CloudCar is developing the future of connected car technology for automotive OEMs. Its platform enables a global ecosystem of infotainment cloud-based services and delivers a contextualized, personalized and voice-first experience in the vehicle. Founded in 2011, CloudCar is a privately-held company headquartered in Santa Clara, California, with offices in France, Germany and China.

The company was ranked as one of the 20 most promising Automotive Technology Solution Providers and named Global IoT Cloud Company of the Year in 2019.

For more information, visit http://www.cloudcar.com.

ABOUT WHAT3WORDS

Co-founded in London in 2013 by Chris Sheldrick, what3words is the simplest way to talk about location. The system covers the entire world, never needs updating, and works offline. A what3words address is a human-friendly way to share very precise locations with other people, or to input them into platforms and machines such as autonomous cars or e-commerce checkouts. It is optimized for voice input and contains built-in error prevention to immediately identify and correct input mistakes.

The free what3words app, available for iOS and Android, and the online map enable people to find, share and navigate to what3words addresses in 40 languages to date. Millions of what3words addresses are in use around the world, with thousands of businesses using them to save money, be more efficient and provide a better customer experience. what3words is integrated into apps, platforms and websites, with just a few lines of code. Products are available for free or for a nominal fee for qualifying NGOs. Its partners include Mercedes-Benz, Ford, Dominos Pizza, Lonely Planet, Airbnb and Cabify.

what3words has a team of over 100 people, across offices in London, UK; San-Francisco, USA; Johannesburg, ZA and Ulaanbaatar Mongolia. The company has raised over 45 million in capital from investors such as Intel, Aramex, Deutsche Bahn, SAIC and the Sony Investment Fund.
Uber says it may temporarily suspend both drivers and passengers who have been infected or come into contact with COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. The company has established a 24-hour support team to work with public health officials as the outbreak evolves.

"Working with them, we may temporarily suspend the accounts of riders or drivers confirmed to have contracted or been exposed to COVID-19," the company says on its coronavirus support page. "We're also consulting with an epidemiologist to make sure our efforts as a company are grounded in medical advice."

Uber announced late last week it would compensate drivers who miss work due to the coronavirus for up to 14 days. "We've already helped drivers in some affected areas, and we're working to quickly implement this worldwide," the company says. Lyft also announced it would provide financial assistance to drivers. However, neither company has detailed how much they'll compensate people.

Additionally, Uber notes it will provide free disinfectants to drivers in cities "with the greatest need." The company warns supplies are "very limited," but says it's working with manufacturers to source supplies directly. If you use Uber Eats to order food, you can note in the app if you want the delivery person to leave your food at the door to your home.

The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the US passed 1,000 on Tuesday night. According to The New York Times, at least 31 people have died from the disease. Uber has already suspended drivers in the UK and the US for coming into contact with the virus.

While the measures Uber is putting in place make sense, they won't necessarily prevent the spread of the coronavirus. At the moment, the company doesn't have a good way to monitor drivers and prevent them from spreading the virus. The precarious nature of ridesharing also means some people may take health risks because they need to meet their financial obligations.
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Several of the nearly 90 Congress MLAs who landed in Jaipur amid a political crisis in Madhya Pradesh triggered by former Guna MP Jyotiraditya Scindia's exit from the party told reporters that there was not threat to the Kamal Nath government and it will survive.

The MLAs arrived at the Jaipur airport around 2.30 pm in a special flight from Bhopal and were received by Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot along with other party leaders.

Gehlot has accused the BJP of horse-trading in Madhya Pradesh after Scindia's exit and the resignation of 22 MLAs loyal to him from the Madhya Pradesh assembly.

One of the two Jaipur resorts where the legislators will be staying is Buena Vista where the party MLAs from Maharashtra were lodged in November last year.

In a conversation with reporters, a party legislator said, "The Kamal Nath government will complete its term. There is no threat. We all are together."



He said the Congress MLAs who supported Jyotiraditya were "misled and deceived" by the BJP.

Madhya Pradesh Congress leader Kantilal Bhuria, who also came to Jaipur with the MLAs, said there was no threat to the government.

"There is no threat to the government. The state government has the majority," he said, adding that the MLAs will be visiting tourist places in the city.

"We will be staying here for three days. Our government in Madhya Pradesh is stable. I am a tribal MLA and the chief minister has sympathy from tribals. People appreciate the government's work," he added.

MLA Harsh Yadav said those who have gone with Scindia will be rejected by people.

"The Kamal Nath government will continue. Those who are in touch with us, will come back," Yadav said.

Other MLAs like Mahesh Parmar and Shivdayal said they were confident about the Kamal Nath government's survival and accused the BJP of misleading the MLAs who have gone with Scindia.

"The BJP has misled them," another MLA said.

Rajasthan government's chief whip Mahesh Joshi said there were nearly 90 MLAs from Madhya Pradesh and arrangements have been made for them at the two resorts on the Delhi highway.

Chief minister Ashok Gehlot too went to the Buena Vista resort to hold discussions with the MLAs and party leaders.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Longtime harness racing industry participant John Brennan passed away on Tuesday, March 10 at the age of 69.

According to harnessracing.com, Brennan was admitted to a New Jersey hospital last Friday (March 6) and was tested for coronavirus. SOA of NY President Joe Faraldo told Harness Racing Update that Brennan passed "due to coronavirus, which [sic] exasperated existing health problems."

A story posted on NJ.com Tuesday confirmed that a 69-year-old man who travelled back and forth to New York a lot had become the first person in the state to succumb to the virus.

A native of Rockaway Beach, N.Y., Mr. Brennan finished school in 1968 and worked as a steamfitter for four years before he began his career in harness racing in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

He trained horses for more than 40 years, racing stables in New York and New Jersey. He won the 1995 Merrie Annabelle with Missy Will Do It and was part-owner and trainer of Sugar Trader, winner of the 2003 Yonkers Trot and runner-up in the 2003 Hambletonian.

A director of the USTA for 23 years and chairman of District 12, Brennan was on the board of the SOA of New York for more than 30 years and an HHI delegate for more than 20 years.

At the time of his death, he was the horsemens representative at Yonkers Raceway.

A full obituary will be posted when available.

UPDATE

Brennans family has since sent out a statement on Johns passing. He contents of the statement appear below.

On March 10, 2020, a shining light went dim. John Brennan, beloved brother, uncle and great-uncle, passed away as a direct result of COVID-19. John was loved and adored by people all throughout the country. Due to the severity of the virus, and in an abundance of caution, funeral arrangements have not been made at this time. Per recommendations, a mass will be held in the definite future, once the spread of the virus calms. We will allow people enough time to plan accordingly. Thank you for your love, support and compassion during this most difficult time.

The adoring family of John Brennan.

Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of John Brennan.

(with files from USTA and harnessracing.com)
Boston - In the United States, income inequality has steadily increased over the last several decades. Given widening inequities, health care leaders have been concerned about the health outcomes of older Americans who experience poverty, particularly because prior studies have shown a strong link between socioeconomic status and health.

In a new study published today in JAMA, a team of researchers led by Rishi Wadhera, MD, MPP, MPhil, an investigator in the Smith Center for Outcomes Research in Cardiology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), evaluated how health outcomes for low-income older adults who are dually enrolled in both Medicare and Medicaid have changed since the early 2000s, and whether disparities have narrowed or widened over time compared with more affluent older adults who are solely enrolled in Medicare.

The study included more than 71 million older adults insured by Medicare from 2004 and 2017. The researchers evaluated the change in annual death rates, hospitalization rates, and hospitalization-related deaths for the subset of this population that is also dually enrolled in Medicaid due to poverty. Wadhera and colleagues also assessed whether health outcomes for this low-income population have improved or worsened compared with more affluent older adults only enrolled in Medicare.

"We found that annual death rates were more than two-fold higher for low-income older adults who were dually enrolled in Medicare and Medicaid compared with their more affluent, non-dually enrolled counterparts," said Wadhera. "In addition, annual hospitalization rates among dually-enrolled adults were almost double that of non-dually enrolled adults, and 30-day and one-year death rates after hospitalization were also higher for this low-income population. Most concerning, disparities in health outcomes between these two groups have not narrowed, and in some cases, are worsening."

Wadhera and colleagues also found that annual death rates for low-income older adults were generally highest in Midwestern states, such as Indiana and Ohio, and the Southeastern regions of the U.S. including Florida, Alabama, Arkansas and the Carolinas. Further research is needed to understand why high death rates persist in these regions of the US.

The findings are particularly striking given that over the last decade, a large part of U.S. policy and public health focus has been on improving the health of vulnerable and marginalized populations. Wadhera and colleagues say the study suggests that greater local and national efforts are needed to reduce health inequities.

"We know that low-income older Americans who are dually-enrolled in Medicare and Medicaid face unique challenges, such as poverty, housing instability, residence in more disadvantaged neighborhoods, and worse access to health care," said Wadhera. "Our findings suggest that in order to improve health equity for this population, public health and policy efforts are needed to directly address social determinants of health and to provide support for safety-net health care systems that tend to care for low-income patients."

###

In addition to Wadhera, co-authors include Robert W. Yeh, MD, MBA and Yun Wang, PhD, of BIDMC; Jose F. Figueroa, MD, MPH, and Francesca Dominici, PhD, of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and Karen E. Joynt Maddox, MD, MPH, of Washington University School of Medicine.

This work was supported by the Richard A. and Susan F. Smith Center for Outcomes Research in Cardiology at BIDMC.

The authors have reported no conflicts of interest.

About Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center is a patient care, teaching and research affiliate of Harvard Medical School and consistently ranks as a national leader among independent hospitals in National Institutes of Health funding.

BIDMC is in the community with Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital-Milton, Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital-Needham, Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital-Plymouth, Anna Jaques Hospital, Cambridge Health Alliance, Lawrence General Hospital, Signature Healthcare, Beth Israel Deaconess HealthCare, Community Care Alliance and Atrius Health. BIDMC is also clinically affiliated with the Joslin Diabetes Center and Hebrew Rehabilitation Center and is a research partner of Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center and the Jackson Laboratory. BIDMC is the official hospital of the Boston Red Sox. For more information, visit http://www.bidmc.org.

BIDMC is part of Beth Israel Lahey Health, a new health care system that brings together academic medical centers and teaching hospitals, community and specialty hospitals, more than 4,000 physicians and 35,000 employees in a shared mission to expand access to great care and advance the science and practice of medicine through groundbreaking research and education.
Paul Chinn / The Chronicle

State Sen. Scott Wiener has responded to the defeat of his legislation to dramatically boost California housing construction with a proposal that would settle for relaxing the most restrictive zoning. The San Francisco Democrats persistence is admirable, and his latest bill would be a substantial move in the right direction. But his diminished expectations are a dire sign of the Legislatures intransigence in the face of the housing and homelessness crisis.

Wieners SB902 would target single-family zoning, which allows no more than one home per lot, by legalizing modestly denser development statewide. With exceptions for wildfire zones and existing affordable housing, it would permit two to four dwellings per parcel depending on a citys population. It would also give local officials the option of rezoning for up to 10 units per parcel without extensive environmental review.
Cat Ba Island in the northern city of Haiphong has temporarily suspended the welcome of tourists from today, March 10, in the context of Covid-19 spread.

Cat Ba Island

Haiphong held an urgent meeting on Monday to seek ways to prevent Covid-19 on Cat Ba after a British female visitor who had tested positive for Covid-19 had visited the locality on March 7.

Under the instruction of chairman of municipal people's committee Nguyen Van Tung, the two communes on Cat Ba, Viet Hai and Gia Luan where the British tourist visited were isolated. He also requested to halt the welcome of travellers to the island.

At the meeting, Pham Thu Xanh, director of Haiphong Department of Health, said that 24 people on Cat Ba Island who took the same flight as Hanoi's first Covid-19 patient Nguyen Hong Nhung were tested negative for the virus.

Sixteen people on a tourism cruise which the British woman stayed overnight were also tested and found to be negative.

Cat Hai District has set up Covid-19 patrol stations at wharves and main roads. Local residents have been urged to minimise gatherings.

The locality has continued seeking people who have been in contact with 24 people on the flight VN0054 for quarantine.

Those who face high risk will be sent to Viet Tiep Hospital.

Tourist sites in Con Dao island temporarily close amid COVID-19 fears

Con Dao district in the southern province of Ba Ria Vung Tau will temporarily close its tourist attractions and relic sites in an attempt to prevent the potential spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic, according to the district People's Committee.

The move comes amid increasingly complicated developments relating to the COVID-19 epidemic, with Con Dao island representing something of a tourist hotspot, typically welcoming an average of 3,000 domestic and foreign tourists each day.

Quang Ngai temporarily suspends arrival of passengers on Ly Son island

Passengers on the high-speed boat to Ly Son island

The central province of Quang Ngai has moved to temporarily suspend the arrival of passengers on Ly Son island as of 7am on March 9.

The announcement was made by the Quang Ngai provincial Peoples Committee on March 8 in order to strengthen measures being put in place to combat the potential spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

Local authorities have also encouraged foreigners currently staying on Ly Son island to return to the mainland early.

Moreover, residents should not sail to Ly Son island unless it involves an urgent matter.

This suspension will remain in place until further notice.

Quang Ngai province has yet to record any confirmed cases of the COVID-19, although 411 patients are currently in isolation at home, with a total of 378 being in isolation for over 14 days.

Cultural activities postponed in Hoi An due to COVID-19 fears

An art performance at the Hoi An Impression Theme Park

The authorities of Hoi An ancient town in the central province of Quang Nam have decided to temporarily delay any upcoming cultural activities involving gathering crowds as of March 10 to prevent the swift spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

Among the events suspended are art performances which were set to take place at the Hoi An Impression Theme Park and the Hoi An Lune Centre.

Water puppet shows, art performances in local theatres, and sports tournaments hosted by the city have also been pushed back due to the complicated nature of developments surrounding the COVID-19.

Any proposed art performances in Hoi An will be subject to future announcements.

Tourism industry to consider huge tax cuts for travel companies

Stairs of Da Lat Market - a popular destination for visitors has been deserted recently. Vietnam's tourism sector has faced difficulties due to the COVID-19 epidemic. (Photo nld.com.vn)

Vietnam's Tourism Advisory Board (TAB) has proposed to halve value added tax (VAT) for the tourism sector from 10% to 5% to help businesses deal with the acute respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) outbreak.

The board has also requested the Government to extend tax payment deadline for the businesses to ease their pressure.

For this year, the Government should consider exempting their social insurance and health insurance contributions and delaying the collection of personal income tax and corporate income tax until the outbreak ends.

It also suggested a 50% reduction of use fees for hotels, resorts and entertainment parks for the 2020-2021 fiscal year.

Authorities also need to reduce unnecessary inspections for tourism enterprises that often take time and money.

The TAB has asked the Government to disburse the Tourism Development Assistance Fund which aims to implement marketing plans and promotion programmes to help the sector.

According to TAB, the Government should accelerate the public investment projects to develop infrastructure for the future tourism growth.

Meanwhile, the Government needs to boost construction of Long Thanh airport, upgrading of Tan Son Nhat, Phu Bai and Dong Hoi airports, and building the new Chu Lai Airport. It should promote the expansion of Noi Bai Airport and complete the HCM City-Can Tho expressway and parts of the North-South Expressway.

Another solution proposed by TAB is to simplify procedures and shorten licensing time for businesses that have important roles such as aviation.

Now, the tourism industry has contributed 9.2% to Vietnam's gross domestic product (GDP).

According to TAB, hotel occupancy rate has fallen by between 20% and 50% compared to the same period last year, depending on the location.

Vietnam's airlines have suffered huge losses because almost all flights to mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan have been cancelled. That has seen a reduction of about 50% for the regional international and 40% for domestic flight bookings.

Phapluat/Dtinews/VNA/VOV/VNN

Hanoi close tourist sites for disinfection Historical and cultural relic sites as wells as tourist destinations in Hanoi are temporarily closed for disinfection in an attempt to prevent further spread of COVID-19.
Corona Virus Scare Continues as Facebook Cancels SXSW Participation

New Delhi, Wed, 11 Mar 2020 Deepak Kumar

Facebook has decided not to take part in this year's SXSW conference, held in Austin, Texas. The social media giant has followed the footsteps of many other companies and their withdrawal does not seem like a surprise at all. Facebook in a company statement has revealed that due to the massive outbreak of the dangerous corona virus, the company will not take active part in SXSW this March. Due to the virus outbreak, Facebook has also decided to restrict its social visits, foreign tours and in person job interviews. They have also canceled the Global Marketing Conference and pulled out of the F8 developer conference, scheduled in May.



The threat of corona virus has disrupted the regular functioning of almost every major company. New rules and guidelines have been provided to the employees, this is to make sure that none of the workers get affected by the deadly virus and everybody in the company gets to work in a secure environment, without any fear. The World Health Organization has indicated a very high risk of global outbreak, this can cause havoc damages in terms of human life and many other resources. The virus outbreak has affected more than 1,10,000 people throughout the world and companies are trying their best to maintain regular functioning.



Along with Facebook, Apple, Twitter and Amazon Studios have also decided to pull out of SXSW. All the mentioned companies have indicated that the corona virus outbreak is the only reason behind stepping out at such a later stage. The South by Southwest, also known as SXSW is an annual collective of music festivals, film screenings, interactive media and conferences. The event takes place in Austin, Texas, United States, every year during March. Since its beginning in 1987, SXSW has grown into a platform where creative ideas prosper into innovations and it also focuses on multiple social and environmental issues. The South by Southwest festival lasts for 10 days and huge crowds gather every year to celebrate the occasion. Safety being a major priority this year, many organizations are not attending the festival starting from 13th March. Online streaming company Netflix has confirmed that considering the current situation, they are also pulling out of the event and none of their films will be available for screening in the festival. Alongside Netflix, another production company Warner Media has decided not take part in this year's SXSW festival. Several organizers of SXSW have assured the rest of the participating companies and organizations that they have taken enough safety measure to secure the festival and the guests coming from all over the world.



Just like Facebook, other tech companies like Microsoft and Google were also forced to cancel their conferences due to corona virus. These ongoing events are affecting the operations of these companies on various levels. Facebook has decided to restrict its operations in countries that are heavily affected by the widespread of the virus. More companies are likely to follow the footstep of Facebook, as corona virus starts getting treated as a real issue.
An 85-year-old man from Jaipur, who had returned from Dubai on February 28, has tested positive for coronavirus, a state government official said on Wednesday.

"He was found presumptive positive in the first test yesterday and hence, a second test was conducted with fresh samples," Additional Chief Secretary (Health) Rohit Kumar Singh said while speaking to media.

"The man who travelled to Dubai has been tested positive for coronavirus. It has been confirmed now. Will keep you posted of the developments," Singh said.

"We have also got the manifest of the Spicejet flight he took from Dubai to Jaipur and are doing due diligence on that," the official said, adding that intense contact tracing is underway.

"There is no need to panic but all citizens are advised to be extra cautious and take all preventive measures like practising good respiratory hygiene and cleanliness," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
President Xi Jinping learns about purchasing and supply of people's daily necessities at a community in Wuhan, March 10, 2020. /Xinhua

Editor's note: Tom Fowdy is a British political and international relations analyst and a graduate of Durham and Oxford universities. He writes on topics pertaining to China, the DPRK, Britain, and the U.S. The article reflects the author's opinions, and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

China's leader Xi Jinping on March 10 traveled to the city of Wuhan, a city that had been hit hard by the COVID-19 outbreak. During his visit, Xi proclaimed that the outbreak was "basically curbed" and hailed success at "turning the tide" of the situation in the area, encouraging medical workers to be victorious in overcoming the virus, and praising their sacrifice, effort and success.

Xi's visit to the area heralds a deep symbolism. It illustrates a show of confidence by China's government that efforts to both contain and eradicate the virus have been successful, preventing a nationwide pandemic. In doing so, it further sends a message that not only is victory in sight, but also it is time now for life in the country to return to normal. As other countries battle against the virus, China has ultimately emerged bruised, yet resilient. Western reports predicting doom for the country have not materialized.

China's political system is far more enduring than what foreign commentators give it credit for, simply because throughout its 99-year existence the Communist Party of China's (CPC) institutional culture is built upon the historical legacy of struggle, unity and perseverance in the face of crisis, disaster and adversity.

The long march in 1934-1935, whereby CPC forces retreated in a grueling 6,000-mile journey from the Kuomintang in Jiangxi would ultimately serve to set a precedent in the party's outlook towards endurance and resistance in the pursuit of long term goals.

And of course over the years since the establishment of the People's Republic of China in 1949, there have been other crises and challenges too. Yet every time, the system has been able to endure and overcome, absorbing shockwaves and learning from the mistakes that were made.

This is at the heart of China's opt for pragmatism, with Deng Xiaoping having reinterpreted Mao Zedong's call for "seeking truth from facts" and thus in turn describing the process forwards as "feeling for stones to cross the river." Thus at the heart of China's system has been an inclination to both endure and adapt to crisis.

Medical staff check a patient's condition at a temporary hospital called Wuhan Livingroom in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, February 10, 2020. /Xinhua

The challenge posed by the COVID-19 was certainly one of those. There has been a lot of pain: over 3,000 people have lost their lives, including brave doctors and medical workers, yet there can be little doubt at this point that their efforts were certainly not in vain. Despite relentless Western criticism, the number of new COVID-19 cases in China has reduced rapidly including within the epicenter of Hubei itself. Now, China boasts fewer daily new cases than the UK, the U.S. and every major country in Europe. Efforts have been doubled, such as large scale quarantines and mass testing (the government has tested over 300,000 people in Guangdong province alone).

The West were not prepared to offer China credit for these successes, but now their fruits are showing and thus consequentially in a show of confidence Xi's visit to Wuhan is set out to affirm that message. There're still things to do, but there is little question that the worst is over and China has endured.

A nationwide pandemic has been prevented despite the fact that the virus continues to spread across other countries of the world. This transfers China from what was a position of weakness to a position of strength. It now not only has the capacity to offer resources to other countries that are struggling, but also illustrate the strengths of its own model.

Moving forwards, effort must be focused on preventing the virus from re-entering China from overseas, but the country is nevertheless more prepared than ever. In addition, Xi emphasized the economy  China must get itself back on its feet but also brace itself for global disruption as the situation around it is plagued by uncertainty and turmoil. It must seek to prop up and guide the global economy where it can, providing incentives and opportunities to countries who's growth will suffer in the midst of this.

Therefore, one might describe this situation as China emerging almost certainly bruised, but not critically injured or incapacitated. Western reports deliberately pursued cynical reporting which aimed to use the crisis to bash the country's political system, understating its resilience and ability to overcome the challenge.

Despite these grueling circumstances, China has sailed through the worst of the storm. Now, Xi's visit sends out the message quite clearly to the world that China is prevailing against the COVID-19, is ready to restart and in turn is ready to help others.
In a statement released today Kinross Gold (NYSE:KGC) said it was informed on March 10, 2020 that an employee from its Toronto office tested positive for the COVID-19 virus.

"Kinross values the health and safety of its employees above all other priorities, and as a precaution, closed the Toronto office today for a thorough cleaning and disinfection. Kinross has asked its employees to work from home until at least March 20th when the need for the closure will be re-evaluated.

The company said it is working directly with Toronto Public Health, which asked the companys Toronto employees to self-monitor for any symptoms.

"The employee who tested positive was last in the Toronto office for 1.5 days ending March 3, 2020, is currently at home in self-quarantine, and is in good condition. This employee did not attend the PDAC conference or other external events and has not recently travelled to Kinross sites," said the company.

"The company has activated its business continuity program to help ensure that head office functions are maintained while employees work remotely. The companys response is being managed within the framework of preparedness protocols and contingency plans developed by Kinross global cross-functional COVID-19 Task Force, which was established earlier this year, with input from the companys expert medical and travel advisors.

"These plans include increased travel restrictions, individual site management controls and screening to control access to mine sites, emergency medical preparedness, supply chain contingency plans, and working with health authorities to closely monitor local and global developments.

"To date, COVID-19 has not impacted production or product shipments at any of the Companys sites. Nor, to date, has there been any significant negative impact on, or disruption of, the Companys supply chain. Nonetheless, Kinross is constantly monitoring the situation and is working with its critical suppliers, who the Company understands have mitigation plans in place, to minimize any potential supply chain disruptions that might emerge.
Chippewa Nature Center held its annual meeting Feb. 19. Guests were welcomed by Dennis Pilaske, executive director.

Following the 2019 Year in Review, Treasurer Jordan Summers, (Chemical Bank), presented the 2019 Financial Report. Retiring board members Kirk Fisher (Chemical Bank), Mark Robertson (Delta College), John Davis (Dow), Michelle Wilkins (Dow) and Mike Witt (Dow) were thanked for their years of service.

Rob Maxwell, incoming board president, facilitated the election of new board members John Blaha (Dow), Marianne McKelvy (Dow, retired) and Bartley Terrill (Dow Industrial Solutions).

Blaha is Global Director, Capital Markets, Financial & Enterprise Risk Management for Dow, and currently serves on CNC's Endowment Investment Committee. He and his family love nature, and they all agree that it is amazing to have a nature center the caliber of CNC right here in our own community.

McKelvy, retired research leader in the Spectroscopy Group from Dow, has served two full terms of service on CNC's Board, including as vice president and two years as president, and now joins the organization for a third. She considers board service to be one of the greatest privileges of her life. She is an active volunteer and member of the Oxbow Archaeologists, and she and her husband, Fred, particularly enjoy hiking and birding the trails at CNC. Additionally, she serves as a volunteer tax counselor for AARP Tax Aide and works with several local food pantries.

Terrill currently serves as market segment manager, Dow Industrial Solutions, where he leads marketing strategies for several industrial markets. He has worked with a variety of nonprofits in the past both in Texas and in Michigan and most recently was involved in Dow Chemical's United Way campaign. He and his family can often be seen at CNC events, programs and festivals throughout the year.

Board members Kimberly Reinhardt (Midland Public Schools); Barbara Allen (Delta College); Jenni Bush (SPACE, Inc.; incoming Secretary) and Melissa Haswell, Ph.D. (Davenport University) were re-elected to a three-year term. Board members not up for re-election include Rob Maxwell (Pinecrest Farms); Nancy Carney (Morley Companies; incoming Vice President); Jamie Ross, M.D. (Covenant Health Care); Brian Holmes (Arbury Insurance); Jordan Summers, J.D.; Sharon Caldwell (WhichCraft Taproom) and Carol VanWert (Dow).

The meeting concluded with a presentation entitled 3,000 Miles by Bicycle, presented by James and Lauren Dake of Elk Rapids, Michigan. During the summer of 2012, James and Lauren Dake rode their bicycles from Michigan to California in a 3,000-mile journey across America. They shared the stories, experiences and encounters of their two-wheeled adventure across the country highlighting the special places, wildlife and people they met along the way. This program was funded by the Dale Dean Natural History Speaker Series.

For more information, visit www.chippewanaturecenter.org, email CNC at info@chippewanaturecenter.org, or call 989-631-0830.
NEW HAVEN  After spring break, all classes at Southern Connecticut State University will be held in an online-only format until at least April 5 as a student remains in self-quarantine for possible coronavirus exposure.

The university learned that a student recently went to a meeting in another state where another person at that meeting ended up testing positive for the coronavirus, according to Joe Bertolino, president of SCSU.

The student has been self-quarantined at home and has showed no signs of illness after 10 days, Bertolino said. He said it was secondary contact, putting the student at a low risk for infection.

He said the university consulted with the New Haven Department of Health on the matter and officials are confident that there is no identifiable risk at the university.

Still, as a precaution, Bertolino ordered the university closed for the next five days so all buildings can be deep cleaned and disinfected.

All classes during this five-day window are canceled, Bertolino said.

He said after spring break, classes will resume in an online format until at least April 5. More details will be forthcoming.

Bertolino said students engaged in off-campus clinics, internships or otherwise should continue to attend them if the facility they have these activities at remains open.

The universitys residence halls will close Wednesday.

If you are a residential student, you must leave campus by noon and take with you whatever materials you will need to continue your studies online, Bertolino said.

He also said any students planning to stay on campus during spring break have to leave their residence hall Wednesday.

Any student unable to leave by noon Wednesday is asked to go to the Office of Residential Life between 9 a.m. and noon to discuss the situation.

All level one  essential  staff and members of residence life were told to report to work Wednesday. All level two staff are told to return to work Monday, March 16.

Employees and faculty members can return to campus Wednesday to get course materials and equipment needed to work from home.

If you are a faculty member working with a campus clinic that provides services to the wider community, please take steps to inform members of the public that the clinic is closed, Bertolino said.
Dar es Salaam: A court in Tanzania has convicted nine opposition leaders and legislators on of making seditious statements and imposed five-month jail terms or a fine, risking heighten activists' fears that democratic dissent is being stifled.

The defendants were all from Chadema, the leading opposition party and included its chairman Freeman Mbowe, deputy secretary general, ex-secretary general, head of the women's wing and four other legislators. The accused were fined a total of 350 million Tanzanian shillings ($233,000).

The nine had been charged with various offences including unlawful assembly, rioting, and making seditious statements in February 2018 during a by-election campaign in Kinondoni constituency in Dar es Salaam. They had denied the charges.

"I have been satisfied with the evidence...in video tapes. I have seen their faces and I know their faces, the evidence is enough to confirm that there was unlawful assembly," Principal Resident Magistrate Thomas Simba said.
Regulatory News:

In July 2019 Eutelsat Communications (Paris:ETL) (ISIN: FR0010221234 Euronext Paris: ETL) announced the launch of a share buyback program of at least 100 million by end-June 22, commencing in the second half of FY 2019-20.

Consistent with this commitment and in order to implement the first stage of this program, Eutelsat has signed a mandate with an investment services provider for an initial cash share buy-back amount of 20 million.

The purchase period will start on March 11, 2020 and end on July 30th, 2020. The purchase price per share shall not exceed 19 euros.

About Eutelsat Communications

Founded in 1977, Eutelsat Communications is one of the world's leading satellite operators. With a global fleet of satellites and associated ground infrastructure, Eutelsat enables clients across Video, Data, Government, Fixed and Mobile Broadband markets to communicate effectively to their customers, irrespective of their location. Around 7,000 television channels operated by leading media groups are broadcast by Eutelsat to one billion viewers equipped for DTH reception or connected to terrestrial networks. Headquartered in Paris, with offices and teleports around the globe, Eutelsat assembles 1,000 men and women from 46 countries who are dedicated to delivering the highest quality of service.

For more about Eutelsat go to www.eutelsat.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200311005085/en/

Contacts:

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Marie-Sophie Ecuer

Tel.: 33 1 53 98 37 91

mecuer@eutelsat.com

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Joanna Darlington

Tel.: +33 1 53 98 35 30

jdarlington@eutelsat.com

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cpugni@eutelsat.com

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aenjalbert@eutelsat.com
tech2 News Staff

The search for E.T continues...

Soon, hundreds of telescopes will come together to peer into the depths of space and find alien life.

A joint project called PANOSETI by a team of researchers from the University of California San Diego, University of California Berkeley, University of California Observatories, and Harvard University, already has two prototype telescopes set up at the Lick Observatory near San Jose, USA. They aim to create a network of SETI telescopes that will observe the entire observable sky  approximately 10,000 square degrees  instantaneously.

PANOSETI stands for Panoramic SETI or Pulsed All-sky Near-infrared Optical SETI.

SETI stands for Search for ExtraTerrestrial Intelligence.

These telescopes will work on a billionth of a second timescale and will help astronomers to understand and study how the universe behaves in those brief moments.

What is the goal for PANOSETI?

When finally assembled, PANOSETI will be the first dedicated observatory capable of constantly searching for flashes of optical or infrared light. Such pulsed signals occurring on nanosecond-to-second time scales may be from either artificial origin (e.g., extraterrestrial communication) or astrophysical phenomena (e.g., counterparts to fast radio bursts).

Dan Werthimer, chief technologist at UC Berkeleys SETI Research Center said in a statement, When astronomers examine an unexplored parameter space, they usually find something surprising that no one predicted. PANOSETI could discover new astronomical phenomena or signals from E.T.

The goal is to basically look for very brief but powerful signals from an advanced civilization. Because they are so brief, and likely to be rare, we plan to check large areas of the sky for a long period of time." said Werthimer in a statement,
Madhya Pradesh Political Crisis Updates: Members of the Indian Youth Congress on Wednesday held a protest against the BJP in Delhi and alleged that it was trying to horse-trade Congress MLAs in Madhya Pradesh in a bid to topple the Kamal Nath-led state government. The protesters commenced the march from the IYC office in Raisina Road, PTI reported.

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A picture of 19 MLAs from a resort in Bengaluru had surfaced on Tuesday. All these lawmakers were seen holding their resignation letters, which were later submitted by the BJP to the Assembly Speaker NP Prajapati.

A day after senior Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia and 22 Madhya Pradesh Congress MLAs tendered their resignations from the state Assembly, 92 MLAs of the Kamal Nath government will be shifted to Jaipur, News18 reported.

22 Congress MLAs resigned from the party, threatening the Kamal Nath government, even as senior party leader Digvijaya Singh said that there was evidence to believe that the three chartered planes on which 19 lawmakers were flown to Bengaluru were arranged by the BJP. The MLAs who resigned are Jyotiraditya Scindia loyalists.

Amid dissent in the Congress, the party is set to herd its remaining 92 MLAs in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly to a resort in Jaipur. Meanwhile, the BJP MLAs from the state were taken to the ITC Grand in Gurugram on Tuesday night.

Tandon is currently in Lucknow to celebrate Holi with his family and will be on leave till 12 March. "At present, I am a spectator. Once I return there, only then can I make any comment after seeing all things, letters in which people have made some complaints," Tandon said responding to when he will call any party to prove majority in the House.

Madhya Pradesh Governor Lalji Tandon said he is keeping tabs on political developments and will take a decision only after reaching the Raj Bhavan in Bhopal.

She added that four Independent MLAs are also with the Kamal Nath government. "All the MLAs who had gone with Scindia are back with us. They understand that their future is at stake due to one person's ambition.," she said.

Congress leader Shobha Oza said that all the party MLAs in Bengaluru were being misled. Exuding confidence about being able prove majority on the floor of the House, she said, "They (rebel Congress MLAs) are with us. Even BJP MLAs are in touch with us."

"In Scindia's 18-year political career, Congress made him Member of Parliament for 17 years, Union minister twice, chief whip, national general secretary, in-charge of Uttar Pradesh, Congress Working Committee member, election campaign head, 50-plus tickets and 9 ministers were given. Still under the shelter of Modi-Shah?" the MP Congress tweeted in Hindi along with an image referring that Scindia had "broken the trust".

The state Congress unit took to Twitter and asked Scindia as to why he still chose to go "under the shelter of Modi-Shah (Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah) duo?"

A day after Jyotiraditya Scindia quit Congress claiming that he had been sidelined in the party, the Madhya Pradesh Congress on Wednesday hit out at him by highlighting the key positions, including a berth in the Union council of ministers, he held during his 18 years of association with the Congress.

After meeting Nath, Tripathi, at the time, had claimed it was about discussing development works in Maihar.

"Due to my mother's death on 9 March, I could not attend the BJP legislature party meeting and I had informed Leader of Opposition Gopal Bhargava. I was with BJP, I am with BJP and I will always be with BJP," Tripathi told reporters in the evening.

Maihar MLA Narayan Tripathi had met Nath on 5 March, and he had also gone against the BJP line and voted for a Congress-backed bill in the state Assembly in July last year.

A BJP MLA who had met Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath last week amid speculation of switching over to the ruling Congress said on Tuesday he was very much with the saffron party.

India Today reports that the Congress has booked 42 of the 52 rooms at Buena Vista Resort in Jaipur for its 92 MLAs. The other rooms may also likely to be taken over by the Congress party in a while. This is incidentally the same hotel where Maharashtra Congress MLAs were lodged during the crisis over government formation in the state last year. The MLAs are expected to reach Jaipur around 11 am in a chartered jet

Madhya Pradesh BJP MLAs reached Delhi on Tuesday midnight along with BJP national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya. The BJP MLAs are currently staying at ITC Grand Bharat in Gurugram. The group maintained that they are in Delhi to celebrate the Holi vacation and not for any other purpose. BJP flew in its MLAs in a chartered plane from Madhya Pradesh.

Sources told ANI that senior leaders have been tasked to mediate between the disgruntled lot and the party and resolve their grievances.

According to party sources, former Union minister Mukul Wasnik, senior leader Harish Rawat and Madhya Pradesh Congress unit in-charge Deepak Babaria have been moved to Bhopal as Observers to hold talks with party MLAs.

The resignation of senior leader Jyotiraditya Scindia and 22 MLAs on Tuesday came as a jolt to the party, which is now making all-out efforts to save its government.

At a time when uncertainty looms large over the fate of Kamal Nath government in Madhya Pradesh, Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi has tasked party's central leaders for resolving the crisis and take charge of the situation in Bhopal.

Jyotiraditya Scindia will join the BJP at 12.30 pm, BJP sources told CNN-News18, a day after his resignation along with that of 22 Madhya Pradesh Congress MLAs triggered put the Kamal NAth government in jeopardy.

In the Legislative Party meeting held yesterday, all Independent MLAs were present. However, the 22 rebel MLAs as well as two BSP and one SP MLAs who back the government skipped the meeting, sources told PTI.

After a meeting with Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath, Independent MLA Surendra Singh Shera said that he and other Independent lawmakers are with the Congress. He said that MLAs in Bengaluru will be brought back and the government will survive.

He further wrote that he government should look at reducing petrol prices given the 35 percent crash in global oil prices.

In his first reaction after a political turmoil unfolded in Madhya Pradesh, Congress' Rahul Gandhi blamed the Prime Minister's office for "destabiling an elected government".

Meanwhile, senior Congress leader Sajjan Singh Vermatold ANI that none of the 19 rebel MLAs are ready to go with Scindia. He added that most of them are not ready to join the BJP and were misled and taken to Bengaluru.

Ten rebel Madhya Pradesh Congress MLAs and two ministers in the Kamal Nath government are not ready to join the BJP, sources told CNN-News18, adding that they came to Bengaluru on Jyotiraditya Scindia's direction and not to join the saffron party.

Here is the list of ministers and MLAs who have resigned so far:

The state unit president of Congress Sewa Dal Satyendra Yadav, a Jyotiraditya Scindia loyalist, rescinded his resignation from the primary membership of the party. He also urged party workers to come together in the phase of struggle.

A day after tendering his resignation from the Congress, Jyotiraditya Scindia is likely to join the BJP at 2 pm at the party's Ashoka Road headquarters. He was earlier supposed to join the saffron party at 12.30 pm.

Singh further said that the 22 Cong MLAs went to Bengaluru to pressure the leadership to nominate Scindia for Rajya Sabha, but with no intention to quit the Congress or join BJP. He further said that the party did not anticipate Scindia's exit, which was engineered after Shivraj Singh Chouhan failed to topple the Congress government in the state. He also alleged that the rebel MLAs were offered huge sums of money to resign from the Congress.

Scindia was offered the post of Madhya Pradesh deputy chief minister but wanted his nominee, Singh said. However, Kamal Nath refused to accept a chela, he said. Scindia, he said, could have been a Congress nominee to the Rajya Sabha but "only Modi-Shah" can give a Cabinet post to the "over-ambitious" leader.

Thirteen of the 22 rebel MLAs in Madhya Pradesh have given an assurance that "they are not leaving the Congress", senior party leader Digvijaya Singh said, while expressing confidence that the Kamal Nath-led government in the state will win a floor test. "We are not keeping quiet. We are not sleeping," Singh told PTI.

The time of the ceremony was shifted from 12.30 pm to 2 pm in view of Rahu Kaal.

Jyotiraditya Scindia has reached the BJP headquarters and will be inducted shortly. Apart from party chief JP Nadda, Home Minister Amit Shah is likely to attend the ceremony too.

"BJP is a very democratic party and everyone has a say. I want to assure you that you will be given a prominent role with us," Nadda told Scindia. "I hope that Scindia will also get an opportunity to participate in all the activities of the party and see to it that the BJP becomes the rightful instrument in changing the destiny of the country." he added.

Remembering Jyotiraditya Scindia's grandmother Vijaya Raje Scindia's contribution in the formation of the Jana Sangh and BJP, JP Nadda welcomed the former Congress leader to the saffron party.

Rajasthan BJP leader Vasundhara Raje welcomed Jyotiraditya Scindia welcomed her nephew to the BJP, adding that "it's good to be on the same team". She also wrote that she admires the former Congress leader's "strength of character and courage".

The Madhya Pradesh Congress MLAs, 22 of whom tendered their resignations from the state Assembly on Tuesday, have reached Jaipur on Wednesday afternoon, ANI reported. Their resignations had been submitted hours after former Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia quit the party in a letter to party president Sonia Gandhi.

She was quoted by ANI as saying, "All 22 MLAs are here (in Bengaluru) on their own will. We're happy Scindia ji has taken this decision. I'll always stay with him even if I had to jump in a well. When we were in Congress, Kamal Nath ji never heard us."

Imarti Devi, one of the 22 Congress MLAs who resigned from the Madhya Pradesh Assembly on Tuesday after Jyotiraditya Scindia, said that she will support the former Congress leader in everything he does. He was inducted into the BJP on Wednesday.

The Congress on Wednesday issued a notification regarding the appointment of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president. The party has named senior Congress leader DK Shivakumar as the president, and also appointed three working presidents for the KPCC.

BJP leader Yashodhara Raje Scindia, aunt of Jyotiraditya who joined the saffron party after quitting the Congress on Wednesday, welcomed her nephew to the party and expressed confidence that the party will form the state government again under former chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

According to reports, Scindia's decision to resign from the Congress was finalised after the party leadership dithered on naming him as a candidate for the election to the Upper House.

Jyotiraditya Scindia has been named as the BJP's candidate for the upcoming Rajya Sabha election, NDTV reported , amid speculation that the saffron party will give him a ticket soon after inducting him into the party on Wednesday.

BJP leaders Kailash Vijayvargiya, Narendra Tomar, and Anil Jain have reached the hotel in Gurugram to meet the BJP MLAs from Madhya Pradesh, India Today reported.

Yashodhara said, "It's natural that if you have political differences it seeps into the family too. This step has made all small issues of differences go away. We're on one stage now. The arrival of my nephew (in BJP) will provide even more strength to prime minister Modi in politics at the Centre."

BJP leader Yashodhara Scindia, who congratulated her nephew Jyotiraditya for joining the BJP on Wednesday, said that his inclusion into the saffron party will also iron over "small differences" between the Scindia family. Of the prominent members of the family who are in politics, Yashodhara and her sister Vasundhara Raje Scindia have been part of the BJP, while Jyotiraditya followed his father Madhavrao into the Congress.

Rahul was quoted by reports as saying, "Scindia is the only man who could walk into my house anytime, he was with me in college."

Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi, in a first reaction to the resignation of his reportedly close confidant Jyotiraditya Scindia, addressed claims that Scindia had sought a meeting with Rahul before quitting the party on Tuesday, but Rahul wasn't able to make time to meet him.

Wishing Jyotiraditya Scindia luck after he was inducted into the BJP on Wednesday, Congress spokesperson Sanjay Jha said that, "One kind request; please do not support religious bigotry and communal pyrotechnics."

He said, "I congratulate Jyotiraditya Scindia and Harsh Singh Chauhan on being named Rajya Sabha candidates from Madhya Pradesh."

Former Madhya Pradesh chief minister and BJP leader Shivraj Singh Chouhan congratulated newly-inducted Jyotiraditya Scindia for being chosen as a candidate of the BJP for the upcoming Rajya Sabha.

The district collectors of five districts in Madhya Pradesh, namely Guna, Gwalior, Neemuch, Vidisha, and Harda were transferred on Wednesday, ANI reported.

The original tweet carried a quoted by Leo Tolstoy as saying, "The two most powerful warriors are patience and time."

Rahul Gandhi, in his first reaction to the resignation of former Congress leader and his close confidant Jyotiraditya Scindia, on Wednesday retweeted a picture of himself with Scindia and Madhya Pradesh chief minister Kamal Nath from December 2018, when the party had won a majority in the state's Assembly polls.

The BJP on Wednesday announced the names of the party's candidates for the upcoming election to the Rajya Sabha. RPI's Ramdas Athawale, including Jyotiraditya Scindia, is among the party's candidates.

The MLAs' move came after former Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia quit the party on Tuesday, and the legislators are reportedly loyalists of Scindia.

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar, who is the Congress' alliance partner in the Maharashtra government, said that "people have faith in the abilities" of Madhya Pradesh chief minister Kamal Nath. Kamal Nath's government is facing a threat to its majority after 22 MLAs of the party resigned from the Assembly on Tuesday.

Members of the Indian Youth Congress on Wednesday held a protest against the BJP in Delhi and alleged that it was trying to horse-trade Congress MLAs in Madhya Pradesh in a bid to topple the Kamal Nath-led state government. The protesters commenced the march from the IYC office in Raisina Road, PTI reported.

"I told him that personal gains and losses are in everyone's life. You (Scindia) have been MP for four terms and held many posts, that's why it is not right to leave. Still, he didn't listen to anyone and left the party by putting his grievances forward," Kharge said.

"He is young and a good orator. The party is built on an ideology and all the members believing in this ideology should make the party strong," Kharge said.

Senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge said that he had spoken to Jyotiraditya Scindia before he quit the party.

Rajasthan minister Vishwendra Singh said that Jyotiraditya Scindia's resignation from the Congress is a loss for the party and a "gain for the other party".

The ruling Congress, however, refuted this claim and said the supporters of Scindia were creating pressure on other leaders to leave the party.

After Jyotiraditya Scindia quit the Congress, around 10,000 of its office-bearers have resigned from the party in Madhya Pradesh and several more are likely to do so, a former leader party was quoted as saying by PTI.

Rajasthan deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot on Wednesday expressed regret that the issues between the Congress and Jyotiraditya Scindia couldn't be resolved "collaboratively" within the party.

He said, "I congratulate Jyotiraditya Scindia and Harsh Singh Chauhan on being named Rajya Sabha candidates from Madhya Pradesh."

Former Madhya Pradesh chief minister and BJP leader Shivraj Singh Chouhan congratulated newly-inducted Jyotiraditya Scindia for being chosen as a candidate of the BJP for the upcoming Rajya Sabha.

The district collectors of five districts in Madhya Pradesh, namely Guna, Gwalior, Neemuch, Vidisha, and Harda were transferred on Wednesday, ANI reported.

The original tweet carried a quoted by Leo Tolstoy as saying, "The two most powerful warriors are patience and time."

Rahul Gandhi, in his first reaction to the resignation of former Congress leader and his close confidant Jyotiraditya Scindia, on Wednesday retweeted a picture of himself with Scindia and Madhya Pradesh chief minister Kamal Nath from December 2018, when the party had won a majority in the state's Assembly polls.

BJP announces the names of party's candidates for the upcoming election to the Rajya Sabha. https://t.co/sQItPuDotq pic.twitter.com/FAjziadv2Q

The BJP on Wednesday announced the names of the party's candidates for the upcoming election to the Rajya Sabha. RPI's Ramdas Athawale, including Jyotiraditya Scindia, is among the party's candidates.

NCP Chief Sharad Pawar: We are waiting to see what happens in #MadhyaPradesh . People have faith in Kamal Nath Ji's abilities. pic.twitter.com/rvkcRzSsdN

The MLAs' move came after former Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia quit the party on Tuesday, and the legislators are reportedly loyalists of Scindia.

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar, who is the Congress' alliance partner in the Maharashtra government, said that "people have faith in the abilities" of Madhya Pradesh chief minister Kamal Nath. Kamal Nath's government is facing a threat to its majority after 22 MLAs of the party resigned from the Assembly on Tuesday.

Members of the Indian Youth Congress on Wednesday held a protest against the BJP in Delhi and alleged that it was trying to horse-trade Congress MLAs in Madhya Pradesh in a bid to topple the Kamal Nath-led state government. The protesters commenced the march from the IYC office in Raisina Road, PTI reported.

Mallikarjun Kharge on Jyotiraditya Scindia: I felt bad that he left Congress. 3 days back I held talks with him&told him that there is no need to leave the party. He is young&a good orator. Party is built on an ideology&all believing in this ideology should make party strong. pic.twitter.com/JNuViOUKLF

"I told him that personal gains and losses are in everyone's life. You (Scindia) have been MP for four terms and held many posts, that's why it is not right to leave. Still, he didn't listen to anyone and left the party by putting his grievances forward," Kharge said.

"He is young and a good orator. The party is built on an ideology and all the members believing in this ideology should make the party strong," Kharge said.

Senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge said that he had spoken to Jyotiraditya Scindia before he quit the party.

Rajasthan minister Vishwendra Singh said that Jyotiraditya Scindia's resignation from the Congress is a loss for the party and a "gain for the other party".

The ruling Congress, however, refuted this claim and said the supporters of Scindia were creating pressure on other leaders to leave the party.

After Jyotiraditya Scindia quit the Congress, around 10,000 of its office-bearers have resigned from the party in Madhya Pradesh and several more are likely to do so, a former leader party was quoted as saying by PTI.

Unfortunate to see @JM_Scindia parting ways with @INCIndia . I wish things could have been resolved collaboratively within the party.

Rajasthan deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot on Wednesday expressed regret that the issues between the Congress and Jyotiraditya Scindia couldn't be resolved "collaboratively" within the party.

Madhya Pradesh Political Crisis Updates: Members of the Indian Youth Congress on Wednesday held a protest against the BJP in Delhi and alleged that it was trying to horse-trade Congress MLAs in Madhya Pradesh in a bid to topple the Kamal Nath-led state government. The protesters commenced the march from the IYC office in Raisina Road, PTI reported.

The BJP on Wednesday announced the names of the party's candidates for the upcoming election to the Rajya Sabha. RPI's Ramdas Athawale, including Jyotiraditya Scindia, is among the party's candidates.

Former Madhya Pradesh chief minister and BJP leader Shivraj Singh Chouhan congratulated newly-inducted Jyotiraditya Scindia for being chosen as a candidate of the BJP for the upcoming Rajya Sabha.

He said, "I congratulate Jyotiraditya Scindia and Harsh Singh Chauhan on being named Rajya Sabha candidates from Madhya Pradesh."

Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi, in a first reaction to the resignation of his reportedly close confidant Jyotiraditya Scindia, addressed claims that Scindia had sought a meeting with Rahul before quitting the party on Tuesday, but Rahul wasn't able to make time to meet him.

Rahul was quoted by reports as saying, "Scindia is the only man who could walk into my house anytime, he was with me in college."

Jyotiraditya Scindia has been named as the BJP's candidate for the upcoming Rajya Sabha election, NDTV reported, amid speculation that the saffron party will give him a ticket soon after inducting him into the party on Wednesday.

According to reports, Scindia's decision to resign from the Congress was finalised after the party leadership dithered on naming him as a candidate for the election to the Upper House.

BJP leader Yashodhara Raje Scindia, aunt of Jyotiraditya who joined the saffron party after quitting the Congress on Wednesday, welcomed her nephew to the party and expressed confidence that the party will form the state government again under former chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

Rajasthan BJP leader Vasundhara Raje welcomed Jyotiraditya Scindia welcomed her nephew to the BJP, adding that "it's good to be on the same team". She also wrote that she admires the former Congress leader's "strength of character and courage".

Jyotiraditya Scindia left for the BJP headquarters from his residence. He was accompanied by saffron party leader Zafar Islam. Senior Congress leader DK Shivakumar said that no one can destroy the Congress. "Leaders may come, leaders may go, that doesn't make any difference," he said.

Thirteen of the 22 rebel MLAs in Madhya Pradesh have given an assurance that "they are not leaving the Congress", senior party leader Digvijaya Singh said. Jyotiraditya Scindia, he said, could have been a Congress nominee to the Rajya Sabha but "only Modi-Shah" can give a Cabinet post to the "over-ambitious" leader.

Jyotiraditya Scindia is likely to join the BJP at 2 pm at the party's Ashoka Road headquarters. Madhya Pradesh Speaker NP Prajapati told India Today that he will summon all rebel Congress MLAs who sent on their resignations.

In his first reaction after a political turmoil unfolded in Madhya Pradesh, Congress' Rahul Gandhi plamed the Prime Minister's office for "destabiling an elected government". Meanwhile, Jyotiraditya Scindia will join the BJP at 12.30 pm, BJP sources told CNN-News18.

After a meeting with Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath, Independent MLA Surendra Singh Shera said that he and other Independent lawmakers are with the Congress. He said that MLAs in Bengaluru will be brought back and the government will survive.

Multiple reports say that the Congress has booked 42 of the 52 rooms at Buena Vista Resort in Jaipur for its 92 MLAs. The other rooms may also likely to be taken over by the Congress party in a while. This is incidentally the same hotel where Maharashtra Congress MLAs were lodged during the crisis over government formation in the state last year. The MLAs are expected to reach Jaipur around 11 am in a chartered jet. Meanwhile, Madhya Pradesh BJP MLAs reached Delhi on Tuesday midnight along with BJP national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya. The BJP MLAs are currently staying at ITC Grand Bharat in Gurugram.

A day after senior Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia and 22 Madhya Pradesh Congress MLAs tendered their resignations from the state Assembly, 92 MLAs of the Kamal Nath government will be shifted to Jaipur. Meanwhile, Congress leader Digvijaya Singh said that Jyotiraditya Scindia, who quit the party yesterday, was "not at all sidelined".

As many as 22 Congress MLAs in Madhya Pradesh resigned on Tuesday, putting survival of the Kamal Nath-led government in the state in doubt. The development came on the day senior leader Jyotiraditya Scindia, to whose faction the 22 MLAs including six ministers belonged, announcing that he had quit the party.

Both Congress and opposition BJP held meetings of their legislature wings on Tuesday evening, and decided to move their respective MLAs to unknown locations.

At the meeting of Congress Legislature Party, around 100 MLAs including four independents were present, a minister in the Kamal Nath government claimed. They expressed faith in his government, he added. But the 22 rebel MLAs as well as two BSP and one SP MLAs who back the government skipped the meeting, sources said.

Earlier in the day, Scindia, who went incommunicado along with the MLAs loyal to him on Monday, met Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi. Governor Lalji Tandon, who is in Lucknow for celebrating Holi, is likely to cut short his visit and rush back to Bhopal, sources told PTI.

In a significant development, BSP MLA Sanjiv Singh Kushwaha and SP legislator Rajesh Shukla met BJP leader and former chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday evening.

Chief Minister Nath wrote to the Governor seeking immediate removal of six ministers who belong to Scindia's camp and who are among MLAs who have resigned. The letter named ministers Imarati Devi, Tulsi Silawat, Govind Singh Rajput, Mahendra Singh Sisodiya, Pradyumn Singh Tomar and Prabhuram Chaudhari.

Other MLAs who have resigned are Hardeep Singh Dang, Rajyavardhan Singh, Brajendra Singh Yadav, Jaspal Jajji, Suresh Dhakad, Jaswant Jatav, Raksha Santram Sironia, Munnalal Goyal, Ranveer Singh Jatav, OPS Bhadoria, Kamlesh Jatav, Giriraj Dandotiya, Raghuraj Kansana, Aidalsingh Kansana, Biasahulal Singh and Manoj Choudhary.

State Congress spokesperson Pankaj Chaturvedi, a close confidant of Scindia, resigned from the party's primary membership soon after Scindia announced that he was quitting the party.

BJP leaders met Assembly Speaker NP Prajapati and handed resignations of 19 Congress MLAs who are holed up in a resort in Bengaluru. After receiving the letters, Prajapati told reporters that he will take decision as per the rules.

While the Congress, which was voted to power in the state after 15 years in 2018, has 114 MLAs, the BJP has 107 legislators in the 230-member assembly. Two seats are at present vacant. Four Independent MLAs, two lawmakers of the Bahujan Samaj Party and one Samajwadi Party legislator are supporting the Congress-led government.

Chief minister Nath asserted late Tuesday night that there was no threat to his government. He said he was in touch with rebel MLAs. "They have been kept in captivity. If not, why would they be in Bengaluru," he added.
Wall Street's Investment into Housing has Unintended Consequences

Unless you were involved in the housing industry or suffered the loss of your home, you probably didn't notice or have by now forgotten one of the most lasting effects of the Great Recession. As home prices plummeted and an estimated six million homes were lost to foreclosure or short sales, there was a massive influx of institutional investors into the rental market.

According to Ian Formigle Chief Investment Officer of CrowdStreet, almost 83 percent of single-family rental residences were owned by individual, so-called mom and pop, investors in 2001, By 2015 that had dropped to about 75 percent as Wall Street firms gobbled up, per Zillow, 5.4 million single family homes between 2006 and 2017. This, by the way, was approximately the same time when the national homeownership rate declined from 69 percent to around 63 percent.

At the time, these private investment groups and hedge funds were credited with putting a floor under plunging home prices. However, there were also fears that the difficulty of managing properties dispersed across a number of cities and hundreds of neighborhoods would cause them to cut and run once the market stabilized and prices climbed. The sudden return of thousands of properties back to the market could knock the housing recovery back on its heels.

The latter did not happen and now there is a school of thought that the vast holdings of investors, who have been merging, consolidating, and growing larger, are exacerbating the already tight numbers of available homes for sale, especially starter homes,

There hasn't been much attention to the current effect of this institutional ownership, but this past weekend, the New York Times Magazine spotlighted how they funded their acquisitions, and how they are profiting, often through some questionable practices, and now with taxpayers assuming some of the risk. While the article, "A $60 Billion Housing Grab by Wall Street" by Francesca Mari, focuses on the California market, the companies involved own homes in numerous metro areas. Some of the story she tells is anecdotal, built around the experience of one homeowner, Chad, who has been renting back his former home for nearly a decade. Mari does back up his story and we found other, less comprehensive, sources to validate her reporting. The NYT article is extremely long and even hitting the highlights requires our covering it in several parts.

There are about 25 to 30 big investors operating in the single-family rental market, the largest of which, Invitation Homes owned by the Blackstone Group, at its height controlled an estimated 80,000 units. In addition to California, various investors have a large presence in Phoenix, Atlanta, Las Vegas, Sacramento, Miami, Charlotte, Los Angeles, and Denver.

The Wall Street companies not only bought real estate, they also bought distressed mortgages in bulk. By 2016, 95 percent of the distressed mortgages on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac's books had been auctioned off to Wall Street investors without any guarantee the new owners would provide recourse to workouts or modifications. This allowed private firms to acquire another 200,000 properties through their own foreclosures.

After a series of misfortunes abetted by more than a little poor financial judgment, Chad lost his suburban Los Angeles home in 2012. The house was purchased by a company called Strategic Acquisitions and a few months later they offered to sell it back to him for $100,000 more than they paid for it and substantially less than the total of his mortgages pre-foreclosure. He asked for time to put together a down payment but when, in the winter of 2013 he was ready to buy, Strategic was no longer interested in selling. Instead they rented it back to him under a two-page rental agreement with a two-page addendum.

They were atypical landlords. Rather than mailing his rent to a management office, it would be picked up at his home. Payments weren't always posted and when he withheld rent to force an accounting, they tried to evict him.

Mari says that over the next seven years Chad was cycled through a series of owners and management companies and his home is now owned by Blackstone's Invitation Homes. Offices moved, downsized, rents were hiked, and he was subjected to increasingly punitive fees. "Chad was required to submit his rent in different ways - online, certified mail, cashier's check, in person - with slightly different rules, by the 1st, by the 3rd. The leases grew in length from four pages to 18 to 43 as the companies doubled down on strictures and transferred more responsibilities - mold remediation, landscaping, carbon-monoxide detectors - onto the renter." Mari says that, while he didn't know it at the time, Chad's story was that of millions of renters "the beginning of a downward spiral into the financial industry's newest scheme to harvest money from housing."

Private equity firms have an imperative to make money and their methods of management were designed to facilitate that goal. Chad was soon paying more in rent than the $3,300 he had paid for his first and second mortgage combined. Strategic Acquisitions and its successors increased his rent from $3,500 to $3,800 in just a few years and in August 2017 it jumped 9.2 percent to $4,150. That didn't include fees. One owner required all tenants to use an online payment portal for which they charged a $121 "convenience fee." Chad was once assessed a landscaping charge even though no one was landscaping his property. He was able to get it removed, "But the fees, many of which were outlined in his lease, kept coming: lawyer fees, utilities conveyance fees, pipe-snaking fees." Once it appeared they were attempting to levy a fee on appliances which he had bought.

There were also late fees. One of the first times he was late, a notice of eviction was posted to his door. He paid the rent - and the $50 late fee. But three days later, there was another pay-or-quit notice - this time because he hadn't paid a $35 delivery fee for the late-fee notice. The second eviction notice, in turn, incurred a second $35 delivery fee. Over the years, he amassed a stack of late fees, more than 40 of them, some because he was struggling to keep up with the rent increases, some when he was trying to put pressure on his landlord to make repairs or take other actions.

Other tenants suffered abuses that went beyond the financial. We will detail some of Mari's findings about those in a subsequent summary.
COLUMBUS, Ohio - The coronavirus threat is forcing elections officials in some states to remove polling places from nursing homes and other senior care facilities to protect older Americans, who appear to be more susceptible to the disease.

Last-minute shuffling left voters in Michigan and Missouri scrambling to get to new polling places for their Tuesday primaries. Officials in states voting next week are trying to get ahead of those disruptions by announcing changes now and beginning public information campaigns to tell voters where they are supposed to cast ballots.

In Ohio, the elections chief on Monday ordered the relocation of all polling places at nursing homes  more than 140  just eight days ahead of the states primary.

Obviously, thats a big step and it requires a lot of work  and our county boards of elections are working to do that right now, as we speak, Republican Secretary of State Frank LaRose told reporters Tuesday.

Moving the polling places may be the right public health move, but it creates challenges for election administrators. Those include informing voters in surrounding areas of the change and ensuring that retirement community residents have transportation to their new polling location.

Secretaries of state across the country are taking further steps to guard public health: encouraging voting from a distance, either by mail or by using curbside drop-off locations; creating and updating dedicated websites; partnering with voting rights organizations and campaigns to get the word out; and stocking up on supplies for disinfecting voting machines.

In Missouri, officials had to react quickly after two senior living facilities backed out of serving as voting sites less than 24 hours before polls opened for Tuesdays presidential primary. Election authorities posted signs at the senior facilities redirecting voters to new polling places nearby.

A spokeswoman for Brookdale Senior Living, the Kansas City facilitys operator, said the company adopted a policy Monday prohibiting groups of three or more people from entering any of its more than 700 facilities nationwide because of coronavirus concerns.

Brookdale also suspended all planned group outings, meaning it couldnt take residents by bus to the new voting location. Some residents drove themselves or got rides from relatives or friends to the alternative polling place.

In Michigan, two private senior facilities requested that polling places in their buildings be relocated because of coronavirus concerns, Secretary of State spokesman Jake Rollow said in an email.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia. The vast majority of people who get it recover.

As Arizona, Florida, Illinois and Ohio prepare to vote next week, officials are taking varying approaches to the virus threat.

In Floridas Palm Beach County, elections supervisor Wendy Sartory Link is moving 16 polling places out of assisted living facilities so their patients will not be exposed to voters from the community. She has found replacements for 10 at schools, churches and city halls, and believes shell be able to relocate the other six.

The health and safety of their residents have to come first, she said.

The moves are being complicated because Links poll workers contain a large percentage of senior citizens and many are backing out, fearing infection. She hopes they can be replaced, but isnt certain.

In Lake County, where a quarter of the population is over 65, elections supervisor Alan Hays said relocation is not necessary. Only residents of nursing homes and assisted living facilities vote there, he said, so they are shielded from outsiders even under normal circumstances.

The states most populous county, Miami-Dade, also has no plans to move any polling places because of the virus. Steven Vancore, a spokesman for the elections supervisor in Broward County, said just one polling place at an assisted living facility was being relocated at the managements request.

In Illinois, Gov. J.B. Pritzker said the state has asked all 108 local boards of elections to extend the deadline to apply for a mail-in ballot until Monday. He also said the state and the city of Chicago will help move polling places out of nursing homes and other senior facilities, while ensuring that residents still can cast ballots there.

Were doing our best to accommodate everybody to make sure that we get the kind of vote turnout that we expect, he said.

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said her administration was urging the citys Board of Election Commissioners to extend its deadline for requesting mail-in ballots. She also suggested voters use in-person early voting locations.

Marisel Hernandez, chair of the election commission, said Wednesday that 25 of the citys 269 polling sites, including nursing homes, must be relocated before Tuesday. Chicago officials expressed doubt about extending their deadline to request a mail-in ballot until Monday, as the governor and mayor suggested, because they said that would put pressure on the postal service and voters.

Election officials in the Phoenix area moved five polling places from assisted living or other senior care facilities to protect those residents from the virus, according to the Maricopa County Elections Department, but about eight in 10 voters there cast ballots by mail, limiting polling site traffic.

Amber McReynolds, a former Denver election administrator who is now executive director of the National Vote at Home Institute, an advocacy group, said the changes being made during the primaries should be a prelude to even bigger changes in November, when turnout will be greater.

She said its not enough just to encourage people to request absentee ballots. Rather, she said officials should try to do what a handful of states -- Colorado, Hawaii, Oregon, Utah and Washington  already do: Mail ballots to every voter.

___

Associated Press writers Christina A. Cassidy in Atlanta; Jonathan J. Cooper in Phoenix; Katie Foody in Chicago; David Lieb in Jefferson City, Missouri; Geoff Mulvihill in Cherry Hill, New Jersey; Terry Spencer in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; and Corey Williams in Detroit 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
Russian market expands 8% in 2019

ICR Newsroom By 11 March 2020

Cement consumption in Russia increased eight per cent to 57.8Mt in 2019, according to the countrys cement association, Soyuzcement.



Exports by Russian producers expanded by 9.6 per cent YoY to 1.1Mt in 2019 on the back of rising volumes to export markets, which include Azerbaijan, the Baltic states, Belarus and Kazakhstan. However, according to industry sources the unfavourable exchange rate of the rouble is affecting the competitiveness of Russian producers when exporting cement and may affect export volumes going forward.



Meanwhile, importers saw their volumes contract by 6.4 per cent to 1.4Mt.



Output from Russian cement plants in the 11M19 increased by 7.6 per cent YoY to 54.5Mt. The majority of leading producers reported higher output with Eurocement, the countrys largest cement company posted a 14.5 per cent YoY expansion of production.



During the year, the industry underwent a process of consolidation. As part of this Sibtsem JSC, one of the leading local players, received a permission from the Russian anti-trust regulators for the acquisition of its local competitors ,Angarskcement JSC and Iskitimcement JSC. Earlier, the South Ural Mining and Processing Company (YuUGPK) acquired Gornozavodskcement, which is one of the largest cement producers in the Russian Urals and Siberian regions and based in the Perm Territory.



In 2020 the countrys cement market is expected to expand by two per cent YoY with a further increase in exports and fall in imports. Several large-scale state projects, including Housing and the urban environment and Safe and high-quality roads are forecast to drive cement demand. Moreover, a large state programme to renovate housing is also expected to support consumption.

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An American climber has died in a tragic accident in Mexico after a rock ledge he was sitting on broke off and severed his safety rope.

Nolan Smythe, 26, was climbing the El Gigante cliff face in Chihuahua state on Friday evening when the accident happened.

Smythe's climbing partner, Aaron Livingston, was left dangling on a rope on the rock face after his partner's fall and had to use a satellite phone to call for help.

Nolan Smythe, 26, died on Friday after falling 1,500ft from the face of El Gigante cliff in Mexico after a rock he was sitting on broke off

Smythe was taking a break mid-way up the face when the rock snapped and fell on to his safety rope, cutting through it and causing him to plummet to his death

Friends Sergio Almada and Jose David Martinez rushed from hundreds of miles away to help him off the face, which they managed a day later - on Saturday.

It took them four hours from the start of the rescue to bring Livingston off the face.

On Tuesday, Mexican authorities were finally able to reach Smythe's body which was found at the base of the cliff after a search using drones.

The effort was made more difficult by fog in the area.

The body was recovered with the help of the Mexican Air Force and turned over to prosecutors.

Climbing Magazine said Smythe was a resident of Moab, Utah.

Smythe's climbing partner Aaron Livingston was left dangling from the rock face (left, and right the team prepares for the climb) for hours after the fall before being saved

Smythe's girtlfriend Savannah Cummings (pictured together) paid a heartbreaking tribute to him on Instagram after news of his death spread

Savannah Cummings, Smythe's partner, posted a hearbreaking tribute to him on Instagram, writing: 'Over the past few months you would tell me everyday how you want to spend the rest of your life with me, and Nolan, you did just that.

'I so badly wish I got to do the same. I will never stop loving you, I miss you.'

Friend Heather Lightfoot also set up a GoFundMe account for Smythe's family and loved ones, to cover the cost of rescuing his body and the funeral.

Smythe was an accomplished climber and base jumper, who had completed about 150 base jumps in total.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-11 10:24:00|Editor: ZD

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WASHINGTON, March 10 (Xinhua) -- Former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden was projected to win the midwest state of Michigan, the top prize of the six states voting Tuesday, multiple media outlets reported.

Biden was leading by double digits in the state with 21 percent of precincts reporting on Tuesday night, following projected victories in Mississippi and Missouri, said the reports.

The former vice president's victory enhanced his frontrunner status, delivering a heavy blow to veteran Senator Bernie Sanders, who won the Michigan primary over Hillary Clinton in 2016.

"Sanders spent a lot more time here in 2016 and has again in 2020, but the Biden campaign has taken Michigan more seriously than the Clinton campaign did," Michigan State University political scientist Matt Grossman told Vox on Monday.

The key battleground state, which awards 125 pledged delegates to the Democratic National Convention in July, was seen as a must-win for both candidates as Democrats look to win back the state that went to President Donald Trump four years ago.
Gopika Varrier By

Express News Service

THRISSUR: India's first coronavirus patient tested positive on January 30 and was discharged on February 20. So, what was her experience?

"I was not afraid when I got the symptoms, but rather I was alert. Since my parents were more vulnerable, I strictly followed the instructions which helped in surviving the infection," the 20-year-old medical student from Thrissur in Kerala, who was diagnosed with the coronavirus infection a week after her arrival from Wuhan in China, recounted.

The third-year medical student had reached Kochi by flight on January 24.

"We had filled a form there noting our whereabouts and the form had instructed us to report our arrival to the respective health officials in our region. Being medical students, we were strict about following the guidelines," she said.

As a precaution, she had urged her sister-in-law, who was pregnant, to move out of the house before her arrival as well. On January 25, she reported her arrival to the district health officials who recorded it and followed up.

After arrival, the girl was in house quarantine and wore masks, but she experienced a sore throat on January 27.

"I used to get a cold or fever every time I came back from China. My relatives advised me to try inhaling steam or take general medicines to get rid of the sore throat, but I insisted on approaching the doctor. I just wanted to know whether it was Coronavirus or not. I was more concerned about my parents and relatives and didn't want to remain at home without knowing what exactly I had," she said.

When the health officials were contacted, they urged her to come to the district general hospital.

There were four other people under isolation there. Blood samples, throat swabs, nasal swab, urine and stool samples were taken for tests.

The confirmation of the infection came on January 30 and she was shifted to Thrissur Medical College Hospital isolation ward the following day.

"I had to undergo isolation for over 20 days and sometimes it was difficult for me as well. In the first two weeks, I didn't feel anything unusual. Every day, the trained staff took my dresses and burned it to prevent the spread of infection. I was instructed to sanitise my phone, which I used to do during my days in China. Since I didn't have other medical issues, the doctors allowed me to have the food of my choice," she added.

Despite understanding the importance of isolation, at times, she was not able to cope with the strict protocol.

"I was curious why my sample results didn't come back while those of others kept coming even after two weeks of treatment. But, talking to the counsellors made me feel better. They gave me tips like breathing exercises to follow when I felt bad or depressed," she said.

She was discharged from hospital on February 20, but remained in home quarantine until March 1.

With the recent developments of COVID-19 in the state, all that she wants to say is the importance of following the protocols.

"The sooner you report to the Health Department, the better it is. The timely intervention and right support helped me in recovering soon and also prevented the virus from spreading," she said.

Since the Coronavirus threat still prevails in China, the university has been conducting online classes for students across the globe.

She has been continuing her course by making use of the online facility and would return only if the travel clearance is issued.
by Austin Bay March 11, 2020

In this digital media world, despotic lies and authoritarian propaganda spread at light speed, with the goals of manipulating emotions and weakening a targeted audience's will to resist the tyrant.

The antidotes to a 21st-century dictatorship's destructive falsehoods -- justice and its ally, truth -- often react slowly. In the Age of the Internet, slow has a price. Slow doesn't generate hot headlines and wag the tongues of talking heads, so the dictators make the first impression and set the agenda.

But to paraphrase former President John Adams, facts and evidence are stubborn things, and when ethical human beings pursue justice and truth, hard facts and evidence have the power to address great wrong and perhaps punish it.

Even if perpetrators escape punishment, in a court of law, justice seekers can publicly expose and damn the bombastic liars who tried to hide the crime, and that counts as a victory in every age.

On March 9, this process began in real time as a court in The Hague opened the trial of four men Dutch prosecutors accused of being responsible for destroying Malaysian Airlines Flight 17.

Three of the indicted are Russian; one is Ukrainian. All four men are members of Russian-led secessionist militias operating in eastern Ukraine. No, they are not present in the court. They are being tried in absentia.

No one and no entity, not even the Kremlin, disputes these four facts: On July 17, 2014, Flight MH17 left Amsterdam heading for Kuala Lumpur. The civilian jet went down over eastern Ukraine. All 298 human beings aboard the civilian airliner died in the incident. The majority (193) were Dutch citizens.

A fifth fact is the predicate to the MH17 outrage: In spring 2014, a war began in eastern Ukraine, a war following Russia's February 2014 invasion of Crimea and its March annexation of the territory. The Kremlin disputes the term "invasion" and says Russia liberated Crimea.

Russian propagandists initially directed their Crimean caper narrative warfare at Ukraine, Europe and the U.S. The Kremlin portrayed the Crimea and eastern Ukraine invasions as spontaneous uprisings by pro-Russia secessionists. Russian elite troops in unmarked uniforms took Crimea. In eastern Ukraine's Donetsk region, the Kremlin waged a "gray area" covert war as intelligence agents and Russian "volunteers" aided alleged secessionists.

Ah, but. Cellphone photos showed Russian military trucks crossing the border. Russian artillery fire hit Ukrainian positions. Despite hard evidence of Russian military involvement, Kremlin propagandists remained a step ahead, always accusing Ukraine, NATO and the U.S. of war crimes and plots to attack Russia. The grandiose lies were Russian President Vladimir Putin's most powerful strategic weapon.

With 193 citizens dead, the Netherlands demanded accountability. Russia responded with lies. When investigators proved a surface to air missile (SAM) downed MH17, Russia accused Ukraine of firing the missile and even made the jaw-dropping claim that the real target was an airplane carrying Putin. Explosion pattern analysis and remnant pieces proved the SAM was a Russian-made Buk. The Kremlin claimed Ukraine had captured the missiles. Flight track analysis proved the missile was launched from pro-Kremlin secessionist territory. The Kremlin huffed -- another NATO lie. In May 2018, Dutch investigators obtained evidence that the Buk missile was a model only Russian forces possess.

Indisputable evidence connects the accused to Kremlin leaders. In November 2019, investigators confirmed that Ukraine's intelligence service had electronic intercepts verifying that Kremlin officials had contacts with two of the indicted men. The BBC identified one of the Russian officials as a deputy prime minister.

The indicted are not present in The Hague court. Russia protects them and won't allow their extradition.

Justice and truth may be slow, but evidence of Russian culpability in supplying the missile and providing operational guidance is overwhelming and damning. Suddenly the court is a sensational venue where the Kremlin's crimes and lies face cross-examination and damnation.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) at a polling location at Warren E. Bow Elementary School in Detroit on Tuesday. Read more

Bernie Sanders has a choice.

The face of the Democrats' far-left flank is suddenly staring up at a towering wall of opposition from his own party, an urgent call to unify against President Donald Trump and a growing delegate disadvantage.

And as unlikely as it may seem less than two weeks after losing his front-runner status, Sanders is now being forced to consider whether he will continue his increasingly uphill fight for the Democratic Party's 2020 presidential nomination.

The Vermont senator did not publicly address his supporters Tuesday night after suffering a devastating primary defeat in Michigan and decisive losses in Missouri and Mississippi. He was instead hunkered down at home in Vermont after being forced to cancel a rally in Cleveland because of concerns over the new coronavirus.

At the same time, chief rival Joe Biden celebrated in Philadelphia, surrounded by giddy campaign staff sipping beer. In his victory speech, he invited his rivals, even Sanders supporters, to join his coalition.

 READ MORE: After a canceled rally in Cleveland, Biden celebrates Michigan win in Philly. Thanks Sanders for his tireless energy.

This campaign is taking off," Biden declared. After the speech, dozens of staffers broke into an impromptu dance party.

The Biden and Sanders campaigns may be going in opposite directions, but a Sanders exit in the coming days would be a surprise. The 78-year-old democratic socialist is nothing if not willing to take on the political establishment against all odds. Four years ago, under similar pressure in a primary matchup against Hillary Clinton, Sanders fought on for months before ultimately backing Clinton in July.

The Democrats' desperate desire to defeat Trump may change his calculus in 2020, however. Should Sanders get out soon, he could save Democrats months of a messy and expensive primary fight. But an early departure would also deprive the Democrats' most passionate supporters, including many young people, of the one man who embodies the dramatic change they crave. And there is reason to question whether they would rally behind Biden.

As the former vice president's confidence surged, leading Sanders allies acknowledged that his campaign was facing an existential threat.

Bernie Sanders has a mandate not to abandon the movement. He needs to stay in this race no matter what, said RoseAnn DeMoro, former executive director of National Nurses United and a Sanders confidant. Heroes aren't made, they're cornered. He is cornered.

Sanders' most prominent ally in Congress, New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, couldn't hide her disappointment.

There's no sugarcoating it. Tonight's a tough night," she said in an Instagram live post. "Tonight's a tough night for the movement overall. Tonight's a tough night electorally.

There was concern even before polls closed Tuesday night. Sensing disaster, the Progressive Change Campaign Committee issued an afternoon statement calling for Sanders to not drop out  or at least not before this Sunday's debate.

To defeat Trump our nominee must prove that they can go the distance, and that means no quick Biden coronation, PCCC spokeswoman Maria Langholz said. "Win or lose tonight, Bernie should stay in the race until the March 15th debate at the earliest."

Yet Sanders was increasingly isolated in his party facing a primary calendar that will get no easier next week as four more states vote. None of them is bigger than Florida, which Sanders' team has long worried about privately.

The three-term senator earned his first congressional endorsement in nearly three weeks on Tuesday. Biden, by comparison, has earned nearly 50 congressional endorsements in the last 11 days.

And beyond elected officials, the party's infrastructure began lining up behind Biden in a more formal way in the wake of his second consecutive strong Tuesday.

The head of the most powerful super PAC in Democratic politics, Priorities USA, pledged allegiance to Biden as the scope of his latest victory set in.

The math is now clear. Joe Biden is going to be the Democratic nominee for president, tweeted Priorities Chairman Guy Cecil, vowing that his organization would do everything we can to help him defeat Donald Trump in November.

He added: I hope others will join us in the fight."
At a time when uncertainty looms large over the fate of Kamal Nath government in Madhya Pradesh, Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi has tasked party's central leaders for resolving the crisis and take charge of the situation in Bhopal.

The resignation of senior leader Jyotiraditya Scindia and 22 MLAs on Tuesday came as a jolt to the party, which is now making all-out efforts to save its government.

According to party sources, former Union minister Mukul Wasnik, senior leader Harish Rawat and Madhya Pradesh Congress unit in-charge Deepak Babaria have been moved to Bhopal as Observers to hold talks with party MLAs.

Sources also added that senior leaders have been tasked to mediate between the disgruntled lot and the party and resolve their grievances.

Earlier, Sonia Gandhi held a meeting with Congress general secretary KC Venugopal, and senior leader Harish Rawat among others.

On the other hand, Congress MLAs will likely leave for Jaipur from Bhopal today morning.Meanwhile, Congress has sent two of its leaders-- Sajjan Singh Verma and Govind Singh--- to Bengaluru in order to pacify some of the rebel MLAs, who are staying in Bengaluru.

Earlier, several Congress leaders including Digvijaya Singh accused the BJP of horse-trading and conspiring to bring down the Congress government in Madhya Pradesh.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath had, on Tuesday, said that there is nothing to worry about as the party will prove its majority in the assembly and added that his government will complete its term.

However, Scindia's resignation has brewed real trouble for the Kamal Nath government.

Scindia's decision to leave Congress was followed by the resignation from 22 party MLAs loyal to him. The legislators who have resigned include six ministers.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A woman in Italy has been trapped in her apartment with her husband's dead body after they were quarantined over his coronavirus diagnosis.

The Italian woman has reportedly been seen crying for help from her balcony.

According to CNN, the man died in the early hours of Monday morning, after being diagnosed with Covid-19.

The death toll in Italy from the outbreak jumped by 168 to 631 on Tuesday, with the total number of positive tests hitting 10,149.

Since he passed away, his body has reportedly been left in the flat in Borghetto Santo Spirito in north west Italy, 40 miles from Genoa.

The woman is not able to leave because of quarantine restrictions, although the body is due to be removed on Wednesday - more than 48 hours after death.

Giancarlo Canepa, mayor of Borghetto Santo Spirito, told CNN: "Yes, it is true she is still there with the body and we wont be able to remove it until Wednesday morning.

He added: "Unfortunately, we have a security protocol we must follow.

The mayor said the man had refused to go to hospital, "otherwise this wouldn't have happened".

One neighbour told local television station IVG.IT: "Right now the most important thing is to think about this lady, alone with the body of her husband.

"No one can come close to help her nor comfort her. We hope this is quickly resolved.
Greetings and welcome to March, a month named for the planet/deity Mars and the first month in early versions of the Roman calendar where spring heralded the start of a new year.

Four hundred years ago, the invention of the telescope allowed humanity to finally resolve those nomadic points of light in the night sky that had captured our imagination since the dawn of time.

In doing so, Earth was displaced from its central place in the universe to join the myriad of worlds orbiting the local star.

It wasnt until the space age, however, that we were able to dispatch emissaries to these fellow travelers and, perhaps more important, gaze upon our own world from afar.

The Apollo missions 50 years ago revealed Earth as another spaceship, with all the life support systems needed to sustain billions of hominids, while traveling through the vacuum of space at 67,000 miles per hour around the sun.

Thirty years ago, the camera on the Voyager 1 spacecraft took a snapshot of the inner solar system from a distance of almost 4 billion miles.

Earth, its home world, filled less than a pixel in the photo - a fragile, pale blue mote, easily overlooked.

The solar system may seem crowded in textbooks and in the cinema where imaginary spaceships dodge asteroids as plentiful as cars on a LA freeway, but in reality, space is empty, dark and cold with sanctuaries few and far between, for even the most primitive lifeforms.

In April, we celebrate Earth Day.

By any measure, we have been poor stewards of our home planet.

In the future, there will be outposts and possibly settlements on the moon and Mars, for humanity to take refuge, but they will likely be underground as these alien worlds are bathed in radiation.

Earth is the only world in our solar system that we can freely walk upon its surface, feel the wind upon our skin, and enjoy the suns warmth - something to consider in this season of renewal.

Our next Second Saturday Stars program had been scheduled for March 14 but has been canceled.

Bill Cloutier is a volunteer with the John J. McCarthy Observatory in New Milford.
Jordan Grand Prix's Commercial & Marketing Director is Ian Phillips, who has done a variety of jobs in motor racing since he started out as a messenger boy with Autosport magazine in London in the late 1960s.

This may have seemed a lowly job but in fact Phillips came from a very comfortable background and was educated at the well known public school of Malvern. He did not remain a messenger boy for long and very quickly rose through the ranks at Autosport to become its editor in his early twenties.

By the time he was 26 he was tired of the constant pressure of life as a weekly magazine reporter and in 1977 took up the offer of a job as circuit manager of Donington Park, Britain's oldest surviving racing circuit which had been closed for 30 years but had been bought by businessman Tom Wheatcroft who had big plans to turn it into Britain's Grand Prix circuit. Ian oversaw the reopening of the track but then moved on to become the administrator of the Gunnar Nilsson Cancer Research fund, having been very close to the Swedish driver.

After that he returned to journalism and for the next eight years worked as a freelance reporter and public relations man - working with companies such as March Engineering, Marlboro and Bridgestone - specializing in Formula 2 racing. He would continue in these roles until Robin Herd - the founder of March - asked him if he would like to be the team manager of the new March F1 team.

Ian helped to set up the team and ran it for the first couple of years, continuing in the same role when the team became Leyton House Racing - independent of March - in 1988.

In 1990 he was unfortunate to contract meningitis when on a trip to South America and he was out of action for much of the year, coming back to discover that big changes had been made in the team and that he was no longer in charge. In 1990 he was dropped and moved to the new 7 Up Jordan team as commercial manager. He has been with the team ever since working on the commercial side.
Delhi Police on Wednesday thanked the city's residents for cooperating with them to ensure a peaceful Holi and said they handled almost half the calls this year as compared to 2019.

"There was strong and visible presence of Delhi Police on Holi on the streets of Delhi. It was celebrated much more peacefully as compared to last year," the police said on its Twitter handle.

"The calls to PCR drastically reduced to 8,667 as it was 18,798 last year. Delhi Police appreciates the cooperation of residents of Delhi for peaceful Holi," the police added in the tweet.

Over 600 challans were issued for drunken driving in the national capital on Holi, the police added.

A total of 647 challans were issued for drunken driving, 181 for triple riding, 1,192 for not wearing helmets and 156 for dangerous driving on Tuesday, they said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A doctor whose text message prompted her colleagues including whistle-blower Li Wenliang to raise the coronavirus alarm has spoken out about receiving 'extremely harsh reprimand' by her hospital for her behaviour.

The ER doctor, Ai Fen, criticised the management of Wuhan Central Hospital for dismissing the early warnings of the coronavirus in an interview published yesterday by a Chinese magazine.

She also admitted 'feeling regretful about not speaking out more' after four of her colleagues, including Dr Li, had contracted the virus and died while fighting the outbreak.

A doctor whose text messages prompted whistle-blower doctors including Li Wenliang to raise the coronavirus alarm has spoken out about being punished by her hospital for sharing a SARS-like patient's report with her colleagues. Ai Fen is pictured here sitting at her office

The Wuhan medic, Ai Fen, criticised the hospital bosses for dismissing the early warnings of the coronavirus in a feature article published online yesterday by Chinese magazine People

Ai Fen admitted 'feeling regretful about not speaking out more' after four of her colleagues, including Li Wenliang, contracted the virus and passed away while fighting the outbreak

'If I had known what would have happened today, I wouldn't have cared about the reprimand. I would have told whoever and wherever I want,' said Dr Ai.

The doctor's interview was posted on Tuesday but quickly retracted by its publisher, People (Renwu) Magazine, from social media platforms.

On 30 December, Dr Ai received a patient's report labelled as 'SARS coronavirus'. She said she broke out into a cold sweat after reading the lab results several times.

Ai Fen, whose text prompted whistle-blower Li Wenliang to sound the coronavirus alarm says her hospital punished her for sharing information on SARS-like disease last year

The SARS epidemic 17 years ago infected more than 8,000 people worldwide and killed over 800, according to the World Health Organisation.

The medic then circled the word 'SARS' and sent a picture of the report to one of her former classmates and a group chat within her department.

Dr Ai said she also immediately alerted the hospital authorities about the case.

'Later that evening, the stuff was shared all over the place with screenshots of the report bearing my red circle. [These platforms] included the chatting group, which Li Wenliang shared the information with,' Dr Ai told the magazine, 'I thought something bad is going to happen.'

Two days later, the Wuhan medic was summoned by the head of the hospital's disciplinary inspection committee.

Dr Ai said she faced 'unprecedented, extremely harsh reprimanded' and was accused of 'spreading rumours as a professional' by the hospital's officials.

Li Wenliang, 34, succumbed to the deadly contagion in the early hours of Friday morning local time, despite attempts to resuscitate him. The ophthalmologist caught the public's attention after he was reprimanded by police and accused of spreading 'fake news' for warning on social media of 'SARS at a Wuhan seafood market.'

Dr Zhu Heping (left) and Dr Mei Zhongming (right) both passed away after contracting the coronavirus while fighting the outbreak in February. They both worked with Li Wenliang

How Chinese web users try to stop coronavirus-related reports being censored? Web users in China have come up with their online lingoes while talking about coronavirus to avoid their posts being removed. The phenomenon appeared after a Chinese magazine, People (Renwu), published a feature about Dr Ai Fen on its WeChat official account yesterday. The doctor's interview was posted on Tuesday but retracted by its publisher. But web users moved quickly to save the article and then posted screenshots of it. To evade censorship, social media users created new versions of the article by writing it in emojis or pinyin, the romanisation system for Mandarin. Others created multiple dedicated accounts on Chinese Twitter-like Weibo to upload screenshots of the article. Advertisement

'I was in shock,' she continued. 'What did I do wrong? Knowing the fact that a significant virus has been found on a patient, how can I not tell when another doctor asks about it?'

Ophthalmologist Li Wenliang was among eight people who shared Dr Ai's picture before being reprimanded by police and accused of spreading 'fake news' for warning the public of 'SARS at a Wuhan seafood market' on social media.

The 34-year-old medic succumbed to the deadly contagion in the early hours of Friday morning local time despite attempts to resuscitate him.

Three other doctors who worked along with late heroic whistle-blower Dr Li Wenliang have also died of the disease after contracting it while fighting the outbreak.

Dr Ai said she doesn't think of herself as a whistle-blower: 'I was the one handing out the whistles.'

'This incident has shown that everyone needs to have their own thoughts because someone has to step up to speak the truth,' she added. 'The world needs different kinds of voices.'

The original article has been removed from the magazine's Wechat account but web users have been posting screenshots of it online.

It comes after Chinese President Xi Jinping has visited Wuhan yesterday for the first time since the city emerged as the centre of the coronavirus epidemic in January.

The timing of Xi's visit indicates that China is ready to declare victory over the health crisis, which has killed at least 3,158 people in the nation and 4,408 worldwide, according to experts.

Dr Liu, the head of Wuhan Wuchang Hospital at the centre of the coronavirus outbreak, died of the disease at around 11am on February 18 after catching it at work, health officials confirmed

Worldwide, there are over 120,000 people have been diagnosed with the deadly disease. There are 382 confirmed cases in the UK and six people have died.

Many of the UK's cases have been among recent visitors to Italy or from people who caught it inside the UK since Italy's outbreak began.

Health minister Nadine Dorries has today revealed one of her staff has now 'gone down' with coronavirus after she tested positive and went into self-isolation for the next fortnight as a MP she met last week was told by the NHS to stay at home.

A picture released by Chinese state broadcaster CCTV through its official Weibo account shows President Xi delivering a speech at Huoshenshan Hospital in Wuhan yesterday
First published in the Sydney Morning Herald on March 13, 1968.

And the said John Grey Gorton was duly elected   The Speakers announcement of the result of the Higgins by-election put the seal on things at last.

The said John Grey Gorton was no longer a Senate drop-out who had somehow made it to the Lodge, but a fully-fledged member of the House of Representatives.

John Gorton on March 13, 1968 Credit:Staff photographer

For today was the day the PM became an MP. And if that wasnt enough to make the ceremonial opening of Parliament a memorable occasion, nothing else would.
Photo credit: Patti Perret

From Town & Country

Andrea Riseborough isnt like any crime-family heavy youve ever seen. In the new Amazon series ZeroZeroZero, the actressyou know her from Madonna's W.E., Battle of the Sexes and Birdmanplays Emma Lynwood, the eldest daughter of a prominent New Orleans shipping tycoon. Emma would have her hands full in her role running the family company if it were all above board, but considering the operation is tied up with Mexican drug dealers and the Italian mob thanks to a shipment of cocaine theyre running between the two, its an especially tense time. And thats just where things get started.

The series, which is airing now and co-stars Gabriel Byrne and Dane DeHaan, is based on a novel of the same name by the Italian writer Roberto Saviano which delves into the incredible size and power of the global cocaine trade. It was created for television by Stefano Sollima, whose own experience with edgy dramas (Gomorrah, Sicario: Day of the Soldado) pairs perfectly with a subject thats dark and dangerous and fascinating to watch.

Photo credit: Stefania Rosini / Amazon Studios

Here, Riseborough talks to T&C about the appeal of a dangerous character and why she wasnt sure it was the right role for her.

Savianos books are usually huge hits and theyve made him a target for the Italian gangsters he often writes about. Were you familiar with this one before coming to the series?

I hadnt read the book. My first connection was to Stefano, our director. I hadnt seen a script yet, but I met him, and he walked me through the whole series. The book is partly a novel but its also journalistic, which is to say its full of facts, but the author uses his imagination to fill in the gaps. I thought a lot about committing to spending a year and a bit with such a male cast and the reality that I might not get to work with other women very often. I really had to think about whether I wanted to do that. Ultimately I did and I thought how wonderful to step up and occupy that space of being in a crime family as a woman. It felt authentic to me, so I was excited to be part of it.

Story continues

Was her role as part of a crime syndicate the main appeal? What else about the character spoke to you?

The series traces a shipment of cocaine from exactly where it comes from through how it gets to North America. Emma is the point person to make that happen. The interesting thing about the character is that I didnt know what was comingthe later episodes werent written yet. I didnt know what her story would be when I started. All of which is to say, there wasnt an arc that appealed to me because there wasnt yet an arc. In fact, there wasnt yet a character. The book is about a world, but not about these specific characters. The book is a journalistic novel, the series is a world in which we imagine real characters living in the circumstances the book explains. They dont contradict one another.

In making a series about the global drug trade, you really did go global. You filmed for more than a year and went all over the world. Is that unusual for a project like this?

Im always traveling. I rarely make films where I live. The unique thing about shooting this was that our units would have to complete relocate after a bit of time. We were in New Orleans and then Mexico City and Calabria. Then we split and half of the crew stayed in Italy when the rest of us went to Morocco for six months. We ended up in Senegal for a month at the end. It was epic.

Photo credit: Stefania Rosini / Amazon Studios

Of all the things that the series exploresand its not shy about taking on a lot of topicsis there any one you found most interesting?

One of the most fascinating things about the series is that somewhere in a club on a Friday night, somebodys consuming a line of cocaine and what this series does is backtrack to all the lives that has touchedthe people whove thrived, the people whove died, all the different people who have been impacted by that particular bit of cocaine. Its not sensationalized. What this piece does is give you an idea of how vast the drug trade is and how we all, knowingly or not, stand on its shoulders.

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WASHINGTONOn Sunday evening, U.S. President Donald Trump retweeted an image of himself playing a violin. Its caption read, My next piece is called ... nothing can stop whats coming.

He claimed not to know what it meant. Those who made Nero a trending term on social media, however, seemed to think the president was following in the footsteps of the emperor who fiddled as Rome burned.

As Trump continues to downplay the severity of the virus, the outbreak is rapidly spreading through the country, although how rapidly and how widely is hard to tell due to a shortage of tests.

This is the most egregious level of incompetence in an administration that I think weve witnessed, at least in my memory, Dr. Irwin Redlener, director of the National Center for Disaster Preparedness at Columbia University, told MSNBC.

Its not just Americans who should be worried. Viruses  like fires  know no borders. While we didnt elect Trump, Canadians can hear his fiddling and feel the heat.

Canada, by most accounts, has been more responsive: deploying tests at a much faster rate, tracking cases carefully, deploying public health experts to get good information out. As the Stars editorial board noted this week, In Canada, the coronavirus crisis seems to be bringing out the best in governments at all levels.

The question for Canadians is whether even the best response at home will prevent a mass outbreak and chaos if the U.S. continues to botch its own efforts. Canadas population is small compared to that of the U.S., and congregated along a very open border that sees roughly 300,000 crossings per day.

It is obvious that any American recession is likely to have a severe impact on Canadas economy. But it seems equally clear that if Americans get sick with a highly communicable, highly lethal infectious disease, it will be hard to slow its spread to Canada.

In the past week, three new cases have been detected in Ontario, and one in Alberta, of people who appear to have contracted the illness in the United States. Two Canadian members of Parliament are self-quarantining after exposure to an infected person at a conference in the U.S.

But what exactly can be done to protect Canadians from infections originating in the U.S. is a tricky question. Jonathan Quick, a professor of global health at Duke University and the author of The End of Epidemics: The Looming Threat to Humanity and How to Stop It, says any response needs to strike a balance of competing interests.

During a major epidemic such as COVID-19, two key objectives are (1) saving lives by prevention and treatment of infection, and (2) keeping society running. So any measures should be science-based, risk-based, and as least intrusive as possible, Quick wrote in an email.

He suggests the first line of defence to stop the virus entering Canada from the U.S. might be targeted screening of travellers coming from the cities where there have been large outbreaks, such as Seattle and New York City.

U.S. border agents have been screening those who have recently travelled to China, and had denied entry to at least 100 from Canada by late last week as a result, CBC News reported. But Canadian authorities have not yet implemented any increased screening of travellers from the U.S.

And while the Canadian government is monitoring the spread of COVID-19 in Washington, California, and Oregon, it provided no specific travel advice to Canadians on its website regarding the United States beyond following usual precautions  unlike countries such as Italy and China, which it tells travellers to avoid, or Japan and South Korea, where it advises a high degree of caution.

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The health and safety of Canadians is of the utmost importance and remains our top priority. The Canadian Border Service Agency continues to work closely with the Public Health Agency of Canada and Health Canada to ensure the appropriate border measures are in place, said a statement on Tuesday from the office of Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, who is co-ordinating Ottawas anti-coronavirus efforts.

Our government is working with our international partners, including the United States, to take a comprehensive approach to COVID-19.

The coronavirus threat is a particularly vivid illustration of an ever-present fact of Canadian life in the shadow of the juggernaut next door. Whether the issue is air pollution, economics, arts and culture or national defence, Canadas ability to control its own destiny is severely limited by its proximity to and integration with the United States.

Being at the mercy of a country when we have no say in who governs it can be frustrating. When lives and livelihoods are at stake, it can be scary. When the U.S. leader breaks out the violins, it can be downright infuriating.

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Amidst rising coronavirus cases in India, British brokerage Barclays on Wednesday warned that preventive measures like mass quarantines can dent the already sagging economic growth by as much as 2 percentage points.

Support to the economy will come from a dip in oil prices, Barclays said in a note, estimating low crude prices to aid growth by as much as 0.50 per cent.

The number of those tested positive for the Covid-19 or coronavirus in India has grown to 61 as of Tuesday, with fresh cases being reported from Pune and Bengaluru.

Economic growth is set to slide to a decadal low of 5 per cent as per an official estimate released much before the virus grew to be called as a potential pandemic.

Starting from China, it has affected over 60 countries in the world, with leaders in Italy being forced to put the entire country in an unprecedented lockdown.

"We believe that the biggest growth risk would be from preventive measures such as mass quarantine or movement restrictions and the related pullback in consumer spending, investment, and services activity," Barclays said, commenting on the impact it can have on India.

The biggest hit will be for the already sluggish investment activity, it said, estimating the total impact to growth because of preventive measures at 2 percentage points.

The silver lining will come from the oil prices which have corrected by up to a fifth in the recent past, it said, adding that the low import bill alone will help the GDP by 0.5 per cent.

In the report titled 'Are we overestimating growth?', the brokerage said it has recently cut its 2020 growth forecast for the economy to 5.6 per cent from the 6.5 per cent earlier.

It added that the latest estimate is indeed low enough, adding that worried clients are asking if it will go down much more.

The brokerage said India is a domestic demand-led economy and will benefit from the oil prices correction.

It has both the fiscal and monetary policies supporting growth, and the supply chains are not under stress, it noted.

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Health ministry suspends visas; Some relief for YES Bank customersLakshmi Vilas Bank stock rises 5% on reports Kotak Bank eyeing majority stake

A Mindtree employee in Bangalore has tested positive for coronavirus on Tuesday. The software major's employee had recently returned from an overseas trip.

"One of our Mindtree Minds (employees), on return from an overseas trip to Bengaluru, has tested positive for Covid-19 on Tuesday. He, along with his family members, are under the medical supervision of the Karnataka Health Department," said Mindtree Chief People Officer Paneesh Rao in a statement.

Rao also said that the employee, who is a software engineer had, was exercising caution and had isolated himself on return from the foreign trip. The software engineer did not visit any Mindstree facility and also did not meet any other employee, reported LiveMint.

Mindtree has sent out a series of advisories on safety measures at workplaces to its employees across the country as well as overseas, according to LiveMint.

"Sanitisation of all high touch points in our facilities, hand sanitisers at lift landing/receptions and other common areas and infrared thermometers have been put in place," Rao added.

According to health officials, the Mindtree employee is being treated and is on road to recovery.

According to Health Ministry, 60 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in India so far. Across the world, over 119,000 people have been confirmed positive for coronavirus. The deadly virus has claimed over 4300 lives across the globe.

The Health Ministry has taken several measures to halt the spread of coronavirus. The Ministry has suspended the vias including e-visas of travelers from France, Germany, Spain, Iran, Italy, South Korea and Japan. The ministry had also asked all Indians to avoid non-essential international travel.

Also read: Coronavirus Live Updates: Two Dell, Mindtree employees test positive for COVID-19 virus

Also read: Coronavirus update: India suspends visas to nationals of France, Germany, Spain
Trump met with executives from Wells Fargo, Goldman Sachs, Truist Financial Corp, US Bancorp and JPMorgan Chase.

The United States banking industry is strong and ready to help businesses and consumers weather economic fallout from the fast-spreading coronavirus, Wall Street chief executives told President Donald Trump during a meeting at the White House on Wednesday.

This is not a financial crisis. The banks and the financial system are in sound shape, and we are here to help, said Michael Corbat, chief executive of Citigroup, during the meeting, which was broadcast from the White House Cabinet Room.

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We want to provide liquidity, we want to lend to our small businesses, we want to be supporting our consumer clients, he added.

The Trump administration in recent days has tapped regulators to assess financial resilience, and unveiled a fiscal stimulus package in response to growing fears the spread of the contagious virus could push the US economy into a recession.

Trump convened the executives on Wednesday to hear their views on the economy and proposed a stimulus package, which includes potential tax relief, paid family leave, and small business assistance. The plan must be approved by Congress.

The first thing is, to add fiscal stimulus in the time of stress is absolutely the right answer. Keeping people who are unemployed or underemployed with cash flow and money is key, said Brian Moynihan, CEO of Bank of America. He added the government needs to fix problems with the healthcare response to the virus, including by bolstering hospital capacity.

Uncertainty over whether a divided US Senate would pass the administrations stimulus package helped spur another selloff on US stock markets on Wednesday.

The Dow fell 5.85 percent, confirming a bear market for the first time since the 2008 financial crisis, as the World Health Organization called the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic. The S&P 500 lost 140.84 points, or 4.89 percent.

Chief executives from Wells Fargo & Co, Goldman Sachs Group Inc, Truist Financial Corp and US Bancorp were also in attendance, as was Gordon Smith, co-president and chief executive of JPMorgan Chase & Cos consumer and community banking division.

US banking regulators on Monday urged lenders to go easy on consumers and businesses who may have trouble repaying loans if coronavirus-related disruption causes companies to lose revenue, close temporarily, or lay off staff.

On Wednesday, the executives discussed how they could make the most of that regulatory flexibility through measures such as loan repayment holidays, waiving some fees, and low or no-cost loans.

All of our plans are designed to protect consumers and small businesses. Well be there with forbearance plans, and well be there to waive fees, said Smith.

Spending among the millennial generation is holding up very well, he said, adding that JPMorgan has lent consumers and small businesses more than $26bn in the last 40 days.

Citi is also waiving monthly account fees, and penalties on certificates of deposit for customers affected by the outbreak, while Goldman Sachs plans to give customers of its online bank Marcus an extra month to make payments on personal loans without additional interest.
The recently-released Netflix series Love Is Blind took blind dating to new levels as contestants agreed to marry each other sight unseen after only a few days of 'dating' through a wall, making for unmissable (if trashy and cringeworthy) reality TV.

Vietnamese youth look online for love

New dating app revolutionises romance Young people in HCM City are interested in a kind of dating at hot pot restaurant.  Photo: VNN

Marrying someone without knowing what they look like is a bit extreme for most of us, so luckily a restaurant in HCM City is offering blind dating without the legally binding contract, but sparks and boiled water may still fly.

FA Hotpot restaurant on Cach Mang Thang Tam Street in District 10 only takes bookings from single people, who have to book online in advance and give basic personal information like their age, habits and interests so the restaurant can arrange a suitable 'partner'.

The name 'FA' comes from forever alone, a popular way to make jokes online about being single.

Males sit on one side and females on the other side of a table and they can dine and talk without seeing each other because of a curtain. The curtain can be removed if they want to see each other.

The restaurant owner said similar restaurants are available in other countries and they were a hit in Vietnam too, seeing as it opened in December and has received about 1,700 bookings so far.

If a lucky couple finds each other amid the boiling mushrooms and beef we'll be able to prove once and for all that love, is in fact, blind.  VNS
Lagos, Nigeria -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/11/2020 -- Ryteprint Business Solutions is associated with the top of the line web-to-print solutions for all needs and budgets. The company custom prints business stationery, marketing materials, apparels, wedding stationery and promotional items, along with signage, photo and digital art products. The customisation is brought into effect through a perfect blend of proven processes and advanced technology. The orders are accepted via a high calibre web platform featuring thousands of professionally designed, ready-to-use templates. The ordering process is easy, requiring the client to upload an image, adjust the placement, add text, see how it looks in the preview and order.



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Myanmar military lawmakers casts vote on amendments to the country's 2008 constitution at the Union parliament in Naypyidaw, March. 11, 2020.

Myanmars de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi raised eyebrows Wednesday when she visited the scene of a 2003 state-backed massacre of her followers in the central Sagaing region without mentioning the incident or the role of the military junta that ran the country at the time.

The state counselors visit to Depayin, where some 70 supporters of her National League for Democracy (NLD) were killed 17 years earlier, came as her partys effort to amend a constitution drafted by the military to cement its political power met defeat in parliament.

Aung San Suu Kyi, dressed in a black top and wearing a red sarong, held town hall meetings with residents in Depayin and nearby Shwebo townships.

It is very beneficial for us to come to Depayin and talk with the local people, Aung San Suu Kyi said at the event. This is because we must learn the hopes, concerns, and problems of our people. At the same time, we must see the weaknesses of our people.

She did not touch on the event of May 30, 2003, when a government-sponsored mob attacked her and her entourage on the outskirts of Depayin, killing at least 70 people associated with the party.

Aung Myo Kyaw of the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma) (AAPP), a human rights NGO based in Mae Sot, Thailand, which tracks Myanmar prisoners of conscience, said the state counselor and the NLD should focus on delivering justice to those who have suffered at the hands of the military that directly ruled the country from 1962 to 2011.

The ruling government should work on restoring justice and relief and recovery efforts for the victims of human rights violations in the past, he told RFAs Myanmar Service.

We can understand why she avoided this issue during her speech, he said. Daw [honorific] Aung San Suu Kyi might not be speaking out about it because she is a figurehead. Regardless, they [the NLD] should keep working on what they are supposed to be doing on that matter.

Constitutional amendments

Aung San Suu Kyis visit to Depayin came as Myanmars parliament voted on amendments to revamp the countrys 2008 constitution, drafted by a former army junta.

Lawmakers are voting through March 20 on dozens of amendments, many of which have been proposed by the ruling NLD, to curb the militarys political power and make the charter more democratic.

The party pledged to reform the constitution in the run-up to the last nationwide election five years ago and is trying to make good on its promise before the next election in November.

On Tuesday, a proposed constitutional amendment that would have allowed Aung San Suu Kyi to become president was rejected by military lawmakers, who used their effective veto to block the measure.

The NLD-proposed amendment sought to do away with Article 59(f) which bars Myanmar citizens with relatives who are foreign nationals from becoming president. It prohibits Aung San Suu Kyi from taking that office because her two sons are British citizens, as was her late husband.

But the vote was doomed from the start because military-appointed lawmakers control an automatic one-fourth of the seats in Myanmars national parliament. Constitutional amendments require more than 75 percent of the vote to pass, which means that military MPs can always block them by voting in unison against the measures.

At least 493 votes in favor of the amendment were needed to pass it. Parliamentary voting records indicate that 393 lawmakers voted in favor of the measure, with 242 against.

More than 85 percent of elected MPs voted for the measure, said NLD lawmaker Hla Moe. We cannot proceed with it though we received support from an overwhelming majority of elected MPs.

It is believed that 166 military-appointed lawmakers, 40 parliamentarians from the military-backed opposition Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), and one legislator from the National Unity Party voted against the proposal during the secret ballot.

USDP lawmaker Thaung Aye called the ballot results a victory for Myanmar.

This is a victory for the whole nation because this article was explicitly added to keep the sovereignty of the country in the hands of the citizens and prevent foreign interference, he said, presenting a different take on Article 59(f).

The ballot results show the majority of people in Myanmar accept this regulation and believe in its value, he added.

Thaung Aye questioned the NLDs motives in trying to amend the constitution knowing that military lawmakers would not approve.

They have known that Article 436 of the constitution prevents the amending of the charter without the support of the majority of military-appointed lawmakers, he said. Despite this, the NLD insisted on constitutional reform and didnt consult military MPs before the ballot.

Article 436 requires that proposed changes to the constitution be supported by more than 75 percent of legislators.

Calculated Catch-22

New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) said Wednesday that the effort to repeal Article 59(f) was a calculated Catch-22 given military lawmakers' effective veto.

HRW also took aim at the NLD for failing to push for the repeal of repressive laws.

[T]he NLDs push to amend the constitution rings hollow following four years of unwillingness to tackle attainable reforms, a statement issued by the rights organization said. Despite its parliamentary majority, Suu Kyis party has failed to amend or repeal repressive laws that criminalize speech and peaceful assembly.

Instead, it has intensified attacks on free expression, strengthening restrictive legislation and prosecuting growing numbers of journalists and activists, it said.

In an annual report on human rights conditions worldwide during 2019, the U.S. State Department said that in Myanmar there continued to be almost complete impunity for past and continuing abuses by the military.

In a few cases the government took limited actions to prosecute or punish officials responsible for abuses, although in ways that were not commensurate with the seriousness of the crime, said the report issued on Wednesday.

Besides proposing changes to the charter, Aung San Suu Kyi and the civilian-led NLD have been spearheading a series of nationwide peace talks in a bid to end seven decades of civil war in Myanmar.

But the talks among ethnic armies, the national military, and government peacekeepers have stalled because of ongoing fighting in some of Myanmars remote ethnic areas and the Rohingya crisis in Rakhine state, where government forces are accused of committing atrocities against Muslims.

Reported by Khaymani Win and Thiha Tun for RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Ye Kaung Myint Maung. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-11 10:25:02|Editor: huaxia

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LA PAZ, March 10 (Xinhua) -- Bolivia confirmed on Tuesday the country's first two cases of COVID-19.

The patients are two women in the departments of Oruro and Santa Cruz, who came to Bolivia from Italy, Bolivian Health Minister Anibal Cruz told a press conference.

"They are two women who are 60 and 64 years old, respectively, whose history shows they were present in Italy, a country that currently has coronavirus transmission," Cruz said.

Both patients are under strict quarantine, Cruz added.
Keep Calm NJ eFile "BenefitScape has been providing state specific filing since 2005 under the precursor to the ACA, that was established in Massachusetts. We have both the technical platform and the required credentials to handle all state-mandated filings, including New Jersey." Kim Phillips President

Recent New Jersey legislation requires employers, who provide New Jersey residents with health coverage, to report coverage details to the state by the March 31, 2020 deadline. This information is essentially the same Form 1095B and 1095C health-care coverage information they send to the IRS in connection with their responsibilities under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

Here is a Guide to help you. Find out what to do to get ready.

Many employers have voiced concern that these NJ filing requirements are difficult for them to complete. In particular, smaller employers may not have the capacity for electronic filing of information in the very specific data format (XML) which is required. This puts them at risk for potential penalties for both the company and possibly the employee.

Larger employers are often no better off since many vendors and software systems that produce federal filings are not supporting this New Jersey filing. Here is a guide to help you determine your organizations readiness and options.

NJ has reacted to these concerns of smaller filers and updated its guidance and reporting requirements on February 11, 2020, providing needed assistance to smaller employers and coverage providers with under 100 forms. These filers can use the Fillable Form NJ-1095 to file one form at a time. While this process is time-consuming and requires setting up an account with the states Central Forms Repository website. To get an idea of whether this solution works for you, read these instructions from NJ.

The state is still requiring all filers with over 100 Forms, employers, carriers and self-funded plans providing coverage to submit their 1095B and 1095C Forms using the DORES MFT Secure Transport. The data must be formatted in strictly defined XML files. This requirement is also not without its hazards and difficulties. Even for larger employers the use of the DORES MFT Secure Transport requires credentialing and adherence to a number of technical guidelines that may be difficult for some to implement.

Because filing with New Jersey is a very new requirement many ACA federal filers have notified their clients that they will not be filing in New Jersey for tax year 2019. This presents a problem for many clients who will now have to find a way to comply. Adding to this issue is that the New Jersey requirements are different in many ways than the federal. While New Jersey will accept all employees on the federal filing most employers hesitate sending any data on non-New Jersey residents in their filing. They see this as a violation of various privacy and possibly HIPAA regulations. In addition certain federal ACA regulations that have changed the furnishing requirements for form 1095B are not compatible with New Jersey requirements that all affected employees received this form.

The only solution an employer, or their reporting and filing vendor, that can meet both the New Jersey reporting requirements and ensure compliance with privacy and PII obligations, is to separate all 1095 forms by the employees state of residency. Then the employer must only transmit the statements that pertain to New Jersey residents by the states March 31, 2020 reporting deadline.

New Jersey is clear in its guidance that these tasks for e-filing can be handled by external vendors. BenefitScape and other national vendors have taken this task on and are providing customized solutions to their clients with New Jersey residents.

In conclusion, employers large and small with only a few employees, as well as employers not domiciled in New Jersey, are faced with an emerging requirement that will under most circumstances be difficult to manage. Since New Jersey will be using this filing to verify information provided on individual tax returns, the impact will not only be on the company but many New Jersey tax filers may find they will be subject to unwarranted and unneeded penalty payments. Fortunately there are resources available to New Jersey filers from either their payroll, HRIS or benefits management vendors.

Employers should also be aware that the so-called "state mandates" are not unique to New Jersey and are already in play in many other jurisdictions such as Massachusetts, the District of Columbia, Vermont, Rhode Island, California etc...More on State Mandates
2020 was a year marked by hardships and challenges, but the Fauquier community has proven resilient. The Fauquier Times is honored to serve as your community companion. To say thank you for your continued support, wed like to offer all our subscribers -- new or returning --

4 WEEKS FREE DIGITAL AND PRINT ACCESS.

We understand the importance of working to keep our community strong and connected. As we move forward together into 2021, it will take commitment, communication, creativity, and a strong connection with those who are most affected by the stories we cover.

We are dedicated to providing the reliable, local journalism you have come to expect. We are committed to serving you with renewed energy and growing resources. Let the Fauquier Times be your community companion throughout 2021, and for many years to come.
Observed: An occultation of a brown dwarf by another

The finding was by chance, when the scientists were working on the results from the first light of one of the four telescopes of the project, in Chile. Shortly after the building of the first SECULOOS telescopes, and during the test observations, the team pointed at a well kown brown dwarf 2MASSW J1510478-281817, since renamed 2M1510, in the constellation of Libra. The observations of SPECULOOS picked up an unusual signal which made the researchers suggest that 2M1510 could be two brown dwarfs instead of one, and in orbit around each other.

"Among the first test observations which we made -says Michael Gillon, an astrophysicist at the University of Liege, and Principal Investigator on the SPECULOOS project-, we pointed our telescopes at a known brown dwarf. But, suddenly, the object appeared to darken for 90 minutes, which indicated that an occultation had just occurred.

The researchers could confirm their hypothesis using two of the most powerful telescopes, one of the two 10m Keck telescopes, in Hawaii, and one of the four 8m telescopes of the Very Large Telescope (VLT) in Chile, the latter being on the same site as the SPECULOOS telescopes which took the initial observations. The Keck and the VLT have sensitive spectrometers which can be used to measure the velocities of celestial objects. The astronomers detected the velocities of both brown dwarfs of 2M1510 while they orbited around each other.

This discovery coincides with the 25th anniversary of the verification of the first brown dwarf, named Teide 1. This was made with the IAC-80 telescope at the Teide Observatory (Tenerife), by a group of IAC astrophysicists led by Rafael Rebolo Lopez, together with Maria Rosa Zapatero Osorio, and Eduardo Martin Guerrero de Escalante.

"The first observations which led to the new discovery were made in summer of 2017, which shows the observing and data analysis effort needed. With the new Artemis telescope, inaugurated in the Teide Observatory and integrated in the SPECULOOS consortium, we hope to discover soon systems as interesting as this one", explains Roi Alonso, a memer of the Artemis research team, and an author of the article.

The detection of occulting brown dwarfs is extremely rare: until now only one other system of this type has been identified. These systems give the opportunity to astronomers to measure directly the radii and the masses of the brown dwarfs, which are basic quantities for theoretical models. 2M1510 is also special because it is one of the few brown dwarf systems which have known ages, because it belongs to a nearby group of young stars known as the Argo stellar association.

"Obtaining data on the mass, the radius, and the age is really rare for a star, and even rarer for a brown dwarf", explains Amaury Triaud, a researcher at the Faculty of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Birmingham and the first author of the article. "Normally we lack one of more of these parameters. As we have all of them, we can verify the theoretical models about how brown dwarfs cool down, models which we have bad for over 30 years. We find that the models fit the observations very well, evidence of human ingenuity", he adds.

The SPECULOOS project

The mission of the SPECULOOS project (Search for habitable Planets EClipsing ULtra-cOOl Stars) is to investigate planets orbiting ultra-cool dwarfs, which include the smallest stars as well as brown dwarfs. Brown dwarfs (also known as substellar objects) are less massive than stars but more massive than planets. They are too small to produce the fusion of hydrogen to helium in their centres, the process which produces the energy of normal stars such as the sun.

Astronomers predict that ultracool stars and brown dwarfs should have large populations of rocky planets, nearby and potentially habitable, offering many opportunitites to explore a variety of atmospheres and climates. One example is the system of 7 planets, TRAPPIST-1, discovered by members of the same team.

The data which led to this discovery were obtained at the Southern Observatory of SPECULOOS, one of the installations dedicated to the project. SPECULOOS South is in the Paranal Observatory, Chile, operated by the European Southern Observatory (ESO) and funded by the European Research Council (ERC), as well as the Simons foundation, the MERAC foundation and the Science, Technology and Facilities Council. The SPECULOOS project also involves telescopes at the Teide Observatory (Tenerife, Spain), San Pedro Martir (Mexico), Oukaimden (Morocco) and the La Silla Observatory (Chile).

The team which made the discovery is made up of researchers from the University of Birmingham; the University of California, San Diego; the University of Liege; the Instituto de Astrofisica de Canarias; the American Museum of Natural History; the University of Cambridge, the University of Berne, Massachussetts Institut of Technology (MIT); the University of Gottingen; and the University of Warwick.

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This story has been published on: 2020-03-11. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
People

John Howett
Karnataka curfew: If you have not stocked up booze, then read this

One suspected Coronavirus death in Karnataka; total confirmed cases in India reaches 62

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

New Delhi, Mar 11: The number of confirmed cases of novel coronavirus in the country has risen to 62, with two fresh positive cases -- one each from Delhi and Rajasthan -- being reported, the health ministry said on Wednesday. The figure includes five positive cases reported in Delhi and nine persons who were diagnosed with the infection in Uttar Pradesh till Wednesday morning. The total number of 62 confirmed cases includes 16 Italians, the ministry said.

Meanwhile, a 76-year-old man who was suspected to be infected with coronavirus died in Karnataka's Kalaburagi on Wednesday. An official note of the department in the district headquarters town identified him as Mohammed Hussain Siddiqui, who died in a government hospital on Tuesday. "His swab samples have been sent for a lab in Bengaluru. The report is awaited," Department officials said. Siddiqui had recently returned from Saudi Arabia, where he had gone on a pilgrimage.

Karnataka and Maharashtra have reported four and two confirmed cases of COVID-19 respectively. Ladakh has recorded two positive cases.

Rajasthan, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab have reported one case each, the ministry said.

Kerala has till now reported nine cases which includes the three patients who were discharged last month following recovery.

76-year-old man suspected to be infected with coronavirus dies in Karnataka

Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, who spoke to a few COVID-19 patients admitted at Medanta and Safdarjung hospitals through video calls on Tuesday, said all the people infected by the disease were stable and showing signs of recovery.

According to the protocol currently followed, a suspected case is tested at least twice before it is confirmed as 'positive'.

Amid rising cases of the COVID-19 pandemic globally, India on Tuesday barred entry of the nationals of three more countries -- France, Germany and Spain -- suspending the regular as well as e-visas granted to them till date.

"All regular (sticker) Visas/e-Visas granted to nationals of France, Germany and Spain and issued on or before March 11 and who have not yet entered India stand suspended with immediate effect," said a Bureau of Immigration notification issued late Tuesday night.

Regular visas, including e-visas, granted to all foreign nationals who have travel history to these countries on or after February 1 and who have not yet entered India also stand suspended, it said.

Coronavirus travel ban: Indian travellers! Please note the restrictions by other countries

Issuing a travel advisory, the health ministry also called for passengers with travel history to China, Hong Kong, Republic of Korea, Japan, Italy, Thailand, Singapore, Iran, Malaysia, France, Spain and Germany to undergo self-imposed quarantine for a period of 14 days from the date of their arrival, and their employers to facilitate work-from-home for such employees during this period.

India had already suspended visas granted to the nationals of Italy, Iran, South Korea, Japan and China.

The Union Health Ministry has strongly urged people to refrain from travelling to China, Italy, Iran, Republic of Korea, Japan, France, Spain and Germany and advised them to avoid non-essential travel abroad in view of the coronavirus outbreak.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Wednesday, March 11, 2020, 14:37 [IST]
The Kerala police have registered a case against a doctor who allegedly portrayed health officials in bad light and spread false information about a non-resident Indian (NRI) who was quarantined for suspected coronavirus, a top official said Wednesday.

The case was registered after the Thrissur district medical officer (DMO) filed a complaint against Dr Shinu Shyamalan saying her information was incorrect and that her social media posts on the subject was for publicity.

Dr Shyamalan, who worked at a private clinic in Thalikulam in Thrissur, had claimed that she lost her job after informing the government officials about a patient who visited the clinic with symptoms of coronavirus. Later, she also took to social media saying that the patient had later left for Qatar before the tests reports of his samples came. She also claimed that her employer had terminated her service for telling the truth and that health officials took her complaints casually.

But after inquiry, DMO Dr J J Reena found that the particular patient was under observation and was given permission to leave the country because he had not developed any symptoms during the surveillance period. The DMO said the suspected patient had come to Kerala on January 31 and he had gone back after a 28-day quarantine period.

In her compliant, the DMO said Dr Shyamalan tried to portray health workers in bad light by raking up an unnecessary controversy at a critical juncture when the government is going all out to contain infections in the state which now has 14 positive cases.

Thrissur district collector S Shanawas later directed the police to file a case against Dr Shyamalan and also a news channel which aired her interview. The doctor was not available for her comments after police booked her.
March 11, 2020 (Toronto) - Publicly-funded physician psychotherapy is only available to a fraction of those with urgent mental health needs in Ontario, according to a joint study by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) and ICES published today in CMAJ Open.

The study confirms that there are far too few physicians providing publicly-funded psychotherapy in Ontario to meet the demand for it, and those physicians are concentrated in large urban areas and are rarely able to take on new patients with urgent mental health needs.

"The need for innovations in mental health to improve access and quality of care is urgent," said lead author Dr. Paul Kurdyak, Director of Health Outcomes and Performance Evaluation in the Institute for Mental Health Policy Research at CAMH and lead of the Mental Health and Addictions Research Program at ICES. "But increasing the number of physicians who provide psychotherapy alone will not solve the existing problem of poor access to psychotherapy in a publicly-funded system."

The study focused on the availability of publicly-funded psychotherapy provided by physicians in Ontario. Psychotherapy is an evidence-based treatment for conditions like depression and anxiety, two of the most common psychiatric disorders. Treatment guidelines suggest that structured, evidence-based therapies like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) should be a front-line treatment option for patients with mild to moderate depression or anxiety.

Historically, most access to publicly-funded psychotherapy in Ontario has been provided by psychiatrists or family physician psychotherapists. But there are less than 1,000 of them in Ontario (out of a total physician population of over 12,000) and they see a much smaller number of patients on average.

While access to urgent care was low in general (more than half of all patients who sought care for mental health including addictions issues at an Emergency Department did not see any physicians within a month of the visit) access to psychotherapist physicians was even lower. Only two to three per cent of patients with urgent need were able to access psychotherapist physicians.

One part of the solution according to the study is to allow psychotherapists and other clinicians who are not physicians to provide publicly-funded CBT. It points to a program initiated in England that involved training non-physicians to provide publicly-funded CBT as one model for Ontario to consider.

CAMH has been one of four mental health hospitals in Ontario taking part in a three-year pilot project based on the England model, and last week the Ontario government announced it was expanding that program under the name Mindability to provide publicly-funded CBT to an additional 80,000 patients a year. But the study estimates that more than ten times that amount of patients--up to 900,000 a year in Ontario--could benefit from psychotherapy.

"Evidence-based psychotherapy should be available to all patients suffering from the most prevalent mental disorders," said Dr. Kurdyak. "Our study suggests that there are far too few publicly-funded physician psychotherapists to meet the needs of these patients."

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The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) is Canada's largest mental health and addiction teaching hospital, as well as one of the world's leading research centres in its field. CAMH combines clinical care, research, education, policy development and health promotion to help transform the lives of people affected by mental health and addiction issues. CAMH is fully affiliated with the University of Toronto, and is a Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization Collaborating Centre. For more information, please visit http://www.camh.ca.

ICES is an independent, non-profit research institute that uses population-based health information to produce knowledge on a broad range of health care issues. Our unbiased evidence provides measures of health system performance, a clearer understanding of the shifting health care needs of Ontarians, and a stimulus for discussion of practical solutions to optimize scarce resources. ICES knowledge is highly regarded in Canada and abroad, and is widely used by government, hospitals, planners, and practitioners to make decisions about care delivery and to develop policy. In October 2018, the institute formerly known as the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences formally adopted the initialism ICES as its official name. For the latest ICES news, follow us on Twitter: @ICESOntario

For further information:

Media Relations

416-595-6015

media@camh.ca
A world renowned artist has been charged over the alleged sexual assault of four women, including three art students, one of which was tattooed without consent.

Street artist Anthony Lister, 40, was arrested on Tuesday after Strike Force Freestone was established to investigate claims of sexual assaults.

Police will allege Mr Lister sexually assaulted the four women on separate occasions at a Darlinghurst residence, in Sydney, between 2015 and 2018.

Anthony Lister (pictured) will face court on Wednesday accused of sexually assaulting four women over a three year period

Its further alleged he tattooed three lines on one of the women without her consent.

He was charged with causing grievous bodily harm to person with intent, five counts of sexual intercourse without consent, use intoxicating substance to commit indictable offence, four counts of possess prohibited firearm, seven counts of possess prohibited drug, and possess prohibited weapon.

Strike force investigators executed two search warrants at Darlinghurst home and an industrial space at Marrickville from 8am on Tuesday.

During the searches police seized four replica pistols, knuckle dusters, prohibited drugs including methylamphetamine, cocaine, MDMA, cannabis, and cannabis oil.

Computers, mobile phones, digital cameras, SD cards, and other electronic equipment was also seized.

Mr Lister was refused bail and will appear at Central Local Court on Wednesday.

The celebrated artist was the focus of an award nominated documentary in 2017 titled Have You Seen the Listers?

The documentary focuses on Mr Lister's art and his 'work to challenge conservative Australia'.
CHIPPEWA TWP.  The Chippewa Township Community Center had a steady influx of voters Tuesday as area residents made their decision on whether they were for or against recreational marijuana sales in their township.

"(Voter turnout is) pretty high," Chippewa Township Clerk Kristin Lytle said around 3:40 p.m. "We're not into our AVs (absentee voter ballots) very far yet, and we're already at 197 people. I'd say between 5 and 7 p.m. it'll pick up really quick."

Chippewa Township residents John and Dawn Raines headed to the polls Tuesday to voice their opinions.

"I'd like to see businesses be able to come into town," Dawn Raines said.

According to Lytle, the township board "temporarily" opted out of recreational marijuana sales June 17, hesitant about the new laws and how it would affect their township.

The opt-out came after Michigan voters in 2018 passed Proposal 1, which effectively legalized marijuana in the state. But municipalities had the option, following the vote, to outlaw marijuana sales in their own area.

The board members agreed that by temporarily opting out, it would give us more time to understand the state of Michigans laws, regulations and guidelines, Lytle said in a previous interview.

Hosting a public opinion meeting in August, Chippewa Township resident Richard Gabbert was one resident who opposed recreational marijuana sales in the township.

In December 2019, Gabbert turned in a petition with 54 valid signatures, designed to create an ordinance to prevent marijuana establishments within the township.

There have been both positive and negative debates regarding recreational marijuana facilities in Chippewa Township. As far as the township board members having an opinion on recreational marijuana facilities, because it is on the ballot, we must remain neutral," Lytle said.

The township board considers every topic important to our residents and voters."

The final tally was not available at press time. For updated election results, visit bigrapidsnews.com.
GENEVA: The World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday the outbreak of the new coronavirus as a pandemic, prompting the governments worldwide to take extraordinary measures to contain the spread of the deadly virus

"We are deeply concerned both by the alarming levels of spread and severity and by the alarming levels of inaction. We have therefore made the assessment that COVID-19 can be characterised as a pandemic," WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a news conference.

The coronavirus, which emerged in China in December, has spread around the world, halting industry, bringing flights to a standstill, closing schools and forcing the postponement of sporting events and concerts.

The WHO declared a public health emergency of international concern, its "highest level of alarm", on Jan. 30 when there were fewer than 100 cases of COVID-19 outside China and eight cases of human-to-human transmission of the disease.

Now there are more than 118,000 cases in 114 countries and 4,291 people have died, Tedros said, with the numbers expected to climb.

The WHO no longer has a category for declaring a pandemic, except for influenza. WHO officials have signalled for weeks that they may use the word "pandemic" as a descriptive term but stressed that it does not carry legal significance. The novel coronavirus is not the flu.

Under its previous system, the Geneva-based agency declared the 2009 H1N1 swine flu outbreak a pandemic. It turned out to be mild, leading to some criticism after pharmaceutical companies rushed development of vaccines and drugs.

Meanwhile, stepping up border control measures with COVID-19 cases on the rise, India on Wednesday cancelled all visas, except for a few official categories, till April 15. Even outgoing travel is being cautioned against and a minimum of 14 days` quarantine will be mandatory.

An official statement said all existing visas, except diplomatic, official, UN/international organisations, employment, and project visas stand suspended till April 15. This will come into effect from 1200 GMT on March 13 at the port of departure.

The visa-free travel facility granted to OCI cardholders has also been kept in abeyance till April 15. Any foreign national who intends to travel to India for a compelling reason may contact the nearest Indian mission. This would essentially curb the inflow of foreign nationals into the country with visa controls.

All incoming travellers, including Indian nationals, arriving from or having visited China, Italy, Iran, Republic of Korea, France, Spain and Germany after February 15 will be quarantined for a minimum period of 14 days. All these measures are applicable from March 13.

Incoming travellers, including Indian nationals, are advised to avoid non-essential travel and have been informed that they can be quarantined for a minimum of 14 days on their arrival in India. International traffic through land borders will be restricted to designated check posts with robust screening facilities. These will be notified separately by the Ministry of Home Affairs.

A provision has been made for testing primarily for students/compassionate cases in Italy and collection for samples to be organised accordingly. Those tested negative will be allowed to travel and will be quarantined on arrival in India for 14 days.

(With Agency Inputs)
A new model, named Redmi Note 9 Pro Max has appeared online. Redmi Note 9 Pro may come in two variants in India  4GB RAM with 64GB storage, and 6GB RAM with 128GB storage. The phone is tipped to be made available in three colour options.

Redmi is all set to launch its next Note series on March 12. However, this time around, the company may announce three variants of the Redmi Note 9. A new model, named Redmi Note 9 Pro Max has appeared online. Going by the name, the purported Redmi Note 9 Pro Max could be a top-of-the-line offering with the most powerful hardware of the series. It may sport quad rear cameras and a big battery.

The latest development comes from popular tipster Ishan Agarwal, who took to Twitter to say that Xiaomi might use the #RedmiNote9ProMax hashtag to promote its upcoming phones. Interestingly, a report from 91Mobiles claims that Xiaomi won't launch the Redmi Note 9 at its March 12 event, and might unveil it at a later date.

While we are yet to come across any credible leaks regarding the design or specifications of the Pro Max model, it is said to be powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 800 chipset. Further, the Redmi Note 9 Pro is rumoured to use the Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G SoC.

Moreover, Xiaomi Vice President Manu Kumar Jain has teased that the company is, in fact, looking forward to launching three models of the Redmi Note 9. However, this is just a speculation and we suggest you take it with a pinch of salt.

According to previous leaks, the Redmi Note 9 Pro may come in two variants in India  4GB RAM with 64GB storage, and 6GB RAM with 128GB storage. It is expected to feature expandable storage as well. The phone is tipped to be made available in Aurora Blue, Glacier White, and Interstellar Black colour options.

Previously, the Redmi Note 9 Pro has been spotted on Geekbench. It scored 569 in the single-core test and 1755 in the multi-core test.
Economy Minister Diane Dodds with Kevin Holland, Invest NI CEO, and Andrea Brady, chief marketing officer with Riskonnect

A US risk management firm has announced it is creating 100 new jobs, paying an average of 30,000, as it sets up for the first time in Belfast.

Economy Minister Diane Dodds announced the investment by Riskonnect, which is based in Atlanta, during a visit to the US.

Around 25 of the 100 new engineer and developer roles have already been filled by the Georgia company, which is making the move here with the support of Invest NI.

It has based itself in serviced offices on Arthur Street in the city centre.

Northern Ireland has developed into a hub for fintech companies, with homegrown financial software and consulting firm First Derivatives leading the way.

Riskonnect provides software technology to approximately 1,000 global customers to help them cope with "strategic and operational risks".

In recent weeks the company has been discussing how risk and insurance managers should cope with the dangers posed by coronavirus.

As its move into Northern Ireland was announced yesterday, Jim Wetekamp, Riskonnect's chief executive, said: "We are making this major investment in response to an increase in demand for our services.

"Northern Ireland's burgeoning fintech sector, together with a dynamic and highly educated workforce, makes Belfast an obvious choice for us.

"We were highly impressed by the local talent offering and by the strong links forged between industry and universities.

"We are confident that we can find the workforce we need amongst Northern Ireland's talent base to support our ambitious global strategy."

Riskonnect has offices in the US, London and India. The investment in Belfast follows expansion after the firm's acquisition of Marsh ClearSight in 2018.

Economy Minister Diane Dodds met the company on day two of a visit to the US.

She said: "Riskonnect is a global leader in integrated risk management and this project represents a significant investment into the economy, secured with Invest NI support.

"Riskonnect is offering roles for engineers and developers. These are well-paid roles and the company has already recruited 25 of the positions.

"These are high-quality jobs contributing over 3m in additional annual salaries to the Northern Ireland economy."

Kevin Holland, chief executive of Invest NI, said the announcement reflected an ability to draw in global businesses.

He added: "We are a significant player in the global fintech sector. Indeed, Belfast was recently ranked third after London and Singapore overall in fDi magazine's Fintech Location of the Future for 2019/20.

"Invest NI will support the company with expert advice and an offer of 416,000 towards the creation of the jobs."

The Belfast team of engineers and developers will support the firm's global operations and help with ambitious growth plans.

Riskonnect has clients in sectors including healthcare, retail, manufacturing, financial services and transportation.

Riskonnect's arrival in Belfast is the second investment announcement resulting from the Economy Minister's visit to the US.

Commercial property firm Squarefoot is also opening in Belfast, with 25 new jobs.

The acquisition of Marsh ClearSight increased Riskonnect's cover to 45 countries.

Speaking at the time, Mr Wetekamp said: "As Riskonnect looks to deepen customer engagement and expand our value to our customers, acquiring Marsh ClearSight's deep industry expertise, technology and global scale was a clear choice.

"Together, we'll deliver a comprehensive integrated risk management solution suite unmatched by any other vendor."
This story is no longer being updated. Read the latest on COVID-19 in the Bay Area here, as of March 12.

For more coverage, visit our complete coronavirus section here.

LATEST, March 11, 11:15 p.m. Lakeshore Elementary School in San Francisco will close for at least two weeks after four students and a number of adult family members reported having respiratory illness, the school district announced Wednesday night.

The SF Department of Public Health is testing the students for coronavirus. There are currently no confirmed cases at Lakeshore, the district said, but the school will be closed for at least 14 days.

March 11, 8 p.m. Marin County is reporting two new cases of coronavirus.

This brings the county's total to three. Officials said the two new cases lived with the first person to test positive in the county, an individual who was a passenger on the Grand Princess cruise ship in February.

March 11, 7 p.m. The NBA announced it is suspending the 2019-2020 season after Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert reportedly tested positive for coronavirus.

Earlier in the day, the city of San Francisco banned gatherings of over 1,000 people, which would have stopped the Golden State Warriors from playing home games at Chase Center with fans present.

The Associated Press reported the season will be suspended for at least two weeks.

March 11, 5:10 p.m. Three new cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in Santa Clara County, bringing the county's total to 48.

County officials did not provide any additional information on the individuals, and stated the number of cases is expected to increase.

March 11, 4:15 p.m.: The Oakland Marathon on March 22 has been canceled due to the Alameda County Health Department issuing new guidance related to large community events to reduce community transmission of COVID-19.

"We know many of you have trained and made sacrifices for months in anticipation of a great personal accomplishment," marathon organizers said in a statement. "We regret we are unable to host our amazing event, and hope you understand this decision was beyond the control of Corrigan Sports Enterprises."

Staff is meeting Thursday to review next steps and options.

The Alameda County Health Department released guidance for mass gatherings on Wednesday, recommending that event organizers postpone non-essential mass gatherings and community events.

March 11, 12:55 p.m.: An additional 42 TSA agents at San Jose Mineta International Airport are on paid leave after three of their coworkers at the airport tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

Those three employees are receiving medical care, KTVU reported, and the other 42 employees are being quarantined at home as a precaution while monitoring for symptoms.

All 45 employees were on the evening shift at the Terminal B checkpoint, according to KTVU. A union representative told the TV station he wasn't sure how long the employees had been working while infected. Alaska Airlines, British Airways, Hainan Airlines and Southwest all fly out of Terminal B.

March 11, 11:30 a.m.: The San Mateo County Public Health Department reported Thursday the county now has 15 known cases of coronavirus. This is up from 9 cases on Wednesday.

As the number of COVID-19 cases continues to rise around the Bay Area, San Mateo County's top public health official isn't mincing words.

"I now have evidence of widespread community transmission of COVID-19 in San Mateo County," wrote Health Officer Scott Morrow. "The only way to stop the spread of COVID-19 in the light of having community transmission is to have everything in our society grind to a halt for an extended period of time, as you have seen done in other countries."

However, Morrow doesn't believe it's time to make that call in San Mateo County, where there are nine known cases of the novel coronavirus as of Wednesday morning. He is asking for the cancellation of all non-essential gatherings and for residents to increase personal hygiene and social distancing.

"At this moment, given what I know, I believe grinding everything to a halt would cause us more harm than good," Morrow said.

It's not clear exactly how the six new additional patients contracted the virus.

March 11, 10:45 a.m.: San Francisco Mayor London Breed said Wednesday the city is issuing an order prohibiting all large group events of 1,000 people or more. The ban will apply to all events at Chase Center, including Golden State Warriors games, the mayor is reportedly set to announce.

"This is necessary to slow the spread of COVID-19, and builds on our previous public health recommendations," Breed wrote on Twitter.

Read the full story here.

March 11, 8:42 a.m. Amazon announced Wednesday morning its Amazon Web Services Summit in San Francisco is canceled. The conference was planned for April 14 at the Moscone Center and will be replaced with a digital conference sometime in May.

Several new coronavirus cases were reported around the Bay Area on Tuesday. Three Transportation Security Officers at Mineta San Jose International Airport tested positive for COVID-19, TSA officials said. It's unclear if these cases are among the 45 already reported by public health officers in Santa Clara County.

Contra Costa County announced one presumptive case of COVID-19, bringing the county total to 10 residents. A new case was also detected in Alameda County, the county's third. Another two cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in Santa Clara County, bringing the county's total to 45. San Francisco public health officials also announced a case; the city total is now 14.

California had 157 cases of coronavirus as of Tuesday; this number doesn't include passengers from the Grand Princess cruise ship currently docked in Oakland. The Bay Area has about 100 cases.

ALAMEDA COUNTY

Confirmed cases: 3 residents

Fore more information on Alameda County cases, visit the public health department website.

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY

Confirmed cases: 10 residents, 3 people of unknown residence being treated at Contra Costa hospitals

Fore more information on Contra Costa County cases, visit the public health department website.

MARIN COUNTY

Confirmed cases: 3 residents, 1 patient of unknown residence

Fore more information on Marin County cases, visit the public health department website.

NAPA COUNTY

Confirmed cases: 2 patients treated in Napa, then transferred out of county

For more information on Napa County cases, visit the public health department website.

SAN MATEO COUNTY

Confirmed cases: 15 cases, at least 8 patients of unknown residence treated at San Mateo County hospital

For more information on San Mateo County cases, visit the public health department website.

SANTA CLARA COUNTY

Confirmed cases: 48 residents

Related deaths: 1

This county has the most confirmed cases in the Bay Area. As of March 8, health officials have identified a total of 43: eight were travel-related, 14 were from being in close contact with a known case, and 21 contracted the virus through unspecified community transmission.

One woman died on March 9 at El Camino Hospital in Mountain View. She had been hospitalized for several weeks, officials said.

Fore more information on Santa Clara County cases, visit the public health department website.

SAN FRANCISCO COUNTY

Confirmed cases: 14 cases, 3 out-of-county patients being treated in SF hospitals

For more information on San Francisco County cases, visit the public health department website.

SOLANO COUNTY

Confirmed cases: 6 cases, at least one of them is a non-resident

A female Solano County resident was the first case of "unknown origin" in the U.S. and was infected with virus without any travel history or contact with another known case. She first arrived at the North Bay VacaValley Hospital in Vacaville on Feb. 15 and was transferred to UC Davis Medical Center three days later, before being tested.

Two health care workers at the North Bay VacaValley Hospital were also infected with the virus. One is a Solano County resident; the other lives in Alameda County.

For more information on Solano County cases, visit the public health department website.

SONOMA COUNTY

Confirmed cases: 2 residents, 1 patient of unknown residency

For more information on Sonoma County cases, visit the public health department website.

CALIFORNIA DEATHS: 4

Four deaths deaths related to coronavirus in California have been reported.

The first occurred in Placer County on March 4. The Placer County Health Department said the deceased is an elderly resident of the county with underlying health conditions. The patient tested presumptively positive on Tuesday, March 3 at a California lab and was likely exposed on a Princess cruise ship that traveled from San Francisco to Mexico, Feb. 11 to 21, health officials said. The patient was under treatment in isolation at Kaiser Permanente Roseville.

The second California death, the first in the Bay Area, was reported in Santa Clara County in March 9. A woman in her 60s passed away at El Camino Hospital in Mountain View Monday, the first death tied to the novel coronavirus in the Bay Area. The woman was hospitalized for several weeks, Santa Clara County health officials said.

Sacramento County announced on March 10 that a woman in her 90s in an assisted-living facility died from corornavirus. This was the first death in the county and the third in California. Health officials said the patient had an underlying health condition and "died of complications" related to the pneumonia-like virus.

Los Angeles County announced the fourth death on March 11: a woman who had traveled extensively (including a layover in South Korea) and who was visiting Los Angeles from out of town.

The death of a 72-year-old man from Sunnyvale was previously thought to be linked to COVID-19, but test results confirmed the man did not have the virus.

Amy Graff and Alix Martichoux are digital editors with SFGATE. Email them: agraff@sfgate.com, alix.martichoux@sfgate.com.

MORE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE
Cranberry Ct., 15700 block, 1:05 a.m. March 1. A man and a woman got into an argument at a residence that escalated. When he brandished a firearm and pointed the weapon toward the woman, family members intervened, but the altercation continued and resulted in the man shooting the woman in the abdominal area. The woman was flown to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The 36-year-old Dumfries man was arrested and charged with aggravated malicious wounding and use of a firearm to commit a felony.
With the kind of money that has passed through this country we should be enjoying a much higher standard of living and a much better and safer life. As it stands, billions continue to be thrown at projects and plans with little results.
'The humanity displayed by ordinary, lower middle class residents of north east Delhi -- Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs -- will be remembered perhaps even more than the evil wrought in the riots,' notes Jyoti Punwani.

IMAGE: Sashastra Seema Bal personnel walk past burnt and damaged shops at Gokalpuri market in north east Delhi. Photograph: Kamal Kishore/PTI Photo

More than 50 dead in five days, most of them killed in mob violence. Roughly 75% of those dead belong to one community.

The horrors that Delhi witnessed are still unfolding. But this is not the first time ordinary persons have turned on their neighbours with shocking brutality.

Seen against our long history of communal riots, where does Delhi stand?

The savagery reported from Delhi in just five days -- burning people alive in their homes, lynching to chants of 'Jai Shri Ram', throwing living persons into bonfires, chopping off limbs, mutilation of bodies -- were seen also in the Mumbai riots of 1992-1993.

The cruelties of Gujarat 2002 surpassed even Mumbai. And the three days that Sikhs were hunted down in 1984, perhaps the only communal violence which was not just State-sponsored but also a 100% one-sided massacre, surpassed both Mumbai and Gujarat.

Like in Mumbai and other major riots such as Hyderabad (1990), Bhagalpur (1989), and Bhiwandi-Mumbai (1984), in which both sides turned on each other, the Delhi violence was also preceded by a sustained communal campaign.

However, the way such campaigns are conducted now is radically different.

While earlier, Indian language newspapers would inflame passions with exaggerated accounts of deaths and lurid, fake reports of rapes, and paint just one community as victim, today you don't need to be literate to be exposed to motivated half-truths.

Just like rumours find their way into people's ears, today, simply watching the 9 o'clock news or having a smartphone is enough for the hatred to reach you.

This poison comes at you non-stop, and it has been doing so for the past five years.

Given this, the many reports coming from Delhi of Hindus and Muslims risking the wrath of mobs and saving each other shows that the Hindutvawadis have not achieved their objective completely.

They achieved their main goal: Power at the Centre, with their cadres in all important posts, many of them openly displaying their hatred for minorities.

But on the ground, there are obviously enough Hindus who don't see their Muslim neighbours as their 'enemy', even when communal violence rages all around them.

The same goes for Muslims. Instead of seeing mobs of their own community as avengers of all the lynchings that have taken place in the last six years, all of which they have seen on their phones, north east Delhi's Muslims saw in their Hindu neighbours ordinary terrified people, not faceless evil BJP supporters.

There were instances of ordinary people risking their lives for the the 'other' reported from Mumbai in 1992-1993 too, but not to the extent we saw in Delhi.

One wonders why. Was the poison systematically spread by the Ayodhya movement that began in 1986 and kept growing in strength till 1992, more potent?

Was the Shiv Sena's rhetoric more powerful than the Delhi election campaign?

Or was the reason simpler -- the lack of social media then, that didn't amplify those instances?

IMAGE: Displaced riot victims at a relief camp in Mustafabad. Photograph: Manvender Vashist/PTI Photo

Whatever the reason, the humanity displayed by ordinary, lower middle class residents of north east Delhi -- Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs -- will be remembered perhaps even more than the evil wrought in the riots.

The toxicity of social media didn't affect these heroes and heroines. Indeed, Delhi has shown that social media can be a boon too.

The Delhi riots are probably the first to be followed on Twitter, and the platform is being put to maximum use. The AAP government is being alerted to those victims who are particularly in need of help, and the government is responding.

But it is in raising funds for the victims that a record is being set. Never before have people across the world, not just the country, rallied around for victims of communal violence as quickly as is happening for Delhi's victims.

Lakhs of rupees have been raised for a range of victims, including heroes such as 29-year-old auto rickshaw driver Premkant Baghel who sustained 70% burns while saving his Muslim neighbour's mother.

Those donating for medical expenses, education, rebuilding houses and livelihoods, belong to both communities. This itself is a big step towards lessening the bitterness and resentment towards the other community, that any victim of communal violence is bound to feel.

Normally, such attempts to bring the two estranged communities closer take years.

IMAGE: Policemen outside a burning shop in the Gokulpuri area of north east Delhi, February 26, 2020. Photograph: PTI Photo

But while the good that the Delhi violence brought out will be remembered for long, so will one evil that has emerged from Day One -- the role of the police.

In this respect, the Delhi riots were no different from any other. For the nth time, the Hindutvawadis's old, triumphant slogan: 'Yeh andar ki baat hai, police hamaarey saath hai' has been validated.

A riot where 75% of those killed are from the minority community and the majority of deaths are due to mob violence, not police firing, can only lead to one conclusion: Rioters from the majority community were allowed a free hand by the police.

Statistics are enough to tell the story: 16 mosques were vandalised or burnt, not one temple was similarly vandalised.

But this time, we don't have just statistics. We have video evidence too.

There are videos of cops joining in the stone throwing, and letting a Hindu mob run riot. But the most telling indictment of the police's role is the video which shows five Muslims being tormented by the police as they lie wounded. One of them, 23-year-old Faizan, died later after spending two days in police custody.

Both Hindus and Muslims complained that the cops didn't respond to their calls for help. The cops couldn't even save their own: One of them was killed and another badly injured on the very first day, and another was killed the next day.

Maybe initially the police were outnumbered. But what stopped reinforcements from being sent later?

And how does one explain the videos? The usual anti-Muslim prejudice of policemen? Revenge for the killing of their colleagues? Cops are known to go berserk whenever one of them is killed in a riot.

Will the cops in the videos be punished?

In the 2013 Dhule riot, videos had surfaced of cops damaging Muslim stalls and motorbikes. Two cops were suspended and six arrested. It is not known what happened to them.

Last year, the police in UP destroyed vehicles of Muslims after the community protested against the CAA. Far from punishing the cops, the UP CM has expressed pride in their 'tough' stand.

Punishing cops for violence against unarmed citizens is not something governments do, unless the victims belong to the ruling party. In Mumbai, not even the indictment of 31 cops by a judicial commission manned by a sitting high court judge helped. 27 years later, the only case where policemen have been charged, has just picked up pace.

In Hashimpura, Meerut, it took 31 years for 16 policemen to be convicted of killing 42 unarmed Muslims.

So, it will be up to Delhi's riot victims to fight this long David versus Goliath battle.

In Gujarat, many of the worst cases of the 2002 violence got justice because a range of NGOs, the National Human Rights Commission and the Supreme Court went out of their way to ensure justice.

Given the situation today, Delhi's fight will be harder. But if we don't undertake it, Delhi too will be forgotten as just another episode of communal violence where the State and society failed the victims.
A man is in custody in western Pennsylvania after authorities say he camouflaged himself in a wooded area and shot a school van full of children.

None of the seven elementary school students on board were injured in the incident that occurred Tuesday morning in Shenango Township, Lawrence County, WPXI is reporting.

The mans name has not yet been released, but police say he was found wearing a camouflage outfit in the woods off of Route 65 with at least two guns next to him, according to reports.

He denied shooting the van as he was led away by police.

The incident occurred around 9 a.m. Tuesday when a bullet shattered a side window of the Shenango Area School District van, passed through the van, and shattered a window on the other side, reports indicate.

WPXI reports a donation bin across the street from the wooded area had been shot several times, and police are trying to determine if that is connected and whether or not the van was targeted.

Police are still investigating, and the man is expected to be arraigned soon.

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.
PHILIPSBURG:--- The Larimar case is about corruption in Sint Maarten. It concerns payments of bribes around several major construction projects and money laundering. Several individuals are suspects in this case. Explanation of the case and evidence brought forward by the Prosecution can be found in the animation attached to this press release. https://youtu.be/A2XnDrhFTVA

Penalties demanded

Today, the Prosecutor presented its demands in the cases against the defendants H., P., E., and B.

The Prosecutor demanded a prison sentence of six and a half years for suspect H. and the deprivation of unlawfully obtained profits. A prison sentence of one year was demanded suspect B. The Prosecutor demanded community service of 140 hours for the suspects E. and P. The Prosecutor demanded a prison sentence of three years in the criminal case against the crown witness, M. (the consultant).

Projects

The charges included two one-time projects for which bribes have been paid: a dredging contract for the port and the construction of the Causeway Bridge. In addition, the case concerns the long-standing and structural relationship that existed between a local construction company and politicians on Sint Maarten. A fixed amount had been agreed to be paid monthly and a percentage for each project.

Crown witness

An agreement has been made with the suspect M., where the Prosecutor will demand a lower sentence in exchange for testimony against the other defendants. This agreement has been cross-checked based on three criteria: the seriousness of the offense, the least far-carrying measures, and reliability. The fact that the current Code of Criminal Procedure of Sint Maarten has no regulation for this is not an obstacle, such agreements are recognized and permitted in the case-law of the Supreme Court.

Quotes from the charges

The Prosecutor addressed the perception that in this case real Sint Maarteners were being unfairly and harshly judged, while there was more lenience towards the Dutchies. This perception is incorrect. The Dutch construction companies involved in this case did not escape prosecution. The Office of the Public Prosecutor and the Fiscal Intelligence and Investigation Service (FIOD), in the Netherlands, has started an investigation into this company. The statements of the crown witness, in this case, play an important role.

The Dutch parent company of the construction company on Sint Maarten will not get away with a slap on the wrist, but it will have to pay a monetary penalty of $2 million. This is to be paid in the form of a project for Country Sint Maarten. The former director of this company, one of the five suspects, also stood trial this week. Although the crown witness has been granted a lesser sentence, he is still facing a three-year prison term. While the deprivation of the crown witness unlawfully acquired assets may be deemed modest, on the other hand, he must relinquish real estate and the life he had built up.

Therefore the Sint Maarten politician is not the only one who pays a price for the long duration of criminal offenses. He can be seen as the driving force behind a number of developments and construction projects that are important for St. Maarten, such as the expansion of cruise tourism to the island and the construction of the Causeway Bridge. However, this is and should not be an excuse for corruption.

Moreover certainly not if this corruption means that the taxpayer pays millions more for government projects so that H. can also fill his own pockets. As a result, the peoples trust in the public administration of Sint Maarten has been violated.

PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE PRESS RELEASE.
Witnesses testifying in the trial of four men accused of shooting down Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 needed "extraordinary" levels of protection due to fears that Russia wants to silence them, prosecutors have said.

Thijs Berger, a prosecution lawyer, told judges at Amsterdam's Schiphol Judicial Centre yesterday that several witnesses had requested anonymity and "feared for their lives" if their identities became known.

"There are strong indications that the Russian government is very keen to thwart this investigation and that it is not averse to deploying the Russian security services to this end," he said.

"They have been accused of multiple murders in recent years committed in various European countries."

He appeared to be referring to the GRU, the military intelligence agency that the UK government believed carried out the chemical attack in Salisbury in 2018 on Sergei Skripal, the former spy.

Dutch authorities said they had recovered a laptop used to hack Malaysian police investigating the plane crash when they arrested four GRU suspects in The Hague in 2018.

Prosecutors said those in need of special protection included a Russian who claimed to have been at the launch site from which the missile that destroyed the plane was fired.

He said those there were "initially pleased, because they were told a military transport plane had been shot down. However, when the first people returned from the crash site, they said it was a civilian aircraft".

Flight MH17 was en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur when it came down over Ukraine on July 17, 2014, killing everyone on board.
The House on Wednesday passed a long-term extension of surveillance powers that are due to expire in just four days, capping off weeks of chaotic maneuvering by various camps on Capitol Hill over the controversial provisions.

The bill, negotiated by the House Judiciary and Intelligence committees and which received the backing of Republicans such as Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, passed 278-136.

Senate GOP leaders intend to bring the legislation up for a vote on Thursday, per multiple senators and aides. However, the timetable for final passage is murky, pending possible procedural moves from Republican Sens. Rand Paul (Ky) and Mike Lee (Utah).

Its also unclear if President Donald Trumps will sign the bill if it reaches his desk.

Last week, Trump told GOP lawmakers he wouldnt support an extension of the sunsetting authorities without major changes to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, according to multiple attendees.

The president has lashed out previously at FBI surveillance tactics. Trump most recently seized on a DOJ watchdog report that detailed failures by the agency in obtaining a FISA warrant to monitor Carter Page in late 2016, weeks after he departed the Trump campaign as a foreign policy adviser.

The presidents objections are an awkward obstacle in an already complex path to reauthorizing the provisions and became another example of how his rhetoric was interfering his own administrations national security objectives.

The measure now heads to the Senate, where it could still face a filibuster.

On Wednesday, Lee said he would "use every option at my disposal to stop the House bill and to offer up amendments."

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., walks to the Senate chamber at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Feb. 13, 2020. The Senate has approved a bipartisan measure aimed at limiting President Donald Trump's authority to launch military operations against Iran. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

There are a lot of procedural tools at our disposal, the Utah Republican said, adding he would call the president and urge him to veto the bill.

Paul likewise said that he is pushing for an amendment stating that FISA warrants cant be used on Americans and no information gathered in the FISA court can be used to convict an American.

Story continues

The objections could scuttle the bipartisan deal negotiated in part by Attorney General William Barr.

Barr told GOP senators that he could institute new oversight of FISA before Trumps comments contradicted him. Barr, who met with House Republicans in McCarthys office earlier this week, also made a number of tweaks to get the administrations support, which he announced earlier on Wednesday.

The bill contains an array of new requirements and compliance provisions that will protect against abuse and misuse in the future while ensuring that this critical tool is available when appropriate to protect the safety of the American people, Barr said in a statement.

Immediately following the House vote, senior GOP senators  including Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.), Intelligence Chairman Richard Burr (N.C.) and Judiciary Chairman Lindsey Graham (S.C.)  announced their support for the bipartisan bill.

We strongly support this legislation and urge all of our Senate colleagues to join us, they said in a joint statement.

Burr previously predicted that Trump would end up signing the bill, given the amount of GOP support.

I dont think he would have any objection, he told POLITICO.

A senior administration official said the president "remains open" but wants to ensure that all voices are heard.

The measure closely resembles the bill Democrats weeks ago scrapped a vote on after Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) revealed she planned to introduce a series of amendments that enjoyed bipartisan support from progressives and libertarians.

The new legislation includes a series of provisions meant to temper Trumps fiercest congressional allies, who have raged about FISA since shortly after the 2016 presidential election. It increases the criminal penalties for FISA misuse, including presenting false information to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court.

The House bill would end the National Security Agencys call detail records program. The effort, which allowed the agency to gather the data of Americans telephone calls and text messages with court approval, was deactivated last year following years of technical headaches. A recent watchdog report found the dormant program cost $100 million and led to just one investigation in four years.

It would also extend other surveillance tools, predominantly used by the FBI and created shortly after 9/11, for another three years.

House Progressive Caucus leaders Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) and Mark Pocan (D-Wisc.) condemned the bill, saying it was insufficient to protect the civil rights and liberties of the American public.

Prior to the vote, House Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) admitted: It is by no means a perfect bill.

But, he said, it includes important reforms.



Andrew Desiderio contributed to this report.
The council of judges on Wednesday afternoon proceeded to question Kem Sokha about his stated adherence to nonviolence and attempted to impeach his character by associating him with the violent policies of exiled opposition leader Sam Rainsy.

The council of judges line of questioning was similar to the prosecutions assertion a few weeks ago that Kem Sokhas repeated claims  in old speeches and stated political policies  that he only followed nonviolent strategies was moot because he associated with Sam Rainsy to form the Cambodia National Rescue Party.

Judge Seng Leang, one of the three judges in the case, questioned Kem Sokha for around 45 minutes over his decision to merge the Human Rights Party with the Sam Rainsy Party in 2012 to form the CNRP.

Seng Leang asked Kem Sokha about his decision to join the exiled opposition leader, who was frequently called a violent person in court, based solely on video clips of speeches played in court, where he was seen talking about wanting to change and overthrow the government.

Why did you merge with Sam Rainsy who is accused [of crimes] and a prisoner of the country Seng Leang said.

Why didnt you merge with someone who was more clean? he asked.

Seng Leang continued this line of questioning, even though Kem Sokha admitted that there were occasions when he didnt completely agree with what Sam Rainsy said publicly, but would have stopped working with the exiled opposition leader if he had acted violently.

However, Seng Leang did not let up, continuing to question Kem Sokha about his merger with Sam Rainsy.

When there are two leaders, one who supports violence and the other who does not, how do you work together? Seng Leang asked.

Did you convince Sam Rainsy to comply with nonviolent policies or did he convince you to comply with violent policies? His standpoint was based on violence.

It was unclear why Judge Sang Leang chose to engage in this line of questioning or how it was related to the elements of the alleged crime of treason. Article 443 of the Criminal Code relating to Conspiracy with foreign power requires a secret agreement with a foreign state or its agent with a view of fomenting hostilities or acts of aggression against the Kingdom of Cambodia.

Seang Leang also asked Kem Sokha if there was any foreign assistance to form the CNRP in 2012, to draft the joint statement announcing the merger, and if the partys internal policies were drafted with international assistance.

At one point, Seng Leang even implied that it was not technically possible to merge Human Rights Party and Sam Rainsy Party after only a two-day meeting in Manilla, Philippines, questioning if there was assistance before Kem Sokha and Sam Rainsy met.

It seems like a very fast and quick meeting, he said. Are you sure this joint statement was drafted in Manilla? Was there any foreigner in the meeting?

Kem Sokha repeatedly rejected receiving any foreign assistance during the formation or following the establishment of the CNRP, insisting that there was an abundance of international and domestic advice given to him over the years, but that he acted of his own volition.

The opposition leader did say that international groups, such as Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, had helped, through their trainings and workshops, to hone the partys internal policies, but again repeated that such groups were not involved in the formation of the CNRP. He added that all political parties had received similar assistance.

Towards the end of the hearing, prosecutor Vong Bun Visoth picked up Seng Leangs line of questioning, asking Kem Sokha if he regretted joining Sam Rainsy to form the CNRP.

Now after knowing that he is violent, do you have any regrets? Bun Visoth asked.

Then why did Samdech Hun Sen pardon him if he knew [Sam Rainsy was violent], said Kem Sokha, referring to a royal pardon given to Sam Rainsy prior to the 2013 elections.

The trial will continue on Thursday with the court possibly looking at Kem Sokhas activities during the 2013 general election.
Athens, March 11 : All schools and universities across Greece will be closed for 14 days to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, Health Minister Vassilis Kikilias has announced.

The measure applies to all levels, from kindergarten to tertiary education, public and private and is taken after suggestions of the ministry's committee of experts, the Minister said on Tuesday, Xinhua news agency reported.

"Once again I stress that we should all demonstrate responsibility," Kikilias said, requesting parents to keep children at home.

In coordination with employers' associations, the government has announced measures to facilitate employees to work from home or in shifts and support affected businesses, he added.

Greece has reported a total of 89 confirmed cases of COVID-19 so far since the first one was reported on February 26.

Greek businessman Vangelis Marinakis, owner of Olympiacos FC and Nottingham Forest FC, announced on Tuesday that he is among the infected.

"I feel good as I take all the necessary measures and am complying with the doctors' instructions. I advise all my fellow citizens to do the same. A speedy recovery to us all," he said in a post on his Facebook account.

Marinakis had travelled to Britain lately.

So far most cases in Greece are linked to travellers who returned from Italy and a group who had travelled to Israel and Egypt, and their close contacts.

One of the cases, an elderly man hospitalized in western Greece since last week, was in a critical condition, according to the Greek Health Ministry.

Greek authorities have introduced a series of measures to contain the epidemic, reiterating calls to the public to follow experts' instructions.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
New Delhi, March 12 : Venky Venkatesh, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of news agency Press Trust of India (PTI) has resigned.

The reasons for the resignation are not known. Venkatesh had been appointed PTI Chief Executive in July, 2016. Prior to that, he was HT Media Ltd's Chief Learning Officer.

Venkatesh had spent 10 years at HT Media. He had also worked as the business head for HT Media in north and east. He is an alumnus of the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad and started his career with Hindustan Unilever Ltd.
WASHINGTON - A top Senate Republican abruptly canceled plans to subpoena records and testimony from an official connected to a Ukrainian firm that once employed the son of former vice president Joe Biden.

The decision by Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, comes as Democrats have attacked the probe as being politically motivated, especially as Joe Biden surges in his bid for the Democratic presidential nomination and the chance to face President Donald Trump. Some have warned it could play into Russian efforts to spread disinformation ahead of the presidential election in November.

In a message Wednesday to members of the panel, sent roughly an hour before a planned vote, Johnson said he would indefinitely postpone the subpoena for documents and testimony from Andrii Telizhenko, a Ukrainian national who worked for a U.S. lobbying firm that acted on behalf of Burisma, the Ukrainian energy company that employed Hunter Biden as a board member.

Johnson said he was doing so "[o]ut of an abundance of caution, and to allow time for [senators] to receive additional briefings."

But Johnson indicated that the investigation would continue. He said in an interview Wednesday that he would instead seek to directly subpoena the lobbying firm, Blue Star Strategies.

"My concern is they have not been cooperative," he said. "If we can get all the record, get all the answers, that's great. If not, we're going to have to continue and use other measures."

While Johnson said he withdrew plans for the Telizhenko subpoena to win bipartisan support for his probe, the bigger issue may have been qualms among his fellow Republicans.

Two GOP panel members, Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah and Rob Portman of Ohio, signaled discomfort with the subpoena. Romney, after initially criticizing the appearance that the probe was politically motivated, announced last week he would vote for the subpoena. Portman privately expressed concerns about the reliability of any information Telizhenko might share.

Portman declined to answer when asked whether he withheld his vote for the Telizhenko subpoena, forcing Johnson to change course. "I think he's made the right decision," he said.

Romney also praised the move: "I applaud his decision to take a close look at this and to see if we could find a proposal that meets with the support of both parties.

Asked whether he had the votes to move forward with the Telizhenko subpoena, Johnson said, "Yes, at some point."

"It is what it is," he added. "We will continue to iron out the discrepancies that were raised over the last couple days, and I can't really get into much more than that."

Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., the top Democrat on the committee, had called for additional intelligence and law enforcement briefings for panel members on, among other things, whether pursuing investigations of the Bidens and Burisma was assisting the ongoing Russian campaign to interfere in western elections.

"I appreciate the chairman's willingness to work with me and all of our committee members regarding significant concerns about foreign election interference," Peters said. "I look forward to working with Chairman Johnson to get these intelligence community briefings for our committee members. In the meantime, our committee should focus on addressing pressing threats like coronavirus to keep Americans safe."

Peters and the panel's other Democrats objected to the Telizhenko subpoena, forcing the planned vote Wednesday.

Hunter Biden served on the board of Burisma, earning significant pay, at a time when his father was acting on behalf of the Obama administration to combat corruption in Ukraine. But no evidence has emerged to suggest that Joe Biden acted in his family's interest in that capacity.

The investigation is already playing a role in the presidential campaign - barely a month after the Republican-led Senate acquitted Trump on impeachment charges based on his efforts to get Ukraine to investigate the Bidens.

The pro-Trump Great America super PAC on Wednesday launched a digital ad campaign attacking Joe Biden, a day after he solidified his claim to the Democratic presidential nomination by winning primaries in Michigan and several other states.

"Why is the U.S. Senate investigating Joe Biden's family?" the ad asks, laying out a thinly sourced case that Biden acted to benefit his son and calling him "Quid Pro Quo Joe."
(KANSAS CITY, Mo.) More than 580 people will be out of jobs when Hy-Vee closes a fulfillment center in Kansas City, according to a notice from the company to Missouris job department.

According to the notice, the fulfillment center will permanently close May 6 as Hy-Vee transfers operations to its retail stores.

Up to 583 will lose their jobs, the notice states, but Hy-Vee said it will be discussing other employment opportunities with some of them.

It says the employees laid off are not members of a union, according to the notice.

By federal law, the company is required to give the government notice 60 days before a facility closes.

About half of Hy-Vees 260 retail stores are in Iowa, while the rest are spread throughout the Midwest in Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. Hy-Vee employs more than 83,000 workers with sales of $10 billion annually.
It is time to think of including Muslims of the countries where they are in minority in the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), said BJD MP Pinaki Misra on Wednesday.

Speaking in the Lok Sabha, Misra said: "We've supported the CAA. Women in their mid-80s are sitting in protest at Shaheen Bagh. Perhaps this is time to think of including Muslims from countries in this region where they are in minority. This will give them a feeling that the government cares for them."

The CAA grants citizenship to Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi, and Christian refugees from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan who came to in India on or before December 31, 2014.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
OTTAWAThere is no credible evidence to support the federal allegation Elena Crenna spied against Canada on behalf of Moscow, the womans lawyer told a judge Wednesday.

On the contrary, Crenna assured a Russian security agent that a Canadian-led housing project was a humanitarian effort aimed at helping the former Soviet Union, lawyer Arghavan Gerami said during a Federal Court hearing.

She told the agent the Canadians were doing a good thing, Gerami said.

The Russian-born Crenna, 58, is asking the court to reverse an immigration adjudicators decision to bar her from Canada over events that unfolded a quarter-century ago.

After listening to arguments from Gerami and federal lawyer Susanne Wladysiuk, Justice Henry Brown indicated Wednesday he would rule on the matter soon, meaning a decision could come as early as this spring.

The tale began in 1994 when Canadian David Crenna hired Elena Filatova  whom he would later marry  as an interpreter and public-relations representative on the wood-frame housing project in Tver, Russia.

An agent from the FSB, a Russian security agency, contacted her to ask questions about the project and David gave her permission to speak with him in the interest of being transparent and forthcoming.

Elena and the agent met a total of about seven times over a period of years.

Elena did not solicit details about the Tver project from anyone so she could pass them to the agent, Gerami said Wednesday.

She did not have access to secret information, nor was any secret information gathered or shared with the FSB, Gerami said.

Mrs. Crenna did not spy against Canada. There was simply no credible evidence to support these allegations.

In August 1994, David and Elena began a romantic relationship that ended when the housing project concluded in 1996. However, they reconnected in 2008 and were married four years later.

In the interim, Elena had moved to California to work as a nurse and she obtained U.S. citizenship in 2004. She came to Canada in September 2013 to live with David, applying for permanent residence under his sponsorship.

Following admissibility hearings, immigration officials gave her approval to stay in 2018. But the federal government successfully appealed the decision.

In its ruling last June, the appeal division of the Immigration and Refugee Board found Elena had engaged in acts of espionage contrary to Canadas interests and issued a deportation order against her.

The government dismisses Elenas argument that her conversations with the Russian security agent were routine and humdrum, saying the nature of the information is not relevant when it comes to espionage.

Brown also played down the idea, saying the material could have been very important to the Russians.

However, the judge appeared to have difficulty understanding Wladysiuks argument that Elena should be turned away from Canada even though she disclosed to David, her employer, that she was speaking with the agent.

I see a problem with that. Help me with it, Brown said.

Wladysiuk suggested that Elena could have told David she would simply refuse to meet with the FSB.

Gerami rejected the notion Elena had a choice. Mrs. Crenna did the only thing that she could do. That, in itself, doesnt make her a spy.

David, 75, sat attentively through the hearing without his wife.

For now, Elena has voluntarily left Canada for the United States to avoid the stress and embarrassment of being forcibly removed, Gerami said.
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Amazing! A 11-year-old Kolkata boy creates app to donate unused medicines



Eleven-year-old Yuvraj Shah from Kolkata has created an app that can significantly improve healthcare for the underprivileged by helping them access expensive medicines easily. Across India, many underprivileged people dont have access to medicines which often leads to even common illnesses sometimes posing severe life risk. Sometimes, there's also shortage of medicines in the government hospitals due to which even patients who are covered under governments healthcare scheme and cannot afford medicines have to purchase them from private shops. To tackle this, Yuvraj has created the Medmaze App, which helps people to donate their unused but not expired medicine to government hospitals.



He was even selected by EdTech startup White Hat Jr, as one of 12 students who would get to go to Silicon Valley to meet Google scientists, Waymo engineers and noted venture capitalists. One day, Yuvraj noticed that his grandfathers medicine was not being used after he finished the required dosage and realized that many unused medicines could save lives when he saw leftover medicines being thrown out after the expiry date. Usually, a doctor prescribes medicines to a patient for the complete course of treatment that may last several weeks. The patient goes and buys medicines from the pharmacy for the entire course of treatment.



However, in most of the cases, the patient gets cured before he consumes the entire set of medicines and stops taking the medicines as soon as he or she gets cured. This leads to a lot of unused medicines in every household. This gave the 11-year-old the idea of creating an app that could help people donate unused medicines so others could benefit from them. While learning coding on the WhiteHat Jr platform, Yuvraj thought of using his learning to create an app to solve this issue and help people in need. This is when he decided to build the Medmaze App. The app allows individuals to connect with the nearest government hospital and donate the leftover medicines. The hospitals can in turn give them to those who cannot afford them. Read More...


President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov have been joined by their delegations for a meeting in an expanded format.

It was noted that relations between Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan were those of strategic partnership. The significance of regular reciprocal visits of the presidents of Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan was stressed. They emphasized that nearly 20 documents would be signed today during the visit of the President of Turkmenistan and more than 20 bilateral documents were signed during the visit of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan to Turkmenistan in 2018, adding this contributes to the expansion of the bilateral legal base. Common ethnic roots, cultures and traditions of the peoples of Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan were underlined.

Close cooperation between the two countries in international organizations, particularly in the UN, Non-Aligned Movement and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation was praised, and the sides said that the two countries had always supported each other's initiatives.

They hailed the increase in trade and transportation between the two countries.

The Caspian Sea was described as what united Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan, and the sides noted the historical importance of the Convention on the legal status of the Caspian Sea.

They exchanged views on cooperation in energy, agricultural, scientific, educational, tourism, cultural, sports and other areas.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
NASHVILLE, Tenn., March 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Health Connect Partners announced earlier this week it will reschedule the following 2020 Spring events: Radiology & Imaging Conference, Hospital O.R. & Surgical Conference and the Hospital Supply Chain Conference. Previously scheduled for March 16-18, all three conferences will now take place from May 20-22, 2020 at The Hyatt Regency Hotel in New Orleans, La.

The 2020 Spring Pharmacy Conference and 2020 Spring Hospital and Health System I.T. Conference are still scheduled for May 18-20, and those events also will be held at The Hyatt Regency Hotel in New Orleans.

All conferences feature the company's signature Reverse Expo format, which allows the providers to man the booths while suppliers walk the floor. Educational sessions are open to everyone and attendees can earn up to six CEUs per conference. Hospitality events and receptions offer attendees extensive networking opportunities.

"We want to thank all our providers and suppliers for their understanding and we look forward to hosting all five conferences in May in New Orleans," said David Mason, co-founder and CEO, Health Connect Partners. "Our conference attendees can expect the same valuable networking and educational experience that helps build meaningful industry connections and keeps them coming back year after year."

Health Connect Partners, Inc., (HCP) is a healthcare education firm focused on bringing the very best in education to healthcare providers and their suppliers. The company's mission is to provide the best in healthcare education and networking so providers learn real solutions and suppliers understand their real needs. HCP brings together providers and suppliers through industry-specific conferences, including Hospital Pharmacy, Hospital O.R. & Surgery, Hospital Radiology & Imaging, Hospital Healthcare IT and Hospital Supply Chain. HCP conferences are designed to provide the optimum environment for networking and relationship building between providers and suppliers. For more information, visit HLTHCP.com.

MEDIA CONTACT: Robin Embry, Lovell Communications Inc., [email protected]

SOURCE Health Connect Partners

Related Links

https://www.hlthcp.com


As Syracuse University, Cornell University and other colleges move classes online due to concerns about the coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak, a potential economic crisis looms for Central New York.

City of Ithaca Mayor Svante Myrick told the Ithaca Voice that New York state and the federal government will likely need to help recover financially from the impact of the virus that has infected more than 1,000 people in the United States. Cornell, which has more than 21,000 students in Ithaca, announced Tuesday that all classes will be online starting April 6, telling students not to return to campus after spring break later this month.

I already spoke with the decision-makers at Cornell and expressed to them my deep concern as to what this will mean for our local business and workers and what it will mean for them. Lost jobs, lost shifts. At hotels, restaurants, bars, and retail stores all through Tompkins County, this could be a shock unlike we have ever seen before, Myrick told the Voice on Tuesday.

There is no plan for losing the business of the two or three biggest spending months from students. The school said they would work with us, their first priority is preventing a larger public health crisis, and I support that. But I have asked them to work with us, as well as the state and federal governments, to develop a plan that will support our local economy and make sure that all the pain isnt borne on the back of our lowest-paid workers.

Syracuse University Vice Chancellor Michael Haynie told syracuse.com that SU had a moral obligation to prevent further spread of the coronavirus. Young adults are reportedly less vulnerable to the contagious virus, but can spread it; roughly 50 percent of SU students come from affected areas like downstate New York, southern California, northern New Jersey and China.

We think it really is in the best interest of not just the campus community but Central New York," said Haynie, who has been appointed the schools coronavirus czar. If you look at what we know so far about the coronavirus, young people, people the ages of most of our students, the complications from the virus really are most pronounced in older individuals. What that highlights to us is we have a moral obligation to think about the community broadly, but also our faculty and our staff.

Other schools that are closing or partially closing include: Colgate University, Harvard University, Columbia, Princeton, Rice, Stanford University, Hofstra, University of California, Berkeley, and the University of Washington. Many businesses and restaurants near colleges rely on students to remain profitable, but the full extent of the impact remains to be seen.

"How do we keep people healthy and how do you keep our economy moving? Im prepared to do everything that we can do at the city level, Myrick told the Voice.

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.
What happened

Fears around the economic impacts of the coronavirus outbreak continue to drive extreme volatility following the World Health Organization's (WHO) decision today to formally declare the crisis a pandemic. Tech stocks, particularly those with generous valuations, have taken a beaten.

Here's how the disease could impact these companies.

So what

When reporting fourth-quarter results last month, Nutanix warned that the outbreak was impacting demand in its Asia-Pacific-Japan (APJ) geographic segment. In response, the company reduced its billings guidance for 2020.

Nutanix has also started to pause hiring activities amid the uncertainty, while monitoring to see if the disease continues to spread into other countries. Unfortunately, the virus is gaining momentum in certain regions like Europe and parts of the U.S.

Ridesharing leader Uber hasn't provided much commentary regarding the coronavirus beyond vague and relatively generic acknowledgments in its recent 10-K annual report. However, domestic rival Lyft has suggested that Uber will feel more of a negative impact since Uber operates in far more countries around the world. Lyft has seen an uptick in demand that's partially related to an incremental shift in consumer demand from public transit to private ridesharing.

Online review platform Yelp should face relatively less risk related to the coronavirus compared to other tech companies. Like Uber, Yelp didn't mention the outbreak in its latest earnings release but snuck in generic risk factor legalese in its 10-K. The company merely said that public health crises such as the COVID-19 outbreak could "have a substantial impact on employee attendance or productivity."

Home-listing site Zillow has not acknowledged the pandemic in earnings releases, conference calls, or even its annual report. As investors flock to bonds, prices are rising and pushing down yields, which affect mortgage rates. "Much remains unknown with this virus and its potential impact on human life and economic activity," Zillow economist Matthew Speakman told MarketWatch recently. "COVID-19 is here, and it will continue to be the main driver of mortgage rate movements in the coming weeks."

As an edge cloud platform, Fastly is also unlikely to see direct impacts to demand from the crisis. The company has not commented on how the coronavirus may impact its financial results, but instead notes that it has taken "temporary precautionary measures intended to help minimize the risk" to various stakeholders. Those measures include temporarily requiring all employees to work remotely and suspending all non-essential travel. The precautionary steps may potentially hurt productivity or sales efforts.

Now what

Concerns around the coronavirus aren't going away anytime soon, so investors should expect more volatility going forward as the world grapples with the worst pandemic in over a decade.
As part of a special anti-narcotics drive, the Haryana Police arrested two people with 500 gm of heroin worth around Rs 1 crore in Sirsa district, police said.

A team of the Crime Investigation Agency had got a tip-off in this regard after which they started checking vehicles, a spokesperson of the state police department said here.

Initial investigation revealed that the accused--identified as Ramandeep Singh, alias Sona, and Pragat Singh, alias Kaka--brought the seized contraband from Delhi.

They intended to supply it in Odhan and Kalanwali in Haryana and adjoining areas of Punjab, the spokesperson said in a statement.

He said after getting the secret input, the CIA team started checking vehiclesnear Ding Mor in Sirsa.

When the police team signalled a car coming from the Fatehabad side to stop for checking, they tried to flee.

"When searched, 500 gm of heroin was recovered from their possession. A case under the NDPS Act has been registered," the spokesperson said.

A case under the NDPS Act has already been registered against Pragat Singh at the Lambi police station in Punjab's Muktsar district, he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Petroleos Mexicanos has been in an unrelenting downward spiral for decades. Pemex, Mexicos state-owned oil company, has seen a vast and speedy decline of its production rates for the last 15 years, and at times it has vied for position as the most indebted oil company in the world, with about $105 billion of bonds and loans outstanding, according to the Wall Street Journal, a figure that has almost certainly grown since that figure was released last year.

Leftist Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who won the 2018 presidential election in a landslide, used his planned improvements for Pemex as a central part of his platform. He promised to revive the ailing production numbers, crack down on the companys rampant corruption scandals, and put an end to Mexicos brazen and voluminous fuel theft. So far, many of those strategies have backfired.

President Lopez Obradors flagship Pemex revival project has been the Dos Bocas refinery in his home state of Tabasco. The project was determined by experts to be dead in the water before developers had even broken ground on the refinery that the president promised would be the first step in the long road of recovery to making Mexican oil production great again. Now, the Presidents pet project is getting even more negative attention amidst concerning and widespread reporting that the development has caused widespread and illegal environmental damage, including the destruction of protected mangroves. Related: The Oil Price War Has Only Just Begun

As for cracking down on corruption, Lopez Obrador did take serious steps to clean out some of the long-corrupt ranks of Pemex, but the backlash was severe as investors fled amidst the turmoil. The company reported a 36 billion-peso ($1.9 billion U.S. dollars) loss in the first quarter after Lopez Obrador took the helm, and Moodys Investors Service dropped the company to its lowest investment-grade rating last summer. Instead of instilling more confidence in investors that Pemex is heading in the right direction, the sweeping corruption probes have, in fact, give many investors pause by adding to the perception that the company is both unstable and vulnerable, Oilprice reported in July. Investors are less interested in seeing [Lopez Obradors administration] root out bad apples at Pemex than they are in his containing the spreading rot on its balance sheet, Bloomberg Businessweek reported in the same week. At more than $100 billion, its debt is the biggest of any oil company.

Now, as crude prices drop and markets experience major volatility between the corona virus and the oil price war raging between Russia, Saudi Arabia, and the United States, Pemex has been hit hard--really hard. On Tuesday the companys bonds hit a record low, and in the last quarter, their losses were a devastating $9 billion. Related: Only 5 Shale Drillers Are Still Profitable At $31 Oil

Despite this, officials from Pemex claim that there will be no direct harm to the Mexican government's budget. As reported by Reuters earlier this week, Mexico's Finance Minister Arturo Herrera said on Tuesday a $1.37 billion hedge program completely covered 2020 national oil income following a steep drop in crude prices. Speaking on Mexican TV network Televisa, Herrera told his interviewer that, on the income side we're covered, there will not be a direct impact on the budget," Herrera said in a interview with TV station Televisa.

The Reuters report continues: In January, the government said the finance ministry's hedge had a total cost of $1.37 billion. It has not disclosed how many barrels the hedge covers but said it had secured the price of $49 a barrel set in the 2020 budget. Mexico produces some 1.73 million barrels of crude a day.

This rate of production is not enough to keep Pemex afloat, and, as such, the company has been bleeding money for years, making it reliant on government handouts. The protection is largely provided by put options, a financial instrument, Reuters specifies, but most years also includes backing from a budget stabilization fund to guarantee government revenue. Its looking extremely unlikely that this year will be an exception.

By Haley Zaremba for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
NASA is keeping watch for more potential impacts the new coronavirus may have on the U.S. space program after one of the agency's research centers had to send employees home this week after a case, according to the agency's chief Jim Bridenstine.

"As the coronavirus (COVID-19) situation evolves, we'll continue to closely monitor and coordinate with federal, state, and community officials to take any further appropriate steps to help safeguard the NASA family," Bridenstine said in a statement Monday (March 9), one day after an employee at the agency's Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley tested positive for the coronavirus.

On Monday, NASA ordered all but the most essential employees at the Ames Research Center (which is located at Moffett Field) to work from home, with the center itself placed on restricted access. The center will remain in that work-from-home condition through at least Friday (March 13), Ames officials said in an update today (March 11). All work-related travel is also cancelled for the week, they said.

Here's a look at Bridenstine's full statement, some of which we've reported on before.

Related: Coronavirus in the U.S.; Map, case counts and news

"On Sunday, March 8, we received confirmation an employee at NASA's Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley tested positive for the coronavirus (COVID-19). We believe the exposure at the center has been limited, but  out of an abundance of caution, and in consultation with Ames' Center Director Eugene Tu, NASA Chief Health and Medical Officer Dr. J.D. Polk, and in accordance to agency response plan  Ames Research Center is temporarily on mandatory telework status with restricted access to the center until further notice.

"Limiting personnel at the center will allow Ames medical personnel and public health officials to determine potential contacts and assess areas that may require additional cleaning and mitigate potential exposure to center personnel. Working with county officials, Ames leadership and medical personnel are working to trace the contacts of the employee and notifying individuals who may have had significant contact with that person.

"Access to Ames is restricted to essential personnel only as required to safeguard life, property, and critical mission functions approved at the level of the associate center director. More guidance will follow for those who do not have equipment to work from home or who work in labs or other facilities requiring similar technical equipment that are fixed assets.

"In addition, due to the current uncertainty about the coronavirus situation in the United States and its potential impact on travel during the next few weeks, three NASA Earth Science airborne science campaigns slated to deploy across the country this spring have rescheduled their field activity until later in the year. The campaigns are DeltaX, Dynamics and Chemistry of the Summer Stratosphere (DCOTTS), and Sub-Mesoscale Ocean Dynamics Experiment (S-MODE), which would include flights from Ames. The scientific returns of these projects are not expected to be impacted by this change of plans.

"Last Fridays agencywide voluntary telework exercise was a good test of NASA's large-scale preparedness with no reported issues to the overall IT system. I've asked all NASA employees to continue to follow guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the agencys Chief Health and Medical Officer, and if they have questions, dont hesitate to talk with their supervisor.

"You've heard the agency's leadership say the protection and care of our NASA team is the top priority and critical to the success of the agencys mission, and it's true. As the coronavirus (COVID-19) situation evolves, we'll continue to closely monitor and coordinate with federal, state, and community officials to take any further appropriate steps to help safeguard the NASA family."

Email Tariq Malik at tmalik@space.com or follow him @tariqjmalik. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Instagram.
The ED said that the investigation further revealed that there are 78 companies owned by the accused and his family members and it needed to probe whether the money went into these companies.

A special court on Wednesday extended till March 16 the Enforcement Directorate (ED) custody of Yes Bank founder Rana Kapoor, arrested on money laundering charges.

Kapoor, while talking to reporters outside the court after the hearing, blamed the present management of the bank for its downfall, even as the ED told the special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court that he had sanctioned loans worth Rs 30,000 crore to different entities during his tenure as its head.

Kapoor, 62, former MD and CEO of the private bank, was arrested by the ED here on Sunday under provisions of the PMLA as he was allegedly not cooperating in the probe.

Earlier, he had been remanded in the ED custody till March 11.

As his remand ended on Wednesday, he was produced before special court judge P P Rajvaidya.

The court extended his ED custody till March 16 as the central investigating agency had sought it for further probe.

The ED told the court that loans worth Rs 30,000 crore were given to various entities when Kapoor was on the bank's panel.

"Of this, Rs 20,000 crore turned into bad debts. We need to be probe in great detail how the money has travelled," the agency told the court.

The ED said that the investigation further revealed that there are 78 companies owned by the accused and his family members and it needed to probe whether the money went into these companies.

The agency also told the court that it needed to ascertain whether he received kickbacks for these loans.

His lawyer Satish Maneshinde argued in the court that the ED was under pressure to find a "scapegoat" after a statement was made by Union finance minister that "someone would be held responsible" after the crisis came to light.

"They were under pressure to find some scapegoat. Because of one statement of the FM they raided Kapoor's house on bogus grounds," he said.

Maneshinde claimed that when Kapoor left the bank in 2019, its market capital was Rs 93,000 crore.

However, at present its stands at Rs 5,000 crore.

"He should not be made a 'fall guy' because the company has gone down. It's not that because of him the bank has gone down," the lawyer added.

The agency suspects that Rs 600 crore funds were part of the alleged kick-backs received as quid pro quo in the firm controlled by the Kapoor family.

It is alleged by the ED that Yes Bank bought debentures worth Rs 3,700 crore of DHFL, while the latter gave loan worth Rs 600 crore to a company owned by Kapoor's daughter.

"(Rana) Kapoor agreed to have taken Rs 600 crore. He used the amount to repay his previous loans taken in February 2017 and April 2018," his lawyer said.

Till date, interest amounting to Rs 130 crore has been paid, he said.

"Kapoor's daughter, who was a director of the company, has given security which is not only sufficient to pay Rs 600 crore, but more than that," the lawyer said.

Kapoors are in the process of settlement though it is due in 2023, he added.

"That money was taken much prior to the investment made by Yes Bank in debentures. So how can he is accused of receiving kickbacks?" his lawyer asked.

Talking to reporters outside the court, Kapoor claimed that it was during Ravneet Gill's tenure (as its MD and CEO) the bank "went down" and he (Kapoor) was in negotiation with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) officials to take over the bank again.

The RBI had last week 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.

It is alleged that DoIT Urban Ventures (India) Pvt Ltd, a firm linked to the Kapoor family, have received the funds when Yes Bank had an exposure of more than Rs 3,000 crore loans to DHFL, already being probed for purported financial irregularities and diversion of funds.

The bank, they said, allegedly did not initiate action to recover the loans from DHFL and the agency suspects that the Rs 600 crore funds were part of alleged kickbacks received as quid pro quo in the firm controlled by the Kapoor family.

Photograph: PTI Photo
Two brothers will be sentenced later this month after pleading guilty to sixteen livestock offences which occurred on their Oxfordshire farm.

James and Brynne Backhouse, sheep farmers from Ashdown Farm, near Didcot each pleaded guilty to the offences relating to animal welfare and farming standards.

Oxfordshire County Council's Trading Standards' officers visited their farm and found sheep suffering with minimal or no provision of appropriate care.

Following an initial visit to the farm, guidance was given including advice to seek veterinary attention for the identified sheep. But this was not acted upon.

When officers visited, they discovered that fallen livestock had not be disposed of by approved routes, with an illegal dead pit being used on the farm.

Further offences of not recording the administration of veterinary medicines were also found, along with not recording of sheep movements on and off the farm.

The Backhouse brothers were given unconditional bail to reappear at Oxford Magistrates Court on 30 March for sentencing.

Jody Kerman, head of the council's Trading Standards, said that while the vast majority of farmers 'work to the highest standard', those who commit bad practice will receive 'strong action' against them.

Those who seek to bypass the rules not only put the integrity of the food chain at risk, but also gain an unfair advantage over hardworking farmers, she said.

The management processes in place at the time of the investigation were clearly lacking. This would have hindered the traceability for animal diseases and the prevention and or spread of disease.

Charges were brought by Oxfordshire County Council under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) Regulations 2007, Animal By-Products (Enforcement) (England) Regulations 2013, Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2013, Animal Health Act 1981 and the Sheep & Goats (Records, Identification & Movement) (England) Order 2009.
The Oregon Zoo has welcomed the first California condor chick of 2020, officials announced Wednesday.

The fluffy little bird, born earlier this week, marks one more step in saving a species that once teetered on the brink of extinction.

With only about 500 of these endangered birds in the world, every chick counts, Kelli Walker, the zoos lead condor keeper, said in a statement.

The Oregon Zoo has a 52-acre offsite facility where they do their condor conservation work. Adult females usually lay eggs between January and March. The eggs are kept in incubators until they begin to hatch, at which point they are returned to the nests.

Chicks are usually raised by both parents, but the young condor hatched this week will be brought up by a single mom, the zoo said.

We can occasionally have single birds raise a chick, which were able to support because of the consistent close food supply at our conservation center, Walker said. A single adult can feed and be back in the nest room before the chick gets cold.

Typically, chicks stay at the conservation center for about eight months before they are taken to sites in California, Arizona or Baja Mexico for release into the wild.

California condors were one the species included in the Endangered Species Act when it was passed in 1973. By the early 1980s, there were fewer than two dozen condors remaining in the wild, threatened primarily by pesticides and other types of poisoning.

Now, after several decades of conservation work like that being done at the Oregon Zoo, there are thought to be at least 517 California condors, the vast majority of them in the wild.

Each new egg is critical to the California condors comeback, Walker said.

-- Kale Williams; kwilliams@oregonian.com; 503-294-4048; @sfkale

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
Authorities in Spain, Romania and Portugal have arrested 42 suspects during an action against an organised group of large-scale pickpockets, coordinated by Eurojust, with the support of Europol. The group, consisting of certain Romanian families, deprived thousands of mainly Spanish victims of watches and jewelry, which were subsequently melted into bars of gold and silver. The estimated profits exceeded EUR 1 million. During the operation, twelve houses were searched and an amount of approximately EUR 41.000 in cash was seized, as well as ten luxury cars and over 400 luxury watches, pieces of jewelry and mobile phones.

The organised criminal group (OCG) initially operated in France and then moved to Germany, Italy and in the last years to Spain. The OCG used the so called 'necklace trick', where under the pretext of asking for help or directions they contacted mainly vulnerable, elderly persons. As a sign of alleged gratitude, they hugged them and at the same moment stole their watches or pieces of jewelry, before escaping in a waiting car. The suspects occasionally used violence when victims tried to resist.

Over the last years, the authorities in Spain received close to 6.000 complaints about the criminal group. Spanish investigators found links with another Romanian clan, based in Spain, who transformed the proceeds of the crime into bars of gold and silver, which were then transported back to Romania. Apart from large-scale theft and pickpocketing, the arrested persons are suspected of money laundering.

Financial investigations, as well as coordinated searches of places, the freezing of assets and seizure of goods were carried out by Romanian investigators as participants in a Joint Investigation Team (JIT), supported by Eurojust. The action day was supported by a coordination centre, set up by Eurojust. Previous to that, three coordination meetings were held at the request of the Spanish authorities. Europol provided analytical information.

The operation was successfully carried out by the Spanish Policia Nacional in cooperation with the Directorate of Investigation of Organized Criminality and Terrorism Offenses of Ialomita in Romania.
A North American Aerospace Defense Command F-22s intercepts a Russian Tu-142 maritime reconnaissance aircraft entering the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone, March 9, 2020.

NORAD

US and Canadian aircraft intercepted two Russian reconnaissance planes in international airspace near Alaska on Monday.

The Russian aircraft flew through the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone for four hours, with the US and Canadian planes escorting them the whole time.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colorado  North American Aerospace Defense Command F-22s, CF-18s, supported by KC-135 Stratotanker and E-3 Sentry AWACS aircraft, intercepted two Russian Tu-142 maritime reconnaissance aircraft entering the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone on Monday, March 9.

The Russian aircraft entered the ADIZ north of Alaska and remained within it for approximately 4 hours. NORAD fighter aircraft escorted the TU-142s for the duration of their time in the ADIZ.

The Russian aircraft remained in international airspace over the Beaufort Sea, and came as close as 50 nautical miles to the Alaskan coast. The Russian aircraft did not enter United States or Canadian sovereign airspace.

NORAD employs a layered defense network of radars, satellites, and fighter aircraft to identify aircraft and determine the appropriate response.

NORAD Russia bomber intercept

NORAD

The identification and monitoring of aircraft entering a US or Canadian ADIZ demonstrates how NORAD executes its aerospace warning and aerospace control missions for the United States and Canada.

"NORAD continues to operate in the Arctic across multiple domains," said Gen. Terrence J. O'Shaughnessy, NORAD Commander. "As we continue to conduct exercises and operations in the north, we are driven by a single unyielding priority: defending the homelands."

NORAD Russia bomber intercept

NORAD

NORAD is a bi-national command focused on the defense of both the United States and Canada; the response to potential aerospace threats does not distinguish between the two nations and draws on forces from both countries.

Read the original article on Business Insider
VANCOUVER - Canada's first death from the novel coronavirus has highlighted the urgent and often ignored need for better staffing at long-term care facilities where elderly residents are especially vulnerable to the disease, says the head of the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 11/3/2020 (671 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Linda Silas, president of the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions, talks with reporters after a breakfast meeting with Canadian premiers in St. Andrews, N.B. on Friday, July 20, 2018. Canada's first death from the novel coronavirus has highlighted the urgent and often-ignored need for better staffing at long-term care facilities where elderly residents are especially vulnerable to the lung disease, says the head of the Canadian Federation of Nurses' Unions. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan

VANCOUVER - Canada's first death from the novel coronavirus has highlighted the urgent and often ignored need for better staffing at long-term care facilities where elderly residents are especially vulnerable to the disease, says the head of the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions.

Linda Silas said the need has become "top of mind" following the death on Sunday of a man in his 80s at a care home in North Vancouver, where another patient is infected with COVID-19. One of four care aides who contracted the illness there is in hospital and two relatives of another have also been sickened.

Discussions about preparedness were focused on emergency rooms, critical care and public health units, she said.

"A week ago we were talking about 'Is the acute-care sector ready?' " Silas said.

"Everyone's now talking about, 'What about long-term care?' "

More infections of health-care workers leading to 14 days of quarantine would mean greater staff shortages that could leave frail patients, who often have chronic illnesses, at higher risk, Silas said, adding staffing levels are already affected by outbreaks of seasonal influenza.

"When it hits a long-term care facility it's always more of a crisis than if it hits even your community or hospital. We've always known it's a fragile population with any kind of illness and this (COVID-19) is one of those where we have to pay particular attention," she said.

Silas said the federation has recommended 4 1/2 hours of care by registered and licensed practical nurses per day, per resident in long-term care facilities across the country.

The actual level of nursing is about three hours, with some provinces, including Ontario and New Brunswick, among the worst as few nurses choose to work in long-term care jobs, she said.

As well, there are shortages of care aides, also called personal support workers, which adds more stress to a challenging work environment, said Silas.

"The working conditions are very difficult. You're working short all the time, you're never guaranteed registered nurses and often your only option is to send your patient to the hospital when often it's not what they need and what's best for them," she said.

"And your personal care workers are not often permanent employees. They work casual or part time and they work in different facilities so there's always a turnover."

Doris Grinspun, CEO of the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario, said less than 50 per cent of staff in long-term care homes work in just one facility and support workers are also employed in multiple facilities.

"Some of them work in three places," she said, adding a government directive during the SARS crisis in 2003 required nurses to work in only one facility to reduce the risk of the virus spreading.

Dr. Bonnie Henry, British Columbia's provincial health officer, said after announcing the death this week that an infected care aide from the same facility is believed to have worked at two other facilities.

"It's a challenge with our system, with care homes," she said. "We know that whether it's care workers or nurses, even physicians, we work in many different health authorities, many different facilities sometimes. That is part of the ongoing investigation at the Lynn Valley care home, to find out exactly where everybody worked and make sure that the other facilities are investigated."

Silas said a big concern is the lack of employment insurance sick leave benefits for some support workers compared with nurses.

Business and other labour groups have urged the federal government to ease access to such benefits, which the government appears open to doing, along with tax credits and other breaks as part of the federal response.

Finance Minister Bill Morneau has said the government was "looking at taking some initiatives this week" to help affected workers and the health-care system.

Government sources who were not authorized to discuss the plans publicly said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected to announce federal funding on Wednesday to help provincial health-care systems cope with the new coronavirus.

Jennifer Whiteside, spokeswoman for the Hospital Employees' Union, said care aides in British Columbia work in a "fragmented" system, with some in part-time and casual jobs at various facilities run by either private contractors or health authorities.

Sick leave benefits may be as few as five to seven sick days a year versus 18 days offered by health authorities, Whiteside said, adding aides having to go into quarantine could face financial hardship because of their lower pay levels.

"Their sick leave will be wiped out. They won't even have enough to cover one period of self isolation should that become necessary and certainly not enough to cover them should they actually become sick with (COVID-19)," she said.

"If a large number get sick then we'll be having some challenges. There's no question that a situation like this does really bring into sharp relief some of the challenges we have in the system around how we manage the care-aide labour force."

Isobel Mackenzie, advocate for seniors in British Columbia, said the job of care aides has long been undervalued and the novel coronavirus may create awareness about the need for change.

"I think what this is going to highlight, and this is a conversation for after we've dealt with the crisis, is the different ways in which these care homes are staffed. We need all licensed care homes to be doing things exactly the same under the direction of the officer of the public health officer," she said.

"How are we going to deal with the fact that some people are going to get paid while they're off sick and some people aren't? How are we going to handle the fact that they are working potentially for multiple employers?"

The issue of care aides who travel to various private homes must also be considered for the safety of the wider community, Mackenzie said.

"That's where we're going to have to be ever vigilant around monitoring and managing the situation," she said. "(They) may be providing (seniors) with their medications that they absolutely need and if we don't go there they aren't going to get their medications."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 11, 2020.

 With files from Cassandra Szklarski in Toronto
Researchers have identified a major shift in how to treat brain injuries, after rejuvenating immune cells to support the repair process.

The University of Queensland study focused on the brains learning and memory centre, the hippocampus, and its unique ability to produce new brain nerve cells during adult life, which is critical for learning.

The team used animal models to investigate how the immune system interacts with brain nerve cells after injury and how this influenced the ability to learn and remember.

UQ School of Biomedical Sciences and Queensland Brain Institute researcher Dr Jana Vukovic said up until now, the brains immune cells, known as microglia, were considered to drive inflammation, resulting in cognitive deficits after injury.

However, when we removed microglia from mice we were surprised that there was absolutely no change in their behaviour or ability to repair brain tissue, she said.

Dr Vukovics team then depleted microglia and allowed them to repopulate the brain, finding this profoundly increased brain repair.

The rejuvenated microglia improved the mices learning and memory, preserved tissue loss and stimulated the birth of neurons, said Dr Vukovic.

We have shown that microglia, in part, have been misunderstood and that we need to learn more about how they support and stimulate pathways to promote repair.

Brain injuries impact on a persons ability to concentrate, make decisions, learn and remember, and can range from mild to severe, and be short-term or permanent.

PhD candidate Emily Willis said the findings may lead to the development of therapeutics that alleviate learning and memory deficits associated with a wide range of neurological conditions, such as brain injury and dementia.

Its no longer about inhibiting microglias pro-inflammatory elements, its about finding a way to shift them to a state that supports brain repair, Ms Willis said.

The research involved collaborators from UQs Institute for Molecular Bioscience, UQs Queensland Brain Institute, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Oxford University, Christian-Albrechts-Universitat zu Kiel and American drug discovery company, Plexxikon.

The study was published in the Cell, (DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2020.02.013).

The University of Queensland
Representative image

One major milestone in the Rebuild Kerala narrative was the rebuilding of houses swept away by two floods: the massive one in 2018, and the not-so-massive but devastating flood of 2019. However, recently, much of the news has been about the disconnect between the flood victims and the state governments rehabilitation efforts.

On March 2, 46-year-old M Sanal, whose house in north Keralas Wayanad was partially damaged in the 2018 flood before being completely wrecked in the 2019 flood, committed suicide. According to Sanals relatives, he was devastated over not receiving any financial assistance from the CPI(M)-led LDF government. Ironically, two days before Sanal death, on February 29, the state government celebrated the completion of 200,000 houses for the homeless under the Life Mission Housing Scheme.

Sanals suicide and other news about shoddy flood relief work comes at the backdrop of news that a CPI(M) leader, in Kochi, misappropriating flood relief money. A local committee member and his wife were arrested for siphoning off funds meant for the flood rehabilitation. Unfortunately, this is not the first case involving local Left leaders with their hands on the till.

When you have two such antithetical scenarios playing out, one where funds are denied to genuine flood victims and the other where money meant for them is being stolen by leaders belonging to the ruling party, it does not paint a pretty picture. Just as it is a rare case when a hapless flood victim gets driven to the point of no return, for every person caught stealing there could be many who managed to get away with it.

After responding quite well on the relief aspect of the floods, the state government has tied itself in knots on rehabilitation. Problems with rehabilitation crept from its inception. One of them was the compilation of beneficiary lists at the village and panchayat level. This process could have been apolitical. The din over the Rs 10,000 relief per affected household getting cornered by the CPI(M) cadre was loud at first, but soon got muted as people began to move on with life and struggling to make ends meet.

In October 2018, a couple of months after it was ravaged by the worst flood in the past 100 years, Kerala witnessed the state government launch the Life Mission Housing Scheme under the ambit of Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, primarily targeting the homeless population. The scheme, with a five-year tenure, had the number of beneficiaries pegged at 513,000. The payout was pegged at Rs 4-lakh per house of 500 sq. m. An additional beneficiary list of 170,000 was to be created in 2019.

The Life Mission Housing Scheme is an independent one, but it will be interesting to see if work under this scheme is reflected as flood rehabilitation work by the state government.

Presuming there were 200,000 houses that were completely destroyed between the two floods, what we are looking at is a massive Rs 8,000 crore fund allocation. This in turn would add up to one-third of the cost of the Rebuild Kerala Initiative, which according to multilateral agencies such as the World Bank is set to cost Rs 25,000 crore.

The semantics on rebuilding flood flattened houses apart, the big question that needs an answer is whether there is a yawning gap between what the government promised by way of doing the right thing for the flood victims and what it has actually been doing. On March 5, the Ernakulam district collector ordered a full-fledged probe into all seemingly suspicious transactions regarding money meant for flood relief from 2018 onwards.

Better still would be to match the entire list of applicants seeking funds from the flood rehabilitation kitty with the final list of those who received relief. The present scam that broke in Ernakulam also gives credence to allegations that relief money meant for the victims of the 2018 and 2019 flood actually went to fictitious beneficiaries, many who were allegedly close to the ruling party in the state.

Just as in Ernakulam and Wayand, many other districts across Kerala faced the brunt off the two floods  and it is important that similar audits like the one ordered in Ernakulam be done in other flood-affected districts across the state. For a government that has received praise from across the world for the proactive manner in which it has been tackling the COVID-19 onslaught, this may be another instance worthy of proactive intervention.

For a government with eye on the 2021 assembly poll clock, muting out desperate cries for rehabilitation by victims may not be a smart move. At least it should not be doing that when the fund casket has begun showing signs of emulating a sieve.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-11 17:53:47|Editor: huaxia

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SHIJIAZHUANG, March 11 (Xinhua) -- China's benchmark power coal price dropped slightly during the past week.

The Bohai-Rim Steam-Coal Price Index (BSPI), a gauge of coal prices in north China's major ports, stood at 558 yuan (about 80.3 U.S. dollars) per tonne Wednesday, a drop of one yuan week on week, according to Qinhuangdao Ocean Shipping Coal Trading Market Co. Ltd.

Analysts said that with the domestic COVID-19 outbreak under control, coal supply growth accelerated. As of March 3, 83.4 percent of China's coal production capacity had been restored, basically returning to normal production levels. The increase in domestic and imported coal supplies has eased the panic in the market, which also caused coal prices to stop rising and start falling.

As of March 11, the daily consumption of coastal power plants had increased to 530,000 tonnes. Affected by warmer temperatures and the substitution of clean energy, the daily consumption of downstream power plants is about 120,000 tonnes lower than that of the same period last year, according to analysts.

Released every Wednesday, the BSPI is a leading indicator of China's coal prices.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.-- A buzz of activity inside Staten Islands first medical marijuana dispensary drew curiosity from pedestrians Tuesday morning as they passed by the new storefront on New Dorp Lane.

Retail chain Be. -- formerly known as CITIVA -- will open its doors to the public at 10 a.m. Wednesday, with a ribbon-cutting event planned for March 26.

When asked about the new addition to the historic commercial corridor, a man in his 20s said he doesnt expect it to impact his life in any way, while a 59-year-old woman and lifelong New Dorp resident said she fears the element it might attract.

Borough residents prescribed medical cannabis currently have to travel outside of Staten Island or sign up with a third-party delivery service to purchase items.

They have to pay a toll, they have to drive sometimes a half-hour, or an hour each way," said Dave Palmieri, vice president of programs for iAnthus Holdings Co. Opening this new store, its a big advantage for Staten Island residents."

The company also will offer delivery services in the borough.

Currently, there are more than 2,600 Staten Islanders prescribed medical cannabis. Qualifying conditions include -- but are not limited to -- PTSD, cancer, diabetes, arthritis and opioid addiction withdrawal.

A CONSUMERS GUIDE

Inside the dispensary is an open, sleek design resembling that of an Apple store. The retail space -- which formerly housed a dress shop -- includes multiple display cases, a sitting area in front of a wall-length window looking out onto New Dorp Lane, and a checkout area.

The product lines -- some of which contain THC, some CBD and some a mix of both -- include vape pens, tinctures, capsules, bath bombs and face creams. Palmieri estimated that a person who medicates regularly typically will spend about $130 per month.

THC is derived from marijuana plants, and is the psychoactive property that elicits the feeling of being high." Its been shown to help with nausea in cancer patients, and the physical impacts of opioid withdrawal and chronic pain, among other symptoms.

CBD is derived both from the hemp plant -- a cousin to the marijuana plant-- and the marijuana plant. Studies have reported CBD reduces inflammation of the joints, anxiety and other ailments.

Based on the recommendation of a pharmacist in the store and personal preference, patients can choose from Sativa-dominant, or Indica-dominant THC products. For a breakdown on the differences, see below.

A woman outside the store Tuesday said she hopes to get a prescription to treat symptoms associated with diabetes and skin cancer.

The hemp has really helped me, but Im glad to see theyre opening this (store)," said Millie Shea, 69, of New Dorp.

PUBLIC HEALTH CONCERNS

At a recent Community Board 2 meeting, some board members voiced concerns regarding the dispensarys proximity to New Dorp High School.

According to the Center for Disease Control, marijuana use by teenagers can lead to a decline in school performance and an increased risk of mental health issues.

In response, Dr. Jack DAngelo, chief medical officer for Be., described a rigorous set of state-mandated security measures, saying in part, It just will not be a place that young people are driven to go into.

Anyone 21-years-old or over is permitted into the store, and to purchase a CBD product. However, a medical cannabis card prescribed by a medical professional is required in order to purchase a THC product.

Palmieri said the store potentially could sell both medical and recreational products in the future, if state laws allow it and the community as a whole welcomes it.

A lifelong New Dorp resident who passed by the store Tuesday said shes really not happy" about that possibility.

Im just concerned that when it does become legalized, if this will change the dynamics of the neighborhood, said Joanne Baranello. Im just worried about the element it might attract.

When asked about the element Baranello was referring to, she recalled a woman she ran into recently in the neighborhood who was obviously not in her right mind.

She said she was in the neighborhood because she was trying to get her medication, and I dont know what that meant."

RECREATIONAL VS. MEDICAL

Recent studies have found that habitual use of marijuana could result in short-term and long-term health effects.

In Colorado, as of 2019, more people reportedly had visited emergency rooms for marijuana-related issues since the drug was legalized in 2014, according to a New York Times report.

Some experts, however, have downplayed those health concerns, in light of thousands of Coloradans who safely use marijuana every day to better their lives, according to that same report.

In terms of medical use, a 28-year-old woman passing by Be. on Tuesday said shes confident the store will help, not hurt, the community.

Its overdue, said Bonnie B., who asked that her last name not be used. Its unfair that people who need medical marijuana have to travel outside the borough to get it.

Currently there are 47 medical professionals on Staten Island licensed to prescribe a medical cannabis card. Inside the store, a pharmacist and staff members who completed online training are positioned to answer questions about the products.

Said Palmieri: A big part of what were doing has to do with that learning curve, and making people feel comfortable with cannabis medicine.
There's no doubt that money can be made by owning shares of unprofitable businesses. For example, although software-as-a-service business Salesforce.com lost money for years while it grew recurring revenue, if you held shares since 2005, you'd have done very well indeed. But while history lauds those rare successes, those that fail are often forgotten; who remembers Pets.com?

So, the natural question for ANGLE (LON:AGL) shareholders is whether they should be concerned by its rate of cash burn. For the purpose of this article, we'll define cash burn as the amount of cash the company is spending each year to fund its growth (also called its negative free cash flow). We'll start by comparing its cash burn with its cash reserves in order to calculate its cash runway.

Check out our latest analysis for ANGLE

When Might ANGLE Run Out Of Money?

A company's cash runway is the amount of time it would take to burn through its cash reserves at its current cash burn rate. As at October 2019, ANGLE had cash of UK20m and no debt. Looking at the last year, the company burnt through UK11m. That means it had a cash runway of around 22 months as of October 2019. That's not too bad, but it's fair to say the end of the cash runway is in sight, unless cash burn reduces drastically. You can see how its cash balance has changed over time in the image below.

AIM:AGL Historical Debt, March 11th 2020

How Is ANGLE's Cash Burn Changing Over Time?

In the last year, ANGLE did book revenue of UK806k, but its revenue from operations was less, at just UK806k. We don't think that's enough operating revenue for us to understand too much from revenue growth rates, since the company is growing off a low base. So we'll focus on the cash burn, today. Over the last year its cash burn actually increased by 23%, which suggests that management are increasing investment in future growth, but not too quickly. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but investors should be mindful of the fact that will shorten the cash runway. While the past is always worth studying, it is the future that matters most of all. So you might want to take a peek at how much the company is expected to grow in the next few years.

Story continues

Can ANGLE Raise More Cash Easily?

While ANGLE does have a solid cash runway, its cash burn trajectory may have some shareholders thinking ahead to when the company may need to raise more cash. Issuing new shares, or taking on debt, are the most common ways for a listed company to raise more money for its business. One of the main advantages held by publicly listed companies is that they can sell shares to investors to raise cash to fund growth. By looking at a company's cash burn relative to its market capitalisation, we gain insight on how much shareholders would be diluted if the company needed to raise enough cash to cover another year's cash burn.

ANGLE's cash burn of UK11m is about 10% of its UK110m market capitalisation. Given that situation, it's fair to say the company wouldn't have much trouble raising more cash for growth, but shareholders would be somewhat diluted.

Is ANGLE's Cash Burn A Worry?

Even though its increasing cash burn makes us a little nervous, we are compelled to mention that we thought ANGLE's cash burn relative to its market cap was relatively promising. Cash burning companies are always on the riskier side of things, but after considering all of the factors discussed in this short piece, we're not too worried about its rate of cash burn. An in-depth examination of risks revealed 3 warning signs for ANGLE that readers should think about before committing capital to this stock.

Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies, and this list of stocks growth stocks (according to analyst forecasts)

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



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
Thousands of people from across Ghana attended the 2020 edition of the Kenkey Festival.

This year's edition which was held on 7th March, 2020 at Mantse Agbonaa, Jamestown in Accra attracted both local and international media which has since been trending after the event.

Aside celebrating and eating kenkey, this year's edition included activities like Live Band Karaoke with ace Ghanaian comedian, Foster Romanus, Who Rules the Kitchen? (Cooking competition), FIFA 20 competitions and others which made this years edition a memorable one.

The Kenkey Festival started in 2016 with the aim of promoting 'Eat Ghana' in the Ghana month.

This has since brought into light the various types of Kenkey aside the Ga and Fante Kenkey.

Kenkey Fest is now a tourist destination during the independence day celebrations.

The event has lived up to its expectations and keeps bringing in more goodies to keep up the ecstatic vibe.
TEL AVIV - Benny Gantz, leader of the Blue and White, will be placed under the protection of domestic intelligence service Shin Bet after receiving death threats, especially on social media, also over his intention to lead a minority government with the external support of Arab parties.

Premier Benyamin Netanyahu has approved Shin Bet's proposal that will now be examined by the committee for final approval.

Gantz denounced before elections on March 2 that he was the victim of intimidation on social networks, including threats such as ''tonight there will be a funeral for Gantz'' and ''Gantz must be killed''. The centrist leader has warned that the situation reminds him of what happened when Yitzhak Rabin was killed in 1995.


A woman walks a dog in snowy conditions in Bedale, North Yorkshire (PA via Getty)

London could be doused in snow later this week thanks to the Atlantic jet stream, the Met Office has said.

Snow has already hit parts of Northern Ireland, Scotland and northern England in the past few days, but there are warnings that the south of England and the capital could be next.

Met Office meteorologist Aidan McGivern said further snow is on its way to Scotland and Northern Ireland on Wednesday and Thursday.

The cold weather will spread further south, potentially resulting in snow in London on Thursday, he said.

Cars in Bedale, North Yorkshire, after snow hit the UK at the weekend (PA via Getty)

McGivern said there was "a mild bump in the air across the Atlantic" which will lead to an area of low pressure.

Read more: UK hit by snow and floods as 'danger to life' warnings remain

He said: How this interacts with the jet stream come Thursday is currently very uncertain.

"The European computer model sends that low into France. But the Met Office computer model and the American model have it further north and more developed across southern parts of the country.

"At the moment we think it is most likely to run across southern counties of the UK, and bump into the cold air further north.

"And that means that as we start off Thursday, we think it's most likely that southern counties of England and South Wales will see a spell of rain.

"But north of the M4, there is the possibility of some temporary snowfall  not a great deal  it doesn't at the moment look to be widespread, significant disruption. But there is the possibility of some snow, in north London, for example.

Read more: Remarkable Storm Dennis drone pictures show flooding devastation

"It does clear away after lunchtime, and then brighter skies follow, but we will continue to see further wintry showers across northern England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and further snowfall especially over the hills."

A man walks his dog on Sunday in wintry conditions around the Angel of the North, near Gateshead, Tyne and Wear (PA via Getty)

Temperatures plummeted overnight across Britain between Monday and Tuesday as the Met Office warned of more ice and snow.

The mercury dropped to -4.5C at the Cairnwell in the Scottish Highlands, the Met Office said.

Story continues

A man walks his dog in the snow in Leyburn in the Yorkshire Dales after snow hit parts of the UK (PA via Getty)

Significant snow falls were also recorded overnight, with Aviemore in Scotland recording 7cm and Northern Ireland's Lough Fea getting 3cm.

Read more: Dramatic Storm Ciara video shows lifeboat almost capsizing

Higher areas in both countries and in northern England were expected to continue to receive snow throughout the day.

Yellow weather warnings were in place for Northern Ireland, Scotland and the central part of northern England, warning of ice and potentially hazardous travel on Tuesday morning.

---Watch the latest videos from Yahoo UK---
Can I Trust Certificates Of Analysis (COAs)?

Advice from Leading Third-Party Labs

We spoke with Eurofins and ProVerde, trusted third-party labs in the industry, to get their perspective and advice on the problem.

One of the largest questions facing consumers in the CBD industry today is How do I know if my CBD product is real, reliable and safe? One of the most effective ways that companies have been able to answer this question is through third-party Certificates of Analysis (COA).

Independent analytical laboratories provide testing services for hemp biomass, CBD extracts and finished products in order to offer an unbiased report on the cannabinoid and contaminant levels. It tells producers and consumers alike what their product contains so they can be confident in its quality and safety.

One of the most effective ways that companies have been able to answer this question is through third-party Certificates of Analysis (COA).

In this article, we will discuss the importance of COAs, dive into the issue of fraudulent COAs in the CBD industry, and learn how to verify if a COA is trustworthy or not. We spoke with Eurofins and ProVerde, trusted third-party labs in the industry, to get their perspective and advice on the problem.

Why are COAs Important?

Eurofins recently acquired Covance Food Solutions, a nutritional testing laboratory that has been around for 80+ years specializing in consumer product analysis. Its a trust, but verify, industry, said Eurofins. Whether you own a brand or processing company, you need to make sure that your materials, ingredients, and products are meeting your internal standards, customer needs, and regulations. Although it is an issue throughout the supplement market, the emphasis on quality is even more important in the CBD industry due to its use and rising popularity.

ProVerde, a third-party laboratory that specializes in cannabis analysis, also spoke on the importance of COAs. They are important from the consumer perspective to ensure that you get what you paid for, meaning the contents of the product match the label in terms of dose and extract type. Also, customers should be confident that their product is completely free of contaminants or unwanted compounds. From the perspective of CBD producers, COAs are helpful in understanding your processes, identifying and eliminating sources of contamination, and aiding in the development of consistent formulations.

They are important from the consumer perspective to ensure that you get what you paid for.

COAs in the Supplement and Pharmaceutical Industries

Not only are COAs important in the CBD industry, but in the supplement and pharmaceutical space as well. An over the counter drug manufacturer in Canada received a warning letter from the FDA in 2017 for failing to test incoming ingredients through a third-party lab before formulating their products. As FDAs letter stated, You must conduct at least one specific identity test to analyze all incoming components. You may not rely on your suppliers CoA to verify the identity of your components.'

The general consensus is that You need to be very skeptical of information provided by supplement manufacturers and sellers. This goes for all types of products that you consume, but the supplement space especially. In general, supplement production is less regulated than other industries, and in the case of CBD, a product with hype and large profit potential, consumers must be wary of counterfeit products and certificates.

The general consensus is that You need to be very skeptical of information provided by supplement manufacturers and sellers.

Fake COAs for CBD Products

ProVerde said that fraudulent COAs are prevalent, the two most common adulteration methods being changing the name of the company on the document or changing the reported numbers. This issue began years ago, and its challenging the legal marijuana industry as well.

An article published in 2016 tells the story of a third-party supplement testing lab who found out that companies were creating fake COAs which looked identical to real certificates from the lab. Examples of companies forging COAs or insufficiently testing ingredients or products with a third party lab are everywhere.

Kazmira has also seen questionable examples of COAs that do not match test results confirmed by additional labs for the same sample. Although it is very difficult to prove any fraudulence, it is clear to the company that you shouldnt trust a COA just because it has numbers, there must be additional steps taken to verify the accuracy and quality of the results.

Why Would a Company Want a Fake or Adulterated COA?

COAs have become a gold standard in the industry, and the word is finally getting out to consumers that they should be checking for a COA before buying a product. However, much like CBD companies themselves, third-party labs do not have a regulatory foundation that performs audits or standardizes their testing procedures. Therefore, some untrustworthy CBD businesses try to take advantage of this by producing fraudulent COAs. If companies have products that do not meet regulations or safety standards, they may try to lie about this with a fake or altered COA. Even third-party labs themselves could be dry labbing, meaning they produce fake results to keep their clients happy and returning.

Much like CBD companies themselves, third-party labs do not have a regulatory foundation that performs audits or standardizes their testing procedures.

On the topic of dry labs, Eurofins said, Coming from a third-party lab and knowing how much it costs to run a test, seeing some of the pricing at other labs really makes you wonder what exactly they are doing for their testing. It is expensive to run these tests, and cheap prices could indicate the lab is not actually performing the tests they say they are.

Testing Standardization

An interesting twist in this story is that laboratories do not have industry standard testing procedures for cannabinoids or cannabis products. Some basic safety tests are standard such as the FDA approved BAM method for detecting microbes, according to ProVerde. However, when it comes to cannabinoids, analytical methods vary from lab to lab. These methods are also adapted for different types of products whether it be hemp biomass, oil, or finished products.

Eurofins said they follow the AOAC methods for cannabinoid testing, which they helped develop. ProVerde said they use proprietary analytical methods. According to Eurofins, labs often base their procedures off of published methods that they adapt to fit the sample or testing equipment that they possess. The point is not that one lab method is better than the other, but the fact that methods differ from lab to lab presents a dilemma for the industry. You could potentially send the same CBD sample to three different labs and get three different COA results.

The point is not that one lab method is better than the other, but the fact that methods differ from lab to lab presents a dilemma for the industry.

How to Verify A Certificate of Analysis

Eurofins and Proverde offered advice on how to verify the authenticity and quality of CBD products and their respective COAs.

ASK THE MANUFACTURER FOR A CERTIFICATE OF ANALYSIS

Check for a QR code on the product package  this will link you directly to the Certificate of Analysis.

Make sure the COA is produced by a third-party and is not an in-house COA.

Look into the lab who produced the COA  are they reputable? Is the lab facility ISO accredited?

Make sure all of the identifying information is present  batch number, product name, company name and contact, lab name and contact etc.

Make sure all tests have been completed and reported  full cannabinoid and terpene profile, pesticides, heavy metals, solvents, microbials etc.

Make sure methods and detection limits such as LOD/LOQ are reported.

Check for a verification QR code on the COA  it should link you to the laboratory website to verify its authenticity.

Contact the third-party laboratory to verify if the COA provided to you matches the one they have on record.

For more information, check out our article on How to Read a Certificate of Analysis.

Be Confident in Your Choice of CBD Oil

With the lack of regulation and multitude of opportunities for fraud in the industry, it can be difficult to decide which company to purchase from. Make sure to Know Your CBD Manufacturer and understand how to verify the quality and trustworthiness of a company before you purchase. At Kazmira, we strive to be the best in class CBD manufacturer, making our company synonymous with the highest level trust and integrity in the industry. We have built relationships rooted in trust with all market stakeholders including (1) the end consumer (2) our customers (3) our farming partners (4) our employees and (5) regulatory agencies. There is a deep need to restore integrity in the industry, and Kazmira is leading that effort.
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Want to be in a movie? American High, the Liverpool-based film production company, is seeking actors for its eighth movie in the Syracuse area.

Producer Will Phelps says the upcoming feature film will begin filming later this month, and a casting call from Casting Buffalo is looking to fill several speaking roles:

TRUCKER #1  30-50s, male any ethnicity, vulgar, town local

DRIVE THRU TEEN  18-25 can look younger, male any ethnicity

FEMALE COP  20-40s, any ethnicity, female, tough but sympathetic

FEMALE DANCER  30-40s, any ethnicity, sexy, bored

STRUNG OUT GUY  18-30, male, any ethnicity rock band party type

HIGH (ON DRUGS)-WOMAN  18-30, female any ethnicity, rock band party type

TEEN STUDENT  a freshman in high school aged boy, must be Indian American

If you are interested in one of those roles, email a photo and resume to castingbuffalo716@gmail.com with the name of the role you are interested in as the subject line. Sides, or pages of the script, will be sent to you for a self-taped video audition.

The movie will shoot in Central New York from mid-March to mid-April, with a summer 2021 theatrical release date scheduled.

Additional details, including the films title, director and cast, have not been released.

American High has filmed seven other movies in CNY over the past two and a half years, including The Ultimate Playlist of Noise"; The Binge starring Vince Vaughn; Holly Slept Over; Banana Split; Looks That Kill' Sid is Dead"; and Big Time Adolescence" starring Pete Davidson.

Holly Slept Over," shot primarily at a home in Manlius, was released on DVD and Video On Demand last week; Big Time Adolescence will be released in select theaters this Friday and on Hulu next week on March 20; and Banana Split will be released in select theaters on March 27. The Binge and The Ultimate Playlist of Noise will be released on Hulu at a later date.

American High founder Jeremy Garelick, whose credits include The Wedding Ringer, The Break-Up and The Hangover, bought the former A.V. Zogg Middle School in Liverpool in 2017 to create a film school and shoot high school-type scenes. The building, now known as Syracuse Studios, also serves other film productions in the Syracuse area.

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.
~ Politicians are given special favors to turn a blind eye, will there ever be an operational audit.?

PHILIPSBURG: --- Its been years now SMN News have been high lighting the mismanagement of USZV funds under the guidance of its Director Glen Carty. The Supervisory Board members that were in place for the past two years did little to nothing to protect the funds that are being managed by USZV while the ousted Minister of VSA Emil Lee gave the director a Performance Management Agreement with no spending cap. In reality Glen Carty is the only director that has carte blanche when it comes to spending public funds. Even Ministers have a cap and have to consult with the Council of Ministers when they are about to spend in excess of their allotted cap. Because there is no cap Carty can dry up all the funds managed by USZV. Carty even began using USZV funds to act as a lender like he did for the harbor and DEVCON.

While the Supervisory Board of Directors is supposed to have an oversight on the management board the Supervisory Board of USZV was almost powerless, at one point an operational audit was requested but that was shot down by the now-ousted Minister of VSA. Why was it not allowed is everyones guess because only then the real figures on how much was spent on the New General Hospital Project would have been known.

The recruitment process to hire an adjunct director has been done and yet no one has been appointed to that position, again USZV spent money on a selection process that will not be put to use, simply because the Supervisory Board members that were there and the Council of Ministers simply did not do their jobs either because they are granted special favors.

Some politicians that own businesses manage to secure payment plans for their outstanding debt where they pay little to nothing. Some businessmen that are friends of politicians that is close to USZV director also get the same sweetheart deal for political favors while some businesses are treated like the stepchild of the business community.

Some politicians manage to secure jobs for their relatives when no publication was ever made, and while St. Maarten professionals have every right to hold top positions if they are qualified, due process should take place to eliminate nepotism since the island is indeed very small and almost everyone knows each other and in some cases related. Employing local qualified persons should never be the reason why elected politicians should turn a blind eye on what is done with the peoples health and pension funds.

However, USZV management does not follow basic procedures when hiring its personnel therefore their overhead costs are extremely high even though the social insurance bank lost almost 80% of its income post-IRMA. Besides the overspending, USZV lost $500.000.00 through what was described as a phishing scam and to date, no one has been held responsible for the huge loss.

One of the glaring issues that surfaced in parliament after it was published on SMN News is the $500.000.00 that was transferred to a poultry company in New York which turned out to be a so-called phishing scam. Almost a year since these funds disappeared at the click of a button and while USZV management said a criminal complaint was filed to date there is no update on the missing funds. Even the worst government and parliament seem to forget about it.

USZV spent an exorbitant amount of money to consultants that were working on the New General Hospital Project, companies like KPMG made millions from USZV while they worked on this project. Consultants such as the Human Resource Manager that is paid NAF 36,000.00 monthly along with housing and other allocations. Money that can be better spent if a local is recruited for these vacant positions.

At the moment; USZV does not have a Supervisory Board in place based on its article of incorporation, and it behooves the government of St. Maarten to ensure that credible persons are appointed to this board in order for proper oversight. There is no more time to make political appointments to boards but instead, people that has the countrys best interest at heart should be at the helm of these boards.

Besides the overspending and the deals made on contracts that are given out, USZV has been mismanaged in different ways. Patients are being sent to Colombia on almost a daily basis for consultations and or operations that could be done across the border on the French side.

The St. Maarten Medical Center seems to be more interested in sending patients overseas because someone that they know will make money on the medivac transfers or otherwise.

It is more than time that the politicians that managed to convince voters to elect them to do the right and honorable thing by protecting what belongs to the persons who elected them in the first place. Instead of talking about cooperation with the French counterpart its time that those talks be manifested by deed. Allow patients to be able the right to chose where they want to be treated so that family members could be close to them while saving USZV a ton of money each month. Hopefully, politicians will act immediately and do what is right for their people and country before another local crown witnesses emerge.
US Scales Down Military Exercises in Africa Due to Coronavirus

By Carla Babb March 10, 2020

One of the U.S. military's largest exercises in Africa has been significantly scaled down due to the threat of the coronavirus.

The massive, U.S.-led African Lion exercises in Morocco, Tunisia and Senegal were supposed to involve 9,300 troops from eight nations. The troops would use the exercises to improve military readiness and integration, while preparing to combat transregional threats. But there was one threat African Lion organizers weren't prepared for: the coronavirus.

Gen. Stephen Townsend, commander of U.S. Africa Command, first told VOA and The Wall Street Journal about the change after testifying Tuesday on Capitol Hill.

"African Lion has been significantly reduced in scale and scope based on concerns that we all have about the safety of our troops and those of our partners," he said.

Exercises with troops being housed in close quarters have been cut. Townsend says the change mostly effects the Army component of the exercises, because the soldiers' drills involve close contact.

"We're going to continue on with some training events that require less interaction between large troop formations like air activity, naval activity, and maybe some special operations activity," he said.

Some of the U.S. troops who had deployed ahead of the official March 23 start date will be able to finish their tasks, including the academic portion of the drills which had already started. But many African Lion organizers are shifting their focus to the next set of drills in 2021.

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Payment Savvy Offers Next-Generation Payment Processing Technology to Mid to High-Risk BusinessesPLANO, TX / ACCESSWIRE / March 11, 2020 / Chad Deatherage, CEO of Payment Savvy, is pleased to announce his company is celebrating an impressive milestone - 10 years of serving merchants across the country.To learn about Payment Savvy and what sets them apart from the competition, please visit https://mypaymentsavvy.com/why-payment-savvy/ When asked how Payment Savvy was able to establish an essential stronghold in the payment space, Deatherage had a ready answer."Unfortunately, customer service is not a focus for our competition - they are often driven purely by profit margins. At Payment Savvy, ensuring every merchant that reaches out to us is fully satisfied is our number one goal. On the front-end we listen carefully to your needs and develop a custom payment package to help your business grow. Once a boarded Payment Savvy client, the level of service provided does not dwindle - we are always available to make sure you are optimally processing." he said.The fact that Payment Savvy is celebrating such a significant milestone does not surprise the many satisfied merchants who use Payment Savvy and their custom payment solutions. Deatherage and his team at Payment Savvy strive to provide innovative and state-of-the-art payment processing technology, all at the lowest possible cost."We never provide out-of-the-box payment solutions or standard-issue pricing. Our knowledgeable team will work one on one with you to fulfill your organizational goals." Deatherage said, adding that "From web payments to IVR, let us know how you want to accept a credit card, debit card, or ACH payment, and we'll make sure it happens." As a bonus, Payment Savvy's systems are incredibly user-friendly and intuitive, meaning clients can quickly start using the payment processing technology. Also, the company's open API platform will collect payment information through a merchant's existing software."At Payment Savvy, we give you our best from the get-go and maintain that stance throughout our relationship. We want you to be confident, secure, and happy with us as Your Payment Partner(TM)," he said.About Payment Savvy:Since 2010, Payment Savvy has provided innovative, compliant, and affordable payment processing solutions to high-risk industries across the country. As they celebrate a decade in the payment space, they look forward to helping more enterprises grow with their custom payment products. From their often-imitated Fee-Free Payments(TM) platform to their next-generation pay by text solution, they work one-on-one with their clients to create a scalable payment system that checks all their "must-have" boxes. For more information, please visit https://mypaymentsavvy.com Payment Savvy5760 Legacy Drive, Suite B3Plano, TX 75024Contact:Lauren Vanegaslauren@ paymentsavvy.com 866-303-2558SOURCE: Payment Savvy
MIDDLETOWN  The family of Peter Recchia, whose remains were discovered five months after his October disappearance from his Middletown home, has turned to crowdfunding to help pay his funeral expenses.

Recchias body was found Sunday by a hunter in the woods off South Cherry Street in Wallingford, Bridgeport Mayor Ganim announced during a news conference Tuesday afternoon with the family.

News 12 reporter Frank Recchia said his brothers remains were in an advanced state of decomposition because of the elements and wildlife, and that his brothers cause of death is unknown, but investigators dont suspect foul play.

Peter Recchias backpack and wallet were found near the remains.

The 59-year-old left on foot Oct. 3 and was located by Hamden police early the next morning sitting at a womans kitchen table, according to authorities.

The homeowner managed to convince him to leave and officers located Peter Recchia a little while later walking on State Street and briefly detained him. The Hamden police officer involved in the incident was issued a 20-day unpaid suspension from his job March 5.

The disciplinary action against Officer Stephen Phipps was the result of an internal affairs probe launched in October by the Hamden Police Department into possible mishandling of the case.

Recchia suffered from mental illness and other health issues, according to his daughter Bunny Rodriguez, and was without his medication. He walked from Middletown to Hamden over a 15-hour period, she said.

Its been a horrible, awful road, a lot of torture  but I withstood it, she said on Facebook live Wednesday. She then reassured those watching that leaning on loved ones and the community for support can be a powerful coping tool.

Before reaching Hamden, police said Recchia was spotted near Millers Pond State Park in Haddam. He was walking on Foot Hills Road wearing a royal blue shirt, jeans, a black belt and black sneakers.

During her Wednesday video at the scene of her fathers discovery, Rodriguez was solemn as she began speaking, explaining said her father was discovered on private property off Exit 13 on interstate 91, just100 feet from the road. Her face brightened as she related a story about two bobcats fighting in the trees, which happened when his loved ones began talking about their patriarch.

Shed never seen these types of cats before. They were screaming and yelling. ... It was really scary across the street. When God talks, or spirits talk, theyre there with you, she said.

Rodriguez went on to say that she has been thinking about and taking notice of bluebirds during these long months.

When Im in nature, I think of my father. Hearing those bobcats scream that he was over here confirms to me hes still here with nature, in a peaceful area by a stream, she added. Im thankful to know where he ultimately laid.

Rodriguez plans two celebrations of life for her father in the near future. We like to overdo in our family and eat, and be with very open and warm people, she said.

Rodriguez resigned from her job in social work Feb. 28 to help take care of her ailing mother and deal with issues that have arisen since her father went missing.

She asked for people to allow the family some time to process the news on another social media post. I have always been open and responsive, I need a little time to be with my little ones at home and then present to you our families next steps.

I appreciate all the outpouring support and love, Rodriguez added.

Peter was always kind, but Peter was always different, Frank Recchia said during the press conference.

And I so wish that we had known, when we were growing up back in the 70s , I wish there was a culture of openness about mental illness, because Peter was wonderful, and different and kind. He was such a kind and amazing soul who never wanted to hurt anyone. And, later in life, he turned this kindness into a little crusade for Jesus. He would go around in his word, saving souls.

The GoFundMe drive, Celebration of life services and family support, has raised $525 of its $14,000 goal as of Wednesday afternoon. Organizers are seeking money to help Peter Recchias wife, who also has mental issues and was recently discharged from a nursing home.

An earlier account, Help find Peter Recchia, helped raise $6,660 for the search effort.

The state medical examiners office is conducting an autopsy to confirm the identity of the remains and determine the cause of death. A representative from the department said Wednesday morning the examination is still pending.
Atlanta, March 10, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Acuity Brands, Inc. (AYI) announced today the renewal of a multi-year agreement with Target Corporation for Atrius Software as a Service (SaaS) .

We are excited to continue our partnership with Acuity Brands. Using their connected LED lights has driven energy savings for Target while enhancing the in-store experience for our guests, said John Leisen, Vice President of Property Management for Target Corporation.

Target has been a customer of Acuity Brands for over two decades and a technology partner for over four years. New advanced lighting and controls products from Acuity Brands have evolved over this time to include smart, connected lighting networks that can monitor and manage lighting energy consumption as well as function as a platform for indoor location services (ILS) that support, power and deploy IoT technologies across a space.

Were pleased to have Targeta leader in retail technologyadopt our reliable and scalable technology, said Audwin Cash, Senior Vice President of Acuity Brands Lighting. It helps validate our corporate commitment by Expanding the boundaries of lighting through innovation.

Read more information .

About Acuity Brands

Acuity Brands, Inc. (AYI) is the North American market leader and one of the worlds leading providers of lighting and building management solutions. With fiscal year 2019 net sales of $3.7 billion, Acuity Brands currently employs approximately 12,000 associates and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia with operations throughout North America, and in Europe and Asia. The Companys products and solutions are sold under various brands, including Lithonia Lighting, Holophane, Aculux, American Electric Lighting, A-Light, Antique Street Lamps, Atrius, Cyclone, DGLogik, Distech Controls, DTL, eldoLED, Eureka, Gotham, Healthcare Lighting, Hydrel, Indy, IOTA, Juno, Lucid, Luminaire LED, Luminis, Mark Architectural Lighting, nLight, Peerless, RELOC Wiring, ROAM, Sensor Switch, Sunoptics and Winona Lighting. Visit us at www.acuitybrands.com

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DK Shivakumar, Congress warhorse and troubleshooter, has been finally made the president of the partys Karnataka unit. After months of delay, Congress interim chief Sonia Gandhi finally made his appointment to the position official. DK Shivakumar, popularly known as DKShi in the state, had been eyeing the coveted post for almost a decade and has now realised his dream.

He was expected to take charge after his release from Delhis Tihar Jail in an alleged money laundering case last October. But, the process got delayed for various reasons. According to party insiders, leader of the opposition and former chief minister Siddaramaiah, who sees DK as a threat, was not in favour of the decision, forcing Sonia Gandhi to delay it. After many state Congress leaders expressed anguish over the manner in which the party was ignoring go-getters like DKShi, a concerned high command announced his appointment on Tuesday.

Shivakumar now has the responsibility of rebuilding the party in the state, currently ruled by the BJP. His real strengths will now be put to the test.

Shivakumar is a man for all seasons for the Congress. He reached the top of state politics by fighting the Gowda family in their stronghold. His long battle with the Gowdas is legendary.

The Vokkaliga leader won his first assembly election in 1989 from Sathanur in Kanakapura taluk. When S Bangarappa became the CM in 1990, he recognised Shivakumars talent and made him a junior minister with the prisons and home guards portfolio. Even though the portfolio was insignificant, DK caught the attention of the top brass because of his leadership skills and spunk. He was just 29 years old and that mattered a lot.

When the HD Deve Gowda-led Janata Dal came to power in 1994, Shivakumar was one of the very few who survived the storm. He fought a battle with the Gowdas even when Deve Gowda was the Prime Minister.

When a fellow Vokkaliga, SM Krishna, became the chief minister in 1999, he made Shivakumar his urban development minister. DK behaved like the de-facto CM, rubbing many top leaders the wrong way. In the 2002 Lok Sabha bypolls, he fought against Deve Gowda from Kanakapura and lost. He took his revenge by defeating Deve Gowda in the 2004 Lok Sabha polls from the same seat by fielding a journalist, Tejaswini Gowda, against him.

But the Krishna government lost the assembly polls held along with the Lok Sabha elections. The Congress and JD(S) formed a coalition government and Shivakumar was kept out. He had to wait till January 2014 to return to the Karnataka cabinet.

He had held the post of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) working president during the BS Yediyurappa government. But he was ineffective as the head of the party unit.

When the Siddaramaiah-led Congress came to power in 2013, Shivakumar was kept out on charges of corruption. But he did not quit the party or say anything against the high command. In January 2014, he was made the state power minister.

Even though he never shared a good rapport with Siddaramaiah, they stuck together because of their common enemy  the Gowdas. There was the occasional bickering, but they managed to work together.

When the BJP tried to defeat Sonia Gandhis political secretary Ahmed Patel in the Gujarat Rajya Sabha election in August 2017, the same Shivakumar sheltered party MLAs from the western state. He was raided by the income tax department and Enforcement Directorate, but he did not budge. Ahmed Patel won and Shivakumar had the last laugh.

The Karnataka leader is no stranger to this role. In 2002, the Congress-led Vilasrao Deshmukh government in Maharashtra was about to collapse. Fearing a defeat, he moved his MLAs to neighbouring Karnataka, ruled by SM Krishna.

Krishna entrusted the responsibility of keeping them safe to his young urban development minister Shivakumar. He herded them to Eagleton Resort on the outskirts of Bengaluru and hosted them for a week. On the day of the trust vote, DK escorted them back to Mumbai and the Vilasrao government survived. And Shivakumar hit the national headlines. That incident also helped him cement his relationship with the Gandhi family.

He missed the chance to become the KPCC president in May 2017 because Siddaramaiah saw him as a threat. But he did not utter a word against the party or Siddaramaiah. He was the campaign committee chairman during the previous election.

After the polls delivered a fractured mandate, the same Shivakumar joined hands with the Gowda family to keep the BJP out of power. He had kept them at the same Eagleton Resort for three days and later took them to Hyderabad by bus. He made sure that no Congress MLA switched sides and even brought two missing legislators  Pratap Gouda Patil and Anand Singh  back into the party.

Shivakumar is liked and hated in equal measure. He is a polarising personality but his supporters love and admire him because they say he stands by them during crises.

His rivals fear him because he is vindictive. He makes no bones about his ambition to be the chief minister of Karnataka before he retires from politics. Speaking to this reporter, he had said that he had won seven assembly elections in a row and had done a lot for the party which makes him eligible for the post. And most people agree with him.
RTHK: France jails two over minister impersonation scam

A Paris court on Wednesday sentenced two men to jail for their role in a bizarre money-making scam that involved impersonating a French government minister to dupe the rich and famous, sometimes using a silicone mask in his likeness.

The court found that Gilbert Chikli, 54, and Anthony Lasarevitsch, 35 -- who denied the charges -- were the masterminds of the scam that saw three victims part with some 55 million euros (US$62 million).

The heaviest sentence of 11 years plus a two-million-euro fine went to Chikli, who shouted "It's a scandal" from the dock. "You should be ashamed."

Lasarevitsch received a prison sentence of seven years and a fine of one million euros.

The Franco-Israeli pair was tried for organised fraud and usurping the identity of Jean-Yves Le Drian -- now France's foreign minister, but then minister of defence -- to raise money from wealthy political, business and religious figures.

Five others aged 27 to 59 faced lesser charges. One was released on Wednesday, and four others received sentences ranging from suspended 15-month terms to five years.

The scheme, which took place from 2015 to 2016, involved fraudsters posing as Le Drian to ask politicians and executives for financial aid for what they described as secret operations by the French state.

One would appear in video conferences behind a fake official desk, donning a dark suit and a silicone mask of Le Drian.

The fake "minister" made calls by telephone and video link to more than 150 targets -- of whom three were successfully duped.

Prosecutors say the Aga Khan, spiritual leader of Ismaili Muslims, was conned by a Le Drian impersonator in 2016 and made five transfers for a total 20 million euros to Poland and China. Three of the payments were frozen, but 7.7 million euros disappeared.

A few months later, Turkish business magnate Inan Kirac was allegedly convinced to wire more than US$47 million for what he thought was ransom money for two journalists held hostage in Syria.

Le Drian, a senior ally of President Emmanuel Macron, became foreign minister in 2017 after serving five years as defence minister.

In 2015, a French court convicted Chikli in absentia to seven years in prison for similar scams in 2005 and 2006, in which he posed as business chief executives.

On the run, he was arrested two years later with Lasarevitsch in Ukraine. On their phones, police found pictures of a silicone mask of Prince Albert II of Monaco, suggesting another hoax was in the planning stages.

Six of the defendants, including Chikli and Lasarevitsch, were charged over both the Le Drian scam and the suspected plot to target Prince Albert, while the seventh was charged solely over the alleged Monaco plot.

Others targeted, albeit unsuccessfully, included Gabon's President Ali Bongo, French Aids charity Sidaction, the chief executive of the Lafarge cement company and the archbishop of Paris.

In an interview with French television in 2010 over previous scams, Chikli said he was intrigued by the "game" of scamming.

His story inspired a 2015 film, "Je Compte Sur Vous" (I'm Counting on You). (AFP)

This story has been published on: 2020-03-11. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
WASHINGTON  Its starting to look like a classic standoff between Capitol Hill and the White House: Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Democrats insist that a Coronavirus stimulus bill primarily address paid sick leave while President Donald Trump and some Republicans hold strong for a payroll tax cut.

On Tuesday, Trump came to the Capitol to sell Senate Republicans on his plan to temporarily suspend or reduce the payroll tax  a 12.4% levy evenly split between employees and employers. Some Republicans have floated the idea of eliminating the payroll tax for 90 days to help the economy deal with the fallout of the coronavirus outbreak. Trump has proposed suspending it until Election Day.

Coming out of the meeting, Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn (R-Texas) suggested Democrats ought to like the payroll tax idea, noting that Democrats and the Obama administration supported a temporary 2-percentage-point reduction in the tax from 2011 through 2012.

If we dont get ahead of this threat, youre going to see unemployment rise as the economy dips, and so I think its not time to wave partisan flags, Cornyn said. Got to pull together. This is kind of an economic 9/11 that we need to address.

Cornyn and other Republican senators said the president and his team laid out a range of possible economic policies, but neither the administration officials nor GOP senators coalesced around any particular proposal.

The ranking GOP member of the Ways and Means Committee, Rep. Kevin Brady of Texas, told HuffPost that Trumps economic team would be meeting with the panels Republicans on Wednesday to review various proposals, with an eye toward the payroll tax holiday, direct assistance for certain industries, and help for businesses and individuals who need to quarantine as COVID-19 spreads.

But Democrats are showing some real opposition to a payroll tax cut.

Essentially, they argue, a payroll tax holiday would do little to address the outbreak...

Continue reading on HuffPost
The Bundesliga match between Union Berlin and Bayern Munich on Saturday will be played behind closed doors because of the coronavirus scare, Berlin city government said Wednesday.

"The match will be played without spectators," the city deputy health chief Dilek Kalayci told Spreeradio station despite Union Berlin's statement Tuesday saying the match would be open to an expected 22,000 fans.

On Sunday, Germany's health minister Jens Spahn requested that all events with more than 1,000 people be cancelled "until further notice".

But the decision to close stadium doors rests ultimately with regional authorities and is made on a case-by-case basis.

Also behind closed doors this weekend are matches at Werder Bremen v Bayer Leverkusen, Borussia Dortmund v Schalke 04, Fortuna Dusseldorf v Paderborn, Augsbourg v VfL Wolfsburg and Cologne v Mainz 05.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Ryanair and Aer Lingus have suspended all flights to Italy, as the European Commission warned that the situation for the EU's aviation industry is "deteriorating on a daily basis".

The budget airline said yesterday that it was suspending all flights to and from Italy this week as the country remains in lockdown, while Aer Lingus has halted flights to Italy until April 3.

Ryanair will suspend domestic flights in Italy from midnight tonight and its international Italian flights from midnight on Friday.

It is planned that, at this stage, the suspension will last until April 8.

The airline said passengers seeking repatriation can obtain a free move to an earlier Ryanair flight operating up until midnight on Friday.

"Affected passengers will be able to choose between a full refund or a travel credit that can be redeemed on Ryanair flights in the next 12 months," it said.

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It came as Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney urged Irish people to cancel travel plans to all parts of Italy but admitted that stopping tourists coming from Italy is out of his control.

In light of internal developments in Italy, the Department of Foreign Affairs upgraded travel advice to Irish citizens, recommending against travel to the whole of Italy.

At the end of January, Italy had its first case of Covid-19, it now has almost 10,000 people infected. Close to 500 people there have died from the virus.

"Up until yesterday, our travel advice for Italy was that nobody should travel to the northern regions, unless it was absolutely essential. Now that is extended to the country as a whole," Mr Coveney said.

"The vast majority of the 24 people who have tested positive in Ireland so far, have come from northern Italy, and they brought it home with them.

"It really is totally unprecedented that you'd have a minister for foreign affairs advising Irish citizens not to travel to a large EU member state. But that is the advice."

Mr Coveney said that it is out of his jurisdiction to control flights leaving Italy for Ireland, but that the caretaker Taoiseach Leo Varadkar was to raise the issue of flights and further EU-wide responses at a meeting of the European Council.

"Italy is now in lockdown as a country that 60 million people aren't moving around, except for to facilitate essential work," he added.
He is also working on other measures, though they had not yet taken effect Wednesday afternoon, he said. Those include working with the Kane County states attorney and the chief judge on a proposal to allow only those facing felony and domestic violence-related arrests into the jail. He is hoping people facing other misdemeanor arrests will instead be processed by the local arresting agency, then released with a court date, he said.
At 27, he took on the Nazis in the courtroom at Nuremberg and has been fighting for justice ever since.

It seems fitting that the last living Nuremberg prosecutor, Benjamin Ferencz  who turns 100 today  was born in the year that the League of Nations was founded and the Treaty of Versailles went into effect.

The former was a harbinger of the larger goals of Ferenczs lifes work  establishing a lasting framework for international peace and justice. And the latter unleashed the historical forces that led to the rise of Nazism  the crimes of which Ferenczwould prosecute at the Nuremberg Trials.

Ferencz was born on March 11, 1920, in a tiny cottage rented to his poor Jewish parents.

Just two years before, his birthplace had been part of Hungary, where Jewish residents had largely lived in harmony with their non-Jewish neighbours.

But following its defeat in World War I (1914-1918), Hungary ceded the territory to Romania, where anti-Semitism flourished.

Before Ferencz turned one, his family had fled anti-Semitic persecution, boarding a boat for the United States.

Benjamin Ferencz with his son, Don, at a party held ahead of his birthday in Florida on March 6 [Courtesy: Don Ferencz]

A childhood in Hells Kitchen

When the impoverished family arrived in New York City, Ferenczs father, a one-eyed cobbler, had difficulty finding work. So they moved into the dank cellar of a tenement house in Hells Kitchen, one of the nations poorest and most crime-ridden neighbourhoods.

Surrounded by thieves, gangs and violent criminals during his youth, Ferencz gravitated towards a career in law enforcement. He would eventually become what Richard Goldstone, the former chief prosecutor of the United Nations International Criminal Tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda, would later call the heart and soul of international criminal justice.

But his path towards a pioneering career in war crimes prosecution and peace advocacy was not immediately clear.

Elementary schools looked at the young Ferenczs physical stature (as an adult, he barely reached 52) and thought he was too small to enrol. It did not help, either, that the only languages he spoke fluently were Yiddish and Hungarian.

Eventually, though, he got into school and proved to be a brilliant student. He was transferred to an academy for gifted children before studying sociology and criminal justice at the City College of New York. From there, he received a scholarship to Harvard, where he started in the Autumn of 1940.

At Harvard, he volunteered to work as a research assistant for Professor Sheldon Glueck, who was writing a book called War Criminals: Their Prosecution and Punishment (1944) on war crimes committed by the Axis powers in World War II (1939-1945), which was then raging in Europe.

It was through this work that Ferencz began to develop an expertise in the burgeoning area of war crimes law.

Following the bombing of Pearl Harbour on December 7, 1941  and the USs subsequent entry into the war  Ferencz tried to enlist in the US Air Force. He was rejected because of his height. His efforts to enlist in other branches of the military also came to nought.

A witness to the Holocaust

Ferencz graduated from Harvard in 1943 and was finally inducted into an artillery battalion of the US army.

Arriving in Europe in December of that year, he found himself at some of the most significant American battlefields of the war, including the landing beaches of Normandy, the frozen forests of the Battle of the Bulge, and the parapets of the Siegfried Line.

By the end of 1944, it was clear that the Germans had been committing egregious and large-scale war crimes. When General George S Pattons Third Army established a war crimes investigative unit, Ferencz was transferred to it.

As part of this unit, Ferencz helped liberate and investigate the Buchenwald, Mauthausen and Flossenburg concentration camps, among others. He witnessed scenes that would haunt him for the rest of his life: bodies piled up before the crematoria and skeletal human beings barely clinging to life.

There was no time for emotion. No time for being shocked, for tears  for anything like that, said Ferencz in the 2018 documentary Prosecuting Evil.

His son, Don Ferencz, says the horrors of the concentration camps traumatised him.

My dad is a guy who has been traumatised by what he saw, smelt and felt with his own eyes, ears and hands, he told the documentary makers.

I read a number of letters he wrote while he was liberating the camps, what he saw and what he felt. This has fuelled a nuclear reaction inside this man and its still what he does every day.

Ferencz was honourably discharged from the army in December 1945, having earned five battle stars, and returned to New York, where he married his wife Gertrude on March 31, 1946.

Inmates are seen lying on bunks at the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp in Nazi-occupied Poland after its liberation in this undated handout picture, Courtesy of Yad Vashem. [Archives/Handout/Reuters]

A chance encounter

Not long before Ferenczs discharge, the Allies had begun prosecuting major Nazi war criminals before the International Military Tribunal in Nuremberg. This was the first of the famous Nuremberg trials. It was followed by the Subsequent Nuremberg trials of other Nazi leaders before American military tribunals.

Shortly after returning from Europe, Ferencz was standing on a street corner in New York when he bumped into a former classmate from Harvard Law School, Murray Gartner.

Gartner was, at the time, working as a law clerk for Justice Robert Jackson of the US Supreme Court, and Jackson had just been assigned the task of serving as the Chief of Counsel for the United States at the International Military Tribunal at Nuremberg.

It was the chance encounter with Gartner that ultimately led Ferencz to Nuremberg, where he was placed under the supervision of Brigadier General Telford Taylor. Taylor was preparing for the Subsequent Nuremberg trials.

They took place in the same courtroom as the International Military Tribunal proceeding, in the Palace of Justice in Nuremberg, a city chosen in part because of its symbolism as the site of the Nazi partys annual rallies and because of the Reichstag session that in 1935 passed the anti-Semitic and racist laws known as the Nuremberg Laws.

In the spring of 1947, in Berlin, where Ferencz had been sent as the chief of the Berlin Branch to delve through Nazi offices and archives, his team found a nearly complete set of secret reports describing the daily activities of the Einsatzgruppen.

The Einsatzgruppen were mobile SS death squads that operated in Nazi-occupied Eastern Europe. They mainly conducted mass killings, often shooting their victims into pits dug specifically for the purpose or ravines, ditches and quarries. Formed in 1939, it is estimated that between 1941 and 1945, they killed more than two million people, including around 1.3 million Jews and up to 250,000 Roma, as well as members of the resistance, homosexuals, members of the clergy and people with disabilities.

Upon discovering the secret reports, Ferencz flew to Nuremberg to request authorisation for a new trial. Taylor was adamant that his office lacked the resources for such a trial, but Ferencz persisted.

Taylor eventually yielded, naming Ferencz the chief prosecutor in the Einsatzgruppen Trial. It would be the ninth of the 12 Subsequent Nuremberg trials, and would see 24 commanders of Einsatzgruppen units face charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Two of those did not make it to the end of the trial  one because the case against him was discontinued for medical reasons and another because he committed suicide.

A plea of humanity to law

The stage was set for what the Associated Press at the time described as the biggest murder trial in history.

The men in the dock included the infamous lead defendant, SS Brigade Fuhrer Otto Ohlendorf, an economist with a PhD who was the commander of Einsatzgruppen D, which murdered nearly 100,000 people in southern Ukraine and the Caucasus during 1941-1942.

Ferencz was 27 years old and this was his first case.

He began the proceedings with one of the most powerful opening statements of the Nuremberg trials: It is with sorrow and with hope that we here disclose the deliberate slaughter of more than a million innocent and defenceless men, women and children. Vengeance is not our goal, nor do we seek merely a just retribution. We ask this court to affirm by international penal action, mans right to live in peace and dignity, regardless of his race or creed. The case we present is a plea of humanity to law. We shall establish beyond the realm of doubt facts which, before the dark decade of the Third Reich, would have seemed incredible.

He introduced the prosecutions evidence, argued its motions and then cross-examined some of the key defendants.

In April 1948, all 22 remaining defendants were found guilty.

After this success, Taylor promoted Ferencz to the position of executive counsel, managing the conclusion of the remaining Nuremberg trials.

In 1948, while still working out of his Nuremberg prosecution office, Ferencz took over the leadership of the Jewish Restitution Successor Organization, becoming the connective tissue between Holocaust prosecutions and reparations. He soon filed more than 163,000 restitution claims.

He then played a leading role in the successful negotiation of a Reparations Agreement between Israel and West Germany, an unprecedented nation-to-nation pact for atrocity compensation. He followed that by heading up the institution that assisted survivors in securing their share of the indemnity settlement, the United Restitution Organization.

Nahum Goldmann, the president of the Jewish Claims Commission, centre, signs an agreement between Germany and Israel in Luxembourg on September 10, 1952. Benjamin Ferencz is to the right of the picture. [File: AP Photo]

By 1956, Ferencz was ready to return home with his wife and four children. He entered private practice in New York, in partnership with Telford Taylor, but continued with his efforts to guarantee reparations, filing a string of important cases for Holocaust survivors over the next two decades.

All roads lead to Nuremberg

By the 1970s, Ferencz was no longer looking just to prosecute those accused of committing atrocities; he was also focusing on prevention.

His advocacy contributed to United Nations General Assembly Resolution 3314, which sought to define the crime of aggression.

He played a significant role in the 1998 adoption of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, the treaty that established the ICC, whose statute eventually incorporated the definition of the crime of aggression he had helped to formulate.

In 2011, Ferencz delivered a portion of the closing statement in the ICCs first trial  of the Congolese warlord Thomas Lubanga Dyilo.

He had come full circle  from an opening statement at Nuremberg to a closing statement at The Hague.

As Philippe Sands, UCL professor and counsel to the Gambia in its genocide case against Myanmar over its treatment of the Rohingya at the International Court of Justice, puts it: [When it comes to international criminal justice], all roads lead to Nuremberg. Its a straight line from Nuremberg to the Rohingya/Myanmar case in The Hague.

Mark Drumbl is a professor of law at Washington and Lee University. He explains how Nuremberg could have been a one-time event of victorious allies prosecuting the losing side.

Instead, he explains, Ferencz worked hard to create international institutions that would be permanent in nature. These institutions would not have existed without a vision of justice that started at Nuremberg.

But, for Ferencz, it was a matter of particular disappointment that the US, despite playing a significant role at Nuremberg, did not ratify the ICC Statute.

It is a disappointment shared by his son, Don Ferencz, who told Al Jazeera: By failing to join as a member of the ICC, the United States has turned its back on the lessons of Nuremberg. But ironically, neither France nor the United Kingdom have ratified the ICCs amendments on the crime of aggression. Although rank and file soldiers in the US, France and the UK can be tried for violations of the laws of war, the politicians who send them out to fight and die in violation of the prohibition on the crime of aggressive war remain unaccountable to law.

Law, not war

Ferencz is known for saying war makes murderers out of otherwise decent people.

Speaking to Al Jazeera ahead of his birthday, he expanded on this idea, saying: We must stop glorifying war. I have never heard of a war that does not kill the innocent.

To Ruti Teitel, a professor at New York Law School, Ferenczs enduring legacy is his work for the anti-war movement, particularly the movement against nuclear weapons.

The best quote of Bens, which I think summarises his lasting legacy, is I prefer law to war in all circumstances, Teitel explains.

Since retiring, Ferencz has devoted himself to advocating for peace, never tiring of repeating his trademark mantra: Law, not war.

Leila Sadat, a professor of law at Washington University School of Law, says: Ben was writing about world peace when it wasnt popular . Since my first meeting with him, I have never, ever ceased to be amazed by his moral clarity, indefatigable energy and fighting spirit.

While he has never sought accolades, he has received many. He has received the Erasmus Prize, been awarded the highest civilian honour by the German government and had his lifes work recognised by the government of Hungary.

But, Don points out, he has never been officially recognised by the US government. Perhaps, Don reflects, the lack of recognition of those who stand for the rule of law reflects the political reality of our times.

Bones in the grass

When visiting Auschwitz for the first time just after the war, Benjamin Ferencz picked up small bones in the grass.

He says he told himself: I do not want to forget what I came to Germany for.

We think progress is built on institutions, Drumbl reflects. But sometimes a single individual, bucking trends, can make a huge impact.

Bens qualities of individuality, tenacity and pluck are crucial as we look ahead to face the challenges of future generations.

Ahead of his fathers 100th birthday, Don shared an anecdote about him.

Most people dont know that until about the age of 95 years old, my father stood on his head for about five minutes every single day.

Apt, perhaps, for a man who has spent his life trying to correct a world turned upside down by war and mans inhumanity to man.
The Kerala High Court on Wednesday dismissed a plea challenging various provisions of the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995 following the Information and Broadcasting Ministry's recent decision to prohibit telecast of two Malayalam channels for 48 hours for their coverage of communal violence in Delhi last month.

Dismissing the plea in limine (at the preliminary stage), a division bench of Chief Justice S Manikumar and Justice Shaji P Chaly said the petitioner was not an aggrieved party in the case.

In his plea, Harish Vasudevan, an advocate, alleged that being critical towards RSS and Delhi Police was termed as a reason for prohibition of telecast of a Channel for 48 hours.

He also pleaded to declare that Rule 6(1)(a) and Rule6 (1)(i) of Cable Television Network Rules 1994, was violative of Article 19(1)(a) and Article 14 of the Constitution of India and ultravires to the parent Act.

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.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Queen Letizia of Spain and King Felipe VI of Spain joined French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte in Paris today to mark the 16th European Day of Victims of Terrorism.

The Spanish royals were invited to attend a lunch with the French First Couple at the Elysee Presidential Palace prior to this afternoon's ceremony.

The European Day of Victims of Terrorism was established after the bombings in Madrid in 2004 - the deadliest in Europe since 1988.

It brings together victims of terrorism along with aid relief personnel and representatives from the member states of Europe, and takes play every year on March 11.

Queen Letizia of Spain and King Felipe VI of Spain joined French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte in Paris today to mark the 16th European Day of Victims of Terrorism

The foursome took part in a ceremony to honour victims of terror attacks in Europe on the 16th anniversary of the Madrid attacks at the Trocadero in Paris

French President Emmanuel Macron signs a document as his wife Brigitte Macron, Spain's King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia observe at the respectful ceremony

Queen Letizia and King Felipe VI of Spain and the Macrons at the ceremony for the 16th European Day of Victims of Terrorism

The Spanish royals (left) were invited to attend a lunch with the French First Couple (right) at the Elysee Presidential Palace prior to this afternoon's ceremony

The European Day of Victims of Terrorism was established after the attacks in Madrid in 2004. Pictured: the Spanish king and queen meet the French president and his wife

This afternoon President Emmanuel Macron will chair the ceremony, held at Trocadero Square in the capital, alongside King Felipe, and pay homage to the victims of terrorism in France as well as to French victims abroad.

King Felipe VI will deliver a speech, in the presence of 900 victims or relatives of victims, and Mr Macron will follow.

Both Letizia and Brigitte opted for navy blue ensembles, with the Spanish queen sported a chic tailored suit, blue stilettos and a string of pearls.

She swept her brunette locks back into a loose bun and completed her look with a pair of simple diamond studs.

Queen Letizia swept her brunette locks back into a loose bun and completed her look with a pair of simple diamond studs

The Spanish queen sported a bold eye shadow look, with shades of copper and brown, and a deep pink gloss lip

It was all smiles as the two couples came together at the Elysee presidential Palace in Paris today

Brigitte donned a smart navy double breasted coat over a white frill shirt and tailored navy trousers with matching ankle boots

Queen Letizia and Brigitte Macron opted for navy blue ensembles, with the Spanish queen sported a chic tailored suit, blue stilettos and a string of pearls

French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron gave a warm welcome to Spain's King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia

Letizia sported a bold eye shadow look, with shades of copper and brown, and a deep pink gloss lip.

Brigitte donned a smart navy double breasted coat over a white frill shirt and tailored navy trousers with matching ankle boots.

The French First Lady sported her signature blonde bob and heavy eyeliner as she posed with her husband and the Spanish royal couple on the steps of the palace.

Both men also opted for navy blue suits - presumably opting for dark colours to reflect the sombre tone of the event.

The European Union has established a solid legal framework to protect victims of terrorism throughout Europe.

President Macron and First Lady Brigitte appeared to be warm hosts when their Spanish guests arrived for lunch

President Macron offered his wife his arm as the duo ascended the steps of the palace to greet the Spanish royals

The French First Couple and the Spanish royals posed for a photograph at the top of the steps of the palace

The French First Lady dressed her signature blonde bob in its usual style and opted for dark eye make-up and nude lips

The foursome enjoyed friendly conversation in the grounds of the Elysee Presidential Palace before entering the building

This afternoon President Emmanuel Macron will chair the ceremony, held at Trocadero Square in the capital, alongside King Felipe, and pay homage to the victims of terrorism in France as well as to French victims abroad

France's President Emmanuel Macron placed a friendly hand on King Felipe's arm as the two couples met this afternoon
A former Catasauqua man driving a car with a stolen tag jumped out as the car drifted down a hill, ran and hid in a households unused aquarium, according to Fountain Hill police.

The spectacle drew a crowd and was posted on Facebook Live, which is where the cars owner learned it was missing, police added.

An officer was patrolling about 3:20 p.m. Tuesday in the 1400 block of Broadway when the cruisers license plate reader hit on a stolen plate, according to Fountain Hill police Chief Ed Bachert and court papers. The car also had a burned out brake light, police said Wednesday morning.

The officer radioed Lehigh County dispatch and another officer saw the black 1998 Honda Civic in the 500 block of Broadway and pursued it as it sped through back streets, some of them one way, and blew through several intersections -- nearly causing two crashes, police say in court papers. Eventually the driver turned onto Dakotah Street and before the vehicle stopped, he jumped out and the car drifted down the hill into another vehicle then bumped into a house, Bachert and court papers said.

The suspect, 28-year-old Shavon Cisco Soto, ran off through some backyards and was eventually found hiding in a large aquarium behind a home in the 500 block of Cherokee Street, Bachert said.

A car with a stolen license plate was pursued by Fountain Hill police the afternoon of March 10, 2020, onto Dakotah Street in the borough before Shavon Soto jumped out, causing the Honda Civic to crash, police say. Soto hid in an aquarium behind a Cherokee Street home until he was arrested, police say. Salisbury Township, Allentown and Bethlehem police assisted at the crash scene.Photo courtesy Salisbury Townshi

As Soto was taken into custody, a large crowd gathered and was getting loud, so officers from Salisbury Township, Allentown and Bethlehem were called to help secure the scene.

I thank those guys, the chief said. They got here quickly.

Someone in the crowd put the continuing incident up on Facebook Live and a man watching in Allentown thought his car was involved, Bachert said. The man checked and learned the vehicle was no longer at his house, Bachert said. Soto was not charged with stealing the car, just possessing a stolen license plate, court papers say.

No one was hurt in the pursuit or the crash, Bachert said.

Its not every day you find a guy hiding in an aquarium, Bachert said.

Soto was arraigned at 10:32 pm. before District Judge Michael Joseph Pochron on charges of fleeing or eluding a police officer, reckless endangerment, receiving stolen property, reckless driving and five other vehicular violations, court papers say. Bail was set at $10,000 and Soto was sent to Lehigh County Jail, records show.

His preliminary hearing is tentatively scheduled for 2:15 p.m. March 17 before District Judge Wayne Maura, records show.

Soto was also wanted on a warrant out of Catasauqua, records show. Right before the chase case, he was arraigned on charges from July 26 of strangulation, simple assault and harassment, records show. Borough police at 10:53 that night responded to a call in the 100 block of Wood Street after Soto put a woman in a choke hold for about five seconds following an argument about her removing an air conditioner from her sons bedroom, police allege. The woman broke free when her wife began to hit Soto, police said; Soto, who knew the women, then fled.

Bail was set at $15,000, records show. That preliminary hearing is tentatively scheduled for the same time but before District Judge Michael DAmore, records show.

Soto will be represented by the Lehigh County Public Defenders Office, but a specific attorney was not listed in court papers.

Editors note: This post was updated with information from court papers.

Tony Rhodin may be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyRhodin. If theres anything about this story that needs attention, please email him. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 03/11/2020



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star Jessica Studer has love written all over her face, but she apparently still believes Austin Hurd will be the first one to say "I love you."During the March 4 episode of : Unfiltered, Jessica watched back a Season 10 clip in which Austin said he wasn't sure whether he'd be the first person to say, "I love you" in their marriage because saying those three words is a really big deal to him.Austin, however, told his wife their love would grow organically and he'd profess his feelings when "it feels right.""Jessica, when you asked Austin if he'd be the first person to say 'I love you' in your relationship, you did not look happy with his answer. What were you hoping to hear?" Unfiltered host Jamie Otis asked."Umm, yeah, I mean, I still feel like [Austin] will probably be the first one to say it," Jessica proudly stated."I think that he is someone who is more in check with his feelings and emotions, and I usually put up a lot more walls. So, I kind of feel like it's going to be him that says it first."Jamie pointed out that by looking at Jessica's eyes in that MAFS footage, it appeared she was already in love with Austin a few weeks into their marriage."[I'm] throwing it out there! The way you looked up at him! 'I think you'll be the first person to say I love you,'" Jamie playfully mocked Jessica while batting her eyes."I mean, if he wants to say it, I might say it back! Jessica admitted.Jamie therefore asked Jessica if she loved Austin and wanted to say "I love you" but was holding back."I think that I'm definitely growing those feelings," Jessica shared. "I'm getting to that point.""Whoa!" Jamie exclaimed, before expert Dr. Viviana Coles pointed out on Unfiltered, "That's so cute."Jamie then asked Jessica how she was feeling on a scale from 1-10 about Austin, with one being "not in love" and 10 being totally "smitten."Jessica dodged the question and just said, "I am pretty happy with Austin.""That's not a number, Jessica!" Jamie pushed with a big smile."I'm not going to give you a number," Jessica replied."Why?!" Jamie asked in shock with her mouth wide open."I mean, I think it's pretty obvious -- I'm at, like, a 10," Jessica confessed. "I do really like him." Taylor Dunklin also joined Jessica on Unfiltered, and all the girls swooned over Jessica's reaction to the conversation.Viviana, who thought Jessica's words were "so sweet," was then put on the hot seat.Jamie picked Viviana's brain on why Jessica seemed to feel the need to hear Austin say, "I love you" first, as if the man must say it first in a relationship."I don't know what that's about!" Viviana said. "We are modern women. If you have feelings, you share them! Because if not, it could be too late."Jamie, however, said, "So far so good," and Viviana agreed Jessica and Austin were "still learning so much about each other" at this point in the extreme experiment."I have learned not to predict anything," Viviana joked."It is early on," Jessica acknowledged."Not that it won't work out!" Viviana clarified to Jessica. "I don't want to put that out there. I'm just saying!""Yeah, come on, Dr. Viviana!" Jamie joked as all the girls laughed.Jessica and Austin, who are both quirky and want to start a family in the near future, seemingly have the strongest and most stable relationship on 's tenth season. In fact, the pair actually tone down their affection for each other when in the presence of the other struggling couples.Jessica and Austin consummated their marriage early into their honeymoon in Panama and have succeeded in navigating daily life together. Austin, for example, cooks and cleans the apartment when Jessica works late.At this point, it appears Jessica and Austin have no hurdles to overcome other than falling in love with each other., which currently airs Wednesday nights at 8PM ET/PT on Lifetime, also stars Taylor's husband Brandon Reid Katie Conrad and Derek Sherman Mindy Shiben and Zach Justice , and Meka Jones and Michael Watson Interested in more news? Join our Married at First Sight Facebook Group
Sinterex, the first company to be licensed for industrial 3D printing in the UAE, has been named as the Best 3D-printed healthcare products manufacturer  Middle East by Global Health & Pharma (GHP), a global information sharing platform and a multi-disciplinary members community, which announced winners of the 2019 Technology Awards, this month.

In its announcement, GHP said: Technology is a great force for change across numerous industries, sectors and fields. In the global healthcare industry, it has become a disruptive tool that is quickly revolutionising medical practice, research and pharmaceutical development. As technology continues to grow and develop in sophistication, finding factories of the future is a top priority for every industry, including healthcare. Able to take advantage of the latest innovations in 3D scanning, design and printing, Sinterex combines state-of-the-art technology with the finest in medical practice.

Julian Callanan, founder and managing director of Sinterex said: Healthcare is an entirely personal matter, with no solution fitting two people. Finding a solution that is truly bespoke is currently a major challenge, but the rise in the use of 3D printing technology has changed the economics of personalisation and is now set to transform the medical industry.

3D printing can support medical professionals in every area of the industry, ranging from dental laboratories, to dental clinics, to hospitals. Sinterex has developed products for medical professionals active in each of these areas. For example, for hospitals, Dubai Health Authority (DHA) announced earlier this year that medical experts from its Innovation Centre have collaborated with Sinterex to bring 3D Printing to the point-of-care at DHA Hospitals-Rashid, Latifa, Dubai, and Hatta Hospital.

A team of biomedical engineers are now on site working side-by-side with medical professionals to provide access to patient specific anatomical models. The benefits are amazing. By being onsite our team are in close communication with the DHA surgeons and can quickly respond to their requests. We are seeing significant time savings for the surgeries which we are supporting, added Callanan.

Many things set Sinterex apart from the norm. For example, the company developed an innovative online portal which allows the team behind this business to work remotely with customers, who can review 3D files anywhere and at any time thanks to smartphone compatibility.

But perhaps Sinterexs most unique feature is that it is a trailblazer in the UAE breaking down commercial and technological challenges. In 2017, Sinterex was the first company to commercially deploy complex metal 3D printing technology, using this to make teeth and other dental products, quickly building an international customer portfolio. In 2019, Sinterex started to offer products for hospitals and one of the highlights was using Titanium 3D printing technology to save the jaw of a young cancer patient. In 2020, Sinterex became the first company in the UAE to bring 3D printing to the point-of-care with its DHA collaboration.

With its willingness to take on commercial and technological challenges, Sinterex finds itself on the cutting edge of the marketplace, keenly positioned to provide a service that can only enhance the work of medical professionals. In specialising in this area of operation, the burden of research and creation has been lifted from medical professionals, allowing both parties to do their job to the best of their ability.--TradeArabia News Service
British video game developers already punch above their weight in an industry that often flies under the radar for UK investors.

Gaming has been revolutionised by the same move to online streaming services that has changed how people watch TV.

And updates from two AIM-listed companies, Frontier Developments and Team 17, showed the sector is doing better than ever.

Game on: Ppdates from two AIM-listed video game makers, Frontier Developments and Team 17, showed the sector is doing better than ever

Frontier clinched an exclusive deal with Formula 1 to make management-style games for the racing series, which lets players run their own F1 teams.

Frontier's game should debut in 2022 and will run for four seasons to 2025 if it hits targets.

Cambridge-based Frontier, which is led by British game designer pioneer David Braben, has also bagged two further deals with unnamed groups.

And Team 17, the maker of the popular Worms franchise and collaborative cooking game Overcooked, reported record sales that ballooned 43 per cent to 62million in 2019.

Profits rose from 8.7million in 2018 to 19million last year  and it has a pipeline of 10 new titles for 2020.

Stock Watch - Brand Architekts Sales and profits sank at beauty brands business Brand Architekts as the US-China trade war hit its international arm and Britons spent less. Half-year profits fell by almost three-quarters to 302,000, sending shares 23.1 per cent or 37.5p, lower to 125p yesterday. The Dirty Works and Real Shave Company-owner now expects annual profits to fall sharply. It could have trouble stocking Christmas gifts, most of it sourced from China, following the Covid-19 outbreak.

Shares in both made gains, with Frontier closing 7.6 per cent higher, up 86p, to 1216p, while Team 17 reached 540p before ending up 1.8 per cent, or 9p, at 524p.

Technology and defence group Ultra Electronics jumped 8.5 per cent, or 162p, to 2068p, as annual profits more than doubled to 91million on a slew of new contract wins.

It added that trading has not yet been hit by the coronavirus.

But rival defence and aerospace group Meggitt was in the red, down 4.2 per cent, or 20.3p, to 463.5p, as bearish Berenberg analysts bumped its rating from 'buy' to 'hold' in the wake of the Covid-19-induced fall in air traffic.

Chairman Sir Nigel Rudd spent 496,000 buying 100,000 Meggitt shares.

Elsewhere, Plus 500 co-founder Shlomi Weizmann bought 100,000 shares in the online trading group, setting him back 942,000. Its shares fell 2.6 per cent, or 23.8p, to 890p.

Traders kept a watchful eye on oil after prices dropped as much as 35 per cent on Monday, but rose 8 per cent yesterday in a modest gain, to around $37 a barrel.

It was a mixed bag for London-listed firms. Shell, the largest company on the London Stock Exchange, rose 3.3 per cent, or 43.2p, to 1348p, as UBS analysts said it has the ability to defend its all-important dividend despite the crash.

And after shedding almost a fifth of its value the day before, BP rose 3.4 per cent, or 10.7p, to 328.9p.

The FTSE 100 fell 0.1 per cent, or 5.54 points, to 5960.23 while the FTSE 250 was virtually flat, down just 0.1 point, to 17,547.05, as Premier Oil plunged by a further 12.3 per cent, or 3.21p, to 23p, after losing more than half of its value on Monday.

Cairn Energy shed another 15.9 per cent, or 13.6p, to 71.75p, while Mediterranean-focused Energean fell 7.8 per cent, or 34.5p, to 406p.

Mid-cap engineering and oilfield services firm Wood Group, which was also knocked by the sell-off, said it was 'too early' to forecast the impact that might come from the coronavirus outbreak and oil price drops.

Shares fell 1.2 per cent, or 3.2p, to 268.6p, even as it revealed profits jumped to 115million in 2019 from 41million in 2018.

Small oil producers including Jadestone Energy (up 8.7 per cent, or 4p, to 50p), Petrotal (up 18.2 per cent, or 2p, to 13p) and Trinity Exploration (up 16.1 per cent, or 0.95p, to 6.85p) sought to reassure investors that they were strong enough to withstand a hit.

Junior-market listed financial services and pawnbroking group H&T surged 16.9 per cent, or 51.5p, to 357p, as turmoil on markets last year and the subsequent rise in gold prices boosted its pawnbroking. Profits jumped 45 per cent to 20.1million as revenues rose 15 per cent to 101million.
Prince Harry 'wants to be seen as an expert' while the 'proud maternal' Meghan Markle watches on in the 'political broadcast' style QCT video, a body language expert has claimed.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex shared unseen photos and video highlights on their Instagram page yesterday after a meeting with young leaders held at Buckingham Palace last week.

Body language expert Judi James told FEMAIL the couple used the video, which was shared after their final public appearance as senior members of the royal family, to 'pitch' themselves into their new roles on the world stage.

She revealed Prince Harry, 35, displayed signs that he wants 'to appear as an expert', using enthusiastic hand gestures and a 'leg splay' that suggested growing confidence.

And while Prince Harry took on a 'leadership role', the expert also suggested Meghan, 38, appeared a 'maternal' figure as she 'proudly' watched her husband.

Prince Harry, 35, wants to be 'seen as an expert' while Meghan Markle, 38, took on a 'proud maternal role' in 'political party style' video released by Queen's Commonwealth Trust yesterday, a body language expert has claimed

She told FEMAIL Prince Harry appeared to have already adopted a new role, displaying signs he wanted to appear 'guru-like'.

Judi revealed how the couple used the video to 'pitch' themselves into their new roles and already appeared different as they moved into the latest chapter of their lives.

She observed how the video almost appeared 'in the style of a political party's broadcast', revealing: 'This version of Harry is a million miles away from the sad, reflective and anxious man we saw at the Commonwealth service.

'In some ways it looks almost as though he is using what has been filmed, very much in the style of a party political broadcast, to pitch himself in his new role on the world stage.'

Judi revealed how the Duchess of Sussex took on a more 'regal' role in the video, letting the Duke take on 'the leadership role'

She went on to explain that while his outfit, a white open shirt and simple black suit, indicated a more 'relaxed' approach, the royal used gestures to appear 'guru' like.

She revealed: 'His tie is off to suggest a more casual approach, although he is still sporting the status signals of s sharp suit.

'He is seen either articulating some almost guru-style thoughts, using emphatic and illustrative hand gestures that are held almost at chest or face level, suggesting a desire to be seen as inspirational and an expert in this field.'

She added: 'His legs are splayed and the splay becomes more pronounced suggesting growing levels of confidence and leadership.

The body language expert pointed to Prince Harry's enthusiastic hand gestures at chest level and a 'growing leg splay' which suggested 'growing levels of confidence and leadership'

'When hes not speaking hes using some active listening signals to look absorbed in the comments hes hearing, like beard-touching and a forward lean.'

Judi said that the black-and-white still from the meeting, shared by the @SussexRoyal Instagram, revealed the fun and playful Harry.

She revealed: 'Then we see the monochrome still from the meeting and hes happy, fun Harry again, rolling back in his seat laughing with his feet in the air.'

And while Harry appeared as a leader in the video, Judi went on to explain that Meghan took on a more 'demure' role.

Prince Harry took on a 'leadership role' in the video, according to Judi, and used signals which suggested a 'a desire to be seen as inspirational and an expert in this field'

She said: 'While Harry takes the leadership role, Meghans body language almost suggests a role-swap here.'

'With Harry doing casual, she arrives in the room to meet the students looking very regal and theres very little about her elegant, upright, legs-crossed and rather demure pose that suggests a relaxed and spontaneous approach.

'Compared to Harrys emphatic points and energetic engagement, Meghans pose barely changes apart from throwing admiring glances at Harry or even sitting back in a proud, maternal role.'

And while the couple are known for their constant touching and public displays of affection, Judi said they appeared deliberately restrained in the video.

While Judi said Prince Harry appeared to take the lead in the video, she revealed how Meghan looked 'very regal' in the clip, and 'demure'

She said: 'Theres none of the constant touch between the two, although both use a wedding ring-touching self-comfort gesture to suggest this hands-off approach might have been deliberate and that they are both suffering slightly because of it.'

The video showed the couple discussing topics including mental health, equal opportunities for all, and the importance of supporting youth leadership to help address global challenges and drive positive change around the world.

The couple directed fans to the Queen's Commonwealth Trust (QCT) Instagram page which shared video highlights of the conversation which took place.

Judi also pointed to the couple's decidedly 'hands-off' approach in the clip, and said it appeared to be 'a deliberate move'

It marked the couple's first post since their final public appearance as they prepare to step back from royal duty at the end of the month.

The Duchess of Sussex wore a 925 Preen by Thornton Bregazzi asymmetrical toffee midi dress, while Harry opted for a black suit with a white shirt, opting to make it more casual with the absence of a tie.

On Monday, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex attended their last official engagement after stepping down as senior royals, at the Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey.

The photographs and video from the meeting were shared yesterday on the SussexRoyal Instagram page, as the couple prepare to move into the next chapter of their royal lives

The couple joined the Queen, 93, and other senior royals in their last official duty before holding a series of meetings in Britain and heading back to Canada.

After quitting as members of The Firm, Harry will leave his role as Commonwealth Youth Ambassador, but remains president of the QCT, while Meghan maintains her position as its vice-president.

The Queen's Commonwealth Trust uses its network, platform and resources, built and shaped together with young people from across the Commonwealth, to support young leaders in realising their dreams and hopes for the future.
Uber Technologies: "I think Uber is a push. I like this stock longer-term, but shorter-term I don't think you can make the numbers."

YPF SA: "No. I mean we've got enough risk already. I'd rather have you own Chevron, to be honest, because there I'm not worried about the balance sheet whatsoever."

Energy Transfer LP: "No. That whole pipeline group is just so under pressure."

NortonLifeLock: "I like the company that Rick Hill put together. He did that, he did Symantec. I think it's a winner and it's down a lot."

Aimmune Therapeutics: "It's speculative and people have crushed all the speculative stocks. But it's still speculative and I don't mind if you want to own it. That's O.K. with me."
Northern Ireland was on winning form on the opening day of the 2020 Cheltenham Festival as Ravenhill - owned by a syndicate of lawyers from Belfast and ridden by leading amateur jockey Jamie Codd - took top spot in yesterday's National Hunt Chase finale.

Sent off at 12/1, Ravenhill did the business for Meath trainer Gordon Elliott and cruised over the line off the final bend despite having to dig deep to repel front-running Lord Du Mesnil (11/2).

The winner was bred locally by Aaron Metcalfe, owner of the Beechlawn Hotel at his Comber base. He is one of the syndicate members along with Ray Nicholas, a Belfast businessman and a committee member of the Down Royal Corporation of Horse Breeders, as well as a bookmaker at the local courses and point-to-points.

Wexford jockey Codd saluted the crowd after claiming a third win in the National Hunt Challenge Cup aboard the 10-year-old. The result also took his collection of Festival winners to 10.

"We really like this horse," he said afterwards.

"The plan was to run in the Kim Muir [for amateur riders] but Gordon rang and said he was going the run in the National Hunt Chase - he is just a genius.

"He was a handicapper running against novices.

"He was running away with me the whole of the race."

Mr Elliott (42) added: "It's brilliant, Jamie gave him a great ride.

"I was worried about him staying, so we said we'd hunt away.

"I'm very lucky to have Jamie riding for me, he's a star.

"He travelled brilliantly and I'm absolutely thrilled to have a winner after hitting the crossbar a couple of times.

"He'll go straight to the Irish Grand National now."
NEW YORK  Harvey Weinstein was sentenced Wednesday to 23 years in prison for rape and sexual assault, a sight the Hollywood moguls multitude of accusers thought they would never see.

Weinstein, who has been accused of violating scores of women, was convicted last month of raping a woman in a New York City hotel room in 2013 and forcibly performing oral sex on another woman at his apartment in 2006. He faced a maximum of 29 years in prison.

Both women that Weinstein was convicted of assaulting  a once-aspiring actress and a former TV and film production assistant  spoke in court Wednesday before Judge James Burke announced the sentence, confronting Weinstein again after their testimony helped seal his conviction at the landmark #MeToo trial.

The once-aspiring actress that Weinstein was convicted of raping in 2013 recalled the moment during the trial when she left the witness stand in tears and then could be heard screaming from an adjacent room.

The day my screams were heard from the witness room was the day my voice came back to its full power, she said.

Rape is not just one moment of penetration. It is forever.

The Associated Press has a policy of not naming people who have been sexually assaulted without their consent. It is withholding the rape accusers name because it is not clear whether she wishes to be identified.

Weinstein, who has maintained that any sexual activity was consensual, also spoke in court, saying he had fond memories of his accusers.

Looking back during the trial at emails they exchanged, he said, he thought they had a good friendship: Im not going to say these arent great people. I had wonderful times with these people. Im just genuinely confused. Men are confused about this issue.

Burke also heard from Weinsteins lawyers, who pleaded for leniency because of his age and frail health, and prosecutors, who said the man once celebrated as a titan of Hollywood deserved a harsh sentence that would account for allegations of wrongdoing dating to the 1970s.

Under state law, Burke was able to consider evidence outside the scope of the trial in forming his sentence.

In their sentencing letter, prosecutors outlined 16 examples they said showed Weinstein trapped women into his exclusive control so he could sexually assault them, starting when he was working as a music producer in Buffalo in 1978.

Weinstein is also charged in California with raping a woman in a Los Angeles hotel on Feb. 18, 2013, after pushing his way inside her room, and sexually assaulting a woman in a Beverly Hills hotel suite the next night.

Michael R. Sisak, Tom Hays and Jennifer Peltz are Associated Press writers.
If approved, the district would be able to reduce class sizes for kindergarten through fifth grade, officials said. According to the district, the tax hike would provide funds that would let it avoid having to sell bonds, lessen the amount the district has to borrow and pay for the associated interest.
Neither system will cancel all in-person classes. Laboratory courses could continue to be held, although potentially with fewer students.

CUNY officials said separately on Wednesday that in-person classes were being canceled from Thursday through next Wednesday so that students and faculty members could prepare for the move to online classes.

Some dormitories will probably remain open for students who cannot return home for hardship reasons.

They are not evicting anyone, Mr. Cuomo said at a news conference. They are not closing the dorm and kicking you out.

The purpose of the move was to reduce density, the governor said.

Some SUNY and CUNY graduation ceremonies will probably not be happening in person this spring, said Melissa DeRosa, a top aide to the governor.

The decision to shift most public university classes in New York online followed similar moves by most major private universities in the state this week. However, private universities like Columbia and New York University have not said the suspension of in-person classes would last through the rest of the spring semester, which typically ends in May.

SUNYs student government body, the Student Assembly, released a statement on Wednesday saying students appreciate Mr. Cuomos decision.
Everyone is suspected of involvement in a terrorist organization

Four Crimean Tatars were detained after the searches by Russian security forces in Crimea. The human rights activist Lutfiye Zudiyeva reports this on her Facebook page.

Four people were detained after the searches in Bakhchisarai: Seytumer Seytumerov (journalist of the ATR TV channel), Osman Seytumerov, Amet Suleymanov (journalist of the Crimean Solidarity initiative), Rustem Seitmemetov. They were taken to the FSB department.

All detainees are charged under article 205.5 of the Criminal Code of Russia ("Organization of a terrorist organization and participation in the activities of such an organization")

Today, FSB officers fabricated yet another politically motivated case - the third Bakhchisarai group on the Hizb ut-Tahrir case, Lutfiye Zudiyeva reports.

Later, she added that Osman Seytumerov, the brother of Seytumer Seytumerov, was also detained, and 66-year-old Enver Mustafayev was released from the FSB building. He was interrogated, now he is with his lawyer Emine Avamileva.

The Crimean prosecutors office has already opened criminal proceedings under Part 2 of Art. 146 (Illegal deprivation of liberty or kidnapping).

"Illegal searches in the temporarily occupied territory are widespread and systematic and have nothing to do with law enforcement, as they are aimed solely at intimidating the population and prosecuting people," Igor Ponochovny, the prosecutor of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea said.

As we reported before, the Crimean Tatars illegally kept in the custody in the territory of Russia, still face physiological pressure and do not receive necessary treatment, as Commissioner for Human Rights Lyudmyla Denisova stated.
Glanbia and Lakeland Dairies have announced their milk price for February supplies.

Glanbia Ireland (GI) will pay a base milk price for February of 31 cpl (including VAT) for creamery milk at 3.6% fat and 3.3% protein. This is unchanged from the January base price.

Glanbia will pay its Member milk suppliers 34.42 cent per litre (cpl) (including VAT) for February creamery milk supplies at 3.6% butterfat and 3.3% protein.

Lakeland also held its milk price for February supplies.

In the Republic of Ireland, Lakeland will pay a base price of 31.81c/litre (including VAT and Lactose bonus) will be paid for milk supplied in February.

In Northern Ireland, a base price of 25.25p/l will be paid for February  again the base price has been held.

Commenting on the price, the Co-op said overall, the global dairy markets continue to be extremely volatile with consumption as well as transport and logistical networks severely affected as a result of the Coronavirus fallout.

Returns for most products are under pressure too.

Lakeland Dairies will continue to monitor the market situation closely over the coming weeks, it said.

Meanwhile, Glanbia Chairman Martin Keane also said the global spread of Coronavirus is affecting dairy supply chains and ultimately trade.

"Our immediate priorities are to ensure the safety of our people and to assist our farmer suppliers and customers to work through the challenges. We urge everyone to follow the official advice from the HSE and other appropriate authorities.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-11 12:29:23|Editor: Xiang Bo

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CANBERRA, March 11 (Xinhua) -- The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Australia has risen to 112 on Wednesday, with 12 more cases reported, according to the Department of Health.

The number of deaths remain steady at three and New South Wales, Australia's most populated state, accounted for 53 percent of the national total with 60 cases.

The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) has not had any confirmed cases of COVID-19.

The government of the Northern Territory (NT), which authorities have warned is most at risk because of its high indigenous population and relatively poor access to health care, on Wednesday finalized its plan to manage any outbreak in remote communities.

The plan acknowledged that the risk to Aboriginal people is "severe," citing "overcrowding in housing, poor hygiene and other environmental conditions that can increase disease transmission and raise attack rates."

"Health workers should encourage early presentation of all respiratory illnesses, particularly in vulnerable community members, and isolate all respiratory cases who fit the clinical case criteria and their close contacts," it said.

Australia's first drive-through coronavirus testing service was opened in South Australia (SA), where there have been six confirmed cases.

The service at the Repatriation Health Precinct in Adelaide could receive a patient every 20 minutes once fully operational.

"We want to make sure we are as prepared as possibly can be. We are not going to be immune," Premier of SA Steven Marshall said.
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IBA commits to a sustainable stakeholder approach and introduces loyalty vote



Louvain-la-Neuve (Belgium), 11 March 2020: IBA (Ion Beam Applications SA), the worlds leading provider of proton therapy solutions for the treatment of cancer, announces the results of the Extraordinary General Meeting of its shareholders on 10 March 2020.

IBA is firmly committed to operating its business in a responsibly sustainable manner and has now committed this approach as a cornerstone of its articles of association. The Company has a long tradition of valuing all of its stakeholders through a consistent sustainability philosophy. This has now been cemented into its mission and decision-making process both at the Board and Management levels. This statutory stakeholder approach is an important step in IBAs journey towards a model that creates shared and sustainable benefits for all its stakeholders: customers, patients, employees, shareholders, the community at large and the planet. This makes the Company one of the first listed Belgian companies to incorporate a stakeholder approach into its articles of association.

Using the opportunity offered by the new Belgian Companies and Associations Code (BCAC) the shareholder meeting also approved a resolution to introduce the double voting principle (for more information please visit legal information section on IBAs website : IBA SA AGE- Informations aux actionnaires  droit de vote double 1), rewarding loyal shareholders who meet the legal conditions. Following the meeting, IBA has updated its articles of association in general and aligned them with the new BCAC.

About IBA

IBA (Ion Beam Applications S.A.) is a global medical technology company focused on bringing integrated and innovative solutions for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. The company is the worldwide technology leader in the field of proton therapy, considered to be the most advanced form of radiation therapy available today. IBAs proton therapy solutions are flexible and adaptable, allowing customers to choose from universal full-scale proton therapy centers as well as compact, single room solutions. In addition, IBA has a radiation dosimetry business and develops particle accelerators for the medical world and industry. Headquartered in Belgium and employing about 1,500 people worldwide, IBA has the largest number of installed proton therapy systems across the world.

Story continues

IBA is listed on the pan-European stock exchange NYSE EURONEXT (IBA:Reuters IBAB.BR and Bloomberg IBAB.BB).

More information can be found at www.iba-worldwide.com

For further information, please contact:

IBA

Soumya Chandramouli

Chief Financial Officer

+32 10 475 890

Investorrelations@iba-group.com

Thomas Ralet

Head of Corporate Communication

+32 10 475 890

communication@iba-group.com

For media and investor enquiries:

Consilium Strategic Communications

Amber Fennell, Angela Gray, Lucy Featherstone, Lizzie Seeley

+44 (0) 20 3709 5700

IBA@consilium-comms.com







1 https://iba-worldwide.com/sites/protontherapy/files/field_collapsedocbox_files/iba_sa-age_10.03.20-information_aux_actionnaires-droit_de_vote_double-200310.pdf





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Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-11 23:34:26|Editor: yan

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BUDAPEST, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Less than a year after the Swiss-registered Viking Sigyn cruise ship collided on the river Danube in Budapest with the small tour boat Mermaid killing 26 South Korean tourists and two Hungarian crew members, the trial of the cruise ship captain began at the Budapest Regional Court on Wednesday.

The small tour boat sank within seconds of the collision. Of the 35 people on board the Mermaid, only seven survived. One passenger has never been found.

The Hungarian authorities have accused Yurij C., the Ukrainian captain of the cruise ship, of criminal negligence. The captain arrived at Wednesday's trial from house arrest, the Hungarian news agency MTI said.

He is charged by Budapest prosecutors with "endangering waterborne traffic resulting in multiple deaths" and 35 counts of failing to provide help.

At the trial, Yurij C. did not want to testify, saying that he was not yet prepared to do so, according to MTI.

If found guilty, he could be sentenced to between two and 11 years of imprisonment due to the cumulative nature of the sentences.

The Budapest District Prosecutor's Office has proposed that the court sentence him to nine years in prison and disqualify him from his profession for nine years if he pleaded guilty and waived his right to trial at Wednesday's session, but the captain did not ask for the waiver of his trial.

"The captain's lawyer said he believed the investigation had not been fully conducted and therefore requested the hearing of dozens of witnesses aboard the Viking Sigyn at the time of the accident," MTI reported.

MTI noted that the defense also presented multiple evidence and called for the hearing of experts.

"What had happened was the most serious accident in the history of Hungarian fluvial shipping, and whether he would be condemned or acquitted, the captain has to live his life with the burden of having been present at the event," the lawyer said.

In court, a South Korean victim's legal representative indicated that South Korean victims' relatives were expected to travel to Budapest for a commemoration of the first anniversary of the accident and requested that the date of the trial be set accordingly.

The court scheduled the next hearing for April 30, and another one for May 28, one day before the accident's first anniversary.
Trinity College Dublin is reducing its staff-student ratio and also aims to become Ireland's largest research institution, under a new five-year strategic plan.

The university will increase student numbers from 18,500 to 21,500 by 2025, partly to cater for the surge in school-leavers coming down the tracks.

At the same time, it will finance the recruitment of more academics in key areas out of its own resources to bring the student-staff ratio down from 18:1 to 16:1.

With no sign of a reversal of austerity-era cuts to higher education, Trinity anticipates revenue from non-exchequer sources will increase from 60pc to 65pc by 2025.

The new plan involves a major focus on enrolling more post-graduate students and non-EU students, whose higher fees will contribute to the additional revenue.

A new approach to inclusivity will also see more school-leavers from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds as well those who have a disability or learning difficulty, studying at Ireland's oldest university. It aims to increase the proportion from 22pc to 25pc.

Raising postgraduate student numbers above 30pc, bringing it closer to comparable research universities across the world, aims to position Trinity as Ireland's largest research institution, which is core to its vision.

Trinity is determined to regain ground it has lost through reductions in Government funding, which is now about half of what it was per student a decade ago.

The cut in investment is blamed for reputational damage and the slide by Trinity from its leading position for Ireland in international university rankings.

According to Trinity, the Strategic Plan 2020-2025, entitled Community and Connection, will shape the future of the university to benefit Irish society and the wider world.

It sees Trinity as "nurturing a globally connected community of learning, research and scholarship, and inspiring generations to meet the challenges of the future".

TCD Provost Dr Patrick Prendergast said it aimed to consolidate achievements in several areas and also "strikes out in new directions in response to new challenges".
After Indias January curbs on imports of refined palm oil from Malaysia, traders had also held off on buying its crude palm oil.

Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia has set itself a target of a month within which to resolve its trade dispute with India over palm oil, the southeast Asian nations new commodities minister said on Wednesday.

The deadline follows this weeks swearing-in of a new Malaysian cabinet after Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin took office last month.

One of the first moves for the new government is to rebuild the relationship with India, especially for the palm oil issue, Commodities Minister Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali told reporters after the first meeting of the new cabinet.

India, the biggest buyer of Malaysian palm oil for five years, put curbs in January on purchases, in retaliation for then prime minister Mahathir Mohamads criticism of its policy on Kashmir and a new citizenship law.

Mohd Khairuddin said he wanted to send a delegation to India as soon as possible in the effort to improve ties.

We will put this on the ministrys first agenda, he told reporters. I set a timeframe of a month.

Malaysia, the second-biggest producer of crude palm oil after Indonesia, will look to expand its exports to new markets, such as Russia and the Middle East, he added.

After Indias January curbs on imports of refined palm oil from Malaysia, traders had also held off on buying its crude palm oil.

Malaysias exports to India dropped 54 percent last month from January, data showed this week.
,



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Viewers of a new Channel 4 dating show were left baffled last night after a single mother looking for partner chose a 'competitive' banker who admitted to never having been in love.

Amy Butterworth, 34, from St. Albans, appeared on Five Guys A Week as she invited a handful of men to go through a 'trial run' and live with her for several days to compete for her affections.

After kissing both musician Scott, 30, and high-flying banker Christian, 37, as well as forming an emotional connection with father-of-four Glen, 38, she ended up choosing to pursue a relationship with Christian.

But many viewers argued she had made the wrong decision in picking the 'alpha male', with one commenting: 'Please not Christian. His metaphors, analogies, cliches and other verbal diarrhoea will bore you to death Amy.'

Viewers were baffled last night as Amy Butterworth, 34, from St. Albans, chose to pursue a relationship with high-flying banker Christian, 37, Five Guys A Week (pictured)

While another wrote: 'She's gonna choose Christian and they're not going to last. He makes me nervous.'

Speaking about her past marriage, Amy, a marketing consultant, revealed: 'I think I got married at a time when I didn't really know who I was. I'd lost my way a little bit.'

She said: 'I know who I am now and I know what makes me happy, this is about finding someone really amazing and I'm actually excited about the future.'

As he arrived at her home, Christian revealed: 'I live an exciting, adrenaline fueled lifestyle.'

He added: 'Girls I meet at the minute just seem to want to have a good time, not for a long time. I'm not single for a lack of options, it's for lack of girls who want to settle down.'

Meanwhile Amy said: 'Ambition and aspiration are really important to me, because it's about being able to say yes to life.'

The second person to arrive was Glen, 38, a father-of-four, before Michael, 42, a Hollywood stunt man, followed by musician Scott, 30, and surf instructor Trystan, 33.

The group settled into the living area as they enjoyed drinks and began chatting, and when Christian asked who fancied Amy, everyone put their hand up.

Amy stunned viewers by choosing to pursue a relationship with the high-flying banker, despite their apparently opposing lifestyles

And it wasn't not long before Amy revealed that, despite having an initial physical attraction to Trystan, she was finding herself falling more for Christian.

As they sit down for dinner, Amy asked why everyone was single, with Glen revealing his wife left him for a 19-year-old.

Meanwhile Scott had a similar story, and welled up as he spoke about how much his parent's marriage meant to him.

The tone didn't seem to impress Christian, who told the camera: 'How did we go from top of Everest to bottom of Snowdon? Deep for the first night.'

Social media users were stunned by Amy's choice, with some branding Christian a 'melt' and others calling him 'a manipulator'

He told the group he was determined to 'move onto good times' and opened up a New York cheesecake.

The next morning, the five men woke up in Amy's house and Christian headed up to her bedroom to catch her for a chat.

Christian admitted: 'I like a little bit of competition, I think if you go quiet, Amy is going to forget. No one is putting in the stock cupboard, you've got to put yourself in the shop window.'

Taking a seat on her bed, he said she 'wasn't giving anything away', before explaining: 'Everyone fancies you, they're just got different ways of showing you. I'm really forward. If we were on a first date one-on-one, I'd be all over you like a tramp on chips.'

Christian admitted he was unimpressed by the other men's stories of woe and heartbreak on the programme

After breakfast, Amy revealed she felt she didn't have a natural rapport with Trystan, before bidding the surfing instructor farewell.

The other suitors felt positively joyful over the news they could stay in the contest, with Scott revealing: 'So relieved it's not me. I was kind of wishing it was Christian, because I feel him and Amy have this big bond going on.'

That evening, Amy invited the men to meet her friends, before the group headed out to a local nightclub.

And after admitting Christian's wealth was making him feel insecure, Scott said: 'Christian is a little bit pumped up right now.'

Christian revealed he was determined to lift the mood on the first night of the experiment after the other men opened up about past heartbreak

He added: 'I think he's blowing it a bit, I think she's not into bravado. I don't think that's going to work.'

It seemed Scott had assessed the situation correctly, with the suitor sharing a cheeky kiss with Amy in the club, much to the disappointment of the other men.

Later, Scott told the group: 'I feel like I've been with Amy a lot tonight. Like I've got to admit right now I'm finding it hard to even look at Christian.'

The next morning, Christian admitted he was struggling with his feelings about the whole experiment, saying: 'For a guy like me, emotions are the devil. What are you meant to do with them?'

While the other men enjoyed breakfast the following morning, Chris headed up for a heart-to-heart with Amy (pictured, Glen, Scott and Michael in the kitchen)

After breakfast the following day, Amy said goodbye to Michael before the remaining three men head off to Amy's mother Jackie's house for a roast.

Sitting down at the table, she horrified the group by asking: 'It's lovely to meet you all. But what has been your sexual experience in life?'

Christian said: 'I've never had any complaints.'

Later, Scott took Amy to one side, and revealed Christian was making him feel insecure, saying: 'Christian has a lot of money, he's got a good job, he's a nice guy and he's good looking.

Amy's mother Jackie demanded to know what the men's sexual experiences had been throughout their lives

'It makes me really uncomfortable the way Christian is trying to push himself on you all the time.

'I mean, you're nobody's property. It's so stupid. And I don't know why, but it makes me feel so awkward because I really, really like you.'

Later, Amy and Christian settled down on a bed as he finally opening up about his past relationships, saying: 'I don't think I've ever been in love. When I finally do get a family, I want it to be a settled position.'

And Christian could barely finish his sentence before Amy said: 'I do really, really like you' and the two shared a slow and passionate kiss.

At one stage Christian took Amy to one side, and admitted he had never been in love before the two shared a passionate kiss

On the final morning, Amy bid farewell to Scott, while Christian admitted he was feeling overwhelmed by his emotion, saying: 'I've only had two girlfriends in my whole life.

'I've got so much new emotion and butterflies. And I'm an analyst whose normally in control of everything.'

And later that night, Amy tucked into a romantic dinner for three with Glen and Christian, saying: 'These two guys couldn't be more different. It's working out which one I realistically could see a future with.

'I really need to understand what are their genuine wants, and do they fit with mine.'

Christian said the experiment had given him 'new butterflies' shortly after admitting he felt emotions were 'the devil'

She said she wanted to get to a deeper level with both of the men, before asking them what kind of relationship he wanted.

Christian slammed his fellow competitor Glen with his answer as he referred to the suitor's four children as 'anchors'.

He said: 'I think a relationship should be a lot of fun. And, sorry to say this in front of you mate Glen, but I don't have the anchors he's got. I don't need to think about things 50 per cent.'

And, as the dinner came to a close, Amy revealed she had made her decision over who to continue to pursue a relationship with.

Later, Amy revealed how she felt torn between two men who she 'really, really' liked in different ways

Amy said: 'This is a ridiculous process. I've ended up with two guys I really, really like in completely different ways.

'You've said things which have made me think about what it would be like to be in a relationship with both of you. But the person I see more of a future with right now is Christian.'

As Glen dismissed himself from the table, a loved-up Amy and Christian kissed and embraced in Amy's kitchen.

But viewers were stunned by her choice on the programme, with one commenting: 'Yuck Christian. Well he's good to buy dinner a few times at least.'

Christian slammed his competitor Glen on the programme, telling Amy that he was a better suitor because he didn't have 'any anchors', referring to Glen's four children

Another wrote: 'I think Christian is a competitive guy. He wanted to beat the other guys, win, and not much else.

'I can't imagine these two making it past 2 dates. Certainly don't think he has the capacity to play a role in the lives of her two kids.'

Another said: 'Christian is a master manipulator and this is all going to end in tears.'

Another added: 'This Christian bloke is a tight might. Thinks he is everything and he is just a tool.'
On the 8th of August 2019 a major oil company completed an acquisition that could well be looked back on as the worst oil deal of the decade. Since that day, the companys stock price has crashed 85 percent and hit its lowest level since 2001.

The deal, of course, was Occidental Petroleums acquisition of Anadarko Petroleum.

This megadeal, valued at $55 billion, pitted two of the worlds most famous investors against each other. Warren Buffet, who backed the deal with a $10 billion pledge, found himself in disagreement with billionaire activist investor Carl Icahn who attempted to stop the merger from going ahead.

It is now clear that Buffett got this one badly wrong in what is turning out to be his worst mistake since merging Heinz with Kraft Foods in 2015. Icahn has since written an open letter to Occidental shareholders suggesting that the companys top management only moved ahead on the acquisition as a defensive manoeuvre to stop a potential takeover of Oxy itself. He claimed that the CEO and some board members had gambled the Company to further their own agendas  all at the expense of stockholders.

So far this year, the coronavirus outbreak and the breakdown of the OPEC+ alliance have sent oil prices crashing, making the merger of Anadarko and Occidental an even more worrying prospect for shareholders. The last thing that oil companies need in this low oil price environment is large amounts of debt, and that is exactly what OXY has been left with. The company sold billions in bonds to fund the acquisition, and the value of those bonds have now crashed.

As of Tuesday, it seems that CEO Vicki Hollub runs Occidental Petroleum in name only. The company was forced to cut its dividend by more than 80 percent, something that she had promised to defend. Warren Buffetts $10 billion investment is now almost equivalent to Occidentals market capitalization, which means he accounts for almost half of its equity value.

Story continues

Related: The Oil Price War Has Only Just Begun

So how did it all go so wrong for Occidental CEO Vicki Hollub? Is there any way back for this once great oil giant? And should shareholders hold on?

In answer to the first question, we will have to wait and see. If Carl Icahns accusations are correct then it would mean a determination to protect her job blinded her to the dangers of the deal.

As for the second question, it seems that Occidental Petroleums best path back may well come in the form of a takeover  possibly from Chevron, the company that it outbid for the original Anadarko deal.

Finally, when it comes to where shareholders should put their money well there are probably better places than an indebted oil major with an apparent power struggle taking place in the board room.

By Editorial Department for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:

Read this article on OilPrice.com
Using publicly available data on the novel coronavirus, researchers have estimated that the average incubation period -- from the point of infection to the onset of symptoms -- for the deadly disease caused by the virus is 5.1 days.

According to the study, published in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine, this median time, from exposure to the onset of symptoms, suggests that the 14-day quarantine period used by several public health measures across the world is reasonable.

The analysis by researchers, including those from the Johns Hopkins University in the US, also suggested that about 97.5 per cent of people who develop symptoms of the coronavirus -- SARS-CoV-2-- infection will do so within 11.5 days of exposure.

They estimated that for every 10,000 individuals quarantined for 14 days, only about 101 would develop symptoms after being released from quarantine.

In the study, the scientists analysed 181 cases from China and other countries that were detected prior to February 24, were reported in the media, and included likely dates of exposure and symptom onset.

They said most of the cases involved travel to or from Wuhan, China, the city at the center of the epidemic, or exposure to individuals who had been to Hubei, the province for which Wuhan is the capital.

Many public health authorities around the world have been using a 14-day quarantine or active-monitoring period for individuals who are known to be at high risk of infection due to contact with known cases or travel to a heavily affected area, the study noted.

"Based on our analysis of publicly available data, the current recommendation of 14 days for active monitoring or quarantine is reasonable, although with that period some cases would be missed over the long-term," said study senior author Justin Lessler from Johns Hopkins University.

So far, the global outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 infection which emerged in December 2019 in the Chinese city of Wuhan has resulted in more than 1,19,000 officially confirmed cases around the world, and over 4,300 deaths from pneumonia caused by the virus.

The researchers explained that an accurate estimate of the disease incubation period makes it easier for epidemiologists to gauge the likely dynamics of the outbreak, and allows public health officials to design effective quarantine and other control measures.

They said quarantines slow and may ultimately stop the spread of infection, even if there are some outlier cases with incubation periods that exceed the quarantine period.

According to the scientists, sequestering people and preventing them from working has costs -- both personal and societal -- which is perhaps most obvious when health care workers and first responders like firefighters are quarantined.

They came up with a new estimate of 5.1 days for the median, or the typical, incubation period of SARS-CoV-2, similar to estimates from the earliest studies of this new virus, which were based on fewer cases.

The study noted that this incubation period for SARS-CoV-2 is in the same range as SARS-CoV -- a different human-infecting coronavirus that caused a major outbreak centered in southern China and Hong Kong from 2002-04.

MERS-CoV, a coronavirus that has caused hundreds of cases in the Middle East, has an estimated mean incubation period is 5-7 days, the scientists said.

Lessler and his colleagues have also published an online tool which allows people to estimate how many cases would be caught and missed under different quarantine periods.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Amid growing concerns over the discovery of the first two cases of COVID-19 being found in Michigan, federal courthouses in the Eastern District of Michigan will remain open, but are taking steps to prevent its spread through the court system, officials say.

The court has been closely monitoring this situation and has issued this notice out of an abundance of caution, Court Administrator David Weaver said Wednesday, March 11, announcing the measures that have been implemented at its courthouses in Detroit, Ann Arbor, Bay City, Flint and Port Huron.

Anyone entering an Eastern District courthouse must advise court security officers before passing through screening if they have:

- Visited China, South Korea, Italy or Iran in the previous 14 days. The list may be updated based on further guidance from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

- Resided with or been in close contact with someone who has been in any of those countries within the previous 14 days.

- Traveled domestically within the United States where COVID-19 has sustained widespread community transmission.

- Been asked to self-quarantine by any doctor, hospital or health agency.

- Been diagnosed with, or have had contact with, anyone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19.

- A fever, cough or shortness of breath.

Anyone attempting to enter the court in violation of the protocols will be denied entry, officials said.

Anyone who has a scheduled appointment, or is otherwise required to appear at one of the courthouses in the Eastern District of Michigan, and is unable to do so because of these restrictions should do one of the following:

- Contact your attorney if you are represented by one.

- Contact judicial chambers immediately if you are an attorney and are scheduled to appear in court before a judge (see judicial contact information under the Judges tab on the courts website at mied.uscourts.gov)

- Contact Pretrial Services at 313-234-5300 if you are scheduled to meet with a Pretrial Services Officer.

- Contact the Probation office at 313-234-5400 if you are scheduled to meet with a Probation Officer.

- Contact the Jury Department at 313-234-5085 if you are a juror.

While the federal court was taking precautions in Flint, the Genesee County court system issued a press release stating it is only "monitoring the situation.

The Washtenaw County trial court is canceling though the end of March all civil jury trials and other jury trials in which the defendant is not in custody, said Court Administrator Megan Ivey. Jury trials in felony cases where the defendant is in custody will continue as scheduled, Ivey said.

The court is following the recommendations of Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Bridget McCormack, Ivey said, adding the court will continue to monitor the situation and announce schedule changes for trials when ready.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmers declared a state of emergency Tuesday, March 10, after two Michigan residents tested presumptive positive for COVID-19, the disease linked to the novel coronavirus. The cases involved an Oakland County woman and a Wayne County man, state officials said.

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New York, March 11 : Researchers have found that men who endorse hegemonic ideals of masculinity -- or 'toxic masculinity' -- can become socially isolated as they age, impacting their health, well-being and overall happiness.

For the findings, published in the journal Sex Roles, the researchers analysed nearly 5,500 US older women and men from the Wisconsin Longitudinal Survey, which administered the Hegemonic Masculinity for 'Older Men Scale'.

"When we age, there are certain ways that we can ensure we maintain our health and well-being," said study reseacher Stef Shuster, Assistant Professor at Michigan State University in the US.

"Having people with whom we can talk about personal matters is a form of social support. If people only have one person that they can share information with, or sometimes even no people, they don't really have an opportunity to reflect and share," Shuster added.

According to the researchers, when issues arise, like health or financial problems, it puts individuals in an incredibly disadvantaged position if they don't have anyone to share this with, which also might have negative consequences for their mental health.

"Social isolation is common among aging adults. Changes such as retirement, widowhood or moving to a new home can disrupt their existing friendships," said study co-author Celeste Campos-Castillo from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

The study revealed that older men who endorse the ideals of toxic masculinity can become siloed off as they age.

Not all older men are at risk -- just those who favor a particular set of ideals, it added.

"A lot of gender research is based on simplistic binaries of women or men, feminine or masculine, either you're hegemonically masculine or you're not," shuster said.

"Because of the data set that we're using, our study actually looks at masculinity on a spectrum," shuster added.

The study also found that embracing toxic masculinity is self-harming.

"Often, toxic masculinity is a term that we use to describe how masculinity affects other people, especially women," shuster said.

But this study shows how toxic masculinity also has detrimental consequences for the men who subscribe to these ideals.

The very premise of hegemonic masculinity in some ways is based on the idea of isolation because it's about being autonomous and not showing a lot of emotion. It's hard to develop friendships living this way, the researchers said.

The researchers suggest social isolation may be alleviated by embracing an alternative understanding of masculinity that doesn't rely on independence and toughness as the only way to be 'real men,' or at least easing up on the principles of hegemonic masculinity.

Still, shuster recognises that the higher men score on the scale of hegemonic masculinity, the less likely they are to change their views or seek help.
Two people accused of growing marijuana in a Bismarck home where three children younger than 15 live will keep the offenses off their records if they abide by the terms of probation.

Elvia Ramos, 32, and Cesar Navarro, 27, were arrested in October after officers executed a search warrant at a North Second Street residence. The search revealed plants in the budding stage and equipment for growing marijuana, according to police testimony at their preliminary hearing. Nothing found during the search indicated that marijuana was being sold, police said.

The two appeared at separate hearings on Tuesday and were given identical sentences by South Central District Judge Pamela Nesvig. At the recommendation of Assistant Burleigh County States Attorney Mindy Anderson, Nesvig deferred the imposition of a sentence for Ramos for a two-year probationary period. Anderson said the chance for Ramos to keep the offenses off her record was beneficial and appropriate. Social services staff members are impressed with the efforts shes made to make things right, Anderson said.

Ramos attorney, Amy Pikovsky, said her client came to North Dakota from Washington, where marijuana laws are much different. Neither Ramos nor Navarro has a criminal history, and Navarro also has taken positive steps since his arrest and followed through with counseling, said his attorney, Todd Ewell. Nesvig handed down the same sentence for Navarro.

The two said they plan to move back to Washington, where they have families and employment.

Reach Travis Svihovec at 701-250-8260 or Travis.Svihovec@bismarcktribune.com

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Loyola University announced Wednesday it will suspend in-class instruction and transition to online learning due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The announcement came just minutes after a similar one by the University of New Orleans and were made to help limit the kinds of large public gatherings that encourage the spread of coronavirus.

UNO suspends in-class instruction, announces switch to online learning due to coronavirus The University of New Orleans has announced it will suspend face-to-face classes until further notice and will conduct all coursework online i

"In consultation with state and city government, we are going to move to online instruction beginning Monday, March 16th, for the rest of the spring semester. In the last few days, it has become clear that there now exists community spread of COVID-19 in New Orleans," Loyola President Tania Tetlow said in a message to students.

She said the university would cancel classes Thursday and Friday to give faculty time to finalize their preparations, and to give students time to pack and move out if they plan to leave. Faculty was set to begin teaching online on Monday.

The campus will remain open but Loyola will begin avoiding gatherings in classes and will begin canceling public events.

Closures? Lunch deliveries? New Orleans area schools plan coronavirus response As the number of coronavirus cases rises in Louisiana amid what the World Health Organization now considers a global pandemic, the federal Cen

In an interview, Tetlow said that the local university presidents had been in "close touch" about coronavirus concerns for about three weeks. She had also been in talks with state and local health officials about Loyola, underscoring that it's a "unique situation" of residential campuses occupied by a diverse body of students from around the world.

Loyola was continuing to keep campus housing open because officials said they recognized it would prove difficult for some students to get home. But officials also encouraged those who could to head home and work from there.

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Having students leave would also clear space for others who might need to be quarantined from other students, should they travel against university advice or come into direct contact with someone who tests positive for the virus.

While she said this detail didn't factor into the school's decision to go online-only, Tetlow added that a faculty member and two undergraduate students had lunch at an investigative journalism conference this weekend with someone who was subsequently diagnosed with COVID-19.

They discovered and reported this last night, Tetlow wrote in a message to students. The professor and these two students, who all live off-campus, are self-isolating and do not have any symptoms. I have spoken to the director of state public health, who tells me that there is not a reason to broaden that circle more widely  those who later interacted with the faculty and students do not also need to self-isolate. We will continue to update you on all such information.

In the interview, Tetlow said that living in a city that frequently is under threat from hurricanes and other big storms had helped prepare school leaders for other emergencies, including potential virus outbreaks.

In that sense, universities and colleges had been holding seminars and training sessions for teachers in preparation for potentially having to move classes online.

As of Wednesday, six patients in Louisiana had tested presumptive positive for the novel coronavirus, officials said. The World Health Organization has officially classified the virus outbreak as a pandemic.

"I never thought I'd be so grateful for the obligation of preparing for hurricanes," Tetlow said. "But there is feeling when you make the move from the planning to the actual crisis -- theres complexity to the situation and a level of uncertainty. Were all feeling the heightened anxiety already."

Stay with The Times-Picayune|New Orleans Advocate as this story develops
The ministry simultaneously confirmed Luxembourg's sixth and seventh coronavirus cases on Tuesday evening.

The sixth person had stayed in the United States, and the seventh returned from Switzerland. Both persons concerned are being taken care of in accordance with the set procedure.

The ministry further noted that, to date, the spread of coronavirus in Luxembourg differs from that of neighbouring countries in that all confirmed cases were contracted abroad.

Chief Medical Officer Jean-Claude Schmit answers common questions on Coronavirus

The fifth case was confirmed two days ago, Sunday the 8th of March, and followed announcements over the weekend of a third and fourth case in Luxembourg. The third confirmed case also involved a person who had returned from Alsace, while the fourth was a person who had an "epidemiological link" with northern Italy.

Luxembourg's government has issued a recommendation that events expected to attract over 1,000 people be postponed or cancelled. You can see a list of events we know to be cancelled or postponed to date here.

The public is invited to consult the FAQ available on the site for general information and preventive measures. A hotline is available for any questions or concerns under the number 8002 8080.
(Newser)  Walmart is enacting an emergency leave policy for its 1.4 million hourly US workers that allows them to take time off without penalty if they fear the spread of the new coronavirus, the AP reports. The nation's largest private employer said Tuesday that a worker at its store in Cynthiana, Kentucky, tested positive for the COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus. The worker is receiving medical care and her condition is improving, according to an internal memo. The retailer consulted with state and local health experts after learning of the case, reinforced its cleaning and sanitizing protocol, and the store remains open after Walmart conferred with the state government.

story continues below

As part of the new emergency leave policy, Walmart said that hourly workers who work in a store, club, office, or distribution center will receive up to two weeks pay if they're required to quarantine by the government or by the retailer. Workers who have a confirmed case of the virus will also receive two weeks of pay. If they are not able to return to work after that time, additional pay may be provided for up to 26 weeks for both full- and part-time hourly workers. A senior VP says a revised policy was required during these unprecedented and uncharted times. Meanwhile, Google announced Tuesday it is asking all North American employees to work from home for the next month due to the outbreak, CNN reports.

(Read more coronavirus stories.)
With less than 48 hours left for the last date to make nominations for the elections to the three Upper House seats from Haryana, the Congress high command, it seems, is vacillating in picking up partys choice.

Haryana Congress president and sitting Rajya Sabha MP Kumari Selja and former Rohtak MP Deepender Hooda, son of former CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda, are in the race to get a nomination. The BJPs central election committee (CEC), which met on Tuesday, is learnt to have finalised the candidates for Haryana and is likely to make an announcement anytime soon.

Congress sources said Bhupinder Singh Hooda is vigorously pushing for his sons candidature. Deepender lost Rohtak Lok Sabha seat by a slender margin and was a respectable loser as compared to other Congress candidates. So, he rightfully fits the bill, said a Hooda supporter.

Kumari Selja, who was appointed the state Congress chief just before the 2019 assembly polls by Sonia Gandhi, however, is not a pushover. Known to enjoy close proximity with Sonia Gandhi, she was given a cushion in form of an Upper House berth just before the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, thus saving her from contesting from Ambala and possible ignominy of losing. The Congress had in 2014 lost nine Lok Sabha seats in Haryana.

While two Rajya Sabha vacancies are occurring due to the resignation of BJPs Ram Kumar Kashyap and expiry of the term of Congress MP Kumari Selja on April 9, a third casual vacancy necessitating a by-election has arisen following the resignation of former Union minister Birender Singh.

Considering the number of assembly seats won by the ruling BJP (40) and the opposition Congress (31), the two should be easily able to elect one MP each on March 26. Both the BJP and the Congress would need 31 single-transferable votes to elect an MP.
(Reuters) - Alphabet Inc's <GOOGL.O> Google is recommending all of its North American employees to work from home if their roles permit, the search giant said on Tuesday, aiming to minimize the risk of spreading the coronavirus.

The new recommendation is an expansion of a similar guideline it gave to employees in San Francisco Bay area.

Most of the big companies have so far limited the work-from-home option to specific regions in the United States.

Business Insider, which first reported the move, said Google sent out a memo on Tuesday to its tens of thousands North American employees, recommending them to work remotely until at least April 10.

Separately, a Google spokesperson said the company is temporarily banning ads for medical face masks on its platform "out of an abundance of caution".

Google said it is establishing a COVID-19 fund, by which all its temporary staff and vendors can take paid sick leave if they show symptoms of the virus or are unable to come to work due to being quarantined.

(Reporting by Munsif Vengattil in Bengaluru; Editing by Arun Koyyur)
One of Britain's biggest companies has thrown its weight behind the Great British Spring Clean  helping the number of volunteers to soar past last year's total.

The Co-operative Group is encouraging all its 70,000 staff to join the drive to clean up Britain.

The company is donating 8,000 hours of paid staff time and hosting litter events across the country.

The incredible support comes after the number of Great British Spring Clean volunteers hit 590,328  overtaking 2019's final figure of 563,163  with over a month of the campaign to go.

Clean sweep: Co-op chief executive Steve Murrells joins a band of Broadhurst primary school pupils armed with litter-pickers and bags in a Manchester park

Steve Murrells, chief executive of the Co-op, which includes food, insurance, legal services and funeral care divisions, wielded gloves and a litter picker in Manchester as he joined children cleaning up rubbish in Broadhurst Park, Moston.

Mr Murrells called on other companies to back the scheme.

He insisted: 'This is such a great campaign because it doesn't just mean less litter on the streets  it actually encourages communities to come together in looking after local spaces.'

He was joined by enthusiastic pupils from two Co-op-sponsored academy schools  Broadhurst primary and North Manchester secondary.

Jamie Metcalf, a teacher from north Manchester, said there was no shortage of volunteers to take part.

He added: 'A lot of the young people do feel quite strongly about environmental issues and are keen followers of [Swedish teenage activist] Greta Thunberg.'

Joanna Alderson, of Broadhurst, said: 'We've been litter picking for the last couple of years. The children work very hard and then go home and spread the message.

'They are also good at telling people off if they catch them dropping litter!' The Co-op's backing for the Great British Spring Clean  run by Keep Britain Tidy  includes donating 8,000 hours of paid staff time for litter picks.

The company is also giving customers in its membership scheme the chance to win 'the ultimate spring clean' where staff will bring the kit and crew to clean up a nominated area.

Co-op staff are being encouraged to attend a number of litter picks, the biggest of which will involve 3,000 workers from its offices in Manchester on March 26.

The Great British Spring Clean  backed by the Mail  officially kicks off on March 20 and runs until April 13. Organisers are hoping to push the final number of volunteers towards 1million.
Former vice-president Joe Biden expanded his lead over Senator Bernie Sanders with projected victories in three of the six states that held their Democratic presidential nominating contests Tuesday, including the prize catch of the evening, Michigan, a key state rich in delegates needed to win the race.

Biden also picked up Mississippi and Missouri, continuing his winning spree from the South Carolina primaries. He had gone on to win 10 of the 14 states that polled in the Super Tuesday contests last week in a stunning reversal of fortunes, resurrecting his campaign that had been given up for dead.

Washington state, Idaho and North Dakota, the other three states that went to polls Tuesday, had not been called yet.

Biden struck a conciliatory tone in a victory speech from Philadelphia. I want to thank Bernie Sanders and his supporters for their tireless passion, he said, with his wife, the former second lady Jill Biden, by his side. We share a common goal and together well defeat Donald Trump.

Sanders uncharacteristically made no remarks.

The Tuesday results may not have sealed the race for Biden, but they certainly made Sanderss path to the nomination improbable because of the widening gap between him and the former vice-president in their tally of delegates to reach the finishing line with 1,991  Biden leads Sanders 724-591.

Sanders had won four of these six states in the 2016 primaries against Hillary Clinton, including Michigan. And his chances look bleak in the next four states that hold their nominating contests next Tuesday, that are expected, instead, to put Biden even further out his reach.

Some Democrats dont see a path for Sanders to the nomination at all after the Tuesday results and are calling for the primaries to be shut down. Jim Clyburn, the South Carolina Democrat whose endorsement is widely seen to have turned around the race for Biden, told NPR, I think when the night is over, Joe Biden will be the prohibitive favorite to win the Democratic nomination, and quite frankly, if the night ends the way it has begun, I think it is time for us to shut this primary down, it is time for us to cancel the rest of these debates.
One year after the state passed a law banning nearly all abortions, an Alabama legislator is trying for a second time to pass a bill that would require doctors to perform life-saving measures on a fetus born alive after a surgical abortion, a bill doctors called medically implausible.

Rep. Ginny Shaver, R-Leesburg, introduced HB248 or Giannas Law in February, which would require a physician to exercise reasonable care to preserve the life of a child born alive after an abortion or attempted abortion in an abortion or reproductive health center, and would establish criminal penalties for violating the law.

Dr. Morissa Ladinsky, associate professor of Pediatrics at UAB Medicine said the bill is not based in medical fact. Clinics in Alabama perform abortions up to 21 weeks gestational age. Ladinsky said the latest a doctor in the United States will attempt to sustain the life of a baby is 22 gestational weeks due to a lack of ability for a fetus outside the womb to survive at that gestational age.

Ladinsky acknowledged that an infant delivered before 22 weeks gestational age may have a heartbeat for a short time, but no matter what we do or try to do, [with] the technology we have and our knowledge in the United States today, doctors are unable to keep an infant alive if born before prior to 22 weeks in utero.

The bill itself asks our legislature to affirm something that is a fallacy  that is a medical impossibility, Ladinsky said. This whole bill is not in accordance with medical fact. Its basically a theoretical scenario that is medically implausible.

Shaver named her bill Giannas Law after Gianna Jessen, a woman who survived an instillation abortion procedure in 1977. Today, instillation procedures are rarely used in the United States. None were performed in Alabama in 2018 according to ADPH.

By law, Alabama doctors who provide abortions are required to date a pregnancy using an ultrasound. Shaver claims clinics in Alabama routinely fail to test for gestational age, but refused to provide evidence of those claims.

Health department inspections since 2009 of the only three Alabama reproductive health clinics that provide abortions show no indication that clinics have failed to measure gestational age with ultrasound, according to state records.

In 2015, the Alabama Department of Public Health noted a doctor at West Alabama Womens Clinic in Tuscaloosa failed to document the fetal viability in 16 medical records, however according to an ADPH investigation none of the fetuses were above 19 weeks gestational age.

Pregnancies are measured in two ways: Doctors can date a pregnancy by gestational age, which is the time between the first day of the last menstrual period and the day of delivery. Or, pregnancies can be dated by fetal age or post fertilization (PPFA), which is two weeks later than gestational age. The Alabama Department of Public Health uses both measurements in their statistical reporting on abortions within the state.

In 2018 there were four abortions in Alabama at or past 20 weeks PPFA or 22 weeks gestation, according to the ADPH. The ADPH documented the reasons for the abortions past 22 weeks was severe risk to the mothers health including severe preeclampsia/eclampsia, ruptured membrane and no amniotic fluid.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1.3 percent of all abortions performed in the United States are performed after 21 weeks gestational age.

When Shaver introduced the same legislation last year, she said she did not seek medical expertise in wording the bill, but that she modeled it after a similar bill in Texas. Shavers Alabama bill passed in the House with a 66-18 vote along party lines, but never made it to the Senate.

A baby outside the womb its living and should be afforded the opportunity to have care given to it to try to preserve the babys life, Shaver said. It has nothing to do with any legality of a womans right to choose.

Shaver rejects medical professionals arguments that a baby cannot survive outside the womb prior to 22 weeks gestation, and also rejects the ADPHs reporting that these cases do not exist.

Staci Fox, President and CEO at Planned Parenthood Southeast Advocates said bills like Shavers born alive bill perpetuates myths about abortion.

Politicians in Alabama have already passed countless anti-womens health measures in recent years, including an outright ban, Fox said in a statement. This bill is just another tactic in their quest to make abortion illegal in the state.

Shavers born-alive bill is scheduled to be introduced in the House Judiciary committee on Wednesday.
DETROIT - After sustaining damaging losses in the March 3 Super Tuesday contests, Sen. Bernie Sanders had one critical week to grow his support, change the story line and revitalize his campaign. Instead, he spent it largely in combat against the party he hopes to lead.

He accused former rivals of bowing to establishment pressure by endorsing Joe Biden. Some backers, including a top surrogate, made unsubstantiated claims that Biden was deteriorating mentally. And Sanders abruptly scrapped a speech his team said would be an important statement on racial justice.

"It was this scorched-earth approach," said Markos Moulitsas, founder of the pioneering liberal website Daily Kos, who had supported Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass. "There was no opening for common ground."

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., a prominent Sanders supporter who has campaigned with him, took issue with Sanders backers who have been attacking Warren. Warren's decision not to endorse Sanders after she exited the race, while criticizing Sanders for his allies' online taunts, was a notable rebuke from an ideological ally.

"When things start falling short, I don't think seeking out who to blame, instead of identifying how to adapt, is the smart thing to do," Ocasio-Cortez said in an interview. "I think we have to identify, 'OK, how do we bring in people?' It's like when I ran in my primary, I didn't win only with supporters of Senator Sanders. We built a broad coalition on the same principles."

Some in the Sanders' campaign have adopted a similar credo. Two top campaign officials spent hours working the phones late Saturday night to finalize a coveted new endorsement from civil rights icon Jesse Jackson.

But on Tuesday night, it was clear that Sanders' approach was in trouble. Punctuating the week since Super Tuesday, Biden was projected to score resounding wins in Michigan and other key states, moving closer to a daunting lead in delegates.

Sanders' losses a week earlier had created a moment of reckoning for a campaign that was well-suited for a fractured field but ill-prepared for a swift consolidation by his opponents. Sanders campaign officials for months had talked up the power of their limited but passionate following in a crowded race where the opposition was split.

When the party rallied around Biden almost overnight, it was a gut punch and the campaign struggled to recover. Sanders allies were especially stunned by how fast Pete Buttigieg and Sen. Amy Klobuchar, two prominent centrists, dropped out and endorsed Biden.

"You basically had the most unprecedented event happening in the history of presidential primaries," said Sanders pollster Ben Tulchin. "Coming out of that unprecedented event, we had to retool and focus on the March 10 and March 17 states."

The campaign threw all it had into winning Michigan, a delegate-rich state where Sanders landed his biggest upset four years ago against Hillary Clinton.

If Sanders could show he was stronger than Biden in a state that was key to President Donald Trump's victory, the campaign would be back, officials believed. If not, they recognized, Sanders would face the kind of serious trouble he found himself in Tuesday night.

When the campaign scrapped plans for Sanders to spend time in Mississippi in favor of Michigan, it signaled to many Democrats that he was effectively giving up on black voters in the South, who have strongly favored Biden.

At the same time, campaign officials drew up a plan for Sanders to step up his attacks on the former vice president, sending a memo to supporters even before Super Tuesday declaring a new phase in the fight and releasing a TV ad that attacked Biden by name for the first time.

As the former vice president racked up new endorsements each day, portraying himself as a unifying force and the increasingly inevitable nominee, Sanders, who associates say is less comfortable directly attacking Biden or anyone else than talking up his own record, opened up new fronts against his chief rival, seeking to undercut him on gay rights and abortion rights.

At a rally Monday in St. Louis, Sanders ticked off a litany of issues on which he said Biden had been wrong. "Joe Biden voted for the war in Iraq. I voted against the war in Iraq," he said. "Joe Biden voted for the Wall Street bailout. I helped lead the effort against the Wall Street bailout. Joe voted for disastrous trade agreements. . . . I helped lead the effort against those terrible trade agreements."

Then he took aim at one of Biden's chief selling points - electability. "My point here is to ask you to think that in a general election, which candidate can generate the enthusiasm and the excitement?" Sanders said.

But while Sanders made this relatively straightforward case, some supporters took to social media to lob attacks that struck some Democrats as uglier, going after Biden's cognitive abilities. Among them was Shaun King, a prominent Black Lives Matter activist who has introduced Sanders at some events.

"It's genuinely abusive at this point to hand this man a microphone and ask him to interact with people," King wrote Sunday on Twitter, retweeting a message alleging that Biden's "brain stops working for a few seconds" in a video clip. "It's painful to watch."

In an interview, King defended his critique, arguing that primaries ought to put candidates through a "gantlet of examinations" and assess how they would fare in debates against Trump.

"I don't approve of people making armchair medical diagnoses, but like, I do see Biden and he is a diminished version of his best self," said King. "It's kind of the elephant in the room."

That line of attack echoed shots at Biden taken by the Trump camp, a point not lost on some other Democrats. And it met resistance from other Sanders supporters who preferred that the contrasts remain in the realm of policy.

Biden, who has often stumbled over his words, released a letter from his doctor last year describing him as a "healthy, vigorous 77-year-old male." He has also opened up about overcoming a stutter.

"I've made it very clear that I don't think trying to make these health arguments is fair," said Abdul El-Sayed, a 2018 candidate for governor of Michigan who campaigned with Sanders on Monday. "We've got to focus on the issues."

Other Sanders supporters were also focusing on trying to win new allies, with Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., at the forefront of the effort. In addition to going out of his way to praise the party publicly, Khanna worked with Nina Turner, his fellow Sanders campaign co-chair, to finalize the Jackson endorsement, according to people with knowledge of the situation, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to be candid about the internal discussions.

The duo spent several hours speaking with Jackson and his inner circle Saturday night, following up on a call Jackson made call to Turner March 3. They helped finalize commitments on the Sanders campaign's part to address issues important to Jackson, the people said. When the campaign announced the endorsement and the pledges Sunday, Sanders called it "one of the honors of my life."

It was a significant win, given Jackson's decades-long prominence as a civil rights leader. Yet Sanders' efforts to improve his standing among black voters have been awkward in recent days. As Khanna and Turner worked to finalize the Jackson endorsement, Sanders appeared in Flint, Michigan, at an event billed as a town hall on racial justice.

Yet of the 1,200 attendees, only about three dozen were black. Then the senator decided at the last minute not to deliver his planned speech contrasting his record with Biden's on racial justice issues - because, a spokesman said, he wanted to let the African American panelists onstage speak about their own experiences.

Still, the effect was to suggest that Sanders continues to be uncomfortable delving personally into issues that affect black people's lives.

Alongside these fumbling efforts to court black voters, Sanders was lumping many who opposed him into his derision toward the "establishment." After Super Tuesday, some felt that included millions of Democratic voters, as well as Buttigieg, the onetime mayor of South Bend, Indiana, and Klobuchar, a senator from Minnesota.

"One of the things that I was kind of not surprised by is the power of establishment to force Amy Klobuchar, who had worked so hard, Pete Buttigieg, who, you know, really worked extremely hard as well, out of the race," Sanders said Sunday on ABC's "This Week." He said the Democratic establishment wanted to ensure "that people coalesced around Biden."

That prompted a stern reply from one of Buttigieg's top campaign aides, Lis Smith, who wrote on Twitter that the former mayor's decision "was his and his alone."

But speaking on NBC the same day, Sanders said that had Buttigieg and Klobuchar not dropped out, he would have won Massachusetts, Minnesota and Maine - all states where Biden prevailed last week. It was his most direct acknowledgment of the campaign's long-held belief that a fractured Democratic field would deliver him victory.

Instead, the losses in those states had a chilling effect on some Sanders advisers, who were privately alarmed that Biden won in places where he did not even campaign.

The sense of fatalism grew Tuesday night. Ocasio-Cortez, speaking on Instagram Live after the results began coming in, enumerated the left's recent wins and appeared to suggest a landscape beyond Sanders.

"Now is the time to leverage that," she said. "Now is the time to ask for accountability. And now is the time to ask for commitments - real commitments - not just gestures."

Sanders' inability to grow his coalition at this moment was especially damaging given that a central premise of his candidacy is that he will expand the electorate, attracting young people and others new to politics. That, in theory, would compensate for his challenge in attracting more traditional Democrats.

But while Biden has rounded up support from former candidates from the party's centrist wing, Sanders has been unable thus far to win the backing of Warren, a fellow liberal and a prominent figure in the Democratic Party.

Relations between the two were strained earlier this year by a dispute about a private conversation before the campaign began, when Warren contends Sanders told her a woman could not win the presidency, something he sharply denies saying.

Instead, Sanders sought to rely on prominent liberals who are already in his corner to help him turn things around, for example campaigning Sunday with Ocasio-Cortez in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

On the trail and in an interview, Ocasio-Cortez struck a more inclusive chord than many other Sanders supporters, talking about the need to build a broad liberal movement that goes beyond individual candidates.

"We have to do that from a fundamentally inclusive and positive and welcoming gesture, a welcoming kind of position," Ocasio-Cortez said. Declining to urge Warren to endorse Sanders, she said, "I don't think it's about telling anybody what to do. I think it's about, how do we invite people, and how do we make our movement bigger, and how do we adapt it to be as inclusive a possible while retaining our values."

The past week showcased how much the Sanders campaign is an unruly coalition rather than a tight operation, as allies voiced various conflicting theories about what he needed to do.

Some said Sanders needs to show a more personal side, a recurring suggestion that Sanders has repeatedly been reluctant or unable to embrace.

"He has got to really speak from the heart to people," said RoseAnn DeMoro, a close friend of Sanders who emailed the senator and his wife last week encouraging this more personal pitch. "We're going up against sharks," she added, and Sanders should "tell America who he is."

The campaign has also experienced a push-and-pull over strategic decisions, debating in recent days whether to release internal polling showing a competitive race with Biden in Michigan, for example, according to people with knowledge of the situation. In the end, the campaign did not release any polling data, opting not to risk setting expectations and then falling short.

By the end of Tuesday, Sanders was facing a significant loss in Michigan, leaving his path forward more uncertain than ever.

- - -

The Washington Post's Jose A. DelReal and David Weigel contributed to this report.
MESEBERG (GERMANY), Nov. 18, 2019 (Xinhua) -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel attends a press conference after a German cabinet meeting in Meseberg, Germany, on Nov. 18, 2019. The German government has approved a mobile service strategy to ensure nat Image Source: IANS News

Berlin, March 11 : As many as 70 per cent of Germany's population, or some 58 million people, could catch coronavirus, German Chancellor Angela Merkel warned on Wednesday as the country recorded its third death, reports said.

Addressing a press conference along with Health Minister Jens Spahn, she said that since the disease had no known cure yet, the focus is on slowing the spread of the virus.

"It's about winning time," Merkel said, the BBC reported.

Germany confirmed its third coronavirus-related death on Wednesday, in the affected district of Heinsberg in the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia.

The first fatality was an 89-year-old woman who died in the town of Essen, the second a 78-year-old man with pre-existing health conditions who died in Heinsberg.

The country has so far reported 1,296 cases of the virus, according to figures released by the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for disease control late on Tuesday. RKI President Lothar Wieler, who was also present at the press conference, said that they did not believe there was a significant number of undetected cases in the country.

In her first press meet on the outbreak, Merkel contended that border closures would not be enough to prevent the spread of the virus, but ruled out following Austria's lead in banning visitors from the continent's worst-hit Italy, which entered the second day of a national lockdown.

"This is a test for our solidarity, our common sense and care for each other. And I hope we pass the test," she said.

Meanwhile, Berlin city authorities on Wednesday banned all events with more than 1,000 participants until the end of the Easter holidays.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
About 1,000 children of active-duty Coast Guard families could lose their spots at base child development centers (CDCs) under a new Defense Department policy effective June 1, the Coast Guard commandant told Congress on Tuesday.

The DoD announced Monday its plans to give active-duty families priority spots for base CDCs and create three main priority levels with subcategories.

"We were caught up in that," Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Karl Schultz told lawmakers in a House Committee on Appropriations hearing Tuesday. "We went to pretty much the lowest rung on that. I'm not sure if that was an unintended consequence or not, so I intend to have some high-level discussions with my DoD peers to find out what was the real intention there."

The lowest-priority category will grant spots on a space-available basis. Priority 3 includes the Coast Guard, DoD contractors, Gold Star spouses and DoD civilian employees who have a spouse looking for a job or are in school.

Related: Military Families Get Access to Hundreds More Child Care Centers in Pilot Program

Bases will begin sending out supplant notices June 1, giving the families notified 45 days to find alternative child care.

This decision comes as Defense Secretary Mark Esper reshapes policies to focus on mission readiness.

"Over time, child care access expanded to serve the total force, but we must not lose sight of the service member and mission requirements," Virginia Penrod, acting assistant secretary of defense for manpower and reserve affairs, said in a statement. "We must ensure that our military members and families have the support needed in order to be mission ready."

Schultz told the hearing that one reason the Coast Guard might have been excluded is that the service is required by law to prioritize its members and civilians over DoD service members.

"If you sort of did a quid pro quo -- you look across there a little bit -- DoD military folks are below some of our folks," he said. "So if they did that as a baseline, I would say this doesn't look so egregious. You can kind of see it."

Despite this, Schultz said he wants to understand why the Coast Guard was excluded. "Worst case, I would advocate to grandfather folks that are in there so that we're not displacing folks with 45-day warnings."

Last year, the Navy told Congress it had 8,000 personnel on the child care waiting list. While the Army did not specify its number, officials said some families had waited six or more months.

Nicole Russell, National Military Family Association government relations deputy director, said some families are signing up at several surrounding bases, therefore artificially inflating the number of families waiting. Families also join waitlists before their permanent change-of-station move, increasing the perceived wait time.

Under the new rules, the highest priority will be CDC staff themselves -- labeled as 1A -- and families where one or both parents are active duty or the spouse is working full-time, classified as 1B. These two categories, 1A and 1B, cannot be supplanted by the others.

Category 1C includes active-duty families with a spouse working part-time or looking for work;

families where the spouse is a full-time student are classified as 1D.

DoD civilian employees or those with a full-time working spouse are the next step down, Priority 2 -- just above the lowest category.

Russell said that, while the Coast Guard exemption is already raising concerns among those families, it's a good change overall.

"I think this new policy truly prioritizes the active-duty, military family," she said. "Child care is, unfortunately, a problem for many families in the U.S., but I think this truly recognizes and puts the family first."

A complete breakdown of the new priorities can be found here.

-- Dorothy Mills-Gregg can be reached at dorothy.mills-gregg@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @DMillsGregg.

Read More: VA to Stop GI Bill Benefits at 5 Colleges
Bernie Sanders vowed Wednesday to push forward in the 2020 presidential race despite the latest series of blows to his White House ambitions, including campaign challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic.

The Vermont senator admitted that Tuesday "was not a good night for our campaign from a delegate point of view." Even so, he said he would stay in the race at least through Sunday's debate with former Vice President Joe Biden.

"Donald Trump must be defeated, and I will do everything in my power to make that happen. On Sunday night, in the first one-on-one debate of this campaign, the American people will have the opportunity to see which candidate is best positioned to accomplish that goal," Sanders told reporters at his Vermont headquarters. He spoke in Burlington on Wednesday for the first time since another round of Democratic primaries squeezed his hopes of winning the party's presidential nomination.

Results from "Big Tuesday" all but quashed the Vermont senator's push to rack up a majority of pledged delegates. Carried by projected wins in Mississippi, Missouri, Idaho and all important Michigan, Biden took a decisive step toward facing Trump in November. Sanders will win North Dakota's caucus, while Washington state's primary is still too close to call, according to NBC News projections.

The coronavirus outbreak has also hampered Sanders' efforts to keep pace with Biden. The senator, who relies on jammed indoor events to muster support more than his rival does, had to cancel a Cleveland rally Tuesday because of the crisis. Biden also canceled a primary night event in Cleveland and addressed a smaller group of supporters in Philadelphia for his victory speech.

Sanders, the race's front-runner a mere two weeks ago, now needs a rapid turnaround  the likes of which Biden saw when his campaign floundered ahead of the South Carolina primary on Feb. 29. The coming days may offer his last chance to alter the race.
The AGIR program, supported by the French Investments for the Future program, aims to accelerate new antibiotics discovery to tackle the global challenge of antibiotic resistance.

The 2 nd milestone of this research program included the screening of a growing number of strains, the validation of the automated tools developed by DEINOVE and the identification of some thirty "hits".

milestone of this research program included the screening of a growing number of strains, the validation of the automated tools developed by DEINOVE and the identification of some thirty "hits". The results obtained validate this stage and lead to a payment of 1.5m from Bpifrance.

Regulatory News:

DEINOVE (Paris:ALDEI) (Euronext Growth Paris: ALDEI), a French biotech company that uses a disruptive approach to develop innovative antibiotics and bio-based active ingredients for cosmetics, announces that it has successfully completed the second key milestone of the AGIR program Antibiotics against Resistant Infectious Germs which is supported by the Investments for the Future Program. This milestone triggered the payment of 1.5m.

The AGIR program aims to explore the antimicrobial potential of rare bacterial strains with the objective of identifying new antibiotic structures and developing innovative treatments to address the health challenge of increasing antimicrobial resistance.

"As illustrated by the current coronavirus crisis, infections, whether bacterial or viral, are now rapidly becoming global. It is important to prevent these health emergencies, and to ensure that common infections won't become lethal again. This risk is increased by the rise in antibiotic resistance. However, only about 40 antibiotics are currently in clinical development, and only 1 out of 4 drugs in the pipeline represent a novel drug class or mechanism of action1. It is becoming urgent to discover new antibacterial treatments," says Charles Woler, CEO of DEINOVE.

The challenge of AGIR is to accelerate the screening of antibiotic activities of multiple strains under various conditions in order to quickly detect new antimicrobial structures. The first stage of the program led to the development of a robotic platform. The second stage addressed several components:

Significant increase of the bacterial collection: more than 2,000 additional strains have been integrated through targeted harvesting and partnerships;

Analysis of antimicrobial activities: 2,000 strains have been screened; 500 active extracts have been identified;

Hit detection and identification: analysis of the most promising extracts has led to the detection of around 30 hits. The characterization enables the identification of potential new bioactive molecules, previously unknown. The work in progress aims at optimizing the production of these molecules;

Validation of the tools developed: the techniques for strain screening, identification and purification of the active entities have been optimized to gain in speed, sensitivity and efficiency.

Under the terms of the collaborative research program selected in 2017 by the Investments for the Future Program, this achievement resulted in the validation of the 2nd milestone of the AGIR program and the payment of 1.5m in repayable advances and subsidies.

"The AGIR Program is moving forward simultaneously on two fronts: discovering new antibiotic structures and developing robust tools to accelerate the analysis of thousands of bacteria in an intelligent way to increase the chances of finding these new antibiotics. We're not just looking for new treatments, we're developing new ways of searching," says Guillaume Brandt, Pharmaceutical Development Officer at DEINOVE, and Project Manager of AGIR.

ABOUT THE AGIR PROGRAM

The AGIR program Antibiotics Against Resistant Infectious Germs was selected in 2017 by the Investments for the Future Program and receives from Bpifrance a financial support of 14.6m over 5 years.

AGIR, a platform dedicated to the search for unprecedented antibiotic structures from rare bacterial strains

The AGIR program aims to explore a wide-ranging biodiversity, mainly rare micro-organisms in order to identify and develop a portfolio of drug candidates.

While the world lacks new antibiotics, research is still predominantly focused on a small number of micro-organisms of interest or on the construction by chemical synthesis of molecules derived from existing drugs.

Conversely, the AGIR program is developing new methods of collection, culture, evaluation of the antibiotic potential of rare bacterial strains, and optimization of the molecules of interest.

The AGIR program is run with the Charles Viollette Institute (University of Lille) which brings its expertise in microbial and enzymatic engineering as well as identification of molecules.

An ambitious collaborative project strengthened by targeted strategic partnerships to broaden the scope of research

Capitalizing on its technology which enables automated and accelerated analysis of large quantities of strains, DEINOVE aims to maximize the opportunities to discover new antibiotic structures by expanding its field of research beyond its own bacterial library.

The Company has entered into partnerships with several companies, including bioMerieux and Naicons, with portfolios of diverse strains collected as part of their pharmaceutical activities.

ABOUT DEINOVE

DEINOVE is a French biotechnology company, a leader in disruptive innovation, which aims to help meet the challenges of antibiotic resistance and the transition to a sustainable production model for the cosmetics and nutrition industries.

DEINOVE has developed a unique and comprehensive expertise in the field of rare bacteria that it can decipher, culture, and optimize to disclose unsuspected possibilities and induce them to produce biobased molecules with activities of interest on an industrial scale. To do so, DEINOVE has been building and documenting since its creation an unparalleled biodiversity bank that it exploits thanks to a unique technological platform in Europe.

DEINOVE is organized around two areas of expertise:

ANTIBIOTICS, New-generation anti-infective drugs : A first antibiotic candidate, DNV3837, is now in Phase II. The Company is also pursuing the systematic exploration of biodiversity to supply its portfolio with new leads, drawing notably on partnerships with bioMerieux and Naicons (AGIR program supported by Bpifrance).

: A first antibiotic candidate, DNV3837, is now in Phase II. The Company is also pursuing the systematic exploration of biodiversity to supply its portfolio with new leads, drawing notably on partnerships with bioMerieux and Naicons (AGIR program supported by Bpifrance). BIOACTIVES, Active ingredients of natural origin with cosmetics as the first market: DEINOVE is already marketing a first cosmetic active ingredient, a second in partnership with Greentech and plans to launch new assets in 2020. Several other cosmetic actives are in development, including with Oleos (Hallstar Group) and Dow. It also runs a program in animal nutrition with Groupe Avril.

Within the Euromedecine science park located in Montpellier, DEINOVE employs 60 employees, mainly researchers, engineers, and technicians, and has filed about 350 patent applications internationally. The Company has been listed on EURONEXT GROWTH since April 2010.

Visit www.deinove.com

1 The PEW charitable trusts Sept. 2019 Read the report

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200311005025/en/

Contacts:

Investors Coralie Martin

Communication, Marketing and Investor Relations

Ph.: +33 (0)4 48 19 01 60

coralie.martin@deinove.com

Media

ALIZE RP

Caroline Carmagnol

Ph.: +33 (0)6 64 18 99 59

deinove@alizerp.com
Press Release

10 March 2020

Dear HEDNA Members, Hospitality & Technology Professionals and Industry Experts,

Advertisements

HEDNA's mission is to simplify hospitality distribution through facilitating connections, education and insights required for success in the ever-changing hospitality industry.

And ever-changing it is. Our world is facing a profound crisis by 2019-nCov. The loss of lives is a tragedy; a remedy has yet to be found. Travel advisories and restrictions are in place in many regions. Conferences and events are rescheduled or cancelled.

With this in mind, we continue to make preparations for HEDNA Amsterdam; the team is putting together an amazing program and I look forward to welcoming you there. We will keep you informed as to any change of course.

We have weathered many challenges before and together we will overcome this. Travel will bounce back. Let's use the pause to become better at what we do. Let's invest into a brighter future by utilizing HEDNA for what it does best:

1. Education & Training

Now is a great time to invest into your teams providing them education & development opportunities. HEDNA will be conducting education sessions starting in March. These sessions will be free and accessible to anyone. We are starting with our HEDNA U curriculum divided into condensed and succinct sessions. Subscription is available in the footer of the HEDNA website.

We want your help: We are looking for facilitators and content.

Reach out to [email protected] to participate.

2. Knowledge Sharing

Our HEDNA TV channel on YouTube contains an abundance of insights and content from past conferences. Missed a session in LA because of an important partner meeting? Catch up on what you missed. We will be adding more sessions in the upcoming weeks; subscribe to be notified. HEDNA will also publish its content through Podcast shortly.

3. Working Groups

A pause is an opportunity to update your content, your distribution strategy, implement a best practice that you have been meaning to and haven't had the time to execute on. HEDNA has published great white papers and is moving the conversation forward. Learn more about the workgroups and join today!

4. Invest into new technologies

HEDNA regularly showcases new innovative tools and services. Now is a great time to implement a new system, move into the cloud, introduce a new product. Our recent Innov8 winners include:

2020 - Los Angeles: Affirm

2019 - Madrid: Oaky

2019 - Los Angeles: Go Moment

And for a complete overview, here is a Link to our playlists.

5. Exchange

We want to hear from you. Together we are stronger; you may have a great idea, suggestion or best practice and you are looking for a platform to share it: [email protected]

And as a reminder: our next HEDNA conference is scheduled in Amsterdam from May 18-20, 2020. Its theme: Creating Connections - Building Bridges.

I am confident that we will overcome these headwinds by focusing on exchange, collaboration and education. Together we will lead the world back to travel.



Thank you,

Sebastien Leitner

HEDNA President

Reach me at [email protected]
Washington: Two American personnel and one from Britain were killed and about a dozen people were wounded in a rocket attack on an Iraqi military camp where Australian troops are stationed.

No Australians were injured in the attack on the Taji air base north of Baghdad on Wednesday. It is unknown whether ADF troops were in the vicinity when the 18 small rockets hit the camp.

An explosion in the Middle East. Credit:AP

Two US officials said it was too soon to assign blame for the attack.

In a statement, Australia's defence department said it could confirm a rocket attack occurred at the Taji military camp.
Raed Ibrahim, a 46-years-old Jordanian artist, works in an eclectic range of formats from abstract oil painting to street signs, to dress and embroidery and found artifacts.

Ibrahim's new exhibit A Camel in the Room plays out in four different galleries at Darat al Funun  the Khalid Shoman Foundation's arts complex in Amman  where the artist explores the relationship between objects and memory, truth and storytelling.

It's a Middle Eastern twist on the 19th century Russian fable "The Inquisitive Man," about the museum visitor who notices all the tiny animals in the exhibit but not the massive taxidermied elephant in the room.

The exhibit calls attention to an unexamined side of seemingly familiar iconography including landmark buildings, tourist trinkets and national flags.

The camel on display in this show is an enlarged version of a made-in-China souvenir of Jordan.

"I always wanted to do a camel," said Ibrahim, "It so often accompanies the ideas and sometimes the stigma attached to our culture."

"It's directly modeled on a camel doll I bought in the market downtown with the word 'Jordan' printed on the saddle. It plays a Tunisian tune when you squeeze it," said the artist with a smile.

The Saudi-born Jordanian son of a father from Nablus and a mother from Beirut explores the Arab postcolonial predicament and the enduring question of Palestine.

"As an Arab visitor to Europe or Africa, I've been asked if I live in a tent or ride a camel. Here in Amman, the shopkeepers who sell souvenirs to tourists display these little stuffed camels. Somehow, they are supposed to represent Jordan, but I really don't know how."

At Darat al Funun, the eight-foot-tall plush pink object can't be missed, and Ibrahim and gallery workers are installing mirrors on the walls so visitors will escape neither the camel in the room nor their own reflections.

"It becomes kind of an infinity space where we look at ourselves, the people who are with us, and how we in the region are looking at history," said Eline van der Vlist, the artistic director of Darat al Funun. I think that ties nicely in what he's done with the Twin Towers."

In the adjacent gallery, Ibrahim makes connections between "monument, miniature, metaphor and memory" with four different architectural and allegorical models of the World Trade Center's iconic towers.

"I was in this very room when I first learned of the attacks on the towers," said Ibrahim, who on Sept. 11, 2001, was participating in a Shoman Foundation artist's workshop with Syrian painter Marwan Kassab-Bachi.

"Ever since then, I always wanted to explore questions about what 9/11 did to us, what it did to the world and how it re-represents us to the world."

"Our culture, religion, image became a result of this incident and somehow minimized all our history at this one single moment."

From the back of the gallery, two white steel tubes emblazoned with the Marlboro brand and a cloud of black smoke made of polychloroprene balloons, dried industrial foam and papier-mache immediately draw in the visitor.

"I'm looking at events as a consumer of a product with the buildings burning and letting off smoke like a cigarette."

The cigarette towers stand as a three-dimensional Roy Lichtenstein-esque pop art piece, simultaneously humorous and horrifying.

The friendly pink camel in the room next door becomes retrospectively intimidating.

Then, perhaps the boldest piece in the exhibit comes into view: two black-painted stainless steel towers, one mounted with a gold automated model airplane circling the top. Another identical structure is crowned with a gold band clearly referencing the kiswah, the traditional cloth that covers the Kaaba in Mecca, the site of Muslims pilgrimage.

"The plane is circling the tower like the people circle the Kaaba while they perform the tawaf," said Ibrahim. "The movement is a ritual, but the process of going around is a chance to reconsider an object from its different sides.

"To me, our relationship with 9/11 is like this. We repeat arguments about whether this event represents us, or does it not. Are we like that? Are we not like that? So it's about questioning."

The fifth tower is made of wood slivers tied together with small bits of string. The imposing industrial workshop pieces in the rest of the room recede as the viewer ponders Ibrahim's "scaffolding."

"Here, the intention is more about the work, the structure that helps build the structure. I'm trying to find something in the design  while in the real world, scaffolding is something that goes only on the outside  extending it inside and asking impossible questions about what holds us up."

In a small adjacent gallery, Ibrahim has installed a set of six framed late 19th/early 20th century cast iron house locks.

Behind the antique hardware, the artist has placed blue paper shadows under the objects mounted in the glass-enclosed display.

Keys are a ubiquitous motif in Palestinian art, a symbol of the Nakba, or the "catastrophe" caused by the 1948 founding of the Israeli state and the displacement of Palestinians, and a defiant, hopeful symbol of their aspiration to return home.

Locks, a reference to keys as the symbol of Palestinians displaced in 1948, also feature in the exhibition "The Camel in the Room" by artist Raed Ibrahim. (courtesy of the artist)

"The relationship with Palestine is immediately obvious to everyone," said van der Vlist. "And yet as we see refugees from Iraq and Syria today, we're reminded that inherited narratives of being dispersed from your homeland are universal." She went on, "So the work addresses the wider question of who gets to tell your story and the ripple effects of stories for generations to come."

The work also raises questions about the authenticity and efficacy of memory.

"I actually tried to find locks from Palestine in the antique markets, but I couldn't find them here," said Ibrahim. "I actually got these in Europe."

"So presenting the locks is kind of a problematic gesture saying that, OK, here's the locks, you could open them if you have the keys," and see the problem from the other side, he said. "It's a problem if you are from the second or third generation. We are dealing with the locks and their shadows."

One floor below in a solitary gallery called the Ghorfa, Ibrahim has reinstalled his ongoing project, The State of Ishmael: Jus Sanguinis." The Latin term refers to citizenship laws determined by the nationality or "bloodline" of one or both parents.

The room is filled with imagined artifacts belonging to "The State of Ishmael"  a kind of alternative Palestine with founding documents and national iconography. The assemblage simultaneously draws upon and critiques the cultural reservoir and legal structures Zionists used to conceive Israel.

Ibrahim first created his "state" in the Swiss town of Aargau less than 70 kilometers (43 miles) from Basel, where Theodor Herzl convened the first Zionist Congress in 1897.

"I had a residency there in 2009, and it was clear to me that I want to do a project around the occupation. I wanted to occupy this beautiful Swiss town and call it Ishmael, who is from the Torah and Quran and known as the son of Haggar, who was kicked out of Palestine."

Ishmael's Declaration of Independence is on display, its text similar to Israel's founding document. Critical word switches flip the concepts of the Zionist narrative. Jews and Jewish are replaced with Muslims and Muslim. Ishmael substitutes in for Israel.

"The land of Ishmael is the birthplace of the Ishmaeli people. Here they first attained statehood, created cultural values of national and universal significance and gave the world the eternal Book of Testimonials. After being forcibly exiled from their land, the people of Ishmael kept faith throughout their dispersion and never ceased to pray in the hope of freedom and return, goes the text.

Ishmael's map is an outline of the Swiss canton of Aargau, with the names of destroyed Palestinian cities within its boundaries.

"I took the ladybug symbol from the Swiss," said Ibrahim. "It looks so cute on their chocolates, but in these red and black colors and the way I designed the stencil, it becomes menacing and aggressive."

Ibrahim's Ishmael is more cautionary than aspirational.

"Definitely, this is a horrible state to adopt; you have to be a Muslim to be accepted. You have to have a blood relation to the state to be able to become a citizen. It's really a racist country built on someone else's land."

Part of the exhibit is a workstation where visitors can fill out applications for Ishmaeli citizenship."

The box is already filling up with completed forms.

As the current US/Israeli vision attempts to impose new contours of power and space on the region, Ibrahim's work offers timely questions of legitimacy and representation.

"Ultimately, this is not something that I can look at from outside," said Ibrahim. "It's something that is still going on and I dont possess the privilege of being poetic about it. I need to use direct language and gestures."
A patient is transferred into an ambulance at the Life Care Center in Kirkland, Washington on March 7, 2020. (Karen Ducey/Getty Images)

Gatherings of More Than 250 People Banned in Washington Counties Amid Coronavirus Outbreak

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee on Wednesday said he was banning gatherings of more than 250 people in the states three most populous counties.

The ban was being placed on Snohomish, King, and Pierce counties, Inslee said at a press conference.

It is clear that our state needs a more vigorous and more comprehensive and more aggressive a position if we are going to slow the spread of this epidemic, he said. This is not just your ordinary flu. This is a virus that the experts tell us are (sic) at least 10 times more potentially fatal than the flu, he added, citing health experts officials have spoken to.

Community, civic, leisure, faith-based, and sporting events, as well as concerts, parades, fundraisers, and other gatherings, are banned if the gatherings include 250 or more people.

The virus, which causes a disease called COVID-19, has killed 24 people in the state, including 22 in King County alone.

King County Executive Dow Constantine said that the countys public health officer, Jeff Duchin, would be signing an order that prohibits gatherings with fewer than 250 people unless the gatherings meet public health guidelines, including social distancing measures.

The ban on gatherings will help ensure that a health crisis does not become a humanitarian disaster, Constantine told reporters.

Kirkland Fire and Rescue ambulance workers walk back to a vehicle after a patient was loaded into an ambulance at the Life Care Center in Kirkland, Washington, on March 10, 2020. (Ted S. Warren/AP Photo)

As of Wednesday, here were 267 patients who tested positive for COVID-19, according to the state Department of Health. Inslee said officials suspect there are hundreds if not thousands of others who havent been diagnosed but have COVID-19.

The state has one of the largest outbreaks of the new virus in the country, along with California, Massachusetts, and New York, which on Tuesday announced a containment area where a large cluster of cases have been confirmed.

There are around 1,000 confirmed cases nationwide, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Robert Redfield told lawmakers in Washington. Thirty-one deaths have been reported to his agency.

Most of the 190 cases in Washington are linked to a cluster of cases among residents, visitors, or staff members of the Life Care Center of Kirkland, just outside Seattle.

Over half the patients in the state are 60 or older.

A Starbucks coffee shop sits mostly empty at Amazon headquarters in downtown Seattle, Washington, on March 10, 2020. (John Moore/Getty Images)

A number of businesses and schools in the Puget Sound region this week announced closures or limitations, with Amazon and Facebook among the employers asking some workers to work from home.

Schools, including the University of Washington, have shifted to online classes, as the Seattle & King County Public Health advised social distancing measures.

Employers should encourage and enable as many employees as possible to telecommute and follow other guidance for businesses. Avoid bringing large groups of people together, and consider postponing events and gatherings. Stay home when you are sick. Do not go out in public when you are sick. If you are ill in any way call your doctors office first before going in, the department said on Tuesday.

People should try to avoid close contact with people who are sick as well as frequently wash their hands and clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces in their house like tables, doorknobs, and light switches.

Inslee on Wednesday said that people who are older or have underlying health conditions should consider not going out and that people who can work from home should. Employers should facilitate remote work.

Schools will remain open for the time being because data indicates children dont often experience severe cases of the illness, though they do spread the virus like other people. Inslee said he was asking all school districts to plan for school closures in the next several days.

Inslee believes the measures being implemented in the state will be put into place in the rest of the United States in the coming weeks.

Unfortunately we know that the rest of the nation will be where we are, perhaps in a couple or three weeks, he said. And we hope that the things were doing aggressively here can set a template for the rest of the country.
The damaging impact of the coronavirus outbreak was felt in the cancellation of a raft of events yesterday and the near-closure of Trinity College Dublin as the number of people infected shot up to 34.

Ten more people tested positive for the virus yesterday, among them two healthcare workers - one in the south and another in the east - after a surge of 1,387 tests in the last week.

In a drastic response to the virus threat, Trinity - which had a case of the infection last week - announced it would close lecture halls and deliver tuition online to its thousands of students.

Across the country, the Irish Cancer Society cancelled its main fundraising event, Daffodil Day, and the children's charity Make-A-Wish Ireland abandoned its street collection which was to be held this Friday.

The Fingal International Festival of Voices, which was due to be staged in Balbriggan from tomorrow until Sunday has also been cancelled.

Concerts

The festival included the three friendship concerts which were due to be held tomorrow in Rush, Malahide and Balbriggan.

Any tickets bought in advance will be refunded.

This decision was taken after consultations by the festival's organisers and Fingal County Council.

The expert group in the Department of Health overseeing the coronavirus has also drawn up new rules that will allow healthcare workers who may have been exposed to the virus, but have no symptoms, to return to work as the health service struggles with huge numbers of staff self-isolating.

The healthy workers will be risk-assessed before being assigned to work and will be tested twice daily.

None of the new cases diagnosed yesterday were infected through community transmission - the most worrying route.

Five picked up the virus abroad and three others, a male and two women, were infected by another confirmed case.

The crisis, which has led to the cancellation of hundreds of surgeries and out-patient appointments, continued yesterday in Limerick, the mid-west and Cork.

The expert group has given the go-ahead to regional laboratories to begin testing suspect cases for the virus and results should be available in 24 to 48 hours amid complaints about the delay from some people who must self-isolate.

The group said strict visiting restrictions imposed by hospitals and nursing homes are not needed at this stage.

Controversial guidelines from the Irish Association of Funeral Directors that any person who dies of coronavirus should be immediately cremated or buried without a funeral service were also described as unwarranted.

Official advice will be issued by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre today.

HSE chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan said 98pc of the 1,784 people tested so far have produced negative results.

He warned that while Ireland "remains in containment there is no room for complacency".

The European disease watchdog has warned of many more cases of community transmission, where people are infected without a known source.

When that happens here, more stringent precautions will be felt by the population.

It is possible to explain the source of infection in all but three of the 34 cases in the Republic so far. Asked about rumours that schools are about to be closed, Dr Holohan said it could not be ruled out at some stage but will not be implemented at this point.

Severe

A range of possible restrictive measures will in the future be enforced to delay the infection's spread but they will be "deployed at an appropriate" time and that is "not necessarily now", he said.

GPs have been told to look out for possible coronavirus infection in patients who have symptoms and have returned to Ireland from regions not currently on the at-risk list.

Patients who have not been abroad but have unexplained severe respiratory illness are also to be considered for testing for the virus.

Pharmacists yesterday appealed to symptomatic people back from an at-risk country to stay away and ring their GP or A&E instead.
Former Union minister



Jyotiraditya Scindia, who joined the BJP on Wednesday, will file his nomination papers for the March 26 Rajya Sabha polls from Madhya Pradesh here on Friday, said a saffron party spokesman.

Earlier in the day, the BJP named Scindia as its Rajya Sabha candidate from Madhya Pradesh, where three seats are falling vacant, soon after he joined the party.

After resigning from the Congress on Tuesday morning, Scindia joined the BJP in presence of party president J P Nadda in Delhi.

Madhya Pradesh BJP Media Cell in-charge Lokendra Parashar said the 49-year-old former Lok Sabha MP will file his nomination papers on Friday afternoon.

Scindia ji will file the nomination papers for the Rajya Sabha polls after garlanding the statues of BJP leaders, including Deendayal Upadhyaya and Rajmata Scindia, around noon on Friday, Parashar said.

Scindia will arrive in Bhopal around 3 pm on Thursday, he said.

This will be former Congress leader's first visit to the state capital after joining the BJP.

From the airport, Scindia will reach state BJP headquarters, Deendayal Parisar, where he will be accorded welcome at a function.

Of the three seats falling vacant in the state, two are held by the BJP and one by the Congress.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
[March 11, 2020] Tenth Navy Order for Orbit's Maritime Satcom Terminals

WASHINGTON, March 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Orbit Communications Systems Ltd. (TASE: ORBI), a leading global provider of satellite-tracking maritime, airborne and ground-station solutions, announced today at the Satellite 2020 Conference in Washington, DC, a new US$2.7 million contract with a major Asian Navy for a combination of OceanTRx 4 and OceanTRx 7 maritime satcom terminals, and associated spares. This order represents the tenth Navy to select Orbit's OceanTRx product line, and the fourth in the last nine months. Since its introduction in 2015, OceanTRx has become the leading terminal in the large cruise ship segment, a top choice for offshore platforms and critical data links, and now the growing choice for Navy applications. "The proven performance and reliability of OceanTRx, along with a range of antenna sizes and configurations, have been key differentiators in all of our recent Navy orders," noted Orbit CEO Dany Eshchar. "In this case the Navy selected different antenna sizes to meet mission requirements of across a wide range of vessels, with the added benefit of common operations and shared spare parts."



About Orbit's OceanTRx 4 and OceanTRx 7 The OceanTRx product line comprises reliable, field-proven and innovative stabilized dual-band maritime satcom platforms, featuring outstanding RF and tracking performance, and high system availability under virtually any offshore conditions.

OceanTRx is highly modular and easily configured for commercial needs or adapted to meet defense requirements. Supporting the mission-critical broadband needs of navy vessels, it was designed for one-day deployment with simple updates and maintenance. The small-footprint, light-weight OceanTRx 4 1.15 m (45") antenna and OceanTRx 7 2.2 m (87") antenna, can be configured for single or multiple frequency bands including C, X, Ku, Ka and Ka-wideband. About Orbit Orbit Communication Systems Ltd., a leading global provider of satellite-tracking maritime, airborne and ground-station solutions, is helping to expand and redefine how we connect. You'll find Orbit systems on business aircraft and jet fighters, cruise ships and navy vessels, ground stations and offshore platforms. We deliver innovative, cost-effective, and highly reliable solutions to commercial operators, major navies and air forces, space agencies and emerging New Space companies. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1122764/Orbit_Communication_Systems.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/647581/Orbit_Communications_Systems_Ltd_Logo.jpg Press Contact: Orbit Communication Systems Ian Tick

Head of Communications

[email protected] View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tenth-navy-order-for-orbits-maritime-satcom-terminals-301021628.html SOURCE Orbit Communication Systems Ltd

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Morrisons is cutting prices on hundreds of items. (Dinendra Haria/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Morrisons (MRW.L) is slashing the prices of over 500 of its products, including store-cupboard staples, fresh produce, frozen food, and household items in an attempt to compete with discount rivals.

The UKs big four supermarkets Tesco (TSCO.L), Sainsburys (SBRY.L), Asda (WMT), and Morrisons  have been under pressure to lower prices as they continue to lose customers to German discount rivals Aldi and Lidl.

Shares in Morrisons have fallen by 17% in the last year and it only just held on to its place in the FTSE 100 in this months quarterly review.

Morrisons sales were 2% lower than the same period last year, pulling its market share down from 10.4% to 10.2%, according to Kantar data for the 12 weeks to 23 February.

Sales at Tesco and Asda fell by 0.8% and 1.2% while Lidl and Aldi continued to win over British shoppers, with sales up 11.4% and 5.7% respectively.

Read more: Coronavirus: Restrictions on supermarket delivery hours relaxed

Morrisons said it will be cutting prices by an average 15% and will focus on a range of its most popular items in order to make products more affordable and prices stable for customers. It said hundreds more reductions would be brought in over the next few weeks.

Were cutting the price of hundreds of our customers favourite items and are holding them low, said Morrisons commercial director Andy Atkinson.

These price cuts will help customers manage their budgets and make Morrisons even more competitive.

The cuts include a 33% drop in the price of a kilo of British carrots to 50p and a reduction on British beef mince, now 1.50 for 500g.

Morrisons had a disappointing Christmas with a sales decline of 0.4%, while rival Aldi enjoyed a record-breaking Christmas as its festive sales broke through the 1bn mark for the first time.

Earlier this year Morrisons said it was axing 3,000 middle-management jobs to hire more shop floor staff in a cost-cutting move it said would allow it to serve customers better.

Read more: Asda cuts petrol prices by 2p per litre amid oil war

Tesco, Britains biggest supermarket, recently launched its Aldi Price Match campaign, pledging to cut prices on hundreds of products in an attempt to stem the customer exodus to discount rivals.
A CRPF trooper was injured in a grenade attack by militants in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday, police said.

Militants hurled a grenade in Kakapora police station in the South Kashmir district, a police official said.

The grenade exploded near the wall of the police station, injuring a CRPF constable, he added.

Police fired some shots in the air in retaliation, the official said.
Two Americans and a British personnel are believed to have been killed when 15 small rockets hit Iraqs Taji military camp north of Baghdad on Wednesday, two U.S. officials told, Trend reports citing Reuters.

The officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said that about a dozen coalition personnel had also been injured in the attack. They stressed that this was initial information and could change.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Iraqi military said that no casualties had been reported in the attack.
Chinese social media users are scrambling to reproduce and repost a banned article by a doctor on the front line of the coronavirus epidemic in the central city of Wuhan after it was deleted by ruling Chinese Communist Party censors.



The 8,000-character essay titled "Whistlemaker" by Ai Fen, director of the Wuhan Central Hospital ER, initially appeared in China's People magazine, but was soon deleted from its website while paper copies were removed from the shelves.



China's tightly restricted internet went into overdrive in a bid to ensure that anyone who wanted to read it still could, with people translating it into English and braille, distorting and handwriting the text or setting the characters vertically rather than horizontally to evade automatic detection of its key phrases.



People then retweeted and reposted the article to various chat groups and to their personal friend circles, sources told RFA.



While some copies only survived a matter of minutes, others were still visible hours after posting, although the distortions used to evade censorship also made some versions hard to decipher.



Journalist and writer Luo Siling said she had seen at least 10 different versions of the article online, including translations into Chinese internet slang (known as Martian), and transcriptions into Tangut script, a form of Chinese calligraphy.



"It's all a way to get around censorship, so it's pretty cool," Luo told RFA. "The scariest thing about authoritarian power is its ability to say that black is white and vice versa."



"You're not allowed to say that: only they are, so this is kind of a satire on the part of internet users," she said.



Order to delete all copies

A source familiar with the workings of the central propaganda department told RFA that the order to delete all copies of Ai's essay had been given on , sparking widespread public anger.



"It was totally deleted , and the order for total deletion could only have come from a central propaganda department directive," the source said. "Otherwise it wouldn't have had the same power."



"There's been a lot of anger, public anger, about this, because apart from a couple of party secretaries, who are small fry, getting fired it's pretty clear that nobody higher up in the State Council or higher than that [is being held responsible]."



A China's People magazine journalist declined requests for an interview when contacted by RFA on , while medical personnel in Wuhan Central Hospital didn't respond to requests for comment.



In the article, Ai writes of a patient seen in the ER on Dec. 16 with an "inexplicably high fever" on which medication had had scant effect, and who was diagnosed with a "SARS-like coronavirus."



A second patient on Dec. 27 arrived in a similar state, as social media reports began to circulate of numerous "fever" cases linked to the now-shuttered Huanan Seafood Market.



"Just after 4 pm that day, my colleague showed me a report that said: SARS coronavirus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 46 types of oral/respiratory bacterial colonization," Ai wrote.



"I read the report many times and the appended note, which read: SARS coronavirus is a single-stranded positive-strand RNA virus. The main mode of transmission of the virus is close-range droplet transmission or contact with respiratory secretions of patients, which can cause a form of pneumonia that is obviously contagious and can affect multiple organ systems, also known as atypical pneumonia."



"I broke into a cold sweat of fear ... and immediately called and reported it to the hospital's public health department," she wrote. "I also circulated this report to my colleagues, purposely marking a red circle around the words 'SARS coronavirus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 46 types of oral/respiratory bacterial colonization' to draw it to everyone's attention."



"I also sent the report to the doctors in the department to warn everyone to take precautions."



Doctor reprimanded

The report with its red pen circling the key words soon began to circulate among medical staff in Wuhan, passed on by the late opthalmologist Li Wenliang, who was among eight people summoned for questioning by police over the disclosure, Ai later learned.



Li later died of COVID-19, sparking a public outcry.



The authorities immediately ordered medical staff to stop passing on reports, and hauled Ai in for a reprimand.



"I couldn't sleep that night, I was so worried," she wrote. "But I felt that there are always two sides to everything, and that it wasn't necessarily a bad thing to warn medical staff in Wuhan to take precautions, even if there were adverse effects."



"[But] I suffered an unprecedented and very severe rebuke."



Bruce Lui, journalism professor at Hong Kong's Baptist University, said Ai's essay came as President Xi Jinping was in Wuhan claiming that China had the coronavirus epidemic under control.



"Now that China is moving into the so-called 'victory' phase of the epidemic ... any murmurs of dissent must be deleted," Lui told RFA. "Under official propaganda guidelines, no discussion of the origin of the epidemic can be allowed to happen."



"How it started, how it was covered up and how late it was declared are all taboo subjects," he said.



Ai said in her essay that she had had another conversation with her boss on Feb. 21.



"I actually wanted to ask a few questions, for example, whether he thought the criticisms he made of me on that day were wrong," she wrote. "I was hoping he would apologize, but nobody has apologized to me once."



"But there has to be somebody, somebody to stand up and tell the truth. There has to be room for different views in this world, right?" she wrote.



Reported by Wong Siu-san, Sing Man, Fong Tak-ho and Tam Siu-yin for RFA's Cantonese Service, and by Qiao Long for the Mandarin Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
A facility believed to be a re-education camp where mostly Muslim ethnic minorities are detained, in Artux, north of Kashgar in China's western Xinjiang region, on June 2, 2019. (Greg Baker/AFP/Getty Images)

US Lawmakers Seek to Tighten Ban on Forced-Labor Goods From Chinas Xinjiang

WASHINGTONLeading U.S. lawmakers proposed legislation on March 11 aimed at preventing goods made from forced labor in Chinas Xinjiang region from reaching the United States.

The legislation would alter existing rules and require importers to obtain certification from the U.S. government that goods were not produced using forced labor by minority Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang.

The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act was co-sponsored by Republican Senator Marco Rubio and Democratic Representative James McGovern, co-chairs of the bipartisan Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC).

The heart of the proposed new law is a rebuttal presumption that assumes that all goods manufactured in Xinjiang are made with forced labor and therefore banned under the 1930 Tariff Act, unless the commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection certifies otherwise.

The bill also calls for the U.S. president to impose sanctions on any foreign person who knowingly engages' in forced labor of minority Muslims and would require firms to disclose dealings with Xinjiang.

The United Nations estimates over a million Muslim Uyghurs have been detained in camps in Xinjiang over recent years as part of a wide-reaching campaign by the Chinese regime to stamp out terrorism.

If the proposal becomes law, it could have a significant impact on the cotton industry in Xinjiang, which produces a substantial proportion of the worlds supply of the commodity.

Its introduction is likely to anger China, months after Beijing and the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump reached an agreement to ease a damaging trade war.

The lawmakers announced the move as the CECC released a report saying that forced labor inside and outside of internment camps was part of systematic repression of minority groups in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR).

The report, compiled by CECC staff and citing reports in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times and other Western media, listed major multinational firms suspected of directly employing forced labor or sourcing from suppliers that are suspected of using forced labor.

It said they included sportswear firms Adidas and Nike, U.S. wholesaler Costco, high-street fashion retailers Calvin Klein, Esprit, H&M, Patagonia and Tommy Hilfiger, as well as the Coca-Cola Company, and the Campbell Soup Company.

The CECC said it had observed credible reports that products made at least in part with forced labor in Xinjiang included textiles, cell phones, food products, shoes, tea and handicrafts.

It put the number of Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities who are or have been detained in Xinjiang at 1.8 million.

A report released by an Australian think tank in early March said tens of thousands of ethnic Uyghurs were moved to work in conditions suggestive of forced labor in factories across China supplying 83 global brands.

On Monday, the Washington-based Fair Labor Association, which conducts due diligence for multinational firms, said it was deeply troubled by credible reports of forced labor and other violations of fundamental rights in Xinjiang and had warned companies it represents.

We have directed our affiliates to review their direct and indirect sourcing relationships, identify alternative sourcing opportunities, and develop time-bound plans to ensure that their sourcing is in line with the FLAs principles, it said in a statement.

By David Brunnstrom
Auctioning the 4G band would allow network operators to roll out new services with more confidence

Although the government and the Ministry of Information and Communications have made great efforts to implement the auction of 4G bandwidth, there are still many legal problems. Network operators have been providing 4G services but have yet to be licensed to use the 4G band to guarantee service quality for customers with increased mobile internet demand.

The Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) said that during the auction of the 2.6 GHz band, it needs to follow numerous complex legal documents such as the Law on Property Auction and the Law on Public Asset Management. In addition, determining the starting price for the band auction is also difficult as this is the first time Vietnam auctions off the right to use a radio frequency (an intangible asset), while Decision No.16/2012/QD-TTg only stipulates the principles of price determination but identifies no specific method to determine the reserve price.

In order to resolve these difficulties, the MIC has consulted the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Finance on the application of legal documents in the auction of radio frequencies. Based on the responses of the ministries, the MIC is drafting a report to the prime minister to propose solutions to remove barriers to deploy the 2.6GHz band.

Regarding the starting price, the MIC has hired a valuation organisation to determine the value of the 2.6GHz band in accordance with the Vietnam Valuation Standards. Based on the results, the MIC will report to the PM.

On July 26, 2018, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam chaired a meeting with the representatives of ministries and agencies to remove difficulties in granting additional bands to improve 4G network quality and services.

Currently, the flow for 4G networks on the 1800 MHz band (serves 2G networks, too) is too low compared to the actual needs, affecting service quality and 4G network speed.

The average speed of internet in Vietnam ranked 75th in the world. To improve this rank, the MIC has been planning to release the 2.6 GHz band to let telecom businesses deploy a 4G network. The four registered enterprises are those that have actually implemented 4G networks in Vietnam.

In early January, the PM requested the MIC to speed up the licensing process of 2.6 GHz band to deploy 4G network for telecommunications enterprises before June 20.

One of the initiatives to promote economic growth, proposed by Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung, is auctioning 4G and 5G frequencies. Minister Nguyen Manh Hung said that the auctions should be implemented in the first quarter of 2020 so that telecommunications network operators can roll out services.

The auction will bring about VND6-8 trillion ($260.87-347.83 million) for the state budget. In addition, network operators will boost investment and stimulate demand for society as well as create new services to increase revenue and contribute to economic growth.
'Geldof is a cranky man, who has been knighted by his host nation, but nothing it appears will ever satisfy his quest for safe notoriety.' Photo: Brian McEvoy

There is something not quite sound about his own life analysis which Bob Geldof portrays.

He constantly professes to hate the land of his birth.

But can equally despise Britain, the place where he ended up and which made him rich and famous.

Brian McDevitt (Irish Independent, Letters, March 10), who says he went to school with Bob in Ireland, might have missed the overall abrasive side to him when he praises him now.

Geldof has had a successful music and business career in the UK. Well done. His personal Boomtown Rats recognition preceded his migration, however, at least to some degree.

It began with the freedom of expression he enjoyed here in Ireland at a time when he had free rein to do so, yet he has bleated for decades at being stifled here.

He also regularly castigates the British for the way they vote and declares bitterly how he knows so much better than themselves as to what is best regarding political allegiances and to their system of governance, especially regarding the EU and its rejection. He got this wrong, also.

Geldof is a cranky man, who has been knighted by his host nation, but nothing it appears will ever satisfy his quest for safe notoriety.

Could it be the Irish part of him which has the unhappy habit of making him feel apparently somewhat inferior, with something to publicly deny about himself at every opportunity?

Its not easy being green, we might say, regarding our Sir Bob.

Robert Sullivan

Bantry, Co Cork

Political paralysis at a time of crisis will not be forgiven

The dysfunction within the political system at this time of crisis will not be forgiven by the people.

Ireland as an island nation should be in a good position to defend against the coronavirus.

Preventing it coming into the country should be by far the priority of this Government as dealing with an epidemic in Ireland will have a radical impact on life, health, society and the economy.

The Government must restrict flying from affected regions in Italy. It is incredible that flights are landing in Irish airports today from northern Italy.

The Government must ensure self-isolation for those who have returned from affected areas and the Government must postpone mass public meetings.

The Government seems to be caught in the headlights.

Its over a month since the general election, yet the democratically elected assembly of the Irish people remains closed during this time of major crisis.

The Dail should be reopened and tasked within the chamber and at committee level to develop solutions to the crisis.

The paralysis of the main political parties in forming a government and the dysfunction within the political system is now part of the problem.

Peadar Toibin

Oifig Pheadair Toibin TD, Teach Laighean

Government shows its flaws with coronavirus response

It was profoundly concerning listening to Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe on RTEs Sean ORourke Show yesterday.

When asked why we are not immediately closing down schools and restricting movement to curb the spread of Covid-19, he responded that the Government was taking into account our ability to sustain such a regime for an extended period.

The fact is, if such a clampdown works it will see the virus spread controlled and allow for a return to normality quicker.

If the measure fails to curb the spread, whether we can sustain a shutdown for an extended period or not, becomes moot.

It is becoming more and more obvious why the people sought to get rid of this Government at the last election.

Jim OSullivan

Rathedmond, Sligo

Everyone would benefit from an end to gender inequality

Women are being disproportionately afflicted by the scourges of communicable and non-communicable diseases, gender pay inequality, the climate emergency, gruelling poverty, and health and food insecurity that diminish their resilience and resolve to adapt to humanitarian crises.

However, they also play a pivotal and indispensable role in their mitigation and remain largely untapped resources.

Therefore, a concerted, proactive and holistic response is urgently required to unleash their knowledge and tap on their reservoirs for the benefit of all.

Dr Munjed Farid Al Qutob

London, UK
New Delhi, March 11 : As the images of workers walking around the office of Saudi Arabian oil company Aramco dressed up as human sanitiser dispensers surfaced online, netizens took to social media calling it an act of racism.

A Twitter user @hannxbaI shared the photo on Twitter with the caption, "Man the humiliation in his eyes is just shattering." In the shared photos, the worker is seen wearing a face mask and dressed up as a large hand sanitiser dispenser with a real one attached in front of him. In one of the shared pictures, the worker can be seen standing in front of an elevator, while in another picture, another worker, presumably an Aramco employee, uses the hand sanitiser.

As the photo surfaced online, the oil company was significantly criticised for humiliating the worker, during the deadly coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Following the backlash, Saudi Aramco took to their Twitter handle and wrote, "In response to the viral photos of a colleague wearing sterilisation in one of our facilities, Saudi Aramco would like to express our strong dissatisfaction with such abusive behavior. We wanted to emphasise the importance of hand sanitation." "With immediate effect, the company has stopped this act and has taken drastic measures to prevent it from happening again. The company would like to strongly emphasise that this doesn't adhere to our values, ethics, and conduct," the company said.

As the pictures went viral, social media users condemned the act and flooded the Internet with their reactions. A user said, "I just did a paper on modern day slavery, this is definitely a prime example." Another wrote, "To be fair, this could've been the misjudgement of one division in efforts to spread awareness about combating Covid-19. Quite frankly distasteful and inexcusable, but it wasn't company wide." "Wtf?? so there's not even a single person who's educated enough to just take that sanitiser and hang it on the wall instead and stop them from taking pictures? whoever came up with this stupid idea should be punished. I'm so confused??" asked one user.

A user remarked, "Person who came up with this idea needs to use the sanitiser to clean their rusty backwards mind."

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
The Government has appealed to employers to pay workers their normal wages if staff have to self-isolate, or become ill from coronavirus.

Finance minister Paschal Donohoe said the Government is working on a national response to a national public health crisis and is joining with employers groups and unions in calling on all employers whose staff need to go into a period of isolation to continue to pay them as normal.

Mr Donohoe said the Government recognises that, for some employers, this may well be a challenge, as not all will be able to cover full pay.

He said the appeal was following the Governments decision earlier this week to cover sick pay for workers, at a potential cost of 2.4bn.

The Government has agreed measures to support business, including loans. In a statement, it said it recognises that some employers will face severe business and cashflow pressures in the period ahead.

A number of liquidity measures to assist affected businesses have also been announced by the Government, and the Government will continue to work with stakeholders, including businesses, to mitigate the adverse economic impact in the period ahead, said Mr Donohoe.

The minister was also asked about the thousands of Irish horseracing fans who travelled to the Cheltenham Festival in Britain, and whether they will be tested for the virus on their return.

He said authorities were keeping everything under review, but added: This is a decision that will be made by the public health officials now over the course of the coming days.

The public health experts who are involved in this havent advised us that this is necessary. What we want to do is ensure that what we are doing now is very comprehensive, but also proportionate.

Business minister Heather Humphreys said there was no need for panic buying and the information she had, as of last Thursday, was that there were sufficient supplies of foods for communities.

Mr Donohoe said he expected the virus to impact on many sectors in the economy. He also confirmed that he has spoken with chief financial authorities about concerns ahead.

I was in contact with the chairman of the Revenue Commissioners yesterday, as I was in contact with the governor of the Central Bank, and the chief executive of the NTMA. We are keeping many different things under review at the moment. I am particularly aware that smaller companies could well be facing great challenges in the coming days and weeks.

Any closures of schools or facilities will be explained clearly to parents and families, but there are no plans for such closures, he said yesterday afternoon.

He also warned against bulk buying and how this could impact on communities, but nonetheless said it was up to retailers to communicate with shoppers.

We believe that our supply chains are resilient, he said.
American forces have started pulling out of two bases in Afghanistan, a US official said Tuesday, the day peace talks between Kabul and the Taliban were due to start despite widespread violence and a political crisis.

The United States is keen to end its longest-ever conflict, and under the terms of a deal signed in Doha last month has said all foreign forces will quit Afghanistan within 14 months  provided the Taliban stick to their security commitments.

Under the accord, the US is initially supposed to cut its troop presence from about 12,000 currently to 8,600 by mid-July, and close five of its roughly 20 bases across the country.

Troops have started leaving one base in Lashkar Gah, the capital of Helmand province in the south, and another base in Herat in the west, a US official told AFP on the condition of anonymity.

Even with the drawdown, US forces retain all the military means and authorities to accomplish our objectives, Colonel Sonny Leggett, spokesman for US Forces-Afghanistan, said Monday, referring to American counterterrorism operations and support for Afghan forces.

Helmand, which along with neighbouring Kandahar province is considered a Taliban stronghold, is where US and British forces fought some of the bloodiest campaigns of the 18-year war.

Omar Zwak, spokesman for Helmands governor, told AFP that 20 to 30 foreigners had left Lashkar Gah since the weekend.

The initial drawdown comes as the Taliban, which see themselves as having achieved victory over America, test the Pentagons resolve to protect local partners by conducting dozens of low-level attacks against Afghan forces. The US has only responded to a few of these attacks.

In the past 24 hours, the insurgents carried out attacks in 32 out of 34 of the countrys provinces, killing seven people including two civilians, interior ministry spokesman Nasrat Rahimi told AFP.

In a separate incident, Afghan forces arrested two people and seized a truck carrying 10 tonnes (tons) of explosive material after it crossed the Pakistan border into eastern Nangarhar province, officials said.

 Kabul chaos 

Under the terms of the withdrawal deal, the Islamist extremist Taliban are supposed to tackle jihadists such as the Islamic State group and Al-Qaeda, as well as hold talks with the Afghan government that were due to start Tuesday.

But Kabul is in disarray and appears unable to present a unified front to negotiate with the Taliban.

On Monday, President Ashraf Ghani was inaugurated for a second term following an election that was marred by fraud allegations while his rival, former chief executive Abdullah Abdullah, also declared himself winner and swore himself in during a parallel ceremony.

Washington has denounced Abdullahs self-inauguration, urging unity in Kabul ahead of negotiations with the Taliban.

Prioritising an inclusive government and unified Afghanistan is paramount for the future of the country and particularly for the cause of peace, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Monday.

Peace talks were supposed to start Tuesday but have been thrown into limbo by a dispute over the release of Taliban prisoners  something the insurgents have demanded as a prerequisite ahead of negotiations, but which Ghani has so far refused to do.

A prisoner swap is a major component of the US-Taliban deal.

Ghani was expected later Tuesday to announce a decree on the issue and reveal details of the negotiating team, but no information was forthcoming by 10:00 pm (1330 GMT) local time.

A member of the Talibans leadership council  the Quetta Shura  told AFP the insurgents had delivered a list of the 5,000 captives they wanted freed to the Afghan government.

But he accused Kabul of acting in bad faith, alleging that the government (planned) to release only those prisoners who are elderly, very ill, or those whose sentences have expired.

The Talibans political spokesman Suhail Shaheen tweeted Tuesday that any prisoners handed over to us will be accepted (only) after verification by our delegation.

They should be the people whose names are in the list, Shaheen wrote.

SOURCE: AFP
NEW DELHI: Union Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday (March 11, 2020) said that recent riots in Delhi were a planned conspiracy and warned that no one guilty of playing a role in the communal violence will be spared. The Home Minister said, The spread of riots on such a big scale in such a short time is not possible without a conspiracy. We have registered a case of conspiracy to probe this angle.

Amit Shah also paid tribute to the victims of Delhi violence, which erupted in parts of the national capital city recently. "I pay my tribute to all those who lost their lives in riots in Delhi and extend my condolences to their grieving families," Home Minister Shah said in the Lok Sabha at the outset of his reply to the debate on Delhi violence.

I regret that 52 Indians lost their lives in the Delhi riots. I wont categorise the victims as Hindus or Muslims, the Home Minister added. The Home Minister further stated that three people have been arrested for financing the violence in Northeast Delhi, which claimed the lives of at least 52 people and left more than 200 others injured.

Replying to the debate in Lok Sabha on Delhi violence, Union Home Minister said that no incident of rioting took place in the national capital after February 25.

"I would like to place on record that after February 25 no incident of rioting took place. There have been attempts to politicise these riots. We said that we are ready to hold a discussion regarding the violence after Holi because it is a festival which has a history of having violent incidents on that day," Shah said amid disruptions in the House.

"These violent incidents which have spread so much...the police also need some time to investigate it to the core. They need time to find the reasons behind it," he added.

Shah also praised Delhi Police for not allowing the riots to spread to the other areas. "Questions have been asked about what the Delhi Police was doing. Police were on the ground then, police will also probe and submit a report in the coming days. I would like to praise the Delhi Police for not allowing the riots to spread to other areas," said Shah.

"We have to acknowledge that Delhi Police contained the rioting within 36 hours," he added.

Giving details of the action taken by the Delhi Police, Shah said From 27 February till today, around 700 FIRs have been registered and over 1,100 persons identified for their role in Delhi riots.

A Total 2,647 people have been detained or arrested for violence in Delhi. 152 weapons seized and 49 cases lodged under the Arms Act. We are analysing the CCTV footage using face identification software, Shah said, adding it does not discriminate on basis of religion or clothes.

We have credible evidence suggesting that more than 300 rioters from the bordering areas of Uttar Pradesh came to create mayhem in Delhi, Shah told the MPs in Lok Sabha.

''National Security Advisor Ajit Doval visited riot-affected areas on my request to raise the morale of the Delhi police,'' Shah said while replying to his criticism over his absence in the aftermath of the riots in Delhi.

''US President Donald Trump's program was pre-scheduled, it was in my constituency, my visit there was also pre-scheduled. The next day, when the US President visited Delhi, I wasn't present at any event. The whole time I was sitting with police officials. I only requested NSA to visit the area" Shah said.

Earlier, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Meenakshi Lekhi said that the recent incidents of violence in the North-East Delhi were in the making for months.

Lekhi also criticised the Congress party, stating that "some people have the history of setting things ablaze."

At least 52 were people killed and more than 200 sustained injuries in the violence.
COVID-19 Therapeutics Accelerator will coordinate R&D efforts and remove barriers to drug development and scale-up to address the epidemic

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Wellcome, and Mastercard have committed up to $125 million in seed funding to speed-up the response to the COVID-19 epidemic by identifying, assessing, developing, and scaling-up treatments. The partners are committed to equitable access, including making products available and affordable in low-resource settings.

The COVID-19 Therapeutics Accelerator will play a catalytic role by accelerating and evaluating new and repurposed drugs and biologics to treat patients with COVID-19 in the immediate term, and other viral pathogens in the longer-term. Currently there are no broad-spectrum antivirals or immunotherapies available for the fight against emerging pathogens, and none approved for use on COVID-19.

The Gates Foundation and Welcome are each contributing up to $50 million, and the Mastercard Impact Fund has committed up to $25 million to catalyze the initial work of the accelerator. The Gates Foundations funding is part of its $100 million commitment to the COVID-19 response announced last month.

Mark Suzman, chief executive officer of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation said, Viruses like COVID-19 spread rapidly, but the development of vaccines and treatments to stop them moves slowly. If we want to make the world safe from outbreaks like COVID-19, particularly for those most vulnerable, then we need to find a way to make research and development move faster. That requires governments, private enterprise, and philanthropic organizations to act quickly to fund R&D.

The COVID-19 Therapeutics Accelerator will work with the World Health Organization, government and private sector funders and organizations, as well as the global regulatory and policy-setting institutions. The Accelerator will have an end-to-end focus, from drug pipeline development through manufacturing and scale-up.

By sharing research, coordinating investments, and pooling resources, these efforts can help to accelerate research. This kind of collaboration was a key lesson from the 2014 Ebola outbreak. By providing fast and flexible funding at key stages of the development process, the Accelerator will de-risk the pathway for new drugs and biologics for COVID-19 and future epidemic threats, ensuring access in lower-resource countries.

The COVID-19 Therapeutics Accelerator will operate jointly as an initiative of the funders, drawing on expertise from inside and outside their organizations. The Accelerator will pursue several aspects of the development cycle to streamline the pathway from candidate product to clinical assessment, use, and manufacturing. To identify candidate compounds, the Accelerator will take a three-pronged approach: testing approved drugs for activity against COVID-19, screening libraries of thousands of compounds with confirmed safety data and considering new investigational compounds and monoclonal antibodies. Drugs or monoclonal antibodies that pass initial screening would then be developed by an industry partner.

The biotech and pharmaceutical industries will be critical partners, bringing their compound libraries and clinical data to the collaboration and lending commercialization and other expertise that will be required to scale up successful drugs and monoclonal antibodies. In parallel to the development of the COVID-19 drug pipeline, the Accelerator will work with regulators to align criteria and develop manufacturing capacity with industry. An accelerated pathway to bringing effective treatments to patients is around one year for products that have current regulatory approval or candidates with existing clinical data. The timeline would be longer for compounds further upstream in the pipeline that have limited existing clinical data.

Dr. Jeremy Farrar, director of Wellcome said, This virus is an unprecedented global threat, and one for which we must propel international partnerships to develop treatments, rapid diagnostics, and vaccines. Science is moving at a phenomenal pace against COVID-19, but to get ahead of this epidemic we need greater investment and to ensure research co-ordination. The Therapeutics Accelerator will allow us to do this for potential treatments with support for research, development, assessment, and manufacturing. COVID-19 is an extremely challenging virus, but weve proved that through collaborating across borders we can tackle emerging infectious diseases. We must strive to strengthen efforts in the face of COVID-19, and in doing so, continue to make sure advances are accessible and affordable to all. Investing now, at scale, at risk and as a collective global effort is vital if we are to change the course of this epidemic. We welcome others to join us in this effort.

Mike Froman, vice chairman of Mastercard said, Were proud to join this crucial effort to combat COVID-19 in furtherance of our commitment to inclusive growth. This global challenge not only represents a risk to the health and safety of populations all over the world, but also poses a potential disruption to the economic vitality of millions of people, businesses, and organizations worldwide. Our experience with financial inclusion shows us the importance of building a network of parties who bring not only their capital, but complementary assets and skill sets to the table, and we welcome other partners concerned about inclusive growth to join this effort.

While antiviral drugs are approved to lessen the severity of seasonal flu and treat HIV, among other viral diseases, none have demonstrated efficacy against the current epidemic. One reason for the lack of effective treatments is that products may not have an immediate market, which can slow or prevent their research and commercial development. The COVID-19 Therapeutics Accelerator is designed to help by bringing together resources and expertise to lower the financial and technical risk for academia, biotech, and pharmaceutical companies, while ensuring that these products are accessible and affordable to people in low-resource settings. The expertise of pharmaceutical companies will be critical in identifying, researching, and commercializing successful drugs.
As of Tuesday afternoon, there were 22 reported cases of coronavirus in the Washington region, eight of them in Virginia. One of the states eight patients  a U.S. Marine who lives at Marine Corps Base Quantico  is a Fairfax County resident, although school officials say no information has surfaced to suggest he came into contact with students or staffers.
State Duma MP Valentina Tereshkova suggested not to "wise up" and not "to make up some artificial designs", but simply to remove from the Russian constitution restrictions on the number of presidential terms, and, thereby, to reset the counter of Vladimir Putin's cadences, leaving him in to post for life. The State Duma endorsed the proposal, while Putin didn't dispute it. Now the ball is on the pitch of Russia's Constitutional Court, while Russians are also supposed to have their say at a referendum.

Such a plan existed and was discussed long before the plunge of oil prices and signs of crisis in the Russian economy. Many experts have said such a scenario is likely. Therefore, it is now advisable to speak of the process acceleration and legitimization of this plan through a decision of the State Duma of the Russian Federation and submitting this initiative to the Constitutional Court, which, obviously, will endorse it before it is put to a referendum.

From the very start, Putin said he was against endless presidential terms and counter reset. But he has also said things will go the way people decide  he will "accept" the will of the people. That is, they will persuade him to stay and he will agree.

All this fits the philosophy (as evidenced by the coverage on Russian TV) of Putin being the only guarantor of Russia's stability and future amid the "perfect storm" in the world economy.

The "Successor" plan has been rejected and is no longer relevant

The Russian political machine is shaped in such a way that there's autocracy and sole emperor, and this emperor is Putin. And alternatives  even the idea that there may be another president besides Putin in the near future  are not considered at all. Therefore, the "Successor" plan has been rejected and is no longer relevant.

The Russian system went on to recreate Vladislav Surkov's concept of "Putin's long state" or "long Putinism"  Surkov has stepped down, while his concept lives on.

However, Putin's system does not consider the possibility of social unrest in Russia. After all, there is a punitive machine that is supported and funded by his Administration. Therefore, the bet is made on preventing any major disturbances that could be able to break the system. All opposition has been put into a certain framework, no independent influential media outlets are left in Russia, while provinces are tightly controlled by security forces. All potential protest elements are on check and under surveillance. That is why Putin is unlikely to be afraid of unrest or protests in Russia today.

However, there is really a problem of Putin's ratings falling, and there's also a quiet "armchair" protest where Russians can "vote with their feet", that is, not come to polling stations . Therefore, in order to eliminate any rumors and anxiety of bureaucrats, they decided to accelerate the scenario of the official establishment of autocracy in Russia. This won't allow various groups to "rock the boat" during the transit of power, because the transit itself will not be allowed as such.

Will today's Russia be different from Russia, where Putin will officially rule forever? Russia is constantly changing: Russias of 2000s, 2012, or 2020 are different countries. And Putin's regime is also changing at every stage: from Putin allowing another person to become president, while fully controlling the situation, and allowing at least elements of pluralism in the media, to the complete tightening of the grip and a massive purge. Putinism is increasingly becoming an authoritarian-totalitarian regime, with minimal elite competition remaining, and there's also an undeniable authority and an autocrat who is above all possible rival groups, being an undisputed arbiter in all showdowns. The final shaping of the "long Putinism" model is now underway.

Power for life will untie Putin's hands even further, while his government will further tighten its grip on citizens

Of course, power for life will untie Putin's hands even further, while his government will further tighten its grip on citizens. The question is, how strong this grip will remain and whether there are any week spots in it that will eventually come loose when the Kremlin is out of resources for shifting public focus from negative news and when the vertical realizes that the main constraint on their money flows is Putin himself. I don't rule out such a scenario either. And this is when a "palace revolution" or controlled revolutionary events will be possible. But before anything of this kind could happen, much more "black swans" should fly over Russia ...

Vitaliy Kulyk is a political expert, director of the Center for Civil Society Studies
Jean Todt has revealed that he consulted with Chase Carey before agreeing the secret settlement with Ferrari over the legality of the Italian team's 2019 engine.

The seven non-Ferrari affiliated teams are threatening to sue over the controversy.

"It looks like Ferrari cheated with its engine in 2019," former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone told Auto Bild.

"In that case, they would have to be disqualified and the prize money should be redistributed among the other teams."

On Tuesday, Red Bull's Dr Helmut Marko said the seven teams had imposed a "deadline" of 11 March for the FIA to respond to their letter demanding answers.

FIA president Jean Todt, the former Ferrari boss and father of Charles Leclerc's manager Nicolas Todt, responded in writing before the deadline.

"The president informed and consulted with several other key FIA officials as well as the Formula 1 CEO with the objective of building a consensus on how best to address the case," he wrote.

F1 CEO Carey also responded to the teams in a short letter, insisting that Liberty Media played "no part" in the settlement.

Explaining the seven teams' anger, Renault boss Cyril Abiteboul said: "We are not against Ferrari.

"What we want is to fully understand the nuances of how the sport in which we operate works," he told Canal Plus.

"We also want to know exactly what it is from a technical point of view, simply to make sure that we do not do the same thing and which regulation led to this agreement.

"We want to know what is in the agreement," the Frenchman added. "What are the terms and conditions? We would all feel much more comfortable once this story has been investigated."

(GMM)
This is a difficult decision for the city, but one made in the best interest of public health, as data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicate that seniors are at greatest risk for developing severe symptoms and serious complications due to COVID-19, City Manager Ghida Neukirch stated in a news release.
The repercussions of COVID-19 on the global manufacturing supply chain are expected to worsen over the coming months. Market intelligence experts at Infiniti Research predict the peak of the impact of coronavirus to occur mid-March. This would consequently prompt companies to temporarily curb assembly and manufacturing in the US and Europe. Over the past decade, several global companies had resorted to practices such as lean manufacturing, offshoring, and outsourcing in an effort to bring down their supply chain costs. Such cost-cutting measures indicate that when there is a supply-chain disruption, manufacturing will stop quickly because of a lack of parts. Furthermore, as the number of departures from Chinese ports shows a steep decline (by at least 20%), we should brace for a major effect on manufacturing worldwide.

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.
on Wednesday took up a discussion on the recent violence in parts of Delhi, with leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury describing it as a defeat of humanity and hitting out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Soon after the suspension of seven members from the House was revoked, took up the discussion on the "recent law and order situation in some parts of Delhi."



Initiating the discussion, leader in Chowdhury said while some claimed Hindus won, the others said Muslims won in the violence.

"The fact is that humanity was defeated," he said. He wondered how violence continued for three days despite the fact that Delhi Police is one of the best equipped in the country. "The Home Minister (Amit Shah) will have to explain," he said.

Hitting out at the prime minister, he said, Nero fiddled while Rome burned. He claimed that when Delhi was witnessing violence, Modi was hosting US President Donald Trump in Ahmedabad.


ANN ARBOR, MI -- U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell is hosting a telephone town hall for residents to ask questions and learn more about the coronavirus outbreak.

Residents can sign up online to receive a phone call to join the event from 5 to 6 p.m. Thursday, March 12.

Bump, dont shake: Lawmakers from Michigan push elbow bump to prevent coronavirus spread

Dingell, D-Dearborn, will brief the public with health experts on updates and answer questions about coronavirus, including the governments response and how individuals can keep themselves safe from infection of COVID-19, the illness associated with the novel coronavirus.

Two cases were confirmed in Michigan late Tuesday night, March 10, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said. One patient is being treated by the University of Michigan Health System and is in stable condition.

The coronarvirus outbreak was declared a pandemic on Wednesday.

PREVENTION TIPS

Much like how you would try to prevent the flu, you want to stay away from people who are sick and practice good hygiene, says the CDC.

The latter means thoroughly washing your hands for at least 20 seconds, especially after using the bathroom and before eating. Avoid touching your mouth or face unless your hands are clean.

Use household cleaners to disinfect commonly touched objects and surfaces. Use disinfectant wipes to clean your hands or surfaces such as shopping-cart handles when out in public.

Some people are going the extra step and using smartphone sanitizers as a precaution, but a disinfecting wipe used lightly on the outside will likely work fine, too.

MORE FROM THE ANN ARBOR NEWS:

University of Michigan removes Martin Philbert as provost amid sexual misconduct allegations

Ann Arbor taking coronavirus emergency very seriously, city admin says

Garbage truck gets stuck under railroad bridge in Ann Arbor
Curfews on trucks are stopping tissues, food and other supplies from getting onto shop shelves, causing problems for retailers facing coronavirus-fuelled panic buying of products like toilet roll, pasta and hand sanitiser.

The restrictions imposed by hundreds of separate local councils on when trucks can use certain roads is causing shop owners to struggle to get products from well-stocked distribution centres into stores, Australian Retailers Association executive director Russell Zimmerman warned on Wednesday.

The Retailers Association says truck curfews are hindering the restocking of shelves after panic-buying. Credit:Nic Walker

"Local governments impose curfews in certain areas. Under normal circumstances that's not an issue, trucks have exhaust brakes and do make a noise," Mr Zimmerman said.

But he said the current situation of customers buying excessive amounts of products to stock up amid fears of shortages and quarantines was leaving shelves empty, which is causing more panic buying.
Currency traders watch monitors at the foreign exchange dealing room of the KEB Hana Bank headquarters in Seoul, South Korea. AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon

A rally for European stocks yesterday was thrown into a dramatic reverse, as US markets at first surged and then fell back before moving higher as president Donald Trump unveiled measures to boost the American economy.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Index fell 1.3pc, wiping out gains of as much as 4.1pc.

That turnaround was the biggest intraday reversal on record for the benchmark, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

Gains in miners, banks and technology companies were offset by losses in utilities, travel and telecoms shares.

US stocks swung wildly as investors speculated on the timing and size of a stimulus promised by Mr Trump to combat the coronavirus's economic impact. The S&P 500 surged as much as 3.5pc then fell, only to turn higher after Mr Trump said his administration will provide assistance to cruise lines and airlines.

Europe is struggling to find a unified response to the coronavirus as Italy announced a nationwide lockdown.

Several European equity benchmarks, including the Stoxx 600, fell into a bear market on Monday as an oil price war added to jitters about the spreading virus.

"We continue to be very cautious towards equities," said Emiel van den Heiligenberg, head of asset allocation at Legal & General Investment Management. "Equity markets are moving fast, but at these levels we still think the market is too sanguine about the spread of the virus and the economic impact."

President Trump's plan to announce "substantial" economic measures to combat the fallout from the coronavirus initially supported equities but the White House has yet to provide details.

The Stoxx 600 Oil & Gas Index erased a gain of as much as 8.7pc to trade down 0.2pc after crude oil prices fell back from their peaks.

A report that Germany's banking watchdogs are debating relief for lenders briefly supported the rally, though the advance faltered as US markets dropped.

Bloomberg
DALLAS, March 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Neiman Marcus Group (NMG) LTD LLC (the "Company") announces today a number of strategic decisions to deliver accelerated profitable and sustainable growth with actions focused on growing its luxury customer base and driving full-price selling. These decisions are the next step in the Company's journey to become the preeminent luxury customer platform by delighting customers with differentiated products, services, and experiences.

In August 2018, the Company launched its transformation growth initiatives, which are centered on three pillars to evolve the customer experience: deepening customer relationships, building a seamless experience both online and in stores, and creating magic for customers.

Today, the Company is announcing actions that include:

Strengthening the omni-channel customer journey; growing customer lifetime value

Focusing on full-price selling by streamlining Last Call

Reinvesting in its supply chain by initiating the sale process of two Texas distribution centers

"We are making purposeful decisions as we continue to transform NMG into a business that drives accelerated profitable and sustainable growth. Today is a significant milestone for NMG as the company evolves to better serve our customers, brand partners, investors, and associates," said Geoffroy van Raemdonck, CEO, Neiman Marcus Group. "The customer is at the center of everything we do and that focus is the reason why NMG continues to perform on plan. We are building a solid luxury customer base and taking deliberate steps today to align Neiman Marcus' in-store and online teams, revisiting how we deploy our resources by investing in our supply chain, and streamlining Last Call."

Strengthening the omni-channel customer journey; growing customer lifetime value

Neiman Marcus is elevating the delivery of the customer experience by bolstering support and providing new capabilities to sales associates  enhancing the unique bond they have with customers and facilitating a seamless shopping experience in store and online. To ensure flawless execution of delivery regardless of channel, David Goubert will expand his role as Chief Retail Officer. This evolution of the retail organization is centered on:

Becoming more customer-centric by bringing in-store and online teams together under one leader with dedicated teams focused on the omni customer experience.

Shifting the role of our selling associates to trusted client advisors by providing them new state-of-the-art digital clienteling tools and creating new roles at the store and regional level around key elements of the customer journey that transcend a single product transaction. Whether through dining experiences, client services, hospitality, or wardrobing customer lifestyle moments, each touch point in the customer journey is another opportunity to deepen and personalize customer relationships and position Neiman Marcus as the ultimate luxury destination.

As part of this transformation the Company will separate from approximately 250 non-selling associates across all stores. In addition, multiple new roles will be created to prioritize the focus on team and client development.

"We are operating from a place of strength with a loyal luxury customer base, dedicated retail experts, a solid store footprint, and a growing online presence," said Goubert. "Bringing our stores and online teams together and equipping them with the best leadership, tools, and support positions us to deliver on our commitment to building long-term, deep customer relationships."

Focusing on full-price selling by streamlining Last Call

As part of the Company's focus on full-price selling and efforts to continue to invest resources for the purpose of extending leadership in the luxury segment, the Company expects to close the majority of its Last Call stores by first quarter of its Fiscal Year 2021. Select Last Call stores will remain open to serve as a selling channel for Neiman Marcus residual inventory. In taking this action, the Company will focus on serving core high-value luxury customers and free up resources to invest in Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman. As part of this action, the Company expects to eliminate approximately 500 roles in the Last Call organization over the next eight months. Some affected associates will be placed in other roles. Others will be eligible for severance, outplacement services, as well as have an opportunity to apply for other open positions within NMG.

Reinvesting in its supply chain by initiating the sale process of two Texas distribution centers

As part of continuous efforts to strengthen its supply chain and deliver on customer expectations of speed, NMG has initiated a sale process for its distribution centers in Longview, TX, and Las Colinas, TX. The anticipated reinvestment in the company's supply chain will ensure the Company remains on the cutting edge of product distribution. This is in addition to investments already made to the Company's West Coast Distribution Center resulting in an on average four to five-day speed-to-market improvement.

"The decisions we're making today to transform the business are purposeful and will ensure NMG's future success," said van Raemdonck. "We have a loyal customer base, solid store footprint, and a strong online presence. We will continue to manage the business for continued growth and success."

About Neiman Marcus Group

Neiman Marcus Group is a luxury, multibranded, omnichannel fashion retailer conducting integrated store and online operations under the Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus Last Call, and Horchow brand names. For more information, visit http://www.neimanmarcusgroup.com.

Forward Looking Statements

Neiman Marcus Group has included statements in this press release that constitute "forwardlooking statements." As a general matter, forwardlooking statements are those focused on future or anticipated events or trends, expectations and beliefs including, among other things, the Company's expectations with respect to the actions described herein. Such statements are intended to be identified by using words such as "believe," "expect," "intend," "estimate," "anticipate," "will," "project," "plan" and similar expressions in connection with any discussion of future operating or financial performance. Any forwardlooking statements are and will be based upon the Company's thencurrent expectations, estimates and assumptions regarding future events and are applicable only as of the dates of such statements. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on such forwardlooking statements. Such forwardlooking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially from those projected in this press release for numerous reasons, including factors outside the Company's control. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forwardlooking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

SOURCE The Neiman Marcus Group, Inc.

Related Links

http://neiman.gcs-web.com


India surged back to tie the second position with China in KPMG's 2020 global technology industry innovation survey which includes responses from more than 800 global leaders in the technology industry.

With the potential innovation headwinds China is now facing and US policies encouraging more tech professionals to return to or remain in India, the future bodes well for Indian innovation.

"This is bolstered further by the urbanisation and younger demographic trends that are moving in the right direction, along with the increase in venture capital that India has seen in the last two years," said the survey findings released on Wednesday.

Satya Easwaran, Head of Markets Enablement and Technology, Media and Telecom at KPMG in India, said India's climb to the second position in the survey rankings lends credence to how the country is committed towards setting up strong innovation ecosystems.

"Bengaluru's entry in the top 10 rankings is another sign that the city is doing well in the areas of modern infrastructure, attracting skilled talent and investment," he said.

"With the country seeing tremendous evolution across various spheres, the coming years will be crucial to overcoming current hurdles which exist. Overcoming these hurdles will be imperative for India to gradually and slowly move towards becoming one of the world's leading economy in innovation," added Easwaran.

KPMG's study shows which cities, in addition to presumed global leader Silicon Valley/San Francisco, will likely be leading technology innovation hubs over the next four years.

Singapore, seventh last year, leaped to the top of this year's global rankings. Singapore offers an advanced IT infrastructure, strong government support, IP protection laws and a deep pool of talent. London moved up one notch to second.

Tel Aviv, 15th last year, rocketed to third place. Bengaluru ranked 9th, jumping from 18th a year ago.

Technology leaders regard the United States as the most promising market for developing disruptive technologies, according to the online survey conducted from December 2019 to January 2020

The findings show that the United States increased its lead over China (28 per cent versus 13 per cent) this year compared to last year (23 per cent vs 17 per cent).

Only 37 per cent of respondents, compared to 58 percent last year, said it is likely the innovation centre of the world will move from Silicon Valley in the next four years.

One possible explanation: the US stance to keep more proprietary knowledge and intellectual property within the United States will make it even harder for a city outside to overtake Silicon Valley.

The top two reasons the 37 per cent believed Silicon Valley will lose its top position are: the innovation and entrepreneurial infrastructure of other cities will match or exceed Silicon Valley, and the rise of gig economy and virtual collaboration tools enable innovation anywhere.

The cost of doing business, cost of living and congestion ranked last.

.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Technavio has been monitoring the shea butter market and it is poised to grow by USD 1.14 bn during 2019-2023, 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.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200310005692/en/

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Shea Butter Market 2019-2023 (Graphic: Business Wire)

The market is fragmented, and the degree of fragmentation will accelerate during the forecast period. 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.

Demand for cocoa butter alternatives has been instrumental in driving the growth of the market. Request latest free sample report of 2020-2024

Shea Butter Market 2019-2023: Segmentation

Shea Butter Market is segmented as below:

Application

Food

Personal Care

Pharmaceuticals

Geographic segmentation

Americas

APAC

EMEA

To learn more about the global trends impacting the future of market research, download latest free sample of 2020-2024: https://www.technavio.com/talk-to-us?report=IRTNTR30357

Shea Butter Market 2019-2023: Scope

Technavio presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources. Our shea butter market report covers the following areas:

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This study identifies new product launches as one of the prime reasons driving the shea butter market growth during the next few years.

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We provide a detailed analysis of around 25 vendors operating in the shea butter market, including some of the vendors such as Bunge Loders Croklaan, Ghana Nuts, Shea Radiance, Sundial Brands and The Savannah Fruits Company. Backed with competitive intelligence and benchmarking, our research reports on the shea butter market are designed to provide entry support, customer profile and M&As as well as go-to-market strategy support.

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Shea Butter Market 2019-2023: Key Highlights

CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2019-2023

Detailed information on factors that will assist shea butter market growth during the next five years

Estimation of the shea butter market size and its contribution to the parent market

Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior

The growth of the shea butter market

Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors

Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of shea butter market vendors

Table of Content

PART 01: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

PART 02: SCOPE OF THE REPORT

2.1 Preface

2.2 Preface

2.3 Currency conversion rates for US$

PART 03: MARKET LANDSCAPE

Market ecosystem

Market characteristics

Market segmentation analysis

PART 04: MARKET SIZING

Market definition

Market sizing 2018

Market size and forecast 2018-2023

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 APPLICATION

Market segmentation by application

Comparison by application

Food Market size and forecast 2018-2023

Personal care Market size and forecast 2018-2023

Pharmaceuticals Market size and forecast 2018-2023

Market opportunity by application

PART 07: CUSTOMER LANDSCAPE

PART 08: GEOGRAPHIC LANDSCAPE

Geographic segmentation

Geographic comparison

EMEA Market size and forecast 2018-2023

Americas Market size and forecast 2018-2023

APAC Market size and forecast 2018-2023

Key leading countries

Market opportunity

PART 09: DRIVERS AND CHALLENGES

Market drivers

Market challenges

PART 10: MARKET TRENDS

Growing demand for cocoa butter alternatives

Rise in demand for fair trade certified shea butter

Increase in strategic acquisitions

PART 11: VENDOR LANDSCAPE

Overview

Landscape disruption

PART 12: VENDOR ANALYSIS

Vendors covered

Vendor classification

Market positioning of vendors

Bunge Loders Croklaan

Ghana Nuts

Shea Radiance

Sundial Brands

The Savannah Fruits Company

PART 13: APPENDIX

Research methodology

List of abbreviations

About Us

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The latest strain of coronavirus, Covid-19, that originated in the Hubei province in China, is a healthcare threat warranting introspection and deliberations across countries. Over the last two months, China has recorded over 2500 deaths and nearly 76288 new cases. It wouldnt be surprising if the numbers are indeed much higher, given that data transparency has been a persistent issue.

Coronavirus cases have been detected in at least 26 countries. Although the worldwide numbers are small as compared to China, we must ask ourselves: If the situation snowballs into a global epidemic, are we equipped to deal with it? More specifically, can India combat coronavirus?

Addressing the issue

Right from small pox (fortunately eradicated), rabies, marburg virus, ebola virus to HIV, hantavirus, rotavirus, influenza and dengue, viral outbreaks are not a new phenomenon. Coronavirus belongs to a family of deadly viruses that have made an appearance from time to time in human history. Incidentally, the name is derived from the crown-like appearance around the virus when seen through a transmission electron microscope (TEM).

Did you know that the first coronavirus discovered in 1960 could cause common cold? We have seen the later strains, such as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) in 2002 and the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in 2012, become deadlier. Studies show that the latest strain, COVID-19, actually has a mortality rate of two-three percent, much lower than earlier strains, such as the ebola zaire strain with 90 percent mortality.

Lessons from China

There are important lessons to be learnt from Chinas handling of the latest outbreak. Dr Li Wenliang, the Chinese doctor, who was the first to detect these cases and alert the media in December 2019, was called to the local police station and reprimanded for spreading rumours online. In fact, he was forced to sign a statement acknowledging his misdemeanor before he was allowed to leave the police station.

Weeks later, Chinas Supreme Court vindicated him and other rumour mongers by saying, It might have been a fortunate thing... if the public had listened to this rumour at the time. Its truly unfortunate that the doctor had to suffer for speaking the truth, before ultimately succumbing to the disease. In the age of ever-growing medical misinformation, especially on social media, COVID-19 has been an eye-opener in terms of the havoc that it can cause, endangering precious lives.

Its also important to acknowledge Chinas prompt efforts in building two hospitals with 2300 beds each and converting auditoriums, gymnasiums, and stadiums into supplementary healthcare centres to deal with the epidemic. While researchers across the globe have been working ceaselessly to develop a timely vaccine to help prevent such a viral outbreak in the future, its equally important to look for effective antiviral treatment modalities. Dr Benjamin Cowling, a professor of epidemiology at the University of Hong Kong, for instance, is working on a promising project that looks at utilising plasma to make antibodies to fight the coronavirus.

Challenges galore

For populated countries like India, the fear of transmission of infections is substantially higher. Overcrowded places, like trains, buses, markets, places of worship, etc, pose massive challenges when it comes to curbing the spread of a viral outbreak.

The sad reality is that even hospitals that cater to immuno-suppressed patients, like those battling cancer, are not adequately equipped to prevent the spread of such infections. Lack of funding, non-availability of masks, protective suits and goggles are major concerns.

For proper diagnosis of Covid-19, the swab has to be refrigerated immediately and then sent to the laboratory. This can be truly challenging, given Indias healthcare infrastructure. In fact, there have been delays in testing even in the US because the samples have to go to the central laboratory.

As per currently available data, the main driver of transmission for the coronavirus is through symptomatic cases. However, if the virus starts to spread from patients who are asymptomatic, then we are in true danger.

Given that the virus cannot be cultivated in the laboratory, its hard to gauge its impact on the national economy and public health. However, experts are unanimous in their opinion that if the supply of raw materials from China to the global pharmaceutical industry is not restored soon, the world will face a huge crisis. The cost of generic drugs will rise steeply, particularly affecting patients from developing countries like India.

As Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), rightly said, the viral outbreak could have more powerful consequences than any terrorist action. Are we ready to face it?

(The writer is clinical director and senior consultant oncoplastic breast surgery, Cytecare Cancer Hospitals, Bengaluru)
The new DC04 connectors support the increasing demand for higher video resolutions and faster refresh rates.

Heilind Electronics, a leading global distributor of electronic components, has added JAE Electronics DC04 Series HDMI connectors to its growing inventory of audio and visual interconnects.

As one of the first connectors approved for HDMI 2.1 use, the DC04 series meets the increasing demand for higher video resolutions and faster refresh rates. The new connectors, which are Category 3, Type A-compatible, ensure stable, high-speed transmission in applications like televisions, monitors, projectors, digital cameras and video boards.

One of the key advantages of the DC04 Series connector is the reduction of crosstalk; this is achieved through optimizing the position of each channels terminals. The product also uses molded-in contacts to improve impedance characteristics, as well as an original shell tip design to enhance the strength when connected to cables.

Visit Heilind's website for more information about JAE DC04 Series HDMI 2.1 connectors.

About Heilind Electronics

Heilind Electronics, Inc. (http://www.heilind.com) is one of the world's leading distributors of connectors, relays, sensors, switches, thermal management and circuit protection products, terminal blocks, wire and cable, wiring accessories and insulation and identification products. Founded in 1974, Heilind has locations throughout the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Germany, Singapore, Hong Kong and China. Follow Heilind on Facebook at facebook.com/Heilind and on Twitter at twitter.com/Heilind.

About JAE Electronics

JAE Electronics is a global leader in the design and manufacture of connectors, user interface devices and aviation electronics. It is recognized for its innovative technologies in developing fine pitch board-to-board, board-to-cable, FPC, memory card, input/output, circular, automotive/transportation, energy storage and waterproof connectors.


Virginia teachers are one step closer to being able to bargain with their local school boards over wages and working conditions, after Sundays passage of what advocates have called a historic bill.

The measure is now on the desk of Gov. Ralph Northam, a Democrat, who has until April 6 to act. He hasnt taken a public position on the legislation, which would allow limited public-sector collective bargaining.

The passage of this bill is literally a game changer, said Virginia Education Association President Jim Livingston.

People need to think of this in very, very simple termsthat collective bargaining is a common good for the kids of the commonwealth, he said on a Tuesday press call with reporters.

Virginia teachers havent had collective bargaining rights since 1977, when the state Supreme Court struck down that right. Before then, about a dozen local associationsincluding in Fairfax, Arlington, Alexandria, Virginia Beach, and Charlottesvillewere engaged in collective bargaining. In 1993, Virginia cemented into code an official ban on public-sector employees collectively bargaining through their local unions.

Teachers also dont have collective bargaining rights in Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, or Texas, according to the National Council on Teachers Qualitys database on collective bargaining laws , which was last updated in January 2019. In nine other states, collective bargaining is permissible, but districts are not obligated to engage in bargaining, the NCTQs database says.

That could now be the case in Virginia. While the state House had passed a broader measure that would have mandated that state and local governments bargain with unions, the state Senate passed a more narrow bill saying that bargaining will be allowed only if a local school board authorizes it with an ordinance or resolution.

Already, some localitiesincluding the Fairfax County School Boardhave publicly expressed support for collective bargaining. Others have argued that implementing bargaining would be expensive and could lead to higher taxes.

Livingston said the VEA will be putting forward a tremendous amount of work to urge every local school board to pass resolutions authorizing collective bargaining.

Theres not a teacher out there who isnt going to work their tail off to make sure that school boards understand the benefit to kids of contract negotiations, Livingston said. Were not naive. Getting educators a seat at the negotiating table will be easier in some places than others, but were not going to be bashful.

A Seat at the Table

On the press call, local union presidents said getting collective bargaining rights would allow them to advocate to improve learning conditions for students.

Were the experts in the field, and we didnt have a seat at the table, said Kimberly Adams, the president of the Fairfax Education Association. Its like coming up with a new way to do heart surgery without asking a doctor first how to do the procedure.

Adams said her unions priorities include smaller class sizes, smaller counselor-to-student ratios, more health professionals in schools, reductions in mandatory testing, and higher wages for hourly employees, like custodians and bus drivers. (Unions have long held that collective bargaining raises wages, but a 2018 study funded by Stanford University found that requiring school districts to bargain with teachers unions did not actually improve teacher pay .)

Meanwhile, Kelly Walker, the president of the Virginia Beach Education Association, said it would be tough to get the local school board on board with authorizing collective bargaining, but her union is determined to help officials understand what this means.

Since the Great Recession, she said, teachers workloads have increased, and its harder to provide students with the support that they need.

For two years now, the Virginia Education Association has organized a rally outside the state capitol to call for higher teacher salaries and more school funding. Teachers have taken personal days to attendin some cases, shutting down schools due to the high volume of absences. (Strikes by public employees would remain illegal with this new legislation.)

I think the passage of this bill is a byproduct of that very visible and very vocal advocacy, Livingston said. I expect that were going to see that advocacy continue because we are clearly not where we need to be in meeting the needs of students and meeting the needs of public schools.

The national unions also cheered the bills passage. In statements, National Education Association President Lily Eskelsen Garcia said she looked forward to working with VEA and school boards across the commonwealth to improve learning conditions in every single Virginia classroom, while American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten said the legislations passage gets us closer to ensuring all public sector workers in the country have a voice.

Image: Inett Dabney, center right, the principal of Martin Luther King, Jr., Middle School, and other Virginia educators and supporters chant for more school funding during the Virginia Education Associations annual rally in Richmond, Va., on Jan. 27. Daniel Sangjib Min/Richmond Times-Dispatch via AP
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said on late March 9 that the total number of coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 cases in the country has risen to 24, asking for all school closure in Manila capital city in four days from March 10.

Duterte told a news conference that the four new COVID-19 cases were reported in Metro Manila and the outlying Bulacan province. However, he said there is no epidemic yet in the country despite the increasing number of cases.

Earlier the same day, the President signed a proclamation declaring a state of public health emergency due to the COVID-19 threat.

With this decision, authorities would take drastic preventive measures, quarantine infected and suspected cases and sterilise resident areas.

Meanwhile, also on March 9, Malaysia announced 18 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of cases to 117.

According to the health ministry, one patient of the newly identified had travelled to Iran between February 20-27. He was confirmed to be infected with COVID-19 on March 8.

Among Malaysia's second wave of cases beginning late February, only six cases had travel history, while the vast majority were infected locally with close contacts, the ministry said.

The ministry also announced a collaboration with the country's private medical sector to provide home testing for COVID-19, without having to visit a healthcare facility. It also repeated its advice that Malaysians avoid travelling to territories or cities affected./.VNA
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are free to return to Canada after completing their final duties as senior royals earlier this week.

While it's not clear when they'll next be back in the UK, the couple may have a family visit soon with Princess Anne is set to tour Canada in May.

In her role as Commodore-in-Chief of the Canadian navy, the Princess Royal, 69, will Visit HMCS Regina at sea, boarding in Vancouver and travelling to nearby Esquimalt on May 1.

Esquimalt Harbour is at the southern tip of Vancouver Island, where Harry and Meghan are residing in a rented 10 million mansion with their son Archie.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex may soon have a visitor as Princess Anne is set to tour Canada in May. The three are pictured together in March last year at a ceremony to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Prince Charles' investiture as the Prince of Wales

Princess Anne will then attend a Canadian Fleet Pacific Dinner and the 75th Anniversary of End of Battle of Atlantic Parade.

She and her nephew will have plenty to catch up on, with Princess Anne reportedly set to take over Prince Harry's military role in the Royal Marines, the Sunday Times reports.

The hard-working Princess Royal, 69, who lives at Gatcombe Park in Gloucestershire, is already associated with 65 military organisations and currently Chief Commandant for Women in the Royal Navy.

She will reportedly become the first ever female Captain General of the Royal Marines, which has been relinquished by Prince Harry.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussexes resigned as senior royals in January in a move to become financially independent from the Queen. They are pictured taking part in their final duties in the UK

The Duke and Duchess of Sussexes resigned as senior royals in January in a move to become financially independent.

This week they returned to the UK to take part in their final royal engagements before returning to Canada.

The couple attended the Mountbatten Festival of Music and reunited with Prince William and Kate Middleton during the Commonwealth Day celebrations.

Last month, a source claimed the parents-of-one are 'genuinely happy' living in Canada because 'it's a world away' from their old life in the UK.

Speaking to US Weekly, the source said: 'Harry and Meghan escaped the chaos back home and are genuinely happy. They're really enjoying Canada; it's a completely different world from what they're used to in London.'

The couple lived in Kensington Palace in London when Meghan first came to the UK, before moving to Frogmore Cottage in Windsor after they married.

Since relocating to Vancouver Island the couple have the 'freedom to do whatever they want' because the locals 'don't bother them', the source added.

Meghan also lived in Canada while filming legal drama Suits. In her now-defunct lifestyle blog The Tig, the former actress, who was born in Los Angeles, praised Toronto.

She wrote: 'The people are so kind, I love the food scene and I really love exploring little nooks around the city with my two dogs.

'I love how much green space there is tucked away. You wouldn't expect that, and it reminds me of LA in a lot of ways.'
Hungary will continue to block NATO-Ukraine Council meetings until the minority rights are restored in Ukraine.

Hungary will continue to block NATO-Ukraine Council meetings until minority rights are restored in Ukraine, Peter Szijjarto, the foreign minister, told lawmakers on Tuesday, Hungary Today reports.

Szijjarto called absurd portrayal of Hungarys stance on the global stage as a Russia-friendly policy.

Szijjarto said that the community of 150,000 ethnic Hungarians is more important than any geopolitical matter.

He also noted that his Ukrainian counterpart, Dmytro Kuleba, who had been asked by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky to work towards restoring bilateral relations, would visit Budapest on March 26.

Were ready and well also make sensible suggestions, Szijjarto added.

He said that in terms of Hungarys bilateral ties with neighboring countries, its relations with Ukraine were the most challenging. Whereas Hungary supports Ukraine on matters of territorial integrity and sovereignty, it must keep in mind the many violations in legislation of Hungarian national minority rights, the Hungarian minister noted.

As reported, Hungary blocks the participation of Ukraine at the level of defense and foreign ministers at the NATO format level because of the language provision of the Ukrainian law on education.

On September 28, 2017, the Law of Ukraine "On Education" entered into force, which determines that the language of instruction in educational establishments is the state language. The educational program may provide for teaching one or several disciplines in two or more languages.

Some countries, in particular Hungary, criticized the law because it allegedly restricts the rights of national minorities. On January 16, 2020, the Verkhovna Rada adopted the Law of On Complete General Secondary Education which regulates, in particular, the provision of secondary education in the languages of national minorities.

Afterward, the Foreign Ministry of Ukraine expressed hope that Hungary would unblock Ukraine-NATO high-level dialogue.

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Powered by Hydrogen, Hyundais Trucks Aim to Conquer the Swiss Alps

FRANKFURT/ZURICHHyundais hydrogen-powered 18-tonne trucks are set to hit the roads in Switzerland as the South Korean automaker looks to establish a case for its zero-emissions technology in a low carbon world.

Invented nearly two centuries ago, hydrogen fuel cells first lost out to combustion engines and now trail electric batteries in the push for greener transport because they are expensive, hydrogen is hard to store, and most of it is extracted from natural gas in a process that produces carbon emissions.

But when it comes to trucks, Hyundai and its partners argue that electric batteries wont always do the job because the bigger the payload, the biggerand heavierthe battery, and thats a problem for crawling up Swiss mountains.

And with more than half of Switzerlands energy coming from hydropower, the country has the potential to extract green hydrogen from water with electrolysis, an energy-intensive but carbon-free process if powered by renewable electricity.

It is not enough to produce a truck. You have to take care of the entire ecosystem, find like-minded partners, and show this all makes sense for the customer, said Mark Freymueller, chief executive of Hyundai Hydrogen Mobility (HHM).

It is possible to do this with a holistic approach and the right mindset.

To be sure, Switzerlands green hydrogen is far more expensive than diesel now, but Hyundai hopes that as governments clamp down on carbon emissions and the cost of producing the clean fuel drops, the numbers could start to add up.

McKinsey & Co. said in a study in January that the cost of hydrogen made with renewable energy could drop to 2 euros per kilogram by 2030, from 3 to 4.5 euros nowachieving cost parity with diesel for heavy vehicles, once the relative efficiency of the power sources and the lifetime costs of a truck are factored in.

While hydrogen has long been vaunted as a potential alternative to fossil fuels, expectations that fuel cells will have a role to play as the world decarbonizes has helped push hydrogen-linked stocks to their highest in over a decade.

Norway Next?

For now, Hyundai is relying on government tax breaks for fuel cell trucks and its own subsidies to help make them economically viable for its partners: the end-users, filling stations, and green hydrogen suppliers.

Hyundais H2 Xcient trucks have a 190-kilowatt fuel cell and seven high-pressure tanks holding nearly 35 kilograms of hydrogen, giving them a range of more than 400 kilometersfar further than heavy goods vehicles powered by electric batteries on the market now.

Hyundai declined to say how much its subsidies will amount to. Globally, the company is betting heavily on hydrogen, with plans to spend $6.7 billion on hydrogen technology by 2030 and to increase its annual capacity for fuel cells to 700,000.

It is starting out with 50 H2 Xcient trucks but plans to put 1,600 on Swiss roads by 2025 and is looking to launch similar projects in at least two more European countries this year, out of Austria, Germany, the Netherlands or Norway.

In Switzerland, HHM, the leasing unit set up by Hyundai and Swiss startup H2 energy, has partnered with Hydrospider, a joint venture of H2 Energy with industrial gas maker Linde and Swiss power utility Alpiq.

Hydrospider is about to start producing hydrogen for 40 to 50 Hyundai trucks at a 2 megawatt (MW) electrolysis plant at Goesgen. Stefan Linder, a member of Hydrospiders board of directors, said as more H2 trucks go into service it would have to boost capacity to 70 MW to 100 MW by 20232025.

In preparation for launching hydrogen trucks in Norway this year, H2 Energy has formed a partnership with Nel ASA, Greenstat, and Akershus Energi to supply green hydrogen. Hydropower provides Norway with nearly all its electricity.

Subsidized Model

The Swiss H2 Mobility Associationa group of nearly 20 firmswill be the first users, including the countrys biggest retailer Migros, dairy producer Emmi, grocery chain Coop, and filling station operators SOCAR and Tamoil.

End-users such as Migros have committed to leasing Hyundais trucks on pay-per-use contracts that give them mileage, warranty, services, insurance, and access to sufficient hydrogen. HHM says its contracts will ensure Hydrospider and filling stations get sensible margins from the start.

We are not fooling ourselves. It is initially a subsidized business model, said HHMs Freymueller, adding that this would be the case for the introduction of any new technology.

Over 10 years, an assumed investment of 1.3 million Swiss francs ($1.3 million) in a pump could be recovered if 15 trucks visited it exclusively for their annual fueling needs, HHM estimates. Supermarket chain Migros is taking three Xcients and plans to measure their performance against a Mercedes-Benz truck powered by an electric battery, three biogas-fuelled trucks from Italys Ivecoand diesel.

At the moment, Migros says it pays 50 million Swiss francs a year in heavy vehicle environmental duties (LSVA) levied on all vehicles over 3.5 tonnes using any roads in Switzerland. The Hyundai trucks will initially be exempt from LSVA.

Rainer Deutschmann, director of corporate transportation logistics at Migros, which operates 900 trucks shuttling between 22 production sites and nearly 900 shops, told Reuters he expected several technologies to play a role in decarbonization.

We will see on each journey what the energy consumption will be depending on the geography and topology, he said.

With an electric battery, instead of carrying merchandise around you are carrying around the battery. You have a 200 km range, which you can use for a city, but you cannot use it for the Alps.  H2 you can use for everything.

By Vera Eckert & John Revill
In a major breakthrough, the suspensions of the seven Congress MPs from Lok Sabha is likely to be revoked. An official announcement in this regard is expected to made by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla at 2:30pm. The seven suspended Congress MPs are - Gaurav Gogoi, TN Prathapan, Dean Kuriakose, R Unnithan, Manickam Tagore, Benny Behnan and Gurjeet Singh Aujla.

The seven MPs were suspended last week for the remaining period of the Budget Session for gross misconduct and utter disregard for House rules after they snatched papers from the Speaker Birlas table.

Commenting on the development, Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury had said, ''what kind of dictatorship is this. Suspension attempt to weaken us; the govt fears discussion on Delhi riots in Parliament. We saw revenge politics in House, orders were given by chairperson to suspend 7 Congress MPs for this session."

Sources said that the decision to revoke the suspension of the 7 MPs was taken during an all-party meeting being chaired by Lok Sabha Speaker. The meeting was called by Speaker Birla to hold discussions over the smooth functioning of the House.

It is to be noted that both Houses of Parliament were adjourned on Wednesday too amid uproar by Congress and other opposition MPs over the suspension of Congress MPs, Delhi violence and ban on two Kerala TV channels last week.

The proceedings of Lok Sabha were adjourned till 1:30 pm on Wednesday as Congress MPs demanded to know when the expulsion of seven party MPs will be revoked. The Rajya Sabha was adjourned till 2pm due to ruckus over several issues.
Zara Tindall wears Illesteva sunglasses to Cheltenham Festival. (Getty Images)

Yahoo Lifestyle is committed to finding you the best products at the best prices. We may receive a share from purchases made via links on this page. Pricing and availability are subject to change.

Arriving for day one of the prestigious Cheltenham Festival, Zara Tindall - daughter of Princess Anne - looked as stylish and well put together as ever.

Donning a military-style blue coat with statement buttons, and a statement feathered headband, the 39-year-old royal wore her blonde bob short and sleek and kept her make-up light.

Zaras mother Princess Anne was also in attendance on Tuesday, looking equally striking in a statement orange coat and tweed accessories.

Zara Tindall with her mother Princess Anne at Cheltenham Festival. (Getty Images)

However, it was Zaras on-trend tortoiseshell sunglasses that caught our eye.

This isnt the first time the royal has sported this particular pair of sunnies from mid-weight designer eyewear brand, Illesteva.

The Duchess of Sussex is also a fan, wearing the same pair in black while watching her good friend Serena Williams play in the 2018 Wimbledon women's final alongside the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton.

The glasses, available on Net-A-Porter, are handmade in Italy and are a signature design of the New York-based brand.

Buy it: Illesteva Leonard round-frame acetate sunglasses | 140 from Net-A-Porter

The style also comes is also available as a black acetate pair, stamped with contrasting silver 'I' motifs and presented in a cool leather hard case.

If youre really looking to ramp it up royal-style, then you can also shop Zaras Rebecca Taylor Navy Blurry Heart Dress from Trilogy here.

Buy it: Rebecca Taylor Navy Blurry Heart Dress | 385 from Trilogy

If not, then our trusty Marks & Spencer do a rather similar version for 45.

Buy it: Heart Print V Neck Belted Midi Dress | 45 from Marks & Spencer
The people have had their say, haven't they? Primary results are still too close to call in Washington state and North Dakota, but the evidence is unmistakable: The overwhelming majority of Democratic primary voters in this country want Joe Biden, who now has a 99 percent chance of winning the nomination, to face President Trump in November. On Tuesday in Michigan, a state Bernie Sanders won in what ended up being the greatest upset of the 2016 primary campaign, they chose the former vice president in every single county, from Detroit and Grand Rapids and Flint to the Keweenaw Peninsula, one of the remotest parts of the continental United States.

What does this tell us? Given a choice between the Vermont senator politely suggesting that the world's wealthiest country just might be able to afford things like single-payer health care and university education that does not require 18-year-olds to become indentured servants, and the former vice president who routinely fantasizes about attacking the current president and threatens random voters with violence and reminisces about his long and non-existent career as a civil rights activist, voters prefer the latter without hesitation.

They want to spend hundreds of hours of their lives figuring out the difference between the Bronze Choice Care Plus Advantage Plan and the Silver Choice Care Advantage Plus Plan and the Gold Advantage Choice Care Plan (Plus). They want young people who are required to earn meaningless pieces of paper in order to secure gainful employment to take out what are effectively mortgages at the age of 18. They want the lifelong stooge of the credit card companies, who incidentally awarded his son a five-year consulting agreement.

They want our foreign policy in the hands of a man who was pushing for an invasion of Iraq all the way back in 1998, who has lied so many times about his record on this issue that he probably doesn't even remember what he believed or when, much less care. They want to entrust civil rights to the fabulist who makes up stories almost daily about sit-ins and arrests in South Africa, the architect of criminal justice polices so brutal and counterproductive that even Donald freaking Trump reversed them on the advice of Mrs. Kanye West. They are totally okay with entrusting their electoral fortunes to a candidate whose behavior on the campaign trail and in debates suggests serious cognitive decline.

Story continues

This is not a caricature. It is not an unfair decontextualized summary. It is a straightforward description of what it means to reject Sanders by enormous margins in state after state, in the Northeast, the South, and now the Midwest. The question is why it has happened. Are Democratic voters really terrified of "socialism," i.e., being slightly to the right of all of Europe's far-right political parties on economic issues? Are they driven mad with terror at the thought of letting the bad orange man be in charge of their stock portfolios for another four years? Are they salivating at the prospect of having the skateboard guy who allegedly fed his wife poop once responsible for gun policy?

I for one have a hard time believing this, but all the evidence suggests that it must be true. If instead of the one-time frontrunner in this race, Sanders had been a second-tier candidate who struggled to get two minutes of speaking time in televised debates, it would be easier to reject the theory that voters simply preferred Biden.

But the conclusion is unavoidable. It is also unbelievable, a joke with no punch line.

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ISLAMABAD  Being a dissident  or even raising a critical voice  in Pakistan is growing more dangerous, regardless of whether the target is political parties, the judiciary or the powerful military and security agencies.

Intimidation of dissidents has increased on multiple fronts, rights workers and journalists say. A number of rights activists have been arrested and charged with sedition. Protesters have been jailed, including a member of parliament. Newspapers and journalists have faced violence, harassment and warnings from security officials not to cover anything that might show the military in a harsh light.

One journalist, Aziz Memon, disappeared this month on the way to work at a small newspaper in southern Sindh province. He was found dead just hours later. A few months earlier, Memon tweeted that he had been threatened by local police and a prominent political party over his reporting.

Rights groups say the civilian government of Prime Minister Imran Khan, elected in 2018, has failed to protect freedom of speech, imposing legislation to restrict online media, even dictating who can appear on television talk shows, while at the same time ceding authority for curbing freedom of speech to the powerful military.

In recent years, the space for dissent in Pakistan has shrunk to the point of suffocation, warned Omar Warriach, Amnesty Internationals Deputy South Asia director.

The Pakistani military has demonstrated that it can still call the shots without directly being in power.  Taking part in a peaceful protest can now lead to arrest and charges of sedition. Many activists have been forced into exile, fearing for their safety. What was once a lively media landscape has narrowed to exclude critical voices, he said.

Pakistans government has denied allegations its stifling free speech. It said it was simply cutting spending when it recently pulled all its advertising from two prominent media houses, Dawn and Jang, that frequently criticize the militarys involvement in civilian affairs.

Government advertising is one of the leading sources of revenue for newspapers and media houses in Pakistan and is often used to squeeze critical media.

In a March 2 statement, Steven Butler, the Asia program director for the Committee to Protect Journalists, said the government was using advertising as a cudgel to punish and reward news outlets based on their editorial stance in this way.

Kathy Gannon is an Associated Press writer.
The Fair Work Commission has ordered the University of Technology, Sydney (UTS) to reinstate and backpay a dismissed business school lecturer as it criticised the higher education sector for being "obsessed" with top research rankings, reputation and attracting student money.

Lucy Zhao was fired from UTS in August last year for "unsatisfactory performance" after the university decided she was not publishing enough articles in prestigious academic journals given her experience.

The UTS Business School in Ultimo. Credit:Jessica Hromas

Dr Zhao, who worked at the university from 2005, said she had been "shocked and disappointed" when her supervisor - head of the finance department Professor David Michayluk - put her on a formal "performance improvement plan" in early 2018.

Professor Michayluk told the commission he ultimately decided to terminate Dr Zhao's employment because he did not "see any improvement on the quality of her research", despite her receiving support and counselling.
(Photo : www.pxhere.com)

Dubbed as the world's most powerful supercomputer, IBM Summit is helping experts to combat the COVID-19 global outbreak. The supercomputer is reportedly given tasks that are crucial when it comes to identifying what chemicals or substances can be used to cure or even prevent the virus.

Read More: Coronavirus Makes Apple Retract Statement That Disinfecting Wipes Are Now SAFE to Use

The COVID-19 Is a highly contagious virus that originated in China and so far, 115,000 people are confirmed to be a carrier of the virus. The fatality for this outbreak is also around 4,000, which encouraged the World Health Organization (WHO) and Google to issue an SOS alert.

Unreal Computing Prowess

Standard computers would usually perform tasks and give results after months, while on the other hand, the IBM Summit does everything and produces an output within one to two days. This speed increase is significant as it helps a lot of researchers and scientists to come up with a coronavirus cure.

As of the moment, researchers have easily identified 77 molecule compounds that will help with the search for the cure.

200 petaflops are IBM Summit's ultimate computing capability, which is super ahead when compared to regular computing machines.

Read More: Google My Business Tells Owners to Update Listings Due to COVID-19 Outbreak

To achieve such computing power, the team behind the computing beast equipped it with 4,608 server nodes. Each node has double IBM POWER9 CPU installed alongside several Nvidia Tensorcore V100 GPUs.

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) hosts the IBM supercomputer. This massive leap in terms of computer power would stay relevant in our modern-day society as it would be a great help in research, AI, and even energy.

IBM Summit's Fight Against the Coronavirus

Thousands of simulations are being run on the machine. To identify a compound that would help with the formulation of the virus' cure.

Coronavirus strain has been the ability to travel from one host to another easily, is all thanks to its protein. The scientists are seeking compounds that would help out bind the protein out of the virus to prevent spreading.

Although the results that are being made are promising, Jeremy Smith, a Molecular Biophysicist, tells the public to suppress their expectations and don't let it loose. According to him, the results that they got from the IBM summit aren't exactly sure that would produce a cure yet. Still, they are hopeful that it will be useful to establish theoretical frameworks that would help with the cure progress.

Ginni Rometty, IBM's head, said that they are being approached by several government entities to help with the outbreak. With the rapid infections happening around the world, an immediate cure is needed to prevent more spreading and even fatalities.

She said that health agencies are also convincing them to help manage the outcome of the COVID-19 outbreak with the help of the supercomputer. IBM Summit could handle these tasks without fail.

The Clinical Development System made by IBM has been offered to the government for free to reduce the funds needed to combat the outbreak.

The system would get data from devices that are connected on the internet, which makes it a lot easier to manage and organize. Non-profit-organizations may also use the Operational Risk Insight tool.

Read More: COVID-19 Infected Vietnamese Heiress Attends Paris Show: Pics Found on Instagram, But Not Anymore?

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
10 new Covid-19 cases confirmed in Ireland yesterday. 34 cases in total

There are now 50 cases on the island of Ireland - 34 here, 16 in the North

Department of Education says schools Read More: will not close

will not close Two members of staff at Read More: Ervia in Cork test positive; One memeber of staff Read More: at Apple in Cork tests postive

Ervia in Cork test positive; One memeber of staff at Apple in Cork tests postive Irish Cancer Society Read More: cancels all Daffodil Day street collections

cancels all Daffodil Day street collections Republic of Ireland's Euro 2020 play-off Read More: to be played behind closed doors

to be played behind closed doors Ryanair and Aer Lingus cancel flights to Italy

Trinity to deliver online lectures for the rest of the semester

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and EU leaders pledged to fund and research together to find a vaccine to beat coronavirus. Funding for equipment and facilities was also agreed by EU leaders to try to save lives and protect populations at the talks yesterday.

However EU leaders have not yet agreed on co-ordinated flight restrictions.

We agreed that our highest priorities as leaders must be protecting public health and human life, protecting the spread of the virus and working to mitigate its impact on our people, Mr Varadkar said after an online conference with EU leaders last night.

We agreed funding research in Europe to help develop new tests, new treatments, and a vaccine as rapidly as possible.

There have been 1,784 suspected cases tested in Ireland, to date  an increase of 1,387 tests in one week.

But 98% of people tested so far have tested negative for the virus, Tony Holohan, chief medical officer for the Department of Health, said.

Dr Tony Holohan

Dr Holohan said any measures to combat the virus which would have a social and economic impact, such as closing schools, will be deployed at an appropriate point in time when theyre likely to work.

He said these measures, if introduced, could be in force for some time.

His comments came after Trinity College Dublin announced it would stop lectures in a bid to contain the virus while Dublin City University will postpone its spring graduation, which was due to take place on March 21.

Apple also closed its doors after one confirmed Covid-19 case at the company.

Two members of staff at Ervia have also tested positive for the coronavirus.

Public transport is still operating as usual within the country, but Daffodil Day cancer charity street collections have been cancelled.

Omniplex Cinemas are introducing In-Cinema Seat Separation with every second seat empty as part of its strategy to combat the virus.

Although the Irish Association of Funeral Directors (IAFD) had suggested that any potential victims of Covid-19 be cremated or buried as soon as possible with funerals deferred, health officials said that this was not necessary.

There are now 50 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the island of Ireland. with 34 in the Republic.

A 400m package of supports for vulnerable but viable businesses impacted by Covid-19 have been announced by the government, including liquidity loans

Of the 10 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Ireland, one is a male healthcare worker in the south of the country. His case is associated with hospital transmission. One is a female healthcare worker in the east. She is possibly a hospital transmission case.

Three males in the south are associated with travel from an affected area. One male in the west is associated with close contact with a confirmed case. One female in the west is associated with close contact with a confirmed case. One female in the south is associated with close contact with a confirmed case. One male in the east is associated with travel from an affected area. And one female in the east is associated with travel from an affected area.

Mr Varadkar warned the economic impact of Covid-19 could be severe and long lasting. After speaking to other EU leaders about the potential economic impact, he said: We agreed that the necessary flexibilities would be made available. State aids, stability, and growth pact [funds], to protect the most exposed sectors, to protect SMEs and jobs.
Researchers of Sechenov University together with their colleagues from Australia used the microfluidics technology to develop a device able to isolate cancer cells from urine of patients with prostate cancer. The study showed high sensitivity and specificity of the new method in diagnosing prostate cancer. The results obtained were published in Cancers.

Prostate cancer is the second most common type of cancer among men: in 2018 about 1.27 million new cases were registered, almost 360,000 patients died. It's not easy to gain a significant decrease of mortality rate because there is no practical or accurate enough method of diagnosis able to detect the disease in its early stage.

Nowadays two methods are usually used to prove the diagnosis: the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test and the tissue biopsy - taking the tissue samples for analysis. Both of these methods have significant drawbacks. Blood test is not specific enough and can produce false-positive results since the PSA level rises not only in case of prostate cancer but also during other diseases of the prostate gland. Tissue biopsy is an invasive examination that can cause adverse side effects such as local bleeding and infections. Also, as previous studies have shown, the sensitivity of liquid blood biopsy (isolating cancer cells) is rather poor because of the low level of the cells in blood. So, scientists suggest an alternative that is a liquid urine biopsy: the prostate gland is closely connected with the urethra and cancer cells are washed out during urination.

As we have shown, while testing this technique we managed to collect 85 (6) % of the total number of prostate cancer cells as well as to isolate cells from the urine of 86% of patients with localized cancer in the early stage. Now we are trying to optimize the method to improve its efficacy, specificity and sensitivity while the technology itself is going through the patent process." Alexey Rzhevskiy, research associate in the Institute of Molecular Medicine, Sechenov University

To isolate cells from the liquid, researchers developed a microfluidic chip - a device made from polymer with a thin spiral channel, forked on one end, and three holes: one for urine intake and two for cell separation. The chip is so designed that cancer cells which are larger than others shift to the inner wall of the channel and leave it through one of the holes while smaller and lighter cells gather along the outer wall and come out through the other hole. This effect is caused by the joint action of several centrifugal forces.

Scientists labeled the collected cells with fluorescent antibodies - molecules able to glow while absorbing light of a certain wavelength. Researchers examined cancer cells with the antibodies under a fluorescence microscope and measured the intensity of the light emitted: if it exceeded the calculated threshold, scientists concluded that these cells were cancerous.

The authors tested the device using saline with the known number of cells (in pilot studies) and the samples of urine of healthy volunteers and patients with the prostate cancer. During the pilot experiments the chip isolated from 80 to 90% of cancer cells. Tests with the urine samples were rather successful too: they detected the disease in 12 out of 14 patients with cancer and confirmed the health of 11 out of 14 healthy volunteers.

The study was conducted by the scientific group under the leadership of Majid Ebrahimi Warkiani, associate professor in University of Technology Sydney, and Andrei Zvyagin, head of the Department of Biomedical Engineering, Sechenov University.
UKs Health Minister, Nadine Dorries, who fell ill on Friday, March 7, has tested positive for coronavirus.

Dorries has been self-isolating at home since receiving the diagnosis. She is the first Member of Parliament to be diagnosed with coronavirus, prompting concerns about the potential spread of the illness at Westminster and even at Downing Street where she attended a reception last week.

In a statement released by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), it is understood that the Conservative MP is recovering.

READ ALSO  Coronavirus Outbreak Has Affected Our Revenue: Buhari

The statement reads in part: I can confirm I have tested positive for coronavirus. As soon as I was informed, I took all the advised precautions and have been self-isolating at home. Public Health England has started detailed contact tracing and the department and my parliamentary office are closely following their advice. I would like to thank PHE and the wonderful NHS staff who have provided me with advice and support.
A Labour MP has been advised to self-isolate after meeting with Health Minister Nadine Dorries who has been diagnosed with coronavirus.

Rachel Maskell said she met with Ms Dorries last Thursday. The minister confirmed on Tuesday she had tested positive for Covid-19.

On Wednesday, Ms Maskell tweeted she had been advised by NHS111 to self-isolate but that she was asymptomatic.

"It is so important that we all follow all public health advice," she added.

Ms Maskell said that only her, Ms Dorries and members of the ministers staff were present at the meeting on Thursday.

The York Central MP said being told to self-isolate was frustrating but stressed the importance of following medical advice.

Im absolutely fine, obviously its frustrating because there are things I want to get on with.

Im just planning on making more phone calls, more working online. Im not going to be bored, put it that way.

Londoners wear Coronavirus masks - In pictures 1 /61 Londoners wear Coronavirus masks - In pictures A man wearing a protective mask travels on the underground tube Reuters A woman wearing a protective face mask Jeremy Selwyn A man and woman wearing protective face masks on a bus PA A man who appears to be homeless sleeping wearing a mask in Victoria Jeremy Selwyn A woman shopper wears a protective mask as she walks down an aisle in a supermarket in London AFP via Getty Images A man wearing a face mask waits to board an underground train on the Central Line at Bank station in London AP A woman with a plastic box over her head on the London Underground. PA A woman wearing a protective face mask walking down Oxford Street in London PA A woman wearing a mask walks by the Emirates Stadium Action Images via Reuters A man is seen wearing a protective face mask at Waterloo station Reuters A woman wears a surgical mask as she walks through Terminal 5 at Heathrow Airport Reuters A fan in the stands wears a mask during the Premier League match at Stamford Bridg PA A man wearing a protective face mask walking down Oxford Street PA Commuters with masks on during the Coronavirus outbreak Jeremy Selwyn A person wears a mask in a display of street style outside the BFC Show Space show in London PA Commuters with masks on during the Coronavirus outbreak Jeremy Selwyn Commuters with masks on during the Coronavirus outbreak Jeremy Selwyn Commuters with masks on during the Coronavirus outbreak Jeremy Selwyn A man who appears to be homeless sleeping wearing a mask in Victoria Jeremy Selwyn Commuters with masks on during the Coronavirus outbreak Jeremy Selwyn A commuter on the tube wearing a face mask Jeremy Selwyn A woman wears a mask while crossing London Bridge Getty Images People wear masks at Holborn underground Station Jeremy Selwyn A man wearing a face mask walks past an entrance sign for Bank underground train station AP The coronavirus outbreak will unlikely lead to a Tube ban PA People wear masks at Holborn underground Station Jeremy Selwyn People wear masks at Holborn underground Station Jeremy Selwyn A woman wearing a face mask on the London Underground. PA People wear masks at Holborn underground Station Jeremy Selwyn A pedestrian wears a face mask whilst walking along High Holborn PA A pedestrian wears a face mask whilst walking along High Holborn PA A man wears a mask as he takes a photograph in China Town AP A man in a hazmat suit and face mask cleans the Ritchie Street Health Centre, Islington PA A commuter at Euston wearing a mask Jeremy Selwyn A commuter at Euston wearing a mask Jeremy Selwyn A man arrives at Euston Underground wearing a mask Jeremy Selwyn A commuter arrives at St Pancras wearing a mask Jeremy Selwyn St Pancras Jeremy Selwyn A commuter arrives at St Pancras wearing a mask Jeremy Selwyn Jeremy Selwyn Staff in suits at St Thomas's Hospital today Jeremy Selwyn A commuter arrives at St Pancras wearing a mask Jeremy Selwyn A commuter arrives at St Pancras wearing a mask Jeremy Selwyn A man wears a face mask as he stands near an electronic arrivals board at Terminal 4 of London Heathrow Airport AFP via Getty Images A man wears a face mask as he walks along the Thames embankment AFP via Getty Images A woman wearing a protective face mask is seen on London Bridg Reuters

Meanwhile, a Conservative MP has confirmed that Ms Dorries has sent a message to the Tory WhatsApp group saying that a member of her staff is ill.

The MP who confirmed that the message had been sent said the parliamentary party is fairly relaxed and determined to carry on working.

Ms Dorries has said she has been self-isolating at hom after testing positive, and her parliamentary office has closed following advice from Public Health England.

It came after the number of cases in the UK rose to 382, and a sixth death was confirmed.

In a statement on Tuesday night, Ms Dorries said: As soon as I was informed I took all the advised precautions and have been self-isolating at home.

Public Health England has started detailed contact tracing and the department and my parliamentary office are closely following their advice.

I would like to thank PHE and the wonderful NHS staff who have provided me with advice and support.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said she first exhibited symptoms at some time on Thursday  the same day she attended a Downing Street event hosted by Boris Johnson to mark International Womens Day.
Lakewood Church closed its services this weekend to the public, instead opting to broadcast the events online in the wake of the public health emergency declaration in Houston, according to a Facebook post from the church.

Earlier today, TMZ reported the megachurch's services would go on despite the City of Houston's coronavirus emergency declaration.

Osteen's Lakewood Church can seat a congregation of 16,000 according to previous reports by the Houston Chronicle.

TMZ reported that sources close to Osteen say he planned to continue with Lakewood's three scheduled upcoming services  one Saturday night and two on Sunday.

However, the church posted an update late Thursday with details on the streaming of services.

Services will be broadcast on Facebook, YouTube, Roku, Apple TV, on the web and on Sirius XM channel 128. The services will be broadcast at the following times:

Saturday at 7:00 p.m.

Sunday at 8:30 a.m. & 11:00 a.m.

Sunday at 2:00 p.m. (Spanish Language Services)

Sunday at 7:00 p.m. (Young Adult Service)

HoustonChronicle.com: Houston Megachurch Pastor Kirbyjon Caldwell pleads guilty to fraud using phony bonds

The story stated that Lakewood staff is taking recommended precautions, such as sanitizing surfaces and bathrooms and leaving doors propped open so guests don't have to touch them.

However, church members and all potential attendees are reportedly being advised to stay home if they don't feel well, have traveled to areas affected by COVID-19 or been in contact with anyone who has. Chron.com has reached out to Lakewood Church for comment.

Danny Hermosillo is the Sr. Digital News Editor for Chron.com | Read him on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and our subscriber site, HoustonChronicle.com | Follow him on Twitter at @Dannyherm1| Email him at Danny.Hermosillo@chron.com
KOCHVILLE TWP, MI  With some Michigan universities closing classrooms and moving classes online amid the growing coronavirus pandemic, several mid-Michigan universities are operating as usual -- for now.

Saginaw Valley State University spokesperson J.J. Boehm, spokesman issued a statement to the media in response to the developing situation Wednesday, March 11, which said, in part:

"We had a conference call with the Saginaw County Public Health Department this morning, as we have for the past few days. They reiterated that our area remains at a low risk for the virus as of today. Classes and university operations are continuing as normal, while we also work to minimize the risk of exposure for our campus community.

We are expecting to receive updated guidance from the governors office later this afternoon. To avoid conflicting information or confusion, we are waiting on public comment until after that briefing. We will share more information and respond to media inquiries later today.

Boehm said SVSU officials have also been updating the campus community on this situation at svsu.edu/coronavirus/.

In the Flint area, University of Michigan-Flint and Kettering University are monitoring the situation as it unfolds.

Bill Barker, communications strategist with UM-Flints Office of University Communications & Marketing, said there are no changes.

I know that we take our recommendations from the regents ... local, state, and federal health officials, he said. If anything happens in Ann Arbor, were likely to follow suit.

A statement issued by Kettering University president Robert McMahan notes while there are no known cases in Genesee County, they formed a COVID response team in late January and have been meeting on a regular basis.

During that time, it has been closely monitoring the latest information on the novel coronavirus and taking proactive and prudent measures to ensure the health and safety of our community consistent with the guidance provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said McMahan. The University also has academic and business continuity plans that will be activated if needed.

The University is following the advice of Public Health authorities and at this time classes and events on campus continue, he added. Regular updates will be posted on the Universitys website and communicated internally to the campus.

Information will be regularly update online at kettering.edu/covid-19.

McMahan asked any student, faculty, or staff member who meets the CDC criteria for concern to self-isolate and avoid contact with others, except to get medical care.

For faculty and staff, if you are concerned about someone in the workplace who is ill and exhibiting flu-like symptoms or have concerns about safety in your workplace, please speak with your supervisor, he said. Employees in the workplace who are ill with flu-like symptoms should advise their supervisor, stay home, and seek appropriate medical advice.

Anyone who may feel ill is contact their health care provider or the Wellness Center at 810-762-9650, dont go to campus, work, public areas, or use public transportation, and tell them they have or suspect they may have coronavirus.

The Kettering COVID response team is also assessing upcoming upcoming events on campus for "impact on our community. Those planning on attending a large university event involving 100 or more people on or off campus in March or April is asked to notify the Office of the President by email at president@kettering.edu.

Visitors to campus are asked to respect our efforts to protect the health and well-being of our community and to not come if they are experiencing symptoms or have been in contact with someone who has either traveled to a CDC identified Level 2/Level 3 country or is ill, McMahan said.

Elsewhere in Michigan, Central Michigan University and Michigan Technological University officials announced on Wednesday they are suspending in-person classes and moving to online instruction because of coronavirus COVID 19. Both universities are on spring break now, and officials say theyre attempting to prevent returning students from bringing coronavirus onto campus. In addition, Michigan State University has cancelled in-person classes and moved to online classes, effective noon Wednesday.

Also on Wednesday, Bay City Public Schools Superintendent Stephen C. Bigelow halted the districts attendance incentives and urged any student or staff member who is ill to stay home.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Tuesday, March 10, announced Michigans first coronavirus cases and declared a state of emergency. The World Health Organization has declared the coronavirus crisis to be a global pandemic.

Were going to keep Michigan safe and were going to be prudent," Whitmer said, adding she intends to meet with officials Wednesday to determine what further measures to take. A related announcement is expected Wednesday afternoon, according to a press release from the governors office.

Michigan is the 38th state to have a confirmed case of coronavirus COVID-19. Nationwide, there have been nearly 1,000 reported cases and 31 deaths.

COVID-19 symptoms, which include fever, cough and shortness of breath, may appear within two to 14 days of exposure to the virus.

PREVENTION TIPS

Much like how you would try to prevent the flu, you want to stay away from people who are sick and practice good hygiene, says the CDC.

The latter means thoroughly washing your hands for at least 20 seconds, especially after using the bathroom and before eating. Avoid touching your mouth or face unless your hands are clean.

Use household cleaners to disinfect commonly touched objects and surfaces. Use disinfectant wipes to clean your hands or surfaces such as shopping-cart handles when out in public.

Some people are going the extra step and using smartphone sanitizers as a precaution, but a disinfecting wipe used lightly on the outside will likely work fine, too.

For the latest information, visit Michigan.gov/coronavirus or CDC.gov/coronavirus.

Find more coronavirus coverage from MLive here.

Related news:

Bay City St. Patricks Day Parade organizers meeting to discuss coronavirus threat

8 things to know about coronavirus now that its in Michigan

Michigan Joint Information Center activated to support states coronavirus response

Coronavirus Q&A, 15 things to know about COVID-19s spread

Amid coronavirus scare, Michigan basketball team taking precautions

Bay City Public Schools suspends perfect attendance incentive due to coronavirus in Michigan

Michigan State moving to online classes starting today because of potential coronavirus case

Michigan Tech, Central Michigan moving to online classes because of coronavirus
New Delhi: Holi called for a party for Bollywood stars such as Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Katrina Kaif and Varun Dhawan, who were spotted at filmmaker Aarti Shetty's Holi bash on Tuesday. Alia and Ranbir wore matching white outfits and arrived together. The much-in-love couple was deeply engrossed in a conversation and refrained from posing for the cameras. Katrina Kaif was also dressed in her festive best and smiles as the paps on duty spotted her.

Here are the pictures from the party.

Varun was spotted arriving at the party in the afternoon along with girlfriend Natasha Dalal.

(Images Courtesy: Yogen Shah)

Alia and Ranbir fell in love on the sets of their work-in-progress film 'Brahmastra'. The couple hasn't yet spoken openly about their relationship but is often spotted together on each other's family events and holidays. They are almost a fixture by each other's side now.

As of now, both Alia and Ranbir are busy completing 'Brahmastra' schedule. The Ayan Mukerji-directed film also stars Amitabh Bachchan, Dimple Kapadia, Nagarjuna and Mouni Roy. Apart from 'Brahmastra', Alia will be seen in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's 'Gangubai Kathiawadi' while Ranbir has 'Shamshera' in the pipeline.

Meanwhile, before dating Alia, Ranbir was in a relationship with Katrina for over six years. On the professional front, they worked together in 'Ajab Prem Ki Gajab Kahaani', 'Rajneeti' and 'Jagga Jasoos'
Burt served roughly 3 years in jail, he said, for domestic abuse and drug charges. Since being released in 2008, he has earned a degree from the College of Hair Design, plus his bachelors and masters degrees from the University of Northern Iowa.

He had a really good idea to serve his community to bring a mobile barbershop to underserved people in the city of Waterloo, children from low-income households, veterans with disabilities, or really anyone without access to a barber. Williams idea had a significant hurdle, and that was that Iowa law didnt allow mobile barbering. So the law needed to be changed, and today were making that change, Reynolds said. Those of us who work in the Capitol got to know William as hes been knocking on doors and hes been working on this issue for over a year now. Williams story is one of a young man who took his second chance to make a difference, both for himself and for his community.
Madhya Pradesh Congress leader Bala Bachchan on Wednesday said that the Kamal Nath government will prove the majority in Assembly and complete its five-year term.

"Congress is in a safe and strong position. Everybody is in touch with the Chief Minister, everything will be alright soon. We will prove majority on the floor of the Assembly and our government will continue till 2023," said Bachchan while speaking to reporters here.

Besides, Congress MLA Umang Singhar informed that the resignations of MLAs who are in Bengaluru have not been accepted yet and said, "All MLAs are in touch with us; their resignations have not yet been accepted.

Political uncertainty has gripped Congress-ruled Madhya Pradesh following the resignation of Jyotiraditya Scindia from the party.

Scindia's decision to leave Congress was followed by resignations from 22 party MLAs loyal to him.

Scindia, who was seen leaving from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Lok Kalyan Marg residence along with Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday, is likely to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

On Tuesday, Congress sent two of its leaders -- Sajjan Singh Verma and Govind Singh -- to Bengaluru in order to pacify some of the rebel MLAs who are lodged in a hotel there and who claimed to have resigned from the state Legislative Assembly.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Harvey Weinstein sought help from Michael Bloomberg, Jeff Bezos and more as allegations against him became public, newly unsealed court documents have revealed.

The documents, reviewed by The New York Times and unveiled on Monday, include emails and communications dating back to October 2017, when explosive reports about Weinstein were published in the paper and in The New Yorker.

According to the New York Times, Weinstein, worried that board members at the Weinstein Company were looking to oust him, sent last-ditch messages to other wealthy, powerful figures  including former 2020 presidential hopeful Bloomberg, Amazon founder Bezos, and Apple CEO Tim Cook.

My board is thinking of firing me, Weinstein wrote according to the newspaper.

All Im asking for is, let me take a leave of absence and get into heavy therapy and counselling whether it be in a facility or somewhere else, and allow me to resurrect myself with a second chance.

Weinstein was fired from the Weinstein company in October 2017 after reports of the allegations against him were made public.

On 24 February this year, he was convicted of a criminal sexual act and third-degree rape as a result of his New York City criminal trial.

He will be sentenced on 11 March and faces up to 29 years in prison.

The Independent has contacted Bloombergs, Amazons, and Apples representatives for comment.
New York, March 11 : Disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein was on Wednesday sentenced to 23 years in jail for rape and sexual assault.

The 67-year-old, who was in custody following his conviction last month, came to the court on a wheel-chair for the sentencing, the BBC reported.

Weinstein, one of Hollywood's most powerful figures, was convicted by the New York Supreme Court on February 25 for committing a criminal sex act in the first degree, and rape in the third degree.

The jury, comprising seven men and five women, came to the verdict after deliberating in the case for more than 26 hours over five days. They found Weinstein guilty of a criminal sex act in the first degree for forcing oral sex on former Project Runway production assistant Miriam Haley in 2006. On this count, he faced a minimum of five years and a maximum of 25 years jail term.

He was also convicted of raping a woman in a New York hotel in 2013 and faced a maximum of four years on this count.
Andrea, a pregnant asylum-seeker from Nicaragua, sits with her two children as they play outside their new home in Costa Rica.  UNHCR/Flavia Sanchez

Nearly two years after Nicaragua was plunged into a serious political and social crisis, more than 100,000 people have fled reported persecution and human rights abuses in the country, seeking asylum abroad.

Even after the initial surge of violence in April 2018 subsided, Nicaraguan students, human rights defenders, journalists and farmers continue to flee their country at an average rate of 4,000 people every month. With no resolution to the internal crisis in sight, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, expects these numbers to grow.

The first stop for most Nicaraguan refugees is neighboring Costa Rica, which hosts two-thirds of all Nicaraguan refugees and asylum seekers, or some 77,000 people. Just over 8,000 have fled to Panama and another 9,000 to Europe while Mexico is sheltering some 3,600 people. An additional 5,100 are hosted in other countries, comprising a total of 103,600 Nicaraguan refugees and asylum seekers worldwide to date.

Since October 2019, Costa Rica, with support from UNHCR, has streamlined refugee status determination procedures for common profiles of those known to be persecuted in Nicaragua which is reducing the time for people to be recognized as refugees, granting them protection.

Through an agreement with UNHCR, Costa Rica has also allowed access to the public health care system to 6,000 of the most vulnerable asylum seekers. These include people with chronic conditions or disabilities, those in need of surgery, torture survivors and people living in extreme poverty.

Under a Regional Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework to address the challenges of forced displacement in and from Central America, known as the MIRPS, UNHCR coordinates with government authorities and other UN agencies to monitor cross-border movements and respond to protection and humanitarian needs of those fleeing Nicaragua. This also includes the provision of health care, psychological support, shelter and food assistance.

For more information on this topic, please contact:
Many investors are still learning about the various metrics that can be useful when analysing a stock. This article is for those who would like to learn about Return On Equity (ROE). To keep the lesson grounded in practicality, we'll use ROE to better understand PunaMusta Media Oyj (HEL:PUMU).

Over the last twelve months PunaMusta Media Oyj has recorded a ROE of 4.8%. That means that for every 1 worth of shareholders' equity, it generated 0.05 in profit.

See our latest analysis for PunaMusta Media Oyj

How Do I Calculate ROE?

The formula for ROE is:

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

Or for PunaMusta Media Oyj:

4.8% = 2.3m  48m (Based on the trailing twelve months to December 2019.)

It's easy to understand the 'net profit' part of that equation, but 'shareholders' equity' requires further explanation. It is all earnings retained by the company, plus any capital paid in by shareholders. The easiest way to calculate shareholders' equity is to subtract the company's total liabilities from the total assets.

What Does Return On Equity Signify?

ROE looks at the amount a company earns relative to the money it has kept within the business. The 'return' is the profit over the last twelve months. That means that the higher the ROE, the more profitable the company is. So, all else being equal, a high ROE is better than a low one. That means ROE can be used to compare two businesses.

Does PunaMusta Media Oyj Have A Good ROE?

Arguably the easiest way to assess company's ROE is to compare it with the average in its industry. Importantly, this is far from a perfect measure, because companies differ significantly within the same industry classification. As shown in the graphic below, PunaMusta Media Oyj has a lower ROE than the average (11%) in the Media industry classification.

HLSE:PUMU Past Revenue and Net Income, March 10th 2020

That certainly isn't ideal. We'd prefer see an ROE above the industry average, but it might not matter if the company is undervalued. Nonetheless, it might be wise to check if insiders have been selling.

Story continues

How Does Debt Impact ROE?

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

PunaMusta Media Oyj's Debt And Its 4.8% ROE

Although PunaMusta Media Oyj does use debt, its debt to equity ratio of 0.74 is still low. Its ROE isn't particularly impressive, but the debt levels are quite modest, so the business probably has some real potential. Judicious use of debt to improve returns can certainly be a good thing, although it does elevate risk slightly and reduce future optionality.

But It's Just One Metric

Return on equity is one way we can compare the business quality of different companies. A company that can achieve a high return on equity without debt could be considered a high quality business. If two companies have the same ROE, then I would generally prefer the one with less debt.

But when a business is high quality, the market often bids it up to a price that reflects this. The rate at which profits are likely to grow, relative to the expectations of profit growth reflected in the current price, must be considered, too. So I think it may be worth checking this free report on analyst forecasts for the company.

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

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



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
New Delhi, March 11 : To combat the coronavirus outbreak, the Central government on Wednesday decided that all states should be advised to invoke the necessary provisions of the Epidemic Disease Act, 1897 to enforce all advisories.

According to an official statement, at a review meeting held by Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba, it was decided that all states/UTs should be advised by the Union Health Ministry to invoke provisions of Section 2 of Epidemic Disease Act so that all advisories being issued from time to time by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare/State/UTs are enforceable.

Section 2 of the 1897 Act gives the power to take special measures and prescribe regulations as to dangerous epidemic disease.

".. thinks that the ordinary provisions of the law for the time being in force are insufficient for the purpose, may take, or require or empower any person to take, such measures and, by public notice, prescribe such temporary regulations to be observed by the public or by any person or class of persons as 9 [it] shall deem necessary to prevent the outbreak of such disease or the spread thereof, and may determine in what manner and by whom any expenses incurred (including compensation if any) shall be defrayed," it reads.

It also gives the power for inspection of "persons travelling by railway or otherwise, and the segregation, in hospital, temporary accommodation or otherwise, of persons suspected by the inspecting officer of being infected with any such disease".

The Act says, "The Central Government may take measures and prescribe regulations for the inspection of any ship or vessel leaving or arriving at any port in 2 [the territories to which this Act extends] and for such detention thereof, or of any person intending to sail therein, or arriving thereby, as may be necessary.]".

The Cabinet Secretary also took a meeting with Secretaries of the Ministries concerned, and representatives from Army, and ITBP, here. Also, 83 passengers who arrived from Italy on Wednesday are quarantined at the Army Facility at Manesar.

A high level Group of Ministers (GoM), set up to review, monitor and evaluate the preparedness and measures taken regarding management of coronavirus disease (Covid-19), also held its meeting.

The meeting was attended by Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, Civil Aviation Minister, Hardeep S. Puri, and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, among others.

GoM undertook elaborate discussions on the various other precautionary measures which may be considered in the interest of the citizens of India.

It expressed satisfaction with the actions taken, preparedness and efforts put together by various ministries/departments and states/UTs to combat Covid-19.

The identification of additional quarantine facilities, development of isolation wards, training of health workers & doctors are also being undertaken. Regular handholding, monitoring, advisories, guidelines etc. is being done with the States/UTs.

As per the Travel Advisory, passengers with travel history to China, Hong Kong, South Korea, Japan, Italy, Thailand, Singapore, Iran, Malaysia, France, Spain and Germany should undergo self-imposed quarantine for a period of 14 days from the date of their arrival, and their employers should facilitate work from home for such employees during this period.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Thirty four years after it was formed with the aim of carving out a separate Bodoland state from Assam, all the four factions of National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) disbanded themselves this week.

The move follows the signing of a memorandum of settlement (MoS) by all the factions of the rebel outfit with the Centre in January and the handing over of arms by 1615 their cadres the same month.

One of the deadliest militant outfits in Assam and entire Northeast, the NDFB was formed on October 3, 1986 under the name of Bodo Security Force with the aim of launching an armed movement to form a separate state for Bodos  the largest tribe in the state.

The outfit was rechristened NDFB in December, 1994. It later broke into four different factions - headed by B Saoraigwra, Govinda Basumatary, Ranjan Daimary and Dhirendra Boro. All four factions signed the agreement with the Centre in January.

The three factions headed by Sairaigwra, Daimary and Boro organised a joint disbandment ceremony on Monday at the designated camp the factions at Sonai in Udalguri district.

The arms struggle has come to an end after the peace agreement. So, we resolve to dissolve ourselves, the NDFB organization, with a view to shun violence and to give peace a chance, said a statement issued by the three factions.

On Tuesday, NDFB (Progressive), the faction headed by Govinda Basumatary announced it was disbanding after a special general assembly at the Khumguri designated camp of the outfit at Serfanguri.

Since the organization has been able to resolve the Bodo peoples political, social, economic and cultural problem by signing MoS, the leadership doesnt feel the necessity of continuance of armed struggle which look odd and unbecoming in a democratic country like India, the outfit said in a statement.

The leadership by a unanimous resolution adopted in the special general assembly hereby declare the disband(ing) of the NDFB and further declare that the existence of the organization shall cease for good, it added.

NDFB becomes the second militant outfit in Assam and third in Northeast to disband itself after signing an accord with the Centre.

The Mizo National Army of Mizoram had ceased to exist after the signing of the Mizo Accord between the Centre and the Mizo National Front in 1986. The Bodo Liberation Tigers (BLT), which also fought for the Bodo cause, was disbanded after it signed a peace deal with New Delhi in 2002.

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[March 11, 2020] Flexera Releases 2020 CIO Priorities Report

ITASCA, Ill., March 11, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Flexera , the company that helps organizations maximize business value from their technology investments, today released their 2020 CIO Priorities Report . The report, based on a survey of 302 enterprise chief information officers (CIOs), examines how CIOs are driving change in their IT organizations as they embrace digital business.

The findings in the 2020 CIO Priorities Report echo changes weve made in our own company and have encouraged our customers to follow, said Jim Ryan, President and CEO of Flexera. Were seeing CIOs and IT departments being tasked with leading the digital transformationfrom migrating to the cloud or transforming the customer experienceand this demand is only going to increase, according to the report. Today, businesses are required to make fast but well-informed decisions on a daily basis to keep up with the ever-changing tech landscape, Ryan continued. Consequently, its imperative that IT is involved early on in business-strategy planning, not simply as an implementer of technology, but as an equal partner in the business. The role of equal partner brings with it new challenges for IT and the CIO.



A few key highlights from the 2020 CIO Priorities Report : Digital transformation impacts CIO priorities More than 90 percent expect the pace of digital transformation to increase in 2020 Customer experience is the top driver of digital transformation efforts with 69 percent rating it very important, but only 36 percent consider themselves very mature in this area As a result, CIOs are planning for heavy adoption of cloud (public, private and multi-cloud) and artificial intelligence (AI) in 2020

CIOs face challenges in the shift to digital More than a third of CIOs are very concerned about lock-in with public cloud, leading to multi-cloud strategies Shifting to the cloud is driving 83 percent of organizations to increase investments in cloud security in 2020, with 47 percent planning for significant increases With the serious business risks that security breaches pose, 84 percent plan to increase investments in data protection and privacy As the pace of change increases, 89 percent cite the lack of quality data as an obstacle to good decision making







IT strategic alignment becomes more critical Supporting the shift to digital and cloud, 36 percent of the IT budget is now allocated to growth and innovation IT organizations struggle to be equal partners in their relationship with business functions, acting in this strategic capacity only 24 percent of the time The need for IT to act as an equal partner is critical since 65 percent of organizations have a heavy or moderate focus on business-led IT Constant change is the norm, with 41 percent of respondents updating their strategic IT roadmaps at least monthly



Staffing changes to support digital transformation Aligned with their critical initiatives, CIOs are looking to supplement skills gaps in cloud, cybersecurity and AI Organizations to fill skills gaps by increasing the use of external partners, prioritizing resources located in North America, India and Western Europe 84 percent expect to increase investments to upskill existing employees, enabling them to increase their value

The report leveraged a large panel comprised of 302 global CIOs across industries. The panel is composed of vetted respondents with detailed profiles and is rigorously maintained. The vast majority of respondents are C-suite executives from organizations with a minimum of 2,000 employees. Complete results and highlights are available in the 2020 CIO Priorities Report . The report results are made available under an Open Source Creative Commons License so the data may be freely shared with the required attribution.

For more information on the Flexera 2020 Digital Transformation Planning Report Download the report here

Sign up for the report webinar here FOLLOW FLEXERA on LinkedIn

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Flexera helps business leaders succeed at what once seemed impossible: getting full visibility into, and control of, their companys technology black hole. From on-premises to the cloud, Flexera helps organizations unravel IT complexity and maximize business value from their technology investments. For more than 30 years, our 1300+ team members worldwide have been passionate about helping our more than 50,000 customers optimize IT to achieve their business outcomes. To learn more, visit flexera.com . FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:

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The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) led by its CEO Hassan Tampuli on Tuesday, 10th March launched the Second phase of the Cylinder Recirculation Model (CRM) in Obuasi in the Ashanti region.

Speaking at the launch, which was under the theme SECURING OUR SAFETY ; CREATING MORE JOBS, Mr. Hassan Tampuli said the President, His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo on 12th October, 2017 in a Cabinet meeting, informed the Minister of Energy to direct the National Petroleum Authority to roll out the Cylinder Recirculation model to deal with the incidence of Gas Explosion in the Country.

As a result, he added, views and criticisms of the general public through their community engagements have helped to shape the contents guiding the policy rollout.

He praised the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Okyehene Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin National House of Chiefs and the Council of State for their enormous contributions and support to the Cyclinder Recirculation Model of LPG distribution.

Mr. Tampuli said, "the policy is in response to increasing incidence of Gas Explosion in the country with the Atomic incident which claimed 7 lives still fresh in our memories".

Kwaku Agyeman Duah, the Pilot Committee Chairman also said the Committee was formed to make the pilot process successful. It includes Stakeholders in the Gas Business such as the Ghana Standards Authority, NPA, the Ministry of Energy, the OMCs and the Gas dealers

"It is our expectation that, 55% of people will be able to use Gas without any form of accident or explosion", he added.

The Ministry of Energy in a statement also said by the year 2030, it is expected that the existing 25% of people who use Liquified Petroleum Gas will increase to 50%.

Honorable Adansi-Bonah, the Municipal Chief Executive for Obuasi in his welcome address called for the support of the people of Obuasi to make the policy successful. He said it will provide the needed safety measures to deal with the incidence of Gas explosion.

THE CYLINDER RECIRCULATION MODEL

The proposed new LPG distribution model will begin with the LPG Bulk Distribution Company (LBDC), whose responsibility will be to either import or buy the LPG from local refineries or/and gas processing plant, such as Tema Oil Refinery and Ghana National Gas Company, and store the LPG in their Bulk Storage facility.

The LBDC will then sell the LPG in bulk to either the Bottling Plant for the sole purpose of filling the empty cylinders or to the LPG Marketing Companies (LMCs) for bulk sale to industrial end-users  factories, restaurant, and mini-power plants- and also to autogas users.

The LPG Bottling Plant Company will be responsible for filling the empty cylinders for onward distribution to LMCs. The LMCs will be responsible for procuring, branding, and maintaining the cylinders.

Specialized trucks will be used to transport the filled cylinders from the bottling plants to the retail stations or exchange points, where consumers will exchange their empty cylinders for filled ones.

A minimum of 4,000Mt capacity storage depot shall be used as the primary receiver of LPG either from imports or from domestic production, with gantry facilities for discharge into BRVs. This will be the preserve of an LBDC.

The LPG bottling plant is expected to have a minimum storage capacity of 250Mt with an automated bottling plant and a filling capacity of 1,000 cylinders per hour. The country will be zoned for the siting of these bottling plants. However, the distribution of their filled cylinders will not be limited to any particular zone.
From fears of parenthood to capturing the "untethered" feeling across the world, there is a lot to take away from "A Quiet Place 2", says Hollywood star Emily Blunt.

The original horror film in 2018 revolved around the Abbott family, featuring Blunt, John Krasinski, Millicent Simmonds and Noah Jupe, trying to survive in a post-apocalyptic world where alien monsters hunt humans by sound.

The sequel, Emily said, is about empathy and if one looked closely, also about how humans need to stick together to survive the odds.

"People are feeling that on a global scale, the idea of borders shutting down, of not extending your hand to your neighbour. That fractured, untethered feeling is in the air. The film does explore that as a metaphor," Emily said in a group interview with select international media here.

"I find the film very hopeful as ultimately the characters discover that as human beings we want togetherness, we want to feel that we are meant to be together. It's an awakening for Cillian's (Murphy) character who has been broken by this environment."



In "A Quiet Place 2" the Abbott family must venture out and face the terrors of the outside world in its fight for survival.

Emily, known for staring in films like "The Devil Wears Prada", "Mary Poppins Returns" and "The Girl on the Train", felt a bit of "pressure" going in with a sequel but all her fears vanished when her writer-director-actor husband narrated the opening sequence to her.

"There was never really any intention of doing another one initially, we were so reluctant to do another one. When John came up with an opening, and I remember him pitching it to me, it was an undeniably great idea that I thought I'd be an idiot to not do it.

"Both of us tried to abandon the idea that it was a pressure situation and just see it as part two, as what happens to this family... It's probably my most personal work. Some of the scenes I found more harrowing than the others if it had to do with loss of a child, a partner," she added.

The sequel reunites Emily and Krasinski on screen briefly, with the latter featuring in a special appearance apart from writing and directing the film.

Emily said the couple "really aligned creatively" so working together became effortless.

"Once the domesticity is out of the window, you're in a different mode when you're at work. You've to find a rhythm where you've to allow the fact that your partner is a slightly different person when at work. That was the learning curve we went on and it was pretty easy to figure out.

"John is a force, he comes on set like a hurricane and I know him at home doing finger weaving with our children! It's kind of arresting watching him like that," she added.

"A Quiet Place 2" places both the children, Millicent and Noah, as the leads, trying to come into their own.

For the 37-year-old actor, giving children the centerstageand fighting for their survival as a parent was the most organic narrative to follow.

"It's that feeling, as soon as you have your children, you're preparing them for eventually having to be without you. It's a very deep theme which resonates with people, it certainly did with me.

"The idea that how far will you go to protect your children. This character, Evelyn, possesses this maternal ferocity that will take her to the end of the earth for her children."



Closer home, though, Emily said her daughters do not like watching her or Krasinski on screen as they find their parents job "really unnerving.""They saw 'Mary Poppins' once and that's it. They don't like seeing me as anything other than Mummy. They hate seeing me like this. I went home last night and my youngest one says, 'wash your face.' They don't like make-up, heels, anything because they assume I'm going somewhere. My daughter saw the trailer and was so weirded out!"Exclusively distributed in India by Viacom18 Studios, the Paramount Pictures movie is slated to hit the screens on March 20.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The United States has called on Iran to immediately release on humanitarian grounds all U.S. citizens who are wrongfully detained in the country.



The United States will hold the Iranian regime directly responsible for any American deaths. Our response will be decisive, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement on March 10.



His remarks came amid news that COVID-19 has spread to Irans prisons where U.S. nationals are also held.



Their detention amid increasingly deteriorating conditions defies basic human decency, Pompeo said.



Irans Judiciary Chief Ebrahim Raisi said a day earlier that Iran had temporarily released about 70,000 prisoners to help stop the growth in infections.



Iran has been one of the hardest hit countries by the deadly virus that originated in China late last year.



The number of officially recorded cases in Iran has reached more than 8,000 people, the Health Ministry said on March 10, with the death toll at 291.



Yet, Iran continues to unjustly detain several American citizens, without cause or justification, the U.S. top diplomat said.



He added: The United States will not rest until all Americans wrongfully detained abroad are returned home.



Pompeos statement came the same day a U.S. federal judge ruled to hold Iran responsible for the kidnapping of former FBI agent Robert Levinson.



He entered a default judgment against the Islamic republic on the 13th anniversary of his alleged abduction.



Wrenching testimony from the FBI agents family preceded U.S. District Judge Timothy Kellys decision in the lawsuit against Iran that included accounts from all of Levinsons seven children.



An AP courtroom reporter cited Kellys ruling as saying that Iran was in no uncertain terms responsible for Levinsons hostage taking and torture and entered a default judgment after the country declined to be a party to the lawsuit.



Levinson vanished in 2007 when he was scheduled to meet a source on the Iranian island of Kish. An AP investigation found in 2013 that Levinson had been dispatched on a mission by Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) analysts who didnt have authorization to oversee the operation.



However, Iran maintains his disappearance is being investigated and that its not a sign he is being prosecuted.



Robert Levinson "has no judicial or criminal case in any Islamic Republic of Iran court whatsoever," ministry spokesman Abbas Musavi said on November 10.



The United States is offering $25 million for information about Levinson.



Tehran has only acknowledged its Revolutionary Court had an open case on Levinson in a filing to the United Nations.



The court typically handles cases involving espionage, smuggling, blasphemy, and attempts to overthrow Iran's Islamic government.




Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-11 01:15:02|Editor: huaxia

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Hungary's Finance Minister Mihaly Varga speaks at a forum in Budapest, Hungary, on March 10, 2020. At a forum organized by the Hungarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MKIK), Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Tuesday pledged government assistance to economic players who suffer losses due to the novel coronavirus. (Photo by Attila Volgyi/Xinhua)

BUDAPEST, March 10 (Xinhua) -- At a forum organized by the Hungarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MKIK), Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Tuesday pledged government assistance to economic players who suffer losses due to the novel coronavirus.

"An economic protection action plan is needed," Orban said, adding that he had asked the MKIK to collect feedback from business leaders on the difficulties the different industrial sectors expect to face and the ways to address them.

Orban said that rather than introducing blanket macroeconomic measures, specific sectors, such as tourism, would receive targeted help. He stressed that the government was prepared to provide the required financial conditions. The country's budgets for 2020 and 2021 will be redrafted to take into consideration the additional billions of euros needed for the measures to stimulate the economy, he said.

Hungary must find solutions to ensure that the economic downturn does not match that of the 2008-2009 crisis and that it can maintain its growth advantage over the European Union (EU), he stressed.

Orban also emphasized that preparations must be made for a global pandemic and that "everyone must be ready to step out of their comfort zone."

Hungary's Finance Minister Mihaly Varga, who also spoke at the forum, stressed that his ministry was ready to protect the country's economic achievements and growth advantage by introducing additional policy measures.

"I'd like the economy to continue to be driven by consumption, wage flows and capital inflows this year," he said.
Lucknow, March 11 : Lucknow Police Commissioner Sujit Pandey on Wednesday suspended sub-inspector Bhrigu Ojha, posted in Indira Nagar, for allegedly making dancers perform on the occasion of Holi.

Ojha, who attended a Holi function in the Suggmau area under his police station here, asked the dancers to perform on his choice of songs while being on duty in police uniform.

The entire incident was recorded by locals, who later uploaded the Ojha's video on social media and the post went viral within hours.

The Lucknow Police Commissioner has suspended Ojha and directed a probe in the case.

According to Lucknow police, an investigation will also be initiated against Dhananjay Kumar Pandey, in-charge inspector of Indira Nagar Police Station for allowing indiscipline.
Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday praised Delhi Police for "controlling the riots withing 36 hours and not allowing the situation to worsen further in the national capital". "Questions have been asked about what the Delhi Police was doing. Police were on the ground then, police will also probe and submit a report in coming days.

I would like to praise the Delhi police for not allowing the riots to spread to other areas," he said in his reply to the discussion on Delhi riots in Lok Sabha. The home minister claimed that more than 300 people from Uttar Pradesh ...
BEIJING, March 10 (Xinhua) -- China, while shoring up its own epidemic fight, stands ready to strengthen solidarity and cooperation with African countries and support and help them to the best of its capabilities, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said Tuesday.

Throughout China's fight against the novel coronavirus epidemic, African countries have been standing alongside China, supporting it in various ways, Geng told a press briefing.

Leaders of almost all the African countries that have diplomatic ties with China and Chairperson of the African Union (AU)Commission have all expressed sympathy and support by phone calls or letters, he said.

The AU Council of Ministers, the Peace and Security Council of the AU, the African Ministers of Health Conference, Meeting of the Ministers of Health of the Economic Community of West African States and Monday's Extraordinary Meeting for Southern African Development Community Ministers of Health have all spoke highly of China's epidemic response, he added.

"We are touched in particular to see some African countries offering us funds or goods despite their own limited resources. This is the best embodiment of the brotherhood the two sides share through thick and thin and the joint efforts towards building a more closely-knit community with a shared future," said the spokesperson.
The UAE Minister of Energy and Industry Suhail bin Mohammed Al Mazrouei has said that a new agreement between Opec+ (an alliance comprising the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries plus Russia and other producers) country members was essential to support a balanced and less volatile market.



Al Mazrouei said, via a series of tweets, that both Opec and Opec+ played an important role in delivering market stability.



"The UAE Ministry of Energy and Industry firmly believes that a new agreement is essential to support a balanced and less volatile market," he added.



The UAE Minister's remarks follow recent developments between Opec and non-Opec allies failing to agree on how much oil production to cut amid the coronavirus outbreak, said a statement from UAE Minister of Energy and Industry.



He went on to note that operators in the country have "ample production capacity that will be quickly brought online given the current circumstances."



According to the Al Mazrouei's official twitter account, the minister expressed his disappointment in the lack of agreement between Opec+.



"We are disappointed that no agreement was reached by Opec+ and the current declaration of cooperation will therefore expire at the end of March 2020," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
ATHENS, Ga., March 10, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- LinkShadow  The Next-Generation Cybersecurity Analytics announced that it was honored at the Cybersecurity Excellence Awards in the "User and Entity Behavior Analytics" category, thus positioning the company as a technology leader in this domain.

LinkShadow

Fadi Sharaf, Sales Director, LinkShadow, said, "This accolade speaks for itself, and we are extremely delighted to receive this recognition. UEBA is one of LinkShadow's core features that provides behavioral and privileged user analytics, leveraging on the capabilities of AI and Machine Learning. This unique attribute has propelled LinkShadow to be amongst the leading cybersecurity solutions provider in the UEBA domain."

"Congratulations to LinkShadow for being recognized as the Gold award winner in the UEBA category of the 2020 Cybersecurity Excellence Awards," said Holger Schulze, CEO of Cybersecurity Insiders and founder of the 400,000-member Information Security Community on LinkedIn that jointly produce the awards program. "With over 500 entries in more than 90 award categories, the 2020 awards are highly competitive, and all winners truly reflect the very best in today's cybersecurity industry."

The 2020 Cybersecurity Excellence Awards, organized by Cybersecurity Insiders, is a notable platform where companies, products, and professionals are recognized for their excellence, innovation, and leadership in the information security field. Winners from amongst hundreds of nominations are chosen after in-depth scrutiny by the Information Security Community.

About LinkShadow

LinkShadow is a U.S.-registered company with regional offices in the Middle East. It is pioneered by a team of highly skilled solution architects, product specialists and programmers with a vision to formulate a next-generation cybersecurity solution that provides unparalleled detection of even the most sophisticated threats. LinkShadow was built with the vision of enhancing organizations' defenses against advanced cyberattacks, zero-day malware and ransomware, while simultaneously gaining rapid insight into the effectiveness of their existing security investments. For more information, visit www.linkshadow.com.

Ann Paterson| VP of Marketing

LinkShadow

E: [email protected]

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The U.S. Constitution requires our government to count every person in the country every 10 years. In 2020 we are doing it again.

This time the Census Bureau is taking advantage of 21st century technology.

This week households in Montana will begin receiving postcards from the U.S. Census Bureau inviting us to respond using a web address and a Census ID number for completing the census. It is important that people recognize that postcards from the Census Bureau are legitimate and respond by April 1 to the invitation to go to the official web address.

This is the first time that households can fill out the census form online. Responding online helps conserve natural resources, save taxpayer money and process data efficiently.

The online form filing has been set up using the highest cyber security. The Census Bureau will never ask for your Social Security number, financial information or anything related to political parties. If you stumble into a census-like website that asks you for any of this information, or for money, your bank account or your mothers maiden name, you are not at the correct web address.

Not everyone receiving a postcard has access to a computer. The Census is setting up special Be Counted locations that have free access to computers for those who need them. Missoula will have nine Be Counted locations, among them the Missoula Public Library and its Big Sky branch, the Human Resource Council and the Missoula Senior Center.

If your household does not respond or doesnt receive a postcard, the Census Bureau will be contacting you in April and ask you to mail in your completed paper census form or call in to census phone centers. If you dont respond to the paper form, census workers will come to your door and complete the form with you.

It is critical that every person in Montana be counted.

Why is filling out the census important? Businesses use census data to make investment decisions that boost economic growth. Local, state and federal officials use census data to allocate resources for public safety, disaster response, education, hospitals, veterans and transportation. Estimates show Montana stands to receive $20,000 of federal support over the following 10 years per person counted in the census.

Montanas redistricting commission uses census data to draw boundaries for fair political representation in the state legislature. Moreover, Montana stands to gain a second congressional seat as a result of the 2020 census, if we get an accurate count of everyone in Montana and our growth isnt outpaced by other states.

Is personal census information safe? It is against the law for the Census Bureau to publicly release your responses in any way that could identify you or your household. Courts have been forceful in enforcing the confidentiality of census data, with fines of $250,000 and five years in jail for violations. By law, your responses cannot be used against you and can only be used to produce statistics. Your answers are confidential and cannot be shared with government, law enforcement agencies, landlords or any agency.

We have one chance every 10 years to get this right. Lets work together to ensure a complete census count, including Montanas hard-to-count communities such as Indian reservations, farms and ranches in rural areas without internet service, the homeless and veterans.

The League of Women Voters Montana encourages everyone to learn about the census process for 2020, to help everyone around you to do the same, and reach out to those who might be left out. You can help shape the future. Be sure you are counted.

Nancy Maxson and Nancy Leifer are co-presidents of the League of Women Voters Missoula.

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Mr. Biden decided against a run four years ago as he mourned his son Beau, who died in May 2015. Now, he is running the kind of campaign that voters might expect from a vice president seeking a promotion immediately after his time as second in command, as if the last four years could be effectively elided. He is promising continuity with his partys prior administration, pledging to build on successes without wide-scale overhaul and even presenting himself as more of a transitional figure than a long-term standard-bearer.

I view myself as a bridge, not as anything else, Mr. Biden said in Detroit on Monday night, campaigning with new endorsers like Gov. Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan and Senators Kamala Harris and Cory Booker. Theres an entire generation of leaders you saw stand behind me. They are the future of this country.

Throughout the campaign, he has declined to meet the demands of the loudest voices on the left  he has super PAC support, attends high-dollar fund-raisers and remains unapologetic about overtures to Republicans  and none of it hurt him much. Instead, Mr. Biden is enticing Democrats with a bloodless bargain: a return to normal  or whatever this nation was on Nov. 7, 2016  and a vow to make Mr. Trump go away, even if Mr. Biden rarely emphasizes a bold new policy vision.

It is a pitch that shares some elements with Mrs. Clintons in 2016, centered often on Mr. Trumps character and behavior. Mr. Biden and his team seem convinced that the reality of Mr. Trumps tenure will yield a different outcome this time, with the daily tumult more visceral to voters now than it was in Mrs. Clintons prescient-but-hypothetical predictions of executive disorder and excessive tweeting.

There is also the messenger to consider. Mr. Biden recently remarked on an unfair sexism in the campaign four years ago. Then came an aside, blunt but true: Thats not going to happen with me.

Mr. Sanders is summoning 2016 memories of another sort. After his setbacks this month, he finds himself in much the same bind he faced against Mrs. Clinton, seeking ways to prolong the primary but finding few opportunities for true breakthroughs.

In recent days, Mr. Sanders and his allies have made the case that Democrats would be foolish to nominate the more moderate candidate once again, reminding audiences of Mr. Bidens potential vulnerabilities on matters of trade and the Iraq war.
Guest Commentary

By Sylvain Charlebois

Reports on how the COVID-19 outbreak is affecting global supply chains and disrupting manufacturing operations around the world are increasing daily. These effects may not yet have reached their peak, at least not in North America, but could over the next few weeks.

Grocers and food retailers are likely engaging their vendors to make sure their supply chains wont let them down. And stores across Canada are rationing the number of particular food items customers can buy.

So panic buying is here. And it will bring its own complexities.

Unlike natural disasters, viruses know no borders. The entire globe is affected by whats happening, even if the impact has been gradual.

China appears to have contained the virus, although some say the data may not be reliable. The outbreak has reached North America and could affect supply chains within days. Food wise, North America is self-sufficient. We import from other parts of the world but the abundance of food on our continent is impressive.

We have few cases of COVID-19 yet in North America but that may change and epidemic conditions are possible. And testing here has not been as predominant as in Asia. So more cases are a certainty.

Logistics have come a long way over the last few years on a number of fronts. The use of artificial intelligence, robotics and enhanced automation makes everything more efficient. Critically for food, the growing pressure to lower supply chain costs has motivated retailers over the years to pursue such strategies as lean manufacturing, offshoring and outsourcing. Such expense-cutting means that when theres a supply-chain disruption, distribution will cease due to a lack of access to food products.

Some retailers are much better equipped than others to address these disruptions. Most regions in Canada are serviced by retailers that emphasized investment in logistics and supply chains over the years. The prospect of some areas of the country running out of food is highly unlikely. But more remote regions are and always will be more vulnerable, with or without an outbreak.

And often our rational nature will give way to anxiety. An inner panic-buying button exists in all of us.

The sight of empty shelves and lineups at stores will suggest resource scarcity. Humans will always go after the necessities of life when they firmly believe these goods are running out. Weve already seen some empty shelves across the country.

Some reports suggest non-gluten and organic products in Canada are running out faster than conventional food products. This is hardly surprising. Inventories for these items are typically lower, and people who want and need these products feel the urge to stockpile early. Its simply human nature.

We estimate that about 25 percent of all Canadian households have enough food supplies to survive independently for three to four days. But the other 75 percent will take time to think about it.

Since the virus started to spread, more than 20 percent of American households have started to stockpile food. The percentage in Canada is likely not that high but its probably higher than 10 percent.

However, panic-buying and turmoil comes opportunity. Alibaba, the multibillion-dollar online Chinese giant, grew out of the SARS outbreak in 2003. The company saw an opportunity to sell products online, given that people were avoiding physical interaction with others.

This could very well happen in Canada, where grocers are just starting to embrace the virtual nature of their business. Disruptors like Amazon, Walmart and Costco have done well since the virus started to spread.

Conventional grocers need to think about ways to get more traffic on their websites when a growing number of people stay home to feel safe. Its not just about convenience; it also allows customers to cope with emerging public health risks. Its the same solution, but the psyche and motivations are completely different.

As well, the products sold will be different. The most popular items since the start of the outbreak have been dry goods, frozen foods, comfort snacks, power beverages and, of course, water. Grocers could sell survival kits for a family of four online, to be delivered safely.

The bottom line: we should brace for a major effect on food supply chains worldwide. It will begin to hit full force in two to three weeks and could last for months.

More than 50 central banks around the world have reduced their base rates this week, including the American Federal Reserve and the Bank of Canada.

But this doesnt mean we need to panic. Even if viruses know no borders, we have some time to get ready, unlike natural disasters when we have mere days, hours or perhaps no time to prepare.

So get the food you need, one shopping trip at a time. And leave some for others, as a responsible citizen.

Dr. Sylvain Charlebois is senior director of the agri-food analytics lab and a professor in food distribution and policy at Dalhousie University.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-11 23:27:05|Editor: yan

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OTTAWA, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Canada is planning to allocate over 1 billion Canadian dollars (about 724 million U.S. dollars) to combat the COVID-19 outbreak, Canada's television network CTV reported on Wednesday.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected to announce a plan at a press conference here on Wednesday morning which will focus on the government's preparation for the public health threats and economic impacts from the virus, CTV reported.

According to CTV, the announcement will include three major spending commitments -- additional funding for research, more support for provinces with potential spread of the virus, and employment insurance assistance for workers in self-isolation.

It added that a total of 1.9 billion Canadian dollars (about 1.38 billion dollars) are already underway to support the country's health sector.

So far, at least 93 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and one death have been reported in Canada.
OTTAWA, Ontario, March 11, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cornerstone Capital Resources Inc. (Cornerstone or the Company) (TSXV-CGP) (F-GWN) (B-GWN) (OTC-CTNXF) is pleased to provide the following update on its Cascabel joint venture in Ecuador:



Alpala Pre-Feasibility and Proposed Feasibility Study Programs

Cascabel project operator and joint venture partner SolGold Plc has reported today it is pressing forward with work on the Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) together with work streams to acquire further information for completion of the proposed Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS). Currently, subject to funding and land acquisition programs, these studies are scheduled for completion by Q3, 2020 for the PSF and by end Q1, 2021 for the DFS.

Work is currently focusing on eight main areas of investigation, being:

1. Completion and independent certification of mineral resource estimate (MRE #3) expected within 4 weeks;

2. Geotechnical studies (ongoing and progressing towards DFS Standards);

3. Surface logistic facilities including identifying and securing suitable tailings dam disposal sites for the life of mine for the Alpala Project;

4. Port access and infrastructure for future copper concentrate production streams;

5. Power supply and hydro co-generation options;

6. Revised metallurgy studies and gold and copper concentrate marketing studies with a focus on development funding advances;

7. Alpala financial model evaluation settings, including selection of future Ecuadorean sovereign royalty rates, and taxation rates to account for Ecuadorean policies including rebates for in-country capital reinvestment programs and selection of various mine development funding strategies; and

8. Social and Economic Impact Study finalization to provide a basis for Ecuadorean assessment of the project impact nationally.

About Cornerstone

Cornerstone Capital Resources Inc. is a mineral exploration company with a diversified portfolio of projects in Ecuador and Chile, including the Cascabel gold-enriched copper porphyry joint venture in north west Ecuador. Cornerstone has a 22.2% direct and indirect interest in Cascabel comprised of (i) a direct 15% interest in the project financed through to completion of a feasibility study and repayable at Libor plus 2% out of 90% of its share of the earnings or dividends from an operation at Cascabel, plus (ii) an indirect interest comprised of 8.5% of the shares of joint venture partner and project operator SolGold Plc. Exploraciones Novomining S.A. (ENSA), an Ecuadorean company owned by SolGold and Cornerstone, holds 100% of the Cascabel concession. Subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, including SolGolds fully funding the project through to feasibility, SolGold Plc will own 85% of the equity of ENSA and Cornerstone will own the remaining 15% of ENSA.

Further information is available on Cornerstones website: www.cornerstoneresources.com and on Twitter. For investor, corporate or media inquiries, please contact:

Investor Relations:

Mario Drolet; Email: Mario@mi3.ca; Tel. (514) 904-1333

Due to anti-spam laws, many shareholders and others who were previously signed up to receive email updates and who are no longer receiving them may need to re-subscribe at http://www.cornerstoneresources.com/s/InformationRequest.asp

Cautionary Notice:

This news release may contain Forward-Looking Statements that involve risks and uncertainties, such as statements of Cornerstones beliefs, plans, objectives, strategies, intentions and expectations. The words potential, anticipate, forecast, believe, estimate, intend, trends, indicate, expect, may, should, could, project, plan, or the negative or other variations of these words and similar expressions are intended to be among the statements that identify Forward-Looking Statements. Although Cornerstone believes that its expectations reflected in these Forward-Looking Statements are reasonable, such statements may involve unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors disclosed in our regulatory filings, viewed on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com. For us, uncertainties arise from the behaviour of financial and metals markets, predicting natural geological phenomena and from numerous other matters of national, regional, and global scale, including those of an environmental, climatic, natural, political, economic, business, competitive, or regulatory nature. These uncertainties may cause our actual future results to be materially different than those expressed in our Forward-Looking Statements. Although Cornerstone believes the facts and information contained in this news release to be as correct and current as possible, Cornerstone does not warrant or make any representation as to the accuracy, validity or completeness of any facts or information contained herein and these statements should not be relied upon as representing its views after the date of this news release. While Cornerstone anticipates that subsequent events may cause its views to change, it expressly disclaims any obligation to update the Forward-Looking Statements contained herein except where outcomes have varied materially from the original statements.

On Behalf of the Board,

Brooke Macdonald

President and CEO

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.
On Saturday, the Art Museum of Southeast Texas will welcome spring with a new exhibit showcasing Houston-based artist Patrick Turk.

Higher Planes will be on view through June 7. A free, open-to-the-public reception will be held for Turk 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. March 27.

A native of Galveston, Turks exhibit will feature an extensive site-specific installation as well as hand-cut paper assemblages.

Source material for his work includes science-fiction novels, encyclopedias, history, and scientific diagrams. Turks work also uses time travel, sentient planets and hypothetical biology to create kaleidoscopic depictions of religions, mythological, and mystical allegories.

His exhibits have been featured at places like Art Storm, Cris Worley Fine Arts, Lawndale Art Center and Rudolph/Projects/Art Scan as well as galleries in Galveston and Los Angeles.

Also at AMSET

Obscurity of a Moment

More Information Art Museum of Southeast Texas Where: 500 Main St Hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and noon-5 p.m. Sunday Information: 409-832-3432, amset.org See More Collapse

This Cafe Arts Series exhibit showcases the work of Lamar student and lens-based artist Thomas Duran. The Houston native's photography explores the stark contrast of light and dark in both portraiture and architecture. The exhibit will be on view through April 19.

Celestial Garden

An exhibition featuring paintings and sculptures by Dallas-based artist Kana Harada opens March 21. Harada works with hand-cut foam sheets, along with watercolor and natural materials, to create pieces that embody a wish for peace and a love for humanity, mother earth and the universe. This artwork evokes the serenity of the Fuji Sanctuary, a gathering site at the foot of Mt. Fuji in Japan, near the artists birthplace of Tokyo.

Joe Rutland is a freelance writer who was raised in Beaumont and lives in El Paso.
Joe Biden maintained his momentum over Bernie Sanders in the Democratic presidential race Tuesday, winning state primaries, building his delegate lead and solidifying his status as the clear favorite to win his partys nomination.

As soon as polls closed at 8 p.m. ET, the Associated Press declared Biden the winner in Mississippi, which awards 36 delegates on a proportional basis, and then in Missouri, where 68 delegates were at stake. When polls closed an hour later in Michigan, with its 125 delegates the biggest prize of the night, the AP gave Sanders more demoralizing news, calling the state for Biden. Before the evening was over, Biden was projected as the winner in Idaho as well.

As I said from the beginning, this election is one that has character on the ballot, Biden told a small gathering of supporters in Philadelphia. The character of the candidates, the character of the nation is on the ballot. Its more than a comeback, in my view, our campaign. Its a comeback for the soul of this nation. This campaign is taking off, and I believe that were going to do well from this point on.

Heading into Tuesdays contests, Biden held a 652-573 delegate lead over Sanders, and it quickly became apparent that the former vice president would add to that lead. In the six states voting on Tuesday, 365 delegates were at stake that were crucial to Sanders if he was to have any chance of heading into the Democratic convention in Milwaukee with a majority.

The startling shift in the dynamics of the race was not the only surprise of the campaign. The rapid spread of coronavirus across the United States has added uncertainty about what will follow.

We were planning a big rally in Cleveland tonight, Biden said Tuesday. But the governor of Ohio asked the presidential campaigns to cancel their indoor public events in Cleveland with large, large crowds of people, and thats what we did due to the coronavirus.

Sanders also canceled a planned rally in Ohio, returning to his home state of Vermont and bypassing the opportunity to speak about Tuesdays results. That left Biden with the only speech of the night, and he used his time to sound like a candidate who had all but secured the nomination.

Story continues

I want to thank Bernie Sanders and his supporters for their tireless energy and their passion, Biden said. We share a common goal, and together well defeat Donald Trump. Well defeat him together.

Bidens confidence was not misplaced. He routed Sanders in Mississippi and beat him handily in Missouri, all but ensuring that the Vermont senator would not be able to take advantage of what might have been his best remaining opportunity to regain the delegate lead.

In a race that was upended when Biden built on an overwhelming victory in South Carolina to win 10 of 14 states on Super Tuesday, former Democratic rivals Kamala Harris, Cory Booker, Pete Buttigieg, Mike Bloomberg, Amy Klobuchar and Beto ORourke have all endorsed the former vice president. Adding insult to injury, Elizabeth Warren, the progressive candidate perhaps closest to Sanders in terms of ideology, has withheld an endorsement of him since dropping out of the race last week.

In just the past week, so many of my incredible competitors have endorsed me, Biden said in his speech, adding: Together were bringing this party together. Thats what we have to do. Tonight we are a step closer to restoring decency, dignity and honor to the White House. Thats our ultimate goal.

With results showing that Biden would have another big night on Tuesday, Andrew Yang joined his fellow candidates in formally backing him as the man the party will put forth to take on President Trump in the November general election.

Joe Biden at a rally in Detroit on Monday. (Paul Sancya/AP)

For Sanders, the road ahead is daunting.

Bidens national polling lead has skyrocketed. In the run-up to Super Tuesday, Biden trailed Sanders by more than 10 points, on average. As of Tuesday, he led by nearly 20 points, with a majority of Democratic primary voters (roughly 52 percent) saying they supported him. That may be the most rapid polling swing in presidential primary history: a gain of roughly 35 points in just 14 days.

The calendar isnt doing Sanders any favors, either. Next Tuesday, four big states  Arizona, Florida, Illinois and Ohio  will vote. The latest polling averages show Biden ahead by wide margins everywhere: 37 points in Florida, 29 points in Ohio, 21 points in Arizona and 24 points in Illinois.

The first one-on-one Democratic debate will take place Sunday in Phoenix, and Sanders is banking on a knockout performance to reset the race. But given that Florida and Arizona both rely heavily on early voting, even a sterling display might prove to be too little, too late.

Sanders's position is especially perilous in light of what follows: the so-called Acela Primary on April 28, when Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island go to the polls. Its the second-biggest day of primary season, with 663 delegates at stake  and perhaps the single most favorable day for Biden, who was born and grew up in Pennsylvania and who represented Delaware in the U.S. Senate for 36 years.

And even if the schedule werent so stacked against Sanders, history would still be on Bidens side. No modern presidential candidate has ever mounted a successful comeback after Super Tuesday (or the equivalent point in the race). The reasons are simple: Winning begets winning, and fewer and fewer delegates are available for the lagging candidate to win in order to close the gap.

Twelve years ago  post-Super Tuesday  Barack Obama's lead in the national polls was a third the size of Biden's today. Four years ago, Hillary Clinton's lead was half the size of Biden's. Neither of their challengers  Clinton in 2008 and Sanders in 2016  was able to catch up.

_____

Read more from Yahoo News:
LOS ANGELES - A Southern California man has agreed to plead guilty to trying to sell $6 million worth of phoney paintings he claimed were created by Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat and other modern masters, prosecutors said Tuesday.

Philip Righter, 43, of West Hollywood acknowledged that he used some fakes as collateral for loans he never repaid and for phoney income tax write-offs, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office, which said the plea agreement was filed Tuesday in Los Angeles federal court.

Righter tried to bilk victims out of $6 million and caused more than $758,000 in losses, along with more than $100,000 in costs to the federal government through tax fraud, prosecutors said.

Richter sold the bogus artworks from 2016 through June of 2018, creating phoney documents to back up his claims that they were genuine, prosecutors said.

Some of the documents were stamped with counterfeits of the embossing stamps used by the estates of Basquiat and Keith Haring to authenticate pieces, prosecutors said.

Under his agreement, Righter will plead guilty to wire fraud, tax fraud and aggravated identity theft at a later date and could face up to 25 years in federal prison, although prosecutors will ask for a lower sentence. Righter also must pay restitution to his victims.

Righter also is facing charges in Florida over an alleged $1 million art fraud attempt involving a Miami gallery.
Mirum India, along with WPP CEO Mark Read, unveiled the India MarTech Report 2020, a study exploring the marketing technology scenario in the country, its impact and trends. The first of its kind, the study includes input from over 500 Indian marketers, with a representation across company sizes, sectors and geographies, making it an authoritative barometer of India MarTech. The study was commissioned and executed by Mirum India, a WPP agency.

A key finding of the study is that 80 per cent of marketers expect to raise MarTech spends over the next few years. It adds that digital marketing is advancing rapidly, and the emphasis is shifting towards ROI (return on investment) rather than the flag-planting approach. The report also underlines some of the challenges and opportunities that brands face in their technology adoption journey.

Globally, digital marketing is in a state of constant change. As it evolves, technology will play an even greater role in consumer engagement. Over the next few years, the report says that brands and companies will equip themselves internally to optimise increasingly sophisticated MarTech tools and support digital campaigns.

The insights confirm the progression of brands and marketers towards new technologies like Blockchain, the Internet of Things, virtual reality, artificial intelligence, etc., though their impact are yet to be ascertained. The report adds that while consumer-facing firms are more bullish on new technology opportunities, B2B businesses are catching up.

The report lays out the dynamics supporting the evolution of MarTech in India:

Customer engagement and personalisation of experiences are key drivers for MarTech spends

Investments follow a maturity curve  87% of marketers believe it takes at least three years to demonstrate ROI in MarTech

64% of marketers see a lack of internal skills, while 59% cite cross-organisation adoption as a hurdle to MarTech growth

B2C and B2B businesses are equally committed to adopting MarTech

Data and analytics skills will become a major hiring criterion for marketers

70% of marketers say confluence of creativity and technology will be the key to crafting successful digital campaigns across sectors

While launching the India MarTech Report 2020, Mark Read, CEO, WPP, said, India is an exciting market for brands and marketers, especially with government initiatives like Digital India. There is huge scope for marketers to reach and engage with the audience via integrated marketing tools. Effective MarTech innovation enables brands to assimilate numerous touchpoints and data-driven solutions, enabling intelligent decision making and process automation. With increasing consumer demands, MarTech is the key to sustained consumer relationships and ROI.

Hareesh Tibrewala, Joint CEO, Mirum, added here, MarTech is significantly transforming Indias marketing landscape. It is generating curiosity and empowering marketers to create engaging campaigns for brand communication and consumer engagement. As part of this dynamic environment, we believe that MarTech, complimentary technological innovations and support from data and analytics have improved marketing strategies and results. The report has significantly mapped the present and projected the future. We hope that the insights will benefit the industry and decision makers to build robust strategies for optimal consumer engagement.

Mirum India became a WPP agency in 2014, offering 360-degree digital solutions for brands and marketers in the country.
UPDATE: Charges dismissed against former jail guard

LUDINGTON, MI  A former jail guard has been charged with criminal sexual conduct for an alleged sexual relationship he had with a woman he met while she was an inmate.

Brad Jany has been charged with second-degree criminal sexual conduct, according to a press release from the office of Mason County Sheriff Kim Cole. Its alleged he had off-duty sexual relations with the woman after she had been released from the Mason County Jail, the press release states.

Jany had worked as a corrections deputy for Coles office until Dec. 10, 2019, when he was terminated, according to the release.

He was charged by the Mason County Prosecutors Office following an internal investigation by Mason County Sheriffs detectives, according to the press release. Jany was arraigned March 11 when he turned himself in.

Second-degree criminal sexual conduct is punishable by up to 15 years in prison. Among the crimes that fit under second-degree CSC is sexual contact between a corrections employee and a person who is on probation from that same corrections department.

Jany had worked for the sheriffs office for about two years, according to the press release.

Also on MLive:

Ex-school worker sentenced to prison for raping child at elementary

Woman jailed on truancy charge after failing to send child to school

Is spit a dangerous weapon? Answer key to ethnic intimidation sentence
By Express News Service

VIJAYAWADA: The Andhra Pradesh High Court on Wednesday handed over the probe into the murder of former minister Vivekananda Reddy to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and directed it to complete the investigation at the earliest.

The verdict was delivered by Justice U Durgaprasad Rao on a batch of petitions filed by the slain leaders wife Sowbhagyamma, daughter Sunitha, son-in-law Narreddy Rajasekhar Reddy, and BJP leader C Adinarayana Reddy. In the judgement, the judge observed that there has been no progress in the case even a year after Vivekananda Reddy was murdered.

The brother of late YS Rajasekhara Reddy was found murdered at his residence in Pulivendula on March 15, 2019. Since then, the State government has constituted three special investigation teams. Approximately, 1,300 people were quizzed and narco-analysis tests were conducted on three suspects.

The judge reasoned that the case should be handed over to the CBI as time is of essence in the investigation. Involvement of some people outside the State could not be ruled out and more than the SIT, CBI has the capacity and wherewithal to bring the accused from other States to book. This is the reason why we are ordering a CBI probe, the judgement said.

Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy too had filed a petition in the court when he was in the opposition to hand over the case to the CBI, but recently withdrew the same. The court made it clear that the withdrawal of Jagans plea should not affect the investigation.

In their petitions, Vivekananda Reddys widow and daughter argued that an investigation by the SIT was not inspiring any confidence and expressed suspicion that the murder was the result of a political conspiracy. They demanded a CBI probe and opposed a memo filed by Jagan in court to the effect that there was no longer any need for a CBI probe into the case.

During the arguments, Advocate General Sriram, appearing on behalf of the government, submitted that Jagan had filed the petition seeking CBI probe when he was in the opposition and insisted that the probe by the SIT was going along the right path. However, the court did not find merit in his arguments.

SIT has not concluded whether the motive for the murder was political, pecuniary or land disputes.

Vivekananda Reddy was not just a political leader. He also used to oversee real estate and land transactions. That is the reason why there is a suspicion that inter-State accused could be involved. The Supreme Court has clarified in quite a few cases that investigation in such cases should not be delayed. Hence, we are ordering a CBI probe, the court ruled.
Over one hundreds trees have been planted on farms owned by the Scotland's Rural College to demonstrate the benefits of agroforestry.

The site, on the floodplain of the River Fillan, will be used both for demonstration and research purposes, showing farmers how agroforestry can be introduced.

The half-hectare block of trees were planted at Kirkton and Auchtertyre farms in Perthshire after SRUC was awarded funding from Loch Lomond National Park.

The college aims to show the benefits of agroforestry  the integration of trees and agriculture on the same piece of land  to a hill farm system without loss of productivity.

Agroforestry can be used to mitigate climate change and floods and is beneficial for biodiversity and the landscape, as well as animal health and welfare.

The trees at Kirkton and Auchtertyre, which are a mix of native species including alder, rowan, birch and oak, will provide shelter for livestock, timber, improved drainage and soil conditions, carbon storage, and habitat for woodland species.

John Holland, an Upland Ecologist at SRUCs Hill & Mountain Research Centre, said: We have been able to establish a small half-hectare block which we can use for demonstration and research purposes.

As the trees grow we will be able to show land managers the multiple benefits that agroforestry systems can bring.

Each tree is individually protected by a net cage and has been given a handful of high phosphate fertiliser to help growth and a wool mulch to reduce competition from weeds.

The cages will enable sheep to graze the pasture between the trees without causing any damage.
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Linkedin Ella Ide (Agence France-Presse) Florence, Italy  Wed, March 11, 2020 12:02 671 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2069ce4b2 2 News coronavirus,COVID-19,Tourist,tourism,Italy,health Free

The only tourists outside Florence's majestic cathedral were a suitcase-laden couple rushing to leave Italy, where a nationwide virus shutdown is devastating an already fragile tourism industry.

"Everything's closed, we're going home," said German Alex Gross, 32, as his girlfriend nervously checked for updates on her phone. "That is, unless our flight gets cancelled."

Many holidaymakers had already made their escape when Italy started succumbing last month to COVID-19, which has killed 631 people there so far and infected over 10,000, mainly in the country's wealthy north.

It may be blue skies and sunshine from Sicily to the Alps, but the few remaining tourists now have two options: stay holed up in their hotels, relying on mini-bar snacks for dinner, or head home.

"We've had over 90 percent of bookings cancelled, even as far ahead as June," said Nicola, a hotel manager in Florence who did not want to give his last name.

"Though if we've not resolved the virus situation before then, empty rooms will be the least of our problems," he said.

From the Colosseum to the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the government has shuttered all museums and monuments, ordered restaurants and bars to close at 6 p.m., and told people to leave their homes only if strictly necessary until April 3.

Read also: Virus toll soars in locked-down Italy as pace slows in China

'Eerily quiet'

A slew of airlines are suspending flights to Italy -- including Air France, Air Canada, Ryanair, Easyjet and British Airways -- while many countries have imposed travel restrictions.

"I don't know if we can actually get out of Milan. Nobody really seems to know what's going on," said Texan Nick Manage, looking lost as he wandered around the northern city's central train station.

Gone are the crowds at the Vatican's Saint Peter's Square, Rome's Spanish Steps, the Venice waterfront and Pompeii.

Campo de' Fiori in Rome, where market traders shout all day and foreign students party all night, lies silent.

Stefano Ruggiero, 48, who owns a perfume shop near Florence's Ponte Vecchio bridge, said the business had been going since 1911 but "this is the quietest the street has ever been".

"Even after the terrible 1966 flood, when there was mud and devastation everywhere, there were more people".

The carousel with its gold-gilded horses is still, the street musicians have disappeared. "It's eerily quiet," he said.

Italian hoteliers' association Federalberghi says bookings are down at least 80 percent nationwide, with a loss estimated at 2.5 billion euros.

And that's not counting the losses from the rest of the tourism chain, from transport to restaurants and shops.

The sector employs around one million people in the run-up to Easter, who now fear for their jobs.

Read also: Singapore Airlines cancels all flights to Milan till end-May following travel restrictions

Sacrifices

The government has promised 7.5 billion euros ($8.5 billion) to help mitigate economic fallout from the crisis, with the economy ministry saying that figure may rise to 10 billion euros or more.

Crowded around television screens, Italians watched as Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte told them they have to make big sacrifices to stop the virus in its tracks and prevent Italy's health system collapsing under the strain.

Hotel manager Nicola said that sacrifice would likely mean most hotels would be forced to close, "though some of the bigger structures like us may be asked to remain open in case they're needed as makeshift hospitals".

Agostino Ferrara, 52, who has owned the Spada restaurant in the center of Florence for 28 years, says he has been forced to put a large part of his staff on forced leave after the 140 covers a day dropped to 20.

"I've never seen anything like this," he said softly, as the kitchen staff set about cleaning up the few pots and pans.

I'm optimistic though, because we know people tend to forget horrid things," he added with a small smile.

"My hope is, we'll make it through this, and a few weeks, a few months later, everyone will return to Italy.

"In even greater numbers than before."
[March 11, 2020] Skyscanner Reveals Top Travel Planning Hacks for Indian Travellers' Favourite Holiday Destinations

Global travel company launches informative guide to help travellers evaluate flight fares and hotel prices for top vacation spots amongst Indian travellers NEW DELHI, March 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Global travel expert Skyscanner is supporting Indian travellers to get the most out of their holidays this year by planning like pros. The company reveals the average hotel prices and flight fares for Indian travellers' favourite global destinations, along with how far in advance to book, enabling travellers to make significant savings. When it comes to booking overseas travel, timing is crucial. Leading global travel company Skyscanner has highlighted this with its latest revelations, around how Indian travellers can find the best prices for their flights and hotels. The traveller-focused company has shared insights that will enable Indians to save substantial sums  provided they book at the right price and time. Skyscanner's APAC Travel Trends 2020 Report found that Indians' three most booked international destinations were Bangkok (Thailand), Dubai (UAE) and London (England). Now, the company's Plan Like a Pro guide enables customers to make informed choices when it comes to accommodation and travel. Price indices reveal hotel and flight costs, showing travellers precisely what the averages are and when to book in order to make the biggest saving travelling to each of these locations. Book hotels rooms in Bangkok confidently with the knowledge of average room rates and Skyscanner app tips: Skyscanner's data for Bangkok, for example, enables travellers to check their accommodation cost against averages for the entire city. When it comes to Bangkok hotels, travellers using Skyscanner can see at a glance that the average three-star, four-star and five-star rates1 are ?2,192, ?2,401 and ?13,152 respectively. Below average rates for the same classes of hotels are ?1,409, ?1,774 and ?11,116, while at the upper end of the scale they stand at ?3,027, ?3,392 and ?16,335.







Know how far in advance to book flight tickets to the UAE for the best savings:

Indians travelling to the UAE from Mumbai should book 20 weeks in advance if flying to Dubai, which would result in savings of up to 54%, and 23 weeks prior to departure if heading to Abu Dhabi for savings of up to 58%. Travellers departing from New Delhi could enjoy even greater savings if they book at the right time - which is 23 weeks prior to flying. Travellers to Dubai would then save up to 59% whilst those headed for Abu Dhabi could save up to a whooping 81% in flight fares.



Decide on which airport to arrive at in the English capital: For those travelling to London, Skyscanner's data informs travellers of which of the city's airport to arrive at for a better deal. Travellers landing at London Gatwick from Mumbai and New Delhi would save up to 8% and 10% respectively2, as compared to arriving at London Heathrow. Plan Like a Pro also delivers a host of other tips on how to use Skyscanner's app to help travellers make the most of their budgets and their vacation breaks. One example would be Skyscanner's new Price Prediction function, which uses machine learning and predictive analysis to indicate whether flight prices are likely to drop, rise or stay the same between now and the proposed departure date, helping travellers to identify potential savings. These tips, combined with the price indices on the Plan Like a Pro guide, takes the travel booking experience to the next level for Indian travellers. For more flight fare information and hotel room rates in other destinations, please visit: https://www.skyscanner.co.in/media/plan-like-a-pro For media information and images contact:

Skyscanner APAC PR Team

Email: [email protected] About Skyscanner



Founded in 2003, Skyscanner is a leading travel company dedicated to putting travellers first by making booking trips as simple as possible. Skyscanner helps more than 100 million people in 52 countries and regions find the best travel options for flights, hotels and car hire in over 30 languages every month. Skyscanner is available on desktop, mobile web and its highly rated app has 90 million downloads. Working with 1200 travel partners, Skyscanner's mission is to lead the global transformation to modern and sustainable travel.



After multiple high-profile investment rounds, including from Silicon-Valley based Sequoia Capital, Skyscanner was acquired by Trip.com Group in a deal valued at 1.4bn in 2016. Skyscanner remains operationally independent. For more information, visit:?https://www.skyscanner.net/about-us



Data disclaimer:



1 Based on 2019 data. Subject to availability. Average rate refers to the median (50th percentile) of all hotel rates booked in 2019. Below and above average are at 25th and 75th percentile, respectively.

2 This is calculated by taking the average airfares to both London airports from the two different origin cities. Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1000129/Skyscanner_Logo.jpg

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1122588/Average_Hotel_Prices_in_Bangkok.jpg

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1122589/Best_Time_to_Book_for_Travelling_to_UAE.jpg Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1122590/Average_Return_Flight_Fares_for_Travelling_to_London.jpg

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by Katherine J. Wu - Undark Magazine

For Kim West, dressing for work doesnt end at home. After arriving at her office at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, West will often layer a second outfit over her shirt and slacks: a full-body gown, topped with booties, sleeve protectors, two pairs of gloves, a hairnet, and an N95 respirator. Donning this extravagant getup  designed to guard against the dangerous and often airborne pathogens she studies  has become second nature for West, who long ago lost track of the sheer amount of protective gear she cycles through each year.

She is now counting down the days until that pattern will break.

As the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus continues to spread across the globe, research laboratories have found their supplies of personal protective equipment rapidly dwindling. In particular, a shortage of N95s  recently the target of panic purchasing by customers hoping to stave off infection  threatens to hamstring scientists like West, who make their living investigating the very microbes that put the public at greatest risk.

West runs UMass Medicals Biosafety Level 3 (BSL3) facility  so designated because it deals in potentially deadly and inhalable microbes  where she and her colleagues grow the bacteria that cause tuberculosis, the worlds top infectious killer. Its crazy, she said. We have so many people who use N95s on a daily basis. If all of a sudden we cant get in there to do our work, we will lose the ability to do research.

Named for their ability to filter out 95 percent of airborne particles, N95s do protect against illnesses, including Covid-19, the disease caused by SARS-CoV-2. But experts have repeatedly implored the public to stop buying the respirators, which are both easy to misuse and unlikely to keep most healthy people from falling ill. All the same, N95s have flown off pharmacy shelves and vanished from online retail sites, with some fetching prices as high as $195.

Hospitals and clinics remain a priority for manufacturers of the masks, which protect medical professionals as they treat sick patients. But if shortages persist, infectious disease research may soon become another casualty of the outbreak, as scientists are forced to hit the pause button on high-risk projects.

We can be creative, said Joan Nichols, associate director of the Galveston National Laboratory in Texas, home to another BSL3 facility thats also grappling with equipment shortages. But at the end of the day, we cannot do this work unless were protected properly. And thats going to be an issue.

Unlike loose-fitting surgical masks, N95s are built to seal tightly around the nose and mouth, warding off the vast majority of microbes and small particles that could infect or irritate the airways. Cheap and easy to manufacture in large quantities, the respirators have found markets in fields ranging from construction work to animal husbandry and clinical research, typically selling for less than a dollar apiece.

Since the start of 2020, however, prices have skyrocketed in lockstep with the global spread of Covid-19 cases, which now number well above 110,000. Health workers have burned through supplies of the respirators, which are often mandated as single-use in high-risk and heavily contaminated settings. Compounding the severity of the masks shortage is their source: Many N95s, including ones supplied to the United States, are manufactured in Chinas Hubei province, where the outbreak first began in December.

The truth is, it is very difficult to get N95s right now, said Sara Cherry, a virologist at the University of Pennsylvanias Perelman School of Medicine. If you were only going to be dependent on N95s, you would probably be concerned right now.

While N95 manufacturers have committed to ramping up production, the backlog has already become severe. Every major manufacturer that typically stocks UMass Medicals BSL3 has the respirators on back order until at least June, said West, who has turned to cobbling together what she can from lesser-known boutique sellers (which she is careful not to name, to guard her own supply).

In Galveston, meanwhile, Were not given a date that says we may get the respirators, Nichols said. It just says the order cant be filled. Their lab is still waiting on a shipment that was scheduled to arrive in January. I dont see a chance of us getting that filled anytime soon, she said.

Thats an especially big problem, she adds, considering that Galvestons BSL3 is one of many nationwide now studying SARS-CoV-2. If this gets worse and we run out of these materials, research is going to have to slow down, she said. You need to develop new kits, new diagnostics  you need to look at whats happening with the natural biology of this new virus thats emerged. There are so many things you need to do now because it will help with how were managing as this moves ahead.

N95s already in stock at some laboratories have also begun to disappear. Since Covid-19 was first reported within United States borders, UMass employees have been taking handfuls out and just walking out the door, she said. (Most researchers have since begun stashing their equipment in more covert spots.) West has even received requests from acquaintances hoping to swipe a mask for personal outings, including someones recent trip to Myrtle Beach. Obviously, she said, the answer is always no.

In a Biosafety Level 3 facility, where the simple act of dropping a tube can prompt evacuation and hours of rigorous decontamination, N95s dont get reused. With about three dozen researchers passing in and out of the facility on a regular basis, UMass BSL3 goes through a couple hundred of the respirators a month. By Wests latest counts, only about six weeks worth of N95s remain in her inventory. Some behavioral changes  like being more prudent about entering and exiting the facility, which always requires a mask change  might help delay the inevitable. But running out, West said, is no longer a question of if, but when.

To prepare, other BSL3 facilities, like the one Cherry uses at Penn, have decided to switch mostly to powered air-purifying respirators, or PAPRs (pronounced pappers). These are reusable, battery-driven machines that pump filtered air into a hood that entirely shrouds the users head. But the devices are far more expensive than their disposable counterparts, and lab managers must regularly replace the hoods, which corrode after repeated sterilizations with harsh microbe-killing chemicals. Not all labs have the resources to purchase and maintain PAPRs for constant use, and as with N95s, the current outbreak has vendors struggling to keep them in stock.

Cherry, who began rallying resources in January after noticing the plunge in N95 availability, thinks Penns BSL3 will have enough PAPRs to weather at least the next couple of months. I dont think this is going to have long-term repercussions, she said. But I guess time will tell.

All the experts Undark spoke with stressed that the protective equipment needs of health workers, currently battling the pandemic around the world, take precedence. I would give everything I have over to the hospital if we needed to, Nichols said.

Yet as the outbreak continues to evolve, the research world will need to keep pace. There is a national imperative to deal with coronavirus, said Bryan Bryson, who runs a tuberculosis-focused lab at the Ragon Institute of Massachusetts General Hospital, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Harvard University. In this BSL3, there are no N95s to be seen: All personnel wear PAPRs, and the well-funded institution retains a hefty cache of these and other protective equipment. If we experience a shortage for our lab research that we can theoretically put on hold for a little while, Bryson said, then we just put it on hold.

The current situation, he added, is a reminder of the agility required for scientific research.

Hiccups and hurdles, after all, are a normal part of the scientific process. And equipment deficits certainly arent new: Nichols recalls a similar run on masks in the wake of the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus pandemic, which infected about 1 billion people worldwide. Since then, shes been diligent about stockpiling protective equipment.

But any facilities that face a potential shutdown could take months to recover. Wests projects, especially those that involve animal infections, typically take many months to complete. In addition, grant money is doled out in annual cycles, so there may be a lag before facilities are able to recoup financial support for paused experiments. If you cant do this initial work to get preliminary data, youre not going to be able to put a grant in, Nichols said. If researchers have grants in process or have a contract with the National Institutes of Health, she added, they may not be eligible for payments.

West has resolved to keep more N95s on hand when supplies bounce back. I will squirrel away a case or two of each of my N95 masks in a secret hiding hole that would come out in times like this, she said. But that strategy isnt foolproof: Respirators expire, and funds are limited. Working for a small facility, she said, I have a very finite budget. I dont have the ability to say, I need $10,000 to buy all these masks.

Nichols said its especially frustrating to see respirators being bought up, price-gouged, and misused. Earlier this month, she encountered a man in a Walmart parking lot who had obliviously strapped on an N95 upside down, with the nosepiece hovering over his chin.

Research personnel undergo intensive training to learn how to properly use the masks, which must first be individually fit-tested to ensure a tight, protective seal. Even removing the respirators isnt trivial, Cherry said. People who fiddle with an N95s exterior before touching their face can end up moving microbes from mask to skin, obviating the point of wearing the respirator at all  and potentially increasing risk of infection.

As for the public, the only protective equipment that healthy people should don is called common sense, Bryson said. The best thing for people, he added, is being aware of what their health situation is, and knowing whether or not theyre sick. And knowing whether self-isolation is necessary."

This article was originally published on Undark. Read the original article.
Teagasc has said that farmers using protected urea should adopt the same safety precautions as with any other fertiliser.

The State advisory body's comments follow the publication of advertisements in the farming press which advised farmers working with protected urea to only do so "in a well-ventilated area".

The ad from the Irish Fertiliser Manufacturers and Blenders Association (IFMBA) also cautioned farmers to wear "gloves and a face mask" and "appropriate eye protection", and to "avoid contact with the skin" when handling protected urea.

The switch over to protected urea from ordinary urea and CAN is a key plank of Teagasc's strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the farm sector.

This will require a massive lift in usage of protected urea by Irish farmers, with sales needing to grow from 27,000 tonnes in 2019 to over 250,000t in the next three to five years. Sales of ordinary urea topped 110,000 tonnes in 2019, while CAN usage amounted to 450,000 tonnes.

A Teagasc spokesman expressed confidence in protected urea and pointed out that similar user guidelines were employed for a range of fertilisers, including ordinary urea and CAN.

"As with handling all fertilisers, suitable PPE [personal protective equipment] should be worn. Like all fertilisers the product is covered by EU fertiliser regulations and Irish fertiliser regulations," he said.

Conor Mulvihill of Dairy Industry Ireland also expressed confidence in protected urea, and said the dairy sector was engaging with the Department of Agriculture, Teagasc and the Food Safety Authority of Ireland with regard to scientific testing of the product.

Meanwhile, the IFA has accused Yara, Europe's largest nitrogen manufacturer, of attempting to spook the market by announcing a significant hike in its EU wholesale benchmark CAN price.

"Yara's new price list announcement of 200/t and 203/t for bulk CAN - 30/t above the prevailing market quotes - was designed to panic trade buyers and farmers into purchasing nitrogen at an artificially inflated price," said Tom Short, IFA South Leinster regional chairman, who claimed the move would not work as the EU market was "awash with bulk CAN on offer at 170/t".

Fertiliser sales have been slow this year due to the poor weather. Deals were concluded before Christmas at 230/t for CAN in big bags, with bulk 15/t under this price. However, buyer group deals have been concluded closer to 200/t for big bags delivered, with granular urea around the 300/t mark.

CAN is generally being quoted at 210/t to 225/t, and from 310/t to 325/t for urea. Keenest quotes for Pasture Sward are around the 320/t price mark, with Cut Sward 5/t over this level.
'We have found that a couple of international airlines are not adhering to the rules. Failure to adhere to rules shall entail strict action,' said Director General of Civil Aviation Arun Kumar.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has warned foreign airlines of strict action including possible suspension of schedule if they fail to adhere to government regulations on coronavirus prevention.

Universal screening of all arriving passengers was introduced from last Thursday. Airlines have been asked to distribute self-declaration forms to passengers and make on board announcements in this regard.

"We have found that a couple of international airlines are not adhering to the rules. Failure to adhere to rules shall entail strict action," said Director General of Civil Aviation Arun Kumar.

He did not disclose name of airlines.

Airports have been tasked to print the forms and provide them in sufficient quantity to the airlines, Kumar added.

"It has come to knowledge that some airlines are not ensuring availability of self-declaration forms leading to long queues at arrival points. This has been viewed very seriously by this office," deputy director-general Sunil Kumar said in a circular to all airlines.

Earlier, DGCA temporarily suspended two Iranian carriers, Iran Air and Mahan Air, from operating to India in view of the coronavirus outbreak.

Around 200 Iranians stranded in India following route suspension have returned to their country on a relief flight and Indian Air Force has flown 58 Indians from Iran.
Agartala/IBNS: A day after reports said that an Indian national had been sent back from Akhaura check post by Bangladeshi officials over suspicion of COVID19, Indian Express said that it was, in fact, a Bangladeshi national who was prevented from entering India after being screened with high temperature.

Tripura Health and Family Welfare Director Dr. Radha Debbarma told Indian Express that a Bangladeshi national was detected with high temperature at the check post and he was subsequently sent back over apprehensions of coronavirus infection.

There is no one infected with coronavirus in Tripura, nor there is any such suspected case. We identified 28 persons who recently travelled to NCOV affected countries. 19 of them have proven clear of the disease. Others havent shown any symptoms but are still on self-observation, Dr. Debbarma was quoted as saying by the news organisation.

Reports said the Tripura government has announced the suspension of border haats(weekly markets) with Bangladesh in the wake of coronavirus outbreak. Earlier, Manipur government sealed its border points with Myanmar as a precautionary measure to prevent the spread of the disease.

Tripura has 856 Km international borderline with Bangladesh and there are eight Land Custom Stations and an ICP.
Getafe will not travel to Milan for Europa League match against Inter due to concerns about the coronavirus outbreak, even if it means losing the tie, the Spanish clubs president said

Madrid: Italian football club Roma will not travel to Spain for its Europa League match against Sevilla on Thursday because of restrictions prompted by the coronavirus outbreak, and the president of Spanish club Getafe said his team will not fly to Italy to play Inter Milan.

Roma said Wednesday it will not travel for the match because "the plane from Italy was not authorised to land in Spain."

Spain has reported a sharp increase in cases this week, prompting authorities to close schools and halt direct flights to and from Italy.

The spreading virus has affected sports around the world, forcing many professional football games in Europe to be played in empty stadiums and canceling dozens of other events from tennis to gymnastics. It's also put into question whether Tokyo will be able to host the Olympics in July and August.

Getafe president Angel Torres said he was concerned his team would not be able to return from Italy because of the travel restrictions, even though charter flights apparently could still be used by teams. But he said the main reason for keeping Getafe in Spain was because he did not want to risk his players' health by traveling to an area struggling to contain the spread of the virus.

"Getafe is not going to travel to Italy," Torres said. "The decision has already been made. UEFA will decide what will happen now."

Torres said his team wouldn't go even if it meant the team would be eliminated from the Europa League.

Torres' comments and Roma's announcement came after a joint statement by the Italian and Spanish players' associations asking UEFA to suspend matches featuring clubs from those countries. They said the games should be played only when safety conditions are more appropriate.

Italian club Atalanta played in an empty stadium in Valencia in a Champions League match on Tuesday, winning 4-3 and advancing to the competition's quarterfinals.

FIFPRO, the international football players' union, requested that teams and organisers respect the wishes of players who want to stop playing because of the virus.

"We support the players and their associations who have requested a suspension or postponement of football activities in their countries or regions," the union said in a statement.

On Tuesday, Spain announced that all sports events with a significant number of people must be played without fans, while Italy on Monday suspended all sporting events until 3 April. Italy is the country with most coronavirus cases in Europe.

The Italian football federation ordered Italy's women's team to return home before the end of the Algarve Cup tournament in Portugal fearing it would not be able to get a flight back. On Wednesday, the Portuguese football federation canceled the final between Italy and Germany.

Torres said he spoke to Inter officials and was told the Italian club recognized it didn't make sense for Getafe to play the match in Italy.

The statement by the players' associations said the situation in Europe required "tough" and "inevitable" measures.

"Playing a match in Italy, where Getafe and Sevilla would need to go, will jeopardize the health of many players," the statement said. "The risks of playing matches in Italy and Spain are more than evident."

For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia. The vast majority of people recover from the virus.

Greek club Olympiakos is expected to play its Europa League match against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Thursday despite owner Evangelos Marinakis saying he has tested positive for the disease. Olympiakos said tests on players, coaches, medical and technical staff were negative.

A player for second-division German team Hannover has tested positive, however. The club said defender Timo Hubers has not displayed symptoms of infection and is staying at home. Hannover said all its players and staff would now be tested.

Last week, former professional football player Thomas Kahlenberg tested positive for the virus. Kahlenberg represented Denmark at the 2010 World Cup.

Also in Germany, officials in Frankfurt gave the go-ahead to have fans at Eintracht Frankfurt's Europa League game against Basel on Thursday, but not for the Bundesliga game on Sunday against Borussia Monchengladbach.

Basel previously said it won't be able to host the return game against Eintracht amid concerns over the virus.

The French League Cup final between Paris Saint-Germain and Lyon, scheduled for 4 April, was postponed on Wednesday. A new date has yet to be announced. On Tuesday, the French football league announced that all football matches in its top two divisions will be played without fans until 15 April.

Elsewhere, the International Gymnastics Federation said it was postponing next week's World Cup event in Doha until June. The competition was part of the Olympic qualifying series for the apparatus events. The federation said it was also postponing a rhythmic gymnastics World Cup event and a trampoline World Cup event. Both were due to be held in Italy next month.

Turkish Youth and Sports Minister Muharrem Kasapoglu said the country is postponing sports competitions that were scheduled for March and April but football league games "will continue as planned" with fans in attendance.

Turkey is due to host the Champions League final in Istanbul on 30 May.

Also, the Indian Open golf tournament was postponed and the Czech Masters was canceled, while remaining games in the Slovakian hockey league were called off.
Amaravati, March 11 : The Andhra Pradesh High Court on Wednesday ordered a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the sensational killing of Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy's uncle Y.S. Vivekananda Reddy last year.

Observing that there is no progress in the investigation even after nearly a year, the court directed that the case be investigated by the CBI.

The court gave the direction on petitions filed by Vivekananda Reddy's daughter N. Suneetha Reddy, her husband and others, seeking a CBI probe.

The former state minister and MP was found murdered at his residence in Kadapa on March 15, 2019, a few days before the election.

Suneetha Reddy expressed suspicion over the conduct of her cousin and Kadapa MP Y.S. Avinash Reddy and his father Y.S. Bhaskar Reddy.

In her petition filed in November, she said the shifting of police officials investigating the case and the slow pace at which the probe was being carried out also gave rise to suspicion.

She wondered why Jagan Mohan Reddy is not handing over the case to the CBI though it has been eight months since he assumed office as Chief Minister. She recalled that as the then Leader of Opposition Jagan had demanded a probe by the CBI and had submitted a petition to the Governor and even filed a writ petition in the High Court.

Suneetha Reddy also questioned the wisdom of the Chief Minister in constituting another Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the crime. The petitioner alleged that the SIT ended up interrupting the investigation and its conduct gave rise to several doubts about the intentions of the state police in implicating innocent people in the case, so as to allow the real culprits to go scot-free.

68-year-old former MP Vivekananda Reddy was alone at his house when unidentified persons barged in and killed him. He was killed hours before he was to launch YSR Congress Party's election campaign in Kadapa.

Jagan Mohan Reddy, then leader of opposition, had demanded a CBI probe into his uncle's murder. He had blamed the then ruling TDP for the killing. Jagan said that as the TDP was in power its leadership was aware of the conspiracy whenever a death occurred in his family.
It was going to be family style, and its now French style, Ms. Reichenbach added, meaning that waiters would serve each guest using tongs, rather than everyone helping themselves from communal platters. We have got Purell at every opportunity, and we sent out a communication that people who had symptoms or felt uncomfortable, not to come.

Concerns seemed to evaporate once the food appeared. Kitty Thammasat (of Ayada, a Thai restaurant in Queens) made a papaya salad appetizer. Esther Choi (Mokbar) contributed stuffed kimchi. And Joy Crump served beef with rosemary-scented turnip puree, using ingredients she brought from Foode, her restaurant in Virginia thats a five-hour drive away.

Jenn Louis, a chef-at-large in Portland, Ore., tweaked her vegetable dish in light of the outbreak. I was going to have whole roasted cauliflower heads which people could cut themselves, but its not practical right now, she said. So I made sure I cut those into pretty little wedges, and it was very interesting to think about, how can I do it thats safe, but also very hospitable to everybody.

The dinner took place around a 300-foot-long table set up in the markets main hall. Several guests enviously eyed the free-standing hand sanitizer dispensers placed nearby; hand sanitizers have been as rare as white truffles these days.

Michael Phillips, the president of Jamestown Properties, which sold Chelsea Market in 2018 to Google, and whose foundation also disburses money from the fund-raiser, wasnt letting on how they got so much of it. We have our ways, he said.
Scrub Daddy creator Aaron Krause at his company's new headquarters in Folcroft, Delaware County. Krause says the sales of his cleaning sponges have gotten a big boost as people stock up on cleaning products in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. Read more

Nationwide, the manufacturing sector is taking a drubbing. Airlines are canceling flights. Schools are closing, and major events are getting canceled.

The coronavirus has spread a gloomy chill throughout the worldwide economy. Yet there is a neon-colored bright spot shining forth in suburban Philadelphia: Scrub Daddy.

The manufacturer of the sunshine-shaped smilin sponge, is cleaning up.

Orders are soaring for the Folcroft, Delaware County-based maker of household cleaning products, even as it endures some setbacks.

Its a disaster, for sure, but were actually the beneficiary of it, said Aaron Krause, the company CEO, inventor, and self-styled Daddy of the Scrub Daddy.

So many people are going to the supermarket cleaning aisles and clearing out the shelves. Its given us a huge boost in sales.

Walmart has increased its orders of Scrub Daddy products by 20%, he said.

Thats not something we expected, said the entrepreneur, a multiseason winner on Shark Tank, the hit TV series on ABC. Hopefully this coronavirus thing dies down and well see a lull in the summer.

Scrub Daddy, Krause said, is now the third-largest sponge manufacturer in the nation. After 3M and 3M, he said. They make Scotch Bright and O-Cello. Then, in third place, its Scrub Daddy.

Since Scrub Daddys founding in 2012, Krause and his investor-partner Lori Greiner have sold more than $270 million of the day-glo hued sponges, a urethane foam that changes textures depending on water temperature. The privately held companys biggest vendors include QVC, Bed Bath & Beyond, Walmart, and all major chains and every major retailer, said Krause.

The company occupies 80,000 square feet in two buildings at its corporate headquarters in Folcroft. It manufactures its proprietary high-tech polymer foam at industrial plants in northern New Jersey near the Meadowlands and in Cologne, Germany. With the exception of Africa and Antarctica, it has distributors on every continent. Scrub Daddy also manufactures some plastic products in Taiwan.

One of the things weve been focusing on is diversifying our supply chain, Krause said. We already were attuned to labor problems in China so we moved to a facility in Vietnam. Also, the trade war created an impact, but we didnt suffer from it.

Krause has had a few setbacks triggered by the fast-spreading coronavirus.

Scrub Daddy had contracted with a Chinese factory in Wuhan  the epicenter of the global outbreak  to manufacture its new soap dispenser called, wait for it, the Soap Daddy.

Sadly, the Soap Daddy product is completely on hold. The factory was literally shuttered and the Chinese government told people not to go to work, Krause said. I hear a skeleton crew is coming back in the next couple of weeks and we hope to start production then.

The Soap Daddy was supposed to have seen its debut at the annual international housewares show set for March 14 in Chicago. The four-day convention, officially known as the Inspired Home Show, was canceled this month.

I couldnt stop them from cancelling the biggest marketing event of the year, he said. I had 15 people who were going to be flying out to Chicago and a giant trade booth there. The whole thing is a disaster.

He estimates that hes taking a $50,000 hit, maybe more, on the cost of his trade booth and nonrefundable fees.

Still, Krause is taking the blow in stride. Hes trying to stock 10% to 15% more inventory to buy us a few months or a quarter at the most if the North Jersey plant is idled due to an outbreak.

He has another new product  sourced from Vietnam and already on some American store shelves  that he says will probably be as big as the Scrub Daddy.

He calls it the Eraser Daddy 10x with Scrubbing Gems, which, Krause said, lasts longer than a competitors product with a similar name.

The first shipments were already on the water when the coronavirus came on. Its already in Bed Bath & Beyond, Krause said. If Vietnam is hit by the virus and they shut down, we may end up in negative inventory status.

And if consumers become paranoid and avoid venturing out of their homes, Krause plans to go to directly to them.

Hes preparing a bulk pack for QVC, the television shopping channel.

Well cater to the increasing number of people wholl be shopping from home, Krause said. Well make sure the entire line is available on Amazon and QVC and deliver it right to their houses.
UPDATE  March 11, 2020: Environment Canada has lifted snowfall warnings previously in effect for parts of B.C.

EARLIER:

A Pacific front could bring wind and heavy snowfall to parts of B.C. including Interior highways overnight into Wednesday.

Environment Canada has said snowfall amounts of 15 to 20 centimetres are expected along the Coquihalla Highway from Hope to Merritt Tuesday night and expected to taper off early in the morning.

Visibility could be affected as travel conditions deteriorate.

Heavy snow is also expected to fall along the Trans-Canada Highway from Eagle Pass to Rogers Pass Tuesday overnight.

About 25 centimetres of snow is expected to accumulate by Wednesday morning.

Strong winds gusting from 60 to 90 km/h over the southern part of the Fraser Canyon including Lytton are expected to ease behind the weather front moving in.

Snowfall warnings are also in effect for the North Columbia and inland sections of the North Coast.
ELKO  In an effort to help control the re-discovered northern pike in Comins Lake, Nevada Department of Wildlife personnel will be implanting pike with radio transmitters beginning this month.

NDOW would like to ask the angling public to release any northern pike with a radio tag back into the water, though pike without the tag should be removed from the lake and humanely dispatched.

The fishery at Comins Lake has had its ups and downs over the course of the last 20 years due to the illegal introduction of northern pike in 1999. Those ups and downs came to an end in 2015 when Nevada Department of Wildlife personnel conducted a large-scale chemical treatment to remove the unsustainable northern pike population.

Unfortunately, pike were found in Comins Lake by local anglers in 2017. Although efforts have been made by NDOW to mechanically remove the small northern pike population that currently exists in the lake, it has not been as effective as it could be.

By implanting the radio transmitters, NDOW will be able to track northern pike movements throughout the year and identify their spawning areas in the early spring months. Ultimately, an overall reduction in the population of northern pike may keep the trout fishery from collapsing as it did in 2006.

Tagged pike will have an eight-inch long cable antennae exiting through their skin near the tail. Additionally, tagged pike can be identified by an orange floy tag that will be attached near its dorsal fin.

If for some reason tagged northern pike cannot be returned to the lake (i.e. torn gill or swallowed hook) please return the tag or the entire pike to the Ely NDOW Field Office. Assistance from the public in returning those tagged pike back into the water will help NDOW protect the quality trout and largemouth bass fishery that so many anglers enjoy each year.

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Kenyas only female white giraffe, one of the worlds rarest, and her calf have been found dead at a wildlife sanctuary in Ijara, Garissa County, confirmed the Ishaqbini Hirola Community Conservancy. The conservationist group, in a statement, said that the death was confirmed on March 10 by the community members and their rangers.

The conservancy stated that the giraffe was in a skeletal state after being killed by armed poachers. The calf was the second birth which was reported in August 2019 which resulted in a family of three white giraffes but only the lone bull remains after the death.

This is a very sad day for the community of Ijara and Kenya as a whole. We are the only community in the world who are custodians of the white giraffe, said Mohammed Ahmednoor, the manager of Ishaqbini Hirola Conservancy.

Its killing is a blow to tremendous steps taken by the community to conserve rare and unique species, and a wakeup call for continued support to conservation efforts," Ahmednoor added.

Read: Video Of Baby Giraffe Running At An Enclosure Wins Internet: Watch

Kenyas white giraffe, with its unique hide, grabbed headlines in 2017 but it is important to note that it was white because of the condition known as leucism and is not albino. The giraffe, endemic to Ishaqbini Hirola Conservancy, had the white colour due to leucism due to which it continues to produce dark pigment in their soft tissue. Due to the rare condition, her eyes were still dark in colour.

Read: Giraffes Classified As 'Vulnerable' After Going Extinct In 7 Countries

'Long term loss'

Unlike leucism, albinism is a condition in which there is an absence of melanin, giving colour to the skin, feathers, hair and eyes. While Leucism is a partial loss of pigmentation which can make the animal have white or patchily coloured skin, hair, feathers and so on, but the pigment cells in the eyes are not affected.

This is a long term loss given that genetics studies and research which were significant investment into the area by researchers, has now gone to the drain. Further to this, the white giraffe was a big boost to tourism in the area," Ahmednoor expressed anguish.

Read: Video Of Newborn Giraffe Trying To Take Its First Step Delights Internet

Read: Thailand: Giraffes Escape, Gallop In The Middle Of A Road: Watch
The Philippines' crucifixion reenactments will be cancelled this year as coronavirus cases climb, said authorities in the city where the annual tourist spectacle is held. About a dozen Catholics regularly have themselves nailed to wooden crosses on Good Friday as penance for their sins. The event attracts thousands of tourists. This year's rituals were planned for farming villages around San Fernando city, north of the capital Manila on April 10, but local officials have stopped the event to prevent mass gatherings and a potential spread of the virus. "We are not disrespecting religious beliefs and practices, but we actually are protecting them from the disease that may put them and their family at risk," San Fernando Mayor Edwin Santiago said in a statement. Philippine health authorities said Wednesday 49 people have tested positive for the virus in the country, up by 16 from a day earlier. A Chinese traveller, one of the country's earliest cases, later died. "I'm disappointed," said resident Ruben Enaje, who was aiming to be crucified for the 34th straight year as part of a religious vow to atone for his sins, told AFP. "I talked with the village chairman and he said we should postpone it because of the worries that many foreign tourists might come here and we might get infected if some of them have the virus," the 59-year-old added. Enaje, a decorator, said he still plans to carry a cross across town to fulfil his religious vow. The coronavirus outbreak has infected more than 118,000 globally with over 4,200 deaths, according to a tally compiled by AFP. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's security detail warned well-wishers on Monday not to touch the Filipino leader, who at 74 lists many ailments and belongs to a vulnerable age group for the virus. However Duterte has said he will ignore his bodyguards' precautions. This photo from 2019 shows a crucifixion reenactment at the Good Friday Philippines event that was called off this year
NEW HARTFORD, N.Y.  New Hartford Central School District sent letters Tuesday notifying parents about a staff member at E.R. Hughes Elementary School who may have been exposed to coronavirus.

Superintendent Robert Nole said the school reached out to the Oneida County Health Department as a precaution, and, According to OCHD, our staff member faces No restrictions because [the staff member] was too far removed from the actual contact.

The district continues to follow guidelines set by the state and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention regarding preventative measures against coronavirus.

Read the full letter below.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-11 23:39:23|Editor: huaxia

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Employees of the Istanbul Municipality wait to disinfect a bus in Istanbul, Turkey, on March 11, 2020. Local authorities in Turkey's biggest city Istanbul on Wednesday speeded up disinfection efforts against the spread of the novel coronavirus after the report of the first confirmed case in the country on Wednesday. (Photo by Yasin Akgul/Xinhua)

ISTANBUL, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Local authorities in Turkey's biggest city Istanbul on Wednesday speeded up disinfection efforts against the spread of the novel coronavirus after the report of the first confirmed case in the country on Wednesday.

"The special hygiene teams of the municipality are hard at work all across Istanbul to disinfect public spaces and transport vehicles against the coronavirus," Ekrem Imamoglu, mayor of Istanbul, tweeted.

Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca on Wednesday announced the first case of the novel coronavirus in Turkey. A male citizen was tested positive for the coronavirus.

The patient had returned from Europe, contracted the virus there and suffered high fever and coughing, said the minister, noting that the patient was completely isolated.
Two men were killed and another was injured after the boundary wall of an eye hospital collapsed in southeast Delhis Lajpat Nagar on Monday, police said.

Amit (30) and Gagan Wadhwa (45) were killed after the boundary wall of Model Eye Hospital in Lajpat Nagar II collapsed, they said.

The injured, Sharafat Ali (35), a resident of JJ Colony in Tigri, has been taken to AIIMS Trauma Centre, police said.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southeast) R P Meena said the around 12-foot-high boundary wall of the hospital fell towards the service lane.

Two-three labourers and son of owner of a house near the hospital suffered severe injuries.

They were getting some iron work done in the back side of their house in the service lane, a senior police officer said. The lower portion of the boundary wall (about 6 feet) was built using mud some 25-30 years ago and the upper portion was made of cement around 8-10 years ago, police said.

The lower portion of the boundary wall which was built by mud could not sustain pressure and the boundary wall collapsed leading to casualty, the DCP said.

A case has been registered in this regard, he added.
Independent TD for Laois/Offaly, Carol Nolan, has expressed concern around the level of protection being afforded to older persons who may be inadvertently exposed to the Coronavirus.

Deputy Nolan was speaking after she was contacted by an elderly constituent who said she and a number of other older passengers had to share a bus in close proximity to a young man returning from the north of Italy.

This is a time of unprecedented anxiety around a virus that is fast becoming a public health emergency," Deputy Nolan said.

"We all want to ensure that best practice is adhered to and that people take sensible and prudent precautions to avoid contact with those who may be exposed.

"We also want to ensure that particularly vulnerable populations such as the elderly and those with underlying conditions are given extra layers of protection.

"That is why I share the concern of my constituent who felt that perhaps more needs to be done in terms of informing younger passengers and those who are travelling home about the increased risk to older persons.

"I accept that it will not always be possible to coordinate a massive nationwide response within a limited timeframe but I do believe we should be thinking of putting in place specific transport at our airports and bus stations which would be reserved for the elderly and those with underlying conditions.

"This may assist in ensuring that they have as limited exposure as possible to any increased health threats.

"It may also help to alleviate or greatly reduce the pressures that are going to arise within our already over-stretched health system, concluded Deputy Nolan.
The University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) has embarked on strike action alongside the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), disruptin...





The University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) has embarked on strike action alongside the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), disrupting its calendar for the first time in 20 years.





On Monday, ASUU had commenced a two-week warning strike to compel the federal government to implement its 2019 agreement and resolution with the union.





On Tuesday, Moyosore Ajao, ASUU chairman in UNILORIN, told TheCable that the institution would abide by the unions directive, in a move that compromises on the stability of its academic calendar.





What has the FG done to compensate UNILORIN lecturers during those times when we never went on strike? Its not as if were getting anything extra for not joining our colleagues, he said.





Government should be held responsible for this. This is March 10 and weve not even received our salaries. These are the collateral damages that result when issues come up between ASUU and FG.





Calls placed to current students of varsity revealed that the institution will be temporarily discontinuing ongoing exams for its 100 and 200 level students over the next two weeks.





In 2019, ASUU had reached an agreement with the federal government to end a protracted strike action among universities  after more than three months of halting academic activities.





But President Mohammadu Buhari would later issue a directive, threatening to stop salaries of its members if they failed to enroll in the Integrated Payroll Personnel Information System (IPPIS).




The Minister for Railway Development, Joe Ghartey says government is hopeful of signing a contractual agreement with a strategic investor for the construction of the 1,200km Kumasi-Paga-Ouagadougou railway line in September this year.

According to him, the procurement process for selecting an investor for the Build-Operate-Transfer project had commenced with three firms shortlisted awaiting the acceptance of the final feasibility report before awarding the contract.

The firms are; African Global Development Sarl, China Railway No.10 Engineering Group Co. Ltd and Frontline Capital Advisors which had its operating license as a fund management company withdrawn by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Speaking at a press briefing in Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region, Joe Ghartey, said, the two countries are committed to working in synergy with the transaction advisors to get a concessioner for the project.

We have finished the request for qualification stage and we have shortlisted three firms but before we can release final process of the procurement procedure we must accept the final feasibility report which will state the cost of the project and define the module and the concession period.

We envisage that within three weeks when we meet in Burkina Faso, by April we will come out with a final document that we will all take to our host countries for their approval base on their advice.

It is our view that if we work very hard, in September we will be able to reach a situation where we will be signing an agreement with the concessioner and that is what we are working towards. When we are choosing the concessioner, one of the things we want to insist on is that the concessioner should have the capacity to start in Ghana and Burkina Faso at the same time.

We want to choose a concessioner who can at least start two fronts in Ghana maybe Tamale and Juapong and at the same time start in Burkina Faso. So, all that will influence our choice of concessioner and we don't want to disclose the cost of the project now. If we say the cost and it comes out as a different figure it will be seen as misleading the public but we shall disclose the cost of the project after the feasibility report had been accepted by both countries, he said.

The 1,200km line which will go through Hohoe, Nkwanta, Bimbila, Yendi, Tamale, Walewale, Bolgatanga, Paga, Po, Zabre, Tenkodogo and Manga will end at Ouagadougou.

However, the ongoing construction of the Tema-Mpakadan alignment route is expected to be completed by August 2020.

The project when completed will facilitate transportation of agricultural goods, construction materials, manufactured goods, petroleum products, containerized cargo and passengers.

The railway line will also have huge economic potential following the discovery, in commercial quantities, of mineral resources like iron ore, bauxite and manages.

---citinewsroom
GLENS FALLS  The founder of the WellNow urgent care centers said he believes Glens Falls is a good market to get into, because of the difficulties local people have getting access to primary care doctors.

The company wants to build a 3,500-square-foot urgent care center on Broad Street on the same lot as Walgreens pharmacy.

Dr. John Radford, who founded the company in 2011, said the company has been going into smaller communities and saw a need in Glens Falls.

Were going to kind of come in and bring a great patient experience, create increased access for folks who may not be able to get into their doctors. Theres a lot of primary care shortages along New York state, he said.

Radford decided to open the center after his work in an emergency room convinced him treatment could be done better.

WellNow stresses patient experience, he said. He has brought in representatives from companies such as Disney, Southwest Airlines and the Ritz-Carlton to learn about customer service.

That is different than what people would typically see in health care. We try to be leaders in the industry in customer service, he said.

The lobby has a more welcoming environment than is common, with a Pac-Man arcade game and ice cream machine, he said.

Youre not coming in and seeing glass around the reception desk and somebody sliding the glass with a bunch of signs stuck around it, he said.

Patients can check in online and be given a projected wait time. The staff also follows up with patients after they have checked out, Radford said.

We reach out to all of our patients within 48 hours to check on them to see if they have any questions, he said.

WellNow was ahead of the curve in sending all of its prescriptions electronically to pharmacies the day the first center opened in 2012, he said.

There used to be a low bar in urgent care, he said.

A typical center employs about 12 people, including doctors, nurses and technicians, he said.

The Glens Falls Planning Board on March 3 tabled the application until its April 7 meeting for some minor tweaks.

Board member Rachel Murray said the proposed facility ties in nicely with the Walgreens, and she likes the brick veneer the building would have.

However, board member Brigit Culligan said she did not like the brown color of the brick but preferred red. Another issue the board had with the design is the cultured stone veneer on the bottom.

Radford said the WellNow would open in November. The projects cost is around $1 million.

Radford was not concerned about local competition. Saratoga Hospital is planning a medical building for the site of the former Carl Rs restaurant at Northway Exit 18. The restaurant will be torn down, and a nearly 18,000-square-foot medical office building put in its place. An urgent care center in the building will be run in partnership between Saratoga Hospital and Hudson Headwaters Health Network.

Saratoga Emergency Physicians, which is affiliated with Saratoga Hospital, runs Adirondack Urgent Care at Mount Royal Plaza on Route 9.

His company works with hospitals on seamless transfer of medical records, Radford said. Some other urgent care centers charge building use fees, so customers get hit with more than one bill, he said.

Weve been in communities where the urgent care bill turns out to be three or four times what a typical urgent care bill would be, he said.

Saratoga Hospital spokesman Peter Hopper and Hudson Headwaters Health Network spokeswoman Jane Hooper did not return messages seeking comment.

Ray Agnew, spokesman for Glens Falls Hospital, said he did not see WellNows entry into the market as an issue, since the hospital is focused on the best quality emergent care, not urgent care.

Agnew said the hospital coordinates with Hudson Headwaters on patient care.

We have a close working relationship with the doctors and their providers, so we can make a seamless transition from the care from urgent care to emergency services, he said.

Reach Michael Goot at 518-742-3320 or mgoot@poststar.com and follow his blog poststar.com/blogs/michael_goot/.

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COSTA MESA, Calif., March 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Experian North America today released its third annual inclusion and diversity report, which focuses on the company's dedication to creating a truly diverse and inclusive workplace. According to the "2019 The Power of You" report, 1,200 women were in STEM positions at the company, 47% of new hires were women and 44% were non-white during 2019, and women and men were promoted equally.

"Diversity of background, of experience, and of thought brings new ideas to our organization which fosters the innovation that helps to improve the lives of consumers every day. Our culture of inclusion and diversity underpins our business success which, underpins what our brand stands for," said Craig Boundy, CEO of Experian North America. "With the launch of our '2019 The Power of You' report, we are excited to share how our inclusive workplace is helping to drive our culture of innovation."

Experian North America started its Power of You movement in 2017 to raise awareness about the company's efforts in diversity and inclusion and provide employees transparency into the initiatives that are part of this program. Advanced policies across a wide range of initiatives such as pay equity, paternal leave, flexible working arrangements and corporate social responsibility help to make employees feel committed and empowered to work at Experian.

In 2018, the company launched Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), which are company-supported networks run by employees that create a strong sense of community and connection. All of the ERGs have a core set of objectives that describe the positive impact they focus on. In 2019, Experian created its newest ERG, Aspire, which focuses on mental health and physical disability awareness and caregiving. The company has formed at total of eight ERGs with 1,200 active participates. Employees participate in events including charity walks, fundraising events, and toy and food drives, among others. Events recognize International Women's Day, Veteran's Day, the Lunar New Year, National Coming Out Day, Cinco de Mayo, Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, Black History Month, Ramadan, Kwanzaa, Hispanic Heritage Month and Diwali, among others.

"We encourage our employees to bring their whole selves to work and have created a culture of inclusion that helps to fuel our continued product innovation," added Justin Hastings, Chief Human Resources Officer of Experian North America. "Our talent is diverse and we are continuously hiring top talent and investing in programs to support our employees and create the most advanced products for our customers."

Throughout 2019, employees spent more than 12,000 hours volunteering. With the support of employees, Experian donated more than $10,000 for California wildfire relief to the Red Cross. In addition, employees packed a total of 65,880 meals volunteering with Rise Against Hunger locations in Costa Mesa, Allen and Franklin, California.

Experian also had hundreds of employees from throughout the organization volunteer to personally evaluate Experian Boost, a free, first-of-its-kind, consumer-controlled tool that has the potential to impact an individual's financial health for the better. Employees participated in this program because they believed in the product's potential to help millions of Americans.

Experian fosters a culture of development and growth and has various forms of mentorship, career path and leadership programs and initiatives to support employees.

A copy of this year's report can be found here.

Awards

Throughout the past few years, Experian has received numerous accolades for its inclusive and innovative workplace and culture. Experian was named one the 100 Best Companies to Work For in 2020 and one of the Best Workplaces for Diversity in 2020 by Fortune and Great Place to Work. Additionally, for the second consecutive year, Experian was awarded a perfect score in the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's 2020 Corporate Equality Index. Experian was also named a Top Workplace in 2020 in Orange County, Calif., by the Orange County Register for the seventh consecutive year, and one of the world's most innovative companies by Forbes magazine for five years.

About Experian

Experian is the world's leading global information services company. During life's big moments  from buying a home or a car to sending a child to college to growing a business by connecting with new customers  we empower consumers and our clients to manage their data with confidence. We help individuals to take financial control and access financial services, businesses to make smarter decisions and thrive, lenders to lend more responsibly, and organizations to prevent identity fraud and crime.

We have 17, 200 people operating across 44 countries, and every day we're investing in new technologies, talented people and innovation to help all our clients maximize every opportunity. We are listed on the London Stock Exchange (EXPN) and are a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index.

Learn more at www.experianplc.com or visit our global content hub at our global news blog for the latest news and insights from the Group.

Contact:

Michael Troncale

Experian Public Relations

1 714 830 5462

[email protected]

SOURCE Experian

Related Links

www.experianplc.com


Vietnam has approved a controversial regulation allowing the construction of micro apartments in commercial projects, which could intensify overpopulation in big cities.

The Construction Ministry has approved the construction of commercial apartments as small as 25 square meters (270 square feet), compared to the earlier minimum requirement of 45 square meters (480 square feet).

The new regulation, effective July 1, requires this type of apartments to have at least one bathroom and one bedroom with natural light.

The number of apartments between 25 and 45 square meters must not exceed 25 percent of total units in a project, the ministry has said in its latest circular on the topic.

This issue has been debated for years with those opposing the move saying it would create slums in Vietnams biggest cities.

HCMC authorities had in early 2018 said that such a policy will attract more immigrants to the city of 13 million and apply even greater pressure on an overburdened infrastructure, worsening chronic problems like severe traffic congestion and flooding.

Tran Ngoc Chinh, chairman of the Vietnam Urban Development Planning Association, said that a micro apartment could end up accommodating several residents living together to save costs, and eventually turn into an "elevated slum."

Nguyen Hoang, director of market research at real estate firm DKRA Vietnam, said this type of apartments could disrupt urban planning strategies in big cities.

But the Ho Chi Minh City Real Estate Association (HoREA) has voiced support for the new regulation, saying this could be the solution to the citys shortage of affordable apartments.

It said Vietnam is seeing a rising ratio of one or two-person households, noting that such units accounted for 32 percent of the total last year.

An estimated 7.4 percent of HCMCs population live in apartments under six square meters, while 33 percent of households live in rented apartments or houses because they cannot afford to buy their own, it said.

Almost three million immigrants in Vietnams largest city are in need of small apartments. Hundreds of thousands of immigrant workers in the city live in low quality neighborhoods near industrial zones, it said.

Micro apartments, which are estimated to cost around VND750 million ($32,200) each, will be a suitable housing option for this group of residents, who are living in apartments which are even smaller than the new standard, it added.

Some experts say the micro apartment policy will work only if it is well managed.

Do Thi Thu Hang, director of advisory services at real estate firm Savills Vietnam, said micro apartments will be affordable to many residents, but they need to be built in tandem with good infrastructure of utilities, fire safety and waste disposal system.

Surrounding infrastructure such as roads, schools and hospitals will also be key for the success of this type of apartment, she said.
With the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) fielding candidates as per their strength, members for seven seats of the Rajya Sabha are likely to be elected unopposed. The BJP may get its three MPs elected to Rajya Sabha, while the Shiv Sena, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Congress are likely to get four seats.

Of the 55 Rajya Sabha seats going to polls on March 26, seven are from Maharashtra and the last date of filing nomination is March 13. The RS members are to be elected by 288 MLAs in the lower house of the state legislature. The required number of votes to get an RS seat elected is 37. With the changed equations in the state, the three ruling parties can send their four members collectively on the basis of their number of the MLAs. The MVAs collective tally is 170 members against the required number of 148 MLAs to win four seats.

The NCP, which has 54 members in the Assembly, is likely to field two candidates, while Sena (56 MLAs) and Congress (44) will field one candidate each. The BJP has 105 MLAs, with support of another nine MLAs in the lower house.

Besides its party chief Sharad Pawar contesting again, the NCP is believably considering former Maharashtra minister Fauziya Khan for the second seat. The Congresss state leadership has reportedly submitted a list of three to four leaders to the partys central leadership for the election. Rajiv Satav, Mukul Wasnik and Hussain Dalwai are being considered for the seat. Although we were demanding two of the four seats the alliance is contesting, the NCP pointed at our number in the Assembly. They said the number of their retiring MPs was two, said a top Congress leader, on condition of anonymity.

Like the Congress, the state leadership of the BJP, too, met its central leadership and discussed the probable names. According to party insiders, the BJP has finalised names of Union minister Ramdas Athawale from Republican Party of India (A), former Satara MP Udayanraje Bhosale, who defected from the NCP to join the BJP and lost the Lok Sabha by-polls in October last year. For the third seat, the party may hand pick from between Vijaya Rahatkar, former state womens commission chairman, and former state minister Eknath Khadse. Party insiders also believe the third BJP candidate could also be from outside the state.

The Shiv Sena is considering Priyanka Chaturvedi, party spokesperson who joined the party last year after quitting the Congress, for the only seat it is contesting. The party could also pick Chandrakant Khaire and Anandrao Adsul, who lost the Lok Sabha elections last year. With the support of our allies and independents, we can easily win three seats that require 111 votes. As the MVA does not have sufficient votes for the fifth seat, they will field only four candidates and in such a scenario, the RS polls are likely to go uncontested, said a senior BJP leader.

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`Disgraced film producer Harvey Weinstein has been sentenced to 23 years in prison for r.a.p.e and s.e.x,u.a.l assault.

He was found guilty in a trial in New York last month, a dramatic fall from grace for one of Hollywoods most powerful figures.

The 67-year-old appeared in court on Wednesday in a wheelchair.

His lawyers had appealed for leniency, saying even the minimum sentence of five years could be a life sentence.



But prosecutors argued Weinstein should be given the maximum possible sentence given his lifetime of abuse towards women and lack of remorse for his actions.

Weinstein addressed the court for the first time on Wednesday, saying he had deep remorse but described him and other men as totally confused by events in comments seen as critical to the #MeToo movement.

Dozens of women have come forward with allegations of sexual misconduct, including rape, against Weinstein since October 2017.

He has consistently denied wrongdoing and these were the first charges to make it to trial.

Weinstein still faces further criminal charges, for r.a.p.e and s.e.x.u.a.l assault, in Los Angeles.

His lawyers have vowed to appeal against his conviction.

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For new residents who do not yet know other students they prefer to room with or are looking to build new friendships, the roommate matching service seeks to match residents according to similarities in lifestyle and habits.

Auden Ithaca, the student housing community serving Cornell University students, has launched a roommate matching program that helps residents connect with the most compatible roommates possible. Aimed at ensuring students are able to build the ideal lifestyle while attending university, the program is part of Auden Ithacas priority of fostering a strong community among its residents.

For new residents who do not yet know other students they prefer to room with or are looking to build new friendships, the roommate matching service seeks to match residents according to similarities in lifestyle and habits. It begins with students completing a personal profile questionnaire that accounts for study habits, social habits and also similar interests and hobbies. The program matches roommates best according to similarities in their profile as well as floor plan preferences.

Located within walking distance of Cornell University and minutes from downtown Ithaca, Auden Ithaca I became a coveted housing community for university students to take advantage of the upgraded, modern amenities offered by DMG Investments. Auden Ithaca II will bring more new amenities to the community, including a state of the art fitness center, which residents of both Auden properties will receive access to.

The Auden Ithaca community has become renowned in the community for its vaulted ceilings, luxury living spaces that include world class kitchens, having on-site laundry facilities, and parking for residents. Residents additionally receive free HD cable and WiFi, creating a high demand for the units.

Information about the community can be found at: https://www.audenithaca.com/

About DMG Investments

Headquartered in New York City at 100 Wall Street, DMG Investments LLC ("DMG") was established in 2013 as the US subsidiary of DoThink Holding Group, a well-known real estate developer in China.

DMG focuses on real estate acquisitions, development and management as well as financing. Leveraging the expertise of a team of dedicated real estate professionals with decades of experience creating and adding value for investors, DMG has amassed a portfolio of best-in-class assets across the US in dynamic markets in New York, New Jersey, Texas, Tennessee, Wisconsin, and South Carolina.

As the portfolio continues to grow, DMG is dedicated to providing amenities and services that enhance the livability of each project be it in the student housing, traditional multifamily or condominium sector. In the years to come, the goal of DMG is to become a global real estate enterprise with a world-class reputation for sustainable development and a business philosophy that emphasizes the importance of delivering value for investors, owners and residents.
DILI, East Timor - A six-party coalition in East Timor has chosen independence hero Xanana Gusmao to lead the next government, pending approval from the countrys president.

East Timor has been in a political deadlock since another ruling coalition that backed Prime Minister Taur Matan Ruak collapsed in February with the leaders request to resign. The countrys president, Guterres Lu Olo, has yet to accept that request, leaving the county in limbo.

Gusmao, East Timors first president and former prime minister, has said for weeks that his coalition controls enough seats to form the next government. Lu Olo, who belongs to an opposing party, has stalled the process.

On Tuesday, Gusmaos coalition sent a letter to the president requesting a meeting and formally putting his name forward as the next prime minister.

Gusmaos coalition previously met wit Lu Olo on March 6 to inform him that they intended to form the next government, but the president asked the parties to first hold more meetings.

Gusmao has said if the impasse continues, it will bring great destruction to the countrys economy, making small communities vulnerable.

East Timor has been independent since 2002, following decades of occupation by Indonesia.
A man accused of running down a pregnant pet cow, slitting her throat and letting his dogs antagonise her for hours has denied any wrongdoing in court.

Michael Kevin Johns, 37, pleaded not guilty to animal cruelty and torture after he allegedly attacked a four-month pregnant cow in December 2019.

Police allege he drove onto privately owned property in Dungong, near the NSW Hunter Valley, and run the cow down, breaking her leg, before slitting her throat with a pocket knife.

The injuries weren't enough to kill her, and police claim Mr Johns let his 15 Maremma sheepdogs bite and harassed the cow as she lay dying for at least four hours and 20 minutes.

Mr Johns has refuted the claims.

Michael Kevin Johns is accused of running down a pregnant pet cow, slitting her throat and letting his dogs antagonise her for hours (stock image)

Hunter Valley Rural Crime Investigators claim Mr Johns handed himself into authorities during the investigation.

He has since been handed several new charges relating to the treatment of his own animals, including two counts of failing to provide veterinary treatment for a puppy.

The Maremma sheepdog puppy was suffering from intestinal parasites, police allege.

The pregnant cow's owner told the court he was forced to euthanise her because of the injuries she sustained.

He described the process as distressing to The Newcastle News, and said saying goodbye to one of his herd was made even worse due to the drought.

The rest of the herd are still recovering from the trauma of the experience, he said.

Mr Johns will return to Raymond Terrace Local Court next month, and remains on strict conditional bail.
MANILA, Philippines  Two foreigners are facing deportation for violating the countrys immigration laws, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said.

In a statement, BI Intelligence Division chief Fortunato Manahan Jr. identified the two as Myanmar national John Simon, 25, and Iranian national Arazil Saeid, 42.

They were arrested by immigration agents in back-to-back operations in Laguna and Batangas.

Manahan said Simon was apprehended at his residence in Laguna last March 5 for overstaying in the country.

He was arrested Thursday morning at his residence through the assistance of the Sta. Rosa City Police, which resulted in a joint operation against the subject, he said.

Upon verification of his travel documents, it was confirmed that he arrived in the country in 2012 and been overstaying since 2016, which is a deportable offense, he added.

Arazil , meanwhile, was arrested on Tuesday, March 10 after attending a hearing at the Lipa City Hall of Justice following a warrant of deportation issued against him last November.

Immigration records show that Arazil misrepresented in his application for a temporary residence and was ordered deported last August 2018.

Arazil is facing deportation for violation of the Philippine Immigration Act of 1940 for misrepresentation, and has been tagged as an undesirable alien, Manahan said. The Commissioner ordered that he be located and arrested, to be able to implement the deportation.

The two are currently detained at the BI Warden Facility pending deportation.

The post 2 foreigners face deportation in PH appeared first on UNTV News.
Business Insider spoke to the owners and managers of three nail salons on Tuesday to ask how the coronavirus outbreak has impacted their business  which is based on physical contact between manicurists and customers.

The businesses we spoke with said they had already high standards for sanitation, but had upped the ante in the face of the outbreak.

Staff have been concerned about the risks of working with the public, but have still been showing up to their jobs.

The owner of one salon in Seattle said they experienced a slower weekend than usual, but that they haven't seen a dramatic drop in sales.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Fear of the coronavirus has led many Americans to stockpile hand sanitizer and skip handshakes, so one would think that they would stay away from the nail salon, too. But that doesn't seem to be the case for three nail salons that Business Insider spoke with on Tuesday.

manicurist

FXQuadro/Shutterstock

The three salons  one in Seattle and two based in New York City  said that they haven't seen a dramatic decline in business, but their employees are concerned about coronavirus and are taking extra precautions to make sure the virus doesn't spread on their premises.

Kelly Huynh co-owns Greenhouse Nail Spa in Seattle, Washington, with her mother. Their business is located in the epicenter of the US outbreak, and Huynh said a lot of her employees are "pretty scared, but not hysterical about it."

She said they have been keeping up to date on all the latest information.

"I kind of rely on them to tell me the news, all the new cases, especially locally. Everyone's paying really close attention and they're my first point for news," she said.

Greenhouse Nail Spa in Seattle has been slightly slower during the coronavirus outbreak. The epicenter of the US outbreak is in Seattle.

JP P./Yelp

To protect her workers, Huynh invested in the coveted N95 respiratory masks, which are the best at filtering out droplets in the air that may contain the virus. They're a step up from the surgical masks that her workers typical wear while working.

Story continues

The other two salons, Primp & Polish in Brooklyn, and Tenoverten in New York City, are sticking to their normal surgical masks, but making sure that their workers wear them throughout their service.

That's fine for the staff at Primp & Polish, according to general manager Jessica Austin, who says that the workers are so used to wearing them all the time that she normally has to remind them to take them off to speak to their clients so that they're understood.

"Now, we're not necessarily pushing that," Austin said.

Taking extra precautions

The salon owners and managers said that they already have high standards for keeping their businesses clean, but efforts have been increased because of coronavirus.

At Primp & Polish, the staff usually do a thorough clean in the morning, but now are cleaning "every hour on the hour," according to Austin.

That includes disinfecting doorknobs, bathrooms, and all surfaces that customers touch.

Nadine Abramcyk, co-founder of Tenoverten, said that every station has been equipped with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Since Tenoverten is a non-toxic salon, Abramcyk said she wouldn't normally have such a strong product, but feels "it's more important that people are using a hand sanitizer with enough alcohol in it to kill bacteria."

The salons we spoke to clean their metal instruments in an autoclave, which disinfects metal.

Olena Chukhil/Shutterstock

She says they have also been double cleansing their pedicure basins with a disinfectant called CaviCide "just for extra measure."

All three salons are throwing out tools like buffers, pumice, and files after one use, and cleaning their metal instruments after every use in an autoclave, a microwave-like machine for disinfecting metal that's used in hospitals.

And of course there is the constant hand washing.

"We wash our hands between clients, but its even more important to make sure that everyone is reminded to wash. Wash like they've just been touching jalapeno peppers," Huynh said.

One thing that's causing some concern at Tenoverten is having enough surgical masks on hand.

Abramcyk said they usually have a supply to last them for about two weeks, but she found out Tuesday that their supplier is facing a shortage.

"We're just not sure how it's going to affect us in the coming weeks," she said, adding that it's an example of the "trickle-down effect of people stockpiling" during the outbreak.

Stay home if you're sick

Staff at all three salons are being encouraged to stay home if they're sick. Primp & Polish and Tenoverten pointed out that they have paid sick leave, so that their staff don't have to worry about losing out on wages if they don't come in.

At Primp & Polish, if a staff member takes sick leave, they will be required to bring a doctor's note confirming that they are healthy and don't have coronavirus before returning to work. Staff at Tenoverten are also being told to inform their manager if a client comes in sick.

Primp & Polish's Bedford Avenue location in Williamsburg, Brooklyn has seen a decline in walk-ins, which the general manager believes may be due to a drop in tourism. The neighborhood is popular with tourists.

Primp & Polish/Yelp

At Greenhouse Nail Spa, they've suspended their cancellation fee so that clients don't feel pressured to come to their appointment if they feel sick or are afraid of getting sick.

Huynh says they have seen "a couple of cancellations due to the coronavirus specifically," but says it seems like "most of our clients are doing their best to just live their life."

No declining sales, for now

While last weekend was pretty slow, Huynh pointed out that it's a slow season in general for nail salons. However, she says her mom knows of other salons that are having it way worse and said that they should feel lucky.

At Primp & Polish, Austin says they've actually been getting a lot of new customers, which she thinks may have to do with people questioning their usual nail spot.

"I think maybe some other mom and pops may or may not keep up certain standards and may be suffering because people may not want to take the risk," she said.

Austin added: "In general, a lot of our clientele are local and they trust us. They know our standards."

Tenoverten, a chain of nail salons in New York and Los Angeles, now has hand sanitizers at every nail station.

Lauren M./Yelp

"We haven't really seen an effect on our business, year over year," Abramcyk of Tenoverten said. "Our numbers are right where they should be. But again I think we're in uncertain times, and I don't know if that will change tomorrow or next week. We're preparing ourselves for it to change, that's for sure."

Abramcyk said Tenoverten sent out a letter to clients recently walking them through how they keep their salons clean, and she said many have come in and expressed how thankful they were to receive that information.

She added that she's noticed that online sales had gone up recently, which she thinks may have to do with people who don't have access to a safe salon starting to do their nails at home. And hand moisturizer was a hot item, for all of those cracked hands from constant washing.

Read the original article on Business Insider
The Chancellor has today announced that he plans to abolish the so-called 'reading tax'.

As he delivered his budget, Chancellor Rishi Sunak said VAT on digital publications including books, newspapers, magazines and academic journals is to be abolished from December 1.

Announcing the news, Mr Sunak joked: 'There will be no VAT on works of fiction, 'like John McDonnell's Economics for the Many.'

Chancellor Rishi Sunak said VAT on digital publications including books, newspapers, magazines and academic journals is to be abolished from December 1

The digital offerings of magazines, eBooks, audiobooks, journals and newspaper subscriptions are currently subject to a 20 per cent standard VAT rate while printed publications are zero-rated.

Print publications have never had VAT applied to them because governments have sought to avoid a tax on reading, which would act as a barrier to knowledge.

Sunak told the Commons: 'Digital publications are subject to VAT. That can't be right. So today I'm abolishing the Reading Tax.

'From the 1st December, just in time for Christmas, books, newspapers, magazines or academic journals, however they are read, will have no VAT charge whatsoever.'

Getting in a dig at the opposition, he added: 'There will be no VAT on historical fiction by Hilary Mantel, manuals or textbooks like Gray's Anatomy, or indeed works of fantasy like John McDonnell's Economics for the Many.

'It's sold so few copies it's literally his own Little-Read Book.'

In 2018, the Professional Publishers Association pushed for then-Chancellor Philip Hammond to cut VAT on digital publications in his budget, but he declined to do so.

It subsequently launched an 'Axe the Reading Tax' campaign.

Last year, the Publishers' Association argue that the one in five people who use digital books are being unfairly hit by a 20 per cent VAT charge despite printed versions being exempt.

It said that removing the tax could put up to 210m back into the pockets of UK consumers, half of whom (53 per cent) read paid-for digital publications.

Children's author Cressida Cowell was among those who called for the 'illogical and unfair' tax to be scrapped.

It was scrapped across 18 European nations including France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Spain, Holland and Sweden in 2018, after new EU legislation allowed member states to reduce or do away with VAT.

Physical books, newspapers and magazines were exempted from VAT in 1973, but no exceptions had previously been made for digital versions.




His critics wrote him off as a youthful baby chino (chancellor in name only) when he took over the Treasury in January.

But Rishi Sunak, 39, won praise from the man he replaced today for delivering the Budget after just weeks in the top job.

In 65 minutes this afternoon he set the economy on a path to dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, opening the Government spending taps with a series of eye-catching changes with a 30billion bonanza.

He even found room for populist moves, including freezing both alcohol and fuel duty.

Sajid Javid praised his successor after this afternoon's fiscal showcase, saying he has 'risen to the challenge' despite only taking over in February.

Although widely tipped as a future chancellor, Mr Sunak, 39, was parachuted into the role after Mr Javid quit after losing a Downing Street power struggle with Boris Johnson's powerful chief aide Dominic Cummings.

Bromsgrove MP Mr Javid, who quit rather than fire his own aides, was on the backbenches this afternoon.

He hailed Mr Sunak for being 'absolutely right to focus his attention on the threat posed by the coronavirus'.

'He had only four weeks to write this Budget and he has risen to the challenge,' he added.

'Although I do recognise much of it, it is different in one significant respect - there has been a dramatic change, as he set out, in the global economy, and this means we have to, of course, face these challenges as a nation,' he said.

His critics wrote him off as a youthful baby chino (chancellor in name only) when he took over the Treasury in January. But Rishi Sunak, 39, won praise from the man he replaced today for delivering the Budget after just weeks in the top job

Although widely tipped as a future chancellor, Mr Sunak, 39, was parachuted into the role after Mr Javid quit after losing a Downing Street power struggle with Boris Johnson's powerful chief aide Dominic Cummings

Bromsgrove MP Mr Javid, who quit rather than fire his own aides, was on the backbenches this afternoon alongside Andrea Leadsom, who was also axed in February's reshuffle. He hailed Mr Sunak for being 'absolutely right to focus his attention on the threat posed by the coronavirus'

Rishi Sunak, 39, (left, outside No 11) won praise from the man he replaced today for delivering the Budget after just weeks in the top job

Sajid Javid praised his successor after this afternoon's fiscal showcase, saying he has 'risen to the challenge' despite only taking over in February.

The NHS and other public services will get a 5billion emergency response fund, with Mr Sunak vowing he 'will go further if necessary'.

Sunak's rise to the top Rishi Sunak, a GP's son who married an Indian tech billionaire's daughter and built a multi million-pound fortune that saw him dubbed the 'Maharaja of the Dales', has enjoyed a meteoric rise to become Chancellor at the age of just 39. A graduate of 42,000-per-year Winchester College and Oxford University, where he studied PPE, he is believed to be one of the richest members of Parliament, and lives with his family in a magnificent Georgian manor house in the small village of Kirby Sigston, just outside Northallerton in North Yorkshire. His Instagram account depicts a sport-loving family man who dotes on the two daughters he shares with his wife, Akshata Murthy, whose father NR Narayana Murthy is India's sixth-wealthiest man thanks to his ownership of multinational business technology giant Infosys. A multi-millionaire in his own right thanks to his investment career, Mr Sunak was known to be close to his former boss Sajid Javid, with the pair joining each other on nights out and sharing Star Wars jokes on Twitter. And although he has taken the job at Number 11 thanks to the bombshell departure of his former mentor, few at Westminster doubted he would reach the top in the end. Mr Sunak has experienced a dizzying rise since taking William Hague's Yorkshire seat of Richmond at the 2015 general election, which is when he first acquired his 'Maharaja of the Dales' moniker. Akshata herself runs fashion label Akshata Designs and is also a director of a venture capital firm founded by her father in 2010. Her shareholding in Infosys alone is estimated at 185million. Advertisement

In a huge 2billion bailout, ministers are footing the sick pay bill for up to two million small and medium sized businesses, covering the 14 days of a quarantine period.

Half of businesses will pay no rates for the next year to help them weather the storm - with pubs benefiting from a freeze in alcohol duties to step them going under while millions of people are having to self-isolate. Job seekers will no longer have to attend job centre to get benefits.

Mr Sunak said in total the 12billion for coronavirus, plus a splurge on other big-ticket items including a tax cut for millions of workers, amounted to a 30billion 'fiscal stimulus', and would boost economic growth by 0.5 per cent over the next two years.

Despite a bewildering array of high-spending policies - which effectively unwind a decade of austerity - he stated that the government will still be on track to meet its borrowing and debt rules.

Staunch Brexiteer Mr Sunak was promoted to Boris Johnson's Cabinet after the dramatic reshuffle in July and took over the top job in January.

Mr Javid, who became chancellor last summer, refused to sack his own staff and replace them with No 10 yes men and women and walked out, paving the way for Mr Sunak to take over.

There was speculation that he would postpone the Budget to give himself more time to get his feet under the table.

But he decided not to and went ahead this afternoon to rave reviews from his colleagues.

Conservative former prime minister Theresa May commended him for the 'difficult' Budget he had to deliver, adding: 'I trust in the discussions that were held prior to the delivery of the Budget that there was the necessary tension between No 10 and the Treasury in developing this Budget.

'Generally speaking, prime ministers want to spend money and chancellors want to manage the public finances prudently.'

Mr Javid, who was sat behind Mrs May, could be heard joking: 'So true.'

But he also warned the Government not to forget the importance of the fiscal rules laid out in the Conservative manifesto.

The Bromsgrove MP said the rules 'help us keep our economy strong, help us to keep taxes low and they preserve our flexibility for when we need it most'.

Congratulating his replacement Rishi Sunak on completing his first Budget, Mr Javid urged the new Chancellor to 'stand ready to do more' as coronavirus continues to spread.

He added that he has 'every faith' that the Prime Minister and Mr Sunak will 'do the right thing and that whatever happens as a country we will emerge stronger on the other side'.

He also proposed a temporary cut in employers' national insurance, to help relieve the impact of coronavirus on workers and the economy.

Responding to the Budget, Mr Javid said the UK is 'facing the most severe threat to our economy since the global financial crisis'.

He also warned that the Government must 'get on to the front foot to support the financially vulnerable, who will be as fearful for their economic security as they are for their health'.

Not unexpectedly, other Tory MPs praised the Budget, including Andy Carter, who represents Warrington South.

He said: 'Great Budget from Chancellor Rishi Sunak gettting the balance right, levelling up and protecting our country from the coronavirus threat.

'Very pleased to hear big steps to support small business sector.'

There was also some mock praise from Labour benches, with many Corbynistas trying to claim the increase in spending was a result of its own policies.

They also claimed it vindicated Jeremy Corbyn's manifesto, despite the party suffering its worst election defeat in 80 years in December.

Shadow justice secretary Richard Burgon, who is running to be the Labour deputy leader, said: When I entered parliament in 2015, only a few MPs were prepared to speak out against austerity.

'Today, though we're still a long way from reversing a decade of cruel Tory cuts, no one backs austerity.

'That's what was meant when it was said Jeremy won the argument. He did.'

The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) says the national debt will crest the 2trillion mark in 2024-25

But more serious members of the party backed some measures.

Dame Margaret Hodge tweeted: Increased funding for HMRC & Companies House is long-overdue.

'Hopefully it leads to better enforcement against tax avoidance & money laundering.

'A stamp duty surcharge for overseas buyers of properties and the economic crime levy are novel ideas. Only time will tell if they work

'Pleasantly surprised there's a new strategy for tackling the promoters of tax avoidance schemes.

'I've long called for new measures to crack down on the shady world of the promoters!

'However I'm not so sure that our Chancellor's City mates would meet these more stringent rules...'
The Lagos State Government has ordered the arrest of policemen and military officials caught engaging in okada riding in prohibited areas across the state.

The government frowned at the uniformed men disobeying the states laws on traffic and restriction of okada riders, saying that it was illegal for any security operative in mufti to ride commercial motorcycles on routes where Okada and tricycles had been restricted.

The pronouncement was part of the issues discussed during a security meeting held at the State House in Marina. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu chaired the meeting, which was attended by Commanders of all security formations in the State.



Briefing the press after the meeting, Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso, said the enforcement of the restriction order would be executed with more force to completely keep Okada and tricycles away from the restricted routes.

Omotoso said: We have just concluded the State Security Council meeting, where we reviewed the ongoing enforcement of Okada and Keke restriction order in the six Local Government Areas. Matters concerning uniform men engaging in commercial motorcycle operation came up in our discussion and there has been an order restricting them from doing that.

Only a uniform man who is fully kitted and who rides motorcycle as his own personal mode of transportation is allowed. If any uniform man ventures into commercial motorcycle operation or Keke, the action of such a person is illegal and such persons are going to be arrested if they are caught.

The Commissioner reiterated that the State would not relax the laws restricting Okada and tricycles on the highways, praising Lagosians for standing firm behind the government in the ongoing enforcement of the restriction order.

Follow Us on Facebook  @LadunLiadi; Instagram  @LadunLiadi; Twitter  @LadunLiadi; Youtube  @LadunLiadiTV for updates
DUBLIN, March 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Cenospheres Market, By Type (Grey Cenospheres, White Cenospheres), By Application, By End Use Industry , By Region, Competition, Forecast & Opportunities, 2025" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

Global cenospheres market is projected to grow from around $ 663 million in 2019 to $ 940 million in 2025 owing to increasing demand from oil & gas, construction, and various end-use industries across the globe.



Rapid urbanization, growth of technology & automation and advancements in material science technologies are some other factors contributing to growth of cenospheres market globally. Leading consumers of cenospheres include construction, plastics, aerospace, automotive and surface coating industries.



Additionally, increasing demand from developing economies for paint and polymer applications is anticipated to outdo other developed markets for cenospheres over the course of next five years. Moreover, rise in oil and gas production activities in Middle East countries and increase in exploration of shale gas in North America, is expected to fuel the demand for cenospheres until 2025.



However, there are certain factors which might hamper the growth of global cenospheres market. Governments in various regions are keen on promoting fly ash over cenospheres due to rising concerns over environmental pollution. This has resulted in limited extraction of cenospheres, making it difficult for manufacturers to produce cenospheres according to their requirements. Also, lack of awareness about the quality control process in various developing countries across the globe is causing hindrance to the growth of market.



Global cenospheres market is segmented under type, application, end use industry and region. Based on type, the market is segmented into grey cenospheres and white cenospheres. Grey type accounted for a market share of over 60% in 2019 owing to its frequent natural occurrence compared to white cenospheres and extensive usage in applications. Based on end user industry, cenospheres market is segmented into oil and gas, refractory, construction, paints and coatings, automotive and others. Out of these, oil and gas end use segment accounted for the largest share in 2019. The reasons behind growth of this segment are growing shale gas exploration and production activities in the North American region, and rising oil and gas production activities in the Middle East.



Major players operating in global cenospheres market include Qingdao Eastchem Inc., Suek AG, Enviropheres Pty Ltd, Ceno Technologies Incorporated, ScotAsh Limited, Omya International AG, Cenostar Corporation, Petra Buildcare Products, Cenospheres India Pvt. Ltd., Eko Exports SA and others. The companies are focusing on selling products through tender route to increase their reach and generate more revenues.



Objective of the Study:

To analyze and forecast the market size of global cenospheres market.

To classify and forecast global cenospheres market based on type, application, end use industry, company and regional distribution.

To identify drivers and challenges for global cenospheres market.

To examine competitive developments such as expansions, new product launches, mergers & acquisitions, etc., in global cenospheres market.

To conduct pricing analysis for global cenospheres market.

To identify and analyze the profile of leading players operating in global cenospheres market.

Key Topics Covered:



1. Product Overview



2. Research Methodology



3. Executive Summary



4. Voice of Customer

4.1. Product Awareness

4.2. Challenges and Unmet Needs

4.3. Price Satisfaction

4.4. Preferred Credit Period



5. Global Cenospheres Market Overview



6. Global Cenospheres Production Outlook

6.1. Market Size & Forecast

6.1.1. By Value

6.2. Market Share & Forecast

6.2.1. By Type (Grey Cenospheres, White Cenospheres)

6.2.2. By Application (Insulating Materials, Roofing Materials, Refractory Materials, Tire and Engine Parts, Others)

6.2.3. By End Use Industry (Oil and Gas, Refractory, Construction, Paints and Coatings, Automotive, Others)

6.2.4. By Company (2019)

6.2.5. By Region (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America and Middle East & Africa)

6.3. Market Attractiveness Index



7. Asia-Pacific Cenospheres Market Outlook

7.1. Market Size & Forecast

7.1.1. By Value

7.2. Market Share & Forecast

7.2.1. By Type

7.2.2. By Application

7.2.3. By End Use Industry

7.2.4. By Country

7.3. Market Attractiveness Index

7.4. Asia-Pacific: Country Analysis

7.4.1. China Cenospheres Market Outlook

7.4.1.1. Market Size & Forecast

7.4.1.1.1. By Value

7.4.1.2. Market Share & Forecast

7.4.1.2.1. By Type

7.4.1.2.2. By Application

7.4.1.2.3. By End Use Industry

7.4.2. India Cenospheres Market Outlook

7.4.2.1. Market Size & Forecast

7.4.2.1.1. By Value

7.4.2.2. Market Share & Forecast

7.4.2.2.1. By Type

7.4.2.2.2. By Application

7.4.2.2.3. By End Use Industry

7.4.3. Japan Cenospheres Market Outlook

7.4.3.1. Market Size & Forecast

7.4.3.1.1. By Value

7.4.3.2. Market Share & Forecast

7.4.3.2.1. By Type

7.4.3.2.2. By Application

7.4.3.2.3. By End Use Industry

7.4.4. South Korea Cenospheres Market Outlook

7.4.4.1. Market Size & Forecast

7.4.4.1.1. By Value

7.4.4.2. Market Share & Forecast

7.4.4.2.1. By Type

7.4.4.2.2. By Application

7.4.4.2.3. By End Use Industry

7.4.5. Australia Cenospheres Market Outlook

7.4.5.1. Market Size & Forecast

7.4.5.1.1. By Value

7.4.5.2. Market Share & Forecast

7.4.5.2.1. By Type

7.4.5.2.2. By Application

7.4.5.2.3. By End Use Industry

7.4.6. Malaysia Cenospheres Market Outlook

7.4.6.1. Market Size & Forecast

7.4.6.1.1. By Value

7.4.6.2. Market Share & Forecast

7.4.6.2.1. By Type

7.4.6.2.2. By Application

7.4.6.2.3. By End Use Industry



8. Europe Cenospheres Market Outlook



9. North America Cenospheres Market Outlook



10. South America Cenospheres Market Outlook



11. Middle East and Africa Cenospheres Market Outlook



12. Value Chain Analysis



13. Pricing Analysis



14. Market Dynamics

14.1. Drivers

14.2. Challenges



15. Market Trends & Developments



16. Competitive Landscape

16.1. Company Profiles (Top 10 Global Players)

16.1.1. Qingdao Eastchem Inc.

16.1.2. Suek AG

16.1.3. Enviropheres Pty Ltd

16.1.4. Ceno Technologies Incorporated

16.1.5. ScotAsh Limited

16.1.6. Omya International AG

16.1.7. Cenostar Corporation

16.1.8. Petra Buildcare Products

16.1.9. Cenospheres India Pvt. Ltd.

16.1.10. Eko Exports SA



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/13olbp

Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research.

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



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Bees, Chicxulub & REEs: Geoscientists present diverse science and keynote sessions in Reston

Boulder, Colo., USA: On 20-22 March 2020, geoscientists from the southeastern and northeastern geographic regions of the U.S. and beyond will convene in Reston, Virginia, to discuss new science, expand on existing science, and explore the unique geologic features of the region. The meeting will host a broad diversity of technical sessions as well as field trips and career workshops.

The Society of Sedimentary Geology (SEPM) is the sponsor of the keynote address by. Prof. Lynn Soreghan: "Loess as an Archive and Agent of Climate and Climate Change in Deep Time," on Friday, 20 March.

On Saturday, 21 March, Dr. David Kring will present a keynote address: "Drilling into the Chicxulub Impact Crater and a World-Wide Calamity 66 Million Years Ago."

Selected Session Highlights:

Friday, 20 March

Pardee Keynote Symposium: Radionuclides: Biogeochemistry, Transport, and Geological Applications

Saturday, 21 March

Pardee Keynote Symposium: The Appalachians, from North to South, from Crust to Mantle: https:/ / gsa. confex. com/ gsa/ 2020SE/ meetingapp. cgi/ Session/ 48759

Pardee Keynote Symposium: From the Margins to the Deep: A Tribute to the Science and Art of A. Conrad Neumann: https:/ / gsa. confex. com/ gsa/ 2020SE/ meetingapp. cgi/ Session/ 49401

Pardee Keynote Symposium: New Developments in Diversity and Inclusion in the Geosciences: https:/ / gsa. confex. com/ gsa/ 2020SE/ meetingapp. cgi/ Session/ 48761

This symposium highlights efforts of various universities and schools to develop programs to encourage participation and retain underrepresented groups in the geosciences. The symposia as a whole may draw interest, but difficult to identify a single paper.

A Tribute to USGS Drillers Eugene "Big Gene" Cobbs, Eugene "Little Gene" Cobbs, III, and Jeff Grey, and Their Contributions to Geologic Research East of the Mississippi River

Sunday, 22 March

Shale Production in the Eastern U.S.--E3: Environmental, Economic & Energy System Impacts

Eastern Activities of the USGS Earth Mapping Resources Initiative

Deciphering Active Tectonics and Seismic Hazard in Eastern North America

View the complete session schedule by day or search the program by keywords at https:/ / gsa. confex. com/ gsa/ 2020SE/ meetingapp. cgi/ TechnicalPrograms/ 0

###

Meeting website: https:/ / www. geosociety. org/ sc-mtg

MEDIA REGISTRATION

Eligibility for media registration is as follows:

Working press representing bona fide, recognized news media with a press card, letter, or business card from the publication.

Freelance science writers, presenting a current membership card from NASW, ISWA, regional affiliates of NASW, ISWA, CSWA, ACS, ABSW, EUSJA, or evidence of work pertaining to science published in 2019 or 2020.

PIOs of scientific societies, educational institutions, and government agencies.

Present media credentials to Audrey Heun or William Cox onsite at the GSA registration desk to obtain a badge for media access. Complimentary meeting registration covers attendance at all technical sessions and access to the exhibit hall. Journalists and PIOs must pay regular fees for paid luncheons and any short courses or field trips in which they participate. Representatives of the business side of news media, publishing houses, and for-profit corporations must register at the main registration desk and pay the appropriate fees.

http://www. geosociety. org

The Geological Society of America, founded in 1888, is a scientific society with more than 20,000 members around the world from academia, government, and industry. Through its meetings, publications, and programs, GSA enhances the professional growth of its members and promotes the geosciences in the service of humankind. Headquartered in Boulder, Colorado, GSA encourages cooperative research among earth, life, planetary, and social scientists, fosters public dialogue on geoscience issues, and supports all levels of earth science education.

This story has been published on: 2020-03-11. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
A controversial law that prohibits South Carolina teachers from mentioning LGBTQ identities during sex education lessons unless it's presented within the context of sexually transmitted diseases has been overturned.

The U.S. District Court in Charleston invalidated the provisions of the 1988 law on Wednesday, declaring they violated the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution and barring state officials from continuing to enforce it.

Jeff Ayers, executive director of South Carolina Equality Coalition, said the decision was the first of its kind.

The South Carolina case "made history" by being the first successful challenge to such state laws, Ayers said.

Similar sex ed laws were addressed in Arizona and Utah, but were overruled by state legislators before the challenges made their way through the legal system, Ayers said.

"LGBTQ students can now feel as if they are equal in schools all across South Carolina and not be treated as inferior any longer. It's a great day in South Carolina and shows the rest of the country that we are not afraid to stand up against discrimination and challenge issues in the courts when necessary," Ayers said.

The lawsuit alleged the provision of the S.C. Comprehensive Health Education Act discriminates against LGBTQ students by singling them out in the classroom and stopping them from receiving relevant sexual-health education.

The consent decree issued by District Judge David Norton was a mutual agreement between state Superintendent Molly Spearman and the Charleston County School of the Arts Gender and Sexuality Alliance, the Campaign for Southern Equality and the South Carolina Equality Coalition.

Spearman was named as the defendant in a federal lawsuit challenging the statute filed two weeks ago by The National Center for Lesbian Rights and Lambda Legal.

Spearman said the court's decision "moves South Carolina forward by striking down discriminatory language that put our classroom instruction at odds with the Constitution."

"Importantly, the decision also maintains every parents right to choose whether or not their child participates in health education curriculum," Spearman said. "The balance of protecting freedoms and preventing discrimination will be upheld in any guidance we send to schools on this issue.

Teachers who refused to comply with the law and talked about LGBTQ relationships during sex ed without mentioning STDs could be fired.

"This just opens the door now for teachers to have open discussions with students if it comes up in the classroom," Ayers said.

Eli Bundy, a 10th-grade student at the Charleston County School of the Arts and president of the school's Gender and Sexuality Alliance, said they saw the effects of the law first-hand.

"I know how frustrating it can feel to be told by a teacher that they cant talk about who you are. Im so grateful that no other South Carolina student will have to go through school feeling like they have been erased," Bundy said.

Last month, Spearman asked S.C. Attorney General Alan Wilson to weigh in on the law. His office issued an opinion on Feb. 18 that said a court would likely find the existing provision to be a violation of the 14th Amendments Equal Protection Clause.

According to the judgment, Spearman has 60 days to issue a memorandum to members of the state Board of Education and the superintendents of every public school district in South Carolina alerting them of the change.

Last month's lawsuit was filed with assistance from private counsel Womble Bond Dickinson, Brazil & Burke and University of Utah law professor Clifford Rosky.
Wells College student Kara Reynolds is from Queens, so spending time in a rural community in upstate New York was a new experience for her.

She was one of six students from the Aurora college who participated last year in the annual Rural Health Immersion Program, in which students go to hospitals and other health facilities in rural communities within the state. The students shadowed health care professionals at Carthage Area Hospital in Carthage while spending time in the area.

Over the week-long program, Reynolds, who is double majoring in health sciences and psychology, said the environment Carthage offered was a far cry from what she was used to in New York City. People were gracious to each other and "they don't lock their doors there," she said.

Reynolds, Shenelle Buckley, Morgan Gravlin, Jessica Mebane and Ailah Gilkes Richardson spoke about their experiences in the week-long program during Friday presentation at the college as part of its Science Colloquium series. A sixth student, Taylor Sofo, participated in the immersion program with the others but was not at the presentation. Students in the audience were also encouraged to pursue going on the next immersion program trip in late August.

The presenting students said they enjoyed learning about a range of health care fields during the program. While they were in Carthage, they interviewed health care professionals and people they met at places like gas stations or grocery stores. The students surveyed the local residents with questions like what services the hospital provides that they're aware of, and what they believe are the major health concerns in the area.

The surveys allowed Mebane to learn more about the hospital and the community. Many of the younger people she talked to don't have a primary care physician, and just go to the hospital when they're sick. The students invited every person they interviewed to a presentation at the end of the week. They spoke about their survey findings to the audience, which included the hospital's CEO.

"Community surveys are terrifying and it gets easier, and it's very insightful to hear from the community members," Mebane said.

Reynolds said the hospital benefits from getting the community's feedback on what people's needs are.

"Not only are they hearing what they need to improve on, but they're also hearing what they're doing right," she said. "I think that the fact that they're willing to expand and open more services and have more access to care, which is a big thing for a rural area, it gives them that (feedback on) 'OK, we're doing this right,' 'We need to maybe improve this' or 'How can we expand ourselves?' and that's what they're in the process of doing right now."

The students shadowed different professionals in the hospital, such as when Buckley and Richardson met the hospital's obstetrics manager. Buckley said the program solidified that she wants to go into obstetrics.

The students were involved in a series of other activities throughout the week, such as watching a shoulder surgery, going to two different fire departments and visiting Meadowbrook Terrace Assisted Living Facility. They also took in life in the area by hiking and going to a drive-in movie theater. They said they enjoyed life in a rural community.

At one point, they met with panelists who are health care professionals, including an admissions counselor from Upstate Medical University in Syracuse. The professionals gave the students tips, such as preparing for questions interviewers would ask them.

"(For) anybody going to med school, that was great insight that not many people get," Gravlin said.

Richardson said she isn't pursuing a medical major, but is double majoring in psychology and women and gender studies. The program opened her up to new possibilities when professionals talked about jobs such as being a traveling psychologist who would work in different hospitals.

Kevin Ergil, director of health sciences at Wells, said after the presentation that interviewing people in the community is extremely useful for students.

"A lot of health care is just the capacity to interact with people appropriately, and walking in on strangers and just getting started, and that is not a skill that undergraduates have," he said.

Buckley, who is also from Queens, said the program was beneficial for her. One of the reasons why she signed up for the program was to get a sense of "what it is like to work in a rural community."

"That wasn't an option for me. I didn't think about working somewhere that's far away or in a small village," she said.

Staff writer Kelly Rocheleau can be reached at (315) 282-2243 or kelly.rocheleau@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter @KellyRocheleau.

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Coronavirus cases have blown up across Northern California in the past week, and counties increasingly are refocusing from aggressive containment of the disease to acceptance that its in the community and their limited resources are better spent on slowing down its spread.

On Tuesday, Sacramento County reported its first death, and the third in the state. The victim in their 90s with underlying health problems was a resident of an assisted living facility. The same day, the county announced it would no longer conduct extensive investigations on every new case of COVID-19  the disease caused by coronavirus  and that people who have contact with a known case will no longer be asked to quarantine for two weeks.

In the Bay Area  where roughly 100 cases have been reported so far, about two-thirds of them in the past week  actions to curb further spread have ranged from an outright ban on large gatherings in Santa Clara County to more measured recommendations that older and more vulnerable residents avoid crowds and stay at home.

Two counties  Alameda and Contra Costa  joined many other parts of the region in advising that large gatherings, and smaller events where vulnerable people could be exposed to the virus, be canceled or postponed. Many Bay Area universities have suspended in-person classes, and on Tuesday the Archdiocese of San Francisco announced a two-week closure of 90 Bay Area schools after a student tested positive for the coronavirus.

Still, the regional actions are relatively conservative compared to maneuvers in other parts of the country and the world. New York shut down an area north of Manhattan on Tuesday, after a local outbreak topped 100 cases. And in Italy, officials put the entire nation on lockdown earlier this week amid an explosion of new infections.

The models that really work are shutting down everything, said Dr. Susan Philip, the public health departments director of disease prevention and control in San Francisco, where officials last week banned non-essential events in public spaces. San Francisco has reported 15 cases of COVID-19.

But some measures, like closing schools or forcing entire cities to shutter for weeks at a time, can do more harm than good, and may not be necessary, she added.

Were trying to find a balance, Philip said. There is no absolute right or wrong answer, especially in this situation, where were working with imperfect information.

John Blanchard

The overall theme of these public health measures is a concept known as flattening the curve  in reference to a bell curve showing the number of people infected over time. If 100 people are going to be infected, its better to have those cases spread out over two months than two days, for example. Slowing down the spread of illness prevents an outbreak from overwhelming the health care system, and it makes it easier to protect vulnerable populations from becoming infected.

But even if everyone in public health has the same goals, the means for getting there can vary, sometimes dramatically.

Now Playing: Here is what you need to know about the coronavirus. Video: Manjula Varghese

The same day that Sacramento County said it was no longer placing people into quarantine, hundreds of passengers from a cruise ship docked at the Port of Oakland were being bused to Travis Air Force Base in nearby Fairfield, where they would be held for two weeks.

Forty-six people were tested for coronavirus on the Grand Princess while the ship was at sea, and 21 of the results were positive. By Tuesday afternoon, 700 of 2,400 passengers had been removed from the ship; more than 1,000 crew members will stay put.

The difference between how the situations in Sacramento and on the cruise ship are being handled lies largely with whos in charge, said Dr. George Rutherford, head of the division of infectious disease and epidemiology at UCSF. Sacramento County public health officials have determined that its a better use of their resources to focus on slowing down the illness in their community.

Federal officials, meanwhile, want to make sure every passenger on the cruise ship is deemed healthy before they return to their communities  in part, to prevent a new infection from seeding an area that has not yet reported coronavirus cases.

It is the safest thing, Rutherford said. If you can do it, and the logistics arent overwhelming, and you can prevent X number of cases, you should.

Public health officials across California  where more than 150 cases have been reported so far  say the numbers will continue to climb in the coming weeks as testing becomes more widely available. Gov. Gavin Newsom said Tuesday that the state should be testing 5,000 people a day by March 24.

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.

Todd Trumbull

Cases across the Bay Area shot up immediately after local public laboratories began testing for coronavirus at the end of February. Santa Clara County has been hardest hit, with 45 cases reported as of Tuesday. But every Bay Area county has reported at least one case, and several have over a dozen, including cases believed to have been acquired through community infection.

The nine Bay Area counties are closely connected  many people live in one county and work in another, or travel outside their home county to shop or visit friends or see movies or concerts. In other words, once the coronavirus had a toehold in one part of the region, it was almost certainly everywhere, said Philip, of the San Francisco public health department. She noted that as soon as the first few cases of community infection were reported in Santa Clara County, San Francisco public health officials braced for its arrival.

Theres so much movement between work and school and just social activities in the Bay Area, that theres no way we were seeing cases in Santa Clara and that wouldnt be true in other counties as well, she said.

But exactly how counties  and state and federal officials  react varies dramatically. That can depend on more than just case counts, but on everything from the resources available to the geography and demographics of a region.

San Francisco, for example, is densely populated and has a fairly old population overall compared with neighboring counties. It might make more sense for the city to institute aggressive social distancing measures than, for example, Alameda County, which is more spread out and has a younger population that may be less vulnerable to serious illness, said Rutherford with UCSF.

Different places are going to look at this differently, Rutherford said. Everyones reading the tea leaves. But theyre not all reading the same tea leaves.

Erin Allday is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: eallday@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @erinallday
Recent President Donald Trump administration directives cracking down on immigration were largely praised Wednesday at the annual Border Security Expo in San Antonio.

Theres been a fundamental change in border dynamics over the last year, dramatically different than in my entire career, said Border Patrol Chief Rodney Scott. The only reason that the border is the way it is today, which is relatively calm again, is because of the pathways we put in place over the last year.

Outside the expo at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, more than 30 people from various San Antonio groups held signs and shouted into megaphones proclaiming the opposite. Debbie Hernandez, a RAICES organizer at the protest, said the administration and its Homeland Security officials are doing worse things to immigrants than theyve ever done before.

The expo was under way as the U.S. Supreme Court decided to allow Trumps Migrant Protection Protocols to continue. The policy makes migrants wait in dangerous Mexican cities while seeking asylum in the U.S. Thousands are in squalid refugee camps; a number of migrants have been abducted and held for ransom by Mexican gangs.

The policy began a year ago.

MPP has absolutely been instrumental in our ability to address the ongoing national security crisis along our Southwest border, said Robert Perez, Customs and Border Protections acting deputy commissioner, during his keynote speech at the Expo. It was absolutely a critical piece to largely mitigate what was unquestionably an unprecedented humanitarian crisis last year.

Scott, the Border Patrol chief, said the policy has dramatically improved the safety of thousands and thousands of children because it allowed us to put some integrity back into the immigration system.

Im shocked that they said that, Hernandez said later. All its doing is making people die.

More than 1,100 Homeland Security officials and Border Patrol agents came to the convention center to hear from their leadership and observe the latest technology to enhance border security and apprehend migrants, from new firearm models to cutting-edge drones and sensors.

This is the expos fifth year in San Antonio, and the first protested by local groups.

When we found out about the expo, a lot of us were angry and upset. Especially at the Henry B. Gonzalez Center, who was a champion of immigrants and Latino people, Hernandez said. I dont think Henry wouldve liked this.

Her sign quoted the famous union organizer and San Antonio native Emma Tenayuca: I never thought in terms of fear, I thought in terms of justice.

Blasting audio of children crying in a detention centers and carrying cages with cardboard cutouts of children, the protesters marched to the Alamo as the conference attendees headed that way for their evening banquet, called Night at the Alamo.

Expo participants were advised to remove their badges before going outside to avoid confrontation with the protesters, who at one point called a group of officials baby killers.

Are we going to stay the course here are we going to take a different course? said Thomas Winkowski, a former acting commissioner of CBP, about the upcoming elections. You can be assured that in campaign season, immigration will again be in the forefront.

Silvia Foster-Frau covers immigration news in the San Antonio, Bexar County and South Texas area. Read her on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | sfosterfrau@express-news.net | Twitter: @SilviaElenaFF
Vedanta shed 0.74% to Rs 94.20 after India Ratings and Research revised its outlook on the company to negative from stable while affirming its long-term issuer rating at IND AA.

The ratings agency continues to take a consolidated view of Vedanta and its subsidiaries and has factored in the debt of the parent company, Vedanta Resources Plc. (VRL), while arriving at the ratings.

The outlook revision reflects India Ratings' expectation that Vedanta's credit metrics will remain weaker than expected levels in the near term owing to the delay in volume ramp-up and fall in commodity prices.

It further said that a strong EBITDA performance, driven by the company's ability to ramp-up volumes and reduce CoP, with a substantial increase in raw material input linkages, leading to the consolidated net leverage falling below 3.0x, all on a sustained basis, may lead to a resolving the negative outlook to stable.

However, the events (either individually or collectively) like the consolidated net leverage remaining above 3.0x on a sustained basis, substantial reduction in financial flexibility due to build-up of leverage at intermediate and or ultimate parent level and delays in easing the repayment profile could lead to a negative rating action.

Vedanta is a diversified natural resources player, with a significant presence in zinc, oil and gas, copper, aluminium, iron ore, and power.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-11 01:12:29|Editor: huaxia

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Chinese President Xi Jinping talks with patients and medical workers through a video link at Huoshenshan Hospital in Wuhan, March 10, 2020. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

WUHAN, March 10 (Xinhua) -- President Xi Jinping on Tuesday inspected the COVID-19 outbreak epicenter in central China, pledging a continuous fight toward victory as prevention and control efforts have "turned the tide."



The inspection to Wuhan, Hubei Province, took the president to a hospital treating severely ill COVID-19 patients and a residential community. He visited patients, medics, community residents and workers, police officers, military personnel, officials and volunteers who have been fighting the novel coronavirus.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, called for firm, solid and meticulous prevention and control efforts to defend Hubei and Wuhan.

The following are highlights of Xi's remarks during the inspection:

-- Thanks to hard work, the situation in Hubei and Wuhan has shown positive changes with important progress, but the task of prevention and control remains arduous.

-- The positive trend in epidemic control could not have been achieved without their sacrifice, devotion, perseverance and efforts.

-- With their concrete actions, the people of Wuhan have demonstrated the strength and spirit of China, as well as the Chinese people's love for their family and nation, which enables them to stick together through thick and thin, he said.

President Xi meets with medic representatives, sends regards and expresses sincere gratitude to them at Huoshenshan Hospital in Wuhan, March 10, 2020. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

On behalf of the CPC Central Committee, Xi sent condolences to people who died in the epidemic and people who sacrificed their lives fighting on the front line. He said:

-- Medical workers are "the most beautiful angels" and "messengers of light and hope."

-- The frontline medical workers have taken on the most arduous missions, and they are "the most admirable people in the new era" who deserve the highest commendations.

-- All prevention and control measures taken by the CPC Central Committee against the virus are to prevent more people from being infected and save more patients' lives.

-- The spread of the virus has been basically curbed in Hubei and Wuhan, thanks to efforts of the whole Party, the whole country and the whole society.

-- You (medics) are the biggest heroes.

President Xi Jinping waves to residents who are quarantined at home and sends regards to them at a community in Wuhan, March 10, 2020. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

Leaving Huoshenshan Hospital, Xi came to a residential community. People quarantined at home waved to Xi from their balconies and windows. Xi waved back and expressed his regards. He stressed:

-- The importance of communities in epidemic prevention and control, requiring grassroots Party organizations and Party members to play their key roles in containing the virus spread in communities.

-- Closely relying on the people to win the people's war against the epidemic.

President Xi chairs a teleconference and delivers an important speech after the field inspection of the epidemic prevention and control work in Wuhan, March 10, 2020. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

After the field inspection, Xi chaired a teleconference and delivered an important speech. He said:

-- Since the outbreak, the CPC Central Committee has taken the most comprehensive, rigorous and thorough prevention and control measures to resolutely curb the spread of the virus in Wuhan and Hubei.

-- Initial success has been achieved in stabilizing the situation and turning the tide.

-- Medical treatment should be given the top priority to improve the recovery rate and reduce mortality to the greatest extent under the principle of scientific and targeted treatment.

-- The fight against the virus is at a critical moment, and efforts must be made to further preventing the spread and exportation of cases.

President Xi inquires about purchasing and supply of people's daily necessities at a community in Wuhan, March 10, 2020. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

Xi demanded more understanding and tolerance for people in Hubei and Wuhan if some vent their feelings for long time under self-quarantine, as well as efforts to ensure the supply of their life necessities. He said:

-- The epidemic will not affect the fundamentals of Hubei's steady and long-term sound economic development, and policies and measures must be implemented to support enterprises, stabilize employment and create more jobs.

-- The response to the virus is a "test" for China's system and capacity for governance, which has brought both experience and lessons, and more efforts must be made to fix the shortcomings and weak links as soon as possible.

-- Party organizations, members and officials must shoulder responsibilities, adopt sound prevention and control measures and improve their capabilities in the test. 
A year after a horrific crash that killed three people at a Passaic County gas station, one victims family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the driver  Jason Vanderee, who is accused of driving while high on drugs.

The family of Jon Warbeck claims in court papers that Vanderee, a Sussex County resident, was carelessly, negligently and recklessly operating the SUV that crashed Feb. 19, 2019 into the Delta gas station on Route 23 in Wayne.

Warbeck, 50, of Fair Lawn, his 17-year-old son, Luke, of Lincoln Park, were killed along with gas station attendant Lovedeep Fatra, 22, of Pequannock.

Vanderee, 30, is being held in the Passaic County Jail awaiting trial on three counts of aggravated manslaughter and death by auto while intoxicated.

Police said in court documents they found nine bags of heroin and a needle in Vanderees SUV. In addition, an ambulance worker testified at a court hearing last year that she saw what appeared to be a fresh needle mark on Vanderees arm.

Vanderee has pleaded not guilty to the charges and has turned down a plea bargain offer in which hed serve 30 years in prison, his attorney has said.

Luke Warbeck, 17, left, and his father, Jon Warbeck were killed in a gas station crash in Wayne. (Family photos)

The lawsuit, filed last month in Superior Court of Passaic County, also names Vanderees parents and states he drove the vehicle with their "permission and consent.

Vanderees attorney, John F. Latoracca of Rutherford, said Wednesday he is not surprised by the lawsuit.

"Certainly, a civil suit is expected any time an auto accident results in serious injuries or death. This case is no exception, Latoracca said, adding that his representation is limited to the criminal charges.

BREAKING: Don't think anyone has seen this yet. We asked one of our @PIX11News editors to highlight this tragic video and cut it at the moment of impact. So sad. 3 people killed in this crash on Rt. 23 in Wayne, NJ. The driver - survived. pic.twitter.com/aUWofhHt5R  Jay Dow (@JayDowTV) February 19, 2019

In addition to the Vanderee family, the lawsuit names the Delta gas station and Wayne Township, along with county and state officials, claiming a dangerous condition existed on Route 23 that contributed to the crash.

Also named is an auto insurance company that has refused to pay a claim for several million dollars in benefits under an umbrella policy previously taken out by Vanderees parents.

The carrier, American Alternative Insurance Corporation, filed its own lawsuit against all of the parties in January seeking to limit how much they have to pay.

The suit states the original umbrella coverage would have provided $1 million to each of the parties involved in the crash. However, the insurance companys lawsuit, filed in Superior Court of Mercer County, seeks to pay a total of $1 million to be divided among all of the victims families.

The crash scene on Feb. 19, 2019 at the Delta gas station on Route 23 in Wayne. (File photo)

Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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Dear Annie: I have been a practicing attorney for six years. My current job as an in-house attorney was my first job out of law school. My employer was taking a big risk on me, as in-house positions are usually given to attorneys who have already done their time in big firms. My boss said that she saw a lot of potential in me, and even though she knew it would take more time to train me, she thought it was worth it.

My boss tells me quite often that there's a bigger plan for me at the company. She goes out of her way to get me involved in projects where higher-ups at the company can see my work. The company has spent significant training and development dollars on me, and I'm so appreciative of that. There have been several in-house attorneys from our team who have gone on to high-level management roles within the company, and I know my boss thinks I'm headed that way. She's an incredible mentor, and I'm so lucky to work for her.

Unfortunately, I don't really want to take on a bigger role in this company. I look at the positions above me, and I cannot find a single one that interests me. I am primarily a litigator, and I find trial work to be exciting and challenging, but I don't find the actual work my company does to be very interesting. I just can't imagine myself being happy in a role where I am involved in the day-to-day operations of my company, rather than the litigation work. Even my boss' job doesn't appeal to me.

Recently, I was asked to interview for a job as an in-house attorney for another company. It would be a bit of a pay raise, but mostly, its a lateral move. The difference is that Im very interested in this business as a whole. I can see myself taking on managerial roles at this other company and growing there. But every time I think about leaving my job, I feel an immense sense of guilt. I love my boss and my team, and I know they would feel blindsided. Im afraid they would resent me for coming in with basically no skills, taking several years of training and guidance from them, only to use those skills somewhere else. I cant stand the idea of hurting or disappointing my boss, but does that mean I should stay at a company where I dont see a future for myself? -- Conflicted Lawyer

Dear Conflicted: It is understandable that you would not want to hurt or disappoint your boss. She sounds like a wonderful one. With that being said, if she truly cares about you as a person, she will understand.

The key is to communicate to her exactly what you did to me in your letter. Express your gratitude for all she has done for you.

Having a passion for your work is the greatest gift you can give to yourself and the clients that you serve. In the long run, if you don't feel passionate about the long-term roles at your current firm, your boss will understand.

(Ask Me Anything: A Year of Advice From Dear Annie is out now! Annie Lanes debut book -- featuring favorite columns on love, friendship, family and etiquette -- is available as a paperback and e-book. Visit http://www.creatorspublishing.com for more information. Send your questions for Annie Lane to dearannie@creators.com.)

COPYRIGHT 2020 CREATORS.COM
Welcoming Jyotiraditya Scindia into the BJP, senior party leader Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Wednesday said he was the most popular Congress politician in Madhya Pradesh, which led the saffron outfit to coin a tagline targeting the erstwhile Gwalior royal in the 2018 state polls.

In the run-up to the November 2018 assembly elections, the BJP had centred its campaign around a slogan, Maaf karo Maharaj hamara neta toh Shivraj (Sorry Maharaj, our leader is Shivraj)" to take on the Congress.

Chouhan was then the BJP chief minister and was seeking a fourth term in office.

Scindia (49), a member of the royal family that once ruled Gwalior, is popularly known as Maharaj among his supporters.

Asked how he will feel now to work with Scindia whom the BJP targeted during the assembly polls campaign, Chouhan said, If anyone was popular among Congress leaders, it was Maharaj, so we used 'Maaf karo Maharaj' slogan. Now Shivraj and Maharaj are together in the BJP."



Chouhan, the BJPs national vice-president, was talking to reporters here after Scindia joined the saffron outfit in the presence of its president J P Nadda in Delhi.

The former chief minister defended Scindia's decision to leave the Congress, a party with which he was associated for nearly two decades.

"The disgruntlement of Maharaj (Scindia) with the Congress is justified," the BJP leader said.

"This is a joyous day for the BJP and me personally. Today, I remember (his grandmother) Rajmata (Vijaya Raje) Scindia. Jyotiraditya Scindia has become a member of the BJP family.

"The entire (Scindia) family is with BJP. They have a tradition where is a medium to serve people," Chouhan said.

Another BJP leader and former minister Narottam Mishra said Scindia was "backbone" of the Congress in the state.

Nothing is left in the state Congress now. They should now rest for another 15-20 years," Mishra said, taking a crack at the beleaguered ruling party.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Oregonians have been voting by mail for president since 2000. On Wednesday, Oregon Democrat Sen. Ron Wyden proposed allowing all Americans to vote by mail in case of an emergency, and asked for $500 million to help states get ready for any voter disruptions caused by the now-pandemic coronavirus, The Washington Post reports.

The practice of voting by mail has gained popularity across the country since it was passed in Oregon in 1998. According to The Washington Post, one-quarter of all American voters cast their ballots by mail in 2018.

Before coronavirus became a major national concern, more states were becoming interested in vote-by-mail for security and accessibility reasons. The practice leaves fewer vulnerabilities for hackers and doesnt require anyone to take time off of work.

Now, growing concern over the outbreak of COVID-19 has hastened the interest in a nationwide program.

No voter should have to choose between exercising their constitutional right and putting their health at risk, Wyden told The Washington Post. When disaster strikes, the safest route for seniors, individuals with compromised immune systems or other at-risk populations is to provide every voter with a paper ballot they can return by mail or drop-off site."

"This is a nonpartisan, common-sense solution to the very real threat is looming this November, he added.

Wydens bill would mean all Americans could choose to vote by mail if 25% of states declared an emergency in relation to COVID-19. Several states, including Oregon, have already declared a state of emergency in response to the pandemic.

The bill would also require elections officials to over prepaid envelopes with self-sealing flaps and prohibit states from using the money to create app or internet-based voting systems.

-- Lizzy Acker

503-221-8052, lacker@oregonian.com, @lizzzyacker

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(L-R) CEO of Apple Tim Cook , U.S. President Donald Trump, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos attend a meeting of the American Technology Council in the State Dining Room of the White House June 19, 2017 in Washington, DC.

The White House will meet large technology companies on Wednesday to coordinate efforts over the coronavirus outbreak, seeking to control a contagious respiratory illness that has infected almost 1,000 people in the United States and more than 100,000 globally.

The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy confirmed to Reuters the meeting would include Facebook, Alphabet's Google, Amazon, Twitter, Apple and Microsoft.

The meeting will be led by U.S. Chief Technology Officer Michael Kratsios, with some companies participating by teleconference, the White House said.

The companies did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Fox Business first reported the meeting on Wednesday

White House officials are meeting members from the airline, financial and healthcare industries to discuss ways to contain the impact from the spread of the virus.

The White House and Congress on Tuesday negotiated over measures to bolster the U.S. economy and Americans' paychecks against the outbreak's impact, prompting a rebound in hard-hit stock markets.
Malaysia has set itself a target of a month within which to resolve its trade dispute with India over palm oil, the southeast Asian nation's new commodities minister said on Wednesday.

The deadline follows this week's swearing-in of a new Malaysian cabinet after Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin took office last month.

"One of the first moves for the new government is to rebuild the relationship with India, especially for the palm oil issue," Commodities Minister Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali told reporters after the first meeting of the new cabinet.

India, the biggest buyer of Malaysian palm oil for five years, put curbs in January on purchases, in retaliation for then prime minister Mahathir Mohamad's criticism of its policy on the Himalayan region of Kashmir and a new citizenship law.

Mohd Khairuddin said he wanted to send a delegation to India as soon as possible in the effort to improve ties.

"We will put this on the ministry's first agenda," he told reporters. "I set a timeframe of a month."

Malaysia, the second biggest producer of crude palm oil after Indonesia, will look to expand its exports to new markets, such as Russia and the Middle East, he added.

After India's January curbs on imports of refined palm oil from Malaysia, traders had also held off on buying its crude palm oil.

Malaysia's exports to India dropped 54% last month from January, data showed this week.

Also Read: India imposes 5% safeguard duty on Malaysian refined palm oil

Also Read: Why oil price crash is good for Indian economy
[March 11, 2020] NMC HEALTH ALERT: Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C. Announces That a Class Action Lawsuit Has Been Filed Against NMC Health PLC and Encourages Investors to Contact the Firm

Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C., a nationally recognized shareholder rights law firm, announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed in the United States District Court for the Central District of California on behalf of investors that purchased NMC Health PLC (Other OTC: NMHLY) securities between March 13, 2016 and March 10, 2020 (the "Class Period"). Investors have until May 11, 2020 to apply to the Court to be appointed as lead plaintiff in the lawsuit. Click here to participate in the action. On December 17, 2019, Muddy Waters Capital LLC published a report explaining that NMC had misled investors and failed to disclose: (i) its lack of internal controls; (ii) (de facto) related party transactions; (iii) its true debt burden; (iv) its true cash-on-hand and asset values; and (v) its use of reverse factoring. On this news, NMC's share price fell $11.68, per share or over 33.6%, to close at $23.00 per share on December 17, 2019, from its December 16, 2019 close at $34.68. Then, on March 10, 2020, the Financial Times (News - Alert) published the article titled "NMC Health Discovers Almost $3bn of Debt Hidden from Its Board" which continued to disclose NMC's lack of internal controls and under reporting of debt reporting. Further on March 10, 2020, Bloomberg (News - Alert) published the article titled "Abu Dhabi Insurer Steps In to Help NC Health Pay Salaries" reporting that an insurer was assisting to pay NMC's expenses.



On this news, NMC's share price fell $3.28 per share, or almost 64%, to close at $1.85 per share on March 10, 2020. The complaint, filed on March 10, 2020, alleges that throughout the Class Period defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) the Company lacked effective internal controls and risk management; (2) the Company engaged in undisclosed and extensive related party and de facto related party transactions; (3) NMC's debts were significantly understated and obfuscated; (4) NMC's cash-on-hand figures were overstated; (5) NMC's principal shareholders were not accurately reporting or accounting their interests or stakes in the Company; (6) NMC did not review or know their principal shareholders interests or stakes in the Company; (7) consequently, the Company was not enforcing its Relationship Agreement with the principal shareholders; and (8) as a result, Defendants' statements about its business, operations, and prospects, were materially false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.

If you purchased NMC Health securities during the Class Period, have information, would like to learn more about these claims, or have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to these matters, please contact Melissa Fortunato or Marion Passmore by email at [email protected], telephone at (212) 355-4648, or by filling out this contact form. There is no cost or obligation to you. About Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C.: Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C. is a nationally recognized law firm with offices in New York and California. The firm represents individual and institutional investors in commercial, securities, derivative, and other complex litigation in state and federal courts across the country. For more information about the firm, please visit www.bespc.com. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200311005578/en/

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The second case of the coronavirus (COVID-19) was confirmed on Staten Island on Wednesday.

A spokesman for Staten Island University Hospital (SIUH) told the Advance the second patient was also identified at the hospitals Princes Bay campus. But the hospital would provide no further details about the patient, citing privacy laws.

The patient is at home and the staff that cared for the patient are being closely monitored by the hospitals Employee Health Services as a precautionary measure. We remain confident in our ability to meet the challenges posed by the spread of the coronavirus," the spokesman said.

The hospital continues to work with federal, state, and local health officials, as well as refine its protocols as the situation evolves, he went on to say.

SIUH is now restricting visitor access to the Emergency Department at both its Ocean Breeze (North) and Princes Bay (South) campuses, and the labor and delivery unit at North to only parents as an additional measure.

*** CLICK HERE FOR FULL COVERAGE OF CORONAVIRUS IN NEW YORK ***

FIRST CASE FDNY EMS WORKER

The first Staten Islander to test positive for the coronavirus is an EMS worker, officials confirmed.

The man is not believed to have contracted the virus while at work; instead, health officials suspect he contracted the illness from his girlfriend, who is a flight attendant who recently traveled to an affected country, Mayor Bill de Blasio said during a press conference Tuesday afternoon.

De Blasio did not provide further information about the girlfriend, where she lives, what her condition is or what country she had recently traveled too.

Staten Islands first case was confirmed in an internal Staten Island University Hospital (SIUH) memo obtained by the Advance/SiLive.com.

The memo, sent to SIUH staff, said the patient was handled with proper protocols at the Princes Bay campus, adding that employees will monitor their temperature twice a day for 14 days out of an abundance of caution.

Because the staff followed proper protocol, according to the memo, self-quarantine is not necessary.

STATE CASES RISE TO 212; CITY CASES TO 12

Gov. Andrew Cuomo said on Wednesday that the total number of confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in New York State has risen to 212, with 12 new cases in New York City, bringing the city total to 48.

This number, as I have said from day one, will continue to grow every day, Cuomo said at the press conference. The more tests we get, the more positive we will get.

New York is now officially the second-most affected state, behind Washington State.
The decision to move homeless czar Jeff Kositsky over to the mayors office, where hell command San Franciscos failing effort to reduce tent camps, underscores how halting the citys progress has been on bringing down its homeless population. It also shows how any backsliding could blow up on Mayor London Breed, who has made cleaning up the streets her top priority.

Not too long ago, things looked like they were improving. In November 2018, Breed announced a 34% percent reduction in tent camps, saying, Our approach is working.

And in July 2019, Breed said: All of the camps along Division Street, under the freeways and in the Mission. They are all gone.

By years end, however, there was a startling reversal, with the number of tents on city streets and sidewalks growing by a third to 649, according to a report from the citys Healthy Streets Operations Center. And the large encampments  those with four tents or more  that Breed claimed had all but vanished had grown back to 15, an increase of 13 from January 2019.

The highest number of tents  282  was in the Tenderloin, Civic Center and SoMa.

The number of people living in cars and RVs also rose last year, by 25 percent, to 814 citywide. The highest concentration of live-in vehicles  363  was in Dogpatch and Bayview-Hunters Point.

But perhaps the most disturbing statistic in the Healthy Streets Operations Center report was that 9 out of 10 of the 650 homeless people who were placed into shelter beds by the Healthy Streets program last year showed little interest in remaining sheltered and were back on the streets within days.

Blanchard; John

For a while it was working, but now it is clearly broken and falling apart, Supervisor Aaron Peskin said of the highly touted multi-departmental effort to clean up the streets.

And now the problem has spread far outside of the downtown and industrial areas, where its long been a problem.

There are definitely more people now living in vehicles and sleeping in storefront doors and bus shelters at night, said Supervisor Gordon Mar, who represents the Sunset District.

Supervisor Ahsha Safai, who faces a tough re-election this fall, said that the citys handling of the homeless problem is absolutely an issue in his district, but that the efforts to set up a residential RV park next to Balboa Park BART Station have given the area hope.

I cant speak for the whole city, but in my district people are cautiously optimistic now that we have opened the first lot for RVs, Safai said.

As for what went wrong last year:

We were seeing tremendous success in the Mission when we had teams concentrating on particular encampments, but when the city started chasing 311 complaint calls all across the city, it all fell apart, Supervisor Hillary Ronen said.

We spread ourselves too thin, Kositsky said.

Whatever the case, voters are seeing the changes on the streets as well. And they dont like it.

A recent annual Chamber of Commerce-Dignity Health CityBeat Poll found that 89% of city residents said homelessness and street behavior have gotten worse in the past few years. A whopping 72% said the problem has gotten much worse.

It was widespread all across the city, said pollster Ruth Bernstein of EMC Research, which conducted the poll.

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

The poll of 512 likely voters was conducted between Jan. 15 and 20 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.28 percentage points.

Everyone knows it is getting worse, said Chamber of Commerce Public Policy Director Jay Cheng. Any elected official who improves the conditions on the street is going to be see as a hero.

Conversely, if the homeless situation gets worse, Breed will likely pay the price.

The mayor isnt on the November ballot, but issues and candidates that she supports will on the ballot. Peskin said. So it will be interesting to see what happens in the coming months.

So with voter angst on the rise and results cratering, the decision was made to have Kositsky  the first head of the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Services  move over to the mayors office and work directly with Breeds staff.

His job is to make sure the strategies we are using are actually working, mayoral spokesman Jeff Cretan said.

One thing is clear: Kositsky isnt doing it for the money. He will be taking a $28,328 cut in his current salary of $227,358.

San Francisco Chronicle columnist Phil Matier appears Sundays and Wednesdays. Matier can be seen on the KGO-TV morning and evening news and can also be heard on KCBS radio Monday through Friday at 7:50 a.m. and 5:50 p.m. Got a tip? Call 415-777-8815, or email pmatier@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @philmatier
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11

Trend:

On its Facebook page, the Management Union of Medical Territorial Units in Azerbaijan (TABIB) shared the warning information for those who arrived from abroad, Trend reports on March 11 referring to TABIB.

Those who arrived in Azerbaijan over the past 14 days must spend the next 14 days at home, regularly ventilating the room in which they are located and contact, if possible, with as few people as possible, the statement said.

These individuals must avoid communication with the elderly and people with chronic diseases, the statement said. It is necessary to wash hands with soap. When leaving the house, it is necessary to wear a medical mask.

In case of any symptoms of a respiratory disease, it is necessary to call an ambulance via 103 in Baku and 113 outside Baku, the statement said.

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.

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.
A number of major game companies including Microsoft and Ubisoft will look to host digital events this summer after E3 2020 was canceled earlier today.

The ESA confirmed the annual game conference would be called off due to 'increased and overwhelming' concerns regarding the spread of COVID-19, which has just been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization.

In response to the news, big players like Microsoft and Ubisoft have expressed interest in hosting digital events and experiences so they can push ahead with the reveals and announcements they had planned for E3.

Xbox chief Phil Spencer said the company will "celebrate the next generation of gaming with the Xbox community and all who love to play via an Xbox digital event," and promised to share more details on timing in the coming weeks.

Ubisoft also issued a statement confirming it's "exploring other options for a digital experience that will allow us to share all the exciting news we have planned."

Other companies have also teased similar plans on social media, with Swedish publisher Raw Fury tweeting out a request for fans to "stay tuned," and Annapurna Interactive suggesting its exploration of a Direct-like digital conference is "a bit more relevant" given the E3 news.

Of course, others like Nintendo, EA, and Sony have already made a habit of skipping the traditional E3 press conferences in favor of hosting their own events -- with Nintendo and EA pushing their own respective digital showcases and Sony choosing to dodge E3 altogether.
The coronavirus death toll in the US increased to 31, while the infected cases surged past 1,000 as the country grappled to contain the virus that has spread to over 30 states with many declaring a state of emergency.

A total of 1,037 people have been confirmed COVID-19 positive in the country, according to a tally by the John Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center.

One person each in South Dakota and California and two in Washington state died from the virus, taking the total number of fatalities in the US to 31, a report in the Washington Post said.

The virus has been detected in more than 30 states, it said.

Eleven states of New York, California, Washington, Florida, Oregon, Utah, Maryland, Kentucky, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Colorado have declared emergency.

We're taking this unbelievably seriously, and I think we're doing a really good job. And, again, the task force, headed up by the vice president, has been fantastic, Trump told reporters at the US Capitol on Tuesday after meeting his Republican party colleagues.

The country is making extensive efforts to fight the rapid spread of the virus. Public gatherings have been cancelled, travel has been restricted, authorities have urged employees to stay at home, schools have shut down and colleges have shifted to online classes.

Major events, including Boston's St. Patrick's Day Parade and Austin's South by Southwest festival, slated to be held this weekend, have been cancelled, the report said.

We stand here today, the risk to the average American of contracting the coronavirus remains low, but we're absolutely determined to give every American the tools and the information that they need to protect themselves, their families, their workplace, their schools, Vice President Mike Pence told reporters at the White House.

By the end of this week, there will be more than four million more tests made available in jurisdictions around the country and one million are already in place, he said.

Top commercial labs LabCorp and Quest are in the process of distributing and marketing coronavirus tests across America.

We are working with state local officials to ensure that happens as rapidly as possible, he added.

Meanwhile, representatives of top tech companies such as Facebook, Google, Amazon, Apple, Microsoft and Twitter will visit the White House on Wednesday for a meeting to discuss coordination for a coherent response to the novel coronavirus.

State of Massachusetts has declared emergency as 51 new coronavirus cases were reported.

Today, there are 51 new presumptive positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of confirmed or presumptive positive cases in the commonwealth to 92, said Marylou Sudders, secretary of Massachusetts' health and human services.

New Jersey too declared a state of emergency as coronavirus cases surged in the tri-state area of New York and Connecticut.

The State of Colorado too declared a state of emergency after confirming seven coronavirus cases in only two days.

In New York, Governor Andrew Cuomo declared a containment around the suburb of New Rochelle in Westchester County from where a large number of cases have been reported.

He said National Guard will help deliver food to homes and clean public spaces in the containment area.

The containment is a "dramatic action" that's also a matter of life and death, he said.

We'll go in, we'll clean the schools and assess the situation. This will be a period of disruption for the community, he said.

Earlier in the day, Trump compared coronavirus to the common flu.

So last year 37,000 Americans died from the common Flu. It averages between 27,000 and 70,000 per year. Nothing is shut down, life and the economy go on. At this moment there are 546 confirmed cases of Coronavirus, with 22 deaths. Think about that! Trump tweeted.

The global death toll from the new coronavirus has crossed 4,250 and the outbreak has spread to over 100 countries.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Malcom Broomhead and Andrew Mackenzie. Illustration: John Shakespeare Credit:

It was less than a year ago that mining giant BHP set aside $US400 million to fight climate change and agreed to take responsibility for its Scope 1, 2 and 3 carbon emissions. At the time, Andrew Mackenzie was still flying high as the companys chief executive. (For the record, Scope 3 emissions are those generated by customers who buy BHP products.)

But Mackenzies exit was not as smooth as some would have you believe. It was last year, before Mackenzie left, that BHP director Malcolm Broomhead decided to take a stand.

Broomhead, who sits on the miners sustainability committee and who happens to be Oricas chairman, took some serious umbrage at BHPs Scope 3 stance. Virtue signalling, he said, according to our sources. Mackenzie was furious.

This exchange took place at one of Mackenzies final board meetings. He was replaced in January by Mike Henry. BHP sources confirmed it was indeed a robust meeting, with some directors suggesting more money was needed to fight climate change and others questioning why any was being spent at all, although the finer details seemed to elude them.
The Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP Ghana, Ms. Silke Hollander has called on all stakeholders to work collectively towards achieving gender parity in all spheres of life to improve the wellbeing of women and girls.

She made this call at the launch of the second Ghana National Action Plan (GHANAP II) on the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325, which calls for the protection of the rights of women and girls in conflict situations and advocate for their participation in peace processes.

Ms. Hollander underscored the importance of gender parity and women empowerment in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Ghana. She noted that gender equality and the realization of women's rights, including in conflicts and their empowerment are essential and cross-cutting issues that impact all the SDGs and encouraged all stakeholders to continue to work together to ensure the full implementation of the action plan.

The most important work lies ahead through the implementation of these actions towards the achievement of the resolutions objectives. I therefore call on all of us here to contribute towards the effective implementation of the GHANAP II, she stated.

The overall goal of GHANAP II is to build an inclusive, secured and peaceful societies for all, especially women and girls in Ghana, anchored on the tenets of UNSCR 1325. The plan is structured along the main UNSCR 1325 pillars which are: participation, protection, prevention, relief, recovery and rehabilitation.

In a speech read on her behalf, the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Hon. Cynthia Mamle Morrison pledged Ghanas continues commitment to pursue policies and programmes that promote and empower women and girls in line with international treaties, protocols and legal frameworks such as the UNSCR 1325.

She described the launch of GHANAP II as timely, noting that its overall goal is critical to the protection of women and maintenance of national peace and security especially in this election year.

The action plan is very crucial for us because we need to get the peace message to all and sundry especially the youth to consolidate the relative peace we are enjoying now, Hon. Cynthia Mamle Morrison said.

The launch of GHANAP II was part of activities outlined to commemorate this years International Womens Day Celebration in Ghana on the theme: Generation Equality: Advancing Women and Girls Rights in Ghana. 2020 also marks the 20th anniversary of the UNSCR 1325 on Women Peace and Security as well as the 25th year of the adoption of the Beijing Platform for Action on Gender Equality.
In Mali, Al Qaeda-linked militants have said they are ready to attend peace talks with Malis government, but on condition that it expels foreign troops from the war-torn West African nation.

The terror group made its position known in a statement issued on Monday following a decision by Malis President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita last month to consider talks with extremist groups, breaking a long-held government refusal to do so.

There can be no talking about negotiations under the shade of occupation, before the departure of all French forces and their followers from Mali, al Qaeda-linked Jamaa Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM) said in a statement posted on social media.

JNIM, led by Iyad Ag Ghaly, also called on the UN peacekeeping mission in Mali, MINUSMA, to leave, saying it was echoing the demands of Malian protesters, some of whom have called on foreign troops to withdraw.

As part of the dialogue initiative, the Malian government hopes to engage with two influential leaders of the JNIM.

The Islamic State in the Greater Sahara, an IS affiliate, is also active in Mali and other countries in the Sahel region such as Burkina Faso and Niger. But the government has no plans to negotiate with this group.

Mali has been struggling to contain a jihadist rebellion that erupted in the country in 2012. Since then, thousands of civilians and military personnel have died in the conflict.

France has about 4,500 troops stationed in the Sahel region, who are primarily focused on fighting the insurgency in Mali.

MINUSMA also has about 14,000 peacekeeping troops in Mali while the United Kingdom announced recently that 250 British troops will be deployed to Mali later this year to help fight extremism in the Sahel region.
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Cheltenham Festival revellers turned the racecourse into a dancefloor and enjoyed an impromptu party as Ladies' Day came to an end this evening.

Racegoers sipped on Champagne and pints of Guinness as they celebrated their wins with friends old and new.

At one point a couple of female friends were roped into showing their signature moves with a man who whipped off his t-shirt in excitement.

Elsewhere a group of young men threw their arms around each other and jumped up and down - clearly delighted with the day's results.

The frivolities continued today - the second day of the four-day meet - despite the growing threat of coronavirus. This afternoon the World Health Organisation officially declared the outbreak a pandemic and the number of confirmed cases in the UK rising to 458 - an increase of 85 in a single day.

Show us your moves! One racegoer turned the concourse into a makeshift dancefloor and showed off her best moves

Cheltenham revellers got stuck into the festive spirit today, with many knocking back mini bottles of Moet champagne

Glam racegoers got into the party spirit as the sun came out at Cheltenham this evening. Pictured: Ladies Day guests show off their finery

Caught up in the fun! The man became so involved in his moves that he whipped off his t-shirt in the excitement, pictured

Go on! A young fan cheers on a horse during the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival today

Twice as nice! Well-dressed friends in co-ordinating skirt suits made an entrance at Cheltenham Festival Ladies' Day

We're onto a winner! Gents hug and raise their fists in the air as they celebrate a win at Cheltenham this afternoon

As the day of racing draws to a close, many Cheltenham guests took to the dancefloor and continued celebrating into the evening

Print perfection! Women looked stunning in their best ensembles as they arrived for Ladies' Day at Cheltenham today

Check them out! Tartan, left, and houndstooth, right, were on display as racegoers arrived for the event this morning

Helping hand! The well-dressed woman leaned down to assist the man who found himself on the ground after dancing

Cheers to that! Women enjoyed mini bottles of Moet champagne (left) while others posed for a photo (right)

Watch this one! At one point the man dropped to the floor and threw his feet into the air as part of an energetic dance move

Better together! A woman in an elegant coat threw her hands out in celebration. Right, a pair of friends strike up a dance

Fast friends! The trio threw their arms around each other as they danced at the racecourse. Right, hugging on the concourse

High spirits! One man whipped off his t-shirt as he took to the centre of the circle for the impromptu dance party

Celebration! Racegoers congratulate each other after a win as they join in the fun on Ladies' Day at the Cheltenham Festival

Jumping for joy! One man couldn't contain his excitement after the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham today

But there was no sign of the fun slowing down at Cheltenham, with stars including Vogue Williams and Charlotte Hawkins among those who arrived to take in the action.

The royals were also in attendance, with the Duchess of Cornwall, Princess Anne, and Zara and Mike Tindall all spotted in the stands.

Earlier, women dressed to the nines in vibrant dresses, standout coats and feathered hats turned heads as they arrived. Men also got into the style showcase with their vibrant suits and best country attire.

Yesterday some 60,664 spectators took in the action, down roughly 7,000, or 10 per cent, on for the same day last year. However organisers said they were pleased with the turnout given the circumstances.

Group shot! A glamorous group of women showed posed for a photo on their way into Cheltenham Racecourse this morning

Fancy face mask: A racegoer referenced the coronavirus fears with her outfit (right) while others stuck to feathers (left)

A blustery day: One woman held onto her hat as she arrived at windy Cheltenham for Ladies' Day this morning

Jolly good spirits! Zara Tindall beamed as she arrived in a houndstooth coat by Laura Green and Juliette Bottetill Millinery hat

Royally good time! Princess Anne looked chic in a tweed skirt suit, hat and silk scarf for the Cheltenham Festival today

Grand entrance: The Duchess of Cornwall layered a green coat over a print dress as she arrived for Cheltenham this morning

Green queen! The Duchess of Cornwall looked typically elegant as she arrived for Ladies' Day at Cheltenham this morning

Royal racing fan: Mike Tindall appeared in good spirits as he arrived to Cheltenham Racecourse without his wife Zara

Star power: Charlotte Hawkins, left, and Vogue Williams, right, were among the early arrivals. Charlotte is wearing a headband by Sally Ann Provan, coat by Guinea London and dress by Claire Mischevani. Vogue Williams is in Holland Cooper

Come on! Clare Balding looked animated as she took in the action with Sir Alex Ferguson, left, on day two of Cheltenham

Personal style: Women showcased how casual looks (left) and more dressed up outfits (centre and right) are both appropriate

Theatrical! A tartan military jacket and suede knee-high boots added a playful touch, left. Right, co-ordinated in green

Still turning out: Hundreds of people queued outside Cheltenham Racecourse this morning despite coronavirus fears

Social media users have questioned the decision by Cheltenham organisers to go ahead, and why they didn't follow the lead of other European countries in postponing sporting events in the battle to contain the spread.

Racing chiefs say they have increased the numbers of wash basins and hand santiser stations, and told how they have been liaising closely with the government as it prepares to welcome more than 260,000 fans over the four days.

Big-race jockeys are said to have been briefed by staff at the course as to the importance of hygiene and also recognising any potential symptoms.

Making a statement: Feathered hats were a popular choice as racegoers arrived for Ladies' Day at Cheltenham today

Go bold or go home! One racegoer opted for a chic lilac look, left. Others opted for colour clashes (centre) and bold prints

Hats off to them! A fuchsia hat, left, and an extravagant feathered creation, right, made sure these women stood out

Girls' day out! Sonia Smith, Sophie Lydia-Perkins, Charlotte Blenkinsopp and Amy Brown pose for a photo at Cheltenham

Statement accessory: Hats are the perfect way to finish off any outfit for Cheltenham, as these women prove

Here come the girls! This group of friends looked ready for a day of fun as they made their entrance at Cheltenham today

Fashion catwalk: Tailored suits were on show at Cheltenham, left, alongside ultra-feminine skirts and jackets, right

But first, let us take a selfie! It's time for a quick snap as a group of women arrive for Ladies' Day at the Cheltenham Festival

Braving the cold! One woman looked ready for spring in pastel colours, left. Another wrapped up in a fur ensemble, right

Turning heads: This woman opted for a classic camel-coloured hat with an elaborate pheasant feather addition on the brim

Glamour: Racegoers showcased their finest looks as they arrived at Cheltenham Racecourse this morning, pictured
Falling Public Confidence Worries Experts at WHO Vaccine Conference

Better safety science needed to maintain doctor confidence in supporting vaccination programs, expert warns

Vaccine programs depend on public confidence, but trust is falling fast. One of the leading experts of vaccine confidence warned that without better science and a major shift in vaccine communications, vaccine programs could lose their most important supporters: doctors.

Dr. Heidi J. Larson heads the Vaccine Confidence Project (VCP) at the University of Londons London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. The project aims to analyze concerns about immunization, and steer the public toward sustained confidence in vaccine programs.

Heidi J. Larson, MA Ph.D., Anthropologist, Director of The Vaccine Confidence Project (Wikipedia)

At the last World Health Organization (WHO) Global Vaccine Safety Summit in Geneva in December 2019, Larson said that confidence in vaccines is waning.

We have absolutely different publics than we did 10 years ago, Larson told the summit attendees, which included leading figures in vaccine programs and research. Theyre demanding much more engagement. Much more answers.

When the vaccine schedule included just six vaccines, Larson says the public was on board. But over the years, something changed. As the number of vaccines climbed, public support began to shift rapidly.

In order to get some sense of the rise in vaccine skepticism, Larson worked with scientists at George Washington University to analyze various vaccine groups on Facebook: from supporters, to the undecided, to those totally against vaccinations. They noted that those who raised concerns about vaccines recruited the undecided 500 percent faster than the positive vaccine community.

Thats fast, and this is not hypothetical. These are real communities, she said.

A part of the problem, she said, is the current public relations strategies being used to address the vaccine-questioning community. To date, the government, medical community, and media have largely dismissed anyone raising questions about vaccine safety as conspiracy theoristsanti-vaxxersworthy of ridicule and dismissal.

Larson said the situation needs to change.

One of our biggest challenges I think now is getting rid of the term anti-vax, getting rid of the hostile language, and starting to have more conversations, to be open to questions to make people feel like they shouldnt be judged when theyre asking questions, as crazy as those questions might seem.

Concerns about vaccines have grown even as the number of vaccines on the schedule has ballooned to more than 40. Those concerns come from many sources, including distrust in the pharmaceutical industry, which has become the most poorly perceived industry in the United States, according to a 2019 Gallup poll. The reputations of pharmaceutical companies have plummeted due to the opioid crisis and ongoing drug scandals. The internet has also fed mistrust as vaccine critics share information on vaccine safety.

In response, internet companies, including Google, Amazon, Facebook, and Twitter, have tried to unlist or hide content that suggests vaccines as anything less than safe, effective, and essential for public health. That move has further infuriated vaccine activists, many of whom have painstakingly compiled detailed information about the regulatory and approval process for vaccines and their available safety data.

Larson says the biggest problem isnt misinformation, but the seeds of doubt. People have legitimate questions about safety and the ingredients found in vaccines, and they dont feel like their questions are being adequately addressed.

Our problem, as weve heard in the last 48 hours, is that there is not anything that is 100 percent. What actually, legally, without creating a censorship thing, can we absolutely say this is misinformation? Because we have a lot of ambiguity in the safety field, and we have to come to terms with that. So we have to think about it differently than deleting misinformation, but building trust, so people are willing to put up with a certain amount of risk because they believe in it enough, she said.

The challenge is how to directly address peoples concerns without shutting down dialogue, she said, as its hard to trust anyone when they look like they have something to hide.

To carry out that strategy, Larson advised a shift away from labels toward engagement. And to better answer questions about vaccines, there also needs to be better science around vaccine safety, she said.

Theres a lot of safety science thats needed. And without the good science, we cant have good communication. So although Im talking about all these other contextual issues, and communication issues, it absolutely needs the science as the backbone. You cant repurpose the same old science to make it sound better if you dont have the science thats relevant to the new problem. So we need much more investment in safety science.

One major issue is the comparable lack of safety testing that vaccines are subjected to compared to pharmaceuticals, despite that vaccines are administered to infants at critical stages of development with relatively weak immune systems.

Vaccines are classified as biologics rather than drugs. For that reason, they arent put through double-blind placebo testing as drugs are, and vaccinated populations arent compared to unvaccinated populations, which would provide assurance that vaccines dont cause secondary illnesses or compromise immunity to other diseases.

One of the groups hardest hit by this lack of science and growing public distrust is doctors. Despite repeated assurances from the Centers for Disease Control that vaccines provide enormous benefit with minuscule risk, it falls to doctors to defend vaccines. Studies show that the people the public trusts most with this subject are their health care providers. And Larson says that if doctors cant defend the safety of immunization, public support inevitably weakens.

Thats an urgent problem, noted Larson, because there is a trend now of health care providers losing confidence in vaccination.

We have a very wobbly health professional front line that is starting to question vaccines and the safety of vaccines. Thats a huge problem, she said.

Larson said health care professionals often lack the confidence to deal with patients raising specific concerns about vaccine safety. That may be in part due to the lack of training doctors and nurses receive about vaccines.

In medical school, youre lucky if you have a half-day on vaccines, never mind keeping up to date with all this, she said.

The collapse of public confidence in vaccines comes even as vaccines become more critical to public health, she says. Thats because the natural immunity that people had developed to many diseases hasnt kept up with the diseases themselves, and in some cases has even waned.

Larson says we now rely on vaccines more than ever, because our collective immunity isnt what it used to be.

We have shifted the human population to dependency on vaccine-induced immunity, and thats on the great assumption that populations would cooperate, Larson said. Were in a very fragile state now. We have developed a world that is dependent on vaccinations. We dont have a choice but to make that effort.

Larson didnt respond to a request for more information as of press time.
Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday revealed that he had requested the Security Advisor Ajit Doval to visit the violence-affected areas during the Delhi violence.

"US President's programme was pre-scheduled, it was in my constituency, my visit there was also pre-scheduled. The next day, when the US President visited Delhi, I wasn't present at any event. The whole time I was sitting with Police officers. I only requested the NSA to visit the area," Amit Shah said in Lok Sabha while replying to the debate on Delhi violence, amid disruptions.

The Home Minister said he did not visit the riot-hit areas himself as he did not want the police to divert resources.

"I did not go there myself as I didn't want the police to divert resources towards my security arrangements," he said.

"You can question me and that is your right but nobody has the right to play with facts," the Home Minister said.

The NSA had visited the violence-affected areas during the Delhi violence. At least 53 were people killed and more than 200 sustained injuries during the violence.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
New Delhi, March 11 : Amidst concerns of stability and asset quality of RBL Bank, the private lender on Friday said that it has adequate capital and there has been no adverse change in the asset quality.

Concerns have gained momentum after the Yes Bank failed and it has been put under moratorium.

In a regulatory filing, RBL Bank on Wednesday said that prevailing concerns around the bank are "misplaced and motivated" and based on "misinformation".

"Rumours around financial health and stability of the institution especially in social media seem to be misplaced, motivated and not based on facts," RBL Bank said in a regulatory filing.

The bank said that it is adequately capitalised with a capital adequacy ratio of 16.08 per cent with Tier-1 at 15.02 per cent, higher than the prescribed regulatory requirement at 11.5 per cent and 9.5 per cent respectively.

It further said that there has been "no material adverse change" in the asset quality since we announced our Q3 financial results on January 22, 2020 adding that the bank's guidance remains consistent.

The filing further said that the bank's Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR) is at 145 per cent of statutory requirements as at the end of last week.

"All our business segments are doing well, we continue to expand presence across newer geographies by adding branches and are also hiring more people as previously planned. The Bank continues to attract additional deposits from retail, corporates and institutional segments," it said.

The bank said that the management team of RBL Bank is fully committed to develop the institution to the next level and our growth journey remains intact.

"We wish to re-emphasize that RBL Bank is a fundamentally strong institution," said the bank. The lender reported a 69 per cent year-on-year decline in its net profit to Rs 70 crore for the October-December, on the back of rise in provisions.
Glass transition of spins and orbitals of electrons in a pure crystal

Osaka, Japan - A joint research group from Osaka University and the University of Tokyo uncovered the mechanism of the glass transition that electrons can experience in pyrochlore oxide crystals. The researchers show that distortions in the atomic lattice cause two types of rotational degrees of freedom of spins to become coupled and form a glassy state at the exact same temperature. This work will shed light on our understanding of the mechanism of glass transitions, which is one of the most fundamental unsolved problems in physics.

Pyrochlore oxides are minerals that have the chemical formula A 2 B 2 O 7 , where A is usually a rare earth ion and B is a transition metal--in this case, molybdenum. The metal ions in the crystal form tetrahedra that share corners. The electrons in the ions are essentially bound to the nucleus but they can still orbit around the nucleus and spin around themselves. In a sense, this is similar to motions of planets in the solar system: planets are orbiting around the sun while also spinning around themselves.

Scientists found that the orbits and spins of the electrons on different corners of the tetrahedra are interacting with each other in a complex way. Some pairs of spins want to align their axes of spin in parallel but others want to align anti-parallel. Unfortunately, there is no possible way to meet all of these simultaneously, so scientists say that the spins are "frustrated." The result is many equivalent configurations and the spins end up stuck pointing in different directions even at low temperatures. This is known as a spin-glass, since it has very similar dynamics to the cooling of molten glass to solid state. That is, the glass we are used to in our windows and cups is in an intermediate state between solid and liquid. The molecules are fixed in place, like a solid--since they don't have enough energy to move--but they are arranged without long-range order, somewhat like a "frozen liquid."

"Although some systems are known to show such behaviors due to extrinsic randomness, called 'quenched disorder,' we have shown that this is not needed to understand the glassiness of the pyrochlore system," says first author Kota Mitsumoto.

While nature often appears to favor symmetric forms, there are cases in which tetrahedral crystals are more stable when one side is elongated and another is compressed, in a process called the Jahn-Teller distortion. The researchers found that this change coupled the spin and orbital degrees of freedom, which made them undergo glass transitions at the same critical temperature. "We were happy to be able to help solve a long-standing puzzle on the origin of the disorder-free spin glass," adds senior author Hajime Yoshino.

The team used computer simulations along with theoretical calculations to show that, at this critical temperature, the non-linear response to external magnetic fields becomes very large, as expected for a glass transition.

"We demonstrated, for the first time, how a thermodynamic glass transition can occur on a periodic lattice without quenched randomness," says Mitsumoto. "We hope that our findings can improve the understanding of the glass transition in general."

###

The article, "Spin-orbital glass transition in a model frustrated pyrochlore magnet without quenched disorder" was published in Physical Review Letters at DOI: https:/ / doi. org/ 10. 1103/ PhysRevLett. 124. 087201 .

About Osaka University

Osaka University was founded in 1931 as one of the seven imperial universities of Japan and now has expanded to one of Japan's leading comprehensive universities. The University has now embarked on open research revolution from a position as Japan's most innovative university and among the most innovative institutions in the world according to Reuters 2015 Top 100 Innovative Universities and the Nature Index Innovation 2017. The university's ability to innovate from the stage of fundamental research through the creation of useful technology with economic impact stems from its broad disciplinary spectrum.

Website: https:/ / resou. osaka-u. ac. jp/ en/ top

This story has been published on: 2020-03-11. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
The NPP Member of Parliament (MP) for Ayawaso West Wuogon, Lydia Alhassan has admonished Ghanaian youth not to be used as tools to perpetrate violence in the upcoming general elections.

The MP gave the advice when she donated GHS47,000 as payment for the hospital bills of a victim, Ishawu Yaro, who was shot in the leg during the Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election violence on 31st January 2019.

The victim, for the past year, has been on admission at the 37 Military Hospital receiving treatment.

Yaro who has undergone some surgeries on his affected leg will be undergoing further treatment in the coming days.

A little over a year ago, I was here to contribute GHS5,000 for his upkeep and I continued to visit him. I was concerned about him and as a concerned mother that I am, I took it upon myself to raise funds to settle his bills. A cheque of almost GHS47,000 has been presented to the commander [at the 37 Military Hospital] to clear his medical bills, she stated.

The Ayawaso MP, Lydia Alhassan further appealed to the youth to avoid being induced by politicians to engage in violent acts ahead of the December 7 polls.

For the youth out there. Please don't allow yourself to be used in this manner. Do politics. Do it reasonably. Do it decently and sensibly, she said.

---citinewsroom
Getty

WestJet Airlines is cutting capacity, instituting a hiring freeze and offering voluntary buyouts as passenger demand plummets due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

WestJet spokesperson Morgan Bell said in a statement Wednesday that the Calgary-based airline plans on cutting capacity by at least 12 per cent as it grapples with significantly weakened demand across its entire network.

The continued spread of coronavirus is a situation that has gripped the world and the effects on our business have been dramatic, Bell said, adding that situation has been exacerbated by the continued grounding of the Boeing 737 Max jet, the companys newest and most efficient aircraft.

We are reviewing our network to both reduce and temporarily pause an additional 12 per cent, or more, of our capacity. Reductions may include domestic, transatlantic, sun destinations and transborder and we will continue to adjust as demand changes.

Bell said the airline is also looking to cut costs by implementing a company-wide hiring freeze, pausing all discretionary spending, and offering voluntary buyouts to employees.

Airlines around the world have been slashing capacity, changing cancellation policies and bracing for deeper impacts as travellers opt to stay home amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Germanys Lufthansa said it would cancel up to half of its flights after seeing a drastic drop in bookings. Delta Airlines said one-third of seats would be empty this month on flights within the United States. Southwest Airlines chief executive Gary Kelly said the outbreak might be worse for airlines than the terror attacks of 2001.

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced a $1-billion economic support package on Wednesday to help both the health-care system and the economy at large cope with the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

Air Canadas chief executive Calin Rovinescu and WestJets chief executive Ed Sims spoke to Trudeau on Tuesday to discuss the impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak, but it remains to be seen if the government will offer assistance to the aviation industry. Spokespeople for Trudeau, Air Canada and WestJet did not provide additional details about Tuesdays discussions.

Story continues

Weve been reaching out to business leaders across the country to get a better idea of the impacts and potential impact on our economy, Trudeau said at a press conference on Wednesday.

The Finance Minister has been deeply engaged in that in the prep for the budget.

On Tuesday, Air Canada announced that it would be suspending all flights between Canada and Italy over concerns about the coronavirus outbreak, which has prompted the Italian government to put the entire country under lockdown.

The airline, Canadas largest, has not disclosed how much capacity it may cut as a result of the virus outbreak but airline industry analysts say the impacts will be significant. National Bank Financial analyst Cameron Doerksen estimates that the companys 2020 earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) will be $2.2 billion, down from a previous forecast of $3.6 billion.

Air Canada, WestJet and Air Transat announced Wednesday that they would be implementing flexible cancellation policies that will allow passengers to cancel trips booked in specific time periods up to 24-hours before departure.

Air Canada will allow passengers who purchased tickets before March 4 for travel before April 30 to cancel flights up to 24 hours before departure free of charge. WestJet customers looking to change or cancel flights booked before March 3 for travel in March or April will be able to do so at no charge up to 24 hours before departure. Transat will waive change or cancellation fees made up to a day before departure for flights booked between March 4 and March 31.

With files from the Associated Press

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 Flash

The only way to defeat the threat of the novel coronavirus lies in global consensus and collaboration, said Alistair Michie, secretary general of the London-based British East Asia Council, in an exclusive interview with China.org.cn.





The British expert in public diplomacy emphasized the importance of China's vision of "building a community with a shared future for mankind." The viral pandemic, like other pressing global issues such as climate change, can only be solved through the world working together, he said.

Michie made the remarks as the COVID-19 outbreak continues to spread globally, with the number of affected countries, territories and areas outside China totaling 109 as of Tuesday morning.





A total of 113,702 confirmed cases have been reported worldwide as of 10:00 CET on Mar. 10, an increase of 4,125 infections from the previous day, including 4,105 new cases outside China, according to the daily COVID-19 report released by the World Health Organization (WHO).





In this context, Michie explained it is depressing to see a failure in global communications and a linked rise of anti-globalization sentiment.





He noted that a trend is emerging where both Europe and North America have closed their minds to what they could learn from China on how to minimize the impact of this global virus crisis.





"There should have been headlines around the world about what the WHO delegation leader Bruce Aylward said in Beijing  especially as he is an eminent Canadian physician and epidemiologist," Michie said. "He described China's 'all-government, all-society approach' as 'extraordinary' and 'probably the most ambitious and agile' in history."





Michie quoted comments made by Dr. Aylward at the Press Conference of WHO-China Joint Mission on COVID-19 held on Feb. 24: "The world needs the experience and materials of China to be successful in battling this coronavirus disease. China has the most experience in the world with this disease, and it's the only country to have turned around serious large-scale outbreaks."

In the heat of the battle to defeat the coronavirus, Michie believes that questions about the scale of the economic impact are best approached using a long-term view rather than by focusing on immediate quarterly performance.





"In the past 40-plus years, China has modernized at a scale and speed unprecedented in human history. Every year in those four decades, many pundits outside China had predicated the Chinese economic miracle was going to burst," explained Michie.





It is his belief that as China emerges from this viral crisis, some factors are sure to kick in that will be tough for conventional economics to measure, such as "the payback from the vast investment China has made in building the most advanced infrastructure network in the world."





"I find that the scale and sophistication of airports, high-speed rail and a bigger inter-province/state road system than the United States, positively shocks foreign visitors new to China," said Michie, who has lived and worked in more than 20 cities, provinces and regions across China over the last 30 years.





In addition, he added that there are economic driving forces coming from the digital and bioscience revolutions that are on path to utterly changing China and the world.
A nuclear plant in Killona  the closest nuclear facility to New Orleans  could soon face tighter government oversight, after regulators found apparent security violations during a recent inspection.

According to a letter sent from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to Entergy executive Sergio Vazquez, the companys Waterford 3 Steam Electric Station was found to have apparent violations during an inspection conducted from Sept. 30 to Nov. 22, 2019. Regulators were checking on whether the plant complied with safety protocols for preparing radioactive material in quantities of concern for transport.

The violations were significant enough that federal regulators are considering escalated enforcement action, according to the letter.

Most violations found during inspections of nuclear facilities are considered non-cited violations, with regulators allowing plants to fix the problems through their own corrective programs.

Entergy officials plan to meet with NRC regulators on Monday, according to a spokesman for NRC Region IV, an area that includes Louisianas two nuclear plants.

Specifics on what enforcement actions are being considered, or even what security violations were discovered, will not be released to the public, however.

The NRC has a policy, enacted after September 2001, which forbids the release of details about nuclear security problems or what enforcement actions are taken to correct them.

Though he could not discuss the details in this case, Entergy spokesman Michael Bowling insisted that Waterford 3 is, and has always been, safe and secure.

Entergy has robust programs to continually monitor, correct and self-report any concerns in real time, and we work closely with regulators to ensure our continued safety and security, Bowling said. All issues mentioned in the report have been identified and corrected.

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The specific rule Waterford 3 violated, which involves the physical protection of radioactive material, is a relatively new one, according to the American Nuclear Society, a nonprofit scientific organization.

The organization noted that an NRC report showed that 28% of inspections within the first two years the rule  officially called 10 CFR Part 37  was in effect found some sort of violation. But unlike Waterford 3s violations, most were of the lowest level of concern and resulted from improper paperwork or administrative issues.

The NRC officially started implementing the rule in 2014.

Americas nuclear power plants are the safest and most secure facilities in the world, with a proven track record stretching back more than 60 years, the American Nuclear Society said in an email. Safety inspections conducted regularly by the NRC are a vital part of ensuring the security of our nations largest source of reliable clean energy.

The Waterford 3 plant has been operating since the NRC licensed it in 1985. It produces power using a pressurized water reactor  a type of nuclear reactor that relies on making steam to turn a turbine generator, which then produces electricity.

On its website, Entergy says the plant supplies about 10% of Louisianas electricity; it employs 790 workers.

Its license was renewed with the NRC in 2018 and will not expire until 2044.
Home minister Amit Shah, during his reply on Delhi riots in Lok Sabha on Wednesday, called the communal violence unfortunate and paid his tribute to those who lost their lives in the incident that took place on February 25.

I pay my tribute to all those who lost their lives in riots in Delhi and extend my condolences to their grieving families, Amit Shah said.

In his reply to the House, Shah said that no incident of riots took place after February 25 in Delhi.

I would like to place on record that after 25th February no incident of rioting took place. There have been attempts to politicise these riots, Shah said during his reply in Lok Sabha.

Also read | Delhi communal riots probe reveal a conspiracy: Amit Shah in Lok Sabha

Several questions were raised against Delhi Polices role during the violence. Some of these were also articulated by opposition lawmakers during the discussion on the violence. Shah referred to these allegations to defend Delhi Police, saying that the force should be credited for containing the riots to a small geographical area and ending the violence within 36 hours.

Questions have been asked about what the Delhi Police was doing. Police were on the ground then, police will also probe and submit a report in coming days. I would like to praise the Delhi Police for not allowing the riots to spread to other areas, Amit Shah said.

The police contained the rioting within 36 hours.

While Amit Shah was replying to Lok Sabha, the Congress members walked out.
James Bulger killer Jon Venables could be freed from prison within weeks if the Parole Board rules he is not a danger to the public.

The murderer, who was sent back to prison two years ago for having more than 1,000 indecent images of children on his computer and a paedophile manual, will be considered for release within weeks.

He was jailed in February 2018 for 40 months after admitting the charges, and only became eligible for release in October last year.

It was the second time he had been returned to jail since being freed from his sentence for murdering two-year-old James in 1993.

Venables was first jailed at the age of ten with his friend Robert Thompson in 1994 for the torture and murder of James after they lured him away from a shopping centre in Bootle, Merseyside.

He was released on licence in 2001 but recalled nine years later after indecent images of children were found on his devices.

Jon Venables' will be considered for release by a Parole Board within weeks. Above Venables is pictured in his police photo in 1993

CCTV image shows the moment two-year-old James Bulger was abducted from the Bootle Strand shopping mall in 1993 by Venables, who is seen holding his hand. He and Robert Thompson took the boy before torturing and killing him

James's father Ralph, 53, has called for him to be kept behind bars and believes Venables will kill again if he is released from prison.

'I don't believe he will stop until he has killed again', he told the Mirror.

'He is a dangerous, predatory child abuser and killer and I am terrified he will strike again and harm another child like my James.

'Venables might have been ten years old then but now he is a grown man and a predator with a disgusting lust for children.

'He is wired wrong and has always been. I warned against his release the last time, but the Parole Board ignored me and instead were hoodwinked by Venables into believing he was reformed.

'Keeping him in prison is the only way to make sure he can't target kids again. He was given a second and third chance but blew it.'

James Bulger (Pictured) was two-years-old when he was led from the shopping centre. His 53-year-old father has tried to overturn the lifetime anonymity granted to his killer Jon Venables arguing that it would 'protect the public'

Venables has spent more than 65,000 of taxpayers money fighting legal challenges to his lifelong anonymity by Ralph Bulger.

In March last year Judge Sir Andrew McFarlane rejected the case, saying the injunction was intended to protect Venables from 'being put to death'.

'(Venables) is "uniquely notorious" and there is a strong possibility, if not probability, that if his identity were known he would be pursued resulting in grave and possibly fatal consequences,' he said.

'This is, therefore, a wholly exceptional case and the evidence in 2019 is more than sufficient to sustain the conclusion that there continues to be a real risk of very substantial harm to (Venables).'
(TNS)  Uber has resumed testing of robot cars in San Francisco, two years after one caused a fatal accident in Arizona.Starting Tuesday, two Volvo XC90 self-driving Uber cars will cruise city streets during daylight hours, each staffed by two front-seat safety drivers.Our testing area will be limited in scope to start, but we look forward to scaling up our efforts in the months ahead and learning from the difficult but informative road conditions that the Bay Area has to offer, Uber said.The ride-hailing company ceased all autonomous-car testing in March 2018 after one of its test vehicles hit and killed a pedestrian in Tempe, Ariz. That car had one backup driver; investigations showed that she was watching a video at the time of the collision. Most companies testing autonomous cars have two backup drivers per car. Ubers car lacked emergency braking, instead relying on the human operator to take over if needed.Uber was widely criticized for cutting corners in a rush to market. Its co-founder and former CEO Travis Kalanick had famously said that robot cars were critical to its future profitability.Uber said it has made numerous safety improvements since then.Its human backup drivers have completed new training including dedicated time on defensive and distracted driving courses, as well as improved test track situational awareness drills, the company said.The California DMV revoked Ubers permission to test robot cars here after the collision, but granted it a new permit in February. Uber said it had also informed the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency of its plans.Ubers fatal collision impacted the entire industry of companies racing to develop self-driving cars, which many think will be the future of the automobile industry.Just a couple of years ago, experts and companies alike predicted that robot cars would be ubiquitous by 2020. Those optimistic forecasts were reset as public confidence in the emerging technology plummeted.Uber sought to hedge its bet on self-driving last year, when it agreed to take $1 billion from SoftBank, Toyota and Japanese auto components maker Denso for stakes in its Advanced Technology Group, the division developing autonomous technology.Uber has already resumed robot-car testing in several other cities, operating up to 20 vehicles in Pittsburgh, where it has a major R&D center; up to two each in Dallas and Toronto; and up to four in Washington.
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / March 11, 2020 / MGX Renewables Inc, DBA Zinc8 Energy Solutions ("Zinc8" or the "Company")(CNSX:MGXR), is pleased to provide this corporate update.

First private sector deployment agreement signed with Digital Energy Corporation to install a 100kW/1.5MWh Zinc-Air Energy Storage System in Brooklyn, NY

C$2.5 million project development being financially supported by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA)

Zinc8 Energy Solutions is pleased to announce a Deployment Agreement with Digital Energy Corp, a New York based private sector developer of Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plants, solar systems and microgrids. This agreement is financially supported by The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, known as NYSERDA, for the installation of a 100kW/1.5MWh Zinc-Air Energy Storage System in Brooklyn, New York.

Established in 1975, NYSERDA is a New York State public-benefit corporation that promotes energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy sources. Collectively, NYSERDA's efforts aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, accelerate economic growth, and reduce customer energy bills.

The Zinc8 Energy Storage System will support and enhance the economics of a CHP system currently operating at Brooklyn, New York. NYSERDA is financially supporting this project deployment of CAD $2.5 Million, with a CAD $600,000 contribution as the result of a call for proposals. In addition, NYSERDA has chosen Digital Energy Corp, and Zinc8 as the Energy Storage System manufacturer to demonstrate the economics and reliability of Zinc8's patented zinc-air battery technology for low-cost long-duration storage in a behind-the-meter application.

"This deployment marks a major milestone in Zinc8 Energy Solutions' path to full commercialization and underscores the growing demand for low-cost reliable long-duration energy storage," stated Ron MacDonald, President and CEO of Zinc8 Energy Solutions.

Despite advances in storage technology, and ever-increasing numbers of deployments, several technological optimization opportunities still exist including hardware cost reductions, enhanced system performance (efficiency, life cycle and thermal stability), and integration field testing with the grid and other applications. Improving and optimizing these areas will accelerate the growth of energy storage deployment. This project is focused on advancing, developing and field testing the Zinc8 storage technology that will address cost, performance and integration challenges in New York State.

"Digital Energy and Integrated Energy Concepts are excited about working with Zinc8 Energy on the development and deployment of the Zinc8 Energy Storage system. The Zinc8 system addresses several critical needs of on-site electric energy storage: Price point economics, system robustness under real-world use, and safety. We see the Zinc8 system as very promising for integration into our existing and developing customer base of over 100 on-site power plants, solar systems, and microgrids," said William Cristofaro, President and CEO of Digital Energy Corp.

"We are very pleased to be working with the well-respected US interconnect company Digital Energy Corp. who believes, as we do, that this new technology will open up a huge global opportunity for behind-the-meter, microgrid and utility-scale long-duration energy storage," stated Mr. MacDonald, President and CEO of Zinc8 Energy Solutions.

This is the second major installation announcement within 7 weeks for Zinc8 Energy Solutions. On January 17th, 2020 The New York Power Authority (NYPA) selected Zinc8 Energy Solutions as a winner of the Innovation Challenge, which will see the installation of a 100kW/1.5MWh Zinc-Air Energy Storage System in New York State.

Within weeks of announcing our collaboration with NYPA (the largest public power organization in the Unites States), we are announcing a second project with Digital Energy Corp (a private sector developer) who has a pipeline of over 100 potential projects. This underscores our belief at Zinc8 Energy Solutions that our technology could be transformative in significantly improving the economics of long-duration energy storage.

Under the Deployment Agreement with Digital Energy, not only will Zinc8 and Digital work together on the Brooklyn project, but Digital and Zinc8 will try to refer other projects to each other for joint proposals. As compensation for referring the Brooklyn project, Zinc8 will grant to Digital options and will make certain payments to Digital in Zinc8 shares on achieving milestones for the Brooklyn project.

About NYSERDA

NYSERDA, a public benefit corporation, offers objective information and analysis, innovative programs, technical expertise, and funding to help New Yorkers increase energy efficiency, save money, use renewable energy, and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. NYSERDA professionals work to protect the environment and create clean-energy jobs. NYSERDA has been developing partnerships to advance innovative energy solutions in New York State since 1975. To learn more about NYSERDA's programs and funding opportunities, visit nyserda.ny.gov or follow us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, or Instagram.

About Digital Energy Corp

Digital Energy is a premier consulting firm specializing in the energy industry with a focus on cogeneration plant operations and financial performance. In addtion, Digital personnel have experience with the NYISO, REV PSC proceedings, and Utility rate case proceedings, Digital is an authorized aggregator in the Con Edison's BQDM Demand Response Program and has experience with other utility demand response programs. Digital assist its clients in operating their cogeneration plant, analyzing utility bills, procuring energy supply, and assisting standby rate customers in receiving the Standby Reliability Credit.

Digital specializes in maximizing financial performance from your energy infrastructure assets and analyzing upgrades to energy infrastructure quite often utilizing NYSERDA/Utility programs.

For more information on Digital Energy Corp, visit www.digitalenergyny.com

About Zinc8 Energy Solutions

Zinc8 has assembled an experienced team to execute the development and commercialization of a dependable low-cost zinc-air battery. This mass storage system offers both environmental and efficiency benefits. Zinc8 strives to meet the growing need for secure and reliable power.

To watch a short video outlining Zinc8's technology, please visit:

https://zinc8energy.com

More about the Zinc8 Energy Storage System (ESS)

The Zinc8 ESS is a modular Energy Storage System designed to deliver power in the range 20kW - 50MW with capacity of 8 hours of storage duration or higher. With the advantage of rechargeable zinc-air flow battery technology, the system can be configured to support a wide range of long-duration applications for microgrids and utilities. Since the energy storage capacity of the system is determined only by the size of the zinc storage tank, a very cost-effective and scalable solution now exists as an alternative to the fixed power/energy ratio of the lithium ion battery.

Technology

The Zinc8 ESS is based upon unique patented zinc-air battery technology. Energy is stored in the form of zinc particles, similar in size to grains of sand. When the system is delivering power, the zinc particles are combined with oxygen drawn from the surrounding air. When the system is recharging, zinc particles are regenerated, and oxygen is returned to the surrounding air.

Applications

The flexibility of the Zinc8 ESS enables it to service a wide range of applications. Typical examples include:

Smoothing energy derived from renewable sources such as wind and solar

Commercial/Industrial backup replacing diesel generators

Industrial and grid scale, on-demand power for peak shaving and standby reserves

Grid-scale services such as alleviating grid congestion, deferring transmission/distribution upgrades, energy trading and arbitrage, and increasing renewable energy penetration.

Architecture

The Zinc8 ESS is designed according to a modular architecture that enables a wide variety of system configurations to be created from a small number of common subsystems. Each subsystem implements a single element of the technology:

The Zinc Regeneration Subsystem (ZRS) provides the recharging function

The Fuel Storage Subsystem (FSS) provides the energy storage function

The Power Generation Subsystem (PGS) provides the discharging function

Contact Information

Patrick Butler

Corporate Development

Telephone: 1.604.681.1586

patrick@zinc8energy.com

Web: investors@zinc8energy.com

Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains certain statements or disclosures relating to Zinc8 Energy Solutions that are based on the expectations of its management as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to Zinc8 Energy Solutions which may constitute forward-looking statements or information ("forward-looking statements") under applicable securities laws. All such statements and disclosures, other than those of historical fact, which address activities, events, outcomes, results or developments that Zinc8 Storage anticipates or expects may or will occur in the future (in whole or in part) should be considered forward-looking statements.

Forward looking statements in this press release include that we will install a 100kW/1.5MWh Zinc-Air Energy Storage System in Brooklyn, NY; that this deployment marks a major milestone in Zinc8 Energy Solutions' path to full commercialization; that our technology will open up a huge global opportunity for behind-the-meter, microgrid and utility-scale long-duration energy storage; that through NYPA we will build a 100kW/1.5MWh Zinc-Air Energy Storage System in New York State; that our technology could be transformative in improving the economics of long term battery storage; that we can execute the development and commercialization of a dependable low cost zinc-air battery; that our mass storage system offers both environmental and efficiency benefits; and that we can help meet the needs for secure and reliable power. Zinc8 Energy Solutions believes the material factors, expectations and assumptions reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable at this time, but no assurance can be given that these factors, expectations and assumptions will prove to be correct. The forward-looking statements included in this news release are not guarantees of future performance. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements including, without limitation: that the Nycerda or NYPA projects do not go forward; that our technology fails to work as expected or at all; that our technology proves to be too expensive to implement broadly; that customers do not adapt our products for being too complex, costly, or not fitting with their current products or plans; our competitors may offer better or cheaper solutions for battery storage; general economic, market and business conditions; increased costs and expenses; inability to retain qualified employees; our patents may not provide protection as expected and we may infringe on the patents of others; and certain other risks detailed from time to time in Zinc8 Energy Solution's public disclosure documents i, copies of which are available on MGX Renewables Inc's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.

The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligations to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws.

Neither the CSE nor any Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE: Zinc8 Energy Solutions

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/580072/Zinc8-Energy-Solutions-Inc-Announces-Its-First-Private-Sector-Deployment-Agreement-with-Digital-Energy-Corp-to-Install-a-Zinc-Air-Energy-Storage-System-in-New-York-City
Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) (L), speaks as former Vice President Joe Biden gestures during the Democratic presidential primary debate at Paris Las Vegas on February 19, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The Democratic presidential debate scheduled to take place on Sunday in Phoenix will go forward without a live audience amid fears of spreading the new coronavirus, a spokesperson for the Democratic National Committee said Tuesday.

"The DNC has been in regular communication with local health officials and the Mayor's office, which advised that we could proceed as planned," DNC communications director Xochitl Hinojosa said in a statement. "Nevertheless, our number one priority has and will continue to be the safety of our staff, campaigns, Arizonans and all those involved in the debate."

Former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders, the two remaining major contenders for the Democratic nomination, both requested that there be no live audience, Hinojosa said.

Biden and Sanders canceled Ohio rallies earlier on Tuesday because of coronavirus concerns, the first major campaign disruption from the disease. President Donald Trump has yet to cancel a campaign rally because of coronavirus but is making decisions "literally on a day to day basis," according to Vice President Mike Pence.

Sunday's debate, sponsored by CNN and Univision, is the first to take place since Super Tuesday, when the field was winnowed significantly. CNN said in a statement that there will also be no media filing center or "spin room" on Sunday, where surrogates for the campaigns speak to the press following the debate.

cnn tweet

Public health officials have cautioned against hosting large, public gatherings which could hasten the spread of the new virus, which has tanked global markets amid fears of a worldwide slowdown in economic activity.

The new disease has led to the cancellations of iconic cultural events such as Austin's South by Southwest music festival and the closure of an increasing number of colleges and universities.

There are more than 800 known cases in the U.S., and at least 28 have died, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
New York is guaranteeing state workers two weeks of paid leave for those ordered to quarantine because of the coronavirus, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced today.

Cuomo said the paid leave will apply to those state workers who are subject to a mandatory or precautionary order of quarantine as a result of the coronavirus.

A mandatory quarantine means a person who has no symptoms but has been within 6 feet of someone who tested positive, according to the states Department of Health. It also means someone who has traveled to China, Iran, Japan, South Korea or Italy and is displaying symptoms of COVID-19.

A precautionary quarantine means someone who:

has traveled to China, Iran, Japan, South Korea or Italy while coronavirus was prevalent, but is not displaying symptoms; or

is known to have had a proximate exposure to a positive person but has not had direct contact with a positive person and is not displaying symptoms; or

is a person who local health authorities believe should be quarantined.

This will apply to all state employees, regardless of civil service classification, bargaining unit, and regardless of part-time or accrual status.

Cuomo also gave update case numbers for New York. As of midday today there were 216 cases in the state:

Westchester: 121 (13 new)

New York City: 52 (16 new)

Nassau: 28 (9 new)

Suffolk: 6 (5 new)

Rockland: 6

Saratoga: 2

Ulster: 1

READ MORE

St. Patrick Days Parade still has green light

Some sporting events starting to make changes because of coronavirus

SUNY and CUNY schools moving to distance learning in light of COVID-19

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BEIJING, March 10 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi held a phone talk with Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio, saying bilateral friendship will make new progress amid the fight against COVID-19.

Di Maio briefed on Italy's latest development on the epidemic prevention and control work and thanked China for its solicitude and support for Italy, adding that it fully demonstrates the traditional friendship between the two peoples.

Pointing out the severe situation in Italy at present, Di Maio said the Italian government is paying close attention to and learning from China's successful experience in the anti-virus fight, taking strong measures to prevent the spread of the disease.

Italy is facing a shortage of medical supplies and equipment, said Di Maio, expressing his hopes that China will help solve the urgent need.

The overseas Chinese living in Italy have played an active role in the fight against the epidemic, said Di Maio, adding that Italy will continue to take full care of their health and safety.

Wang, for his part, said that as a good friend and comprehensive strategic partner of Italy, China, again with condolence for and support to Italy, fully understands the challenges Italy is confronting.

The epidemic knows no border and is a common enemy of mankind, Wang noted and called for solidarity of the international community to combat the virus.

Upholding the vision of a community with a shared future for mankind, China is dedicated not only to making all-out efforts to keep the Chinese people safe and sound, but also to making contributions to global public health security, Wang said.

Not long ago, China made donations to the World Health Organization to support international cooperation on the COVID-19 fight. China is also offering help within its capacity to countries where the epidemic situation is severe or where medical conditions are poor, Wang said.

Noting that the Chinese people will not forget the precious support from Italy when China was at its hardest moment in the fight against the virus, Wang said China is now willing to stand firmly by the side of the Italian people as well.

Though China itself at present still needs a large amount of medical materials, the country, overcoming the difficulties, will offer Italy with assistance like medical materials including face masks, and accelerate and enhance the exports of supplies and equipments to meet Italy's urgent need, Wang said.

If the Italian side requires, Wang said, China would like to send medical personnel to Italy to help combat the novel coronavirus.

The Chinese cities and provinces which enjoy friendship relations with their Italian peers, as well as Chinese enterprises, will also offer support and aid to Italy, the minister added.

Wang said he believes the joint battle against the novel coronavirus will help deepen bilateral relations between the two countries, and enhance the friendship between the two peoples.

China appreciates that the Italian side has paid high attention to the health and safety of the Chinese nationals in Italy, and hopes that Italy will continue to offer them necessary help and support, the minister said.

Hand in hand, China and Italy will prevail over the epidemic eventually, Wang added.
Paris, March 12 : France now has 2,281 confirmed coronavirus infection cases -- nearly 500 more than a day before, with 48 deaths and 105 patients hospitalised in intensive care, Health Minister Olivier Veran said on Wednesday.

"Some regions have hundreds of cases and others a few dozen. The virus is not actively spreading throughout the country. We are therefore still at stage 2 of the national epidemic alert plan," the minister said at the daily briefing, reiterating the government's priority to slow down the virus spread, Xinhua reported.

"Our action is based on two pillars, delaying (the explosions of cases) and anticipating. The more we put off, the better we anticipate and the better the absorption capacity of our health system will be," he added.

"The virus is spreading more and more actively and in more and more territories," said Jerome Salomon, the ministry's Director-General of Health at the briefing, adding that more than 1,200 tests are carried out every day across the country.

Ruling out drastic steps to contain the outbreak, France has so far banned gatherings of over 1,000 people across cities. It also closed all education institutions and restricted movement in regions where the largest clusters originated.

On Thursday evening, President Emmanuel Macron will make a televised address "on the health crisis we are currently experiencing," government spokesperson Sibeth Ndiaye has said.
India's non-bank financial institutions (NBFI) will likely face renewed pressure on funding and liquidity following the RBI's takeover of this month, Fitch Ratings said on Wednesday.

"The consequences will compound the credit squeeze across the country's financial system, adding to current economic uncertainty," it said.

The move on comes as the impact of the coronavirus is beginning to be felt in India, raising further risks to economic growth and non-banking companies' asset quality. "Rising asset quality and funding risks will place pressure on ratings if conditions worsen materially," it said.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) last week seized after noticing a surge in withdrawals by depositors.

"The NBFI sector's direct exposures to Yes Bank should be modest as a whole. Yes Bank's issues have been known for some time, and companies have had time to pare back any exposure to the bank over the past year.

"Yes Bank's advances to NBFIs equated to roughly 1-2% of the NBFI sector's total bank funding, and the sector's asset exposures to the bank would be similarly moderate," Fitch said, adding the recent announcement may bring about broader contagion effects for NBFI funding conditions.

The RBI's planned reconstruction scheme broadly protects the deposits and liabilities of the bank, but calls for a writedown of its Basel III AT1 instruments at present. "This may trigger another round of investor risk aversion that tightens market access and raises overall funding costs for borrowers, with wholesale NBFIs likely to remain more vulnerable in this situation," it said.

There may also be knock-on effects for NBFIs if smaller private start to face deteriorating depositor confidence.

have been an important source of liquidity for NBFIs amid the funding squeeze in the local debt markets over the past 18 months, and any weakness in bank deposit funding would constrict liquidity available for lending to the NBFI sector.

"An extended credit squeeze will likely exacerbate asset quality risks for the financial sector including NBFIs, which are already facing pressure from a general economic and property-sector slowdown, and an evolving COVID-19 situation," it said. "The asset quality risks that have been largely centred on wholesale property development would, in Fitch's view, start to broaden if the economy becomes more adversely affected."



These events add to the challenging operating environment for Indian NBFIs, with rising uncertainty over funding conditions in the near term.

Fitch said it will be monitoring the rated NBFIs' funding access and liquidity positions closely over the near term, and will assess the broader economic impact of recent developments on potential asset quality trends for any signs of deterioration that may have an impact on the ratings.
If youre a newcomer to The Bachelor," as this writer was, the second part of a two-part season 24 finale is a confusing (and mind-numbing) way to start.

(Highly suspect that all of it is mind-numbing.)

Peter loves Hannah Ann. Peter proposes to Hannah Ann. Peter maybe doesnt love Hannah Ann, after all? Hannah Ann and Peter break up. Peter reunites with Madison. Peter and Madison get together. Peters mom is not happy.

That, in a nutshell, is what happened in the concluding part of the "Bachelor finale.

So who won The Bachelor?

First, lets rewind.

Bachelor Peter Weber, the pilot who viewers got to know on The Bachelorette, proposes to Hannah Ann Sluss in Australia at the start of the episode, presenting her with a ring and a rose.

Earlier, Madison Prewett has broken up with Peter. But he is now apparently all in with Hannah Ann. OR IS HE?

Whats the deal with Hannah Ann?

After a month apart (why?), the show revisits Hannah Ann and Peter as they reunite in Los Angeles. Things are not going well. There is awkward silence, crying and sniffling.

I couldnt match what she was giving to me, and that wasnt fair to her, Peter says during the finale, after reviewing footage of the encounter.

I said yes, and I get this?? Hannah Ann says, holding the ring Peter proposed with, ready to walk out the door. She absconds with the remains of her dignity in an SUV.

Peter and Madison reassess their post-breakup relationship in the finale of "The Bachelor." His mother is none too pleased.John Fleenor | ABC

Madisons comeback, Barbaras lament

Host Chris Harrison travels to Alabama to inform Madison that Peter has gotten engaged since she left the show, but the engagement was broken off, paving the way for the two to get together again.

Surprise, surprise. When they meet up, Peter is in love with Madison, and Madison loves Peter.

Peters mother, Barbara, still deeply in love with Hannah Ann, thinks Madison has been rude. Shes not a fan of this new arrangement.

Madison tells Barbara whats what when she says the relationship conversation should be between her and Peter alone.

Look at Madison, victor supreme!

Barbara: Womp womp" face.

This thing makes Jersey Shore" look like Masterpiece Theatre."

Have a tip? Amy Kuperinsky may be reached at akuperinsky@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @AmyKup or on Facebook.

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The Maryland General Assemblys Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive & Legislative Review has approved emergency regulations for all health carriers regulated by the Maryland Insurance Administration (MIA).

The following new regulations, issued by Governor Larry Hogan to control the spread of the COVID-19 virus, will go into effect immediately:

Health carriers must waive any cost-sharing, including co-payments, coinsurance and deductibles, for any visit to diagnose or test for COVID-19 regardless of the setting of the testing. For example, the test could be given in an emergency room, a physicians office or an urgent care center.

Health carriers must waive any cost-sharing for laboratory fees related to COVID-19.

Health carriers must waive any cost-sharing for COVID-19 vaccination.

The Maryland Insurance Commissioner may require a health carrier to make a claims payment for COVID-19 that the carrier had denied as experimental.

A health carrier shall evaluate a request to use an out-of-network provider to test for COVID-19 solely on the basis of whether the test is medically necessary or appropriate.

Health carriers may only require prior authorization for COVID-19 testing based on medical necessity.

The MIA is instituting an expedited grievance procedure to review adverse decisions on requests for coverage for COVID-19 testing.

In addition, on March 6, under the direction of Governor Hogan, Maryland Insurance Commissioner Al Redmer Jr. issued a bulletin that triggered emergency regulations. It requires health insurers to waive any time restrictions on prescription drug refills and authorize payment to pharmacies for at least a 30-day supply of medication as a response to the COVID-19 virus. This action will allow individuals to obtain medications in advance of any quarantine.

The MIA is also asking health carriers to engage in focused member education and outreach regarding medically necessary health care services for COVID-19 prevention, diagnosis and treatment.

Source: The Maryland Insurance Administration

Topics Carriers COVID-19 Legislation Maryland
Alipay to evolve into digital ecosystem as service sector prepares for transformation

Chinese online payment giant Alipay has said it will evolve from a platform offering inclusive financial services to an open digital ecosystem that provides users a gateway into a comprehensive digital lifestyle.

A citizen places orders for vegetable in Hangzhou. (Photo via Alipay)

It follows a recent announcement from Chinas Ministry of Commerce that the country will accelerate the digital transformation of the consumer service sector.

Alipay will support the digital transformation of 40 million service providers across the country, said Hu Xiaoming, CEO of Ant Financial, which runs Alipay.

During the COVID-19 outbreak, Alipay introduced a number of mini programs that helped users cope with the impact of the epidemic.

On Feb.9, Beijing-based startup Meicai, which connects vegetable farmers with restaurants, launched a mini program to make its delivery services available to Alipay users. In one week, Meicai attracted more than 800,000 new users across 80 cities in China, registering a repurchase rate of 40 percent.

Alipay provides us with a large number of users and a whole host of services, including technical support, said an official with Meicai.

One company that was helped by such mini programs was BESTORE, a snack brand headquartered in Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak, which suffered a massive loss in sales due to the closure of many offline stores. With the help of Alipays mini program, the company saw a surge in the volume of transactions. To BESTORE, digital transformation should be a long-term strategy rather than a makeshift tactic in response to the epidemic.

Chinas service industry contributed to 59.4 percent of GDP growth in 2019, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.

Industry insiders said digital transformation of the service sector will become a new engine for economic growth.
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Former Vice President Joe Biden, Sen. Kamala Harris of California, and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan at a campaign stop in Detroit.

Brendan McDermid/Reuters

Former Vice President Joe Biden dominated Bernie Sanders in Tuesday's Democratic presidential primary in Michigan, delivering a potentially fatal blow to the Vermont senator's campaign.

Michigan had 125 delegates on the table, so winning there gives Biden a huge lead over Sanders after a successful Super Tuesday.

Losing in Michigan is also a symbolic defeat for Sanders, who won a narrow, stunning victory over Hillary Clinton in the Midwestern state four years ago.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Former Vice President Joe Biden wiped the floor with Sen. Bernie Sanders in Tuesday's Democratic presidential primary in Michigan, which could spell the end of the Vermont senator's campaign.

With over 1.5 million votes counted, Biden led Sanders by roughly 17 percentage points. It's a huge victory in a state Sanders narrowly won four years ago. In short, it was a rout.

After underwhelming results on Super Tuesday, which saw Biden gain a sizable lead in delegates needed to win the Democratic nomination, Sanders really needed a victory in the Midwestern state.

Biden is now heading into a series of crucial primaries next Tuesday with all of the momentum. The former vice president also dominated Sanders in Missouri and Mississippi on Tuesday.

Michigan had the most delegates up for grabs (125) out of the half dozen states that held voting contests on Tuesday. Winning there would've given Sanders a major boost, particularly with two neighboring states (Ohio and Illinois) holding elections next week.

Sanders won a narrow, stunning victory over Hillary Clinton in Michigan in 2016. It was a defining moment for his underdog campaign. Michigan has many of the blue-collar workers Sanders has pegged himself as the champion of for years. Losing there not only hurts Sanders mathematically, but it's also a massive symbolic defeat.

Candidates need 1,991 pledged delegates to win the 2020 nomination. There are 577 delegates on the table on March 17 in four contests:

Story continues

Arizona: 67 pledged delegates

Florida: 219 pledged delegates

Illinois: 155 pledged delegates

Ohio: 136 pledged delegates

Biden has a double-digit lead over Sanders in every state holding an election next Tuesday, according to FiveThirtyEight's average of recent polling. Barring any major surprises, Biden could be the presumptive Democratic nominee by next week. Michigan could've been a turning point for Sanders, but instead it dealt a potentially fatal blow to his 2020 campaign.

Read the original article on Business Insider
NORRISTOWN  An international investigation of an Upper Merion mans interest in child porn began after IKEA, the Swedish company for which he worked, uncovered the images by monitoring company-issued computers from a continent away, court documents revealed.

Its unique, Montgomery County Assistant District Attorney Matthew Brittenburg said about the investigation into the conduct of James N. Highfill Jr., a 52-year-old Upper Merion man who worked at IKEAs U.S. corporate office along Alan Wood Road in Plymouth Township.

I think this case is a testament to the efforts among local, state, federal and international law enforcement partners to identify instances of online child exploitation and make sure that the appropriate authorities, wherever the crime is occurring, have the opportunity to apprehend those suspects, Brittenburg added.

Highfill, of the 100 block of Cambridge Road, pleaded guilty in county court to a felony charge of possession of child pornography in connection with incidents that occurred in August 2018. Specifically, Highfill admitted to possessing more than 300 files that contained child pornography.

Judge Thomas C. Branca deferred sentencing so that Highfill can undergo a presentence investigation, including a psychosexual evaluation. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for May.

Highfill, who remains free on bail pending sentencing, faces a possible maximum sentence of up to 23 months in jail on the charges. Brittenburg vowed to seek jail time against Highfill.

Court documents indicate Highfills activity was flagged by IKEA security officials in Sweden, who then shared the information with U.S. authorities.

IKEA appears, to me, to take seriously concerns about online child exploitation and I applaud the effort they made in this case. Its a testament to them and what theyre concerned about as a company, that they invest resources, time and attention to this issue, Brittenburg said. I think its important to know that there are companies out there that care about this stuff.

An investigation began in August 2018 when IKEA security and global IT officials based in Sweden and the U.S. notified members of the Delaware County Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force about suspicions that an IKEA employee was using a company laptop to access child pornography, according to the criminal complaint.

Court documents revealed IKEA officials in Sweden engaged a Swedish company to deploy child sexual abuse monitoring software on all IKEA computers globally, a system that looks for digital content such as photos and compares hits to a database of known child porn using a digital fingerprint system, according to an arrest affidavit.

IKEA officials stated that on Aug. 8, 2018, they received three email alerts regarding three pictures accessed by an IKEA laptop in the U.S., according to the criminal complaint filed by Upper Merion Detective Constance H. Marinello. The images were accessed outside of normal working hours, court papers indicate.

Additional similar activity was detected on Aug. 10 and Aug. 11. IKEA officials said Swedish police considered the 35 new alerts to be related to child pornography images, depicting underage girls, according to the arrest affidavit.

IKEA security officials linked the suspicious activity to a laptop issued to Highfill, who, according to court papers, was the U.S. workforce staff planning and optimization manager, based out of the Plymouth corporate office and who lived in Upper Merion.

Delaware County investigators then relayed the information to Upper Merion detectives who reviewed the photographic images in question and then obtained a warrant to search Highfills residence. During that search in February 2019, detectives seized numerous electronics equipment, including the company-issued laptop.

A forensic analysis of the contents of the computer uncovered hundreds of images depicting underage girls in various stages of undress engaged in prohibited sexual acts or sexual poses, according to the criminal complaint.
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BJP national vice president and former Rajasthan chief minister, Vasundhara Raje, on Wednesday welcomed her nephew Jyotiraditya Scindia's decision to join the BJP, saying he has followed the high ideals of the legacy of Vijaya Raje Scindia.

"Jyotiraditya has followed the high ideals of the legacy of Vijaya Raje Scindia and took the decision in the interest of the country. I welcome this decision personally and politically, she said in a statement here.

Jyotiraditya Scindia's grandmother Vijaya Raje Scindia was one of the founding members of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Vasundhara Raje also tweeted saying it was good to be on the same team.

"If Rajmata Sahab was here today, she would be elated to see you put the nation first. I admire your strength of character and courage. It's good to be on the same team. Welcome to the BJP," she tweeted.

Raje is the sister of Madhavrao Scindia, father of Jyotiraditya Scindia. Madhavrao died in a plane crash in 2001.

A day after resigning from the Congress, Jyotiraditya joined the BJP on Wednesday in presence of the ruling party's president JP Nadda and hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his leadership, saying the country's future is secure in his hands.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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After a string of (more) impressive primary victories on Tuesday night  from Michigan to Mississippi to Missouri  former vice president Joe Biden looks unstoppable in his quest to become the 2020 Democratic nominee for president.

Tuesdays results will further pad Bidens delegate lead over Bernie Sanders, but the math for Biden is about to get even more favorable in the coming weeks, particularly on March 17 when voters in Florida, Ohio, Illinois and Arizona will cast their ballots.

Speaking of math, even former Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang acknowledged that Biden is the only remaining candidate with a path to the nomination. Citing that reality, Yang officially endorsed Biden on Tuesday night.

As Biden continues to rack up wins and his delegate lead over Sanders grows, its time to start calling the former vice president what he is: the presumptive Democratic nominee.

Voters, not DNC operatives, put Biden on the doorstep of the nomination

In just the span of two weeks, Joe Biden has gone from dead in the water to a front-runner to become the Democratic presidential nominee  but its not because the DNC somehow rigged the election in his favor, as some supporters of Bernie Sanders claim.

In fact, the primary process was set up in a way that benefited Sanders, not Biden.

As CNNs Harry Enten noted this week, DNC set up a [primary schedule] that kept Bidens strongest group from voting in large #s until 4th contest. Most donors kept wallets closed to him. He had a plurality of endorsements but not many til after SC. Oh & a billionaire spent a ton of $ to compete w/ him in moderate lane.

In other words, before they could even blink, the Biden campaign was buried beneath three losses in Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada, and his team was bleeding cash as his opponents  including Bernie Sanders  were raking it in. All the while, the media narrative was that Biden was flopping yet again.

But voters  not DNC operatives  came to Bidens rescue. They turned out in big numbers to support his campaign in South Carolina, on Super Tuesday, and again on Tuesday night in six more states across the country.

They are the reason why Joe Biden stands on the doorstep of the Democratic nomination, not some behind-the-scenes establishment force rigging the process against Bernie Sanders.

Looking toward the general election

With the primary contest reaching a point where one candidate  Joe Biden  looks to have an insurmountable delegate lead, most Democratic voters are clearly itching to move on to the general election campaign against Trump.

According to the polling, Democrats have some reason to be optimistic about what lies ahead. Recent data shows Biden with a solid national lead over Trump, with the latest CNN poll giving the former vice president a 10-point edge.

Heck, even Trumps favorite pollster  Rasmussen Reports  has Biden beating Trump by six percentage points.

But as a majority of the country learned in 2016, it doesnt matter how many more voters you win nationally if you cant perform well in the swing states that determine who wins the Electoral College.

On that measure, Biden has been polling well. In fact, recent surveys conducted in rust belt states  Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin  show that the former vice president has the edge over Trump.

That goes without mentioning other states that will clearly be in play with Biden as the nominee, like Florida, North Carolina, Arizona and even Texas.

Still, there is no question that this election will be close and bruising. Donald Trump is a man who will not hesitate to take the campaign deeper and deeper into the gutter the closer we get to November.

But if the Democratic Party unites behind the eventual nominee  which they appear to be doing at this very hour  then Donald Trump will be sent packing on Nov. 3.

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Sexual harassment at the workplace is an "affront" to the fundamental rights of a woman to equality, her right to live with dignity and to practice any profession or carry out any occupation, the has said.



The apex court observed this while upholding the verdict of the High Court which had quashed an order of transfer of a woman bank employee who had levelled allegations of sexual harassment against her senior officer.

A bench of Justices D Y Chandrachud and Ajay Rastogi said the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 was enacted to provide protection against sexual harassment of women at the workplace as well as for prevention and redressal of such complaints.

"Sexual harassment at the workplace is an affront to the fundamental rights of a woman to equality under Articles 14 and 15 and her right to live with dignity under Article 21 of the Constitution as well as her right to practice any profession or to carry on any occupation, trade or business," the bench said in its judgement delivered on February 25.

The bench said the material placed before it indicated that the woman officer, during her posting at Indore branch of the bank, had written repeated communications to authorities drawing their attention to serious irregularities in maintenance of accounts of liquor contractors and had levelled specific allegations of corruption.

"There can be no manner of doubt that the respondent (woman officer) has been victimized. Her reports of irregularities in the branch met with a reprisal. She was transferred out and sent to a branch which was expected to be occupied by a scale-I officer," the bench said.

"This is symptomatic of a carrot and stick policy adopted to suborn the dignity of a woman who is aggrieved by unfair treatment at her workplace. The law cannot countenance this. The order of transfer was an act of unfair treatment and is vitiated by malafides," it said.

The top court noted in its judgement that the woman officer had not participated in the proceedings before the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) of the bank, which dealt with her allegations of sexual harassment, and there was a fundamental defect in the constitution of the ICC.

The counsel appearing for the bank had argued before the apex court that the ICC, upon enquiring into the complaint of sexual harassment, had found that there was no substance in those allegations.

Referring to provisions of the Act, the bench noted that one member of the ICC has to be drawn from amongst a non-governmental organization or association committed to the cause of women or a person familiar with issues relating to sexual harassment.

The apex court said there was justification on the part of the bank not to accede to the woman officer's request for replacing one of the members of the ICC with a truly independent third party having regard to the provisions of the Act.

The woman was appointed as a probationary officer in the bank in October 1998 and was later promoted to the post of Chief Manager in scale-IV.

In December 2017, she was transferred from Indore branch to Sarsawa in Jabalpur district. She had submitted a representation to the authorities and made a request for being retained at Indore.

She had said that as branch manager at Indore branch, she had reported about lapses, such as the existence of duplicate bank guarantee registers, to her superior officers.

The woman officer had alleged that one of her senior officers used to call her at late hours at home to discuss business which was not of urgent nature.

"In view of the above analysis, we are of the view that the high court cannot be faulted in coming to the conclusion that the transfer of the respondent (woman officer), who was holding the office of chief manager in the scale-IV in Indore branch to the branch at Sarsawa in the district of Jabalpur was required to be interfered with," the bench said.

The bench directed that the woman officer be re-posted at the Indore branch for a period of one year.

"Upon the expiry of the period of one year, if any administrative exigency arises the competent authority of the bank would be at liberty to take an appropriate decision in regard to her place of posting independently in accordance with law keeping in view the relevant rules and regulations of the bank, in the interest of fair treatment to the officer," it said.

The top court, while affirming the March 2019 verdict of the high court, disposed off the appeal filed by the bank.
ANN ARBOR, MI - The Ann Arbor Police Department is facing two separate lawsuits that claim racial discrimination held back promotions for black and Hispanic sergeants.

City Attorney Stephen Postema in court filings denied the validity of both complaints, arguing both sergeants misrepresented how they were passed over for promotions over the last few years.

Sgt. Michael Dortch, a black officer in the department for 21 years, filed a lawsuit on Nov. 18, 2019 in Washtenaw County Trial Court, accusing the department of revoking a promotion to lieutenant due to discipline not equally applied to white officers.

Sgt. Mauro Cervantes, a Latino officer in the department for 32 years, filed a federal lawsuit Dec. 14, 2018, accusing the department of disability discrimination for not accommodating a sleep disorder, as well as ethnic discrimination.

Both lawsuits claim the department retaliated against the sergeants by promoting white officers above them despite their superior performance and test results.

Ann Arbor police spokesperson Lt. Renee Bush said the department does not comment on pending litigation.

The department announced that Dortch would be promoted to lieutenant on July 27, 2018 after earning the highest score on a promotional test the previous May, according to the complaint. The promotion was postponed until Sep. 2, 2018, the lawsuit says.

Just four days after the promotion announcement, Dortch said he informed the sergeant on duty that he needed to leave the city while on duty to respond to a family emergency. A sergeant and a lieutenant both filed a personnel complaint over his departure that led to the revocation of Dortchs promotion, according to the lawsuit.

The department revoked the promotion due to Dortch getting permission to leave from a sergeant other than his superior officer, Postema wrote in his response to the allegations in a Dec. 20, 2019 court filing. The attorney also wrote Dortch made an untruthful statement to his superior when questioned about it" afterward.

Dortch said he knows of two white officers who left city limits while on duty, including one who posted photos of himself with family on social media during his shift. Neither officer faced discipline, according to the lawsuit and Postemas response.

Postema wrote that both officers received permission to leave the duty area by their respective sergeants, though he admitted to not having enough information to fully deny Dortchs allegation.

The revoked promotion prevented an opportunity for Dortch to advance to the rank of Deputy Chief, according to the complaint. He met the minimum qualifications to interview, wrote Postema, but Dortch was not selected by a panel that included human resource employees and the fire chief.

The time frame of Dortchs announced promotion overlapped with a string of controversial text messages from Robyn Wilkerson, former Ann Arbor human resources director, to a colleague. Weeks after Dortch notched the highest score on the promotional test, Wilkerson told a colleague in a June 23, 2018 text message that she wanted to review the promotion process after hearing that a black officer was set to become a lieutenant.

Text messages Ann Arbors now-resigned HR director is accused of sending

Bragging about promoting a black guy... LOL, she said in texts obtained by MLive/The Ann Arbor News in November 2019. Now would be the time to negotiate changes in the promotional process... he did score well above everyone else?

I know its going to be him, Wilkersons colleague responded in a text. I guess another bad lieutenant promotion!

Wilkerson resigned in May 2019 after a plethora of inappropriate remarks in text messages were revealed.

Dortch also accuses superiors of reprimanding him for a doctored image of him sleeping on duty, even though the officer that took the picture violated department rules by snapping and distributing the photo, according to the lawsuit.

This was not the only photo of Dortch sleeping while on duty, Postema wrote in his court response. While admitting Dortch faced disciplinary action, the officer who took the photo against department rules did not receive discipline, Postema wrote.

Cervantes, in his lawsuit, claims he asked his superiors several times for alternate shift times to accommodate his sleep disorder, but each request was denied, according to his lawsuit.

Despite finishing first and second in lieutenant promotion tests in 2016 and 2017, Cervantes was passed for promotion by four white sergeants, according to the lawsuit. He noted that none of the people promoted ahead of him suffered from a disability, and that he was unfairly punished for his condition.

Cervantes was qualified to perform the essential functions of his job, with or without reasonable accommodation," the court complaint states.

Michigan law mandates that "discrimination on the basis of disability must be related to the persons ability to perform on the job or use facilities which cannot be reasonably altered, according to the state Department of Civil Rights.

Cervantes needs to show that he was denied promotion because he had a disability, Postema argued in a motion to dismiss the case filed on Aug. 26, 2019.

Cervantes case is being heard by U.S. District Judge Arthur Tarnow.

Dortchs case is scheduled for a settlement conference on Nov. 19, 2020 in front of Washtenaw County Judge Carol Kuhnke.

More from The Ann Arbor News:

Ann Arbor senator endorses Bernie Sanders ahead of UM visit

Huron Street lane closure planned for Ann Arbor streetscape project

Cop fired amid child sexual assault charges sentenced 7 to 50 years in prison
The Kaduna State Government has named deposed Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, as the Chancellor of the Kaduna State University (KASU).

He succeeds the pioneer Chancellor, Tagwai Sambo, the Chief of Moroa, who was appointed to the role in 2005.

A statement from the Kaduna Government House announced the new appointment.

On behalf of the government and people of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufai is delighted to appoint His Highness, Muhammadu Sanusi II as the Chancellor of the Kaduna State University. In public life, His Highness has demonstrated a strong commitment to education, Muyiwa Adekeye, special adviser to Governor El-Rufai on media and communication said in a statement he sent to PREMIUM TIMES.

The Kaduna State Government has no doubt that as Chancellor, His Highness Muhammadu Sanusi, would provide symbolic and substantive leadership in raising the profile of KASU as an emerging centre of learning on the national and global level.

This appointment of the new chancellor comes at an exciting moment for KASU which is transiting to a multicampus structure with presence across the state.

HH Muhammadu Sanusi II replaces the pioneer Chancellor, HH Malam Tagwai Sambo, the Chief of Moroa, who has served in that role since 2005. Governor El-Rufai has conveyed the profound appreciation of the government to HH Malam Tagwai Sambo for the long years of distinguished service to KASU and the state.

Malam Nasir El-Rufai welcomes with gratitude the consent of His Highness Muhammadu Sanusi to serve as Chancellor of KASU and as Vice-Chairman of the board of KADIPA.

The Kaduna State Government is grateful that HH Muhammadu Sanusi II continues to support and assist the realisation of the governance objectives of the Kaduna State Government.

The state government had on Tuesday appointed Mr Sanusi deputy chair of its investment promotion agency.

The well-regarded was deposed on Monday by the Kano State Government after he was accused of insurbodination. He was thereafter banished to Nasarawa State.
President Trump needs allies in Congress. Im going to work hard to get elected, go to Washington and have his back. Im going to help him pass a conservative agenda thats good for all of America, Duncan says in an ad. Were going to defend the God-given right to bear arms in the Second Amendment, were going to protect the sanctity of life and were going to work to strengthen and secure the southern border.
New Delhi, March 11 : The government on Wednesday said that it is in the process of evacuating 1,400 Indian nationals, mostly residents of Ladakh and Jammu & Kashmir, from the coronavirus-hit Iran where around 300 people have died due to the outbreak.

In a statement tabled before the Rajya Sabha, Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar said of the 6000 Indian nationals living in Iran, 1,100 were pilgrims mainly from Ladakh, Jammu & Kashmir and Maharashtra and 300 were students mostly from J&K and 1,000 were fishermen from Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat.

Around 9,000 people have been infected with the novel coronavirus across Iran. Due to the spike in coronavirus cases in Iran, as a precautionary measure, New Delhi temporarily suspended direct flights between India and Iran from February 27. Advisories were issued to avoid travel and returning passengers have been screened.

The minister said the Indian embassy in Tehran and consulates in Bandar Abbas and Zahidan reached out immediately to Indian nationals in Iran to ascertain their welfare and are in constant touch with them.

"The initial focus is on visiting pilgrims. Many of them are in Qom, where coronavirus incidence has been strong. Their age and the nature of their residency increases the risks of exposure. As their welfare is being currently addressed, we are now focusing on Indian students," Jaishankar told the House. Many of the students, he said, are studying medicine.

The southern provinces of Iran, including cities of Asaalouyeh, Chiruyeh and Kish where most fishermen are located, the minister said, have not been affected so severely. "These factors will guide our approach in the coming days," he said.

Given the scale of COVID -19 infection and its pressure on Iran's resources, a team of six Indian health officials has been deputed to Iran in order to set up testing and sampling facilities there.

The first batch of 108 samples received in India on March 7 were tested. Fifty-eight Indian pilgrims (25 men, 31 women and 2 children), who tested negative, were repatriated in special IAF C-17 flight on March 10, the minister said.

The government has got samples of another 529 Indians for testing at National Institute of Virology, Pune. "We continue to collect more samples in Tehran and our endeavor is to ensure the earliest possible return of our nationals after appropriate testing and screening. We are working with the Iranian authorities to operate some limited commercial flights for facilitating early return of the remaining Indians after testing them," Jaishankar said.
OTTAWAThe Canadian Judicial Council is worried judicial independence will be compromised if the federal government passes a law requiring new judges to commit to taking training in sexual-assault law.

J. Michael MacDonald, the interim executive director of the council, urged the government Tuesday to make what he called minor amendments to Bill C-5 to make it clear that its entirely up to the judiciary to decide what kind of education and training judges should have.

The council, which provides judges with education programs, sets ethical principles and hears complaints about judicial conduct, supports the goal of the bill to ensure judges treat victims of sexual assault fairly and sensitively, he said. But it feels the bill goes too far in directing the judiciary about how judges should be trained.

If the judiciary does not stand up now and resist being told how judges should be educated, MacDonald said, it would set a precedent that would make it harder to stop more controversial, politically driven directives from governments in future.

The concern is that 20 years from now, if the government of the day were to direct judges to learn about the myth of residential schools ... you would want the judiciary to stand bravely, courageously and say, You cant tell us what we have to learn. If you tell us what we have to learn, you tell us what we have to think, arguably, he told the House of Commons justice committee, which is studying the bill.

Thats the concern and we want to be able to tell that government, You cant do that and we would not want the answer to be, Well, actually, that was done in 2020.

MacDonald, a former chief justice of Nova Scotia, proposed that the wording of the bill be tempered, replacing verbs like must and shall to should when it comes to the kind of training offered and taken by judges.

MacDonald said the council is also concerned the bill would apply only to federally appointed judges, not to those appointed to provincial and territorial courts, which handle the vast majority of sexual-assault cases.

Justice Adele Kent, chief judicial officer of the National Judicial Institute, which develops and offers education programs for judges, backed up MacDonald by describing the kinds of programs already offered to judges. They include required courses for first-year judges in criminal law, which includes sexual assault. And between their second and fifth year on the bench, she said, judges are required to take a five-day course on how to manage a criminal trial, in which the hypothetical examples used are sexual-assault cases, since they are so complex and sensitive.

Let me respectfully say, in my humble opinion, we are on top of this, MacDonald said.

Justice Minister David Lametti, who appeared at the committee immediately after MacDonald and Kent, said he would carefully consider the councils proposed amendments, which he had not yet seen. But he said he believes the bill respects judicial independence.

I dont think weve crossed the line on judicial independence, he said after the committee meeting.

This doesnt in any way have an impact on the decisions that they actually make as judges and I think the counterbalancing point is were trying to get at better, more fair, more sensitive processes, particularly with respect to sexual assault.

Bill C-5 revives a private members bill introduced several years ago by former interim Conservative leader Rona Ambrose, which stalled in the Senate and died when Parliament dissolved for last falls election.

Her bill was sparked by some high-profile rulings that outraged many Canadians: Alberta judge Robin Camp asked a sexual-assault complainant in 2014 why she couldnt keep her knees together; Halifax judge Gregory Lenehan said a drunk can consent while acquitting a taxi driver of sexual assault on a passenger in 2017.

Bill C-5 would require new judges to take training, including learning about rape myths and stereotypes and how to make sure biases about race, gender and other social factors do not influence their decisions. It would also require judges to put their reasons on the record when ruling on sexual-assault cases.

It incorporates modifications proposed by senators in a bid to allay concerns that mandatory training for judges would impinge on judicial independence. For instance, it leaves it to the judicial council to develop the actual training program, in consultation with whomever it chooses, including, potentially, survivors of sexual assault.

However, Supreme Court Chief Justice Richard Wagner, who chairs the judicial council, hinted last month at the councils continuing objections to the bill. He used a speech to the Canadian Bar Association to stress that the judiciary has to be free to decide what training and education judges receive to do their jobs well.
Joseph R. Biden Jr. is drastically modifying his campaign schedule in the coming days in response to mounting anxieties about the coronavirus, trading traditional get-out-the-vote-style gatherings for virtual events, his campaign announced Wednesday.

The move marked the beginning of an extraordinary new chapter in an already tumultuous presidential race: campaigning amid a pandemic.

Mr. Bidens campaign had previously canceled an event slated for Thursday in Tampa, Fla., as well as a Cleveland rally on Tuesday night. Now, a Friday event in Chicago and a Monday stop in Miami will be turned into virtual events, the former vice presidents team said in a statement, hours after rolling out a Public Health Advisory Committee to guide the campaign that included several prominent former Obama administration officials.

We have been and will continue to consult with relevant officials, including our recently announced Public Health Advisory Committee, regarding steps the campaign should take to minimize health risks for staff and supporters, the statement said. As a result of those conversations and at the request of elected officials in Illinois and Florida, we will no longer hold large crowd events on Friday and Monday in those states.
Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden hugs Crystal Turner of Columbus, Ohio, with Moms Demand Action during a campaign rally in Columbus, Ohio on Tuesday. Read more

WASHINGTON  Joe Biden decisively won Michigans Democratic presidential primary on Tuesday, seizing a key battleground state that helped propel Bernie Sanders insurgent candidacy four years ago. The former vice president's victory there, as well as in Missouri, Mississippi and Idaho, dealt a serious blow to Sanders and substantially widened Biden's path to the nomination.

Biden again showed strength with working-class voters and African Americans, who are vital to winning the Democratic nomination. Sanders' narrow hopes for good news rested on North Dakota and Washington state. Washington's primary was too early to call, and because all votes there are cast by mail or by dropping them off in a ballot box, many ballots were marked for candidates who have since dropped out of the race.

The six-state contest marked the first time voters weighed in on the primary since it effectively narrowed to a two-person race between Sanders and Biden. And the first four states on Tuesday went to Biden, a dramatic reversal for a campaign that appeared on the brink of collapse just two weeks ago. Now it is Sanders, whose candidacy was ascendant so recently, who must contemplate a path forward.

Addressing supporters in Philadelphia, Biden noted that many had declared that this candidacy was dead only days ago but now we're very much alive. He also asked Sanders supporters to back him going forward.

We need you, we want you, and theres a place in our campaign for each of you. I want to thank Bernie Sanders and his supporters for their tireless energy and their passion, Biden said. "We share a common goal, and together well beat Donald Trump.

It marked a high point for the former vice presidents staff. They sipped beer and broke into an impromptu dance party after his speech, which was held close to his Philadelphia headquarters.

 READ MORE: After a canceled rally in Cleveland, Biden celebrates Michigan win in Philly. Thanks Sanders for his tireless energy.

Even as the contours of the race came into shape, however, new uncertainty was sparked by fears of the spreading coronavirus. Both candidates abruptly canceled rallies in Ohio that were scheduled for Tuesday night. That set the stage for Biden's remarks in Philadelphia, while Sanders flew home to Vermont and didn't plan to address the public.

Sanders' campaign also said all future events would be decided on a case-by-case basis given public health concerns, while Biden called off a scheduled upcoming Florida stop. Still, the former vice president said Tuesday night that he'd be announcing plans to combat the coronavirus later this week.

The Democratic National Committee also said that Sunday's debate between Sanders and Biden would be conducted without an audience.

Among former White House hopefuls and leaders of powerful liberal groups, however, Biden's momentum is now undeniable.

Bradley Beychok, president and co-founder of American Bridge 21st Century, a liberal super PAC, said his group "will be ALL IN to elect @JoeBiden as our next president." The organization is spending millions of dollars trying to win over people who backed President Donald Trump in key states in 2016.

Guy Cecil, chairman of the flagship Democratic outside political organization Priorities USA, tweeted: The math is now clear. Joe Biden is going to be the Democratic nominee for President and @prioritiesUSA is going to do everything we can to help him defeat Donald Trump in November.

There were other major warning signs for Sanders on Tuesday. He again struggled to win support from black voters. About 70% of Mississippi's Democratic primary voters were African American, and 86% of them supported Biden, according to an AP VoteCast survey of the electorate.

After Sanders upset Hillary Clinton in Michigan four years ago, his loss there Tuesday was particularly sobering. It undermined his argument that he could appeal to working-class voters and that he could expand the electorate with new young voters.

One of the few bright notes for Sanders was his strength among young voters, but even that has a downside because they didn't turn out enough to keep him competitive. Sanders won 72% of those under 30 in Missouri and 65% in Michigan, according to AP VoteCast. The senator was also about even with Biden among voters ages 30 to 44.

Theres no sugarcoating it. Tonights a tough night," New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, one of Sanders highest-profile supporters, said on Instagram. "Tonights a tough night for the movement overall. Tonights a tough night electorally.

 READ MORE: Disappointing results Tuesday leave Bernie Sanders campaign at crossroads

Another top Sanders backer, Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar, tweeted: Yes we are a family, united in restoring our democracy and committed to defeating Trump, but that doesnt mean we should stop fighting for the candidate that best represents our policy priorities in this Primary."

According to an Associated Press analysis, Biden had picked up at least 150 new delegates: 51 in Michigan, 40 in Missouri, 29 in Mississippi, five in North Dakota, 17 in Washington and eight in Idaho on Tuesday. Sanders got 88: 35 in Michigan, 23 in Missouri, two in Mississippi, six in Idaho, five in North Dakota and 17 in Washington.

Although six states voted, Michigan  with its 125 delegates  got most of the attention. Trump won the state by only 10,704 votes during the general election, his closest margin of victory among Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Those states gave Trump the narrow edge in the 2016 Electoral College after Clinton won the popular vote.

Sanders has vowed not to drop out regardless of Tuesday's results and frequently railed against the Democratic establishment that he says has aligned against him.

In addition to the powerful groups now siding with Biden, the former vice president has picked up the endorsements of many of his former presidential rivals, including Sen. Kamala Harris, Sen. Cory Booker and, as of Tuesday, entrepreneur Andrew Yang. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, sometimes mentioned as a possible vice presidential choice, also endorsed Biden and campaigned with him ahead of Tuesday's primary.

Biden also gave a nod to all his former competitors, saying, Were bringing this party together."

Thats what we have to do, he said.

Not every Democrat was lining up behind Biden, though. Michigan Rep. Debbie Dingell, who represents a sprawling district from the college town of Ann Arbor to the Detroit suburbs, said Tuesday that she's staying neutral.

"I remember what it was like four years ago and the vitriol and the anger, the people mad at each other the whole election cycle. We cant afford that," Dingell said. It's about getting out and voting in November.

Like Sanders, Biden has no public events scheduled for Wednesday. And though he's celebrating a growing delegate lead, he's still confronting voters who question his positions, which include a gun control plan that reinstates an assault weapons ban and includes a voluntary buyback program for assault weapons.

That issue was at the center of a testy exchange with a worker while Biden was rallying earlier Tuesday in Detroit. The man accused him of actively trying to end our Second Amendment right. Biden shot back, You're full of shit, but went on to say that while he supports the Second Amendment, Do you need 100 rounds?

Associated Press writers Mike Householder in Detroit and Seth Borenstein in Washington contributed to this report.
ROSELAND, N.J., March 11, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- RenovaCare, Inc. (Symbol: RCAR; www.renovacareinc.com ), today announced new corporate headquarters in Roseland, New Jersey and laboratory facilities in Berlin, Germany to advance the development of its patented technologies for spraying self-donated stem cells for the regeneration of skin and other organs and tissues.



We are enthusiastic about our new corporate headquarters in New Jersey and tapping into its deep scientific and biomedical talent along with the areas strong financial investment community, said RenovaCare CEO Mr. Alan L. Rubino.

Our new laboratory facilities in Berlin, Germany are staffed with experts in regenerative product development and bioengineering sectors. We will also continue to work in conjunction with StemCell Systems on the next iterations of RenovaCare technology in the same place where our SkinGun technology was originally conceived, concluded Mr. Rubino,

The RenovaCare team continues to grow as it welcomes its newest member, Dr. Katrin Zeilinger, the former Head of the Bioreactor Group at the Berlin-Brandenburg Center for Regenerative Therapies, Charite-Berlin. She was part of the early bioengineering and clinical teams that optimized the RenovaCare cell isolation process. Today, that work translates to the foundational processes supporting the CellMist solution.

Dr. Zeilinger will be working under the guidance of Dr. Roger Esteban-Vives, Vice President of Research and Product Development, who leads the engineering, product testing and laboratory work at RenovaCare labs in Berlin. There, Dr. Zeilinger will be involved in new product development, technology validation and performing laboratory testing related to the behavior of cells under various conditions.

About RenovaCare

RenovaCare, Inc. is developing first-of-its-kind autologous (self-donated) stem cell therapies for the regeneration of human organs. Its initial product under development targets the bodys largest organ, the skin. The companys flagship technology, the CellMist System, uses its patented SkinGun to spray a liquid suspension of a patients stem cells  the CellMist Solution  onto wounds.

Story continues

RenovaCare is developing its CellMist System as a promising new alternative for patients suffering from burns, chronic and acute wounds, and scars. In the US alone, this $45 billion market is greater than the spending on high-blood pressure management, cholesterol treatments, and back pain therapeutics.

RenovaCare products are currently in development. They are not available for sale in the United States. There is no assurance that the Companys planned or filed submissions to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration will be accepted or cleared by the FDA.

For additional information, please call Amit Singh at: 888-398-0202 or visit:

https://renovacareinc.com



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Investors and others should note that we announce material financial information to our investors using SEC filings and press releases. We use our website and social media to communicate with our subscribers, shareholders and the public about the company, RenovaCare, Inc. development, and other corporate matters that are in the public domain. At this time, the company will not post information on social media that could be deemed to be material information unless that information was distributed to public distribution channels first. We encourage investors, the media, and others interested in the company to review the information we post on the companys website and the social media channels listed below:

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Six rebel ministers in Madhya



Pradesh, who resigned from the assembly in support of Jyotiraditya Scindia, have said that they have done so on their own accord and not under duress.

In separate video messages that are doing rounds in social media, these ministers also dismissed claims that they were in touch with the Kamal Nath government.

Nineteen Congress MLAs, including the six ministers, are in Bengaluru, while three others are in other places. All of them have resigned from the assembly in support of Scindia, pushing the Kamal Nath government in deep crisis.

A day after quitting the Congress, Scindia on Wednesday joined the BJP in New Delhi.

Separate video clips of these ministers- Tulsi Silawat, Govind Singh Rajput, Mahendra Singh Sisodia, Imarti Devi, Dr Prabhuram Choudhary and Pradyumna Singh Tomar- are being aired by TV channels.

The state government has claimed that the ministers from the Scindia camp were made to sign their resignation letters fraudulently and that they were in touch with it (government) from Bengaluru.

The video clips of the ministers went viral minutes after Scindia joined the BJP, which indicates that the revolt against the Kamal Nath government was meticulously planned.

In the video message, Health Minister Tulsi Silawat is heard saying, "All the 22 MLAs are united and have not come under duress but on their own. We are with our most revered Jyotiraditya Scindiaji and follow him. His decision was supreme for us."



Labour Minister Mahendra Singh Sisodia said in the clip, "Jyotiraditya Scindia has not indulged in betrayal. Rather the Congress and Kamal Nathji have betrayed him. With the hard labour put in by Scindiaji, Congress came to power in MP after 15 years.""He and his people were neglected saying that the coffers were empty. In contrast, Rs 12,000 crore were put in Chhindwara constituency (of CM Kamal Nath). Are other MLAs and ministers worthless?" he asked.

Is this not neglect? Is this not the betrayal of people of MP? In the run-up to the assembly polls in November 2018, Congress had announced farm loan waiver in 10 days, which has not happened yet, he alleged in the video.

"People ask us about the loan waiver. What was going on in the Vyapam scam an admission and recruitment racket? We will go where Jyotiraditya Scindia goes. We are united. Days are not far when the Congress will be decimated in MP," he added.

School Education Minister Prabhuram Choudhary said in the video that all the 22 MLAs are united today and will remain so tomorrow.

"We have resigned willingly," he added.

Transport Minister Govind Singh Rajput, Women and Child Development Minister Imarti Devi and Food and Civil Supplies Minister Pradyumna Singh Tomar have echoed the unconditional support to Scindia.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Delhi government has called for a special session of the Assembly on March 13 to discuss the issues of Register of Citizens (NRC), Population Register (NPR) and Coronavirus.

The decision was taken in the meeting of Delhi Cabinet on Wednesday.

With 10 more people confirmed positive for novel coronavirus, the total number of Covid-19 cases in India has jumped to 60.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
While seeking his custody, the ED told the court that loans worth Rs 30,000 crore were given to various entities when Kapoor was on the bank's panel.

Mumbai: A special court on Wednesday extended till March 16 the Enforcement Directorate (ED) custody of Yes Bank founder Rana Kapoor, arrested on money laundering charges.

During the hearing, the ED told the special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court that Kapoor had sanctioned loans worth Rs 30,000 crore to different entities during his tenure.

Kapoor, 62, former MD and CEO of the private bank, was arrested by the ED here on Sunday under provisions of the PMLA as he was allegedly not cooperating in the probe.

He was earlier remanded in the ED custody till 11 March. As his remand ended on Wednesday, he was produced before special court judge PP Rajvaidya.

The court extended his ED custody till 16 March as the central investgating agency had sought it for further probe.

While seeking his custody, the ED told the court that loans worth Rs 30,000 crore were given to various entities when Kapoor was on the bank's panel.

"Of this, Rs 20,000 crore turned into bad debts. We need to be probe in great detail how the money has travelled," the agency told the court.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had last week 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.
TUCSON, Ariz., March 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- VisionQuest, also known as VQ, announced today it has been selected to provide in-home counseling and family intervention services for the newly established Juntos Court in Bexar County, Texas.

As part of its services and support, VQ will provide individual and family support for children ages 10-17 who are already under juvenile court supervision.

"We are very excited to partner with Bexar County to assist in this groundbreaking program," said Harold Arant, VQ program director for Texas. "The County's approach to the issue of youth gang involvement is bringing pioneering best practices to the problem, and I couldn't be prouder to be a part of it."

The Spanish word for "together," "juntos" also stands for Juveniles United Navigating Through Obstacles Successfully, an anti-gang program Bexar County started in August 2019, to address growing gang involvement trends with many of the county's at-risk minors.

"The approach is to offer these kids and their families coping mechanisms and better opportunities besides gangs," said Arant. "We will be sending counselors to homes weekly, or more often if required, to help the children and their families solve their problems without gang involvement."

In its Fort Worth, Texas, and Tucson, Ariz., facilities, VisionQuest offers a unique continuum of care for dependent children that implements a three-program approach to provide individualized programming and support: VQ Community, VQ Semi-Independent, and VQ Sibling. VisionQuest provides children with safe and accredited foster care, and it conducts regular foster parent training. The organization also delivers school-based educational programming, case aid visitation services in its local communities, and family court support services.

VisionQuest is a comprehensive national youth services organization that adheres to the highest professional standards in providing innovative intervention services to at-risk children and families. Established in 1973 by founder Bob Burton, VisionQuest provides extraordinary experiences and relationships that allow children, staff, and families to redefine and reach their highest potential. The Tucson-based company specializes in programs for at-risk children, including residential facilities. The organization currently operates in Arizona, Delaware, Florida, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Texas.

SOURCE VisionQuest
LAKE CITY  Getting around Lake City during construction on U.S. Highway 61 will be much easier after the city put a stop to some signage regulations during this summers construction period.

Megan Smith, the citys director of planning and community development, said placing a temporary halt on regulations for temporary signage in the downtown area will help businesses communicate with potential customers during construction.

"This is something the city can do to help ease the difficulty of the highway project next year," she said. Temporary signs include signs that say, "Yes were open," "Weve changed our business hours" or "Happy hour extended."

Normally, the city puts a limit on the number of signs and the duration they can be shown  typically 15 days  requiring business owners to apply for permits as well.

"They do not need to go to City Hall to apply for a permit," Mayor Mark Nichols said. "Weve just removed the regulations. Its just another way to provide support to our downtown business owners during the construction period."

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In other business, the city will get a boost in its efforts to repair the 300 Dock  one of four docks located at Marina Point  this spring.

The Sept. 24 tornado that hit Lake City damaged the 300 Dock, which now contains 40 ships. Nichols said strong winds bent the dock and the piers.

That led the city to move up plans to replace the dock, a job originally scheduled for 2022. During the Feb. 10 council meeting, the council approved a $595,000 bid for replacement of the damaged docks.

However, City Administrator Rob Keehn said the city received two requests to buy and remove the damaged dock, with one bid coming in at $30,000. Because the buyer will take care of the damaged dock, the cost of removing the old dock can be taken off the bid for replacement. That will save the city another $39,500, for a total net gain of $69,500.

"This came in quickly," Keehn said. "It seems to make financial sense."

Nichols said getting the old dock out of the way quickly is an important early step toward getting the replacement dock constructed fast. Thats especially true if water in Lake Pepin will be higher than normal, as predicted.

"We have a short time to get the new dock in there and the old one out," Nichols said. "Were more concerned about getting the old one out before the water gets up."
In a beer hall in eastern Germany, locals toasted the man they are counting on to see out Chancellor Angela Merkel and her brand of liberal conservatism.

Friedrich Merz, whose line on Syrian asylum-seekers is "we can't accept you here", goes down well with his audience as he aims to succeed Ms Merkel as leader of the Christian Democrats (CDU) and possibly the country. Mr Merz's promise to shift the CDU to the right was popular at a party rally in the town of Apolda.

He is locked in a battle for the party's soul with Armin Laschet, a centrist offering continuity after Ms Merkel steps down in time for the next election, due by October 2021.

The CDU plans to pick a new leader at a special congress on April 25, with Mr Merz currently leading Mr Laschet in the polls by 35pc to 24pc.

At stake is Germany's reputation - personified by Ms Merkel - as Europe's champion of the post-war liberal order, an issue now being blurred by the CDU's domestic preoccupation with the rise of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD).

Straight-talking Mr Merz, a 64-year-old lawyer, offers a socially conservative, pro-business pitch that appeals to the CDU's core of mainly western, Catholic men who see Ms Merkel - a Protestant from the east - as an anomaly. Earlier this month, Mr Merz had a message for Syrian refugees who may be hoping to leave Turkey: "There is no point in coming to Germany."

That strikes a chord in Thuringia, where Ms Merkel's decision in 2015 to open Germany's borders to a million refugees fleeing war in the Middle East fuelled the rise of the AfD.

Mr Laschet (59) is making a more inclusive offer and last month won the support of Health Minister Jens Spahn, who appeals to some on the CDU's more conservative wing, as a running mate.

Germany's most successful political party since the end of World War II, the CDU is struggling to find a way forward after many voters have fled to the far-right AfD and the leftist Greens.

Ms Merkel's supporters, who back Mr Laschet, premier of Germany's most populous state of North Rhine-Westphalia, fear that any shift to the right will cost the CDU dearly at the ballot box. They point to the Greens, now the second most popular party in opinion polls, as the main threat to the CDU, and say the conservatives should stick to the middle-ground strategy that has handed Ms Merkel's party four straight election victories.

But Mr Merz's supporters say Germany needs a distinctively conservative party to counter the AfD, to which the CDU has lost most voters.

Christian Sitter of the Werte Union, an ultra-conservative grouping in Ms Merkel's conservative bloc, said: "Merkel has been more interested in surviving as chancellor than in uniting the party.

"To survive, she cut wishy-washy deals with the (centre-left) SPD and silenced the conservative wing.

"Now we are saying we want to be heard again."

The debate over what the CDU stands for and its position vis-a-vis the AfD came to a head in Thuringia last month, when CDU politicians sided with the AfD to elect a new state premier, shattering the post-war consensus among established parties of shunning the far-right.

So great was the resulting controversy that the newly elected premier quit after a few days and Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, who defeated Mr Merz to win the CDU leadership in December 2018, abandoned her ambitions to run for chancellor.

Her authority crushed, Ms Kramp-Karrenbauer decided to step down.

"We have two choices: more of the same or a new start," Mr Merz said to loud applause in Apolda. "And we choose a new start."
Mobile County Detective Corporal Tim Anderson has been released from the hospital after two months and returned back to his home.

Tim Anderson was admitted into Baptist Hospital in Pensacola, Florida in late January to receive around the clock care. Anderson did not receive a seasonal flu shot and was initially diagnosed with the flu before it transitioned into pneumonia.

Andersons wife, Kelly Anderson, has given continuous updates on her husbands status through social media as hes been recovering. After being given a 5 percent chance of survival, Anderson has been able to start texting, using speaker phone and feeding himself with no assistance as of last week.

Anderson was taken back to his home in Mobile Tuesday evening where he will continue in-home physical therapy.

The GoFundMe page that was created to help Andersons family cover expenses for travel, lodging, meals and medical expenses has raised over $18,000 since it was created January 25.
UPDATE (10:44 a.m., 3/12/20): For our live coverage of Thursday, March 12, follow this link.

10:10 p.m. Lakewood Church closed its weekend services to the public, instead opting to broadcast the events online in the wake of the public health emergency declaration in Houston, according to a Facebook post from the church.

Services will be broadcast on Facebook, YouTube, Roku, Apple TV, on the web and on Sirius XM channel 128. The services will be broadcast at the following times:

Saturday at 7:00 p.m.

Sunday at 8:30 a.m. & 11:00 a.m.

Sunday at 2:00 p.m. (Spanish Language Services)

Sunday at 7:00 p.m. (Young Adult Service)

8:55 p.m. Houston health officials have announced an additional positive case of COVID-19 in the city, bringing the total Houston-area cases to 15.

The new case involved a woman between 15 to 25 years old who recently traveled to New York state, the Houston Health Department said. She is quarantined in her home and experiencing mild symptoms.

8:45 p.m. The NBA has suspended its season, according to ESPN.

Utah Jazz' Rudy Gobert tested positive for the new coronavirus, and the league will remain on hiatus until further notice, ESPN reports.

Additionally, Tom Hanks and his wife, Rita Wilson, announced they have also tested positive for the coronavirus, according to The New York Times. The actor is in Australia, where he was set to film a movie about the life of Elvis Presley, The Times reported.

8:30 p.m. During an address from the Oval Office, President Donald Trump announced that his administration will restrict all travel from Europe for the next 30 days.

The new limits will go into affect Friday. The United Kingdom will be exempt from the new restrictions.

8:20 p.m. CHI St. Luke's Health implemented a new regional policy that will restrict the number of visitors allowed for each patient, the health system announced.

The new policy affects seven hospitals in the Houston area, including Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center. CHI St. Luke's Health hospitals in The Woodlands and Sugar Land will also be affected.

The policy restricts the number of visitors for non-isolation patients to two adults per day. For patients in isolation, only one adult visitor is allowed per day. The new policy also limits the number of entry points at each facility. Visitors may be asked to wear a mask, gown, or gloves depending on the health condition of the patient. Visitors may be screened upon entering the hospitals.

7:25 p.m. The Houston Independent School District will limit all campus visitors, including parents and volunteers, from March 23 to April 3, the district announced.

Classes will resume for the remainder of this week. The district will be closed the following week for spring break.

Starting March 23, parents will only be allowed to pick and drop off their students. Visitors with scheduled business must be screened by a district nurse before they're allowed on campus , the district said.

Additionally, all after-school activities and large campus gatherings, including Parent University on March 24, also will be canceled during that time.

"Plans are in place should the districts Health and Medical Services Department receive guidance from officials concerning the need to close schools as a precautionary measure," according to the district statement.

6:25 p.m. Classes at the University of Houston will be canceled next week in response to the health emergency in the city, university President Renu Khator announced.

The campus will remain open, she said, but faculty and staff have the option to work remotely. Classes will continue online March 23, she said.

Students who live on the campus are encouraged to stay home, but dorms will be open for those returning from spring break, she said.

4:40 p.m. Nobody panic: You can still wait in line at the DMV.

Texas Department of Motor Vehicles offices around Texas remain open, spokesman Adam Shaivitz told Chronicle reporter Dug Begley. Any changes will be announced publicly, in coordination with health officials federally and across Texas.

Hand sanitizers are readily available in our public entrances and in restrooms, Shaivitz said in an email. We are also working with our cleaning service providers to arrange more frequent and thorough cleaning of facilities.

3:50 p.m. NCAA President Mark Emmert announced that the league's upcoming championship events -- including the Division I men's and women's basketball tournaments -- will be conducted with only essential staff and limited family attendance.

The University of Houston was scheduled to host the South Regional round of the March Madness tournament March 27 and 29 at the Toyota Center. In a prepared statement, health officials with the NCAA's COVID-19 Advisory Panel recommended against opening sporting events to the public.

"We do believe sporting events can take place with only essential personnel and limited family attendance, and this protects our players, employees and fans," according to the statement.

Additionally, the governor of Ohio issued an order to restrict spectator access to indoor sporting events because of concerns about the new coronavirus, the Associated Press reported.

3:15 p.m.: COVID-19 panic has closed a lot of things, but Metropolitan Transit Authority is not one of them. Buses and trains remain running, but with a lot of reminders to passengers and staff to scrub vigorously.

The way we are working this is listening to and taking the lead of our public health officials, Metro spokesman Jerome Gray told Chronicle reporter Dug Begley.

Metro will change or alter bus and light rail routes if public health officials think it's warranted, Gray said.

Were not there yet, he stressed. Were not near there yet.

Last week, Metro announced it was taking extra efforts to clean buses, trains, transit stations and shelters. Those efforts continue, along with public service signs and announcements encouraging good hygiene habits.

It's too soon to see the coronavirus's effect on bus and train use, he said. It is likely the cancellation of the rodeo will reduce March ridership totals for Metro, but Gray said officials are not concerned. Ridership often ebbs and flows and typically the agency looks at its long-term trends, which remain steady in terms of ridership.

Transit in the past four years has been suspended or altered by severe flooding, such as during Hurricanes Harvey and Imelda. The process would be slightly different for a public health emergency.

We are going to do whatever city leaders and public health officials tell us to do, he said of closing transit to contain the virus. If need be we would certainly do that, but that is not in our near horizon that I know of.

3:00 p.m.: The University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston is changing its visitor policies as public health authorities in counties to the north make emergency declarations.

Patients can receive two hospital visitors 18 years or older at this time and only healthy visitors are allowed to accompany patients in ambulances or for outpatient procedures, UT authorities said.

The move follows other hospitals in the region, which have issued similar warnings.

Meanwhile, local nonprofits are calling for aid as a possible outbreak could spell serious trouble for some of the community's most impoverished.

Chronicle reporter Marcy de Luna reports that nonprofits are seeking volunteers and donations in preparation.

The poverty-stricken are greatly impacted by economic fluctuations and we need our volunteers and donors now more than ever, said Kids Meals director of development and communications Cynthia Stielow.

The timing also can't be worse for some of Houston's religious leaders. Three major religious holidays in April usually bring spikes in tithes and donations, Chronicle reporter Robert Downen writes.

Everybody should be anticipating shortfalls in giving, shortfalls in collections, said Garet Robinson, a local pastor who is currently studying nonprofits at Harvard University. Its a global contagion  and not just the actual viral part, but the ripple effect in the economy.

1:45 p.m.: Rodeos cancellation could have a big impact on Houstons economy.

Chronicle reporters Erin Douglas and R.A. Schuetz write that the city stands to lose tens of millions of dollars in economic activity as vendors, tourists and livestock show participants pack up and head home far sooner that expected.

Last year, the show and rodeo generated $227 million in economic impact and 3,700 jobs.

The Montgomery County patient attended rodeo on Feb. 28 for the cookoff, and potentially Feb. 27 and Feb. 29, Montgomery County Hospital District spokesperson Misti Willingham tells Chronicle reporter Emily Foxhall. Officials were working to clarify the dates with the patient and expected to have another update Wednesday afternoon.

After the World Health Organization declared a pandemic, the Dow fell sharply, dropping 20 percent from its February high, Bloomberg reports.

1:30 p.m.: Three schools and districts in the greater Houston area became the first to announce school cancellations due to concerns about the spread of the novel coronavirus, reporter Jacob Carpenter writes.

Montgomery ISD officials canceled classes for the remainder of the week after public health officials reported the first case of COVID-19 in the county. The district goes on spring break next week.

Two small Houston-area private schools  Saint Thomas Episcopal School in Meyerland and The Joy School in the Museum District  also announced closures. A Saint Thomas student and two Joy School "community members" were possibly exposed to COVID-19.

Both will close their campuses for two weeks, including next week's spring break.

Several Houston-area districts are conducting classes as usual, including Houston, Alief and Spring Branch ISDs. Leaders of those districts said they remain in close contact with federal, state and local health officials about decisions surrounding school cancelations and safety precautions.

HISD officials said several people affiliated with the district are self-quarantining after returning from a country on a federal travel warning list or closely associating with someone who did.

1:15 p.m.: The Montgomery County man who has been diagnosed with COVID-19 attended the rodeo BBQ cookoff, county officials said.

There is no evidence he attended any of the rodeo concerts, but public health officials are trying to determine if he had symptoms then and where else he may have gone in recent days.

12:50 p.m.: Rodeo officials said they will begin processing refunds and close the fairgrounds at 4 p.m.

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said that she will issue a disaster declaration for Harris County, Chronicle reporter Jasper Scherer writes.

12:45 p.m.: Mayor Sylvester Turner is implementing a seven-day emergency health declaration, Chronicle reporter Dylan McGuinness writes.

Other city-sponsored events, like the Tour De Houston, will also be canceled.

This decision has not come easily, but the health and safety of the people in our region is paramount," Turner said.

The goal is to prevent "what happened in Wuhan," where the virus spread rapidly, Houston Health Department head David Persse said.

12:30 p.m.: Across the county, cities are putting a moratorium on big social gatherings.

San Francisco Mayor London Breed banned mass gatherings of more than 1,000 people, including Golden State Warriors games and private events, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

Warriors games will be played without fans in the stands.

Two counties south in Santa Clara County, public health officials have banned groups of more than 1,000 people starting Wednesday. The ban is in effect for three weeks.

The ban came hours after the Grand Princess cruise ship carrying 3,500 passengers docked at the Port of Oakland in Alameda County, a county northeast of Santa Clara County, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. Twenty-one cruise passengers have tested positive for the virus.

Meanwhile in Houston, confusion abounded at RodeoHouston as carnival rides and food vendors shut down. Visitors are waiting to hear if rodeo officials will issue refunds for fairgrounds tickets and concerts.

And some expressed rage about the cancellation of one of Houstons biggest events, citing larger businesses like Disney World, which has not announced any closures.

12:00 p.m.: Some Houstonians said canceling rodeo was the right call. On Twitter Wednesday, they criticized the event's staff for cleaning the buildings and surfaces with vinegar, rather than commercial disinfectant sprays.

Others were dismayed about the cancellation of Friday's Lizzo concert, when the Houston-raised pop star was slated to perform. Some got creative about how they were going to listen to "Truth Hurts" and "Good as Hell."



Houston officials were expected to announce that the citys six remaining capital improvement plan meetings will be canceled, according to multiple city sources. Mayor Sylvester Turner and council members use the annual meetings to gather feedback from residents for the citys five-year infrastructure plan, which is updated each year with new and revised projects.

The remaining meetings were set to take place in council districts C, D, F, G, H and K through March 26.

11:45 a.m.: The World Health Organization has declared the coronavirus a pandemic.

The organization's director, Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said there are "alarming levels of spread and severity" worldwide.

"We expect to see the number of COVID-19 cases, the number of deaths and the number of affected countries climb even higher," Tedros said.

11:30 a.m.: City officials are expected to announce Wednesday that the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo will be canceled, sources said.

As fears swirl about a possible outbreak of COVID-19, the illness associated with the new coronavirus, Mayor Sylvester Turner is expected to announce that the massive, weeks-long event and concert series will be cut short.

In a statement on Saturday, organizers said that RodeoHouston primarily was a local event.

The Rodeo is predominantly a local event, with 73 percent of the 2019 rodeo visitors residing in the greater Houston area, 94 percent in Texas, and 99 percent in the U.S., the statement read. In contrast, 26 percent of the 2019 SXSW attendees were international.

The announcement follows the news about a Montgomery County man who tested presumptively positive for COVID-19.

The man in his 40s has been hospitalized since Tuesday and those in close contact with him in the northwest part of the county are being monitored, said Melissa Miller, of the Montgomery County Hospital District.

Public health officials are waiting on additional confirmation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, she said.

Miller would not say how long the man has been symptomatic or elaborate on the condition of his health. It was not yet known how he contracted the illness or where.

Most COVID-19 cases in Harris and Fort Bend counties have been linked to a Nile river cruise in Egypt.

Read here for more coverage of the coronavirus from the Houston Chronicle.
President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, who is on an official visit in Azerbaijan, has today visited the Alley of Honors to lay a wreath at the tomb of national leader, founder and architect of modern Azerbaijani state Heydar Aliyev.

The Turkmen President also put flowers at the grave of prominent ophthalmologist, academician Zarifa Aliyeva.

--

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Norbert Alarcon, a former janitor, has been homeless for two years and sleeps in a tent made from plastic sheeting in a forested area of National City, near San Diego. When police officers and outreach workers approached him last week he had a severely swollen hand from a deep cut he suffered in a bicycle accident. The officers urged him to seek treatment but Alarcon insisted his hand was fine. It has color now, he said of his hand, which was bandaged with postal packing tape. Before it didnt have any color.
Highlights Home minister Amit Shah says police was probing the conspiracy angle in Delhi riots Shah said three people had been arrested for alleged funding of the riots Shah said several accounts had been opened just before the riots and closed in four days

Home minister Amit Shah said a conspiracy could not be ruled out behind the Delhi communal riots in February that killed 52 people in the national capital and added that the investigations so far suggested the rioting was organised and that it could not have been done without advance planning.

Home Minister also said that not a single incident of rioting was reported in Delhi after 11 pm on February 25 and that it was contained within 36 hours by Delhi police.

It was a big responsibility to contain rioting that had spread in an area with 20 lakh population, Shah said, before adding, Delhi police were able to end the riots in 36 hours time.

Shahs response was aimed at criticism at alleged laxity by Delhi Police in its handling of the riots.

Questions have been asked about what the Delhi Police was doing. Police were on the ground then, police will also probe and submit a report in the coming days. I would like to praise the Delhi Police for not allowing the riots to spread to other areas, Shah said.

Also read | No incident of rioting in Delhi after February 25: Amit Shah in Lok Sabha

The home minister said the scale and the rapid escalation of violence suggested a well-planned conspiracy, which was being probed.

The spread of riots on such a big scale in such a short time is not possible without a conspiracy. We have registered a case of conspiracy to probe this angle, Shah said.

Elaborating further, the home minister said several people from the neighboring state of Uttar Pradesh had sneaked into the riot-hit areas in Delhi before the violence broke out and said there was likely to be a deep conspiracy, which was being probed.

He added that the police had arrested three people who were suspected of having funded the violence in Delhi. He added that there were 60 bank accounts that had been set up only for four days at the time of the riots and that the police will find out who these people were.

Three people have been arrested for financing the violence in North East Delhi, Shah added.

Shah said a scientific investigation as underway into the riots and all those who caused the violence will not be able to escape the law. He said over two thousand six hundred arrests or detention had been made and over 700 FIRs had been registered and 25 or more computers were being analysed along with several CCTV footage.

Police is analysing CCTV footage using face identification software, it does not discriminate on the basis of religion or clothes, Shah said.

He added that residents of Delhi had also sent several video clips to Delhi police and one such video could likely solve the mysterious murder case of IB staffer Ankit Sharma- whose heavily-stabbed body was recovered near a northeast Delhi drain near his house on February 26.

A video sent by one of the Delhi residents is likely to reveal the secret behind Ankit Sharmas murder Shah added.

The home minister assured that no innocent people will be made to suffer.

We are ensuring that no action is taken against any innocent person, he said.

He also responded to the opposition criticism alleging he was not on top of law and order in the capital and said he had cancelled all his programmes when the rioting began in Delhi and was busy monitoring the situation with Delhi police.

US Press program was pre-scheduled, it was in my constituency, my visit there was also pre-scheduled. The next day, when the US Pres visited Delhi, I wasnt present at any event. The whole time I was sitting with Police officials., shah said rejecting allegations that he was busy attending to US President Donald Trump when Delhi was burning.
The cuts are less than the 3,000 jobs Tata Steel Europe said it would get rid of last November.

Tata Steel Europe is planning to cut 1,250 jobs as it faces challenging circumstances and needs to urgently improve profitability, Chief Executive Officer Henrik Adam said in an internal memo seen by Reuters news agency on Tuesday.

Our financial situation is serious and theres an urgent priority to improve the performance of the business and our cash position, Adams said in the memo.

Besides the job cuts, which would be less than half of what the company had announced last year, Tata Steel said it will not replace employees who have retired or left the company.

It had in November decided to cut 3,000 jobs across its European business. The steelmaker said it expected to cut up to 1,600 jobs in the Netherlands, 1,000 in the United Kingdom and 350 elsewhere.

The company has outlined details of a transformation programme and continues to be in talks with its European works council to minimise job losses, according to the memo.

Although its good news that we are able to minimise the impact on our current employees, we need to progress with speed to secure the future for the business, Adam said.

In response to the Tata Steels plans, UKs Unite union has called for urgent talks with the company to discuss the implication on the companys UK operations, including the Port Talbot site in South Wales.

Although the figure for possible job losses across Europe now appears to be smaller than originally thought, we will campaign against any job losses. We dont believe that the companys plans, which are centred on cost-cutting, are the answer, said Tony Brady, Unite officer with national responsibility for Tata Steel.
T he number of travellers passing through Heathrow fell by over 200,000 last month, the airport said on Wednesday, as it joined a list of companies warning coronavirus is hitting trade.

Europes busiest airport said there were 5.4 million passengers in February, down 4.8% on a year earlier.

It pointed to lower demand on Asian and European routes and warned bookings had weakened going into this month. Heathrow expects a further year-on-year decrease in the coming weeks.

Chief executive John Holland-Kaye said: The threat of coronavirus is an increasing challenge for the UK and we are working day and night to ensure Britains front door is open and safe for our people and passengers. We will continue to work with the Government to limit the impacts this will have on UK plc.

The airport also saw cargo volumes fall 9.5% to 115,800 tonnes last month.

On a busy day in the coronavirus crisis:

-European Central Bank president Christine Lagarde said Europe risks a major economic shock similar to the financial crisis unless leaders act urgently, and indicated the lender will take steps as soon as this week. She reportedly said that, without co-ordinated action, Europe will see a scenario that will remind many of us of the 2008 great financial crisis.

-German sportswear makers adidas and Puma warned of a major decline in sales in China due to coronavirus and said, while there were early signs of improvement there, the impact had spread to other markets. Adidas expects to take a $1.1 billion revenue hit in the first quarter while Puma abandoned its 2020 guidance.

-Russian tycoon Mikhail Fridman is considering postponing the biggest stock-market float planned in Europe this year, Bloomberg reported. The $20 billion IPO of Wintershall Dea, his oil and gas venture with BASF, had been expected to list in the second half of the year.

-Retail veteran Sir John Timpson, founder of the Timpson chain, said he had seen a 3%-4% drop-off in the number of shoppers in the High Street.
A Buddhist hall in Hong Kong on Wednesday apologised for not shutting its temple and suspending gatherings sooner, after multiple worshippers and its own master contracted Covid-19.

Breaking its silence over the outbreak, Fook Wai Ching She, a temple in North Point established in 1958, said there had been no consensus among followers on whether to close during the Lunar New Year. Since the holiday in late January, 19 people connected to the venue have been infected.

Our followers were not sensitive enough  we deeply regret and feel sad about the coronavirus cluster infection, it said in a statement published in local newspapers.

We were caught off guard at the time, when one after another Buddhist disciples and their relatives were infected, which also caused anxiety and alert from the media. Meanwhile, we completely lacked experience and have not cooperated well with the government personnel and members of the press. We sincerely feel sorry about it.

The statement concluded by expressing hope that the epidemic would come to an end: We pray with our most sincere heart that ... all infected patients will recover soon, the epidemic will soon end, social order will be restored and people will be at ease.

As of noon on Wednesday, Hong Kong had confirmed 120 Covid-19 cases. The temple is linked to 19 of them, which include its master, worshippers and worshippers relatives. Health officials believed gatherings were held at the temple during Lunar New Year, where worshippers shared meals. Traces of the virus were found inside the venue, on a tap and on some books.

More than 200 worshippers had previously made themselves known to local authorities, but officials struggled to trace all who visited the hall from late January to early February.

The 43-year-old temple master, who lives in the hall, was also quarantined and later diagnosed last Wednesday, despite never showing symptoms. In January he travelled to Xiamen in Fujian province and Emei in Sichuan province, medical sources said.

Story continues

The Centre for Health Protection previously said it was yet to determine whether the monk was the original carrier in the cluster.

This article Coronavirus: Hong Kong Buddhist temple linked to Covid-19 cluster sincerely sorry first appeared on South China Morning Post

For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2020.
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Oyo/ Osun states Command, on Wednesday said that no one died when its officers had a faceoff with some commercial motorcyclists in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

PREMIUM TIMES gathered that some commercial motorcyclists on Tuesday engaged the Customs officers when a truck seized by the Customs lost control and hit some motorcyclists.

A protest later ensued at the NCS barracks in Ijokodo area of Ibadan, Tuesday evening.

Four people were allegedly killed in the incident with witnesses giving different narratives of how the alleged deaths occurred.

Witnesses said the trouble started when some Customs officers seized a trailer carrying prohibited items into the country.

The officers after seizing the trailer were said to be driving it to their barracks.

A witness said the trailers brake failed and the driver lost control of the vehicle which hit some road users

Among those hit by the trailer were commercial motorcyclists plying the Apete-Ijokodo-Sango Road.

This led to the protest by the motorcyclists.

The Public Relations Officer of the NCS in charge of Oyo and Osun states, Abdullahi Lagos, on Wednesday night, asked for more time to compile a report on the incident.

Mr Lagos sent his report to PREMIUM TIMES Wednesday morning.

He said no one died as a result of the unfortunate incident.

He confirmed that a truck suspected to be carrying some prohibited items hit a commercial motorcyclist along the Apete Road on Tuesday.

He said the victim was quickly taken to the University College Hospital for treatment.

Officers of the Oyo/Osun Command arrested a truck suspected to carry uncustom goods concealed with motor spare parts around Fiditi Area of Oyo State.

On getting close to Customs Barracks Ijokodo for further investigation, the brake of the Truck failed and couldnt entered into the barracks and it headed towards Apete road, it got to a point where it couldnt move, the Truck descended and hit an Okada rider coming with speed behind the truck, the victim was quickly taken to UCH for treatment.

After this unfortunate incidents some Okada riders started gathering to attack officers with stones and other weapons at the scene, the officers dispersed the mob and restore normalcy. None of the victim died as insinuated.

Meanwhile, the Command has informed the Police of the incident for further investigation. Sorry for the delay, Mr Lagos wrote.

He did not say how the Customs officers dispersed the mob and whether anyone was injured in the incident.
Mayor Kenney leaves a press conference at City Hall Mar. 10, 2020 where city officials discussed the city's first confirmed case of the COVID-19 novel coronavirus. He was joined by Fire Commissioner Adam Thiel, to his left, and Dr. Thomas Farley, Commissioner with the Department of Public Health. Read more

Philadelphia announced its first presumed case of the coronavirus Tuesday and a senior citizen became the first person in New Jersey to die from the illness, while Montgomery County became the first area municipality to confront a case in which the origin of the infection remained a mystery.

And late Tuesday night, officials announced that Sundays St. Patricks Day Parade is canceled.

After heartfelt consideration and serious conversation with officials from the city, the St. Patricks Day Observance Association posted on its Facebook page, the association has decided to cancel the parade and all events related to the 2020 Philadelphia Saint Patricks Day Parade.

 READ MORE: Here are all the festivals, concerts, and events in the Philly area canceled because of coronavirus

Earlier, city officials and the Observance Association had said that the parade would go on as scheduled, a stance that was later softened by advising people not to attend.

Thus, Philadelphia joined Boston as the only other major city to cancel its parade; New York said that it would go ahead with its parade next week.

Earlier Tuesday in Montgomery County, officials said they were trying to determine when and where a 70-year-old woman contracted the virus, but if they are unable to, it would represent the states first instance of community spread  cases where the source of the infection cant be traced.

We do not want to experience the type of spread that youve seen in Italy or Washington state or other parts of the world, Montgomery County Commissioners Chair Valerie Arkoosh said at a news conference. We must all begin to put the greater good of our community ahead of our personal convenience.

With the single coronavirus case in Philadelphia and one new case in Montgomery County, and two in Bucks County, Pennsylvanias total reached 14, with all but two concentrated in the southeast. Every affected patient in the state except the 70-year-old Montgomery County woman, who was hospitalized for treatment on Tuesday, contracted the illness through travel to affected areas or close contact with someone else who had.

In New Jersey, three more people  including a married couple in Burlington County  tested presumptive positive for the virus, bringing that states total to 15, according to state Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli. The North Jersey man who died had a history of health problems, officials said, and had regularly traveled to New York for work.

Health officials urged people with symptoms to call their doctor immediately to limit possible exposure. Anyone with symptoms should not be walking into hospitals, said Arkoosh, who said EMTs in Montgomery County are trained to handle potential patients.

Across the country, others appeared to be having the same thought. Sen. Bernie Sanders and former Vice President Joe Biden canceled their primary night rallies on Tuesday  Biden instead headed for Philadelphia on Tuesday night to await and possibly celebrate the results. A leading health-care organization said nursing homes should restrict almost all visitation. And New York state created a 1-mile containment zone around a synagogue in New Rochelle after a rash of cases.

The stock market rebounded from Mondays plunge, which represented the worst drop since 2008, while congressional leaders said they would negotiate a bipartisan economic stimulus package and President Donald Trump claimed the virus would go away.

But the local impact of the coronavirus continued to grow.

West Chester University became the regions first institution to cancel all in-person classes for the rest of the semester, closing residence halls and moving courses online for its 17,000 students beginning March 30. Rutgers University also announced it will cancel classes through the end of its spring break and then move all courses online from March 23 to April 3.

American Airlines, which is responsible for about 70% of the traffic at Philadelphia International Airport, said it would cut international and domestic flights and suspend its Philadelphia-to-Rome route until May.

About a dozen more school districts and individual schools disclosed plans to close to give teachers and staff time to plan for potential extended closures or online classes. And event cancellations continued to pile up.

About four hours later, Philadelphia announced its first presumptive case  an adult who was being treated at home after being exposed to another person who tested positive for the virus.

We expected this

Thomas Farley, the citys health commissioner, declined to give details about the new patients age or gender or where the exposure occurred. He said the city was working to contact and quarantine people who may have interacted with the patient.

Farley did not offer a scientific rationale for the citys recommendation that residents avoid events with more than 5,000 people. He said the city is not canceling or prohibiting the gatherings but could tighten the recommendations if needed.

We expected this, Farley said at an afternoon news conference, but this does mean that the pandemic has now arrived to the city of Philadelphia.

City officials are not recommending schools and universities close, but Philadelphias managing director, Brian Abernathy, said the city is asking private employers to relax sick-leave policies.

In Montgomery County, officials offered details Tuesday about its three latest cases, including a woman who lives with a Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia doctor who had earlier tested positive for the coronavirus. The news of his diagnosis prompted six districts to close some or all schools for cleaning on Tuesday.

An 18-year-old Germantown Academy student also joined the list of those infected; the Fort Washington school had already announced Sunday that it would close for most of March after a relative of the student contracted the virus.

Three students who visited the students house last week were also in self-quarantine for at least two weeks but did not have symptoms, the school said. Newtown Friends School in Bucks County said it would keep students at home Thursday and Friday because the sibling of a student had attended an event last week at Germantown Academy.

This remains a rapidly evolving situation here in Montgomery County, Arkoosh said.

 READ MORE: Philadelphia says avoid large gatherings, but Wells Fargo Center says sporting events and concerts are still on

Pennsylvania public health officials said Tuesday that residents who havent been contacted by officials should continue to go about their daily lives  while remaining vigilant about handwashing and other preventive measures.

At schools, planning and cleaning

Among the schools planning to close for preparations were the Philadelphia private schools Friends Central, which will close Wednesday and Thursday and will launch online instruction Friday, and William Penn Charter, which is closing Friday and said it would cancel a number of student trips and delay its junior prom.

Given the uncertain nature of the virus, we do not want to put our students at risk or our chaperones in an uncomfortable position should they find themselves in the midst of a localized outbreak, Darryl J. Ford, head of school, and Beth Glascott, assistant head of school, said in a letter to parents.

Many school districts in Delaware County  including Garnet Valley, Haverford, Marple Newtown, Rosetree Media, Southeast Delco, Springfield, and Upper Darby  announced plans to close Friday or Monday, part of a countywide effort to prepare for continuing instruction involving online or at-home learning in the event of closures. In Chester County, the Phoenixville Area School District also announced it would close Monday for planning.

Contributing to this article were staff writers Pranshu Verma, Oona Goodin-Smith, Ellie Silverman, Anna Orso, Laura McCrystal, Susan Snyder, Catherine Dunn, and Sarah Gantz.
From: Jeremiah Bourgeois -- Consultant Everett , WA Wednesday, March 11, 2020



The Extraordinary Ordinary Prisoner: Essays From Inside Americas Carceral State The title of this post is the title of this notable new book authored by Jeremiah Bourgeois. The book is a collection of columns, mostly written while Jeremiah Bourgeois was serving a term of life imprisonment for a crime committed at the age of fourteen. Here is how the work is described at Amazon: On June 7, 2016, an email from a prospective writer appeared in the inbox of The Crime Report, a nonprofit criminal justice news site. The last line in the message caught the editors' attention: "I realize that submissions should include more information. However, I hope you overlook that requirement in light of the fact that I am incarcerated." Over the next three years, Jeremiah Bourgeois, then confined to the Stafford Creek Corrections Center, a mixed medium-minimum security prison for men near Aberdeen, Washington, contributed 36 columns on his own transformation from self-destructive rage to dedicated writer and on subjects such as the treatment of gay and transgender prisoners, the lack of a #MeToo movement for incarcerated women, and the hypocrisies of prison "family visitation" events. Months after Bourgeois finally won his parole in 2019, The Crime Report is publishing this collection of Jeremiah Bourgeois's most searing and unforgettable work. The Crime Report provides more of the story in this posting: When he wrote us, he was 38 years old  and had already spent the previous 24 years behind bars for the May 19, 1992, revenge killing of Seattle store owner Tecle Ghebremichale, who had testified against his brother in an assault case. Aged 14 at the time of his crime, he was sentenced to life without parole in the era before the Supreme Court ruled such sentences for juveniles unconstitutional. Jeremiah had every expectation of spending the rest of his life in prison. "It was probably the saddest case I've ever had," his lawyer, Michael Trickey, told the Seattle Times in 2005, noting both Jeremiah's age and length of sentence. Jeremiah spent much of his first decade in prison in a permanent state of anger and defensiveness, frequently in conflict with corrections officers and fellow inmates. But then something changed. Prisoner #708897, as he would later write in his columns, realized that he was on a path to self-destruction. He began reinventing and reeducating himself through long hours in the prison library. He is not the first incarceree to write his story. Prison writing has long been a special genre, and The Crime Report has frequently published work written behind bars  by both juveniles and adults. But Jeremiah's emergence as an independent, often contrarian, voice has been especially timely as our national debate about mass incarceration approaches a crossroads. Jeremiah Bourgeois Consulting


Foreign diplomats, embassy staff, and their families check in for a flight to Vladivostok, Russia, at Pyongyang International Airport, Monday. / AP-Yonhap



By Kang Seung-woo



North Korea still remains a self-proclaimed coronavirus-free country, "thanks to its preemptive quarantine efforts."



However, mounting evidence to the contrary is raising suspicions that the country, sandwiched between two COVID-19 hot spots, South Korea and China, may have failed to keep the deadly epidemic at bay.



Since the epidemic was first detected last December in Wuhan, China, the Kim Jong-un regime has taken strict measures, including closing off its borders, suspending foreign tourism and quarantining all foreign nationals and people who might have been exposed to visitors from other countries. As a result, it has not reported a single infection, officially.



On Monday, the state-run Rodong Sinmun reported that the country has quarantined nearly 10,000 people over virus fears, with 3,800 being released after showing no symptoms.



The paper said the quarantine was intended for those who arrived in the country from abroad and those who came into contact with them, including 380 foreign diplomats and representatives of international organizations in Pyongyang.



A recent news report, however, is backing up speculation that the contagious virus has already entered the North.



Citing a source inside the North Korean military, stationed along the country's border with China, the South Korea-based Daily NK news website reported that 180 soldiers have died from the new coronavirus and approximately 3,700 soldiers are currently under quarantine.



Because of the closed nature of the North, confirming the report is almost impossible, with the South Korean unification ministry also declining to comment on the report. The North Korean regime continues to claim it has kept the number of infections at zero.



On Monday, dozens of diplomats from Germany, Russia, France, Switzerland, Poland, Romania, Mongolia and Egypt departed Pyongyang for the Far Eastern Russian city of Vladivostok. This also provides a glimpse of the possible arrival of the coronavirus into North Korea.



Experts are concerned that if the virus reaches the country, the consequences would be dire given that it lacks medical supplies and has a poor healthcare infrastructure.



In fact, the North Korean leader warned of "serious consequences" if the virus spreads to his country.



"In case the infectious virus spreading beyond control finds its way into our country, it will entail serious consequences," Kim was quoted as saying during a politburo meeting of the ruling Workers' Party, according to the North's Korean Central News Agency, Feb. 29.



Uriminzokkiri, a North Korean propaganda website, said, Tuesday, the North is adopting strong measures against the coronavirus that require huge economic losses  the first time the country mentioned economic losses due to the epidemic.



"Nobody can easily decide on and implement ultra-strong quarantine measures to block the spread of COVID-19 and the resulting catastrophe while also enduring tremendous economic losses," it said.


DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - Its been a turbulent week for Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, and its only Wednesday. Already pained by years of economic slowdown and unpopular austerity measures, Gulf Arab states now face the most challenging headwind to their stability: crashing oil prices.

The one-day 25% drop in oil prices on Monday sent world markets tumbling amid disruptions across the globe due to a new and fast-spreading virus. In the Gulf, more than $400 billion was sold off in markets on the first two days of trading this week before regaining some of those losses by mid-week.

Stock in the kingdoms mostly state-owned oil company, Saudi Aramco, plunged dramatically before rebounding almost 10% on Tuesday only to drop again Wednesday, pushing its shares to below the December IPO price.

The volatility comes as Saudi Arabias Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman embarks on another round of risky gambles, this time in response to challenges from the new coronavirus.

First, the kingdom made the hard and unprecedented decision to shut down Islams holiest sites to pilgrims in an effort to block the spread of the virus.

In a second move spearheaded by the crown prince and his older brother, Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, Saudi Arabia triggered a price war with major producer Russia after Moscow refused to go along with deeper production cuts to prop up prices as demand for oil slows amid the virus outbreak.

Eurasia Group, a risk analysis and consulting firm, said the main driver of the failure of Saudi-Russian talks was the kingdoms ambitious brinkmanship strategy to push for cuts of 1.5 million barrels per day or nothing at all.

To dominate market share, the Saudis slashed oil prices and said Monday theyd ramp up production to 12.3 million barrels a day next month. On Tuesday, the government directed Aramco to increase output capacity to 13 million barrels a day.

Then, rumours erupted about King Salmans health and well-being after the crown princes forces detained two senior princes, including the monarchs brother. On Sunday, state media showed him alive and well.

Doubts about Saudi Arabias internal stability could not come at a worse moment, Gerald Feierstein, vice-president at the Middle East Institute in Washington, said.

He said pressure is building on the Saudi leadership, particularly the crown princes Vision 2030 plan to diversify the economy away from dependence on oil exports for survival.

Just as Saudi Arabia was beginning to swing open its doors to tourists as part of that plan, it imposed travel bans to and from 14 different countries affected by the virus  ranging from France to neighbouring United Arab Emirates.

Under a scenario of Brent crude at $35 a barrel, Saudi Arabia could see a fiscal deficit this year of more than $100 billion. Oil traded Wednesday around $36 a barrel.

The kingdom has around $500 billion in foreign reserves. That gives it the fiscal space to maintain its spending plan for up to a year, said Monica Malik, chief economist at Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank. But those assets would be depleted in five years if Saudi Arabia doesnt adjust its spending and only relies on this to cover its deficit.

The key issue remains the length of the oil price war, she said.

Governments around the world are taking tough measures to try and stop the spread of the new coronavirus, which originated in China late last year.

For most people, the virus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia. The vast majority of people recover from the new virus.

Still, because so little is know about the virus, several Gulf countries have suspended nurseries and schools where the virus could spread easily among children.

In the UAE, working parents in Dubai and Abu Dhabi who mostly rely on schools for childcare are faced with tough choices. Some are nervous about Dubais economy and quietly speaking about opening overseas U.S. dollar accounts and transferring money out of the country to limit exposure. Some families in Dubai are also stocking up on food supplies in case imports are affected by the virus.

Like other major cities around the world, Dubai has postponed key events, like a major aviation and travel exhibition, which usually draws visitors from China, Europe and other regions. Events like this are important in driving tourism and keeping hotels buzzing in Dubai.

The emirate has poured billions of dollars into hosting the upcoming World Fair, or Expo 2020. As questions linger over whether the biggest event of the year  the Olympics in Japan  will be held this summer, local media in Dubai report the Expo is still on track for its six-month run starting in October.

For now, the regions biggest airline, Dubais Emirates, has acknowledged a slowdown in operations, which means Dubais main airport, also the worlds busiest for international travel, is being impacted. A subsidiary of Dubais biggest developer, Emaar, said it has stopped bookings at three hotels due to the impact on travel, the local Gulf News reported.

Earlier this week, small groups of Russian tourists with selfie sticks and phone cameras were seen taking in the views along Dubais Marina harbour. Missing, however, were the droves of other tourists  Chinese, European, Indian and Iranian  who normally flock to Dubai during its peak winter season.

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Follow Aya Batrawy on Twitter at https://twitter.com/ayaelb

___

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.
New Delhi, March 11 : Responding to Opposition attack over Delhi violence, senior BJP leader and MP from New Delhi constituency, Meenakshi Lekhi on Wednesday lauded Union Home Minister Amit Shah for containing the Delhi violence within 36 hours.

"The violence was brought under control within 36 hrs which, if you look at in hindsight, was in the making for months," Lekhi said, while defending the Union Home Minister, during the Lok Sabha discussion on Delhi riots.

She also claimed that the Home Minister did not go to the violence-hit areas of north-east Delhi to avoid "splitting of security forces to guard him".

"What do you expect? That Home Minister would go and sit in a police station? Would that have not caused splitting of security forces just to guard him?" Lekhi asked.

Earlier in the Lok Sabha discussion, the Congress hit out at the government for the delay in controlling Delhi riots, alleging that the incidents would not have happened if timely action had been taken.

Dubbing the Central government "nikammi sarkar" (incompetent government), Congress leader of the House Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury sought resignation of Home Minister Amit Shah for not handling the issue with sincerity. "If National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval's visit can help in controlling the situation why couldn't the Home Minister visit the riot-hit areas," he asked.

Lekhi responded with an attack on the Congress as she recalled the 1984 riots and alleged the involvement of some senior Congress leaders in the violent episode which took away thousands of lives.

"They talked of 1984 riots, I would like to tell them that they've forgotten that some accused are today on the position of CM," Lekhi added.

Lekhi's comments came after senior Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury claimed that former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had extended an apology for 1984 riots.

Lekhi also reminded Congress about infamous statement by former Prime Minister Rajeev Gandhi, where he was quoted as saying "When a big tree falls, the earth shakes"!
By ANI

PATNA: Unidentified men shot dead the former state general secretary of the ruling Janata Dal-United's students wing in Patna on the day of Holi.

The JDU youth leader, Kanhaiya Kaushik (27), was shot dead by unidentified men in Patel Nagar locality under Shastri Nagar police station of Patna city. According to police, the deceased had enmity with some people who are suspected to be behind the killing. Kaushik was called to the canal in Patel Nagar on the pretext of a meeting on Holi where he was shot dead.

During the attack, a student named Chandan also sustained injuries. Minutes after the incident, police officials from several police stations, including the DSP Secretariat rushed to the spot. The investigation is underway.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, the nation's longest serving leader since Joseph Stalin ruled the Soviet Union, has ended any question about his political future by backing a constitutional amendment  quickly approved by the State Duma  that will allow him to stay in power until 2036.

The Kremlin-controlled Duma passed the measure on third reading Wednesday 383-0, with 43 abstentions, to remove the constitutional barrier to Putin, 67, staying in office beyond 2024.

In a highly choreographed move that began Tuesday before the parliament, Putin and lawmakers quickly backed a proposal put forth by Valentina Tareshkov, the first woman to fly in space.

The proposal would allow Putin to stay in power either by scrapping Russia's two-term limit for president or "resetting" the clock so Putin's four terms wouldn't count against him.

Mass resignations: Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, entire Cabinet resignations

Mugs decorated with images of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Soviet leader Joseph Stalin at a gift shop in Moscow.

Kremlin critics denounced the move as cynical manipulation and called for protests on March 21. One member of the Russian Democratic party Yabloko stood in front of the Duma building holding a sign reading: "Zeroing presidential terms is usurpation of power." Another protester's placard said: "No to eternal Putin's rule."

Until Tuesday, Putin had been coy about his political future. He put that to rest in a speech to lawmakers opposing presidential term limits but backing the idea that if the constitution is revised, the two-term limit only would apply from 2024 onward. The presidents current six-year term expires in four years.

The president is a guarantor of security of our state, its internal stability and evolutionary development, Putin said. We have had enough revolutions.

A nationwide vote on the constitutional amendment is scheduled for April.

Putin has played the system for years to keep himself in power.

After serving as president for two terms, from 2000 to 2008, Putin traded places with Russia's prime minister at the time, Dmitry Medvedev, who held the president's office until Putin could return in 2012.

Story continues

Putin on impeachment: Putin says Trump was impeached for 'fabricated reasons,' calls new US sanctions 'unfriendly'

The presidential term was then extended from four to six years. Putin then won another term in 2018.

Legally, that left Putin with no options beginning in 2024 unless the constitution was changed.

The amendment, tailor-made for Putin, allows a sitting or a former president to run for office "regardless of the number of terms which that person held at the time when the amendment came into force."

Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin told reporters that "these changes are necessary given todays challenges and societys demands," according to the state-owned TASS news agency.

Russian President Vladimir Putin leaves after addressing lawmakers at the State Duma, Russia's lower house of parliament, in Moscow.

The move paves the way for Putin to remain as president until he is 83, compiling 36 years in office. Stalin ruled the Soviet Union for 35 years, from 1922 until his death in 1953.

Russias leading opposition figure, Alexei Navalny, mocked the proposed change.

Putin has been in power for 20 years, and yet he is going to run for the first time, Navalny tweeted.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Vladimir Putin: Duma OKs law to allow him to stay in power until 2036
Grab offers a variety of services to consumers in Southeast Asia ranging from ride-hailing and food delivery to digital financial products across payments, lending and insurance

ranging from ride-hailing and food delivery to digital financial products across payments, lending and insurance Wirecard to process card transactions made via the GrabPay e-wallet and integrate it as a payment method for its merchants

ASCHHEIM, Germany, March 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Wirecard, the global innovation leader for digital financial technology, is entering into a payments partnership with Grab, Southeast Asia's leading super app, that will see Wirecard process transactions made via the GrabPay e-wallet, starting with the Malaysian, the Philippines and the Singapore markets.

Consumers can use their GrabPay e-wallet to pay for transactions online and offline, for example, for ride-hailing or food delivery, but can also use it to pay for purchases on e-commerce sites or at physical stores. Through this partnership, Wirecard will process card transactions for GrabPay via its digital financial commerce platform and will extend GrabPay to more merchants to expand the acceptance of the mobile payment method.

According to a recent global Wirecard consumer survey, over 90% of consumers in Southeast Asia have used digital payments both in-store and online. Mobile wallets are almost twice as popular in the region as they are worldwide, with 44% regularly choosing them as a payment method compared to the global average of 25%.

"We are proud to partner with Grab, a Southeast Asian icon," commented Georg von Waldenfels, Executive Vice President Group Business Development at Wirecard. "Together, we aim to continue disrupting the payment, tech and mobility industries with innovative solutions that can improve the lives of millions."

Reuben Lai, Senior Managing Director of Grab Financial Group, said, "We are thrilled to partner with Wirecard as we progress on our journey of building a cashless economy for millions of businesses across Southeast Asia. Wirecard's innovative mobile payments solutions will not only complement our GrabPay e-wallet platform, but also offer businesses and consumers the opportunity to transact with greater security, convenience and flexibility."

The GrabPay e-wallet is one of the most popular e-wallets in Southeast Asia accepted by over 600,000 merchants and small businesses.

About Wirecard:

Wirecard (GER: WDI) is one of the world's fastest growing digital platforms in the area of financial commerce. We provide both business customers and consumers with a constantly expanding ecosystem of real-time value-added services built around innovative digital payments by using an integrated B2B2C approach. This ecosystem concentrates on the areas payment and risk, retail and transaction banking, loyalty and couponing, data analytics and conversion rate enhancement in all sales channels (online, mobile, POS). Wirecard operates regulated financial institutions in several key markets and holds issuing and acquiring licenses from all major payment and card networks. Wirecard AG is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (DAX and TecDAX, ISIN: DE0007472060). Find out more at www.wirecard.com.

About Grab:

Grab is the leading super app in Southeast Asia, providing everyday services that matter most to consumers. Today, the Grab app has been downloaded onto over 185 million mobile devices, giving users access to over 9 million drivers, merchants and agents. Grab offers the widest range of on-demand transport services in the region, in addition to food and package delivery services, digital payments and financial services across 339 cities in eight countries. For more information, check http://www.grab.com.

Wirecard media contact:

Wirecard AG

Jana Tilz

Tel.: +49(0)89-4424-1363

Email: jana.tilz@wirecard.com

Grab media contact:

Amrit Sharma

Omnicom Public Relations Group for Grab

Tel.: +65-8307-7752

Email: grab@omnicomprgroup.com
By Jibran Ahmad and Abdul Qadir Sediqi

PESHAWAR/KABUL, March 10 (Reuters) - The Taliban sent vehicles for fighters set to be released by the Afghan government in a prisoner swap expected to be announced on Tuesday, and were ready to honour their side of the deal by handing over 1,000 captured government troops, militant leaders said.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani will issue a decree for at least 1,000 Taliban prisoners to be released this week, Reuters reported on Monday, paving the way for opening direct talks between the Afghan government and Taliban insurgents.

A senior Taliban leader in Doha, the capital of Qatar where negotiations between the militants and U.S. officials have taken place, said vehicles had been sent to an area near Bagram Prison to fetch the freed fighters.

The prisoner release is part of a deal signed by the United States and the Taliban last month that allows U.S. forces and NATO troops to withdraw from Afghanistan to end more than 18 years of war.

The Taliban have demanded the release of the prisoners as a confidence-building measure.

Ghani, who was sworn in on Monday at a ceremony attended by U.S. Special Envoy for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad, had earlier rejected the Taliban demand for its fighters to be released.

"After our conversation with Zalmay Khalilzad on Monday, in which he conveyed to us the release of our 5,000 prisoners, we sent vehicles to pick them up," the senior Taliban leader said via phone from Doha.

It is unclear how many prisoners will be released immediately, but three other sources told Reuters on Monday that it could vary between 1,000 to 1,800. It was also unclear whether prisoners would be released from other prisons aside from Bagram.

The U.S. Embassy declined to comment. A spokesman for NATO's mission referred questions to the Afghan government.

The Taliban leader in Doha also confirmed the group had finalised arrangements for the release of 1,000 prisoners held by them, adding that they had shifted all prisoners to safe locations in Afghanistan.

"We are planning to release the 1,000 prisoners of the Afghan government to the Red Crescent and they could then shift them to their hometowns or pay them cash for travelling home," he said.

An official Taliban spokesman said he could not comment as he had yet to be informed of the plans. (Reporting by Abdul Qadir Sediqi in Kabul and Jibran Ahmad in Peshawar; Writing by Gibran Peshimam; Editing by Euan Rocha & Simon Cameron-Moore)
Unfortunately for some shareholders, the Bank of Hawaii (NYSE:BOH) share price has dived 31% in the last thirty days. Even longer term holders have taken a real hit with the stock declining 24% in the last year.

All else being equal, a share price drop should make a stock more attractive to potential investors. In the long term, share prices tend to follow earnings per share, but in the short term prices bounce around in response to short term factors (which are not always obvious). The implication here is that long term investors have an opportunity when expectations of a company are too low. One way to gauge market expectations of a stock is to look at its Price to Earnings Ratio (PE Ratio). Investors have optimistic expectations of companies with higher P/E ratios, compared to companies with lower P/E ratios.

View our latest analysis for Bank of Hawaii

Does Bank of Hawaii Have A Relatively High Or Low P/E For Its Industry?

Bank of Hawaii has a P/E ratio of 11.15. The image below shows that Bank of Hawaii has a P/E ratio that is roughly in line with the banks industry average (10.5).

NYSE:BOH Price Estimation Relative to Market, March 10th 2020

Bank of Hawaii's P/E tells us that market participants think its prospects are roughly in line with its industry. The company could surprise by performing better than average, in the future. Checking factors such as director buying and selling. could help you form your own view on if that will happen.

How Growth Rates Impact P/E Ratios

Generally speaking the rate of earnings growth has a profound impact on a company's P/E multiple. Earnings growth means that in the future the 'E' will be higher. Therefore, even if you pay a high multiple of earnings now, that multiple will become lower in the future. So while a stock may look expensive based on past earnings, it could be cheap based on future earnings.

Bank of Hawaii saw earnings per share improve by -6.3% last year. And earnings per share have improved by 8.5% annually, over the last five years.

Story continues

Don't Forget: The P/E Does Not Account For Debt or Bank Deposits

Don't forget that the P/E ratio considers market capitalization. So it won't reflect the advantage of cash, or disadvantage of debt. In theory, a company can lower its future P/E ratio by using cash or debt to invest in growth.

While growth expenditure doesn't always pay off, the point is that it is a good option to have; but one that the P/E ratio ignores.

Is Debt Impacting Bank of Hawaii's P/E?

Bank of Hawaii's net debt is 6.7% of its market cap. The market might award it a higher P/E ratio if it had net cash, but its unlikely this low level of net borrowing is having a big impact on the P/E multiple.

The Verdict On Bank of Hawaii's P/E Ratio

Bank of Hawaii's P/E is 11.2 which is below average (15.1) in the US market. The company does have a little debt, and EPS is moving in the right direction. If growth is sustainable over the long term, then the current P/E ratio may be a sign of good value. What can be absolutely certain is that the market has become less optimistic about Bank of Hawaii over the last month, with the P/E ratio falling from 16.1 back then to 11.2 today. For those who prefer to invest with the flow of momentum, that might be a bad sign, but for a contrarian, it may signal opportunity.

Investors should be looking to buy stocks that the market is wrong about. If the reality for a company is not as bad as the P/E ratio indicates, then the share price should increase as the market realizes this. So this free visualization of the analyst consensus on future earnings could help you make the right decision about whether to buy, sell, or hold.

You might be able to find a better buy than Bank of Hawaii. If you want a selection of possible winners, check out this free list of interesting companies that trade on a P/E below 20 (but have proven they can grow earnings).

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



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
A salon has hit back after a furious client insisted she was given the 'worlds s******t eyebrows'.

Melissa Ryan, 21, from Orpington, Kent, visited Cavendish Aesthetics in Murston Business Centre to get lip fillers on Monday 9 March.

But, while she was in the beauty parlour, she claimed she was pressured into getting her brows laminated, which involves correcting the shape by using a chemical solution, by a member of staff who wasn't 'fully qualified.'

Frustrated by the outcome of the situation, Melissa took to social media after she left the premises, in a scathing post that has prompted thousands of comments and shares.

And Melissa says it has also encouraged others to come forward, saying they had work done at the salon that later needed fixing.

However, salon owner Amanda Cavendish says she involved the police after receiving a 'constant barrage of abuse.'

Melissa Ryan, 21, from Orpington, Kent, shared a scathing post online claiming a beauty parlour pressured her into getting her eyebrows laminated, which led her to experience a chemical reaction (pictured). The owner of the parlour, Amanda Cavendish, has since defended herself

The business owner, 56, claimed she has received more than 700 messages in the wake of the viral post.

She even says she has reported the alleged harassment to the police, who have been contacted for comment.

Part of Melissas post read: 'Amanda has dealt with a situation highly unprofessionally.

'I had my lips done today, they were fine I couldnt fault her on that.

Melissa (pictured with her normal eyebrows) explained she felt the woman who treated her at the salon was not fully qualified

'Then, whilst having my lips done, I was offered to have my eyebrows laminated and tinted.

I felt a bit put on the spot as you do when people try to up sell, but asked if this treatment would suit me, and both Amanda and her colleague (short blonde hair) agreed Id look great, so I agreed to have it.

'My eyebrows were completely unsatisfactory and nothing like the photos that are advertised on social media.

'I was left looking like I complete fool. I probably couldve done a better job myself blindfolded.

'I dont like to publish my confidence issues to other people, but I literally came home and cried. This has made me feel even worse about myself and my appearance.

The 21-year-old (pictured) complained on social media, harnessing thousands of comments and reactions, and said it had encouraged other women unhappy with their treatment at the salon to come out of the woodwork

Pictured: Melissa's eyebrows after the procedure. Amanda Cavendish, who owns the parlour, said she faced harassment following the disgruntled client's complain

'I was allowed to leave the shop with my eyebrows in the worst state possible, people in public were staring at me and laughing me, it was so embarrassing!'

About half an hour after leaving, Melissa decided to contact the salon to air her concerns, but said she was dealt with 'completely unprofessionally'.

She initially asked if washing the tint off would 'ruin the whole lamination', to which Amanda replied, telling her to keep them dry for at least 24 hours.

But after another hour, Melissa sent a series of messages, getting more and more concerned about her eyebrows.

Amanda, who is qualified to level seven in aesthetics, eventually offered a refund, but said Melissa did not turn up at the salon to collect her 25 and instead wanted the money via bank transfer.

In a text exchange between Melissa and Amanda shared by the client, the 21-year-old expressed she did not think he therapist who administered her with the treatment was fully qualified

Melissa threatened to spread the world about the incident to other clients, which prompted Amanda to agree to a refund

Melissa says this is because her journey cost from Orpington to Ashford would render this entirely redundant.

Amanda told KentLive: 'Its not a good idea for me to be responding to bullying, hate speech and vulgarity on social media, but I do want to put my side across.

'Ive had over 700 vile harassing, hateful things said about me.

'Staff are worried that someone will come in and cause problems. Ive had clients cancel today.

'I dont want to have anyone here put at risk. My husband is at work in London, worried sick.

Melissa refused to come to Ashford to get the refund and insisted Amanda send her the money via bank transfer

'And the police are now involved - all because one person complained.'

Despite the withheld calls and constant messages, Amanda says her regular clients have been quick to support the salon, which has three employees.

She also said she wasnt worried about the future of her business amid the social media uproar.

'If you look, before the last few days, I do not have one bad review,' she added.

'Im very well known in Ashford and, if anything, I hope this will raise my profile.

'I dont pressure anyone into doing anything in my salon and my clients will tell you that.'

In a scathing post online, Melissa complained about her eyebrow job, exposing Amanda (pictured)

Amanda explained she did not pressure Melissa (pictured) into getting her eyebrows laminated, but instead simply asked her whether she wanted to try the treatment with 'someone in training'

Amanda says she clearly explained Melissas treatment was being done by someone in training. This is something Melissa strenuously denies.

'All I said at the time was, "We do brow lamination, youve got lovely big brows, would you like to have your brows laminated?".

'I explained that we were looking for models at the moment, for someone in training, and asked if she would be happy to help.

'She said, "Go on then, why not?" - those were her words.'

The brow lamination was booked in around an hour later, with Melissa heading to the Ashford Designer Outlet for some shopping while she waited.

After the treatment was done, Amanda said she explained to her client how the staining of the skin was to be expected.

Melissa on a night out with a friend. The 21-year-old started to express concerns when her brows got irritated after the procedure

She added: 'I said the tint has stained your skin but thats normal, you have to keep them dry for 24 hours. After that you can wet your brows all that staining will come off.

'I asked "Are you happy with what weve done? Because I feel you need to have your brows thinned out in the arch area".

'And she said she didnt want any off because someone had over-plucked them previously.

'We agreed on this but I did say, "Next time you come back to us you need to think about having your brow arch shaped.'

Melissa said her skin had become irritated and itchy after the treatment and insisted in her post that she should have been offered a patch test beforehand.

But Amanda claims the products she uses, made by a company called BOM, are 'very mild' and only need a patch test if the person involved has pre-existing skin sensitivity or allergies.

A picture of Melissa before the treatment, showing her natural eyebrows. Amanda said she was scared for her safety of her business and her employees after receiving 700 messages of insult

On the state of Melissas brows in the images, Amanda admitted they didnt look perfect.

She explained: 'Looking at them, I would say that shes justified in what shes saying.

'However, I said to her the staining from the tint will wash off. It would be easily washed off with soap after 24 hours.

'And frankly, she had every opportunity when we showed her in the mirror to say she hated it.

'The way this has been gone about is totally wrong.

Melissa has since defended her social media post, claiming it was the only way she could get in touch with Amanda after their WhatsApp exchange.

She told KentLive: 'Ive tried to contact Amanda but havent gotten anywhere. This whole situation didnt have to get out of hand like this if she didnt allow unqualified people to do work.

'She hasnt taken any sort of responsibility for what went on in her salon or what her employee did. She blocked my number so I couldnt contact her thats why I took to social media.

'I havent even received any sort of apology or my refund, like I said I live in London, I only went there for my treatment.'
Expands Jefferson Capitals global footprint and strengthens Canaccedes leadership in the Canadian consumer debt solutions space

TORONTO, March 10, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Jefferson Capital Systems, LLC (Jefferson Capital), a leading purchaser and servicer of consumer charged-off and bankruptcy receivables in the United States and United Kingdom, announced today that it has completed the strategic acquisition of Canaccede Financial Group (Canaccede), the largest buyer of charged-off consumer receivables and insolvencies in Canada. J.C. Flowers & Co. (J.C. Flowers), a leading private investment firm specializing in the financial services industry, is the principal shareholder of Jefferson Capital.

Canaccede was founded in 2008 and quickly became a leading debt buyer in Canada. Jefferson Capital and Canaccede will remain as independent companies focused on servicing their clients and consumers. Scott Coffin, formerly President of Canaccede, has been appointed Canaccedes Chief Executive Officer effective immediately. He replaces co-founder Andy Szemenyei who will join J.C. Flowers on Jefferson Capitals Board of Directors. Canaccedes management team and Board of Directors will remain in place, and David Burton, Founder and CEO of Jefferson Capital, will join Canaccedes Board.

The expansion into Canada will further enhance Jefferson Capitals global reach into consumer finance markets as both their domestic and United Kingdom acquisitions and servicing operations continue to grow.

From the moment we were introduced to the Jefferson Capital team, it was clear our values of customer respect, long-term client relationships and innovative product development were in complete alignment. We are very excited to leverage the best practices of both companies to deliver improved economic value and world class service for our clients, said Bryan Szemenyei, newly appointed President of Canaccede Financial Group. Our organization and leadership will remain consistent, but we will be seeking knowledge-sharing opportunities across organizations in areas such as analytics and modeling and compliance best practices. Combined with the financial strength and operational experience of Jefferson Capital, we have a strong conviction that this transaction will greatly benefit our staff, clients and customers he added.

The acquisition of Canaccede will further strengthen Jefferson Capitals track record of consistent growth and profitability, founded on industry leading advanced analytics, modeling, and multi-channel collections capabilities, said Burton, founder and CEO of Jefferson Capital. Canaccedes strength in Canada is unmatched, and their proven history of strong performance and desire to innovate made them an obvious candidate for collaboration. The two companies already share common products and services, a similar market approach and a mission to be the best option for creditor grantors to maximize the value of their consumer receivables.

We have been eager for Jefferson Capital to enter the Canadian market, and with Canaccede, the company has found a partner that is well-known and respected in the Canadian financial services industry, said Thomas Harding, Managing Director at J.C. Flowers. The combination of the two companies will provide their customers with access to additional services, which are particularly needed in times of economic uncertainty.

In connection with the transaction, legal advice was provided to Jefferson Capital by Stikeman Elliott LLP as well as by Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP.

About Canaccede Financial Group

Canaccede is a leading full-service partner of purchasing and servicing solutions for financial institutions managing distressed and insolvency receivables in Canada. Founded in 2008, Canaccede works directly with institutions to provide efficient access to capital and improving operational expense structure. Canaccede strives to guide and support customers to repay their obligations easily and affordably. For more information, visit www.canaccede.com .

About Jefferson Capital

Founded in 2002, Jefferson Capital is one of the nations leading purchasers and servicers of consumer charged off and bankruptcy receivables in the United States. Jefferson Capitals growing client base includes Fortune 500 creditors, banks, telecommunications providers, credit card issuers, auto finance companies, and utilities providers. Jefferson Capital is headquartered in St. Cloud, Minnesota with additional operations in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Denver, Colorado and Basingstoke, United Kingdom. For more information, visit www.jcap.com .

About J.C. Flowers & Co.

J.C. Flowers is a leading private investment firm dedicated to investing globally in the financial services industry. Founded in 1998, the firm has invested more than $16 billion of capital, including co-investment, in 56 portfolio companies in 18 countries across a range of industry subsectors including banking, insurance and reinsurance, securities firms, specialty finance, and services and asset management. With approximately $6 billion of assets under management, J.C. Flowers has offices in New York and London. For more information, please visit www.jcfco.com.

For further information:

Canaccede Media Inquiries

Mark Daprato Chief Commercial Officer

(416) 775-9628

mark.daprato@canaccede.com

Jefferson Capital Media Inquiries

Matt Pfohl, SVP and General Counsel

(320) 229-8552

Matt.Pfohl@jcap.com

J.C. Flowers Media Inquiries

Lambert & Co.

Jennifer Hurson

845-507-0571

jhurson@lambert.com

Kristin Celauro

732-433-5200

kcelauro@lambert.com
Buildings are seen in the financial district in Toronto

By Nichola Saminather

TORONTO (Reuters) - Canada's biggest banks said on Monday they are moving some traders to alternate locations, joining global banks splitting up operations to reduce disruptions due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Bank of Montreal <BMO.TO>, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce <CM.TO>, Toronto-Dominion Bank <TD.TO> and Royal Bank of Canada <RY.TO> all told Reuters they are splitting their trading operations in major centres between multiple sites.

The moves follow similar measures taken by foreign counterparts including JP Morgan Chase & Co <JPM.N>, Goldman Sachs Group Inc <GS.N> and Barclays <BARC.L>.

The complex technology and high-speed connections required for trading make working from home unfeasible.

BMO is separating some of its critical trading staff in Canada, the United States, U.K. and Asia to other sites "as part of our ongoing testing of our business continuity plan capabilities," a spokeswoman said by email.

Some trading floor members at CIBC operations including Toronto and New York will move to backup locations this week, according to an email from a spokeswoman.

TD Bank also moved to a split site model on Monday in its major centres "out of an abundance of caution," a spokeswoman said by phone.

Royal Bank, Canada's biggest bank, split operations for its global trading business, effective Monday, as a precautionary measure "to ensure we are able to smoothly and seamlessly continue serving clients," a spokeswoman said by email.

(Reporting By Nichola Saminather; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
By Ofeliya Afandiyeva

Azerbaijan has allocated $5 million in humanitarian aid to its southern neighbor Iran as the country is battling the rapidly spreading coronavirus.

The government ordered the allocation of these funds from the reserve fund of Azerbaijans 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," the Cabinet of Ministers told local media.

In the meantime, the Azerbaijani government has exempted medical supplies from custom duty in a bid to fight the spread of coronavirus.

Thus, shoe covers, sterile and non-sterile gloves and medical masks (for surgical operation or medical procedure) and respirators exported to the country have been exempted from import customs duty until June 1 of the current year. The decision was made in a bid to meet the needs of the population and medical institutions in the necessary medical supplies at affordable prices and to replenish resources for a number of medical means.

To this end, the government made amendment to the "Commodity nomenclature of Azerbaijans foreign economic activity, rates of import customs duties and rates of export customs duties," the official website of Azerbaijani Cabinet of Ministers reported.

As it was informed earlier, the Cabinet of Ministers adopted Activity Plan related to prevention of the spread of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) infection in the Azerbaijan Republic

In addition, Operational Headquarters has been set up by the relevant government agencies under the Cabinet of Ministers to prevent the risk of coronavirus infection in the territory of Azerbaijan and to promptly implement preventive and urgent measures.

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.

Earlier, President Aliyev allocated 10 million manats [$5.8m] to prevent the spread of the virus in the country.

Azerbaijan recently closed its borders with Iran and stopped air flights to this country. It also annulled the entry of Iranian ships to its seaports.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
In the wake of the coronavirus, the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC) last week released pandemic preparedness guidance to help financial institutions address risks and minimize negative impacts of a pandemic. In addition, federal and state regulators Monday encouraged financial institutions to support consumers who may face financial hardships as a result of the virus.

Democrat members of the Senate Banking Committee had sent letters to financial regulators, including the NCUA, earlier Monday urging guidance to allow financial institutions to provide consumers that could face financial hardships as a result of the coronavirus with loan and credit relief.

In a statement yesterday afternoon from the Federal Reserve, CFPB, FDIC, NCUA, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, and Conference of State Bank Supervisors, the agencies said they would provide appropriate regulatory assistance to affected institutions subject to their supervision.
STILLWATER, Minn. - A Minnesota sheriffs deputy who fatally shot an armed suicidal man in 2018 used unreasonable force on a man in crisis, prosecutors said Wednesday at the outset of his trial.

Washington County deputy Brian Krook ignored the law and his training on April 12, 2018, when he killed Benjamin Evans, a 23-year-old emergency medical technician and probationary firefighter who was distraught over a breakup, Ramsey County prosecutor Andrew Johnson said during his opening statement.

Mr. Evans needed help that day, and this is not the way law enforcement is supposed to respond, Johnson said.

Defence attorney Paul Engh, though, told jurors that Evans saw his life unraveling and had decided to kill himself, but couldnt bring himself to do it and refused police orders to put down his gun.

This was a suicide by cop, he said, later adding: Its a tragedy that he died. It is not a crime that he caused his own death.

Krook, 31, pleaded not guilty to second-degree manslaughter in the killing of Evans. Krook was among officers who responded to a report of a suicidal armed man in Lake Elmo, about 19 miles (30 kilometres) northeast of Minneapolis. When deputies first arrived, they found Evans kneeling in an intersection, with a gun to his head, according to court testimony.

Evans had moved from St. Louis to Minnesota to be with his girlfriend, and she had recently broken up with him and he lost his job. On the morning of April 11, 2018, he got a message from a friend who said he was cutting off all contact because he was dating Evans ex-girlfriend, whom Evans had wanted to marry, according to attorney statements and witness testimony Wednesday.

Evans texted another friend, Brianna Gysbers, and the two of them hung out all day, drank alcohol, and were at Evans apartment that night when Evans called his ex-girlfriend to try to convince her to marry him.

When she refused, he put on his firefighter dress uniform, wrote goodbye notes to his parents and to the first responders who would find him, called a friend to say goodbye, and then left his house with his gun, Gysbers testified.

Gysbers testified that Evans never said he wanted to shoot police. He only wanted to hurt himself, she said. She went to a neighbours apartment and called 911.

Multiple officers responded, including Washington County Sheriffs Deputy Joshua Ramirez, who arrived first. Ramirez testified that he and another deputy tried to negotiate with Evans for 39 minutes as he held the gun to his head. Johnson said that Evans never aimed the gun at anyone other than himself.

But Engh said Krook was uncomfortable with Evans turning his head, fearing that if Evans fired with the gun at his head, the bullet might hit officers in its trajectory.

Video from Ramirezs squad car was played Wednesday, merged with audio from Krooks body camera. Ramirezs body camera video and audio were also played for the jury.

In an enhanced version of the squad car video, Evans can be seen kneeling in the street, with his right hand holding the gun to his head as his left hand motions while he talks. At times, he quickly twists his torso and moves his head to the left and right.

Ramirez can be heard negotiating  pleading with Evans repeatedly  to get him to drop the gun.

Benjamin, please, can you please, just put the gun down? We can talk about this, Ramirez said. Most of what Evans said is unintelligible, but at times he sounds agitated. At one point Evans said he made mistakes, and Ramirez testified Evans was asking for a phone to call his girlfriend.

I cant just walk up to you and give you the phone, Benjamin, with your gun there, Ramirez said.

Krook tells Ramirez that hes preparing to use a less lethal weapon to shoot Evans if needed, and Evans can be heard saying hes not going to force police into a shooting. Im not gonna ... make you kill a 23-year-old kid, Evans said.

As Evans can be seen turning his head quickly from side to side, Krook says: Ramirez, Im getting uncomfortable with him turning his head, just so you know.

Evans then begins talking about police tactics, saying he knows authorities are doing their jobs, when Krook fires four times as Evans is talking, according to the video and audio played in court.

Johnson said Krook hit Evans once. He ran toward Evans, who still had his gun to his head, and intended to kick the gun away, Johnson said. When Evans arm fell toward the ground, Krook fired three more times.

Evans was ultimately shot twice in the chest, once in the side, and once in the leg. Ramirezs body camera video shows deputies cutting off his clothing and trying to give him medical attention before Evans is quickly loaded into an ambulance.

Johnson said that before Krook shot Evans, negotiations had been going well and Evans had repeatedly said he was not going to harm the deputies. Ramirez got Evans to remove the magazine from his gun, potentially leaving just one bullet in the chamber, and when Evans said at one point that he was going to kill himself in two minutes, Ramirez talked him out of it, the prosecutor said.

Engh pushed back on the idea that negotiations had been going well. He said Evans life was unraveling and that he had been drinking to build up the courage to end his life.

No one was going to talk him out of it, Engh said.

Engh told jurors that Krook plans to testify during the trial.

Krook is the third Minnesota officer in recent years to be charged in an on-duty killing. Former St. Anthony officer Jeronimo Yanez was acquitted in the July 2016 killing of Philando Castile, and former Minneapolis officer Mohamed Noor was convicted in the July 2017 shooting of Justine Ruszczyk Damond.

___

This story has been updated to correct the victims name to Benjamin Evans, and to note that he was armed, instead of unarmed.

Follow Amy Forliti on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AmyForliti
About 60-70 percent of the population in Germany risk contracting the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

The German Chancellor, Merkel, made this known in international news reports monitored by DGN Online.

The Chancellor is reported to have said authorities in Germany believed 60-70 percent of the population would eventually contract coronavirus.

The virus has infected and killed several people across the world.

---Daily Guide
Collaboration strengthens leading sci-tech information solutions to deliver enhanced insight across R&D and IP workflows

COLUMBUS, Ohio and LONDON, March 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- CAS, a division of the American Chemical Society specializing in scientific information solutions, and PatSnap, a global leader in innovation intelligence, today announced a long-term strategic partnership agreement aimed at accelerating global innovation. This unique collaboration between sci-tech information industry leaders, brings together the depth of CAS human-curated scientific data and the power of PatSnap's AI machine learning and data visualization technologies to deliver enhanced information solutions that address the growing need for deeper insights across disciplines.

This collaboration enables both organizations to quickly augment existing solutions with new content and technology-driven functionality. The partners will also leverage their collective expertise to jointly develop new capabilities. "The CAS and PatSnap teams share a passion for accelerating innovation across industries including healthcare, agriculture, diversified chemicals and energy to improve people's lives," said CAS President Manuel Guzman. "Partnerships are a critical aspect of our strategy to rapidly advance that vision. By working together, we can deliver greater value across the complete discovery and commercialization lifecycle."

"As sci-tech information industry leaders, this partnership reinforces the key role that innovation intelligence plays as companies innovate," said PatSnap Founder & CEO Jeffrey Tiong. "Innovation intelligence has evolved over the years, which is why we believe that applying AI machine learning to patent documents, journals and company data is the next frontier in valuable innovation insights. Through our partnership with CAS, companies and individuals will be able to use our intelligence solution to expand or solidify their position in different markets."

This partnership is a compelling alliance of two contrasting organizations with complementary strengths and a common aspiration. For over 100 years, CAS has been building the world's largest scientific content collection, including the authoritative CAS REGISTRY of chemical substances. Curated by hundreds of scientists speaking 50+ languages, CAS data underpins essential information resources, such as SciFindern and STNext, relied upon by scientists and IP professionals globally, as well as custom services engagements supporting sci-tech digitalization and knowledge management initiatives.

With offices in North America, Europe and Asia, PatSnap has quickly become the leading innovation intelligence solution provider for over 10,000 customers world-wide. Relied on by both start-ups and Fortune 500 corporations, PatSnap's ability to combine millions of disparate data sources and turn them into impactful insights has helped companies improve their IP and R&D teams' decision making, workflows and collaboration.

"As data volumes grow and technology evolves rapidly, we are thinking more broadly about how we can most effectively enable innovation," said Tim Wahlberg, CAS Vice President of Product Management. "Integrating PatSnap capabilities will rapidly advance our core solutions with new functionality and extend our breadth in areas like biologics and material science."

"PatSnap's unique AI capability facilitates smarter content curation and identification to help companies connect the dots," said Markus Haense, CTO and Head of Research at PatSnap. "By augmenting our existing product offering with CAS's world-class data set, we can now capitalize and enhance our offerings in the life sciences and material sciences space and help our customers innovate better and faster."

About CAS

CAS, a division of the American Chemical Society specializing in scientific information solutions, partners with R&D organizations globally to provide actionable insights that help them plan, innovate, protect their innovations, and predict how new markets and opportunities will evolve. Scientists, patent professionals and business leaders rely on CAS solutions and services to advise discovery and strategy. With more than 110 years' experience, no one knows more about scientific information than CAS. Visit www.cas.org.

About PatSnap

PatSnap is the leading innovation intelligence software solution, designed to help companies make better business decisions by providing world-class IP and R&D intelligence. With the application of AI and machine learning, PatSnap makes it possible to gain actionable intelligence from millions of global innovation data points such as patents, litigation, investment and company information. From ideation to commercialization, learn how connected innovation intelligence can help. Visit www.patsnap.com

CAS Media Contact:

Tina Tomeo/Rhonda Ross

614-447-3600

cas-pr@cas.org

PatSnap Media Contact:

Irene Mukasa

647-209-3546

imukasa@patsnap.com

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1122182/PatSnap_CAS_Partner.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1029755/CAS_Logo.jpg
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Sacramento has agreed to pay more than $500,000 to settle a lawsuit on behalf of 84 people who were arrested during a protest over the police shooting of an unarmed, mentally ill black man, a lawyer said Tuesday.

If a judge approves the deal, most protesters will receive $4,000 each while four will receive $7,000 each, civil rights attorney Mark Merin told the Sacramento Bee.

Sacramento County will pay another $595 to each person, Merin said. County sheriffs deputies backed up city police during the protest.

The 2018 killing of Stephon Clark sparked months of protests that roiled the city and spurred changes to a state law governing when authorities can use deadly force.

Clark, 22, had run from officers who were investigating reports of a car burglar. He was shot in his grandparents backyard. Police said they believed Clark was carrying a firearm. But investigators concluded he only had a cellphone.

The city later agreed to pay $2.4 million to Clarks two sons in a wrongful death lawsuit.

The March 4, 2019, protest was prompted by the decision of the county district attorney not to file criminal charges against officers over the killing.

After several hours of marching, police declared an unlawful assembly and herded demonstrators onto a freeway overpass, eventually arresting dozens of people, including clergy members and three reporters. None were charged.

City Manager Howard Chan called the protest settlement agreement a fair resolution to a difficult situation.

The city remains committed to ensuring the safety and security of all of its residents and to protecting everyones right to free speech and peaceful assembly, Chan said in an emailed statement to the Bee.

The Police Department also issued a statement saying it is dedicated to ensuring the safety of our community while upholding the constitutional rights of every individual.
" " "Ghost flight" is a term that refers to the "use it or lose it" takeoff and landing policy in which airlines must stick to their time slots 80 percent of the time or lose those times to a competitor, whether anyone is flying or not. Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)

"Ghost Flight" may sound like the title of this year's hottest horror flick, but it's actually a real-life dilemma at the heart of a massive drop in global airline travel.

A ghost flight is essentially a planned route that an airline continues to fly, despite having few  or zero  passengers on board. The term originated out of Europe, where airlines are required to continue to fly their routes, even without passengers on board, so they can retain their air slots at airports. There is a similar regulation enforced by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the United States.

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The European Commission, a regulatory body that manages the day-to-day polices of the European Union, also governs airports' ability to force airlines to abide by a "use it or lose it" takeoff and landing policy in which airlines must stick to their time slots 80 percent of the time or lose those times to a competitor. Air travel already contributes at least 2.5 percent of the world's carbon emissions, writes Vice, and ghost flights burn about 5 gallons (19 liters) of fuel per mile, emitting one-half ton (0.45 metric tons) of carbon dioxide for every seat, even if that seat is empty, notes the New York Post.

After widespread concerns about airlines' financial losses and the impact of emissions on the climate, on March 10, 2020, the European Commission temporarily lifted what has become known as the "ghost flight" rule. Likewise, the FAA has suspended its requirement that airlines use their slots 80 percent of the time at U.S. airports.

The move is not unprecedented. A similar lifting of the Ghost Flight rule occurred after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the U.S. The rule also was temporarily suspended during a SARS outbreak in 2003 and occasionally during the 2008 financial downturn.

However, the current shift comes at a time when the Air Transportation Association warns that global commercial aviation companies could experience more than $113 billion in losses because of a drop in airline travel in 2020. United Airlines, for example, reported in March 2020 that it has experienced a 70 percent decline in domestic ticketing, and plans to cancel flights in the coming months.

Now That's Frightening As of March 11, 2020, COVID-19 has impacted at least 114 countries, killed more than 4,000 people, and has been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-12 01:51:42|Editor: huaxia

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UNITED NATIONS, March 11 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Wednesday called for respect for Africa's leadership and ownership in the fight against terrorism.

When helping Africa in its fight against terrorism, the international community should support African countries in finding African solutions to African problems, said Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations.

When providing counter-terrorism assistance, the international community should respect the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of the countries concerned, take fully on board the views and ideas of African countries and regional organizations, support their priorities, empathize with their anxieties and concerns, and focus on solving those issues considered most urgent by the countries concerned, he said.

It is particularly important to help African countries acquire improved capabilities and means for fighting terrorism, enhance information sharing, combat foreign terrorist fighters, and put an end to terrorist financing and the use of the internet for terrorist purposes, he told an open debate of the Security Council.

He asked for a holistic approach to tackle terrorism and extremism.

Underdevelopment in the socio-economic sphere is a major driver for the breeding and spread of terrorism and extremism in some parts of Africa. Many African countries are confronted with a whole raft of challenges in infrastructure development, poverty eradication, employment, education, public health, and social protection, said Zhang.

It is incumbent upon the international community to help African countries continue to implement the AU Agenda 2063 and the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to achieve lasting peace and stability through economic development, poverty eradication, and improvement of the people's livelihood, he said.

In particular, attention should be focused on education and employment of African youth to help African youth not fall prey to the pernicious influence of extremist ideologies, said Zhang.
As the number of coronavirus cases in the United States approached 1,000 on Tuesday, officials continued to clamp down on large public gatherings.

"I would encourage any individual who is elderly or is medically fragile to think long and hard about going into any large gathering that would involve close quarters and potential spread," US Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said.



(Photo courtesy Oregon Cheese Guild / Facebook) (Photo courtesy Oregon Cheese Guild / Facebook)

Even earlier this week, the warning had some event organizers to canceled or postpone events in southern Oregon. But on Wednesday night, Governor Kate Brown issued restrictions that effectively ban all events of 250 people or more.

Precautions over COVID-19 have also prompted many public-facing organizations to close up shop for a period of time.

For information on what local schools are doing  including the cancelation of "non-essential" events and other precautions  visit our article here.

CANCELED:

2020 Pear Blossom Festival has been canceled  including the parade, street fair, and other events.

has been canceled  including the parade, street fair, and other events. Rotary Club of Ashland has canceled the 62nd Annual Easter Egg Hunt in Lithia Park scheduled for Sunday, April 12.

has canceled the 62nd Annual Easter Egg Hunt in Lithia Park scheduled for Sunday, April 12. Jackson County Library Services will close down 13 of its 15 branches beginning March 16. The Ashland and Medford branches only will be open 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, and Noon to 4:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

will close down 13 of its 15 branches beginning March 16. The Ashland and Medford branches only will be open 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, and Noon to 4:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. All four Josephine Community Library locations will close down beginning March 16 until further notice.

locations will close down beginning March 16 until further notice. The Oregon Historical Society will close to the public from March 14 until March 30, with all public programs canceled or postponed all public programs through April 12, while school tours will be suspended through April 17.

will close to the public from March 14 until March 30, with all public programs canceled or postponed all public programs through April 12, while school tours will be suspended through April 17. The Klamath County Fairgrounds is canceling any events likely to bring in 250 people or more.

is canceling any events likely to bring in 250 people or more. The Ross Ragland Theater will either cancel or reschedule shows on a case-by-case basis.

will either cancel or reschedule shows on a case-by-case basis. Kid Time Children's Museum will close "pending further recommendations."

will close "pending further recommendations." The Oregon Vortex & House of Mystery in Gold Hill will close down for 30 days from March 16 until April 14.

& House of Mystery in Gold Hill will close down for 30 days from March 16 until April 14. Jackson County Expo: Rogue Canine Agility, Roxy Ann Gem & Mineral, J&C Auctions, and the Jackson County Master Gardener's Spring Fair are canceled. The upcoming Barnstormers event is still to be determined.

Rogue Canine Agility, Roxy Ann Gem & Mineral, J&C Auctions, and the Jackson County Master Gardener's Spring Fair are canceled. The upcoming Barnstormers event is still to be determined. Chamber Music Concerts has canceled performances by the Faure Piano Quartet on April 3 and 4 at the Oregon Center for the Arts. A performance scheduled on April 24 by Brooklyn Rider and Martin Hayes is still scheduled at this time.

has canceled performances by the Faure Piano Quartet on April 3 and 4 at the Oregon Center for the Arts. A performance scheduled on April 24 by Brooklyn Rider and Martin Hayes is still scheduled at this time. Women Entrepreneurs of Southern Oregon (WESO) has canceled its Entrepreneur Expo, originally scheduled for March 21 at Inn at the Commons in Medford.

(WESO) has canceled its Entrepreneur Expo, originally scheduled for March 21 at Inn at the Commons in Medford. The Klamath Basin Home & Outdoor Expo will not be held this weekend as planned. Organizers say they are getting in touch with vendors in order to figure out next steps.

will not be held this weekend as planned. Organizers say they are getting in touch with vendors in order to figure out next steps. The Ashland Independent Film Festival will not take place on April 16-20 as originally planned, the organization said. They are working on an alternative plan.

will not take place on April 16-20 as originally planned, the organization said. They are working on an alternative plan. The Craterian says it will cancel (or postpone when possible) all events at the Collier Center over the next four weeks. The box office will be reaching out to ticket holders to offer refunds or ticket transfers.

says it will cancel (or postpone when possible) all events at the Collier Center over the next four weeks. The box office will be reaching out to ticket holders to offer refunds or ticket transfers. The Oregon Shakespeare Festival has canceled all shows through April 8. People can start calling the Box Office March 16 to sort out ticket issues.

has canceled all shows through April 8. People can start calling the Box Office March 16 to sort out ticket issues. 2020 Crabfest hosted by Rotary Club of Ashland Lithia Springs. The event was supposed to be March 14.

hosted by Rotary Club of Ashland Lithia Springs. The event was supposed to be March 14. Medford Kiwanis Annual Easter Egg Hunt . Event was supposed to be the day before Easter.

. Event was supposed to be the day before Easter. The Josephine Shrine Circus at the Josephine County Fairgrounds, set for March 12, has been cancelled due to the Governor's four-week ban on large gatherings.

at the Josephine County Fairgrounds, set for March 12, has been cancelled due to the Governor's four-week ban on large gatherings. Camelot Theatre: The theatre is shutting down until April 8th. All performances are canceled including this weekend (3/14-3/15)

The theatre is shutting down until April 8th. All performances are canceled including this weekend (3/14-3/15) Ashland Community Peace Meal in Ashland, Oregon is canceled. It was suppose to take place Sunday, March 22nd.

POSTPONED:

The Arc Jackson County has postponed its Live to Dance event, scheduled for March 14, until a later date (to be determined).

has postponed its Live to Dance event, scheduled for March 14, until a later date (to be determined). Ashland New Plays Festival has postponed the staged reading of Callie Kimball's play Perseverance, originally scheduled for Saturday, April 4. It will be rescheduled for the summer, with more details to come.

has postponed the staged reading of Callie Kimball's play Perseverance, originally scheduled for Saturday, April 4. It will be rescheduled for the summer, with more details to come. Women's March Southern Oregon : Event was originally scheduled for March 29. A new date has not been set. Organizers say it will be sometime in the fall.

: Event was originally scheduled for March 29. A new date has not been set. Organizers say it will be sometime in the fall. ACCESS Senior Fair : Event was originally scheduled for March 17. It will now be held Tuesday, April 28. It will still be at the Medford Armory.

: Event was originally scheduled for March 17. It will now be held Tuesday, April 28. It will still be at the Medford Armory. 2020 Oregon Cheese Festival : Originally scheduled for March 14 and 15, it will now take place from June 20 to 21.

: Originally scheduled for March 14 and 15, it will now take place from June 20 to 21. Rogue Valley Food & Wine Classic: Orginially scheduled for April 3, it will now take place October 16.

ELSEWHERE IN OREGON AND BEYOND:
The California Nurses Association and its parent group National Nurses United are holding a national day of action Wednesday, including Bay Area rallies to protest the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's suggested containment measures for the coronavirus.

The California Nurses Association accused the CDC of weakening containment protocols like rolling back protective equipment standards from N95 masks to regular surgical masks, not requiring virus patients to be quarantined and loosening protections for nurses taking respiratory samples from patients.

The CDC issued new guidelines Tuesday that said "facemasks are an acceptable alternative when the supply chain of respirators cannot meet the demand."

The CNA and NNU plan to hold rallies at Oakland's Alta Bates Summit Medical Center Summit Campus, Martinez's Contra Costa County Medical Center, the Kaiser Permanente Vallejo hospital and call center and Hayward's St. Rose Hospital, as well as a news conference at the main UC San Francisco Parnassus campus. Nurses also rallied at Kaiser Santa Clara Medical Center at 7:30 a.m.

"If nurses and health care workers aren't protected, that means patients and the public are not protected," CNA and NNU executive director Bonnie Castillo said. "This is a major public health crisis of unknown proportions."

Nurses in California are protected by the state's Division of Occupational Safety and Health's standards for airborne transmissible diseases, according to the CNA.

Nurses in other states, however, do not receive the same support. Union officials said it's important for states with high disease protection standards to maintain them as the coronavirus outbreak worsens.

"Now is not the time to be weakening our standards and protections, or cutting corners," Castillo said. "Now is the time we should be stepping up our efforts."

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.
Biden delivers stinging blow to Sanders as he wins Michigan contest

Joe Biden has delivered a stinging blow to Bernie Sanders fading White House bid as he won Michigans crucial US Democratic nominating contest.

The former vice president also captured Missouri and Mississippi on a day when six states made their choices in the race.

The wins on what was billed as Super Tuesday II put Mr Biden on a path to the nomination to face Donald Trump in the November 3 election.

Mr Sanders' disappointing performance in a state that he won in the 2016 will increase pressure on him to exit the race and help the party prepare for a bruising general election campaign against Mr Trump.

Health minister becomes first MP to test positive for coronavirus

Health minister Nadine Dorries has tested positive for coronavirus.

Ms Dorries has been self-isolating at home since Friday and is understood to be recovering after being diagnosed with the deadly illness.

But she had reportedly met hundreds of people in parliament over the past week and attended a reception with Boris Johnson at Number 10.

All health ministers including Health Secretary Matt Hancock were set to undergo testing for the virus following Ms Dorries' diagnosis.

Man City V Arsenal postponed over virus fears

Manchester City's Premier League home game against Arsenal has been postponed as a precautionary measure due to the outbreak.

The Premier League has decided the fixture must not go ahead today due to a number of Gunners players and staff coming in contact with Olympiacos owner Evangelos Marinakis, who yesterday confirmed he has contracted Covid-19.

Sunak faces first Budget test only month after becoming Chancellor

Rishi Sunak faces one of the sternest tests of his short Cabinet career when he delivers his first Budget as Chancellor today.

He has promised to invest "historic amounts" on infrastructure and innovation in the Budget he will deliver against a backdrop of coronavirus instability.

The Treasury said hundreds of billions of pounds will be pledged to invest in infrastructure including roads, railways, broadband and housing.

It was understood this figure could be more than 600 billion over the five-year Parliament.

Sussexes share highlights from meeting with young leaders

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have shared highlights from their meeting with young leaders of the Queen's Commonwealth Trust (QCT).

Harry and Meghan, who are president and vice-president of the charity, hosted the group at Buckingham Palace last week as part of their farewell tour of the UK.

The duke was caught in a moment of laughter sat on a sofa next to his beaming wife in a black and white photograph from the event shared on the Sussex Royal Instagram page last night.

The couple discussed mental health, equal opportunities and youth leadership with the group, all of whom work with QCT.

The charity aims to champion, fund and connect young leaders working to change the world.

Celebrity Bake Off names first star baker of series

Jenny Eclair has been named star baker on The Great Celebrity Bake Off, narrowly beating Louis Theroux to the prize.

The comedian, 59, impressed judges Prue Leith and Paul Hollywood with her choux pastry during the charity special for Stand Up To Cancer.

Host Sandi Toksvig quipped that it was "amusing" they had captured the moment a celebrity called Eclair made her own eclairs.

Leith said Eclair was "streets ahead of the others" and dubbed her "a natural baker".

On this day...

1682: The Chelsea Hospital for old soldiers (Chelsea Pensioners), also venue for the world-famous flower show, was founded.

1702: The first successful English daily newspaper, a single broadsheet called the Daily Courant, was published.

1845: In New Zealand, a Maori uprising against the British began.

1864: The Bradfield Reservoir, near Sheffield, burst its banks, killing 270 people.

1941: The US Congress passed the Lend-Lease Bill enabling Britain to borrow millions of dollars to buy food and arms needed for the Second World War.

1945: The huge Krupps factory in Germany was destroyed when 1,000 Allied bombers took part in the biggest ever daylight raid.

1960: Riot police stood by in the Belgian Congo as Patrice Lumumba, the future controversial independence premier, was allowed to speak in public for the first time. He was found massacred in the bush less than a year later.

1974: Kenneth and Keith Littlejohn, allegedly MI6 spies inside the IRA, escaped from prison.

1985: The Al-Fayed brothers won control of the House of Fraser Group to become owners of Harrods.

1988: The Bank of England pound note ceased to be legal tender at midnight, and was replaced by the pound coin.
Iran: Fighting COVID2019 requires int'l efforts not blamegame

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

London, March 10, IRNA -- Iranian Embassy in Italy in a statement responded to ambiguities and allegations promoted by some media against Iran with regard to fighting coronavirus, saying confronting the epidemic disease requires regional and international cooperation.

Iranian diplomatic mission, however, appreciated all efforts made by social networks and media for reflecting realities with regard to coronavirus outbreak.

Due to the difficult conditions created by coronavirus in the world, now there is need for deliberation and a positive atmosphere for removing this disaster.

Iran wants to remind all people in the world and the region that the coronavirus knows no borders, the statement reads adding that overcoming this dangerous disease requires orchestrated regional and international efforts so creating fear and exaggerating the news will have negative impact on Iran and all countries in the world.

Iran is trying to guarantee the health condition of its borders by doing medical investigations and testing all Iranian and foreign nationals, it said.

The statement also referred to WHO's representatives remarks who visit Iranian medical centers, saying that they noted that Iran is one of the best countries in the region with regard to hospitals and medical centers and is regarded as a successful pattern for the regional states.

All Iranian official are aware of the importance of fighting coronavirus.

After visiting all departments in crisis management, research and executive centers, they said Iran's measures are in good level.

Iran has suitable strategy for fighting coronavirus and its constructive measures like allocating special hospital in each big city, training medical teams and informing publicly have been take well.

The Iranian embassy also called for lifting US' inhume sanctions against Iran in line with fulfilling required human and financial resources and has requested all friends for sending humanitarian and medical contributions.

It also expressed Iran's readiness for exchanging experiences and constructive interaction with Italian media, medical and research centers.

The head of Iran's Health Ministry Public Relations Office said on Monday that 8,042 people have been infected with coronavirus and 291 people have lost their lives to the potentially fatal coronavirus.

9376**1424

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As the coronavirus continues to spread throughout the world and more people are being advised to self-isolate or to quarantine, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has advised people to create a household plan in case there's an outbreak in their community. Keep in mind that while the virus is a serious health concern, especially for older adults or people who have chronic medical conditions such as heart disease, lung disease and diabetes, it's important not to panic. As of March 10, there have been more than 113,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 around the globe.

What you should do, however, is make some preparations. That means having some basic essentials on hand such as food, medicine and cleaning supplies. But being prepared does not mean stockpiling or hoarding.

While the CDC states that people should have sufficient quantities of household items and groceries in the event that they need to stay home "for a period of time," the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is recommending about two-weeks worth of supplies.

It's also important to remember that while you may want to keep a supply of bottled water in your house, water supply should not be affected by the COVID-19 outbreak, Dr. Keith Roach, an internist at New York-Presbyterian Hospital, told Men's Health.

When it comes to face masks, health professionals and people who are already sick should be the only ones wearing them, says Dr. Jonathan Fielding, a professor of health policy and management at the University of California Los Angeles' Schools of Public Health and Medicine. Health workers need access to face masks and other medical supplies, and a shortage could pose an even greater health risk to communities. Face masks are not thought to provide any additional benefits for healthy people in the general population, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Here's a list of what to do and buy if you think you may be stuck at home due to the coronavirus.

First, you'll want to scan your pantry.

Take a quick look at what you already have on hand to make sure you don't overbuy. You don't need to go crazy with purchasing canned goods if you already have the recommended two-weeks' worth. The same goes for cleaning supplies.

Then add frozen fruits and canned vegetables, as well as non-perishables, to your grocery list.

If you have fresh produce in your home, use that up first to minimize any waste. Then, look for canned, boxed and shelf-stable items to have on hand. When it comes to canned goods, it's always preferable to look for low-sodium versions, and cans that say they don't have BPA lining, if you can find them. Frozen foods are excellent as well.

Below are items to use as a starting point for your shopping, but keep in mind you should be buying foods you would normally eat. And of course, pick up food and drinks you enjoy, such as coffee, tea, chocolate and chips. Also, if you have a baby or toddler in the house, you're going to want to add the essentials they need to your list.

Fruit

Applesauce and other fruit purees

Canned fruit in water

Frozen fruit

Dried fruit

Vegetables

Canned vegetables (i.e., green beans, carrots, peas, diced tomatoes, pumpkin puree), low-sodium if possible

Canned vegetable-based soups and chilis, low-sodium if possible

Frozen vegetables (i.e, broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus)

Jarred tomato sauce

Protein

Tuna or salmon, canned or in a pouch

Chicken or turkey, canned or in a pouch

Frozen fish, such as shrimp or individually portioned pieces of salmon

Shelf-stable silken tofu

Lentils, canned or vacuum-sealed

Eggs and egg beaters

Nut/seed butter

Nuts and seeds

Trail mix

Dry or canned beans

Grains

Whole wheat pasta or chickpea pasta

Brown rice

Ancient grains (i.e., quinoa, farro)

Oats

Instant oatmeal packets/cups

Whole wheat or seed crackers

Whole wheat or sprouted bread (can keep in freezer and toast when ready to eat)

Dairy

Shelf-stable boxes of milk (shelf-stable varieties are available for regular and non-dairy milks)

Powdered milk

Healthy Fats

Olive oil

Avocado oil

Flax seeds

Chia seeds

Beverages

Water (if you're unable to drink tap)

Low-sugar electrolyte drinks

Pre-made protein-shakes or meal-replacement shakes (in case you get sick and lose your appetite)

Canned or boxed low-sodium broth

Take note of what toiletries and cleaning supplies you need.

Basic toiletries include toothpaste, floss, face wash, moisturizer, shampoo, conditioner, razors, shaving cream and hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Extra laundry detergent and hand soap are also important to have at home.

As for household disinfectants, the CDC says diluted household bleach solutions, alcohol solutions with at least 70% alcohol and most common EPA-registered household disinfectants should be effective.

It also says: "Diluted household bleach solutions can be used if appropriate for the surface. Follow manufacturers instructions for application and proper ventilation. Check to ensure the product is not past its expiration date. Never mix household bleach with ammonia or any other cleanser. Unexpired household bleach will be effective against coronaviruses when properly diluted."

Prepare a bleach solution by mixing:

5 tablespoons (1/3 of a cup) bleach per gallon of water or 4 teaspoons bleach per quart of water

Be sure to check your medicine cabinet.

For those on prescription medications, consider calling ahead for an extra month or two of medicine just in case. The American Red Cross recommends having at least a 30-day supply of any prescription medications for those in your home. They also advise at least a one month's supply of over-the-counter medicines such as pain relievers, stomach remedies, cough and cold medicines and throat lozenges. A daily multivitamin is also a good idea to stock up on so you're able to get those essential vitamins and minerals if your food choices are limited.

And don't forget about your pets.

Pick up extra animal supplies, including medications and food. Remember, having a pet is like having another human being inside the house  they require just as much care and supplies as any of us do, if not more.
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Piazzas and historic landmarks that would usually be filled with sightseers lie empty, and gondoliers are nowhere to be seen on the canals.

Coronavirus has hit Italy hard, and as far as tourism in Venice is concerned, it really is 'arrivederci' - goodbye for now, at least.

These pictures from today show just how deserted the city, built on more than 100 small islands, has become since COVID-19 struck the country.

Italy today vowed to spend up to 25 billion euros ($28.3 billion) to fight the coronavirus epidemic which has already killed 631 people and put the country's hospitals and the economy under severe strain.

The country's population has been told to mostly stay at home with more than 10,000 infections and soaring deaths recorded among its ageing population.

Gondolas lie empty today in Venice, where the streets remain eerily empty during the ongoing coronavirus outbreak. The epidemic has already killed 631 people and put the country's hospitals and the economy under severe strain

Some gondoliers and restaurant staff who usually face high demand from the city's 30million annual visitors have been spotted standing in the city's squares and alleyways with little to do

British expats living in Italy have described eerie scenes and fears over their finances after Italy was placed in lockdown. Philip Jones, 53, from Swansea, moved to Venice with his wife eight years ago, and works as a writer, teacher and translator. 'We're in the period now when the tourist industry (usually) really starts to kick in and you start to see significant numbers of visitors,' he said. 'I was in Piazza San Marco last Friday morning, even before the main restrictions came in, and it was empty at 10 o'clock in the morning, absolutely empty. It's usually packed'

'I've never seen the canals as empty as they are now, I've never seen such a lack of water traffic. It's been amazing, it's like somebody has turned the key and switched the visitors off,' said expat Philip Jones

The Italian government has imposed restrictions on travel and public gatherings in areas including Venice

The view from a typically bustling Venetian bridge. Italy vowed on Wednesday to spend up to 25 billion euros ($28.3 billion) to fight the coronavirus outbreak

In late 2019, Venice suffered severe flooding, which had a major impact on businesses - and months later, coronavirus has dealt another blow

Italians are grappling with a nationwide clampdown on public gatherings that has emptied streets and shuttered everything from churches to restaurants

The Italian government responded to the outbreak last month by quarantining 50,000 people in 11 villages that were worst affected in the north. That was followed on Sunday with restrictions on travel and public gatherings in Milan's Lombardy region - and surrounding areas such as Venice

Italy has witnessed more than half of all the deaths recorded outside China since the epidemic first started spreading from the Asian giant's central Wuhan province in January

Flights to Venice have been scaled back with last month's carnival cancelled as tourists stay away, just months after the city was ravaged by flooding

The famous Piazza San Marco (St Mark's Square) is usually filled with tourists but today, it could not have been more different

The restrictions put in place by the government have had a profound effect on the way that Italians live and work

The region of Veneto, which includes Venice, has been one of the worst-affected parts of Italy since the outbreak began

Expat Philip Jones said the novelty of an empty city in Venice was entertaining to begin with but the reality was setting in, especially for those he had got to know in the tourism industry. 'The first few days of this, people were thinking, 'wow, isn't the city fantastic? Isn't it beautiful when it's like this?'. But now it's not funny any more,' he said. 'People are realising how serious this is economically for them, and it's terribly sad for a large number of people'

British Airways cancelled all its Italian flights Tuesday while Air France and low-cost carriers Ryanair, Easyjet and Wizz Air said that they would be scrapping flights from Italian airports until early April

Musician and teacher Andy Gilmour, 51, originally from Edinburgh but now based in Italy with his wife, said the couple are 'definitely worried about (the) financial situation'. 'Most people here are genuinely just squeaking by financially,' he added

One by one, ferry services to the lagoon city are being cancelled, following the closure of museums and schools with immediate effect
Jaipur, March 11 : Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Wednesday termed the political turmoil in neighbouring Madhya Pradesh as murder of democracy.

In a series of tweets, he said, "What has happened in #MadhyaPradesh, it is murder of democracy. Entire nation is watching, how shamelessly #HorseTrading is being done. In which direction they are taking the nation? They will definitely be taught a lesson by the people when the time comes." "Attempts are being made to threaten, intimidate as worst kind of tactics are being used. Such brazen abuse of power has never been seen. Entire Congress party is united and we will together teach them a lesson," he said in a tweet.

"Their attempts to destabilize elected govts are because of their money power... They are not talking about any ideology. They want to grab power on basis of huge amount of money they have hoarded," said the Chief Minister.

"The biggest scam happening in the country is of electoral bonds," said Gehlot, adding "they have amassed huge amounts of money; people are being looted by creating fear of CBI, ED, IT inquiries. Corruption is at its peak. On this money power, they are plotting to destablise democratically elected govts," he said.

"The sooner the opportunists leave the party the better," he said in reference to Jyotiraditya Scindi's exit from Congress. "The party gave so much... he held various posts for 17-18 years, was made an MP, a Union Minister. Public would never forgive him," he said in a tweet.
MOUNTAIN VIEW (dpa-AFX) - Google has asked all of its North America employees to work from home if their role allows, according to reports citing the company's internal memo. The company is recommending the move due to the coronavirus outbreak. The search giant also said it is establishing a COVID-19 fund that will enable all its temporary staff and vendors, globally, to take paid sick leave if they have potential symptoms of COVID-19, or are quarantined. 'This fund will mean that members of our extended workforce will be compensated for their normal working hours if they can't come into work for these reasons,' the company said in a Blog post. Recently, Amazon, Apple, Facebook, Microsoft, Twitter and others have asked employees to work from home to help slow down the spread of COVID-19. 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.
President Donald Trump's push for economic stimulus measures to combat market turmoil in the midst of the growing coronavirus crisis got a slow start Tuesday after talks with skeptical lawmakers. The outbreak has prompted US airlines to cancel flights, the Federal Reserve to make its first emergency rate cut in 12 years and the stock exchange to experience its worst session since 2008, though some of that ground was gained back in Tuesday's trading. This spells trouble for the US economy but also threatens Trump's reelection campaign, which is based heavily on his touting of booming stock prices and low unemployment. Trump promised to announce "major" economic measures on Tuesday and he made a rare trip to Capitol Hill for talks with his Republican party lawmakers. The biggest item on his wish list is a cut in payroll taxes. But even allies in Congress and reportedly some aides in the White House are skeptical, questioning the cost. By day's end there was a notable lack of detail about Trump's entire relief plan, especially how the tax cut would be funded. "Let us put the proposal out in concrete details," Trump's economic advisor Larry Kudlow told a news conference, asking for more time when pushed to explain. Trump says he wants to help hourly employees and small businesses, which could be hurt most by the need to take time off for quarantine or treatment in case of coronavirus infections. Measures are also being proposed to include aid for workers in the gig economy who worry about calling in sick. The administration earlier in the day unveiled steps to help airlines and the cruise industry and agreements by insurance companies to waive copay charges for people seeking tests for the virus. Given the emphasis on quarantine to keep people from spreading COVID-19, paid sick leave is seen as particularly important, yet is not guaranteed in the US. "The vast majority of low wage workers have zero paid sick hours," said Arthur Wheaton, a professor at Cornell University who specializes in labor. "The most vulnerable or precarious workers in the country have the least protections or security in case of sickness or emergencies," he added, arguing that workers in the gig economy -- drivers for delivery companies or ride-sharing services -- are even worse off. Fight for $15, an organization representing McDonald's workers, called on the fast food giant to provide paid sick leave to workers whose immediate relatives show symptoms of potential infection and to keep paying workers even if they end up quarantined or if the outbreak requires a restaurant to shut. - Layoffs - With few employees and sensitive to drops in demand, small businesses are also seen as vulnerable. "Business cycles usually hit small retail establishments and restaurants... relatively lightly compared to heavy industries. This one, I think, is going to be the reverse," Alan Blinder, a former Fed vice chair. Amanda Ballantyne, national director of The Main Street Alliance, which works with small businesses, said employers are asking for expanded unemployment benefits or other forms of direct support. "There's a feeling of unpredictability and anxiety. Some businesses have already started contemplating temporary layoffs," she said, adding "there's a real need for some kind of stimulus money and emergency support." Fears for the wider US economy are real: in a report last week, the Fed said the virus has already disrupted travel and access to goods for US industry, and businesses are fearful it may get worse. Investors expect the Fed to cut the benchmark borrowing rate again at the March 17-18 policy meeting to stem the economic uncertainty. Trump's talk of a tax cut has meanwhile been condemned by the Democratic opposition and also by some economists. "A payroll tax cut is the politically most expedient way to shovel money to those who need it least," tweeted Justin Wolfers, an economics professor at the University of Michigan. There was a notable lack of detail about President Donald Trump's entire relief plan, especially how a proposed cut in payroll taxes would be funded The coronavirus outbreak trouble for the US economy and threatens Trump's reelection campaign, which is based heavily on his touting of booming stock prices and low unemployment With few employees and sensitive to drops in demand, small businesses are also seen as vulnerable
[The stream is slated to start at 12:00 p.m. ET. Please refresh the page if you do not see a player above at that time.]

World Health Organization officials are holding a press conference Wednesday to update the public on the COVID-19 outbreak.

The virus has infected more than 121,564 people and killed at least 4,373 worldwide, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.

The virus has shuttered commerce across China and is hitting corporate earnings. It has sent global stock markets spiraling, manufacturing has slowed as factories close their doors, and companies have been forced to cancel planned events around the world.

The WHO has yet to classify the virus as a pandemic, but officials have warned that the threat of a pandemic is "very real." The organization has maintained that its attention is on containing the spread, although the virus has spread substantially beyond China and has now been found in more than 100 countries.

"Now that the virus has a foothold in so many countries, the threat of a pandemic has become very real," WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters on a conference call from the organization's Geneva headquarters Monday.

While the virus is slowing in China, where it originated in December, it's picking up pace across other parts of the world. Italy has at least 10,149 confirmed cases, making it the hardest-hit outside China, which has prompted the government to implement strict, nation-wide quarantine measures.

Read CNBC's live updates to see the latest news on the COVID-19 outbreak.
The White House has threatened to veto the bipartisan resolution Congress just passed to limit President Donald Trumps ability to pursue offensive military action against Iran  but invigorated anti-war advocates are already planning their next move.

Some Democratic lawmakers  and multiple anti-war groups who have their ear  are growing increasingly bullish on the prospect of taking Trump to court over unauthorized military action against Iran.

They say they believe that the Republican-held Senates 55-45 vote to rebuke Trump over Iran war powers coupled with todays 227-186 House vote has given Congress the ammunition it needs to pursue a precedent-setting case in the US court system that they hope will allow lawmakers to wrest their war-making authorities back from the White House.

I definitely think that we need to look into that, said Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., who revived congressional interest in war powers resolutions when he first began pushing legislation to force Trump to end US support for the Saudi-led coalition against Yemens Iran-backed Houthi rebels in 2017. Its got to be a conversation by many people in the caucus, but Id certainly be supportive of it.

Congress has not authorized war against either Iran or Yemens Houthi rebels. The White House maintains that its January strike against Iranian Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani was legal as a self-defense measure under the 2002 military authorization to invade Iraq. Additionally, the Trump administration has argued that its military support for the Saudi-led coalition does not constitute hostilities under the Vietnam-era War Powers Act, the underlying legislation that paved the way for todays Iran vote and last years Yemen resolution.

Khanna partnered with Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., to pass the Yemen war powers resolution last year. Trump vetoed the bipartisan resolution, and Democrats did not muster enough Republican votes to override the president. The same dynamic is expected to play out with todays Iran resolution, introduced by Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va.

After the Senate passed the Iran resolution last month, Kaine told Al-Monitor that a potential lawsuit could be down the road.

Courts have traditionally been reluctant to referee between Congress and the executive [branch] over the war powers question, said Kaine. We just need to keep building on what we have gained here, which is more and more of a bipartisan consensus.

Indeed, US courts have historically proven hesitant to intervene in separation of powers disputes between Congress and the White House. Just last month a federal appeals court threw out a lawsuit accusing Trump of unconstitutionally accepting payments from foreign governments on the grounds that the 215 Democratic lawmakers who filed the case did not comprise a majority of either the House or the Senate.

But Khanna and anti-war groups in favor of a lawsuit say they believe that the Iran vote  alongside a series of Iran and Yemen votes last year  gives Congress significant ammunition to pursue a war powers case against Trump in the judicial system.

The difference here is that Congress would have voted, Khanna told Al-Monitor. In the past, there hasnt been a clear voice by Congress.

Should Trump follow through on his threat to overrule the Kaine resolution, it would mark the seventh veto of his presidency, and the fifth veto related to Iran and its regional allies. In addition to the Yemen war powers resolution, Trump has also vetoed three resolutions that would have restricted some $8 billion in arms sales to the Saudis and Emiratis amid concerns over civilian casualties in their campaign against the Houthis.

Khanna first called on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., to pursue legal action over US involvement in Yemens civil war last year after Trumps first war powers veto. His remarks mirrored a letter to Pelosi from 12 constitutional scholars. The letters leader, Yale Universitys Bruce Ackerman, is now calling on Pelosi to use the Iran resolution as the basis for a war powers case against Trump.

Pelosi should be preparing herself to respond to an escalating constitutional conflict with a veto-insistent Trump, Ackerman wrote in an American Prospect article last month. As Speaker of the House, she unquestionably has standing to appeal to the Supreme Court to serve as the ultimate arbiter on this fundamental question.

Pelosis office did not respond to Al-Monitors request for comment.

It would be ideal if she was the lead plaintiff to get other House Democrats to sign on or even some Republicans, said Hassan El-Tayyab, the legislative manager for Middle East policy at the Friends Committee on National Legislation, one of the advocacy groups pushing for the lawsuit. But members should press ahead even if they dont have Pelosi as the lead.

Still, exercising congressional authority to declare and limit war faces significant headwinds in a legislature that seems to become more partisan every year.

Only six Republicans voted for todays Iran resolution: Reps. Ken Buck of Colorado, Morgan Griffith of Virginia, Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Tom Reed of New York, David Schweikert of Arizona and Fred Upton of Michigan. And Trump is unlikely to look favorably on lawmakers from his own party who choose to sign onto a lawsuit that directly challenges his authority.

Nonetheless, there are indicators that theres significant bipartisan interest in taking back Congress authority over national security. The typically partisan House Rules Committee, which sets the parameters for floor activity, convened a rare nonpartisan hearing on the issue last week where legal scholars floated their ideas to reform the War Powers Act.

Congress unequivocally has this power, and it needs to flex its muscles and exercise it, said Erica Fein, the advocacy director for Win Without War, a coalition of activist groups that lobbied for the Iran and Yemen war powers resolutions. I think its worth exploring all avenues to reclaim its unequivocal constitutional right to be the part of our government and where we go to war.
You can calculate the odds when you have the numbers, said Fausto Baldanti, a virologist at the San Matteo Hospital in Pavia. If you dont have the numbers, everything is hypothetical.

He said that the hospitals early efforts to separate coronavirus patients from others had helped bring the death rate down, as had what he called a huge expansion of the intensive care units.

Those rigorous measures in the Lombardy region reduced the number of serious cases and deaths, he noted. Nevertheless the viruss toll in Italy has continued to rise, this week surpassing 12,000 infections and more than 800 deaths.

The overload of the system, he said, meant that care was not a constant.

On Wednesday, Giorgio Gori, the mayor of Bergamo, a town in Lombardy, who had written on Twitter that intensive care units had become so overloaded that the patients who cannot be treated are left to die, said in an interview that doctors were forced to write off those with smaller chances of survival.

Earlier in the week, a doctor in his town had posted on social media a graphic account of the stress on the health system, calling the situation an epidemiological disaster that had overwhelmed medical workers. Officials at the hospital said on Wednesday that it was close to collapse, with coronavirus patients taking up 60 of its 80 intensive care beds.

Nino Cartabellotta, a prominent public health researcher in Italy, said more than half of the 851 intensive care units in Lombardy were now occupied by coronavirus patients.

When the system is saturated, death rates spike, he said, adding that a continuation of the current trend would cause the health care in the north, the jewel of the Italian system and equivalent to or better than that in much of Europe, to collapse. Thats why its important that people stay at home.
SPRINGFIELD - A 35-year-old city man who admitted to being the leader of a heroin-trafficking operation that shuttled kilos of drugs from New York to Springfield was sentenced on Tuesday to 15 years in federal prison.

Alberto Marte admitted to operating a heroin mill at 152 Lebanon St., where kilos of heroin smuggled into the county from the Dominican Republic would be shipped up from the Bronx to be processed and then packaged for sale in the Springfield area.

He pleaded guilty to multiple charges including conspiracy to distribute heroin, illegal possession and distribution of more than a kilogram of heroin, and unlawful possession of a firearm.

Marte is one of 19 people arrested in 2016 as part of a large-scale trafficking organization that packaged and sold heroin in Western Massachusetts.

To date, 12 of the 19 have either pleaded guilty or been found guilty.

According to prosecutors, each month between eight and 20 kilograms would be moved into Springfield to be packaged and sold on the street.

According to court documents, the organization then packaged the heroin and distributed it using a variety of stamps, including"Donald Trump" and Hollywood." The heroin sold under the name Hollywood caused multiple overdoses in Western Massachusetts in 2015 and 2016, killing at least five people in Holyoke and Chicopee.

During the investigation, federal agents seized more than 5 kilograms, or 11 pounds, of heroin, officials said.

At the time of Martes arrest in September 2016, officials found three kilograms of heroin hidden in a hidden compartment in his car. They also found three guns.
The impending launch of a universal QR Code will accelerate the pace of making Ghana a cashlite society in the near future, the Vice President of the Republic, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has predicted.

The launch of the Code will come a few years after Ghana achieved an African-first by launching Mobile Money Interoperability, which makes it possible to transfer money between mobile wallets, bank accounts and Ezwich cards. This means, practically, that everyone now has access to basic banking services.

Speaking at the maiden edition of the Mobile Technology for Development (MT4D) Conference, organised by the Ghana Chamber of Telecoms and the Financial Inclusion Forum Africa, in Accra on Tuesday, 10 March 2020, Vice President Bawumia said the launch of the code, in the next two weeks, will further enhance ongoing efforts by government to ensure greater financial inclusion and make transactions easier.

Government, he said, has gone a long way in solving the problem of financial inclusion, and Ghana is the better for it.

One of the key things that has happened in Ghana in the past three years, which has not yet happened in any other African country in this whole area of financial inclusion using mobile technology is the area of Mobile Money Interoperability. That is something we should be proud of as Ghanaians, because it hasnt happened anywhere else in Africa.

What we have for example in Kenya is interoperability between mobile companies. In Ghana we have not just the interoperability between the mobile companies, but we have interoperability between the mobile companies and the banks. You can move money between bank accounts and mobile wallets. Its a real game changer, and as far as I know, this is the only country that has done it in the continent of Africa.

The introduction of Mobile Money Interoperability, Vice President emphasised, means that essentially everyone with a mobile wallet, practically, has a bank account. You could receive interest on your money, get loans, you can use it as a current account, pay your taxes; those are basic things you expect to have from a bank account.

We have about 15 million people who are holding mobile wallets. Thats huge. You are looking at over 90% of the adult population having mobile wallets, and so practically having bank accounts. A couple of years when I talked about mobile money interoperability I made the point that every Ghanaian would practically have a bank account when this process is completed. At that time many people didnt quite understand what I meant. People are still thinking in the frame of the old go to a bank and open an account format. No, just your mobile wallet alone gives you access to banking services. That is what we have achieved today.

And so when we talk about financial inclusion, lets acknowledge that Ghana has gone a very long way to solving this problem of financial inclusion. If we think in the way of the traditional bank accounts we wont recognise the efforts we have made but we have done quite a lot.

Vice President Bawumia indicated that the launch of the QR Code ties into Governments vision of a cashlite Ghanaian society and the determination to make life easier for the ordinary Ghanaian.

We want to move into a cashlite society, which means we want the merchants to be receiving payments in non-cash instruments. We want to move away from this heavy dependence on cash, but so far what we have seen with the mobile money transactions is okay you send somebody mobile money, they go to the agent and cash it out, and then take it and go and spend it. So youve only just given a longer space for the cash transaction to take place.

But what we want actually is for the mobile money on that phone to be used to pay for goods and services. Your waakye, your koko, or trotro whatever; all of these goods and services, you should use your mobile money to pay for them. That is when we will begin moving away from that dependence on cash.

And this is why Im excited about what we are about to launch in two weeks time, the Universal QR Code, this is what will get us there. The Universal QR Code will allow us to use our mobile phones, whether its a yam phone or a smart phone to make payments, and the seller will receive instantly what you paid.
New research has found that music therapy sessions have a positive effect on the neurorehabilitation of acute stroke patients, as well as their mood.

The study -- the first large-scale investigation into the feasibility of delivering these exercises -- was led by Dr Alex Street, of Anglia Ruskin University (ARU), and was carried out on a 26-bed stroke and rehabilitation unit at Addenbrooke's hospital in Cambridge.

In total, 177 patients took part in 675 Neurologic Music Therapy (NMT) sessions over a two-year period. The researchers investigated its success among patients, their relatives, and health professionals, and the results are published in the journal Topics in Stroke Rehabilitation.

Music therapy is understood to help stroke patients through mood regulation, improved concentration, and promoting changes in the brain to improve function, known as neural reorganisation. Physical benefits include better arm function and gait.

Lots of repetition, or 'massed practice', is central to neurorehabilitation. In addition to playing physical instruments (keyboard, drums and hand-held percussion), iPads featuring touchscreen instruments were used in the trial to help patients with hand rehabilitation, through improving finger dexterity, and cognitive training.

NMT sessions were run alongside existing stroke rehabilitation treatment, including physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and clinical psychology.

Of the 139 patients, relatives and hospital staff who completed questionnaires, the average response was that NMT was "helpful" or "very helpful." And of the 52 patients who completed mood scale questionnaires, there was a reduction in "sad" and an increase in "happy" responses immediately following a session.

Speech and language therapists observed a positive impact on patient arousal and engagement, and reported that it may help patients overcome low mood and fatigue -- both common following stroke -- and therefore be beneficial for their rehabilitation.

Following the success of the trial, the Cambridge Institute for Music Therapy Research at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) and Addenbrooke's hospital are developing a proposal to establish a permanent NMT post on the stroke ward, funded by the NHS.

Dr Alex Street, Senior Research Fellow within the Cambridge Institute for Music Therapy Research at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU), said: "Our study found that Neurologic Music Therapy was received enthusiastically by patients, their relatives, and staff.

"The fact 675 sessions were carried out in two years is in itself an indication of the success of the treatment. It shows that staff are referring patients because they understand the mechanisms of the exercises and can see how it can benefit their patients. It also shows that patients are willing to do the exercises, with each one participating in an average of five sessions.

"Staff felt that using music and instruments allowed patients to achieve a high amount of repetition to help achieve their goals. They felt that the exercises appear less clinical, because the patients are playing music with the music therapist, and they are receiving immediate feedback from the exercises, through the sounds they create. Further research is necessary to establish potential effects of music therapy on recovery rate and length of hospital stay."
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Linkedin Michael Mathes (Agence France-Presse) Detroit, United States  Wed, March 11, 2020 08:04 671 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2069c2cc1 2 World #USA,#Elections,presidential-candidate,Joe-Biden Free

Joe Biden took another big step closer to clinching the Democratic nomination to challenge President Donald Trump, with wins projected Tuesday over leftist rival Bernie Sanders in Mississippi and Missouri, two of six states holding primaries.

The Mississippi win, projected by US networks, confirmed crucial and overwhelming support from African American voters for Biden, the former vice president under the first black US president, Barack Obama.

Results from four more states, including the key battleground of Michigan, were due in shortly, with Biden looking to build an invincible lead in what has become a two-man race with the self-proclaimed democratic socialist Sanders.

Adding to nerves in a country on edge after three tumultuous years under Trump, fears of the coronavirus epidemic prompted both campaigns to cancel election-night rallies.

Organizers of a live television debate scheduled Sunday, pitting the fiery Sanders and the veteran centrist Biden, likewise said they would take the extraordinary step of not allowing the usual live audience.

But for Biden, the six-state contest, coming a week after his surprise comeback in voting on Super Tuesday, was a chance to demonstrate that his once dismissed campaign is in rude health.

Michigan in particular -- an industrial giant that Trump won in an upset in 2016 -- was being targeted by Biden as a place to put down a marker ahead of the November general election.

Sanders has also acknowledged that Michigan is critical as a test of his message of revolution against the economic status quo.

Biden opened primary day meeting workers at an under-construction automobile plant in Detroit, where he received cheers but also was confronted by one worker.

In an exchange avidly shared online by Trump supporters, the worker, wearing a construction helmet and reflective vest, accused Biden of seeking to take away Americans' firearms.

"You're full of shit," an angry Biden shot back, insisting that he supports the constitutional right to bear arms.

When the worker pressed the issue, Biden said with a raised voice.

"I'm not taking your gun away," he said, adding, "Gimme a break, man."

Coronavirus fears

Voters came out under the growing shadow of the global coronavirus epidemic, which has infected about 900 people across the United States and killed 28.

Sanders and Biden called off customary election-night rallies -- both planned in Cleveland, part of another Rust Belt state, Ohio, which votes next week -- in line with public health warnings from state officials.

Their precaution is at odds with Trump, who has vowed to keep holding his campaign's sometimes raucous rallies despite the concerns.

Washington state, which has borne the brunt of the crisis and also was going to the polls Tuesday, votes entirely by mail -- an option some experts say should become more widespread as the epidemic grows.

Idaho and North Dakota were also voting.

But the day's top prize is Michigan, with its large delegate haul, status as a swing state and diverse demographics that mirror the United States.

'Most dangerous' president

Artist and designer Cecilia Covington, 61, was the first person to vote in Precinct 123 in downtown Detroit, braving the drizzle as she arrived at Chrysler Elementary School to vote for Biden.

"When he wasn't doing well in the polls I was really concerned," she said, adding that his stunning comeback on Super Tuesday "put my confidence back."

"We've got to get '45' out of office," she said, referring to the current president.

Sanders has highlighted Biden's support for free-trade deals to win over Michigan's blue-collar voters, many of whom ditched the Democrats for Trump four years ago.

"We are in a crisis in America, not only in the need to defeat Donald Trump, the most dangerous president in modern American history, but to take on the greed and corruption of corporate elite," Sanders said in an ABC interview.

"That is what our campaign is about. It's very different than Joe's."

Biden narrowly leads delegates

Biden has also courted blue-collar workers, highlighting his own hard-knock childhood in Pennsylvania and Delaware.

"Wall Street didn't build America, you built America," Biden told a rally in Detroit. "Unions built the middle class."

Biden won 10 out of 14 states that voted on Super Tuesday and holds a narrow lead in delegates to pick the nominee, although Sanders carried the most populous state of California.

Trump has sought to portray Sanders as the victim of a conniving Democratic establishment, a narrative that some experts believe could depress turnout and benefit Republicans.

"Going to be a BAD day for Crazy Bernie!" Trump tweeted.

But Sanders supporter Frank Anderson, a 24-year-old software engineer, said he was optimistic for a victory, noting how Sanders triumphed in the 2016 Michigan primary over Hillary Clinton.

"They had counted us out then, so I'm hopeful for today," Anderson said.
TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday night held a sit-in protest after two party leaders, Buddha Venkanna and Bonda Umamaheswara, were attacked allegedly by YSRCP workers.

Their vehicle was damaged while a lawyer accompanying them sustained serious injuries in the incident.

Condemning the incident, Naidu wrote to State Election Commissioner and Director General of Police stating: "We strongly demand that due process of law should be followed with rule of law in place."

Meanwhile, the TDP chief also held a sit-in protest in front of Andhra Pradesh DGP Office in Mangalagiri in the Amaravati Capital region on Wednesday night.

He accused the police of failing to give security to the TDP leaders when they went to the Macherla police station.

Several TDP leaders including former MLA Bonda Umamaheswara Rao, MLC Buddha Venkanna, CPI State Secretary Ramakrishna and scores of leaders were present.

They raised slogans against the factionist rule of Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy.

They asked where is the guarantee for people's security when the ruling YSRCP leaders are making murder attempts at unarmed Opposition leaders.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Courtesy photo

Baby on the Way, a Kelsey-Seybold signature event, took place at Kelsey-Seybolds Tanglewood Clinic on Feb 25.

The event helped parents confidently prepare for the newest members of their families. Kelsey-Seybold physicians participated in a speaker panel that covered new parent topics, including labor, delivery, and postpartum care, and answered questions. Attendees mingled with vendors, enjoyed a complimentary dinner, and were treated to specially crafted, nonalcoholic MOMosas.
The Russian pranksters have managed to con other high profile people such as Elton John

On Megxit

'You can call me whatever you want  Harry is fine. [Asked about Megxit]. Um, it's, that's probably a conversation for another time, there's lots of layers to it and lots of pieces to the puzzle.

'But sometimes the right decision isn't always the easy one.

'I can assure you, marrying a Prince or Princess is not all it's made out to be!

'And this decision certainly wasn't the easy one but it was the right decision for our family, the right decision to be able to protect my son.

'And I think there's a hell of a lot of people around the world that can identify and respect us for putting our family first.

'But, yeah, it's a tricky one, but we will start a new life.'

On their new life in Canada

'Oh no, I think it's much better (than royal life). You forget, I was in the military for ten years so I'm more normal than my family would like to believe.

'But certainly being in a different position now gives us the ability to say things and do things that we might not have been able to do.

'And seeing as everyone under the age of 35 or 36, seems to be carrying out an activist's role, gives us the opportunity to try and make more of a difference without being criticised (chuckles)'.

On being stripped of titles and losing royal privileges

'No, no, again you mustn't believe what you read, no one has stripped us of our titles.

'Because of a technicality within the family, if we are earning money separately from within the family structure, then we obviously have been asked not to use our titles in order to make money, which we would never do.

'But the press managed to jump on that to make it look like we had been stripped.'

On charity work

'I think at the moment, my wife and I, we were being directed towards starting a foundation but we actually decided there is probably enough foundations out there doing amazing work.

'And there's a hell of a lot of money being passed around the world and there are so many problems but we thought we'd just take a moment and see if there was some form of other organisation or different entity we could create that could bring people together, rather than us just starting a foundation. We don't think the world needs necessarily another foundation from us.

'So we are just taking a little bit more time to think about how we can use our platform and how we can use our voice to try and encourage real change and real difference as opposed to, you know, small incremental changes.

'As we all know, the world's problems seem to be getting bigger and seem to be happening far quicker . . . I think the solutions are far quicker to enable as well, but there needs to be a real shift in mindset. We try and do our best.

'I've spent many, many years being criticised by the media for doing all sorts of things and trying to change the way we think, um, and I can sympathise but at the same time applaud the work that all of you are doing because it's not an easy time and the world is a troubled place and can be very easy to give up and I think what you guys are doing absolutely remarkable'.

On Donald Trump

'The mere fact that Donald Trump is pushing the coal industry is so big in America, he has blood on his hands.

'But Trump will want to meet you to make him look better but he won't want to have a discussion about climate change with you because you will outsmart him.

'Whether you have an option to meet President Trump or an option to meet Boris Johnson, I think I would always.

'It's far more important to have an open dialogue and have conversation with these people than not'

On Prince Andrew

'I have very little to say on that.

'But whatever he has done or hasn't done, is completely separate from me and my wife. We operate in a way of inclusivity and we are focusing on community. And so we are completely separate from the majority of my family.'

On Boris Johnson

'I think he is a good man, so you are one of few people who can reach into his soul and get him to feel and believe in you.

'But you have to understand that because he has been around for so long like all of these other people, they are already set in their ways.

'They believe what they want to believe, they believe what they have been told.

'What you are now saying to them is not only inconvenient but is completely against everything they have ever believed.

'So that is what you're up against, up against changing habits, as you know'.

On the climate

'Unfortunately, the world is being led by some very sick people, so people like yourselves and (the) younger generation are the ones that are going to make all the difference.

'People need to be woken up and the only way to wake people up from what effectively is a consciousness crisis is, I think, you need to be doing extreme things.

'What you need to do is make real big changes that actually shock people, and it's that shock factor that wakes people up.'

On the Election

'The fact that our choice was between those two individuals in my mind, I think, probably creates more of an observation that the system itself might be broken.

'There's a lot that the leaders of today can learn and can listen to people like yourself.'

On using private jets

'Unfortunately there is very few alternatives. We have to fly on commercial planes all over the world. Nowhere near as much as most people who do it for a night or weekends.'

'Certainly for my family, to protect my family, from these people, as you can well understand.

'I have to put protections and safety of my family first and these people are never-ending.'

On the media

'The best advice I can give on that is to be able to see through the fear.

'What they don't understand is the battle we are fighting against them is far more than just us.

'So I think one of the, what I've always believed, one of the strongest ways to change mindset and be able to raise consciousness and be able to create self-awareness among people, is to challenge the media and say you have a responsibility and you are accountable for everything you are feeding people because you are brainwashing people, so this is far bigger than just us.'

Bizarre exchange on Greta marrying Prince George

Fake Greta says she a distant member of the Swedish royal family

Harry replies with a chuckle: 'Oh wow, so we are related?'

Greta says: 'Yeah its true, and if it will help me in fighting for climate change, should I arrange a dynastic marriage, do you think? I think it'll help.'

The prince is heard responding: 'I am certain it'll help'

The giggling 'Greta' - aged 17 - then says: 'I found some candidates that suits me - James Windsor and Prince George. 'Their ages I think are very suitable for my marriage. It will help..'

Harry then replies laughing: 'I am sure I can help.'

On moving penguins to the North Pole

A Russian translation of the words shows her asking: 'Now we are dealing with an issue of moving penguins from Belarus to their native land, the North Pole.

'About 50 penguins were stuck at customs in Belarus.

'That's terrible. And we are searching for some ship maybe to transport these poor penguins to their native land.'

Greta's fake father then said: 'North Pole...perhaps you have some contacts for people who can help us?'

Harry replies: 'I do have a man who deals with the North Pole.

'He is in Norway, he can help as maybe he knows all the right people. I'll give you the contacts on email.

'This recording ends with 'Greta' saying: 'That's nice. That's good'.
The world is 'way off track' for meeting targets to curb rising temperatures as the impacts of climate change increase, warned United Nations experts.

A report compiled by the UN's World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) highlights the increasing heat, accelerating sea level rises and more frequent extreme weather events in 2019.

Last year was globally the second hottest year on record, with temperatures 1.1C above pre-industrial levels.

The world is 'way off track' for meeting targets to curb rising temperatures as the impacts of climate change increase, warned United Nations experts. Pictured: A coal-fired power plant

And the five years from 2015 to 2019 were the five warmest years on record and 2010 to 2019 was the hottest decade since records began in the 19th century.

Australia was particularly hard-hit in 2019  its hottest year on record  as it suffered a severe season of wildfires.

The trend continues in 2020 as it was globally the hottest January on record and parts of the northern hemisphere, including Europe, experienced an unusually warm winter. And Antarctica reported new temperature highs, accompanied by large-scale ice melt.

Countries are expected to increase their action to tackle climate change.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said: 'We are currently way off track to meeting either the 1.5C or 2C targets that the Paris Agreement calls for.

'This report outlines the latest science and illustrates the urgency for far-reaching climate action.'
BRASILIA, March 10 (Reuters) - Brazil's third-largest carrier Azul Linhas Aereas Brasileiras SA will reduce the number of its flights to Portugal and to Florida due to the risks of the coronavirus outbreak, its chief executive officer John Rodgerson said on Tuesday.

Rodgerson told Reuters the airline's operations within Brazil are "under control" but that it could cut some domestic flights in the second quarter due to seasonal factors.

(Reporting by Anthony Boadle; Editing by Tom Hogue)
Iran To Designate Dead Medical Staff 'Martrys' As Coronavirus Kills 291

By RFE/RL March 10, 2020

Iran says the novel coronavirus has killed 54 more people in the country, raising the death toll to 291.

The number of officially recorded cases in the country rose to 8,042, more than 881 over the previous day, Health Ministry spokesman Kianush Jahanpur told a televised news conference on March 10.

Jahanpur said that 2,731 patients have been sent home from the hospital after making a recovery.

Iran is the hardest-hit country in the Middle East by the coronavirus outbreak, which has infected more than 110,000 people globally and killed over 4,000.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei announced that medical staff who die after contracting the virus will be considered martyrs.

The families of those designated martyrs, typically from the security forces, receive financial aid and other benefits from the state.

Khamenei also canceled his annual speech in the city of Mashhad next month to mark the Persian New Year due to concerns about the virus.

Meanwhile, the country's official government news agency IRNA reported that 36 Iranians died of alcohol poisoning after consuming tampered alcohol in the southwestern city of Ahvaz.

The report said that "consuming fake alcohol has occurred due to the spread of rumors that drinking alcohol would prevent the coronavirus infection."

Ali Ehsanpour, spokesman of Ahvaz Jondi Shapur University of Medical Sciences, was quoted as saying that a total of 270 people were admitted to hospitals for treatment.

The deputy public prosecutor of Khuzestan Province, Ali Biranvand, said seven individuals were arrested for selling fake alcoholic drinks.

Most of the coronavirus infections in Iran have been recorded in the capital, Tehran, and the central province of Qom.

The authorities have closed schools and universities, suspended major cultural and sporting events, and reduced working hours across the country to slow the contagion.

Pakistan

In Pakistan, meanwhile, nine more people have been diagnosed with the coronavirus, increasing the nationwide count to 16, officials say.

In a tweet late on March 9, top health official Zafar Mirza said that all nine were from the southern city of Karachi, the capital of Sindh Province, which has reported a total of 14 cases.

"All these cases are contacts of an already confirmed case. Further contacts are being traced and tested," Mirza wrote.

Five of the nine were said to have recently traveled from Syria via Doha, Qatar. The four others reportedly traveled from London to Karachi via Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.

Officials in the southwestern province of Balochistan told RFE/RL that all Pakistanis crossing the border with Iran were being screened.

Those with symptoms of coronavirus are being quarantined at four centers established at the border, provincial government spokesman Liaquat Shahwani said.

"Every day between 350 and 500 people come from Iran across the border," Shahwani said. "We have quarantined 4,000 people for now."

Pakistan has closed its border with Iran as a precautionary measure against the spread of the virus but allows Pakistanis to return home.

Pakistani authorities have closed the country's border with Afghanistan for another seven days, Shahwani said.

Both Qatar and Saudi Arabia have banned flights to and from Pakistan.

Serbia Closes Border

Also on March 10, Serbia closed its borders for travelers from countries most affected by the coronavirus outbreak in a bid to prevent the spread of the disease.

The temporary ban applies to people arriving from Italy, certain provinces in China, South Korea, Iran, and Switzerland, the government said.

Medical workers are also banned from traveling to affected areas, according to a statement.

It did not say how long the measures would last.

Four people, including a Chinese national, have tested positive for the coronavirus in Serbia.

A total of 108 people had been tested for coronavirus by March 10, according to the Health Ministry.

Russia

Moscow authorities have banned all mass public events of more than 5,000 people for a month to fight the coronavirus.

The announcement comes just hours after Russia's lower chamber of parliament, the State Duma, approved a constitutional amendment that would allow President Vladimir Putin to run for new term in 2024, a move that could spark the opposition to rally.

Moscow said it will ban all such large-scale events until April 10. Russians need permission from Moscow authorities to hold rallies in the capital.

Bosnia-Herzegovina

Bosnia-Herzegovina has barred entry to travelers arriving from countries impacted by the coronarius after three more people were diagnosed with the illness in the Balkan nation.

Fahrudin Radoncic, Bosnia's security minister, said on his Facebook page on March 10 that he had ordered the state border service to ban the entry of people coming "from the most risky countries."

Bosnia now has seven cases, with most of those people catching the virus during trips to Italy, the worst-hit nation in Europe by number of cases and fatalities.

Bosnia's capital, Sarajevo, banned public gatherings with more than 300 people, while its Serb region, Republika Srpska, closed all schools and universities and banned all public events through the end of March.

With reporting by RFE/RL's Balkan Service, Reuters, AFP, Radio Farda, Radio Mashaal, the BBC, AP, dpa, and Dawn

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/pakistan-reports-more- coronavirus-cases/30479180.html

Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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South Jacksonville village trustees are scheduled to meet in special session at 7 p.m. today in Village Hall, 301 Dewey Drive.

On the agenda is approving use of South Jacksonvilles billboard for Tri-County ABATE.
Stocks in major Asia Pacific markets tumbled on Wednesday as investors continued to watch for developments around government stimulus with the coronavirus continuing to spread.

Stocks in Australia also saw sharp declines as the S&P/ASX 200 dropped 3.6% to close at 5,725.90. The day's moves left the index in bear market territory, meaning it was more than 20% lower than its 52-week high.

South Korean stocks were also among the biggest losers among major markets regionally, with the Kospi plunging 2.78% to close at 1,908.27 while the Kosdaq index fell 3.93% to end its trading day at 565.61.

Shares in Japan also fell on the day, as the Nikkei 225 slipped 2.27% to 19,416.06 while the Topix index declined 1.53% to 1,385.12.

Mainland Chinese stocks slipped by the close as well, with the Shanghai composite 0.94% lower at about 2,968.52 and the Shenzhen component down 1.78% to 11,200.05 while the Shenzhen composite shed 1.481% to approximately 1,859.40.

In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng index was 0.75% lower, as of its final hour of trading.

Shares of Cathay Pacific jumped more than 2% despite the company posting in its 2019 annual results a 27.9% year-on-year plunge in its profit attributable to shareholders. Commenting on the prospects for the airline, Cathay Pacific Chairman Patrick Healy said the earnings release that it expected to "incur a substantial loss for the first half of 2020" as travel demand has "dropped substantially."

Overall, the MSCI Asia ex-Japan fell 1.14%.

National Australia Bank's (NAB) Tapas Strickland warned in a Wednesday morning note that markets are "likely to remain volatile" as headlines around the coronavirus "continue to be on the negative side."

Strickland, who is a director of economics and markets at the Australian lender, cited reports of the number of coronavirus cases in Italy spiking past 10,000 as well as Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Robert Redfield's comments that certain areas of the U.S. are currently in "high mitigation" rather than containment.

Concerns surrounding the global coronavirus outbreak have sent markets on a roller-coaster ride in recent days. The disease has infected at least 113,851 and taken more than 4,000 lives so far, according to the latest figures from the World Health Organization.
Caregivers in low-income settings will be able to respond to the challenges of bringing up children with disabilities, thanks to a new model created by the University of East Anglia (UEA) and the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI).

Caregivers experience multiple deprivations, including inadequate resources, lack of support, negative responses from others in the community, and poverty. Not surprisingly, many caregivers experience fatigue, distress and isolation.

The aim of the UEA-KEMRI three-year project was to empower the caregivers so they could take control of their lives and bring about positive changes to their existing situations. Caregivers were brought together to run their own meetings and self-help activities, which included shared livelihood projects, talking to each other about the difficulties of caregiving, sharing their ideas for improving the lives of their children with disabilities, and advocating for change in their local communities.

The researchers carried out monthly monitoring visits to the groups, facilitated group discussions and helped with activity planning.

Dr. Karen Bunning, a reader in speech and language therapy in UEA's School of Health Sciences, led the project.

Dr. Bunning said:

At the start of the project, caregivers spoke of their aloneness, the challenges and stigma and discrimination experienced in the community. At the end of the project, the caregivers had a greater sense of their own agency and talked of friendships with other members of the group, the development of new skills, acceptance of their child's disability and their own sense of well-being. In addition, there was significant growth in the social support around the caregiver and, despite the fact that the children with disabilities had received no targeted intervention, the caregivers rated their child's disability as less severe with fewer problems affecting their ability to provide care."

The model, including a set of practical guidelines, can be applied in other low-income settings and is currently being piloted across sub-Saharan Africa.
KABUL  After a series of delays, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani issued a decree early Wednesday promising to release 1,500 Taliban prisoners as a goodwill gesture to get intra-Afghan negotiations started.

A recent peace deal signed between the U.S. and the Taliban called for the release of up to 5,000 prisoners ahead of the much-sought-after negotiations.

There was no response from the Taliban, but a letter that Mullah Nooruddin Turabi, head of the Talibans Prisoners Commission, sent to prisoners, their families and Taliban leaders, promised there would be no intra-Afghan talks until all the prisoners are released.

The Pashto-language letter says the Taliban would verify that each prisoner released is among those on the list given to an American delegation.

However, Ghanis decree went on to say that the first round of 1,500 prisoners will be selected based on age, health and the length of their sentences already served. The released prisoners, will also have to give a written guarantee that they will not return to the battlefield.

The remaining 3,500 prisoners will be released after intra-Afghan negotiations begin and 500 will be released every two weeks providing the Taliban reduce violence on the battlefield, Ghanis decree said.

However, even if the Taliban agree to start negotiations, Kabuls political turmoil and relentless bickering between Ghani and his main rival, Abdullah Abdullah  who has also sworn himself in as Afghanistans president  have left Kabul struggling to come up with a united negotiating team.

Washingtons peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad, in an interview with Afghanistans private TOLO TV on Wednesday, struck a hopeful note that negotiations would be able to start soon. What is important for its start is the introduction of an inclusive Afghan negotiating team, he said.

Khalilzad is struggling to get Afghanistans fractious leaders to unite. Abdullah has rejected an offer to be the head of a high peace council, he said.

Despite the political chaos in Kabul and increased violence on the battlefield, the United States has started withdrawing its troops in keeping with the deal it signed Feb. 29 with the Taliban. In the first phase, Washington will reduce its troop contingent to 8,600, down from the current 13,000.

If the Taliban adhere to their commitments to deny terrorists safe havens in Afghanistan, Washington will withdraw the remainder of its troops over 14 months, according to the agreement.

Rahim Faiez and Tameem Akhgar are Associated Press writers.
Biobeat announced recently that it has received CE Mark approval for its patch and wristwatch that non-invasively measure blood pressure, cardiac output, stroke volume, blood oxygenation, and heart rate.

The Israel-based companys platform monitors vital signs in real-time using wireless, non-invasive, medical-grade technology, and uploads these data points into the cloud through either a smartphone or a dedicated gateway. This allows patients to be monitored not only in hospitals, but also in clinics, at long-term care facilities, and at home.

Biobeat devices use reflective plethysmography, an optical technique that is normally used to detect blood volume changes within tissues. The devices use a proprietary PPG sensor to obtain a very clear reading of the PPG signal wave, allowing them to measure a wide range of vital signs.

Biobeats platform was granted FDA clearance in August 2019 for measurement of blood pressure, blood oxygen saturation, and pulse rate.

Remote monitoring of a patients vital signs requires completely different technological approaches than current practice, said Biobeats Chief Medical Officer Prof. Arik Eisenkraft, MD, in a statement. While blood pressure, heart rate and oxygenation are the backbones of monitoring, we can now also provide measurements of stroke volume and cardiac output, and we will continue working to approve additional parameters for our devices.

Flashbacks: FDA Clears First Cuff-Free Blood Pressure Monitors

Product page: Biobeat

Via: Biobeat
Harvey Weinstein has been sentenced to 23 years in a New York state prison after his conviction on two felony sex crimes.

The sentencing is the culmination of a two-year fall from grace for the once influential Hollywood producer, after his sexual abuse of women was revealed.

The former movie mogul was convicted on 24 February of sexual assault and third-degree rape, but was acquitted on more serious counts of predatory sexual assault and first-degree rape.

Justice James Burke told Weinstein that he was certifying him as a sex offender, before sentencing him to 20 years in prison for the criminal sex act and three years for the rape charge. There was an audible gasp in the courtroom. The sentences are to be served consecutively and will be followed by five years post-release supervision.

All six of the women that testified against Weinstein sat together in the front row of the courtroom  Miriam Haley, Jessica Mann, Annabella Sciorra, Tarale Wulff, Dawn Dunning and Lauren Marie Young  and they embraced, tearfully, once the sentence had been delivered.

There are at least 13 more women who have accused Weinstein of rape or sexual assault. Before imposing the sentence, Justice Burke said: I will say that although this is a first conviction it is not a first offence.

Asking for the maximum sentence of 29 years, the lead prosecutor, Joan Illuzzi said that Weinstein had walked the red carpet and mingled with the stars and held the dreams of many people in his hands. He saw no limit to what he could take, no limit to what he could grant himself. He could take what he wanted.

In front of a packed courtroom, both Ms Mann and Ms Haley gave victim impact statements.

He had crushed a part of my spirit. If he was not convicted of rape and sexual assault by this jury it would have happened again and again. Im relieved there are women who are safer because he is not out there, said Ms Haley.

She said that Weinstein not only stripped me of my dignity as a human being and as a woman  it diminished my confidence and faith in myself.

At the time all of this happened, I thought I was alone in this. I had no idea there were others, she added.

Ms Mann said: It is time people who rape other people pay with their life and the life they took. I have found my voice, she said, adding she hopes for a future where monsters no longer hide in our closet.

Referring to those who had previously signed non-disclosure agreements over alleged abuse at hands of Weinstein, she said: My rape was preventable  this was a known offender.

Defence attorney Donna Rotunno, asking for the minimum sentence of five years, citing Weinsteins poor health and age  he is soon to turn 68  argued that even if he was given the minimum sentence, he may not live to see the end of it. Ms Rotunno also cited his children, poor health, and contributions to the film industry, noting that he is also now confined to a wheelchair.

Weinstein addressed the court from his wheelchair for 10 minutes before Justice Burke sentenced him. In what was described as a self-serving statement to court, he expressed remorse for all of the men and women wrapped up in the MeToo movement. He also revealed that his daughters have not spoken to him since the allegations against him were revealed in the 2017 New Yorker article.

Speaking outside the court, Ms Rotunno described the sentence as obscene and obnoxious and said that there are murderers who will get out of prison fast than Weinstein will.

The Silence Breakers, a group of Weinstein accusers that includes actresses Ashley Judd, Rose McGowan, and Rosanna Arquette, said in a statement: Harvey Weinsteins legacy will always be that hes a convicted rapist.

He is going to jail  but no amount of jail time will repair the lives he ruined, the careers he destroyed, or the damage he has caused.
Washington: US President Donald Trump had made American "energy dominance" a key part of his platform for re-election. But a plunge in the price of oil threatens to undermine that 2020 message.

The price of crude took one of its most dramatic drops in history on Monday after Saudi Arabia opened the spigots on its massive oil reserve amid a price war with Russia.

The result wiped out of hundreds of billions of dollars in market value for the US oil and gas industry - and dragged down the rest of the US economy with it.

A pumpjack operates on an oil well in the Permian Basin near Crane, Texas. Credit:Bloomberg

That's bad news for Trump, who is trying to reassure voters in key swing states that produce oil and gas - Colorado, Pennsylvania and Texas - that he is the best person to shepherd the US economy for the next four years.
Vladimir Putin knows America's fragile oil industry is built on a mountain of debt. So when Saudi Arabia called for production cuts to mitigate oversupply, Putin decided to pounce.

Russia shocked the world last week by blowing up its shaky alliance with OPEC. Moscow's refusal to join with the cartel is aimed in part at drowning US shale oil companies that rely on higher prices in a sea of cheap crude.

Putin's goal is to wrest market share back from American frackers, whose debt-fueled growth caused Russia to lose its title in 2018 as the world's largest oil producer. "This is a response to try to cripple the US shale industry," said Matt Smith, director of commodity research at energy research firm ClipperData. Oil prices crashed Monday after Saudi Arabia said it would slash oil prices, launching a ferocious response against Russia's move. US crude plummeted 26%, its worst day since 1991, to a four-year low of $31.13 a barrel.

Crude is now so cheap that many US shale companies will be forced to cut production. Bankruptcy fears are already rippling through the oil patch, sending the SPDR S&P Oil & Gas ETF to its lowest price on record going back to 2006.

Shares of major oil companies like ExxonMobil and Chevron, whose business models were built to withstand cheap crude, each plunged 12%. Exploration and production companies got clobbered, with Pioneer Natural Resources down 37% and debt-ridden Occidental Petroleum losing 52%.

The energy meltdown threatens to cause a repeat of the 2014-2016 oil crash that bankrupted dozens of American oil and gas companies and caused hundreds of thousands of layoffs. Although the industry survived, the experience proved to be very painful.

"Russia sees US shale as particularly vulnerable at the moment," said Ryan Fitzmaurice, energy strategist at Rabobank. "It is our view that Russia was targeting debt-laden US shale producers."

'Caught in the Crossfire'

Saudi Arabia retaliated to Russia's gambit by launching a price war over the weekend. The kingdom slashed its April official selling prices by $6 to $8 and pledged to dramatically ramp up production, exactly the opposite of what's needed.

Saudi Aramco vowed Tuesday to pump 12.3 million barrels per day in April. Not only is that 27% above recent levels, but it would exceed the company's maximum capacity by 300,000 barrels. In other words, Aramco is going all-out.

"There is a staring contest between the Russia and Saudis, and everybody else is getting caught in the crossfire," said Michael Tran, director of global energy strategy at RBC Capital Markets. It's no secret that Russia and its oil companies have grown impatient with OPEC's efforts to rebalance the oil market. For years, Russia has joined OPEC in cutting production to put a floor beneath oil prices. Yet each production cut forced Russia to cede market share to America's booming energy industry -- much to the ire of Russian oil executives.

Rosneft, Russia's state-owned oil company, called the OPEC alliance "masochism" that allowed US shale oil to thrive.

"By yielding our own markets, we remove cheap Arab and Russian oil to clear a place for expensive US shale oil and ensure the effectiveness of its production," a spokesperson for Rosneft said on Sunday, according to state media.

Payback for Sanctions?

Beyond the market share battle, analysts said that Russia could be retaliating for Washington's recent campaign of energy sanctions -- penalties made possible by the shale oil revolution.

For instance, just three weeks ago the Trump administration announced sanctions against a subsidiary of Rosneft in response for its support of the Maduro regime of Venezuela. "Russia's strategy seems to be targeting not simply US shale companies -- but the coercive sanctions policy that American energy abundance has enabled," Helima Croft, head of global commodity strategy at RBC Capital Markets, wrote in a note to clients Monday.

Croft said that Igor Sechin, the CEO of Rosneft and a close Putin confidante, appears to have convinced Moscow to take on the US shale industry.

"Like Putin, Sechin hails from the Russian intelligence services and is a strong nationalist," Croft wrote. "Undercutting American energy dominance therefore most likely appeals not only to his bottom line but also to his ideological affinities."

Putin also has a big financial advantage over Saudi Arabia. Russia relies on oil revenue for only 37% of its budget, compared with 65% for the kingdom, according to Argus Global Markets. Analysts said Russia can balance its budget at just $42 a barrel oil, compared with around $80 for Saudi Arabia.

"Everybody will be hurt by this, including Russia," said Bjornar Tonhaugen, head of oil markets at Rystad Energy. "The extra benefit from this decision is that it will of course hurt others, including the US." Officials in Washington have taken note of the chaos in the energy market.

The Energy Department said in a statement Monday evening that "state actors" are attempting to "manipulate and shock" oil markets. However, the administration expressed confidence that the United States "can and will withstand this volatility." During a meeting on Monday with Russian ambassador Anatoly Antonov, US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin "emphasized the importance of orderly energy markets."

'Horror movie' for America's Oil Industry

Whatever is fueling the motivation, the oil price war couldn't have come at a worse time for an industry already suffering from a bear market in crude.

Big Oil has been shunned by investors for years because of persistent supply gluts, excessive spending and rising climate change concerns. The energy sector was the biggest loser in the S&P 500 last year as well as for all of last decade. And the sector is leading the way lower during the recent market mayhem.

The coronavirus has posed an even deeper challenge to the oil industry. Countless flight cancellations, factory closures and a slowdown in commuting has seriously weakened the world's appetite for oil. Global oil demand is expected to drop this year for the first time since 2009, according to the International Energy Agency.

"The last two months have been a horror movie for energy investors," Stewart Glickman, an energy analyst at CFRA Research, wrote in a note to clients Monday. "We have both a demand shock (coronavirus) and a supply shock (OPEC-Plus breakdown) happening at the same time. In other words, two boogeymen, not one."

Who Will Blink First?

That frightening backdrop explains why more than just oil companies are tumbling. Banks with heavy ties to the energy sector got punished Monday, too, as investors brace for an inevitable wave of loan defaults.

Dallas-based Comerica, Cullen/Frost Bankers and Texas Capital Bancshares plunged around 20% apiece. The shale oil companies with the weakest balance sheets will have to save cash by abandoning expensive drilling projects and furloughing their workers. Some of the oil companies won't survive.

"These guys were already in pain. Now we are going to start to see bankruptcies, perhaps widespread," said ClipperData's Smith. The big question is how long oil prices remain depressed -- and how much lower they go. And the answer could lie in Riyadh and Moscow.

A source involved in the discussions between OPEC and Russia said that efforts were being made to restore dialogue after the acrimonious rift on Friday. And speaking on state channel Russia 24, Russian energy minister Alexander Novak said the "doors are not closed" to a production agreement with OPEC in the future.

If Saudi Arabia's price war forces Russia to agree to production cuts, the oil market could quickly rebound, bringing relief to teetering shale oil companies. But Putin is not known for backing down, suggesting the American oil industry should brace for more pain ahead. "Hope remains that this battle will be short," RBC's Croft wrote, "but preparations are seemingly being made for a protracted war of attrition that could have brutal economic consequences for all involved."
Dodgy plumbing, rotten flooring, leaky fittings - the thought of undergoing major renovations on your bathroom can be enough to make any of us shudder.

But although embarking on work on your property can be daunting, home design and real estate expert Kate Rumson explains that with the right preparation there's no reason why you can't achieve an Instagram-worthy finish.

Kate, who founded The Real Houses of Instagram - one of the largest interior design and luxury real estate brands in the world - says that the social media platform is actually a really great place to look for inspiration.

Embarking on bathroom renovation can be daunting, but home design and real estate expert Kate Rumson says that there's no reason why you can't achieve an Instagram-worthy finish

She tells DailyMail.com: 'I love it when designers share progress shots of their work on Instagram - it's so interesting to follow a project from start to completion.'

Since building the Real Houses of Instagram into an incredibly popular home decor feed with a following of nearly 2.5 million, Kate has embarked on the mammoth project of building her own home in New Jersey from scratch.

Kate's followers have watched (and contributed their thoughts) through each step of the project right back from when the land was cleared and the first plans drawn up. Here Kate shares some of the bathroom renovation tips and tricks she's learnt along the way.

Potential pitfalls

Kate says that there are a host of potential problems that could be lying behind the drywall and tile in bathrooms, from rotten subfloor and missing insulation to outdated electrical wiring and gas pipes inside the walls you were hoping to build on.

Kate Rumson founded The Real Houses of Instagram, one of the largest interior design and luxury real estate brands in the world

But she believes that this shouldn't put you off embarking on a project. Kate explains: 'Just remember that everything can be fixed and bathroom remodeling contractors see some, or all of these issues on most jobs - it's a part of the bathroom remodeling process.

'I wouldn't recommend worrying too much about potential pitfalls, but instead focus on the end result - it's best to address all of those potential issues anyway.

'Just think about the peace of mind you'll have from knowing that your new bathroom isn't only beautiful on the outside, but everything is new and up to code on the inside as well!'

Time and budget

Although it depends on the size and complexity of the project, Kate says she usually estimates that the entire bathroom renovation process will take about a month.

And when it comes to budget, since costs can vary wildly Kate advises really doing your homework and meeting with at least two reputable contractors to get a few estimates.

'I would recommend visiting decorative plumbing, tile and lighting showrooms to get ideas for what you like and get familiar with prices of different products,' she adds.

'Just faucets alone range from $15 to $4,000 plus, and the same applies to tiles, countertops, lighting and everything else. So knowing the type of fixtures and finishes you want to use will make it easier to plan a budget.'

Fixtures and fittings

The brands and styles you use in your bathroom will depend largely on your budget and the aesthetic you hope to achieve, but Kate has shared a few of her favorites with DailyMail.com.

She says: 'I have Brizo faucets in my current bathroom and will be going with them again in the new house I'm building. I love Brizo's edgy designs and their fixtures look and feel high-quality.

Kate has shared photos of her own bathroom renovation, having transformed a dark dingy room (left) into a bright, chic and fresh space (right)

'I love DreamLine shower doors for their endless style options and proprietary ClearMax glass coating that makes them easy to keep clean and looking brand new.'

Kate also raves about Wetstyle, a Canadian brand she discovered while looking for the perfect bathtub for her own master bathroom. She says: 'They make stunning and environmentally friendly bathtubs, sinks and vanities - I couldn't love their products and story more.'

For lighting, she recommends Hinkley for the 'many beautiful and unique designs that come in a variety of sizes and finishes'.

Kate adds: 'Having options makes it easier to work in small spaces such as bathrooms, and being able to match lighting to the finish of the plumbing fixtures is simply wonderful!'

Kate says that bathroom remodeling contractors see a variety of pitfalls and problems on jobs but there's rarely ever anything that can't be fixed with a bit of work

The home design expert says the one thing you don't want to forget is proper ventilation to prevent mold and mildew and all of the issues that can come from it.

'I install wallpaper and crown moldings in almost every bathroom I design,' she says. 'So my list of products needed for any bathroom renovation always begins with a high quality exhaust fan. I always use Broan fans - they offer many fantastic features and are quiet and energy efficient.'

The final touches

Once construction is complete, the fun part begins. In terms of bathroom decor, Kate says that Pottery Barn and Restoration Hardware tend to be her go-tos.

She adds that Bed Bath and Beyond offers a great selection for everything you could possibly need to complete a bathroom renovation project.

Kate says: 'Accessorizing a newly renovated bathroom is the best part of the process - all of the hard work is behind you and now you get to have fun with colors, textures and small storage solutions to make the space beautiful, functional and truly reflective of your personal style.'

DailyMail.com may earn commission on sales from the links on this page.
The rare white giraffe (Iage: National Geographic)

Two rare white giraffes that lived in northeast Kenyas Ishaqbini Hirola Community Conservancy in Garissa County, were killed by poachers a few months ago.

The news of the death of the female giraffe and her calf emerged on March 10 after conservationists and forest rangers found their carcass in the Ijara Town area. An analysis of the skeletal remains of the near-fantastical creatures revealed that they were killed by armed poachers about four months ago.

With the death of the two white giraffes, a lone bull birthed by the deceased female now remains to amuse beholders.

While the Kenyan Wildlife Service is investigating the case at the moment and trying to nab the poachers at the soonest, the incident brings to fore the larger challenge wildlife conservationists face from poachers.

Lamenting the loss of the star attraction so the east African nation, Mohammed Ahmednoor, manager of Ishaqbini Hirola, said: This is a very sad day for the community of Ijara and Kenya as a whole. We are the only community in the world who are custodians of the white giraffe. Its killing is a blow to the tremendous steps taken by the community to conserve rare and unique species and a wake-up call for continued support to conservation efforts.

Ahmednoor noted that the rare white giraffes proved a big boost to tourism effort, which is likely to be hit by the news. He added: This is a long-term loss given that genetics studies and research which were significant investment into the area by researchers has now gone down the drain.

The white-skinned giraffes were spotted for the first time in the year 2017 at the Ishaqbini sanctuary. As global attention turned to them, it was learnt that they were not albinos. The three giraffes owed their uniqueness to a genetic condition called leucism, due to which animals suffer a loss of pigmentation

Outside of Kenya, a white giraffe was once seen in 2016 at Tanzanias Tarangire National Park.
Singapore has begun to charge foreigners infected with coronavirus for treatment after recording three new imported cases.

In its statement, the countrys Ministry of Health said foreigners who are short-term visit pass holders seeking treatment for COVID-19 in Singapore will need to pay for their treatment. However, testing for the novel coronavirus that causes the disease remains free.

It noted: In view of the rising number of COVID-19 infections globally, and the expected rise in the number of confirmed cases in Singapore, we will need to prioritise the resources at public hospitals.

Treatment of severe respiratory infections in public hospitals of Singapore costs between 6,000  8,000 SGD (4,300  5,800 USD), according to the ministrys website.

The new policy came into force on March 7, when local authorities announced two Indonesians with COVID-19 symptoms arrived in Singapore. Earlier, they had reported symptoms in Indonesia, and one of them had sought check-up at a hospital in Jakarta.

Another case is a Singaporean citizen who visited a relative who had pneumonia in Indonesia.

So far, Singapore has confirmed 160 cases of COVID-19 infection. Of those, 33 were infected with the virus in other countries, including 24 cases from China, three from Indonesia, and some others from Italy, the UK, France and Germany./.VNA
Kigali, Rwanda (PANA) - Rwandan ministry of Education on Wednesday prohibited gatherings at schools to avoid possible contamination of coronavirus in the country
Laura Ross, a counselor at Five Forks Middle School in Lawrenceville, Ga., worked in a mens prison before she moved into counseling middle school kids.

As a counselor to inmates, she saw firsthand the cascading effects of young men of color whod become disconnected from school and wound up in the criminal justice and prison systems.

Ross, who was recently named as the counselor of the year for 2020 by the American School Counselor Association, has invested a lot of effort at Five Forks on tackling discipline disparities between white students and black and Latino students. That workand the declining rates of discipline that have resultedbrought her the national recognition.

Here are the numbers Ross was confronting at the start of the 2018-19 school year when she made it her goal to bring down discipline referrals for black and Latino boys:





28 percent of Five Forks students are black, but they made up 39 percent of the discipline referrals.

18 percent are Latino, but they were 23 percent of discipline referrals.

31 percent of students are white, they accounted for only 25 percent of all discipline referrals.

50 percent of all students are boys, while they accounted for 75 percent of all discipline referrals.

Its not unlike a lot of the rest of the country, Ross said. Were seeing that our black and brown students are viewed differently. They get a harsher punishment, or they receive a referral when someone who was not black or Latino would not have gotten one.

Looking at those numbers, Ross knew something had to change.

Education Week spoke with Ross about how she brought down the discipline referral rates for black and Latino boys at Five Forks Middle. This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

EdWeek: What did you find when you started looking at why students were being disciplined disproportionately?

Ross: We have a diverse student population, our staff is not as diverse, we are growing in that area. Our principal is really trying to make sure we have more staff that reflect our student body.

We had for a while noticed this trend in our discipline, and when I say we, I mean the other counselor and I, and worked with students in our small groups. And so Ive had [small support] groups for several years that had black and Latino males in them and really worked with them from a strength-based perspective, what is that they do well, how do we transfer that to areas where maybe they need more growth, where they need to be supported, but not really seeing much change [in discipline referral numbers].

We knew it cant just be ... students as the problem. We knew we had to work with our staff and really understanding what its like to work with people who are different from you, look different from you, come from different backgrounds.

We really had to talk about this more with our teachersreally look at and share the discipline data: heres what it looks like, heres how it is skewed. We cant say, well these are all bad kids.

We did some whole group, whole staff training about implicit biasjust being aware of what our biases are and how that can impact our students and how we interact with them. And then doing a small group staff development that went throughout the year with teachers who volunteered to sign up. [We] did a book study, Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain by Zaretta Hammond, and ... what it can look like when a kid doesnt feel safe and supported in the classroom and what that does in their brain and how that then impacts their learning in the classroom.

Then we did some sharing out with our other teachers who werent in the group as well. And I would send out emails about every other week giving [our teachers] strategies.

EdWeek: What was the staff response? I mean, when you go to the teachers and say, listen our discipline data is very skewed, here are the cold, hard numbers, we need to change how youre doing this, how did they respond to that?

Ross: I think two things were helpful. One, we have always talked about what we can do to help connect with our students, and this is just another, even more powerful way to connect. And then using myself as an example because people can get kind of nervous and defensive sometimes, and I understand that. And I want them to understand that its all of us and that Im included in that group too, so were all still improving ourselves. I dont think its something that ends. You just keep learning and improving.

EdWeek: You used to work as a counselor at an adult mens correctional facility. Why was it important to you to bring down those discipline referrals at your school and was that related at all to your experiences in your previous job?

Ross: Absolutely. I became a school counselor because of the work I did in the correctional facility. I learned so much from the guys who were on my caseload about their disconnect from school and their disconnect from the adults in their schools. And just really, in their minds, really knowing to themselves that they didnt belong in school, and that there were adults who didnt think they belonged in school and had sort of written them off as the bad kids.

I know that if youre a student who is constantly receiving discipline referrals, and youre just hearing negative, negative, negative, that becomes a label that you believe in yourself, that youre not a good kid, and you take on that negative label and it creates that disconnect from the school.

I want to make sure that we are always trying to connect with our students. And even when something happens and there is a need for consequence and disciplinary action, that were also going back and re-mending all of those relationships and building empathy on both sides so that our students, even though, yes, they did something wrong, theres a consequence for it, that doesnt define them. Thats not the end of that relationship with that teacher who wrote the referral. There is still more for them to connect to and more ways for them to learn and grow and not take on those negative labels.

So, its very important that were just paying attention to these referrals and making sure that: is this something that deserves a referral and a consequence, am I being biased in anyway? Have I made these connections with a student that are going to help them see that they are more than just this discipline code or referral that theyve gotten?

EdWeek: Sounds like working at a correctional facility showed you the need for this kind of reform, did you learn anything specific working there that has helped you in your new role?

Ross: The thing that I really learned just came from the conversationsmy case load was mainly gang members. All their stories were all so very similar. They wanted to belong, they wanted to feel important, they wanted to feel like they mattered, and they didnt find that in a school, they found it in a gang.

EdWeek: You set a goal of decreasing referrals for black and Latino students by 15 percent, but you surpassed that goal, right?

Ross: They went down 32 percent. We were like, oh wow, we were excited. It meant that what we were doing to include everyone, not just students, but talking to staff, talking to stakeholders, is what we needed to do to really make a difference.

Related stories:

Photo courtesy of American School Counselor Association
Amid coronavirus dread, Chilean health authorities on March 10 reportedly announced that travellers arriving from Italy and Spain would be quarantined in a bid to contain the spreading of the deadly virus. Italy and Spain are the worst-hit countries in Europe as both countries have reported most deaths from the novel coronavirus outside China. The virus has reportedly killed 631 people in Italy and Spain, on the other hand, has recorded almost 1,695 cases.

The Health Ministry in a statement said, People who enter Chilean territory having visited Spain and Italy, must remain in isolation for 14 days. People arriving from these countries will be classified as 'high-risk travellers' and placed under the surveillance of Chilean health authorities during their isolation period.

READ: South Korea Coronavirus Cases Rise For First Time In 5 Days

As per reports, Chile has so far confirmed 17 coronavirus cases. The deadly virus has also affected 11 countries in the region. Chile's neighbouring country, Argentina, also reported its first death due to coronavirus. El Salvador, on the other hand, banned all arrivals from countries affected by the crisis, including Italy and Spain, as well as France, Germany, China, South Korea and Iran.

READ: Russia Sues Woman For Escaping Hospital From Coronavirus Checks

More than one lakh infected

First detected in the city of Wuhan, in Hubei Province of China, the virus outbreak has now spread across more than 90 countries since December 2019. As per reports, the total number of confirmed cases within China has reportedly hit 80,783 and more than one lakh worldwide. According to reports, the death toll in China has also surpassed 3,000 and the National Health Commission also confirmed more than 29 new cases. The death toll due to the deadly virus across the world also mounted to 4,299.

According to the reports, amid mounting cases of the deadly COVID-19, China resorted to stepping up its quarantine measures on the foreign nationals as well. It also offered assistance to the countries abroad like Iran and Japan which are severely impacted by the contagion. Minister of China's National Health Commission (NHC) Ma Xiaowei told a news conference that despite some success in containing the strain of the new virus, there was a risk of the epidemic rebounding.

(With PTI inputs)

READ: US Defense Chief Postpones India Trip Amid Coronavirus Scare

READ: Manchester City V Arsenal Postponed After Marinakis' Coronavirus Admission
Dubbed the Queen City of the Sound, New Rochelle, New York has become the epicenter of the states coronavirus outbreak after a 50-year-old attorney was diagnosed with the virus on March 2. He has since been linked to at least 50 other cases in the area.

Now, the bustling suburban town in Westchester County, where 108 of New York states 173 confirmed COVID-19 cases originate, is under a mile-wide containment zone order for two weeks, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Tuesday. Though residents can still move around the area, the containment essentially mandates the closing of public schools, houses of worship and other places where large groups gather regularly.

New Rochelle has been ranked among the best places to raise children, boasts some of the nations priciest real estate and, according to its police department, is the safest city of its size in New York State and the fifth-safest city of its size in the U.S.

So when news broke that the town was on lockdown and National Guard troops will arrive Thursday to disinfect buildings and deliver meals to more vulnerable populations  including the more than 2,800 students at closed schools who typically receive free or reduced-fee lunches  residents were shocked.

My first reaction was, Oh, my gosh! The National Guard? Whats going on? resident Tom Lowder tells PEOPLE. Once they explained things and it became clear they werent going to militarize the area, that it was really just for logistical support so that they can go in an clean the schools and other gathering places to make sure theyre completely virus-free when the students come back, I thought, You know, that really makes sense. Maybe theyre erring on the side of caution just to make sure that we dont spread the virus even more. 

Getty Signs posted around New Rochelle urge residents to Stay healthy!

RELATED: Heres a Map of All the Coronavirus Cases in the U.S.

Some in the diverse community are supportive of the move while others question its ultimate effectiveness. The towns large Jewish community is also feeling pressure from neighbors, says one resident. The infected lawyer had attended a function at Young Israel Synagogue in New Rochelle before he was aware he had contracted the virus, and the containment zone spreads in a 1-mile radius out from the synagogue.

Story continues

A lot of the Jewish families are feeling vulnerable about the fact that theyre under quarantine and that theyve been kind of vilified over something that was totally not in their control, Denise Logan, a mom of three living in New Rochelle, tells PEOPLE.

Getty Purple ribbons dot poles outside Young Israel Synagogue in New Rochelle

During the quarantine, more than 5,500 students who attend the three temporarily shuttered public schools  New Rochelle High School, Albert Leonard Middle School and Ward Elementary  are affected. Theyll study from home for at least the next two weeks and some 2,000 who lack access to a computer will be provided Chromebooks on loan from the school district to complete their assignments.

Logan, who has a 17-year-old son at the high school and a 12-year-old daughter at Albert Leonard, says the decision to close public schools has been questioned.

The population that has been under quarantine is mainly part of this Orthodox Jewish population. The majority of them send their kids to private school, so they really dont use the public school system. So theres been a lot of controversy here about whether to close the public schools or not based on the fact that the students in the public schools have not been quarantined or tested positive, she says. There are a lot of people in the community that are dependent upon the school system for meals and childcare. Theres an economically challenged contingent that needs the school system for that purpose.

RELATED: CDC Says Risk of Dying from Coronavirus Is Low, but Many Will Become Sick: Theres Essentially No Immunity

Outside of the new containment measures, though, daily life in New Rochelle has not significantly changed, Lowder says.

Im seeing more people wiping down shopping carts at the grocery store, wiping down their steering wheels, things like that. People arent shaking hands or fist bumping or hugging, he says. But otherwise, just driving through the community, you wouldnt know anything out of the ordinary is going on.

Logan believes that reporting on the New Rochelle outbreak has been overblown.

Some of the media is reporting this story like our entire area is one giant petri dish of disaster but the numbers dont reflect that, she says. Its just an aggressive portrayal of whats going on here. If you drove through you wouldnt notice anything. Life is really just kind of normal for a lot of people, even though people are working from home.

The community knows how to come together and well get through it, she adds.
Unidentified gunmen killed 10 people and burned down a village in central Mali, local officials said Wednesday, the latest bloodshed in a region wracked by jihadist and inter-ethnic violence.

The attackers raided the village of Kourkanda near the West African country's border with Burkina Faso on Monday, local chief Youssouf Togo said.

"Around dusk, they came in small groups on motorcycles -- they were all armed," he told AFP.

"They then started to circle the small village on their motorbikes. It was not until around 8 pm (2000 GMT), on March 9 that they started to attack." Yanah Dolo, an official from the nearest town of Bankass, said that 10 people were killed and the village torched.

"And nobody knows where the attackers came from," said Dolo, whose representatives had inspected the scene of the attack.

Kourkanda is in the same region as the village of Ogossagou, which has seen two massacres in the space of a year.

Thirty-one Fulani civilians were butchered in Ogossagou on February 14 of this year, a tragedy made all the more brutal as it came after 160 members of the same ethnic community were slaughtered in the village in March 2019.

Central Mali has been riven by inter-ethnic violence since a jihadist revolt broke out in the north of the West African country in 2012.

The insurgency has claimed thousands of lives, displaced more than a million people and spread to neighbouring countries, while deadly tit-for-tat attacks have flared in Mali's centre.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Recently, news surfaced that Pablo Escobars brother has started his own smartphone manufacturing company where it is selling folding phones for as cheap as Rs 25,000, threatening Samsung and Apple to beat them to a pulp.

Youtube/MKBHD

And with such competitive pricing, things surely looked kinda shady, but they surely had our attention. Another mans attention that Escobar phone stole was popular YouTuber MKBHDs.



When the first Escobar phone (which looked a lot like Royole Flexpai) launched, Marques paid $349 to get the first one shipped. However, to no ones surprise, he never got the device. It just showed the status as pending.

In February, Escobar brand launched a new phone dubbed Escobar 2 -- another folding phone, however, this time, it looked a lot like Samsung Galaxy Fold, with not so subtle Escobar branding on top. Marques placed another order, this time for $399 (Roughly Rs 30,000). Still, no avail. After that he tweeted this:

Twitter:MKBHD

The arrival of Escobar Phone 2

However, in his recent video, he revealed that as soon as he came home after this tweet, the Escobar Fold 2 was at his studio. Shocking, right? But this is just the beginning.

Twitter:MKBHD

He went to unpack the device, only to find the device in a shoddy box, in the gold trim as shown in the images, along with a charger. But when he turned it on, he saw that the device was essentially a Samsung Galaxy Fold (revised version).



Youtube/MKBHD

He then peeled off the golden skin on the sides and the back, only to find Samsung branding being revealed. How is a company making money by selling a Rs 1 lakh phone for just Rs 30,000? Is Escobar being the Robin-hood of the tech world, making expensive tech accessible to the poor? Or is their business strategy really this stupid?



Its all a sham!

In the video later, Marques reveals that other people with Escobar phones are YouTubers who placed the order for the device. There havent really been reports of people other than YouTubers or celebrities using the device. And it also makes sense, since this will only give them more publicity for trapping innocent peoples money hoping to get a foldable phone on a budget.

Escobar Inc

We surely dont know whether Escobar brand can be trusted with your money or is it really shipping $2000 devices for just $399 and gold skin for its branding. One will surely have to gamble $399 to truly find out if theyre getting lucky or not, and we strongly recommend you dont do that.


Afghan President Ashraf Ghani is preparing to release 1,500 Taliban prisoners in coming days, according to a decree viewed by Reuters on Tuesday, as the United Nations-backed a US-led push to end Afghanistans 18-year war

Kabul: Afghan President Ashraf Ghani is preparing to release 1,500 Taliban prisoners in coming days, according to a decree viewed by Reuters on Tuesday, as the United Nations-backed a US-led push to end Afghanistans 18-year war.

The two-page decree signed by Ghani, which requires all released Taliban prisoners to provide a written guarantee to not return to the battlefield, is aimed at paving the way for direct talks with the hardline insurgent group.

The United States warned the Taliban that the current high level of violence was not conducive to advancing the peace process after the 15-member UN Security Council unanimously adopted a US-drafted resolution.

The United States signed an agreement with the Taliban last month for a phased withdrawal of US-led foreign forces if the Taliban keeps its commitments. It also prescribed the start of talks between the insurgents and an Afghan government delegation on a political settlement to end decades of conflict.

The prisoner release decree, which is expected to be made public later by Ghanis office, said the process will begin in four days.

The process of releasing 1,500 Taliban prisoners will be completed within 15 days, with 100 prisoners walking out of Afghan jails every day, it said.

The decree said talks between the government and the Taliban will run parallel with the prisoner release and requires the insurgents to stick to commitments to a reduction in violence.

Taliban commanders have sent vehicles to be ready to collect the prisoners and said they will honour the deal by handing over 1,000 government troops.

Deputy US Ambassador to the UN Cherith Norman Chalet said the Taliban had taken steps to stop attacks in cities and against major bases.

But more needs to be done and we urge them to also reduce violence against Afghan forces in the countryside to give intra-Afghan negotiations and peace the opportunity to succeed, she said.

The peace process has been complicated by differing wording of documents drafted in separate meetings between the United States and the Taliban, and the United States and the Afghan government.

Earlier on Tuesday, former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton appeared to take a swipe at the US deal with the Taliban, saying: It is difficult to have an agreement when you leave out the government of the country that you are expecting to uphold and live under that agreement.

Speaking at a UN event on Afghan womens rights, Clinton also stressed the need for women to be at the negotiating table.

Afghan women today are rightly afraid... that the gains they have made with all of our help will be washed away in a rush to achieve a peace that will not hold anyway, she said. This is not just morally wrong, this is dangerous.

The Security Council resolution emphasized the importance of including women, youth and minorities and ensuring any political settlement protects their rights.

Political tensions

An escalating political feud is compounding the challenges, with US State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus confirming an electoral crisis has delayed Ghanis naming of a national negotiating team.

Ghani was sworn in for a second term on Monday, but the ceremony was marred by a rocket attack, while his political rival, former chief executive Abdullah Abdullah, held his own inauguration ceremony.

Both Ghani and Abdullah say they are Afghanistans rightful leader following a disputed election in September.

We are strongly against the establishment of any parallel administrations or government structures and we call on all concerned to come together and resolve differences constructively, British U.N. Ambassador Karen Pierce said in remarks directed at Adbullah.

Ghani has told US negotiators that he plans to announce an inclusive team in the coming few days, Ortagus said.

If the talks make progress, the government said it will release a further 500 Taliban prisoners every two weeks until a total of 5,000 Taliban prisoners have been freed.

It was unclear whether prisoners would be released from other prisons aside from Bagram, a detention facility located next to a US military base.

Zalmay Khalilzad, US Special Envoy who was the key negotiator urged the two sides to sit down immediately to work out the details, saying the prisoner release deal will be a significant step in the peace process.
GETTY

Kinross Gold (K.TO)(KGC) has closed its Toronto head office after an employee tested positive for the COVID-19 virus, the company said on Wednesday.

Kinross said the infected worker was most recently in the building for one-and-a-half days ending March 3, and is currently at home in self-quarantine, in good condition.

Kinross office is located at 25 York St. in the citys downtown core. Employees are being asked to work from home until at least March 20.

Kinross said the worker, who was not identified in the companys news release, did not attend the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) conference last week, where a man in his 50s from Sudbury, Ont. is reported to have contracted the virus.

Although Kinross statement said it is coordinating with Toronto Public Health, it is unclear if this case of COVID-19 is new or part of the 108 confirmed by health officials in Canada as of Wednesday afternoon.

Toronto Public Health has asked all Kinross employees to monitor for any symptoms. The senior gold producer said COVID-19 has not impacted production or product shipments at any of its sites.

Local news station CP24 reported earlier on Wednesday that an office tower at 25 York St. was being disinfected after a worker tested positive for the virus.

The building also houses offices for Canadian telecom company Telus (T.TO) and PC Financial, which is operated by CIBC (CM.TO).

As soon as we were made aware of the situation, Public Health was notified and we immediately sanitized the impacted floor and all common areas including elevators and washrooms, Jamie Okorofsky, a spokesperson for Menkes Developments, the buildings owner, told CP24. The building is fully operational. Whether our tenants chose to return to work is entirely up to them.

Kinross is not the first major Canadian firm to close offices or asked staff to work remotely due to COVID-19. E-commerce company Shopify (SHOP.TO)(SHOP) announced in a tweet on Wednesday that its employees will work from home starting March 16.

As COVID-19 continues to impact people and countries around the world, Shopify will be going remote first starting March 16th. Working from home will help play a part in reducing the spread of the virus, and hopefully lessen its potentially huge burden on the healthcare system.  Shopify (@Shopify) March 11, 2020

Accounting firm BDO Canada recently shut its Toronto office after an employee tested positive for COVID-19. A Royal Bank of Canada (RY.TO) employee based in Mississauga, Ont. has also tested positive for the virus and remains at home in self-isolation.
JERSEYVILLE  The son of murder suspect Roger Carroll took the stand Tuesday and implicated his father in the June 25, 2010, murder of Bonnie Woodward, then of East Alton.

Nathan Carroll, 25, on Tuesday described seeing what he believes to be Woodwards body after hearing gunshots at his fathers home in rural Jerseyville. He was 16 years old at the time.

Nathan Carroll testified his father used a front-loader to pick up the body, which appeared to be wearing white sneakers and scrub pants, and put it on a pile of brush. He said that, at his fathers instructions, he lit the pile, which had been soaked in oil and gasoline.

He and his father kept the pile burning for a few days after.

Nathan Carroll then testified that Roger Carroll used the front-loader to scoop up the remains of the burn pile and dump what was left into a nearby creek.

He shot her dead, loaded her into a front-loader like a pile of garbage and dumped her into a creek, Assistant States Attorney Crystal Uhe told the jury in her opening statement.

The younger Carroll testified Tuesday that his father used a certain handgun to shoot the victim. He said police showed him the gun and he identified it as the murder weapon. Police recovered the suspected murder weapon shortly after the incident in 2010, authorities said.

 

The day she disappeared

Nathan Carroll also said he noticed his father eyeing Woodwards Chevrolet Avalanche parked at her workplace, Eunice Smith Nursing Home in Alton, earlier in the the day before the night she disappeared.

He said Roger Carroll said, Good, she is working today, as they drove by her workplace.

Uhe has told the jury they will hear evidence that Roger Carroll left fingerprints on Woodwards vehicle, which never left Eunice Smith Nursing Home.

Roger Carroll allegedly told police he was in Jersey County that day, not in Alton. A woman who formerly worked at the nursing home testified that she saw a man talking to Woodward just before she disappeared June 25.

Nathan Carroll also testified Tuesday that his father told him that the prints would be seen as planted there by police. He said that long after the shooting, he saw his father crying and saying he was praying to God to resurrect this woman.

 

Its going to happen

The younger Carroll also testified that he was told Bonnie Woodward abused her daughter, Heather.

Other family members testified that she did not abuse her children. Roger Carroll reportedly told his son that the victim was a bad person.

Nathan Carroll said his father uttered phrases like, she needs to go away and never come back.

Later he said, It still needs to happen, which he took to mean, Bonnie needs to die.

The young Carroll said he tried to talk his father out of the killing, but he refused to back down.

Its going to happen whether you like it or not, the defendant allegedly said.

 

Testimony changes, evidence found

Nathan Carroll said that when he first appeared before a grand jury previous the the 2018 testimony, he lied to protect his father.

However, during the grand jury hearing, he was told that his story was not adding up. Appellate Prosecutor Jennifer Mudge then offered him a deal to testify truthfully in exchange for her agreement not to prosecute him, he testified Tuesday.

Under cross-examination from defense attorney Dave Fahrenkamp, he admitted the deal would allow him to avoid prison and continue his education, but under vigorous questioning by Mudge, he said he knew that if he lied, or if he was the murderer, the deal was off.

It was that grand jury testimony, in March of 2018, in which Nathan Carroll provided supposed grisly details hed kept secret. It led to another search of the Carroll property, which turned up a spent 9 mm shell casing and a matching projectile, along with bone fragments.

The younger Carroll also testified Tuesday that he tried to block the events out of his mind, but about two years ago, he started to think differently and the events slowly unraveled in his mind.

 

The case

Roger Carroll was charged April 12, 2018, with first-degree murder of Woodward of East Alton. He is also accused of concealing a homicidal death in Jersey County and aggravated kidnapping in Madison County.

Uhe is the first assistant states attorney in Madison County. She has been appointed to serve as special prosecutor, along with former Madison County First Assistant States Attorney Jennifer Mudge, now an appellate prosecutor.

Part of the initial investigation also centered on the disappearance of Woodwards stepdaughter Heather Woodward, then 17.

Former Alton detective Scott Golike has testified at a previous hearing that Nathan Carroll told police his father used Heather as bait.

Nathan Carroll testified that Heather came to live with him and his mother and father in Jerseyville.

He said his father, his mother, and Heather drove to his grandparents home in Goreville a few days before coming back to Alton and before the shooting. Authorities said Heather Woodward and Roger Carroll met through a church membership.
Prince Harry was a victim of a prank phone call stunt that resulted in him sharing some very personal views about his royal exit with Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, the medias treatment of them, and his thoughts on living a normal life. How did the Russian hoaxers trick him?

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle | Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty Images

Prince Harry thought he was talking to Greta Thunberg

The Sun first published the details of Prince Harry speaking with Russian pranksters, Vladimir Kuznetsov and Alexey Stolyarov, posing as Swedish activist Greta Thunberg and her father. The calls reportedly took place on New Years Eve and January 22, according to The Sun.

Prince Harry reportedly discussed the decision to exit the royal family during the calls, among other topics. I can assure you, marrying a prince or princess is not all its made out to be, Prince Harry is heard saying. But sometimes the right decision isnt always the easy one, and this decision certainly wasnt the easy one but it was the right decision for our family, the right decision to be able to protect my son.

He noted there were lots of layers to it and lots of pieces to the puzzle, sharing, And I think theres a hell of a lot of people around the world that can identify and respect us for putting our family first. But, yeah, its a tricky one, but we will start a new life.

He commented on normal life

When the prankster pretending to be Thunbergs dad asked Harry about how normal life compares to royal life, Harry shared: Oh no, I think its much better.

You forget, I was in the military for ten years so Im more normal than my family would like to believe, he continued. But certainly being in a different position now gives us the ability to say things and do things that we might not have been able to do.

And seeing as everyone under the age of 35 or 36, seems to be carrying out an activists role, gives us the opportunity to try and make more of a difference without being criticized.

He addressed the media

As for his thoughts on his royal titles being removed after the Sussexes announced their plans to exit, he commented, No, no, again you mustnt believe what you read, no one has stripped us of our titles.

He added, Because of a technicality within the family, if we are earning money separately from within the family structure, then we obviously have been asked not to use our titles in order to make money, which we would never do.

But the press managed to jump on that to make it look like we had been stripped, he explained.

During the call, he also discussed some of whats next for the Sussexes, noting that they are taking a little bit more time to think about how we can use our platform and how we can use our voice to try and encourage real change and real difference as opposed to, you know, small incremental changes.

He revealed how horrible the media has been

Prince Harry touched on the media scrutiny he and Meghan have endured as well. Ive spent many, many years being criticized by the media for doing all sorts of things and trying to change the way we think, he noted.

When the prankster posing as Thunberg asked about how theyve been handing the media, he said, The best advice I can give on that is to be able to see through the fear. What they dont understand is the battle we are fighting against them is far more than just us.

More quotes about Harrys view on the media during the call were published by Mail Online, in which he reportedly said he has been part of a family and part of a country that is scared of the tabloid media because they have so much power and influence and no morals.

From the moment that I found a wife that was strong enough to be able to stand up for what we believe in together, [that] has basically scared them so much that theyve now come out incredibly angry, theyve come out fighting, and all they will try and do now is try and destroy our reputation and try and, you know, sink us, he added.

He shared: It hasnt been very nice. Its been horrible, but we will come out of it stronger people.
A senior police officer here has been arrested for allegedly murdering his lawyer friend in a honour killing case and later dissolving his body in acid to destroy evidence, police said on Wednesday.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Mufakhar Adeel was arrested on Monday, almost a month after his "mysterious disappearance".

"SSP Adeel has been arrested for allegedly murdering his friend, advocate Shahbaz Tatla, in the name of honour," Lahore Police chief Zulfiqar Hameed said.

After the murder, Adeel dissolved Tatla's body in acid to destroy evidence, he said.

The SSP, who had disappeared a month ago after murdering the lawyer, confessed to his crime in police custody, Hameed said, adding that he was arrested while trying to crossover to Iran.

During his questioning in police custody, Adeel said he killed Tatla for trying to rape his wife. He told police that Tatla had also raped his first wife a few years ago after which he divorced her.

Meanwhile, a source in Lahore Police told PTI that Adeel and Tatla used to throw parties for their friends and wives.

"In one such party, Tatla allegedly had physical relation with Adeel's first wife, both of whom were in a drunken state. Recently in such a party, Tatla again had a physical relation with Adeel's second wife. Adeel got to know about it and planned Tatla's murder," the source said.

As part of his plan, Adeel rented a house in Lahore's Faisal Town where he invited Tatla and strangled him to death and dissolved his body in a drum of acid to destroy evidence, the source said.

-PTI

Also Read: Uttar Pradesh Shocker: Husband forces wife to cook human hand; held
Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size For nearly four years, Perth entrepreneur and robotics expert Daniel Milford has fought the forces pulling his company east. Inside a factory unit in the middle of Osborne Park, Chironix is developing some of the world's most advanced robotics and software  the kind that could revolutionise human relationships with technology. Daniel Milford's Chironix has partnered with some of the world's most advanced robotics companies. In just three years, the Perth startup has become so well connected it is Google's only official partner in the Asia-Pacific region able to develop software for Googles wearable technology and is one of the only robotics companies in the southern hemisphere working with 'quadruped', or four-legged, robots. Despite their achievements, Mr Milford said they had hit brick walls trying to convince West Australian business and government and instead counted the US Navy as one of their biggest supporters. With no meaningful government support on the horizon, Mr Milford is now wondering what life might be like across the Nullarbor. WA wins innovation wooden spoon

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Generous government grants, lucrative upscaling programs and networks of well-connected contacts have long lured WA tech companies east. Mr Milford wants to keep Chironix in Perth, but a $264 million program by the Victorian government offering a brand new headquarters at the old General Motors Holden site and a sizeable relocation cheque is more tempting than anything the WA government has on offer. "I'm constantly having this tether that pulls me to the east coast of Australia at least, if not overseas," Mr Milford said. "[If] the state government doesn't have a strategy in place that small businesses can latch onto to get to that level where we are export-competitive, then the options are obvious." Data released by Startup WA in its 2019 Startup Ecosystem Report shows WA holds the wooden spoon for the state with the lowest investment in emerging tech companies. In Queensland, the state has allocated upwards of $750 million towards funds, scholarships, mentorship opportunities, boot camps and acceleration programs.

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In South Australia, the state government has invested $450 million into creating innovation districts, grants and venture capital funds, and created a special visa category to attract international entrepreneurs. By contrast, last year the WA government funnelled just $16.7 million into its startup ecosystem. Crane drain Loading Like Chironix, Roborigger founder and inventor Derick Markwell has also been fighting the urge to move his operations. The West Perth-based robot crane maker has shot to prominence over the past six months after winning a record three WA innovation awards and becoming only the second WA company  after online graphic design behemoth, Canva  to be taken under the wing of famed Sydney venture capital firm Blackbird. Mr Markwell said there was no reason why he couldn't keep operations in Perth, but better incentives in countries like Norway made considering a move worthwhile.

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"We got nothing from the state government. Zero," he said. While Perth's affordable inner-city living, proximity to the Asian market and the rise of shared working spaces were strong drawcards for innovators to set up shop, Mr Markwell said there was a lack of support programs to scale up businesses. "There's a very strong disincentive once you get going to provide additional support," he said. Derick Markwell founder of Roborigger in their Perth headquarters. Credit:Marta Pascual Juanola "At the moment they try to penalise you because when you achieve success they say you don't need any grants." Many within the startup scene have warned if the WA government doesn't put meaningful effort into building the ecosystem, the state is doomed to relive the boom-and-bust rollercoaster of its resources sector in perpetuity. Brodie McCulloch is the founder and managing director of one of WA's first coworking spaces, Spacecubed, which has become a hotbed for startups.

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He said WA was competing globally now and needed to set itself up as a destination for technology. "Those states are investing that because they can see real opportunity in this space and how they can leverage existing industries but also diversify," he said. "I think for WA to be serious about this it needs to increase that level of investment to something meaningful." We'll scale, we'll achieve and succeed and you'll buy products back off us in five years time at three times the price. Chironix founder Daniel Milford Peter van Bruchem, co-founder of startup directory Techboard, said WA's weak innovation ecosystem had left a vacuum for foreign companies to disrupt the local market to the detriment of homegrown startups. "Unless there is someone who wants to take a stand and say there are future jobs, and high-value jobs for kids in WA are important to us, were going to be stuck with the resources cycle that were in," he said. Mr van Bruchem said the state government was scared about innovation.

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A Chambersburg man was taken into custody Wednesday, accused in a crash that resulted in the death of a 60-year-old woman, according to police.

Ramiro Federico Mendoza-Sales, 25, is charged with third-degree murder, homicide by vehicle, aggravated assault by vehicle, involuntary manslaughter, and more in connection with the March 7 crash that killed Evelyn Falcon, according to online court dockets.

Chambersburg police Sgt. Matt Bietsch said officers fist encountered Mendoza-Sales driving a 2004 Honda in the area of 401 South Main Street around 2:20 a.m. Mendoza was driving without headlights, police said.

After an officer initiated the traffic stop by starting his lights and sirens, Mendoza-Sales fled, police said. The officer decided to not chase after Mendoza-Sales because he was speeding.

Several minutes later, officers found the Honda after it crashed into a home in the 500 block of South Coldbrook Avenue, police said. A 33-year-old passenger in the back seat was found by police with multiple injuries.

Falcon, 60, had been ejected from the vehicle and was found in the side yard of the home, police said. She was pronounced dead by the Franklin County Coroners Office.

Mendoza-Sales ran from the vehicle and a K9 was used to track him to a neighboring property, police said. Ramiro had injuries to his legs and was flown along with the other passenger to the hospital.

The other passenger has since been released from the hospital.

Bietsch said the police investigation found that the Honda was driving 60 mph at the time of the crash. The crash area is a residential neighborhood.

Mendoza-Sales was found to be under the influence of alcohol and/or controlled substances, Bietsch said.

On Wednesday, Ramiro was arraigned and denied bail due to the charges.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 24.

Read more on PennLive:
However, it confirmed the inquest will be heard under a tougher, retrospective Coroners Act, which is ready to go to Queensland Parliament.

A detective examines the fire-damaged interior of the Whiskey Au Go Go nightclub on March 8, 1973 Credit:Staff photographer

The Queensland coroners' office on Wednesday would not confirm a specific date for the new inquest.

The families of Brisbanes murdered Whiskey Au Go Go nightclub victims believe the long-awaited second inquest into the 1973 horrific firebombing where 15 people died may start in May or June.

The new legislation, part of the Justice and Other Amendments Bill, allows the coroner to compel a person to give evidence that incriminates them.

"The modern coronial regime established under the current act includes a power for the coroner to require a witness to give potentially self-incriminating evidence at an inquest if the coroner is satisfied that it is in the public interest to do so," Ms DAth told State Parliament in November 2019.

"However, those powers are not currently available to a coroner with respect to deaths that were reported prior to the commencement of the Coroners Act 2003."

Under the proposed amendments to the 2003 Coroners Act, it now applies to deaths before 2003, Ms DAth said.

"This means that the current act, including the power to require a witness to give evidence at an inquest that would tend to incriminate the witness, will apply to inquests into deaths that were reported before the commencement of the act," Ms DAth said.
New York City first lady Chirlane McCray and former U.S. first lady Hillary Clinton have a surprising number of things in common. And as McCrays political ambitions become more evident, their similarities become increasingly apparent.

McCray is known to draw inspiration from Clinton, whom she has said on various occasions she admires. Like Clinton, McCray has had a profound influence on her husbands political career, spearheaded a public health initiative and even launched her own podcast  but thats not all.

Here are a few more things that McCray and Clinton have in common.

Theyre both first ladies who have run for office  sort of

While McCray hasnt officially announced her bid for Brooklyn borough president, several outlets have reported that shes eyeing the position, and even de Blasio has mentioned that she has a serious interest in running.

While McCray worked in city politics before she began dating de Blasio, her political ambitions have often drawn comparisons to Clintons, who ran for office after her husbands presidency ended. In 2000, Clinton ran for U.S. Senate in New York and ended up winning. Now that de Blasio is reaching the term limit of his office, McCray could follow a similar trajectory.

Theyve both launched heavily scrutinized public health initiatives

In 1993, Clinton attempted to spearhead the creation of universal health insurance known as Hillarycare. However, Clinton was unable to get lawmakers on board with her expansive plan, which ultimately went nowhere.

While ThriveNYC, the $850 million mental health initiative that McCray began in 2015, has been widely criticized for lacking transparency and failing to produce meaningful progress reports. In February, the New York Post reported that ThriveNYC has plans for a major overhaul of the organization by slashing its budget and cutting ineffective programs.

Theyve both worked closely with their spouses

Even before her husband Bill Clinton was elected president, Hillary Clinton was known to have a profound impact on nearly every move he made, from what election cycle he ran for president to having a say over his campaign song. And she didnt slow down once she got into the White House, where she continued to advise her husband. She also led her own small team and became the only first lady to have her own office in the West Wing.

Much like Clinton, McCray has had a significant amount of influence on her husbands day-to-day dealings  de Blasio has even referred to McCray as my closest confidante and No. 1 adviser. Even when de Blasio was running for mayor in 2013, McCray remarked that they work together as partners on everything. In 2017, it was reported that McCray is typically in the room for all of the mayors most important meetings and helps make big decisions. And in 2018, McCray was clocking 80-hour workweeks at City Hall despite not being on the payroll, due to nepotism prevention policies.

We do everything as a couple  we think as a couple, the mayor said in 2014. We act (as a couple) in terms of everything we try to do for this world.

Theyre both podcasters

Thrive with Chirlane McCray, the first ladys city-funded monthly mental health podcast, launched on Feb. 6. McCrays introductory episode featured her son Dante de Blasio, and the pair discussed racist bullying and its effects on mental health.

Clinton also has a podcast in the works that will feature a variety of high-profile guests from world leaders to celebrities, which is expected to launch in late spring.

Theyre both carpetbaggers

The New York City first lady grew up in Springfield, Massachusetts, and moved to New York in 1977 after graduating from college. Clinton, however, moved to Chappaqua in 2000 for the sole purpose of running for U.S. Senate, making her a true blue carpetbagger.

Theyre both Wellesley College alumnae

Clinton attended the womens only Wellesley College from 1966 to 1969, where she was head of the Young Republicans Club, president of the College Government Association and selected to be the schools first student commencement speaker.

McCray graduated from Wellesley in 1976 and has remarked that she was greatly influenced by her college professors. There were so many classes I enjoyed at Wellesley, even classes I initially didnt think I would like, McCray told the college in 2013. I loved social psychology, French, art of West Africa, etc., but I was influenced most by my professor Helen Stewart and her class Black Women in American Society.

Theyre both married to a Bill

McCray is married to Bill de Blasio, formerly Warren Wilhelm Jr., and Hillary Clinton is married to Bill Clinton. Amazing.
Bogota: The head of the Norwegian Refugee Council says the world is not doing enough to help Colombia respond to the influx of migrants from neighbouring Venezuela.

Jan Egeland, secretary general of the humanitarian group, said he was concerned about a dangerous mix of escalating violence within Colombia combined with the arrival of thousands of migrants fleeing precarious economic conditions in Venezuela.

"The crisis is tremendous, it's overwhelming," he said during a visit to the border dividing Colombia and Venezuela. "The humanitarian groups are overstretched and underfunded and so are all of the government institutions."

A man wearing a shirt that reads in Spanish "Venezuela. Strength and faith." links arms with others at an opposition rally in Caracas on Tuesday. Credit:AP

More than 4.5 million Venezuelans have fled their nation's economic and humanitarian crisis in recent years, with nearly 2 million arriving in Colombia, which is struggling to provide them jobs, shelter, healthcare and social services.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha proceedings were on Wednesday again adjourned for an hour till 1:30 pm as some Congress members sought to know when the expulsion of seven party MPs will be revoked.

As soon as the House convened, Rajendra Agarwal, who was the presiding officer, informed the House that the Lok Sabha speaker has not approved the adjournment notices given by various opposition members.

Earlier the House was adjourned till 12.30 pm as Congress members raised slogans demanding revocation of the expulsion of its seven MPs.

Congress members had trooped inside the Well raising slogans with the demand to rescind last week's expulsion order of seven of its members.

They were also joined by the DMK and Left MPs.

On Thursday last, seven Congress members were suspended for the rest of the ongoing Budget Session for unruly behaviour.

Ruckus in Rajya Sabha too

Rajya Sabha proceedings were on Wednesday adjourned till 2 pm after opposition parties raised the issue of communal violence in Delhi and the government ban on two Malayalam news channels for their coverage of the riots.

While Left parties raised the issue of the Union Information and Broadcasting Ministry imposing a 48-hour telecast ban on Asianet News and Media One TV, the TMC raised the issue of recent communal violence in the national capital.

Some Congress members raised the political happenings in Madhya Pradesh where the party's government is facing a crisis after Jyotiraditya Scindia's resignation from the Congress.

Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu said the notice given by the Leader of the Opposition and other MPs over the need to provide relief to violence-affected people of Delhi and instituting an inquiry commission, will be discussed in the House on Thursday morning.

But opposition MPs including those from the Congress continued to raise the issue.

Binoy Viswam of the CPI raised the issue of last week's ban of news channels for their coverage of the Delhi violence.

Naidu said the ban has been lifted.

The order banning Media One had said it was "critical of the Delhi Police and RSS".

As some Congress members raised the happenings in Madhya Pradesh, Naidu said he would be forced to name the MPs if they defied the chair.

An MP named by the Chair has to withdraw from the proceedings of the House for the remaining part of the day.

Naidu, however, said names of Congress MPs will go into records to say that they tried to disturb the House.

Shortly thereafter, he adjourned proceedings till 2 pm.

Anurag Thakur faces opposition attack in Rajya Sabha

Union Minister Anurag Thakur, who had allegedly made provocative speeches in the run-up to the Delhi Assembly polls, was on Wednesday booed by opposition members in Rajya Sabha when he rose to present a listed paper.

When Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu called Thakur to present the second supplementary demands for grants for 2019-20 in place of his senior colleague and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, opposition benches started booing him.

Thakur, who is the Minister of State for Finance, continued to present the demands, which had been presented in Lok Sabha last week.

As opposition created uproar, some in treasury benches hit back with the jibe of the Congress losing power in Madhya Pradesh.

This riled some Congress members who accused the BJP of engineering defections.

Naidu ordered that nothing would go on record.

But when some Congress member continued to raise the matter, Naidu warned he would name members.

Any member named by the Chair has to withdraw from proceedings of the House for the remainder of the day.
Northeastern University in Boston will be moving its classes online beginning Thursday as colleges and universities across Massachusetts continue to respond to the spread of coronavirus.

In an email to students and faculty, Northeastern University President Joseph Aoun said the move was made in accordance with the best public health guidance and based on the troubling circumstances in those regions.

We arrived at this decision carefully and thoughtfully, not precipitously, Aoun wrote. We are seeking to preserve the essence of a Northeastern education  including current co-op placements  while also taking prudent steps to reduce the risk of infection within our community.

The decision to move its Boston campus online comes days after the college announced it would transition its Seattle and San Francisco Bay Area campuses to remote learning.

BREAKING: @Northeastern goes online only starting tomorrow. Students will NOT have to vacate residence halls  John M. Guilfoil (@johnguilfoil) March 11, 2020

Northeastern University joins a growing list of colleges that have responded to the outbreak of COVID-19 by canceling planned school trips and moving to online classes as a way to help contain the virus.

Aoun said there is still no evidence to suggest that a member of the university has been infected with the virus.

Nevertheless, we must focus on prevention, not just containment," he said. "We owe it to each other  and everyone in the Northeastern family and beyond  to take all practical steps to minimize the risk of infection and community transmission.

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[March 11, 2020] SmartHealth PayCard and American Family Care Join Forces in Texas to Make Healthcare More Affordable and Accessible

SmartHealth PayCard, LLC a leading FinTech pioneer committed to changing the culture of healthcare payments, today announced a partnership with American Family Care (AFC), the nation's leading walk-in clinic for urgent care, occupational medicine and accessible primary care. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200311005520/en/ The SmartHealth PayCard Mastercard, a national credit card dedicated solely to healthcare expenses, will be introduced in AFC clinics in Houston and Dallas, making it easier for patients to manage their health with affordable payment options. For 35 years, American Family Care has earne a reputation as a trusted healthcare provider with conveniently located and well-equipped centers. AFC patients who sign up with SmartHealth PayCard can immediately pay for visits, while enjoying a prescription savings program. At no additional cost, they also receive up to $5,000 in Accident Medical Expense benefits and $5,000 Accidental Death Insurance.



Native Texans and co-founders of SmartHealth PayCard, Jeff Blankinship and Paul Clampitt, are committed to eliminating the burden of medical expenses. "The SmartHealth PayCard is a financial cure for healthcare," says Blankinship. "Our credit card is designed to ease the burden of medical expenses, giving Americans the means to pay for health needs right away and getting healthcare providers paid at time of service, so they can focus on providing exceptional care." Houston-based AFC Urgent Care franchisee, Shaun Gill, is at the frontline of healthcare with clinics operating 7 days a week. Gill sees how much families struggle to cover medical expenses. "Our patients shouldn't worry about how they are going to pay for our services," he says. "SmartHealth PayCard offers patients unprecedented benefits and a revolving credit line at substantially lower terms than other financing options."

SmartHealth PayCard looks forward to introducing exciting new features onto the card in the coming months as it expands its role as a financial cure for healthcare. About SmartHealth PayCard, LLC SmartHealth PayCard seeks to empower individuals and families with financial solutions and resources to simplify and improve healthcare. The team at SmartHealth PayCard has extensive experience in healthcare, insurance, government regulations, and finance. We seek to introduce transformative change to healthcare that benefits patients, healthcare providers, and society at large. Visit smarthealthpaycard.com About American Family Care: Founded by Dr. Bruce Irwin with a single location in 1982, American Family Care has pioneered the concept of non-emergency room urgent care. AFC has become the nation's leading provider of urgent care, accessible primary care, and occupational medicine, with 200 clinics and 600 in-network physicians caring for nearly 3 million patients a year. AFC's mission is to provide the best healthcare possible in an economical manner. Visit www.AmericanFamilyCare.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200311005520/en/

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MBABANE  Grandmothers are known to be protective of their grandchildren, but in an atypical case a woman is supporting her son who stands accused of sexually abusing his two minor children.



According to the police, the father would force his children to sleep on the same bed with him and would also allegedly force them to give him goodnight kisses. He would further allegedly force them to open the bathroom while they were taking a bath.

The minors are aged 14 and 16, respectively.

The State has since taken the two teenage girls to a place of safety after some of the relatives blew the whistle on the alleged abuse.



Rape



The father has been arrested and charged with rape under the Sexual Offences and Violence (SODV) Act. He is alleged to have raped the 16- year- old and in the process induced lifelong trauma to the complainant as he is her biological father.



It is alleged that the grandmother would always side with her son every time she was informed about the alleged abuse of the two minors. The name of the accused has been concealed to protect the identity of the complainants.



To show her support for his son, the woman has deposed to confirmatory affidavit where she is pleading with the court to release him (father) on bail. She is supporting her sons assertion that he did not sexually abuse one of the minors.



She informed the court that the accused needed to continue maintaining his children and if not granted bail, they would be greatly prejudiced.



According to the grandmother, two women, together with the children, came to collect clothes of the teenage girls without discussing anything with the family. She said she allowed them to take the children as she did not want to find herself breaking the law.



I wish to submit that the children were taken from their father without any discussion with anyone, including the whole family, and such was irregular. To date, we have not had any formal discussion as a family with whosoever is keeping the children, submitted the woman. She argued that this was in total violation of their rights as a family since the children were their responsibility.



In his opposing affidavit, the investigator of the case, Detective Constable Sifiso Ndlangamandla, submitted that the children first reported the abuse to the accuseds mother, who did not do anything. The minors, according to the investigator, then went on to report the alleged abuse to some of the accuseds relatives who then alerted the police.



Church



I submit that the accused has never resided in peace with his children, we would constantly get reports to the effect that the children at school were reporting incidents of abuse at home perpetrated by their father who is the accused in this matter.

These reports were also made to members of the church to which the accused and his family are members, submitted the investigator.

He also brought it to the attention of the court that the accused was once convicted and sentenced to five years imprisonment without an option of a fine after he had been charged for indecent assault of one of the children. According to the police officer, coincidentally it was the very same child who is the complainant in this matter.



He also dismissed the claim by the accused that the two children were at the Jehovas Witnesses Church in Manzini.

We never revealed where we were taking the children to for their own safety. I submit that we also did not reveal even to the accused persons mother as we have proof that in these kind of matters she always takes the accused persons side, contended Ndlangamandla. The law enforcer further denied the accused persons assertion that his (accused) relatives were not involved in the whole process of taking the children to a place of safety.



He told the court that there was an overwhelming evidence against the accused person in this matter and he (investigator) had no doubts that a conviction would be secured.



I submit that the complainant and some of the witnesses in this matter depend on the accused person for their needs and upkeep hence there is a great likelihood that if released on bail, he will influence them or intimidate the complainant and witnesses. They will end up not testifying, contended Ndlangamandla.



Witnesses



He went on to tell the court that the accused would influence or interfere with Crown witnesses as all those who are expected to testify were known to him. Ndlangamandla disclosed that some of the witnesses are related to the accused and the complainant was his biological daughter. He argued that the court could not completely ban communication between them due to the nature of their relationship.



He averred that the accused persons real homestead was unknown to the police and when they asked him his place of abode, he allegedly did not give a clear straight answer. The accused is said to have hinted that he was from the Republic of Mozambique. Ndlangamandla contended that there was likelihood that if released on bail, the accused would use an informal crossing when going to Mozambique or change his place of residence without anyone knowing his new location.



I submit that the accused came to the police station and reported not seeing his children. However, he did not want a docket or an enquiry file to be opened on the matter, submitted the investigator.

Advised

He narrated that at the police station, they advised the accused to go to the Social Welfare Department offices. Ndlangamandla said he was reliably informed that indeed on the following day, the accused went to the Social Welfare offices whereat he mentioned that he was looking for the children.

I dispute that none of the accused persons relatives know the whereabouts of the children. The relatives know the whereabouts of the minors since they were aware of the abuse that has been going on for some time, argued Ndlangamandla.

Appearing for the Crown is Precious Dlamini from the chamber of the Director of Public Prosecutions, while representing the accused is Mhlonishwa Shongwe. The bail application is pending before Judge Doris Tshabalala.
New Delhi: Thirteen of the 22 rebel MLAs in Madhya Pradesh have given an assurance that "they are not leaving the Congress", senior party leader Digvijaya Singh said on Thursday while expressing confidence that the Kamal Nath-led government in the state will win a floor test.

"We are not keeping quiet. We are not sleeping," Singh told PTI, a day after Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia quit the Congress and 22 MLAs submitted their resignations from the assembly in Madhya Pradesh.

As uncertainty grew over the future of the Congress government in the state, pushed to the brink of collapse, Singh said nobody anticipated that Scindia, a former Union minister and four-time Lok Sabha MP, would quit the party.

"We did not anticipate that Scindia will quit the Congress... that was a mistake," Singh said.

He added that Scindia was offered the post of Madhya Pradesh deputy chief minister but wanted his nominee. However, Kamal Nath refused to accept a "chela", he said.

Scindia, Singh said, could have been a Congress nominee to the Rajya Sabha but "only Modi-Shah" can give a Cabinet post to the "over-ambitious" leader.

The senior leader also claimed that Scindia was roped in by the BJP after Shivraj Singh Chouhan failed to topple the Cong government in Madhya Pradesh. He alleged that the MLAs were offered a huge amount of money.

Scindia is likely to join the BJP in the presence of party president JP Nadda. The Congress has a wafer thin majority in the 228-member assembly. Before the rebellion, its tally was 114. It also has the support of four Independents, two BSP MLAs and one from the SP, but some may now switch sides to the BJP.

If the resignations of the 22 MLAs are accepted, the strength of the assembly will fall to 206. The Congress, on its own, will then be left with 92 seats while the BJP has 107 seats with the magic number for a majority being 104.
Ivanka Trump cut a stylish figure when she stepped out of her Washington, D.C. home in a $1,725 plaid coat by Marco de Vincenzo on Wednesday

With the temperature in the low 50s, the first daughter bared her legs in a pale pink knee-length pencil skirt, but she kept warm in a black turtleneck that could be seen peeking out of the collar of her gray and white coat.

Ivanka, 38, topped off her mod-inspired look with a pair of gray suede pumps and a $2,590 black leather bag by Loewe.

On the go: Ivanka Trump was seen leaving her Washington, D.C. home around 9:40 a.m. on Wednesday morning as the coronavirus continues to rapidly spread across the world

Outfit of the day: The 38-year-old first daughter wore a $1,725 plaid coat by Marco de Vincenzo over a black turtleneck and a pencil skirt

The White House senior adviser has kept a relatively low-profile this week, though she did share an adorable photo of her eight-year-old daughter, Arabella, decked out in camouflage fatigues.

The proud mom took to Instagram on Monday to post the snapshot, which shows her only daughter wearing a camouflage cap that matches her shirt and pants and small hoop earrings.

She is beaming for the camera as she gives a salute while holding her dog, Winter, underneath her arm.

'Arabella and K9,' Ivanka captioned the snapshot.

The next morning, she was seen sitting in the back seat of a Secret Service SUV when she left her home straight from her garage.

Too cute: Earlier this week, she shared an adorable photo of her eight-year-old daughter, Arabella, posing with her dog, Winter, while modeling camouflage fatigues

Accessories: Ivanka topped off her look with gray pumps and a $2,590 leather bag by Loewe

Style: Ivanka's straight blonde hair was center-parted and worn loose around her shoulders

And while she strutted out the front gate of her home around 9:40 a.m. on Wednesday, she failed to raise a smile when she headed to work.

She is known to smile and wave to the photographers standing outside her door, but she was laser-focused on the SUV parked at the curb.

Ivanka has had her Marco de Vincenzo for a couple of years now, and the first time she wore it in December 2017, she paired it with black leggings and knee-high boots with laces.

When she splurges on designer pieces, she tends to wear them more than once. Although the distinctive A-line coat features a wide collar, epaulets, and four large white buttons, she was able to create a whole new look with it.

The red string bracelet that she often wears on her left wrist could be seen sticking out from underneath her sleeve when she left her home.

Go-to look: The first daughter sported her signature smokey eye makeup and deep rose lipstick

Eye on the prize: Ivanka failed to raise a smile and instead focused on the Secret Service SUV parked in front of her home

She hasn't spoken about the purpose of the string, but it does bear a resemblance to the type of red string that Kabbalah practitioners wear to ward off the 'evil eye.'

Ivanka's straight blonde hair was center-parted and worn loose around her shoulders. She also sported her signature smokey eye makeup and deep rose lipstick.

She held her designer handbag in her right hand as she strutted to the vehicle and headed to work for the day.

Ivanka's husband, fellow White House Senior adviser Jared Kushner, was also seen leaving the front gate of their home on Wednesday morning.

He had on one of his standard navy blue suits, which he paired with a red tie, and he carried his black work bag in his left hand.

Go shop: Ivanka later took to social media to encourage people to 'support small businesses' during the coronavirus outbreak as the number of cases surpasses 120,000 worldwide

Hiding out: On Tuesday, Ivanka was seen sitting in the back seat of a Secret Service SUV when she left her home straight from her garage

The 39-year-old father of three stepped out the door around 7:45 a.m.  about two hours before his wife left for the day.

Shortly after Ivanka headed to work, she encouraged her social media followers to support small businesses during the coronavirus outbreak.

'While Americans must be vigilant, careful, and calm in response to Coronavirus, heeding all guidance and best practices, please make an extra effort to support small businesses in your community! We are all in this together, one nation!' she wrote on Twitter and her Instagram Story.

The World Health Organization declared coronavirus (COVID-19) a global pandemic on Wednesday as the illness continues to rapidly spread, with the number of cases surpassing 120,000 worldwide.

Both Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden canceled campaign rallies Tuesday night in Cleveland, Ohio, because of the outbreak. They said they were heeding the advice of local health officials and were aware that large rallies could help spread the disease.

All smiles: Ivanka's husband, Jared Kushner, was seen leaving their home around 7:45 a.m. on Wednesday morning

Off to work: Jared, 39, had on one of his standard navy blue suits, which he paired with a red tie, and he carried his black work bag in his left hand

Michelle Obama also postponed her kick-off rally for her non-profit 'When We All Vote,' which was originally supposed to take place on March 27 in Detroit, Michigan.

Organizers announced Wednesday that 'out of an abundance of caution for the health and safety of attendees and individuals' the event would be nixed and the group would try to reschedule it for a later date.

President Donald Trump, however, has made no such commitment to scale back on his campaign rallies and visits.

He will fly Las Vegas, Nevada, on Thursday to participate in the Republican Jewish Coalition's annual conference, and he plans on making a side trip to Denver, Colorado, though he hasn't announced if he's holding a rally.

Trump has also announced that he'll attend a 'Catholics for Trump' campaign launch event next week in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
The novel coronavirus or the SARS-CoV-2 is the cause of the COVID-19. It first made international headlines after it had an outbreak in China in December 2019, says an article.

To know if you are positive for the illness, you have to be tested first.

Read also: Coronavirus Survivors Tell the Secret to Their Recovery

The Novel Coronavirus Test

The available techniques used for the diagnosis of the coronavirus are molecular tests. This type of test makes use of the polymerase chain reaction or the PCR. The PCR is used to detect small particles of the virus.

The test makes use of biology's natural features. It primarily scans through all of the RNA of a sample, The samples can be gathered through a throat or nose swab or phlegm. This will help identify the presence of the coronavirus RNA. The scanning process occurs with the usage of test components such as probes and primers. These are sequence-based. This means that it can be specifically made in -relation to the virus.

If the coronavirus is present in the sample, the DNA's short snippet gets copied multiple times. This will allow a machine to read out the virus.

In the situation where there is an absence of the deadly coronavirus in the sample, then there is no DNA fragment created and there is no signal to detect.

The test of the CDC was crafted to make us of three primary sets of primers and probes. Two are uniquely able to match the novel coronavirus and the third one matches various highly similar viruses.

Testing Positive for the COVID-19

A person infected with the novel coronavirus should test positive for the three primary sets of primers and probes. Someone without the illness tests negative for the three. A person positive for SARS will only test positive with the third probe and primer sets. This allows a better distinction between the SARS-CoV-2 and other identical viruses. However, it should be noted that this is a hypothetical case and there is no SARS outbreak.

Discovery of a New Test Procedure

Eventually, the CDC will develop a different serology test. This test will help identify if a person can create antibodies to fight the novel coronavirus infection. This test can be used without the need of having a person actively infected by the virus. This will help provide answers about the total number of COVID-19 cases. Also, it will provide an insight into how deadly the new coronavirus is in large populations.

The CDC Test Kits: What Went Wrong?

At the beginning of the outbreak of the COVID-19, all of the testing for the deadly virus was made exclusively at the CDC with its kit. The tests performed well. The CDC's COVID-19 testing kits were used to detect the first case of the dangerous virus in the United States of America on January 20. The patient traveled from Wuhan to the state of Washington.

A report originating from the CDC revealed that from January 18 to February 23, the CDC had already tested 2,620 samples from 1,000 people.

Problems started surfacing on February 5 when the CDC started sending its testing kits to qualified states and local public health laboratories. This was the agency's effort to expand the testing for the virus. However, when the kits were sent out, laboratories reported having experienced issues with verification tests.

The CDC is yet to clarify the issue. However, they said it was a manufacturing-related concern.
The number of dead from riots in Italys overcrowded prisons over measures imposed to contain the coronavirus rose to 12 on Tuesday, officials said.

Rome: The number of dead from riots in Italys overcrowded prisons over measures imposed to contain the coronavirus rose to 12 on Tuesday, officials said. Inmates, many angered by restrictions on family visits, started going on the rampage on Sunday, setting fires, taking hostages and escaping from one prison.

The most violent protests were under control by Tuesday, the ministry said in a statement, but occupations and demonstrations were still going on in 10 prisons.

All hostages, most of them guards and health workers, had been released by the inmates or freed by police.

Seven inmates died in the Modena prison on Sunday and Monday. On Tuesday, two others were found dead there as well as three in a prison in Rieti, northeast of Rome.

Most of the deaths were believed to be from overdoses of drugs the inmates stole from clinics they rampaged, the ministry said.

Fifty inmates escaped from a prison in southern Foggia on Monday and only 22 had been re-arrested by Tuesday morning, the justice ministry said.

The protests and riots began after authorities limited the inmates contacts with family members in a bid to stop the spread of the coronavirus, which has hit Italy harder than anywhere else in Europe.

Italian prisons are chronically overcrowded, which could make inmates and staff more vulnerable to the contagion. They hold about 61,250 inmates, about 10,000 more than they were built to accommodate.
TROY  A major restructuring initiative at Hudson Valley Community College, which includes consolidation of multiple departments and the installment of the new department chairpersons, is drawing criticism from the current department chairs and union representatives who say the changes were made without faculty input and may violate the terms of their collective bargaining agreement.

HVCC Vice President of Academic Affairs Judy DiLorenzo in a Dec. 4 memo announced that the administration would consolidate several of the college's 23 academic departments, downsizing the Troy community college to 16 departments in total, effective June 1, as part of a strategy to boost enrollment and develop new programs to attract student interest.

In her letter to the campus community, DiLorenzo said the reorganization was intended to help align the school with SUNY Guided Pathways, address enrollment challenges and create new academic programming.

Guided Pathways, a data-driven educational model that in recent years has been embraced by 2- and 4-year public colleges across the nation, aims to streamline and widen the pathways to graduation in every academic program and make these maps easily accessible to students. HVCC is part of the second cohort among SUNY community colleges implementing the model.

"Several colleges participating in the first cohort of SUNY Guided Pathways have also implemented a restructuring of departments as one of the first steps in the process," DiLorenzo wrote.

The consolidation plan, approved by President Roger A. Ramsammy and the Board of Trustees, called for the creation of five new academic departments and unseated at least 11 department chairpersons, five them officers in the HVCC Department Chairperson Association, an affiliate of the New York State United Teachers (NYSUT).

The DC Association is now seeking to file an improper practice charge with Public Employees Review Board (PERB) later this month charging that the department reorganization was motivated by union animosity, not organizational efficiency, a spokesperson for NYSUT has confirmed.

DiLorenzo noted that all department chairpersons affected by the reorganization were allowed to remain in their current positions until May 30, and were given the choice to apply for the new department chairperson positions or return to full-time faculty status. Several former faculty chairs elected to retire, but the plan did not result in a net loss of employees at the college.

Much of the contention stems from a decision to place under one roof the criminal justice, business, public administration, and forensic science departments. Another department combines automotive technologies and computer sciences.

The department chairs, in a letter to the administration obtained by the Times Union, argued that the move lacked transparency and violated the college's longstanding tenets of shared governance. In particular, they note that Guided Pathways is specifically intended to incorporate feedback from student- and faculty-led committees.

"All Guided Pathways subcommittees formed have yet to issue reports, recommendations, or suggestions. In fact, no Guided Pathway committee was informed of the reorganization. Guided Pathways purports to involve collaborative planning and implementation as well as inclusive decision making." the letter states.

The DC Association is requesting that the action be delayed until "the appropriate Guided Pathways committees issue their findings and recommendations," according to a letter from union leaders to the administration obtained by the Times Union.

Several faculty members, who declined to be named citing fear of retaliation, suggested that some of the new department chair positions were tailored toward particular candidates or to exclude others.

For example, a prerequisite to lead the joint business and criminal justice department was a master's degree in business administration or a related field, which would exclude candidates with expertise in criminal justice or forensic sciences.

The job listing for two of the new positions required a minimum of a bachelor's degree, including one for a role that would oversee math and engineering, civil construction/industrial/mechanical technologies.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

Minimal qualifications were listed "in order to allow for promotional consideration of all faculty within specific departments," college spokesman Dennis Kennedy said. "Ultimately, the selected candidates had masters degrees and additional industry certifications."

The decision was also apparently made without feedback from the HVCC Faculty Senate, which signed off on the DC Association letter, and the Student Senate, which in January approved a resolution requesting that the changes be on hold until college leaders have heard potential concerns from students.

Student Senate President Zion Sherin said he first heard of the restructuring plan in December from students in the criminal justice program who were concerned about the program being placed under leadership in the business department.

"We were not upset about the merger per se, we wanted to make sure that in the future students are involved in issues that impact them," Sherin, a business major, said.

Administrators say that the new structure will encourage more interdisciplinary collaboration and grant faculty with the most programmatic and industry expertise to receive paid "release time" from teaching to support department chairs with the implementation of new enrollment, retention and student success strategies.

HVCC Faculty Senate President Joseph Schneider said that faculty members do not dispute that the reorganization may support students and help facilitate Guided Pathways, which requires more compatibility between classes in different disciplines. Rather, he said, the "jury is still out" on the plan, which did not include input from stakeholders.

"We supported (DC Association's) letter because we thought the reorganization was premature," Schneider said. "It may turn out to be a good move, but we didn't think all the research had been done and we thought the reorganization was a little premature."

The Faculty Senate is in the process of putting together a committee to examine if the consolidation will benefit students, reduce costs, and help facilitate the Guided Pathways process.

DiLorenzo said that school officials have since met with students and faculty to discuss their concerns. However, she said, "they are advisory, they don't make the ultimate decision, this is strictly a management decision."

Ann Geisendorfer, president of the Department Chairperson's Association, the outgoing criminal justice chair, and HVCC Faculty Association President Robert "Sid" Whitaker, of the English Department, both declined to comment on the matter.
Govt ready to continue cooperation with IMF  Ukrainian PM's phone call with IMF mission

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal spoke by phone with the IMF team led by Head of IMF Mission in Ukraine Ron van Rooden, and the sides discussed the further steps of cooperation.

According to a report posted on the government's website late on Tuesday, Finance Minister of Ukraine Ihor Umansky and Justice Minister Denys Maliuska took part in the conversation.

"The government of Ukraine is ready to continue cooperation with the IMF. The top priority is to launch the IMF Extended Fund Facility [EFF], especially to support structural reforms, macroeconomic and financial stability in the country," Shmyhal said.

The prime minister said that the government of Ukraine is committed to implementing reforms that are an important prerequisite for economic stability and development.

The new EFF is of utmost importance at the current stage of Ukraine's development, he said.

The parties also discussed further priority steps in the cooperation.

Shmyhal emphasized the importance of comprehensive support provided by the IMF to Ukraine.
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Republican Sen. Rob Portman on Wednesday backed an effort by Democrats to overturn a Trump administration policy that critics say would make it harder to forgive the loans of student borrowers who were defrauded by their schools or harmed by their closure.

Portman was among 10 Republicans who backed a Democrat-sponsored Senate resolution to block the U.S. Department of Educations 2019 Borrower Defense rule. The rule would make it harder to cancel the loans of students at shuttered institutions like the for-profit ITT Technical Institute. Portman said ITTs 2016 closure left many Ohio students "high and dry, and I want to be sure that they can get recourse.

If the school is fraudulent and gets them there under false pretenses, they should have some relief on their student debt, Portman told reporters on Tuesday. He said hed like to see Education Secretary Betsy DeVos come up with a compromise that actually makes sense to protect students while not creating a bonanza for trial lawyers," adding that he was also dissatisfied with the Obama administrations policy on the matter.

Wednesdays measure passed by a 53 to 42 vote. The Democrat-controlled House of Representatives approved it in January with support from six Republicans, none of whom were from Ohio.

Ohio Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown said the education departments rewrite of an Obama-administration rule made it almost impossible for students to get the relief Congress intended for them to receive under the Higher Education Act. He said ITTs 2016 collapse affected nearly 45,000 students around the nation, including more than 6,000 veterans, saddling them with high levels of student debt and little hope for repaying it. His office said the ITT closure hurt more than 3,000 Ohio students at campuses in Akron, Columbus, Dayton, Hilliard, Maumee, Norwood, Strongsville, Warrensville Heights and Youngstown.

ITT Techs unfair and often fraudulent practices left thousands of Ohio students with near-worthless degrees or credits, tens of thousands of dollars in loan debt, and limited job prospects, said a statement from Brown. We need strong protections for students to prevent this from ever happening again."

The 2015 closure of the for-profit Corinthian Colleges prompted the Department of Education under President Obama to issue regulations to protect borrowers from misleading and predatory practices by postsecondary institutions and clarify a process for loan forgiveness in cases of institutional misconduct. After Trump took office, his Department of Education rewrote the old rule, which Republicans like Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee chair Lamar Alexander of Tennessee had argued was too broad.

In a Tuesday speech to support the Trump administrations change, Alexander said the Obama-era rule required that borrowers show that they were misled  not that they were financially harmed - to have their loans forgiven. Noting that the old rule would forgive loans of students who werent financially harmed by their schools deceptions, Alexander said DeVos changes restore the original intent of the law  that a borrower must be misled and harmed.

Texas GOP Sen. John Cornyn added that erasing debt isnt fair to the parents who started saving for their kids college even before they started walking or the college student who worked multiple jobs to graduate with little or no debt at all or decided to go to a community college at a lower cost before they then transferred to a four-year institution and found a way to mitigate or keep their debt manageable," as well as those who chose not to go to college and got saddled with someone elses debt. He said the Obama administration policy made it too easy for students to claim misrepresentations, so it was ripe for abuse.

The new rule establishes a clear standard for students to get individual debt relief and helps those impacted by school closures to find a way to finish their degree, said Cornyn. It also takes big steps to hold schools accountable."

Brown said the rewrite gutted the old rules student and taxpayer protections to protect predatory for-profit institutions, and that DeVos failed to process more than 220,000 borrower defense applications that were pending at the education department as of September 2019. He said many for-profit schools are predatory, targeting low-income black, Latino, and first-generation college students, many of whom are veterans, looking to start a new career. He said the new rule will allow them to continue to run the same scams on other students.

He cited the case of Lima resident Tasha Berkhalter, an Army veteran and mother of four who exhausted her G.I. Bill benefits and accumulated nearly $100,000 in debt enrolling in an ITT criminal justice program she hoped would translate into a forensics career with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Instead of getting a better job after graduation, Berkhalter was left in debt with a degree she says that no one takes seriously.

When I told employers where I went, I was shown the door, said a statement from Berkhalter, who described the experience as stressful and depressing. Out of the 50 students I graduated with, only two I know of are in our field, but those jobs dont require the degree.

More than 50 organizations, including groups that represent consumers, educators and veterans, support overturning the Trump administration policy. A letter from groups such as the Consumer Federation of America, Public Citizen and the American Federation of Teachers estimated the new rule would cancel only three percent of loans that result from school misconduct, and schools would be held accountable for reimbursing taxpayers for just one percent of the loans. It said the rule would impose unreasonable time limits on student borrowers who were deceived by their schools and would require applicants to meet thresholds that make it almost impossible for wronged borrowers to obtain loan cancellation.

Even though the reversal has been adopted by both the Senate and House, it is still possible that President Trump will veto it. The federal Office of Management and Budget recommends that he do so, arguing that the rule at issue puts students first and ensures that student borrowers who have been defrauded by an institution of higher education have access to individualized debt relief." Overturning the rule would undermine the ability of students to make educational choices that meet their needs, the agency argues.

The Trump Administrations rule establishes a clear standard for borrower defenses to repayment, providing transparency to both students and institutions," its statement said. If a student enrolls at an institution based on a knowing misrepresentation, the rule provides that student with a fair process to obtain debt relief.

Read more coverage:

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Meet Rep. Marcia Fudge and the people whod like to replace her in Congress

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Ohio Congress members want government action on coronavirus

Meet Rep. Marcy Kaptur and the people who want to replace her in Congress
Half of people who voted to leave the EU are proud of the British Empire. (Getty)

Half of the people who voted to leave the European Union are proud of the British Empire, while only a fifth of Remainers say the same, according to a new YouGov poll.

The data also shows 53% of Conservative voters think the British Empire is more something to be proud of than ashamed of, while 21% of Labour supporters agree.

In total 51% of Brexiters said Britains former colonies benefited from their inclusion in the empire, compared with 22% of Remain voters.

The stats also show 66% of people who voted to stay in the EU dont wish the empire was still around.

But Leave voters are split, with 39% wishing the empire still existed and 40% disagreeing.

Read more: John Bercow mocks Boris Johnson and Tory MPs over chances of 'strong Brexit'

Voters are divided on the British Empire. (YouGov)

The YouGov poll shows the Dutch (50%) are most proud of their colonial past, with Brits (32%) second and the French (26%) third.

Further down on the list were Belgium (23%), Italy (21%), Japan (18%), Spain (11%) and Germany (9%).

YouGov said: While the Dutch are substantially more proud of their empire than other peoples, they tend to be far more circumspect on whether their former colonies are better off for the experience.

Only about a quarter of Dutch people (27%) believe their old colonies are better off as a result of their presence.

This puts them in fourth overall, behind the 33% of Britons, 32% of Japanese people and 30% of French people who think this.

Read more: Tory MP calls for new June bank holiday to celebrate Brexit referendum

How proud are people of their former empires? (Picture: YouGov)

The Labour Party last year in its general election manifesto pledged to ensure historical injustice, colonialism and role of the British Empire is taught in the national curriculum.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said he wanted the unbelievable levels of brutality of colonialism committed in the slave trade to be part and parcel of what our children learn all year round.

Labour leadership contender Lisa Nandy has also promised to remove references to the empire from the honours system if she becomes prime minister.

The sample size for the poll included 1,684 adults who were surveyed in the UK in June 2019.
Mindful of the coronavirus outbreak, when French President Emmanuel Macron greeted Spain's king and queen on March 11, he replaced the traditional handshake with an Indian-style namaste, pressing his palms together and bowing slightly.

Beside Macron as he welcomed King Felipe in the courtyard of the Elysee Palace in Paris, French first lady Brigitte Macron played her part too, blowing a kiss in the direction of Queen Letizia by way of greeting.

European public health authorities say people should avoid shaking hands to curb the spread of coronavirus, which can be transmitted through skin-to-skin contact.

Spain has 2,124 confirmed cases of the virus, while in France there are 1,784 cases, according to the latest data collated by Reuters.

In France, the outbreak has reached the heart of political power, with Macron's culture minister testing positive, and his chief of staff in isolation after coming into contact with an infected person.

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

Heir to the British throne Prince Charles deployed the namaste-style greeting instead of handshakes earlier this week as he greeted guests at a Commonwealth event in London.
New Delhi, March 11 : Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday blasted the opposition for allegedly misrepresenting the Citizenship Amendment Act, opposition to which was the primary reason for Delhi violence. He also suggested that Congress interim chief Sonia Gandhi's "hate speech" was the reason behind the Shaheen Bagh agitation.

"Ek badi party ki rally hui, 'Ghar ke bahar niklo', 'Yeh aar paar ki ladai hai' kaha gaya, yeh hate speech nahi lagti aapko? (A big party at its rally said 'Come out of your houses', 'This is a fight to the finish... doesn't this seem like hate speech to you?" he said in his reply to the debate in the Lok Sabha on the violence in northeast Delhi.

Shah was referring to Gandhi's speech at Ramlila Ground on December 14 and he alleged that her speech led to Shaheen Bagh protest that was launched immediately after, on December 15.

Urging lawmakers from desisting making communal connotations out of the Delhi riots, Shah refused to give death and injury figures according to religion. "For me, they all are Indians," he said amid treasury bench members thumping their desks.

Recalling former PM Rajiv Gandhi's infamous "If a big tree falls, the earth shakes" comment, Shah said his intention is to remind the Congress about its own track record.

Calling the Delhi riot a result of conspiracy, he said: "The spread of riots on such a big scale in such a short time is not possible without a conspiracy. We have registered a case of conspiracy to probe this angle. Three people have been arrested for financing the violence in northeast Delhi." Also citing "communal statements" made by AIMIM leader Waris Pathan and other comments that were made in Delhi in the run up to the Delhi riots, he assured families of every victim that "perpetrators wont be spared, regardless of their religion, come what may".

"How can you say it takes away citizenship of people. Forget Muslims, it doesn't take away citizenship of anyone," said Shah, adding that it is a "lie" which is being spread that pro-CAA protests created riots. He also claimed that there have been more pro-CAA rallies than anti-CAA rallies.

Before the Congress walked out, Shah said: "I would like to place on record that after February 25, no incident of rioting took place. There have been attempts to politicise these riots."
Less than a week after Turkey and Russia agreed to a cease-fire in Syrias Idlib province, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his military reserves the right to retaliate should any of Turkeys observation posts be targeted. During a speech to lawmakers March 11, Erdogan said Turkey was monitoring small violations of the fragile truce.

Turkey will do more than mere retaliation if its observation posts in Idlib are targeted, he told members of his Justice and Development Party (AKP) during a meeting in Ankara, according to state-run Anadolu Agency.

Erdogan called the security of Turkeys 12 observation posts in Idlib, set up as part of a previous de-escalation agreement, a top priority.

We are closely monitoring the deployment of the [Bashar al-Assad] regime and allied militants near the cease-fire lines, he said.

In recent weeks, Turkey has stepped up its military presence in the northwestern enclave, inching closer to a direct confrontation with Russia. The two countries back rival sides of the war, with Turkey supporting some of the rebels trying to overthrow Assad, and Russia backing the regime.

Last week, Ankara and Moscow agreed to a cease-fire covering Idlib that would involve joint Turkish-Russian patrols and a newly established security corridor along the M4 highway.

A Russian military delegation arrived in Ankara March 10 to hash out details of the new accord. Beginning March 15, Turkey will patrol north of the corridor and Russian forces will patrol the south.

After nearly nine years of war, Idlib province is the last major swath of the country still in the hands of the opposition. In the past three months, the Russian-backed offensive in the northwest has displaced nearly 1 million people  the overwhelming majority women and children, according to the United Nations.

Turkey, which already hosts more than 3.5 million Syrian refugees, worries about the influx of displaced people on its southern border. The majority of the displaced have ended up in overcrowded camps or taken shelter in abandoned buildings. Others are sleeping in the open air.

Erdogan took aim at European leaders March 11 for not fulfilling commitments made under a 2016 deal designed to help stem the flow of refugees to Europe. Ankara says it has not received all the promised funding, as well as other commitments, including visa-free travel for Turkish citizens.

We dont want any aid from anyone. Were also not begging for someone. Our only demand is that the EU keeps its pledges made to our country, Erdogan said, according to Turkish newspaper Hurriyet Daily News.
The hospital chain that cared for the first coronavirus patient in the U.S. is considering treating a potential crush of new patients in temporary arrangements, its CEO told CNBC on Wednesday.

"We're already looking at how we use our ICU beds, how can we use alternative areas of care, including setting up tents outside of our hospitals," Rod Hochman, CEO of Providence St. Joseph Health, said on CNBC's "Squawk on the Street." "We're trying to stay way in front of this as we see a wave of patients potentially coming forward."

Providence St. Joseph Health, which operates 51 hospitals across seven states, treated the first COVID-19 patient in the U.S. in January, a 35-year-old man from Snohomish County in Washington state.

"We're already going through the process of looking where we have capacity, what we need to do, and what do we have to do in front of it," Hochman said.

Most of Providence's hospitals are along the West Coast, which is particularly hard hit by the virus. In California and Washington state, the virus has infected more than 430 people, according to Johns Hopkins University. That's nearly half of all U.S. cases.
Attorney general William Barr released a statement Wednesday in support of a bipartisan House deal to reauthorize FISAs expiring surveillance powers, after some Republicans signaled they needed Barrs approval before supporting the legislation.

The bill contains an array of new requirements and compliance provisions that will protect against abuse and misuse in the future while ensuring that this critical tool is available when appropriate to protect the safety of the American people, Barr said. He added that he planned to work with FBI Director Christopher Wray to promulgate additional, implementing rules that advance these reforms.

Senators Lindsey Graham and Richard Burr had said they wanted Barrs approval of the House bill before signing onto the project.

The deal, which was reached Tuesday and could be voted on Wednesday, comes ahead of the March 15 expiration of three of FISAs security powers, and after Barr met Monday evening with House Republicans to talk over possible steps. Barrs comments to GOP Senators during a private lunch angered some Republicans after he pushed for a clean reauthorization of FISA.

The new deal, which reauthorizes the expiring powers while enhancing punishments for FISA leaks has apparently placated Trump allies on the Hill, who were motivated to pass reforms after the December report from DOJ inspector general Michael Horowitz detailed how FISA was abused by the FBI to spy on the Trump campaign.

We need serious reforms to the FISA process so that what happened in 2016 cannot happen again in 2020. This bill makes numerous important improvements to the Democrat bill.  Rep. Jim Jordan (@Jim_Jordan) March 11, 2020

But FISA hawks on both sides of the aisle remained unconvinced by the purported reform effort, with Representative Zoe Lofgren (D., Calif.), who sponsored the Safeguarding Americans Private Records Act (SAPRA) in January, saying Wednesday that she would not support the deal, calling it not real reform.

Story continues

Civil-liberty advocates on the Republican side are also unhappy with the deal. Representatives Andy Biggs of Arizona and Warren Davidson of Ohio both criticized the deals status quo, and are joined by Senators Mike Lee of Utah and Rand Paul of Kentucky in the Senate.

More from National Review
Myanmar national Shein Latt (L) and his boss US national John Fredric Todoroki (R) leave a local court after being arrested for operating a hemp plantation in Ngunzun township, central Myanmar's Mandalay region, May 7, 2019.

A Myanmar court on Tuesday sentenced a Myanmar national to 20 years in jail for working on a hemp plantation operated by a U.S. citizen, deemed illegal by police because it grew cannabis, a local police official said.

Shein Latt was arrested on April 22, 2019, during a raid of the 20-acre plantation on an industrial estate in Ngunzun township of central Myanmars Mandalay region. Also arrested were American entrepreneur John Frederic Todoroki and Shunlei Myat Noe, a Myanmar woman who worked as a translator.

The Myingyan District Court in central Myanmars Mandalay region handed down the prison term to Shein Latt, a supervisor who installed the plantations irrigation system, under two sections of the Anti-Narcotics Drug and Psychotropic Substances Law, for growing prohibited cannabis plants, said police officer Zaw Aung.

Shunlei Myat Noe was freed in February after a court dismissed her case following a ruling that she had played no part in the hemp farms operations.

Authorities released Todoroki on bail of 325 million kyats (U.S. $221,600) in July 2019 for medical reasons. But he failed to appear at several subsequent court hearings and has reportedly left Myanmar.

The U.S. Embassy declined to provide RFA information about him.

Todorokis attorneys have told the Myanmar media that they lost contact with their client in November, according to an Associated Press report. Since then, the court has issued an arrest warrant for him and ordered that his bail be forfeited.

Six days after the arrest of the trio, Mandalay regions chief minister told RFAs Myanmar Service that his government had granted permission to Todorokis firm, III M Global Nutraceutical Co., to grow fiber plants for one year.

At that time, attorney Thein Than Oo said the hemp plants were being grown for use in scientific research for possible drugs to treat cancer, and not to produce marijuana.

The whole case has been built on unconfirmed accusations he told RFA Tuesday. They wrote to the Mandalay regional government for official permission and got it. They believed the business would make the farmers rich.

Myanmar law does not distinguish between hemp, which contains non-intoxicating cannabidiol (CBD) that is sometimes used medicinally, and marijuana, which contains tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the mind-altering ingredient found in cannabis.

Drug abuse authorities determined that five U.S. citizens still at large also had a hand in the hemp farm operations.

Reported by Thant Zin Oo for RFAs Myanmar Service. Translation by Maung Maung Nyo. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- West Michigan voters are ready to hit the polls today for the 2020 presidential primary. Along with presidential candidates, many Kent and Ottawa county voters will also be deciding the fate of tax proposals for townships and schools.

Results of the Tuesday, March 10 election will be posted here as soon as they begin coming in after the polls close at 8 p.m.

RELATED: Polling location changes, listing error cause early voter confusion

If you are reading this in your Facebook app, use this link to view the entire gallery of photos.

Some county clerks have indicated that results could be delayed due the volume of absentee ballots.

KENT COUNTY

Wyoming Public Schools operating millage

Yes - 4,060

No - 1,926

Sparta Township fire equipment millage renewal

Yes - 1,450

No - 498

Sparta Township fire station improvement and vehicles purchase renewal

Yes - 1,395

No - 563

Grattan Township road millage proposal

Yes - 493

No - 544

OTTAWA COUNTY

Park Township airport millage

Yes - 3,581

No - 4,612

Robinson Township road maintenance millage renewal

Yes - 889

No - 387

For the latest unofficial results from other communities in the region visit these websites:

Allegan County

Montcalm County

Ionia County

Kalamazoo County

Newaygo County

Michigan Presidential Primary

More on MLive:

Gov. Whitmer declares state of emergency as first coronavirus cases confirmed in Michigan

Joe Biden wins Michigan Democratic presidential primary

Saugatuck Public Schools pass bond on third try
Eighty-three people, including nine foreigners of India origin, who arrived here on Wednesday from COVID-19 hit Italy on an Air Indian flight have been quarantined at the Army facility in Manesar near Delhi, officials said.

The Indian Army said 16 children (six female and 10 male) and one infant are among the 83 people.

"Seventy-four individuals are Indian nationals and remaining nine are foreigners of Indian origin (six Italians and three US nationals)," the officials said.

Italy is one of the nations severely affected by coronavirus, with several parts under lockdown to prevent transmission.

The evacuees will be monitored for two weeks by a qualified team of doctors and staff members, to watch for any signs of infection.

"If any individual is suspected to be infected, he/she will be shifted to an isolation facility," the officials added.

Daily medical examination of all 83 people will be done at the facility, they said.

After 14 days, persons with no symptoms will be allowed to go home with their detailed documentation sent to the district, state surveillance units for further observation, the officials said.

Apart from playing games, watching TV and having meals together within a barrack, no one will be allowed to interact with the members of another barrack and definitely not of another sector, they said.

"Those found infected will be shifted to Safdarjung hospital isolation ward for further medical exams and recovery. Samples will be sent to Department of Virology AIIMS and confirmation will be done by the NCDC (National Centre for Disease Control)," they added.

Indian students brought to India from China were also kept at the Army's quarantine centre in Manesar.

The Union health ministry said on Wednesday the number of confirmed cases of novel coronavirus in India has risen to 60, with two fresh positive cases -- one each from Delhi and Rajasthan -- being reported.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Samsung is apparently getting ready to expand its M series of smartphones even further. The company has been working on the Galaxy M11, which, when launched, will become the entry-level model of the family.

The M11 has surfaced through a listing in the Google Play Console, which certifies the fact that this handset is coming soon. It also thankfully features a picture of its front:

There are some specs listed too. The Galaxy M11 will have a touchscreen with 720x1560 resolution, and, as you can see from the image above, a punch-hole selfie camera in the upper left side.

The phone is powered by the Snapdragon 450 chipset, and it comes with 3GB of RAM. It will run Android 10 from day one, with Samsung's One UI 2.0 on top of course.

The Galaxy M11 was certified by the Wi-Fi Alliance back in January, a process that revealed it would only support the 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi band. The model was in the past rumored to arrive on the market in blue, black, and violet.

Via 1 | Via 2
Ahead of an imminent trust vote in MP, why Congress faces a tough task

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Mar 11: Jyotiraditya Scindia has formally joined the Bharatiya Janata Party. This now paves the way for some very interesting developments in Madhya Pradesh, where scores of Congress MLAs have resigned from the party.

In the 230 member house, two seats are vacant, which means in the current scenario, the half way mark is 115. Now that equation changes if the resignations of the 22 rebels are accepted.

In case the resignations are accepted the house strength falls to 206, which means the majority mark stands at 104. The BJP would have 107 and the Congress 97 in such a scenario. Even if the SP and BSP with 1 and 2 MLAs respectively support the Congress, the party would fall well short of the majority mark.

Scindia after joining the BJP said that the Congress is not what it used to be. I have worked for my state and nation through the Congress, but it has not been the same anymore. There is widespread corruption, sand mafia and farmer distress in Madhya Pradesh he said.

New leadership is not given chance in Congress, says Jyotiraditya Scindia after joining BJP

He also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister, Amit Shah and BJP president, J P Nadda as they took him into the family and gave them a position.

Meanwhile 95 legislators of the Congress reached Jaipur. They were welcomed by Rajasthan Chief Minister, J P Nadda at the party's headquarters.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Wednesday, March 11, 2020, 15:28 [IST]
WASHINGTON  Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on Wednesday said he would recommend to President Trump that the Internal Revenue Service delay tax payments without penalty or interest for virtually all Americans other than the superrich.

Mr. Mnuchin, testifying before House lawmakers, noted that all individuals are allowed to request tax filing extensions online but that this would be a special provision meant to help small and midsize businesses and hardworking individuals dealing with fallout from the coronavirus.

The delay would not apply to large corporations or the wealthiest Americans, Mr. Mnuchin said, but he did not elaborate on what the income or asset threshold would be for qualifying.

That will have the impact of putting over $200 billion back into the economy and that will create a very big stimulus, Mr. Mnuchin said, adding that the Treasury was already working to fund the initiative.
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Local officials representing nearly 85% of Ohios residents have agreed to a plan to share any money brought in from settlements with companies over the toll of opioids.

Gov. Mike DeWine and Attorney General Dave Yost, both Republicans, announced acceptance of the plan on Wednesday. They said that the communities who have agreed to the plan cover 9.8 of the states 11.7 million residents. While some local and county governments did not vote, none voted against the plan, the officials said.

Part of the plan is that Ohio and its local subdivisions would negotiate for settlements jointly.

No other state has announced a similar plan.

Drugmakers, distributors and pharmacies are facing about 3,000 lawsuits in the U.S. over the toll of opioids. Combined, prescription painkillers and illicit versions such as heroin and fentanyl have been linked to more than 430,000 deaths in the country since 2000.

Companies have showed a willingness to settle.

But one obstacle has been animosity between state and local governments over how to divide any money that comes in.

Under the OneOhio plan, 55% of the money would go to a stateside foundation that would address the crisis, 30% would go to community recovery efforts and be handled by local governments. The final 15% would go to the state government to be used to fund prevention, treatment and recovery services.

Its a simple concept, but when we are united, we are stronger. OneOhio puts us in the best position to face the drug companies (that) did so much to destroy lives and communities when they got Ohioans hooked on their highly addictive products, DeWine said in a statement.

A lawsuit filed by the state, an epicenter of the crisis, against the drug industry could go to trial later this year.

So far, companies have mostly settled cases before trial.

Two proposed nationwide settlements, from drugmakers Purdue Pharma and Mallinckrodt, are being pushed through bankruptcy courts.

And a group of three distributors and two drugmakers has made a national settlement offer that could be worth $88 billion over time in cash, treatment drugs and services. But a group of states, including Ohio, has pushed back against that plan.

Some of the urgency to reach a deal may have evaporated this week when a judge said he would postpone the next trial scheduled because of the novel coronavirus. Opening statements in the case had been expected to start in early April in Central Islip, New York.
U S presidential candidate Joe Biden told a factory worker he was "full of s***" in a heated exchange about gun control policies during a campaign stop. 

The former vice president was visiting a car manufacturing plant in Detroit when a worker said: "You are actively trying to end our second amendment right and take away our guns."

Mr Biden, 77, immediately shot down the accusation, telling him: "You're full of s***."

He continued: "I support the second amendment I have a shotgun, I have a 20-gauge, 12-gauge, my sons hunt Im not taking your gun away at all."

Joe Biden confronted by auto workers over gun control / AFP via Getty Images

The second amendment is the part of the US constitution that guarantees "the right of the people to keep and bear Arms" and dates back to the end of the 18th century.

But it has proven controversial in recent decades, following a spate of school shootings and other public attacks.

Mr Biden's website describes gun violence as "a public health epidemic".

Democratic US presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden / REUTERS

The site says he will "pursue constitutional, common-sense gun safety policies", including bringing back a law former president Barack Obama passed which restricts people with mental health problems from buying guns. President Trump repealed the law in 2016.

In the exchange, the worker added: "But you were with Beto [O'Rourke] when you said you were going to take our guns."

But Mr Biden replied: "I did not say that," and later told the worker "don't be such a horse's a**."

The worker was referencing a Facebook video in which Mr Biden said former Democratic rival Mr ORourke will change the face of what we deal with in regard to guns and assault weapons.

Facebook has since put a disclaimer on the video, saying it contains "partly false information".

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The video comes as Bernie Sanders was today facing calls to quit the Democratic nomination race as crushing victories for Mr Biden left the former vice-president as the runaway leader.

In a remarkable comeback, Mr Biden celebrated wins in the key battleground of Michigan, as well as in Mississippi, Missouri and Idaho.

The rivals were heading for a tie in Washington state, with Mr Sanders set to claim a sole victory in North Dakota, the smallest state to vote on Super Tuesday 2.

Mr Bidens bid to take on President Trump for the White House in November was on life support just two weeks ago, after poor performances in Iowa and New Hampshire, but he turned his campaign around when he swept South Carolina and then 10 of the 14 states that voted last Tuesday.
National Nurses United, the countrys largest professional nurses union, surveyed 6,500 nurses from 48 states to gauge preparedness for COVID-19. Results show that a vast majority of hospitals across the US have not properly prepared their staff for the virus. Only 44 percent of those respondents report that they have been educated by their employer on how to recognize and respond to possible COVID-19 cases. National Nurses United has begun petitioning the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to adopt higher standards.

The survey also shows that many nurses do not have sufficient access to Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). PPE includes disposable gowns, masks, gloves and goggles. Only 63 percent of nurses report having access on their unit to N95 respirator masks, a basic component of infection control. Powered Air Purifying Respirators (PAPRs) offer increased protection but are only available to 27 percent of those surveyed. Perhaps most concerning, only 30 percent of the surveyed nurses believe that their employer has a large enough PPE stock to handle an expected increase in coronavirus patients.

Nurses in hospital (Photo: gcasasola, pxhere.com)

Many nurses are also concerned that there is no plan to isolate infected patients or to handle an impending overflow of hospital units. Only 29 percent of survey participants report that their units have a plan for isolation of new infections, while 23 percent are unaware of any plans. Fourteen percent state that their employer has shared plans to ensure safe staffing as units fill up, while 43 percent report no plan has either been implemented or shared with them.

The survey also demonstrates that nurses are increasingly concerned that there is a lack of preparation to treat nurses who have been exposed to the coronavirus. Nineteen percent shared that their management has put plans in place to address suspected or known exposure to the virus, but 43 percent are unaware of any plans.

In light of this survey, the World Socialist Web Site spoke to nurses across the country in a variety of settings to discuss the conditions under which they are expected to work.

Amy, a registered nurse at St. Davids hospital in Austin, Texas, said she had only received one official briefing about coronavirus. It was published on an app for employees that not everyone uses, she said. It basically just said that the hospital would now be identifying visitors or patients who have signs and symptoms of the virus with a red and white wristband. Then it asked staff to ensure that [those wearing the wristbands] wear masks.

They only added a checkpoint at the hospital entrance yesterday to screen people with a few questions about travel and symptoms.

Amy added, I did overhear my manager saying we were going to stop allowing any visitors who have symptoms, but I just heard that in passing. We have not had an official meeting on my unit.

Amy works at a trauma hospital, so while she and her coworkers do not see many patients with respiratory issues, she has other concerns for her patient population. We see lots of trauma, lots of workplace crushing injuries, she said, but we also have lots of elderly patients who have fallen and broken their hips or have other injuries. There is definitely an older population at our hospital, so if one person comes in with the virus and infects them, its going to be bad.

When asked if she and her coworkers have discussed what they will do if they start showing symptoms, she said, We were chatting about that the other day. We dont have sick days. We only have paid time off [PTO], but since Im new I havent accrued any PTO. I actually havent thought about that until now. Im not aware if the hospital will make an exception. I just moved, and I dont have any money in savings, so two weeks without pay will be hard.

Another registered nurse, Michelle, is currently studying at Columbia University as a Doctor of Nursing Practice candidate to become a nurse practitioner. As part of her required clinical hours she is working at an outpatient clinic in the Bronx. I am not sure how the clinic is preparing. My last clinical day was last Thursday and the first New York case had just been confirmed two days prior to that, so I am curious what it will be like this week. With only that one confirmed case, the clinic was taking standard precautions.

When they confirmed the first case I was actually at New York Presbyterian (NYP) shadowing a nurse practitioner at an oncology clinic. At first they just asked me if I felt comfortable staying with the new news. I said yes. Then an hour later they actually sent me home.

In a discussion of Columbia Universitys preparation, Michelle said, Columbia quickly transitioned to remote classes and they wont let students continue clinical [hours] at any NYP sites. She also explained that students in other degree programs at Columbia School of Nursing are facing a shortage of clinical sites as they are now barred from clinical in the ED (Emergency Department) and ICU (Intensive Care Unit).

On the coronavirus, she said, It seemed that it spread very quickly. I think there is a natural lag time, and hospitals wont always be immediately prepared. Nurses are on the front lines. The nature of the job is you arent always protected, but hospitals need to take responsibility and step up and set guidelines in place and cover your pay if you get sick.

Angela, a registered nurse working on a postpartum unit at NYP, explained how her unit is preparing for COVID-19. We had a staff meeting about it today and a few days ago an email went out to the whole hospital explaining the new visitation rules. All units except pediatrics and obstetrics are limited to one visitor. Since our unit isnt limited we are just unofficially telling visitors not to come if they are sick.

When asked what other strategies the management has employed to reduce the spread of the infection Angela added, We are supposed to encourage people to wash their hands, which we did before the virus too. Also, before the virus we would give out two mini bottles of Purell on admission, but we are completely out of them. We still have hand sanitizer on the walls, but a few days ago we actually had a visitor take the dispenser off the wall and take it home. I guess people are getting very desperate.

Angela also said that neither she nor her coworkers have been told what to do if they start showing symptoms. One of my coworkers was in Italy a few weeks ago and she went to work for about five days before management sent her home, she said. So we have all possibly been exposed.

She also explained that while she is not worried about her own health, she is worried about the spread of the virus as well as the potential for the virus to raise the already high levels of inequality in the city. New York declared a state of emergency, Angela said. Now we are being told to avoid going on the subway. Its hard to say that to people. People have to go to work and people who are poor dont have some other method of transport to use.

Many people dont even have health insurance. Its the poor who are really going to suffer here. Imagine if they actually shut down the public schools. I read that 100,000 New York City students were homeless last year. If you shut down the schools those kids cant eat [because of a free lunch program provided through the public school system]. Its a scary thought.

Thankfully nurses in NYC make more money than lots of nurses around the country. But if you are living paycheck to paycheck at a low funded or rural hospital, you cant just take two weeks off.

As unprepared as Angela feels at NYP, a high quality academic medical center, she admits it must be worse at hospitals with less funding.

I have a friend who just started working at Harlem Hospital and they are being told to reuse masks. She is supposed to use it in one patients room and then put it in a plastic bag and take it out to use in another room. Its not safe.

I would hope other units are more prepared to take on coronavirus patients because [our unit] only see healthy patients who have just had a baby. Its a little different. But as a whole, we should be more prepared. China was dealing with the virus for weeks before it reached us. The US had plenty of time to prepare if we had taken it more seriously and put funding in the right places.

Have you been personally affected by the coronavirus epidemic, or are you a health care worker on the front lines of fighting this disease? If so, the World Socialist Web Site wants to hear your story.
A decorator may consider art an essential component of a home's interior, but it certainly doesn't have the utilitarian appeal of a sofa, table, or bed. If you're not a wealthy art collector or plugged in to the underground art scene, you probably don't want to drop a lot of money just to dress up your walls.

Luckily, there are plenty of paintings, posters, photography, and more to be had at every price point. In fact, sourcing good-quality art that won't break the bank is possible.

We all know that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Then art, too, is a personal choice," says Nikki Holmes, real estate broker and CEO of Gold Rush Realty, in Auburn, CA. She believes that virtually any piece of art you choose for your home can be beautiful, no matter how much you pay.

The hunt is part of the fun, but knowing where to look for inexpensive art will help you stay on (or under) budget. Whether you're looking to source a unique mirror or a reprint of a classic Matisse, here are some places to explore.

Internet art vendors

While you may not be able to acquire an original Picasso, you can still pick out your favorite artwork to adorn your walls.

In my profession, both mainstream and outre work to tie a space together, says Holmes.

You can find quality work from unknown artists, as well as prints and posters of more famous artists' work, online at websites like 20x200, Art.com, and Urban Outfitters, with prices starting in the $20 range. World Market and Society6 have art under $100. Let your taste guide you.

Virtual garage sales

Smartphones changed the way people sell their wares, and sites like Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist make listing items or even garage sales much easier.

Never underestimate the power of Craigslist. There are always people selling valuable items for amazingly low prices, says Laura Boyajian, a Realtor with HomeSmart in Phoenix.

Estate sales

A good selection of quality art can be found at estate salesoften at negotiable prices. Get ready to haggle!

Locate estate sales near you on EstateSales.org, or check your local newspaper.

Holmes also recommends networking with professionals who work mostly with seniors downsizing.

I work closely with a number of those wonderful people, and they are often forced to dump things of value, simply because finding a new home for every item would be immensely time-consuming, she says.

Farmers markets

Open-air markets often have original pieces from emerging artists, as well as reprints from the masters, like Renoir and van Gogh.

"I have found that farmers markets are a great place to find reasonably priced art, says Holmes. "If your space needs something, you might want to look locally for anything large, as shipping could be a problem."

You might also discover a local artist willing to sell an original piece at a bargain price.

"There are so many talented artists out there trying to get their pieces known, and they frequently rent booths to display their art," Boyajian says.

Secondhand stores

If you have the patience, sifting through secondhand stores like Goodwill and the Salvation Army can, on occasion, land a hidden gem. Holmes says off-the-beaten-path thrift stores are great places to find a rare etching or original treasure.

"People donate items worth thousands of dollars. Goodwill has been known to sell very valuable items for very little. You just have to go frequently, says Boyajian.

Art school showcases and local art displays

Art schools can be a gold mine for original art created by students, so keep an eye out for local showcases and sales. Savvy buyers may be able to deal directly with student artists whose work catches their eye.

Try attending local art shows at colleges, where starving students would be thrilled to have their art purchased and displayed, says Holmes.

Local art is also a staple at any independent coffee shop, so keep your eyes peeled.

"The prices are very reasonable, and artwork is original," says Boyajian.

The post The Best Places To Find Quality Art on the Cheap appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com.
Job

Title:

Counsellor

Organization:

Reproductive Health Uganda (RHU)

Duty Station: Uganda

Reports to: Project

Officer

About US:

Reproductive Health

Uganda (RHU) is a Member Association of the International Planned Parenthood

Federation (IPPF), and its core mandate is to champion, provide and enable

universal access to rights based Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights

(SRHR) information and services to vulnerable and underserved communities and

to young people. The role of the engagement with RHU and its partners is to

ensure that SRHR are respected, protected and fulfilled as a goal in itself,

and as a fundamental means to gender equality, human well-being and sustainable

development.

About DANIDA Project:

RHU is to implement

a project, namely; Addressing the Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights

Needs of Vulnerable Populations in Northern and Central Uganda funded by

DANIDA through IPPF. The project sites are Adjumani, and Kampala (Bwaise and

Owino) in Northern and Central Uganda, respectively. It is a two-year project

starting April 2020  March 31st, 2022.

Job Summary: The Counsellor will provide quality

counselling services to people in refugee settings in accordance to Ministry of

Health (MoH) and RHU guidelines; to enable them overcome mental and emotional

issues. The counsellor will diagnose, treat, and help patients create coping

strategies.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:



Assess

clients through conversations, interviews, and observations to determine the

appropriate testing or examination.



Develop

a treatment plan that may include counselling, medication, or other services



Set

Client goals and discuss a treatment plan



Encourage,

support, and listen to clients



Educate

the client on strategies and coping skills



Refer

clients to resources like psychiatrists, treatment facilities, or community

services



Coordinate

with other healthcare providers, agencies and community resources in order to

create a thorough treatment plan



Prepare

reports for submission to the In-charge



Perform

any other professional duties as may be required from time to time by the

Supervisor

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:



The

applicant must hold a Bachelors degree in Psychology, Social Work, or

Counselling from a recognized Institution.



At least

two years experience as a professional Counsellor.



Individuals

with previous NGO experience, will have an added advantage.



Thorough

knowledge and skill in providing counselling services to marginalized and

vulnerable populations.



Excellent

verbal and written communication skills.



Ability

to empathize with clients and help them open up.



Good

time management skills and Proven experience in developing effective treatment

plans.



Ability

to work effectively under pressure, and with minimum supervision



Excellent

interpersonal skills with patients, colleagues, and community resources



Comfortable

in a fast-paced environment with multiple clients.



Skill in

training and mentorship



The

candidate must adhere to the safeguarding reporting and monitoring requirements

of this role



The

candidate must be pro-choice

How to Apply:

All candidates

should submit their application letters and attach certified copies of academic

transcripts, a detailed Curriculum Vitae and other relevant documents as well

the contact addresses (e-mail) of 3 referees including their telephone contacts

either by post or hand delivery addressed to:

The Executive

Director,

Reproductive Health

Uganda,

P.O. Box 10746

Kampala. Uganda

Or hand-deliver at:

RHU Head Office, Plot 2, Katego Road, Kamwokya (Opposite Uganda Museum)

Deadline: 13th March 2020

NB:

Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted. Female applicants are encouraged

to apply.

For more of the

latest jobs, please visit https://www.theugandanjobline.com or

find us on our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/UgandanJobline






11.03.2020 LISTEN

The Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) and some of its drivers are registered their displeasure over proposals for a ban on night-time long-distance travels in response to the increasing road carnage on the country's highways.

They believe that road crashes are mainly caused by the poor nature of the countrys roads and not due to driver error.

The country continues to record high fatalities on major inter-city links, including the Winneba-Cape Coast, Accra-Kumasi and the Techiman-Kintampo-Tamale roads.

On Monday dawn [March 9, 2020] a fatal crash involving a Sprinter bus and Grandbird bus on the Tamale-Kintampo road led to the death of 31 people with many of them burnt beyond recognition due to a resultant fire outbreak.

There is a proposal for night-time commercial travels to be banned as a temporary measure to address the increasing spate of crashes.

But the GPRTU says such a ban is unnecessary and will not solve the problem.

The First Trustee of GPRTU, John Tetteh in a Citi News interview said Ghana should consider other options and not such a ban.

When you ban night travelling, it wouldnt solve the problem. Are we the only nation that travels at night? There are other nations that travel at night so lets do the right thing, he said.

Meanwhile, some drivers blamed the poor nature of roads for the recurring fatal crashes.

Most of the accidents are not caused by drivers. Almost all our roads are in poor states and most of the roads are single-lanes. The roads are just bad. Ive heard the minister argue that the Kintampo road is good and such accidents should not have happened there. To me, the accidents on that road are caused by a spirit, one driver said.

Another driver said, Our roads are bad so when a driver overtakes a car, it is likely to result in an accident. When the roads are good, there will be no accident and drivers will not be tired in the first place.

---citinewsroom
TORONTO - The Metro Toronto Convention Centre should have been bustling Wednesday with guests at a two-day retail, marketing and technology conference, but the event's plans changed with news that a Sudbury man who visited the venue last week had contracted a novel form of coronavirus.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 11/3/2020 (670 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Bank of Canada governor Stephen Poloz speaks in Toronto on March 5, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

TORONTO - The Metro Toronto Convention Centre should have been bustling Wednesday with guests at a two-day retail, marketing and technology conference, but the event's plans changed with news that a Sudbury man who visited the venue last week had contracted a novel form of coronavirus.

DX3 organizers said Wednesday that they had cancelled the second day of their annual event after learning that Ontario health officials are investigating whether the man who contracted COVID-19 and attended the Prospectors and Developers Association in Canada Convention (PDAC) at the centre in early March is evidence of the country's first instance of community spread of the virus.

DX3 organizer Hifazat Ahmad said he had been debating cancellation for weeks, but moved ahead with the conference on Tuesday because he didn't think Toronto was a "major hub" for COVID-19. However, the public health announcement a day later changed his mind.

"We were inundated with messages and emails from potential participants in the last seven or eight days. We had two exhibitors pull out ... We had about 10 or 15 speakers pull out because their companies had travel restrictions or they couldn't be at large gatherings," DX3 organizer Ahmad told The Canadian Press.

"When the (PDAC) news came out...the safety of my colleagues and our team and our clients was a paramount issue. I thought the prudent thing to do was to shut shop and not risk anything else."

Deciding when to pull the plug on major corporate events isn't an easy decision, but it's one that organizations are increasingly being forced to make, sometimes within a short window of time.

The federal government has yet to ban mass gatherings, but its website says organizers need to consider the outbreak in their event planning and should consult with public health authorities.

"Mass gatherings can have the potential for serious public health consequences if they are not planned and managed carefully. They can increase the spread of infectious diseases and cause additional strain on the health care system when held during outbreaks," the site warns.

"Infections can also be transmitted during transit to and from an event, and in participants' home communities upon return."

PDAC released a statement on Wednesday afternoon saying it was "supporting" the investigation.

It highlighted safety precautions PDAC undertook like increased sanitization of high-contact surfaces, including door knobs, door handles, railings, escalators, touch-screen monitors and microphones. It also increased access to hand sanitizer and signage throughout the conference floor reminding attendees of appropriate hygiene procedures.

In making his decisions, Ahmed kept an eye on public health authority and government advice, but says he wishes both had provided more information on how to proceed with conferences, especially given how many people's health and how much money is at stake.

"That would have made life so much easier for people like me," he said.

DX3 is not the first Canadian conference called off in the wake of the virus. Ottawa-based e-commerce company Shopify Inc. cancelled its annual Unite conference that has brought hundreds of people to Toronto in each of the last two years. International technology conference Collision, which is attended by about 30,000 every year, decided to move its festivities online and stop its week-long, June event in the city.

Calgary-based Enbridge Inc. announced Tuesday that it would go online-only for its annual meeting in May "out of an abundance of caution" and to mitigate risks to the health and safety of shareholders, employees and stakeholders.

Laurentian Bank Securities said Wednesday that it had made the "difficult" decision to cancel its institutional investor conference at the start of April.

Nonetheless, other events are expecting to continue as planned. Women in Capital Markets (WCM) hosted Bank of Canada governor Stephen Poloz last week for a luncheon that filled a ballroom at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel in the city. A day later, Finance Minister Bill Morneau was in the same room to deliver a speech to an audience packed with banking and other business executives.

WCM president Camilla Sutton said in an email that when deciding to go ahead with the event, her organization looked to the federal government, the World Health Organization and Health Canada for advice.

"It is a very complicated situation," she said. "Obviously the health and safety of everyone in attendance was of concern."

WCM wrote to all attendees and asked them to reach out if they had any symptoms or had travelled to high risk regions in the last two weeks. It also encouraged people not to shake hands and had "a ton" of hand sanitizer at the event that were "bought at inflated prices."

It has since decided to only proceed with events with 20 or fewer people and to reschedule its April gala for late June. WCM is also exploring video conference options.

Conseil des relations internationales de Montreal, which is due to host a handful of events over the next few months with federal and provincial ministers, had to yet to cancel anything, said spokesperson Dominique Boisvert.

"We're going a little day to day, because of the evolving international situation," Boisvert said. "Everything is as is for the moment. Of course, nobody knows the future."

Jen Zoratti | Next A weekly look towards a post-pandemic future delivered to your inbox every Wednesday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement.

Marie-Helene Primeau of the Montreal-based risk management company Premier Continuum said she's been fielding plenty of questions from organizations she provides consulting services to.

They want to know if they should allow employees to attend events, which she said want to continue but not put anyone at risk.

"Companies want to be on the safe side and not send people over to conferences," she said. "I think we'd rather be on the cautious side."

With files from Christopher Reynolds in Montreal

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 11, 2020.

Companies in this story: (TSX:SHOP, TSX:LB, TSX:ENB)
Now all eyes are on San Antonio, whose annual Fiesta celebration  a more than weeklong citywide spree  is still on for now, Mayor Ron Nirenberg said on Wednesday.

"For those of us who are Texans through and through, and from our area, from our region, you know just how much we love the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. You know this decision has not come easily," Mayor Sylvester Turner said at a press conference on Wednesday. "But the health and safety of the people in our region is paramount."

The cancellation robs Houston of an as-yet untold portion of the enormous economic boon brought every year by the event. Last year, the 24-day celebration generated $391 million of economic activity in the greater Houston area and attracted more than 2.5 million visitors.

This year, hundreds of thousands of people have already attended the event, which began March 2.
Talks: Ryanair CEO Michael OLeary is in discussions with Boeing about a further Max order

RYANAIR has been given the go-ahead to build a multi-million-euro training centre near Dublin Airport that will include two simulators for the troubled Boeing 737 Max aircraft.

Planning permission for the technical centre of excellence comes almost exactly a year after the Max jets were grounded all over the world.

The facility is expected to cost tens of millions of euro when the price of the total of four full-motion simulators that will be installed there is included.

Apart from the two Max simulators, it will also house two full-motion Airbus A320 simulators. Airbus aircraft are used by Ryanair's Austria-based Lauda subsidiary.

Each new full-motion simulator can cost in the region of 14m.

The centre will also have two fixed-base simulators, as well as a full-motion simulator communications room, training rooms, an archive store, and other facilities.

One of the original selling points of the troubled Max jet was that pilots of Boeing's 737 NG aircraft would not need simulator training to fly the new model.

Following two fatal crashes - one in 2018 and the other in 2019 - Boeing now recommends that simulator training is undertaken by pilots intending to fly the Max.

The US Federal Aviation Administration is expected to make it mandatory.

Boeing is in talks with customers including Ryanair that would see the jet maker fund simulator training for the Max when it returns to service. The Max is not expected to be recertified to fly until mid-year in North America, and probably a couple of months later in Europe.

Ryanair has ordered up to 210 of the Max 200 variant.

Families of passengers killed on the Ethiopian Airlines Max jet that crashed outside Addis Ababa recently marked the first anniversary of the disaster. An interim report from Ethiopia's aircraft accident investigation unit this week blamed a flawed flight control system for the crash.
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Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-11 12:07:32|Editor: Xiang Bo

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GENEVA, March 10 (Xinhua) -- A senior Chinese diplomat has said here that to continue dialogue on the Korean Peninsula situation is in the interest of all the parties concerned and a general expectation of the international community.

Liu Hua, special representative for human rights affairs of China's Foreign Ministry, made the remarks at the ongoing 43rd session of the UN Human Rights Council on Monday.

China has remained committed to the denuclearization of the peninsula, the maintenance of its peace and stability, and the settlement of the peninsula issue through dialogue and consultation, making unremitting efforts to this end, the diplomat said.

The unilateral sanctions against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) have seriously impacted the human rights of the people there and should be lifted as soon as possible, she said.

"We hope that the parties concerned will stay committed to dialogue and consultation, actively seek ways to break the deadlock, and promote the political settlement of the Peninsula issue," Liu said.

"The international community should pay attention to the legitimate concerns of the DPRK in terms of security and development, and in accordance with relevant Security Council resolutions, ease sanctions against the DPRK in due time," she added.

China always advocates that countries should address human right issues through constructive dialogue and cooperation, and stands against politicization, double standards, partial and confrontational practices, as well as the practices of "naming and shaming" and publicly pressuring.
Legislation to protect cash will bring stability and resilience to the whole system, according to the UKs main ATM network.

The Government confirmed in the Budget that legislation will be brought forward to protect access to cash for those who need it.

The rapid disappearance of many bank branches and free-to-use ATMs has fuelled concerns about peoples ability to continuing accessing coins and notes.

John Howells, chief executive of Link  the UKs main cash machine network, said: We are delighted to see the Government is taking action. Though the UK is moving towards a digital economy, it is vital that we protect free cash access as long as people need it.

This support will provide stability and resilience to the cash infrastructure, allowing Link and the banks to continue supporting local communities.

One area which will now be looked at is whether to give watchdogs new powers which ensure that banks continue to properly support their customers cash needs.

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.

International examples which the UK could take inspiration from include Sweden, which legislated to require large banks to provide their customers with facilities for withdrawing cash.

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.

In 2018, 50 million adults used cash machines, with 87% of them using one at least once a month.

Anabel Hoult, chief executive of Which?, said: We are pleased that the Chancellor has taken decisive action today to ensure that millions of people who have been hit hard by bank branch and ATM closures will continue to have access to cash.

We know that the cash system faces irreversible damage within the next two years, so the Government must swiftly press ahead with its plans to legislate, which must include putting a single regulator in charge of protecting cash.

Story continues

It is vital that this commitment is quickly turned into action. We look forward to working with the Government, regulators and industry to ensure that cash is protected for as long as it is needed.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak said last week: People across Britain work hard for their money, with millions relying on coins and notes to make their daily payments.

Martin Kearsley, banking director at Post Office, said: We are at the forefront of ensuring those living in rural and less economically developed urban areas can withdraw cash for free through our 11,500 branch network.

Where cash is available locally, its spent locally and we welcome the announcement that legislation will be introduced to protect the cash network.

Our postmasters provide a vital service in their local communities and as the biggest retail network in the UK, we will continue to be a central component of Treasury and industry proposals to protect free access to cash.

Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) national chairman Mike Cherry said: One in four small high street businesses say cash is the most popular payment method amongst their customers.

Weve campaigned alongside Which? and others to protect our cash infrastructure, and its good to see the Chancellor taking action on this front.

Rachel Statham, IPPR (Institute for Public Policy Research) Scotland senior research fellow, said: The plans announced in the Budget to protect cash are welcome, but its important that the Government now invests in building bridges to digital services that work for everyone.

That means investment in digital skills for people of all ages, improved connectivity so more people can get online, and supporting the development of more inclusive technologies.

Access to digital financial services is already a prerequisite to full participation in our economy. We now need to see sustained attention from Government and regulators to deliver a transition to a future economy that is both more digital, and more just.
(Photo : Screenshot from Twitter of @WHO) (Photo : Screenshot from Twitter of @WHO)

The coronavirus is a plague to all humanity with its versatility and ability to elude even the top scientists of the world in terms of searching for the cure is now classified as a global pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) just a few minutes ago.

Read More: Cash is OUT: Contactless Payment is IN Due to Coronavirus

Why a Pandemic?

A pandemic means a "worldwide spread of a new disease," and that is according to WHO. There is no clear way of saying that an illness is a pandemic but due to the severity of the coronavirus infecting more than 114 nations and more than 118,000 people infected. A pandemic is different from an epidemic; epidemic means that several people contract an illness almost at the same time in an area while, while a pandemic will affect multiple people in an area at a large number at a time and possibly a larger population. In which case, the coronavirus has surely infected a large number of our human society in a short period and doesn't seem to stop anytime soon.

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Why Only Now?

The WHO classified the novel coronavirus as just a global public health emergency only last January 30, up until now they have been reluctant to call the outbreak as to what it is in hopes of not inciting global panic to the population. Tedros Adhanom, director-general of the WHO said in a press release just earlier on "Using the word pandemic now does not fit the facts, but it may certainly cause fear," and also said, "What we see are epidemics in different parts of the world affecting different countries in different ways."

What Now?

As countries all over the world are now preparing for the genuine possibility of this breaking out more than it should, pandemic preparedness plans are currently being implemented to the sudden outbreaks of the new coronavirus, and it's a deadly strain. The last time WHO declared a pandemic this magnitude was when the H1N1 outbreak back in 2009, affected over nearly a quarter of the world's population. As the coronavirus is now classified as a pandemic itself, will there be more panic from the society, or is the declaration a critical step to brace ourselves from things to come?

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The coverage on this live blog has ended  but for up-to-the-minute coverage on the coronavirus, visit the live blog from CNBC's Asia-Pacific team. All times below are in Eastern daylight time. Global cases: More than 124,000, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.

Global deaths: At least 4,589, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.

US cases: At least 1,110, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.

US deaths: At least 32, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.

7:19 pm: Travel industry could lose $24 billion as coronavirus cripples tourism from outside US

The U.S. travel and tourism industry could lose at least $24 billion in foreign spending this year because of the rapidly spreading coronavirus, according to data produced by Tourism Economics and first seen by CNBC. That would be equivalent to about seven times more than the industry lost during the SARS outbreak in 2003, according to the data. Tourism Economics, which tracks all travel spending  including on hotels, restaurants, theme parks and attractions  based its projections on the assumption that the coronavirus would be contained in six months. Foreigners typically spend around $256 billion on U.S. travel and tourism a year. Hirsch

6:20 pm: Juventus player tests positive for COVID-19

Italian soccer giants Juventus said defenseman Daniele Rugani tested positive for coronavirus COVID-19 and is asymptomatic, the club confirmed in a statement Wednesday. The club said it is "activating all the isolation procedures required by law, including the census of those who have had contact with him." On Monday, Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte announced the stoppage of sporting events across Italy, including play in Serie A, the league in which Juventus competes. The Italian Olympic Committee called for all sporting events to be canceled until April 3. Eudaily

5:53 pm: Joe Biden campaign announces new coronavirus committee

Joe Biden's presidential campaign has announced that it has formed a new advisory committee to counsel the campaign on the risks posed by the new coronavirus, just hours after the World Health Organization declared the outbreak to be a pandemic. The Public Health Advisory Committee will provide "science-based, expert advice regarding steps the campaign should take to minimize health risks for the candidate, staff, and supporters," the campaign said in a statement. "The campaign's top priority is and will continue to be the health and safety of the public," the statement said. "Members of the committee will provide ongoing counsel to the campaign, which will in turn continue to update the public regarding operational decisions." Higgins

5:41 pm: New York late-night shows ditch live audiences

Late-night TV shows filmed in New York will now be tapped without a live audience as the coronavirus pandemic spreads. On Wednesday, CBS' "Late Show With Stephen Colbert," NBC's "Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" and "Late Night With Seth Meyers," Comedy Central's "The Daily Show with Trevor Noah" and TBS' "Full Frontal with Samantha Bee" all said they would tape their broadcasts without audience members. The shows said that their staff is safe and there are no concerns about contamination in their studios and theaters, but producers worried that performing with live crowds would not be a smart choice as the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in New York City is rising.  Whitten

5:32 pm: Amazon and Gates Foundation may team up to deliver coronavirus test kits to Seattle homes

Amazon Care, the company's virtual medical clinic for employees, is in talks with local public health organizations about using its logistics expertise to help deliver at-home coronavirus testing kits to people's homes in the Seattle area. The discussions have been going on for more than a week, say three people with knowledge of the plans. The people declined to share their names because Amazon Care's involvement is still confidential, and they have not been authorized to do so. Specifically, Amazon Care has offered the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation its assistance with a project that aims to provide kits to Seattle residents who suspect they have symptoms of the COVID-19 coronavirus. The test kits include nose swabs that can be mailed to the University of Washington for analysis.  Farr

5:22 pm: Italy expands shutdown to nearly all stores

A waiter closes a pizza shop due to few tourists attraction at 6 pm. in Rome, Italy, on March 11, 2020. Riccardo De Luca | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images

Italy's premier says all stores except pharmacies and grocery stores are being closed nationwide in response to the country's coronavirus outbreak. Premier Giuseppe Conte thanked the public for cooperating with the already unprecedented travel and social restrictions that took effect Tuesday. But he said Wednesday night on Facebook Live that Italy must " go another step by closing all shops and businesses except for food stores, pharmacies and other shops selling essential items. The tighter restrictions on daily life are the government's latest effort to respond to the fast-moving crisis that took Italy's number of cases from three to 12,462 in less than three weeks.  Associated Press

5:12 pm: Up to 150 million Americans are expected to contract the coronavirus, congressional doctor says

Dr. Brian Monahan, the attending physician of Congress and the U.S. Supreme Court, said he expects 70 million to 150 million people in the United States will become infected with COVID-19, NBC News reported, citing two sources. Monahan made the comments to Senate staff during a closed-door meeting Tuesday afternoon, according to NBC News. The meeting did not include senators and was for administrative office staff and personnel from both parties, NBC News reported.  Lovelace

4:41 pm: NCAA March Madness basketball games will be closed to public spectators

The National Collegiate Athletic Association has announced the upcoming men's and women's basketball tournaments will be played with "only essential staff and limited family attendance," NCAA president Mark Emmert said. "The NCAA continues to assess the impact of COVID-19 in consultation with public health officials and our COVID-19 advisory panel," Emmert's statement said. "Based on their advice and my discussions with the NCAA Board of Governors, I have made the decision to conduct our upcoming championship events, including the Division I men's and women's basketball tournaments, with only essential staff and limited family attendance. "While I understand how disappointing this is for all fans of our sports, my decision is based on the current understanding of how COVID-19 is progressing in the United States. This decision is in the best interest of public health, including that of coaches, administrators, fans and, most importantly, our student-athletes. "We recognize the opportunity to compete in an NCAA national championship is an experience of a lifetime for the students and their families. Today, we will move forward and conduct championships consistent with the current information and will continue to monitor and make adjustments as needed."  Young

4:28 pm: Citigroup's Corbat says 'this is not a financial crisis' during Trump meeting with Wall Street execs

President Donald Trump delivers remarks to the news media during a meeting with bankers on COVID-19 Coronavirus response, inside the Cabinet Room at the White House in Washington, March 11, 2020. Tom Brenner | Reuters

Citigroup CEO Michael Corbat said that the current turmoil caused by the coronavirus isn't stemming from the financial system. "This is not a financial crisis," Corbat said during the White House meeting. "The banks and the financial system are in strong shape and we are here to help." Leaders of the biggest U.S. banks were summoned to Washington by President Trump to discuss ways to support small businesses and markets. Brian Moynihan of Bank of America, Charles Scharf of Wells Fargo, David Solomon of Goldman Sachs and Stephen Schwarzman of alternative investments giant Blackstone were among the CEOs present at the meeting. Son

4:05 pm: Dow tumbles into a bear market

The Dow Jones Industrial Average tumbled 1,467 points, or 5.9%. The 30-stock average closed more than 20% below the record highs set last month. A 20% decline is considered a bear market on Wall Street. However, most investors don't recognize it officially until the index does it on a closing basis. The Dow did so on Wednesday, whereas the S&P 500 is just above that closing threshold. The S&P 500 is more than 19% from its closing record and ended the day 4.9% lower. The Nasdaq Composite fell 4.7% and was also about 19% below its all-time high.  Imbert

3:48 pm: More than a third of US adults say movie theaters should close

The coronavirus outbreak is hitting the entertainment industry hard. China and Italy's theaters are closed, French cinemas are only open at 50% capacity (every other row must be empty) and South Korea has seen its lowest box office tally in years. And more countries could be next as the pandemic spreads and large gatherings become taboo. Already analysts have predicted that the global film industry is facing a $5 billion loss because of diminished box office revenue and the impact of restrictions on production, according to The Hollywood Reporter. That number could grow even more if more countries add countermeasures that force people to remain home or order public gathering places, like theaters, to shutter. Around 44% of U.S. adults said they would oppose the temporary shutdown of movie theaters, but around 38% said they would support closures, according to a report from Morning Consult and The Hollywood Reporter. The survey of 2,200 U.S. adults was conducted from March 5-7.  Whitten

3:35 pm: Oil lobbyists met with White House staffers to discuss markets

Lobbyists representing the oil and gas industry met with White House policy staffers Wednesday morning to discuss coronavirus, state of the economy and the market, a representative for the American Petroleum Institute told CNBC. The meeting comes as the market has been roiled by fears of coronavirus and deteriorating OPEC talks. After negotiations between OPEC and Russia fell apart on Friday, OPEC's de facto leader, Saudi Arabia, on Saturday slashed its oil prices and announced plans to increase production. This led to a selloff in oil markets and pressure on U.S. energy producers. Oil prices on Monday plunged 24%, marking the worst day since 1991. Saudi Aramco CEO Amin Nasser has said that the kingdom plans to supply a record 13 million barrels per day in April. Oil fell 4% Wednesday.  Hirsch

3:25 pm: US cases continue to increase

3:12 pm: Amazon asks employees in Massachusetts to work from home

Amazon is asking employees at its Massachusetts offices to work from home if they can through the end of the month, the company confirmed to CNBC. "We continue to work closely with public and private medical experts to ensure we are taking the right precautions as the situation continues to evolve," an Amazon spokesperson said in a statement. Amazon previously told workers at its offices in New York, New Jersey, the San Francisco Bay Area, Madrid and Italy to work from home during the month of March. The directive came after an employee in one of its Seattle offices tested positive for the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19. The spokesperson told CNBC that Amazon will continue to pay all hourly employees that support its offices in Seattle, Bellevue, the Bay Area, New York, New Jersey and Massachusetts. This includes food service employees, security guards and janitorial staff. Last month, Amazon restricted all nonessential travel in the U.S. in response to the continued spread of the coronavirus.  Palmer

3:00 pm: Golden State Warriors to play first NBA game without fans

The Golden State Warriors will play their next home game without fans after San Francisco placed a ban on large events. The Golden State Warriors will play Thursday's game against the Brooklyn Nets without spectators due to the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak, the team announced. The decision comes after San Francisco Mayor London Breed banned public gatherings of 1,000 or more people as coronavirus continues to affect U.S. cities and sporting events around the world.  Young

2:50 pm: New York reports 39 new cases, city universities to move online

A man wears a mask as he passes the New York Stock Exchange. Mark Lennihan | AP

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has announced 39 newly confirmed cases of COVID-19, bringing the state's total to 212. The largest cluster of cases remains in Westchester where there are 121 confirmed cases, followed by 48 total cases in New York City. Cuomo said he's asked 28 state labs to "get up, get running and start moving forward" with coronavirus testing after he criticized the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration for being unprepared to test in the quantities necessary. The City University of New York and The State University of New York have also been instructed to hold classes online starting March 19 until the end of the semester, affecting nearly 700,000 students combined.  Higgins-Dunn

2:38 pm: Dow on pace to close in a bear market

The coronavirus-induced sell-off has reached a new low as Wall Street grapples with the rapid spread of the virus as well as uncertainty around a fiscal response to curb slower economic growth from the outbreak. The Dow Jones Industrial Average traded 1,400 points lower, or 5.6%, and was 20% below its record high set earlier last month. A 20% decline is considered a bear market on Wall Street. The S&P 500 is 19.2% from its closing record and traded 5.1% lower on the day.  Imbert

2:31 pm: NYSE makes changes to prevent coronavirus from spreading to trading floor

The New York Stock Exchange is taking measures to separate traders from NYSE employees in order to reduce the risk of spreading coronavirus, according to an internal memo. Traders and employees of the NYSE and its parent Intercontinental Exchange Inc will use separate entrances and eat in different areas, according to what NYSE Chief Operating Officer Michael Blaugrund said in the memo. These steps are designed to minimize the likelihood that an event in the building's office will impact operations on the trading floor. "Given the critical work by our NYSE and NYSE American floor communities to underpin the orderly function of global markets, all of these efforts, and others, will remain ongoing until further notice," the memo said. Miller

2:25 pm: US footwear imports from China just had their worst January in a decade

A man wearing a face mask walks past a Nike store in Central Business District, Beijing, China on February 17, 2020. Andrea Verdelli | Getty Images

2:14 pm: Quarantines could help HBO Max, Peacock and Quibi launches

Coronavirus may lead to the first U.S. recession in more than a decade, but it could be a bonanza for the companies competing in the streaming wars. If Americans are stuck at home in the coming months as schools close and events are canceled, they'll likely be starved for entertainment options and new ways to keep kids entertained. It so just happens that several new streaming services  NBCUniversal's Peacock, WarnerMedia's HBO Max, and Quibi  will be debuting between now and May. Add to that the relatively recent launches of Disney+ and Apple TV+, and streamers could see a significant subscriber boost if Americans are forced to hunker down to slow the spread of COVID-19. Sherman

2:08 pm: CDC giving over $560 million to state and local jurisdictions for coronavirus response

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is giving over $560 million to state and local jurisdictions to help them respond to the coronavirus, according to a statement released by the Department of Health and Human Services. "Our state, local, tribal and territorial public health partners are on the front lines of the COVID-19 response," said CDC Director Robert R. Redfield, M.D. "The action we are taking today will continue to support their efforts to increase public health capacity where it's needed most." Miller

1:54 pm: Gottlieb says we have a 'narrow window of opportunity' to keep the US infection figures down

1:45 pm: Large gatherings banned in San Francisco and Seattle area to slow the coronavirus outbreak

Public officials banned large gatherings in San Francisco and the Seattle area to try to contain the rapidly spreading coronavirus outbreak that's infected more than 121,000 people across the world since December. Washington Gov. Jay Inslee is banning large gatherings in several counties across the state to try to contain the COVID-19 outbreak that that has killed at least 23 residents, he announced Wednesday. Moments after Inslee announced the order, San Francisco health officials announced that they are also banning gatherings of 1,000 or more to slow the spread of the new coronavirus.

1:32 pm: Trump's payroll tax cut proposal fails to gain traction in Congress after boosting market hopes

House Majority Leader Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD) and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) walk from the House floor where members debate the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) to the speaker's office in the U.S. Capitol on December 19, 2019 in Washington, DC. Sarah Silbiger | Getty Images

With Congress pushing back against President Donald Trump's emergency proposal to eliminate the payroll tax, the idea may be dead in the water. In response to the deadly coronavirus, Trump on Tuesday pitched Republican lawmakers on a 0% payroll tax rate for employers and employees that would last through the rest of this year, and possibly longer. The stock market staged a late-day rally on the news. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Maryland, told the New York Times that Trump's proposal to cut payroll taxes, which are used to fund Medicare and Social Security, is a "non-starter," suggesting that the plan has no chance of passing. Dzhanova, Hirsch

1:25 pm: Dow drops 1,200 points to new low on the day

Stocks plummeted Wednesday in another volatile session as Wall Street grappled with the rapid spread of the coronavirus as well as uncertainty around a fiscal response to curb slower economic growth from the outbreak. The Dow Jones Industrial Average traded 1,200 points lower, or more than 4.5%. The S&P 500 slid 4.1% while the Nasdaq Composite dropped 3.8%. Imbert

1:13 pm: Lawmakers pressure Big Pharma on drug supply chains amid coronavirus outbreak

Lawmakers concerned about possible drug shortages amid the coronavirus outbreak are pressing pharmaceutical companies to bring manufacturing to the U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., and Bob Menendez, D-N.J., are among lawmakers pushing for longer-term solutions. The senators on Wednesday introduced a bill that would funnel $100 million to develop U.S. manufacturing of drugs. About 72% of manufacturers of pharmaceutical ingredients supplying the U.S. are overseas, including 13% in China, according to FDA testimony last year. That could make U.S drug companies vulnerable to shortages if COVID-19 forces factories to shutter and shipments to the United States to stall, experts have warned. Hirsch

12:58 pm: Boeing halts hiring as coronavirus poses 'global economic disruption'

Boeing told employees that it was immediately suspending hiring and implementing other measures to preserve cash as the rapid spread of coronavirus roils the air travel industry. Boeing is already reeling from the damage of two fatal crashes of its 737 Max and the worldwide grounding of the planes, which hits the one-year mark on Friday. "On top of the work of safely returning the 737 MAX to service and the financial impact of the pause in MAX production, we're now facing a global economic disruption generated by the COVID-19 coronavirus," Boeing's CEO Dave Calhoun and CFO Greg Smith wrote in a note to employees on Wednesday. The company will also limit travel and discretionary spending as well as employee overtime tied to the 737 Max's return-to-service "other key efforts in support of our customers," said the company. Josephs

12:51 pm: Starbucks will offer 'catastrophe pay' to baristas exposed to the coronavirus

A Starbucks location in Santa Ana, California. Scott Mlyn | CNBC

Starbucks said it is offering "catastrophe pay" to U.S. baristas who have been exposed to the coronavirus. The global coffee chain, which implemented similar measures in China, will pay employees for up to 14 days if they have been diagnosed with, exposed to or in close contact with someone with the coronavirus. Workers who may be considered higher risk because of underlying health conditions are also eligible for catastrophe pay with a doctor's note. The Seattle-based company is the latest corporation to adjust its policies as the number of U.S. cases of the virus climbs. Darden Restaurants extended paid sick time to all hourly employees on Monday, and Walmart has instituted an emergency sick leave policy. Lucas

12:47 pm: YouTube will stream its big advertiser pitch instead of holding an in-person event

As coronavirus spreads around the U.S., the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) said it "strongly recommends" companies holding NewsFronts events in New York City during April and May present online instead of in person. YouTube is one of the first companies to heed the IAB recommendation. It said that it will stream its "Brandcast" event on YouTube instead of hosting an in-person audience. Google, which owns YouTube, told employees in the U.S. and Canada on Tuesday to work from home until at least April 10. Graham

12:33 pm: World Health Organization declares the coronavirus outbreak a global pandemic

The World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic as the new coronavirus, which was unknown to world health officials just three months ago, has rapidly spread to more than 121,000 people from Asia, to Europe, the Middle East and now parts of the United States. WHO officials have been reluctant up until now to categorize the virus as a global pandemic, which is generally defined as an illness that spreads far and wide throughout the world. Declaring a pandemic is charged with major political and economic ramifications, global health experts say. It can further rattle already fragile world markets and lead to more stringent travel and trade restrictions. Kopecki, Lovelace, Feuer

12:29 pm: Sports teams see ticket prices drop as much as 30% on secondary market as fears spread

With the spread of the new coronavirus causing cancellations of large events and conferences, U.S. sports leagues have started to feel the impact, even if most leagues are still allowing fans to show up. Ticket prices for leagues like the National Hockey League and National Basketball Association have all fallen since January, according to data from TicketIQ, an online secondary market for event tickets. According to Ticket IQ data provided to CNBC, secondary market prices for NBA games are down 4.3% since January, with the Los Angeles Clippers and Brooklyn Nets both seeing 30% declines. NHL ticket prices are down 5.6%, with the most significant drops coming to the New Jersey Devils ( down 33%), New York Islanders (down 32%) and LA Kings (down 31%). Young

12:13 pm: Ireland reportedly records first death from coronavirus

The Mater Infirmorum Hospital in Belfast where a small number of medical procedures are not going ahead in preparation for Coronavirus cases. Liam McBurney | PA Images via Getty Images

An elderly woman with an underlying illness who contracted the coronavirus became the first to die from the virus in Ireland on Wednesday, local media including national broadcaster RTE and the Irish Times reported. Confirmed cases of coronavirus in Ireland rose to 34 on Tuesday from 24 a day earlier, the health department said in a daily update. Reuters

12:10 pm: First US hospital chain to treat coronavirus considers treating patients in 'tents outside'

The hospital chain that cared for the first coronavirus patient in the U.S. is considering treating a potential crush of new patients in temporary arrangements, the CEO told CNBC. "We're already looking at how we use our ICU beds. How can we use alternative areas of care, including setting up tents outside of our hospitals," Rod Hochman, CEO of Providence St. Joseph Health, said on CNBC's "Squawk on the Street." "We're trying to stay way in front of this as we see a wave of patients potentially coming forward." Providence St. Joseph Health, which operates 51 hospitals across seven states, treated the first U.S. COVID-19 patient in the U.S. in January, a 35-year-old man from Snohomish County in Washington state. Feuer

11:47 am: Sweden reports first death from coronavirus

Sweden reported its first death from the new coronavirus on Wednesday with a hospital in Stockholm saying an elderly patient had died in intensive care. "The patient has had COVID-19 as well as an underlying sickness," the Karolinska University Hospital in Huddinge, just outside Stockholm, said in a statement. Sweden reported its first case of coronavirus at the end of January. Reuters

11:45 am: Qatar records 238 new cases of coronavirus

Qatar's health ministry announced 238 new coronavirus cases, the state news agency reported. All the new cases had interacted with people previously identified as infected, it said. Reuters

11:15 am: Bank CEOs convene at White House for meeting with Trump on response

The leaders of the biggest U.S. banks are scheduled to meet with President Trump as the U.S. government grapples with the spread of the coronavirus. Brian Moynihan of Bank of America, Michael Corbat of Citigroup, Charles Scharf of Wells Fargo, David Solomon of Goldman Sachs, and Stephen Schwarzman of alternative investments giant Blackstone are expected to attend. Gordon Smith, co-president of JPMorgan Chase, the biggest U.S. bank, will attend in the place of CEO Jamie Dimon, who is recovering from heart surgery. The president is expected to ask the CEOs what steps the banks are taking to help small- and medium-sized companies weather the impacts of the coronavirus, said people with knowledge of the matter. Another topic will be how banks can contribute to the proper functioning of markets during the tumult caused by the disease, and if the administration can offer short-term regulatory changes to assist in this area. Son, Frost

11:03 am: Top federal health official says the US outbreak is 'going to get worse'

Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the NIH National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, testifies about Coronavirus, COVID-19, during a Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, March 3, 2020. Saul Loeb | AFP | Getty Images

A top U.S. health official said the worst is yet to come with a coronavirus outbreak that has already infected more than 1,000 people across the nation. "I can say we will see more cases and things will get worse than they are right now," Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told the House Oversight and Reform Committee at a hearing on the nation's preparedness for the outbreak. How much worse depends on two things, he said: containing the influx of infected people coming from other countries and containing local outbreaks within the U.S. "Bottom line is it's going to get worse," he added. Lovelace, Higgins-Dunn

10:55 am: Sell-off on Wall Street accelerates, with the Dow down 1,000 points

Stocks plummeted on Wednesday in another volatile session as Wall Street worried about a possible fiscal stimulus package aimed at curbing slower economic growth due to the coronavirus outbreak. The Dow Jones Industrial Average traded 1,000 points lower, or 4%. The S&P 500 slid 3.6% while the Nasdaq Composite dropped 3.3%. Those losses put the three averages closer to entering bear-market territory. The Dow was 18.8% below its all-time high set last month while the S&P 500 was 18.2% below its record. The Nasdaq traded 18% below an all-time high set on Feb. 19. Imbert

10:49 am: Adidas CEO: Outbreak is 'a painful setback'

Adidas CEO Kasper Rorsted Patrik Stollarz| AFP | Getty Images

Adidas CEO Kasper Rorsted said the coronavirus outbreak has dealt "a painful setback" for the company's business. Before consumers get back to buying sporting goods, they will be stocking up on food and other daily necessities, to prepare for the virus, he said. "That is what we are seeing so far in the first quarter," Rorsted said. Adidas does about 23% of its business in China, and has 19% of its manufacturing capacity in the country, Rorsted said. When a quarantine was issued for the region, he said 80% to 90% of business in Asia "stopped overnight." Adidas was losing about $100 million in revenue on a weekly basis, he said. But traffic has picked back up in China since, he said. And manufacturing facilities in Asia are coming back online.

10:36 am: At least 150 publicly traded companies have warned investors the virus could harm business

About 150 publicly traded companies have warned investors of the threat coronavirus poses. At first, several companies had to suspend their supply chains or temporarily close brick-and-mortar locations across China, but expected they could control a slowdown. But then the virus started spreading rapidly across the globe, increasing fears of a global economic slowdown and sending markets falling. CNBC has compiled a list of companies that have warned of performance effects or updated guidance due to the virus so far. Bursztynsky

10:30 am: Reported US virus cases on the rise

10:29 am: Trump calls emergency meeting with top health officials at White House, top lawmaker says

U.S. President Donald Trump has summoned top health officials to an emergency meeting at the White House, cutting a congressional hearing on Capitol Hill short, said Rep. Carolyn Maloney, chairwoman of the House Oversight and Reform Committee. Maloney said the witnesses needed to leave by 11:45 a.m. ET, significantly cutting short lawmakers' opening statements so they could get to the questions and answers before the witnesses had to leave. "This morning we were informed that President Trump and Vice President Pence have called our witnesses to an emergency meeting at the White House. We don't know the details, just that it's extremely urgent," Maloney, D-NY, said before opening a hearing on the nation's preparedness and response to the coronavirus outbreak that has swept across the nation. Lovelace, Higgins-Dunn

10:21 am: Britain unveils $39 billion spending package as it tries to tackle coronavirus slowdown

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak leaves 10 Downing Street after attending a Cabinet meeting on 14 February, 2020. Barcroft Media

The U.K. government will spend billions of pounds in an effort to limit the impact of the coronavirus on the U.K. economy, the country's finance chief said. The virus outbreak has been putting pressure on all major economies by significantly reducing supply chains, hitting demand for travel, as well as fueling panic buying and stockpiling. Various economists and organizations, such as the OECD, have trimmed their global growth forecasts as a result. Rishi Sunak, appointed finance chief last month, told the U.K. Parliament that there would be 7 billion ($9 billion) available to support the labor market and an additional 5 billion to help the health-care system. Sunak also announced a further fiscal loosening of 18 billion to support the U.K. economy, bringing the total fiscal stimulus to 30 billion. The U.K. public body, the Office for Budget Responsibility, called it the largest budget giveaway since 1992. Amaro

10:08 am: NYU doctor says US hospitals are unprepared and will be 'flooded'

Coronavirus patients could so overwhelm U.S. hospitals that doctors and nurses would be unable to provide adequately for other patients, an infectious disease specialist told CNBC. "When you have emergency rooms flooded with patients, it makes it harder for us to attend to all the other issues," Dr. Celine Gounder said in a "Squawk Box" interview. "If you come in with a heart attack, we're going to be slower taking care of you and we're going to be sloppier with our own infection control if we're overwhelmed." The U.S. has fewer doctors per person and fewer hospital beds per person than Italy, said Gounder, a clinical assistant professor of medicine and infectious diseases at New York University. "We have less capacity to absorb a big surge in cases," she said. "We need to be preparing for that." Feuer

10:02 am: Now you can follow the outbreak through Apple News on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac

Apple has updated the free Apple News application, which is available on iPhones, iPads, and Macs, with a dedicated section for coronavirus coverage. It will help folks find important information about the outbreak from trusted news sources. It's another example of how tech companies, while in some cases imperfect, are trying to help provide information to millions of their customers using the power of their platforms. Haselton

9:58 am: Three TSA airport screeners in California test positive

Three airport security screeners based at Mineta San Jose International Airport in California have tested positive for the virus, the Transportation Security Administration. The three TSA agents are being treated for the illness and are quarantined at home, the agency said in a statement. Security checkpoints at the California airport are still open. "The agency is working with the (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), as well as the California Department of Public Health and the Santa Clara County Public Health Department to monitor the situation as well as the health and safety of our employees and the traveling public," it said. Josephs

9:52 am: Walmart, Starbucks, and others cope with sick workers and fearful customers

As the coronavirus outbreak spreads in the U.S., some retailers and customer service-related companies are dealing with a new challenge: Some of their workers are getting sick. A Walmart store employee in Kentucky, a Starbucks barista in Seattle, and an Uber driver in Queens, N.Y., have all tested positive for the virus. Waffle House said Tuesday that a Georgia restaurant was closed and cleaned after an employee became sick with the coronavirus, too, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Walmart and Starbucks said they've consulted with public health officials, cleaned affected stores and had employees close to the sick workers self-quarantine. Dr. Irwin Redlener, director of Columbia University's National Center for Disaster Preparedness, said companies need to tell customers about sick workers, but recommended a measured approach. He said it may help to share specifics, such as the status of employees who may have been exposed and details of how they cleaned a store. But, Redlener acknowledged, the disclosure "still may keep people out of the store." Repko

9:42 am: Fiat Chrysler idling Italian plants as coronavirus outbreak intensifies

Fiat Chrysler said Wednesday it will "intensify measures" against the spread of the coronavirus in Italy. The actions include temporarily shutting down production at four plants in the country for two or three days. The new measures come as Italy has now 10,149 confirmed cases of the COVID-19 virus, according to Johns Hopkins University and Italy's civil protection agency. Wayland

9:35 am: Iran says virus kills 63 more, death toll climbs to 354

The death toll in Iran from the new coronavirus climbed for another consecutive day, killing 62 more people in the past 24 hours as the government on Wednesday raised the nationwide death toll to 354. Iran's Health Ministry said the deaths are among some 9,000 confirmed cases in Iran, where the virus has spread to all of the country's provinces. Across the Mideast, the vast majority of the 9,700 people who have contracted the coronavirus and the COVID-19 illness it causes are in hard-hit Iran or had recently returned from there. The Islamic Republic has one of the world's worst death tolls outside of China, the epicenter of the outbreak. Outside of Iran, only Iraq, Egypt, and Lebanon have recorded deaths from the virus in the Middle East. There are concerns that the number of infections across Iran is much higher than the confirmed cases reported by the government, which is struggling to contain or manage its spread. The rising casualty figures each day in Iran suggest the fight against the new coronavirus is far from over. Associated Press

9:30 am: Dow plunges as Wall Street's wild trading streak continues

A trader working at the New York Stock Exchange in New York, the United States. Michael Nagle | Xinhua News Agency | Getty Images

Stocks plummeted in another volatile session as Wall Street worried about a possible fiscal stimulus package aimed at curbing slower economic growth due to the coronavirus outbreak. President Donald Trump suggested Tuesday a 0% payroll tax rate that could last until the end of the year, however the timing of such policies being implemented remains uncertain. "Markets seem disappointed that the White House did not release details of its fiscal response to the coronavirus," said Brian Gardner, a Washington policy analyst at KBW. "We are still in early days and policymakers are continuing to grapple with different options and negotiate between the two parties and between Congress and the administration." Imbert

9:14 am: Bakeries see thousands in Pi Day sales vanish as virus spreads

Pie shops in New York, Seattle, and San Francisco are losing thousands of dollars in sales for Pi Day, the international holiday celebrated on March 14 to commemorate the mathematical constant. Companies have canceled orders as offices close and employees work remotely. Three Babes Bakeshop in San Francisco, for example, has furloughed the majority of employees as it loses out on Pi Day revenue and routine corporate sales to tech companies that cater to employee meals. Lucas

9:11 am: Why people are panic buying and stockpiling toilet paper

Panic buying has been rife amid the global spread of the coronavirus, with consumers around the world stockpiling goods like hand sanitizer, canned foods, and toilet paper. The trend has seen stores ration products, with U.K. retailers limiting sales of hand hygiene products while Australian shoppers have seen restrictions on the amount of toilet paper they can buy. According to Paul Marsden, a consumer psychologist at the University of the Arts London, the short answer can be found in the psychology of "retail therapy"  where we buy to manage our emotional state. "It's about 'taking back control' in a world where you feel out of control," he said. "More generally, panic buying can be understood as playing to our three fundamental psychology needs." Chloe Taylor

9:06 am: Urban Outfitters store traffic hit by virus, including Milan and Seattle

Urban Outfitters said Wednesday it has seen store traffic fall off in areas hit by the coronavirus, including Milan and Seattle, and "a few additional locations." "We have not seen a significant impact to stores in other locations or to our digital channel," the company said. Because the situation is so fluid in the U.S. and Europe, Urban said it is not yet forecasting how COVID-19 will hit its first-quarter earnings. The company joins a list of retailers including Under Armour and Macy's that are planning for a sales hit and supply chain disruption. Thomas

8:48 am: New York state recalculates revenue forecasts

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo asked Treasurer Tom DiNapoli to reexamine the state's revenue forecasts given the stock market rout as well as the outbreak's impact on local restaurants, hotels and other sectors. "As you know the world has changed in just the past few days and weeks. The world financial market volatility will no doubt impact our economic growth forecast for the next state fiscal year and revenue from the financial sector," Cuomo said in a letter sent Tuesday to DiNapoli. Cuomo said the state's recently completed revenue forecasts could be wrong, given the rapid spread of the virus and disruption to local businesses. Kopecki

7:58 am: Merkel says most Germans will get infected

German Chancellor Angela Merkel speeches during her meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin (not pictured) at Meseberg governmental house August 18, 2018 in Gransee, Germany. Mikhail Svetlov | Getty Images

Up to 70% of Germany's population is likely to be infected with the coronavirus, Chancellor Angela Merkel said Wednesday. Since there's no cure, she said, the focus must be on slowing its spread. "When the virus is out there, the population has no immunity and no therapy exists, then 60% to 70% of the population will be infected," she told a news conference in Berlin. "The process has to be focused on not overburdening the health system by slowing the virus's spread. ... It's about winning time." The remarks come as local authorities in Germany reported the third death in the country of a COVID-19 patient. Germany has at least 1,613 cases of the virus, according to Johns Hopkins University. Reuters

7:08 am: US cases surpass 1,000, up tenfold from a week ago

A woman visits Times Square as she wears a face mask on March 8, 2020 in New York City. Kena Betancur | Getty Images

COVID-19 cases surpassed 1,000 in the United States overnight as the coronavirus sweeps across the country. The virus is now present in at least 35 states and the District of Columbia, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Almost half of all U.S. cases are in Washington state, California and New York, where the governors have declared states of emergency to free up funding for communities battling outbreaks. There were just over 100 confirmed cases in the U.S. on March 4, according to the World Health Organization. Feuer

6:37 am: Italy hikes response spending to $28 billion, says further restrictions could come

An employee of the municipal company Veritas sprays disinfectant in public areas at the Rialto Bridge in Venice on March 11, 2020. MARCO SABADIN

Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said the government will set even more money aside to tackle the outbreak, raising it to 25 billion euros ($28.3 billion)  up from 7.5 billion euros announced last week. Italy has ordered a national lockdown, and even tougher measures being considered. Italy now has 10,149 confirmed cases of the virus, according to Johns Hopkins University and Italy's Civil Protection agency, and 631 deaths, up 168 from Monday.  Ellyatt

6:14 am: Beijing city tightens travel restrictions for all inbound travelers

A Chinese woman slides steam buns down a ramp used to prevent touching and contact as the customer takes his order at a local take out on February 19, 2020 in Beijing, China. Kevin Frayer | Getty Images

China's capital city said all travelers from overseas must self-quarantine for 14 days at home or in a hotel, regardless of whether their country of origin has been hit seriously by COVID-19. Previously, the municipal authorities said the quarantine applied only to travelers from high-risk countries. The policy change came after the city reported Tuesday that all six new confirmed of coronavirus cases were from people returning from abroad, five from Italy and one from the U.S. Wu

6:07 am: IHS Markit lowers global growth forecasts
T he mother of a rapper and actor stabbed outside a nightclub has paid tribute to him as a positive role model for many of his generation.

Ricardo Fuller-Brown, 24, from Walthamstow, performed under the name TALNT.

He was knifed outside the No Problem venue in Ilford at about 5am on Saturday and died in hospital.

His mother Vicki Fuller said today: Ricardo was well-respected and liked by many, in and around his community. He has been a massive influence and positive role model for many of his own generation.

"We as a family have been deeply saddened by what has happened.

"We have lost a very loving member of the family. His legacy will remain, and he will live on in our hearts forever.

A 29-year-old man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of murder.
On a day Jyotiraditya Scindia joined the BJP, Rajasthan Congress chief and Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot termed the development unfortunate, saying he wished things could have been fixed within the party "collaboratively".

"Unfortunate to see @JM_Scindia parting ways with @INCIndia. I wish things could have been resolved collaboratively within the party," Pilot said in a tweet on Wednesday.

Scindia joined the BJP in New Delhi on Wednesday after resigning from the Congress a day before.

Twenty-two legislators loyal to him also resigned from the state assembly, reducing the Kamal Nath government in Madhya Pradesh to a minority.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In 2016, Jennifer Batchelor headed to her local Whole Foods in Las Vegas in search of a good product for stress relief. First, an employee walked her to the supplement aisle. "When they realized I wasn't happy with that, they walked me to the wine," she says. Not exactly what she had in mind either.

Batchelor wanted a different kind of product: a drink that makes you feel good with none of the downsides of alcohol. And she figured she wasn't the only one.?

So she started investigating nootropics, which are herbs and synthetic compounds that supposedly offer cognition-enhancing benefits. She also teamed up with Matthew Cauble, who was one of the four co-founders behind the buzzy meal-replacement drink company Soylent that launched in 2014. Four years later, the duo launched Kin, a line of non-alcoholic beverages that claim to enhance a person's clarity, calm, and creativity, among other benefits. The herb and floral-flavored drinks carry the tag line "All bliss, no booze."

With the Brooklyn-based Kin, 35-year-old Batchelor is aiming to create a new category she calls "euphorics" and, in the process, to bring the wellness trend into the bar scene. Her timing is smart: Nearly half of regular wine drinkers, including two-thirds of Millennials, say they're trying to drink less alcohol, mostly for health reasons, according to Nielsen.

"There's empowerment in being conscious and having agency over how you want to feel, and not just drinking a counterpart under the table," Batchelor says.

For now, the goal is to get Kin on more tables. While most of the brand's sales come via its website, Kin has more than 75 wholesale partners, including over 40 restaurants and bars in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, San Francisco, New Orleans, and Kansas City. Kin is also sold at select grocery markets including Erewhon Market, which operates several locations in Los Angeles.

Other outlets include co-working spaces, holistic health clubs, and music festivals. And Kin is busy investing in its own venues on both coasts: Kin opened a West Hollywood Clubhouse in early 2019 and a studio in Brooklyn late last year.

Redefining a Ritual

The road to starting a booze-free beverage company for Batchelor arguably started long before she stepped into that Whole Foods and began researching the wellness industry. She was born in Saudi Arabia, where it is still illegal to drink alcohol. Her father worked as an airline mechanic and ran an illegal pub and cocktail bar out of their family's home. She later moved to Tallahassee, Florida, with her family, when she was 16.

"It was my first experience with the good things of alcohol: the ritual of bringing people together with a beverage," says Batchelor of her time in Saudi Arabia. If all goes according to plan, she wants Kin to be a new ritual in people's lives.

Currently the company offers two drinks: High Rhode, a caffeinated beverage with floral notes, and Dream Light, a spiced ginger nightcap, which launched in December 2019. Batchelor says she's purposefully not rolling the products out to as many venues as possible to instead focus on finding "the right players" who know the neighborhood and can cater to the right audience.

The company's own venues also allow Batchelor to more fully control how people experience Kin. It's a strategy that will be key as the company unveils additional product lines, she says.

In conjunction with its Dream Light launch, Kin opened a temporary sleep-themed space in Brooklyn called Moon Rise Studio. The location was outfitted with a fog machine and tufts of fabric plastered to the walls to look like clouds. Its West Hollywood Clubhouse--a mid-century modern-styled bungalow--opened in early 2019 with a series of select events including disco parties, comedy nights, and workshops. It was reintroduced for private events in January 2020. The company also recently moved its headquarters into a townhouse in Brooklyn's Williamsburg neighborhood with the plan of turning it into a community hub.

Barriers to Wider Adoption

Kin's promise to offer an alternative to alcohol that makes people feel good has hit a welcome note with investors. In May 2019, Kin landed $5 million in funding from venture capital firms Refactor Capital, Canaan, and Fifty Years. "We felt there was a very timely shift toward millions of people wanting that," says Byron Ling, a partner at Canaan. Alcohol-consumption trends validate his thinking. With more people concerned about health and wellness, the number of mocktail and spirit-free drinks on U.S. menus has grown 46 percent from 2015 to 2019, according to recent data from research firm Mintel.

Even so, wider adoption of products like Kin may still be limited, as some of its ingredients, known as adaptogens, haven't been studied much by the medical profession. While ingredients like Rhodiola rosea have been proved to reduce cortisol, which is known to relieve stress and work as a sleep aid, others, such as GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid), a neurotransmitter found in the central nervous system, haven't performed consistently under medical examination. The food supplement version of GABA is thought to boost a person's mood or have a calming, relaxing effect on the nervous system, but some studies have shown that it's nothing more than a placebo.

Batchelor dismisses the skepticism. "We're not coming out with a new ingredient that we invented or resource from, you know, somewhere in Fiji. All of these ingredients have been on the American market for 60 years," she says, adding that the company consulted pharmacologists and endocrinologists to determine the proper dosage and ingredient pairings.

Finally, while Kin does not currently use cannabidiol, or CBD, in its beverages, it is in direct competition with CBD-infused drinks, which are made from a compound typically derived from hemp or marijuana. The popularity of CBD is driven mostly by "a desire to have social interaction and relaxation without alcohol," says Amanda Topper, associate director of food service research at Mintel.

Batchelor says rather than worry about the competition, she is focused on expanding her line of drinks, ideally one for every kind of social interaction. Next up is a drink that "plays into creativity and arousal," she says.

"We see a euphoric for every social dynamic and every occasion. So I think for us it's just a matter of staying focused and not letting our own personal whims and dreams of the company get the best of us," says Batchelor.

Corrections: An earlier version of this article mischaracterized the effect of rhodiola on the human body. It reduces cortisol. It also misstated Bryon Ling's job title. He is a partner at Canaan.

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$21.4 million initiative to develop water-energy technologies

EVANSTON, Ill. and BEER-SHEVA, Israel -- Northwestern University and BGN Technologies, the technology transfer company of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU), announced today the initiation of a U.S.-Israel consortium led by both universities for the development of new technologies to solve global water challenges.

The multi-institutional, international program, called the Collaborative Water-Energy Research Center (CoWERC), has a total budget of $21.4 million, including a $9.2 million grant over 5 years from the U.S. Department of Energy and Israel's Ministry of Energy together with the Israel Innovation Authority. CoWERC is part of the U.S.-Israel Energy Center program administered by the U.S.-Israel Binational Industrial Research and Development (BIRD) Foundation.

Working at the intersection of water and energy, the team will research, develop and commercialize technology in three areas: energy-efficient enhanced water supply, wastewater reuse and resource recovery, and energy-water systems. All CoWERC projects are binational and include university, national laboratory and industrial partners. Technology development efforts will culminate in pilot testing at water and wastewater facilities in both Israel and the U.S. After being validated, the new technologies could potentially be implemented around the world.

"Water and energy are inextricably linked: water purification and distribution are primary uses of energy, while water is essential for energy production," said Aaron Packman, professor of civil and environmental engineering in McCormick School of Engineering and director of Northwestern's Center for Water Research. "CoWERC will enable us to develop new technologies that will reduce the energy needed for desalination, improve recovery of water and energy, and support safe water reuse."

"We are excited to launch together with our partners this very unique water-energy binational initiative," said Amit Gross, professor of environmental and water sciences at the Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research and director of the Zuckerberg Institute for Water Research (ZIWR) at BGU.

"Interestingly, urban wastewater contains more energy than the amount needed for its purification," said Moshe Herzberg, professor of environmental engineering at ZIWR. "Our aim is to recover this energy, along with nutrients, and reuse the treated water."

Professors Packman and Herzberg co-direct CoWERC.

The highly collaborative consortium includes partners from leading research institutions, water utilities and private companies. Led by Northwestern University, the U.S. team includes Argonne National Laboratory, Yale University, DuPont Water Solutions, Evoqua Water Technologies, Hampton Roads Sanitation District (HRSD), Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, CycloPure and Current. Led by Ben-Gurion University, the Israeli team includes the Technion Israel Institute of Technology, Mekorot-Israel National Water Company, Fluence Corporation and the Galilee Society.

###

This story has been published on: 2020-03-11. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Bernie Sanders lost every Michigan county in Tuesdays Democratic presidential primary, facing a resounding defeat that stands in stark contrast to his success across the state in the 2016 primary.

Sanders didnt lose much support in Michigan -- his vote total only dropped by 4% -- but former vice president Joe Biden benefitted from a large jump in Democratic turnout. Sanders couldnt build on the support that secured his 2016 victory, losing big in rural parts of the state and failing to increase his support in more populated areas that supported him last time.

Michigan Democrats set a record for votes cast in a presidential primary, increasing turnout by 31% from the 2016 primary. Total Democratic votes jumped from 1.2 million in 2016 to 1.5 million, but that didnt result in more votes for Sanders.

Sanders only increased his vote total in six counties. Matt Grossmann,g director of the Institute of Public Policy Research at Michigan State University, said the 2020 election revealed the extent of his Sanders support in Michigan.

Its just striking that since that time he really doesnt seem to have gained any voters and Biden seemed to gain almost all of them, Grossmann said.

Michigans delegates are awarded proportionally based on the results of each congressional district. Sanders earned 20 fewer delegates than Biden in Michigan, putting Sanders behind in the overall count by 50 delegates.

Biden proved much more competitive with Sanders across the state than Clinton was. Sanders wasnt able to replicate his success in West Michigan counties like Kent, Ottawa and Kalamazoo, though his vote totals were basically the same as 2016.

For example, Sanders won Kent County by 24 percentage points in 2016. Sanders gained 6% more votes in Kent County, but Biden managed a narrow victory there because he earned 82% more votes than Clinton.

There were nearly 380,000 more votes cast in the 2020 primary compared to 2016. Biden beat Sanders by nearly 261,700 votes.

Sanders has enjoyed strong support from young people, and that held true in Michigan as results rolled in Tuesday night but couldnt overcome the coalition of older, African American and suburban voters Biden built. Those constituencies added up to a big win for Biden, who gained a decisive, 16.5-point victory in Michigan.

But Sanders did perform well with young people.

State Rep. Abdullah Hammoud, D-Dearborn, a co-chair of Sanders campaign in Michigan, said one trend from Tuesday night was Sanders winning with the majority of those under 45, and one question for the Sanders campaign is how to re-tool to reach that over-45 demographic.

Certainly, I was upset by the results, Hammoud said. Obviously I was a very strong supporter for Sanders and really wanted to see Michigan go his way.

One factor with the youth vote: More than 13,000 people took advantage of the states new same-day registration, and the trend was particularly pronounced in college towns, where lines stretched hours on Monday and Tuesday. Many in line told MLive they were registering and voting that day to support Sanders.

Related: Michigan college students form long lines for same-day registration in presidential primary

While Sanders didnt win any counties, he ran closer to Biden in some with universities. In Washtenaw County, where the University of Michigan and Eastern Michigan University are located, Sanders trailed Biden by 2.65 points, as compared to the 16.5-point gap statewide.

The gap was also significantly narrower in some other counties with universities:

3.1 points in Ingham County, where Michigan State University is located

3.2 points in Isabella County, where Central Michigan University is located

4.2 points in Kalamazoo County, where Western Michigan University is located

1.23 points in Kent County, where Grand Valley State University is located

Sanders did pick up a majority of voters in the cities where colleges are located, including Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti and Kalamazoo.

Biden was particularly strong in Southeast Michigans suburban communities. Turnout in Washtenaw, Oakland, Livingston and Macomb jumped dramatically, which all played well for Biden.

Sanders lost Oakland County by 4.5 percentage points in 2016 and dropped the county by 23 points on Tuesday. Biden earned more than doubled the number of votes Clinton gathered in Oakland County.

A similar situation occurred in Macomb County, a key battleground that helped Trump win Michigan. Sanders lost by a slim 1.4-point margin in 2016. Biden beat him by 17 points.

Julie Campbell-Bode, board chair of Fems for Dems, said college-educated suburban women gravitated toward Biden in the last days of the election. Generally, Campbell-Bode said voters considered Biden a better candidate to attract moderate Democrats and disenfranchised Republicans who have had enough of Trump.

I think its fair to say that for a lot of those suburban women were talking about, beating Donald Trump is the number one focus for them, Campbell-Bode said.

Adrian Hemond, partner and CEO of political consulting firm Grassroots Midwest, said Biden performed well among key Democratic constituencies, including African Americans, college-educated white women and less-educated working-class white voters.

I think there are some lessons you can take from (Tuesday) in terms of Democratic enthusiasm, Hemond said. Theres a lot more breadth to Joe Bidens reach in terms of coalitions than there was to Hillary Clintons, and thats promising for Democrats.

Grossmann said Sanders wasnt able to capitalize on strong support among white rural voters in this election either. Sanders losses in counties in the northwest part of Michigans lower peninsula drifted away from him Tuesday.

Grand Traverse County is one example. Sanders earned 65% of the vote there in 2016, but only picked up 39% in the 2020 primary. The surrounding counties swung hard for Biden by double-digit margins.

Sanders did marginally better in Wayne County, possibly the result of his campaigns increased focus on Dearborn and Detroit. He still lost by nearly 19 points.

State Rep. Yousef Rabhi, D-Ann Arbor, endorsed Sanders and spoke at his Sunday, March 8 rally at the University of Michigan. He said Bidens ability to pull the Democratic Party around him in the final days of the primary sealed the elections outcome.

I think it was the consolidation of moderate power around Joe Biden, and I think it was the fact that Joe Biden is associated with the Obama presidency, Rabhi said. I think those were the two factors, more than anything else, that carried the day for him.

Mark Grebner, a Democratic strategist who founded Practical Political Consulting in East Lansing, said Michigan Democrats wheeled behind Biden when they realized Sanders could win the nomination.

Theres far more of us than there ever were of the Bernie-crats, Grebner said. Bernie got 50% of the vote last time. Hes nowhere near 50 anywhere (in the state) now.

Read more on MLive:

2020 Michigan Presidential Primary election results

Biden breaks through Sanders strongholds, and more takeaways from Michigans presidential primary

Two weeks ago Bernie Sanders was the front-runner. Now hes the underdog in must-win Michigan

Democrats have spoken. Joe Bidens Michigan win shows signs of strong coalition for general election
(Photo : www.pxhere.com)

The universe expands, and that is a known fact proven by science. It is, however, unknown to what rate our universe does so. University of Geneva (UNIGE) proposed a hypothesis, and the person behind it is a theoretical physicist.

Read More: This Video Shows How Robots are Not Perfect Just Like Humans

The question in which the hypotheses are from has been boggling minds of even the most celebrated scientists; no one knows the exact speed of the universe's expansion.

There is, however, a way to determine an amount or rate that is close to the correct amount. As of writing, there are two possible calculations for this. However, both return different answers.

The Hubble-Lemaitre law has been popularized due to research conducted decades ago. This particular research concluder that the universe is expanding and the galaxies are moving fsr away from each other.

Hubble-Lemaitre law, a constant, has also been introduced named the Hubble constant, which is being used as the standard for our universe's rate of expansion. The Hubble constant (H0) implied that the universe is expanding at 70 kilometers per second.

Arriving in this number, however, is complicated and has branched to two different calculations.

Cosmic Microwave Background

The first calculation is heavily based on the cosmic microwave background that is from almost anything on the universe when the universe experienced a very cold.point. This happened 370,000 years of the Big Bang event, where everything, according to scientists, all started.

The data gathered by the Planck space mission are the ones being used to come up with a number which they did, and it appears that this method shows that the H0 is 67.4

Read More: Does Full Moon Really Have an Effect on Psychological Wellbeing? Stunning Pictures Show 'Full Worm Moon' Lit the Sky

Supernovas

Supernovas are always happening, given that the universe has a lot of stars. Once this stellar event happens, they release a very bright light that can be seen in a very far scope and distance.

Supernovas that happens on very distant star systems and galaxies are more than enough to give any astronomer data to supply propose a solution or calculation for the Hubble constant.

This second approach calculates a 74 flat H0, which is slightly higher than the very first calculation.

Two Methods are Different

Several scientists agreed that these two methods of determining the Hubble constant are striving as time passes by. Throughout the years, they have been supplying accurate data. It is essential to remember, however, that both concepts and ways to determine one single constant isn't the same, and they will continue to be different from each other.

There are a lot of factors that determine the speed of the universe's expansion.

Professor Lucas Lombrisser, in the Theoretical Physics Department in UNIGE's Faculty of Sciences, proposed something to think about. He said that if the universe is a bubble, a giant one, the scientific community will face difficulties when it comes to finding.out the Hubble constant.

Lombrisser added that for scientists to know the Hubble constant accurately, it should be even more significant, so it gives way for a galaxy that is the primary purpose is for the measurement of the distances, and ultimately, the rate of how fast the universe expands.

Read More: Ultra-Fast Genome Sequencing Can Finally Let Babies Be 100% Sick Free In The Very Near Future!

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
ABVP workers trying to forcibly enter the Telangana Assembly complex (ANI)

Hyderabad: A number of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the student wing of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), tried to forcibly enter into the Telangana Legislative Assembly complex on Wednesday.

The police had to resort to lathicharge to disperse the protesters.

The workers were reportedly protesting against the state government for its alleged failure to keep up the promises it made earlier.

They also demanded the government to resolve some of the issues in the education sector.
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Brain disorders such as schizophrenia and Alzheimer's disease are among the most burdensome disorders worldwide. But there are few treatment options, largely due to our limited understanding of their genetics and neurobiological mechanisms. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have revolutionized our understanding of the genetic architecture related to many health conditions, including brain-related disorders. GWAS is a technique that allows researchers to compare genetic sequences of individuals with a particular trait - such as a disorder - to control subjects.Researchers do this by analyzing the genetic sequences of thousands of people. "To date, we know of hundreds of genomic regions associated with a person's risk of developing a disorder," Won said. "However, understanding how those genetic variants impact health remained a challenge because the majority of the variants are located in regions of the genome that do not make proteins. They are called non-coding genetic variants. Thus, their specific roles have not been clearly defined."Prior research suggested that while non-coding variants might not directly encode proteins, they can interact with and regulate gene expression. That is, these variants help regulate how genes create proteins, even though these variants do not directly lead to - or code for - the creation of proteins."Given the importance of non-coding variants, and that they make up a large proportion of GWAS findings, we sought to link them to the genes they interact with, using a map of chromatin interaction in the human brain," Won said. Chromatin is the tightly packed structure of DNA and proteins inside cells, folded in the nucleus in a way to maintain normal human health.Won and colleagues used this map to identify genes and biological principles underlying nine different brain disorders, including psychiatric conditions such as schizophrenia, autism, depression, and bipolar disorder; and neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and multiple sclerosis (MS).Using the computational tool H-MAGMA, Won and colleagues could link non-coding variants to their interacting genes - the genes already implicated in previous GWAS findings.Another important question in brain disorders is to identify cellular etiology - the cells involved in the root cause of disease. This is especially critical as the brain is a complex organ with many different cell types that may act differently in response to treatment. In the attempt of finding critical cell types for each brain disorder, the researchers found that genes associated with psychiatric disorders are highly expressed in glutamatergic neurons, whereas genes associated with neurodegenerative disorders are highly expressed in glia, further demonstrating how the two disorder clusters diverge from each other."Moreover, we classified biological processes central to the disorders," Won said. "From this analysis, we found that the generation of new brain cells, transcriptional regulation, and immune response as being essential to many brain disorders."Won and colleagues also generated a list of shared genes across psychiatric disorders to describe common biological principles that link psychiatric disorders."Amongst the shared genes, we once again identified the brain's early developmental process as being critical and upper layer neurons as being the fundamental cell-types involved," Won said "We unveiled the molecular mechanism that underscores how one gene can affect two or more psychiatric diseases."Source: Eurekalert
QUEENSBURY  Kory Kosinski, an 11-year-old boy from Queensbury, cant wait to return from his next limb-lengthening surgery.

Kosinski, who has dwarfism, will gain another 6 inches of length on his legs during two surgeries scheduled for May 5 on his tibias and May 21 on his femurs.

Kosinski, a sixth-grader, is 4-feet 1-inch tall now and is excited to be taller, but he is looking forward to coming home for another reason.

Hamsters, Kory said with a smile at his house Thursday.

He got a hamster for Christmas and it died. He had it 60 days, said his mother, Shirley Kosinski. It was his most favorite thing.

When he returns from his Florida surgery in mid-August, his parents have promised him he can get two new hamsters.

Kory was born with achondroplasia, the most common form of dwarfism. He had his first distraction osteogenesis procedure in 2015, during which his leg bones were broken and slowly pulled apart to regenerate new bone. He gained 6 inches from that surgery, and the second will add another 6 inches to his legs.

Kory and his mother will stay in West Palm Beach, Florida, for 14-17 weeks while Kory recovers from his surgery and endures physical therapy. This time, all the equipment on his legs will be internal.

Kosinski admits it is a highly controversial procedure.

We actually lost a few friends when they found out we went through with the surgery. They actually deleted us on Facebook, and theyre locals here, she said.

But to her, its a matter of personal hygiene, independence, future employment and self-esteem.

There are other things this surgery corrects, Kosinski said. Its not just giving him length.

This surgery  and the future surgeries he can have on his arms and face  will realign his hips and back and release soft tissue thats not supposed to be connected. The arm surgery planned for next year will realign his elbows and give him at least 5 inches of arm length.

He cant reach to wipe his own butt, Kosinski said. Still cant.

And this is the first year the middle-schooler refuses to let anyone at school assist him in the toilet. The end result is a number of rashes due to his limited reach.

A lot of people think dwarfism is just what you see, she said. Its not. Its all bone issues, the spine, the hips.

Kory has a severely underdeveloped mid-face and his upper palate is behind his lower teeth, which causes breathing problems and sleep apnea. He will be able to get face surgery in the future.

He is just shy of 49 inches now. When he returns from this surgery, he will be 55 inches.

In the end, Kory will gain 18 inches from all his surgeries. He is expected to stand at 5-foot-8-inches when the surgeries are done. An average adult male with dwarfism reaches 4-feet to 4-feet 4-inches tall.

That is huge, meaning no adaption, Kosinski said. No adaption for car, no assistance on public toilets, no special tools to wipe your bottom, no asking someone to get an item off the shelf for you. These are all improvements in his life.

Are there special people in your community worthy of recognition? Contact Gretta Hochsprung with good news at ghochsprung@poststar.com or call 518-742-3206.

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Visitors try out LG Electronics' G8X ThinQ smartphone during a launching event in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Nov. 25, 2019. / Courtesy of LG Electronics



Analysts positive on LG's 'different approaches for different regions'



By Baek Byung-yeul



LG Electronics is hoping to end its years-long losing streak in the smartphone business since former CEO Nam Yong's decision to keep the design- and feature-centric phones pipeline full.



The electronics maker lost 1 trillion won ($837 million) last year in the phone market. But the company was still clinging to its dying smartphone business as its chief executive told reporters in this year's Las Vegas tech fair that LG Electronics was hoping for a return to profitability by 2021. The top executive didn't share the specifics on how he plans to resurrect LG's smartphone business.



For LG, which has a wide-ranging portfolio from home appliances and TVs to even automotive electronic parts, the smartphone is considered as one of its important lifelines as mobile-related technologies could be applicable for the development of AI and IoT, connecting different devices with each other.



Also, with many mobile carriers in the world ramping up efforts to launch much faster fifth-generation (5G) networks, LG is waiting for an opportunity to rise up again and regain "the world's third-largest phone maker" title with its 5G-enabled phones.



In 2019, LG moved its phone production line from Korea to Vietnam to decrease fixed costs such as employee salaries. To take on Chinese phone makers, which have released cheap but competitive devices, LG is also expanding outsourcing of production and designing of budget smartphones to China.



This year, the company said it would take a targeting strategy in its marketing approach, selling different packages for each region. In Korea, the company will put forward what it calls a "mass premium" strategy, which is relatively low-priced 5G smartphones compared to high-priced ones.



In contrast with the plan for South Korea, the company will launch premium 5G phones in Europe and North America where consumers are more receptive to high-priced handsets.



So far, industry analysts were pointing out positive aspects of the updated LG strategy saying the series of remedies for turning around the smartphone business will work.



"LG is expected to improve its profit statement by increasing the proportion of outsourced smartphone production. Also its mass premium strategy for the Korean market appears to be effective in terms of cost reduction," Kim Ji-san, an analyst at Kiwoom Securities said.



They said LG is required to beef up its "different approaches for different regions" marketing strategy, putting more focus on the North and South American markets.



"LG Electronics has seen its smartphone share dwindle in both the global market and the domestic Korean market. Sales declines were seen in the U.S., Brazil and Argentina where the company had previously scored robust sales," James Kang, an analyst at research firm Euromonitor International Korea, said.



"Given LG has seen a sales increase in Mexico, however, the company needs to concentrate more on the North and South American markets. Also, it needs to strengthen its 'different approaches for different regions' marketing strategy to boost the sales," the analyst added.





LG Electronics' smartphones are displayed at Best Buy retail store in Las Vegas, Jan. 10. / Korea Times photo by Baek Byung-yeul



Premium 5G phones for North America, Europe



Assessing core factors of its continued dismal performances, LG said, during the conference call with investors in February, its "revenue was down quarter-on-quarter and year-on-year due to the slow sales in overseas markets, with the sales decrease in mass-tier products in the North American region."



At a time when Apple has not released a 5G version of iPhone yet and Huawei Technologies is also unable to sell devices in the U.S. market, LG was aiming to use the situations as an opportunity to possibly raise its share in the 5G smartphone market in North America as well as Europe.



"This year, premium product demand in developed markets is expected to grow, driven by the actual ramp-up of the 5G market and launch of new form factor smartphones," the company said during the conference call with investors.



As part of the plan, the company will sell its new premium smartphone V60 ThinQ only in the North American and European markets.



LG estimates the 5G network-enabled phone with a 6.8-inch display and Qualcomm's flagship Snapdragon 865 chipset will be more attractive to consumers there.



Also, the company expects it can save initial marketing costs by launching the V60 ThinQ smartphone because mobile carriers in the regions are expected to be more aggressive in their marketing campaigns to lure more consumers to 5G networks.





YouTube creator group 20birds pose with LG Electronics' new smartphone Q51, Tuesday. LG said it has collaborated with the famous YouTubers to promote its new device. / Courtesy of LG Electronics
Vietnamese authorities vowed Monday to punish anyone concealing sickness after 13 people caught the deadly new coronavirus on a flight to Hanoi, sparking lockdowns and panic-buying in the capital.

The Southeast Asian country had previously reported only 16 cases of the virus despite bordering China -- the epicentre of the global outbreak -- but a cluster of infections was discovered at the weekend among 201 passengers on a Vietnam Airlines flight from Britain.

The group were in quarantine Monday and recovering, Vietnam's health ministry said, with the hospital they were held in placed on lockdown along with several houses and hotels in Hanoi where they had stayed.

Vietnam Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc vowed Monday to "duly punish" those who fail to disclose a coronavirus diagnosis, according to state media.

He told a meeting of officials in Hanoi that "we need strong, adequate and immediate measures to effectively stop the source of infection".

Authorities have launched an online tool asking all citizens to declare their health status.

"Declaring false information... may be subject to criminal handling," stated an official notice.

A 29-year-old woman on the flight from London was found to be suffering from the disease after returning to Hanoi from a tour of France, Italy and Britain.

She is believed to have infected her aunt and driver, forcing authorities to isolate several houses near her home and a private hospital where she first sought treatment.

The other patients included Vietnamese, British, Irish and Mexican nationals.

A minister on the same flight tested negative for the virus but was also quarantined for 14 days with the group.

The health ministry said there may be "more cases to be discovered as a result of close contact" with the first patient.

People in the capital were seen panic-buying staple items as the lockdown of the hospital began.

The infections bring the country's total to 30, including a man who returned from South Korea, but more than 18,600 people have been monitored for illness or placed in isolation since early February. No-one has died from the virus.

Vietnam has granted limited access to visitors from China and South Korea -- another major coronavirus hotspot -- since the outbreak began at the start of the year, imposing a 14-day quarantine at government-controlled centres.

Several sports and cultural events have been cancelled across the nation, but Vietnam's inaugural Formula One race is still set to go ahead on April 5 in Hanoi.
EAST HAVEN  Town police identified a woman recently found dead on Frontage Road Wednesday.

Amber Neal, 38, of Clinton, died of injuries sustained during an early morning incident on Sunday, Lt. Joseph Murgo said in a release.

The circumstances surrounding her death are as of yet unclear, Murgo said.

Officers were dispatched to Frontage Road near the CarMax location Sunday, finding Neal, seriously injured, lying in the road, according to Murgo. She was brought to Yale New Haven Hospital by firefighters, but died.

At this point, the chain of events leading up to the discovery of a body in the roadway is unclear, Murgo said in a previous release. No other vehicles remained on scene and it is unclear if the female victim was struck by another car while walking along Frontage Road or if she was thrown from a vehicle.

Investigators are now trying to piece together the chain of events that led to her death and are still asking for any witnesses to come forward, Murgo said Wednesday.

Anyone with information about the matter is asked to call Detective Sergeant Paul Decrosta at 203-410-0537, Murgo said.

william.lambert@hearstmediact.com
While world leaders focused this week on coping with the coronavirus, Vladimir Putins attention was elsewhere. The Russian president was busy setting himself up as president for life. Read more

While world leaders focused this week on coping with the coronavirus, Vladimir Putins attention was elsewhere.

The Russian president was busy setting himself up as president for life.

After 20 years as president or prime minister, the 67-year-old former KGB spy organized a brazen end-run around Russias presidential term limits that will permit him to serve two more six-year terms after his current mandate expires in 2024.

This internal coup frees Putin to pursue his bitter vendetta against the West, which he blames for all of Russias troubles. Indeed, he justified his power grab by arguing that Russia was too vulnerable to containment by Western countries for him to surrender power.

The Kremlin leader has made clear he seeks to undermine the West with hybrid methods ranging from election interference, to assassinations, to invading European neighbors, to renewed nuclear competition with Washington.

 READ MORE: On coronavirus, Trump should swallow his hunches and let the experts work I Trudy Rubin

A normal U.S. administration would consider itself duly warned. President Donald Trump is more likely to ignore president-for-life Putins misdeeds  or even egg him on.

Putin makes no secret of his desire to hasten the decline of Western democracies, which he sees as decadent and crumbling, by exploiting and widening existing divisions among Americans.

Continuing Russian election interference is only one tool, yet Trump still vehemently dismisses its importance, which makes it harder to counter. Just this week, the president railed against upcoming classified intelligence briefings to Congress on Moscows covert efforts to interfere in 2020 elections.

Even more disturbing is Putins effort to solidify the gains from invading neighboring Ukraine in 2014 and annexing Crimea. Yet, even after the impeachment saga, Trump continues to undercut Ukraine, promoting the line of Russian intelligence that Kyiv, not Moscow, was behind the hacking in the 2016 election. GOP legislators are even pushing legislative investigations to prove this canard. (Trumps reelection campaign has even sued the Washington Post and New York Times for opinion articles on Trumps attitude towards Russian interference.)

Trump also seems unmoved by other Russian crimes in Ukraine: this week a Dutch court is trying four men with ties to Russian security services for the shooting down of a passenger jet over eastern Ukraine in 2014, killing all 298 passengers, mostly Dutch citizens. Despite mountains of evidence, Russia continues denies any involvement.

Putins criminal behavior extends as well to assassinations of his opponents on British soil, by poison. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has made clear that relations with Moscow cant normalize until the Kremlin stops denying any involvement.

If the Russian leader can still get away in 2020 with assassinations and the shooting down of a civilian jet, what will he try next? Especially if he is president for life.

You can get an idea by looking further at Putins current international behavior. In Syria, Russian planes repeatedly bomb civilian hospitals, clinics, and shelters  committing massive war crimes  in a successful effort to ensure that their proxy, Bashar al-Assad, remains in power. Putin aims to expand Russian power, with bases in Syria and probably Libya, to challenge NATO in the eastern Mediterranean.

Meantime, as the coronavirus spreads, Putin has helped exacerbate the global economic shock by waging an oil war with Saudi Arabia and driving prices down. His broad aim  to undercut shale producers in America and make their production unprofitable, even if it costs Russians dearly at home. (He has amassed a reserve fund of $500 billion from previous oil profits that will enable him to continue to play such games for quite a while.)

Indeed, in his effort to restore Russian glory and power, Putin is indifferent to the desires of his own citizens. According to Russias Levada-Centre polling organization, around 44% of voters want Putin to quit in 2024, while 45% believe he should stay, reports the Moscow Times. But such numbers dont seem to matter.

The Russian ruble keeps falling, his economy is weak, and Russia has failed to diversify beyond its energy resources into the high-tech economy that once seemed within its reach.

From the little that is known, the Kremlin appears to have done little to contain the coronavirus, with only 20 cases reported this week. Yet Putin appears impervious. After his self-coup, there will be no protests allowed because of coronavirus, says the noted independent Russian journalist Yevgenia Albats.

 READ MORE: After Super Tuesday, expect greater Russian interference I Trudy Rubin

Nor is there likely to be any pushback from President Trump, despite Putins malignant political and military interference in Europe, the Mideast  and the United States. Instead, President Trump often amplifies Putins denials of malfeasance.

Consider this: Chinas Xi Jinping eliminated term limits and made himself president for life, and now Putin has followed suit. The worlds two most prominent authoritarians are set never to leave office.

Trump has joked about staying on beyond two terms, should he win in 2020. We know Putins misbehavior doesnt concern him.

Even as he muffs the U.S. response to the coronavirus, does Trump, too, dream of becoming president for life?
The Jammu and Kashmir High Court on Wednesday dismissed a petition seeking a ban on the use of pellet guns by security forces for crowd control during protests in the valley.

Dismissing the public interest litigation (PIL), a division bench of justices Ali Mohammad Magrey and Dhiraj Singh Thakur said, "It is manifest that so long as there is violence by unruly mobs, the use of force is inevitable".

The PIL was filed by the Kashmir High Court Bar Association in 2016 in the wake of pellet injuries to hundreds of people in the protests that erupted after Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani was killed in an encounter with security forces.

What kind of force has to be used at a relevant point of time or in a given situation and place "has to be decided by the persons in charge of the place where the attack is happening," the bench said.

"This court in the writ jurisdiction, without any finding rendered by a competent forum/authority, cannot decide whether the use of force in a particular incident is excessive or not," it said.

Dismissing the PIL, the court said it was not inclined to prohibit the use of pellet guns "in rare and extreme situations" before an expert committee constituted by the Union Home Ministry through a memorandum dated July 26, 2016 submits its report and "a decision is taken at the government level".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-11 19:46:54|Editor: huaxia

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by Xinhua writer Ye Shan

TOKYO, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Wednesday marks the ninth anniversary of the powerful earthquake and tsunami that hit northeastern Japan in 2011.

After the natural disasters, China soon delivered 20,000 tons of fuel and other urgently needed emergency aid to its neighbor. Chinese rescue personnel were also immediately dispatched to the quake-hit region.

Nine years later, the two peoples are again joining hands in the face of another major disaster -- the COVID-19 epidemic.

The epidemic knows no boundaries, and neither do efforts to combat it. With a shared goal of overcoming the epidemic and safeguarding regional and global health security, China and Japan have set a vivid example of how to work together during a difficult time.

Since late January, China has received warm support from all sectors of Japan in fighting the COVID-19 outbreak.

Japan's Oita Prefecture, a sister prefecture of Wuhan, took the lead in donating following the outbreak, sending 30,000 face masks, 600 sets of protective clothing, and 400 pairs of goggles to the Chinese city on Jan. 27. Since then, other Japanese cities have also taken action to support China's battle against the epidemic.

"For Japan, when it sees a virus outbreak in China, it is like seeing a relative or neighbor suffering. The Japanese people are willing to help China and hope the outbreak will pass as soon as possible," said Toshihiro Nikai, secretary general of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.

Now, the Chinese side has not hesitated to extend its helping hand when infections in Japan keep growing.

China has donated much-needed test kits to Japan. When supplies dwindled in Japan, Chinese nationals living in the country distributed masks -- which they went to great lengths to collect -- to pedestrians, expressing gratitude to the Japanese people for their help to China.

Facing the raging epidemic, China and Japan share the need to cope with the public health challenge and shoulder the responsibility to contain the spread of the virus, maintain social stability, and spur economic development in the region.

Speaking recently at a news conference, World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus appealed to the world to let solidarity be the antidote to blame, and let shared humanity be the antidote to the shared threat.

As China and Japan are helping each other to navigate this tough time, they are also making contributions to the world's final victory over the disease. If other countries in the international community can also honor the spirit of solidarity, then that victory will not be far away.
CENTCOM: US to deploy missile systems in Iraq for fear of more Iran retaliatory attacks

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 10 March 2020 5:47 PM

The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) says it is set to deploy missile systems in Iraq for fear of more Iranian attacks in retaliation for the assassination by the US military of top anti-terror general Qassem Soleimani.

US Marine General Kenneth McKenzie, the head of the CENTCOM, made the remarks during a House Armed Services Committee hearing on Tuesday, Reuters reported.

"We are also in the process of bringing air defense systems, ballistic missile defense systems, into Iraq in particular, to protect ourselves against another potential Iranian attack," he said.

On January 3, the US assassinated Lieutenant General Soleimani, commander of the Quds Force of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the second-in-command of Iraq's Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), and a group of their companions in Baghdad.

The operation was conducted under direct orders of US President Donald Trump, while General Soleimani was on an official visit to the Iraqi capital.

Following the atrocity, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei promised a "harsh revenge."

On January 8, the IRGC launched retaliatory strikes against the US's Ain al-Assad Airbase in the western Iraqi Anbar Province, and another outpost housing American forces in the semi-autonomous Iraqi Kurdistan region.

The US Defense Department said on February 21 that as many as 110 US forces had been diagnosed with traumatic brain injury following the reprisal. The figure was higher than the previous toll that had been announced on February 10.

The IRGC says what Washington claims to be related to brain injuries from the strikes on Ain al-Assad is "a metaphor for dead US troops."

The Corps has also said by targeting the airbase, it destroyed the very outpost from which all of Washington's regional terrorist operations, including the assassinations, would be planned and directed.

General Soleimani has earned reputation as the Middle East's most revered anti-terror commander due to his indispensible contribution to regional counter-terrorism efforts, which led to Iraq and Syria's defeating the Takfiri terror group of Daesh in late 2017.

Ayatollah Khamenei has described the revenge strikes as "only a slap."

Iran blacklisted the CENTCOM as a terrorist organization last year after Washington made a similar move concerning the IRGC, which is Iran's elite defense force.

Following the Iranian retaliation, the Pentagon said it was trying to secure permission from Iraq to take Patriot missile systems into the Arab country.

The Iraqi parliament, however, voted overwhelmingly after the assassinations in favor of a law obliging complete withdrawal of all American-led forces from the country's soil.

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Coronavirus concerns: Unilever boss Alan Jope

The boss of Unilever says it will take a hit from the coronavirus crisis but the extent 'is not yet clear'.

Alan Jope said the Covid-19 outbreak was 'clearly concerning' and the firm, which owns brands such as Dove soap and Marmite, was monitoring the situation closely. It comes as businesses around the world brace for further disruption.

A 38-year-old Unilever manager in Italy has tested positive for the virus without even visiting China. Sixty of his work colleagues were isolated.

Jope, 55, said: 'The safety and wellbeing of our people has been the priority. Inevitably, however, there will be an adverse impact.'

Jope was handed 4.3million for his first year, after taking over in January 2019, as Unilever yesterday reported a slump in annual profits for 2019.

It is to close its washing powder factory in Warrington, putting 123 jobs at risk, because consumers prefer liquid gel detergents.
An F-16 fighter jet belonging to the Pakistan Air Force crashed in Islamabad on Wednesday while carrying out rehearsals for the country's Republic Day parade to be held on March 23.

The plane crashed in a jungle near Shakarparian area of the capital, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) said in a statement.

The plane was carrying out routine exercises for the Pakistan Day parade when it crashed, it said, adding that the PAF has ordered an inquiry into the cause of the crash.

There was no immediate word on the fate of the pilot or co-pilot. Security forces have cordoned off the crash site.

Smoke was rising from the crash site and rescue efforts were going on to contain the fire, the statement said.

Pakistan Day or Pakistan Resolution Day, also known as Republic Day commemorates the Lahore Resolution passed on March 23, 1940 and the adoption of the first Constitution of Pakistan.

The annual military and cultural parade is organised in the capital Islamabad to commemorate the demand for a separate homeland for Indian Muslims which was made through the resolution passed by the All India Muslim League in Lahore.

Air show by the PAF is an integral part of the parade and its intensive rehearsals are organised weeks ahead of the parade day.

Traditionally, locally-made JF-17 Thunder and American F-16 feature prominently in the air show.

Last month, a trainer aircraft of the PAF crashed near Mardan. A Mirage aircraft had crashed near Shorkot city of Punjab's Jhang district the week before.

In January, two PAF pilots were killed after a training aircraft crashed near the M M Alam Base in Mianwali.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
By PTI

NEW DELHI: Pawan Kumar Gupta, one of the four death row convicts in the Nirbhaya gang rape and murder case, on Wednesday moved a Delhi court seeking registration of an FIR against two police constables for allegedly physically assaulting him when he was lodged at Mandoli jail last year.

The court of Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Karkardooma has fixed Pawan's complaint for hearing on Thursday at 2 PM, lawyer AP Singh, counsel for the condemned prisoner, said.

The complaint seeks a direction to the SHO of Harsh Vihar Police Station to register the FIR against constable Anil Kumar and another unidentified police constable.

The complaint said that since Pawan is to be hanged soon, it is necessary to allow him to appear as a witness for identifying both policemen.

The criminal complaint alleged that Pawan was badly beaten up by the two constables on July 26 and 29, 2019 when he was lodged in the Mandoli central jail in East Delhi.

It further said he was then treated at Guru Teg Bahadur government hospital in Shahdara for his alleged head injury and had received 14 stitches and seeks registration of the FIR against the two policemen under penal provisions relating to physical assault.

Earlier, on March 5, another Delhi court presided over by Additional Sessions Judge Dharmendra Rana had issued fresh black warrants for the execution of the four death row convicts including Pawan Kumar Gupta on March 20 at 5.30 am.

ALSO READ: HC asks Tihar authorities to consider media house plea to interview Nirbhaya convicts

The death row convicts are Mukesh Kumar Singh (32), Pawan Gupta (25), Vinay Sharma (26) and Akshay Kumar Singh (31).

A 23-year-old physiotherapy intern, who came to be known as 'Nirbhaya' (fearless), was gang raped and savagely assaulted in a moving bus in South Delhi on December 16, 2012.

She died a fortnight after the incident.

Six people, including the four convicts and a juvenile, were named as accused.

Ram Singh, the sixth accused, allegedly committed suicide in Tihar jail days after the trial began in the case.

The juvenile was released in 2015 after spending three years in a correctional home.
Washington: Former prime minister Kevin Rudd has blasted senior US Republican politicians for labelling COVID-19 the "Wuhan" or "Chinese" coronavirus, saying such "juvenile" rhetoric will hurt efforts to develop a global response to the crisis.

Chinese authorities and Asian-American members of the US Congress have also criticised Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy for using the geographical descriptors in recent days.

Former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd criticising Republican politicians for using the term "Wuhan virus" and "Chinese coronavirus". Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Controlling the narrative around the virus, and the language used to describe it, has become just the latest flashpoint in the increasingly tense relationship between the US and China.

McCarthy used the term "Chinese coronavirus" in a tweet directing his followers to health advice from the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention on Monday (Tuesday AEDT). On Friday, Pompeo referred to the "Wuhan coronavirus".
Residents of far-western NSW are celebrating the arrival of the first major river flows to reach the Menindee Lakes since 2016.

The region, site of a series of mass fish kills just over a year ago, began receiving flows down the Barwon-Darling River after big rains further up the system in recent weeks.

Graeme McCrabb, a grape grower who helped draw publicity to the deaths of a million or more fish in his area, said he spent all day on Tuesday with his wife, Maree, watching the water come down the river.

"I was like a kid at Christmas," Mr McCrabb told the Herald. "It means a fish can swim all the way from here to Goondawindi - but it's a bit out of my league."
Former lawmaker, Senator Shehu Sani has pointed out that most State Governors in Nigeria dont tolerate criticisms.

The former lawmaker from Kaduna State made this statement in reaction to the trending issue of the removal of Lamido Sanusi as the Emir of Kano by Governor Abdullahi Ganduje.

Also Read: BREAKING: El-Rufai Gives Sanusi Another Appointment; Makes Him Chancellor Of Kaduna Varsity

Recall that on Monday, the former lawmaker berated the Kano State Governor over the removal of the former Central Bank Governor.

In a new post, Sani expressed that Governor Gandujes intolerance of criticisms is peculiar to almost all State Governors in Nigeria.

See his tweet below:
All the four people tested positive for coronavirus in Karnataka so far, are stable and are recovering in the isolation facility, said Government of Karnataka on Wednesday.

"Four COVID-19 positive cases have been reported in Karnataka till date. All four cases are stable and recovering in isolation facility. Till now, 98,401 passengers have been screened in Karnataka," said Government of Karnataka in a statement.

"Till date 98,401 passengers have been screened in Karnataka," said Department of Health and Family Welfare Services, Bengaluru, Karnataka

Meanwhile, in view of COVID-19 outbreak, the Government of India on Tuesday issued an additional travel advisory imposing travel restrictions on people arriving in India from coronavirus-affected countries.

The countries are Italy, South Korea, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Thailand, Singapore, Iran, Malaysia, France, Spain and Germany.

The government informed about the suspension of visas of foreign nationals from the aforementioned countries and those with travel history in these nations on or after February 1.

With 10 more people confirmed positive for novel coronavirus, the total number of COVID-19 cases in India has jumped to 60, the government said on Wednesday.

Out of the 60 cases, 36 are Indian citizens.

Six of the eight new cases are from Kerala and one each from Rajasthan and Delhi according to the ministry.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A Korean drug dealer caught in Thailand has not been deported for more than two months as the Thai government has prohibited the movement of prison inmates since the coronavirus outbreak.

The Korean, a man in his 50s, was caught in Cambodia last year after a five-year hunt by Korean prosecutors and the National Intelligence Service, according to legal sources on Tuesday.

He is accused of smuggling 6 kg of crystal methamphetamine worth W20 billion from Cambodia to Korea (US$1=W1,195). He was caught and imprisoned in Cambodia but escaped across the porous border into Thailand. There he was caught again late last year and held in an immigration detention center.

But Korean prosecutors are currently unable to bring him to Korea because the Thai government has banned the movements of prison inmates across borders due to the spread of coronavirus.

"Nobody knows when his extradition will begin," a prosecutor here said.
India's gems and jewellery exports declined by 20.26 per cent to Rs 20,763.28 crore in February, hit by the global outbreak of Covid-19, credit crunch and customs issues, according to industry body GJEPC.

Gems and jewellery exports stood at Rs 26,039.32 crore in February 2019, the Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) said.

"The fall in gems and jewellery exports has been happening over some time due to the global economic slowdown coupled with the industry struggling with credit crunch and customs issues. Now the global outbreak of Covid-19 has added to the existing issues," GJEPC Vice Chairman Colin Shah told PTI here.

The overall exports declined by 6.38 per cent to Rs 2,36,839.34 crore during April 2019 to February 2020, compared to Rs 2,52,973.24 crore during the same period last year.

Meanwhile, shipments of cut and polished diamonds (CPD) in February fell by 40.66 per cent to Rs 9,897.14 crore, compared to Rs 16,679.94 crore in the same month last year.

CPD exports during April 2019 to February 2020 declined by 18.71 per cent to Rs 1,24,880.11 crore, from Rs 1,53,621.64 crore registered during April 2018 to February 2019.

However, gold jewellery exports in February went up by 28.26 per cent to Rs 8,106.96 crore from Rs 6,320.88 crore in the same month of 2019.

Gold jewellery exports from April 2019 to February 2020 grew by 7.27 per cent to Rs 80,088.38 crore, from Rs 74,661.63 crore earlier.

Silver jewellery exports during April 2019 to February 2020 also jumped 91.57 per cent to Rs 10,342.17 crore from Rs 5,398.61 crore in April 2018 to February 2019.

Coloured gemstone exports in April 2019 to February 2020 declined by 16.20 per cent to Rs 2,171.87 crore, from Rs 2,591.59 crore earlier.

Meanwhile, the overall gems and jewellery imports during April 2019 to February 2020 declined by 3.33 per cent to USD 23.03 billion, from USD 23.83 billion registered during April 2018 to February 2019.

The overall gross import of rough diamonds during April 2019 to February 2020 showed a decline 13.43 per cent to USD 12.39 billion from USD 14.31 billion earlier.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday (March 11) broke his silence on the Madhya Pradesh political crisis and blamed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for destabilisng an elected Congress government in the state.

In his first reaction after the resignation of senior Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia from the party, Rahul Gandhi asked the BJP-led government at the Centre to focus on economy and reduce the oil prices in the country as the global oil prices have crashed around 35% in the last few days.

"Hey @PMOIndia , while you were busy destabilising an elected Congress Govt, you may have missed noticing the 35% crash in global oil prices. Could you please pass on the benefit to Indians by slashing #petrol prices to under 60 per litre? Will help boost the stalled economy," tweeted Rahul.

Hey @PMOIndia , while you were busy destabilising an elected Congress Govt, you may have missed noticing the 35% crash in global oil prices. Could you please pass on the benefit to Indians by slashing #petrol prices to under 60 per litre? Will help boost the stalled economy.  Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) March 11, 2020

In a related development, veteran Congress leader Digvijaya Singh on Wednesday rejected claims that Scindia resigned from the party because he was sidelined by the party. Singh tweeted saying that Scindia was "not at all sidelined" and no decision in Gwalior Chambal Division of Madhya Pradesh was taken without his consent since the Congress came to power in the state 15 months ago.

"No question he was not at all sidelined. In fact, please ask any Congress Leader from MP particularly from Gwalior Chambal Division and you would come to know nothing moved in this area without his consent in the last 16 months. Sad. But I wish him well under ModiShah Tutelage!" Singh tweeted.

Singh's comment comes at a time when Chief Minister Kamal Nath-led Congress government in Madhya Pradesh is staring at a huge crisis after the resignation of Scindia and 22 Congress MLAs on Tuesday.

"...He sees a great Future for India under ModiShah Govt when our Banks are collapsing our rupee is plummeting our Economy is in shambles and our Social Fabric is being destroyed. So be it," Singh said in another tweet.

On Tuesday, Scindia quit the Congress and addressed his resignation letter to Sonia Gandhi, saying "it is now time for me to move on. To reflect and realise the aspirations of my people and my workers I believe it is best that I now look ahead at a fresh start."

The Madhya Pradesh assembly has a strength of 230 members but two seats are presently vacant due to the demise of two MLAs. The effective strength of Madhya Pradesh Assembly is now 228 and the magic number required to form the government is 115.
Old Ideas in New Bottles

A new front group preaches restraint while embracing interventionism

By Philip Giraldi

March 11, 2020 " Information Clearing House " - Numerous so-called front groups operate in the United States. A front group is very simply an organization that pretends to have a certain program while at the same time using that identity as cover to promote a hidden agenda that is something quite different, often opposed to what is being said publicly. The Global Climate Coalition is, for example, an organization funded by fossil fuel providers that works to deny climate change and other related issues. The Groundwater Protection Council does not protect water resources at all and instead receives its money from the fracking industry, which resists any regulation of water pollution it causes. The Partnership for a New American Economy has nothing to do with protecting the U.S. economy and instead seeks to replace American workers with H1B immigrant laborers. Even the benign sounding National Sleep Foundation, is in reality a Big Pharma creation intended to convince Americans that they need to regularly use sleep inducing drugs.

Front groups in a political context can be particularly dangerous as they deceive the voter into supporting candidates or promoting policies that have a hidden agenda. The Washington-based Foundation for Defense of Democracies, is, for example, uninterested in preserving democracies unless that democracy is Israel, which many observers would prefer to describe as an apartheid state. It is funded by Zionists billionaires and its leadership meets regularly with Israeli officials. The American Enterprise Institute is likewise a neocon mouthpiece for economic imperialism and regime change disguising itself as a free market advocate and the Brookings Institution is its liberal interventionist counterpart.

Front groups are sometimes largely fictional, on occasion creations of an intelligence agency to give the impression that there exists in a country a formidable opposition to policies pursued by the governing regime. Recent developments in Venezuela and Bolivia rather suggest the CIA creation of front groups in both countries while the Ukrainian regime change that took place in 2014 also benefited greatly from a U.S. created and supported opposition to the legitimate Viktor Yanukovych government.

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Both the Russian Revolution that produced a communist state and the rise of fascism in Europe also relied on front groups to send out socially and politically acceptable messages while at the same time secretly working to install totalitarian regimes with extreme policies. American front groups are not yet so ambitious, but there are a number of them that do seek a sea change in U.S. economic policies and foreign relations, to include Americans for Prosperity funded by Charles Koch and George Soross Open Society Foundations.

Soros and Koch come together in funding the recently launched Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, with the stated intention of mov[ing] U.S. foreign policy away from endless war and toward vigorous diplomacy in the pursuit of international peace. The Institute is named after the sixth U.S. President John Quincy Adams, who famously made a speech while Secretary of State in which he cautioned that while the United States of America would always be sympathetic to the attempts of other countries to fight against dominance by the imperial European powers, she goes not abroad, in search of monsters to destroy. Quincy has a projected annual budget of $5-6 million, enough to employ twenty or more staffers.

In reality, though Quincy claims to be dedicated to realism and restraint and the pursuit of international peace in foreign and national security policy, it actually acts more like a vehicle for status quo interventionism as practiced by the Bush, Obama and Trump administrations. The organization particularly targets moderates and conservatives who have become disgruntled with Americas wars, though it promotes itself as bringing together both the left and the right to adopt a rational and less aggressive foreign policy.

The Quincy Institute claims correctly that many of the other organizations dealing with national security and international affairs inside the Beltway are either humanitarian agenda-driven or neoconservative dominated, often meaning that they in practice support serial interventionism, sometimes including broad tolerance or even encouragement of war as a first option when dealing with adversaries. These are policies that are currently playing out unsuccessfully vis-a-vis Venezuela, Iran, Syria and North Korea.

The Quincies promise to be different in an attempt to change the Washington foreign policy consensus, which some have referred to as the Blob, and they have indeed collected a very respectable group of genuine realist experts and thoughtful pundits, including Professor Andrew Bacevich, National Iranian American Council founder Trita Parsi and investigative journalist Jim Lobe. But, of course, he who pays the piper calls the tune and the influence of globalists Koch and Soros is clearly evident in terms of what is and what is not acceptable.

Both George Soros and Charles Koch are globalist oligarchs, who have made hundreds of millions if not billions of dollars by expanding their own supra-national roles in a world where moneyed elites can act without any accountability. Daniel McAdams of the Ron Paul Institute has described it as a World of Davos with fangs. Soros in particular is notorious for his sometimes disastrous support of so-called humanitarian regime change intervention to expand democracy movements as part his vision of a liberal world order. In an op-ed in the Financial Times on March 4th, he urged that Europe must stand with Turkey over Putins war crimes in Syria, an astonishing misreading of the situation in the region as Turkey is the aggressor while Russia is fighting to eliminate the last major terrorist enclave in Idlib. Soros is almost certainly the driving force behind one of the four major projects planned by the Quincy Institute, headed by investigative journalist Eli Clifton, which is called Democratizing Foreign Policy.

And the Quincy President Andrew Bacevich has clearly indicated that there will be red lines, that the institute wont focus on highlighting pro-Israel organizations or donors. In other words, it will not criticize Israel or its Lobby as a driving element in Americas interventionist foreign policy. He elaborated Our purpose is to promote restraint as a central principle of U.S. foreign policyfewer wars and more effective diplomatic engagement. In recent articles on the Middle East and the upcoming national election, Bacevich has been as good as his word, citing an enemies list that includes Russia, China, Iran and Saudi Arabia while deliberately avoiding any mention of Israel, the country that more than any other interferes in U.S. politics.

Quincy launched back in December but its first major event took place on February 26th, when it co-hosted with Foreign Policy Magazine a series of individual presentations and panel discussions described as A New Vision for America in the World. The featured speaker was none other than David Petraeus, the former general who, the architect of the ill-fated surge, never saw any real combat but oversaw the killing of thousands of Iraqis in Fallujah. He was also for a short time a CIA Director who was in part responsible for the American hand in undermining Syria and completing the destruction of Libya. He had to resign from CIA after sharing classified information with his mistress so she could write a book praising him. He now works for Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P., a New York investment firm as chairman of the firms KKR Global Institute, even though he has no experience in either investment or banking.

Petraeus was surely paid a large honorarium to appear at the Quincy event but no one is admitting how much. He spoke for 20 minutes supporting Americas leadership role in the world in advancing the liberal world order and left without taking any questions from the audience.

Subsequent speakers came from the German Marshall Fund, the New America Foundation, the neocon Hudson Institute, the Brookings Institution and the Center for New American Security. All those organizations are either liberal/humanitarian or regime change interventionist inclined. One might observe that as neocon and democracy promotion organizations all across the political spectrum never provide a platform for critics, why is a group allegedly advocating realism and restraint including the interventionist speakers as participants? Can it be because the actual Quincy agenda is really more status quo than it pretends to be to keep the Benjamins flowing?

Independent award-winning journalist Gareth Porter attended the entire meeting and observed the conference, moreover, had a tenor and pace reminiscent of many dozens of Washington think tank events on national security policy attended by this writer for years before giving them up a few years ago. Thats because it consisted of brief and almost always polite exchanges between advocates of new policies and representatives of centrist think tanks that are deeply enmeshed in those policies and the institutional interests underlying them. He suggested that if Quincy really wanted to succeed it would need to go beyond realism and restraint and talk[] about the need for fundamental change in the system of national security institutions themselves. Of course, taking that lesson on board might not be in line with the thinking of major funders.

So, Quincy Institute emerges as just another front group, well-funded and staffed by oligarchs with their own agendas to pretend to be saying something new while really delivering a quite different message, one more appreciated by the status quo. It is ever so in Washington where money talks and establishment interests almost always prevail both among Democrats and Republicans. For a brief moment it seemed that electing Donald Trump might break that pattern, but the reality is that the interests of the money masters who rule the United States as well as much of the rest of the world are much more powerful than any number of Quincy Institutes or American presidents.

Philip M. Giraldi, Ph.D., is Executive Director of the Council for the National Interest, a 501(c)3 tax deductible educational foundation (Federal ID Number #52-1739023) that seeks a more interests-based U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East. Website is councilforthenationalinterest.org, address is P.O. Box 2157, Purcellville VA 20134 and its email is inform@cnionline.org. - " Source "
Mr. Sanders has also made it clear that he is aware he cannot continue to campaign indefinitely and defiantly, as he did against Hillary Clinton in 2016, according to former aides and people currently in his orbit.

And for all of the criticism he has leveled at Mr. Biden recently, Mr. Sanders feels far more positively in a personal way toward Mr. Biden than he did toward Mrs. Clinton, which could make a reconciliation less contentious, according to a veteran of the last campaign. This person and others briefed on Mr. Sanderss campaign plans insisted on anonymity in order to discuss internal deliberations.

Over the past several months, Jeff Weaver, a senior adviser to Mr. Sanders, has opened up a line of communication with one of Mr. Bidens top political aides, Anita Dunn. Although the back-channel setup has mostly been used to arrange logistics  they hashed out an agreement this week to bar a live audience from Sundays debate  it is likely to be the main conduit for talks about political matters, according to people on both campaigns.

With over half the delegates still to be allocated, aides to Mr. Sanders said they saw more fertile terrain in the coming weeks. They point out that Mr. Sanders narrowly lost Illinois four years ago and see strength in Wisconsin and Puerto Rico. Georgia, with its heavily black electorate, will most likely go to Mr. Biden, who currently leads Mr. Sanders in delegates, 864 to 710, with delegates still to be counted.

Mr. Sanders also has about $9 million worth of ads booked through March 17, including a $2 million buy this week.

Aides say Mr. Sanders is particularly motivated to participate in the debate on Sunday in Phoenix because he views it as his first and possibly last opportunity to face Mr. Biden one on one and hold him accountable for his record, while trumpeting his own record in contrast.

Donald Trump must be defeated, and I will do everything in my power to make that happen, Mr. Sanders said on Wednesday. On Sunday night, in the first one-on-one debate of this campaign, the American people will have the opportunity to see which candidate is best positioned to accomplish that goal.
GENEVA (Reuters) - The World Health Organization sees the outbreak of the new coronavirus as a pandemic, Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Wednesday. We are deeply concerned both by the alarming levels of spread and severity and by the alarming levels of inaction. We have therefore made the assessment that COVID-19 can be characterized as a pandemic, he told a news conference. Reporting by Emma Farge and Michael Shields

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication.
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Linkedin Retno LP Marsudi (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, March 11, 2020 10:14 671 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2069bfecd 3 Opinion Insight,Retno-Marsudi,Netherlands-Indonesia,diplomacy,diplomatic-relations,diplomatic-missions,bilateral-cooperation,bilateral-relation,King-Willem-Alexander,Queen-Maxima,dutch-royal-indonesia Free

The ongoing global economic and geopolitical volatility will not keep Indonesia and the Netherlands from advancing their long-standing cooperation  that may be the right tone to begin the narrative on the state visit of King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima to Indonesia.

On Tuesday, President Joko Jokowi Widodo greeted the Dutch king and queen at Bogor Palace in West Java.

The visit sends the clear message that the two countries aspire to advance their ties going forward. It will surely create a new momentum for the Indonesian-Dutch partnership. The visit also instils not only increased confidence of Dutch investment in Indonesia but also strategic trust in the long run.

The visit produces numerous concrete deliverables in various sectors at the government-to-government as well as the business-to-business level. These include eight government initiatives in important sectors such as sustainable palm oil production, cooperation on infectious diseases control, waste management, the circular economy, water management, aviation cooperation, capacity-building of healthcare professionals, as well as women, peace and security.

On the business side, the kings 190-strong business delegation has met with hundreds of Indonesian business counterparts and concluded investment and business deals amounting to US$1 billion. These include agreements on dairy products, oil and gas, agriculture, infrastructure and renewable energy.

However, these achievements did not come overnight. In fact, in the last seven decades, both sides have taken significant steps to strengthen bilateral ties.

I was the Indonesian ambassador in The Hague in 2013, when Indonesia and the Netherlands signed a joint declaration on a comprehensive partnership that laid out the modalities for concrete cooperation. This was an important building block to mature our bilateral cooperation into what we have today and what we will harvest tomorrow.

After more than 70 years, it is undeniable that the bond between the two countries has had its share of challenges. While we cannot deny the past of Indonesia-Netherlands relations, we can choose to fully capitalize on the potential of future cooperation for the benefit of both nations.

Read also: A time to remember

Therefore, the goal for our shared future must be clear, which is pursuing a forward-looking partnership that really benefits both countries and peoples.

There are three things that the two countries should advance together to attain common goals for a solid and mutually beneficial partnership.

First and fundamentally, both countries must remain committed to the common values of mutual respect and principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Second, the Indonesian-Dutch partnership must produce long-term and concrete economic benefits for our two peoples.

The Netherlands is and should continue to be Indonesias strategic partner for trade and investment. In 2019, the Netherlands was Indonesias largest investment partner in the European region, the second-largest trading partner and the fourth-largest tourism partner.

Our political solidarity in furthering the common cause of sustainability is also strong. In promoting sustainable palm oil in Europe, for instance, it is evident that we can rely on the Netherlands as our friend. Last year, together with my colleague, Sigrid Kaag, the Dutch minister for foreign trade and cooperation development, we signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on joint production of sustainable palm oil in New York, the United States. King Willem-Alexanders current visit has also brought an impetus toward the progression of sustainable production of palm oil through the conclusion of a technical arrangement that will focus on capacity-building for Indonesian smallholder farmers.

This is a good reflection of how trust is an important pillar of bilateral cooperation, as also exemplified through the Netherlands support in the establishment of the Indonesia-European Union Voluntary Partnership Agreement on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade in 2016.

Third, Indonesia and the Netherlands must continue to promote the universal common values of multilateralism, diplomacy and democracy, promoting habits of dialogue and peaceful dispute settlement to tackle shared global challenges amid rising tensions, intolerance and unilateralism.

Peacekeeping and counterterrorism are among our signature areas of collaboration on the world stage.

Indonesia and the Netherlands were among the core countries facilitating and supporting the Untied Nations' secretary-generals Action for Peacekeeping (A4P) initiative to rally member states and other crucial stakeholders to fulfil their obligation in strengthening UN peacekeeping operations.

Both nations also need to stand shoulder to shoulder in the global fight against terrorism and violent extremism.

Deepening the promotion of democracy, pluralism and tolerance are other important areas of cooperation to further develop. The Bali Democracy Forum could become the platform to jointly advance these shared values.

Women, peace and security shall be another hallmark of our bilateral cooperation. The partnership aspires to deepen the capacity of women to promote peace and security, in line with the formation of the ASEAN Women Mediators Network and the Afghanistan-Indonesia Women Network last March.

Read also: King Willem-Alexander, please recognize Indonesias Independence Day

In conclusion, another historical step was taken with the king of the Netherlands visit to Indonesia, in the very year when Indonesia celebrates its 75th year of independence.

The history binding our two countries together is not an easy one. This dark period should not be repeated in the future.

King Alexander stated that today, we warmly congratulate the people of Indonesia as you celebrate 75 years of independence. The past cannot be erased and will have to be acknowledged by each generation in turn. King Alexander also expressed his regret and apologized for excessive violence on the part of the Dutch in those years.

Let us together build a better and stronger relationship, one that is based on mutual respect and mutual interests.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post.
Apple has decided to postpone its March product launch event due to the coronavirus outbreak and the repeated delays in the production of the iPhone SE successor. The leak comes courtesy of a Cult of Macs source at Apple.

Another major factor that led Apple to take this decision was the worsening of the coronavirus outbreak in the United States. The company got concerned about bringing nearly 1,000 people for a media event at its Steve Jobs Theater in Apple Park in late March. Many Apple executives were also worried about how they could potentially distance themselves socially at a public event with so many people around. Santa Clara County has banned gatherings of 1,000 people or more until April 1 which further prevents Apple from holding a media event even if it wanted to.

The source also told that there are delays in producing two of the primary products that Apple intended to launch at the event. Not having those devices for sale worldwide right after the event played another key role in the postponement of the event. The production delays make sense since multiple Apple supply chain partners have had to shut down their factories due to the COVID-19 outbreak in China. Apple is now evaluating the production schedule of components and the final product assembly and depending on that, the company will decide on an announcement plan for its devices. As of now, nothing is written in stone and things could change from one day to the next.

It was earlier believed that Apple would announce some new products this month via a press release. However, given the virus outbreak has spread in the United States and the production delays, it is now possible that we will see the launch delayed to April.

[Via Cult of Mac
WIPO and the other agencies may sound like obscure bureaucratic outposts, but they help shape standards and rules for global commerce. WIPO logs 250,000 patent applications every year, including more than 55,000 from the United States, and its supposed to keep them secret for 18 months until theyre published. The director general exercises control over every aspect of WIPOs operations, according to James Pooley, a former WIPO deputy director general.
OAKLAND, Calif. - San Francisco area man with a history of violence and mental illness is guilty of the random stabbing death of an 18-year-old woman at a commuter train platform two years ago, a killing with racial undertones that prompted rallies and vigils.

An Alameda County jury announced Tuesday it found John Lee Cowell, 29, guilty of murdering Nia Wilson at the MacArthur BART station in Oakland as she was returning home from a family gathering with her two sisters. Jurors also found Cowell guilty of attempted murder in the stabbing of Wilsons sister, who survived severe injuries to her neck.

The jury also convicted Cowell of the special circumstances count of lying in wait. The jury reached the verdict hours after starting deliberations.

Cowell will face a second trial to determine his sanity. If found insane, he would be sent to a psychiatric hospital.

The stabbing death of the young and vibrant African American woman in July 2018 horrified bystanders and added to BARTs reputation as unsafe. The Bay Area Rapid Transit system connects San Francisco to cities in the south and east bays, including Oakland and Berkeley. Train officials sought to re-assure the public with measures intended to improve safety.

Family and friends have said the women were targeted because of their race but prosecutors declined to charge him with a hate crime. That doesnt mean race didnt come up. Cowell admitted at trial that he was punched in the face by a black woman about a week before the train stabbing and the prosecutor queried him about trying to pick a fight with another black woman after the stabbing.

Cowell followed the sisters from the platform onto a train for a 30-minute ride to another station, then stabbed them when they were boarding another train, Deputy District Attorney Butch Ford told the jury in opening statements Feb. 5.

Videos showed Cowell tailing the women and removing a knife hidden in his pants in the attack that killed Wilson and wounded Letifah Wilson, 26. Video also showed Cowell trying to blend in with passengers after the assault, misdirecting officers and changing clothes he kept in a backpack that was tossed, along with the knife, at a nearby construction zone.

He took that little girls life, Deputy District Attorney Butch Ford told jurors in closing arguments Monday, the East Bay Times reporte d.

Cowell has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. His public defender, Christina Moore, argued that he stabbed the sisters in a rash act stemming from his mental illness and that a person can be organized yet schizophrenic.

This case is and always has been what was in Johns mind, said Moore in her closing.

Cowell was thrown out of court twice for disruptive behaviour. He testified he thought the sisters were aliens and part of a gang that kidnapped his grandmother.

The trial, which took up much of February, had been delayed while authorities sought to determine Cowells mental competence through a series of psychiatric evaluations. In December, a judge ruled Cowell was fit to stand trial after noting that he was refusing to co-operate with doctors appointed to evaluate him.

Cowell was released from a maximum security facility for mentally ill convicts less than three months before the attack.
The Strategic Communication Group has announced a new case of infection with coronavirus - a 38-year-old man from Iasi, self-isolated from March 9.

According to the same source, this is the 32nd case of infection with the novel coronavirus in Romania. The man has been in contact with another case confirmed in Warsaw.
JACKSON, Wyo. - The board overseeing an airport in western Wyoming will vote soon on a contested permit for a helicopter tour business.

The Jackson Hole Airport board plans to review and decide on the permit for Wind River Air at a meeting March 18.

Airport officials expect a crowd and the board will meet in the airport firehouse instead of the usual administrative office, the Jackson Hole News & Guide reports.

Many oppose allowing the flights over places such as the Gros Ventre and Jedediah Smith wilderness areas.

The board shares the same thoughts and values as the Jackson Hole community, airport board member Jerry Blann said in a statement Monday.

The board appears set to approve the permit, however, following direction from the Federal Aviation Administration.

We have received clear communication from the FAA that legally we have to permit this type of aviation activity in order to comply with federal regulations, Blann said.

According to a draft agreement, the permit would be in effect from April 1 to March 31, 2023. The company would owe a monthly fee equivalent to 5% of gross operating revenue.

Flights over noise-sensitive portions of Grand Teton National Park, within which the airport is located, would be prohibited.
Kerala reported eight new cases, while Karanataka reported four, Maharastra five and Jammu and Kashmir confirmed its first case of Coronavirus infection.

Tuesday saw a sharp rise in the number of confirmed Coronavirus cases in India. Kerala reported eight new cases, while Karanataka reported four, Maharastra five and Jammu and Kashmir confirmed its first case of Coronavirus infection. This brings the country total to 62, including the three from Kerala who were diagnosed in early February and who have since recovered and been discharged from hospital.

A three-year-old in Kerala tested positive for COVID-19 and became the youngest Indian patient yet. An 87-year-old woman, who tested positive in Kerala and is admitted in Kottayam Medical College, is considered to be in a critical state.

Citizens of Mumbai, Maharashtra, burned an effigy of the Coronavirus on the occasion of Holika Dahan on Monday.

Updated travel advisory

Visas already granted before 3 March to anyone travelling from China, Iran, Italy, South Korea and Japan had already been suspended; now visas granted on or before March 11 to travellers from France, Germany and Spain have been added to that list. Additionally, anyone travelling to India from South Korea or Italy will be required to show a certificate that says theyve been tested for Coronavirus and the result was negative, Press Trust of India (PTI) reported. Previously, it was also announced that all passengers with a travel history to China, South Korea, Japan, Iran, Italy, Hong Kong, Macau, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Nepal, Thailand, Singapore and Taiwan are required to be screened when they arrive in India.

On the other hand, Saudi Arabia has limited entry from many virus-affected nations, including India.

The visas of any travellers from the affected countries who have already arrived in India still stand valid but many are advised to self-quarantine themselves for 14 days. Employers have also been asked to allow such people to work from home during this time.

State-wise news

All public events in Kerala have been postponed and all schools, colleges and theatres will remain closed till 31 March. Jammu and Kashmir have imposed similar restrictions to control the spread of the virus. All over India, school until Class 7 will remain closed as well.

Many companies with offices in India have restricted travel and allowed employees to work from home.

Telecom services are playing an important role in spreading information about the virus - every time you make a call from your cellphone, you hear a prerecorded message about the signs of the new Coronavirus infection and precautions you can take to prevent it.

Global statistic

Almost 120,000 cases have been reported all over the world. Out of these 4,284 have resulted in death and over 65,000 have recovered. The new Coronavirus has spread to 113 countries so far. While China shows a steady decline in the new number of cases, the rate of global spread is still on the rise.

Pakistan has reported 16 cases and Sri Lanka and Bangladesh recently reported their first cases as well. Last week Bhutan had reported its first case - an American tourist who travelled there from India. Bhutan has banned the entry of all tourists for a period of two weeks.

For more tips, read our article on Coronavirus.

Health articles in Firstpost are written by myUpchar.com, Indias first and biggest resource for verified medical information. At myUpchar, researchers and journalists work with doctors to bring you information on all things health.
Missing teen call girl Tiffany Taylor (pictured) attempted to blackmail $3000 from a man she was having sex with in April 2015 and threatened to claim that he had raped her

Missing teen call girl Tiffany Taylor attempted to blackmail a man she met for sex for thousands of dollars claiming she had been raped, a court has been told.

Police charged the 16-year-old with attempted extortion after she demanded the man she met via the Craigslist website pay $3000 to buy her silence over the false allegation.

Witness Mark Turner says he had sex with Tiffany twice at a park near a toilet block and gave her $2700 over the two months the pair knew each other.

'At no point in time did I feel I was paying for that sex in a prostitute-style,' he told the Brisbane Supreme Court.

'She asked for some financial assistance to pay her debts. It didn't seem overly high so I thought 'Sure why not'.'

Mr Turner said he decided to end the relationship in April 2015 after Tiffany's requests for money became 'more demanding'.

'I told her I was no longer interested and felt she was trying to get money out of me,' he said.

'Her response to that was to threaten me with going to the police with a (rape) allegation.'

Tiffany disappeared three months later after she arranged to meet Rodney Wayne Williams, 65, for paid sex via the Oasis social networking website.

Williams allegedly murdered Tiffany after he picked her up from a Logan motel, where she lived with her 45-year-old boyfriend Gregory Hill.

Queensland Police arrested Tiffany (pictured) and she was charged with extortion

He has pleaded not guilty and says he dropped her at a truck stop west of Brisbane. Her body has never been found.

Mr Turner told the court on Wednesday that Tiffany claimed via text she would receive a $50,000 victim compensation payment and 'he would be dragged through the mud' and go to prison.

'I didn't respond ... I went straight to the police,' he said.

Officers had Mr Turner set a meeting up with Tiffany and she was taken into custody and charged.

He told the court she showed him government-issued identification saying she was 18.

She also told him her mother had recently taken her own life and she was being held prisoner by a guardian to whom she owed money.

Earlier, prosecutor Philip McCarthy QC told the jury that after Williams picked Tiffany up from the motel, he drove to Larapinta industrial park where 'something happens' while he was stopped for about 20 minutes.

He said Williams then drove to the Esk-Ferndale region, where police have searched dams and bushland for Tiffany's body, without success.

Later in the day, Williams also allegedly set about laying a false trail of communication with the teen on the Oasis website.

One message read: 'Sorry I didn't turn up, decided I wasn't going to pay for it.'

The trial continues.

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Newly appointed Minister of Defense of Ukraine Andriy Taran states that the goal of reforming the military sphere should be to maximize the ability of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to interact with NATO forces.

"The urgent need to reform the military sphere is the continuation of work on the implementation of NATO standards in the Armed Forces of Ukraine," said Taran, speaking to his subordinates on Wednesday.

At the same time, the minister noted: "instead of the ambitious, but unattainable goal in the near future - the full adaptation of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to NATO standards, we should have an achievable goal - to maximize the possibility of the Armed Forces to interact with the forces of the Alliance."

As reported, on March 4, the Verkhovna Rada supported the appointment of Andriy Taran to the post of Minister of Defense of Ukraine on the proposal of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky.
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Both Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders have canceled their Tuesday night rallies in Cleveland, OH out of concern over the coronavirus.

In a statement provided to PoliticusUSA, Deputy Campaign Manager and Communications Director Kate Bedingfield said, In accordance with guidance from public officials and out of an abundance of caution, our rally in Cleveland, Ohio tonight is cancelled. We will continue to consult with public health officials and public health guidance and make announcements about future events in the coming days. Vice President Biden thanks all of his supporters who wanted to be with us in Cleveland this evening. Additional details on where the Vice President will address the press tonight are forthcoming.

Mike Casca, Bernie 2020 Communications Director said in a statement provided to PoliticusUSA, Out of concern for public health and safety, we are canceling tonights rally in Cleveland. We are heeding the public warnings from Ohio state officials, who have communicated concern about holding large, indoor events during the coronavirus outbreak. Sen. Sanders would like to express his regret to the thousands of Ohioans who had planned to attend the event tonight. All future Bernie 2020 events will be evaluated on a case by case basis.

The cancelations of the Tuesday events mark a turning point in the coronavirus outbreak. These are the first, but likely not the last campaign events that will be canceled.

Trump is still planning on holding his coronavirus spreading campaign rallies, as he is apparently seeking the mantle of the 21st Century, Typhoid Mary. Corona Don apparently wants to infect as many of his supporters with the coronavirus as possible.

The Democratic candidates are placing the public health first, while Trump is telling America to keep calm and that the coronavirus is going really great.

For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.

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WASHINGTON - A senior U.S. intelligence official told Congress on Tuesday that the intelligence community does not as yet have evidence that Russia is interfering in the 2020 election to benefit a particular candidate, according to four officials familiar with the closed briefings in the House and Senate.

The head of national counterintelligence, William Evanina, appeared to be tempering an assessment delivered to lawmakers in the House last month that Russia had developed a "preference" for President Donald Trump - an assessment that angered the president when he was told that it had been given to lawmakers, said the officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the sessions were classified.

Evanina told senators that the Russians "continue to be broadly engaged in social media activities designed to divide us further, to discredit our electoral system and to disrupt our election," said one official present at the all-members meeting.

In the Senate, Evanina's carefully worded answer came in response to the first question asked - by Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky - and "felt orchestrated," said a second official, who was briefed on the meeting. "Both question and response were clearly pre-drafted."

The intelligence officials who gave the briefing, including National Security Agency Director Paul Nakasone and FBI Director Christopher Wray, did not give senators an impression that the Trump administration has a solid grip on dealing with foreign interference in the coming election, said a third official briefed on the session.

Senators "came out of it without a true sense that this administration has a handle on this and we're going to be okay for 2020," the official said.

In the House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., the Intelligence Committee chairman, challenged the briefer on what struck them as an effort to play down the assessment given last month by Shelby Pierson, the intelligence community's point person on foreign election threats, a fourth official said.

Pierson had informed the bipartisan House Intelligence Committee panel that Russia had "developed a preference" for President Trump in 2020. She did not say that Russia had taken steps based on that preference to intervene on behalf of Trump, an intelligence official said. But that nuance apparently did not mollify Trump, who when informed of her briefing, grew angry and suspicious that Democrats might try to leak that assessment to undermine his bid for reelection.

Soon after, Trump replaced his then-acting director of national intelligence Joseph Maguire, whom he apparently blamed for Pierson's briefing, with Richard Grenell, a Trump loyalist and the U.S. ambassador to Germany.

The briefing appeared to be an attempt by the intelligence officials to soften their message in the wake of a session last month in which the intelligence community's point person on foreign election threats, Pierson, informed House Intelligence Committee members that Russia had "developed a preference" for Trump in 2020.

Pierson did not say that Russia had taken steps based on that preference to intervene on behalf of Trump, an intelligence official said. But that nuance apparently did not mollify Trump, who when informed of her briefing, grew angry and suspicious that Democrats might try to leak that assessment to undermine his bid for reelection.

Soon after, Trump replaced his then-acting director of National Intelligence, Joseph Maguire, whom he apparently blamed for Pierson's briefing, with Richard Grenell, a Trump loyalist and the U.S. Ambassador to Germany.

On Tuesday, senators also were disconcerted that Grenell, as the head of the intelligence community, was not present, said one of the people briefed on the session. The heads of other agencies, including acting Homeland Security secretary Chad Wolf, were there, and Grenell had been scheduled to appear, according to a list of participants circulated to lawmakers on Monday.

But Grenell declined to go to the Hill, citing apprehension about his preparedness to address sensitive subjects that tend to upset the president, according to three people familiar with the matter.

He asked Trump to be excused from the briefings because he anticipated pointed questions from Democrats about politically volatile subjects - such as intelligence assessments that Russia is once more interfering in U.S. politics, two people familiar with the matter said. They, too, spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe private discussions.

Maura Beard, a spokeswoman for the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), said in a statement that the agency never told Congress that Grenell would participate in the briefing. She said so despite the list circulated to lawmakers Monday showing that he was scheduled.

"FBI and DHS are the lead in charge of securing our elections, and the [intelligence community] is participating in today's briefings in support of that mission," Beard's statement said, referring to the Department of Homeland Security. "The [intelligence community] is focused on detecting and countering foreign election-related threats."

Grenell's name had been included in the list of briefers given to Congress on Feb. 27 as well, people familiar with the matter said, along with other national security officials including Wray, Nakasone and Wolf.

The latest list of briefers, provided to Congress on Tuesday morning, included Evanina in lieu of Grenell.

Trump has long chafed at notions that Russia has interfered in or sought to intervene in the election, dating back to his pique at the U.S. intelligence community's unanimous conclusion that Moscow took steps to aid his election in 2016.

"There is another Russia, Russia, Russia meeting today," Trump tweeted Tuesday morning. "It is headed up by corrupt politician [House Intelligence Committee Chairman] Adam "Shifty" Schiff, so I wouldn't expect too much!"

Schiff tweeted in response: "Mr. President, you are wrong. As usual. Today's briefing for all House Members focuses on the threat of foreign interference in our election. The briefers are agency heads and senior officials. They are your own people. We will insist on the truth, whether you like it or not."

Grenell, who lacks substantive intelligence community experience, has been one of Trump's most vocal and partisan backers. Even before he took the ambassador position, he cast doubt on the idea of Russian interference in the 2016 election. In an opinion article for Fox News, he played down the severity of the threat, saying "Russian or Russian-approved tactics like cyber warfare and campaign of misinformation have been happening for decades."

Tuesday's briefing is part of a regular series to keep lawmakers apprised of the government's progress in securing federal elections and on foreign interference. Congress in December mandated such briefings for leadership and the House and Senate Intelligence committees.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) is demanding a 20% reduction in fuel prices from government.



The opposition party warns that failure on the part of the current government to heed to their request will result in the Akufo-Addo government facing their wrath.



According to the NDC, the New Patriotic Party, when in opposition, promised to reduce fuel prices if voted into power, but have reneged on their word.



Speaking on Okay FM's Ade Akye Abia program, National Communications Officer for the party, Sammy Gyamfi, said they will be a force to hit the streets to back their demands since other countries have announced drastic cut-downs in fuel prices..



"In as much as the inaptitude of the Akufo Addo government has caused them much failure, the reduction of fuel prices is something that they can do because the leading producers of crude have given them the chance. Failure to do so shows how gross incompetent they are in managing the affairs of this country.



"Other countrys like the United States have reduced their fuel prices drastically so what are we waiting for as a country?



"Just as they promised to reduce fuel prices when they were campaigning for power, this the opportunity for them to renew their pledge to the people of Ghana," he said.



In line with the automatic price adjustment formula, the government through the National Petroleum Authority has a duty to ensure a commensurate reduction in the pump prices of fuel in the country.



This reduction, according to the opposition party, must be commensurate with the windfall arising from a drop in the international market price of crude oil and the relative stability of the Ghana cedi in the last two (2) months.



"For the avoidance of doubt, we are expecting a drastic reduction commensurate with the significant reduction in the price of Brent crude on the global market, which in our view should be nothing less than a 20% reduction in the pump prices of fuel.



"We believe that this reduction will bring down the price of fuel from the current exorbitant GHS24 per gallon to GHS19 will go a long way to ameliorate the sufferings of Ghanaians," he added.







Source: Isaac Kwame Owusu/Peacefmonline.com/[email protected]









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Jyotiraditya Scindia's son Mahanaryaman Scindia on Tuesday (March 10) hailed his father for taking a 'stand for himself' and resigning from the Congress after remaining in the party.

Scindia Jr. also slammed the critics for claiming that Scindia has decided to quit the Congress because his family is not "power-hungry", saying that history knows that Scindia family has never been hungry for power.

"I am proud of my father for taking a stand for himself. It takes courage to resign from a legacy. History can speak for itself when I say my family has never been power-hungry. As promised we will make an impactful change in India and Madhya Pradesh wherever our future lies," he tweeted.

I am proud of my father for taking a stand for himself. It takes courage to to resign from a legacy. History can speak for itself when I say my family has never been power hungry. As promised we will make an impactful change in India and Madhya Pradesh wherever our future lies.  M. Scindia (@AScindia) March 10, 2020

Scindia resigned from the Congress on Tuesday and posted his resignation letter on Twitter. Scindia decided to resign minutes after meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi and it is speculated that he would join the BJP on Wednesday (March 11).

Dated March 9, Scindia mentioned in his resignation letter which was addressed to Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi that it is time for him to "move on". The letter, addressed to interim party chief Sonia Gandhi, says, "... as you well know, this is a path that has been drawing itself out over the last year."

"While my aim and purpose remain the same as it has always been from the very beginning, to serve the people of my state and country, I belive I am unable to do this anymore within this party," Scindia said in his letter.

Earlier on Tuesday, 22 MLAs including six ministers close to Scindia also submitted their resignation to Governor Lalji Tandon via email. At least 19 Congress MLAs, who resigned on Tuesday, are currently staying at a resort in Bengaluru.

In the 230 member Madhya Pradesh Assembly, the Congress has 114 MLAs and the support of four Independents, three Samajwadi Party MLAs and two Bahujan Samaj Party MLAs. The BJP has 109 MLAs. Two seats are currently vacant.
US Coronavirus Fatality Rate Is Overestimated, Experts Say

Infectious disease specialists and health experts say that while the number of cases of the new coronavirus will likely continue to grow in the United States, the current case fatality rate appears to be an overestimation.

Cases of the virus have jumped over the past few days, now with more than 1,000 confirmed across the United States, according to data compiled by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at John Hopkins University. As of this writing, there have been at least 32 coronavirus-linked deaths.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on March 3 that the global case fatality rate is about 3.4 percent. But a handful of public health experts told The Epoch Times that the case fatality rate in the United States is lower than the 2 or 3 percent currently estimated. The case fatality rate is the proportion of persons with a particular condition who die from that condition, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Harry Scholtz, vice president of infectious disease and infection prevention at BEAM Telemedicine and Healthcare, told The Epoch Times that the estimated fatality rate is likely an overestimate.

It disproportionately includes elderly patients with medical conditions and not anyone who was untested and recovered fully, Scholtz, an infectious disease physician, said.

At the same time, the incubation period for coronavirus can be as long as 24 days, according to the largest study analyzing patients of the disease so far. This is another indication that the number of actual cases is likely higher than reported. Some patients are also testing positive for the virus while showing no symptoms at all, according to a letter published in The New England Journal of Medicine.

Young people (under 15) had no severe illness whatsoever, Scholtz said. It could be that they already possess antibodies that provide protection against COVID-19, or their immune systems are better able to fight off the virus.

The outbreak of the virus first emerged in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in December 2019. A number of U.S. states across the country have also declared public emergencies over the virus.

Dr. Aimee Ferraro, a faculty member of Walden Universitys Master of Public Health program who conducts research on infectious and vector-borne diseases internationally, also said the death rate of the virus is likely lower than any current estimates.

As of March 10, there are 754 cases and 28 deaths from coronavirus in the United States, making the mortality rate 3.7 percent, she told The Epoch Times via email. However, this number does not account for asymptomatic and undiagnosed cases, so the true mortality rate is probably much lower.

Mortality rate estimates will become more accurate as more data is collected on mild, moderate, and severe cases of coronavirus.

On March 11, the numbers have already shifted in this direction, with 1,135 reported cases and 32 deaths, giving a mortality rate of 2.8.

Among the deaths in the United States, most stemmed from Washington state, specifically in King County, and involved older adults who already had underlying health conditions. Life Care Center, a nursing home in the county, is on lockdown over cases of COVID-19, and a number of staff members and residents have exhibited flu-like symptoms.

Of the 20 deaths reported in King County, 19 are associated with Life Care Center, according to local health officials. Many of the fatalities involved people over the age of 70.

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump called the 3.4 percent figure by the WHO really a false number in a March 4 interview on Fox News, saying he believes the actual rate is much lower.

They dont know about the easy cases, because the easy cases dont go to the hospital. They dont report to doctors or the hospital in many cases. So I think that that number is very high, Trump said. Personally, I would say the [mortality rate] is way under 1 percent.

Scholtz said the coronavirus doesnt appear to be very deadly when compared with SARS and MERS, which had a mortality rate of about 9 percent and 34 percent, respectively. But he said cases in the United States will continue to rise, and probably more steeply in the coming weeks or months, citing increased availability of testing rather than an actual increase in infections.

As we gather more information about the total number of cases, my suspicion is that we will find this virus to be less deadly than currently thought, Scholtz said.

I do not think that the mortality from this will increase in the United States, and on the contrary, I expect that it will decrease as people present earlier and treatment becomes more standardized.

Of the more than 121,000 confirmed cases of the virus globally, more than 66,000 have recovered as of this writing, according to data collected by Johns Hopkins University. More than 4,300 deaths have been reported globally, though data coming from China or Iran is thought to be more optimistic than presented.

Dr. Taylor Graber, a resident anesthesiologist at the University of CaliforniaSan Diego, said most of the individuals who contract the virus will experience nothing more than mild symptoms, similar to many other seasonal upper respiratory viruses.

More than 80 percent of cases result in very mild symptoms, which dont require interaction with the health care system or hospital care, he told The Epoch Times.

Mild cases are likely to not be reported in the total number of confirmed cases. Graber said more severe cases can lead to increased inflammatory stress on the body, possibly culminating in respiratory failure. The symptoms in more serious cases include fever, cough, and shortness of breath.

Flu Comparison

Dr. Rishi Desai, a former epidemic intelligence service officer at the CDCs Division of Viral Diseases, told The Epoch Times that the most concerning difference between coronavirus and the flu is how quickly COVID-19 spreads and its mortality rate.

Desai didnt dispute the official U.S. mortality rate.

COVID-19s R-naught is around 2.3, which means that for every one person that gets sick, 2.3 people will be infected, Desai said via email. R-naught is also referred to as the basic reproduction number.

During a bad flu season, influenza has an R-naught of 1.3 and a mortality rate of 0.1 percent, he said.

Influenza also has vaccines that have 50 to 60 percent vaccine efficacy and can be treated with medications like Oseltamivir, Desai said, adding that the coronavirus has no vaccine, and a vaccine isnt likely to be available for quite some time. Top U.S. officials have publicly stated that a vaccine could likely be developed by the end of the year or early next year.

CDC estimates that so far this season, there have been at least 34 million flu illnesses, 350,000 hospitalizations, and 20,000 deaths from flu.

The predominant way the virus spreads is when it is flung from one person to another as they cough or sneeze, Desai said. He said the most likely way a person can get infected is through the eyes, nose, and mouth, adding that if those areas were touched less, the risk is significantly lower.

Scholtz added that influenza can also be quite severe for young healthy persons.

While the coronavirus and influenza are both respiratory illnesses that are contagious and transmitted in a similar waythrough droplets containing the virusFerraro said that coronavirus may also spread through airborne transmission, which means the virus may remain in tiny droplets in the air even when the infected person is no longer near.

U.S. officials are also urging Americans to travel less and to avoid large groups of people. Santa Clara County, a large area in California that includes Silicon Valley, on March 10 banned mass gatherings of 1,000 or more people due to the coronavirus.

Elderly and vulnerable Americans should travel less and avoid large groups of people, Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said on March 8.

If youre a person with an underlying condition, and you are particularly an elderly person with an underlying condition, you need to think twice about getting on a plane, on a long trip, Fauci told NBC on March 8.

Several major U.S. health insurance companies have agreed to waive copays on COVID-19 testing and will extend coverage on treatment, Vice President Mike Pence said on March 10.

Fauci said while authorities are getting a better sense of the scope of the outbreak, unfortunately, that better sense is not encouraging, because were seeing community spread.
More than half of the world's population faces a looming threat to the quality and availability of their drinking water because climate change and urbanization are expected to cause an increase in groundwater organic carbon, a new UNSW study has found.

The research, published in Nature Communications overnight, examined the largest global dataset of 9404 published and unpublished groundwater dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations from aquifers in 32 countries across six continents.

DOC is a naturally occurring component of groundwater, but the higher its concentration, the more difficult and expensive it is to make groundwater drinkable. In Australia, groundwater is widely used as the main source of drinking water for many cities and towns.

Lead author Dr. Liza McDonough, of the Connected Waters Initiative Research Centre at UNSW, said the study forecasted elevated DOC concentrations because of projected changes in temperature and rainfall due to climate change, as well as increased urbanization.

We identified groundwater DOC concentration increases of up to 45 per cent, largely because of increased temperatures in the wettest quarter of the year - for example, in a number of south-eastern states in the United States. We predict increases in DOC in these locations could increase water costs for a family of four by US$134 per year. Other areas such as eastern China, India and parts of Africa already experience severe groundwater contamination issues. These may be further compounded, particularly in south-eastern China, by groundwater DOC increases associated with large predicted increases in temperature in the wettest quarter of the year by 2050. Generally, we expect urbanization to increase groundwater DOC concentrations by up to 19 per cent, compared to agricultural or natural land use, likely as the result of contamination - for example, through leaking septic and sewer systems." Dr. Liza McDonough, lead author

The research, a collaboration between UNSW, the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO), Southern Cross University, British Geological Survey, and the University of Bradford, found four major contributing factors to groundwater DOC levels: climate, land use, inorganic chemistry and aquifer age.

Health threat

Dr. McDonough said increased groundwater DOC, whether naturally occurring or due to contamination, also posed a threat to human health.

"Groundwater is Earth's largest source of freshwater and provides essential drinking water for more than 50 per cent of the world's population," she said.

"But, because most health impacts caused by DOC are related to the formation of by-products of water treatment chlorination and depend on concentrations of other water chemical parameters, the World Health Organization and many countries - including Australia - do not regulate DOC concentrations in drinking water directly."

Dr McDonough said that while DOC is a naturally occurring, key element of groundwater it could combine with, and transport, potentially dangerous heavy metals otherwise bound to rocks and sediment where groundwater occurs.

"This is a concern when, for example, more than 100,000 lifetime cancer cases in the United States alone can be attributed to drinking water contaminants," she said.

Water treatment costs to rise

Dr. McDonough said it was important to understand what caused high DOC concentrations in groundwater.

"An increase in groundwater DOC concentration impacts the ability and therefore cost to make groundwater drinkable," she said.

"For example, we projected a 16 per cent increase in annual household water costs in some parts of the United States because of rising water treatment costs - due to the need to implement additional water treatment measures to remove increased DOC concentrations.

"The decrease in groundwater quality and substantial increase in water treatment costs will also compound existing constraints on groundwater resources, including availability."

Wet vs arid climates

Dr. McDonough said the impacts on groundwater DOC levels from climate change and urbanization, while likely to occur globally, differed by geography and climate.

"Our research found that in arid climates, groundwater DOC concentrations increased with higher rainfall because microbes can better break down organic matter, such as leaves, under warm and increasingly wet conditions," she said.

"Increased temperatures in arid environments, however, reduced groundwater DOC concentrations because when conditions are too hot and dry, vegetation and organic matter sources are limited.

"By contrast, increased rain in warm and wet environments decreased groundwater DOC concentrations because heavy rainfall dilutes the DOC in groundwater."

Water treatment solutions

Dr. McDonough said she looked forward to conducting further research to determine the best water treatment options for areas where groundwater DOC concentrations are anticipated to increase.

"Our next step is to investigate how the character of DOC changes when you have different aquifer minerals, because some types of organic matter can stick to certain mineral surfaces and ultimately reduce this type of organic matter remaining in the water," she said.

"This will help provide guidance on the most suitable water treatment options in areas where DOC concentrations are expected to increase."
A 15-year-old elephant has been



found dead at a forest in Chhattisgarh's Jashpur district, an official said on Wednesday.

Prima facie, poisoning seems to be the cause of death, divisional forest officer Shrikrishna Jadhav said.

Some locals from Narayanpur village informed the authorities after spotting the carcass of a tusker in a nearby forest on Tuesday, he said.

A team of forest officials rushed to the spot and sent the carcass for an autopsy.

"The exact cause of the elephant's death is yet to be ascertained as no injury mark was found on the carcass. Prima facie, the animal seems to have died due to poisoning," the official said.

A team of veterinarians assisted by a scientist from the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) was conducting the postmortem and its report was awaited, he said.

Forest officials believe the dead tusker belonged to a herd of elephants roaming in the area since last one month.

In the past few years, there have been a number of human-elephant conflicts in the thick forested northern Chhattisgarh, comprising Surguja, Korba, Surajpur, Raigarh, Jashpur and Korea districts.

The region has witnessed several killings of tribals as well as elephants and widespread damage to houses and crops by rogue pachyderms in past years.

In December last year, a wild elephant was electrocuted to death after it came into contact with a live wire at a farm in Surajpur, while a pachyderm died after being stuck in a muddy field for three days in Korba.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Jyotiraditya Scindia was inducted into the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday after he resigned from the Congress, resulting in the Congress-ruled Madhya Pradesh government facing a threat to its majority as 22 loyalist MLAs followed suit.

Jyotiraditya Scindia was inducted into the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday after he resigned from the Congress, resulting in the Congress-ruled Madhya Pradesh government facing a threat to its majority as 22 loyalist MLAs followed suit.

With the state government under Kamal Nath tottering precariously, on Wednesday, both parties scrambled to send their legislators away from the state capital amid fears of poaching in both camps.

While the Congress herded about 90 of its legislators to resorts near Jaipur, the state's Opposition BJP sent its MLAs to a luxury hotel in Gurgaon.

And 19 of those who resigned and whose letters were taken to the speaker by the BJP are secluded in a hotel in Bengaluru.

Indias future secure under Narendra Modi: Scindia

As the number crunching intensified and resort politics played out in 'friendly states'  Rajasthan is ruled by the Congress and Haryana and Karnataka by the BJP  Scindia formally joined the BJP in the presence of party president JP Nadda and said the country's future is secure in the hands of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Scindia, 49, the proverbial centre of the political storm in Madhya Pradesh, belongs to the erstwhile royal family of Gwalior and has family links with both the Congress and the BJP.

While his father Madhavrao Scindia was in the Congress, his grandmother Vijaya Raje Scindia was one of the founding members of the BJP; his aunts Yashodhara Raje Scindia and Vasundhara Raje Scindia are active members of the saffron party.

Calling Madhya Pradesh a piece of his heart ('dil ka bhag'), Scindia said at a press conference with Nadda by his side that his dream for the state "had been shattered" since December 2018.

He said that the Congress had formed the government in 2018 with many dreams. "But in 18 months, those dreams have been destroyed," he said.

He further said that Modi had received a mandate twice and that India's future is secure in his hands.

Welcoming him into the BJP, Nadda said he was "joining his family".

Former chief minister and BJP leader Shivraj Singh Chouhan echoed Nadda and said, "This is a joyous day for BJP and me personally. Today, I remember Rajmata Scindia... The entire family is with BJP.

Ahead of the BJP declaring Scindia as its candidate for the upcoming Rajya Sabha election in Madhya Pradesh, Scindia said that he was "pained" and "distressed" at not being able to serve the people and described the Congress as a party living in denial.

According to reports, the Sonia Gandhi-led partys dithering on naming Scindia as a candidate for the Rajya Sabha polls was the last straw for the former Congress general secretary and led to his resignation. On Wednesday, hours after he was inducted into the BJP, Scindia was named as the saffron partys candidate.

Scindia, a former Union minister and four-time Congress MP who is known to be close to Rahul Gandhi, said the party is not what it used to be.

Kamal Nath government faces threat

His resignation from the Congress along with MLAs "loyal" to him on Tuesday has put a big question mark over the future of the Kamal Nath-led government, which came to power with a wafer-thin majority in the 230-member Assembly. The effective strength is now 228.

It also has the support of four Independents, two Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) legislators and one Samajwadi Party (SP) MLA, but some may now switch sides to the BJP, PTI reported.

If the resignations of the 22 MLAs are accepted, the strength of the assembly will fall to 206. The Congress, on its own, will then be left with 92 seats while the BJP has 107 seats with the magic number for a majority being 104.

However, the Congress has expressed confidence that it will win a trust vote in the Assembly.

"We have 95 MLAs here (at the Bhopal airport). Independent MLAs and BSP and SP legislators are also supporting us," state minister Priyavrat Singh said in Bhopal before taking off for Jaipur.

"We will prove our majority. We will save the government," senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh told PTI.

He said 13 of the 22 rebel MLAs in the state have given an assurance that "they are not leaving the Congress". They also said they don't want to quit the party and were led away only to create pressure on the leadership to nominate Scindia to the Rajya Sabha.

"We did not anticipate that Scindia will quit the Congress... that was a mistake," Digvijaya said.

Scindia, he said, could have been a Congress nominee to the Rajya Sabha but "only Modi-Shah" can give a Cabinet post to the "over-ambitious" leader.

The senior leader also claimed that Scindia was roped in by the BJP after Chouhan failed to topple the Congress government in Madhya Pradesh. The Congress government under Nath was elected to power in the December 2018 Assembly election.

Digvijaya added that Scindia was offered the post of deputy chief minister but wanted a nomination. However, Nath refused to accept a "chela", he said.

Madhya Pradesh governor Lalji Tandon said he is keeping tabs on political developments and will take a decision only after reaching the Raj Bhavan in Bhopal.

Tandon, who is on leave till 12 March, said, "At present, I am a spectator. Once I return there, only then can I make any comment after seeing all things, letters in which people have made some complaints," Tandon said responding to when he will call any party to prove majority in the House.

Congress leaders say Madhya Pradesh govt will survive

Nakul Nath, Congress MP and the chief ministers son, also exuded confidence the government would survive. "They (the MLAs) were misled and taken to Bengaluru," Nakul said outside Parliament, describing Scindia's exit from the party as a "dent".

Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot, who was at the airport in Jaipur to receive his party's MLAs, accused the BJP of "shamelessly" indulging in horse-trading on the basis of money power. "Horse-trading is being done shamelessly and MLAs are being threatened there (Madhya Pradesh)," Gehlot alleged.

"We all are together," he added. He also said that people will not forgive Scindia. "Congress party gave him so much but he showed opportunism."

Other Congress MLAs from the central Indian state were also certain the government would prove its majority. "We are going to Jaipur with our MLAs. We will stay there together," state minister Sajjan Singh Verma, considered a close confidant of Nath, told reporters.

Attacking the BJP, former Congress president Rahul Gandhi accused Modi of "destabilising" the elected Congress government in Madhya Pradesh. He also retweeted a picture of himself with Scindia and Nath from December 2018, when the party had won a majority in the state's Assembly polls. The original tweet carried a quoted by Leo Tolstoy as saying, "The two most powerful warriors are patience and time."

The two most powerful warriors are patience and time. - Leo Tolstoy pic.twitter.com/MiRq2IlrIg  Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) December 13, 2018

Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel also gave a vote of confidence to his Madhya Pradesh counterpart, saying the government will prove in the House that it is safe. "There have been many such instances... Those who left the party after raising a hue and cry later returned to the fold silently," he said.

Hitting out at Scindia, NCP leader Sharad Pawar said he wanted "quick rehabilitation" after the Lok Sabha poll defeat and commended the Congress for its "good and capable leadership".

Ex-Congress MLA says can jump into well for Scindia

However, Madhya Pradesh minister and rebel Congress MLA Imarti Devi on Wednesday reaffirmed her loyalty to Scindia, who has joined the BJP, and said she will always stand alongside him "even if I had to jump into a well".

The women and child development minister said she and 21 other rebel Congress MLAs are camping in Bengaluru out of their own volition and with the blessings of Scindia. Imarti welcomed the former Congress leader's decision to join the BJP. The state minister said she will accompany Scindia wherever he goes.

"If Maharaj (Scindia) asks me or I myself feel that I need to jump into a well then I will do so for Maharaj," Imarti Devi said.

Meanwhile, a former Congress spokesperson Pankaj Chaturvedi, a "staunch" Scindia supporter according to PTI, claimed that 10,000 office bearers of the party had quit after Scindia tendered his resignation.

"About 10,000 office-bearers of the Congress in Madhya Pradesh, from state-level to block-level, including some district presidents, have resigned from the Congress since Tuesday morning owing their allegiance to Scindia ji," said Chaturvedi, who also quit the party along with Scindia.

"More leaders will resign from the party soon," he claimed.

However, the Congress refuted this claim and said the supporters of Scindia were creating pressure on other leaders to leave the party.

With inputs from agencies
[March 11, 2020] Excision BioTherapeutics Announces Data Presentation at CROI from IND-Enabling Non-Human Primate studies of EBT-001, supporting a CRISPR Gene Editing Technology for HIV Elimination

OAKLAND, Calif., March 11, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Excision BioTherapeutics , a private biotechnology company focused on applying CRISPR gene editing to curing viral infectious diseases, today announced the presentation of its first non-human primate data to support further testing of its investigational agent EBT-101. At the 2020 Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) held in Boston, Massachusetts, Excision BioTherapeutics non-human primate study was accepted as a late-breaker poster presented by Drs. Jennifer Gordon and Kamel Khalili from the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, which showed the following: Data demonstrating tolerability of EBT-001 in all treated animals followed for up to six months

Data suggesting efficacy by removal of SIV viral genomes from non-human primates

Data identifying broad tissue distribution of CRISPR DNA in every studied tissue suggesting the ability for in-vivo CRISPR administration to reach tissues of viral reservoirs Our upcoming presentations highlight data that will support our plans to submit the companys first IND and to bgin testing the product in HIV patients in the United States in 2020, said Sam Jackson, MD, MBA, Chief Medical Officer of Excision BioTherapeutics. The data demonstrate the tolerability of the product at multiple dose levels in monkeys over six months. This important work moves us closer to the goal of a single-administration therapy that could eliminate HIV viral genomes from patients, potentially removing the need for chronic anti-viral therapy.



The accepted poster listed is available here: https://excisionbio.com/articles/Editing-SIV-2020.pdf Poster Presentation Details

Presentation Title: Editing of SIV in nonhuman primates by CRISPR-Cas9 in viral reservoirs

Poster Session, Date, and Time: CURE STRATEGIES: HUMAN AND ANIMAL STUDIES; Tuesday, March 10th, 2:30 - 4:00 p.m.

The study was conducted in collaboration with Temple University. For more information, please visit www.excisionbio.com About Excision BioTherapeutics

Excision BioTherapeutics Inc. is a biotechnology company developing therapies using CRISPR gene editing technology to cure patients of viral infectious diseases. Based on technologies from the Kamel Khalili, PhD lab at Temple Universitys Lewis Katz School of Medicine and Jennifer Doudna, PhD lab at the University of California Berkeley, the company is advancing CRISPR-based therapies for multiple viral infectious diseases with significant unmet medical needs. The company is supported by investments from Artis Ventures, Norwest Ventures, SilverRidge Venture Partners, Oakhouse Partners, Gaingels, Elong Capital, and Ben Franklin Technology Partners. Note

Kamel Khalili is Co-Founder and Chief Scientific Consultant, and holds equity in Excision Biotherapeutics, who has licensed the viral gene editing technology from Temple University. Kamel Khalili and Rafal Kaminski are named inventors on patents that cover the viral gene editing technology. Tricia Burdo and Jennifer Gordon hold equity in Excision Biotherapeutics. These named researchers are employed by Temple University, and conduct research activities sponsored by the company. Questions regarding their affiliations with Temple University may be directed to [email protected].

[email protected]

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A day after quitting the Congress, Jyotiraditya Scindia joined the BJP on Wednesday in the presence of its president JP Nadda and slammed his former party for "denying reality" and "not acknowledging" new thoughts and new leadership.

Scindia, who was also named as its Rajya Sabha candidate from Madhya Pradesh by the BJP, hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his "competence and complete dedication" to serving India and asserted that the country's future is fully secure in his hands.

He vented his anguish with the national leadership of the Congress, where he started his electoral career in 2002 and occupied key positions, and also the party-run Madhya Pradesh government, saying the dream when it was formed in 2018 now lay "shattered" with farmers and youths living in distress and corruption rampant.

The Congress is no longer the party it was, he told reporters, adding that his heart was "anguished and pained" as his goal to serve people through the party was no longer possible.

On the occasion, Nadda recalled Vijaya Raje Scindia, one of the BJP's founders and grandmother of Jyotiraditya, and welcomed him into the "family", saying it is a matter of great happiness for his party that her grandson is joining it.

His father Madhavrao Scindia, the BJP president added, had also started his as a Jana Sangh MP.

The BJP later named the 49-year-old scion of the erstwhile Gwalior royalty as its Rajya Sabha candidate from Madhya Pradesh.

The saffron party is confident of toppling the Kamal Nath government in the state and capturing power there with the help of MLAs loyal to Scindia.

As many as 22 Congress MLAs, most of them supporters of Scindia, are camping in Bengaluru and have resigned from the Madhya Pradesh assembly, reducing the Congress government to a minority.

Peeved with his marginalisation in the Congress, Scindia had met Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday and quit the party.

"The Congress of today is no longer the party it was. The party is denying reality. It is not acknowledging the reality. New thoughts, new ideology and new leadership are not being acknowledged. While this is the condition at national level, the dream we had formed for Madhya Pradesh has been shattered in 18 months," he said after joining the BJP.

Hailing Modi, he said the prime minister has received mandates that that no government probably got.

"He has enhanced India's prestige globally. The ability he has to execute schemes and comprehend future challenge; his competence and full dedication... India's future is fully secure in his hands," he said, adding that he was grateful to the top BJP brass to give him a chance to serve people.

Scindia asserted that his goal is to serve people in "Bharat mata" and remembered his father Madhavrao Scindia, who left the Jana Sangh to join the Congress later to become one of its leading figures before meeting an untimely death in a plane crash in 2001.

He noted that his father would have turned 75 on Tuesday, the day he quit the Congress.

A number of senior BJP leaders, including Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan and its general secretaries Anil Jain and Arun Singh sat besides Scindia on the dias when he spoke.

He said in Madhya Pradesh, the Congress's promise to waive loans of farmers was not fulfilled and thousands of them continued to face criminal cases lodged during Mandsaur violence, where several farmers had died in police firing in 2017 during the BJP's reign.

There are few employment opportunities in the state and only "transfer industry" is growing with corruption being rampant, he said.

He made no comment on the fluid political developments in the state and did not take any question from reporters.

A four-time MP, Scindia first got elected from his family pocket borough of Guna in Madhya Pradesh in 2002 after winning a by-election necessitated by his father's death. He was only 31 years old at that time.

He gradually made his way up the Congress ladder becoming Minister of State for Communications and IT in 2007 during the Congress-led UPA-1. In 2009, he became Minister of State for Commerce and Industry and in 2012 was appointed Minister of State for Power during UPA-2.

After the Congress lost the 2014 General Election, Sonia Gandhi named him the party's chief whip in the Lok Sabha.

His ties with the party soured after Kamal Nath became the state's chief minister following its returned to power after a gap of 15 years.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Vontobel Holding AG (VTX:VONN), which is in the capital markets business, and is based in Switzerland, received a lot of attention from a substantial price movement on the SWX over the last few months, increasing to CHF74.50 at one point, and dropping to the lows of CHF55.95. Some share price movements can give investors a better opportunity to enter into the stock, and potentially buy at a lower price. A question to answer is whether Vontobel Holding's current trading price of CHF55.95 reflective of the actual value of the mid-cap? Or is it currently undervalued, providing us with the opportunity to buy? Lets take a look at Vontobel Holdings outlook and value based on the most recent financial data to see if there are any catalysts for a price change.

See our latest analysis for Vontobel Holding

What is Vontobel Holding worth?

Great news for investors  Vontobel Holding is still trading at a fairly cheap price. According to my valuation, the intrinsic value for the stock is CHF77.08, which is above what the market is valuing the company at the moment. This indicates a potential opportunity to buy low. Whats more interesting is that, Vontobel Holdings share price is theoretically quite stable, which could mean two things: firstly, it may take the share price a while to move to its intrinsic value, and secondly, there may be less chances to buy low in the future once it reaches that value. This is because the stock is less volatile than the wider market given its low beta.

Can we expect growth from Vontobel Holding?

SWX:VONN Past and Future Earnings, March 10th 2020

Investors looking for growth in their portfolio may want to consider the prospects of a company before buying its shares. Buying a great company with a robust outlook at a cheap price is always a good investment, so lets also take a look at the company's future expectations. Vontobel Holdings earnings over the next few years are expected to increase by 30%, indicating a highly optimistic future ahead. This should lead to more robust cash flows, feeding into a higher share value.

Story continues

What this means for you:

Are you a shareholder? Since VONN is currently undervalued, it may be a great time to increase your holdings in the stock. With an optimistic outlook on the horizon, it seems like this growth has not yet been fully factored into the share price. However, there are also other factors such as capital structure to consider, which could explain the current undervaluation.

Are you a potential investor? If youve been keeping an eye on VONN for a while, now might be the time to make a leap. Its buoyant future outlook isnt fully reflected in the current share price yet, which means its not too late to buy VONN. But before you make any investment decisions, consider other factors such as the strength of its balance sheet, in order to make a well-informed investment decision.

Price is just the tip of the iceberg. Dig deeper into what truly matters  the fundamentals  before you make a decision on Vontobel Holding. You can find everything you need to know about Vontobel Holding in the latest infographic research report. If you are no longer interested in Vontobel Holding, you can use our free platform to see my list of over 50 other stocks with a high growth potential.

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



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
Australia announced a A$2.4 billion (US$1.56 billion) health package on Wednesday that proposes setting up fever clinics and offering cost-free facilities for people to consult doctors over video calls, as it combats the spread of the coronavirus.

Australia has been struggling to contain the disease, which is expected to take a significant economic toll, with the Treasury Department warning the outbreak would cut at least half a percentage point from economic growth in the first quarter.

Just under $1.2 billion of that will actually, we anticipate, be spent this financial year, particularly as the virus and its impacts ramp up in the months ahead, Prime Minister Scott Morrison told reporters in Canberra.

This package is about preventing and treating coronavirus in the coming weeks.

Australia also extended its travel ban for Italy from 1800 local time on Wednesday, after Italy expanded a lockdown to cover the entire country to contain the spread of the virus.

The federal government said the latest funding package would include the A$500 million announced last week to support the costs on the health system from the virus outbreak.

The package will be in addition to a multi-billion-dollar economic stimulus package the government has said it is preparing. The Australian newspaper reported the stimulus package would be announced on Thursday.

Last week, Reserve Bank of Australia Deputy Governor Guy Debelle said the full impact of the coronavirus outbreak on Australias economy was still uncertain but the combined effect of fiscal and monetary policy would support activity in the meantime.

The latest package would fund bulk-billed video consultsa new cost-free option for people on self-isolation and quarantine to consult doctors and other medical staff through video calls.

The video call facility will be available to patients from Friday, Health Minister Greg Hunt said.

We are ensuring people can access essential care in a way that reduces their potential exposure to infection, Hunt said.

The government has earmarked A$205 million to set up 100 fever clinics across the country and said people with mild or moderate flu symptoms can use these clinics instead of visiting hospital emergency departments.

Australia has recorded 106 cases of the coronavirus as of Wednesday morning, while three people have died from the disease.

By Renju Jose
RALEIGH, N.C. - A police shooting that wounded a suspect during a foot chase in North Carolina sparked protests early Wednesday from hundreds who demanded answers and burned a flag outside the governors mansion.

Firearms-related charges were later filed against the man, who was wounded in the encounter with police in the city of Raleigh. Body camera footage released Wednesday afternoon shows him running toward an officer during a foot chase with a black object that police identified as a gun.

Officers responded to a 911 call Tuesday evening by a man at a restaurant in eastern Raleigh who described a group of men talking trash and one of them flashing a gun, according to a recording of the call. Police Chief Cassandra Deck-Brown said arriving officers spotted 26-year-old Javier Torres, who matched the description of the man with the gun.

Torres ran and was chased by officers who repeatedly ordered him to stop and drop the gun, Deck-Brown said. Torres was shot in the abdomen by an officer who had joined the chase, the chief said, adding that the suspect was running directly toward that officer and would not drop his gun.

The extent of Torres injuries wasnt clear. Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman said in an email Wednesday that Torres remained in hospital care but could not elaborate on his condition.

On Wednesday afternoon, Raleigh Police issued a statement that Torres was charged with altering a guns serial number, going armed to the terror of the public and resisting or obstructing officers. It wasnt clear if he had an attorney, and calls to a listing for a possible relative rang busy.

A handgun, as described by the 911 caller, was located at the scene of the shooting, police said. No officers were injured.

Police body camera footage shows officers arrive in cruisers in response to the 911 call and identify Torres based on his description. A black object, which police say was the gun, is seen in his waistband and he holds a pizza in his hand. He takes off on foot, and officers begin to chase him, the video shows.

Drop the gun! Drop the gun! Drop it right now! an officer behind him yells.

Another officer approaches from another angle, and fires a shot from a few feet away as Torres runs in his direction, the video shows. Police say Torres was holding the gun in his right hand, though the blurry black object is hard to discern in the footage. Officers are seen giving first aid to Torres as they wait for an ambulance.

Deck-Brown had directed her department to ask a judge to release the footage, and the judge approved the request.

Deck-Brown spoke to reporters at an early-morning news conference, saying she wanted to address some misinformation that is circulating on social media about Torres age and the circumstances of the shooting.

The body-worn camera footage will show that some of those statements were inaccurate, she said, adding, As a result of the reckless and false information that has been spread on social media, a number of spontaneous protests occurred during the night which resulted in minor damage to property in and around the downtown area.

The scene Tuesday evening quickly became chaotic, according to police radio recordings released Wednesday afternoon. After calling in the gunshot wound, one or more officers can be heard on the recordings saying large crowd forming, we need multiple units of crowd control and finally, we need every available unit possible.

Footage from news outlets showed that a large crowd gathered and began street protests that continued into early Wednesday, moving to the police chiefs home, where people demanded she come outside, and the governors mansion, where a U.S. flag was taken and later burned in the street. WRAL-TV footage showed a flag burning in the street near the governors mansion and an empty flagpole in front of the residence.

Whose streets? Our Streets! demonstrators chanted, as lines of protesters and police faced off in places around the state capital.

Community activist Kerwin Pittman said he spoke to witnesses after the shooting, and they told him Torres was unarmed, something the police chief later denied. Similar witness accounts saying the suspect also appeared to be a teenager had circulated on social media.

They say he was carrying a pizza box, Pittman told The Associated Press by phone early Wednesday morning.

The city is fed up, Pittman said. We feel there is always something happening with the Raleigh Police Department. We feel like they are brutalizing us, he added.

He said the protests would continue in a community that has long sought police transparency but faced an uphill battle.

Rolanda Byrd, whose 24-year-old son, Akiel Denkins was shot by Raleigh police while running from an officer in 2016, said before the police chiefs news conference that she should come out to meet with protesters: She needs to be out here to support her black community, right now, tonight.

This shooting happened in the same area where Soheil Antonio Mojarrad, 30, was fatally shot in April 2019 by police who said he was wielding a knife. In that case the officer was wearing a body camera but it was not activated. According to an autopsy, Mojarrad was shot eight times. The Wake County District attorney declined to pursue criminal charges against the Raleigh police officer in that case.

___

This story has been corrected to reflect that Mojarrad was shot eight times in the 2019 shooting.

____

Dudley-Lowe reported from Atlanta.
"LogRhythm has long invested in developing platform capabilities to ensure government agencies have the advanced software needed to protect themselves."

LogRhythm, the company powering todays security operations centers, announced that Security Today honored it with two Government Security Awards, or Govies. LogRhythms NextGen SIEM Platform and NetMon received recognition as outstanding government security products in the Risk Analysis and Network Security categories, respectively.

To determine the winners, an independent panel of judges from the security industry reviewed nominees against a variety of criteria, including features; user friendliness; interoperability; and impact in technical advances, in scalability, and in the security industry.

Were thrilled to receive both awards from Security Today. Ensuring government agencies have the advanced software needed to protect themselves is of the utmost importance, and LogRhythm has been committed to their cyber safety for quite some time, said Mark Logan, CEO of LogRhythm. While the threat landscape may be evolving in the government sector, our customers can be confident in knowing they already have the features and functionalities needed to stay one step ahead of the threat actors.

The government threat landscape throughout 2019 was largely defined by ransomware. These attacks targeted both state and local governments, with one such notable event, including the 22 Texas local governments that were hit in a coordinated ransomware attack. But while these types of incidents may have been new to some, they were not to LogRhythm, as the company has long invested in developing platform capabilities to address these exact attacks. Examples include the abilities to search the entire environment for suspicious traffic on ports and monitoring for files executing from locations typically taken advantage of by ransomware.

And while capabilities like these are part of the reason that LogRhythms products have consistently been a popular option for government organizations looking to improve their IT and security operations, they are not the only factor. LogRhythms security solutions are used by more than 100 government organizations, with many noting that the reason they selected LogRhythm was due ease of use and flexible licensing and deployment options available with the NextGen SIEM Platform.

Unlike other solutions that may require months for users to fully learn and effectively use, government security practitioners consistently deploy and find meaningful value from the LogRhythm platform within a matter of days. And because customers can choose to license and deploy the solution on-premises (using hardware, software, or both), in the cloud, or a combination of on-prem and in the cloud, the LogRhythm NextGen SIEM Platform can be deployed within any government environment. No matter what kind of infrastructure the environment is built on  even if it features air gapped networks or requires an unlimited amount of data to be sent to the SIEM  customers can easily purchase, implement, and begin using the solution.

As a testament to LogRhythms immediate impact, one government CIO stated: LogRhythm made a huge difference in our enterprise environment. From the very beginning the benefits of the solution were realized in what we could now visualize. It brought to light some issues and inconsistencies that could not have been seen or even detected without a full SIEM solution. The LogRhythm team has been extremely responsive to needs and their support has been second to none.

LogRhythm is committed to ensuring government agencies have access to company personnel and resources to set them up for ongoing success. Previously, the company has collaborated with industry partners to provide capture-the-flag-style training, employing real-world scenarios so government security practitioners can improve their incident response, forensics, and red and blue team skills. And this spring, LogRhythm will be available to meet with both existing and prospective customers at a number of events, including its LogRhythm User Group (LUG) event in Salt Lake City on March 11, the TechNet Fort Bragg Symposium in North Carolina on April 2122, and the GEOINT 2020 Symposium in Tampa on April 2629.

To learn more about LogRhythm, please visit the website and get in touch with a government security expert today by reaching out to sales@logrhythm.com.

About 1105 Medias Infrastructure Solutions Group

1105 Medias Infrastructure Solutions Group includes several leading industry media brands that provide new product and technology solutions for security professionals: Security Today, securitytoday.com, GovSec, Campus Security & Life Safety, and campuslifesecurity.com. The brands print, digital, custom media and research products integrate physical and IT security coverage and provide the smartest, most cost-effective solutions for reaching security decision makers

About LogRhythm

LogRhythm empowers more than 4,000 customers across the globe to measurably mature their security operations program. LogRhythms award-winning NextGen SIEM Platform delivers comprehensive security analytics; user and entity behavior analytics (UEBA); network detection and response (NDR); and security orchestration, automation, and response (SOAR) within a single, integrated platform for rapid detection, response, and neutralization of threats. Built by security professionals for security professionals, LogRhythm enables security professionals at leading organizations like Cargill, NASA, and XcelEnergy to promote visibility for their cybersecurity program and reduce risk to their organization each and every day. LogRhythm is the only provider to earn the Gartner Peer Insights Customer Choice for SIEM designation three years in a row. To learn more, please visit logrhythm.com.
While we all know how important the Thom McNamee Memorial Dundee St. Patricks Day Parade located in the heart of East Dundee is to our residents, visitors and the local economy, we must always stay mindful of the necessary steps that need to be taken to keep the public safe, Miller said in the release.
SAN DIEGO, March 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- MANSCAPED, the first and only brand dedicated to men's below-the-waist grooming, is venturing... above-the-belt. The leading and fastest growing male hygiene company is bursting at the drawstrings, having officially announced its hotly-awaited arrival in Canada. This milestone launch answers the strong Canadian demand the brand has received across multiple platforms for MANSCAPED's sought-after products.

MANSCAPED products now available online at ca.manscaped.com

"We're beyond excited to pioneer the men's below-the-waist grooming movement in Canada, catapulting off a successful groundswell in the U.S. and, most recently, Australia," said Stephanie Hinze, Director of Global Operations at MANSCAPED, who hails from U.S.'s neighbor to the north. "Canadians across provinces and territories are embracing the global trend toward more progressive male grooming. Now, they will finally have access to the right tools for the job."

MANSCAPED has developed a full line of top-tier products that have quickly become a staple and part of the daily grooming regimen of more than 1,000,000 consumers in the U.S. - and counting. The intelligently designed product range includes precision-engineered tools, unique formulations and innovative accessories that ensure a simple, effective and hygienic manscaping routine.

With a reported 85% of women who prefer men who groom their goods, MANSCAPED is sure to be warmly welcomed by Canadian ladies and gents alike. "We believe our notion of Refining the Gentleman aligns with the multi-faceted culture in Canada and will spearhead a new era for the country's modern consumer, across all genders and walks of life," added Hinze.

"The MANSCAPED Movement is more than providing the proper tools for the job; we're on a mission to empower men and end the stigma that comes with tending to one's nether regions," said Paul Tran, Founder and CEO of MANSCAPED. "Together with our amazing partners at the Testicular Cancer Society, we are opening up the conversation, answering questions and clearing up any misunderstandings about the subject - and in our signature light-hearted and humorous way that Canadians have been very receptive to already!"

Dedicated to cultivating relationships directly with their customers, MANSCAPED offers a one-stop-shop online at ca.manscaped.com. Here, manscapers can purchase a range of packages and hygiene plans, get limited-time offers, and even learn some trimming tips and tricks on the highly educational and entertaining blog, The Man Cave. In addition, Canadians can find MANSCAPED products on Amazon.ca, with Prime and pickup options available. Major retail updates throughout Canada are to follow, after a successful national rollout in Target stores in the U.S. last fall.

About MANSCAPED:

Founded in 2017, San Diego, California-based MANSCAPED is the only brand dedicated to men's grooming and hygiene below-the-waist. The product range includes top-of-the-line precision-engineered tools, unique formulations and accessories to ensure a simple and effective manscaping routine. With direct-to-consumer shipping in the U.S., Australia and Canada, as well as in-store options across the U.S., MANSCAPED is a one-stop shopping destination for men looking for a brand that is focused on the needs of what has, for too long, been a sensitive and often taboo subject. For more information, visit MANSCAPED.com or follow on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Media Contact:

Allison Frazier, Director of Public Relations - MANSCAPED, Inc.

[email protected]

925-216-2791

SOURCE MANSCAPED, Inc.

Related Links

http://MANSCAPED.com


Human Resources Assistants (HR Administration) - Global Shared Services Centre, Budapest

Organization: UNICEF - United Nations Childrens Fund

Country: Hungary

City: Budapest, Hungary

Office: UNICEF GSSC Budapest

Closing date: Tuesday, 31 March 2020

Roster Call for Temporary Appointment: Human Resources Assistants (HR Administration), GS-5, Global Shared Services Centre, Budapest, Hungary

Job no: 529749

Position type: Temporary Appointment

Location: Hungary Division/Equivalent: Operations

School/Unit: Global Shared Services Centre

Department/Office: HR Admin Section, GSSC

Categories: Human Resources, Support: Operations, G-5

UNICEF works in 190 countries and territories to protect the rights of every child. UNICEF has spent 70 years working to improve the lives of children and their families. Defending childrens rights throughout their lives requires a global presence, aiming to produce results and understand their effects. UNICEF believes all children have a right to survive, thrive and fulfill their potential - to the benefit of a better world.

UNICEFs Global Shared Services Centre (GSSC) in Budapest, Hungary supports UNICEF operations globally in the areas of Finance, Human Resources, Payroll and Information Technology.

How can you make a difference?

UNICEF is seeking candidates to temporarily support the Human Resources Section in the function of Human Resources Assistants at the GS-5 level in the Global Shared Services Centre in Budapest, Hungary.

The present announcement is for temporary appointments with duration of 6 months.

Anticipated start date: 1 April 2020

This will involve:

Human Resources Assistants provide support within the GSSC by maintaining and monitoring reports and ensuring that timely action is taken on status of entitlements and allowances for staff members in accordance with UN Staff Rules and Regulations and UNICEFs policies and procedures. These roles perform a variety of administrative duties supporting the On-boarding, Maintenance and Off-boarding processes of UNICEF staff members.

Monitor UNICEF staff personnel records

Perform necessary administrative actions on contractual status, entitlements, mobility and hardship allowances.

Maintain staff entitlements and profiles in SAP-HR

Draft correspondence to follow up on staff contractual status and request recommendations

Maintain electronic reporting system for Human Resources Processes

Ensure timely and accurate execution of administrative actions

Update reporting system with status changes (e.g. contractual status, marriage status)

Responsible for understanding changes in policy procedures

Review policy and participate in GSSC staff meetings to keep informed of changes

Ensure appropriate action is taken in accordance with policy changes

Prepare and initiate major Human Resources documents

Create employment verification letters

Tags human resources information technology payroll personnel records shared services support services

Complete background work for Disability and Workers Compensation claims for submission to appropriate departments

As an advocate for every child, you will have...

Completion of secondary education (high school diploma) is a minimum requirement

University level courses in human resources and business administration are desirable

Five years of relevant work experience in human resources is required. A completed university degree from an accredited institution will be counted toward the minimum work experience requirements

Previous hands-on experience in planning, organizing and delivering administrative support services is highly desirable

Working knowledge of the Microsoft Suite of Products (MS Word, MS Excel and MS PowerPoint) is required

Work experience with a development organization is an asset

Knowledge of UN and UNICEFS rules, regulations and procedures is an asset

Fluency in English (verbal and written) is required. Knowledge of an additional UN Language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish) is a strong asset

Non - Hungarian citizens must be in possession of a work permit or be nationals of EU countries.

Please note that General Service (GS) staff are locally recruited staff and therefore, candidates are personally responsible for any travel and accommodation arrangements.

UNICEF does not facilitate MFA accreditation for locally recruited staff. For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEFs core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

View our competency framework at http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

Please submit your application through UNICEFs online recruiting system in English.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse, and on any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination

Advertised: Feb 07 2020 Central Europe Standard Time Application close: Mar 31 2020 Central Europe Daylight Time
In the fall and winter of 2017-2018, 80,000 Americans died from the flu. In 2020, The Plain Dealers inordinate coverage of the coronavirus contributes to the hysteria that hurts Americans and America over a pandemic that has so far killed 29 people in the United States. What could possibly be the reason for the disproportionate coverage by the media?

Richard L. Patton,

Columbia Station
A woman in her 60s is the first coronavirus-related death in the Los Angeles area.

The woman had recently travelled extensively before visiting California, according to Los Angeles County Department of Public Health director Barbara Ferrer. She was not a resident of the state and had underlying health issues, Dr Ferrer said.

Officials also reported six additional positive Covid-19 cases, totalling 27 in the county, including three cases previously reported by the city of Long Beach. More than 10 million people live in Los Angeles county. California has reported more than 100 positive cases of coronavirus across the state.

Dr Ferrer urged people to avoid mass gatherings like concerts and performing events.

She said: "We all know there are more cases in our community that have yet to be diagnosed. ... This is an ask of all of you."

One of the newest cases reported by health officials involves the county's second confirmed case through community spread.

Dr Ferrer said that without a vaccine, "social distancing" is "the next best tool" to prevent a spread of the flu-like illness.

She also urged people to avoid going to hospital emergency rooms if they feel sick to ensure that the area's hospitals are able to operate without pressuring capacity.

The announcement follows the World Health Organization's declaration of a pandemic as the virus sweeps to more than 100 countries and has led to more than 4,000 deaths. It's the first time the organisation has issued the designation since the H1N1 "swine flu" outbreak in 2009.

More than 1,000 cases have been reported across the US, including more than 30 deaths. The latest death in California is the nation's 33rd reported coronavirus-related death.

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

Responding to questions about whether the fatal case is "in my neighbourhood", Dr Ferrer said that there is "no district without a positive case."

"We at this point say to everyone: You need to be aware, you need to expect there is community transmission, and you need to take the steps to protect yourself and the people you love" as well as the people most vulnerable to serious illness, she said.

Officials in Los Angeles also told people experiencing homelessness that "now is the time" to visit a shelter to avoid illness and to prevent transmitting it to other people.

There are nearly 60,000 people experiencing homelessness in the region, according to a 2019 assessment.
Momentus, provider of in-space transportation services to various orbits all the way out to deep space, has earned the standing of #7 in the Space category on Fast Companys prestigious annual list of the Worlds Most Innovative Companies for 2020. The list honors the businesses making the most profound impact on both industry and culture, showcasing a variety of ways to thrive in todays fast-changing world.

"We are honored to receive this award and be in spotlighted with so many exciting established and up-and-coming businesses, said Mikhail Kokorich, CEO of Momentus.

Momentus offers last mile shuttle services for smallsats that need exact orbits cheaper and faster, by providing connecting rides in space. For the Earth-to-space leg, we use existing rockets from third party companies -- such as the SpaceX Falcon 9. Our orbital transfer vehicles are then propelled by proprietary water plasma propulsion to deliver our customers payloads to their final destinations. Our services make space transportation up to 10 times cheaper, more consistent, and more timely.

A graduate of the prestigious Y Combinator program, and based in Santa Clara, California, Momentus raised almost $50M of equity funding, including a $25.5MM Series A in 2019. A 16U demonstration mission, El Camino Real, was launched and tested in 2019.

Fast Companys editors and writers sought out the most groundbreaking businesses on the planet and across myriad industries. They also judged nominations received through their application process.

The Worlds Most Innovative Companies is Fast Companys signature franchise and one of its most highly anticipated editorial efforts of the year. It provides both a snapshot and a road map for the future of innovation across the most dynamic sectors of the economy.

At a time of increasing global volatility, this years list showcases the resilience and optimism of businesses across the world. These companies are applying creativity to solve challenges within their industries and far beyond, said Fast Company senior editor Amy Farley, who oversaw the issue with deputy editor David Lidsky.

ABOUT MOMENTUS

Momentus is the first company providing in-space transportation services for satellites. The company was founded in 2017 in Santa Clara, CA. Momentus designs and builds transfer vehicles propelled by proprietary water plasma thrusters. The vehicles ferry satellites to a custom orbit after they are delivered by conventional rockets to their initial orbit. Momentus is a 60 person team and growing rapidly. Momentus will start commercial services in 2021 with Vigoride and will progressively introduce a whole family of spacecraft with expanded capabilities.

For more information and a list of job openings, please visit us at http://www.momentus.space/careers

ABOUT FAST COMPANY

Fast Company is the only media brand fully dedicated to the vital intersection of business, innovation, and design, engaging the most influential leaders, companies, and thinkers on the future of business. Since 2011, Fast Company has received some of the most prestigious editorial and design accolades, including the American Society of Magazine Editors (ASME) National Magazine Award for Magazine of the Year, Adweeks Hot List for Hottest Business Publication, and six gold medals and 10 silver medals from the Society of Publication Designers. The editor-in-chief is Stephanie Mehta and the publisher is Amanda Smith.

Headquartered in New York City, Fast Company is published by Mansueto Ventures LLC, along with our sister publication Inc., and can be found online at http://www.fastcompany.com.
Bhopal, March 11 : Amid the political crisis in Madhya Pradesh, the Congress have decided to move their MLAs outside of the state to prevent further poaching.

The Congress is likely to move at least 90 of its MLAs to Jaipur, sources said. Congress is in power in Rajasthan.

Congress sources said chief minister Kamal Nath has called a breakfast meeting of its MLAs at his residence in Bhopal on Wednesday morning. From here MLAs will be taken to the airport and then to Jaipur. Some of the MLAs may go to Jaipur by road.

In a meeting at chief minister's residence on Tuesday, 94 Congress MLAs were present, with Kamal Nath putting a brave face saying there is nothing to worry, claiming he has the required number of MLAs to prove majority in the house.

At least 22 rebel Congress MLAs have already submitted their resignations to the Speaker on Tuesday After Jyotiraditya Scindia quit the Congress. They have resigned from the primary membership of the Congress. Some of them are in touch with the Congress.

The BJP has already moved 100 of its MLAs from Madhya Pradesh to Gurugram at a luxury resort to keep their flock together.
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Texas is home to some of the best camping spots around. Its not hard to find a majestic place with breathtaking views as youre surrounded by the wondrous landscapes the Lone Star State is known for.

Going camping is a rite of passage for some. Pitching a tent underneath a starry night as you wind down by the sound of the nearby river serenading you while cozy up by the campfire enjoying a late-night snack of smores is heavenly.

ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: Travel down these Texas lazy rivers for a picturesque spring break getaway

Camping is as American as apple pie as you hop in the car road tripping across Texas. It's one of the best ways to take in the beauty of the outdoors as you experience the best views Texas has to offer.

An outdoor activity everyone should add to their traveling bucket list and try at least once in their lifetime.

Big Bend National Park located in West Texas is a national treasure and one of the most amazing camping spots you could experience. Boasting picturesque views of the mountains and canyons, it covers 800,000 acres and reaches elevations of 8,000 feet. An unforgettable place to escape to and relax among the best nature has on display.

Colorado Bend is one the biggest outdoor campsites you can visit with its scenic views and lush landscapes to explore. A go-to destination for campers and located a short drive from Austin. The highlight of the area is Gorman Falls, a 65-foot cascading waterfall. Enjoy a day bird watching, paddling down the river or exploring the caves.

TEXAS CAMPING TREASURES: 23 things to do on a Texas Hill Country road trip, from bluebonnets to tubing

Situated just outside of Llano in central Texas, Enchanted Rock State Natural area is a must see destination to travel to for a great camping experience. With one of the largest natural rock formations in the United States, it is famously know for its gigantic pink granite rock. With awe-inspiring views of the Texas Hill Country, its a perfect place to sit back and enjoy a night of stargazing after a full day of hiking through its trails or even rock climbing.

Our slideshow includes some of the stunning campsites you can enjoy as you spend your days indulging in outdoor activities such as swimming, fishing, hiking, and kayaking before winding down for the evening warming up in front of a warm campfire catching an amazing sunset.

STAY INFORMED: Sign up to receive breaking news alerts delivered to your email here.
Art Gormley

We have had a few run ins with serious coronavirus-type infections in this century. They were scary but did not seem widespread outside of Asia. Public health authorities ultimately got their arms around MERS, SARS, H1N1, etc.

This one (COVID-19) seems different because the symptoms for many victims are mild to moderate, increasing the chances they will not seek testing or treatment and go undiagnosed. This is particularly true in the absence of widely available testing capabilities. Those unaware they are contagious will greatly increase the chances they will inadvertently infect others.

There was a recent story in Wired magazine which remarked on how few children under the age of 10 have been infected by COVID-19. Further testing, however, revealed symptoms in young children were so mild that children didnt complain, and parents did not recognize anything out of the ordinary. But some researchers believe asymptomatic children can still transmit the virus. Further research here is underway.

With test kits in very short supply, we run the risk of missing those who may not feel ill but can still transmit the virus to others. Frankly, until we can promptly and properly identify and isolate those infected with COVID-19, we are in uncharted waters.

The wait for a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine could be 12-18 months or more, even with accelerated FDA-approval procedures in place. That said, as testament to mans scientific ingenuity and, frankly, the power of capitalism there are already a score of potential vaccine candidates being readied for human testing.

But for right now, we seem to be without even an effective treatment or treatment strategy for dealing with patients who experience life-threatening reactions to COVID-19. At the moment, we seem to be relying heavily on mechanical ventilators for severe cases. Having an effective, easily administered treatment could go a long way to easing the sense of fear gripping those at risk, which, at the moment, includes just about all of us and our loved ones.

The markets are in full blown panic mode and vacillating wildly. Mostly, it seems, over the potential economic consequences of people avoiding crowds, cancelling travel plans, staying at home, etc. A number of major industry conferences and shows have already been cancelled out of an abundance of caution. More large gatherings may follow. The Summer Olympics in Tokyo may even be at risk.

Every report of a marked increase in COVID-19 cases sparks renewed panic as does news of event cancellations and whole countries, like Italy, employing extreme, nationwide social distancing measures. Those extreme public health strategies may, however, be the only way to limit person-to-person transmission. But putting them in place only persuades people that this pandemic is even worse than they had ever imagined.

What should businesses be doing about COVID-19? Firstly, do whatever you must to protect your employees, customers, business and, of course. yourselves and family members. Just as global equity markets have dropped like a stone in response to the spread of COVID-19, markets and the world economy will ultimately recover as the infection subsides, which it always has even in the worst pandemics. According to the Chinese governmentconsider the sourcethe rate of new infections has already slowed dramatically. Whether that is a reliable trend, or a statistical fluke remains to be seen.

The incredibly deadly Spanish Flu gripped the globe for a period of roughly 24 months from beginning to end. We are far better equipped today to deal with pandemics than we were 100 years ago. Hopefully the ultimate COVID-19 death toll will be a tiny, tiny fraction of the tens of millions of lives lost to the Spanish Flu.

The worlds best scientific minds and public health authorities are hard at work trying to understand this latest novel coronavirus and how to deal with its spread and its life-threatening symptoms. I, for one, remain optimistic that mans endless scientific ingenuity will prevail.

***

Art Gormley is a principal at The Dilenschneider Group.
A group of students and teachers from Tullamore College are staying away from school this week after a trip to Italy last week.

They returned to Ireland on Sunday, March 8. It's understood they are voluntarily partaking in 'social distancing' which involves them staying in their own homes.

They have been urged to contact the HSE if they present with any symptoms. This period will last for two weeks.

Tullamore College has been contacted on numerous occasions by the Offaly Express for comment. They had not made a statement as of Tuesday evening, March 10.

A parent of one of the students told the Offaly Express on Tuesday evening that parents and the school acted on the best advice of the HSE and Department of Health before the trip went ahead. The area they travelled to in Italy was not directly by Covid-19 transmission at the time. They said they are now acting responsibly by staying away from school and work. This is not expressly required under current guidelines from the HSE.

The HSE says where a person has returned from one of the countries where Covid-19 is circulating and they are feeling well,

they should have already visited the HSE website and made contact with the HSE helpline by phone for advice.

"If they remain well, no specific measures are needed. They will be advised to watch out for any symptoms of COVID-19 for 14 days following their return. The symptoms of COVID-19 include cough, temperature and, sometimes breathing difficulties or shortness of breath," the HSE says.

"If they develop any symptoms within 14 days of returning from areas with presumed community transmission of COVID-19, the person should isolate themselves and then contact their GP/doctor straight away by phone for advice, informing the GP/doctor of their recent travel history.

"This will be explained to them by HSE staff. The GP/doctor will advise on the next steps to take, including organising testing

for COVID-19 if necessary."

Since the return of the Tullamore College group, Italy has been placed into a complete lockdown, effectively keeping 60 million people in quarantine.

British Airways have suspended all flights to and from Italy with a similar Ryanair suspension coming into effect this Friday.

Over 9,000 cases have been confirmed in Italy with the biggest concentration in the north of the country. 34 cases have been confirmed in Ireland.

Elsewhere, a staff member from Walsh Island National School has also agreed to take "a period of leave" from work, the school has confirmed.

Although the school would not confirm, it's understood the staff member is linked to an individual from Tullamore College.

Principal Colette Hyland said the period of leave for the staff member was being taken as an "abundant precaution."

"The staff member referenced has agreed, with the principal, to take some leave," Ms Hyland said. It was not confirmed if the staff member is a teacher at the school.
Thais told to sit tight in Italy

THAILAND: The Foreign Ministry has instructed 7,000 Thais in Italy to comply with the nationwide lockdown enforced to combat the rapid spread of COVID-19.

CoronavirusCOVID-19healthtourismSafety

By Bangkok Post

Wednesday 11 March 2020, 09:26AM

The Foreign Ministry has instructed 7,000 Thais in Italy to comply with the nationwide lockdown enforced to combat the rapid spread of COVID-19. Photo: Bangkok Post

The Thai embassy is preparing to offer Thais in Italy immediate help in case of emergency, Foreign Ministry spokesman and Information Department chief Cherdkiat Atthakor said yesterday (Mar 10).

We are keeping in close contact with them through the Thai community network and social media, he said.

The 7,000 Thais include tourists, students and those married to Italian residents.

The Foreign Ministry will today (Mar 11) meet officials from state agencies to discuss plans to help Thais in Italy and also Iran, the worst-hit Middle East country, according to Mr Cherdkiat.

The Public Health Ministry announced yesterday that three new COVID-19 patients had contracted the virus from among returnees from Italy, bringing the number of cases recorded in Thailand to 53. Among the new cases was a 41-year-old woman who had not travelled abroad but had been in close contact with a male COVID-19 patient who had returned from Italy, said Dr Yongyos Thammawut, the ministrys deputy permanent-secretary.

The woman developed a fever on Saturday (Mar 7) before being tested and registered as the 51st local case. She was being treated at Rajavithi Hospital in Bangkok.

The 52nd and 53rd cases are a married couple. The wife, 46, returned from Italy on Feb 28 and later developed flu-like symptoms. Her husband, 47, remained at home but developed a high fever on Saturday. Both were being treated at a hospital in Nakhon Pathom province.

Of the 53 cases in Thailand, 33 have recovered and returned home, 19 are being treated in hospital and one has died.

Italian Prime Minister, Giuseppe Conte, ordered people to stay home after COVID-19 killed 631 and infected 10,149, threatening a population of more than 60 million. Travel between cities is permitted only in emergencies.

Meanwhile, Chon Buris Sattahip naval base has quarantined 188 Thais - 88 men and 100 women - who returned after working illegally in South Korea. Twenty were receiving special care - five pregnant women, four children and 11 people with chronic diseases, Dr Yongyos said.
But to call that a long-shot hope might be an overstatement. Before the Wisconsin primary come Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Ohio and Georgia, all diverse states where Mr. Biden will most likely claim victory.

According to an analysis by my colleague Nate Cohn, Mr. Sanders would need to beat Mr. Biden by about eight percentage points in the remaining contests to capture the nomination. Given his position in the polls, that means improving his standing by about a net 30 percentage points  a herculean task.

So, why not just drop out of the race today?

Part of the reason is that Mr. Sanders sees himself as leading not just a campaign but a movement. His policy positions, on issues like free college and Medicare for all, are broadly popular, and his presidential bids have shifted the center of gravity within the party to the left. Staying in the race gives Mr. Sanders perhaps his highest-profile moment yet to pull the party and Mr. Biden further in his direction.

Unlike many of his competitors (ahem, Elizabeth Warren, Pete Buttigieg, Amy Klobuchar, Cory Booker, Kamala Harris, even Andrew Yang), Mr. Sanders is unlikely to be able to mount another campaign  both because of his age, 78, and the fact that he will have run twice already. So theres less of a personal imperative to leave the race early to preserve future political prospects.

Aides also say Mr. Sanders disdains President Trump and, above all, wants to see the president defeated.

Mr. Sanders knows that Mr. Biden cannot win the general election without the backing of his supporters. By staying in the race, Mr. Sanders can prepare them for his exit and give Mr. Biden  not yet the presumptive nominee but inching closer  a chance to make overtures.

We started to see that last night, when Mr. Biden used his remarks after polls closed to welcome Mr. Sanderss supporters into his camp.
People vote in the Michigan primary election at Chrysler Elementary School in Detroit, Michigan, on March 10, 2020. (Jeff Kowalsky/AFP via Getty Images)

Super Tuesday II: Biden Wins Most States in Democratic Primaries, Trump Wins All States in GOP Primaries

Voters in six states cast their ballots on Tuesday. Five statesIdaho, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, and Washingtonare holding Democratic and Republican primaries, and North Dakota is holding Democratic and Republican caucuses.

Just over a week ago, voters in 14 states participated in the first Super Tuesday of the year on March 3, where Biden won 10 states and also took the lead in delegates over Sanders in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination. Meanwhile, in the race for the Republican nomination, out of 834 delegates, President Donald Trump collected 833 and former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld won one delegate.

Most polls closed by 8 p.m. ET, with Michigans polls, split between two timezones, closed by 9 p.m. ET. In Idaho and Washington state, polls closed by 11 p.m. ET. Washington state held a mail-in primary, and as such, votes may take days to tally.

Here was how the night unfolded:

Sanders Wins North Dakota

Sanders won the North Dakota caucuses by nearly 2,000 votes.

Sanders ended with 7,682 votes, or 53.3 percent, compared to Bidens 5,742 votes, or 39.8 percent.

The final results were published on Wednesday morning.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who dropped out of the race last week, earned 366 votes. A number of other former contenders also received votes.

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii), the only other contender remaining in the field outside Sanders and Biden, got 89 votes.

Washington Democratic Primary Too Early to Call

The Democratic presidential primary in Washington state is too early to call, according to The Associated Press.

All votes in Washington state are cast by mail or by dropping them off in a ballot box, and the state counts a significant amount on the day of the election, it reported. But once that first update is released, election officials only provide an update once a day until all the late-arriving ballots are counted.

Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders appear to be in a close race according to the first set of results released late Tuesday. Of the roughly 1 million votes counted so far, Biden and Sanders each won about 33 percent.

Most counties in Washington state will update their results Wednesday.

Biden Projected to Win Idaho Democratic Primary

Joe Biden is projected to win Idahos Democratic presidential primary. The Associated Press called Bidens victory at 1:01 a.m. ET on Wednesday.

Idaho, which has 20 pledged delegates on offer, is using a primary in 2020 after having used a caucus in 2016; Bernie Sanders defeated Hillary Clinton for the Democratic presidential nominee at the time.

Officials have said switching to a Democratic primary this year from a caucus could significantly increase the number of participants and play a role in the outcome, The Associated Press reported.

Trump Wins in All 6 States on Super Tuesday II

President Donald Trump has won or is projected to win multiple Republican presidential primaries and the North Dakota caucus late Tuesday as polls close and results flow in from multiple states.

President Donald Trump before boarding Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington on June 27, 2018. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)

Trump took to Twitter to celebrate his victories in Mississippi, Missouri, Michigan, and Washington Republican primaries, as well as the North Dakota Republican caucus.

The Associated Press called Trumps wins in Mississippi, Missouri, Michigan, and Idaho as of 12:50 a.m. ET Wednesday.

Trump and former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld were on the ballot in the Republican race in Idaho, Michigan, Mississippi, and Missouri. Trump was the only candidate on the ballot in Washington state. In North Dakotas caucus, Trump was the only candidate to qualify for the ballot.

Biden Says Its Another Good Night

Joe Biden said late Tuesday that it is another good night and a step closer to restoring decency, dignity, and honor to the White House as he celebrated his projected wins in the Mississippi, Missouri, and Michigan Democratic presidential primaries.

Democratic U.S. presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden speaks with his wife Jill at his side during a primary night news conference at The National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on March 10, 2020. (Brendan McDermid/Reuters)

Speaking to a crowd near his Philadelphia campaign headquarters, Biden also addressed Bernie Sanderss supporters.

I want to thank Bernie Sanders and his supporters for their tireless energy and their passion. We share a common goal, and together well defeat Donald Trump. Well defeat him together, Biden said.

He also acknowledged recent endorsements from former Democratic presidential candidates including Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Beto ORourke, Pete Buttigieg, and Mike Bloomberg.

Biden also spoke about the coronavirus outbreak and said he would propose a plan.

This whole coronavirus issue is a matter of presidential leadership, and later this week Ill be speaking to you on what I believe the nation should be doing to address this virus, Biden said.

Both Biden and Sanders canceled rallies Tuesday night due to coronavirus concerns. The next Democratic debate to take place on Sunday in Arizona will not have a live audience, again due to coronavirus concerns.

Trump Endorses Tuberville in Alabama Senate Runoff

President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced his support for former Auburn University football coach Tommy Tuberville in the Alabama runoff election against Jeff Sessions, a former attorney general under Trump.

Tommy Tuberville (@TTuberville) is running for the U.S. Senate from the Great State of Alabama, Trump wrote on Twitter. Tommy was a terrific head football coach at Auburn University.

He is a REAL LEADER who will never let MAGA/KAG, or our Country, down! Trump added. Tommy will protect your Second Amendment (which is under siege), is strong on Crime and the Border, and truly LOVES our Military and our Vets. He will be a great Senator for the people of Alabama. Coach Tommy Tuberville, a winner, has my Complete and Total Endorsement. I love Alabama!

Then-head coach Tommy Tuberville of the Cincinnati Bearcats watches first quarter action against the Miami Hurricanes at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, on Oct. 11, 2014. (Joel Auerbach/Getty Images)

Tuberville and Sessions will face off in the runoff election on March 31 seeking the Republican nomination to challenge incumbent Democrat Doug Jones. Tuberville currently has 33.3 percent of the vote, compared to Sessions with 31.6 percent of the vote as of late Tuesday.

Sessions was the first Senate Republican to endorse Trump in 2016 before joining his administration. Sessions resigned at Trumps request. Trump had repeatedly criticized Sessionss decision to recuse himself from the probe into Russian meddling in the 2016 election.

Jeff Sessions talks with the media after voting in Alabamas state primary in Mobile, Ala., on March 3, 2020. (Vasha Hunt/AP Photo)

Andrew Yang Endorses Biden

Former Democratic presidential contender Andrew Yang announced on CNN that he is endorsing Joe Biden on Tuesday night.

Democratic presidential hopeful entrepreneur Andrew Yang speaks during the sixth Democratic primary debate of the 2020 presidential campaign season at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, California, on Dec. 19, 2019. (Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images)

The math says Joe is our prohibitive nominee, Yang said. We need to bring the party together. We need to start working on defeating Donald Trump in the fall.

Yang joined CNN as a political commentator last month.

Yangs announcement comes after Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) announced his endorsement for Biden on Monday.

Biden Projected to Win Michigan Democratic Primary

Joe Biden is projected to win the Michigan Democratic primary, the state with delegates up for grabs out of six states voting in Super Tuesday II, with 125 pledged delegates.

Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden, accompanied by his wife Jill, speaks to members of the press at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia on March 10, 2020. (Matt Rourke/AP Photo)

Biden led Sanders by 53.1 percent to 39.3 percent with 52 percent of precincts reporting.

The Associated Press at 9:05 p.m. ET called a win for Biden in Michigan.

U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders greets supporters outside a polling station in Dearborn Heights, Michigan, on March 10, 2020. (Lucas Jackson/Reuters)

Sanders defeated Hillary Clinton in Michigans 2016 Democratic presidential primary.

Biden Projected to Win Mississippi and Missouri

The Associated Press has called decisive wins for Joe Biden in Missouri and Mississippi, calling it an early blow to Bernie Sanders.

Democratic U.S. presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden greets workers during a campaign stop at the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles Mack Assembly plant in Detroit, Michigan, on March 10, 2020. (Brendan McDermid/Reuters)

Polls have closed in the two states, along with North Dakota. There was no immediate projection for North Dakota.

Biden was also projected to win the two states by Edison Research and television networks based on exit polls and early results.

Missouri has 68 pledged delegates and Mississippi has 36 pledged delegates.

Whats at Stake on Super Tuesday II

In Super Tuesday IIs Democratic race, 352 delegates are up for grabs, while in the Republican race, 271 delegates are on offer.

Michigan has the most pledged delegates, at 125 for Democrats and 73 for Republicans. Both former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) spent ample time in the state in the lead-up to the vote. The numbers of delegates up for grabs in other states are Idaho (20), Mississippi (36), Missouri (68), North Dakota (14), and Washington (89).

A voter Kasi Seguin casts her ballot in the Democratic primary election in Detroit, Michigan, on March 10, 2020. (Rebecca Cook/Reuters)

Democrats in the race are Biden, Sanders, and Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii). The number of delegates on offer on March 10 represents about 9 percent of the total to the Democratic National Convention, which means that there is still 53 percent of total delegates available in upcoming primaries and caucuses in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Trump and former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld are competing in Idaho, Michigan, Mississippi, and Missouri in the Republican race. Trump is the only candidate on the ballot in Washington state. In North Dakotas caucus, Trump was the only candidate to qualify for the ballot.

A candidate needs to win at least 1,991 delegates of the total 3,979 to win the Democratic nomination on the first ballot by the partys national convention on July 13-16 in Milwaukee. Democrat candidates must finish with at least 15 percent of the vote for them to win any delegates in a given stateeither in the statewide total or an individual congressional district.

Trump needs 1,276 delegates out of 2,551 to win the Republican nomination at the partys national convention scheduled for Aug. 24-27 in Charlotte, North Carolina.

As of Tuesday night, in the Democrat race, Biden has a total of 695 delegates, followed by Sanders on 590 delegates. Gabbard only has two. In the Republican race, Trump has collected 887 delegates, and Weld has one.

A container of disinfectant wipes sits on the table as voters sign in to cast their ballots in the Democratic primary election in Detroit, Michigan, on March 10, 2020. (Rebecca Cook/Reuters)

Sanders, Biden Cancel Ohio Rallies Over Coronavirus Concerns

Democratic presidential candidates Joe Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders canceled their election night rallies in Ohio on March 10, citing concerns about the coronavirus spreading throughout the United States.

Sanderss campaign first announced March 10 that his rally in Cleveland would be canceled.

Out of concern for public health and safety, we are canceling tonights rally in Cleveland. We are heeding the public warnings from Ohio state officials, who have communicated concern about holding large, indoor events during the coronavirus outbreak, according to a statement from his campaign.

While Sanders expressed his regret to would-be attendees, he said that all future campaign events will have to be evaluated.

A statement from Biden confirmed he would also cancel a rally in Cleveland.

In accordance with guidance from public officials and out of an abundance of caution, our rally in Cleveland, Ohio tonight is cancelled. We will continue to consult with public health officials and public health guidance and make announcements about future events in the coming days, said a statement to local news outlets. Vice President Biden thanks all of his supporters who wanted to be with us in Cleveland this evening. Additional details on where the vice president will address the press tonight are forthcoming.

Read more here.

Mimi Nguyen Ly, Zachary Stieber, the Associated Press, and Reuters contributed to this article.
WASHINGTON, March 11 (Reuters) - California Attorney General Xavier Becerra's office will not appeal a court's decision that a merger of wireless carriers Sprint and T-Mobile can go forward, his office said on Monday.

The notice said that the state reached a settlement with the companies but did not detail it. (Reporting by Diane Bartz Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)
Update: 11-03-2020 | 10:48:20

Cambodia has earmarked 2 billion USD to save the economy in case of the outbreak of the acute respiratory disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen said on March 10.

Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen (Source: Xinhua/VNA)

Cambodia has earmarked 2 billion USD to save the economy in case of the outbreak of the acute respiratory disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen said on March 10.



The government has reserved a budget of about 800 million USD to back the economy if the coronavirus crisis prolongs for six months, he said, adding that the country will need between 800 million USD and 2 billion USD if the disease prolongs for one year.



He unveiled that the government last week approved 30 million USD in emergency funds to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 and other diseases for six months.



The PM said Cambodias economic growth is expected to slow down to nearly 6 percent this year from its earlier projection of 6.5 percent.



Health Minister Mam Bunheng confirmed the third COVID-19 infection case in Cambodia on March 10. The 65-year-old patient is a British woman who travelled from Vietnams Ho Chi Minh City to Cambodias Kampong Cham province via a cruise ship./.



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A number of VPN and ad-blocking apps owned by Sensor Tower, a popular analytics platform, have been collecting data from millions of people using the programs on their Android and iOS devices, BuzzFeed reported Monday.

The software involved includes Free and Unlimited VPN, Luna VPN, Mobile Data, Adblock Focus for Android devices, and Adblock Focus and Luna VPN for iOS hardware, BuzzFeed found. The apps have been collecting data and feeding it to Sensor Towers products without disclosure to users.

After it contacted Apple and Google about the apps, BuzzFeed said, Adblock Focus was removed from Apples online store and Mobile Data was scotched from the Google Play store.

After a Sensor Tower app is installed on a phone, it instructs a user to install a root certificate, which is software that can access all data passing through a phone, BuzzFeed explained.

Accessing root certificate privileges is restricted by Google and Apple because it poses a security risk to users, BuzzFeed noted. However, Sensor Towers apps bypass those restrictions by having users install the root certificate from an external website after an app is downloaded.

Sensor Tower said it only collected anonymized usage and analytics data for integration into its products, according to Buzzfeed. Those products are used by developers, venture capitalists, publishers and others to track the popularity, usage trends and revenue of apps.

Sensor Tower did not respond to our request to comment for this story.

Reasonable Expectations

Sensor Towers business practices arent that unusual, especially in the free software field.

I think that consumers in general dont have much of a sense of what happens with their data, observed Greg Sterling, vice president of market insights atUberall, a maker of location marketing solutions based in Berlin.

Theyre increasingly concerned about privacy but they feel generally powerless to do much about it, he told TechNewsWorld.

Any company that uses the language of privacy  as in virtual private cetwork  in its product description or marketing does create an expectation of privacy about the consumers identity and transmission of data to third parties, Sterling continued.

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

This is why the consumer is using a VPN in the first place, to maintain secrecy or privacy, he added.

While the expectation of privacy when using a VPN may seem obvious to users, its less so to app developers, noted Drew Schmitt, an incident response consultant for The Crypsis Group, a security advisory firm with offices in Washington D.C., New York, Chicago, Austin and Los Angeles.

From my view, the expectation of privacy is reasonable. However, I think that most businesses that offer a free product wouldnt necessarily agree, Schmitt told TechNewsWorld.

I think the tendency for these types of businesses is to justify the actions of selling data by focusing on data that is not sensitive by definition, he continued. At the end of the day, though, all of these small, seemingly insignificant data points add up to being able to target individuals in some way, which ultimately ends up being fairly sensitive.

Ethical Debate

People need to remember what a VPN is, said Matias Katz, CEO of Byos, an endpoint security solutions provider in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.

When using any VPN service you are sending all of your data to another data center before it reaches the Internet, he told TechNewsWorld.

If I am managing my own VPN server, thats fine because I own the server and the data, Katz continued.

If Im sending my data to a third-party like Sensor Tower, whether or not they tell me my data is or isnt being collected, I have no way of knowing what goes on inside of those data centers, he said. There is no way to verify whats true or not, and the hard truth is commercial VPNs are unregulated, and its extremely difficult to verify what happens to our data.

Although trading app access for data is a common practice, experts are divided about the ethics of Sensor Towers methods.

If you are receiving a service in return for information being captured about you then it could be called ethical, said Brian Chappell, director of product management at Carlsbad, California-based BeyondTrust, a maker of pivileged account management and vulnerability management solutions.

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

Theres nothing really unethical about trading data for services as long as all parties are fully aware of the arrangement, he told TechNewsWorld.

Sensor Towers data collection is not ethical by any means, maintained Harold Li,vice president of ExpressVPN, a high speed VPN provider in Trtola, British Virgin Islands.

Sensor Tower is using VPNs and ad blockers, which are tools meant to protect user privacy, to get users to install root certificates that bypass standard security measures by Android and iOS to access and mine data and traffic, he told TechNewsWorld.

These shady methods are against app store policies  and likely many privacy regulations, Li said.

Sensor Towers data collection methods were not ethical, said Paul Bischoff, privacy advocate at Comparitech, a reviews, advice and information website for consumer security products.

Most users assume ad-blocking and VPNs will improve their privacy, not worsen it, he told TechNewsWorld.

These apps prey on people who want something for nothing and dont take the time to read privacy policies or review permissions, Bischoff said.

Consumer, Protect Thyself

One way consumers can protect themselves from data greedy apps is by reading their privacy policies, Bischoff noted.

If they dont explicitly state that they dont collect and share data, assume that they do, he said. Consumers should be particularly wary of free apps, which often have no other means of generating revenue.

Consumers can protect themselves by limiting the number of applications they install from unknown developers, and by using only trusted app stores, suggested Jack Mannino, CEO of nVisium, a Herndon, Virginia-based application security provider.

Its not wise to put too much stock in download and review information, he cautioned.

While the number of installs and positive reviews can be an indicator of legitimate software, in this case millions of users unknowingly opted into this, Mannino told TechNewsWorld.

One note of encouragement is that consumers are not as powerless to control their data as they used to be, said Ameet Naik, a security evangelist with PerimeterX, a Web security service provider in San Mateo, California.

As of January 2020, consumers now have the option of opting out of data collection, he told TechNewsWorld. Look for the Do Not Sell link on the vendors website and exercise your opt-out right under the CCPA (California Consumer Privacy Act) if you suspect your data has been misused.

Consumers have a right to be informed about any of their data that is being harvested by any software they install, said Ben Williams, director of advocacy at Eyeo, maker of AdBlock Plus, in Cologne, Germany.

With the developments around privacy weve witnessed recently  the death of third-party cookies, GDPR, CCPA  this would seem an old lesson by now. Guess not, he told TechNewsWorld.

What we forget when we talk about the browser actions and legislation that ostensibly caused these developments is that it was the consumer who demanded more control, Williams said. Just listen to them.
Tilson said the states laboratory has only been able to test about 250 people, although it has also done some validation testing for LabCorp to confirm positive results.

The challenge is exactly when we will be able to test everybody who needs to be tested, she said. State officials are unsure when they will be able to answer that question.

LabCorp is likely to run into its own supply challenge, Tilson said.

In the meantime, Cooper advised, people to wash their hands frequently (for 20 seconds), use hand sanitizer, avoid touching their face, cover their face when coughing and stay home if they are experiencing flu-like symptoms.

For those at highest risk, people 65 and older or those with underlying health issues  such as lung disease  or compromised immune systems, Tilson advised added precautions. They include avoiding large crowds, cruises and nonessential air travel.

For event organizers, Tilson said they should advise people to not attend if they are at high risk of getting the virus or if they are sick.

The virus is spread by respiratory droplets that can travel between 3 to 6 feet, Tilson said.
Students and staff from two midlands schools are in self-isolation amid Coronavirus concerns

A group of students and teachers from Tullamore College are beginning a period of self-isolation this week after a trip to Italy last week.

They returned to Ireland on Sunday, March 8. It's understood they are now partaking in 'social distancing' which involves them staying in their own homes.

They have been urged to contact the HSE if they present with any symptoms. The isolation period will last for two weeks in line with HSE advice.

Tullamore College has been contacted on numerous occasions for comment but they had not made a statement as of Tuesday evening, March 10.

Since the return of the Tullamore College group, Italy has been placed into a complete lockdown, effectively keeping 60 million people in quarantine.

British Airways have suspended all flights to and from Italy with a similar Ryanair suspension coming into effect this Friday.

Over 9,000 cases have been confirmed in Italy with the biggest concentration in the north of the country. 24 cases have been confirmed in Ireland.

Elsewhere, a staff member from Walsh Island National School has also agreed to take "a period of leave" from work, the school has confirmed.

Although the school would not confirm, it's understood the staff member is linked to an individual involved in the self-isolation measure at Tullamore College.

Principal Colette Hyland said the period of leave for the staff member was being taken as an "abundant precaution."

"The staff member referenced has agreed, with the principal, to take some leave," Ms Hyland said.

It was not confirmed if the staff member is a teacher at the school.
As coronavirus continues to spread, the number of confirmed cases is leaping by thousands each day and the death toll is stacking up.

After a number of outbreaks on board cruise ships, most notably Diamond Princess, theres been growing fears that they are turning into hotbeds for the virus.

The residents of La Reunion pelted rocks at one ship while the Dominican Republic turned away another, despite the fact that there were no confirmed cases of coronavirus on board.

On Sunday, the US warned its citizens not to travel on cruise ships.

Now, the UAE, alongside India, has gone one step further by banning cruise ships altogether.

Celebrity Cruises has had to cancel a number of upcoming sailings due to the ban.

A spokesperson told The Independent: Due to decisions by the governments of India and United Arab Emirates (UAE) to deny port entry to all cruise ships, we have made the difficult decision to end Celebrity Constellations March 2nd sailing early. At this time, the Government of India has approved our extended stay in Mumbai until Tuesday, March 10th, to facilitate debarkation for all guests.

Guests will receive a 100 percent cruise refund as compensation for disruption to their travel plans. Guests with shore excursions in Goa, Cochin, Abu Dhabi, or Dubai, booked through Celebrity Cruises, will automatically receive a refund to their onboard account. Celebrity Cruises will also assist all guests with air travel arrangements for their return home.

The cruise line is also having to cancel the 17 March and 2 April sailings for the ship. Passengers booked on both will receive a full refund as well as a 25 per cent future cruise credit.

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

Royal Caribbeans Jewel of the Seas has ended its current sailing early. The cruise line has also cancelled its upcoming sailing.

A spokesperson told The Independent: Due to developments related to coronavirus (COVID-19) and port closures to cruise ship travel in some countries, we have made the decision to cancel our March 16th sailing for Jewel of the Seas. Guests will receive a full refund of their cruise fares.

Carnival Corp, which owns a number of cruise lines including Carnival Cruises, Cunard, P&O and Princess Cruises says they are not affected by the ban.

UAEs cruise ship ban follows a advisory to residents, including citizens and ex pats, not to travel abroad. Those who do are warned they could be put into quarantine.

The country has also closed its schools for four weeks while a large number of events have been cancelled.
MANILA, Philippines  The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) assures the pubic that there is enough supply of basic commodities in the country.

DTI Undersecretary Ruth Castelo said despite the outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), productions and manufacture of primary goods are continuous.

Therefore, the DTI official said there is no reason for the public to rush on a panic buying spree because supplies are sufficient even if the situation gets worse.

Kung sakaling magla-lockdown ang (In case of a lockdown in) Metro Manila, we have sufficient supply, Castelo said.

Maraming commissaries and warehouse ng manufacturers natin ang nandito and retailers, (We have a number of commissaries and warehouses, manufacturers here as well as retailers), she added.

The DTI and the group of supermarkets have agreed to limit the sale of basic commodities especially alcohol solutions to two bottles per customer.

The Philippine Amalgamated Supermarkets Association has advised their members to keep eye on hoarders.

Unless ipaligo mo ang alcohol hindi mo kailangan ng 10 bote kung ikaw lang or a family of 5 dahil sa kamay lang naman ginagamit, (Unless your plan to bathe in alcohol, you dont need 10 bottles for yourself or for a family of five because you only use it on your hands), Castelo said.

The official added that households may stock food and other basic needs enough for seven to ten days to minimize coming in contact with crowds in markets and to keep safe from contracting the disease.

Castelo reminds merchants, meanwhile, that a nationwide price freeze on basic commodities is in effect following President Rodrigo Dutertes declaration of a public health emergency.

The DTI warns merchants against taking advantage of the situation as they could face profiteering charges under the Provisions of R.A. No. 7581, otherwise known as the Price Act.

Puwede sigurong ibaba ng retailer kung sa tingin nila pwedeng mabawasan ang profit nila pero hindi nila pwedeng itaas, (Retailers may lower the price if they agree to lower their profit but they cannot mark up), the DTI official said.

Castelo calls on the public to let health care workers benefit from the use of personal protective equipment (PPEs) like face masks as they are the ones in the frontline and the first to be exposed to coronavirus infection. MNP (with details from Rey Pelayo)

The post Supplies of basic goods are enough, no need for panic buying  DTI appeared first on UNTV News.
The Nile, one of the wonders of the natural world, finds itself the subject of an escalating war of words. It could turn the river from a source for civilisation and peace to a source of conflict.

War looms on the horizon after nine years of exhausting negotiations over damming the Nile by Ethiopia.

For thousands of years, Egypt built its ancient civilisation and the basis for its modern economy - not least the nation's identity on the unstoppable flow of the Nile water. But, for the first time, it is threatened by thirst.

The Ethiopian Renaissance dam near the border with Sudan will be the biggest in Africa - a $4.6bn project. Ethiopia is leaning on it for electricity and a potential economic boost. Nevertheless, Egypt is worried that if the dam is filled too rapidly in the coming years, then it will not get its fair share of rivers water during that process. The dam is about 70 per cent built and Ethiopia plans on starting to fill it this July. They want it filled in seven years, Egypt thinks it should happen over 12 to 21 years to mitigate the impact on its water supplies.

After the three-way talks between Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia failed, they settled on the US and the World Bank as external mediators. The uphill negotiations led by the US Treasury's Steven Mnuchin have resulted in an agreement, which the US believes it "addresses all issues in a balanced and equitable manner, taking into account the interests of the three countries".

But Ethiopia doesn't accept the new agreement and pulled out from the talks, an action showing how isolated it has become. It claimed that President Donald Trump was given inaccurate and inadequate about the dam. Egypt's response was: "If the water means electricity for Ethiopia, it is a life-or-death matter for Egypt".

This stalemate reveals that the Ethiopian dam is the base of power rivalry between two regional giants. Egyptians say that Ethiopia's dogged position proves that it never had any intentions to reach a fair settlement. A high-ranking Diplomat in Cairo told me that the Ethiopians "were taking us for a ride all the time."

But the Ethiopian Nobel-Prize winning prime minister Abiy Ahmed sees his country as a rising power and wants to take advantage of controlling the fastest-growing economy in Africa. There is a chance to tip the power balance in the region. He has a vision of transforming the African Horn country from poverty to an energised, investment-attractive market. Ahmed's strategy to promote his country's as the future (and Egypt as a representation of the past) alienated Cairo.

Ethiopias aggressive rise - as it is seen by Egypt - has not enhanced cooperation, and its real aim seems to be strategic domination over the Horn of Africa, and the Nile. Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry kicked off a tour of seven Arab countries on Sunday, seeking support for their position in the dispute.

The dam, for Cairo, is a symbol of Addis Ababa's plan to reduce its power. Ethiopia has a general election later this year, which has turned the dam into a hot political issue. To be able to win the vote, Abiy Ahmed needs to show his voters that he can be tough on what became an investment in the nation's "honour", as Ahmed likes to call the crisis.

Egyptian officials insist the country doesn't deny Ethiopia's right to building the dam. The same Egyptian Diplomat said: "We have never had a grudge about prosperity and Ethiopia's right to develop. But why Cairo has to pay all the bills?"

 Khufu ship: the Egyptian Pharaohs vessel that was buried with him

Egypt, on the other side is struggling to preserve its long time prestigious posture in the Middle East and Africa. The Egyptian president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, can't afford the political consequences of the potential dramatic drop of Egypt's water supplies if the dam's matter is not resolved. The impact would include thousands of hectares, leading to possible mass internal immigration. That could reshape the economy and bring the possibility of political unrest due to public anger.

In 1978, Egypt's president at that time, Anwar Sadat, who signed the 1979 peace treaty with Israel after a long war, understood the nature of the threat of unilateralism in managing the Nile. Ethiopia's proposed construction of dams on the headwaters of the Blue Nile led him to declare: "The only matter that could take Egypt to war again is water". Ten years later, the Egyptian Former UN Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali warned: "The next war in our region will be over the waters of the Nile, not politics."

The possibility of going to war over the Nile water is deeply entrenched in the Egyptian national subconscious because the Nile has always been the source of life in an overwhelmingly desert state. This harsh nature made Egyptians, throughout their long history, grasp that in order to maintain the water flow, blood shall sometimes be spilled. Even in its worst shape, any Egyptian government can not afford to stand aside and see its people face thirst.

However, averting a war over water is still possible, and it can come out of Trump's lust for the Nobel Prize. The US pressure on Ethiopia can result in a last-minute concession, and subsequently a diplomatic solution of the conflict, an outcome everyone is hoping for.

But for the time being, Ethiopia is isolated, Egypt is cornered, and war is looming.
Mahabaleshwar, March 11 : Recently, a friend said she was taking a break and going to "where the strawberries grow in this season". Mahabaleshwar, is one of the most suited places for strawberry cultivation. In fact strawberries from here, contribute to about 85 percent of the total production of strawberries in the country.

My friend insists that the strawberries that come from Mahabaleshwar are the sweetest! She is probably right, but that's not the only reason why the city is famous.

Image Source: IANS News

Present day Mahabaleshwar came into existence in the year 1829-30. The magnificent scenic "points", the perennial springs, streams, and waterfalls of Mahabaleshwar plateau, with its year round superb climate drew the English and others to Mahabaleshwar. By the end of the 19th century it had become an attractive popular hill station of world renown.

Mahabaleshwar, a hill station in Satara district of Maharashtra is located in the Western Ghats. Old Mahabaleshwar, a historical village located about 7 km away, on a vast plateau at an elevation of about 1200 ft, surrounded by valleys on all sides, with temperature touching 8 degrees celsius during the winter. However, the low humidity level makes it comfortable even in summer. The monsoon however is very heavy, which is why the surrounding area has a well preserved forest, mostly with undisturbed wildlife diversity. One can still see the Indian gaur, giant Malabar squirrels, leopards and leopard cats, sloth bear, sambar and other types of deer, civets and mongoose, porcupine and more.

Image Source: IANS News

Mahabaleshwar and Old Mahabaleshwar have many tourist points and temples to see, with old architectural designs. There are also a number of viewpoints, some named during colonial times by the British who went on holiday to these places. An important place is the Arthur seat point is named after Sir Arthur Malet (1806-1888), a British officer who had lost his wife and children in a tragic ferry mishap on the Savitri River. From that day onwards, Sir Arthur would sit and gaze at the River Savitri every single day.

Locally Old Mahabaleshwar is referred to as 'Kshetra Mahabaleshwar' - a holy and sacred place with three important temples. These are the Mahabaleshwar temple, the Panchganga temple, the Krishna temple. There is also a Hanuman temple, which stands at the highest point reaching 4721 ft bove sea level. The Mahabaleshwar Temple has just completed its Shivaratri Festival, an event that is celebrated with great enthusiasm every year.

Image Source: IANS News

Located just 150 km southwest from Pune and 340 km from Mumbai, the Mahabaleshwar temple attracts thousands of worshippers during Shivaratri. As per historical records, the temple was built in 1215 AD in what is known as the 'Hemadpanti' style. What is most interesting is that the temple houses what is said to be 'Shiva's bed, damru and trishul', which date back to around 300 years. It is said that every morning, the bedsheet is found crumpled and many worshippers believe that it confirms Shiva's presence at night in the temple.

The Pancharanga temple is said to be 4500 years old. It was built in the 13th century by the Yadava King Singhandeo and improved in the 16th and 17th century. While there is no historical evidence, this restoration may have been done by Chandra Rao More and Shivaji. Located at the convergence of five rivers - the Krishna, Venna, Savitri, Koyna and Gayatri, it is believed that these five rivers originate from the 'Gomukhi' inside the temple.

Behind Panchganga temple, there is a small trail that leads to Krishnabai temple where the Krishna River is worshiped. It is built overlooking the Krishna valley and in 1888 by a ruler of Ratnagiri on the Konkan coast. The temple has a Shiva lingam and a beautiful statue of Krishna. A small stream of the river flowing from a cow-face (gomukh) falls on a 'Kunda' or water tank. Stone carved columns and ceilings are the special characteristics of this temple. An old temple, it has gathered moss and is almost in ruins and is not visited much by tourists, but provides a splendid view of the River Krishna.

Mahabaleshwar is the source of the Krishna River that flows across Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telengana and Andhra Pradesh. The legendary source of the river is a spout from the mouth of a statue of a cow in the ancient temple of Mahadev in Old Mahabaleshwar. Legend has it that Krishna is Lord Vishnu himself as a result of a curse on the Trimurti's (3 gods) by Savitri. The river tributaries Venna and Koyna are said to be Lord Shiva and Lord Brahma themselves.

What is interesting is that apart from Krishna, three other rivers also come out of the 'gaumukh' (mouth of the cow). These rivers travel some distance before merging with Krishna which flows east towards the Bay of Bengal. These rivers are the Koyna, venna (also known as Veni) and Gayatri. The Savitri river flows westward towards the Arabian Sea.

The Venna Lake is one of the major tourist attractions of Mahabaleshwar. The lake is surrounded by trees on all sides and the temperature recorded here fluctuates between 0 AC-4 AC , several times during winter despite being in a tropical area. Because of the occasional low temperatures during winter, frozen dew drops have been reported and the areas surrounding the whole lake seems to turn white.

One of the popular sights of Mahabaleshwar are 'The Three monkeys', named because of the natural sculpture of the stones which look like three monkeys sitting beside each other and portraying, Gandhiji's 'Three Wise Monkeys'. Wilson Point is another popular spot for tourists. Named after Sir Leslie Wilson, the governor of Bombay (1923 t0 1926), Wilson Point at 1493 is the highest point in Mahabaleshwar. Known as Sindola Hill during the colonial rule, Wilson point is the only location where both sunrise and sunset can be seen. It offers spectacular views in all directions.

Other sights worth seeing is Pratapgarh, a fort built by Shivaji near Mahabaleshwar and is known for its history. This was where Afzalkhan, Commander of the Bijapur Army, was defeated and killed by Shivaji. Also located near Mahabaleshwar are the Lingmala Waterfalls. The water here falls from a height of 600 feet. The water of this splendid waterfall cascades into the Venna Lake, divided by projecting rocks and turning into a multiple tier.

(Shona Adhikari is a lifestyle and travel columnist.)

-- Syndicated from IANS
The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Professor Akin Abayomi, on Wednesday, says the two wanted persons who had contacts with the Italian index case of coronavirus (COVID-19) in Nigeria have now been located and are undergoing medical tests.

Abayomi said this on Side Mirror Programme on Lagos Traffic Radio while giving an update on the coronavirus in the state.

He said the two contacts were located through social media platform and urged the citizen on the need not to panic.

Read Also: Coronavirus: CBN Urges Nigerians To Go Cashless To Avoid Spread

He said, We have tightened surveillance at the nations airports because its the first entry point for this virus where a traveller can possibly import it into the country.

We have deployed 60 health workers, comprising of doctors and nurses, in two batches to Murtala Muhammed International Airport in order to complement efforts of the Federal Government in the prevention strategies. 

There is no cause for residents to panic, there is just the cause to be alert. We, as Lagosians, this is a common fight and together we will win the battle. Together, we are on a positive and strong foot.

Thats not to say Lagos has it all together, we are just doing our best because we have been on the offensive from the onset.
Northampton Mayor David Narkewicz has instructed city officials, as well as those in the private sector, to either cancel or postpone large-scale events out of growing concern about the coronavirus.

The announcement, made Wednesday morning, comes as the threat of the outbreak expands across the state. As of Wednesday afternoon, there are six confirmed cases and 89 presumptive cases of coronavirus in Massachusetts, according to the state Department of Public Health.

Gov. Charlie Baker announced a state of emergency Tuesday, and the World Health Organization has declared the virus, named COVID-19, a pandemic. The number of cases internationally has risen past 118,000, and the number of deaths due to the disease has climbed to 4,291, according to WHO.

Were really trying to follow the lead of our local and state and federal health experts, Narkewicz told MassLive on Wednesday. This is obviously a situation that is seemingly evolving by the hour.

Forty-four of the states 92 coronavirus cases were reported in Middlesex County, according to DPH. Nineteen are in Suffolk County, and 23 are in Norfolk County. Berkshire County has seven cases. Essex and Worcester counties each reported one.

While the respiratory infection has yet to reach Hampshire County or the rest of the Pioneer Valley, Narkewicz said he wants to get out ahead of the outbreak before it potentially hits the region or the city.

Northampton Public Schools Superintendent John Provost told community members Tuesday afternoon that large gatherings at schools would be canceled and disinfecting would be stepped up over coronavirus fears.

The mayors announcement Wednesday takes the precautionary measures a step further, urging all city personnel to cancel or postpone events likely to draw 100 or more attendees as well as potential gatherings of 20 or more individuals that may attract demographics vulnerable to the disease. Those over 60 years of age and people with underlying health conditions fall under the umbrella of at-risk groups.

Events that qualify for cancelation may include public city meetings and hearings, indoor sporting activities and senior center events. The communitys St. Patricks Day luncheon was already called off. The citys farmers market, though private, is held at the Northampton Senior Center and was also canceled, according to Narkewicz.

We have definitely been minimizing any opportunities for large gatherings and interactions, the mayor told MassLive. If you look at the senior services Facebook page, it has been one cancelation after another.

He also instructed employees to call off or suspend professional development events outside Northampton and any gathering that cannot ensure six feet of space between attendees.

Any employee who appears to be ill should be sent home and be given the option to work remotely until symptoms have resolved, Narkewicz said in a statement, adding that he hopes other organizations in the city follow his offices example.

Smith College administrative officials told students living on campus that they must move out between March 14 and March 20 due to concerns about COVID-19. Students should not expect to return this semester, according to the schools president, Kathleen McCartney.

Historic Northampton also announced it would be canceling its indoor programming for the next month.

We are trying to be proactive, and we are hopeful that those measures are going to be successful in terms of preventing the spread of this virus, Narkewicz said.

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BOISE, Idaho (AP)  Environmental groups filed a lawsuit Tuesday challenging a Trump administration decision to reopen a long-closed road built through grizzly bear habitat in northern Idaho.

The Center for Biological Diversity and four other groups contend the road will harm grizzly bears, mountain caribou and other wildlife in the Selkirk Mountains.





. . .
P rince Harry remained silent today after being duped into criticising Donald Trump by Russian pranksters posing as climate activist Greta Thunberg.

The Duke of Sussex was tricked into talking indiscreetly about world leaders and his exit from the royal family by notorious hoaxers Vladimir Kuznetsov and Alexey Stolyarov.

Today Harrys PR team refused to comment on the hoax and sources close to him said he did not wish to engage in the story.

The pranksters claimed to be Greta and her father Svante and spoke to Harry at his home in Canada on New Years Eve and January 22. During one call Harry told them being a royal was not all its made up to be.

Greta Thunberg at the Bristol Youth Strike 4 Climate protest / PA

He also said President Trump had blood on his hands for defending the coal industry despite climate change.

Harry, 35, told the fake Greta intimate details about his life, thoughts and feelings, apparently without checking the veracity of the callers.

On his decision to step down as a senior royal, he said: Sometimes the right decision isnt always the easy one... but it was the right decision for our family, the right decision to be able to protect my son.

An extract from one of the recorded calls was published on YouTube along with an animated cartoon of Harry.

Prince Harry and Meghan (REUTERS) / Reuters

Asked about his uncle the Duke of Yorks friendship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, Harry said: Whatever he has done or hasnt done is completely separate from me and my wife.
DANBURY, Conn., March 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Crown World Mobility (CWM), a leading provider of domestic and international end-to-end mobility solutions, is offering a free webinar on March 26 titled " Global Mobility Trends to Watch in 2020 ." This 1-hour session hosted by CWM Global Practice Leader for Consulting Services Lisa Johnson begins at 11:00 a.m. EST.

As the first quarter of 2020 comes to a close, the business world is facing a new reality where the lines between business and politics are more blurred than ever before. This comes as the result of significant changes occurring over the last 12 months including a combination of shifting political priorities, a breakdown of strong geopolitical agreements, rising concerns about the effects of climate change and a generational shift that is influencing workplace values.

Featuring data from CWM's Big Global Mobility 2020 Trends Whitepaper, this engaging webinar will discuss the top seven trends to watch and also explore how today's shifting responsibilities and greater demands from customers and employees influence the priorities of the mobility industry. Topics include:

Sustainability priorities

Employee duty of care and mental health

Mobility links to diverse leadership

Domestic mobility maturing in new locations

And more

This webinar has been approved for Worldwide ERC CRP certification credits and all participants will receive a copy of the full presentation, as well as the CWM Big Global Mobility 2020 Trends whitepaper. Complete details and a registration form are available here or at crownworldmobility.com .

About the Speaker:

Lisa Johnson leads Crown's global consulting strategy, including mobility program development and thought leadership. She is responsible for CWM's Perspectives article and webinar series, research initiatives, and is a frequent presenter on issues impacting our industry. She has a strong background in Talent, ROI and D&I Mobility strategies. Born in Japan, Lisa has lived and worked in Europe and Latin America and is currently based in Brooklyn, New York.

Crown World Mobility

Crown World Mobility ( www.crownworldmobility.com ) is a division of the Crown Worldwide Group, established in 1965 and headquartered in Hong Kong. Crown World Mobility helps corporations manage global talent and talented individuals perform on the global stage. In a world that seems to be constantly shrinking, managing a globally mobile workforce creates challenges for any organization. These challenges are human in scale - global assignments involve the everyday lives of transferees and their families. But there are policies to navigate, formalities to coordinate and legalities to adhere to  at the same time as concentrating on a new assignment and getting a job done. Crown's approach is to work with all stakeholders to find the right solution, implementing a global mobility program that is successful for the whole organization. This often means finding a unique solution, which Crown has the experience and capability to deliver.

SOURCE Crown World Mobility
Australia's supermum-of-16 has been criticised for buying 'too much' toilet paper amid the nationwide shortage but she insists that she only purchased her usual amount.

Jeni Bonell, 49, who has children aged between 29 and four, visits the supermarket twice a week, spending an average $451.48 each time to feed her family.

But on March 6 when she went to buy 24 rolls in her half-weekly shop the Queensland mother noticed other customers shaming her decision.

'No lady you don't get to stand behind me in the checkout line in the grocery store, with your voice dripping sarcasm and your crinkled brow, as you loud-enough-for-me-to-hear-you say, "Well there goes ALL the toilet paper now",' Jeni wrote in a Facebook post.

Australia's supermum-of-16 (Jeni in the middle) has been criticised for buying 'too much' toilet paper amid the nationwide shortage but insists that she only purchased her usual amount

Australia's supermum-of-16 has been criticised for buying 'too much' toilet paper amid the nationwide shortage but insists that she only purchased her usual amount

'Um no it doesn't and I will not apologise for buying toilet paper for my family which is undoubtedly bigger than yours.'

In a typical half-weekly shop Jeni will buy 24 rolls of toilet paper but refuses to feel 'guilty' just because coronavirus and public hysteria is creating a shortage.

'I think the world is definitely suffering from a pandemic, a viral one has now surfaced, but there's been another one that's been brewing for a long time and that's a worldwide lack of good manners with a symptom of unkindness that seems to accompany it,' she said.

'Let's just stop it folks and remember that we all live on this planet together. Let's be friends instead.'

'Let's just stop it folks and remember that we all live on this planet together. Let's be friends instead,' she said

What's in the Bonell's weekly shopping trolley? 4kg potatoes

2kg carrots

2kg royal gala apples

500g white cup mushrooms

2 x bags of grapes

Thai-style salad kit

Crunchy noodle coleslaw kit

400g of green beans

1.5kg homebrand spaghetti

700g homebrand pasta sauce

3 x 12 white dinner rolls

3 x cheese and back rolls

4 tins of corn kernels

2 tins of apricot nectar

500g homebrand peanut butter

Leg of ham under 1kg

2 x 250g champagne leg ham

2 x 80g roast beef

10L of water

4 x 700g homebrand bread slices

24 rolls of toilet paper

18 hot dog rolls

Vegemite 280g 6 x bottles of 3L milk

125g Salmon and lobster spread

245g homebrand cream cheese

250g homebrand mustard

120g homebrand roast meat gravy

Nescafe instant cappuccino

Nescafe instant latte

500g light tasty shredded cheese

250g Mil Lel parmesan cheese

2kg homebrand vanilla yoghurt

600mL thickened cream

3 x 12-pack Yoplait yoghurt

12-pack Paul chocolate mousse

6 x dozens of cage-free eggs

3 x Ritz dips

1kg short cut bacon

4 x homebrand cereal

2 x Uncle Tobys cereal

3 x bottles homebrand lemonade

24-pack Anzac biscuits

750mL homebrand canola oil

400g homebrand canola oil spray

4 x 1L Cottee's cordial Advertisement

Australians have been hard-pressed finding toilet paper stock in the last week after a select few decided to 'panic buy' rolls in the event they ran out during the quarantine period

To keep her grocery costs down each week, Jeni said she buys homebrand ingredients, stocks up on half-price products and buys meat and fresh produce in bulk

Australians have been hard-pressed finding toilet paper stock in the last week after a select few decided to 'panic buy' rolls in the event they ran out during the quarantine period.

But Jeni is in the unique position where she has to purchase a number of packets - and often - in order to keep up with her family's toilet habits.

To keep her grocery costs down each week, Jeni said she buys homebrand ingredients, stocks up on half-price products and buys meat and fresh produce in bulk.

'So I tend to buy up whatever we need to make meals for that week to add to our supplies or if I have something that I find that's on special or half-price or it's a great bargain, then I will buy up on that product and we will stockpile it,' she said previously.

'We've bought certain ingredients to go with certain meals that we are going to make this week - and the rest of it is basically we are just filling the cupboards back up to what fits in the pantry.'
Malaysia's new government will last until the next general election, former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad predicted Wednesday, as he conceded that he no longer had the majority parliamentary support he claimed just before Muhyiddin Yassin was sworn in to replace him.

Mahathirs comments, which seemingly acknowledged the strength of the new government, came as Muhyiddin convened his first cabinet meeting and told reporters that he and the 94-year-old former leader had exchanged letters.

[Muhyiddin] can retain [government] until the next general election, Mahathir told the Malay-language newspaper Sinar Harian, referring to the next balloting expected to take place in 2023.

Mahathir also acknowledged that a no-confidence vote in parliament against the new leader would likely not succeed.

We had more than 114 seats but now that has become less.  This is because he [Muhyiddin] has taken my people to his side, Mahathir said, indicating that his supporters had switched sides after being lured with ministerial posts.

Muhyiddin, who once served as an interior minister in Mahathirs cabinet, agreed with the former prime ministers comments that he had enough support from legislators to survive a parliamentary challenge.

Of course. If not, I would not be here, Muhyiddin told his post-cabinet news conference while thanking Mahathir for his comments.

Muhyiddin, 72, stormed into power last week after back-door political maneuverings led to Mahathirs resignation, which brought about the collapse of the pro-reform ruling alliance. He was sworn in by the king on March 1.

The new premier on Monday unveiled a roster of 31 Cabinet ministers dominated by ethnic Malays, the majority of Malaysias 32 million people. The appointments include nine posts going to politicians from the corruption-tainted United Malays National Organization (UMNO) party.

He also chose 38 deputy ministers but scrapped the position of deputy prime minister. Instead, he appointed four senior ministers  Ismail Sabri Yaakob for defense, Azmin Ali for international trade and industry, Fadillah Yusof for public works and Radzi Jidin for education  allowing them to chair cabinet meetings in his absence.

Muhyiddin told reporters that he sought forgiveness from his predecessor in a letter sent last week, in which he also asked for an endorsement of his new government.



I asked for his forgiveness if I hurt his feelings with the things that happened over the last few days, Muhyiddin said. I want Tun [Mahathir] to endorse this government. It is legal it is constitutional.

He said Mahathir replied in a letter, saying it was not the time yet for a meeting.

Muhyiddins rise to power came after a week of political crisis with twists and turns that kept the nation riveted to news reports.

He consolidated his legislative support by forming a new coalition with the Islamist party PAS and the old ruling party, UMNO, which has ex-leaders including former PM Najib Razak who are facing trial for corruption charges related to the alleged multibillion-dollar theft from state fund 1MDB.

The new leaders first cabinet meeting occurred as health authorities across the globe grappled with alarming clusters of COVID-19, including Malaysia, where 149 cases had been reported as of Wednesday. Worldwide, about 118,000 have been infected and more than 4,200 have died.

Muhyiddin said he would review to determine if a planned 20 billion ringgit ($4.73 billion) stimulus package announced by the former government last month should be increased. He said he would create a council to tackle the economic and trade impacts of the virus.

He also appealed to Malaysians to allow the new government to prove itself.



Come on, give us a chance, he said.

Malaysia to mend ties with Saudi Arabia, India



Meanwhile, after reporting to work for the first time as Malaysias new foreign minister, Hishamuddin Hussein said he would focus on repairing ties with Saudi Arabia and India, which frayed under the previous governments convening of a Muslim summit and criticism of Delhis crackdown on Muslim-majority Kashmir.

Hishamuddin, who served as defense minister in Najibs government until Mahathirs coalition scored a stunning election triumph in May 2018, said he had called his Saudi counterpart prior to his first cabinet meeting under the new government.

The leadership of Saudi said they will ask Prince Faisal bin Farhan to come to Malaysia to meet the new foreign and foreign deputy minister, he said.

The Prime Ministers Office had received calls and expressions of support from foreign ministries of China, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand, Muhyiddin said.

During his news conference, Muhyiddin said Malaysia would continue hosting direct peace talks between neighbor Thailand and Deep South insurgents as long as it is good for the country and the people concerned.

Abdul Rahim Noor, the facilitator of the Kuala Lumpur-brokered peace process in the Thai Deep South, told BenarNews early this month that he would brief Muhyiddin about efforts to end the long-running separatist insurgency.

Thai officials had confirmed that Thailand and BRN had opened direct talks aimed at settling the long-running conflict, which has claimed more than 7,000 lives in the mainly Muslim and Malay-speaking Deep South region since 2004.

We will look in a general way at government foreign policy which we have implemented to date, which is quite good. We will continue it, Muhyiddin said, replying to a question from BenarNews.

However if there are certain changes that we need to execute to make our policy more clear, we will do it, he said.
In a world where people are demanding instantaneous service and next-day delivery, the concept of rapid or real-time data is becoming crucial.

Synthesis, one of South Africas top software companies, together with SEACOM and TransUnion, recently hosted an event in Johannesburg where experts from various industries deliberated the topic. Representatives from Synthesis, TransUnion, SEACOM, Standard Bank, and Imperial Logistics participated in the discussion.

Real-time data refers to the idea of having information instantaneously available that can help a business and its clients make decisions faster.

Its a decision I can make without having to ask anyone anything, said Tom Wells, the Chief Disruption Officer at Synthesis. As soon as I have to go and query some system, in order to make a decision, thats no longer real-time.

Whether in retail businesses, financial services, or logistics and supply chain management, the basic idea with real-time data is to give customers what they want as quickly as possible.

Fast is the new cheap

Fast is the new cheap, said the Global Head of Product at SEACOM, Robert Marston.

Thats a saying that you heard in the telecommunications industry a few years ago, Marston said. We are living in a world where the average revenue from each user is dropping the whole time. Thanks to technologies evolving, there is always someone doing it faster and cheaper.

The revelation was that rather than trying to be the cheapest option on the market the whole time, what people actually wanted was speed.

Instant gratification. Thats the new norm in the digital age, Marston said. As a consumer you want something to happen right now. You dont want to wait.

As a recent TransUnion study shows todays consumers demand a seamless onboarding experience and fast, personalised service. Loyalty is directly linked to top-notch service and accessibility, so its vital to ensure your processes arent cumbersome.

People remember the experiences theyve had. They may not complain or stop doing business with you immediately when theyve had a bad experience  instead, they will simply not give you their repeat business in future, said Priven Moodley, Head of Consulting at TransUnion. Customers want faster transactions and less friction  and heres where real-time, high-quality becomes the key ingredient.

Aside from the benefits that can come from using real-time data, such as fostering customer loyalty, the fact is that immediate service has become the new norm.

E-commerce platforms like Takealot and Amazon let people get their goods delivered within a few days of ordering. In the case of some items, like books, there is no longer any need to wait for them to be delivered unless you want a physical copy. You can simply buy an audiobook or ebook and start reading it immediately.

Services like Uber and Netflix have cemented this expectation of immediacy. Uber is also an example of giving the customer constant, real-time feedback on the status of the service they requested.

The value of Rapid Data

To build a real-time data system, Wells said that event-driven architectures work well.

You break your system down and model it as a stream of events that occur over time. When someone makes a payment, takes out a mortgage, or steers left on a carwhatever it is, those things are just events, he said.

You then build all your software to consume and interpret those events as they occur.

In addition to enabling rapid decision-making, real-time data that has been gathered can be used to gain greater insights into customer needs.

The data may also be used to train and invoke machine learning models. These could be used to make rapid decisions more accurately in future, or provide new ways to analyse and respond to customer behaviour.

Decentralised data

To process data in real-time and allow a customer or employee to make rapid decisions, systems need to be decentralised.

There is a shift to turn Big Data systems into real-time predictive systems, said Tom Wells, the Chief Disruption Officer at Synthesis. That means taking those centralised Big Data architectures and trying to distribute them, making them more decentralised.

There are several reasons that real-time data requires systems to be distributed. The first is if you need your application to work even when you have slow or unreliable connectivity. Bank and credit cards are an example of this. Depending on how a shop has set up its point-of-sale systems, clients can still pay with their cards even when a connection to the banks network is not available.

The second major reason is the physical limitations of how fast data can travel through computer networks.

Its almost mind boggling that you can move data from one side of the globe to the other in under a second. In the time it takes to say one, you can send a packet of data from Hawaii to a data centre Johannesburg, said SEACOMs Marston.

However, there are many factors on the Internet that you cant control ranging from network congestion to cable faults.

The closer the data is to the person using that data, the better, said Marston. Thats why were seeing AWS (Amazon) and Azure (Microsoft) setting up data centres locally.

Data quality  finding the nuggets

One of the challenges of gathering real-time data is making sure that the quality of the data does not degrade compared to more traditional systems.

Our business is focused on providing solutions to business problems using the highest quality of data. As part of our journey we are well along the path of speed of delivery of that data, without compromising its quality, said TransUnions Moodley.

There are two types of data. Static data, or data at rest, is transactioned in real time. This means the data doesnt change or need to be assessed, but is merely made available for consumption. Examples of this would be ID numbers, models and risk scores.

The second type of data is real-time data, which is data coming into a system, being immediately assessed, and being sent out again, with minimal time spent assessing that data. An example of real time data is income, card usage or weather. The rules, the process, and the decision making are within a very short timeframe.

Privacy and security of decentralised data

Adopting a technology architecture designed for real-time data does come with different privacy and security concerns.

If personal data is being used to build a profile for someone to assess their creditworthiness or combat fraud, you must comply with relevant regulations such as the National Credit and POPIA Acts in South Africa, GDPR in Europe, or CCPA in California.

An organisation will also have to think differently about information security if it wants to use real-time data.

One major consideration is the fact that to make data available rapidly, it needs to be physically close to the place where you will be using it. This could mean that data may be downloaded onto a users smartphone, or any other device that is physically near to where the data needs to be used.

The challenge is how to deal with highly personal data, which is essential for businesses like banks to be able to provide financial services. To ensure you keep peoples personal information safe, you cannot send out raw data: it has to be transformed into information and aggregated insights, that can then be used to make decisions, said Moodley.

Right place, right time, right channel

One way that real-time data may be used is to communicate offers and useful information to clients. For this to work, timing and context is everything.

Real-time data lets a business send out messages that are personalised for clients. These messages should be delivered to customers when it is relevant to them, rather than simply spamming them with offers.

Banks say that the most predictive data they have about clients is the behaviour on their transactional account and credit card, and their payment profiles at information and insight providers like TransUnion.

Wells said that this data may be used to drive behaviour instead of just predicting it.

The bank should be able to detect that you shop at a specific place at certain times. Shortly before you usually leave work, the bank can send you a message to inform you of convenient alternatives where you may earn more loyalty points for buying the same products or services.

Imagine the bank notices that I regularly stop at a specific petrol station every week or so. It can make an educated guess that I stop there because it is conveniently located on my route between home and work, said Wells.

If the bank has a different petrol station chain signed up to its rewards programme, it can look for one that is close to the one you regularly visit and recommend that you fill up there instead, helping you to easily increase the rewards you earn every month.

If the bank demonstrates to me that it understands me as a consumer, understood my lifestyle, and wanted to promote better rewards  that is awesome, Wells said Thats why people use services like Google Assistant.

The ability to rapidly access high quality real-time data dramatically changes the way people interact with companies and services, and how businesses respond to customers.

Rapid, real-time data can offer significant value, but only if it is delivered to the right place, at the right time, and through the right channel.
There were 288 cyber attacks targeting Vietnamese websites in February, up 1.8 percent compared to the previous month, according to a report of the Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC).

There were 288 cyber attacks targeting Vietnamese websites in February, up 1.8 percent compared to the previous month (Photo: buzz-caribbean.com)

In the month, malware is on the rise as a larger number of internet users look for information about the COVID-19 outbreak.

The Authority of Information Security under the MIC asked all agencies to revise their host computers to promptly detect those which have been under attacks, as well as enhance monitoring and frequently update warnings of authorities and cyber security companies.

A report released by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in March 2019 shows that Vietnam was ranked 50th out of 175 positions of 194 countries and territories worldwide in the global cyber security index, up from the 100th position in 2017.

The country ranked 11th among 38 countries and territories in Asia-Pacific, and fifth out of 11 countries in Southeast Asia in this regard, after Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia./.

Cybersecurity in Vietnam sees positive changes in 2019 The number of detections of web threats in Vietnam fell by more than 30 per cent last year compared to 2018, with 75 million different Internet-borne cyberthreats, according to Kaspersky Security Network (KSN) 2019.
13:56









Bhuvneshwar, however, said a decision on this will be taken by the team doctor during a meeting later on Wednesday. "We have thought about this thing (not using saliva) but I can't say right now we will not use saliva because if we don't use saliva then how will we shine the ball. Then we will get hit and you people will say you are not bowling well," the 31-year-old pacer, who is returning to the team after recovering from sports hernia surgery, said during the post-match press conference here.









"But it's a valid point and let's see we will have a team meeting today and whatever instruction we get or whatever is the best option we will do. It all depends on the team doctor and what advice he gives us," he added.









Amid the ever-rising danger of the Coronavirus outbreak with more than 40 positive cases in the country, Bhuvneshwar said they are taking every possible precaution in these difficult times. He, however, refused to speculate on whether the upcoming Indian Premier League will be disrupted by the deadly disease.









"You cannot say anything right now because it's taking a dangerous situation in India. But we are taking every precaution we can take. We have a team doctor with us and he is giving us instructions about dos and don'ts. So we hope it won't go (spread) much further,' he said. Just like other teams, Indian players have also been advised to stay away from fans.









"Few dos and don'ts which the team doctor wants us to do. Simple things like maintaining hygiene, keep washing your hands regularly and not going closer to fans and all those things. "But we cannot avoid fans because they love us, they support us. In the meantime, we can try and not get too much closer to them. We can avoid as much as we can," he added. -- PTI

India seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar hinted that they might limit the usage of saliva to shine the white ball during the first ODI against South Africa here on Thursday as a precautionary measure in the wake of the deadly Novel Coronavirus outbreak.
U.S. forces start withdrawal from Afghanistan

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 13:19, March 10, 2020

KABUL, March 10 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Forces Afghanistan has begun withdrawal of its forces from Afghanistan, the coalition forces confirmed on Tuesday.

"In accordance with the U.S.-Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Joint Declaration and the U.S.-Taliban Agreement, U.S. Forces Afghanistan (USFOR-A) has begun its conditions-based reduction of forces to 8,600 over 135 days," USFOR-A said in a statement.

On Feb. 29, the U.S.-Taliban deal was inked in Gulf state of Qatar while Kabul and Washington also issued a joint declaration on the same day in Kabul.

Under the agreements, the United States would reduce its forces in Afghanistan to 8,600 within 135 days and all the U.S.-led coalition forces would return home within 14 months from Afghanistan depending on Taliban's meeting the conditions envisaged in the agreement, including severing ties with terrorist groups such as the Islamic State and al-Qaida network.

"USFOR-A maintains all the military means and authorities to accomplish our objectives-including conducting counterterrorism operations against al-Qaeda and ISIS-K and providing support to the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces. USFOR-A is on track to meet directed force levels while retaining the necessary capabilities," the statement added.

The first batch of U.S. forces has reportedly pulled out from a base in southern Helmand province.

Since Jan. 1, 2015, Afghan security forces have assumed the full security charges from NATO and U.S. forces.

Around 16,000 foreign troops, including about 13,000 U.S. forces, have remained in Afghanistan to train and assist local security forces in their fight against the insurgents.

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The Songbirds Foundation will host a party to celebrate its 3-year anniversary in April. The evening will include: live music by Call Me Spinster, a silent auction, the grand opening of the 2020 Epiphone Kids Guitar Design Contest Special Exhibit, and light hors d'oeuvres and drinks.

It will be held Monday, April 6, 5:30-7 p.m. at Songbirds Guitar Museum, 35 Station St., 2nd Floor. To make a reservation email maryhoward@songbirdsfoundation.org by April 3.

The Songbirds Foundation partnered with Dogwood Arts (Knoxville), and Epiphone Guitars to host the 2020 Epiphone Kids Guitar Design Contest. In January, hundreds of kids from across eastern Tennessee submitted art designs for guitars, and 20 students were selected to paint their designs on guitars for this years exhibit and auction. These one-of-a-kind art guitars will be auctioned online to benefit the Songbirds Foundation's Guitars for Kids program and Dogwood Arts youth art programs. The exhibit will be on display at the Songbirds Guitar Museum through the month of April.

Over the past three years, the Songbirds Foundation has provided free music lessons and music therapy to thousands of youth across the state of Tennessee. It has served 30 schools, 14 partner programs, and 1,500 students--with 1,000 guitars distributed across classrooms throughout the state. This year, the organization is expanding to Memphis and plans to add additional schools in Knoxville, Chattanooga, Cleveland, and Fort Oglethorpe. These programs will add an additional 1,000 guitars with 2,500 students completing the program by Spring 2021.

Songbirds Foundation Executive Director Reed Caldwell said, I cant express how proud I am of our team. We have created something special, something that will last, something that will continue to help open minds and encourage kids to think big. With every guitar we put in the field, we are stimulating creativity while combating the decline of music in our schools. On the other side, we are providing free music therapy to kids across Tennessee and helping them cope with life issues. It has been the highlight of my career to see just how strong these kids are and the powerful role that music can have in their recovery.

The Songbirds Foundation also raises money through its YouTube series, the Vault Sessions. This series now has over 80 episodes with over 8,000,000 minutes viewed. The Foundation will film an additional 50 episodes this year with Eric Johnson, Robben Ford, Jerry Douglas, Eric Gales, and dozens of other guitarists, manufacturers, and music insiders. Help raise funds by subscribing and watching this series at Youtube.com/SongbirdsFoundation.

To learn more about the Songbirds Foundation, visit www.songbirdsfoundation.org.
A 36-year-old man jailed for engaging in an abusive sexual relationship with two teenage girls, who were half his age and who he introduced to heroin, has been spared any increase in his prison sentence despite an appeal by prosecutors.

Eoin Vickers, of no fixed abode, but who lived at various locations in Co. Mayo during the offences in question, was 28 years old when he began abusing the 14-year-old girl, having gotten her to supply compromising photos which he used to control her.

He encouraged her not to use contraception and when she had a contraceptive bar implanted in her arm he removed it with a Stanley knife. She became pregnant by him.

Vickers also had sex with the girl's friend, another young teenager, and introduced both girls to heroin.

In relation to the first girl, Vickers pleaded guilty to two counts of defilement of a girl under the age of 15, and three sample counts of defilement of a child under the age of 17, between June 2011 and August 2013. He also pleaded guilty to assaulting her, and to a count of defilement of a child under the age of 17, in respect of her friend.

He was sentenced to 11 years imprisonment with the final two years suspended by Mr Justice Michael White on May 22, 2019.

The Director of Public Prosecutions sought a review of Vickers sentence on grounds it was unduly lenient. However, the Court of Appeal declined to intervene, holding that although the sentence was very lenient, a wide margin of discretion had to be given to the sentencing judge in what was a singular case without much comparison.

President of the Court of Appeal Mr Justice George Birmingham said it was "quite an unusual case", because of the duration of the offending, and the fact there were two complainants.

As defilement cases go, it had to be regarded as "exceptionally serious". Vickers was twice the age of each complainant and there was no uncertainty or confusion about their ages.

When he first met the principal complainant, she was in her secondary school uniform. Initially, she was "plied with alcohol" and, subsequently, both girls were "introduced to heroin", which was a "particularly disturbing" aspect of the case that put it "right at the upper end" in terms of seriousness, the judge said.

At an early stage of the so-called relationship, the judge said Vickers had the first complainant supply compromising photos and he used these as a form of control, threatening to distribute them locally or to put them on the internet.

Furthermore, Mr Justice Birmignham said Vickers was violent and abusive. His efforts to control the first complainant, in particular, and to isolate her from her friends, while monitoring and controlling her access to her mobile phone and to social media, was reprehensible.

He said the trial judges description of Vickers as manipulative, controlling, violent, narcissistic, and involving pure evil activity was a very apt one indeed.

The chief difficulty presented in the case was the discount afforded for the mitigating factors, the only significant mitigation being Vickers guilty plea. While not without value, Mr Justice Birmingham said Vickers plea was not an early one, and was entered against a background of overwhelming evidence.

Mr Justice Birmingham said the judges of the Court of Appeal would have imposed a higher sentence, and would not have allowed the same discount afforded by the sentencing judge for the mitigating factors. But the fact that other judges might have arrived at a higher ultimate sentence did not mean the sentence actually imposed was unduly lenient.

He said the sentencing judge was being called on to deal with a case involving singular facts, where comparator cases were not readily available. It meant a considerable margin of appreciation had to be given to the sentencing judge.

Not without hesitation, he said the Court of Appeal had come to the view that the sentence was very lenient but not so lenient as to warrant intervention by the court.

Mr Justice Birmingham, who sat with Mr Justice Brian McGovern and Mr Justice Maurice Collins, dismissed the DPPs appeal.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused Greek security forces on Wednesday of behaving like Nazis for using force against migrants and refugees trying to cross the border from Turkey.

Tens of thousands of people have attempted to get into EU member Greece since Turkey said last month it would no longer keep them on its territory as part of a 2016 deal with Brussels in return for European aid for refugees.

Greek security forces have used tear gas and water cannon to stop people from entering. Athens has suspended asylum applications for a month and said it prevented more than 42,000 people illegally entering the EU over the past two weeks.

In the Turkish parliament, Erdogan showed legislators of his ruling AK Party video footage of scenes at the Greek border.

There is no difference between those images on the Greek border and what the Nazis did, he said.

200308134256598

Opening fire on innocent people, exposing them to all kinds of inhumane treatment  [It] is barbarism in the full sense of the word, he said, repeating his call on Greece to let people cross its territory to reach richer Western European countries.

Why are you obstructing them so much and carrying out Nazi tortures on them? he added.

Turkey has previously accused Greek security forces of shooting dead four people, a claim rejected by Athens as fake news. Greece said it has a duty to protect the EU border.

Knock on that door

Responding to Erdogans latest comments, Greek government spokesman Stelios Petsas denounced Holocaust comparisons.

Of course, the best answer to such ramblings is the same answer that the central Israeli council gave  that todays situation has nothing whatsoever to do with the Holocaust. And to avoid such comparisons  even if it is being done for domestic communication needs by any country, Petsas said.

We tell everyone that they shouldnt attempt to get in through the window. There is a door. Whoever is entitled to protection should knock on that door and be entitled to protection based on international law.





Petsas also denied a report in The New York Times that said Greece was holding people at a secret black site where they are denied access to lawyers and cannot file asylum claims.

Greece summoned Turkeys ambassador on Wednesday to lodge a complaint after the Greek coastguard said one of its vessels had been rammed deliberately by a Turkish coastguard boat.

There was no immediate comment from Ankara on the incident.

Flagrant violations

On Tuesday, New York-based group Human Rights Watch called on Greece to reverse its draconian policy towards more than 450 people detained on a navy ship docked in Mytilene port on the island of Lesbos.

Greeces decision to detain more than 450 people on a naval vessel and refuse to allow them to lodge asylum claims flagrantly violates international and European law, it said in a statement.

The EU is desperate to avoid a repeat of the 2015-16 crisis, when more than one million people, mostly fleeing war and poverty in the Middle East and beyond, reached the bloc via Turkey and Greece, bolstering support for far-right parties against their presence.

That mass influx ended when Turkey agreed in 2016 to keep people on its territory in return for EU aid. Erdogan said Ankara had upheld its side of the deal, but the EU had not.

Until all expectations are met in a concrete way, we will continue our current practice at our borders, Erdogan said, referring to aspirations that also include updating Turkeys customs union with the EU, reviving its stalled EU accession bid, and allowing Turks to visit the bloc without visas.

Turkey hosts 3.6 million refugees from the civil war in neighbouring Syria and is braced for the arrival of more as fighting in Syria drags on.
American Homes 4 Rent (NYSE:AMH) shareholders (or potential shareholders) will be happy to see that the Founder & Chairman Emeritus, B. Hughes, recently bought a whopping US$31m worth of stock, at a price of US$28.31. There's no denying a buy of that magnitude suggests conviction in a brighter future, although we do note that proportionally it only increased their holding by 6.6%.

Check out our latest analysis for American Homes 4 Rent

The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At American Homes 4 Rent

In fact, the recent purchase by B. Hughes was the biggest purchase of American Homes 4 Rent shares made by an insider individual in the last twelve months, according to our records. So it's clear an insider wanted to buy, at around the current price, which is US$29.18. While their view may have changed since the purchase was made, this does at least suggest they have had confidence in the company's future. If someone buys shares at well below current prices, it's a good sign on balance, but keep in mind they may no longer see value. The good news for American Homes 4 Rent share holders is that insiders were buying at near the current price.

Happily, we note that in the last year insiders paid US$77m for 2.74m shares. On the other hand they divested 2936099 shares, for US$69m. In total, American Homes 4 Rent insiders bought more than they sold over the last year. You can see a visual depiction of insider transactions (by individuals) over the last 12 months, below. If you click on the chart, you can see all the individual transactions, including the share price, individual, and the date!

NYSE:AMH Recent Insider Trading, March 11th 2020

American Homes 4 Rent is not the only stock that insiders are buying. For those who like to find winning investments this free list of growing companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket.

Does American Homes 4 Rent Boast High Insider Ownership?

For a common shareholder, it is worth checking how many shares are held by company insiders. Usually, the higher the insider ownership, the more likely it is that insiders will be incentivised to build the company for the long term. American Homes 4 Rent insiders own about US$1.2b worth of shares (which is 12% of the company). This kind of significant ownership by insiders does generally increase the chance that the company is run in the interest of all shareholders.

Story continues

So What Does This Data Suggest About American Homes 4 Rent Insiders?

The recent insider purchases are heartening. We also take confidence from the longer term picture of insider transactions. Along with the high insider ownership, this analysis suggests that insiders are quite bullish about American Homes 4 Rent. One for the watchlist, at least! While we like knowing what's going on with the insider's ownership and transactions, we make sure to also consider what risks are facing a stock before making any investment decision. For example - American Homes 4 Rent has 1 warning sign we think you should be aware of.

If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt.

For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions, but not derivative transactions.

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



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
- The Department of Health (DOH) has confirmed the circulating reports about the second coronavirus death in the Philippines

- The patient identified as PH35 who reportedly died is a 67-year-old Filipino woman

- She was admitted at the Manila Doctors Hospital in Manila City

- The said patient is also the first Filipino national who died due to coronavirus

- The DOH earlier reported that there is now a total of 49 patients who tested positive for COVID-19

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The Department of Health (DOH) has confirmed on Wednesday night the circulating reports about the second coronavirus death in the Philippines.

KAMI learned that the DOH made the announcement through their official Facebook page.

In the post, DOH said that the patient identified as PH35 was admitted at the Manila Doctors Hospital in Manila City.

The Department of Health (DOH) confirms circulating reports regarding the death of a confirmed COVID-19 patient in Manila, it read on the post.

The reported death is the patient with ID PH35 confined at Manila Doctors Hospital in Manila City, it added.

However, the health agency is still gathering and validating additional information about the death of the 67-year-old patient.

The recent recorded death is the second fatality recorded in the Philippines. She is also the first Filipino national to die due to COVID-19 in the country.

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As previously reported by KAMI, the DOH announced an additional 16 cases of coronavirus in the Philippines. The country has now a total of 49 patients who tested positive for COVID-19 as of posting time.

The Philippines' first death due to coronavirus was a 44-year-old Chinese man. He was also the first patient who died outside mainland China.

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!

Paano nga ba nagsimula ang Hazelberry Cafe ni Ara Mina? Gusto mo bang matikiman ang mga ito? Magpapamigay sila ng libreng cupcake! Panuorin para malaman kung paano ka makakakuha sa KAMI HumanMeter YouTube Channel!

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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's final engagement together as senior royals wasn't without tension.

A recent article said that the royal couple were upset when they learned they wouldn't be allowed to join the entrance procession of the Queen, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in the Commonwealth Day church service in London.

The two were reportedly informed of the changes in protocol from the previous year and that they were to make their way to their seats independently before the arrival of senior members.

It can be recalled that last year, Prince William and Kate and Prince Harry and Meghan loitered together, but each separately inspecting the fascinating detail of their shoes, in the entrance hall of Westminster Abbey, and then walked behind the Queen, who arrives last, to their seats.

On Monday's event, Harry and Meghan arrived first and were shown to their seats, next to Prince Edward and his wife Sophie, and after a short while, William and Kate arrived.

That's when things got awkward as the animosity between siblings was evident upon their arrival, according to a recent report.

Edward got up from his seat to greet William, while Meghan and Harry remained glued to theirs.

Harry appeared to say, "Hello," while Meghan smiled, mini-waved and mouthed a greeting at the couple. William didn't initially notice Meghan's greeting, but he reciprocated it with a brief smile and head nod. Meanwhile, Kate didn't seem to acknowledge either of them.

After the brief, awkward exchange, Meghan immediately turned to her husband to divert her attention.

The tension was more apparent when William and Kate turned in their seats to speak to Edward and Sophie, then, Edward and Sophie spoke to Harry and Meghan-but William and Kate and Harry and Meghan did not interact with each other.

Indeed, the two royal couples involved in one of the most public falling-outs of the year, for the sake of the event, couldn't even bring themselves pretend to say:

"How are you doing?"

"Yeah alright man," and smile.

The reunion comes two months after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle had officially shared with the public their decision to step down from royal duties.

Also read: Megan and Harry's First Public Appearance After Royal Exit

Reports say that the Queen herself requested the couple's presence at the service, which highlights the global network of 54 countries that make up the Commonwealth.

According to an article by Latin Post, the relationship between Harry and Meghan with the royal has not been good in the past years.

But with their decision to relieve themselves from their royal duties, they may let out a well-justified scream of joy and relief.

An article revealed that after the couple had finished their last duties as part of the royal family, they will be living a non-royal type of lifestyle.

On March 31, they will officially step down as working royals and will no longer have permission to use the Sussex brand.

There had been speculations of Harry's relief from his royal duties in the past years.

Before Meghan and Harry finally decided to leave their royal duties, Prince Andrew and Jeffrey Epstein's Scandal was the last royal family issue.

Despite their royal exit, Harry and Meghan will remain president and vice-president of the Queen's Commonwealth Trust.

Also read: Meghan Markle 'Upstages' Camilla With Instagram Post
On the eve of the provincial budget, Finance Minister Scott Fielding says he's got a plan to deal with the current uncertain economic times.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 10/3/2020 (671 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

On the eve of the provincial budget, Finance Minister Scott Fielding says he's got a plan to deal with the current uncertain economic times.

"The budget will be the most emergency-ready budget in Manitoba history," Fielding declared Tuesday, while announcing a business tax cut.

A stock market downturn, fuelled by plunging oil prices and the potential economic fallout from the coronavirus outbreak, has turned government budget preparations into a bit of a guessing game.

However, Fielding maintained the Manitoba government has made allowances for the economic uncertainty and built a number of contingencies into its 2020 financial blueprint.

"We are prepared," he said. "If there's a downturn (in the economy), we are prepared."

Premier Brian Pallister likely stole most of Fielding's budget thunder last week, when he made the surprise announcement Manitoba would lower the provincial sales tax to six per cent, effective July 1. On the same day, the province plans to impose its own carbon tax of $25 a tonne.

The net effect for taxpayers is expected to be a gain of $40 million annually.

On Tuesday, Fielding made a pre-budget tax announcement of his own, revealing government would give employers a break on the Health and Post-secondary Education Tax, commonly referred to as the payroll tax.

As of Jan. 1, 2021, payroll thresholds for companies affected by the tax will go up, benefitting about 1,000 employers in Manitoba and exempting an estimated 220 of them from paying the levy altogether.

Employers with an annual payroll of $1.5 million or less will be exempt (up from the current $1.25-million threshold).

"We think this will help Manitoba businesses grow and prosper," Fielding said in announcing the measure at a news conference at Fort Richmond Collegiate.

The move is expected to cost the provincial treasury close to $9 million a year.

Scrumming with reporters Tuesday, Pallister indicated there would be specific measures announced in the budget to deal with the economic uncertainty that lies ahead.

"Being able to be resilient in these uncertain times is a really good quality for an individual and it's a really good quality for a government as well," he said.

Pallister noted the government has worked hard to strengthen the province's finances and increased the size of its rainy day fund to $572 million.

He said the budget will include projections for the forthcoming budget year that account for potential declines in economic growth and what they will mean for the government's bottom line.

Opposition NDP Leader Wab Kinew urged the government to be prepared to act swiftly with programs that keep people working should the current oil shock or the coronavirus threaten to severely damage the economy.

"I think the government should be taking the worst-case scenario options more seriously and should be putting in measures to respond to that," he said.

Meanwhile, Chuck Davidson, president of the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce, applauded the government for its planned changes to the payroll tax.

"It's awesome," he said, noting the move caught him by surprise.

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Business has long called for the tax to be phased out and eventually eliminated.

Jamie Kozak, principal architect at Prairie Architects Inc., said increasing the payroll tax threshold will exempt his firm from paying the levy, saving it $5,000 per year.

He said his company could use the tax savings to pay for software licences and new computers. It will also allow it to consider hiring a summer student "knowing that their salary will not cost us an extra 4.3 per cent in payroll tax."

"This is a significant initiative our office will benefit from," he added.

Fielding said about 3,000 Manitoba employers pay close to $510 million in payroll taxes each year.

larry.kusch@freepress.mb.ca
How do you photograph something that moves so fast it can travel the circumference of the earth in 18 seconds?

A UA physicist is hoping a $1.1 million award will allow him to modify an already sophisticated microscope that will enable him to photograph electrons in motion, something no one has ever done.

Mohammed Hassan, an assistant professor of physics and optical sciences at the University of Arizona, was recently awarded the grant from the W.M. Keck Foundation, based in Los Angeles.

The motions of electrons are measured in a unit that most people have never heard of  attosecond, or one quintillionth of a second. In one heart beat, a million trillion attoseconds pass.

The idea of seeing something humans have never seen before drives me, Hassan said, according to a UA news release. Electron motion is in every aspect of life. Even our eyes see because electron motion generates light, transmits information and forms a picture in the brain. By imaging electron motion, we would open a new window into life itself.

However, even the most expensive, sophisticated electron microscopes cant photograph something that small, moving that fast.
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

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Speaker Nancy Pelosi has refused to shut down Capitol Hill amid fears of a coronavirus outbreak and the high risk to the aging population of lawmakers.

'We are the captains of the ship. We are the last to leave,' she told her Democratic lawmakers at a closed-door meeting at the Capitol on Tuesday.

The speaker also has rejected plans for lawmakers to vote remotely or extend next week's congressional recess although the Capitol building is a swirl with rumors that once Congress leaves on Thursday they may not come back for awhile.

Meanwhile, U.S. Capitol physician Brian Monahan gave lawmakers lessons in 'social distancing,' which will help them avoid physical contact - including hand shakes - with people.

Monahan, whose title is Attending Physician of the United States Congress and the United States Supreme Court, also joked to lawmakers they could use his favorite greeting, which is the Vulcan salute - used by Mr. Spock from Star Trek, congressional aides said.

The salute - which involves person making the V-shape with their fingers - does not require any physical contact.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi has refused to shut down Capitol Hill amid fears of a coronavirus outbreak

Capitol physician Brian Monahan told lawmakers they could greet people with his favorite greeting: Mr. Spock's Vulcan salute

The Capitol building itself remains a hive of activity.

It remains open to the public for tours although there are noticeably fewer tourists than normal in the corridors. Some of them wear face masks.

Lawmakers are conducting business as usual, holding committee meetings and going to votes in their respective chambers.

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer told reporters in the Capitol Wednesday that leadership is considering closing the Capitol to tourists but is reluctant to take that step.

But other members of Congress think it's a good idea.

'We should take this step. Not doing so is putting health and safety of these tourists at risk,' Rep. Liz Cheney, a Republican member of leadership, tweeted on the matter.

There's also been frustration because there is no uniform response policy for lawmakers and their offices to handle the outbreak. Instead each office is making its own decisions.

Additionally Capitol Hill does not have a system in place for staff to work remotely even after the legislative branch has had to deal with catastrophes like the September 11 terrorist attacks and the 2001 anthrax attack.

Offices have shared what have worked with them with other offices, a congressional aide told DailyMail.com when it comes to figuring out how to work from home.

And seven members of Congress are under self-quarantine after coming into contact with people who tested positive for the virus, including incoming White House Chief of Staff Rep. Mark Meadows, Sen. Ted Cruz, and Congressmen Don Beyer, Julia Brownley, Matt Gaetz, Paul Gosar and Doug Collins.

Tourists wearing protective masks tour the U.S. Capitol Rotunda on Monday

Many lawmakers are over the age of 60, which puts them at high risk for coronavirus: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is 78; Senator John Barrasso is 67; Senator John Thune is 59; Senator Roy Blunt is 70; and Senator Joni Ernst is 49

Beyer is the latest lawmaker to undergo a voluntary quarantine. He said Tuesday he and his wife had dinner with someone who later tested positive for coronavirus.

And many members of Congress are over the age of 60, which, according to the Centers for Disease Control, puts them at high risk for infection.

'It is extra important for you to take actions to reduce your risk of getting sick with the disease,' the CDC advises for high-risk individuals.

Health officials also advise avoiding large gatherings or crowded public spaces - which is practically impossible for lawmakers.

'The Hill may be the worst place in D.C. right now. At least in the airport half the people aren't shaking hands and talking to each other,' a senior House Republican aide told Axios. 'Give it a week and everyone will be walking around in hazmat suits.'
A group of American and Chinese scientists have warned that as many as 9,484 people in the US could have been infected with coronavirus by March 1 - far more than the 1,085 cases that are currently confirmed.

The scientists from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles and Peking University in Beijing released their theory in a report on Sunday.

Titled 'Estimating the scale of COVID-19 Epidemic in the United States: Simulations Based on Air Traffic Directly from Wuhan, China', the report has not yet been peer reviewed.

It works off the fact that eight people who traveled from Wuhan to the US before January and, using mathematical simulations based on spread rates and patterns in China, theorizes that by passing it on without knowing, before they were infected, could have infected 9,484 people by March 1.

It also claims that if the current preventative measures were able to reduce the number of undetected cases, the number of people still infected by March 1 could have been reduced to 1,013.

They say for each of the eight cases, they ran the simulation 1,000 times.

Their theory does not take into account the explosion of cases now being seen in Europe, Iran, South Korea or Japan, however.

As of Wednesday morning, 32 people in the US had died as a result of the virus.

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As of Wednesday morning, there are 1,085 cases of coronavirus in the US and 32 deaths but a new report from Chinese and American scientists says the figure may be much higher

The scientists from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles and Peking University in Beijing say that there were likely thousands of people with coronavirus in the US by March 1

To get their result, the scientists simulated the outbreak using the confirmed figures that 20 people in the US had coronavirus by February 29.

Of those 20 people, eight had visited Wuhan before they returned to the US.

Their assumptions, they wrote, were conservative: every undetected, infected person passed it on to two or 2.5 people. Other experts have put that rate at as many as five or six people.

They also did not take into consideration any travelers who had come from different parts of China to the US.

'This makes our current estimation likely to be an underestimation of the true number of infected individuals in the U.S,' the scientists wrote.

'Our research indicates that, as of 03/01/2020, it is likely that there are already thousands of individuals in the US infected with SARS-CoV-2.

'Our model is dynamic and is available to the research community to further evaluate as the situation becomes clearer,' they wrote in their conclusion.

The scientists did not use any that relied on the virus 'jumping' from person to person randomly, but more on the figures of infection and population in Wuhan.

The large scale number feeds into advice from public health officials and government secretaries that the scenario in the US will get worse before it gets better.

Mark Handley tweeted this graph charting the growth of cases in the US (pink) compared to that of Italy, purple, on Monday

Handley said 'everyone else will be Italy'in 9-14 days time if the growth rates keep up

This is the rate of growth according to official figures in the US

A doctor from John Hopkins says there is no reason the US will not turn into Wuhan (shown), the original hotspot, which had to shut down for the best part of a month

Tom Bossert, formerly the national security adviser at the White House, told NBC the hospital system was '10 days away from being creamed'

Coronavirus doctor reveals his patients in intensive care are as young as 40 and do NOT have underlying health conditions  contradicting official advice Dr Sam Fink, who is based in the affluent town of Tarzana, says three men struck down with coronavirus are all in intensive care and are as young as 40 - contradicting claims that the disease only impacts the elderly A California doctor says three men he knows struck down with coronavirus are all in intensive care and are as young as 40 - contradicting claims that the disease only impacts the elderly. Dr Sam Fink, who is based in the affluent town of Tarzana, began treating two of the men following their return home from a ski trip to Northern Italy late last month. Dr. Fink is friends with a third patient from the trip, who is also now in ICU battling against the virus. 'I have never seen anything like this,' Dr Fink told DailyMail.com on Tuesda 'These people who are in the hospital are generally young. Forty, fifty, sixty. These are not elderly people. There are three people who are now in the ICU. 'It is my understanding that one has underlying medical issues, but the other two sure don't. Not having any underlying medical issues does not protect you,' he warned. Dr Fink hit headlines earlier this week after he took to Facebook to urge all schools to close down amidst the coronavirus outbreak. The post was subsequently shared tens of thousands of times. The medic says he took to social media to share his concern about the alarming rate that the killer virus is spreading. He believes that closing down schools could help drastically slow the spread of the disease. 'I have never taken to Facebook, but the reason I did is because I have patients and I was really concerned about the number of patients. If this is true and this is a pattern, then we are not doing enough'. Advertisement

John Hopkins University Dr. Marty Makary told CNBC on Wednesday that the US could see a similar scenario as Wuhan.

'What happened in Wuhan could happen here. Why do we think otherwise?'

'The American immune system is not stronger than the Chinese immune system.

'Viruses dont care about politics and they dont care about location. We need to tell people right now to stop all nonessential travel.

'I feel strongly about that,' he said, adding he feared the hospital system was going to become overrun.

'What happened in Wuhan could happen here. Why do we think otherwise? The American immune system is not stronger than the Chinese immune system. Viruses dont care about politics and they dont care about location. John Hopkins University Dr. Marty Makary

'If we get 200,000 critical care cases, were going to be overrun. So we need to do more,' he said.

His sentiments were echoed by Tom Bossert, who was Trumps homeland security adviser until he was ousted in 2018 and in his position was in charge of pandemic response, told NBC News: 'We are 10 days away from our hospitals being creamed.'

In an op-ed for The Washington Post, he added: 'Its now or never for the U.S. if it hopes to keep coronavirus from burning out of control.

'We must focus on reducing the height of the outbreak curve.

'This requires coordination and implementation of non-pharmaceutical interventions.

'School closures, isolation of the sick, home quarantines of those who have come into contact with the sick, social distancing, telework and large-gathering cancellations must be implemented before the spread of the disease in any community reaches 1 percent.

'After that, science tells us, these interventions become far less effective,' he wrote

On Wednesday morning, health Secretary Alex Azar said during an appearance on Good Morning America: 'We're still in the beginnings of the spread of the disease in the US but that's why we're taking such aggressive containment measures at the border as well as mitigation steps in local communities, as I said, to try to slow the spread.

New Rochelle, New York, has been banned from hosting large group gatherings because of an outbreak

Coronavirus bailout is still WEEKS away and Trump's top economic advisor admits he'll have to fight REPUBLICANS for president's payroll tax cut - as Dow open 700 points down Democrats and the White House are weeks away from striking a bipartisan package to help the economy and individuals impacted by the coronavirus outbreak, it emerged Wednesday. The fading hopes of a stimulus to an economy the White House admits will see a 'slowdown' sent the markets crashing again Wednesday. Nancy Pelosi is prepared to present her economic proposal later in the day Wednesday and put it up for a vote on the House floor on Thursday. According to a top Pelosi aide, the Democratic leader spoke with Trump's Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin early Wednesday morning to discuss a more bipartisan coronavirus package. But previous conversations between aides, lawmakers and Trump administration officials show that there is only some overlap in what Democrats want in the economic stimulus package and what the administration is looking for. Larry Kudlow, Donald Trump's top economic adviser, admitted late Tuesday that he would have to fight his own party for the payroll tax suspension the president has made the centerpiece of his plan. 'I'm not giving up on this,' Kudlow told Fox News Tuesday night when asked about Republican pushback, claiming he would go to bat for the tax cuts. So while Democrats and Republicans in Congress might come to an agreement on a bill that does not include payroll tax cuts, when the package hits the president's desk, he could strike down the bipartisan measure. 'I think a lot of people supported it,' Kudlow continued. 'We heard it in the lunch today. President was very well received on this stuff. There's some issues. We will go through the issues.' 'We will look at the financing. We will look at the length of the payroll tax holiday but again, we're dealing - if you're sick at home and you're not getting paid, we're going to help you,' Kudlow vowed. 'That's very important. It's another middle class assistance.' Senator Lindsey Graham, one of the president's most loyal defenders, even admitted he didn't think the tax cuts were the best way to stimulate the economy in the wake of the coronavirus crisis. 'They had five or six ideas,' Graham said of Trump's proposals, according to Politico. 'Trying to help people that were going to be laid off, targeted packages to parts of the economy that were going to get hit. You know, the inability to travel and hold events, the hospitality industry.' But he did not show outright support for the payroll tax suspension, claiming Republicans are 'mixed' on that aspect. 'I don't know if that's the best way to do it,' Graham said of the tax cuts. 'The president is pushing it. I will have to sit down and think about it. The money that costs, could it be better to applied to [specific] sectors of the economy.' Advertisement

'We need to be really clear , we're been clear from the start, we're going to see more cases.

'This is a virus, this will spread, we need to take steps to slow that, buy ourselves time.

'Every day we buy is a valuable day in terms of spreading and that's why aggressive efforts are needed and public cooperation is important,' he said.

On Monday night, computer scientist Mark Handley, Professor of Networked Systems and part-time Roboticist at UCL in London, tweeted a graph showing how growth figures in other infected countries compare to Italy's.

'Everyone else will be Italy in 9-14 days time,' Handley tweeted along with the data.

It looks like they're on the exact same trajectory but Italy had an 11.5 day head-start John Crane, MD, PhD, infectious disease specialist and professor of medicine in the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University of Buffalo John Crane, MD, PhD, infectious disease specialist and professor of medicine in the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University of Buffalo

Dr. John Crane, an infectious disease specialist and professor of medicine in the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University of Buffalo, agreed.

He told DailyMail.com in an interview that the world had never seen anything like the outbreak and that the US seemed to be watching how Italy responded before making any drastic decisions of its own.

'It looks like theyre on the exact same trajectory. Italy had an 11.5 day head start,' he said, referring to the data.

'When you have straight line on a long scale that signifies exponential growth.

'Its not unusual at the beginning for an epidemic like thiswhen no human being on earth has previous exposure to it and no one has immunity to it.

'This doesn't change the fatality rate just the growth rate- we've learned this virus is pretty contagious.

'This graph doesnt say anything about the case fatality rate that might be around two percent but thats still ten times higher than influenza and we have things we can do bout influenza, we dont have a vaccine for this.'
Intelligence Bureau staffer Ankit Sharmas brutal murder may have been captured in one of the thousands of video clips that have reached Delhi Police in response to an appeal by the police, Union home minister Amit Shah said on Wednesday.

Shah, who was responding to a discussion on the Delhi riots last month that left 52 dead, said the police had received an overwhelming response to its appeal for video footage of the riots.

I am hopeful that the mystery behind Ankit Sharmas murder would be unravelled by one of the video clips shot by people during the riots, the home minister told the Lok Sabha on Wednesday evening. Ankit Sharma, 26, who was killed during the communal riots, had at least 50 stab wounds. His face and other body parts had been burnt to conceal his identity.

Ankit Sharma was fished out of a drain in east Delhis Chand Bagh after some residents alerted the police.

Amit Shah had heard several lawmakers from opposition parties express concern over the police probe. Some had also suggested that the probe might target one community.

Shah made a pointed reference to All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi complaining that 1,100 Muslims had been detained by the police. Shah, who had praised the police for ensuring that the riots remained limited to parts of north-east Delhi, said the police had registered 700 cases and arrested or detained nearly 2,600 people.

Experts on 25 computers are analysing the video clips that have been received from the public.

Shah explained that the police were using face recognition software to identify the rioters from the clips. This is being done by accessing photographs of individuals from databases of the Election Commissions voter ID card, driving license and from other government departments.

This software does not see a persons religion, does not go according to the persons clothes but only sees the face, he said.

So far, the police has been able to identify 1,100 people and establish that 300 people came from across the border with Uttar Pradesh. Shah said the police had sought data of photographs from neighbouring UP too to identify the 300-odd rioters who had entered the national capital before the border was sealed.

Amit Shahs detailed response on the Delhi riots is his first detailed comment about the violence that engulfed Delhi last month. Shah also asserted that the deadly rioting during February 24-25 was a pre-planned conspiracy and those guilty, regardless of their religious faith, caste or party affiliation, would not be spared.

Shah said 52 people were killed, 526 were injured, 371 shops were burnt and 142 homes were destroyed in the riots.

Shah also promised to take example-setting punishment for the culprits but stressed that no one would be arrested without staunch evidence. There is prima facie evidence that the riots were a pre-planned conspiracy and the police are unearthing proof of this. The guilty, whoever he may be, will be arrested, the home minister said.
The only woman in space right now made a special presentation for International Women's Day this Monday (March 9).

Floating in the Kibo module of the International Space Station in a dress and stockings that she wore in 2019 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Apollo 12 (alongside her colleagues, who wore an assortment of throwback looks for the anniversary), NASA astronaut Jessica Meir spoke in a video posted to Twitter Monday about why we need diverse perspectives to accomplish big goals in space exploration.

"It takes all sorts of people from diverse backgrounds to explore the unknown and to make things that are seemingly impossible, possible," said Meir, an astronaut on the three-person Expedition 62. "When we all work together, there is no limit to what we can accomplish."

Related: Women in Space: A Universe of Firsts in Photos

NASA astronaut Jessica Meir speaks from the space station for International Women's Day. (Image credit: Astro_Jessica/Twitter/NASA)

In honor of yesterday being #InternationalWomensDay, we at @NASA honor those that came before us, paving our path to the @Space_Station and beyond. Next stop, the Moon. #Artemis pic.twitter.com/e9BcFOumcFMarch 9, 2020 See more

Meir recently pushed spaceflight boundaries, though she didn't speak about this specific accomplishment in the video. She and a former crewmate, astronaut Christina Koch (who recently returned to Earth after a record-setting 328 days in space, the longest spaceflight ever made by a woman), performed the first three all-woman spacewalks in history , in 2019 and 2020.

While in space, Meir has also celebrated her identity and heritage as a Jewish woman, including wearing festive socks to celebrate Hanukkah and bringing an Israeli flag with her to space, according to The Times of Israel .

The video she posted Monday paid tribute to the women who came before her, while looking to the future, when the first woman walks on the moon, a milestone that NASA aims to accomplish by 2024.

"I am thankful for the amazing women who paved the way for me to do research in space," Meir said. "NASA is pushing the boundaries of exploration and working hard to send the first woman and next man to the moon as part of the Artemis program."

As of 2019 , only 64 of the 566 people to fly to space have been women. The first woman to fly to space was Valentina Tereshkova, in 1963, and the first U.S. woman in space was Sally Ride, in 1984. Women have achieved a number of other incredible orbital milestones, including commanding the space shuttle, performing spacewalks and commanding the International Space Station.

Follow Elizabeth Howell on Twitter @howellspace. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook .
Auto sector braces for prolonged production upheaval, illustration photo

Many domestic automobile manufacturing and assembly enterprises are currently facing difficulties due to the shortage of imported parts, especially from China, caused by the effects of the COVID-19, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT).

Enterprises producing and assembling commercial vehicles including trucks and buses in the country, which currently mainly import components from China, are most affected.

Truong Thanh Hoai, director of the MoITs Industry and Trade Department, analysed that it is difficult for high-quality raw materials and components for cars to be sourced in the short term as the global production chain is organised in a complex way and require parts to exactly meet the technical requirements.

Additionally, the import of spare parts and input materials was also affected by the epidemics outbreak in other countries, such as South Korea, Japan, and India.

Industry insiders said that finding alternative sources right away will be very complex, and that there is currently no escape out of the misery. It is expected that production activities would decrease significantly by mid-March if the situation is not improved.

Enterprises need to seek other supply sources rather than from China. However, this could be a simple job for other industries, but not for auto manufacturing, said Hoai. The production chain will be interrupted if they lack just one small component. The reliance among countries in the production chain is very heavy.

A domestic automobile manufacturing and assembling enterprise in the northern province of Hung Yen said that the automobile market has witnessed a gloomy picture contributed by weak demand and shortages in parts and components due to the outbreak.

He added that his company is faced with the suspended production due to a lack of components, leading to a delay in implementing the firms plan to launch a new model.

Previously the firm could produce and sell about 1,000 trucks a month. However, sales have been chopped by half thus far.

In 2019, Vietnam imported nearly $4 billion of auto parts, of which imports from China reached $700 million (17.5 per cent), from South Korea $1.14 billion (28.55 per cent), and from Japan $720 million (18 per cent).

The local supporting industry remains limited, with almost all components for assembly being imported. In general, although parts like tubes, tires, seats, mirrors, and batteries can be produced locally, they often do not meet the technical standards required for the automobile industry.

Up to 90 per cent of the main raw materials for the production of such components, like aluminium, plastic resin, and high-tech rubber are imported, creating higher costs in the transport, packaging, and taxes.

Currently, some foreign automobile makers like Toyota, Honda, and Ford import components from Japan and Southeast Asian countries. Meanwhile, local automobile manufacturers and assembly enterprises mainly import components from South Korea and India.

According to the foreign newswires, several component suppliers in Chinas Wuhan City and Hubei provinces have alerted their customers that they are unable to maintain the supplies. Similar problems have also emerged in South Korea and will likely spread to other countries and regions as well.

The coronavirus epidemic could have a domino effect on the global automobile industry. For instance, Hyundai will suspend production in South Korea due to the outbreak that disrupted the supply of parts, following Nissan suspending auto production in Japans Kyushu plant.

The previous lack of coherent government policies, combined with weak incentives for completely knocked down assemblers and poor supplier presence, has resulted in a local manufacturing environment that is less attractive for automakers than in other ASEAN countries, according to the Vietnam Business Forum.
WATERLOO, Ontario, March 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- A crisis communication expert says companies are doing a lousy job reassuring the public in the face of coronavirus fears.

Jeff Chatterton is a crisis communications consultant, and the co-author of a recently released book on crisis communications, "Leaders Under Fire."

Checkmate Public Affairs Jeff Chatterton

Chatterton says, "Feeling like you should communicate is understandable - the COVID-19 scare is easily the largest crisis to hit the globe in the past year. But sending mass emails to customers, touting cleanliness? That's lazy. It's not going to work."

In the last week, consumers across North America have been deluged with mass emails from airlines, hotels, and their gym, and they all share one common message: 'We're working hard to be clean.'

The problem with that message is simple it's not what customers want to hear right now.

According to Chatterton, this is the same reason you don't want a 'normal' communications team taking the lead in a crisis. Crisis communications isn't about 'facts.'

"For a typical stadium, arena, tourism company or airline, their communications team may be the very best in the world at communicating facts. They can talk to investors all day long about investment strategies or return on investment. The marketing team can convince people to buy tickets to Jamaica or to buy a membership to the gym," explains Chatterton.

"But crisis communications isn't about facts - communicating during a crisis is about calming fears. The rules and strategies are fundamentally different."

Companies everywhere are going into default mode. They assume, "Oh, they don't want to get sick, so let's tell them how clean we are."

It's a natural reaction. But that's not what customers are really asking. What they're REALLY asking is "Can I trust you to keep me safe?"



Chatterton says in many ways, it's like a small child, lying in fear, afraid of monsters under their bed.

A parent can clinically explain using logic and facts that monsters are statistically very unlikely to exist or you can give that kid a hug, explain that they live in a super-duper safe house, and that they're going to be safe.

"Anyone who's ever been a parent knows what strategy is going to fail," says Chatterton.

Right now, companies across the globe are defaulting to logically explaining why monsters are unlikely to exist. But the kids aren't buying it.

Consumers are that kid right now. They have emotions. And when logic squares off against fear, fear will always win.

Here's what companies should be doing instead:



Chatterton says companies should take that memo to employees, that letter to customers, and the mass email to their members, and set it aside. There may be some good facts in there, but that's not what they need to talk about. At least not right now.

He explains: "Stop reciting statistics. Stop explaining how you follow public health guidelines. Stop offering vague reassurances. Start displaying some empathy. This is where you want to see statements like:



"We're asking the same questions you are - how can we stay safe?"

Or

"We work in this amusement park too."

Customers need to know that you know how they feel. That's the single most important thing you can do for your stakeholders right now.

If facts are critically important, Chatterton's advice is to get very specific. "No one cares about 'following public health guidelines and increasing your cleaning schedule.'



Does United Airlines really expect me to believe that they're doing a better job cleaning the airplanes? The last business-class seat I was assigned to had crumbs on the seat, and a used napkin in the seatback pocket. Not only is that gross, it destroys a "But we're trying really hard to be clean" message."

If you truly feel like you need to tout facts, bring out REAL facts. Rather than "We've increased the number of hand sanitizer stations in our arena" (which is vague) use "We've purchased an additional 14 hand sanitizer stations, so now we'll have one on each door." This is clear, specific, and understandable.



But - exclaims Chatterton - "Remember - you're not there to communicate facts. You're there to USE facts to calm fears. The primary purpose of any mass communication right now is to calm fears. If you're focusing on the facts, you're doing it wrong."

For more information, including on camera or telephone interviews, go to www.checkmatepublicaffairs.com or call +1 519 513 1053

Contact

Jeff Chatterton

+1 519 513 1053

[email protected]

SOURCE Checkmate Public Affairs

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By the decision of the Criminal Court of Appeal of Armenia, owner of Armenias Fifth Channel TV station Armen Tavadyan will be released from prison.

Tavadyans attorney Hovhannes Khudoyan told reporters that Tavadyan is being kept at Yerevan-Kentron Penitentiary Institution and will be released in a matter of hours. Khudoyan added that the reason why the appeal was upheld was because there was no substantiated suspicion.

Preliminary investigation of Tavadyans case is over, yet the indictment hasnt been announced yet.

Armen Tavadyan was arrested under the case of the offer that Varuzhan Mkrtchyan (Mkrtchyan presented himself as a supporter of second President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan) made to a victim under the case of the events of March 1, 2008 to refuse to testify, based on a video prepared by the police.
YEREVAN, MARCH 11, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian had a working meeting today with Justice Minister Rustam Badasyan, the Presidential Office told Armenpress.

The President and the minister discussed the agenda of Armenias constitutional amendments, judicial reforms, anti-corruption fight, human rights, the international cooperation in these fields, as well as a number of other issues.

The justice minister introduced the activity of the professional commission for constitutional amendments to the President.

President Sarkissian highlighted the constitutional reforms and stated that the Constitution is a legal document living and developing under the challenges of the time. He said any change, improvement in the Constitution should be based on the principle of the rule of law by contributing to the peaceful and normal development of the state.

Armen Sarkissian also introduced his visions and approaches on the constitutional amendments. He highlighted the participation of broad public in the development process of the main law of the country as much as possible. The President said his administration is ready to cooperate both with the ministry and the professional commission with its proposals and capacities.

Both sides highlighted the importance of such meetings.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan
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Linkedin Sophie Laubie (Agence France-Presse) Paris  Wed, March 11, 2020 10:03 671 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2069c91bc 2 Entertainment radioactive,Movie,Marie-Curie,Marjane-Satrapi Free

Marie Curie "wasn't always very nice", said Marjane Satrapi of the hero of her new film, "Radioactive".

The most famous woman scientist ever had to fight her corner in what was -- and still is -- a man's world, said Satrapi, best known as the maker of the Oscar-nominated animated classic, "Persepolis".

"How are you supposed to become Marie Curie if you are cute, gentle and terribly nice?" the acclaimed Iranian-born graphic novelist said.

"When you were as focused as Curie was, you don't have the time to be touchy feely... and people accept that [single-mindedness] much less from a woman," she insisted.

Satrapi, 50, was forever destined to make a film about the Polish-born physicist and chemist, the first woman to win the Nobel Prize, and the only person ever to have won it in different fields.

Marjane Satrapi attends the 'Radioactive' premiere during the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival at Princess of Wales Theatre on September 14, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. (AFP/Sonia Recchia)

"She was a huge figure for me from my childhood because she was the woman my mother wanted me to be," Satrapi told AFP in her Paris studio.

She was brought up to hero worship Curie and the French feminist Simone de Beauvoir, she added.

However researching the film, Satrapi discovered that while Curie -- played by the British "Gone Girl" star Rosamund Pike -- "was a woman of great integrity... but she he wasn't always very nice."

She couldn't afford to be given the enormous obstacles the woman who discovered both radium and polonium had to overcome, said Satrapi.

Feminism of 'actions not words'

"Since science depends on logic, they made out that women were too emotional to study science, that they are all hormones and feelings.

But through her heroic and action-packed life, "Curie became the living example that it was completely possible -- which is very important," the director insisted.

"I'm for feminism by actions rather than words," Satrapi added. "It's no good to have slogans if there is not action behind them. I prefer women who do things -- it is only by our actions that we'll become men's equals."

Curie was "not only the equal, but most of the time was better" than the men in her field, Satrapi insisted.

"Radioactive" -- which is released across much of Europe later his month -- tells her remarkable story through the research Curie and her husband Pierre (played by English actor Sam Riley) carried out on radioactivity, discoveries that would lead to breakthroughs in medicine but also to the atomic bomb.

Satrapi, who is now working on a series of paintings about women, said Curie was a powerful symbol at a time when women have found their voice again with the #MeToo movement.

"Things are going to change but we cannot sweep away 5,000 years of patriarchy in two days," said the illustrator-turned-director.

#MeToo has become 'too much'

"It's great that women are speaking up (but) we kept our mouths shut for so long that it has become a bit too much... We have to find a balance," Satrapi said.

Yet there is so much still to do, particularly about how women are represented on the screen.

"Half of the Earth's population are women, so it's normal that half of stories should be about us -- yet that is not the case," she argued.

"And when we see women it is always in relation to a man: as someone's wife or their mother," she added.

That said, Satrapi noted she has no intention of spending the rest of her career making films "about the long list of all the extraordinary women" who have been under-appreciated.

"I've made films about men too... It's Curie who interested me," she said.
Tenant farmers have been encouraged to consider triggering farm rent reviews this year amid political uncertainty and the effects of extreme weather.

Traditionally, the bulk of farm rent reviews fall at the end of March to the beginning of April and again at the end of September to the beginning of October.

With most rent reviews requiring either the landlord or the tenant to serve notice 12 months in advance, tenants with spring rent reviews have been urged to act now.

The new National Chairman of the Tenant Farmers Association, Mark Coulman is encouraging farmers to consider commencing rent reviews.

The body has already called for landlords to waive or abate rents paid by tenants in view of the weather experienced over the past few months.

The lack of winter and spring crops in the ground is of major concern," Mr Coulman said at Tuesday's (10 March) TFA AGM in London.

He said many farmers having had a relatively good harvest in 2019 are looking at losses in the year ahead.

"That is why the TFA has called upon landlords to consider offering rent abatements to affected tenants," he said.

"It is only right that landlords should share the financial burden in the year ahead, rather than expecting to be in receipt of the same level of rent as they had been used to in more normal conditions.

The TFA are also urging tenant farmers to seek formal rent reviews given the prevailing economic conditions and the future direction of travel for government policy.

"This will see a ramping down of direct payments whilst new environmental schemes are launched, said Mr Coulman.

"With margins already under pressure and the major uncertainty in our trading, policy and wider economic environments, it is essential that tenants act to get rents down."

This includes making sure that tender rents on new farm business tenancies are set at more sensible levels than seen in the past, the TFA said.
[March 11, 2020] SteadyMD Telemedicine Doctors Provide Alternative to Face-to-Face Clinical Visits for COVID-19 Concerns

Telemedicine provider SteadyMD, which delivers online continuous care and healthcare monitoring, today announced SteadyMD physicians have developed a member protocol for dealing with coronavirus concerns. SteadyMD medical assistant teams are also helping members access local resources for care in each of the 50 U.S. states. United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended alternatives to face-to-face doctor or clinic visits to help limit exposure to the COVID-19 virus. Dr. Josh Emdur, SteadyMD chief medical officer comments, "Most telemedicine apps only offer urgent care or episodic visits. SteadyMD differs by offering primary continuous care online with a dedicated doctor. This therapeutic relationship provides primary disease prevention in the long term and augments treatment during an epidemic or other health crisis-situation." SteadyMD is a member-based technology company and healthcare provider. SteadyMD delivers continuous, collaborative, personalized healthcare online with board-certified doctors. Doctors see a limited number of patients in order to get to know each member and provide thorough care. Patients access their doctor through texts, calls or video chat follow-ups, from the comfort of their own homes.



"A big part of dealing with a personal health situation, is coping with anxiety," added Emdur. "Communication with a doctor who knows you, is important. COVID-19 is at the fore-front but major healthcare problems related to chronic disease, lack of access to care and other health care challenges, can be more effectively addressed with continuous care. SteadyMD reimagines modern healthcare online." The SteadyMD platform provides:

A member-centered experience with a dedicated personal doctor, online.

The SteadyMD Matching Engine which pairs each person with a doctor aligned with the same lifestyle, medical conditions, goals, and interests.

A secure, HIPAA-compliant app through which patients can renew prescriptions, store lab results and exchange messages with their doctor.

Medical assistants who simplify the experience by retrieving health records from other care providers. Built for people who do not have a primary care doctor or are looking for more convenient and personalized care, SteadyMD delivers modern, continuous healthcare, online. SteadyMD offers three months of free membership to COVID-19 first responders. Qualified nurses, doctors and healthcare workers can access the service at SteadyMD.com/first-responders. About SteadyMD SteadyMD is a member-based technology company and healthcare provider. SteadyMD members and doctors pair up, collaborate and develop long-term personal relationships, online. The SteadyMD Matching Engine evaluates each new member and healthcare provider across hundreds of medical, fitness and lifestyle attributes to help spark a meaningful connection. Headquartered in St. Louis, MO, SteadyMD offers telehealth services for Primary Care, Functional Medicine and Employers in all 50 U.S. states. For more information or to become a member, please visit https://www.steadymd.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200311005192/en/

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Parliamentary authorities are considering sitting with just 100 MPs and a skeleton staff in a bid to avert coronavirus spread, MailOnline understands.

Senior sources insisted the Commons would not be closing despite health minister Nadine Dorries testing positive.

'We need to keep the House open,' one said.

There are fears the signal that would be sent to the country would fuel panic and lead to economic chaos.

However, other measures such as shutting Parliament to visitors and continuing with a skeleton staff are being examined for future sittings.

One idea said to be 'gaining traction' is that the parties could agree to have just 100 MPs working in the Commons - sending the other 550 home to work.

Cabinet ministers have suggested it would be madness for MPs to continue to meet during a major outbreak (Commons pictured last week)

Health minister Nadine Dorries fell ill on Friday and was diagnosed with coronavirus on Tuesday evening

Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle is keen to make sure that staff and politicians on the estate are not put at risk

Political parties would need to do an informal deal, and split the numbers along the lines of the result of the last election.

They would also have to commit to passing only essential legislation.

That would probably work, a senior MP said. Anyone who broke it would get hammered by the public.

There is a quorum rule in the Commons that 40 MPs, including the Speaker, must be present to pass laws.

It emerged last night that Nadine Dorries has become the first MP diagnosed with the disease.

Ms Dorries has revealed she has put herself into isolation, just days after attending a reception at No10 with the PM.

The Tory MP gave a speech in the Commons on Wednesday night, was in the tea rooms with other politicians, and held a surgery on Saturday for 50 of her constituents. She is believed to have started feeling ill on Thursday, before deteriorating the following day.

Tests confirmed last night that the 62-year-old had the virus and she is now said to be recovering - although she voiced fears for her 84-year-old mother, who is living at her home and 'began coughing' yesterday.

Officials are tracing everyone she has been in contact with since contracting the virus. However, Downing Street has refused to say whether the PM will be tested. As of yesterday morning, he had not been.

Mr Johnson attended a Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey with the Queen on Monday.

A Tory MP told MailOnline today: 'I was sat in the tea rooms with Nadine on Wednesday. You think, if she puts her hands on the table and then I put my hands on the table

'Then she was in Parliament giving a speech at the despatch box. Everyone needs to be tested, Boris needs to be tested. Jo Churchill was next to her in the chamber.'

The backbencher added: 'Boris cannot help himself. He shakes hands with everyone. He is obviously trying to stop himself now.'

Another MP, Labour's Rachel Maskell, today declared that she is self-isolating after having a meeting with Mrs Dorries on Thursday.

Preparations for the crucial Budget this afternoon appear to be going ahead despite the dramatic developments, with senior Parliamentary sources still adamant that the estate must be kept open.

Last week Commons leader Jacob Rees-Mogg insisted there are 'no plans' to shut down Parliament during a coronavirus outbreak.

The intervention came after a backlash at the idea, which has been discussed at high-level meetings. It is understood some Lords are strongly opposed, as peers can only claim the tax-free 313 daily allowance when the House is sitting.

Parliamentary officials also feared such a move could trigger a chain reaction in offices across the UK - effectively paralysing the country.

Cabinet ministers have suggested it would be madness for MPs to continue to meet during a major outbreak, describing them as potential 'virus super-spreaders' as they travelled to and from their constituencies.

Thousands of staff, officials and reporters work on the Parliamentary estate alongside politicians.

Concerns have been raised about the signal that would be sent by closing the doors at the Palace of Westminster

There are particular concerns about how the virus could affect members of the House of Lords, who have an average age of 70.

More than a hundred peers are over 80 years old. The disease has been found to be more dangerous for older people.

Appearing before the Health Select Committee last week, Chief Medical Office Chris Whitty said: 'I don't see, personally, any reason why the House of Commons and House of Lords are a more dangerous environment for people to move in than other ones, so other environments where people come into contact with other people.'

He continued: 'One of the bits of advice that 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.'

At Prime Minister's Questions last week, the SNP's Carol Monaghan raised fears that MPs could bring the infection back to Parliament from their constituencies.

She said: 'Every week 650 of us come here from every part of the UK, spend several days operating in close proximity and meeting people from all over the world, and we then return to our constituencies, potentially becoming the very vectors that we are trying to shut down.'

In response, Boris Johnson said: 'The chief medical officer and the chief scientific adviser, together with the Health Secretary, will be saying a little bit more in the next couple of days about what we are going to do to delay the advance of coronavirus  in Parliament and in other large gatherings.'
By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 03/11/2020



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couple Peta Murgatroyd and Maksim Chmerkovskiy have revealed they want to have a baby girl more than anything.Peta and Maksim welcomed a son Shai in January 2017, and they're definitely ready for Baby No. 2, Us Weekly reported "I want to experience that relationship," Maksim, 40, told Us on Monday of having a daughter."When Peta said [her last pregnancy] was a boy, I had this elated reaction like, 'Thank God.' But immediately after that, I was like, 'Okay, now I'm ready for a girl.' I just think it's a special thing."Maksim also admitted his mother is "looking forward" to having another grandchild."She's dying [for a girl], but I am too," Maksim shared.Peta, 33, is apparently hoping to get pregnant as soon as possible. She revealed in October 2019 she and Maksim hoped to conceive a second baby before the next season of commences."I would love to have more kids," Peta told the magazine at the time."We're talking about it now and trying to -- it sounds crazy -- schedule it in. The next season will probably be in fall again so, can I fit a baby in before then? Probably can, so we'll see if it's doable, yeah."The former pros got married in July 2017 with a fairy-tale wedding in New York just about six months after Shai -- which means "gift" in Hebrew -- was born.Peta told Us on Monday she anticipates Shai will be "a great" big brother."I think he'll be able to help a lot and it will not be as stressful as having two kids under 3," Peta revealed. "We've already spoken to him about it a little bit, and he goes between wanting a sister and a brother."Peta and Maksim began dating in 2012 and got engaged in December 2015 after the "bad boy of the [ ] ballroom" proposed during a performance of Sway at the Olympia Theater in Miami, FL.Maksim and Peta will be joining Val Chmerkovskiy and Jenna Johnson on tour this summer for Maks & Val Live 2020: Motion Pictures Tour.The two pairs of married dancers will be performing in a 57-show tour that kicks off on Thursday, June 11, in North Carolina and ends on August 16 in Pennsylvania.Maksim, Val and their wives will reportedly recreate iconic scenes from the movies on the tour.
[March 11, 2020] Turkcell And ING Signed The Longest Average-maturity Corporate Green Loan Agreement of 50 Million Euros

Turkcell (News - Alert) (NYSE:TKC) (BIST:TCELL) and ING European Financial Services plc, %100 affiliate of ING in Turkey, have signed a 'Green Loan' agreement of 50 million Euros with a 5-year term. The transaction marks the longest average-maturity corporate finance deal in green loan format in Turkey. Turkcell, last year, had incorporated its sustainability approach into its financing activities with a 3-year term Sustainability Linked Loan of 50 million Euros. Likewise, ING was among the first six banks in Turkey to sign Principles for Responsible Banking thanks to its end-to-end sustainability approach. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200311005556/en/ Turkcell and ING European Financial Services plc, %100 affiliate of ING in Turkey, have signed a 'Green Loan' agreement of 50 million Euros with a 5-year term.(Photo: Turkcell)



As part of the agreement, Turkcell will utilize the loan facility to finance its sustainable investments - such as renewable energy, energy efficiency, green digital services and green buildings - under the internationally recognized Green Loan Principles. The loan will be repaid at one go at the end of the 5-year term.

"We are diversifying our financing resources with sustainability focus" Emphasizing Turkcell's continued focus on sustainable financing alternatives, "Following the 3-year term Sustainability Linked Loan signed last year, we are now extending maturity further with this 5-year term Green Loan which will be used to finance our sustainable investments. We are proud to sign this corporate Green Loan facility which has the longest average-maturity in the country and diversifies our funding resources with sustainability focus. The Green Loan facility also stands out with its Euribor+1.95% annual interest cost. As we develop our business model with a sustainability approach, we care about sustainability as much as the cost of our financial activities," says Osman Yilmaz, Turkcell CFO. "As a founding member of the CFO Taskforce initiative established by the UN Global Compact, we are working with other members towards identifying Sustainable Development Goals, encouraging sustainable investments and supporting the use of sustainable financing products." "We believe in the transformative force banking sector holds for transitioning into a sustainable world" Stating that ING in Turkey will increasingly broaden its sustainable financing practices, "At ING Group, we believe in the transformative force banking sector holds for transitioning into a sustainable world. We put sustainability into practice on our business and on customer level to make long-term positive contribution to businesses and the society backed by our leading bank role," says Aysegul Akay, Wholesale Banking Executive Vice President, at ING in Turkey. "ING Group is one of the 30 founding signatories of the Principles for Responsible Banking, initiated by UNEP FI. As ING Group, we have provided 6.4 billion Euros worth of sustainable loans in 2019 which is more than doubled compared to 2018. As ING, we are one of the first 6 banks to commit to put Principles for Responsible Banking into practice in Turkey. Today, we are proud to sign the first corporate green loan agreement in Turkey with Turkcell." View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200311005556/en/

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A mild winter in the northern hemisphere, the COVID-19 outbreak, and now the price war that Saudi Arabia declared last weekend have combined to produce an all-new oil price crisis just four years after the last one. And things might get worse before they get better.

After last week data from hedge funds showed a slowdown in the selloff of oil and fuel contracts, as reported by Reuters John Kemp, this weeks data, for the first week of March, indicated a serious acceleration of sales. During that week, Kemp reported in his weekly column, fund sold the equivalent of 133 million barrels of oil across the six most traded oil and fuel contracts. This compares with sales of just 11 million barrels of oil equivalent across the six contracts just a week earlier.

The overall long position of hedge funds on oil and fuels was down to 392 million barrels by March 3, Kemp also noted, which compares with 970 million barrels at the start of 2020. Thats a decline of as much as 60 percent, and thats not all. The ratio of bullish to bearish positions, Kemp says, has fallen to 2:1 from 7:1 in January and is one of the lowest ratios in the past few years.

Meanwhile, the COVID-19 epidemic is marching across the world, fueling panic and dampening oil demand as people self-quarantine, flights get grounded, Italy extends its lockdown to the whole country, and a growing number of states in America declare a state of emergency. Related: Saudi Arabia's Archenemy Is Taking Advantage Of The Oil War

While this was happening, Saudi Arabia fired the first shot in what many are seeing as an all-out price war. After Russia refused to take part in deeper production cuts to prop up prices, with energy minister Alexander Novak saying that from April the countrys oil producers will be pumping oil as usual, without compliance to any OPEC+ quotas, Riyadh said it was cutting the prices for its oil and planning a production increase, utilizing its full production capacity, which is about 12 million bpd.

The bad news: hedge funds were extremely bearish on oil and fuels even before OPEC+ broke down. This suggests they might get even more bearish on oil after the latest developments there. And this, in turn, means prices could fall further despite a temporary improvement yesterday, in which Brent recouped some of its losses to trade, at the time of writing, at close to $37 a barrel.

This has turned into a scorched Earth approach by Saudi Arabia, in particular, to deal with the problem of chronic overproduction, John Kilduff from Again Capital told CNBC. The Saudis are the lowest cost producer by far. There is a reckoning ahead for all other producers, especially those companies operating in the U.S shale patch.

The prognosis for the oil market is even more dire than in November 2014, when such a price war last started, as it comes to a head with the significant collapse in oil demand due to the coronavirus, Goldman Sachs Jeffrey Currie said. The investment bank cut its oil price forecast for the second and third quarter to $30 a barrel for Brent, noting that the benchmark could dip even lower, into the $20s.

The situation in oil looks like a three-person staring contest. With low-cost producer but ambitious spender Saudi Arabia on one side, pumping at will, Russia on the other, braced for lower prices and its previous experience with price crashes, and US oil producing companies on the third side, grappling with insufficient cash for dividends and, for many shale producers, a heavy debt burden. For now, the analyst consensus seems to be that U.S. shale independents will be the ones to blink first.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
One of the worlds leading economists offered some succinct advice for governments dealing with the chaos and panic that accompanied Mondays market meltdown.

Olivier Blanchard, the former chief economist of the International Monetary Fund, took to Twitter during the carnage and called for two vital sets of measures  one to deal with the COVID-19 crisis, the other to deal with the economic crisis.

Keep the flow of infections down so the health system is not overwhelmed. Do whatever it takes, he wrote.

Prepare fiscal measures, including transfers and backstops to banks. Do whatever it takes.

This is more or less it.

Unlike Blanchard, Canadian policy-makers will need to define, implement and pay for these vital measures. And theyre balking because they dont yet know what do whatever it takes actually means.

Monday saw the biggest drop in the TSX in more than three decades, and oil sank to a price not seen in years. Forecasters have now chopped their expectations for the Canadian economy, and the spectre of a recession looms.

At times like this, its Ottawas job to soothe frayed nerves, so it was no surprise that Finance Minister Bill Morneau held court on Parliament Hill after markets closed on Monday.

But instead of charting a clear path forward, he merely offered vague reassurances, some cheerleading about Canadas fiscal position, and more questions than answers about what should be done.

That underwhelming response to the market chaos was, by all accounts, not for lack of trying. It was a reflection of the complexity of the challenge that coronavirus poses, both to our health and our economy.

The Bank of Canada has done its part, slashing its key lending rate to ease the strain on businesses that are struggling with broken supply chains or an unreliable customer base.

But the central bank has made it clear that it can only do so much, and that government policies will be crucial, and also more efficient, in cushioning the blow.

By all accounts the federal government is working on a response, but it seems likely to be delivered piece by piece.

Ottawa has already promised financial aid for those in quarantine, and the finance minister has committed to adding an extra rainy-day fund to the federal books to deal with unexpected expenses.

On Wednesday, Morneau is expected to roll out the first substantive aid package. It will likely include help for the health care sector to stock up on whatever it needs to slow down the advance of the virus in the hopes that our system can handle the flow as it inevitably intensifies.

It will also include help for workers and businesses  likely building on existing programs and lending facilities so that no time is wasted setting up something new. The goal is to get money directly into the hands of those who need it right now, whether it be access to financing for small businesses and exporters, or enhanced worker benefits to deal with interruptions in the workplace.

If theres a need for more, the federal budget is just around the corner, although it will come later than expected as officials grapple with economic projections that have now been turned on their head.

And if the budget measures prove not to be enough, Morneau has reserved the right to act again. I think its important not to think about the budget as an event, he said somewhat cryptically on Monday after the markets had closed. As the economy develops, we will be responding appropriately.

The problem with that piecemeal approach is that the coronavirus crisis extends beyond health care, oil prices and market stability.

This is also a crisis of confidence, which itself threatens to upend our economy and the way we live. Addressing that crisis requires details and vision about what exactly the government hopes to accomplish. Without that, Morneau risks making a bad situation worse.
Calls for President Rohani to take helm of Iran committee fighting coronavirus

03/11/20

Source: Press TV

Calls have been growing for Iran's President Hassan Rohani to personally take charge of a crisis committee formed to manage the nationwide fight against a coronavirus epidemic that has gripped several provinces. In a statement addressed to President Rohani on Tuesday, a group of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) outlined a set of emergency measures that the government could take to promote its efforts to rein in COVID-19, as the novel coronavirus is called. The epidemic has so far killed 354 people in Iran and infected 9,000 others. Some 2,959 people have also recovered.



Official Iran's statistics on coronavirus as of March 11th

Infections: 9,000

Deaths: 354

New Cases: 958

Recovered: 2,959

They highlighted the need for Rohani, as the country's chief executive, to take over the crisis committee's leadership from the Health Ministry to pave the way for better coordination among the country's executive institutions.

It is, however, natural that the Health Ministry should still remain in charge of handling the crisis and devising the healthcare policies and guidelines, the statement said.

The signatories to the statement said the government needs to follow the strategy of giving "priority to prevention over treatment."

They also called for the government to provide transparent information on the disease and its aftermath to the public, place worst-hit provinces under lockdown, and make effective use of medical aid deliveries from the World Health Organization (WHO) and foreign countries, among other measures.







Coronavirus testing center at University of Ahvaz

(photos by ISNA)

Meanwhile, an Iranian lawmaker said Tuesday that Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei is said to have called for President Rohani to assume the leadership of the national committee.

First Deputy Parliament Speaker Masoud Pezeshkian told a television program late Tuesday that Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani had written to the Leader, demanding a change in the committee's leadership.

Pezeshkian said the letter had been penned following an hours-long meeting of lawmakers and Health Minister Saeed Namaki.

"The letter - as far as I know - was about lifting the burden from the Health Ministry's shoulders and passing it on to the government. In that meeting, it was proposed that the first vice president or another person take charge of the committee," he said.

"As I have heard, the Leader has written in response that the president should personally assume the responsibility and lead the operations to combat the disease," he added.

More funds allocated to hospitals

The developments come as the country is stepping up the battle against the virus.

On Tuesday, 4,000 billion rials (almost $95,000) were allocated to equip hospitals, provide their essential supplies and pay their personnel.

It came upon an order issued by Head of Iran's Plan and Budget Organization Mohammad Bagher Nobakht.







Sanitization of Tehran's streets and alleys

'Iranian antiviral medication responding positively'

On Wednesday, Iran's Health Ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour commented on reports about the positive impact of anti-inflammation drug Actemra (Tocilizumab) to treat patients developing severe complications from COVID-19.

He said the results of the first clinical trial of the Iranian biosimilar drug have been positive, adding that more tests on the medication are planned to be conducted in the days to come.

If the medication proves efficient, it would take up about three weeks for the indigenized version of the drug to enter the mass-production stage.
Mumbai, March 11 : Security market regulator Sebi on Wednesday said that the ban will continue on former CG Power Chairman Gautam Thapar along with three former key management personnel from the markets and other Sebi-registered or listed companies.

The other officials banned are CG Power's former CFO V.R. Venkatesh and former directors Madhav Acharya and B. Hariharan.

"Gautam Thapar, V. R. Venkatesh, Madhav Acharya and B. Hariharan are restrained from accessing the securities market and are further prohibited from buying, selling or otherwise dealing in securities in any manner whatsoever, either directly or indirectly, till further orders," said the Sebi order.

The order, however, permitted them to liquidate up to 25 per cent of the value of the securities held by them. It said that they "are restrained from being associated with any intermediary registered with SEBI or any listed entity or its material unlisted subsidiary, in any manner whatsoever, till further orders".

The regulator said that CG Power and Industrial Solutions shall continue to take all necessary steps to recover the amounts due to the company, which were extended, either directly or indirectly, from these four along with due interest expeditiously and take necessary action, including legal actions, to safeguard the interest of the investors of the company.

The order by Sebi wholetime member, G. Mahalingam also noted that Thapar and the other noticees in their submissions have contended that the concerned dubious transactions were carried out with the knowledge and approval of the company as the MD and CEO, RAC (risk and audit committee) and the company's employees were either directly involved or informed of such transactions at every stage and further, requisite approval for such transactions were accorded by the MD and CEO and the Board of Directors along with the RAC.

Mahalingam observed that the role of the board of directors and RAC among others should also be examined by Sebi.

The order noted that Sebi has already ordered a forensic audit and the Report is expected very shortly.

Sebi's order comes around a week after the Mumbai bench of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) approved the Ministry of Corporate Affairs' plea to reopen the financial accounts of CG Power and Industrial Solutions for the period of 2014-15 to 2018-19.

The MCA had approached the NCLT in November seeking to reopen the financial statements of CG Power Industrial Solutions for 2015-19 on the basis of the company's announcement on the exchange about financial irregularities. The Mumbai bench of the NCLT also directed the government not to rely on the report by Vaish Associates, and asked them to conduct a separate investigation through an independent government agency.

The company in August last year disclosed the findings of risk and audit committee (RAC), which revealed that the firm and the group together could have under-reported Rs 3,600 crore liabilities in financial years 2017 and 2018.

Erstwhile CG Power Chairman Thapar, CFO Venkatesh and others were removed from the company board in August over alleged under-reporting and siphoning of money to Thapar's other firms. They were eventually barred from the stock markets and Thapar was also summoned by the MCA.

Thapar, however, has maintained that the transactions took place with due approval of the board.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's challenger Benny Gantz is to receive state protection following online threats, the Shin Bet domestic security agency has announced.

"The prime minister has approved the Shin Bet's recommendation for close protection of Mr Gantz," a statement from the agency said late Tuesday.

The decision still requires ratification from a security committee.

In Israel, seven people automatically receive protection from the Shin Bet, including the leader of the opposition.

But Gantz does not officially have that title as the country has been stuck without a fully functioning government for more than a year, with three elections unable to produce a decisive result.

Since the most recent election on March 2, Gantz, who heads the centrist Blue and White party, has been trying to form a government.

To do so he has sought the backing of the predominantly Arab Joint List, prompting attacks on social media from Jewish rightwingers.

Former armed forces chief Gantz took to Twitter on Saturday to call on Netanyahu to "stop this incitement to violence, do not say that you did not know."



He posted a message from social media saying "Gantz has to be killed as Rabin was." Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated in 1995 by a rightwing extremist opposed to his peace deal with the Palestinians.

Netanyahu, who at that time was the leader of the opposition, was accused of whipping up hatred against Rabin.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Rana Kapoor, the disgraced co-founder of Yes Bank, has blamed the new management that took charge after his exit from the bank for the failure of the private sector lender.

A special court on March 11 extended the Enforcement Directorate (ED) custody of Kapoor, who was arrested on charges of money laundering, until March 16.

Speaking to the media immediately after the extension of ED custody by the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court, Kapoor criticised the new management for the collapse of Yes Bank.

"The new management made false statements abundantly and... those are the lies which ruined the bank, the bank I built. Go and talk to Ravneet Gill, he said.

On Wednesday, the ED also interrogated Gill and the youngest daughter of Kapoor for more than seven hours.

Kapoor also said that he was in touch with the Reserve Bank of India. But he did not say how long he was in touch with the central bank.

However, his lawyer, Satish Maneshinde, argued in court that negotiations were happening between the RBI, the Finance Ministry and Kapoor and the ministry made him the scapegoat for irregularities at Yes Bank. My client (Kapoor) has never been charge-sheeted in his life even for a traffic violation, he told the court.

The ED mentioned in its remand copy that 78 companies linked to Kapoor and his family are under the scanner.

While seeking his custody, the agency told the court that loans worth Rs 30,000 crore were given to various entities when Kapoor was on the bank's panel. "Of this, Rs 20,000 crore turned into bad debts. We need to be probe in great detail how the money has travelled," the agency told the court, adding that quid pro quo and fund diversion need to be investigated.

Maneshinde further argued that Yes Banks non-performing assets were only one percent when Kapoor left the company and its market cap has gone down to Rs 5000 crore from Rs 93,000 crore after his departure.

Yes Banks investment in DHFL debentures was between April 2018 and June 2018. DHFLs first tranche of the loan was given in 2017.

Maneshinde argued that Kapoor had repaid the first two loans taken by firms belonging to his daughters. The first loan was taken in February 2017.
Fly Victor Ltd management secures winning bid to buy back Europe's leading on-demand private jet charter marketplace gaining independence after a competitive bid process

LONDON, March 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Led by its founder, Clive Jackson, the management of Fly Victor Ltd has secured significant financial backing from a consortium of former investors and regular flyers to acquire the company's global operations, while tracking to profitability this year.

Launched in 2011, Victor has revolutionised the business aviation industry with its commitment to transparency and the environment. Breaking free to chart an independent future will allow the company to maintain its commitment to challenging business aviation to decarbonise in a matter of years rather than decades.

Victor is ranked as one of Europe's leading private charter brokers. The company has been listed in the Sunday Times Tech Track for five consecutive years from 2015 to 2019 and has launched a global environmental campaign to ensure every Victor charter flight is mandated to fly 200% carbon neutral. The business is set to become the world's most environmentally responsible private aviation company with its award-winning approach to sustainability.

Having had a strong start to the year, the company is on track to achieve profitability in early 2020. Its underlying financial performance has shown consistent year on year improvements across all key performance indicators with the company investing heavily over the past 5 years to develop an integrated customer-facing and back-office work flow platform that has significantly reduced the cost of transaction and improved efficiencies.

Victor has been acquired as a going concern from the joint administrators of Alyssum Holdings Ltd, Paul Cooper and Paul Appleton of the specialist restructuring firm David Rubin & Partners.

Victor has revolutionised the jet charter industry with a fully transparent, subscription-free, globally "on-demand" marketplace. Booking transparency, underpinned by smart technology with its proprietary digital platform and "high touch" customer service, has been at the company's industry-disrupting core since its launch. Disclosing operator details and specific aircraft tail numbers to customers before booking has enabled Victor to build customer trust and become a leading provider of on-demand jet charter.

The consortium of investors have preserved 20% of the company's share capital for its management and staff in recognition of their role in helping to establish the company as Europe's leading charter broker and, as importantly, their future contribution towards building a new and exciting future.

Victor Founder Clive Jackson comments, "Our desire to undertake this MBO was driven by the belief that we have an exceptional team of highly dedicated and professional staff with the utmost integrity. This opportunity gives them the chance to shape the future development of Victor. It was a competitive bid process and there were multiple bids, so I am delighted that we secured the winning bid. Special thank you to our customers, partner operators and Victor team for believing in us on this incredible journey."

Joining Jackson in the MBO consortium is Rob Procter, a significant private investor, successful British Entrepreneur as Founder and former CEO of Securis Investment Partners LLP, former Managing Director at Morgan Stanley and former shareholder in the original Alyssum Group. Procter comments: "The staff in Victor exude a passion, dedication and desire to excel that is inspiring. They are fiercely loyal and have demonstrated tremendous commitment to Victor's management and founder through a sometimes-difficult process. They deserve a future that will allow them to build a world-class brand and I am proud to be associated and to contribute."

About VICTOR (www.flyvictor.com)

VICTOR is a leading on-demand jet charter platform. Launched in 2011, the company has rewritten the jet charter rulebook with a fully transparent, subscription-free, globally "on-demand" marketplace allowing members to swiftly check pricing options and aircraft specifics before booking the flights they need. VICTOR'S unique combination of smart technology and exceptional "high touch" customer service, means that customers - with access to thousands of aircraft via a global network of over 200 partner operators - are always connected and in control. Every VICTOR flight is 200% carbon offset as a standard.

VICTOR continues to expand rapidly with US field offices in nine high-net-worth markets, group charter division for corporates and sports, and Victor for Music which manages global tours for the world's most acclaimed performers across the Americas, Europe and Oceania.

The company made the Sunday Times Tech Track 100 in 2015-2019 consecutively and the Deloitte UK Tech Fast 50 in 2016 and 2017.

Contact:

Hannah Sharratt

Hannah.sharratt@flyvictor.com

+44-(0)20-7384-8550
"But it still lacks the user experience, appeal, social acceptance and, most importantly, narrative, that will propel it across the chasm into mainstream adoption..." - Blockchain Africa Conference speaker and fintech entrepreneur Simon Dingle on Bitcoin and its impact on industry...

Simon Dingle

Firstly, what is blockchain and where do you think were at in grasping the concept?

If blockchain is being offered by a decentralised open source community, then it is an amazing thing, and if it is being offered by an enterprise software company, it is garbage.

So, how would you explain the difference between Bitcoin and blockchain then?

Bitcoin is a movement, blockchain is a technology. Bitcoin is beyond the control of big corporate interests, while blockchain has been hijacked by every management consultancy firm in town.

Speaking at the conference last year, you offered a piece of advice regarding cryptocurrencies and the industry in general. You suggested that this technology exists to change the world, but that there are obstacles in the way of widespread adoption. Is this still the case and why do you think this is? What needs to change?

You also pointed clearly to the fundamental reason for Bitcoin, saying that it is the only one cryptocurrency. Why is this?

Any developments in blockchain/Bitcoin we should know about?

Comment on the past, current and/or future state of money.

The global economy is overheating, and we recently saw how volatile things are when the first hint of coronavirus hitting the USA sent markets tumbling. Debt levels are at an all-time high and our global financial system is poised for one of the biggest corrections in history.



The next financial crisis, which might pale what happened in 2009, will hopefully push more people to question the status quo in terms of how we allow greedy interests in New York to essentially hold the whole world to ransom.

What are some trends youre seeing play out in this space?

It's remarkable to see the superficial crap that passes for innovation in the banking industry - like vertically printed credit cards, as if that changes anything.

Where are we at in grasping these newish concepts and the new way(s) of working with money?

Is there a mindset shift that is happening/needs to happen?

Boom. South African private bank Investec just announced that theyre doing custody for blockchain assets.  Simon Dingle (@SimonDingle) March 11, 2020

Comment on its impact on the Marketing & Media industry?

Lastly, tell us about your book, In Math We Trust.

With the Blockchain Africa Conference taking place today and tomorrow, 11-12 March at Investec in Sandton, I interviewed Dingle to find out more...A blockchain is a way for computers to prove that they did something. It enables consensus in networks where there is no trusted central authority, or other third-party, to verify the authenticity of a transaction. It is mostly pointless in contexts where there is a trusted third party. So, in the example of Bitcoin, for example, blockchain is one of the most powerful ideas ever invented. In the example of a private company wanting to revolutionise their supply chain management, it is probably snake oil.Bitcoin is a system for peer-to-peer electronic cash. It is money for the internet. Blockchain is an enabling technology of Bitcoin. It is a way for computers to prove they did something.Mainstream adoption of Bitcoin will still take many years. The currency is still prone to price volatility and is not accepted by enough merchants yet, which means that not very many people are using it for its intended purpose, as cash.Added to that there are now misinformation campaigns being carried out by companies that are threatened by Bitcoin, much like Microsoft spent millions of dollars trying to combat Linux and open-source software two decades ago.For example, we recently saw American Express placing paid advertorial to spread the lie that Bitcoin wastes electricity. We have publicity, user experience, volatility and other hurdles to overcome before we see mainstream adoption of Bitcoin as currency. Which it is.What I really said is that Bitcoin is the only cryptocurrency to prove a mainstream use case so far. I am a big fan of many other cryptocurrency projects, but none of them have proven a compelling use case yet.This year is the "halving" when we will see the rewards paid to Bitcoin miners cut by 50%. This happens every four years and usually precipitates a bull market for Bitcoin. The Bitcoin Lightning network is also growing and picking up in adoption, enabling the fastest possible payment mechanism for merchants and customers, at unfairly low fees. Right now, retailers and other merchants are forced to pay exorbitant fees to card payment networks, and they could save a lot of money if more of the world moved to accepting Bitcoin Lightning payments.The Federal Reserve continues to print more dollars every year, on overdrive.Right now, we're seeing an unbundling of financial services, and a plethora of "fintech" startups trying to own a "re-bundled" stack of financial services. It's a lot of fun, but we already have things that are so much better in the cryptocurrency world. Unfortunately, the world of money continues to plod along as if the internet was never invented. It's curious how banking, for example, has managed to avoid true innovation for decades, falling behind almost every other industry.We're behind. People need a good story before they adopt a new technology, and right now the world of financial products is a minefield of misinformation, complexity and very confusing stories.Unfortunately, most people don't think for themselves. They do what their friends are doing. If you want to truly redefine a category, you need an iPhone-like product that not only packages technology in a way that is easy to understand, but also offers a good story.Bitcoin is the best system we've ever had for money, but it still lacks the user experience, appeal, social acceptance and, most importantly, narrative, that will propel it across the chasm into mainstream adoption.Bitcoin fundamentally changes the way money works for everyone, in every industry. In media, one example is that publications can very efficiently take funds directly from audiences without relying on middlemen.One of my hopes is that the advertising industry continues its fade into obscurity, and that cryptocurrency is one of the catalysts for new revenue models that leave advertisers in the dark.It's a short book about the future of money. I think it's totally fine.
Courtesy Hudson Crossing Park

GREENWICH - Hudson Crossing Park and New York State Department of Agriculture Invasive Species Coordinator Thom Allgaier will host a free invasive species program at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 26, at the Greenwich Free Library Community Room, 148 Main St.

Allgaier will discuss invasive species, which are a threat to the states biodiversity. He will discuss the current concerns in the area, how to protect property from the spread of invasive species, and the social, economic and environmental impact of invasives already in the community.
Two cars, designer watches, and high end clothing and handbags have been seized by gardai during four searches across Dublin this morning.

The Criminal Assets Bureau along with the emergency response unit began with a search at a house in Crumlin.
Warren Buffett didnt become the fourth-wealthiest person in the world by taking impetuous risks  and hes nothing if not consistent.

He stops by the same McDonalds breakfast every morning, according to reports and interviews. He spends 80 percent of his workday doing the same thing: reading. He plays bridge most days after work. And he sticks with the same bedtime.

Related: Why Does Warren Buffett Always Pay In Cash?

Comparatively, my everyday life as a twentysomething journalist living in New York is decidedly lacking in routine. I dont even take the same train to work every morning (you may have heard gripes about the citys unreliable subway system), my workdays vary greatly depending on the piece Im working on (like this one), and as much as I might try, I never go to bed at the same time (sorry, mom).

So when I decided to spend a day living like the billionaire investor, I knew itd be a challenge.

Wake and make money

The first momentous task: waking up at 6:45 a.m. Listen, Im a gym-after-work kind of person  plus the night before I started this challenge, Id stayed up until 1:30 a.m. with a friend watching the new Netflix reality show Love Is Blind. To wit, I hit snooze a couple of times. (Dont blame me  blame the shows villain for her antics!)

Buffett reportedly arrives at work around 9:30 a.m. when the markets open. I usually get in earlier than that, so I had a lot of time to kill. I puttered around my apartment a bit and found a list of songs hes referenced in the past to get me fired up on my commute.

Related: Warren Buffett's 3 Top Pieces of Advice for Entrepreneurs

Buffett famously pays for most things in cash. (He told Yahoo! Finance, Its just easier.) Conversely, I usually avoid carrying it at all costs (since its not reflected in my bank balance, it feels to me like Monopoly money). But today was different: I was no run-of-the-mill millennial  I was worth over $86 billion! So what could be more natural than paying in exact change? I rooted through my jar of loose coins and counted out a selection of quarters, nickels, dimes and pennies to prepare me for my McDonalds visit.

En route to recreate Buffetts famous breakfast habit, I listened to a George Jones song he references in Berkshire Hathaways acquisition criteria: A line from a country song expresses our feeling about new ventures, turnarounds, or auction-like sales: 'When the phone don't ring, you'll know it's me.'"

My McBillions

Every day, Buffett makes the five-minute drive to McDonalds and orders one of three items: two sausage patties, a sausage, egg and cheese sandwich or a bacon, egg and cheese sandwich. He decides which based on how prosperous hes feeling, so that morning hell tell his wife the corresponding meal price ($2.61, $2.95 or $3.17), and shell put that amount in his car. If Buffett orders two sausage patties, hes feeling down on his luck. On a good day, hell splurge on a bacon, egg and cheese.

I opened the door of McDonalds with my plastic bag of coins in hand and was immediately faced with a problem: As a vegan (insufferable, I know), I only had one real option under $3.17. The markets were heading into correction territory as part of the indexes worst week since the financial crisis, so I undercut even Buffetts cheapest order, going with a single hashbrown at $1.95. (Good thing I didnt go to a Manhattan McDonalds, or almost nothing wouldve been in Buffetts price range.) I painstakingly counted out some quarters and dimes (it's been a while since I did math) and went outside to photograph the bag for the story. In typical New York fashion, a guy on a scooter mockingly yelled, Ooh, shes got fresh McDonalds! (To be honest, I deserved it for looking like I was Instagramming my breakfast.)

I rolled into work just as the markets opened, timed perfectly because I trusted the MTA subway system would fail me as usual. Buffett famously drinks five cans of Coca-Cola every day, so my coworker Matt bought my first, and I paid him back with six quarters.

Related: Warren Buffett Has No Plans to Retire as Berkshire Hathaway CEO

Buffett has been known to treat his friend Bill Gates to McDonalds for lunch, so I tapped the most natural replacement: my boss, Dan Bova (suckup alert!). The midtown Manhattan lunch rush meant we had to try two different McDonalds locations before ordering our copious amounts of fries. It was an unexpected bonding experience for us to eat food together that typically served as a hangover cure. At this point, the Coca-Cola was starting to make me a little nauseous. Definitely wasnt going to make it to five cans.

Mental pushups and ukuleles

I set aside part of the afternoon to simply sit and read, emulating the man who spends as much as 80 percent of his workday doing the same. He once reportedly said, Read 500 pages like this every day. Thats how knowledge works. It builds up, like compound interest. All of you can do it, but I guarantee not many of you will do it. Buffett says the amount of time he spends reading and thinking helps him avoid impulse decisions in business. Interestingly enough, it resulted in me not experiencing the usual 2:00 p.m. crash, and I felt energized to think more creatively after giving my mind an outlet. Ill definitely be exploring this further as an afternoon coffee alternative.

One of many differences between Buffett and myself: He successfully learned to play the ukulele in college, while I still havent learned to play one chord using the one I acquired in my junior year. The dusty instrument finally had its moment in the sun, though, when I tried to recreate Buffetts 65-plus years of experience and serenaded my coworkers. (They grimaced and clapped politely.)

My attempt at bridge, which Buffett reportedly plays for as much as eight hours a week, went similarly (and ended up with me perusing Bridge for Dummies online). Buffett told The Washington Post: "It's a game you can enjoy when you are in your 90s, and you are seeing a different intellectual challenge every seven minutes. It's the best exercise there is for the brain."

Dining for dollars

After work, I went to dinner with a friend who also used to be a personal finance journalist. (If Im Warren Buffett for the day, the dinner conversation had better revolve primarily around investing, money and long-term goals.)

The Berkshire Hathaway CEOs approach to investing is just as steady as his daily routine: Hes a staunch believer in a long-term strategy that follows the market and minimizes investment fees, as well as a proponent of value-based investing: seeking out easy-to-analyze companies that demonstrate strong long-term growth potential. Buffett actively advises against trying to beat the market or placing trust in an actively managed fund.

At dinner, my friend and I talked about building up our emergency funds, amping up investments, paying down high-interest debt and how money dynamics affect relationships. It felt good to talk about our long-term goals and where we saw our money taking us five or 10 years down the line  especially since were beginning to be able to act on the advice we used to give people for a living.

Closing the books on Buffett

On my commute home, I listened to another of Buffetts most-referenced songs, Some Enchanted Evening, with his favorite kind of milkshake in hand (strawberry). I ran the last few blocks to my apartment to make it into bed by his famous 10:45 p.m. lights-out time (usually Im a past-midnight kind of girl), slept soundly and woke up feeling energized and ready to take on another day.

My last task as Buffett carried over into day two: Stopping by his boxed chocolate company, Sees Candies, in Manhattans Greenwich Village. I picked up his favorites: peanut brittle and chocolate walnut fudge (which can sometimes be seen alongside him in company meetings). And of course, I paid with my remaining handful of change.

Twenty-four hours as Warren Buffett may have taken a physical toll  Im nowhere near becoming a McDonalds regular, and even as an Atlanta native, Im far from his level on Coca-Cola consumption. Mentally, though, I felt energized and rejuvenated after giving my mind the space to be creative (via my afternoon reading break) and the rest it required (the wonders of eight hours of sleep!). As for Buffetts money mindset? Although I may never get used to carrying cash, applying his future-minded outlook to the market dip kept me calm.

Investing aside, using Buffetts long-term lens to look at life seems like a healthy way to see past hills and valleys, cut out the noise and focus on whats really important. And, of course, a strawberry milkshake in hand doesnt hurt.

Related:

I Spent a Day Living Like Billionaire Warren Buffett. Here's What Happened.

The Chicken Queen

When Goop Went Viral for the Wrong Reasons, the Company Took These Steps to Rebuild Its Reputation



Copyright 2020 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
A new coronavirus infection case has been confirmed in Romania in a 56-year-old man of Bucharest who travelled to Israel, according to the Strategic Communication Group (GCS).

According to GCS, the man showed symptoms on Tuesday night, his health worsened, and he was admitted to the intensive care unit of the Victor Babes Hospital in Bucharest.
It is doubtless a positive to see that the China Touyun Tech Group Limited (HKG:1332) share price has gained some 118% in the last three months. But spare a thought for the long term holders, who have held the stock as it bled value over the last five years. Five years have seen the share price descend precipitously, down a full 73%. So we don't gain too much confidence from the recent recovery. The important question is if the business itself justifies a higher share price in the long term.

See our latest analysis for China Touyun Tech Group

Because China Touyun Tech Group made a loss in the last twelve months, we think the market is probably more focussed on revenue and revenue growth, at least for now. Generally speaking, companies without profits are expected to grow revenue every year, and at a good clip. Some companies are willing to postpone profitability to grow revenue faster, but in that case one does expect good top-line growth.

In the last five years China Touyun Tech Group saw its revenue shrink by 0.6% per year. While far from catastrophic that is not good. The share price fall of 23% (per year, over five years) is a stern reminder that money-losing companies are expected to grow revenue. We're generally averse to companies with declining revenues, but we're not alone in that. Fear of becoming a 'bagholder' may be keeping people away from this stock.

You can see below how earnings and revenue have changed over time (discover the exact values by clicking on the image).

SEHK:1332 Income Statement, March 11th 2020

Take a more thorough look at China Touyun Tech Group's financial health with this free report on its balance sheet.

A Different Perspective

While the broader market lost about 11% in the twelve months, China Touyun Tech Group shareholders did even worse, losing 30%. Having said that, it's inevitable that some stocks will be oversold in a falling market. The key is to keep your eyes on the fundamental developments. Regrettably, last year's performance caps off a bad run, with the shareholders facing a total loss of 23% per year over five years. We realise that Baron Rothschild has said investors should "buy when there is blood on the streets", but we caution that investors should first be sure they are buying a high quality business. While it is well worth considering the different impacts that market conditions can have on the share price, there are other factors that are even more important. Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 4 warning signs with China Touyun Tech Group (at least 2 which are a bit unpleasant) , and understanding them should be part of your investment process.

Story continues

If you like to buy stocks alongside management, then you might just love this free list of companies. (Hint: insiders have been buying them).

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on HK exchanges.

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



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
Time is Running Out to Assemble the Prime Vanguard  For a Limited-Time Only, Warframe Players Can Gain Instant Access to or Earn Prime Warframes, Weapons, and Accessories Released Through Prime Resurgence Before They Disappear
The Progressive Conservatives are planning to allow dozens of new electronic billboards on Metrolinx rail lands in Toronto and other major centres, the Star has learned.

One day after Premier Doug Ford mused about installing billboards on 400-series highways to raise money for provincial coffers, Metrolinx quietly posted an expression of interest (EOI) seeking potential bids for urban advertising signage.

The provincial transit agencys posting on MERXs public tendering website appeared Tuesday.

Metrolinx invites entities to submit proposals for the design, construction, management and maintenance of digital sign structures at specific locations along Metrolinx-owned lands including within the rail corridor and on station properties in order to generate revenue, it reads.

Proponents may submit a proposal to construct digital billboards on one or more locations. The selected proponents will be required to enter into lease agreements with Metrolinx related to the construction and operation of the digital billboards.

Transportation Minister Caroline Mulroneys office said Wednesday the Metrolinx pitch is a separate initiative than the potential 400-series plans referenced by the premier.

There is a list of 66 potential properties included in the EOI and they include both station properties and sites within rail corridors, Mulroneys office said in an email.

This list does not include any properties along 400-series highways.

That means brightly lit electronic billboards in Liberty Village and other heavily populated GO Transit rail corridors in Mississauga, Oakville, Burlington, Hamilton, Pickering, Ajax, Oshawa, York Region, and Kitchener.

Expressions of interest must be submitted by April 16  so far 11 companies and organizations have already downloaded the documentation needed to proceed with a bid.

Mulroneys office said Metrolinx expects to award locations in May, but it remains to be seen when the 66 signs could start being installed.

There is no cost to Metrolinx associated with this. Metrolinx media partners will cover the costs to design, build and operate these billboards, the ministers office.

Industry sources say such digital billboards can cost up to $1.5 million to build.

But municipal approvals can be difficult to get due to local residents concerns about the signs.

On Monday in Kitchener, Ford said he was inspired by the signage he sees on U.S. highways, like Interstate 75.

The premier said the vast open spaces along the 400-series are ripe for generating revenue for a province with a $9 billion budget deficit.

That would create a couple hundred million more for the province that we could allocate to education and transportation, he said.

Its kind of a no-brainer. So we have to think like the private sector does.

The next day in Scarborough, Ford emphasized were looking at all sorts of revenues.

Whats not an option for our government is to raise taxes and put a burden on the backs of the residents of Ontario. Theyre taxed enough no matter if its provincial, municipal or federal taxes, he said Tuesday.

We have a lot of highways, right. We have 401, 400, 427, all the 400 series up to Hwy. 11. And well see what the market bears.

Green Leader Mike Schreiner expressed concern that the billboard scheme will be a reprise of past Ford boondoggles like the double-blue licence plates and the anti-carbon tax gas-pump decals.

The defective plates, illegible in certain lighting conditions, are being replaced with a white design and the mandatory stickers attacking federal carbon-pricing have adhesive issues and are frequently vandalized.

This is a worrying sign about the upcoming budget if the premier is more concerned with roadside gimmicks than tackling true emergencies like COVID-19, said Schreiner, referring to the March 25 fiscal blueprint.

We need real vision to lead the province through tough challenges, not roadside distractions copied from down south to make a quick buck, he said,

As if the premier hasnt made enough gaffes with stickers and license plates, hes now getting into the billboard business.

Robert Benzie is the Stars Queens Park bureau chief and a reporter covering Ontario politics. Follow him on Twitter: @robertbenzie

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Two more Disneyland Paris maintenance workers have now tested positive for coronavirus.

They were diagnosed with the illness just days after going into quarantine when their colleague tested positive over the weekend.

According to BFMTV, Disneyland insisted the first infected person had worked 'behind the scenes' and was 'not in contact' with visitors to the park.

The park has responded to the growing number of cases among members of staff by closing two attractions.

Two more Disneyland Paris maintenance workers have now tested positive for coronavirus (file image showing the Sleeping Beauty castle last June)

The first worker, whose shifts fell overnight, had already been off work sick for several days before the diagnosis.

Three people were then reportedly ordered into quarantine.

Park authorities previously said they will try to keep tourists a safe distance apart when they queue up for rides.

The Princess Pavillion was shut down on Tuesday to limit the amount of direct contact with guests and concerts at Billy Bob's venue in the Disney village have been temporarily suspended.

Park authorities previously said they will try to keep tourists a safe distance apart when they queue up for rides (guests pictured on March 9)

Instead of greeting guests directly, the Disney princesses are now travelling around the park on a chariot three times a day.

More hand santiser and water points are expected to be placed around the 22km park, single rider queues have been scrapped to limit riders' contact with new people and cutlery has been replaced with disposable options.

MailOnline has contacted Disneyland Paris for comment.

Tokyo Disneyland was previously shut down over virus fears in Japan, while the park in Shanghai was closed as long ago as January 25 but is now set to partially re-open.

Twitter account @DLPReport listed some of they key 'preventative measures' the park has put into place

Walt Disney World in Florida has said it is implementing 'preventive measures' including easy access to hand sanitisers and clearly-defined cleaning routines.

Disneyland Paris, which is around 20 miles east of the city centre and receives 15million visitors a year, has remained open despite a French ban on gatherings of more than 1,000 people.

The new restrictions are being applied nationwide after they were previously announced in virus hotspots, health minister Olivier Veran said at the weekend.

'The priority is to do all we can to slow the transmission of the virus,' he said.

The government had already banned gatherings of more than 5,000 people in confined venues.

Sport has also been affected. PSG's match at Strasbourg was postponed on Saturday, and the team will play their Champions League match against German side Dortmund behind closed doors on Wednesday.

A tourist wearing a mask walks away from the Louvre art gallery in Paris last week after staff closed the museum over coronavirus fears

The women's Six Nations game between Scotland and France at the weekend was also cancelled.

'We are still in the second stage, meaning that our priority is to do everything to slow the spread of the virus in our national territory,' health minister Veran said.

Visitors to Paris have been turned away from the Louvre art gallery, but the Eiffel Tower has remained open.

However, the Eiffel Tower is only accepting payments by bank card, amid fears that the virus could be passed on by handling cash.

France has confirmed more than 1,200 cases of the virus, with 19 deaths in Europe's largest outbreak outside Italy.

Finance minister Bruno Le Maire said today that Europe needs a 'massive' economic stimulus plan to cope with the impact of the outbreak.

France and Italy have been leading calls to loosen European budget rules to cope with the economic impact.

The European Commission told Italy on Saturday that its planned extra spending in response to the outbreak would not be counted in measuring its compliance.

Italy has placed 16million people in lockdown in the most drastic anti-coronavirus measures seen so far outside China.
By Joshua Franklin NEW YORK (Reuters) - Corporate America is gearing up for leaner times. From Exxon Mobil Corp to Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd , companies rushed to borrow more money and boost their cash coffers on Tuesday, as the market turmoil fueled by a plunge in oil prices and the global coronavirus outbreak raised the prospect of an economic downturn

By Joshua Franklin

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Corporate America is gearing up for leaner times.

From Exxon Mobil Corp to Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd , companies rushed to borrow more money and boost their cash coffers on Tuesday, as the market turmoil fueled by a plunge in oil prices and the global coronavirus outbreak raised the prospect of an economic downturn.

"It's companies loading up on cash when you can get it. They are effectively building up that war chest," said Jeremy Swan, managing principal at accounting and tax advisory firm CohnReznick LLP.

Royal Caribbean said on Tuesday it increased its credit capacity by $550 million to boost liquidity. The company's stock plunged this month, amid concerns that the coronavirus outbreak would curtail travel.

"These are extraordinary times and we are taking these steps to manage the company prudently and conservatively," Royal Caribbean Cruises Chairman and Chief Executive Richard Fain said in a statement.

Exxon, which has one of the corporate world's strongest balance sheets, filed paperwork on Tuesday for an unspecified board offering for what it called general corporate purposes, as the oil major grapples with the collapse in Brent crude prices.

Oreo maker Mondelez International Inc on Monday announced a $2.5 billion credit facility, in addition to a similar agreement worth $1.5 billion (1.16 billion pounds) agreed less than two weeks ago.

United Airlines Holdings Inc also said on Tuesday it had raised an extra $2 billion in financing while slashing its 2020 capital expenditures by more than a third.

"We also believe we have good options to raise additional liquidity in the weeks to come, if needed," United President Scott Kirby said.

Other companies which chose not to raise new funds yet touted their financial strength to calm investors. In an investor presentation on Tuesday, American Airlines Group Inc flagged more than $7.3 billion in cash and unused bank lending in reserve.

"American Airlines has more liquidity than any other airline in the world, which is exactly where we want to be in an environment like this and exactly why indeed we've held so much for so long," American Airlines Chairman and CEO Doug Parker said at a conference on Tuesday.

Debt-laden companies in service sectors hit by reduced tourism and discretionary spending, such as airlines, cruise lines, movie theaters, gaming companies and hotel chains, are particularly vulnerable, according to Fitch Ratings.

"What we've seen in this market is that stability today isn't necessarily stability tomorrow," Swan said.

(Reporting by Joshua Franklin in New York; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
The Government has advised against non essential travel to parts of Spain.

Tanaiste Simon Coveney tweeted: This evening we are upgrading our overall security status in respect of Spain to exercise a high degree of caution & advising against non-essential travel to the following areas: Madrid, Vitoria & Labastida in the Basque Country and La Rioja.

TRAVEL ADVICE 2/2: re #COVID19 .This evening we are upgrading our overall security status in respect of Spain to exercise a high degree of caution & advising against non-essential travel to the following areas: Madrid, Vitoria & Labastida in the Basque Country and La Rioja.  Simon Coveney (@simoncoveney) March 11, 2020

A statement on the Department of Foreign Affairs said: "A significant number of cases of novel coronavirus (Covid-19) have been confirmed in Spain, on the mainland as well as the Balearic and Canary Islands.

"If you are in Spain, you should monitor developments regularly and follow the advice of local authorities."
(Bloomberg) -- An Israeli spyware maker is asking a judge to sanction Facebook Inc. for allegedly skirting international law and lying about it to a judge to gain advantage in a lawsuit.

NSO Group claims Facebook failed to properly provide notice under the rules of the Hague Convention when it sued NSO Group in October, accusing the company of creating bogus WhatsApp accounts to send malware and hack into the phones of 1,400 people.

Based on Facebooks claim that NSO Group failed to respond to the complaint, a court clerk entered a default against the Israeli company last week in federal court in San Francisco. NSO Group is asking a judge to set aside the default and order Facebook to pay $16,994 to cover legal costs.

Facebook isnt contesting the request to remove the default, but is asking the judge to move the case along on the merits without further delay.

Facebook said in a filing it was candid with the court about our diligent efforts to serve defendants in compliance with the applicable provisions of the Hague Convention and to otherwise ensure that they received the summons and complaint in this case.

Read More: Facebook Sues Israels NSO on Alleged WhatsApp Malware Hack

To contact the reporter on this story: Robert Burnson in San Francisco at rburnson@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: David Glovin at dglovin@bloomberg.net, Peter Blumberg

For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com

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2020 Bloomberg L.P.
The 2020 CUNA Governmental Affairs Conference (GAC) is in the books and for me, it was by far the best in recent memory. The presenters are always high caliber. The National Credit Union Foundations Herb Wegner Awards are inspiring and a reminder of what makes credit unions different, and this year didnt disappoint.

Upon further reflection, several things make the GAC a standout experience for me personally. First, seeing the continued strong emphasis on credit union values and diverse inclusion initiatives. This year, attendance at the CDFI Roundtable, Juntos Avanzamos, NLCUP, AACUC and GWLN events were at capacity and the energy has never felt stronger! The topics of inclusion, empowerment, and equity in how we approach serving our diverse communities were front and center, and a real differentiator in the overall experience. Its these things that make credit unions different and better.

CUNAs national Open Your Eyes to a Credit Union initiative is timely and exciting. As we support this strategy directly or indirectly as collective credit unions and system partners, lets first remember to make sure our own eyes are open to whats at stake.

What do you see?

On Feb. 19, 2020, a remarkable event occurred among U.S. financial cooperatives (that many of us missed) and that could be leveraged to promote the credit union brand and help consumers open their eyes to credit unions: former President Bill Clinton visited Cooperativa La Sagrada Familia (a credit union) in rural Corozal, Puerto Rico.

President Clinton, representing the Clinton Global Initiative Action Network on Post-Disaster Recovery recognized the collective efforts of credit unions to support marginalized communities. Credit unions such as Sagrada Familia, are on the ground and in the trenches, working to rebuild communities after Hurricane Maria through access to resources that strengthen and amplify their community development work. Read more here.

Many organizations, including Inclusiv, NCUFs CUAid, CUNA Mutual Group, WOCCU, the CDFI Treasury, the NYCUA, other leagues, and many mainland credit union partners have been working with the credit union leaders in Puerto Rico to help them expand capacity to increase financial inclusion and outreach efforts within their underserved communities. An enormous amount of good is coming out of these collaborations and credit union heroes are taking cooperative leadership to new heights. The effort expended on Puerto Rican credit unions was great enough to earn a visit from a former U.S. president. President Clintons sole purpose was to formally recognize the work of local credit union leaders, and the broader efforts contributed by credit union leaders outside of Puerto Rico.

If I had the power to present a national award to my very own credit union hero of the year, it would go to Pablo DeFilippi (CUDE), SVP at Inclusiv. Like anything Pablo commits to, he throws all of his passion and effort into working for underserved communities. His efforts make a huge difference. To me, Pablo DeFilippi is the Roy Bergengren or Louise Herring of our day. His work with Juntos Avanzamos and Puerto Rican credit unions are recent examples. If youre looking to learn from an inspiring credit union leader, a leader that gets his hands dirty in the work of inclusion, follow Pablo.

Other than the press release by Inclusiv, I havent seen this incredible story anywhere else. I could be wrong, but I think if a former U.S. President would have visited a credit union on the mainland, it would have been front-page news and top of mind for most of us.

And one more opportunity to open our eyes

As we collectively find powerful stories to help open consumers eyes to credit unions, lets be sure to remember ALL our credit unions. Yes, this means especially our small credit unions. If you follow me, you know this is an area I am extremely passionate about. I believe too many credit union leaders are overlooking or altogether dismissing small credit unions. This creates tension between large and small credit unions and its one way bankers attack, seeking to drive a wedge between us. We need to remember, that in the big, competitive financial services space, all but a handful of credit unions are considered smaller players. Collectively, we only have 7 percent of the total market. If youre dissin small credit unions, please stop.

Big credit unions need small credit unions and vice versa. Lets remember this: the credit union movement should be inclusive of ALL credit unions, regardless of asset size. The word ally is an oft-repeated and important word when discussing inclusion. A great example of being an ally is seen with the tiny $11.6 -million Greater Kinston Credit Union and its partnership, with the $43-billion State Employees Credit Union. SECU provides leadership and various levels of support to Greater Kinston to assist them in increasing financial inclusion in a severely marginalized community. Working together, they are changing peoples lives and improving the community. There are opportunities like this throughout credit union land. I hope we can do more.

Why it matters

We are better together.

We serve in a historic, social movement. An inclusive place where people are more important than profit, members stories are as important as their credit scores, character is more important than status, and service means more than a click. Lives materially change when we are at our inclusive best.
Coronavirus coverage

Thank you for your Houston Chronicle coverage of the coronavirus. This is, of course, a grave concern worldwide. Calm, timely, factual information helps us understand and protect ourselves and our community. The press is also a vehicle to bring communities together, especially during times of crisis. In the 25 years Ive lived in Houston, Ive grown to know Houstonians as an exceptionally generous community that responds with its heart. Lets tap into that generous spirit during this crisis. Please keep reminding us that there is no need to hoard medical supplies, cleaning supplies, water or toilet paper. There is need to check on our neighbors, to help share and care for those in need.

My brother lives in Singapore, so I have been reading the Singapore press to track its news of the virus. The media clearly summarizes daily updates, reports the cases, the relationship among the sick, the location of clusters of sick, how individuals are tracked and efforts to isolate them while respecting their privacy. So far, there have been no deaths. And the press also reports profiles of dedicated doctors and nurses, reports on schoolchildren who send electronic valentines to health care workers to thank them for their courageous service, reports on scout troups assembling care packages for office cleaners  also on the front lines of infection. I find that reading their news is uplifting, despite the crisis. It reminds me of the news of local rescue efforts during Hurricane Harvey. Or the reports of the courage shown during 9/11. And it reminds me of Mr. Rogers mothers advice, to look for the helpers. Help us emulate that response here.

M. K. Johns, Houston

Dont get me wrong, the COVID-19 virus is a significant public health threat, however, I cannot help but have the opinion that coverage of this threat is definitely not the medias finest hour. This includes the Houston Chronicle. At best, the coverage has been superficial and at worst the media in my opinion is guilty of yelling fire in a crowded movie theater! Too much coverage has been relegated to click bait headlines and sensationalism. It seems to me that the media is devoting more time in sensationalizing the headlines with earthshaking regularity rather than searching out experts in the public health fields for a more balanced perspective on the outbreak.

To be fair, the Chronicle has published at least two articles that seem to fall in the former category. An article in Sundays newspaper giving questions and answers on a vaccine development and other matters is a good example. Unfortunately, these types of articles are few and far between when compared to sensationalism whether measured in airtime minutes or column inches.

What the coverage of this disease reminds me of is the old newspaper axiom that says, a dog biting a man is not newsworthy but if a man bites a dog it is news. The Chronicle and all media can and should do better.

R. C. Patyrak, Missouri City
Theres no doubt that auto insurance will be a dominant theme during this years legislative session in Louisiana. So far most of the buzz has been aimed at tort reform as a method of bringing down the cost of auto insurance premiums in the state, which are some of the highest in the nation.

But Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards is backing bills aimed at prohibiting discrimination insurance rate setting. According to the governors office, Edwards is backing several pieces of legislation filed by Democratic Sen. Jay Lenau of Alexandria that address discriminatory rate setting. They are: SB 13, SB 14, SB 15 and SB 16.

In a media release the bills were summarized as:

SB 13 prohibits insurance rate determinations based on risks classified by the gender of an insured over the age of twenty-five.

SB 14 prohibits insurance rate determinations based on risks classified by credit score/rating.

SB 15 prohibits insurance rate determinations based on risks classified due to the fact that the insured is a widow or widower.

SB 16 prohibits insurance rate determinations based on risk classifications due to the fact that the insured is deployed in the military in excess of six months.

In his remarks to the Legislature at the opening of the session on March 9, Edwards acknowledged that the cost of auto insurance is too high in Louisiana.

He told lawmakers Luneaus bills that he supporting will actually help to lower auto insurance rates for people in Louisiana and prohibit certain arbitrary penalties.

Edwards listed factors that auto insurers are able to employ to legally set rates: gender; credit score; loss of spouse; and military deployment.

I think we can all agree that our auto insurance rates should be based on our driving records. Not on if youre female, or poor, or widowed, or putting your life on the line for our country. These bills would prohibit penalties based on those factors, Edwards said.

He added that banning discrimination in insurance rate setting is the common sense thing to do, but more importantly, its the right thing to do.

The governors approach is supported by an organization called Real Reform Louisiana, which the Associated Press reports is allied with Edwards. The organization has called for the Louisiana Department of Insurance to release details of how it calculates rates, the AP reported.

Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon, a Republican, is strongly in favor of tort reform with regard to the auto insurance dilemma. In an interview with Insurance Journal in September 2019, Donelon said the main factor driving the high cost of auto insurance in Louisiana is our highest in the nation claims-to-litigation ratio. We have a tort system thats broken, that needs to be fixed.

He added that tort reform is needed so that more companies can come to Louisiana and do business in our state under a new set of rules that is not so onerous for auto insurers in our judicial environment.

Related:

Topics Auto Louisiana
Kim Brent / The Enterprise

We still think that Southeast Texas would be a great site for a Veterans Affairs hospital, but the political and financial barriers to that option seem insurmountable. In the three months since state Rep. Dade Phelan, R-Beaumont, proposed that facility, VA officials and Washington leaders have not responded. A petition drive in support of this effort also garnered only 4,000 of the 100,000 signatures that would have been needed to be forwarded to the Trump administration.

Given those realities, Phelan is shifting to a more doable goal  adding a dozen or so in-patient beds in the rebuilding of the Beaumonts Veterans Affairs clinic, which was damaged by Imeldas floodwaters. That clinic has been operating out of field tents and mobile medical units while repairs are being done to the main facility.
New Delhi, March 11 : Airline major IndiGo on Wednesday said that it expects quarterly earnings to be materially impacted due to the outbreak of coronavirus.

It also pointed out that the rupee has also depreciated sharply which will have an adverse impact on its dollar denominated liabilities primarily on account of capitalised operating leases.

"In January and February 2020, IndiGo experienced modest impact from the coronavirus. We cancelled our flights to China and Hong Kong and reduced frequency to certain other Southeast Asia markets," the airline said in a filing to the BSE.

"This capacity was redeployed in other markets without having a material impact on our revenues. Over the past few days however, week-on-week, we have seen a 15-20 per cent decline in our daily bookings." The airline had reported a 168 per cent jump in net profit to Rs 496 crore in the quarter ended December 31, 2019.

In the corresponding quarter in the previous financial year, the airline had logged in Rs 185.2 crore profit.

In the October-December period of FY20, IndiGo saw its revenue from operations rising 25.5 per cent to Rs 9,931.7 crore. During this period, its capacity growth was 19.3 per cent compared to the same quarter last year.

The company, in an official statement, said that its balance sheet grew stronger with total cash aggregating to Rs 20,068 crore including free cash of Rs 9,412 crore.

Earlier, global industry body International Air Transport Association (IATA) has estimated the combined revenue loss for airlines in the range of $63-113 billion.

In its latest financial impact of novel coronavirus (Covid-19) on airline sector released on March 5, IATA predicted 2020 global revenue losses for the passenger business of $63 billion considering infection is contained in countries with over 100 cases as of March 2.

This scenario considers markets with more than 100 confirmed COVID-19 cases and experiencing a sharp downturn followed by a V-shaped recovery profile.

In case the virus spreads further covering more markets, the losses could almost double to $113 billion thus further affecting the financial health of airlines worldwide.

The projected loss is on account of passenger traffic and does not include cargo operations.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
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In 2008, following the global financial crisis, one Indian bank suffered the most on account of its direct exposure to Lehman Brothers--ICICI Bank.

The private banking behemoths London subsidiary had 57 million euro (about Rs 375 crore then) exposure in the Lehman Brothers. The news triggered panic among depositors in India.

Depositors queued up before ICICI Bank ATMs to withdraw money. The banks stock tumbled about 14 percent intra-day. The then ICICI Bank chief KV Kamath had to cancel his foreign trip and rush back to appear before the media to calm worried depositors. The government stated that ICICI Bank has lost $250 million globally due to the US subprime crisis. Finally, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had to issue a public statement to assure depositors that rumours were baseless and ICICI Bank had enough liquidity to meet depositors needs.

12 years later..

A little over a decade later, history has repeated. This time, the reason isnt the subprime crisis but the alleged dubious dealings of a greedy bank promoter that brought a bank to its knees.

On March 5, 2020, after the Yes Banks liquidity woes turned into a full-blown financial crisis, the RBI had to issue a statement to calm depositors. The Reserve Bank assures the depositors of the bank that their interest will be fully protected and there is no need to panic, it said.

Thats only the second time since the 2008 crisis the RBI had to publicly issue a state. There was a similar situation post the fraud at Punjab and Maharashtra Co-operative Bank. But the difference was that it was a co-operative bank. Unlike commercial banks, co-operative banks received a lighter regulatory treatment by the RBI.

Post Yes Bank, there is a fear that smaller private banks may see an exodus of depositors to PSU banks that are perceived safer. The RBI may have to, perhaps, step in to calm the nerves yet again. There is a trust deficit building up among smaller private banks post the Yes Bank event. There is no other way but the RBI stepping in to assure depositors if the crisis gets prolonged, said the head of BFSI vertical at a leading rating agency requesting anonymity.

Indeed the RBI stepped in with all its might. Last week, the central bank and the government approved a draft reconstruction scheme for Yes Bank, under which State Bank of India will inject Rs2,450 crore initially to buy a 49 percent stake in Yes Bank and will step up capital infusion later if required up to Rs 10,000 crore. SBI is scouting for other banks to join the rescue team. As per the plan, the countrys largest lender will have to retain at least 26 percent stake in the bank until three years. According to SBI chairman Rajnish Kumar, around three banks have shown interest in participating in the rescue deal.

Trust deficit is an issue. Hopefully, Yes Bank resolution calms nerves, said a senior RBI official on condition of anonymity. Moneycontrol reported on Saturday that the RBI is extending a Rs 8,000-Rs 10,000 crore special direct line of credit to Yes Bank to ease the liquidity tightness.

The RBI's rescue act has also brought to fore a debate whose conclusion earlier was seen as a foregone conclusion. Not anymore.

Private banks vs public banks

Private banks, fearing the possibility of losing depositors, have already swung to action.

In a press release issued on Wednesday, private sector lender, RBL Bank, assured depositors that it has no liquidity problem. The management of RBL Bank wishes to address the prevailing concerns around the bank which is based on misinformation, and warrants clarification. The Bank remains adequately capitalised with a capital adequacy ratio of 16.08 percent with Tier-1 at 15.02 percent, significantly higher than the prescribed regulatory requirement at 11.5 percent and 9.5 percent respectively," it said. Jaikishan Parmar, an analyst with Angel broking, said the Yes Bank events will indeed have an effect on depositor psyche but a lot will depend on how soon normalcy is restored in Yes Bank.

The Yes Bank crisis is having an effect on even government departments. For instance, the Maharashtra government has directed all its departments, civic bodies and semi-government corporations to not transact with private banks for the time being, and focus only on nationalised banks, the Hindu reported.

Sidhharth Purohit, an analyst at SMC Global Securities, said getting incremental retail deposits could prove to be a challenge for smaller private banks in the present environment. "Most of these banks have a loyal customer base in certain geographies. Existing deposits may not face issues, but there could be a problem to raise fresh deposits," Purohit said.

Yes Bank crisis has raised questions on the notion that new age private sector banks are more efficient and professionally managed than the traditional government banks. The quid-pro-quo deal case involving Chanda Kochhar and Videocon Group in ICICI Bank and now charges of financial misappropriation against Rana Kapoor in Yes Bank have raised questions on the systems and checks in place in private banks.

A few years ago, the PJ Nayak panel had recommended that the government should cut its stake in PSU banks below 51 percent so that these banks can attract private capital and bring in more efficiency. With ICICI Bank and Yes Bank episodes, now there is a question if private capital will bring efficiency and corporate governance.

Last year, the Narendra Modi government embarked on a major bank merger exercise among PSU banks. In one go, the government merged ten state-owned banks into one but has so far remained non-committal about the privatisation of state-owned banks. That may be the case so.

Post Yes Bank crisis, smaller private sector banks have a tough phase ahead to regain the trust of the depositors.
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Linkedin Marine Pennetier (Reuters) Paris, France  Wed, March 11, 2020 11:35 671 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2069cd984 2 World #France,#coronavirus,Emmanuel-Macron,Minister Free

President Emmanuel Macron warned France on Tuesday that it was at just the start of a health epidemic as thecoronavirus outbreak crept closer to the heart of French political power.

Culture Minister Franck Riester said late on Monday he had tested positive for the virus, and Macron's chief of staff is self-isolating after contact with an infected person, said an official at the Elysee Palace, the presidential residence.

Measures are in place to protect Macron: meetings are kept to a minimum, video conference calls are being encouraged and non-essential visitors are being turned away.

"Don't start thinking we're creating a bubble," the Elysee official said, adding that "we're still in line with the kind of advice we're giving to the whole French population."

Macron's government had led calls for a fiscal shock in Europe to combat the economic fallout from the coronavirus outbreak. There has been global disruption to businesses and supply chains, and neighbouring Italy is in lockdown.

Macron visited a paediatric hospital on Tuesday and urged the French people to stay calm after signs of panic buying of staple goods in and around Paris.

But he cautioned: "We're only at the beginning of this epidemic."

The coronavirus has now infected 1,784 people in France and killed 33, the head of the countrys public health service, Jerome Salomon, said on Tuesday evening.

Riester became the first French government minister to go down with the coronavirus. He said he had been tested on Monday afternoon after feeling flu-like symptoms.

He attended last Wednesday's cabinet meeting, chaired by Macron, and sessions last week in parliament where five lawmakers have tested positive.

A policy of no handshakes between ministers was already in place by then. This week's cabinet meeting was still due to take place, an official at the prime minister's Matignon office said.

Desks are being cleaned twice a day and the distance between seats is being widened, the Matignon official said.

Macron's chief-of-staff, Patrick Strzoda, was working from home as a preventative measure and had not shown any symptoms of a coronavirus infection, the Elysee official said.
Founding CEO of Swedish distillery Mackmyra steps down

The CEO of Swedish whisky distillery Mackmyra, who has led the company since its inception, has announced he is stepping down from the role.

Magnus Dandanell is handing over the CEO's chair at Mackmyra to Johan Larsson, but will remain with the Gavle-based distillery in the position of business developer.

Johan has held senior positions in both owner-managed and publicly listed companies, including at fashion company Peak Performance, WeSC, Whyred and Mini Rodini. He has also acted as an adviser to investment companies through his consultancy business and been a board member for several companies.

Magnus said: "It is with pride and confidence that, after more than two decades, I hand over the helm to a strong leader like Johan. With his strengths and skills, Mackmyra will be able to develop further and reach its full potential."

Johan said: "I have been following Mackmyra with fascination for many years, both as a shareholder and as a cask owner. What Magnus and the team have accomplished is truly impressive. It is with great excitement and inspiration that I now take over the relay baton as the new CEO."

Carl Klingberg, chairman of Mackmyra, said: "An important milestone was passed in 2019 when, for the first time, sales of Mackmyra in Europe were larger than the Systembolaget in Sweden. New leadership is now needed, as Mackmyra moves onto a new stage, with larger export sales. In Johan, the Mackmyra board has found a senior executive with documented skills and experience of leading entrepreneurial companies through international growth phases."

11 March 2020 - Bethany Whymark
MONTVILLE, N.J., March 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Samantha Ines Savarino, PMHNP-BC, is being recognized by Continental Who's Who as a Pinnacle Professional for the successes she has amassed as a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner at Savarino Psychiatric Services.

Ms. Savarino offers child and adolescent psychiatry services. Her areas of expertise include substance abuse and eating disorders. She has served in the psychiatry industry for four years.



To prepare for her career, Ms. Savarino attended the College of Saint Elizabeth for a nursing degree and Fairleigh Dickinson University for a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing. She went on to attend the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, earning a Master of Science degree in nursing.

A respected voice in her area of expertise, Ms. Savarino serves as a member of the American Nursing Association and the American Nurse Practitioner Association. She is an active member of her community, donating to St. Peters the Apostle Church.

Ms. Savarino dedicates this recognition to Irina Belenky Burns and in loving memory of Vincenzo, her mother Magdalena, and Maranda.

Contact: Katherine Green, 516-825-5634 [email protected]

SOURCE Continental Who's Who

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Laboratoires Boiron, a French company and world leader in homeopathic medicines, today announced a major reorganization project in France.

For the past two years, the virulent, unjustified and repeated attacks against homeopathy in France have weighed heavily on our company, which has seen its activity and economic results decline sharply.

While our production is 100% French and we generate 56% of our sales in France, the brutal decision of the Ministry of Solidarity and Health to delist homeopathic medicines as of January 1, 2021, constitutes a real breakthrough that has led our company to announce the following reorganization project:

The closure of the Montrichard production site near Tours,

The closure of 12 preparation-distribution establishments out of the 27 we have in France: Avignon, Belfort, Brest, Grenoble, Limoges, Niort, Paris-Bois d'Arcy, Paris-Ivry, Pau, Rouen, Strasbourg and Toulon,

The resizing of the production and preparation-distribution teams on the retained sites,

The reorganisation of the sales teams.

This plan would result in the elimination of 646 positions and the creation of 134 positions.

We will do our utmost to limit the social impact of this reorganization project while respecting our social heritage.

This planned organisation should make it possible to preserve our quality of service to healthcare professionals and patients.

Christine Place, Deputy Managing Director in charge of Human Resources :



 We are going to do everything we can to support each employee in his or her career path. We will put all our energy into alleviating, as far as possible, the individual difficulties of our employees. We will work with the trade unions on two fronts: firstly, to find the most appropriate support measures to enable each employee to find a job in his or her region, since geographical mobility is not always possible; secondly, to support the many employees at the end of their careers so that they can make the most of their human and professional qualities. It will therefore be necessary to think outside the box to think differently and allow everyone to be supported and assisted in the best possible way. 

Valerie Lorentz-Poinsot, CEO of Laboratoires Boiron :



 We have always been particularly attentive to the respect of each of our employees. It is therefore with great bitterness that we must today present an unprecedented reorganization project. In a context of sharply declining business activity in France, we must react without delay and take decisions, which are certainly very difficult, but which will be able to ensure the long-term survival of our company. 

Our medicines are fully in line with the need expressed by millions of patients around the world for a more humane, respectful and sustainable medicine. As stated by the World Health Organization,  it is important that Member States consider how to further integrate traditional and complementary medicine into their health systems and universal health coverage plans1. 

For these reasons, for the 72 % of French people and for the 50 % of health professionals who are convinced of the benefits of homeopathy2, we will pursue with determination all the steps and actions to obtain continued reimbursement of homeopathic medicines.

Laboratoires BOIRON

Person responsible for financial information: Valerie Lorentz-Poinsot

Contact for financial information: Fabrice Rey

Investor relations: +33 (0) 4.78.45.63.43 - e-mail: boironfinances@boiron.fr

ISIN Code: FR0000061129 (BOI) - Bloomberg: BOI FP - Reuters: BOIR.PA

The group's financial information is online at: www.boironfinance.com

1 WHO Global Strategy for Traditional Medicine 2014-2023, p. 49

2 Odoxa, Health Barometer 360 (2019)

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The flows may stem and redemption pressure increase following the market meltdown of Monday amid mounting cases of coronavirus infection globally.

The mutual fund (MF) industry has seen a sharp uptick in equity flows in February, with equity schemes garnering over Rs 10,000 crore, climbing the highest level in 11 months, according to industry sources.

However, the flows may stem and redemptions pressure increase following the market meltdown of Monday amid mounting cases of coronavirus infection globally.

Februarys flow is estimated to be 37 per cent higher, at Rs 10,795 crore, than the previous months tally of Rs 7,877 crore.

According to industry executives, investors are showing greater maturity and refraining from pulling out funds at the first signs of weakness in the markets.

Small investors continue to show faith in their equity investments.

"They have been increasing their SIP (systematic investment plans) allocations in the form of additional purchases, said a senior executive of a fund house.

Investors are better prepared to deal with sharp volatility, said the chief executive officer of another fund house.

Both mid- and small-cap funds have also seen sizeable flows.

For mid-cap funds, the flows were Rs 1,797 crore in February, while for small-cap funds, the collections were Rs 1,212 crore.

Large-cap funds got the biggest share of flows - Rs 2,626 crore.

The Sensex had corrected nearly 6 per cent in February as coronavirus rapidly spread to multiple countries.

The sharp sell-off was witnessed in Februarys last week when it was reported that more than 83,000 people in 50 countries were infected with the virus.

Advisors say client queries have spiked after the Sensex witnessed its steepest single-day fall in points on Monday.

The Sensex ended 1,941 points, or 5.17 per cent, lower on Monday.

Industry participants say that if market volatility continues, redemptions pressure may rise.

While so far redemptions have not picked up, fresh flows will come under pressure if market correction deepens further, said Nithin Kamath, founder and chief executive officer of Zerodha, which runs the MF platform Coin.

In February, redemptions had marginally reduced to Rs 13,988 crore, while gross flows increased 13 per cent to Rs 24,784 crore.

According to the data from Value Research, large-cap schemes have given negative returns of more than 8 per cent in the one-month period and mid- and small-cap schemes have given negative returns of 7 per cent each.

The recent meltdown in the markets has dented the experience of investors in equity schemes, which so far were able to stay in the green despite the sharp market volatility, said a fund house's senior executive.

Meanwhile, credit-risk funds are showing signs of improved sentiments.

In February, the outflows narrowed to Rs 636 crore, from Rs 1,214 crore in January.

For liquid funds, outflows were over Rs 40,000 crore as institutional investors pulled out funds for advance tax obligations, according to industry participants.

Debt investors continued to seek pockets of safety, with the banking & PSU fund category and corporate bond funds getting sizeable flows.

The banking & PSU fund category received Rs 3,205 crore of flows.

Corporate bond funds also drew sizeable flows of Rs 2,840 crore.

Short duration funds saw the largest share of debt flows at Rs 4,075 crore.

Experts say duration categories across the yield curve are likely to benefit as bond yields are likely to soften in light of the Fed's rate cut and the Reserve Bank of India's expected dovish stance.
Britain's Indian-origin Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak unveiled a 30-billion pound package on Wednesday to tackle the "temporary disruption" from the coronavirus outbreak as declared that while the going will be tough for some as a result of the added impact of the crisis, the UK economy is well placed to pull through.

Sunak, the 39-year-old MP who tabled his first Budget in the House of Commons, was cheered on by Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Home Secretary Priti Patel just behind him on the ruling Conservative benches as he announced that his Budget had taken the party's election pledges into account to get things done.

"We will get through this together," said Sunak, the son-in-law of Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy, as he unveiled the 30-billion pound package of measures as a stimulus to cope with the "temporary disruption" to the economy from the coronavirus crisis.

"For a period, it's going to be tough. But I'm confident that our economic performance will recover," he said.

The minister said that as the country deals with COVID-19, the Budget provides security today but also sets out a plan for prosperity tomorrow.

"It is a Budget that delivers on our promises to the British people. It is a Budget of a government that gets things done, he said.

The hedge fund manager turned politician stressed that his maiden Budget was brave and bold because it lays out mega investment plans for different parts of the UK as a non-member of the EU.

He said: "This is the first Budget of a new decade. The first in almost 50 years outside the European Union. And the first of this new government.

"At the election, we said we needed to be one nation. While talent is evenly spread, opportunity is not we need to fix that We promised to get Brexit done, and we got it done."



On infrastructure front, he set out 600-billion pound to be spent on roads, rail, broadband and housing by the middle of 2025, dubbed the country's largest capital investment in infrastructure for generations.

The Budget confirmed some previously known plans such as the abolition of the so-called "tampon tax" or VAT on sanitary products from January next year and to establish UK Treasury offices in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland as well as a new "economic campus" with over 750 staff in the north of England, the region Sunak represents as an MP for Richmond in North Yorkshire.

He also unveiled a bumper exports package to support British business "make the most" of the opportunities of Brexit. The package will include 5 billion pound of loans designed to stimulate British businesses and bolster their global standing through UK Export Finance (UKEF), the government agency providing loans to overseas buyers of British goods and services.

"This package which is the highest level of export lending the government has ever made available will provide support to industries and regions across the country, said Sunak.

This decade will provide even more opportunities for British businesses to export and trade with new partners across the world. The government will support business to seize these opportunities and thrive on the world stage, he said.

On the environment front, he announced a plastic packaging tax to come into force from April 2022 as well as increased anti-pollution taxes.

On a lighter note he also announced he was abolishing VAT on books, newspapers, magazines and academic journals from December 1, which would include Labour Party Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell's Economics for the Many', which he joked had not sold many copies any way.

He was patted on the back by Johnson as he sat down at the end of an over hour-long speech, his first major task since he was suddenly promoted to the post of Chancellor of the Exchequer after his predecessor, Sajid Javid, resigned amid a disagreement with the prime minister during last month's Cabinet reshuffle.

Sunak has since cast himself as a finance director of the country with Johnson as the CEO and had been focussed on delivering his first Budget just weeks into the job. He may now turn his focus on shifting into the Chancellor's flat on Downing Street with wife Akshata Murthy and their two daughters, Krishna and Anoushka.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Photograph: Jane Rosenberg/Reuters

The six women who testified against the former Hollywood movie mogul Harvey Weinstein filed into the packed Manhattan courtroom to witness his sentencing as a convicted sex offender. The room buzzed with anticipation as they took their seats next to each other at the front.

Weinstein, now a convicted rapist, was soon rolled into the room in a wheelchair, his handcuffs removed by a court officer for the hearing. Before Judge James Burke delivered his sentence, Weinstein spoke for the first time during the courts session, pleading for leniency.

Related: Jennifer Aniston 'should be killed': Weinstein's rage laid bare in unsealed court documents

Appearing to speak extemporaneously, he fell short of an apology. He said, I have remorse for all of you, referring to the six women who were sitting just a few feet away, but continually referred to the philanthropic contributions he had made during his career, and the Hollywood figures who had found success after his training.

Any remorse appeared short-lived. Weinstein, whose deep, rough voice sounded strained and soft in the courtroom, said the [#MeToo] movement started basically because of me, adding: I was the first example and now there are thousands of men who are being accused.

Im worried about this country, he said, saying there are thousands of men and women who are losing due process after being accused. Im totally confused. I think men are confused about these issues.

But before delivering his sentence, Burke noted: There is evidence before of other incidents of sexual assaults involving a number of women that is of legitimate consideration for this sentence.

Then, the sentences fell. There were audible gasps when the judge said Weinstein will serve 20 years for a first-degree criminal sexual act of forcing oral sex on a production assistant, Miriam Haley, in 2006. He also imposed a three-year sentence for the third-degree rape of a woman whom the Guardian is not naming because her wishes over identification are not clear. The women at the front of the room appeared to break down in tears.

Story continues

Given that the maximum sentence for his crimes would have been 29 years, it appears the judge was swayed by the prosecutions final case.

Lead prosecutor Joan Illuzzi-Orbon opened the session by painting one last sketch of Weinstein as a powerful abuser who had no regrets about destroying his victims.

She noted that Weinstein was valued in an industry that is known for its glamour and its ability to entertain people and allow them to momentarily escape through movies. It becomes a dream for many people to be part of that world, Illuzzi-Orbon said.

Weinstein had that dream come true, she said. He enjoyed the wealth, had the resources  he held the dreams of many people in their hands.

How did he use that power? He got drunk on that power, she said, her voice vibrating in the courtroom. He held all the cards and played them at will.

Without his conviction, Weinstein would never have been stopped from hurting and destroying more lives, Illuzzi-Orbon said, adding that the women who testified sacrificed their privacy and, at times, their wellbeing to ensure that.

Illuzzi-Orbon also reflected on the severity of sexual assault as a crime, defining it for the judge and emphasizing its violent and humiliating nature. It cuts through your soul, yet the defendant did it without hesitation, without thought  he did it to one and moved on to another.

Weinsteins two main accusers were allowed to give victim statements, allowing the judge to hear directly the impact the crime had on them and why he should get the maximum sentence.

Haley praised the jurys decision to convict Weinstein. I believe there are women who are safer because hes not out there, she said.

She emphasized that the assault stripped me of my dignity as a human being and as a woman, adding that it diminished her confidence, caused her confusion and distress and was embarrassing and hurtful.

She ended by saying she noticed a lack of remorse in Weinstein, and asked the judge for a sentence that is long enough for Harvey Weinstein to acknowledge what hes done to me and others to be truly sorry.

The second main accuser, who Weinstein was accused of raping in the third degree in 2013, breathlessly delivered her statement to the judge, asking him to understand the complicated nature of sexual assault and how survivors behave afterwards.

She described the phenomenon of rape paralysis, when a rape victim does not react to an assault, frozen out of fear. A good visual of this is when animals play dead under stress, she said. When [Weinstein] pleasured himself inside of my body, I wish I was able to fight.

She noted that her rape was preventable as Weinsteins abuse was known by the time he assaulted her in 2013, but he only got slaps on the wrist.

He is baffled at finally being held accountable, she said.

She appeared to be shaking at times, but her voice was firm as she poured out her statement. The impact of rape is profound. I live in a body that feels unsafe, she said. I am forced to carry that experience until I die.

She assured the judge and the courtroom that she had no shame for coming forward about her complex relationship with Weinstein and believed her case could help other survivors in the future. I have found my voice, and together we can have a future where monsters no longer hide in the closet.
Syracuse, NY -- A Salina man, who fled the state after his ex-girlfriends baby died from internal head injuries, asked a judge Wednesday for the chance to be released on bail again.

Matthew Brennan, 24, is accused of shaking Baby Mason, then 2 months old, because the young boy wouldnt stop crying, Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick has said.

And assistant prosecutor Maureen Barry said in court Wednesday theres even more evidence of Brennans motive than was known before. She did not elaborate.

But Brennans lawyer, Ken Moynihan, argued that Brennans $500,000 bail was too high. After all, he noted, Brennan hadnt been able to make it.

Moynihan lobbied for bail of $250,000 cash or bond.

A defendants inability to afford bail has become a standard argument since the states bail reform law went into effect Jan. 1. The new law puts more pressure on judges to set bail that a defendant can afford.

Not happening in this case, County Court Judge Stephen Dougherty ruled.

The entire point of bail is to make sure that Brennan comes back to court. And he fled -- for whatever reason -- after his arrest.

Baby Mason had clung to life for more than a year following the Aug. 22, 2018 attack in a Hyland Drive home. Brennan was originally charged with assault of a child.

But that all changed when Mason died in late 2019. And before Brennan could be arraigned again on a manslaughter charge, he skipped town for North Carolina.

Brennan now faces up to 25 years in prison, if convicted.

He was eventually re-arrested and brought back to Syracuse. His lawyer, Monyihan, told the court his client fled because he felt like the prosecutor had already made up her mind that he was guilty.

Whatever the reason, the judge ruled Wednesday, Brennan had left the area. That warranted the bail to remain at half a million dollars.

However, the bail reform does give Brennan a chance for release that he didnt have before. The law requires a third type of bail, aside from cash and bail bond.

Dougherty set partially unsecured bond at $1 million. That means that Brennan can pay $100,000 cash (10 percent of the unsecured bond) to be released prior to trial. Thats payable to the court system itself.

Unlike traditional bail bond, partially unsecured bond must be paid in cash. Traditional bond can be paid to a bondsman in collateral, such as title to a house or a car.

Brennan is due back to court next month.

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.
This undated file photo provided by U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows CDC's laboratory test kit for the COVID-19 coronavirus. Nine test results have come back positive after 10 people who had contact with an Australian tourist confirmed to have had the virus showed symptoms.
Yes Bank founder Rana Kapoor was produced before a Special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court today, at the end of this three-day custody. Kapoor's daughter Roshini Kapoor and wife Bindu Kapoor who have also been named in the FIR arrived at the Enforcement Directorate (ED) office earlier in the day.

The CBI had, on Monday, named Kapoor, his wife Bindu and three daughters Roshini, Radha and Rakhee, in the FIR in connection with the Yes Bank crisis. Dewan Housing Finance Corporation Limited (DHFL) was also named in the FIR along with five other companies including DoIT Urban Ventures Pvt Ltd, RAB Enterprises Pvt Ltd, Morgan Credits Pvt Ltd and RKW Developers Pvt Ltd.

The investigating agency stated that Yes Bank invested Rs 3,700 crore in short term debentures to DHFL. "Simultaneously, Kapil Wadhawan paid a kickback of Rs 600 crore to Rana Kapoor and his family members in the garb of builder loan of Rs 600 crore given by DHFL [in which Kapil Wadhawan is a promoter director] to DOIT Urban Ventures (lndia) Private limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of RAB Enterprises (lndia) Private limited in which Bindu Kapoor, wife of Rana Kapoor is a director and 100 per cent shareholder," mentioned the FIR.

Also read: Rs 50,000 cap on Yes Bank withdrawals to go 'much much much' before Apr 3: SBI chairman

Roshini, Radha and Rakhee Kapoor are 100 per cent shareholders of DoIT Urban Ventures through Morgan Credits Pvt Ltd.

The CBI also said that along with the Rs 3,700 crore, Yes Bank sanctioned a loan of Rs 750 crore to RKW Developers, which is a DHFL group company for a project in Mumbai.

Rana Kapoor was placed under ED's custody on Sunday and was slated to remain in custody till March 11. His daughter Roshini Kapoor was also stopped by the ED from taking a flight to London on March 8 after her father was placed in ED custody. The ED had also issued lookout notices against Rana Kapoor and his wife and daughters. The agency also said that she was stopped from taking the flight as she was required to join the probe. The premises of Kapoor's daughters' residences in Delhi and Mumbai were also searched.

Also read: Yes Bank crisis: ED arrests Rana Kapoor; CBI alleges kickbacks to daughters' firm

Also read: Yes Bank crisis: CBI raids seven locations in connection with Rana Kapoor, others
A parliamentary panel on Wednesday expressed concerns over decline in foreign direct investment (FDI) in the and recommended to address these issues to make India an attractive destination for investments.

The Department-Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Commerce said the equity inflow in manufacturing is declining and the sector's share in the total inflow in 2018-19 was around 23 per cent "which is very low". It said the "low inflow of in the defeats the very purpose of Make in India scheme".

It recommended the commerce department to take concerted efforts to increase the share of in FDI inflows. It said that in the past five-and-a-half years (April 2014-September 2019), India received FDI inflows worth USD 319 billion, which is 50 per cent of the total FDI inflow (USD 642 billion) in the past over 19 years since April 2000.

It also asked for fast disposal of 51 pending cases of FDI proposals.



"The committee, while appreciating the liberal and investment-friendly policies adopted by the government, recommends to take necessary precautions/ steps to ensure that the liberal policies are not exploited by some unscrupulous investors and institute a stringent mechanism to check the misuse of FDI for routing black money in the guise of FDI," it said.

Besides, the report stated that a large chunk of FDI inflow is captured by a few states while majority of them witness a minimal inflow of FDI. It recommended the government to take necessary steps to increase the inflow of FDI into the lean states to ensure balanced growth so that there is no regional disparity in development.

Further, it asked the department to be vigilant about the domestic sourcing norms and ensure that they are strictly adhered to by the multinational corporations so that the intended benefits are accrued to the target groups.

"The committee recommends to address the concerns raised by the domestic retailers and indigenous traders in a structured manner through its retail trade policy which is supposedly under preparation," the report added.

The report also said necessary steps need to be taken to ensure that the liberalisation of the coal sector provides the required impetus to the sector.

It called for concerted efforts for revival of the industrial sector with focus on mining, manufacturing and electricity sectors given their importance in the economy and to address declining capacity utilisation of the manufacturing sector considering its impact on investment and job creation.

On the proposed new industrial policy, it suggested for finalising the policy at the earliest in tune with changing global scenario.

On intellectual property rights, the committee stressed the need to further reduce the time for examination and disposal of patents to match the international standard, create awareness among various stakeholders and fill the sanctioned posts of patent examiners and controllers at the earliest.

Taking note of the World Bank's Doing Business Report, 2020, which ranks India at 63rd among 190 countries, it said sustained measures need to be taken for further improvement.

Further, for start-ups, it suggested to increase registration of start-ups in Government e-Marketplace portal, facilitate establishment of start-ups in those states with dismal record, address the issue of insignificant drawing of funds from the Fund of Funds Scheme and operationalisation of Credit Guarantee Scheme to ease the availability of credit.

"Expressing concern over the delay in payment by the PSUs (public sector undertakings) and the government departments to the start-ups, the committee recommended to increase procurement and payment of dues within a stipulated time period," it said.
Robert Hastie's fast-moving production of his intelligently cut adaptation of Shakespeare's Coriolanus is all about the use of space. At the outset the vast Crucible stage is entirely empty, with sunken seats on three sides for the senate. During the evening it will fill, to some extent, with furniture and props  a podium, perhaps, or the fence around a military installation  but much more with people, the main cast of 14 supported by nearly 20 members of Sheffield People's Theatre.

To a very real extent, however, the whole theatre is the stage. At the start it's hardly unusual to have the mutinous citizens entering through the audience. What is more unusual is the way in which this scene and many others are played with characters halfway back in the auditorium. At times the whole theatre echoes with arguments and chants, often with the house lights up.

Coriolanus is a strange play. On the page it can read almost as satire; on stage the towering figure of Coriolanus assures the work's status as tragedy, but the satirical element shouldn't disappear. Hastie gets full comic value from the "Oh, no, he's off again" looks that Menenius and Cominius exchange when Coriolanus launches into another intemperate rant, but he never turns his central character into a caricature.

Hastie preserves the balance in a political play where both sides are more or less wrong. Coriolanus is certainly heroic, though his nobility may be in question when he betrays both Rome and the Volscians. The contempt for the lower classes that prevents him from performing what is little more than a traditional gesture suggests that his appointment as Consul would have been a very bad idea.

On the other hand the citizenry who mutiny against him are fickle  unthinking and self-serving  and the Tribunes who lead them mere demagogues with a craving for power and no idea how to use it. Shakespeare clearly was unimpressed by the glory that was Rome!

Sally Wilson's modern costumes serve the general sense of clarity that marks this production. In the opening minutes, for instance, the casual training gear of Caius Martius (later Coriolanus) and the immaculate suit of his mentor, the senator Menenius, reveal their very different attitudes to conventions and appearances.

Tom Bateman is a thoroughly believable Coriolanus. Not conventionally proud  he has no taste for public praise, slouching uneasily in his chair as Cominius speaks his virtues  Bateman is possessed by a much more dangerous combination of restless energy and utter contempt for the ordinary citizens of Rome. For much of the time he can hardly stand still, a striking contrast to his submissive posture when his mother, Volumnia, pleads with him to spare Rome.

Casting his wife, Virgilia, as profoundly deaf  Hermon Berhane signs her speeches and the audience is aided by surtitles  helps to suggest a gentler side to Coriolanus in his silent signing response, a contrast to the speech and vigorous mime employed by Volumnia. Stella Gonet's performance in general is volatile and passionate  patrician certainly, but not a stately Roman matron. Equally keenly defined is Malcolm Sinclair's Menenius, perfectly poised and witty, so much at home in the senate that he sits back in his chair with his feet on his desk. His own contempt for the plebs is cloaked in his habitual urbanity, only breached when Coriolanus rejects his peace mission.

Theo Ogundipe  wild of hair and beard  establishes the "otherness" of Aufidius, the general of the Volscians, and sharply defined performances throughout feature some effective gender-blind casting: Katy Stephens' staunchly establishment Cominius, Alex Young and Remmie Milner suitably self-righteous as the Tribunes, and Kate Rutter's First Citizen, enthusiastically speaking whatever mind she has with her.

Often noisily dramatic, but with nice variations of tone, this Coriolanus consistently involves the audience, even if Shakespeare himself prevents much sympathy for any of the characters.
A Secaucus woman who enslaved a Sri Lankan woman in her homes for nine years was sentenced Tuesday to nearly seven years in prison and ordered her to pay $1.2 million, federal authorities announced.

Alia Imad Faleh Al Hunaity, 44, was convicted in May of forced labor, alien harboring for financial gain and marriage fraud following a six-day trial before U.S. District Judge Robert B. Kugler.

In addition to the prison term of 5 years and 10 months and the $1.2 million in restitution, Kugler sentenced Hunaity to three years of supervised release.

Hunaity, who also went by the name Alia Al Qaternah, brought the victim to the United States on a temporary visa in 2009 to perform domestic work, but forced her to overstay her visa and remain in the United States illegally for more than nine years.

During that time, Hunaity forced the victim to cook and clean her homes in Woodland Park and Secaucus, and to care for her three children, all without pay. In 2018, months before she was arrested, Hunaity forced the victim to marry her so that the victim could obtain legal residence.

Over the nine years, the victims was required to sleep on a bed in a public space in Hunaitys homes, including in the kitchen. It was also revealed at trial that the victims interactions with the world outside of Hunaitys homes were extremely limited.

This case was prosecuted in conjunction with the interagency Anti-Trafficking Coordination Team initiative of the Departments of Justice, Homeland Security and Labor.

ACTeams focus on developing high-impact human trafficking investigations and prosecutions involving forced labor, international sex trafficking and sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion through interagency collaboration among federal prosecutors and federal investigative agencies.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday chaired a 'party strategy meeting for Lok Sabha' in Parliament. He also targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not passing on the reduction in global crude oil prices to the Indian consumers.

The strategy meeting comes at a time when uncertainty looms large over the fate of Chief Minister Kamal Nath-led Congress government in Madhya Pradesh after Jyotiraditya Scindia and 22 MLAs resigned from the party on Tuesday. Scindia is likely to join the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of being busy with destabilising an elected Congress government, Rahul Gandhi took a dig at him over high retail fuel prices despite a drop in international crude prices.

He asked the Prime Minister why the petrol is not selling under Rs 60 though crude prices have seen a fall of over 35 per cent.

"Hey Prime Minister, while you were busy destabilising an elected Congress government, you may have missed noticing the 35 per cent crash in global oil prices. Could you please pass on the benefit to Indians by slashing petrol prices to under Rs 60 per litre? Will help boost the stalled economy," the Wayanad MP tweeted.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Bihar's ruling Janata Dal (United) on Wednesday said it would field Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh and MP Ram Nath Thakur, whose terms end next month, for the upcoming election to the Upper House.

The party's state unit chief, Vashishtha Narayan Singh, made the announcement at a press conference here in the presence of its national general secretary RCP Singh, who is the JD(U)'s leader in the Rajya Sabha.

Elections to five Rajya Sabha seats from the state, which will fall vacant next month, will be held on March 26. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's JD(U) holds three of these and its alliance partner BJP, the remaining two.

Harivansh is a veteran journalist and was the editor of Prabhat Khabar for many years.

Thakur, besides being from an extremely backward caste, is the son of late Karpoori Thakur, a former Bihar chief minister and arguably the tallest OBC leader in the state whom Nitish Kumar and socialists of his generation consider their political mentor.

The JD(U)-BJP coalition's strength in the assembly this time, however, is poised to win only three out of these five seats because the Congress-RJD combine, which had fought the 2015 state assembly polls in alliance with the JD(U), had seen dramatic rise in their tally and are slated to bag two Rajya Sabha seats.

It was a tough call for the JD(U) to drop Kahkashan Perveen, who had made her Rajya Sabha debut in 2014 at an early age of 35 years.

The announcement was made shortly after the JD(U) leaders took part in a meeting of the core committee at the chief minister's residence that lasted for over an hour.

The party leaders refused to comment on what else transpired in the meeting, saying it was an "organisational matter".

They also ducked queries on developments in Madhya Pradesh, where the BJP appears set to topple the Congress government following the resignations of over 20 MLAs loyal to Jyotiraditya Scindia, who has crossed over to the saffron party.

Singh also sought to make light of the flutter caused by advertisements carried by various city dailies on Sunday in which a young woman has announced her intention to float a new political party, named 'Plurals', with herself as the chief ministerial candidate.

The woman, Pushpam Priya Chaudhary, claims to be an alumnus of London School of Economics. Her father Vinod Chaudhary is a former JD(U) MLC.

The last date for filing of nominations for Rajya Sabha polls is March 13. The BJP and the RJD-Congress combine are yet to come out with the names of their respective candidates.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Bernie Sanders campaign has rejected calls from a leading Democrat to end its primary run following a string of losses to frontrunner Joe Biden.

House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn, a South Carolina congressman whose endorsement for Mr Biden helped revive the former vice presidents campaign, called for the cancellation of upcoming debates between the two Democratic rivals as Sanders path to victory appeared increasingly unlikely.

"I think when the night is over, Joe Biden will be the prohibitive favourite to win the Democratic nomination, and quite frankly, if the night ends the way it has begun, I think it is time for us to shut this primary down, it is time for us to cancel the rest of these debates," Mr Clyburn said as the first results came in on Tuesday evening.

"You dont do anything but get yourself in trouble if you continue in this contest when its obvious that the numbers will not shake out for you," he told NPR.

The suggestion was quickly rebuffed by Briahna Joy Gray, national press secretary for the Sanders campaign.

Lets try democracy instead, she tweeted in response.

In pictures: Bernie Sanders celebrates Nevada caucus win Show all 5 1 /5 In pictures: Bernie Sanders celebrates Nevada caucus win In pictures: Bernie Sanders celebrates Nevada caucus win Bernie Sanders and his wife Jane, triumphant at hearing of Nevada Caucus win. in San Antonio Texas on 22 February 2020 Reuters In pictures: Bernie Sanders celebrates Nevada caucus win Bernie Sanders embraces his wife Jane at rally in San Antonio Texas on 22 February 2020 REUTERS In pictures: Bernie Sanders celebrates Nevada caucus win REUTERS In pictures: Bernie Sanders celebrates Nevada caucus win Bernie support raises sign and a thumbs-up to the news of Senator Sanders' win REUTERS In pictures: Bernie Sanders celebrates Nevada caucus win Bernie supporter cheer at the news of Sanders' win REUTERS

Mr Biden collected primary victories in Michigan, Missouri, Idaho and Mississippi, while Mr Sanders took North Dakota and was slightly ahead in Washington with 67 percent of votes counted.

With those victories in key states, Mr Biden widened his delegate lead over Mr Sanders to nearly 150. That lead may not seem insurmountable, but Mr Biden is heavily favoured in upcoming primaries due to take place later this month, among them Florida, Ohio, Illinois and Arizona. All of those states carry large delegate counts.

Rep. Clyburn was not the only party elder calling for Mr Sanders withdrawal from the race following Tuesdays results, however. Democratic strategist James Carville, who played a key role in Bill Clintons successful presidential run, called for Democrats to shut this puppy down in order to unify the party and defeat Donald Trump.

Lets shut this puppy down, and lets move on and worry about November. This thing is decided. Theres no reason to keep it going, not even a day longer, he said on MSNBC.

"People will say things that you cannot overcome, he warned.

As of Wednesday morning, the Sanders campaign showed no signs of backing down. The two Democratic rivals are due to debate each other on Sunday evening.

Ms Gray said of the upcoming clash: I, for one, am extremely excited about this debate all the moderates are panicking about.

America finally gets to see Biden defend his ideas, or lack there of, on Sunday, she wrote on Twitter.
Find the March 13 update for this map here.

Pennsylvania has 20 presumptive positive and two confirmed positive cases of coronavirus as of March 12, 2020. Here is a locator map and details of the known cases.

PLEASE NOTE: Additional details about the location of the cases and the ages of those affected have been included whenever possible. State officials are invoking a 1955 law in choosing to release only the county and whether or not theyre an adult. Any information beyond this is provided by the individual counties to the press.

If you are unable to view the map below, please click this link. Please note that the pins mark the exact geographic location when available. If said location is not available, it marks the center of the county.

CORONAVIRUS CASES IN PA. Hover your mouse or tap a county to see the exact number of cases per county. Municipalities, when known, are indicated by a blue pin. Tapping the pin will tell you what we know about the case.



Bucks County

 Two adults who live in the same household, who attended an out-of-state gathering and were exposed to the virus. Both are in isolation at home.

Delaware County

 An adult woman, who recently returned from a conference in Boston. She was treated at Crozer-Chester Medical Center in Upland. This case has been confirmed by the CDC.

Monroe County

 The person, whose age or gender was not released by officials, is hospitalized.

 A second person, whose age or gender was not released by officials, is hospitalized after contact with a previously diagnosed Pennsylvania patient.

Montgomery County

 An adult man, who lives in Worcester. He is in isolation at home.

 An adult woman, who lives in Lower Gwynedd Township. She is in isolation at home.

 An 18-year-old student at Germantown Academy, who lives in Lower Gwynedd Township. She is in isolation at home. She is lives in the same household as the adult woman listed above.

 A 62-year-old woman, who lives in Upper Merion Township. She is hospitalized and in isolation at the University of Pennsylvania.

 A 70-year-old woman from Cheltenham Township. She is hospitalized at a Philadelphia hospital.

 A cardiologist from Montgomery County, who is in critical condition at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that more than 20 patients and 17 workers were exposed to the doctor.

 An 25-year-old police officer from Perkiomen Township, who works in Lower Providence Township. He is in isolation at home.

 A 35-year-old man from Shippack Township, who had contact with a previously identified person in Montgomery County with the virus. He is in isolation at home.

 A 58-year-old woman from Conshohocken, who had contact with a previously identified person in Montgomery County with the virus. She is in isolation at home.

There are four cases so far in Lower Merion Township. The cases include:

 An adult man and woman who reside in the same household. Both are in isolation at home.

 A 58-year-old man and a 53-year-old woman who traveled within the US to an affected area. They are in isolation at home.

Northampton County

 The person, whose age or gender was not released by officials, is hospitalized at St. Lukes Anderson Campus in Bethlehem Township.

Pike County

 An adult resident is in isolation at home.

Philadelphia County

 The person from Philadelphia, whose age or gender was not released by city officials, is receiving treatment at home.

Wayne County

 An adult man who traveled extensively in Europe was treated March 4 at Carbondale Family Health Center. This case has been confirmed by the CDC.

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.
President Klaus Iohannis on Wednesday signed the decree on the appointment as first deputy of prosecutor general of the Prosecutor's Office attached to the High Court of Cassation and Justice (PICCJ) of Dimitrie-Bogdan Licu for a 3-year term, informs the Presidential Administration.

Moreover, the head of the state also signed the decrees on the appointment as deputy to the prosecutor general of the PICCJ of Maria Magdalena Militaru - for a 3-year term, and of Madalina Scarlat as deputy chief-prosecutor of the National Anti-Corruption Directorate for a 3-year term and Oana Daniela Patu as deputy chief-prosecutor of the Directorate for Investigating Organised Crime and Terrorism - also for 3 years.On March 2 the Section for prosecutors of the Supreme Council of Magistrates issued a negative opinion in relation to the appointment of Bogdan Licu as first deputy prosecutor general of the PICCJ.
Travellers are still able to return to the UK from at least 10 countries with worsening coronavirus outbreaks without being considered a risk of having the killer infection.

The Government and NHS do not consider people from France, Spain or Germany to be at risk of having coronavirus  even if they have symptoms.

All three have had more than 1,500 cases of the deadly illness and the World Health Organization warns the virus is spreading within each of them.

Official advice changed on February 25 to tell anyone feeling ill after coming home from northern Italy to self-isolate  at the time the country had just 229 patients.

Other tourist hotspots in Europe, including the Netherlands, Switzerland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Belgium, have all also recorded at least 300 cases.

But the NHS 111 coronavirus helpline only considers Italy and a hotel in Tenerife to at-risk destinations in Europe.

It means travellers who have returned from these countries with a cough  a tell-tale sign of the infection  won't be told to self-isolate because they aren't at risk.

As Easter holidays approach there are fears thousands of British families will travel to Europe  now the centre of the world's coronavirus crisis  and be allowed to roam freely when they come back.

Europe is now the centre of the world's coronavirus crisis and has more than 19,000 cases, with numbers shooting up by the day as the situation in China stagnates

Travellers face no warnings to self-isolate unless they have been to Italy, Iran, South Korea, China or 11 other Asian countries  but hundreds of new cases are appearing every day across Europe

Meanwhile, some Asian countries are on the list despite having only dozens of cases.

Holidaymakers returning from Cambodia, for example, are told to self-isolate if they feel ill even though the country only has two confirmed cases.

The same goes for Vietnam, which has 31 cases, and Thailand, with 53. Myanmar and Laos haven't had a single case between them but still appear on the list.

It comes after concerns were raised yesterday that NHS 111 does not advise anyone to isolate themselves unless they have travelled abroad or been in contact with an infected patient.

Coronavirus outbreaks have exploded in France, Germany, Spain and the US in the past week as China has taken a backseat in the global emergency.

France has 1,784 confirmed patients, making it the fourth worst affected country outside of China.

While Spain is now fifth, with 1,695; Germany sixth with 1,565; and the US seventh with 1,565.

People flying into the UK from these countries, however, would be told not take any action if they used the NHS's online coronavirus risk assessor.

The 111 phone line, through which people may be able to get more detailed advice, is overloaded and answered 340,702 calls in the week ending March 1  33 every minute.

People flying into the UK from Gatwick from Italy said they were allowed to travel as normal  they will now be expected to isolate themselves at home for two weeks in case they have caught the coronavirus

British Airways has cancelled all of its flights to and from Italy because of the coronavirus outbreak there (Pictured, a BA arrivals board at Heathrow Airport)

At least 382 people in the UK have been diagnosed with the coronavirus and six have died

Experts say the UK  where the number of coronavirus cases started to take off last week  is just two weeks away from being in a situation as bad as Italy's

WHAT IS THE OFFICIAL ADVICE FOR RETURNING TRAVELLERS? The Government splits its self-isolate advice into two sections. Travellers who have returned from category one areas, such as Italy or the Chinese city of Wuhan, should self-isolate even if they don't have any symptoms. While people who have entered the UK after spending time in category two countries should self-isolate only if they have a cough, fever or other tell-tale signs of the killer infection. What are the category one areas? Wuhan city and Hubei Province in China Iran Italy Daegu or Cheongdo in South Korea What are the category two countries? Cambodia China* Hong Kong Japan Laos Macau Malaysia Myanmar South Korea* Singapore Taiwan Thailand Vietnam * refers to the rest of the country that doesn't already fall into category one. Advertisement

A further six countries have more cases than Italy did when Public Health England changed its advice for returning travellers, but have seen no change.

According to latest data from Johns Hopkins University, which is tracking the outbreak in real-time, Denmark has 340 patients; Belgium 314; Sweden 477; Netherlands 503; Norway 440; and Switzerland 613.

There is no special coronavirus advice for people coming back from those countries.

There are, however, warnings in place for Cambodia (two cases), Hong Kong (118), Japan (581), Laos (0), Macau (10), Malaysia (129), Myanmar (0), Singapore (160), Taiwan (47), Thailand (53) and Vietnam (34).

Madrid alone has almost as many as all those countries combined  1,024 compared to 1,134  but people are offered no advice about what to do if they feel ill after visiting.

Official advice tells people to self-isolate even if they feel well if they have been to mainland China, Italy, Iran or the South Korean cities of Daegu or Cheongdo.

Concerns the Government's health advice is outdated come after MailOnline yesterday revealed the NHS 111 coronavirus triage website was failing to tell the public they needed to self-isolate if they had just come back from Italy.

The site was only instructing people to stay at home if they had been in certain regions in the north, even though the Government advice was officially extended to all of Italy on Monday night.

And the public are being told to do nothing at all if they haven't left the country in the last two weeks, despite the disease spreading rapidly between people in the UK.

The Italy glitch in the system has since been updated to advise self-isolation for anyone who has been to the country since Monday, March 9.

The Department of Education is coming under pressure today, too, accused of being unable to answer schools' and parents' questions about the coronavirus.

MailOnline has asked several Government departments for comment.
Italy to Suspend Mortgage Payments Amid Coronavirus Outbreak

Mortgage payments, bills, and taxes will be temporarily suspended across Italy as part of the governments measures to soften the economic impact of the coronavirus outbreak, the countrys deputy finance minister said on March 10.

According to Italian media reports, anyone who is not earning more than 30,000 euros, has been suspended from work, or has suffered a reduction in working hours for at least 30 days, may request the suspension of mortgage installments for a maximum period of 18 months. It is up to the bank to decide whether they qualify or not.

Yes, that will be the case, for individuals and households, Laura Castelli, Italys deputy economy minister, said in an interview with Radio Anchio on Tuesday when asked about the possibility of mortgage payments being temporarily frozen.

The suspension of mortgage and other debt payments is an additional measure that the country is adding to its emergency economic package. The initial deficit spending package of 7.5 billion euros ($8.5 billion) has also been raised up to 10 billion euros ($11.38 billion), according to the Financial Times.

Italy has placed more than 60 million people under lockdown and extended its emergency coronavirus measures, placing travel restrictions and a ban on public gatherings on the entire country, including funerals and weddings, in an effort to stop the virus from spreading. Theaters, gyms, and pubs have been shut down, while schools and universities will remain closed until April 3, according to The Guardian.

Images have been circulating on social media in recent weeks of near-abandoned streets and deserted historical sites which have typically served as hot-spots for tourists visiting the country.

The countrys death toll jumped from 366 to 463 on Monday and there are now 10,149 reported cases of the virus, which causes the disease COVID-19, making it the worst-hit country after China and the epicenter of the disease in Europe.

On Monday, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte ordered people to stay home and seek permission for essential travel, telling reporters that the figures show we are experiencing a serious increase in infections, an increase in people hospitalized in intensive careand an increase, unfortunately, in deaths.

We need to change our lifestyle. We need to change it now. Thats why I have decided to adopt these hard measures. I am going to sign a decree that can be summarized as follows: I stay at home. The whole of Italy will become a protected zone, he added.

For most people, the coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. But for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illnesses, including pneumonia.
From Men's Health

Photo credit: Emily Shur

EVERY DAY IN THE GYM, as he was torturing himself to get into superhero shape, Kumail Nanjiani would hear that phrase in his headpart mission statement, part plea. The words first came to him early last year. Thats when the 41-year-old actor and writer began the workout regimen that would prepare him for this falls Marvel adventure The Eternals, in which he plays an ego-swollen, muscle-packed alien among men. Nanjiani devoured comic books and action films while growing up in Karachi, Pakistan, and has spent the past few years quietly positioning himself for Marvel supersizing. When it finally happened, he thought: Im playing the first South Asian superhero in a Marvel movie. I dont want to be the schlubby brown guyI want to look like someone who can hang with Thor and Captain America.

Photo credit: .

And so, for months, Nanjiani would leave his home in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Los Feliz and head to a discreetly located mega gym in Beverly Hills. During the hour-long trip, he would be filled with dread. Hed been hitting the gym since he was 16 years old but had never trained as intensely as he would for The Eternals; at one point, electric shocks were involved. The early workouts were so brutal hed come close to vomiting. All Nanjiani could do was try to dissociate from the pain. Leave your body, hed keep repeating. Pleasedo the movements, and leave your body.

It didnt work. For a while, the only joy in this daily routine came from the relief Nanjiani felt when he drove away, aching and exhausted and more than a little shell-shocked. At first, whenever he came home from a workout, he wasnt able to focus on anything, notes his wife, writer-producer Emily V. Gordon. He was still a functioning person, but for an hour, you couldnt really count on him to have a conversation. His body was adjusting.

Soon Nanjiani realized that if he was going to complete his transformation, his mind would have to adjust as well. Thats the way its been throughout his life: In his 20s, he quit a full-time job to pursue a high-risk stand-up career. In his 30s, he decided to suddenly jump into acting and then somehow made that his second career. Hes always looked at whatever opportunity was in front of him and thought, Get good at this. Also: Hes obsessive, says Gordon. When Kumail gets into things, he gets really into things.

Story continues

After several merciless months, Nanjiani adopted a new workout philosophy. It was the exact opposite of his leave your body directive. And for someone whos played his fair share of easily relatable nice guys, and who once recorded a stand-up special called Beta Male, it was surprisingly intense. But over time, it worked:

Chase the pain.

Chase the pain.

Chase the pain.

ALMOST A YEAR LATER, ON A BRIGHT late-January afternoon, Nanjiani is sitting outdoors at a cafe near his home, eating an egg-white omelet and happily chatting about his Eternals agony. There are a few strands of gray in his hair, and hes dressed in a tight, mustard-colored T-shirt, black Puma track pants, and blue-and-white Tiger sneakers. Over the next two hours, Nanjiani occasionally breaks into a sincere, and sincerely charming, tight-lipped smile, and not without good reason: Last night, he attended a party for Little America, the critically adored Apple TV+ series he co-created with Gordon, and he allowed himself his first brownie in a year.

Photo credit: Emily Shur

But this morning, he was back at that mega gym in Beverly Hills, getting in some shoulder and chest workouts just for fun. Not so long ago, the mere thought of that hour-long drive really fucked with me, Nanjiani says. Today, I drove to that gym, and five minutes into my workout, my mood brightened. I love it.

Nanjianis good cheer is mostly due to the fact that hes finally home after the busiest 12 months of his life. He began last year by shooting this months romantic comedy The Lovebirds, in which he and Issa Rae star as an on-the-brink-of-a-breakup couple who get pulled into a murder caper. Then he had his sixth and final season playing Dinesh, the quietly fuming brainiac on HBOs tech-world takedown Silicon Valley.

At the same time, he was getting in shape for The Eternals, which he finished shooting less than a week ago. For a while, Nanjiani had to keep the movie hush-hushhe couldnt explain why he was spending so many hours in the gym. One of the few to be clued in was Thomas Middleditch, his Silicon costar. Through the years, the two men have shared their fitness aspirations: Middleditch recalls a time when Nanjiani became fixated on the super-ripped Pakistani model Abbas Jafri. Kumail would show us pictures of him while we were on set, and hed look kind of envious, says Middleditch. Neither of us has a hesitation about going, I wish I had his jawline or arms or whatever. I think a lot of sensitive weirdo comedians secretly aspire to be the tough guy. And when they finally get a reason to totally change their bodylike becoming a superherotheyre more incentivized.

Middleditch, whos known Nanjiani for more than a decade, wasnt surprised by his friends commitment to his Eternals routine: When Kumails given a shot at something, hes going to take it. Nanjianis showbiz trajectory bears that out. His path has been genuinely wild, the result of ceaseless curiosity and hardcore hustle.

Nanjiani arrived in the U. S. as a teenager to attend Grinnell College in Iowa, a school he knew little about, in a country hed never before visited. (Some of his Western pop-culture knowledge came from old Mad magazines hed found in a Karachi bazaar.) I was scared, and I didnt want to do it, he says. But I had no other options, no plan. My first two weeks there were among the worst in my life.

Soon, though, he began making friendssome of whom would be in the audience several years later, watching Nanjiani onstage at a local coffee shop for his first-ever stand-up gig. Hed spent his college years becoming enthralled by comedy, recording and rewatching stand-up specials before writing his first jokes. And although he has no recollection of what he talked about for nearly half an hour that day, it remains one of the best sets in my life, Nanjiani says. It was magical.

He then relocated to Chicago, where he worked full-time at charter schools, helping kids with their computers, while pursuing stand-up at night. Those early gigs werent always great, and for the first five years, he wasnt sure if hed be able to make a living out of comedy. But he never thought about giving up. Even after a bad gig, he says, I wasnt like, Oh, Ill quit. I was like, Now I know what that feels like. 

Photo credit: Emily Shur

By 2007, he felt secure enough in his stand-up to quit everything and head to New York to focus on comedy. Nanjianis material mixed stories from his personal life with riffs on Star Trek and movies like The Thing. He had all these little observations about popular culture, and what he found funny about them wasnt the most obvious thing, notes Michael Showalter, who first spotted Nanjiani around that time and went on to direct him in The Lovebirds and 2017s The Big Sick, the Oscar-nominated rom-com-dram Nanjiani and Gordon wrote about their relationship. While a lot of comedians can be very aggressive, Kumails comedy was silly and whimsical.

Showalter hired Nanjiani as a writer for his 2009 series, Michael & Michael Have Issues, and even offered him a role as a fictitious version of himself. Nanjiani was in his early

30s, and although hed had cameos on The Colbert Report and Saturday Night Live, hed never seriously considered acting before. Id always thought the writers do the real work and the actors are just saying the words, he says. I was very confident in my stand-up, but I didnt feel confident acting. I was like, This is very difficult, and I want to learn more. 



Photo credit: Lionsgate

Michael & Michael was canceled after just seven episodes, devastating Nanjiani, whod been convinced he was going to spend the next several years on the show. In order to get away from the scene of the crime, he jokes, he decided to move to Los Angeles. Once there, Nanjiani treated his semi-accidental acting career with his usual seriousnessGet good at thisand began taking acting classes. It was like therapy, he says. Id trained myself to not feel emotions, to push them away, because emotions are scary. And as soon as I started taking acting classes, I started crying at movies and commercials more. All these emotions Id learned to suppress, I was now learning to get in touch with. It made my life better, made my anxiety better.

Photo credit: HBO/Kobal/Shutterstock

The classes also made him a more at-ease performer, and Nanjiani slowly accrued a series of breakout TV roles. He was the virtual unknown who was sorta everywhere: There he was as a grating cell-phone salesman on Portlandia, or a too-eager numbers nerd on Veep, or a legally savvy agoraphobe on 31 (!) episodes of Franklin & Bash. By the time Silicon Valley debuted in 2014, hed made a name playing gently nerdy (and not-so-gently needling) young men. Nanjiani was Hollywoods go-to cerebral smart ass, at a time when that type was in high demand. A few years ago, Nanjiani says, I was working with a great guyI wont say who, but hes a very handsome, really in-shape guywho was making fun of me for being doughy. And I was like, I could weigh another 50 pounds and Ill still work. But if you gain ten pounds, youll never work another day in your life. 

HALFWAY THROUGH our lunch, an old writer friend of Nanjianis strolls by, flashes a knowing smile, and says, Its been a while. Do anything . . . noteworthy lately? Nanjianis Eternals stint may have begun in secrecy, but by last spring, word had gotten out that hed gone Marvel. He first met with producers about the role in late 2018, though that wasnt his first attempt at breaking into the superhero world: Years before Silicon Valley, hed auditioned for a role on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and was crushed when he didnt get it.

But later, when he saw comedy performers like Chris Pratt and Paul Rudd being converted into superheroes, he started entertaining the idea, however far-off, that he could become part of the Marvel universe as well. It was a pipe dream, says Nanjiani. But I was very strategic about it. He turned down supporting parts in other comic-book projects, worried theyd take him out of the running for his own big role. And he made it clear that he didnt want to play some tech-loving sidekick. I was like, I dont want to be just part of a Marvel movie; I want to be a Marvel superhero. 

Photo credit: Alberto E. Rodriguez

Finally, in the same year he got an Oscar nod for his Big Sick script, he joined The Eternals. The movie, which also stars Angelina Jolie and Kit Harington, follows a group of centuries-old immortals who secretly live on Earth, with Nanjiani as Kingo, an arrogant, cosmic-powered being who lives in the present day as a buff Bollywood star. Its not a character he knew too well; as a young comic fan, he relied on whatever random titles and one-off issues he could get his hands on, and The Eternals was hardly a mainstream must-read.

But he knew exactly how he wanted to play Kingo: the same way Bruce Willis played the wry, weary, machine-gun-toting hero of 1988s Die Hard, one of Nanjianis favorite films. That movies life-or-death, and Eternals is life-or-death, too, he says. I was like, How can a character crack wise but still have tension, and not make it feel like youre making fun of the whole thing? 

Williss Die Hard turn has a historical connection as well. As Middleditch notes, its not unusual for a comedy star to get ripped nowadays. It happens here and there, where they become a hot-bod boy: the Kevin Harts, the Joe Rogans, and, I guess, the Carrot Tops. But Willis was among the first to make that transition seem credible, having turned from a smirky prime-time rom-com actor on Moonlighting into a shirtless action-movie dynamo without losing his light touch. (He kept the smirk intact.) Theres a throughline that runs from Williss yippee-ki-yay makeover to Ben Stiller in Tropic Thunder to Nanjiani in The Eternals.

Photo credit: Emily Shur

Nanjiani had his own ideas for just how buff Kingo should look. I wanted Kumail to have the freedom to interpret his character, especially his physicality, says The Eternals director Chloe Zhao. So he looked to Bollywood stars he admired, like Indian box-office eternal Hrithik Roshan, whos played the superhero Krrish in a series of smash films. I went to my trainer and said, I want to look like this guy,  says Nanjiani.

To achieve it, hed have to lean heavily on Marvel for help. When The Eternals began filming, he met with a studio chef, who grilled him on his food preferences; soon Nanjiani was being delivered five meals a day, including on weekends, all of it carefully planned out. They were like, If youre going to have a can of Coke today, let us know in the morning so we can adjust and account for it,  he says. Nanjiani usually had the same breakfaststeak and eggs, or eggs and chickenbut for six months, he never repeated the other meals. And while he was encouraged to eat what he wanted on weekends, he had so successfully cut out such hazards as added sugar and gluten that when he went crazy one night with some sticky toffee pudding, he felt it the next day. Just 12 hours of physical pain, he says.

Photo credit: .

That was nothing compared with the anguish of his workouts. Hed exercise during lunch breaks on Silicon Valley; on weekends in a London gym; and on the Eternals set, with its 24-hour-a-day on-call trainers. But it was in those early months last year, in that Beverly Hills compound, that Nanjiani did the most training, physically and emotionally. Hed gone from being a dutiful gym rat to having electric shocks administered to his biceps in order to build more muscle. I realized, if this is what working out is, Ive never really worked out a moment in my life, he says.

It was around that time that Nanjiani decided the only way hed make it through the trainingthe only way he could get good at thiswould be if he embraced just how awful the workouts were making him feel. If he opted to simply leave his body, he wouldnt get anywhere. I had to change my relationship to pain, he says. Youre so designed to avoid it, but in that situation you really have to be okay with it. You have to want it. Its almost trying to rewire your brain.



For a while, he wasnt sure how he wanted to announce the results of all that rewiring and reshaping to the world. But last December, figuring he was in the best shape hed ever be in, he posted a pair of photos of himself, bare-torsoed and sharp-abbed, to Instagram. The thirsty shirtless, as he called them, promptly ate up Facebook and Twitter, and later anchored a segment on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Nanjianis newly ripped torso even wound up on Pornhub, as the thumbnail image for the sites Muscular Men category.

Half the messages I got that day were from people being like, Hey, I want to have sex with your husband,  says Gordon, and the other half were from people making sure I was okay with my husbands naked body being everywhere. She compares the experience to that of The Big Sick: It took a very private thing from our lives and made it incredibly public. And all I could be was really proud, because he looks amazing.

Nanjiani didnt quite feel the same wayat least not before he shared his new physique with the masses. I dont want to discount people who genuinely have debilitating body issues, he says. I dont have that. But I did start getting some body dysmorphia. Id look in the mirror and Id see my absand when I looked again, they would fade. I would just see the flaws. The Instagram photos helped. When I saw that reaction was when I was like, Okay, I clearly dont see whats actually there. Its something that Im trying to be aware of and be better at, because thats not a good way to be. You want to be easy on yourself.

Thats where Nanjiani is at the moment: trying to be a little easier on himself while figuring out his non-superhero identity in the immediate future. This is a key time to establish how its going to be going forward, he says of his post-Eternals lifestyle. Because it could very easily go back to how things were. And I cant do that.

But while he enjoys his workouts in earnest now, Nanjiani would still rather spend his time rewatching old Harrison Ford movies, or playing video games, or just going for a walk around the neighborhood with Gordon. The goal is to get energy from the gym so I can go do other stuff, he says. People ask me, Do you think youre more intimidating now? And Im like, Not at all. These muscles are useless. Theyre decorative.

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Hillary Clinton Urges Inclusive Peace Process for Afghanistan

By Margaret Besheer March 10, 2020

Hillary Clinton said Tuesday a sustainable peace will take hold in Afghanistan only if it is inclusive, and that foreign troop withdrawals must be conditioned on the Taliban meeting their obligations under the recently signed peace agreement.

"Afghans from every walk of life have made it clear they want peace, and they want an end to violence and casualties," the former U.S. secretary of state told an event at the United Nations promoting the inclusion of women in Afghanistan's peace process. "Yet it is difficult to have an agreement when you leave out the government of the country you are expecting to uphold and live under that agreement."

She also stressed that certain concessions must not be made to the Taliban.

"From the very beginning, the Taliban said they would not talk to the Afghan government, but we must simply not accede to those wishes, leaving the Afghan government on the hook," Clinton said.

The former presidential candidate, top diplomat and women's rights advocate was also emphatic that Afghan women must be an integral part of any negotiations, warning that if they are sidelined in the process, the prospect for lasting peace is slim.

"It is difficult to sustain an agreement if you leave out half the population in forging it," she said.

On Feb. 29, the United States and the Taliban signed an agreement in Qatar. It calls for Washington to withdraw its roughly 13,000 troops over the next 14 months and in exchange, the Taliban agreed to no longer harbor terrorists and to engage in a political reconciliation process and power-sharing agreement.

Clinton said troop withdrawals must be conditioned on the Taliban implementing their part of the deal.

"The troops on the ground remain an important lever to persuade the Taliban to end the violence," she noted.

Afghan women have expressed growing concern that they could lose hard-won rights in a political settlement with the Taliban. In a video message to the meeting, Afghan first lady Rula Ghani sought to reassure them.

"I would like to assure all Afghan women that no decision regarding the peace process will be made in their absence or behind closed doors," she said. "All negotiations will be shared with the Afghan people clearly and transparently."

The U.N. Security Council was set to adopt a resolution later Tuesday welcoming the move toward a political settlement in Afghanistan. British Ambassador Karen Pierce told the meeting that she is pleased that the U.S.-drafted text "has some very good, strong language" on women, peace and security, and women's rights.

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Electricity bills are delivered in mailboxes at an apartment complex in Jongno-gu, Seoul, in this Aug. 7, 2018, file photo. Korea Times photo by Kim Ju-sung



By Nam Hyun-woo





KEPCO CEO Kim Jong-kap
Former Head of the President's Office of Ukraine Andriy Bohdan indicated bank accounts and real estate in Ukraine and abroad, cars and Swiss watches in his electronic declaration before dismissal from the post.

At his post, he received UAH 63,130 salary from the State Management of Affairs, UAH 20,000 of income from property rented, namely Intermaino LLC and UAH 4 of interest in PrivatBank.

Bohdan declared UAH 10.399 million, almost EUR 40,000 and more than $29,000 in accounts in PrivatBank, some $647,103 and UAH 213,883 in Credit Agricole Bank, some EUR 244,651 in Tatra Bank AS (Slovakia), some EUR 53,510 in PrivatBank AS (Latvia). He also declared $721,600 and EUR 238,400 in cash.

Bohdan declared a house with an area of 560.6 square meters in Kozyn, Kyiv region, acquired in 2011, two apartments in Kyiv with an area of 81.6 and 131.6 square meters acquired in 2006 and 2007, an apartment in Slovakia with an area of 81.78 square meters acquired in 2017 for UAH 2.180 million. He also has been using another apartment in Kyiv free of charge since 2004.

In addition, Bohdan owns ten unfinished apartments with an area of 93.88, 93.36, 77.03, 119.72, 43.86, 97.1, 82.93, 44.86, 79.4 and 72.53 square meters in Kyiv; ten land plots: one plot is located in Kyiv, eight are in Kyiv region (two of which cost UAH 1.808 million and UAH 1.471 million) and one more is in Lviv region acquired in 2005-2009.

He has also been renting non-residential premises in Kyiv with an area of 656.1 square meters of Intermaino LLC since October 2013.

The former head of the President's Office owns two Tesla cars made in 2015 and 2016 with cost of UAH 683,000 and UAH 750,000, respectively, acquired in 2017 and June 2019; three Mercedes cars: one is made in 2019 cost UAH 2. 893 million acquired in May 2019; another one is made in 2014 cost UAH 250,000 bought in January 2019, and the third one is made in 2015 cost UAH 440,000 acquired in 2015.

Bohdan owns three luxury Swiss watches of Breitling and Ulysse Nardin brands.

One of his daughters, Sofia, has owned a house of 319 square meters cost UAH 665,472 since 2012 and an apartment in Kyiv free of charge since 2008. His other three daughters, Viktoria, Anastasia and Kateryna, have been using the apartment in Kyiv with an area of 184.7 square meters free of charge since 2014.

His daughters have accounts in Tatra Bank AS (Slovakia): Kateryna and Sofia have EUR 35,000, Anastasia has EUR 45,000, Viktoria has EUR 49,000 and insignificant amounts in hryvnias in PrivatBank.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-11 18:07:27|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Beijing is expected to host 44 million fewer tourists in the first quarter of this year than the same period last year, or an annual decrease of 70 percent, said Chen Dong, head of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism.

Due to the novel coronavirus outbreak, the tourism revenue in the January-March period is expected to fall by 84 billion yuan (around 12 billion U.S. dollars), or 64.7 percent year on year, Chen said.

As of Jan. 24, the city has closed 181 scenic sites and halted the operations of 3,016 travel agencies. In the following Lunar New Year holiday, the city received 81.9 percent fewer tourists and generated 89.8 percent less tourism revenue than a year ago.

The bureau has rolled out a slew of measures to aid the struggling tourism businesses, including the granting of 345 million yuan in subsidies, and encourage some to develop online tourism products to nurture new growth drivers.

Last year, the city received 320 million tourists, up 3.6 percent year on year, and generated tourism revenue of 622.46 billion yuan, up 5.1 percent, according to Chen.
David Duke, the former grand wizard of the Ku Klux Klan, has been a thorn in the side of the Louisiana GOP for decades. After initially failing to gain traction as a Democrat, Duke switched parties and managed to win a Republican seat in the Louisiana House of Representatives in 1989. Since that victory, he has run for the U.S. Senate three times, governor and president of the United States  as a Republican.
He recently enjoyed a rare date night with wife Michelle Keegan at the Global Awards.

And Mark Wright was proudly displaying his ripped physique on Tuesday, as he took to Instagram to post a sexy shirtless snap while hiking in Los Angeles.

The presenter, 33, jokingly asked fans if they could guess where he was as he flexed his muscles next to the iconic Hollywood sign.

Sizzling: Mark Wright, 33, proudly displayed his ripped physique on Tuesday, as he took to Instagram to post a sexy shirtless snap

Mark appeared to be struggling with the warm LA weather as he peeled off his shirt for the shirtless snap.

The iconic Hollywood sign could be seen behind the star, as Mark clearly seemed to be enjoying the break from chilly Britain.

Playfully teasing fans, Mark captioned his post: 'Have a guess where I am!!'

Where am I? The presenter, 33, jokingly asked fans if they could guess where he was as he flexed his muscles next to the iconic Hollywood sign

For two years Mark lived in Los Angeles as a presenter for the US news programme Extra, where he interviewed some of Hollywood's biggest stars.

The Heart Radio presenter eventually quit the role in 2019 so he could return to the UK and be with his wife Michelle.

The couple recently made a joint appearance at the Global Awards, where Michelle was quick to poke fun at her husband by claiming he takes even longer than her to get ready.

Host with the most: For two years Mark lived in Los Angeles as a presenter for the US news programme Extra, where he interviewed some of Hollywood's biggest stars

Speaking to Amanda Holden during the awards ceremony, Michelle was quick to respond: 'Obviously Mark!' when asked who takes the longest to get ready.

Taking the chance to touch Mark's sleek head of hair, Amanda gushed: ' Can I feel the barnet? Oh my god! What is it? A bit of Elnette?'

Mark then insisted his hair was 'absolutely au naturelle!' while Michelle joked that her husband would 'kill Amanda' for touching his hair.

The actress insisted that no one was allowed to touch Mark's hair, leading the presenter to hit back: 'Why you lying? It takes two minutes to get ready!'
Iranian women are fighting for freedom and equality by fighting to overthrow the Iranian regime because change will never happen under the mullahs.

Of course, the mullahs are threatened by their upcoming overthrow, so they are choosing to oppress women more and more in every aspect of their lives. Not only that but the actions of the mullahs to oppress anyone in Iran disproportionately affect women because they are part of a marginalized group already.

The regime is systematically abusing the rights of women in the job market, no matter what sector they want to enter. Nurses and teachers, who are mostly women, are suffering the brunt of the mullahs anger right now.

There are also bans on religious minority women taking certain jobs or entering higher education. If the mullahs arent able to discriminate based on gender, they will do on religion, meaning that these women are doubly marginalized.

Poverty is another marginalizing factor, but this one actually affects more women than men. This is a result of being denied jobs and education based on gender, being married off young, as well as needing their closest male relatives permission to work.

If a womans husband dies or leaves her, she may find that her only source of income goes with him, which is why we are seeing increased cases of teenage women (or more accurately, girls) becoming homeless, drug addicts, suicide victims, and more.

This poverty marginalization has also led to women and children being the primary victims of disasters, like floods and earthquakes, and still not receiving government support.

But Iranian women are not backing down. Instead, they are leading the anti-regime uprisings and becoming more outspoken. Twice in the past six months, Iranian women have led such enormous uprisings that the regime has been forced to acknowledge their role in the protests.

These women are risking everything because human rights defenders who get arrested are held in vile conditions that fail to meet the minimum standards. Yet still, they continue; determined to expose these crimes against humanity.

The Womens Committee of the NCRI is attempting to showcase the lives and struggles of Iranian women over the past year, with its 2020 Annual report.

They wrote: The brave women of Iran are fighting not only for their own freedom but for the freedom of all Iranians These courageous women have proven the Generation Equality in practice and womens international struggle for parity has become more meaningful with their sacrifices and contributions.

Read More:

Deprivation of Iranian Women From Employment
New Delhi, March 11 : The Delhi High Court on Wednesday sought response of the Centre and various social media platforms over a plea seeking court's direction to the social media companies to disclose details of their designated officers under various rules under the Informational Technology (IT) Act, concerning online intermediaries.

"Social Media companies have been misusing the idea of free speech and have not been complying with Indian laws. Central Government has pulled up social media platforms for not blocking objectionable content, hate messages and videos flagged by the police during the riots in Delhi," the plea moved by RSS ideologue K.N. Govindacharya said.

Govindacharya's Advocate Virag Gupta approached the court accusing various social media giants of misusing the idea of free speech.

A Division Bench of the high court led by Chief Justice D.N. Patel and Justice C. Harishankar issued notice to the Centre, Google India, Facebook India and Twitter India on the plea and posted the matter for next hearing on April 14.
Home  Just In  Coronavirus crisis: Nepal adds 3 to list of countries whose citizens cannot get on-arrival visas

Kathmandu, March 10

The government of Nepal on Monday decided to halt issuing on-arrival visas for the citizens of three more countries in view of the severity of novel coronavirus infection in those countries. The decision is a part of the government bid to protect itself from the global epidemic.

The Department of Immigration says the citizens of France, Germany, and Spain cannot obtain on-arrival visas till the next notice. The decision will be implemented from Tuesday onwards. Earlier last week, the government had decided to temporarily bar the citizens of China, Japan, South Korea, Iran, and Italy from obtaining on-arrival visas.

Previous to this, only the citizens from 12 countries affected by civil wars and other terrorist activities had been barred from this facility.

If the citizens from the listed eight countries wish to visit Nepal, they have to obtain visas from the Nepali missions located in the respective countries, clarifies the department.

Meanwhile, the department also made it compulsory for the people travelling from and through those countries to obtain a medical certificate, at most seven days before arriving in Nepal, proving that they are not infected with the virus. The certificate will be checked at the international airport in Kathmandu.

The government has also notified that the nationals of the listed countries can enter Nepal via the Kathmandu airport only and other entry points will be temporarily suspended from them.
Amid the political crisis in



Madhya Pradesh, 95 Congress MLAs reached the Bhopal airport on Wednesday to leave for Jaipur.

The ruling party MLAs reached the Raja Bhoj Airport here in three buses around 12 noon.

"We are going to Jaipur with our MLAs. We will stay there together," state minister Sajjan Singh Verma told reporters after the Congress MLAs reached the airport.

Another minister Kamaleshwar Patel said they were confident that the Kamal Nath-led state government will prove its majority.

"All MLAs wanted to relieve their tension amid the ongoing political situation. So, we are going to Jaipur. We will prove our majority. We have 95 MLAs here (at airport). Independent MLAs and BSP and SP legislators are also supporting," state minister Priyavrat Singh said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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Linkedin Dian Septiari (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, March 12 2020

Call of duty: Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin (center) speaks during a news conference with senior ministers in Putrajaya, Malaysia, on Wednesday.(Reuters/Lim Huey Teng)

After weeks of political maneuvering, Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin introduced a new senior minister position to his Cabinet, taking a page from Indonesias coordinating ministries in a bid to remove political obstacles that may jeopardize the unity of the new government.

The new posts, called menteri kanan (senior ministers), aim to steer the Cabinet away from another twin suns dilemma that prompted the collapse of the previously ruling Pakatan Harapan alliance last month, observers have said.

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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 11)  The number of foreign nationals who have tested for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) after visiting the Philippines has risen to six.

The Department of Health in a House hearing on Wednesday disclosed that aside from the three foreigners earlier reported, three more foreign visitors were found to have COVID-19 after leaving the Philippines.

We [now] have six confirmed cases of foreign nationals having history of travel in the Philippines, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said.

The new cases include a Japanese national who is currently being treated for coronavirus after staying in the Philippines for seven to nine days, Duque said. Another is a Singaporean national who tested positive for coronavirus abroad after staying in the country for three days.

A South Korean "with extensive travel history" was also found to have contracted the virus after leaving the Philippines.

The DOH earlier confirmed that a 38-year-old Taiwanese man, 44-year-old Japanese man, and a woman from Sydney, Australia have all tested positive for coronavirus in other countries, and were traced to have been to the Philippines.

The DOH has formed teams to track down people who may have come in contact with the foreign coronavirus patients.

The Philippines has reported a total of 33 coronavirus cases  30 of them are admitted in hospitals mostly in Metro Manila. The other three are the Chinese visitors who earlier tested positive for the virus in the Philippines  one of them died, while the remaining two have since recovered and left the country.

READ: San Juan has most coronavirus cases

Worldwide, the COVID-19 has killed more than 4,200 people, mostly in China, since the outbreak began in Wuhan City in Hubei province in December last year. It has infected over 115,800 people worldwide.

According to the World Health Organization, the most commonly reported symptoms are fever, dry cough and shortness of breath. WHO said 8 in 10, or around 80 percent, of infected patients experience "mild illness" and eventually recover from COVID-19. Some 14 percent experience severe illness while 5 percent were critically ill, the WHO said.

To prevent infection, authorities are urging people to practice regular hand washing, cover the mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing, and avoid close contact with those who show respiratory symptoms.
By Express News Service

HYDERABAD: Tension built up when police resorted to lathi-charge at ABVP activists while they were trying to barge into the premises of the Assembly here on Wednesday to draw the attention of the government to the meagre allocation of funds in the 2020-21 state budget for education.

The ABVP activists, who arrived in groups as soon as the Assembly met in the morning, squattered at the assembly gate for some time demanding that they be allowed inside to make a representation to the government that education sector needed a better treatment in the budget.

Even as the students were raising slogans, some of them, including girls, tried to scale the entrance gates to the Assembly when the police used force to disburse them. They later detained some of the ABVP members. A few students sustianed injuries when the police used force to disperse them.
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Linkedin Ni Komang Erviani (The Jakarta Post) Denpasar  Wed, March 11, 2020 20:16 671 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2069e7e52 1 National Wuhan-coronavirus,Wuhan-coronavirus-in-Indonesia,coronavirus,COVID-19,COVID-19-Indonesian-patients,Bali-tourism,denpasar,outbreak,outbreak-in-Indonesia Free

A 53-year-old foreign woman holidaying in Bali became Indonesia's first COVID-19 fatality on Wednesday, but local authorities were only informed after her death that she had tested positive for the disease.

The Health Ministry had identified the woman as Case 25 in a press conference on Tuesday evening but neglected to inform Balis provincial administration.

"Today, early in the morning, at 2:45 a.m., a foreign national under observation at Sanglah Hospital died," the chairman of Balis COVID-19 task force, Dewa Made Indra, said at a press conference in Denpasar on Wednesday.

Dewa, who is also the secretary of the Bali administration, said the administration had not received any information on the patients test result until local officials called the Health Ministry themselves after the patients death.

"Because this patient died in the isolation room, under observation, we tried to get confirmation from Jakarta. We hadnt received her laboratory test results yet, he said. [After calling the ministry,] we were told that the patient who died was Case 25, who was announced as COVID-19 positive yesterday."

Health Ministry Disease Control and Prevention Director General Achmad Yurianto explained that, once a patients test result came back, the ministry would inform the doctor in charge.

Once the lab says the test is positive, the doctor is immediately informed and the doctor informs the patient, he said at a press conference on Wednesday afternoon. Whether the doctor communicates [the results] to the regional administration is another matter.

Yurianto previously said the ministry would stick with its policy of not announcing where confirmed cases were being treated or what country foreign patients were from.

Both the Health Ministry and the Bali administration declined to reveal the patients nationality, but British media have reported that she was from the United Kingdom. A British Foreign Office statement received by The Jakarta Post said the office was supporting the family of a British woman who has died in Indonesia but stopped short of confirming that the woman was Case 25.

Dewa said that Case 25 had a history of chronic illness, including diabetes, high blood pressure as well as pulmonary disease.

He said that, despite not knowing that the patient had tested positive for COVID-19, she had received the same treatment a COVID-19 patient would have received.

[She was treated like a COVID-19] patient because her symptoms were similar to those of the disease and she was under observation, he said.

Dewa said the patient had been cremated at around 12:30 p.m. local time in Mumbul, Badung.

"Because the patient was under observation for COVID-19, her body was handled according to the procedures for handling infectious diseases, he added.

According to the Bali Health Agency, Case 25 arrived on the island on Feb. 29 and was admitted to a private hospital after complaining of fever on March 3. After her condition failed to improve, she was taken to Sanglah Hospital on March 9.

The Health Ministry said Case 25 was an imported case  meaning she is not believed to have contracted the virus in Indonesia  but has declined to say where she arrived from.

Dewa said his task force had traced the 21 people who had close contact with her and told them to go into self-imposed quarantine. The husband of the deceased, who accompanied her on the trip, is under observation.

So far, according the Bali Health Agency, 48 people have been observed for COVID-19 in the province. Thirty-eight have tested negative and been discharged, while nine others, all foreigners, are still under observation and waiting for their test results.

As of Wednesday, Indonesia has confirmed 34 COVID-19 cases in the country.
A Ford Motor Co. Explorer Hybrid sports utility vehicle (SUV) is displayed during the 2019 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit, Michigan, U.S., on Monday, Jan. 14, 2019.

Following a flawed launch of its Explorer SUV last year, Ford says production and sales of the popular vehicle are back "on track" and gaining momentum.

February retail sales of Explorer were the vehicle's best for that month since 2005 and Ford has regained its retail market share of 17%-18% of the midsize SUV segment, according to Mark LaNeve, Ford vice president of U.S. Marketing, Sales and Service.

"The bad news is we had some delays in the launch. The good news is we have a product for several that looks like we have a winner, and we're optimistic about the balance of the year," he told CNBC. "We're certainly off to a good start."

The redesign of the Explorer was a complete rebuild of the vehicle as well as the plant that produces the model. Ford has described the launch as one of the most complex in its history, including redoing the Illinois plant in just 30 days.

Ford CEO and President Jim Hackett has described the launch as a "company issue" with fumbled execution, which increased pressure from Wall Street on Hackett amid lower-than-expected earnings.

"The lost volumes in Chicago during ramp-up marred the year, and there were some important lessons that we learned," Hackett said last month when discussing the company's fourth-quarter loss of $1.67 billion that heavily weighed on its $84 million profit for the year.
Prince Harry and wife Meghan Markle were recently spotted in a royal engagement where they showed a little PDA. But to some analysts, Meghan reaching out to touch Prince Harry was not a show of affection at all.

In fact, some critics believe that it's an unspoken sign of who is really in charge in their household.

Taking the Lead

In their last few days in the U.K., the couple had been very busy attending to various royal engagements. It was their last round of events before they bid the royal family goodbye. Prince Harry and Meghan have indeed created a close relationship, seeing them communicate non-verbally in events have become a mastered skill.

Last week during the Endeavour Fund Awards at the Mansion House in London, Meghan was seen reaching out to Harry as if signalling him to take a step back. When he did, she stepped forward and shook the hands of someone from the event.

Some people saw it as a rude act, especially as Harry was talking to someone. However, the incident was not the first time such thing happened.

Every couple has their own secret code. A look can mean it is time to go home, while a touch on the hand is a reassurance that one needs extra love. But when the couple is in the eyes of the public, non-verbal cues play a huge role in the relationship.

It looks like Harry and Meghan have got their secret non-verbal codes right on.

Meghan's Pat Power

The British press has referred to it as Meghan's "Pat Power." This gesture was on display during the Endeavour Fund Awards. A subtle hand on the back of Harry was reportedly Meghan's way of directing Harry to address the fans despite the rain.

It was a sweet gesture, but it can be directional too.

Judi James, a body language expert, said that "the parental, partially nurturing gesture of a pat on the back also implies control."

"In Politics, it is known as "Pat Power" where the person doing the patting is raising his status in the decision-making process while putting down the status of the other. At the reception they attended in South Africa last October, Meghan's hand was firmly on her husband's back. It was the same when they visited the Birkenhead in January.

Her hand was also on Harry's back when he carried baby Archie for the public to see. It may seem like a gesture of maternal approval, but everyone knows with the pat on the back came the power to control.

Breaking Royal Protocol

Prince Harry and Meghan were never afraid to eschew the unwritten royal rule on public displays of affection. They seek each other's supportive presence, but those gestures are beyond what traditions allow. However, a hand on the arm of the other takes the point at a different level.

Judi added that "Meghan's closeness to Harry and her PDA imply ownership." It also ensures that she gets the upper hand in their relationship.
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Linkedin Catherine Marciano (Agence France-Presse) Vatican City, Holy See  Wed, March 11, 2020 05:45 671 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2069bcac8 2 World #Vatican,#coronavirus,tourists,closed Free

The Vatican said Tuesday it was closing Saint Peter's Square and its main basilica to tourists -- but not the faithful -- as part of a broader clampdown to curb the coronavirus

The Holy See said the measures will remain in place until April 3 "to halt the spread of the coronavirus".

The announcement sparked a wave of confusion because churches are supposed to remain open across Italy as a whole during the country's month-long ban on public gatherings.

A Vatican source later clarified to AFP that anyone who expresses a wish to pray at the basilica can still pass through the police barrier and walk onto the main square.

Italy's new nationwide restrictions on social events and travel are designed to curb the spread of a disease that has killed 631 and infected 10,149 in just over two weeks.

The Vatican has so far officially confirmed one case of the COVID-19 disease caused by the new virus that was detected in a person who was using one of its public pharmacies.

It was also awaiting the results of a second person who came in contact with a virus carrier at an event organised by the Vatican at the start of the month.

Pope Francis himself was forced to break with centuries of tradition and deliver his Sunday Angelus Prayer via livestream instead of from his Vatican window to limit crowds on Saint Peter's Square.

Saint Peter's basilica is one of the world's most popular tourist attractions. Its dome -- the tallest in the world -- soars over Rome and is visible across the Italian capital.

It is filled with frescos and statues by great Renaissance masters such as Michelangelo.

'Go out and see'

The 83-old-pontiff is still recovering from a cold he developed about two weeks ago.

He spoke with a slight rasp in on Tuesday during a morning prayer in which he urged priests across the world to go out and meet those suffering from the new disease.

"Let us pray to the Lord also for our priests, may they have the courage to go out and see the sick, bringing them the strength of the word of God and the Eucharist, and accompany health workers and volunteers in the work they do," the pope said a video from his residence in the Vatican.

He bowed carefully and gingerly kissed the bible before delivering the prayer.

"Let us continue to pray together for the sick, the health workers, so many people who are suffering because of this epidemic," he said.

The Argentine-born pope has enjoyed a life of good health and follows a rigorous schedule despite having a part of a lung removed when he was young.

His unusual absence during the coronavirus scare prompted immediate speculation that he had contracted COVID-19.

A newspaper reported last week that the pope had been tested for the virus but was not infected.

The Vatican neither confirmed nor denied the report.
Ronnie Wood was accompanied by wife Sally Humphreys on Wednesday afternoon as a host of stars attended The Prince's Trust and TKMaxx & Homesense Awards.

The Rolling Stones legend looked dapper in a midnight blue suit while posing for photos shortly after arriving at the London Palladium ahead of the charitable event.

Joining Ronnie, 72, Sally commanded attention in an elegant printed dress with a plunging neckline as they made their way inside.

In good company: Ronnie Wood was accompanied by wife Sally Humphreys on Wednesday afternoon as a host of stars attended The Prince's Trust and TKMaxx & Homesense Awards

The 42-year old added to her look with a pair of nude heels, while vibrant red lipstick gave hr ensemble an added splash of colour.

Sally and Ronnie tied the knot in December 2012 and welcomed daughters Gracie and Alice into the world in May 2016, two days before the musician's 69th birthday.

Ronnie is also father to Jesse, 42, whom he shares with his late first wife Krissy, who he was married to from 1971 to 1978.

Smart: The Rolling Stones legend looked dapper in a midnight blue suit while posing for photos shortly after arriving at the London Palladium ahead of the charitable event

He's pleased: Ronnie greeted onlookers with a beaming smile as the couple made their way inside on Wednesday afternoon

Stylish: Joining her husband, Sally commanded attention in an elegant printed dress with a plunging neckline as they made their way inside.

The Rolling Stones rocker married second wife Jo Wood, 64, in 1985 and the former couple had two children together; daughter Leah, 41, and son Tyrone, 36. He also adopted Jo's son, Jamie, from a previous relationship.

Ronnie and Sally first met just over a decade ago, when she was working at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, while Ronnie was still married to second wife Jo .

Ronnie divorced former model Jo in 2008 and he and Sally became involved three years later.

Happy couple: Sally and Ronnie tied the knot in December 2012 and welcomed daughters Gracie and Alice into the world in May 2016, two days before the musician's 69th birthday

Let's talk: Ronnie chatted to Prince Charles after lining up to meet the Royal alongside Craig David

The couple wed in an intimate ceremony at the Dorchester Hotel in London in December 2011 after a six-month romance, with Rod Stewart serving as the groom's best man.

On expanding their family, brunette beauty Sally said in an interview with the Daily Mirror newspaper: 'I'd love to have twins again.

'We'd be very happy if more arrive. Twins are much easier because they play together. Twins again and then we have double everything. We are good to go. I'm 40 now but you never know.'
A LARGE building partially collapsed in Cork city centre but no injuries were caused.

The structure, on Washington Street between the junctions of Cross Street and South Main Street, had been under renovation.

It partially collapsed around 2am - with rubble falling out onto one of Cork's busiest thoroughfares.

Experts said the timing of the collapse - when the area had largely emptied of revellers and pedestrians - was incredibly fortunate.

Crews from Anglesea Street, Ballyvolane and a Third Officer are currently in attendance at a partial building collapse on Washington Street in the City Centre.



Avoid the area, road is closed off to public access. #CorkTraffic pic.twitter.com/kg53lD2t0y  Cork City Fire Brigade (@CorkCityFire) March 11, 2020

An investigation is now underway into the cause of the collapse and reports that some locals heard a loud 'bang' seconds before the collapse.

The area has been closed off amid public safety concerns.

Motorists were warned to expect major traffic disruption as a result.

The building is located just a short walk from Cork city centre and such busy premises as Cork Courthouse.

Gardai, Cork Fire Brigade and Cork City Council engineers are in attendance at the scene.

Twenty years ago, a young woman died and a man was left with life-changing injuries when they were struck by falling debris from a collapsed parapat on a separate Washington Street building.

Before Christmas, a building on Cork's North Main Street partially collapsed and has since been specially secured by engineers.
Amid the Madhya Pradesh government crisis, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said that while the PM was busy ensuring the fall of an elected government, global oil prices tanked by 35 per cent. He asked if PM Modi would pass on the benefits of the price cut and ensure that fuel prices are below Rs 60 per litre.

Hey @PMOIndia , while you were busy destabilising an elected Congress Govt, you may have missed noticing the 35% crash in global oil prices. Could you please pass on the benefit to Indians by slashing #petrol prices to under 60 per litre? Will help boost the stalled economy. Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) March 11, 2020

Fuel prices were decreased by Rs 2 per litre in major metropolitan cities across the nation. In Delhi, petrol prices were reduced by Rs 2.69 per litre to Rs 70.29 per litre, while diesel saw a Rs 2.33 cut to Rs 63.01 per litre. The main factor behind the drop in crude oil prices today is the biggest drop in oil prices in the past 30 years on Monday.

Crude oil prices fell about 25 per cent on Monday and bounced back up on Tuesday along with equities and other financial markets.

The Kamal Nath government in Madhya Pradesh is faced with the threat of collapse as senior Congress leader from the state, Jyotiraditya Scindia is all set to join the BJP today at 2 pm. Scindia called it quits with the Congress after party infighting over several issues.

To add to the woes of the Congress party, Scindia is likely to take 22 MLAs with him who are also likely to join BJP. Shivraj Chauhan's rise to power in the state seems imminent with one of the most important Congress leaders joining the saffron party.

Also read: Madhya Pradesh Political Crisis Live Updates: Jyotiraditya Scindia's induction into BJP delayed by 2 hours

Also read: Madhya Pradesh: Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia along with 22 MLAs to join BJP today
Shepaug Dramatics will stage its production of Little Shop of Horrors at Shepaug Valley School in Washington March 13-15.

Performances will be held March 13-14 at 7 p.m. and March 15 at 3 p.m. at the South Street school.

The musical sci-fi comedy centers around Seymour, a down-on-his-luck florist who has a crush on his co-worker Audrey.

When they discover a mysterious - and voracious - alien plant, Seymour and Audrey are thrust into an epic battle that will determine the fate of the entire human race.

Based on the 1960 film by Roger Corman - featuring a book by Howard Ashman and rock, doo-wop, and Motown music by Alan Menken - Little Shop has been called the best musical ever adapted from a movie by Time Out, Critics Pick.

Shepaug Dramatics all-student cast and crew will feature a combination of solo and ensemble performances under the direction of Shepaug faculty veteran Doug Winkel.

Sandra Kleisner will serve as musical director.

It is a pleasure to return to Shepaug to lead another stellar cast and crew of students to stage a production of this cult-classic, Winkel said. It is always exciting to see the creative energy these young people bring to their work and Little Shop is bound to be fun.

The Award-winning Shepaug Dramatics team was recently recognized by The Halo Awards for Best Scenic Design and Execution and Best Performance By a Leading Actress In A Contemporary Play for its production of Picasso At The Lapin Agile.

"I am always impressed with the work of our students and applaud their efforts and accomplishments in the arts," said SVS School Principal Kimberly Gallo.

General admission tickets are $10. Tickets for students, senior citizens and veterans are $5.

Tickets can be reserved by calling 860-717-2444 and purchased at the door.

All proceeds will be used to support future productions of Shepaug Dramatics.
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Saint Thomas' Episcopal School will be closed for two weeks after a student was possibly exposed to the novel coronavirus, the school announced Tuesday.

The circumstances surrounding the students exposure, including whether or not she or he attended classes after the fact, was not immediately clear. The school said it plans to reopen after the two weeks.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel is citing expert estimates that up to 70% of the population could be infected by the new coronavirus as she insists on the necessity of measures to slow its spread.

The government has recommended the cancellation of all events with more than 1,000 people, among other things.

Merkel noted at a news conference in Berlin: You have to understand that if the virus is there, and the population has no immunity yet to this virus, there are no vaccines and no therapy so far, a high percentage  experts say 60 to 70%  of the population will be infected."

She said the priority is to slow the spread of the disease so all the measures we are taking are of the greatest significance because they are giving us time  it does matter what we do, it is not in vain.

Merkel has made clear that Germany doesnt intend to close its borders in the light of Europe's coronavirus epidemic, arguing that it makes more sense for people arriving from badly hit regions to quarantine themselves at home.

ALSO: Expert: Worst still to come in US virus outbreak

Germany had some 1,300 infections as of Wednesday but, so far, only three deaths  a low rate that experts have put down to rapid testing as the outbreak unfolded.

Merkel said at a rare, hastily convened news conference Wednesday in Berlin that its important for European leaders to discuss what are good and effective measures and what arent.

She said we in Germany, in any case, are of the opinion that border closures are not an appropriate response to the challenge.

Austria and Slovenia to Italy's north and Malta to the south have largely closed their borders with Italy.

Follow AP coverage of the virus outbreak at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak
Chinese President Xi Jinping said Tuesday that Wuhan has turned the tide against the deadly coronavirus outbreak, as he paid his first visit to the city at the heart of the global epidemic. Xi's visit came as unprecedented quarantine measures that have sealed off Wuhan and the rest of central Hubei province since late January appear to have paid off, with new infections dropping dramatically in recent weeks. During Xi's trip, Hubei announced it would ease travel restrictions to allow healthy people in low-risk areas to travel throughout the province. But the measure did not appear to loosen restrictions on Wuhan nor indicate if people could leave the province of 56 million people. State media also reported that the last of Wuhan's 16 makeshift hospitals that were converted from public buildings during the worst of the outbreak had closed. "The spread of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has been basically curbed in Hubei province and its capital city Wuhan," Xi said, according to the official Xinhua news agency. "Initial success has been made in stabilising the situation and turning the tide in Hubei and Wuhan," he said. China's progress against the outbreak stands in stark contrast with the growing global crisis, with cases now growing at a faster pace abroad, and Italy enacting its own nationwide travel restrictions. State media images showed Xi, who arrived by plane in Hubei's capital, wearing a face mask as he spoke via video-link from a conference hall to frontline medical workers and patients who are at one of two field hospitals set up in the city. He then went to a residential community in Wuhan to speak with people quarantined, and community workers. China's most powerful leader since Mao Zedong is usually a daily fixture in state media but he has stayed out of the spotlight for much of the crisis and assigned Premier Li Keqiang to oversee the response to the epidemic. But as the number of new cases has fallen in recent weeks, state media has played up Xi's role in the fight against the outbreak, releasing a speech last month in which he said he had been giving instructions since early January. Hua Po, an independent Beijing-based political analyst, told AFP the trip's timing indicated an "interim victory" for China. "His visit is to signal that the outbreak has been effectively curbed, and is an attempt to quieten external criticism of him not going to the frontlines," said Hao. Authorities have faced rare and fierce criticism online over their handling of the virus, with local officials coming under particular scrutiny for punishing whistleblowers in an apparent attempt to cover up the outbreak in early January. "During the worst of the outbreak, Xi avoided the epicentre because he did not want to be blamed, but when the situation gets better, he shows up in order to receive praise," said Bruce Lui, a senior lecturer in journalism at Hong Kong Baptist University. - Global cases soar - The death of doctor Li Wenliang, who died from the COVID-19 illness in February, sparked a wave of grief and anger online. He was among a group of people who had raised the alarm as early as December. A visit by Vice Premier Sun Chunlan to a Wuhan residential community last week was met with angry public heckling as people reportedly complained that she was being shown a "fake" delivery of food -- showing how easily state propaganda efforts could backfire. The virus is believed to have emerged in December at a market that sold wild animals in Wuhan before ballooning into a national and then a global epidemic. More than 4,000 people have died and over 110,000 have been infected worldwide, with the majority in China. But China reported only 17 new cases in Wuhan on Tuesday, the lowest figure since it started publishing data on January 21, and two elsewhere that were imported from abroad. "Xi doesn't want to be associated with the disaster, but with the recovery," said Adam Ni, a researcher at the China Policy Centre in Canberra. "China has turned the corner now with COVID-19, and the party now wants to craft the most positive narrative despite early missteps."
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-12 00:28:55|Editor: xuxin

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A passenger passes the customs check point at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport in Harare, Zimbabwe, March 11, 2020. Zimbabwe's main airport is "60 percent prepared" to deal with COVID-19 and more resources are required for training and procurement of essential protective equipment for critical staff, Ruth Labode, chairperson of the parliamentary portfolio committee on health said Wednesday, after touring the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport in Harare to assess its preparedness to deal with the virus. (Photo by Shaun Jusa/Xinhua)

HARARE, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Zimbabwe's main airport is "60 percent prepared" to deal with COVID-19 and more resources are required for training and procurement of essential protective equipment for critical staff, a senior official said Wednesday.

Speaking after touring the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport in Harare to assess its preparedness to deal with the virus, Ruth Labode, chairperson of the parliamentary portfolio committee on health, said the main airport needed to further strengthen its systems to be able to respond effectively to the virus.

Zimbabwe has not recorded any confirmed case of COVID-19 but has since activated its systems to monitor, screen, isolate and treat any possible cases of the virus.

The country has set up an isolation and treatment facility at Wilkins Hospital in Harare, with China pledging to upgrade the facility by providing funds and the necessary equipment to bring it in line with World Health Organization standards.

Labode said workers at the airport, including revenue authority, immigration, civil aviation and port health officials should heighten their sense of alertness and preparedness and ensure they wear protective face masks all the time.

This was after she noticed, during the tour, that some immigration and revenue authority officials were interfacing with foreign visitors, some from CIVID-19 affected countries, without wearing masks.

She said Wilkins Hospital, which they also toured earlier, is better prepared to deal with COVID-19.

"But at the airport (Harare), it's definitely porous. It's probably sitting at 60 percent in terms of preparedness. The people are conscious but they don't have the resources. They don't have the things they need to use. So I believe that there is a lot of work that we need to do at the airport," she said.

She said port health and immigration staff in particular needed more training on how to deal with COVID-19.

Labode challenged airlines that land at the airport to partner the Zimbabwe government by donating necessary equipment and materials to assist in the fight against the virus.

Head of Immigration at the airport Evans Siziba said the department had run out of face masks, which are imported, due to foreign currency shortages.

Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe (CAAZ) acting general manager Margaret Mantiziba said the department was vigilant.

"We have activated our systems as the port health. Efforts we have stepped up include setting up a dedicated location facility at the airport for temporary holding of suspected cases before they are transferred to Wilkins Hospital.

"We have also activated our port health systems in terms of screening of travelers coming from different parts of the world," she said.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has alleged that a former chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT), Abdulrasheed Maina, planned to assassinate prosecution lawyers in the ongoing trial.

An EFCC lawyer, Mohammed Abubakar, who made the allegation, also alleged that Mr Maina plotted to assassinate the EFCC witnesses and officials of Nigerian Correctional Services to escape from custody.

The anti-graft agency stated this in a Motion on Notice dated March 3, seeking the revocation of Mr Mainas bail.

Giving the grounds on why Mr Mainas bail should be cancelled, Mr Abubakar said that the first defendant/respondent who was granted bail by the court since 26th November 2019 (though still in custody) has perfected plans to assassinate prosecution witnesses and counsel in this matter.

That the 1st defendant/respondent perfected plans to escape from custody and abscond; and in the process assassinate Nigerian Correctional Service officials attached to him.

PREMIUM TIMES had reported how on January 28, Justice Okon Abang reduced the bail bond of the former PRTT chairman from N1billion to N500 million.

Mr Maina had on January 13 told the court that he could not meet the stringent conditions of the bail granted him in November.

Not able to meet the said adjusted bail conditions, Mr Maina in an application dated February 10 further asked the court to further vary the bail conditions.

But in the federal governments application to cancel Mr Mainas bail, Mr Abubakar said that there was need to protect the witnesses, counsel and officers by keeping the first defendant/respondent in custody during the pendency of this criminal matter as well as provide additional/ maximum security around him while in custody pending the conclusion of the trial.

That when the first defendant/respondent was arrested preparatory to his arraignment before this court, his son who was with him was found to be in illegal possession of a firearm and the son, Faisal, physically attacked the security officers arresting his father to resist the arrest or free his father.

That consequent to the above, Faisal Maina is currently being prosecuted by the Nigeria Police for the offences stated in the ground (d) above, Mr Abubakar added.

However, Mr Mainas lawyer, Joe Gadzama, asked for a brief adjournment, to enable him to respond to the prosecutions objection.

The senior lawyer also asked the court to hear the two applications together on the next adjourned date.

But the prosecution insisted that his application was ripe for hearing since it was listed for the day.

In a short ruling, Justice Abang said that it was convenient for the court to take the application seeking to further vary the bail conditions and the application seeking to revoke the bail together since they were related to the liberty of Mr Maina, who was still in detention.

He adjourned to March 16, to take the arguments of the parties in the suit.

Mr Maina is accused of diverting N100 billion pension funds and is facing trial for alleged money laundering. He is being prosecuted by the EFCC on a 12-count charge and is also accused of operating fictitious accounts and carrying out other fraudulent activities.

The former PRTT chairman, who was in hiding for almost two years, was arrested by the State Security Service last year.

The SSS handed over Mr Maina to the EFCC, which had declared him wanted for over a year.

His son, Faisal, who was arrested alongside the father in September, is accused of operating an account he used to divert various sums of money, including N58 million.

The two men were arraigned by the EFCC on October 25 on separate charges. They pleaded not guilty.
Job Title: Information

Systems Audit Manager

Organisation: Orient

Bank

Duty Station: Kampala,

Uganda

Reports to: Head

of Internal Audit

About US:

Orient Bank is a

leading Private sector commercial bank in Uganda since 1993. Its steady growth

over the last 20 years can be attributed to its professional management and

prudent Lending and investment policy. The confidence in Orient Bank of

the Ugandan business community in particular and the public in general, is reflected

in its large deposit base. In November 2002 Orient Bank made another first in

this economy by successfully out competing other Banks in taking over

TransAfrica Bank Ltd., (TABL).

Job Summary: The Information Systems (IS) Audit Manager

will plan, review and co-ordinate the execution of information systems audit

assignments allocated by the Head of Internal Audit from time to time and

prepare audit reports, identify emerging risks in line with the Audit Manual,

Institute of Internal Auditors Standards for the Professional Practice of

Internal Auditing, International Standards on Auditing (ISAs), ISACA

guidelines, ITIL guidelines, Bank policies & procedures, Business Plan and

applicable laws and regulations and where appropriate, best practice.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:



Conduct

audits of the banks IT Governance, IT infrastructure, networks, data bases, IT

security, support activities/help desk operations, contracts, IT project

management, management of IT assets, incident and problem management, operating

system controls.



Review

indirect controls (staffing, administration, leave management and training

among others).



Review

and assess the banks integrated risk management framework in respect to

technology/IT/Cyber risk.



Review

the adequacy of the banks IT policies and procedures.



Support

the Head of Internal Audit in ensuring adequate implementation of the annual

audit plans to deliver risk focused and value added audits.



Develop

and implement Quality Assurance Improvement Programs to ensure audit services

continue to offer value added services.



Make

recommendations and advice to Board and management for improving management

controls and risk management.



Meet

with auditees at all levels, to discuss audit reports and make recommendations

to resolve audit findings requiring corrective action.



Supervise

and mentor junior audit staff to ensure timely implementation of approved audit

plan.



Conduct

fraud investigations within the bank and create staff awareness to risk

management to minimize the risks and the associated financial losses.



Certify

statutory returns to Bank of Uganda so as to ensure accuracy and avoid

penalties to the Bank.



Follow

up on outstanding recommendations from the previous Internal Audit Reports,

External Auditors findings, BOU onsite examination and previous investigation

reports.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:



The

applicants for the Orient Bank Information Systems (IS) Audit Manager job

placement must hold a bachelors degree in Computer Science or Business related

field with a minimum of a second class lower.



A Full

professional certification in accountancy, risk and auditing (CISA, CRP, CIA,

ACCA, CPA, AC A etc.)



At least

five years of cognate experience in IT audit, IT risk or IT operations.



Broad

knowledge of the principles of computer technology and system audit.



IT

Auditing and general accounting knowledge.



Knowledgeable

in IT security, analytical and Investigation skills & Comprehensive Banking

Operations.



General

Multi Corporate Finance and Financial Strategy Knowledge.



Fraud

and Operational risk knowledge.



Ability

to prepare concise oral and written reports.



Banking,

Insurance, Capital Markets, Trusteeship, Pension Fund and financial services

Knowledge.



Policy

and Regulatory Interpretation skill and Implementation capability.

How to Apply:

All interested

candidates who meet the criteria indicated above are requested to send their

applications, and updated Curriculum Vitae to the following email charity.nyabura@orient-bank.com

Deadline: 16th March 2020

For more of the

latest jobs, please visit https://www.theugandanjobline.com or

find us on our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/UgandanJobline










DALLAS, March 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Vari, the workspace innovation company, is bolstering its executive team, promoting Sean Scogin from chief marketing officer to chief revenue officer and bringing a seasoned executive, Jeff Dinard, on as new chief information officer.

Vari, best known for its sit-stand desk VariDesk, announced its multi-million dollar rebrand Feb. 24, 2020. This leadership structure is designed to support the company as it continues to scale.

Sean joined Vari in 2014 as a founding executive. He played a major role in growing the company from nine employees to 350 and expanding from one innovative product with millions of fans to a full line of more than 200 flexible workspace solutions -- with another 300 in the pipeline. In 2019, the American Marketing Association named Sean DFW Marketer of the Year and in February 2020, he made Dallas Business Journal's 40 Under 40 list. In his new role, Scogin will drive sales across each of the company's distribution channels with both the Sales and Marketing departments under his leadership.

Jeff joined the company in February 2020 and was recently an Enterprise Finalist for the 2020 Dallas CIO of the Year award. He previously served as CIO for Highland Homes, the largest single-family homebuilder in Texas. Before Highland Homes, Jeff held a number of executive roles in technology in the retail and restaurant industries, including CIO at On the Border, and vice president of Information Technology for Corner Bakery Cafe. Jeff will lead the Technology team at Vari and is charged with defining and setting the strategic vision for the ways in which technology will drive innovation and elevate cultures.

"Our transformation to Vari reflects our evolution to a workspace innovation company, and now we need to make sure we have the right leaders in place to take us to the next phase," said Jason McCann, chief executive officer, Vari. "We already know Sean is a talent and driven leader, and that we can turn to him to continue to lead us forward as his responsibilities expand. And I'm thrilled to have another amazing leader on the executive team. Jeff's onboarding fills a critical role and he'll push us to raise the bar in Technology, innovate, and explore new ideas."

The company's shift to a B2B model is already in full swing as the company's "big picture" approach to workspace is about more than office furniture. A simple purchasing process and full suite of flexible, innovative solutions make it easy to build a positive culture for companies in a space that can adapt and change. Over the last several years, the company has also embraced broader business opportunities, including its commercial real estate venture VariSpace, which offers space-as-a-service.

About Vari

A workspace innovation company, Vari helps growing organizations unlock the potential of their space and their people. From a collection of office furniture to workspaces offering space-as-a-service, the company makes it easy for high-growth businesses to scale and flex their office space. Organizations all over the world  including over 98% of the Fortune 500  use Vari products, which are tested and certified to the highest industry standards.

CONTACT: Andrea McLaughlin, 610-504-5423, [email protected]

SOURCE Vari

Related Links

https://www.vari.com


The five-campus University of Massachusetts system will switch to virtual instruction beginning March 16 as officials try to stem the spread of the new coronavirus, according to a statement issued Wednesday.

The university system is taking the steps to protect its 75,000 students and 18,000 faculty and staff from COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, the statement said.

Given the uncertainties and risks of the moment and in keeping with our steadfast commitment to the health and safety of the members of the UMass community, the Chancellors and I are implementing a remote teaching and learning plan that will protect the students, faculty and staff on our otherwise densely populated campuses, said UMass President Marty Meehan. We regret the disruption that this will cause, but are confident that all parties will agree that the well-being of those who live, work and learn on our campuses must come first.

A memo obtained by The Republican that was sent to UMass Amherst staff by Chancellor Kumble R. Subbaswamy said students in laboratory, studio and capstone courses, which require face-to-face instruction, will be told they should return to campus after spring break. All other students should remain away from campus until further notice and should pack accordingly, the memo said.

Subbaswamy said the university will provide academic support for those students for whom this transition presents hardship.

We will reassess the situation as it progresses and notify students, staff and faculty by April 1 whether we need to prolong the distance learning modality beyond April 6, Subbaswamys memo said. We will develop plans for how students may retrieve belongings that they may leave behind in residence halls if the transition to remote learning is extended beyond April 3.

The statement from the university system said officials will consult with state and federal public health experts as the month unfolds to assess the situation. UMass is committed to maintaining its educational programs throughout this semester and keeping students on track," the statement said.

In a memo to the university systems Board of Trustees, Meehan said he consulted Wednesday morning with Gov. Charlie Baker state Senate President Karen E. Spilka and House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo. All voiced their support for UMass as we confront this challenge, Meehan wrote.

The systems campuses and satellite sites are not closing, Meehan said.

Subbaswamys memo said there is currently no evidence the Amherst campus is unsafe, and that there have been no confirmed COVID-19 cases on campus or in the surrounding community.

I fully understand that the transition to remote learning is a massive disruption for our students and faculty and may be uniquely challenging for many members of our community, Subbaswamys memo said. I want to assure you that the campus is committed to doing everything possible to help our students, particularly those with the greatest need, meet these challenges and to support our faculty and staff in this difficult period.

This is a developing story that will be updated after further reporting.

Related Content:
LEO VARADKAR is undertaking one of the shortest St Patricks Day trips to the US by a Taoiseach in recent memory, with just 24 hours of engagements in Washington DC tomorrow.

The caretaker Taoiseach arrived in the US capital yesterday evening, where a state of emergency has been declared by the citys mayor, having already cancelled engagements in New York on Tuesday to deal with the emerging coronavirus crisis at home.

As the outgoing Government deals with an unprecedented public health emergency and Fine Gael begins talks on forming a historic coalition with Fianna Fail, Mr Varadkars third trip to the White House as Taoiseach has become something of a footnote to an extraordinary week.

He will meet President Donald Trump in the Oval Office knowing it may not be the last time he does so  the Taoiseachs office is not one he will relinquish easily in the

coalition talks.

Last night he attended the annual Ireland Funds dinner, which went ahead despite the citys mayor issuing an advisory that all mass gatherings be postponed.

Read More

Mr Varadkar had been due to speak at a St Patricks Day business leaders luncheon earlier in the day.

Irish ambassador Dan Mulhall instead delivered his speech, noting the importance of US investment in Ireland, expressing concern over the impact of US trade tariffs on the cost of butter and cream liquor and highlighting Irelands low 12.5pc corporation tax rate is supported by all three of the largest parties.

Today Mr Varadkar is attending a breakfast with Vice President Mike Pence. Unlike last year, when the Taoiseachs partner Matt Barrett attended, the media is banned from the event.

Mr Varadkar will attend Capitol Hill for the House Speakers lunch hosted by Nancy Pelosi before heading to the White House for a scaled-down shamrock ceremony.

Fears that all events would be cancelled abated yesterday as Mr Trump sought to downplay the seriousness of the coronavirus amid concerns about the US economy.
Northern Ireland could be only two weeks away from implementing a country-wide coronavirus lockdown like Italy if effective steps are not taken to prevent it from spreading, an expert virologist has warned.

Dr Lindsay Broadbent also said that it was a case of "when and not if" the first coronavirus-related death occurs here.

The Queen's University Belfast researcher was speaking after Taoiseach Leo Varadkar revealed the virus death toll could reach 85,000 in the Irish Republic in a worst-case scenario.

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Cases, or suspected ones, have been announced at Linfield FC, Danske Bank in Armagh and at Craigavon drug manufacturer Almac.

Dr Broadbent said Northern Ireland could witness a "very high number of deaths" if effective measures were not taken to thwart the spread of the virus.

"It's only a matter of time. There will be deaths in Northern Ireland, but obviously we will not see as many deaths as on the mainland," she said. "I think in the coming weeks we will see a steep increase in the number of cases here."

Her warning comes as:

Windsor Park carried out a deep clean after a Linfield player was diagnosed with coronavirus;

Four new cases were diagnosed here, bringing the number in Northern Ireland to 16;

The number testing positive for coronavirus across the UK rose to 373 - up from 319 on Monday - with the sixth person dying from the disease;

Airlines, including Ryanair, cut thousands of flights including to and from Italy after the country was put on lockdown.

The First and Deputy First Ministers announced the cancellation of their planned St Patrick's trip to Washington DC.

On Tuesday night, a spokesperson for pharmaceutical giant Almac said one of its Craigavon-based employees had tested positive for the coronavirus.

"The company is working with the Public Health Agency and has performed a deep clean of the affected area," Almac said.

Danske Bank also confirmed a worker in its Armagh branch was suspected to have coronavirus "and is awaiting test results".

"As a precaution, we have closed the branch with immediate effect to undertake a deep clean and all other colleagues from this branch have been asked to self-isolate at home until further notice," the bank said.

On Tuesday the Western Health Trust urged people not to visit patients. In a tweet, the Trust said: "We are taking necessary precautions to protect our patients and staff from #COVID19. We are asking the public not to visit patients in our hospitals and community facilities unless absolutely essential. Where possible, please attend your appointment on your own."

In recent days there have been signs of growing alarm in the UK, including panic buying.

However, Dr Broadbent pointed to Northern Ireland's large number of rural communities, which she said puts us at more of an advantage over other parts of the UK.

She said it was not her area of expertise to estimate a death toll, but said we could not let the "coronavirus run wild".

"The UK as a whole at the minute is in the same place Italy was in two weeks ago. Two weeks ago in Italy there were around 300 cases, which is about the same as the UK now. So what we don't want to happen is that in two weeks' time we are where Italy is now, because they're in complete lockdown," she said.

On Tuesday Italy extended coronavirus travel restrictions previously limited to the country's northern region to the whole country, with soldiers and police enforcing bans. More than 9,000 people have been infected with Covid-19 in Italy, with 463 deaths as of Tuesday, amid deepening concern that the numbers will only worsen.

Dr Broadbent said measures introducing social distancing as well as cancelling large-scale sporting events would help prevent Northern Ireland following in Italy's footsteps.

Tickets for this month's Euro 2020 play-off clash between Bosnia and Northern Ireland, due to go on sale in Bosnia today, have been postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak. Some Six Nations rugby fixtures, including Ireland v Italy and France v Ireland, have also been postponed.

However, Dr Broadbent questioned the effectiveness of cancelling official St Patrick's Day celebrations.

"This is a tricky one because there's no point in cancelling the parade if everyone's still going to the pubs," she said. "Transmission is unlikely to happen at a parade. It's much more likely to happen when you're spending a few hours in a very crowded bar.

"I'm not sure of the benefits of cancelling St Patrick's Day, but I think more enclosed large-scale events should be considered."

Health Minister Robin Swann said: "It is likely to get much more challenging before we are through the worst."

He added that, guided by the evidence, health officials will act to delay and push the peak to lessen the pressures on our health service.
Etiqa, which was formerly known as AsianLife & General Assurance Corp., has been the credit insurance partner of SSS since the launch of the programme in September 2018.

The PLP provides financial assistance to pensioners who have borrowed from the pension fund. The recently enhanced programme allows pensioners to borrow a maximum amount of PHP200,000 (around US$4,000), depending on their basic monthly pension.

Borrowers will also be covered by group credit life insurance, provided by Etiqa, which secures the loan in case of their death. To qualify for the program, retiree-pensioners should be 85 years old or below by the end of the loan repayment term, and must have no outstanding loan balance and benefit overpayment deductible from their monthly pension, the report said.
Conde Nast employees in New York have been urged to work from home until 31 March, amid coronavirus fears.

The news comes after an employee who works on the 29th floor went into self-isolation after being suspected of having contracted coronavirus.

Conde Nast CEO Roger Lynch emailed members of staff at their New York office, informing them that the organisation was stepping up their isolation procedures.

The organisation had previously encouraged employees to work from home, but have now advised all staff to stay away for three weeks, where possible.

In the email, tweeted out by @oliverdarcy, Mr Lynch outlined the self-isolation methods used by the employee suspected of having contracted Covid-19.

"This morning we learned that a team member in the 1WTC office has a suspected case of the coronavirus. The individual worked on the 29th floor as part of the Style division, and is currently self-isolating at home at the direction of their doctor. The person was last in the office on Friday, March 6."

Staff members will still be given the opportunity to work in the office with the CEO outlining the steps that are being taken to protect those who choose to.

"For those who must come to the office, rest assured that we are instituting additional deep cleaning and sanitising protocols."

The 29th floor, where the member of staff worked, will be closed until further notice.

The news comes days after Facebook closed their London office last week after an employee contracted Covid-19.

Recommended Facebook shuts down London offices after coronavirus test

Mr Lynch highlighted the ever-changing nature of the situation, telling staff that more information will be sent out soon.

"As I said last night, these are unprecedented times. We will be sending out more information about effective remote work practices and appreciate everyone helping adjust so we can support one another and our audiences and partners."
Huawei and American carriers can breathe another sigh of relief. The Federal Government has granted Huawei a fifth license extension, allowing Huawei to work with American businesses through May 15th.

Huawei receives fifth license extension through May 15th

The move adds another 45 days to the previous extension deadline of April 1st, landing on the May 15th extension deadline date. The move is being done only because of rural American carriers. There are a large number that are still using Huawei telecom equipment. The government requested last month for carriers to start submitting their telecom equipment information to the FCC. The purpose of providing this information is to give carriers the subsidy they need to upgrade their telecom gear.

Now, with the new license extension in place, rural carriers have a little more time to get their subsidy information in. Its a good move for American carriers that doesnt upend them without a way to navigate the financial difficulties.

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Does the new license extension change Trumps position on Huawei?

Does Trumps new license extension change how the US President thinks about the Shenzhen OEM? Not at all. Trump says that Huawei, like ZTE, is a threat to national security. Trump says Huawei is basically a spy tool for China.

Theres good reason to think this way, too. When one considers that the name Huawei itself means the advancement of China, and that Chinese government officials frequently attend Huawei functions as honored guests, it sends the message that Huawei and Beijing are too closely related. In fact, it could be said from such appearances that all the government has time to do is attend Huawei functions.

When one considers that Huawei attaches its logo to technological papers it publishes with the government, it sends the message that government only wants Huawei employees to publish because Huawei is an extension arm or branch of Beijing itself. Theres also an eerie connection between a number of Huawei employees, who all have military backgrounds. Its rather reminiscent of North Korea, where the government puts all of its might into its military. Dictatorships tend to do this by default.

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Huawei continues claiming its innocence despite the Trump Ban

Huawei denies the allegations, claiming that it isnt a spy tool and never has or ever will spy on its customers. And yet, the same company that says this lives in a land where Chinese Law dictates all entities must cooperate with the government when the government requests it.

Huawei has been the political target of the Trump administration because of the suspicion surrounding the company for a long time. Trump finally placed Huawei on the US Entity List last May, forbidding the company from selling its goods and services in the US. A few days later, Google followed suit with an Android license revocation for Huawei. Since that time, the President has extended a few licenses to Huawei to allow the company to update its Android devices and allow small carriers in rural areas to upgrade their Huawei equipment or continue to use the existing telecom gear.
Graca Machel, widow of late Nelson Mandela, has expressed sadness at the news that Sanusi Lamido has been dethroned as the Emir of Kano.

Speaking in a statement via her foundation, the Grace Trust, she added that she is willing to be of help to the dethroned Emir in his trying times if need be.

Her statement below:

I am deeply saddened to learn of you bring relieved of your official duties as Emir of Kano and held by government authorities, the statement read.

I am sending you this message of solidarity in the hopes that it provides you, in some small measure, with reassurance and a degree of comfort that you are not alone in your valiant struggles to confront corruption and the social ills burdening Northern Nigeria.

Your influential voice as a man, as a traditional leader, and as a religious authority challenging the status quo is sorely needed not only in Nigeria, but throughout Africa.

Your Highness, we hold you in very high regard and count on your knowledge, expertise, experience and wisdom to continue to lift the continent to higher heights. We proudly count you among the Graca Machel Trusts International Board of Advisors and stand with you in your courageous efforts to speak truth to power.

Your convictions are powerful ones that ring loudly in the hearts and minds of all those who value human dignity and equality and the causes you are fighting so steadfastly for cannot be silenced.

Rest assured that critics of progressive thinking and action find themselves on the wrong side of history. Please remain strong and resilient. We are praying for your safety and your freedom.
Cory Morse

MLive's Amy Sherman and John Gonzalez take pictures of burgers at Stella's Lounge, 53 Commerce Ave SW, in Grand Rapids on Monday, March 2, 2020. The restaurant is a finalist for Michigan's Best Burger. (Cory Morse | MLive.com) Cory Morse

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BY AMY SHERMAN | asherma2@mlive.com and JOHN GONZALEZ | gonzo@mlive.com

Our search for Michigan's Best Burger headed to downtown Grand Rapids, and the dark, yet lively, bar that is Stella's Lounge. They've been serving up their stuffed burgers since 2010, and continue to welcome a variety of guests with a large vegan menu, lots of beers and a huge selection of whiskeys, and a gaggle of old school video games to enjoy.

"It's kind of the dark side of HopCat," owner Mark Sellers said of Stella's. He is the founder of HopCat, Max's South Seas Hideaway, and Grand Rapids Brewing Company, as well as Stella's.

Pop on in, and you'll find black painted walls, ceiling and floors, punctuated by super bright murals and artwork scattered about everywhere. The arcade resides in the back (or the front, depending on what entrance you use), and a long banquette holds court across from the bar. It's a very cool, very urban vibe here at Stella's.

When HopCat first opened, "the menu was actually almost all vegan", Sellers explained. "We figured we'd be one of the only places in town with a vegan menu." They had one burger, the Stella Bleu, which is a stuffed burger, with the cheese lovingly placed in between two patties. It's still on the menu, and they probably won't ever take it off as it was named the burger in United States by GQ magazine in 2012.

Now, the menu is split between vegan, vegetarian and all beef burgers, so there is something for everyone to enjoy.

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Burgers at Stella's Lounge, 53 Commerce Ave SW, in Grand Rapids on Monday, March 2, 2020. The restaurant is a finalist for Michigan's Best Burger. (Cory Morse | MLive.com) Cory Morse

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Stella's Lounge

The 100% Angus beef at Stella's comes in fresh from an Indiana farm, and gets hand pattied every day. The stuffed burgers are a half pound of beef, with two patties of meat formed around the cheese filling. You can also select just a regular half pound patty that comes unstuffed. All burgers are topped with lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle, and a whole fried onion ring.

There are two vegan options you can enjoy here, which are two more than you can find at most bars. They both get cooked on a special, dedicated grill, so no worries about cross contamination with animal products if that's your jam.

The house made "Hippie Stuffed Burger" is a special blend of lentils and black beans, that comes stuffed with tempeh sausage and pesto. This burger didn't try to be something it wasn't, and it was a great, vegetable forward version of a burger. Load on those toppings for a vegan burger option with nice chew and flavor, one that isn't trying to be meat, but offer a great vegan dining experience.

They also offer the Impossible Burger here, and if you want a plant based option that truly mimics meat in both taste and texture, this choice will check all the boxes. We tried it two ways, in the "Southwest Vegan" that was nice and easy to eat, and in the tasty "Mission Impossible" version that had some Hawaiian flair. Topped with a grilled pineapple ring, as well as BBQ sauce, spinach and sauteed peppers and onions, it was a sweet and savory treat.

Daiya cheese, a vegan, non-dairy plant based blend, is available for all burgers.

Stella's is the perfect top downtown Grand Rapids before a show or a concert, stop where no matter what your group's eating preference is, you'll find a burger version that will make them happy. Add in a good selection of beers, arcade games to play, and fun, funky vibe and you've got the makings for fun night out.



Special thanks to Michigan's Best Burger search sponsor, the Greater Lansing Convention and Visitors Bureau.

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Stella's Lounge, 53 Commerce Ave SW, in Grand Rapids on Monday, March 2, 2020. The restaurant is a finalist for Michigan's Best Burger. (Cory Morse | MLive.com) Cory Morse

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If you go:

Stella's Lounge

53 Commerce Ave SW

Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503



(616) 742-4444

Facebook

See all the photos from our visit to Stella's Lounge in Grand Rapids.

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Cory Morse

MLive's Amy Sherman and John Gonzalez sample burgers at Stella's Lounge, 53 Commerce Ave SW, in Grand Rapids on Monday, March 2, 2020. The restaurant is a finalist for Michigan's Best Burger. (Cory Morse | MLive.com) Cory Morse

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Cory Morse | MLive.com

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Stella's Lounge

One of the big draws at Stella's is it's incredible selection of over 250 whiskeys to choose from. They even have a 'whiskey club'

Want to see the full listing of whiskey, scotch, bourbon and rye that they have? Check out the complete list here.

Another unique offering is their old school arcade games. Yes, these are the ones that some of us hit up way back in the 80's, and they still only cost a quarter to play. There's a change machine on site, and you can sling coins and blast asteroids until your old gaming heart is content.

Current games available, they do rotate out sometimes:

Asteroids

Donkey Kong

Funhouse (pinball)

Galaga

Marvel vs. Capcom

Multicade - 60+ games

Multi-game (Williams)

Mortal Kombat II

Ms. Pac-Man

NBA Jam 4-player

Q*bert

Tron

Road Blasters

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Tetris

X-Men 4-Player

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Cory Morse

Inside Stella's Lounge, 53 Commerce Ave SW, in Grand Rapids on Monday, March 2, 2020. The restaurant is a finalist for Michigan's Best Burger. (Cory Morse | MLive.com) Cory Morse

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MLive's John Gonzalez samples burgers Stella's Lounge, 53 Commerce Ave SW, in Grand Rapids on Monday, March 2, 2020. The restaurant is a finalist for Michigan's Best Burger. (Cory Morse | MLive.com) Cory Morse

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(From left) Nikki Foster, Stephanie Eslick, Shawn Mines, Alex Carlberg, Connor Jahsan, owner Mark Sellers, Sarah Behmlander, and Kyle Archibald, pose for a picture at Stella's Lounge in Grand Rapids on Monday, March 2, 2020. The restaurant is a finalist for Michigan's Best Burger.

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Cory Morse

Mission Impossible vegan burger at Stella's Lounge.

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"Mission Impossible" vegan burger at Stella's Lounge, in Grand Rapids on Monday, March 2, 2020.

The menu describes the burger as "Our vegan Hawaiian burger is a blackened Impossible patty, topped with a grilled pineapple ring, BBQ sauce, spinach and sautAed peppers and onions."

The restaurant is a finalist for Michigan's Best Burger. (Cory Morse | MLive.com) Cory Morse

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Vegan Southwest Burger at Stella's Lounge, 53 Commerce Ave SW, in Grand Rapids on Monday, March 2, 2020. The restaurant is a finalist for Michigan's Best Burger. (Cory Morse | MLive.com) Cory Morse

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More Michigan's Best Burger coverage:

See photos from search for Michigan's Best Burger in Jackson area

Why the Bear Supreme is in the running for Michigans Best Burger

See photos from the search for Michigans Best Burger in Kalamazoo

Is Michigans Best Burger topped with bacon jam?

Is Michigans Best Burger a secret menu item at the Wayland Hotel & Bar?

Muskegon, Shelby make list for todays Michigans Best Burger search

See first 3 stops on Michigans Best Burger search

See our first 12 finalists for Michigans Best Burger

Passionate pleas roll in for Grand Rapids Best Burger

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Cory Morse

MLive's Amy Sherman and John Gonzalez sample burgers Stella's Lounge in Grand Rapids on Monday, March 2, 2020. The restaurant is a finalist for Michigan's Best Burger. (Cory Morse | MLive.com) Cory Morse

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Follow us on social media:

@mlivemibest on Twitter

@mlivemibest on Instagram

Also, be sure to follow our MI Best Facebook Page, which you can check out here.

Join in by using the hashtags #mibest, #bestburger and #ItriedMiBest

In addition:

Amy Sherman is on Twitter @amyonthetrail, as well as Facebook and Instagram @amyonthetrail.

John Gonzalez is on Twitter @michigangonzo, as well as Facebook and Instagram @MichiganGonzo.
Harvey Weinstein exits a Manhattan court on February 20.

Getty Images/Spencer Platt

Harvey Weinstein was sentenced on Wednesday to 23 years in prison for rape and sexual assault.

The sentence came more than two weeks after a jury convicted him of first-degree criminal sexual act against the former production assistant Mimi Haleyi and third-degree rape against the hairstylist Jessica Mann.

Weinstein faced a maximum of 29 years in prison.

He gave a statement in court for the first time on Wednesday, saying he was "confused" and lamenting that "thousands of men are losing due process."

His defense team is appealing the conviction.

Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

Harvey Weinstein was sentenced to 23 years in prison on Wednesday, two weeks after a jury convicted him of sexual assault and rape.

The disgraced former Hollywood producer was found guilty of one count of first-degree criminal sexual act against the production assistant Mimi Haleyi in 2006 and one count of third-degree rape against the hairstylist Jessica Mann in 2013.

Prosecutors had asked Judge James Burke to deliver the maximum sentence of 29 years: 25 for the sexual-assault conviction and four for the rape conviction. Ultimately, Burke sentenced him to 20 years for the former and three for the latter. The sentences will run consecutively.

Both Haleyi and Mann gave victim-impact statements in court, urging Burke to give Weinstein the harshest possible sentence.

"I have found my voice and hope for a future where monsters no longer hide in our closet," Mann said.

Actress and model Lauren Young, (L) and victim former actress Jessica Mann (R) exit the courtroom after listening to the sentencing for film producer Harvey Weinstein for sexual assault following his trial at New York Criminal Court in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, U.S., March 11, 2020.

Reuters/Eduardo Munoz

Weinstein gave a statement in court for the first time on Wednesday, speaking for roughly 10 minutes and lamenting at one point that "thousands of men are losing due process."

He also said he was "confused" by the ordeal and believed that he had a good friendship with Haleyi and Mann.

"I'm not going to say these aren't great people. I had wonderful times with these people. I'm just genuinely confused. Men are confused about this issue," Weinstein said, according to The Associated Press.

Story continues

Weinstein's attorney said she's 'overcome with anger' at the 'cowardly' sentence

Weinstein's lead defense attorney, Donna Rotunno, said in a press conference later that morning that she was "overcome with anger" about the sentence, noting that many murderers don't even receive such a harsh punishment.

She blamed the lengthy sentence on the power of the #MeToo movement and said she believed the judge and jury both caved to public pressure.

"That number spoke to the pressure of movements  that number did not speak to the evidence that came out at trial. That number did not speak to the testimony we heard. That number did not speak to evidence, or to justice," Rotunno said. " I think that number is a cowardly number to give."

Film producer Harvey Weinstein's defense lawyers team Donna Rotunno and Damon Cheronis arrive for the sentencing of their client for sexual assault following his trial at New York Criminal Court in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, U.S., March 11, 2020.

Reuters/Eduardo Munoz

Weinstein's defense team is appealing the conviction. They had asked the judge for the minimum sentence of five years, arguing in a filing that Weinstein should receive the lightest punishment largely because of his poor health that would make a lengthy prison term "a de facto life sentence."

"The grave reality is that Mr. Weinstein may not even outlive that term," his attorneys said of the five-year minimum.

Weinstein appeared thin and frail throughout the trial and used a walker for support after a recent back surgery. In a last-ditch attempt to have Weinstein released on bail before his sentencing, his attorneys argued that Weinstein was going blind and required daily injections in his eyeballs.

Weinstein arrived at court in a wheelchair on Wednesday morning, days after undergoing a heart procedure while in custody.

Weinstein's conviction was seen as a bellwether of justice for survivors of sexual assault

Wednesday's sentencing capped off a months-long trial with grueling and emotional testimony from six accusers, including Haleyi and Mann.

Prosecutors sought to use the four other women's testimony to demonstrate a pattern of criminal behavior; each woman told the jury stories that bore striking similarities.

The model Tarale Wulff, the former actress Dawn Dunning, and the model and writer Lauren Young all told the jury they met with Weinstein under the pretense of business meetings only to be groped or even raped when they arrived.

Weinstein had also been charged with two counts of predatory sexual assault, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison, but the jury acquitted him of both counts.

All six women were in court for Weinstein's sentencing on Wednesday, seated in the first row just behind prosecutors.

Miriam Haley arrives at court for Harvey Weinstein's sentencing, in New York, Wednesday, March 11, 2020.

Associated Press/Richard Drew

The six witnesses were just a small pool of the roughly 100 women who have publicly accused Weinstein of wrongdoing since October 2017, when The New York Times and The New Yorker published bombshell reports that documented decades of allegations of abuse by the famed Hollywood producer.

The public deluge of allegations sparked a resurgence in the #MeToo movement against sexual assault and prompted a national reckoning over how to hold powerful men accountable and whether to believe their accusers.

Though Burke and Weinstein's attorneys repeatedly urged the jury not to consider the trial a referendum on the #MeToo movement, their verdict vindicated his accusers and was widely seen as a landmark case for survivors of sexual assault and rape.

Weinstein could face a whole new trial in Los Angeles

Despite Wednesday's sentencing, Weinstein's legal troubles aren't over.

Beyond a potentially lengthy appeals process, he also faces more sex-crimes charges in Los Angeles, where prosecutors have charged him with rape, forcible oral copulation, sexual penetration by use of force, and sexual battery by restraint.

Those allegations stem from two women who have both said Weinstein attacked them in 2013. One woman accused Weinstein of raping her after pushing his way into her hotel room, and the second woman said he trapped her in his hotel bathroom after a business meeting and groped her and masturbated.

Weinstein leaving court on January 16.

Associated Press/Bebeto Matthews

It's still unclear what will happen with that case in the wake of Weinstein's sentencing. Prosecutors could opt to pursue a new trial, or they could seek to cut a plea deal that would spare both Weinstein and his accusers more arduous court proceedings and testimonies.

After Wednesday's sentencing, Weinstein was ordered transferred to Downstate Correctional Facility in Fishkill, New York. He spent the past week in an infirmary unit at New York City's Rikers Island jail complex.

Though Weinstein was ordered to Rikers immediately after his conviction on February 24, he was held at Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan for more than a week because of high blood pressure and heart palpitations.

His spokesman told reporters last week that Weinstein underwent a heart procedure to have a blockage removed and was transferred to Rikers after that.

At the Fishkill facility, Weinstein will receive a medical evaluation before he is assigned to a state prison facility, prison officials told ABC News. It's unclear where he'll be sent, but facilities in Fishkill, Bedford Hills, and Coxsackie have residential medical units.

This article has been updated.

Read the original article on Insider
Google is recommending Ireland and UK employees work from home from Thursday in response to the coronavirus outbreak, the PA news agency understands.

The move comes after the tech giant told staff in its North American offices they could work from home if their role allowed it.
Physicists have been trying to observe the quantum phenomenon Kondo cloud for many decades. An international research team has recently developed a novel device which successfully measures the length of the Kondo cloud and even allows for controlling the Kondo cloud. The findings can be regarded as a milestone in condensed matter physics, and may provide insights for understanding the multiple impurity systems, such as high-temperature superconductors.

This breakthrough was achieved by a team of researchers from City University of Hong Kong (CityU), RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science (CEMS), the University of Tokyo, Korean Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), and Ruhr-University Bochum. Their research findings were published in the latest issue of the highly prestigious scientific journal Nature, titled Observation of the Kondo Screening Cloud.

What is the Kondo cloud?

Kondo effect is a physical phenomenon discovered in the 1930s. In metals, as the temperature drops, electrical resistance usually drops. However, if there are some magnetic impurities in the metal, it will show the opposite result. Resistance will drop at first. But when it is below some threshold temperature, the resistance will increase as the temperature decreases further.

This puzzle was solved by Jun Kondo, a Japanese theoretical physicist over 50 years ago and hence the effect was named after him. He explained that when a magnetic atom (an impurity) is placed inside a metal, it has a spin. But instead of just coupling with one electron to form a pair of spin-up and spin-down, it couples collectively with all the electrons within some areas around it, forming a cloud of electrons surrounding the impurity. And this is called the Kondo cloud. So when a voltage is applied over it, the electrons are not free to move or are screened off by the Kondo cloud, resulting in resistance increase.

How big is the cloud?

Some basic properties of the Kondo effect have been proved experimentally and were found related to the Kondo temperature (the threshold temperature where the resistance starts to go up at low temperature). However, the measurement of Kondo clouds length was yet to be achieved. Professor Heung-Sun Sim of KAIST, the theorist who proposed the method for detecting the Kondo cloud, commented that the observed spin cloud is a micrometer-size object that has quantum mechanical wave nature and entanglement. This is why the spin cloud has not been observed despite a long search.

Dr Ivan Borzenets of City University of Hong Kong, who performed the experimental measurement of this project further elaborated it. The difficulty in detecting the Kondo cloud lies in the fact that measuring spin correlation in the Kondo effect requires the fast detection of tens of gigahertz. And you cannot freeze time to observe and measure each of the individual electrons, he said.

Isolating a single Kondo cloud in the device

Thanks to the advance in nanotechnology, the research team fabricated a device which can confine an unpaired electron spin (magnetic impurity) in a quantum dot, like a small conducting island with a diameter of only a few hundreds nanometres. "Since the quantum dot is very small, you can know exactly where the impurity is," said Dr Borzenets.

Connecting to the quantum dot is a one-dimensional and long channel. The unpaired electron is constricted to couple to the electrons in this channel and form a Kondo cloud there."In this way, we isolate a single Kondo cloud around a single impurity, and we can control the size of the cloud as well," he explained.

The novelty of the system is that by applying a voltage at different points inside the channel with various distances away from the quantum dot, they induced "weak barriers" along the channel. Researchers then observed the resulting change in electron flow and the Kondo effect with varying barrier strength and position.

The secret lies in the oscillation amplitude

By changing the voltages, it was found that the conductance went up and down, no matter where they put the barriers at. And when there were oscillations in conductance, oscillations in the measured Kondo temperature were observed.

When the researchers plotted the oscillation amplitude of Kondo temperature versus the barrier distance from the impurity divided by the theoretical cloud length, they found that all their data points fall onto a single curve, as theoretically expected. "We have experimentally confirmed the original theoretical result of the Kondo cloud length which is in micrometre scale," said Dr Borzenets. "For the first time, we have proved the existence of the cloud by directly measuring the Kondo cloud length. And we found out the proportionality factor connecting the size of the Kondo cloud and Kondo temperature."

Provide insights into multiple impurity systems

The team spent almost three years in this research. Their next step is to investigate different ways to control the Kondo state. According to Dr Michihisa Yamamoto of the RIKEN CEMS, who led the international collaboration, it is very satisfying to have been able to obtain real space image of the Kondo cloud, as it is a real breakthrough for understanding various systems containing multiple magnetic impurities. This achievement was only made possible by close collaboration with theorists.

The size of the Kondo cloud in semiconductors was found to be much larger than the typical size of semiconductor devices. This means that the cloud can mediate interactions between distant spins confined in quantum dots, which is a necessary protocol for semiconductor spin-based quantum information processing. This spin-spin interaction mediated by the Kondo cloud is unique since both its strength and sign (two spins favor either parallel or anti-parallel configuration) are electrically tunable, while conventional schemes cannot reverse the sign. This opens up a novel way to engineer spin screening and entanglement, Dr Yamamoto explained.

It is remarkable in a fundamental and technical point of view that such a large quantum object can now be created, controlled, and detected, Professor Heung-Sun Sim concluded.

###

Dr Borzenets, Professor Sim Heung-Sun from Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) and Dr Michihisa Yamamoto of RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science (CEMS) in Japan are the corresponding authors of the paper. Dr Borzenets and Dr Shim Jeongmin from KAIST are the co-first authors. Other co-authors included Jason Chen C. H. from the University of Tokyo, Professor Dr Andreas D. Wieck and Dr Arne Ludwig from Rurh-University Bochum, as well as Professor Seigo Tarucha from RIKEN CEMS.

The study was supported by CityU, Hong Kong Research Grants Council, Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (KAKENHI), Japan Science and Technology Agency, the National Research Foundation of Korea, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft and the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).

Related press release: https://www.riken.jp/en/news_pubs/research_news/pr/2020/20200312_1/
For more coverage, visit our complete coronavirus section here.

Update, Mar. 24: Hunky Jesus is going online. An Instagram contest will be held in lieu of the annual performance in Dolores Park, the Sisters announced Monday. The top 30 contestants vying to become the Hunkiest Jesus or the Foxiest Mary will be posted to the Sisters' Instagram account on Easter Sunday, where the public can vote by liking their favorite photo. More information here.

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Just hours before San Francisco Mayor London Breed issued a citywide ban on all events with 1,000 attendees or more, Hunky Jesus hopefuls were sadly setting aside their loin cloths and crowns of thorns.

The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence are postponing their 41st annual Easter celebration in Dolores Park as a result of the current threat of coronavirus.

"We're terribly sad and this was a very difficult decision to make, but we're sure that this event will be even more special once it happens," the Sisters announced Tuesday night, adding, "Don't throw your costumes away, Hunky Jesus is only postponed!"

The annual event is probably best known for the competition  a flashy pageant of local Jesus-like Doppelgangers that culminates in plenty of twerking, a few cheddar-clad "Cheese-eses," as well as a cash prize for the winner, chosen by the Sisters. But the charitable band of queer nun activists also host a children's egg hunt complete with free dental screening exams, an elaborate Easter bonnet contest and a series of blasphemous performances. The entire ordeal typically gathers thousands of spectators and participants.

"Easter is officially canceled, in other words," wrote one dismayed resident, after which another reminded her, "Just postponed. Hunky Jesus will rise again!"

A new date has not yet been established for the event, though it looks like they're still planning on holding it at Dolores Park: "We appreciate your understanding in this matter and wish everyone to be safe, healthy and full of joy!"

This is a breaking story. Further information will be added as it becomes available.

Sign up for 'The Daily' newsletter for the latest on coronavirus here.

MORE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE:



Amanda Bartlett is an SFGATE associate digital reporter. Email: amanda.bartlett@sfgate.com | Twitter: @byabartlett
German automaker BMW does not see any impact of supply chain disruption on its India operations till June due to the coronavirus outbreak, a top company official said.

The company said it will have to assess the impact of the outbreak on the products coming in after June.

"As of now we are fine and comfortable for the next quarter (April-June). We have a very clear picture..On certain products which are coming out beyond the quarter, we will have to see how the coronavirus impact pans out," BMW Group India President and CEO Rudratej Singh told PTI.

He, however, added it was a bit early to ascertain the complete impact of the outbreak on the supply chain.

"It is early days right now as the supply chain impact has a lag and I think the lag has not been fully felt by the industry yet. If it persists, things will get worse before they get better in terms of availability of supply chain and we are not seeing it right now," Singh said.

The company would watch the situation arising out of the outbreak very carefully going ahead, he added.

"It is a very fluid situation right now," Singh said. When asked to comment on the sales outlook for the current year, he said: "We have been competitive relative to others as we have actually comparatively gained segment share last year and in that situation we are confident that we will continue to be competitive this year as well."



The company refreshed its entire range without waiting for BS VI transition and that would help it perform better in the market, Singh said.

"Today, we have the freshest portfolio in the segment and that has helped. It gives us confidence that we will continue to gain segment share. Looking at absolute numbers when there is a slowdown could be dicey," he noted.

BMW sold 9,641 units of BMW and MINI range of cars in 2019.

Singh said the company is focussing on localisation of its product range in the country and expects to carry on with the work going ahead.

"Already, 95 per cent of our volumes come from locally manufactured products already. We are fairly high in our localisation levels over the last few years. We intend to make sure that our strategy going ahead also is in line where barring very very niche products we would look at all our volume products to be manufactured in Chennai," he added.

He noted that it doesn't make sense for local assembly of certain niche products and electric vehicles in the country.

Singh, however, noted that if need be the annual production capacity at the company's Chennai plant could be ramped up to 19,000 units from the current 14,000 units in a single shift basis.

"We can go much higher than what we are selling now so we are very well taken care of in terms of our overall capacity for the next 3-4 years. But yes, the whole idea of supporting the Make in India initiative is something we are fully following," he added.

Not just the manufacturing, the company has a regional purchase office and an IT set-up for taking care of requirements in Asia and other parts of the world, Singh said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Thousands of schoolchildren are being asked to stay home in France to curb the spread of coronavirus. The closures are also disrupting businesses such as homecare as more mothers, the bulk of the labour force, are forced to skip work. To get around the restrictions, one organisation is relying on good will to keep its services going.

Since schools in eastern France shut last Friday, the NGO, APA network has been scrambling to replace 10 percent of its 1,200 strong workforce.

Made up of mainly working mothers, the company provides homecare to the elderly and sick.

But since the coronavirus outbreak, the group has seen its staff numbers tumble as more women stay at home.

To keep services going, a handful of employees have been working flat out, relying on little but their own good will.

"When the media and the authorities announced that schools would be closed on Monday, a lot of employees called us and proposed to come in at the weekend," explains Director Matthieu Domas.

"It meant that staff who were on holiday, or who had already finished their hours, agreed to come back and work overtime, essentially for free, because they felt it was that important," he told RFI.

The crisis has triggered a wave of solidarity, he says.

Sharing burden

"It is amazing, because throughout the weekend, we had 25 employees working frantically to ensure that our services would go ahead as planned on Monday."

From Friday to Sunday, the skeleton staff carried out over 900 visits to patients  a job usually done by 75 people.

The response of solidarity has somewhat lightened the dark cloud of the coronavirus, which has already killed over 4,000 people worldwide, including at least thirty in France.

As confirmed cases rise, homecare providers such as APA network stand to face further disruptions.

The group must first protect patients  mainly seniors, who are the most vulnerable to catching the coronavirus, but also employees, putting a double burden on homecare services.

Aware of this, director Matthieu Domas says staff are being briefed on washing their hands regularly and thoroughly before and after visits with patients.

Chipping in

The company now holds crisis meetings every morning he adds, allowing it to remain in permanent contact with staff to monitor the situation on the ground.

Preparation however is key, and organisations like APA network say they will continue to plan for worker shortages, especially as the mortality rate of the coronavirus keeps rising.

Domas told RFI that if the situation does not improve, the company would think about cross-training staff members so that more people can carry out vital services.

He also wants families and neighbours to chip in.

"Go and check on your elderly neighbour or family member, close their curtain at night, tuck them into bed, make them a cup of tea, in a nutshell make them feel loved," he says.

The coronavirus has brought out the worst but also the good, he comments.

"The response to the crisis and the wave of solidarity it has sparked is a potent reminder of why organisations like ours were set up in the first place: to make the world a better place."

Time for politics

No easy feat. While Domas' APA network tries to maintain services in cluster areas such as Mulhouse, he continues to keep an eye on local elections just around the corner.

Will he have time to vote?

"It's a civic duty. And for an organisation such as APA network, which plays a vital social role, employees I reckon, will find time to honour not just their patients but their political duties as well."
The coronavirus outbreak had a visible impact on tourism in Cambodia, with visitor numbers down at Angkor Wat, on March 10.

More than 6 million people visited Cambodia in 2018, with around 2 million of those tourists coming from China. Restrictions on movement in China and the fear of traveling due to the coronavirus may have impacted on visitor numbers to the countrys major tourist attraction.

Cambodia had 2 confirmed cases of the virus on March 10, according to the World Health Organisation.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said tourism services and schools in Siem Reap would resume operations as soon as they had identified the people who had been in contact with the countrys confirmed cases of coronavirus, according to local media. Credit: Dek_islander via Storyful
By Shu Zhang and Jessica Jaganathan

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Tanker rates to ship oil in very large crude carriers (VLCCs) are surging as oil traders hunt for ships to store cheap oil in as they take advantage of a 25% plunge in prices on Monday amid a price war between top oil producers Saudi Arabia and Russia.

Shipping rates from the Middle East to Asia, for instance, have risen by more than 25% since last Friday, while several traders are making enquiries to lease tankers to temporarily store oil offshore, traders and shipping sources told Reuters on Tuesday.

The cost of renting a VLCC, which can carry 2 million barrels of crude and can be used for floating storage, was assessed Tuesday at around $38,700 per day, compared with around $30,700 per day on Friday and $14,800 a month ago, ship broker sources said.

"Tanker offers are quite high today," said a Singapore-based crude oil trader. "Now the contango market structure supports (oil storage), but ship owners are raising prices."

GRAPHIC: Oil tanker charter rates jump as traders hunt for ships to store cheap oil https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/ce/7/8977/8958/VLCCRatesvsBrent.png

The rise in tanker chartering rates are a boon for ship owners who have seen demand walloped recently by the fast-spreading coronavirus outbreak which choked commodity and semi-finished goods imports into top consumer China.

"We are seeing several deals being negotiated for short-term (6-12 months) charters, with one already concluded. The fall in oil prices has made floating storage more attractive, although the margins are still relatively thin," energy ship broker and consultancy Poten & Partners said in a research note.

A Pareto Securities shipping note to clients said "while actual fixing activity was rather limited yesterday, the 'floating storage' interest has boosted shipowners' sentiment and rate ideas have thus been increased substantially."

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Another shipbroker in Singapore said his firm had not secured any fixtures yet "but there a is huge expectation of firming of the spot market. It's the older tonnage that will be more likely to be engaged for floating storage."

GRAPHIC: Crude oil's forward curve change from backwardation to contango https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/ce/7/8951/8932/CrudeCurveChange.png

Crude oil prices suffered their biggest daily rout since the 1991 Gulf War on Monday as top producers Saudi Arabia and Russia began a price war that threatens to overwhelm global oil markets with supply.

GRAPHIC: Major milestones for big moves in light crude oil prices https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/ce/7/8932/8913/USCrudeOilMilestones.png

Several refiners are already looking to maximise imports of Middle Eastern purchase to take advantage of cheap crude after the Saudis slashed their official selling prices (OSPs) for April in an attempt to lure buyers.

"The VLCC rates are climbing up but it's mainly sentiment driven right now ... it's mainly traders who are enquiring for storage," a Singapore-based ship broker told Reuters.

The Worldscale index rate for shipping crude on a VLCC from the Middle East to North Asia rose to 54 points on Tuesday, from 49 points on Monday, according to trade and shipping sources.

Timecharter equivalent rates for a 270,000 deadweight tonnes tanker on the Middle East to China route increased by 27 percent in one day on Monday, said Ralph Leszczynski, head of research at ship broker Banchero Costa in Singapore.

The flip in the crude oil market's forward curve to a contango - where deferred prices are above spot prices - has been a key factor spurring demand for storage.

GRAPHIC: The recent steep fall in spot Brent oil prices has made storing oil for later sale economical https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/ce/7/8980/8961/BrentCrudeForwardPricesMar102020.png

In the Middle East benchmark Dubai crude oil market, the April/May Dubai inter-month spread widened to 77 cents a barrel as of noon on Tuesday, making oil storage profitable. Brent crude prices are in a similar structure.

In addition to floating storage, countries like China and India could move to exploit the weak prices and increase imports for strategic reserves, boosting tanker demand, said Ralph Leszczynski, head of research at ship broker Banchero Costa in Singapore.

"China in particular was the first to suffer from the coronavirus outbreak, but now also seems to be the first to put it behind them. The situation seems increasingly under control," he said.

GRAPHIC: Refinitiv VLCC Crude Oil Storage https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/ce/7/8981/8962/RefinitivVLCCStorage.png

(Reporting By Shu Zhang, Jessica Jaganathan and Roslan Khasawneh, additional reporting by Yuka Obayashi in Tokyo, editing by Louise Heavens)
He is evil incarnate. The living dead. Our most secret fears made manifest. Whether you picture Christopher Lee, Robert Pattinson, Leslie Nielsen's vampire-for-laughs, or even Danish actor Claes Bang's full-tilt cape-and-castle version in Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat's recent BBC epic, there is no denying Count Dracula is a remarkable creation. But without Florence Stoker, it's quite possible you would never have heard of him. It is a cruel irony that the woman who did so much to protect her husband's legacy was not only overshadowed by him, but also by his former employer Sir Henry Irving, and - eventually - by Dracula himself.

When she died in 1937, the brief news piece about the death of 'Mrs Bram Stoker' made only passing reference to her, focusing instead on her late husband and Irving.

Thankfully, that is changing. In January, Florence Stoker was one of 66 "missing persons" entered in the Dictionary of Irish Biography. She is in excellent company: other new additions include Violet Gibson, Mussolini's would-be assassin; and Mary Elmes, who helped countless Jewish children escape from Nazi-occupied France.

Liz Evers, who compiled Stoker's entry commented: "Her canny management of her husband's literary estate is undeniably the reason why Dracula is still a household name today, which to me represents a huge contribution to literary and cinema history." That Florence is getting the recognition she deserves must also be thanks in part to Joseph O'Connor's exhilarating Shadowplay, winner of Eason Novel of the Year at last year's An Post Irish Book Awards. In his fictionalised story of the real relationship between Irving, actress Ellen Terry and Bram Stoker, Florence is depicted as an astute and charming woman.

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Florence Ann Lemon Balcombe was born in 1858. Her paternal grandfather was a labourer who enlisted in the army, reaching the rank of sergeant. Her father joined as a private, retiring a lieutenant-colonel. In 1876, she began a relationship with Oscar Wilde, who told a friend: "She is just 17 with the most perfectly beautiful face I ever saw and not a sixpence of money." Two years later, she met Bram Stoker and broke up with Wilde. They married quickly so she could accompany Stoker to London, where he had been offered a job in Irving's Lyceum theatre.

Little is known about her early life or education, yet every reference mentions her extraordinary beauty. Both Wilde and pre-Raphaelite artist Edward Burne-Jones sketched her, and Walter Osborne, a friend of her brother-in-law, Thornley Stoker, painted her portrait. In Shadowplay, she is first referred to as the most radiant woman in Dublin: "Balcombe's skin is pale as Carrara church-marble, her auburn eyes large, when she speaks out of deep feeling she moves her hands, like an Italian." Her son Noel recalled how people would stand on seats to catch a glimpse of her at the theatre.

That the Stokers had only one child has been used to suggest theirs was a loveless marriage. Stoker's great-nephew Daniel Farson claimed Florence refused to have a sexual relationship with her husband following Noel's birth, though his supposed source denied it. Another once-popular but now generally discredited theory is that she gave her husband a wide berth because he had syphilis. It is hard to reconcile such conjecture with her dedication to Stoker during his years of ill-health. "It is harder on poor Florence (who has been an angel) than on me," Stoker wrote to Thornley, adding: "She had to do all the bookkeeping and find the money to live on - God only knows how she managed".

Liz Evers said: "Researching her was a fascinating case study in misogyny - I found that she was characterised, and often disparaged, in terms of her gender alone, with every negative stereotype being presented along the way: from the seductress to the frigid to the hysteric."

After Stoker's death in 1912, Florence's management of her late husband's legacy proves her to have been business-like and clear-minded, with the determination to see a battle through to the bitter end.

When Dracula was first published in 1897 it had only minor commercial success and was largely disregarded by critics. Not long after Stoker died, his former assistant at the Lyceum unearthed a manuscript believed to be a chapter cut from Dracula. (One possible reason for its omission is that had the novel run longer than 400 pages, the price would have gone up by sixpence.) Florence cannily published this chapter as Dracula's Guest and Other Weird Stories. Around this time, she auctioned off Stoker's literary and theatrical memorabilia, making 400. In 1922, German film-maker Prana released Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror. With minor changes - Count Dracula renamed Count Orlok; 'nosferatu' replacing 'vampire' - it was essentially a pirated version of Dracula. Florence pursued Prana for copyright infringement, insisting all prints of Nosferatu be destroyed. The three-year case established important principles of copyright, for which, as Joseph O'Connor has noted, "all authors owe her a debt of gratitude".

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In 1924, she granted actor Hamilton Deane the rights to a London stage version, and in 1927 Bela Lugosi took Dracula to the New York stage. Again, the critics sniggered, but audiences couldn't get enough. In 1931, Tod Browning's classic movie earned Florence $40,000. With Lugosi in the title role, the horror genre had found its hero.

Almost a century later, what would Florence Stoker would make of Dracula? From Halloween costumes to Freudian dissertations, and multimillion-selling books to breakfast cereals, its lure, power and horror increases rather than diminishes. What too, would she would make of Nosferatu's fate? Prana declared bankruptcy as a result of her case. However, a few prints survived her court-ordered cull, and Nosferatu, like Dracula himself, is now regarded as a masterpiece.

Henrietta McKervey's forthcoming novel 'A Talented Man' (Hachette), the story of a forged sequel to Dracula, is out on April 2
A woman wears a mask near the NYSE in the Financial District in New York

By Tom Sims and Imani Moise

FRANKFURT/NEW YORK (Reuters) - Banks and other large financial companies in major cities across the world ramped up their emergency measures to combat the spread of the coronavirus on Tuesday, with Barclays Plc and BlackRock Inc confirming one case in their New York offices.

The steps including telling staff who had been exposed to someone with the virus to self-quarantine for 14 days, splitting operations so that some staff work from home or back-up locations and deep cleaning offices.

Barclays told staff on Tuesday that a trading floor employee in its Midtown Manhattan office tested positive for the virus and told employees who worked near or met with the individual to self-quarantine, according to a memo seen by Reuters.

Morgan Stanley also confirmed that an employee at its Purchase, New York, campus, roughly 45-minutes north of Manhattan, tested positive for the virus.

A BlackRock employee in its 40 East 52nd Street office in New York informed the company on Monday evening that they had been diagnosed with COVID-19, according to a spokesman. The employee had no symptoms, but the company did a deep clean and close colleagues were told to work from home for 14 days, the spokesman said.

The asset manager said business continuity plans were working, including provisions for teams to alternate working from the office and from home to limit exposure.

Starting Wednesday, Citigroup Inc will divide its entire North America workforce into two groups that will alternate working from the office and other places in one-week shifts, according to a source familiar with the plans.

Trading staff will largely report to back-up sites and other teams like communications will work from home during off-weeks, the sources said.

Similar arrangements could pose risks for markets continuing to function smoothly, analysts said.

"With several large dealers having announced split staffs and widespread work from home arrangements, we believe markets are about to experience arguably the most significant large-scale operation risk event since 2001," JPMorgan fixed-income market strategists wrote in a note on Tuesday.

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EUROPEAN CASES

In Europe, Deutsche Bank and BBVA reorganised operations after employees were infected.

Deutsche Bank has split some of its trading operations across sites in Frankfurt, while Spain's BBVA has shut one building at its headquarters in Madrid.

The spread of the coronavirus is increasingly disrupting financial companies' operations and adds to the impact of a weaker economy on their businesses.

"Banks will see a weakening of their loan book quality as the effects of the virus will reduce global travel and factory output, and dampen domestic demand in Europe," Moody's analyst Bernhard Held said.

Private equity firm KKR & Co Inc said late on Monday that an employee at its London office had tested positive, causing it to temporarily close both its sites in the city.

Standard Life Aberdeen said on Tuesday it was planning to split its British and U.S. investment teams into groups and have them work separately as part of contingency planning.

Traders at the world's biggest banks began last week swapping their plush city centre offices to work from suburban outposts in New York and London, facing lengthy commutes as their employers attempt to reduce the disruption caused by coronavirus.

The measures by Deutsche on Tuesday are expected to affect dozens of people and last until at least March 27. The bank also split some operations in London on Monday, following similar moves in places including Italy and China.

"We expect no impact on our ability to operate our full range of services for our clients and recognise that this setup will require extra effort and discipline from all," Deutsche said in a memo to staff.

(Reporting by Arno Schuetze, Tom Sims, Imani Moise, Jesus Aguado. Additional reporting by Simon Jessop, Huw Jones, Graham Fahy, Hakan Ersen, Elizabeth Dilts and David Henry. Editing by David Clarke, Mark Potter and Cynthia Osterman)
With the comparatively small number of coronavirus tests being conducted in the US hampering efforts to track the spread of the virus, The New York Times reports that local officials across the country were left to work blindly as the crisis grew undetected and exponentially  partially due to existing red tape and regulations.

In Washington state, believed to be the location of the start of the US outbreak, the first patient identified had, predictably, visited Wuhan in China and then reported respiratory problems. The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) made an exception to its strict testing criteria to confirm the diagnosis.

The question was whether this initial patient had already spread the disease within the community. Dr Helen Chu, an infectious disease expert based in Seattle and part of a local flu study, sought permission to test the studys collection of flu swabs from across the region to see if they were positive for coronavirus  which would prove community spread was already happening.

She was refused permission by all of the relevant authorities.

After holding off for a couple of weeks until late February, Dr Chu went ahead and began performing coronavirus tests on the samples, having seen that the virus was spreading outside of China.

It didnt take long to find another case  a teenager who had not travelled out of the country. The virus had already established a foothold in the US and was spreading in the Seattle area.

It must have been here this entire time, Dr Chu told the Times. Its just everywhere already.

After reporting their findings, the CDC ordered them to stop testing, arguing that the flu study could not be repurposed because the research subjects had not given permission for this type of testing. The lab was also not certified for clinical work.

Existing red tape and regulations have impeded efforts to roll out testing nationally as rapidly as other countries. Ms Chu argues that there should be much more flexibility in emergency situations in which lives are at stake. Early testing can spot spread and trends sooner leading to better containment of a virus.

According to CDC data, 3,791 specimens have now been tested by CDC labs, and 7,288 by public health laboratories since 18 January. This figure is startlingly low when compared to other countries.

In the meantime, coronavirus spread undetected across the country, leaving local and state authorities scrambling to respond to the growing number of cases and deaths.

To date, there have been over 1,050 cases nationwide and 33 deaths.
NBCs The Good Place, the heaven-and-hell-based comedy aired its final episode in January 2020. Michael Schur created the show, the same guy behind Parks and Recreation. (He also wrote on The Office and Saturday Night Live). A Daily Beast podcast recently had Schur on as a guest to talk about all of his work in television, but especially The Good Place. Schur revealed to the podcast host that the heavenly committee you see in the show is the writers room commentary on Democrats.

Kristen Bell as Eleanor and William Jackson Harper as Chidi in the Good Place episode Whenever Youre Ready | Colleen Hayes/NBC

The Good Place committee was parodying Democrats in Congress, Schur says

On the Daily Beasts podcast The Last Laugh, host Matt Wilstein discussed The Good Place with Schur at length. The conversation took a turn to politics when Wilstein asked Schur about the Good Place Committee. The committee is a group of characters (led by actor/comedian Paul Scheer) who represent the fictional Good Place in all matters.

Many of the characters on The Good Place have fairly liberal viewpoints, and the show tends to have a progressive lean overall. (The breakdown of the points system to determine Good Place or Bad Place placement can be read as a criticism of capitalism itself). However, Schur revealed that the committee was a political commentary on liberals.

Creator of The Good Place Michael Schur | Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images

Its not a mistake that theyre all dressed like hikers from Oregon, Schur joked.

Where did that choice stem from, Wilstein asked?

That was born out of a general frustration about people that you might consider progressive or liberal, Schur explained.

Michael Schur says one episode of The Good Place in particular hits the point home

Schur called out a particular line from a Good Place episode as an example. Something Paul Scheers character says during a negotiation with Sean, the head of the Bad Place, is one of Schurs favorite moments of the series. In the scene, every counteroffer Sean makes is worse for the committee than the last.

Sean finally says, Im making an offer, youre not even gonna negotiate?

You know, hes right, Paul Scheer as the head of The Good Place Committee responds, the only reasonable thing to do is to keep giving up things unilaterally until this demon is happy.

Schur went on to explain the significance behind this joke:

Its the most overtly political that weve gotten and its just a straight-up frustration over what I see from Democrats in Congress and other local governments where its sort of like, Were not just going to be reasonablepeople should be reasonable, generally speakingwere going to overcompensate and just concede  a bunch of stuff.

Schur explained why this frustrated him so much.

Thats not being reasonable, he said. Conceding all the thingsthat you want to fight for unilaterally is not being reasonable, its being stupid. Its betraying your own value system and it drives me nuts.

Schur argues that liberals who concede too much in politics dont help get anything done

The Good Place executive producer also used comedian Michelle Wolfs White House Correspondent Dinner joke as an example. Her quip about Sarah Huckabee Sanders eye makeup seemed to blow up the entire internet.

Adam Scott, actor Ted Danson, writers Megan Amram and Jen Statsky, actress Kristen Bell, show creator Michael Schur, and writer Andrew Law in 2017 | Greg Doherty/Getty Images

In incredibly bad faith, Republicans made a big deal about it, Schur said. Meanwhile, theres children in cages. Its not an equal offense.

But he was even more disappointed in the Democrats who agreed with those on the right and criticized Wolf. Schur explained:

Theres this weird impulse that progressives have sometimes of lets be not just reasonable but overly solicitous of the other side. And even when theyre very obviously saying things and acting in bad faith, lets go along with it because that puts us on some sort of moral high ground.

Schur said this is useless politics.

It doesnt help, it does not achieve anything, The Good Place creator argued. You dont get anything from it.

As Schur explained, this strategy doesnt mean that the opposing political side suddenly steps back and says thank you. They dont become reasonable, all of a sudden.

It doesnt work that way, Schur said. Its a one-way street. So the Good Place Committee is just my personal frustration with that aspect of progressivism.
HAYWARD (BCN)

A 26-year-old Sacramento man died in a shooting reported late Friday night in Hayward, police said Wednesday.

Hayward police said the family is requesting that the name of the victim not be released following a shooting that was initially reported at 11:57 p.m. Friday in the area of Mission Boulevard and Blanche Street.

Officers responded but did not locate any victims. However, about 30 minutes later, two men were found shot in Oakland at a location not immediately released, police said.

The 26-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene, and the other man was taken to a hospital to be treated for his injuries. Investigators eventually determined the victims were associated with the shooting reported in Hayward, police said.

Anyone with information about the homicide, Hayward's fourth so far in 2020, is asked to call (510) 293-7176.

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 governor of Borno State, Babagana Zulum, on Tuesday approved N578 million as cumulative payment of scholarship for 23,894 students pursuing various degrees and postgraduate studies.

Mr Zulum, a professor of irrigation engineering, had, during his campaign last year, promised to revamp scholarship in the states as part of his plans of providing lasting solutions to the doctrine of Boko Haram, whose ideology abhors western education.

To that effect, the governor, on Tuesday, approved the immediate payment of N578,682,000 as a scholarship to Borno citizens pursuing Ph.D., Masters Degree and undergraduate degrees in different tertiary institutions within and outside Borno State.

The states Commissioner for Higher Education, Isa Hussaini, announced this during a meeting of concerned parties, in Maiduguri.

Mr Hussaini, a professor of pharmacology, explained that 23,776 students schooling in Nigeria and 118 foreign students are already benefiting from the first batch of disbursement.

In order to ensure students get their bursary, the scholarship board is paying the money directly into each beneficiarys bank account, the official said.

Borno is listed as one of the least educated states in Nigeria with the majority of its youth population, especially from the northern part of the state, not attending schools. The government of Borno State has repeatedly confirmed that there is no single tertiary institution in the ten local government areas that form Borno North Senatorial District.

Some of the local government areas in the zone have no secondary schools  a factor many policy analysts blame for the proliferation of the Boko Haram ideology in the area.
All three of Iowas public universities on Wednesday announced to their respective communities that they are suspending face-to-face instruction for at least two weeks after spring break.

The universities, from March 23 to April 3, will move to virtual instruction, according to emails and messages that came from University of Iowa, Iowa State University, and University of Northern Iowa administrators.

Neither of North Iowa's post-secondary education facilities are governed by the Board of Regents. Neither have suspended face-to-face instruction yet, but both have undertaken other preventive measures.

North Iowa Area Community College President Steve Schulz said he met with the school's response team on campus and also with other community college presidents to talk about next steps. NIACC is on spring break this week.

The school is communicating with state and local health officials and Schulz sent out an email using the school's emergency contact system to inform students, staff and their families of what the school is doing so far.

Over the break the school is doing some deep cleaning, setting up sanitation stations all over campus, and has ramped up its cleaning schedule. It also has posted CDC guidelines for individuals to keep themselves safe.

Schulz said he encouraged students who felt ill to not return to school, and already canceled the college choir's planned cruise to Belize this week to prevent the possibility of a student contracting coronavirus. The students perform on the cruise as part of their studies.

There are no plans to cancel or move classes to online-only status right now, but that could change quickly, Schulz said.

"It's really a fluid situation, so we're watching things very closely," Schulz said.

Waldorf University officials said via a letter posted on the school's website that they are "monitoring the appropriate safety precautions" from Winnebago County and Iowa's departments of public health, the CDC and local health care facilities.

"We are evaluating all University sponsored travel in accordance with travel advisories set by the U.S. Department of State and the CDC. At this time, this limitation does not impact any planned travel for mission trips, sporting events or academics," according to the letter.

After spring break  during the period of virtual education  Iowa public university students can either stay home or return to their residence hall, off-campus housing, or another location.

In providing specific information about instruction, University of Iowa administrators said during the two week stretch of virtual education that lectures, discussion sessions, seminars, and other similar classroom settings will move to virtual instruction to the greatest extent possible.

Regarding faculty and staff, the University of Iowa is preparing plans for telecommuting opportunities, when appropriate, for faculty and staff, and its asking them to direct questions to supervisors or human resources representatives.

Iowa State University students should expect additional information from instructors about classes, assignments, and exams before March 23. Any who are traveling home for spring break are strongly encouraged to stay home for those two weeks.

ISU students who cant go home must register with the Department of Residence through an online form by noon March 18 to maintain access. That campus dining services will stay open, but might be limited.

Labs, studios, performance instruction, computer labs, and other experiential learning sections wont occur during the two-week suspension of face-to-face learning.

The Board of Regents also has extended its international travel ban until further notice  a ban that kept some students from leaving over spring break for study abroad experiences.

Globe Gazette editor Jaci Smith contributed to this report. Vanessa Miller is a reporter for the Cedar Rapids Gazette.
Most parts of Punjab and Haryana on Wednesday received showers, leading to a sharp decline in the mercury, the Meteorological Department said here on Wednesday.

This is the third spell of rains this month in the two states, where the change in weather has triggered fear among farmers about damage to standing crops.

Chandigarh, the common capital of the two states, also received rainfall during the day.

The maximum temperature dropped sharply in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh after the showers.

It hovered between 20-23 degrees Celsius at most places, two to seven notches below the normal.

Among other places in Punjab and Haryana which received rain included Mohali, Amritsar, Ludhiana, Patiala, Ambala, Bhiwani, Hisar, Karnal, Narnaul and Panchkula.

A few days ago, high-velocity winds and heavy rainfall accompanied by hailstorm had caused damage to standing crops in parts of Punjab after which the state government had ordered a special ''girdawari'' to assess the losses.

The wheat crop is harvested in mid-April.

Damage to crops in an earlier spell of heavy rainfall this month was also reported from Haryana.

According to the weatherman, thunderstorm accompanied with hail and gusty winds with a speed between 40-50 kmph is likely at a few places in Haryana and Punjab on Thursday.

Hailstorm is also likely at isolated places in Punjab on Thursday, as per the forecast.

Heavy rainfall is likely in the two states at isolated places.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The skull of one of the world's smallest dinosaurs that measured only two inches long has been found preserved in amber  revealing bulging eyes and 100 teeth.

According to the researchers who identified it  who said that they were 'blown away' by the discovery  the winged, bird-like dinosaur 'looks like it just died yesterday'.

From the quarter-inch-sized specimen  smaller than a blueberry  researchers were able to make a computer-generated model of the dinosaur's skull.

Despite its size, the miniature creature was a predator that likely fed on bugs some 99 million years ago in what is today Myanmar.

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The skull of one of the world's smallest dinosaurs that measured only two inches long has been found preserved in amber, pictured  revealing bulging eyes and 100 teeth

Named Oculudentavis khaungraae, the bird-like dinosaur died when a blob of sticky tree resin fell on its head  leaving its tiny skull preserved.

The fossil specimen has retained exquisite detail, with its relatively long jaws and razor sharp teeth visible in 3D.

Oculudentavis  whose name means 'eye tooth bird'  would have weighed less than an ounce and could have danced in the palm of your hand.

'I was completely blown away. You can see this beautiful, tiny bird skull preserved within this piece of amber,' said paper author and palaeontologist Jingma O'Connor, of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

'I was going around showing it to everyone, like "look at this, it's so cool!" '

'To a palaeontologist, it's weird. We've never seen anything like it. I definitely couldn't keep a lid on this one!'

Oculudentavis, she added, shows how dinosaurs came in all shapes and sizes.

The specimen frozen in amber is three time smaller than that of a penny

According to Professor O'Connor, the diminutive dinosaur was likely a predator, despite its size  and would have fed on small insects. This was a completely different lifestyle to those of similarly-sized modern birds, which have no teeth and rely on nectar for food

'It's a little smaller than a bee hummingbird - the smallest bird alive today,' said Professor O'Connor. 'The jaws are filled with 100 teeth. It had these weird eyes staring out looking to the sides. There's nothing like this alive today.' Pictured, an artist's impression of Oculudentavis

'It's a little smaller than a bee hummingbird - the smallest bird alive today,' said Professor O'Connor.

'The jaws are filled with 100 teeth. It had these weird eyes staring out looking to the sides. There's nothing like this alive today.'

Oculudentavis had large eye sockets, similar to that of a lizard's, with narrow openings that only let in a small amount of light  suggesting that it was likely only active during the day time.

The specimen also featured a pattern of fusion in the skull bones that had not been seen before.

According to Professor O'Connor, the diminutive dinosaur was likely a predator, despite its size  and would have fed on small insects.

This was a completely different lifestyle to those of similarly-sized modern birds, which have no teeth and rely on nectar for food.

'It's just incredible to uncover this new ecological niche we never even knew existed,' Professor O'Connor added.

'Amber preservation of vertebrates is rare, and this provides us a window into the world of dinosaurs at the lowest end of the body-size spectrum,' said paper co-author Lars Schmitz of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.

'Its unique anatomical features point to one of the smallest and most ancient birds ever found.'

The stunning discovery adds to the remarkable collection of Cretaceous-period fossils recovered from the amber deposits in northern Myanmar's Hukawng Valley.

The region has yielded beautiful bird wings, a spectacular feathered tail of a meat eating dinosaur, an entire hatchling bird and even ticks that feasted on dinosaurs.

From the quarter-inch-sized specimen  smaller than a blackcurrant  researchers were able to make a computer-generated model of the dinosaur's skull, pictured

Oculudentavis fills a vital gap in the fossil record, the researchers said, alongside providing new insight into the evolution of birds.

The fossil demonstrates that some avian bodies underwent extreme miniaturisation early in the evolutionary process.

'No other group of living birds features species with similarly small [skulls] in adults,' said Professor Schmitz.

'This discovery shows us that we have only a small glimpse of what tiny vertebrates looked like in the age of the dinosaurs.'

British palaeobiologist Prof Roger Benson, who was not involved in the study, said that the fossil suggests that some of the earliest birds evolved to become miniature  while also illustrating how amber can serve as a window into the distant past.

'The study of small vertebrates preserved in amber, their ecosystems and their evolutionary relationships with one another is in a nascent phase,' Professor Benson added.

'But Oculudentavis suggests the potential for continued discovery remains large  especially for animals of diminutive sizes.'

The full findings of the study were published in the journal Nature.

The stunning discovery adds to the remarkable collection of Cretaceous-period fossils recovered from the amber deposits in northern Myanmar's Hukawng Valley
Hong Kong: Quarantine measures to be extended

Following the Red Outbound Travel Alert issued today on the whole of Italy and regions in France, Germany, Japan and Spain, the Department of Health said it will strengthen health quarantine arrangements on travellers arriving from these places.

From midnight on March 14, the departments Port Health Division will issue quarantine orders to people arriving in Hong Kong who have been to the Bourgogne-Franche-Comte and Grand Est regions in France, the North Rhine-Westphalia region in Germany, Hokkaido in Japan as well as Spains La Rioja, Madrid and Pais Vasco regions in the past 14 days.

On that day, the arrangement will also be extended from Italys Emilia-Romagna, Lombardy and Veneto regions to the entire country.

These people, regardless of whether they are Hong Kong residents, will be arranged to stay in a quarantine centre.

Separately, the quarantine measures announced earlier for those who have been to Korea and Iran in the past 14 days remain unchanged.

The Government has been conducting detailed assessments for formulating port health measures in response to the outbreaks of COVID-19 in countries or areas outside Hong Kong, taking into account factors, including the number, distribution and rate of increase of infected people.

The Centre for Health Protection reminded members of the public that several confirmed COVID-19 cases that were recently recorded in Hong Kong were related to a tour group to India.

This indicates the possibility of community transmission there.

Meanwhile, as the transmission of the virus has been increasing around the world, people are advised to consider delaying all non-essential travel outside Hong Kong.

Before travelling outside the city, members of the public should be aware of the potential health risks and applicable quarantine arrangements upon returning to Hong Kong.

This story has been published on: 2020-03-11. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
WRTC 2022 Postponed At the WRTC 2022 Association Assembly on 23 April 2021, having previously consulted the WRTC Sanctioning Committee, the assembly and Organizing Committee decided to postpone WRTC 2022 one year to 2023. There have been no changes in the qualification process or to the overall structure of the event and its sponsoring committee. A detailed report on the qualification standings will be prepared and released at a later date.



In consideration of the worldwide public health challenges from the Covid-19 pandemic, we believe our decision is reasonable. We have received many communications from competitors and friends of WRTC and have taken them very seriously.



There will be further announcements regarding WRTC as soon as new arrangements have been made.

Thank you for your understanding and commitments in support of our adventure!

73 de Carlo IK1HJS

President, WRTC 2022

Organizing Committee Source: WRTC2022

Venezia 1600 Award

On the occasion of the 1600th anniversary of the founding of the city of Venice (on March 25th of the year 421 AD !) and of the 75th anniversary of the constitution of ARI Venezia (November 1946) ARI VENEZIA is pleased to introduce a commemorative award for OM and SWL from all over the world with the following rules: To obtain the award OM and SWL need, till November 30 2021, to make QSO or SWL reports with the special callsign II3VE and/or with the callsign of the Venice ARI branch IQ3VE on all legal amateur bands at least on 2 different modes or bands and on different days. Score QSO number requested: Italian stations: 10 QSO

European stations: 6 QSO

Extraeuropean stations: 2 QSO Contacts on FM and through land repeaters are not valid. On April 25th, St. Mark feast day patron of Venice, II3VE will be on the air via satellite QO-100 and the relative contacts will be valid as 2 QSO II3VE will be also valid for SASC W1600VE from March 20 to 27

IQ3VE will be also valid for SASC W75VE from November 1 to 15 Once you reach the score requested you can send your application to the following email: ari.venezia(at)virgilio.it Upon verification from our award manager the VENEZIA 1600 AWARD will be issued as a PDF file via email.

Fonte: ARI Venezia

New 2380km record on 2.4 GHz between Australia and New Zealand The Tasman Sea is an area where there are regular tropospheric ducting openings between Australia and New Zealand. On the 13th of December 2020, Hayden VK7HH and Richard VK7ZBX portable on an elevated location in Tasmania made successful SSB contacts with Nick ZL1IU in New Zealand on 144 MHz, 432 MHz and 1296 MHz.

Read all... The Asheville Radio Museum

Aperto al pubblico nel 2001 da un piccolo gruppo di radioamatori, da collezione diviene museo didattico, dove persone di tutte le eta possono conoscere la storia della tecnologia radio e stupirsi delle apparecchiature e di come si sono evolute. Sono state raccolte e conservate apparecchiature radio, pubblicita e altri cimeli, in un museo orientato all'istruzione, con display pratici e una stazione radioamatoriale funzionante. Per maggiori informazioni cliccare QUI

Fonte: avlradiomuseum.org


Since then, HHS officials have been working to revamp the Kearney and Geneva centers and add a third facility in Lincoln to provide intensive treatment for youths with especially severe behavioral and mental health problems.

The HHS plan calls for Kearney to be the main facility, serving both boys and girls, while Geneva is to serve only a small number of girls getting ready for life back in the community. Three girls are at Geneva now, while there are six boys in the Lincoln center, which shares a building with the Lancaster County detention center.

Brandts amendment to LB 1188 does not specify where the state has to place either male or female juveniles. It allows the state to have both at a facility where there is safe and appropriate gender separation, a provision that Howard said would give the state flexibility.

Sen. John Lowe of Kearney opposed the amendment, saying that HHS will not be ready to accommodate the girls at Geneva or elsewhere by July 2021. Another opponent, Sen. Steve Erdman of Bayard, said the proposal went too far in telling state agencies how to operate.
Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald has called for more action to stop coronavirus (Sinn Fein/PA)

Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald has urged the Irish government to step up its containment measures to help stop the spread of coronavirus.

Ms McDonald said efforts need to be stepped up very substantially to keep families and communities safe.

In a letter sent to the government on Wednesday evening, Ms McDonald requested that public sector staff work from home, mass gatherings are postponed and the school Easter holidays are brought forward.

Ms McDonald said: Firstly we have to take the issue of minimising social contact seriously.

We believe there needs to be strict direction and advice across the public and private sectors that people work at home, where possible.

Sinn Fein President @MaryLouMcDonald is writing to the government this evening outlining the measures the party believes should be introduced to contain the spread of coronavirus. pic.twitter.com/QXA6pko6ZH  Cate McCurry (@CateMcCurry) March 11, 2020

We believe that now is the time to make clear that social gatherings, mass gatherings, are either postponed or cancelled.

Ms McDonald added: We believe that the Easter holidays for schools should be brought forward and that arrangements need to be started for that.

Testing needs to be ramped up very significantly and we also need to increase very dramatically the number of staff engaged in contact tracing.

It comes as the Green Party called for a national government of all parties to be formed to tackle the coronavirus outbreak.

In a statement, the party said: The Green Party parliamentary party met this afternoon and agreed that, in light of the unfolding coronavirus crisis, the party are calling on all parties to suspend discussions on forming a majority government and work towards forming a crisis national government to be reviewed in three months.

It's an unprecedented crisis and we feel the best way to deal with that is by forming a national government.Catherine Martin

Green TD Catherine Martin said: All government formation talks for a majority government should be suspended and the focus should be on dealing with the coronavirus.

Its an unprecedented crisis and we feel the best way to deal with that is by forming a national government, and thats where we feel partys energy should go.

The Green Party has written to all political parties urging them to form a national government.

The time for that sort of horsetrading that we see happening in government formation, that needs to stop and we need to take this seriously, Ms Martin added.

Reacting to the Green Partys position, Ms McDonald said: I think in the very immediate term we need that joined-up collective leadership, thats why, at my insistence, the Taoiseach brought together the leaders of the political parties.

I think that forum is an essential forum to ensure that we have the right measures and that theyre stepped out in a timely and an orderly fashion.

I can't tell other people what to do, but I don't think, unless you absolutely have to as a matter of life or death, travel off the island.Mary Lou McDonald

Ms McDonld also backed measures proposed by the Green Party to close schools immediately, ban marriage and funeral services and shut pubs and restaurants by 6pm for two weeks.

Ms McDonald added: I cant tell other people what to do, but I dont think, unless you absolutely have to as a matter of life or death, travel off the island.

I think, for now, for the next number of weeks, we sit tight here and we do the things that we need to do.

It comes as talks between the deputy leaders of Fianna Fail and Fine Gael on the possibility of forming a government took place on Wednesday.

Tanaiste Simon Coveney and Fianna Fails Dara Calleary held discussions before both parties engage in more detailed talks over the coming days.

Fine Gaels Paschal Donohoe said that the Covid-19 outbreak will influence their discussions with political parties across the spectrum.

The partys negotiator said further detailed discussions could take place by Sunday.

They will form the early part of talks that we will be having with them (Fianna Fail) regarding whether it will be possible to form a new government, Mr Donohoe added.

Statement following further discussions between Taoiseach and Fine Gael President @LeoVaradkar with Fianna Fail Leader Micheal Martin: https://t.co/b0Hi97Qvw8  Fine Gael (@FineGael) March 10, 2020

At the best of times this would be a very demanding political exercise, but we are truly in extraordinary times and that will influence the discussions that we will have with political colleagues all over the spectrum of Irish political life.

In terms of what priorities I might be raising with them, from my experience of these discussions I know it is not helpful if they hear about my priorities through (the media).

They need to hear about it from us directly and personally and thats what well be doing over the coming days.

He said discussions are under way between the deputy leaders and further talks will happen over the coming days.

Fine Gaels parliamentary party is expected to meet next Thursday.

Minister for Business Heather Humphreys said the party is having conversations with everybody.

Ministers @Paschald & @HHumphreysFG are briefing the media about the unprecedented shared national effort required from Government, trades union & employers to respond to the global and national public health crisis arising from #Covid19 #Coronavirusireland pic.twitter.com/qY92HDnjWu  MerrionStreet.ie (@merrionstreet) March 11, 2020

She added, however, that her priority is dealing with the coronavirus crisis.

Its important that people realise that we have a government in place that has full executive powers, and we are working extremely well with all of the political parties in the Dail at this time to try and meet the challenges that this is presenting on a societal basis, Ms Humphreys added.
An ambulance drives by Brigham and Women's Hospital, which was setting up a a coronavirus testing site, in Boston, Massachusetts on March 7, 2020. (Joseph Prezioso/AFP via Getty Images)

Massachusetts Declares State of Emergency as Coronavirus Cases Spike

Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker declared a state of emergency over the new coronavirus after officials announced 51 new cases in the state.

This declaration will give our administration more flexibility to respond to this evolving outbreak, Baker said at a press conference on Tuesday.

The state of emergency gives officials greater power to shut down events, gain access to buildings, and stockpile personal protective gear.

Employees in the states Executive Branch were ordered to not travel out of state, cancel conferences and other gatherings or hold them remotely, and not attend external work-related conferences, seminars, or events.

I urge employers and other large organizations to follow our example and limit or eliminate non-essential travel, limit or eliminate large events where possible, and explore telework where appropriate for your organization. We are also urging older adults and those with health issues to avoid large crowds and large events, Baker said in a statement.

The state Department of Health started distributing guidance to longterm care facilities on Wednesday, asking them to ban visitors who show signs of a respiratory infection, who traveled internationally in the last two weeks, who live in a community where the virus is spreading, or who had contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19, the disease the new virus causes.

The 51 new cases brought the total in Massachusetts to 92. Ninety-one of the patients tested positive but the test results still need to be confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a federal agency.

A Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority employee (MBTA) cleans ticket machines in an effort by the MBTA to stop the spread of the coronavirus, COVID-19, in Boston, Massachusetts on March 7, 2020. (Joseph Prezioso/AFP via Getty Images)

People walk past the Marriot Long Wharf Hotel in Boston, Massachusetts on March 7, 2020. (Joseph Prezioso/AFP via Getty Images)

Seventy of the total cases stem from a leadership meeting convened by Biogen in downtown Boston last month. The source of 18 infections is under investigation. The other four are travel-related. Six of the patients are in the hospital. Forty of the patients are female and 52 are male.

Out of 719 people in the state subject to quarantine, 249 are currently under quarantine while the rest have completed monitoring, the state government said.

The Biogen conference took place on Feb. 26 and Feb. 27 at the Boston Marriott Long Wharf. Attendees included people from other states and other countries. Confirmed cases linked to the conference include patients in Tennessee, Indiana, and North Carolina.

The state Department of Public Health described Biogen as a multi-national company with headquarters in Massachusetts. The company describes itself as one of the worlds first in global biotechnology, stating on its website, We are pioneers in neuroscience. According to a recent filing, Biogen has about 7,400 employees around the world.

Biogen has released no information on its site about the outbreak linked to its conference. In a statement sent to news outlets, Biogen directed all employees to work from home for two weeks from the time the first patients tested positive. The company also restricted travel for the rest of March.

Biogen has operations in China, where the virus emerged late last year. Biogen further expands presence in China, the company said in a press release in February 2019, noting the China National Medical Products Association approved its treatment for spinal muscular atrophy. China approved Biogens Alzheimers drug later last year.
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Chicagos St. Patricks Day parades have been cancelled amid coronavirus fears.

Organisers for the St. Patricks Day Parade said the parade - which was scheduled for Saturday - has been cancelled.

The citys South Side Irish Parade, which was to be held Sunday, is also postponed and a new date has not been set.

Chicagos St. Patricks Day parade and the dyeing green of the Chicago River have been annual traditions for the city since 1962.

There are currently 19 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the state.

The Chicago Sun Times reported that the cancellations arent especially surprising. Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker - among others - pressured the citys mayor, Lori Lightfoot, to cancel the festivities.

The health and safety of Chicagos residents will always be our highest priority and like many other cities across the nation and globe, we are postponing this years parades as a precautionary measure to prevent any additional spread of COVID-19, Ms Lightfoot said in a statement. I want everyone to rest assured that your City and State continue to work around the clock to stay ahead of this issue and ensure everyone remains protected, informed, and safe.

Mr Pritzker wrote that the states leaders cant take any chances with the health of our residents despite what the St. Patricks Day celebrations mean to us in the city of Chicago.

Because of what weve seen nationally and across the world of the increased risk of large gatherings, this was the right call and I think Mayor Lightfoot for her leadership in this difficult situation, he wrote.

Boston and Dublin have also cancelled their St. Patricks Day parades.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio is also considering cancelling the citys parade, which is scheduled for 17 March.

The city has 46 confirmed cases of coronavirus.

Recommended Trump plans rally despite White House warning against crowds

Tuesday, the National Guard was deployed to create a containment zone around New Rochelle, New York, where 108 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed across Westchester County, where the city is located.

According to the New York Post, Mr de Blasio said the city was nowhere near considering containment zones like the one implemented in New Rochelle, but that cancellations of major events would have to be taken under consideration.

We have to really think about this one because its a beloved event, an important event, Mr de Blasio said. Its not a slam dunk to say this is something to be instantly cancelled. On the other hand, there are real concerns.
Copper Mountain Mining Reacts to Covid-19 Related Market Uncertainty, Revises Mine Plan and Project Schedule to Lower Cost and Risk

Posted by Publisher Internet

Copper Mountain Mining Corporation (TSX:CMMC | ASX:C6C)? (?Copper Mountain? or the ?Company?  https://www.commodity-tv.com/play/copper-mountain-mining-q4-and-full-year-2019-numbers-published/ ) has revised its mine plan and project schedule at its Copper Mountain Mine, located in Southern British Columbia, with the objective of maintaining solid positive margins and cash flow in response to current market conditions and near-term copper price uncertainty as a result of the Coronavirus impact to metal prices. ?A summary of changes includes:

Deferral of Ball Mill #3 installation capital expenditures, saving US$22 million in 2020.

Reducing operating costs by re-sequencing short term production to lower cost mine phases.

Preserving high grade ore in Pit #3 scheduled for mining in 2020 to now be mined in 2021 for the benefit of expected higher metal prices in future and to match deferred Ball Mill #3 expansion capital expenditures.

These actions allow the Company to maintain solid cash flow margins at the mine and run sustainably in the current low copper price environment, without any sacrifice to the long term mine plan. In addition, the revised mine plan also allows the Company to continue to be able to fund the mill expansion project internally. ?Saving the high-grade ore originally planned to be mined in 2020 for 2021 also better matches potential higher copper prices, thereby maximizing cash flow generation.? As a result of these actions, the Company has revised its 2020 production and cost guidance as outlined below.

?We are committed to protecting our cash flow and minimizing costs given the low and volatile copper price environment that we are currently operating in as a result of the Coronavirus impact,? said Gil Clausen, Copper Mountain?s President and CEO. ?We have revised our mine plan to protect and grow cash margin so that we are able to comfortably meet all our obligations, including debt service, while continuing with key projects including the installation of the Direct Flotation Reactors. ?This project requires minimal capital and has a fast payback and high return. We have deferred the major discretionary capital for the installation of Ball Mill # 3 until we see more certainty and stability in the copper price. These initiatives demonstrate our flexibility and ability to react quickly in response to changing market conditions and metal prices.?

Mr. Clausen added, ?In periods of low metal prices such as today, we will be disciplined and orderly in our development and take a prudent approach to cash management. ?We will not sacrifice the future of our mine by high-grading and deferring stripping that builds a liability in the future. Our operation is well positioned with mining phases that can be readily re-sequenced without negatively impacting the intermediate and long term. While the mine plan we have currently implemented is sustainable longer term at these low copper prices, we believe this market uncertainty is short term and fully anticipate the copper price to recover.?

Revised Mine Plan

The Company has modified the Copper Mountain mine plan for the current low copper price environment. Copper Mountain is cutting the mining rate by approximately 25% to 120,000 to 160,000 tonnes per day for the remainder of 2020 from approximately 200,000 tonnes per day. The Company is focusing on mining the lower cost areas in the central and north phases of the main pit in order to maintain positive margins. ?These areas are closer to the primary crusher and waste dumps, which result in lower mining costs.

The Company will reschedule the mining of the higher grade ore originally planned in 2020 for 2021, which should better match higher copper prices and therefore support the funding of the mill expansion project.?

These initiatives allow the Company to maintain solid positive margins at lower metal prices in 2020 and maximize cash flow in 2021 when prices are expected to recover.??

Project Update

The mill expansion project at the Copper Mountain Mine is planned to bring plant capacity to 45,000 tonnes per day from 40,000 tonnes per day.? The project will be completed in two stages: The first stage includes the cleaner circuit upgrade, which involves the installation of Direct Flotation Reactors (DFRs). The installation of the DFRs will increase the efficiency and the capacity of the current cleaner circuit, which is expected to increase copper concentrate grade from about 25% to 28%, resulting in lower concentrate transportation, smelting and refining costs.? The installation of the DFRs is a low capital, high return project, and the timing for commissioning remains unchanged for June 2020. ?The remaining capital required to complete the installation of the DFRs is approximately US$2.3 million.

The second stage of the mill expansion project includes the installation of the third ball mill. The Company has slowed down this stage of the project to defer approximately US$22 million capital originally planned for 2020. The Company has maintained long lead item expenditures that are critical to the project to allow for rapid restart. ?The Company will manage project advancement dependent on market conditions and has the flexibility to accelerate and decelerate the project as necessary. ?

Updated Guidance

The Company?s revised 2020 production and cost guidance is provided below. ?The Company intends on providing updated 2021 and 2022 production guidance once markets stabilize and there is more visibility into global conditions.

About Copper Mountain Mining Corporation:

Copper Mountain?s flagship asset is the 75% owned Copper Mountain mine located in southern British Columbia near the town of Princeton. The Copper Mountain mine produces on average approximately 100 million pounds of copper equivalent per year with a large resource that remains open laterally and at depth. Copper Mountain also has the permitted, development-stage Eva Copper Project in Queensland, Australia and an extensive 4,000 km2 highly prospective land package in the Mount Isa area. Copper Mountain trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol ?CMMC? and Australian Stock Exchange under the symbol ?C6C?.

Additional information is available on the Company?s web page at www.CuMtn.com.

On behalf of the Board of

COPPER MOUNTAIN MINING CORPORATION

?Gil Clausen??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

Gil Clausen, P.Eng.

Chief Executive Officer

For further information, please contact:

Letitia Wong, Vice President Corporate Development & Investor Relations

604-682-2992 Email: letitia.wong@cumtn.com? or

Dan Gibbons, Investor Relations 604-682-2992 ext. 238 Email: Dan.Gibbons@CuMtn.com

Website: www.CuMtn.com

In Europe:

Swiss Resource Capital AG

Jochen Staiger

info@resource-capital.ch

www.resource-capital.ch

Note:? This release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties.? These statements may differ materially from actual future events or results. Guidance is based on a number of assumptions and estimates as of December 31, 2019, including, among other things, assumptions about metal prices and anticipated costs and expenditures. Guidance involves estimates of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results to be materially different. Readers are referred to the documents, filed by the Company on SEDAR at www.sedar.com, specifically the most recent reports which identify important risk factors that could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements.? The Company undertakes no obligation to review or confirm analysts? expectations or estimates or to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statement.
The Bachelor finale was last night and fans are still reeling today over everything that took place.

Madison Prewett and Peter Weber | John Fleenor via Getty Images

Peter Weber gave his final rose to Hannah Ann Sluss after Madison Prewett decided to go home (and he didnt tell her that until his proposal). But he ended his engagement shortly after because he still had feelings for Prewett. Then, Chris Harrison flew to Alabama to tell Prewett the pilot had ended his engagement because of her. When everyone was reunited at After The Final Rose, things got tense.

It became very, very clear that Barbara, Webers mother, didnt care for Prewett, which made some Bachelor fans feel we didnt see everything we needed to to get the full picture.

Theres something theyre not telling us about Barb and Madison

Im confused. Why does Barb hate Madi? AND why did Peter not tell Hanna he was ending it because of his feelings for Madi but then Chris Harrison tells Madi they broke up because of his feelings for her? Theres something theyre not telling us tweeted Bachelor alum Amanda Stanton.

Im confused. Why does Barb hate Madi? AND why did Peter not tell Hanna he was ending it because of his feelings for Madi but then Chris Harrison tells Madi they broke up because of his feelings for her? Theres something theyre not telling us #TheBachelor  Amanda Stanton (@amandastantonnn) March 11, 2020

Several fans weighed in.

Editing. Barb was crying right after the conversation with Madi so I think theres a LOT we didnt see to make Madi look good, responded one Twitter user.

Honestly if what she said was true then Id feel the same waymade them wait 3 hrs..didnt apologize. And plus the fact that she left and now all of a sudden wants him back? That wouldnt sit right with me either, wrote another.

Madison told Peters mom that she didnt love Peter and that she wasnt going to accept his proposal. Peters mom wanted her son to be with someone who loved him. Not someone shady and manipulative, responded another fan.

Not that Im team barb butMaybe barb knows a lot more than we all know? tweeted another.

Allegedly, why Barbara doesnt like Madison

Though Barbara elaborated a bit during ATFR why she and her family were less-than-impressed with Prewett, she allegedly wrote in a DM obtained by Reality Steve why exactly she didnt love the thought of her son ending up with Prewett.

I believe every word Barb said tonight bc she told someone THE EXACT SAME THING IN A DM EARLIER TODAY. Wow. She truly despises Madison. Feast your eyes pic.twitter.com/TKPVkldKYT  RealitySteve (@RealitySteve) March 11, 2020

Unfortunately what wasnt shown was how it all started. Madison had us wait 3 hrs because she didnt want to come in to meet us. My son begged her to do so. Once in she never offer an apology (keep in mind we had traveled across the world to meet both girls). When I asked her if she loved my son she said No! And that she would not accept a proposal in 4 days. (Then what was she doing there?). My son Jack pointed out to Peter that in the small time he was there she was all about herself and not about Peter. Trust me when I say all that glitters is not gold!!! Thank you, the DM reads.

No ones sure where Weber and Prewett stand as of right now because they havent posted on their social accounts or given any interviews since the finale (an unusual move for leads).

Read more: The Bachelor: Was Peter Weber Going to Propose to Madison Prewett During the Finale?
Corona updates: China's president visits hotspot, in signal that worst of outbreak over

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 10 March 2020 8:28 AM

China's President Xi Jinping has visited the city of Wuhan, the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in the country, amid a drop in the number of infections and deaths and in a sign that the worst of the epidemic may be over in the country.

Xi was scheduled to "visit and express regards to medical workers, military officers and soldiers, community workers, police officers, officials, and volunteers who have been fighting the epidemic on the front line, as well as patients and residents during the inspection" of the city on Tuesday, state news agency Xinhua reported.

China had imposed a lockdown on Wuhan, a city of roughly 11 million people where the virus first emerged, in a move that has since appeared to be effective at curbing its spread.

The visit by President Xi comes as the spread of the virus in mainland China has slowed down sharply over the past week.

All of 14 makeshift hospitals in Wuhan have been officially shut.

China's National Health Commission said on Tuesday that mainland China had registered only 19 new cases of the coronavirus infection on Monday, down from 40 a day earlier. The new cases brought the total number of confirmed cases in China to 80,754.

China also reported only 17 more deaths, raising the death toll from the virus to 3,136 as of Monday.

The downward trends in the tallies, together with the presidential visit to Wuhan, indicate that Beijing may have won the war on its coronavirus outbreak, although the fight on the disease itself is far from over. On Tuesday, Hubei Province, where Wuhan is located, said it would implement a "health code" system to permit people in areas at a medium or low risk of contracting the coronavirus to begin traveling.

The provincial government will require residents to use a mobile app, which gives each person a colored health code. Individuals assigned a green code will be authorized to travel within the province.

But most other countries are witnessing the initial phases of outbreaks of their own.

Tallies drop in South Korea, too

Meanwhile, the number of new daily infections in South Korea  the country the worst hit after China  dropped to its lowest level in 11 days on Monday.

Thirty five new infections were confirmed, bringing the total number of confirmed infections in South Korea to 7,513, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Tuesday.

The plunge in the South Korean outbreak comes as most of the roughly 200,000 followers of a fringe Christian church, the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in the country, have been tested.

"Those infected but not yet tested may spread the infection within local communities, so we cannot say the situation is safe yet," Yoon Tae-ho, the overall officer of disinfection at Central Disaster Management Headquarters, said at a news briefing.

Canada records first death

Canada has recorded its first death from the coronavirus  recently named COVID-19  in the westernmost province of British Columbia.

The victim, a man living at an elderly care facility, "was infected with COVID-19 (and) passed away last night," Bonnie Henry, the province's health officer, told reporters on Monday.

Two other residents of the Lynn Valley Care Center in North Vancouver and two caregivers were also diagnosed with the virus.

Canada has reported over 70 confirmed cases so far.

French culture minister tests positive

The coronavirus has also infected government officials in different countries. France's Culture Minister Franck Riester tested positive for the virus on Monday, the Culture Ministry said.

The ministry said Riester had spent several days last week at the country's lower house, the National Assembly, where five cases had earlier been confirmed.

On Tuesday, France rose the death toll from the virus to 30. Over 1,400 cases of infection have also been confirmed.

Iraq orders lockdown on Najaf

In a bid to contain the spread of the virus, Iraqi authorities ordered a lockdown on Najaf Province  a major destination for Shia Muslim pilgrims  for non-residents for a week starting Wednesday, the state news agency reported Monday.

Iraq has reported six deaths from the virus, while the total number of recorded infections in the country stands at 61.

Saudi Arabia to fine people withholding info

Also on Monday, Saudi Arabia announced that it would impose fines of up to 133,000 dollars on people who do not disclose accurate health information and travel details at the country's entry points.

Saudi Arabia's Health Ministry said on Monday that it had detected five new cases of the coronavirus, bringing the total number of confirmed infections in the kingdom to 20.

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NEW YORK, March 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Southwest Airlines Company ("Southwest" or the "Company") (NYSE: LUV) and certain of its officers. The class action, filed in United States District Court, for the Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division and indexed under 20-cv-00408, is on behalf of a class consisting of all persons and entities other than Defendants who purchased or otherwise acquired Southwest securities between February 7, 2017, and June 25, 2019, 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 Southwest securities during the class period, you have until April 20, 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 [email protected] or 888.476.6529 (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 9980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased.

[Click here for information about joining the class action]

Southwest was founded in 1967 and is based in Dallas, Texas. The Company operates a passenger airline that provides scheduled air transportation services in the U.S. and near-international markets. Southwest is regulated by, among other government entities, the Federal Aviation Administration ("FAA"), the sub-agency of the U.S. Department of Transportation ("DOT") that regulates civil aviation in the U.S. and its surrounding international waters.

Southwest's operations have been plagued by non-compliance and maintenance issues with its flight services for over a decade, often exacerbated by the Company's repeated denials of wrongdoing and self-touted remediation efforts. For example, according to the Wall Street Journal, the FAA's certificate-management office overseeing Southwest faced significant controversy over a decade ago "when congressional investigators discovered that local agency managers had allowed the airline to continue flying tens of thousands of passengers on nearly two dozen aircraft without completing mandatory structural inspections." Additionally, "[i]n 2009, Southwest agreed to pay $7.5 million in penalties to settle allegations that it operated 46 aircraft on 60,000 flights without completing mandatory maintenance checks for potential fuselage cracks."

Notwithstanding these widely reported issues, Southwest has continually denied any wrongdoing, while insisting that it has remained compliant with applicable government maintenance and safety regulations.

The Complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements regarding the Company's business, operational and compliance policies. Specifically, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) Southwest's operations were non-compliant with government maintenance and safety regulations; (ii) the foregoing issues were exacerbated by Southwest's undue influence over FAA officials and, consequently, lax regulatory oversight of the Company's operations; (iii) all of the foregoing significantly increased the safety risks to passengers traveling on Southwest flights and heightened governmental scrutiny into the Company; and (iv) as a result, the Company's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.

On April 17, 2018, news sources reported that a Southwest plane had blown an engine, which exploded and caused shrapnel to strike the plane. The explosion resulted in the death of one passenger, who was partially pulled through a large hole as the cabin suffered rapid decompression, and injured seven others. According to the Chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board, the incident marked "the first passenger fatality in a U.S. airline accident since 2009," and that, out of twenty-four fan blades in the engine at issue, one was missing. On this news, Southwest's stock price fell $0.62 per share, or 1.13%, to close at $54.27 per share on April 17, 2018.

On April 19, 2018, during pre-market hours, the FAA announced that it would "order inspections of at least 220 aircraft engines as investigators are focusing on a broken fan blade in an engine that exploded." According to news sources, the order was initially proposed in August 2016, following the earlier incident in which engine failure had also resulted from a broken fan blade. Critics also reportedly questioned why the FAA had not acted sooner in conjunction with their European counterparts. On this news, Southwest's stock price fell $1.02 per share, or 1.83%, to close at $54.80 per share on April 19, 2018.

On June 21, 2018, near the end of the trading session, news sources reported that eight passengers were suing Southwest in connection with the engine explosion in April 2018. On this news, Southwest's stock price fell $1.24 per share, or 2.33%, to close at $51.91 per share on June 22, 2018.

Finally, on June 25, 2019, during after-market hours, the Wall Street Journal published an article entitled "FAA Reassigns Senior Managers in Office Overseeing Southwest Airlines," which reported that the FAA had "removed three senior managers in the office overseeing Southwest Airlines Co., amid allegations of lax safety enforcement raised by agency whistleblowers and various resulting government inquiries." The article also noted that "[t]he [DOT]'s inspector-general has been looking into some of the safety issues for many months . . . including lapses by the airline in documenting maintenance for more than 100 of its jets," as well as "failures to reliably compute the weight of checked baggage and hazardous landing incidents in which one aircraft smacked a wingtip on the tarmac and another ran off the strip in stormy weather.

On this news, Southwest's stock price fell $0.30 per share, or 0.59%, to close at $50.70 per share on June 26, 2019.

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

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A U.S. jury in California on Monday awarded the drivers of four Volkswagen AG vehicles a total of $100,000 as punitive damages for being sold diesel vehicles that emitted excess pollution, although the amount awarded was a fraction of what was sought.

The drivers, three individuals and a couple, are among some 350 people who opted out of a $10 billion U.S. class action settlement with the German automaker which agreed to buy back hundreds of thousands of its cars after it admitted to using illegal software to cheat U.S. pollution tests in September 2015.

The five were part of an initial trial of 10 plaintiffs, aimed at setting a pattern to resolve the remaining claims. The jury had earlier this month awarded the five a total of $5,747 in compensatory damages.

VW said Monday it was pleased the jury had rejected most of the owners demands but that it would appeal to have the figure reduced.

These plaintiffs had minimal losses and were rightfully denied the unjustified windfall they were seeking. Plaintiffs counsel today asked for punitive damages in the millions of dollars, Volkswagen said.

The jury correctly refused that request. Even so, this award exceeds clear constitutional limits and we will ask the court to reduce it accordingly.

Lawyers for the owners who sued did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The class action settlements the drivers opted out of covered nearly 600,000 U.S. diesel vehicles.

The scandal has so far cost VW more than 30 billion euros ($34.2 billion) in fines, penalties and buyback costs. In May 2019, it set aside an additional 5.5 billion euros in contingent liabilities as it continued to face penalties and lawsuits around the world.

Separately, VW and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) said Monday they could not reach a settlement to resolve the SECs suit accusing Volkswagen and its former chief executive, Martin Winterkorn, of defrauding investors in U.S. bond offerings. The SEC and VW proposed a schedule that would potentially see the case go to trial in 2023.

Last week, a federal judge approved a separate $96.5 million settlement between VW and owners of 98,000 vehicles that had fuel economy labels that overstated efficiency.

Last year, the Environmental Protection Agency said Volkswagen must forfeit greenhouse gas emissions credits and lower the fuel economy ratings on those vehicles after it said vehicle software overstated real-world performance.

(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Edwina Gibbs)

Topics USA Pollution
The United States has warned the Taliban on March 10 that the current level of violence by the militants is unacceptable to advancing the peace process as the UN Security Council supported a U.S.-led effort to end Afghanistans nearly two-decade old war.



The current high level of violence by the Taliban is unacceptable, said State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus in a statement on March 10. We acknowledge the Taliban have taken steps to stop attacks against the [NATO] coalition and in cities. But they are killing too many Afghans in the countryside. This must change. Violence at these levels risks drawing both sides into a vicious cycle, serves no one, and undermines peace.



Late last month, the United States signed a deal with the Taliban that is meant to pave the way for peace and includes a gradual drawdown of U.S. troops in the volatile country.



Negotiations were supposed to start on March 10 between Afghan government officials and the Taliban but preparations are still under way due to an electoral crisis following the recent presidential election in which the two main rivals claimed victory.



Talks were also delayed because the militants demanded a prisoner release.



"I urge the two sides to sit down immediately for talks on this issue in Doha, Qatar to work out the details," Zalmay Khalilzad, the special U.S. envoy to Afghanistan, said on Twitter.



Ashraf Ghani won a second term as president while former Chief Executive Officer Abdullah Abdullah also claimed victory, with both of them holding parallel inaugurations on March 9.



A rocket attack that day aimed at the presidential palace marred one of the ceremonies.



Ghani, according to the State Department, has stated he is consulting with Abdullah and other Afghan leaders and will announce an inclusive [negotiating] team in the coming few days, the statement said.



The Afghan presidential office announced on March 10 that the government will start to gradually release 5,000 Taliban prisoners starting this week if the Islamic militants significantly reduce violence.



The government will "release 1,500 Taliban prisoners as a gesture of goodwill" starting on March 14, with another 3,500 to be freed after negotiations begin, Afghan presidential spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said on Twitter.



Earlier on March 10 at the UN, former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton frowned upon the U.S. deal with the Taliban, saying: "It is difficult to have an agreement when you leave out the government of the country that you are expecting to uphold and live under that agreement."



The UN Security Council resolution released the same day stressed the importance of including women, youth, and minorities in the peace process.

With reporting by Reuters, dpa, and AFP
Like the many who came to Chicago from Ireland, Mexico and elsewhere, Poles coming to Chicago sent money back to their relations. During WWI, many Poles in Chicago enlisted to fight in Polands Blue Army. Later, first generation Polish/ Chicagoans enlisted by the thousands in the U.S. Armed Forces to protect Poland during WWII. Like other groups, Poles also faced restrictions on entering the U.S.
In 1985, adults over 65 made up just 11 percent of the U.S. population. Today that number is 16 percent and rising rapidly. In 10 years, theyll be almost one-quarter of the population, according to an estimate by the Population Reference Bureau. More than three-fourths of Americans over 65 face chronic health challenges, from immobility to diabetes.

Already, the number of available professional caregivers and elder care facilities to care for these aging adults has been stretched beyond capacity. Just as they do with child care, Americans face a growing elder care crisis of too few options and too few resources, and have been forced to rely on ad hoc, informal, and half-measure solutions.

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None of these facts is breaking news, but breaking news is now headed straight for them. Older adults face the greatest level of risk posed by the growing COVID-19 outbreak. The preliminary data from the World Health Organization shows that for patients under age 50, coronavirus has less than a 1 percent fatality rate. The number climbs exponentially as the ages go up. More than one-fifth of deaths from coronavirus thus far have been adults over age 80. Sick, aging adults need even greater care and attention than healthy, aging adults. The CDC urges older adults to stay in their homes, where they will be even more reliant on having healthy caregivers who can take care of their day-to-day needs. More than ever, we need healthy frontline care workers who can bring aging adults groceries, feed them, bathe them, and assist them in following their treatment plans, from taking medications to doing physical therapy exercises, as well as comforting them and providing them the only social interaction they might get for weeks, a critical factor in their well-being. All this and more for an average $11 an hour.

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For years weve been warned about the limitations of our tattered, largely informal, and resource-scarce care economy. Now, were asking these caregiverslargely low paid, if theyre paid at allto protect the elderly from a virus that even experts dont yet fully understand.

Director of the National Domestic Workers Alliance and Caring Across Generations Ai-Jen Poo took to the pages of the New York Times on Monday to make an impassioned plea on behalf of care workers:

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention should direct more of their resources toward the front-line care professionals who work in the home and the community. These workers should be provided with masks and other safety equipment, rather than having to worry about where they will get them. They should be offered free testing and treatment for coronavirus. State and federal governments should distribute prevention materials in the many languages that domestic workers speak. The same workers who have been in the shadows could be key to stemming the spread of the virus.

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But important as detailed instructions in care workers own languages and face masks are, they are also the bare minimum we need to do here.

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The vast majority of these caregivers are not the professional class of nurses and doctors running our nations hospitals (though of course theyre critical and deserve infinitely more support than they currently have). Nurses, at least, tend to have access to the resources of the hospitals they work in, as well as greater union representation to demand what they need to do their jobs safely and well.

But the bulk of our frontline caregivers dont have the backing of large medical institutions or associations to advocate for them in the midst of this pandemic. There are more than 3 million home health and personal care aides dispersed in private homes across America. While some aides work for agencies or institutions that require training and certification, many others learn to do what they do on the job, drawing only on what they know from past personal experience caring for an elderly or sick adult and what their elderly charge and their family ask them to do. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of the aides is expected to grow by 36 percent in the next 10 years as demand for their services grows. An as yet, un-automatable, un-outsourceable job that represents as well as anything what the jobs of our future look like.

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Add to that the growing number of elder caregivers who are members of the family. Twenty-nine percent of American adults currently provide care to an aging, ill, or disabled family member. According to Pew Research Center, 40.4 million Americans currently act as unpaid caregivers to adults over 65.

Fifty-five-year-old John Buttell moved home to Silver Spring, Maryland, a few years ago to share the job of full-time certified caregiver for his parents with his sister and a hired aide who assists them three days a week. Buttells 93-year-old father has Parkinson-like syndromes that seriously limit his mobility, and his 88-year-old mother suffers from memory loss and the mobility effects of three joint replacements and chronic arthritis.

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So far for Buttells family, the COVID-19 threat has meant doing the same things they already did to look after his parents healthjust more intensely and more frequently: hand-washing for everyone who comes in the house, weighing the risks of trips out of the house and the necessity of home visits from speech therapists or other providers. Its sort of like my parents are in a fortress, and my job is to maintain and strengthen those defenses as much as I can, Buttell said. He says the coronavirus scare is also a reminder of why his family is grateful to be in a position to care for his parents in their own home, rather than in an assisted living center, where the virus has been the most deadly to this point. This is only the latest benefit of aging in placethat is, keeping aging adults in their own homes with family and community support as long as possible.

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When family cant manage care themselves, a growing workforce of home and personal aides may be called upon, usually through an agency earning the bulk of its revenue through public programs like Medicare and Medicaid. But $11 an hour is not the kind of investment it takes to develop a workforce that can protect the nation from a public health crisis. With low pay, demanding hours, and usually, no benefits, its easy to see why turnover for home health aides even outside a public health crisis is around 50 percent.

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Pairing that turnover rate with the demographic indicators that suggest the demand for these aides will only continue to skyrocket was worrisome years ago. Now theres an outbreak of an illness that appears to be most harmful to their ever-growing pool of clients. And what support are we offering these caregivers?

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Many Americans are receiving guidance from their employers and industries on what to do and what not to do to contain the spread of the virus and lessen its impact on them and their clients or customers. Low-wage caregivers may be getting advice from agencies telling them to stay home if theyre sick and reminding them to practice good hygiene around the patients. That advice may not even be actionable for many workers, given the widespread lack of access to paid sick days among low-wage workers, and the difficulty of enforcing workers rights to them even in the states and locales that require businesses to offer them.

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Largely, caregivers are doing what they did before the outbreakgoing it virtually alone, on the basis of their best instincts, their baseline training, and their communications, patchy as they may be, with the doctors and other health care professionals they might interact with in the course of their jobs, taking their charges to appointments or calling them for advice.

For years weve opted not to make a massive public investment in elder care, or to systematize and formalize the ad hoc system it has created. Instead weve opted for a patchwork, mostly informal, and extremely private approach to elder care. We need these caregivers more today than we did yesterday. Well only need them more urgently tomorrowand not just because of the coronavirus.

Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society.
President Trump is greeted by Matt Schlapp, chairman of the American Conservative Union, at the Conservative Political Action Conference on Feb. 29. (Jacquelyn Martin/AP)

The chief organizer of the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) attacked a protege of former White House adviser Steve Bannon for spreading near panic about the groups recent annual gathering, feeding what he called media hysteria that members of Congress and other high-level attendees might have been infected with the coronavirus at this years event.

The comments by American Conservative Union chairman Matt Schlapp during an interview on Yahoo News Skullduggery podcast were the latest sign of internal feuding among President Trumps allies about the severity of the coronavirus crisis and how CPAC organizers responded to information that one of their attendees was ill from the virus.

Five members of Congress  including new acting White House chief of staff Rep. Mark Meadows and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz  have placed themselves under quarantine and are working from home after learning they might have interacted with a New Jersey doctor who had a gold package VIP ticket to CPAC, which was held at a hotel in suburban Maryland between Feb. 26 and 29. The infected doctor is now hospitalized with the coronavirus.

But Schlapp singled out Raheem Kassam, a British-born conservative provocateur who co-hosts a podcast with Bannon and formerly served as a London-based editor for Breitbart News, for needlessly stoking fears among CPAC attendees by tweeting about those who might have been exposed to the doctor. Kassam has said he went public after he and others at the event came down with flu-like symptoms, but Schlapp suggested he did so because was disgruntled about not being invited to be a speaker at CPAC.

Instead of quietly going to the doctor, what this gentleman decided to do was take to Twitter and induce a near panic, Schlapp told Skullduggery. I'm sorry that Raheem was not included on our speaker schedule, and I'm sorry that he has a bone to pick with us. But using a health care moment where people are worried, to use that to try to stick a stake in my heart, was a mistake.

Story continues

He added: And I think the conservatives who have acted irresponsibly here, I hold them in the same contempt as I hold reporters who are simply trying to make this a big political deal.

Contacted Wednesday by Yahoo News, Kassam disputed Schlapps characterization.

For Matt to come out and attack me personally  this goes to what hes concerned about: Its about Matt Schlapps public image and its not the health and welfare of those who attended CPAC.  Look, I understand for Matt this is a PR crisis, but this is a health crisis.  I feel very bad he has this PR disaster on his hands, but Im going to look after my friends.

Kassam said he decided to go public out of a sense of civic duty after he and others at CPAC who felt ill werent being given timely information about their potential exposure to the virus. It was only after he did so that members of Congress  Cruz, Meadows, Rep. Doug Collins of Georgia, Rep. Paul Gosar of Arizona and Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida  publicly announced they were quarantining themselves. Gaetz even thanked him for alerting him, Kassam said.

My phone was blowing up all weekend, Kassam said. Thats a panic. People are reaching out to me because they couldnt get any answers out of the ACU. Kassam said as many as a dozen people contacted him telling him they were also feeling ill after attending CPAC. We had flu symptoms  headaches, chest tightening  Ive had congestion, a fever, he said. Kassam said he was tested for the virus on Tuesday and is awaiting the results, which he expects to get on Friday.

The spat between Schlapp and Kassam came as CPAC sought to calm fears by sending out an email Wednesday to thousands of attendees assuring them that the infected conference-goer  whom the group has not publicly identified  did not attend any breakout sessions and limited his interactions to very few people.

We have tried to be clear about this, but to clear up any confusion: ANY individual who had direct contact with the individual who tested positive has been contacted in a one-on-one capacity, reads the email, a copy of which was obtained by Yahoo News. Additionally, attendees that we believe may have been in the same room with him at some point have been contacted on a one-on-one basis, as well.

The controversy over CPAC mirrors the larger debate about how the Trump administration has handled the virus scare and whether Democratic members of Congress and the media have been hyping it in order to politically wound the president. Schlapp, an ardent Trump ally whose wife, Mercedes, is a former top White House aide who now serves as a senior adviser to the presidents reelection campaign, fed that narrative during the Skullduggery interview, decrying what he called the insanity of the media hysteria over the virus.

After living through the last three or four days of the coverage that we had at CPAC  I have to say this is the news medias worst hour in the history of our country, Schlapp said.

Download or subscribe on iTunes: Skullduggery from Yahoo News

He pointed to the recent conference of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, the countrys leading pro-Israel lobbying group, at which two and possibly three attendees were reportedly ill with the virus. Yet that groups handling of the matter hasnt gotten the same level of scrutiny as CPAC, he said.

Cant find a story about AIPAC and the virus, Schlapp said, a contrast he attributed to the fact that many top Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, spoke at the event. (Vice President Mike Pence and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also spoke at the AIPAC conference, and contrary to Schlapps claims, there have been multiple news stories about AIPAC attendees who had the virus. The stories noted that AIPAC had publicly tweeted about the presence of the infected individuals.)

All I'm saying is this. If the media doesnt want to make it seem like this is just a way to bring Trump down, just follow corona where it leads you, Schlapp said. It didn't just lead you to CPAC. It led you to AIPAC.  How come there are no calls going into a conference that predominantly has Democrats show up? Its just ridiculous.

One possible reason for the perceived difference is that Trump spoke at CPAC and was greeted by Schlapp with a handshake. Schlapp said he was so busy during the conference that he doesnt recall whether he shook hands or otherwise interacted with the ill doctor, but that it would be inaccurate to suggest he in any way might have infected the president.

For his part, Schlapp said he has kept himself under quarantine and has worked from home since he first learned on March 7, one week after CPAC ended, that one of the attendees was ill with the virus. Once he did so, he said, he reached out to the doctors brother and learned he is currently recovering in the hospital. Schlapp said he has also done what he could to alert CPAC attendees. One reason for the controversy over the groups handling of the matter is that Schlapp, in an effort to protect the patients privacy, did not identify the ill doctor so attendees could know whether they had interacted with him.

Im going to be honest with you guys. It has been such a whirlwind for four days, Schlapp said. I mean, Im not trying to overdramatize what Ive had to do, but it has been very intensive work  but yes, we have been emailing and talking to the 10,000-person CPAC community multiple times.

As of now, Schlapp said neither he nor anybody else  other than the New Jersey doctor  is known to have come down with the virus.

I have no symptoms, my wife has no symptoms, my children have no symptoms, my 80-year-old mother has no symptoms, my 83-year-old father-in-law and my mother-in-law have no symptoms, he said. We had other extended family at CPAC  none of them have symptoms. In fact, if you look at the whole 10,000 people that assembled during the course of CPAC, we have no new corona cases.

_____

Read more from Yahoo News:
Cyberconflict right now, at this very moment, is like this airplane. It was the first military airplane that was ever built  back in 1909. But in just a few decades, planes would be capable of destroying entire cities. Right, so when we talk about cyberweapons, were still basically in 1909. Thats why you have to have some humility about whats going to happen in the world of cyberconflict. David, here, is a national security correspondent for The Times, and hes written a book about cyberconflict. It seems like were hearing more and more  One of the worst cyberattacks ever.  about state-sponsored cyberattacks. Occasionally, there are going to be breaches like this. And this weapon will not be put back into the box. We have more to lose than any other nation on earth. So, we really wanted to find out just how bad things are. And how bad they could get. Should we be afraid? Yes, you should be afraid, but not for the reason you think  not because somebody is going to come in and turn off all the power between Boston and Washington. You should be worried about the far more subtle uses of cyber. For example, not an overt attack on U.S. troops, but instead, maybe hacking into military health records and switching around peoples blood types. It still causes havoc. Think terrorism  About a third of the building has been blown away.  instead of full-scale war. Why do you call it the perfect weapon? Because its deniable. If you cant figure out right away where the attacks coming from, you cant really retaliate. Plus, you can fine-tune the strength of cyberattacks. You can make them just strong enough to do real damage, but not so strong that they trigger a military response. Its cheap compared to, say, nuclear weapons. You just need some twenty-somethings who are good at programming, a little bit of stolen code and maybe some Red Bull just to keep them awake during the night. Thats why cyberweapons have only just begun to spread. And cyber is the perfect weapon for a country thats broke. And we can confirm that North Korea engaged in this attack. Take that time North Korea hacked into Sony  Because of a satirical movie starring Seth Rogen and James Flacco. What if they didnt have cyberweapons? Maybe they would have landed some commandos at Long Beach, called an Uber, stuck some dynamite underneath the Sony computer center and run like hell. So really, North Koreas only option was to use cyberweapons. But it wouldnt be so easy for the U.S. to hit North Koreas cybernetworks. They have fewer IP addresses  Internet Protocol addresses  in North Korea, than you have on any given block of New York City. Still, we wanted to know whos the best at cyberconflict. Russia, China, Iran, they use it regularly to advance their political agendas. The Russians to disrupt, the Chinese frequently to steal information, the Iranians to show that they can reach the United States. How good or bad is the U.S. at this stuff? Among the very best at cyberoffense. The problem is that while were good at offense, were the most vulnerable in the defensive world because weve got so many networks that form such a big target. The United States has 6,200 cybersoldiers. Are these people sitting in military fatigues behind a computer? They are sitting in military fatigues behind a computer. But the Russian hackers, or the Chinese hackers, may not be in uniform. They may be in blue jeans. They are probably sitting at the beach somewhere  someplace thats got a really good internet connection. All this cyberconflict really kicked off in 2008. Right, thats when the U.S. and Israel attacked Iranian nuclear facilities. It was the most sophisticated use of cyber by one state against another, and it opened up the Pandoras box. And remember  its still only the beginning. We havent seen a full-blown war, and we dont know what one looks like. Whats the most challenging part about covering this beat? The hardest part about covering the state use of cyber, is the enormous secrecy that the U.S. government wraps around it. But weve hit the point where the secrecy has actually begun to impede our ability to deter attacks. Because others dont understand what we can do to them, and what were willing to do to them. In other words, were not setting any red lines out there.
Sustainability concerns drive strong demand for plant-based food

HOLTEN, Netherlands, March 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Vivera, the third largest European producer of plant-based food, aims at strong growth figures in 2020 and for the mid and long term. It sees fast growing demand through most parts of Europe and has delivered average annual growth of 25% over the last 3 years resulting in  80 million expected revenue in 2020. Vivera thinks it can achieve revenues of  250 million within 5 years due to strong growth expectations for the plant-based market in Europe. In order to achieve this Vivera invests substantially in production capacity and its product portfolio. Vivera holds a strong market position in the European retail market with sales in 25 countries.

Goodbye meat, hello 'More Life Less Meat'

In 2019 Vivera Foodgroup has been one of the first large companies in the world to say a final goodbye to meat in favour of plant-based food. It sold its former parent company Enkco, specialist in chilled and deep-frozen meat products. As a 100% plant-based company Vivera believes that we can all have 'More Life if we eat Less Meat'. This new strategic direction and end line "More Life Less Meat" will be enriched by inviting consumers to join their 'Goodness Revolution'. Vivera want to ease the path to eat less meat by creating irresistible products that are healthier for the people and their environment. A network approach where all stakeholders are invited to do their bit, bite by bite.

In the UK and the Netherlands this daring brand repositioning "More Life Less Meat" has already taken place. The relaunch for other European countries (Germany, Italy, France, Belgium, Sweden, Norway, Greece, Poland, Hungary) is lined up in the coming weeks and months.

Vivera recognizes increasing consumer awareness of the impact of meat consumption on our climate, peoples' health and the quality of life for animals. It is on a mission to help everyone make their change with a wide and increasing range of more than 50 different delicious plant-based products.

Massive expansion of production facility ahead

Following the sale of the meat activities Vivera has successfully expanded its production capacity by 50% as of January 2020. From 2021 the company is executing additionally a doubling of its production capacity with the opening of a new production facility in the Netherlands. Besides this Vivera continues to increase its investments in Marketing and R&D.

Willem van Weede, CEO of Vivera Foodgroup: "We clearly see an accelerating growth of the European market of plant-based food. We signal higher than expected demand from European supermarkets and Quick Service Restaurants. We will invest further in our successful journey to let consumers experience that plant-based food can be as tasty as traditional meat. And at the same time having large benefits for their personal health, environmental impact and animal welfare. Making it tastier and easier for conscious consumers to reduce their meat intake is our number one motivation. In line with our belief: 'more life, less meat'."

Annual production of more than 70 million plant-based products

With a weekly production of 1,5 million plant-based products Vivera responds to the growing interest of consumers in healthier and more sustainable food. Vivera recently launched successful products such as Bacon pieces and BBQ Goujons which are currently available at many large retailers in Europe.

About Vivera Foodgroup

Vivera has been a pioneer in the development of vegetarian and plant-based meal components since 1990. The company with nearly 400 employees and headquarters and plant in the Netherlands has since then become one of the three largest producers in Europe. Together with Culifrost (producer of IQF frozen, plant-based meal components) and Dutch Tofu Company (high-quality tofu) Vivera is part of the newly formed Vivera Foodgroup. After the sale of meat company Enkco in 2019 the new group has been established. Vivera Foodgroup is solely active in the market of plant-based products.

Vivera is committed to support consumers with the most delicious plant-based products. Vivera believes that life is better when you eat less meat. Eating less meat becomes easier because of our extensive and growing product range of more than 50 tasteful products which are good for you and good for the planet. Making change an easy choice: 'More Life, Less Meat'.

Vivera's goal is to help mobilise everyone to make their change. By making highly innovative and tasty products like the first commercially available vegan steak in the world. Vivera's products are available in more than 27,000 supermarkets in 25 European countries.

Website: www.vivera.com
As cases of the novel coronavirus spread, millions of workers' lack of paid sick leave is becoming a serious concern for local officials and employers  and now an increasingly urgent agenda item in Washington, too.

Why it matters: Front-line workers who serve food, drive buses, care for children or the elderly and run cash registers are much less likely to be able to take time off if they are sick, increasing the risk of infecting others.

Driving the news: President Trump said Monday that he would pursue some form of relief for hourly workers, but left a meeting with congressional Republicans yesterday without any specific plan.

A handful of companies, including Darden Restaurants, Uber, Lyft and Instacart, have begun offering some paid sick leave as the coronavirus outbreak has intensified.

Between the lines: Administration officials acknowledge the need to allow people who are sick or caring for someone who is sick to stay home from work without having to worry about losing income, a source with direct knowledge of their discussions tells Axios.

But theres a concern about creating the wrong incentives to ditch work: "We don't want to just basically shut down by giving everybody a blank check to not come to work, knowing that they're gonna get paid for it," the source said.

Theres also a question of whether legislation is required to offer some version of paid sick leave, and what proposal details would best achieve the goal without providing workers with blanket unemployment insurance.

By the numbers: About 73% of all private-sector workers have paid sick leave from their employers, and about 88% of professional workers have paid sick leave, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

But the percentage of people with the benefit is much lower for those in sales (64%) and service jobs (58%), and those who work in construction and farming (56%).

Just 25% of private-sector workers have at least 10 days of paid sick days a year, even after 20 years in a job, per BLS data cited by the Economic Policy Institute.

That means even workers who can take time off may not have enough leave to weather a 14-day quarantine on top of days with symptoms, or caring for family members with them.

From a patient- and human-centric response, know that there are millions of workers throughout this country who do not have the option of staying at home because if they do not go to work they will not get paid."

 Jason Farley, professor at Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, at a briefing on Capitol Hill, March 6.

What they're saying: It's in employers' best interest to pay sick people who have to stay home, said George Roberts Jr., president of the National Association of County and City Health Officials, which oversees 3,000 U.S. health departments.

"If they come to work and get other people sick, then the employer has more to deal with the next day and the day after," he said. "It's better off for the employer to offer that paid time than the alternative."

23 of the 40 largest U.S. cities require employers to offer at least some paid leave, according to CityHealth, an initiative of the de Beaumont Foundation and Kaiser Permanente.

Only five cities  Austin, Dallas, San Antonio, Los Angeles and San Diego  met the organization's "gold standard" for requiring a minimum amount of earned sick time and covering the smallest businesses under sick leave laws.

Seattle already has a sick leave ordinance, and Mayor Jenny Durkan told Axios she's considering additional steps, such as pooling sick leave to offer extra days to those who need it, and she's "looking into what latitude we have for administrative leave."

Austin's paid sick leave law is tied up in court after being challenged by the business community. If the court strikes down the Austin law, it could jeopardize paid sick leave laws in other cities, including San Antonio and Dallas.

Yes, but: Nearly two dozen states, including Florida, Alabama, Maryland, Tennessee and New Jersey, have passed laws preventing municipalities from adopting their own paid sick leave laws, per Pew. That's a frustration for many mayors.

"Our cities our held responsible for more outcomes than ever before," said Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke. "If we're held responsible, at least give us the autonomy to do something about it."

What to watch: The need for paid sick leave will only increase as more people are asked to stay home or if more schools close.

"The reason they close schools is because the kids can get sick, and they can also carry the virus to family members  grandparents, aunts and uncles," said CityHealth President Shelley Hearne. "If you have kids staying home and parents aren't able to stay home with them, that's what fosters a pandemic."
In a letter to the head of the Iranian Judiciary Ebrahim Raisi, Ozra Bazargan, the mother of political prisoner Narges Mohammadi, wrote that her daughter is being threatened by an inmate convicted of two murders, robbery, and drug trafficking.

Bazargan said that prison authorities are aware of the threats made and that if anything happens to her daughter in the Prison of Zanjan, the Judiciary must account for it.

Mohammadi was forcibly moved to Zanjan in December after being brutalized in Evin Prison by the warden and guards. Zanjan is a worse facility, especially for Mohammadi who suffers from GI and lung problems, because hygiene levels are far below international standards, with authorities refusing to allow disinfectants, even when Mohammadi offered to pay for them herself.

Mohammadi is serving 16 years for association and collusion against national security because of her work with the League of Human Rights Advocates and various feminist groups and holding gatherings about citizens rights and air pollution.

When she started this sentence on March 15, 2017, she had just finished a six-year sentence for disseminating propaganda against the state and association and collusion against national security.

To make matters worse, Coronavirus is rapidly spreading across Iran and making its way into all prisons.

To cope with this, the Iranian regime has allowed some prisoners serving short sentences for non-violent offenses to leave temporarily for safety. This does not apply to political prisoners though, who is being held on national security charges.

The families of some Kurdish political prisoners reported that their requests for their relatives temporary leave were turned down by the Prosecutors Office and the Intelligence Department of various cities in Kurdistan.

The situation is more serious for political prisoners suffering from serious medical conditions, who are more vulnerable to infection and have already been denied appropriate medical treatment.

Families of political prisoners are still trying to get their most vulnerable relatives released, citing formal recommendations by doctors in the prison dispensaries that their lives would be in danger if they remained in prison with the limited medical resources. So far, theyve had no luck.

The political prisoners in danger, include:

Zeinab Jalalian, who is serving life in prison in Khoy, West Azerbaijan Province. She has been diagnosed with various illnesses including migraines and a worsening eye condition called pterygium.

Parvin Advaii, who is detained in the Prison of Sanandaj (Center for Rehabilitation), and suffers from Thyroid malfunction.

Read More:

Iran Regime Uses Coronavirus As Cover to Place Political Prisoners With Dangerous Inmates
The opposition Congresson Wednesday walked out from Himachal Pradesh Assembly after expressing their dissatisfaction over Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur's reply on pay anomalies of outsource employees.

The chief minister, however, said the opposition party was "frustrated" by the latest developments in Madhya Pradesh where their leader, Jyotiraditya Scindia, quit the party and joined the BJP.

A day after resigning from the Congress, Scindia joined the BJP on Wednesday in presence of the ruling party's president J P Nadda and hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his leadership, saying the country's future is secure in his hands.

Speaking during the question hour in the ongoing Budget session in the state assembly, Thakur accused the Congress of making walkouts a "routine affair".

The Congress legislators walked out from the House when the chief minister held the previous Congress government responsible for exploitation of outsource employees.

The previous Congress government did nothing to regularise the outsource employees during its tenure of five years, but promised to regularise them right before the last assembly elections in 2017, Thakur said.

Earlier responding to Barsar Congress MLA Inder Dutt Lakhanpal's question, the chief minister informed the House, "Recruitment and promotion rules do not apply for outsource employees as they are not government employees. They are employees of service provider companies with whom their agreements have been made."



As per the agreement, service provider companies are bound to pay outsource employees minimum wages, he added.

The state government is trying to ensure that the outsource employees are not exploited, the BJP leader said, adding provisions have been made to provide travel allowance, daily allowance and medical leave to them besides the provision of maternity leave.

It has also been made mandatory that the outsource employees be provided monthly salary slips, the chief minister added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
As countries around the world have either banned online porn, or are currently making attempts to block porn sites, a Republican United States senator has now called on Attorney General William Barr to open an investigation of the massive tube site Pornhub, according to KHGI TV News in Nebraska, the state represented by GOP senator Ben Sasse.

Sasses letter to Barr follows a letter last December from four Republican House members calling on Barr to wage a new war against pornography.

But this time, the Republican call for a crackdown has some Democratic backing as well, from California House Rep Jackie Speier, wholike Sasseaccuses the site of hosting non-consensual porn.

Pornhubs failure to remove nonconsensual pornography from its website is destroying lives," Speier said in a statement that she provided to Fox News.

A widely publicized online petition has also called for the shutdown of Pornhub over sex trafficking. The petition has now accrued over 400,000 virtual signatures.

Barr has not yet commented publicly on the new calls for an anti-porn Justice Department crackdown. But during his first term as attorney general, from 1991 to 1993before the era of online pornBarr led a Justice Department campaign against porn. He has also published articles and spoken openly about his views that the U.S. government must impose a transcendent moral order with objective standards of right and wrong.

Under those standards, in Barrs view, sexual immorality clearly falls under the heading of wrong. He has also condemned secularlists who continually seek to eliminate laws that reflect traditional moral norms.

During his confirmation hearing, Attorney General Barr told me that he would make combating sex trafficking a Department of Justice priority," Sasse told Fox News. "This is pretty obvious: Any company that profits from rape, trafficking, and exploitation of women and children must be held accountable."

But Pornhub responded to Sasses call for Barr to investigate the site, saying that the company has a steadfast commitment to eradicating and fighting any and all illegal content on the internet, including non-consensual content and under-age material. Any suggestion otherwise is categorically and factually inaccurate.

Last week, the Justice Department published a set of voluntary principles for sites to combat alleged online sex trafficking. But a Pornhub spokesperson told Fox that the sites content guidelines go above and beyond the principles outlined by Barrs Justice Department.

Photo by Office of Public Affairs / Wikimedia Commons
Wikipedia is generally thought of as an open, transparent, and mostly reliable online encyclopedia. Yet upon closer inspection, this turns out not to be the case.

In fact, the English Wikipedia with its 9 billion worldwide page views per month is governed by just 500 active administrators, whose real identity in many cases remains unknown.

Moreover, studies have shown that 80% of all Wikipedia content is written by just 1% of all Wikipedia editors, which again amounts to just a few hundred mostly unknown people.

Obviously, such a non-transparent and hierarchical structure is susceptible to corruption and manipulation, the notorious paid editors hired by corporations being just one example.

Indeed, already in 2007, researchers found that CIA and FBI employees were editing Wikipedia articles on controversial topics including the Iraq war and the Guantanamo military prison.

Also in 2007, researchers found that one of the most active and influential English Wikipedia administrators, called Slim Virgin, was in fact a former British intelligence informer.

More recently, another highly prolific Wikipedia editor going by the false name of Philip Cross turned out to be linked to UK intelligence as well as several mainstream media journalists.

In Germany, one of the most aggressive Wikipedia editors was exposed, after a two-year legal battle, as a political operative formerly serving in the Israeli army as a foreign volunteer.

Even in Switzerland, unidentified government employees were caught whitewashing Wikipedia entries about the Swiss secret service just prior to a public referendum about the agency.

Many of these Wikipedia personae are editing articles almost all day and every day, indicating that they are either highly dedicated individuals, or in fact, operated by a group of people.

In addition, articles edited by these personae cannot easily be revised, since the above-mentioned administrators can always revert changes or simply block disagreeing users altogether.

The primary goal of these covert campaigns appears to be pushing Western and Israeli government positions while destroying the reputation of independent journalists and politicians.

Articles most affected by this kind of manipulation include political, geopolitical and certain historical topics as well as biographies of non-conformist academics, journalists, and politicians.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, a friend of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and a Young Leader of the Davos forum, has repeatedly defended these operations.

Speaking of Davos, Wikimedia has itself amassed a fortune of more than $160 million, donated in large part not by lazy students, but by major US corporations and influential foundations.

Moreover, US social media and video platforms are increasingly referring to Wikipedia to frame or combat controversial topics. The revelations discussed above may perhaps help explain why.
Jyotiraditya Scindia took a wrong decision by joining the BJP which is trying to topple the Congress governments in the country by luring their MLAs with money, said Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy.

"The BJP is trying to replicate the Karnataka model everywhere. Though it failed in Maharashtra, the party succeeded in achieving its goal in states like Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Goa," Narayanasamy told ANI.

Last year in Karnataka, a huge political drama had ensued and finally resulting in the breakdown of the JD(S) government and BJP gaining control of the state.

Meanwhile, the Puducherry CM said that the BJP is luring the MLAs with money and it is disheartening to see Scindia having fallen to their "sinister design".

"With this sudden political change, it seems that the people who elected the government have no say now. I believe that it is time for an amendment to the anti-defection law," the Chief Minister said.

He also said that the political thinkers and the legislators should have a rule under which a person would not be able to switch over to some other party once his party has been elected for 5 years.

However, he expressed immense confidence in Kamal Nath being capable of proving his majority in the Assembly.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
COVID-19: Government Advise Vulnerable to Keep Movement to a Minimum

The central advice to the elderly and to those persons with underlying health conditions in Gibraltar is that they should keep movement to a minimum, that they should avoid large gatherings and leave their homes only if absolutely necessary.

It is important to understand that this is for their own protection because this category of people has been identified as the most vulnerable to the effects of COVID-19.

This advice applies not only to the elderly (generally over the age of 70), but also to persons with a weakened immune system, such as those suffering from cancer, or on special medication, in particular those with long term conditions like heart disease, poorly controlled diabetes, poorly managed blood pressure and chronic lung disease.

It is also important to exercise common sense in the event that this category of persons has no option but to leave their home. This includes following the hygiene advice that has already been given, avoiding public transport and avoiding shopping in supermarkets or other establishments during peak hours. In other words, shopping for food early in the morning or later on in the evening is more sensible because there are fewer people around.

The objective of the advice announced today is to delay and reduce the impact of COVID-19 on Gibraltar, in such a way that will allow our medical and public services to cope with the projected demand.

The measures outlined below are designed to increase social spaces and distancing especially for the most elderly and the most vulnerable.

1. AVOID LEAVING HOME

Senior citizens (over 70s) should stay at home and limit social contact as much as possible. This includes with their own family members. It is important that they refrain from carrying out any childcare responsibilities, however difficult this may be for them.

2. LIMIT ACCESS TO RESIDENTIAL SETTINGS

Given the high density of vulnerable elderly, the number of visits should be reduced to an absolute minimum. Families are encouraged to make contact and keep in touch by other means, including telephone, Facetime and WhatsApp. This applies to all vulnerable persons regardless of where they live.

Institutions like Elderly Residential Services have already taken measures and these are under constant review.

The Housing Department will now issue new advice to its tenants in elderly residential accommodation, these being Charles Bruzon House, Albert Risso House and Bishop Canilla House. The measures include restricting visitors only to those that are absolutely essential, additional deep cleaning of the common areas and the closure until further notice of the common rooms. This will be subject to review.

3. LIMIT ACTIVITIES FOR SENIOR CITIZENS (over 70s)

Some over 70s engage in healthy and active social life within Gibraltar. The number of social activities will need to be limited as this will decrease the number of opportunities for infection.

4. LIMIT MEANS OF TRAVEL FOR THE ELDERLY

The current advice is that the elderly and persons falling in the vulnerable category should avoid public transport.

5. LIMIT COLLECTIVE WORSHIP

On the advice of Public Health Gibraltar, the Government has maintained on-going engagement with religious institutions in order to agree a number of action points which aim to reduce religious gatherings in the same way as cultural, social and sporting gatherings have also been reduced.

6. AVOID UNNECESSARY MOVEMENT

In general, this category of persons should keep their movement to a minimum and only if absolutely necessary. Persons experiencing any cold-like symptoms are encouraged to stay at home and follow advice.

This response is pro-active and non-pharmaceutical and is based on the phase at which the virus has been identified as a result of modelling taken from other countries. It is important to prepare and to take all the necessary precautions which are based on expert advice.

The Government, Public Health Gibraltar and the Gibraltar Health Authority urge the public to heed all the advice that has been given so far which is for our own protection and for the wider good of Gibraltar as a whole.

It is inevitable that further, more drastic, measures will be necessary in due course as the situation progresses both locally and internationally.

All decisions regarding all events is under constant review as the virus advances through Europe.
This article is published in partnership with the Marshall Project, a nonprofit news organization covering the U.S. criminal justice system. Sign up for their newsletter, or follow the Marshall Project on Facebook or Twitter.

A seemingly simple question at a Bernie Sanders town hall last spring set off a debate new to prime time: Should prisoners be allowed to vote? Sanders said yeshis home state of Vermont as well as Maine are the only states to give all prisoners that right. Later, Joe Biden said no.

Yet in a country awash in political polling, the views of those who are most affected remained a mystery: the 2.3 million people behind bars. Do they want to vote? If given the right, who would they vote for? What issues do they care about most? No ones ever really asked.

This is why Slate partnered with the Marshall Project to conduct a first-of-its-kind political survey inside prisons and jails across the country. Now that criminal justice is a campaign issue and many states are restoring voting rights to those convicted of felonies, we asked thousands of incarcerated people across the country for their opinions on criminal justice reform, which political party they identify with, and which presidential candidate theyd support. We heard from more than 8,000 people. Heres what they said:

 A plurality of white respondents back President Donald Trump, undercutting claims that people in prison would overwhelmingly vote for Democrats.

 Long stretches in prison appear to be politicizing: The more time respondents spend in prison, the more motivated they are to vote, the more they discuss politics, and the more likely their opinions are to evolve.

 Perspectives change inside prison. Republicans behind bars back policies like legalizing marijuana that are less popular with GOP voters on the outside; Democrats inside prison are less enthusiastic about an assault weapons ban than Democrats at large.

 Political views diverged by race. Black respondents are the only group pointing to reducing racial bias in criminal justice as a top concern; almost every other group picked reducing the prison population as a top criminal justice priority.

Many respondents answers reflected the crucible of their own experiencesoffering new insights into issues often discussed from a distance on a debate stage.

I once believed in gun ownership, wrote Helen Gately, who is incarcerated at Arkansas J. Aaron Hawkins Sr. Center for Women. But when I killed my abuser with a gun, I knew had there not been a gun in our house I would have never killed him. I would have never had the heart to stab him. But a gun made it impersonal, easy and quick. Now hes dead and Im here.

This country is still a long way from granting incarcerated people the right to vote, and polls show the idea is unpopular. But the thinking on who deserves these rights is changing. In the past two years alone, more than a dozen states reconsidered their felony disenfranchisement laws, often restoring voting rights to people on probation and parole or clarifying the rights restoration process.

The Florida primary on Tuesday will bring one of the most significant tests of this new landscape. It is the first major contest since Floridians voted in 2018 to restore the right to cast a ballot to an estimated 1.5 million people with felony convictions. Before the measure, Florida had one of the strictest disenfranchisement laws in the country, which left 1 in 10 voting age adults unable to vote. The historic measure was the greatest expansion of the franchise in decades, but it was obstructed by the Republican Legislature, which passed laws requiring payment of fines and fees before restoring rights. The partisan legal battle is ongoing. However, our survey suggests that granting the right to vote to those currently or formerly incarcerated may not overwhelmingly benefit one party over the other.

Overall, the survey responses reflect a diverse and often contradictory set of beliefs from people who, should they ever get the right to vote, cannot be seen as a single bloc. While some disdain politics, more respondents say they now see the ballot as a way to advocate for their interests.

Before coming to prison I really did not think it was all that important to vote or even care what was going on in the government, wrote Antonio Ayers, who is incarcerated in Arkansas. But now that I have time to sit back and watch what goes on, I know that as a citizen it is very important to let what I want to be known by the people in charge.

To reach people whose access to the outside world is severely limited, we inserted a survey into the Marshall Projects print publication, News Inside. This magazine is distributed in more than 500 prisons and jails across the country (prisons house people convicted of felonies, while jails house those awaiting trial or who were convicted of misdemeanors). As more results come in and the general election kicks into gear, we plan to return to respondents for their thoughts.

Roughly half of the 8,266 respondents identified as people of color or multiracial, with 20 percent identifying as black, 14 percent as Latino, 17 percent as Native American, and 19 percent as Asian or other races. The remaining 41 percent identified as white alone, and 8 percent did not give any race information. (The numbers exceed 100 percent because respondents could select multiple races.)

Our survey is intended to be a snapshot of politics behind bars, but it has limitations. Since this was a voluntary survey, its important to keep in mind that responses are coming from a self-selecting group of people who may already be politically engaged and following the news.

Respondents skewed whiter than the overall prison population and were disproportionately incarcerated in red states. State prisons hold a disproportionate number of black and Latino people. (Thirty-three percent of state prisoners are black, while black people make up 13 percent of the United States population, for example.) As a result, the survey is not representative of the overall prison population. So instead of focusing only on the respondents as a whole, we looked for trends across race, gender, party affiliation, and other demographic categories to ensure our reported results were meaningful. We also surfaced as many individual voices and opinions as possible.

Read more about how we conducted this survey.

Which Candidates Do They Back?

Just like the country, respondents were divided. Forty-five percent of white respondents said theyd support Trump for president, with white men showing the strongest support. That undermines conventional wisdom: Conservative media and politicians often regard incarcerated people as potential Democrats, citing research into the voting habits of formerly incarcerated people. About 30 percent of white respondents chose a Democratic candidate, while 25 percent said they would not vote or did not know which candidate to back.

For people of color, no single candidate prevailed, but 20 percent of black respondents chose Biden as their top choice, with Sanders coming in second at 16 percent. Almost a third of respondents of color said that they didnt know who they would vote for, or they wouldnt vote at all. The survey was distributed in December, before several candidates dropped out.

Regardless of who theyd vote for or which party they back, the majority of respondents had little faith in elected officials. More than 80 percent do not believe politicians are generally acting in their interest. This disenchantment crosses racial lines.

I grew up being told in history class and school that politicians could be trusted to do what is best for the working class and poor, and overall for the country, only to get older and realize the corruption in both major political parties, wrote Allan Martin, a white man who is incarcerated in Bellamy Creek Correctional Facility in Ionia, Michigan.

Despite the widespread disillusionment, many respondents described how their time behind bars led them to become more politically engaged and shaped their views.

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Those who identified as Democrats or Republicans each believed their own party was most committed to criminal justice reform. Several respondents applauded Trumps support for the bipartisan First Step Act, which reduces the length of some automatic federal prison sentences, gives federal judges more discretion to ignore mandatory minimum sentencing guidelines, and retroactively reduces prison sentences for people convicted of federal crack cocaine offenses before 2010.

Marselia Smith, who is incarcerated in Floridas Calhoun Correctional Institution, voted for Sanders in the 2016 primary and considers himself on the opposite side of the political spectrum than Trump. But even he credits the president with signing the First Step Act. What the federal government does, eventually, the states follow, he wrote.

Race and Incarceration

For black respondents in particular, issues of race loom large. Two out of 3 black respondents said that their race informs their political beliefs, and black people, more than any other group, say prison has increased their motivation to vote. By contrast, almost half of white respondents said race does not matter at all when it comes to politics.

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Many black respondents pointed to racism in society at large, and racism embedded in the criminal justice system, to explain why their political views are intertwined with their race.

Being a black man from the inner city, I see firsthand that the politics are not structured to help me, wrote David Young, who is incarcerated in Lansing Correctional Facility, in Lansing, Kansas. When laws are passed to take funds away from education and put into prisons. When I can look at a flawed system that targets young black males instead of helping them.

Inside/Outside

Our results show some intriguing contrasts between the perspectives of those inside prisons and jails and those outside. Most of those who identified as Republicans in our survey oppose an assault weapons ban (unlike Republicans outside prison, who do support such a ban).

Notably, incarcerated Republicans embraced some policies usually labeled as liberal. Three-quarters of Republican prisoners supported a minimum wage hike and marijuana legalization. Thats far higher than the 55 percent of Republican voters in favor of marijuana legalization or the 43 percent who back a minimum wage increase.

The support for a higher minimum wage is likely a reflection of incarcerated peoples economic realities. Poor people are overrepresented in the criminal justice system, and although many people work while incarcerated, they usually receive far less than the minimum wage. In the general electorate, lower-income Republicans are more likely to back a minimum wage increase than their higher-earning Republican peers.

Our economy is the most important thing I worry about. No one should be homeless, or jobless, unless they choose to be, wrote Jimmy Tyrrell, who is incarcerated at Marion Correctional Institution in Ocala, Florida. We need to do more to help our own impoverished citizens.

In contrast to Republicans behind bars, incarcerated Democrats expressed views that are closer to those of their counterparts outside prison. Democrats inside prison often supported tighter border security, and strongly backed marijuana legalization and increasing the minimum wage. However, a bare majority support an assault weapons ban, far lower than the 88 percent of Democrats outside prison. Republicans and Democrats inside prison are still far apart on issues like gun control and immigration.

As they do on the outside, most white respondents identified as Republicans or independents, while most black respondents said they were Democrats or independents. Survey respondents were more likely to identify as independents than the U.S. population overall.

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Voting Rights

The results suggest that many incarcerated people are still interested in politics despite being temporarily (or in some cases permanently) stripped of their right to vote. Many said they get their news by watching local TV stations or cable news and said they discuss politics with family or friends occasionally (as opposed to very frequently, frequently, rarely, or never).

However they differ politically, there is one issue most agree on: 76 percent supported restoring voting rights to currently incarcerated people regardless of their crime. (People in jail who have not been convicted can still vote.)

Should the respondents ever get their way, that could be a huge shift in the American electorate. As of the most recent presidential election, roughly 6.1 million Americans, both in and out of prison, could not vote because of a felony conviction. Their exclusion has lasting repercussions for American democracy, says Christopher Uggen, a professor at the University of Minnesota and co-author of Locked Out, which examines the consequences of the nations felony disenfranchisement laws.

The needs of the disenfranchised are often not considered by elected officialsso they have no leverage to push candidates to back issues they care about like free education, restoring federal Pell Grants that pay for a college education in prison, or reducing long sentences. The exclusion is especially acute for black and low-income people, who are disproportionately swept up into the criminal justice system.

Reintegrating the incarcerated or formerly incarcerated into politics wont be easy. Once released, they often struggle to find jobs and stable housing. Many also face legal and bureaucratic obstacles to getting their rights back, such as repaying court-ordered fines and fees. Given such obstacles, voting tends to fall low on the list of priorities.

But while a majority of respondents said theyd never voted before, half said incarceration has increased their motivation to vote. Only 12 percent said their desire to vote has decreased.

Many said that watching the news for the first time, becoming sober, talking to their cellmates, receiving an education, or simply growing older had increased their political awareness. Many explained how their political beliefs are inextricably bound up with their desire to get their lives back on track.

I know I have an uphill battle to get my time back, wrote Jamil Houston, who is incarcerated in Gulf Correctional Institution in Wewahitchka, Florida. I know that I have basically NO rights at all and have been reduced to a second class citizen upon my release. But I have a two-year-old daughter that I must be there for, and I will not give up my fight for justice.

To hear the Marshall Project team discuss this project, listen to What Next. Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio. Here is a link to the audio instead. Play Pause Loading...

Whats the Most Pressing Problem Facing America? Chinas buildup of their military. Hunger. Garbage in the ocean. Too many white people. Mass incarceration. The voices behind the statistics.

How Prison Changes Your Politics Thousands of survey respondents said incarceration has transformed their worldviews and political allegiances. Four of them told us how. I said, Wait a minute, I can go home when Im 65 or I can die here. That was eye-opening for me.

Trumps Surprising Support Inside Prisons Before prison, John Adkins didnt care about politics. Now, after 23 years behind bars, hes an ardent Republican. And hes not alone. I dont see Donald Trump as being anyones puppet.

Series produced by Nicole Lewis and Lawrence Bartley.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Mar.11

Trend:

Azerbaijan's Embassy in Italy has asked all Azerbaijani citizens who are in Italy to strictly comply with all the rules and requirements of the Italian government in connection with the epidemiological situation in the country, Trend reports referring to the Azerbaijani State Committee on Work with Diaspora on March 11.

Due to the sharp increase in the number of coronavirus infection cases in Italy, and in order to prevent the widespread epidemic, on March 9, the Italian government adopted decision to introduce prompt preventive measures.

Italy - a country of some 60 million people - was placed under quarantine as the government stepped up efforts to tackle the coronavirus outbreak.

Italy saw a surge in deaths on March 10. A lockdown came into force across the entire nation and will remain in place until at least April 3. Italians are facing a new reality of life with a curfew, travel restrictions and enforced space between people in public places.

Therefore, the following serious rules and requirements are envisaged throughout the territory, as well as in the red zone, where the virus was first to spread - the Lombardy region and 14 other provinces:

- a ban on entry and exit, with the exception of working trips and in connection with the state of health. To purchase the necessary food products from each family, only one person is allowed to leave the house, and it is recommended that more time be left at home;

- use of a compulsory and serious quarantine regime for all persons infected with the virus;

- closure of all educational institutions;

- closure of all museums, cinemas, theaters, gyms, recreation centers, discos, bars and gaming centers;

- a ban on all public events, including football matches;

- work in a limited mode from 06:00 to 18:00 (local time) only grocery stores, and serious control over compliance with the distance of 1 meter between customers;

- limited work of churches and other religious churches, a ban on holding all mass ceremonies and others.

The decision provides for serious administrative and criminal liability for violation of safety rules.

Citizens of foreign countries and tourists are allowed to return to their countries.

The outbreak in the Chinese city of Wuhan - which is an international transport hub - began at a fish market in late December 2019. The number of people killed by the disease has surpassed 4,000. Over 119,000 people have been confirmed as infected. Meanwhile, over 65,000 people have reportedly recovered.

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.
In 2018, the World Health Organization (WHO) published a list of the 15 most polluted cities in the world. 14 of the 15 were in India. This is a troubling statistic that has been repeated ad nauseamin the media, by environmental advocates, and by concerned citizens of the country. But what are the causes of this environmental crisis, what are the social costs, and whatif anythingcan be done about it?

To tackle these questions, Milan Vaishnav (Director of the South Asia programme at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace) sits down with Jessica Seddon on this weeks show. Jessica is the Global Lead for Air Quality at the Ross Center for Sustainable Cities at the World Resources Institute and she has spent more than a decade living and working in India on issues related to urbanization, infrastructure, the environment, and decentralization.

Milan and Jessica discuss air pollutions wide-ranging social impacts, why the crisis is so acute in India, the impact of Delhis odd-even experiment, and whatif anythingpolicymakers can do to turn the tide against toxic air quality in Indias cities.
NEW YORK, March 11, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Realeyes, a leading computer vision and emotion AI company, announced today that it had hired key new executives across global markets including North America and APAC. The company also released new emotion AI applications and expanded its client portfolio in the past year as demand has accelerated for scalable content intelligence.



Kyoko Tanaka has joined Realeyes as the head of the companys Japan office, following the recent appointments of Max Kalehoff as VP of Marketing and Joe Zahtila as Chief Revenue Officer. Realeyes also raised $12.4 million in funding during the past year, led by notable international investors Draper Esprit, and NTT DOCOMO Ventures, Inc., the VC arm of NTT Group, Japan's leading mobile operator.

Realeyes growth comes as the company continues to update its content intelligence platform, adding new features that enable marketers to optimize their entire portfolio of video content according to attention and emotion impact. Realeyes technology enables any mobile or front-facing camera to measure the emotions and attention levels of viewers as they watch content. Realeyes works with brands, agencies and media companies to quantify and optimise the effectiveness of their creative and inform their media buying strategies.

The technology behind facial coding and emotion detection has arrived, and the market is primed for a company like Realeyes to revolutionize the world of video content experiences, Tanaka said. Not only does Realeyes allow marketers to measure the emotional impact of their video, were planning future products and technologies to understand the quality of attention and user experience within live in-context experiences like mobile, streaming and gaming applications.

A 20-year branding and business development expert, Kyoko Tanaka joins Realeyes after managing branding and business development strategies for major technology companies in both Japan and the United States, including Renesas Electronics America and Marubeni Corporation. As head of Japanese operations for Realeyes, Tanaka is responsible for scaling the companys East Asia operations in advance of product developments planned for that market.

Realeyes' facial coding technology was recently updated to include more sensitive emotional signals to analyze viewers reactions as they watch video content. Widely acknowledged as among the most accurate emotion AI platforms available, Realeyes technology draws on 580 million emotion AI labels across 25 thousand videos in the companys research database. In operation for over 12 years and holding 11 U.S. patents with 30 pending, Realeyes provides emotion AI products and services to over 150 customers. The companys recent expansion brings its total headcount to 75 employees across four major global offices, with more than half of its staff dedicated to R&D.

Kyoko is joining Realeyes at an exciting time for the company as we prepare to launch new products and capabilities in 2020, including live streaming and gaming applications, said Mihkel Jaatma, CEO of Realeyes. The explosion of digital content in recent years combined with shifting consumer expectations means that the only content that resonates is that which provides true emotional impact. Realeyes has been pioneering attention measurement at scale, and were helping marketers harness content intelligence to create remarkable experiences that nurture stronger customer relationships.

About Realeyes

Using front-facing cameras and the latest in computer vision and machine learning technologies, Realeyes measures how people feel as they watch video content online, enabling brands, agencies and media companies to inform and optimize their content as well as target their videos at the right audiences. Realeyes technology applies facial coding to predictive, big-data analytics, driving bottom-line business outcomes for brands and publishers.

Founded in 2007, Realeyes has offices in New York, London, Tokyo, and Budapest. Customers include brands such as Mars Inc, AT&T, Hersheys and Coca-Cola, agencies Ipsos, MarketCast and Publicis, and media companies such as Warner Media and Teads.

Media Contact:

Hugh S. Moore

Broadsheet Communications

202-471-0661

hugh@broadsheetcomms.com




NEW YORK, March 11, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Wolf Haldenstein Adler Freeman & Herz LLP announces the filing of a federal securities class action lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York against CPI Aerostructures, Inc. (CPI or the Company) (NYSE: CVU) securities between May 15, 2018 and February 14, 2020, inclusive (the Class Period).



All investors who purchased shares of CPI Aerostructures, Inc. and incurred losses are urged to contact the firm immediately at classmember@whafh.com or (800) 575-0735 or (212) 545-4774. You may obtain additional information concerning the action or join the case on our website, www.whafh.com.

If you have incurred losses in the shares of CPI Aerostructures, Inc., you may, no later than April 24, 2020, request that the Court appoint you lead plaintiff of the proposed class. Please contact Wolf Haldenstein to learn more about your rights as an investor in the shares of CPI Aerostructures, Inc.

CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE CASE

## Follow the firm and learn about newly filed cases on Twitter and Facebook. ##

The filed complaint alleges that defendants throughout the Class Period made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that:

CPI Aerostructures financial statements included in its Forms 10-Q for the first, second, and third quarters of 2018 and of 2019 incorrectly applied generally accepting accounting principles and thus revenue, net income, retained earnings, and contract assets were overstated;



as a result, the financial statements included in the Form 10-Qs for 2018 and for 2019 and the annual report on Form 10-K for 2018 could no longer be relied upon and required restatement;



CPI Aerostructures lacked adequate internal controls over financial reporting and effective disclosure controls and procedures as of the period during each reporting period of 2018;



CPI Aerostructures lacked effective disclosure controls and procedures during the third quarter of 2019; and



as a result, CPI Aerostructures public statements were materially false and/or misleading at all relevant times.

On February 8, 2019, CPI announced that its previously issued financial statements for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 should no longer be relied upon due to an error related to the Companys billing process which caused an overstatement of revenue. On this news, CPIs share price fell 8.5% to close at $6.34 per share on February 8, 2019.

Then, on February 14, 2020, CPI announced that its financial statements for fiscal 2018 and 2019 should no longer be relied upon because certain revenues and net income were recognized prematurely or inaccurately. Additionally, the Company announced that its Chief Financial Officer had resigned.



On this news, the Companys stock price fell $1.80, or nearly 27%, to close at $4.87 per share on February 14, 2020.



Wolf Haldenstein has extensive experience in the prosecution of securities class actions and derivative litigation in state and federal trial and appellate courts across the country. The firm has attorneys in various practice areas; and offices in New York, Chicago and San Diego. The reputation and expertise of this firm in shareholder and other class litigation has been repeatedly recognized by the courts, which have appointed it to major positions in complex securities multi-district and consolidated litigation.



If you wish to discuss this action or have any questions regarding your rights and interests in this case, please immediately contact Wolf Haldenstein by telephone at (800) 575-0735, via e-mail at classmember@whafh.com , or visit our website at www.whafh.com.

Contact:

Wolf Haldenstein Adler Freeman & Herz LLP

Kevin Cooper, Esq.

Gregory Stone, Director of Case and Financial Analysis

Email: gstone@whafh.com , kcooper@whafh.com or classmember@whafh.com

Tel: (800) 575-0735 or (212) 545-4774

This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules.




Note: The Syracuse St. Patricks Parade has been canceled due to coronavirus concerns.

This weekend includes a Friday the 13th, but you may have the luck of the Irish on your side as the Syracuse St. Patricks Parade weekend kicks off with the painting of the green stripe on the Salina Street parade route at 9:30 am. on March 13. From St. Patricks Day festivities to mathematical celebrations for Pi Day (3/14), youll be able to find activities to do across Central New York.

The Blue Man Group brings its North American Tour tour to Syracuse's Landmark Theatre for five performances March 12 to 15.

Blue Man Group

The Blue Man Group is an experimental musical experience that was founded in 1987 in NYC. The three man trio runs, jumps, plays drums and otherwise interact with each other on stage -- all without talking. Mike Brown, who is a Blue Man gave syracuse.com an inside look at what its like being a part of the show.

Where: Landmark Theatre, 362 S. Salina St., Syracuse, NY 13202

When: Mar. 12-14 at 7:30 p.m., Mar. 15 at 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

How much: $35-$69, available on Ticketmaster

O.A.R.

Note: This concert has been postponed due to COVID-19 concerns.

Of A Revolution, otherwise known as O.A.R., brings its Spring Fling Tour to Central NY. The rock band was formed in Rockville, Md. in 1997 and has been a steadily touring act. They burst onto the mainstream stage with their 2005 album, Stories of a Stranger.

Where: State Theatre of Ithaca, 107 W State St., Ithaca, NY 14850

When: Mar. 12 at 8 p.m., doors at 7 p.m.

How much: $28.50  $48.50, available on Eventbrite

DJ Bingo

DJ Bingo is ready to test your musical knowledge. A song clip will be played and players will have limited time to figure out what the song is and match for a DJ Bingo.

Where: World of Beer, 10347 Destiny USA Dr, Syracuse, NY 13290

When: Thursdays at 7 p.m.

How much: Free to play

The Matchmaker

The Matchmaker is the inspiration for the popular musical Hello, Dolly! In this farce, Horace Vandergelder, a wealthy merchant in nineteenth-century Yonkers, NY, decides to take a wife and employs a matchmaker, Mrs. Dolly Levi.

Where: Central NY Playhouse, ShoppingTown Mall, 3649 Erie Blvd E, Syracuse, NY 13214

When: Mar. 13-15, 19-21, Sunday matinee at 2 p.m., all other shows at 8 p.m.

How much: $15-$17, available on the CNY Playhouse website

The 37th Annual Syracuse St. Patricks Parade on S. Salina St. in downtown Syracuse, March 16, 2019.Michael Greenlar | mgreenlar@syracuse.com

Syracuse St. Patricks Parade

Note: The Syracuse St. Patricks Parade has been canceled due to coronavirus concerns.

Its the biggest party in Syracuse all year. Mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception begins at 10 a.m. The 38th annual Syracuse St. Patricks Parade steps off at Clinton Square at noon, heading south along Salina Street.

Where: Downtown Syracuse

When: Mar. 14 at noon

How much: Free

Everlast

Note: This event has been postponed. No new date has been announced.

Before rapper Everlast embarked on a solo career, he was 1/3 of the trio known as House of Pain. He continues to perform the bands hit Jump Around as well as solo hits like What Its Like and I Get By."

Where: Center for the Arts of Homer, 72 S Main St, Homer, NY 13077

When: Mar. 14 at 8 p.m.

How much: $25-$40, available on Eventbrite

Swing Dance

Take a step back in time and cut a rug with the Syracuse Swing Connection. A beginner friendly lesson will take place before a social dance with live music by The Dovetones. No experience is needed, no partner needed, all ages are welcome.

Where: The Venue, 211 Catawba St., Syracuse, NY 13208

When: Mar. 14, lesson from 6:30 - 7 p.m., social dance from 7-9 p.m.

How much: $5 lesson, $10 social dance, $15 for both

Girl Scout Cookie Pairing

WT Brews by the Seneca River will be pairing 5 oz. beers with Girl Scout Cookies. There will be an assortment of 5 oz beer samples paired with a Girl Scout Cookie to choose from. Full boxes of cookies will also be sold to benefit the Ronald McDonald House.

Where: WT Brews, 18 E Genesee St, Baldwinsville, NY 13027

When: Mar. 14 from 2-5 p.m.

How much: $2-$3 per pairing

Pi Day Celebration

Explore at the MOST in celebration of Pi Day featuring activities from the MOST and Maker Faire Syracuse as well as pie, while supplies last.

Where: Museum of Science & Technology, 500 S Franklin St, Syracuse, NY 13202

When: Mar. 14 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

How much: Free with museum admission

Pie Day Flight Night

Abbott Farms celebrates Pi Day with a pie eating contest, pie dessert bar, drink flight, live music, and additional pie dinner menu available.

Where: Abbott Farms, 3275 Cold Springs Rd, Baldwinsville, NY 13027

When: Mar. 14 from 7-10 p.m.

How much: $12 advance, $15 at door

IT'S CINDERELLA SUNDAY TONIGHT we will pick (1) winner to receive (2) tickets to see CINDERELLA March 14 & 15! LIKE our PAGE and SHARE THIS POST to be automatically entered to win! Winners will be chosen at random from all entries. Contest ends at midnight tonight and the winner will be announced tomorrow! Book now thru TICKETMASTER, ONCENTER BOX OFFICE or syracusecityballet.com/cinderella. *We do not own the rights to this music* Posted by Syracuse City Ballet on Sunday, March 8, 2020

Syracuse City Ballet presents Cinderella

Syracuse City Ballet tells the classic story of Cinderella, who with the help of a fairy godmother, is transformed to go to the royal ball where the Prince falls in love with her. With colorful sets and costumes and lots of humor, the highly dramatic Stepsisters plot to keep Cinderella away from her dashing Prince.

Where: Oncenter Crouse Hinds Theater, 411 Montgomery St., Syracuse, NY 13202

When: Mar. 14 at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m., Mar. 15 at 2 p.m.

How much: $20-$75, available on Ticketmaster
French English

COMMUNIQUE DE PRESSE

PETER CHILD AND MICHEL-ALAIN PROCH JOIN MAISONS DU MONDES BOARD OF DIRECTORS

_________________________________________

Nantes, March 11, 2020

Maisons du Mondes Board of Directors announces that Peter Child has been co-opted as independent member and Chairman of the Board, succeeding Sir Ian Cheshire. Michel-Alain Proch also joins the Board as independent director and Vice-Chairman.

The Board of Directors, that met on March 10, 2020, unanimously decided, after a recruitment process initiated in the second half of 2019 and on the recommendation of the Nomination and Compensation Committee, to co-opt Messrs. Peter Child and Michel-Alain Proch to replace Sir Ian Cheshire and Mrs. Marie Schott, who resigned from their positions today.

Peter Child also succeeds Sir Ian Cheshire as a member of the Nomination and Compensation Committee. Michel-Alain Proch will join the Audit Committee.

The Board of Directors welcomes the arrival of Peter Child and Michel-Alain Proch, whose recognized experience and skills are invaluable assets to support Maisons du Monde in its future development. In particular, Peter Child will bring his deep knowledge of the retail sector in France and internationally, and Michel-Alain Proch his financial expertise in listed groups.

These co-optations will be subject to ratification by the Annual General Meeting, along with the renewal of their mandate as members of the Board of Directors.

The Board warmly thanks Sir Ian Cheshire for his commitment and contribution to the development of the company since its IPO and the support he has provided to Maisons du Mondes management. The Board also thanks Marie Schott for her valuable contribution over the past three years.

Sir Ian Cheshire, Chairman of the Board of Directors, declared: It has been an honor to chair Maisons du Mondes Board of Directors since December 2016. Having supported the Groups development following its IPO, a new chapter in its growth story is set to be written with the implementation of its 2020-2024 strategic plan. I fully support the recommendation to appoint Peter Child as Chairman of the Board, given his solid knowledge of the retail sector and his recognized leadership."

Peter Child declared: "I am delighted to join the Maisons du Monde Board of Directors and assume the role of non-executive Chairman. Maisons du Monde has an exceptional omnichannel model and has solid assets to continue its profitable growth. I am convinced that with Michel-Alain Proch and rest of the Board, we will bring to Maisons du Monde complementary experience and skills in order to support Julie Walbaum and her Executive Committee in the implementation of the Groups strategy, for the benefit of all its customers, employees and shareholders."

***

Biography of Peter Child

Peter Child spent 35 years with consulting firm McKinsey & Co, where he accompanied many major brands in their development strategy, particularly in the retail sector. Based in Paris, he was leader of the Retail & Consumer sector for France, then Europe, and then overall global leader for the retail sector. In 2005, he was appointed to the McKinsey & Co Shareholders Council, sitting on the Knowledge Committee (McKinsey's global committee responsible for the development of McKinsey's intellectual capital). In 2015, Peter Child joined the Hong Kong office to lead the Retail & Consumer business in Asia. As a board director, he accompanied the development of the start-up Atelier Cologne before its sale to the L'Oreal Group. Today he sits as an independent director on the Board of Aeon, the leading Japanese and Asian retail group, which he supports in particular in its strategy and governance.

Peter Child holds an MA in Engineering (Cambridge) and an MBA from INSEAD.

Biography of Michel-Alain Proch





Michel-Alain Proch was appointed Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Ingenico in February 2019, where he leads the Finance & Purchasing functions. He is a major contributor to the Group's transformation plan launched upon his arrival. Michel-Alain has more than 25 years of experience in finance, strategy, integration and transformation. From 2015 to 2018, based in New York, he was Senior Executive Vice President in charge of North American operations and then Director of Digital Strategy for Atos Group. As Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Atos from 2007 to 2015, Michel-Alain Proch led several major acquisitions and successfully co-managed the IPO of Worldline. He was also named Best CFO (Europe, Software and IT Services) by Extel for four consecutive years. He was a member of Worldline's Board of Directors until 2016. Michel-Alain Proch had previously held management positions at Hermes in France and in the United States for 8 years. He began his career as a consultant with Deloitte & Touche in France and the United Kingdom.





Michel-Alain Proch holds a Master's degree in Finance from Toulouse Business School.

***

About Maisons du Monde

Maisons du Monde is a creator of inspirational lifestyle universes in the homeware industry, offering distinctive and affordable decoration and furniture collections that showcase multiple styles. The Group develops its business through an integrated and complementary omnichannel approach, leveraging its international network of stores, its websites and its catalogues. The Group was founded in France in 1996 and has expanded profitably across Europe since 2003, reporting sales of 1,111 million and EBITDA of 148 million in 2018. At 31 December 2018, the Group operated 336 stores in 9 countries including France, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, the United States and the United Kingdom, and derived 40% of its sales outside France. The Group has also built a successful complementary and comprehensive ecommerce platform, whose sales grew by over 30% per year on average between 2010 and 2018. This platform, which accounted for 23% of the Group's sales in 2018, is available in the countries where it operates stores plus Austria, the Netherlands and Portugal. In 2018, the Group acquired a 70% majority stake in Modani, a furniture chain present in the United States through its stores and ecommerce business. Modani, founded in 2007, is an aspirational lifestyle brand, offering high-quality proprietary modern, contemporary and mid-century furniture at affordable price points, with a nationwide presence through a network of 13 showrooms.

www.corporate.maisonsdumonde.com

***

Contacts

Investor Relations Media Relations Laurent Sfaxi  +33 2 51 71 52 07 Clementine Prat  +33 2 51 79 54 08 lsfaxi@maisonsdumonde.com cprat@maisonsdumonde.com Christopher Welton  +33 7 85 70 71 41 cwelton@maisonsdumonde.com

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Two Nevada men have been indicted on charges of vandalism after they allegedly spray-painted an ancient rock in a national monument.

Daniel Plata and Jonathan Pavon went on a spray-painting "spree" and were caught soon after the vandalism took place while still covered paint, according to prosecutors.

The 25-year-olds are both charged with conspiracy, destruction of government property and unauthorized damage or alteration or defacement of archaeological resources, US attorney Nicholas Trutanichs office said on Monday.

Prosecutors say the pair spray-painted rock formations in a national monument that features petroglyphs and were charged on the grounds of vandalizing an archaeological site.

The men went on what prosecutors deemed a vandalism spree while heading to a wedding in September 2019.

Filming themselves as they went, the duo are said to have sprayed their nicknames Velor and Cluer on buildings at three different locations in remote Nevada.

The men drove into the White River Narrows Archaeological District within Basin and Range National Monument, court documents said.

Mr Pavon allegedly acted as a lookout as Mr Plata spray-painted two large pieces of graffiti on the rocks in the Range National Monument, including one near a petroglyph.

Petroglyphs are ancient carvings that are made by chiselling the surface of rocks.

The carvings are precious historical monuments with most thought to have been created before the 17th Century, according to the National Park Service website.

After a witness reported the vandalism the men were quickly stopped by state troopers, according to court documents.

The two were also said to be covered in blue paint and seen to have had over 100 cans of spray paint in their car.

The White River Narrows is home to one of the largest sites of prehistoric rock art in eastern Nevada, according to the US Bureau of Land Management.

Questions about damage to the rocks from the graffiti were deferred to the US Justice Department, who did not immediately respond to an email inquiry by Associated Press (AP).

Story continues

According to the Associated Press the men do not yet have listed attorneys or phone numbers and could not be reached for comment.

Prosecutors said the men made their initial court appearances on 6 March.

Additional reporting by the AP

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People in face masks walk in a street during an outbreak of the 2019-nCoV coronavirus.

German sportswear makers Adidas and Puma warned on Wednesday of a major decline in sales in China due to the coronavirus and said while there were early signs of improvement there the impact had spread to other markets.

Shares in Adidas and Puma, already pummeled in the last few weeks, were down 6.3% and 3.8% respectively by 0830 GMT. Adidas stock was at one-year lows.

Adidas said it expected first-quarter sales to drop by up to 1 billion euros ($1.14 billion) in greater China and operating profit to decline by between 400 million and 500 million.

"The virus hit looks worse than feared," Jefferies analyst James Grzinic wrote in a note.

Puma said it no longer expected its business would return to normal soon, despite encouraging signs coming out of China, adding it was abandoning the 2020 guidance it gave on Feb. 19 that had assumed the crisis would be short lived.

"Given the duration of the situation in China, the negative impact in other Asian countries and now also the spread to Europe and the U.S., we unfortunately have to conclude that a short-term normalization will not occur," Puma said.

Adidas and Puma make almost a third of their sales in Asia, which has been a major growth market for the sporting goods industry in recent years. The region is also the main sourcing hub, with China a major producer for both companies.

Since emerging in China late last year, the new coronavirus has spread around the world, inflecting around 120,000 people, killing nearly 4,300 and sending markets into a tailspin.
DES MOINES, Iowa - Five more eastern Iowa residents have tested positive for new coronavirus, health officials announced Tuesday evening.

Officials said in a news release that all of the new cases are Johnson County resident who had recently travelled on an Egyptian cruise. The new cases bring the total number of Iowa infections to 13. The release said 14 other tests have come back negative.

Officials announced Iowas first COVID-19 cases on Sunday, as three individuals from Johnson County who had been on the cruise tested positive for the virus. On Monday, four more Iowans who were on the cruise tested positive. All of those cases involve people between 61 and 80 years old.

Another person  a Council Bluffs restaurant worker who had recently travelled to California  has also tested positive for the illness. All of those infected in Iowa are recovering at their homes in isolation.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia.

The vast majority of people recover from the new virus. According to the World Health Organization, people with mild illness recover in about two weeks, while those with more severe illness may take three to six weeks to recover. In mainland China, where the virus first exploded, more than 80,000 people have been diagnosed and more than 58,000 have so far recovered.

___

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.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar on Wednesday slammed Japan's Nikkei Asian Review over an article critical of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's policies, saying it lacked facts.

In its latest cover story, the Japanese publication said Prime Minister Modi might have won the elections but his policies have "paralyzed" India's economy.

The article talks about how the BJP's thumping victories in 2014 and 2019 had not helped in solving India's economic problems.

"Dear @NAR, your column about India is full of anecdotes & conjectures. However it lacks a basic element: FACTS," Javadekar said in a tweet.

"Why don't you educate yourself with the below facts so that you have some credibility the next time you write about India," Javadekar said, referring to a Twitter user's take down of the article contesting several of its assertions.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
They are one of Hollywood's most enduring couples.

And as Hugh Jackman and Deborra-lee Furness prepare to celebrate their 24-year anniversary, the X-Men star has revealed the secret to their happy marriage.

Hugh, 51, told PEOPLE on Wednesday that he and his wife, 64, 'make time for each other' and are 'always learning' from one another.

Longtime couple: As Hugh Jackman and Deborra-lee Furness prepare to celebrate their 24-year anniversary, the X-Men star has revealed the secret to their happy marriage

He said they consciously 'reset' their marriage from time to time, which means they don't grow apart like many longtime couples do.

'We're always learning and humans change so you have to, even though we've been together 25 years, you gotta reset all the time,' he said.

'I'm always reeling in how funny she is and how amazing she is and how smart she is. The longer it goes on the better it gets.'

Priorities: Hugh, 51, told PEOPLE on Wednesday that he and his wife, 64, 'make time for each other' and are 'always learning' from one another

In August 2019, the Broadway star revealed the 'simple but powerful choice' he made as a young man that safeguarded his marriage.

He was quoted in the book Father Hood: Inspiration for the New Dad Generation as saying: 'Before we had kids, Deb and I made a pretty simple but powerful choice to look each other in the eye at every crossroads in life.

'Those crossroads are sometimes big, sometimes they're small, sometimes you don't even realise they're crossroads until you look back.

Work in progress: Hugh explained that he and Deborra-lee consciously 'reset' their marriage from time to time, which means they don't grow apart like many longtime couples do

'But at those moments, we said we'd ask each other, "Is this good or bad for our marriage?" Or, now that we've got kids, "Is this good or bad for our family?"

'And as often as possible, we do the thing that is good for our family.'

Earlier that year, Hugh revealed that 'intimacy' was the key to a happy marriage.

Family: The couple married in Melbourne in April 1996 and adopted their children, Oscar and Ava, in the early 2000s. Pictured on their wedding day

'Without a doubt, it is the most important thing,' he said.

'People talk about intimacy and assume that means in the bedroom. Of course it is that, but really, intimacy is being able to share everything together - good, bad, fears, successes.

'Deb and I had that from the beginning. We've always been completely ourselves with each other.'

Close bond: In August 2019, the Broadway star revealed the 'simple but powerful choice' he made as a young man that safeguarded his marriage. Pictured with Deborra-lee in 2018

The New York-based couple met on the set of Australian TV drama Correlli in 1995, when Hugh was fresh out of acting school.

Although the show only lasted for one season, Hugh has said that being introduced to Deborra-lee was the 'greatest thing to come out of it'.

They married in Melbourne in April 1996 and adopted their children, Oscar and Ava, in the early 2000s.
 Flash

The chief of the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday that COVID-19 cases in China have been in significant decline, following the country's "impressive" efforts in containing the virus.

"What we saw in terms of experience from China is really impressive. Now the outbreak in China is on the decline, and there is a significant decline. The virus is hammered, and on a retreat. We're very glad that it's reversing and the viruses retreating (in China)," said WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in response to questions from Xinhua.

The WHO chief made the remarks after signing an agreement with Chen Xu, China's permanent representative to the United Nations Office at Geneva, on China's donation of 20 million U.S. dollars to the WHO for cooperation in dealing with the novel coronavirus epidemic.

He expressed the appreciation for China's quick move in identifying and sequencing the novel coronavirus pathogen and sharing the sequence with the rest of the world, which has enabled the world to prepare for testing, diagnostics and other response action.

"This helped actually the global community to move on. And this is very, very important," he underlined.

The WHO chief recalled his visit to China in late January, when both WHO and the Chinese leadership agreed that the response effort should focus on Wuhan city, the epicenter of the outbreak and Hubei, the province it sits in, where serious public health measures need to be taken.

He reiterated that other countries should use the window of opportunity brought by China's massive COVID-19 response action to contain the virus as soon as possible.

China's progress in containing the virus should be attributed to government leadership and the cooperation of its people at the same time, said Dr. Tedros, as "it cannot happen without the strong commitment from the government and strong cooperation by the people."

"This virus is very contagious and it's a new one, but still can be contained. The experience we have so far from China is that containment is possible," he said, urging all other countries to step up measures.

Ambassador Chen said the COVID-19 outbreak in China has gone down in a steady manner, thanks to the strong leadership and the united efforts of the whole nation. China will "do a good job to look after our own business, while in the meantime, try to extend a helping hand to those in need. That is why we have this donation of 20 million U.S. dollars to WHO."

According to the Chinese ambassador, the donation is part of China's response to the appeal of WHO, aiming to help countries with weaker health systems to fight the spread of the virus. "I think we are in the same boat."

"This is the time for facts, not for panic; this is a time for rationality, not for rumors; and last but not least, this is the time for solidarity, not for stigma," Chen noted.
Phu-Hanh Trang Vui Khoealso by Prudential Vietnam offers other outstanding benefits, including a public hospital allowance of VND250,000-1 million ($10.87-43.48) per day when customers need to be hospitalised in a public hospital, a daily companion bed allowance of VND625,000-2.5 million ($27.17-108.70) per day, and follow-up assistance for customers, in line with the Vietnameses tradition of taking care of their loved ones in ill health.

Pru-Hanh Trang Vui Khoe, a comprehensive solution providing customers of Prudential Vietnam with a unique revival benefit

According to the 2020 Global Medical Trend Rates Report by Aon Plc, medical plan costs in Vietnam are expected to be at 11 per cent in 2020, significantly higher than the average rate of 8.7 per cent in the Asia-Pacific region and the global average of 8 per cent in 2020. The report also indicates that non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular, cancer, hypertension, diabetes and musculoskeletal diseases are top global medical conditions driving up medical costs. This calls for the Vietnamese people to be financially prepared to cope with a potential crisis caused by unforeseen accidents or illnesses.

Clive Baker, CEO of Prudential Vietnam, said, Prudential Vietnams new healthcare rider Pru-Hanh Trang Vui Khoe provides customers with comprehensive financial protection, helping reduce the proportion of healthcare spent by individuals out of pocket and empowering them to take control of their health and wellbeing. With a stronger We DO Health spirit than ever, Prudential demonstrates its firm commitment to accompanying its customers on their life journey and helping them achieve a healthier, improved life.

With this new healthcare rider, customers can choose from three insurance plans  Advance Care, Comprehensive Care, and Perfect Care  to fulfil their needs at each stage of life. Customers can choose from a number of competitive benefit packages, which include benefits for inpatient and outpatient care, dental care, and maternity care, as well as enjoy direct billing service with a wide network of hospitals and clinics all over Vietnam and Southeast Asian countries. The new healthcare rider is attached with most of Prudential Vietnams main products.

Find more information about the product here.
WASHINGTON  A week ago, the idea that Congress would guarantee paid sick leave to all American workers seemed little more than a progressive dream.

Now, the push to make paid sick leave mandatory has become a focal point of the coronavirus pandemic response on Capitol Hill, as even President Trump endorses the notion that all workers must be able to stay home when theyre sick to stop coronavirus from spreading.

The U.S. has no federal law requiring a minimum amount of paid leave, and about 32 million workers who have no sick days must choose between collecting a paycheck or staying home when theyre ill. California law requires employers to offer a minimum of three days per year of paid sick leave.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is negotiating with the Trump administration on legislation to combat the virus, including paid sick leave requirements.

Trump said during a televised Oval Office address Wednesday night that he will soon take emergency executive action so workers who are sick, quarantined or caring for relatives because of coronavirus can stay home without financial hardship. He said he would ask Congress to take action to extend this relief.

Each of us has a role to play in defeating this virus, Trump said. Most of all, if you are sick or not feeling well, stay home.

Sick leave wasnt part of the initial $8.3 billion emergency funding package that Congress passed last week, to the chagrin of many progressive Democrats and activists. Since then, however, coronavirus cases have ballooned to more than 1,000 in the U.S. and the death toll has hit 32.

Fremont Rep. Ro Khanna, a vocal supporter of paid sick leave legislation, said hes not surprised how quickly the issue has gained momentum in Congress because its obvious that people are hurting.

We shouldnt be forcing people to choose between putting food on the table for their family and risking their own health and safety, he told The Chronicle.

On Wednesday, Senate Republicans swatted down an effort led by Sen. Patty Murray, D-Washington, to pass an emergency paid sick leave bill. GOP lawmakers have rebuffed several similar efforts since 2004.

But that was probably just the start of the debate. Details of Trumps planned sick-leave action werent released Wednesday night. The plan could be part of economic-stimulus legislation, which needs Democrats support to pass.

Were going to work to make sure that hourly workers dont feel like you have to go to work sick because youre risking a paycheck, Vice President Mike Pence said at a news conference Tuesday.

The details of a coronavirus package are still being worked out. Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin spoke briefly on the phone Wednesday about a possible deal, according to her spokesman.

Pelosi, D-San Francisco, gave few details about the negotiations, telling reporters, I think weve had a very positive conversation.

The White House has focused more on its push to pass a payroll tax cut, a proposition many Democrats have rejected outright. That clash of priorities could delay a deal.

Health officials urge people with flu-like symptoms to stay home to slow the coronavirus, which is spread through respiratory droplets. But for more than about a quarter of the U.S. workforce, that could mean losing pay. Lower-paid service industry workers such as waiters, cashiers, cooks and hotel cleaners are the least likely to have paid leave.

Some states and cities have enacted laws similar to Californias requirement that workers be offered at least three days a year of paid sick leave. Still, those guarantees might not be enough amid the outbreak.

Most other developed countries, particularly those in Western Europe, require employers to provide a minimum of one weeks leave for the flu, and up to several weeks for more serious illnesses.

Jenna Stearns, an economics professor at UC Davis, has studied the impact of paid sick leave policies on public health. She said paid leave actually improves workplace productivity, because employees stay away rather than showing up and infecting colleagues.

The public health benefits of providing paid leave outweigh any concerns about playing hooky or shirking from work, Stearns said.

Murrays bill, which GOP senators rejected Wednesday, would have required employers to allow workers to accrue up to seven days paid leave, and an automatic 14 days if there is a public health emergency. Although Republicans blocked the emergency legislation, it can still be attached to another bill.

Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., led the effort to block the emergency bill. He said that although paid leave is a good idea, Washington, D.C., should pay for it, given the cost to employers.

Murray told lawmakers that while Democrats fight for paid sick leave isnt new, the stakes are higher: Right now, this choice has unique and potentially dire consequences.

Dustin Gardiner is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: dustin.gardiner@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @dustingardiner
New Delhi, March 11 : The suspension of all seven Congress MPs was revoked on Wednesday, by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. The decision was taken following a meeting of the Speaker with members of the subcommittee that was formed to look into the issue. The subcommittee had been formed last week, a day after the MPs were suspended for unruly behaviour and disrespect to the Chair.

The suspension was to remain in place for the rest of the Budget Session which ends on April 3.

The Congress members who had been suspended included T.N. Prathapan, Dean Kuriakosh, Gaurav Gogoi, Unnithan, Gurpreet Singh Aujala, Benny Behanan and Manikkam Tagore.

The suspension came about after the Congress party MPs snatched a copy of a Bill, tore the papers and tossed them at Rama Devi who was in the Chair at the time.

Parliament resumed proceedings on Wednesday after it was adjourned on March 6.

Ever since Parliament resumed the Budget session on March 2, the Congress MPs have been disrupting proceedings with slogans demanding the resignation of Home Minister Amit Shah over the violence that shook several parts of northeast Delhi from February 23 to 25.
CMT Offers Free Use of Driving Safety App

Cambridge Mobile Telematics, which produces the sensors and software used by insurance carriers to reward safe drivers with discounts on policies, is now offering its product to the general public for free.

CMT said its Safest Driver platform can reduce phone distraction and other risky driving behaviors by 50 percent in just 30 days. The app maintains a two-week driving score by monitoring speed, acceleration, braking, cornering and phone use.

In conjunction with the release of the product to the public, Uber Technologies and Progressive Insurance are sponsoring a contest using the Safest Driver platform. From Jan. 15 through April 26, the contest is handing out weekly prizes of $50 to $250 for drivers in Austin, Texas and Charlotte and Raleigh-Durham, N.C. that earn the best driving scores while using the app.

Prior prize-based contests hosted in Boston, Seattle, San Antonio and Los Angeles showed drivers who participated reduced their risky driving behaviors like phone distraction, speeding, and hard braking by up to 57%, CMT said.

Public release of the Safest Driver technology allows any organization that wishes to promote safe driving to host Safest Driver contests, the company said.

The Safest Driver app is free to download on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

Kingstone Selects Insurity to Consolidate Claims

Kingstone Insurance Co. has selected Insuritys ClaimsXPress product to replace legacy claims systems and automate manual processes to reduce paper handling.

Insurity said in a press release that Kingstone, headquartered in Kingston, N.Y., has been usingdisparate claims systems from different technology providers to support the business it writes in New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Connecticut. By adopting ClaimsXPress across the organization, KICO will have a unified platform that improves operations, the company said.

ClaimsXPress is a cloud-based system that bypasses the installation and maintenance of on-premise hardware and software, improving an insurers ability to scale operations quickly and to support growth into new regions, Insurity said.

Insurity, based in Hartford, Conn., is a software provider to insurance carriers, brokers and managing general agents.

Fullerton Beck Expands to N.J.

The Fullerton Beck law firm, headquartered in White Plains, N.Y., has opened its first New Jersey Office at 331 Newman Springs Road in Red Bank.

New Jersey insurance coverage attorney Verne Pedro, who started with the firm on March 2, is managing the office, the law firm said in a press release.

Our hope was to expand to New Jersey in 2020, but we had to find the ideal attorney  an accomplished lawyer with leadership skills to manage the office and one with a practice and work ethic that complements what weve built, stated Katrine Beck, co-founder of Fullerton Beck. Verne checks all the boxes.

Pedro has more than 18 years of experience handling significant first- and third-party insurance coverage issues and helping clients make decisions about their insurance assets, policies, and risk transfer strategies, the firm said. Many of his first-party matters encompass losses as a result of natural disaster, fire, computer data loss, broker negligence, declaratory judgment actions, water damage, boat damage, bad faith, and related business interruption, business income, and extra expense claims. He also has handled bankruptcy-related insurance coverage issues and cyber breaches.

Pedro represents insurance carriers and captive insurers on coverage matters involving property damage, construction defects, environmental, title insurance, personal injury, additional insureds, errors and omissions, Bermuda form policies, professional liability, and others.

Pedro earned a Bachelors in Arts from Rutgers University in 1995 and a Juris Doctor from Seton Hall in 2001. He also earned a certificate in cyber security from Harvard Vice Provost for Advances in Learning. He is admitted to practice law in state and federal courts in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Belarusian Prime Minister Syarhey Rumas says a sharp drop in oil prices has opened room for Minsk to reach an agreement with Moscow over supplies.

Speaking after a meeting on March 11 with Russian counterpart Mikhail Mishustin, Rumas said he was satisfied with the discussions and that the issue will be resolved in the near future.

"In recent days, the situation [in the oil industry] has changed and oil prices have decreased. Due to that, Belarus presented a new proposal for [Russian] oil companies, which the Russian side accepted and said it will discuss with the oil companies in the coming days," Rumas said in a video his spokeswoman, Alyaksandra Isayeva, placed on her Facebook account.

In the video, Rumas answers a journalists questions.

Belarus, heavily reliant on Russia for cheap oil and billions in annual subsidies to prop up its Soviet-era economy, has been at odds with Moscow over oil prices for months.

The dispute over Russian oil supplies is part of wider political discord between the two countries over forming a union state.

Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka, who has been in power in Belarus for more than 25 years, has faced growing pressure from Moscow in recent years to agree to deeper integration under a 1999 unification agreement, which envisaged close political, economic, and military ties but stopped short of forming a single country.

Rumas's visit to Moscow to discuss the issue came two days after oil prices plunged following Saudi Arabia's move to enact the biggest cut in oil prices in two decades.

The Saudi move on March 8 came after OPEC and its allies failed to reach a deal to reduce oil production.
(TNS)  Tim Shea is counting the days until he can move into a new, 3D-printed house. Shea, 69, will be the first to live in one of six such rentals created by what some in the housing industry call a futuristic approach that could revolutionize home construction.Shea is among a growing number of seniors in America who have struggled to keep affordable housing. He has, at times, been homeless. He has arthritis and manages to get around with the aid of a walker. He said he looks forward to giving up the steep ramp hes had to negotiate when entering or exiting the RV hes called home.Im over the top about it, said Shea, a native of Stratford, Conn., who made his way to Austin in 1993. They had an interview process where a bunch of people applied. Then I found out it was a 3D-printed home, and I was gung-ho.The promise of 3D printing has others excited too.In a Northeast Austin, Texas, neighborhood, these homes are taking their distinctive shape on the grounds of Community First Village, where about 180 formerly homeless people have found shelter and camaraderie in the most expensive city in the state. The 51-acre development (which will eventually include more than 500 homes) provides affordable permanent housing, including the 3D variety.In this city of disruptors, Austin-based construction technology company Icon has formed a variety of partnerships to explore how 3D-printed homes could not only provide housing for people on the margins but also demonstrate how to dramatically reduce the time and money spent on construction.I see this innovative idea as being a powerful piece of the puzzle, along with other ideas of what its going to take to have more affordably built houses, said Alan Graham, a real estate developer turned founder of the nonprofit Mobile Loaves & Fishes, which opened the village in 2016. The average age of residents is 55, he said.These 400-square-foot houses are the nations first 3D-printed residences, according to Icon. Its process  which incorporates an 11-foot-tall printer that weighs 3,800 pounds  relies on robotics. Beads of a pliable concrete material dubbed Lavacrete ooze from the behemoth printer in ripples that stack and harden into a wall with curved corners.The idea is to cut the time and as much as half the cost associated with traditional construction, limit the environmental footprint and trim the number of workers on crews, said Jason Ballard, Icons co-founder and CEO.The process, he added, also could allow more design freedom.Because 3D printing uses slopes and curves, in the future new design languages will emerge that are only accessible through 3D printing, Ballard said.Icon has generated interest from the federal government, including NASA and the Defense Department, whose Defense Innovation Unit is focused on strengthening national security with new commercial technology. The unit (which has an Austin office) is under contract with Icon to train Marines and develop prototype structures that can be built quickly for military and humanitarian purposes. In late January, about a dozen Marines trained for a week at Icon. Further training is planned this year at Camp Pendleton in California.Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson visited Austin twice last year, checking out Icon headquarters and touring the village.Innovation is key to solving our affordable housing crisis, Carson said in an email. The work that companies like Icon are doing could have a huge impact on housing affordability in communities across the country.Such a move is overdue, according to the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies. The center in October issued a study that illustrated a growing income disparity among older Americans.The federal government considers housing affordable when a resident can spend 30% or less of income on it. Those who spend more, according to the Harvard study, are cost burdened.While many households now of retirement age have the means to age in place or move to other suitable housing, a record number are cost burdened and will have few affordable housing options as they age, the analysis said. In addition, many older renters are less well positioned than homeowners because they have lower cash savings and wealth.Moreover, the study said homelessness among older adults is increasing. The share of people age 50 and older experiencing homelessness rose to 33.8% in 2017 from 22.9% in 2007. Those statistics, according to the study, suggest that the need for affordable, accessible housing and in-home supportive services is therefore set to soar.Such housing insecurity can affect a persons health and well-being. Financial pressures can also lead to depression and other physical problems, the study said.Not everyone is convinced 3D is the answer for the masses.Basically, 3D printing is creating a wall system, said Chris Herbert, the Harvard centers managing director. It still has to have a foundation. Someone needs to put on a roof. Its another way to lower the labor cost of producing components of the house, but its not printing every piece of the house.If you can show me how 3D printing can produce components that can be stacked with multiple rooms and dimensions, that would have wider applicability for the overall housing stock, he added.Architecture professor Ryan Smith, director of the School of Design and Construction at Washington State University, said he agrees its early days for the technology.Its worth investment and work on research in the industry, but I dont see how its going to work in the current supply chain and labor market, he said. I personally still feel it will be 30 to 40 years before it will be having an impact.But architect and 3D advocate Alvin Huang, an associate professor at the USC School of Architecture in Los Angeles, said 3Ds advantages are about precision and customization.Its actual benefit is in larger projects that have a high deal of customization, he said. More and more construction sites will become more and more like factory settings, and instead of laborers, youre looking at technicians. Im a very big proponent of thinking about how the 3D printer can change the way we design.Brett Hagler is co-founder of New Story, a San Francisco-based social housing nonprofit to end global homelessness. His group and Icon are working on the worlds first 3D-printed community of 50 houses, under construction in Tabasco, Mexico. New Story and Icon partnered to create the first 3D-printed structure in East Austin that debuted in March 2018 at the annual South by Southwest festival. That building, now an office, served as a prototype for the 3D-printed homes at Community First.With one type of technology, you essentially get a lower-cost home  the exact percentage in price is TBD. Two, its faster. Three, its very exciting to us because you get a much better custom design based on a familys need, he said. What I do believe is that it has a very real chance to usher in a quantum leap in how we build shelter.Hagler said hes confident the technology will be developed to affect more than just the current single-story detached house and provide solutions to large-scale projects.Theres an opportunity for a two-story. Thats going to happen, he said. Right now, if we can figure out a two-story, we can figure out a 10-story. Its just a matter of time.At Community First, residents pay monthly rents ranging from $220 to $430 and can earn wages by working on-site. The six new houses that will rent for $430 were created by the second-generation 3D printer called Vulcan II, which last year printed the villages welcome center.Shea has come a long way from Ohio, when he was married and lived with his wife and two kids in a house he bought in 1971. He was married 12 years, he said, until I struck out on my own.We were comfortable, he said, explaining that he had attended Ohio State University but didnt graduate and then worked at several jobs in Ohio and Austin until poor health caught up with him and forced him onto the streets. He lives on a modest fixed income of disability and Social Security payments.I had never been homeless before I got in bad shape physically. I didnt feel equipped for it and didnt handle it very well, he said. Some people Ive met here have been in and out of homelessness all their life. Its a shock to your system. All I could do was hide. I was embarrassed.Now with his new 3D-printed home in sight, Shea is optimistic  for himself and the prospect of 3D-printed homes.I feel like its going to help people in every situation in life, he said. Its one of the most innovative steps  not just for the homeless  but for affordable housing. Its pretty amazing.
US technical fellow and director at Microsoft Research Eric Horvitz poses prior to a meeting with journalists at Microsoft France headquarters in Issy-les-Moulineaux, near Paris, on June 21, 2018.

Microsoft is switching the leadership of its research wing after senior executive Harry Shum left the company last month.

The change signals Microsoft's interest in longer-term research efforts. In addition to unifying parts of Microsoft Research under one person, the company is more tightly integrating health care with the research group. The group was originally formed in 1991.

In November, Microsoft said Shum, executive vice president for artificial intelligence and research at the company, would be leaving. Kevin Scott, Microsoft's technology chief, has taken on Shum's responsibilities. Shum left in February.

Eric Horvitz, a technical fellow and director of Microsoft Research Labs, is being promoted into the role of chief scientific officer, a Microsoft spokesperson told CNBC in an email on Tuesday. It's the first time a Microsoft employee is receiving that title.

"As Chief Scientist, Eric will provide cross-company leadership on advances and trends on scientific matters, and on issues and opportunities rising at the intersection of technology, people and society," the spokesperson wrote. "He and his org will be responsible for advising on Microsoft's scientific directions and capabilities, including standing up new initiatives, providing guidance on company priorities and assessing important areas for investment in science and technology."

Horvitz joined Microsoft in 1993 and spent 16 years as a principal researcher, according to his LinkedIn profile. He's co-chair of Microsoft's Artificial Intelligence and Ethics in Engineering and Research (AETHER) committee.

Peter Lee will now be in charge of Microsoft Research, the spokesperson wrote. Lee was most recently corporate vice president for Microsoft Healthcare. He has also led Microsoft's broad Healthcare NExT group. It will be under Lee going forward along with other units, the spokesperson wrote.

Lee was already running parts of Microsoft Research, as well as leading many health teams around the company, according to a person familiar with the matter. Now, he'll oversee all of the labs and better integrate health projects with research, the person said. The company's health push, which has been split across organizations, is increasingly coming under a single leader.

Facebook, Google and IBM are among the other large technology companies with major research labs alongside Microsoft. These organizations constantly battle for the brightest talent. Once researchers join, they can publish academic papers and share open-source software, while also contributing to their companies' products to varying degrees. Google, which competes with Microsoft in cloud infrastructure and other markets, has been active in health care research in the past.

Most of the biggest technology companies don't have one leader running health care. Instead, companies like Google have a team under cloud, which is separate from its health product unit. The exception is Apple, which has been consolidating its efforts under operating chief Jeff Williams.

Lee joined Microsoft as managing director of Microsoft Research Redmond in 2010. Before that he was head of Carnegie Mellon University's computer science department and an office director at the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, according to his LinkedIn profile.

WATCH: Microsoft surprises investors by warning it will miss guidance amid outbreak
A $4.9 million Community Development Block Grant could help fund more than two dozen nonprofits and groups in Central New York that focus on housing, youth and workforce development.

More than a dozen local nonprofits outlined their plans for the funding at a public hearing held by the Syracuse Common Council last week. Councilors will vote on the budget for the grant at their next meeting on Monday, March 16, along with the budgets for the Emergency Solutions grant and the HOME investment partnership grant, which address homelessness, housing and special needs in Syracuse.

If received, the city would be granted millions to allocate to 27 groups, the majority of which are non-profit organizations. The grant is a federal allocation that comes from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, said Wenona Timmons, a program administrator for the grant.

This grant is part of the Department of Neighborhood and Business Developments five-year Consolidated Plan, which acts as a platform for allocating HUD funds to organizations for the next five years, said Timmons. A public comment period on the Consolidated Plan is open until Wednesday, March 11, and the Common Council will discuss the funding at its work session this week. This is the first year of a new five-year plan, said Timmons.

Around 13 of the 27 applicants made their cases to the council last week on why their programs deserve funding. The majority of the proposed funding allocations are for less than 3% of the budget. The largest funding request came from Home HeadQuarters, a nonprofit organization that provides programs and services to prevent foreclosure and help finance home improvement and new mortgages.

Paula Worrell, a board member of Home HeadQuarters, began by telling her personal experience with how the group has helped her.

Worrell purchased her first house in Syracuse on the Southside in 1997. Two years later, her furnace broke and had to be shut off. Home HeadQuarters helped her replace the furnace because she could not afford it.

It was a labor of love for them, Worrell said. They are as important to me as my mother, my brothers and sisters, my doctor.

A little "Before & After" for a Tuesday afternoon. This Northside gem is next in line for a brand new Lease Purchase customer! Posted by Home HeadQuarters on Tuesday, January 7, 2020

Home HeadQuarters proposed funding allocation comes to more than $2 million to fund four programs, the majority of which would go towards their Urgent Care Repair Program. These requests come to more than 42% of the proposed budget.

ARISE Housing Locating & Advocacy Program can help you find accessible housing and protect your housing rights. http://www.ariseinc.org/basic-needs-assistance/housing-advocacy/ #AccessibleHousing #HousingRights Posted by ARISE CNY on Tuesday, March 10, 2020

A smaller request came from the ARISE Independent Living Center, which focuses on housing for people with disabilities. ARISEs proposed allocation is around $27,000, or 0.6% of the total proposed budget, for their Housing Referral and Advocacy Program.

Phil Prehn, an advocate with the ARISE, called affordable and accessible housing a needle in a haystack.

A real serious problem is developing in our community, Prehn said. Access to ramps for people who have an inability to access their home, whether they be a senior citizen whos coming out of rehab a person with a disability who needs that kind of access  we get calls every week from people in our community seeking this help.

Thank you! If youve made a recent gift to InterFaith Works, youve joined us in affirming the dignity of all people and... Posted by InterFaith Works on Tuesday, December 31, 2019

Interfaith Works, an agency providing services for people who are vulnerable, low-income, targets of oppression, has a proposed funding allocation of around $60,000, or 1.2% of the budget, for their Center for New Americans, Tenant Counseling and Housing Stability programs.

Olive Sephuma, director of Interfaith Works Center for New Americans, presented figures from 2019 on the organizations refugee resettlement programs. She said the center was able to resettle more than 220 refugees and place 144 people in jobs.

Were able to help clients who are at risk of homelessness, said Sephuma. This is critical funding for us.

Over the past 10 years, funding for this grant from HUD has decreased by $6 million, said Timmons. Six of the organizations that requested to be included in the grant were not allocated any funding.

These services are really tailored to the community, Timmons said. The funding is critical to cities and poverty.
A new insect discovered by Urbana-Champaign graduation student at University of Illinois has been named after Lady Gaga.

According to Billboard, a new treehopper species from near the Pacific coast of Nicaragua is now known as Kaikaia gaga, as per Brendan Morris, the discoverer who is a PhD candidate in entomology.

While looking roughly through 1,000 treehoppers, Morris found the insect from Pittsburgh's Carnegie Museum of Natural History for research. The female bug had unique features that distinguished her from the others.

Morris told the Illinois News Bureau, who first reported the news, "If there is going to be a Lady Gaga bug, it's going to be a treehopper, because they've got these crazy horns, they have this wacky fashion sense about them. They're unlike anything you've ever seen before."

This is not the first case when a species has been after a famous musician. A deep-sea crustacean also got its name from American heavy metal band Metallica and is now known as Macrostylis metallicola.

The treehopper is not the first species to be named after a famous musician. Last month, a deep-sea crustacean got its name from Metallica and is now known as Macrostylis metallicola. Earlier in 2017, the Synalpheus pinkfloydi shrimp was named after English rock band Pink Floyd.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
SAN JOSE (BCN)

The Transportation Security Administration announced Tuesday that three TSA officers who work at Mineta San Jose International Airport have tested positive for novel coronavirus, also known as COVID-19.

"The officers are receiving medical care and all TSA employees they have come into contact with over the past 14 days are quarantined at home," the TSA said in a written statement.

The statement did not say what interactions the officers may have had with the general public.

The TSA said it is cooperating with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the California Department of Public Health and the Santa Clara County Public Health Department and "will update as more information becomes available."

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.
Don't let a passing crisis, serious though it is, distract you from the real fight.

The UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, is worried that the coronavirus panic will distract people from the fight against climate change, which he says is far more important. Speaking in New York at the launch of a new UN climate report published on March 10, Guterres said, "We will not fight climate change with a virus."

He was referring to a question about the coronavirus' impact on the planet, and how there has been a drop in global greenhouse gas emissions due to the sudden economic slowdown. China's CO2 emissions have dropped by a quarter, equal to 100 million metric tons. While this may have short-lived benefits for the planet, Guterres insisted that we cannot lose sight of the big picture.

"The disease is expected to be temporary, [but] climate change has been a phenomenon for many years, and will 'remain with us for decades and require constant action'... Both [COVID-19 and climate change] require a determined response. Both must be defeated."

The wide-ranging report, issued by the UN weather agency, also known as the World Meteorological Organization, painted a dire picture  so grim, in fact, that Guterres described the world as being "way off track" meeting the 1.5C and 2C targets that were set as the absolute limit for global warming at the Paris climate conference in 2015.

In the past year, numerous regional heat records have been broken, including ocean temperatures. January 2020 was the warmest ever recorded, and 2019 was the second hottest year on record. (2016 remains in first place.) Wildfire activity increased significantly, too: "Several high latitude regions, including Siberia and Alaska, saw high levels of fire activity, as did some parts of the Arctic, where it was previously extremely rare."

Guterres said, "I call on everyone  from government, civil society and business leaders to individual citizens  to heed these facts and take urgent action to halt the worst effects of climate change." What's interesting is that everyone is doing precisely this to deal with the spread of the coronavirus, which goes to show that governments, individuals, and businesses have the global capability to take rapid and strong action, but have lacked the will to do so until now. Now if only this momentum could be funnelled toward fighting climate change with the same dedication.

I wouldn't go so far as to say that coronavirus could "help humanity survive the ecological crisis," as Matt Mellon suggested in an interesting article for ecohustler; and I do share Guterres' concern that nobody has been talking about the climate in recent weeks because they're fixated on the virus. But I think the virus scare does offer the world a unique opportunity to reassess how we move, travel, trade, shop, and entertain ourselves  a sort of quiz before the big test. Mellon wrote,

"While coronavirus has resulted in a very sudden scale down in industrial production due to a public health emergency, living through this spasm may allow citizens to imagine, and policy-makers to plan, how it is possible to live differently in response to the ecological emergency. Reducing economic activity and industrial output is a means to enable global ecosystems to regenerate."



Guterres is right that we cannot be distracted by passing crises, serious though they may be; but if we can take the lessons learned from this experience and apply them to fighting climate change, we might be further ahead in the long run.
Highlights Abdu Sharkawy, is also an infectious diseases specialist He reveals hes most scared about the message we are sending across our younger generation Facts not fear. Clean hands. Open hearts, he wrote in his post

A Facebook post by a doctor is going all kinds of viral on social media with many agreeing with him. Abdu Sharkawy, who is also an infectious diseases specialist, shared the post and wrote that he is more scared of the mass panic surrounding coronavirus than the outbreak itself.

He starts the post by introducing himself and says that he has worked in inner city hospitals and in the poorest slums of Africa with patients infected with deadly infectious diseases. Then adds, there is little I havent been exposed to in my profession.

He writes, though hes rightly concerned about the well-being of the people, hes not scared of Covid-19. However, what really scares him 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. And then adds, people being suspicious of their fellow human beings amid this epidemic scare him too.

Then he reveals what hes most scared about and its the message we are sending across our younger generation. He says, instead of reason, rationality, open-mindedness and altruism, we are telling them to panic, be fearful, suspicious, reactionary and self-interested.

Towards his posts end, he implores everyone to fight fear with reason, panic with patience and uncertainty with education.

Facts not fear. Clean hands. Open hearts, with these words he concludes his post.

Read his entire post:

Since being shared on March 6, the post has received lots of appreciation from people worldwide. It has gathered over 6.1 lakh reactions with more than 1.5 million shares. Many have thanked the doctor for sharing such rational words amid the ongoing chaos.

Love this. And its clearly been a popular post! wrote a Facebook user. Im from Singapore. Your advice is such a breath of fresh air! commented another. Thank you for the much needed perspective and for being an example to the world about how we should respond in the face of fear. So proud of you and thank you for your public service! thanked another.

What do you think of the doctors post? Do you agree with him?
Wang Yong, a 35-year-old deliveryman, ferries medical staff at Jinyintan Hospital in Wuhan to and from work.Photo/cjn.cn)

The best of men is like water;

Water benefits all things,

And does not compete with them.

Lao Tzu, The Tao Teh Ching

This years Spring Festival was a particularly busy one for Wang Yong. Although his company had temporarily halted operations, the 35-year-old deliveryman decided to resume work. This time, however, he wasnt delivering packages, but frontline medics.

It all started on New Years Eve. At 10 p.m., a WeChat post from a nurse requesting help drew his attention. The message read Please help! We have traffic controls here. Buses and metros arent running. I can't go home. It takes me 4 hours to walk home. It was posted at 6 p.m. and nobody responded. After a little hesitation, Wang decided to go.

Ever since then, Wang has been driving through the streets of Wuhan, ferrying medical staff at Jinyintan Hospital to and from work and buying daily necessities for them. To reduce the risk of infection, Wang decided to live alone in one of his company warehouses.

"If I can do anything, I must do something, Wang said, adding that what he delivers isnt packages, but people who save lives.

Photo/cjn.cn)

As more hands produce a stronger flame, Wang went through his circle of friends and soon formed a team made up of more than 20 volunteers. Besides helping medics go to work and return home, they also try to meet their daily needs, such as finding a barber, buying slippers and fixing mobile phones.

When he learnt that the arms of a doctors eyeglasses were both broken, he bought her a new pair and refused to take any money for it. When he saw a post from a nurse in her WeChat Moments saying she wanted to eat rice, he spent two days searching for a restaurant whose boss agreed to prepare rice for medical staff.

Fearing that the medics were being inundated with online news about the outbreak when off duty, Wang donated a bunch of books for them to read in order to escape from their daily stress.

Wangs actions have touched not only medics, but also people all over the country. His story was soon reported by Chinese mainstream media and he was hailed as the Most Beautiful Deliveryman. Wang refuses to take all the credit himself, but believes it should also go to the countless volunteers like him whose efforts have been crucial at this testing time.

Im not what they call a civilian hero, he said. I just did what I had to do.

Photo/cjn.cn)

With the epidemic now being brought under control, Wang has returned to his job, but his volunteer work continues. Every morning, he clocks in at the office after delivering breakfast to the hotel where the medics are staying.

In late February, he moved out of the warehouse. When he went back home, his young daughter rushed to hug and kiss him, even though both were wearing masks.

Now, Wang cherishes the quality time he gets to spend with his family. He hopes that his daughter will remember what he did during this Spring Festival, and follow in his footsteps as an adult if she is needed to do so in a time of crisis.
The world is way off track for meeting targets to curb rising temperatures as the signs of climate change increase, United Nations experts have warned.

A report compiled by the UNs World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) highlights 2019s increasing heat, accelerating sea level rises, and extreme weather  and the impact they have on people and wildlife.

Last year was the second hottest year on record for the world, with a global average temperature of 1.1C above pre-industrial levels, the WMOs statement on the state of the global climate in 2019 confirms.

The five years from 2015-2019 were the five warmest years on record and 2010-2019 was the hottest decade since records began in the 19th century.

Given that greenhouse gas levels continue to increase, the warming will continuePetteri Taalas, WMO

Each decade since the 1980s has been hotter than any preceding decade stretching back to 1850, according to the report, which has input from national meteorological services, international experts, scientific institutions and UN agencies.

The trends continue in 2020, with the report published in the wake of the hottest January on record globally and some parts of the northern hemisphere, including Europe, experiencing an unusually warm winter.

Antarctica has reported new temperature highs, accompanied by large-scale ice melt and a fracturing glacier which will have repercussions for sea level rise, WMO secretary-general Petteri Taalas said.

This year countries are expected, under the international Paris Agreement on climate change, to increase their action to tackle greenhouse gas emissions to prevent the worst impacts of global warming.

In a foreword to the report, UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres said: We are currently way off track to meeting either the 1.5C or 2C targets that the Paris Agreement calls for.

This report outlines the latest science and illustrates the urgency for far-reaching climate action.

Prof Taalas said: Given that greenhouse gas levels continue to increase, the warming will continue.

He added it was a matter of time before the world had a new record hot year  with predictions it will come within five years.

Alongside temperature increases, rainfall changes had a major impact on several countries and sea levels were rising at an increasing pace, exposing coastal areas and islands to a greater risk of flooding and submersion, he said.

Preliminary data indicate that greenhouse gas levels in the atmosphere continued to rise in 2019, and carbon emissions from global fossil fuels grew 0.6% last year.

The report found record high temperatures from Australia to India, Japan, and Europe hit peoples health and wellbeing.

There were two major heatwaves in Europe, in June and July, with new national temperature records set in the UK, where the thermometer hit 38.7C, as well as in Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg and France.

Climatic changes mean dengue is spreading, with around half the world population now at risk of infection and a large increase in cases in 2019.

World hunger is on the rise again, and an estimated 22 million people worldwide were forced to leave their homes by events such as floods and storms.

The contiguous US, excluding Alaska, Hawaii and other islands, experienced the highest 12-month rainfall on record from July 2018 to June 2019, and the country lost an estimated 20 billion US dollars (15 billion) from flooding last year.

Drought or low rainfall hit many parts of the world, including Australia, which also saw its hottest year and hottest December on record and an exceptionally long and severe season of wildfires.

Some parts of the Arctic also burned  an extremely rare occurrence  and sea ice in the region continued to decline.

The Greenland ice sheet saw 329 billion tonnes of ice loss in 2019, well above the average for recent years, and glaciers continue to melt.

Sea levels were at record highs in 2019, and at least 84% of the oceans experienced at least one marine heatwave.

Warming ocean temperatures, along with more acidic water and lower oxygen levels, are having an impact on marine wildlife and habitats such as coral, the report said.
YONKERS, NY -- A 69-year-old New Jersey man who worked as a horse trainer at Yonkers Raceway in Westchester County died Tuesday after testing positive for the coronavirus.

The death of John Brennan prompted the Yonkers harness track/racino to close Tuesday, according to lohud.com and other media outlets. Employees who worked in the same area as Brennan have been asked to self-quarantine.

Brennan, of Little Ferry in Bergen County, is the first New Jersey resident to die of a coronavirus-related cause. There have been no confirmed coronavirus-related deaths in New York.

We just learned that an employee of the Standardbred Owners Association, working in the racing office of Yonkers Raceway, located next to the racetrack and paddock, tested positive for the coronavirus before passing away," the track/racinos owner MGM Resorts International said in a statement Tuesday. We believe the last time he was on the property to be approximately eight days ago. We offer our condolences to his family during this difficult time.

As a result of this development, the racetrack will be shut down as of this afternoon, and we have asked employees who worked in the immediate area to self-quarantine, the statement added. We will continue to coordinate with and follow the guidance of health officials and support them in their response and prevention efforts.

Brennan had several underlying medical conditions, including emphysema, diabetes and hypertension, New Jersey Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli said, according to NorthJersey.com. He suffered a heart attack Monday night and was revived, but died Tuesday morning after a second heart attack, Persichilli said. He had not recently travelled outside the United States.

Westchester County, in particular the city of New Rochelle, has had the highest number of confirmed coronavirus cases in New York. Gov. Andrew Cuomo this week sent the National Guard to enforce a containment area around New Rochelle.

See all coronavirus-related stories at syracuse.com

Don Cazentre writes for NYup.com, syracuse.com and The Post-Standard. Reach him at dcazentre@nyup.com, or follow him at NYup.com, on Twitter or Facebook.

Thanks for visiting Syracuse.com. Quality local journalism has never been more important, and your subscription matters. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work.
The crime investigation agency (CIA) of Sirsa police has arrested two men with 500gm heroin from Ding bus stand area here.

Sirsa deputy superintendent of police (DSP) Aryan Chaudhary said, Those arrested are Ramandeep Singh alias Sona of Sahuwala village and Pragat Singh of Raghuana village. An FIR under relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act has been registered against them. We are probing to know from where they procured the contraband, which could cost about 1 crore in international market.

The DSP said CIA in-charge Ravindra Kumar had got a tip-off that two men were bringing heroin from Delhi in a car. Soon after getting the information, his team reached Ding bus stand. As the duo were signalled to stop, they turned towards Fatehabad. The CIA team chased the accused and arrested them, he added.

The two told the police that they were taking the contraband to Odhan area from where they used to supply it, the DSP said.

A drug case has already been registered against Pragat Singh at the Lambi police station in Punjabs Muktsar district, a police spokesperson said.

(With PTI inputs)
The new cases of COVID-19, which stands for coronavirus disease 2019, include the third outside of Cook County: a Lake County man in his 50s. The other five patients  a woman in her 50s and four men, one in his 80s, two in their 70s and one in his 40s  are all from Cook County, officials said.
A 46-year-old Eugene woman is among the first group of Oregonians this week to be tested by private physicians for coronavirus.

Jenny Jonak said she had no respiratory problems but a steady fever of about 100 degrees since last Thursday. She contacted her doctors office and, based on that fever and recent travel to Hawaii and Washington, D.C., was able to get tested for the virus Tuesday.

Jonak said she was surprised she qualified for testing but is pleased shell find out if shes infected, so she can avoid the risk of passing the virus to vulnerable populations.

She said she doubts she has the virus but is now voluntarily quarantined at home.

I dont want to contribute to that, she said of the spread in Oregon. Im glad that theyre doing more widespread testing. If there are real numbers of people who have it, the more we can recognize it, the more we can take appropriate measures.

Jonaks ability to get checked for coronavirus represents the beginning of a slow and frustrating shift toward wider testing in Oregon. The Oregon Health Authority for weeks has authorized testing with state-rationed kits only to people who meet strict criteria, resulting in just 305 people tested through Wednesday.

Nineteen Oregonians from nine counties have tested positive.

The lack of testing in Oregon has confounded doctors and patients alike. Some people experiencing troubling respiratory conditions have been told by doctors that they cant get tested unless they need to go to the hospital, based on guidance from the Oregon Health Authority.

Jonak said coronavirus didnt even cross her mind when she woke up last Thursday with a headache. She checked her temperature, saw that it was 100 degrees and figured it might be the flu or an onset of a cold that one of her four children had passed to her.

The fever hadnt gone away by Monday, however, so she decided to email her health care provider at Oak Street Medical in Eugene. In response to questions about travel, Jonak said shed been to Hawaiis Big Island in February and to Washington, D.C., at the end of the month. Jonak said she told her doctors office the trip to Washington, D.C., included a stop at an International Trade Commission hearing, where attendees included people from Asia and Europe.

On Tuesday morning, Oak Street Medical told her to come to the office for a coronavirus test.

Jonak said she arrived in the parking lot about 1:30 p.m. and waited to park her Tesla in the designated spot. A pickup driver backed out of that space, began to drive off, then saw Jonak was pulling in.

The driver rolled down his window and called to her: Are you sure youre in the right place? This is COVID-19 parking.

She was in the right place.

Jonak waited inside her car. A health worker in a full gown and mask greeted her and said someone would be with her shortly. Then a different worker came outside, also in a full gown, mask and surgical-style cap.

Jonak said she rolled down her window, had her temperature taken and had a nasal sample collected. The worker told her that shed get her results in about four days.

It was really well done, honestly, she said. Nobody ever had to get out of their cars.

The worst part, she said, was the nasal swab.

Its like sticking a Q-Tip up your nose several inches, she said. Its not pleasant. But its not painful.

Jonak, an attorney who works at home, said she was very surprised to get tested so easily. A friend of hers from California has been horribly sick with a cough but has been told repeatedly he cant get tested, she said.

A representative for Oak Street Medical confirmed Wednesday that it is offering testing and is submitting samples to Quest Diagnostics, one of two labs that are accepting samples from Oregon physicians.

The Oregon Health Authority confirmed that it has begun receiving test results back from private labs but didnt immediately disclose details about how prevalent private testing is.

State officials have acknowledged since the outbreak began Feb. 28 that the virus is somehow spreading in the community and there are likely hundreds of people infected with mild symptoms who wont be counted until testing is more widespread.

The health authority, which received its initial batch of test supplies from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly ran out of tests this week.

State officials received new test kits Tuesday and now say have the capacity to test up to 4,800 people. But officials havent responded to questions about whether they plan to expand who can be checked with those tests.

The state currently tests only people who have symptoms and have traveled from a country with an outbreak or who have symptoms and came into close contact with a known COVID-19 patient. The state also tests people who are hospitalized with a lower respiratory illness, such as viral pneumonia, and no other underlying diagnosis.

Oak Street Medical began offering tests Monday and so far has collected samples from about a half-dozen people, according to an office representative, who declined to be identified citing patient confidentiality.

The representative said every patients case is different and the clinic is generally following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Oregon Health Authority about who to test.

Oak Street Medical has the capacity to submit coronavirus samples for only 20 people total.

We cant just test everybody, the representative said.

-- Brad Schmidt; bschmidt@oregonian.com; 503-294-7628; @_brad_schmidt

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
New York (AFP) - Harvey Weinstein was sentenced to 23 years in prison Wednesday for sexual assault and rape, over two years after horrific stories of the disgraced movie mogul's sexual misconduct began to surface.

Here are the key moments in the high-profile case, which marked a watershed moment for the #MeToo movement.

- 2017: Scandal erupts -

The New York Times publishes a bombshell investigative report featuring numerous on-the-record sexual harassment and assault accusations against Weinstein over a period of nearly three decades.

Actresses Ashley Judd and Rose McGowan are the highest-profile accusers.

The Times reveals that Weinstein reached non-disclosure agreements in exchange for money with at least eight women, to guarantee their silence.

Weinstein apologizes for causing "pain" but flatly denies the allegations, days before the board of The Weinstein Company ousts him.

Italian actress and filmmaker Asia Argento tells The New Yorker that Weinstein raped her in 1997. Two other women also accuse him of sexual assault.

Gwyneth Paltrow, Angelina Jolie and Rosanna Arquette join the list of women accusing Weinstein of harassment, as Weinstein continues to deny all claims.

Other Hollywood celebrities and men from other industries come under the spotlight as the nascent #MeToo movement protesting against sexual assault gathers steam.

On October 14, the board of governors of the Motion Picture Academy of Arts and Sciences, the institution that awards the Oscars, votes to expel Weinstein, whose films earned dozens of Academy Awards over the years.

- 2018: Weinstein charged -

Accused of dragging their feet, prosecutors in New York charge Weinstein with rape in the first and third degrees.

The indictment stems from the 2013 rape of Jessica Mann, whose identity was not revealed until she testified.

Weinstein is arraigned in a Manhattan court after surrendering to police amid a mob of television cameras and photographers.

His then-defense attorney Ben Brafman secures $1 million bail for Weinstein.

Story continues

On July 2, the prosecution adds three new charges over a "forcible" sexual act in July 2006 on production assistant Mimi Haleyi.

- 2019: New testimony -

On August 26, prosecutors file a new indictment that will allow actress Annabella Sciorra, best known for 1992 thriller "The Hand That Rocks the Cradle," as well as several episodes of HBO's "The Sopranos," to testify as a corroborating witness.

Sciorra alleges that Weinstein raped her over the winter of 1993-94 in Manhattan. Her case is too old to pursue but prosecutors hope her evidence will help convince the jury that Weinstein was a sexual predator.

The trial, originally scheduled for September, is postponed to January 6, 2020.

The fresh indictment comes after Weinstein in July appoints Chicago attorney Donna Rotunno to lead the defense, having ditched Brafman in January.

A month before the trial kicks off, it is reported that Weinstein has reached a $25 million settlement with more than 30 actresses who accuse him of sexual misconduct, in a civil case unrelated to his criminal trial.

Under the agreement, Weinstein does not have to admit any guilt.

- 2020: Guilty conviction -

A New York jury on February 24 convicts Weinstein on two charges of sexual assault and rape, which the #MeToo movement lauds as a historic victory ushering in a "new era of justice" for survivors.

It came after a seven-week trial in which jurors hear emotional, lurid testimony from women who accuse him of everything from violent rape and abuse to humiliation and sabotaging their careers.

Mann -- whom Weinstein is convicted of raping in the third degree -- weeps profusely during cross-examination, when the defense works to prove her relationship with the film producer was consensual.

Through tears, Haleyi -- whose testimony sees Weinstein convicted of a criminal sexual act in the first degree -- describes in painful detail how the executive "forced himself on me orally" while she was menstruating.

Rotunno says prosecutors have created "an alternative universe" and wrongfully cast her client as a "monster." After the verdict she vows to appeal his conviction.

On March 11, Judge James Burke sentences Weinstein to 23 years in prison, close to the maximum of 29 allowed, rejecting the defense counsel's pleas to issue a minimum sentence of five years.
The first budget for British prime minister Boris Johnson was supposed to deliver funding to 'level up' the newly Conservative constituencies in the north of England.

Instead, it will be a pandemic budget.

Newly minted chancellor of the exchequer Rishi Sunak will find himself unveiling a raft of emergency measures later today aimed at propping up the economy as the coronavirus tightens its grip.

Even though the UK has shrunk in relative importance, it remains one of our key trading partners. Goods exports to Britain last year totalled 13.5bn.

Yesterday, Britain's influential Institute of Directors called on Mr Sunak, who took office only four weeks ago, to "take swift action to help cash-strapped businesses".

Even though the UK economy is growing faster than that of the European Union, it is doing so at a slower pace than it would have done had the country remained a member of the bloc.

Potential growth is likely to be below trend for years to come.

"We think there will be a shift in the balance of policy measures away from investment spending  and towards day-to-day spending and tax measures," said Elizabeth Martins, senior economist at HSBC.

"But we would not expect this package of measures to exceed 4bn (4.6bn)," she added in a research report.

Mr Johnson's surprisingly large parliamentary majority in December's election came from a series of shock wins in working class constituencies, as the Labour Party's 'red wall' collapsed.

Read More

To retain his majority in future elections, he had pledged to tackle the huge inequalities between London and the prosperous south of England, versus the poorer north.

According to consultancy Oxford Economics, the average weekly wage in London in 2010 was 36pc higher than in the rest of the south, which in turn was 8pc higher than in the rest of the UK.

By 2019, the rest of the south had slightly narrowed the gap with London, but the rest of the UK had not.

Although the unemployment rate has fallen faster in London than elsewhere, that is linked to the fact that it was, and remains, rather higher.

"The fiscal backdrop offers some favourable optics that support a 'giveaway' budget," said Martin Beck, the lead UK economist at Oxford Economics.

"Having peaked at over 10pc of gross domestic product in 2009-10, the deficit now sits at around 2pc of GDP," Mr Beck wrote in a budget report.

Mr Sunak took office after the resignation of Sajid Javid. He is an ardent Brexiteer and supports cuts to corporation tax and capital gains tax, as well as expanded infrastructure spending.
WASHINGTON - House Democrats and Republicans proposed a surveillance bill Tuesday that would extend provisions used for counterterrorism investigations while putting new restrictions and safeguards on the FBI to address criticism of how agents investigated a Trump campaign adviser in 2016.

The proposed legislation attempts to strike a balance between conservatives angry over the FBI's handling of its investigation into the Trump campaign and liberals seeking to get more civil liberty protections in the highly secretive work done through the court established by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA).

"We're trying to put a limit on power," Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., told the House Rules Committee.

Nadler, the chairman of the Judiciary Committee, offered the bipartisan bill as part of an 11th-hour push to get a bill passed before lawmakers leave Washington later this week.

The fight over FISA has been contentious in recent months as allies of President Trump have demanded significant changes to address problems discovered in the surveillance of his former campaign adviser Carter Page.

Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, one of the FBI's biggest critics in Congress, said the legislation "does represent real reform."

A Justice Department spokeswoman said the department is reviewing the proposed legislation.

While Trump has long accused the FBI of conducting an unfair and politically motivated investigation of his campaign, his administration has supported a "clean" reauthorization of the current law, meaning renewing it without modifications or new restrictions.

Attorney General William Barr met privately Monday evening with House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., and a number of other Republicans to discuss the possible FISA renewal.

Last year, Inspector General Michael Horowitz released a report detailing serious omissions and errors in the FBI's FISA applications for surveillance on Page, whom they suspected of conspiring with the Russians to interfere in the 2016 election. Page was never charged with a crime, and Horowitz has been highly critical of the FBI for emphasizing incriminating information to the court while not sharing facts that suggested Page's innocence.

To address those concerns, the new bill would require the attorney general to sign off on any FISA surveillance targeting a federal officeholder or a candidate for federal office.

At a hearing Tuesday evening, Rep. Norma Torres, D-Calif., raised concerns about that provision.

"I'm not sure why we think we're special," said Torres. "We're not above the law."

"Of course we're not above the law," replied Nadler, who said the purpose of the legislation was to make it harder for any government officials to misuse the FISA process.

The FISA court was created by Congress in the 1970s as a safeguard against privacy abuses by the government. The court oversees the most sensitive national security cases involving espionage and terrorism, but privacy advocates have long complained that the extensive secrecy surrounding the FISA court makes it ripe for abuse.

The legislation offered Tuesday would step up internal reviews and data reporting requirements on FISA cases; increase the potential prison sentence for unauthorized disclosures about FISA surveillance; and require FISA applicants to assure the court they have provided information that might call into question their factual assertions.

The bill would also bring to an official end a controversial phone records collection program that the government has abandoned as costly and ineffective. Privacy advocates have long sought to end the phone metadata surveillance program that saw phone companies collect data on the calls of millions of Americans, which the government could search after obtaining a court order.

Lawmakers will not have much time to debate the finer points of the bill, because three current surveillance provisions are due to expire this weekend. The proposed legislation would extend those authorities until December 2023 if it passes in both the House and Senate.

Barr has appointed Connecticut U.S. Attorney John Durham to investigate how the FBI and CIA pursued allegations of Russian election interference. Durham is considering whether to file a criminal charge against a former FBI lawyer who altered an email during the Page investigation to make it appear that Page had not provided information to the CIA during a relevant time frame, when he had, according to people familiar with the investigation, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the case.
(Newser)  When a bright white giraffe and her equally colorless calf were first spotted in Kenya in 2017, conservationists worried their lack of camouflage would make them easy targets for predators, if not poachers. Their fears were well-founded. In a devastating blow, it's believed poachers killed the female and a new calf, leaving the 2- to 3-year-old male as the only known white giraffe left in the country, per USA Today. "This is a very sad day," says Mohammed Ahmednoor, manager of the Ishaqbini Hirola Conservancy, which oversees land on which the giraffe family roamed in Garissa County. The female and her calf born in 2019 hadn't been seen for some time before their bones were discovered by locals some 35 miles northeast of the conservancy. It's believed they were killed four months ago.

story continues below

The giraffes had leucism, a genetic condition resulting in partial loss of pigmentation, which left them with milky white skin but dark eyes. Their killing is "a blow to the tremendous steps taken by the community to conserve rare and unique species, and a wake-up call for continued support to conservation efforts," Ahmednoor says, per the New York Times. "This is a long-term loss given that genetics studies and research [that] were [a] significant investment into the area ... has now gone down the drain," he adds. No suspects have been identified, per the BBC, which describes the conservancy as "a vast unfenced area" that includes villages. The Kenya Wildlife Service is investigating. (Another giraffe with leucism, this one with the trademark spots, has been spotted in Tanzania.)?
(Bloomberg) --

Josh Ostroff had a difficult choice to make: Cancel a trip to Japan in March that hed been promising his 10-year-old son for three years, or ignore travel warnings and put his familys health at risk amid the coronavirus outbreak.

He decided to cancel the trip.

When the Toronto-based family asked for their money back, citing the Canadian governments warning to exercise a high degree of caution in Japan, they received a refund from their hotels and a voucher from the airline. Airbnb Inc. said no.

The San Francisco-based startup said the family didnt qualify for a refund under its new extenuating circumstances coronavirus policy, which only applies to China, Italy and South Korea. The home-share companys official response to the family refers to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: If the CDCs precautions are followed, you could safely travel to Japan.

Ostroff was shocked. I repeatedly asked about bringing a child into this situation and they did not answer, he said. I feel like Airbnb is being recklessly irresponsible here.

Airbnb, which was founded in 2008 during the financial crisis as a cheaper alternative to hotels, is confronting a second major challenge in the coronavirus. The stakes are higher than ever this time around because this is the year Airbnb wants to debut on the stock market. And with more than 7 million listings across the globe and a private market valuation of $31 billion, Airbnbs reputation has never mattered more or been under more scrutiny.

The Covid-19 virus, which is now active in more than 100 countries, has hit the travel industry hard. Some airlines have canceled flights to certain countries, hotels have closed and the some of the biggest conferences of the year have been scrapped. Many companies have forbidden international travel and told staff to work from home. On Monday, Booking Holdings Inc., the worlds largest online travel-booking site, withdrew its already bleak first-quarter guidance, citing the worsening impact of the coronavirus.

Story continues

Navigating the global outbreak is trickier for Airbnb than for big hotel chains or airlines who serve only travelers and manage all of their inventory. Airbnb is a two-way platform, connecting people who want to rent out all or part of their home with travelers seeking accommodations. For every guest cancellation the company approves there is a host at the other end who winds up out of pocket.

In its drive to balance the needs of hosts, who sometimes get their entire income from listing property on the site, against travelers concerns, Airbnb -- at least for now -- is putting the onus on hosts to be accommodating, such as by offering refunds or loosening cancellation policies. But thats leaving a lot of travelers disgruntled and feeling like theyre footing the bill for stays they had no choice but to cancel.

Smart companies strive to protect their reputations, especially when bad things happen outside their control, said Micah Solomon, a customer service expert and author of the book Ignore Your Customers And Theyll Go Away. This crisis is going to be over sometime, he said, and when its over you still want to be the go-to place for guests.

Right now not many guests want to be at an Airbnb. Angry travelers have flooded Twitter with complaints over what many are calling a lack of compassion during a global health emergency. Users have vented about four-day waits to speak to a real person and said the companys policies are implicitly encouraging them to put their health at risk. One user wrote: Looks like we have to actually get covid-19 to get a 100% refund from @Airbnb. Talk about mixed incentives. Another said: No corporate social responsibility? Youre forcing people to take their trips and possibly spread COVID.

Part of the problem stems from Airbnbs shared responsibility with hosts on refunds. Airbnb will give a full refund within the first 48 hours after a guest books a site. After that, its up to hosts to set how much of a refund theyre willing to offer. These policies, outlined on each individual listing, can range from very flexible, offering free cancellation up to a day before, to very strict no refund whatsoever. Airbnb says hosts offer flexible and moderate cancellation policies on more than 60% of current listings.

In Ostroffs case, he had booked three Airbnbs for the trip to Japan and got three very different responses to his refund requests. The first host granted a full refund, but Airbnb still pocketed a $125 service fee from the reservation. The second host refused any refund and the third simply never replied. In all, the family lost more than $1,000.

After being made aware of the Ostroffs situation by Bloomberg, Airbnb offered the family a full refund.

Airbnb said not all of its guests are angry. We have heard from many guests who appreciate that their hosts have been flexible and helped them rearrange or cancel their travel plans with no penalty, it said in a statement.

Many U.S. companies are basing their policies on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the national public health institute. The CDC rates Japan an alert level 2, and recommends older adults and those with chronic medical conditions consider postponing nonessential travel there. But the country is taking more drastic action. Schools, museums and sporting events have been canceled, and the Hokkaido region has declared a state of emergency. The government is advising against being in crowds.

Travel companies have varying responses to requests for refunds. Expedia Group Inc.s vacation-rental site VRBO hasnt extended its cancellation or refund policy for guests impacted by the virus. The companys Book with Confidence Guarantee only protects guests from fraudulent listings and misrepresentation. It does not cover cancellations due to travel advisories from force majeure, meaning unforeseeable circumstances beyond its control, Expedia said in a statement. Marriott International Inc. is waiving cancellation fees for stays through March 31 for travel to or from several countries in Asia and Italy.

On Tuesday, Airbnb updated its policies to offer hosts more tools to grant refunds and, in turn, allow guests to postpone travel plans. It will reward hosts who are willing to be flexible on refunds by giving their listings more visibility and scrapping the 3% fee it typically charges. The company also offered to return its service fee to guests as a coupon to be used on future bookings if trips have to be canceled due to coronavirus.

Travel on Airbnb is powered by people, not large corporations, Airbnbs head of homes Greg Greeley said in a statement. Because of Airbnbs two-sided model, when a crisis like Covid-19 hits, we know that it doesnt just impact us as a company, but also the individual stakeholders within our community: the hosts who rely on their Airbnb income, and guests who have their travel plans disrupted. Airbnb is committed to doing everything we can to fairly support both parties, consistent with how this two-sided marketplace works, he added.

While gearing up for its public listing, Airbnb has been spending more on marketing and new safety features, causing the company to swing to a loss in 2019 after two years of profit before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. Its easy to understand why theyre being very prudent with refunds, said Bradley Tusk, a venture capitalist who advises technology companies in crisis, though has never worked with Airbnb. But, warned that the company risked hurting its brand as it edges closer to a listing. (Tusk also ran the 2009 mayoral campaign of Michael Bloomberg, the owner of Bloomberg LP.)

Airbnbs updated policy does little for travelers like the Ostroffs, and others who have had to cancel or postpone trips to the 97 or so countries not covered by the companys extenuating circumstances policy. Nor does it help those who were planning to attend public events that have since been scrapped.

William Matchin was traveling from South Carolina to Massachusetts for two psychology conferences this month. Both were canceled due to the virus and Airbnb declined to give him a refund. It took forever to get on the phone with them and basically they just said go and talk to the host and try to get a refund from them, Matchin said. This is such a stark contrast to hotels and airlines which have issued automatic refunds no questions asked. Its crazy.

(Updates with Expedia policy in 16th paragraph)

--With assistance from Patrick Clark.

To contact the reporters on this story: Olivia Carville in New York at ocarville1@bloomberg.net;Eric Newcomer in San Francisco at enewcomer@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Molly Schuetz at mschuetz9@bloomberg.net, Alistair Barr

For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com

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Each day in America, nearly five million students enter their schoolhouse door who are unable to communicate fluently in English.

Three quarters of these students speak Spanish, but thats not the only language. Consider Utah, where Navajo and Somali are just two of the more than 100 languages students speak. Or Hawaii, where roughly one in 11 students speaks a language other than English at home, the most common being Ilokano, Chuukese, and Marshallese.

Students with limited English proficiency, who are learning English, enrich our classrooms in so many ways. But too often, education policy makers have struggled to find the best ways to help them thrive academically and keep up with their peers.

Thats why, as state superintendents in Utah and Hawaii, we are pleased to see that reforms weve implemented to target English learners are showing promise. Both of our states showed tremendous growth with English learners in the 2019 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), considered the Nations Report Card.

In Utah, we did this by focusing our technical assistance on classroom observations done by content specialists across the Utah State Board of Education who provide feedback on making grade level content accessible to students learning English.

While in Hawaii, a change in the criteria used to determine whether students are proficient in the English language has led to many English language learners receiving English language supports longer.

In Utah, we saw NAEP reading scores increase 16 points from 2017 to 2019  meaning 38% of our English learners are at or above the basic reading level today compared to 21% two years earlier.

Similarly, in Hawaii, we saw double-digit gains for our fourth grade English learners. State average scores for fourth grade English learners increased by 26 points for reading and 13 points for mathematics compared to 2017 NAEP results.

We know that students learning English are a fast-growing segment of our nations student population, and will one day help shape our nations economic future. The National Center for Education Statistics reports that English learners made up nearly 10% of all students in 2016  up from 8% in 2000. All but seven states and the District of Columbia have seen growth in this student population.

The majority of students learning English were born in the United States, according to 2016 Census data. They tend to be very young, with the Pew Research Center reporting that 16% of kindergarteners were English language learners compared with 4% of high school seniors, according to 2015 data.

We know that many experience poverty. Federal data shows that English learners are more likely than the overall student population to be classified as homeless or to be served by federal Title I programs, which target high-poverty schools.

That said, we must remember that brain-based research shows students who can think, process, and learn in two languages outperform their monolingual peers and are more globally competitive. We must build on the strengths that students learning languages  including English  bring to our schools.

Too often, our nation has encouraged Old World languages as a high school endeavor rather than focusing on encouraging language instruction in elementary school. Thats why Hawaii plans to advance a language acquisition biliteracy program as a K-12 continuum.

We are pleased that Hawaiis Seal of Biliteracy program has seen tremendous growth over the past three years as part of our commitment to honoring students home languages. The accolade is awarded upon high school graduation to students who demonstrate a high proficiency in both of the states two official languages (English and Hawaiian) or either of the states two official languages and at least one additional language.

Likewise, in Utah, we emphasize the importance of each familys home language as well as academic English through Utahs Seal of Biliteracy. The focus of valuing family language to support biliteracy is also a component of Utahs Dual Immersion programs. In Hawaii, our data shows that when our non-English speaking students successfully exit English Learner services before high school, they outperform their non-English Learner peers when it comes to academic achievement and on-time graduation.

We must set high expectations for our nations English learners and help them succeed. Its a moral and economic imperative that, while they are in our public schools, we prepare them for postsecondary educational and workplace opportunities. Lets build on what weve learned when it comes to effective practices for students learning English and commit to doing all we can to ensure their success.
Gun violence is the leading killer of children in Minnesota and, on average, one Minnesotan dies by gun suicide every day (CDC Fatal Injury Reports). Polls repeatedly confirm the majority of Minnesotan gun owners support common sense gun legislation, including background checks and red flag laws (Fox News 9/2020, Star Tribune 10/2019, APM Research Lab). Additionally, courts have repeatedly upheld such measures as constitutional under the 2nd amendment.

In Olmsted County, a group is attempting to enact a "2nd amendment sanctuary resolution." These resolutions ask sheriffs to refuse their constitutional responsibility to enforce legally enacted firearm laws. Contrary to what 2A resolutions suggest, sheriffs and county boards are not empowered to decide which laws are to be enforced and which are not.

These resolutions are reckless. They have a chilling effect on the use of a life-saving gun safety statute to prevent a shooting. They also can embolden domestic abusers or other lawbreakers to circumvent the law to obtain firearms. "2A sanctuary resolutions" don't defend the Constitution, they trample on it.

In support of our local law enforcement officers, consider joining our Rochester Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America group in opposing 2A sanctuary resolutions. Instead of asking law enforcement to ignore their oath to uphold the law, use your voice to lobby your legislators and vote. And if you support common sense gun legislation, we'd love for you to join us at our Advocacy Day on March 18 in St. Paul..

Alesha Eiken,Rochester
WASHINGTON  Joe Biden decisively won Michigans Democratic presidential primary, seizing a key battleground state that helped propel Bernie Sanders insurgent candidacy four years ago. The former vice presidents victory there, as well as in Missouri, Mississippi and Idaho, dealt a serious blow to Sanders and substantially widened Bidens path to the nomination.

Biden again showed strength Tuesday with working-class voters and African Americans, who are vital to winning the Democratic nomination.

Sanders won North Dakota and awaited results from Washington state. Washingtons primary was too early to call, and because all votes there are cast by mail or by dropping them off in a ballot box, many ballots were marked for candidates who have since dropped out of the race.

The six-state contest Tuesday marked the first time voters weighed in on the primary since it effectively narrowed to a two-person race between Sanders and Biden. And the first four states on Tuesday went to Biden, a dramatic reversal for a campaign that appeared on the brink of collapse just two weeks ago.

Now it is Sanders, whose candidacy was ascendant so recently, who must contemplate a path forward. He is scheduled to deliver a campaign update at 1 p.m. Wednesday in Vermont.

Addressing supporters in Philadelphia, Biden noted that many had declared that this candidacy was dead only days ago, but now were very much alive. He also asked Sanders supporters to back him going forward.

We need you, we want you, and theres a place in our campaign for each of you. I want to thank Bernie Sanders and his supporters for their tireless energy and their passion, Biden said. We share a common goal, and together well beat Donald Trump.

It marked a high point for the former vice presidents staff. They sipped beer and broke into an impromptu dance party after his speech, which was held close to his Philadelphia headquarters.

Even as the contours of the race came into shape, however, new uncertainty was sparked by fears of the spreading coronavirus. Both candidates abruptly canceled rallies in Ohio that were scheduled for Tuesday night. That set the stage for Bidens remarks in Philadelphia, while Sanders flew home to Vermont and didnt immediately address the public.

Sanders campaign also said all future events would be decided on a case-by-case basis given public health concerns, while Biden called off a scheduled upcoming Florida stop. Still, the former vice president said Tuesday night that hed be announcing plans to combat the coronavirus later this week.

The Democratic National Committee also said that Sundays debate between Sanders and Biden would be conducted without an audience.

Among former White House hopefuls and leaders of powerful liberal groups, however, Bidens momentum is now undeniable.

Bradley Beychok, president and co-founder of American Bridge 21st Century, a liberal super PAC, said his group will be ALL IN to elect @JoeBiden as our next president. The organization is spending millions of dollars trying to win over people who backed President Donald Trump in key states in 2016.

Guy Cecil, chairman of the flagship Democratic outside political organization Priorities USA, tweeted: The math is now clear. Joe Biden is going to be the Democratic nominee for President and @prioritiesUSA is going to do everything we can to help him defeat Donald Trump in November.

There were other major warning signs for Sanders on Tuesday. He again struggled to win support from black voters. About 70% of Mississippis Democratic primary voters were African American, and 86% of them supported Biden, according to an AP VoteCast survey of the electorate.

After Sanders upset Hillary Clinton in Michigan four years ago, his loss there Tuesday was particularly sobering. It undermined his argument that he could appeal to working-class voters and that he could expand the electorate with new young voters.

One of the few bright notes for Sanders was his strength among young voters, but even that has a downside because they didnt turn out enough to keep him competitive. Sanders won 72% of those under 30 in Missouri and 65% in Michigan, according to AP VoteCast. The senator was also about even with Biden among voters ages 30 to 44.

Theres no sugarcoating it. Tonights a tough night, New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, one of Sanders highest-profile supporters, said on Instagram. Tonights a tough night for the movement overall. Tonights a tough night electorally.

Another top Sanders backer, Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar, tweeted: Yes we are a family, united in restoring our democracy and committed to defeating Trump, but that doesnt mean we should stop fighting for the candidate that best represents our policy priorities in this Primary.

According to an Associated Press analysis, Biden picked up at least 177 new delegates in Tuesdays voting while Sanders got 111.

Although six states voted, Michigan, with its 125 delegates, got most of the attention. Trump won the state by only 10,704 votes during the general election, his closest margin of victory among Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Those states gave Trump the narrow edge in the 2016 Electoral College after Clinton won the popular vote.

Sanders has vowed not to drop out regardless of Tuesdays results and frequently railed against the Democratic establishment that he says has aligned against him.

In addition to the powerful groups now siding with Biden, the former vice president has picked up the endorsements of many of his former presidential rivals, including Sen. Kamala Harris, Sen. Cory Booker and, as of Tuesday, entrepreneur Andrew Yang. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, sometimes mentioned as a possible vice presidential choice, also endorsed Biden and campaigned with him ahead of Tuesdays primary.

Biden also gave a nod to all his former competitors, saying, Were bringing this party together.

Thats what we have to do, he said.

Not every Democrat was lining up behind Biden, though. Michigan Rep. Debbie Dingell, who represents a sprawling district from the college town of Ann Arbor to the Detroit suburbs, said Tuesday that shes staying neutral.

I remember what it was like four years ago and the vitriol and the anger, the people mad at each other the whole election cycle. We cant afford that, Dingell said. Its about getting out and voting in November.

Like Sanders, Biden has no public events scheduled for Wednesday. And though hes celebrating a growing delegate lead, hes still confronting voters who question his positions, which include a gun control plan that reinstates an assault weapons ban and includes a voluntary buyback program for assault weapons.

That issue was at the center of a testy exchange with a worker while Biden was rallying earlier Tuesday in Detroit. The man accused him of actively trying to end our Second Amendment right. Biden shot back, Youre full of shit, but went on to say that while he supports the Second Amendment, Do you need 100 rounds?

___

Associated Press writers Mike Householder in Detroit and Seth Borenstein in Washington contributed to this report.

___

Catch up on the 2020 election campaign with AP experts on our weekly politics podcast, Ground Game.
[March 11, 2020] 22nd Century Announces Important New Achievements with KeyGene

Delivers Complete High-Quality Hemp/Cannabis Genome Sequence; Establishes New Proprietary Hemp/Cannabis Bioinformatics Platform

WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y. , March 11, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- 22nd Century Group, Inc. (NYSE American: XXII), a leading plant biotechnology company in reduced nicotine tobacco and hemp/cannabis plant genetics research, announced today that lead scientists from 22nd Century Group and KeyGene have assembled a high quality genome sequence of two hemp/cannabis lines and established a new, proprietary hemp/cannabis bioinformatics platform. Both are believed to be among the highest quality, hemp/cannabis reference genomes in the world. These exciting, new developments are already enabling the rapid breeding of new and proprietary hemp/cannabis plant lines with truly remarkable and potentially novel medicinal cannabinoid profiles, said Michael Zercher, President & Chief Operating Officer of 22nd Century Group. Our research partnership with KeyGene will bolster our existing, proprietary hemp/cannabis plant lines and accelerate our molecular breeding work focused on the creation of valuable, new hemp/cannabis plant varieties and related intellectual property. We congratulate 22nd Centurys science team as well as our partners at KeyGene on these very exciting achievements, and we look forward to even more exciting and valuable results in our hemp/cannabis plant genetics research, Zercher concluded. Assembly of the robust genome sequence was first completed with a previously uncharacterized cannabis plant line, Blue Dream, popular and well known for its medicinal and therapeutic properties. The proprietary, high quality genome developed by 22nd Century and KeyGene is currently being supplemented and enhanced by the assembly of a second complete, high quality genome of a previously uncharacterized hemp plant line known as Cherry, known for having some of the highest CBD concentration among hemp plant varieties. The two high quality genomes have been combined wih genomes in the public domain to perform pan genomic analysis and integrated into a comprehensive bioinformatics platform developed by KeyGene for visualization and analytics of all available genomic, transcriptomic and metabolic datasets. This will provide 22nd Century and KeyGenes researchers access to unique and differentiating tools that enable the rapid breeding of novel hemp/cannabis plant varieties.



These achievements are an example of some of the valuable and innovative, early results delivered by the exclusive, worldwide strategic research and development collaboration between 22nd Century and KeyGene focused on developing hemp/cannabis plants with exceptional cannabinoid profiles for medical and therapeutic use. The assembly of high-quality genomes usually takes years to perform however, through the partnership between 22nd Century and KeyGene, sequencing was completed in record time of under three months using proprietary ultra-high molecular weight genomic DNA isolation and the PromethION platform from Oxford Nanopore Technologies. About 22nd Century Group, Inc.

22nd Century Group, Inc. (NYSE AMERICAN: XXII) is a leading plant biotechnology company focused on technologies that alter the level of nicotine in tobacco plants and the level of cannabinoids in hemp/cannabis plants through genetic engineering, gene-editing and modern plant breeding. The Companys primary mission in tobacco is to reduce the harm caused by smoking by bringing its proprietary reduced nicotine content cigarettes with 95% less nicotine than conventional cigarettes to adult smokers in the U.S. and international markets. The Companys primary mission in hemp/cannabis is to develop proprietary hemp/cannabis plants with unique cannabinoid profiles and desirable agronomic traits and to commercialize those plants through a synergistic portfolio of strategic partnerships in the hemp/cannabis industry.

Learn more at xxiicentury.com , on Twitter @_xxiicentury and on LinkedIn . About KeyGene

KeyGene is the go-to agriculture biotechnology company for higher crop yield and quality that revolutionized plant breeding using proprietary DNA fingerprinting technologies. Through the use of cutting-edge breeding technologies, bioinformatics and data science expertise, KeyGene provides organizations with solutions to R&D challenges as well as plant-based trait platforms to deliver novel crop solutions. KeyGene was founded in 1989 and has locations in the Netherlands, United States and India.



Learn more at keygene.com , on Twitter @KeyGeneInfo and on LinkedIn . Media & Investor Relations Contact:

Mei Kuo

Director, Communications & Investor Relations

Phone: 716-300-1221

[email protected]

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
Petrol and diesel in the national capital on Wednesday continued to sell at Rs 70.29 per litre and Rs 63.01 respectively, similar to the rates as Tuesday.

Fuel prices in the national capital on Tuesday went down by 30 paise a litre for petrol and 25 paise a litre for diesel to sell at Rs 70.29 and Rs 63.01 respectively.

On Monday, petrol prices slipped below Rs 71-mark for the first time in eight months.

In Delhi, petrol prices dropped to Rs 70.59 a litre on Monday, the lowest since early July 2019.

The rate of diesel on Monday was cut to Rs 63.26, according to a price notification of state-owned firms.

Fuel prices have been on the decline since February 27 on international trends. Petrol prices have in all fallen by Rs 1.42 a litre since then and diesel rates have dropped by Rs 1.44 per litre.

India looks set to reap windfall from a price war among oil producers leading to international crude prices crashing by their biggest margin since the 1991 Gulf war.

International oil prices crashed by close to 31 per cent, the second-largest margin on record, after the disintegration of the OPEC+ alliance triggered an all-out price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia.

Brent futures plummeted to about USD 31 a barrel on Monday as Goldman Sachs warned prices could drop to near USD 20.

For India, which imports over 84 per cent of its oil needs, the slump would lead to lower import bill and a cut in retail prices but will harm already stressed upstream firms such as ONGC. Lower oil prices will also help economy from its 11-year low growth rate by way of reducing input cost for a lot of sectors.

The fall in oil prices comes at a time when the global economy is already reeling under the impact of coronavirus, which has dented demand across sectors and economies.

(With inputs from PTI)
Ontarios rape crisis centres await details from the provincial government on a $2 million funding announcement  and while the additional money is welcome, they say it is received with some trepidation.

This announcement comes a week after the Ministry of the Attorney General confirmed its plan to end $1 million in funding to sexual assault centres in Ontario to address demands for service and crushing wait lists for supportive counselling to survivors of sexual assault across Ontario, said a statement from the Ontario Coalition of Rape Crisis Centres.

The coalition said that the new, $2 million from a different ministry  community and social services  as part of an initiative to combat human trafficking is (received) with some trepidation. While we share the priorities identified, such as preventing human trafficking and supporting sexually exploited survivors of violence, this funding comes with unknown parameters at this time.

At an unrelated event in Scarborough Monday morning, Premier Doug Ford said the money will permanently be added to the 42 centres budgets.

He did not comment on whether the funding changes could have been better handled by his government.

Were going to be putting $2 million dollars in, he said. And I know theyre quite happy and pleased with the announcement  and we look forward to always supporting them.

The centres had initially been expecting about $14 million over three years, as promised by the previous Liberal government before the 2018 election, to hire much-needed staff, provide more supports and services and help clear wait lists, following decades of underfunding. Some centres have been operating with the same staffing levels as the 1990s.

Then, last year, the Ministry of the Attorney General provided an additional $1 million in funding. Then, two weeks ago, it notified the Ontario Coalition of Rape Crisis Centres that the money would not be renewed when it expired at the end of March.

Centres were left reeling, worried about having to cut services and growing wait lists.

Some of our agencies received a really generic letter, and it did say the ($2 million) is specific to trafficked victims, but we dont know what that will look like, said Nicole Pietsch of the coalition.

It could pose challenges as not all survivors of sexual assault will identify as having been trafficked. We might not hear that on intake, she added. It might take awhile to figure it out.

About eight of the centres already provide services to those who have been trafficked.

A spokesperson for Jill Dunlop, associate minister of children and womens issues, said the money is meant for human trafficking initiatives, but realizes centres need flexibility.

This funding will be determined by the metrics established by the Ministry of the Attorney General, and factors including regional demand, the types of programming these centres provide to victims, and the size of the population they serve will be taken into account, Spence said. In the coming weeks, our government will be providing these centres with further details on this matter.

Spence said our government recognizes the great work being done to provide trauma-informed care for all victims of sexual assault, from gender-based violence to human trafficking.

The attorney general will continue to provide $14.8 million annually to the sexual assault centres.

The centres have seen a huge increase in demand, especially in light of the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements which have focused on sexual assault and harassment.

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath said it is shameful, that for decades, rape crisis centres have not gotten the funding that they needed  when people have had violent sexual assaults and have to wait 10 months to a year to get counselling, thats absolutely wrong.

Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner said for the government to put them through that  was reckless and irresponsible.
The information below has been supplied by dairy marketers and other industry organizations. It has not been edited, verified or endorsed by Hoards Dairyman.

Dairy farmers from National Milk Producers Federation member cooperatives and state dairy associations are visiting U.S. Senate offices today and tomorrow as part of a fly-in calling for an agricultural labor bill that could be reconciled with a plan the House approved last year, providing the stable, secure labor force U.S. dairy producers need.

U.S. dairy producers face labor shortages that are more intense than those felt in agriculture as a whole because they cannot use the H-2A farmworker program, which only provides for seasonal labor rather than the year-round workers dairy needs. With domestic workers in short supply and foreign labor difficult to employ under current policies, dairy farmers are urging lawmakers to find real solutions.

The situation is dire, said Jim Mulhern, president and CEO of NMPF, the biggest U.S. dairy-farmer organization. Dairy farmers face labor shortages while they are forced to navigate the deeply uncertain and volatile realities undergirding agriculture labor in the U.S. Meanwhile, uncertainty on the farm harms individuals and rural communities that rely on those farms to generate jobs.

The House of Representatives in December passed bipartisan legislation allowing for year-round visas in dairy as part of the first ag-labor bill to pass that chamber since 1986. NMPF supported the bill, noting that, although imperfect, its passage was a necessary step in moving toward a legislative solution addressing the ag labor crisis, with further work to be done in the Senate to improve upon the House measure.

The fly-in is taking place after the conclusion of NMPFs March Board of Directors meeting held in Arlington, Virginia. During the board meeting, NMPF officially expanded its membership with the addition of Cayuga Marketing, LLC based in Auburn, NY, adding an important upstate New York voice to NMPFs work on behalf of all dairy producers. NMPF also endorsed dairy-sector sustainability efforts during its meeting, lauding industrywide plans to reduce carbon emissions to net zero.
YEREVAN, MARCH 11, ARMENPRESS. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called on Iran to release the US citizens who are currently detained, reports CNN.

Reports that COVID-19 has spread to Iranian prisons are deeply troubling and demand nothing less than the full and immediate release of all American citizens, Pompeo said.

Our response will be decisive, Pompeo warned in a statement.

At least four Americans are imprisoned in Iran, which has had more than 8,000 coronavirus cases and nearly 300 deaths.

Courts across Iran have granted eligible inmates furlough as part of the measures to contain coronavirus in the country.

Pompeo said the furlough of tens of thousands of prisoners demonstrated Iran's ability to grant clemency and show mercy.
A 46-year-old man from Janakpuri has become the fifth person from the city to test positive for the 2019 novel coronavirus (Covid-19), according to data shared by the Delhi government. The man had travelled to Italy, Japan and Geneva recently.

The novel coronavirus was first reported in Chinas Wuhan city on December 31, 2019. Since then, the virus has spread to several countries across the world. The outbreak has killed more than 4,300 people and spread across more than 90 nations.

Both Italy and Japan are on Indias list of high-risk countries, with Italy having reported over 10,000 cases and 631 deaths and Japan having reported 639 cases and 15 deaths.

The new patient is currently in an isolation ward at Dr Ram Manohar Lohia hospital, one of the two nodal centres for Covid-19 in Delhi. Eight members of his family, who did not show any symptom, have been asked to remain in home quarantine. His mother is the only one with symptoms of the virus infection.

A survey of 50 homes nearby to the mans was also taken up to ascertain who all had come in contact with the Covid-19 positive patient and whether any of them showed symptoms of 5the disease.

Apart from the five people who tested positive in Delhi, there are 48 other symptomatic people in the isolation wards of these two hospitals, according to the government. Of them, 31 are in Safdarjung hospital and 17 at RML.

The government has also asked 155 others, with travel history who might get the infection, to remain in home quarantine.

Doctors and healthcare workers from the Delhi governments integrated disease surveillance programme cell, chief district medical officers office, and the dispensaries will constantly stay in touch with those in quarantine for 14 days to see if they develop any symptoms.

These officials have also been working to trace people that these five came in contact with before being admitted to isolation facilities.

So far, they have been able to trace 105 contacts for the first case  the 45-year-old man from Mayur Vihar. Officials were also able to trace 171 people who came in contact with the 27-year-old male patient from Uttam Nagar. The cousin of his wife tested positive for the disease.

Another case was reported from Uttam Nagar as well.

Apart from the two nodal hospitals, Delhi government has asked 25 other hospitals  19 government-run and six private  that usually treat H1N1 patients to start isolation wards, thereby adding 230 beds to the existing number set aside for Covid-19 patients. More can be arranged if needed, Delhi health minister Satyendar Jain had said.

The government has also started sanitising buses and metro trains.

The government is also carrying out awareness drives in vulnerable places such as the JJ clusters, unauthorised colonies, bus, Metro and railway stations.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11

By Tamilla Mammadova  Trend:

Government of Georgia (GOG), National Bank of Georgia (NBG) and commercial banks will take active measures in coordination to mitigate the negative impact of coronavirus COVID-19 on the tourism sector of the country, Trend reports via the press service of the government administration.

As reported, the agreement was reached at meeting of Giorgi Gakharia, Prime Minister of Georgia and Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of commercial banks on March 11.

Economic consequences of COVID-19 have been discussed at the meeting with a particular focus on such vulnerable sectors affected by the coronavirus as tourism industry. Intention of the banking sector and authorities is to carry our coordinated measures to mitigate the economic consequences that may potentially stem from the spread of COVID-19, reads the message.

According to the GOGs press service, it was decided to establish an effective working mechanism with an engagement of an economic team of GOG, NBG and banking sector to suggest a plan of actions with specific steps in support of the tourism sector in the coming days.

Banking sector has made its readiness clear to provide maximum support in various forms if and when the tourism sector representatives encounter certain problems in servicing their loans as a result of COVID-19. Participants of the meeting have agreed that most pressing task today is to keep as much cash resources in the vulnerable sectors as possible to avoid obstacles in the implementation of current projects. GOG, NBG and commercial banking sector will take coordinated response measures towards this end, said the message.

Apart from an impact on the tourism sector, it was noted that COVID-19 may directly affect the financial and banking sector itself. Also the parties noted that banking sector of the country is currently in the position to minimize such negative externalities.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @Mila61979356
Special measures are now in place to reduce the likelihood of contamination in the Paris residence which is both the president's home and his place of work.

Sources in the Elysee Palace said the president no longer shakes hands with people and uses hand sanitiser at regular intervals.

Meetings are no longer held in his personal office and when staff come into the room they keep their distance from the president. Chairs have been placed further apart than before the coronavirus outbreak.

His pens, notepads and files are not touched by anyone else.

Meetings are held in designated meeting rooms which are cleaned after each use. At the weekly gatherings attended by the president, the prime minister and other government ministers, handshaking was banned some time ago - so the fact that the minister of culture, Frank Riester, is now in isolation with mild symptoms after testing positive, has caused no alarm.

Fewer people from outside the Elysee Palace are allowed to visit the president in person and people are invited for lunch or dinner at the presidential residence only when strictly necessary.

All visitors are asked whether they have been exposed to anyone with the virus or whether they have recently visited an area with a high number of infections.

Those who have day-to-day contact with the president have been told to take extra care while using public transport and to cut down on activities outside their homes.

Emmanuel Macron's chief of staff is awaiting results after being tested for the virus yesterday. He has no symptoms but was in contact last week with someone who has tested positive.

Should the president become infected, if he feels able to work, he could continue to do so while remaining confined to the Elysee Palace, which is also his home.
Womens History Month The observance of Womens History Month began with a week-long celebration of womens culture, history and society in a California school district in 1978. The idea caught on in communities and organizations across the nation; in 1980, President Jimmy Carter issued the first presidential proclamation declaring the week of March 8 as National Womens History Week to coincide with International Womens Day. Subsequent presidents continued to designate a National Womens History Week in March until Congress passed a law in 1987 designating March as Womens History Month. The National Womens History Alliance selects and publishes a theme for each year. In 2020, the theme is Valiant Women of the Vote, marking the 100th anniversary of womens suffrage in the United States. The theme honors those who fought to win suffrage rights for women, and women who continue to fight for the voting rights of others.

March 13, 2020

Editor's note: Many events have been canceled or postponed in accordance with current university policy on the COVID-19 outbreak. Visit event websites for more details. Visit the Coronavirus Updates for the Emory Community website to learn more about how Emory is responding to COVID-19.

The Emory community celebrates Womens History Month throughout March, with many of the events free and open to the public.

Observances began last week with the 2020 Emory Pride Awards on March 3 and the 2020 Women of Excellence Awards on March 5. The events recognized individuals who are dedicated to issues surrounding LGBT equality and affecting women at Emory and in the larger community.

The Center for Women at Emory plays a unique role in shaping women as leaders of tomorrow and preparing all students to eradicate some of the most pressing issues that women and girls face today, says Chanel Craft Tanner, director of Emorys Center for Women.

During Womens History Month we tell and celebrate the stories of women so that the next generation doesnt forget them and so that women can be proud of what we have collectively accomplished in the face of so many obstacles, Tanner adds. We celebrate at Emory so we can reflect on the contributions women have made and continue to make to this place we love.

Keynote features the Crunk Feminist Collective

One highlight of the month will be An Evening with the Crunk Feminist Collective on Saturday, March 28, at 5 p.m. in the Cox Ballroom on Emorys Atlanta campus.

Ten years ago, the Crunk Feminist Collective led the charge for cultivating a digital space for hip-hop generation feminists of color, both inside and outside of the academy. Addressing topics ranging from politics and mothering to religion, dating and Beyonce, the collective embodies multifaceted feminism that is relevant for women at home, in the academy and in the beauty parlor.

The evening will feature dinner and dancing, plus a panel featuring Crunk Feminist Collective members Robin Boylorn, Brittney Cooper, Sheri Davis-Faulkner, Susana Morris, Eesha Pandit, Rachel Raimist and Chanel Tanner.

Tickets are available to the general public beginning Monday, March 9.

Other highlights for the month

Several films focused on womens issues will be shown in March. Panel discussions, lectures and book readings also will address topics of interest.

Monday, March 16

1 p.m.  Flash Exposures seminar

Michael C. Carlos Museum Board Room

A workshop and reading based in South African poetics and body politics

Presented by the Institute of African Studies and Women's Gender and Sexuality Studies

Wednesday, March 18

5:30 p.m.  Human trafficking discussion

Alumni University Memorial Center, Room 105

Sponsored by the Center for Women at Emory

Wednesday, March 18

7:30 p.m.  Daughters of the Dust film screening

White Hall, Room 208

Part of the Emory Cinematheque spring series focusing on African Americans in American film

Thursday, March 19

6:30 p.m.  Lunafest Womens Film Festival

Harland Cinema; $5 per person

Featuring short films for, by and about women

Friday, March 20, and Saturday, March 21

REAL (Recognizing, Empowering and Affirming Latinas) Conference

Presented by the Office for Racial and Cultural Engagement

Monday, March 23

12 p.m.  Leading from the Margins: Authenticity, Authority and Black Womens Sexual Agency

Robert W. Woodruff Library, Jones Room

Presented by the James Weldon Johnson Institute for the Study of Race and Difference

Monday, March 23

4 p.m.  Book Reading: Black Women, Black Love with Dianne M. Stewart

Emory Student Center, Room N102

A special reading from Stewarts book that will be released in October 2020; reception to follow. Stewart is associate professor of religion and African American Studies.

Presented by the Department of African American Studies

Wednesday, March 25

5:30 p.m.  The Hunting Ground film screening

Alumni University Memorial Center, Room 105

Presented by Sexual Assault Peer Advocates and Feminists in Action

Friday, March 27

7 p.m.  Mulan movie-going

North DeKalb Mall AMC Movie Theater

Join the Center for Women as they go see Mulan; registration required

Saturday, March 28

12 p.m.  Empowered: Defining Your Leadership Identity

The Hatchery

A #GrowAndGlow workshop for women of color presented by the Office for Racial and Cultural Engagement
The coronavirus response is the latest in a long line of irresistible Trump administration scandals to engage the shock and indignation of the press. It can be difficult for journalists to resist taking the bait, and so the outrage itself becomes the focus of piece after piece; the trainwreck becomes the story, at the expense of informing the public or holding power to account.

On MSNBC, Chris Hayess approach to the coronavirus pandemic has demonstrated an alternative, sober path away from outrage-mania. We caught Hayes for a few minutes last week to talk about his strategy.

Your approach to the epidemic has been more focused on the public health aspects, and less on the political aspects.

Right. Thats how I have viewed this.

This is the second time theres been a big public health story that weve done at this magnitude; the other was Ebola in 2014. In 2014, I thought there was a tremendous amount of irresponsible fearmongering and panic. And our guidepost was to listen to people who really know this, public health experts and epidemiologists, and take their lead. And in the case of Ebola, there was a mismatch in that the people who were knowledgeable were saying, Look: this is a very difficult disease to transmit.

So in the case of Ebola, the public fear was bigger than experts fear.

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Yes, and now [in the case of the coronavirus], I think, its a little reversed. Im talking to people who worked on Ebola, Im talking to epidemiologists and public-health expertsmy father was at the New York City Department of Public Health for years, so Im sort of familiar with public-health people, and the way it worksand theres much more concern and alarm among them than is being reflected outside. And thats because the response, so far, has been bad.

Were also in a situation where theres been a series of countries that have gone before us, and their ability to deal with this has varied quite widely. If you look at Japan or South Korea, where the response has been aggressive, versus say, Iran, where the response has been pretty disastrousor the first two weeks of transmission in China, before they really turned things aroundthere are lessons here about what you need to do, and how you need to do it.

The dilemma is that basically every government wants it to not be that bad. They make a bet on containment, which is, you identify people who are coming from infected areas, you try to isolate them and use case tracing to keep the number limited. But what has happened in every country eventually is that you get community transmission, and [once that happens], then the containment horse is out of the barn.

And then you need to do things to slow transmission. The problem is that doing those things is really disruptive. I understand that policymakers are reticent to do things like close schools; that is an enormous disruption in peoples lives!

Right now, all the signals from the Trump administration, and Trump personally, have been the wrong signals. The cases are going to go to zero; thats a thing he said. That it might go away, like a miracle. But the government has to look at the risk and attack the risk as a systemic issue.

Youve never been in a theater when there was a fire, right? But there are exit signs and fire codes for a reason. Because if youre managing a city like New York City, with eight million people and hundreds or thousands of theaters, eventually youre going to get a fire. So you manage the problem from the perspective of systemic risk. Its the reason we have seatbelt laws. This is that kind of problem.

The fear has sprung up in such a way that really harms public discourse, especially during an election season and with the turmoil in the markets. Its a period of extremity and danger.

I dont want to play into that.

People should wash their hands, and they should follow the guidelines of policymakers at the local level. If youre in Seattle, theres going to be a different set of guidelines than in Columbus, Ohio. Policymakers are the ones we entrust with making these risk tradeoffs.

How do journalists encourage policymakers to focus on the problems this way?

Just keep bangin the drum on this.

Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today

Maria Bustillos is the founding editor of Popula, an alternative news and culture magazine. Her work has appeared in the New York Times, The New Yorker, Harpers, and The Guardian.
MANILA, Philippines  Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri is urging the government to immediately mass-produce the test kits developed by local scientists for the detection of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the country.

The test kits were developed by local scientists at the University of the Philippines-National Institute of Health (UPNIH) through funding provided by the Department of Science and Technology.

Its public use has been given a greenlight by the Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Tuesday.

I urge the government and UP (University of the Philippines) if supplemental budget is necessary for this, I am more than willing to sponsor the measure, Zubiri said in a statement issued Tuesday.

Since this is more affordable and more accessible, we will able to cater to more patients, he added.

He also thanked local scientists for this timely achievement after health authorities earlier revealed they have limited test kits amid rising coronavirus cases in the country.

Thank you to our UP scientists for this speedy answer to our test kit problem. One reason for the growing panic in the past few days has been the severe lack of testing kits-we had only 2,000 testing kits, which is simply not enough to cater to our population, even just in Metro Manila, he said.

With UPs test kits, we can now more have a better diagnostic process for the virus, and hopefully, this will allow us to develop a better containment strategy as well, as we find out which areas have the most cases, he added.

Senator Panfilo Lacson also believes that the new test kits for coronavirus will help the government in dealing with the COVID-19 threat.

Despite measly state support, our local scientists have given us a major boost  and much-needed hope  in dealing with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), by way of test kits developed by local experts at the UPNIH, he said in a separate statement issued Wednesday.

Story continues

Tests using these kits will cost less than 1/6 of those using imported kits, he added.

Lacson also reiterated his proposal to raise the budgetary allocation for research and development, saying it is high time our government throw its support behind our homegrown scientists.

I have repeatedly raised the issue of the minuscule budgetary allocation for research and development (R&D) in the national budget year in, year out  an average of, lo and behold, 0.4% of the annual budget from 2016 to 2020, including 0.39% for 2020, he said.

For the same five-year period, the DOSTs average budget is only P20 billion or a meager 0.56% against the trillions of pesos that we pass every year as our national budget, he added.

Lacson believes that local scientists can contribute more if they are given adequate support by the government.

Had our homegrown scientists been given the much-needed additional budgetary support for R&D, who knows how much more they can contribute? As it is, by not supporting them adequately, were wasting their talents and opportunities to help our nation, he said.

This should be a wake-up call for our government officials who do not invest in research and development (R&D) through the budget, he added.

The post PH govt urged to mass-produce COVID-19 locally-developed test kits, raise fund for R & D appeared first on UNTV News.
The U.S. Army has authorized the combat patch for some soldiers who have served in Somalia, according to a U.S. Central Command news release.

The shoulder sleeve insignia for former wartime service is authorized for soldiers who have been "deployed, temporarily stationed or permanently assigned to Somalia since 2004 and who received combat zone tax exclusion plus hostile fire pay and/or imminent danger pay," the March 6 release states.

"The shoulder sleeve insignia is a unique Army tradition that distinguishes soldiers who have served in areas of combat, and our soldiers in Somalia have certainly earned this recognition," Army Chief of Staff Gen. James McConville said in the release.

Soldiers who have deployed to Somalia can begin wearing the combat patch immediately, as long as they have the proper documentation to support their eligibility, according to the release.

Related: Army SFAB Will Face Tough Conditions During Africa Mission: Milley

The combat patch has been a symbol of military service during combat operations since World War I. The unit patch is worn on the right sleeve of the uniform, just below the American flag.

Last October, al-Shabaab terrorists attacked Baledogle Military Airfield in Somalia with a car bomb, leaving one U.S. service member injured. U.S. service members train foreign troops to operate military drones out of the base, which is located about 60 miles from the capital of Mogadishu.

In June 2018, a U.S. special operations soldier was killed in a terrorist attack. Four other American service members were wounded when the group of U.S., Somali and Kenyan forces came under mortar and small-arms fire in Jubaland, Somalia.

The U.S. currently has roughly 6,000 troops based in Africa.

This authorization adds Somalia to the list of current combat zones -- including Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen, Iraq, Jordan, Syria and Djibouti -- where soldiers are receiving combat zone tax exclusion and imminent danger pay, according to the release.

-- Matthew Cox can be reached at matthew.cox@military.com.

Read More: Al-Shabab Attacks Military Base Used by US Forces in Kenya
A Birmingham police sergeant was shot multiple times in an exchange of gunfire during a traffic stop in southwest Birmingham Wednesday afternoon.

All three suspects were in custody before 4 p.m. One of the suspects - the alleged shooter - also was injured in the gunfight. Authorities have not released his identity but sources say he is a 40-year-old convicted felon with a lengthy criminal history that includes resisting arrest.

The incident happened at 12:45 p.m. in the 1200 block of Tuscaloosa Avenue. Birmingham Police Deputy Chief Scott Praytor said Sgt. Anthony Tony Wheeler and another West Precinct sergeant stopped a vehicle in connection with an investigation into ongoing vehicle thefts in the area. There has been a series of thefts, Praytor said, involving trucks with trailers or unmarked wreckers stealing vehicles.

The vehicle stopped was a truck pulling a vehicle. The sergeants initiated the traffic stop to ensure they had the proper paperwork. When they did, Praytor said, a passenger jumped out of the vehicle and started to run, as did a second suspect.

Wheeler gave chase on foot. During the pursuit , Wheeler tripped. "The officer fell and was getting back up when the suspect fired,'' Praytor said. "He (the suspect) had the opportunity to escape. That just speaks to the mindset of some of the violent offenders we deal with out here.

Wheeler, a 10 year veteran of the department, was promoted to the rank of sergeant in July 2019.

Once the suspect fired shots, both Wheeler and the other sergeant returned fire. According to sources, the shooting was captured on video.

An officer could be heard on the police radio yelling, Shots fired. The dispatcher replied, Are they shooting at you? and then a 10-33-- the code for officer needs all possible assistance -- was broadcast citywide.

Wheeler was shot at least once in the leg. Fellow officers rushed him in a police cruiser to UAB Hospital, where he is being treated for non-life-threatening injuries. Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service transported the wounded suspect to UAB Hospital as well. His injuries also are not severe.

Officers from across the city and beyond flocked to the shooting scene. They initially set up a three block perimeter in the area of the shooting, which happened near Mt. Calvary Baptist Church. The shooting scene is also near Hemphill Elementary School, which was closed today for cleaning.

This is the scene at the site where a BPD Officer has been shot pic.twitter.com/IaSrirMIZJ  carol robinson (@RobinsonCarol) March 11, 2020

There initially was a large police presence outside of the UAB emergency room.

A command post was established nearby and tracking dogs were on the ground. Jefferson Countys Star 1 helicopter is searching for the suspect by air and agents with the State Bureau of Investigation are on the scene. As is protocol with officer-involved shootings, SBI will lead the probe.

They are starting to block off intersections to transport to hospital  carol robinson (@RobinsonCarol) March 11, 2020

"Its very early on. Our biggest concern right now is that our officer is OK, Mauldin said. Were conducting a thorough search in the area and hopefully we can bring this suspect into custody.

The remaining suspect was taken into custody by the departments Crime Reduction Team shortly before 4 p.m. The suspect was captured outside of the initial perimeter but with an expanded perimeter which consisted of about 15 blocks. More than 100 law enforcement officers were on the scene at any given time during the manhunt, including Jefferson County sheriffs deputies, the U.S. Marshals, ATF, FBI and Homeland Security as well as officers from surrounding Jefferson County cities.

Praytor said a suspects weapon was recovered from the scene.

Wednesdays shooting is the fifth time in 14 months that a Birmingham police officer has been injured. The shooting comes weeks after narcotics Det. John Finke was shot when he responded to a robbery in Woodlawn. Finke survived the shooting.

"When we come to work, we know there is a high risk that were dealing with. We come out and make sure that we serve the citizens of Birmingham,'' Mauldin said. Its very difficult, however we know the job we have to do each and everyday when we come to work.

Birmingham FOP President Lt. Richard Haluska said he visited with both Wheeler and the other officer who was involved in the incident late Wednesday afternoon. As for the injured officer, He is somewhat sedated, but he seems to be doing Ok. Hes in good spirits.

It doesnt initially appear surgery will be immediately required. Theres going to be a long recovery, but it doesnt look too in depth and that is a great thing, Haluska said.

The lieutenant said its a shame that the violence continues, especially toward police officers. I dont understand why as we try to move forward as a community, people continue to commit violence in their neighborhoods and attack law enforcement and move us backwards, he said.

Asked what the answer is, Huluska said, moral conduct.

People just have to take responsibility for their actions, and we need to make the punishment so egregious that they dont want to get that penalty for doing the crime, he said. They do not fear jail and for some of them, jail is not the worse place to be.

They are fed and kept safe which is not what they have on the street, Haluska said. Jail has become more a like a full-service hotel. We have to make it tougher and make a place where people dont want to go.

Praytor said the Birmingham Police Department has more officers on the streets than ever before. Were actively trying to bring crime down. When youre out there interacting with the public more, doing more traffic stops and more interviews, theres more opportunity for this type of thing to happen.

Both sergeants were in uniform and in a marked cruiser when they stopped the suspects. "I hope it shows people the kind of violent individuals were dealing with out here,'' Praytor said. Its why violent offenders need to be kept in jail. If they will shoot at a police officer in broad daylight, who wont they shoot at?

"These senseless acts of violence must stop, Birmingham City Council President William Parker said. We are calling on all our residents to come together and unite against these hostile acts, because this violence affects us all. We are offering our thoughts and prayers to the officer and their family during this difficult time. We are going to continue monitoring this situation closely and provide any support we can.

Councilman Hunter Williams, chair of the councils public safety committee, provided this statement: "We have a big ask of all the men and women in the Birmingham Police Department.They always put their lives on the line every time they show up for a shift. Today exemplifies just that. We have officers out there trying to keep our communities safe. We want the people to rally behind our police department and we want to end the no snitch policy in the city.

This is a developing story and will be updated. A press conference is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.

AL.com reporters Ivana Hyrnkiw, Anna Beahm and Howard Koplowitz contributed to this article.
The St. Helena Tourist Improvement District (SHTID) is accepting grant applications for destination marketing projects aimed at promoting St. Helena to visitors for FY 2020-2021. Applications are due by 5 p.m., Friday, March 27. Applications can be found at sthelena.com or obtained by emailing admin@sthelena.com.

Formed in 2010, the Napa Valley Tourism Improvement District is funded through an assessment on hotel room nights implemented and collected by lodging businesses throughout the Napa Valley. The intent of the assessment is to support local activities and products that promote, support and enhance locally based tourism and hospitality efforts. Under the NVTID, each municipality, including the City of St. Helena, has created their own Tourist Improvement District Committee to monitor, support and fund activities for their respected cities.

The St. Helena TID Local Governing Board will entertain requests for funding whose sole objective is to advance tourism and hospitality in a significant and measurable way and which will have a demonstrated economic impact specific to the City of St. Helena community.

Requests for Funding are to be considered as the board determines and will be judged according to criteria that best achieve the following desired goals and objectives:

Develop events or activities that drive lodging night stays to the St. Helena community;

Events or activities should focus on travel Sunday through Thursday and also occur during the shoulder season months of November through March;

Seek to create and sustain events or activities that compel visitors to stay overnight. The exclusive goal of this application is to put heads in beds and extend stays.

Highlight St. Helenas many wine, food, art, and entertainment venues; showcase St. Helenas commitment to health, wellness, relaxation, and education; take advantage of our notable and recognizable winemakers, chefs, artists, musicians and individuals whose reputations have earned them national and international acclaim;

The event or activity will enhance the guest experience;

Demonstrate the financial health and accountability, creativity, and strong management of your organization to fulfill these objectives.

For more information, please email admin@sthelena.com or call 707-963-4456.
Bharatiya Janata Party MLAs from Madhya Pradesh, who arrived at Delhi airport in the wee hours of Wednesday, moved to ITC Grand Bharat in Gurugram.

IMAGE: Bharatiya Janata Party MLAs arrive in Delhi. Photograph: ANI

The development came following the political uncertainty in the state after the resignation of senior leader Jyotiraditya Scindia and 22 Congress MLAs.

The BJP MLAs had boarded a plane from Bhopal airport late on Tuesday night.

"We have come here in a festive mood and we will stay here and enjoy for the next few days," BJP general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya told reporters after arriving at New Delhi.

On the other hand, Congress MLAs will likely to leave for Jaipur from Bhopal on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Congress has sent two of its leaders -- Sajjan Singh Verma and Govind Singh --- to Bengaluru in order to pacify some of the rebel MLAs, who are camping in the BJP-ruled Karnataka.

Madhya Pradesh chief minister Kamal Nath on Tuesday said that there is nothing to worry about as the party will prove its majority in the assembly and added that his government will complete its term.

In the event of acceptance of resignations of 22 MLAs, the Kamal Nath government would be reduced to minority in assembly whose current strength is 228.

The Congress is also keeping a close watch on four Independents supporting it.
Ghanas western neighbour Cote dIvoire has confirmed its first case of the novel Coronavirus also known as COVID 19.

A statement from the countrys Health Ministry on Wednesday indicates that the patient is a 45-year-old Ivorian man who had recently traveled to Italy.

Following the confirmation by Cote dIvoire, all three of Ghanas direct neighbours have now reported cases of the deadly disease.



More soon

---citinewsroom
Reno Omokri, an aide to former President of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan has expressed that his prayer led to the removal of Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as the Emir of Kano.

Recall that Sanusi was dethroned on Monday and sent on exile by the Kano State Government who announced Aminu Ado Bayero as the new Emir of Kano.

Also Read: Traditional Rulers Are Public Servants, Can Be Removed Anytime: Former Governor Rimi

Reacting, Omokri expressed that whenever he prays against his oppositions, they fail.

Buttressing his point, he recounted how he prayed when former Pension board boss, Abdulrasheed Maina sued him to court and two weeks later, Maina was arrested.

Linking it to Sanusi, Reno pointed out that the former CBN boss paid journalists to attack him and he prayed against him, which led to his dethronement.

See his tweet below:
The China National Philatelic Corporation recently issued a set of postcards featuring the efforts made by the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force in combating the novel coronavirus epidemic, vividly depicting these stories using modern information technology.

The set is composed of two postcards, the first showing a special boarding pass for the domestically developed Y-20 large transport aircraft, and the other an express waybill for the care packages sent to medics dispatched by the PLA Air Force to the front line of the battle against the epidemic.

The PLA Air Force has used medium and large transport aircraft, including the Y-20 large transport aircraft, to urgently transport medical workers and medical supplies provided by the armed forces to Wuhan.

The Communist Party of China (CPC) PLA Air Force committee sent care packages to medical workers dispatched by the PLA Air Force to Hubei province, aimed at boosting their morale and encouraging them to continue fighting the epidemic.

The postcard set contains a total of 12 QR codes, which records the major actions and historical moments of the PLA Air Force as part of the nationwide effort to fight the epidemic.

The postcards will be given to the PLA Air Forces front-line personnel in the battle against the novel coronavirus, and also museums and exhibition centers in military bases.
Nicaragua's opposition parties on Tuesday broadened their coalition against the government of President Daniel Ortega to include right-wing parties and former Contra rebels ahead of elections set for next year. Shortly afterward, riot police deployed in several parts of the capital to break up a series of lightning anti-government protests by opposition supporters. Police assaulted protesters and journalists as they broke up a demonstration at Metrocentro shopping plaza in central Managua and outside a Catholic church in the city. "About a hundred police officers went to the Metrocentro shopping center, beating and pushing everyone," said an AFP photographer whose camera was damaged. Several people were arrested. Police also attacked a protest at the Divine Mercy church, according to Willy Narvaez, a reporter with Channel 10 private TV, who said the tires of his car were deliberately punctured. "There were patrols full of riot police and people dressed in civilian clothes operating with the government," he said. Protester Oscar Rosales told a human rights NGO he had been briefly arrested at the scene and "kicked in the ribs." "They took me for about 15 minutes, they put a rifle in my mouth and told me there were going to kill me." The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights said on Twitter it was "aware of a police operation to prevent" protests, adding that opposition leaders' homes had been placed under surveillance. - United front - Officials from seven parties formally signed the agreement forming a "national coalition" against leftist Ortega's 13-year rule. "These seven organizations are taking the initial step of shaping the National Coalition to rebuild democracy," according to a statement read by one of the leaders, former political prisoner Yubrank Suazo. The ruling Sandinista party has not ruled out the possibility of Ortega standing for a fourth consecutive term. Critics accuse Ortega -- a former rebel hero who has been in power since 2007 -- of running a repressive dictatorship whose crackdown on protests in 2018 left at least 300 people dead, according to rights groups. The demonstrations, initially over a social security scheme, broadened into a nationwide protest against the rule of Ortega, who also led Nicaragua in the 1980s. "It was a rebellion against the collapse of social security, corruption, the abuse of power and nepotism," the new coalition said in a statement. The coalition includes prominent opposition groups including the Civic Alliance for Justice and Democracy (ACJD) and the Blue and White National Unit (UNAB), which emerged after the 2018 anti-government protests. It also includes a peasant movement formed to fight a canal project, as well as the Yatama indigenous party. The Nicaraguan Democratic Force, a group of Contra ex-combatants who fought Ortega's Sandinistas in the 1980s, has also joined the coalition to oust him. "Today is a historic day because we have signed a firm commitment of unity -- it is the birth certificate of the National Coalition," said opposition leader Carlos Tunnermann. He said "the doors are open" for other parties to join forces with the coalition. "We are waiting for you with open arms because right now, what this country is asking for is unity," he said. Ortega's wife Rosario Murillo, who is also vice-president, blasted the opposition for its "insolence and criminal machinations" in a statement on Monday.
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...
The Mizoram government on Wednesday said it has enough stock of essential commodities for at least three months, as residents of the state capital made a beeline in markets following rumours that the inter-state borders may be shut amid the coronavirus scare.

The rumours on social media after Mizoram's borders with Myanmar and Bangladesh were shut on Monday led to panic among the residents of the state.

A trader told PTI that he has sold over hundred bags of rice and a substantial quantity of other essential grocery items in a day.

Supply Minister K Lalrinliana has assured people that they have nothing to fear as the state has "sufficient" stock of essential commodities.

The supply of rice, cooking gas, oil and other essentials is unlikely to be disrupted because Mizoram's border with neighbouring states would not be sealed, he said.

It will also be unaffected as Mizoram does not import foodgrains, gas and oil from Myanmar and Bangladesh, he said.

Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department officials said the stock was sufficient to meet the requirement of the state for three months.

The state government has prohibited hoarding and hiking prices of essential commodities. It has warned of a legal action against violators under 'The Prevention of Black Marketing and Maintenance of Supplies of Essential Commodities Act, 1980 and the Consumer Protection Act, 2019', they said.

A task force on the mitigation of coronavirus, headed by Chief Secretary Lalnunmawi Chuaungo, said there was enough stock of food items in the state.

Chuaungo said no case of coronavirus has been reported in the state till date. However, strict vigilance would be maintained along inter-state and international borders, he added.

Mizoram had on Monday sealed its borders with Myanmar and Bangladesh, and banned the entry of foreigners to prevent the spread of the deadly coronavirus.

A state home department official said that personnel of Border Security Force (BSF) and state police will be deployed along the India-Bangladesh border while the Assam Rifles assisted by the police positioned at the India-Myanmar border.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Iranian ambassador to Pakistan Syed Muhammad Ali Hussaini Tuesday called on Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid Ahmed and discussed matters pertaining to mutual interest

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 10th Mar, 2020 ) :Iranian ambassador to Pakistan Syed Muhammad Ali Hussaini Tuesday called on Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid Ahmed and discussed matters pertaining to mutual interest.

Secretary/Chairman of Railways Habib ur Rehman Gillani and other high officials were also present during the meeting, a press release said.

Sheikh Rashid said Pakistan and Iran were enjoying deep and cordial relations, which were further strengthening with each passing day.

He said Quetta-Taftan section railway-line would provide the platform for enhancement and betterment of economic development, for which "massive initiatives would be taken.

" He said the Ministry of Railways was determined to providing all necessary facilities to traders and passengers.

The minister extended invitation for Iran's technical team to visit the up-graded Quetta-Taftan train section.

The Iranian envoy desired to reopen the Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul (ITI) container train service, saying it would help increase the freight business and promote tourism activities in the region.

Ali Hussaini appreciated the minister for making consistent efforts in development of the Railways.
"An accusation of abuse by a staff member has been filed but no one will let her know what is going on / She wants a welfare check to be performed on her son," said the one-sentence police report. Police declined to comment on whether there was any follow-up.
With the sales of chicken and mutton going down due to the coronavirus scare, it is the humble 'kathal' (jackfruit) that is emerging as an acceptable alternative.

'Kathal' is now selling at 120 per kilogram -- an increase of more than 120 percent over the normal 50 per kilogram.

The jackfruit, in fact, is now higher priced than chicken which is selling at 80 per kilogram due to poor demand.

"It is better having a 'kathal' biryani instead of mutton biryani. It tastes reasonably good. The only problem is that 'kathal' has been sold out in the vegetable market and is difficult to find," said Purnima Srivastava whose family savours non-vegetarian food on a regular basis.

The corona scare has hit poultry business so hard and the Poultry Farm Association recently organized a Chicken Mela in Gorakhpur to dispel the misconception that birds are carriers of the deadly virus.

"In fact, we gave away plateful of chicken dishes for 30 to encourage people to savour the delicacies. We cooked one thousand kilograms of chicken for the Mela and the entire stock was sold out," said Vineet Singh, head of the Poultry Farm Association.

However, the Mela did not do much to dispel the fears about chicken, mutton or fish consumption amid the virus outbreak.

The fear against chicken has been such that in some places, live chickens have even been killed to avoid the spread of coronavirus. In Belgawi, Karnataka, a chicken farmer buried truckloads of chicken alive. The incident occurred in Gokak in Nulsoor where a farmer by the name of Najeer Ahmed Makandar dumped about 6000 chickens into a dump and buried them alive amid falling demand for chicken as it is falsely being believed that eating the bird spread the virus.

(With inputs from IANS)
NEW YORK, March 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Cancelling your flight doesn't mean that you must cancel your trip between Washington DC, Boston, and NYC. Book a Carmel car instead! Riding with Carmel to Washington/Boston instead of flying reduces your chances of exposure by 99%, takes the same time as flying and can even be cheaper; all things considered.

Dr. Avik Kabessa, Carmel's CEO commented, "Many of our customers traveling to Washington D.C and to Boston have cancelled their flights and have booked a Carmel car to drive them instead. At an unbeatable $440* per trip for a sedan with up to 3 passengers, Carmel has the lowest prices in the NYC area and its' cost is even lower than the cost of flying (with 2-days' notice) if you and a friend travel together!"

Between overcrowded lines at airport security, penned seating areas and the enclosed aircraft with constantly re-circulating air, eliminating this risky exposure makes the claim that riding with Carmel reduces the risk by 99% only logical. Additionally, it has become increasingly possible that everyone on a flight -- or even an entire airport  may be quarantined for 2 weeks, for reasons that have nothing to do with your own cautious behavior. Riding Carmel to Washington/Boston eliminates that risk completely.

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"We believe America is stronger than the Coronavirus, and should keep flying like we're used to, but with added care, just like we do with the Flu. Having said that, if an opportunity like the Carmel special allows us to drive in a private car instead of flying without changing our plans, why not take it?" Dr. Kabessa concluded.

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Last week a Tasmanian bar worker turned up for his shift even though the doctor who had just tested him for COVID-19 directed him to self-isolate pending the results. The tests were positive, he is now in quarantine, but it is possible he infected some of those who came into contact with him at work.

We are quick to demonise such people as being recklessly indifferent to public health, but the situation is morally complicated, and has sparked a debate about the plight of casual and gig economy workers in the current crisis.

Such workers represent a large and growing proportion of the Australian workforce. ACTU secretary Sally McManus claimed that 3.3 million lack access to paid sick leave, but most also lack predictability and regularity in their working hours.

Much contemporary work is precarious and insufficient, and underemployment is probably now as big a problem as unemployment. Those who cannot get enough shifts find it hard to budget and are often forced to live hand to mouth.
Passengers wear face masks as a preventive measure against the COVID-19 coronavirus as they arrive from an international flight at Beijing Capital Airport in Beijing. AFP Photo

Beijing: China reported an increase in imported coronavirus cases Wednesday as Beijing stepped up measures at its main international airport over fears that infections from abroad could undo the country's progress against the epidemic.

There were 22 more deaths and 24 new cases nationwide, according to the National Health Commission.

China has made major strides in its battle against the virus, prompting President Xi Jinping to visit Wuhan, the central city at the heart of the global epidemic, on Tuesday and declare that it has "basically curbed" the spread of the disease.

The number of new cases has dramatically fallen in recent weeks but Wednesday's numbers were a slight uptick from the previous day due to the increase in imported cases.

Ten of the new cases came from abroad -- most from Italy, the worst-hit country outside China.

Six of the imported cases were in Beijing, which is enforcing a 14-day quarantine for people arriving from countries deemed to be high-risk, including Italy, Iran, South Korea and Japan.

Travellers flying into Beijing Capital International Airport from high-risk countries are now handled separately from other passengers, reported state media on Tuesday.

Flights from Italy, Iran, Korea and Japan will arrive at a designated area of the terminal, an airport staff member told AFP on Wednesday.

Normally the busiest airport in China by passenger volume, the airport was much quieter than usual on Wednesday morning.

The staffer added that travellers who need to be quarantined would be sent to the nearby New China International Exhibition Centre, where AFP journalists saw security guards standing next to a red carpet.

China has now reported 79 cases imported from abroad.

The country, however, has made significant progress in curbing domestic infections.
President Donald Trump's proposed payroll tax break met with bipartisan resistance on Capitol Hill as pressure mounts on the administration and Congress to work more vigorously to contain the coronavirus outbreak and respond to the financial fallout.

Flanked by his economic team, Trump on Tuesday pitched his economic stimulus ideas privately to wary Senate Republicans on another grueling day in the struggle against expanding infections.

Fluctuating stock markets rebounded but communities discovered new cases and the two top Democratic presidential candidates, Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden, canceled Tuesday primary night rallies in Ohio.

The president's GOP allies have been cool to additional spending at this stage, especially for cutting taxes that would have to be reimposed later presumably after the November election.

Democrats prefer their own package of low- or no-cost virus testing, unemployment insurance and sick pay for workers struggling to keep paychecks coming as the outbreak disrupts workplaces.

We're taking this unbelievably seriously," Trump said after his meeting at the Capitol.

It will go away, just stay calm.

Asked why he has not yet been tested for the virus, after having been in close contact with several advisers and members of Congress who are now self-quarantined after exposure, Trump said: I don't think it's a big deal and "I feel very good.

White House officials have been blindsided by the president's sudden moves. As Trump headed to Capitol Hill, two administration officials said the proposals he was putting in play had not been completed.

They were unauthorised to discuss the planning and requested anonymity.

Trump's team offered few specifics at the closed door GOP lunch on the size of the payroll tax break or its duration, senators said.

Trump has long promised to bring about an election year "tax cuts 2.0," and seemed to be seizing on the virus fears as a way to bring about a victory on that front before November. Behind closed doors he discussed the coming elections in swing states like Arizona and Montana where GOP senators face tough races.

In addition to payroll tax relief, Trump has said he wants help for hourly-wage workers to ensure they're not going to miss a paycheck and don't get penalized for something that's not their fault."



He's also mentioned small-business loans. But details are slight.

So far, the president's approach, based on tax breaks, is receiving a cool response.

Some Republicans endorsed Trump's suggestion that help be provided to the beleaguered cruise-ship and airline industries, while others spoke up for other industries, including energy and gas.

Some pushed for broader economic stimulus from a bipartisan highway bill they said was shovel-ready and popular. The payroll tax plan remains a work in progress.

They didn't get into specifics, said the No. 2 Republican, Sen. John Thune of South Dakota.

Increasingly, it appears a solution will originate in the House, where Speaker Nancy Pelosi told House Democrats they would keep working this week despite concerns about the risk of infection at the Capitol.

"We are the captains of the ship, Pelosi said during a closed-door meeting, according to a person in the room unauthorized to discuss the private caucus and granted anonymity.

We are the last to leave. But time is short as Congress heads toward its scheduled break next week.

Trump tapped Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to meet with Pelosi, whose support will be needed for any deal in the divided Congress, where Republicans hold the Senate majority but Democrats hold the House.

Munchin declared the meeting with Pelosi productive and said they'd "work together on a bipartisan basis to figure out how we can get things done quickly.

Pelosi insisted the threshold for any proposal must be its ability to respond to the virus. Her team was preparing to come out with a package in the next day or so.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell was noncommittal after the meeting with Trump, emphasizing the path forward rests in the talks between Mnuchin and Pelosi.

"We're hoping that he and the speaker can pull this together," he said.

That reflected divisions even within the administration on the best approach. The payroll-tax plan found support from Trump's son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner and trade adviser Peter Navarro, among others.

Other aides, including Mnuchin and Larry Kudlow advocated more modest measures. Trump prefers the payroll tax holiday last through the end of the year, Kudlow said.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia.

The vast majority of people recover from the new virus. According to the World Health Organization, people with mild illness recover in about two weeks, while those with more severe illness may take three to six weeks to recover.

In mainland China, where the virus first exploded, more than 80,000 people have been diagnosed and more than 58,000 have so far recovered.

In Washington, there were mixed signals about the public mood. Tourists still arrived for visits while marquee events, including this weekend's Gridiron Club dinner, an annual mingling of political Washington, was postponed.

At the US Capitol, some senators said they resisted shaking Trump's hand when he arrived for lunch.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
PHOENIX  The Arizona Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld a state prison inmates convictions and sentences in a 2008 killing in which another inmate was stabbed 114 times with prison-made shanks.

Thomas Michael Riley was sentenced to death for a murder conviction in the killing with accomplices of Sean Kelly in his cell at the Lewis prison complex in Buckeye. He was also sentenced to 11 years for assisting a criminal gang.

Besides upholding Rileys convictions and sentences, the justices upheld the constitutionality of two of Arizonas aggravating factors that could warrant imposition of a death sentence. The court also reaffirmed an earlier ruling that Arizona law sufficiently narrows the grounds that could justify imposing a death sentence.

Jurors found multiple aggravated factors in Rileys case, including that he committed the offense while in custody.

According to court papers, Riley wrote another inmate a letter graphically describing the killing of Kelly and detailing Rileys quest to become a full member of the Aryan Brotherhood prison gang.

According to trial evidence, the gang targeted Kelly because he refused to commit an act of violence against another inmate.

Rileys previous criminal record included numerous convictions in Pima and Maricopa counties for armed robbery, kidnapping and aggravated assault.
Angelica Limcaco hasn't worked in Las Vegas since she blew the whistle on Steve Wynn, claiming to her supervisors he had raped one of her salon employees.

The former salon manager at Wynn Las Vegas claims she was fired, blacklisted and intimidated into silence  after she elevated her concerns in 2006 to then-president of Wynn Las Vegas, Andrew Pascal.

Limcaco filed a federal lawsuit in 2018 against Wynn Resorts founder and former CEO and Chairman Steve Wynn and Wynn Las Vegas under an Equal Opportunity complaint. Steve Wynn has emphatically denied any assault allegations.

So far, it's not going in Limcaco's favor. In April, Judge Miranda Du sided with Wynn Las Vegas and Steve Wynn when she ruled Limcaco had not made her claim within the statute of limitations.

But Limcaco's attorneys, including Jordan Matthews, argued that the time limits shouldn't apply because Limcaco feared for her personal safety. They claimed in court documents that Limcaco was warned, "that Mr. Wynn 'was more powerful than the police and that there may be people buried in the desert because of Mr. Wynn.'"

Further Limcaco alleges in the court complaint that one of her salon employees "was terminated and seemingly disappeared after alleging sexual assault by Mr. Wynn." The employee is believed to be the accuser to whom Steve Wynn paid $7.5 million in a settlement. The arrangement brought the scrutiny of The Wall Street Journal in 2018 and subsequently the gaming commissions of Nevada and Massachusetts, ending with $55 million in fines for Wynn Resorts.

Limcaco stayed silent for 12 years after her dismissal from the company.

Now, as her attorneys prepare for oral arguments in the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals later this month, they're questioning whether their client is getting a fair shake.

In a petition filed Tuesday, the lawyers raised the issue of the recent appointment of Elayna Youchah as magistrate judge in U.S. District Court in Nevada. Youchah previously had been with the law firm Jackson Lewis and was the lead counsel for Wynn Las Vegas in the Limcaco case.

"The circumstances and timing of the events surrounding Ms. Youchah's selection raise serious questions regarding the District Court's ability to remain impartial," the petition said.

Last April, the district court was alerted to a change in representation; another Jackson Lewis attorney was added as legal counsel for Wynn Las Vegas. About two weeks later, Du dismissed Limcaco's claims as "time-barred." Youchah in May became a magistrate judge in the Nevada federal district, where Du has since become her superior as the chief U.S. district judge.

In the brief filed in the 9th Circuit, Limcaco's attorneys do not allege outright impropriety and do not claim that Youchah had undue influence on Du's decision to dismiss Limcaco's case. They do point out that Youchah would have been applying to the court at the same time she was arguing Wynn's case there.

Youchah needed the majority vote of the active district judges to win the appointment to magistrate judge. It's not known which judges voted for her.

"If the district judge was considering and voting on Youchah's appointment while she was lead counsel in the case, you can see why a litigant might well question the district judge's impartiality when the litigant later discovers this connection," Keith Swisher, professor of legal ethics at the University of Arizona College of Law, told CNBC.

Experienced litigators may frequently argue cases before the courts to which they subsequently are appointed or elected. Limcaco's attorneys argue that there was a lack of disclosure about Youchah's application to the federal bench.

"It would have been more transparent  and presumably would have appeared less questionable  to the plaintiff and other litigants had they received notice of lead counsel's serious consideration for this federal appointment," Swisher said.



Limcaco's legal team makes their arguments later this month. They hope the appellate court reverses the decision and revive the case.

Wynn Resorts spokesman Michael Weaver said: "Because their opposition is to the federal district court, and not Wynn, we don't have a comment."
The Beatles in THE BEATLES: GET BACK. (Linda McCartney)

Disney has acquired the rights to Peter Jacksons long-awaited The Beatles documentary, setting a release date of 4 September in the United Kingdom.

The feature length film, titled The Beatles: Get Back, will document the making of the Fab Fours penultimate studio album Let It Be, and features extensive never-before-seen footage from the recording sessions. It will also feature the bands final live performance in 1969 on the roof of their Savile Row office, in full and remastered.

The bands drummer, Ringo Starr, says the film offers a totally different perspective on the recording sessions to Michael Lindsay-Hoggs 1970 documentary Let It Be, which portrayed a band in turmoil and was released just one month after they officially split.

"Im really looking forward to this film. Peter is great and it was so cool looking at all this footage. There was hours and hours of us just laughing and playing music, not at all like the version that came out, Starr said in a statement.

Read more: New Beatles doc to bust myths about Let It Be sessions

There was a lot of joy and I think Peter will show that. I think this version will be a lot more peace and loving, like we really were."

Just announced: Peter Jacksons "The Beatles: Get Back" documentary, featuring never-before-seen footage of the legendary band, comes to theaters September 4, 2020. Read more: https://t.co/ySrut8nPuD Photo: 1969 Paul McCartney/Photographer: Linda McCartney @disney @disneystudios pic.twitter.com/pNu9FTZGgT  The Beatles (@thebeatles) March 11, 2020

Paul McCartney adds: The friendship and love between us comes over and reminds me of what a crazily beautiful time we had."

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Compiled from over 55 hours of unseen footage, filmed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg in 1969, and 140 hours of mostly unheard audio recordings from the Let It Be album sessions, a press release for the film said the film will showcase the warmth, camaraderie and humour of the making of the legendary bands studio album.

The Beatles at TVC's animation studios, participating in "Mod Odyssey," a film about the creation of Yellow Submarine, November 6, 1967. (Jeff Hochberg/Getty Images)

The footage has been restored by Park Road Post Production of Wellington, New Zealand, and is being edited by Jabez Olssen, who collaborated with Jackson on 2018s They Shall Not Grow Old, the groundbreaking film which featured restored and colorised World War I archival footage. The music in the film will be mixed by Giles Martin and Sam Okell at Abbey Road Studios in London.

Peter Jackson said, "Working on this project has been a joyous discovery. Ive been privileged to be a fly on the wall while the greatest band of all time works, plays and creates masterpieces. Im thrilled that Disney have stepped up as our distributor. Theres no one better to have our movie seen by the greatest number of people."

The announcement was made earlier today by Bob Iger, Executive Chairman of The Walt Disney Company, at Disneys annual meeting of shareholders.

The four members of the BEATLES giving a press conference upon the release of their new album SERGENT PEPPER'S LONELY HEARTS CLUB BANDS on June 1st. (Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images)

No band has had the kind of impact on the world that The Beatles have had, and The Beatles: Get Back is a front-row seat to the inner workings of these genius creators at a seminal moment in music history, with spectacularly restored footage that looks like it was shot yesterday," Iger said.

Read more: Rare George Harrison guitar valued on Antiques Roadshow

"Im a huge fan myself, so I could not be happier that Disney is able to share Peter Jacksons stunning documentary with global audiences in September."

Lindsay-Hoggs Let It Be was released in May 1970 at the same time as the album which features hits such as The Long and Winding Road, Across The Universe and Get Back. Both came a month after the band announced their split.

Let It Be, poster, The Beatles-clockwise from top left: John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, 1970. (Photo by LMPC via Getty Images)

The 1970 film not been officially available on home video since the 1980s. Footage from the film appeared in the extensive 1995 documentary series The Beatles Anthology, but a planned DVD release was canned in 2007.

The film was so controversial when it first came out. When we got halfway through restoring it, we looked at the outtakes and realised: this stuff is still controversial. It raised a lot of old issues, said Beatles exec Neil Aspinall at the time.

The Disney press release confirmed Lindsay-Hoggs film is also being fully restored and will be made available at a later date.

This isnt the first time The Beatles have hooked up with Disney. The Fab Four were linked with playing the vultures in the 1964 The Jungle Book, and in 2009 the studio announced a CGI motion capture remake of the bands 1968 animated film Yellow Submarine, directed by Robert Zemeckis. It was cancelled in 2011.
WASHINGTON  North Korea has evaded U.N. sanctions for many months by exporting coal, sand and petroleum, and importing luxury goods including armored sedans, alcohol and robotic machinery. The findings are based on an upcoming U.N. report, other assessments using satellite images and shipping data, and interviews with analysts.

The exports provide North Korea with money to continue developing its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs, analysts say. And the imports of luxury goods show techniques that North Korea might also be using to procure dual-use technology for those programs, they say. The efforts to raise money are aided by the countrys sophisticated cybercrime operations that target financial institutions and cryptocurrency exchanges.

The upcoming annual report from the U.N. Panel of Experts gives more detail on the smuggling of two armored Mercedes sedans that were shipped from the Netherlands to East Asia in 2018 and that were the subject of an investigation by the New York Times and the Center for Advanced Defense Studies in July.

The U.N. panel did its own investigation after the article and video appeared, and concluded that the cars were shipped from Europe after they were in the possession of two Italian companies  apparently the start of the supply chain, according to a draft of the report seen by the Times. The U.N. is expected to release the report this month.

In interviews, Sandro Cianci, a top executive at one of the Italian companies, confirmed that the company had bought two armored Mercedes sedans that were eventually shipped to Asia, but said they had not engaged in illegal activity and had no knowledge of the cars ending up in North Korea.

Overall, China and Russia have weakened the sanctions and are aiding the illegal smuggling, say U.S. officials, analysts and the reports. In December, the two nations proposed to the United Nations an easing of sanctions.

U.S. officials and analysts cite satellite images that show transfers involving North Korean ships in Chinese territorial waters as evidence of efforts to evade the sanctions.

The Chinese have to enforce the sanctions against North Korea. Theyve got to stop the ship-to-ship transfers, Robert OBrien, President Trumps national security adviser, said last month. We need the Chinese to assist us as we pressure the North Koreans to come to the table, he added.

The United States has pushed the United Nations to pass five rounds of sanctions resolutions since 2016.

Trump has made diplomacy with North Korea a signature foreign policy initiative. But U.S. officials are frustrated that the Norths leader, Kim Jong Un, has rejected outreach from Washington since a round of talks between negotiators ended abruptly in Stockholm last October. That came after the failure of the second summit between Trump and Kim in Hanoi in February 2019.

Edward Wong, Christoph Koettl, Whitney Hurst and Elisabetta Povoledo are New York Times writers.
Tamil cinema superstar Rajinikanth will meet the district secretaries of his unified fan club Rajini Makkal Mandram in Chennai on Thursday (March 12). It may be recalled that Rajinikanth had met them on March 5 and said them during the meeting that he was personally disappointed over an issue but refused to divulge the details of the issue.

Sources say that Rajinikanth has convened the meeting to iron out internal differences. The meeting in Chennai comes amid speculations that Rajinikanth may announce his political foray in a few months.

Thursday's meeting will be thrid meeting of Rajini Makkal Mandram since the Tamil megastar launched the outfit in 2018. In last meeting, 38 district secretaries were present and they had discussed the next course of action with Rajinikanth.

After making the announcement over his political plunge in December 2017, Rajinikanth has been making comments on major political issues, besides discussing various issues that include local as well as national, like Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

However, Rajinikanth has so far not made any concrete statement as to when he will enter politics or when will he start his political party. He launched the Rajini people's forum in the year 2018 with all his fans club and appointed district secretaries to give it an organisational shape.

Rajinikanth has already rejected media reports that he is planning enter into an alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) after launching his political party, asserting that his colour is not that of BJP.

However, rumour mills are on that Rajinikanth would launch his political party by this year so that he may be able to contest 2021 Tamil Nadu Assembly election.
In a scathing attack on the Centre in over the recent riots, AIMIM leader on Wednesday said there is a "tsunami of Hindutva hate" and called for an impartial probe to find the perpetrators of the violence.

Some of his remarks evoked sharp response from the Treasury benches, with at least two Union ministers -- Ravi Shankar Prasad and Kishan Reddy -- registering their protest. Speaker Om Birla also expunged certain remarks made by Owaisi.

Participating in a discussion in on the violence, he urged Hindus to "save the soul" of the country and claimed that around 1,100 Muslims are under illegal detention.

Owaisi said calling it communal riots would be a joke and alleged that what happened was a "pre-planned pogrom". Calling for an impartial probe, Owaisi said that "Ankit's life cannot have a premium over the life of Faisan, just because the latter was a muslim". These individuals were among those who died in the violence that happened last month.

"We will die saving the Constitution... we will not allow the carnage to continue," Owaisi said, adding that a committee headed by a Supreme Court or a High Court judge should carry out an inquiry into the violence.

An all-party team should also visit the violence-affected areas, he said. Thanking Sikhs for helping Muslims during the violence, Owaisi said they are the "small lamps in the tsunami of Hindutva hate".

Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said that during such a discussion, Owaisi has made comments that would increase tensions.

Hitting back at Owaisi, Minister of State for Home Affairs Kishan Reddy claimed that thousands of Hindu settlements were removed by Owaisi's party in Hyderabad.

member Bhagwant Mann claimed that people were brought from outside to incite violence and that it was a "sponsored riots".

CPI's K Subbarayan said that hate speeches was a reason and that the central government was complicit in the riots.

Democracy is in crisis and it was pre-planned riots, CPI-M member A M Ariff said, alleging that the government was "killing the country's secular nature".

He also referred to banning of two Malayalam television channels regarding their coverage of riots and transfer of Justice Muralidhar. Ariff also demanded the resignation of the home minister.

Condemning the violence, NCP member Amol Ramsing Kolhe wondered whether hate speeches cannot be controlled, and flagged concerns about "religious nationalism".

Taking a dig, he remarked that "if there is a heart in the 56-inch chest," then they would say that there were shortcomings in dealing with the situation.

IUML leader P K Kunhalikutty said "majority of the minority community" are scared due to plans for NRC and NPR.

While claiming that the Citizenship Amendment Act was the first law passed in the name of religion, he said India is becoming a theological state. Thomas Chazhikadan (KC-M) alleged it was a "government- motivated" violence.

BJP member Sanjay Jaiswal criticised the and mentioned about various incidents of violence that happened during the rival party's rule. He also said that "people should not be burnt just because they lost 2019 elections".

Conference member Hasnain Masoodi said the government has promoted a culture of impunity and that there was total negligence. K R K Raju (YSRCP) said it should be probed why the violence happened, especially when US President Donald Trump was visiting the country.
PHILADELPHIA  Even before Joe Biden romped in another big primary night on Tuesday, Democrats were already talking about the next move: how to get Bernie Sanders out of the race.

More than two dozen political operatives and delegate experts agreed in interviews that a walloping in Michigan and Mississippi and a tight finish in Washington state would all but close Sanders path to the nomination.

By late Tuesday, Biden was declared the winner in Michigan, the state that Sanders aides had held up as a must-win for the campaign. He crushed Sanders in Mississippi on the strength of overwhelming African-American support. And Biden coasted in Missouri.

Now Democrats, trying to avoid a prolonged primary that they say would only help Donald Trump's reelection efforts, are conferring over when  or even whether  to prod Sanders to clear the way for Biden. Democrats agree they want to avoid a repeat of 2016s protracted race and risk turning over a bloodied and bruised nominee to face off against President Donald Trump. Singed by the devastating general election loss four years ago, some Democrats say they refuse to go down that road again.

But others say Sanders has signaled that this time will be different  that hes far more likely to jump than wait to get pushed. A scenario in which Sanders voluntarily quits  regardless of how long it takes  is the best way Democrats could coax his supporters to coalesce behind Biden, some Democrats argue.

Ohio Rep. Marcia Fudge said if the polls are right and Biden wins big in Michigan and elsewhere Tuesday, Sanders should consider dropping out.

I think then Sen. Sanders is pragmatic enough to understand that there is no path, Fudge said. If in fact, he wants to let the people speak  the people have spoken. I would certainly hope that he would then do what is best for the party and what is best for the country. I would just believe that he is a strong enough politician to know when it is time to fold his hand.

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The problem is math, she added. Then, speaking of the number of delegates needed to clinch the nomination, she said, If you "cant get to 1,991, you cant win. Its real simple.

The Sanders campaign was uncharacteristically quiet Tuesday. After cancelling a rally in Ohio due to coronavirus concerns, Sanders flew back to Burlington, Vermont. A Sanders aide said he would not address supporters after Michigan, Missouri and Mississippi were called for Biden.

However, the aide said Sanders was still planning to debate Biden on Sunday, where his team has long believed he would thrive in a one-on-one match-up with the former vice president. Some left-wing allies are cheering him on, despite the disappointing results for Sanders.

"The progressive world wants a Bernie vs. Biden debate, as should all Democratic voters," said Adam Green, co-founder of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, which is closely aligned with Elizabeth Warren. "Not because it will likely change the outcome, but because in order to not change the outcome, Biden has to withstand one-on-one scrutiny similar to a debate with Trump  and he would likely need to cement some popular progressive positions that Bernie challenges him on. All of that makes us more likely to defeat Trump."

Sanders' loss in Michigan is particularly damaging to the Vermont senator's White House aspirations. Aside from the 125 delegates up for grabs, the state has significance to Sanders because of his triumph over Hillary Clinton four years ago and its importance as a general election battleground.

Sanders' shellacking in Mississippi underscored his failure to win over African Americans. Results were not yet available in Washington state, but even a close finish would undercut Sanders argument that hes best positioned to counter Trump because his candidacy attracts new voters.

Alabama Sen. Doug Jones said if Tuesday's results are as bad for Sanders as the polls predict, then Sanders should seriously reassess  and quickly. "I hope that he will look at the big picture and coalesce and make the nominating process one that we can fully support," Jones said.

Is Sen. Sanders really committed to the Democratic Party and the nominee, or is he committed to his movement and his own candidacy? Thats a question only Sen. Sanders can answer," Jones said. "He has said he is committed to the party, I think hes going to have to demonstrate that."



One delegate expert said if the race stays on its current course, Sanders will find it increasingly difficult to make up the delegate gap.

Biden will be the presumptive nominee after Florida. Its kind of there already, but nobodys using those explicit words, said Matt Seyfang, a delegate expert who worked for Pete Buttigiegs campaign. You start to run out of scenarios where Bernie can make up the gap. Its really hard to see a scenario where he can net out so many delegates.

The major caveat with the calculation is that polling has been very wrong in the past. In 2016, pollsters predicted Hillary Clinton would win big in Michigan. Instead, Sanders eked out a win in the state, breathing new life into his campaign and dragging out the fight for another month. If Sanders does better than expected in Michigan on Tuesday and then moves into a weekend debate against Biden, it could give him renewed momentum.

The fear among some Democrats is that Sanders and his supporters could do damage waging a fruitless battle against Biden at the same time Trump and Republicans are attacking him. While the Democratic National Committee has not intervened in the primary in the past, the partys flagship super PAC, Priorities USA, is now preparing to provide air cover for Biden against the Republican onslaught.

No one wants to repeat the political sins of 2016 because we all know theres little to no education in the second kick of the mule," said Democratic strategist Antjuan Seawright. "The stakes are too high for the Democrats to do anything but to be one band, one sound to go into the most politically consequential election of some of our lifetimes.

Sanders in recent days has blamed the establishment for pressuring Amy Klobuchar and Pete Buttigieg to drop out and endorse Biden on the eve of Super Tuesday. Both candidates suffered major losses in South Carolina and were already struggling to raise money.

Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden greets the crowd during a campaign rally Saturday, March 7, 2020, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Democrats said they have to avoid feeding any narrative that the Democratic establishment pushed Sanders out.

Throughout this primary, its Democratic voters who dictated the contours of this race and theres really no role for Democratic leaders to engage in any public pressure campaign, said Neera Tanden, president of the Center for American Progress. The primaries will play themselves out tonight and in the future.

The Sanders campaign did not respond to a request for comment.

A Sanders senior aide who spoke on condition of anonymity said it would be difficult to envision the Vermont senator passing up Sundays debate in Arizona.

I cant imagine him dropping out without getting his chance to get this guy one on one in a debate, the Sanders aide said.

And Sanders himself has hinted hes not preparing for a drawn-out fight.

"I'm not a masochist who wants to stay in a race that can't be won. But right now, that's a little bit premature, Sanders told ABC News George Stephanopoulos on Sunday. Let's not determine what will happen on Tuesday and what will happen in the future.

Holly Otterbein contributed to this report.


Birminghams Hoar Construction is celebrating its 80th anniversary with a complete rebrand, as well as a commitment to tackling some of the thorniest questions in the construction industry.

The new look includes a redesigned logo and a revamped website. The rebrand features the companys traditional H letter with a curved line in the middle, which company officials say represents a continuum of evolution and improvement between the two pillars in the letter, which represent buildings.

But the center of Hoars rebranding is the phrase always in process - an idea meaning the company is committed to using its accumulated expertise to improve the construction industry.

The updated logo and messaging capture the essence of Hoars relentless pursuit of improvement as well as our responsibility to be a steward and leader of the industry in which we operate, company President Turner Burton said.

Hoar was founded in 1940 and began by building 45 churches around the Birmingham area before moving onto retail, office and higher education projects. Now, it has offices in seven cities with 550 employees nationwide, and has completed more than 4,000 projects across nine market sectors.

In 2019, Hoar generated $946 million in revenue and was ranked 10th among Birminghams largest privately-held companies. Notable projects in its portfolio include Birminghams Childrens of Alabama, Atlantas Colony Square, Dania Pointe in Dania Beach, Fla., the new Fan Zone at Talladega Superspeedway, Broadwest in Nashville and Madisons Toyota Field.

But Burton said the companys rebranding represents the commitment it is making to continually evolve as a builder while doing our part to fix a broken industry. Whats needed are wholesale changes, such as more efficient and workflow driven systems, to an industry still heavily reliant on methods like design-bid-build.

Through the years our industry has experienced a series of highs and lows, but our process-driven approach has been our guiding principle throughout," he said. "Hoar has evaluated how we can simplify and apply new innovations to a proven process that has successfully conquered the challenges of decades past, and with our growing expertise in critical service areas such as preconstruction and estimating technology, we stand ready to help drive the next era of change that will transform our industry in the decade ahead.
Harvey Weinstein, Hollywood's one of the most powerful personalities, was jailed for 23 years in trail for 2 sexual assault cases on Wednesday.

Hollywood ace filmmaker Harvey Weinstein, who was found guilty in sexual assault cases trial, has been sentenced to 23 years in prison by a New York court on Wednesday, March 11.

The 67-year-old producer, who appeared in court on a wheelchair, urged court for mercy stating even the minimum sentence of 5 years would be like life imprisonment for him.

But the prosecutors pushed for the harsher punishment as he abused women for lifetime and doesnt even feel remorse for his wrong doings.

While Weinstein, who addressed the court for the first time since the trail started, said he had deep remorse but confused by the situation and whatever happened.

Since October 2017, the day matter came to limelight, dozens of women levelled sexual misconduct allegations against him including rape charges.

However, Weinstein consistently has been dening the wrongdoings and it was the first time that charges made it to a trial.

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

Reports said filmmaker was convicted under first-degree criminal sexual act against Miriam Haley, his production assistant, in 2006 and of the third-level rape charges of actor Jessica Mann in 2013.

Meanwhile, the court acquitted him in predatory sexual assault, which could have been the most serious offences and could have pushed his punishment for even a longer term.

During the trail today, all 6 women, who levelled sexual assault allegations against him were sitting together in solidarity to each other.

Weinstein still has to face other rape and sexual assault cases in Los Angeles, said reports.

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The answer, Justice Department officials say, is mainly that the Ghaisar case involves two U.S. Park Police officers, Alejandro Amaya and Lucas Vinyard, killing a civilian. In fact, that is a non-answer. The fact that police officers pulled the trigger  in this case, without facing any threat to themselves or others  is no excuse, as the judge made clear in court. There are plenty of cases in this court that are sensitive, he said. You do not not produce information because it is sensitive. The other side has the right to information thats necessary to prove their claims.
BOSTON  Four years ago, Bernie Sanders won big among white blue-collar voters in the Democratic presidential primary, helping fuel his neck-and-neck run against Hillary Clinton that nearly reached the Democratic national convention.

It also exposed a major vulnerability for Clinton that proved damaging for her in the general election against Donald Trump.

But this year, as Joe Biden has taken command in the Democratic primary, some of the same demographic groups that didn't back Clinton in 2016 are delivering for the former vice president as he takes on the same opponent. That includes non-college-educated white voters, who could be critical for Democrats to win back the Rust Belt swing states of Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania.

Since his breakout win in South Carolina and continuing into his latest romp Tuesday, Biden has vastly outperformed Clinton's 2016 primary performance with two key groups: college-educated voters in affluent suburbs  where there has been a turnout surge  and rural working-class voters. It's why a race many predicted would be a long drawn-out fight is on the verge of collapsing for Sanders, a democratic socialist once considered the front-runner.

More: Joe Biden racks up more big wins and widens delegate lead, but Bernie Sanders says he'll keep fighting

Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden, accompanied by his wife Jill, speaks to members of the press at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, Tuesday, March 10, 2020.

Democrats have reason to be optimistic by voter turnout that's up across the country, particularly in suburbs, which propelled Democrats to control of the House in 2018. And if Biden goes on to the be the nominee, even simply tightening Trump's margins of victory in some areas could spell victory for the Democrats.

"The party seems far more united. (Biden) seems to be a far less divisive figure than Clinton was," said John Della Volpe, director of polling at the Harvard Institute of Politics. "Clearly, he has some work to do, which is around the youth vote, but the good news I think for him and Democrats is there should be a lengthy opportunity to process what's happened and to reset, repair and rebuild."

Story continues

In just a 10-day span, Biden has taken a stranglehold of the nomination fight by coalescing support among Democrats who see him as the best shot to beat Trump and who are motivated to move on to the general election. The broad coalition is led by African American support that matches Clinton's in 2016, but Biden is performing better than Clinton among white voters across the board.

In Michigan, Biden's inroads on display

Michigan, the top prize of Tuesday's primaries, narrowly went to Sanders four year ago, jump-starting his 2016 surge. But Tuesday, Biden topped Clinton's numbers substantially in every subgroup of white voters, helping him sweep each of the state's 83 counties.

Biden blew out Sanders in Michigan, 53%-36%, despite Sanders pumping major resources into the state  and even though Clinton and Biden are both aligned with establishment politics and ideologically, including their support of NAFTA, a perceived vulnerability in Michigan. In 2016, Sanders won Michigan 50%-48%.

More: Super Tuesday shake-up: The suddenly tough road for Bernie Sanders with Joe Biden as front-runner

According to CNN exit polls, Biden netted a 24-percentage point swing among white voters over Clinton's performance, spanning both men and women. Sanders beat Clinton with white voters in Michigan 56%-42% in 2016. But Biden beat Sanders Tuesday 52%-42%. Biden also netted 20-point gains over Clinton in every sub-group of white Michigan voters: men, women, college-educated and non-college educated.

"We are learning that some of Bernie Sanders' support in 2016 was more anti-Hillary Clinton support than pro-Sanders support," said Matt Grossman, a political scientist at Michigan State University. "It doesn't seem to have carried over into 2020."

Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders in Burlington, Vermont, on March 11, 2020.

In 2016, Clinton was running to be the first woman president and routinely faced questions of whether the country was ready to elect a woman. She also was seen by some as dishonest, and many found her polarizing. A Quinnipiac University poll this week found 51% of the electorate nationally views Biden honest today, while only 29% said the same about Clinton in August 2016 after she secured the nomination.

More: Bernie Sanders will keep pursuing presidential nomination with eyes on Sunday debate, despite narrow path ahead

Grossman called the Michigan outcome Tuesday "surprisingly widespread," with Sanders performing better in college towns like East Lansing, but still not as well as 2016. Despite losing black voters overwhelmingly, Sanders actually received slightly better numbers among voters of color in Michigan than four years ago.

"So it really is a white voter loss that is accounting for Sanders doing a lot worse," Grossman said.

He said people shouldn't "over-read" the Michigan results, noting that there's typically no relationship between how a candidate performs in a state in the primary and general election.

"But people in retrospect saw it as a bad sign that Clinton was losing some traditionally Democratic voters that did turn out to be echoed in the general election (for Trump)," Grossman said. "So it's at least a good sign for Biden that he didn't repeat that pattern."

A white working-class comeback for Dems? Don't count on it, experts say

Biden Tuesday pushed his delegate count to more than 850 out of the 1,991 needed to secure the nomination, building his lead over Sanders to more than 150.

Biden clobbered Sanders 60%-35% in Missouri, winning every county again after Sanders came less than 1 percentage point from carrying the state in 2016. Sanders beat Clinton in Washington by a whopping 73%-27% in 2016, but with votes still being counted Wednesday afternoon, Biden and Sanders are in a dead heat. Biden also won Idaho, 49%-43%.

In Mississippi, which has a large African American electorate, Biden nearly matched Clinton in overall support but unlike 2016, Sanders fell below the 15% delegate threshold. Sanders' only projected win Tuesday was in North Dakota, which he also won in 2016.

In all, Biden has won five states where Sanders beat Clinton in 2016: Minnesota, Maine, Oklahoma, Michigan and Idaho.

2016 presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, right, on stage with Bernie Sanders during the first Democratic presidential debate in Las Vegas on October 13, 2015.

Rachel Bitecofer, a political scientist and assistant director of the Wason Center for Public Policy at Christopher Newport University, said the electorate is different than four years ago because turnout is so much greater. That could help explain one reason for Biden's performance.

Lacking a competitive Republican primary like 2016, independents and Republicans can choose to vote in the Democratic primary in open-primary states like Michigan.

"You also have the sentiment that's driving the electorate now, too," Bitecofer said. "In my research, the electorate was very ideological and nitpicking in 2016, and so it was very anti-establishment and Clinton paid an establishment price. And now the voter pool is really looking toward an establishment candidate as a safety pick, a super risk-averse pick."

More: How Joe Biden roared back on Super Tuesday and what it means for the next contests with Bernie Sanders

But Bitecofer cautioned Democrats from thinking their path to beat Trump is by reversing the loss of white working-class voters who Trump won over. Instead she said it's by continuing gains in suburbs  including in the Rust Belt  and turnout among young voters and voters of color.

"The Democratic victory in 2020 is not going to be on the back of white working-class voters. It's going to be from a turnout surge of Millennial, Gen Z voters and Latinos and African Americans," Bitecofer said. "This idea that Biden's pathway to victory is by reconverting white working-class voters who've been involved in a long-term coalitional realignment away from the Democratic Party is in my opinion a false narrative."

Amy Walter, national editor of the Cook Political Report, tweeted a grim outlook Tuesday night on Democrats' path to winning the Midwest again.

"The story of 2018 was the suburbs," Walter said, referring to Democratic midterm gains in the House. "The comeback story for Biden is African-American + suburbs. But, in places like (Wisconsin), suburban vote has not moved as strongly blue and there are still LOTS of small town and rural votes that will be solid red."

The story of 2018 was the suburbs. The comeback story for Biden is African-American + suburbs. But, in places like WI, suburban vote has not moved as strongly blue and there are still LOTS of small town and rural votes that will be solid red.  amy walter (@amyewalter) March 11, 2020

Youth vote still lags for Biden

Sanders did not speak publicly Tuesday night after his early losses. But he acknowledged at a Wednesday news conference it "was not a good night" from a delegate standpoint. And while he said his campaign is losing the electability debate, they are winning two others  the ideological and generational debates.

He said he looks forward to debating Biden in Phoenix on Sunday, which takes place two days before primaries in Arizona and three other highly populated states: Florida, Illinois and Ohio.

Biden will be favored in the latter of three, and considerably so in the biggest draw, Florida, where polling suggests he could be positioned to compete for nearly all of the 219 delegates in play.

Nonetheless, one glaring deficiency in the Biden coalition remains young voters, who overwhelmingly back Sanders, albeit not at the turnout rate Sanders has needed. In Michigan, Sanders was the choice of 76% of voters 18 to 29, according to CNN exit polls, compared to 19% support for Biden. Sanders also won voters ages 30 to 44 by a margin of 52%-42%.

President Donald Trump

Della Volpe said the Clinton campaign faced a similar weakness with young voters coming out of the primary, and they knew it. But he said the Clinton campaign wrongly assumed young voters would be firmly in her corner with Trump as the Republican nominee.

"What we found is that it was one of the top two or three reasons that she lost," Della Volpe said. "She took them for granted. She didn't get the share of the youth vote that she wanted and they didn't turn out at the number she would have liked.

"So my eyes are going to be looking through that demographic and whether the Biden campaign rebuilds and resets this relationship, because I think there's more that they have in common that unites them than divides them."

Reach Joey Garrison on Twitter @joeygarrison

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Election 2020: Joe Biden is winning voters who might have gone to Trump before
NEW DELHI: Former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Wednesday (March 11, 2020) welcomed former Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia in the BJP. Talking to reporters here after Scindia joined the BJP in presence of party president JP Nadda in Delhi, Chouhan also defended Scindia's decision to leave the Congress.

"The disgruntlement of Maharaj (Scindia) with the Congress is justified," the BJP leader said.

"This is a joyous day for BJP and me personally. Today, I remember Rajmata Scindia. Jyotiraditya Scindia has become a member of the BJP family. The entire family is with BJP. They have a tradition where politics is a medium to serve people," Chouhan said.

Chouhan also took to Twitter and tweeted, ''  ,   .''

The tweet came immediately after Scindia was welcomed in the saffron party by BJP chief JP Nadda and other top leaders after he was formally inducted into the party.

Scindia also hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his leadership, saying the country's future is secure in his hands.

Welcoming him into the BJP, Nadda recalled the party's founder and Jyotiraditya's grandmother Vijaya Raje Scindia and said, "he is joining his family and we welcome him."

Thanking Prime Minister, Home Minister Amit Shah and Nadda, Scindia said they have given him the platform to serve the people.

"Pained" and "distressed" for not able to serve the people in his previous organisation, he said the Congress is living in denial and it is not the same party what it used to be.

Hailing PM Modi for his leadership, Scindia said the country's future is secure in his hands. Talking about Madhya Pradesh, the erstwhile Congress leader said the dream which he saw with his former colleagues for the state has been shattered in the last 18 months.

According to sources, the BJP is also confident of forming the government in the state with his help as 22 MLAs including Scindia's supporters have resigned from the state assembly reducing the Kamal Nath government to a minority.

Peeved with his marginalisation in the Congress, Scindia met Amit Shah on Tuesday and then the two leaders went to the Prime Minister's residence where they held talks for over an hour.

Soon after meeting PM Modi, he tendered his resignation to Congress president Sonia Gandhi saying it was time for him to move on. Scindia took the decision to sever his ties with the Congress on the day of his father Madhavrao Scindia's 75th birth anniversary.

A four-time MP, Scindia first got elected from Guna in Madhya Pradesh in 2002 after winning a by-election necessitated by his father's demise. He was only 31 years old at that time.

He gradually made his way up the Congress ladder becoming Minister of State for Communications and IT in 2007 during the Congress-led UPA-1. In 2009, he became Minister of State for Commerce and Industry and in 2012 was appointed Minister of State for Power during UPA-2.

After the Congress lost the 2014 General Election, Sonia Gandhi named him the party's chief whip in the Lok Sabha.
Technavio has been monitoring the artificial intelligence (AI) market and it is poised to grow by USD 75.54 bn during 2019-2023, progressing at a CAGR of over 33% during the forecast period. The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current market scenario, latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200310005668/en/

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Artificial Intelligence (AI) Market 2019-2023 (Graphic: Business Wire)

The market is fragmented, and the degree of fragmentation will accelerate during the forecast period. 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.

Increased employee productivity has been instrumental in driving the growth of the market. Request latest free sample report of 2020-2024

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Market 2019-2023: Segmentation

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Market is segmented as below:

End-user

Retail

Banking

Manufacturing

Healthcare

Others

Geographic Segmentation

APAC

Europe

MEA

North America

South America

To learn more about the global trends impacting the future of market research, download latest free sample of 2020-2024: https://www.technavio.com/talk-to-us?report=IRTNTR30994

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Market 2019-2023: Scope

Technavio presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources. Our artificial intelligence (AI) market report covers the following areas:

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Market Size

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Market Trends

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Market Industry Analysis

This study identifies increase in cloud-based AI services as one of the prime reasons driving the artificial intelligence (AI) market growth during the next few years.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Market 2019-2023: Vendor Analysis

We provide a detailed analysis of around 25 vendors operating in the artificial intelligence (AI) market, including some of the vendors such as Google LLC, IBM, Intel Corporation, Microsoft and NVIDIA Corporation. Backed with competitive intelligence and benchmarking, our research reports on the artificial intelligence (AI) market are designed to provide entry support, customer profile and M&As as well as go-to-market strategy support.

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Artificial Intelligence (AI) Market 2019-2023: Key Highlights

CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2019-2023

Detailed information on factors that will assist artificial intelligence (AI) market growth during the next five years

Estimation of the artificial intelligence (AI) market size and its contribution to the parent market

Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior

The growth of the artificial intelligence (AI) market

Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors

Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of artificial intelligence (AI) market vendors

Table of Content

PART 01: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

PART 02: SCOPE OF THE REPORT

2.1 Preface

2.2 Preface

2.3 Currency conversion rates for US$

PART 03: MARKET LANDSCAPE

Market ecosystem

Market characteristics

Market segmentation analysis

PART 04: MARKET SIZING

Market definition

Market sizing 2018

Market size and forecast 2018-2023

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

Retail Market size and forecast 2018-2023

Banking Market size and forecast 2018-2023

Manufacturing Market size and forecast 2018-2023

Healthcare Market size and forecast 2018-2023

Others Market size and forecast 2018-2023

Market opportunity by end-user

PART 07: CUSTOMER LANDSCAPE

PART 08: GEOGRAPHIC LANDSCAPE

Geographic segmentation

Geographic comparison

North America Market size and forecast 2018-2023

Europe Market size and forecast 2018-2023

APAC Market size and forecast 2018-2023

South America Market size and forecast 2018-2023

MEA Market size and forecast 2018-2023

Key leading countries

Market opportunity

PART 09: DECISION FRAMEWORK

PART 10: DRIVERS AND CHALLENGES

Market drivers

Market challenges

PART 11: MARKET TRENDS

Increase in cloud-based AI services

Narrow AI

Alternative solutions to GPU for accelerating AI workloads

Professional services will benefit from AI

PART 12: VENDOR LANDSCAPE

Overview

Landscape disruption

PART 13: VENDOR ANALYSIS

Vendors covered

Vendor classification

Market positioning of vendors

Google LLC

IBM

Intel Corporation

Microsoft

NVIDIA Corporation

PART 14: APPENDIX

Research methodology

List of abbreviations

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.

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Dubai-based marine terminal operator DP World has announced robust financial results for 2019 with its revenue surging by 36.1 per cent to hit $7.68 billion compared to $5.6 billion the previous year.



Unveiling the results for the year ended December 31, 2019, DP World said the adjusted EBITDA increased 17.7 percent, with an adjusted ebitda margin of 43 percent.



The delivered profit attributable to the owners of the company, before separately disclosed items, was $1.32 billion, up 4.6 per cent and EPS of 160 US cents.



Impressed with the results, the company's board has recommended a dividend of $332 million (40 US cents per share), which is in line with the past policy of maintaining a payout ratio of at least 20 percent.



DP World Group Chairman and CEO Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem said: "DP World is pleased to report a like-for-like earnings growth of 5.4 per cent in 2019 and attributable earnings of $1.32 billion. The adjusted ebitda grew 17.7 percent to $3.3 billion, with margins at 43 percent on a reported basis and 49.6 percent on a like-for-like basis."



"This performance has been delivered in an uncertain trade environment, once again highlighting the resilience of our portfolio," he stated.



"We have continued to make progress on our strategy to deliver integrated supply chain solutions to cargo owners and have focused our efforts on building end-to-end capabilities for several verticals, including the automotive, oil and gas and FMCG industries," he added.



"More recently, after much deliberation, DP World has taken the decision to announce its plans to de-list its equity from the stock exchange and return to private ownership. Following the planned delisting, the leverage on the balance sheet will rise temporarily but we are confident of de-leveraging as we remain committed to a strong investment-grade rating in the medium term," remarked Bin Sulayem.



"Our immediate focus is to integrate our acquisitions and explore synergies with the objective of providing a range of smart end-to-end solutions which will improve the quality of our earnings and drive returns," he added.



Speaking about the near-term outlook remaining a cause for concern with global trade disputes, the Covid-19 outbreak and regional geopolitics disrupting trade, Bin Sulayem said, "DP World is well-positioned to respond in the short term by focusing on disciplined investment and managing the cost base to protect profitability."



"Overall, we remain positive on the medium to long-term outlook of the industry," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Amid the prevailing political uncertainty in Madhya Pradesh, several Congress MLAs reached chief minister Kamal Nath's residence for a meeting on Wednesday. Most of these leaders expressed confidence in the stability of Congress government in the state.

The meeting comes soon after the resignation of the party leader Jyotiraditya Scindia and 22 MLAs from Congress on Tuesday.

Scindia, who was seen leaving from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Lok Kalyan Marg residence along with Home Minister Amit Shah yesterday, is likely to join Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Congress MLA Arjun Singh expressed confidence in the government and said that the number of MLAs will remain the same and people will get to see it on 16th March.

"Congress and Kamal Nath's government will stay. You will see on 16th, numbers (of MLAs) will stay the same. Him (Jyotiraditya Scindia) leaving does not affect anything, days of Rajas-Maharajas are long gone," Arjun Singh told the reporter here.

Another MLA Narayan Singh Patta said, "The chief minister is in touch with all the MLAs who are in Bengaluru; there is no threat to the government. They may have been misled, that also is a possibility. Just wait and watch, everything will be clear soon."

Interacting with the reporters, MLA Dr Ashok Marskole added that there is no guarantee that the legislators who resigned will manage to win again.

"We are confident, and the MLAs who resigned they also have realised their mistake. If they leave Congress today, there is no guarantee that they will win the elections, they are not in a position to win the elections," said Dr Ashok Marskole.

MLA Kunal Chaudhary, on the other hand, appealed to the conscience of the party legislators and added that the party will definitely prove its majority in the House.

On Tuesday, Congress sent two of its leaders -- Sajjan Singh Verma and Govind Singh -- to Bengaluru in order to pacify some of the rebel MLAs who are lodged in a hotel there and who claimed to have resigned from the state Legislative Assembly.

Most of the rebel MLAs are perceived close to Scindia and are apparently unhappy at Scindia being "ignored" in the party. The grand old party has been witnessing an internal turf war in Madhya Pradesh since the party formed the government in the state in 2018.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Former vice president Joe Biden speaks at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia Tuesday after another series of wins in the Democratic presidential primary. Read more

DETROIT  Bernie Sanders offered a revolution. But most Democrats just wanted a safe bet.

The recent campaign surge by Joe Biden, seen in sweeping election victories and in dozens of interviews with voters over the last week in Michigan and Virginia, show that most Democrats have put a premium on simply defeating President Donald Trump. To do it, they were willing to set aside excitement, novelty, and big policy goals.

At a Biden rally in Detroit on Monday, many voters in line said they had initially supported other candidates, or acknowledged that Bidens ideas arent the most thrilling. Often they said theyd prefer a younger option, a woman, or someone with more energy.

But when it came down to Sanders and Biden, they picked the former vice president. Many thought Sanders brand of liberalism would be too risky in a general election, and felt comfortable with Biden from his time as Barack Obamas vice president. They know him.

I think he has the best chance to win, said Jerry Young, 56, of Monroe, Mich., as he waited to enter Bidens Monday rally. He initially preferred Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Amy Klobuchar, hoping to see a woman in the White House, but settled on Biden.

Weve got to restore the country, and to do that weve got to get Trump out of the White House, Brenda Gross Andrews, of Detroit, said at the same event. Our country is in chaos and we need someone in the White House now that has experience.

Dean Lent, 30, of Orion, Mich., initially supported Sen. Kamala Harris and Klobuchar, and acknowledged that Biden might not have the most forward-thinking agenda. But I think Democrats ultimately unite against Donald Trump.

To others, stability and boredom seem welcome amid the tumult of Trumps tenure.

I dont want to go from extreme right to extreme left, said Hirak Chanda, 52, of Troy, Mich.

Interviews on Super Tuesday last week in the moderate Virginia suburbs hit many of the same themes.

Voters who dislike Trump but were ideologically centrist  or knew neighbors who felt that way  repeatedly raised concerns that Sanders and his agenda would flop in swing districts. Even those who liked the ideas often said it wasnt worth the risk of a second Trump term.

The main thing I want is someone who can get Trump out of the White House, and I think we can worry about the other stuff later, said Anita, a black woman who declined to give her last name after she voted in Ashburn, Va., last week.

 READ MORE: Suburbs like Phillys powered Bidens big wins over Sanders: Im not looking for any kind of revolution

So while Bidens Monday rally at a Detroit high school couldnt match the energy of the 10,000 people Sanders turned out at the University of Michigan a day earlier, Biden trounced Sanders in the actual voting.

Hes reaching for a greater swath of people, and thats what its all about," Jonathan Adams, 59, said when he voted for Biden on Tuesday in Detroit. Bernie Sanders on paper is good, in theory, but I think in practice, in practicality, I dont know if he would translate to reach everyone."

In the six states that voted Tuesday, 62% of voters who prioritized beating Trump chose Biden, according to exit polls by the Washington Post. But Sanders won 53% of those who wanted a candidate they agreed with on the issues.

Those numbers reflected the recent interviews. If voters said their top priority was beating Trump, they almost always chose Biden. If they listed a specific issue as their main concern  health care, climate change, college costs  they usually picked Sanders.

For some, Biden was more than just a pragmatic choice: They genuinely agreed with a more moderate, tempered approach to policy. Kristen Smolen, 49, of Grosse Pointe Farms, said she didnt want to lose private health insurance, as would happen under Sanders Medicare for All plan.

Im a moderate person, said Smolen, who previously lived in Mount Laurel, N.J. Biden has more of a chance of winning back Michigan. Bernie is more polarizing.

Still, young voters often had a very different view, which suggests Biden still has work to do to unify the party.

Those in Michigan and Virginia often told stories of facing crushing student loans, huge medical bills, or concern about how climate change would affect their futures, and argued that such big problems demand big solutions. They worried that affluent, moderate voters have validated a status quo that has served some well, but failed the next generation.

Its a totally uninspired platform by Biden. Its the same thing as always, Ben Simko a Michigan graduate student, said Sunday. Simko, 25, recounted seeing friends families struggling with job losses and seeking aid from food banks.

Biden tried to start wooing them Tuesday night, stressing his respect for their passion and energy.

Sanders, speaking at a news conference Wednesday afternoon, signaled that he intends to keep pushing Biden to adopt more liberal positions. He argued that polls show most voters agree with his progressive agenda and emphasized the importance of the voters under 40 who have strongly favored him.

We are winning the generational debate, Sanders said in Burlington, Vt. In order to win in the future, you need to win the voters who represent the future of our country and you must speak to the issues of concern to them. You cannot simply be satisfied by winning the votes of people who are older.

And while many Democrats see him as the safe choice, Biden has a long history of political stumbles, including in this primary. He only consolidated party support once it became clear that he was the sole viable alternative to Sanders.

In recent days, Bidens team has limited his public exposure, perhaps calculating that the best strategy is to just ensure he doesnt slip up  but he is now scheduled to face Sanders on the debate stage Sunday.

Joe Biden is the vessel into which the Democrat establishment has poured their hopes of beating Trump," tweeted Trump campaign spokesperson Tim Murtaugh. "They will soon be reminded why they had discarded him before Super Tuesday.
A 34-YEAR-OLD man was sentenced to serve at least 31 years in prison after pleading guilty to attempted trafficking of two boys, ages 9 and 14, and acts of lasciviousness against them.

Under plea bargain agreements, Joey Michael Donozo confessed to the crime of attempted trafficking under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act (Republic Act 9208 as amended by Republic Act 10364) and 16 acts of lasciviousness under the Revised Penal Code.

The investigation revealed that Donozo sexually abused boys to produce child sexual abuse materials (CSAM), which he distributed to foreign sex offenders, and also sold young boys to foreigners traveling to Cebu.

On March 10, 2020, Cebu City Regional Trial Court Branch 22 Judge Dax Gonzaga Xenox sentenced Donozo to serve 15 years in prison for the crime of attempted trafficking and a total of 16 years for acts of lasciviousness.

Xenox also ordered Donozo to pay P600,000 to each of his six victims, or a total of P3.6 million in damages.

Children are safer in Cebu because of the courts conviction of Joey Donozo. The young boys whom he trafficked and sexually abused to create child sexual abuse materials are safe from his predatory acts. In fact, restraining Donozo has protected all other vulnerable children whom he would have abused for years to come were it not for his arrest and conviction. IJM has seen over and over again that when violent offenders are held accountable, the abuse of children dramatically decreases as impunity is replaced with accountability, said International Justice Mission (IJM) Cebu Field Office Director John Tanagho.

To those who are perpetrating this crime against our children, you will be caught eventually. You will soon be put behind bars and be held accountable for your crime, said Senior Assistant City Prosecutor Noel Cellona.

Under plea bargains, the accused pleads guilty not to the original charges but to other similar offenses, usually before a court trial starts. This protects child victims from the possibility of having to testify against the perpetrators who are often family members or neighbors, reducing the potential for re-traumatization.

Story continues

Donozo was arrested on February 16, 2019, after he offered two underage boys -- aged 9 and 14 at the time -- for commercial sexual exploitation. He also previously transmitted online sexually explicit images involving one of the boys in exchange for money from foreigners.

Members of the Women and Children Protection Center-Visayas Field Unit (WCPC-VFU) of the Philippine National Police (PNP) conducted the operation in Cebu City. Six boys -- all under 15 years old -- were rescued.

The operation stemmed from a case referral from the Australian Federal Police to the PNP. According to the referral, Donozo was engaged in the sex trafficking of minors by selling young Filipino boys to foreigners for sexually explicit acts. Donozo also produced CSAM by filming minors in sexually explicit acts.

The WCPC-VFU operation was supported by the Department of Social Welfare and Development-Central Visayas, the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking-Central Visayas, the Cebu City Police Offices Special Weapons and Tactics and Women and Children Protection Desk, and IJM.

So far in IJM-supported cases, more than 80 persons have been convicted in the Philippines for online sexual exploitation of children (Osec) since 2011. IJM has supported Philippine law enforcement agencies in operations that led to the arrest of more than 200 Osec perpetrators and the rescue of almost 600 victims and children-at-risk across the country.

One may report a suspected case of Osec by texting ENDOSEC (space) (incident details) to 7444-64 for Smart network subscribers; or directly connect with WCPC at (032) 410-8483 for Visayas, and 0917-180-6037 or 0928-604-6425 for Mindanao. (PR)
A mother sued a Pittsburgh hospital Wednesday, saying it collected and tested her urine for drugs without her consent while she was in labour and reported a false positive result to protective services that resulted in a child abuse investigation.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 11/3/2020 (671 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

This is University of Pittsburgh Medical Center's Magee-Women's Hospital in Pittsburgh, March 10, 2020. Cherell Harrington, the lead plaintiff in a lawsuit filed Wednesday, March 11, 2020, naming Allegheny County and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center as defendants, gave birth to her third child at UPMC's Magee-Women's Hospital in November 2017. She says medical staff collected her urine without her consent and tested her for drugs. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

A mother sued a Pittsburgh hospital Wednesday, saying it collected and tested her urine for drugs without her consent while she was in labour and reported a false positive result to protective services that resulted in a child abuse investigation.

It is the second such lawsuit filed against the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center since 2014 and one of a few legal actions or ethical complaints filed around the country over false positives on quick-screening urine drug tests that triggered child abuse investigations and turned the joy of giving birth into a nightmare of custody concerns.

Cherell Harrington, the lead plaintiff in the lawsuit filed in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court, gave birth to her third child at UPMC's Magee-Women's Hospital in November 2017. She says medical staff collected her urine without her consent and tested her for drugs.

An unconfirmed positive result came back for components of marijuana. Hospital staff then tested her newborn son  results were negative  but they still reported the unconfirmed test results to Allegheny County's Office of Children, Youth and Families.

That office required a home visit that included a caseworker photographing Harrington's children and asking her then 11-year-old daughter about her mother's use of addictive substances. Even after a recommendation was made not to require treatment, the caseworker also obtained medical records and called her dentist, pediatrician and her daughter's school.

Cherell Harrington, the lead plaintiff in a lawsuit filed Wednesday, March 11, 2020, naming Allegheny County and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center as defendants, talks with her attorney Margaret S Coleman in a law office in Pittsburgh, Pa. Harrington gave birth to her third child at UPMC's Magee-Women's Hospital in November 2017. She says medical staff collected her urine without her consent and tested her for drugs. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Harrington said she was threatened with longer-term mandatory drug testing if she did not submit to the program and the contacts. She argues in the lawsuit that the hospital and the county violated her constitutional rights and her medical privacy.

Harrington said in an interview Wednesday that she was reluctant to go back to UPMC to seek care after her cesarean section. The hospital system made her feel violated and traumatized, she said.

I would like for them to acknowledge that they have hurt many women and children and ruined experiences when they shouldnt have the power to do that. We were there to deliver our children, Harrington said. And what they did was so traumatizing and so hurtful. I cant get that birth, I can't get those days back. I cant. I want them to change what they are doing and just stop it.

Lawyers are seeking class action for the lawsuit and damages for all plaintiffs.

UPMC spokeswoman Amy Charley emailed a statement from the hospital system saying it follows state laws when reporting test results.

UPMC clinicians make informed decisions regarding screening and drug testing for new mothers and newborns. UPMC follows Pennsylvanias Child Protective Services Law, which mandates health care professionals to report these findings to the Pennsylvania Office of Children, Youth and Family Services, she wrote.

Cherell Harrington, center, the lead plaintiff in a lawsuit filed Wednesday, March 11, 2020, naming Allegheny County and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center as defendants, talks with her attorney Margaret S Coleman, left, in a law office in Pittsburgh, Wednesday, March 11, 2020. Harrington gave birth to her third child at UPMC's Magee-Women's Hospital in November 2017. She says medical staff collected her urine without her consent and tested her for drugs. A second mother named in the suit, Deserae Cook listens at right. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Officials with Allegheny County, which is also named in the lawsuit, said they could not comment on open litigation. But Jacki Hoover, the deputy director at the county's Department of Human Services overseeing the division of Children, Youth and Families, said when the agency receives reports from a health care facility or any mandated reported, they have a process they must follow including an interview and an initial assessment of the home and the child's safety.

Laws on testing new mothers and infants for drugs vary across the country, with a few states criminalizing positive results and more than a dozen others classifying positive results as a form of child abuse.

Lawsuits or ethical complaints have been filed in New York, California, Alabama, Maryland and a handful of other states over the past decade after mothers say they received unconfirmed or false positive results from eating poppy seed bagels or salad dressing, taking doctor-approved Valium, and using prescribed asthma inhalers.

Quick panel urine drug tests are very sensitive, and false or unconfirmed positives do happen, said Marta Concheiro-Guisan, a professor of toxicology at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York.

I can understand using those kinds of quick screenings for medical purposes, to know if there needs to be an intervention on a baby suffering from withdrawal, she said. But using these quick screenings to challenge the custody of a child is a big issue. If the test comes back negative, they're very sensitive in general, so that's the end of the road. But if it's positive, you always have to run a confirmatory test with more sophisticated technology.

You would never testify in court based on that screening, she added.

The number of false positives returned by the urine tests is high enough that several experts have recommended against universal testing and instead advise using a questionnaire for screening pregnant women for drug use. But sometimes those can also be problematic if a woman isn't truthful or if her answers are interpreted incorrectly.

A second mother named in the lawsuit, Deserae Cook, said she told a UPMC Mercy campus nurse during an intake questionnaire that she had smoked marijuana in the past but had not done so since becoming pregnant. Cook's urine was collected and tested without her consent, and her newborn daughter was drug tested.

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Both tests came back negative, but the hospital still reported Cook's answers to the Department of Children, Youth and Families, triggering a child abuse investigation.

It was like a kick in the stomach. What's the reasoning? It felt embarrassing and humiliating. It felt like they were tying to find something, trying to take our child away, Cook said.

Attorney Maggie Coleman filed the Allegheny County lawsuit in conjunction with the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania, saying there are likely dozens of women who have had similar experiences with child services because of what she said were the hospital's unconstitutional practices.

Coleman was the attorney for another Allegheny County woman, Rachael Devore, who resolved a lawsuit against UPMC in 2014. Devore similarly alleged that the hospital collected and tested her urine without her consent and reported unconfirmed positive test results to Children, Youth and Families.

UPMC had argued in that case that it is a mandatory reporter and immune from the lawsuit because it made the report in good faith.

In court documents, Coleman argued that the report was not in good faith because in Devore's case, like both Cook and Harrington, her baby did not show symptoms of withdrawal and tested negative for any drugs.
This article is published in partnership with the Marshall Project, a nonprofit news organization covering the U.S. criminal justice system. Sign up for their newsletter, or follow the Marshall Project on Facebook or Twitter.

Back in August, an editor at Slate approached the Marshall Project with an idea: She had heard of our new print publication, News Inside, and wanted to know if we could use it to conduct a survey of incarcerated peoples political views.

As much as elected officials and the 2020 presidential candidates talk about people behind bars, little is actually known about what incarcerated people think about politics. Most people in prison cannot vote, and pollsters dont seek their opinions during election season.

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But over the past two years, a number of states have made it easier for people with felony convictions to get their voting rights back once they leave prison. Even in some county jails, it is legal for people who havent yet been convicted of a felony to vote. With these developments, it felt like the right moment to ask people serving time in prisons and jails about their political leanings and experiences.

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So, how would we do it? Prisons are like black boxes where little information gets in and even less gets out. Surveying incarcerated people about their political views proved to be a logistical puzzle. Typical political polling organizations have the demographic data they need to make sure that theyre reaching a representative sample of people. And they can reach their prospects at home or on their cellphones. This isnt the case for prisons. Incarcerated people cant receive phone calls or use the internet. Only some facilities allow them access to electronic messaging services such as JPay or Corrlinks.

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However, prisons and jails tend to be less restrictive about snail mail and information on prison-based digital tablets. That meant that, with circulation in 501 facilities across the country and counting, News Inside was an ideal way to reach people behind bars. We also created a digital version of the survey with help from Edovo, a Chicago-based tablet company operating in 142 correctional facilities in 25 states. Edovo provides communications systems and educational programming via tablets, at no cost to incarcerated people.

Constructing the Survey

After we developed our distribution strategy, we turned our attention to writing the actual survey. Slate and Marshall Project reporters and editors brainstormed a list of questions, read dozens of traditional political opinion polls, and spoke to polling experts as well as researchers who focus on incarcerated people. We also consulted with imprisoned sources to help us understand the context of political conversations within prison and shape the questions.

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We designed some of our questions to mirror surveys of people outside of prison. In other cases, we specifically wrote questions to find out how imprisonment shapes political views. And we wrote a range of demographic questions so we could identify differences between groups.

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To make taking the paper survey as easy as possible, we printed it on a perforated page that people could tear out and mail back. To avoid passing postage costs on to our survey takers, we put a self-addressed stamped envelope in the magazine.

The Responses Flood In

We sent out the digital survey in December, before presidential candidates like Cory Booker, Kamala Harris, Pete Buttigieg, and Amy Klobuchar dropped out, and before Mike Bloomberg jumped in. In January, we started shipping our magazines to county jails and state prisons.

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It was no surprise that the digital versions came back first: Roughly 7,600 people responded. The paper surveys started trickling in soon after. Many people wrote additional insights on the survey itself and on loose sheets of paper. We also discovered that some participants had taken the initiative to photocopy the survey and share it with fellow prisoners who couldnt get the magazine. One enterprising person even copied the survey questions onto a blank sheet of paper, filled that out, and mailed it to us. We hoped for 1,000 responses. We were surprised to receive more than 8,000.

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As this unexpected number of surveys piled up, we had to come up with a plan that would allow us to analyze both the digital and paper responses. We ended up creating a Google form that mirrored the survey. We asked Marshall Project members and staffers from Slate and the Marshall Project to do the painstaking work of typing in the data. Collectively, we have entered more than 650 paper surveys by hand so far and synthesized them with the 7,600 digital responses.

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Because surveys are still arriving, we decided we could not yet weight the data to build a sample that was fully representative of the overall incarcerated population. Instead of focusing on the respondents as a whole, we looked for trends across race, gender, and other demographic differences to make sure the results we reported were meaningful.

Beyond the Survey

To report the stories in this unique package, we scoured the surveys for interesting perspectives and opinions. If people indicated on their surveys that they welcomed contact from a reporter, we mailed them letters and waited for responses. From there, we conducted many of the interviews over prison telephone and email systems.

In total, we mailed out 30,000 copies of News Inside. More paper surveys are coming in every day. As we continue compiling the results and the general election kicks into gear, we plan to return to the respondents for their thoughts on the race unfolding on the outside.

To hear the Marshall Project team discuss this project, listen to What Next. Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio. Here is a link to the audio instead. Play Pause Loading...

What 8,000 Prisoners Think About American Politics In a first-of-its-kind survey, we asked the most disenfranchised people in America who they would vote for and what matters most to them. I see firsthand that politics are not structured to help me.

Whats the Most Pressing Problem Facing America? Chinas buildup of their military. Hunger. Garbage in the ocean. Not enough police on the streets. Mass incarceration. The voices behind the statistics.

How Prison Changes Your Politics Thousands of survey respondents said incarceration has transformed their worldviews and political allegiances. Four of them told us how. I said, Wait a minute, I can go home when Im 65 or I can die here. That was eye-opening for me.

Trumps Surprising Support Inside Prisons Before prison, John Adkins didnt care about politics. Now, after 23 years behind bars, hes an ardent Republican. And hes not alone. I dont see Donald Trump as being anyones puppet.
A petition calling on the government to close UK schools over coronavirus fears has been backed by nearly 250,000 people.

The creator of the campaign, Sami Attout, is calling for a more proactive approach to the virus and wants isolating policies at places of study enforced.

The petition comes as the number of people diagnosed with the virus in the UK reached 456.

Parliament will consider debating the issue in the House of Commons because more than 100,000 signatories are in support.

The petition says it would like the government to look into closing schools and colleagues as soon as possible to prevent Covid-19 spreading further.

We would like the Government or Parliament to enforce this action due to the growing fear among parents and students that attend school, it reads.

The ability to focus or concentrate is affected in addition to the growing fears of the Corona-virus.

In our view, the government and health officials around the world are more 'reactive' rather than 'proactive'. This will result in more spread as time is given for the virus to do so.

A number of social media users backed the petition.

One user said: Ireland is cancelling St Patricks Day celebrations, Romania is closing schools and Italy is in lockdown. Yet all our government does is tell us to wash our hands!

"Please sign this petition to close schools to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Another added: Please keep on signing.

However, not everyone thought the petition was practical.

One user wrote: Thing is that if the schools shut down, many parents do not have adequate child care, or funds, adults will have to take time off work, causing more upset to [the] system. Many students are engaged in exams. If it were to happen it would be very complicated to implement.

Another said: "Closing schools will only work if the children are put on house arrest

A Department for Education spokesman said it has set up a dedicated helpline for education leaders, teaching staff and parents to answer questions about coronavirus related to education but at the moment schools are to remain open.

This service "complements" the advice being provided by Public Health England and the regular updates it has sent to all educational settings since the start of February.

The advice from Public Health England continues to be for schools to remain open, unless advised otherwise," he said.

The Governments action plan sets out current and possible future measures to respond to the COVID19 outbreak that are proportionate and based on the latest scientific evidence - they will be continually kept under review and the impact of all measures will be carefully considered.
New Delhi, March 11 : The Aam Aadmi Party on Wednesday appointed Delhi MLA Dinesh Mohania as state in-charge of Uttarakhand.

Mohania, the former Delhi Jal Board vice-chairman, said he will work to make Delhi's model accessible to every single person of Uttarakhand.

The step has been taken as Delhi's ruling Aam Aadmi Party has stepped up work on expanding its organisation in Uttarakhand.

The three-time MLA from Sangam Vihar Vidhan Sabha seat in Delhi said he will leave for Uttarakhand on Thursday, where he will hold a meeting with party officials and volunteers to formulate a strategy to launch AAP's Delhi model in Uttarakhand.

"I will try to live up to the expectations of the party and will work to bring AAP model of governance in Delhi to every household in Uttarakhand. The people of Delhi have liked the 'development model' of AAP. The impact of the victory in Delhi is visible across the country," he said.

Mohania said after the victory in Delhi, the party had launched a missed call campaign to join AAP for nation-building.

"The party has received a good response to this campaign from Uttarakhand as well. So far lakhs of people from Uttarakhand have expressed their desire to join the party by giving missed calls. People want Delhi's model to be implemented in Uttarakhand too. In view of this, work has been intensified on further strengthening the organisation of the party in Uttarakhand." Mohania, a core member of the initial Anna Hazare movement, won his first election in 2013.

After winning the Delhi Assembly polls last month, the AAP is working towards expanding the party across other states.
The Kaduna State Government has named the deposed emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, as the Chancellor of the Kaduna State University, KASU.

He succeeds the pioneer Chancellor, His Highness, Tagwai Sambo, the Chief of Moroa, who was appointed to the role in 2005.

A statement from Sir Kashim Ibrahim announced the new appointment.

On behalf of the government and people of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufai is delighted to appoint His Highness, Muhammadu Sanusi II as the Chancellor of the Kaduna State University. In public life, His Highness has demonstrated a strong commitment to education.
Ukraine's new PM speaks with IMF mission chief over phone

14:00, 11.03.20 336

Shmyhal says the country is set to continue cooperation with the Fund.
Wuhan, the epicenter of the novel coronavirus outbreak, has closed all of its 16 public facility-turned temporary hospitals as the number of COVID-19 patients continues to drop in the city.

Wuhan reported 17 new confirmed cases Monday, dropping below 20 for the first time and a significant contrast with a month ago, when 1,921 cases were reported on Feb. 9.

WUHAN, March 10 (Xinhua) -- Wuhan, the epicenter of the novel coronavirus outbreak in central China's Hubei Province, has closed all of its 16 public facility-turned temporary hospitals as the number of COVID-19 patients continues to drop in the city.

The hospitals were converted from public venues such as exhibition centers and gymnasiums in early February in an effort to treat patients with mild symptoms and isolate the source of infections amid strained medical resources.

By the closure of the last two hospitals Tuesday, the temporary hospitals in Wuhan have received a total of more than 12,000 patients, according to local authorities.

Cured coronavirus patients gesture on the bus home after a 14-day quarantine for medical observation at a rehabilitation center in Wuhan on March 10, 2020. (Xinhua/Cheng Min)

Over 8,000 medical workers from 94 medical teams across the country have worked in the temporary hospitals.

Wuhan reported 17 new confirmed cases Monday, dropping below 20 for the first time and a significant contrast with a month ago, when 1,921 cases were reported on Feb. 9.

"The erection of temporary hospitals is an innovative and effective move that has achieved its initial goal of treating more patients and containing the source of infection," said Hu Yu, head of Wuhan Union Hospital, which manages one of the temporary hospitals.

EFFECTIVE MOVE

At the Wuchang Hongshan Stadium, the last batch of 49 patients was discharged from the temporary hospital at around 3:30 p.m. Tuesday.

The stadium was among the first three public venues to be converted into temporary hospitals when the authorities first announced the plan on Feb. 3. Wuhan reported 1,242 new confirmed cases on that day.

The temporary hospital started to accept patients on Feb. 5. Through its 35 days of operation, over 860 medical workers from 14 medical teams of nine provinces and municipalities treated patients there.

"In our first week here, we were under great pressure as it is something that we had never done before," said Xu Junmei, deputy head of the Wuchang temporary hospital.

The hospital faced logistics issues, distrust from patients and the lack of operation experience at the beginning, but in mere days, the situation improved, said Wan Jun, head of the hospital.

"As the first batch of patients was discharged six days later, both the patients and health workers got a confidence boost," Xu said.

As of Tuesday, the hospital has treated a total of 1,124 patients, with over 880 discharged.

A cured coronavirus patient expresses gratitude to staff members as walking out of a rehabilitation center after a 14-day quarantine for medical observation in Wuhan on March 10, 2020. (Xinhua/Xiong Qi)

As the recovery rate improves, the strain on local medical resources is eased. Wuhan temporary hospitals had around 5,600 spare beds by Feb. 28, according to Ma Xiaowei, head of the National Health Commission.

On March 3, Hubei Province announced that it would gradually shut down temporary hospitals in the province and cut the number of hospitals designated for the disease amid improving signs.

The Jianghan temporary hospital, which received the most patients and saw most recovered patients among all local temporary hospitals, was closed on Monday.

"The construction of the makeshift hospitals was a crucial and significant step that expanded our medical resources in a short period of time," said Ma.

The World Health Organization said in a report late last month that the country's "bold approach" had "changed the course of a rapidly escalating and deadly epidemic."

"In the face of a previously unknown virus, China has rolled out perhaps the most ambitious, agile, and aggressive disease containment effort in history," the report said.

CONTINUED EFFORTS

As nurse Yang Xiaoyan finished her last six-hour shift in the Jianghan temporary hospital, which was converted from an international exhibition center, she took many pictures with her colleagues at the public square outside the building.

Before the last batch of patients was discharged, she sang songs with them and encouraged them to keep positive in the quarantine sites.

"We've achieved a victory in this phase, and all the hard work has been worth it!" said Yang, who has been working in the hospital for more than 20 days.

Staff members salute the cured coronavirus patients who have finished a 14-day quarantine for medical observation at a rehabilitation center in Wuhan on March 10, 2020. (Xinhua/Xiong Qi)

Mi Feng, a spokesperson with the National Health Commission, said at a press conference Tuesday that the epidemic situation continues to improve, noting that no new confirmed cases were reported in other cities in Hubei for five consecutive days.

As of Monday, China had sent 346 medical teams with 42,600 medical staff from across the country to Hubei, according to the National Health Commission.

"We will never forget the joy and excitement that patients have shown when they are discharged from the hospital," said Zhao Song, a medical worker at the Jianghan hospital.

Zhao said there is still more to do after the closure of the hospital, and he looks forward to the day when the virus subsides and everyone can take off their masks.

Nie Bin, a psychological counselor in one of the medical teams, said they are still facing a heavy workload, as they need to keep track of the discharged patients for their mental health.

"Psychological trauma often appears after an epidemic, and there can be a long incubation period," Nie said. "We'll continue to offer psychological counseling and support to citizens and medical workers."
Yves here. Even though most readers are familiar with the efforts to force gig economy players to step up and assume employment obligations when they exercise significant control over their workers, these independent contractor relations are widespread. This article explains how employment laws already had significant failings and these new work relations make it even more important to revise these regulations.

By Tanya Goldman,Senior Policy Analyst and Attorney, Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) and David Weil, Dean and Professor, Heller School of Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University. Originally published at the Institute for New Economic Thinking website

Dynamex is a nationwide courier and delivery service offering on-demand pickup and delivery to individuals and businesses such as Office Depot and Home Depot. In 2004, it reclassified its California drivers from employees to independent contractors.[1] As a result, California drivers were no longer eligible for significant labor and employment protections, including minimum wage guarantees, protections against discrimination, and eligibility for safety-net programs, such as workers compensation and unemployment insurance. After Dynamexs re-classification, drivers had to provide their own vehicles and cover their own taxes and transportation expenses, including paying for fuel, tolls, vehicle maintenance and insurance. Drivers could also sub-contract deliveries and make deliveries for other companies.

While the above is a standard setup for independent contracting, working with Dynamex also involved obligations that resembled employment rather than independent contracting. Although people driving for Dynamex used their own cars and trucks, for some customers they were required to attach the companys decals to their vehicles during deliveries. Drivers also had to buy and wear Dynamex shirts and badges. The company required certain drivers to buy a Nextel cellphone for communications with Dynamex; receive deliveries through Dynamex dispatchers at Dynamexs discretion, without a guaranteed number or type; and notify Dynamex to reject an offered delivery or be liable for any losses to the company. Dynamex still obtained the customers, set the rates customers were charged for delivery services, and negotiated the amounts drivers would receive. Drivers usually could set their own schedules and routes, but they had to both provide Dynamex notice of the days they would work and complete all assignments the day they were assigned.

The work done by Dynamex drivers represents a mix of delegated responsibility that combines characteristics of independent-contractor service providersfiguring out routes, scheduling, and paying for ones expensesand of employeeswearing a company logo, being issued specific equipment, and having rates, customers and delivery requirements set by the party for which one works. Dynamex drivers inhabit a grey area of independent contracting and traditional employment. And, Dynamexs practice is hardly unusual in this respect.

A significant amount of the work in the United States and many of the worlds economies is done in a similar mix of conditions. Many businesses have restructured to treat workers like employees (specifying behaviors and then closely monitoring the outcomes that are crucial to their consumers and investors) but to classify workers as independent contractors (engaging them at an arms-length and cutting them off from rights and benefits tied to employment). These arrangements continue to blur the boundaries of what marks employment. In 1925, according to the Supreme Court, a contract of employment usually meant nothing more than an agreement to perform work.[2] Dictionaries usually considered employment as synonymous with work. Today, such assumptions no longer hold.

The increasingly ambiguous question of what constitutes employment is critically important. Employment is the basis for many of our fundamental workplace protections, including assurances of pay for work done, provision of a safe workplace, and protections against discrimination and sexual harassment. Further, benefits provisions and basic safety-net policies like unemployment insurance and workers compensation are also linked to employment. Finally, wage and salary setting itself are powerfully affected by employment responsibilities.

As modern business structures pressure the question of employment, they expose faults in the current legal structures that premise eligibility for worker protection on designated employment relationships. To determine whether an employment relationship exists, statutes and courts have focused on the question of control. However, the control inquiry is problematic. First, questions of control, derived from tort law notions of vicarious liability, are not always consistent with fulfilling the intended purpose of worker protection laws. Second, common-law development has made identifying an employment relationship unpredictable, decreasing clarity of employer responsibilities and compliance with the law.

Thus, the advent of modern business structures exposes flaws in both the design and administration of worker protection laws. The core purpose of worker protection laws is to address the problem that work relationships are inherently unequal. In most cases, workers do not have sufficient individual bargaining power to protect themselves against socially unacceptable outcomes in the labor market, especially in the absence of collective bargaining power. This vulnerability creates a role for government to protect workers. States recognized this role in passing laws at the turn of the 20th century regulating child labor and maximum hours as did (belatedly) Congress in enacting New Deal legislation like the Fair Labor Standards Act.

Current conditions show, however, that the design and administration of these worker protections undermine their purpose. Most of our critical workplace protection laws were flawed at the outset, both because they excluded certain categories of vulnerable workers and because they conditioned access to critical rights and protections on an employment relationship. Additionally, the implementation of these laws further constricts their efficacy by determining employment relationships based on unpredictable and underinclusive inquiries like retained control. Current business practices highlight these faults as businesses increasingly rely on independent contractors, an aspect of the fissured workplace, shifting greater risks from employers onto workers. This means that worker protection laws fail a great and growing number of workers. Many independent contractorsboth legitimately classified independent contractors and those employees that companies have misclassified as independent contractorslack the bargaining power and leverage needed to protect their own and societal interests.

We argue that this situation creates an urgent need to rethink our system of worker protections by providing all workers some core protections and by enhancing workers access to other key laws. We contend that the central question involving worker protection should not be what constitutes employment? but rather who is responsible here? Workers deserve more protections regardless of employment status. We assert that this will reduce misclassification and create incentives for businesses to base their decisions on true tradeoffs rather than on regulatory arbitrage.

We begin by setting the stage for urgent action. We review evidence that the present of worklet alone the future of workprovides less and less of the value created by work going to those who do it while more and more of the risks associated with work are shifted onto them and away from those who derive economic returns from that work. We then focus on the history of assignment of responsibility and how that poorly comports with the way that industries in our economy operate. After reviewing several responses that have been proposed in recent years, we put forward a new Concentric Circle framework for assigning rights, responsibility, and protections in the workplace.

The Concentric Circle framework posits an inner core set of rights for workers, a middle circle set of presumptions about employment, and an outer ring of benefits. First, as the inner core of our proposal, we maintain that certain central rights and protections should not be tethered to an employment relationship, but to work itself. Thus, we posit that the right to be paid a minimum wage and compensated for work; freedom from discrimination and retaliation; access to a safe working environment, and the right to associate and engage in concerted activity belong to all workers, not just those employers classify as employees (as opposed to independent contractors).

Second, we argue for a middle circle rebuttable presumption of employment to address those rights that remain exclusive to employees (and not available to independent contractors). We suggest that there should presumptively be an employment relationship, with businesses bearing the burden of proving that no employment relationship exists. As part of this presumption, we draw upon existing legal doctrines used to determine employment relationships and propose a workable update. Finally, at the outer ring of our framework we suggest additional mechanisms to give workers access to and incentivize companies to fund core workplace benefits that promote worker mobility and social welfare.

After reviewingand rejectingseveral recently proposed alternative responses to this problem, we argue that the Concentric Circle framework offers a superior policy response. It better assigns rights, responsibilities, and protections in the workplace and labor markets. At the same time, it provides businesses the proper incentives to make decisions regarding compensation; investment in benefits and work conditions; and employment status.

New technologies, the changing expectations of employees and the dynamic nature of business will always affect the nature of work. This has been true throughout economic history. But this does not mean we should forget or dismiss the underlying reason for workplace laws that go back to the beginning of the twentieth century: the recognition that workers need protections because the power to bargain is almost always skewed toward the employer. This imbalance has not evaporated in the fissured workplace of today, nor will it in the foreseeable future. Although we may need to assess whether the ways we provide protections are effective, the underlying commitment of public policies to fairness in the workplace and society must remain.

____

[1] After the drivers sued, the California Supreme Court reconsidered, in Dynamex Operations West Inc. v. Superior Court, 416 P.3d 1 (Cal. 2018), the appropriate test for determining whether drivers are employees or independent contractors for purposes of California wage orders, which impose obligations relating to minimum wages and maximum hours. All facts in this section are from the Dynamex decision.

[2] New Prime Inc. v. Oliveira, 139 S.Ct. 532, 539 (2019). Justice Gorsuch further noted that the Railroad Labor Board in 1922 interpreted employee to include anyone engaged in the customary work directly contributory to the operation of the railroads. Id. at 543.
Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas looked loved-up on Tuesday as they left Mumbai, India, after celebrating their first Holi together.

The Bollywood star, 37, has been introducing her musician husband, 27, to the Hindu festival of colours with her friends and family in her beloved home.

Priyanka looked effortlessly chic in a pair of wide-leg denim jeans with a plunging blue silk dress.

Loved-up: Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas looked loved-up on Tuesday as they left Mumbai, India, after celebrating their first Holi together

She teamed the items of clothing with a chic black blazer, heels and stylish bucket bag.

Priyanka styled her brunette locks into a glossy blow-dried hairdo, she added a slick of make-up to enhance her stunning features.

Nick looked dapper in a pair of skinny jeans with a white T-shirt and flannel sleeved black jacket.

The duo looked loved-up as they walked hand-in-hand after celebrating their first magical Holi together.

'My first Holi!': The Bollywood star, 37, has been introducing her musician husband, 27, to the Hindu festival of colours with her friends and family in her beloved home

Chic: Priyanka looked effortlessly chic in a pair of wide-leg denim jeans with a plunging blue silk dress

Smitten: The duo looked loved-up as they walked hand-in-hand after celebrating their first magical Holi together

Just hours earlier, Priyanka took to Instagram to share a photo of herself and Nick covered in bright powder.

She penned: 'We have already been living in color over the past few days. Literally. Nicks first Holi was made so special being home. May everyone celebrating have a very happy and safe Holi.'

It comes after Priyanka and Nick covered each other in bright powder as she introduced him to Holi over the weekend in an early celebration.

Special memories: Just hours earlier, Priyanka took to Instagram to share a photo of herself and Nick covered in bright powder

The 37-year-old actress became a star in Bollywood before striking out to America, so they celebrated in the Hindi film industry's hometown of Mumbai.

'My first Holi! (Five days early) So much fun celebrating with such incredible people here in my second home in India,' Nick wrote on Instagram.

Holi festivities include bonfire prayers as well as dance parties where guests playfully throw multicolored powder at each other.

This year's Holi celebrations have left many people concerned about the spread of Coronavirus, COVID-19.

Having a ball: It comes after Priyanka and Nick covered each other in bright powder as she introduced him to Holi over the weekend in an early celebration

By the way: They snapped a selfie at the party with Bollywood star Katrina Kaif (right), who stepped in last-minute to replace Priyanka in last year's movie Bharat

But Priyanka and Nick kept their private party going, cuddling up for an Instagram snap after dousing each other in colours.

They snapped a selfie at the party with Bollywood star Katrina Kaif, who stepped in last-minute to replace Priyanka in last year's movie Bharat.

Their hostess was Priyanka's bridesmaid Isha Ambani - whose father is the richest man in Asia - and her husband Anand Piramal, himself the son of a billionaire.

That's the spirit: Holi festivities include bonfire prayers as well as dance parties where guests playfully throw multicoloured powder at each other

Isha and Anand, who married in December 2018 just two weeks after Priyanka and Nick, famously hired Beyonce for a private performance at their wedding functions.

Their Holi party was a family affair for Priyanka, whose brother Siddharth arrived on the arm of South Indian actress Neelam Upadhyaya.

Neelam and Siddharth recently attended a fashion show together where her ring set off engagement rumours online - although she quickly rubbished the speculation, pointing out she was wearing the jewellery on her right hand.

Siddharth and Priyanka's mother Madhu Chopra was also glimpsed at the party mingling with screenwriter Mushtaq Sheikh.

Priyanka was meant to make her return to Hindi films with Bharat after three years in Hollywood, but suddenly withdrew amid her engagement to Nick.

'She makes me smile a lot': 'My first Holi! (Five days early) So much fun celebrating with such incredible people here in my second home in India,' Nick wrote on Instagram

The director Ali Abbas Zafar confirmed on Twitter in July 2018 that Priyanka had left the project, writing that 'the reason is very very special, she told us in the Nick of time about her decision and we are very happy for her.'

In a flash she was replaced by Katrina, who used to date the movie's leading man Salman Khan and rose to fame during her relationship with him.

Salman has repeatedly taken jabs at Priyanka for quitting Bharat, which became one of the highest grossing Indian films of 2019.

'While many would give anything for the film or maybe even leaving their husband, Priyanka left the film,' he vamped to the Mumbai Mirror last May.

She instead returned to Hindi films with The Sky Is Pink, playing the mother of real-life motivational speaker Aisha Chaudhury, who died aged 18 of pulmonary fibrosis.

Priyanka and Nick had Christian and Hindu weddings at the end of 2018 at Umaid Bhawan, a formerly royal palace in Jodhpur, Rajasthan.
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Linkedin Riska Rahman (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, March 11, 2020 11:28 671 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2069cd571 2 Business jakarta-composite-index,JCI,Indonesia-Stock-Exchange,IDX,retail-investors,stock-market,COVID-19,coronavirus Free

Retail investors have found themselves facing two difficult decisions amid a volatile Indonesian stock market that has wiped out trillions of rupiah in less than three months: to buy more shares or not.

Arief Hendarwan, a 28-year-old employee in Jakarta, admitted that he had been holding off from buying more stock for the past month as the Jakarta Composite Index (JCI) plummeted deep into the red.

Ive pulled out of buying more stocks to keep myself from losing more money because the share prices are tanking due to the fear of the coronavirus outbreak, he told The Jakarta Post.

Read also: Indonesia prepares additional measures to stabilize markets, halt tax payments amid virus risks

Arief did not stop there. He admitted that he was too affected by the panicked atmosphere spreading among market players, prompting him to sell stocks in his portfolio to seek cover from further losses.

However, the JCI rebounded after the US Federal Reserve delivered an emergency 50-basis-points rate cut on March 3, blowing a soothing wind for Arief to calm himself down.

Im still in a wait-and-see mode as I observe the latest virus developments and until the situation improves, he said, adding that he believed the market rout would remain until the virus could eventually be contained.

The Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) data showed that its main gauge, the JCI, fell 17.12 percent so far this year with foreign investors dumping out Rp 7.12 trillion (US$497.37 million) worth of stocks more than they bought. The local bourse market capitalization has dropped to Rp 6 quadrillion from Rp 7.26 quadrillion at the end of last year.

The index rebounded 1.64 percent to 5,220.83 on Tuesday, after crashing 6.58 percent in the previous session. Stocks of private-owned Bank Central Asia (BCA) and state-owned Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI) and Bank Mandiri became the index movers.

Read also: Bourse announces new trading suspension policy on brink of bear market

The uncertainties stemmed from the COVID-19 spread around the globe that has hit stock markets worldwide from New York and London to Shanghai and Tokyo. The pneumonia-like illness infected more than 114,000 people globally, including 19 in Indonesia, and killed around 4,000, disrupting business activity in various countries, including economic giants China, Japan and Germany.

Fathia Haq, a 29-year-old expectant mother, stood on the opposite side of Arief as she planned to use the less-than-favorable market conditions to her advantage: accumulating cheaper stocks into her portfolio. She, however, did that with a careful and calculated strategy.

I only buy stocks of companies that produce products that I know and have good fundamentals, the Bali-based writer told the Post, referring to the companies financial state and profitability ratios.

Fathia, who planned to use the gains from her investment to pay for her unborn childs school tuition fee, said the fundamental conditions had become the most important thing for her to pick which stocks are worth to be included into her portfolio.

Although she sometimes felt a pinch of worry from the stocks sharp decline, she tried to remind herself that buying stocks during a rout could help her gain big profits in the next five to seven years, enough to pay for the school tuition fee.

I try not to panic and just think of the stock market is having a big sale right now, she said.

The JCI gained almost two folds in its value in the last 10 years with the number of retail investors surging forward at 30 percent to 1.1 million people last year, the bourse data showed.

Domestic investors are the biggest traders at the local bourse so far this year with a 60 percent contribution versus foreign investors.

Read also: Disappearing act: Market braces for volatile March after $2.4b vanishes in a week

Sucor Sekuritas head of business development Bernadus Setya Ananda Wijaya was one of the market players that suggested investors to benefit from the weak market.

Investors are slowly building up their portfolios while many stocks are at their cheapest price, he said during a seminar in Jakarta on Feb. 29.

Mandiri Investasi deputy chief investment officer Aldo Perkasa explained on Thursday that such a strategy would be best fit for mid-to-long term investors as he expected the JCI would still move with high volatility in the short term.

Investors should also be able to manage their fears [during the coronavirus outbreak] and watch out for other investment assets movement, like the government bond, that would influence the stock markets movements and help them make a profit, Bahana TCW chief economist and investment strategist Budi Hikmat said in a statement on last Tuesday.

He, however, reminded investors to stay prudent in investing during times of volatility like today, suggesting investors to closely watch other economic indicators, such as the rupiah value against the US dollar and global bourse indices. (ydp)
The 83 evacuees, who arrived from Italy on board Air India flight AI138 on early Wednesday, March 11, have been placed under quarantine at the Indian Army facility in Manesar. 74 of them are Indian nationals while the remaining 9 are foreign nationals of Indian origin.

Out of the 83 quarantined 66 are adults, 40 males, and 26 females. Sixteen children and one infant are also among the evacuees.

According to reports, the evacuees will be monitored by a team of qualified doctors for a period of 14 days. They will be kept under constant observation for any signs of coronavirus infection. If any individual shows any signs of coronavirus, they will be immediately sent to the isolation ward.

Daily coronavirus confirmation tests will be run of the evacuees at the medical facility in Manesar. After the completion of the testing period, the individuals with no signs of coronavirus would be allowed to go home. The detailed documentation of every evacuee will be sent to the District/ State surveillance units for further surveillance.

If anyone is tested positive for the coronavirus they will be sent to the Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi for further treatment. They will be kept in the isolation ward and samples from them would be sent to the AIIM's Department of Virology for testing. The confirmation would be by the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

Patients would be discharged after full clinical recovery and two successive negative results for coronavirus confirmation tests.

The 83 evacuees will be kept in several barracks. Individuals from one barrack won't be allowed to interact with a person from another barrack, according to reports.

According to Health Ministry, 60 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in India so far. Across the world, over 119,000 people have been confirmed positive for coronavirus. The deadly virus has claimed over 4,300 lives across the globe.

Also Read: Coronavirus Live Updates: Two Dell, Mindtree employees test positive for COVID-19 virus

Also Read: Mindtree employee infected with coronavirus did not visit office or meet staff
A former orthopedic surgeon in Mobile was sentenced to five years probation for illegally distributing prescription medicine to patients.

Dr. Thomas Dempsey, 73, was sentenced to five years probation and ordered to pay a $250,000 fine. Dempsey plead guilty to illegally distributing controlled substances via prescription in September 2019.

Dr. Dempsey was one of the founding members of the Alabama Orthopedic Clinic in Mobile, Alabama and practiced for 41 years. In 2012, Dr. Dempsey left to start Orthopedic Quick Care in Mobile.

Dr. Dempsey admitted that he signed blank prescription papers prior to a June 2018 trip to Charleston, South Carolina during his plea agreement. During this trip, Dempseys staff used these pre-signed prescription papers to create thirty-seven prescriptions for oxycodone and hydrocodone, which were distributed to patients while Dr. Dempsey was out of the office.

None of Dempseys staff had the requisite DEA license to prescribe Schedule II controlled substances. Dempsey lost his licence to practice in July of 2018.

This case was investigated by Special Agents, Task Force Officers, and Diversion Investigators with DEAMobile.
Since Awkwafina Is Nora From Queens premiered Jan. 22, weve seen an array of the now-superstar's dramatized shenanigans in her early days, from getting kicked out of an Atlantic City casino to taking monetary advantage of her non-stop queefing (yes, you read that right).

But Awkwafinas (real name Nora Lum) story doesnt just involve herself. She wouldnt be where she is today without the help of her family, particularly her grandma, portrayed by Orange Is the New Blacks Lori Tan Chinn.

Thats exactly what the comedys Wednesday episode, Grandma & Chill, aims to explore  the tale of grandmas journey from China to America and how it was the start of her familys life in New York, which you can see in EWs exclusive teaser above.

To tell an origin story that involves getting swept away by mudslides and swimming across the ocean, executive producer Teresa Hsiao tells EW that the writers realized a perfect conduit to convey it all was through  what else Korean drama style.

You're mixing Asian cultures obviously, but I know at least personally, in my family, everyone watches K-dramas but they just watch it subtitled in Chinese, Hsiao said. That K-drama style is really fun and it hasn't really been seen before. So [grandmas] retelling this within the format of a K-drama, and within that, then you get to do a lot of crazy things. You get to make it a little bit more dreamy and crazy with a lot of things that aren't necessarily real.

In the episode, grandma regales Nora with anecdotes from her earlier life, which began in 1960s China right before the Cultural Revolution, as she tried to pave a path to America. And although Nora is initially annoyed at having to get off her phone, her loved ones harrowing quest quickly captures her (and the audiences) attention.

First, we see a hilarious title sequence featuring windswept hair, intense music, dramatic character poses, and of course, the classic graphic design is my passion aesthetics that every K-drama fan will clock. The writers were inspired by K-dramas like My Sassy Girl and Boys Over Flowers for this part, Hsiao says, plus they enlisted the directorial help of the Daniels (AKA the directing duo of Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert) of Swiss Army Man to bring the visuals to life.

Story continues

We're quickly introduced to the main players in young grandmas story: her younger self played by Jamie Chung, and the two men dubbed Doc Hottie (Glee's Harry Shum, Jr.) and Garbage Boy (Kim's Convenience's Simu Liu) who vie for her affections.

We wont spoil the out-of-this-world events of the episode, but just be prepared for storylines revolving around fighting off sharks, a character getting amnesia (another classic K-drama trope), and some insane plot twists. And a bonus: youll see a shirtless Liu drenching himself in milk at one point.

Comedy Central

Hsiao says the guest actors were all game to take part in the topsy-turvy shoot, which saw Shum, Jr. get fake blood thrown in his face and Stephanie Hsu, who plays grandmas BFF Shu Shu, slop around in mud.

It was lucky because obviously, a lot of them, just knowing Nora, they were all excited to do it, she says. Simu was doing this right before he was going to go to Australia to shoot [Marvel's] Shang Chi, which he's doing now. So we're super lucky to have him come on board.

The EP also discusses why its important for viewers to see Shum, Jr. and Liu act as young grandma's love interests and leading men in the episode.

Basically we wanted to have these two studs come on board and again, really showcase like, Hey, Asian men are super hot and they are incredible and they never ever get a chance to show this side of them on television, Hsiao says. They're usually just like the nerdy doctor or whatever. And so we really wanted to showcase this hot Asian masculinity.

You might be suprised to hear that despite all the fictionalized elements of the K-drama-esque fable, a lot of the details were pieced from peoples true stories. Shu Shus background, for example, was based on one womans real experience leaving China.

We actually talked to a woman who my mom introduced me to. This woman who was kind enough to spend a couple hours with us; she Skyped with the room, Hsiao tells EW. She just told us her story of when she was in high school, and it was the Cultural Revolution ... She was great and told us her story of how she was sent to a farm and then all the stuff about the mudslide, how she was plucked away.

Hsiao continues, adding She had been swept away to another mudslide when she was working on a farm and then eventually she made it out. I mean, we embellished a little bit now -- she didn't swim across a channel and kill a bunch of sharks.

Other historically accurate tidbits came from writer Kyle Laus own family, where one of his relatives actually swum across the canal or river to Hong Kong, and the scene where young grandmas parents were forced to smash their plates and other valuables really happened to numerous families in China who lived during that era. And Hsiao says, as depicted in the episode, Awkwafinas real-life grandma worked at a hospital when she came to the U.S. and her best friends were other immigrants from all over the world. Unfortunately, though, there was no Garbage Boy in real life.

Awkwafina Is Nora From Queens airs Wednesdays at 10:30 p.m. ET on Comedy Central.

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The Canadian miner announced on February 26, 2019 that it would not fund its 12% stake in the Ambatovy JV, with Japans Sumitomo Corp and South Koreas Korea Resources Corp (Kores), to protect Sherritts balance sheet after Ambatovy made a cash call to boost its short-term liquidity. Sherritt subsequently announced that it had become a defaulting shareholder on March 6, 2019.



First refusal to fund Sherritts 12% share in Ambatovy will now pass to Sumitomo and Kores, while Sherritt itself will lose voting rights and influence on operations at a local level as per the terms of a default under the shareholders agreement.



The Ambatovy mine, which produced 33,733 tonnes of refined nickel and 2,900 tonnes of refined cobalt in 2019, will reportedly continue to produce after Sherritts proposed exit, details of which will be firmly announced on April 30.



Nickel and cobalt production at Ambatovy will not be [affected] by the transaction or pending timelines, director of investor relations and communications, Joe Racanelli, told Fastmarkets on March 10.



Although Sherritt has increased its nickel and cobalt production guidance for 2020 via its 50:50 Moa JV in Cuba (with Cuba's General Nickel Co), no production guidance was released for Ambatovy, which increased its nickel output by 2% year on year in 2019.



The Moa JV is expected to produce between 32,000-34,000 tonnes of refined nickel and 3,300-3,600 tonnes of refined cobalt in 2020 - having produced 33,108 tonnes of nickel and 3,376 tonnes of cobalt in 2019.



Depressed nickel prices have undoubtedly exacerbated the issue, shaping the companys belief that selling its 12% share in the Ambatovy JV would be the best way to protect its liquidity.



The London Metal Exchange three-month nickel price continues to languish below $13,000 per tonne on March 10, despite hitting a three-week intra-day high of $12,995 per tonne.



Refined nickel production from lateritic ore requires a significantly higher LME three-month price when compared to the capex cost of production, with multiple miners citing an LME three-month nickel price of $20,000 per tonne as an equitable level for lateritic production.



The transaction involves a number of components, including the exchange of $588 million of existing bonds for a new secured second lien note and the exchange of $145 million of CFA loans owed to our Ambatovy joint venture partners for our 12% equity interest, or a new amended loan. The transaction, pending approvals from all stakeholders, is slated to close by April 30, and will reduce Sherritts debt by approximately $415 million, Racanelli said.



Sherritt is confident the 12% stake will be financed by existing shareholders Sumitomo and Kores, and declined to comment on whether or not other parties were involved in any discussions.



Were confident that the transaction will be approved by all stakeholders, Racanelli added.
BEIJING (dpa-AFX) - The U.S. Commerce Department has extended Huawei Technologies' temporary general license, which allows US companies to continue doing business with Chinese counterpart until May 15. This is now the fourth time Huawei has been granted such an extension. The U.S. Commerce Department has issued a series of extensions of the temporary license and had previously extended it until April 1. Last May, the Trump administration had blacklisted Huawei citing national security concerns. However, the company was still allowed to do business with US companines for components that 'do not pose a threat to national security'. Meanwhile, the Commerce Department has issued a request seeking public input on whether it should issue future extensions. The Commerce Department also asked about the costs associated with ending the licenses. All concerned parties have until March 25 to express their opinion to the Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS). The press release also mentions that these postponements are intended to allow US companies to find alternatives to Huawei equipment, services and software. 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.
San Francisco Mayor London Breed and city health officials on Wednesday ordered the cancellation of all large gatherings in the city in response to the growing threat of the coronavirus  on a day that saw sweeping changes across the country including a ban on travel from Europe and the suspension of the NBA season.

The citys move was aimed in part at suspending basketball games and other events at Chase Center and preceded the NBAs dramatic decision to halt all games until further notice amid the outbreak.

San Franciscos new move to curb the virus came as the World Health Organization deemed the coronavirus a pandemic on Wednesday and Italy tightened its lockdown, ordering nearly all businesses to close.

In the wake of those developments, President Trump addressed the nation Wednesday evening to announce that travel from Europe to the U.S. will be suspended for 30 days, starting Friday. The move, however, does not affect American citizens and permanent residents, the White House said. Trump said the restrictions will not apply to the United Kingdom, and that he is seeking payroll tax relief for Americans and aid to businesses.

Cities and states throughout the nation were ratcheting up containment measures Wednesday after a top U.S. health official, Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, said the outbreak is going to get worse.

Confirmed cases grew in the Bay Area and California. California had 190 confirmed coronavirus cases as of Wednesday afternoon, including 108 in the Bay Area and 14 in San Francisco. Diagnoses have been rising sharply in the Bay Area: Less than a week ago, on March 6, there were around 30 confirmed cases in the region.

To help tame that trend, San Francisco health officials order prohibiting indoor and outdoor public gatherings of 1,000 or more people will last at least two weeks.

City officials began directly notifying dozens of venues on Wednesday about the new mandates to ensure compliance.

We know that this order is disruptive, but it is an important step to support public health, Breed said in a statement. This order mirrors actions being taken by other local governments and is informed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. We know canceling these events is a challenge for everyone.

Supervisor Aaron Peskin, who had urged the Warriors to close Chase Center in recent days, said Wednesday of the directive, It was always a question of when, and not if. Were all in this together, and we have an imperative to stop transmission of this virus.

The city has previously recommended event organizers cancel large gatherings, but Wednesdays mandate now carries the legal weight of fines or even jail time for noncompliance.

The virus needs people to spread. It jumps from person to person, so by reducing the opportunity for that to happen, we can effectively slow the spread, said San Francisco Health Director Dr. Grant Colfax in a statement.

The health order also strongly recommends following social distancing protocols, including canceling, rescheduling, or not attending events with more than 250 attendees. Organizations that serve high-risk populations should cancel gatherings of more than 10 people, the order states.

Through March 21, all events at Chase Center will be canceled or postponed due to the public-gathering ban.

The San Francisco Giants also announced Wednesday they will not host the Oakland As in an exhibition game at Oracle Park previously scheduled for March 24.

The move to ban large gatherings builds upon directives that Colfax issued Friday that canceled large city-sponsored events. He issued recommendations that private entities, like sports and concert organizers, follow suit. But Wednesdays order mandated under city law that privately sponsored events be canceled as well.

Colfax said that banning events has public health benefits, but added there was no critical, scientific threshold for the size of events that would guarantee the illness isnt spread.

There is no magic number, said Rachael Kagan, a spokeswoman for the health department.

City officials said that the two-week moratorium on large gatherings was prompted in part because some large venue owners ignored the health departments advice to cancel events.

The recommendations werent necessarily taken by everyone, Breed said at a news conference Wednesday. So we decided to go a step further.

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.

Oakland officials followed San Franciscos lead Wednesday. They declared a state of emergency and canceled all gatherings of 1,000 or more people at city-owned properties.

Washington state Gov. Jay Inslee announced that state  which has been hit hard by the coronavirus  would impose a ban on gatherings of 250 or more people in King, Snohomish and Pierce counties in an effort to slow the spread of the virus.

Some San Francisco theaters said they planned to move ahead with scheduled performances, but with a planned reduction in the number of patrons in attendance to comply with the 1,000-person cutoff.

A spokeswoman for the Curran said in an email that in compliance with the City of San Franciscos mandate, the Curran Theater has reduced its capacity to 1,000 persons and is contacting patrons to voluntarily exchange tickets for any performance that exceeds this capacity. All San Francisco performances of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child will continue as scheduled with this reduced capacity until further notice.

The full economic impact of the mandated closures is still being assessed. But City Controller Ben Rosenfield presented some stark preliminary figures to the citys Budget Committee on Wednesday. The travel and hospitality sectors have been particularly hard-hit, Rosenfield said, as concerns over the virus eat into the citys tourism and business-travel economies.

All conventions at the Moscone Center have been canceled until mid-May, resulting in the loss of 235,000 hotel-room nights. The hotel industry employs around 25,000 people in the city.

Rosenfield said he expected the fallout to increase in severity in more sectors, including restaurants. There are currently no exact estimates for the citys potential revenue losses, but Rosenfield said they could be in the tens of millions of dollars just for the quarter.

PJ Johnston, a spokesman for the Warriors, said the organization had not yet finished crunching the numbers on potential financial losses stemming from the mandated closures. He added that the situation was especially painful for all the workers, vendors and small-business partners who count on events at Chase Center.

San Francisco Chronicle staff writer Jill Tucker contributed to this report.

Dominic Fracassa is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: dfracassa@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @dominicfracassa
OTTAWA - There is "no credible evidence" to support the federal allegation Elena Crenna spied against Canada on behalf of Moscow, the woman's lawyer told a judge Wednesday.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 11/3/2020 (671 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

OTTAWA - There is "no credible evidence" to support the federal allegation Elena Crenna spied against Canada on behalf of Moscow, the woman's lawyer told a judge Wednesday.

On the contrary, Crenna assured a Russian security agent that a Canadian-led housing project was a humanitarian effort aimed at helping the former Soviet Union, lawyer Arghavan Gerami said during a Federal Court hearing.

David and Elena Crenna pose for a photo at their wedding in this 2012 handout photo. Lawyers for a woman accused of espionage will try to persuade a judge today she did not spy for Russia. Elena Crenna is asking the Federal Court to reverse an immigration adjudicator's decision to bar her from Canada over events that unfolded a quarter-century ago. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO - David Crenna

"She told the agent the Canadians were doing a good thing," Gerami said.

The Russian-born Crenna, 58, is asking the court to reverse an immigration adjudicator's decision to bar her from Canada over events that unfolded a quarter-century ago.

After listening to arguments from Gerami and federal lawyer Susanne Wladysiuk, Justice Henry Brown indicated Wednesday he would rule on the matter soon, meaning a decision could come as early as this spring.

The tale began in 1994 when Canadian David Crenna hired Elena Filatova  whom he would later marry  as an interpreter and public-relations representative on the wood-frame housing project in Tver, Russia.

An agent from the FSB, a Russian security agency, contacted her to ask questions about the project and David gave her permission to speak with him in the interest of being transparent and forthcoming.

Elena and the agent met a total of about seven times over a period of years.

Elena did not solicit details about the Tver project from anyone so she could pass them to the agent, Gerami said Wednesday.

"She did not have access to secret information, nor was any secret information gathered or shared with the FSB," Gerami said.

"Mrs. Crenna did not spy against Canada. There was simply no credible evidence to support these allegations."

In August 1994, David and Elena began a romantic relationship that ended when the housing project concluded in 1996. However, they reconnected in 2008 and were married four years later.

In the interim, Elena had moved to California to work as a nurse and she obtained U.S. citizenship in 2004. She came to Canada in September 2013 to live with David, applying for permanent residence under his sponsorship.

Following admissibility hearings, immigration officials gave her approval to stay in 2018. But the federal government successfully appealed the decision.

In its ruling last June, the appeal division of the Immigration and Refugee Board found Elena had "engaged in acts of espionage contrary to Canada's interests" and issued a deportation order against her.

The government dismisses Elena's argument that her conversations with the Russian security agent were routine and humdrum, saying the nature of the information is not relevant when it comes to espionage.

Brown also played down the idea, saying the material "could have been very important" to the Russians.

However, the judge appeared to have difficulty understanding Wladysiuk's argument that Elena should be turned away from Canada even though she disclosed to David, her employer, that she was speaking with the agent.

"I see a problem with that. Help me with it," Brown said.

Wladysiuk suggested that Elena could have told David she would simply refuse to meet with the FSB.

Gerami rejected the notion Elena had a choice. "Mrs. Crenna did the only thing that she could do. That, in itself, doesn't make her a spy."

David, 75, sat attentively through the hearing without his wife.

For now, Elena has voluntarily left Canada for the United States to avoid the stress and embarrassment of being forcibly removed, Gerami said.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 11, 2020.
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Italy has said all shops except pharmacies and food outlets will be closed in response to the country's coronavirus outbreak as the country's death toll from the disease jumped sharply in the last 24 hours.

A top Italian doctor said intensive care wards should place an age limit on beds as a way of prioritising medical resources amid the deepening crisis that has seen cases in Italy rise by 196 to 827 today.

Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte announced the latest wave of restrictions in a dramatic appeal to the nation that came as the country of 60 million battles its biggest crisis in generations.

Conte said in his nine-minute evening prime time address to the nation: 'Thank you to all Italians who make sacrifices. We are proving to be a great nation.'

Italians have watched ever tighter restrictions slowly eat away at the very fabric of everyday life as a government decree on Monday stopped non-essential travel between cities and banned public gatherings.

The existing clampdown on public gathering and basic travel had already emptied streets and shuttered everything from churches to restaurants.

It comes as total confirmed infections in Europe rose to 23,339 with 951 deaths, according to a new tally which is compiled from official sources.

In Italy, the number has risen to 12,149 cases with 827 fatalities. More European countries are reporting their first deaths of people with the new contagion.

A coronavirus emergency checkpoint and triage point at Civile Hospital in Brescia, Italy. Cases in the country have jumped sharply in the last 24 hours

Rome's Deputy Maria Teresa Baldini wears a protective mask and gloves inside parliament as she helps deal with the fallout from coronavirus

Como street, one of the traditional gatherings of the Milanese nightlife, is deserted today as the country went into lockdown and all non-essential shops were closed

Markers on the floor indicating the safety distance between people at a market stall as part of control measures against the spread of the coronavirus in Trento today

People wearing sanitary masks as they queue outside a supermarket in Casalpusterlengo, in northern Italy, today

An empty street during the coronavirus emergency lockdown in Turin. Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte announced on Monday the extending of quarantine measures to the entire country

Coronavirus checks near one of the Molo Beverello gates in the port in Naples today

The empty Palermo Cathedral in Palermo today. In Italy a rise in cases of 31 per cent was reported today by the Civil Protection Agency

In another development top doctors suggested that rather than admit patients on a 'first come first served' basis, hospitals should swap to 'catastrophe medicine' guidelines - typically used in war zones and during natural disasters - where those with the greatest chance of survival are given priority.

If a limit on beds is implemented it could mean elderly patients with no signs of coronavirus being turfed off ICU wards to make space for younger patients who have longer left to live.

The guidelines should apply to all patients needing intensive care treatment and not just those suffering from coronavrius, according to guidance published this week by the Society of Anesthesia, Analgesia, Resuscitation and Intensive Care (SAARI).

Elsewhere, Ireland, Belgium, Bulgaria and Albania reported their first virus-related deaths earlier on Wednesday.

World Health Organisation officially declared virus crisis a pandemic as European cases climbed over 22,000

WHO said today it was 'deeply concerned by the alarming levels of spread and severity' of the coronavirus

Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom blasted governments for ignoring repeated WHO pleas to take urgent and aggressive action since the spread outside China rose 13-fold in the space of a fortnight

At least 112,000 patients infected worldwide and 4,000 have died since the outbreak began last December

Since it began in China, Europe is now centre of the outbreak, with growing outbreaks in Italy, Spain, France, Germany and the UK where the eighth death was recorded today

In Sweden the death of an elderly woman who had been in intensive care represented the first virus-related death for the whole Nordic-Baltic region.

Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen announced today that the country will close all kindergartens, schools and universities for two weeks.

The tough new measures will also include banning indoor events with 100 or more participants, and sending non-critical public sector employees home.

Private sector workers will also be encouraged to work from home, after the Danish Patient Safety Authority reported 442 new cases yesterday.

On Thursday Saudi Arabia temporarily suspended travel of citizens and residents and halted flights with several states due to coronavirus fears.

The decision includes the European Union, Switzerland, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Philippines, Sudan, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Eritrea, Kenya, Djibouti, and Somalia, source added, saying the Kingdom also suspended entry to those coming from these countries.

Coronavirus has swept through Europe after a major outbreak in Italy, and is now one of the worst-affected regions outside of China

A deserted Melchiorre Gioia street in Milan today. For days, to counter the spread of coronavirus, locals have been obliged to close at 6pm after a strict government decree this week

Intensive care wards should stop treating older patients and those with multiple conditions and instead focus on those who have longer to live and better chances of survival if beds run out due to coronavirus, Italian doctors have said (pictured, an ICU ward in Cremona)

The Trevi Fountain during the coronavirus emergency lockdown in Rome today. The government announced a lockdown

A woman wearing a protective mask walking in a deserted street near Castel Sant Angelo in Rome, Italy, today

People queuing inside a fruit and vegetable shop standing at least a metre away from each other in a semi-deserted town in Viareggio, Italy, today

Much of Turin (pictured), Rome, Naples, Venice and Milan were deserted as residents and tourists stayed away from busy hotspots of cities

An elderly man with a full shopping cart near a supermarket today in Naples. Many shops saw panic-buying and long queues

Saudi Arabia also suspended passenger traffic through all land crossings with Jordan , while commercial and cargo traffic is still allowed, and the passage of exceptional humanitarian cases.

The decision excludes health workers in the Kingdom from Philippines and India, and evacuation, shipping and trade trips taking necessary precautions. Saudi Arabia has 45 virus cases.

Swiss customs authorities have shut down nine border crossings with Italy, the epicentre of Europe's coronavirus outbreak, to channel border traffic through seven other sites.

The move announced today follows a decision by Italian authorities to continue to allow cross-border traffic with Switzerland despite adopting strong quarantine measures across Italy.

Neighbours Austria and Slovenia have barred travellers from Italy without a medical certificate.

In Italy a rise in cases of 31 per cent was reported today by the Civil Protection Agency, the largest increase in absolute numbers since the contagion came to light on February 21.

The total number of cases in Italy, the European country hardest hit by the virus, rose to 12,462 from a previous 10,149, an increase of 22.8 per cent.

However, the agency said some 600 new cases were confirmed on Tuesday but only reported on Wednesday.

The head of the agency said that, of those originally infected, 1,045 had fully recovered compared to 1,004 the day before. Some 1,028 people were in intensive care against a previous 877.

Italy announced 200 deaths from coronavirus on Tuesday in the largest daily rise yet, as infections spiked to more than 12,000.

One new case was Juventus footballer Daniele Rugani, who become the first Serie A player to test positive for coronavirus today.

The Milano Centrale train station during the emergency coronavirus measures imposed by Italy to tackle the virus outbreak

A deserted square outside the Duomo in Milan today. The Italian government has imposed unprecedented restrictions on its 60 million people as it expanded its emergency coronavirus lockdown nationwide

A woman wearing a protective mask at Malpensa airport today as travel restrictions were extended across the country

A cyclist travelling down an empty street in Rome today as locals and tourists avoided usually crowded areas of the country

People queuing outside a supermarket standing at least a meter apart under new government restrictions in Pisa today

An empty street in the shopping district of Rome today as all non-essential outlets were closed amid the growing spread of the coronavirus

An empty shopping centre in Turin today as all shops apart from pharmacies and food outlets were closed amid the virus fears

An empty street in Turin today. Pubs, cafes and restaurants will be closed from six in the evening as part of a nationwide lockdown that started on Tuesday

Medics have warned that the UK and US are approximately two weeks away from facing the same scenario.

Spain's coronavirus cases have surpassed 2,000, with roughly half of them in the Madrid region, where two-thirds of the country's virus deaths have occurred.

Two more Disneyland Paris maintenance workers also tested positive for the virus. They were diagnosed with the illness just days after going into quarantine when their colleague tested positive over the weekend.

Poland closed all schools, museums and cinemas for two weeks, while Ukraine's capital city Kiev will shut all educational buildings due to fears of the virus spreading.

Both countries have lower rates of infection compared to the rest of Europe, but Polish ministers said that pre-schools and schools would stop teaching on Thursday.

The entirety of Italy has since been placed on lockdown, with medics in badly-hit regions saying they are struggling to cope with a huge spike in patients.

In a booklet on coronavirus published on Friday, SAARI lays out its recommendations for a worst-case scenario.

While all efforts should be taken to ensure everyone gets care, doctors say it is likely that multiple hospital will be stretched beyond their limits 'in the next few weeks'.

Around 10 per cent of coronavirus cases in Italy have so far developed serious complications, they note, requiring extensive treatment with ventilators which are in short supply.

In the event that they run out, SAARI says: 'It may be necessary to place an age limit on admission to intensive care.

'This is not a value judgment but a way to provide extremely scarce resources to those who have the highest likelihood of survival and could enjoy the largest number of life-years saved.'

Hospitals may need to stop admitting people on a 'first come, first served basis', medics say, and instead treat those with the best chance of survival (pictured, an emergency war in Brescia, Italy)

The guidelines should apply to all patients and not just those suffering from coronavirus, medics said (pictured, paramedics in an emergency medical tent in Cremona)

Residents wearing a protective mask wait to do their shopping outside a supermarket in Codogno, southeast of Milan

Doctors should also take into account how many other conditions patients are suffering from when deciding whether or not they deserve access to intensive care, medics say, and not simply base their judgement on age.

They warn that this will lead to an increase in deaths from people who are not suffering directly from the virus, but who can no longer be treated.

The guidelines have not yet been adopted, but provide a blueprint of what Italy could do should the situation spiral out of control further.

On Tuesday, the World Health Organization officially declared coronavirus a pandemic after the number of patients struck down by the killer infection across the world surpassed 112,000 and the death toll neared 4,500.

The boss of the UN agency said it was 'deeply concerned by the alarming levels of spread and severity', with outbreaks continuing to spiral out of control.

Dr Tedros Adhanom also warned inaction by governments across the planet has fuelled the crisis, adding: 'We have called every day for countries to take urgent and aggressive action.'

In a desperate call to action to contain the escalating crisis, he said: 'We're in this together, to do the right things with calm and protect the citizens of the world. It's doable.'

A pandemic is defined as the uncontrolled worldwide spread of a new disease  the last crisis to be given the official label was the 2009 swine flu outbreak, which killed hundreds of thousands of people.

Residents walk across a deserted street in Codogno, southeast of Milan, after the whole of Italy was placed on lockdown to stop the spread of coronavirus

Venice's Grand Canal is almost deserted after holidaymakers were told to leave Italy immediately and travel between cities banned

More than 112,000 people globally have now been infected with the coronavirus, which can cause pneumonia and shut down crucial internal organs. The crisis in China, where the outbreak began, has slowed dramatically.

Europe is now the centre of the crisis, with the number of cases soaring every day in Italy  where all 60million residents have been affected by an unprecedented lockdown. Outbreaks are also growing in Spain, France, Germany and the UK.

Britons have been told to leave Italy and go home as the country shuts down everything in a drastic bid to stop a coronavirus outbreak.

The nation is grappling with the worst epidemic in the world outside China and more than 10,000 people have now caught the infection there. 631 have died.

The UK Foreign Office today urged British people to fly home while they still can as the Italian government urges tourists to leave and airlines are cancelling flights.

In a statement officials said: 'The Italian authorities have advised against travel for tourism purposes throughout Italy, and that tourists already on holiday in Italy should end their travel, unless it is necessary, to return to the place where they live.'

Plane tickets out of Italy are quickly becoming hot property after British Airways, Easyjet, Jet2 and WizzAir cancelled all of their routes between Italy and the UK.

A worker pushing a cart at the hospital in Codogno, southeast of Milan, today a day after Italy imposed unprecedented national restrictions on its 60 million people

Ryanair is flying normally until Saturday, when it will stop for almost a month, and Easyjet said it would operate 'rescue flights' in the coming days.

One couple from Hertfordshire spent 600 in their desperate bid to get out of the country, driving through the night from Milan to Turin to ensure a seat to London.

Others who have returned in the last 24 hours said the situation was nowhere near this bad when they left and many now face two weeks in isolation at home in case they've caught the coronavirus.

A statement from the Foreign Office today said: 'British nationals remain able to depart Italy without restriction.

'Airports remain open throughout Italy. However, the Italian authorities have advised against travel for tourism purposes throughout Italy, and that tourists already on holiday in Italy should end their travel, unless it is necessary, to return to the place where they live.

'Airline schedules are subject to change and some flights are being cancelled.

'We therefore advise all remaining British tourists in Italy to contact their airline operators to arrange return to the UK as soon as possible.'
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- As people become more aware of privacy concerns and the ways in which genomic database companies are profiting from their data, their expectations for compensation and control may increase, according to researchers at Penn State and Cornell University.

"As human genomic data collection rises, the organizations responsible for managing these data are developing and refining their internal policies and protocols related to data end uses, transparency and security, for example," said Forrest Briscoe, professor of management and organization, Penn State. "In a survey of more than 2,000 people, we found that the majority of respondents clearly prefer a more transparent and participant-centric governance approach that gives them more control, confidence and compensation."

The researchers created a survey based on in-depth field interviews with officials and employees who were involved in genomic governance at 12 different organizations. They recruited 2,020 participants -- representative of the U.S. population -- through Qualtrics to participate in the survey and provided them with mainstream media coverage of genomic database companies. The results will appear on March 11 in PLOS ONE.

Next, the team provided participants with a scenario:

"Imagine that today you are presented with an opportunity to provide your DNA data to Genetic Data Inc. [one of five similarly named fictitious companies], to be used in a biomedical research program. They can obtain your DNA data if you provide them with a small saliva sample. Genetic Data Inc. is a U.S. for-profit technology corporation. Based on this information, and what you have just learned about DNA data, how willing would you be to provide your DNA data to Genetic Data Inc.?"

The four response options were: "Willing as a charitable donation," "Willing if I'm paid at least a certain amount of money," "Unwilling, at least for now" and "Unwilling, now or ever". Those who were willing to provide their data if they were paid were asked how much they would expect to be paid. All of the participants were also asked how much they would pay the company to obtain a report containing information about their ancestry and forecasting their risk for 20 different genetically based health conditions.

The team found that 11.7% of respondents were willing to altruistically donate their data, 50.6% were willing to provide data only if they were financially compensated and 37.8% were unwilling to provide data regardless of compensation. For the altruistic donors, the median net expected payment -- after subtracting the amount they were willing to pay for a personalized report -- was -$75, while the median net expected payment for respondents who wanted to be compensated for their data was +$95.

"Our results suggest that as public awareness grows regarding the commercial aspects and privacy issues of genomic databases, individuals' expectations for compensation in exchange for data provision may rise," said Briscoe.

The researchers also asked participants questions about how willing they would be to provide genomic data to companies given 12 different governance policies.

The three policies that increased willingness the most were:

ability for data providers to request that their data be deleted

assurance that providers' data would not be sold or shared beyond the organization collecting it

assurance that companies' re-use of provider data would require specific permissions

The three policies that decreased willingness the most were:

selling database access to pharmaceutical firms

providing data to the federal government

retaining data indefinitely without a specified date for destruction

"A common denominator across our governance policy findings is a preference for restrictions on sharing or reuse, unless permission is specifically granted by the individual," said Briscoe. "These preferences appear to pose a challenge for the goals and business models of many commercial and public database-owning organizations, which often envision that their databases will serve multiple scientific and commercial purposes through access arrangements with multiple outside partners."

Yet, Briscoe added, technological solutions are being pursued that might give individual data providers more control over who accesses and uses their data and what their data are used for, while also allowing data sharing to meet the needs of health care, academic and industry communities. For example, DNA blockchains can enable people to have their genomes sequenced and then rent or sell access to them at their own discretion.

"Our findings offer a forward-looking window on individual preferences that can be useful for institutions of all types as they develop governance approaches in this area of large-scale data sharing," he said.

###

Other authors on the paper include Ifeoma Ajunwa, assistant professor of labor relations, law and history, Cornell University; Allison Gaddis, undergraduate student in risk management, Penn State; and Jennifer McCormick, associate professor of humanities, Penn State College of Medicine.
BALTIMORE, March 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- b.well Connected Health, the platform designed to provide consumers a new front end to healthcare, announced today the close of a $16 million Series A investment round. The Series A round was led by UnityPoint Health Ventures, the venture capital arm of UnityPoint Health. Other investors include ThedaCare  a leading Wisconsin-based community health system, and Well Ventures  a subsidiary of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc (WBA). Previously, b.well raised $11.5 million in seed funding, bringing the company's total funding to over $27 million.

The b.well Connected Health platform integrates data, insights and partners into a single, customized solution, enabling individuals to take control of their healthcare experience. It provides the healthcare eco-system with a long overdue middleware, connecting separate, often complex and already existing programs, to achieve interoperability and aggregation.

The platform works horizontally across the system to consolidate a 360-degree view of consumers' real-time data, and vertically to integrate the rapidly growing point solutions to provide timely healthcare services and support to consumers that is relevant to their needs. As a result, b.well transforms the way consumers interact with their health care by empowering them with a 'first-screen' mobile platform to manage all of their healthcare in one location that is persistent, portable, and personalized.

"Over the past five years b.well has successfully partnered with self-insured employers, payers, health systems and providers by providing them the software to configure and launch their own unique digital health strategy with a sharp focus on consumer experience. Building on this strong foundation, and with increased demand for digital delivery of health services that support population health and value-based care models, we are now focusing on our growth strategy," said Kristen Valdes, Founder and CEO, b.well Connected Health. "We welcome the opportunity to work with our new directors to advance our mission to help individuals take control of their healthcare experience."

The three strategic investors will work together with b.well and their respective organizations to enhance patient experience and improve population health.

"Our goal is to make care easier and more personal," said Matthew Warrens, Managing Director of Innovation, UnityPoint Health. "b.well works to solve the fragmented and siloed health experience that consumers, including myself, have struggled with by putting the consumer at the center of their health journey. This is exactly the kind of work that's going to move the care experience needle for our patients. We're thrilled to partner with b.well on this important effort."

"Aligned with our mission of improving the health of our community, our partnership with b.well will empower patients by putting their health information at their fingertips and providing peace of mind," said Imran A. Andrabi, MD, ThedaCare President and Chief Executive Officer. "On this journey to population health, we will take our expertise outside of our walls and provide people with tools to live their best life."

b.well is also pleased to announce Austin Duke, PhD, Senior Venture Associate, UnityPoint Health Ventures, and Imran Andrabi, MD, President and CEO, ThedaCare, will join the b.well Connected Health Board of Directors. Giovanni Monti (SVP Healthcare Services) and Li Zhong (VP Global, Mergers & Acquisitions) from WBA will also join the Board of Directors in voting and non-voting capacities.

About b.well Connected Health

b.well is a healthcare technology company that provides a configurable digital platform to health care stakeholders to solve for interoperability and consolidation of point solutions through the lens of a consumer. b.well's platform is a new middleware -- software that acts like the connective tissue between applications, data and users -- which has been missing in healthcare. Our market-leading solutions are designed to simplify an overly complex health care delivery system into a seamless experience that today's consumer has come to expect.

About UnityPoint Health Ventures

Founded in 2019, UnityPoint Health Ventures makes direct investments in ideas and partners that provide an easier, more personal experience for patients and providers. As the venture capital arm of UnityPoint Health  one of the nation's most integrated health systems  the firm invests in opportunities that improve patient outcomes and reduce the cost of health care. In addition to strategic investing, UnityPoint Health Ventures provides dedicated resources to accelerate portfolio company traction within UnityPoint Health and beyond. Through relationships with more than 315 physician clinics, 21 regional and 19 community network hospitals in metropolitan and rural communities and home care services throughout its 9 regions, UnityPoint Health provides care throughout Iowa, western Illinois and southern Wisconsin. More at uphventures.org.

About ThedaCare

For more than 110 years, ThedaCare has been committed to improving the health of the communities it serves in Northeast and Central Wisconsin. The organization delivers care to a community of more than 600,000 residents in 18 counties and employs more than 7,000 healthcare professionals. ThedaCare has 180 locations including seven hospitals located in Appleton, Neenah, Berlin, New London, Shawano, Waupaca and Wild Rose.

ThedaCare is the first in Wisconsin to be a Mayo Clinic Care Network Member, giving our specialists the ability to consult with Mayo Clinic experts on a patient's care. ThedaCare is a not-for-profit healthcare organization with a level II trauma center, comprehensive cancer treatment, stroke and cardiac programs as well as a foundation dedicated to community service.

About Walgreens Boots Alliance

Walgreens Boots Alliance is a global leader in retail and wholesale pharmacy, touching millions of lives every day through dispensing and distributing medicines, its convenient retail locations, digital platforms and health and beauty products. The company has more than 100 years of trusted health care heritage and innovation in community pharmacy and pharmaceutical wholesaling. Including equity method investments, WBA has a presence in more than 25 countries, employs more than 440,000 people and has more than 18,750 stores. WBA's purpose is to help people across the world lead healthier and happier lives. The company is proud of its contributions to healthy communities, a healthy planet, an inclusive workplace and a sustainable marketplace. The company's businesses have been recognized for their Corporate Social Responsibility. Walgreens was named to FORTUNE* magazine's 2019 Companies that Change the World list and Boots UK was recognized as Responsible Business of the Year 2019-2020 by Business in the Community. WBA is included in FORTUNE's 2020 list of the World's Most Admired Companies. This is the 27th consecutive year that WBA or its predecessor company, Walgreen Co., has been named to the list.

SOURCE b.well Connected Health
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Linkedin Made Anthony Iswara (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, March 11, 2020

Indonesia and the Netherlands have signed business deals worth 1.5 billion ($US 1.7 billion) as the countries pledge to boost their bilateral economic relations.

Indonesian Trade Minister Agus Suparmanto expressed hope the business deals, which cover agriculture, life science and health, water management, maritime affairs and energy, among other sectors, could come to fruition within the next six to nine months.

Memorandum of understanding (MOU) documents on economic cooperation were signed in Jakarta on Tuesday during a business forum held as part of a four-day state visit by Dutch King Willem-Alexander and high-ranking Dutch officials.

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French farmer Isabelle Leballeur poses with a chick in her poultry farm in Pruille-le-Chetif near Le Mans, France, March 4, 2020. Picture taken March 4, 2020. REUTERS/Stephane Mahe

French poultry farmer Isabelle Leballeur is fed up with European trade agreements that allow low-cost chicken into France and is determined to stop post-Brexit Britain getting that kind of deal.

Along with other farmers, she is pressing Frances president to scuttle any accord that lets Britain ease food safety rules  part of the reason the European Union is insisting on a level playing field in trade relations with its former member.

You cant have a different way of doing things when it comes to regulatory standards, Leballeur said at her family-run farm in western France, where she has reduced the density of broilers in her rearing sheds to meet EU welfare commitments.

The British government has said it will not relax food and environmental standards. But if it wants its own post-EU trade deal with the United States, it may come under pressure to do exactly that.

Washington wants Britain to change its food hygiene rules to allow chicken carcasses to be disinfected with chemicals such as chlorine. The EU requires washing with water, which the blocs farmers say means they have to maintain stricter standards, which costs more.

Everyone knows that American chicken is dunked in chlorine, she said. Its a practice youll never see in France.

Leballeur, who raises 250,000 chickens each year on her farm in the hills outside Le Mans, frets Britain will escape European regulations.

The farmers main worry is that cheaper U.S. imports could displace Britains existing poultry imports, pushing them to France, which already imports cheap poultry from Brazil and Thailand, and driving prices further down.

But they are also concerned that chicken washed in disinfectant will enter the EU market via a British back door.

Asked how President Emmanuel Macron should respond to any British attempt to break free from EU regulatory alignment, Leballeur responded: No deal. Theres no doubt.

The industry is demanding three assurances from Macron: Britain-EU regulatory alignment, no tariffs that might curb British imports of EU chicken, and country-of-origin labelling on all chicken sold in France, including in canteens and restaurants.

We know the Irish border is going to be somewhat porous, so alignment is critical, said Anne Richard, head of the poultry industry body Anvol, which estimates that the poultry sector directly employs 100,000 people and generates 6.8 billion euros.

That is a fraction of Frances 2.5 trillion euro economy and 67 million people, but farmers in France have outsized political influence.

European Agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski said late last month third-party countries who export to the EUs single market should face the same demands on standards.

It is a red line, he told Reuters on the sidelines of an agricultural show.
SOUTHFIELD, MI  The owner of a Southfield physical therapy clinic has been sentenced to 11 years in prison for his role in a drug diversion scheme.

Malik Fuqua, 49, of Southfield, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge David Lawson of the Eastern District of Michigan, who also ordered Fuqua to forfeit $716,824.23. In November 2019, Fuqua pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.

As part of his guilty plea, Fuqua admitted that he conspired with Shirley Douglas, 70, of West Bloomfield, and other co-conspirators to distribute medically unnecessary controlled substances.

Drugs illegally distributed through the selling of appointments with physicians at their clinics include oxycodone, oxymorphone, alprazolam, hydrocodone and promethazine hydrochloride.

The total drug amount attributable to Fuqua is in excess of 500,000 controlled substance pills, according to prosecutors.
Terrorist organizations are "on the march" in West Africa and the Sahel with international efforts failing to curb the increase in violence, a four-star American general in charge of U.S. troops in Africa warned on Tuesday.

The stark message came as the State Department is ramping up its diplomatic efforts in the region by appointing the first-ever U.S. special envoy.

MORE: Pentagon to decide soon on possible troop cut in West Africa

But that high-level engagement may be undermined by a potential cut to the U.S. troop levels on the continent, with the Pentagon still reassessing its force presence there. Lawmakers of both parties and allies including France have warned the Trump administration that a reduction in troops could exacerbate problems and increase the threat of terrorism to the American homeland.

In a hearing on Tuesday, Gen. Stephen Townsend, the head of U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), said that in the last year alone there's been a five-fold increase in terrorist activity in the Sahel region -- the stretch of semi-arid land south of the Sahara Desert from Mauritania and Senegal in the west to Sudan and Eritrea in the east.

PHOTO: Mauritanian soldiers practice advanced assault techniques near Kaedi, Mauritania, Feb. 22, 2020. (Wheeler Brunschmid/U.S. Army)

The region has at least five major terrorist organizations, whose members often flow between them and with weapons flowing south from Libya, according to U.S. officials. At least 2,000 civilians were killed in violent conflict in just 2019 in the largely ungoverned spaces where Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso meet, U.S. Agency for International Development chief Mark Green said Tuesday. There are at least 600,000 people displaced by fighting and humanitarian needs in Burkina Faso alone, according to the United Nations.

The groups, including two ISIS branches that were sanctioned by the United Nations last month, do not have the "capacity" to attack the U.S. homeland, according to Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs David Hale, "but they certainly are ambitious in the long run."

Story continues

(MORE: 2 Americans killed in Iraq during anti-ISIS mission identified as Marine Raiders)

The U.S. military, along with allies, have partnered with local security forces in places like Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso to contain the growing threat from ISIS and al-Qaida affiliates that have destabilized the region. There are some 1,000 U.S. troops in the Sahel region, largely assisting French forces with intelligence, reconnaissance and surveillance or logistics support. American forces also conduct large- and small-scale training exercises with African partner nations.

"In West Africa and the Sahel region, I think that the Western, international, and African efforts there are not getting the job done," Townsend said. "ISIS and al-Qaida are on the march in West Africa. They're having success, and international efforts are not."

PHOTO: Niger Armed Forces personnel complete a training scenario conducted by U.S. military advisers at Nigerien Air Base in Niger, Feb. 11, 2020. (Alex Echols/U.S. Air Force)

But instead of increasing the U.S. presence, Townsend called on America's European allies to provide more assistance, saying "problems will manifest" in Europe before they reach the United States.

Defense Secretary Mark Esper initiated a review of AFRICOM's posture in order to see if some of its approximately 5,000 troops on the continent can be realigned toward focusing on future fights against Russia and China.

While no decision on a possible reduction in forces has been made and the AFRICOM review is part of a broader look at adjusting U.S. troops globally, the review has been criticized by some lawmakers, including top Republicans, such as Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla., who are concerned that the U.S. military's presence on the continent is vital to containing the spread of terrorism.

"This is one of the parts of the world you pay now or you pay later, and I'd rather pay smartly now," Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said Tuesday. "I would like us to show up, and our assistance programs are, I think, national security in another form."

To that end, the State Department appointed Dr. J. Peter Pham as the first-ever U.S. Special Envoy for the Sahel Region on Sunday. Pham, who had been serving as a special envoy for Africa's Great Lakes region, will "maximize U.S. diplomatic efforts in support of security and stability in the Sahel," State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus said in a tweet.

.@SecPompeo is pleased to appoint @DrJPPham as the first-ever U.S. Special Envoy for the Sahel Region of Africa to maximize U.S. diplomatic efforts in support of security and stability in the Sahel.  Morgan Ortagus (@statedeptspox) March 8, 2020

In particular, Pham will focus on combating the growing threat of violent extremism by boosting fragile governments in the region, their security forces and their legitimacy and control over their territory.

Outside of the Sahel, Townsend specifically called out al-Qaida's affiliate in Somalia, al-Shabaab, as a "significant threat to American interests in the region" that could "manifest into an international threat," if left unchecked.

Al-Shabaab was behind the January attack on Manda Bay, Kenya, that killed three Americans.

Townsend said the group is also a threat to embassies in the region. And less than two weeks ago, the U.S. embassy in Kenya said terrorist groups were plotting an attack against a major hotel popular with westerners in Nairobi.

"Al-Shabaab is the largest and most kinetically violent arm of al-Qaida," Townsend said. "And they are a serious threat to not only the Somali people but to the entire region."

The U.S. military has ramped up airstrikes against al-Shabaab over the last several years, with more than two dozen strikes against the group in 2020 alone. According to Voice of America, the pace of strikes is nearly on par with those against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.

Terrorist groups 'on the march' in West Africa and the Sahel, US general warns originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
A U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer checks immigration documents as a Honduran asylum seeker arrives to the international bridge from Mexico to the United States next to the border town of Matamoros, Mexico, on Dec. 9, 2019. (John Moore/Getty Images)

Supreme Court Allows Remain in Mexico Policy to Continue

The Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday that the Trump administration can continue enforcing a policy that requires asylum applicants to wait in Mexico for their U.S. court hearings.

The order overturns a lower court decision that would have blocked the policy, at least for people arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border in Arizona and California.

The high court action came a day before the lower court order was to have taken effect. Instead, the Remain in Mexico policyknown formally as Migrant Protection Protocolswill remain in force while a lawsuit challenging it plays out in the courts.

The liberal-leaning 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco has ruled that the policy may be illegal under U.S. law preventing the sending of people to countries where their lives or freedom would be threatened because of their race, religion, nationality, political beliefs, or membership in a particular social group.

Shortly after the 9th Circuit ruling, the Trump administration asked the Supreme Court to allow the government to continue to enforce the policy.

About 60,000 asylum-seekers have been returned to Mexico to wait for their cases to wind through clogged immigration courts since the policy was introduced in January 2019 in San Diego and later expanded across the border. The policy aims to end loopholes in the current catch and release policy, under which asylum-seekers are released into the interior of the country as they await a court hearing, often never to be seen again.

Important SCOTUS victory for securing the border. The remain in Mexico policy agreement w/ Mexican [government] has had a major impact reducing illegal border crossingsespecially critical as we work to contain spread of the Coronavirus pandemic, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) wrote on Twitter.

The Court of Appeals unequivocally declared this policy to be illegal. The Supreme Court should as well, said Judy Rabinovitz, an American Civil Liberties Union lawyer who represents asylum-seekers and immigrant advocacy groups in the case.

The Justice Department said the high courts order restores the governments ability to manage the Southwest border and to work cooperatively with the Mexican government to address illegal immigration.

Illegal border crossings in Arizona plunged by a staggering 90 percent year-over-year following implementation of the new Remain In Mexico policy, Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) wrote on Twitter.

Human Rights First, an advocacy group that opposes the policy, said it found more than 1,000 public reports of kidnappings, torture, rape, and assaults of asylum-seekers returned to Mexico.

The administration said in court papers that more than 36,000 of the 60,000 cases had been resolved in immigration courts. Asylum has been granted in less than 1 percent of the cases that have been decided.

The administration had argued that thousands of migrants would rush the border if the high court didnt step in.

Janita Kan and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
However significantly earlier onset of vulvovaginal malignancies in IBD patients, compared with the general population, is reported by researchers in Digestive and Liver Disease

Oxford, March 11, 2020 - In a new retrospective study, researchers found that the use of immunosuppressive therapy does not increase the occurrence or recurrence of vulvar or vaginal cancer in women with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, earlier onset of cancer was reported, and lymphomas were found in some patients, which is very rare in the genital tract. Their results appear in Digestive and Liver Disease, published by Elsevier.

Immunosuppressive drugs are the cornerstone for treatment of IBD, but they have been associated with an increased risk of certain cancers including lymphoma and urinary tract cancer. A team of researchers in The Netherlands and the Dutch Workgroup on IBD and Vulvovaginal Neoplasia investigated whether the use of these drugs also increases the risk of vulvar and vaginal cancer.

The researchers retrieved histopathological data of all IBD patients with vulvovaginal malignancies from the nationwide network and registry of histopathology and cytopathology reports in the Netherlands (PALGA) over a 24-year period, from 1991 to 2015. Medical histories for these patients were obtained from their treating physicians, including demographics, medication history, HPV status, smoking, and use of immunosuppressive drugs.

The rate of vaginal and vulvar carcinoma or pre-stage neoplasia in IBD patients did not differ significantly from that of the general population, the researchers found. In addition, in patients with IBD the use of immunosuppressive drugs did not increase the rate of these diseases. However, IBD patients who were treated with immunosuppressive therapy were, on average, 11 years younger than other IBD patients when their vaginal or vulvar cancer was diagnosed. Sixty-seven percent of the women with vulvovaginal cancers had Crohn's disease versus 33 percent with ulcerative colitis.

"A high percentage of HPV-related tumors might explain the younger age at diagnosis. HPV is strongly associated with higher rates of vaginal cancer in the general population, and other research suggests that IBD patients are at an increased risk for other cancers including cervical cancer," explained investigator Maxine D. Rouvroye, MD, PhD Candidate, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Amsterdam Gastroenterology & Metabolism, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. "Unfortunately, our data on HPV status are incomplete, as HPV status was analyzed in very few cases."

In a commentary accompanying the article, Vito Annese, MD, Valiant Clinic & American Hospital, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, noted, "These malignancies are clearly more frequent in Crohn's disease patients, were frequently very advanced at the time of diagnosis, and sometimes atypical. Although the authors did not find evidence for more advanced screening yet, it is cautious to recommend yearly gynecological surveillance starting at 40, especially in patients with Crohn's disease who are under immunosuppressive therapy."

###

This study first appeared online in November 2019 and was subsequently published in the February 2020 issue of Digestive and Liver Disease. It is openly available at http://www.dldjournalonline.com/article/S1590-8658(19)30847-3/fulltext.
Just a few days back, Prabhas was spotted at the Hyderabad airport as he zoomed off to Europe for the shoot of his upcoming film Prabhas 20. The untitled project, which is said to be a love story, is being directed by Radhe Krishna Kumar and also stars Pooja Hegde in the lead. While regular updates have been coming in about the movie, the latest one is sure to make all the Prabhas fans super happy.

According to newindianexpress.com, the first look and the title of Prabhas starrer will be revealed on the auspicious occasion of Ugadi which happens to be on March 25. What's interesting is that Prabhas and Pooja did a fun photo-shoot before heading off to Europe for a long schedule. Revealing the same, a source said to the newindianexpress.com, "Before heading for Georgia, the team did a photoshoot with Prabhas and Pooja in four different costumes in specially-constructed house and train sets that replicate a bygone era of Europe."

The source further added, "Of the four stills, the makers have finalised two posters for the first look. In the first of these, the duo will be seen sitting in a train compartment having a hearty laugh. The second poster will show them in a jovial mood playing the piano together. The makers and Prabhas are delighted with the output and are waiting to share it with everyone on Ugadi."

Well, after hearing all these details, we are indeed excited to see what the makers have in store for us. The entire team of Prabhas 20 is still in Georgia shooting for the movie and they recently canned a chase sequence featuring the Baahubali hero. Set in the 1970s, the love story apparently has Prabhas playing the role of a fortune teller. Bollywood actress Bhagyashree will be seen essaying the role of his mother.

Though makers are yet to announce the release date, we hear they are eyeing to wrap up the film by mid-summer as they want to release Prabhas 20 in October. As soon as Radhe Krishna Kumar's directorial venture is out in theatres, Prabhas will then start working on his 21st film which is going to be helmed by Nag Ashwin.

Prabhas Zooms Off To Europe Despite Coronavirus Outbreak, Here's Why!
Texas A&M University in College Station has announced that it is suspending classes to plan for how to handle coronavirus concerns.

The university issued the following statement Tuesday afternoon:

Dear Texas A&M University Community:

Please be advised that classes will not resume until Wednesday, March 18 to allow for planning and logistics to ensure the provision of all university services in the most efficient, effective and safest way. Dining, transportation, health, counseling and other services will be available on a normal schedule Monday, March 16 and Tuesday, March 17.

There are no plans to cancel classes. Texas A&M is not requiring that all courses move to an online format at this time. The university will continue to keep faculty, staff and students updated. Faculty will communicate with their students on changes. In addition, please check the universitys COVID-19 website for updates.

RICE CANCELS CLASSES: Novel coronavirus prompts Rice University to cancel in-person classes for week

Spring break at Texas A&M runs from March 9-13.

The university reports that there have been no cases of coronavirus reported at Texas A&M and no students who are presenting any symptoms, including those few individuals who returned from CDC Level 2 and 3 countries.

This is a developing story.

STAY INFORMED: Sign up to receive breaking news alerts delivered to your email here.
As of Wednesday morning, none of the Fiesta events scheduled to take place in San Antonio next month have been canceled.

But at least one Fiesta elsewhere did not go forward as planned.

UNKNWN.Fiesta, a festival in the Philippines, was postponed from its original February date to 2021.

The Manila event  "a celebration of Filipino heritage and culture through music, art, food and design"  was supposed to kick off on Feb. 22. Instead, organizers decided on Feb. 11 to postpone the festival until the first quarter of next year.

READ MORE: Theres a place named San Antonio in the Philippines where residents also celebrate fiesta

The decision was made with "heavy hearts," organizers wrote in a statement, noting that "with guests coming from different parts of the globe, over a thousand ticket holders and hundreds of crew, we have been left with the only option of postponing UNKNWN.Fiesta."

Fans who purchased tickets had the option to request refunds from Feb. 12 until March 12 or keep their tickets for the next Fiesta.

UNKNWN.Fiesta's lineup included English band Hot Chip, who have two upcoming Texas dates, and the Hercules & Love Affair group.

A newspaper in the Philippines notes that there are about one hundred different fiestas celebrated in the country each year  including one in a place called San Antonio located more than 8,000 miles from the Alamo City.

As for the upcoming Fiesta here in Texas, the event's executive director Amy Shaw told the Express-News on Tuesday that organizers will "do whatever the city and public health officials tell us to do."

"Obviously, the health and well-being of our attendees is our No. 1 concern," Shaw said. "But absent a single case of community transmitted disease, its too early to make a decision to cancel."

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
Sweden on Wednesday reported its first death from the new coronavirus, health officials said, the first person in the Nordic region to die from the outbreak sweeping the globe.

The victim was an elderly patient with an underlying illness being treated in the intensive care unit of a hospital in the capital, the Region Stockholm health authority said in a statement.

Neither the age nor the gender of the victim was disclosed.
For Mr. Biden, who has antagonized Mr. Sanders as a non-Democrat out to diminish the presidency of Barack Obama, even a firm insistence that he understands what is driving Sanders voters will be viewed skeptically.

But despite Mr. Bidens success during the last two weeks of primaries, he will need to make gains with some key Sanders constituencies  not only younger liberals but also Latinos across several age brackets  to build the most formidable coalition possible in the fall. And he will almost certainly need Mr. Sanderss help to get there.

Some veterans of Mrs. Clintons campaign would advise Mr. Biden not to expect much. Though Mr. Sanders officially endorsed Mrs. Clinton in 2016 and rallied for her, her aides generally viewed the endorsement as somewhere between dutiful and inadequate  especially when weighed against the months of negative attacks from Mr. Sanders and his supporters depicting her as a corporate tool well after she appeared to have the nomination in hand.

There is some reason to believe that this election might be different. Mr. Sanders appears to harbor much less visceral disdain for his opponent than he did in 2016, when he and his aides seethed constantly at the perceived coronation of Mrs. Clinton. Mr. Sanders has never attacked Mr. Bidens character or his personal ethics, even as a good number of his political allies have done so repeatedly.

It needs to be a two-way dance, said Brian Fallon, Mrs. Clintons national press secretary four years ago, noting that even a progressive like Senator Elizabeth Warren had been found wanting by Sanders fans. What the courting looks like, what will actually satisfy large chunks of his movement, is a mystery. So much of that movement could not even find Warren as an acceptable alternative. So, what the heck can Joe Biden do?

Mr. Fallon did have a few ideas: namely, some policy drift toward Mr. Sanderss platform on climate or health care issues from the Biden camp if Mr. Sanders leaves the race.
This came during a meeting held Wednesday in Manama between Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa and Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, who is currently on a visit to Bahrain at the end of his Arab tour.



Shoukry conveyed a message from President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to the Bahraini monarch about the latest developments regarding the path of the GERD negotiations.



The top Egyptian diplomat affirmed the strength of Cairo-Manama strategic relations.



Meanwhile, King Hamad expressed Bahrain's appreciation for Egypt, asserting his country's solidarity with Cairo in all issues.



In this regard, the Bahraini king affirmed Manama's support for Cairo in the GERD file as well as for whatever preserves Egypt's rights and its water security.



He also highlighted the remarkable development witnessed in Bahrain-Egypt cooperation in various fields.

European tour begins

Shoukry headed later on Wednesday to Brussels, embarking on a European tour, which includes Belgium and France.



The minister is set to hold meetings with new heads of the European Union institutions in Brussels and probe means of promoting ties, cooperation and partnership between Egypt and the EU, spokesman for the Foreign Ministry Ahmed Hafez said.



Shoukry is also scheduled to hold bilateral consultations with senior French officials during his visit to Paris.



The top Egyptian diplomat will discuss Egypts stance on international and regional issues, topped by the Libyan crisis and developments of the Palestinian issue.



Shoukry will also probe the issues related to terrorism and illegal immigration as well as the developments of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam's file, Hafez added.
World's first experimental observation of a Kondo cloud

Physicists have been trying to observe the quantum phenomenon Kondo cloud for many decades. An international research team comprising a scientist from City University of Hong Kong (CityU) has recently developed a novel device which successfully measures the length of the Kondo cloud and even allows for controlling the Kondo cloud. The findings can be regarded as a milestone in condensed matter physics, and may provide insights for understanding the multiple impurity systems, such as high-temperature superconductors.

Dr Ivan Valerievich Borzenets, Assistant Professor at CityU's Department of Physics, collaborated with scientists from Germany, Japan, and Korea on achieving this breakthrough. Their research findings were published in the latest issue of the highly prestigious scientific journal Nature.

What is the Kondo cloud?

Kondo effect is a physical phenomenon discovered in the 1930s. In metals, as the temperature drops, electrical resistance usually drops. However, if there are some magnetic impurities in the metal, it will show the opposite result. Resistance will drop at first. But when it is below some threshold temperature, the resistance will increase as the temperature decreases further.

This puzzle was solved by Jun Kondo, a Japanese theoretical physicist over 50 years ago and hence the effect was named after him. He explained that when a magnetic atom (an impurity) is placed inside a metal, it has a spin. But instead of just coupling with one electron to form a pair of spin-up and spin-down, it couples collectively with all the electrons within some areas around it, forming a cloud of electrons surrounding the impurity. And this is called the Kondo cloud. So when a voltage is applied over it, the electrons are not free to move or are screened off by the Kondo cloud, resulting in resistance increase.

How big is the cloud?

Some basic properties of the Kondo effect have been proved experimentally and were found related to the Kondo temperature (the threshold temperature where the resistance starts to go up at low temperature). However, the measurement of Kondo cloud's length was yet to be achieved. Theoretically, the Kondo cloud can spread out over several micrometres from the impurity in semiconductors.

"The difficulty in detecting the Kondo cloud lies in the fact that measuring spin correlation in the Kondo effect requires the fast detection of tens of gigahertz. And you cannot freeze time to observe and measure each of the individual electrons," explained Dr Borzenets, who performed the experimental measurement of this research. Being a researcher who enjoys conducting complicated experiments, he decided to take up this challenge.

Isolating a single Kondo cloud in the device

Thanks to the advance in nanotechnology, the research team fabricated a device which can confine an unpaired electron spin (magnetic impurity) in a quantum dot, like a small conducting island with a diameter of only a few hundreds nanometres. "Since the quantum dot is very small, you can know exactly where the impurity is," said Dr Borzenets.

Connecting to the quantum dot is a one-dimensional and long channel. The unpaired electron is constricted to couple to the electrons in this channel and form a Kondo cloud there."In this way, we isolate a single Kondo cloud around a single impurity, and we can control the size of the cloud as well," he explained.

The novelty of the system is that by applying a voltage at different points inside the channel with various distances away from the quantum dot, they induced "weak barriers" along the channel. Researchers then observed the resulting change in electron flow and the Kondo effect with varying barrier strength and position.

The secret lies in the oscillation amplitude

By changing the voltages, it was found that the conductance went up and down, no matter where they put the barriers at. And when there were oscillations in conductance, oscillations in the measured Kondo temperature were observed.

When the researchers plotted the oscillation amplitude of Kondo temperature versus the barrier distance from the impurity divided by the theoretical cloud length, they found that all their data points fall onto a single curve, as theoretically expected. "We have experimentally confirmed the original theoretical result of the Kondo cloud length which is in micrometre scale," said Dr Borzenets. "For the first time, we have proved the existence of the cloud by directly measuring the Kondo cloud length. And we found out the proportionality factor connecting the size of the Kondo cloud and Kondo temperature."

Provide insights into multiple impurity systems

The team spent almost three years in this research. Their next step is to investigate different ways to control the Kondo state. "Many other manipulations on the device can be done. For example, we can use two impurities at the same time, and see how they will react when the clouds overlap. We hope the findings can provide insights into the understanding of multiple impurity systems such as Kondo lattices, spin glasses and high transition-temperature superconductors."

###

Dr Borzenets, Professor Sim Heung-Sun from Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) and Dr Michihisa Yamamoto of RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science (CEMS) in Japan are the corresponding authors of the paper. Dr Borzenets and Dr Shim Jeongmin from KAIST are the co-first authors. Other co-authors included Jason Chen C. H. from the University of Tokyo, Professor Dr Andreas D. Wieck and Dr Arne Ludwig from Rurh-University Bochum, as well as Professor Seigo Tarucha from RIKEN CEMS.

The study was supported by CityU, Hong Kong Research Grants Council, Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (KAKENHI), Japan Science and Technology Agency, the National Research Foundation of Korea, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft and the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).

This story has been published on: 2020-03-11. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Maintaining trust is essential for any charity. Lose public confidence and donations are likely to drop. This week, the charity World Vision has been in the headlines for reasons it would no doubt rather not be.

On Monday, The Age reported on World Vision cash being diverted in a case in which there is already considerable documentary evidence to suggest that Glenn Kuramoto, the father of an executive at the charity, was the recipient of secret payments for his role in securing World Vision Australia's printing contract.

Zane and Glenn Kuramoto.

There is no suggestion that his son, Zane Kuramoto, knew of or was party to secret payments, and Zane denies any wrongdoing. World Vision has called in police and auditors to investigate the matter, and has notified the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission. This response is to be welcomed, although significant concerns remain over how the charity initially handled the whistleblower who brought the payments to its attention in December.

In another blow to World Vision's reputation, it was revealed yesterday that it had reported itself to the Fair Work Ombudsman in December after discovering an error in its payroll had resulted in about 200 casuals and 45 permanent employees being underpaid. Encouragingly, acting chief executive Graham Strong apologised unreservedly and said $8.9 million had been set aside to repay the workers.
Students at Harvard, other universities, outraged after being given short notice to head home as courses move online.

Harvard University students were given just five days to pack up, leave the Cambridge, Massachusetts, campus and not come back until the end of the semester, in a move that drew outrage from students who say they have been left scrambling between making travel arrangements, school work and classes.

The announcement came as universities and colleges across the United States began cancelling in-person teaching and moving to teaching online amid growing fears about the spread of the new coronavirus.

Schools and places of worship nationwide have closed, and concerts, election rallies, sporting events and conferences have been called off in an effort to stem the spread of COVID-19, which has infected more than 1,000 people in the US and killed at least 28, according to official counts.

Harvard student Tom Osborn said he was shocked by the announcement, which was especially devastating for students set to graduate in June.

Its almost utter chaos, most are trying to see if they can get extensions on their senior thesis, the 24-year-old student from Kenya told Al Jazeera, Seniors are distraught, we might not have commencement this year, and we might not see each other for a while.

Pretty crazy that @Harvard has given all students a FIVE DAY notice to pack up and leave campus. Many kids cant afford to go home on such a short notice.  Tom L. Osborn (@TomLeeOsborn) March 10, 2020

The move prompted Harvard students to create an emergency contact list that connects students seeking temporary housing and transportation with those who can provide it. As of Wednesday morning, more than 100 faculty and students offered guest rooms, spare beds, couches and cars.

Emma Forbes, a second-year student at Harvard, said her parents have a home in Attelboro, Massachusetts, with an unused room in the basement as well as two cars that can be of help.

Forbes, 21, told Al Jazeera that the Sunday deadline was not feasible for everyone for various reasons.

She added the measure assumes that everyone can afford to go home and has a home to go to in the first place.

Many people still have not yet figured out how they are going to go home or where they are going to go, because some people dont have a home to go to, she said.

A student who suffers from cancer wearing a mask at the campus of Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, US [Brian Snyder/Reuters]

Other students called on Harvard to offer students greater support and wrote an open letter to the administration that condemned the decision that students leave campus on short notice as it would exhaust their resources and put unexpected financial pressure on their families.

The nature of financial struggle is one of inaccess, the letter reads. Being asked to fully move out and ship our rooms away with no system of subsidies and on-campus, accessible storage makes this issue undeniable.

https://twitter.com/andwataboutit/status/1237478585834840064?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Harvard University on its main website on Wednesday said that two community members are currently being tested for the virus, and that there are currently no confirmed cases on campus.

Our actions are consistent with the recommendations of leading health officials on how to limit the spread of COVID-19 and are also consistent with similar decisions made by a number of our peer institutions, the university said on Tuesday. The campus will remain open and operations will continue with appropriate measures to protect the health of the community.

When contacted for a comment, Jason Newton associate director, Media Relations and Communications at Harvard referred Al Jazeera to the university website saying it is continuously updated with the latest information and guidance we have to share.

The university said it knows there will be extenuating circumstances for students who cannot leave campus by March 23.

It added that although students in such cases can remain on campus, their instruction will be remote.

Some universities such as Columbia and Princeton have announced that they will cancel in-person classes for a few days or weeks, while Cornell University, Stanford University, Princeton and Yale University among others have said they would be holding remote classes until the end of the semester.

Students in Princeton and Stanford have also written letters to their administrations urging them against closing down campuses, and called on their universities to subsidise travel to students who require it, compensate student workers for missed wages and provide storage facilities.

The World Health Organization declared COVID-19 which originated in Wuhan, China, a pandemic, on Wednesday after it infected more than 120,000 people and killed over 4,000 worldwide.
Selmas Seoyon E-Hwa Interior Systems plant is planning a $5.14 million expansion which will add 60 jobs to its workforce.

The company, a Tier 1 supplier to Montgomerys Hyundai assembly plant, currently employs 436 workers.

The expansion is expected to begin in April with a completion by the end of September.

Seoyon E-Hwas plant produces molded plastic interior trim parts for vehicles. This expansion is in conjunction with new vehicle production beginning later this year at the Hyundai plant. Last year, Hyundai announced it is adding the Santa Cruz, a compact SUV, to its stable of vehicles built there, which will require a $410 million expansion and the addition of 200 direct jobs.

The Montgomery plant currently builds the Santa Fe SUV and the Sonata and Elantra sedans.

Im just excited that they are here in Selma and Dallas County, that we are open for business, and that we are growing and our companies are growing, State Sen. Malika Sanders-Fortier was quoted as saying by the Selma Times-Journal.
North Dakota Democrats on Tuesday favored Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders to challenge Republican President Donald Trump in the November election, with presidential caucus results that were delayed until early Wednesday.

Sanders had 53% of the vote and former Vice President Joe Biden had 39% after results from the 14th and final voting site, Fargo, were released after 7 a.m.. The race was almost a dead heat in Bismarck, with Biden getting 1,136 votes and Sanders 1,126.

The choices in the Democratic presidential caucus essentially boiled down to Biden and Sanders, who carried the state in 2016 with 64% of the vote over former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who became the partys nominee.

A total of 14,546 people participated in the caucus.

The Sanders campaign four years ago had a big get-out-the-vote push in North Dakota, putting him over the top. A similar effort did not appear to materialize this year, and neither Sanders nor Biden have appeared in North Dakota this election cycle. With its small population, the state has relatively few delegates that will participate in the nominating process at Julys Democratic National Convention in Milwaukee.

Trump is heavily favored to win North Dakota in the general election, but that didnt stop North Dakota Democrats from turning out in large numbers Tuesday relative to the 2016 caucuses.

Bismarck bank worker Nicole Schumaker, 2-year-old daughter Novalee in tow, cast her ballot at the AFL-CIO House of Labor in Bismarck, which saw a steady stream of voters Tuesday.

Schumaker, 32, picked Sanders as her choice to challenge Republican President Donald Trump in the November general election. She said she was disappointed that her first choice, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, is no longer in the race. She considered Warren the most realistic but said Sanders knows theres a middle ground and that hopefully he has the best shot at unseating Trump.

College debt also is important to Schumaker.

"I'd really like to see a world one day where my kids are not trapped with 15 years of student debt," she said, referencing Sanders tuition-free college plan.

University of Mary freshman Aliah Walth voted for Biden, saying she doesnt find Sanders tuition-free college plan reasonable and that she favors Bidens plan to lessen student debt.

"To have my debt go down, that would be fabulous," she said.

State party spokesman Alex Rohr said more people cast a ballot in the first three hours of Tuesdays caucuses than during the entirety of caucus day in 2016, when 3,400 people took part.

Were seeing an exciting number of new voters and incredible enthusiasm, he said.

Democratic-NPL District 32 Chairman Mark Haugen, speaking at a results watch party in Bismarck late Tuesday, called the caucus turnout wonderful. Patrick Hart, the party vice chairman and a candidate for state auditor, said the attendance blew me away in topping 2016.

Theres kind of this narrative that the partys dead, but seeing all the people in the hall today just really kind of brought me back up, Hart said.

This years so-called firehouse caucuses took place at 14 locations throughout North Dakota, including in the states larger cities and towns, as well as on the Standing Rock, Fort Berthold, Turtle Mountain and Spirit Lake Indian reservations.

The experience differed from 2016, when the caucuses involved speeches from participants and several rounds of voting. This year, they functioned much like a typical primary election. Voters showed up, cast a ballot and left. Party members also could vote via mail-in ballots.

Democrats had to add staff, volunteers and equipment in Fargo due to higher-than-anticipated turnout there that forced some voters to wait in line as long as an hour. Caucus sites stayed open an hour late in Fargo and Grand Forks to accommodate the many voters, delaying the vote-tallying. Results from those two cities were not expected until early Wednesday.

North Dakotas Democratic-NPL Party was tabulating votes via machines in Minot, Bismarck and Fargo.

Traffic was constant at the caucus site in Bismarck, with a line of people out the door 25-30 people deep shortly after the caucus opened in late morning, volunteer Kathy Bullinger said. By early afternoon, voters were completing the process within 5 minutes. Activity picked up again after 5 p.m., when many people got off work.

North Dakota was one of six states holding Democratic primaries or caucuses on Tuesday. The others were Idaho, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri and Washington state.

Republican caucus

North Dakotas Republican Party also held caucuses Tuesday, in nine cities. Some residents already had cast votes by mail. Trump was the only candidate on the ballot. The state party counted the votes by hand.

Republican Party Chairman Rick Berg provided a count of 1,860 ballots cast -- 430 at a Bismarck hotel -- with more mail-in ballots expected to come in over the next couple of days.

In 2016, North Dakotas national convention delegates gave Trump the support to secure the Republican nomination for president. Trump, speaking in Bismarck at the time, said I will always remember that.

Shelley Rowe, of Bismarck, said she came out to vote in Tuesdays caucus to keep Trump in office. She said she likes what hes done to advance a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border and to lower taxes.

He does lots of wonderful things, and I voted for him the first time and I want him to stay there for another four years, said Rowe, 70, who is retired from a career in speech and language.

I had thought of not voting and I thought, No, I need to do this, she added.

The Republican caucus featured video remarks from Gov. Doug Burgum, U.S. Sens. John Hoeven and Kevin Cramer and U.S. Rep. Kelly Armstrong, all Republicans. Burgum is seeking a second term with Lt. Gov. Brent Sanford.

Berg called the GOP caucus a campaign kickoff, in a way, for Trump in North Dakota.

People were picking up signs and hats and buttons, and Id say it was a great event, Berg said.

Reach Amy R. Sisk at 701-250-8252 or amy.sisk@bismarcktribune.com.

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Sydney, March 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Just released, this edition of Paul Budde Communications focus report on Austria outlines the major developments and key aspects in the telecoms markets.

Read the full report: https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Austria-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses

Synopsis

Austrias competitive mobile market is dominated by the three operators 3 Austria, Magenta Telekom (T-Mobile Austria) and Telekom Austrias own unit A1. However, the market also benefits from a growing number of new entrants in the MVNO sector, which collectively have about 7% of the market by subscribers. The growth in the MVNO sector is partly due to regulatory concessions by which 3 Austria, as a condition of its take-over of Orange Austria, was obliged to provide a third of its network capacity to support up to 16 MVNOs.

The competitive environment has led to relatively low ARPU for operators, as well as some of the regions lowest tariffs for consumers. The operators LTE networks have benefited from regulatory measures which have allowed operators to refarm existing 2G and 3G spectrum for LTE, while spectrum in the 700MHz has also been set aside for mobile broadband use once this band is released from broadcasters.

In March 2019 the regulator concluded an auction of spectrum in the 3.4-3.6Hz range to be used for 5G services. Investment among MNOs has been focussed on 5G, and by early 2020 5G services were available in a large number of localities. A multi-spectrum auction planned for mid-2020 will include blocks in the 700MHz band. The regulator has engineered the auction to promote coverage rather than generate maximum revenue.

Key developments:

Regulator planning 700MHz auction for 5G use by mid-2020;

H3 Austria launches a nationwide NB-IoT network, expands reach of 5G services;

Regulator concludes 3.4-3.6GHz auction for 5G services;

Magenta Telekom expands Narrowband IoT capabilities, trials 5G, launches VoLTE service;

ZTE and 3 Austria set up Innovation Lab to trial 5G;

A1 Austria launches 5G services with Nokia;

Regulator reclassifies GSM spectrum for 3G and LTE use;

700MHz spectrum to be assigned for 5G use from 2020;

Report update includes the regulators market data to June 2019, telcos financial and operating data to Q3 2019, recent market developments.

Companies mentioned in this report:

H3 Austria, Telekom Austria (A1), Magenta Telekom (T-Mobile Austria), Orange Austria, Tele2, Mundio, Lycamobile, Yesss!, M:Tel Austria, Hofer Telekom.

Table of Contents

Market analysis

Mobile statistics General statistics

Mobile infrastructure Digital networks 5G 4G (LTE) 3G Other infrastructure developments Internet of Things (IoT) Machine-to-Machine (M2M)

Mobile voice

Mobile data Short Message Service (SMS) Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) Mobile broadband

Regulatory issues Regulatory authority Spectrum regulations and spectrum auctions 450MHz 900MHz 800MHz 2.6GHz Spectrum auctions - 2013 3.4-3.6GHz 700MHz, 1.5GHz, 2.1GHz Roaming Mobile Number Portability (MNP) Mobile termination rates (MTRs) Network sharing

Major mobile operators Orange Austria 3 Austria (Drei Austria) A1 Austria Magenta Telekom Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs)

Mobile content and applications M-commerce

Related reports





List of Tables

Table 1  Mobile market revenue by service  2017  2019

Table 2  Development of mobile service revenue, retail and wholesale  2009  2019

Table 3  Average mobile subscriber use of services  2012  2018

Table 4  Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration rate  2009 - 2024

Table 5  Change in mobile numbers in use, contract and prepaid  2009  2018

Table 6  Change in the number of A1s prepaid subscribers  2009  2019

Table 7  Change in the number of Magenta Telekoms prepaid subscribers  2014  2019

Table 8  Growth in the number of M2M SIM cards  2012  2019

Table 9  Change in mobile voice traffic  2003  2019

Table 10  Decline in the number of SMS messages sent  2009  2019

Table 11  Change in the number of mobile broadband subscribers  2010  2019

Table 12  Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration  2009  2024

Table 13  Growth in mobile broadband traffic  2008  2019

Table 14  Growth in the number of A1s mobile broadband subscribers  2009  2019

Table 15  GSM spectrum distribution among MNOs (MHz)  2010

Table 16  European data roaming charges  2017 - 2022

Table 17  Growth in the number of mobile number portings  2010  2019

Table 18  Change in the number of 3 Austrias active subscribers  2013  2019

Table 19  Change in the number of 3 Austrias registered subscribers  2009  2019

Table 20  Development of 3 Austrias financial data  2008  2019

Table 21  Development of 3 Austrias annualised ARPU  2008  2019

Table 22  Change in the number of A1s mobile subscribers  2009  2019

Table 23  Development of A1s mobile service revenue  2010  2019

Table 24  Change in A1s mobile service revenue by quarter  2015  2019

Table 25  Change in A1s monthly mobile ARPU  2009  2019

Table 26  Development of Magenta Telekoms mobile service revenue  2003  2019

Table 27  Magenta Telekoms mobile service revenue by quarter  2015 - 2019

Table 28  Change in the number of Magenta Telekoms mobile subscribers  2009  2019

Table 29  Decline in Magenta Telekoms annualised mobile ARPU  2006  2019

Table 30  Historic - Mobile subscribers and penetration rate (regulator data)  1999  2009

Table 31  Historic - Mobile numbers in use, contract and prepaid  2004  2009

Table 32  Historic - A1 prepaid subscribers  2005  2009

Table 33  Historic - GSM SIM cards in service  2012  2017

Table 34  Historic - LTE SIM cards in service  2013  2017

Table 35  Historic - 3G SIM cards in service  2009 - 2017

Table 36  Historic - A1 M2M connections  2015  2016

Table 37  Historic - Mobile data traffic  2015  2017

Table 38  Historic - SMS messages sent  2004  2009

Table 39  Historic - Text messaging revenue  2013  2017

Table 40  Historic - A1 SMS sent  2006  2015

Table 41  Historic - Mobile broadband download speed by technology  2013  2017

Table 42  Historic - Household broadband penetration by fixed/mobile platform  2012  2017

Table 43  Historic - Roaming revenue  2015  2017

Table 44  Historic - Roaming traffic  2015  2017

Table 45  Historic - Mobile termination charges by operator (historic)  2008  2011

Table 46  Historic - Orange Austria mobile subscribers (historic)  2009  2012

Table 47  Historic - A1 subscribers (Austria)  2000  2009

Table 48  Historic - A1 monthly ARPU  2004  2009

Table 49  Historic - T-Mobile Austria subscribers  2004  2009

Table 50  Historic - UPC Austria mobile subscribers  2016  2018

Table 51  Historic - Mobile voice traffic  2003  2009

Table 52  Historic - Mobile service revenue, retail and wholesale  2000  2009

Table 53  Historic - A1 - mobile service revenue  2004  2009

Table 54  Historic - T-Mobile Austria mobile service revenue  2003  2009

Table 55  Historic - Mobile market revenue by service  2012  2017

List of Charts

Chart 1  Development of mobile service revenue, retail and wholesale  2009  2019

Chart 2  Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration rate  2009 - 2024

Chart 3  Change in mobile numbers in use, contract and prepaid  2009  2018

Chart 4  Change in the number of A1s prepaid subscribers  2009  2019

Chart 5  Change in the number of Magenta Telekoms prepaid subscribers  2014  2019

Chart 6  Growth in the number of M2M SIM cards  2012  2019

Chart 7  Change in mobile voice traffic  2003  2019

Chart 8  Decline in the number of SMS messages sent  2009  2019

Chart 9  Change in the number of mobile broadband subscribers  2010  2019

Chart 10  Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration  2009  2024

Chart 11  Growth in mobile broadband traffic  2008  2019

Chart 12  Growth in the number of A1s mobile broadband subscribers  2009  2019

Chart 13  Growth in the number of mobile number portings  2010  2019

Chart 14  Change in the number of 3 Austrias active subscribers  2013  2019

Chart 15  Change in the number of 3 Austrias registered subscribers  2009  2019

Chart 16  Development of 3 Austrias financial data  2008  2019

Chart 17  Development of 3 Austrias annualised ARPU  2008  2019

Chart 18  Change in the number of A1s mobile subscribers  2009  2019

Chart 19  Development of A1s mobile service revenue  2010  2019

Chart 20  Change in A1s monthly mobile ARPU  2009  2019

Chart 21  Development of Magenta Telekoms mobile service revenue  2003  2019

Chart 22  Change in the number of Magenta Telekoms mobile subscribers  2009  2019

List of Exhibits

Exhibit 1  2G spectrum allocations by operator

Exhibit 2  3G spectrum allocations by operator

Exhibit 3  3G licence results  2000

Exhibit 4  450MHz licence results  2006

Exhibit 5  2.6GHz spectrum auction results  September 2010

Exhibit 6  Multi-spectrum auction results  Oct 2013

Exhibit 7  3 Austria spectrum concessions





Read the full report: https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Austria-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses
Police have released an officer's bodycam footage showing the tense minutes before he shot dead a father who had fatally beaten his son with an electric guitar.

Joshua David Hernandez Lord, from Clarkdale, Arizona, was shot dead at his home last week by police officer Carlos Godina.

As well as beating his son, Isidro Jerome, who later died in hospital, Lord had hit his mother, 51, leaving her with multiple skull fractures.

Officer Godina's bodycam footage shows how he confronted Hernandez Lord and tried to calm him down before being forced to shoot him.

Cop Carlos Godina's bodycam footage captures the moment he shot dead Joshua David Hernandez Lord at his home in Clarkdale, Arizona

Officer Godina had speculated that Hernandez Lord was having a psychotic episode, Clarkdale Police Chief Randy Taylor later told 12News.

The horrific video begins with the officer arriving at Hernandez Lord's home to find his distressed mother standing outside.

She says to him: 'I think my son had a mental breakdown. I don't know, he's very upset.'

When asked if he had any weapons, she replies: 'No, he just has a guitar. He hit me. And he's very upset. He hit me, he hit my grandson.

Officer Godina (left) shot Hernandez Lord (right with his son Isidro Jerome as a baby), who had beaten his son and also hit his mother, leaving her with multiple skull fractures

She adds that Hernandez Lord hit them when they were 'just sitting there watching TV'.

When the father can be heard screaming from inside the house, officer Godina then goes towards the front door.

Hernandez Lord appears at the window and tells him to shoot him and officer Godina replies, 'No, you don't want that.'

The father then runs at officer Godina, who fires his Taser to stop him - but it misses Hernandez Lord or does not work.

Officer Godina initially spoke to Hernandez Lord's mother outside the home before he was forced to use a child's metal tricycle to defend himself as the father ran out of the house towards him, demanding, 'kill me'

Hernandez Lord, now with a knife, retreated back into the house and told Officer Godina that he had killed his son

The cop replied, 'No you didn't,' but then saw him on the couch and said, 'oh God, is that your kid?'. He was then seen going over to touch the mortally wounded boy

The cop runs around the house and picks up a child's metal tricycle and says, 'I could shoot you or I could ram you with this.'

Officer Godina then follows Hernandez Lord back inside the house but is forced to run back out when the crazed man runs at him again, this time with a knife.

The cop is then told by an older man standing outside that Hernandez Lord's son is in there as well.

The mother adds: 'He's in the back part of the house.'

Hernandez Lord is seen stamping his feet and screaming before he says: 'I killed him, I killed my son.'

Officer Godina replies: 'No you didn't, no you didn't.'

But Hernandez Lord says: 'He's lying on the couch, he's dead,' before he stamps his feet again and screams more.

Officer Godina then sees the little boy on the couch and says: 'Oh God, is that your kid right there?'

Officer Godina repeatedly told him to drop his knife but Hernandez Lord just screamed, 'I want to die, I want to die, I want to die'

Hernandez Lord was standing in the doorway of another room as Officer Godina tried to calm him down

But he was shot dead when he emerged from the room and lifted the guitar above his head

He then goes over to him and touches his body as Hernandez Lord retreats into another room.

Officer Godina then repeatedly tells him to drop his knife but the man screams: 'I want to die, I want to die, I want to die!'

After several more seconds of officer Godina attempting to calm him down, Hernandez Lord runs at him with the guitar held over his head, forcing the cop to shoot him dead.

His little boy was later airlifted to Flagstaff Medical Center, where he succumbed to his injuries the next day.

Hernandez Lord did not have any previous criminal convictions and had only had contact with police in 2011 when he was a witness to an accident.

The home in Clarkdale, Arizona, where Hernandez Lord was shot dead by the cop
Ms Rose Eduful, the Principal Nursing Officer (PNO), Korle-Bu Reproductive Health Centre, has encouraged women to take advantage of the ongoing cervical cancer screening exercise in Korle-Bu to check their status.



She said early detection of cervical cancer could help in preventing the disease from reaching advanced stage where it could be detrimental to the patient.



So women having fear of the unknown as their deterrent for not screening should know that early detection is key to preventing the disease, she stated.



Ms Eduful said this in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Accra on Tuesday.



The screening, which started in January 2020 as part of the nationwide cervical cancer awareness campaign according to her, has seen reduction in attendance.



The PNO said it was necessary for women to go for the screening as those screened so far know their status, which they did not know previously.



Those who have had changes in the cervix are going through diagnostic testing to see what can best be done for them, she added.



Cervical cancer is the second most frequent occurring cancer in women after breast cancer and common cause of cancer related deaths in developing countries.



Current statistics in Ghana indicates that every year 3,151 women are diagnosed with the disease and 2,119 die from it. It is common in women and girls who are sexually active.



Deaths due to cervical cancer are projected to rise by almost 25 per cent over the next 10 years, hence the need for the campaign to allow for more screening.



She called on parents to vaccinate their young girls against cervical cancer to ensure they are free from the disease in future as it is preventable.



The PNO said currently the screening exercise is going for GHS 80.00 saying but by June we will go back to our old pricing system of GHS 150.00, she said.

Source: GNA









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Lt. Gen. (res.) Benny Gantz has probably never faced as painful and cruel a dilemma in his entire four decades in uniform and as Israels top soldier as he is now confronting as leader of the Blue and White party. The March 2 election results maneuvered Israeli politics into the most complicated situation possible: On the one hand, a clear victory for the Likud on the party level (36 Knesset seats for the Likud compared with 33 for Blue and White). On the other, a no less clear victory for Blue and White on the coalition map (62 Knesset seats for the center-left bloc compared with 58 for the right-wing, ultra-Orthodox bloc). An impressive electoral victory for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in personal terms, but failure of his truly important mission  sufficient votes for a narrow government comprised of his political base of right-wing, ultra-Orthodox parties. Netanyahu desperately needs his own government for him to continue serving as prime minister throughout his trial.

Gantz has already made his historic strategic decision. He made that decision shortly after the publication of the March 2 election results, which showed that Blue and White could form a minority government if at least 12 of the 15 newly elected lawmakers of the Arab Joint List were to vote in its favor. Gantz decided to forge ahead with this move, no matter the cost. Yisrael Beitenu leader, the hawkish Avigdor Liberman, offered his silent support.

After the last election round in September 2019, Liberman hesitated to support such a government. With his visceral hostility toward the elected representatives of the countrys 21% Arab minority, he finally decided against it. But the results of the March 2 election convinced Liberman that there was no other way. In order to free Israel from Netanyahus chokehold, Liberman would have to swallow the bitter pill and cross what was until then a red line. He realized that the only way to crack Netanyahus bloc of right-wing, ultra-Orthodox parties, which now comprises 58 Knesset members (out of 120), and to quash the specter of a fourth election, he would have to back a Gantz-led government, which would need the vote of at least 12 Arab lawmakers to be formed.

Originally, the intention was to make do without the votes of three Knesset members of the nationalist Arab Balad party, which is one of the four constituent parties of the Joint List. Most Jewish Israelis cannot stomach the idea of a government backed by Balad, which disavows the principle of a Jewish state, espousing instead a multinational state, and is perceived as more radical than the other Arab parties. When doing the math, if the 12 Joint List Knesset members and Libermans seven vote in favor of a center-left coalition led by Blue and White (without joining it), Gantz would have the support of 59 Knesset members to form a government, compared to the opposing bloc of 58. This scenario has Liberman joining the coalition at a later stage, once other parties start trickling out of the Netanyahu-led opposition to partake in the perks of government. Meanwhile, the government would be sworn in, Netanyahu would depart the official residence on Balfour Street and Gantz would move into the prime ministers office. Toppling a government requires the backing of 61 Knesset members so that a Gantz government might survive if Blue and White, a hodgepodge of disparate elements, displays a modicum of political skills.

Gantz knows that if fourth elections are held later this year, Netanyahu stands a good chance of garnering the coveted 61-seat Knesset majority. He now has to choose between two pledges he made to voters  to shun a government led by Netanyahu, who is under indictment for bribery, and his promise not to form a government that would be backed by the Arab parties. Gantz opted to violate his second promise. We intend to form a government as quickly as possible, to swear it in as quickly as possible sometime in March and to send Netanyahu home, a Blue and White leader told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity.

However, declarations of intent are one thing, skillful execution is another. Recent days have landed a series of political disasters on Gantz that severely undermine his prospects of swearing in a minority government with the support of Arab Knesset members, a move with no precedent in Israeli history. In the face of aggressive pressure being brought to bear on Blue and Whites lawmakers by the political right, Gantz finds himself at a grave disadvantage.

The first to crumble under pressure was Blue and Whites right-wing flank, Knesset members Zvi Hauser and Yoaz Hendel, who worked closely with Netanyahu in senior positions until he showed them the door in 2012 for exposing alleged sexual harassment by Natan Eshel, a loyalist of the Netanyahu couple. In 2018, the two joined the small Telem party led by former Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon, which subsequently merged with Blue and White. While Yaalon reluctantly agreed to Arab backing for a narrow coalition, for the sake of ousting Netanyahu, Hauser and Hendel have reportedly refused to go along. Gantz reprimanded them, but he does not appear to have overcome their refusal to support a government backed by Arab legislators.

The second blow came March 10, when Knesset member Orly Levy-Abekasis, who ran in this months election with Labor party leader Amir Peretz on a joint ticket with the left-wing Meretz party, announced that she would not back such a government either, reversing her previous stand. In interviews she gave in recent weeks, Levy-Abekasis said she would have no trouble serving in a government coalition backed by Arab votes. Levy-Abekasis, whose father David Levy was foreign minister in Netanyahus first government, appears to be making her way back to the Likud. That would boost Netanyahus bloc to 59 Knesset members, further eroding Gantzs prospects of forming a minority government.

Gantz has not given up. He enjoys the sweeping support of two members of the Blue and White leadership quartet  Yaalon and centrist politician Yair Lapid (albeit stormy reservations on the part of Gabi Ashkenazi, the fourth quartet member) and is now examining prospects of all 15 Arab Joint List lawmakers voting in favor of a minority government. That should suffice if Knesset members Hauser and Hendel agree to abstain in the vote or absent themselves from the plenary, rather than voting nay. If Netanyahu had a 61-seat majority he would have sworn in a government without bothering to examine the identity of its supporters. Gantz is trying to do the same thing, but his prospects of success are slim.

The latest developments have eroded the clear political advantage Gantz enjoyed over Netanyahu in recent days, and he now faces a dead end. Prospects of his success have plunged dramatically. Netanyahu knows he has probably scuttled a minority government. Gantz is left with the choice between agreeing to a fourth round of elections and joining a Netanyahu-led government in a power-sharing agreement of a rotating premiership. Senior Likud figures are now claiming that a blueprint proposed by President Reuven Rivlin last year, which would give Netanyahu first turn as prime minister for eight months, after which he would switch with Gantz, is no longer relevant. Netanyahu is now going for broke, demanding two full years on the job before handing over to Gantz. That would place him in a position of power as he faces the three Jerusalem judges named to try him (with a trial set to open March 17), enabling him to conduct negotiations with the attorney general on a possible plea bargain as an incumbent prime minister.

That goal now appears closer than ever. The rollercoaster of Israeli politics is charging forward at record speed. That, along with the coronavirus outbreak (almost 100 Israelis have been diagnosed with the disease), the looming economic crisis and ongoing political chaos, make for a state at a total impasse.
London/UNI: United Kingdom has decided to pull out more than 300 of its troops stationed in Afghanistan by the middle of July following the peace agreement between the Taliban and the United States.

On February 29, the US and the Taliban inked a peace agreement in the Qatar capital Doha. The agreement stipulates the withdrawal of foreign armed forces from Afghanistan in return for the Taliban guaranteeing the country will not become a haven for terrorist groups.

London is planning to withdraw 330 of its 1,100 military personnel, all of whom are said to be stationed in or around the Afghan capital of Kabul, according to the Times newspaper. It adds that a small number of UK special forces are working with the US forces in other regions, such as the southern province of Helmand. This is a part of the first phase of the US-Taliban peace accord.

The UK has been one of the most steadfast supporters of Washington's military initiatives across the globe, providing military assistance in both Afghanistan and Iraq.
WEST CHESTER  Sophia Garcia-Jackson has been appointed Chester County Chief Deputy Coroner.

I am thrilled that Sophia will be our chief deputy coroner, said Coroner Dr. Christina VandePol. After reviewing applications from around the country, it was clear that the right person was our own first deputy coroner, Sophia Garcia-Jackson. Sophia is recognized as an expert medicolegal death investigator not only by our staff, but by our colleagues in local law enforcement. Its important to have a highly qualified Chief Deputy Coroner because by law that person steps in if anything happens to the coroner.

Garcia-Jackson has been the first deputy coroner for the past year and came to Chester County after almost six years as a death investigator with the New Jersey Medical Examiners Office.

Her responsibilities as first deputy coroner have included establishing an investigator training program, supervising and strengthening the transporter function, updating the Coroners Office Mass Fatality plan, and expanding the departments public outreach program. In addition to a Masters degree in Forensic Medicine, Garcia-Jackson has been a diplomat of the American Board of Medicolegal Investigators since 2017.

Originally from California, Garcia-Jackson has an undergraduate degree in anthropology from California State University, Chico, where she also earned a certificate in forensic identification while working at the Universitys Human Identification Lab. She then completed a masters degree in forensic medicine at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, including an internship at the Philadelphia Medical Examiners Office.

Garcia-Jacksons ongoing training includes a Forensic Science Training Program with the New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. Most recently, as required by Pennsylvania law, she successfully completed Pennsylvanias Basic Coroner Education Course.

Garcia-Jackson resides in West Whiteland Township with her husband, Blake, and their dog Chico, a Chihuahua mix. She met her husband while both were on a study abroad program in Ghana, West Africa. She loves cooking and the Coroners Office is the frequent beneficiary of her culinary talent.

The Chester County Coroners Office is an independent agency that investigates the facts and circumstances concerning jurisdictional deaths which have occurred within Chester County. The office determines the cause and manner of death, the identity of the decedent, and provides notification to the legal next of kin.
Senior Congress leader from Madhya Pradesh Jyotiraditya Scindia along with 22 other MLAs who have quit the Congress party will join the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party today. Scindia is slated to join the BJP on Wednesday at 12 pm. Scindia will go from Delhi to Gwalior and reach Bhopal between March 12 and March 13. Scindia quit the grand old party yesterday after being a primary member for 18 years. He shared his resignation letter via his official Twitter account.

Also read: MP political crisis: Jyotiraditya Scindia quits Congress; posts resignation letter on Twitter

The news of Jyotiraditya Scindia leaving Congress along with 22 other MLAs came as a thunderbolt for the party. In a desperate attempt to keep its house in order, Madhya Pradesh Congress has decided to shift its 92 MLAs to a hotel in Jaipur after Scindia left the party. Gauging the impact of Scindia's resignation from the Indian National Congress, veteran leaders such as former MP CM Digvijay Singh, Rajya Sabha MP PL Punia and Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot shared their views.

Digvijay Singh took to his Twitter handle to state, "No question he was not at all sidelined. In fact, please ask any Congress leader from MP particularly from Gwalior Chambal division and you would come to know nothing moved in the area without his consent in the last 16 months. Sad. But I wish him well under Modi Shah Tutelage!"

Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot condemned Scindia very strongly for "betraying the trust of the people" and also alleged that "such people prove they can't thrive without power." In another tweet, Gehlot also said that the BJP is "ruining the economy, democratic institutions, social fabric and as well the Judiciary."

Joining hands with BJP in a time of national crisis speaks volumes about a leaders self-indulgent political ambitions. Especially when the BJP ruining the economy, democratic institutions, social fabric and as well the Judiciary. 1/2 - Ashok Gehlot (@ashokgehlot51) March 10, 2020

Mr Scindia has betrayed the trust of the people as well as the ideology. Such people proves they can't thrive without power. Sooner they leave the better. 2/2 - Ashok Gehlot (@ashokgehlot51) March 10, 2020

Rajya Sabha MP PL Punia, in his tweet, said, "After 15 years of BJP misrule we came to power and we could not retain it even for 15 months." Former chairman of the National Commission for Scheduled Caste also called Scindia's resignation from the party as "very unfortunate".

Very unfortunate that we lost a senior leader like Jyotiraditya Scindia. It needs a thorough introspection whether Mr Scindia alone is responsible. After 15 years of BJP misrule we came to power and we could not retain it even for 15 months.@RahulGandhi @INCIndia @IYC pic.twitter.com/102jAnkLmI - P L Punia (@plpunia) March 10, 2020

Also read: MP political crisis: 22 Congress MLAs from Jyotiraditya Scindia's camp resign on Tuesday; check list here

Also read: MP political crisis: Jyotiraditya Scindia may join BJP; CM Kamal Nath cries foul
The novel coronavirus outbreak continues to spread globally, sparking a total lockdown across Italy and emergency measures worldwide, as markets recover from Monday's historic rout.

The virus, known as Covid-19, has now infected close to 113,000 people worldwide and resulted in more than 4,000 deaths. The majority of these cases are in mainland China, where the outbreak first emerged -- but the rate of infection has been slowing in the country, and the situation stabilizing, even as the virus wreaks havoc elsewhere

In an apparent show of confidence, Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in virus-stricken Wuhan Tuesday, his first visit to the city at the epicenter of the global outbreak since the crisis began. The trip comes as Chinese authorities recorded 19 new cases, 17 of which were in Wuhan, and two were imported from overseas -- marking the third straight day of no locally transmitted cases outside Hubei, the province of which Wuhan is the capital. Of the country's 80,754 patients, nearly 60,000 have recovered and been discharged from hospitals.

Other Asian countries like South Korea are also beginning to see a slowdown in the virus' spread. South Korea, which has carried out more than 190,000 tests as part of a free nationwide screening program, recorded it's lowest number of daily confirmed cases of the virus in weeks on Tuesday -- a sign that the country may has "passed the peak" of the outbreak, South Korean Health Minister Park Neunghoo told CNN.

But these cautious signs of progress throw into sharp relief the deteriorating situation in the West.

States across the US are declaring emergencies, with even congressmen being self-quarantined after exposure to a patient. And in Europe, the outbreak that began in Italy has spread far and wide, with nearby countries like Germany reporting dramatic spikes in daily cases.

All of Italy is under lockdown

In an unprecedented and potentially legally fraught move, all of Italy and its 60 million residents have been placed under lockdown, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte announced on Monday, part of a raft of sweeping quarantine measures intended to contain the outbreak.

The northern region of Lombardy and 14 other provinces had already been placed under lockdown -- but this new decree will extend those restrictions across the entire country, as the virus continues to spread throughout Italy and mainland Europe.

The drastic measures include blanket travel restrictions, a ban on all public events, the closures of schools and public spaces such as movie theaters, and the suspension of religious services including funerals or weddings.

To enforce the movement ban, military police, railway police, and health workers are carrying out checks on transportation sites like highways and train stations.

This lockdown represents the toughest coronavirus response to be implemented outside of mainland China, and comes as the country buckles under the weight of the epidemic.

Parts of Italy, particularly the northern regions, are seeing a "tsunami of patients," and the healthcare system is "one step from collapse," said Antonio Pesenti, intensive care coordinator in the Lombardy crisis unit.

So far, Italy has 9,172 cases and 463 deaths -- the most of any country outside of China.

The new lockdown may help slow the virus from spreading further -- but some, like the Lombardy president, fear it is "still insufficient" given the sheer scale and speed of the Italian outbreak.

The virus spreads across the US

The virus is rapidly spreading across the United States too, with new cases reported in at least 20 states on Monday.

The country now has 717 confirmed and presumptive positive cases and 26 deaths, spread out across 36 states and the capital, Washington, DC.

Washington state has been the hardest hit; 22 of the country's 26 deaths were in Washington, which has 180 cases. At least 10 states, including Washington, have declared states of emergency, which give state governments access to emergency funds and powers.

But there are signs of growing frustrations with the federal government's handling of the outbreak. On Sunday, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo criticized the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for testing delays, and earlier this month, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee criticized the Trump administration for not sticking "to the science."

In some ways the friction began as early as February, when new federal travel restrictions ruffled state and local officials, who complained the rollout had been opaque and confusing. But these tensions are only ramping up now as the virus threatens to disrupt people's lives and livelihoods.

Multiple schools in Washington have already moved to online learning. Many large colleges like Columbia University, New York University, Stanford, and the University of Southern California are also beginning to hold classes remotely instead of in person.

And employers like Amazon and Boeing have begun asking employees in virus-hit areas to work from home, in an echo of the same measures rolled out across Asia just a month or two ago.

Markets are slowly recovering from Monday's crash

Coronavirus fears and an oil price war sparked a global panic on Monday, with markets entering into stunning decline.

Oil prices collapsed after Saudi Arabia launched a price war against onetime ally Russia -- and the crisis was only worsened by the coronavirus, which has slammed economies worldwide and weighed heavily on investors.

Wall Street had already faced heavy losses for several weeks because of the virus; the oil price war served a second blow, and the Dow ended the day with its biggest point drop in history, closing Monday down 2,014 points, or 7.8%.

On Tuesday, markets in Asia Pacific mostly stumbled, with South Korea's Kospi, China's Shanghai Composite, and Japan's Nikkei 225 all falling, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index swung between gains and losses.

There are some signs of recovery, with Dow futures jumping 500 points, or 2.2%, and Australia's benchmark S&P/ASX 200 was trading firmly in the green.

But the virus may prove harder to recover from; about $9 trillion was wiped off global stocks in nine days, Bank of America said in a research note on Thursday. And markets are still seeing wild swings, indicative of just how deep investor anxieties run.
MOSCOW  Russian President Vladimir Putin revealed his tightly guarded political plans Tuesday and supported a constitutional amendment that would allow him to seek reelection in 2024 by restarting the term count.

The constitutional change would pave the way for the 67-year-old Putin to stay in office until 2036, if he desires.

A lawmaker who is revered in Russia as the first woman to fly in space proposed either scrapping Russias two-term limit for presidents or stopping the clock so the law wouldnt apply to Putins time in office.

The Russian leader and the lower house of parliament quickly endorsed the proposal put forward by 83-year-old former Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova. Kremlin critics denounced the move as cynical manipulation and called for protests.

Lawmakers also passed a set of constitutional amendments proposed by Putin that include defining marriage as a heterosexual union and language pledging homage to ancestors who bequeathed to us their ideals and a belief in God.

In a speech to lawmakers debating the package of amendments, Putin opposed doing away with the presidential term limit but backed stopping the count and restarting it in 2024, if the Russian Constitution is revised. Putins second consecutive six-year term ends in 2024.

A nationwide vote on the amendments is scheduled for next month.

Putin has been in power for more than 20 years, and he is Russias longest-serving leader since Soviet dictator Josef Stalin. After serving two presidential terms in 2000-2008, he shifted to the Russian prime ministers office while protege Dmitry Medvedev served as a placeholder president.

After the length of a presidential term was extended to six years under Medvedev, Putin reclaimed the presidency in 2012 and won another term in 2018.

Observers had speculated that to retain the presidency, Putin could use constitutional amendments he unveiled in January to scrap term limits; move into the prime ministers seat with strengthened powers; or continue calling the shots as the head of the State Council.

However, Putin had dismissed those suggestions, and it wasnt clear until Tuesday what option he might use to keep power. The Russian leader finally revealed his cards after Tereshkova, a legendary figure glorified for her pioneering 1963 space flight, offered her ideas.

I propose to either lift the presidential term limit or add a clause that after the revised constitution enters force, the incumbent president, just like any other citizen, has the right to seek the presidency, she said to raucous applause in the State Duma.

After Tereshkova unveiled her proposal in an apparently choreographed move, Putin quickly arrived in parliament to address lawmakers.

He said he was aware of public calls for him to stay on as president and emphasized that Russia needs stability above all.

The president is a guarantor of security of our state, its internal stability and evolutionary development, Putin said. We have had enough revolutions.

However, he said that since the constitution is a long-term document, scrapping the term limit wasnt a good idea.

In the long-term perspective, society must have guarantees of regular government rotation, he said. We need to think about future generations.

And only then did Putin drop the bombshell, saying he positively viewed Tereshkovas alternate proposal to restart the term count when the revamped constitution enters into force.

As for the proposal to lift restrictions for any person, any citizen, including the incumbent president, to allow running in future elections  this option is possible, Putin said.

He added that the Constitutional Court would need to judge if the move would be legal, although the courts assent is all but guaranteed.

At the same time, Putin quashed speculation that the Kremlin might call an early parliamentary election for the fall, saying he considered it unnecessary. Moments later, the Dumas speaker could be heard directing his deputy to ask the lawmaker who proposed holding the early vote to withdraw his motion.

Putins statement came as lawmakers were considering the amendments in a crucial second reading when changes in the document are made.

The Kremlin-controlled lower house, the State Duma, quickly endorsed the proposed amendments by a 382-0 vote with 44 abstentions. A vote on a third reading will be a quick formality. A nationwide vote on the proposed amendments is set for April 22.

Andrei Klishas, a senior lawmaker who co-chaired a Kremlin working group on the constitutional reform, told The Associated Press that the amendment allowing Putin to run again would be welcomed by many Russians who worry they would lose certain things, including social security, after Putin steps down as president.

Russias leading opposition figure, Alexei Navalny, mocked the proposed change.

Putin has been in power for 20 years, and yet he is going to run for the first time, Navalny tweeted.

A group of opposition activists called for a March 21 protest rally in Moscow that they expect up to 50,000 people to attend.

The country where the government doesnt change for 20 years has no future, the activists said in a statement,

After the group announced the rally, Moscow authorities quickly banned outdoor events with attendance of more than 5,000 until April 10, saying it was part of precautionary steps to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus.

Late Tuesday, several dozen opposition supporters showed up outside the Kremlin for single-person pickets, which dont require seeking advance permission. The pickets proceeded peacefully.

Putins approval ratings have remained high despite a recent drop amid Russias economic troubles and stagnant living standards. Its unclear if the fragmented and disorganized Russian opposition can mount a serious challenge to the Kremlin.

The rubles sharp drop this week, caused by a steep fall in global oil prices in the wake of the collapse of OPECs agreement with Russia to control crude output, could herald deeper economic problems and hurt Putins popularity.

It looks like this crisis situation has made Putin drop his mask and do something he had originally planned, and to do it quickly, said Abbas Gallyamov, an independent political analyst.

In a speech to lawmakers, Putin vowed that the new coronavirus outbreak and plummeting oil prices wouldnt destabilize Russia.

Our economy will keep getting stronger and the key industries will become more powerful and competitive, he said.
With an audience of staffers and volunteers from his Philadelphia campaign headquarters, former vice president Joe Biden makes a last minute stop at the National Constitution Center with his wife, Jill Biden, on Tuesday. Read more

Joe Biden declared himself one step closer Tuesday night to the Democratic nomination at the National Constitution Center, a last-minute stop selected after a rally in Cleveland was canceled due to concerns there about the coronavirus.

Biden, who won Tuesdays primaries in Missouri, Mississippi, Michigan, and Idaho, added to a string of Super Tuesday wins following a momentous shift in the race that started with his win in South Carolina. And with his surprise Philadelphia trip Tuesday, he capitalized on another big night.

Tonight I want to speak to you from Philadelphia where we announced our campaign at the front end, Biden said to a crowd of staffers and invited press. This campaign is taking off and I believe were going to do well from now on.

Biden said Ohio Gov. Mark DeWine had asked him to cancel the Cleveland rally because of the coronavirus, which is already altering the campaign. Biden will address his plans for how to respond to the crisis in a speech Thursday in Delaware.

Tuesday nights event, in front of about 50 staffers, supporters, and members of the media, was not open to the public. It was held the same day Philadelphia health officials advised against any gatherings of more than 5,000 people.

 READ MORE: Joe Biden wins Michigan, 3 other states on another big primary night for his campaign

Sanders returned to Vermont after his Cleveland rally was also canceled. His campaign said he would not speak about the results Tuesday night. The results in North Dakota and Washington were still too close to call as of Wednesday morning.

Biden thanked Sanders for his tireless energy and passion, and courted his opponents supporters with: We share a common goal and together well defeat Donald Trump. Were gonna bring this nation together. Were regenerating a Democratic base the Democratic party.

With definitive wins in states he was only recently polling well in, Biden has placed Sanders in an extremely narrow lane to victory heading into next weeks elections in Ohio and Florida. Prognosticators were offering few scenarios in which Sanders could win and suggesting the more probable outcome if that Biden wins a majority of pledged delegates. That means Pennsylvanias April 28 primary could be less of a factor in who becomes the nominee.

Biden spoke in the upper hall of the Constitution Center, noting its proximity to Independence Hall where the nations founding documents were written.

We the People, Biden said. These words changed the world ... weve never fully lived up to the promise of these documents, but weve never walked away from them.

He used his now signature phrase describing the race as one for the soul of the nation and the democratic principles it was founded on.

 READ MORE: Disappointing results Tuesday leave Bernie Sanders campaign at crossroads

After he left the podium, hand-in-hand with his wife, Jill, his staffers ran toward one another, dancing to Higher Love, and then breaking into chants of Go Joe Go! led by senior adviser Symone Sanders.

Philadelphia politicos, including party chairman Bob Brady, former Mayor John Street and State Sens. Vincent Hughes and Malcolm Kenyatta, all Biden backers, attended the speech.

People are realizing what hes about, Brady said of Bidens renewed momentum. They all relate to him. Hes got the heart, they can feel that when he speaks ... and mainly they trust him.

Brady found out about the Biden drop-in while meeting with the city partys policy committee, which voted earlier in the evening to back Biden. Brady said the vote was unanimous.
AP

Two Russian jets that flew over the sea near the Alaska coastline were intercepted by US and Canadian aircraft, military officials said on Tuesday.

The two planes were escorted by F-22 and CF-18 aircraft according to the North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD) after they flew as close as 50 nautical miles to the Alaska coast.

NORAD posted about the interception on its Twitter account and shared photos of the incident.

The release states that the Russian aircraft did not enter US or Canadian sovereign airspace and was intercepted by NORAD F-22s, CF-18s, supported by KC-135 Stratotanker and E-3 Sentry AWACS aircraft.

NORAD continues to operate in the Arctic across multiple domains, said General Terrence J OShaughnessy, NORAD Commander.

As we continue to conduct exercises and operations in the north, we are driven by a single unyielding priority: defending the homelands.

NORAD F-22s, CF-18s, supported by KC-135 Stratotanker and E-3 Sentry AWACS aircraft, intercepted two Russian Tu-142 maritime reconnaissance aircraft entering the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone on Monday, March 9th. pic.twitter.com/39n3zqy8F8  North American Aerospace Defense Command (@NORADCommand) March 10, 2020

The two Russian Tu-142 maritime reconnaissance aircraft remained within international airspace for the duration of the approximate four-hour flight on Monday.

A similar incident occurred in May 2019 when US stealth jets intercepted Russians bombers and fighter jets just off Alaskas western coast.

Read more

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Victorias health department is advising anyone who might have coronavirus to prepare to stock up on essential items from the supermarket.

The department wrote on Facebook on Wednesday five tips for planning in such a situation and advised regularly washing hands with soap and water.

As you may need to isolate at home if exposed to a person with confirmed infection, you could add a few more essential items to your regular shop now, it wrote.

The department also recommended checking in on elderly neighbours, relatives and people with disabilities, to plan for pets who might need care and to get prescriptions sorted in case you need to stay at home for a few weeks.

People queue to get assessed at Royal Melbourne Hospital. Source: Getty Images

NSW university to reopen its doors

As of Wednesday evening, there are 65 cases of coronavirus in NSW. Four additional cases were reported to NSW Health between Tuesday evening to Wednesday afternoon.

A northern NSW university campus is expected to reopen after a staff member tested positive for coronavirus.

Southern Cross University at Lismore was closed on Wednesday after an internationally-based staff member attended a series of workshops from March 4 to 6 before returning to the Philippines on Saturday.

The man also visited the university's Gold Coast campus and returned a positive result on March 10.

Vice-chancellor Adam Shoemaker says 45 people are believed to have come into contact or proximity with the man during his time in Australia.

Residents in Chatswood, in Sydney's north, wear face masks. Source: Getty Images

"In conjunction with health authorities, the university has commenced contacting each individual," Professor Shoemaker said in a statement on Wednesday.

It is anticipated that both campuses will reopen on Thursday.

Prof Shoemaker told AAP necessary protocols would apply in relation to everyone who may have interacted with the staff member.

"The university is being vigilant and will continue to monitor the situation closely," he said.

Three more Victorians diagnosed

Another three Victorians were confirmed as having the illness on Wednesday morning after returning from the United States.

Story continues

Carey Baptist Grammar School in Melbourne's inner east later reported a second staff member becoming infected, bringing the state's total number of cases to 22.

Premier Daniel Andrews says the state control centre has begun co-ordinating government agencies grappling with the virus outbreak, which has been categorised as a class two emergency.

Class one emergencies include natural disasters like bushfires and floods, while class two includes extreme heat and energy issues.

"The central co-ordination of our response is very important. We've learnt that many different times in different circumstances," Mr Andrews told reporters in Melbourne.

South Australia launches stimulus package

South Australia will launch a $350 million stimulus package to aid those impacted by not just coronavirus but also droughts and bushfires.

Infrastructure projects including road and hospital maintenance work and funds for tourism facilities will form the centrepiece of the initiative, which will require SA to increase borrowings.

At the same time, the government has pledged no taxes to fund the measures, ensuring the budget will take a sizable hit.

A woman stocks up on toilet paper and bottled water. Source: Getty Images (file pic)

"During these times of significant global uncertainty, we are committed to doing all we can to ensure the state's economy maintains its forward momentum and that local jobs are not only protected but can continue to grow into the future," Premier Steven Marshall said on Wednesday.

"While we are not immune from the impacts of this global crisis, this package will go some way to assist us to minimise the inevitable shocks to come."

But Opposition Leader Peter Malinauskas said providing the stimulus directly to households would have been more effective to get money into the economy.

"It is a missed opportunity because it lacks detail and provides no direct stimulus to South Australian households," Mr Malinauskas said.

"The $350m towards stimulus without any detail means it is very hard for businesses and households to get the confidence they need to continue to drive economic activity."

Western Australia sees 800 patients in a day

In WA, three more people were diagnosed with coronavirus in Western Australia on Wednesday as the state government releases its updated pandemic plan.

The two men and one woman from Perth had separately travelled to Europe, the UK and US.

They are all stable and in home isolation, chief health officer Andrew Robertson said on Wednesday.

He said some developed symptoms on their return to Perth and some while they were on the plane.

Passengers from China arrive at Perth International Airport last month. Source: Getty Images

It brings WA's total COVID-19 cases to nine.

Health minister Roger Cook said specialist clinics saw 800 people on Tuesday and up to 450 were being tested. The results of those tests are expected later this week.

The Pandemic Plan, which was last updated in 2014, outlines arrangements for protecting the community and minimising the impact of coronavirus.

It includes preparations to close schools and businesses, cancelling of major events and special arrangements for shopping hours.

Concerns over man who visited Brisbane nightclub

Queensland Health announced two more confirmed cases of coronavirus on Wednesday afternoon.

A 32-year-old woman remains in a Gold Coast hospital after contracting the virus. The department said she had been visiting the US.

A 31-year-old man also remains in a Gold Coast hospital and the department said he was in close contact with the woman.

People leave a Costco in Melbourne with some toilet paper. Source: Getty Images

Queensland Health is also concerned about a 22-year-old man who visited Fridays Riverside, a nightclub in Brisbanes CBD, on Friday between 6-11pm.

He also visited the University of Queensland on Tuesday.

The department is telling anyone who visited Fridays and is feeling unwell to contact them on 13 HEALTH.

In total, 20 people in Queensland are confirmed to have coronavirus.

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.
(Reuters) - Delta Air Lines Inc <DAL.N> said on Wednesday it was extending the suspension of all flights between the United States and China from April 30 to May 31 due to the coronavirus outbreak.

It also extended the suspension for some destinations in South Korea and Japan to the same date and said it will reduce planned capacity by 15%.

The airline sector has been hit hard by the rapidly spreading coronavirus, which has forced tourists and businesses to cancel trips, sparking a string of steps by carriers to tackle the impact of the outbreak.

Delta said it has frozen hiring, offered voluntary leave option to staff and was planning retire older aircraft ahead of time to limit the fallout of a drop in net booking by as much as 25% to 30%.

Shares of the company fell as much as 8.2% to $41.73, in line with the broader selloff in the sector on Wednesday. The stock has fallen nearly 30% so far this year.

(Reporting by Ankit Ajmera in Bengaluru; Editing by Arun Koyyur and Ramakrishnan M.)
The Walt Disney Studio will release Peter Jacksons eagerly anticipated Beatles documentary after acquiring worldwide rights to his behind the scenes look at the troubled recording of their final album.

The Beatles: Get Back, a in depth look at the fraught recording sessions for 1970 release Let It Be, will premiere in the United States and Canada on September 4th.

The new film draws on 55-hours of unreleased archive footage and 140-hours of mostly unheard audio from the sessions at Twickenham and Apple Studios in January 1969.

Coming soon:The Walt Disney Studio will release Peter Jacksons eagerly anticipated Beatles documentary after acquiring worldwide rights to his behind the scenes look at the troubled recording of their final album

It will chart the development of the album's 12 tracks, as well as the increasing internal tensions that led to the iconic group ultimately shelving the project, before finally releasing it a month after confirming their split in May 1970.

Confirming the documentary's release date across North America, Robert A. Iger, Walt Disney Company Executive Chairman, announced: 'No band has had the kind of impact on the world that The Beatles have had, and The Beatles: Get Back is a front-row seat to the inner workings of these genius creators at a seminal moment in music history, with spectacularly restored footage that looks like it was shot yesterday.

'Im a huge fan myself, so I could not be happier that Disney is able to share Peter Jacksons stunning documentary with global audiences in September.'

Confirmation: The Beatles: Get Back, a in depth look at the fraught recording sessions for 1970 release Let It Be, will premiere in the United States and Canada on September 4th. The news was confirmed by Disney in a recent Instagram post

The troubled Let It Be sessions were originally part of an audio and visual concept devised by the band, who originally planned to give fans an insight into their recording process though an accompanying film, to be released on the same day as the album.

Director Michael Lindsay-Hogg was recruited to follow band-members John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr through their sessions, but like the album his film was put on hold for more than a year before finally seeing the light of day.

Jackson's release will rely on extensive footage not used included in Hogg's completed film, as well as footage from the band's final live performance - an impromptu 42-minute set on the Savile Row roof of their Apple headquarters.

Delighted: 'Working on this project has been a joyous discovery. Ive been privileged to be a fly on the wall while the greatest band of all time works, plays and creates masterpieces,' said Jackson

The set, which featured hit single Get Back and B-side Don't Let Me Down, was the band's first live show since 1966 and their final tour date at San Francisco's Candlestick Park.

The 51-year old footage has restored by Park Road Post Production of Wellington, New Zealand, with editing by Jabez Olssen, who collaborated with Jackson on 2018 World War I documentary They Shall Not Grow Old.'

Of his new project, Jackson said: 'Working on this project has been a joyous discovery. Ive been privileged to be a fly on the wall while the greatest band of all time works, plays and creates masterpieces.

Old times: The troubled Let It Be sessions were originally part of an audio and visual concept devised by the band (pictured in 1965)

'Im thrilled that Disney have stepped up as our distributor. Theres no one better to have our movie seen by the greatest number of people.'

Band-member McCartney added: 'I am really happy that Peter has delved into our archives to make a film that shows the truth about The Beatles recording together.

'The friendship and love between us comes over and reminds me of what a crazily beautiful time we had.'

Ringo Starr, the only other surviving member of the band, said: 'Im really looking forward to this film. Peter is great and it was so cool looking at all this footage.

Classic: While Let It Be was the last album to be released by The Beatles, it was not their final recording - that honour went to 1969 release Abbey Road

There was hours and hours of us just laughing and playing music, not at all like the version that came out. There was a lot of joy and I think Peter will show that. I think this version will be a lot more peace and loving, like we really were.'

While Let It Be was the last album to be released by The Beatles, it was not their final recording.

The group returned to the studio three weeks after shelving the stuttering Let It Be concept, with penultimate album Abbey Road recorded over a six month period before going on general release in September 1969.

Despite its difficult recording process, Let It Be was eventually mixed after producer Phil Spector was drafted at the 11th hour to polish its rough edges, giving it a sound entirely different to previous Beatles recordings.

The album would go on to reach number one in the UK and US Billboard album charts.
New Delhi, March 11 : India is supplying bullet proof jackets to 18 countries, the Union Minister of Defence Rajnath Singh said in Parliament on Wednesday.

In a reply to a question about the scale of production of the Bullet Proof Jackets in the country and the countries to which these jackets were being exported, Rajnath Singh said, "Bullet Proof Jackets are also being exported to 18 countries. In view of the strategic requirement, the names of the countries are not disclosed." He also said that industrial Licenses have been issued to 15 companies for manufacturing Bullet Proof Jackets having production capacity in the country of over 10 Lakh per annum to meet the domestic and export requirement.

The jackets are authorised as per laid down scale and are procured from time to time and made available to soldiers as per specifications and authorisation, he said.

Last week, BJP national president J. P. Nadda had lashed out at the erstwhile UPA government and accused it of corruption in the purchase of defence equipment.

Addressing people during a Pragati Rally in Haryana's Sirsa, he praised the Narendra Modi-led NDA government for the defence purchases made in the recent past and claimed that under the previous governments, soldiers even lacked bullet-proof jackets.

"Before the Modi government came to power, no major defence equipment, including airplanes, were purchased. And when they went to purchase these, there were scams, be it helicopters, submarines, aircraft or machine guns. During the previous UPA rule, there were scams after scams," he said.

Nadda had said that the Indian soldiers did not have bullet-proof jackets and now 1.86 lakh of them have got it and we are exporting these jackets also, which shows how much progress India has made.

Latest updates on Howdy Modi Houston
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-12 01:26:08|Editor: huaxia

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UNITED NATIONS, March 11 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Wednesday asked for uniform standards and for consensus to fight terrorism in Africa.

Counter-terrorism in Africa is an important part of the global fight against terrorism. In helping Africa fight terrorism, the international community should uphold uniform counter-terrorism standards, said Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations.

All terrorist activities must be dealt with relentlessly, regardless of the flags they fly, the countries they target, or the tactics they employ. Linking terrorism with specific religions or ethnicity should be avoided, he told an open debate of the Security Council.

China supports the United Nations in playing a central coordinating role in helping African countries build greater counter-terrorism capacity and in prioritizing counter-terrorism capacity building for African countries, he said.

"We support the international community in providing counter-terrorism assistance to African countries with no political strings attached," said Zhang.
In Michigan, where Mr. Sanders had focused much of his attention in the last week, he was leading in none of the states 83 counties as of early Wednesday, and trailing Mr. Biden by double digits statewide. In Missouri, Mr. Sanders was also trailing in every single county in a state where he won dozens of counties in 2016. And in Mississippi, Mr. Sanders was getting thrashed, with Mr. Biden topping 80 percent of the vote.

The margin of black support for Mr. Biden over Mr. Sanders in Mississippi was breathtaking: 87 percent to 10 percent, according to the exit poll.

The calendar does not get significantly easier for Mr. Sanders in the next two weeks. Three of the four states that vote next week have sizable black voting populations: Illinois (a 28 percent black electorate in the 2016 primary, according to the exit poll), Ohio (20 percent) and Florida (27 percent).

Given Mr. Sanderss struggles in Michigan on Tuesday, it is not clear why he would do significantly better in nearby Ohio and Illinois. Then the next week comes Georgia, where black voters made up half of the Democratic electorate four years ago.

But it was hardly just black voters lifting Mr. Biden. In Missouri, for instance, the story was about white voters who sided with Mr. Sanders in 2016 but backed Mr. Biden in 2020. Exit polls showed that Mr. Sanders led Mrs. Clinton by nine percentage points among white voters there; Mr. Biden was up by 12 points this year.
Tata Motors share price fell to 11-year low today in a weak market on concerns over sluggish Jaguar Land Rover sales in China and lower volumes at home. Growing fears of coronavirus across the globe have also dampened sentiment around the stock.

Share price of Tata Motors closed 6.43% lower at Rs 99 compared to the previous close of Rs 105.80 on BSE.

The stock had hit double digits on August 31, 2009 when it closed at Rs 96.90. The large cap stock hit an intra day low of Rs 97.75 on BSE today. Market cap of the firm fell to Rs 35,615 crore today. 57.43 lakh shares changed hands amounting to turnover of Rs 58.58 crore on BSE.

Tata Motors to close car retail business Concorde Motors

The stock has lost 45% during the last one year and fallen 46% since the beginning of this year.

In last one month, the stock has seen 41% slide amid Sensex and Nifty witnessing huge correction arising out of rising number of coronavirus cases across the globe. Sensex which stood at 41,565 on February 12 has lost 5,868 points since then. The index closed at 35,697 today.

Air fares crash due coronavirus; IndiGo, Air India, SpiceJet, Vistara feel the pinch

Nifty has also declined 1,743 points from its February 12 level of 12,201. It closed at 10,458 today.

Tata Motors reported a huge 85% fall in February sales in China, the world's largest car market.

Possible supply chain disruptions due to coronavirus and resultant shutdown of various parts of China led to the slump in sales.

Before that, Jaguar Land Rover sales in China grew on an average about 25% year on year for the 6 months from July through December 2019. The firm saw strong growth for the first 3 weeks of January. China accounts for almost a quarter of JLR's global sales, which in turn accounts for almost 73 per cent of Tata Motor's annual turnover of around $41 billion.

The global outbreak of virus will also affect JLR sales in the near future, said analysts. At home too, performance of Tata Motors in February was weak. The auto arm of Tata Group reported a 31 per cent fall in sales to 12,430 units last month compared to 18,110 units in February 2019.

The weakness in sales came even as the firm launched BS 6 versions of Nexon, Tiago, and Tigor in January this year.

Coronavirus: 83 evacuees from Italy kept at army facility in Manesar
FILE PHOTO: The Boeing logo is displayed on a screen, at the NYSE in New York

By Eric M. Johnson and David Shepardson

SEATTLE/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Boeing Co <BA.N> plans to separate 737 MAX wiring bundles, flagged by regulators as potentially dangerous, before the jet returns to service, two people familiar with the matter told Reuters on Wednesday.

The decision to change clusters of wiring that control key aircraft systems marks a reversal from the U.S. planemaker's initial recommendation to the Federal Aviation Administration and poses a fresh hurdle to the jet's already-delayed return to service.

The FAA and Boeing first said in early January they were reviewing a wiring issue that could potentially cause a short circuit on the 737 MAX, and in certain remote circumstances lead to a crash if pilots did not react in time.

Earlier on Wednesday, FAA chief Steve Dickson confirmed that the agency had rejected Boeing's initial proposal to leave wiring bundles in place and said the decision on next steps was up to the planemaker.

Pending final approvals from the FAA, Boeing will move to physically separate the wiring bundles before the MAX is cleared for service, two people familiar with the matter said.

Boeing does not view the retrofits as delaying the plane's estimated return to service in the middle of the year at the earliest, one of the people added. Boeing expects changes to take roughly one week per aircraft, but it will do some of the work as it goes through the process of removing aircraft from storage, he said.

Representatives for Boeing and FAA declined to comment on whether the planemaker intends to separate the wiring bundles.

Boeing has noted in talks with the FAA that the same wiring bundles are in the 737 NG, which has been in service since 1997 and logged 205 million flight hours without any wiring issues.

Boeing's 737 MAX was grounded worldwide a year ago after two crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia killed 346 people within five months.

The worldwide safety ban wiped billions off the company's value and sparked hundreds of lawsuits from bereaved families.

Story continues

Boeing has spent months updating the stall-prevention software known as MCAS linked to both crashes, but fresh issues have surfaced during intense scrutiny on the aircraft, pushing back regulators' re-approval of the plane by months.

Wiring was one such issue.

There are more than a dozen different locations on the 737 MAX where wiring bundles may be too close together. Most of the locations are under the cockpit in an electrical bay.

Boeing was already weeks into developing a backup plan in case the FAA rejected its arguments, the people said.

(Reporting by Eric M. Johnson in Seattle and David Shepardson in Washington; Editing by Cynthia Osterman and Matthew Lewis)
Copyright  2020 Albuquerque Journal

Albuquerque Public Schools and the University of New Mexico  two of the largest education institutions and employers in the state  are banning work-related travel and preparing digital learning options should schools close.

The moves come in response to the outbreak of COVID-19, the disease caused by a new coronavirus.

The New Mexico of Department of Health reports there have been 69 tests for the virus but no confirmed cases as of Tuesday night.

The Associated Press reported more than 800 cases and at least 29 deaths nationwide as of Tuesday night.

Shelves in local stores are empty where hand sanitizer used to be, and shoppers are stockpiling water and toilet paper, even though no shortage of supplies was reported before the buying frenzy.

Travel restrictions

APS, which has more 80,000 students and about 12,000 employees, said Tuesday that it is suspending all district-sponsored staff and student travel outside the state as a precaution against COVID-19.

We understand the decision will come as a disappointment to many, but it is the districts responsibility to protect our school community as best we can from unnecessary risk, officials wrote in an announcement to the community.

The suspension is in place until further notice. Its unclear how many plans were disrupted by the decision.

Santa Fe Public Schools took the same precaution this week.

UNM has canceled official travel to states that have declared emergencies over the virus and several affected countries. While not restricting personal travel, the university is asking anyone who has traveled to those states and countries for personal reasons to report the trip to the university.

UNM is setting up a way for employees to report such travel through the schools website.

Travelers may be asked to isolate themselves from campus for 14 days, according to a 22-page policy manual of sorts that provides guidance for the universitys response to the coronavirus. The document says it applies to all UNM locations, including main and branch campuses, and health sciences properties, until May 15.

Our clinical facilities are prepared to receive a patient with COVID-19, and our Incident Command Teams on both sides of campus have been working behind the scenes for weeks discussing everything from sick leave to how we can accommodate classes remotely if needed, UNM President Garnett Stokes told members of the campus community in an email Monday. We also have experts in our research labs working tirelessly to help create a vaccine for this virus.

Virtual classrooms

While there arent any confirmed cases in the state, APS said it is also working on its response for when the time comes.

Emergency messages are at the ready, and tech staff is working on contingency plans for virtual schooling should schools close.

Our staff, including our Informational Technology Department in Curriculum and Instruction, has begun exploring district options to continue the educational work for students, if students are out on extended leave or if schools close, Chief Operations Officer Scott Elder told the Board of Education recently.

Nancy Martira, a spokeswoman for the New Mexico Public Education Department, said that technology for students is handled by the local districts and that the PED doesnt have technological supports available such as extra computers if a family doesnt have access to one.

For schools that already have a digital learning infrastructure in place, this may be a good option for continuing instruction in the event that a school needs to close. If a school does not already have a digital or distance learning plan, it is unlikely that they will be able to get one up and running in a way that is inclusive for all students within the next few weeks, she said.

The PED is working with the Department of Health to determine guidelines for when to close K-12 schools, the length of closures and what protocols need to be completed before they reopen.

Martira added that a conference call is scheduled for Thursday to give school leaders more information.

UNM is creating a contingency plan in case in-person classes have to be canceled at some point this year. Policy documents say an instructional continuity plan is being crafted for online courses so as not to affect graduation plans. The provosts office will develop best practices for how to do that.

The document says that any public health directives, including those from the state Department of Health, will trump the UNM regulations.

Higher education institutions around the country are being disrupted because of the virus. Several colleges and universities this week, primarily in areas where emergencies have been declared in connection to the virus, are shifting to online instruction.

Planning

The university is thinking about how to support students who wouldnt be able to get home.

For institutes of higher learning  there are students who come from many different parts of the country and the globe, who can be living in student housing  and their ability to isolate and get home is going to be limited in a pandemic situation, said Dr. David Pitcher, the executive physician at the UNM Health System and a member of the Emergency Operations Center, which was launched in response to the virus. So we have to figure out how we are going to keep those students safe and protected in a pandemic situation  while they are essentially in the care of the university. In a pandemic situation, you cant just send kids back to where they came from very easily.

Elder said APS is completing a pandemic and influenza plan. Now, the district is trying to get ahead of logistics, such as seeking guidance from the state about student absences if kids stay home, working with Kirtland Air Force Base to see how schools would operate should the base close and creating a notification plan if an APS staff member or student is confirmed to have the virus.

School nurses, which every APS school has, although some are part time, have been trained to identify the symptoms.

Elder said the district is well-stocked with hand sanitizer and bleach, though schools are limited on how much can be ordered and the warehouse is being monitored.

APS is also researching options on providing meals to students who dont go to school, because thats the only guaranteed meal for some.

The key truly is that everybody take these precautions very, very seriously, because this is really, truly life-changing in many ways, APS Superintendent Raquel Reedy said.
Kabul

The American army began withdrawing from two bases in Afghanistan, today within the framework of implementing the agreement that the United States signed with the Taliban.

A US official said that the two bases are in the state of "Herat" in western Afghanistan and in "Lashkar Gah", the capital of southern Helmand province, which is largely controlled by the rebels.



The United States and the Taliban signed a peace agreement on February 29, stipulating a gradual reduction in the number of American forces from 12,000 to 8,600, in exchange for a number of security guarantees from the Taliban and its pledge to hold talks with the Kabul government.
Luxury may be ageless but in Puerto Banus they have come to the conclusion that it is a case of renew yourself or die. The company which holds the concession for the port, which aspires to be recognised as the most luxurious on the Mediterranean, has just launched a promotional campaign to mark its 50th anniversary. Its CEO, Juan Nunez Insausti, says this initiative is a key moment in the port's history.

The aim is to rejuvenate the market and the campaign is therefore directed at a very specific audience: millennials. Puerto Banus wants to connect with young potential clients, but not all young people: just those who are able to pay for the designer brands in the port's main shopping street and those who will be in that situation in the future.

With that in mind, they have turned to somebody who meets both requirements, being young and for whom money is not a problem. Nunez Insausti describes her differently. Lady Kitty Spencer, he says, reflects the values of Puerto Banus, sophistication and authenticity.

Kitty, the 29-year-old niece of Diana, Princess of Wales, is a recognised influencer with half a million followers on Instagram. She made her debut as ambassador of the 50th anniversary campaign earlier this week at a press conference attended by Spanish and international media.

She showed no sign of the famous British punctuality, but nobody can deny that Kitty Spencer is very glamorous. At the presentation she expertly carried out the task that was assigned to her: smiling. For nearly half an hour she posed very professionally for the photographers, said she was delighted to be able to wear a summer dress in February and explained what her contribution will be to the promotional campaign for Puerto Banus: a video which was shown for the first time at the presentation, her photo which will be posted on social mediaand her attendance at a party in July which promises to be one of the biggest summer events in Marbella.

With her experience as the face of brands already in Banus, such as Bulgari and Dolce & Gabbana, she is convinced that she can help people of her generation and those even younger to connect with Puerto Banus. She said it had captivated her for three reasons: there are trees and plants, you can see Africa and there are shops. What more could anyone ask?
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Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Guatemala City, Guatemala  Wed, March 11, 2020 21:05 671 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2069ea40e 2 Art & Culture Guatemala,Mayan,archeology,writing Free

A 2,000 year old stela recently discovered in Guatemala has revealed examples of the genesis of Mayan writing, according to experts studying the ancient civilization that dominated much of Central America.

Known as Stela 87, the stone was discovered in September 2018 at the Tak'alik Ab'aj archaelogical park in El Asintal, 85 miles (140 kilometers) southwest of the capital.

The stela, dating from 100 AD, provides an early example of Mayan writing, German expert Nikolai Grube told an event at Guatemala's National Palace of Culture on Tuesday.

"The great importance of Stela 87 is that it is an early example of the development of writing in Mesoamerica," said Grube, speaking by video-link from Mexico.

"Tak'alik Ab'aj was a place of experimentation with writing," he said.

Experts are still trying to decipher the hieroglyphs on the stone, but Grube said that while it provided no "linguistic reading", it showed evidence of a ruler and his titles in "an early Mayan text".

Read also: Guatemalans remember their dead with giant kites as Day of the Dead begins

Tak'alik Ab'aj was a city originally inhabited by Olmecs from around 1,500 BC to 100 AD.

Guatemalan archaeologist Christa Schieber, the park's technical director, said Tak'alik Ab'aj was a "laboratory" for "experiments" in early Mayan writing that later evolved.

Archaeologists announced the discovery there in 2012 of the tomb of a powerful king, who may have led the transition from Olmec to Mayan culture between 700 and 400 BC.

President Alejandro Giammattei told Tuesday's ceremony that he would petition UNESCO to declare it a world heritage site.

The Maya civilization reached its height in what is present-day southern Mexico, Guatemala, and parts of Belize, El Salvador and Honduras between 250 and 950 CE.

Topics : Guatemala Mayan archeology writing
Local police said Willams Claros, of Alexandria, faces charges of involuntary manslaughter under the influence and felony hit-and-run. He is being held in jail without bond. He was arrested Tuesday.
But this is more than an issue for Sanders. It is of enormous consequence for Biden as well. Unity demands something of those on the losing side, but it often requires much more of the winning side. Sanders has a following, especially among young voters, for a reason. He has identified ills in an unequal economic system that they are feeling acutely. Biden has fared poorly among younger voters in part because Sanders and his agenda speak to them in ways Biden and his message do not.
Boeing reported Wednesday that it logged more commercial aircraft cancellations than new orders in February, marking a bleak start to the year for the manufacturer already reeling from two fatal crashes of its bestselling plane.

Boeing said Air Canada canceled 11 Max aircraft while some other customers converted orders for larger planes. For example, aircraft leasing firm Air Lease converted nine Max planes into three 787s. Oman Air converted 10 Maxes into four 787s.

The cancellations tipped Boeing's monthly orders into negative territory, the company said. The Chicago-based manufacturer logged 18 gross orders last month  its first orders of the year  but it also posted 46 cancellations, bringing its total net sales activity for the year to 28 cancellations.

A year ago, governments around the world grounded the Boeing 737 Max after two fatal crashes of nearly new planes within five months of one another. Together, the two crashes killed all 346 people aboard the flights and set off a crisis within Boeing.

Orders were halted after the second crash in March 2019, and Boeing suspended production of the Max jetliners in January. The company is sticking with its estimate that it expects regulators to lift a ban on the planes midyear.

Boeing is now facing a fresh challenge with the spread of the coronavirus, which is roiling the airline industry. Bookings are cratering and airline chiefs this week warned it could worsen before it improves, as travelers opt to stay home and large companies call off business trips.

The company is now drawing down a more than $13 billion loan it secured in January earlier than expected to shore up funds amid coronavirus-led market volatility, according to a person familiar with the matter.

Boeing shares were down nearly 14% at $199 in midafternoon trading, the lowest price since July 2017. The drop was shaving more than 200 points off the Dow Jones Industrial Average.
Beijing today ordered people arriving in the city from any country to go into 14-day quarantine as China reported an increase in imported coronavirus cases, threatening its progress against the epidemic.

China has made major strides in its battle against the virus, prompting President Xi Jinping to visit Wuhan, the central city at the heart of the global epidemic, on Tuesday and declare that it has 'basically curbed' the spread of the disease.

The number of new infections has dramatically fallen in recent weeks but Wednesday showed a slight uptick from the previous day due to the increase in imported cases.

Zhang Qiang, a city government official, said at a press conference on Wednesday that those landing from 'non-epidemic countries' will also have to stay at home for 14 days.

People arriving in Beijing for business trips must stay in a designated hotel and undergo a nucleic acid test for the virus, he added.

A woman wears a face mask as a preventive measure against the COVID-19 coronavirus as she waits at Beijing Capital Airport in Beijing today

A man wears a protective suit and escorts a face mask-wearing passenger as she leaves the Beijing Capital Airport in Beijing today

A patient infected with the coronavirus (left) can be seen receiving acupuncture treatment for the illness at the Red Cross Hospital in Wuhan, China today. Chinese President Xi Jinping said authorities had 'basically curbed' the disease in the city where the virus broke out, Wuhan

Flights from Italy, Iran, South Korea and Japan will arrive at a designated area of the terminal, an airport staff member said on Wednesday.

Normally the busiest in China by passenger volume, the airport was much quieter than usual on Wednesday morning.

The staffer added that travellers who need to be quarantined would be sent to the nearby New China International Exhibition Centre, where journalists saw security guards standing next to a red carpet.

Ten of the new cases came from abroad - most from Italy, the worst-hit country outside China.

Passengers wear face masks as a preventive measure against the COVID-19 coronavirus as they arrive from a domestic flight into Beijing Capital Airport in Beijing today

Police and volunteers stand at the gate of the New China International Exhibition Centre, near Beijing Capital Airport in Beijing today. Airport staff said travellers who need to be quarantined would be sent to the exhibition centre for processing

A woman adjusts her face mask as she walks out a subway train in Beijing today

Six of the imported cases were in Beijing, which is enforcing a 14-day quarantine for people arriving from countries deemed to be high-risk, including Italy, Iran, South Korea and Japan.

Travellers flying into Beijing Capital International Airport from high-risk countries are now handled separately from other passengers, reported state media on Tuesday.

China has now reported 79 cases imported from abroad.

Iranian firefighters disinfect streets in southern Tehran to halt the spread of coronavirus in the early hours of this morning. Travellers from Iran, where the outbreak is one of the deadliest, will be quarantined for two weeks on arrival into China

Employees from a disinfection service company sanitize a subway station amid coronavirus fears in Seoul, South Korea today. South Korean travellers to China will be quarantined for two weeks on arrival, according to the country's health commission

Pictured: Coronavirus emergency checkpoint and triage point at Civile Hospital in Brescia, Italy. Italy has been ravaged by the coronavirus, with the country's PM announcing a complete quarantine of borders on Sunday. Passengers arriving from Italy will be quarantined on arrival into China

The country, however, has made significant progress in curbing domestic infections.

New cases in Wuhan fell to a new low, with 13 infections reported on Wednesday, while only one other non-imported case was recorded elsewhere in the country.

Wuhan and its surrounding province, Hubei, have been under lockdown since late January in an unprecedented effort that has prevented 56 million people from venturing to other parts of China.

Medical staff clean up the empty hospital after all patients were discharged at Wuchang Fangcang hospital, a temporary hospital set up at Hongshan gymnasium to treat people infected with the coronavirus and COVID-19 disease, in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China yesterday

Medical staff celebrate after all patients were discharged at Wuchang Fangcang hospital, a temporary hospital set up at Hongshan gymnasium to treat people infected with the coronavirus and COVID-19 disease, in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, 10 March 2020 (issued today)

Medical staff comfort a patient after all patients were discharged at Wuchang Fangcang hospital, a temporary hospital set up at Hongshan gymnasium to treat people infected with the coronavirus and COVID-19 disease, in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, 10 March 2020 (issued today)

But with Hubei reporting zero cases outside Wuhan for several days in a row, the province announced Tuesday that it would allow healthy people in low-risk areas to travel within the province.

The virus has infected nearly 81,000 people in China so far, with a large majority having already recovered. The national death toll rose to 3,158 on Wednesday.

The global death toll from the new coronavirus has passed 4,000 and the outbreak has spread to over 100 countries.
Beijing: A man has been pulled out alive after being trapped for 69 hours under the rubble of a collapsed quarantine hotel in south-eastern China in which at least 27 other people died and two remain missing.

The official Xinhua News Agency says the man was sent to hospital immediately after being rescued late on Tuesday afternoon.

A 10-year-old boy and his mother had been rescued about midnight on Monday after being trapped for 52 hours. The condition of all three survivors remains unknown.

The hotel in the city of Quanzhou had been a quarantine site for people exposed to the new coronavirus, which has infected more than 80,000 people in China though about three quarters of them have recovered.
FILE photo shows the skyline in Philadelphia along the Schuylkill River. Law firm, Faegre Drinker, with one of its headquarters in Philadelphia, said it will temporarily close all its 22 offices to reduce the risk of coronavirus spreading. Read more

Update via Faegre Drinker: After a thorough review, nearly all firm offices have returned to normal business operations today, Wednesday, March 11. As an ongoing measure of caution, Faegre Drinkers Washington, D.C. offices remain closed with status being evaluated daily. Our Washington, D.C. colleagues are equipped with the required technology to work remotely and remain ready and available to assist clients. We are not aware of any Faegre Drinker personnel who have tested positive for coronavirus  this is simply a precautionary measure while we evaluate the appropriate path forward.

One of the nations largest law firms announced Tuesday that it was temporarily closing all of its global offices due to concerns about the coronavirus.

Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath, which has an office in Philadelphia, boasts 22 offices, including locations in the United Kingdom and China. It was formed Feb. 1 following the merger of the Midwest legal power Faegre Baker Daniels and Philadelphias Drinker Biddle & Reath. The combined firm has 1,300 lawyers, consultants and other professionals.

The firm will continue to practice law and consult with clients outside the offices.

An attendee at a recent event at the firms Washington, D.C., office tested positive for COVID-19 which is caused by the coronavirus, according to a statement released Tuesday.

No Faegre Drinker personnel have tested positive for coronavirus this is simply a precautionary measure while we evaluate the appropriate path forward, read the statement. Our attorneys  remain ready and available to assist clients.

The firm did not say when it planned to reopen the offices. According to the statement, the firm will evaluate while keeping the health and safety of our personnel, clients, visitors and the public in the front of our minds.
Legendary Ghanaian sound engineer, Zapp Mallet has revealed that Nigerian Sound engineers are now producing better beats.

According to the most successful Ghanaian sound engineer, the beats produced by the Nigerian music producers remind him of what he experimented with years back.

The Nigerian boys are doing some serious productionsi really love their beats..Their productions resonate with me. Reminds me of what I experimented with years back.Zapp Mallet told HotfmGhana.com

Upon persuasion to reveal his favourite Nigerian song, Zapp Mallet indicated that:

I dont know their titles, but I like WizKids newest joint. Ive actually heard a few on MTV base and Ive really enjoyed them.

Zapp Mallet who is known in real life as Emmanuel Mallet is recognized as one of the pioneers of the hiplife genre that started in the early 1990s in Ghana.

Zapps interest is in the fusion of different genres of music such as Rock, Jazz, Orchestra and Pop blended with African rhythms to create new sounds.

He has been a source of inspiration to many sound engineers in Ghana, notable amongst them is the legendary Hammer of The Last Two who was inspired to begin his career in sound engineering after meeting Zapp Mallet and seeing the equipment in his studio during the period when Zapp was recording Reggie Rockstones album.

He is also recognized as the first recording engineer to have won the Ghana Music Awards on three consecutive occasions; 1999, 2000, 2001.

In 2019, he revealed his intentions to contest for the presidency of the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA).

He was later on disqualified because he had not held an executive position in the association.

Source: HotfmGhana.com
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-11 23:27:36|Editor: yan

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KHARTOUM, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Sudan's government on Wednesday said suspects were arrested over the assassination attempt that targeted Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok.

"A number of suspects, including foreigners, have been arrested," Sudanese Information Minister and government spokesman Faisal Mohamed Saleh told reporters.

He added that a U.S. security team arrived in Khartoum on Wednesday to join the Sudanese investigators in the probe.

Saleh disclosed new plans were in place to maintain the security of the country, pointing out police and intelligence organs have taken measures to secure the prime minister.

Hamdok survived an attempt on his life on Monday when his motorcade came under a bombing attack at the entry of the Sudanese army bridge in the capital Khartoum.
Hong Kong: CE visits CAS Headquarters

Chief Executive Carrie Lam today visited the Civil Aid Service (CAS) Headquarters in Yau Ma Tei to thank its members for their work in setting up and managing the quarantine centres.

Since the outbreak of the coronavirus, the service has been performing round-the-clock duties at the centres, including collecting, arranging and delivering meals and daily necessities for quarantined people, as well as conducting patrols to maintain order.

Mrs Lam expressed her gratitude to the services members, adding that they have been standing steadfast at the frontline of anti-epidemic work.

Together with the support personnel at the CAS Headquarters, there are currently more than 280 CAS staff on duty daily to support the quarantine centres at Chun Yeung Estate, Heritage Lodge of the Jao Tsung-I Academy and Lei Yue Mun Park & Holiday Village.

Mrs Lam also visited a Tung Wah Group of Hospitals Chinese medicine clinic in Yau Ma Tei to distribute surgical masks and other anti-epidemic supplies to members of the public, including the elderly.

She thanked the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals for its commitment to serving the community and providing quality and affordable Chinese medicine services.

This story has been published on: 2020-03-11. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
I F theres such a thing as a double-barrelled bazooka, today we had it.

Before the markets had even opened, the Bank of England fired off one barrel. It was a thundering blast made up of an emergency rate cut, a shrinking of banks capital buffers to allow them to lend more and a clever 100 billion push of low-interest funding ringfenced for SMEs.

Then came barrel two, the new Chancellors Budget, which saw one of the most generous spending rounds of recent times, an 18 billion fiscal loosening to get the economy over the inevitable crisis of coronavirus.

Rishi Sunak rightly recognised that Covid-19 means not just a shock to supply  as workers are sent home and factories closed  but an assault on demand, too, as consumer confidence plunges.

Small businesses will be hit hardest by the drying up of cashflow in the coming weeks.

Sunak addressed their biggest bugbear by slashing business rates and offered a business interruption loan scheme to tide them over, too. To help fuel demand, as well as the Banks rate cut, Sunaks extra generosity on statutory sick pay will bring relief to many workers, as will the boost to infrastructure spending.

Along with all the rest of his giveaway plans, it all adds up to a 30 billion fiscal stimulus.

Sure, some of it is funded by entrepreneurs through cuts in tax relief when they sell their firms. And there will be grumbles of a return to boom and bust.

But these are desperate times. We needed a Budget for business, and this was it.
WILLIAMSPORT  The focus of the National Socialist Movement rally in Williamsport in April will be to show President Donald Trump and the run of the mill conservatives they are too weak to address Americas problems, an official of the organization says.

The April 18 event in Williamsports Brandon Park is being planned with the cooperation of NSM units in all lower 48 states as well as the Sacred Knights of the Klu Klux Klan of Indiana and supporters, regional Commander Bert Colucci said.

The best reasons he said he could give for choosing Williamsport is it appears to be a predominately white town and it is a fair distance from the NSM regional headquarters in Ulysses, Potter County.

Colucci stressed recruitment is not the goal of rally and he said the NSM is not looking for a violent altercation of any kind.

Our wish is to exercise our First Amendment rights and leave without incident, he said.

The organization will cooperate with local authorities, Colucci said, but added members who are legally authorized to carry firearms will be doing so.

The reason, he explained, is in the event that law enforcement cant contain a situation and any of our people get placed in a position where they fear for their lives.

The city ordinance that prohibited guns in the park was repealed several years ago, Williamsport police Chief Damon Hagan said.

The NSM has received a permit for the rally but Williamsport Mayor Derek Slaughter is urging citizens to boycott it and instead attend a Dare to be Different event the city will be hosting at the same time at Bowman Field.

The city is working with federal, state and local partners to ensure the NSM rally in Brandon Park does not disrupt the community, he said.

There will be a large law enforcement presence and several streets in and around the park will be closed, Hagan said.

Slaughter, who is the citys first African-American mayor, is encouraging attendance at the Bowman Field event in a show of solidarity to let the NSM know Williamsport will not acknowledge such a hateful rally.

A town hall to provide details of both events and to answer questions is scheduled for 7 p.m. March 17 in the Klump Academic Center on the campus of the Pennsylvania College of Technology.

Potter County for years has been linked with white supremacist organizations.

An undercover FBI investigation into weapons and drugs in that county resulted in the 2017 indictment in U.S. Middle District Court of six reputed members of the Aryan Strikeforce.

What was dubbed as the Aryan World Congress was held in Potter County in 2002.

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.

--

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Inmate on trial for using his wheelchair to try to kill Allenwood cellmate

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A US court has struck down key Trump administration memos and decisions behind soaring denial of H-1B visas, sending a wave of relief through IT services companies that use foreign workers, a large number of whom are from India. They have faced intense pushback and pressure in recent years.

These memos had sent up the rate of denial of H-1Bs from 2% in 2015 to 30% for some companies, according to an analysis of government data by an independent body.

The court of a district judge in Washington DC on Tuesday struck down memos used by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to prevent companies from hiring foreign workers on H-1B visas for third-party work  outsourced operations in other words, and required employers to produce contract details for which the H-1B had been petitioned. The court also directed the agency to provide reasons while rejecting an H-1B petition.

A decision like this has been long overdue, we finally have the judicial system agreeing with the employers that USCIS has been out of bounds for a long time, said Amar Varada, president of ITServe, an association of more than 1,200 IT solutions and services organization, whose challenge led to the Tuesday ruling.

The United States issues 85,000 H-1B visas annually to highly skilled foreign workers on petitions from US companies to make up for a shortage of locally available hands. Critics of the programme have argued it has been used to displace American workers by contracting out their work to foreigners.

Denial of initial applications for H-1B visas and renewal applications has gone up under the Trump administrations Buy American, Hire American policy. The National Foundation for American Policy (NFAP), an independent body that closely tracks immigration issues, denial rates have generally risen from 6% in 2015 to 21% in 2019 for new petitions; and from 3% to 12% for continuing employment, renewals in other words.

The agency also found that the denial rate for new employment had gone up to 30% in 2019 for IT services and consulting companies in comparison to between 2% and 7% for technology product companies such as Apple.

The (new) ruling applies to all companies. However, its largest impact will be felt by companies that need to send an H-1B visa holder to a customers site, because it was in those cases that new USCIS policies were being used to either deny an H-1B petition or approve it for only a short period of time, said Stuart Anderson, executive director of NFAP.
A ten-year-old boy has been airlifted to hospital in a critical condition after he was hit by a car while riding his bike home from school.

The child was hit at 4pm as he travelled down Frankston-Flinders Road, in Melbourne, on Wednesday.

He was flown to Royal Children's Hospital in a critical condition with serious head injuries.

The primary school student was hit at 4pm as he rode down Frankston-Flinders Road (pictured), in Melbourne, on Wednesday

A female driver is helping police with their investigation.

She suffered minor injuries in the crash.

Her passenger was unharmed.

A Victoria Police spokesman told Daily Mail Australia the investigation is ongoing.
"We really get carried away, like in an ancient tale!", said Aline Mascle-Brousset, painter, during the Shen Yun opening performance at the Corum de Montpellier on March 10, 2020. (NTDTV)

MONTPELLIER, FranceOn Tuesday, March 10, 2020, the audience members in the Corum were charmed by Shen Yuns artists during their first performance of the year in the city of Herault.

Although the show should have initially started at 8 p.m., the company had decided to add an extra mid-afternoon session in order to respect the French governments decision to ban gatherings of more than 1,000 people.

Thus, two performances, each gathering 800 people, took place this Tuesday at the Corum of Montpellier in order to comply with the health measures in force.

An initiative the spectators welcomed, aware of the efforts made by the New York-based company to allow the entire audience to attend the show.

The artists will thus perform eight times in five days, before continuing their tour in Aix-en-Provence.

We really get carried away, like in an ancient tale!

Among the spectators present on Tuesday, the artist Aline Mascle-Brousset confided her joy of having been able to attend one of the two performances organized that day. Based in Perpignan, Mascle-Brousset practices lyrical singing and painting.

Her talent has notably been recognized by several prestigious art galleries in the Tribeca district of New York. Passionate about nature, she is also the author of the book Ainsi sen va le temps, a collection of childhood memories blending humor and naive poetry.

After the performance, Mascle-Brousset was full of praise describing the dancers performance.

I was very surprised to know that acrobatics and pirouettes were part of Chinese classical dance! Theyre very flexible, its a really graceful show, its like clouds! A lot of technique, a lot of discipline! she said enthusiastically.

The men, there is a lot of strength in their dances, and the women are very graceful, they are very, very feminine, she added.

The beauty of the choreography and the virtuosity of the Shen Yun dancers more than impressed Mascle-Brousset, who was also greatly appreciative of the quality of the orchestra that harmoniously accompanied the dance scenes that merged the music of Western instruments and traditional Chinese instruments such as erhu or pipa.

Its really very original. We are really carried away by the musical rhythms, which is somewhat different from our own. We get really carried away, like in an ancient tale!

Every scene is a painting

Particularly sensitive to the aesthetics of the performance, Aline Mascle-Brousset was also captivated by the radiance of the colors and the beauty of the costumes worn by the dancers.

Every scene is a painting! The colors are so changing and flamboyant, this inspires me as a painter. Its beautiful, these are beautiful costumes and it can only inspire me! So, when I get home, Im going to start painting. Thank you very much to the artists of Shen Yun!

Beyond the visual aspect, the painter was also overwhelmed by the depth and richness of the various scenes presented where Buddhist legends, Taoist myths, and colorful dynasties are happily intermingled.

An abundant journey during which each member of the audience is invited to live in the rhythm of the 5,000 years of traditional culture that have shaped the Middle Kingdom, they are invited to discover the folkloric influences of a mosaic of ethnic groups.

I think they really took us along in their ethnic and cultural history, observed Mascle-Brousset. We learn a lot from all the different cultures, we learn history, we learn the dances!

May they continue to dazzle us, to give us this extraordinary joy!

Shen Yuns spiritual dimension did not go unnoticed by Aline Mascle-Brousset either. Moved by the singular energy emanating from the companys artists and by the almost celestial character of the various danced tableaux, she believes that the show deeply touches the soul of those who are lucky enough to attend.

I was very surprised to see this spiritual dimension, pleasantly surprised, I should say, because as a Christian, as a believer, it speaks to me, the painter continued.

While the members of the Shen Yun undergo rigorous training at the Academy of Arts at Fei Tian University in New York, they also draw their inspiration from the practice of Falun Gong, a traditional Chinese cultivation discipline for the body and the mind aimed at raising ones moral character.

Focused on Truthfulness, Compassion, and Tolerance, the practice of Falun Gong gives Shen Yun performers more soulfulness and gives them the opportunity to transcend the purely technical aspect of their craft.

Initially encouraged in China, by 1999 the Chinese Communist Party had banned the practice of Falun Gong. Today, the artists of Shen Yun cannot perform there.

I wanted to say that you absolutely have to see them, to support them, despite the opposition they face! Because, in perseverance you find strength! So, may they continue to dazzle us, to give us this extraordinary joy! said Aline Mascle-Brousset.

With reporting by NTD Television.

The Epoch Times considers Shen Yun Performing Arts the significant cultural event of our time and has covered audience reactions since the companys inception in 2006.
A German court announced on Tuesday that the worlds first criminal torture trial by suspected agents of Bashar Al-Assads regime will begin on 23 April.

The Higher Regional Court in the German city of Koblenz said it will apply the principle of universal jurisdiction, in a move that is sending an important signal to survivors and those affected by the Assad regimes system of mass oppression of suspected dissidents.

Germany has already issued arrest warrants for regime officials and aides who have helped the Assad regime carry out the mass torture on civilians.

The main defendant has been identified as Anwar R., a former official at the Syrian reigmes General Intelligence Directorate and head of the notorious Al-Khatib prison.

Investigations surrounding the Al-Khatib prison shows, Anwar R. is charged with being an accomplice responsible for torturing at least 4,000 people  including the use of rape  and murdering 58 people.

In February 2019, Anwar R, along with accomplice Eyad A, were arrested in Berlin.

Eyad is suspected to have been responsible for manning a checkpoint close to Damascus in 2011, where typically around a hundred people a day were arrested before being imprisoned and tortured in Al-Khatib prison.

Another defendant is the head of Syrias notorious Air Force Intelligence Directorate, Jamil Hassan, who is wanted by Berlin for war crimes and crimes against humanity. The warrant against him was issued in June 2018.

Hassan  a key aide of Syrian dictator Bashar Al-Assad  oversees the regimes most feared intelligence agency, which is believed to be responsible for the torture and murder of tens of thousands of civilians.

A breakthrough for Assads victims

The criminal trial has been hailed by Syria activists.

The trial in Koblenz is an important step, if only a beginning on the long road to justice, said Patrick Kroker, head of European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR) Syria project.

Further arrest warrants like the one issued by the German Federal Court of Justice for Jamil Hassan are needed.

A huge day for accountability and a testament to the power of the principle of universal jurisdiction as a date is set for the first criminal trial worldwide on state torture in Syria, said human rights lawyer Mai El-Sadany.

Human rights lawyer Anwar Bounni welcomed the move, saying the court hall may be packed with people wanting to witness justice.

It will be getting quite crowded on the very first days of trial. If more people want to get in than there is space, it is possible that not everybody can enter, he said.

It is not possible to pre-book for the entrance. Only journalists can try to get accredited.

The Koblenz trial went ahead after a series of criminal complaints by rights organisations and dozens of Syrians in Europe, including those who have survived the Assad regimes violence and friends and family of survivors.

State sponsored massacres

Syrian dictator Bashar Al-Assad lost huge swathes of the country following an armed uprising after the brutal repression of peaceful protesters in 2011.

According to the United Nations, close to 700,000 people have been forced to regime offensive since the start of December, although the real figure is meant to be much higher.

The war has killed more than 500,000 people since it erupted almost nine years ago, following the brutal repression of popular demonstrations demanding regime change.
As the number of COVID-19 cases rises in Massachusetts, UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester has enacted a temporary visitation policy limiting the number of visitors who can come see patients in the hospital.

Effective immediately, patients in the hospital are allowed only one designated adult visitor per day. No one younger than 18 is currently allowed, the hospital said.

For the hospitals Childrens Medical Center, Maternity Center and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, visitation is limited to designated parents, a legal guardian or surrogate. Patients in labor can have one support person throughout the course of their stay, the hospital said.

Also effective immediately, any visitors who have a fever, cough or shortness of breath are prohibited from coming into the hospital, UMass Memorial said in a news release.

UMass Memorial said the decision was in an effort to better safeguard the health of our patients, caregivers, their families and the general public.

The World Health Organization on Wednesday declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic. On Tuesday, Gov. Charlie Baker declared a state of emergency in Massachusetts.

We are grateful for your patience as we work to better understand and protect our population in the face of this global pandemic, and apologize for any inconvenience, the hospital said in the news release.

As of Tuesday afternoon, there is one confirmed coronavirus case in Massachusetts and 91 presumptive positive cases. One of the presumptive patients, the first coronavirus case in Worcester County, sought treatment at UMass Memorial Medical Center, officials said.

Other hospitals in Massachusetts, including Mercy Medical Center in Springfield, Providence Behavioral Health Hospital in Holyoke and Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton, have imposed visitor restrictions.

Comment on this story on MassLives Worcester Facebook page

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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 11)  A total of 442 Filipinos from the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan were sent home Wednesday.

The Department of Health (DOH) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) sent home 442 out of the 445 Filipino evacuees from the coronavirus-hit cruise ship after finishing a 14-day quarantine at the New Clark City in Tarlac.

Out of the 445 evacuees, two of them tested positive for the novel coronavirus disease of COVID-19. They were immediately referred to the Jose B. Lingad Memorial Regional Hospital.

The rooms of the two patients were also disinfected, and those who have come in close contact with them will also undergo a 14-day home quarantine.

From the beginning, DOH was aware of the risk that some of the repatriates might test positive for COVID-19. This is why strict infection prevention and control measures were enforced during the quarantine period to protect our kababayans and the health workers attending to them, Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III said.

The Filipinos were repatriated from Japan on February 25.
By Trend

Ceasefire monitoring on the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenia troops held on March 11 on the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops in Aghdam district in accordance with the mandate of the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, ended without incident, Trend reports with reference to the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry.

On the Azerbaijani side, the monitoring was held by field assistants of the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Ghennadie Petrica and Martin Schuster.

On the Azerbaijani territories occupied and controlled by Armenian armed forces, the monitoring was conducted by field assistants of the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Mihail Olaru and Ognjen Jovic.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding regions.

The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from Nagorno Karabakh and the surrounding regions.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
An HIV patient has no 'active viral infection' in his blood 30 months after stopping antiretroviral therapy (Getty)

A second human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) patient is thought to be cured after undergoing a stem cell transplant.

Adam Castillejo, 40, from London, was transfused with the HIV-resistant gene CCR5 in May 2016 after developing advanced lymphoma as a result of the infection.

Thirty months after stopping antiretroviral therapy, which reduces HIV to an undetectable level, University of Cambridge scientists have found no active viral infection in his blood.

Read more: Half of women diagnosed with HIV in Europe are already progressing towards Aids

We propose these results represent the second ever case of a patient to be cured of HIV, said lead author Professor Ravindra Kumar Gupta.

Our findings show the success of stem cell transplantation as a cure for HIV, first reported nine years ago in the Berlin patient, can be replicated.

Stem cells are basic cells that can change into a more specialised form of cell.

The transplant left the HIV virus unable to replicate in Castillejos body by replacing his immune cells with those of a donor.

Is HIV curable?

Although HIV is considered incurable, a daily dose of antiretroviral therapy enables patients to live longer, healthier lives, while reducing the risk they will pass the virus on via unprotected sex.

The goal of the therapy is to lower a patients viral load to an undetectable level, meaning the quantity of the virus in their blood is too low to be picked up in a test.

These patients have effectively no risk of transmitting HIV to their HIV-negative partners through sex.

HIV damages immune cells, preventing them fighting off everyday infections, like colds.

Nearly all (97%) patients on antiretroviral therapy in the UK are virally suppressed, National AIDS Trust statistics show.

Left untreated, HIV can develop into acquired immune deficiency syndrome, more commonly known as Aids.

This occurs when the immune system is so severely damaged, the patient is at risk of life-threatening infections and diseases.

Story continues

A stem cell transplant was therefore suggested for patients requiring a last resort.

In 2011, Timothy Ray Brown  the Berlin patient  became the first HIV case to be reported as cured three-and-a-half years after a similar procedure.

He endured total body irradiation, a form of radiotherapy that suppresses the immune system, reducing the risk a transplant will be rejected.

Brown also went through two rounds of stem cell transplants from a donor carrying the HIV-resistant gene.

Finally, he had chemotherapy. Combined with the radiotherapy, the chemo killed off any residual HIV viruses.

Read more: TV medic Dr Ranj takes an HIV test live on This Morning

In contrast, Castillejo  previously known as the London patient  had one stem cell transplant and a reduced-intensity chemotherapy drug regimen, with no radiotherapy.

He was reported as in remission last year.

Thirty months after coming off antiretroviral therapy, no active viral infection was detected in Castillejos blood, according to a paper in The Lancet HIV.

At 29 months, the infection was not identified in his spinal fluid, or intestinal or lymph tissue.

Castillejos immune cell count was found to be healthy, with 99% derived from the donors stem cells.

Using a mathematical model, the scientists estimated the probability he had been cured.

They predicted if 80% of Castillejos immune cells had been derived from the transplant, the probability of a cure would be 98%.

If 90% of the cells were derived from the donor, they estimated the probability of a cure rises to 99%.

Like Brown, Castillejo was found to have remnants of integrated HIV-1 DNA in his tissue samples.

The Cambridge scientists dismissed these as fossils of the infection and unlikely able to reproduce the virus.

HIV can be reduced to an 'undetectable level' with antiretroviral therapy (Getty)

Who is the second patient to be cured of HIV?

Castillejo revealed his identity to the New York Times in order to be an ambassador of hope for other HIV patients.

The Venezuela-native arrived in London in 2002. He was diagnosed with HIV the following year, aged 23.

He was later diagnosed with stage four lymphoma, another death sentence, in 2011. Castillejo sunk so low he even considered going to Dignitas.

Although he pulled through, doctors warned he would unlikely make it past 2015.

Searching online, Castillejo came across UK doctors who suggested a transplant could cure his HIV and cancer. He had the procedure on 13 May 2016.

The next year was brutal, with Castillejo enduring multiple infections, hearing loss and mouth ulcers so severe he was barely able to take his HIV drugs.

After months in hospital, he was eventually discharged and took his last set of antiretroviral therapy in October 2017.

Although the second transplant has been deemed a success, the Cambridge scientists stress the procedure is not for everyone.

It is important to note this curative treatment is high-risk and only used as a last resort for patients with HIV who also have life-threatening haematological malignancies [cancers of the blood, bone marrow and lymph nodes], said Professor Kumar Gupta.

Therefore, this is not a treatment that would be offered widely to patients with HIV who are on successful antiretroviral treatment.

Read more: Two clients were diagnosed with HIV following 'vampire facials'

Nevertheless, Castillejo required less intensive treatment than Brown, suggesting HIV remission could be achieved with a milder drug regimen.

With the treatment still experimental, Castillejo will require continuous monitoring for re-emergence of the virus, the scientists added.

Gene editing using the CCR5 [gene] has received a lot of attention recently, said study author Dr Dimitra Peppa from the University of Oxford.

The London and Berlin patients are examples of using the CCR5 gene in curative therapies outside of gene editing.

There are still many ethical and technical barriers  e.g. gene editing, efficiency and robust safety data  to overcome before any approach using CCR5 gene editing can be considered as a scalable cure strategy for HIV.

Only time will tell if patients truly cured

The finding of no intact virus can be reassuring for a patient who might face significant anxiety and uncertainty about whether and when viral rebound off antiretroviral therapy might occur, which in other settings has been completely unpredictable, said Professor Sharon Lewin, from the University of Melbourne.

Given the large number of cells sampled here and the absence of any intact virus, is the London patient truly cured?

The additional data provided in this follow-up case report is certainly encouraging but unfortunately in the end, only time will tell.

Others experts were optimistic, but agreed the gruelling treatment will be unsuitable for most.

The investigators have performed a meticulous study to detect evidence of residual HIV virus in multiple body tissues and fluids, but have found none at all, said Dr Andrew Freeman, from Cardiff University.

Although further longer term follow-up will be required, it does seem highly likely this is the second ever patient to be cured of HIV, after the Berlin patient.

As the authors state, such treatment is not suitable for the millions of people infected worldwide.

They need to continue long term antiretroviral drug therapy, which is highly effective in reducing morbidity and mortality, as well as preventing onward transmission.

Work such as this is nevertheless important in the development of cure strategies that may be more widely applicable.

Dr Jonathan Stoye, from The Francis Crick Institute, added the results will certainly be reassuring for Castillejo.

However, I am not persuaded we now know significantly more about [the] HIV cure than we did following the initial report on this patient a year ago, he said.
The mother of New IRA murder victim Lyra McKee has died just weeks ahead of the first anniversary of her daughters killing

Joan Lawrie passed away in a Belfast hospital last night. The 29-year-old journalist had been the main carer for her disabled mum who was a single parent.

Lyra was shot dead by a dissident republican gunman during rioting in the Creggan area of Derry last April. Joan never recovered from losing the youngest of her six children to whom she was closest.

Lyras older sister, Nichola McKee Corner, announced her mothers death in a Facebook post this morning. It is with the greatest sadness that I share this. My mother, Joan Lawrie, passed away peacefully in hospital on 10th March.

She is now at peace with her beloved daughter Lyra McKee.

Nichola rounded on the New IRA whom she blamed for Joans death. The b******* who murdered my baby sister should also be tried for the murder of my mother  they killed her the day they killed her precious baby girl, she said.

Mom, give our darling Lyra a huge hug and a million kisses from us. Love you both forever and always.

My heart is comforted knowing that you are together again. Always in my heart. Love you Mom xoxoxoxo.

Shortly before her murder, Lyra had moved to Derry to live with her girlfriend Sara Canning, but she returned to north Belfast regularly to look after her mother.

Lyra had written about how supportive Joan had been when her teenage daughter had told her she that she was gay. In a Letter to my 14-year-old self, Lyra recounted:

You will be sobbing and shaking and she will be frightened because she doesnt know whats wrong. . . . You have to tell her because youve met someone you like and you cant live with the guilt any more.

You cant get the words out so she says it: Are you gay? And you will say, Yes Mummy, Im so sorry. And instead of getting mad, she will reply Thank God youre not pregnant. 

Joans health deteriorated significantly after Lyras murder. In January, she lost her mobile phone while a patient in the Royal Victoria Hospital.

It went missing during her two week stay. The phone had been a Christmas gift from Lyra and contained the last text messages that the mother and daughter had exchanged before Lyras death.

The family made a public appeal for help in locating the phone  stressing its huge sentimental value to Joan - but it was never returned.

Expand Close Lyra McKees mum Joan Lawrie with daughter Nichola Corner at an event last year. / Facebook

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Whatsapp Lyra McKees mum Joan Lawrie with daughter Nichola Corner at an event last year.

A month after Lyras death, her mother was presented with an award in London honouring her daughters outstanding commitment and contribution to journalism.

Joan and Nichola attended the Regional Press Awards ceremony organised by the Society of Editors.

Last August, Joan broke down in tears at the launch of Lyras first book Angels with Blue Faces. It was an investigation into the 1981 Provisional IRA murder of Ulster Unionist MP, the Rev Robert Bradford.

Lyras family said it was a bittersweet moment seeing her book in print. They said they were immensely proud of her but wished she was there, celebrating her success with them, at the launch in Belfasts Linenhall Library.

An anthology of the young journalists work is to be published next month by Faber & Faber. Lyra McKee in her own words: Lost, Found, Remembered celebrates her talent, life and legacy.

The 29-year-old was shot dead on April 18 last year by a New IRA gunman while standing near a PSNI Land Rover. Video footage shows the masked paramilitary opening fire on the armoured vehicle with a handgun.

Joan Lawrie is survived by her children Gary, Joan, Nichola, David and Mary.
Floyd Mayweathers former girlfriend, Josie Harris, who also shares three children with the boxer, was reportedly found dead at her California home earlier this week.

Authorities were called to her residence in Valencia around 9:30 p.m. on Monday, law enforcement sources told TMZ. When they arrived on the scene, they discovered the 40-year-old unresponsive in her car and pronounced her dead a short time later.

Foul play is not currently suspected. According to TMZ, the incident is being treated as a death investigation, not a homicide.

Over the course of their rocky relationship, which began in 1995, Harris claimed that she suffered repeated abuse at the hands of her boxer beau.

Mayweather in 2010 was convicted for attacking his former girlfriend and served two months behind bars for the domestic violence incident. He allegedly entered her Vegas home in September of that year, pulled her to floor by her hair and started to beat her, according to USA Today.

The attack ended only after their oldest child, Koraun, managed to sneak out of the house and get help.

The athlete years later denied all the violent allegations raised against him in an interview with Katie Couric. Harris was so outraged by the on-air sit-down, she filed a $20 million suit for defamation.

That case is still ongoing.

Harris is survived by three children  Kouran, Zion Shamaree, and Jirah Mayweather.
In a meeting on Tuesday at the White House with President Trump, private health insurers also said they would pay for the virtual visits for people who may have coronavirus to improve access to care for their customers.

By using their phone or computer, patients will be able to get guidance about whether they need to be seen or tested instead of showing up unannounced at the emergency room or doctors office. Patients, particularly those who would be at high risk for a serious illness if they were infected, can also opt to substitute a trip to a doctors office with a virtual visit when it is a routine check in with a specialist or a primary care doctor. That way they can avoid crowded waiting rooms and potential infection.

When Rush admitted a student last week who was believed to have the virus, the hospital was able to prepare for his arrival by clearing the ambulance bay of people and vehicles to protect patients and hospital staff from possible infection. Taken to an isolation room, he was examined by Dr. Paul Casey, an emergency room physician, and a nurse, both in protective gear.

An infectious disease specialist was consulted over an iPad. The patient, who did have the virus, was released last Friday, and Rush was able to avoid the fate of other hospitals in the United States, where patients with Covid-19 led to the widespread quarantine of health care workers.

When the news of coronavirus broke last month, we saw the opportunity, Dr. Casey said.

Health systems are racing to adapt and even develop virtual services that can serve as their front line for patients. Telehealth is being rediscovered, said Dr. Peter Antall, the chief medical officer for AmWell, a company based in Boston that is working with health systems across the country. Everybody recognizes this is an all hands on deck moment, he said. We need to scale up wherever we can.
How far off is TalkTalk Telecom Group PLC (LON:TALK) from its intrinsic value? Using the most recent financial data, we'll take a look at whether the stock is fairly priced by taking the expected future cash flows and discounting them to their present value. I will use the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. Don't get put off by the jargon, the math behind it is actually quite straightforward.

We generally believe that a company's value is the present value of all of the cash it will generate in the future. However, a DCF is just one valuation metric among many, and it is not without flaws. If you want to learn more about discounted cash flow, the rationale behind this calculation can be read in detail in the Simply Wall St analysis model.

View our latest analysis for TalkTalk Telecom Group

The method

We are going to use a two-stage DCF model, which, as the name states, takes into account two stages of growth. The first stage is generally a higher growth period which levels off heading towards the terminal value, captured in the second 'steady growth' period. To start off with, we need to estimate the next ten years of cash flows. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years.

A DCF is all about the idea that a dollar in the future is less valuable than a dollar today, so we need to discount the sum of these future cash flows to arrive at a present value estimate:

10-year free cash flow (FCF) forecast

2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 Levered FCF (, Millions) UK79.1m UK101.6m UK111.7m UK208.5m UK123.0m UK82.4m UK63.5m UK53.4m UK47.6m UK44.0m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x4 Analyst x7 Analyst x6 Analyst x2 Analyst x1 Est @ -32.99% Est @ -22.93% Est @ -15.89% Est @ -10.97% Est @ -7.52% Present Value (, Millions) Discounted @ 5.4% UK75.0 UK91.5 UK95.5 UK169 UK94.6 UK60.2 UK44.0 UK35.1 UK29.7 UK26.0

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = UK720m

Story continues

The second stage is also known as Terminal Value, this is the business's cash flow after the first stage. For a number of reasons a very conservative growth rate is used that cannot exceed that of a country's GDP growth. In this case we have used the 10-year government bond rate (0.5%) to estimate future growth. In the same way as with the 10-year 'growth' period, we discount future cash flows to today's value, using a cost of equity of 5.4%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2029  (1 + g)  (r  g) = UK44m (1 + 0.5%)  5.4% 0.5%) = UK911m

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= UK911m ( 1 + 5.4%)10= UK539m

The total value is the sum of cash flows for the next ten years plus the discounted terminal value, which results in the Total Equity Value, which in this case is UK1.3b. In the final step we divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of UK1.0, the company appears about fair value at a 12% discount to where the stock price trades currently. The assumptions in any calculation have a big impact on the valuation, so it is better to view this as a rough estimate, not precise down to the last cent.

LSE:TALK Intrinsic value, March 11th 2020

Important assumptions

Now the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate, and of course, the actual cash flows. If you don't agree with these result, have a go at the calculation yourself and play with the assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at TalkTalk Telecom Group as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 5.4%, which is based on a levered beta of 0.800. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business.

Next Steps:

Whilst important, DCF calculation shouldnt be the only metric you look at when researching a company. The DCF model is not a perfect stock valuation tool. Rather it should be seen as a guide to "what assumptions need to be true for this stock to be under/overvalued?" If a company grows at a different rate, or if its cost of equity or risk free rate changes sharply, the output can look very different. For TalkTalk Telecom Group, We've compiled three pertinent factors you should further examine:

Risks: Every company has them, and we've spotted 5 warning signs for TalkTalk Telecom Group (of which 1 shouldn't be ignored!) you should know about. Future Earnings: How does TALK's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other High Quality Alternatives: Do you like a good all-rounder? Explore our interactive list of high quality stocks to get an idea of what else is out there you may be missing!

PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every GB stock every day, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any other stock just search here.

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



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
Those agencies need to guide all people entering Vietnam to fill in the compulsory electronic health declaration.

Airlines must inform all passengers, both Vietnamese and foreigners, on the requirement to make health declarations before entering Vietnam, starting from 6:00 am on March 7.

Airports are also requested to work with health authorities to zone off areas for health declaration and examination, as well as notify foreign airlines operating flights from/to Vietnam.

Transport firms and drivers must ask passengers to report their health conditions in the e-health declaration forms before departing for and entering Vietnam, as well as to closely follow regulations on COVID-19 prevention and control by Vietnamese authorities.
TREA, the association of Thai rice exporters, on February 12 said Thailand may lose its position as the second largest rice exporter when setting up the goal of exporting 7.5 million tons this year, a 7-year low.

TREAs president Chookiat Ophaswongse said Thailand may fall into the third position, while Vietnam would jump into the second position.

Vietnam hasn't had production cost problems and therefore, its rice price would be more competitive.





Vietnam may outstrip Thailand to become the second biggest rice exporter, but that is not a priority for exporters.



Duong Van Chin, director of Dinh Thanh Agriculture Research Center, an arm of Loc Troi Group, said the time for Vietnam to try to increase export volume is over.



Vietnam doesnt need the first or second position. Wed rather be in the fourth or fifth position, and sell high-quality products at good prices, Chin said.



Vietnam has two major export groups of products  white long-grain rice and white fragrant rice. The former is sold at $350-400 per ton, which can compete with Thailand, India and Pakistan.

TREA, the association of Thai rice exporters, on February 12 said Thailand may lose its position as the second largest rice exporter when setting up the goal of exporting 7.5 million tons this year, a 7-year low.

Meanwhile, its white fragrant rice is now t as good as the products from other countries. Vietnams white fragrant rice is sold at $600 per ton, while Thailands is at $1,000 and India $1,200.



Chin thinks that Vietnam needs to improve the quality of fragrant rice by growing special varieties such as Loc Troi 28 and ST25.



The varieties have been recognized as the most delicious in the world. However, many things still need to be done to organize large-scale production and find markets.



First of all, the varieties need to be recognized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) as official varieties. After that, the creators of the varieties need to cooperate with enterprises to multiply seeds and produce tens of thousand of tons of certified rice. About 1,000 enterprises with 3,000-4,000 hectares of material growing areas for each are needed.



Previously, export companies collected rice from different sources and the rice was cultivated in different fields. The quality of the rice and pesticide residues differed.



This needs to be changed. Enterprises have to control the farmers cultivation process to provide high-quality rice for domestic market and export.



Regarding market development, Chin said Vietnamese enterprises should not focus on exporting products to China, because the market is unpredictable.



There are nearly 200 countries in the world that can consume Vietnams tropical farm produce, he said.



Chi Mai

Vietnam sees rice export growth in January Vietnam exported 560,000 tonnes of rice in January 2020, earning US$270.3 million, an increase of 12 per cent in volume and 39 per cent in value month-on-month, according to the General Department of Customs.
PIGEON  The Huron Daily Tribune will put on its second annual Healthy Living Expo from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on March 14 at Laker High School, promising an all-ages event to educate people about a healthy lifestyle.

Huron Daily Tribune Advertising Director Renee Willis said they are working to make this expo more interactive this year.

We want to make it even more fun, more interactive in having people learn more about healthy living to enjoy a healthy life, Willis said. "It's fun for all ages."

A number of health vendors will be on hand, and cooking demonstrations will be offer different ways to cook food. kids can go around the Kids Zone, which will contain inflatables and other activities. Adults adults can go into a shopping area with more vendors selling products, like homemade soaps and Pampered Chef Tupperware.

There will be a Dairy Zone sponsored by Zwemmer Farms with dairy information and a model cow that attendees can milk. There will also be healthy smoothies available for 50 cents.

The Michigan State Police Caro Post will be on hand with its Fatal Vision Pedal Carts for demonstrations throughout the day to offer youth the opportunity to experience the dangers of operating a vehicle while impaired.

Healthy food will be available for purchase courtesy of Laker Food Services. Proceeds will go to local food pantries.

There will also be three education sessions.

At 11 a.m., Shar Mohr from Green Girl Welless and Holistic Health will hold a class.

At noon, Gail Schember from Pampered Chef will be on hand to demonstrate some healthy recipes.

At 1 p.m., Cinamon Marker, the head of the food program at Laker Schools will provide some health cooking options.

About 350 people attended the Healthy Living Expo last year with 50 vendors taking part.

Free tote bags will be given out to the first 300 attendees.

Any vendor is welcome to participate if they have something that people will enjoy.

For more information about the Healthy Living Expo, contact Willis at 989-269-6461 ext. 126 or at rgolder@hearstnp.com.
C annabis should be legalised to free up the police to focus on serious crime and take power away from criminal gangs, one London mayor said today.

Damien Egan, 37, mayor of Lewisham, said: I have been in my role for two years and it is plain to me that the current system is not working. Young people are being exploited by gangs.

"Most young people arrested for possession in Lewisham have less than 25-worth of cannabis on them, so we are criminalising people over trivial offences.

Mr Egan praised the Standards investigation The Cannabis Debate last year. He said: The campaign was really brave because it followed the evidence and sparked a grown-up debate.

"Your investigation revealed how legalisation is panning out in parts of the US and Canada and how underage usage had not increased.

He added: I would be prepared to see Lewisham used as a test-bed to pilot a legalised cannabis zone, as long as it comes with proper education and regulation.

A poll by Survation for the Standard showed that 63 per cent of Londoners wanted to see cannabis legalised.

Mayor Sadiq Khan has also appealed for a rethink on cannabis laws and said the Standards investigation showed how attitudes were changing.
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind (WLFI)  The 2020 Census is going digital and citizens all over the nation will have the option of filling out the survey online.

West Lafayette leaders are finding this electronic-approach especially beneficial. This is because Purdue University students will be included in the city's head-count for the first time. Now leaders are working to capture those students on the go.

West Lafayette Census Liaison, Bryce Patz said Purdue University's participation in this year's census is crucial.

Our population when classes are in session almost doubles, almost triples just with the size of students that come into classes, said Patz.

More people accounted for means more funding for the city. The goal now is getting students on board.

I haven't heard anyone talking about it on campus, that I've at least talked to so that's pretty much all I know about it, just pretty much nothing, said Sam Wishon, Purdue off-campus student.

Wishon joins a majority of students the city is working to inform. On-campus students are already counted through the university, it's the off-campus students the city has to work a little harder to reach.

In West Lafayette, we created a Complete Count Committee and that committee is made up of community relations personnel for the city as well as Purdue University, said Patz.

This committee has been working since November to reach students. They're working through avenues like word of mouth, social-media ads and public events.

It's mostly just been like ads on Youtube because I don't have add-block on and it just joins the census, be a census taker, said Claire Micutani, Purdue on-campus student.

I received like a flyer in the mail and I kind of brushed it off as spam mail, said Joshua Brard, Purdue on-campus student. I wasn't sure how serious it was but now I'm more aware of it.

Patz said the committee will be working to spread census awareness to students up until the cut-off date in July. He said the most important message is that students understand the census counts where your head is lying on Apr. 1.

The 2020 Census is all about where your head is at when you're going down to sleep on April first, and for students that are here that live in our community, you're here for nine months out of the year and you are a part of my community and we would love to have you counted, said Patz.
Theres no way Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge could have publicly announced to Meghan, Duchess of Sussex how she felt about her. But sometimes apparel sends a subtle message without words. Is that what Kate was doing with her red jacket choice?

Meghan and Harry plus William and Kate were forced to see each other again at the annual Commonwealth Day Service on Monday. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge decided not to be part of the procession at the last minute, but they did greet Harry and Meghan somewhat awkwardly upon their arrival.

However, Kate made a conscious decision while choosing her outfit in the morning. And that choice could have sent a charitable message to Meghan.

Kate Middleton | Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images

Kate Middleton wore the same red coat from Christmas Day 2018

The Duchess of Cambridge is well known for repeating outfits. Royal followers frequently take note of all the items Kate keeps wearing over and over, especially outerwear. It all combines to make her appear more down-to-earth and relatable.

But this latest outfit choice could be even more significant than that. One very memorable time Kate donned her red dress coat was when she attended Christmas Day services in 2018. At the time, photographers eagerly captured images of Prince William, Kate, Prince Harry, and Meghan happily walking together down the street. These are the same images trotted out every time someone references the Fab Four.

Ever since Prince Harry and Meghan decided to exit the royal life, it would appear the Fab Four has disintegrated into awkward, barely civil family interactions. Could Kates coat choice be seen as an olive branch?

Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle | Stephen Pond/Getty Images

The Duchess of Cambridge is intensely committed to the British royal family

Kate has been quietly stepping up her game in the weeks since Harry and Meghans big announcement, expertly getting ready for the role shes going to play in a few years as Queen Consort. And part of that might be not holding grudges. Its true that Kate and Meghan were never going to be best friends  theyre too different for that. However, the coat could signify Kates willingness to stay open to a cordial relationship down the road.

It wasnt that long ago that the Fab four attended Christmas services wearing huge smiles. In the future, they could reach that point again regardless of how involved Harry and Meghan remain with the family. In any case, the same coat again proves that Kate is staying right where she is and not changing her role within the family like Meghan and Harry did.

Queen Elizabeth decided to keep calm and carry on in her powder blue coat

Queen Elizabeth | Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images

Her Majesty was another smiling royal during Commonwealth Day. She donned a powder blue suit and a pleasant attitude even in the face of a potentially awkward situation reuniting with Harry and Meghan for one of the last times, officially speaking.

Blue is the universal color of calm serenity which the queen most likely hoped to portray to everyone watching. Her speech also stressed unity.

On Commonwealth occasions, it is always inspiring to be reminded of the diversity of the people and countries that make up our worldwide family, she said. We are made aware of the many associations and influences that combine through Commonwealth connection, helping us to imagine and deliver a common future.

The queen has diversity right in her own family and now, more than ever, theyll all need compromise and acceptance to ensure a peaceful future.
The Aurangabad district



administration has suspended the annual 'Nath Shashti Yatra' in Paithan town this year in view of the coronavirus scare.

Paithan in Maharashtra was the home town of noted Marathi saint Eknath. Every year, people flock his shrine during the time of the Paithan Yatra, also commonly known as the Nath Shashti Yatra.

The pilgrimage was supposed to take place between March 14 and 18 this year.

Nearly five lakh pilgrims visit Paithan during the annual Nath Shashti Yatra every year.

The Aurangabad collector, by using powers under provisions of the Bombay Police Act, has suspended the pilgrimage this year in view of the coronavirus outbreak, as per a release issued by the district information office.

Saint Eknath's descendant Pushkar Gosavi said, "A meeting was held here on Wednesday and the administration officials conveyed this decision to us. The visit to the temple is not restricted, but staying and processions, where crowds gather, are not allowed."



The Apegaon village, birthplace of saint Dnyaneshwar is also located close to Paithan.

The Dnyaneshwar Sansthan has criticised the decision of the district administration, saying it should have informed about it in advance.

The sansthan's chairman, Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Kolhapurkar told PTI that pilgrims will come to Paithan and perform rituals like every year.

This decision of district administration should have come 15 days ago, he said.

"Warkaris (devotees going around the area) in 549 groups from Vidarbha and western Maharashtra have almost reached Paithan. They will come and visit the Nath temple and also stay there till the last day," he said.

"The administration never makes any facility for us. We can manage on our own," Kolhapurkar added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
By Trend





A number of novelties are expected to be made in the activity of the Azerbaijani parliament, Safa Mirzayev, head of the office of the Azerbaijani parliament said in an interview with Azerbaijan state television AzTV, Trend reports on March 10.

Mirzayev reminded that a new chairperson and deputy chairpersons of the Azerbaijani parliament were elected, and most of the chairpersons and deputy chairpersons of the parliamentary committees were changed.

All this shows that the reforms are being carried out in the Azerbaijani parliament as in all other spheres in the country, head of the office said. First, the personnel reforms were conducted. Then the novelties will be made in the activity of the parliament. These novelties will apply both to the legislation, representation, control and international relations."

Mirzayev added that the reforms will be carried out in the office of the Azerbaijani parliament, too.

In accordance with the modern requirements, structural changes will be also made in the field of information support, head of the office said. Young staff will be involved in the work in the Azerbaijani parliament. All these measures are planned to be carried out in the near future. I hope that the new leadership of the Azerbaijani parliament will conduct large-scale work in this sphere.

The first meeting of the Azerbaijani parliament of the sixth convocation was held on March 10.
*One of the stars for this Easters Warbirds Over Wanaka International Airshow, a Polikarpov I-16, has arrived in New Zealand after a long journey from its present home in Germany. The WWII-era Soviet fighter was last seen in Wanaka during the 2008 air show. That event featured all nine of the Polikarpov fighters which Sir Tim Wallis, the shows founder, resurrected in the early 1990s from wrecks salvaged at various sites across the former Soviet Union. Indeed all nine flew at Wanakas shows until 2008, when the collection dispersed to various new owners overseas.

This particular aircraft had originally been slated to attend the 2018 air show, but maintenance issues a few weeks before its ship-date to New Zealand that year unfortunately prevented her trip. But she is now up and running in New Zealand, which should be great news for anyone planning on attending Warbirds Over Wanaka in a few weeks, as the type is indeed a rarity in the skies these days.

This I-16 is based upon the remains of an aircraft which rolled off the assembly line at Gorky Aircraft Plant 21 as construction number 2421319 circa 1939/40. She flew with the Soviet Air Forces 155th Fighter Squadron at the time of her crash circa 1942, going down roughly 25 miles southwest of Kostomukuksha in Karelia, now a republic within modern day Russia. In 1942, however, Karelia was a part of Finland. The Soviet Union and Finland (aided by Germany) were embroiled in fierce combat in that region during the Continuation War, a conflict separate from WWII itself in significant ways, and one which we rarely hear about in the West.

The fighter was recovered in 1991. Sir Tim Wallis funded its restoration at the Aeronautical Research Bureau/Aviarestavratsiya in Novosibirsk, Siberia along with five others of the type plus three Polikarpov I-153 biplane fighters. This particular I-16 was the first of the rebuilds to fly, taking to the skies again for the first time in September, 1995. She wears the original Red 9 markings she once wore while serving with the 155th Fighter Squadron. Thomas Julch imported the fighter to Germany in February 2009. She is now with a new owner, Wolfgang Frey, but still based in Julchs hangar at Lachen-Speyerdorf airport, just southwest of Mannheim, Germany.

Warbirds Over Wanaka enlisted the help of sponsors Hamburg Sud and Mainfreight to ship the aircraft from central Germany to Wanaka. It wasnt an easy job; the aircraft had to be squeezed into an open top container (with a special cover to keep it dry).

Upon arrival at Wanaka, the container went to an MPI-approved Helisupport hangar for inspection. It took a full day to prize the valuable aircraft safely out of the container and to get MPI clearance.

Chief Engineer Callum Smith, from the Wanaka-based aircraft maintenance and restoration facility Twenty24 Limited, led the team which extracted, reassembled and then test ran the Polikarpov following its arrival in New Zealand. Regarding the fighter, Smith noted, These are pretty straight forward aircraft, but theres always the chance that something has got out of kilter during the whole process of shipping it halfway around the world. It was an unusually tight fit, so we had to be ultra-careful. But it all seems to be fine, and when we fired up the engine it sounded a treat!

Callum had worked on this same aircraft when it was last in Wanaka, stating, Its amazing! It looks exactly the same as it did when it was shipped out of here 12 years ago!

For the Warbirds Over Wanaka International Airshow, the highly experienced Lithuanian pilot, and two-time World Aerobatic Champion, Jurgis Kairys will be flying the diminutive Soviet fighter. Jurgis will arrive at Wanaka in early April to run the fighter through its paces ahead of the event.

Warbirds Over Wanaka International Airshow will take place at Wanaka Airport from April 10th through 12th. Doubtless, it will be an amazing experience for everyone who attends! For more information and tickets please visit www.warbirdsoverwanaka.com

*Includes elements of a press release by the Warbirds Over Wanaka International Airshow
The federal government will pay out $212.5 million to settle three class actions launched by victims of toxic firefighting contamination across Australia.

The landmark legal settlement - believed to be the first of its kind in the world - can be revealed after the Department of Defence polluted thousands of properties with firefighting foam containing potentially carcinogenic per- and poly- fluoroalkyl [PFAS] chemicals.

Aviation firefighters using foam contaminated with PFAS at Tullamarine, Victoria in 1998.

Documents released by the Federal Court on Wednesday show that $92.5 million will be paid to residents of Katherine in the Northern Territory.

A further $86 million will be given to the community of Williamtown in NSW and $34 million will flow to residents of Oakey on Queensland's Darling Downs.
ALBUQUERQUE, NM / ACCESSWIRE / March 10, 2020 / Gabe Alarid has been named to the Development Fundraising Committee to CLNkids, formerly known as "Cuidando Los Ninos," a 501(C)(3) dedicated to serving the homeless children in New Mexico since 1988.

Gabe Alarid is one of New Mexico's most trusted and most referred brokers with the #1 team in Keller Williams Realty Worldwide, Ben Kinney Companies.. He received the honor of being amongst the Top 40 under 40 young business leaders in New Mexico by Albuquerque Business First in 2019. He also sat on the Board of Directors for the New Mexico Association of Realtors in 2019. He specializes in residential, investment and luxury homes in the Greater Albuquerque area. As a real estate wealth advisor he counts among his clients many distinguished business and community leaders.

"It is a privilege and honor to be able to serve this wonderful organization and, among other responsibilities, be able to help raise funds for charity and homeless children," said Alarid, who will be participating in an upcoming CLNkids Lemonade "friend-raiser" to benefit homeless children and families on June 5th, 2020 from 1:30 PM to 4:00 PM at 1500 Walter Street in SE Albuquerque. Tours Available! For more information, call 505-843-6899.

CLNkids' goal is to make sure homeless children and their families never go back to homelessness again. They accomplish this by helping them develop the skills they need to get back on their feet and stay there. In addition to food and shelter, they provide children with access to the highest quality early childhood education and they offer parents job training, life skills training and other educational resources to set them on the path of self-sufficiency.

About the Charity

CLNkids (formerly known as "Cuidando Los Ninos") has been serving the homeless community in Albuquerque since 1988. As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, CLNkids helps lift children and families out of homelessness by combining high-quality early childhood education with proven support programs for parents. Utilizing trauma-informed practices, CLNkids continues to prove that, together; we can break the cycle of homelessness. To continue our mission, we rely on both public and private support through donations, advocacy and volunteerism. We do what we do because of your support. Your money goes toward the supplies; food and facilities we need to help families and children in need, including school supplies, meals and transportation. You may also donate any of the items on our Wish List.

Story continues

About Gabe Alarid

Gabe Alarid is New Mexico's Most Trusted and most referred real estate brokers, counting among his clients many distinguished business and community leaders. Gabe partnered up with the #1 Team in Keller Williams Worldwide (Ben Kinney Companies) because of his ability to plug into a larger network of high-level wealth advisors and agents across the nation, to better serve his clients and luxury clients locally at the highest level. Gabe has a very innovative approach to real estate more so than most Realtors. Gabe does not see his role just as a Realtor, he views his position as a real estate wealth manager and advisor, his main goal is to help his clients make smart money decisions about their future and help them build wealth through any economy.

For media inquiries, please call the NALA at 805.650.6121, ext. 361.

SOURCE: Gabe Alarid





View source version on accesswire.com:

https://www.accesswire.com/579764/Realtor-Gabe-Alarid-Named-to-the-Development-Fundraising-Committee-for-CLNkids




Gasoline prices dipped below the $2 mark Monday at stations across the Fredericksburg area and an expert says motorists can expect them to continue to fall.

Numerous local stations were selling gas for $1.99 or less on Monday morning, according to GasBuddy.com. The site listed the Murphy and Sheetz stations on State Route 3 in southern Stafford County as offering the cheapest regular gas at $1.88 a gallon Monday afternoon. The 7Eleven on Lafayette Boulevard was listed at $1.91 a gallon.

The lowest price for gas in the state on Monday was $1.71, at a Sams Club in Danville, according to GasBuddy, which tracks the fuel industry and offers real-time gas prices.

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On Monday, the average cost for a gallon of gas in Virginia was $2.19, the cheapest it has been on that date in four years, according to a news release from GasBuddy. On March 9, 2016, the average cost for gas in the state was $1.60 a gallon.

The cost for a gallon of gas in Virginia has dropped 3.9 cents in the past week and is 10.8 cents lower than the same time a year ago. The national average gas price is $2.36, more than 12 cents cheaper than a year ago, GasBuddy reported.
Former Vice President Joe Biden is the projected winner of the Democratic presidential primary in Michigan, the biggest contest of the night, according to multiple media outlets.

Why it matters: Bernie Sanders' loss in a state that chose him over Hillary Clinton four years ago goes beyond a symbolic blow  with the potential to hand Biden a significant delegate lead.

Michigan is the most populous state in Tuesday night's contests, with 125 pledged delegates at stake.

Sanders had prevailed in the state's 2016 primary thanks to white, working-class voters.

Donald Trump won Michigan in the 2016 general election by less than 11,000 votes over Hillary Clinton.

By the numbers: Baby boomers are the largest Democratic generational cohort in Michigan, according to Pew Research, while young voters carried Sanders on Super Tuesday.

23% of Democratic voters in Michigan are black, while 67% are white, and 4% are Latino, one of Sanders' key bastions of support.

42% of Democratic voters in the state make less than $30,000 a year.

Flashback: Trump in 2016 was buoyed by white voters in the state, particularly in counties where the median income was under $40,000, NPR 2016 exit polling shows.

A number of counties swung from Democratic to Republican in 2016, New York Times exit polling showed.

The big picture: Biden also was projected to win Mississippi and Missouri on Tuesday. After Biden's Super Tuesday delegate haul and South Carolina victory, Sanders' ability to regain his momentum as the Democratic nominee is diminishing.

Go deeper ... March 10 Democratic primaries: What you need to know
This article was featured in One Great Story, New Yorks reading recommendation newsletter. Sign up here to get it nightly. Should have done a foot tap instead. Photo: Stefani Reynolds/Bloomberg via Getty Images

The co-host of a prominent right-wing podcast with Steve Bannon is raising concerns about the coronavirus on Twitter and warning that he may have been exposed to the disease. The culprit is not the liberal media, nor is it the deep state. Instead, its CPAC, the prominent conservative conference and right-wing pep rally held outside Washington, D.C., every year.

Raheem Kassam, a former aide to leading Brexit proponent Nigel Farage, turned his Twitter feed into an exercise in amateur epidemiology after CPAC announced that one attendee had tested positive for the coronavirus on Saturday. With a mix of sleuthing and conjecture, he tried to trace any exposure he and others might have had to the disease after he began experiencing flulike symptoms and news broke that five Republican members of Congress who were exposed at CPAC had gone into self-quarantine.

The annual conservative conference has continued to generate press in the week since it concluded, for being the potential ground zero of COVID-19 in and around the Capitol. There is abundant irony in that fact because the Trump-administration officials who spoke there minimized the impact of the coronavirus outbreak in general.

Mick Mulvaney, the outgoing acting White House chief of staff told he CPAC audience, The reason youre seeing so much attention to it today is that [media organizations] think this going to be what brings down the president.

Kassam wrote, I have been flu-sick unwell for the past week and now I am finding out there are people I was in direct contact with who were in direct contact with the infected. The right-wing activist previously spoke at the conference and was featured in a video this year about Australias efforts to ban him from entering the country to speak at a CPAC event in that nation. In a series of tweets, he said that the infected attendee had gone to a CPAC Shabbat dinner and listed the possible VIPs who might have been exposed.

Here are some of the other people who may have been in the green room on Thursday afternoon at the same time as the CPAC #coronavirus infectee:



- Rep Louie Gohmert;

- Ronna McDaniel

- Michael Knowles

- Kay James

- KellyAnne Conway

- Betsy Devos

- Rep Matt Gaetz

- Diamond/Silk  Raheem Kassam (@RaheemKassam) March 9, 2020

Kassam told New York that his tweetstorm was not trying to cause a panic but to address a panic from attendees. CPAC initially provided few details about the infected person. Instead, information trickled out through news stories about different dinners and receptions that the person attended.

Eventually, on Tuesday night, the American Conservative Union, the organization that hosts CPAC, sent out an email, saying, The individual who tested positive for coronavirus did not go to the main ballroom, was not an interviewer or an interviewee on Broadcast Row, did not attend any breakout sessions and limited his interactions to very few people  We have tried to be clear about this, but to clear up any confusion: ANY individual who had direct contact with the individual who tested positive has been contacted in a one-on-one capacity.

But some attendees were still feeling a lot of angst. In Kassams telling, roughly a dozen fellow CPAC conferencegoers, including those he described as very high level had called him over the weekend saying: Please help us. We dont know if we have touched this person. The goal of his online efforts was to give people some peace of mind, know if they needed to be quarantined, be tested, or take some Theraflu and chill.

Its easy to see how the disease could spread throughout the event. The conference sprawled over three floors of the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center just outside Washington, D.C., hosting thousands of people closely packed together. Many hands were shaken and certainly not all of them were appropriately sanitized. Attendees spent a lot of time standing in line, whether to be screened by the Secret Service before hearing an address from President Donald Trump or Vice-President Mike Pence or to buy $20 chicken-salad sandwiches. They swarmed D-list Trump celebrities like Sean Spicer and Sebastian Gorka for selfies, and at days end, they congregated for overpriced drinks and underwhelming gossip at the hotels two bars.

However, it seems patient zero missed most of these experiences at CPAC. He was a gold-level ticket holder. This meant he got to mix and mingle with VIPs and enjoy a private lounge in exchange for paying $5,750 to attend the event. It likely limited some of his interaction with the hoi polloi  college students in #MAGA hats and earnest, right-wing retirees. The result is that a disproportionate number of his interactions were with elected officials.

Attendees at that time were unconcerned about the pandemic. Alario Martinez, a volunteer for the event from Easton, Maryland, told New York he thought the disease was a typical thing that always happens. Samuel Garrett, a freshman at Regent University, simply said of the virus, I dont think its a legitimate concern for most people.

Not all attendees are worried about potential exposure to the disease. Terry Schilling, a CPAC board member who runs the socially conservative American Principles Project, told New York, that he has thought the American Conservative Union has done a good job in identifying this. He has praised the organization for its communication effort and pointed a finger at people who are panicking.

Ian Walters, a spokesperson for the American Conservative Union, said that the group had identified just over a dozen people who had been exposed to the attendee with coronavirus, which included the public officials who had identified themselves on Twitter. He said that the organization was operating under the assumption that the patient  who has been in a hospital in New Jersey  was present for all four days of the conference. Walters pushed back at Twitter speculation about exposure. Parlor games and trafficking in rumors is not helpful in the middle of whats a public-health crisis. Walters added, Our decisions are being driven by operating in an abundance of caution.

He told New York that Maryland public-health officials had performed a screening of 2,000 employees at the hotel complex where the event was held and that there were zero cases of unusual illness. The result was that the state said there was no need for those employees to limit interaction.

Walters said the organization was trying to be deliberate and notify all those with direct exposure to the infected person. With direct exposure he said: The responsibility really does rest with us. What Maryland deals with is those who are symptomatic.

Its possible no one was infected with the coronavirus at CPAC. Its possible that dozens of people were. Responsibility doesnt lie with anyone in particular for whatever happened. It just happened to be a large conference of people from across the country that occurred at just the right time as the pandemic reached the United States. It could have as likely attracted insurance agents as Matt Gaetz, the now-quarantined member of Congress who wore a gas mask on the House floor just to troll last week. (Gaetz, who had flown on Air Force One just hours before going into self-quarantine, announced Tuesday that he had tested negative.)

But there is no manual to deal with this, no playbook in a world that was previously a century removed from a pandemic like this. Elected officials in European countries like France and Italy have tested positive for the disease; senior government officials in Iran have died from it. The CPAC exposures just represent the first major impact of the virus on the American political system.

As Gaetz said to reporters last week, Members of Congress are human petri dishes. We fly through the dirtiest airports. We touch everyone we meet. Proof of that came sooner than he might have guessed.

Kassam is currently in quarantine awaiting the results of his coronavirus test. As he pointedly noted on Twitter, he was shaking hands and talking to Congressman Paul Gosar just one hour after the Arizona Republican spent an extended period of time with the infected attendee.
Philz Coffee opened its first mobile-only cafe Wednesday in Salesforce Transit Center in San Francisco. Customers download the Philz app to order and pay for takeout-only drinks at this particular location.

If all goes well, Philz will likely open more of these app-driven cafes.

Heres how it works: Customers place an order for coffee through the app  this could be done at home, at work or standing right outside the cafes doors. Philz brews each cup to order, so the app will give customers a time estimate for when they should pick up their coffee and from which barista. Upon arrival, theyll be able to quickly grab their cup and go.

This is the first mobile-only cafe in San Francisco, although such cafes began opening in New York City last year. Thats where Starbucks opened a futuristic pick-up only location, while Bandit debuted as a company solely opening mobile-only cafes.

The Salesforce Philz is about 1,000 square feet  the smallest cafe to date for the local coffee chain. All prices are the same, and customers can also order pastries and other baked goods provided by Sonoma Muffin Works and Starter Bakery. Theres no seating inside but an outdoor patio can accommodate 15 people.

Philz launched its mobile app two years ago and has seen soaring demand  23% of Philzs cups across 55 locations are currently sold on the app.

As we continue to grow and open new stores, our customers have come to love the speed and convenience our app, said Francisca Hawkins, Philzs vice president of digital products, via email.

Despite emphasizing the app aspect of the mobile-only location, Philz will accept cash orders if necessary to comply with San Francisco law. Though the Philz team might direct fans to a second, more traditional location opening Thursday about a three minute-walk away. At 2,090-square-feet, it boasts spacious indoor and outdoor seating options.

Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more.

The two Philz cafes are among the first of a wave of new businesses to open at the Salesforce Transit Center. Other tenants include a second location of Financial District restaurant Per Diem, Eddie Rickenbackers bar and restaurant, a location of the Missions Venga Empanadas, Tycoon Thai and an outlet of Ohio restaurant chain Charleys Philly Steaks. There will also be a yet-to-be-named rooftop Japanese restaurant from Shotaro Sho Kamio, who owns the acclaimed Berkeley restaurant Iyasare.

Philz Coffee Mobile-Only Store. 5:30 a.m.-8 p.m. daily. 425 Mission St., Suite 143, San Francisco. www.philzcoffee.com

Second Philz Coffee at Salesforce Transit Center. Opening Thursday. 6 a.m.-8 p.m. daily. 425 Mission St., Suite 100, San Francisco.

This story was updated to include a clarification that the new mobile-only Philz Coffee will still accept cash to comply with the law.

Janelle Bitker is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: janelle.bitker@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @janellebitker
Bernie Sanders delivered a pep talk for his supporters on Wednesday following a disappointing showing in Tuesdays primary elections aka Super Tuesday II, where he fell well behind rival former vice president Joe Biden.

He began the address to the press by calling President Donald Trump a racist, sexist, homophobe, xenophobe and religious bigot who must be defeated. Sanders vowed to do all he could to further that mission.

Also Read: Democratic Primaries 2020: State-by-State Results for 'Super Tuesday II' (Updating Live)

Last night, obviously, was not a good night for our campaign in a delegate point of view, he said, though he went on to say his campaign is strongly winning in polling and among younger people. He called on the Democratic establishment to appeal to those voters.

While our campaign has won the ideological debate, we are losing the debate over electability, the senator acknowledged.

Super Tuesday II numbers supported that statement. Of the five states that have been called  Idaho, Michigan, Mississippi and Missouri  Biden has won four of them. In 2016, Sanders won Michigan and Idaho.

The reversals were a blow to the Vermont senator, who was a frontrunner for the Democratic nomination. However, his progressive policies have been seen as polarizing among party members and voters.

Biden currently has 856 delegates while Sanders trails with 708 delegates. 1991 delegates are needed to secure the nomination. The two candidates will debate one-on-one Sunday in Arizona  though due to coronavirus fears, there will be no live audience.

Watch his press conference above.

Read original story Bernie Sanders Staying in Presidential Race Despite Poor Primary Showing At TheWrap
Turkey urged Russia on Wednesday to deal with alleged violations of a week-old ceasefire by Syrian government forces in Idlib, the last bastion of resistance to President Bashar al-Assad.

"Although there are only small incidents here and there, the ceasefire has started to be violated," said President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who backs some rebel groups in Idlib.

"We are sharing these developments with Russia... and expect them to take measures." Erdogan agreed a truce last week with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, who supports government forces, but previous deals have proved temporary.

Turkey launched a military operation in Syria after more than 50 of its soldiers were killed in Idlib last month.

Defence Minister Hulusi Akar said talks were proceeding "in a constructive fashion" with Russia to launch joint patrols along the key M4 road in Idlib on Sunday, as agreed under the ceasefire deal.

As well as supporting some rebel groups, Turkey set up military observation posts in Idlib under a 2018 deal with Russia aimed at preventing a regime assault.

"We signed the temporary ceasefire in Moscow. The matter now is to turn this ceasefire into a permanent one. We are chasing this speedily now. Once we are done with it, we will have an easier task," Erdogan said.

"In the face of the smallest attack (on our posts), we will not only retaliate, but we will respond much more heavily." Damascus, backed by Iranian troops and Russian air strikes, has been fighting to retake Idlib since December, pushing close to a million civilians northwards towards Turkey's border.

Turkey already hosts some four million refugees, and has called for greater assistance from Europe and its NATO partners in dealing with the crisis.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
[March 11, 2020] BenchPrep Named One of 2020 Best Places to Work in Chicago by Crain's Chicago Business

CHICAGO, March 11, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BenchPrep , the provider of the configurable cloud-based learning platform for corporations, training organizations, and nonprofits, has been named one of Crains 2020 Best Places to Work in Chicago. The complete list of winners, in alphabetical order, is available here . The full Best Places to Work in Chicago ranking  plus a breakdown of the rankings based on company size  will be announced at a live event on April 17. The ranking of the 100 top employers will appear in the April 20 issue of Crains and online following the event at ChicagoBusiness.com/BestPlaces2020 .

In partnership with Best Companies Group, Crains surveyed thousands of employees on the types of working conditions, benefits and corporate culture that make a company a great place to work. The awards program is designed to identify, recognize and honor the 100 best companies to work for in Chicago. Winners were determined by the results of a weighted survey of employees and employers, conducted by Crains in partnership with Best Companies Group.



To be considered for participation, companies had to: Be a publicly or privately held business

Be a for-profit or not-for-profit business, or government entity

Have a facility in the Chicago area (including the counties of Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake in Illinois, Lake in Indiana, McHenry or Will)

Have a minimum of 25 full-time or part-time employees working in Chicago

Have been in business a minimum of one year Determining the Best Places to Work in Cicago involved a two-step process. The first step consisted of evaluating each participating companys workplace policies, practices, and demographics. This part of the process was worth approximately 25% of the total evaluation. The second part consisted of employee surveys aimed at assessing the experiences and attitudes of individual employees with respect to their workplace. This part was worth approximately 75% of the total evaluation. The combined scores determined the best companies and the final ranking. Best Companies Group managed the overall registration and survey process and analyzed the data and used its expertise to determine the final ranking.



It is an honor to be named as one of Crains Best Places to Work in Chicago for the second consecutive year, said Ujjwal Gupta, Co-Founder & COO of BenchPrep. Happiness of people is of paramount importance at BenchPrep and maintaining and improving the associated culture is firmly ingrained in our philosophy of how to best achieve rapid growth as an organization. As we continue to expand, that will remain the top priority. BenchPreps award-winning advanced online learning platform helps education and training organizations increase learner engagement, improve outcomes, and drive additional revenue. The technology delivers streamlined content management and instructional design, along with advanced educator tools, analytics dashboards, and reporting, in one comprehensive solution.

BenchPrep will be honored at the 2020 Best Places to Work in Chicago awards event on Friday, April 17 at the Hilton Chicago. Event details can be found here . @CrainChicago #CrainsBPTW About Crains Chicago Business

Crains Chicago Business is the top source of news, analysis and information on business in metropolitan Chicago for decision-makers in the private and public sectors. Crain's publishes a weekly business magazine, providing deeper analysis, commentary, special reports and features. Crain's also produces databases, live events and sponsored content, all with the aim of deepening readers' understanding of local business. Crains Chicago Business is the leading source of information on Chicagos economy, the companies, industries and institutions that operate here and the entrepreneurs and innovators who drive the citys growth. About BenchPrep

BenchPrep is a configurable cloud-based learning platform that delivers the best learning experience and drives revenue for corporations, training companies and nonprofits (credentialing bodies & associations). With an award-winning learner-centric platform, BenchPrep increases learner engagement, improves long-term learner retention, and reduces dropout rates. Many of the largest credentialing bodies, associations, and training organizations in the world now deliver learning programs through BenchPrep, including ACT, Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), CFA Institute, CompTIA, Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), Hewlett Packard Enterprise, HR Certification Institute, Richardson Sales Training, Association for Supply Chain Management (ASCM), American Institute of Architects (AIA), Relias, National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE), ProLiteracy, Hobsons, McGraw Hill Education, and OnCourse Learning. More than 6 million learners have used BenchPreps platform to attain academic and professional success. To discover more about BenchPrep, please visit benchprep.com. Media Contact:

Jon Aderson

Director of Marketing

BenchPrep

312-650-5135

[email protected]

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Investigators Confirm Remains Found in Tennessee Are That of Evelyn Boswell

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) confirmed that the remains found in Blountville, Tennessee, are that of missing girl Evelyn Boswell.

The property where she was found belonged to a family member of Evelyns mother, Megan Boswell. Additional charges in the case have not yet been filed.

The 15-month-old girl was reported missing last month by family members. Officials then issued an AMBER Alert before search efforts for Evelyn began.

Evelyn Boswell. (Tennessee Bureau of Investigation)

We have a sad update to pass along in our ongoing search for answers in the death of 15-month-old Evelyn Boswell. Remains found on Friday evening have been confirmed to be those of the little girl. Thank you for your continued support in this difficult case, the TBI said in a statement on Wednesday.

On Monday, Megan Boswell appeared in court in Sullivan County, Tennessee, for the first time after officials discovered the remains on her fathers property in Blountville, reported WJHL. Judge James Goodwin then increased bond for Boswell, who is alleged to have provided false reports and is suspected in the death of the child.

Megan Boswell (L) and her daughter 15-month-old Evelyn Boswell. (Tennessee Bureau of Investigation)

TBI special agent Brian Fraley said in court Monday that Boswell gave him multiple false statements. He said her allegedly fabricated claims made investigators waste time in pursuing leads.

Boswells attorney said in court that the judge has no reason to justify the bond increase as she doesnt have a criminal record, according to WBIR. But Fraley added that Boswell had made an out-of-state trip to Texas in fall 2019 and also went to the Knoxville and Gatlinburg areas in Tennessee. District Attorney Barry Staubus said that she might be a flight risk, and the judge said that she has several ties to people in other states, supporting Staubuss assessment.

On Friday, when the remains were located, Sullivan County Sheriff Jeff Cassidy told CNN that detectives got a tip to search the familys property.
A Moscow court has sentenced the former deputy chief of Russia's Federal Penitentiary Service (FSIN) to nine years in prison for embezzlement.

Oleg Korshunov, who was responsible for the FSIN's contractor services, was found guilty by a judge of misappropriating state funds allocated for the purchase of sugar and fuel, Russian media reported on March 11.

However, it is just one of six charges leveled by the state against Korshunov, who was arrested in September 2017, reportedly at a yacht club in Moscow.

He has also been charged with three crimes in connection with the misappropriation of 260 million rubles for shoes. He was sentenced last year to seven years in prison for those crimes, but the verdict has yet to enter into force.

Korshunov is also facing one charge of abuse of power in connection with the construction of a detention center in Crimea and one charge of bribery. Korshunov has said he is innocent on all counts.

Based on reporting by Interfax
The United States on Thursday carried out airstrikes on a base of Iraqi militia in Anbar province near the border with Syria after three coalition personnel including two Americans were killed in a rocket attack.

The US-led coalition forces said that more than 15 small rockets hit Iraq's Taji military base, which hosts its troops, spokesperson Myles Coggins said in a statement on Wednesday.

Two Americans and one British personnel were killed in the attack.

"The Coalition (the International Coalition for Operation Inherent Resolve) confirms more than 15 small rockets impacted Iraq's Camp Taji base hosting Coalition troops, March 11 at 7:35 pm (Iraq Time)," Coggins tweeted.

"Assessment and investigation ongoing," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
WFH for Private offices in Delhi, restaurants & bars to be shut as Omicron-led to sudden rise in Covid cases

No coronavirus case in Bengal, govt monitoring situation: CM Mamata

India

oi-PTI

Kolkata, Mar 11: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday said there has been no report of anyone testing positive for coronavirus in the state and gave assurances that her government was monitoring the situation.

Three persons with fever and cough have been admitted at Beliaghata ID hospital in the city, but "none of them has tested positive" for the disease, she said.

To a question about the sharp dip in prices of chicken in the wake of rumours of virus contamination, Mamata said, "Please tell people the disease has nothing to do with chicken consumption."

Mamata, who is also the TMC supremo, asked mediapersons to ensure that unverified information was not circulated among people.

"We have also asked the enforcement department to keep a tab on the situation," the CM added.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Wednesday, March 11, 2020, 20:06 [IST]
Kate Middleton and Prince William recently returned from a trip to Ireland, where they highlighted some of the important connections between Ireland and the United Kingdom. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge had a quick trip, but it was one similar to the one Prince Harry and Meghan Markle took back in 2018. And some people found a big similarity in Meghan and Kates behavior on the two visits.

Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle | Stephen Pond/Getty Images

Kate and William visited Ireland just as Harry and Meghan were returning to the U.K.

Kate and William announced in late February that they would be embarking on a short trip to Ireland the following month. It also happened to be right around the time Meghan and Harry were returning to the U.K.  the Sussexes first trip home since they had announced their departure back in January.

Its possible William and Kate were intentionally avoiding the royals, though its unlikely. Royal engagements are often planned far in advance, and the trip was likely decided even before anyone knew that Meghan and Harry would be leaving the family.

There have been rumors about bad blood between Kate and Meghan

Ever since Meghan married into the family, there have been rumors that things arent great between her and Kate. Reports suggested that Meghan made Kate cry during a dress fitting for Charlotte and that Meghan was rude to Kates staff. However, none of the rumors were ever confirmed, and the women have always seemed cordial with each other in public.

Despite the rumors, there have also been reports that the two women have looked to each other for advice in certain situations. Theyve supposedly received fashion help from one another, and Meghan reportedly looked toward Kate when she was pregnant with her first child. Now, some think Kate took some tips from Meghan about appealing to the Irish public.

Some suspect Kate copied Meghan in taking photos with the presidents dogs

When Kate and William met President Michael Higgins and his wife, Sabina Coyne, Kate was photographed petting the couples dog in the exact same way as Meghan had done two years earlier. Fans posted photos of the two women having almost the exact same exchange with the presidents pets.

There is no confirmation, though, that Kate necessarily copied Meghan, and its possible that the two women simply both love dogs (Meghan has always been vocal about her love for dogs). But Kate also might have spoken to Meghan about the trip, where Meghan mentioned giving the dogs a quick pet to appeal more to the Irish public

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry were clearly enamored with the presidents dogs as well. | Maxwells/AFP via Getty Images

The two women had an odd exchange at the Commonwealth Day service

The rumors about the two women have always had us questioning what their relationship is really like. However, there was an odd exchange caught on film at the Commonwealth service at Westminster Abbey. William and Kate appeared to ignore Harry and Meghan upon finding their seats. Its unclear if the snub was intentional or if the Cambridges were simply not aware of Meghan and Harry. But either way, it turned some heads.

Harry and Meghans departure from the family might have put them at odds with William and Kate  or maybe the distance between the couples could bring them closer. Time will tell how everything plays out.
Self-deprecation of this kind is a trademark of New Zealand comedy to the point where it suggests a degree of neurosis about the nations place in the world. The positive flip side is an acceptance of the fact New Zealand culture is a patchwork stitched together from diverse sources  and of the incongruities that arise as a result.

If the breakout success of New Zealand writer-director Taika Waititi (Jojo Rabbit) has shown one thing, its that Kiwis have a knack for cutting heroes down to size. Whatever grand poses they strike, Waititis characters are always a bit ridiculous, from the teenage runaway (Julian Dennison) in Hunt for the Wilderpeople to the blustering God of Thunder (Chris Hemsworth) in Thor: Ragnarok.

This understanding is the basis for The Legend of Baron Toa, a strange but enjoyable hybrid of martial arts movie and folksy comedy from first-time New Zealand director Kiel McNaughton. The plot has the shape of a classic Western: the son of a departed hero returns to the hometown he left long ago, to find that the bad guys are now in charge. To set things right, he must summon his resources and find the courage to take up where his father left off.

So far so solemn. The humour stems from the setting where the showdown is destined to take place: a steep cul-de-sac in suburban Auckland  known to some locals as The Sac  where palm trees tower over weatherboard houses, groups of kids tear around on bikes and a typical drama involves a dispute over someones lawnmower.

The stranger who shows up unexpectedly in this Arcadia is Fritz (Uli Latukefu), the well-spoken son of the celebrated wrestler Baron Toa (John Tui). Having made good overseas, he now plans to sell the house where his uncle Otto (Nathaniel Lee) is still living. Complications arise when a wrestling belt won by the late Baron disappears and Otto refuses to move on until it is recovered.

Fritz, who apparently played rugby at one point, has inherited some of his fathers physical abilities, but hes conflict-averse, priding himself on his psychological insights and negotiating skills. He also boasts an unusually fancy vocabulary, insisting he doesnt want to be antagonistic and referring to a potential bout of mayhem as a colourful commotion.

Perhaps, as Otto surmises, hes spent too long in Australia, although part of the charm of John Argalls script is that every character can be counted on for a memorable turn of phrase. Reliant on stuntwork rather than digital effects, the hand-to-hand brawls are a winning mix of the stylised and the semi-plausible, with homely items such as paint tins and pool cues used as weapons in a manner that harks back to the heyday of Jackie Chan.
European Parliament (EP) President David Sassoli said he has self-quarantined himself at his Brussels home as a precautionary measure after having traveled to Italy over the last weekend.

"I have decided after having been in Italy over the last weekend, as a precaution, to follow the indicated measures and to exercise my function as president from my home in Brussels in compliance with the 14 days indicated by the health protocol," Sassoli said in a statement posted by the European Parliament.

Italy has imposed a country-wide lockdown to contain the novel coronavirus as the cases crossed 9,100 with 463 deaths reported as of Monday, Xinhua reported.

Sassoli added that a country-wide lockdown would have consequences on Italian members of the European Parliament.

The novel coronavirus "obliges everyone to be responsible and to be cautious" and is "a delicate moment for all of us," Sassoli added.

However, the European Parliament would continue to perform its duties even as the deadly virus is widespread in Europe.

Based on the latest situation in Italy, the European Parliament has updated its measures to protect health.

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control said that coronavirus has reached all countries of Europe.

As per the Health Organisation (WHO), the novel coronavirus belongs to the family of zoonotic viruses that spread from animals to humans.

The symptoms of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus include running cold, sneezes, and coughs while in severe cases respiratory problems, shortness of breath, kidney failure or even death.

The deadly virus originated in Wuhan, China has affected more than 105 counties and has infected more than 115,000 people globally with nearly 4,000 deaths.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A $45 million DoubleTree hotel, commercial and apartment building will continue an expansion of the Hilton hotel brand in Western Australia and breathe life into Fremantles dead east end.

The proposed site, currently a three-storey car park, is on the corner of Point and Cantonment streets and while Clancys Fish Pub provides some life nearby, is otherwise surrounded by the ghost-town Woolstores shopping centre, Cloud 9 smoke shop and the derelict wool store overlooking the inner harbour.

The site, as seen behind the Wool Store in the foreground. Credit:Google Earth Pro

But its fortunes are changing with the promise of a four-star hotel: the third WA Doubletree, Hiltons contemporary brand  the first opened in Northbridge in 2018 and the second opens at Elizabeth Quay in June.

The Fremantle version will involve most of the existing carpark being demolished and replaced with a seven-storey, 168-room hotel and ground-floor restaurant, plus a seven-storey apartment building with 45 units, shops, offices, gym and internal courtyards.
Operation Enduring Freedom began on Oct. 7, 2001, with an American bombing campaign against al-Qaida and the Taliban. On the ground, U.S. Special Operations forces teams linked up with Afghan militias opposed to the Taliban, mainly the Northern Alliance, to drive the Taliban from power. The capital, Kabul, fell in mid-November, along with the Taliban stronghold of Kandahar.
Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili has canceled her foreign trips due to the spread of a novel coronavirus worldwide, the Administration of the President of Georgia says in a statement.

The President of Georgia, in coordination with other branches of government, canceled her planned visits to Bulgaria, Ukraine and Belgium. Prior to the announcement, our partners were informed about the Presidents decision, the statement reads.

As of March 11, 2020, 4,300 people died from the coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak. There are currently 119,292 confirmed cases in 119 countries and territories. The fatality rate is still being assessed.

ish
Modern Living with kathy ireland with Danskin Modern Living with kathy ireland is pleased to announce an exclusive interview with Danskin executives to discuss their fitness, yoga, sports, dance, cheer, gymnastics and athleisure collections.

Modern Living with kathy ireland is pleased to announce an exclusive interview with Danskin executives to discuss their fitness, yoga, sports, dance, cheer, gymnastics and athleisure collections.

Since 1882, Danskin has proudly been synonymous with femininity, innovation, quality and superior comfort and fit. Starting out as a family-owned business that catered to New York Citys dancers selling tights, tutus, and leotards, Danskin soon became the standard for dancers across the United States. Today, Danskin enjoys status as the ultimate womens health and wellness lifestyle brand, both nationally and internationally. The label has evolved with women's lifestyles for more than 135 years to create the best in fashionable, functional dancewear, activewear and casual clothes as well as accessories, socks, intimate apparel and sleepwear. Whether it's stylish activity-appropriate fitness, yoga, dance, gymnastics or casual wear, Danskin is dedicated to meeting fashion trends and performance needs of active women and girls. The Danskin mission is simple: to offer women and girls exceptional clothes for living.

Carolyn Siskovic, Vice President of Brand Management for Danskin, says the brand is tried and true. She explains, "There are not a lot of brands that can actually boast that they're over one-hundred years old. Danskins heritage is deeply rooted in dance but the brand has evolved over the years to create activewear and lifestyle products for women."

For more information about Danskin, visit Danskin.com and tune in to WE tv as sponsored content on Thursday, March 12, 2020 at 7:30am ET/PT.

About Modern Living with kathy ireland

Modern Living with kathy ireland is an independently produced television series airing domestically on WE tv as sponsored content and on Bloomberg Internationally. Hosted by lifestyle influencer and business mogul Kathy Ireland, the series features the latest in lifestyle and B2C trends, breakthroughs, and solutions, while highlighting companies from around the globe in a unique and credible format. For more about Modern Living with kathy ireland, visit modernlivingtv.com and check out the series on social media!

About Danskin

Danskin, owned by Iconix Brand Group, Inc., has been the authority in dance since 1882. From its start making hosiery for ballerinas, to outfitting the Radio City Rockettes and New York City Ballet, Danskin has been the standard in dance for more than 135 years. Today, Danskin has evolved from a traditional dance apparel brand to a health and wellness lifestyle brand for the modern woman. Danskin exists to enable powerful feelings of expression through movement and is committed to creating products that support todays woman as she moves through her active, engaged, dynamic life.

For updates and more information on Danskin, please visit http://www.danskin.com.
REDWOOD CITY, Calif., March 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Stanford Online High School , the leader in online education among K-12 independent schools, is offering free resources, including demonstrative webinars , for schools facing closures amidst the spread of COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) . As more brick-and-mortar schools close mid-semester across the United States and internationally, Stanford Online High School aims to share its expertise in the field of online learning to assist other schools as they transition to online classrooms.

Stanford Online High School is an independent school affiliated with Stanford University for academically talented students in grades 712. Through vibrant seminar-style classes that meet online in real-time, Stanford Online High School's rigorous curriculum and scholarly instructors challenge students to reason analytically, argue critically, and think creatively. Stanford Online High School promotes dialogue and exploration across a range of student backgrounds and experiences with current students living in 48 U.S. states and 31 countries across five continents.

"With 14 years' experience running seminar-style online classrooms, we want to help others during this health crisis to consider online teaching as an alternative to shuttering schools completely," said Head of School Tomohiro Hoshi, Ph.D., Stanford Online High School. "For online teaching to be effective, you need to have a well-developed remote learning plan in place first. We hope schools find the resources we are providing useful for that purpose."

The resources site, https://ohs.stanford.edu/how , provides a series of tutorial videos created by Stanford Online High School instructors with essential online classroom tools and effective best practices. Other resources include a checklist with considerations for building remote learning plans, tech troubleshooting tips, and recommended student support services for creating an ideal online learning community. The first in a series of informative webinars will take place on Thursday, March 12, 2020 at 2:00 pm Pacific Time. Visit this link to register.

Founded in 2006, Stanford Online High School is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and the California Association of Independent Schools (CAIS), and is a recognized member of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS). For more information about Stanford Online High School, visit https://ohs.stanford.edu/ .

SOURCE Stanford Online High School

Related Links

https://ohs.stanford.edu


[March 10, 2020] Avaya Spaces Collaboration App Offered Free to Help During the Coronavirus Outbreak Avaya (News - Alert) Holdings Corp. (NYSE:AVYA), a global leader in solutions to enhance and simplify communications and collaboration, today announced that it will provide its Avaya Spaces collaboration software for free to education institutions, including colleges and universities, along with qualified non-profit organizations worldwide. Avaya Spaces is recognized for its ease of implementation and the significant impact it can have on organizational resilience and continuity. Since January, Avaya has seen a 200 percent increase in video collaboration traffic on this platform. "Coronavirus (COVID-19) is impacting the lives of people around the globe and every day we hear new sobering stories about the very real health and safety implications of the spread of this virus," said Jim Chirico, CEO of Avaya. "There is an especially immediate need in the education sector as school and university administrators consider the safety of their students while ensuring continuity of their classes, engagement with their students and delivering on their educational objectives. Avaya has four million UC and contact center seats in the state, local government and education market worldwide - so we understand the demands of that sector and targeted our Avaya Spaces offer accordingly." Avaya Spaces provides a cloud meeting and team collaboration solution that enables people and organizations to connect and collaborate remotely - and goes beyond integrating chat, voice, video, online meetings and content sharing. It gives users an extensive set of meeting and team collaboration features, including voice and video conferencing for up to 200 participants. As a mobile-enabled solution, it gives users a simple, secure and effective way to track communications and manage tasks when travel and connectivity are limited. As early as January, Avaya teams and partners were on the frontline in Wuhan, China to help in the initial stages of this epidemic. The company donated audio and video equipment and dispatched resources for speedy installation and deployment for hospitals in the region to help medical personnel perform remote consultation and video diagnostics as well as to enable patients to visit virtually with loved ones. The company has also worked with governmnt health departments in the U.S. to get emergency call centers up-and-running in a matter of hours. Avaya continues to explore opportunities to help during this global challenge, including helping customers ensure that contact center agents can continue delivering support to their customers in the safest way possible through work-from-home collaboration technologies.

To learn how to sign-up for the free Avaya Spaces offer, eligible organizations are asked to visit this web page. About Avaya Businesses are built on the experiences they provide, and everyday millions of those experiences are built by Avaya (NYSE: AVYA). For over one hundred years, we've enabled organizations around the globe to win - by creating intelligent communications experiences for customers and employees. Avaya builds open, converged and innovative solutions to enhance and simplify communications and collaboration - in the cloud, on-premise or a hybrid of both. To grow your business, we're committed to innovation, partnership, and a relentless focus on what's next. We're the technology company you trust to help you deliver Experiences that Matter. Visit us at http:www.avaya.com. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This document contains certain "forward-looking statements." All statements other than statements of historical fact are "forward-looking" statements for purposes of the U.S. federal and state securities laws. These statements may be identified by the use of forward looking terminology such as "anticipate," "believe," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "might," "our vision," "plan," "potential," "preliminary," "predict," "should," "will," or "would" or the negative thereof or other variations thereof or comparable terminology. The Company has based these forward-looking statements on its current expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections. While the Company believes these expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections are reasonable, such forward-looking statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond its control. The factors are discussed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the " SEC (News - Alert) ") available at www.sec.gov, and may cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. The Company cautions you that the list of important factors included in the Company's SEC filings may not contain all of the material factors that are important to you. In addition, in light of these risks and uncertainties, the matters referred to in the forward-looking statements contained in this press release may not in fact occur. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as otherwise required by law. Source (News - Alert) : Avaya Newsroom View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200310005997/en/

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The Plainview ISD elementary campuses are celebrating Texas Public School Week.

All campuses are inviting parents and guardians to join their students for lunch and a few other activities.

Heres whats going on at each campus for the rest of the week:

College Hill

Spotlight lunches:

Wednesday  Pre-K (10:50-11:10 a.m.) and Kindergarten (11:40 a.m.-12:05 p.m.)

Thursday  5th grade (12:15-12:40 p.m.)

Scholastic Bookfair  ends Friday; open Monday-Thursday from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. and from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on Friday

Hillcrest

Wednesday:

11:10 a.m.: 3rd grade Symbol presentation, lunch at 11:25 a.m.

11:30 a.m.: Kindergarten Texas presentation, lunch at 11:45 a.m.

Thursday:

10:45 a.m.: Pre K AM  Ranch Hands Blues, lunch at 11:20 a.m.

Noon: 5th grade lunch; pre-K PM lunch

2:45 p.m.: Pre-K PM Ranch Hands Blues

Friday:

10:50 a.m.: 1st grade Texas Portfolio presentation, lunch at 11:10 a.m.

12:15 p.m.: communication lunch, Texas Decoration at 12:45 p.m.

La Mesa

Scholastic Book Fair is going on this week. Monday-Friday from 8 a.m.-4 p.m.; Friday from 8 a.m.-2 p.m.

Wednesday:

10:45 a.m.: 5th grade Texas state reports, lunch at 11:15 a.m.

11 a.m.: kindergarten Texas Showcase, lunch at 11:30 a.m.

11 a.m.: FA-K-2 Texas Showcase, lunch at 11:30 a.m.

Thursday:

10:55 a.m.: FA/TA lunch, Texas Showcase

11:45 a.m.: 1st grade Texas Showcase, lunch at 12:15 p.m.

2 p.m.: MSI Texas Showcase and Texas snack

Friday:

8 a.m.: PPCD  AM  breakfast and Texas Showcase

12:05 p.m.: PPCD  PM  Lunch and Texas showcase

11:45 a.m.: 4th grade lunch, 12:15 Texas Gallery, Choir, Texas Two Step

Edgemere

Book Fair hours: 7:30-8:15 a.m., 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Wednesday: noon  4th grade lunch; 10:45 a.m., PK-AM lunch

Thursday: 11:30 a.m.  3rd grade lunch

Friday: 11:15 a.m.  1st grade lunch; 11 a.m.  2nd grade lunch

Highland

Wednesday: 2nd and 3rd grade lunch  11:15 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Thursday: 1st grade lunch  11:35 a.m.

Friday: kindergarten lunch  12:10 p.m.

Thunderbird
Despite 35 confirmed cases and its first death from Covid 19, Ireland - for now - remains in containment phase, the first of three as part of the States efforts to curb the new, and as yet incurable, disease.

Those three stages are not identical to similar plans in place across international borders, but they do broadly resemble one another.

Neither the HSE nor the Department of Health has been willing to be drawn on when the country will move from one phase to the next, possibly because such decisions remain fluid. Nevertheless, that process of containment is the phase we have been in since January before the virus first officially arrived on Irish shores.

Fundamentally, containment means an attempt to stop the virus by denying it the ability to spread. That means identifying those with symptoms, testing them, and isolating them as quickly as possible, and then performing contact-tracing on those with the illness to see who they may have infected, then testing them too.

There are two ways of looking at containment in its Irish context. From one point of view, it has failed given new cases continue to be announced each evening and community transmission has now occurred.

The other way, and how Irelands health authorities have approached it, is that containment is a game of time - the longer the country remains in the initial phase, the longer the health service has to prepare for an influx of seriously ill people, and the more likely the economy will be able to absorb the impact of the disease.

Given Irelands numbers remain low in a European context, and given the country was one of the final three on the continent to present with cases of the virus, the HSE and Department of Health are probably broadly satisfied with how containment has proceeded. Realistically, however, we are coming to the end of this phase.

The next stage will be delay, and one of the first signifiers that it has come to pass will most likely be edicts shutting the schools, banning mass gatherings, and requiring all workers who can do so to work from home.

Delay applies when it becomes clear that the virus is ingrained in the populace and is beginning to spread freely. Its aim is to slow the pace of spread so as to prevent the health service from becoming swamped by serious cases, all at the one time. Given the amount of gatherings that have already been cancelled, and companies directing employees to work from home, in many ways the country is already on a delay footing.

Mitigation is the final stage, and will be instigated once the disease is spreading uncontrollably. Its aim will be to save as many lives as possible. At this stage, those with the disease may be so numerous that they will no longer even be seen in hospital, but rather be diagnosed remotely and told to self-isolate at home, depending on the severity of their condition (a similar approach was taken with swine flu in 2009). The seriously ill will receive absolute priority.

How soon we reach mitigation depends on how fast the illness spreads. More difficult decisions may be required should the number of seriously unwell overwhelm the hospital system.

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By PTI

LONDON: Russian pranksters on Wednesday said they duped Prince Harry into believing he was speaking to environmental campaigner Greta Thunberg, after The Sun newspaper gave details of hoax calls.

"It was us", Vladimir "Voyan" Kuznetsov told AFP in response to the British tabloid's front-page report, which said the prince was duped into two chats with him and Alexei "Lexus" Solyarov.

The pair, known as "Vovan and Lexus", have made a habit of fooling politicians and pop stars in prank calls.

Their previous victims include Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, pop icon Elton John and Prime Minister Boris Johnson himself when he was foreign secretary in 2018.

In the conversations, which took place in December and January, the prince was tricked into believing he was speaking to Thunberg and her father, Svante.

The daily reported he gave his support to Thunberg and attacked US President Donald Trump for his stance on climate change.

"Unfortunately the world is being led by some very sick people so the people like yourselves and younger generation are the ones that are going to make all the difference," the prince reportedly said.

"I think the mere fact that Donald Trump is pushing the coal industry is so big in America, he has blood on his hands."

The Russian pair reportedly also coaxed Harry to discuss his decision to quit frontline royal life as well as to comment on leading politicians.

On British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Harry was said to have added: "He is a good man, so you are one of few people who can reach into his soul and get him to feel and believe in you.

"But you have to understand that because he has been around for so long like all of these other people, they are already set in their ways."

On his move to North America with wife Meghan and baby Archie, Harry was quoted as saying it was "the right decision to be able to protect my son" from constant media attention.

"It's a tricky one, but we will start a new life," he added.

The Duke of Sussex insisted "no one has stripped us of our titles", saying the British press had exaggerated the issue of their future royal status.

"We obviously have been asked not to use our titles in order to make money, which we would never do," he said.

The pranksters apparently even managed to steer Harry towards the scandal that has engulfed his uncle Prince Andrew over a friendship with late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

"I have very little to say on that," the prince reportedly said.

"But whatever he has done or hasn't done, is completely separate from me and my wife. We are completely separate from the majority of my family."

Harry is also said to have hinted at tensions inside the British monarchy's inner circle when asked by the hoax callers if normal life was worse than royal life.

"Oh no, I think it's much better," he replied, before adding: "You forget, I was in the military for 10 years, so I'm more normal than my family would like to believe."

Kensington Palace did not immediately respond to a request for comment when contacted by AFP.

Royal sources were quoted as saying by The Sun that it was "completely natural" for Harry to want to talk to Thunberg.
Company announcement no 2020-04 10 March 2020

Annual general meeting

Today, Demant A/S held its annual general meeting at the companys premises, Kongebakken 9, 2765 Smrum, Denmark. All proposals put forward by the Board were adopted by the general meeting, implying among others the following decisions:

The companys Annual Report 2019 was approved, and the years profit, DKK 971 million, will be transferred to the companys reserves.

The Boards remuneration for the 2020 financial year was approved.

Niels B. Christiansen, Niels Jacobsen, Benedikte Leroy and Lars Rasmussen were re-elected members of the Board of Directors.

Anja Madsen was elected new member of the Board of Directors.

The companys auditors, Deloitte Statsautoriseret Revisionspartnerselskab, were re-elected.

The companys share capital will be reduced by nominally DKK 919,173.40, corresponding to the companys holding of treasury shares at 4 February 2020. The companys holding of treasury shares was acquired during 2019. As a result of the capital reduction, article 4.1 of the articles of association will be amended no later than four weeks after expiry of the deadline for the filing of claims by creditors, which means that upon expiry of this deadline, it will appear from article 4.1 that the companys share capital is DKK 48,138,234.

Until the next ordinary general meeting, the Board was authorised to let the company buy back shares with a nominal value of up to 10% of the share capital.

A revised version of the companys remuneration policy was approved.

In his address, the Chairman of the Board, Niels B. Christiansen, gave an account of the Groups development in 2019. He said among other things:

2019 was an eventful year for the Group: We changed our name and launched new, innovative products, which means that all our business activities now have completely updated and leading product portfolios for the benefit of our customers and users. We introduced the first Philips-branded hearing aids on the market where they got a positive reception, and we launched EPOS to support our growth ambitions in the intelligent audio and video solutions business area. Unfortunately, 2019 will also be remembered as the year where we were hit by cybercrime, which had a significant, negative impact and meant that we did not achieve satisfactory results for 2019. We did everything we could to limit the impact on our business, and I notice that both in difficult times and in general, the Groups employees display great engagement in their work and thus contribute to fulfilling our ambitions, says Niels B. Christiansen, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Demant.

Story continues

After the general meeting, the Board of Directors elected Niels B. Christiansen Chairman and Niels Jacobsen Deputy Chairman of the Board.

* * * * * * *

Further information:

Sren Nielsen, President & CEO

Phone +45 3917 7300

www.demant.com Other contacts:

Rene Schneider, CFO

Mathias Holten Mller, Head of IR

Christian Lange, IR Officer

Trine Kromann-Mikkelsen, VP Corporate Communication and Relations

Attachment
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A fleet of coaches and taxis arrived at Birmingham Airport where 135 British passengers who had been aboard a quarantined cruise liner have touched down today to begin self-isolation at home.

The Grand Princess, carrying 3,500 people, had been allowed to dock in Oakland, California, on Monday after being stranded off the coast. At least 21 people aboard had tested positive for Covid-19.

The passengers were met by hazmat-wearing staff from NHS West Midlands Ambulance Service and taken to board their transport home.

While baggage handlers were seen at Birmingham Airport wearing protective gloves and masks, other airport staff and coach drivers appeared to be unprotected.

Two ambulances were part of the convoy which assembled near the cargo terminal, although a spokeswoman for the Midlands airport said their presence was a precaution.

At least a dozen taxis, including some from Gosport and Havant in Hampshire as well as Birmingham, have also arrived to take passengers home.

Despite being in close proximity to the 21 passengers and crew who have tested positive for coronavirus, they will not be formally quarantined and have been asked only to self-isolate in their own homes.

Scroll down for video.

British nationals from the cruise ship Grand Princess on a bus after disembarking from a plane at Birmingham Airport today. Hazmat-wearing medics met the 135 passengers as they were taken to their transport home

A member of the NHS West Midlands Ambulance Service, wearing protective clothing and a face mask, speaking to passengers (left) from the coronavirus-hit Grand Princess cruise ship after they arrived at Birmingham Airport following their repatriation to the UK from the US today

A Briton who was on board the cruise ship Grand Princess giving a thumbs up from a cab after disembarking from the plane at Birmingham Airport today

Passengers boarding coaches after leaving the aircraft that arrived from the US today. NHS staff wearing protective gear led the passengers to the vehicles

The 135 Britons who arrived in Birmingham today will quarantine themselves at home after being stranded for days on board the Grand Princess cruise liner

Passengers appeared relieved as they were driven home in taxis and coaches from Birmingham Airport after finally touching down in the UK today

Passengers wearing face masks after leaving from flight N705CK coming from California depart Birmingham airport in private taxis to return to their homes today

Passengers starting to board coaches after flight N705CK landed at Birmingham Airport today. The passengers will now begin their two-week quarantine

Passengers from the coronavirus-hit Grand Princess arriving at Birmingham Airport after being repatriated from the US and were greeted by a convoy of ambulances, coaches and taxis

The plane with British nationals from the cruise ship Grand Princess landing at Birmingham Airport today, as the number of coronavirus cases grow around the world

Workers unload the luggage of the British nationals from the cruise ship Grand Princess after arriving at Birmingham Airport. Baggage handlers were seen wearing protective masks and gloves, but other airport staff did not

The cargo airliner Kalitta Air arrived in Oakland, California, last night before the Britons boarded the plane and began their 11-hour journey back to the UK.

The UK Foreign Office confirmed the British passengers, who were evacuated from the ship on Tuesday alongside 857 others, will not be quarantined when they land in the UK.

Instead transport organised by Carnival Cruises will bring them to their individual homes where they have been asked to self-isolate for 14 days in case of Covid-19 infection.

'The British nationals returning from the Grand Princess cruise ship will be asked to self-isolate at home and followed up on by PHE on a daily basis as a precautionary approach,' said Public Health England.

They have been told to only get in touch with the NHS if they fall ill - despite the fact infected patients are highly contagious a week before showing symptoms.

British passengers with symptoms did not board the plane and were taken to a hospital in San Francisco instead and there are still seven British crew members remaining on the ship.

The evacuees landed at Birmingham Airport today after RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire and Boscombe Down in Wiltshire, where previous repatriated Britons have been quarantined, were vetoed.

Some 407 people, including 200 Canadians, were evacuated late Monday night. A further 999 were then evacuated from the ship throughout Tuesday, bringing the total number of passengers disembarked to 1,406.

A spokesman for the UK Foreign Office said: 'We continue to work closely with the US authorities to repatriate British nationals on board the Grand Princess.

'Their current plan is for a flight to return to the UK on Wednesday afternoon. We remain in contact with all British nationals on board and will continue to offer support.'

Coaches, ambulances and taxis making their way to collect passengers from the coronavirus-hit Grand Princess upon their arrival at Birmingham Airport after being repatriated from the US

An airport worker walking across the tarmac at Birmingham Airport today after a flight carrying 135 British passengers from California to the UK landed

The Kalitta Air plane landing at Birmingham Airport this afternoon after bringing 135 British cruise ship passengers back to the UK

One ambulance was moved onto the tarmac as the passengers arrived at Birmingham Airport today

At least a dozen taxis, including some from Gosport and Havant in Hampshire as well as Birmingham, arrived at Birmingham Airport to take passengers home today

Two ambulances were among the convoy of vehicles that greeted the more than 100 passengers that arrived in Birmingham

Transportation was arranged to take passengers from the airport to their homes after they flew from the US back to the UK

Ambulances and taxis arrived to meet the British passengers at Birmingham Airport. A spokeswoman for the Midlands airport said the paramedic vehicle were present as a precaution

Almost a thousand more passengers disembarked the Grand Princess cruise ship on Tuesday and were driven away to be placed in quarantine at military bases around the United States (passengers are pictured boarding a plane at Oakland International Airport yesterday)

Almost a thousand more passengers were disembarked from the Grand Princess cruise ship on Tuesday and driven away to be placed in quarantine at military bases around the United States.

The US military said some passengers from the cruise ship arrived at an air base in Georgia and will now begin a 14-day quarantine.

The passengers arrived early on Wednesday at the base in Cobb County, just northwest of Atlanta, Dobbins Air Reserve Base said in a statement.

Base officials didn't specify the number of patients now on base, but they've said previously they were planning for dozens.

The passengers are from the Grand Princess, which had to circle at sea for days before being allowed to disembark in Oakland, California.

There still remains an estimated 1,015 passengers on board alongside 1,113 crew members.

Among those who disembarked on Monday were two travellers who tested positive for the coronavirus on Friday. They were taken to the hospital alongside their travel companions.

Nineteen crew members also tested positive Friday but have been deemed 'asymptomatic' and remain on the ship in isolated cabins.

Addressing a news conference on Tuesday in Sacramento, the state capital, Governor Gavin Newsom said he hoped to finish getting all the roughly 2,400 passengers off the ship within 72 hours.

The cargo airliner Kalitta Air (pictured) arrived in Oakland, California, last night before the Britons boarded the plane and began their 11-hour journey back to the UK

Passenger Steven Smith going through a health screening after leaving the Grand Princess cruise ship in Oakland today

Steven Smith (left) and other Grand Princess cruise ship passengers get aboard a plane that will take them to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar for further quarantine

Passengers from the Grand Princess cruise ship, which docked in Oakland, arrived for quarantine at Joint Base San Antonio Lackland in San Antonio, Texas, yesterday

Grand Princess cruise ship passengers being screened inside a tent Tuesday in Oakland before boarding a bus that will take them to a military base for quarantine. California Gov. Gavin Newsom hopes to have disembarked the ship within 72 hours

Passengers as they get ready to disembark the Grand Princess in Oakland on Tuesday

Port workers wearing protective gear work along the portside of the Grand Princess cruise ship in Oakland on Tuesday

Medical personnel help load passengers from the Grand Princess cruise ship onto airplanes at Oakland International Airport on Tuesday as they are flown to military bases to be kept in quarantine for 14 days and tested for the coronavirus

Luggage belonging to passengers from the Princess Cruises Grand Princess cruise ship is loaded onto a charter plane at Oakland International Airport on Tuesday as American passengers are brought to military bases for quarantine

A passenger from the Grand Princess washes his hands before boarding a chartered plane in Oakland on Tuesday

Once they leave the ship, passengers are being screened before boarding a bus to take them to Travis Air Force Base in Northern California or another military base.

Travis Air Force expected to welcome 810 Californian passengers in total on Tuesday.

Other American passengers are being driven by bus to take a charter plane from Oakland International Airport where they are sent to other military bases around the country to be placed in quarantine for 14 days.

According to a press release from Princess Cruises on Tuesday, 'once they disembark, American guests will be transferred to either Travis Air Force Base in Solano County, California; Miramar Marine Corps Air Station in San Diego; Lackland Air Force Base in Bexar County, Texas; or Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Marietta, Georgia'.

California residents will be sent to the Travis Air Force base in Fairfield or Marine Corps Air Station Miramar near San Diego.

Non-Californians will be flown to Joint Base San Antonio Lackland in Texas or Dobbins Air Force Base in Georgia.

On Tuesday evening, the first passengers were pictured arriving in Joint Base San Antonio Lackland in San Antonio, Texas, for their quarantine. This is the third set of quarantined visitors to arrive at the base.

A passenger cheers as medical Personnel help load them from the Grand Princess cruise ship onto airplanes at Oakland International Airport. American passengers are being brought to one of four military bases to complete a 14-day quarantine

A worker in protective gear directs a masked passenger from the cruise ship Grand Princess on the tarmac at Oakland International Airport Tuesday as authorities continue debarkation from the ship after 21 people on board tested positive

Medical Personnel help load passengers from the Grand Princess cruise ship onto airplanes at Oakland International Airport on Tuesday as American passengers are brought into quarantine due to the risk they contracted the coronavirus

In February, it took in 91 citizens repatriated from Wuhan, China, and later received 140 passengers from the Diamond Princess Cruise Ship.

The base was expecting to receive about 380 passengers from the Grand Princess.

All passengers sported masks and had their luggage with them as they arrived on the tarmac. They were met as they got off the plane by medical staff.

Passengers still on board the ship have little information on when they will be disembarking.

'We haven't received any information... We have not received anything in writing or anything like that to say where we're going or if we're even leaving today,' Donna LaGuesse told USA Today earlier on Tuesday.

Her sister-in-law had received a luggage tag meaning that she would be getting off the ship soon but neither knew which military base they would be sent to and if they could end up separated.

According to Princess Cruises, Health & Human Services teams have been on board the Grand Princess to assist with medical screenings and interviews and have prioritized those who require the most medical attention and care.

Passengers from the Grand Princess cruise ship, which docked in Oakland, arrive for quarantine at Joint Base San Antonio Lackland in San Antonio, Texas, on Tuesday. This is the third group of quarantined passengers to join the base

A driver and a medical professional with face masks are seen on a bus transporting passengers from the Grand Princess cruise ship, which docked in Oakland, arrive for a coronavirus quarantine at Joint Base San Antonio Lackland on Tuesday

Crew members unload bags after a charter flight from California's Oakland International Airport carrying passengers evacuated from the Grand Princess cruise ship arrived at Kelly Field, an enclave of San Antonio, Texas, on Tuesday

On Tuesday evening, 24 passengers were taken to buildings on the Asilomar State Beach and Conference Grounds in Pacific Grove where they will be temporarily housed.

The passengers are not known to have contracted the coronavirus but 'because they have mild symptoms that do not require hospitalization, they cannot be quarantined at Travis Air Force Base'.

Once all guests have disembarked, the crew will remain on board and the ship will leave San Francisco Bay.

'Once disembarkation of the guests is completed, remaining crew members will remain onboard and Grand Princess will depart from San Francisco Bay. Plans for a crew quarantine are still being determined,' Princess Cruises added in Tuesday's statement.

All the remaining U.S. passengers will be tested once they reach their destinations at quarantine housing at one of the four military bases.

Hundreds of Americans have been taken off the Grand Princess cruise ship and driven to military bases around America to start two weeks of quarantine after a coronavirus outbreak on board. Pictured, a bus arrives at Travis Air Force Base

Some 1,500 people were evacuated from the ship on Monday, including two dozen people requiring urgent medical care. Pictured, a bus full of American passengers arrives at Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, California

Two buses carrying quarantined passengers from the Grand Princess cruise ship drive onto Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, California, on Monday night

240 Canadian passengers were evacuated Monday and boarded a specially-chartered evacuation flight home (pictured arriving at Canadian Forces Base Trenton, Ontario) where they will also be quarantined

Passengers step off a plane carrying Canadians back from the Grand Princess cruise ship, after it arrived at Canadian Forces Base Trenton in Ontario

Around 2,000 passengers were left on board the ship overnight as evacuation operations were halted, before restarting again Tuesday morning. It comes after 21 cases of coronavirus were confirmed on board the ship

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF CORONAVIRUS? Like other coronaviruses, including those that cause the common cold and that triggered SARS, COVID-19 is a respiratory illness. The most common symptoms are: Fever

Dry cough

Shortness of breath

Difficulty breathing

Fatigue Although having a runny nose doesn't rule out coronavirus, it doesn't thus far appear to be a primary symptom. Most people only become mildly ill, but the infection can turn serious and even deadly, especially for those who are older or have underlying health conditions. In these cases, patients develop pneumonia, which can cause: Potentially with yellow, green or bloody mucus Fever, sweating and shaking chills

Shortness of breath Rapid or shallow breathing

Pain when breathing, especially when breathing deeply or coughing

Low appetite, energy and fatigue

Nausea and vomiting (more common in children) Confusion (more common in elderly people)

Some patients have also reported diarrhea and kidney failure has occasionally been a complication. Avoid people with these symptoms. If you develop them, call your health care provider before going to the hospital or doctor, so they and you can prepare to minimize possible exposure if they suspect you have coronavirus. Advertisement

Among Monday's evacuees were 240 Canadians who were loaded on specially chartered evacuation flights home to start a quarantine of their own.

The Grand Princess was forced to idle off the coast of California for several days after a coronavirus outbreak was confirmed on board, but finally made port in Oakland on Monday and an evacuation started.

US authorities decided not to quarantine people on board the ship after similar efforts on board another Princess Cruises ship - the Diamond Princess - failed, sickening more than 700 people and leading to six deaths.

'Everyone was hollering and clapping' as the giant vessel sailed under the Golden Gate Bridge and entered the harbor, passenger Karen Schwartz Dever said.

Carolyn Wright, 63, of Santa Fe, New Mexico, could look out of her cabin window as passengers lined up. Around them, she noted, were people in yellow protective clothing, gloves and even a few hazardous materials suits.

For days, passengers aboard the ship had been isolated in their cabins. When they were finally allowed a few minutes on deck, she said, they were warned to wear masks and try to stay 6 feet away from each other.

But after docking, video showed long lines forming for the processing tents. Ambulances were on hand to take some passengers away.

'They were cueing up the passengers like cattle,' Wright said. 'Everybody was bunched up. They were physically touching each other and they were backed up along the gangplank.' Then, she said, they were taken away in chartered buses.

'I'm just totally freaked out by that,' said Wright. 'It's outrageous. If that's safe, then why were we stuck in our rooms? It's been stressed for the past five days that we're not to have any contact with any other passengers?'

'We're trying to stay calm and were trying to stay positive but it's getting harder and harder. They can't make up their minds how to keep us safe,' said Wright's cabin mate, Beryl Ward, 77, of Santa Fe.

'The president didn't even want us to get off the ship. So that didn't make me happy,' she added. 'Wish you were here, Mr. Trump!'

On Sunday, before the ship docked, Dr. John Redd of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services had urged passengers to remain in their rooms and said: 'We're making every effort to get them off the ship as safely and quickly as possible.'

He called the elaborate but quickly planned disembarkation process a 'really unprecedented and difficult operation.'

The Grand Princess had been held off the coast since Wednesday because of evidence that it was the breeding ground for more than 20 infections tied to a previous voyage.

US authorities opted to evacuate the Grand Princess after efforts to quarantine passengers on board the Diamond Princess ship failed and led to 700 getting sick, along with six deaths. The evacuation should be completed within 72 hours

Disembarking passengers were filtered through medical tents as they left the ship so they could be checked for signs of the virus, while crew members (right) were dressed in full hazmat suits as they were taken off the ship

Passengers left on board the ship wave to those on shore after being confined to their rooms ahead of evacuation

The Grand Princess was held off the West Coast after coronavirus was detected on board, before being allowed to dock at Oakland on Monday as the evacuation started. The evacuation continued Tuesday with more than 1,400 disembarked

U.S. passengers will be flown or bused from the port - chosen for its proximity to an airport and a military base - to bases in California, Texas and Georgia for testing and a 14-day quarantine. Some arrived Monday night at Travis Air Force Base in Northern California. The ship carried people from 54 countries, and foreigners were to be whisked home.

But Wright and others said nobody had been told the details. Only about 50 people had been tested for the virus.

'I'm willing to be quarantined,' Wright said. ''But I want to know if I'm positive or not. We don't even know if we're going to get tested. It's all rumor and speculation.'

'I'm bored and frustrated,' she added. 'All of a sudden a two-week vacation has turned into a five-week vacation.'

Passengers need to worry about who is looking after their children or pets, not to mention preparing their taxes before the deadline and earning a living.

A professional photographer, she was looking at five weeks without earning a salary.

About 1,100 crew members, 19 of whom have tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, will be quarantined and treated aboard the ship, which will dock elsewhere after passengers are unloaded, California Gov. Gavin Newsom has said.

The California governor and Oakland mayor sought to reassure people that none of the cruise ship passengers would be exposed to the public before completing the quarantine. Officials were trying to decide where the ship and its crew would go next.

Cruise ships have come under scrutiny by those who view them as potential germ factories because they pack thousands of people in close quarters.

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.

A third vessel, the Caribbean Princess, was supposed to dock in Grand Cayman on Monday but the cruise line said it will keep its thousands of passengers and crews from disembarking until crew members are tested for COVID-19.

Around the world, nations have limited the movements of millions of people in an effort to stop the spread of COVID-19. Italy was to impose travel restrictions and other strict public health measures nationwide starting Tuesday.

In Northern California, Santa Clara County announced a ban of all large gatherings of at least 1,000 people for the rest of the month in response to the coronavirus outbreak.

The announcement Monday came hours after the public health department announced the county's first coronavirus death, a woman in her 60s.

The virus has shaken global markets, with stocks taking their worst one-day beating on Wall Street since 2008 and oil prices suffering their most brutal losses since the start of the 1991 Gulf War.

Even with Asian markets posting modest gains Tuesday, fear was rampant that economies stood at the brink of recession.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia.

A worker at the Life Care Center in Kirkland, which has seen the majority of US deaths due to the virus, wears a mask and uses a leaf blower as he wheels a package on a cart, Monday

Tourists, wearing protective masks, look on as they wait for a ride outside of Union Station in Washington, DC

A man wears a face mask as he arrives to take the subway in New York City amid fears over coronavirus infections

Donald Trump has faced accusations that his administration is seeking to downplay the virus, leaving Americans unprepared

According to the World Health Organization, people with mild illness recover in about two weeks, while those with more severe illness may take three to six weeks to recover.

In mainland China, where the virus first exploded, more than 80,000 people have been diagnosed and more than 58,000 have so far recovered.

The virus has infected over 1,000 people in the United States, and at least 31 have died, most in Washington state.

Surgeon General Jerome Adams said communities will need to start thinking about canceling large gatherings, closing schools and letting more employees work from home, as many companies have done after an outbreak in the Seattle area.

Pearl Jam on Monday announced it was postponing 17 North American shows on its upcoming tour over coronavirus concerns.

In Silicon Valley, NASA's Ames Research Center is essentially closed with restricted access because an employee tested positive Sunday for the coronavirus. Workers will be on 'mandatory telework status' and three earth science airplane missions are being delayed to later this year, the county said.

Several universities have begun online-only courses, including the University of Washington, Stanford University and Columbia University.
March 11, 2020





Performing any task requires the use of multiple skill sets. Doing your job efficiently demands you to have a specific set of tech skills, though. Even though those are computers and digital technologies usually meant when people talk about tech skills, these may vary from website construction to market research design.







The good news is that there are specific sets of skills for most tech positions, and if you are proficient in some of them - you should probably highlight those while crafting your resume. Depending on the field of industry you want to apply, the list may comprise logical thinking, good organizational skills, team-organization skills, understanding of coding languages, and passion for constant learning. The last one is important as most progressive companies prefer hiring individuals who are willing and able to keep up with market trends, and these are always changing.

What are technical skills?

Technical skills may be defined as the abilities the one needs to possess to perform particular tasks requiring specific expertise. Commonly, the tech-oriented fields are IT, design, engineering, science, business and economics, marketing, medicine, etc. Technical skills are often required to control machinery, work with digital tools, and coding as they demand in-depth theoretical and practical expertise for business products to be successful.

Why technical skills matter?

Since almost every job relies on different tools, programs, and processes, tech skills matter if you want to run the competition on the current labor market. To give you an example, think about a welder position. Sure, the applicant might be an extremely positive person and have excellent communication and customer service skills. But the employer will probably prefer the one who can handle a torch. Alternatively, imagine a freelance writer who is fancy about working for EssayYoda. He/she is a great team worker and keeps up with the deadlines but can do none of these: Ghostwriting, Journalism, Scientific Writing, SEO, Technical Writing, WordPress.

Unfortunately, the candidate's resume won't be considered by the HR-department of top-writing services, so he/she needs to work on the tech skills set before trying his/her luck for the second time.

Soft skills matter, but sometimes, having them is not enough.

Examples of tech skills

Depending on the company you want to work for and the position you want to take, the required technical abilities and knowledge will vary widely. Below, there are a few examples of industry-specific technical skills employers are usually searching for:

IT:

Web: CSS, HTML5, Django, Node.js. Laravel, React.

Programming Skills: Java, C++, JavaScript, Python, PHP, Objective-C, AJAX, ASP.NET (News - Alert), Ruby, Golang.

Cloud and Distributed Computing: Kubernetes, Docker, Azure, AWS.

Network and Information Security: OSCP, Cisco CCNA, Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH), CompTIA (News - Alert) Security+.

Electronic and Electrical Engineering: AutoCAD, MATLAB, Verilog, Simulink, Pspice, ETAP.

Big Data: Statistical analysis, data mining, data modeling, database management.

Business Analytics: Benchmarking, Future State Assessment, As-Is Analysis, Defining Solutions and Scope, Gap Analysis, Wireframing, Financial Analysis/Modeling, SWOT Analysis.

Accounting: Account Reconciliation, Asset Management, Automation, Payroll, Profit and Loss, Tax Returns.

Data Analitics: Statistical Methods, Programming Database Design, Excel Power User, SAS Enterprise Miner, SQL, Minitab Data Analytics, MS Access, Oracle (News - Alert) Data Visualization.

Graphic Design: Photoshop, Illustrator, Acrobat, InDesign, HTML/CSS, Corel Draw, Typography, Sketching, Layout.

Sales Industry: Social Media, Relationship Building, Presentation, Prospecting, Customer Needs Analysis, Product Demo, Objection Handling, Closing Sales, Lead Qualification.

Technical skills for cover letter

In your cover letter, you will naturally want to list your most valuable professional capabilities one more time. However, you should also remember that eye-catching CV is not all about self-promotion, it's rather about being sharp and concise while representing yourself. The primary aim of a cover letter is to give the employer a brief vision of who you are (as a professional), what you know about the organization you're applying to, and why you are a good fit for the company's corporate culture and vision.

Ways to keep your tech knowledge up to date

Digital tools and programs change over the shortest ever periods of time, so the technical skills you possess will probably need to be enhanced with digital market innovations. Once you've already got the position, it is necessary to refresh your tech background with continuing education, especially if you work in IT. Don't wait for your skills to be outdated, it's better to get ahead of changes in your field.

How to improve your technical skills

In case you have decided to shift the industry you're currently taking position at, you will face the moment when you will need to consider acquiring completely new professional capabilities, either improving the ones you've already got. Fortunately, the task isn't as complex as it seems from the first sight. Below, there are several steps for you to succeed:

1. Join group courses/classes

Despite gaining technical expertise in a new area is likely to take a long road, you can fasten the process of joining one of the training programs or classes. Either you prefer online or in-person courses, group studies are likely to make the process fun and dynamic.

2. Enroll in self-study education program

There is a multitude of self-education books on any subject available online for free. Self-paced online programs, free training materials on education platforms are available in several clicks - so why not give it a try?

3. Take private lessons from a professional

Find a professional who already has the technical skills you need. Individual lessons will help you to gain the skills within the shortest time (of course, if you manage to avoid procrastination).

4. Master your skills at work

On-the-job training is another trend in progressive companies, so maybe the one you're applying to also provides some training opportunities? If you lack some skills an employer is looking for, mention that you are enthusiastic about learning whatever skills are necessary to perform the work in the most productive way.

Conclusion

Update your resume every time you learn new technical skills or master your level of the existing ones. Whether you want to build a career in a technical or in any other field of the labor market, employers will always prefer the workers having enough expertise to have the job performed efficiently and successfully. In their turn, resume and CV are a perfect place to demonstrate you can do both!

By Jennifer Broflowski

Jennifer Broflowski is an expert freelance writer from Australia. She takes the position of a Content Contributor at CraftResumes and fancies about providing you with the best recommendations on crafting an eye-catching resume and CV.
- Kim Chiu posted on Instagram a week after the van she was riding in Quezon City was ambushed by unidentified gunmen

- The Kapamilya star posted about appreciating life more due to the terrifying experience

- The actress also thanked all of the people who showed their love and care for her throughout the ordeal

- She also commented on the netizens who speculated that the shooting incident was staged

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Kim Chiu took to social media a week after the van she was riding in Quezon City was ambushed by unidentified gunmen.

KAMI learned that she posted about appreciating life more due to the terrifying experience.

She also thanked all of the people who showed their love and care for her throughout the ordeal.

Finally, she also commented on the netizens who speculated that the shooting incident was staged in order to draw attention away from the ABS-CBN franchise issues.

According to Kim, she refuses to hate on people who want to bring her down because she wants to focus more on the people who love her.

It has been a week since....that day made me realize life is really short, life is very precious and most of all felt Gods presence he protected me, my PA and my driver,. None of us was hurt. He is really powerful amongst us all. I must say it was a miracle. I could not explain the feeling but I know he was with us and so our guardian angels.

I want to thank my AbsCbn family Direk Lauren Dyogi who picked me up at taping and secured my safety all through out and abscbn bosses Tita Cory, Sir Mark and Sir Carlo to my StarMagic family Tita Mariole and Mr M, my handler Ate Edith and my sister Ate Lakam, to my friend Ranvel Rufino for urgently went on set with lawyers with him thank you sobra sa inyo. So many people helped me get through this I am blessed to be surrounded with these kind of people they dont have to do this ang dami na nilang pinoroblema but still they insisted to help me. Now everything is slowly unfolding and I am glad that I am alive despite...

I realized a lot of things, you discover people who are willing to help, people who care for you and people who just wants to bring you down. I dont want to get mad at them or hate them, Puno ng pasasalmat ang puso ko, Im just happy that I am here posting another IG post and thanking HIM for this Precious life! Tuloy ang buhay!

I want to thank tita cory and tita mariole for the continuous update. Thank you for always checking on me. Atty Aby and Atty Edwin thank you. Papa God maraming salamat po. Now no need to be scared. Kung wala ka namang ginagawang masama, there is no need to be scared, Kim posted on Instagram.

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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!

Ara Mina spoke to KAMI about her successful business venture - her Hazelberry Cafe! Check out all of the exciting videos and celebrity interviews on our KAMI HumanMeter YouTube channel!

Source: KAMI.com.gh
Here are your Connecticut coronavirus basics this Wednesday morning.

Worldwide, coronavirus cases have topped 121,000 with more than 4,300 deaths.

Here are three things you need to know about coronavirus in Connecticut right now.

1. Emergency declaration gives Lamont broad powers

Gov. Ned Lamont declared civil preparedness and public health emergencies Tuesday, a move that gives him broad authority to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak and, he said, will increase the states capacity to test people for the virus.

The declaration will give Lamont authority to enact travel bans and close schools, public facilities and private industries. If he chooses to use those powers, hell do so in future executive orders; he did not suspend or modify any statutes in the initial declaration.

Weve made our strong recommendations in terms of travel, weve made our strong recommendations in terms of big group activities, Lamont said. Right now, its a strong recommendation, we havent legally restricted peoples travel, he said, and municipalities can still make their own decisions.

In the declaration, he said powers to order isolation and quarantine have been delegated to municipal and district directors of public health.

The declaration gives Lamont the authority to close schools and issue waivers from the requirement that all public schools hold classes for 180 days, if necessary. Miguel Cardona, commissioner of education, said the department is communicating with districts about closing or using distance learning, but said case-by-case plans will be made by each district.

The emergency declaration gives us the opportunity to get more testing capacity faster, Lamont said. Im going to look at the public health regulations and do everything I can to allow more of our local partners here in the state of Connecticut to be better able to do not just collection but testing. Thats the choke point right now.

The emergency declaration may help people benefit from travel insurance if their plans have been affected by the crisis, Lamonts office said in a news release. It also triggers a state law prohibiting profiteering during emergencies.

After the governor has declared an emergency, it is illegal to raise the price on any good sold at retail to any price that is not justified by the usual course of business or normal market factors, Attorney General William Tong said. He has received reports of price-gouging on hand sanitizer and masks, he said.

2. Getting tested for coronavirus

Murphy Medical Associates is testing people who think they might have the novel coronavirus, and patients never have to leave their car.

The drive-thru operation, modeled on programs in South Korea and the United Kingdom, began Tuesday in Greenwich, Stamford and Stratford locations. Keeping patients in their car will allow medical offices to care for their patients while keeping any actual cases of coronavirus away.

Dr. Steven A. R. Murphy said he dubbed the practice drive-thru because the name makes the practice seem catchier, and it reminds people with possible symptoms to stay away from medical offices and emergency rooms. He said he knows of at least three other doctors in Greenwich who are testing patients in their parking lots.

In his groups operation, people register online and a tele-medicine review is set up. Outside the epidemic, Murphy Associates frequently conducts the remote phone or online reviews for new patients before they visit the office.

The actual tests take place at the groups offices at 1 East Putnam Ave. in Greenwich, 2900 Main St. in Stratford and 30 Buxton Farms Rd. in Stamford. There, patients keep their windows up while their ID and insurance are checked. Farther on, clinicians in full protective gear collect samples.

On Tuesday, President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence met with nine health insurance executives at the White House  some from Connecticut  to discuss how private insurers are responding to the outbreak.

The Trump administration has already directed Medicare and Medicaid to cover the costs of coronavirus tests. But details on how much insured Americans will pay out-of-pocket for the covered test are still emerging, as is coverage information for therapeutics and vaccines. Its a key issue insurers, some of whom are major employers in Connecticut, are confronting now.

The White House meeting Tuesday included leaders from Anthem, which operates the Blue Cross and Blue Shield brand in several states; UnitedHealth Group; Aetna/CVS Health; and Bloomfield-based Cigna  all with large operations and sales in Connecticut  as well as the heads of Humana, Centene Corp. and Kaiser Health Plan Inc.

These companies agreed to waive all co-pays for coronavirus testing and extend coverage for coronavirus treatment in all their benefit plans, Pence announced Tuesday. They also agreed to no surprise billing for medical services, Pence said, referring to hefty bills for out-of network services that a customer cant control, such as in emergency rooms.

Some of these companies have gone a step further, promising coronavirus tests will come with no out-of-pocket costs  meaning no co-pays, coinsurance or deductibles. Aetna/CVS Health, UnitedHealth Group and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield in Connecticut have made such promises in statements to the press.

3. Wife of Wilton coronavirus: My husband got really sick, really fast

The first Connecticut resident who tested positive for the coronavirus is in a coma at Danbury Hospital, while his wife and twin infant sons are quarantined at home.

The Wilton man, who has only been identified by state officials as being in his 40s, began showing symptoms shortly after he returned from a work conference in California on Feb. 28, his wife said in an interview Tuesday with Hearst Connecticut Media, which has agreed to withhold the familys name.

Over (that) weekend, he was really tired, she said.

The woman said her husband had a fever by March 2.

At first, we thought he had the flu, she said.

But her husband tested negative for that illness, and eventually tested positive for COVID-19.

The man developed pneumonia and is now at Danbury Hospital in a medically induced coma, his wife said.

Were just waiting to see how his body fights this illness, she said.

In the meantime, the woman and her sons have been quarantined in their home for two weeks. The woman said she and the babies havent shown any signs of the illness.

Her husband, she said, was so ill when he returned from the conference that he came into contact with few people. She said state authorities retraced his steps and said they could count on one hand how many people interacted with him.

Meanwhile, Josh Geballe, Gov. Ned Lamonts operations chief, said the second confirmed Connecticut resident with the virus is a health care worker at Bridgeport Hospital in her 60s from Bethlehem. She is believed to have contracted the virus on a trip to Nevada, and is not connected to the doctor from New York who sees patients at the hospital and tested positive this weekend.

Also. a student at Wilcoxson Elementary School in Stratford is being tested for coronavirus after possible contact with someone who tested positive for the virus, prompting the closure of the school for the remainder of the week.

During a press conference at Town Hall late Tuesday afternoon, town officials said the test results have not yet come back for the student, but that crews will clean the school Wednesday through Friday as a precaution.

The student is under the care of a health care provider, officials said.

The district also sent a letter home to parents and guardians letting them know about the closure.

Her children and grandchildren are in self-quarantine, and do not appear to have symptoms. Still, a private day care facility has been closed and all schools in Region 14 in Bethlehem and Woodbury will close from March 11 to March 15 for cleaning. Its still under investigation how many patients she interacted with at Bridgeport Hospital, Geballe said.
An 85-year-old man who returned from Dubai to Jaipur on February 28 has tested positive for coronavirus, a top Rajasthan government official said Wednesday.

He is the first local resident to test positive in Rajasthan. The total number of coronavirus patients in the state has now gone up to three.

An Italian couple who was part of a tourist group vacationing in Rajasthan, tested positive for the virus and are undergoing treatment in the isolation ward at the Rajasthan University of Health Sciences in Jaipur.

The 85-year-old man came to hospital with symptoms on Monday was found presumptive positive in the first test. The test was repeated with fresh samples on Tuesday and tested positive, Rohit Kumar Singh, additional chief secretary, health department, said.

Singh said the man, his wife and son and the doctor who treated them have been admitted to the isolation ward at the SMS Hospital in Jaipur.

We have traced the 235 people with whom the man came in contact and they are all being monitored, he said.

Singh said the department officials have got the passenger manifest of the SpiceJet flight on which the man travelled from Dubai to Jaipur and are doing due diligence on that.

Intense contact tracing is going on, he said.

Fourteen other Italians who were also part of the group of tourists that included the couple, also tested positive after arriving in New Delhi from Rajasthan and were shifted to the Medanta hospital in Gurugram. An Indian, who was driving the bus the tourists had hired, also tested positive for the infection.
To mark its 40th anniversary, the East Village venue (formerly P.S. 122) turned itself over to 11 loosely connected artists of various stripes for the whole of 2020. Not even PSNYs director knows everything they have planned. When Siobhan Burke went to talk to them (at PSNYs invitation), they met her in matching black garments that obscured their faces, declined to identify themselves, and stuck strictly to a prepared script that included such phrases as There is no consensus, Welcome is a warning, and Artist exceptionalism upholds empire.  The New York Times
Australian companies should consider four-day working weeks, a leading economist said on Wednesday.

ANU economist Professor Warwick McKibbin said the idea would not work for all sectors but could increase productivity in some areas.

'I think that's something that is sector-specific and job-specific but it's also something that shouldn't be ruled out,' he told the AFR Business Summit.

'It should be explored because in the end ultimately the only reason that you work is so that you can have leisure,' he said.

Australian companies should consider four-day working weeks, a leading economist said today. Pictured: The Versa office where four-day weeks are in place

Some companies are already using the four-day working week, such as digital marketing agency Versa.

CEO Kath Blackman gives her employees every Wednesday off to make them happier and healthier.

She came up with the idea last April to stop staff quitting for cushier jobs with clients.

The company's offices in Sydney, Melbourne and Singapore close on Wednesdays - although staff can still go in if they need to get something done.

Kath Blackham (centre), CEO of digital marketing agency Versa, has given her employees every Wednesday off to make them happier and healthier

Each employee has a working week of only 37.5 hours, with days starting at 10am.

The system was supposed to be trialled for a month but it worked so well Ms Blackham has kept it.

In the year to July 2019, Versa's revenue grew 46 per cent and and profit almost tripled.

In an interview with Business Insider, Blackham said her four-day regime has contributed towards the success.

'People have become more efficient, we've got better staff retention, there's less work that needs to be redone and fewer people needed to be replaced and briefed as a result,' she said.

Ms Blackham said she chose Wednesday because she didn't want her 55 employees to 'write themselves off' over a long weekend.

'They can hang up the washing and go grocery shopping so on the weekend they can spend time with their family and have a proper break. It just makes people so much happier and healthier,' she said.

Ms Blackham's said she is renowned for coming up with new working ideas.

Versa's offices in Sydney, Melbourne and Singapore close on Wednesdays - although staff (pictured) can still go in if they need to get something done

She asks her team to go for a ten-minute walk every day at 3pm to get into the fresh air and also asks employees to say something they are grateful for each morning.

'I know sounds a little kumbaya - but again it's to help people kickstart their day,' she said.

Another idea to make everyone do yoga was less popular and has been scrapped.

Ms Blackham was not the first boss to adopt the four-day working week.

The 250 staff at Perpetual Guardian, an Auckland-based financial services firm, get an extra day off after a successful trial over March and April last year.

Company founder Andrew Barnes said there is 'no downside' to the new system after workers were shown to have reaped the benefits from the extra downtime.

According to a panel of academics who studied the effects on Perpetual Guardian's employees, workers showed lower stress levels, higher levels of job satisfaction and an improved sense of work-life balance.

'For us, this is about our company getting improved productivity from greater workplace efficiencies there's no downside for us,' Barnes said.

'The right attitude is a requirement to make it work  everyone has to be committed and take it seriously for us to create a viable long-term model for our business.'
Irrfan Khan is all geared up for his next release, Angrezi Medium directed by Homi Adajania. The film, a spin-off to the 2017 film Hindi Medium, has audiences pumped up to watch Irrfan back on screen as it is his first movie after being diagnosed with cancer.

Irrfan will be playing the role of a father who wants to fulfill his daughter's dream of studying in London, and does everything he can to back her up financially. Irrfan says that there are many situations in the film which are similar to the ones he himself faced in his childhood.

Times of India quoted Irrfan as saying, "My child in Angrezi Medium loses her mother when she is very young. I wasn't. Mine was a crisis of whether to pursue my dream or take care of my responsibility. For Champak (his character in Angrezi Medium) the dilemma is whether to let my daughter chase her dream or not, perhaps it would have been my father's dilemma if he was alive. The crisis is of the father, not of the child, in this scenario. My mother was sure she wanted me not to chase my dream and stay with her, which, I recall, gave me lot of heartache. The culmination of Champak's decision is perhaps what I would have wanted my mother to do. Let the child fly!"

Some time back, director Homi Adajania had shared that they waited for two years so that Irrfan could be a part of the film as they knew no one could replace him.

Angrezi Medium co-stars Radhika Madan, Dimple Kapadia, Deepak Dobriyal, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Pankaj Tripathi and others. It hits theatres on March 13.

ALSO READ Angrezi Medium Makers Waited For Irrfan Khan For A Year As There Was No Alternative To Him

ALSO READ: Pankaj Tripathi: My Role In Angrezi Medium Is My Guru Dakshina To Irrfan Khan


For the first time in more than a year, a Moss Point man who faked his own death to avoid prison for child sex abuse charges was back in a Jackson County Circuit Court courtroom.

Jacob Blair Scott, 43, was in a yellow jail jumpsuit when he was escorted by deputies into Judge Kathy King Jacksons courtroom on Wednesday to face 14 felony charges.

The judge had issued a warrant for Scotts arrest in August 2018 when he failed to show up to enter a plea in his case. A grand jury indicted Scott on nine counts of sexual battery, four counts of touching of a child for lustful purposes, and one count of child exploitation.

The victim, 14, was pregnant with Scotts baby.

On Wednesday, Scott was back before the judge who had issued the bench warrant after he failed to show to enter his guilty plea.

Before his disappearance, Scott had entered into a plea deal with the state for a lesser sentence and a reduction in the number of charges.

After his capture, District Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath said any plea deal was off the table.

Assistant District Attorney Justin Lovorn and defense attorney Rufus Alldredge requested a conference in the judges chambers Wednesday.

The judge excused the attorneys after their conference and told them to check their calendars to determine when they could go to trial.

The next status hearing will be April 20.

If convicted of all the charges, Scott could go to prison for life.

On July 30, 2018, Scott is accused of faking his death in Orange Beach, Alabama.

Alabama authorities suspected as much when they found Scotts abandoned dinghy about a mile offshore in Orange Beach. In the boat, Scott had left what appeared to be a suicide note, a handgun tied to a rope and a very small amount of blood. His pickup truck was in nearby parking lot.

Scott had withdrawn $45,000 from his retirement account shortly before he disappeared.

He was captured at an RV Park in Antlers, Oklahoma, on Jan. 29. His arrest came less than 24 hours after he was named one of the U.S. Marshals top 15 most-wanted fugitives and the same night he was featured on Investigation Discoverys In Pursuit with John Walsh.



2020 The Sun Herald (Biloxi, Miss.)

Visit The Sun Herald (Biloxi, Miss.) at www.sunherald.com

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A train passenger has been arrested after he was filmed licking his fingers and wiping them on a vertical handrail in Belgium.

Belgiums transport authority, the Societe des Transports Intercommunaux de Bruxelles (STIB-MBIV), replied to a social media user who posted the video that the man was drunk and arrested by police.

In the video, the man pulled down a face mask he was wearing and then appeared to put his fingers in his mouth and lick them before rubbing them on the pole.

STIB-MBIV said: The man (intoxicated) was arrested by the police and our security service. The subway train was withdrawn from service to be disinfected.

Thank you for your message. Our metros are cleaned every day.

Netizens were repulsed by the video, which was first posted by a Twitter user who said: [Look at this person] who is surely contaminated with coronavirus is doing to the bars of public transport! Dont touch the bars anymore!

Coronavirus is most likely spread through droplets of body fluid, particularly from the nose or mouth, and may live on surfaces anywhere between a few hours to a few days, according to the World Health Organization.

The most effective way to prevent the spread of the disease is to wash hands often with soap and water, for at least 20 seconds, and use hand sanitising gel.

The WHO has also advised people not to touch their face with unwashed hands and to maintain at least 1 metre (3 feet) distance between anyone coughing or sneezing.
Married At First Sight's one-time golden couple Aleks Markovic and Ivan Sarakula seemingly called it quits at Wednesday's dinner party.

But Daily Mail Australia can reveal their split was only temporary, as they reconciled privately just weeks after filming their break-up in November.

Ivan flew to Aleks' home city of Perth in a last-ditch attempt to save their relationship and, without the pressure of being on camera, they managed to make things work.

Back on! Married At First Sight's Aleks Markovic and Ivan Sarakula reconciled weeks after breaking up during filming in November, Daily Mail Australia can reveal

Aleks and Ivan celebrated New Year's Eve together while staying at the Crown Perth hotel. Around this time, they shared many loved-up selfies to Instagram.

But all of these photos, and the gushing comments they'd written about other, were deleted around the time MAFS began airing in early February.

This was done to avoid potential spoilers about the pair's reconciliation, which will most likely be addressed at the reunion dinner party.

Success story: Ivan flew to Aleks' home city of Perth in a last-ditch attempt to save their relationship and, without the pressure of being on camera, they managed to make things work

In one of the deleted posts obtained by Daily Mail Australia, Aleks and Ivan are seen passionately kissing - proving that intimacy is no longer an issue for them.

Another picture shows Ivan planting a kiss on Aleks' cheek.

The pair also enjoyed a day trip to Rottnest Island, where Ivan took a photo of Aleks posing in a skimpy bikini at the beach.

Get a load of this, Dr Trisha! Aleks and Ivan celebrated New Year's Eve together while staying at the Crown Perth hotel. Around this time, they shared many loved-up selfies to Instagram

A source told Daily Mail Australia: 'No matter what happened on the show, Aleks and Ivan's connection went far beyond that.

'After the show, they both went home, spent time apart and realised they couldn't see a future without each other. They spoke every day until Ivan flew to Perth.'

However, it's unclear if the couple are still together, after they unfollowed each other on Instagram earlier this week.

'Perfect way to end 2019': The pair also enjoyed a day trip to Rottnest Island, where Ivan took a photo of Aleks posing in a skimpy bikini at the beach (left)

Love: 'After the experiment, they both went home, spent time apart and realised they couldn't see a future without each other. They spoke every day until Ivan flew to Perth,' said a source

At Wednesday's dinner party, Aleks stormed off and seemingly ended things with Ivan after admitting she didn't have romantic feelings for him.

'I love this man, but not in a romantic way,' she screamed in front of the group.

Their relationship became a talking point after Michael Goonan and Josh Pihlak claimed Aleks had told them she'd slept with Ivan, which she denied.

Will they go the distance? However, it's unclear if the couple are still together, after they unfollowed each other on Instagram earlier this week. Pictured during filming on October 20

Drama! At Wednesday's dinner party, Aleks stormed off and seemingly ended things with Ivan after admitting she didn't have romantic feelings for him

Aleks later accused Ivan of briefing Josh and Michael about what to say beforehand - which he also denied - and told him she could no longer trust him.

'I, by no means, staged for any of that s**t to come out,' Ivan said, insisting he had not encouraged the dinner table discussion about their sex life.

Michael then dropped another bombshell by claiming he'd seen Aleks with another man in the lobby of their apartment building, which she strongly denied.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Channel Nine for comment.

'Not in a romantic way': Their relationship became a talking point after Michael Goonan and Josh Pihlak claimed Aleks had told them she'd slept with Ivan, which she denied
The council of Ghanaian associations (COGA) celebrated the 63rd independence of Ghana on Saturday, March 7, 2020, at the plush Holiday Inn in College Park Maryland.

The event was also a fundraiser under the theme Help the healthcare system in Ghana. The following associations that constitute COGA were well represented by their members and leadership. The associations are, Okyeman Kuo, Brong Ahafo association, Kwahu community association, Asanteman Association, Ebusua Inc., GaDangbe association, The Volta Association of Washington DC Metro Area Inc., and Asante Kotoko.

In a short speech, the president of COGA Henry Adu outlined plans to equip hospitals with fifteen (15) beds each. He recounted that last year over ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00) was spent providing facilities for schools under trees. He called on Ghanaians living here in the United States not to forget our dear Ghana. The president noted that COGA is in its thirtieth (30th) year in 2020 and will continue its philanthropic work towards Ghana.

The chairman for the occasion, Professor A Kobina Armoo took guests through memory lane on significant decisions that were made leading to independence on 6 March 1957. He noted that as a country we have not made much progress because of too many coup d'etats, economic mismanagement, and lack of development plans by successive governments.

The special guest of honor, Ambassador Dr. Barfuor Adjei-Barwuah, took some time to have some passionate talk with guests. He pointed out that Ghanaians are supposed to register with the embassy when they arrive in the USA but do not do so. He asked Ghanaians living in the USA to take the chance to register with the embassy so that they can have a support system when the need should arise. He called on the Ghanaian community to bond together to help Ghana as other communities have been doing for their countries. He stated that if Ghanaians living in the USA can contribute one dollar a month that will come to over fifty thousand dollars ($50,000.00). This can be used to provide amenities to deprived areas in Ghana. The ambassador announced to guests that in May of 2020, the city of Memphis will be honoring Ghana for making headway in a number of ways.

The highlight of the night was when each association took turns to dance to music from their culture. The Asanteman group started with a rendition of adowa music, the GaDangbe did their kpanlogo, Ebusua showcased the Kofi Kinata music, while the Okyeman Kuo and Kwahu community association danced to a tune from their areas. The Volta association danced to borborbor music.

Special guests who attended the events are Dr. and Mrs. Kofi Agyapong, Pastor and Mrs. Kobby Sarpong, Pastor and Mrs Felix Impraim, Mamaga Agbobra , queen mother of Sokode traditional area, ambassador and Mrs. Koby Koomson.

The following chiefs graced the occasion with their royal presence, Nana Otafrebuo Agyenim Boateng Pedie (Bogyawhene), Nene Gagli of Agotime Kpetoe, Mamaga Agbobra, Paramount queen mother of Sokode traditional area,Nana Ampem Darko (Asantefuohene of Washington Metropolitan area), and Nana Pokuaa ( Asantefuohemaa of Washington Metropolitan area)

The event was masterfully handled by hostess Rowina Moses-Wadie with MCs Dr Faustina Quist and William Adzimahe keeping the guest lively. The master DJ Sabato kept guests dancing to highlife of old and new music genre to ring in daylight saving hours.

Compiled by the Volta Association of Washington DC
This 5-hour long video tour of the Hermitage was recorded on an iPhone 11 Pro in one continuous shot

Now is not the best time to travel, so let Apple take you to an epic journey through the iconic Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg, Russia. The video was shot entirely on an iPhone 11 Pro and is over 5 hours long so you better settle in.

The most amazing thing about the video is that it was shot in one continuous take in 4K resolution. Remember the days when phones were capped at 10 minutes of 4K video? Apple sure doesnt. Never mind how much a 5 hour video will stress the battery and storage on most phones. The iPhone 11 Pro still had 19% battery charge remaining after the recording was complete.

Anyway, the video will take you through 45 galleries and features 588 masterpieces. And if seeing the works of Rembrandt and Caravaggio arent enough, there are two live performances. The first one starts around the 3 hour mark, so you may want to use the times provided video description.

If you dont have 5 hours free right now, you can still get a taste of the Hermitage with this minute and a half long trailer.
There are few welcomes as nice as the one Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives star Guy Fieri received upon coming to the Girard Ave. Fine Wine and Good Spirits store in Philadelphia on March 10. All 300 bottles of his Santo Fino Blanco Tequila were sold out, a line of fans stretched out the door and his name was chanted as he walked in.

I think thats one hell of an introduction to Pennsylvania and the folks of Philly, Fieri told PennLive.

The appearance at Fine Wine and Good Spirits was just one part of a busy day for Fieri, who was seen filming his Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives show (also known as Triple D) at Hardena/Waroeng Surabaya Restaurant and Farmers Keep earlier in the day.

He was already impressed with the Philadelphia food scene -- no need for a cheesesteak.

Everybody says Oh, you went to Philly. What cheesesteak did you get? What hoagie did you get? What piece of pizza did you get? he said. Let me tell you something. We did a lot of research about coming to Philadelphia. Your restaurant scene here? Fire.

Im not kidding you. We shoot six locations on a visit, we could have shot 25 locations, he continued. So many dynamite restaurants.

The upcoming Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives wont highlight the traditional Philly dishes. He wont be weighing in on the cheesesteak debate, but instead will showcase the citys vibrant mix of cuisine, often in unexpected places.

Hardena served as a great example. Heres an Indonesian food joint, a tiny little place thats tucked into the corner and blowing it up! Fieri said. "Youre going to have six great shows about Philly.

I dont think its right to think that Philly is just a cheesesteak and Italian food destination, he went on. It is great at that, but theres a lot more to offer.

When trying to figure out what restaurants to feature on Triple D, Fieri and his team look at three things: the honesty of the food, the character of the place and its owners and the story behind it all.

If all of those things align together, then that usually has a pretty good shot of making the show, Fieri said.

READ MORE: 35 of the most Instagrammable foods and drinks in Philadelphia

Those came together for Farmers Keep in Philadelphia, bistro and bottle shop. It impressed Fieri with its nod to Californian cuisine.

I joked with the owner and called it the East Coast of California, Fieri said. Theyre doing food like we see in Cali and theyre doing it out here in the center of Philly -- I gotta be honest, Im surprised.

While Fieri didnt really chat about the BYO restaurant scene, he did say that his Santo Fino Blanco Tequila was a good pairing with pretty much any meal. In fact, it pairs best with a good time, in his words.

He likes to pair his Santo Puro Mezquila (a mix of a tequila and a mezcal) with barbecue, but it does well with most foods that have a robust and strong flavor. The Santo Fino Blanco Tequila, however, does better with lighter dishes like fish. Its really delicate, Fieri said. Its not overpowering.

For Fieri, tequila marks the next great frontier of premium spirits. He hopes people grow to appreciate it, like people do wine, bourbon and Scotch.

Tequila is one of the last ones, I think, to really get that recognition and representation.

He feels like Santo Fino Blanco Tequila and Santo Puro Mezquila will help introduce people into the fine world of tequila. Thats why he and his partner, Sammy Hagar, make points to still only do small batches and to visit Mexico.

Were still involved in every aspect of it to make sure what we deliver to people is the real deal, he said.

Santo Fino Blanco Tequila retails at $42.99 for 750 milliliters at Fine Wine and Good Spirits stores. Santo Puro Mezquila retails at $52.99 for 750 milliliters. Find a Fine Wine and Good Spirits store near you at finewineandgoodspirits.com.

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Joe Biden's campaign announced Wednesday that it had assembled its own team of medical professionals to advise the former vice president on coronavirus in order to 'minimize health risks for the candidate, staff and supporters.'

Additionally, the Biden campaign announced that instead of holding two 'large crowd' events in Chicago and Miami in the run-up to Tuesday's set of primaries the ex-veep would now participate in 'virtual' events in those cities.

Among the members of Biden's 'Public Health Advisory Committee' is Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel, who had been a top healthcare adviser to President Obama and was a central character in the Obama-Biden administration's Obamacare push.

Joe Biden's campaign announced its own coronavirus taskforce Wednesday, which would give advice on how to 'minimize health risks for the candidate, staff and supporters.' He'll also hold two 'virtual' events next week so to not attract crowds

The 2020 campaigns started being impacted by coronavirus on Tuesday, with Joe Biden (right) having to cancel a planned rally in Cleveland and address a smaller crowd in Philadelphia

Joe Biden recruited Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel to be part of his advisory group. Emanuel was a top healthcare adviser and was a central character in the Obama-Biden administration's Obamacare push. He's also the brother of Obama's ex-chief of staff Rahm Emanuel

Joe Biden also recruited Vivek Murthy (left), who was the Surgeon General under President Obama (right) to be part of his 'Public Health Advisory Committee'

So far, President Trump hasn't budged and changed his schedule due to the virus. He plans to head to Las Vegas Thursday to address a Saturday conference. On Tuesday his campaign announced another event the president will attend next week

He's also the brother of Obama's first chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, who went on to become Chicago's mayor.

Biden also enlisted Dr. Vivek Murthy, who served as Surgeon General under Obama and Lisa Monaco, who was a homeland security and counterterrorism adviser to the last president as well.

The former vice president also chose Dr. David Kessler, who was the commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration during the administrations of Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush.

Dr. Rebecca Katz, the director of the Center for Global Health Science and Security at Georgetown University Medical Center is also on Biden's list. She was recently in the news for advising Wynn Resorts on how to keep their buffets running during the coronavirus scare.

And so is Dr. Irwin Redlener of Columbia University, who's served as an adviser to New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio in the past.

'The campaigns top priority is and will continue to be the health and safety of the public,' a release from the campaign said. 'Members of the committee will provide ongoing counsel to the campaign, which will in turn continue to update the public regarding operational decisions.'

The announcements on Wednesday come a day after the coronavirus outbreak started truly impacting the 2020 campaign.

Both Biden and his viral Bernie Sanders decided to call off planned Tuesday night rallies in Cleveland, Ohio, at the behest of local and state officials.

Biden ended up addressing a smaller group of supporters - as well as journalists and staff - from the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where his campaign is based.

Instead of holding a campaign event Thursday in Tampa, Florida, Biden will now give a speech about the virus in Wilmington, Delaware, where the candidate lives.

Sanders hasn't announced any new campaign events since scrapping his plans for the Cleveland, Ohio rally and then making a brief statement from his adopted hometown of Burlington, Vermont earlier Wednesday.

In Vermont, Sanders said he would remain in the 2020 Democratic primary race - and planned to debate Biden on Sunday in Phoenix, Arizona.

Debate organizers had announced Tuesday that the debate would not longer have an audience. There would be no spin room afterward and reporters could no longer watch the debate from the adjacent filing center.

Prseident Trump will address the nation at 9 p.m. Wednesday but so far he hasn't budged on cancelling his own campaign events and travel.

He's due in Las Vegas, Nevada late Thursday to participate in fundraising and attend the Republican Jewish Coalition's annual conference, where he'll speak Saturday. Trump will also voyage to Denver, Colorado on this swing.

In the hours following the Democrats announcing their Ohio event cancellations, the Trump campaign said Trump would be present for a 'Catholics for Trump' launch in Milwaukee, Wisconsin next week.
Donald A. Bailey, a former state auditor general, ex-U.S. congressman, decorated Vietnam War combat veteran and civil rights lawyer whose legal career ended with the suspension of his law license has died at 74.

The Dauphin County man was a fiery and controversial figure during his decades of public service and legal practice.

He had a reputation as a fighter.

Bailey, who was born in Pittsburgh and grew up in Greensburg, died Monday, according to an obituary from the Kepple Graft Funeral Home of Greensburg.

He was a decorated veteran of the Armys 101st Airborne Division, with which he served 15 months in combat in Vietnam and earned a Silver Star medal for bravery.

The Democrat represented Pennsylvania in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1979 to 1983. Bailey was the states auditor general  its chief financial watchdog -from 1985 to 1989. He also ran unsuccessfully for governor.

Eugene DePasquale, the current auditor general, issued a tribute to Bailey Wednesday afternoon. During his time as auditor general...Don Bailey was an effective guardian of state tax dollars and worked to modernize the office," DePasquale said.

Marilyn Levin, a former Dauphin County Democratic Party chair who was executive assistant to Bailey when he was auditor general, credited him with creating the state governments first work site child care center. The model General Bailey used was a model for private businesses and other government agencies throughout the commonwealth, she said.

Baileys legal career after leaving politics consisted of civil rights work. He was known for accusing judges of malfeasance and calling the legal system corrupt. He repeated those accusations even after the state Supreme Court imposed a five-year suspension of his Pennsylvania law license in 2013 for making such allegations, which it found to be baseless.

Bailey was a member of the University of Michigan from 1964-1966. As an offensive guard, he played with the Wolverines in the 1965 Rose Bowl and appeared in the North/South All-Star Game.

Bailey remained defiant and insisted his civil rights were being violated when the U.S. Supreme Court disbarred him a year later.

Services are scheduled for Saturday. Burial will be in Arlington National Cemetery.
When temperatures surged to 74 degrees Monday, the National Park Service reported that the blossom buds had reached their third stage  out of six  called extension of florets. On average, peak bloom occurs a little more than 10 days after this stage, although the range in recent years has been six to 16 days.
BabelVet is a health dashboard linking veterinarians directly to pet parents' phones, medical records and allowing direct communication between the vet and pet owner using photos, text and video. BabelVet allows practices to offer a flexible option for staff who may be at risk.

As health concerns rise and the human population find themselves at potential risk, the veterinary profession is now seeking immediate continuous care solutions. Today, BabelBark, Inc., a pet-related software developer, announced it is offering veterinary practices across the United States and Canada, the ability to use its BabelVet platform, free of charge, to remotely connect with their pet owners and continue veterinary care.

BabelVet is a comprehensive health dashboard linking veterinarians directly to their pet parents phones, medical records and allowing direct communication between the veterinarian and pet owner using photos, text and video. This remote monitoring allows at-risk owners to stay home without compromising others health and safety and still get medical care for their pets.

With health concerns on the rise, communities are preparing and implementing safeguards to reduce contact with potential illness. This includes veterinary practices who must ensure both pet owners and staff are safe on a daily basis. BabelVet allows practices to offer a flexible option for staff who may be at risk. Those employees who are highest at risk can work remotely to monitor pet owner health reports.

For more information from the CDC, click here and to offer continuous solutions to pet owners, visit BabelVet.

About BabelBark, Inc.

BabelBark is a unique digital platform dedicated to connecting families to the many facets of their pets life. The integrated app and software system help pet parents better understand their dog or cat to provide them the happiest and healthiest life possible, while also helping pet businesses and veterinarians communicate directly with customers and clients. It means BabelBark can help connect the love for each pet while revolutionizing veterinary care and pet business models, giving pet parents a key tool they want  a digital and personal healthcare team. For more information, visit BabelBark, BizBark and BabelVet.
U.S. Air Force and Space Community Discuss U.S. Air Force Changes and Their Impacts

Colorado Springs, CO, March 10, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The United States Air Force Research Laboratory Space Vehicles Directorates Catalyst Space Accelerator (CSA) hosted 130 people from around the nation in its third Community Day. Sponsored by the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT), the event was a day-long conversation about the United States Air Force changes and their impacts.

With a lineup of 15 speakers and panelists, including retired U.S. Air Force Lt Gen David Buck, and several networking breaks, the day provided ample opportunity for the space community to discuss the coming of United States Space Force (USSF) and what it means for the U.S. Air Force.

Theres this fake thing that were all afraid of, said Buck. A fake adversary, and this fake adversary is risk. And because of this, we cant go fast.

As USSF becomes a concrete reality, and as data becomes central to the space domain, the discussions around rapid innovation and commercial tech couldnt be more relevant for CSAs Data Fusion cohort.

David Blanks, Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) liaison to USSF, spoke to the importance of technology development in the commercial sector: Not for technologys sake. The use of commercial technology has to be to enhance that mission, and thats where we get back to data.

NOW SPACE: NORMALIZE, OPTIMIZE, WIN.

Keynote Speaker Lt Gen (ret) David Buck, now President and CEO of Buck Consulting Group, advocated for what he called NOW Space: Normalize, Optimize, and Win in space.

To do that, he said, the U.S. Military needs to take space services and make them a routine. Like an airline, servicing your car, using your smart phone or accessing the internet. And partnering with industry is a must-do because industry, said Buck, has the capabilities to provide non-traditional solutions.

Amidst an open floor for questions from the audience, Buck also gave insight on what role USSF will play in warfighting, and how it will work with the U.S. Air Force.

Story continues

U.S. Space Force, he said, will likely be smaller than the other services, but this brings inherent agility. It will have ability to train its own warfighters and maintain readiness. Were going to grow indigenous space intel professionals. Were going to get you, train you, and have a career track for you.

USSFs operational focus will be Orbital Warfare, Electronic Warfare, Battle Management, and Access and Sustainment. The U.S. Air Force will work closely with USSF in Logistics, Plans and Requirements, and Mission Support.

A core takeaway is that we are going to take advantage of indigenous capabilities in the U.S. Air Force, said Buck.

THE URGENCY OF WINNING SPACE

A representative from the Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Directorate, Headquarters USSF spoke to the urgency of developing U.S. space capabilities. According to this representative, Russia, China, and Iran are all developing their own, and they pose real threats to U.S. space assets at all levels: space, ground, and link/command.

One panel spoke to the importance of making both U.S. Air Force and USSF the kind of organizations that will win in space. We have to convince people that U.S. Space Force is something that is long-term, that its not going to go away, said Mike Pierson, Chief of Public Engagements at HQ USSF. Maj Gen (ret) Jay Lindell, the Aerospace & Defense Industry Champion with OEDIT, added, "The combatant unified command, U.S. Space Command is an important basing decision for Colorado. US Space Command generates the capabilities and requirements needed to defend the nation in the space domain. Businesses will cluster to where those requirements are generated to help inform what is technically feasible as well as the timeline and cost to provide capabilities. It is a mutual, enhancing relationship for the Command; great for defense, great for business, great for Colorado."

According to Bill Woolf, Executive Director of the Space Force Association, U.S. Space Force needs to take the aspects of U.S. Air Force culture where the Captain or Technical Sergeant who has to accomplish the space superiority mission stands in front of all the generals and says, These are the capabilities I need to accomplish this mission. Dont ask me to do my mission until I have these capabilities.

THE WINNING INGREDIENT

Advanced technology doesnt matter if it doesnt get to the warfighter. But getting it to the warfighter isnt easy when the approach to innovation is siloed. AF CyberWorx Director, Col William Waynick, put it succinctly: We have lots of innovation capabilities/cells in the Air Force. Ideally, we need to normalize innovation where its part of our daily lives and not something special we do. The ability to scale innovation across the Air Force is something I would love to know how to do."



Maj Rob Slaughter, Director of Platform One, said that when he joined the Air Force in 2012 they faced this problem of not being able to get the technology they needed: I see you and you see me, but I have no idea how to get you on contract. But things are changing. All of us here, said Slaughter, everyone in this room, are about closing that gap.

To Slaughter, fast and flexible contracting is one answer to the problem. My favorite tool right now is the AFWERX Open Topic, a method for small businesses to bring their ideas to the U.S. Air Force and potentially get on contract quickly.

But better contracting tools are not the only answer. To me, as an organization as a whole, said Slaughter, you have to ask how you can do a better job of retaining the people you have. The longer we keep people, the more people we can affect.

A final panel for the day, filled with leaders in the Colorado Springs community, spoke about the impact of locating U.S. Space Command in Colorado Springs, and why it makes sense: The State has invested a significant amount of money in local infrastructure, said Col (ret) Ron Fitch, UCHealth Southern Regional VP for Operations and Military Affairs. Donald Addy, Chairman of the Colorado Thirty Group (CTG) added, We must not allow interruptions of our space defense assets to occur simply for the purpose of relocating to some other location.

The CSA is seeking to address multiple issues when it comes to getting innovation to the warfighter. The Accelerators eight cohort companies, all with technology centered around data fusion, are being given the resources they need to develop their technology and transition it into the military. Visit the CSAs website to read more about the Accelerator and its current cohort.

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About Catalyst Space Accelerator

The Air Force Research Laboratory Space Vehicles Directorates Catalyst Space Accelerator is a NewSpace-focused defense and national security industry accelerator, headquartered on the Catalyst Campus for Technology and Innovation (CCTI) in Colorado Springs, Colorado. CCTI is a collaborative ecosystem where industry, small business, entrepreneurs, startups, government, academia, and venture capital intersect with Colorados aerospace and defense industry to create community, spark innovation and stimulate business growth. The Catalyst Space Accelerator is a collaborative program hosted by CCTI, a Colorado 501(c)3), funded by the Air Force Research Laboratorys Space Vehicles Directorate with current corporate sponsor, Microsoft, to provide a robust, mentor-driven curriculum for accelerator teams.

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Dana Speed

Catalyst Accelerator

7193940606

dana.speed@catalystcampus.org


Deepak Sathish By

Express News Service

COIMBATORE: When in Rome, do as the Romans do, goes the old adage.

A 30-year-old Coimbatorean in Rome, however, yearns to get away from the lockdown faced by residents of the city and return home. But there is a hitch.

Srinithin Jayabal, a software developer from Peelamedu in Coimbatore, has been stuck in Rome for the last 10 days amidst the coronavirus scare that has sent ripples across the globe. The lack of a COVID-19 negative certificate has left him stranded, he said.

The businessman reached Rome on February 26 and had a return ticket to India on March 14.

He advanced his return to March 10 taking stock of the present situation in Rome where shops, restaurants and public transport went into lockdown after Italy confirmed a number of coronavirus cases.

"Despite clearing the immigration at the airport, the Emirates staff panicked on seeing us without coronavirus negative certificates. They did not allow nearly 15 passengers including me to board the flight. Even hospitals and health facilities refused to provide the certificates given that we do not have symptoms of the virus," he said.

"I have repeatedly tried to reach out to the Indian Embassy officials, but in vain. Even my tweets to the Ministry of External Affairs yielded no response," Srinithin lamented.

The software developer claimed there are nearly 45 Indians stuck in Rome who could not return home as they did not have a coronavirus negative certificate.

He also tagged Health Minister C Vijayabaskar in his tweet urging him to help the stranded Indians in Rome.

Stranded passengers in Egypt to return home

As many as 17 Tamilians, who were quarantined on a cruise ship in Luxor, Egypt, over the coronavirus scare will be back home by Thursday.

One of the passengers, Vanitha Rengaraj, said, "We left Luxor on Wednesday morning and reached Cairo. From there we will take a flight to Mumbai and reach our respective hometowns by Thursday."

However, she said the Chennai man who tested negative for the virus in Egypt is still in the country until the end of the isolation period.
While Iranian efforts to increase its power outside Iran, as in Syria and Yemen continue to show signs of some success, there are still obvious failures that, in the past year, tend to occur inside Iran. The latest such embarrassments took place during the first two months of 2020. These included a major attack on the Internet and cellphone access that shut down service in several major networks for one to seven hours until the governments much touted Digital Fortress (or Dajfa) finally did what the government had boasted it could do. Dajfa deflected the massive DDOS (Distributed Denial of Service) attack on Iran. Getting Internet service working again was a mixed blessing because, despite continued efforts to censor what Iranians say on the Internet, bad news continued to get around quickly, often with lots of embarrassing details.

The day before the DDOS attack, Iran suffered another failed effort to put a satellite into orbit. This was made worse by the fact that this failure was the fourth in a row with the expensive new three-stage rocket Iran had publicized as a major achievement. Iranians also knew it was an expensive project that hurt them directly. Thats because news had already got past the censors about how foreign economists, measuring Iranian financial activity and other visible items to measure GDP growth, had discovered that sanctions and lower oil prices had resulted in Iranian GDP shrinking eight percent in 2019. To most Iranians, this GDP decline made sense because the standard of living for most Iranians had visibly declined in 2019. This explained another bit of bad news about how the Chinese covid19 coronavirus had reached Iran with a major outbreak in Qom, a city full of Islamic shrines and institutes staffed by the most senior and learned Shia religious scholars. Most Iranians cannot afford to travel, but the Shia clergy in Qom can because they are supporters of the increasingly unpopular religious dictatorship. In the last year, Iranians have been openly protesting this decades-old misrule and calling for the clergy to step down. The covid19 outbreak was apparently in Qom because some of those traveling clergy had brought it back to where many of their fellow senior, and elderly, clergy live. The official word is that there have been a few dozen covid19 deaths in Qom but unofficial reports put it at over 200. At the end of February Iran said they had experienced 54 deaths and 978 known cases. Thats a five percent fatality rate, twice what China reports and more than five times what other foreign nations report. Unofficial reports indicate many more deaths but not a lot more people infected. Dead bodies are much harder to conceal than people who do or might, have covid19. Either way this makes Iran the largest source of covid19 deaths outside of China. Covid19 is, like the more common influenza (also from China) that is more lethal to the very old and very young. While most Iranians do not have access to effective health care, the elite clergy in Qom certainly do and it did not save their lives.

Another bit of good/bad news was that the government efforts to hack into VPNs (Virtual Private Networks) that some Iranians, who can afford it, use to get news into Iran, were a mixed success. Not only had most foreign VPN providers found ways to repair the VPNs flaws that Iranian hackers were exploiting, but that the government hackers had been hacked, apparently by Russian hackers. Those clever Russians, who were supposed to be Iranian allies, had disguised themselves as Iranian hackers to carry out lucrative hacks overseas. The most aggressive and effective Iranian hacking group, the government-supported APT 34 was also seeking ways into Western networks that control utilities like electrical, gas and water supply as well as communications systems. There were no visible signs of these hacks but the Western Internet security agencies had detected it, along with the Russians passing themselves off as a notorious Iranian APT (Advanced Persistent Threat). There are a lot of APT groups worldwide and they are assigned a number, thus APT34 for the Iranian group. Most of the others are Chinese or Russian and among APTs, it is the survival of the fittest and APT was found to be vulnerable and then taken advantage of.

That was not the only insult from Russia. Syria and Iran have one thing in common, both use Russian supplied S-300 air defense systems. The Syrians complain that the S-300 radar could not find or track Israeli F-35 stealth fighters. The Syrian S-300 operators doubt the S-300 is effective against any Israeli weapons, including the less stealthy cruise missiles and F-16 fighters. The Syrians claim the Israelis have EW (electronic warfare) equipment that can jam or deceive the S-300 radars and guidance systems in S-300 missiles. Russia is believed to still have a veto over when the Syrian S-300s can be used and apparently has not yet allowed the Syrian S-300s to fire on Israeli intruders. In China, a recent article in a state-controlled newspaper came right out and said the S-300 does not work and that the Chinese should know because they bought the system from Russia and fixed the problems by developing their own, improved version of the S-300 called the FD-2000. This system is available for export, to just about anyone who can pay, including Iran or Syria. But Russia insisted S-300 was just as good and offered a better price. Neither the S-300 nor FD-2000 have yet to prove themselves in combat.

China has had some more bad news just for Iran. The covid19 outbreak has paralyzed much of the Chinese economy and that led to a sharp reduction in Chinese oil imports. China is the largest importer of oil in the world and the largest customer for Iranian oil. It is illegal for China to import Iranian oil so Iran has to pay intermediaries to purchase the oil at a discount and then rebrand it as from somewhere else and deliver it to China. Several larger tankers of that Iranian oil are stalled off the China coast until China needs it. Other Iranian oil exports to China are halted until those tankers are unloaded.

Meanwhile Russia makes matters worse by refusing to cooperate with the other major producers and reducing its oil exports to reduce supply and raise prices. The last year was bad enough for Iranians but 2020 shows signs of being even worse. In early March ally Russia and arch-enemy, Saudi Arabia cooperated to flood world markets with oil and drive prices down to $30 a barrel or less. This is a long term investment by the Saudis and Russians. It is a radical and dangerous effort to use oil price manipulation to put North American frackers out of business for good. Not very likely but desperation breeds attempt.

Because of the continued and growing anti-government attitudes in Iran, these new disasters are seen as falling mainly on the hated clerical dictatorship and may be interpreted as divine retribution against a bunch of malevolent pretenders in Qom trying, and failing. to run the country for the benefit of all. The high covid19 death rate among the senior clergy is seen by most Iranians, even the very religious ones who still back the clerical dictatorship, as a sign that the senior clergy have lost divine approval. Not a good thing for clergy who invoke divine inspiration for their quite tragic track record.
A man abandoned the car hed been driving and left it in the middle of the road causing traffic congestion, after he collided with a car parked outside a local funeral home, Dundalk District Court heard last week.

Shane OCarroll (29) with an address at Seatown, Dundalk was prosecuted for careless driving and a hit and run offence on the Castletown Road, Dundalk on May 12th last year.

The court heard the injured party had been clearing a yard in the funeral home when he heard a loud bang and came out to find another vehicle in the middle of the road with a buckled wheel.

When he rang the guards to report the collision, the defendant left the scene  with the abandoned car causing traffic congestion.

The court was told the defendant had no previous convictions.

The Defence solicitor said her client regretted his actions and explained that he had contacted his friend and was on his way to hospital when he came to his senses and returned to the scene by which time the car had been removed.

He subsequently instructed his solicitor and gave his information to Gardai under the Road Traffic Act.

She added he had apologised at the scene and was apologising again in court.

After hearing the defendant is a student and a father of two, who has a daughter with special needs who requires him to attend hospital appointments in Drogheda and Dublin, Judge Deirdre Gearty imposed fines totalling 250 but she said she would not disqualify him from driving.
Somare out

The government of Mr Michael Somare, Papua New Guineas first prime minister, was voted out of office 57 votes to 49 tonight in the National Parliament. The new Prime Minister is Sir Julius Chan, who was Mr Somares deputy from 1972 until he led his Peoples Progress Party out of government in 1978. I accept with humility the responsibility entrusted to me, he told Parliament as soon as a no-confidence motion in Mr Somare had been carried out.

Saks of beans

Leanore Saks, an American millionaire, is visiting Australia to persuade Australian companies to join her in a plan to irrigate large areas of desert for jojoba bean cultivation. The bean is a native of the Mexican, Californian and Arizona deserts, with an oil base similar to sperm whale oil. A similar project is operating in Israel. Mrs Saks said she named her company Investments Limited, as it is limited to things that make a lot of money.

Bottoms out!
Kate Middleton has taken Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's split from the royal family 'badly', a source told Vanity Fair.

The Duchess of Cambridge, 38, is said to feel Megxit is 'very sad', particularly because she was once in such a 'happy trio' with Prince Harry, 35, and Prince William, 37.

Meanwhile other royal sources revealed that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, 38, have also found the process difficult, despite their beaming smiles at their final official appearances during the farewell tour over the last week.

Speaking to royal correspondent Katie Nicholl, a friend of the couple explained: 'Its not been easy for anyone. I think theyre both pretty emotional.'

The Duchess of Cambridge, 38, has taken Prince Harry, 35, and Meghan Markle's, 38, split from the royal family 'badly', a royal source told Vanity Fair

Kate Middleton is believed to feel Megxit is 'very sad' and has 'taken it all badly', according to the royal source

Prince Harry and Prince William are understood to have made peace with one another before the Duke of Sussex left for Canada in January, but the brothers are said not to be in regular contact with one another.

The rift between the once close siblings is said to causes sadness for the Queen, 93, and the rest of the family.

One royal source revealed that Kate was particularly upset by Megxit, saying: 'To be honest, I think Kate has taken it all badly.

'She, Harry, and William were once such a happy trio, she thinks what has happened is all very sad.'

Meanwhile another source revealed the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were both 'pretty emotional' during their farewell tour over the last week

A source close to the Sussexes revealed they had 'very little down time' during their packed schedule over the weekend, as they wrapped up final royal duties in the UK.

Meghan has already started her new life after flying straight to Canada from the Commonwealth Day Service to reunite with baby Archie, while Prince Harry has stayed in the UK.

From March 31, the monarch's grandson and American former actress Meghan will no longer use their HRH styles as they pursue a new life of personal and financial freedom, mostly in North America.

Prince Harry and Meghan embarked on a farewell tour last week as they prepared to step down as senior royals at the end of the month.

Kate is said to feel particularly upset over Mexgit due to the close relationship she once enjoyed with Prince Harry (pictured, with Prince William in February 2017)

They joined the Queen, 93, and other senior royals at Westminster Abbey on Monday in their last official duty as working royals.

The occasion marked the first time the couples had reunited since the announcement of Prince Harry and Meghan's plans to step down from life in as working royals.

Kate was photographed offering a cursory, terse hello to the royal couple; an exchange that was at best polite and at worst, downright awkward.

In the past, the Duchess has been particularly close to Prince Harry, with reports in January suggesting she 'misses' their bond.

An insider told Us Weekly that Kate had been left crying over the distance between herself and her brother-in-law, revealing: 'She wishes she could speak to Harry. She misses him and fears she'll never be close to him again.'
Disney Studios has found its Peter Pan and Wendy in newcomers Alexander Molony and Ever Anderson for its live-action movie titled "Peter Pan & Wendy".

Molony, a native New Zealand actor, and Anderson, daughter of actor Milla Jovovich and director Paul W S Anderson, will play the title roles in the re-imagining of the 1953 animated classic, sources told Variety.

Based on JM Barrie's book, the story will revolve around Peter, a boy who wouldn't age and Wendy, a girl who accompanies him to the magical world of Neverland.

There were rumours that "Peter Pan & Wendy" will be released on the studio's streaming service Disney Plus, but as per the insiders the release is expected to be theatrical.

Peter Pan is the latest live-action remake of a classic Disney animated film, following this month's remake of "Mulan". A sequel to 2019's "Aladdin" is also in the works.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Bengaluru, March 11 : The death of a 76-year-old man from north Karnataka due to coronavirus is a rumour, said a senior health official on Wednesday.

"It is clarified that the rumours floating in the media regarding the death of the man from Kalaburgi owing to COVID-19 is false," said state Health Commissioner Pankaj Kumar Pandey in a statement.

Pandey said the deceased person's sample has been sent for testing.

He requested the media to help the government create awareness and not creating panic.

The deceased person returned to Kalaburgi on February 29 and passed away on Wednesday. He incidentally showed flu-like symptoms and was admitted in a hospital on March 5.

However, his family members moved him to another hospital in Hyderabad on Tuesday, disobeying medical advice.

Karnataka Health Minister B. Sriramulu said the old man was a coronavirus suspect.

"For the benefit of the citizens, the district health department has taken some precautions for the funeral of the deceased. This should not create any unnecessary confusion and fear," said Sriramulu.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Gwyneth Paltrow recently posted a selfie to Instagram in which her wide eyes are the only feature visible on her face. Like several people flying on airplanes these days, Paltrows mouth and nose are obscured by a large mask: by the looks of it, the Onyx, Airinum, Urban Air Mask, a product that sells online for $94 Canadian. (Or rather, sold. Unsurprisingly, according to Airinum, the company is out of stock.)

The mask is classic Paltrow: i.e. its expensive and gratuitous. But the caption beneath the Goop founders photo is not classic Paltrow. It reads, in part: Stay safe. Dont shake hands. Wash hands frequently.

Its a true testament to the urgency of the situation we find ourselves in, that even Gwyneth Paltrow, a leading peddler of bogus health information, is attempting to give fact-based guidance to her followers about how not to contract COVID-19 (as opposed to say, encouraging them to ward off illness by sitting on a jade egg.) I cant believe Im writing this, but heres hoping they take her advice.

And heres hoping Donald Trumps supporters dont take his.

If theres one person who can be counted on to spread misinformation, no matter how dangerous the potential consequences, its the president of the United States: a man who appears to be literally immune to the truth. Since the COVID-19 outbreak, Trump has seemed far more concerned with the health of the stock market than with the health of the American people, tens of millions of whom are uninsured.

On March 9, Trump wrongly tweeted that politics and media are solely to blame for the struggling stock market, not the infectious disease that has so far killed roughly 4,000 people globally. In his own words: Saudi Arabia and Russia are arguing over the price and flow of oil. That, and the Fake News, is the reason for the market drop!

On the same day, the U.S. president also wrongly compared COVID-19 to the common flu, grossly downplaying the seriousness of the former. In his own words, on his favourite social media platform: So last year 37,000 Americans died from the common Flu. It averages between 27,000 and 70,000 per year. Nothing is shut down, life & the economy go on. At this moment there are 546 confirmed cases of CoronaVirus, with 22 deaths. Think about that!

Theres a difference between quelling panic about a deadly threat and falsely claiming that the threat doesnt exist (or that its a conspiracy perpetuated by mainstream media.) The former is what a responsible leader does. The latter not only champions a false narrative, it poses a threat of its own. It poses the threat that Americans looking for advice about what to do during a major outbreak will a) underestimate the danger they face and b) mistrust media organizations working hard to inform people about that danger.

Trump recently came into contact with other political figures who are currently in quarantine as a result of their own previous contact with a person who tested positive for COVID-19. Despite this, he maintained Tuesday that he does not need to be tested for the illness. Its remarkable that a man at potential risk of contracting the virus himself expressed on Twitter this week that because of COVID-19, we need the Wall more than ever!

In other words, Trump is advocating building a wall to keep out a virus that is already spreading within his borders  and whose presence put one of his top aides in quarantine. It would be funny if it wasnt so scary.

Speaking of scary, well see how loyal some of the presidents supporters remain (a great many of them elderly people) if, and likely when, they contract COVID-19 in the United States  perhaps at one of the presidents upcoming rallies. Nature is a foe far more difficult to defeat than Hillary Clinton.

Here in Canada were lucky that health leaders, not politicians or celebrities, are doing a lot of the talking when it comes to COVID-19. But Canada is not a zero-pressure room cut off from its neighbours. Unfortunately, and now especially, what goes around comes around. Mismanagement and misinformation in the United States will have consequences here.

A nation in which Gwyneth Paltrow gives better public health advice than the president is not one we may want to share a border with during a global outbreak. But share it we do. Godspeed to us all.

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Image: Facebook/bhumikatharoor

Congress leader Shashi Tharoors son Ishaan Tharoor has secured US citizenship.



Some personal news:

This land is your land, this land is my land pic.twitter.com/QSdLopwQ7z

 Ishaan Tharoor (@ishaantharoor) March 10, 2020

A foreign affairs writer in a major American daily newspaper, Ishaan was naturalized in a ceremony held on March 10. He shared the news on Twitter, saying, It made me really proud to be an American.

In a series of tweets, Ishaan said that he had been living in the US for three decades. I've lived here for three decades, but didn't naturalize earlier in part out of a kind cosmopolitan privilege and reticence to surrender my Indian citizenship (India does not allow dual-nationality). But this is my home, who I am and where I belong, he said.

There were 120 people were naturalized along with Ishaan, who came from at least three dozen different countries, he said.

Most of the speakers present at the ceremony were also naturalized citizens, said Ishaan, adding that the ceremony was deeply beautiful and emotional.

These ceremonies are powerful rites of civic patriotism (NOT blood and soil nationalism); I hope all US citizens, even those born here, get to attend or participate in one, he said in another tweet.

After sharing the news, Ishaan requested people who were naturalized under the administration of former US President Barack Obama to send him the letters - given by him to new citizens - for comparison.

Anyone here naturalize under the Obama administration? Would love to compare the letters the presidents send new citizens, said Ishaan.

He later thanked the people for their kind responses and concluded with announcing his registration to vote in the US.

Ishaan Tharoor was born to Shashi Tharoor in 1984. He has completed his education from the Yale University.

At present, he writes for The Washington Post. Previously, he was a senior editor and correspondent at Time magazine, based first in Hong Kong and later in New York.
Coronavirus: 85-yr-old man who returned from Dubai tests positive in Jaipur

India

oi-PTI

Jaipur, Mar 11: An 85-year-old Jaipur-based man, who had returned from Dubai on February 28, has tested positive for coronavirus, a state government official said on Wednesday. He was found presumptive positive in the first test on Tuesday and hence, a second test was conducted with fresh samples, the reports of which arrived late Tuesday night, Additional Chief Secretary, Medical and Health, Rohit Kumar Singh, said.

"The man who travelled to Dubai has tested positive for coronavirus. It has been confirmed now," Singh said. "We have also got the manifest of the Spicejet flight he took from Dubai to Jaipur and are doing due diligence on that," he said.

One suspected Coronavirus death in Karnataka; total confirmed cases in India reaches 62

The official said all passengers of the flight would be screened. "All passengers who had come to Jaipur from Dubai in the Spicejet flight have been asked to contact their nearest hospital immediately. All the people who have come in contact with the passengers will also be screened," Singh said. He said directions have been issued to officials to conduct screening of passengers and their contacts, and to keep those exhibiting symptoms in isolation, if required. "The man came to the hospital on Monday with symptoms of the virus.

After the first test, his wife (78) and son (50) too have been kept in isolation at the hospital.

The two, however, did not have symptoms when they were admitted," Singh said. Before reaching the SMS hospital here at 3 am on March 9, he had visited three private hospitals. Screening of people living in a three-km radius of the 85-year-old man's house is also being done by teams of the Health Department, officials said. Meanwhile, looking at the situation, the state government has started the facility of sample testing for coronavirus at a medical college in Jodhpur.

Testing was so far being conducted at the SMS medical college here. Directions have also been issued to military, railway and all major private hospitals to make arrangement for isolation facilities, the officials said. So far, 1.77 lakh people have been screened in the state for COVID-19 and 335 samples collected. Of these, three were found positive, which includes an Italian couple. Testing of four samples is in process, Singh said.

76-year-old man suspected to be infected with coronavirus dies in Karnataka

The Italian couple is also undergoing treatment at the SMS hospital and their condition is improving, the official said. Singh also held a meeting to review the current situation in the state. Medical Education Secretary Vaibhav Galaria, National Health Mission Director Naresh Thakral and other officers attended it.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Wednesday, March 11, 2020, 14:53 [IST]
St. Johns College, a private liberal arts college in Santa Fe, has decided to move to online instruction for two weeks after its spring break to limit the potential spread of the coronavirus, the Santa Fe school said Wednesday.

President Mark Roosevelt said in an interview that the decision was made before Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham declared a state of emergency on Wednesday after three cases of the virus were confirmed in New Mexico. A fourth case was confirmed later in the day.

Roosevelt said St. Johns decided to be proactive because 90% of its students are from outside the state and were due to begin a two-week spring break on Friday. About 20% of the schools students are international.

The virus is moving so fast that its close to a no-brainer, Roosevelt said. Were asking our students to stay home and learn online for two weeks after spring break ends.

At that point, St. Johns will decide whether to extend online learning for the remainder of the spring semester. Right now, graduation its scheduled for Saturday, May 23, but Roosevelt said that event could be rescheduled depending on whether the coronavirus continues to spread.

Although the virus doesnt appear to hit the young as hard as it does older people, Roosevelt said the danger is that students who travel and return to Santa Fe could infect staff and faculty members. He noted as someone over 60, he himself is considered to be vulnerable.

Roosevelt said the decision to have two weeks of online learning was made in concert with St. Johns Annapolis campus, where 450 students were due to return to school on Monday, March 16. The academic calendar of the East Coast arm of St. Johns is two weeks ahead of its Santa Fe counterpart.

He said that St. Johns students will continue to learn so there will be no tuition refunds, but that if online learning is extended for the remainder of the spring semester, the school will look into the possibility of refunds and/or credit for room and board.

During the next four weeks, Roosevelt anticipates staff will be coming to school with the exception of those who are sick or feel they are at risk of contracting the virus. We have a faculty meeting scheduled for this afternoon and were telling anyone who doesnt feel well or thinks they could get the virus to stay home, Roosevelt said.
MANISTEE, MI  Police are investigating an allegation of cyber harassment at a Northern Michigan school.

Manistee Area Public Schools received an anonymous tip through the statewide OK2SAY program regarding cyber harassment involving its students, police said. The school district immediately contacted Manistee Police Department on Friday, March 6.

Individuals associated with the alleged harassment have been identified, police said. The investigation is ongoing. The district and police continue to work together.

The district is working to provide care and resources to support affected students and their families. Victims are being encouraged to seek counsel from any district staff member or other trusted adult.

We ask that our community work together to provide the support needed for our young citizens, police said.

No other details were released regarding the alleged harassment.

Anyone with information potentially related to this case should contact the Manistee Police Department at 231-723-2533.

OK2SAY is an anonymous student safety initiative available to Michigan students in grades K12. It enables students to confidentially report potential harm or criminal activities aimed at students, teachers, staff or other school employees. Learn more about the program at: https://www.michigan.gov/ok2say/.

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Workers from Northern Ireland at the centre of the worst coronavirus crisis in Europe have warned people here not to be as complacent as Italy was until recently.

In an unprecedented move the Italian Government shut down the entire country of some 60m people until at least April 3 to try to curb the spread of coronavirus.

The move announced on Monday is the most drastic move a European country has taken to stop the spread of the deadly virus.

Antrim aircraft engineer and father-of-one Chris O'Hagan (43), who lives outside Milan in Arona, said the streets resemble something from a Hollywood film.

"For quite a while I was thinking that the media were portraying this in a sensational way, because I didn't see a lot of what was going on," he said.

"But I got up this morning to go to work and things have totally changed. They have locked down the country.

"The company I work for has passes that allow us to travel. But I am only allowed to travel from home to my workplace and then return. Police are setting up roadblocks and they have told people in the towns and areas that they can't leave at this moment in time. They are only allowed to leave for emergency reasons - to take people to hospital for example.

"When I was coming back from work today (Tuesday) I saw the police setting up a checkpoint on my way home. They are definitely clamping down. All restaurants, bars and clubs shut down at 6pm. It's like a ghost town at night."

Chris, who has lived in Italy for two years, said that he does not know anyone with the virus and the area where he lives is not a high risk area, but he is still on lockdown.

"The lockdown isn't frightening, it's more concerning that they have stopped all flights coming in and going out of the country. I have booked a flight to get out of the country on Wednesday night, but I'm considering not going because I don't know if I'm carrying the virus - will I bring it home to my family? Once I get home, I won't be able to leave the house for two weeks. I don't know what to do.

"I think the Italian Government should have been doing all these measures weeks ago. They have been quite lackadaisical about it. They seem to be clamping down on it now and they are giving advice over socialising. They are trying to contain the spread of it, but it should have been done long ago.

"People are going daft, panic-buying toilet roll. Some of the shelves are empty. This is so surreal, it really is like something out of a film.

"If I could warn people back home, it would be to take heed of the health officials' advice seriously. People here were not taking heed of the advice to wash hands. Be clean and be smart, because they weren't here. It seems to be the Italian mentality, they have a sense of entitlement. I wouldn't want all of this to happen back home because we are a much smaller place."

Expand Close Patrick Livingstone with wife Grainne and their children Dara and Eva / Facebook

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Whatsapp Patrick Livingstone with wife Grainne and their children Dara and Eva

Patrick Livingstone (38), a teacher originally from Armagh, lives in Milan with his wife Grainne, and their children Dara (4) and Eva (2).

The couple teach at the St Louis International School in Milan.

"I went to the park with my son today and there are people around, but there are very few people around and it's certainly very eerie.

"We do try to restrict our movements and we are not going too far. We are not going on public transport and we are just staying in the local area. We live in an apartment and my wife and I are now working from home. We take online classes all day, all teaching is now done via Skype. We are delivering content all day and juggle the childcare also.

"If we go to the supermarket, there is a queue out the door as they are only letting a certain number of people in because they have to be a metre apart.

"Since the lockdown it has started to get a bit uneasy. We were thinking of coming home, but we would have to self-quarantine there. So we are kind of stuck.

"If I could warn Northern Ireland on anything, it would be this. Two or three weeks ago here in Italy we were so flippant about this virus.

"We thought this was a distant disease that wouldn't impact us personally. But now it has become very tangible and real. Two or three weeks ago we weren't taking this seriously. It's only now that these measures have been put in place that people are taking it seriously."

Expand Close Gerry Rafferty and wife Hattie / Facebook

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Whatsapp Gerry Rafferty and wife Hattie

St Louis International School's principal Gerry Rafferty is also on lockdown with his wife Hattie in Milan. The 56-year-old Armagh man says we must learn from the Italian experience.

"The lockdown at the minute is crazy," he said. "The new laws that have come in are really quite tough. The whole population must take responsibility now and stay home."

Gerry said that two weeks ago the Italian population were not taking the situation seriously.

"If I could speak to people in Northern Ireland now, I would say to them that they need to learn from the Italian experience. There were few cases a few weeks ago and look at it today.

"Two weeks ago we were sitting there pretty arrogantly thinking that we wouldn't go to China or South Korea because of the virus and now we're the source. Now we see it coming into other countries. Learning from experience is basically cutting down on contact with other people, washing hands, not shaking hands..."
Italy reported 977 new cases of COVID-19 and 168 new deaths Tuesday. The country has the second-most infected patients in the world with 10,149 cases and 631 dead.

As a result of the rapidly multiplying virus, Italians are living their first day under a nationwide lockdown after a decree signed late Monday by Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte extended restrictions on movement from hard-hit northern regions to the rest of the country.

The directive bans all but the most important travel and puts the final kibosh on social gatherings after Italians failed to take previous warnings to heart amid skyrocketing infections. All sporting events are being suspended. Schools and universities are closing through April 3. Museums and archeological sites are closing. On Tuesday, the streets of Italy were empty and transportation systems were deserted. The government is requiring guards to take the temperatures of train passengers.

In Rome, teams of Italian police patrolled cafes to make sure owners were keeping customers 3 feet apart. The streets of the Italian capital were as quiet as they are during the annual mid-August vacation shutdown.

Travelers at Milans main train station had to sign police forms self-certifying that they are traveling for "proven work needs, situations of necessity, health reasons or to return home. Ski lifts were ordered to close after students whose classes were canceled began organizing trips to winter resorts.

The Italian government is assuring its citizens that supermarkets will remain open and stocked after panic buying erupted after broad anti-virus measures were announced nationwide, sparking overnight runs on 24-hour markets.

Shoppers lined up overnight outside a Rome Carrefour to stock up after the government extended restrictions on movement from hard-hit northern Italy to the rest of the country. Some shoppers wore masks as they waited with their carts to be allowed into the store a few at a time.

Major European airlines are canceling flights to and from Italy.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

Amy Graff is a digital editor with SFGATE. Email her news tips and photos at agraff@sfgate.com.

MORE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE:
Beijing on Wednesday accused the United States of a "provocative" act by sending a warship into disputed territorial waters in the South China Sea.

The USS McCampbell missile destroyer sailed near the Paracel Islands on Tuesday without authorisation, according to the People's Liberation Army.

The Paracel Islands are a chain of disputed islands and reefs in the South China Sea, claimed by China, Taiwan and Vietnam.

"Under the guise of 'freedom of navigation', the US has repeatedly flexed its muscles, been provocative and stirred up trouble in the South China Sea," PLA Southern Theatre Command spokesman Colonel Li Huamin said.

"This is a hegemonic act that violates international law, and ... threatens the peace and stability of the South China Sea." PLA Navy forces tracked and identified the ship before warning it to leave, the statement said.

The US Navy 7th fleet confirmed the freedom of navigation operation.

"Unlawful and sweeping maritime claims in the South China Sea pose an unprecedented threat to the freedom of the seas," said US Navy 7th fleet spokeswoman Commander Reann Mommsen in an emailed statement.

"By conducting this operation, the United States demonstrated that these waters are beyond what China can lawfully claim as its territorial sea, and that China's claimed straight baselines around the Paracel Islands are inconsistent with international law."



In recent years, Beijing has stepped up its territorial claims in the South China Sea by building numerous artificial islands and a heavy military presence, making it a flashpoint for geopolitical tensions.

Home to large natural oil and gas reserves and some of the busiest freight waterways in the world, the area is subject to numerous territorial claims from countries including Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Brunei.

Collin Koh, a maritime security researcher at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, said that it is rare that China, not the US, was the first to publicise the freedom of navigation exercise.

"This reflects Beijing's current policy of stressing that the PLA remains ever-ready to respond to external transgression even as China is grappling with the coronavirus," said Koh.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Congress is moving its legislators in Madhya Pradesh to Jaipur to prevent their possible poaching by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) which earlier on Wednesday moved its own lawmakers to Gurugram amid a tug-of-war over power.

Shortly before noon, Congress MLAs left for the airport from the chief ministers house to fly to Jaipur. A party leader claimed there are 94 Congress MLAs in the group.

The Congress government in Madhya Pradesh is staring at a collapse following the resignation by almost two dozen lawmakers including six ministers on Tuesday shortly after Jyotiraditya Scindia quit the Congress. The ruling party accuses the BJP of luring away its lawmakers. The BJP says the Congress government in MP is unraveling because of factional fighting.

Despite the resignation of 22 of its MLAs in Madhya Pradesh, the states home minister Bala Bachchan exuded confidence that the government will prove its majority in a floor test.

Congress is in a safe and strong position. Everybody is in touch with Chief Minister, everything will be alright soon. We will prove majority on the floor of the assembly and our government will continue till 2023, Bachchan said Wednesday, according to ANI.

Nineteen of the Congress MLAs who had flown to Bengaluru, resigned simultaneously on Tuesday. The emailed their resignation letters to state assembly speaker N P Prajapati and also faxed them to Governor Lalji Tandon.

Three other MLAs resigned separately later Tuesday.

The 230-member MP assembly currently has 228 members. The Congress has 114 MLAs while the BJP has 107 legislators. Two MLAs from the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), one from the Samajwadi Party (SP), and four independents make up seven other lawmakers who support the Kamal Nath government.
WASHINGTON  The House approved a resolution Wednesday that would bar President Donald Trump from launching a military attack against Iran without explicit congressional authorization.

The measure now goes to the White House, where Trump is expected to veto it. The president has said it would undermine U.S. security and "show weakness."

Supporters concede they do not have the two-thirds supermajority needed to override a veto.

But Wednesday's 227-to-186 vote still marked a rare bipartisan effort to curb Trump's war powers and underscored lawmakers' lingering concerns that U.S. tensions with Iran could escalate into a full-fledged war. Six Republicans joined 220 Democrats in supporting the war powers resolution. The measure cleared the Senate last month with eight Republicans and all Democrats voting yes.

"The American people don't want war with Iran. The Congress has not authorized war with Iran. That should be crystal clear," Rep. Eliot Engel, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said during the House debate.

Engel, D-N.Y., and other Democrats said Trump brought the United States to the brink of war with Iran when he green-lighted a deadly strike targeting Tehrans most powerful military leader, Gen. Qasem Soleimani, on Jan. 2. Iran responded by launching ballistic missiles at an Iraqi air base housing American troops, which left more than 100 service members with traumatic brain injuries.

"This isn't deterrence," Engel said, noting that Iran has also increased its uranium enrichment stockpile. "We're now closer to a war with a country that's closer to possessing a nuclear weapon."

The Trump administration and its Republican allies said the measure was unnecessary and would undermine Trump's ability to respond to Iranian aggression.

"This political war powers resolution is based on a false premise," said Rep. Michael McCaul, the top GOP lawmaker on the Foreign Affairs Committee.

Story continues

He said Trump has shown "remarkable restraint" in using military force and has made it clear he doesn't want war with Iran.

"Iran and its proxies are watching right now as we spin our wheels," McCaul said. "And what they see ... (is) a divided America that does not fully support the ability of our commander in chief to adequately respond to threats against Americans."

The White House has blasted the war powers measure as "untimely and misguided."

In a statement threatening a veto, the White House said the U.S. "is not currently engaged in any use of force against Iran, in part because of the sound policies and decisive, effective actions of this administration."

The chief author of the resolution, Sen. Tim Kaine, a Virginia Democrat, hailed Wednesday's vote as a long overdue assertion of congressional authority on matters of war.

For years, Congress has abdicated its responsibility on matters of war, but now a bipartisan majority in both the Senate and House has made clear that we shouldnt be engaged in hostilities with Iran without a vote of Congress," Kaine said. He said his legislation doesnt prevent Trump from defending America against imminent attack.

"Rather, the resolution demands that the decision of whether or not we go on offense and send our troops into harms way should only be made after serious deliberation and a vote of Congress," he said. "If President Trump is serious about his promise to stop endless wars, he will sign this resolution into law.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Iran: House approves limits on Trump's war powers, but veto is likely
As many as 43 "first contacts" of



five patients who tested positive for the novel coronavirus here in Maharashtra have been contacted and they are being monitored closely at their homes, district authorities said on Wednesday.

Till now, five people have tested positive for the coronavirus (COVID-19) in Maharashtra. All the confirmed cases have been reported from Pune.

According to senior officials in the Pune district administration, currently 17 people have been admitted at the civic-run Naidu Hospital, the designated government medical facility here for coronavirus-related cases.

"Out of these 17, five are positive, reports of two persons are inconclusive and results of samples of the remaining 10 people are awaited," said Divisional Commissioner Deepak Mhaisekar.

He said 43 people who were in "first close contact" with these five positive patients have been identified and contacted.

"They are being closely monitoredat their homes," he said.

All the five patients are stable and except one who has mild symptoms, the others now have no symptoms of the viral infection, Mhaisekar said.

He said identity of the patients should not be disclosed.

A relative of one of the COVID-19 patients has written to the divisional commissioner alleging that information regarding the infected person was revealed on social media and this has led to his family facing hardships and social boycott.

"Police have been asked to monitor social media posts through their IT cell to make sure no rumours are spread," he said.

Mhaisekar said the administration will take necessary action against those indulging in rumour-mongering regarding the disease.

Talking about meeting of officials with Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, he said the CM took stock of the situation and assured to provide all necessary aid.

As many as 18 private hospitals with 200 beds have been kept ready to deal with any situation, Mhaisekar said.

Asked about any move to reschedule university examinations, he said no such decision has been taken yet.

"I just spoke to officials of the Savitribai Phule Pune University and took information about exam schedule," the Divisional Commissioner said.

District collector Naval Kishore Ram said as of now no instructions have been issued on closure of schools.

"We will take a decision as and when required and Chief Minister has been briefed about it," he said.

Ram said it is the discretion of infotech companies to decide whether to give the option of 'work from home' to their employees in the city, an IT hub.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Member of Parliament for Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency, Hon Lydia Seyram Alhassan on Thursday, March 5, 2020, donated an amount of GH47,000 to cater for the medical expenses of Ishawu Yaro, the victim who was severely injured during the Ayawaso-West bye elections.



The donation was done at the 37 Military hospital.



It would be recalled that the family of Ishawu Yaro some time ago denied the fact that Hon. Lydia Alhassan has catered for the expenses of thier son and gave the credence to the NDC.



During the donation, Hon Lydia recapped the issue of the family's denial. She used the platform to thank the media and everyone who contributed to the wellbeing of Ishawu Yaro.



A little over a year ago, I was here to contribute GHS5,000 for his upkeep and I continued to visit him. I was concerned about him and as a concerned mother, I took it upon myself to raise funds to settle his bills. A cheque of GHS47,000 has been presented to the commander [at the 37 Military Hospital] to clear his medical bills, she added,

She further advised the youth to stay calm and not to be used in a way that will be detrimental to their lives during elections period.



For the youth out there. Please dont allow yourself to be used in this manner. Do politics. Do it reasonably. Do it decently and sensibly, she stressed.



The Commander at the 37 Military Hospital, Brig-Gen. M. A. Obodai, expressed his warm regards to the Hon. for her generosity.



Speaking to the Media, Ishawu Yaro thanked Hon. Lydia Alhassan for her kind gestures and words of encouragement as he prayed to get better in no time.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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OTTAWA  The flight recorders from the Ukrainian jetliner shot down by the Iranian military in January will be arriving in Ukraine in 10 to 14 days, the countrys envoy to Canada said Wednesday.

Ambassador Andriy Shevchenko was at the International Civil Aviation Organization meeting in Montreal Wednesday when the voice of Irans representative, Farhad Parvaresh, offered that long-awaited confirmation.

Getting the black boxes has taken longer that Canada, Ukraine and the three other countries that lost citizens in the shootdown of Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 would have liked.

Irans military fired missiles at the airliner, killing all 176 people on board, including 55 Canadians.

Parvaresh wasnt at the meeting but addressed the ICAO council by telephone. Canadas Transport Minister Marc Garneau was also in the room.

Of course, there was a very visible sign of relief in the room and many members of the council expressed their welcome of this decision, Shevchenko said in an interview.

By now we have already wasted too much time, and we want to finally start moving forward.

Shevchenko and Foreign Affairs Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne welcomed the promise from Iran to hand over the flight recorders.

Parvaresh pledged that the black boxes will be transferred to Ukraine or on to France as necessary, said Champagne.

We welcome those words but we will judge Iran by obviously their actions, he said.

We will be following up to make sure this is happening.

Speaking to reporters, Champagne offered no details on when the transfer would happen. Shevchenko was unable to explain the 10- to 14-day time frame, but stressed it was a necessary development, and one that all countries involved agreed was inevitable.

Governments from five countries that lost citizens in the crash have been working together to pressure Iran for a transparent investigation. They are also asking for compensation for the victims, and for whomever was responsible for the missiles to be held responsible. Iran has said they were fired in error.

Iran admitted shortly after the disaster that the black boxes were partially damaged, and that it did not have the technical ability to extract the data they contained.

We do not have a clear understanding of what are the conditions of the boxes. I guess the final understanding of how we proceed will be after we have them, said Shevchenko.

The boxes will be examined in Ukraine first and once we understand what kind of expertise we need there will be a final decision on whether we need to proceed to France or not.

Shevchenko said Canada and Ukraine led the way in keeping lines of communication open with Tehran to push for the release of the flight recorders to push for a thorough and trustworthy investigation.

If we want to make sure this does not happen again, then we, again, really need to have this very full and comprehensive picture of the event, the envoy said.

Its a matter of rule of law, he added. There are clear ICAO regulations from this, and I think its really to everyones benefit to make sure that this international framework, these international rules, they are respected and they work.

Champagne noted that families are still waiting for answers, and the black boxes could provide crucial clues into the flights final minutes.

He said Canada wants its own experts to play a role in analyzing the boxes.
Feeling safe and secure in a city is one of the most important factors when people decide where they would like to travel. Feeling unsafe can ruin plenty of enjoyable things, such as museum visits, dining in restaurants, or having fun in local bars. Traveling safely is something we take for granted, but the feeling of security allows us to enjoy everything a city has to offer fully.

Several studies try to rank the safest cities in the world, but The Economist publishes the most prestigious list. It is called the Safest Cities Index, and it is published yearly, ranking 60 cities across 49 indicators. Those indicators are divided into digital security, health security, infrastructure security, and personal security. Once all of this is taken into account, the cities are given a ranking out of 100.

Currently, the safest city in the world is Tokyo, the most populated metropolis on our planet. Lets find out what some of the other contenders for the title were as well.

10. Melbourne, Australia

Melbourne, Australia. Image credit: lkonya / Shutterstock.com

Melbourne is often considered the happiest city in the world. It absolutely makes sense then, that the city is also remarkably safe. Safety and happiness are correlated, and this city proves it by ranking this high on the list.

9. Seoul, South Korea

Seoul, Korea.

Seoul is practically tied with Copenhagen, and will probably take its place in the future if it continues to develop as it did so far. It is another city from the Asia-Pacific region, where six of the top ten safest cities in the world are situated.

This part of the world is doing some things right, and Seoul is no joke; it provides health-care access to everyone, and the food, water, and air are considered to be extremely clean and safe.

8. Copenhagen, Denmark

Copenhagen, Denmark

Another European city, Copenhagen, in Denmark, is perceived to be extremely safe by its residents. The number of crimes in this city is extraordinarily low, and it is worth noting that city planners in Copenhagen take disaster risk into account when making any changes to the infrastructure.

7. Washington, D.C., USA

Washington, D.C., USA

And we finally reach the only representative of the United States on this list. Washington, D.C. ranks highly in digital security, which makes sense considering the White House is here. You know, the U.S. President, the U.S. government, and so on.

Since there are plenty of secrets that are vital to national security, which need to be kept safe here, it is only natural that even the visitors can rest assured that they are completely safe in this city.

6. Toronto, Canada

Toronto, Canada

Toronto is the first city on this list that is situated in North America; however, we are still waiting for a contender from the United States. When we look at only the cities in the population category of 5 to 10 million people, Toronto ranks as the second safest city.

The only one that manages to beat it then is Singapore. Toronto manages to score highly on all accounts and is generally considered a city most others can look up to.

5. Sydney, Australia

Sydney, Australia

Sydney is not the only city in Australia that cracked the top 10, Melbourne is a bit lower on the list as well, which means that Australians know how to keep their cities safe. Researchers attribute this feeling of safety to the wealth in Sydney; most of the people living there have above average income, which drastically raises their quality of life quality.

Unsurprisingly, Sydney is expected to become one of the five wealthiest cities in the world. The city has been investing large sums into the development of its infrastructure and personal security measures.

4. Amsterdam, Netherlands

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Amsterdam is known for having high-quality health insurance, and it is ranked as the fourth-best in the world in that category. It is only fitting that it also ranks as the fourth safest city in general.

Amsterdam is the safest city in Europe and is especially well known for being exceptionally well prepared for future shocks. Aside from all that, Amsterdam is just a city that deserves to be visited, having plenty of content to keep tourists entertained for weeks.

3. Osaka, Japan

Osaka, Japan

Two Japanese cities in the top 5 make sense, once you start to explore the ins and outs of that country a bit more. Osaka ranked has the second-best pedestrian and development infrastructures out of all the cities on the list.

It is also the world leader when it comes to health. The city of Osaka secures the wellness of the locals as well as the visitors. Osaka should be high on your list of destinations if you are looking for a stress-free trip.

2. Singapore, Malaysia

Singapore, Malaysia

Singapore ranked highest in two categories, personal security, and infrastructure security. This small island city-state situated off southern Malaysia is highly influential on a global level.

A center for travel and tourism, more so than many other cities in Asia, Singapore continues to prove that it is not the size of the boat that matters.

1. Tokyo, Japan

Tokyo, Japan

The safest place on Earth is the capital of Japan, and it is not the only Japanese city in the top 10. Tokyo has more than 20 million residents; however, it is making constant strides in its efforts to keep the locals, as well as tourists, as safe as possible.

It is convincingly in front of all other cities when it comes to digital security, in the realm of health security it lands on the second place, and it takes the fourth place in terms of personal and infrastructure security. Tokyo indeed shows that it is possible to excel in all aspects.
A day after Jyotiraditya Scindia quit Congress claiming that he had been sidelined in the party, the Madhya Pradesh Congress on Wednesday hit out at him by highlighting the key positions, including a berth in the Union council of ministers, he held during his 18 years of association with the Congress.

The state Congress unit took to Twitter and asked Scindia as to why he still chose to go "under the shelter of Modi-Shah (Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah) duo?"

"In Scindia's 18 year political career, Congress made him Member of Parliament for 17 years, Union minister twice, chief whip, general secretary, in-charge of Uttar Pradesh, Congress Working Committee member, election campaign head, 50-plus tickets and 9 ministers were given. Still under the shelter of Modi-Shah?" the MP Congress tweeted in Hindi along with an image referring that Scindia had "broken the trust".

Meanwhile, senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh too reiterated that Scindia was "not at all sidelined".Taking to Twitter, Singh said that nothing in the Gwalior-Chambal division had moved without Scindia's consent in the last 16 months."No question, he was not at all sidelined. In fact, please ask any Congress leader from MP particularly from Gwalior Chambal Division and you would come to know nothing moved in this area without his consent in the last 16 months. Sad. But I wish him well under Modi-Shah tutelage!" Singh tweeted.The leader's comment comes at a time when uncertainty looms large over the fate of Chief Minister Kamal Nath-led Congress government in Madhya Pradesh after Scindia and 22 MLAs resigned from the party on Tuesday.

Scindia is likely to join the Bharatiya Janata Party today.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Disgraced show-biz tycoon Harvey Weinstein -- who has now been convicted for multiple counts of sexual assault and could potentially face up to 29 years in prison -- once tried to salvage his careers by pleading his powerful contemporaries to come for his rescue.

According to Variety, nearly 1,000 pages of documents disclosed by the New York court reveal that Weinstein sent emails to personalities such as Jeff Bezos, Tim Cook, Michael Bloomberg, Quentin Tarantino and Ted Sarandos, urging them to issue letters of support in his favour.

The mails were sent on October 8, 2017, just three days after The New York Times made the shocking revelation of Weinstein's misdeeds.

October 8 was the same day when Weinstein was ousted from The Weinstein Company.

The documents, however, didn't include any responses sent by these people.

Weinstein, according to Variety, wrote to Apple chiefs, Cook and Cue that "I don't need you to make any public statements -- just a private one to my Gmail address, saying that you support me getting therapy and the help I need before the board fires me. I'm in a tough spot. Many of the allegations are false, but I need your help with this private letter of support. I'm going to get well, and if I pass the therapist test, then we can talk about reinstatement et cetera. But for now, I'm going to take a leave of absence and get healthy. If they fire me now, it'll destroy me personally and cause a huge legal battle, based on my rights with the company. But if I have support from someone like you getting me going into treatment and having the shot at a second chance (because people deserve a second chance), it would be very helpful. I would need something today if you can -- I so appreciate it."

Similarly, he pleaded to Netflix's Ted Sarandos that "I need your friendship now," requesting him to send a letter on Netflix's behalf to his company's board of directors.

"There are many false allegations and over time, we'll prove it, but right now, I'm the poster boy for bad behaviour," Winstein wrote to Amazon's Jeff Bezos, Variety reported further.

Also, in an email to a big-time talent agent, the fallen mogul went as far as saying that "I'm desperate for your help".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
While Montana has seen no cases of the coronavirus, or COVID-19, residents and health officials are busy preparing for the sickness.

Easy steps can be taken to prevent the virus, which is mainly spread through person-to-person contact.

Here is what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends people do to prepare for and prevent spreading the virus.

What symptoms should I be watching for?

Symptoms of the mild to severe respiratory illness include fever, cough and difficulty breathing.

What should I do if I think I'm sick with the coronavirus?

The CDC recommends people who are sick to stay home and distance themselves from other people.

You should contact your local health care provider to discuss testing for the virus, according to the Montana Department of Health and Human Services.

"Your health care professional will work with your states public health department and CDC to determine if you need to be tested for COVID-19," DPHHS states.

In Yellowstone County, people may contact RiverStone Health at 651-6415 to call with questions about the virus.

What's the best way to prevent getting sick?

The best way to prevent yourself from contracting the coronavirus is to practice good hygiene habits. That means frequently washing your hands, avoiding close contact with people who are sick, and staying home if you are sick.

The virus mainly spreads through person-to-person contact, typically from respiratory droplets, like when a sick person sneezes or coughs.

The CDC recommends you frequently wash your hands after you have been in a public place; after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing; or before touching your face or eating.

You should wash your hands with soap for at least 20 seconds. Thats about the time it takes to sing the "Happy Birthday" song twice though.

Washing your hands is preferable to hand sanitizer, but use hand sanitizer if you can't wash your hands.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.

Will face masks really help me from getting sick?

Face masks seem like a great tool to prevent getting sick, but the CDC says that only people who are already sick should be wearing face masks.

The face mask helps keep people from coughing or sneezing on surfaces.

According to the CDC:

You do not need to wear a face mask unless you are caring for someone who is sick (and they are not able to wear a face mask). Face masks may be in short supply and they should be saved for caregivers.

However, if you are already sick or experiencing symptoms, you should wear a face mask while in public.

If there's a quarantine, how should I be prepared?

An emergency preparedness kit should be on hand at home in the event of a weather event or health emergency. Information on preparing an emergency kit and preparing for the coronavirus can be found on ready.gov, the Department of Homeland Security's website.

For the coronavirus, the Department of Homeland Security suggests you:

Store a two-week supply of water and food. Non-perishables like rice, pasta, beans and canned goods can be the foundation of your food supply.

Make sure you have enough prescription and nonprescription drugs and other health supplies on hand.

Keep electronic copies of your health records.

Develop a plan with family members and loved ones about how they would be cared for if they got sick, or what will be needed to care for them in your home.

How often should I be cleaning dirty surfaces?

Making sure heavily touched surfaces are clean is another way to prevent a virus. Tables, door knobs, light switches, handles, keyboards and phones are examples of places that are touched frequently throughout the day.

Most common household disinfectants will work to wipe down and clean those surfaces.

I know I can get sick, but what about my pet?

The CDC has not received any reports of pets or animals becoming sick with the coronavirus, and there is no evidence that pets can spread the virus either.

Despite that, the CDC suggests that people sick with the coronavirus limit contact with animals until more is known about the virus. Sick caregivers of pets should wash hands before and after handling food, and should wear a facemask around the animal.

The CDC always recommends that people wash hands after handling pets.

Can I get the coronavirus from items shipped out of infected areas?

The short answer is no, according to the CDC.

There have currently been no cases of the virus being spread from imported goods.

While it hasnt been entirely ruled out that the coronavirus could spread from a package or product that has come from an infected state or country, the likelihood that the virus could survive on surface during shipping is extremely low, the CDC says.

Coronaviruses generally spread from respiratory droplets that happen when a person sneezes or coughs, and often dont survive long on surfaces.
It worked well for this country, Kamara said. I believe that if he is going to be president again, after being vice president, he is going to do the same thing again.

At a polling place in Dutchtown, Don and Pat Duncan were motivated in large part by the issues of health care and minimum wage in their votes for Sanders.

I figure, Im on Medicare, and if it works for me  and Im quite happy with it  why not have it for everybody, said Don Duncan, 68, a retired carpenter.

This is the only country in the world where if you get sick you lose your entire life savings, Duncan said. Its about time the United States catches up with the rest of the world.

Pat Duncan said she probably could have gone either way to vote for Biden or Sanders but opted for the latter because of his position for a $15 federal minimum wage.

As the day started, Biden had 670 delegates and Sanders 574, according to the Associated Press.
Adam Smith Institute  There are concerns about a big-spending budget. The ASIs Head of Research Matthew Lesh said:

It is seriously concerning that the Government is looking at ripping up the fiscal rules. A Conservative Government should not implement debunked Keynesian stimulus theories. Some infrastructure and public services spending, as well as supporting individuals and businesses during Covid-19, is necessary. But in the longer-run, spending like a drunken sailor will not create a thriving entrepreneurial economy. Expansive vanity projects wont make us better off. Bureaucrats picking winners does not support risk-taking by entrepreneurs  the Government should be cutting red tape on innovation like limits on biotechnology, not presuming to know what is best.

Centre for Social Justice 

There were some big announcements worth welcoming, but where was the social policy and anything like a programme for social justice? The Chancellor fiddled with the so-called poverty line to ensure that boosts to the Living Wage mean by 2024 it wont be possible to be in poverty and in full time work. We heard about human capital but little about the people behind the term. If the government is going to build their way to a new majority, we need much more for young people in forgotten towns looking for a bright future off the back of this building largesse. The big announcement around Further Education colleges is important and is to be welcomed (it is also nicked from CSJ reports). It shouldnt be overlooked by headline writers. Theres an announcement on family hubs co-located in schools and scaling up family support. This is a big step forward in delivering a manifesto commitment, but we need more than a research report. The government seems to be admirably focused in tackling rough sleeping through building new accommodation to get people off the streets for good. This is welcome and needs work alongside previously announced funding for Housing First style accommodation to turn around the most chaotic lives. Affordable housing largesse needs to be built for families stuck in temporary accommodation so theres a lot to play for there. Small charities face an uncertain future with fundraising cancelled and donors tightening their belt as the stock market plummets. The newly announced 500m hardship fund for local authorities shouldnt forget these local charities operating in their own backyard and helping vulnerable people. Theres still a lot to do for social justice and lets get it done for the next Budget later this year.

Centre for Policy Studies  Robert Colvile, the Director of the CPS, said:

We welcome the Chancellors focus on supporting businesses, especially small businesses, and levelling up regions across the UK. We were particularly proud to see so many of the Centre for Policy Studies priorities reflected, from increasing the National Insurance threshold and other tax cuts for low-paid workers, to the overwhelming focus on supporting small businesses as the heartbeat of the economy, to the levelling up agenda, to the expansion of capital allowances for businesses, to the freezing of spirits duty. However, amid all the focus on extra spending, it is vital that the Government also remembers the pressing need to live within its means and to raise GDP growth, as the only sustainable way to keep the economy on track.

TaxPayers Alliance  John OConnell, its chief executive, said:

The only thing this budget is getting done is net borrowing figures being spun. While there were some welcome wins on measures like the freezing of alcohol and fuel duties, this was basically a Gordon Brown-style budget of eye-watering bumper borrowing, a higher tax burden and billions in spending bungs. With the tax burden already at a 50 year high as a percentage of GDP, and the impact of coronavirus yet to be taken into account, the unfortunate truth is that its future taxpayers who will lose out from being expected to pay for the massive public sector net borrowing announced today.

Institute of Economic Affairs  Mark Littlewood, Director General of the IEA, said:

Economists have long been predicting an economic downturn, but no one could have anticipated that it would be triggered by a global pandemic. Nonetheless, the coronavirus outbreak highlights that the UK government has again failed to fix the roof while the sun was shining. Successive governments have lacked real fiscal discipline and failed to eliminate persistent deficits, leaving the current Chancellor with less room for manoeuvre. Fiscal loosening to cope with the Covid-19 shock is understandable, but the Chancellor seems to think the only best way to boost growth is through public spending. The Budget rightly still meets the fiscal rules set out in the Conservative Manifesto and a temporary hit to the 2020 numbers shouldnt change this. The Chancellor hinted these could be relaxed in the near future but there is no reason not to balance the books in 2023. The hit to the public finances from the coronavirus is, as the Chancellor was at pains to stress, temporary and not structural, so there are no grounds for changing fiscal strategy  merely a need for some short term fiscal tactics.

Resolution Foundation  Welcoming the Chancellors announcement to scale back the lifetime limit in Entrepreneurs Relief from 10 million to 1 million, thereby reducing the maximum benefit of the tax break from 1 million to 100,000 each, Adam Corlett, Senior Economist at the Resolution Foundation, said:

Entrepreneurs Relief is a hugely expensive tax break that does little to encourage genuine entrepreneurship. The Chancellor has made the right call in drastically scaling back its scope and cost  saving around 6 billion over the next five years by reducing the maximum tax break from 1 million to, a still significant, 100,000 per person.

Northern Powerhouse Partnership  Henri Murison, its Director said:

Connectivity alongside devolution in North and more funding for R&D outside London has been focus today. Northern Powerhouse Rail, which must include a city centre station in Bradford on a new line between Leeds and Manchester is being consulted on as part of a wider network. Wider investment in connectivity across the North, including the long term funding settlement to underpin a mass transit system in West Yorkshire, and significant investment in Teesside and Sheffield City Region, as well as West of Pennines in Greater Manchester and Liverpool City Regions. The massive share of 4.2 billion for London style public transport coming to North because devolution here is now the norm, those places without the exception we will work to bring forward. The commitments made to a West Yorkshire devolution deal are just the first step, with further deals across the North from York and Scarborough to Cumbria, Cheshire and Warrington to north and south banks of the Humber. Five deals for the North across three fiscal events is our ambition and challenge for Ministers, which we will back them on every step of the way. A northern Chancellor has given a budget which makes a credible start towards levelling up  closing the North  South divide by investing in the infrastructure which will underpin the Northern Powerhouse. Ensuring those living and growing up here today can take advantage of the opportunities that will be created here is the challenge for the Comprehensive Spending Review.

Blue Collar Conservatism  The further freeze in fuel duty after a Blue Collar Conservatism 130-strong parliamentary caucus: Dehenna Davison, who became the MP for Bishop Auckland in December, said:

Its fantastic to see the Government back working people with another fuel duty freeze. Blue collar voters in Bishop Auckland and beyond can see today from the Budget that Boris and the Conservative Party are on their side, repaying their trust by delivering for them and their families.

NHS Employers. Responding to the announcement in the Budget that the threshold for the annual allowance taper in the NHS Pension Scheme will be raised, Danny Mortimer, chief executive of NHS Employers, which is part of the NHS Confederation, said:

Employers across the NHS will welcome this significant step in reforming pensions taxation. The overwhelming majority of NHS employees will no longer face the uncertainty and distress of the application of the annual allowance taper based on additional NHS earnings. This importantly provides certainty for them. Employers will also hope that this announcement reassures clinical colleagues so that they can agree to undertake additional work without the perverse consequences that have resulted in recent years. The change in the taper will also benefit a wider range of employees, and this is also very welcome.

Institute of Economic Development  The Executive Director Nigel Wilcock commented:

This might be the budget that brings Keynes back in vogue with the Office for Budget Responsibility expecting the expansionary measures to create a demand-led economic boost. Certainly, from the budget speech there was little not to like  some emergency fiscal loosening, some provision for the lower paid, and lots and lots of spending announcements.

Local Government Information Unit  Jonathan Carr-West, Chief Executive, said:

This budget was dominated by the Governments response to coronavirus. No one could argue with that, but for local government it provides more questions than answers. Social care has been all but absent in the response to Covid-19. Hospitals will not be able to cope if large numbers of older sufferers cannot be discharged because of a lack of social care provision and social care providers will not be able to cope if a fifth of their already stretched workforce is off sick. This could create a dangerous and vicious circle. The 500 million hardship fund the Chancellor announced for local government will help with this, but will it be enough? Mr Sunak promised whatever it takes for the NHS, but once again, we risk forgetting the symbiotic relationship between health and social care. Councils will be at the front line of our response to coronavirus and will be a crucial player in long term economic transformation. However, local government may feel that it has dropped through the middle somewhat as the Government attempts to get so many other things done.

The Entrepreneurs Network  Its founder Philip Salter says:

Cutting the lifetime limit for Entrepreneurs Relief from 10m to 1m  rather than scrapping it entirely as many feared  will ensure that ambitious startups are still able to attract talent through employee stock options. The Enterprise Management Scheme (EMI) allows startups with fewer than 250 employees and 30m in assets to offer workers share options that qualify for the reduced capital gains tax of Entrepreneurs Relief. While the Chancellor may be right that Entrepreneurs Relief doesnt incentivise all business owners, in our regular discussions with the foreign-born founders of Britains fastest growing companies, Entrepreneurs Relief is widely understood and cited as part of a package of incentives that helped them decide to start their business in the UK, or move it here. Cutting the lifetime limit has reduced this incentive.

Federation of Small Businesses  The FSB National Chairman Mike Cherry said:

The Chancellor has thankfully unveiled a pro-small business Budget. The measures hes put forward today  coupled with those unveiled by the Bank of England this morning  should go a long way to reinjecting optimism back into the small business community after years of uncertainty. It was encouraging to hear the Chancellor saying he will take forward our proposals for reform of entrepreneurs relief, and we look forward to working with the Treasury to protect the thousands of everyday entrepreneurs who make use of this incentive to help fund their retirement every year. Expanding access to statutory sick pay for those impacted by coronavirus is the right thing to do, and so too is making that access affordable for small businesses. By announcing an extension of the retail discount and an SSP rebate for small firms, as FSB called for, the Chancellor has shown hes on their side. The rebate must be easy to access.

Bright Blue  Ryan Shorthouse, the Director says:

This Budget confirmed that the Conservative Governments fiscal approach this decade will be dramatically different to the one pursued in the last decade. Theresa May wanted an end to fiscal austerity  talking radically, but delivering modestly. It will be her successor, to borrow a phrase, that gets this done. The Government should be applauded for introducing bold financial measures to support people and businesses during the coronavirus crisis. But, especially since this additional spending has not been taken into account in OBR assessments and the Treasury are reviewing the fiscal framework, it is very unclear at the moment what precisely the UKs future fiscal trajectory is. If, as seems likely considering growth forecasts, borrowing increases substantially to fund both new capital and current spending, future generations of taxpayers will face a bigger bill. The Conservative Party should not shy away from stressing the economic and moral need for, and their commitment to, fiscal discipline. To fund this significant increase in public spending, it is almost inevitable that some taxes will have to rise. The Government shied away from making the tough decisions on taxation today  a missed opportunity, considering now is when this Governments political capital is likely to be highest during this parliament. It is right to reduce taxation on employment, both on the National Insurance paid by employees and employers, but freezing Fuel Duty yet again was a serious mistake  for environmental, fiscal and political reasons. Climate Change is another profoundly serious problem our country and the rest of the world faces, requiring stronger incentives and investment. If we are to meet our net zero emissions target by 2050, this decade really is crucial to facilitating deeper decarbonisation. Though some welcome ideas were announced, it is still not enough, especially for tricky sectors such as heating and transport.
GNB LiFTFORCE LPX 2.0 Offers Improved Features and Even Greater Value

Atlanta, Georgia, March 10, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- GNB Industrial Power, a Division of Exide Technologies, LLC (www.exide.com), today announced the launch of a new lithium-ion battery at MODEX 2020 that takes motive power battery performance to the next level. The GNB LiFTFORCE LPX 2.0 has greater energy density, improved integration and communication capabilities and a wider application range  all at a lower cost compared to the first generation LiFTFORCE LPX offering.

Weve seen great traction for our LiFTFORCE lithium-ion offering in the North American market over the past two years with end users, lift truck dealers and original equipment manufacturers, said Matt Gould, Vice President, Marketing, Sales, and Service, GNB Industrial Power. Our latest 2.0 version gives the material handling industry even more capacity to power their operations. Its a great addition to our battery portfolio, which includes lead-acid, advanced lead-acid, and lithium-ion options to meet a diverse range of industry needs.

The LiFTFORCE LPX 2.0 provides increased cycle life and lower maintenance requirements for Class I, II, and III forklifts as well as Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) and other demanding applications relative to conventional lead batteries. Its an ideal solution for large distribution centers and companies that run heavy-duty or multiple shifts looking to lower their operational costs. The LiFTFORCE LPX 2.0 features:

Data logging capabilities to generate usage and status reports

Option for remote communication for full integration into GNB Cloud, a battery and charger management tool that enables users to leverage live fleet data to customize and compare various motive power options, simulating performance before deployment

Ability to accommodate vehicle CAN Protocols

Top overall benefits of the LiFTFORCE LPX 2.0 lithium-ion battery are streamlined operations, reduced downtime and lower total cost of ownership than traditional lead-acid batteries. Additional benefits include:

Story continues

Greater energy efficiency: same energy as a lead-acid battery in a smaller and lighter package

24/7 forklift operation using the same battery with only short bursts of recharging needed while workers are on breaks

Freed-up floor space for storage and operations due to the ability to use wall chargers; this also eliminates the need to shuffle cumbersome batteries in and out of the forklift

Lower maintenance requirements than lead-acid batteries due to eliminated need for watering

Specialized electronic BMS (Battery Management System) that monitors the status and health of each battery

Stop by GNB Booth #2814 at MODEX 2020 to see the LiFTFORCE LPX 2.0 and other new technologies in action and meet with our experts.

About Exide Technologies

For more than 130 years, Exide Technologies, LLC (exide.com) has been Powering the World Forward as a global provider of stored electrical-energy solutions for the Transportation and Industrial markets. Headquartered in Milton, Georgia, Exide operates in 80 countries with more than 9,000 employees. Exide produces a range of battery and energy storage systems and specialty applications for the Transportation, Network Power and Motive Power markets and industries including agricultural, automotive, electric, light and heavy-duty truck, marine, materials handling, military, mining, power-sport, railroad, security, telecommunications, utility and uninterruptible power supply (UPS), among others. As one of the worlds largest secondary recyclers, the company is committed to environmental sustainability.

Attachment

Melissa Floyd

Exide Technologies

678-566-9927

melissa.floyd@exide.com


There's something about being in nature that makes you think more clearly, breathe more deeply, pause more meaningfully. And there may not be any scientific studies to prove it, but we hear all of that get amplified when you post up in a sleek tiny cabin.

That's why were so excited to hear of the recent opening of Getaway Hill Country, located one hour from Austin and San Antonio in Texas Hill Country. This comes on the heels of the 2019 debut of Getaway Piney Woods, located less than two hours from Dallas.

We live in a time where were expected to always be connected. Rarely do people take the time to escape the daily grind, put away their devices and get in touch with their thoughts, nature, themselves or their loved ones, said Jon Staff, CEO and Founder of Getaway, in a media statement. Getaway was created to give people the time, space and permission to be off. Were excited to launch our second outpost in Texas, welcoming guests from Austin and San Antonio.

Getaway Hill Country has 32 two-person cabins and eight four-person cabins spread out on a sprawling 60-acre property. All cabins include a cellphone lockbox, shower, campfire grill grate, AC and heat, and more. To help you disconnect, no WiFi is offered on the grounds (though you should have cell phone service just fine should you choose to keep it out of the lockbox). Rates for both Texas vacation rental sites start from $99 a night.

Michelle Watt

In addition to these two properties in Texas, Getaway runs locations outside of Atlanta, Boston, Cleveland and Pittsburgh, Los Angeles, New York, Portland, and Washington, D.C., with plans for continued expansion in the works.

WATCH: Sunshine Key Tiny House Village Opens in the Florida Keysand We Want to Move There Pronto

Sunshine Key Tiny House Village Opens in the Florida Keysand We Want to Move There Pronto

Ohio Key, here we come.

In an increasingly digital world, we love the idea of spending a vacation truly offline and spending more time in nature. Who's got the knitting supplies and some new book recommendations to share? We'll pack the snacks.
A bus driver who had laser treatment on his beard and moustache so he could stop shaving has been handed a 14,000 payout after his face was scorched and scarred.

Abdir Addowsheikh, 42, paid for an extensive course of treatment to remove facial hair, but during his third session at the Elite Laser Studio in Islington his skin began to sizzle under the intense heat.

Central London county court heard he suffered very significant scarring and burning injuries, developed an infection, and was off work for three weeks following the incident in September 2018.

Mr Addowsheikh told the court he had complained at the time that the laser was too hot, but technician Anh Ngo answered that each session the temperature should be going up.

He said: I wasnt expecting it to be so painful and so damaging. I was feeling very hot, I was sweating. I tried to endure the pain but at last I couldnt continue. It was too hot. The way I felt was really, really bad.

Ms Ngo denied being to blame for the injury, saying she was the one who said the XLase Plus machine treatment should be halted after Mr Addowsheikh began sweating intensely.

On his skin I saw something I had never seen before and I immediately stopped and applied gel, she said.

He never told me to stop or that it was too hot, otherwise I would have stopped way sooner. He never told me it was too painful, it was me who initiated stopping the treatment.

Judge Damien Lochrane ruled that Mr Addowsheikh had received negligent treatment.

This is an extremely unpleasant and extensive series of burns he received, he said.

The idea that he would sit there quietly while his skin sizzled under the administration of Ms Ngo seems wholly improbable. I dont accept that he made no complaint.
Police believe a man accused of an infant's murder "crossed the border a number of times" while he was caring for the child, a court heard yesterday

Police believe a man accused of an infant's murder "crossed the border a number of times" while he was caring for the child, a court heard yesterday.

Armagh Magistrates Court, where alleged killer Sharyar Ali (31) appeared via video-link from prison, heard that "there are a number of cross-border inquiries" into his movements while 11-month-old Hunter McGleenon was in his care.

Ali, with an address at Westerna Terrace in Monaghan, is in custody accused of the boy's murder on November 26 last year. Previous courts have heard claims the baby died as a result of a "non-accidental" head injury, and in court yesterday a prosecuting lawyer revealed that pathology experts "from outside the jurisdiction" would produce reports into the tragic death, adding that she was seeking a four-week adjournment in the case.

Defence solicitor Patrick Madden made no objection to the application but told District Judge Austin Kennedy: "Hopefully on the next occasion we will have a timetable. I do know from past dealings that cross-border inquiries can take some time."

The case was adjourned until April 7 for an update and Ali was remanded back into custody.

Earlier courts have heard that Ali, who had been in a relationship with Hunter's mum for about a year, claimed the infant had fallen off a low sofa and struck his head on a concrete floor, further claiming to interviewing detectives that he had performed CPR and given Hunter a cold shower to "revive him".

In the morning, however, Ali said he noticed the child's lips were blue and he wasn't breathing so he took him to the baby's mother and told the family, but tragically he was dead.
Flemington, home to the nations first outlet village, has established a committee that will look at ways to regain some of the once-bustling shopping centers former glory.

Mayor Betsy Driver announced during Mondays Borough Council meeting the members of an ad hoc committee that will collaborate with developer Mason Asset Management on a redevelopment plan for the Liberty Village Outlet Marketplace.

In addition to Driver, Councilman Jeremy Long, Planning Board member Dave Norton, Executive Director of the Flemington Community Partnership Robin Lapidus, resident of Coppermine Village in Flemington Scot Bennett and local planner Frank Banisch will serve as members of the committee.

Its just more brains and more opinions," Driver said, explaining the purpose of the committee.

Driver decided to establish the committee after receiving a phone call out of the blue from Elliot Nassim, co-founder of Mason Asset Management and its parent company Namdar Realty Group, who she said expressed a desire to reach out to the community and figure out what to do.

He said, Oh, I bought Liberty Village and were trying to figure out what to do with it now. They didnt buy it with any preconceived notions of what to do; they bought it basically on spec, Driver explained.

Namdar Realty Group, a New-York based commercial real estate investment firm, purchased Liberty Village from Simon Property Group for $2.7 million on July 31 of last year. Liberty Village was valued at $5.8 million in 2018.

Namdar Reality Group owns over 52 million square feet of commercial real estate and 260 retail properties throughout the United States, the closest to Liberty Village being the Phillipsburg Mall in Warren County.

Driver and Lapidus, accompanied by Hunterdon County Director of Economic Development Marc Saluk and Borough Planner Kendra Lelie, met with Jim Coleman, director of Redevelopment and Government Relations for Mason Asset Management, on Feb. 28 to begin conversations about the future of the site.

From left to right: Hunterdon County Director of Economic Development Marc Saluk, executive director of the Flemington Community Partnership Robin Lapidus, Flemington Mayor Betsy Driver, Director of Redevelopment and Government Relations for Mason Asset Management Jim Coleman, and Flemington Borough Planner Kendra Lelie.Courtesy - Betsy Driver

Coleman praised Driver and the committee, describing the former as a great leader" who put together a "great and very experienced team.

We just had a great meeting, and we are very excited at Mason Asset Management about the future of Liberty Village," Coleman said. "We began the meeting with just a good, open discussion to let them know that were there, were committed, and were looking forward to a good process that would include the residents feedback as well as of course the (Planning) Board and the leadership so we can return Liberty Village back to a vibrant community.

While both Driver and Coleman said that concrete ideas for a redevelopment plan for the 162,000-square-foot complex have yet to be proposed, Coleman emphasized that everything is on the table.

From mixed-use to a vibrant kind of office ... Certainly some great retail and restaurants. But for anything specific, its just too soon," Coleman said.

Meeting dates for the committee have also not been established yet, but Coleman said that he is willing to meet with the group as often as Driver would like to meet.

As soon as we have our next few meetings over the next few months, then well be able to have a better understanding of the timeframe, Coleman said. "The good news now is that Mason Asset Management and the city want to work together, and were very committed to restoring the value of this wonderful property.

While currently unaware of what lies in store for the site, Driver said that whatever Liberty Village becomes will ultimately be a community decision.

The committee can help represent the community in helping them guide the future of this important piece of property in Flemington borough, Driver said.

Echoing Driver, Coleman expressed his eagerness for he and the committee to work together to establish a great community for the town.

It used to be a vibrant mall, and of course malls have gone through a major transformation across the United States. And now its time to put our heads together to figure out what were going to do with this wonderful piece of land and a wonderful historic town, Coleman said.

So many people came to Liberty Village when Liberty Village was in its prime," Driver added. Because it is 23 and a half acres, whatever happens there will impact the entire community.

Caroline Fassett can be reached at cfassett@njadvancemedia.com.

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In the backdrop of threat from the deadly coronavirus, the Doda district administration is running 24X7 control rooms and is providing training to the village heads to create awareness and teach people about the precautions required to be taken.

District Development Commissioner (DDC) Dr Sagar D Doifode on Tuesday said that the administrative machinery is ready to deal with any situation and is following the standard operating procedure laid down by Department of Health, Government of India and J-K administration.

"We have set up 24X7 control rooms, in which there are doctors, paramedics, and administrative staff. There are also toll-free numbers to receive information about those who have recently been on foreign travel," Doifode told reporters here.

He said that around 250 surveillance teams have also been constituted in the district to reach out to the people and raise awareness about the deadly coronavirus.

"Every team has three members, with one person from the medical department. The team will go on the ground and counsel those who have travelled abroad or inquire about people with symptoms," Doifode said.

"We are also holding training for Panchs and Sarpanchs on the issue because they are the local leaders and are close to the public," he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Its all over but the shouting. Even Bernie Sanders, who knows more than most folks about shouting, has got to be able to see that. The only question now is when hell do the right thing.

On Tuesday afternoon, as voting was well under way in Democratic primaries in six states, Sanders, a socialist senator from Vermont, flew home to Burlington. Too bad he didn't use his home base to announce the end of his campaign. After all, the guy isn't even a Democrat. If he sticks around, he'll be like some B-movie creature that just won't die, but hangs around interminably, instilling fear in all. As Sanders now has no realistic path to the nomination, it's time for him to go.

Former Vice President Joe Biden once again cleaned Sanders clock on Tuesday, winning big in Michigan and in Mississippi and in Missouri.

Sanders, who has been yelling about revolution seemingly forever now, needs to see, finally, that voters aren't exactly in a revolutionary mood. What they want, it ought to be clear, is a return to normalcy, an end to the chaos that has marred President Donald Trump's presidency from Day 1.

Voters in Democratic primaries have been making it plenty clear that they see Biden as the candidate best positioned to put the nation back on a more reasonable path. Sanders can move to aid Biden now, or he can endeavor to continue to stand in the way, helping no one save President Donald Trump by so doing.

What the Democratic Party needs most now is unity going forward. Biden is going to be the nominee. As such, the sooner he can pivot fully to the general election, working to assemble his team, honing his message, choosing a running mate, the better.

Democrats of all stripes have been saying, repeatedly, that defeating Trump in November is their top priority. Bar none. It's time they start acting like it.

Though Sanders isnt an actual Democrat, he has, after all, been seeking to become the partys standard-bearer, and does, in fact, caucus with Democrats in the Senate. He has stood with Democrats on stages in 10 presidential debates, dating back to last summer. Its time now for Sanders to stand with Biden in an effort to bring the party together to run President Poseur out of town on Nov. 3.
By West Kentucky Star Staff Mar. 10, 2020 | 07:37 PM | WESTERN KENTUCKY

The change was approved on Friday, and the Kentucky House Republican Caucus says it restores funds removed by Governor Andy Beshear in his biennial budget proposal from January 28.





The move was praised by area legislators, including Rep. Chris Freeland, Rep. Steven Rudy, Rep. Larry Elkins, Rep. Lynn Bechler, and Rep. Richard Heath.





Freeland, who represents Lyon, Marshall, and a portion of McCracken County, praised Lyon County Judge Executive Wade White for, "sounding the alarm," about the lack of funding proposed by the Governor.



Freeland said, As a member of the House Tourism and Outdoor Recreation Committee, I was certainly disappointed because I know how critical removing these fish are to tourism in our area. I am pleased that in the House budget proposal, we were able to restore that funding and demonstrate our commitment to protecting the Western Kentucky lakes from this invasive species.



Rudy, Chairman of the House Appropriations and Revenue Committee, said restoring the funding was an easy decision to make in light of the real dangers posed by Asian Carp.





Rudy said, Not only does this species destroy other fish populations, but they are also extremely hazardous to boaters, fishermen, and outdoor enthusiasts. As negotiations continue on the final version of the budget, I will vigorously defend this funding to ensure we can adequately address the issue of Asian Carp.



Elkins, who represents Calloway and a portion of Trigg County, said In my area, weve seen the widespread and extensive damage that Asian carp causes when the population is left unchecked. I will always support any effort to combat this issue.



Marion's Glen Bechler spoke about the economic impact Kentucky and Barkley Lakes have on the region.



If we do not fully eradicate Asian carp from our lakes, we will experience a significant decline in tourism that will negatively affect not only the Western Kentucky region but the entire state. I am glad we are putting state resources behind that effort," Bechler said.



Heath, of Mayfield, said that funding is critical to the war on carp.



The funding that the Department of Fish and Wildlife sets aside subsidizes fishermen to harvest this invasive species aggressively, Heath said. Without these subsidies and incentives, we will be taking a step backward in controlling the population. We must be purposeful and relentless if we are ever going to get this problem under control.



This continuation of state funding comes in addition to $25 million in federal funds that were recently announced by U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to combat the invasive species.

The Kentucky House of Representatives has approved budget changes that would restore funding to the Department of Fish and Wildlife for the war on carp.
EDWARDSVILLE  Area school superintendents gathered Wednesday afternoon to discuss their approaches to the coronavirus.

Regional Superintendent of Schools Rob Werden said all of the school districts in Madison County are increasing theire disinfecting efforts  in both resources and frequency  giving special attention to high-touch areas. Additionally, he said, districts are informing students about the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations.

No COVID-19 cases have been reported in the county.

We continue to monitor the Illinois Department of Public Health news releases and guidelines regarding measures to prevent the spread of communicable diseases, such as COVID-19, Werden said

School officials also are asking parents to keep children out of school if they exhibit any signs of illness  such as cough, fever or breathing problems. Werden said school personnel also may be asking parents about their childs specific symptoms and diagnosis and if they have been seen by a doctor. School districts will be tracking information and working closely with the Madison County Health Department, he said.

Madison County Health Department Director Toni Corona also shared information from her office with school officials. She said the department will advise individual school districts in the event of a confirmed case, adding COVID-19 doesnt seem to be targeting school age children at this time.

For more information from the Madison County Health Department, visit www.madisonchd.org.
Cambodias garment industry received a shot in the arm this week as more than 200 containers from China arrived in the country carrying raw materials, easing the shortage of inputs that idled factories in the wake of COVID-19 epidemic.

According to The Phnom Penh Post, four container ships entered the Sihanoukville Autonomous Port Monday.

The ports director told the Post that 15 ships carrying more raw materials are scheduled to arrive each week.

Without the emergency raw materials delivery, the Cambodian economy could implode, economists warned.

According to Hong Kong-based Asean Briefing, the garment industry is Cambodias largest employer with more than 600,000 workers. It accounts for 16 percent of the countrys GDP and 80 percent of its earnings from exports.

The containers delivered Monday are only a fraction of the raw materials needed to keep making clothes at the scale necessary to drive the growth of Cambodias economy.

For the time being, we still need more raw materials than what has recently been shipped from China, Ken Loo, the general secretary of the Garment Manufacturers Association in Cambodia (GMAC), told RFAs Khmer Service.

As long as the materials are shipped to us on a regular basis, we will be fine. But normally we need around 1,200 containers each week, he added.

Kun Nhim, director of the countrys customs authority told RFA Wednesday, Since Monday more containers have been arriving. We processed 64 on Monday and 160 more on Tuesday.

Today we got 242 containers and we expect more in the next few days, he added.

It was not immediately clear how many more containers were expected to arrive before the end of the week, or how many Cambodia requested that China send.

Some of Cambodias markets are also being hit by the epidemic. About 40 percent of Cambodias manufactured clothing goes to the European Union, 30 percent to the U.S., 9 percent to Canada, and 4 percent to Japan.

Reported by RFAs Khmer Service. Translated by Neang Ieng. Written in English by Eugene Whong.
CHARLOTTE, N.C.AEBN has released the popular searches on straight and gay theaters from all 50 states and the District of Columbia for January and February.

According to AEBN, the top straight searches for the period included lesbian in Kansas, Mississippi, New York, and Wyoming along with Lesbian X in New Jersey, demonstrating a strong nationwide trend for girl-girl content.

On the gay charts, legendary star and director Joe Gage was a top search in Colorado, Mississippi, and New York. The Family Dick taboo series was another trend with wide reach, popping up in Massachusetts, Minnesota and Missouri.

The searches-by-state data is available on AEBNTrends.com, a record of online porn viewing statistics and analysis spanning two decades.

See the post with infographics here.
A mother whose three-year-old girl was bludgeoned to death by a boarder she took in has revealed why she made the remarkable decision to meet the killer in jail - and give her blessing for his release.

Jayne Crothall found her daughter Brittany covered in blood after she had been killed by Luke Sibley as she lay sleeping in her bed in Christchurch in 1997.

But 23 years later, she is 'ready' for the killer to be released from prison, after a series of face-to-face meetings over five years.

Knowing Sibley, now 40, would eventually be released after decades in prison, she was fearful he would come after her as well - so she decided to meet him behind bars.

She then appeared at a series of parole hearings which determined whether he could be released.

Scroll down for video

Brittany Sibley (pictured) was murdered when she was just three years old by a teenager who had been staying in her family home

As part of a process in the New Zealand judicial system called restorative justice, Ms Crothall had the right for input into the killer's future in the penal system.

'I'm ready, I'm ready for him to be released,' Ms Crothall told The Project in New Zealand on Wednesday.

'I've done everything that I can to prevent him from re-offending on the outside by giving him my blessing, for want of a better word.

'And I do really sincerely hope that he goes out there and does some good.'

Sibley, a boarder, had been evicted from the Crothall family home in New Brighton before the killing on February 6, 1997.

He murdered little Brittany before going into her mother's room to attack her with a knife and hammer.

She described holding her little girl, who was covered in blood, when she saw Sibley in the doorway.

She asked what he was doing, and he replied 'I don't know' before attacking her with a series of blows.

Having survived the attack, she was told by her parents in hospital that Brittany had died.

Sibley, a teenager at the time, pleaded guilty to murder and attempted murder and was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum non-parole period of 13 years.

Jayne Crothall (pictured, holding Brittany) lost her beloved daughter after a boarder at their house, Luke Sibley, attacked her as she lay sleeping in her bed.

Ms Crothall explained she attended his parole hearings for more than 10 years, and eventually made the brave decision to meet him in person.

'I didn't actually meet with him with the intention of having restorative justice, I was really, really against it,' she explained.

'There's nothing to restore, there's no justice here, I just wanted to meet him and look him in the eye to see whether he would come and hurt me or my (other) children.

As part of a process called restorative justice, Ms Crothall (pictured) met with her daughter's killer to explain the impact her murder had on the family, and allow him to apologise.

'That was my original intention, and I was really surprised.

'Because there was this monster who attacked me with a hammer and killed my daughter, and here he was wiping his hands, sweating, really terrified.

'I saw that my meeting him that first time and giving him the opportunity to apologise and be confronted by me was really, really incredible in his rehabilitation.'

He later told Ms Crothall that their meetings had been more important to his rehabilitation than 'any psychologist visit'.

'Giving my acceptance of his release has absolutely nothing to do what he did with my little girl,' she told Stuff.

'Nothing will ever replace her life or bring her back but the time has come for me to now just concentrate on the rest of my life happy memories of Brittany and grateful for the life that she had and for us to find some peace.'

Ms Crothall also discussed the painful process of telling Brittany's two younger brothers, who had not been born when she died, about her murder.

'Neither of my sons were born when she died,' she explained.

'And I can remember sitting Bradley, who's 17, down - he was 12 at the time - and had been asking how she died.

'I told him most of what happened, I left some details out.

'I just remember him saying "I don't think I'm ever going to stop crying".

'That was a really awful thing to have to do.'

She recently told her youngest son Liam, who is now 12, about the murder - admitting he was 'quite sensitive' about the subject.

'On one of her birthdays, we went down to cemetery to see her and on the way back for some reason he just started talking to her,' she explained.

'In the car he started saying "ah Brittany, happy birthday to you, wherever you are".

'He started talking to her. I felt quite proud of him actually.'
A staff of Dien May Xanh contracted COVID-19 from a British tourist

In the afternoon of March 8, 2020, Danang's Department of Health confirmed that two British tourists staying at Vanda Hotel (Danang), who arrived to Vietnam by flight VN0054 from London to Hanoi on March 2, tested positive for COVID-19 and were taken to hospital.

Travelling in Danang, the two persons visited the Dien May Xanh shop at 7 Nguyen Van Linh Street, Hai Chau district. After the two men were announced to be infected by COVID-19, the retailer, a subsidiary of Mobile World Investment Corporation (code: MWG), checked their cameras and confirmed that the foreigners had visited the shop on March 4.

Three staff members of Dien May Xanh communicated with them from a distance of less than two metres and one of them has just tested positive for COVID-19, becoming the 35th infection case in Vietnam. As soon as the test results came out, the company disinfected the entire store and closed since March 11, 2020. All people having direct interaction with the patient (F1) have been checked and are now isolated at Danang Lung Disease Hospital. Other people have also been quarantined at their home.

In addition to Vanda hotel and Dien May Xanh, the two British tourists have reportedly visited numerous restaurants like El Gaucho, Ca Lua, Nuong Da Thanh, La Maison Deli, Pizza 4P's, The Coffee House (in Hai Chau district), and other places like Vinpearl Land Nam Hoi An (Quang Nam province) and Montgomeries Link Hotel & Villas (Quang Nam).

On the stock market, MWG shares have been decreasing sharply to VND87,000 ($3.78) apiece since the COVID-19 broke out in Vietnam.
b.well Connected Health, a Baltimore, MD-based platform designed to provide consumers a new front end to healthcare, closed a $16m Series A funding.

The round was led by UnityPoint Health Ventures, the venture capital arm of UnityPoint Health, with participation from ThedaCare  a Wisconsin-based community health system, and Well Ventures  a subsidiary of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc (WBA). In conjunction with the funding, Austin Duke, PhD, Senior Venture Associate, UnityPoint Health Ventures, and Imran Andrabi, MD, President and CEO, ThedaCare, will join the b.well Connected Health Board of Directors. Giovanni Monti (SVP Healthcare Services) and Li Zhong (VP Global, Mergers & Acquisitions) from WBA will also join the Board of Directors in voting and non-voting capacities. Previously, the company raised $11.5m in seed funding, bringing the companys total funding to over $27m.

Led by Kristen Valdes, Founder and CEO, b.well Connected Health provides a platform that integrates data, insights and partners into a single, customized solution, enabling individuals to take control of their healthcare experience. It provides the healthcare eco-system with an overdue middleware, connecting existing programs, to achieve interoperability and aggregation.

FinSMEs

11/03/2020
A Paris court today sentenced two men to several years in jail for their role in a bizarre money-making scam that involved impersonating a French government minister to dupe the rich and famous, sometimes using a silicone mask in his likeness.

The court found that Gilbert Chikli, 54, and Anthony Lasarevitsch, 35 - who denied the charges - were the masterminds of the scam that saw three victims part with some 48million.

The heaviest sentence of 11 years plus a 1.7million fine went to Chikli, who shouted 'It's a scandal' from the dock. 'You should be ashamed.'

Lasarevitsch received a prison sentence of seven years and a fine of 875,000.

The Franco-Israeli pair were tried for organised fraud and usurping the identity of Jean-Yves Le Drian - now France's foreign minister, but then minister of defence - to raise money from wealthy political, business and religious figures.

The undated image above shows Chikli wearing a mask to impersonate French minister Jean-Yves Le Drian

Chikli allegedly used a mask to pose as French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, pictured at a news conference in 2019, and approached the rich and famous claiming to be able to free ISIS captives with their donations

Gilbert Chikli, 52, pictured in 2017, was sentenced to 11 years plus a 1.7million fine at court in Paris today

Five others aged 27 to 59 faced lesser charges. One was released Wednesday, and four others received sentences ranging from suspended 15-month terms to five years.

The scheme, which took place from 2015 to 2016, involved fraudsters posing as Le Drian to ask politicians and executives for financial aid for what they described as secret operations by the French state.

One would appear in video conferences behind a fake official desk, donning a dark suit and a silicone mask of Le Drian.

The fake 'minister' made calls by telephone and video link to more than 150 targets - of whom three were successfully duped.

Prosecutors say the Aga Khan, spiritual leader of Ismaili Muslims, was conned by a Le Drian impersonator in 2016 and made five transfers for a total 17.5million to Poland and China. Three of the payments were frozen, but 6.7million disappeared.

Chikli, who was sentenced to seven years in jail in his absence for a similar fraud in 2015, evaded justice for four years before being caught in Ukraine in 2017

A few months later, Turkish business magnate Inan Kirac was allegedly convinced to wire more than 36.5 million for what he thought was ransom money for two journalists held hostage in Syria.

Le Drian, a senior ally of President Emmanuel Macron, became foreign minister in 2017 after serving five years as defence minister.

In 2015, a French court convicted Chikli in absentia to seven years in prison for similar scams in 2005 and 2006, in which he posed as business chief executives.

On the run, he was arrested two years later with Lasarevitsch in Ukraine. On their phones, police found pictures of a silicone mask of Prince Albert II of Monaco, suggesting another hoax was in the planning stages.

Six of the defendants, including Chikli and Lasarevitsch, were charged over both the Le Drian scam and the suspected plot to target Prince Albert, while the seventh was charged solely over the alleged Monaco plot.

Others targeted, albeit unsuccessfully, included Gabon's President Ali Bongo, French AIDS charity Sidaction, the chief executive of the Lafarge cement company and the archbishop of Paris.

In an interview with French television in 2010 over previous scams, Chikli said he was intrigued by the 'game' of scamming.

His story inspired a 2015 film, 'Je Compte Sur Vous' (I'm Counting on You).
MADRID - Spain wont use its defenceco-operation with the United States as leverage in its push against tariffs on European products, the Spanish foreign minister said on Wednesday ahead of a visit to Washington that aims to end the loss of business by Spanish producers of wine, olives and their oil.

But Arancha Gonzalez Laya said both defence and trade  including the one-billion-dollar (930 million euros) worth of Spanish exports hit by last years U.S. tariffs  will feature high in her agenda next week when she paves the way for a royal state visit in April.

Well look at the differences, and well do it the way two partners do: Talking about it, preferably discreetly, she told The Associated Press.

Gonzalez Laya recently took the reins of Spains diplomacy in a new left-wing coalition government,

The U.S. wants to expand significantly its presence in two bases in southern Spain, which are used as a stepping stone for operations in Africa and the Middle East.

Gonzalez Laya, a seasoned bureaucrat with previous jobs in the U.N. and the World Trade Organization, made headlines earlier this year when she suggested that the future presence of the U.S. military there would become part of other negotiations with its long-time ally.

Gonzalez Laya is scheduled to meet her counterpart, U.S. State Secretary Mike Pompeo, on March 16. She and fellow Spanish Cabinet member, Trade Minister Reyes Maroto, will also be seeing U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer.

The visit will continue in the White House, with National Security Adviser Robert OBrien and Donald Trumps son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner, to iron out preparations for the administrations third state dinner, on April 21, hosting Spanish King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia.

The black-tie dinner is usually reserved for the countrys staunch allies, as the U.S. president and first lady Melania Trump did for France in April 2018 and Australia in September 2019.
Even animals are not being spared from the coronavirus horror and the worst to be hit, at least in India, are poultry. In a recent shocking incident in Karnataka, a poultry farmer buried thousands of chickens alive to avoid the spread of coronavirus.

Amid rising global coronavirus deaths and the diseases' rapid spread in India, a variety of rumors have been doing the rounds in the country. And of the most rampant rumors is that the virus spreads by eating meat. Following such rumours in Karanataka which led to a drop in the demand chicken and meat in various areas, a poultry farmer by the name of Najeer Ahmed Makandar in Belgavi loaded about 6,000 chickens on a truck, dropped them in a ditch and buried them alive.

Makandar, who lives in Gokak taluka in Nulsoor, said that due to a decline in demand, the chickens were causing him deep losses. The farmer told Times of India that earlier, his chicken used to sell for Rs 50-70 but ever since the coronavirus scare, prices have fallen to as low as Rs 5-10 per kilo. He also said that raising his coop of chicken had cost him about Rs 6 lakh, including their food and medicine. A live chicken weight over 2 kg would only fetch him Rs 25.

Makandar said that it was impossible for him to maintain the chicken at such prices. He even shot a video of burying the chicken in the pit and shared it on social media to reveal the plight of poultry farmers to the world.

The video has since been going viral.

Many expressed outrage against the video and the heartless killing of the birds.

Following the scare, India's poultry industry has taken a big hit and prices of chicken as well as mutton have slipped to a dismal low with even foodies substituting meat with other vegetarian or artificial substitutes such as katahal.

India is not the only country where chickens are being killed due to COVID-19, which has killed over 4,000 victims worldwide in a matter of months. In China, the epicentre of the virus, mass culling of chickens was reported earlier in the year, forcing China to consider importing chicken from the United States to fulfill the protein deficiency.
Chilean health authorities on Tuesday announced all travelers arriving from Italy and Spain would be quarantined amid global fears over the spread of the coronavirus.

Italy and Spain are the European countries reporting most deaths from the coronavirus outside of China.

"People who enter Chilean territory having visited Spain and Italy, must remain in isolation for 14 days," the health ministry said in a statement.

People arriving from these countries will be classified as "high risk travelers" and placed under the surveillance of Chilean health authorities during their isolation period, the ministry said.

The virus has killed 631 people in Italy -- the toll jumped 168 on Tuesday alone -- with more than 10,000 infected, while Spain has recorded 1,639 cases and 36 deaths.

Chile has so far recorded 17 cases of the coronavirus, which has spread to 11 countries in the region since Brazil reported Latin America's first case on February 26.

El Salvador late Monday banned all arrivals from countries affected by the crisis, including Italy and Spain, as well as France, Germany, China, South Korea and Iran.

One person has died from the virus, in Argentina.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
HOLYOKE  The cancellation of the 69th Holyoke St. Patricks Parade did not deter the City Council on Tuesday night from its annual tradition of honoring parade committee members, award recipients, and the grand colleen and court.

Earlier in the day, Mayor Alex B. Morse announced the parade and road were canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Caledonian Pipe Band entered the chamber with bagpipes blaring and a pounding bass drum keeping the beat.

Ward 3 Councilor David Bartley , who began the tradition five years ago, welcomed the committee and dignitaries to the chamber. The council issued official proclamations.

The council wanted to honor the citys Irish roots, parade committee, and Grand Colleen Moira McDermott and her court.

We as the City Council want to reiterate what all our constituents feel by a simple thank you, Bartley said.

The pipe band performed Happy birthday for Grand Marshal John Driscoll, who celebrated a birthday Tuesday.

Parade President Marc Joyce said, The day has been unlike any other that I experienced, and I hope no one else has to experience it. I know that this is a group that if you give them lemons, they make lemonade.

With no parade or road race, the committee plans to hold the Ambassador and John F. Kennedy National Awards banquets, Bishops Mass and smaller activities.

Therere no reasons at this point for that to change. This is an extremely fluid situation. None of us are health care professionals, Joyce said.

He added, Were very much in unchartered waters. What I say tonight is on the condition that things change and they can change very quickly, Joyce said. He did say the right decision was made based on the available data.

City Council President Todd McGee thanked Joyce for his outstanding leadership over the past year and tough few days.

Shortly after Tuesdays news conference at City Hall announcing the cancellation, Gov. Charlie Baker declared a state of emergency in Massachusetts.

I want to make it clear that the parade committee hasnt canceled anything. The City of Holyoke canceled the parade and road race, Joyce said. All these nasty emails people are sending out to different members of the committee, me in particular, its not us.

The Joyce and the council presented plaques to Driscoll and David Glidden, the 2020 JFK Award Winner. Glidden, a Holyoke native, drove up from his home in Glastonbury, Connecticut, to accept the plaque.

The early cancellation gives businesses time to hold off on orders, including installing large hospitality tents downtown.

The mayor, public health, and safety officials agreed that continuing with the parade and road race was irresponsible amid the coronavirus pandemic. The parade attracts upward to 400,000 spectators who line the 2.5-mile route.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends social distancing and frequent handwashing. The parade committee planned to install handwashing stations along the parade and race routes.

The parade committee will hold Marshal Mania at the Wherehouse? Friday starting at 6:30 p.m. The Sighs and Ed Jackowski plan to perform at the fundraiser.

For more information, visit holyokestpatricksparade.com.
Supermodel Naomi Campbell was spotted wearing a hazmat suit, a surgical mask and rubber gloves at an airport to guard herself against the coronavirus. Image Source: IANS News

Hanoi, March 11 : Vietnam will temporarily suspend the visa waiver program for nationals of Britain and seven European Union countries from Thursday as part of the efforts to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in the community.

People from Britain and seven countries of Denmark, Norway, Finland, Sweden, Germany, France and Spain will no longer be granted 15-day visa-free entry, Xinhua news agency reported.

Vietnam has notified the eight countries about its temporary halt and will continue to cooperate with international countries, organisations and partners in preventing and tackling the epidemic.

Earlier, the country suspended a same visa waiver program, which allowed nationals of eligible countries to be able to stay in Vietnam for up to 15 days, for South Korea and Italy.

The country has confirmed 35 infection cases as of Wednesday with 19 reported in the recent six days since Friday.
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The Duke of Sussex Prince Harry was reportedly the victim of a prank phone call from a pair of Russian jokesters, in which he described his feelings on a number of issues in a candid way.

Harry believed the call was coming from climate activist Greta Thunberg and her father. In fact, it was from notorious Russian pranksters, Vladimir Vovan Krasnov and Alexei Lexus Stolyarov.

Among other issues, the prince discussed his and wife Meghan Markles decision to leave the Royal life behind them. Harry and Meghan are slated to do so at the end of this month.

This decision certainly wasnt the easy one, but it was the right decision for our family, the right decision to be able to protect my son, Harry said.

The discussion didnt steer away from the political, either. Harry and Greta discussed a number of items, including his views on President Donald Trump.

Prince Harry says Donald Trump has 'blood on his hands' and is one of the 'sick people' running the world in phone call with hoaxers https://t.co/gRw97gPZXK  Daily Mail U.K. (@DailyMailUK) March 11, 2020

Harry was apparently particularly unnerved by Trumps deep love of coal.

The mere fact that Donald Trump is pushing the coal industry so big in America, he has blood on his hands, Harry said in the phone conversation.

Though he obviously had some complicated feelings for Trump, Harry advised Greta to meet with him still if she ever got the chance. Whether you have an option to meet President Trump or an option to meet [United Kingdom Prime Minister] Boris Johnson, I think I would always, Harry said.

The climate emergency is also a health emergency, with thousands of avoidable deaths and hospital admissions every year linked to air pollution, which is why the NHS is taking action to reduce carbon emissions https://t.co/qAZdPxQMB5 #democraticpedagogy  Denis Bellamy (@zygeena) March 4, 2020

Although definitely highly-charged, Harrys comments about carbon emissions killing people isnt inaccurate. One study from 2017 found that 9 million people worldwide die as a result of toxic emissions in the atmosphere, including carbon, amounting to 1-in-6 premature deaths around the globe.

A separate study, focusing on the effects of emissions on children, found that air pollution kills 600,000 kids under the age of five annually throughout the world.
In a statement, the Old Town School says, The Old Town School of Folk Music is committed to protecting the health and safety of our students, staff, faculty, and community who attend classes, concerts, and events in our facilities. We are closely monitoring the development of the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) situation in Chicago and following guidance from both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Chicago and Illinois Departments of Public Health.
Harvey Weinstein has been sentenced to 23 years in prison. The news comes following his conviction of committing a Criminal Sexual Act in the first degree and third-degree rape last month in his New York sexual assault trial.

Weinstein was sentenced by Supreme Court Judge James Burke on Wednesday morning, with the 67-year-olds prison sentence being determined as a result of the charges based on testimony by former Project Runway production assistant Miriam Haley and former actress Jessica Mann.

Both women spoke at Wednesday's sentencing, with Haley noting, "If Harvey Weinstein had not been convicted by this jury, it would have happened again and again and again. I'm relieved he will now know he's not above the law. I'm relieved there are women out there who are safer because he's not out there."

As the most publicized case of Hollywoods #MeToo movement, celebrities were quick to react to the disgraced film producers sentencing.

The Good Place actress, Jameela Jamil, who has been vocal about the #MeToo movement, applauded the women who came forward with their stories.

Actress and activist Mia Farrow also offered her message of support to the women.

Actress Rosanna Arquette, who was one of Weinsteins accusers, also took to Twitter. In her message of gratitude to all the silence breakers, Arquette also gave a shout out to fellow actress Rose McGowan, who was one of Weinsteins first accusers, and journalist Ronan Farrow, who was one of the first journalists to report the allegations.

Actress Mira Sorvino shared that she cried tears of amazement over the news and that the justice system has worked on behalf of all of his victims today.

Several comedians also weighed in, including Janey Godley, Pete Dominick and Tommy Campbell.

Ronan Farrow, who investigated Weinstein, spoke about the bravery of standing up to powerful people.

Megyn Kelly thanked women who spoke out but also expressed support for those who could not.

Presenter Padma Lakshmi said she was "thankful for all of the incredible survivors", celebrating the sentencing.

She also named journalists Ronan Farrow, Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey whose reporting helped break the Weinstein case wide open.

Derry Girls star Nicola Coughlan also called the 23 year conviction "perfection".

John Cleese, who rarely gets political on Twitter, also weighed in on it with a story.

The Breakfast Club actor John Cusack called the accusers "our sisters - who showed so much courage" in his response.

Kate Beckinsale, who has previously worked with Weinstein on numerous projects, shared a harrowing anecdote about her time with the producer. Recounting how he had "insisted" that the cast of Serendipity go to a premiere in the wake of 9/11, she claimed he later took issue with the all-white tuxedo she wore on the day - bringing her to his home under the guise of a playdate for their daughters before allegedly screaming at her: "stupid f**king c**t...you ruined my premiere" as she hadn't worn a more revealing dress.
1951 Coffee shop in Oakland, California is doing something incredible to help refugees. They offer a 2 week barista training program to help those who seek financial stability and opportunity. After training they exercise job placement for the candidate to work in one of the three cafes or in the network of 30 bay area coffee shops. These people don't only learn about coffee but they also learn how to work with others and build social skills.
The Acting Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Mary Uduk, says the global decline in oil prices and outbreak of coronavirus will affect the countrys capital market.

Ms Uduk told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the side-line of a news conference in Abuja on Wednesday, that the effect would be global on various countries markets.

She said, Our capital market is global so, whatever it is that will affect any other country of the world right now will affect the Nigerian Capital market, the oil, because it is one global entity.

The acting director-general, who regretted that the countrys 2020 budget had been threatened by the fall in the price, said concerted efforts were required to tackle the issue.

This thing is everywhere and our capital market is global just like any other capital market.

You will recall that the other day in New York, they had to shorten the period of trading because of the amount of losses.

Whatever it is that will affect any other country of the world right now will affect the Nigerian Capital market, the oil, the coronavirus.

It is one global entity; it is a global thing so it will affect all the markets.

In CBN now, the government has convened a conference that is looking at how these things are affecting the economy of Nigeria and you know that the budget 2020 is already seriously threatened because the benchmark was at N57 but now, oil price has gone down.

It is a serious thing, so all of us need to sit down and say what can we do, it is not just one sector, it has to be concerted efforts by all.

Right now as we speak, it is being done in CBN, she explained.

(NAN)
SAO PAULO, March 10, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Yabora Industria Aeronautica S.A. (the "Yabora"), which is currently a wholly-owned subsidiary of Embraer S.A. ("Embraer"), hereby announces that it is soliciting (the "Consent Solicitation") the consents ("Consents") of the Holders (as defined below) of the following series notes (the "Notes").

Title of Security

CUSIP and ISIN Nos.

Outstanding

Principal

Amount

Consent Fee(1) 5.150% Notes due 2022

CUSIP: 29082AAA5 ISIN: US29082AAA51

US$500,000,000

US$1.50 5.696% Notes due 2023

CUSIP: 29081YAD8 and

G30376AB6 ISIN: US29081YAD85

and USG30376AB69

US$540,518,000

US$1.50 5.050% Notes due 2025

CUSIP: 29082HAA0 ISIN: US29082HAA05

US$1,000,000,000

US$1.50 5.400% Notes due 2027

CUSIP: 29082HAB8 ISIN: US29082HAB87

US$750,000,000

US$1.50





(1) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Consent Solicitation Statement (as defined below), the Consent Fee for the Consent Solicitation with respect to each series of Notes is an amount in cash per US$1,000 aggregate principal amount of the applicable series of Notes, which is payable to Holders of Notes whose properly executed Consents are received (and not validly revoked) prior to the applicable Expiration Deadline (as defined below) and shall be paid promptly after Yabora has accepted Consents in respect of the relevant series of Notes and after all conditions to the Consent Solicitation in respect of the relevant series of Notes shall have been satisfied or waived. The Consent Fee payable in respect of each series of Notes will be paid by Embraer Overseas Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Yabora.

The terms and conditions of the Consent Solicitation are set out in a Consent Solicitation Statement issued by Yabora dated March 10, 2020 (the "Consent Solicitation Statement"). Capitalized terms used in this announcement but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to such terms in the Consent Solicitation Statement.

New Embraer Guarantees

On the date hereof, Embraer has, pursuant to the New Embraer Guarantees, irrevocably and unconditionally (subject to the termination provision referred to below) guaranteed the payment obligations under the Notes and the indentures governing the Notes. The terms of the Supplemental Indentures provide, among other things, that the New Embraer Guarantees shall automatically terminate on the date that Embraer ceases to own 100% of the share capital of Yabora. For the avoidance of doubt, the New Embraer Guarantees are now in effect and are therefore not conditioned upon the Proposed Amendments being made.

The Joint Venture

The Proposed Amendments are being sought in connection with the joint venture between Embraer and The Boeing Company ("Boeing") for a strategic partnership in connection with Embraer's commercial aviation business (the "Joint Venture"). Yabora is the company that will, upon consummation of the transaction, hold the commercial aviation assets of Embraer and Boeing that are to be part of the Joint Venture. Yabora is currently wholly-owned by Embraer. On January 1, 2020, in preparation for the consummation of the Joint Venture, Embraer implemented the internal separation and transfer, by Embraer, of assets, liabilities, properties, rights and obligations related to the commercial aviation business unit of Embraer to Yabora. Upon consummation of the Joint Venture, Embraer will, directly or indirectly, hold 20% of the share capital of Yabora and Boeing will, directly or indirectly, hold 80% of the share capital of Yabora.

Background to the Consent Solicitation

In preparation for the consummation of the Joint Venture, if the Proposed Amendments become operative, Yabora intends to take the appropriate actions as soon as practicable to (i) delist the NYSE Listed Notes from the New York Stock Exchange and (ii) suspend the Yabora's SEC reporting obligations under the Exchange Act. As a result, Yabora will no longer be subject to periodic reporting requirements of Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and Yabora will no longer be required under the Exchange Act to continue filing annual reports and current reports with the SEC. The purpose of the Consent Solicitation in respect of each series of Notes is to amend the reporting covenants in the Indenture governing such series of Notes so that in the event that (and for so long as) Yabora's SEC reporting Parent Company provides an unconditional guarantee of the Company's payment obligations under the relevant Indenture governing the relevant series of Notes, Yabora's SEC Reporting Parent Guarantor (as defined below) will file annual and, if applicable, interim financial statements with the SEC by the applicable due dates for such filings in order to satisfy reporting obligations under the relevant series of Notes. In addition, the Proposed Amendments also provide that the listing obligations in respect of the relevant series of Notes shall be suspended for so long as Yabora's SEC reporting Parent Company provides an unconditional guarantee of the Company's payment obligations under the relevant Indenture governing the relevant series of Notes. For a more detailed description of the Proposed Amendments, see "The Purpose and Effect of the Consent Solicitation" in the Consent Solicitation Statement.

Proposed Amendments

As described in more detail in the Consent Solicitation Statement, the purpose of the Consent Solicitation in relation to each series of Notes is to amend the Indenture to implement the Reporting Covenant Amendments and the Listing Covenant Amendments.

The Reporting Covenant Amendments modify the relevant Indenture to provide that if, and for so long as (a) Yabora is an SEC Reporting Company or (b) the relevant series of Notes is guaranteed by an SEC Reporting Parent Guarantor, (as defined below), Yabora shall be entitled to elect, by notice to the Trustee and the Holders of the relevant series of Notes, that Yabora's GAAP Reporting Obligation in respect of the relevant series of Notes shall be satisfied if Yabora or the SEC Reporting Parent Guarantor, as the case may be, complies with its obligations under the Exchange Act to file annual and, if applicable, interim financial statements with the SEC by the applicable due dates for such filings in lieu of providing financial statements of Yabora pursuant to the GAAP Reporting Obligation.

The Reporting Covenant Amendments further modify the relevant Indenture to provide that, unless one of the circumstances in (a) or (b) above applies, then Yabora's financial reporting obligation shall be to provide to the Trustee and the Holders of the Notes with (or publish on its website or the website of its Parent Company (as defined below)) (i) annual audited consolidated financial statements within 120 days of the end of each fiscal year and (ii) unaudited quarterly financial statements within 60 days of the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters in each year, in each case prepared in accordance with applicable generally accepted accounting principles.

If the Reporting Covenant Amendments are effected, Yabora intends to notify the Trustee and the Holders of the Notes that, on the date that such Reporting Covenant Amendments take effect, Embraer is an SEC Reporting Parent Guarantor and accordingly the reporting requirements applicable to the Notes will (for so long as Embraer remains an SEC Reporting Parent Guarantor) be satisfied by Embraer complying with its obligation under the Exchange Act to file annual financial statements with the SEC on Form 20-F. Upon the Embraer Guarantee Termination Date, Embraer would cease to be an SEC Reporting Parent Guarantor and accordingly the GAAP Reporting Obligation of Yabora would apply.

The Listing Covenant Amendments modify the Indenture governing the relevant series of Notes to provide that if the relevant series of Notes is guaranteed by an SEC Reporting Parent Guarantor, then the obligations in relation to the listing of the relevant series of Notes (including the newly created obligation in relation to the 2023 Notes) shall be suspended and Yabora (and, if applicable, the relevant issuer) shall be permitted to delist such Notes from the New York Stock Exchange or any other securities exchange on which such Notes may be listed.

The Listing Covenant Amendments further modify the Indenture governing the relevant series of Notes to provide that if the relevant series of Notes cease to be guaranteed by an SEC Reporting Parent Guarantor (the date of such cessation being referred to as the Listing Covenant Reversion Date), and on the Listing Covenant Reversion Date the relevant series of Notes are not listed on any Recognized Stock Exchange, then Yabora (and, if applicable, the relevant issuer) shall have a period of twelve months from the Listing Covenant Reversion Date to obtain a listing of the relevant series of Notes on any Recognized Stock Exchange, provided that Yabora shall not be required to obtain such listing if, within such twelve-month period, the relevant series of Notes becomes guaranteed by an SEC Reporting Parent Guarantor.

As used above, "SEC Reporting Parent Guarantor" means any person that (a) is an SEC Reporting Company, (b) directly or indirectly holds at least 66.6% of the total voting power of the voting stock of Yabora (a "Parent Company") and (c) has guaranteed to each Holder of the Notes and to the Trustee the full and punctual payment of the principal, premium, interest, additional amounts and all other amounts that may become due and payable under the Notes and the full and punctual payment of all other amounts payable by the relevant issuer of the Notes under the relevant Indenture as they become due.

Consent Fee

The Consent Fee for each US$1,000 principal amount of Notes of the relevant series is a cash payment of US$1.50. The Consent Fee payable in respect of each series of Notes will be paid by Embraer Overseas Limited.

Important Date

In respect of the Notes, the Consent Solicitation will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on March 16, 2020, unless extended by Yabora, in its sole discretion, in respect of one or more of the series of Notes ("Expiration Deadline"). This is the deadline for Holders of the Notes to electronically deliver Consents pursuant to the Consent Solicitation and be eligible to receive the Consent Fee. Payment of the Consent Fee in respect of the Consent Solicitation in respect of each series of Notes is subject to the acceptance by Yabora of Consents in respect of the relevant series of Notes and the satisfaction or waiver of certain conditions described below.

The Effective Time is the time at which the Requisite Consents in respect of the relevant series of Notes have been received, Yabora has delivered all necessary documents to the Trustee and the relevant Supplemental Indenture in respect of the relevant series of Notes has been executed. The Proposed Amendments in respect of the relevant series of Notes will become effective at the applicable Effective Time and, if the applicable Effective Time is earlier than the applicable Expiration Deadline, then the applicable Effective Time will be the latest time at which Holders can validly revoke Consents.

However, the relevant Supplemental Indenture and the Proposed Amendments contained therein will not become operative, and the Consent Fee in respect of the relevant series of Notes will not become payable, unless all conditions to the Consent Solicitation in respect of such series of Notes are satisfied or waived and payment of the Consent Fee in respect of the relevant series of Notes is made.

Yabora expressly reserves the right for any reason to (i) extend, abandon, terminate or amend the Consent Solicitation in relation to one or more series of Notes at any time, and (ii) not extend the relevant Consent Solicitation beyond the last previously announced applicable Expiration Deadline whether or not the Requisite Consents in relation to the relevant series of Notes have been received by such date.

Each Holder of Notes is advised to check with any broker, dealer, bank, custodian, trust company or other nominee or intermediary or clearing system (including any participant in DTC) through which it holds Notes when such intermediary would require to receive instructions from a Holder of Notes, in order for such holder to be able to participate in the Consent Solicitation before the Expiration Deadline. The deadlines set by any such intermediary will be earlier than the Expiration Deadline.

DTC's Automated Tender Offer Program

As of the date hereof, all of the Notes are held through DTC by DTC Participants, who are referred to herein as "Holders". The Consent Solicitation is being conducted to be eligible for use of the Automated Tender Offer Program (ATOP) of the DTC following the procedures set forth in the Consent Solicitation Statement. A Beneficial Owner of an interest in a Note held through a DTC Participant must properly instruct such DTC Participant to cause a Consent to be given (and not validly revoked) by such DTC Participant with respect to such Notes.

Fees and Expenses

Yabora will pay all fees and expenses of the Solicitation Agent and the Information and Tabulation Agent in connection with the Consent Solicitation. Broker, dealers, commercial banks and trust companies will be reimbursed by Yabora for customary mailing and handling expenses incurred by them in forwarding material to their customers. Yabora will not pay any fees or commissions to any broker, dealer or other person (other than the Information and Tabulation Agent) in connection with the solicitation of Consents pursuant to the Consent Solicitation.

The Information Agent and Tabulation Agent for the Consent Solicitation is:

Global Bondholder Services Corporation

By Hand, Mail or Overnight Courier: 65 Broadway  Suite 404 New York, NY 10006 Email: [email protected] By Facsimile Transmission: (For eligible institutions only) (212) 430-3775/3779 Attn: Corporate Actions Confirmation: (212) 430-3774

Any questions or requests for assistance may be directed to the Solicitation Agent at its address or one of its telephone numbers set forth below. Requests for additional copies of this Consent Solicitation Statement may be directed to the Information and Tabulation Agent at its address, one of its telephone numbers or the email address set forth below. A Holder may also contact the Solicitation Agent at its telephone numbers set forth below or such Holder's broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee for assistance concerning the Consent Solicitation.

The Information and Tabulation Agent for the Consent Solicitation is:

Global Bondholder Services Corporation

65 Broadway  Suite 404

New York, New York 10006

Attn: Corporate Actions

Email: [email protected]

Banks and Brokers call: (212) 430-3774

Toll free (866) 794-2200

The Solicitation Agent for the Consent Solicitation is:

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

388 Greenwich Street, 7th Floor

New York, New York 10013

Attn: Liability Management Group

Telephone: (800) 588-3745 (toll free)

(212) 723-6106 (collect)

Important Notices

This announcement must be read in conjunction with the Consent Solicitation Statement. This announcement and the Statement contain important information which should be read carefully before any decision is made with respect to the Proposed Amendments. None of the Obligors, the Solicitation Agent, the Information Agent and Tabulation Agent the Trustee makes any recommendation as to whether or not Holders of Notes should deliver Consents. Each Holder of Notes must make its own decision as to whether or not to deliver its Consent.

The Consent Solicitation is not being made to, and no Consents are being solicited from, Holders or Beneficial Owners of Notes in any jurisdiction in which it is unlawful to make such solicitation or grant such Consents. However, Yabora may in its discretion take such action as it may deem necessary to make the Consent Solicitation in any such jurisdiction and to extend the Consent Solicitation to Holders in such jurisdiction. In any jurisdiction in which the securities laws or blue sky laws require the Consent Solicitation to be made by a licensed broker or dealer, the Consent Solicitation will be deemed to be made on behalf of Yabora by the Solicitation Agent or one or more registered brokers or dealers that are licensed under the laws of such jurisdiction.

None of the Obligors, the Solicitation Agent, the Information and Tabulation Agent and the Trustee nor any of their respective affiliates, expresses any opinion as to the merits of the Consent Solicitation or the Proposed Amendments. Furthermore, none of the Obligors, the Solicitation Agent, the Information and Tabulation Agent and the Trustee, nor any of their respective affiliates, has made or will make any assessment of the impact of the Consent Solicitation or the Proposed Amendments on the interests of the holders of the Notes, or makes any recommendation as to whether Consents to the Proposed Amendments should be given.

The Trustee has not been involved in the Solicitation or in formulating the Solicitation and makes no representation that all information has been disclosed to Holders in this Consent Solicitation Statement. The Trustee has not made any investigation of the effect of the Proposed Amendments on individual holders of the Notes and makes no recommendation as to whether Consents to the Proposed Amendments should be given. If the Requisite Consents are obtained, the Trustee will, upon receipt by the Trustee of the required documentation in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, promptly enter into the relevant Supplemental Indenture and give effect to the Proposed Amendments in relation to the relevant series of Notes.

Recipients of this announcement and the Consent Solicitation Statement should not construe their contents as legal, business or tax advice. Each recipient should consult its own attorney, business advisor and tax advisor as to legal, business, tax and related matters concerning the Consent Solicitation.

The distribution of this announcement and the Consent Solicitation Statement in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. Persons into whose possession this announcement and the Statement comes are required to inform themselves about, and to observe, any such restrictions.

This announcement is for informational purposes only. This announcement does not constitute the solicitation of consents with respect to any Notes. This announcement does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any offer, solicitation or sale of any securities in any state or other jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The Consent Solicitation is being made solely pursuant to the Consent Solicitation Statement which sets forth a detailed statement of the terms and conditions of the Consent Solicitation.

SOURCE Yabora Industria Aeronautica S.A.
WFH for Private offices in Delhi, restaurants & bars to be shut as Omicron-led to sudden rise in Covid cases

76-year-old man suspected to be infected with coronavirus dies in Karnataka

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Bengaluru, Mar 11: A 76-year-old man who returned from Saudi Arabia on February 29 suspected to be infected with coronavirus dies in Karnataka's Kalaburagi district. The person has been identifed as Mohammed Hussain Siddiqui whose sample for Covid-19 has been collected & sent for testing. He was shifted to Hyderabad from GIMS for further treatment on Tuesday against the advice of the doctors.

However, the district administration and District Health Officer (DHO) M A Jabbar are waiting for the final report of throat swab of the patient sent for lab test.

The number of confirmed cases of novel coronavirus in the India has risen to 62 with with two fresh positive cases -- one each from Delhi and Rajasthan -- being reported, the health ministry said.

Meanwhile, three new cases of coronavirus were confirmed in Karnataka on Tuesday taking the total number of infected people to four, Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa said and asked people not to panic.

A software engineer who returned here from the US on March 1 tested positive for the coronavirus on Monday, becoming the first COVID-19 patient in Karnataka.

According to health department officials, his wife and daughter too tested positive for the virus on Tuesday.

Another person, who had travelled from America via London and arrived here on March 8, also tested positive, they said. Surveillance at airports for those with symptoms has been stepped up, Yediyurappa, who chaired a high level meeting with officials here, told reporters.

"So far four people have been confirmed for COVID-19. The patients as well as their family members have been quarantined." Yediyurappa said the engineer's driver and his family have been quarantined. His friends too have been screened, he added.

"There is no need for the citizens of our state to panic. We are going to screen all the international passengers effectively," the Chief Minister said after chairing a meeting with the officials about the preparedness to tackle the disease. He asked people not to pay heed to rumours and sought media support to allay public fear.

Yediyurappa appealed to the media for support to tackle the coronavirus challenge. "We need media support. Do not publicise small incidents to make it look big," Yediyurappa said. To a question about shortage of face masks due to black-marketing, Yediyurappa said raids have been conducted to ensure that no one sells these products at a higher price.

A Mangaluru report said a man, who was under coronavirus quarantine at a district hospital following his arrival from Dubai on March 8, and later left the premises, has been re-admitted to the facility following the district administration's intervention. Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner Sindhu B Rupesh said the patient's samples have been collected and sent to a testing centre in Bengaluru.

Meanwhile, medical education minister K Sudhakar said the state government is mulling providing additional health insurance coverage to doctors and paramedics treating the coronavirus cases and working in laboratories besides existing schemes.

Stressing that their safety was 'paramount', he also asked them to follow the guidelines laid down by the Health department while treating the virus cases. He was speaking after inaugurating a laboratory which will have testing facilities for coronavirus and other pathogens, including H1N1, at the Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute in the Victoria Hospital campus here.
A leader of the students' wing



of the ruling JD(U) was shot dead here, allegedly by an associate who took exception to non-inclusion of his name in a poster put up for Holi festivities, police said on Wednesday.

According to Deputy Superintendent of Police Rajesh Singh Prabhakar, Kanhaiya Kaushik was killed in Patel Nagar area of the city on Tuesday night and two persons, Amar Kant Jha and Dharmendra, have been arrested in this connection.

Kush, the prime accused who had allegedly pulled the trigger, however, was absconding, he said.

Kaushik was a spokesman with the Chhatra JD(U) and the vice-president of the students' union of A N College.

He had lodged a police complaint against Kush and his associates on Tuesday after they engaged a scuffle with him over non-inclusion of their names in posters printed for "Holi milan" function, organized on the eve of the festival.

Hours later, Kush called up Kaushik saying he wanted to patch up and requested that they meet at Patel Nagar late in the night, the deputy SP said.

As the matter could not be settled, Kush opened fire in a fit of rage, killing Kaushik, he said.

One of Kaushik's associates also received a gunshot injury in the melee and was admitted to a hospital, Prabhakar said, adding that Kush, along with Jha and Dharmendra who were accompanying him, fled the spot.

Supporters of Kaushik staged a demonstration here in protest against the attack.

They were pacified by JD(U) MLC Ranvir Nandan, who described the deceased leader as "an active worker" of the party and gave assurances that the accused will be brought to justice soon.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Canadas Supreme Court has ruled that a lawsuit can proceed against Vancouver-based Nevsun Resources Ltd. for its complicity in forced labour, slavery, and torture at its Bisha mine in Eritrea.

The Canadian company co-owns the giant copper, zinc and gold mine in the impoverished East African country in partnership with the state-owned Eritrean National Mining Corporation.

In 2014, Gize Yebeyo Araya, Kesete Tekle Fshazion and Mihretab Yemane Tekle, three Eritreans who worked on the construction of the Bisha mine, launched a lawsuit against Nevsun Resources. The plaintiffs, who fled their country and secured refugee status in Canada, claim that between 2008 and 2012 they performed forced labour for two companies owned by senior Eritrean state officials helping build the Bisha mine.

Part of a group of 1,000 military conscripts ordered to work on the mine, they allege that they had to work for 12 hours a day, 60 hours a week under temperatures sometimes nearing 50 degrees Celsius (122 Fahrenheit).

The conscripts were housed in huts without beds or electricity. Some suffered cruel punishments for disobedience, such as being ordered to roll in the hot sand while being beaten with sticks until losing consciousness.

Since it opened in 2011, the Bisha mine has produced hundreds of millions of dollars worth of gold, copper, and zinc. It is reported to be the most important source of revenue for Eritrea's ruthless authoritarian government, long headed by President Isaias Afwerki.

Nevsun Resources denied the accusations made in the 2014 suit, and argued that since the alleged crimes were committed by the Eritrean government and involved the functioning of its national service conscription program, the lawsuit should be thrown out on the basis of the act of state doctrine. This legal principle stipulates that a court cannot assess the legality of acts by foreign states. After both the Supreme Court of British Columbia and the B.C. Court of Appeal ruled against the company, Nevsun appealed the case to the Supreme Court of Canada.

In a 5-4 split decision rendered on February 28, Canada's highest court dismissed Nevsuns arguments. While the court did not adjudicate on the merits of the refugees claims, it ruled that the B.C. Supreme Court should proceed with hearing the case against Nevsun. A majority of the judges rejected the act of state doctrine argument, ruling that it is not part of Canadian jurisprudence. The Supreme Court said its decision was also based on the fact that customary norms of international law, including prohibitions against slavery, forced labour, and inhumane treatment could be applied to the case.

Following the Supreme Courts decision, Nevsun, which was acquired by Chinese company Zijin Mining Group Co. Ltd. for $1.4 billion in 2018, again denied the accusations and said it would defend itself in court. Revealing its main concern, the company complained that the decision was bad for Canadian mining corporations business interests. In its brief to the Supreme Court, it wrote, permitting claims like this one may discourage foreign investment in developing economies.

In submissions to the Supreme Court, the Mining Association of Canada similarly argued that if the case against Nevsun Resources were allowed to proceed it would create so much uncertainty for Canada's mining companies they would be forced to abandon operations in developing countries.

Located in the Horn of Africa, Eritrea is one of the world's poorest countries. 80 per cent of the population survives on subsistence agriculture. Eritreans have suffered through a bitter years-long war with neighbouring Ethiopia and conflicts instigated by US imperialism. Compulsory military service in the country was established in the 1990s with an official 18-month limit, but in reality the period of service is indefinite. This dire situation has led hundreds of thousands of Eritreans, out of a population of about 6 million, to flee the country.

United Nations investigations, including a major 2015 report by the UNs Office of the High Commission for Human Rights (OHCHR), found that during military service, Eritrean conscripts were victims of sexual abuse, mistreatment and forced labour. What the current B.C. case seeks to demonstrate is that forced labour not only benefits the state and state officials, but also Western companies and with their complicity.

The Nevsun case lifts the veil, if only slightly, on the criminal activities of Canadian mining companies abroad. The country is one of the biggest players in the global mining industry, with some 700 Canadian-based companies operating in more than one hundred countries worldwide. The total assets value of Canadian mining firms amounted in 2017 to more than $260 billion. This included foreign direct investments of $82.7 billion.

Canadian mining firms are also leading human rights violators. Organizations such as Amnesty International, Mining Watch Canada, and the United Nations have produced reports documenting gross human rights abuses and environmental damage perpetrated by some of the largest Canadian mining corporations, including Barrick Gold and Teck Resources Ltd. While innumerable crimes have been concealed over the years, Canadian firms have been found guilty, or are accused, of hiring local police forces, private security personnel, and even paramilitary groups to intimidate, attack, and kill workers, local residents, and environmental and indigenous activists opposed to their brutal work regimens, theft of resources, and environmental destruction.

Like transnationals headquartered in the United States, Europe or Australia, Canadian businesses have amassed vast fortunes through the rapacious exploitation of workers and the subjugation of entire communities in underdeveloped countries, mainly in Latin America and Africa.

These enterprises, led by some of the wealthiest and most ruthless Canadian businessmen, have enjoyed the full support of successive Conservative and Liberal governments. If 75 percent of the worlds private mining companies are headquartered in Canada and Toronto is the global hub for mining finance, it is because they benefit from highly favourable trade agreements and fiscal measures, including lucrative tax breaks.

Behind their phoney progressive posturing, Justin Trudeaus Liberals, like the previous Conservative government of Stephen Harper, are serving the interests of the mining giants and have vigorously opposed any effective regulatory oversight of their overseas activities. Trudeau has signed a series of foreign investment promotion and protection agreements (FIPAs), which consist essentially of lucrative deals between multinationals and local elites in resource-rich but economically poor countries at the expense of the population. FIPAs are also designed to empower companies to sue governments that attempt to nationalize natural resources and for compensation for damages (financial losses) caused by community or worker opposition. Just last month, Trudeau visited Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, to attend a summit of African leaders and continue talks on a FIPA with Ethiopia, one of the continents fastest-growing economies.

The economic subjugation of poorer countries by Western powers is bound up with increasing military aggression. Determined to deepen its partnership with Washington so as to advance Canadian imperialisms predatory interests around the globe, the Trudeau government has pledged to increase military spending by more than 70 percent by 2026.

Trudeau has also further integrated Canadian militaries into the military-strategic offensives of its US and European allies around the world. These operations, including NATOs 2011 air war on oil-rich Libya and the deployment of Canadian forces to Mali, a country which is home to hundreds of millions of dollars in Canadian mining investments, play a critical role in bolstering corporate Canada in the struggle for resources, markets and profits.

The methods Canadian transnationals employ in Africa, Latin America and elsewhere to suppress opposition and discipline workers, such as the hiring of police and far-right forces, are increasingly being employed within Canada itself.

Acting at the behest of Federated Cooperatives Ltd., Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe ordered the Regina police last month to violently break up picket lines organized by oil-refinery workers who have been locked out for more than four months. In support of its scabbing operation, FCL has also mobilized United We Roll, a far-right, anti-immigrant group formed by owner-operator truckers.

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Canadas diversity imperialism

[25 January 2019]

Canadas plans to wage war in Africa take shape

[16 November 2016]
A 64-year old appraiser has allegedly duped a nationalised bank branch here to the tune of Rs 6.71 crore by getting loans in the names of several individuals in the last two years by pledging fake gold jewellery, police said.

Based on a complaint from the Central Bank of India officials, a case was registered on Wednesday and a hunt was on for the appraiser, attached to the Chilakalapudi branch here in Krishna district, who is absconding, they said.

The man had been working as appraiser in the branch since 1998.

According to a complaint lodged by the bank's Senior Regional Manager Vinod Pophale, the fraud came to light during an internal re-appraisal of pledged jewels conducted recently as per norm.

Police said further investigation was on to trace those who had pledged the spurious gold.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
T odays Budget is going to be extraordinary. The guy delivering it, Rishi Sunak, has only been in the job for a few weeks, having been the understudy of his former boss Sajid Javid. Its like a terrible remake of All About Eve with worse costumes. I long to see Javid channel his inner Bette Davis and tour the studios saying, in a smoky voice, Fasten your seatbelts, its going to be a bumpy night.

This Budget could also be life or death. The packed Commons chamber could become the countrys biggest televised petri dish of coronavirus. Normally every time the Chancellor coughs during his delivery, its a bit of a gentle joke. Not so much today.

Sunak and his boss Dominic Cummings face a genuinely difficult moment. They want to turn on the spending taps to honour the pre-election promises they made to the electorate  especially former Labour supporters in the Red Wall who lent them their votes. But they also have to use public finances to do their duty to protect businesses and the economy against the effects of coronavirus, which could create a shock. Can they do both?

But one thing that can give the new Chancellor and the Prime Minister some comfort is that they will face absolutely no credible opposition from any party, especially Labour. This will be one of Jeremy Corbyns last big outings in Parliament as leader of the Labour Party, and when he responds to the Budget it will sum up his time and track record of epic failure.

Rishi Sunak / REUTERS

To be fair, its always a hard gig. The Tories are noisy and drown you out. The senior journalists in the press gallery all walk out the minute the Chancellor finishes speaking, to get a more detailed briefing from his Treasury advisers and officials. Even in normal times, you struggle to get heard as the Opposition. But today, Labour wont just be a quiet voice  we will be irrelevant. We still have a month to go in this interminable leadership contest where all the candidates basically agree that we had a marvellous election and wildly popular economic policies, apart from the fact that the blue team won a stonking majority.

We will have the same old faces, who the public categorically rejected, taking to the airwaves to declare they won the argument.

If Keir Starmer becomes Labour leader his first test will be to appoint a shadow chancellor of substance

It will be painful. Its moments like this when, whatever your politics, if you care about a healthy democracy, you realise the need for a proper, functional effective opposition.

Despite a day of fawning headlines, this Budget will not have all the answers. There may be more long-term investment in infrastructure, including road and rail, but what about day-to-day spending on social infrastructure such as services for families provided by local government which have taken a hit? And will this Budget actually add up?

If Keir Starmer does become Labour leader, his first big test will be appointing a shadow chancellor. I hope and pray that he picks someone of substance, so that we never again experience the embarrassment of providing no serious opposition on such an important occasion.

Celebrating the women of Westminster

I was honoured to be included in a list of 100 influential Women in Westminster, alongside many women I admire from across the political spectrum and the media. The event was marked in Parliament on Monday, and was very much coronavirus-free  everyone hugged away merrily. A senior politician even suggested we head to a spa, but I pointed out a trip to a Spar in face masks hunting for loo roll would be more likely.

But it meant a lot to me. I started working as an admin girl in the press office of the then Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in 1997. My first job was delivering the post, which I loved, as Im nosy and got to know everyone. I was fascinated by the special advisers, who I was told were the eyes and ears of the secretary of state. I remember thinking being a special adviser would be my dream job. Eight years later I became one, and it was.

I feel very lucky to have ended up working in politics, coming from a Muslim immigrant family in a small town outside Glasgow with no connections. We need more people like that in Westminster. I also went to Hull University, as did Tory MP Tracey Crouch, an old friend who was on the list too. She asked me how I was doing. I told her I was working really hard.

About bloody time, she retorted. Back down to Earth.

The Sussexes went out in style

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex arrive for the annual Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey (REUTERS) / Reuters

It seems surreal that almost two years after that fairytale wedding, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are stepping down as senior royals.

It went from a Disney film to EastEnders remarkably fast. But they went out in style, and that photo of them in the rain will be one of the most iconic shots of our generation, capturing their affection and film-star qualities.

Meghan played this last scene at their final engagement (pictured) like a pro, and left us all wanting more.
Metuchen's COVID-19 PSA A short PSA to help stop the spread of germs in Metuchen. Posted by Borough of Metuchen on Friday, March 6, 2020

Sometimes a mayor has to pull out his apparent character acting skills (maybe more like slapstick comedy skills) to get the word out to residents. Yes, even on serious subjects. Yes, even on the coronavirus.

Metuchen Mayor Jonathan Busch has taken to social media (once again), performing in a semi-viral public service announcement on COVID-19, explaining to residents how they can protect themselves against germs.

Even amid the escalating pandemic and subsequent panic sweeping the globe, Busch is attempting to inject some humor to explain some simple hygiene measures residents can take to protect themselves.

Obviously, you have to take all directives and guidance offered by federal, state and county government seriously, Busch told NJ Advance Media. But I think the idea of presenting information like this, in a way that holds peoples attention, provides a more natural outlet for individuals to feel connected to the information thats being distributed.

Busch fears that some residents  especially those savvy on social media  will tune out public guidances. So long as the video is not absolutely horrid in its production, it can be an effective messaging strategy, he said. Luckily, this video isnt half bad.

In the video, Busch opens by telling residents they can help stop the spread of germs if you follow these simple procedures provided by the CDC as music plays.

The situation unfolding is no doubt severe, and every official  from the local level on up  is using guidance from county, state and federal health agencies to spread the word, he said.

But we didnt think there was any harm in lightening the mood a bit in view of the fact that were all in this together," he said. "Were going to get through this together, and this is a way of also helping to convey that message, he said.

This isnt the first time Busch has put himself in front of the camera to speak to his town. He appeared in a video during last summers heatwave announcing all residents could access the borough pool to cool off  a video in which he donned a button-down shirt tucked into Hawaiian beach shorts while sweating profusely.

New Jersey now has 23 cases of COVID-19  the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. There were 20 pending test cases at the state lab and another 31 people considered under investigation as of Tuesday afternoon, according to the New Jersey Department of Health.

On Monday, New Jersey declared a state of emergency in response to the intensifying coronavirus spread. It recorded the first death of a state resident on Tuesday.

Busch said he recognizes the angst that many in the state and his town are feeling. He also noted that the borough is working on a number of ways to help ensure that residents who must undergo quarantine are able to have food delivered from its downtown restaurants.

In the video, with Busch taking on the role of a stereotypical sick person, he informs residents to stay home if theyre sick, to cover their coughs and sneezes, and to wash their hands frequently  for about as long as it takes to sing Happy Birthday.

The video, which has racked up more than 10,000 views on Facebook and 1,500 videos on Twitter, even features staff members who take on the role of germ-fearing officials, who at one point cower against a wall, with one woman holding a can of Lysol like a protective shield.

He ends by saying: So lets make sure to educate ourselves, support our neighbors and remain vigilant. Lets keep Metuchen healthy.

If what were doing can help inspire some other communities to take similar actions to protect their communities, then maybe we can help alleviate some of this crisis in a positive way, Busch said.

Spencer Kent may be reached at skent@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @SpencerMKent. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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MUSKEGON COUNTY, MI  Voters in Holton Township have given the approval to recreational marijuana businesses opening in their community.

A question on Tuesdays ballot asking voters whether they wish to completely prohibit recreational marijuana businesses from opening in the township failed, with 305 people voting yes to ban recreational marijuana businesses, and 348 people voting no, according to unofficial results from the Holton Township clerk.

Because the measure was defeated, the local ordinance will default to the decision of the township board, which voted in December to approve recreational facilities.

Tuesdays vote was a result of the township boards move to allow medical marijuana businesses after voters narrowly rejected a measure to allow medical marijuana establishments within the townships commercial and agricultural areas.

After that vote, in May 2019, the township board voted 3-2 to strike all zoning language from its medical marijuana ordinance, which allowed medical marijuana establishments anywhere in the township - not only in commercial and agricultural areas - provided they receive township board and state approval.

As a result of the boards move to allow medical marijuana, some citizens decided to proactively petition against recreational marijuana facilities, township Clerk Sarah Hippler previously told MLive.

There were quite a few who were pretty upset about it, she said, of the authorization of medical marijuana. After that happened, thats when the initiative to prohibit recreational facilities came about, like they were trying to get a jump on it.

In spite of that petition, the township board voted 3-1 at a regular board meeting on Dec. 10, 2019, to approve recreational marijuana businesses. With Tuesdays outcome at the ballot box, that decision prevails, and those businesses may begin applying for licenses to operate within township boundaries.

Two medical marijuana dispensaries are in the process of opening in the township, pending state licensing, according to township Supervisor Alan Jager. One is planned on Holton Road near the intersection with Ewing Road, and the other near the intersection with Brickyard Road.

Medical marijuana was legalized in Michigan in 2008, and recreational marijuana was legalized in 2018. The first recreational dispensaries in the state opened their doors in December.

Those opposed to bringing marijuana business to Holton Township have said they think it will bring crime and blight into their community, according to township board meeting minutes.

Supporters of cannabis businesses said they will bring tax revenue into Holton Township.

Like all businesses, you pay a tax," Jager previously said of marijuana establishments in an MLive interview. "And yet you can grow this illegally all over our township and not pay a dime. If you have a business, whether its marijuana or not, you should pay taxes.

Read more on MLive

Future of marijuana dispensaries in Holton Township to be decided by voters

Holton voters narrowly defeat medical marijuana proposal

Recreational marijuana sales arrive for enthusiastic customers in Muskegon

Michigan recreational marijuana sales increased 29% in January
PITTSFIELD CHARTER TOWNSHIP, MI -- Customers are stocking up on toilet paper and cleaning supplies at local stores amid fears of the spread of coronavirus, leaving some aisles in Washtenaw County stores bare.

One of the first Michigan patients diagnosed with COVID-19, the illness caused by the novel coronavirus, is being treated at the University of Michigan Health System, officials said. Hospital officials declined to say where within the UM health system the patient was being treated.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer declared a State of Emergency late Tuesday after two presumptive cases of COVID-19 were discovered in southeast Michigan.

Michigan coronavirus patient being treated at University of Michigan Health System

Meijer, Target and Sams Club stores in Pittsfield Township were all running low on certain hygiene products Wednesday afternoon.

Sooo my family is almost out of toilet paper and a few other necessities. We usually do Sam's once a month. Went there... Posted by Sheena Slavicek on Wednesday, March 11, 2020

Shelves that would normally be stocked with toilet paper and paper towel at the Sams Club on Michigan Avenue were bare.

Customers had the last few bath tissue packs in their carts.

Sams Club customer Joann Lynn said she began stocking up after watching other people in the store do the same. She left with at least 15 bulk items.

Wayne County is close to Washtenaw County, so I guess people are afraid and theyre stocking up, Lynn said.

One of the two COVID-19 patients in Michigan is a Wayne County man who had a recent history of domestic travel, state officials said Tuesday.

Its making people like me who just wanted to come in and get a few things -- buy all this," Lynn said. "Especially water, I have kidney strain, so I have to drink a lot of water. And then I have asthma and I cant get a mask anywhere.

Sales of Sams Club-brand purified water were limited to two cases per customer. One pair of customers were attempting to load numerous cases onto their cart Wednesday before until other customers intervened and notified them of the limit.

Meijer in Pittsfield Charter Township only had 4-packs bundles of Meijer-brand toilet paper left on its shelves. The aisle holding disinfectant sprays and wipes was completely bare.

A Meijer spokesperson said the company is aware stores are running low due to fears of the spread of coronavirus, and was working with vendors to restock shelves, though it wasnt clear when shelves could be restocked.

The Target in Pittsfield Charter Township on Carpenter Road was currently out of some toilet paper brands, but still had others in stock. Disinfectant supplies were out of stock.

Messages were left with Target, Sams Club and Trader Joes representatives. Corporate representatives at Kroger couldnt be reached. Managers at multiple local Kroger stores declined to comment.

More:

Staying home because of coronavirus? Heres everything youll need

8 things to know about coronavirus now that its in Michigan

University of Michigan transitioning to remote classes through end of semester due to coronavirus

Feds send Michigan $14.6M for coronavirus response

Wayne State University extends spring break, cancels classes through March 23 due to coronavirus concerns
On January 7th, a 6.4 magnitude earthquake struck southern Puerto Rico, and significant aftershocks have continued in the weeks and months following. To this day, hundreds of Puerto Ricans have yet to return home, either because they are unable to pay for the repairs necessary, or because they dont trust that their houses are safe as the ground continues to tremble.

With many families living in government shelters or makeshift camps, having a reliable source of light at night can make a huge impact in terms of comfort and safety. Recognizing this need and the close connection between Chicago and Puerto Rico, World Business Chicago and LuminAID teamed up to send solar lanterns to the island.

Weve been hearing from our partners on the ground since January that the situation is still very difficult in Puerto Rico. The continued aftershocks are taking a psychological and emotional toll on all families in the region, and many people are still unable to return to their homes. Providing some comfort to these families in the form of light after dark is one small way they can regain normalcy in their lives, said Daphna Gall, Director of Corporate and Nonprofit Partnerships at LuminAID.

On behalf of World Business Chicago and our citys business community, we are grateful to have been able to turn to Chicago-based, woman-led start up LuminAID to purchase solar powered lamps and lanterns to help those in Puerto Rico who continue to face challenges and difficulties following the recent earthquakes, said Andrea Zopp, President & CEO, World Business Chicago.

The 1,000 LuminAID lanterns are en route to Puerto Rico and will be divided between 3 organizations who have existing operations on the island: Casa Pueblo, Verde Luz, and the Puerto Rico Science, Technology, and Research Trust. LuminAID lights can be recharged in the sun and are waterproof, making them ideal for families living in makeshift shelters. With at least 8,000 homes in need of a structural overhaul and aftershocks continuing to strike daily, it is unclear how much longer families will need to wait before returning home.

LuminAID has been working in Puerto Rico since 2017, when Hurricane Maria struck the island. Through partnerships with local nonprofits, over 50,000 LuminAID lanterns were distributed in Puerto Rico in the months following the hurricane. The company also joined other Chicago clean energy organizations for the Chicago4PR campaign and raised over $20,500 for solar lanterns and phone chargers to be sent to the island.

2020 marks LuminAIDs tenth year of sharing safe light with those in need after disasters. Designed in response to the earthquake in Haiti in 2010, LuminAID solar lanterns and phone chargers pack flat for easy distribution after a disaster strikes. Over the past 10 years, LuminAID lights have been used in humanitarian projects in over 100 countries.

About LuminAID

When we think of our most basic human needs, we often think of food, water and shelter. But when architecture graduate students Anna Stork and Andrea Sreshta were asked to design a product to assist post-earthquake relief efforts in Haiti, they considered the dangerous conditions at night in the tent cities and turned their attention to another critical need: light. They designed the LuminAID light to be easily distributed in time of need by packing and shipping flat. To date, through partnerships with NGOs and relief organizations, LuminAID has assisted thousands of families by providing access to safe light in dangerous situations. Through the Give Light, Get Light program, customers can purchase a LuminAID light for themselves and sponsor another one to help make light more accessible and sustainable for all. For more information, visit luminaid.com.
Sonia Gandhi, who called for the resignation of Union Home Minister Amit Shah following the Delhi riots, was in turn blamed by Shah in Parliament on Wednesday for her alleged 'hate speech' in capital last December. Shah said that the interim Congress chief had made statements that had vitiated atmosphere in the national capital.

"On December 14, at an anti-CAA rally at Ramlila Maidan, head of a party had said that people should come out of their homes, that this was the fight for identity. Was this not hate speech? What kind of statements are these?...She made these statements on December 14, the Shaheen bagh protests started on December 16," Shah remarked.

He also lashed out at AIMIM leader Waris Pathan for an incendiary statement made by him during an anti-CAA rally. "Waris Pathan said that 15 crore people could take on 100 crore people...It was after he made these communally flagrant remarks on February 19 that, on February 24, various people at eight to nine different locations started holding sit in protests and later there was violence," Shah said.

He also quoted a speech made during an event organised by 'United Against Hate', in which the speaker had purportedly talked about protesting against CAA during Donald Trump's visit in order to attract maximum attention.

Shah said that Delhi Police was investigating all instances of hate speeches but there were cases that weren't being discussed as widely.

In Congress' Bharat Bachao rally at Ramlila Maidan in December last year, Sonia Gandhi had said that the time had come to pick sides, to struggle for the idea of India. She had slammed the government for revoking Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir and said that everyday the Constitution was being shattered by the ruling party.

Earlier, during the day, BJP MP Meenakshi Lekhi had also alleged that Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other Congress leaders had delivered provocative speeches during the December 14 rally at Ramlila Maidan. Lekhi had also defended statements made by BJP leader Kapil Mishra, BJP MP Parvesh Verma and Minister of State (MoS) for Finance, Anurag Singh Thakur.

Amit Shah lashed out at the Congress and said that it had no moral right to speak on issues of communal riots, as, he claimed, "76% of the people killed in communal riots in India have died under Congress regimes."

He said that not even one Congress worker had been punished for 1984 anti-Sikh riots till Modi government came to power in 2014.
Amid a new oil price rout sparked by the breakdown of the OPEC+ alliance the Energy Information Administration reported a crude oil inventory build of 7.7 million barrels for the week to March 6.

This compares with a moderate build of 800,000 barrels for the previous week. However, the EIA also reported a sizeable gasoline and distillate fuel draws for the week to February 28. For the week to March 6, fuel inventories registered hefty inventory draws.

In gasoline, the EIA reported an inventory decline of 5 million barrels for the first week of March, versus a decline of 4.3 million barrels for the previous week.

In distillate fuels, the EIA reported an inventory fall of 6.4 million barrels for the week to March 6, versus a fall of 4 million barrels for the week before.

Refineries last week processed 15.7 million bpd, producing 10 million bpd of gasoline and 4.7 million bpd of distillate fuel. This compares with 9.8 million bpd of gasoline production the previous week, and 4.6 million bpd in distillate fuel production.

Meanwhile, oil prices have recouped some of their losses but nowhere near enough to settle the jittery oil market after the oil partnership between Russia and Saudi Arabia broke down last Friday with both now set on increasing production, in Saudi Arabias case to more than its production capacity. Related: Junk Status? Oil Nations Face Serious Credit Downgrades

And yet, despite the break-up of the OPEC+ production cut agreement, the doors arent closed to future cooperation between Russia and OPEC, Russias Energy Minister Alexander Novak told local news channel Rossiya 24 on Tuesday.

The fact that the agreement was not extended beyond April 1 doesnt mean that we cannot cooperate with OPEC and non-OPEC producers in the future. We signed a charter last year and we will continue cooperation as part of it, Novak said.

This means not all is lost in oil production control but before things get better they may well get worse, with independent U.S. shale producers bearing the brunt of the price row because of their high debt levels and rising breakeven prices. This, however, means U.S. production growth may slow down, which would be positive for prices regardless of how the price war develops.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
A farmer in Karnataka's Gokak buried a truckload of chickens in his farm over coronavirus fears. The farmer also shot a video of the horrid burial which has gone viral. The video is being passed off as a measure to mitigate the spread of coronavirus. The farmer, Najeer Ahmed Makandar, loaded around 6,000 chickens, all about a month old in a truck and dumped the live birds in a large pit in Nulsoor on Monday. Nulsoor is located in Belagavi's Gokak taluk.

According to a Times of India report, Ahmed had spent around Rs 6 lakh to rear the chickens. Najeer is the owner of a chicken farm in Gokak.

Ahmed said that poultry farmers are facing huge losses due to coronavirus outbreak. Earlier, a live chicken was sold at Rs 50-70 per kg and that was profitable but right now, the prevailing price is Rs 5 to Rs 10, he said. He further added that he could not sell at such a loss and also wasn't able to take care of the birds.

In another incident in Bangarpet taluk, around 9,500 chicks were buried alive. In this case also, the farm owner Satish cited losses to the tune of Rs 20,000 to justify his actions.

Also read: Coronavirus in India: Health ministry suspends visas of France, Germany, Spain nationals

Also read: Coronavirus Live Updates: India reports 18 new cases in a day; many Telangana, AP students stuck in Italy
People of different generations are equally lonely but for different reasons, a study suggests

People of different generations are equally lonely but for different reasons, a study suggests.

Living alone increases the risk of loneliness in older age whereas in midlife feeling isolated is more linked to personality traits, the research found.

The study found emotionally-resilient people - those more able to adapt in stressful situations - are less at risk of loneliness at any age, and outgoing middle-aged people are less likely to feel lonely.

For those over 70, living alone was associated with more loneliness, with the issue being more acute for men.

Psychologists at the University of Edinburgh examined data from more than 4000 people older than 45 for loneliness, personality traits, and living circumstances.

People were asked to rate how lonely they felt. Their personality traits were also tested using a framework called the Five-Factor Model.

Researchers used machine learning - which uses data to make predictions - to examine the data for relationships between personality traits such as emotional stability, and social variables such as living alone, as causes for loneliness.

Results were compared between people in midlife - from 45 to 69 years old - and those in their 70s. A major strength of the study is that two separate samples represented each age group, and the same effects were found across samples in each age group.

The researchers found similar levels of loneliness in both groups.

On average, people with a strong capacity to maintain emotional balance under stressful circumstances were 60 per cent less likely to be lonely, regardless of their age.

Middle-aged people who were more extroverted were, on average, 55 per cent less likely to be lonely. Social isolation was not significantly associated with loneliness in the 45 to 69 age group.

People over 70 who lived alone were more than four times more likely to feel lonely than those who did not live alone.

Researchers say the study helps understand the origins of loneliness in different generations.

Dr Drew Altschul, of the University of Edinburgh's School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences, said: "The use of machine learning in this study allows us to identify and replicate differences in what risk factors are linked to loneliness in middle and older age people. Loneliness is a growing public health issue, identifying the things that precede loneliness is difficult, however, contemporary machine learning algorithms are positioned to help identify these predictors."

###

The study is published in Psychological Medicine. Link to study: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291719003933

The study was funded with a Medical Research Council (MRC) data pathfinder grant and Age UK. It used data from the Lothian Birth Cohort of 1936, a group of individuals who were born in 1936 and took part in the Scottish Mental Survey of 1947, and Healthy Ageing in Scotland (HAGIS), a study of older people living in Scotland.
GREENWICH  Although the town does not have a confirmed case of coronavirus, Greenwich Public Schools will be closed Thursday from what officials called an abundance of caution.

The school district will remain closed through next week as administrators continue to evaluate the threat posed by the virus.

Superintendent Toni Jones said it is in the best interest of students, staff and families to act responsibly.

Our local health officials shared that although cases are not yet in our direct community, there is still cause for concern with the growing number of cases given our proximity to affected areas in New York and Southwestern Connecticut, she said.

Families should plan for a longer closure, with regular updates from the district. All after-school programs will be canceled as well. There will be no bus service for in-district schooling and out-of-district schooling for the next two days.

This decision was not made lightly, Jones said in a note to families sent Wednesday evening. With the closures of various neighboring school districts, the concern we are hearing from members of our school community, and the growing numbers of cases, we think this is the right decision for our students and staff.

Other school closures announced Wednesday include the districts of New Canaan, Westport and Weston, and an elementary school Stratford.

RELATED: Westport schools close after parents, students exposed to coronavirus at a party

RELATED: Stratford student suspected to have coronavirus

RELATED: Potential coronavirus exposure closes Weston schools

One factor in the decision to close is a shortage of cleaning supplies.

Early Wednesday morning the district learned that the cleaning suppliers had to make the very difficult decision to limit the selling of sanitizers, disinfectants, personal protection wear and disinfecting wipes to only healthcare facilities. These include hospitals, convalescent homes and walk-in clinics, Jones said, quoting an email.

While we have supplies that will last for several days, we do not want our supplies completely depleted, she said. As you can imagine, school absolutely cannot be in session if we cannot deep clean our buildings every evening.

Another factor is caring for teachers. Many teachers have children in districts that are closing or have closed. Other staff members are pregnant, have compromised immune systems from cancer treatments and live with aging parents and newborn babies, among other concerns.

Many businesses have already imposed limited personal contact and have asked people to work from home, Jones said.

Students will not have digital learning days on Thursday and Friday  rather, they will be treated like snow days.

Greenwich Public Schools submitted a request to the state this afternoon for a waiver from the 180-day school-year requirement, which would enable teachers and students to begin online distance learning next week.

We hope to have an update for staff and our community about our approach next week as we wait on state approval, Jones said.

If distance or digital learning is approved, the district will issue a detailed guide for families.

All of the needed materials have been created and reviewed by district staff.

We are ready to provide these resources for our students, we just need approval, Jones said.

Parents of kindergarten and first-grade students will have an opportunity to pick up iPads from their schools on Friday so they have access to digital reading material and applications available.

The district will provide more information to families Thursday afternoon regarding pick-up times. There will also be more details to follow about distance learning or make-up days.

New Canaan Public Schools will be closed for the next 14 calendar days, officials announced with the New Canaan Health Department and medical advisers. All pre-school and after-school events and programs are suspended as well.

That district district has been making e-learning preparations in the event of school closure, and teachers will be starting these programs remotely with their students beginning Friday.

By continuing to take good care of ourselves, our families, and each other, we will continue successfully navigating the issues and challenges ahead, said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Bryan Luizzi, in a message sent to the NCPS community this afternoon.

In all that we do and every decision we make, the health and wellness of our school community will always be our true north and unwavering guide, she said.

jo.kroeker@hearstmediact.com
Two employees working with IT companies Dell and Mindtree have been tested positive for coronavirus, according to company statements.

The Dell employee had returned from the US, including a visit to Texas while the Mindtree employee also had a travel history abroad, the two companies said in separate statements.

"We can confirm two employees of Dell India were tested for the COVID-19 virus following their return home from the United States including a visit to our headquarters in Round Rock, Texas. One employee tested negative; another tested positive and has since been placed in quarantine," Dell Technologies said.

The company said it continues to take steps to protect Dell Technologies team members and communities by adhering to the health and safety guidelines from the World Health Organization and Centers for Disease Control, and coordinating with local health officials.

Mindtree said that one of its employees returning from an overseas trip tested positive for COVID-19 on March 10, 2020.

"The employee along with his family members are under quarantine and medical supervision. All measures are being taken to provide the best of medical care to him and his family. The employee self-isolated himself upon return from the trip and did not visit the office or meet any other Mindtree colleagues," the company added.

Mindtree said it has been consciously taking precautions across its operations to fight any untoward incident with its employees.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A suspected coronavirus positive case has been reported from Andhra Pradeshs Nellore district, though the final test results are awaited, officials said on Wednesday.

A youth, who had returned from Italy two weeks ago, was admitted to Nellore government hospital four days back with symptoms of cold, fever and sore throat.

Initial tests at Sri Venkateshwara Institute of Medical Sciences, Tirupati, indicated that he had symptoms of coronavirus. Fresh samples have been sent to National Institute of Virology for further tests. Pending the test results, he has been quarantined in the isolation ward of the Nellore hospital and is being observed, said Dr S Rajya Lakshmi, Nellore district medical and health officer (DMHO).

The medical and health department authorities have refused to divulge other details of the patient, including his travel history. Enquiries revealed that the victim had returned from Italy to Delhi first and from there to Chennai and from there to Nellore by road.

The doctors also conducted tests on his family members for coronavirus. His residential colony at Chinna Bazar was also sanitised as a precautionary measure.

In a statement, K S Jawahar Reddy, state medical and health special chief secretary, said that as many as 75 patients had entered Andhra Pradesh in four phases since February 29. He said all of them had been asked to be self-quarantined at their respective homes for 14 days, strictly following the instructions of the department regularly.

They should remain in their rooms and should not meet anybody, including family members, friends and relatives during this 14-day period and nobody should enter their rooms. If they showed any symptoms of coronavirus, they should immediately get admitted to the nearly government hospital, he suggested.

According to an official bulletin issued on Wednesday, as many as 661 persons from Andhra Pradesh had the travel history of the affected countries till date. Of them, 499 persons had been kept under observation and among them, 230 persons had crossed the observation period of 28 days.

Of the remaining 269 persons still under observation, only 13 persons were admitted to hospital and the remaining are under home observation. As of now, as many as 45 samples were tested and 36 samples were proved negative. The test results of remaining nine are pending, the bulletin said.

In Telangana, the only one positive case of coronavirus  that of a 24-year-old techie working in Bengaluru with travel history to Dubai  has now been proved negative in the first test conducted on Tuesday.

The sample has been sent to Pune for confirmation. If the tests at NIV too confirms it negative, it will be a big relief to Telangana. There are no other cases of coronavirus in the state, health minister Etela Rajender said.

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Linkedin Deddi Tedjakumara (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, March 11, 2020

Business resilience is a topic that is usually discussed when we face a crisis, though we realize that building business resilience is actually not an instant and ad-hoc process. When COVID-19 began spreading to many countries, the outbreak became a hot topic among businesspeople, particularly because the impact of the epidemic on the economy and business is estimated to be large, in line with the possibility of an extensive occurrence and a longer time needed to resolve this outbreak.

The business world, which is increasingly connected and interdependent, is one of the explanations as to why COVID-19 has a significant and extensive impact on business. The synergy outcome that has been experienced so far due to the connectedness is a reinforcing loop that will give an acceleration effect, with positive acceleration in a flourishing situation and negative acceleration in a downturn.

Business resilience can be defined as the ability of a company not only to respond to the emergencies, but also the ability to recover quickly. In responding to the pressure, the business shape may change but after the pressure is settled, not only does the business return quickly to its original condition, but its resilience enables it to grasp the position much better than before.

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Kabul, March 11 : Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has pardoned thousands of Taliban prisoners in a key preliminary step to intra-Afghan talks between a government delegation and the extremist group, his spokesman said early on Wednesday.

Ghani's move to release the 5,000 inmates marks the beginning of negotiations to end the 19 years of war that have pitted Taliban against the government in Afghanistan, Efe news reported.

"President Ghani has signed the decree that would facilitate the release of the Taliban prisoners in accordance with an accepted framework for the start of negotiation between the Taliban and the Afghan government," Spokesman Sediq Sediqqi wrote at midnight on Twitter. He said authorities would provide details throughout the day.

Zalmay Khalilzad, the United States' Afghanistan peace representative, said in a later Twitter message that prisoners' release would begin Saturday based on a list provided by insurgents.

Insurgents had already accepted the release of 1,000 prisoners from the government's side in a historic February 29 agreement in Doha, Qatar, between the Taliban and the United States, who also agreed to a 14-month staggered foreign troops withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Khalilzad said he urged either side to sit down and discuss the issue in Doha and work on further details, adding that the Afghan government had agreed to do so and that releasing the prisoners would be a significant step to relations.

The special envoy said however that violence by the Taliban remains high despite signs of progress toward peace and told insurgents to comply with their commitments.

Khalilzad said this would allow prisoner releases to be smooth and the peace process successful.

Tuesday was the last day set in the Qatar agreement for the release of the 5,000 Taliban from Afghan prisons as a preliminary negotiation step, a move Ghani had so far opposed, claiming such release should occur following bilateral talks.

Suhail Shaheen, the Qatari insurgent political office spokesman, said Tuesday that they had already provided a list of 5,000 prisoners to be released, adding that the tally was final.

The decree comes at a time of Afghan political instability after Abdullah Abdullah, Ghani's main rival at the polls and hitherto chief executive, rejected election results and proclaim himself president at a parallel Monday inauguration ceremony in Kabul.
While Illinois primary election is next Tuesday, voters in six states are casting their ballots today  Idaho, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota and Washington. Remember, the quest for the Democratic nomination is all about who gets the requisite 1,991 delegates  with 125 of them, Michigan has the largest number to dole out today.
Several democratic presidential candidates have proposed fracking bans, but oil companies have room to breathe easily knowing that killing off fracking in the US is a bit too big of a bite for any political party to handle.

But as environmental issues continue to remain front and center in the media, fracking has become a rather easy target that offers political candidates a juicy platform from which they can woo voters.

But is their plan to ban fracking really feasible? And doesnt the American shale patch already have enough--and bigger--enemies?

Fracking Explained



Fracking--also called hydraulic fracturing--is a drilling process that involves injecting a high-pressure mixture containing water, sand, and chemicals into shale rock, which fractures the rock and releases the oil and gas that is trapped inside. The process often involves horizontal drilling.

The Benefits of Fracking

The benefits of fracking are numerous. In the United States, the introduction of fracking has completely turned the energy industry upside down, increasing the amount of oil and gas produced in the US faster than at any time in its history, according to the EIA, and increasing Americas energy independence in the process. Fracking has also brought down energy prices. Environmentally speaking, fracking has managed to lower carbon emissions by displacing a fair amount of carbon-intensive coal, which is now on the skids.

The entire country is a beneficiary of the fracking boom, without question. And today, 95% of all wells drilled in the US are fracked, according to the API.

The Problem with Fracking

Nevertheless, fracking has its drawbacks, and environmentalists--and the Democratic party that serves them--have singled out fracturing as a one-dimensional evil that must be stopped, at all costs. Related: U.S. Sanctions Have Crippled Iranian Oil Production

The argument against fracking is that the process of fracturing the earth to release tight oil causes earthquakes. The other argument is that injecting chemicals into the earth is polluting nearby aquifers. Both issues have long been debated.

All Aboard the Anti-Fracking Movement!

If youre a Democrat of the far-left leaning variety, youre likely already on the anti-fracking train. Political candidates such as Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren--the latter of whom is no longer in the running for President--jumped on board early and were extremely vocal against fracking.

That leaves Sanders, who is also having a bit of trouble in the polls, as the anti-fracking movements best champion.

Any proposal to avert the climate crisis must include a full fracking ban on public and private lands, Sanders tweeted last September.

Sanders even teamed up with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and others to propose a federal bill to phase out fracking nationwide, known as the Ban Fracking Act. The act would start with banning new federal permits for fracking-related infrastructure immediately. Then, by 2021, fracking within 2500 feet of homes and schools would be banned. By 2025, the act would ban fracking in the United States completely, according to Sanders website.

But some have argued that neither Sanders nor Warren understands the issue of fracking.

It is also possible that neither Sanders nor Warren fully understands the implications of standing on a platform that would seek to ban fracking.

But what would a fracking ban mean?

The Wrath of the States

A nationwide ban aside, which federally would be problematic as the states are the ones that regulate fracking, fracking-dependent states may not be too excited to endorse a candidate--democratic or not--who opposes fracking outright. Related: Junk Status? Oil Nations Face Serious Credit Downgrades

First, Pennsylvania, an important swing state, has enjoyed sucking off the fracking teat, much like it sucks off the coal teat. Democrats tried to take an anti-coal stance there during the last presidential election, but failed to win over the swing state, with Pennsylvania residents opting instead for the more fiscally minded Trump digs coal stance. Any anti-fracking candidates will struggle to swing this state back into blue territory.

Colorado, too, may prove challenging for candidates heralding the benefits of a fracking ban. Although a purple state, Big Oil has managed to do quite well here with quashing anti-oil ballot proposals in the past. Voters were asked in 2018 to weigh the merits of increased setbacks for oil and gas wells, which would have taken a significant portion of land off the table for oil and gas drilling. The environmentally friendly measure, however, was defeated.

But Sanders managed to win the Democratic primary in Colorado taking this unforgiving stance, despite the fact that the American Petroleum Institute said a fracking ban would mean a loss of more than 350,000 jobs in Colorado.

New Mexico, too, would take a severe beating from any ban on its bread and butter activity of fracking. According to a study from the US Chamber of Commerces Global Energy Institute found that a fracking ban could cost the state nearly 16% of its workforce and cut away $86 billion in cumulative GDP through 2025.

Is it Even Feasible?

CNN recently provided a fracking ban fact check, pointing out that banning fracking would require an act of Congress. A president without Congress could maybe ban it on federal lands, but private-land fracking would take more oomph than a president has.

Yes, a president could make fracking on private lands a far more difficult endeavor, but Big Oil (and the API) has already proven a worthy foe over other anti-oil legislation, and Big Oils win is near certainly. Warren and Sanders are unlikely to be in the dark on this near-certain outcome.

Fracking regulations on federal lands have already been proposed in the past but were consequently ruled unlawful.

Like Sanders and Warren, surely the API must know that any full-on fracking ban proposal is a no-go. Still, the API is already putting on the gloves to go another round, with a passionate campaign to bring to light what it considers to be a devastating effect on the US energy industry and the whole economy.

A Far Greater Nemesis

A far greater foe to fracking than any political candidate would be the market itself--the coronavirus and OPECs complete failure to reach a deal with Russia over production cuts have sent oil prices falling to scary lows. These low prices are likely the only immediate thing that the US fracking industry has to worry about at the moment.

By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Residents of Wuhan in China are to receive 'gratitude education' so they can thank the country's ruling Communist party for the fight against coronavirus.

The deadly bug is believed to have originated from a market in the city, which is the capital of China's Hubei province, in December.

The city has been on lockdown since January, but Chinese President Xi Jinping paid a visit to the region this week for the first time since the outbreak - which was seen as a major sign that Beijing believes the epidemic is now under control.

President Xi Jinping waves to residents who are quarantined at home as he visits Wuhan, the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak, this week

Now it has emerged that Wuhan party secretary Wang Zhonglin, the party's top official, wants to help 'educate' local people so they can properly show their gratitude to China's government.

Wang said: 'The people of Wuhan are heroic people who understand gratitude.

'(We) must, through various channels, carry out gratitude education among the citizens of the whole city as well as cadres so that they thank the general secretary (Xi Jinping), thank the communist party, listen to the party's words, follow the party's way, and create strong positive energy.

However, according to a local report the statement prompted 'raging public opinion' about the ultimate aim of the proposal.

China Media Project reported that a translation of an internal directive read: 'This matter fully shows that with Wuhan now having been shut down for more than 40 days, the lives of the ordinary people have been affected to such an extent that there is resentment and anger, and all reports must consider the feelings of the people of Wuhan.'

Many local people in Wuhan are said to be angered by how local authorities have tried to 'guide public opinion' over the coronavirus outbreak.

The bug has caused the deaths of more than 3,000 people in China and has since swept the world, causing more than 4,000 deaths across the globe.
(Photo : Pixabay)

Nearly 900 million confessions and secrets published to the Whisper app were left exposed on a non-password-protect database open to the general public internet.

Although messages are not tied to real names, 'a person's age, ethnicity, gender, hometown, nickname and group affiliations are seen, The Washington Post reported. Many of which are committed to sexual confessions and discussion of sexual orientation and desires' were seen.

The public was capable of browsing and searching through the records. Many of which were posted by children - The Post discovered 1.3 million results linked to customers who listed their age as young as 15 years old.

Whispered 'secrets' are enough to blackmail the user

An advisory group, Twelve Security, found the database. According to DailyMail, the institution said the personal facts linked to the messages is enough to "unmask or blackmail" the user who shared the post.

However, the corporation has rejected the findings pointing out the posts and their ties are 'a customer-facing feature of the application which customers can pick to share or not share.'

Matthew Porter and Dan Ehrlich, cybersecurity experts with Twelve Security, alerted government and Whisper of the uncovered database and get admission to has been removed as of Monday.

Olbeit said the data has been exposed for years no matter what happens from here on out. He added that people could 'have their lives ruined and their families blackmailed due to this.'

ALSO READ: PHP7 Security Risk Exposes Websites to Hackers

Whisper violated 'societal, moral norms,' says Ehrlich

Whisper shared an announcement on Tuesday announcing that a good deal of the information is meant to be visible to users in the app. However, the exposed database is 'not designed to be queried directly.'

'[What they did] has very much violated the societal and moral norms we have around the safety of youngsters online,' said Ehrlich. He also said Whisper's actions are 'grossly negligent.'

However, Lauren Jamar, vice chairman of content material and safety at Whisper's parent agency MediaLab, has disputed Twelve Security's discovery. The official said posts and their ties have a feature in the app where users can choose to share or not share.

But Porter and Ehrlich are not buying for Jamar's announcement, as all people are capable of downloading the data in bulk, placing users involved prone to privacy issues.

Whisper deems itself the 'safest location at the Internet' with its promotional material pointing out that it is 'the most important online platform where human beings percentage actual mind and feelings without identities or profiles.'

The messages have been tied to the person's area in which they shared the post.

ALSO READ: Trump Reportedly Rejects Phone Security Measures: What Is At Risk?

Whisper can see whereabouts, too

The crew saw the region for hundreds of navy bases around the area and their precise coordinates. This information was gathered in a part of Whisper's undertaking in analyzing suicide rates among the military for an undeveloped study proposal with the Defense Department.

This isn't the first time Whisper has come under fire. In 2014, the company was accused of tracking the whereabouts of its customers.

There are claims a crew at the enterprise is tracking customers it thinks are newsworthy. The allegations were made through The Guardian newspaper, which recommended Whisper become sometimes sharing statistics with the US government.

Rejecting any wrongdoing, it advised the newspaper that it 'does no longer comply with or track customers' and stated it become false to indicate it become monitoring human beings without its consent.

However, the Guardian, which amassed these statistics at the same time as visiting the company's headquarters, said Whisper has stated it researched locations of people who they considered have been sending out newsworthy messages - adding that this becomes generally done the use of GPS statistics.

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.


LONDON (dpa-AFX) - Balfour Beatty Plc (BBY.L) reported that its profit after tax for fiscal year 2019 declined to 133 million pounds or 18.8 pence per share from 135 million pounds or 19.5 pence per share last year.



But, underlying profit after tax of rose to 186 million pounds from 179 million pounds in the prior year.



Profit before taxation was 138 million pound, up from 123 million pound in the previous year.



Statutory profit from operations increased to 159 million pounds from 147 million pounds last year.



Statutory revenue, which excludes joint ventures and associates, was 7.313 billion pounds, up from 6.634 billion pounds in the prior year. Underlying revenue grew 8% to 8.405 billion pounds, while it was up 5% at CER.



The Board has decided to recommend an 33% increase in the dividend.



The Board recommended a final dividend of 4.3 pence per share, giving a total recommended dividend for the year of 6.4 pence per share, compared to 4.8 pence per share paid in 2018.



The Board confidence that it will continue to deliver profitable managed growth and cash generation on a sustainable basis.



The Group is continuing to pay down borrowings with US$46 million of US private placement notes repaid in early March 2020, and 112 million pounds of preference shares to be repaid in July 2020. In addition, the Board will review Balfour Beatty's capital structure once there is clearer understanding of the COVID-19 situation.



'While COVID-19 continues to evolve, Balfour Beatty is monitoring developments closely, looking to mitigate the risk that it may have on the Group's employees, customers and supply chain. At this point in time, all sites and offices in the UK, the US and Hong Kong remain open. However, it is too early to fully assess any impact of the outbreak on the operational and financial performance of the Group,' the company said.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A 36-year-old Bronx man who allegedly swiped a Richmond University Medical Center (RUMC) ambulette from the hospitals grounds late last month now faces multiple charges after his arrest.

Richard Rodriguez, a resident of the 900 block of Faile Street in the Bronx, allegedly entered a 2011 Ford Ecololine van parked at the hospital at approximately 11:15 p.m. on Feb. 27, according to a criminal complaint. A source told the Advance the vehicle is a RUMC ambulette.

An investigation that included a review of dash-cam footage alleged Rodriguez put the keys in the ignition of the vehicle and started it before leaving the scene.

Approximately five minutes after he entered the van, an individual who intended to return to the vehicle realized it was gone, the complaint said.

Court records indicate Rodriguez was arrested on Monday. His attorney did not answer a phone call requesting comment.

He faces charges including third-and-fourth degree grand larceny, third, fourth and fifth-degree criminal possession of stolen property, petit larceny and third-degree unauthorized use of a vehicle

He is next due in court on May 12, 2020, court records indicate.
Kaesong Industrial Complex. Korea Times photo by Hong In-ki



The unification ministry on Wednesday brushed aside calls to reopen a shuttered inter-Korean industrial complex in North Korea for anti-coronavirus mask production, citing challenges such as the need for workers from the two sides to stay in close contact.



A growing number of people are asking for operations to resume at the factory park in the North's border city of Kaesong, as the South has been struggling to address mask shortages in the wake of the massive outbreak of COVID-19 cases.



"The government is maintaining its position that the Kaesong complex must reopen. However, there are realistic challenges we need to review in order to restart the complex," Yoh Sang-key, the unification ministry's spokesperson, said in a press briefing.



"First, it is a burden to reopen the Kaesong Industrial Complex now at a time when the two Koreas are taking preventive measures, as workers from the North and South will have to meet and stay in close contact with one another," he said.



Yoh also cited other possible problems, including the time necessary to check factory facilities before they restart work and the issue of bringing filters or fabrics into the complex at a time when they are in short supply in South Korea.



South Korea has stepped up efforts to expand the local production of protective masks from the current 10 million to 14 million units daily. It also placed an export ban on masks.



Launched in 2004, the Kaesong Industrial Complex was born on the back of a peace mood created after the first-ever inter-Korean summit between South Korean President Kim Dae-jung and North Korean leader Kim Jong-il in 2000.



It was hailed as a symbol of inter-Korean economic cooperation and a successful cross-border project that combined South Korean capital and technology with cheap labor from North Korea.



In 2016, Seoul closed the Kaesong Industrial Complex in retaliation for the North's fourth nuclear test. Efforts to resume operations there have made little progress amid a protracted stalemate in denuclearization talks. (Yonhap)


The People's Court of Tay Ninh moved to hand a death sentence to an Indonesian national on March 9 after she had been on trial for illegally transporting 6.7 kilos of methamphetamine through the Moc Bai international border gate located in Tay Ninh.

At the court. Photo: Thanh Nien (Youth) newspaper

According to the indictment, the defendant has been named as 54-year old Retty Gunawan and was originally arrested at about 20:00 on July 5, 2019, when she was caught red-handed by customs officials and border guards attempting to carry a suitcase full of drugs through the Moc Bai international border gate.

The drugs had been carefully hidden by layers of clothing, with yellow carton boxes containing drugs stashed underneath.

During questioning, Gunawan informed police about another Indonesian national involved in the plot called Monica, who she had first met in her native country back in 2017.

Their venture into drug smuggling first began when Monica had suggested that Gunawan transport drugs from Cambodia into the Philippines, with the payment set at US$500 for each trip. Traveling expenses and pay will be made after successful transport.

Following this, Monica took Gunawan to the Natam wharf in Indonesia on July 3, 2019, in order to travel to Malaysia before heading to Ho Chi Minh City.

Upon her arrival in Ho Chi Minh City, Gunawan was instructed by Monica to purchase a bus ticket to Cambodia through the Moc Bai international border gate in Tay Ninh province.

It was the evening of July 5, 2019, when Gunawan took a bus to the Moc Bai international border gate in order to complete the procedures to enter Vietnam, she was arrested by customs officials after being discovered illegally transporting drugs. VOV

Soldiers protect southern border from drugs Drug trafficking around Vietnam's borders has become more complicated as the country has become a transit hub for traffickers.
Russian oil companies will meet at the energy ministry on Wednesday to discuss if Russias producers should continue cooperation with OPEC, two sources with knowledge of the plans told Reuters on Tuesday.

We plan to discuss whether to return to (cooperation with) OPEC or not, one of those sources told Reuters.

The energy ministry has called the meeting days after Russia refused to play ball in OPECs umpteenth proposal for production cuts.

OPECs leader and top producer Saudi Arabia and Russia on Friday put an abrupt end to their three-year-long oil bromance trying to support oil prices and erasing the glut on the market. Russias Energy Minister Alexander Novak told OPEC+ countries that they were free to pump oil at will after April 1, after OPEC and Russia failed to agree on deeper cuts in response to the depressed oil demand due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Saudi Arabia responded with an attempt to grab market share from Russia with a significant cut in its official selling prices (OSPs) to all regions and with signals that it plans to boost production as of April 1, sending oil prices into a tailspin on Monday.

Russia issued a statement yesterday, saying that it had enough resources to cover budget shortfalls amid oil prices at $25-30 a barrel for six to ten years.

The Russian oil industry holds a quality resource base and enough financial margins to continue to be competitive at any price and to keep its market share, Novak said at a government meeting on Monday.

The largest Russian oil company, Rosneft, which has long criticized the OPEC+ agreement, slammed the deal after the OPEC+ coalition broke up.

The OPEC+ agreement was meaningless from Russias point of view, Rosnefts spokesman Mikhail Leontyev told Russian outlet RBC on Sunday.

By ceding ground on our markets, we take cheaper Arab and Russian oil off the market only to clear the field for more expensive U.S. shale production and to help its production efficiency, Leontyev said.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
The local development minister said that country will experience 'unprecedented heavy rainfall', adding that some areas will witness 60 to 70mm of rainwater

A press conference was held on Wednesday at the headquarters of the Egyptian cabinet to discuss the measures taken by the government to deal with the "unprecedented" unstable weather forecast for Thursday and Friday.

The press conference was attended by the minister of water resources and irrigation, the minister of foreign affairs, the minister of development, the minister of state for information, the minister of civil aviation, and the chairman of the Meteorological Authority.

Earlier in the day, the cabinet said that Thursday will be a paid day off for employees in Egypt's public and private sectors. The country's stock exchange and all banks will also be closed, and schools and universities will be shut down nationwide on Thursday.

"This press conference aims to inform the public of the seriousness of the situation and to urge citizens to commit to the recommended procedures," Minister of State for Information Osama Heikal said during the press conference, stressing that people should remain in their homes on Thursday and Friday.

Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Mohamed Abdel-Ati reviewed a number of precautions and procedures that the ministry has taken to cope with the situation.

The procedures include reducing drainage from Lake Nasser to accommodate for the amounts of rain in the Nile and canals, and reducing the level of lakes.

"The procedures aim to alleviate damages to protect citizens and facilities," said Abdel-Ati, adding that dams built during the past four years in North and South Sinai, the Red Sea governorate, and the Western Desert will prove useful in dealing with the situation.

Eman Sayed, the head of the Planning Department at the Water Resources and Irrigation Ministry, said that the degree of danger is compounded given that the rains will continue for two consecutive days.

"The expected high level of danger from the continued floods for two days comes from the saturation of the land with rainwater, as the degree of its water absorption decreases, in addition to the reduction of the absorptive capacity of drainage networks," Sayed said.

Egypt has no comprehensive rainwater drainage system, and only relies on a 105-year-old drainage network to siphon rainwater. In an earlier statement on the floods that brought Cairo to a standstill last October , the cabinet said that Egyptian cities were built without rainwater drainage networks.

Our country is characterised by dry weather, and the cost of setting up a network costs billions of pounds and our financial resources do not allow it.

The governorates of New Valley, Matrouh, Giza, and Minya will be the most affected by the heavy rains, which will peak on Thursday, Sayed said. By early Friday, the rains will be concentrated on Egypt's northern coast.

"The rain is set to recede on the third day, Saturday, reaching the usual quantities that we frequently see in many areas of the country," she added.

During the press conference, Egypt's Minister of Civil Aviation Mohamed Manar reviewed the situation of Egyptian airports, saying that a contingency plan is currently being implemented, and "all necessary measures will be taken to ensure everyone's safety."

On Wednesday, EgyptAir called on its clients who have flights in the coming 48 hours to arrive at airports at least four hours prior to their international flights and three hours early for domestic flights, a statement by the Egyptian carrier said.

Mahmoud Shahin, director of the analysis department at the Egyptian Meteorological Authority, said, "This level of instability in weather conditions has not occurred with such force since 1994."

Minister of Local Development Mohamed Shaarawy said that his ministry is coordinating with the Meteorological Authority and the Ministry of Irrigation to address the situation during the coming days.

"The government started preparing for this wave of unstable weather four days ago. A state of emergency has been declared in all service agencies, while coordination is currently underway with the directorates of security and civil protection and the Armed Forces," Shaarawy said.

"It is expected that some areas will witness 60 to 70mm of rain," the local development minister stated, adding that the country will experience "unprecedented heavy rainfall."

The last heavy flooding to take place in Egypt, which occurred last October and brought Cairo to a standstill, reached 15mm of rain, overflowing drainage networks.

Shaarawy also urged citizens to check official governorate web pages, which will post updates and news about the expected floods.

The minister said that one of the reasons Thursday has been given as a day off is to ease traffic congestion and "give room for the concerned agencies and emergency teams to move freely and swiftly. In addition, some roads might be temporarily closed while making available alternate routes."

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-12 01:26:08|Editor: yan

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NICOSIA, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Another four people have tested positive for COVID-19 in Cyprus, the country's Health Ministry said on Wednesday.

The Health Ministry said in a statement that two of those infected flew in from the United Kingdom on Tuesday night and were detected by a thermal monitoring camera at Larnaca Airport.

They are treated in a quarantined section of Nicosia General Hospital, the statement added.

The third person is being treated in hospital in Limassol. He contacted the authorities on Tuesday, saying he had developed a fever. The fourth person had been self-quarantined at home and contacted authorities after developing COVID-19 symptoms..

The statement said that the ministry's Epidemiological Surveillance Unit has started the process of tracing their contacts.

Meanwhile, President of Cyprus's House of Representatives, Demetris Syllouris, and the delegation that escorted him on his recent official visit to Athens have decided to self-isolate, a parliament spokesman said on Wednesday.

Cypriot authorities have announced a series of measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, including sanitizing two hospitals, closing down schools, and banning musical and theatrical events.

They also banned large gatherings, such as conferences. Gatherings of over 75 people in confined spaces, such as restaurants, bars and cafeterias have also been banned. The ban does not apply to factories and other places of work, provided that hygienic measures are in place.
BOCA RATON, FL / ACCESSWIRE / March 11, 2020 / One year ago today, Dan Lounsbury established a Family Office in South Florida with the goal of building a legacy for his family. Today, that effort is evolving as he adjusts his strategy based on his own past business challenges.

Lounsbury picked up knowledge and experience in investing and stock markets working with Merrill Lynch after moving to the D.C. Metro area shortly after leaving the Navy. But that's not what his Family Office is about.

"Let the experts do what they do best," Said Lounsbury. Creating a strategy for growth of a family's legacy is a dynamic process. It's so much more than just asset management. And while asset management is the one aspect most firms concentrate on because it generates fees, Lounsbury doesn't. Instead, he focuses on what he calls Legacy Growth Services (LGS).

LGS was born from Lounsbury's experience being in business for himself. He's an entrepreneur who has been involved in several successful ventures. His first executive role was with a dot com startup, and he was later a part owner in China2Net, a telecom startup with offices in the U.S., Hong Kong and Beijing. He's also had the opportunity to start and run several successful businesses of his own.

But without capital to attract the attention of big-name management firms and trust offices, Lounsbury has spent a lot of time learning from successful people around him - lawyers, accountants, business owners, and other mentors who had developed their own custom strategies. It's these lessons, learned over a career of diverse business challenges that led him to helping others build their own legacies.

"Going through my experiences, which culminated with my legal troubles, forced me to analyze a lot of complex issues and matters in my life and create a plan to sustain all the important aspects of my life - that is what Legacy Planning is to me. Its a little bit disaster prevention and protection, and a little bit preparing for the unexpected. A life prepper."

Lounsbury has been through a perfect storm of challenges, both personal and business-related. He went through a difficult divorce in 2015, lost his mom in 2018, and has fought lawsuits and federal court cases - and lost. But it's exactly those experiences that he feels drive his current successes.

"Celebrating one year of a successful Family Office means the world to me," said Lounsbury. To learn more about Lounsbury's services, visit DanLounsbury.com.

Source:

Dan Lounsbury

Boca Raton, Florida

T: 207-370-2376

SOURCE: Dan Lounsbury

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/579998/Dan-Lounsbury-Family-Office-celebrates-establishment-of-Legacy-Growth-Services
Two classified briefings that lawmakers received from intelligence agencies Tuesday did little to bridge the rift between President Donald Trump's administration and Democrats who have concerns about Russian interference in the 2020 elections.

Democrats leaving the meeting said they had more questions and had heard conflicting evidence. House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, D-Calif., said after the briefing that he had renewed concerns about the independence of the intelligence community, and their willingness to continue speaking truth to power.

Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., said she believed there was conflicting information coming to Congress from the administration. I just don't have trust that we're getting accurate information, she said.

Democrats have expressed concerns about the independence of the intelligence community after Trump replaced the former acting Director of National Intelligence, Joseph Maguire, with a loyalist who had less intelligence experience. That new acting director, Richard Grenell, did not attend Tuesday's briefing.

Though the nation's intelligence agencies have repeatedly said Russia interfered in the 2016 election to help Trump, the president has dismissed that as a "hoax." On Tuesday, he tweeted that there is another Russia, Russia, Russia meeting today.

Still, intelligence officials told lawmakers last month that Russia is still trying to to sow discord in the American electorate and that the country has a preference for Trump, according to officials familiar with that briefing. Trump later berated Maguire and replaced him.

Two people familiar with Tuesday's briefing said the message was worded differently, with officials indicating they didn't have direct evidence that Russian President Vladimir Putin himself favored Trump. Democrats pushed back in the meeting, said the people, who requested anonymity to discuss the closed-door briefing.

Republicans leaving the House and Senate meetings said the administration officials made clear that Russia was still interfering in US elections.

According to Rep. Michael Waltz, R-Fla., the officials said Russia and other countries were busily trying to rile up Americans. You name the divisive issue racial tensions, gun rights, pro-life, pro-choice, and what they've talked about is trying to stir sow and discord on both sides of every issue.

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., said: We are way ahead of where we were in 2016 because we're more aware and because we've taken more steps. ... The part that's much harder to control is what gets out there in the public domain that people are willing to believe and how that stirs dissension and divisions in the society and ultimately paralyzes the ability to take action.

In addition to the findings by the major intelligence agencies, a nearly two-year investigation led by special counsel Robert Mueller concluded there was a sophisticated, Kremlin-led operation to sow division in the US and upend the 2016 election by using cyberattacks and social media as weapons.

Government officials have said Russia also scanned voting systems around the country, though there is no evidence that votes were changed.

Sen. Bernie Sanders, who is running in the Democratic primary to challenge Trump, said last month that he was also briefed by US officials about Russian efforts to boost his candidacy.

The Russian efforts are aimed at undermining public confidence in the integrity of US elections and stirring general chaos in American politics, intelligence experts say.

Intelligence officials from seven agencies including the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Justice and multiple intelligence agencies attended the briefing.

Trump has nominated Texas Rep. John Ratcliffe as a permanent replacement for Grenell, but it's unclear if he will have the needed support in the Senate for confirmation. Trump also nominated Ratcliffe for the post last year, then withdrew the nomination after Democrats questioned his experience and reports challenged the accuracy of Ratcliffe's resume.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Exercising the right to reply at the 43rd session of the UNHRC in Geneva, Rachita Bhandari, Director, (Indo-Pacific-I), MEA, said that the Jammu and Kashmir -- which was, is and shall forever remain an integral part of India -- has begun its march to peace and prosperity despite Pakistan's repeated attempts to derail the process.Bhandari remarked that a robustly functional and vibrant democracy like India could well do without lessons from a failed State like Pakistan "whose own people have never ever enjoyed either true democracy or human rights"."The delegate of Pakistan referred to Jammu and Kashmir, which was, is and shall forever remain an integral part of India. Jammu and Kashmir has begun its march to peace and prosperity along with the rest of India. This is despite Pakistan's repeated attempts to derail the process, despite Pakistan's active and sustained support to terror groups and despite Pakistan's pursuit of a malicious disinformation campaign against India," Bhandari said."Pakistan cannot mislead the international community by paying lip service to dialogue and cooperation while it continues to use cross-border terrorism as an instrument of state policy against India," the diplomat added.The diplomat asked Pakistan if it can deny the fact that it is home to as many as 130 UN-designated terrorists and 25 terrorist entities listed by the UN, and that these proscribed individuals have actively campaigned and contested in elections.Attacking Pakistan further while listing out the terror activities orchestrated by the terror groups based in Pakistan, the Diplomat said, "Can Pakistan deny the fact that the world's most wanted terrorist Osama bin Laden was found living in Pakistan near a military academy, sheltered and protected by the deep state? Can Pakistan deny the fact that impunity reigns supreme in the country as perpetrators of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks continue to roam free? Can Pakistan deny the fact that its other neighbours have repeatedly complained about Pakistan's continued support to terrorist elements?.""Can Pakistan deny the fact that its leaders, including its Prime Minister, have openly called for Jihad against India? Can Pakistan deny the fact that it unleashed a State-sponsored Genocide against its own people in 1971? Can Pakistan deny the fact that vulnerable minorities in the country face religious persecutions on a daily basis?" The Diplomat added.Pakistan has been raking up the Kashmir issue on the international platforms since the Indian government's move to abrogate Article 370 of the Constitution that accorded special status to Jammu and Kashmir. India has maintained that the move on Kashmir is its internal matter -- a stance which has been supported by several countries across the world, including the SAARC nations, with the exception of Pakistan. (ANI)
ST PAUL  Over 1,000 advocates piled into the Minnesota Capitol Rotunda in St. Paul on Tuesday, March 10, urging lawmakers to improve wages and conditions to caregivers of Minnesotans with disabilities.

According to the Association of Residential Resources in Minnesota, direct support professionals, or DSPs for short, on average earn $13.15 an hour  17% less than workers in professions of similar caliber. Half of DSPs leave the field within their first year on the job, and the profession has among the highest vacancy rates in the state. The Minnesota Legislature in 2019 passed a wage increase for DSPs of 4.7% on average, but ARRM CEO Sue Schettle said it's still not enough.

She said DSPs provide critical care to those with disabilities  dispensing medication, assisting with personal hygiene tasks, offering reliable transportation and more  but their profession "is one that doesn't get the limelight."

"In some cases its life or death," Schettle said. "And yet, theyre making 13 bucks an hour."

Tuesday's rally was meant to highlight the care that DSPs offer, and ask the Legislature for additional reform. ARRM is pushing four bills this year to increase DSP wages and improve industry conditions.

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At Tuesday's rally, Gov. Tim Walz said he wants to "make sure that everybody gets a chance to choose the life they want, everybody gets accessibility to jobs and services and do the types of things they personally choose," regardless of disability status.

Caregivers are the ones who make that happen, and he said they need support, too.
(Kitco News) - Health officials in Toronto are warning people who attended the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada 2020 mining conference to monitor their health for signs of the coronavirus.

Officials with the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada convention announced Tuesday night that a man who attended the conference last week was diagnosed with the virus.

Our focus is on breaking the chain of transmission to limit the spread of infection and as a precautionary measure, we are asking those who attended PDAC 2020 to monitor for symptoms for 14 days, said Dr. Penny Sutcliffe.

Public Health Sudbury & Districts is actively engaged in follow-up and is collaborating with the Ministry of Health and the local health system, health officials added in a press release.

Organizers from PDAC said that the man attended the confernce Monday and Tuesday.

"We are supporting the detailed investigation being conducted by Public Health Sudbury & Districts and Toronto Public Health of this individual's activities while at the PDAC Conference on March 2 and 3," the PDAC said in a statement. "In general, large gatherings with transient interactions including walking by a person who may be infected with COVID-19 or briefly being in the same room with that person are considered a low risk."

According to conference organizers, around 23,000 people attended the worlds largest mining conference last week. Attendance was down about 10% from 2019. Attendance fell due to fears of the spreading coronavirus. Prime Minster Justin Trudeau attended the conference along with Natural Resources Minister Seamus O'Regan and International Trade Minister Mary Ng

PDAC organizers noted on their website that they were taking additional health measures this year in light of concerns around the coronavirus. They include increased cleaning of high-volume touchpoints, such as touchscreens and door handles, and increased availability of hand sanitizer.

The Public Health Agency of Canada and the Ministry of Health advise all people to monitor their health for fever, cough and difficulty breathing for 14 days. If symptoms develop within 14 days, people are directed to self-isolate as quickly as possible and immediately call their health-care professionals or public health to make arrangements to be tested.
Photo: The Canadian Press Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden speaks at a campaign event in Columbus, Ohio, Tuesday, March 10, 2020. (AP Photo/Paul Vernon)

Joe Biden decisively won Michigans Democratic primary on Tuesday, seizing a key battleground state that helped propel Bernie Sanders insurgent candidacy four years ago. The former vice-president's victory there, as well as in Missouri and Mississippi, dealt a serious blow to Sanders and substantially widened Biden's path to the nomination.

The Vermont senator's hopes rested on Idaho, North Dakota and Washington state, where votes were still being cast or tabulated but where far fewer delegates were at stake. Biden again showed strength with working-class voters and African Americans, who are vital to winning the Democratic nomination.

Tuesday marked the first time voters weighed in on the primary since it effectively narrowed to a two-person race between Sanders and Biden. And the first three large states easily went to Biden, a dramatic reversal for a campaign that appeared on the brink of collapse just two weeks ago. Now it is Sanders, whose candidacy was ascendant so recently, who must contemplate a path forward.

Sanders did not plan to address the public on Tuesday night. Biden planned to take the stage in Philadelphia.

Even as the contours of the race came into shape, the campaign faced new uncertainty amid fears of the spreading coronavirus. Both candidates abruptly cancelled rallies in Ohio that were scheduled for Tuesday night. Sanders' campaign said all future events would be decided on a case-by-case basis, while Biden called off a scheduled upcoming stop in Florida.

The Democratic National Committee also said that Sunday's debate between Sanders and Biden would be conducted without an audience. It is unclear when they will resume large public events given that top health officials are warning that the virus in the short term will be more widespread.

Among former White House hopefuls and leaders of powerful liberal groups, however, Biden's momentum is now undeniable.

Bradley Beychok, president and co-founder of American Bridge 21st Century, a liberal super PAC, said his group "will be ALL IN to elect @JoeBiden as our next president." The organization is spending millions of dollars trying to win over people who backed President Donald Trump in key states in 2016.

Guy Cecil, chairman of the flagship Democratic outside political organization Priorities USA, tweeted: The math is now clear. Joe Biden is going to be the Democratic nominee for President and @prioritiesUSA is going to do everything we can to help him defeat Donald Trump in November.

There were other major warning signs for Sanders on Tuesday. He again struggled to win support from black voters. Two-thirds of Mississippi's Democratic primary voters were African American, and three-quarters of them supported Biden, according to AP VoteCast surveys of the electorate.
Mark Rylance as Thomas Cromwell in the BBC adaptation of Wolf Hall. Photo: Courtesy of BBC Two

Rejoice  the long-awaited conclusion to a best-selling series of popular fiction based on late-medieval British history is here! I am of course talking about The Mirror and the Light, Hilary Mantels follow-up to 2009s Wolf Hall and 2012s Bring Up the Bodies, which has finally arrived after an eight-year wait. Thinking about jumping back into the Tudor pool? Heres a refresher on everything you need to know before you do:

The books tell the story of Thomas Cromwell, one of Henry VIIIs most trusted advisers.

Most prior fictional treatments of Cromwell depict him as a conniving backstabber, but Mantels version is much more sympathetic. Her Cromwell is the self-made son of an abusive drunken blacksmith, who uses his polymathic gifts to attain ever-greater political power, yes, but also to usher in a more meritocratic age. In this, he faces off against a series of upper-class twits whove fooled themselves into believing their privileges of birth actually mean something. This Cromwell is a Renaissance man in every meaning of the term; in his mind, we can detect the first stirrings of modernity. As Mantel puts it in one memorable passage from Wolf Hall:

The world is run from Antwerp, from Florence  from Lisbon, where the ships with sails of silk drift west and are burned up in the sun. Not from the castle walls, but from counting houses, not be the call of the bugle, but by the click of the abacus, not by the grate and click of the mechanism of the gun but by the scrape of the pen on the page of the promissory note that pays for the gun and the gunsmith and the powder and shot.

Over the first two books, Cromwells talents have a way of making him indispensable, first to Cardinal Thomas Wolsey and then to Henry VIII. His skills include not just finance and accounting but other arts as well: He can draft a contract, train a falcon, draw a map, stop a street fight, furnish a house and fix a jury. Hes also an amoral political manipulator who is able to provide what the king wants without ever having to be asked explicitly. Cromwell takes great pains to hide his true motives; his internal motto is Arrange your face, a reminder to turn his features into a blank mask closed off to the world.

The first two books covered Cromwells slow and steady rise.

Wolf Hall detailed Henrys quest to throw aside his first marriage because she is unable to give him a son, and take Anne Boleyn as his new wife. Cromwell begins the main narrative as Wolseys right-hand man and gets a front-row seat to his downfall after the cardinal proves unable to get the Vatican to sanction Henrys efforts to end his marriage. He soon becomes enmeshed in Henrys court, where he spars with his frenemy Anne, a calculating being, with a cool slick brain at work behind her hungry black eyes. Learning from the example of Wolsey, Cromwell works tirelessly to aid Henry in his break from the Catholic Church, which he resents for not granting his annulment. Its a mutually beneficial relationship: Cromwell is not only rewarded with more and more access to the king, the highest possible honor in a royal court, but the reader knows that hes also harboring secret Protestant sympathies as well. The book climaxes with a show trial of Cromwells rival Thomas More, who refused to swear an oath of allegiance to Henry, and the crowning of Anne Boleyn as Englands new queen.

Bring Up the Bodies is a much brisker affair. As Anne proves equally unable to grant the king the son he yearns for, Henrys attentions drift elsewhere, and it becomes clear that this queen too will have to be disposed of. The book builds to another show trial masterminded by Cromwell, this time of Anne and her accused lovers, a gaggle of young men who had the bad luck to have been spotted mocking Wolsey back in book one. Having now rid Henry of two wives and, in the process, eliminated many of his rivals for the kings ear, Cromwell is made a member of the nobility at the end of Bring Up the Bodies. His rise is complete, and if the first two books taught us anything about the Tudor court, theres only one way to go from there  straight to the chopping block.

The new book will concern Cromwells eventual downfall.

I will tread lightly for the spoiler-phobic, though if youd like to stay 100 percent innocent, read no further. The basics: Book three picks up with Henry married to his third wife, Jane Seymour, whos been a marginal figure up to now, though her familys ominously named seat did give Wolf Hall its title. The Seymours are no less Machiavellian than the rest of Henrys courtiers, though they eventually get a trump card no one else can match  Jane gives Henry the son hed always longed for. As you may have guessed from the fact that Henry married three more times, this union is as doomed at the others (see Broadways Six for more), and with the king soon in the market for wife No. 4, Cromwell plays his hand. Hes always been slightly further ahead of Henry on the issue of the Reformation, and he sees an opening to further bind England to the Protestant kingdoms of Germany by arranging a marriage to Anne of Cleves. If you know anything about Anne of Cleves, youll know things dont exactly work out for the marriage, and they eventually dont go so well for Cromwell, either. But weve got all of the new books 784 pages to get us there.
The Stuffed Mushroom Kitchen and Catering Co. is open for business in a new spot in Bridge City.

The locally owned eatery specializing in barbecue, casseroles and home-cooked classics opened at the 2530 Texas Ave. location at the end of February.

The Stuffed Mushroom is owned by Katherine Aras, who expanded her catering business in 2018.

It is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. It serves a breakfast and brunch buffet from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday.

The owners of Ticos Cuban Cafe in Bridge City, known for its cubano sandwich and other classic Cuban items, closed their restaurant in the fall.

In a social media post, owner Orlando Miguez said he would be closing up shop to return to Atlanta to be with his mother during her fight with cancer.

It has taken a toll on me and because I dont want to live with any regrets I will be moving to Atlanta to be with my best friend, he wrote.

The Miguez family first came to Bridge City from Atlanta in the wake of Hurricane Ike to work on home repairs, according to a 2013 Enterprise story. They found a home for the restaurant Orlando Miguez Sr. and his sons always wanted to create.

North Park Plaza, the Eastex Freeway shopping center anchored by Target, has been sold to a developer interested in adding new life to what it views as the retail intersection of Beaumont.

The two tracts of property adjacent to the U.S. 69 feeder road and split by Dowlen Road were purchased in February by Houston-based Baker Katz from Weingarten Realty Investors.

Annette Byerly has applied for a specific use permit to create a liquor store at 2916 East Lucas Drive. The application will be heard Monday at a joint public hearing with the Beaumont City Council and Beaumont Planning Commission.
As Coronavirus continues to be a threat for the country, the Mizoram government on Tuesday banned the entry of foreigners to the state as a precautionary measure. This comes a day after the state decided to seal its borders with Bangladesh and Myanmar.

Issuing a statement on the same, Mizorams information and public relations department apprised about the development and said that the decision was taken at the first meeting of the state-level task force on mitigation of coronavirus (COVID-19) held at Aizawl on Tuesday under chairmanship of chief secretary Lalnunmawia Chuaungo.

The entry of all foreigners either by land or air has also been banned with immediate effect until further notice, Mizorams information and public relations department.

Mizoram thus becomes the third state in the Northeast to ban entry of foreigners after governments in Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh had initiated similar measures last week. While Indians need inner line permit (ILP) to enter Mizoram, foreigners (except those from Pakistan, China and Afghanistan) need to register themselves with the police within 24 hours of arrival. Citizens of Pakistan, China and Afghanistan need prior approval of Union Home Ministry to visit the state.

READ: Coronavirus cases climb to 14 in Kerala,8 fresh cases reported

READ: Coronavirus: 85-yr-old man tests positive in Jaipur

Mizoram's Borders With Myanmar, Bangladesh To Be Sealed

Mizoram's borders with Myanmar and Bangladesh will be sealed and the entry of foreigners banned to prevent the spread of novel coronavirus in the state, a top official said on Monday. Mizoram shares a 510-km border with Myanmar and a 318-km border with Bangladesh. It was decided that the borders with the two countries will be sealed to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

However, entry from Myanmar will be allowed at Zokhawthar for senior officials and in case of any emergencies where a medical team will be deployed round the clock to screen the people coming in. Mizoram shares inter-state borders with Assam, Manipur and Tripura. Entry points with Assam will be open at Bairabi and Vairengte, with Manipur at Khawkan and with Tripura at Kanhmun, Chuaungo said.

Meanwhile, the health ministry said the total number of confirmed cases has risen to 50, adding the rest are being retested for confirmation. If the fresh cases declared by the state governments are taken into account, the figure goes up to 61.

READ: 14 more coronavirus cases in Kerala, Karnataka, Pune; 58 Indians brought back from Iran

READ: Coronavirus scare: India suspends visas for nationals of France, Germany, Spain
The Modi government's record on minority schemes and outreach is also surprisingly better than that of UPA-2

As the Indian Air Force's C-17 Globemaster touched down at the Hindon Airbase on Tuesday morning like a giant grey bird, Holi colours were beginning to fly. The nation got one more reason to celebrate. The first batch of 58 Shia pilgrims were flown back to safety from the world's third-worst coronavirus-hit country, Iran, where the virus has taken 237 lives already.

External affairs minister S Jaishankar posted on social media in relief:

First batch of 58 Indian pilgrims being brought back from #Iran. IAF C-17 taken off from Tehran and expected to land soon in Hindon. pic.twitter.com/IqZ8NUK1M6  Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) March 10, 2020

When the nation saves its citizens' lives, it does not check for religion. But since a section of national and international media is busy portraying the Narendra Modi government as a 'genocidal' and 'anti-Muslim', this latest action again begs the question: Why would an anti-Muslim government rescue Muslim pilgrims from an epidemic-ravaged region?

This isnt the only instance. In 2014, more than a hundred nurses from Kerala, many of them Muslim, were saved from the Islamic State in Iraq. In 2018, then foreign minister Sushma Swaraj got Hamid Ansari expeditiously brought back from a Pakistani jail. The lovelorn young man had crossed over with a fake Pakistani identity card to meet a woman and got thrown into prison.

Such instances abound. The Modi government's record on minority schemes and outreach is also surprisingly better than that of UPA-2.

But the relationship between the Modi dispensation and Muslims only seems to get worse.

This was never going to be an easy relationship. At the heart of the Modi hurricane of 2014 and 2019 was his anti-minority appeasement image. He remains unapologetically Hindu in his demeanour. His victories have signalled a profound groundshift in Indian politics towards the Right and underscored the fact that elections can be convincingly won without Muslim votes.

This has made a Muslim clergy fast losing influence and 'liberals' discredited for their Nehruvian secularism incite minorities with a sense of desperation.

They could not find a moral handle to lash out at the ban on instant triple talaq. Nor could they openly oppose the trifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir and the erstwhile state's integration by scrapping Article 370 without smelling like rabid separatists. They hissed through clenched teeth at the Ayodhya judgment meted out by the Supreme Court. It was judicial action, after all.

But the Citizenship Amendment Bill (and later, Act) brought out Islamist anger on to the streets on the pretext that it discriminates against one religion: Islam. That it was only about persecuted minorities of three neighbouring nations, that it doesnt affect Indian Muslims at all, or that Muslims can still apply for naturalised Indian citizenship got swept away in the tide of carefully concocted perceptions.

However, adding to those perceptions were shrill, intemperate utterances of the BJPs new firebrands like Anurag Thakur, Parvesh Verma and Kapil Mishra. Whether it was "desh ke gaddaron ko/goli maaro saalon ko" or loosely calling opponents terrorists, the backlash against the often-communal anti-CAA protests was acerbic dog-whistling.

One may argue that it was a tit-for-tat. Or that polarisation helps the BJP. But in the long run, the growing trust deficit between 200 million Muslim Indians and the State is deeply problematic and undesirable. It undermines the prime minister's slogan after the 2019 Lok Sabha win: "Sabka saath, sabka vishwas, sabka vikas".

It also makes Modi's largely difficult work for the minorities even more thankless.

His government secured 3.14 crore scholarships for minority students between 2014 and 2019, 20 lakh more than the Rs 2.94 crore grants during UPA-2. Muslims have been the largest beneficiary, with 2.37 crore students getting scholarships under the first Modi government compared with 2.33 crore under Manmohan Singh's.

The Modi government has spent Rs 22,000 crore in the past six years on minority welfare. More than 25 ongoing schemes like Hunar Haat benefit them.

The Sangh Parivars civilisational project is to see India as a Hindu nation and stop the demographic surge of a thousand years. Its vision of a Hindu Rashtra does not occlude minorities, but an expectation that all Indians acknowledge the ancient cultural glue that binds them.

While the Hindutva movement has remarkable patience, it does not shy from violence to counter violence.

The Modi establishment is caught between aggressively pushing the ideological agenda (which its core supporters expect and admire) and gaining trust of the minorities. One can quickly offset the other.

Its ideological mission is perhaps better served with a lot more nuance. A contentious Uniform Civil Code, two-child policy and a nationwide National Register of Citizens may soon be on the table.

It is an operation that needs to be done with a scalpel and extreme finesse. Even the peek of a hammer from the surgeon's coat can make things very, very messy.
Pin Kaow Green Curry and Irish Paring, courtesy of Pin Kaow Thai Restaurant

Pin Kaow Thai Restaurant, with locations at 1974 N. Rainbow Blvd and 9530 S. Eastern Ave, will celebrate St. Patricks Day with an Irish-inspired beverage pairing and green curry available exclusively on Tuesday, March 17.

Available exclusively at the S. Eastern Blvd location, Pin Kaow will offer a specialty pairing of a Guinness Draught and Jameson Irish Whiskey shot, priced at $8.

Both Pin Kaow restaurants will celebrate throughout the day with a green curry entree, prepared with house-made green curry paste, coconut milk, bamboo shoots, bell peppers and Thai basil, priced at $11.95.

More information and reservations are available by calling the S. Eastern location at 702-407-1188 or the Rainbow location at 702-638-2746 or on the website at www.pinkaow.com. Pin Kaow Thai Restaurant offers complimentary parking at both locations.
Health experts are warning Americans that using e-cigarettes may increase their risk of contracting coronavirus.

On Monday, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio revealed that one of the state's cases was an otherwise healthy 22-year-old man from Brooklyn.

'Why is a 22-year-old man stable but hospitalized at this point?' de Blasio asked at the news conference.

'The one factor we know of is he is a vaper. So, we don't know of any pre-existing conditions, but we do think the fact that he is a vaper is affecting this situation.'

Doctors agree and say that vaping can cause inflammation within the lungs, which makers it harder to fight off infections like the new virus.

Mayor Bill de Blasio reported that a 'healthy' 22-year-old man was among the New Yorkers infected with coronavirus. Pictured: De Blasio holds a press conference on coronavirus in New York City, March 9

The man has no known pre-existing conditions, but uses e-cigarettes, which is believed to be a factor in his illness (file image)

De Blasio said people over the age of 50 and with heart disease, lung disease, cancer, immune system vulnerability or diabetes face are the most at risks.

But he stressed that smoking or vaping could make younger people more vulnerable to suffering complications if they are infected by coroanvirus.

'If you are a smoker or a vaper that does make you more vulnerable,' de Blasio told reporters on Sunday.

'If you are a smoker or a vaper this is a very good time to stop that habit and we will help you.'

Doctors and health experts say that vaping compromises lung health, which means that their respiratory health is at risk.

Worldwide, more than 124,000 people have been infected and more than 4,500 people have died

'If you compromise your lungs [by vaping], it certainly possible' to increase your risk of coronavirus, Dr Dean Hart, a New York-based microbiologist told DailyMail.com.

'Anything you do to compromise your body, it's possible. Cigarettes and vapes do affect the respiratory tract and that's where virus attacks.'

A recent study from China - the epicenter of the outbreak - found that men were more likely to die of the virus than women.

Experts say one theory for this is that nearly 50 percent of Chinese men smoke compared to less than two percent of women - suggesting that men's lungs are already weakened when they are infected with coronavirus.

Dr Joanna Cohen, of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, told CBS News that other early data coming out China has looked at smokers.

'They did find that the severity of illness seemed to be associated with being a smoker or former smoker,' she said.

'Again, that would suggest the more lung injury you have might affect the disease severity. So we can't say for sure, but it's certainly something to be concerned about.'

Studies have shown that vitamin E acetate, found in many bootleg e-cigarettes, causes lung damage.

The vitamin derivative was found to be responsible in the serious of vaping-related lung illnesses that affected more than 2,000 Americans.

'We know e-cigarette aerosol contains numerous chemicals that can cause an inflammatory response in the lung tissue,' Dr Michael Steinberg, a professor in the department of medicine at the Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, told CBS News.

'In general, inflammation can lead to tissue damage, cause airway constriction, and has the potential to increase risk of infection. Since the e-cigarette phenomenon is still recent, we just don't have as well-established information from humans as to the extent of this damage.'

Dr Hart said that if anyone was looking for a reason to quit vaping, this would be another one.

'Would I necessarily stop because of the virus? No, but I would because it's deadly and it could give you lung cancer regardless of whether or not you get sick with coronavirus,' he said.

Worldwide, more than 124,000 people have been infected and more than 4,500 people have died.

In the US, there are more than 1,100 confirmed cases and 36 deaths in five states: California, Florida, New Jersey, South Dakota and Washington.

On Wednesday, the World Health Organization officially declared coronavirus a global pandemic, a rare move for the health agency.
The Prime Minister has extended the coronavirus travel ban to Italy.

The ban will start at 6pm tonight, meaning that foreigners cannot board a flight from Italy to Australia.

Australian residents can fly but must self-isolate for two weeks when they land.

The same rules are in place for Iran, South Korea and mainland China.

'The situation in Italy is now commensurate with the other countries where we previously had travel bans put in place, so we'll be extending that travel ban to Italy now,' Scott Morrison said in a press conference on Wednesday morning.

Until now 11 flights a day have landed in Australia with travellers who originated in Italy, which has been placed into total lockdown as it combats more than 10,000 cases of the deadly virus.

The death toll in Italy from the novel coronavirus known COVID-19 surged to 631 on Tuesday after 168 more fatalities were confirmed. Pictured: Rome

Australian Health Minister Greg Hunt, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Australia's Chief Medical Officer Professor Brendan Murphy speak to the media during a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra on Wednesday

The Prime Minister also issued a stark warning that Australia's health system faces 'great stress' as more patients flood through hospital doors.

'Of course, this system will come under stress and it will come under strain. That is to expected,' he said.

'These are not be usual times and usual demands on our health system. And so, I anticipate there will be times when that will come under great stress.'

Mr Morrison sought to calm fears and said the health system was ready to face the challenge.

'That is not a reason for alarm or concern, because the plan and the resource and the preparedness and the professionalism of our health system will attend to those needs,' he said.

South Australia Hospital staff are seen simulating a drive through coronavirus testing at the Repatriation Hospital in Adelaide on Tuesday

A massive queue formed outside the Royal Melbourne Hospital as people wearing face masks wait to get their symptoms tested

The Prime Minister last night announced a raft of health measures to tackle the virus.

Free phone consultations with GPs and pop-up clinics to help hospitals handle demand will form part of the government's $2.4 billion coronavirus response.

The government released its health package on Tuesday night, before its multi-billion-dollar stimulus package will be announced on Wednesday.

The measures will establish 100 pop-up clinics across Australia to divert people who may be infected away from hospitals.

From Friday, Australians will be able to completely bulk-bill phone hook-ups with GPs to diagnose coronavirus symptoms.

It came as Health Minister Greg Hunt said more than half Australia's cases had recovered and it was unlikely people could be infected twice.

'I think that's a very important message to Australians,' Mr Hunt said.

'So now is the moment of pressure... this is a once-in-50-year challenge that we face.

Federal health plan to tackle coronavirus OVERALL * $2.4 billion to deal with health impacts. * Medicare item so health services can be delivered by audio or video to people with symptoms at home * Respiratory clinics * National communications campaign. FEVER CLINICS * Up to 100 'pop-up respiratory clinics' set up across Australia at a cost of $205 million to test those concerned they may be sick * Will divert people with mild or moderate symptoms away from emergency departments and GPs. * Clinics staffed by doctors and nurses will be able to see up to 75 patients a day over six months. MEDICARE ITEM * A new item will be created at a cost of $100 million, so people at home in self-isolation and quarantine can access health services and reduce the risk of exposure to others. Will start Friday and be fully bulk-billed * If someone has a chronic disease, like a lung condition, and is at risk if they contracted the virus, they could consult their GP via Skype or FaceTime COMMUNICATIONS CAMPAIGN * $30 million campaign to start this week, using television, radio, print, digital, social media, public transport, shopping centres and doctors' waiting rooms. Advertisement

There are an estimated 114,000 cases in 107 countries across the world, with more than 4,000 recorded deaths.

Earlier Labor leader Anthony Albanese said he would work constructively with the government on the stimulus package to boost the economy.

'We need stimulus and we need strategies to assist casual workers and small businesses,' he told the AFR Business Summit.

Mr Albanese also said now was a 'good opportunity' to make long-term reforms such as raising Newstart and increasing spending on aged care.

'A dollar spent now can save five dollars down the line,' he said.
The Himachal Pradesh Police has arrested the assistant registrar of Solan-based Manav Bharti University in an alleged fake degree scam.

Police also sealed the administrative complex of its sister concern Madhav University in Rajasthan.

Giving a statement in the state assembly during the Budget session on Wednesday, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur told the House that it was evident from the documents seized from the Solan university that they were playing with students' future by issuing fake degrees for long.

Assistant Registrar Munish Goel was arrested on March 8 and remanded in three-day police custody, he said, adding that three FIRs were lodged against the university on March 3, 7 and 8 under various sections of the IPC, including cheating charges, at the Solan's Dharampur police station.

Thakur further stated that an FIR was also registered against Una-based Indus University at the Haroli police station on March 9.

Stating that all four FIRs were being thoroughly investigated, the CM said a complaint received against APG University of Shimla was also being probed by a special investigation team (SIT) of the Crime Investigation Department (CID).

The CM said the state police seized 305 detailed mark cards, 15 degrees, computer hard disc, laptop, pen drive, stamps and several other documents during its raid on March 6 at the solan university.

Thakur said police also searched MBU owner Raj Kumar Rana's another Madhav University in Rajasthan's Mount Abu and sealed its administrative complex after seizing 1,376 blank degrees, 14 stamps, four despatch registers, 50 migration certificates, 319 blank detailed mark cards and several other documents.

The CM said one of the three FIRs against the Solan university was lodged on March 3 on the complaint of Haryana's Charkhi Dadri resident Mamta, in which she alleged that she was given a fake degree.

The other two FIRs were lodged by the Solan police and the CID wing of Shimla on the basis of the documents seized from university premises on March 7 and 8, he added.

Similarly, the FIR against Indus University was lodged on the complaint of Ashutosh, a resident of Una district.

Earlier, Leader of Opposition Mukesh Agnihotri on February 27 had pointed out that there were reports about the involvement of two private universities of the state in a fake degree scam.

Replying to it, Education Minister Suresh Bhardwaj had then said that the University Grants Commission (UGC) had received a complaint alleging that 18 private universities, including two in Himachal Pradesh, were selling fake degrees.

The state police was probing the matter and strict action will be taken if any university is found selling fake degrees, he had added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The coronavirus and its mismanagement by the Iranian regime are victimizing more and more people every day.

According to reports posted by Iranian opposition, more than 3,300 people have lost their lives to the virus so far, second only to China. The situation of the prisons and prisoners in Iran is deplorably catastrophic, and Tehran officials continue to close their eyes and ignore the tragedy about to happen.

Prisons in Iran already are overcrowded and at maximum capacity, which is the perfect condition for the spread of disease.

These prisons are also devoid of many amenities, including basic sanitation, warm water, disinfectants, proper prisoner allocations, and ventilation. If even one prisoner carries the virus, an irreparable catastrophe is going to happen, and the news coming out of prisons is indicative that such a tragedy is taking place right now.

In a letter to the regime's judiciary, the families of several political prisoners demanded a temporary release of the prisoners in order to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe. The families insisted on the release of the prisoners until the coronavirus crisis comes to an end. While the regime has released some prisoners, the chief of the regime's judiciary system announced that the political prisoners accused of "acting against national security" with sentences longer than five years are going to be denied any temporary release. His decision puts the lives of many political prisoners in peril in a way that suggests that the regime's judiciary chief is prescribing death by coronavirus for political prisoners.

According to a human rights activist in the city of Mashhad, on March 8, 2020, the political prisoners of Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad were transferred to another ward, where suspected coronavirus-afflicted prisoners were held. The prisoners who were subjected to the transfer were all healthy. In a message sent from the prison, the transferees announced that the prison authorities had long wanted to get rid of them, and now they were trying to do this by exposing them to coronavirus, in an inhumane act.

In another letter written by the families of a number of political prisoners held in solitary confinement in Vakilabad Prison, they stated:

Today is the 211th day that Mr. Hashim Khastar, a representative of Iranian teachers, and his companions are imprisoned. They have dedicated their bodies and lives to justice and freedom. Those who have transferred to Vakilabad Prison since Feb. 12, 2020 were initially quarantined for ten days. Later, due to the outbreak of coronavirus, inmate visits were canceled. The inmates themselves decided to cancel their own cabin visits due to inmate congestion, lack of hygiene, and risk of contamination. The prisoners opted to do so in case of their own infection so the visiting families would not be affected. The prisoners could have phone calls, but that privilege was taken away from them because they had objected to the prison situation and were being punished for doing so. Now, with the spread of the coronavirus in Iran, we are increasingly concerned about the prisoners and demand their immediate release.

According to the latest news, with the death of at least two prisoners in Tehran and Orumiyeh Prisons, thousands of prisoners held in Iran's prisons have been exposed to the coronavirus. According to the human rights website Hrana, "[s]o far, 16 suspected coronavirus inmates have been transferred from Urmia Prison to an out-of-prison hospital." It adds: "In Tehran Grand Prison, four inmates have been quarantined."

Meanwhile, another human rights organization, Henegav, reported: "In Orumiyeh prison, an inmate suspected of being afflicted by the coronavirus was transferred to a medical center on Thursday, Feb. 28, after his health condition deteriorated, and later died."

The people of Iran are going through tough times these days. The authorities of the regime in Iran are busy fabricating the facts and hide the true expanse of this tragedy. In this catastrophe, no one is spared.

The people of Iran, alongside the political prisoners, are left with one option: take matters in their own hands and stop leaning on a government that is skillful in destroying lives and ruining hopes. The youths, alongside others, are fighting not only the coronavirus, but also the mullah regime. The people are helping each other by distributing masks, disinfectants, and other necessities. Nurses, doctors, and hospital staff are gradually taking control of treatment facilities and ambulances. Their incredible planning and courage have provided care for those affected in many ways and in many areas. The regime had hoped the spread of the coronavirus will dampen the protests in different cities in Iran, but on the contrary, the people are more dissatisfied than before, and their dismay is bad news for the Iranian regime.

Image credit: Alieslami3222 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
The recognition between AMLO as well as the CTM, that was accepted by the mainstream media and Business Coordinating Council, is not merely a symbolic act.

AMLO and his labor secretary Luisa Maria Alcalde who have vowed for years to fight for workers to liberate themselves from the CTM chains and have proposed a labor reform to supposedly make things easier by having union recognition votes, now have decided to give the CTM radical gloss not mentioning its record of treachery and constant corruption.

On the 84th founding anniversary of the Confederation of Mexican Workers (CTM) on February 23, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador also known as AMLO, welcomed this corrupt organization that's well-known for its labor inhumanity against their workers in its crucial role in his government agenda and in his commencement speech.

The AMLO Administration is striving to maintain the disturbing level of social inequality, fueling widespread discontent by jumpstarting the corporatist use of the trade unions, particularly the CTM, against a wave of major strikes and protests and increasing opposition to traditional parties in the recent years.

It implies the dismissal of any struggle of the middle class for their individual interests by subjecting it to an alliance of businesses, both the corporate state and trade unions, politically and organizationally.

According to AMLO, Alcalde and Aceves, they had asserted that the CTM embodied the legacy of the Mexican Revolution (1910-20), in particular the Constitution of 1917, and the administration of Lazaro Cardenas (1934-40) which has supported the establishing of the CTM nationalizing of petrol.

Nevertheless, in contrast to the current glorifying of Mexican capitalism by AMLO today, however, the life for the poor populations is dominated by the denial of their basic social and democratic rights that millions of workers and peasants struggled for with blood during the Porfiriato revolution.

The AMLO administration had already faced significant immediate challenges through the brake on the CTM including resistance against the military and its so-called "war on drugs." Latest developments also disclosed that what is being suggested to the CTM, along with the Mexican and US authorities, is a so-called "private" trade union.

At the same time, AMLO established a National Guard and developed its Constitutional programs, which were intended to provide the same military leadership with a new front and also to extend domestic military activities.

It is crucial that the workers establish rankings independent of the trade union and establish political leadership on the basis of a democratic and internationalist programme, which is a section of the Fourth International Committee.

If ever the employees failed to break free from their power and influence, capitalist institutions like the trade unions can not reinforce the risks posed by the policy of AMLO in the pursuit of imperialist activism.

Nevertheless, after the first annual economic recession in Mexico since 2009, and with AMLO's diminishing popularity, the ruling elite is struggling to avoid the smallest threat to the demands of the multinational corporations and Wall Street. As a result, this has pushed AMLO to endorse the CTM directly.
OTTAWA - Leaders of Canada's three national Indigenous organizations say they plan to turn up the heat on the Liberal government's promise to enact the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples when they meet with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Canada's premiers Thursday.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 11/3/2020 (670 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

OTTAWA - Leaders of Canada's three national Indigenous organizations say they plan to turn up the heat on the Liberal government's promise to enact the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples when they meet with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Canada's premiers Thursday.

First Nations, Inuit and Metis leaders say discussions about the declaration, known as UNDRIP, are timely given recent disputes among Indigenous nations, governments and industry over oil and gas projects, including the Trans Mountain and Coastal GasLink pipelines.

A cornerstone of the UN declaration is that "free, prior and informed consent" should be sought on decisions that affect Indigenous Peoples, including their lands or resources.

The Indigenous leaders acknowledge they are likely to face pointed questions from premiers on the role of Indigenous nations in resource development in Canada following recent blockades and protests mounted in solidarity with Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs opposed to the Coastal GasLink pipeline in British Columbia.

Assembly of First Nations National Chief Perry Bellegarde said he welcomes those discussions. He plans to stress that UNDRIP can stop many conflicts that arise over pipelines before they start, because applying it would mean involving Indigenous Peoples in the designs of proposed projects at the outset.

"The answer is UNDRIP, the answer is respecting and involving the inclusion of the rights- and title-holders," Bellegarde said.

"Before provincial, federal government or industry try to build anything they must build a respectful relationship with the rights- and title-holders ... If that happens, you'll always find that First Nations will find a balance between the economy and the environment because our people want to look at jobs for our people, we want to have wealth creation for our people, we want to look at equity ownership in some of these projects, but not at any cost."

Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami president Natan Obed said he hopes a captive audience of premiers can help counter "mis-truths" and political talking points about UNDRIP and instead focus on the major considerations and concerns for all involved.

When it comes to pipelines or other development projects that affect Indigenous Peoples or traditional lands, Obed said much of the conflict arises from the "absurdly complex nature" of different laws and policies that consider, or sometimes don't, First Nations, Inuit and Metis rights across Canada.

"It's easy to just lump all Indigenous groups together and label us as a threat, it's much harder to recognize that it has been government itself that has created this complexity," Obed said.

He said UNDRIP is simply a recognition of Indigenous Peoples' human rights and a way to eliminate disputes over resource extraction projects is to respect those rights from the outset, rather than forcing litigation, he said.

Metis National Council vice-president David Chartrand said he plans to stress to the premiers that UNDRIP does not mean Indigenous communities or First Nations get a veto over projects  a claim provincial and federal conservative politicians have made in opposition to the declaration.

"I know the Conservatives are using UNDRIP as a bogeyman  a bad thing for Canada, a bad thing for industry, it's going to kill industry. That's not what it is," Chartrand said.

"It's a blueprint to how industry, governments, Indigenous and non-, actually get together and start working and resolving these matters so we don't find ourselves in the Wet'suwet'en situation that occurred in this country."

The Indigenous leaders also said they plan to raise the unique needs of remote Indigenous communities when it comes to COVID-19, and that dirty water and overcrowded housing place them at higher risk.

Many Inuit and First Nations residents in remote communities have no hospitals and can only get health care by flying to urban centres. Indigenous residents of fly-in communities and those at higher risk of infection must remain top of mind, Bellegarde said.

"You've got to have some extra efforts, focused efforts to make sure that those First Nations are not forgotten in any emergency planning going forward."

The three Indigenous leaders will meet privately as a group with Trudeau Thursday afternoon before being joined by the premiers.

Other issues on the agenda include the forthcoming national plan on the findings of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and the steps provinces will take to contribute to this effort, as well as Ottawa's overhaul of the Indigenous child welfare system.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 11, 2020
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-11 11:25:22|Editor: Liu

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CANBERRA, March 11 (Xinhua) -- The Australian government has extended its travel ban to Italy and announced a 2.4-billion-Australian-dollar (1.55-billion-U.S. dollar) medical response to COVID-19.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Health Minister Greg Hunt and Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy detailed the emergency health package on Wednesday after it was signed-off by the government.

It includes 206.7 million Australian dollars for up to 100 pop-up respiratory clinics across the country that will ease pressure on General Practitioners and hospital emergency departments.

The clinics, which will be capable of seeing up to 75 patients per day, will treat patients presenting with mild COVID-19 symptoms, leaving hospitals to treat only the most severe cases of the virus.

Some 100 million Australian dollars will be spent subsidizing telehealth consultancies between patients and medical and mental health staff in an attempt to reduce the risk of exposure for healthcare workers.

The aged care sector will also be boosted by more than 100 million Australian dollars, with two of the three COVID-19 deaths in Australia having occurred in nursing homes.

The package also includes an already-announced partnership between the federal, state and territory governments to split the cost of responding to the announcement and 30 million Australian dollars for a national awareness campaign.

"We're ensuring our health system is well prepared and has the resources it needs for our fight against coronavirus," Morrison told reporters on Wednesday.

"Australia isn't immune but with this 2.4 billion boost we're as well prepared as any country in the world.

"Our government alongside the country's leading medical experts is working around the clock to ensure we have the right tools, information and resources to keep Australians safe."

Morrison, Hunt and Murphy also announced that Australia's coronavirus travel ban will be expanded to include Italy from 6:00 p.m. local time on Wednesday.

Under the ban, anyone who has been in Chinese mainland, Iran, South Korea or Italy will not be allowed into Australia for 14 days from the time they left those areas.

Australian citizens and residents will be allowed in but will be subjected to a mandatory 14-day quarantine period.

As of 11:00 a.m. local time Wednesday, the Department of Health has confirmed 112 cases of COVID-19 in Australia, including three deaths, in the country.

Morrison and Treasurer Josh Frydenberg will reveal their coronavirus stimulus package, which is expected to be worth up to 10 billion Australian dollars on Thursday.

"It's a health crisis. It's a health contagion," Morrison said on Wednesday.

"There are many other implications of this and the economic consequences of this are very serious, as I've already outlined on numerous occasions. And tomorrow, the treasurer and I will be making announcements in relation to that response." (1 U.S. dollar equals to 1.54 Australian dollars)
A stained-glass window in Eyam Church depicting the plague outbreak.

George Dawn

In 1666, William Mompesson, the rector of Eyam village, gathered its 750 residents to lay out a plan for containing an outbreak of the bubonic plague. They arrived at the decision to voluntarily quarantine, with no one leaving or entering until plague cases ceased.

Eyam Plague Village

Alastair Wallace/Shutterstock

Source: BBC, The Guardian, The Washington Post

Within 14 months, over a third of Eyam's population succumbed to the horror of the plague that had been inadvertently brought to the village from London.

Eyam Plague Village

Dale Lorna Jacobsen/Shutterstock

Source: BBC, The Guardian, The Washington Post, Francine Clifford (Eyam Historian)

From 1665 to 1666, the last major outbreak of the bubonic plague ravaged London, killing about 25% of the city's population. Earlier outbreaks of plague, also known as Black Death, were responsible for killing an estimated 25 million people in Europe in the 14th century.

Bubonic plage,1348

Getty Images

Source: CDC, BBC, Encyclopedia Britannica, National Geographic

Though the 1665 epidemic was mainly confined to London and Cambridge, an outbreak occurred in Eyam, which was more than 150 miles away.

Eyam and London Map

Google Images

Source: Encyclopedia Britannica, Francine Clifford (Eyam Historian)

Story continues

It was later discovered that Eyam's tailor had ordered a bale of cloth from London, which happened to be carrying plague-ridden fleas. The bacteria that cause plague exist in a long-term cycle between certain rodent species and fleas but can be transmitted to humans in numerous ways, most commonly through flea bites.

London plague epidemic 1665

The Print Collector/Getty Images

Source: CDC, BBC, World Health Organization

George Viccars, the tailor's assistant, was the first person in Eyam to be exposed and killed by this resurgence of plague. He died on September 7, 1665.

Eyam Village

Universal History Archive/Getty Images

Source: BBC

Over the next two months, about 40 more people died, but infections significantly dropped off by May of 1666, and most residents presumed the epidemic to be over.

Eyam Village Plague

MyLoupe/Universal Images Group/Getty Images

Source: BBC, The Washington Post, Francine Clifford (Eyam Historian)

The plague mutated, however, and became pneumonic by the summer of 1666. This meant that instead of fleas having to bite humans to transmit the disease, humans could now transmit it to one another directly.

bubonic plague black death

"The Dance of Death" by Michael Wolgemut, 1493.

Wikimedia Commons

Source: Francine Clifford (Eyam Historian), The Washington Post

The mutated form of plague caused a tremendous surge in deaths, and many of Eyam's residents considered fleeing.

Eyam Plague Village

Alina Hartounian/AP Photo

Source: Francine Clifford (Eyam Historian), BBC

The newly appointed rector Mompesson realized that Eyam's fleeing villagers could create outbreaks in neighboring cities of Sheffield and Manchester.

Mompesson Eyam Village

George Dawn

Source: The Washington Post, BBC

Mompesson thought the rightful course of action was to self-quarantine the town. He believed that they could prevent further transmission to surrounding areas by restricting anyone from entering or leaving Eyam.

Eyam Plague Village

Marmalade Photos/Shutterstock

Source: BBC, Francine Clifford (Eyam Historian)

Mompesson, who wasn't entirely trusted by the locals yet, reached out to the former rector, Thomas Stanley, to help him persuade the villagers not to flee. Together, on June 24, 1666, the two convinced the people of Eyam to voluntarily quarantine themselves, facing a greater chance of death but ensuring their neighbors' protection.

Eyam Plague Village

MyLoupe/Universal Images Group/Getty Images

Source: BBC, The Washington Post, Francine Clifford (Eyam Historian)

Francine Clifford, a local historian in Eyam, believes that Mompesson and Stanley appear to have been appealing to the community's religious values, convincing them that, according to Christian teachings, the town had a moral duty to do something good for humankind.

Eyam Plague Village

Alastair Wallace/Shutterstock

Source: Francine Clifford (Eyam Historian)

The village placed rocks in a 1-mile circle around Eyam to create their isolation zone. Over the next few months, no one entered or left the town.

Eyam Plague Village

MyLoupe/Universal Images Group/Getty Images

Source: BBC, The Washington Post

Nearby villages would leave food and supplies by the cordon rocks in return for coins that were soaked in vinegar, a practice the townspeople believed would prevent the plague from spreading.

Eyam Village Stone Cordon Vinegar Holes

Alina Hartounian/AP Images

Source: BBC, The History and Antiquities of Eyam, The Washington Post

In 1665, Eyam had between 750 and 800 residents. By the time the plague had taken its toll, 260 of them had died, representing over a third of the total population.

Eyam Plague Village

MyLoupe/Universal Images Group/Getty Images

Source: The Royal Society, BBC, Eyam Plague Village, Francine Clifford (Eyam Historian)

William Mompesson kept careful parish registers and accounts of every plague victim during this period. The records show entire families dying rapidly, in one case within a week. During August 1666, at its peak, five to six people were dying a day in Eyam.

Eyam Village Plague

MyLoupe/Universal Images Group/Getty Images

Source: BBC, The Guardian, Eyam Plague Village, Atlas Obscura

In a letter dated November 20, 1666, Mompesson wrote about what life in the village had been like, commenting "my ears never heard such doleful lamentations  my nose never smelled such horrid smells, and my eyes never beheld such ghastly spectacles."

Eyam Plague Village

MyLoupe/Universal Images Group/Getty Images

Source: The History and Antiquities of Eyam

Infections tapered out, however, just over a year after the plague first infected Eyam. Mompesson wrote that the last infection to occur was on October 17, 1666.

Eyam Plague Village

Geography Photos/Universal Images Group/Getty Images

Source: Francine Clifford (Eyam Historian), BBC

Clifford attributes a combination of colder weather and the plague's natural life cycle as reasons for it dying out. She notes that outbreaks of plague in England almost always lasted about a year.

Plague

De Agostini/Getty Images

Source: Francine Clifford (Eyam Historian)

Fortunately, the self-imposed quarantine was successful in preventing further transmission. Clifford said that if it had reached Manchester or Sheffield, it most likely would have become a severe epidemic with thousands of fatalities.

Eyam Plague Village

The Print Collector/Getty Images

Source: The Royal Society, BBC, Francine Clifford (Eyam Historian)

Tens of thousands of tourists visit Eyam each year to admire its villagers' sacrifice and to learn about an era ravaged by plague epidemics.

Eyam Plague Village

MyLoupe/Universal Images Group/Getty Images

Source: Patrick Wallis (History Workshop Journal)

Clifford says communal ideas of self-sacrifice still resonate centuries later in Eyam, now with a population of about 1,000. She said the town was a community-centered village full of caring people ready to help their neighbors.

Eyam Plague Village

Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Source: Francine Clifford (Eyam Historian)

Read the original article on Business Insider
Victims demand $330 million in compensation from Russia in class action suit.

The name of the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, and those of his entourage, should be voiced during the Dutch trial of the MH17 downing case, says Jerry Skinner, a U.S. lawyer who had filed on behalf of 40 affected families a class action lawsuit with the European Court of Human Rights against Russia and its president.

In an interview with DW.com, published in Ukrainian, he noted that such powerful and hi-tech military hardware as a Buk air defense launcher which shot down the plane could not be brought from Russia to Ukraine without the highest-level authorization.

Skinner suggested that people would hear during trial the names of Putin's close aides who maintained close contact with actors in the east of Ukraine. Putin's name is also likely to be voiced, he added.

Everything happened exactly as it happened, according to Jerry Skinner, who is confident this is because Vladimir Putin authorized Buk's deployment.

Read alsoMH17 trial: Russia's GRU tried to hinder, influence probe on multiple fronts, Dutch report says

The trial in Amsterdam is the largest, but not the only, legal action regarding the MH17 case. Two class action lawsuits have been filed with the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in the name of 380 relatives of victims of the MH17 crash. The plaintiffs accuse Russia of having violated the victims' right to life, DW.com reports.

One of these suits was prepared by U.S. lawyer Jerry Skinner, who made a name for himself in the Lockerbie trial, where he succeeded in getting from Libyan government compensation from the blowing up a passenger jet over Scotland.

Now, the plaintiffs are demanding compensation from Russia of at least EUR 6.4 million ($7.2 million) per deceased passenger. The ECHR called upon Russia to make a statement responding to the charges, which it did on January 2, 2020, though its contents were not made public.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-11 06:12:32|Editor: huaxia

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Since the 1980s, each successive decade has been warmer than any preceding decade, says a report of the World Meteorological Organization.

UNITED NATIONS, March 10 (Xinhua) -- The decade of 2010-2019 was the warmest on record, and 2019 was the second-warmest year ever, according to a report of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).

It finds that 2015-2019 are the five warmest consecutive years on record.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks at the launch of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Statement on the State of the Global Climate in 2019, at the UN headquarters in New York, on March 10, 2020. (Xinhua/Xie E)

Since the 1980s, each successive decade has been warmer than any preceding decade, according to the WMO Statement on the State of the Global Climate in 2019, which was jointly launched on Tuesday by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and WMO chief Petteri Taalas at the UN Headquarters in New York.

2019 ended with a global average temperature of 1.1 degrees Celcius above estimated pre-industrial levels, second only to the record set in 2016, when a very strong El Nino event contributed to an increased global mean temperature atop the overall warming trend, according to the report.

Without the role of El Nino in 2016, 2019 would have been the hottest year on record, said Taalas.

World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Secretary-General Petteri Taalas (1st R, Rear) and United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (2nd R, Rear) attend the launch of the WMO Statement on the State of the Global Climate in 2019, at the UN headquarters in New York, on March 10, 2020. (Xinhua/Xie E)

Guterres said that 2020 is a pivotal year for climate action in the context of the UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, Scotland.

"We have no time to lose if we are to avert climate catastrophe," he said. "We have to aim high at the next climate conference in Glasgow in November. We need all countries to demonstrate that we can achieve emissions reductions of 45 percent from 2010 levels this decade, and that we will reach net-zero emissions by mid-century. And we know this is the only way to limit global heating to 1.5 degrees Celsius." (Video reporter: Xie E)
West Bengal Chief Minister



Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday said there has been no report of anyone testing positive for coronavirus in the state and gave assurances that her government was monitoring the situation.

Three persons with fever and cough have been admitted at Beliaghata ID hospital in the city, but "none of them has tested positive" for the disease, she said.

To a question about the sharp dip in prices of chicken in the wake of rumours of virus contamination, Banerjee said, "Please tell people the disease has nothing to do with chicken consumption."



Banerjee, who is also the TMC supremo, asked mediapersons to ensure that unverified information was not circulated among people.

"We have also asked the enforcement department to keep a tab on the situation," the CM added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Police in Venezuela use tear gas against protesters backing Juan Guaido seeking to remove President Nicolas Maduro.

Security forces in Venezuela have dispersed an anti-government march opposition leader Juan Guaido led, his first since he returned from an international tour.

Guaido is trying to revive a campaign to remove President Nicolas Maduro as the countrys economic crisis deepens.

At the United Nations, the High Commissioner for Human Rights said Venezuelas security forces were using increasing levels of violence against opposition supporters.

Al Jazeeras Manuel Rapalo reports.
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Linkedin Ghina Ghaliya and Marchio Irfan Gorbiano (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, March 11, 2020

The government has no choice but to annul the recent increase of National Health Insurance (JKN) premiums after the Supreme Court ruled in favor of hundreds of millions of citizens who depend on the public health insurance.

The court granted victory to a group of petitioners that had challenged Presidential Regulation No. 75/2019, which mandated higher premiums for all service levels beginning this year. The regulation had sparked debate and compelled thousands of people to downgrade their service class or even opt out of the public health insurance altogether.

Pudjiatie from Malang in East Java said she welcomed the courts decision because the premium increase had been a burden for her. The 50-year old said she had paid into the insurance for the past five years but had never used it herself.

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You have probably seen the headlines about the new coronavirus, also known as COVID-19. In Nebraska, one woman is in critical condition, two of her family members have tested positive, and schools have now closed in districts including Hooper, Fremont and Plattsmouth.

While the news can certainly be scary and everyone should take necessary precautions to stay safe, it is important to know that our fellow Nebraskans are doing incredible work in our state to monitor and stabilize the situation.

The University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) and Nebraska Medicine have stepped up in combatting this disease. They are currently housing individuals from the Diamond Princess cruise ship in their 20-bed National Quarantine Unit and moving some patients as needed to their Nebraska Biocontainment Unit. Others have been released after being cleared. The Nebraska woman in critical condition is also receiving care in the Biocontainment Unit.

However, UNMC is going beyond quarantining individuals, and is also now working to test treatments. On February 26, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced that Americas first clinical trial on coronavirus therapy had begun at UNMC, evaluating the safety of an antiviral drug to treat the disease.
Shares in G4S hit a 16-year low after a slew of one-off charges pushed it into the red.

The security services giant swung to a loss of 91million in 2019, down from a profit of 81million the year before.

Its books were rattled by 291million of impairment charges, mostly relating to its UK cash business, as several divisions were revalued and are thought to be worth less.

Shock charges: Security services giant G4S swung to a loss of 91m in 2019, down from a profit of 81m the year before

But it also took a hit from a 19million restructuring charge and 38million in costs for separating out the bulk of its cash-handling business.

Shares plunged 22.6 per cent, or 30.05p, to 102.7p, wiping more than 500million off its value. The tumble overshadowed what was a relatively optimistic update that showed revenues rose 4.7 per cent to 7.7billion.

Chief executive Ashley Almanza said the sale of most of its cash handling arm to US-based The Brink Company for 670million last month will boost profits this year by 300million.

The contractor employs more than half a million people in 90 countries and has cut back operations in risky areas in response to Covid-19.

Almanza said the disease has, so far, been 'immaterial' to its trading but it is testing staff who have been affected and one, in Singapore, has tested positive so far.

Stock Watch - Aortech International Medical technology and devices maker Aortech International surged on plans to buy a smaller company in the same sector, RUA Medical Devices, for 2.45million. It is buying from one of its non-executive directors, David Richmond. If shareholders approve the deal, paid for with cash and stock, Richmond will become chief executive of the renamed RUA Life Sciences. Shares in AIM-listed Aortech, based in Dundee, jumped 8.1 per cent, or 6p, to 80.50p.

A number of other companies also issued coronavirus-related updates. FTSE 250-listed publishing and events organiser Euromoney fell 5.4 per cent, or 52p, to 918p, after announcing it has cancelled 25 events and postponed 55, which will dent revenues by 6million, and profits by 5million, this year.

Ports operator Global Ports Holding insisted the impact from Covid-19 has so far been 'minimal', with its commercial ports operations largely unaffected and reservations at its cruise ports in the Mediterranean rising because of changes to schedules.

But shares in the company, which is also in talks to sell a port in Turkey, fell 11.1 per cent, or 20p, to 160p. Jet2 owner Dart Group fared better.

It climbed 4.5 per cent, or 44p, to 1014p, as the travel group said that although bookings have slowed in the past few weeks, its cumulative bookings for this summer are ahead of this time last year.

Tourism companies and airlines have been among the worst hit by the coronavirus so far but even a recommendation from UBS to buy Easyjet shares wasn't enough to lift it. The airline fell 3.6 per cent, or 35.6p, to 965.4p.

The FTSE 100 fell 0.3pc, or 83.71 points, to 5876.52, while the FTSE 250 rose 0.1 per cent, or 207.82 points, to 17,339.23.

Construction firm Costain slumped 34.1 per cent, or 54.2p, to 104.8p as it said it needs to tap investors for 100million after a 6.6million loss last year  down from 40million profit in 2018  which it blamed on contract delays and cancellations.

But fellow construction group Galliford Try, rose 6.7 per cent, or 8.82p, to 141.52p, as it did a 54million deal to build a women's jail in Scotland.

Funeral provider Dignity dived 22 per cent, or 110p, to 390p as a profit fall of 31 per cent to 38million, which it put down to fewer people dying, missed forecasts. It scrapped its dividend in response and was cautious about its outlook.

Motor dealership Lookers crashed 35.1 per cent, or 12.95p, to 24p. It has pushed back the release of its annual results after it identified 'potentially fraudulent transactions' in one of its divisions.

It has started an investigation led by an external adviser, and will report its annual results in April.

Budget retailer B&M rose 1.6 per cent, or 4.8p, to 301.1p, after selling its loss-making Germany business for 10.8million.

And over on Nex, Britain's oldest brewer Shepherd Neame was down 3.9 per cent, or 45p, to 1105p, as first-half turnover rose 3 per cent to 79million, with its own-brand beers and ciders selling well.
The Bachelor finale has come and gone but fans still cant stop talking about the showdown between Madison Prewett and Peter Webers mother, Barbara Weber. Fondly known as Barbchelor, the pair traded eye-rolls and dirty looks for the better part of Prewetts time on stage. Though Prewett and Weber are committed to trying out their relationship and taking things one day at a time, at this time they still dont have Barbara Webers support. In fact, when prompted, the bachelors mother said her son would have to fail to succeed.

Madison Prewett and Peter Weber | John Fleenor via Getty Images

Barbara Weber is not a fan of Madison Prewett

But what prompted all this animosity to begin with? According to Barbara Weber, her lukewarm reaction to Prewett began way before The Bachelor finale aired. When the Auburn native was set to meet Webers family again in Australia, she allegedly did not want to meet them and was three hours late to the meet and greet. Furthermore, Barbara Weber claimed that Prewett said she was not in love with Pilot Pete and had no intention of accepting a proposal in a few days time.

The drama escalated on The Bachelor finale 2020

Rather than address the statement that Barbara Weber made, Prewett simply responded: It is what it is. She then shared that she wouldnt badmouth Webers family and doubled down on her speech that it was her journey too. Many members of Bachelor Nation feel that this was a huge misfire on Prewetts part and made it known on Instagram and Twitter. They couldnt understand why she couldnt just apologize for her errors, or at the very least, explain them. They seemed to believe that if she had simply apologized for her behavior, much of The Bachelor finale drama couldve been avoided.

All Maddy [sic] needed to do is [sic] just apologize to Peters mother. But she did not, one fan wrote about The Bachelor finale. Right??? Pretty simple thing to do when youre wrong. Screams entitled Princess to me, another fan co-signed. Right? I thought she was extremely disrespectful, rude as all get out, and acting like a brat! That relationship will not last at all! She has a VERY hard time saying she loves Peter, another person chimed in, adding that they didnt believe Prewett and Weber have a future together.

Bachelor Nation expresses their feelings on Twitter and Instagram

When you keep people waiting, its good manners to say.sorry guys for keeping you waiting. But maybe she genuinely forgot because of what she had gone through. On the live show, she should have said she was sorry. They seemed to be competing and my God interrupting I love Madison but sometimes you have to let someone win so that you can peacefully move on. Remembered these are 2 people trying to know each other, another person added, commenting on Prewetts decision not to apologize at The Bachelor finale.

Can Prewett and Weber really be together?

Of course, some people completely took Prewetts side. They noted that she might not have been the reason behind the delay. Why should Madison apologize? The 3-hour wait was due to production. Do you know how long it takes to do all these shots? Ive been to a few tapings and it literally is a 10-hour day just for a Women Tell All etc, one person added. Clearly Prewett and Weber have their work cut out for them. Unless things improve on multiple fronts from what we saw during The Bachelor finale, their relationship is dead in the water.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-11 10:06:02|Editor: huaxia

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WUHAN, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Central China's Hubei Province reported 13 new confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on Tuesday, all of which were in Wuhan, the provincial capital and epicenter of the outbreak, the provincial health commission said Wednesday.

As of Tuesday, Hubei had seen no new confirmed COVID-19 cases for six consecutive days in its 16 cities and prefectures other than Wuhan. The daily number of new confirmed cases in the province has been kept in double-digit for five consecutive days and continued to drop.

On Tuesday, the province reported 22 deaths, 19 of which were in Wuhan.

The latest report brought the total confirmed cases in the hard-hit province to 67,773 and total deaths to 3,046.

Wuhan had reported 49,978 confirmed cases and 2,423 deaths as of Tuesday, according to the commission.

The province also saw 1,471 patients discharged from hospital after recovery on Tuesday, bringing the total number of discharged patients in the province to 49,056.

Among the 13,712 hospitalized patients, 3,613 were still in severe condition and another 799 in critical condition.

The commission also said Hubei had 198 suspected cases, after 54 were ruled out while six new suspected cases were reported on Tuesday.
Amid the political crisis in Madhya Pradesh, 95 Congress MLAs reached the Bhopal airport to leave for Jaipur on Wednesday after the ruling party decided to shift its MLAs out of the state in a bid to keep its flock together.

Bhopal: Amid the political crisis in Madhya Pradesh, 95 Congress MLAs reached the Bhopal airport to leave for Jaipur on Wednesday after the ruling party decided to shift its MLAs out of the state in a bid to keep its flock together.

The ruling party MLAs, who reached the Raja Bhoj Airport in three buses around 12 noon, expressed confidence that the Kamal Nath-led state government will be able to prove its majority.

Follow LIVE updates on Madhya Pradesh political crisis here

They also said that 10 to 12 MLAs, out of those who resigned on Tuesday after former Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia quit the Congress, will also support the party in the event of a floor test in the House.

"We are going to Jaipur with our MLAs. We will stay there together," state minister Sajjan Singh Verma, considered a close confidante of Chief Minister Kamal Nath, told reporters after the Congress MLAs reached the airport.

Another minister Kamaleshwar Patel said they were confident that the Congress-led state government will prove its majority.

"We will prove our majority. We are going to Jaipur where we will sit together and discuss various issues. This is not happening for the first time. It happened earlier (also)," he said.

State minister Priyavrat Singh said all the party MLAs wanted to "relieve their tension" amid the ongoing political situation.

"So, we are going to Jaipur. We will prove our majority. We have 95 MLAs here (at the airport). Independent MLAs and BSP and SP legislators are also supporting," Singh said.

Asked about the 19 MLAs, who are loyal to Scindia and currently staying in Bengaluru, Singh said of them, 10 to 12 legislators would also support the Congress during the floor test as "they were misled".

He also claimed that Congress leaders are in touch with the MLAs staying in Bengaluru.

On Tuesday, 22 Madhya Pradesh Congress MLAs loyal to Scindia resigned, pushing the 15-month-old Kamal Nath government to the brink of collapse.

The development reduced the Congress government in the state to the minority.

The state Congress unit is now making all efforts to save the Kamal Nath government.

The BJP on Tuesday night shifted its MLAs to Manesar at Gurugram in Haryana, sources in the saffron party said.

The Congress, whose tally before the rebellion was 114, has a wafer-thin majority in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly whose current effective strength is 228.

It also has the support of four Independents, two BSP legislators and one SP MLA, but some of them are now likely to switch sides to the BJP.

The BJP has 107 seats in the state Assembly.
Dateline Is Myanmars Democracy Lost in a Labyrinth of Constitutional Amendment?

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Kyaw Zwa Moe: Welcome to Dateline Irrawaddy! Many believe that the Constitution of our country Myanmar is the most rigid constitution in the world. As the NLD [National League for Democracy] and ethnic parties are trying to amend the constitution, it is fair to say that they are in a complicated maze. NLD Upper House lawmaker U Aung Thein and Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD) Lower House lawmaker U Sai Tun Aye join me in Naypyitaw to discuss the potential ways through this political maze. Im The Irrawaddy English editor Kyaw Zwa Moe.

We have been trying to find our way through the Constitution, which was adopted in 2008. But I have seen little possibility of getting through. One side, consisting of the Tatmadaw and the USDP (Union Solidarity and Development Party), wants disciplined democracy, and another side wants true democracy. Do you have any ideas or means to find the way out of this maze?

Aung Thein: It should be noted that the Constitution was designed under military rule. As the military formulated the Constitution, it gave itself privileges and asserted its importance. It is the responsibility of the military to find the way out, I think. We elected lawmakers, as the representatives of the people, have tried to amend the Constitution. But the military has opposed most of the proposed amendments.

Though we are talking about the public demand for constitutional changes, it is the military that has the final say. There are lawmakers representing ethnic parties, the NLD, the USDP and the military in the Parliament. Even if the full 75 percent of lawmakers who are elected approve the changes, we still cant amend the Constitution unless a military lawmaker casts a yes vote. We have to function based on this rigid Constitution. So my view is that he who closes the door should open it.

KZM: How?

AT: It all depends on the political will of the military leadership to push for democratization and to change their mindset. This is the key.

KZM: What U Aung Thein said is indisputable in principle. But what if we are looking for results? The debate on charter amendment bills was slated to be complete on March 5, with the voting to take place next week. But the military has the vetothough they may not be happy with this choice of wordover constitutional changes. It is unlikely that more than 75 percent will vote to approve the amendments. If not, all that has been done since 2019 will be in vain and at a standstill. Whats the key to this situation?

Sai Tun Aye: The Constitution needs to be changed according to Article 436 (a) and (b) of Chapter 12. Any amendment needs the approval of more than 75 percent of lawmakers. This means elected lawmakers are in no position to amend it. Our country is in grinding poverty and lagging behind countries in the region in all aspects. This is the hardship facing our citizens. The Constitution can be amended if the military lawmakers act in the interest of the country and citizens.

We hope to see a progressive general [of the Myanmar military] in the next few years. According to the experiences of other countries, say, the Philippines, progressive generals like Fidel Ramos initiated reforms. In Indonesia, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono led the smooth democratization process. In the case of Myanmar, generals used their authority to pave the way for the country to transform from a military dictatorship to democracy. We hope that in Myanmars future, there will be a sympathetic general who will save future generations of the country from hardship and difficulties. In this, there is a possibility that the Constitution will be changed. But for the time being, the Constitution is impossible to change and I think it cant be amended even if the Indra [the King of Heaven] comes down to amend it.

KZM: Most of the audience watching this will agree with what U Sai Tun Aye said. But it appears that it all depends on the other side to allow the changes. Perhaps, the generals of Indonesia, Korea and Thailand and their counterparts in Myanmar have different ways of thinking. It might be because of their different historical backgrounds. I dont think the Constitution can be amended just by waiting and doing nothing. There must be some compromises. The NLD and ethnic parties called for dialogue 30 years ago, but the military hasnt moved. What if they are not willing to engage in dialogue to change the Constitution?

AT: Give and take is part of politics. But what are we expected to give? We are the elected government, and what compromises are we expected to make with the military? Both the military and the ruling party should act in the interests of the people. We are not sure if military leaders prefer the Parliament or the 21st Century Panglong Conference for charter amendment talks.

KZM: It is part of the mindset or ideology of the Tatmadaw [Myanmar military] to always take a political leadership role in the country. A military lawmaker said in the debate on charter amendment bills that the democracy will be chaotic if the military does not hold political leadership. So this is the ideological problem, I think: what can be done to get rid of the militarys ideological belief that they must have political leadership, and the notion of a guided or disciplined democracy that comes from military leadership? Only then, will they be willing to change the Constitution. Rather than disciplined democracy, we need genuine federal democracy. What can be done to achieve this?

STA: I dont accept the notion that any institution should always maintain a political leadership role in any country. In my opinion, national politics is created to cover up racial chauvinism. In fact, there is no national politicsbut every country has national interests, and this should be the case in Myanmar. Trying to control everything in the name of national politics sounds dictatorial.

KZM: So you think national politics is in fact racial chauvinism. What is your assessment of the ruling NLD party in that regard? It is dominated by ethnic Bamar.

STA: One of [the NLDs] advantages is that it is the elected government, and its policy is to build a federal, democratic Union. It has put efforts into national reconciliation, so compared with the military government, the NLD is an elected and democratic government, and their stances are more moderate. However, the political space for ethnic parties is restricted by the 2008 Constitution. Under the 2008 Constitution, no ethnic person can expect to become the president, because the Constitution barely guarantees equality. Charter amendment is connected with peace and national reconciliation. The Charter does not provide equality or space to solve problems through political meansthis will perpetuate armed struggle.

KZM: Ethnic people barely enjoy equal rights and the situation is even worse in conflict areas. The Constitution is the key to establishing a federal, democratic Union, which will provide equal rights. How should the Constitution be amended?

AT: We have been trying to amend it appropriately. If we keep silent at the Parliament, the 25 percent [of military lawmakers] will become more resistant. As the mandate of the Parliament is that The Parliament represents the wishes and voices of the people, we elected lawmakers will make their voices heard. This is our task. If the 25 percent turn a deaf ear even as we are making the peoples voices heard, they will be held responsible. The legislative culture is intended to solve political problems through political means.

KZM: The NLD has to be careful not to impact national reconciliation with any of its moves, including amending the Constitution and building a federal, democratic Union. The NLD said the Constitution must be amended within the boundaries of the law and must not affect national reconciliation. So it appears that [the party] will not push for constitutional amendment if the other side is angry and unwilling to amend the Constitution.

You elected lawmakers have made your voices heard and the members of the public that we have interviewed speak with one voice. What will happen if the Constitution cant be amended? As Ive said, we are lost in a maze. What are the other ways out? Or can we only hope that the next military leader will agree to changes?

STA: It is the nature of the world that nothing lasts for long. The 1947 Constitution, which did not enshrine equality as demanded by ethnic people, came to an end 14 years after its adoption as the military staged a coup. Similarly, the 1974 Constitution also collapsed amid the national uprising [in 1988], because the wishes of the people were ignored and democracy was falling dead. The current Constitution has been in force for around 10 years and our country seriously lags behind in all aspects. This is quite sad. Our country is big, with a moderate population size and vast amounts of arable land. Its human resources are not bad. But as we have never had a good constitution, our country is always ranked lowest in international indexes. I think [the military] understands that something must be done to save the country.

KZM: Only the Tatmadaw and the USDP have opposed the process to amend the Constitution. But on the other hand, there doesnt seem to be a consensus on the other side. I mean the amendments proposed by the NLD suggest reducing the military bloc from 25 percent to 15 percent in the 2020 election, decreasing by a further 5 percent in each election. Some ethnic lawmakers support this, but other ethnic lawmakers insist that no unelected lawmaker should sit in the Parliament. Lawmakers might be divided into two or three groups over this disagreement. Is this an advantage for the other side?

AT: My view is that [the military] intends to use the Constitution as the shield. If we reduce their percentage [of representatives], they might think they are being forced backward. We dont want to cross the line by asking the military to leave. So the question is whether we will wait for a day when the military wakes up to the needs of the country and voluntarily amends the Constitution.

KZM: It will take time.

AT: Yes, it will. They took over 12 years to design the Constitution. This shows they were extremely careful to preserve their interests. The SNLD and the NLD boycotted the process. History cant be hidden. We boycotted because we couldnt accept the Constitution they were drafting. They are strong. The military briefly took power in 1958 after the country gained independence [in 1948] and they staged the coup in 1962. They ruled the country for many years and still have that influence. Some suggest taking a cue from countries like the Philippines. But we cant always copy others exactly.

I understand people have negative feelings [about what the military has done]. But if we are to try to shape the future of our country to be the best it can, we should just let bygones be bygones. If its hard for leaders from the two sides to even meet, all we, the elected lawmakers, can do is to make our voices heard.

KZM: So we are still lost in this maze. From your discussion, it seems the NLD, the SNLD and other parties are not able to make military leaders change their minds. What can ethnic parties do to make military leaders change their minds?

STA: I dont think an individual can make the military change its mind. But my view is that the conflicts and problems of the country and the [socio-economic] conditions of the citizens will one day finally force them to leave politics. If not, our country will become a failed state. I hope they will have the political will one day, due to the situation I have mentioned.

AT: I can accept the Tatmadaw in politics, or national politics as they call it, on the condition that generals resign from the military before entering politics. In the case of General Aung San, he resigned from the military to engage in politics. He left the military once and for all. The generals can engage in politics that way. I can accept that.

KZM: But there is already the USDP [formed by ex-military generals].

AT: Yes, the military is supporting the USDP. I mean, if generals want to do politics, then resign from the military.

STA: But those who have resigned from the military to engage in politics are not doing well, and [current generals and officers] therefore dont want to resign from the military.

AT: The military has total power and authority, so if they resign and join the party, their power and authority will decline. If they act for their individual interests rather than the national interest, our dreams will remain distant.

KZM: To conclude from both of your points, it appears that the Constitution can be amended only when the military changes its mind. We can only watch and see if worsening problems will actually push the country in a positive direction, as U Sai Tun Aye has suggested, or if our country will remain locked in a stalemate, or if the situation will only get worse.

AT: It appears that we will remain in this vicious circle.

KZM: Thank you for your contributions, though we havent been able to give an answer to the audience watching this.

Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko.

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The woman was winding down from her day when she clicked on an article about the first patient in the Houston area believed to have the new coronavirus.

The description  a man in his 70s in Fort Bend County  matched her dad, who had gone the day before to the hospital because of trouble breathing. Uh oh, she thought.

Her mother hadnt yet told her the news, but suddenly, she realized she had a family member suffering from an illness the world was struggling to understand  an experience of worry and questioning that many stand to go through as more get infected.

She hadnt expected it to happen to her family, but it had. She spoke to the Houston Chronicle on the condition of anonymity to protect their privacy. She wanted to help people realize that, as she said, This is real. Its coming whether we like it or not.

The womans parents had been part of a group that went in February to Egypt and took a cruise along the Nile River. As it happened, a woman who traveled on the ship before them tested positive for the illness.

After the group returned Feb. 20, her dad started to feel sick. The family figured it was probably the flu. The daughter, an only child who lives in Austin, had just helped her husband through the flu in January.

First responders took her father to the hospital last week. After realizing her dad had tested positive for COVID-19, she felt dumbfounded. How did that happen?

It was almost a matter of bad luck. The Houston regions first 12 cases  people in their 60s and 70s  were linked to the Nile River cruise boat, as were infected residents in other states.

You never want to be the first of something that could be something very bad, she said during a phone interview Tuesday evening.

As the story dominated local news starting on the night of March 4, what happened to the womans dad became the first chapter. She felt a loss of control, she said. There was so little to do to help. She couldnt visit her quarantined parents. She didnt know if she should tell friends or co-workers.

The following week was like a blur. Authorities pieced together information. She checked in daily with her mom, to chat and see how her dad was doing. Her mom cleaned bedding, surfaces, the pantry.

Feeling tense, the daughter tried watching the show Love is Blind on Netflix to quiet her thoughts, but she always had coronavirus and her parents in the back of her brain. She could feel herself distracted at work.

Its no longer this thing thats happening in the world and hasnt hit Austin yet, she said. Im dealing with it head-on.

Coronavirus at times seems like all anyone is talking about  and she was among those reading the Facebook posts about it. She laughed at some jokes. Others hit her differently.

She and her husband selectively began to tell people that her father had been found to be presumptive positive for the virus. (The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention still has not confirmed his case.) Concerned friends started checking on her, which helped.

Worry would have risen up no matter what caused her otherwise healthy dad to be hospitalized. She would have turned to Google, to WebMD. But in this case, there is still so little known  and so much to anticipate.

The region is bracing for an expected (but hopefully slowed) rise in coronavirus cases. The uncontrollable and unpredictable nature of how it is spreading can be a source of fear for those facing it, said Jon Stevens, who oversees outpatient services at the Menninger Clinic, a psychiatric facility.

No one wants to be put in the position of having a parent who is sick, and a limited number of people so far know what that experience will look and feel like.

We dont really know for certain whos carrying the virus, where and when the epidemic will start or end, he said. Thats going to lead to increased fear and stress.

Infected residents from Maryland, Florida and California were all connected to travel in Egypt or specifically to the cruise on the MS ASara that her parents took. The first dozen Houston-area patients traveled on two different cruises on the same vessel.

Two more cases were announced Tuesday in the Houston region, for a total of 14. One of those cases was linked to time spent in Italy. The other new patient, a man in Montgomery County, had not left the state recently.

There is no vaccine to prevent COVID-19. Older adults such as the womans parents are considered at higher risk for developing complications. The fatality rate is being studied.

The daughter didnt know how others from the Nile River cruise boat  friends of friends of friends  were faring. Her mom, who has no symptoms, is under quarantine at home, and her dad is stable in the hospital.

For her parents, it was a waiting game. But she remained optimistic they would be OK.

She plans to visit as soon as her mom can leave the house.

Help our reporting: We're trying to learn more about the new coronavirus and its impact in Houston. If you have something to share, or know anyone quarantined, please fill out this form.

emily.foxhall@chron.com
[March 11, 2020] Worldwide IaaS Provider, Leaseweb Global, Adds 2nd Gen AMD EPYC Processor Powered Servers to Global Data Centres

Today, Leaseweb Global, a leading hosting and cloud services provider, announced the availability of 2nd Gen AMD EPYCTM Processor powered servers as an authoritative addition to the Leaseweb server fleet. With global stock available from today onwards, this announcement officially marks Leaseweb as one of the first managed service providers to offer global access to this new processor. Joining Leaseweb's portfolio of hosted infrastructure, the 2nd Gen AMD EPYC Processor (News - Alert) powered servers provide leadership in performance, architecture, and agility. The processors currently hold more than 140 world records and offer up to a 2x generational performance increase1. The 2nd Gen EPYC processors support up to 64 "Zen 2" cores and 128 threads per socket, support PCIe 4 and include advanced security features to help protect data and systems. As Leaseweb's newest, most powerful hosted piece of infrastructure, the 2nd Gen AMD (News - Alert) EPYC Processor based servers will play a key role in meeting market demands for scalable, efficient and easy-to-operate hybrid cloud infrastructure. This is critical to delivering on current and future market demands. Leaseweb's research reveals that 61.4% of companies believe that hybrid or private cloud will be the infrastructure of their company's future, while 75.9% of respondents prioritized scalability, speed, ease of use, and cost as top factors when choosing their IaaS hosting solution. "At Leaseweb, we pride ourselves on delivering trusted, strategic advice alongside the latest proven high-value technology," remarked Mathijs Heikamp, product management team lead, Leaseweb. "We also pride ourselves in our ability to both meet our customers wherever they may be in their organization's lifecycle and also provide the right solution for their current or future needs. The addition of 2nd Gen AMD EPYC Processor powered servers to our fleet expands the scope and scale of or offerings, allowing us to better meet the unique needs of each of our customers. This is only the most recent way in which Leaseweb gives customers access to a global network of data centers and enables them to take full advantage of some of the very best in hybrid cloud technology."



Leaseweb's 2nd Gen AMD EPYC Processor servers are housed in state-of-the-art, ISO-certified data centers at strategic locations across the globe - giving customers easy access to Europe, the US and Asia Pacific. Each data center utilizes the very latest technology to deliver performance reliability, availability, protection from cybercrime and compliance with critical global data directives. "Cloud and Enterprise customers are seeking enhanced performance for their increasingly complex workloads," said Roger Benson, senior director, Commercial Sales EMEA, AMD. "By using 2nd Gen AMD EPYC Processors, Leaseweb is providing their customers with access to high-performance processors that excel in various workloads."

The 2nd Gen AMD EPYC Processor servers are available to customers via Leaseweb's scalable business model, which always aims to deliver the most appropriate technology at the best price point. This is a compelling value-add combination that, together with trusted advice and counsel, helps businesses choose the right infrastructure for their individual needs. Leaseweb's approach also ensures companies minimize the impact of downtime, can scale applications in line with changing demands and have access to the best server for their performance requirements. To learn more about how Leaseweb Global and 2nd Gen AMD EPYC Processors can help your business, please visit: https://www.leaseweb.com/dedicated-servers/amd-server#products. About Leaseweb Leaseweb is a leading Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) provider serving a worldwide portfolio of 18,000 customers ranging from SMBs to Enterprises. Services include Public Cloud, Private Cloud, Dedicated Servers, Colocation, Content Delivery Network, and Cyber Security Services supported by exceptional customer service and technical support. With more than 80,000 servers under management, Leaseweb has provided infrastructure for mission-critical websites, Internet applications, email servers, security, and storage services since 1997. The company operates 20 data centers in locations across Europe, Asia, Australia, and North America, all of which are backed by a superior worldwide network with a total capacity of more than 6 Tbps. Leaseweb offers services through its various subsidiaries, which are Leaseweb Netherlands BV ("Leaseweb Netherlands"), Leaseweb USA, Inc. ("Leaseweb USA"), Leaseweb Asia Pacific PTE. LTD ("Leaseweb Asia"), Leaseweb CDN B.V. ("Leaseweb CDN"), Leaseweb Deutschland GmbH ("Leaseweb Germany"), Leaseweb Australia Ltd. ("Leaseweb Australia") and Leaseweb UK Ltd ("Leaseweb UK"). For more information visit: www.leaseweb.com AMD, the AMD Arrow logo, EPYC, and combinations thereof are trademarks of Advanced Micro Devices (News - Alert), Inc. 1 1-n, 2-socket 2nd Gen EPYC 7742 powered server (http://spec.org/cpu2017/results/res2019q4/cpu2017-20191125-20001.pdf) scoring 701 SPECrate2017_int_base has up to 2.3x the SPECrate 2017 Integer (Base) performance of the highest previous generation score of 304 SPECrate2017_int_base by a 1-n, 2-socket 1st Gen EPYC 7601 powered server result (http://www.spec.org/cpu2017/results/res2019q2/cpu2017-20190411-11817.html) as of 1/26/20. ROM-342 View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200311005409/en/

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By Express News Service

KASARGOD: A prison superintendent in Kasargod believes there was a possible breach of COVID-19 protocol when police brought a child-abuse accused who returned from Malaysia to Kasargod from Chennai.

The police first took a flight to Mangaluru and then brought the accused back by road.

After the due process in the hospital and court, he was sent to the Kasaragod sub-jail.

However, alert prison officers called up the coronavirus control room, which immediately sent an ambulance to pick him up. The accused is now in the isolation ward of the District Hospital.

The District Police chief said the accused was examined in Chennai and exhibited no symptoms

But the prison superintendent insisted that since Malaysia was a high-risk country, he should have been quarantined in Chennai itself. "The police officers who escorted him should also be put under observation," he said.

Currently, only passengers with symptoms are being shifted for further observation in Chennai and other airports.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 10)  The state weather bureau will likely declare the onset of the dry season in the country by the last week of the month.

"We're looking at possibly the last week of March when amihan gradually ends. And then April onwards, [we have] the usual warm months in our country," weather forecaster Chris Perez of the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration told CNN Philippines' The Newsroom on Tuesday.

Perez said "amihan" or the northeast winds causing chilly temperature will continue to weaken in the coming weeks.

"We are expecting that most parts of the country will experience generally warmer termperatures as amihan is expected to terminate between the second week up to the last week of March," he said.

The easterlies, or winds from the Pacific Ocean in the east, are bringing warm and humid air all over the country, Perez said.

"Prolonged exposure to sunlight, day-high temperature and high relative humidity bring an uncomfortable feeling especially in the afternoon," he added.

PAGASA reminded the public to bring bottled water at all times, especially those who have prolonged exposure to sunlight during this period.

In its weather bulletin, PAGASA said Isabela, Quirino, Aurora, and Quezon will have cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms during the day due to the tail end of a cold front.

Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos Region, and the rest of Cagayan Valley will have cloudy skies with light rains brought by the northeast monsoon.

Meanwhile, Metro Manila and the rest of the country will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms brought by the easterlies.
The Opposition in Lok Sabha on Wednesday demanded the resignation of Home Minister Amit Shah for failing to contain the violence in Delhi for nearly three days, even as the Bharatiya Janata Party accused the Opposition of politicising the situation to further its narrow interests.

IMAGE: Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury speaking in the Lok Sabha said that the prime minister was like Nero who fiddled while Rome burned. Photograph: PTI Photo

As the government came under attack from the Opposition during the debate on the recent communal riots in the national capital that have claimed over 50 lives, the BJP members alleged that the violence was a pre-planned conspiracy and the home minister and authorities took pro-active steps to control the situation.

The ruling party said evidence show that stones and petrol bombs were stored in huge quantity to fuel the violence.

Initiating the discussion on "recent law and order situation in some parts of Delhi", Congress leader in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury wondered how the violence continued for three days despite the fact that Delhi Police is one of the best equipped in the country.

"The Home Minister (Amit Shah) will have to explain," he said.

Hitting out at the prime minister, he said, Nero fiddled while Rome burned.

When Delhi was witnessing violence, Modi was hosting United States President Donald Trump in Ahmedabad, the Congress leader said.

Chowdhury said while some claimed Hindus won, the others said Muslims won in the violence. "The fact is that humanity was defeated," he said.

He said the situation came under control soon after National Security Advisor Ajit Doval visited the violence-hit areas.

"Why could not the home minister go... NSA reports to the prime minister. Does this mean that the Prime Minister's Office had lost faith in the home ministry," Chowdhury said hitting out at Shah.

IMAGE: AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi called for an impartial probe to find the perpetrators of the violence. Photograph: ANI Photo

Chowdhury alleged that Delhi high court judge S Murlidhar was transferred out as he had questioned the failure of the Delhi Police in containing the violence.

He said the "midnight" notification was aimed at preventing adverse strictures against the government.

Nishikant Dubey of the BJP said the transfer was recommended by the Supreme Court collegium and the government had nothing to do with it.

Chowdhury sought the resignation of Shah, a demand echoed by Trinamool Congress's Saugata Roy and N K Premchandran of Revolutionary Socialist Party.

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen leader Asaduddin Owaisi said there is a "tsunami of Hindutva hate" and called for an impartial probe to find the perpetrators of the violence.



Some of his remarks evoked sharp response from the Treasury benches, with at least two Union ministers -- Ravi Shankar Prasad and Kishan Reddy -- registering their protests.



Speaker Om Birla also expunged certain remarks made by Owaisi.

IMAGE: BJP leader Meenakshi Lekhi alleged that some people are taking political benefit out of the incidents of violence. Photograph: PTI Photo

BJP leader Meenakshi Lekhi alleged that some people are taking political benefit out of the incidents of violence.

Referring to the killing of Intelligence Bureau officer Ankit Sharma during the riots, she said 400 wounds were found on his body.

"What kind of hatred was this... we should discuss that also," she said, adding the riots were pre-planned.

She also alleged that stones and catapults were found in the house of an Aam Aadmi Party councillor and hate speeches were given by an MLA of the party.

"Every tenth home had catapults, which were used in the riots," she added.

Danish Ali of the Bahujan Samaj Party demanded that certain remarks of Lekhi be expunged.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said members should not take the names of any religion in the debate. Birla expunged certain names taken by Lekhi and asked her not to name people.

Lekhi said that the government acted pro-actively and riots were controlled within 36 hours.

She also said that the allegations of hate speeches on Anurag Thakur and Parvesh Verma were not relevant as the riots started on February 23. She added that it was wrong to blame BJP leader Kapil Mishra for the riots.

She alleged that after the speech of Congress leader Sonia Gandhi at Ramlila maidan, people started gathering. Similar speeches were given by Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi as well, Lekhi said.

"For three months, people are sitting on roads," she said referring to people protesting at Shaheen Bagh against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act.

She added that work to instigate people and propagate extremism was going on since long.

"This government wants to do the politics of development," she said, adding the government is providing house, power connection and cylinders to people not on the basis of religion.

"Why is the opposition is spreading rumours," she said.

IMAGE: Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and others in the Lok Sabha during the Budget Session of Parliament. Photograph: PTI Photo

She said that the current government "violated the no go zone" and acted on repeal of Article 370 and triple talaq.

She said that opposition members of the House understand the CAA law but are "continuously misleading the people".

Citing certain data on riots, Lekhi said during 1950 to 1964, as many as 243 riots are documented. When Indira Gandhi was PM, 337 riots happened during 1966 to 1977 and 1980 and 1984.

Similarly, when Rajiv Gandhi was PM, 291 riots occurred during 1984 and 1989.

Out of 1094 riots, 871 happened during Congress regime, which was 73 per cent, she added. "Eighteen big riots happened during Congress regime," she added.

She said that opposition is taking about one riot in Gujarat and they should know that no riots happened in that state after 2002.

She said that the people of Delhi must be feeling guilty as after voting a government which gave free power and water they are now facing such incidents.

She said Doval visited the areas hit by riots as he is in-charge of the security of the country.

On the allegation that Home Minister Amit Shah did not act, she listed out meetings of the home minister with officers to assess the situation.

T R Baalu of the Dravida Munnetra Kazagham said that the Delhi riots and the law and order situation of the national capital were discussed in parliaments of the United Kingdom, Iran, Indonesia, Turkey and Malaysia.

These countries "are making fun of us", he said.

These all countries have raised concerns over the CAA, he said adding today was the 88th day of protest at Shaheen Bagh "without any problem".

The protest was happening silently and peacefully there because that are managed by minorities, he said.



Baalu said that "what went wrong" as over 50 people were killed in the Delhi violence.

He said that although Delhi Police is efficient in managing the issues, "why all went wrong" on those days. "The inaction of the police has been advised by the administration," he said.

He also alleged that ABVP is the root cause of the incidents at the Jawaharlal Nehru University in December last year.

He also said that BJP leader Kapil Mishra's "hate speeches" led to these riots.

Tejasvi Surya of BJP alleged that while there wasn't anything anti-Muslim in CAA, the anti-CAA protests had "a lot of anti-Hindu" feelings.
A Sydney bar announced on Monday it would be guaranteeing the wages of their casual employees, if they were asked to self-isolate due to the coronavirus.

The chance that this happens is still extremely low, however we're taking this step to alleviate the potential financial stress for our staff, The Fox Hole in Sydney CBD wrote on Facebook.

The reassurance from The Fox Hole comes a day after it was revealed a student aged in his 20s from Hobart ignored health advice to self-isolate and went to work, after returning from Nepal and Singapore with cold-like-symptoms.

The man later tested positive for the COVID-19 virus.

The Fox Hole has said they will compensate their workers if they are asked to self-isolate due to the coronavirus. Source: Google/The Fox Hole

The Fox Holes manager James Harvey-Fiander told Yahoo News Australia the establishment was built around its staff, and the workers there were the reason people keep coming back.

They [the customers] enjoy the experience and the staff are a big part of that, Mr Harvey-Fiander said.

Weve always tried to find ways to support the staff that make our business what it is.

Mr Harvey-Fiander cited the hospitality worker in Hobart as the driving force for looking after the casual employees at The Fox Hole, which account for about 30 per cent of their staff.

We didnt want our workers to feel that they couldnt tell us if they were sick and needed to go away for a few days, or 14 days.

Empathising with his employees, Mr Harvey-Fiander said missing 14 days of work and not getting paid is a financial burden and potentially huge risk.

The bar, located in Sydney's CBD said they are prioritising worker's over profit. Source: Google Maps

However, its not just staff who are being impacted by the coronavirus spread, Mr Harvey-Fiander has observed less people in the city, which could impact businesses in the future if people are reluctant to go out and spend money.

We took the position that humans are more important than money, Mr Harvey-Fiander said.

I guess its a flippant thing to say, but we can always get more money another day and putting our employees into a stressful situation where they had no choice, or felt trapped, we werent willing to do for money.

Story continues

ACTU calls for decision on casual workers leave

At risk of missing out on at least two weeks pay if asked to stay home and self-isolate to prevent further spread of the coronavirus are some 3.3 million casual workers across Australia who are not entitled to sick leave.

Workers without access to paid leave will be placed in the impossible position of choosing whether to attend work while suffering symptoms, possibly infecting others, or self-isolating without any means to pay their bills, Sally McManus, Australian Council of Trade Unions secretary said in a statement last week.

Amid discussions on how to move forward, Mr Harvey-Fiander said the political discussion is needed, where Australia will need to confront the casualisation of its workforce.

On Tuesday, Uber Australia announced the company will compensate drivers who are quarantined or diagnosed with the coronavirus.

While it is unclear how the drivers will be compensated, a Uber global spokesperson told Business Insider a global team is consulting with health care professionals.

Since The Fox Hole shared the announcement to Facebook, the establishment has been praised.

On behalf of all casual hospitality workers everywhere, thank you for this compassionate firm of leadership, one person wrote on Facebook.

I really hope the govt steps in to make this decision easier. Very brave and very decent to do this at a loss, another person said.

Well done.

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.
Wife of New York Lawyer at Center of Coronavirus Cluster Speaks Out

The wife of a New York lawyer at the center of one of the largest coronavirus clusters in the nation has implored people to not let negative thinking rule and to find the humor in the absurdity of it all.

Lawrence Garbuz, 50, lives in New Rochelle in Westchester County and commutes to work in the Manhattan borough of New York City at the Lewis and Garbuz, P.C. firm. Officials say he started showing symptoms of COVID-19, the disease the new virus causes, on Feb. 22. A neighbor drove him to the hospital five days later.

Garbuz was transferred to New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center in Manhattan in early March. Hes in severe condition.

Adina Lewis Garbuz, the lawyers wife, suggested on Facebook that her husband wasnt aware of recent developments surrounding the virus and said that she hopes everyone reading the post is safe and healthy.

I hope finding out about Lawrence and this cluster of virus is a blessing as it may well stop this all from spreading further. I want my husband to get better and hope to have to worry about trying to explain to him all that has transpired while he was sleeping, she wrote in a lengthy post.

But I also recognize that maybe he is a messenger of something good, that his illness was able to make us all aware of the problem. Just maybe he wont be just the one with bad luck, but the one who can to bring this to an end. This will end. Quarantines will work and we will all be stronger for it.

Pedestrians pass New Rochelle City Hall in New York on March 10, 2020. State officials are shuttering several schools and houses of worship for two weeks in the New York City suburb and sending in the National Guard to help with what appears to be the nations biggest cluster of coronavirus cases. (John Minchillo/AP Photo)

People walk through downtown New Rochelle, New York, on March 10, 2020. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Tuesday the quarantine of a part of New Rochelle for two weeks to try to contain the cluster of cases. More than 100 of the 176 cases in the state are in the area.

It is a dramatic action, but it is the largest cluster in the country. And this is literally a matter of life and death. Thats not an overly rhetorical statement, Cuomo said at a press conference. The National Guard will enforce the containment zone. Schools, houses of worship, and businesses will be forced to close starting March 12.

Cases linked to Garbuz include his wife, two of his children, some neighbors, a rabbi at the synagogue his family attends, a friend, and the friends wife and children.

Lewis Garbuz said that as far as she knows, no one else in the community has required hospital care for the virus. Shes looking forward to being cleared so she can spend time at the hospital by her husbands side.

She also revealed that she and her husband have two other children who were out of the country and cleared by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

It is easy to be fearful and scared and believe me, my family has been seen plenty of irrational bad behaviors based on it (like the laundromat who wouldnt do laundry for my other kids who were out of the country and cleared by CDC but by association refused to help them, or the nurse who hugged the walls as they walked by because she heard they were related to my husband), but that is not true of most people, she wrote.

Most have been smart and they recognize this was not caused by any one person. Most recognize that keeping their distance from those exposed and using good hygiene is what is necessary. I hope the Garbuz name becomes associated not as the ones with coronavirus but the ones who were instrumental in helping get this contained.
While there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the Parkland, several agencies are doing their best to protect seniors, those most vulnerable to the virus.

Country Meadows Nursing and Rehab is taking extra precautions to make sure residents are protected from coronavirus. Vendors and visitors are asked to check-in and provide paperwork and information about traveling outside the U.S. before they enter the facility.

Farmington Presbyterian Manor postponed its chicken and dumpling dinner and silent auction it had planned for next week to err on the side of caution and to protect its residents. The Center for Disease Control guidelines recommend postponing these kinds of events.

Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America Senior Vice President of Health and Wellness Jeanne Gerstenkorn said they are postponing all event and fundraisers until the end of April as a precaution and prevention method.

Given everything is kind of in the middle of the storm, so to speak right now, since I dont think anyone knows how long its going to last or whats next, Gerstenkorn said.

She said the facilities are also limiting any activities that are coming in from the community, as well as what community activities residents go out to. They are also discouraging families from taking residents to outside events with large gatherings.

Visitors coming in are also being limited.

Outside visitors are being discouraged at this point in time, Gerstenkorn said. Just because of the potential for bringing in germs into the community.

Of course, good hand washing, coughing and sneezing into your arm, and not coming into the community with any symptoms of illness is always encouraged this time of year, which is also flu season.

Weve always encouraged those, Gerstenkorn added, but we are encouraging them even stronger at this point.

Other senior living facilities, such as Ashbrook Assisted Living in Farmington and NHC in Desloge, have posted announcements on their web and Facebook pages letting the families of the residents know that they are following CDC guidelines to reduce the possibility of the virus entering any of their facilities.

Our communities are following the recommendations of the CDC on using basic contact precautions to prevent the spread, which includes wearing gowns and gloves when interacting with residents who are sick, as we always do, Clay Crosson, the president of Ashbrooks parent company, said in a statement on its site. We also are staying up-to-date with the CDC recommendations as they are updated. In addition, our company is in close contact with the local and state health departments and are following their guidance.

The facilities are also asking family not to visit if they have any flu-like symptoms or have traveled to any of the high-risk areas.

If possible, we ask you to use other ways to connect with your loved ones such as phone calls, Facetime, text, emails or Facebook, the NHC announcement said.

For the most part, its business as usual so far at the Park Hills Senior Center.

For us, there has not been a lot of changes because were regulated by the health department, Director Holly Buxton said. My girls are extremely clean. So its basically just the same thing: keeping things clean and sanitized.

Really the only change is more hand sanitizer.

We always have some of the little sanitizers just around in different places, Buxton said. But now we have a big bottle on the desk where, when my volunteers come in to deliver the meals, they can sanitize their hands.

They have also ordered a wall dispenser for sanitizer that they can put outside the restrooms.

Thats something we need to do anyway, Buxton added.

The center, which has 63 volunteers, makes an average of 300 meals a day Monday through Friday. About 250 of those are delivered to senior residents in Park Hills, Leadington, Desloge and Leadwood. They are also senior apartments attached to the center.

Buxton says she has been stressing common sense.

Weve had talks with them to use common sense," Buxton said. We dont want anyone to panic. We have enough of that as it is.  Everyone should be washing their hands throughout the day anyway, not just during an outbreak.

Cher Robinson, director of the Bonne Terre Senior/Nutrition Center, echoed the call for common sense and said, like every day, they are encouraging everyone to wash their hands, cover their nose and mouth and to be cautious with hugs and handshakes. And they, too, have hand sanitizer available throughout the center.

We wipe down all the common areas and door knobs and all the chair handles and things like that every single day, Robinson said. So none of thats changed. Thats just a common sense thing.

The Bonne Terre center did post a notice on the door asking the community to help it try to stop the possible spreading of any contagious virus.

To make sure they do not come into the building if they arent feeling well at all or if theyve been around someone who has possibly been exposed, Robinson said.

Robinson added that they are as prepared as they know how to be at this point.

We do have some things in place that were looking for in the future, Robinson said. Depending on what happens with this, making arrangements for emergency situations if were not able to have the center open, or for deliveries, to have people that are available if our volunteers become ill.

The Farmington OAKS Senior Center said the virus is a hot topic and it has information sheets available for everyone, but no programs or events have been postponed or cancelled at this time.

Many churches have also discouraged hand shakes and hugs and have hand sanitizers available.

Nikki Overfelt is a reporter for the Daily Journal. She can be reached at noverfelt@dailyjournalonline.com.

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Keadue Village has been chosen by the Department of Rural and Community Development to participate in the Entente Florale Competition in 2020.

It is a great honour for the people of Keadue and the parish of Kilronan to have been chosen to enter one of Europe's most prestigious competitions Judging will take place on July 13. Keadue won Silver medal in this competition in 2003.

Read Also: Carrick parade cancelled but Chamber plan a massive parade in 2021

A public meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 18 at 8pm in Scoil Cill Ronain Keadue. Members of the community are invited to attend and hear what is involved and the progress made to date regarding Keadue's involvement.

Representatives from Roscommon Co Council and National Tidy Towns and Entente Irish judges and members of Keadue Tidy Towns will be available to give information about the competition.

Entente Florale is a community initiative so Roscommon Co Council along with all above named are encouraging everybody on the various committees, businesses, school and entire community to get involved in this prestigious European competition.
Narek Samsonyan, President of the "Civil Consciousness" NGO of Armenia, has informed that he has been called to the Special Investigation Service (SIS).

"As soon as our campaign posters appeared on the streets of Yerevan, I received another summons from the SIS," he wrote, in particular, on Facebook. We have decided to participate in the [NO] campaign [for the upcoming constitutional referendum], and we are going to preach an active boycott.

Against this background, I receive another summons from the SIS, but this time to find out about the end of the investigation into the famous duplicity case.

We are going to have a big [press] conference with the lawyers on this topic, and as the case is already being sent to court, a bigger political show will be ensured."
By Kim Hyun-bin



Recent revisions of financial laws give more power to shareholders in the corporate decision making process, being able to request structural reforms and have a say in nominating and removing executives from the corporate board.



The move also empowers the government's involvement in corporate affairs as the National Pension Service (NPS), the world's third largest pension fund, holds a substantial amount of shares in local conglomerates and businesses.



In upcoming shareholders meetings slated for March, the NPS is expected to wield influence on over 300 companies where it holds over 5 percent or more shares.



For example, under the new revision, if Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong is found guilty of embezzlement and malpractice, the NPS, as a key shareholder of the company, will be allowed to make a request for his resignation.



There are worries among the financial world that the government could get too involved in company affairs as the NPS has a history of using its shareholder rights to block conglomerate CEOs from taking their post.



In March, the late Hanjin Group Chairman Cho Yang-ho stepped down from his position as president of affiliate Korean Air due to strong opposition from the NPS.



NPS also voiced strong opposition against the reappointment of SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won, who was embroiled in bribery accusations at the time.



All eyes are on if the NPS will use its shareholder influence against Hyosung, Daelim as the companies' chairmen were involved in embezzlement and malpractice.





Hyosung Group Chairman Cho Hyun-joon

The two chairmen are subject for reappointment during at their respective companies' shareholders meetings scheduled for March.



In September, Hyosung Group Chairman Cho Hyun-joon was sentenced to two years in prison for incurring 17.9 billion won ($15 million) in losses for Galaxia Electronics Co., a Hyosung affiliate, by having the firm repurchase its own shares at a higher price in July 2013.



However the company is optimistic that it will be able to re-elect Chairman Cho with or without the NPS's support.



"Hyosung is the major shareholder of the company with 54.72 percent of the shares, so the group believes its chairman will be re-elected," an industry official said. "The NPS invests in companies to make a profit and Hyosung exceeded over 1 trillion won in profit last year, which the group believes will somewhat satisfy the NPS."



Daelim Group Chairman Lee Hae-wook is under trial for making illicit gains through its "GLAD" trademark usage.





Daelim Group Chairman Lee Hae-wook
Just days after an agreement was reached, the ceasefire was broken when the Syrian regime fired artillery shells in the direction of a Turkish observation post reports Zaman Al-Wasl.

On Monday, Syrian regime artillery hit the village of al-Mastouma near a Turkish observation point, in a new violation of the Russian-Turkish ceasefire, which may erupt into clashes and burst the last rebel stronghold in northern Syria, local activists said.

At least 15 artillery shells hit the area surrounding the Turkish outpost, and the provocation pushed Ankara to send more reinforcements to Idleb where hundreds of Turkish soldiers supported by tanks and artillery are still pouring into western Idleb region.

Anadolu Agency said Monday that Bashar al-Assads forces had violated the agreement 15 times.

The regime, which continued the violations Saturday and Sunday, engaged in harassment fire with a machine guns on a Turkish military convoy transporting supplies.

Elements of the regime also fired three mortar shells near another unit.

On Sunday, regime forces were determined to advance to points in Kafr Nabl village, a buffer zone south of Idleb, with two tanks, two armored personnel carriers and many militia convoys.

Turkey launched Operation Spring Shield on Mar. 1, 2020, after at least 34 Turkish soldiers were martyred in late February in an Assad regime airstrike in Idleb. Under a 2018 deal with Russia, Turkish troops were in Idleb to protect civilians from attacks by the regime and its allies.

On Thursday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin agreed in Moscow to a new ceasefire in Idleb.

The conflict in Syria has killed more than 560,000 people and displaced 6.5 million.

This article was edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
T he Duke and Duchess of Sussex have shared unseen pictures and footage from their meeting with young leaders of the Queen's Commonwealth Trust (QCT).

Harry and Meghan, who are president and vice-president of the charity, hosted the group at Buckingham Palace last week as part of their farewell tour of the UK.

The duke was caught in a moment of laughter sat on a sofa next to his beaming wife in a black and white photograph from the event shared on the Sussex Royal Instagram page on Tuesday.

A YouTube video shows the relaxed-looking couple discussing mental health, equal opportunities and youth leadership with the group, all of whom work with QCT.

The charity aims to champion, fund and connect young leaders working to change the world.

Those invited included social entrepreneur Kenny Imafidon, founder of the sTandTall charity Esther Marshall, and co-founders of Birmingham-based female empowerment organisation GirlDreamer, Kiran Kaur and Amna Akhtar.

In a video clip of the conversation, Harry says: "Without something to aim for, you can't unlock the potential, right?"

"I bet it's made all the difference, right, to connect all of you guys."

Megan adds: "To build this network, the QCT, so you have a support system and a sound board to continue to bounce these ideas off of."

The Instagram post came after Harry and Meghan's last official appearance with the Queen, Prince of Wales, Duchess of Cornwall and Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on Monday.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex farewell tour - In pictures 1 /37 The Duke and Duchess of Sussex farewell tour - In pictures The Mountbatten Music Festival Getty Images The Endeavour Fund Awards Samir Hussein/WireImage Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey AFP via Getty Images The Robert Clack Upper School in Dagenham PA The National Theatres Immersive Storytelling Studio The Duke and Duchess of Sussex/Chris Allerton The Silverstone Experience PA Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey Getty Images The Endeavour Fund Awards Samir Hussein/WireImage The Endeavour Fund Awards AP The Robert Clack Upper School in Dagenham PA The Mountbatten Music Festival POOL/AFP via Getty Images The National Theatres Immersive Storytelling Studio The Duke and Duchess of Sussex/Chris Allerton The Silverstone Experience AFP via Getty Images The Robert Clack Upper School in Dagenham Getty Images The Robert Clack Upper School in Dagenham via Reuters Abbey Road Studios @sussexroyal Abbey Road Studios @sussexroyal The Endeavour Fund Awards Getty Images The Endeavour Fund Awards PA The Endeavour Fund Awards Getty Images The Robert Clack Upper School in Dagenham PA Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey Getty Images The Mountbatten Music Festival AP A sustainable tourism summit at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre PA Abbey Road Studios Jeremy Selwyn The Endeavour Fund Awards Getty Images The Endeavour Fund Awards AFP via Getty Images Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey AFP via Getty Images

The Commonwealth Service brought to a close their whirlwind UK farewell tour, where they also attended the Endeavour Fund Awards, a military musical festival at the Royal Albert Hall and Meghan's secret visit to a school in Dagenham, east London, to celebrate International Women's Day.

The couple have a few more weeks before they officially step down as senior royals, but as they left the event at Westminster Abbey it was the symbolic end of their life supporting the Queen.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-11 04:36:19|Editor: huaxia

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Photo shows Liu Yifei, who plays the title character in Disney's film "Mulan," at the film's world premiere ceremony in Los Angeles, California, the United States, March 9, 2020. (Photo credit: Disney)

"At this difficult time, we hope that Mulan's fighting spirit will continue to inspire around the world," said Niki Caro, director of Disney's film "Mulan".

LOS ANGELES, March 10 (Xinhua) -- Niki Caro, director of Disney's China-based female hero film "Mulan," voiced her hope that the heroine's "fighting spirit" would inspire the world at "this difficult time" marked by the spread of COVID-19 during the film's world premiere in Los Angeles Monday evening.

Based on the legend of an ancient Chinese heroine, Hua Mulan, "Mulan" is a live action adaptation of Disney's 1998 animated film of the same name.

Photo shows Liu Yifei, who plays the title character in Disney's film "Mulan," at the film's world premiere ceremony in Los Angeles, California, the United States, March 9, 2020. (Photo credit: Disney)

Mulan, according to folk legend, lived during a tumultuous era of the Chinese history more than 1,400 years ago. She disguised herself as a man to serve in the army in place of her aged father and fight for the country.

"Our wonderful journey with Mulan started four years ago. During the preparation and production of the film, we spent a great deal of time in China. This film is not only a celebration of its rich culture and history, but also of its people," Caro told the audience at the Dolby Theatre.

"And at this difficult time, we hope that Mulan's fighting spirit will continue to inspire around the world," she noted.

Photo shows the director and cast of Disney's film "Mulan" at the film's world premiere ceremony in Los Angeles, California, the United States, March 9, 2020. (Photo credit: Disney)

"Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone in China, and around the world who are affected by the coronavirus outbreak. And our deepest respect to everyone working so hard to battle the disease -- you are a living testament to Mulan, and you bring honor to us all," she added.

Directed by Caro, the movie stars Liu Yifei as the title role following a year-long global casting, with Gong Li as a powerful and dangerous witch, Donnie Yen as an army commander, and Jet Li as the emperor of China. The cast of the movie, including Liu, Li, Yen, and other stars, such as Christina Aguilera who has recorded two songs for the film, attended the world premiere.

Although the outbreak of COVID-19 is affecting Hollywood and the global film industry, forcing theaters to be shut down and some major events to be canceled, Disney is going to release "Mulan" on schedule. The movie is expected to bring in at least 85 million U.S. dollars in its opening weekend in the United States later this month. 
NEW YORK - Michael Avenattis attorney cited the coronavirus threat Wednesday and an upcoming trial as he asked a judge to delay a court-required jailhouse meeting, saying his bearded client lives in a rat-infested cell at an unsanitary facility that reeks of urine.

Attorney Scott Srebnick told U.S. District Judge Paul G. Gardephe in a letter that an interview scheduled for Thursday by Probation Department officials should be delayed at least a month.

He said the extra time would allow more clarity regarding the risks of coronavirus amid dirty conditions at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Manhattan, where Avenatti is housed. He awaits an April 21 trial on an indictment charging him with defrauding porn star Stormy Daniels of advances on a book deal. He has pleaded not guilty.

Srebnick said prosecutors oppose the request. A spokesman for prosecutors declined comment. A message left with a spokesman for the MCC was not immediately returned.

Avenatti, 49, was convicted last month of trying to extort up to $25 million from Nike. Sentencing is scheduled for June 17. Probation officials must interview Avenatti and recommend a sentence.

He awaits sentencing at the same federal lockup where Jeffrey Epstein was housed when he died in August in what a medical examiner labeled a suicide. Epstein was awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges after authorities said he attacked women and teenage girls sexually in Florida and Manhattan in the early 2000s.

Srebnick said inmates including Avenatti were confined to their cells for 10 days in late February after it was learned that a gun had been smuggled into the facility. The federal Bureau of Prisons confirmed to The Associated Press last week that a loaded gun was found during a weeklong hunt for contraband.

Srebnick said the lockdown worsened cramped and unsanitary conditions at the jail, leaving Avenatti in a rat-infested cell. He said Avenatti was permitted to shower only twice in 12 days at a place where many inmates lacked soap or hot water to wash hands. He also said alcohol-based sanitizers were banned and hot meals were denied.

The jail reeks of urine. As of yesterday, Mr. Avenatti had not shaved in weeks, Srebnick wrote.

He noted the growing concerns nationwide about the coronavirus and said by all accounts, a prison facility poses among the highest risks of spread of infection.

Srebnick said he had planned to fly to New York from Florida to attend Thursdays meeting, but asked that it be postponed given the uncertainty regarding the coronavirus, the ease with which it spreads, and the documented unsanitary conditions at the MCC-New York.
Union Minister Anurag Thakur, who



had allegedly made provocative speeches in the run up to the Delhi Assembly polls, was on Wednesday booed by opposition members in Rajya Sabha when he rose to present a listed paper.

When Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu called Thakur to present the second supplementary demands for grants for 2019-20 in place of his senior colleague and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, opposition benches started booing him.

Thakur, who is the Minister of State for Finance, continued to present the demands, which had been presented in Lok Sabha last week.

As opposition created uproar, some in treasury benches hit back with the jibe of the Congress losing power in Madhya Pradesh.

This riled some Congress members who accused the BJP of engineering defections.

Naidu ordered that nothing would go on record.

But when some Congress member continued to raise the matter, Naidu warned he would name members.

Any member named by the Chair has to withdraw from proceedings of the House for the remainder of the day.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Harris County health officials are asking some passengers who returned to Houston on a flight from Italy a week ago to self-isolate after testing confirmed a woman on the plane has the new coronavirus.

The case, the fifth in Harris County outside the city of Houston, involves a woman in her 20s who had been living in Italy. She contacted her healthcare provider after exhibiting mild flu-like symptoms upon returning to her home in the southwest quadrant of the county.

Fourteen people in the Houston region have now been diagnosed with COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus.

Harris County officials Tuesday night called for the isolation of passengers who sat in the business/first class section of a Lufthansa (LH309) flight from Florence to Frankfurt March 3 (10:05 a.m.-11:45 a.m.); and in the business/first class section of a United Airlines (UA47) flight from Frankfurt to Houston the same day (1:50 p.m.-6:10 p.m.). Other passengers on the flight do not need to isolate themselves.

More for you These essential businesses can stay open amid stay-at-home

The officials added that such passengers should contact their local health department for additional guidance and call their healthcare provider before going to the facility if they want to see a doctor.

The woman did not require hospitalization and currently is quarantined at home, where she is recovering.

Local testing found the woman was presumptively positive for the virus. It still must be confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.

Earlier Tuesday, Montgomery County officials Tuesday announced a first case of the new coronavirus there, a man in his 40s being treated at an unspecified local hospital.

It was not immediately clear if that case is related to travel, specifically the Nile River cruise where all 12 of the area people previously diagnosed the past week contracted the infection. Montgomery County officials said they hope to have the patients travel history and other information Wednesday.

Like it was in the woman returning from Italy, the test for the Montgomery County man was presumptively positive and still must be confirmed by the CDC.

In a news release, the county said that healthcare providers are following strict guidelines from the CDC in interactions with the patient, who is isolated at the hospital.

Previously, doctors confirmed the virus in six patients in Harris County (two of them in Houston) and six in Fort Bend County. All were passengers on the same cruise line in Egypt.

The Pennsylvania-based company that advertised the package, Gate 1 Travel, has since canceled all its Nile River cruises through May 31. It also has provided the CDC with copies of its passenger manifest from the Feb. 12-19 cruise as well as subsequent sailings during the following weeks, spokesman Marty Seslow said.

There are now 17 confirmed cases in Texas. Collin County health officials in north Texas this week confirmed three cases of the virus there  a man, his wife and their 3-year-old child. The man traveled to California for a business trip in late February, officials said.

todd.ackerman@chron.com
CAIRO (AP)  An Egyptian court Tuesday sentenced a prominent human rights lawyer and former lawmaker to a year in prison for his conviction on charges that rights advocates have decried as baseless and politically motivated.

The judge in Cairo's misdemeanors court found Zyad el-Elaimy guilty of deliberately spreading fake news. He was also fined 20,000 Egyptian pounds (around $1,270).

El-Elaimy has appealed the ruling and will remain in detention until a hearing on April 7. He also faces charges in a separate case of conspiring with an outlawed group to commit crimes, a reference to the Muslim Brotherhood, which President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi has banned as a terrorist organization. Police arrested el-Elaimy over those accusations last summer after he met with political parties and opposition lawmakers to hash out how to run in the 2020 parliamentary elections.

A vocal critic of el-Sissis government, el-Elaimy is a leading activist in the secular Egyptian Social Democratic Party. He served as a member of parliament after the 2011 uprising that toppled autocrat President Hosni Mubarak.

The global rights watchdog Amnesty International condemned Tuesdays decision as the latest sign of the Egyptian authorities total intolerance" of dissent.

The unfounded charges of which Zyad has been convicted stem solely from the peaceful expression of his opinion and his peaceful political activities, said Philip Luther, the groups research and advocacy director for the Middle East and North Africa.

El-Sissi has overseen a sweeping crackdown on political opposition, silencing critics and jailing thousands. Many languish for months in pre-trial detention.

Still, the cup remains half-full, el-Elaimys mother, Ekram Yousef, wrote on Facebook. Tuesdays open court session allowed el-Elaimys friends to catch their first glimpse of him in eight months.

It was an opportunity ... to make sure they did not forget him, and to await the day that he is freed, she said.
Photo credit: Thomas Loof

From House Beautiful

Hurricane Matthew tore through the Bahamas in 2016, its 120-miles-per-hour winds battering the islands structuresincluding a home in picturesque Lyford Cay that designer Matthew Carter had finished renovating for clients just a few years earlier. It blew the roof off the house, destroying basically everything inside, Carter recalls. Every piece of upholstery, every curtain, every rugit was completely ruined.



The devastation hit particularly close to home. The Bahamas have been a really special place for me and my partner for almost 20 years, explains the Kentucky-based designer, who vacations on nearby Harbour Island and recently bought a house there. So when the post-storm cleanup was completed and rebuilding began, he was more than game for a second go-roundand made the house even more breathtaking than before.

Photo credit: Thomas Loof

I saw how the owners had been using it in the few years they lived there, so it was a chance to tweak some things, Carter says. In went a double-story balcony to give them more outdoor space, and wider doors so the whole home had a more indoor-outdoor feel. Pecky cypressa type of wood thats extra-resistant to insects and the elementswas installed on walls and ceilings. Carter also installed curtains in the living and dining rooms (I had always felt like they needed more delineation and softness, he says) and punched up the overall palette, using more intense versions of the colors he had chosen for the initial renovation. The previously dark-green shutters, which had given the hilltop house an imposing look, were repainted in a custom ocean blue that felt more welcoming.



Most important, says Carter, the house is now an even clearer representation of his clients elegant but easygoing personalities. After a decade of working together, I know them so well, and the finished house really embodies the trust they put in me, the designer says. They loved the old one, but they love the new version even more!

Story continues

Living Room

Photo credit: Thomas Loof

A punched-up version of the pale pink Carter had originally used in this house, Benjamin Moores Precocious is tropical but still elegant. Chandelier: Ainsworth-Noah. Sofa: Luther Quintana in a Perennials fabric with Penny Morrison (center) and Schumacher pillows. Chair: custom in a Fortuny fabric. Side table: Trace Mayer Antiques. Cocktail table and wood chair: antique. Rug: Shyam Ahuja.

Photo credit: Thomas Loof

Dining Room

Photo credit: Thomas Loof

We could get away with a lot of pattern because the wall space is limited, says Carter, who had a decorative painter stencil an Indian-inspired motif. Chandelier and dining table: antique. Sconces: Urban Electric Co. Dining chairs in a Kravet fabric; side chairs in Sister Parish. Curtains: Cowtan & Tout.

Photo credit: Thomas Loof

Balcony Bar

Photo credit: Thomas Loof

A 14-foot-long banquette in a Larsen fabric is prime seating for after-dinner drinks. Rug: Shyam Ahuja. Chairs: custom in Clarence House fabric. Pendant: vintage from Found in Houston. Sconce: Visual Comfort. Wall paint: Gentlemans Gray, Benjamin Moore.

Office



Photo credit: Thomas Loof

Pecky cypress walls and glazed French-blue trim give it the feel of a vintage rec room. Mirror and cocktail table: The Raj Company. Lamps: Visual Comfort. Sofa: O. Henry House. Rug: Shyam Ahuja.

Balcony

Photo credit: Thomas Loof

We were able to make a few changes that time had prevented us from doing the first go-round, says Carter, who added a double-story balcony to expand the houses outdoor living space. Table: clients own. Chairs: custom.

Upstairs Study

Photo credit: Thomas Loof

The same China Seas fabric was used on both the sofa and the walls (in paper-backed form). Pendant: antique. Lamps: Visual Comfort. Chairs: custom in a Peter Fasano fabric. Pillows: Jane Shelton. Tables: vintage. Rug: Unique Carpets.

Pool House

Photo credit: Thomas Loof

The clients came with so many collections, from vintage barware to these island prints, says Carter. Mirror: Bobo Intriguing Objects. Console: Steve Tipton Antiques. Sofa by The Raj Company and custom chairs: both in Kravet fabric. Pink pillows: John Robshaw. Bench: The Island Store. Wall paint: Birds Egg, Benjamin Moore.

See More of the Home

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(Bloomberg Opinion) -- This month, as the coronavirus spread across the U.S., many scientists and medical professionals decided to do the opposite: They stayed home. The American Physical Society canceled its March meeting, the American Chemical Society axed its spring conference, and several major health care meetings were scrapped. As of last Friday, Id yet to hear anything about one meeting Id signed up for long ago, a bioethics conference scheduled for this week in Boston.

So as I waited, I reached out to the bioethicists scheduled to attend and asked what they thought: Is it ethical to hold a conference during an epidemic? In Boston, there was particular concern because a cluster of cases had spread at a Biogen conference in the city at the end of February. The ethicists all agreed: Canceling big gatherings is the right thing to do. And by late afternoon, Id gotten a notice that the meeting had been postponed to June of 2021.

When it comes to Covid-19  the illness caused by the novel coronavirus  most of us could do with less fear and more guilt. According to the World Health Organization, most people infected with the coronavirus will survive. But as any bioethicist can tell you, even if you arent at high risk of dying from the disease, you are at risk of spreading it and causing others to die. That may be true even if you feel perfectly healthy.

To start with, the coronavirus is much deadlier for some people than others. Data from China suggests the danger is greater for people with lung and heart disease, diabetes, hepatitis B, and cancer. And the older you are, the higher your risk. In China, the fatality rate for people over 80 was at least 14.8%  more than six times that of the population at large. Other estimates are closer to 20%, suggesting that for every five seniors with Covid-19, one will die from it. Younger people, who are far more likely to survive, have a responsibility to keep the virus from reaching their elders.

Story continues

Whats more, a measure of contagiousness epidemiologists refer to as R0  the average number of people to which each infected person spreads the virus  isnt a constant of nature, determined solely by the properties of the virus. It also depends on human behavior. If you had a population of hermits, R0 would be zero, Yale University network scientist Nicholas Christakis told me. In China, he said, the states drastic interventions have caused R0 to fall to less than one, and the number of new infections has leveled off. We in the U.S. can also slow the spread of the virus, but well need to rely more on voluntary efforts than mandatory ones. Efforts like, say, canceling big meetings.

Its also important to slow the diseases spread so the health-care system doesnt become overwhelmed. The number of people who will die depends on whether everyone who needs proper hospital care can get it. While things are looking better in China, the system in Italy is starting to come under strain. According to a March 10 story in Bloomberg News, some regions are devoting 80% of acute care beds to the exploding number of Covid-19 patients. One overworked doctor in Italy reportedly declared that every ventilator [is] like gold.

Scientific results coming out this week suggest that individuals might help prevent the same situation from recurring elsewhere. Researchers in Germany have released preliminary evidence that people are spreading this virus before they have any symptoms. And researchers at Johns Hopkins University published data suggesting this silent incubation period lasts five days on average  and far longer for some people. About one in 50 people with Covid-19 wont show symptoms for more than 11 days. That means washing your hands wont just protect you  it can protect others from you, even if you feel fine.

Its worth noting, too, that transmission can vary widely from person to person. This was striking during the 2003 SARS epidemic, which was also caused by a novel coronavirus. As described in the book Spillover: Animal Infections and the Next Human Pandemic by David Quammen, one doctor exposed through an early hospital outbreak in China got sick but then felt better, and decided to go to Hong Kong for a wedding. He ended up infecting 17 people at his hotel  including one who brought the disease to North America. That persons infection spread to several hundred people in Toronto, 36 of whom died. Little decisions can have big consequences.

The tragedy in the U.S. is that most people want to do the right thing but dont know how. The news is full of horror stories: someone with symptoms and possible exposure making multiple emergency-room visits just to get a test, and others quarantined but not given coherent instructions on how to interact with others in the household. A popular Facebook meme mixes good advice about hand hygiene with bad advice to hoard surgical masks. (Needless to say, do not hoard masks.)

As medical ethicist Art Caplan wrote this week, the government has failed to offer clear-cut information to a worried public. People under quarantine, especially, lack instructions on such basics as whether they can take out the trash and walk their dogs. What about roommates if youve still got to share a bedroom and a bathroom? he writes. Can your partner still go to the store for you, let in workmen, accept deliveries? Few seem to know what to do if they are advised or ordered to stay home.

Several of the bioethicists scheduled to speak at the Boston meeting convinced me that we should focus advice less on protecting ourselves than on protecting others. There was a general sense of relief that the Boston meeting was canceled. Fortunately, the bioethics community isnt alone: In recent days Harvard and other universities moved classes online, and major events such as the South By Southwest festival have been canceled.

So you have a big event coming up, heres some friendly advice: If youre an organizer, consider postponing it. And if youre an attendee, consider staying home.

To contact the author of this story: Faye Flam at fflam1@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Tracy Walsh at twalsh67@bloomberg.net

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Faye Flam is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist. She has written for the Economist, the New York Times, the Washington Post, Psychology Today, Science and other publications. She has a degree in geophysics from the California Institute of Technology.

For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com/opinion

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Rocking star Yash and wife Radhika Pandit were recently spotted visiting the Nanjundeshwara temple in Mysuru for their daughter Ayras mundan (Tonsure) ceremony. The Sandalwood couple is known for sharing some really cute and adorable pictures of their one-year-old daughter. And now, post visiting the temple with his family, Yash took to his social media account to share an interesting picture with his daughter.

The little munchkin looks adorable as she is giving daddy Yash a frowning look. It certainly looks like she does not approve of her new haircut. The KGF star captioned the endearing picture with an imagined conversation taking place between them. He wrote, "Ayra: Dad, I know its summer... but I'm damn sure THIS is NOT summer cut! Dad: Well... ahem!" LOL.

For the uninitiated, Yash and Radhika got engaged in August 2016 and tied the knot in December, in a private ceremony in Bangalore. The couple embraced parenthood with daughter Ayra in 2018. The duo welcomed their second baby (boy) on October 30, 2019 (after 10 months of Ayra's birth). Check out the post here:

On the work front, Yash is currently busy shooting for the highly anticipated KGF: Chapter 2 alongside Bollywood stars Sanjay Dutt and Raveena Tandon. The Prashanth Neel directorial, in all likelihood, may hit the silver screens on Dussehra 2020. Radhika, on the other hand, was last seen on screen in 2019's Aadi Lakshmi Puraana.

ALSO READ: Yash Starrer KGF: Chapter 2 Is All Set To Hit The Silver Screens On Dussehra?

ALSO READ: Valentines Day Spl: KGF Star Yash & Radhika Pandits Love Story Is Nothing Less Than A Film Story!
Copyright  2020 Albuquerque Journal

SANTA FE  Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham declared a public health emergency Wednesday as the first cases of COVID-19 surfaced in New Mexico.

To slow transmission of the virus, the governor urged people to avoid public gatherings, sanitize common surfaces and minimize contact with other individuals, even if it means staying home from church or going out less often.

Older adults and those with chronic illnesses are most at risk, she said, but even healthy people not worried about getting sick should take steps to protect themselves and others. The strategy is designed to limit the chance of transmitting the disease to a person whos more vulnerable.

This is a very highly infectious virus, Lujan Grisham said.

Three New Mexico residents tested positive for COVID-19 early Wednesday and are now isolating themselves at home  the first confirmed cases in the state, the governor said. A fourth positive test emerged later Wednesday.

Each case is travel-related  a good sign, state officials said, because it means New Mexico hasnt yet seen the virus otherwise spreading throughout the community.

Two of the four cases are a Socorro County husband and wife, both in their 60s, who had traveled internationally, including to Egypt, state officials said.

A third case is a woman in her 70s in Bernalillo County who had traveled recently to the New York City area.

All three individuals are now isolated at home and cooperating with state health professionals.

The fourth case involves a woman in her 60s in Santa Fe County who had recently traveled to the New York area. State officials didnt immediately say whether she is isolated at home, as the others are.

Earlier in the day, state officials said they were investigating any contact the initial three infected residents had had with other people in New Mexico, and the Department of Health is more closely monitoring particularly vulnerable populations, such as elderly or disabled adults living in group homes. State health workers, for example, are visiting with all 269 licensed assisted-living facilities in the state.

This is a serious situation, Lujan Grisham told reporters Wednesday. But I will use every tool and resource to keep us safe.

Sen. William Sharer, R-Farmington, accused the governor of going too far. People should take common-sense steps to protect themselves, he said, but the governors message will damage tourism and disrupt life in New Mexico far beyond whats necessary.

The governors Health Emergency declaration is already having huge negative effects on our state, he said in a written statement.

He added: Wash your hands and ignore the panic.

Postponed travel

The high-profile Gathering of Nations event in Albuquerque  slated for April 23-25  has been postponed, Lujan Grisham said.

The governor also urged New Mexicans to avoid public gatherings of all kinds, including neighborhood association meetings and the state high school basketball tournament.

For state workers, Lujan Grisham said nonessential employees have been instructed to work from home, and she has halted out-of-state travel by state employees. She expects local governments and private companies to follow suit.

New Mexicans, in general, should consider avoiding travel outside the state and staying home for spring break, Lujan Grisham said.

My advice based on this public health emergency is that, frankly, any public gathering, community event  dont go, Lujan Grisham said. We want to be very clear  if you minimize contact with other human beings, you will help us contain this virus.

Testing capacity

Lujan Grisham said New Mexico now has 2,400 tests available to determine who has the coronavirus. Health officials, of course, are determining who is most in need of the test.

But we are in really good shape, the governor said Wednesday. We are nowhere near our capacity to effectively test New Mexicans.

The state has completed about 129 tests for the coronavirus so far  just four of which turned up presumptive positive.

Dr. Chad Smelser of the state Department of Health said confirmation of the initial COVID-19 positive tests in New Mexico came early Wednesday after overnight work by laboratory workers. The state has a laboratory to handle its own testing before sending the cases to the federal government for further confirmation, he said.

But the federal testing is similar to what New Mexico already completed, Smelser said.

The initial three New Mexicans who tested positive, meanwhile, are isolating themselves and cooperating with the state, officials said, though the state is also investigating where theyve been and who theyve met with.

They were out in the community a bit, Smelser said. Its an active investigation.

Albuquerque Academy, meanwhile, announced its was closing its campus because a member of its community was in close contact with one of the people who tested positive for COVID-19.

As for the Socorro County couple, Socorro Mayor Ravi Bhasker said they were self-quarantined where they live in the community of Veguita, which is in the northern part of the county between Socorro and Belen.

They had returned from a cruise, the mayor said.

Lujan Grisham said a number of other New Mexicans are returning from a cruise, but will first go to Texas. She said she expects them to be tested before returning to New Mexico  and she thanked them for their patience.

Hand washing

The governor began her news conference by using hand sanitizer and urging people to make sure they clean thoroughly, including between their fingers. Soap and water is best, she said, but sanitizer is a good additional measure.

State officials urged people to protect themselves by:

 Washing their hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds;

 Cleaning high-touch surfaces daily with regular household cleaners;

 Avoiding the sharing of personal household items and, when sick, staying home rather that going to work or school.

State response

The declaration of a public health emergency, Lujan Grisham said, gives her administration emergency powers and financial flexibility. The declaration also directs the state Department of Workforce Solutions to ensure people laid off because of COVID-19 are eligible for unemployment benefits.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has also awarded New Mexico about $6.5 million to help respond to the virus.

Lujan Grisham urged people to be kind to each other. Her office, she said, has received reports of racist responses to the virus targeting Asian Americans, which she said wont be tolerated in New Mexico.

Journal staff writers Scott Turner and Pilar Martinez contributed to this report.

Learn more Doctor visits  Call the state hotline at 855-600-3453 if you think you have the virus. Health professionals will advise on next steps.

 Visit cv.nmhealth.org to view information on the states response and number of tests conducted.

In an hourlong news conference at the Capitol, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham stressed repeatedly that people should limit their contact with others, even their doctors. Those worried they might have the virus should first call their doctor or the new state hotline: 855-600-3453.

Be prepared, the governor said, but dont be panicked.

David Scrase, a physician and secretary of the Human Services Department, said theres no need for people to go to the doctor in person if they believe theyre infected. Much of the work can be handled over the phone, he said.

Only 10% of the people who have the virus require hospitalization, Scrase said. The elderly and people with chronic illnesses are most at risk.

But others should take steps to slow the spread of the virus, too, officials said.

The virus can be transmitted even if you arent showing symptoms.

Potential signs of COVID-19 are a fever, cough and trouble breathing.

The disease is most often spread through coughing, state officials said, though people should also take steps to sanitize surfaces and minimize the use of shared items.

The Indian Health Service, state officials said, is establishing a drive-through testing site in Gallup and more could be deployed throughout the state.
Two months ahead of Burundis planned local and presidential elections, senior UN-appointed independent rights investigators have urged the Government to reopen the democratic, civil and political space there.

These are not only basic human rights, they are also an absolute requirement for the holding of free, transparent and credible elections in a peaceful climate, said a statement from the Commissioners leading the official Geneva-based Commission Inquiry on Burundi (COIB) during an oral briefing to the UN Human Rights Council on March 9.

The Commission reiterated its warnings that the situation in Burundi continues to worsen  politically, economically as well as in terms of security.

Of particular concern are the Imbonerakure  members of a youth league linked to President Pierre Nkurunzizas ruling party  and to multiple attacks against opposition politicians and their families.

They have continued to carry out killings, disappearances, arbitrary arrests and detentions, acts of torture and ill-treatment and rape against actual or alleged political opposition members, the Commissioners warned.

In addition to widespread impunity for crimes, the investigators also described a worsening humanitarian situation inside and outside the country.

The humanitarian situation remains worrying, with 336,000 Burundian refugees in neighboring countries and some being returned in circumstances where the voluntary nature is questionable, said Commissioners.

Two other risk factors related to the widespread climate of impunity for serious human rights violations, and to the weakness of State structures to be able to prevent or stop violations, remain relevant, the Commissioners noted.

The Commission has observed a more ambiguous development regarding another risk factor, namely the existence of intentions and motives to resort to violence. Some others risk factors are more pronounced, with an increased governments media censorship by imposing, without prior consultation, a Code of conduct for media and journalists during the 2020 electoral period.

Four journalists from Iwacu, one of the last independent media operating in Burundi, were sentenced to prison in January 2020.

The increase of hate speech with political and/or ethnic dimensions that circulates unrestricted on social media and the silence of the Burundian authorities in this matter creates an environment conducive to violence and human rights violations, which is another risk factor.

In light of these worrisome developments, the Commissioners emphasize that holding credible elections would be an important sign of democratic change and of respect for human rights, but without drastic and immediate measures, the conditions for such elections are not given. After years of suffering, the Burundian people have the right to live in a reconciled society and a democratic environment.

In 2015, President Pierre Nkunrunziza announced that he would seek a third term, reportedly seen by many Burundians as a breach of the constitution, and which led to political unrest and an upsurge of violence in the country, leaving hundreds dead and prompting around half a million to flee the country.

Since then, Burundi has been trying to find a peaceful solution to the political crisis through the Inter-Burundian Dialogue, which is led by the region and supported by the United Nations, while the country is also preparing for the 2020 elections in May.
As a physician working in Ontarios overburdened hospitals, I make my morning rounds in some rather unusual places.

Some weeks ago, I diagnosed a woman with terminal cancer in our hospitals auditorium. Several days later, I received an urgent call informing me that one of my elderly patients had taken a turn for the worse. Soon after I hung up the phone she took her final breaths in our basement gymnasium.

These harrowing moments are, sadly, not rare events in Ontario. Poor planning and underfunding have pushed our acute care hospitals to the brink.

Despite an optimal occupancy rate of 85 per cent, Ontarios hospitals routinely operate above 100 per cent capacity with rates approaching 120 per cent during the influenza season. According to the Ontario Hospital Association, the province has the lowest number of hospital beds per capita in the developed world.

While torrid population growth will see our cities swell by 5.4 million people over the next 30 years, Ontarios bed capacity has actually fallen by 36 per cent since 1990 and hospital funding remains the lowest in the country. Because patients are not turned away when beds are full, the end result is an epidemic of hallway medicine.

Every day in our province, patients spend some of the most profound moments of their lives  whether dying of cancer or suffering from critical illness  waiting in hallways. Every day, nurses and doctors are forced to transform auditoriums, corridors and stairwells into places of healing.

Many of us who work on the front lines have long warned that such overcrowding is not just inhumane, but dangerous. As the SARS-CoV2 virus circles the globe, Ontario hospitals are likely to face unprecedented capacity challenges.

The provinces acute care system is already straining to contain normal volumes, and the impending pandemic could bring it to the brink of collapse. A 2017 study found that a moderately severe pandemic infecting 30 per cent of the population would increase acute care demand by 20 per cent while doubling the need for ICU beds.

In the absence of makeshift tent hospitals and the cancellation of all non-urgent admissions and surgeries, a coronavirus pandemic risks exhausting our systems bed capacity within weeks. Overwhelmed emergency departments will struggle to accept new patients as those already admitted spill into hallways, exposing other patients and health care workers to a highly contagious and potentially deadly infection.

Overworked and stricken by illness themselves, doctors and nurses will struggle to provide adequate care. Our ICUs will quickly run out of beds, and we may need to start rationing ventilators. The cost of such a crisis will be measured in lives.

Ontario Health Minister Christine Elliott has responded to the impending crisis by encouraging calm and reassuring the public that the system, having learned from the deadly mistakes of SARS, is working as it should.

There is merit in both these strategies. Widespread panic is hardly helpful and the province has indeed made laudable improvements in disease detection and surveillance since the 2003 epidemic. These efforts have thus far prevented a repeat of the SARS crisis, but even the most rigorous public health planning will not save us from what is fundamentally a mathematical problem: too few beds for too many patients.

As the SARS-Cov2 pandemic intensifies, Ontarios containment plan will rapidly transition to a mitigation strategy.

The simple and unyielding truth is that we are not ready for the immense strain this transformation will exert on our health care system. For years our hospitals have struggled to deliver care in ordinary times. That hallway medicine has become the status quo tells us all we need to know about our capacity to cope with the extraordinary threat of a coronavirus pandemic.

This honest assessment of the challenges ahead should not be read as an invitation to panic, but as a sobering reminder that our collective failure to build a sustainable health care system has real consequences.

Without implementation of urgent measures, our hospitals, emergency departments and intensive care units are at risk of collapse. Only by acknowledging this frightening future can we begin the important work of tomorrow.
He may not be a household name but from his baronial-style boardroom overlooking his family's horse stud farm in western India, Cyrus Poonawalla oversees a global vaccine empire that touches the lives of billions of people.

With an estimated fortune of $US9.8 billion ($15.1 billion), Poonawalla, 78, is the founder and chairman of Serum Institute of India (SII), the world's biggest manufacturer of vaccines by number of doses produced, equivalent to about 1.5 billion shots per year.

Cyrus Poonawalla founded Serum Institute of India in 1966 at a time when the country was being forced to import vaccines, then in short supply, at high prices from Western drug makers in order to immunise the country's children. Credit:Getty Images

Now, as the world scrambles to mount an effective response in the battle against coronavirus, Poonawalla hopes his company will play a critical role scaling up production once a vaccine has been developed and declared fit for human use.

It could turn out to be a lucrative opportunity.
The fate of Haars Auction and Drive-In has been uncertain since November of 2019, when Haars Incorporated president Vickie Hardy found a For Sale sign on the Dillsburg property.

As of March 11, that buyer has not yet appeared.

Weve been in contact with the realtor and we are aware that its still up for sale, and that theyre still entertaining offers, Hardy said.

The land on which the auction house and drive-in movie theater operate was originally owned by company founder Vance Haar, but was sold to Giant Food Stores in 2003. Haars Incorporated has leased the land from the grocery store chain ever since.

A statement from Giant Food Stores later that November explained that the company had decided to sell the land after a review of their real estate portfolio, to ensure it meets strategic priorities." Their hope, however, was that whoever bought the land allowed the drive-in to continue operating there.

To that end, Haars Incorporated threw their own hat in the ring.

I know that we did make an offer [on the property], Hardy said. But it was not something they were willing to accept.

But even with the possibility of an eventual sale, Hardy said that Haars Auction and Drive-In is absolutely still moving forward, and that everything is still running as normal.

The auction house on the property operates year-round and has been conducting business as usual, with another regularly scheduled Friday auction planned for March 13.

Furthermore, the drive-in movie theater will resume its regular schedule once the summer starts, Hardy said.

We were going to open a little earlier, but we just spoke with a booking agent, she said. And because of the virus concern thats out there, some of the movies are being delayed in when theyre opening. So at this point in time, were on hold.

READ MORE: Coronavirus in Pennsylvania

The Haars Drive-In operates from Memorial Day through Labor Day, and 2020 will be no exception - even if Giant Food Stores approves a sale tomorrow.

There still will be a six month window [before the sale can be finalized], Hardy said. So that means were still going to be open for drive-in season. Were definitely going to be open for drive-in season.

And while their offer was rejected, Hardy and the rest of Haars Incorporated is still hoping to secure the ownership of the property once more.

I know that what theyre asking for, we cannot come up with that kind of money, Hardy said. I can share that we have been in contact with our local politicians at the township, and even the seller Giant, everyone has the same interest: to keep the drive-in going. Not just this year, but in the future. I think we have good working relationships with the people who can make it happen, so were still hopeful.

Even if we do get our six-month window, this will still not be our last season, she concluded. Were hopeful.
By Mar. 11, 2020

The Alexander Pulaski County Action Council is sponsoring the event at Meridian High School's cafeteria, beginning at 6 pm. Dinner will be served, and door prizes will be given away.





The panel for the discussion will included law enforcement, first responders, multi-agency organizations, physicians, pharmacists, recovery addicts, the state's attorney's office, and the coroner's office.





Anyone who wants more information can call Gabrielle Harris at 618-967-2981.



A town hall meeting is scheduled for Thursday, April 16 to discuss the opioid crisis in Pulaski County.
Enterprises and individuals directly affected by the COVID-19 would be allowed to pay VAT or land rent five months late, according to a proposal of the MoF.

Enterprises hurt by COVID-19 can delay paying tax for five months

In the draft decree extending the deadline for tax and land rent payment, the Ministry of Finance (MoF) assessed that most industries and sectors, especially micro- and small-sized enterprises, individuals, groups of individuals, production households, and businesses are affected by the COVID-19.

Therefore, the MoF proposes extending payment deadlines by five months to businesses, organisations, individuals, groups of individuals, and households directly affected.

The subjects eligible for this extension those working in agriculture, forestry and fishery production, food processing, weaving, clothing production, shoe and footwear production, rubber products production, manufacturing electronic products, computers, manufacturing and assembling automobiles (except for manufacturing and assembling cars with less than nine seats).

The extension also applies to rail, road, waterway, aviation, warehousing, and other supporting activities for transportation, accommodation, catering and other activities of travel agencies, as well as tour and support services.

In addition, micro- and small-sized enterprises defined in the Law on Support for Small- and Medium-sized Enterprises are also entitled to this policy.

Enterprises would be eligible for an extension on VAT payments in the first and second quarter of 2020. It is estimated that the payment of about VND22.6 trillion ($982.6 million) of tax from enterprises will be extended for five months.

In addition, about VND3 trillion ($130.43 million) of VAT and personal income tax payable in 2020 by individuals, groups of individuals, and business households are also extended to December 15.

In addition, the MoF proposed to extend the land rent payments by five months for payments due in the first quarterof 2020. Extended land rent is expected at about VND4.5 trillion ($195.65 million). However, the revenue of the state budget in 2020 will not decrease due to business households and individuals still having to pay for the budget before October 31.

In spite of the extended schedule, taxpayers still have to declare and submit tax returns according to current regulations.

Instructions on extension or delay of tax payment by COVID-19

In the case of suffering material damage due to natural disasters or epidemics such as COVID-19, businesses can apply for an extension in tax payment and even exemption from late payment fees.

Due to the impacts of the novel coronavirus, many businesses suffered great losses and are having difficulties in producing and consuming goods and services, and were unable to pay taxes on time.

According to the newly issued guidelines of the tax authorities, in order to extend the tax payment deadline and receive an exemption from late tax payment fines, enterprises must prove they have suffered "material damage which directly affects production and business due to natural disasters, fires, or unexpected accident.

The tax authorities define the case of "material damage" as property losses such as machines, equipment, vehicles, supplies, goods, workshops, workplaces, money, or valuable papers.

The "unexpected accident" is a sudden occurrence that happens unexpectedly to taxpayers, caused by an external factor that directly affects production and business. These cases, in addition to situations such as traffic accidents or serious illnesses, among others, also include "infectious epidemics at the announced area of epidemics or other force majeure cases."

In order to enjoy the policy, the taxpayer has to make and send a dossier of request for tax payment extension to their direct tax administration agency, including a written request for tax payment extension, a stocktaking record, an evaluation of material damage, and a written certification from the police office or People's Committee of the commune, ward, or the management board of the industrial park or export processing zone. In addition, taxpayers should send any additional compensation file (if any) confirmed by the insurance agency.

In case of seeking exemption from late tax payment, the taxpayer must also submit a written request and a written certification of the extent of the property damage to the competent agency. VIR

Trang Duong/Chi Duong

Derivative aluminium, steel exporters urged to consider request for tax exemption Firms which exported derivative aluminium and steel to the US needed to work with their partners on requesting tax exemption in case their products satisfied conditions for exclusion, according to the Trade Remedies Authority of Viet Nam.
The internet has led to major changes in nearly every area of modern life, higher education included.

Many colleges and universities have created internet-based study programs to meet the needs of todays students. But a growing number of experts say more change is required.

A recent study from an American non-profit research organization suggests colleges and universities must also expand what they are teaching. Researchers found a need for schools to add internet use training to their study programs. This training, they say, should center on how to best use the internet to find trustworthy information.

The Harvard Graduate School of Education and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation established Project Information Literacy. It examines how college students find, process and use information. In January, the organization released findings from an opinion study of 37 professors and over 100 college students from across the United States.

The study found the current generation of young people who grew up using the internet on a usual basis is highly distrustful of much of the information they find online. They question how internet companies use software programs known as algorithms to decide what information users see.

Discussion of the algorithms and how they affect online information is also lacking in college and university classrooms, the study found.

Algorithms affect nearly every part of a persons experience on the internet, notes Margy MacMillan, a leading researcher with Project Information Literacy. She says it relates to how internet companies like Google and Facebook make money.

Search engines like Google are most peoples entry to the internet, says MacMillan. If a person wants to find information about something, they usually start with Googles search bar. As soon as they start typing or choosing links, Googles algorithm starts gathering data about every choice users make.

Google uses that data to try to find the websites or information that most directly relate to what the user is looking for, MacMillan says. But companies also pay Google to post advertisements for products that could relate to users search data. For example, if you search for places to take a vacation, you will likely start to see ads for travel companies, flights or hotels. There are also possible harmful uses of the software programs.

There are algorithms that are deciding who gets a loan and who doesnt based on information about where that person lives, MacMillan told VOA. There are algorithms being used to determine healthcare. ... There are algorithms being used in deciding who gets a job  Were seeing governments use it for decision making in criminal justice.  And part of the difficulty with algorithms is we dont always know which information theyre drawing from.

The problem with algorithms like those of Google and Facebook is that they can limit the kinds of information people see, says MacMillan. For example, if you look at news stories on a website run by people with a given set of political beliefs, the algorithm remembers those choices. The next time you search for news, your search engine will likely present more stories from websites that also express those beliefs. And political ads that represent those beliefs may start to appear in your social media feed.

MacMillan argues this can be harmful to peoples critical thinking and lead them to believe that only one point of view is the correct one.

Project Information Literacy found that college students understand that companies gather their data and direct their internet use. They are unhappy about this, the study showed. So many students are sharing methods for avoiding algorithmic controls.

This includes creating false online accounts so search results are unaffected by earlier searches. Also, a growing number of students are choosing to use a wide variety of websites so that they get information from different sources.

Renee Hobbs argues that algorithms are not all bad. She is the director of the Media Education Lab at the University of Rhode Island. Hobbs says search engine algorithms can help you find what might be the most useful information faster.

But she says it is in the interest of internet companies to keep users on the internet for as long as possible so they see more ads. So search engine algorithms, for example, not only use your search history to decide what to show you. They also present links and information that are most likely to get your attention and not necessarily those that are truthful or trustworthy.

That is why she and Margy MacMillan agree that as colleges and universities ask students to use the internet more in their studies, schools must train them how to do so. This is also known as algorithm literacy, which they say professors should include in class discussions.

Hobbes says, People who are more knowledgeable about the technologies that are part of their everyday lives are generally able to avoid some of the  risks and harms that can come from not understanding how algorithms shape the content we receive.

MacMillan says it is the duty of higher education to keep the population informed about the world around them. Yet it is not the duty of higher education alone.

She says news agencies need to report more about how internet companies use algorithm personalization. And American lawmakers should consider increasing data protection rules.

Im Jill Robbins.

And Im Pete Musto.

Pete Musto reported this story for VOA Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page.

________________________________________________________________

Quiz - Experts Say Colleges Must Help Students Understand Internet Algorithms Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz



___________________________________________

Words in This Story

online  adj. connected to a computer, a computer network, or the Internet

typing  v. writing with a computer keyboard or typewriter

determine  v. to be the cause of or reason for something

drawing from  p.v. to form something, such as an idea or conclusion, after thinking carefully about information you have

feed  n. a means of notifying the user of a website that new content has been added.

variety  n. the quality or state of having or including many different things

source(s)  n. someone or something that provides what is wanted or needed
It started from China, and quickly spread across the world, but the deadly coronavirus failed to impact Chinas neighbour Taiwan the way it has affected over 80 countries.

The island has been held up as an example of how to handle an outbreak, with the government moving early and fast to reduce overseas arrivals from infected areas and issue clear medical guidance that has been widely adopted by the public.

Tackling coronavirus: Track Live Updates

Despite being so close to the original outbreak in mainland China, Taiwan has just 48 confirmed cases of the Covid-19 disease with one death, compared with more than 80,000 on the other side of the Taiwan Strait in China. And this has happened due to stringent checks and contact tracing among its 23 million people.

The island is on high alert to prevent further infections.

The government said on Wednesday the islands 48th case was a woman in her 30s who had returned from holiday in Britain and had most likely been infected there.

Taiwan was briefly struck by panic buying of medical face masks earlier this year until the government introduced a rationing system.

Correctional facilities across Taiwan are taking part in the new scheme to manufacture cloth face masks and face mask protectors to supply their staff and the public. The World health Organisation (WHO) has, however, said that masks are not effective in controlling the spread of the virus.

In a report to parliament on Tuesday, Taiwans central bank said the spread of the virus presents a major uncertainty for the economy, which is a key link of the global technology supply chain, and could shave up to 0.7 percentage points from economic growth this year.

Taiwan stocks advanced 0.4 per cent on Wednesday morning, but are down about eight per cent so far this year.

Taiwan, whose largest trading partner is China, cut its estimate for 2020 economic growth to 2.37 per cent last month.

On Monday, as global stocks crashed due to an oil price war and fears over the spreading epidemic, foreign investors sold $1.82 billion of Taiwan stocks - the largest single day outflow since the 2008 financial crisis.
A man from Droitwich, Worcestershire was left horrified after he found a bunch of deadly spiders on a banana he bought from Lidl, a supermarket chain that operates across Europe. According to media reports, the man named Nick Southam, who is an engineer by profession spotted a strange lump on a banana he was about to eat. The sac suddenly popped and dozens of spiders started limping out of it.

Read: French 'Spiderman' Scales 475 Feet Tower Without Ropes To Raise Awareness About COVID-19

As per reports, Nick quickly managed to capture one of the spiders on his phone and sent it to iSpot, a specialist website that helps in identifying wildlife. The website later informed Nick that the spider was identified as a potentially deadly Brazilian wandering spider, also known as Ctenidae, a species known for having a highly toxic bite. According to Nick, most of the spiders in the sac were dead because of the unsuitable weather condition, however, some were still very much alive and walking.

Read: Marvel Cinematic Universe's Most Endearing Relationships; Iron Man-Spiderman To Loki-Thor

Brazilian wandering spiders

As per reports, the Brazilian wandering spiders can grow to have a leg span of 13 to 15 cm and their body length can range from 17 to 48 mm. The Ctenidae spiders often feed on insects, other spiders, and small reptiles or mice. The spiders have also acquired their other common name 'banana spider' because it is claimed that they are often found in shipments of bananas.

The bite of the Brazilian spider can cause human beings to show symptoms within half an hour leading to blood pressure and heart rate fluctuations. A bite can also cause abdominal cramping, nausea, hypothermia, vertigo, and blurred vision. It can lead to excessive sweating and the human body can go into shock. There are well-attested instances of death wherein one case a single spider bite killed two children in Sao Sebastiao, a municipality in Brazil.

(Representative image)

Read: Spider-Man: Far From Home Review | The MCU Venture Is A light-hearted Refreshment Post Avengers: Endgame

Read: Tom Holland Claims To Know 'everything About Spider-Man 3' & This Time He 'won't Spoil It'
Healthcare guidance platform HealthJoy announced today it will create a set of specialized resources in its mobile app to respond to escalating member questions about the novel coronavirus causing the disease COVID-19.

Amid increasing US diagnoses and heightened fear, HealthJoy members can find answers by accessing resources in the HealthJoy app. HealthJoy will add a coronavirus support card to its app, which displays employee benefits in a digital wallet. The coronavirus card will include information directly from the CDC regarding support and testing, as well as contact information to connect members to live support from a healthcare concierge.

The companys healthcare team is fielding a high volume of calls fueled by fears of the virus. As COVID-19 cases in the US multiply, requests for appointments related to respiratory symptoms are spiking, HealthJoy CEO Justin Holland said.

HealthJoys AI-powered chatbot and live support team work together to help members make medical appointments, schedule telemedicine visits, and answer company benefit questions via a mobile app.

Weve seen a real jump in messages about COVID-19, Holland said. People are scared. Were dedicating a line to COVID-19 requests in an effort to proactively meet the needs of our members around the country.

HealthJoys healthcare concierge team is ready to help members experiencing mild symptoms meet with a medical provider virtually through the platforms telemedicine feature, eliminating the risk of exposure that accompanies an unnecessary hospital visit. The concierge team will also help members find an in-person provider who can conduct testing and can even schedule an appointment on the members behalf.

In light of the outbreak, Holland said the healthcare concierge team will help members make the most of other services as well. For instance, they will point members who may be experiencing anxiety or fear around the outbreak to online counseling via HealthJoy EAP (Employee Assistance Program) or similar employer-provided programs.

Were ready to help members, whether that means directing them toward medical help or just easing their fears, Mr. Holland said. This step is a natural extension of our mission to guide our members to affordable, high-quality healthcare and our vision of removing the complexity from being healthy.

About HealthJoy

HealthJoy is a centralized benefits platform driven by AI technology and backed by live, personalized guidance. HealthJoy empowers employees to make the most of their benefits, meaning our clients see higher employee satisfaction, simplified cost containment, and fewer questions for HR.
A boost in the residential building industry will be needed to underpin Australia's economic growth and stability amid the coronavirus shock, said a market expert from the Housing Industry Association (HIA).

Kristin Brookfield, chief executive for industry policy at HIA, said the residential building industry should remain one of the priorities of the Australian government when thinking of ways to stimulate the economy.

"Australia is emerging from a residential building downturn, and in the face of the coronavirus shock, stability and clear direction to ensure the housing market does not take a backward step is essential," she said.

Brookfield said guaranteeing a stable residential building sector will help uplift industry and consumer confidence.

Also read: The property wolf who cried Coronavirus

The construction industry contributed $105bn for the Australian economy in 2018 and accounted for 5.8% of overall expenditure. An earlier study by the HIA said that while industry felt its sharpest decline in commencements last year, the market already reached a turning point at the end of 2019 due to interest-rate cuts and house-price gains.

Still, the growth in construction is expected to be modest compared to the previous highs.

Brookfield said it is crucial for state and federal governments to stimulate activity in the residential building industry to be able to support other industries.

"Residential building stimulus was a key element in the response to the 2009 global financial crisis and the results then were very positive. Residential building activity also supports a range of other industries important to our economy, like building product manufacturing, to remain stable," she said.

The industry employs 1.1 million people  this stresses the need for maintaining a strong workforce in the industry.

"Any stimulus aimed at the residential building sector should focus on ensuring the current workforce remain on task and ensuring young people see the opportunity to move into a career in building and take up new apprenticeships," Brookfield said.
Rana Kapoor, the founder of Yes Bank was trying to sell of three prime properties before he was arrested by Enforcement Directorate (ED). The properties were worth Rs 1,000 crore and belonged to wife Bindu Kapoor who has also come under the ED's scanner. It is suspected that the banker was trying to dispose of his assets and leave the country.

The properties in Delhi are now under the ED's scanner. One of the properties under the scanner was bought from Avantha Realty, Gautam Thapar's company that had borrowed money from Yes Bank.

As per sources, Bindu Kapoor bought the prime property at Delhi's Amrita Shergil Marg in the name of her company Bliss Abode Ltd on account of a loan default by Avantha Realty. Yes Bank's exposure to the company was Rs 500 crore, and Bliss Abode bought this property by raising Rs 380 crore from a Mumbai-bases non-banking financial company.

Also read: RBI digs into Yes Bank's past, questions auditor

Yes Bank, also instead of going for the procedure under RBI that suggests ways to recover loans, allegedly sold the property for bare minimum price of Rs 380 crore to Bliss Abode.

Rana Kapoor reportedly asked some top official from Yes Bank to help in selling these properties. Amrita Shergill Marg is a prime location and according to sources, the property was priced at around Rs 450 crore.

The other two properties are located in Chanakyapuri and Sardar Patel Marg areas of the city. These properties belong to Bliss Villa (Delhi) Pvt Ltd. The company selling these three properties was expecting around Rs 350 crore through sale of Kautilya Marg in Chankyapuri property and around Rs 250 crore from Diplomatic Enclave, Sardar Patel Marg property.

Also read: Yes Bank crisis: Rana Kapoor to appear at PMLA court; Bindu, Roshini Kapoor reach ED office

Also read: Yes Bank said 'Yes' to all bad boys of Indian banking
GlobalDatas latest report, "Vietnam Cards & Payments: Opportunities and Risks to 2023", states that the countrys e-commerce market has doubled during the past five years, with total online spending increasing from VND90.1 trillion ($3.9 billion) in 2015 to VND218.3 trillion ($9.5 billion) in 2019.

Nikhil Reddy, Banking and Payments analyst at GlobalData, said, While the traditional payment instruments such as cash, cards, and bank transfers are widely used for e-commerce purchases, consumer preference for alternative payments is on the rise. There is a growing demand for faster and more convenient payment means, especially among tech-savvy millennials.

According to GlobalDatas 2019 Banking and Payments Survey, cash is still the most preferred payment mode for e-commerce purchases in Vietnam, accounting for 35.6 per cent in 2019. Alternative payment solutions are gradually gaining ground and accounted for 15.5 per cent. MoMo is the most preferred alternative payment solution in Vietnam, followed by PayPal.

Strong growth has prompted global companies to invest in Vietnamese e-commerce companies. In 2018, e-commerce company Tiki received $5.3 million and $44 million funding from VNG Corporation and Chinese investor JD.com, respectively. In the same year, another company Sendo secured $51 million from SBI Group (a Japan-based financial services company) and other investors. Furthermore, Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba invested an additional $2 billion in Lazada, one of the leading e-commerce companies in the country.

Reddy concludes that, Improving payments infrastructure, coupled with rising consumer confidence in online shopping and the availability of convenient payment solutions are expected to further drive e-commerce growth in Vietnam.
South Africa: W Cape activates COVID-19 Outbreak Response team

The Western Cape has activated its Outbreak Response team in association with the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD).

The activation follows confirmation by the national Health Department of the first Coronavirus patient in the Western Cape on Wednesday.

The patient is a 36-year-old male in the City of Cape Town. He presented himself to a private healthcare facility with flu-like symptoms and a recent travel history to Europe.

Six new cases were confirmed in South Africa on Wednesday, bringing the total number to 13.

The Outbreak Response team is set to trace the travel history, movements and contacts of the person to ensure containment.

Contacts, including those on the flight, will be followed up and monitored for the next two weeks, as per the World Health Organisation guidelines. The travel history and movements of the person will be traced in order to ensure containment, said Western Cape Premier Alan Winde.

As per set procedures, the 36-year-old patient was kept in isolation for the last 48 hours since 9 March 2020 until the laboratory confirmed tests.

Earlier this week, I activated the Joint Operations Centre (JOC) to ensure our preparedness to respond to the Coronavirus and five work-streams have been established to ensure a coordinated response. I have convened a Special Cabinet on Friday where we will receive a report back on their work, said the Premier.

Winde urged Western Cape residents to play their part in limiting the spread of the virus.

Firstly, he called on residents to stay calm and follow the direction of the NICD, regarding testing and, if necessary, isolation.

They are following international best-practise and have you, and your fellow residents, best interest at heart.

Secondly, if you have flu-like symptoms and have travelled internationally or have been in contact with someone who has travelled internationally, you should call the dedicated Coronavrius Hotline, operated by the NICD, on 0800 029 999, said Winde.

Thirdly, Winde reiterated practising good hygiene, such as washing your hands regularly and thoroughly and coughing or sneezing into a tissue or the corner of your arm.

Lastly, please dont spreads fake news. We really need to verify all information first.

Spreading panic will only make responding more difficult. It is important to highlight that in the majority cases the virus presents mildly and there is a significantly high recovery rate.

It is important that we go on with our daily lives while following these basic steps. I promise you that I will keep you updated on all developments, said the Premier.

For more information on basic good hygiene practises, residents can visit the provincial governments dedicated webpage: www.westerncape.gov.za/coronavirus.

Additionally, the following official channels contain important information and can be contacted:

- SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2020-03-11. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Delhi riots were pre-planned, says HM Amit Shah; Oppn slams BJP

India

oi-PTI

New Delhi, Mar 11: The opposition in Lok Sabha on Wednesday demanded the resignation of Home Minister Amit Shah on the Centre over "failure" to contain violence in Delhi.

But BJP alleged a conspiracy behind the riots and sought to blame anti-CAA protests for the situation.

On Wednesday, as the House discussed the recent communal riots in the national capital that have claimed 52 lives, ruling and opposition members traded charges over alleged hate speeches by leaders before the outbreak of violence.

Defending the government, the BJP members said the home minister and authorities took pro-active steps to control the situation. Initiating the discussion on "recent law and order situation in some parts of Delhi", Congress leader in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury wondered how violence continued for three days despite the fact that Delhi Police is one of the best equipped in the country.

"The Home Minister (Amit Shah) will have to explain," he said.

Hitting out at the prime minister, he said, Nero fiddled while Rome burned. When Delhi was witnessing violence, Modi was hosting US President Donald Trump in Ahmedabad, the Congress leader said.

Chowdhury said while some claimed Hindus won, the others said Muslims won in the violence.

"The fact is that humanity was defeated," he said. He said the situation came under control soon after National Security Advisor Ajit Doval visited the violence-hit areas.

"Why could not the Home Minister go... NSA reports to the Prime Minister. Does this mean that the Prime Minister's Office had lost faith in the home ministry," Chowdhury said hitting out at Shah.

Chowdhury alleged that Delhi High Court judge S Muralidhar was transferred out as he had questioned the failure of the Delhi Police in containing the violence.

He said the "midnight" notification was aimed at preventing adverse strictures against the government. Nishikant Dubey (BJP) said the transfer was recommended by the Supreme Court collegium and the government had nothing to do with it.

Chowdhury sought resignation of Shah, a demand echoed by TMC's Saugata Roy, CPI-M member A M Ariff and N K Premchandran of RSP. "Mr Shah, in the name of God, go," Roy said while looking at Shah who was present in the House.

AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi said there is a "tsunami of Hindutva hate" and called for an impartial probe to find the perpetrators of the violence. Some of his remarks evoked sharp response from the Treasury benches, with at least two Union ministers -- Ravi Shankar Prasad and Kishan Reddy -- registering their protests.

Speaker Om Birla also expunged certain remarks made by Owaisi. BJP members said evidence showed that stones and petrol bombs were stored in huge quantity to fuel the violence.

BJP leader Meenakshi Lekhi alleged that some people are taking political benefit out of the incidents of violence. Referring to the killing of IB officer Ankit Sharma during the riots, she said 400 wounds were found on his body.

"What kind of hatred was this... we should discuss that also," she said, adding the riots were pre-planned. She also alleged that stones and catapults were found in the house of an AAP councillor and hate speeches were given by an MLA of the party.

"Every tenth home had catapults, which were used in the riots," she added.

Lekhi hit back at the Opposition after it questioned the timing of transfer of Justice Muralidhar, saying IB reports of "some people" should be made public to clear the air. Lekhi, however, did not name anyone.

"Some judges, I won't name, some judges believe that unless a protest is violent, police will not take action. Who will decide when will the protest become violent.. the judges they have named.... They don't know that government cannot transfer without recommendation... transfer was not done, it had already happened. "I want to say that the IB (Intelligence Bureau) reports about some people should be made public. Everyone will understand who was transferred and for what reason," she said.

Danish Ali (BSP) demanded that certain remarks of Lekhi be expunged. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said members should not take the names of any religion in the debate.

Birla expunged certain names taken by Lekhi and asked her not to name people.

Lekhi said that the government acted pro-actively and riots were controlled within 36 hours. She also said that the allegations of hate speeches on Anurag Thakur and Parvesh Verma were not relevant as the riots started on February 23. She also defended BJP leader Kapil Mishra, saying it was wrong to blame him for the riots. However, TMC's Saugata Roy criticised the remarks by Lekhi, who is a senior lawyer, calling her "Devil's advocate".

Lekhi alleged that after the speech of Congress leader Sonia Gandhi at Ramlila maidan, people had started gathering. Similar speeches were given by Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi as well, Lekhi said.

"For three months, people are sitting on roads," she said referring to people protesting at Shaheen Bagh against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act. She added that work to instigate people and propagate extremism was going on since long.

"This government wants to do the politics of development," she said, adding the government is providing houses, power connections and cylinders to people not on the basis of religion. "Why is the opposition spreading rumours," she said.

She said that the current government "violated the no go zone" and acted to scrap Article 370 and triple talaq. She said that opposition members of the House understand the CAA law but are "continuously misleading the people".

Citing certain data on riots, Lekhi said during 1950 to 1964, as many as 243 riots are documented. When Indira Gandhi was prime minister, 337 riots happened during 1966 to 1977 and 1980 and 1984. Similarly, when Rajiv Gandhi was Prime Minister, 291 riots occurred during 1984 and 1989. Out of 1094 riots, 871 happened during Congress regime, which was 73 per cent, she added.

"18 big riots happened during Congress regime," she added.

She said that the opposition is taking about one riot in Gujarat but no riots happened in that state after 2002. She said that the people of Delhi must be feeling guilty as after voting a government which gave free power and water they are now facing such incidents.

She said Doval visited the areas hit by riots as he is in-charge of the security of the country. On the allegation that Home Minister Amit Shah did not act, she listed out meetings of the Home Minister with officers to assess the situation.

T R Baalu (DMK) said that the Delhi riots and the law and order situation of the national capital were discussed in parliaments of the UK, Iran, Indonesia, Turkey and Malaysia.

These countries "are making fun of us", he said. These all countries have raised concerns over the CAA, he said adding today was the 88th day of protest at Shaheen Bagh "without any problem".

The protest was happening silently and peacefully there because that are managed by minorities, he said. Baalu said that "what went wrong" as over 50 people were killed in the Delhi violence. He said that although Delhi Police is efficient in managing the issues, "why all went wrong" on those days.

"The inaction of the police has been advised by the administration," he said. He also alleged that ABVP, RSS student wing, is the root cause of the incidents at the Jawaharlal Nehru University in December last year. He also said that BJP leader Kapil Mishra's "hate speeches" led to these riots.

Tejasvi Surya of BJP claimed that while there wasn't anything anti-Muslim in CAA, the anti-CAA protests had "a lot of anti-Hindu" feelings.

AAP member Bhagwant Mann claimed that people were brought from outside to incite violence and that it was a "sponsored riots".

CPI's K Subbarayan alleged that hate speeches was a reason and that the central government was complicit in the riots. CPI-M member A M Ariff alleged that the government was "killing the country's secular nature".

He also referred to banning of two Malayalam television channels regarding their coverage of Delhi riots and the transfer of high court judge.

Ariff also demanded the resignation of the home minister. Condemning the violence, NCP member Amol Ramsing Kolhe wondered whether hate speeches cannot be controlled, and flagged concerns about "religious nationalism".

Taking a dig, he remarked that "if there is a heart in the 56-inch chest," then they would say that there were shortcomings in dealing with the situation. IUML leader P K Kunhalikutty said "majority of the minority community" are scared due to plans for NRC and NPR.

While claiming that the Citizenship Amendment Act was the first law passed in the name of religion, he said India is becoming a theological state. BJP member Sanjay Jaiswal criticised the Congress and mentioned about various incidents of violence that happened when the rival party ruled. He also said that "people should not be burnt just because they lost 2019 elections".

National Conference member Hasnain Masoodi alleged that the government has promoted a culture of impunity and that there was total negligence.

K R K Raju (YSRCP) said it should be probed why the violence happened, especially when US President Donald Trump was visiting the country.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Thursday, March 12, 2020, 0:59 [IST]
(Photo : Mastercard/Facebook) Mastercard will be chipping in $25 million for initiative. (Photo : Wellcome Trust/Facebook) Wellcome will be joining The Gates Foundation and Mastercard to accelerate the fight against COVID-19.

Bill & Gates Foundation announced on Tuesday, Mar. 10, a new initiative with Wellcome and Mastercard to speed up the development of identifying, assessing, developing, and scaling treatments for the novel coronavirus or COVID-19 outbreak.

The COVID-19 Initiative

In a press release, the three groups disclosed that they had accumulated a total amount of $125 million in seed funding for the COVID-19 Therapeutics Accelerator, and committed to "equitable access, including making products available and affordable in low-resource settings."

The COVID-19 Therapeutics Accelerator will be used to evaluate both new and repurposed biologic and drugs to treat patients with COVID-19 for the immediate term. However, the initiative also aims to address other viral pathogens in the future.

Part of the initiative's plan is to test these drugs on coronavirus for the next five to six weeks.

The initiative will also screen libraries of compounds with verified safety data, as well as consider new ones along with monoclonal antibodies.

Unity Against Coronavirus

As per TechCrunch, access to kits that can determine whether a suspected patient has contracted the novel coronavirus disease is a struggle for almost all the healthcare systems around the world, as with obtaining potentially expensive therapeutics that could be developed by private sectors.

Furthermore, government agencies are also struggling to create a treatment for COVID-19 due to a lack of resources.

The Gates Foundation also stated that there are not enough antivirals and immunotherapies that are available to fight any emerging pathogens, and none is approved for use against the highly infectious new disease ravaging the earth today.

ALSO READ: Collapsed Coronavirus Quarantine Hotel: Social Media Speculates that This is China Trying to Bury Failed Recovery Patients!

"If we want to make the world safe from outbreaks like COVID-19, particularly for those most vulnerable, then we need to find a way to make research and development move faster," chief executive officer of the Gates Foundation, Mark Suzman, said in the statement.

They also encouraged the government, private sectors, as well as philanthropic organizations to work together to fund the discovery and development of a cure.

Working on a Cure

Meanwhile, StatNews claimed that the COVID-19 Therapeutics Accelerator alone would not be enough to create new medicine, but it should be able to jumpstart the process.

According to them, the president of the Gates Foundation, Trevor Mundel, said that the fund would be divided among companies as well as academic researchers to start the process immediately while waiting for the government's fund.

READ ALSO: Four British Skiers with 'Most Aggressive Strain' of Coronavirus 'Cannot Stay in Saalbach Anymore'

The Gates Foundation president also said that for a medicine to be developed within the next year to 18 months, an entity should step in between the private and public sectors, including the World Health Organization (WHO).

Mundel has estimated around two dozen companies will be involved in the process, including both small biotechs and larger pharmaceutical companies.

The Gates Foundation will chip in $50 million--part of the $100 million it pledged last week against COVID--with Wellcome committing the same amount while Mastercard Impact Fund is giving $25 million.

Mastercard established the latter in 2018, which plans to award up to half a billion dollars in charitable grants.

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
In discussions about renewable energy, Azerbaijan is not the first country that springs to mind.

As one of the world's top 25 oil and gas producers, Azerbaijan is better known for its substantial Caspian Sea hydrocarbon reserves and ambitious pipelines shipping oil and natural gas to Russia, Turkey, and Europe.

But Baku now is expanding its ambitions to wind and solar energy, with two new contracts signed this year for large-scale projects costing a total of $400 million.

One of the deals, with Saudi Arabias ACWA, is for the construction of a 240-megawatt wind farm in the Khizi and Absheron districts on Azerbaijans Caspian Sea coast, the windiest region in the country. A second deal with Masdar, a firm based in Abu Dhabi, is for a 200-megawatt solar plant further south, near Alat.

These are substantial projects, known as grid scale in energy parlance. In neighboring Turkey, which has a well-developed wind power sector with about 275 farms, only one of them tops 240 megawatts. Azerbaijans solar plant will be the fourth-largest in Europe and the former Soviet Union. In total, the two projects are expected to generate up to 1.4 terawatt hours of power, about 5 percent of Azerbaijans current energy needs.

Longer term, the plans are even more ambitious: for renewables to meet 30 percent of the countrys needs by 2030. With help from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Azerbaijan is developing renewable energy auctions to support private investment in further renewable energy projects.

Azerbaijan currently has about 6,650 megawatts of generating capacity, and about 92 percent of the countrys energy in 2019 was produced by burning natural gas.

But the countrys potential for renewable energy dwarfs that, Zaur Mammadov, a senior Ministry of Energy official, told an Istanbul renewable energy conference organized by the U.S. think tank Atlantic Council in February. That includes 23,000 megawatts of solar energy, 3,000 megawatts of wind, 3,000 megawatts of biomass burning, and 700 megawatts of geothermal energy.



Related: Big Oil Prepares To Suffer In 2020

The optimistic estimates for Azerbaijans wind and solar potential are backed up by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) in a November report. "Despite current reliance on oil and gas, the country has excellent wind and solar resources, along with significant prospects for biomass, geothermal and hydropower development," the report said.

Reducing gas consumption

Boosting Azerbaijan's renewable energy sector will help the country meet its commitments to reduce greenhouse gases under the 2016 Paris Agreement on climate change, which Baku has both signed and ratified.

But dont assume that the push for renewables is motivated by an environmentalist impulse.

In recent years, as its domestic energy consumption has increased, Azerbaijan has struggled to meet its obligations on a variety of contracts to export gas westward. To meet those shortfalls, it has had to import natural gas from Russia. Renewables offer a way to keep that from happening again.

The two new wind and solar plants will free up for export about 300 million cubic meters per year of gas that Azerbaijan had been burning for domestic power use, Mammadov said.

"The Azeri authorities are concerned about climate change, and their development of renewables will help reduce CO2 emissions, but their prime incentive for developing wind and solar power is to ensure they can provide energy at home whilst maintaining gas export levels," John Roberts, a regional energy analyst, told Eurasianet.



Related: U.S. Shale Collapse Will Lead To Higher Oil Prices

"There are routine shortages for domestic gas, and because this gas is subsidized  and the Azerbaijani authorities are worried about the social and political consequences if they reduce subsidies too fast  this means they either have to import gas or to find ways of substituting gas consumption at home with renewables," Roberts added.

Azerbaijan is not alone in this strategy; Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan also are seeking to boost renewable energy to increase natural gas exports.

Georgia, meanwhile, is seeking to boost renewable energy to reduce its dependence on the gas it buys from Azerbaijan (and Russia). George Chikovani, the CEO of the Georgian Energy Development Fund, said Georgia plans to have 1,200 megawatts of wind energy capacity and up to 6,000 megawatts of solar capacity by 2030. The countrys first solar plant, with a capacity of 25 megawatts, is expected to begin operations later this year.

Strange bedfellows

Azerbaijans renewable push has an unlikely supporter in the UK.

Global Warming Policy Foundation (GWPF) is a body set up by prominent climate change denier and former UK chancellor Lord Nigel Lawson. It challenges the mainstream view that climate change is manmade and opposes government policies to mitigate it. One of its longtime board members, Baroness Emma Nicholson, is the UKs trade envoy to Azerbaijan, where the energy giant BP is the countrys largest foreign investor and largest producer of natural gas.

But in a February 20 interview with the Azerbaijani news agency Report.az, the baroness expressed Londons willingness to "help maximize Azerbaijan's solar, wind and hydro generation," celebrating the opportunity for "both of our nations to take the necessary measures to address climate change.

By Eurasianet.org

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Bazaar Corporate Radar is your window into the minds of top CEOs, Boardrooms, global economists, fund managers and sector analysts. If it?s making news, you?ll find it on Bazaar Corporate Radar.
As the widening coronavirus epidemic spreads across the state, New Jersey now has more than 100 people in voluntary self-quarantine, officials say.

Those individuals  who have not been hospitalized, but may have been exposed to the virus  have been being told to isolate themselves in an effort to keep the potentially deadly COVID-19 outbreak in check.

Early containment will help prevent the community spread, said state Christina Tan the states epidemiologist, at a press briefing in Ewing on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, nobody in New Jersey is currently under mandatory quarantine, although a woman who flew from Hubei to Newark Liberty International Airport last month was ordered into a 14-day quarantine in February. While she did not show any symptoms of the virus, she had arrived from the Chinese province where the virus originated.

Self-imposed quarantines are voluntary and are considered recommendations, said state health officials. Violating mandatory quarantine orders, though, in New Jersey can carry civil and sometimes criminal penalties that vary depending on the circumstances.

The state has the power to protect the populace and they have the power to enforce quarantine when those interests overcome a persons due process rights in freedom, said Rutgers Law School professor Louis Raveson, a former assistant commissioner in the Department of the Public Advocate.

In the event of a state quarantine order, the matter would first be subject to be a court hearing, he said. If a judge upheld the quarantine and an individual still refused to obey, the state could obtain an injunction to force the quarantine.

My guess is the courts would err on the side of protecting the greater public, Raveson said.

That is already the case with vaccines, he noted, where vaccination is mandated in many states because of the compelling interest in the broader health of the community.

As of Wednesday, 23 people in New Jersey were infected with coronavirus, which claimed its first victim this week with the death of a 69-year-old coronavirus patient in Bergen County. Those currently in quarantine include 122 people with no symptoms who returned from China and Iran who are now being self-isolated based on their travel history, said health officials. Its a fluid figure.

The number of individuals who are self-quarantined changes frequently as individuals rotate on and off of the 14-day quarantine period, said Donna Leusner, a spokeswoman for the Department of Health. None of the individuals are considered high risk.

All are monitored by local health officials and must watch for symptoms and take temperature daily, she said. Local health officials contact them via phone or Skype.

All have complied with requests for isolate themselves, unlike a Missouri man who recently ignored health officials directives to self-quarantine after his daughter tested positive for coronavirus, and instead went a school dance with his other daughter.

We have had no one that we know of that has broken quarantine, said Department of Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli.

Separately, Herb Conaway, D-Burlington, who chairs the Health committee in the Assembly, said the Legislature is now examining New Jerseys laws about voluntary quarantine. He called breaking quarantine a serious transgression of the social contract we owe one another.

Disregarding a self-quarantine request in New Jersey has led to headlines in the past. In 2014, medical correspondent Nancy Snyderman, then working for NBC News covering the Ebola epidemic in Liberia, agreed to self-quarantine at her Princeton home after a colleague developed Ebola symptoms. When she was later spotted outside her home in violation of that agreement, she was apologized and was hit with a mandatory quarantine order.

That same year, Kaci Hickox, who worked for Doctors without Borders as an infectious disease public health nurse in Sierra Leone when the Ebola outbreak began in West Africa, filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against former Gov. Chris Christie after she was held for 80 hours in an isolation tent at University Hospital in Newark after arriving at Newark Liberty International Airport. She never exhibited any symptoms. The lawsuit was settled in 2017 with a bill of rights that spelled out rights for those in quarantine.

In general the first step is self-quarantine. Most people are going to comply, said Seton Hall Law School professor Carl Coleman who specializes in the legal, ethical, and public policy implications of medical treatment, research, and public health.

While the state has very broad authority, he said any move to quarantine has to start off with the least restrictive means.

In general, there is no reason to believe people wouldnt self-quarantine if they were asked to do so, he said.

MORE: Keeping up with coronavirus in N.J.: First, dont panic. Our newsletter might help.

Staff writer Joe Brandt contributed to this report.

Ted Sherman may be reached at tsherman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TedShermanSL. Facebook: @TedSherman.reporter. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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As growth slows in the world's second-largest economy, U.S. companies are looking for more reasons why they should stay and invest more.

Many members of the Beijing-based American Chamber of Commerce in China said they are earning less in the country, and that market access remains an issue in certain industries despite recent Chinese government efforts, according to a survey conducted late last year and released Tuesday.

"More than half of the respondents from the Technology sector, a sector in which American companies should be highly competitive, say they are treated unfairly," the report said, citing responses from more than 370 company representatives.

"More than half of our members say they would increase investment in China if markets were to open on a par with the US," the report said.

The survey was conducted before the U.S. and China eased more than 18 months of trade tensions by signing a phase one trade agreement in January, and prior to the outbreak of the new coronavirus that has killed more than 3,100 people in China. Officially called COVID-19, the disease has now hit more than 100 countries including the U.S. and several in Europe. Fears of the virus' impact on worldwide economic growth have sent global markets reeling.
Trust over Sen. Bernie Sanders to handle a crisis added weight to former Vice President Joe Bidens electability argument in Democratic primaries Tuesday  but a lack of enthusiasm for either candidate was apparent in exit poll results, potentially raising questions for the fall campaign ahead.

Sixty percent in Missouri, 51% in same-day voter results in Michigan and 46% in preliminary data from Washington picked Biden as more trusted to handle a crisis. Fifty-seven to 66% also saw him as better able to defeat President Donald Trump, cementing the claim to perceived electability that lifted Biden on Super Tuesday. (Neither question was asked in Mississippi, which also had an exit poll.)

At the same time, enthusiasm was not widespread. Just 41% in Missouri, 35% in Washington and 31% of same-day voters in Michigan were enthusiastic about Biden as the nominee. Sanders fared worse in Missouri, the same in Washington and had slightly better enthusiasm than Bidens in Michigan, 36%. (Again, the question wasnt asked in Mississippi.)

MORE: Biden says he's 'alive' after win in Michigan, Missouri and Mississippi

Exit poll data from Michigan, the top prize, were compromised: The National Election Pool reported that because of a sampling problem, results of the exit poll there excluded views of the estimated 40% of voters who had voted early or absentee. (In Washington, with all mail-in voting, a telephone survey took the place of an exit poll; adjustments for weighting to actual vote were pending.)

PHOTO: Democratic presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden smiles as he speaks with his wife Jill at his side during a primary night news conference at The National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, March 10, 2020. (Brendan Mcdermid/Reuters)

From his sweeping victory in Mississippi to his convincing win in the two Midwestern states voting, the night clearly cemented Bidens frontrunner status. A state-by-state summary follows; these ABC News exit polls were analyzed by Langer Research Associates.

Michigan

As noted, a sampling glitch compromised exit poll results in Michigan. Given the partial results that are available, two head-to-head measures marked advantages for Biden: Same-day primary voters in Michigan saw him as best able to beat Trump, 57-38% over Sanders; and more trusted Biden than Sanders to handle a crisis, 51-32%.

Story continues

Biden also was aided by the 57% of in-person voters who said it was more important for them to support the candidate with the best chance in November than the one who agreed with them on the issues, winning 63% of their votes.

MORE: Biden sweeps battlegrounds as Democrats glimpse end of primary race: ANALYSIS

Sanders did especially well among the 58% of same-day Michigan voters who supported a government-run, single-payer health care system: They backed him by 59-36%. But that was countered by an even wider advantage for Biden among those opposed to a single-payer system, 73-17%.

Another measure, whos most attuned to the concerns of racial and ethnic minorities, was close, 42% Biden, 37% Sanders. Biden won blacks by 66-28%, and more narrowly won whites as well, 52-42%, while Sanders won Hispanics, 55-37%.

More same-day voters said theyd either be enthusiastic or satisfied with Biden as the nominee, 72%, than Sanders, 61%. But that included just 31% enthusiastic for Biden, vs. 36% for Sanders.

Thirty percent of voters included in the Michigan exit poll were from union households, and they backed Biden over Sanders by 55-40%. That was less for Biden than his 61-32% margin among union household voters in Missouri on Tuesday, but better than Hillary Clintons 46-49% loss of these voters to Sanders in 2016. Reliable comparability is uncertain, though, given the Michigan sample.

Sanders maintained his bulwark of younger voters in the same-day results, winning 77% support from those younger than 30, similar to his 2016 Michigan result in that group. But he did less well in a larger core group, independents, winning 50% among same-day voters, vs. 71% overall in 2016. Biden, for his part, won mainline Democrats by 20 points and seniors by a wide 52-point margin.

Missouri

Bidens win in Missouri reflected strength in three key measures: Voters picked him over Sanders as best able to beat Trump in November, 66-29%; as most trusted to handle a major crisis, 60-25%; and as the candidate who best understands the concerns of racial and ethnic minorities, 50-30%.

Biden also prevailed among the 30% of voters looking for a candidate who can unite the country: They supported him over Sanders by a vast 83-9%. That compares with a slighter 19-point Biden win among voters looking chiefly for a candidate who cares about people like them, and a virtually even split among those looking instead for one who can bring needed change, 47-48%.

MORE: Video: Andrew Yang endorses Joe Biden

Voters from union households padded Bidens margin; they accounted for 23% of voters in Missouri, and sided with Biden by a wide 61-32%. Biden also won Missouri voters who decided on their candidate earlier than in the last few days, by 60-30%. Those who decided more recently also backed Biden, but more narrowly.

In terms of personal appeal, 77% said theyd be enthusiastic or satisfied with Biden as the nominee, while a smaller majority also said the same of Sanders, 60%. Still, fewer than half would be outright enthusiastic about Biden, 41%, and enthusiasm for Sanders was lower still, 31%.

Mississippi

Dominant turnout by blacks delivered an overwhelming advantage to Biden in Mississippi: They accounted for 67% of voters, the most in any Democratic contest so far, and backed Biden by a huge 87-11%, his biggest win yet among blacks this season. Biden also was seen by a large majority overall, 74%, as the candidate best attuned to the concerns of racial and ethnic minorities.

That said, it would be misleading to attribute Bidens win to blacks alone; he won whites as well  by 67-30%, easily surpassing his previous best result among whites, 57% in Alabama a week ago and Missouri on Tuesday.

Among other factors was a large share of moderate voters, 45%, the most of any state this year (the previous high was 41% in South Carolina). Biden won Mississippi moderates by 87-11% over Sanders, beating his best to date, 74-8% in Alabama. Biden won moderates in nearly all the previous states for which we have exit or entrance polls, but with a far more modest 45% support.

Also at play in Mississippi was substantial affection for the policies of Barack Obama, under whom Biden served as vice president. Sixty percent here said the next president should return to Obamas policies; the previous high was 58%, again in Alabama last week.

Biden ran away with groups that in other states have leaned toward Sanders, such as those looking for a candidate that agrees with them on the issues (75-23%, Biden-Sanders), someone who can bring needed change (70-25%), very liberals (69-26%) and those who support a government-run, single-payer health care system (75-22%). Biden even defeated his rival among voters under age 30, 57-39%. And Biden ran evenly with Sanders among the 22% of Mississippi voters who said the next president should change to more liberal policies than Obamas, 47-48%.

Washington

Handling a crisis may have been on the minds of Washington state voters, given the new coronavirus outbreak in the United States, with an advantage for Biden: They picked him by 44-27% over Sanders in preliminary poll results as best able to handle a major crisis.

Indeed, 38% of Washington voters in initial poll results said they were very concerned about the effects of the coronavirus outbreak, with an additional 43% somewhat concerned. Those who were very concerned voted 41-22% in favor of Biden. (Concern was higher among older voters, typically a strong group for Biden.)

Another result showed a high level of anger in Washington toward the Trump administration - 82%, higher than in any previous primary, and well above the average, 67%.

In terms of electability, 68% said that beating Trump was more important than supporting the candidate closest to them on the issues, matching the peak previously set by Colorado primary voters; Biden won half of those beat-Trump voters in preliminary poll results. On another measure of electability, Washington voters divided 60-25%, Biden-Sanders, on whos best able to defeat Trump.

Time of decision was a factor: Thirty-one percent of Washington voters said they made up their minds in the last 10 days, and these late deciders favored Biden by a wide 55-19%. Sanders did better with those who made up their minds the earliest, last year.

At the same time, a comparative dearth of Hispanic voters in Washington posed a challenge for Sanders; just 7% in preliminary poll results are Hispanics, among his better groups.

Compared with other Democratic contests so far this year, Washington voters were more supportive of a single-payer government health care plan  63% in favor, compared with an average of 56% across all other states. Single-payer support has been higher only in Maine (69%) and Vermont (73%).

Similarly, voters in the Washington Democratic primary were somewhat more apt than others to prefer that the next president change to more liberal policies that Barack Obamas; 44% said so, vs. an average of 36% in previous contests. As elsewhere, those who favored a return to Obamas policies backed Biden, while those who preferred more liberal policies favored Sanders.

Trust in a crisis bolsters Biden's electability argument originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
State-owned hydro power giant NHPC on Wednesday said it has signed a pact with Cement Corporation of India (CCI) for meeting cement requirements of its 2,880-megawatt Dibang Multipurpose Project.

The memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between NHPC Chairman and Managing Director A K Singh and CCI Chairman and Managing Director B V N Prasad on Wednesday, according to a statement by NHPC.

The MoU will pave the way for addressing the cement requirement for the project.

CCI has proposed to install a clinker grinding unit near the project area, which, besides fulfilling the cement requirements of the project, will also generate employment opportunities in the area.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The practice of twinning towns and other communities has often been viewed as a cultural or leisure-based activity. Now, though, Brexit has drawn the politics of twinning into sharper public focus. Some people are pressing to erase their towns longstanding relationships with European partners. Others have doubled down on their international commitments, trying to show that their community remains open and inclusive.

Oxford City Council marked the 31 January Brexit date by raising the flags of its European twin towns and launching a new campaign to facilitate community cohesion in the wake of the UKs exit from the EU.

The tussle over Brexit reveals the ways that twinning functions as a site of everyday politics  in this instance, a struggle between nationalist and regionalist identities. But we shouldnt be surprised that twinning has become the focus of such debates. Twinning is a practice that has always been rooted in politics.

Twinned towns participate in a community that extends beyond national borders while retaining local identity. The twinning process and organisations provide an alternative way to engage with politics and offer opportunities for learning, connecting, organising and caring.

Simply defined, twinning involves establishing sustained links between communities, usually located in different countries. It may involve members of diaspora groups connecting with home, teachers looking to promote learning about other cultures, artists pursuing collaborations with counterparts abroad, or students taking part in exchanges.

The first case of twinning in Europe is thought to be the link established in 1920 between Keighley, West Yorkshire, and Poix du Nord in northern France. The French village suffered a great deal of damage during the First World War, and residents of Keighley made donations to help fund a new community centre.

Twinning blossomed after the Second World War, as national governments in Europe sought to promote peace and goodwill among towns torn apart by recent conflict. These postwar links were experiments in cultural diplomacy, aimed at building peace between beleaguered, fragile and divided national communities.

UK twinning practice has further transformed since the late 1970s. It is no longer just towns or cities that twin with each other but trade unions, cooperatives, schools, hospitals, and other public services or technical bodies. Twinning is now not just a reflection of the high politics of peace and diplomacy  it has become more democratic and open to a range of different agendas. This has occurred as local and municipal governments, communities and grassroots campaigns have all weighed in.

Civil society groups have used the practice of twinning to contest or challenge the actions and policy positions of domestic and foreign governments. During the early 1990s, temporary links were established between Scottish towns and African National Congress regions in South Africa, with the aim of supporting black communities in the transition away from apartheid. Glasgow, for instance, linked with Transkei as the latter was incorporated into the Eastern Cape province of the new South Africa. The legacy of this is still felt today through partnerships between the Nelson Mandela and Glasgow Caledonian universities.

Some councils, responding to austerity and Euroscepticism, have effectively been silently un-twinning for years

Twinning also took place between communities in the UK and Nicaragua against the backdrop of the latters Contra War in the 1980s. These solidarity twinnings played an important role in mobilising opposition to foreign-backed intervention in Nicaragua as well as calling attention to the harsh realities of day-to-day life in a conflict setting. Similar examples today would include efforts to link with communities in the Palestinian occupied territories, such as the recent twinning between Oxford and Ramallah.

In all cases, one thing came across strongly in my research interviews: close contact with a community overseas tends to shift world views and shape lifestyle choices. It also produces deep and lasting friendships.

In recent years, the UK has seen a huge tightening of border controls. It has become much harder for those travelling from countries outside of Europe to acquire visas. These travel restrictions have made it difficult for equal exchange to take place between linked communities such as Marlborough in the UK and Gunjur in the Gambia. For many years these towns ran a programme of reciprocal visits enabling engineers, teachers and students to carry out placements where they could gain new skills.

Much of the assistance provided by local government to formally twinned towns, such as help with administration, access to meeting rooms or photocopying, has dried up as a result of austerity and cuts. This means the twinning associations  which are largely led by volunteers  have had to take on more of the costs and labour involved.

While Brexit has highlighted opposing views on twinning, the truth is that some councils, responding to austerity and Euroscepticism, have effectively been silently un-twinning for years. Sometimes they do this without even telling the partner community  they just remove resources, staff and thereby any institutional memory of the link.

Twinning has evolved over time to respond to communities concerns. It remains to be seen how exactly it will develop in response to the challenges of dwindling resources and rising Euroscepticism. Whatever happens, one thing is for certain: twinning will continue to reflect the creativity, conflicts and commitments of civil society. In other words, it will continue to be political.

Holly Eva Ryan in a lecturer in politics and international political sociology at Queen Mary University of London. This article first appeared on The Conversation
How much of tourism is too much? The question baffles avid travelers, particularly to Indias hill destinations which were designed to accommodate a limited number of people.

According to India Tourism Statistics, between 2000 and 2018, the number of tourist visits to States and union territories gone up by a staggering 8.5 times to 186 crore, including 1 crore of foreign tourists. Travelling increased exponentially in the current decade.

The result is evident. From Darjeeling to Shimla or Kullu-Manali, Indias top tourist draws are suffering from common maladies of traffic congestion, overflowing garbage, unbridled construction, water crisis etc.

Lesson from Bhutan

Does this help tourism. Indias smallest neighbour Bhutan says No. On February 4, Bhutan ended free entry of regional tourists from India, Bangladesh and the Maldives.

Indians, who make 70 per cent of the total tourist inflow to Bhutan, now have to pay a sustainable development fee (SDF) of Rs 1200 a day. The fee is applicable only in popular tourist destinations and is a fraction of the daily charges paid by visitors from other countries.

However, the budget tourists will be hurt. A family of two adults and a child now pays Rs 20,000-25,000 for a low-cost four-night package, including stay at cheaper hotels. SDF will increase their total spend by 50-60 per cent.

As in 2018, Bhutan received 2.74 lakh tourists, including two lakh regional tourists. Two-third of the regional tourist availed cheaper land routes to enter the country. Apparently, majority of them were budget tourists.

And, that takes us to the crux of the issue. Bhutan pursues high value, low volume tourism. They dont want budget tourists to eat out the space for value tourists  who stays longer, spends more on cars, food, souvenir etc.

The policy is not new. Bhutan was always extra careful about its environment, including cultural environment. Over the last decade footfalls in the country increased by nearly three times, reaching upto one-third of its population. This called for scrutiny.

Restricting footfalls will help Bhutan avoid construction spree, waste generation and environmental decay in top destinations and at the same time create opportunity for maximizing revenue from value tourists. Budget travelers are encouraged to visit less explored parts of the country without any SDF.

India playing half-cock

Famous American economist Paul Krugman pointed out that market economy works best when regulated. Bhutan is doing exactly that. Tourist destinations are valuable assets and, like all products or brands their performance will depend on perfect positioning.

Apple doesnt play in the volume phone segment because that will impact the exclusivity of the brand, which translates into premium price.

Shimla or Darjeeling were top tourism brands. Failure to regulate the market not only destroyed their aspirational value but also caused severe damage to the product quality. Darjeeling is converted into an urban slum, thereby limiting future revenue potential.

The Indian authorities are aware of the problem and are promoting alternate tourism destinations. A number of such destinations popped up in Darjeeling hills. Premium foreign tourists are visiting new South Goa destinations, where came up top resorts.

However, India is avoiding any direct regulatory intervention, as in Bhutan. This is either to avoid any popular backlash or take an easy way to promote tourism.

Does it help? Look at Shillong. In 2010, Meghalaya got 6.6 lakh tourists. In 2017, they received nearly 10 lakh visitors with an year-on-year growth of 19 per cent. Newspaper reports point at serious overcrowding, congestion, littering and unbridled construction.

Need regulation

Tourism is more of an experience than scenic beauty, as is amply proved by Dubai. The developments in Bhutan could have been a boon to the neighbouring Indian State of Arunachal which has just lifted restrictions on travelling.

However, lack of basic infrastructure makes it a costlier proposition. There is no airport. The capital city of Itanagar reflects complete absence of urban planning. Car rentals are exorbitantly high, when compared to Bhutan. And, the turnaround time is higher.

The point is clear. India needs long-term, multi-sectoral planning to promote new destinations. Leaving it to the market is a bad idea; as a crowd of unorganized players may end-up blocking the way of organized development.

The existing popular destinations must be graded in terms of their brand-equity, infrastructure, carrying capacity etc, so as to encourage States to put adequate mechanism to stop further decay.
Hong Kong considers more entry restrictions amid spreading COVID-19 worldwide

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 13:19, March 10, 2020

HONG KONG, March 10 (Xinhua) -- Chief Executive of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Carrie Lam said Tuesday that Hong Kong considers imposing further restrictions on inbound travelers amid the spreading COVID-19 worldwide.

At a press briefing before a weekly meeting of the Executive Council, Lam said the focus of Hong Kong's anti-epidemic fight has shifted to preventing the spread from other countries.

The government will assess risks of travelers from various countries, taking into account factors including total confirmed cases there and local efforts to control the virus, Lam said, adding that more restrictive measures are in the pipeline.

The World Health Organization said a total of 105 countries and regions have reported confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infections. In response to the situation, Hong Kong has put in place restrictions for travelers from South Korea, Italy and Iran, such as compulsory quarantines, and advised against its residents to travel abroad if not necessary.

Hong Kong has been stepping up efforts to curb the spread of the coronavirus. Its virus monitoring scheme has been expanded from public hospitals to all private medical institutions, under which 28,000 residents have taken virus tests and 40 patients have been found.

As of Monday evening, 115 confirmed cases and one suspected case had been reported in Hong Kong.

In terms of Hong Kong residents in Hubei Province, Lam said the government will strive to arrange more chartered flights to take them home at an early date. More than 400 returned to Hong Kong from Hubei by flights arranged by the HKSAR government last week, who are still undergoing 14-day quarantines.

Besides, over 200 people brought back from a cruise ship quarantined in Japan have completed their quarantines, with nine confirmed cases and one dubbed as suspected.

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[March 11, 2020] To fight coronavirus, Electronic Caregiver uses its own technology to keep employees safe

LAS CRUCES, N.M., March 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- With the outbreak of COVID-19, known as the coronavirus, Electronic Caregiver, a 24/7 virtual care and health technology company, will begin using its own products to monitor the health of all its workers before they head to the office. Employees who opt in on the initiative will receive the company's Pro Health system, a chronic care and remote patient monitoring system, to install in their homes at no cost. "We're in a critical and important position serving public health interests," said Electronic Caregiver founder and CEO Anthony Dohrmann. "Because thousands of patients and high-risk individuals depend on our solutions and services, we've got to make sure we've optimized internal safety and health protocols to ensure our staff is healthy and present, and able to serve. We are not a business that can accept disruptions to our care network." The Pro Health will issue a daily morning reminder to use a connected non-contact body temperature device to check on employee health. If a reading is designated as out of normal range, then a custom, interactive assessment is conducted through the Smart Health Hub to survey for additional symptoms. Free apps are provided to loved ones the company refers to as care circles, so alerts and updates can be shared with family and even providers through a clinical portal. With many health providers experiencing increased traffic from recent and severe influenza outbreaks, and now the coronavirus, the Pro Health delivers a convenient feature. At the touch of one button an employee can connect with a physician-on-demand service remotely, called pocketMD. The employee can get a rapid in-home consultation and, in many cases, a prescription can be called in, all from thecomfort and privacy of home.



The Pro Health is a product and service offered by Electronic Caregiver to help clients manage one or more chronic illnesses. In addition to the non-contact body temperature device, the Pro Health can also be paired with several other Bluetooth devices, including a glucometer, spirometer, blood pressure cuff, pulse oximetry and weight scale. Clients can choose to have their vital results sent to their physician to help monitor their condition. "This process gives us the ability to monitor for risk, slow and even stop the spread of infectious disease," said Tim Washburn, Chief Clinical Officer of Electronic Caregiver. "We deploy a method of early identification and continuous monitoring which is paramount in situations like the coronavirus. It also leads to early intervention which can reduce complications and mortalities. We also have the ability to include additional monitoring devices for employees with chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, or diabetes. We can help them manage their disease more successfully, coordinate the care continuum, and make disease management easier for all involved."

Chronic diseases are a costly and complex situation to manage effectively. According to numerous medical journals and studies, non-adherence with a prescribed treatment plan is responsible for 50 percent of all treatment failures. Electronic Caregiver solutions can dramatically improve adherence and outcomes with the most user-friendly interfaces available. "A lot of innovators in the market are trying to solve health challenges with apps on mobile phones and tablets," said Joseph Baffoe, President of Electronic Caregiver. "Health management is a big task requiring a lot of coordination. For years the industry has been saying effective, affordable care needs to happen outside the doctor's four walls and in the home. We've answered that call with breakthrough user interface and solutions that deliver." About Electronic Caregiver Electronic Caregiver has become a leading and highly recognized brand for virtual care solutions and Remote Patient Monitoring services. The company staff size more than doubled in 2019 and is nearing 150 full-time employees. Electronic Caregiver has invested more than $55 million and 10 years into research, development and a staged rollout of virtual care and health management solutions for chronic care patients, child patients and older adults. Electronic Caregiver offers its solutions through a network of leading national home care providers and health institutions and team members. Addison Care is the company's most advanced new technology, offering a Virtual Caregiver that deploys technology using IoT, 3D animation, mixed reality, Bluetooth, natural language processing, machine learning, visual sensing and a suite of integrated electronics. The company manages its business using an advanced proprietary enterprise management platform designed by the company and named Orion. Electronic Caregiver and Addison Care are now involved in numerous official clinical research initiatives in clinical settings to further validate utilization and efficacy in areas of improved outcomes, improved treatment adherence and optimized continuum of care. www.addison.care www.electroniccaregiver.com View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/to-fight-coronavirus-electronic-caregiver-uses-its-own-technology-to-keep-employees-safe-301021654.html SOURCE Electronic Caregiver

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An ethnic Chin woman hold a placard during a protest demanding an end to armed conflict in western Myanmar's Chin and Rakhine states, in Yangon, July 13, 2019.

Heavy artillery fire during airstrikes on Monday killed two civilians and injured four others in a village in western Myanmars Chin state, where government forces are fighting the rebel Arakan Army, a resident and a military spokesman said.

The strikes occurred around 5:30 p.m. in Pwe Wone village in Paletwa township, where the hostilities have spilled over from adjacent northern Rakhine state, said the resident who declined to give his name out of fear for his safety.

Two were killed and four were injured, he said. I dont know how they died exactly, but we do know it was from gunfire from planes that targeted the village. It was not during a battle. The aircraft intentionally fired into the village.

Pwe Wone village comprises about 40 households, and most residents are hill farmers, he added.

The blasts from fired shells also damaged 15 homes, a school, and a Buddhist monastery, the villager said.

Government forces and the AA have been engaged in combat near the village for the past 20 days, he said.

AA spokesman Khine Thukha denied that Arakan forces were to blame for the killings.

On March 19, there was armed fighting around a strategic hill near Mee Chaung bridge in Paletwa township, he told RFAs Myanmar Service.

The AA has been battling the militarys incoming reinforcement troops during skirmishes on the hill, he said. The military has deployed three helicopters and two fighter jets to fire at targets.

Myanmar military spokesman Brigadier Gen Zaw Min Tun emphasized the necessity for using heavy weapons in the army's counter-insurgency campaign against the AA.

We are executing an effective counter-insurgency operation, and only when we use efficient weapons and strength will it be an effective operation, he said.

There are no restrictions saying that certain means of attack should not be used for counter-insurgency operations, he said. If there are no battles near the villages, no civilians will be killed. If there are, then some civilians will be killed.

You know who has started the fighting near the villages where many civilians have been killed, he said, implying that it was the AA.

Villagers injured in Minbya

A resident of Phapyo village in Rakhine states Minbya township, meanwhile, said that heavy shelling from the armed conflict injured five civilians on March 9.

Shells fell into the village and affected the whole community, said the villager who declined to give his name out of fear for his safety. The blasts burned down 10 houses. Five people were injured. Nobodys left in the village. All the other houses were also damaged by the shelling blasts.

Another villager, who also refused to state his name for the same reason, blamed the shellfire on Myanmar soldiers.

Whenever there are armed conflicts, we only see the military firing artillery, he said. The military has always said that its soldiers fire into villages because someone in the village fired at them first. But shells land in villages whenever there are armed conflicts.

Khin Saw Wai, a lawmaker from Rakhines Rathedaung township, said the government should investigate attacks on civilians.

We need to identify who is responsible for the killing and injuring of civilians, he told RFA. In doing so, the ruling government should give a credible organization the authority to investigate such issues. Only then will the truth be revealed.

Reported by Phyu Phyu Khine for RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Ye Kaung Myint Maung. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.
In American cultural history, the name of aviator and inventor Charles Lindbergh is venerated. He was one of the first to cross the Atlantic in an airplane, in a pioneering nonstop journey from New York to Paris  33-and-a-half hours in the air, traversing some 5800 kilometres  aboard his single-engine plane, the Spirit of St Louis.

But there is a different side of Lindbergh, in which he expressed pro-fascist and anti-semitic views, and championed the cause of the America First Committee, an anti-war, non-interventionist nationalist group which advocated America staying out of World War II.

The Plot Against America explores what US society would look like if Charles Lindberg, a pro-fascist with anti-semitic views, won office. Credit: HBO

That aspect of Lindbergh forms the first narrative threads of the drama The Plot Against America, based on the 2004 book by Philip Roth. The book itself is fiction: an "alternative history" of the USA, one in which Franklin D. Roosevelt was defeated in the presidential election of 1940 by Lindbergh, and a very different America is born.

Adapting the book was suggested to The Wire screenwriter David Simon more than five years ago. "Somebody came to me with the book about five years ago, right after Obama's re-election, and I said, I enjoyed the novel, it's a nice little artefact, it was fascinating in its moment, but I don't see the country, that doesn't seem to be our political moment," Simon recalls. "How wrong was I?"
Two youth were arrested after seizing 103.36 grams of heroin from their possession in Himachal Pradesh's Hamirpur district, police said on Wednesday.

Rahul Sharma (26), a resident of Haritalyanger village, and Aditya Parkash (21) from Matyal village, both in Bilaspur district, were caught with the contraband when their car was searched during checking at Badahar Chowk in Hamirpur, police added.

Further investigation is on, they added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The presidency has washed President Muhammadu Buhari hands off any involvement in the dethronement of Muhammadu Sanusi II from as Emir of Kano.

Presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu, in a statement on Wednesday described such insinuations as untrue, malicious and politically motivated.

He said, As outlined in the Constitution, the appointment or removal of emirs and other traditional leaders is strictly within the jurisdiction of state governments. It is unfair and disingenuous of opposition politicians to try to link the situation in Kano State to the federal government and the Nigerian President.

Read Also: Buhari Behind Sanusis Removal, Kwankwaso Alleges

Although a retired General and former Military Head of State, President Buhari clearly understands that under the current democratic dispensation, the government at the centre cannot read instructions or twist the arms of all or any of the 36 state governments making up the federation. They all have their powers specified under the Constitution.

President Buhari commends the people of Kano for keeping calm in the past few days of the dethronement announcement. He prays that the will of Allah will be done at all times and that the emirate/state and its people continue to experience progress irrespective of who is on the throne, he said.
(Natural News) Over the last few weeks, people have been repeatedly asking me for solutions to the coronavirus.

Be careful what you ask for.

Yes, theres a solution to end the coronavirus in the USA in just 30 days. You wont like it.

It involves President Trump declaring a national emergency and announcing a 30-day shelter in place lockdown for the entire nation, all while blocking all borders (using the military) and both domestic and international air traffic. It is essentially a tanks-in-the-streets kind of scenario for the entire country, and the republic may not survive it.

Ive been calling it medical martial law. Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes, a constitutional scholar, is reminding me that all forms of martial law are unconstitutional. Way too many people think martial law is constitutional, he warns. They have been conditioned to think that. He further explains that all such scenarios are ruled by the military, which means the American people will be at the mercy of the military as it is deployed against American citizens not a pretty picture, since soldiers are trained to kill people, not police people. (See my full interview with Stewart Rhodes below, and read up on Posse Comitatus.)

The reason this is all relevant is because Ive done the math on this pandemic. I released a pandemic projection model spreadsheet yesterday, and it has since been downloaded thousands of times. You can download the spreadsheet here and modify the assumption variables to test your own scenarios.

Almost all the scenarios end badly. One scenario, which I labeled good news, projects only 1.1 million deaths in the USA by July 4th. More aggressive scenarios can reduce those deaths to just a few thousand, but they involve what is essentially nationwide medical martial law.

Another name for extreme social distancing is martial law lockdown

Thats because the only thing that stops the virus is a very high social distancing suppression factor, which essentially means forcing everybody to be prisoners in their own homes for 3-4 weeks. This is exactly what Italy has now done across its entire nation. Italy chose this option because its the nuclear option to break the cycle of exponential replication of the virus. You lock down everything and everybody for 3-4 weeks and the virus burns out.

Its sort of like shutting off the oxygen to a raging fire. The entire coronavirus epidemic in America  which now has over 1,000 confirmed infections across the country (remember when Trump said it was only 15?)  would be snuffed out in less than a month.

Achieving that, however, would require violating the constitutional rights of all Americans. It would require tanks in the streets. Draconian, China-style military troops going door to door, taking temperatures at gunpoint. Gun confiscation would probably be thrown into the mix, too, especially in liberal cities. It would all be explained away as a public health emergency, and authorities would claim your constitutional rights are suspended (even though such claims are wildly unconstitutional, of course).

Over the 3-4 weeks, the US economy would implode. Food deliveries would cease to many areas. Supply lines would crater and millions of Americans would run out of money for basic expenses.

Looting and violent crime would likely explode in certain areas such as Los Angeles and Chicago. National Guard troops would have to be deployed there to maintain order. Entire US cities would find themselves under, essentially, military rule (with actual US military troops, not just Guard troops, sooner or later).

Even if the virus vanishes in 30 days of nationwide quarantine, wed then wake up and find ourselves subjects under military rule with a November election looming. How to you reverse the military rule and get the troops off the streets when economic catastrophes might turn many US cities into disaster zones that require many months to stabilize? Will US citizens be asked to participate in the November election under the watch of military troops?

America-hating Leftists may use this opportunity to attempt an uprising

How will the Trump-hating radical Left behave when they think Trump has declared himself the military dictator ruler over America, just as they feared would happen from day one? Its not difficult to imagine Antifa riots colliding with coronavirus epidemics in many left-wing cities. Actual street battles with rifle fire and Molotov cocktails, with mutating strains of a zombie virus thrown in for extra measure.

Some Leftists would likely even begin to weaponize the virus to attack government troops or police officers. We already see anti-Trump Leftists threatening to spread the coronavirus at Trump rallies in order to infect Trump supporters. Lunatic Leftists are already plotting scenarios to use the virus as a weapon.

So yes, a 3-4 week national lockdown quarantine would stop the virus if it could be successfully enforced. But it would unleash economic and civil hell across America, especially in the large, liberal cities where the coronavirus infections are the worst.

As youll note in this map, the areas where the virus is exploding right now are New York City, Boston, Seattle and the San Fran / Bay Area.

This map, courtesy of the New York Times, reveals the exact scenario I described nearly a month ago, on Feb. 16, in an article discussing why the coronavirus would hit the hardest in sanctuary cities.

The problem is that we cant just quarantine those cities. Any effort to quarantine those particular cities would cause people to flee the very cities where the infections are the worst, effectively distributing the infections to neighboring cities and states at an accelerated rate.

Thus, the only effective method from a medical point of view is to lock down the entire country under martial law quarantine all at once. With little or no warning.

Im not advocating this action, Im just explaining this is what Trump officials are no doubt considering right now. Its inevitable, actually. You either quarantine the entire country, or you end up watching literally millions of Americans die this summer.

If you dont want millions to die, you have to lock it all down, Italy-style. Thats the realization that will sooner or later hit Trump.

Heres todays chart showing the rise of coronavirus cases in the USA. Its beyond containment. One way or another, you have to stop the virus from replicating and turn this curve flat:

There are very few options for achieving that. All of them are bad options. Most of these options end the Trump presidency and might even end the republic.

BAD Option 1: Ignore the problem, call it a left-wing media hoax, pretend everything is awesome. Paper over the stock market fear with Fed liquidity. Around the end of May, the hospitals get overrun and people get sent home to die at much higher fatality rates. By end of July, millions are dead. Trump resigns before the November election and we get Joe Biden as President, to be replaced by VP Hillary Clinton. Clinton becomes the new President and America explodes into civil war, even as the pandemic is still raging. The nation collapses into death and disease, then gets overrun by an invasion of already-immune military troops from China.

BAD Option 2: Issue a 30-day shelter in place order, close the borders, halt all flights and quarantine the cities. Suspend the Constitution and risk uprising / civil war / patriot resistance or even left-wing resistance from anti-Trump Antifa groups. Throw troops at the problem and see America fall into full-blown street battles in US cities, all while the radical Left accuses Trump of being a power hungry military dictator. Mass starvation, civil unrest, and chaos will follow. In the best case scenario, America fractures into regional nation-states, and Trump is no longer the president of much of anything.

BAD Option 3: Let the virus just burn through the entire population in order to keep everybody working and protect the stock market. Lose up to 10% of the citizens, with the rest surviving as immune. (This is basically the China scenario.) Hospitals will be totally overrun, mass death and disease, suffering, huge human cost, etc. The Trump presidency probably ends in resignation for mishandling all this, as Trump is blamed for the tens of millions of deaths that eventually occur.

I fully realize that many Trump supporters are still suffering under the delusion that the coronavirus is a left-wing media hoax. So for them, theres one more (delusional) option:

DELUSIONAL Option 4: The virus magically disappears and is no worse than the flu. Iran, China and Italy all spontaneously fess up and admit it was a staged false flag operation set up to play some sort of elaborate trick on somebody, involving the cremation of thousands of bodies in China alone. The WHO announces there is no coronavirus, and scientists reveal that PCR testing isnt real science. All viruses vanish from planet Earth and we all live happily ever after in a virus-free utopia run by Trump who saved the day by refusing to kowtow to fake news.

Clearly, Delusional Option 4 is a pipe dream, but its the pipe dream that millions of Trump supporters are still clinging to. That wont end well, obviously.

On a serious note, I dont see very many possible scenarios here where Trump remains president and our constitutional republic remains intact. And since Ive been spot-on correct about this virus from day one, its difficult to write off these concerns as uninformed or overly pessimistic.

Personally, I think this is the end of the Trump administration. As Stewart Rhodes said in the interview above, Trumps goose is cooked.

If you care to have a laugh while the world collapses, check out whats coming soon to a CDC-approved hospital near you (explicit):

Be sure to read Pandemic.news to stay informed. We are one of the very few remaining indy media publishers that has a strong science background which allows us to accurately model the spread of this virus.
Recording artist Ari Herstand attends the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards - Entertainment Law Initiative in Santa Monica, Calif., on Jan. 24, 2020. (Jesse Grant/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)

Government Outlaws Freelance Work

Commentary

Freelance jobs are feudalism, says California Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez.

She persuaded Californias legislature to pass a new law reclassifying freelance workers as employees. That means many people who hire them must now give them benefits like overtime, unemployment insurance, etc. Politicians said it would help freelancers a lot.

Of course, much of the media agreed. Vox called it a victory for workers everywhere.

Sigh. Young reporters just dont understand that stifling economic freedom always creates nasty side effects.

Actually, more understand now, because they got a very personal lesson. Once the bill passed, Vox media cut hundreds of freelance writing jobs.

When Gonzalez was asked if she felt bad about that, she sneered, those werent real jobs.

The arrogance of politicians! People choose jobs. Freelancers like flexibility. Politicians have no right to say certain jobs arent good enough.

Youre thinking youre helping us, but youre not, says musician Ari Herstand in my new video. He says the anti-gig-work law could crash the California music economy.

Why? Before the law passed, if he played a gig where hed hire a drummer, bassist, and guitar player, I just cut (each) a check for $200. Now, I have to take that drummer, put him on payroll, W2 him, get workers comp insurance, unemployment insurance. I have to pay payroll taxes. I also have to now hire a payroll company.

All to hire musicians for one just night. The paperwork alone might cost more than the music.

Arriving passengers walk with their luggage as they prepare to board vehicles at the new LAX-it ride-hail passenger pickup lot at Los Angeles International Airport on Nov. 6, 2019. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

The anti-gig-work law originally targeted rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft, because unions claimed the companies abuse drivers.

But now many rideshare drivers are upset because the law takes away their freedom.

I liked being independent! said one. I dont want a boss to tell me when or where to drive.

Herstand says Uber and Lyft drivers would often tell him: Im a photographer and this is my fourth side gig. I want to do this when I want to do this, and if now Im an employee, and Im W2d, theyre going to dictate my hours. I dont want that. (The law is) preventing us from doing what we want to do.

The law upset independent truck drivers, too. After some nosily drove big rigs in front of the legislature, they got an exemption from the law. Other politically connected professions, like lawyers and realtors, got exemptions as well.

Now Herstands working on getting an exemption for musicians, too.

Why is that good law? I asked him. An exception for whoever is clever enough to get to the politicians?

Its definitely not the solution, laughed Herstand. Write us out of this law and help us out? Heres money for your next campaign. No, that doesnt seem like thats a way to legislate.

But thats how its often done. The more rules politicians pass, the more money they extract from people who are regulated.

Now other politicians want to copy Californias law. New York, New Jersey, and Illinois have their own versions of gig-economy bills. The House of Representatives wants to nationalize the law. And, this week, Democratic front-runner Joe Biden cluelessly said such a law will give workers the dignity they deserve.

Democrats do what unions ask them to do. Politico points out that just a few years ago, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo called gig work a great service for people, giving people jobs. I dont think government should be in the business of trying to restrict job growth. He even joked that Uber drivers might earn more than he does.

But now he wants to outlaw most gig work and calls it exploitive, abusive!

Its no surprise that Gonzalezs biggest political donors are unions. She talks a lot about protecting our union jobs. But now that her bill is killing jobs, she wouldnt agree to an interview.

Neither would the California unions, or any of 75 law professors, political scientists, sociologists, etc., who published a letter in support of the law.

Yes, we contacted all 75.

Herstand says thats because the law now embarrasses its supporters, but politicians wont repeal it because no politician ever wants to admit they did something wrong.

John Stossel is an award-winning news correspondent and best-selling author. His latest book is No, They Cant: Why Government FailsBut Individuals Succeed.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Undated file photo of the interior of the George W. Hill Correctional Facility in Delaware County. Read more

The Florida-based company that runs the controversial George W. Hill Correctional Facility on Tuesday submitted a request to Delaware County officials to terminate its contract to operate Pennsylvanias only privatized county prison by the end of the year.

The GEO Group Inc. suggested Dec. 31 as the hand-over date for its five-year, $259 million contract, at which point the county would resume operation of the 1,900-bed facility in Thornton, the company said in a statement. The contract was signed in December 2018.

GEO made its request at a meeting Tuesday of the Delaware County Jail Oversight Board.

In February, the Delaware County Council took its own preliminary step toward ending the contract, voting to commission a study on what was needed to transition it back to a publicly run prison, so GEOs move falls in line with where the five-member, all-Democrat council has been heading.

It was unclear late Tuesday whether the county had retained a firm to begin that study.

We truly appreciate GEOs willingness to cooperate with the county toward a safe and smooth transition back to government management, County Councilman Kevin Madden, the head of the Jail Oversight Board, said Wednesday. While no date has been determined for the transition, and GEO expressed flexibility on the timeframe, we agree with their desire for a clear handoff date. Once the transition plan has been completed, we will make that timing publicly known.

A spokesperson for GEO said in a statement that the company will work with county officials during the transition.

After two decades of operating the George W. Hill facility as a public private partnership, we recognize the councils desire to transition to government operation," GEO said in its statement. "We will work together with the county to prepare and achieve an orderly transition of facility services. By selecting a date certain of December 31, 2020 for the county to assume operational control, we can ensure a safe and effective transition that is in the best interests of the staff and individuals housed at the facility.

The prison was opened in 1998 by the then-Republican County Council as a privatized facility run by Wackenhut Corrections Corp., which later became GEO.

Democrats long opposed to prison privatization took control of the council last year.

We continue to have the ignominious status of having the only private prison in Pennsylvania, Madden said at a county council meeting last month.

The idea of any organization viewing maintaining people incarcerated as being a source of recurring revenue, that doesnt work. That doesnt work for what our interests are, which is to rehabilitate folks and to work as a community to get people back on their feet, Madden said.

GEO says it has done a good job running the prison safely, but the company faced mounting criticism last year.

On Christmas Day, an inmate hanged himself and five female inmates overdosed on heroin.

In November, the longtime superintendent, John Reilly Jr., retired a day after an investigation by The Inquirer and Caucus detailed previously undocumented accusations of what current and former prison workers described as abusive and racist behavior. Reilly has denied the allegations.

GEO has operated the George W. Hill Correctional Facility for more than 20 years, and has weathered multiple controversies in the last few months amid increased opposition from residents and elected officials.

GEO is currently about halfway through its contract with Delaware County. That contract gives the company license to terminate the agreement at its discretion.

This story has been updated to correct the length of time GEO has run the prison and the terms of its current contract with Delaware County.
Aussie actor Craig McLachlan has enjoyed a minor victory in his bid to clear his name over sexual assault charges with prosecutors dropping several charges.

The developments on Wednesday came as his high-priced defence barrister argued the case against the former Neighbours star ought be dropped completely.

The Gold Logie award winning actor is facing multiple charges, including counts of indecent assault, one of attempted indecent assault and others of assault, involving four complainants who were part of a production of the Rocky Horror Show.

Australian actor Craig McLachlan appeared at the Melbourne Magistrates' Court in Melbourne on Wednesday where his barrister fought to have his case dismissed

Craig McLachlan as he appeared in the hit soap opera Neighbours back in his glory days. McLachlan has been accused of indecent assault during a production of the hit musical Rocky Horror Show. He strongly denies the allegations

The Australian actor arrived at Melbourne Magistrates' Court on Wednesday with his partner Vanessa Scammell, who has supported McLachan throughout the hearing

Prosecutors on Wednesday withdrew two charges related to an alleged assault they had earlier claimed McLachlan committed against an actress.

The accusation related to a claim McLachlan pushed his groin into the stomach area of a woman while he was wearing black boxer shorts with a tiger on the crotch, while his penis was partially erect.

However, a charge remains over an allegation he kissed the same woman during a show, without being directed to do so, forcing his tongue into her mouth.

McLachlan's barrister Stuart Littlemore, QC argued his client had no case to answer over any of the charges.

But prosecutors maintain their position and further argued McLachlan was 'brazen' in his alleged onstage attacks on women he worked with.

Prosecutor Lachlan Cameron argued McLachlan had a 'tendency' to behave badly while onstage when his victims were in vulnerable positions in front of large audiences.

The 'tendency' issue along with Mr Littlemore's 'no case' argument will be decided by Magistrate Belinda Wallington, who is expected to give her ruling next month.

Should the case continue, McLachlan is expected to take to the witness box himself and contest the allegations.

Craig McLachlan in action during production of the Rocky Horror Show musical

The court has been conducting a preliminary hearing to determine the admissibility of certain evidence against McLachlan.

The hearing, which began in November before being adjourned until this week, has seen four of the actor's alleged victims provide evidence behind closed doors.

The hearing kicked off on November 18 and has heard damning allegations against the beloved Aussie actor.

He is best known for appearing in the soap operas Neighbours, Home and Away and the BBC spy drama Bugs.

He has portrayed the title character in The Doctor Black Mysteries, for which he was nominated for the Most Popular Actor Logie - a title he has previously won three times.

Police allege McLachlan either indecently assaulted or assaulted four complainants in Melbourne between April 26, 2014 and July 13, 2014.

Craig McLachlan went onto find further fame in The Doctor Blake Mysteries. He is accused of sexually assaulting several of his colleagues during the 2014 running of the Rocky Horror Show. He denies any wrongdoing

The Australian actor arrived at Melbourne Magistrates' Court on Wednesday with his partner Vanessa Scammell, who has supported McLachan throughout the hearing

The allegations became public after one of his alleged victims went public following the worldwide scandal involving disgraced film producer Harvey Weinstein.

McLachlan immediately filed defamation action against The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald, the ABC and an actress over the news reports last year.

The defamation trial has been postponed until the criminal proceedings in Melbourne are finished.

Among the most serious of the charges against McLachlan is an allegation he sexually assaulted an actress on stage during live production of the popular musical.

In opening the case, prosecutor Matt Fisher said some of the allegations related to a bedroom scene in which McLachlan was meant to be simulating a sex act while out of sight from the audience.

'It is alleged the accused went beyond the role he was directed to perform,' Mr Fisher said.

Craig McLachlan (centre) with Greg Benson and Danni Minogue during the screening of Home and Away. McLachlan has been portrayed as a lovable larrikin throughout his career and is strongly challenging allegations he is a sex predator

It is alleged McLachlan kissed one woman actors neck, stomach and buttocks during a scene on more than 20 occasions.

On one occasion, he also allegedly 'used his finger to trace around the outline of (the victims) vagina'.

McLachlan has also been accused of tickling another womans foot and reaching up towards her groin, while he was out of sight of the audience.

While McLachlan's character has taken a battering during the preliminary hearing, some within the industry have jumped to his defence.

Brendan Irving, worked in 300 productions of the Rocky Horror Show, including the 2014 season in which McLachlan is accused of offending against the women, said he believed the actor was being wrongly accused.

Mr Irving said he has been 'devastated' when news of McLachlan being charged emerged.

He had earlier told the court a woman who has accused McLachlan of 'an unscripted kiss' had previously told him it was not serious enough for the matter to be reported.

'I was devastated that she had taken action on something she said she wouldn't,' Mr Irving said.

He further claimed the alleged victim had only decided to do so after her 'ego was bruised because she wasn't accepted into the production'.

The court has previously heard the actress he was talking about had auditioned for roles in the Rocky Horror Show in the years following McLachlan's alleged attack but had been unsuccessful.

Mr Irving said the actress, who used to be his friend, had become 'aggressive' about McLachlan after her rejection from the show in 2017.

'This was going to be the final push to make her do something about how she felt about 2014,' Mr Irving said.

'She wanted to do something official.'
Downstairs below the tasting room, Harris Bridge Vineyard owner Nathan Warren checks on a batch of brandy with a quick taste out of the barrel. Wife and business partner Amanda Sever, meanwhile, shows the venues layout to a young couple planning to get married.

The Harris Valley location tucked in between Blodgett and Wren with the Marys River and the historic covered bridge nearby provides a beautiful backdrop for the winemakers. The couple established the business more than 20 years ago now and if you engage in a conversation with them, their love for this place rises to the surface.

After making a credit card purchase of 3.8 acres and through the first planting in 1998, Warren and Sever wanted the vineyard to emit a strong focus around community  potlucks, concerts, camp-outs, yoga and a variety of other such gatherings. In the fall of 2017, Warren captured this approach to life and business through the development of a tool that helps an organization to reflect on why it exists and how it functions.

Warren calls the result of this new language the Conscious Community Theory of Organizational Function  inspired in large part by the strong community focus of his nearby hometown of Philomath.

I grew up in one of the hardest-working and most generous timber and farming communities in America, said Warren, a 1992 Philomath High graduate. My opportunity to attend college was funded in large part by the Clemens Foundation, and Ive never forgotten the community focus of the Clemens family and their descendants, the Lowther family.

Timber pioneer and philanthropist Rex Clemens and wife Ethel established the foundation in 1959 to send the children of mill workers and loggers to college. Through the decades, thousands benefited and moved into careers as engineers, executives, teachers ... and winemakers.

The Clemens Foundation has changed the lives of thousands of rural graduates through education, Warren said. Rexs philanthropy demonstrates a commitment to both consciousness and community, and its the reason we called this the Conscious Community Theory.

But Warrens influence goes well beyond the educational opportunity that presented itself. The Harris family, founders of the Harris Sawmill, had an impact on him from an early age.

The whole reason my family moved to Harris Valley was Dorothy Harriss desire for community, Warren said. And when my father was killed in 1978, it was Dorothy Harris and our community that helped as our whole family struggled to make it through that time.

The Lowther and Starker families that opened up their private lands for educational and recreational experiences helped complete the picture for Warren as he developed the Conscious Community Theory  also referred to simply as CCT.

My community actively expanded my awareness of the natural world, Warren said. My hope is that CCT organizations will inspire generations of children to value life on planet earth above all else.

So just what is Conscious Community Theory?

Words complicate things, so lets keep this simple, Warren says. Conscious Community Theory is not new. Every small business in a Conscious Community Theory business. Whats new is big corporations and big government. What is needed is for all big organizations to operate like every small business already operates, putting the needs of the people first, and the profit motive second.

If every business in the world operated with some of the strong community sensibilities that most of the Philomath businesses I know operate with, our world would be a much better place, he added.

Warren, who incidentally for the past three years has worked as a corporate finance instructor at Oregon State University, believes CCT helps us all remember who we are.

We are people first, families first and communities first, he said. What we need is for our systems to be stages that humans dance on, not cages that humans work in. We have good foundational systems in America, but they can be much, much better. Its time to remember our humanity, and wake up to needed change.

Business Roundtable, an influential group of corporate leaders, recently declared a rejection of shareholder theory  which most credit to notable economist Milton Friedman. Shareholder theory basically revolves around the approach that the sole purpose of a corporation is to maximize profits for its shareholders.

Warren sees Business Roundtables new direction in terms of purpose as an indication that Wall Street is beginning to realize something that small communities have know for decades.

Warren said Oregon businesses tend to be smaller but the communities have an awareness of the natural world around them.

None of us can do anything without a healthy economy, a healthy earth and a healthy community, Warren said. We need all three, and thats Conscious Community Theory in a nutshell. Its something that many family-run Oregon timber and wine operations have been practicing for decades.

Warren theorizes Oregonians have come to act so consciously and collaboratively through feeling small.

I believe the origins of this we thinking are two-fold, he said. First, our state has a small population and with many small businesses  in this way, it could be described as an underdog. Second, Oregon is a green state where life abounds and its easy to feel small in comparison to the surrounding natural world.

He said the upside of feeling small is that peoples egos remain in check and they tend to prioritize awareness and be more open to collaboration.

And when life is less about me and my production or consumption and more about us and our shared connection, we become less focused on profits and more focused on all of the life represented in and supported by our work, he said.

Warren hearkens back to an experience he went through in 2014 as an example of Oregons CCT approach. That was when a Florida company tried to take his Timber wine trademark. But support came from Rogue Ales co-founder and former Harris Valley resident Jack Joyce, former Oregon attorney general Dave Frohnmayer, Portland attorneys Ian Gates and TJ Romano, and Corvallis attorney Jay Faulconer.

They all helped point the way forward, Warren said. My wife, Amanda, and I did the legwork, including writing a 25-page motion of summary judgment that gave us the victory. But that 22-month-long successful defense was made possible by the help we received from Oregon business leaders and legal experts. It was a conscious community effort, CCT in action, people stepping up based on their awareness of others in need.

Another example Warren offers occurred two years ago with the Oregon Solidarity effort, which helped Southern Oregon fruit growers in their time of need.

Clearly, the charitable work done in that case was not motivated by either profits or stakeholders, he said. Instead, it came from an awareness of need, a conscious commitment to community and family, and a respect for life left abandoned on the vine. In other words, CCT.

The collaborative, sustainable, community-focused approach all adds up to a vibrant, healthy and balanced life experience that many Oregonians cherish, he said.

Says Warren, I believe there are lessons to be learned by looking closer at how we do things here in little ol Philomath, Oregon.

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First there was the trade war. Then, the coronavirus struck.

U.S. footwear imports from China just had their worst January in more than a decade, Matt Priest, president and CEO of the Footwear Distributors & Retailers of America, told CNBC in an interview. The 15.7% drop was also the worst year-over-year decline in four years, he said.

A whopping 70% of shoes sold in the U.S. come from China, according to the industry organization, which has more than 500 members, including Walmart, Nike, Crocs and Steven Madden.

The footwear industry was already dealing with an ongoing trade war between the U.S. and China, when the spread of the coronavirus began in China, prompting quarantines and shuttered factories.

Though trade tensions eased somewhat in late 2019, Priest said shoe companies are still mitigating the duties they must pay on footwear imported from Asia.

"The virus is now going to coexist with the trade war," he said. "Just because the coronavirus is here does not mean the tariffs are going away."

Many shoe makers had already started to diversify their supply chains and reduce their reliance on China as a result of the higher tariffs. Companies including Nike, Under Armour and Puma have steadily been shifting resources to places such as Vietnam.

"That was one benefit of getting caught up in a trade war," Priest said.

Still, these businesses will inevitably take a hit from the coronavirus, as evidenced by the slowing rate of imports to kick off 2020.

Adidas said Wednesday it expected first-quarter sales to drop by up to 1 billion euros ($1.14 billion) in greater China, and operating profit to decline by between 400 million and 500 million euros, because of the new coronavirus. That was after the company last month warned that its business in the greater China area had dropped by about 85%, year over year, in the period since the Lunar New Year on Jan. 25.

Adidas CEO Kasper Rorsted is referring to the spread of COVID-19 as "a painful setback" for the company's business, as it is already seeing traffic declines at some of its shops. It has not yet factored a hit into its full-year outlook.

Under Armour in February said it anticipated the outbreak in China to lower sales by roughly $50 million to $60 million during its fiscal first quarter. That was, notably, before the virus started to hit Europe and North America much harder.

Nike is expected to discuss the virus when it reports earnings on March 24.

While consumers might yet notice any shortage of shoes on shelves, that could change if this situation drags on, FDRA's Priest said. He said many retailers had stockpiled goods from China ahead of the Chinese New Year, preparing for that period of time when factories normally shut down in celebration of the holiday. That gave many businesses "inventory to play with," as factories went dark because of quarantines.

But if manufacturing does not get back up and running soon, it could begin to impact the back-to-school or even holiday shopping seasons, he said. "I did not expect [January imports] to be that low."
AUDUBON, Pa., March 11, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Globus Medical, Inc. (NYSE:GMED), a leading musculoskeletal solutions company, today announced the Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of $200 million of the Companys common stock.



We believe the recent stock market volatility has created a significant divergence between the intrinsic value of Globus Medical and its value in the market, said David Paul, Executive Chairman. Given our growth and profitability profile, we believe the Companys shares will reflect our above market performance over the long term. Our strong cash position enables us to purchase a significant number of shares without limiting our ability to continue to invest in strategic growth opportunities.

The timing and actual number of shares repurchased will be determined by management at its discretion and will depend on a variety of factors, including market price of the shares, general business and market conditions, applicable legal requirements, and alternative investment opportunities. The repurchase program will be executed consistent with the companys capital allocation strategy of prioritizing investment to grow the business over the long term.

Repurchases may be made through privately negotiated transactions or open market transactions, including pursuant to a trading plan in accordance with Rule 10b5-1 and/or Rule 10b-18 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The repurchase program has no time limit and may be suspended for periods or discontinued at any time. The Company intends to utilize its cash reserves to fund the share repurchase program.

About Globus Medical, Inc.

Based in Audubon, Pennsylvania, Globus Medical, Inc. was founded in 2003 by an experienced team of professionals with a shared vision to create products that enable surgeons to promote healing in patients with musculoskeletal disorders. Additional information can be accessed at www.globusmedical.com .

Safe Harbor Statements

All statements included in this press release other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements and may be identified by their use of words such as believe, may, might, could, will, aim, estimate, continue, anticipate, intend, expect, plan and other similar terms. These forward-looking statements are based on our current assumptions, expectations and estimates of future events and trends. Forward-looking statements are only predictions and are subject to many risks, uncertainties and other factors that may affect our businesses and operations and could cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, factors affecting our quarterly results, our ability to manage our growth, our ability to sustain our profitability, demand for our products, our ability to compete successfully (including without limitation our ability to convince surgeons to use our products and our ability to attract and retain sales and other personnel), our ability to rapidly develop and introduce new products, our ability to develop and execute on successful business strategies, our ability to successfully integrate the international operations acquired from Alphatec, both in general and on our anticipated timeline, our ability to transition Alphatecs international customers to Globus products, our ability to realize the expected benefits to our results from the Alphatec acquisition, our ability to comply with laws and regulations that are or may become applicable to our businesses, our ability to safeguard our intellectual property, our success in defending legal proceedings brought against us, trends in the medical device industry, general economic conditions, and other risks. For a discussion of these and other risks, uncertainties and other factors that could affect our results, you should refer to the disclosure contained in our most recent annual report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the sections labeled Risk Factors and Cautionary Note Concerning Forward-Looking Statements, and in our Forms 10-Q, Forms 8-K and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These documents are available at www.sec.gov . Moreover, we operate in an evolving environment. New risk factors and uncertainties emerge from time to time and it is not possible for us to predict all risk factors and uncertainties, nor can we assess the impact of all factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. Given these risks and uncertainties, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of new information, events or circumstances or other factors arising or coming to our attention after the date hereof.
The Pallister government has announced it plans to steer the Manitoba education system toward more e-learning. Buckle up for controversy and a likely head-on crash between the province and Manitoba teachers.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 10/3/2020 (671 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Pallister government has announced it plans to steer the Manitoba education system toward more e-learning. Buckle up for controversy and a likely head-on crash between the province and Manitoba teachers.

Education Minister Kelvin Goertzen received a mandate letter from the premiers office last week directing him to "transform" Manitobas education system with changes that include enhancing e-learning. A spokesman for a teachers union reacted immediately, stating that online courses "cant replicate that teacher-to-student in-person scenario."

For a preview of how the issue may erupt in Manitoba, look to Ontario. The Ford governments attempt to make that province the first to institute compulsory online courses for high school students is a central issue in an ugly labour dispute that has teachers walking out one day a week, every week, throughout Ontario.

Education Minister Kelvin Goertzen has been directed to transform Manitobas education system with changes that include enhancing e-learning. (Mike Deal / Winnipeg Free Press)

A typical e-learning course works like this: students dont attend a traditional classroom; instead they work online where and when they want. A teacher is available for live communication a couple of times a week, but its not mandatory for students to connect with the teacher. Students are graded based on written work, such as quizzes.

Ontario first announced high school students would have to complete four e-learning courses to graduate, but months later  after vehement opposition from teachers unions  the requirement was reduced two courses. The government has since retreated further, proposing e-learning courses be opt-out instead of mandatory.

Not surprisingly, some in Ontario  including parents forced to make alternative child-care arrangements when teachers hit the picket line  view opposition to e-learning as the teachers unions protecting the jobs of their dues-paying members, but such simplistic dismissal warrants a D-minus for missing the more important point.

The paramount concern should be whether mandatory e-learning works well for students. Five U.S. states are already trying it, and the results are decidedly mixed. What these states found is that succeeding at independent e-learning requires discipline and diligence, traits not yet fully developed in all teenagers.

Michigan is a pioneer, having become the first state to mandate e-learning in 2006. It found students in virtual courses have a disappointing online pass rate of 55 per cent, compared with an average of 79 per cent in traditional classes.

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However, Michigan and other states found pass rates improve when e-learning is supplemented with human educators, such as mentors who support individual students online. The U.S. experience is that e-learning succeeds best when sufficient staff are assigned to work with students, often one-on-one. That means additional staff costs, so school boards save little  if any  money by moving from traditional classrooms to online courses.

The main concern should be whether e-learning works well for students. (Wilfredo Lee / The Canadian Press)

This fiscal reality might disappoint the cost-conscious Pallister government if it envisions e-learning as a way to replace some "overpaid" teachers with less-expensive technology.

There are reasons to hope e-learning can improve education in Manitoba, particularly in the many rural and northern schools unable to attract qualified teachers. But it wont be cheap; effective e-learning requires an initial investment to ensure high-speed internet and computer access for all students, and, as the U.S. models show, it also requires plentiful ongoing e-assistance from qualified teachers.

Consider it a worthwhile investment in the next generation of Manitobans.

Technology alone is not a solution to Manitobas perpetual problem of unequal access to education. But properly employed and supported, technology could be a tool to help qualified teachers work remotely to level the learning field.
India reported 10 new cases of the coronavirus, taking the number to 60 on Wednesday, the Union health ministry said, even as India prohibited till March 31 entry of international cruise ships, crew or passenger with a travel history to coronavirus-hit nations.

However, as per state health officials, the number of confirmed cases maybe up to 65.

As the infection continued to spread its tentacles in the country, state governments and UTs' took number of initiatives to check and prevent the spread of the infection.

While Jammu and Kashmir administration ordered closure of primary schools and aganwadi centres in five districts of Jammu and shutting down of cinema halls across the region till 31 March as a precautionary measure, Karnataka government issued temporary regulation which asked all government and private hospitals to have flu corners for screening of suspected cases of COVID-19.

According to the regulation, no person/institution shall use print or electronic media to spread mis-information on COVID-19 without prior permission of the Department of Health & Family Welfare.If a person is found indulging in any such activity, they will be punished, it said.

The Karnataka government also started a campaign called 'Namaste over Handshake' that encourages people to greet in the traditional Indian style, to tackle the spread of the virus.

As the cases of the infection continued to swell with over 119,400 confirmed cases reported globally so far out of which over 4,300 people have succumbed to the virus, India prohibited entry of any international cruise ship, crew or passenger with a travel history to coronavirus-hit countries post February 1, 2020 to its major ports till March 31.

To prevent the spread of the deadly virus, the Ministry of Shipping said it will allow only such international cruise ships which had intimated their call to ports by January 1, 2020.

The government said international cruise ships will be allowed only at ports having thermal screening facilities for passengers and crew members.

Among the fresh cases, eight were from Kerala and one each from Delhi and Rajasthan since Tuesday, the Union health ministry said and gave state-wise breakup which included five (Delhi), nine (Uttar Pradesh), four (Karnataka) and two in Ladakh.

While the Union ministry maintained that there are two confirmed cases of the infection in Maharashtra, the state health officials put the number to seven.

Rajasthan, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab have reported one case each, the ministry said, adding Kerala has till now reported 17 cases, including the three patients who were discharged last month following recovery.

The total number of 60 confirmed cases includes 16 Italians tourists, the ministry said.

Two employees working with IT companies Dell and Mindtree have been tested positive for coronavirus, according to company statements. However, their locations were not disclosed.

The Dell employee had returned from the US, including a visit to Texas while the Mindtree employee also had a travel history abroad, the two companies said in separate statements.

Making a statement in Rajya Sabha, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said the situation in Italy and Iran is "a cause of great concern" and the government is making all efforts to bring back Indians after appropriate testing and screening.

He said a medical team will leave for Italy tomorrow for screening Indians.

Noting that the disease has spread to about 90 countries, Jaishankar said if the government starts the process of bringing back Indians worldwide, then it will be only add to the panic.

An Air Indian flight carrying 83 people, including nine foreigners of India origin, arrived here on Wednesday from Italy and have been quarantined at the Army facility in Manesar near Delhi, officials said.

The evacuees will be monitored for two weeks by a qualified team of doctors and staff members, to watch for any signs of infection."If any individual is suspected to be infected, he/she will be shifted to an isolation facility," an official added.

Daily medical examination of all 83 people will be done at the facility, they said.

The first batch of 58 evacuees from Iran had arrived on Tuesday with 25 men, 31 women and 2 children on board and all evacuees are asymptomatic at present, the ministry said.

Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, who spoke to a few COVID-19 patients admitted at Medanta and Safdarjung hospitals through video calls on Tuesday, said all those infected by the disease were stable and showing signs of recovery.

So far, India has evacuated 948 passengers from COVID-19 affected countries. Out of these, 900 are Indian citizens and 48 belonging to different nationalities including Maldives, Myanmar, Bangladesh, China, USA, Madagascar, Sri Lanka, Nepal, South Africa and Peru, it said.

The ministry further said that a total number of 10,57,506 passengers have been screened so far at the airport.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay



Rupani on Wednesday blamed Congress leadership for the political crisis in Madhya Pradesh and said there is anger against the party's leadership in every state.

In Gujarat also the situation is such that Congress groups are fighting for change in leadership here, he said and welcomed former Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia's decision to join the BJP.

This was going to happen as the Congress is leaderless, there is dynastic system which is feudal. There is widespread unrest in the Madhya Pradesh Congress.

"Not only in MP but in every state Congress unit, people are angry against their leadership, Rupani told reporters here.

The Congress party is breaking up due to internal feuds. Jyotiraditya Scindia has taken a good decision, Rupani said.

Asked if Madhya Pradesh-like situation will arise in Rajasthan and Maharashtra, Rupani said, In Maharashtra, there is an unnatural alliance as parties with opposing ideologies have come together for power.

The BJP leader said the Gujarat Congress is facing severe factionalism and infighting.

The Gujarat Congress is ridden with factionalism and some of the leaders are trying to get the local leadership changed. But this is their internal matter. Everybody knows these things, he said.

On Tuesday, Scindia tendered his resignation from the Congress, a party he was associated with for 18 years. The 49- year-old former Guna MP joined the BJP on Wednesday.

Twenty-two MLAs supporting Scindia have also tendered their resignation, pushing the Kamal Nath government in the neighbouring state into deep crisis.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Prominent Australian music promoter Andrew McManus was taking cocaine and sometimes a bottle "or two" of vodka a day when he agreed to lie to police by claiming a $700,000 bag of cash belonged to him, a Sydney court has heard.

He had taken cocaine before his police interview in April 2012 where he proclaimed: "It's not the proceeds of crime, it's the proceeds of Andrew McManus." He also told police, "I gave someone 700 large, and you've found someone with 700 large. It's my 700 large."

Music promoter Andrew McManus told a District Court jury that financial woes had led him to lie to police about the ownership of a $700,000 bag of cash. Credit:James Brickwood

McManus was later heard on phone taps telling his friend, crime figure Craig Haeusler, that he had "aced" his police interview. "Mate, I was a f---in Academy Award winner," he said.

The jury has heard that in August 2011 an anonymous caller claimed the occupant of room 3206 at the Hilton Hotel had a gun. Instead of a weapon, police seized an overnight bag containing $702,000 in cash in the possession of personal trainer Sean Carolan.
The outbreak will disrupt the availability of auto components as India imports about 10 per cent of them from China, the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) said on Wednesday.

"The disruption in the availability of these parts is likely to critically hamper production across all segments -- passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, three-wheelers and two-wheelers -- besides gravely affecting electric vehicles," said President Rajan Wadhera.

Manufacturers are exploring alternatives to fulfill their supply chain demands. "But that will also take a substantial amount of time to reach stable production scale as these components will need regulatory testing," he said in a statement.

Wadhera said in view of the Chinese New Year beginning on January 25, the Indian auto industry had maintained inventory levels. However, with the current lockdown in China, supply for BS-VI vehicles is likely to get impacted, he said.

The automobile industry continues to face low demand due to subdued consumer sentiment amid an economic slowdown while manufacturers gear up for a transition to BS-VI emission norms in the new financial year beginning April 1.

(COVID-19), which has infected more than 100,000 people worldwide, has disrupted supply chains and is also threatening to destabilise financial markets across the globe.
Former Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning attempted suicide inside her Virginia jail cell and was resuscitated by prison guards, DailyMail.com can exclusively reveal.

Sources said Manning  who has been held in custody since May for refusing to testify before a grand jury investigating WikiLeaks and Julian Assange  tried to hang herself with a sheet inside Alexandra Detention Center.

The 31-year-old still had a pulse when she was found at around 1pm, however, and DailyMail.com understands she was still breathing while en route to the hospital.

Manning previously spent seven years in military prison for leaking hundreds of thousands of classified US documents to WikiLeaks in 2010.

Former Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning, 31, attempted suicide inside her jail cell at the Alexandria Detention Center in Virginia, DailyMail.com can exclusively reveal. Manning pictured in 2017

But she told a judge last May she would rather starve to death than change her decision to testify about it in front of a grand jury in the Eastern District of Virginia.

Mannings lawyers have called for her to be set free and UN special rapporteur Nilz Melzer has denounced her captivity as a form of torture.

'A jail deputy discovered her while conducting a check in the special housing unit where Chelsea is being housed,' a source told DailyMail.com.

'They found her with a sheet around her neck. Other deputies arrived and first aid was administered before she was taken to the hospital.'

Manning was originally sentenced to 35 years for leaking to WikiLeaks but was released in May 2017 after President Barack Obama commuted her time in prison.

The insider said Manning is expected to recover and was well enough last night to be able to communicate with medical staff.

'It was a close run thing. Chelsea was unconscious, she was blue and unresponsive, but the deputies were able to resuscitate her,' the insider added.

'They did a great job keeping her life. Nobody wants a repeat of the Jeffrey Epstein fiasco.'

Chlsea was found with a sheet around her neck in her cell at the Alexandria Detention Center (above), two days before she was scheduled to appear in court for hearing

Manning, a transgender woman whom supporters call a whistleblower, passed more 700,000 classified documents to WikiLeaks that exposed possible war crimes and internal US communications about other countries.

Mannings attorney, Moira Meltzer-Cohen, confirmed her suicide attempt in a statement to DailyMail.com.

'On Wednesday March 11 Chelsea Manning attempted to take her own life. She was taken to a hospital and is currently recovering,' she said.

'Ms. Manning is still scheduled to appear on Friday for a previously calendared hearing, at which Judge Anthony Trenga will rule on a motion to terminate the civil contempt sanctions stemming from her May, 2019 refusal to give testimony before a grand jury investigating the publication of her 2010 disclosures.

'In spite of those sanctions - which have so far included over a year of so-called "coercive" incarceration and nearly half a million dollars in threatened fines - she remains unwavering in her refusal to participate in a secret grand jury process that she sees as highly susceptible to abuse.'

Meltzer-Cohen said Manning had previously indicated that she 'will not betray her principles, even at risk of grave harm to herself'.

She added: 'Her actions today evidence the strength of her convictions, as well as the profound harm she continues to suffer as a result of her "civil" confinement - a coercive practice that the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture, Nils Melzer, recently said violates international law.'

Manning, a transgender woman whom supporters call a whistleblower, passed more 700,000 classified documents to WikiLeaks that exposed possible war crimes and internal US communications about other countries. Manning, who enlisted in the Army in 2007, pictured above in unifo

City of Alexandria Sheriff Dana Lawhorne told DailyMail.com in a statement: 'There was an incident at approximately 12:11pm today at the Alexandria Adult Detention Center involving inmate Chelsea Manning.

'It was handled appropriately by our professional staff and Ms. Manning is safe.'

In March of last year Manning was called to testify to a grand jury - a panel investigating major crimes that operates in secrecy - about her work with the sites founder, Assange.

When Manning refused and accused the government of abusing the grand jury process a judge found her in contempt of court and jailed her indefinitely.

She was released two months later when the grand jury's mandate expired but and was called to testify before another one, asking many of the same questions.

Manning refused a second time, telling Judge Anthony Trenga she would 'rather starve to death' that comply.

He responded by jailing her again and hitting her with daily fines that have increased over time to $1,000 every day of her incarceration.

In February Mannings lawyers lodged a motion calling for her to be set free, saying she would never change her mind.

'Her incarceration is not serving its only permissible purpose,' it said.

In 2013 a military judge found Manning guilty of 20 counts, six under the espionage act but acquitted her of the most serious charge of aiding the enemy, for leaking the confidential documents.

Assange, 48, is currently in jail in the UK where he faces extradition proceedings after a grand jury in the US agreed he put lives at risk by leaking classified documents.

He was arrested last April at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London where he had been seeking asylum since 2012.

Assange faces 18 charges and a possible 175 prison sentence.
There were two shots to Bauers head: one on each side of the right ear, Arunkumar told the jury. One to the neck that exited through his chest. One to the chest, perforating Bauers heart and lungs before exiting through his back. Another bullet to the chest lodged in Bauers body. Another gunshot hit the right forearm.
New Delhi, March 11 : India is working with Iranian authorities to operate some limited commercial flights for facilitating early return of remaining Indians from coronavirus-affected areas in that country, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar told Parliament on Wednesday.

The Minister also stressed the situation in Italy is a matter of concern and India has started taking steps to meet the challenge.

"Our focus has shifted to Iran in view of the sharp increase of coronavirus cases in that country. As per available information, there are 6,000 Indian nationals in various provinces of Iran. These include about 1,100 pilgrims, mainly from the Union Territories of Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir and Maharashtra," Jaishankar said in the Rajya Sabha.

He said that nearly 300 students, primarily from Jammu and Kashmir, and about 1,000 fisherman, including those from Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Gujarat and others, are on long-term stay visa in Iran for pursuing their livelihood and religious studies.

After a spike in coronavirus cases in Iran, as a precautionary measure, the government suspended flights between India and Iran temporarily with effect from February 27. "Advisories were issued to avoid travel and returning passengers were screened. This is an ongoing exercise," he said.

"Our Embassy in Tehran and the consulate in Bandar Abbas and Zahedan naturally reached out to the Indian nationals to ascertain their welfare. An advisery was issued, asking our nationals to observe precautionary measures," he said.

The Minister said that emergency contact details of the Indian mission were also put out.

"The initial focus was on visiting pilgrims. Many are in Qom, where coronavirus cases are many. Now we are focusing on the Indian students, many of them studying medicine, and are fully aware of the precautions to be taken in difficult situations. The Embassy is in regular contact with them in groups," he said.

Jaishankar said that the regions where fishermen are located have not been affected so severely by coronavirus. "These factors will guide our approach in the coming days," he said.

The Minister said that a team of six Indians has been sent to Iran to set up facility to draw samples and test them. The first batch of 108 samples was received in India on March 7. These were tested and 58 pilgrims were repatriated in a special IAF flight on March 10.

"We have received samples of 529 more Indians which are being tested in Pune. We continue to collected more samples in Tehran and our endeavour is to ensure possible return of our nationals after appropriate screening," he said.

The Minister pointed out: "We are working with Iranian authorities to operate some limited commercial flights for facilitating early return of the remaining Indians." As for the situation in Italy, he said it is a cause of great concern. "Steps in this regards have already been initiated. The challenge is growing by the day in Europe and we have to respond accordingly," he said.

Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad said: "We appreciate the government's effort to bring back the stranded Indian in coronavirus-affected countries." He asked how many pilgrims and students would return from Iran.

Congress member AK Antony said that he appreciated the government's action. "Today, I got a phone call from Italy. Around 100 Indians are (stranded) at the Milan airport and they are all alone. They don't have food. What is Indian government's take on it?" Derek O'Brien of the Trinamool Congress said that the government should not create panic.

After listening to members' concerns, the Minister said that the government is taking all step to ensure that Indians living abroad get proper treatment against the coronavirus.
Amazon said Wednesday it's launching a $25 million relief fund for delivery drivers and seasonal workers amid the coronavirus outbreak.

The "Amazon Relief Fund" will help employees "that are under financial distress during this challenging time," the company said. This includes Amazon Flex drivers and its network of delivery service partners, which handle last-mile package deliveries, as well as seasonal employees, which help the company manage variation in customer demand during peak periods and holidays.

Amazon will allow these employees to apply for grants that are equal to up to two weeks of pay if they're diagnosed with the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19. The company also said it will provide up to two weeks of pay to all employees diagnosed with COVID-19 or placed into quarantine, effective immediately. This is in addition to unlimited unpaid time off for all hourly employees through the month of March, which CNBC previously reported.

"The health and safety of our employees and contractors around the world continues to be our top priority as we face the challenges associated with COVID-19," said Beth Galetti, Amazon's senior vice president of human resources, in a statement. "Leaders across Amazon are meeting every day to consider the evolving situation and are consulting with medical experts to ensure we are doing all we can to keep our teams healthy."

The company has taken several steps to accommodate employees in response to the coronavirus outbreak. Amazon has already told employees at its Seattle, Bellevue, Bay Area, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Madrid and Italy offices to work from home for the month of March.

However, unlike employees at Amazon's corporate offices, many fulfillment center employees and delivery drivers cannot carry out their job duties while working from home. Amazon's sprawling fulfillment network, which powers the one-day and two-day delivery customers have come to expect, employs more than 250,000 workers at more than 110 sites across the country. The company also relies, in part, on its own network of delivery service partners and Flex drivers to handle the last mile portion of the delivery process.

On Sunday, Amazon relaxed its attendance policy for employees who "work from an office, store, fulfillment center, delivery station or sort center" during the month of March. The company informed employees that it will not count any unpaid time (UPT) off should they need to take it.

Additionally, Amazon said it would pay all of its hourly employees that support its offices in Seattle, Bellevue, the Bay Area, New York, New Jersey and Massachusetts. This includes food service employees, security guards and janitorial staff.

Some employees such as Flex drivers are contract employees, meaning they don't enjoy the same benefits as full-time employees and wouldn't get paid if they didn't show up for work. As the coronavirus spread, Amazon logistics workers circulated a petition calling for the company to put in place more "protective measures," including giving workers paid leave.

"While Amazon has made some limited coronavirus accommodations, it needs a comprehensive plan to ensure the safety of all of its workers and the larger public, including giving workers paid leave and not simply extending our unpaid leave, as was announced recently," the petition states.

As of Wednesday, there were more than 124,000 confirmed cases of the coronavirus globally, and at least 4,589 deaths. There are at least 1,110 confirmed cases of the virus in the U.S., and at least 32 deaths.
UPDATE: 1:08 p.m., Wednesday, March 18, 2020 - The California State University system has postponed all gatherings and events including commencement ceremonies, California State University, Chancellor Timothy P. White said.

Commencements will likely be rescheduled at a date later this year, White said.

This comes after all California State University campuses transitioned from in-person classes to a virtual mode.

The health and well-being of our students and employees is always a foremost priority, and we are especially mindful of this during these unprecedented circumstances," said CSU Chancellor Timothy P. White. As we address a new reality where groupings of people can potentially foster the spread of infection, we must collectively work to limit the gathering of students, faculty, and staff as much as possible, while fulfilling our academic mission."

CSU, operates 23 campuses across California including here in Chico.

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UPDATE: 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 17, 2020 - Chico State has announced more closures of facilities and canceling of events.

These events have been canceled:

March 31: Cats in the Community

April 4: Choose Chico!

April 17: Wildcat Day at the Farm

All Chico Performances, School of the Arts and North State Symphony events through the end of the academic year

These buildings and services have also been canceled:

The annual This Way to Sustainability conference on March 26-27 will be completely online

The Passport Place has closed until further notice

All University museums have been closed through April 24

All campus tours have been canceled through April 24

In-person class instruction has been canceled through April 24

As of now, no decision has been made regarding this year's commencement. Find more information HERE.

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UPDATE: 3:15 p.m. Friday, March 13 - Chico State will suspend face-to-face instruction from March 25 to April 24, President Gayle Hutchinson announced Friday.

The University will change all in-person classes to an online format.

Hutchinson said this suspension of in-person classes is temporary and currently scheduled to remain in place until April 24, pending administrative review, some lab, studio, or field-based instruction that may continue in an alternative format if its consistent with the practice of social distancing.

The decisions made are to balance health and safety with Chico States educational mission, Hutchinson said.

Chico State spokesperson Sean Murphy said student housing will remain open and continue to provide full on-campus services. The University is not closing, it will remain open and continue operating without interruption.

EVENTS

Events occurring after April 24 will be reviewed in the coming weeks. At this time, no decisions have been made in regard to Commencement in May, Murphy said.

Through at least April 24, all public events hosted by the following have been canceled: Chico Performances, North State Symphony, School of the Arts, and Book in Common.

A list of canceled events can be found by visiting Chico State's Box Office. Click Here

"In accordance with the California Collegiate Athletic Association, which recently announced a conference-wide suspension, all University athletic events have been suspended until further notice. All recreational sports, intramural, and sport club programs are also suspended for spring 2020," Murphy said.

TRAVEL

Murphy said effectively immediately, campus and auxiliary organizations have suspended all international and non-essential domestic travel through May 31. Read More

As of Friday, March 13, Butte County has no confirmed COVID-19 cases, according to public health.

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UPDATE: 4:19 p.m. Thursday, March 12 - Chico Performances announced all shows through April 12 are canceled.

Chico performances said they are following in line with Chico State administration, and following the guidelines from Butte County Public Health and the California Department of Public Health.

The canceled Chico performances include:

March 28 - The Second City

April 2 - Book in Common Lecture: Lauren E. Oakes (this performance may move to a digital interactive symposium. Details will follow from Chico State later.)

April 8 & 9 - Chico Performances Field Trip Series: Jungle Book

April 9 & 10 - Banff Centre International Mountain Film Festival

The safety and well-being of everyone who attends Chico Performances events is always a top priority, said Stephen Cummins, Executive Director for University Public Engagement. We recognize our responsibility and role in keeping our community safe.

Those who purchased tickets by phone or in person at the box office will have a credit issued to their account for future Chico Performances shows. They can call the box office if they prefer a refund or to make a donation.

RELATED: Butte County Health officials say precautions in place for coronavirus
Cardinal Philippe Ouedraogo, President of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM), has reaffirmed the Churchs preference for interreligious dialogue as an option in resolving conflicts in the Sahel region.

RecowaCerao News - Abidjan, Ivory Coast

The Archbishop of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, Cardinal Philippe Ouedraogo who is also President of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) has said that interreligious dialogue and Western nations stopping arms shipments to Africa, especially the troubled Sahel region, would go a long way in resolving insecurity concerns.

Africas Sahel region, especially Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and Chad have been on the receiving end of recurrent terrorist attacks by jihadist groups.

Interreligious dialogue holds a special place in the fight against terrorism in the Sahel. It is a major pivot in resolving terrorists attacks in the Sahel region in particular and Africa in general, said the SECAM President, Cardinal Ouedraogo, this week. He continued, Interreligious dialogue constitutes the focus of our pastoral work where the different religious confessions, Muslim, Protestant, Catholic, the traditional African religions -whose customary chiefs are essentially its supporters, come together to reflect on the issues of terrorism, explained Cardinal Ouedraogo. He was speaking on the sidelines of SECAMs Standing Committee meeting in Kenyas capital, Nairobi.

Interreligious dialogue in the Sahel region is essential

Sharing his experience of interfaith dialogue, Cardinal Ouedraogo said believers of different faiths could co-exist and work together. It is together that we try to work, to manifest our unity. To work together for our living together, in mutual respect, in mutual listening, the Archbishop of Burkina Fasos Ouagadougou Archdiocese noted. He added, We try to put a lot of emphasis on internal and external solidarity at the local, regional and international level, and as a local proverb says, one finger doesnt pick up flour. It takes more than one finger to pick up flour. Hence the need to join forces. Both internally and externally, the 75-year-old Burkinabe prelate emphasised.

Disruption of life in the Sahel

Security concerns in West Africa, characterised with jihadist attacks have taken a heavy toll on human life. Church leaders have understably been pre-occupied with security issues of the African Sahel region. In November 2019, the Bishops convened the first-ever Inter-Conference Workshop that brought together Catholic prelates and clerics to discuss ways of ending the violence on Christians.

The Sahel region, which encompasses Senegal, Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Nigeria, Chad, Sudan and Eritrea has faced rampant violence. It has become fertile ground for the proliferation of extremist groups.

Christians paying a heavy price in Burkina Faso

Recounting the situation in Burkina Faso, Cardinal Ouedraogo said, Burkina Faso, has been facing the challenges of terrorist attacks since 2015. It is already five years since these innocent populations have been mercilessly massacred. The Catholic Church has paid a heavy price. Priests, Catechists, and Christians are mercilessly killed. Protestants too have not escaped this turmoil. (Protestant) Pastors are also mercilessly killed.

Who is paying for all the guns in the hands of jihadists?

The Church leader once again appealed to the Western powers to stop the arms trade in Africa. I would like to call on the Western nations to stop arms trade in Africa  It is these weapons that allow jihadist groups to kill innocent populations. There are no weapons factories, no arms factories in Burkina Faso. Even in Africa, these are very few. Where do these weapons come from? Who is funding them? Who finances the guns? Who pays for all these weapons and who organises all these killings? Cardinal Ouedraogo said.
Ex-policeman controlling arrest of Golunov to stay in detention until late March

 Moskva city news agency, Kirill Zykov

15:41 11/03/2020

MOSCOW, March 11 (RAPSI)  The Moscow City Court on Wednesday dismissed an appeal against detention of ex-chief of a Moscow drug police district department Igor Lyakhovets charged in a case over abuse of power during apprehension of journalist Ivan Golunov until late March. RAPSI reports from the courtroom.

Moreover, the court upheld detention of another defendant Maxim Umetbayev, who apologized to the journalist during the hearing for using force and expressed hope for the fair trial.

In late February, Alexey Kovrizhkin, the lawyer for Lyakhovets, told RAPSI that another defendant Denis Konovalov had testified against his client, saying it was him who had ordered to plant drugs on Golunovs bag and apartment. Investigators believe Lyakhovets, who does not admit guilt, is the organizer of the crime.

Earlier, all five ex-police officers, investigators allege are involved in the case, were placed in detention for two months, until March 29. Defendants are ex-Moscow narcotics control policemen Lyakhovets, Konovalov, Akbar Sergaliyev, Roman Feofanov, Maxim Umetbayev. They are charged with abuse of power, evidence tampering and illegal drug trafficking. All the men except Konovalov plead not guilty. Konovalov was later released from detention and put under house arrest.

Investigators believe that they planted drugs on Golunov. Thus, they falsified the results of operative search activity that later became inculpatory evidence against Golunov in a drug dealing case; however, the drugs had been earlier illegally bought and kept by the police officers, according the Investigative Committee.

In late December 2019, investigators opened the case over arrest of Golunov. The journalist was recognized as an injured party. All five defendants in the case have been dismissed from police.

Golunov was arrested in Moscow on June 6, 2019. On June 8, the Nikulinsky District Court of Moscow placed him under house arrest for 2 months. According to the Interior Ministrys official statement, police seized nearly 4 grams of methylmethedrone from Golunov.

The journalist pleaded not guilty, insisted that the drugs were planted on him during the arrest and claimed that his prosecution is related to his journalistic investigations.

According to his defense, an examination showed no drugs in his biomaterial.

On June 11, charges against Golunov were dropped because of a lack of evidence that he participated in the crime, and the journalist was released.

On June 13, Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed two generals of police on the back of the arrest of Golunov.
Tesla is in talks with Nashville officials to locate a factory there that will produce its all-electric Cybertruck and Model Y crossover, according to a source familiar with the discussions.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk tweeted Tuesday evening that the company is "scouting" locations to build a new U.S. gigafactory that will produce the Cybertruck and Model Y crossover.

"Scouting locations for Cybertruck Gigafactory. Will be central USA," Musk tweeted Tuesday. He added that the factory would be used to produce Model Y crossovers for the East Coast market. The first Model Y vehicles are being produced at its plant in Fremont, Calif.

Scouting locations for Cybertruck Gigafactory. Will be central USA.  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 11, 2020

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Musk didn't provide further information in the tweets. However, a source with knowledge of the talks said Nashville is on a short list of contenders.

Tennessee is already shaping up to be a hub of electric vehicle production. Volkswagen is spending $800 million to expand its U.S. factory in Chattanooga, Tenn. and turn it into the companys North American base for manufacturing electric vehicles. Electric vehicle production at the Tennessee site will begin in 2022, VW said at the time. Meanwhile, Nissan has been producing the Nissan Leaf in Smyrna since 2013.

Tesla assembles its Model S, Model X and Model 3 vehicles in Fremont, Calif. at a factory that was once home to GM and Toyotas New United Motor Manufacturing Inc (NUMMI) operation. Tesla acquired the factory in 2010. The first Model S was produced at the factory in June 2012.

Tesla turned its efforts to battery production and in June 2014 broke ground on its first "gigafactory" on land near Reno, Nevada. The massive structure, which has surpassed. 1.9 million square feet, is where Tesla produces battery packs and electric motors for its Model 3 vehicles. The company has a joint venture with Panasonic, which is making the lithium-ion cells.

Story continues

Tesla also has a "Gigafactory 2" in Buffalo, New York, where it's producing solar cells and modules.

In 2018, Tesla struck a deal with the Chinese government to build a factory in Shanghai, a milestone for Musk, who has long viewed China as a crucial market. The China factory started producing the Model 3 late last year. The first deliveries began in early January.

Tesla is now clearing land for another factory near Berlin. Once complete, this German factory will produce the Model 3 and Model Y for the European market.

The story has been updated to reflect new information about the possible location of the factory.
A Delhi court has served notice to jail authorities in the national capital after allegations from Delhi gang-rape convict Pawan Gupta that he was thrashed inside the prison. The case will be heard on Thursday.

Pawan has sought registration of FIR against two policemen of the Mandoli jail, claiming that the thrashing he received at the hands of these cops led to severe head injury.

Another death row convict in the case, Mukesh Singh, had 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 M L 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.

Last week, a trial court in Delhi 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).

Though the counsel of three of the four convicts sought time from the court to deliberate legal options, additional sessions judge Dharmender Rana observed that there was no statutory bar in issuing the death warrant.

The victims family has accused the four convicts of delaying their petitions and wasting the time of courts in order to stall the execution process.

A 23-year-old physiotherapy intern, who came to be known as Nirbhaya (fearless), was gang-raped and savagely assaulted in a moving bus in south Delhi on December 16, 2012. She had 13 days later at a hospital in Singapore.

Six people, including the four convicts and a juvenile, were named as accused. Ram Singh, the sixth accused, allegedly committed suicide in Tihar Jail days after the trial began in the case.

The juvenile was released in 2015 after spending three years in a correctional home.
Long-time Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia crossed over to the BJP on Wednesday, leaving the Madhya Pradesh government tottering precariously and both parties scrambling to send their legislators far away from the state capital -- and from the machinations of each other.

While Madhya Pradesh's ruling Congress, pushed to the brink of collapse after the resignation of 22 legislators close to Scindia, herded about 90 of its legislators to resorts near Jaipur, the state's opposition BJP sent its MLAs to a luxury hotel in Gurgaon.

And 19 of those who resigned and whose letters were taken to the speaker by the BJP are secluded in a hotel in Bengaluru.

As the number crunching intensified and resort played out in 'friendly states' - Rajasthan is ruled by the Congress and Haryana and Karnataka by the BJP - Scindia formally joined the BJP in the presence of party president J P Nadda and said the country's future is secure in the hands of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Scindia, 49, the proverbial centre of the political storm in Madhya Pradesh, belongs to the erstwhile royal family of Gwalior and has family links with both the Congress and the BJP.

While his father Madhavrao Scindia was in the Congress, his grandmother Vijaya Raje Scindia was one of the founder members of the BJP and his aunts Yashodhara Raje Scindia and Vasundhara Raje Scindia are active members of the saffron party.

Calling Madhya Pradesh a piece of his heart ('dil ka bhag'), Scindia said at a press conference with Nadda by his side his dream for the state had been shattered in the last 18 months -- when the Congress won the assembly elections and Kamal Nath became chief minister.

Welcoming him into the BJP, Nadda said he was "joining his family".

"This is a joyous day for BJP and me personally. Today, I remember Rajmata Scindia... The entire family is with BJP," former Madhya Pradesh chief minister and senior BJP leader Shivraj Singh Chouhan said.

Amid expectations that he will be the BJP's nominee from the state for the Rajya Sabha, Scindia said he is "pained" and "distressed" at not being able to serve the people and described the Congress as a party living in denial.

The former Union minister and four-time Congress MP, known to be close to Rahul Gandhi, said the party is not what it used to be.

His resignation from the Congress along with MLAs "loyal" to him on Tuesday has put a big question mark over the future of the Kamal Nath-led government, which came to power with a wafer-thin majority in the 230-member assembly. The effective strength is now 228.

It also has the support of four Independents, two BSP legislators and one SP MLA, but some may now switch sides to the BJP.

If the resignations of the 22 MLAs are accepted, the strength of the assembly will fall to 206. The Congress, on its own, will then be left with 92 seats while the BJP has 107 seats with the magic number for a majority being 104.

The Congress expressed confidence it will win a trust vote in the assembly.

"We have 95 MLAs here (at the Bhopal airport). Independent MLAs and BSP and SP legislators are also supporting us," state minister Priyavrat Singh said in Bhopal before taking off for Jaipur.

"We will prove our majority. We will save the government," senior Congress leader from the state Digvijaya Singh told PTI.

He said 13 of the 22 rebel MLAs in the state have given an assurance that "they are not leaving the Congress". They also said they don't want to quit the party and were led away only to create pressure on the leadership to nominate Scindia to the Rajya Sabha,



"We did not anticipate that Scindia will quit the Congress... that was a mistake," Singh said.

Scindia, Singh said, could have been a Congress nominee to the Rajya Sabha but "only Modi-Shah" can give a Cabinet post to the "over-ambitious" leader.

The senior leader also claimed Scindia was roped in by the BJP after Chouhan failed to topple the Congress government in Madhya Pradesh.

He added that Scindia was offered the post of deputy chief minister but wanted his nominee. However, Kamal Nath refused to accept a "chela", he said.

Nakul Nath, Congress MP and Kamal Nath's son, also exuded confidence the government would survive.

"They (the MLAs) were misled and taken to Bengaluru," Nakul Nath said outside Parliament, describing Scindia's exit from the party as a "dent".

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, who was at the airport in Jaipur to receive his party's MLAs, accused the BJP of "shamelessly" indulging in horse-trading on the basis of money power.

"Horse-trading is being done shamelessly and MLAs are being threatened there (Madhya Pradesh)... we all are together," Gehlot alleged.

He said it was all being done on the basis of money power.

According to Gehlot, people would not forgive Scindia. "Congress party gave him so much but he showed opportunism."



Congress MLAs from the central Indian state were also certain the government would prove its majority.

"We are going to Jaipur with our MLAs. We will stay there together," state minister Sajjan Singh Verma, considered a close confidant of Kamal Nath, told reporters.

Attacking the BJP, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused the prime minister Narendra Modi of "destabilising" the elected Congress government in Madhya Pradesh.

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel also gave a vote of confidence to his Madhya Pradesh counterpart, saying the government will prove in the House that it is safe.

"There have been many such instances... Those who left the party after raising a hue and cry later returned to the fold silently," he said.

Hitting out at Scindia, NCP leader Sharad Pawar said he wanted "quick rehabilitation" after the Lok Sabha poll defeat and commended the Congress for its "good and capable leadership".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Three doctors and a health department official urged Casperites to remain calm as fears mount over the spread of the novel coronavirus. Hours later, the Wyoming Department of Health announced the states first case of the virus.

This is not a panic situation, Dr. Mark Dowell, Natrona Countys health officer and an infectious disease physician, said at a Wednesday morning press conference. Right now, live your lives. Its around, itll probably come here.

The disease, officially designated COVID-19, has spread rapidly across the United States over the past week, with 39 states reporting more than 1,000 confirmed cases as of Wednesday morning, with at least 37 deaths. The spread has been more significant internationally. In Italy, for instance, there are 10,000 cases and 600 deaths; the government there has imposed strict restrictions across the peninsula.

The illness, which first emerged in China, is a respiratory one and comes from the same family of viruses that causes the common cold. It is spread by close proximity to an infected person, including when a person coughs or otherwise leaves droplets  moisture released from the nose or mouth.

The fears about COVID-19 have been borderline apocalyptic. Several Casper grocery stores were either nearly or completely sold out of toilet paper, hand sanitizer, face masks and alcohol rub as of Tuesday afternoon. Dowell said the toilet paper rush was bizarre and gave us a laugh because it doesnt really make sense. Anna Kinder, the executive director of the county health department, said the bulk purchasing of masks was a concern because it could be an impediment to people who need those masks as part of their jobs. Plus, she said, the masks dont offer any preventative benefits.

Dowell and Dr. Ghazi Ghanem, who also works in Dowells infectious disease clinic, both urged the community to remain calm. Wyoming Medical Center has the capacity and expertise to handle any cases that may pop up in Casper. Both men, and other health officials previously, said that its likely COVID-19 will come to Wyoming and Casper. Both also said it was likely that global death and case totals were low, given how new the disease is and the potential for undercounting.

Still, both doctors said there was no reason for a societal meltdown. Health officials said they wont panic and institute large-scale community testing. Test kits are limited, Dowell and Kinder said, and officials want only those who have been exposed to the virus  via travel or contact with a sick person  to be tested.

Right now, the average age in the United States of people who die from this is 80, Dowell said. Eighty years old. Not 20, not 30. Younger people are doing fine with this, for the most part. There are some stragglers, but thats true of influenza as well.

Ghanem said that the human population hasnt seen this particular type of coronavirus before, which is why theres no vaccine, no treatment and no ready immune response.

This is not as bad as ebola, he said.

What we are really wanting to do is to educate the public that, should you suspect you have been exposed or you have coronavirus, one, do not freak out because 95 percent of the time youre going to be just fine, Ghanem said. And two, help us not spread this around.

Ghanem and Dr. Ron Iverson, who oversees WMCs emergency room, urged people not to use the ER as a go-to clinic for suspected coronavirus patients. The health officials said that any patients who suspect theyre ill with COVID-19 should call their doctor first. If the patient meets one of the two current testing criteria  travel to an area with the disease or exposure to a sick person  then the doctor may order a test.

From there, if the person tests positive, he or she will likely be treated in a special room within WMC, with significant safety precautions that Ghanem said were likely overkill. Those early cases would be treated that way, but if there are more cases in Casper, then the hospital would begin treating it like the flu. Severe cases, where a persons breathing is significantly affected, would be treated in single rooms in the hospital, while patients with more mild cases should self-isolate in their homes for two weeks.

If you have a cough or a fever, you dont necessarily need to come to the ER, Iverson said.

On Tuesday, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis declared a state of emergency because of COVID-19s spread there. Asked if that move changed his thinking, Dowell said no. He added that a move like that can just create more panic among a population thats already freaked out.

Ghanem pointed out that sometimes declaring emergencies allows for more funding. Dowell agreed but said the state leaders could unlock funding and assure residents that they were prioritizing the virus in other ways.

The two infectious disease doctors said it was unlikely COVID-19 would mutate into some more virulent disease. Dowell said its unclear if the virus will wax and wane during the winter months like influenza does.

Overall, the officials urged people to remain calm. They said that a case here is likely but that people shouldnt demand tests because they have a cold.

This is not a sprint. Its a marathon, Ghanem said. Were just starting it, and were going to start it right.

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Two forces came together to prompt a big drop in gas, diesel and heating oil prices overnight Monday.

P.E.I.'s Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission normally reviews the price of petroleum products weekly, making changes Friday morning. Tuesday's was the first unscheduled change since IRAC moved to weekly reviews.

Regular self-serve gas is down 6.9 cents per litre to a minimum of $1.028, the lowest price since February of 2019.

The minimum price for diesel fell to $1.063 per litre, also down 6.9 cents.

The maximum price for heating oil is down 6.3 cents to $0.793.

Propane prices are unchanged.

Allison MacEwen, director of regulatory services for IRAC, said a general slowdown in the global economy due to the COVID-19 virus has been putting downward pressure on crude oil prices for about six weeks. An unexpected event on the weekend pushed them down even further.

Saudi Arabia and Russia have been working together to restrict production, matching supply to demand, for four or five years. Talks to continue that relationship broke down on Saturday.

"In reaction to that, Saudi Arabia, and then subsequently Russia, announced not only were they not going to agree to reduce production, but they were going to do the exact opposite," MacEwen said.

"They were going to slash their export prices and increase production, thus making a global supply surplus situation all that much worse."

It is impossible to predict where prices could go from here, he said. Government stimulus packages could increase demand, and it is also possible Russia and Saudi Arabia will get together to control production again. In another scenario, speculators could buy up the cheap oil in the hopes of selling it at a higher price down the road.

But he said if none of those things happen, further price drops are likely.

More from CBC P.E.I.
Albertson & Davidson, LLP This is an important win for the protection of our elderly citizens.

Albertson & Davidson, LLP, a California Trust and Estate Litigation firm, announced today that they secured an important victory in their clients financial elder abuse case against Thomas Yoshio Itow. Honorable David L. Belz, Judge of the Orange County Superior Court, determined that the facts presented by the firm in the matter of the Itow Family Trust met the evidence standard required for the ruling.

Under California financial elder abuse law, four elements must be proven to establish undue influence: (1) vulnerability of the victim, (2) apparent authority of the wrongdoer, (3) actions and tactics of the wrongdoer, and (4) an inequitable result.

In the ruling of Orange County Superior Court case no. 2018-01027543, Judge Belz said that Yoko Itow, the defendants mother, was vulnerable due to her age, health, and isolation from her family. As a family member, care provider, and fiduciary, Thomas Itow exercised authority over his mother which led to the disinheritance of her daughter, petitioner Nancy Thompson, which was an inequitable result. The court also found that Thomas Itow committed financial elder abuse by taking and obtaining real or personal property belonging to his mother when he transferred the family residence into a newly formed Trust from which he would receive all of her assets.

This is an important win for the protection of our elderly citizens, said Jeff Hall, partner with Albertson & Davidson, LLP and lead trial attorney for Nancy Thompson. While we are happy to have helped our client fight against Financial Elder Abuse, there are many more cases out there where families are struggling with the devastating effects of elder abuse.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, at least ten percent of senior citizens  more than 5 million elders  will experience some form of elder abuse in a given year. Financial elder abuse makes up more than half of these cases.

As for the Estate of Yoko Itow, Judge Belz ordered the return of her real property, invalidation of the family Trust, and appointment of Nancy Thompson as Executor of the Estate of Yoko Itow. The ruling effectively returns Yoko Itows estate to its rightful heirs by invalidating the documents her son obtained through the use of undue influence.

This ruling is a complete victory for our client, added Hall. But more than that, it exemplifies the strength of our justice system in helping to protect elders from future abuse.

About Albertson & Davidson, LLP

Founded in 2008, Albertson & Davidson, LLP, are California estate litigation attorneys for trust, will, and probate matters. The firm believes in standing up and fighting for abused trust and will beneficiaries who are in danger of losing their rightful inheritances. Albertson & Davidson, LLP handles cases throughout California with offices in San Francisco, Silicon Valley, Los Angeles, Orange County, and San Diego. To date, Albertson & Davidson, LLP has secured over $130 million in verdicts and settlements for its clients.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Mar. 11

By Ilkin Seyfaddini - Trend:

Coca-Cola Ichimligi Uzbekistaniston Ltd. plans to invest $31 million in Uzbekistan in 2020-2021, Trend reports via Uzbek media.

"The decision on the investment was made based on the data of our researches of Uzbekistans domestic market of soft drinks, conducted in cooperation with foreign analysts. According to researches, in the next 10 years, the soft drinks market will increase by 1.8 times due to population growth, income growth and expansion of tourist potential of the region," said the company.

The capacity increase will require modernization of three plants in Namangan, Urgench and Tashkent, which will economize on logistics and increase tax revenues in the regions where the plants are located.

In 2019, Coca-Cola's market share in soft drinks increased by 25 percent and in carbonated sweet drinks by more than 50 percent. The ompany increased its beverage production by 38 percent in 2018 and by 33 percent in 2019.

JV Coca-Cola Ichimligi Uzbekiston Ltd. was established in 1993. Currently, 57.1 percent of the company's shares are owned by Coca-Cola Ichimligi Uzbekiston Ltd. and 42.9 percent by Coca-Cola Export Corporation. The plants produce soft drinks under trademarks Coca-Cola, Fanta, Sprite, Bonaqua and Fuse Tea.

In 2018, the government was going to sell its stake in it to a foreign investor, but the deal did not go through.

---

Follow author on Twitter: @seyfaddini
Italy's Gaming Market Takes the First Hit from Coronavirus

Published March 11, 2020 by Lee R

A sweeping closure of public gatherings in Italy has pulled Gaming activity and venues into its wake.

Corona is catching gaming in Italy as well.

The Closures

On Tuesday, March 10th, the country with Europe's highest rate of coronavirus announced the the closure of betting shops, arcades and bingo halls nationwide until at least April 3rd.

Greater Shut-Downs

A greater moratorium in Italy extending to public events such as weddings and funerals includes Serie A sporting events, accompanied by a government advisory to citizens to avoid non-essential travel which will curtail attendance and travel to matches where much betting activity takes place.

Exceptions, for Now

Italian expert Alessio Crisantemi of Gioconews.it asserts that the closures should not be interpreted as a total shut-down of the retail gambling industry. He pointed out that amusement with prizes (AWP) machines available in land-based venues such as bars; tobacconists; restaurants; and hotels will remain operational and earning revenue, as long as operators ensure a distance of at least one metre between players is maintained.

Narrowing Activity Hours

All aforementioned venues will be subject to narrowed opening hours between 6 AM and 6 PM.

Lingering Variables



Despite this assurance, Crisantemi further added that interpretative doubts remained about whether venues such as bars, tobacconists or restaurants with gaming devices in separate rooms can stay open, and remain compliant with corona guidelines.

Projected Impact

A worst-case scenario provided by industry analysts H2 Gambling Capital in March projects an 8% year-on-year decline in global gambling revenue in 2020.

A map based on observations of shut-downs in China and quarantine protocols Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Malaysia and South Korea indicates a 1% minimum decline in Italy's gaming industry for 2020--4.8% below H2s original undisrupted 2020 forecast of $475bn.

Outlook

It is important to note that global gaming industry figures would be impacted further when disrupted figures from other markets come in. The variable still appears to be whether the coronavirus outbreak gets works or stabilizes and then is reduced.
The Sunyani Technical University (STU) has expressed concern about the high attrition rate of its faculty members in favour of the traditional universities after they have been sponsored to obtain PhDs through its limited internally generated funds.



The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Professor Kwadwo Adinkrah-Appiah, who expressed this concern, said about five of its sponsored faculty members had left for some of the traditional universities over the past two years.



Speaking at the 13th Congregation of the university in Sunyani on Saturday, he said the only panacea to this canker was to create parity in the conditions of service of the technical university lecturers with that of the traditional universities.



We are aware that the government is doing all it can to improve the conditions of service of the technical university staff.



We urge the government to speed up the process and ensure there will be no differentials as far as salaries and allowances are concerned. he stated.



Statistics



A total of 1,554 graduates were awarded degrees and certificates, including Bachelor of Technology (B-Tech), Higher National Diplomas in Engineering, Applied Science and technology, Applied Arts as well as Business and Management disciplines.



One hundred and sixty out of the total number of graduates had First Class honours, while 791 obtained Second Class Upper with 557 students having Second Class Lower and 47 obtained Pass.



Staff development



Prof Adinkrah-Appiah explained that after the conversion of the institution from polytechnic to technical university, and the subsequent staff audit by the National Council for Technical Education (NCTE), management was undertaking aggressive staff development through its IGF to upgrade the qualification of its faculty members.



Our ultimate aim is to ensure that at least 50 per cent of all faculty members obtain a terminal degree in the medium term, he said, explaining that currently a total of 45 faculty members were being sponsored to pursue PhD programmes in various universities in Ghana and abroad.



Free SHS students



On preparation towards admission of the first batch of the Free SHS students, he stated that the university had embarked on the construction of a new 1,000 capacity hostel facility on Build, Own, Operate and Transfer (BOOT) basis to ease accommodation problems for the prospective freshers.



He said while the university had already renovated three existing hostels through its IGF to provide decent accommodation for students, some new classrooms had been completed in its ongoing Science Park Project under the auspices of the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund).



Technical universities mandate



In his address, the Chairman of the STU Council, Dr Kwame Boakye, drew attention to the fact that technical universities were established to use the application of science, technology, engineering and innovation to find practical solutions to the countrys development problems thus requiring of training of students to be practical-oriented.

Source: Daily Graphic









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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FGE announces capture of Playa del Carmen extortionist in Merida

Playa del Carmen, Q.R.  During a press conference, Oscar Montes de Oca announced the capture of Juan H in collaboration with authorities in the state of Yucatan, who is believed a main operator in business extortions in Playa del Carmen.

The Attorney General of Quintana Roo reported that Juan H, one of the main operators of floor right extortionists aimed at businessmen and merchants from the municipality of Solidaridad, was arrested on a street in Merida and transferred to the Solidaridad Retention Center.

In his press conference, he said that according to investigations, Juan H sent extortive messages to business owners demanding money in exchange for not causing damage to their family members, who Juan H threatened, had already been located.

Montes de Oca revealed that members of this criminal cell also placed threatening messages with the intention of generating fear in their victims and subsequently sent text messages to exert more pressure.

Montes de Oca Rosales said that during the investigation, it was possible to establish that Juan H had links with the criminal group to which Jonathan N belonged, the former leader of the criminal cell known as Los Pelones who was arrested in October last year.

Oscar Montes de Oca confirmed that the arrest, which occurred Monday afternoon, was derived from an arrest warrant. There are already four complaints filed against Juan H. Montes de Oca expects there will be more.

The arrest came just days after head of Public Security Alberto Capella Ibarra, announced a new strategy to take down criminal cells extorting Playa del Carmen businesses.
Amid the ongoing political crisis in Madhya Pradesh, both BJP and the Congress have decided to move their legislators outside of the state and lodge them in luxury hotels, apparently in a bid to keep their respective flocks intact.

While BJP hurried its MLAs to a luxury hotel in Gurugram in wee hours today, Congress will likely move its MLAs from Bhopal to Jaipur later in the day.

It is pertinent to mention that the BJP government led by Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar is in power in Haryana while Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot led Congress government is ruling the roost in Rajasthan.

Meanwhile, Congress has sent two of its leaders-- Sajjan Singh Verma and Govind Singh--- to Bengaluru in order to pacify some of the rebel MLAs, who are staying in Bengaluru. Resignation of senior leader Jyotiraditya Scindia and 22 MLAs on Tuesday came as a jolt to the party, which is now making all-out efforts to save its government.

The developments come amid the political crisis that has engulfed the state after Jyotiraditya Scindia, a prominent face of the Congress, resigned from the party earlier on Tuesday.

Scindia's decision to leave Congress was followed by the resignation from 22 party MLAs loyal to him. The legislators who have resigned include six ministers.

Congress leaders said that the party MLAs will be leaving for Jaipur from Bhopal on Wednesday morning. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath, earlier today, put on a brave face and said that there is nothing to worry about and expressed confidence that the Congress still had the required numbers to prove its majority in the floor test in the state assembly.

Earlier, allegations were levelled against the BJP for reportedly holding hostages at least eight Congress MLAs from Madhya Pradesh against their will at a luxury hotel in Gurugram's Manesar and Bengaluru.

Several Congress leaders, including Digvijaya Singh, had accused the BJP of trying to poach its leaders.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Currently, a woman stays in the box unit; the results of her analyses will be announced in a few days

In Zaporizhia region, a woman, who returned from Italy, was hospitalized to box unit of the local infectious hospital with the suspicion for coronavirus as Zaporizhia Regional State Administration reported.

A woman, who returned from Italy, appealed to the health point of the railway station Zaporizhia-1 for medical aid due to the progress of the acute respiratory infection. A woman denies the contacts with diseased with coronavirus infection in Italy, the message said.

Zaporizhia regional laboratory center of the Healthcare Ministry of Ukraine noted that considering the stay of a woman in Italy during the last 14 days before the disease and progress of the disease, she was hospitalized to the box unit of the local infectious hospital.

To establish the characterization of the disease agent, a sample of diseased was analyzed in the virological laboratory of the regional laboratory center of the Healthcare Ministry of Ukraine for flu and parainfluenza. According to the results, we have negative analyses. For further consideration, including the analysis for new coronavirus, the samples were sent to the virological reference laboratory of the Public Health Center of the Healthcare Ministry of Ukraine, the administration noted.

It is noted that anti-epidemic measures were assumed at the place where the diseased was detected. People, who contacted with a woman, are put under medical observation, the rooms, where the diseased stayed, are disinfected.

The results of the analyses will be announced in a few days.

As we reported, the Kyiv state administration introduced a ban on holding mass events in the capital with the participation of more than 60 people until March 31 due to the spread of coronavirus.

Besides, the Ukrainian government has approved the list of measures that have to be taken in order to prevent the spread of coronavirus in Ukraine.
A similar incident occurred at Kay Jewelers in Post Oak Mall in January 2019. A group of men broke a glass display case and stole thousands of dollars worth of jewelry. Three men were eventually arrested and charged in that case.

Vision Works optometry technician Ashleigh Leaver said her employers office had been closed for lunch at the time of the incident, but the business is located at the exit nearest Zales.

I heard a noise, and I looked up, she said. I had my food from the food court, and I saw a guy with a red shirt running out. ... I assumed someone got robbed, but then I saw on Twitter it [could be] an active shooter, so we went in the back and waited there.

Melissa Bernal, assistant manager of Casa Ole restaurant, also was positioned adjacent to the nearest mall exit from the incident, She said she thought the sounds were gunfire, and she saw what appeared to be three young men running from the jewelry store.

I heard three, like, pops, and Ive found out now that it was them breaking the glass, she said. I saw them running, and I just threw this door open to run back in the restaurant.
Our success for over 120 years has only been made possible by partnering with outstanding agencies like Willow Glen Insurance Agency who shares in our mission to protect and restore our communities, said CIG president and CEO Arne Chatterton.

Without question, naming Willow Glen as our Agency of the Year recognizes the agencys solid and profitable business results achieved in 2019, added CIG Northern California regional field executive Scott Cummins.

Willow Glen Insurance Agency has been partners with CIG since 1980. Led by Ross Peterson, the agency primarily serves policyholders in Silicon Valley, particularly rental property owners and small businesses.

Were greatly honored and excited to be named CIGs Agency of the Year. We acknowledge a debt of gratitude to the people in every department at CIG for supporting us this past year so we could experience the kind of success we were all shooting for, commented Ross Peterson.

Peterson gave special thanks to Willow Glens underwriting team and company representatives for their key roles in helping drive the agencys successes. The agency leader also said that he looks forward to another 40 years of partnership between Willow Glen and CIG.
(Newser)  The Supreme Court on Wednesday said it would allow the Trump administration to continue enforcing a policy that makes asylum-seekers wait in Mexico for US court hearings, despite lower court rulings that the policy probably is illegal, the AP reports. The justices' order, over a dissenting vote by Justice Sonia Sotomayor, overturns a lower court order that would have blocked the policy, at least for people arriving at the border crossings in Arizona and California. The high court action came a day before the lower court order was to have taken effect. Instead, the Remain in Mexico" policy will remain in force while a lawsuit challenging it plays out in the courts.

story continues below

The 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco has ruled that the policy, known officially as Migrant Protection Protocols, probably is illegal under US law to prevent sending people to countries where their lives or freedom would be threatened because of their race, religion, nationality, political beliefs or membership in a particular social group. About 60,000 asylum-seekers have been returned to Mexico to wait for their cases to wind through clogged US immigration courts since the policy was introduced in January 2019 in San Diego and later expanded across the border. Human Rights First, an advocacy group that opposes the policy, said it found more than 1,000 public reports of kidnappings, torture, rape and assaults of asylum-seekers returned to Mexico.

(Read more asylum stories.)
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Almost a thousand more passengers were disembarked from the Grand Princess cruise ship on Tuesday and driven away to be placed in quarantine at military bases around the United States amid fears they may have contracted coronavirus after 21 people got sick.

After 407 people, including two hundred Canadians, were evacuated late Monday night, a further 999 were evacuated from the ship throughout Tuesday, bringing the total number of passengers disembarked to 1,406.

There still remains an estimated 1,015 passengers on board and 1,113 crew members.

Among those who disembarked Monday were two travelers who tested positive for the coronavirus on Friday. They were taken to the hospital alongside their travel companions.

Nineteen crew members also tested positive Friday but have been deemed 'asymptomatic' and remain on the ship in isolated cabins.

Addressing a news conference on Tuesday in Sacramento, the state capital, Governor Gavin Newsom said he hoped to finish getting all the roughly 2,400 passengers off the ship within 72 hours.

On Tuesday night, 142 Britons were flown back to the United Kingdom but will not be placed into quarantine.

Instead, they will be asked to self-isolate at home and told to only get in touch with the NHS if they fall ill - despite the fact infect patients are highly contagious a week before showing symptoms.

They are expected to land back in the UK on Wednesday morning.

Grand Princess cruise ship passengers being screened inside a tent Tuesday in Oakland before boarding a bus that will take them to a military base for quarantine. California Gov. Gavin Newsom hopes to have disembarked the ship within 72 hours

Passengers as they get ready to disembark the Grand Princess in Oakland on Tuesday

Port workers wearing protective gear work along the portside of the Grand Princess cruise ship in Oakland on Tuesday

Medical personnel help load passengers from the Grand Princess cruise ship onto airplanes at Oakland International Airport on Tuesday as they are flown to military bases to be kept in quarantine for 14 days and tested for the coronavirus

Luggage belonging to passengers from the Princess Cruises Grand Princess cruise ship is loaded onto a charter plane at Oakland International Airport on Tuesday as American passengers are brought to military bases for quarantine

A passenger from the Grand Princess washes his hands before boarding a chartered plane in Oakland on Tuesday

Once they leave the ship, passengers are being screened before boarding a bus to take them to Travis Air Force Base in Northern California or another military base.

Travis Air Force expected to welcome 810 Californian passengers in total on Tuesday.

Other American passengers are being driven by bus to take a charter plane from Oakland International Airport where they are sent to other military bases around the country to be placed in quarantine for 14 days.

According to a press release from Princess Cruises on Tuesday, 'once they disembark, American guests will be transferred to either Travis Air Force Base in Solano County, California; Miramar Marine Corps Air Station in San Diego; Lackland Air Force Base in Bexar County, Texas; or Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Marietta, Georgia'.

California residents will be sent to the Travis Air Force base in Fairfield or Marine Corps Air Station Miramar near San Diego.

Non-Californians will be flown to Joint Base San Antonio Lackland in Texas or Dobbins Air Force Base in Georgia.

On Tuesday evening, the first passengers were pictured arriving in Joint Base San Antonio Lackland in San Antonio, Texas, for their quarantine. This is the third set of quarantined visitors to arrive at the base.

In February, it took in 91 citizens repatriated from Wuhan, China, and later received 140 passengers from the Diamond Princess Cruise Ship.

The base was expecting to receive about 380 passengers from the Grand Princess.

All passengers sported masks and had their luggage with them as they arrived on the tarmac. They were met as they got off the plane by medical staff.

A passenger cheers as medical Personnel help load them from the Grand Princess cruise ship onto airplanes at Oakland International Airport. American passengers are being brought to one of four military bases to complete a 14-day quarantine

A worker in protective gear directs a masked passenger from the cruise ship Grand Princess on the tarmac at Oakland International Airport Tuesday as authorities continue debarkation from the ship after 21 people on board tested positive

Medical Personnel help load passengers from the Grand Princess cruise ship onto airplanes at Oakland International Airport on Tuesday as American passengers are brought into quarantine due to the risk they contracted the coronavirus

Passengers still on board the ship have little information on when they will be disembarking.

'We haven't received any information... We have not received anything in writing or anything like that to say where we're going or if we're even leaving today,' Donna LaGuesse told USA Today earlier on Tuesday.

Her sister-in-law had received a luggage tag meaning that she would be getting off the ship soon but neither knew which military base they would be sent to and if they could end up separated.

According to Princess Cruises, Health & Human Services teams have been on board the Grand Princess to assist with medical screenings and interviews and have prioritized those who require the most medical attention and care.

On Tuesday evening, 24 passengers were taken to buildings on the Asilomar State Beach and Conference Grounds in Pacific Grove where they will be temporarily housed.

The passengers are not known to have contracted the coronavirus but 'because they have mild symptoms that do not require hospitalization, they cannot be quarantined at Travis Air Force Base'.

Passengers from the Grand Princess cruise ship, which docked in Oakland, arrive for quarantine at Joint Base San Antonio Lackland in San Antonio, Texas, on Tuesday. This is the third group of quarantined passengers to join the base

A driver and a medical professional with face masks are seen on a bus transporting passengers from the Grand Princess cruise ship, which docked in Oakland, arrive for a coronavirus quarantine at Joint Base San Antonio Lackland on Tuesday

Crew members unload bags after a charter flight from California's Oakland International Airport carrying passengers evacuated from the Grand Princess cruise ship arrived at Kelly Field, an enclave of San Antonio, Texas, on Tuesday

Passengers from the Grand Princess cruise ship, which docked in Oakland, arrive Tuesday for quarantine at Joint Base San Antonio Lackland in Texas. The base expects to receive 380 passengers from the cruise ship in the next few hours

Once all guests have disembarked, the crew will remain on board and the ship will leave San Francisco Bay.

'Once disembarkation of the guests is completed, remaining crew members will remain onboard and Grand Princess will depart from San Francisco Bay. Plans for a crew quarantine are still being determined,' Princess Cruises added in Tuesday's statement.

All the remaining U.S. passengers will be tested once they reach their destinations at quarantine housing at one of the four military bases.

Hundreds of Americans have been taken off the Grand Princess cruise ship and driven to military bases around America to start two weeks of quarantine after a coronavirus outbreak on board. Pictured, a bus arrives at Travis Air Force Base

Some 1,500 people were evacuated from the ship on Monday, including two dozen people requiring urgent medical care. Pictured, a bus full of American passengers arrives at Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, California

Two buses carrying quarantined passengers from the Grand Princess cruise ship drive onto Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, California, on Monday night

240 Canadian passengers were evacuated Monday and boarded a specially-chartered evacuation flight home (pictured arriving at Canadian Forces Base Trenton, Ontario) where they will also be quarantined

Passengers step off a plane carrying Canadians back from the Grand Princess cruise ship, after it arrived at Canadian Forces Base Trenton in Ontario

Around 2,000 passengers were left on board the ship overnight as evacuation operations were halted, before restarting again Tuesday morning. It comes after 21 cases of coronavirus were confirmed on board the ship

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF CORONAVIRUS? Like other coronaviruses, including those that cause the common cold and that triggered SARS, COVID-19 is a respiratory illness. The most common symptoms are: Fever

Dry cough

Shortness of breath

Difficulty breathing

Fatigue Although having a runny nose doesn't rule out coronavirus, it doesn't thus far appear to be a primary symptom. Most people only become mildly ill, but the infection can turn serious and even deadly, especially for those who are older or have underlying health conditions. In these cases, patients develop pneumonia, which can cause: Potentially with yellow, green or bloody mucus Fever, sweating and shaking chills

Shortness of breath Rapid or shallow breathing

Pain when breathing, especially when breathing deeply or coughing

Low appetite, energy and fatigue

Nausea and vomiting (more common in children) Confusion (more common in elderly people)

Some patients have also reported diarrhea and kidney failure has occasionally been a complication. Avoid people with these symptoms. If you develop them, call your health care provider before going to the hospital or doctor, so they and you can prepare to minimize possible exposure if they suspect you have coronavirus. Advertisement

Among Monday's evacuees were 240 Canadians who were loaded on specially chartered evacuation flights home to start a quarantine of their own.

Around 2,000 people - including 142 Britons - were left on the ship overnight, anxiously waiting for disembarkation to restart on Tuesday morning for their chance to leave.

The UK Foreign Office said a flight to take the Britons home would arrive in California late Tuesday, due to arrive home on Wednesday morning.

They added that the passengers would not be quarantined on their return to Britain but will be asked to self isolate.

'The British nationals returning from the Grand Princess cruise ship will be asked to self-isolate at home and followed up on by PHE on a daily basis as a precautionary approach,' Public Health England told The Sun.

British passengers with symptoms won't be allowed on the plane and will be taken to a hospital in San Francisco instead.

It is unclear where the evacuated will land but it is not thought to be RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire or Boscombe Down in Wiltshire, where previous repatriated Britons have been quarantined.

The Grand Princess was forced to idle off the coast of California for several days after a coronavirus outbreak was confirmed on board, but finally made port in Oakland on Monday and an evacuation started.

US authorities decided not to quarantine people on board the ship after similar efforts on board another Princess Cruises ship - the Diamond Princess - failed, sickening more than 700 people and leading to six deaths.

'Everyone was hollering and clapping' as the giant vessel sailed under the Golden Gate Bridge and entered the harbor, passenger Karen Schwartz Dever said.

Carolyn Wright, 63, of Santa Fe, New Mexico, could look out of her cabin window as passengers lined up. Around them, she noted, were people in yellow protective clothing, gloves and even a few hazardous materials suits.

For days, passengers aboard the ship had been isolated in their cabins. When they were finally allowed a few minutes on deck, she said, they were warned to wear masks and try to stay 6 feet away from each other.

But after docking, video showed long lines forming for the processing tents. Ambulances were on hand to take some passengers away.

'They were cueing up the passengers like cattle,' Wright said. 'Everybody was bunched up. They were physically touching each other and they were backed up along the gangplank.' Then, she said, they were taken away in chartered buses.

'I'm just totally freaked out by that,' said Wright. 'It's outrageous. If that's safe, then why were we stuck in our rooms? It's been stressed for the past five days that we're not to have any contact with any other passengers?'

'We're trying to stay calm and were trying to stay positive but it's getting harder and harder. They can't make up their minds how to keep us safe,' said Wright's cabin mate, Beryl Ward, 77, of Santa Fe.

'The president didn't even want us to get off the ship. So that didn't make me happy,' she added. 'Wish you were here, Mr. Trump!'

On Sunday, before the ship docked, Dr. John Redd of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services had urged passengers to remain in their rooms and said: 'We're making every effort to get them off the ship as safely and quickly as possible.'

He called the elaborate but quickly planned disembarkation process a 'really unprecedented and difficult operation.'

The Grand Princess had been held off the coast since Wednesday because of evidence that it was the breeding ground for more than 20 infections tied to a previous voyage.

US authorities opted to evacuate the Grand Princess after efforts to quarantine passengers on board the Diamond Princess ship failed and led to 700 getting sick, along with six deaths. The evacuation should be completed within 72 hours

Disembarking passengers were filtered through medical tents as they left the ship so they could be checked for signs of the virus, while crew members (right) were dressed in full hazmat suits as they were taken off the ship

Passengers left on board the ship wave to those on shore after being confined to their rooms ahead of evacuation

The Grand Princess was held off the West Coast after coronavirus was detected on board, before being allowed to dock at Oakland on Monday as the evacuation started. The evacuation continued Tuesday with more than 1,400 disembarked

U.S. passengers will be flown or bused from the port - chosen for its proximity to an airport and a military base - to bases in California, Texas and Georgia for testing and a 14-day quarantine. Some arrived Monday night at Travis Air Force Base in Northern California. The ship carried people from 54 countries, and foreigners were to be whisked home.

But Wright and others said nobody had been told the details. Only about 50 people had been tested for the virus.

'I'm willing to be quarantined,' Wright said. ''But I want to know if I'm positive or not. We don't even know if we're going to get tested. It's all rumor and speculation.'

'I'm bored and frustrated,' she added. 'All of a sudden a two-week vacation has turned into a five-week vacation.'

Passengers need to worry about who is looking after their children or pets, not to mention preparing their taxes before the deadline and earning a living.

A professional photographer, she was looking at five weeks without earning a salary.

About 1,100 crew members, 19 of whom have tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, will be quarantined and treated aboard the ship, which will dock elsewhere after passengers are unloaded, California Gov. Gavin Newsom has said.

The California governor and Oakland mayor sought to reassure people that none of the cruise ship passengers would be exposed to the public before completing the quarantine. Officials were trying to decide where the ship and its crew would go next.

Cruise ships have come under scrutiny by those who view them as potential germ factories because they pack thousands of people in close quarters.

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.

A third vessel, the Caribbean Princess, was supposed to dock in Grand Cayman on Monday but the cruise line said it will keep its thousands of passengers and crews from disembarking until crew members are tested for COVID-19.

Around the world, nations have limited the movements of millions of people in an effort to stop the spread of COVID-19. Italy was to impose travel restrictions and other strict public health measures nationwide starting Tuesday.

In Northern California, Santa Clara County announced a ban of all large gatherings of at least 1,000 people for the rest of the month in response to the coronavirus outbreak.

The announcement Monday came hours after the public health department announced the county's first coronavirus death, a woman in her 60s.

The virus has shaken global markets, with stocks taking their worst one-day beating on Wall Street since 2008 and oil prices suffering their most brutal losses since the start of the 1991 Gulf War.

Even with Asian markets posting modest gains Tuesday, fear was rampant that economies stood at the brink of recession.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia.

A worker at the Life Care Center in Kirkland, which has seen the majority of US deaths due to the virus, wears a mask and uses a leaf blower as he wheels a package on a cart, Monday

Tourists, wearing protective masks, look on as they wait for a ride outside of Union Station in Washington, DC

A man wears a face mask as he arrives to take the subway in New York City amid fears over coronavirus infections

Donald Trump has faced accusations that his administration is seeking to downplay the virus, leaving Americans unprepared

According to the World Health Organization, people with mild illness recover in about two weeks, while those with more severe illness may take three to six weeks to recover.

In mainland China, where the virus first exploded, more than 80,000 people have been diagnosed and more than 58,000 have so far recovered.

The virus has infected over 1,000 people in the United States, and at least 31 have died, most in Washington state.

Surgeon General Jerome Adams said communities will need to start thinking about canceling large gatherings, closing schools and letting more employees work from home, as many companies have done after an outbreak in the Seattle area.

Pearl Jam on Monday announced it was postponing 17 North American shows on its upcoming tour over coronavirus concerns.

In Silicon Valley, NASA's Ames Research Center is essentially closed with restricted access because an employee tested positive Sunday for the coronavirus. Workers will be on 'mandatory telework status' and three earth science airplane missions are being delayed to later this year, the county said.

Several universities have begun online-only courses, including the University of Washington, Stanford University and Columbia University.
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London/Moscow: Russian pranksters say they duped Britain's Prince Harry into saying his new life outside the royal family is "much better" and that US President Donald Trump has "blood on his hands" over climate change.

Prince Harry said he was 'more normal' than the Royal Family would have people believe. Credit:Chris Jackson

Reuters was unable to verify the authenticity of the recordings, made by the two well-known Russian hoaxers, Vladimir Kuznetsov and Alexei Stolyarov, which have been published in Britain's Sun newspaper and extracts put on YouTube.

Asked if the recordings were genuine, Buckingham Palace said it was making no comment on the hoax.

In the calls, the pranksters pretended to be Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg, the Sun said, although it was not exactly clear how they had fooled the prince.
A top U.S. Navy modernization official on Tuesday had to justify to lawmakers the service's decision to kill plans to build 36 new F/A-18 Super Hornets in the midst of a strike fighter shortage.

Modernization officials from the Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Army testified at a hearing Tuesday before the House Armed Services Committee's Tactical Air and Land Forces subcommittee on aircraft and helicopter programs in the proposed fiscal 2021 defense budget.

The subcommittee's ranking member, Rep. Vicky Hartzler, R-Missouri, questioned the Navy's elimination of 36 Super Hornet new builds when the service is already short 49 strike fighters.

"That's one carrier wing," Hartzler said. "I feel like this is too much operational risk."

The planned cut to Super Hornets would free up $4.5 billion to fund the accelerated development of the next-generation, carrier-based fighter program over the five-year, Future Years Defense Plan, according to a Feb. 10 U.S. Naval Institute story.

Related: Navy, Marine Corps Racing to Cut $40 Billion in Spending

The Navy's fiscal 2021 budget "fully funds" the production of 24 new F/A-18 aircraft, said James Geurts, assistant secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition.

The service also plans to upgrade 40 older aircraft in its service life extension program (SLEP), he said.

"As we [bring] the mission-capable rate of aircraft up across the Department of the Navy, that gives us additional up-aircraft to help balance that shortfall," Geurts said.

It currently takes 18 months to upgrade aircraft in the SLEP, but the Navy has set a goal to complete the process in 12 months, he added.

But Hartzler wasn't satisfied.

"So, if you add all those up, this is a severe shortage that we are experiencing, and if you don't account for the attrition rate actually in combat, we would have a very large gap there potentially," she said.

Geurts admitted that the Navy is taking a risk with this plan until the late 2020s.

"I think 2029 is when we will get to the full fighter inventory, so we have had to take some risks as we balance that," he said.

-- Matthew Cox can be reached at matthew.cox@military.com.

Read More: Under the Wire, Navy Says it Has Met Mattis' Fighter Jet Readiness Deadline
South Africa: Four suspects arrested for drug trafficking in W Cape

Police have arrested four suspects for drug dealing in Grassy Park, Cape Town.

Police had received information about a white Volkswagen Caddy, which was reportedly transporting drugs in the area.

The officers on Wednesday spotted the vehicle in Plantation Road, Grassy Park. Upon seeing the marked police vehicle, the driver of the Caddy sped off. A high-speed chase ensued, and the police managed to get the vehicle to pull over.

Police found two plastic bags containing 70 units of tik, 150 units of heroin and 100 mandrax tablets worth R15 000.

Three suspects - aged 21, 29 and 37 - were arrested.

In another incident on Wednesday night, a 39-year-old male was arrested when a white Opel Corsa LDV was pulled over.

The vehicle was searched and police found a bag containing 700 mandrax tablets, tik, 195 heroin straws and eight grams of heroin with an estimated street value of R70 000.

All suspects will appear in the Wynberg Magistrate Court on charges of dealing in drugs once charged. - SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2020-03-11. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Disgraced former Hollywood mogul and convicted rapist Harvey Weinstein was sentenced to 23 years in prison for rape and sexual assault on Wednesday.

Victims of his actions spoke out on on the day of his sentencing.

Miriam Haley, who accused Weinstein of raping her, spoke to the jury during his sentencing hearing.

He had crushed a part of my spirit. If he was not convicted of rape and sexual assault by this jury, it would have happened again and again. Im relieved there are women who are safer because he is not out there, she said.

Mira Sorvino, who accused Weinstein of sexual misconduct and of blacklisting her and disrupting her career, celebrated the former producers sentencing.

Recommended Harvey Weinstein jailed for 23 years after rape conviction

23 years. Harvey Weinstein has been sentenced to 23 years in prison for his crimes of rape and sexual assault. I literally cried tears of amazement, gratitude that the justice system has worked on behalf of all his victims today, she wrote.

Ronan Farrow, who authored a book and an explosive New Yorker story detailing the disgraced moguls crimes and attempts to cover them up, noted that the sentencing was proof that the powerful can be held to account.

A lot of news underlines how hard it is to hold wealthy and connected people accountable. Today shows the power of people who speak up, from a position of far less power, at great personal risk, he wrote. The Weinstein sentence reminds us of the importance of those sources and of leaders at news organisations who refused to kill the story - including editors at the New Yorker who published the first allegations of rape and assault about Weinstein.

Rosanna Arquette, an actress who appeared in Pulp Fiction and Desperately Seeking Susan, said she was similarly assaulted and subsequently blackballed in the industry after turning down Weinsteins attempt to force her to massage him.

Gratitude to all the silence breakers especially Rose [McGowan] and all survivors of Weinstein to the brave women who testified and to the incredible investigative reporting of Ronan Farrow who uncovered the sabotage and spying and to David Remnick thank you Rich McKuen and [New York] Times, she tweeted.

She went on to say that "prison is not justice for rape survivors, but it's something."

Sarah Ann Masse, who Weinstein assaulted while interviewing to be a nanny for his children, revelled in the news.

Bye Bye #HarveyWeinstein. You are and always have been a vile rapist and abuser. You deserve every minute you spend in jail for what you stole from all of us, she tweeted.

Weinsteins sentence is ultimately less than the maximum 29 years requested by prosecutors, but is much higher than the minimum five years, which his lawyers attempted to secure.

When the women who testified against the producer walked out of the courtroom, they were met with cheers from those waiting to learn details of the sentencing.
[March 11, 2020] DFIN's Venue Named U.S.A. Data Room of the Year by Global M&A Network

Donnelley Financial Solutions (NYSE: DFIN), a leading global risk and compliance company, today announced that it was named U.S.A. M&A Virtual Data Room Firm of the Year for its Venue solution at the Global M&A Network's second annual U.S.A. M&A Atlas Awards celebration, held on March 5 in Washington D.C. This is the second consecutive win for DFIN, earning this prestigious U.S.A. award, as well as taking home the Global award for four consecutive years. The independently governed awards honor the best value-creating deals, outstanding firms, top dealmakers and legendary leaders exclusively from the mid-market segments of United States. "We are thrilled to be recognized as a leader at the forefront of providing the industry's smartest Virtual Data Room powered by artificial intelligence," said Craig Clay, president, Global Capital Markets at DFIN. "DFIN is setting the standard as a trusted, experienced partner accelerating every step of the deal process - providing data privacy, redaction, data security, investor reporting, ongoing compliance advice, a dedicated support team and more - with tailored solutions for each client's unique business goals." DFIN's Venue Data Room is the only AI enabled daa room with a highly secure platform that allows global companies to manage sensitive deal-related data and complex financial transactions, and confidently share critical information in real time.



"We are honored to have earned this award from the Global M&A Network, which sets the standard for digital-first platforms," said John Leffler, global head of Venue sales at DFIN. "Venue's deal solutions suite helps clients meet the demands of the deal process, whether that's document storage, advanced security and permissions, or saving time with auto-redaction." Harness the power of the industry's smartest Virtual Data Room - utilizing our virtual data room decision tree, find out how Venue can meet the needs or your organization. And learn more about Venue by visiting us at https://www.dfinsolutions.com/products/venue.

About Donnelley Financial Solutions (DFIN) DFIN is a leading global risk and compliance solutions company. We provide domain expertise, enterprise software and data analytics for every stage of our clients' business and investment lifecycles. Markets fluctuate, regulations evolve, technology advances, and through it all, DFIN delivers confidence with the right solutions in moments that matter. Learn about DFIN's end-to-end risk and compliance solutions online at DFINsolutions.com or you can also follow us on Twitter (News - Alert) @DFINSolutions or on LinkedIn. Forward-Looking Statements This news release may contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements and any such forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by reference to the following cautionary statements. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this news release and are based on current expectations and involve a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking statements. Readers are strongly encouraged to read the full cautionary statements contained in Donnelley Financial Solutions' (DFIN) filings with the SEC (News - Alert). Donnelley Financial Solutions (DFIN) disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200311005146/en/

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Jhon David Escobar is accused of opening fire after returning to a property in St.Cloud, Florida: WFTV

A man who was kicked out of a house party before allegedly returning and opening fire has blamed a bad-quality batch of cocaine for his actions, according to his arrest records.

Jhon David Escobar, 31, faces an attempted murder charge in relation to a shootout in St. Cloud, Florida, on 1 March.

He also faces charges for possession of cocaine, aggravated assault and firing into a building.

Witnesses told police that Mr Escobar, a manager at a car dealership, was escorted out of the home of off-duty Orlando police officer Julian Ortiz after he became angry, possibly because of a lost phone.

As he left the property, he reportedly said Im going to come back and Im going to kill you.

Police say he was later filmed by a doorbell camera kicking the front door after returning to the property.

He allegedly then fired shots towards Mr Ortiz and his pregnant wife before Mr Ortiz returned fire.

Mr Escobar initially told police that he did not recall any of the events that evening, but admitted to taking cocaine.

When asked by police if he could possibly have gotten a bad-quality batch of cocaine, he said that must be the reason for his actions.

Read more

France tells citizens cocaine cannot protect against coronavirus
Journalist and novelist railed against injustice, covered combatand gave Ernest Hemingway the boot

Bryn Mawr College dropout Martha Gellhorn quit the Albany, New York, Times Union in 1930 to move to Paris and write. After 10 months of banging out ad copy and freelancing for The New Republic and other magazines, Gellhorn returned to the

United States to undergo an abortion. Back in France with her married lover, she got pregnant again in 1933 and had another abortion. Writing for Vogue and working on a novel, What Mad Pursuit, Gellhorn traveled Europe and agonized about her affair, ultimately returning to the United States. In autumn 1934, through a journalist friend, Gellhorn got a job working for presidential adviser Harry Hopkins at the Federal Emergency Relief Administration, analyzing welfare programs. In her reports, Gellhorn embraced a lifelong determination to make little squeaking observations about the wrongness of things. In curating the new Firefly Books title, Yours, for probably always: Martha Gellhorns Letters of Love & War 1930-1949, biographer Janet Somerville presents selections from Gellhorns correspondence with eminent figures including Eleanor Roosevelt, Adlai Stevenson, and her first husband, Ernest Hemingway.

MG to Harry Hopkins November 26, 1934, Massachusetts

It is impossible in traveling through the state and seeing our relief set-up, not to feel that here incompetence has become a menace; and that the unemployed are suffering for the inadequacy of the administration. It seems that our administrative posts are frequently assigned on recommendations of the Mayor and town Board of Aldermen. The administrator is a nice inefficient guy who is being rewarded for being somebodys cousin

Now about the unemployed themselves: this picture is so grim that whatever words I use will seem hysterical and exaggerated.I find them all in the same shapefear, fear driving them into a state of semi-collapse; cracking nerves; and an overpowering terror of the future.I havent been in one home that hasnt offered me the spectacle of a human being driven beyond his or her powers of endurance and sanity.

Over dinner at the White House, arranged through her mother Ednas acquaintance with Eleanor Roosevelt, Martha shouted at the hearing-impaired first lady about how the nation treated the poor. Eleanor stood. Franklin, you must listen to this girl! she cried. She says all the unemployed have pellagra and syphilis! Gellhorn and Eleanor Roosevelt began a lifelong friendship. In November 1934, Frederick A. Stokes Company published What Mad Pursuit to poor reviews. Her second book, The Trouble Ive Seen, about life in the Depression, received a warm reception in September 1936.

MG to Eleanor Roosevelt, February 7, 1936, St. Louis

The Trouble Ive Seen is being brought out in England right off (three months, I guess) with an introduction by [H.G.] Wells. It ought to get taken here sometime. Oddly, people dont enjoy nearly as much hearing about their own woes and therefore their own responsibilities as they enjoy hearing about strangers messes.

In December 1936, Martha vacationed in Key West, Florida, with her family. At Sloppy Joes, the Gellhorns met the bars most famous patronErnest Hemingway. Hemingway talked up Gellhorns story, Exile, to his editor at Scribner, Max Perkins, who had liked The Trouble Ive Seen. In September 1937, Scribners Magazine published Exile. Hemingway was preparing to leave for Spain to cover the civil war. Though still married to Pauline Pfeiffer, he begged Gellhorn to join him. The best job Martha could get was as a stringer for Colliers magazine. Hemingway took a luxury liner to Le Havre, France, before flying first class to Valencia, provisional capital of Republican Spain. Martha financed her crossing in steerage by writing a puff piece about beauty secrets for Vogue. In Gellhorns version of the experience, she was stranded in Paris in March 1937 without instructions from Hemingway, so she took a train to the Spanish border. Carrying a duffel bag of canned food, she crossed the Pyrenees on foot. In Madrid, Gellhorn and Hemingway shared quarters and endured shelling at the Hotel Florida.

MGs diary, March-April 1936, Spain

[I went with Republican] brigade commander Randolfo Pacciardi down to the front.At

the front trench one of the soldiers said, Look, there are some dead out there. [All I could see were] two dirty bundles of grey laundry which may have been dead but when they are dead there are no long[er] men, only something finished and wasted and not good anymore and you have to think about it to feel anything, even pity.

Gellhorn and Hemingway returned to New York in May 1937 to work with director Joris Ivens on a documentary film, The Spanish Earth. In July, Colliers published Gellhorns first submission, Only the Shells Whine, about life in Madrid. In August, Hemingway sailed again for Spain, with Martha following discreetly on another ship. For three months, Gellhorn filed stories for Colliers and The New Yorker about the war, which was going badly for the Republicans.

MG to Hemingway, autumn 1937

I thought I knew everything about the war. But what I didnt know is that your friends got killed.

In December, Martha returned to St. Louis for Christmas, then embarked on a grueling lecture tour advocating that Americans help the Republicans in Spain. On March 16, 1938, three days before Hemingway and Gellhorn were to sail to Europe, German bombers attacked Barcelona, killing thousands of civilians.

MG to Eleanor Roosevelt, Post-March 23, 1938, aboard RMS Queen Mary

The news from Spain has been terrible, too terrible, and I felt I had to get back. It is all going to hell I want to be there, somehow sticking with the people who fight against Fascism. .It makes me helpless and crazy with anger to watch the next Great War hurtling towards us, and I think the 3 democracies (ours too, as guilty as the others) have since 1918 consistently muffled their role in history. Lately the behaviour of the English govt surpasses anything one could imagine for criminal, hypo-critical [sic] incompetence, but am not dazzled either by us or France. It will work out the same way: the young men will die, the best ones will die first, and the old powerful men will survive to mishandle the peace. Everything in life I care about is nonsense in case of war. And all the people I love will finish up dead, before they can have done their work.The whole world is accepting destruction from the author of Mein Kampf, a man who cannot think straight for half a page.

Gellhorn proposed to write about the bombing of Barcelona, but Colliers said the story was stale. Her editor instructed her to report from Czechoslovakia and England on German aggression. In August 1938, while Gellhorn was covering events in Europe, Hemingway made a final trip to Spain, writing for newspapers about the Republicans defeat and refugees flooding into France. In early 1939, Hemingway and Pauline Pfeiffer separated. Hemingway holed up in a hotel in Havana, Cuba, to work on a novel set in Spain during the war. Gellhorn joined him. Outside Havana she found a run-down villa called Finca Vigia (Lookout Farm), which Hemingway bought. Three months into World War II, Colliers sent Gellhorn to Helsinki to cover the Winter War between Finland and the USSR. Finns looked after each others needs and rights, with justice: a good democracy, she wrote. Colliers ran Bombs on Helsinki, which described a nine-year-old boy outside his home watching Russian bombers, holding himself stiffly so as not to shrink from the noise. When the air was quiet again, he said, Little by little, I am getting really angry.

MG to Ernest Hemingway, December 4, 1939, Hotel Kaalp, Helsinki, Finland

This was the first day, the first taste of war and you should have seen the Finns. They took it as if they had been seeing this every day for ten years; there was no sign of any panic.I never saw such control and discipline. It is like iron. I think it can be a very long war and I think it is possible thatunless Russia sends an army of four million against these peoplethat the Finns will win. They have been steadily successful to date and their pilots are wonderful.Ill put my money on 3 million Finns against 180 million Russkis [sic]. After all, they are fighting for their lives and their homes and God alone knows why the Russians are fighting.

Gellhorn returned to Cuba in January 1940. Her novel A Stricken Field, about the German takeover of Czechoslovakia, debuted in March.

MG to Colliers editor Charles Colebaugh, March 13, 1940, Finca Vigia, San Francisco de Paula, Cuba

It doesnt look like there would be any Finland to go back to. I cannot put down the disgust I feel about it.Hitler is what he is: a monster who happened in our time and was produced by it.I only wish to live long enough to see the men who have ruled Europe for the past six years destroyed. A firing squad is too good for any of them.

Gellhorn spent most of 1940 writing a short story collection, The Heart of Another. Hemingways For Whom the Bell Tolls came out in October; it was a best-seller. Hemingways divorce from Pauline Pfeiffer became final in November; he and Martha Gellhorn married on November 21. In January 1941, Colliers sent Gellhorn to China to report on the war with Japan; a reluctant Hemingway accompanied her as far as Hong Kong. While her husband remained in Hong Kong, carousing with locals and using his celebrity to gather intelligence at President Roosevelts request, Gellhorn braved Japanese anti-aircraft fire to fly over the Himalayas into Burma.

In Chungking, China, Gellhorn and Hemingway lunched with Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek and his glamorous wife. The Chiangs cared more about maintaining their own power than defeating the Japanese and had no sympathy for Chinas starving peasants, but Gellhorns Colliers piece about the couple was fulsome in its praise. Later she admitted that she had soft-pedaled the Chiangs brutality and corruption.

MG to friend Allen Grover, July 1941, Finca Vigia, San Francisco de Paula, Cuba

Madame Chiang that great woman and savior of China. Well, balls.

Gellhorn spent most of 1942 with Hemingway in Cuba, in the sun, safe and comfortable, and hating it. Upon touring the Caribbean July through September, she submitted articles to Colliers including Messing About on Boats, about survivors of U-boat attacks on Allied oil transports. Gellhorn began a novel, Liana, about a Caribbean love triangle involving a young Frenchman and a mixed-race woman married to a wealthy man. Liana would be her only New York Times best-seller. Gellhorn again sailed for England in October 1943. For months, while she reported on young men flying Lancasters on night bombing missions over Germany, Hemingway resisted joining her and in a string of cables accused her of abandoning him.

Ernest Hemingway to Edna Gellhorn, late 1943

Im just so damned lonely that I feel Im dying a little each day like a tree that has been girdled.[I] would trade my carefully taught and acquired virtue to have a wife.to love and cherish and go to bed with and talk to.and not a female war-correspondent [sic] who only comes home to get ready to go somewhere else or to write a book.

Gellhorn briefly returned to Cuba in March 1944 to find a churlish Hemingway. Jealous of Gellhorns success at Colliers, he bullied the magazines editors into naming him the publications senior war correspondent in Europe, replacing Gellhorn. Bearing that credential, Hemingway snagged a seat on a Royal Air Force flight. Claiming women were not allowed on the planeeven though actress Gertrude Lawrence had been assigned a seathe left for London, infuriating Gellhorn.

MG to Eleanor Roosevelt, April 28, 1944

The way it looks, I am going to lose out on the thing I most care about seeing and writing of in the world, and maybe in my whole life. I was a fool to come back from Europe and I knew it and was miserable about it, but it seemed necessary vis-a-vis Ernest. (It is quite a job being a woman, isnt it; you cannot do your work and simply get on with it because that is selfish, you have to be two things at once.).Ernest will get off to England at the end of next week. But I have been shoved back and back [on the airplane passenger list] and we dont know whether the RAF will consent to fly me over (its different for Ernest) and there

I am.Its so terribly ironical too, because I had it all worked out, just how to cover the Invasion

Gellhorn spent 17 days sailing to Britain by convoy aboard a ship carrying explosives. She arrived May 26 to find Hemingway in a London hospital with a concussion sustained in a car accident after a party. Although Hemingway had a Colliers credential, military authorities decided to confine the famous novelist aboard a Navy ship on D-Day. On June 7, Gellhorn beat him ashore, sneaking aboard a hospital ship and locking herself in a bathroom while the vessel crossed the Channel. She went ashore on Omaha Beach as a stretcher bearer, the first female correspondent to land in France after D-Day.

MG to Bryn Mawr lecturer and lifelong friend Hortense Flexner, London

The next day I went down to one of the embarkation ports. I saw the first prisoners arrive on the shores of England and wrote about it. They were a damn sorry master race.I went over myself the night of the second day on a hospital ship, and worked so hard I almost forgot to come up on deck and inspect the world. The wounded were very wonderful and I loved working not writing or looking, just working. I went ashore looking for wounded too and it was all sort of mad and ominous and dangerous and, in a way I can never explain to anyone, funny the way war always is funny.

Sneaking into Normandy cost Gellhorn any official status. An indignant letter to an Army officer did little to assuage her ire.

MG to Colonel Lawrence, June 24, London

As you know, General Eisenhower stated that men and women correspondents would be treated alike, and would be afforded equal opportunities to fulfill their assignments.Speaking for myself, I have tried to be allowed to do the work I was sent to England to do and I have been unable to do it. I have reported war in Spain, Finland, China, and Italy, and how I find myself plainly unable to continue my work in this theatre for no reason [other] than that I am a woman.

Lack of credentials didnt stop Gellhorn. She buzzed from front to front, cajoling officers into letting her travel with their units and filing whenever she could charm a wireless operator into sending copy. She was in Paris at the time of the liberation in August. Finding Hemingway in Time/Life writer Mary Welshs room at the Ritz, she demanded a divorce.

MG to Edna Gellhorn, 1944

I simply never want to hear his name again A man must be a very great genius to make up for being such a loathsome human being.

In May 1945, Gellhorn got a three-hour pass to visit the death camp at Dachau. Behind the wire and the electric fence, the skeletons sat in the sun and scratched themselves for lice, she wrote in the June 23 Colliers. They have no age and no faces; they all look alike and like nothing you will ever see if you are lucky. The camp became a symbol of Nazisms evil for Gellhorn, who had Jewish grandparents. We are not entirely guiltless, she wrote, we, the Allies, because it took us 12 years to open the gates of Dachau. We were blind and unbelieving and slow.

MG to Hortense Flexner

[I will never lose my sense of guilt because I] did not know, realise, find out, care, understand what was happening.

The late 1940s saw Gellhorn enjoy one of her few satisfactory love affairs, with U.S. Army Major General James Gavin of the 82nd Airborne Division. She wrote a novel about Dachau, The Wine of Astonishment, and adopted an Italian child. By 1954, unhappily wed to journalist Tom Matthews and living in London, she tried unsuccessfully to embrace domesticity. She continued to exchange letters with Eleanor Roosevelt, receiving news of Roosevelts death November 7, 1962. The next day Gellhorn turned 54.

MG to Adlai Stevenson, November 8, 1962, London

This is a day when it would have mattered to be together. To weep. All the weeping for Mrs. R. should have been done years ago, starting 70 years ago. Not for her, now shed have never been afraid of dying and would have hated to live, ill and dependent. I always thought she was the loneliest human being I ever knew in my life and so used to bad treatment (beginning with her mother)I never liked the President, nor trusted him as a man, because of how he treated her. And always knew she was something so rare that theres no name for it, more than a saint.Today we can weep for ourselves. I feel lonelier and more afraid; someone gone from ones own world who was like the certainty of refuge; and someone gone from the world who was like a certainty of honor.

In the 1960s and 70s, Gellhorn traveled widely, bought houses in Mexico, England, Wales, and Kenya, and struggled with loneliness. As her adopted son, Sandy, was reaching adulthood, she and he became estranged. Trips to Israel delighted Gellhorn, who championed the Jewish state and wrote without empathy about what she saw as Arabs self-imposed exile. She visited Vietnam and published a screed about the treatment of civilians so wrathful the South Vietnamese government refused to give her a visa for a second trip. Gellhorn hopscotched the world, looking for the best beaches for her favorite pastime, snorkeling. She became enchanted with Africa, making many visits and buying a mountainside house to be closer to her favorite animals, giraffes. At 79, on her customary walk at a friends house in Nyali, on the Kenyan coast, she was attacked and raped.

MG to a friend, 1988

Women have been raped all over the world since time began. Simply because I was involved does not make the case special.

On February 14, 1998, Martha Gellhorn, 89, virtually blind and racked by ovarian and liver cancer, swallowed cyanide and died at her home in London. A few days later, her brother, son, and stepson tossed her ashes into the Thames River in accordance with Gellhorns instructions, which ended, if its inconvenient, what the hell.

Biographical sketch by American History senior editor Nancy Tappan.
NAPA (BCN)

Napa police are searching for a suspect in a gang-related shooting late Monday night.

Police responded around 10:25 p.m. to a report of a shooting outside a business in the 600 block of Soscol Avenue.

The shooting suspect and two possible victims were gone, but staff at the Queen of the Valley Medical Center called police to report a person was receiving treatment for a gunshot wound, Lt. Gary Pitkin said.

Police learned the patient was treated and released, and the second victim escaped injury, Pitkin said.

Officers learned the shooting was gang-related and they identified Jesus Malverde Cruz Avila, 19, as the alleged shooter, Pitkin said.

On Tuesday morning, police linked Cruz-Avila to an apartment complex in the 2400 block of Old Sonoma Road in Napa, and a SWAT team served search warrants at two apartments there. Cruz-Avila was not at either apartment and he remains at large, according to Pitkin.

Cruz Avila is 5 feet 8 inches tall, weighs 165 pounds and has black hair and black eyes. He is believed to be armed with a gun he used in the attempted homicide, and anyone who sees him is asked to call 911, Pitkin said.

Anyone who witnessed the shooting or has information about it is asked to call Detective Kevin Skillings at (707) 257-9466.

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.
I just believe deeply that having someone who gets up every morning whose job it is to think about this, organize it, knows whats going on all over the federal government, is whats going to make things change, King said of the proposal to create a national cyber-director. The position would be analogous to the U.S. trade representative, an official with clout, he said.
Meghan's visit to a school was under embargo until International Women's Day. (Getty Images)

With hundreds of royal engagements to facilitate and several households to work between, organising royal diaries is no easy task.

Its no surprise that on some occasions there are clashes with some high profile members working on the same days on big issues.

Former press secretary to the Queen Dickie Arbiter has explained there is never an intent to put several top figures out and about in one day.

It comes after reports that there was friction between the Prince of Wales household and the Sussexes, when Meghan shared pictures of her secret meeting with the National Theatre as Camilla was giving a stirring speech on domestic violence.

Read more: Duchess of Cornwall challenges society as she declares domestic violence 'everyone's problem'

Camilla's speech was a year in the works. (Getty Images)

The Daily Express said Camilla had been frustrated to see the pictures emerge while Meghan was on another secret visit, this time to a school, when that visit had been placed under embargo until Sunday to coincide with International Womens Day.

But Arbiter said: The National Theatre thing was put out by them, you cant dictate to them when they will put things out.

There was a very small window for Harry and Meghan.

You cant say to the National Theatre do not put that out.

Arbiter explained that the diaries are organised two to three times a year, and there are meetings across households to arrange big events.

Read more: Schoolboy says 'sorry Harry' after hugging Meghan in her surprise school visit

The households also try to leave gaps, for last minute arrangements, with Arbiter adding the diary is never full up.

He added: There is usually an attempt not to cross engagements.

But they are worked out with the host, and they might only have availability on a certain day.

The expert told Yahoo UK: Diaries are worked out in a block of six months. So the households will be having meetings in October for the first six months of the year.

Story continues

It is a nuts and bolts exercise, everything is pencilled in, then there will be a meeting with the joint households to discuss projects in the hope there will not be a clash.

Read more: Kate and William removed from Commonwealth Day procession at Harry and Meghan's final engagement

Dickie Arbiter, a former press officer at Buckingham Palace, said there wouldn't be intention to clash in the diaries. (Getty Images)

He continued: There will always be gaps for late bids, you do not know what will come in, or what will be required.

He also denied that diary co-ordination would have been more difficult with Harry and Meghans decision to step back.

Meghan took on a number of secret engagements while she was in the UK, including one to the National Theatre, of which she will be a private patron after 31 March.

Read more: International Women's Day: The Royal Family's most feminist moments

The photos were shared with the Evening Standard, and then on the @Sussexroyal instagram.

They emerged soon after the Duchess of Cornwall gave a speech at the Women of the World festival in which she called domestic violence everyones problem and challenged society to change.

Meghan was at a school in east London on Friday afternoon, during the speech, but that whole event was under embargo until Sunday, because her visit was linked to International Womens Day.
Tightening the noose around suspended AAP councillor Tahir Hussain, the Enforcement Directorate booked him, Islamist group PFI and some others on charges of money laundering and alleged funding of the recent riots in the national capital, while the Delhi Police arrested three of his associates, officials said on Wednesday.

Hussain is facing charges of killing an Intelligence Bureau (IB) official during the riots in northeast Delhi last month.

Apart from this, a criminal case has been filed against him under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) by the Enforcement Directorate, they said.

Similar charge has also been pressed against the Popular Front of India (PFI) which is already facing a separate PMLA probe.

Hussain is in the custody of Delhi Police at present.

The officials said the federal agency has taken cognisance of a clutch of FIRs filed by Delhi Police's Crime Branch to probe the alleged money laundering and routing of illegal funds by Hussain, PFI and others to purportedly sponsor the communal riots that killed over 50 people.

In the case of PFI, the organisation was already being probed by the ED for allegedly routing about Rs 120 crore funds to fuel anti-CAA riots in the country and the agency has questioned about half-a-dozen of its office bearers over the last fortnight.

This case is being probed as part of a 2018 ECIR (enforcement case information report), equivalent of a police FIR, against the PFI and some associated organisations.

The Islamist organisation had denied any wrongdoing in this case, saying their financial transactions were transparent.

Meanwhile, the city police arrested three associates of Hussain.

Abid, a resident of Dayalpur, and Mohd Shahdab and Rashid Saifi, both from Nehru Vihar, were arrested by the Crime Branch on Tuesday.

According to the police, the trio was with Hussain on February 24 during the violence in northeast Delhi.

The Crime Branch had on Monday arrested Hussain's brother Shah Alam in connection with the riots. Three other people, who were sheltering Alam, were also arrested.

Hussain was arrested by Delhi Police last week after a court here dismissed his plea seeking to surrender before it in connection with the killing of IB official Ankit Sharma during the violence over the new citizenship law.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
By IANS

NEW DELHI/ THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In wake of the government advisory on self-quarantine of passengers coming from the COVID-19-affected area, the Kerala government has closed the Periyar Tiger Reserve for tourism till March 31.

The state administration has directed the hotels in Iduki and Munnar not to take bookings and close this month. The state adminstration has suspended all eco-tourism activity in Idukki. A circular, issued by Deputy Director Periyar Tiger Reserve, Shilpa V Kumar, said that the "state government has given strict instruction due to fear of the spread of Covid-19".

Meanwhile, the government said on Tuesday that more than 1,400 contacts have been put under surveillance for these positive cases till date. Also, 404 Indian contacts of the US citizen tested positive for COVID-19 in Bhutan have been identified and put under surveillance in Assam.

The first batch of 58 evacuees - 25 men, 31 women and 2 children - brought home from Iran on an IAF C-17 transport aircraft on Tuesday are being monitored and are clinically stable, the statement added.
Captain Dara Fitzpatrick, 45, Captain Mark Duffy, 51, and winchmen Paul Ormsby, 53, and Ciaran Smith, 38, all died when their Sikorsky S-92 helicopter crashed into Blackrock island off the coast of Mayo in 2017 (Irish Coast Guard/PA)

A report into the Irish Coast Guard Rescue 116 helicopter crash off the Mayo coast in 2017 has been delayed, it has been confirmed.

The Department of Transport said a review board has been set up to re-examine a number of findings in the draft final report of the investigation into the crash.

Four members of the Irish Coast Guard air crew died in the Rescue 116 crash in March 2017.

Captain Dara Fitzpatrick, 45, Captain Mark Duffy, 51, and winchmen Paul Ormsby, 53, and Ciaran Smith, 38, died when their Sikorsky S-92 helicopter crashed into Blackrock island off the coast of Mayo.

The Air Accident Investigation Unit (AAIU) was due to publish the final report of the investigation but it has been delayed following the request of a stakeholder.

The review board will be entirely independent in its work in accordance with the relevant legislation.Department for Transport

An interim report was published by the AAIU on March 16 2018 and a subsequent interim statement on March 1 2019.

In September last year, the AAIU issued its draft final report to interested parties.

Under current legislation, all interested parties were given 60 days to review the draft final report and offer comments.

The law also allows a person served with a draft final report to ask for a re-examination of any findings and conclusions in the report that appear to reflect adversely on the persons reputation or on the reputation of any person.

In a statement, the Department for Transport said: Such a notice was served on the Minister (Shane Ross) by an interested party.

Having reviewed the notice, it was decided that the notice of re-examination met the criteria set out in the Air Navigation Regulations for establishment of a review board.

The minister has now established a review board in line with the 2009 Regulations.

The review board will be chaired by senior counsel Patrick McCann who will be assisted by an independent expert member.

The review board will be entirely independent in its work in accordance with the relevant legislation.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-11 09:50:49|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Here are the latest developments on the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in China:

-- The National Health Commission said Wednesday it received reports of 24 new confirmed COVID-19 cases and 22 deaths on the Chinese mainland on Tuesday. All the 22 deaths were in Hubei Province. A total of 1,578 COVID-19 patients were discharged from hospital after recovery Tuesday.

-- The overall confirmed cases on the mainland had reached 80,778 by the end of Tuesday, including 16,145 patients who were still being treated, 61,475 patients who had been discharged after recovery, and 3,158 people who died of the disease.

-- The Chinese mainland on Tuesday reported 10 new imported COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of imported cases to 79.

-- Hubei Province reported 13 new confirmed COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, all of which were in Wuhan, the provincial capital and epicenter of the outbreak, the provincial health commission said Wednesday. The province reported 22 deaths on Tuesday, 19 of which were in Wuhan. The latest report brought the total confirmed COVID-19 cases in the hard-hit province to 67,773.

-- As of Tuesday, Hubei Province had seen no new confirmed COVID-19 cases for six consecutive days in its 16 cities and prefectures outside Wuhan.

-- The second batch of Taiwan compatriots stranded in Hubei headed home on Tuesday evening, after a mainland airliner flew the first batch of 247 people back to the island on Feb. 3, according to an official with the Hubei provincial Taiwan affairs office. As of Sunday, a total of 1,169 Taiwan compatriots stranded in Hubei had applied for assistance to return home.
Work commences on the site of the non-denominational cathedral in Ghanas capital, with President Akufo-Addo calling it a symbol of harmony and spirituality.

By Benedict Mayaki

In March 2017, as part of the celebrations on the 60th anniversary of Ghanas independence, Nana Akufo Addo, the Ghanaian President, announced plans for the construction of a national cathedral in Accra, the nations capital.

Three years later, on 6 March 2020, construction has begun in earnest.

Signaling the commencement of work on the site, the foundation-laying ceremony was held on 5 March. Israeli Ambassador to Ghana, Shani Cooper, and other religious and government authorities were in attendance.

The cathedral, presented as a Christian, national, non-denominational place of worship, is anticipated to be a symbol of unity, harmony and spirituality in addition to being a tourist attraction for the country.

Symbol of blessing

The Ghanaian president described it as a thanksgiving to God for all the blessings and graces to the nation.

Renowned Ghanaian architect, David Adjaye Obe, has been entrusted the task of designing the Cathedral. Adjaye is known for designing other notable buildings around the world, including the National Museum of African American History in Washington DC, the Aishti Foundation in Beirut, and recently, the Abrahamic Family House in Abu Dhabi.

The cathedral features a fusion of the local cultural heritage and modern architectural elements inspired by Christian symbolism.

The structure will include chapels, a baptistery, a Bible museum, a music school and an art gallery and will be able to accommodate up to 5,000 people.

Ghana is a secular republic but is predominantly Christian.
In context: SpaceX has its hands in a lot of cookie jars at the moment. The company builds and launches rockets, it creates functioning flamethrowers, and more recently, it's begun to launch a satellite-based internet service known as "Starlink." Starlink still has a ways to go before it becomes commercially available, but SpaceX CEO Elon Musk shared some additional details about the service during a conference yesterday.

For starters, Musk made a pretty ambitious claim about Starlink's real-world performance -- he said that, in rural areas, the latency should be below 20 milliseconds. According to the CEO, that would be enough for "fast-response" gaming at a competitive level, which isn't too far off from the truth, though many pro gamers would argue that sub-10ms latency is ideal).

However, for underserved rural gamers, 20ms is likely to be more than adequate for their needs. As far as bandwidth goes, Musk was less willing to go into details, but he did say that you'll be able to "watch high-def movies," play games and do "all the things" you want to do without noticing speed. In other words, it should be good enough for the average user, especially if that person hasn't been exposed to high-speed internet yet.

Musk went on to note that Starlink won't be ideal for everyone. If you already have, say, a gigabit connection from AT&T, Google, or a local provider, Starlink certainly won't be able to compete. Indeed, competition isn't even Musk's goal -- he says Starlink is intended to serve citizens that aren't being reached anyway, so the service won't be a "huge threat" to other ISPs.

As a matter of fact, Musk feels Starlink will benefit other telecommunications firms, because it will serve the "3 or 4 percent hardest-to-reach" customers, as well as those who "simply have no connectivity" right now. By appealing to those customers, Musk feels a "significant load" will be taken off of other ISPs.

Whether or not those companies will agree with Musk's assessment remains to be seen. Nonetheless, for the sake of those without access to reliable internet, we hope Starlink's gambit pays off.
(Natural News) More Americans could potentially be exposed to  or worse, infected with  the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, suggests a new study.

Researchers from the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (CSMC) in Los Angeles revealed that as many as 9,400 people may have already been infected by the SARS-CoV2 coronavirus responsible for COVID-19 by March 1, 2020. This number is higher than previous estimates, and certainly much higher than the current number of confirmed and presumptive cases in the United States.

Higher number of cases than previously estimated

As of its March 9, 2020 update, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) put the total number of confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. at 423. This number comes from actual cases reported to the CDC by local and federal authorities. The new study from CSMC, however, uses models to estimate the possible spread of the virus based on air traffic date between the U.S. and the region around Wuhan, China, where the coronavirus originates from. Travel from other regions with confirmed COVID-19 cases, such as South Korea, was not included.

Using their model, the researchers estimate the number of infected people in the U.S. to be between 1,043 and 9,484. The lower figure assumes that current preventive procedures, such as quarantines and screenings of international travelers, have reduced the transmissibility in unidentified cases by as much as 25 percent. On the other hand, the second figure assumes that no intervention procedures have been taken at all.

According to the researchers, the disparity between the two figures has important implications for controlling the coronavirus outbreak.

Our model suggests that even moderately effective population interventions to reduce transmission can have a profound impact on the scale of the epidemic, said senior author Dr. Dermot McGovern, a professor of medicine and biomedical sciences at Cedars-Sinai.

This finding supports the role of public health interventions in controlling this disease.

Shocking escalation  from no symptoms to death

Slowing down the infections, however, isnt an easy task  as most COVID-19 cases are mild or even asymptomatic, making it hard to detect. This issue is something that has been confirmed by a disturbing update from health officials working to contain the virus at a nursing home in Washington state thats considered ground zero for infections in that state.

According to the CDC, Washington state has the highest number of COVID-19 cases and deaths among all U.S. states. A number of those have come from the Life Care Center of Kirkland in King County. Of the 116 cases in the county, the majority are either patients or employees at the nursing home.

While a number of residents at the nursing home without symptoms remain, that doesnt necessarily mean all is clear for them. Workers at the center have been shocked at the speed at which some patients have succumbed to the disease after symptoms manifested.

It was surprising and shocking to us that we have seen that level of escalation from symptoms to death, said Tim Killian, a spokesperson for Life Care.

Most vulnerable seem to be those who are elderly or recovering from illnesses, such as those residing in Life Care. Its most likely that those who died had weaker immune systems and were, therefore, more susceptible to COVID-19. Dr. Jeremy Faust, an emergency medicine doctor at Brigham and Womens Hospital in Boston, told ABC News that kids and adults  those with stronger immune systems  tend to do extremely well in terms of recovery.

While this does show some positives for adults and children, it still doesnt take away from how fast an infection can escalate in those who are more vulnerable to it. Combined with the increased estimates from the CSMC in mind, testing will most likely have to be increased to prevent any further deaths. The issue now lies with the availability of testing kits. Even just the Life Care Center in Kirkland is already reporting a lack of testing kits for its residents and employees. Other states, such as California, are also reporting a lack of testing kits. Considering how testing has been influential in lowering the mortality rate in countries outside the U.S., this is something that the countrys health officials need to address soon.

Sources include:

ScienceDaily.com

TheWeek.com

ABCNews.Go.com
BCN38)

OAKLAND (BCN)

John Lee Cowell was convicted Tuesday of first-degree murder and other charges for the fatal stabbing of 18-year-old Nia Wilson at the MacArthur BART station in Oakland in 2018.

Jurors only deliberated for about two hours before announcing their verdict against Cowell, a 29-year-old transient man with a history of mental illness, for the stabbing at the MacArthur station at about 9:35 p.m. on July 22, 2018.

Jurors also convicted Cowell of premeditated attempted murder for stabbing Wilson's sister Letifah Wilson, who was injured but survived the attack.

In addition, jurors found true a special circumstance allegation that Cowell murdered Nia Wilson by lying in wait for concealing his intent and then killing her by taking her by surprise.

Cowell, who pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, could face life in prison without the possibility of parole.

However, on Wednesday a separate sanity phase will begin in which the same jury will decide if he was legally sane at the time of the attack.

If Cowell is found to have been insane at the time of the attack he would serve his sentence in a state mental hospital instead of prison.

Cowell was absent from most of his trial, either because of outbursts or because he's refused to come to court.

But he was in court on Tuesday morning when Alameda County prosecutor Butch Ford presented his rebuttal closing argument and was present again on Tuesday afternoon when the jury announced its verdict.

Dressed in a blue-and-white checkered shirt, Cowell looked straight ahead and didn't react when the verdict was read.

However, many of Wilson's family members sobbed when the verdict was announced.

Ford and defense attorney Christina Moore declined to comment after the verdict because Cowell's trial isn't yet over.

Wilson's family members also declined to comment.

In his rebuttal argument, Ford said Cowell should be convicted of first-degree murder and the other charges against him because he knew what he was doing.

Ford said, "I'm not disputing that he has some sort of mental health issue but I'm disputing that it played a role in the stabbing."

Moore admitted in her closing argument on Monday that Cowell stabbed Nia and Letifah Wilson but said he's been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and his mind "was completely divorced from reality" at the time.

However, Ford told jurors on Tuesday that Cowell admitted on the witness stand that he intended to stab the two sisters.

Ford said, "He tells you and the video (of the stabbing) shows you he meant to do it."

Nia Wilson, Letifah Wilson and a third sister boarded a San Francisco-bound train at the Concord BART station the night of July 22, 2018, after attending a family gathering for someone who had been killed. Cowell got on the same train at the Concord station.

Ford alleged that Cowell didn't attack the Wilson sisters on the train because he wouldn't have had a chance to flee quickly but instead waited to attack them when they changed trains at the MacArthur station.

Ford said, "He attacks them when they're most vulnerable. He knew what he was doing."

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 Reserve Bank of India will check if troubled lender Yes Bank's auditor had raised any alarm in the past year. The apex bank has been in touch with the auditor and will look into whether they had specifically issued any warning in the past 12 months.

According to a report in The Economic Times, RBI has been in touch with auditor BSR & Co and wants to know if it had raised any red flag relating to the health of Yes Bank or any other issue. The auditor is part of KPMG India. The central bank is also likely to question the auditor on whether the SBI proposal would have any 'material impact' on the existing accounts of Yes Bank.

On Friday, the RBI announced a reconstruction scheme for the bank. It said that SBI that has expressed interest to invest in the troubled bank would do so to the extent of holding 49 per cent shareholding. The apex bank said that SBI's investment in Yes Bank would not impact the employees and their current terms of employment.

Also read: RBI announces restructuring of Yes Bank; SBI to hold 49% stake

BSR and Co was appointed as Yes Bank's auditor after RBI banned SR Batliboi & Co for a year. The RBI had stated that the firm that was part of EY was banned due to "lapses identified in a statutory audit assignment carried out by the firm".

RBI put restrictions on Yes Bank on March 6, allowing its customers to withdraw only Rs 50,000 for a month. The apex bank relaxed the guidelines subsequently. On Tuesday, the bank permitted its credit card customers to pay their credit card dues and loan obligations from other bank accounts. It allowed NEFT payments to clear loan EMIs and make credit card payments. The bank had, before that, allowed customers to withdraw money from ATMs of other banks.

Also read: Why did Yes Bank collapse? Here are 6 main reasons

Also read: Yes Bank crisis: NEFT enabled for payment of credit card dues, loan EMIs
The director of a trendy Bondi bar frequented by Sydney's social set will face court for allegedly underpaying staff while she lived it up travelling the world.

Julia Rose Gelonese is set to face the Federal Court after a year long investigation by the Fair Work Ombudsman into her management of Upper East Side restaurant and bar.

Within just months of its grand opening in 2017 a number of chefs and floor staff had walked off the job.

Those staff members - many of whom were in Australia on student or working holiday visas - alerted the Fair Work Ombudsman to their plight, alleging underpayment or in some cases no payment at all.

But at the same time Ms Gelonese and her co-manager boyfriend Ussi Da Silva were allegedly unable to pay staff, the pair portrayed themselves on Instagram as living a lavish life that included overseas holidays.

Julia Rose Gelonese (pictured) will face court action by the Fair Work Ombudsman who allege she underpaid staff while the director of trendy Bondi bar Upper East Side

Ms Gelonese took over sole directorship of the restaurant in September 2019 from boyfriend Ussi Da Silva (pictured), who had racked up debts of more than $100,000 to other businesses

A statement of claim seen by Daily Mail Australia reveals Ms Gelonese took over sole directorship of Upper East Side from her boyfriend Mr Da Silva in September 2019.

By this point the business was facing debts of close to $100,000 to other businesses as well as the outstanding amounts owed to its staff.

Ms Gelonese told Daily Mail Australia the payments to her employees had now been 'finalised', however Fair Work alleged the grand total was yet to be determined.

In addition to paying her staff, Ms Gelonese claimed the debts owed to a number of businesses had also been settled.

Under the court action being taken by the Fair Work Ombudsman she could be hit with up to $75,000 in fines.

The Ombudsman's investigation into Upper East Side began in March 2019 and quickly found they had likely breached 11 areas of restaurant award and two of the national employment standards.

When Ms Gelonese did not meet the Fair Work Ombudsman's compliance deadline, the case was taken before the Federal Court.

In a statement, Sandra Parker of the Fair Work Ombudsman said that in the wake of major cases of underpayment by celebrity chefs including George Colambaris and Neil Perry, they were 'cracking down' on the hospitality industry.

'Under the Fair Work Act, inspectors can issue a Compliance Notice if they form a belief that an employer has breached certain workplace laws,' Ms Parker said.

While their business failed and staff and service providers allegedly went unpaid, Ms Gelonese (left) and Mr Da Silva (right) lived it up at fancy events and on dream overseas holidays

Ms Gelonese's decision to take over as the director of her boyfriend's business could cost her up to $75,000 in fines from the Fair Work Ombudsman - including personal fines of $12,000

Since opening in 2017 the bar has become popular among reality TV stars such as Sam Frost (back row, second from right)

'Where employers do not comply with our notices, a court can order them to pay penalties in addition to back-paying any affected employees.

'The Fair Work Ombudsman is cracking down on alleged underpayments in the fast food, restaurant and cafe sector, particularly when it involves migrant workers.'

Upper East Side opened in 2017 and quickly became a popular location for the social media lovers of Sydney's east, who flocked to the venue to take photos beneath its fairylight-lit roof.

Home and Away star Sam Frost and Instagram models such as Madi Edwards, and Bianca and Yasmin Wilshin were among the regulars customers.

But in addition to allegedly underpaying employees, the venue also ran up debts of $95,606 to businesses who had provided food, alcohol and other services.

Roxy Jacenko (pictured) and her firm PR Sweaty Betty provided services for Upper East Side worth $10,102 - but was never paid

ASIC documents seen by Daily Mail Australia reveal Mr Da Silva (pictured) owes $95,606 to a number of Sydney-based businesses

Upper East Side became popular on the Bondi scene with social media influencers wanting to take photos beneath the bar's fairy light lit roof (pictured), but

The businesses pursing the bar included Roxy Jacenko's prominent PR firm Sweaty Betty, which was owed $10,102.

One outstanding bill from a labour hire company was for $37,000.

ASIC documents seen by Daily Mail Australia listed some of the companies who had outstanding debts owed to them when Mr Da Silva was still in charge.

The biggest debt was the $36,745 owed to consultancy firm JRM Hospitality.

It was understood JRM was engaged by the bar to employ staff after a number of chefs and other staff walked off the job suddenly in mid-2017.

Ms Jacenko's firm was employed to promote the popular bar, but their invoices went unpaid and the matter ended up before the NSW Local Court.

Former Miss Universe Australia winner Laura Dundovic (pictured) poses for a photo outside Upper East Side

Instagram models like Madi Edwards (left) and former Love Island star Cassidy McGill (right) are among the stars regularly in attendance at the restaurant

Mr Da Silva (pictured) sits on the steps outside Upper East Side in Bondi

While the PR maven had the finances to employ a legal team to fight her battle, many small businesses left out of pocket by Upper East Side management could not.

Among them were several liquor and wine companies who provided alcohol to the bar but never had their invoices paid.

$11,880 was owed to Gateway Liquor, while small wine distributor Vintage and Vine was out of pocket $8,790.

Ms Gelonese insisted the debts had been settled on behalf of Upper East Side and said she hoped the action proposed by the Fair Work Ombudsman would end up being dropped.
The DSI Says Gold and Bonds Are About to Tank

Bob Moriarty of 321gold explains why he believes gold needs a correction.

In military aviation pilots are taught about an important concept called being on the Back Side of the Power Curve. For every aircraft and altitude there is a speed and power curve. Until the aircraft gets too slow things work just fine. A lot like the Fed. But when the aircraft flies too slow and drag gets too high, the addition of more power makes the situation worse. The aircraft stalls no matter how much power the pilot applies. A lot like the Fed.

On Tuesday the 3rd of March the Fed surprised the market with a 50 basis point drop in interest rates. The move was intended to reassure the market that the Fed had things under control. The market in turn surprised the Fed by doing the opposite of what those investing using the rear view mirror believed.

The market tanked. Of course it tanked, the economy was on verge of stalling due to the highest debt level in history and just as it hit the stall point, the Fed jammed on the afterburner. Bad idea. But what a wonderful example of why pilots and the Fed should never add power when they are on the backside of the power curve.

Markets don't trade on fundamentals or because of technicals. At every market top there are a hundred reasons to buy. That's what makes a top. And at every market bottom there are a hundred reasons to sell, that's how you know it's a bottom.

Markets trade on emotion and if you can just measure that emotion with accuracy, you can make a lot of money or in the worst case, avoid losing a lot of money. I wrote about the propensity of the stock market to top based on nothing more complex than the Fear and Greed index on January 1st.

On Friday March 6th the Fear and Greed index became the opposite and then some of the late December reading as it hit a reading of 6. That's really fearful.

Monday March 9th is going to be an interesting day. The DSI (Daily Sentiment Index) for Treasury Bonds had a near all time high reading of 98 on Friday March 6th. It's only been higher one time, which was back in December of 2008.

The DSI may bounce around at record highs for two weeks as it did in December of 2008 during the GFC but there is another interesting issue that makes me think we will have a turn almost at once. The 9th of March marks a full moon and according to Tom McClellan his research showed that at full moons, markets tended to either accelerate in the direction they were moving or do an immediate U-turn.

Gold has wanted to correct for a couple of months. Gold shares peaked relative to gold at the start of the year at exactly the same time as I was saying to beware the stock market. I started to lighten my percentage of shares to cash during what was a great time to be selling shares. I have kept my core positions but selling when you have a profit beats the hell out of selling at a loss.

Gold needs a correction. Two weeks ago the DSI on gold hit 96 and that says things are getting frothy. I always get a lot of hate mail when I point out that gold and resource stocks sometimes go down but that just tells me I have nailed it.

We have entered the Greatest Depression. The latest chaos in the stock market is just the beginning. It's going a lot lower. And likewise, bond prices could go higher with gold. But when everyone is on one side of the boat, that's not a percentage bet.

Meanwhile the coronavirus spirals out of control. In the U.S. the number of cases went up almost 400% in a week, from 68 on the 29th of February to 378 on the 7th of March. That's nothing. In France cases exploded higher from 100 cases on the last of February to 653 a week later for a 550% higher reported number cases in a week. Germany showed a 750% increase in coronavirus cases in the same week.

The travel industry is being destroyed. The world faces a critical shortage of medicine starting at once. Airlines may as well fold now and get it over with. The coronavirus will not cause the Greatest Depression. That was on the cards already due to the incredible amount of debt in the world that will never be paid. The virus is little more than a catalyst but it is a black swan of black swans and makes for a handy excuse.

Meanwhile the latest act out of Washington is Donald Trump playing Archie Bunker in a comedy with tragic overtones with Mike Pence cast as Barney Fife. Pence believes you can pray away an outbreak of a deadly virus while Trump believes women only have two important attributes and you can conduct world affairs on Twitter.

Anyone appointing a born again Christian who believes in neither science nor evolution as the leader of the U.S. fight against a deadly virus is an idiot. But it's a case of the blind leading the blind.

Readers, don't be tempted to consider writing a novel or a screenplay to be made into a movie using our own Archie Bunker and Barney Fife as characters. If your plot was identical to the facts it would be rejected as being too far fetched to be believed.

The stock market hasn't finished its crash. The Everything Bubble just blew sky high and the ensuing deflation is going to take everything down.

Bob and Barb Moriarty brought 321gold.com to the Internet almost 16 years ago. They later added 321energy.com to cover oil, natural gas, gasoline, coal, solar, wind and nuclear energy. Both sites feature articles, editorial opinions, pricing figures and updates on current events affecting both sectors. Previously, Moriarty was a Marine F-4B and O-1 pilot with more than 832 missions in Vietnam. He holds 14 international aviation records.

Disclosure: 1) Bob Moriarty: I, or members of my immediate household or family, own shares of the following companies mentioned in this article: None. My company has a financial relationship with the following companies mentioned in this article: None. I determined which companies would be included in this article based on my research and understanding of the sector. 2) The following companies mentioned are billboard sponsors of Streetwise Reports: Wheaton Precious Metals. Click here for important disclosures about sponsor fees. 3) Statements and opinions expressed are the opinions of the author and not of Streetwise Reports or its officers. The author is wholly responsible for the validity of the statements. The author was not paid by Streetwise Reports for this article. Streetwise Reports was not paid by the author to publish or syndicate this article. The information provided above is for informational purposes only and is not a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Streetwise Reports requires contributing authors to disclose any shareholdings in, or economic relationships with, companies that they write about. Streetwise Reports relies upon the authors to accurately provide this information and Streetwise Reports has no means of verifying its accuracy. 4) The article does not constitute investment advice. Each reader is encouraged to consult with his or her individual financial professional and any action a reader takes as a result of information presented here is his or her own responsibility. By opening this page, each reader accepts and agrees to Streetwise Reports' terms of use and full legal disclaimer. This article is not a solicitation for investment. Streetwise Reports does not render general or specific investment advice and the information on Streetwise Reports should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Streetwise Reports does not endorse or recommend the business, products, services or securities of any company mentioned on Streetwise Reports. 5) From time to time, Streetwise Reports LLC and its directors, officers, employees or members of their families, as well as persons interviewed for articles and interviews on the site, may have a long or short position in securities mentioned. Directors, officers, employees or members of their immediate families are prohibited from making purchases and/or sales of those securities in the open market or otherwise from the time of the interview or the decision to write an article until three business days after the publication of the interview or article. The foregoing prohibition does not apply to articles that in substance only restate previously published company releases. As of the date of this article, officers and/or employees of Streetwise Reports (including members of their household) own securities of Newmont Goldcorp, Franco-Nevada and Royal Gold, companies mentioned in this article.

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Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Wednesday accused the BJP of "shamelessly" indulging in horse-trading in Madhya Pradesh on the basis of money power.

Those ruling the country are murdering the democracy and the entire country will teach them a lesson, he told reporters at the airport here as he arrived to receive Congress MLAs from Madhya Pradesh.

The Congress decided to shift its MLAs to Jaipur to keep its flock together at a time when Madhya Pradesh is witnessing a power tussle.

"Horse-trading is being done shamelessly and MLAs are being threatened there (Madhya Pradesh). The MLAs are coming to Jaipur from Madhya Pradesh and we all are together," Gehlot said, referring to the BJP.

He said all this is being done on the basis of money power.

"I have been repeatedly saying that a big scam is being run in the country in the name of electoral bonds. People are being looted by scaring them with the name of CBI and ED," he said.

Other Congress leaders, including government chief whip Mahesh Joshi, deputy chief whip Mahendra Chaudhary and Rajasthan Transport Minister Pratap Singh, were also present at the airport.

Three luxury buses were stationed at the airport to take the MLAs to a resort at Delhi road. The MLAs could also be accommodated in two resorts.

On Scindia's decision to quit the Congress, Gehlot said, "Congress party gave him so much but he showed opportunism. People will not forgive him."



Peeved with his marginalisation in the Congress, Scindia, soon after meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi on Tuesday, tendered his resignation to party president Sonia Gandhi saying it was time for him to move on.

Considered a close aide of senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, he joined the BJP on Wednesday in the presence of party president JP Nadda.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The US Africa Command on Tuesday announced that one of the US militarys largest exercises in Africa has been significantly scaled down due to the threat of the coronavirus outbreak.

The US-led African Lion exercises in Morocco were supposed to involve 9,300 troops from eight nations, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Gen. Stephen Townsend, commander of the US Africa Command, after testifying Tuesday on Capitol Hill, said African Lion has been significantly reduced in scale and scope based on concerns that we all have about the safety of our troops and those of our partners.

Were going to continue on with some training events that require less interaction between large troop formations like air activity, naval activity, and maybe some special operations activity, he said.

Some of the US troops who had deployed ahead of the official March 23 start date will be able to finish their tasks, including the academic portion of the drills, which had already started.

The top US commander also noted that Western-backed efforts to counter terror groups across Africa are falling short, increasing the chances one or more affiliates of Islamic State or al-Qaida could try to carve out their own caliphate on the continent.

The stark warning, shared with lawmakers Tuesday, builds on previous intelligence showing Africa-based groups have been growing more ambitious and more capable, with some increasingly bent on targeting the West.

Western and international and African efforts there are not getting the job done, Gen. Stephen Townsend told lawmakers regarding developments in West Africa and the Sahel.

There are also concerns in East Africa, where the US has focused increased firepower on al-Shabab in Somalia.
German chancellor Angela Merkel with health minister Jens Spahn in Berlin. (Kay Nietfeld/Picture alliance via Getty Images)

German chancellor Angela Merkel has warned that up to 70% of the German population was likely to be infected with the coronavirus.

It is here, Merkel said at a press conference in Berlin on Wednesday, noting that the government would do whatever is necessary to protect the economy from the fallout of the coronavirus.

Germany currently has 1,565 confirmed cases, and three deaths from coronavirus.

Asked if she could envisage relaxing Germanys famous black zero zero-deficit law to allow for increased borrowing, the chancellor indicated that she would be open to it, but noted it the priority for now was ending the virus.

Germanys top economists this morning released a paper asking the government to take speedy, temporary measures to protect Europes biggest economy from the financial impact of the virus outbreak. They demanded that Berlin should consider tax cuts, state participation in companies, and temporarily abandoning its debt-free budget law.

READ MORE: Coronavirus: German economists call for drastic action to protect economy

Speaking alongside German health minister Jens Spahn and Lothar Wieler from the Robert Koch Institute, which is leading Germanys coronavirus research and response, Merkel said EU leaders had agreed on a video-conference on Tuesday that the most important thing was to slow the spread of the virus.

The chancellor said that since there is no vaccination or therapy against the virus, the focus must be winning time to slow it down. She added that it was key to protect the old and chronically ill, and make sure the health system does not become overloaded.

At the start of an epidemic

We are at the start of an epidemic, Wieler said, emphasising that slowing the spread of the virus was critical. He said that the number of cases and deaths from the virus would definitely rise in Germany, and that a vaccination cannot realistically be expected before 2021.

The health minister repeated his advice from earlier in the week, namely that people should curtail their everyday lives a little, by avoiding clubs, concerts, and other gatherings. The cities of Berlin and Hamburg announced this afternoon that all events with more than 1,000 people are now cancelled. Other states, including Bavaria and North Rhine-Westphalia, have also implemented similar restrictions.

Story continues

Today in Berlin, Merkel advised that instead of shaking hands, people should look into each others eyes for a second longer and smile.

Our solidarity, our reason, and our hearts are being put to the test, she said. My wish is that we pass the test.

Watch the latest videos from Yahoo UK
The attention of the Ashanti Youth Wing has been drawn to a voice recording of Hon. K. T Hammond in which he slammed the Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi-Boasiako (Wontumi) with various unfounded claims.



This unfortunate action of the Member of Parliament for Adansi Asokwa demonstrates a blatant disrespect for authority and even the party in general just because he was not granted his suppossed birthright of contesting unopposed in the upcoming parliamentary primaries as always since the year 2000.



In his unchecked verbal diarrhoea, he compares the likes of Former Chairman F. F Anto and former Chairman Yaw Amankwa to Chairman Wontumi, seeking to belittle the know how of the latter. We wish he could compare himself to the likes of Hon Isaac Asiamah who has been contested in the party primaries since 2000. For the records, Chairman Wontumi has total regard for these invaluable predecessors of his and always seek their advice in making good decisions for this party. That is far better than his total disrespect for all manner of persons within the NPP.



Is he the only member of Parliament in the region? How exceptional is he from the many others who are being contested.



The way and manner he dismissed the highly esteemed Regional Chairman with demeaning remarks is condemned outrightly by us all, although he has already drawn sharp criticism from some well-meaning Ghanaians.



Hon. Hammond has smeared the leadership of the party well enough and its about time we put him in his right place. For him to have the temerity to denigrate the Regional Chairman in that manner only means that the other regional officers, by extension, are all targets of his invectives and verbal assault. The honorable member of parliament thinks he must be worshipped like a demigod. What kind of MP does he see himself to be that he thinks everyone including the famous chairman Wontumi must submit to his whims and caprices. How enviable is his political record in previous parliamentary elections? Does he see himself a better MP because he wins elections with some 4,000 vote difference? He should give us a break.





We are therefore issuing a strong warning to him to desist from lashing out vitriol at the leadership of the party before hes put in his right place. Enough of his self acclaimed popularity.



By this release, we're openly declaring our support against him in the upcoming primaries. We shall marshall all forces and our energies to make sure he loses the contest. If he is the only person to retain the seat for us as he always claim, let us lose it. That would not be the first time the party would lose a seat to our opponents. We shall further drag him to the party's disciplinary committee for openly calling the party's stronghold chairman *a boy*. Enough is enough.



Signed

Dennis Kwakwa

Regional Youth Organizer

0208226216

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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Political activists from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan have raised the issue of worsening human rights situation in their provinces by targeting the Pakistani Army during the 43rd session of UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.

Fazal-ur Rehman Afridi, a Pashtun political activist told the Council, "In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Pakistani Army has unleashed a reign of terror against innocent civilians with impunity."

He said, "Two protest sit-ins are in progress simultaneously by Mehsood tribe in Waziristan and Utmanzai tribe in front of provincial Assembly of KPK for the last 44 days for the compensation of more than 90,000 destroyed houses and 8,000 shops and markets in Miranshah during the so-called war on terror."

Despite receiving billions of dollars in aid, Pakistan has spent not a single dollar for the rehabilitation and construction of destroyed homes, markets, schools, and other infrastructures.

Afridi said: "We express our concern and condemn the illegal arrest and arbitrary detention for 30 days of Manzoor Ahmad Pashteen, a leader of PTM, a well known human rights activist and hero of millions of Pashtuns around the on false charges of sedition".

Idrees Khattak and Hazrat Naeem Abdul Qayum, alias Gilaman Pashteen, two well known human rights activists are allegedly abducted and forcibly disappeared by the ISI, while Ehsanullah Ehsan has been allegedly released after the VIP hospitality of Pakistan Army.

At present, several PTM activists like Hanif Pashteen, Zulqarnain Bacha, Ovais Abdal, Alamgir Wazir, and Ghafoor Utmankhel are in illegal custody.

"We demand a Truth and Reconciliation Commission under the UN to investigate the human rights violations war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by the Pakistan Army in the former FATA", Afridi said.

Munir Mengal, a Baloch political activist, showed concern about the ongoing military operations in Balochistan.

"The people of Balochistan are seen living in a military garrison and facing elimination on a daily basis," said Munir.

The systematic suppression, and involuntary disappearances has been declared by many HR organisations, local political parties, and analysts as the slow-motion genocide of the Baloch people which is being done under as per the strategic policy of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

Munir said, "Eliminate the people from their land, extract the mineral resources of Balochistan against the will, and involvement of local people. Hence has kept them under subjugation".

"Only for the sack of land needed for CPEC projects, thousands of people have been removed from their houses by force, hundreds of houses were burned, and many has become victim of enforced disappearances or were eliminated," he said.

The Baloch political activist urged the Council to conduct an independent investigation of human rights violations in Balochistan.

"The Islamic State of Pakistan is so eager to stop the voice of Baloch people, that thousands have disappeared involuntarily. The perpetrators are doing it with impunity and (it) is being done on a daily basis", he said.

"The Baloch people are asking Pakistan where are our loved ones? Many cases have been registered with the UN Working Group on Enforced Disappearances. But unfortunately, years have passed to date and we do not see any concrete and effective steps taken for the safe recovery of missing persons", he concluded.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Textron Aviations facilities in Wichita and Independence, Kansas, are to have nearly all their electricity needs met using renewable wind energy, through a multi-year agreement with Evergy.

Evergys new green energy programme will help Textron Aviation towards achieving its sustainability goals using Kansas affordable and renewable wind energy.

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The multi-year agreement with Evergy will provide Textron Aviations Kansas facilities with 55MW of energy from a 300MW wind farm being constructed near Manhattan, Kansas, in Nemaha County. The Soldier Creek Wind Farm is scheduled to be online by the end of 2020.

The purchase of renewable energy demonstrates our commitment to a more sustainable future for our employees, communities and customers, said Brad White, Textron Aviations senior vice president of operations. Textron Aviation claims nearly 20% of the zero-emission and renewable energy generated by the Soldier Creek Wind Energy Centre.

Kansas wind energy production has surged, and wind energy can now power the needs of large customers such as Textron Aviation. The Direct Renewable Participation Service (DRPS) tariff passed by the Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) in July 2018 enables large commercial and industrial customers to access wind energy at lower rates than the utilitys current offerings.

The DRPS tariff lowers Textron Aviations fuel factor cost from 2.3 cents per kilowatt hour (kWh) to 1.8 cents per kWh, representing nearly 22% in savings.

Textron Aviation uses enough energy to power about 22,500 homes. By supporting wind energy production in Kansas, Textron Aviation will significantly offset its carbon footprint.
The Iranian Civil Aviation Organization has agreed to send the flight recorders from a downed Ukrainian passenger plane to Kyiv for analysis, an Iranian diplomat said.

Tehran has also invited other interested countries to participate in reading the data from the black boxes, Farhard Parvaresh, who heads Iran's delegation at the UN's Montreal-based International Civil Aviation Organization, told Reuters on March 11.

The Iranian military said it accidentally shot down the Ukrainian jet on January 8, killing all 176 people on board.

The victims included 82 Iranian citizens and 63 Canadians, many of them of Iranian origin.

The shooting occurred with Iran's air-defense forces on high alert following an Iranian ballistic-missile attack a few hours earlier on U.S. forces in Iraq.

The strikes came days after Iran's most prominent military commander, Qasem Soleimani, was killed in a U.S. drone strike outside Baghdad.

Iranian officials have for two months refused to hand over the recording devices for deciphering.

Based on reporting by Reuters
The Mexican figures of brutality are disturbing.

A year ago on this day, March 8, the number was nine ladies killed a day. This year it is 10, as per official figures.

As of now, 34 young ladies are assaulted each day, as indicated by information from the National System of Comprehensive Protection of Girls, Boys and Adolescents, which assesses that consistently 11 thousand young ladies become constrained moms because of assault in Mexico.

Mexico City, March 8, Mexico recognizes International Women's Day under the fights and activations of thousands of Mexicans all through the nation.

They are tired of the femicides and gender viciousness that has been constant, with an upward pattern, for a long time. Today, once more, ladies riot with a similar motto: "We need each other alive, free and unafraid."

During the protest, individuals wearing hoods tossed Molotov bombs at the doors of the National Palace after the march for International Women's Day. The ladies who were giving the discourse, over a sanctuary before the National Palace, guaranteed the group that men had tossed the detonating firebombs.

They started to shout that they are invaded and penetrated. The fundamental entryway of the National Palace was additionally splashed with red paint.

The lady, a picture taker who was helped by protesters, brought about severely charred areas on her arms and right leg due to second degree burns.

Protesters went up against one another before the church. Religious gatherings against premature birth and dissidents conflicted before the Metropolitan Cathedral.

Some protesters took the flags from the dissidents against abortion and put them to flames, they likewise destroyed the wall that secured the compound. From the platform where talks are held, ladies called for harmony during the showing.

All things considered, ten ladies are slaughtered, one is hijacked and at any rate, 34 young ladies are casualties of assault.

One of those, was a 7-year-old young lady named Fatima Cecilia, revealed missing on February 11, whose body was discovered stripped in a sack, in Tlahuac, she had been assaulted, tormented and killed.

Over the most recent five years, in any event, 16,000 ladies have been killed in the nation.

The everyday normal of murders of women developed by 42.85 percent over the most recent three years, as Mexico went from seven cases per day, during 2017, to 10 cases on normal in 2020.

Women's activists, human rights associations, and sexual orientation specialists have cautioned, since past organizations and during the new administration, that quite a long time after a year there is a disturbing number of scenes of brutality against women and that the Mexican state has not confronted the emergency adequately, in light of the fact that to date there are no genuine open strategies planned for decreasing the issue.

Analysts of the TDT Network nitty-gritty, in their latest report, that the resurgence of viciousness shows that sexism in the nation isn't just precise however that it follows the pattern of the whole Latin American district.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  It turns out the five cops who were previously hailed for busting a battling burglar 17 months ago in Midland Beach truly did borough residents a favor.

Thanks to their efforts, repeat felon Salvatore Pulice, 50, is returning to prison, and he may not get out this time.

On Tuesday, the West Brighton resident pleaded guilty to an attempted-burglary charge, which, factoring in his criminal history, could keep him behind bars for the rest of his life.

Pulice was arrested on Oct. 4, 2018, in the early afternoon.

A criminal complaint said he broke into three homes on the 1100 block of Father Capodanno Boulevard.

A witness saw Pulice entering one residence and leaving it toting suitcases and a garbage can, said the complaint.

The defendant snatched a laptop, gold chains, gold earrings, a camera, clothing and other items, said the complaint.

Pulice bolted when cops converged for a report of a burglary on Father Capodanno Boulevard, said police.

Officers chased, and nabbed the defendant as he tried to jump over a fence, police said.

Pulice threw kicks and punches at three arresting officers, leaving two of them with lacerations and bruises to their hands and shoulders, said police.

The defendant was indicted on various charges, including burglary, assault, grand larceny and stolen-property possession.

Five officers from the 122nd Precinct were later recognized for the arrest during Cop of the Month ceremonies: Sgt. William Gavigan and Police Officers Lee Wittek, Stephanie Mazza, Aldo Yubini and Christopher McKenna.

While free on $50,000 bond in the case, Pulice was re-arrested last Nov. 22.

Pulice stole beer, medicine and candles from a CVS pharmacy at 1125 Bay St. in Rosebank, said a separate criminal complaint.

He was charged with robbery, petit larceny and stolen-property possession.

Pulice pleaded guilty in state Supreme Court, St. George, to attempted second-degree burglary to satisfy all charges stemming from the Midland Beach heists.

He also pleaded guilty to petit larceny pertaining to the CVS theft.

In exchange, hell be sentenced on April 28 as a persistent felon to 12 years to life in prison on the attempted-burglary conviction.

Hell receive a concurrent sentence of 364 days for the petit larceny conviction.

Defense lawyer Maria Guastella did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment on the cases.

Assistant District Attorney Timothy Richard is prosecuting them.

Pulice has served two prior prison stints, according to online records of the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision.

In 1993, he was sentenced to two to six years for attempted burglary.

Later, in 2002, he was sentenced to 10 years for first-degree robbery, said those records.
The coronavirus is deadly  it will end up killing quite a few oldies  but we (and the rest of the world) are making so much fuss about it mainly because its new. Thanks to that fuss, its likely to do more damage to the economy than it does to life and limb.

How much damage we do to the economy  and whether it lasts a few months or a few years  will be determined largely by the way Scott Morrison and his ministers manage all the fuss: on the medical side and the economic side.

Theres one sound medical reason for being concerned about the newness of this particular virus: as yet, we have no natural immunity to it. But dont worry, well get it in due course  although well have calmed down long before that. The novel coronavirus, as the medicos call it, will have lost its novelty in a different sense.

The news media are making a great fuss for no reason other than the virus newness. New is what news is about. Whats new is unknown and whats unknown is frightening.
Panic buying across Australia could come to an end if supermarkets scrap delivery curfews, the Australian Retailers Association says.

Russell Zimmerman, the executive director for the ARA said the sight of empty shelves in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak was forcing shoppers to stock up on supplies.

Mr Zimmerman said that stores were unable to receive deliveries overnight which left some aisles empty, prompting panic from customers.

He is now calling for these delivery curfews to be lifted to help ease the pressure in stores so products can be dropped off at all hours of the day.

Supermarket shelves have been stripped bare due to panic buyers as the deadly coronavirus continues to spread

Russell Zimmerman, the executive director for the Australian Retailers Association (pictured) said lifting delivery curfew times would put an end to panic buying as more stock would be on shelves

The issue was discussed between Mr Zimmerman, Industry Minister Karen Andrews and other supply chain groups in a roundtable conversation on Wednesday.

'So for example (the curfew) may cut off at 10pm at night time and you can't deliver before say 7am in the morning. If we could get those trucks into those retail stores at other times beyond the curfew times, there is a huge opportunity to get the stocks into the shelves so that people would then realise that the stock is there,' Mr Zimmerman said, The Australian reported.

'The sad part is the stock is there so there's no need to panic buy. I cannot emphasise that enough.'

Ms Andrews said the government would work to try and have the curfews lifted.

'It is potentially very concerning if you walk into a supermarket and there are some items that are not there,' she said.

Speaking at a press conference after the meeting, Ms Andrews urged Australians not to panic buy.

'Australians stay calm, there is no need to panic buy. Australia has more than adequate supplies of food, of medicine and we are in an exceptionally good position at this point in time,' she told reporters.

'There are some issues with restocking our shelves at the supermarket but understand that we do have good supplies in our distribution centres and we are now working to ensure we can stock those shelves.

A curfew over when stock can be delivered has been lifted for Coles supermarkets in Ryde for two weeks, Ryde Mayor Jerome Laxale said

'So when Australians walk into a supermarket they will be able to see the products they need to buy.'

The ARA has started calling on state governments to lift the curfews that are imposed by councils.

'Nothing breeds a problem more than what we're seeing on the shelves at the moment,' Mr Zimmerman told reporters in Sydney.

Jerome Laxale, the Mayor for the city of Ryde in Sydney's north-west has since revealed that the curfew will be lifted for Coles and Woolworths supermarkets in the area.

'We've all seen the empty shelves and we've all had a chuckle and scratched our heads, however there are people who are really impacted by our panic buying, namely those who live on fixed and low incomes who do not have the luxury to throw an extra $100 at groceries,' Mayor Laxale wrote on Facebook.

'Today I was contacted by Woolworths. They have informed me they have enough stock to restock shelves, but delivery curfews are restricting their ability to get that stock into the stores.'

Woolworths also said restricted delivery times were stopping them from stocking shelves

Mayor Laxale said that after consulting with council staff, Woolworths stores in Top Rye, Macquarie Centre, West Ryde, Eastwood and Marsfield will all have curfews lifted for two weeks.

'These curfews exist for a reason. I'd ask for those impacted by the potential for extra noise to bear with us as we all adapt to this phenomenon. I'll work closely with Woolworths and review the situation in 2 weeks,' he said.

The councillor then revealed that Coles will also have the delivery curfews suspended.

'A two week delivery curfew exemption has also been agreed to so that Coles can get supplies back into their Macquarie Centre, Top Ryde City Shopping Centre and West Ryde stores,' he said.

'I'd again ask those potentially impacted by the lifted curfew to bear with us all as we try to facilitate essentials getting back on the shelves.'

Individual stores have different delivery times depending on their location.
Germany and the Middle East continue to be key markets for British lamb as new figures show sheepmeat exports surged last year.

Exports jumped 7.1% by value and 12.6% by volume compared to the previous year despite a lower than usual volume of trade in December.

The publication of the full-year export statistics for 2019 by HMRC show that trade in lamb increased to a wide variety of countries, both in Europe and beyond.

However, the largest growth in exports has been in two markets which has consistently been targeted  Germany and the Middle East.

A comparison of the volume of sheepmeat exports from the UK in 2018 and 2019 shows a 27% increase in sales to Germany to over 19,000 tonnes.

For the Middle East, a massive 319% jump (2,000 tonnes) in trade was seen to countries including Qatar, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan.

As Wales is home to almost a third of the British lamb flock, it is estimated that exports of lamb to Germany were worth 20 million to Welsh farmers and processors.

And the value of trade with the newer Middle Eastern markets has risen to around 2.5 million.

Hybu Cig Cymru  Meat Promotion Wales (HCC) said that the figures reflected a favourable exchange rate, together with strategic market development work.

"We can say with certainty that 2019 was a good year for lamb exports, with the star performers being an established market in Germany, and newer trading destinations in the Middle East," HCCs Chief Executive Gwyn Howells said.

He said a comparatively weak pound has helped to make Welsh exports competitive: "These two markets are ones which HCC has identified and invested in during recent times. Mr Howells said.

Germany has a huge foodservice and catering sector. Our work here has concentrated on working with Welsh exporters to secure listings for PGI Welsh Lamb with foodservice distributors and joint promotions at trade events and conferences, he explained.

In the Middle East, our task has been to grow beyond our established foothold in the retail market in the UAE, through making new contacts at the annual Gulfood show in February and trade development missions.
A day after Union Minister



Jyotiraditya Scindia resigned from the Congress, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said those who quit the party after raising a hue and cry, eventually return silently.

Talking to reporters at the Swami Vivekanand Airport here on Wednesday before leaving for Delhi, Baghel said the Kamal Nath government is "safe" and his Madhya Pradesh counterpart is yet to show "his move".

Asked about Scindia's resignation from the Congress, Baghel quoted a Hindi poem and said, "Kuchh to majbooriyan rahi hongi, warna koi yun hi bewafa thode hota hai" (there must have been some compulsion, no one is disloyal without a reason).

"We have seen, those who quit the Congress while growling, came back silently. There have been many such instances. Those who left the party after raising a hue and cry, later returned to the fold silently," he said.

Asked about Kamal Nath's confidence of retaining his government despite not all Congress MLAs attending the legislature party meet on Tuesday, Baghel said the Madhya Pradesh government will prove in the House that it is safe.

"How many legislators attended the BJP's legislature party meet? The Congress' number is being shown, but have you shown BJP's? Let the floor test take place, Kamal Nath's government will be safe," he said.

"It is just the beginning as Kamal Nath is yet to show his move," he added.

About his Delhi visit, Baghel said he will discuss with the Congress' central leadership about the party's nominees for the two Rajya Sabha seats in Chhattisgarh.

"I will discuss about the nominees for the March 26 Rajya Sabha polls, as the last date of filing of the nominations is March 13," he said.

Two Rajya Sabha seats in the state are falling vacant and both will go to the Congress, he claimed.

Of the five Rajya Sabha members from Chhattisgarh, the terms of Motilal Vora (Congress) and Ranvijay Pratap Singh Judeo (BJP) will expire early next month.

The other three Rajya Sabha members from the state are BJP leaders Saroj Pandey and Ramvichar Netam and Congress' Chhaya Verma.

In the 90-member state Assembly, the Congress has 69 MLAs, while the BJP has 14. Besides, the Janata Congress Chhattisgarh (J) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) have five and two members, respectively.

Going by the Congress' strength, both the Rajya Sabha seats that are falling vacant will be won to the ruling party.

The BJP has already said it will not field any candidate for the Rajya Sabha poll.

TheCongress is likely to renominate party veteran Vora from one seat.

According to a source in the Congress, the party has a "long list of aspirants" for another seat as the high command is also apparently contemplating to nominate a central leader for the Rajya Sabha from Chhattisgarh.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has introduced to the Verkhovna Rada a draft law on amendments to law on Ukraine's SBU Security Service regarding the improvement of the organizational and legal foundations of the SBU (No. 3196).

On Tuesday, the president submitted the bill to parliament as urgent.

Currently, the document is under consideration by the leadership of parliament.

There was no text of legislative initiative and supporting documents on the parliament's website as of Tuesday evening.

In addition, Zelensky also introduced to the parliament draft laws "On Amendments to the Tax Code of Ukraine in connection with the new version of law on the SBU and on amendments to Budget Code (No. 3198).

The parliament's website also does not yet have the texts of these bills and supporting documents to them.

As reported, on March 4, SBU head Ivan Bakanov announced that a draft law on reform of the Security Service of Ukraine would be submitted to the Verkhovna Rada in the coming days.

"The strategic guidelines of the updated SBU are clearly defined: it is a modern and efficient service that is capable of neutralizing any threat in its bud. I believe that the new law on the SBU will help us in this, which I hope will appear in the Verkhovna Rada the other day," said Bakanov from the rostrum of parliament on Wednesday evening.

He emphasized that the provisions and norms stipulated by the SBU bill are debatable. "Ready for a compromise," Bakanov said.

At the same time, he added that the SBU before the adoption of the law is changing approaches to its work.
WASHINGTON - Securities and Exchange Commission employees have been encouraged to work remotely for the foreseeable future after a coronavirus scare at the agencys Washington headquarters.

The agency, which oversees the financial markets, said it was informed Monday afternoon that a headquarters employee had received medical treatment for respiratory symptoms earlier in the day. The unidentified employee was informed by a doctor that they may have been infected with the virus and was referred for testing, the SEC said.

The SEC is the first major federal agency to employ teleworking in an effort to contain the virus spread. Also on Tuesday, American University announced it would temporarily shift to all-online classes in order to limit a potential spread of the virus.

Washington, D.C., has so far identified four local cases of coronavirus infections. The first identified case is the rector of a prominent Episcopalian church in Georgetown, prompting Washington officials to call for hundreds of parishioners to self-quarantine for two weeks. District officials announced Monday evening that the number had reached five, but they later reclassified one of those cases as residing in Maryland.

Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser said Tuesday that it was likely that the number of identified infection cases would increase as testing continues.

Bowser said D.C. health officials continue to conduct contact tracing on the infected people to identify the way the virus has spread from person to person.

Obviously this virus has a ripple effect and its critical to understand who in our community has been infected, she said.

About a half-dozen members of the U.S. Congress are currently on 14-day self-quarantine after coming in contact with potentially infected people. On Tuesday, Virginia Democratic Rep. Don Beyer announced he would self-quarantine after dining 10 days ago with a person carrying the virus.

The SEC is a leading regulator of financial markets, which have suffered steep declines as the virus has spread around the world.

The agency said the scattering of headquarters employees to work from their homes or other remote locations will not affect operations. Among other precautions, the agency is encouraging headquarters employees to telework until further guidance, it said.

Even with increased telework, the SEC remains able and committed to fully executing its mission on behalf of investors, including monitoring market function and working closely with other regulators and market participants, said the agency.

American University is the first in the nations capital to make such a move, although other universities such as Harvard have done the same.

While the risk to our community remains low at this time, this could change quickly, AU President Sylvia Burwell announced Tuesday in a letter to students.

Burwell, a former U.S. secretary of Health and Human Services, said the AU spring break  which started Monday and was scheduled to end on March 16  would be extended through Wednesday March 18. Classes will resume in an online format on the 18th and continue that way through at least April 3.

The university dorms will remain open, but Burwell wrote, We strongly encourage students to return to their homes for the three weeks of online studies.
Rule No. 1 in politics: "Don't insult the voters." That didn't stop Biden from fighting with a voter at the Fiat Chrysler plant in Detroit who challenged Biden based upon Biden's repeated promises to limit Americans' Second Amendment rights.

Faced with that type of pushback from a voter, a normal politician would have spoken respectfully to the voter while substantively engaging with him. Biden, though, is not a normal candidate. Instead, in an instantly viral moment, he told the voter, "You're full of s."

VOTER: These union workers, they have been working countless hours under the Trump administration, I'd like you to explain how you plan to not only keep us working but how you intend on getting the union vote when there is a large portion of union workers that are gun enthusiasts, you are actively trying to diminish our second amendment right and take away our guns. BIDEN: You're full of s! CAMPAIGN WORKER: All right. Thank you, guys. BIDEN: [To campaign worker.] No. No. Shush! Shush! [To voter.] I support the Second Amendment. Second Amendment, just like right now, if you yell "fire," that's not free speech. And from the very beginning  I have a shotgun, I have a twenty gauge, a twelve gauge, my sons hunt. Guess what  you're not allowed to own any weapon. I'm not taking your gun away, at all. You need a hundred rounds?  VOTER: When you were with Beto, and you said you were going to take away our guns  BIDEN: I did not say that. That's not  VOTER: You did. BIDEN:  true. I did not say that. VOTER: You did. There's a viral video. BIDEN: It's a viral video like the other ones they're putting out that are simply a lie. VOTER: It was your voice. You said you're taking the guns. THIRD MAN: No, he just clarified it. BIDEN: Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. Take the, your AR-14s [sic]. VOTER: Okay. This is not okay, all right. You wouldn't want me to do the same thing to you. [Unintelligible cross talk.] BIDEN: [Unintelligible.] You want to go outside with me? [unintelligible]. VOTER: You're working for me, man. BIDEN: I'm not working. CAMPAIGN WORKER: Thank you so much. BIDEN: Don't be such a horse's ass. VOTER: You're pushing up on me. BIDEN: Look, here's the deal. Here's the deal. Are you able to own a machine gun? VOTER: Do I own a machine gun? BIDEN: I said are you able to own a machine gun? VOTER: Machine guns are illegal. BIDEN: That's right! So are AR-15s illegal. VOTER: How is that a machine gun? BIDEN: Yeah, it's not. VOTER: It's a semi-automatic. [Cross talk] BIDEN: Yeah. Do you need a hundred rounds? Do you need a hundred rounds?

Whew! Here are some points to think about:

1. Biden said AR-15s are illegal. They not. That was wishful thinking.

2. No candidate should ever get into an ugly verbal fight with a voter. While the media may love it, voters do not appreciate having a public servant tell them that they're "full of s---" or a "horse's ass."

3. Biden was trying to repeat a speech he's often made (e.g., to the Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund's Presidential Gun Sense Forum and while in New Hampshire). At the Everytown forum, he said, "You cannot stand up in this hall and yell fire. That's not freedom of speech because they know the consequence of yelling fire: there'll be a stampede, and someone will get hurt." At both the Everytown forum and in New Hampshire, he said, "Those who say 'the tree of liberty is watered with the blood of patriots'  a great line, well, guess what: the fact is, if you're going to take on the government you need an F-15 with Hellfire missiles. There is no way an AK-47 is going to take care of you." He was incapable of articulating either of those lines when under pressure.

4. ABC News has characterized Joe Biden as "a longtime advocate for gun control." He introduced the so-called "assault weapons" ban in 1994.

5. During the South Carolina debate, Biden assured voters that he was the only one on stage capable of passing major gun legislation through Congress, because he'd done it before.

6. At a campaign rally in Dallas, Biden said of Beto "Hell, yes, we are going to take your AR-15" O'Rourke, "I want to make something clear, I'm going to guarantee you this is not the last you've seen of him. You're going to take care of the gun problem with me. You're going to be the one who leads this effort."

7. Biden referred in the present tense to his "sons [plural] hunting." That's sad. Beau has been dead almost five years.
Natick High School will remain open following news that two students tested positive for the coronavirus Monday night after their parent was presumptively confirmed to have the respiratory infection last week, town officials said.

A resident in the community was diagnosed Sunday with disease, named COVID-19. The individuals children were pulled from school and remained at home as the family self-quarantined.

As of late last night, the Board of Health was notified that the students have also been found to be presumptive positive cases of COVID-19, Dr. Anna Nolin, superintendent of Natick Public Schools, and Jim White, director of public health in the town, said in a joint statement.

Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker declared a state of emergency Tuesday following a growing number of coronavirus cases in the commonwealth and the country. Ninety-one positive presumptive COVID-19 diagnoses have been made in the state, and one patient was confirmed to have the disease in January. The total number of cases in Massachusetts remains at 92 as of Tuesday afternoon.

Natick High Schools building was shut down Sunday so janitors, using recommended protective gear, could sanitize all classrooms and spaces in the facility, the statement said. The school was also cleaned Friday and Saturday.

The teenagers diagnosed with COVID-19 have not been in contact with any students or staff since they quarantined themselves last week. The family and its contacts will continue to be monitored by the Natick Board of Health and the Massachusetts Department of Public health, according to Nolin and White.

The parent of the students reportedly visited a restaurant in the town called The Lookout Taproom on Feb. 29. The restaurant told The Metrowest Daily News it has closed in order to conduct a deep clean.

School events and field trips in Natick remain unaffected, but out-of-state travel has been cancelled per Bakers guidance, the officials said.

Due to the family-initiated quarantine of the students and the proactive cleaning measures taken last week, the status of Natick High School remains open and unchanged, Nolin and White said.

The town of Natick is located in Middlesex County, where 41 presumptive cases of the disease have been confirmed, according to DPHs website. Two residents in Winchester, another town in the county, received positive COVID-19 diagnoses Tuesday as well.

We understand that this entire situation is alarming, and we share information so that our community knows how vigilant we are about tracking of possible cases, Natick school and health officials said. We will continue to assess and monitor the situation at all of our schools and within the town as a whole.

Related Content:
An Australian doctor's tips on how to avoid the coronavirus outbreak have gained global attention with world leaders now using his advice as national guidelines.

A recently-released academic paper co-authored by University of Newcastle health expert Dr Craig Dalton states the number and severity of cases can be limited with a series of preemptive low cost hygiene and social distancing strategies.

While the recommendations for the workplace, school, home and wider community will change our lives, the paper believes they should be considered worldwide, including regions claiming to be coronovirus-free.

'Early interventions to reduce the average frequency and intensity of exposure to the virus might reduce infection risk, reduce the average viral infectious dose of those exposed, and result in less severe cases who are less infectious,' the paper states.

Eating your lunch alone at you desk is one of many low cost hygiene and social distancing ways people can do to avoid the risk of coronavirus (stock image)

In the workplace, people can reduce the risk by eating lunch alone at their desk, swapping work board meetings for video conferences or open air congregations, and giving the office elevator button a good wipe before pressing.

Workplaces are also advised to introduce a no-handshake policy and encourage staff to work from home whenever possible.

Schools are discouraged from having activities that involved different classes and age groups mixing, urged to consider outdoor lessons and to review after-school care arrangements.

Households can reduce the risk with 'Welcome if you are well' front door signs and increasing ventilation by opening windows or adjusting the air-conditioning.

University of Newcastle health expert Dr Craig Dalton co-authored the academic report

The Australian academic paper recommends boardroom meetings be replaced with open air congregations or video conferences (stock image)

Sick family members should be confined to their own separate room with the door closed, face masks worn by all family members and consider extra protection or alternative accommodation for relatives aged over-65 or with underlying illness.

In the wider community, people can protect themselves by purchasing with tap-and -go to limit handling of money or consider online pre-purchasing.

'The suite of low cost pre-emptive interventions, other than a working from home policy, is unlikely to affect work productivity and may provide the community with some re-assurance that all is being done to prevent the epidemic,' the report states.

The paper concludes: 'We believe these practices should be implemented in all countries as soon as possible.'

People can do simple things around the house or office such as opening windows (stock)

CORONAVIRUS CASES IN AUSTRALIA: 27,244 Victoria: 20,269 New South Wales: 4,273 Queensland: 1,161 Western Australia: 692 South Australia: 473 Tasmania: 230 Australian Capital Territory: 113 Northern Territory: 33 TOTAL CASES: 27,244 ESTIMATED ACTIVE CASES: 269 DEATHS: 897 Updated: 5.31 PM, 11 October, 2020 Source: Australian Government Department of Health Advertisement

The number of confirmed cases in Australia climbed to 128 on Wednesday.

'The spread of COVID-19 is something this country's just get on top of it, it is something we have to stop,' Dr Dalton told 7news.com.au.

'This is much much worse than normal flu ... it needs a whole of community effort.'

The paper co-written by Dr Dalton in collaboration with University of Sydneys Stephen Corbett and the Australian National Universitys Anthea Katelaris was cited by the White Houses coronavirus response coordinator Deborah Birx at a press conference in the US on Monday.

She announced new guidelines to reduce the outbreak in the US based on the recommendations in the Australian paper.

Experts urge people to give the button of the office elevator a good wipe before pressing

'You can actually look up the scientific evidence that informed each of these guidelines,' Ms Birx said.

Finding out his work been mentioned during a nationally televised White House press briefing came as a shock to Dr Dalton.

'You've heard of deep fake videos, I thought it was one of those,' he told 7News.com.au.

'It took multiple sources confirming validation before it sunk in.'
Tuesday was a bad day for Bernie Sanders. The Vermont senator lost decisively to former Vice President Joe Biden in Michigan, Missouri, and Mississippi. Sanders is falling behind in the delegate count, and in 25 primaries and caucuses so far, he has managed to crack 37 percent of the vote in only three, even as the field has narrowed. This low ceiling is the story of his demise. Sanders hasnt just failed to bring millions of new voters into the process, as he promised. He has also failed, in state after state, to broaden his share of the existing Democratic electorate.

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If you look back at Sanders share of the vote in each primary, he hasnt actually lost ground. In Iowa and New Hampshire, he got a quarter of the vote. In Nevada, he got a third. In South Carolina, he got a fifth. On Super Tuesday, he stayed in the same range, drawing about a quarter of the vote in the states he lost and a third of the vote in the states he won. What hurt him was that Biden increased his share of the vote, while Sanders didnt. As other candidates dropped out, their voters went to Biden, not Sanders. And one reason for this pattern is Sanders constant message of antagonism. He has cultivated enemies instead of friends. Now hes paying the price.

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For months, Sanders has talked about taking on the Democratic establishment. He ran on that message in Iowa and New Hampshire. Then, after becoming the front-runner, he went around the country boasting that his critics were right to fear him. At a rally in California on Feb. 17, he gloated that his enemies were trembling and crying on television. On Feb. 21, the day before he won the Nevada caucuses, he tweeted, Ive got news for the Republican establishment. Ive got news for the Democratic establishment. They cant stop us.

Running against the establishment is standard populism. But to win with that message, you have to define the enemy narrowly. The more people you denounce as part of the establishment, the more you scare politicians and voters. If youre proposing single-payer health insurance, for example, the smart move is to stipulate that youre just targeting insurance companies. Instead, Sanders has threatened the whole medical sector. We will take on the health care industry, he vowed at a rally last week. On Monday, he repeated that line to a crowd in St. Louis. On CNN, he blasted the industry for supporting Biden: The health care industry that is taking out their checkbooks? That is the establishment. We are taking them on.

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Sanders also attacks the press. Voters dont care about the press, but they get antsy when a candidate sounds paranoid. Instead of playing to reporters liberal sympathies, Sanders depicts them as puppets of the corporate media. He accuses them of freaking out over his success and hurling venom at his campaign. Last week, when MSNBCs Rachel Maddow pressed Sanders about his failure to turn out new voters, he insisted he was doing well, given that he was taking on the corporate media.

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Running against the establishment is standard populism. But to win with that message, you have to define the enemy narrowly.

Sanders first defeat, on Feb. 29 in South Carolina, was a warning that he needed to assuage fears about his candidacy. Instead, he celebrated those fears as proof of his success. On March 1, he proudly told a crowd in San Jose, California, that the turnout at his rallies was alarming the establishment. The next day, in St. Paul, Minnesota, he repeated that message. When Sanders was informed that fellow candidates Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar were dropping out and endorsing Biden, he said it was no surprise, since the corporate elite was out to get him. And when Maddow asked Sanders whether he was specifically running against the Democratic Party establishmentnot just a generic political establishmenthe replied: Democratic establishment. Yes.

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At his rallies, Sanders has continued to call for a political revolution. And he has added another villain to his list of enemies: the stock market. When the market surged after Super Tuesday, Sanders, far from welcoming this news, cited it as evidence of Bidens corruption. Were taking them all on, he said of the companies whose valuations had increased. The stock market went up this morning cause they thought that Biden did well. Sanders told Maddow that the health care industry and the drug companies did very well because Biden had a good day. And he warned these companies that if he got his way, their stocks would suffer. I got some bad news for those guys, he said. Dont count your chickens until theyre hatched.

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Its one thing to run against the greed of certain companies or CEOs. Its another to root against whole sectors of the stock market, in which most Americans are invested. Sanders comes across as a guy whod rather hurt capitalists than welcome a boost for 401(k)s. And this reinforces the damage he has done to himself, gratuitously, by insisting that hes a democratic socialist. Its hard to broaden your support when you seem more interested in ideology and punishment than in whether your attacks on the system are helping ordinary people outside your base.

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Meanwhile, Sanders has escalated his talk of conspiracies. On Sunday, he claimed that the establishment put a great deal of pressure on Buttigieg and Klobuchar to force them out of the race. What was very clear from the media narrative and what the establishment wanted, he told George Stephanopoulos, was to make sure that people coalesced around Biden and try to defeat me. On Wednesday, after his defeats, Sanders again rebuked the Democratic establishment and insisted that our campaign has won the ideological debate.

What Sanders fails to understand is the connection between his defeats and his rhetoric. It wasnt the media or the Democratic National Committee that turned Buttigieg, Klobuchar, and millions of voters against him. It was Sanders. His relentless message of conflict, along with his expanding list of putative enemies, attracted a fraction of the electorate but alienated everybody else. As the primaries narrowed to a two-man race, his base was no longer enough to win. The establishment didnt destroy Bernie Sanders. He destroyed himself.

For more on the 2020 election, listen to What Next.
Swab sample of an 18-year-old



man was collected on Wednesday evening here in Maharashtra and sent to Pune-based National Institute of Virology (NIV) to check for the novel coronavirus, an official said.

The man currently has pneumonia (a lung infection) and has been sent to the Government Medical College and Hospital here for further treatment, he said.

"A young man residing in the city travelled from Uttar Pradesh to Aurangabad in a train some days ago. He reached district hospital today evening and was checked.

"He was found pneumatic and hence his swab was taken for investigation and was sent to Pune," Dr Sundar Kulkarni, district health officer, told PTI.

"After taking the swab, we sent him to Government Medical College and Hospital," he said.

Hospital superintendent Dr Suresh Harbade said the patient has been kept in isolation.

"We have kept the patient isolated as we have taken his swab. Antibiotics and other medicines are being given to him as there is little distress for breathing. He is breathing naturally and no support system is being used currently," said Harbade.

He was in Meerut (western Uttar Pradesh), but we have not found any positive patient of the coronavirus there. Still we are taking care," Harbade added.

Swab of a 29-year-man residing in Aurangabad was collected 2-3 days ago, but his report came negative, Kulkarni said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
ANKARA, Turkey - Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed Wednesday that his military would launch its harshest retaliation yet if the Syrian government breaks a fragile truce in Idlib province brokered last week.

The cease-fire arranged by Turkey and Russia  which support opposing sides in the conflict  halted a three-month air and ground campaign by the Syrian government against the rebel-held province. That offensive killed hundreds and sent 1 million people fleeing toward the Turkish border.

The Russian-backed Syrian government offensive made significant gains in Syrias last rebel stronghold, and Turkey sent thousands of troops across the border to reinforce the rebels, leading to rare direct fighting between Syrian and Turkish troops.

If those across from us dont keep their promise, we will never shy away from advancing on them in a much more serious way than before, Erdogan said in his weekly address to his ruling partys legislators.

Erdogan said there had been a number of small violations of the truce, which Turkey was monitoring carefully.

He said Turkeys priority would be the security of its troops manning a dozen observation posts inside Idlib. Some of those posts now fall within Syrian government-controlled territory. The posts are in place as part of a previous cease-fire agreement reached in 2018.

The security of our observation posts is at the top of our priorities. In the event of the smallest attack there, we not only will retaliate, we will reciprocate more heavily, Erdogan said.

Erdogan added that Turkey was engaged in efforts to turn the cease-fire into a more lasting truce.

We fought the necessary fight, and as a result signed a temporary ceasefire in Moscow. Now the issue is to transform this temporary cease-fire into a permanent one and we are swiftly pursuing that, he said.

Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar told reporters that talks with a Russian delegation about the technicalities of the truce were progressing in a positive and constructive manner. The delegation arrived Tuesday.

The current deal sets up a security corridor along Syrias M4 highway, running east-west in Idlib. Russian and Turkish troops are scheduled to begin joint patrols along the M4 on March 15.

Work is underway to reopen the M4, which has been closed since 2012. with workers removing barriers from the road that links Syrias coastal region with the northern city of Aleppo, the countrys largest, according to opposition activists and state media.

State news agency SANA said municipal workers in the coastal province of Latakia have cleared about 40 kilometres (25 miles) of the highway and have only a small section to finish.

Opposition activist Akaram al-Ahmad said insurgents checkpoints were removed from the highway in Idlib in apparent preparation for reopening the highway.

The cease-fire deal also appeared to achieve Moscows key goal of allowing the Syrian government to keep hold of the strategic north-south highway known as the M5. Syrian forces had captured its last segments in the latest offensive, which began in early December.
The Oglala Sioux Tribe declared a state of emergency Tuesday following news earlier in the day that five South Dakota residents had tested positive for coronavirus , including a man in his 60s from a county that borders the Pine Ridge Reservation.

Who knows how long we will be walking with this disease and not be able to properly diagnose that and treat those that have been affected? he said in a public address Tuesday night.

He said the federal government plans to send coronavirus kits first to state health departments and then to individual county health departments. In his emergency declaration, he called on the federal government to live up to its treaty obligations and trust responsibilities and send test kits directly to the Oglala Sioux Tribe

He also requested federal funds to pay for education and prevention of coronavirus, formally known as COVID-19, as well as medical supplies to fight the virus.

On Tuesday, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem said five people had tested positive for coronavirus in the state, including a man from Pennington County, just north of the Pine Ridge Reservation , who died

The cases are travel related, she said in a news release . Without panicking, I encourage all South Dakotans to take this seriously  now is the time to prepare and to stay informed.

Our team has been preparing for weeks, and I am confident we have the right people in place to address this fluid situation. Without panicking, I encourage all South Dakotans to take this seriously  now is the time to prepare and to stay informed. Posted by Governor Kristi Noem on Tuesday, March 10, 2020

In his emergency declaration, Bear Runner called on schools and tribal departments to begin developing protocols to prevent the spread of the virus. And he demanded that reservation businesses refrain from price gouging and that all products and donations shipped to the reservation be quarantined or sanitized before being made available to the public.

Bear Runner suspended official travel for elected tribal leaders and employees in order to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

On Tuesday, he also announced the establishment of an emergency management team that would oversee efforts to prevent and fight the coronavirus.

Were doing everything within our power to ensure we have everything we need, he said.

He said he is seeking to change tribal policies in order to allow him to grant administrative leave to individual employees. He said he hopes to be able to allow employees with underlying health conditions who may be more vulnerable to the virus, as well as single parents, the option of staying home and still get paid should the coronavirus begin spreading widely through the reservation.

Bear Runner said he prayed for the reservations safety during a sweatlodge ceremony Monday night and he asked reservation residents to ensure the safety of elders and spiritual leaders.

Protect your spiritual leaders because they are going to be our first line of defense, he said.

He urged tribal citizens and all reservation residents to practice thorough hygiene and he sought to reassure any nervous residents.

I dont want the people to panic, he said. I dont want them to overreact.

We are staying on top of it.

OST Presidential declaration: State of Emergency over the COVID-19 threat to the Oglala Nation Posted by Oglala Sioux Tribe - OST on Tuesday, March 10, 2020

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Pho runs through family, with recipes and traditions for the beef noodle soup carried from one generation to the next. The same goes for Pho Bang, a network of interrelated Vietnamese restaurants in the New Orleans area.

A new edition of Pho Bang debuted in Metairie this month from the next generation of the family behind the local brand. Johnson Ha and Victoria Ngo run this new Pho Bang at 1901 Veterans Blvd.

This is the fifth local outpost for Pho Bang. For Ha and Ngo, a longtime couple, its the first restaurant of their own.

A lot of people think its a franchise because of the name, but each one is owned by a different part of the family, said Ngo.

It was Has uncle, Yen Vu, who opened the first Pho Bang in the mid-1980s in Village de l'Est, the New Orleans East neighborhood that became a hub of Vietnamese immigrants. The term bang is Vietnamese for equal, and today the family said it was chosen to reference the shared endeavor of the restaurant.

Relatives would open locations in New York, Texas, Arizona and elsewhere, some of which have since been sold.

Around New Orleans, the family circle around Pho Bang locations is a tight one, with brothers, sisters, uncles and aunts running each.

The new Pho Bang is the first from the generation born in the U.S., though Ha has been steeped in the family business his whole life. He was just two years old when his parents opened their own Pho Bang in Harvey in 1994.

My mother wanted me to get out of the restaurant business, do something different, Ha said. But it just kept pulling me back. You get a feel for this business and you can't do anything else.

Each location shares the staple noodle and rice dishes found at many Vietnamese restaurants, but they all have their differences. In New Orleans East, for instance, the approach to traditional recipes is unwavering.

Hes been serving the same pho there for 30 years, Ha said of his uncle.

His own father Duc Ha, meanwhile, has always taken a more flexible approach, adjusting flavors from feedback from customers at his restaurant on Manhattan Boulevard.

Its the same foundation, just a different flavor and flair, Johnson Ha said.

At the new Pho Bang, he and Ngo serves a menu that is slightly larger than the others, adding banh mi sandwiches and salads with chargrilled meats, lemongrass shrimp or fried tofu over greens and crunchy vegetables. They want to give neighbors more options for quick lunches.

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While Ha and Ngo run the new Pho Bang on their own, Ha's parents Duc Ha and Paula Vu have been helping guide the new project, with Duc Ha dipping into the giant pots of simmering broth as they've gotten the kitchen up to speed.

"They give us the thumbs up to know we're doing it right," said Johnson Ha.

While other second-generation Vietnamese restaurants locally have adopted more of a fusion approach, Johnson Ha said thats not the aim for his Pho Bang.

Were sticking to the roots, Johnson Ha said. Pho is the core of what we do. Thats the passion.

Note: with the state's new restrictions on restaurants, Pho Bang locations are serving only takeout and delivery.

Pho Bang

1901 Veterans Blvd., 504-381-4345

Other Pho Bang locations:

14367 Chef Menteur Hwy., New Orleans, 504-254-3929

8814 Veterans Blvd., Metairie, 504-466-8742

932 West Bank Expy., Gretna, 504-872-9002

2245 Manhattan Blvd., Harvey, 504-309-3352

+5 After founders of Pho Hoa say goodbye, new Vietnamese restaurant takes its place Making the namesake soup at Pho Hoa takes a slow simmer and a patient hand. Around Mardi Gras, however, big changes came together quickly at t

+23 People call it 'the Blue Store,' but in crawfish season this Seventh Ward spot is red hot Ash Wednesday is always a crazy day for boiled seafood markets in New Orleans. Any Friday during Lent will be crazy too, as another Louisiana 

+4 Former Sucre in Metairie to reopen as Viet-French bakery Chez Pierre The end for once-prominent New Orleans dessert company Sucre came abruptly. The company shut down one Monday last June, informing employees of
Coronavirus is a "pandemic", the World Health Organisation has said.

WHO director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that the COVID-19 outbreak could officially be declared a pandemic, the highest level classification the organisation can give.

He sounded the alarm about the "inaction" of countries in response to the disease and urged a better reaction to "the alarming levels of spread and severity" of the outbreak.

:: Follow live coverage of the coronavirus outbreak here

"Pandemic is not a word to use lightly or carelessly. It is a word that, if misused, can cause unreasonable fear, or unjustified acceptance that the fight is over, leading to unnecessary suffering and death," he said.

"Describing the situation as a pandemic does not change WHO's assessment of the threat posed by this coronavirus. It doesn't change what WHO is doing, and it doesn't change what countries should do.

He added: "We have never before seen a pandemic sparked by a coronavirus. And we have never before seen a pandemic that can be controlled at the same time. WHO has been in full response mode since we were notified of the first cases.

"We have called every day for countries to take urgent and aggressive action. We have rung the alarm bell loud and clear."

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

The WHO had already declared the outbreak a global health emergency, in January, as cases grew in China. In recent weeks, speculation has turned to when the organisation would declare it a pandemic, amid rapidly growing deaths and infections.

The disease has killed more than 4,000 people around the world. It has infected more than 120,000 people worldwide and reached at least 114 countries.

The declaration of a pandemic is an official recognition that the disease has spread around the world beyond expectations. It suggests the disease is likely to spread around communities and that governments should act to prepare.

It is used in contrast with an epidemic, which is used when a disease is largely limited to one country or community. While many had expected the WHO to declare a pandemic, it marks a recognition that the disease is spreading quickly and widely.

Large outbreaks have not been declared pandemics in the past. The Sars coronavirus that struck in 2003, for instance, was never declared a pandemic because its spread was largely limited to a smaller number of countries.

The official use of the word does not necessarily have strict criteria, and so relies on the discretion of senior officials at the WHO. As well as an official recognition of the spread of the disease, it can be used by the organisation to call on governments and officials around the world to begin a more co-ordinated and concentrated response.

The World Health Organization's use of the word pandemic to describe the outbreak of the new coronavirus does not change its response, the head of the WHO's emergencies programme said.

Dr Mike Ryan also told a news conference the situation in Iran was "very serious" and the agency would like to see more surveillance and more care for the sick.

"This decision will likely have been made on the basis of the majority of the worlds continents now seeing significant and ongoing person to person spread of SARS-COV2," said Nathalie MacDermott from Kings College London. "The change of term does not alter anything practically as the world has been advised for the last few weeks to prepare for a potential pandemic, which has hopefully been taken seriously by all countries.

"The use of this term however highlights the importance of countries throughout the world working cooperatively and openly with one another and coming together as a united front in our efforts to bring this situation under control.
By Express News Service

BHOPAL: Irked over former Union Minister and senior party leader Jyotiraditya Scindia joining the BJP and the resignation spree by his loyalist MLAs putting the Kamal Nath government in deep crisis, the ruling Congress workers staged anti-Scindia protests in various parts of Madhya Pradesh on Wednesday.

Congress workers burnt the effigy of the former Union Minister at the Mohan Talkies crossing in Dhar district blaming him and his supporters for the present political crisis in the state.

In Jabalpur town, the Congress workers holding placards bearing the slogan Dada Mila Thaa Goro Se, Pota Mil Gaya Choron Se (Grandfather had aligned with British rulers and grandson aligned with thieves) carried out a procession against Scindia.

In Mandsaur, the Congress workers blackened the party posters bearing pictures of Scindia and blamed him for the political crisis confronting the Congress in the state.

In Bhopal, the former MP Congress Committee chief and ex-union minister Arun Yadav continued to target Scindias erstwhile royal family of Gwalior. He (Scindia) hasnt done anything new, but only followed his familys tradition of being slaves to British rulers, said Yadav.

Higher Education Minister Jeetu Patwari, who had targeted Scindias family on Tuesday by raising the issue of the Gwalior royal familys role in the death of Rani Laxmi Bai in 1858, again took to Twitter on Wednesday, dubbing Scindia a Girgit (Chameleon).

You (Scindia) turned out to be a Chameleon, youve aligned with those who got farmers shot dead in Mandsaur and have opposed those who were engaged in withdrawing cases lodged against farmers. I congratulate Congress workers of Gwalior-Chambal region for getting free from slavery, tweeted Patwari.

Former CM and Rajya Sabha member Digvijaya Singh, meanwhile, reportedly claimed in Bhopal, that Scindia was offered the post of deputy CM after the party won the 2018 assembly polls in MP, but he instead wanted his nominee to get appointed to the post.

The CM had rejected Scindias response as that he didnt want a chela (slave/servant) in that position.

Singh further said that Scindia left the Congress and joined BJP as he is over-ambitious. "We didnt anticipate that Scindia will quit the Congress... that was a mistake. Someone who has got so much from the party - four-time MP, twice minister in Union Cabinet, Congress Working Committee member and party general secretary," he said.

"The Congress could have easily sent him to the Rajya Sabha with 122 MLAs on its side. But we could not have made him a cabinet minister. Only Modi-Shah can make (him) a cabinet minister, not us," he added.

Shivraj dubs Scindias entry into BJP as Shivraj and Maharaj now together

In Bhopal, former CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan flanked by BJP MLA and ex-minister Yashodhara Raje Scindia (Jyotiradityas aunt) welcomed Scindias entry into the BJP.

Right since a young age, I, as a BJP worker, was ushered in with blessings of Rajmata Vijaya Raje Scindia. Its a pleasant sight to see now her grandson becoming part of BJP.

When asked by journalists about BJPs 2018 assembly poll slogan, Maaf Karo Maharaj Hamara Neta Toh Shivraj, the former CM said, Scindia was the most popular Congress leader in Madhya Pradesh, so the poll slogan was coined in 2018. But now both Maharaj and Shivraj are together.
Cities across the world are deciding not to test their luck on St. Patrick's Day when it comes to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak.

The National Retail Federation predicted two weeks ago that more than half of all American adults were expected to celebrate the holiday next week, spending more than $6 billion.

Here's a breakdown of some cancellations and major changes to plans:

MORE: What is coronavirus and other important questions answered

New York

New York City's St. Patrick's Day Parade, scheduled for March 17, was canceled late Wednesday, according to the governor's office.

"Today I had several conversations with the organizers of the St. Patrick's Day Parade to determine whether the parade should move forward in light of the evolving coronavirus situation and increased case count in the New York City area," Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in a statement. "Following those conversations, I recommended and the parade's leadership agreed to postpone this year's parade due to the high density and the large volume of marchers and spectators who attend."

The parade, in existence since 1762, had never before been canceled.

There are 352 confirmed cases of the virus in the city, according to the New York State Health Department.

Mayor Bill de Blasio, Cuomo and parade organizers had said earlier they'd be watching for any developments that could change that decision. Cuomo said he's received warnings about going through with the event.

MORE: New York City celebrates St. Patrick's Day

"If you listen to the experts, they say you should not have a St. Patrick's Day Parade," he told reporters at a news conference.

PHOTO: Hundreds of officers and service members gather for the 2019 annual St. Patrick's Day parade on March 16, 2019, in New York. (Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images, FILE)

The event, which marches down Fifth Avenue, is one of the largest St. Patrick's Day events in the world, with 250,000 marchers and 2 million spectators, according to parade organizers. The city has held smaller parades in Queens and Staten Island over the last two weeks.

Story continues

Chicago

Chicago's annual St. Patrick's Day parade, that was scheduled for Saturday, was postponed over coronavirus concerns.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot, health officials and parade organizers said Wednesday morning the risks of spreading the virus were too high.

"The health and safety of Chicago's residents will always be our highest priority and like many other cities across the nation and globe, we are postponing this year's parade as a precautionary measure to prevent any additional spread of COVID-19, Lightfoot said in a statement.

The parade down Columbus Drive draws over a million revelers a year, according to Lightfoot's office.

Organizers did say that it plans on rescheduling the St. Patrick's Day events to a later date, including the annual green dying of the river, and would provide more details at a later date.

Ireland

The Irish government on Monday ordered all St. Patrick's Day festivities throughout the country canceled in an abundance of caution over the coronavirus.

PHOTO: Festival participants take part in the annual Saint Patrick's Day parade on March 17, 2019, in Dublin, Ireland. (Charles Mcquillan/Getty Images, FILE)

The country had 34 confirmed cases of COVID-19 but no deaths as of Tuesday, according to the Irish government. Irish officials said the various parties, festivals and parades, including the Dublin parade, posed too much of a risk to the public, especially with the number of travelers from around the world expected to take part in those activities.

"The main objective in the current phase is to limit and slow down the spread of the virus, to keep the number of affected people to a minimum and reduce peak pressure on the health service," the government said in a statement.

Dublin's St. Patrick's Day festival was to begin on March 13 and run until the holiday on March 17, the day of the parade. The city's tourism board said half a million people typically attend.

Boston

Boston Mayor Marty Walsh announced on Monday that the South Boston parade on March 15 would be canceled.

The city had one confirmed positive case and eight presumptive positive cases as of Tuesday morning. Walsh reiterated that the risk in the city remains low, but health officials don't want to take any chances.

PHOTO: Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh shakes hands with people in the crowd during the annual St. Patrick's Day parade in South Boston on March 17, 2019. (Boston Globe via Getty Images, FILE)

"Our top priority is preventing any new cases, to the best of our ability, and we are paying close attention to guidance from public health officials," he said in a statement.

MORE: How novel coronavirus compares to SARS, MERS and other recent viral outbreaks

More than a million people attended last year's parade, according to the mayor's office. It's one of the oldest St. Patrick's Day celebrations in the country, dating back to the 1730s. The mayor's office did not have any specific guidance for private holiday events and festivities, such as bar crawls, scheduled this weekend and next Tuesday.

How coronavirus is affecting St. Patrick's Day celebrations originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
The picture shows the unmanned off-road platform Longma II at the 12th China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition (Airshow China) in Zhuhai on November 6, 2018. The platform had won the first place in the event of high-mobility transportation in mountain terrain at the "Crossing Obstacles 2018" land-based unmanned system competition held in September 2018. (Photo by Yang Tiehu)

BEIJING, Mar. 11 -- The Armament Department of the Chinese PLA Army will host "Crossing Obstacles 2020" land-based unmanned system competition between the coming September and October, in a bid to further promote the innovation and development of the PLA Armys unmanned system equipment.

The competition will be open to research teams and individuals from domestic universities, research institutes and enterprises. Further information can be found on the PLA Weaponry & Equipment Acquisition Information Network (http://www.weain.mil.cn/). Registration will be officially accepted from April to May after the announcement of the competition guide is published.

It is learned that the competition will comprise two parts, for ground and water vehicles separately.

The ground competition will include 15 events, such as unmanned vehicle reconnaissance, assault and patrol, materials loading and unloading, mobile power-supply, formation maneuver in the field, and high-mobility transportation in mountain terrain. Furthermore, events of mobile support of bionic robot, air-ground coordinated reconnaissance and strike of cluster unmanned systems, and underground unmanned system reconnaissance and search are also included.

In addition, high-level forum and equipment exhibitions will be carried out at the same time.

Initiated in September 2014, the "Crossing Obstacles" land-based unmanned system competition is conducted every two years, aiming to facilitate the transformation and application of relative scientific and technological innovations of unmanned ground system and provide strong support for the transformation and development of the PLA Army.
Italy reported 977 new cases of COVID-19 and 168 new deaths Tuesday. The country has the second-most infected patients in the world with 10,149 cases and 631 dead.

As a result of the rapidly multiplying virus, Italians are living their first day under a nationwide lockdown after a decree signed late Monday by Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte extended restrictions on movement from hard-hit northern regions to the rest of the country.

The directive bans all but the most important travel and puts the final kibosh on social gatherings after Italians failed to take previous warnings to heart amid skyrocketing infections. All sporting events are being suspended. Schools and universities are closing through April 3. Museums and archeological sites are closing. On Tuesday, the streets of Italy were empty and transportation systems were deserted. The government is requiring guards to take the temperatures of train passengers.

In Rome, teams of Italian police patrolled cafes to make sure owners were keeping customers 3 feet apart. The streets of the Italian capital were as quiet as they are during the annual mid-August vacation shutdown.

Travelers at Milans main train station had to sign police forms self-certifying that they are traveling for "proven work needs, situations of necessity, health reasons or to return home. Ski lifts were ordered to close after students whose classes were canceled began organizing trips to winter resorts.

The Italian government is assuring its citizens that supermarkets will remain open and stocked after panic buying erupted after broad anti-virus measures were announced nationwide, sparking overnight runs on 24-hour markets.

Shoppers lined up overnight outside a Rome Carrefour to stock up after the government extended restrictions on movement from hard-hit northern Italy to the rest of the country. Some shoppers wore masks as they waited with their carts to be allowed into the store a few at a time.

Major European airlines are canceling flights to and from Italy.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

Amy Graff is a digital editor with SFGATE. Email her news tips and photos at agraff@sfgate.com.

MORE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE:
Alphabet, Google's parent company, has asked all its North American employees to work from home at least till April 10. In other words, all Google employees in that part of the world -- in the US offices and in Canadian cities -- have been gently told to work from home. It's not mandatory though. Employees, if they want can still come to office for work, but if some don't want they can work from home. The message to Google employees comes on the day when number of Coronovirus cases, which is causing COVID19 disease, has crossed 1000.

That Google has asked its employees in the US and Canada to work from home has been reported by several news publications. Once the news came out, Google confirmed it with an email to one of the publications that had reported about it.

Chris Rackow, Google's vice president of global security, in an email to Google's employees wrote, "Out of abundance of caution, and for the protection of Alphabet and the broader community, we now recommend that you work from home if your role allows."

The email further speaks about "the goal of businesses moving to work-from-home (WFH) arrangements is to significantly reduce the density of people and lower the health risk in offices."

Earlier, the search giant had passed a similar memo to its workers in Washington state. A similar guideline was also given to employees in San Francisco bay area. Many technology companies, including Microsoft in Seattle, and Twitter too have suggested that employees work from home. Some workers from technology companies, including from Google, Amazon and Microsoft, have tested positive for the virus.

In addition to this, Google has announced a COVID - 19 fund, through which all of its temporary staff and vendors can take paid sick leaves, in case they showed symptoms of the virus or if they are unable to turn up for work.

Google's Director, Workplace Services Adrienne Crowther wrote, "Working with our partners, this fund will mean that members of our extended workforce will be compensated for their normal working hours if they can't come into work for these reasons. We are carefully monitoring the situation and will continue to assess any adjustments needed over the coming months."
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During the 1980s, North Carolinas U.S. Senator, the late Jesse Helms, wrote an interesting article about Americas drift from her religious and political moorings. Helms wrote at that time something powerfully astute. He said, It is debatable at just what point the United States began to drift away But I think we reached that point when many Americans turned away from the idea of salvation through Christ to that of salvation through technology or science or material affluence or the welfare state.

Helms statement is at the heart of the legitimate assertion that Socialism is anti-Christian. As early as 1917, Charles R. Erdman, a professor at Princeton Theological Seminary, said that Socialism is defective in that it places the physical above the spiritual needs of humanity. Erdman wrote:

It insists that better social conditions will produce better men; Christianity teaches that better men are needed to produce better conditions. Socialism seeks to elevate individuals by elevating society; Christianity contends that society can be elevated only by the regeneration of individuals. To secure such regeneration is the supreme effort and function of the Church, and its chief message to Socialism is that life is more than meat and raiment. To those who are crying for equality and opportunity and improved material conditions and fondly dreaming of a new age of universal plenty and comfort and happiness, the Church repeats the divine message, Ye must be born-again.

Last summer, Julie Roys, who is the host of a national talk show on the Moody Radio Network called Up for Debate, wrote an op-ed piece for the Christian Post, rightly arguing that Socialism is based on a completely materialistic worldview.

To socialists, suffering is caused by the unequal distribution of stuff  and salvation is achieved by the re-distribution of stuff. Theres no acknowledgment of spiritual issues. Theres just an assumption that if everyone is given equal stuff, all the problems in society will somehow dissolve.

This worldview contradicts Christianity, which affirms the existence of both a material and non-material world  and teaches that mankinds greatest problems are spiritual. The Bible says the cause of suffering is sin, and salvation is found in the Cross of Christ, which liberates us from sin. Because of sin, though, there will always be inequalities in wealth. As the parable of the talents [by Christ] shows, those with good character tend to accumulate more; those with bad character [are more subject to] lose everything they have. Yet, even if we are unable to accumulate wealth [especially in situations beyond our control], Christianity teaches that we can still have an abundant life. Thats because the quality of life is not determined by how much stuff we have, but by our relationship to Christ.

The late world-renowned evangelist, Dr. Billy Graham, in discussing mans hopes of self-salvation used to say that you can scrub a pig, sprinkle Chanel No. 5 on him, put a ribbon around his neck, and take him into the most exquisite palace in the land. But when you turn him loose, he will jump into the first mud puddle he sees. Why? Because even though he may be wearing lipstick, he is still a pig. Thats the pigs nature.

You may think this is a pessimistic way to look at life or the prospect of self-improvement. But its not at all. Christians are not pessimists. Its just that we know where real hope is found. We understand that every effort, whether it be personal or corporate, that leaves out the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ, that doesnt make God central to the need, is no solution but just lipstick on a pig.

Whether it be education, or science, or psychology, or any kind of social planning pursued that is without the redeeming and regulatory touch of a benevolent and gracious God, it is nothing but lipstick on a pig.

And that is why, I say, Socialism is just lipstick on a pig.

We should beware of earthly utopian visions. The Scriptures reject them as untenable because of the brokenness of humankinds sinful nature. The Bible resoundingly declares that Christ, and Christ alone, is the Savior of the world and not the government.

Some who embrace Socialism and promote it may be well-intended, but by nature, it is thoroughly anti-Christian and will bankrupt body, soul, and country.

This editorial is developed from a few excerpts of a speech by Dr. Mark H. Creech, titled: Socialism: Lipstick on a Pig.
In Doha, 700 judges discuss the past, present and future of the Global Judicial Integrity Network

4 March 2020 - Judging from the eager interactions of so many judges and judicial experts gathered under one roof in Doha last week, the importance and appeal of UNODC's Global Judicial Integrity Network, launched in Vienna in 2018, continues to grow. During a three-day high-level meeting held under the patronage of Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of Qatar, Chief Justices and senior judges from around the world debated the hottest judicial integrity-related topics affecting their remits, and the myriad challenges facing judiciaries in their quest to apply justice.

In his welcome address, Dr. Hassan bin Lahdan Alhassan Almohanadi, Chief Justice of the State of Qatar, told participants: "This is an exceptional meeting, one that represents the fact that those participating here are guardians of justice and humanity, conveying a message of trust in them from the international community. The clear and direct message conveyed by the Global Judicial Integrity Network addresses all members of the judiciary around the world, underscoring that we need to treat others as we treat ourselves to make sure that justice is done, and the innocent are protected."

Counting over 700 participants from 118 countries and 50 judicial associations and organizations, the size of this event in Doha surpassed even the launch of the Network, which at the time had been the largest gathering of judges ever assembled under the auspices of the United Nations. Naturally, it was to the accomplishments of the Network so far that the gathered judges first turned their attention; as they prepared to discuss the "Past, Present, Future" of the Network, John Brandolino, Director of Treaty Affairs at UNODC, declared: "The work that we have collectively carried out within less than two years of the Network's existence is unprecedented in its scope and reach - we have developed a series of practical guides on emerging judicial integrity issues, implemented a training programme in more than 45 countries, and continued to deepen our ties as a pre-eminent Network for judges worldwide."

After taking stock of the Network's impressive achievements since its launch, several plenary sessions and a dozen thematic breakout sessions addressed the existing and emerging challenges related to judicial integrity, as they explored the different kinds of efforts made by judiciaries to address them and identified the priority areas for the Network. The use of social media by judges (for which the Network has issued Guidelines, available on its website), the use of artificial intelligence by judiciaries, and gender-related judicial integrity themes (on which the Network has just released a paper downloadable on the website), all subjects of highly topical relevance, provided packed plenaries with interesting and thought-provoking contributions from around the world. Other topics, such as judicial immunities, developing codes of conduct, the selection and appointment of judges or mainstreaming anti-corruption, amongst others, were discussed in engaging breakout sessions.

Chief Justice Dr. Almohanadi also used the occasion to announce Qatar's willingness to finance and establish an international training and research hub on judicial integrity to be set up in Doha. The soon-to-be-established hub will further support the activities of the Network and strengthen the implementation of UNODC's Judicial Ethics Training Tools.

This important international meeting was also marked by the adoption of 'The Doha Declaration on Judicial Integrity' and by the joint proposal of Chief Justice Dr. Almohanadi and the International Association of Women Judges to submit a proposal to the General Assembly of the United Nations, recommending the establishment of the International Day of Women Judges.

The Network's Advisory Board, which develops the Network's workplan and acts as its ambassador around the world, met at the conclusion of this second high-level event, using the occasion to announce that two new members had joined the Board: by welcoming Chief Justice Mathilda Twomey, Supreme Court of Seychelles, and Judge Vanessa Ruiz, President of the International Association of Women Judges, the Network's Board is also getting closer to achieving its goal of gender parity.

Additional Information:

Global Judicial Integrity Network

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Burma Myanmar Touts $200M in Drug Seizures in Military-Backed Militia Territory

The military displayed the seized drugs and drug-making materials for the press, foreign military attaches and international anti-narcotic organizations in Kutkai Township, northern Shan State on March 6. / The Office of the Commander-in-Chief of Defense Services

The Myanmar military has seized more than 121 million stimulant tablets and other precursor materials and equipment used in drug production, valued at 267 billion kyats (US$199 million), over 11 days in Kutkai Township, northern Shan State, according to the Office of the Commander-in-Chief of Defense Services.

Busts at drug production facilities have been ongoing since Feb. 28 and have yielded larger hauls than in years past. The militarys seizures of drugs across all of Myanmar from Jan. 1 to Aug. 15, 2019 were valued at 217 billion kyats.

The army chiefs office said on Tuesday that the recent drugs hauls in Kutkai Townships Kaungkha and Lwekham villages included stimulant tablets bearing the WY, 88/1 and R labels as well as heroin, morphine, raw opium and Ice.

According to the military, the narcotics included over 121 million assorted stimulant pills, most of them the WY variety, 271 kg of heroin and 443.5 kg of Ice. Authorities also seized 136 kinds of drug production equipment, worth more than one billion kyats.

The Myanmar military, or Tatmadaw, began publicizing the seizures on March 1. The area is largely controlled by the military-backed Kaungkha militia group. There are more than a hundred militia groups supported by the military in Myanmar, most of them armed and operating in conflict zones.

Despite its connections to the militia in the area, the Office of the Commander-in-Chief vowed to take action against drug producers.

Concerning the seizures of narcotic drugs, measures will be taken to arrest the main culprits and those involved in the cases in accordance with rules and regulations, and the security forces continue regional security measures and searches around the area, the military repeated in each of its statements this week.

Last Friday, the military took journalists, foreign military attaches and international anti-narcotic organizations to visit Kutkai and displayed the seized drugs and drug-making materials. On their way back, a helicopter with military attaches on board crashed in Kutkai but no one was injured.

The tour included representatives from the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, Thailands Office of the Narcotics Control Board, Chinas National Narcotics Control Commission and the Australia Federal Police.

According to army chiefs office, military commanders and the Anti-narcotic Task Force explained to the tour about Myanmars strategies for exposing drug operations, seizing narcotics, cooperating with the international community and addressing the role of armed insurgent terrorists in drug production.

But according to many observers, Myanmars drug eradication efforts wont work if the military is unable to address the causes of drug production, especially in areas where military-backed militia groups allegedly provide security for drug producers.

According to Kheunsai Jaiyen, an ethnic Shan political analyst and long-time observer of drug issues, Chinese groups have played a key role in Myanmars drug trade since the time of U Khun Sa, a prominent drug lord active until the mid 1990s.

Kutkai is also the constituency of the current Union Parliament speaker T Khun Myat, who once led the Kaungkha militia. He was elected to Parliament in 2010.

The speaker has denied allegations that his family members are involved in the drug trade.

He has denied this for years and when we have talked to people close to him, they said he is not connected, but its doubtful that he doesnt know, said Kheunsai Jaiyen.

Ethnic and political affairs analyst U Maung Maung Soe expressed doubt that large drug seizures will be effective in the long run.

The militarys drug busts were huge last year and this year they have seized stimulants valued at more than 200 billion kyats, but if they cannot capture the key perpetrators and the deeply-rooted networks, these drugs and drug-making facilities will emerge again, he said.

U Maung Maung Soe added, citing local news reports, that some 150 people who are not local to the area have been involved in drug production in the area controlled by the military-backed Kaungkha militia.

Although the experts from Taiwan, China and Russia come to work in the drug production industry in these areas, only the locals who know the area well can manage these businesses, he said. In such a situation, it is beyond surprising that the local Kaungkha militia are not aware of this.

Kheunsai Jaiyen echoed these concerns.

It is hard for [local militias] to produce such tablets and drugs. The producers are the Chinese traders and Chinese chemists. The militia groups provide security for them, he said. The people in the militia groups may change but not the Chinese chemists.

There is a balloon-effect, meaning when the authorities crack down on one group or groups without solving the root causes, another group or groups will emerge again in the future. This is because the root cause is political instability. We have to solve this first. Without solving this, [the balloon effect] will continue.

You may also like these stories:

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Environmental Activist Faces Arrest in Myanmars Karen State, Rights Groups Object
THE National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) has been placed under heightened alert over the prevailing threat posed by of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19).

I have placed the NCRPO on heightened alert status, with the mindset of utilizing our resources in NCRPO to help ensure the prevention of the virus' transmission and immediate response to any incident that may transpire in Metro Manila, NCRPO Director Debold Sinas said in a statement.

The NCRPO is ready for possible coordination of DOH for contact tracing, we are certain about that. We will keep the public posted. We just seek for your calmness and vigilance. Guaranteed that NCRPO and other agencies concerned are doing our best to meet the challenge of COVID 19, he added.

The number of Covid-19 cases in the country has increased to 49 as of Wednesday, March 11, 2020.

The DOH declared Code Red sub-level 1 alert.

Major General Benigno Durana Jr., chief of the PNP Directorate for Police Community Relations and PNP acting spokesperson, earlier said that at least six PNP personnel and one dependent of a PNP member are under close monitoring and home quarantine.

Major General Sinas said he instructed all police stations in Metro Manila to maintain a one-meter distance from complainants and visitors.

Just the same, for their safety and the safety of their loved ones inside the cells, they must avoid too much or close contact and maintain one meter distance from each other, he said.

Consequently, all police districts will have their designated area for the quarantine of our personnel. PNP personnel who wish to conduct self-quarantine or who wish to be checked and monitored properly are welcome there. The isolated area will be manned by trained NCRPO nurses and doctors, he added.

He also ensured the safety of police frontliners and first responders on possible cases of Covid-19 by providing them with masks, gloves and eyeglasses as their protective gear until further notice.

Story continues

PNP Chief Archie Gamboa said in an interview he has already ordered the procurement of 300 sets of protective gear to ensure the safety of his men should they respond to suspected Covid-19 cases.

He said they will also adjust their activities inside the camp especially their Zumba exercise every Tuesday and Thursday and their flag raising ceremony every Monday in compliance with the proposed social distancing of the government to help stop the spread of the virus.

Gamboa said he has also ordered the identification of quarantine areas in PNP facilities should it be necessary.

Meanwhile, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology said 42 detention facilities in the NCR under their control will temporarily not accept visitors for its detainees to avoid them from being infected by the virus.

For its part, just like the PNP, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has also issued a moratorium on sending AFP personnel to foreign travels except when necessary, among other safeguards.

We take very seriously and proactively the Presidents declaration of the State of Public Health Emergency. Even before such issuance by the President, I have directed the AFP Health Services Command to institute preventive measures to ensure that military camps have the necessary and stringent safeguards from Covid-19 affectation, AFP Chief of Staff Felimon Santos Jr. said.

We are preparing for the possibility that AFP facilities and personnel may be tapped to provide assistance in the whole of government approach in combatting Covid-19 that has raised alarms worldwide, he added. (SunStar Philippines)
Goose Creek Mayor Greg Habib passed a resolution Tuesday night allowing him to vet and present job finalists to City Council, a move prompted by a lawsuit filed against him alleging he violated the law by searching for a new city administrator outside of the public eye.

Habib, responding to a lawsuit filed by Councilwoman Gayla McSwain last week, amended the council's meeting agenda to include a resolution "affirming the hiring process presented by the mayor" and "authorizing the mayor to conduct preliminary interviews with candidates for the position of city administrator."

The resolution passed, with McSwain as the only dissenting vote.

McSwain is suing Habib and City Administrator James Broom because 30 or more candidates had been vetted and two had been interviewed in the Upstate to find a replacement for Broom without councils knowledge. Broom has served as city administrator since 2016 and is leaving the position April 15.

In a move that Habib called "efficient," he began reviewing job applications, vetting candidates and interviewing finalists without council having access to all the applicants' information. McSwain alleged Habib has violated the Freedom of Information Act by not conducting the process publicly.

Despite the resolution, McSwain is following through with the lawsuit. A hearing is scheduled for Thursday afternoon in Berkeley County court.

"The reason the mayor put this resolution on the amended agenda is that he's trying to get the council to ratify his past actions. He's trying to get them to say, 'It's OK what I've done in the past.' And it's not," she said.

Habib told The Post and Courier Wednesday that he felt the resolution was not necessary, but was advised by the city's lawyer to "memorialize the will of council."

"We didn't have to have the resolution," he said. "I'm authorized to do this."

Likewise, Councilman Jerry Tekac also defended the mayor's position.

"Council has been aware of the process since the beginning and the process was adjusted after meeting with all the Councilmembers," Tekac said in an email. "Its blatantly false to say that Mayor Habib is trying now to get us to say its OK when weve already agreed to the process. Its unfortunate that the will of council is not good enough for Councilmember McSwain."

Included in McSwain's lawsuit is a March 4 email from the mayor where he said he was only looking at in-state candidates or those applicants with ties to the state.

I have identified 8 highly qualified candidates who I believe would be a good fit to our organization, he wrote. To determine this, I emphasized high level administrative experience and a connection to South Carolina. In fact, 7 of the 8 are in South Carolina now, and the 8th actually lived in Goose Creek as a kid.

McSwain is hoping the judge will rule in her favor and that all the applications will be made public to council. Habib argued that all email correspondence he has had with candidates is already publicly available under the Freedom of Information Act.

"He has been a bully," McSwain said. "He has threatened to report me to the Ethics Commission. I try to be as cordial as I could for the last year and half, but his demeanor doesn't surprise me."

Habib denied ever threatening to report the councilwoman to the commission.

The finalists are set to be presented to council March 23.

This is a developing story. Check back for more details.
Having returned from Moscow last week with less than half a victory in Idlib, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan now faces an uphill battle domestically where the results of his talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin are proving to be a hard sell to the public.

The pro-government medias efforts to bolster Erdogan's position with banner headlines and commentary about his great success are failing to convince a wary public.

Turks are increasingly concerned about their countrys involvement in Syria and the lack of any apparent forward-looking strategy or honorable exit plan, should things start going seriously wrong there.

The concern is amplified by the killing of over 50 Turkish soldiers by the Syrian regime and the Russian air force since Erdogan ordered the Spring Shield Operation in Idlib in late February.

That Erdogan is now seeking support from the United States and Europe is also contributing to his negative image, since this highlights Ankara's weak hand in Syria. Many recall Erdogans keenness in developing ties with Russia to reduce Turkeys dependence on the West.

Erdogan was in Brussels earlier this week for talks with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg and the presidents of the EU Commission and European Council, Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel.

Press reports indicate that the talks with the senior EU officials were conducted in a tense atmosphere with little being achieved.

Erdogans demand for added financial support from the EU to help Turkey cope with its burgeoning Syrian refugee problem was reportedly met with a counter demand. The EU, in turn, is calling for a revision of Ankaras current policy of letting refugees cross freely into Europe through Greece and Bulgaria.

Erdogans talks with Stoltenberg also produced little more than commonplace words of moral support from NATO for Turkeys efforts to defend itself against threats emanating from Syria. This support has yet to translate into anything concrete.

Ankaras request from Washington for Patriot missiles to be deployed along the Syrian border, to help protect the Turkish military in Idlib, has also not been met.

While returning from Brussels, Erdogan told reporters on his plane that there was a softening on the American side on this score. He was referring to Washingtons demand that Ankara revoke its decision to purchase Russian S-400 missiles before it can purchase Patriot missiles. The United States says the S-400 poses a threat to its military assets in Turkey.

Erdogan has refused to do so thus far and there is no indication that he will or can do it given the binding agreement Turkey signed with Moscow.

Washington wasted no time in replying to Erdogans claim of a softening on its part on the S-400 issue. ABC News Elizabeth McLaughlin quoted Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Rath Hoffman over her Twitter account March 10, "Turkey is not going to receive a Patriot battery unless it returns the S-400."

Words to that effect were also uttered by Washingtons Syria envoy James Jeffrey and the US Ambassador in Ankara David Satterfield.

Erdogan has now pinned his hopes on a meeting he will host next week in Istanbul with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron. He also hopes that British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will join the meeting.

Analysts believe that while that summit may produce some palliative results regarding the refugee problem, a major breakthrough that comes anywhere close to what Erdogan expects from Europe is unlikely.

The shaky cease-fire that Erdogan secured in Moscow is the only aspect of his talks with Putin that provided relief to the public at home because it prevents  at least for now  the possibility of more Turkish casualties.

Even Erdogan is admitting, however, that the cease-fire is fragile. Ankara and Moscow are already reporting violations by the other side, although these have not been sufficient to undermine the Moscow Accord yet.

Nevertheless, Fox TVs popular anchor Fatih Portakal, whose nightly bulletin is among the most watched news programs in Turkey, believes that these early reports of cease-fire violations point to a fresh crisis brewing between Ankara and Moscow.

Portakal has been scathing in his commentary on the results of the Moscow talks. Following the talks, he provided detailed maps showing what Erdogan promised before traveling to Moscow and what he came back with.

Erdogan issued an ultimatum in February demanding that the regime pull its forces back to the cease-fire lines agreed on with Putin in Sochi in September 2018, saying that if it didnt, Turkey would force it to do so.

Erdogans warning was particularly important because a number of Turkish military observation posts in Idlib have been left behind regime lines following the Syrian armys advance in Idlib with Russian air support.

These observation posts were set up in 2017 under an accord with Russia to monitor a cease-fire that ultimately failed.

Portakal pointed out that Erdogans ultimatum to Assad fell flat on its face in Moscow.

Veteran political commentator Taha Akyol underlined the impossibility of Erdogan delivering an Ottoman slap (a debilitating blow) to Putin, as some pro-government commentators had hoped.

When we compare the balance of power between Russia and Turkey and the distribution of forces in Syria, it is clear this is not possible, Akyol wrote in the daily Karar.

To highlight Erdogans failure in Moscow, Akyol added: The cease-fire agreement was signed after leaving 2,000 square kilometers of the 6,000 square kilometers previously held by the [Turkish-supported] opposition in Idlib to Assad.

The most scorching criticism of Erdogans failure in Moscow, however, came from Meral Aksener, the leader of the nationalist Good Party.

Aksener said that Turkish soldiers were putting their lives on the line in Idlib for the sake of their country while Erdogan was setting sail for fresh examples of incompetence.

The winners in Moscow are Russia and Assad. We are the side that stepped back, Aksener said in a speech to Good Party deputies in parliament March 10.

When you traveled to Moscow, we expected only one thing from you, Aksener said, addressing Erdogan. That was that you be as honorable as our soldiers that have put their lives on the line. But you went there and did not display even a tenth of that honor at the table.

It is generally agreed that the Turkish military, despite its losses, proved its mettle in Idlib against the Syrian army with its might and its modern military capabilities.

But without a coherent political strategy for Syria or a face-saving exit plan should things start going seriously wrong on the ground, the success of the Turkish military has not been sufficient to assuage lingering concerns.

There is also uncertainty as to how Ankara plans to honor its commitment in Moscow to weed out and neutralize radical Islamist elements among the opposition fighters it supports in Idlib, most notably the jihadis from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.

In the meantime, unfavorable images continue to flow from Moscow for Erdogan, days after his talks with Putin. Earlier this week, the state-owned Russia-1 channel showed him and his high-level delegation of ministers being kept waiting at Putins door.

A chronometer was placed in the footage to show that the delegation waited two seemingly unending minutes, during which a bemused Erdogan eventually gets tired and sits down.

The Turkish side later explained that this was Putins habit and that the record for waiting for Putin belonged to Merkel. There was no explanation, however, as to why an official Russian channel should post this video, knowing full well that it would embarrass Erdogan at home.

The bottom line: The period of chummy camaraderie between Erdogan and Putin is over.

Addressing the members of his Justice and Development Party (AKP) in parliament March 11, Erdogan warned that if the Idlib cease-fire collapses, the Turkish army will push on against the regime with even greater force to secure its objectives.

Having failed to deliver on his previous ultimatum to the Assad regime, Erdogan now faces a serious credibility problem at home with regard to such warnings.
A mother allegedly stole $100,000 from her work to fund a glamorous lifestyle that included hotel stays, skydiving and trips to the Gold Coast.

Lisa Trison, 37, began a job as an accounts receivable clerk at Advance Records Management near Geelong in 2018.

Within days of starting at the job she is accused of sending more than $2,500 to her own account by altering a refund request from a client.

During the four months she worked at the job it is alleged she deposited more than $98,000 into her personal accounts using false transactions.

Lisa Trison, 37, began a job as an accounts receivable clerk at Advance Records Management near Geelong in 2018

She used the money on luxury items such as handbags, hotels, restaurants, a skydiving trip, and a holiday to Surfer's Paradise, the Geelong Magistrate's Court heard on Tuesday, according to the Geelong Advertiser.

Ms Trison had worked for the company for just four months when she was fired for poor performance in November 2018 - after which an audit of her work allegedly found 29 fraudulent transactions.

Prosecutors claim the mother of one stole $57,492 from the company account, $26,581 from a personal account, and a further $13,606 from the superannuation fund.

They also said no money had been repaid.

The defence lawyer for Ms Trison said that his client has a long-term drug problem and suggested a 'short and sharp' jail sentence followed by a corrections order focused on rehabilitation.

However, the prosecutor argued that the money was not used to feed a drug addiction but rather to fund a lavish lifestyle, and requested a stern sentence.

Currently employed at Geelong Arts Centre where she handles accounts, Ms Trison was supported in court by her partner.

Ms Trison will return to court on May 29 for a contested hearing after rejecting the magistrate's sentence indication on Tuesday.

Prosecutors claim the mother of one stole $57,492 from the company account, $26,581 from a personal account, and a further $13,606 from the superannuation fund




Daegu Mayor Kwon Young-jin speaks during a media briefing about the spread of COVID-19 at Daegu City Hall, March 6. / Courtesy of Daegu City Government



By Jun Ji-hye



Daegu Mayor Kwon Young-jin vehemently denied speculation, Wednesday, that he has links to the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, the minor religious sect at the center of the surge in COVID-19 cases here.



He called allegation about him having relations with the church, made by his critics and some media outlets, a "devilish conspiracy" and an attempt to smear Daegu's reputation for political purposes.



Daegu has been a traditionally conservative-leaning region.



"They are creating a devilish conspiracy by implicating the Shincheonji Church, Daegu and me in the COVID-19 issue," Kwon wrote on Facebook.



"I have not been able to sleep properly while waging war against the new coronavirus for 22 days. This fight has been already too much, but I now have to fight against the vulgar media attempting to scratch Daegu's reputation, and bad politics' conflicting design of progress versus conservatism in addition to the Shincheonji Church's uncooperative attitude toward the city's quarantine activities."



He continued, "I will continue to fight to protect Daegu and put an end to this war."



While Korea has reported thousands of infected patients, most of them have occurred in Daegu, with a major cluster of infections linked to the Daegu branch of the Shincheonji Church.



Rumors about the mayor's alleged involvement with the minor Christian sect began to be made after critics claimed he had not taken any active steps to prevent the spread of the disease in the city even after the first case linked to the church was reported Feb. 18.



On Tuesday, a local media outlet reported that Kwon has consistently been in contact with a volunteer group believed to have been operated by the church, amplifying the controversy further.



According to the report, the head of the volunteer group uploaded photos taken with Kwon to Facebook on several occasions.



Regarding the issue, a Daegu city official said, "We knew nothing of the volunteer group's connection with the Shincheonji Church. Kwon knew nothing, either."


A court here in Maharashtra has



sentenced a man to life imprisonmentfor raping a minor girl nearly five years ago.

District and sessions court judge S G Vedpathakon Monday convicted the accused, Sanjay Ranghnath Havare, a resident of Rohanwadi here, and awarded him life imprisonment, assistant government pleader Varsha Mukimsaid.

The judge also imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on the 26- year-old convict, he said.

The convict raped the 17-year-old girl on two occasions in July 2015 after threatening her, according to the prosecution.

Based on a complaint filed by the victims mother, the police arrested Havare and booked him under relevant sections of the Protection ofChildrenfromSexualOffences (POCSO)Act and the IPC, Mukimsaid.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Feintuch Communications wins ClassWallet, a financial tech company that provides public sector organizations with a spending management platform. Founded in 2014 by CEO Jamie Rosenberg and President Neil Steinhardt, ClassWallets initial mission was to create an efficient management system for the reconciliation and reimbursement of the funds K-12 schools provide to teachers for the purchase of classroom educational supplies. Feintuchs ClassWallet team includes Henry Feintuch, president; Doug Wright, senior account director (whose wife is a public school teacher); and Rick Anderson, senior managing director. We will work closely with ClassWallet to inform decision-makers in K-12 schools, other public sector organizations and the private sector that there is a new, innovative way to empower teachers, employees and parents to make purchasing decisions, said Feintuch.

Foodmix Marketing Communications adds Chelan Fresh, which represents more than 300 family-owned farms, to its roster of produce clients. The agency will work with the Chelan, WA-based company to raise awareness around its Rockit Apple brand, a miniature-sized apple grown for on-the-go snacking. Foodmix will focus on creating an activation strategy that includes B2C social media, public relations and paid media to support Rockits retail efforts. Chelan Fresh director of retail strategy Julie DeJarnatt said that the partnership will not only allow us to expand on our messages that resonate with consumers looking for ways to incorporate healthy habits into their daily lives, but also help us break through the crowded produce space that is home to hundreds of apple varieties.

Zapwater Communications checks in at Sofitel Mexico City Reforma, the first Sofitel flagged property in Mexico. Zapwaters scope of work for the property includes media relations, thought leadership, influencer marketing, strategic partnerships and event support in the US and Canadian markets. Located on Paseo de la Reforma, Sofitel Mexico City Reforma is the first luxury hotel to open in Mexico City in over a decade. It features five restaurant and bar options, meeting and event space, and wellness amenities including the Sofitel Spa with LOccitane and a 38th floor pool.
Experts say sunlight and heat limit growth and longevity of virus, but observing proper hygiene is more effective.

As the coronavirus outbreak continues to cause jitters with cases surging close to 120,000 and deaths nearing 4,300 worldwide as of Wednesday, reports have emerged quoting medical experts saying the warmer spring and summer weather may bring some relief by slowing down the spread of the infection.

Dr Stefan Baral, an epidemiology expert at Johns Hopkins University, was quoted by the Boston Herald as saying he expects a natural decrease of the disease as the United States moves into warmer weather.

AccuWeather, the US-based forecaster, quoted Dr John Nicholls, a pathology professor at the University of Hong Kong, saying there are three things coronavirus does not like: sunlight, temperature and humidity.

Sunlight will cut the viruss ability to grow in half, so the half-life will be 2.5 minutes, and in the dark its about 13 to 20 [minutes]. Sunlight is really good at killing viruses, Nicholls said.

Deutsche Welle also cited Thomas Pietschmann, a virologist from Germanys Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, who said the coronavirus is not very heat-resistant, which means that the virus quickly breaks down when temperatures rise.





According to AccuWeather, spring will arrive in the US on March 19, while Climate-Data.org is predicting that temperatures in the Italian capital of Rome will climb to 16C-17C (60.8-62.6F), when the spring equinox arrives in Europe on March 20. Nowruz, the Persian new year that typically marks the start of springtime, is expected on March 20 in Iran.

Meanwhile, in countries in or close to the southern hemisphere, daytime temperatures between 30C (80F) in Jakarta, Indonesia, to 35C (95F) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, are expected during the same period.

Dispelling myths

While health experts agree warmer weather is a factor in containing the outbreak, they stress the outcome of each countrys response may depend on how robust its healthcare infrastructure is, how quickly those tools are deployed, and how proactive citizens are.

They also said there are other crucial variables to consider in fighting the infection, warning that simply relying on weather patterns without observing safety precautions and other health protocols invites risk.

Even as the weather warms up in the northern hemisphere, the coronavirus may still survive for days at temperatures up to 25C (77 F), according to a study in Germany published by the Journal of Hospital Infection.

Healthcare institutions adhere to the guidelines on hygiene and infection prevention [File: Robin Utrecht/EPA]

The study showed a human coronavirus could persist for five days in 21C (69.8 F) temperature on a Teflon, ceramic or steel surface. In comparison, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV) could last on a plastic surface for more than five days between 22C and 25C (71.6-77F).

Dr Edsel Maurice Salvana, director at the Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology at the University of the Philippines, told Al Jazeera that a direct correlation between warmer countries and the slower spread of the virus is a myth.

It might deactivate the virus faster if it is in on surfaces, but it wont affect people who get sick from inhaling droplets from someones cough or sneeze, said Salvana, who is also an adjunct professor for Global Health at the University of Pittsburgh in the US.

Personal hygiene, proper protection

Dr Michael Chi Wai Chan, an infectious disease expert at the University of Hong Kong, noted while the viral activity is a little bit lower in relatively warmer temperatures such as Indonesia, the Philippines, or even India, it wont really affect the transmission of the virus per se, which is spreading in the air.

According to the latest reports on Wednesday, there were 26 cases confirmed in Indonesia with one death; 49 in the Philippines, also with one death; and 44 cases in India with no deaths and no local transmission so far.

No matter what the temperature is, Chan said, what is more important is that individuals observe personal hygiene and proper protection, which is really affecting the outcome of the infection.

A newlywed couple and their family wear protective masks as they take photos after their marriage registration in Hong Kong [Tyrone Siu/Reuters]

Chan, who has studied the SARS outbreak of 2004, also noted that compared with Italy, which has more than 9,000 cases and close to 500 deaths, the city of Hong Kong has managed to contain the spread of the virus relatively effectively despite its close proximity to mainland China.

As of March 10, there were 115 cases and one death in the special administrative Chinese region of Hong Kong.

Aside from warmer temperatures in Hong Kong, Chan said many of its citizens also wear protective masks this time of the year, when it is peak season for allergies.

I know some European countries and America, they dont really have very high allergies in the general population, so they dont wear masks, which can really stop transmission of this stuff, he told Al Jazeera.

Chan said the situation in Italy now is quite bad, adding he is also worried about the growing number of cases in the US.

Heat and humidity

Meanwhile, Dr Abdul Ghafur, an infectious disease specialist based in the Indian city of Chennai, said compared to its population of 1.3 billion, the dozens of confirmed cases in India is not a big number.

He said the heat and humidity in the country could be one of the reasons why coronavirus is not spreading faster in his country, as the weather limits the virus from travelling longer or faster.

It is not just the temperature that is killing in the warm climate, it is the humidity as well. The humidity reduces the transferability of the virus, he told Al Jazeera.





In the case of India, the government is carrying out screenings of international airline passengers, and is doing testing as much as we can, Ghafur said.

In cold-weather regions such as those in Europe and parts of the US, the general dryness of the air allows the virus to travel farther and when it settles, it also persists longer and spreads faster because of the lower temperature, he said.

In Iran, where the average temperature is about 0 to 10C (32-50F) during this time of year, the government has so far reported more than 9,000 coronavirus cases and 354 deaths as of Wednesday.

But even as the weather gets warmer in those countries, Ghafur said he does not expect the coronavirus to go away completely.

It may become endemic at least in a few countries, he warned, adding countries with better healthcare systems may be able to contain the outbreak faster.

If the healthcare system is weak, the containment will be slow. So it depends on the robustness and the ability of the healthcare systems in the world.
Unable to make a living in China's countryside, many young people go to big cities to perform labor as migrant workers. (Mark Ralston/AFP via Getty Images)

Chinas Rural Migrants Are Paid One-Third of What Urbanites Make

Chinas three-decades-long economic miracle was more of a class warfare powered by exploiting rural migrants with wages equal to one-third of what urbanites are paid, according to a new book by ex-Bloomberg China bureau chief Dexter Roberts.

The Myth of Chinese Capitalism: The Worker, the Factory, and the Future of the World is described by Publishers Weekly as a clearheaded and persuasive counter-narrative to the notion that the Chinese economic model is set to take over the world. The book illustrates that hundreds of millions of rural migrants who left home for coastal factory jobs with meager wages and poor working conditions are beginning to rebel against the Communist Partys exploitive policies that has pushed workers resentments to unstable levels.

Roberts served for more than two decades as Bureau chief and Asia News Editor at Bloomberg Businessweek based in Beijing, where he reported from every province and region including Tibet, Xinjiang and neighboring North Korea. He currently is a Fellow at the University of Montanas Maureen and Mike Mansfield Center.

According to Roberts new book, Chinas centrally-planned economic development path that is often hailed as a model for nations around the world to escape poverty, is an exploitive system that relegates half of its citizens into second-class migrants who are locked out of the huge economic windfall enjoyed by urbanites.

In an interview with the Quartz tech blog, Roberts calls it a myth that China has vastly expanded its middle class, created competitive companies and cutting edge technologies that would dominate global markets.

Roberts claims that Chinas economic development was based on three key policy tools: 1) hukou household registration policy; 2) one-child policy; and 3) the dual land system.

Hukou is an official system of household and family registration that identifies individuals as residents of an area. It is directly connected to government social programs, which assign benefits based on agricultural and non-agricultural residency status (rural and urban).

Since the Communist Partys takeover of China in 1949, the hukou acted as a caste system. Urban residents receive benefits ranging from retirement pension, education and health care, while rural citizens often are left to fend for themselves. The household registration policy ensured that China for decades would have a relatively low-paid and very docile rural migrant work force to build its factory to the world.

Under the nationwide agricultural land reforms that took place from 1950 through the spring of 1953, Chinese rural lands were collectivized. Farmers cannot sell the land, but local governments can buy rural land at very cheap prices, re-define land as industrial or commercial, and then mark-up values and sell it to developers for huge profits.

But in Chinese cities there have been an enormous and very, very lucrative real estate market for the urban people where residents buy and sell ownership in 70-year residential leases, creating an explosion of wealth.

Roberts argues that the hukou acted as an internal passport system to make it very difficult for rural Chinese to permanently settle in cities. As a result, rural residents have no access to affordable health care in cities and their children cant go to the urban schools without paying a lot of money.

Children of migrant parents still living in the countryside suffer from much higher school drop-out rates than children of urban parents. Roberts doesnt believe Chinas initiative to build a new high-tech innovation driven economy is achievable if a substantial portion of the populations children end up being high school drop-outs.

Roberts argues that Chinas one-child policy has created a demographic implosion for the size of its workforce that is ending its factory of the world development model. As a result, China no longer has cheap labor and no longer has a docile labor force.

Despite observations by other China watchers that the Chinese Communist regime has continued to solidify its grip on power, Roberts argues there is more of a threat now.

Being forced to pay higher wages in China, foreign firms are moving their production to other countries that can offer cheaper labor. Coupled with the policy push from the highest levels of the government in Beijing to try to automate factories, jobs that have supported migrant workers are going away.

Urbanites financially benefited from the old authoritarian model that made migrants low-paid and second-class citizens. The Chinese regime expects migrant workers who will no longer be working in city factories or construction sites to quietly go back home and re-invent themselves with a new form of employment, such as being entrepreneurs.

Roberts suggests that with almost no technical skills and little savings, there is now the potential for a Chinese class struggle that could involve hundreds of millions of rebellious rural migrants.
China to launch 2nd amphibious assault ship soon: reports

Global Times

Source:Global Times Published: 2020/3/10 21:18:40

China is reportedly set to launch its second Type 075 amphibious assault ship soon following the launch of the first one in September, leading analysts to say that China has grasped related shipbuilding technologies. The development of aircraft to be used on the ships is also progressing smoothly, they said.

An amphibious assault ship is a type of warship which analysts believed will play a crucial role in reunifying the island of Taiwan by force, if it comes to that, and even more are needed, analysts noted.

The second Type 075 amphibious assault ship, being built in Hudong Zhonghua shipyard in Shanghai, is about to be launched, as its construction, including the hull and flight deck, is already complete, Ordnance Industry Science Technology, a Xi'an-based periodical on the national defense industry, reported on Monday, citing photos circulating on Chinese social media and foreign reports.

The ship is still in dark red due to the anti-corrosive priming paint and is not yet painted with the standard naval gray, the report said.

Comparing its current construction progress to the construction and launch process of the first Type 075, the report said the second Type 075 only has a few final adjustments to do and should be ready for launch soon.

This could potentially be the first known Chinese warship launch since the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic broke out, military observers said.

It is only half a year since the first Type 075 was launched, which is faster than usual compared to China's tradition of developing and building warships, the Ordnance Industry Science Technology reported, noting that this means China has mastered the technology of building amphibious assault ships, as China has garnered experience that can be applied with the building of Type 071 amphibious landing docks and aircraft carriers.

Another reason for the Type 075s' fast production is that the aviation combat equipment to be used on them is seeing smooth progress, as the Navy already has the naval versions of Z-8 and Z-9 helicopters and mass production for the naval version of the Z-20 is also expected to start in a few years, the periodical said, noting that China may also develop tiltrotor aircraft, a type of larger helicopter, and short takeoff and vertical landing fighter jets in the future.

China has an urgent need for amphibious assault ships to prepare for military struggles, including achieving China's reunification, because the current Type 071 amphibious landing docks and other tank landing ships lack vertical delivery capability and are not enough to transport large forces in a short period, so the Type 075 could be the most important item to make up for this shortcoming, the report said.

More Type 075s are expected to be built and eventually to the same number as the Type 071, as the two types of amphibious ships can form powerful landing fleets that are much more powerful in safeguarding national unity and territorial integrity, the report predicted.

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After a previous Alvinology report mentioned that self-styled Master Yun, also known as Cheah Fah Loong was banned from entering Cambodia after a problematic Khmer dance performance, the row seems to encompass some of the royal family as well.

Master Yun vs Princess Norodom Arun Rasmey

Last March 8, Yun posted a series of photos with his face and Cambodian Princess Norodom Arun Rasmeys face superimposed on the bodies of popular cartoon characters Tom and Jerry from Tom & Jerry.

Who are the rich kids of Southeast Asia? Read about rich kids here!

Princess Arun Rasmey is a prominent figure in Cambodia, being a half-sister to the King of Cambodia, a politician, and a diplomat to boot.

In this photo, he even drew tears and a sad face on the Princess face. An image showed the Princess face with red marks on the top of the head and her fingers. For some reason, the photos featured red marks on the hands of the cat and black marks on the fingers of the mouse.

Another photo showed other images imposed on the Princess face. There is also a rain cloud on her face. One other featured tear marks and vandalism on the Princess face.

Some images also showed the body of the cat with red marks on the hands and feet.

All the photos could be found on the Facebook post seen below.

He also posted a video mentioning her name and Prime Minister Hun Sen, asking why a certain dance was being performed in casinos and other settings.

Yun asked in the caption if a casino would be banned from Cambodia since there was also an alleged sacred dance performed there. He also alleged that the dance should only be played for kings and dignitaries.

What did Master Yun do anyway?

A previous report showed that Prime Minister Hun Sen criticized Yun for appearing in a performance with Cambodian Royal Ballet company dancers in an alleged sacred dance.

Master Yun could be seen performing a short ritual prayer while he faced the audience and his back was turned to the dancers. In Cambodia, turning away from someone is considered a grave insult.

Story continues

PM Hun Sen has banned Master Yun from entering Cambodia unless the latter issues a public apology.

Yun has not apologized as of publishing and continues to push back against the ban.

Prince Sisowath Tesso takes Yuns side

In another Facebook post from Master Yuns profile, he thanked another member of the Cambodian Royal Family, Prince Tesso Sisowath, for his support.

The Prince also posted a Facebook status that expressed his appreciation for Yuns efforts in promoting the Cambodian Royal Ballet company. The Prince highlighted how Yuns company, Lotus on the Water, was very quick and instrumental in funding one of the last movie projects of his predecessor, the late Princess Norodom Buppha Devi.

He also said that what Yun did during the dance was simply a prayer for a very small moment during the dance.

He has asked Cambodian people to take a look at what Yun and his company has done for Cambodian culture before they decry Yuns actions.

A previous post on Lotus on the Waters Facebook page showed that the prince put a painting made by Yun in his own bedroom in 2017.

Prince Tesso was named Princess Bupphas successor in the directorship of the Cambodian Royal Ballet company.

Header image from Master Yun Facebook account and Princess Norodom Arun Rasmey Facebook account.
A Ryanair airplane is seen at Palermo Falcone and Borsellino airport, Italy. Photo: REUTERS

Ryanair and Aer Lingus have suspended all flights to Italy as the European Commission warned that the situation for the EU's aviation industry is "deteriorating on a daily basis".

Ryanair said yesterday that it was suspending all flights to and from Italy this week as the country remains in lockdown, while Aer Lingus has halted flights to Italy until April 3.

Ryanair will suspend domestic flights in Italy from midnight tonight and its international Italian flights from midnight on Friday.

It is planned that, at this stage, the suspension will last until April 8.

The airline said that passengers seeking repatriation can obtain a free move to an earlier Ryanair flight operating up until midnight on Friday.

"Affected passengers will be able to choose between a full refund or a travel credit that can be redeemed on Ryanair flights in the next 12 months," it added.

The European Commission said it intends to relieve pressure on the airline industry, and particularly smaller carriers, by temporarily suspending obligations they have to maintain prized take-off and landing slots at what are normally congested airports, such as London's Heathrow.

"Without such a measure, airlines would have to continue to operate flights, even if largely empty, to guarantee their current slots at EU airports, with a negative impact - both economic and environmental," said the Commissioner for Transport Adina Valean.
Michigan was the signature win of his 2016 bid. Four years ago, he won more than 70 percent of the vote in caucuses in Washington and Idaho. Yet Mr. Sanders is not clearly favored to win Washington at this hour and lost Idaho, and his loss in Michigan carried even more weight because of his strength there four years ago.

The difference between winning and losing is not particularly relevant from a delegate standpoint. It is highly relevant for momentum: Victories bestow positive news coverage. A string of victories is one of the few ways that Mr. Sanders might hope to build momentum and change the course of the race, as he did in Michigan four years ago and as Mr. Biden recently did in South Carolina.

If Mr. Sanders is not clearly favored to win in Washington and lost Idaho, hes probably not favored to win anywhere. There are a handful of primary states that might be just as close as Washington  like Oregon or Montana or Rhode Island  but few ought to be much more favorable to Mr. Sanders.

He prevailed in North Dakota, but the race was a so-called firehouse caucus  a party-run primary where voters cast traditional ballots at a small number of locations statewide. Support there for Mr. Sanders might not suggest success beyond the other small states with party-run primaries or caucuses: Alaska, Hawaii, Kansas and Wyoming. Indeed, he fared poorly along the Minnesota side of the border with North Dakota in the Minnesota primary on Super Tuesday.

At this point, Mr. Sanders has one realistic way to change the course of the race before next Tuesdays contests: the debate on Sunday. But by then, millions of voters will have cast early ballots in Florida, Arizona and Ohio. It would be too late to completely alter the outcome, much as Mr. Biden was unable to fully capitalize on his surge in the Western states because of significant early voting before Super Tuesday.
Cambridge University has called for the union of its lecturers to submit a request for formal recognition amid a six-day occupation of its administrative hub, the Old Schools building..

Under the banner of Cambridge Defend Education, students took over parts of the space on 3 March, before moving into the second and third floor of the site including the Reception area, Registrars Offices, and a whole corridor of management offices on the second floor.

The group have pledged to remain until their demands  including a letter from the vice chancellor denouncing the governments hostile environment policy towards migrants  are met.

As their protest has continued, the university has invited the Cambridge branch of UCU to submit a formal claim of recognition  however other conditions have reportedly not yet been agreed to including the acceptance of UCUs demands and ensuring students and staff face no disciplinary measures.

A UCU spokesperson said: On Monday, the eighteenth day of our strike action, the Executive Committee of Cambridge UCU met with the Vice Chancellor of the University of Cambridge, Stephen Toope.

Recommended Picket lines and cancelled lectures as university staff go on strike

We made it clear that the Vice Chancellor urgently needs to reassure his staff he had their interests at heart, not just in these ongoing disputes, but in the future as well.

We noted in this context that Cambridge was one of only a handful of institutions that refuses to recognise UCU, a fact that goes against the Universitys professed commitment to improving the working conditions of its staff.

We are pleased to announce that, at this meeting, Cambridge UCU was officially invited to submit a formal claim for recognition. This is a hugely significant step, and its down to the strength of our strikes.
The Strategic Communication Group (GCS) has reported another case of the novel COVID-19 infection in Romania in a 54-year-old woman.

According to GCS, the woman came into direct contact with a patient already admitted to the Dimitrie Gerota Hospital with the same infection.
A Scottish body responsible for investigating possible miscarriages of justices said on Wednesday it had referred the case of a man jailed for the 1988 Lockerbie bombing for appeal.

The Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission's (SCCRC) announced its decision after a review of new material allowed the family of Abdelbaset Ali Mohmet al-Megrahi to appeal the conviction.

Megrahi, who died in 2012, was the only person convicted for the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103, which killed 243 passengers and 16 crew as it travelled from London to New York on December 21, 1988.

Eleven people on the ground in the Scottish town of Lockerbie also lost their lives in what was the biggest terrorist attack on British soil.

Libyan national Megrahi, who denied involvement, was jailed for life for mass murder by three Scottish judges at a special court sitting in the Netherlands in 2001.

His family asked the SCCRC to review the case again after his death from prostate cancer.

Commission chairman Bill Matthews said it was the second time it had carried out a review of the conviction and the latest was based on "further information" that had come to light.

SCCRC chief executive Gerard Sinclair said its 419-page decision had been sent to the High Court of Justiciary in Edinburgh, and Megrahi's family and legal team had been informed.

"It is now a matter for those representing the Crown and the defence to decide how to proceed at any future appeal," he said.

"Thereafter, it will be for the appeal court to decide whether there has been a miscarriage of justice."



Megrahi appealed his initial conviction in 2002 but Scottish appeal court judges refused his application.

The following year, he asked the SCCRC to review the conviction. In 2007, the body referred the case to court for a ruling but in August 2009, Megrahi abandoned his appeal.

Scottish government ministers approved his release from prison on compassionate grounds in the same month and he returned to Libya, where he later died.

Megrahi's widow and family again asked the SCCRC to review his conviction in 2017, arguing there were "valid and compelling" reasons for a new referral.

In its statement, the SCCRC said it "now believes that a miscarriage of justice may have occurred in Mr Megrahi's case", citing an "unreasonable verdict" and "non-disclosure" in the handling of the case.

On the matter of unreasonable verdict, the body said on the evidence submitted -- that Megrahi bought items inside the suitcase in which the bomb was hidden at a shop in Malta -- was not proved beyond reasonable doubt.

On non-disclosure, it said prosecutors should have disclosed to the defence a statement and police report casting doubt on Megrahi being the purchaser that could have weakened their case.

"The Commission considers that the Crown's failure to disclose the information in question deprived Mr Megrahi a real chance of an acquittal," it added.

Similarly, it said failure to disclose information about a US State Department reward to the owner of the shop where the items were bought "bolsters its conclusion that Mr Megrahi was denied a fair trial".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Minister of Business, Enterprise and Innovation (DBEI), Heather Humphreys today announced details on the package of supports she has put in place for businesses impacted by COVID-19.

The Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation have put a range of supports in place, including:

 A 200m Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI) Working Capital scheme for eligible businesses impacted by COVID-19. Loans of up to 1.5m will be available at reduced rates, with up to the first 500,000 unsecured. A 200m Package for Enterprise Supports including a Rescue and Restructuring Scheme available through Enterprise Ireland for vulnerable but viable firms that need to restructure or transform their business.



 The maximum loan available from MicroFinance Ireland will be increased from 25,000 to 50,000 as an immediate measure to specifically deal with exceptional circumstances that micro-enterprises  (sole traders and firms with up to 9 employees) - are facing. The Credit Guarantee Scheme will be available to COVID-19 impacted firms through the Pillar Banks. Loans of up to 1m will be available at terms of up to 7 years.

The Department of Employment Affairs & Social Protection and the Department of Business, Enterprise & Innovation will provide a joint First Responder support service through the Intreo Offices and development agencies,

Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland in each region will provide tailored supports for impacted firms, with objective of avoiding mass lay-offs and buying time for firms to work through the short-term disruptions.



Firms that need to reduce hours or days worked can avail of the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection Short Term Work Support by contacting their local Intreo Office.

In addition, Local Enterprise Offices in every county will be providing vouchers from 2,500 up to 10,000 (with 50:50 match funding) to support business continuity preparedness, innovation and productivity.

The Minister also welcomed the package of reforms for sick pay, illness benefit and supplementary benefit that is designed to ensure that employees and the self-employed can abide by medical advice to self-isolate where appropriate.

Speaking yesterday, Minister Humphreys said, "I know that this is a worrying time for businesses and I want to assure them that my Department and agencies are working on their behalf to develop and deliver a range of supports to help them through this rapidly evolving situation. I am hearing from many businesses that they are very concerned about their cashflow in the coming weeks. I want to reassure them that there are a number of schemes that can help them meet their short-term working capital and liquidity needs."

Source: www.businessworld.ie
The battle for control of the global oil market intensified again on Wednesday as Saudi Arabia promised to increase production capacity and the United Arab Emirates said it plans to pump as much as possible next month.

Riyadh said it will boost capacity to an unprecedented 13 million barrels a day, doubling down on Tuesdays pledge of extra output in April. The UAE, a close Saudi ally, then promised to push more crude to customers than it can produce. These are fresh shots in an all-out war that has seen prices crash and the outlook for the market darken as nations prepare to pump as much as they can.

The moves come after an alliance between the OPEC cartel  effectively headed by the Gulf nations  and Russia collapsed acrimoniously last week. The country, for its part, has announced that it will retaliate by activating additional supplies of its own. Yet Moscow, which has nowhere near the quantities of untapped production held by the Gulf states, has also tempered its message, saying it remains open to resuming co-operation.

Until Friday, Saudi Arabia, UAE. and Russia had been part of a global coalition known as OPEC+, which for the past three years had restricted crude output to shore up prices against a relentless tide of American shale oil. Only in July, Russia and Saudi Arabia touted their alliance as a marriage to eternity.

Spectacular collapse

All of that has now spectacularly collapsed.

The deadly coronavirus has played its part. Saudi Arabia had been insisting for weeks that the group needed deeper production cuts to tackle the demand loss caused by the quickly spreading virus. Russia on the other hand resisted as it wanted more evidence of the impact on consumption.

The standoff has drawn in U.S. President Donald Trump, who spoke with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman by phone this week. It followed the Department of Energy denouncing attempts by state actors to manipulate and shock oil markets. The department didnt name Saudi Arabia nor Russia.

The kingdoms de-facto leader is, however, showing no signs of relenting. The countrys energy ministry, headed by Prince Mohammeds half-brother, ordered Saudi Aramco to boost its output capacity by one million barrels a day, the first increase in at least a decade.

Saudi Arabias plan isnt the best option in the current market, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak told reporters in Moscow.

Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. will supply four million barrels a day of crude to customers in April, it said on Wednesday. That would mean adding more than one million barrels a day to what the UAE pumped in February. The countrys output capacity is 3.5 million barrels a day, according to the International Energy Agency.

Saudi Arabia and its allies are also slashing prices for their oil in an attempt to push out Russian crude and secure market share. Iraq and Kuwait followed Aramco in cutting rates to customers all over the world.

A Russian response could come as early as Thursday, when the officials from the Energy Ministry will meet oil company executives. They will discuss their output plans and situation in the market, Novak said.

Oil prices resumed their decline on Wednesday, sliding back toward the four-year lows hit on Monday. Brent futures traded near $36 a barrel in London, less than half the level the Saudis need to cover government spending.

Read more about:
Osram, the 100-plus-year-old German company behind the Lightify smart bulb brand, notified Lightify users this week that it will shut down the cloud servers for its smart lighting devices next summer.

When the Lightify servers are switched off on August 31, 2021, most of the functionality of the Lightify app will stop working, including the ability to add new devices, create or modify lighting groups or scenes, set up timers and activate vacation mode. You also wont be able to control Lightify bulbs using Alexa or Google Assistant, Osram said. The app will still be able to perform some basic local functions such as turning lights on and off, adjusting their brightness, and changing their colors.

The good news is that youll still be able to control Lightify devices if you switch from Lightifys Zigbee-enabled gateway to a third-party Zigbee hub, such as Samsung SmartThings or Wink, although youll have to reset your Lightify bulbs first, Osram noted. Once you add your Lightify devices to a new Zigbee hub, you should once again be able to add them to scenes, put them on schedules, and perform other smart control options.

On its website, Osram said that its switching off its Lightify servers because the service is technically outdated, with performance thats significantly slower than competing lighting systems. Another problem is that Lightify devices run only on the older Zigbee Light Link and Home Automation protocols rather than the newer Zigbee 3.0 standard, making it more and more difficult to ensure compatibility to other smart home systems, according to Osram.

Osram has been selling smart bulbs under the Lightify brand for about five years. Our reviewer called the Osram Lightify Classic Tunable While bulb affordable and capable, although he criticized the obtuse setup process.

Osrams decision to shutter its Lightify cloud servers underlines a difficult truth about smart home gadgets: sooner or later, most of them will become obsolete.

Users of Best Buys Insignia smart gadgets learned that lesson the hard way last year when the retail giant announced that it was shutting down the Insignia app needed to control those devices.

Only last week, Signify, the company that owns the popular Philips Hue smart lighting brand, announced that its first-general bridge will lose support in April.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 11)  Businessman Dennis Uy has formally secured a 45 percent stake in the prized Malampaya natural gas facility in Palawan, taking the place of global giant Chevron.

Uys Udenna Corporation said Wednesday that the buyout deal has been completed by its subsidiary, UC Malampaya Philippines Pte Ltd. by acquiring the shares owned by Chevron Malampaya LLC.

Malampaya supplies roughly 30 percent of the country's energy demand. The project site spanning 83,000 hectares is near Reed Bank off Palawan province, a part of the Philippines' exclusive economic zone but is also being claimed by China as theirs.

RELATED: PH share could go beyond 60% in China-funded joint exploration  Esperon

In a statement, Uy said the company sees immense potential in natural gas, dubbing it the fuel of the future.

Uy also owns retail fuel chain Phoenix Petroleum, one of his original businesses before buying additional retail brands like Family Mart and Wendys, logistics company 2GO, and securing the license for DITO Telecommunity as the third major player for telecommunications. The Davao-based tycoon, who is the 22nd richest in the country, is one of the campaign donors of President Rodrigo Duterte.

Udenna revealed its plan to enter the Malampaya project in November 2019, saying it struck a deal with Chevron after a year of talks. Last month, the Philippine Competition Commission said it found no issues with Uys presence in Malampaya, saying it would not lead to a monopoly in the energy industry.

The gas field is currently operated by Shell Philippines Exploration B.V. with the government's Philippine National Oil Company. The contract with Shell expires in 2024, the same year that the Department of Energy estimates the gas field to have substantially reduced its capacity.

Once the petroleum exploration and production contract lapses, full control and ownership of the Malampaya natural gas and oil facilities will be turned over to the national government. Proceeds of Malampayas operations have been the subject of court cases amid issues of corruption and wealth-sharing between the national and local government.

RELATED: Duterte signs law to lower electricity cost by using Malampaya earnings

Udenna earlier said that it is looking to further develop Malampaya "and its surrounding fields," adding that it would help the conglomerate shift into sustainable clean energy.

Uy beat tycoon Manny Pangilinan, who runs power distributor Meralco, into taking Chevron's place in the natural gas project, with the government rejecting Pangilinan-led PXP Energy's pitch to further develop the oil-rich area.

READ: PXP asks gov't to reconsider Malampaya takeover bid
A senior official in the Scottish Government who claims she was sexually assaulted by Alex Salmond said she was groped and received 'sloppy' kisses from him, a court heard.

The former first minister of Scotland, 65, is on trial at the High Court in Edinburgh over accusations of sexual assault.

The prosecution witness, known as Woman A, claims the 65-year-old sexually assaulted her in Glasgow between June and July 2008.

One charge alleges he kissed her on the mouth and touched her buttocks and breast over her clothing on several occasions.

She told the court she did not want such contact with him but did not know what would happen to her if she told the 'most powerful man in the country' to stop.

Appearing behind a grey screen, she said: 'I came to expect something like that to happen during my days with him during that time.

Pictured: Alex Salmond arrives at the High Court where he is standing trial on sex offence charges in Edinburgh

'There was no need to be that physically close. There was no need to move his hand.

'There was no need for that to happen without him meaning to do it.'

She added: 'At times he would move his hand on my back and move his hands so they were on the side of my chest or they were on my back.'

The alleged incidents regarding touching were said to have happened up to five times.

Jurors were told Salmond would put pressure on her shoulders so she could not move her lips away from being kissed when being greeted, said to have happened about 10 times.

She described the incidents as 'very sloppy, very unpleasant'.

Former first minister Alex Salmond arriving at the High Court in Edinburgh today

It was heard Woman A began to carry a bag to put some distance between her and Salmond and he would not behave in such a manner when others were 'loitering'.

Alex Prentice QC, for the Crown, asked her why she did not tell the former first minister to stop.

She said: 'I liked my job, I wanted to do my job well. I didn't know him very well. He was the most powerful man in the country.

'I didn't know what would happen - I had experienced some volatile mood swings from him.

Pictured: Alex Prentice QC arrives at the High Court in Edinburgh for the third day of former Scottish first minister Alex Salmond's trial

'It was almost easier to move away than risk antagonising him.'

She said she felt 'disgusted' after he ran his hands down the curve of her body, and said Salmond said she 'looked good' and commented on her weight.

She added: 'He ran his hands down the curve of my body, over my hips, commenting 'you look good, you've lost weight'.'

When asked if she had wanted Salmond to touch her in this way she said: 'No, not at all.'

Earlier, a guest at Bute House said a former Scottish Government official was at a dinner there on the evening Salmond is alleged to have tried to rape her.

The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has spoken about two alleged incidents, including one charge that Salmond tried to rape her in June 2014.

Salmond's lawyer had previously suggested she had not been at the dinner that night.

But a recording of a Police Scotland interview taken via Skype in 2019 was played in the courtroom on Wednesday when the guest claimed he had met the complainer at the dinner.

The interview was carried out as part of Operation Diem, which looked into allegations against the former first minister.

Giving evidence on the third day of the trial, the woman also denied she had a consensual sexual encounter with Salmond.

Shelagh McCall QC, representing Salmond, claimed on Wednesday the prosecution witness had a consensual sexual encounter with Salmond at Bute House in August 2013.

But giving evidence on the third day of the trial, the woman said: 'I have never been a willing participant of Alex Salmond's advances towards me.'

Ms McCall said the encounter had ended when the woman said to Salmond that she had not 'meant this to happen' and they realised they had got 'carried away' and it was a mistake.

She added: 'I am putting to you that's exactly what you said at that point.

'The two of you sat up, put your clothes back on, realised it was a mistake.'

But the woman said: 'Absolutely not, it sounds a much better ending of an evening than what actually happened.'

Ms McCall said the woman had been 'embarrassed and upset' but Salmond had told her not to worry about it and she had gone home.

The woman said this was not true.

One witness who worked with Woman H claimed he had never heard her mention the guest, while a businessman who said he attended several dinners at Bute House described her relationship with the former first minister as 'friendly and comfortable'.

Salmond faces 14 charges of alleged offences against 10 women, all of which he has pleaded not guilty to.

The charges span a period between June 2008 and November 2014, with one sexual assault said to have taken place in the month of the Scottish independence referendum in September 2014.

The trial, before judge Lady Dorrian, continues.
Former Maharashtra chief minister



Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday said the oppositionwould cooperate with the state government in tackling the coronavirus disease.

The BJP leader also expressed the need to tell people that they need not panic over the virus.

"We all need to take care in view of the coronavirus. But, at the same time there is need to ensure there is no panic. The opposition will cooperate with the government in this regard," Fadnavis told reporters in the Vidhan Bhavan complex.

Earlier speaking in the state Assembly, Fadnavis, who is leader of the opposition in the House, highlighted the matter of about one lakh used masks found in an open area in Bhiwandi town of Thane district on Sunday.

Fadnavis claimed that the used masks were brought from other countries and washed for sale in the local market.

He demanded action against the guilty.

Speaker Nana Patole directed the government to probe the matter and take appropriate action.

So far, there are five confirmed novel coronavirus cases in Maharashtra.

The number of confirmed cases of the virus in the country has risen to 60, with two fresh positive cases -- one each from Delhi and Rajasthan -- being reported, the health ministry said on Wednesday.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
New Delhi: Jyotiraditya M Scindia, who on Wednesday (March 11) joined BJP in presence of the party president JP Nadda, said that he can not forget two incidents in his life as they changed the course of his life.

Scindia said, "There have been 2 life-changing events for me - one, the day I lost my father and the second, yesterday when I decided to choose a new path for my life." Notably, Scindia lost his father on September 30, 2001, and the second date falls on the 75th anniversary of his late father, March 10, 2020-- the day he decided to quit the Congress.

Accusing his former party of corruption, Scindia said that it is not the same party which it was earlier, "I have worked for my state and my nation through Congress but the party is not the same anymore, there is widespread corruption, sand mafias, and farmer distress."

After formally joining the BJP, Scindia told media the reason that forced him to quit his former party, and why he decided to join the saffron camp. He said, "I can say with confidence that the aim of public service is not being fulfilled by that party (Congress). Besides this, the present condition of the party indicates that it is not what it used to be."

He also praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his extra-ordinary leadership, and said, "Country's future is totally secure in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's hands. The dream we saw for Madhya Pradesh has been shattered in 18 months."

The 49-year-old former Lok Sabha MP from Guna resigned from the Congress and posted his letter to party's interim president Sonia Gandhi on his Twitter handle soon after meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah in New Delhi on Tuesday.

He had joined the Congress party on December 18, 2001, following the death of his father and the then sitting MP from Guna Madhavrao Scindia in an airplane crash in Uttar Pradesh on September 30, 2001.

According to reports, Amit Shah had entrusted `Operation Scindia` to Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Narendra Tomar and Dharmendra Pradhan. Although Tomar`s politics has been anti-Scindia for long, Shah stressed upon the bigger picture of `capturing Madhya Pradesh`.

All these four trusted Shah lieutenants kept meeting Scindia from time to time. For the last one week, Chouhan has been camping in Delhi and instead of staying at MP Bhawan, he put up at Haryana Bhawan to dodge the media.

Scindia and Chouhan kept meeting at different locations in Delhi and Gurugram to keep it a top secret. Their first strike took place in Gurugram a few days ago where MLAs close to Scindia were put up there. But the Congress foiled the bid as it got wind of the rebellion in the nick of time with Digvijaya Singh.

This, however, could not delay for more than a week the political drama that unfolded on Tuesday, when Scindia along with Amit Shah met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and minutes later announced his decision and sent his loyal MLAs to Bengaluru after giving them assurances that they will be `rewarded` for breaking away from the Congress.
A British woman has become the first person to have contracted the coronavirus in Jamaica.

The woman from London contracted the virus during a short stay to the Caribbean island where she was attending a funeral.

'It's an imported case,' said a spokesman for Jamaica's health ministry during a press conference in Kingston, Jamaica yesterday afternoon.

A woman from London has been quarantined at University Hospital in Kingston (pictured), one of the only medical facilities equipped to deal with the virus on the island

'We now have our first case of Corona and the person who has it came to this country and we have her in quarantine to deal with this.'

The patient, a female who holds both British and Jamaican citizenship travelled from the United Kingdom to Jamaica on March 4, and was screened, as were all the other passengers on the flight from the UK on arrival at the airport.

The woman who is believed to be in her 50s, came to Jamaica to attend the funeral of a family member who passed away and did not show any symptoms until days later when she went to see a doctor, who confirmed the diagnosis after a test was carried out.

Now the Jamaican government is putting things in place to ensure that everyone who comes to the country is fully checked for the virus.

Jamaica's Health Minister Christopher Tufton (pictured) refused to shut down the island to the rest of the world to stop the spread of the virus

'We are stepping up to ensure that this disease is dealt with vigorously and we will take every precautionary measure to ensure that we contain it before it spreads all over our island,' said a health spokesman.

Jamaicans were told that there were no guarantees regarding the spread of the virus and the only way to prevent an imported case was to shut down the island to the rest of the world.

'But we can't do that,' said Jamaica's Health Minister Christopher Tufton. 'We can't shut Jamaicans out of Jamaica.'

As part of the investigation into the COVID-19 patient, reporters were told that there would be a probe into the movements and home situation of the person who is being quarantined at the island's university hospital in Kingston.

Jamaicans have been advised not to shun the University Hospital (pictured) since it is safe

Investigators are working to determine what events the person had attended, and if the risk was confined to a home, a community or several communities.

Based on that finding, other people will be identified and quarantined. The COVID-19 person, described as stable with mild symptoms, was identified as being located on the border of St Thomas and St Andrew which is a few miles away from Kingston.

The virus is not a death sentence, citizens were told, and the vast majority of Jamaicans who may become infected will recover.

People are being urged not to panic, and not to discriminate against those affected with the virus.

Jamaicans are being urged against non-essential travel. The COVID-19 patient is in isolation at the University Hospital in Kingston, one of the only medical facilities equipped to deal with the virus on the island.

Jamaicans were also advised not to shun the hospital since it was safe.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-11 08:03:27|Editor: Liu

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A woman walks towards a tent to treat suspected COVID-19 cases in the courtyard of Henri Mondor Hospital in Creteil, France, March 10, 2020. With nearly 1,800 coronavirus infection cases and 33 deaths confirmed, France, the second worst affected European country, favors a proportional and progressive strategy to handle the virus crisis and hopes to avoid drastic measures as long as possible. (Photo provided by Jack Chan/Xinhua)

PARIS, March 10 (Xinhua) -- With nearly 1,800 coronavirus infection cases and 33 deaths confirmed, France, the second worst affected European country, favours a proportional and progressive strategy to handle the virus crisis and hopes to avoid drastic measures as long as possible.

"We are at the beginning of this epidemic. We must be very clear, lucid," said President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday morning when visiting the ambulance service in Paris, stressing that France is "organized" and urging the French not to panic.

The president reiterated the necessity "to remain extremely adaptable (to the virus evolution)" and ruled out a "big change" in the country's national strategy on epidemic emergency.

STILL AT STAGE 2

Since the virus reached Europe in January, the French government has taken a wide range of measures based on its "influenza pandemic national prevention and response plan," a decision-making guide adopted in 2011.

The plan defines the general preparation and response framework, and the measures to be taken at various stages of a pandemic. Policymakers and health professionals are called to anticipate gradual health strategy to determine in advance how, where and when measures should be implemented.

As of Tuesday, France has been in stage 2, or "pre-epidemic level" as defined by the plan, for 12 days. The authorities stopped short of raising the alert to the highest level of "stage 3," arguing that drastic measures under stage 3 such as those taken by Italy is not yet necessary for France.

"We are managing to not take such action," Health Minister Olivier Veran told state-run France info radio after Italy decided to place all the country in lockdown until April 3, affecting some 60 million people.

"We are taking gradual measures adapted to each territory," he explained. "The difference with Italy is that we do not prevent social, economic and democratic life when it is possible to continue."

For Francois Bricaire, epidemiologist and member of the Academy of Medicine, "the government has taken a certain number of perfectly legitimate and reasonable measures" to contain the coronavirus outbreak.

"We must of course take into account the need to protect (the people against the virus), but there is also the need to live and maintain a certain number of activities. This can be done provided that the infectious phenomenon is not severe enough," he told France info radio.

MEASURES STEPPED UP

Guided by the 2011 epidemic plan, France has ordered travel restriction to affected countries and isolation of infected people and suspect cases since the first coronavirus case was detected on Jan. 24.

Officials and health experts repeatedly reiterated the need to respect "simple and effective barrier gestures" including frequent hand washing, using one-time tissues, coughing or sneezing into the elbow, avoiding handshakes and hugs.

As the flu-like illness rapidly spread in neighbouring Italy, France stepped up measures. Since Feb. 28, all gatherings expected to draw 5,000 people in confined spaces as well as certain events in an open environment have been prohibited across France. Some 150 schools were shut down in l'Oise in northern France, and Haut-de Savoie near Italian borders where the virus was rapidly spreading.

Nearly one week later, tougher measures were announced as the COVID-19 tally exceeded 1,000 cases. Some 300,000 students were called to stay at home. All public gatherings of 1,000 people are banned across French cities until April 15, except public services and events considered "useful to national life."

New measures also included a decree to facilitate access to teleconsultation to help hospitals better manage influx of patients linked to the coronavirus.

In addition, hospitals would trigger the "white plan" of extra mobilization which allows to reinforce nursing and administrative staff, offer more beds and limit patients visit.

"We have a system adapted and proportional to the crisis. Measures are implemented based on the spread of the virus. We have anticipated a lot and we are learning from the experiences of others," said Rafik Massmoudi, emergency doctor at the European Georges Pompidou hospital in Paris.

DRASTIC STEPS NOT EXCLUDED

In the latest update, Health General-Director Jerome Salomon announced 1,784 positive cases and 89 patients hospitalized in intensive care, up by 372 and 66 respectively in one day.

France offers around 4,500 beds in intensive care units. The figure could increase to 11,000 to treat critical situations, according to Professor Jean-Michel Constantin, deputy secretary general of the French academic association of anaesthesia and resuscitation.

"Each hospital has already set aside an intensive care service for COVID-19 patients, but we know that more units (such as recovery rooms) will soon need to be opened and equipped with respiratory devices. The material aspect does not worry us. All the large hospitals have reserves of ventilators," Constantin told Le Figaro newspaper.

"We are preparing to face that without sacrificing other patients, such as road accident victims or patients requiring emergency surgery," he said.

Meanwhile he admitted that "the situation will be complicated". "The hospital is already in a situation of permanent tension. We cannot count on the professional conscience and the abnegation of our teams forever."

Speaking to France 3 television, Eric Caumes, infectious disease specialist at the Pitie-Salpetriere hospital in Paris, said "we must draw inspiration from what is done in Italy."

"Containment when it is seriously respected, probably in the same way that China has done, will be certainly effective. We saw that it has broken the epidemic curve (in China), " he added.

Macron, stepping out of the teleconference with European leaders on Tuesday evening, cautiously remarked that draconian steps, when justified, will not be excluded.
That Jyotiradtiya Scindia worked for investment bank Morgan Stanley is a well-known fact, but that, years later, it became a link instrumental in sealing his decision to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) may come as a bit of a surprise.

BJPs national spokesperson and former investment banker with Deutsche Bank Syed Zafar Islam has had a key role in the former Congress leader switching sides.

The two bankers and another mutual friend discussed Scindia and his political career prospects for over six months till the former Guna MP finally came on board.

Meeting over food at various hotels in Lutyens Delhi, the conversation between Zafar, Scindia and the mutual friend often revolved around politics and, in particular, the leadership of the BJP headed by Narendra Modi, Amit Shah and, more recently, around party president JP Naddas dynamic personality.

The talks of asking Scindia to jump ship started about six months ago. It was only around two months ago that the 49-year-old first met Amit Shah, the-then BJP chief. That was not the only meeting. Through the next couple of months till he joined the party, the Guna royal had more than half-a-dozen meetings with the top brass, in particular Shah.

Zafar, meanwhile, did all the convincing both with Scindia and his party leadership about the former union ministers interest to join the BJP and how he was claustrophobic despite his close proximity with the first family of the Congress. The BJP trusted young Zafars instinct and gave him the go-ahead.

So on Holi day, Scindia left his Delhi home in the morning. Many thought he was on his way to Gwalior to mark his late fathers 75th birth anniversary. But he took a turn, went to The Lodhi hotel, and met friend Zafar over a cup of tea. The two then headed to Gujarat Bhawan on Kautilya Marg. From there, home minister Amit Shah picked them up in his car and they headed to 7 Lok Kalyan Marg, where they met Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Zafar and Scindia were then dropped back to Gujarat Bhawan. Meanwhile, an understanding was also reached with a bunch of Scindia-supporting Madhya Pradesh MLAs already camping in Bengaluru.

When Scindia joined the BJP in Delhi on Thursday, it didnt come as a surprise to many, including his former party Congress.

But how he finally made the smooth transition is an investment story worth sharing.
Veteran politician says he no longer believes his coalition has the numbers to carry the vote in parliament.

Mahathir Mohamad, who resigned as Malaysias prime minister after a power grab triggered the collapse of his ruling coalition, says he no longer believes he has enough support to win a confidence vote in Parliament against his former ally-turned-rival Muhyiddin Yassin.

Mahathir said in an interview published on Wednesday that Muhyiddin, who was named prime minister by the king on February 29, would survive a parliamentary vote.

We had more than 114 seats but now that has become less, Mahathir told the Malay-language Sinar Harian newspaper.

It will not succeed, he said of the vote of no-confidence. This is because he has taken my people to his side.





Mahathir, 94, was prime minister from 1981 to 2003, and returned to power in elections in May 2018, removing the alliance that had governed Malaysia for more than 60 years and he himself had once led.

Coalition collapse

But the veteran politicians latest stint as prime minister came to an end with his sudden resignation on February 24, after some of his coalition partners attempted to manoeuvre their way into power by working with the opposition parties.

After a period of uncertainty, during which the king met all members of parliament individually and political leaders sought to build support, Muhyiddin, who was in Mahathirs party, emerged as prime minister.

At the same time, Mahathir and his Pakatan Harapan coalition, which includes his old rival Anwar Ibrahim, claimed they had the numbers to rule, promising to bring the issue to a vote when the lower house of Parliament reconvened on March 9.

But Muhyiddin has since delayed the opening of Parliament by two months.

Malaysias establishment has reasserted itself with the political turmoil.

Muhyiddin, a former home affairs minister in Mahathirs cabinet, is now working with the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), which lost power in 2018, as well as the Islamist party PAS.

Muhyiddin, who was also once in UMNO and a former Education Minister, announced his cabinet on Monday. While UMNO politicians filled a large number of positions, those facing corruption charges, including party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, were left out.

PAS leader Hadi Abdul Awang was also absent from the list.
Inmates stage a protest on a rooftop of a wing at the San Vittore prison in Milan, in one of Italy's quarantine red zones. Miguel MEDINA / AFP

The justice ministry has blamed all the deaths on drug overdoses that occurred after prisoners broke into medical storage rooms.

The claim was impossible to immediately verify through independent sources.

Jails have been ordered to stop visits and limit day releases as part of a broad government response to a disease that has killed 631 people in Italy in just over two weeks.

Some prisoners have been asking to be granted amnesty over a health crisis that had infected more than 10,000 people throughout the Mediterranean country.

The justice ministry said the situation in all but one of the 23 jails hit by rioting since Sunday has been brought back under control.

"The only ongoing situation is in (the Sicily jail of) Trapani, where a large group of detainees reached the roof, asking - among things - to be immediately tested for coronavirus," the ministry said in a statement.

The ministry said three of Tuesday's deaths occurred in the Rieti prison about 70 kilometres northeast of Rome.

"Initial findings suggest that the deaths may have been caused by the reckless taking of drugs," the justice ministry said.

Another two convicts also died in the Modena prison near the northern city of Bologna. The ministry said nine people have died there in all.

The last two Modena deaths are "suspected to have been caused by reckless drug taking during looting of the infirmatory," the justice ministry said.

It said four security personnel and a health official who had been taken hostage by rioters in Melfi in the south of Italy had all been released.

But it said 22 convicts who escaped the Foggia prison near Italy's southeastern coast were still on the run.

'COMBUSTIBLE SITUATION'

Italy's prisoner rights ombudsman Mauro Delma blamed the riots on prison overcrowding and fears about the rapidly spreading disease.

"It seems that containment measures recommended for all citizens are not acceptable to prisoners who are already facing prison overcrowding," Delma told the RAI News 24 channel.

"This scenario makes for a combustible situation," the ombudsman said.

AFP reporters saw a dozen convicts at the San Vittore prison in Milan climb onto the roof of one of the wings and shout slogans Monday as police and prison guards below looked on.

There were similar scenes at several other prisons as rioters wearing scarves and bandanas over their faces climbed roofs and shouted slogans to television news crews hovering in helicopters overhead.

Relatives rallied outside many of the concerned jails in protest over the measures.

"The unrest that had occurred (Tuesday) in the prisons of Venice, Palermo, Pagliarelli, Caltanissetta, Chieti and Larino ended," the ministry said.

It added that prisoners in a southern town of Foggia were no longer rioting but "still refusing to return to their sections".
The following arrests were all made by Edwardsville Police department, in Edwardsville from Feb. 27 through March 6

 Fallon Vallejo, 36, of Caseyville was charged with retail theft of less than $300 with a previous conviction on Feb. 27. The arrest occurred at Target. With a prior conviction of retail theft, a $25,000 bond was set.

 Andre Williams, 48, of Edwardsville, was charged with driving under the influence with a blood alcohol content greater than .08 on Feb. 29. $100 bond was posted along with the drivers license.

 Christopher Bartels, 31, of Bethalto, was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol on March 1. $100 bond was posted along with the drivers license.

 Deandre Mahaffey, 23, of Glen Carbon, was charged with one count of driving under the influence of a blood alcohol content greater than .08 and one count of leaving the scene of a crash on March 1. For the DUI charge, a $100 bond was posted along with the drivers license and he was given a notice to appear for the leaving the scene charge.

 Julann Scheibal, 19, of Glen Carbon, was charged with driving under the influence with a blood alcohol content greater than .08 on March 1. $100 bond was posted along with the drivers license.

 Nathan Davis, 25, of Springfield, Illinois was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol on March 1. $100 bond was posted along with the drivers license.

 Kevin West, 64, of Edwardsville, was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol on March 1. $100 bond was posted along with the drivers license.

 Michelle Johnson, 38, of Cahokia, was charged with criminal trespass to property on March 3. The arrest occurred at T.J. Maxx. She was released on a $1,000 recognizance to appear.

Reporter Tyler Pletsch compiled the information.
HOLLAND, MI -- One of Michigans oldest airports will no longer operate after this year.

The Park Township Airports only paved runway is set for demolition later this year after voters Tuesday, March 10, rejected a millage request for the operation, maintenance, and repair of the 83-year-old airport.

The millage wouldve allowed for new runway improvements and lighting upgrades totaling about $1.4 million.

Park Township residents narrowly shot down the proposed 10-year airport millage, from 2020 to 2029, of 0.185 mills by a vote of 4,612 to 3,581, or 56.3 percent to 43.7 percent, according to the unofficial results from the Ottawa County Clerks Office.

The paved runway, which measures a little under a half mile in length, is now slated to be removed by Oct. 1. The public airport is located at 1269 Ottawa Beach Road.

Officials said the average assessed value for a single family home in the township is $181,816, which is considered half of market value and such a home would have paid $33.63 for the millage. If approved, the tax would raise an estimated $209,475 the first year.

Park Township leaders will now consult with the community on a path forward to turn the 80-acre space behind the township hall into a recreation and public-use space.

Related: Election results for Kent, Ottawa counties March 10, 2020

The Park Township Board previously voted that whatever happened with the airport, the property would be used to benefit the public.

What happened last night will be a foundational moment in this community, said Township Manager Howard Fink. My hope and my wish is we come together as a community and identify how we can best use this site in an open-space recreational context for the community.

The potential costs and specifics of any recreational uses will be determined in part through community feedback, Fink said.

A group opposed to the millage, the We All Pay Few Play Committee, argued that the airport is no longer a sustainable operation and benefits only a few aviators.

Among other reasons in opposition, the committee pointed out that residents already pay a millage to support the much busier West Michigan Regional Airport in Holland.

Lets begin the discussion about how our airport property can better serve EVERY resident and family in Park Township in the future, committee officials wrote.

A group in favor of the millage, the Friends of Park Township Airport, argued the airport is enjoyed not only by pilots but hundreds of others.

The group said that there is already 54 acres on the 80-acre site available for public use. With the millage shot down, that acreage would reduce to 70 because 10 acres would revert back to the Holland Chamber of Commerce once the airport is closed.

If the millage passed, township leaders would have deliberated on how to better incorporate recreational and public uses on the property with an AirPark concept.

Currently, a portion of the airport acreage is being used for aviation recreation such as powered parachutes, drones and remote controlled planes.

That will continue even after the paved runway is demolished. Fixed-wing airplanes will not be allowed.

About 11 aircraft are based at the airport, Fink said. Last year, 63 pilots signed the airports log book stating they flew in and out of the airport.

According to Park Townships website, the airport was established in 1937, making it one of Michigans earliest airports. In its time, it has served as an airmail stop, offered passenger service and even served as a military pilot training ground during WWII.

The airport was once a hub for corporate planes but later lost that business to West Michigan Regional Airport.

More on MLive:

Absentee voting, same-day registration surge in Kent, Ottawa counties

Tax cut for $26M apartment building draws questions from Grand Rapids board

Michigan State moving to online classes starting today because of potential coronavirus case
Two youths have been prevented from joining militant ranks in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district, police said on Wednesday.

"Timely action taken by police prevented two youths from joining terror ranks in Awantipora. These youths had been indoctrinated and were influenced by the false narratives through social media and through incorrect information/education imparted to them," a police spokesman said.

He said one of the youths from north of the Tral area was wrongly influenced and indoctrinated through social media and was planning to join terror ranks.

Another youth of Awantipora was detained in Budgam District when he was trying to get into contact with terrorists, the spokesman said.

Police along with families of the youth counselled them and handed over them to their parents, he said.

The family members were advised to take proper care of their wards and monitor their activities so as to save them for falling prey to any incorrect information/ education which takes them to wrong path, the spokesman said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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Biopharmaceutical firm Biocon on March 11 said its partner Mylan has won a US court ruling that invalidated a Sanofi patent on an insulin glargine device. The verdict removed a key legal hurdle to commercialising the product the company has co-developed with Mylan for the US market.

The US District Court of New Jersey found the device patent claims (US Patent No. 9,526,844) asserted by Sanofi against Biocon-Mylans insulin glargine product not infringed and invalid for lack of written description.

Earlier the Federal Circuit - the higher court - invalidated Sanofi's formulation patents US Patent No. 7,476,652 and 7,713,930.

Biocon-Mylan had filed for insulin glargine through 505(b)(2) New Drug Application (NDA), which is under active review by the USFDA. The regulator has set a target action date (TAD) for insulin glargine application in June 2020.

Biocon said it remains confident of being able to commercialise the product in the calendar year 2020. The company estimates the market opportunity for insulin glargine in the US to be around $2.2 billion.

Patent infringement case

In October 2017, French drug major Sanofi had initiated patent infringement litigation against Mylan-Biocon's NDA in the US District Court for the District of New Jersey that included the formulation patents covering insulin glargine as well as patent covering the insulin glargine injection pen, triggering a 30-month stay on the products approval.

Sanofi sells the product in vials under brand name Lantus and as a disposable injection pen called Lantus SoloSTAR.

Sanofi's total IQVIA sales for the 12 months ending January 31, 2020, were approximately $1.73 billion for Lantus 100 Units/mL and around $4.24 billion for Lantus SoloSTAR.

..the US court ruling in favour of our insulin glargine device takes us closer towards bringing a more affordable insulin glargine for patients with diabetes in the US," said Christiane Hamacher, CEO, Biocon Biologics.

Insulin glargine is a long-acting insulin used to treat adults with Type 2 diabetes and adults and paediatric patients with Type 1 diabetes for the control of high blood sugar.

Biocons insulin glargine has received regulatory approval in 70 countries around the world and has also been commercialised in many emerging markets such as Brazil, Mexico, Malaysia, South Korea and the UAE, as well as developed markets including Japan, Australia and parts of Europe.

Insulin glargine is one of the 11 biologic products being co-developed by Mylan and Biocon. Mylan has exclusive commercialisation rights for insulin glargine in the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Europe, while Biocon has exclusive rights for Japan and a few emerging markets, and co-exclusive commercialisation rights with Mylan in the rest of the world.
Palmyra Area School District officials they learned Tuesday that a middle school student there was not exposed to coronavirus during a visit to a Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia facility last Friday. The student will be able to return to classes Wednesday, Superintendent Bernie Kepler told PennLive.

On Monday, the family was initially advised - and they agreed - to put their child into a voluntary quarantine at home as a precaution after it was learned that a medical provider at the same facility had tested presumptively positive for COVID-19. But the student in question apparently had already attended classes at Palmyra Area Middle School that day.

As contacts with the coronavirus were further investigated, CHOP informed the family Tuesday morning that their child did not have the potential for exposure to COVID-19. District officials, in a public statement issued Tuesday evening, said they had also received direct confirmation from CHOP.

The student in question has never shown any symptoms of illness, and has now been removed from any voluntary quarantine list.

Besides following the protocols to alert state officials, the district said in its Monday alert to families that it was conducting a thorough cleaning of the districts six buildings Monday night and that it planned to open for school Tuesday. The school districts transportation contractor was also disinfecting all school buses before they headed out on their morning routes.
PHILIPSBURG:--- The House of Parliament will sit in a Plenary Public session on March 12, 2020.

The Public meeting which was adjourned on March 6, 2020, will be reconvened on Thursday at 14.00 hrs. in the General Assembly Chamber of the House at Wilhelminastraat #1 in Philipsburg. The Minister of Justice will be present.

The agenda point is:

3. Ontwerp van Landsverordening houdende vaststelling van een nieuw Wetboek van Strafvordering (Wetboek van Strafvordering) (IS/1189/2018-2019 d.d. 19 juni 2019) (Zittingsjaar 2018-2019-129)

National ordinance establishing a new Code of Criminal Procedure (Code of Criminal Procedure) (Parliamentary Year 2018-2019-129)

Members of the public are invited to the House of Parliament to attend parliamentary deliberations.

The House of Parliament is located across from the Court House in Philipsburg.

The parliamentary session will be carried live on St. Maarten Cable TV Channel 115, via SXM GOV radio FM 107.9, via Pearl Radio FM 98.1, the audio via the internet www.sxmparliament.org, www.pearlfmradio.sx and Parliaments Facebook page: Parliament of Sint Maarten
Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong, right, walks with Kim Ki-nam, center, CEO of the company's Device Solutions division, and other executives during their visit to its chip plant in Onyang, South Chungcheong Province, Aug. 6, 2019. Samsung's compliance committee said Thursday Lee should apologize to the people for raising a series of problems regarding the group's management succession. / Courtesy of Samsung Electronics



By Kim Yoo-chul



Samsung Group leader and Samsung Electronics vice chairman Lee Jae-yong has been asked to issue a public apology over both alleged and confirmed illegal activities surrounding the group's succession plan, the company-organized compliance committee said, Wednesday.



"Samsung's compliance committee sent recommendations to seven Samsung affiliates including Samsung Electronics, Samsung SDI and Samsung SDS, in addition to Samsung Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong. Some core recommendations included asking Samsung vice chairman Lee to make his public apology over past events relating to the group's succession plan," the committee leader Kim Ji-hyung said in a statement.



The recommendations came a few days after the committee decided three issues  unions, management succession and communication with civic organizations  would form its core agenda to improve Samsung's overall business compliance. At the time of the decision, the committee's leader told reporters it would deliver its recommendations asking the group to be more forward thinking on these issues.



"In terms of an agenda for management succession, we believe all past controversial events were relevant to the group's succession plan. There were illegal activities, therefore Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong is asked to make a public apology and commit to not to breaking the law again," Kim said in the release, adding that the seven Samsung affiliates and Lee are required to reply to the request by April 10.



Vice chairman Lee was released from jail, last year. The Supreme Court overturned the ruling by a lower court that suspended Lee's prison sentence and ordered his case to be retried. The court said Samsung hadn't been extorted by a confidante of the impeached Park, when it gave her daughter three horses. The gift of horses acted as bribes that were meant to ensure government approval of the controversial merger between Samsung affiliates, which was a part of an ambitious plan to ensure a transfer or wealth and control to Samsung Vice Chairman Lee from his father.



The Samsung compliance committee also said it also recommended to Samsung affiliates to specify details on how to better protect the best interests of shareholders.



"Regarding the union issue, the committee is asking the affected parties to fully guarantee the activities of labor union(s) and for them to make public apologies for mismanagement in terms of breaking the relevant labor laws several times. Specifically, the committee asked Samsung vice chairman Lee to officially drop his long-time 'no-labor policy,'" committee head Kim said.


Two more Iranian Cabinet members have contracted the new coronavirus after the country's senior vice president was diagnosed with the illness, a semiofficial news agency reported.

It comes as the death toll in the Islamic Republic from the outbreak rose by 62 to 354 on Wednesday.

The report by the Fars news agency, believed to be close to Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, comes as President Hassan Rouhani took control of the country's much-criticized response to the virus and the COVID-19 illness it causes. Authorities announced that there were some 9,000 confirmed cases of the virus across Iran.

Iranian Vice-President Eshaq Jahangiri (pictured) and two other Cabinet members have contracted the new coronavirus, semiofficial Fars News Agency reported Wednesday

Paramedics test samples taken from patients suspected of being infected with the new coronavirus, at a laboratory in the southwestern city of Ahvaz, Iran on Tuesday

The Fars story also comes amid days of speculation about the health of Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri. Jahangiri has not been seen in pictures of recent top-level meetings, raising concerns about him.

Meanwhile on Wednesday, Kuwait announced a two-week shutdown of the country while confirmed cases in Qatar jumped from 24 to 262.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia. The vast majority of people recover from the new virus.

There was no immediate report on state media about the Iranian officials being ill and no other media outlet in Iran immediately carried the report. Fars published it in a picture list of names in Farsi, with Jahangiri's name at the top, saying he was in quarantine and improving, without elaborating.

Mourners wearing face masks and gloves pray over the body of former politburo official in the Revolutionary Guard Farzad Tazari, who died Monday after being infected with coronavirus, at the Behesht-e-Zahra cemetery just outside Tehran, Iran, on Tuesday

Relatives wearing face masks mourn over the grave of former politburo official in the Revolutionary Guard Farzad Tazari, shown in the poster, who died Monday after being infected with coronavirus

Fars said the others sick are Ali Asghar Mounesan, minister of cultural heritage, handcrafts and tourism, and Reza Rahmani, minister of industry, mines and business.

The report comes at a sensitive time for Rouhani, who faced criticism for not being out front on the response to the virus. He's been seen at government meetings where members sit meters apart from each other, likely to stop the potential spread of the virus. He also wore latex gloves while planting a tree at a recent event.

Hard-liners long have tried to embarrass Rouhani, whose administration pushed through Iran's 2015 nuclear deal with world powers.

Rouhani has 11 vice presidents. Another, Massoumeh Ebtekar, earlier fell ill with the virus. Ebtekar is better known to Americans as "Sister Mary," the English-speaking spokeswoman for those who seized the U.S. Embassy in Tehran in 1979 and began the 444-day hostage crisis.

Paramedics test samples taken from patients suspected of being infected with the new coronavirus, at a laboratory in the southwestern city of Ahvaz, Iran

Ebtekar tweeted Wednesday she had recovered from the virus, while linking to images of Western officials who have contracted the illness.

"#Iran faces sanctions & psycho-terrorism," she wrote. "They portray Iran as corona epicenter, accuse us of undercounting, count afflicted officials as proof. Reality: Numbers are clear, thank God Im back in my office."

Across the Mideast, the vast majority of the nearly 10,000 people who have contracted the coronavirus and the COVID-19 illness it causes are in hard-hit Iran or had recently returned from there. The Islamic Republic has one of the world's worst death tolls outside of China, the epicenter of the outbreak. Outside of Iran, only Iraq, Egypt and Lebanon have recorded deaths from the virus in the Middle East.

The World Health Organization on Wednesday declared the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic.

Kuwait announced late Wednesday the oil-rich nation would close down all work and business for two weeks beginning Thursday. Flights would halt to the nation from Friday, the country said. It has over 70 confirmed cases of the new virus. Restaurants, cafes and health clubs also will be closed, the state-run KUNA news agency reported.

Paramedics work in a laboratory that tests samples taken from patients suspected of being infected with the new coronavirus, in the southwestern city of Ahvaz, Iran

Senior Vice-President Eshaq Jahangiri (left) listens as Minister of Health and Medical Education Saeed Namaki speaks at the Headquarters of Prevention and Combating the Coronavirus, in Tehran, Iran on February 28

Qatar reported a massive jump in cases of the new coronavirus late Wednesday as well, going up to 262. The small, peninsular nation home to long-haul airline Qatar Airways stressed the new cases had been found in quarantine and not mixing out in the public.

In the Gulf Arab island nation of Bahrain, authorities say their number of confirmed cases on Wednesday spiked by nearly 70% to 189 confirmed cases. The 77 new cases were all on a returning flight of Bahraini evacuees from Iran.

There are concerns that the number of infections across Iran is much higher than the confirmed cases reported by the government, which is struggling to contain or manage its spread. The rising casualty figures each day in Iran suggest the fight against the new coronavirus is far from over.

Among the dead are five Revolutionary Guard members and an unspecified number of 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.

Meanwhile Saudi Arabia, which has barred travel to and from 14 countries and halted pilgrimages to Islam's holiest sites in Mecca and Medina, announced Wednesday it would close its recently reopened movie theaters until further notice.

Lebanon reported its second death Wednesday saying a 53-year-old man died of the virus. The Health Ministry said 37% of the cases reported in Lebanon originated from four countries: Egypt, Iran, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

Later on Wednesday, Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab said flights will be halted form Iran, Italy, China and South Korea. Diab said Lebanese staying in countries that have large numbers of coronavirus cases have four days to return to Lebanon.

In Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a $2.8 billion rescue package to stabilize the economy as it grapples with the virus. The money will double a previously announced fund to help businesses hit by the crisis to $2.4 billion. It also includes roughly $280 million for the health sector.

Israel has diagnosed a total of 77 cases of the virus.
Photo: The Canadian Press Pope Francis waves from his window overlooking St. Peter's Square on Sunday.

The boisterous hum of Rome dwindled to a whisper and police patrols kept people apart in cafes as Italy enforced an extraordinary, sweeping lockdown in hopes of not becoming the next epicenter of the spreading coronavirus epidemic now that life in China is edging back to normal.

Infections in Italy topped the 10,000 mark  more than anywhere but China  and the number of deaths from the virus rose Tuesday to 631 from 463 a day earlier, Italian Civil Protection authorities said.

Police across the country patrolled cafes to ensure owners kept customers 1 metre (3 feet) apart during daylight hours and then enforced a strict 6 p.m. closure order.

Its bad. People are terrorized, said Massimo Leonardo, who runs a market stall. Ive never seen anything like it.

For most, the coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. But for a few, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illnesses, including pneumonia. More than 119,000 people have been infected worldwide and over 4,200 have died.

By encouraging many of Italy's 62 million people to stay home and further drying up what was left of the country's already battered tourism industry, the lockdown could increase the likelihood of a recession, dealing another blow to reeling global markets.

Italy's economy, the third-largest of the 19 countries that use the euro currency, relies heavily on industries requiring the physical presence and proximity of workers: tourism, manufacturing, and retail.

Italians shouldnt leave home unless for work, health care or necessities such as grocery shopping, the premier's office said. Early closures of shops, cafes and restaurants amounted to a seismic restriction in a country that prizes its gastronomy, luxuries and cafe culture.

Ill do whatever they tell me to do, Rome florist Stefano Fulvi said. If I have to close, Ill close.

Italy also found itself increasingly sealed off as other countries sought to keep infections contained.

Malta and Spain announced a ban on air traffic from Italy. British Airways and Air Canada suspended all Italy flights. Austria barred travellers from crossing the border without a medical certificate. Slovenia closed its border with Italy, and Albania banned Italy air and ferry traffic. Britain, Ireland, Hong Kong and Germany strengthened travel advisories and urged their citizens to leave. Even the Vatican erected a new barricade at the edge of St. Peters Square.

"Get out of northern Italy if youre there, said Erik Broegger Rasmussen, head of consular services for Denmarks foreign ministry.

But in China, the diminishing threat prompted President Xi Jinping to visit the central city of Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak, on Tuesday and declare: "We will certainly defeat this epidemic."

It was the latest sign that China is edging back toward normal after weeks of extreme quarantine measures. A day after Xi's visit to Wuhan, China reported just 24 new infections Wednesday, down from thousands each day last month.

Things are slowly returning to normal," said Yang Tianxiao, a finance worker in Beijing, where the city government is gradually easing restrictions.

In a reversal of positions, China is seeing new cases brought in from overseas. In Beijing, the capital, all the new cases of COVID-19 reported on Wednesday came from outside the country, five from Italy and one from the United States.

Improving reports continued to come from South Korea, too, with 242 new cases reported Wednesday, a considerable drop from its highs.
Accra, March 9, 2020  MTN Ghana has been adjudged PR Organization of the Year (Telecommunications Sector) at the 8th National PR and Communications Awards organized by the Institute of Public Relations, Ghana. This is the fourth time MTN Ghana has won this award.

MTN Ghana won the highly coveted PR Organization of the Year Award, based on the effective and well-executed PR strategies the business used in reaching out to its diverse publics during the year. MTN was eulogized for excellently championing PR campaigns which positively impacted and enhanced the image of the organization. MTN has consistently deployed strategies that informs and engage customers all year round in the areas of Consumer Education, Advocacy, Social Media, Issue and Crisis management among others.

In addition, Olivia Mifetu, Internal Communications Advisor at MTN Ghana was adjudged Internal Communicator of the Year.

Commenting on the awards, the Corporate Services Executive, Mr. Samuel Koranteng, said I am glad MTN has won this award once again. As the largest telecommunications company with millions of customers and having listed on the Ghana Stock Exchange, it is very critical that MTN consistently adopts varied strategic ways to reach out to its customers. We have been consistent in ensuring that customers are well informed and do receive first-hand information from the organization.

I wish to congratulate Olivia Mifetu, for being adjudged the Internal Communicator of the Year. At MTN, people matter to us and as a global organization, MTN places premium on keeping employees informed about the business and about the industry. Olivia has been a dedicated member of the team for several years and I am glad her commitment has been recognized, he added.

Over the years, MTN Ghana has won many awards from the Institute of Public Relations including PR Organization of the Year, Best Community Relations Programme of the Year, Best in Crisis and Issues Management, Best in Non-For-Profit Organization among others.

The IPR Excellence Awards aims at honouring and recognizing the achievements and positive contributions of Public Relations units to their organizations. It was also instituted to promote professionalism in the practice of PR in Ghana.

About MTN Ghana

MTN Ghana is the market leader in the increasingly competitive mobile telecommunications industry in Ghana, offering subscribers a range of exciting options under Pay Monthly and Pay As You Go Services. The company has committed itself to delivering reliable and innovative services that provide value for subscribers in Ghanas telecommunications market. Since its entry into Ghana in 2006, MTN has continuously invested in expanding and modernizing its network in order to offer superior services to a broad expanse of the nation.
WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump is expected to announce an executive order insisting on American-made medical supplies and pharmaceuticals in response to the coronavirus outbreak, according to a person familiar with the plan, as the White House begins to come to grips with the severity of the situation.

Word about the planned announcement, from a person who was not authorized to publicly discuss the matter and spoke on condition of anonymity, comes amid tumult Wednesday in the unfolding crisis. Confirmed cases in the United States are topping 1,000, fluctuations in the financial markets are continuing and Washington is straining to respond.

The White House is also considering a host of more aggressive responses to free up additional federal dollars and to address concerns that the administrations initial response to the pandemic was insufficient.

In one order Trump issued Wednesday, he authorized Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar to take whatever steps are necessary to allow doctors and nurses to use masks made for industrial use while those made specifically for health care are in short supply. Companies have been seeking legal cover for that.

Those industrials will work for medical, said House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy. We can just do that for an 18-month period and thered be millions more available.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia.

The vast majority of people recover from the new virus. According to the World Health Organization, people with mild illness recover in about two weeks, while those with more severe illness may take three weeks to six weeks to recover. In mainland China, where the virus first exploded, more than 80,000 people have been diagnosed and more than 58,000 have so far recovered.

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., raised concerns about diversifying the supply chain and reducing the U.S. reliance on imports, including from China, during a private lunch with Trump and GOP senators this week.

Trump appeared to agree with the senators outlook, according to a person familiar with the matter who was not authorized to publicly discuss the private session and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Rubio praised the forthcoming announcement.

He called the expected order a very strong first step toward increasing domestic production by enforcing Buy American requirements for pharmaceuticals and medical supplies, as well as fast-tracking approval by the Food and Drug Administration of critical products impacted by the coronavirus outbreaks strain on the supply chain.

China is a key supplier of drug active ingredients, the chemical components that make drugs work, and finished medicines for the U.S. market. Those include the active ingredients for antibiotics and pills to treat common chronic conditions such as heart disease.

Many of Chinas active ingredients are shipped to India, which makes much of the global supply of generic drugs. India recently restricted all exports of 13 active pharmaceutical ingredients, and finished drugs made from those chemicals, to protect its domestic drug supply.

The restricted drugs are mostly antibiotics, antiviral drugs and a fever reducer, all of which are used for supportive care of patients with coronavirus symptoms, because there is no approved medicine to treat the virus. U.S. regulators have stressed that other medicines are available to treat patients.

Members of Congress and others since last fall have been raising concerns that the U.S. has become much too dependent on medicines made in Asia, as U.S. and European drugmakers increasingly have outsourced much of their manufacturing to Asia, where labour and materials are far cheaper.

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Associated Press writers Linda A. Johnson in Trenton, N.J., and Zeke Miller, Andrew Taylor, Jill Colvin and Darlene Superville in Washington contributed to this report.

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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.
At least 11 people, including a



few women, have been arrested for allegedly spreading fake on the social media that a novel coronavirus-infected person was detected in the state, a senior police officer said on Wednesday.

Mizoram Inspector General of Police (Headquarters) John Neihlaia said that the 11 persons were arrested on Tuesday evening after police registered a suo motu case against them.

All the accused were released on bail on Wednesday, he said.

A case under Section 505 (1)(b) (intent to cause fear or alarm to the public) was registered against the 11 accused with Vaivakawn police station, Neihlaia said.

He said the fake shared on WhatsApp claimed that a Singapore returnee with suspected coronavirus symptoms was put under isolation at home after she refused to be quarantined at Zoram Medical College.

An investigation found that the 31-year-old woman was screened twice, first at Kolkata airport and then again at Lengpui airport in the state, upon her return to the country on March 3 and did not show any symptom of the disease, the officer added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
With the increasing number of gun violence incidents in the United States, lawmakers from different states consider the inclusion of red flag law in their justice system.

There are about 36,000 Americans being killed each year caused by gun-related incidence in the United States.

In response to the alarming statistics, Colorado, Hawaii, and Nevada recently enacted the red flag law in 2019. New Mexico is the latest state that joins the group just this year.

This controversial legislation was signed by New Mexico Governor, Michelle Lujan Grisham last February 25, 2020.

Red Flag law initiates to prevent gun violence incidents by putting power to the state to identify people who are at risk of committing atrocities to themselves and to others.

To avoid such incidents, the law allows them to be temporarily disarmed until proven that they are again capable of safely handling guns.

As proof of advantages, this law can offer, Luham Grisham even states that "This law is sensible and balanced. It is a good public safety measure. If it saves even one life, and it will, we will have done good work here."

To make close scrutiny about the signed legislation, let's take a look at New Mexico's version.

After a few revisions, only the law enforcement officers in New Mexico can issue petition in courts provided with proof of the owner's incapability. This is in contradiction with the previous version wherein anyone can file a protective order in courts.

If the defendant is proven to be at risk, the gun will be taken away and a 10-day hearing will determine if it should be extended for a year.

The problem arises in the process of taking away the gun first before having the hearing. As Glenn Hamilton, a Sierra county sheriff, said "Many of the New Mexico sheriffs are still going to be concerned with the fact that there's gun confiscation before there's hearing".

Another gap in New Mexico's version is the low standard proof required for guns to be taken away.

Red Flag Law aims to save lives by disarming people at risk not just for the sake of disarming them.

It aims to disarm people and give back their rights once proven they are no longer a threat, thus fully giving back again their rights.

To restore these rights the state must help these individuals by helping them to undergo rehabilitation.

Without these, red flag law will just be a one-sided law that renders no help to those who are found guilty.

In Colorado, unlike in New Mexico, it offers a hearing to determine if a person needs to undergo a rehabilitation treatment, thus, helping to treat the underlying causes of such unruly behaviors.

'Extreme Risk Firearm Protection Order Act' or mostly known as red flag law protects citizens from at risk individuals but legislators must ensure that these individuals' Second Amendment rights are not being compromised in return.

The state must ensure that 'due process' must come first to allow the defendants to defend themselves.
DARAA, Syria  Clashes continue between Syrian regime forces and armed volunteers on one hand and opposition fighters on the other in Daraa province in Syrias deep south.

The Russian military police intervened in the Daraa clashes and brokered an agreement under which opposition fighters would hand over their weapons and the weapons of the volunteer groups would be withdrawn. Opposition members who refused to abide by the agreement were moved to Idlib in the north, escorted by Russia forces and members of the humanitarian group Red Crescent. They arrived in Idlib March 5 and joined the opposition there.

This agreement is similar to the Russian-sponsored reconciliation agreement reached in July 2018 between the regime and the opposition in southern Syria. Back then as well, those who refused the agreements terms were moved, with their families, to Idlib, where most of them joined opposition factions there.

Meanwhile, those who remained joined the regimes ranks under so-called reconciliation factions to avoid being pursued by security forces. The regime promised those men they would be able to conduct their military service in southern Syria only. But when the fighting escalated in northern Syria in February of this year, regime officers deployed them to the front lines in eastern Idlib.

Omar al-Hariri, an official in the Daraa Martyrs Documentation Office, spoke with Al-Monitor about the clashes. The group is an independent, nonprofit, nongovernmental human rights organization that compiles statistics on victims of the Syrian civil war from Daraa.

We have documented the participation of hundreds of people from Daraa in the battles taking place in northern Syria, be it alongside opposition factions or regime forces. Ten opposition fighters from Daraa province were killed during the clashes against regime forces in Aleppo and Idlib provinces in February," Hariri said.

The clashes led to the killing of about 30 members of the reconciliation factions. Several bodies were handed over to their families, and they were buried in Daraa graves.  The fate of the rest of the members involved in the battle is still shrouded in secrecy, and there are reports that field commanders in the regime's army have executed members who refused to participate in the battle."

Abu Mahmoud al-Hourani also provided statistics to Al-Monitor. Hourani is a member of the Violations Documentation Office in the Horan Free League, a local media organization that documents violations in southern Syria and issues monthly reports. He confirmed that during February, the security situation was still chaotic in Daraa.

The office documented 37 assassination [attempts] that led to the killing of 26 people, the wounding of 12 others and the arrests of three young men. Also, it documented the killing of 12 young men in [regime prisons] in Damascus, four of them from the city of Ghabaghib, north of Daraa. These were arrested a year ago, despite the fact that their legal status was resolved after the regime forces took control of southern Syria. Their families were handed over their identification documents and informed of their deaths Feb. 27. The same town received the body of a member of the Syrian Army" on Feb. 29, Hourani added.

Sami al-Ahmad, a member of the reconciliation factions who was recently wounded during clashes in the vicinity of Saraqeb, told Al-Monitor, I was arrested two months ago at one of the regimes checkpoints in Damascus on charges of violating compulsory military service as I was heading to work at the University of Damascus. In late February, I was taken, along with hundreds of detainees, to participate in the battles taking place in eastern Idlib province, without us receiving any combat training.

Ahmad continued, A few days ago, I was hit by Turkish artillery shrapnel after the regime's army officers sent the new members and the reconciliation faction fighters from Daraa, Quneitra and the Damascus countryside to the battle front lines, making them easy prey for the opposition factions. The regime neither supported them nor secured their withdrawal.

Ahmad added, This huge number of fatalities is terrifying, daunting thousands of members of military units that are yet to participate in the battle. As a result, hundreds of newly joined members are defecting from the army for fear of being transferred to the battlefield at any moment."

Adham Akrad, a member of the central committee that negotiates with regime forces about violations of the reconciliation agreement, told Al-Monitor, The lack of long-term solutions to guarantee the agreement will be implemented led people to lose confidence in the regime. Therefore, civil actors and dignitaries in the cities and towns of Daraa organized dozens of protests and demonstrations denouncing the regime's violations, especially considering that status resolution cards are no longer valid and the youth are being threatened with arrest if they don't join military service. Thousands of students have been deprived of the opportunity to complete their studies.

Temporary status resolution cards were given to individuals who accepted the reconciliation agreement so they wouldn't be arrested.

Of note, Akrad signed the agreement but refused to join the reconciliation factions and encouraged disobedience and protests against the Syrian regime practices.

With the start of the current round of fighting in northern Syria, these false promises and reassurances have not stopped hundreds of young people who hail from areas that signed the agreement from defecting from the army. Meanwhile, thousands of young people opted for migration despite that option being fraught with danger, Akrad added.

Asked about the dominant factors pushing young people to leave their areas, Abdel Hakim al-Masri, minister of economy in the opposition's Syrian Interim Government, told Al-Monitor, The absence of civil society organizations led to the spread of unemployment among the youth, as the regime refused to grant young graduates work permits and confiscated all of their properties during its control of southern Syria in late July. It used to provide more than 20,000 job opportunities to the regions youth. Also, humanitarian aid that would have provided more than 100,000 food parcels for families in need has been cut off.

As the pace of military operations increases, the economic situation deteriorates and young people avoid joining the military service, the Daraa area is bound to witness renewed skirmishes and combat operations with the regime forces due to the lack of trust between the two parties and the setback witnessed in implementing and enforcing the reconciliation agreement.
MARQUETTE, MI  A former Catholic priest who allegedly abused his power to sexually abuse children while working in the Upper Peninsula was arraigned on more criminal sexual conduct charges on Tuesday, March 10.

Gary Allen Jacobs, 74, was arraigned on two additional criminal sexual conduct cases that he reportedly committed in the early 1980s while serving as a priest under the Catholic Diocese of Marquette in the Upper Peninsula, the Michigan Department of Attorney General announced.

In January, Jacobs was charged with seven counts of criminal sexual conduct in three separate cases that allegedly occurred in Ontonagon and Dickinson counties, the release said.

Two more victims came forward after the original charges were announced, the release said. Both cases arise from his allegedly abuse of his authority status as the victims priest. The incidents reportedly occurred between Jan. 1, 1981 and Dec. 31, 1984 in Ontonagon County.

In the two new cases, Jacobs is charged with three criminal sexual conduct counts: two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct involving a child between the ages of 13 and 15, and one count of second-degree criminal sexual conduct involving a child between the ages of 13 and 15.

Each first-degree criminal sexual conduct charge is punishable by up to life in prison and a lifetime of electronic monitoring, while the second-degree criminal sexual conduct charge is punishable by up to 15 years in prison.

Jacobs now lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He was arrested in New Mexico on Jan. 17 for the three previously charged cases of criminal sexual conduct, the release said. Jacobs voluntarily returned to Michigan to be arraigned on the new charges.

The progress this office is making with regard to clergy abuse is encouraging, though troubling at the same time, Attorney General Dana Nessel said in a statement. As my investigators continue to uncover more potential suspects, my thoughts are with the growing number of victims who have also come forward. My team will continue to talk with those who allege clergy abuse and conduct our investigations thoroughly as we pursue the truth.

Jacobs is scheduled for a preliminary conference at 1:30 p.m. on Monday, March 23, and a preliminary exam at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, March 30, both in Ontonagon County District Court. The court denied Jacobs bond, but it will be addressed again at the preliminary examination.

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The year 2008 saw things turn topsy-turvy in the German seaside resort of Trassenheide when Polish architects Klaudiusz Golos and Sebastian Mikiciuk built the countrys first upside-down house. The method behind the madness was to give visitors a different perspective of everyday objects and so Welt Steht Kopf or The World Upside Down was born. A few items on the outside of the structure give a clue of what is to come: a bench, bicycle, and wheelbarrow sit inverted against the wall. Not only is the exterior flipped on its head but the interior, too. Kitchen appliances, plants, paintings, the sofa, and even the curtains are upside down. But the attention to detail does not stop there, the building is built on a 6 percent incline to give the impression that the house miraculously fell from the sky and landed on its roof. The incline also adds to the overall disorientation once inside  as if the interior was not confusing enough! Below are a few of the world's craziest house designs around the world.

5. House NA

The see-through design makes this house seem out of place. Editorial credit: Iwan Baan

House NA is situated in a quiet Tokyo neighborhood but there is something that sets it apart from its next-door neighbors. The house is completely transparent. A young couple wanted a space that allowed them to live as nomads within their own home so Sou Fujimoto Architects designed the see-through house for them in 2012. The residence is built entirely out of glass and white steel beams; the clear floors are positioned at various levels to give a treehouse-like effect.

4. The PAS House

Almost every surface in the PAS House is skate-able. Editorial credit: thehousetours.com

Professional skateboarder Pierre Andre Senizergues tasked architect Francois Perrin and designer Gil Lebon Delapoint to turn his dream into a reality: he wanted to skate over every single surface in his house. The dwelling in Malibu, California was divided into three separate spaces where the walls became the ceilings and formed a tube of continuous surfaces. Most of the furniture was designed to be skateable, too. Ramps and curves were integrated into walls and freestanding objects like tables and beds were designed to be perfect objects to perform skate tricks on.

3. The Haines Shoe House

This house is a popular attraction in York County, Pennsylvania. Editorial credit: ydr.com

In 1958 shoe salesman Mahlon Haines built the house as a form of advertisement for his Haines Shoe Company; the residence was modeled after a work boot sold by the business. The Pennsylvanian building comprises of a living area, kitchen, and an ice cream shop. It stands at approximately 25 feet tall. For a time, the house served as honeymoon accommodation for newlyweds but for the last 40 years, the house has been open to the public as a tourist attraction and museum dedicated to the eccentric Mahlon Haines.

2. The Airplane House

The windows on this home resemble real airplane windows. Editorial credit: middleeasteye.com

The Zgharta region of Lebanon is famous for its extravagant houses but nothing quite compares to the Airplane House. Built by Michael Suleiman in 1975, the Airplane House is a detailed copy of the Airbus A380. The building has two floors with 30 portholes on each side and is complete with a nose cone and tail. The tail has an interesting addition, the European Unions flag, as depicted on usual Airbus A380 planes, has been replaced with a small window containing a statue of the Virgin Mary.

1. The Toilet House

In 2007, Sim Jae-Duck redesigned his house into the shape of a toilet. Editorial credit: toilography.com

Arguably the most bizarre dwelling of them all is Koreas Toilet House. The idea came from mayor Sim Jae-Ducks dedication to keeping the city of Suwons public toilets clean and pristine. His aim was to do the same for the rest of the world and founded the World Toilet Association as a result. To commemorate the WTA, Jae-Duck commissioned architect Go Gi-Wong to design a house that looked like a giant toilet and so, the Toilet House was born. After Sim Jae-Duck passed away, the house was turned into a toilet museum. Tourists from all over the world visit the two-story institution and marvel at the toilet-themed art and exhibits.
David Zalubowski, STF / Associated Press

Houston-area home sales experienced another double-digit gain in February as buyers came out in droves to take advantage of low mortgage rates. But with Houstons economy in peril amid plunging oil prices and disruption from the coronavirus, sellers are starting to worry the busy market wont last.

Real estate agent Jessie Singh said the owner of one of her listings in Rice Military instructed her to accept an offer he had declined before the oil and stock markets plummeted on Monday.
New Delhi, March 11 : Stating that face-recognition technology has been harnessed with CCTV footage of riots to identify the perpetrators, Home Minister Amit Shah said on Wednesday around 300 people from Uttar Pradesh had been identified.

Speaking on the Delhi riots in the Lok Sabha, Shah said nobody responsible for the violence would be spared, regardless of their religion. But no innocent person should fear arrest or detention, he added.

With the House taking up the much-awaited discussion on the Delhi riots on Wednesday, the Home Minister said 152 arms had been confiscated, 49 cases filed under the Arms Act, and 2,647 people arrested or detained in connection with the violence.

The opposition Congress has been demanding resignation of Shah over the Delhi riots, which claimed 52 lives.

Ever since the budget session of Parliament resumed on March 2, the Congress had been disrupting the proceedings demanding a debate on riots.
Toronto, Canada, March 11, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FreshBooks, the #2 small business accounting software in America, is officially launching in Ireland today. While FreshBooks has been serving Irish small businesses for over 10 years, today the company is deepening its commitment to the market by introducing features specifically aimed at helping Irish customers successfully run their businesses.

Popular for its easy-to-use, business-owner friendly platform and award-winning customer service, FreshBooks will now offer Irelands small business owners:

The ability to create and send invoices in multiple currencies to clients around the world

The ability to automatically follow up with clients on unpaid invoices to help small businesses get paid faster

The ability to connect FreshBooks to all major Irish banking institutions -- including Allied Irish Bank (AIB), Bank of Ireland, Ulster Bank and Permanent TSB -- enabling small businesses to automatically import their bank account transactions and see a full picture of their financial health and tax time readiness

Access to an ecosystem of 100+ world-class, complementary apps and integrations, including a recent partnership with TransferMate, an award-winning global payments company. Headquartered in Ireland, TransferMate enables businesses to quickly and easily send and receive cross-border payments

Expanded support hours for Irish customers, made possible by FreshBooks first international office in Amsterdam, Netherlands

New research released today from FreshBooks suggests the number of Irish self-employed professionals and small businesses could double to nearly 500,000 across the country by 2022. Among those who said they wanted to start their own small business in the next two years, more than one-third said self-employment is their number one goal in life, even when compared with other life pursuits.

Accounting software has traditionally catered to accountants first while the overwhelming majority of small business owners have no formal accounting training, said Matt Baker, SVP of Corporate Development and International Expansion at FreshBooks. FreshBooks is designed for the entrepreneur mindset -- we help business owners get paid faster, save time, and look professional to their clients. With Ireland ranking higher in entrepreneurship according to the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor, FreshBooks helps small business owners open a merchant account and get paid quickly and easily.

A 2019 study from FreshBooks shows that almost 70 percent of accountants and bookkeepers say small business owners find most small business accounting software intimidating, and two thirds believe small business owners require specialized accounting skills or experience to use it.

FreshBooks is a simple and intuitive accounting software solution. I'm not an accountant, so I had to spend a lot of time on my accounting and invoicing. It was time-consuming and I was not getting paid on time, said Brian Walsh, Founder of Route2, an IT service provider specialising in cybersecurity, cloud storage, PC upgrades, and email centered solutions in Kildare, Ireland. Since I started using FreshBooks, I've stopped stressing about paperwork, late payments, and losing any important data. I spend much more of my time delivering value to my clients and building my business.

Since 2004, FreshBooks has helped more than 20 million people and established itself as one of the worlds most popular accounting platforms for small businesses. FreshBooks has paying customers in 100+ countries around the world.

In February 2020, FreshBooks announced its official launch in the UK. To mark the launch, FreshBooks brought a new suite of features to the UK market, which were designed to help UK small businesses grow and succeed, while preparing for Making Tax Digital and future compliance requirements.

About FreshBooks

FreshBooks is the #2 small business accounting software in America, with paying customers in 100+ countries. The company has helped more than 20 million people process billions of dollars through its easy-to-use invoicing, time-tracking, expense management, and online payments features. Recognized with 10 Stevie awards for the best customer service in the world, the companys mantra is to execute extraordinary experiences everyday. FreshBooks is headquartered in Toronto, Canada, with offices in Amsterdam, Netherlands, and Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. Learn more at www.FreshBooks.com.
A childcare provider has been fined $17,000 for leaving a five-year-old girl trapped in a hot, locked bus for 15 minutes.

The bus was being used by childcare provider Helping Hands to take children from pre-primary and kindergarten to its service at Inglewood Primary School in Perth, last May.

The five-year-old was found by the parent of another child after sitting in the hot and locked bus outside the school.

The five-year-old was found by the parent of another child after sitting in the hot and locked bus outside the school (stock image)

The bus was being used by childcare provider Helping Hands to take children from pre-primary and kindergarten to its service at Inglewood Primary School in Perth, last May

Helping Hands was ordered by the State Administrative Tribunal to pay a $15,000 penalty and costs of $2,000, The West Australian reported.

Last month, Care for Kids OSHC North Woodvale copped a $10,000 fine for leaving a six-year-old child alone on a bus.

The school captain saved the child after seeing them knocking on the bus window.

It comes just a month after a three-year-old boy died after being abandoned in the back of a sweltering minibus in Cairns.

Maliq Namok-Malamoo, known by loved ones as Meeky, was found slumped in the back of a Goodstart Early Learning bus after being picked up from his family home on the morning of February 18.

On February 25, Cairns Magistrate Court heard how the three-year-old was left strapped in a babyseat inside the bus for six hours.

It was only when Michael Glenn Lewis, the centre's director, returned to the bus that afternoon that the boy's body was discovered.

The court heard that in the moments that followed Lewis made a distressing call to triple-0 and told an operator: 'I've left a child on the bus... this kid is dead.'

Lewis, 44, and his colleague Dionne Batrice Grills, 35, have both been charged with one count of manslaughter over the child's death.
It's the time of year again where the Student Elections are taking place in Dundalk Institute of Technology. Six candidates from two teams will be up for election in a bid to secure a vote for the following positions: Students Union President, Vice President for Welfare and Equality and Vice President for Student Engagement.

The election count takes place tomorrow, March 11th in the grounds of the college with a large turnout expected.

The candidates running for election are as follows:

Students Union President: Taidgh Kavanagh and Glenn McCourt

Vice President for Welfare and Equality: Caitlin Connor and Niall Kearns

Vice President for Student Engagement: Cian McCrave and Christopher Chacho ONeill



With a busy week of campaigning and hosting events, a number of candidates took time out of their busy schedules to speak to the Democrat to answer a couple of questions in relation to their campaign and some of the goals they wish to achieve if elected into office.



Caitlin Connor

At 21 years of age, Caitlin is currently a final year Business and Management student in the college. Originally from Drogheda, this is Caitlins first time running for a spot in the Student Election. If elected for the position of Vice President for Welfare and Equality, she will be the first female in this role in over 10 years.



What made you decide to run for the Student Election?

Personally, I feel like I have a lot to contribute to welfare and equality here in DKIT, but of course, I have a lot to learn which is why Ive been asking students for suggestions and opinions as to what theyd like to see me contribute to their welfare and equality while attending DKIT as Im only a potential representative of the student body.



What would be the main challenge that you would like to tackle if elected on Thursday?

A core issue I aim to tackle is towards individuals who receive their periods every month as I am trying to tackle period poverty within DKIT as theres non-existent availability of complimentary sanitary products in OUR lavatories throughout campus. Our period has a price tag here within DKIT for basic sanitary products when on campus.

For example, students who wish to stay late in the library to work on assignments have no access to sanitary products after the student shop and students union closes, but the SU rarely has availability of sanitary products and has been dominated by males the last ten years.



If I was to be elected, I would be the first Welfare & Equality Officer who is female within the last ten years. Its reached a time to break the stigma surrounding shame and embarrassment of a period and this is what we need to work on as a community here at DKIT.

Cian McCrave

At 21 years of age, Dundalk native Cian is currently a final year Business Studies student in the college. This is also Cians first time running for a spot in the Student Elections with the hopes of becoming the new Vice President of Student Engagement.



What made you decide to run for the Student Election?

What made me decide to run for the election was that last year I was a part of the election campaign and I really enjoyed the whole experience. I consider myself a peoples person and I love mixing with people, therefore, I thought that the role of student engagement would suit my personality perfectly.



What would be the main challenge that you would like to tackle if elected on Thursday?

Personally I think my main challenge is definitely student power! Its a big point in my manifesto. I want to basically take power from the students union and give it back to the students so they can make more meaningful decisions. At the moment there is low class rep involvement which leads to a loss of communication with the students. I want to focus on putting the students needs and wants first and to do that, we need their voices to be heard.

Glenn McCourt

Glenn, who is also a native of Dundalk, studied Culinary Arts in the college and is the current Students Union President in the college and is seeking Re Election for this role this year.



What made you decide to run for the Student Election?

I studied at DKIT for 3 years and during those 3 years, I represented DKIT on many different levels. I was a Class Representative and Student Ambassador as well as representing the college in National Cookery Competitions. I worked closely with different Presidents and Vice Presidents in making a real change over my time as a student and felt that I was best placed to take over the role of SU President and so I decided to run in last year's election and since then, I have never looked back. Its been a fantastic experience representing the 5,000 students of DKIT.



What would be the main challenge that you would like to tackle if elected on Thursday?

One of our biggest challenges this year as a Student Body was keeping our Graduation Ceremony on campus. It had been planned to take it to town, something which disgusted students as they like to graduate in the place that they put all their work in over the 3, 4 and 5 years. I was so proud to lead the students of DKIt in peacefully protesting the decision which was eventually overturned, thank god. Next year is our 50th anniversary as an Institute and we will be making sure that the graduation is celebrated on campus, especially if I am re-elected.



I stand with our colleagues in TUI in calling for urgent action on securing the TU status for DKIT so that we are not left behind in the education landscape in Ireland when it comes to both government funding as well as recognition. Were situated in an ideal location on the Dublin-Belfast corridor so we must secure TU status for the college and I will be joining our colleagues and friends in TUI in calling for this if I am re-elected.

The Democrat contacted Niall Kearns, Christopher O'Neill and Taidgh Kavanagh, but had not received a reply.
Social events, businesses and services are all being affected by the coronavirus - arrangements are being made in an attempt to prevent the spread of the virus.

Below you'll find a comprehensive list of services and events that are cancelled/closed/restricted.

Please get in touch to let us know if you have to cancel an event and we will share that information with our readers: newsroom@longfordleader.ie

Government measures announced today



Until March 29, the following restrictions will be in place:

* Schools, college and childcare facilities will close from tomorrow

* Cultural institutions will close

* Indoor gatherings of more than 100 people and outdoor gatherings of over 500 people should be cancelled

* You should continue to work, but if possible, work from home, and lunch breaks should be staggered

* Shops will remain open

* Restaurants and other businesses can stay open but should implement social distancing

* Social interactions should be reduced as much as possible

* Wash your hands

* Seek medical advice if you develop symptoms

Events Cancelled or Postponed

* The biggest victims of cancellations so far have been St Patrick's Day Parades across the county. All parades have been cancelled. For more, click here.

* Make-A-Wish Ireland have reluctantly cancelled their on street collections this Friday. Read more here.

* For Public Health reasons, a public meeting for Heartlands Heritage to promote the Shannon corridor meeting on March 12 8pm in the Great National Creggan Court Hotel, Athlone N37 YW25 has been postponed till further notice

* The Irish Cancer Society (ICS) has cancelled all Daffodil Day street collections including those in Longford. Read more here.

* A night with Mary Byrne, which was due to take place in the Longford Arms next week has been postponed to later in the year.

* Granard Easter Festival committee is sorry to advise that the Easter Festival is cancelled this year due to the Coronavirus. They will be back next year!

* The annual Ballymahon Tidy Towns table quiz, which was due to take place tomorrow evening has been postponed to later in the year.

* Based on HSE advice on the protection of vulnerable people and to keep our staff and volunteers safe, The Alzheimer Society of Ireland have decided to postpone all Alzheimer Cafe and Social Club meetings until further notice.

* A dream trip to New York for the St Patrick's Day and weekend celebrations for service users from St Christopher's Services Longford has been postponed owing to Covid-19 risk. Read more here.

* The Mid Shannon Wilderness Park awareness event in Lanesboro hall planned for April 1st with the Irish Wildlife Trust has been postponed.

* All Longford ICA Federation and Guild activities suspended



* Granard Agricultural Show AGM due to take place on Thursday, March 19 has been postponed

* Ballymahon tractor run in aid of the Ballymahon Daycare centre due to take place on Sunday April 19 postponed READ MORE HERE



* Bea Masterson Legan Amateur drama group additional performance of Widows Paradise postponed

* Longford School of Rock lessons cancelled until further notice



* The Brave Giant gig, which was due to take place at The Chelsea Bell in New York has been cancelled READ MORE HERE

* Still Voices Film Society has cancelled all screenings for March and April. Updates for summer events and the festival in August will be given at a future date.

SPORT



* The GAA, Ladies Gaelic Football Association, Camogie and Colleges have cancelled all activity until the end of March READ MORE HERE

* ALL Longford schoolboy/girl matches CANCELLED with immediate effect #Covid19 READ MORE HERE

* IRFU confirm all rugby activity is suspended READ MORE HERE



* FAI postpones all football activity until March 29 READ MORE HERE

* Longford Hunt Branch of Irish Pony Club Hunter Trials scheduled for Sunday, March 22 postponed

* Mullinalaghta St Columba's GFC supper dance & presentation of medals deferred

Other Restrictions

* Some churches are introducing changes to practices to limit the spread of the virus. For more, click here.

* All nursing homes now have visiting restrictions. Click here for a statement from Nursing Homes Ireland.

* Longford Omniplex Cinema has announced that after a thorough risk assessment and analysis of the global cinema market, they will implement In-Cinema Seat Separation as part of their measures to encourage effective Social Distancing in cinemas. Read more on this here.
These were among incidents reported by the Loudoun County sheriffs office and the Leesburg and Purcellville police. For information, contact your police or sheriffs department.
The end of The Bachelor is rapidly approaching with After the Final Rose 8-10 p.m. Tuesday, March 10 on ABC and streaming on Hulu Live TV.

LIVE STREAM ABC: Hulu Live TV

It has been a long, emotional journey for pilot Peter Weber.

Last night, the two remaining women, Hannah Ann Sluss and Madison Prewett met Webers parents and his brother, Jack, in Australia.

Webers mother encouraged him to pursue Sluss.

This reminds me very much of you last season with Hannah B. You were head over heels in love with Hannah B. but unfortunately, she went and she picked the wrong person. And now you have a perfect girl right in front of you and youre going to risk that? she said.

Hannah Ann loves you with all of her heart. Dont let her go. Dont let her go. Bring her home. Bring her home to us. We will welcome her with open arms. We will welcome her with all the love in the world. All the love in the world. She is a dream come true. And God has placed her there for you. Thats what love stories are made out of. Someone who is so madly in love with you, his mother said.

To which Peter replied, Youve got to stop doing this.  youve got to stop, it is literally destroying me right now.  You have no idea Come on, this is insane right now please dont do that to me.

Peter told his family, You guys dont know the Maddi I know. Our entire relationship has been absolutely perfect  there has been no hiccups.

Jack asked what we were all thinking, How would you say there have been no hiccups?

I dont have their support with Madison and it sucks, he said.

Even Peter doesn't know how it all ends. Watch #TheBachelor Finale tonight at 8|7c on ABC. pic.twitter.com/p1RcgxadMX  The Bachelor (@BachelorABC) March 10, 2020

Weber and Prewett spent a day together and she ultimately eliminated herself. I dont think were the best for each other, she said. They both cried.

Will it be Hannah Ann or Madison?

You can watch The Bachelor finale even if you dont have cable by subscribing to Hulu Live TV.

Here is the sneak peek of tonights finale:

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.
(Bloomberg) --

Chancellor Angela Merkel said Germany will do whatever is required to limit the impact of the coronavirus on Europes biggest economy, weighing in for the first time at length on her countrys response to the growing crisis.

We will do whatever is necessary, Merkel said at a news conference in Berlin, a day after the 27 European Union leaders held a video conference to coordinate action with European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde.

The German leader was referring to budget spending on health measures, on top of a pledge to provide ailing companies with liquidity and extend furlough pay for workers. She said she agreed with Lagarde that the situation must be taken very seriously and that without natural immunity against the virus, and a lack as yet of vaccination or therapy options, as much as 70% of the population is at risk.

Merkel and her economic team are focused on providing liquidity to cash-strapped companies and havent seen the need for classic stimulus measures until the economic fallout of the disease becomes more clear. Yet pressure has been growing for Germany to step up efforts to support growth.

Some of the nations leading economists on Wednesday urged the government to become more proactive and give up its balanced budget policy. While the economists rejected a broader stimulus package, they called for targeted measures to cushion the economic impact, such as tax cuts and better terms on tax obligations.

Merkel, who rarely gives formal news conferences, announced her appearance Wednesday only a few hours ahead of time, highlighting the seriousness of Germanys plight. She has up to now allowed her health minister, Jens Spahn, to take the lead on briefing the public about the governments response to the virus.

That has prompted criticism about her engagement with the crisis. The decision to appear with Spahn on Wednesday came after Bild newspaper, Germanys biggest-selling daily, accused her on its front page of failing to show leadership during the corona chaos.

Story continues

Merkel commented briefly on the virus in a speech at a German-Greek forum on Monday and her spokesman issued a statement on her behalf after Tuesdays video conference. She also briefed lawmakers in her parliamentary caucus on Tuesday.

Economic Shock

EU member states must act in concert to slow the spread of the virus, Merkel said Wednesday, calling for the bloc to maintain economic life even as it mobilizes to fight the epidemic.

The virus has arrived in Europe; its here -- and everybody has to understand that, she said, adding that each EU nation will contribute what it can to counter the spread.

Asked about Lagardes assertion that Europe risks a major economic shock similar to the 2008 financial crisis, Merkel said that considerations such as recapitalizing banks were quantifiable, whereas the virus brings an unprecedented level of uncertainty, such as building immunity and the viruss reaction to temperature.

We have to act with a far greater level of unknown factors, so that task is a different one, Merkel said. But in all such crisis situations, the necessary elements are prudence and decisiveness.

(Updates with Merkel comments)

--With assistance from Birgit Jennen and Daniel Schaefer.

To contact the reporters on this story: Arne Delfs in Berlin at adelfs@bloomberg.net;Patrick Donahue in Berlin at pdonahue1@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Chad Thomas at cthomas16@bloomberg.net, Iain Rogers, Raymond Colitt

For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com

Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.

2020 Bloomberg L.P.
Weather Alert

...The Flood Warning continues for the following rivers in Kentucky...Illinois...Missouri... Ohio River at Paducah. Ohio River at Cairo. Ohio River at Olmsted Lock and Dam. .Recent heavy rainfall and snow melt will continue to keep water levels on the lower Ohio River in or near minor flood this week. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Motorists should not attempt to drive around barricades or drive cars through flooded areas. Caution is urged when walking near riverbanks. Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles. Additional information is available at www.weather.gov. && ...FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING... * WHAT...Minor flooding is forecast. * WHERE...Ohio River at Paducah. * WHEN...Until early tomorrow afternoon. * IMPACTS...At 39.0 feet, Minor flooding occurs affecting mainly bottomland and surrounding low lying areas. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - At 7:00 PM CST Monday the stage was 38.6 feet. - Forecast...The river is expected to rise to a crest of 39.0 feet tomorrow morning. - Flood stage is 39.0 feet. - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood &&
A new species of a bird-like dinosaur that lived 99 million years ago has been identified from a fossilized skull trapped in a block of amber, a study said.

Even tinier than a hummingbird, it's among the smallest dinosaurs from the Mesozoic Era yet found. It's also one of the most ancient birds ever reported.

"When I first saw it, I was blown away," Jingmai O'Connor, a paleontologist from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and lead author of the study, told AFP.

Amber preservation of vertebrates is rare, and this provides us a window into the world of dinosaurs at the lowest end of the body-size spectrum," said study co-author Lars Schmitz, a biologist at the W.M. Keck Science Department in California, in a statement.

The skull specimen, which was discovered in a mine in northern Myanmar, is only about 1/2 inch in length. The entire bird weighed less than a tenth of an ounce, scientists estimate.

An artist's rendering of an ancient bird, imagining what it looked like preying on an insect.

The animal was given the scientific name Oculudentavis khaungraae. Oculudentavis means eye tooth bird, reflecting notable features that give hints into how the animal lived.

Dinosaur clues: Rocks discovered from the day the dinosaurs died 66 million years ago when an asteroid hit the Earth

The creature's skull is dominated by a large eye socket that's similar to a modern lizards eye. The eye socket has a narrow opening and only lets in a small amount of light, which means that Oculudentavis was suited to being active in daylight conditions.

Its upper and lower jaws contain a large number of sharp teeth and the study authors estimate each jaw would have had 29 to 30 teeth in total.

Despite its small size, this finding suggests Oculudentavis was a predator and likely ate small arthropods or invertebrates, unlike similar-size modern birds, which have no teeth and feed on nectar.

This is truly one of the rarest and most spectacular of finds! The University of Central Florida paleontologist Ryan Carney, who wasnt involved with the study, told National Geographic. Like capturing Cretaceous lightning in a bottle, this amber preserves an unprecedented snapshot of a miniature dinosaur skull with exciting new features.

Story continues

Shorter days: Days were a half-hour shorter when dinosaurs roamed the Earth 70 million years ago

The researchers concluded that the specimen's tiny size and unusual form suggests a never-before-seen combination of features.

"This discovery shows us that we have only a small glimpse of what tiny vertebrates looked like in the age of the dinosaurs," Schmitz said.

The study was published in the peer-reviewed British journal Nature.

Amber with the Oculudentavis skull inside. The skull is 99 million years old, nearly perfectly preserved.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tiny 'bird-dinosaur' discovered trapped in 99-million-year-old amber
This is the moment guests listened to Boris Johnson speak in the same room as Nadine Dorries one day before she started to show coronavirus symptoms.

Dozens of women and girls were present to hear the Prime Minister's speech on International Women's Day 10 at Downing Street in London last Thursday.

Health Minister Mrs Dorries fell ill the following day, before tests confirmed last night that she had the virus. The former nurse is now in isolation and recovering.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks at 10 Downing Street in London last Thursday, in an event attended by Nadine Dorries, as well as International Trade Secretary Liz Truss (in red next to the podium) and Olympian Kelly Holmes (in a black suit, two places to Ms Truss's left)

MailOnline has pieced together Mrs Dorries's movements in the 14-day period before she fell ill - and the events that have followed her diagnosis yesterday, which saw her office sealed

Those attending on Thursday also included Mr Johnson's pregnant fiancee Carrie Symonds, International Trade Secretary Liz Truss and athlete Dame Kelly Holmes.

Children from schools in Blackburn and Bournemouth were also believed to have attended, with MailOnline having contacted staff today to confirm whether they did.

The day at Downing Street also featured a discussion with Mr Johnson, Dame Kelly and Stemettes chief Anne-Marie Imafidon, hosted by Grazia editor Hattie Brett.

Constituents who met 62-year-old Mrs Dorries last week face being contacted by health officials due to the MP testing positive for the infection.

The day at Downing Street last Thursday also featured a discussion with Dame Kelly Holmes (left), Stemettes chief executive Anne-Marie Imafidon (centre) and Boris Johnson (right)

Mr Johnson's fiancee Carrie Symonds speaks to two young women at last Thursday's event

She held a surgery in her Mid Bedfordshire constituency on Friday morning which was attended by up to 12 people, according to Steven Dixon, chair of the Mid Bedfordshire Conservative Association.

Who has Nadine Dorries had contact with while carrying coronavirus and before she fell ill? Nadine Dorries, a health minister responsible for Patient Safety, Suicide Prevention and Mental Health, is likely to have been in contact with hundreds of people in the up to two weeks she may have been carrying the illness before she began showing symptoms. This is what we know about her movements: February 25  Keeping Safe Conference, Westminster's Abbey Centre (pictured) February 29  celebrates her mother's 84th birthday at a party in a restaurant March 4  Spoke in the House of Commons March 5  Downing Street event to mark International Women's Day. PM Boris Johnson also attended Earlier in the day she met Labour MP Rachael Maskell, who is now also in self-isolation. March 6  Held surgery at the Flitwick Club in her Mid-Bedfordshire constituency where 12 people attended. She had a pub lunch afterwards with Steve Dixon, from the Mid Bedfordshire Conservative Association. March 7 and 8 - She experienced the 'classic symptoms' of the disease  a dry cough, high temperature and 'vice-like' pain in her chest. March 10 - Nadine Dorries tests positive for coronavirus March 11 - The MP confirms a member of her staff has also tested positive and pictures of her offices in Parliament, sealed off, emerge Advertisement

He said it took place at The Flitwick Club, a private members' club, which is now undergoing a deep clean as a precaution.

Mr Dixon said Mrs Dorries would likely have had one of her staff members with her for the surgery.

'There were probably... I'm going to say 10, maybe 11, 12 people that came to see her in total,' Mr Dixon said.

He said the details of all those who attended the surgery have been passed to the NHS.

Paul Copperwheat, interim manager at The Flitwick Club, said the constituency surgery took place in a private meeting room before the club opened.

'She came and went without any incident,' he said. Mr Copperwheat said it was the first time Mrs Dorries held a surgery at the venue.

He said there have been no reports of staff or members feeling ill.

Public Health England (PHE) said it had assessed the risk of Mrs Dorries's individual close contacts and only those with symptoms need to self-isolate.

If a person tests positive for coronavirus, PHE works to identify and assess anyone who has had close contact with them during the time they are considered to be infectious.

This might include family members, colleagues or those they have had meetings with.

Advice is given based on an assessment of the individual's risk, and if PHE believes a contact is at higher risk of infection, they may be asked to remain in their home and stay away from work, school or public places.

Those most at risk will receive daily follow-ups from PHE.

If someone being monitored does develop symptoms, they would be tested and provided with specialist care.

Meanwhile, a Conservative MP confirmed that Mrs Dorries had sent a message to the Tory WhatsApp group saying that a member of her staff is ill.

As a former nurse, Mrs Dorries has played a key role in drawing up plans to tackle the virus.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Nadine Dorries are pictured together in November last year

Nadine Dorries was last on the floor of the Commons last Wednesday (pictured) and is likely to have been carrying coronavirus then and didn't know it

She met hundreds of people last week, including a large number of MPs, and attended a conference outside Westminster.

What happens now to Parliament after Nadine Dorries's diagnosis? What happens now to Parliament? Following Mrs Dorries' diagnosis, a Parliament spokesman said there were still 'no plans to suspend Parliament', following guidance from Public Health England. What extra measures are being taken? A Parliament spokesman said the extra measures implemented by the Palace of Westminster are in line with recommendations for the general public and include 'placing information posters across the parliamentary estate encouraging thorough handwashing'. Further measures that could be taken range from a total ban on palace visitors to shutting down Parliament for three months. Who will be tested? All health ministers, including Health Secretary Matt Hancock, could now be tested for the virus, as well as any other officials who have recently come into contact with Mrs Dorries. Advertisement

She started feeling ill on Friday as she was signing a statutory instrument that declared coronavirus to be a 'notifiable disease', enabling companies to obtain insurance cover.

Over the weekend she experienced the 'classic symptoms' of the disease  a dry cough, high temperature and 'vice-like' pain in her chest.

Mrs Dorries, who is a mother of three, said: 'I can confirm I have tested positive for coronavirus. As soon as I was informed I took all the advised precautions and have been self-isolating at home.

'Public Health England has started detailed contact tracing and the department and my parliamentary office are closely following their advice.

'I would like to thank PHE and the wonderful NHS staff who have provided me with advice and support.'

She added on social media: 'It's been pretty rubbish but I hope I'm over the worst of it now. More worried about my 84-year-old mum who is staying with me and began with the cough today. She is being tested tomorrow. Keep safe and keep washing those hands, everyone.'

Matt Hancock, who as Health Secretary is her boss, was last night understood to be fit and well and not showing any symptoms.

The news will raise fears that Parliament may have to be closed or that restrictions will have to be placed on visitors.

** Were you at the event at Downing Street last Thursday? Please email mark.duell@mailonline.co.uk or tips@dailymail.com or call 020 3615 1838 **
The Jersey City Council is revisiting its plastic bag ban and adding new teeth to the law.

An ordinance up for first reading Wednesday would amend the citys ban on single-use plastic bags by outlawing some reusable bags, put at least a 10 cent fee on paper bags, and raise the penalty for violators to up to $500.

Ward E Councilman James Solomon, who is introducing the amendment, said the ban that was instituted in 2018 permitted retail businesses to distribute reusable plastic bags that were of a certain thickness. But officials say some shoppers treat those bags like single-use bags, leading to the same amount of water pollution the initial ban aimed to reduce.

The revised ordinance, which is similar to a measure Hoboken adopted in August, will ban those thicker plastic bags.

We wanted to go back and revise to make it better. Its actually similar to what Hoboken just passed, Solomon said. The goal is to reduce the amount of plastic we use in our society and keep it out of our rivers.

Hobokens new rules, which went into effect Sunday, prohibits all carry-out plastic bags, including reusable plastic bags, at all retail and food establishments. Retail and food establishments must still make paper bags available to customers for a fee of 10 to 25 cents per bag.

That fee is the reminder consumers need to bring their own reusable bags, Solomon said.

While violations in Jersey City only resulted in a $100 fine, in Hoboken, the first infraction would cost a retailer $100, $200 for the second and $500 for every subsequent violation. Now under the amended ordinance, Jersey City will have the same penalties.

Food trucks and mobile food carts will no long be exempt from the plastic bag ban.

Jeff Tittel, the director of the New Jersey Sierra Club, said these amendments will make the ordinance even stronger. He said you want to ban plastic bags switching to a thicker bag didnt make it reusable.

These are common sense amendments that will help actually reduce plastic use and help encourage more reusable bags, Tittel said. When they use these thicker plastic bags, they get thrown out just as just as the regular plastic bags.

The thicker bags are supposed to last over 100 times, but studies have shown it falls apart after 10 uses, Tittel added.

Solomon said the legislation will give retailers nine months to adjust. The law will be officially implemented on June 1.

Alison Cucco, the chair of the Jersey City Environmental Commission, said in a letter that similar measures have been successful in other municipalities. She used Los Angeles plastic bag ban as an example, saying it resulted in a 94% reduction of single-use bag use. The economic impact per resident is estimated at less than $4 per year.

The JCEC unanimously supports these amendments, Cucco said. We feel confidently that this model will elicit a change in the behavior of Jersey Citys residents, while not bringing about economic hardship, in order to reduce plastic waste and energy consumption associated with bag production.

The amendment will also require retail establishments to provide a recyclable paper bag free of charge to any customer who uses any federal or local welfare assistance programs, including New Jersey Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program and the New Jersey State Supplemental Security Income Program.
PR-Inside.com: 2020-03-11 14:00:07

March 11, 2020



Nursing staff gives new solution 90%* staff satisfaction rating and new transport process 94%*; workflow improvements help flagship site for leading health system deliver on Quadruple Aim

Amsterdam, Netherlands and Miami, FL, U.S.  Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA), a leading health technology company, and Jackson Health System, one of the nations largest public health systems, today announced new findings from a performance improvement evaluation at Jackson Memorial Hospital. The evaluation looked at the impact of its new Enterprise Monitoring as a Service (EMaaS) model six months after its deployment as part of a groundbreaking Philips partnership . Nursing staff gave the new model a 90%* satisfaction rating, up from 8%* prior to the new system [1]  an 82% improvement. The hospital also estimates it will save 13,331 staff hours from workflow improvement and automation of manual tasks. Moreover, the new patient transport process has reduced the time it takes to connect a patient to a transport monitor from 5 minutes to 3.9 seconds  saving staff more than 4 minutes and 56 seconds per patient and helping to earn a 94%* overall satisfaction rating from nursing staff.

Jackson Memorial Hospital, a nonprofit tertiary care teaching hospital in Miami, is the centerpiece of Jackson Health System. The 1,550 licensed bed hospital is focused on continuous improvement, including standardization of patient monitoring solutions for all acuity levels and settings, as well as improving accuracy of data. By adopting the EMaaS model, Jackson can move away from traditional capital outlay models, which can require buying the monitoring technology, consumption-based engagement or paying for monitoring capacity per patient. Moreover, it will give the hospital better performance visibility, utilization transparency and other improvements across the enterprise.

Standardizing Jackson Memorials patient monitoring has simplified the staffing and management of our Central Monitoring Unit, said David Zambrana, the former CEO of Jackson Memorial Hospital and current EVP for Hospital Operations of Jackson Health System. It has also simplified the work required to electronically send patient data to our Electronic Medical Records system, managing the network and interfaces over time. Our partnership provides the ongoing support and proactive management we want for a life-critical capability that we rely on 24/7*.

The new Philips patient monitoring solution is also interoperable and automates clinical data sharing, which saves time by quickly making critical information  such as a patients vital signs  directly available to staff through the Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system. Moreover, Philips will continue to provide technical support, including helping Jackson to design solutions that seamlessly integrate with core IT systems such as the EMR. Philips will also help Jackson identify clinical workflow optimization opportunities, provide continuing education and assist with asset and data management.

Forward thinking healthcare systems like Jackson want to achieve the Quadruple Aim and realize they need to move away from transactional relationships to true partnerships, both with their patients and their vendors, in order to provide quality care at a lower cost, said Vitor Rocha, Chief Philips North America and member of the Executive Committee, Royal Philips. Working together, we have developed the EMaaS model, which provides them with a state-of-the-art, scalable patient monitoring solution that reduces their per capita cost of care, while allowing them to improve the patient and staff experience. By automatically sharing vital patient information through the EMR, they are creating a more seamless experience, helping their staff to deliver the right care at the right time.

*This data is exclusive to Jackson Memorial Hospital. Results from case studies are not predictive of results in other cases. Results in other cases may vary.

[1] 90% of the clinical team surveyed in critical care units indicated they were somewhat satisfied or highly satisfied when asked to rate their overall satisfaction with the current patient monitoring system at Jackson Memorial Hospital.

For further information, please contact:

Silvie Casanova

Philips North America

Tel: +1 781-879-0692

Email: Silvie.casanova@philips.com

Kathy OReilly

Philips Global Press Office

Tel: +1 978-221-8919

Email: Kathy.oreilly@philips.com

Jackson Health System

Jackson Health System is an integrated healthcare delivery network with more than 12,000 employees. It has been a central provider of medical services and healthcare leadership for residents of Miami-Dade County for more than a century. The centerpiece of Jackson Health System is Jackson Memorial Hospital, a world-class regional center of specialized care that functions as the primary teaching hospital for the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine. Jacksons robust network also includes two community hospitals, a childrens hospital, a rehabilitation hospital, a behavioral health hospital, a network of urgent care centers, two long-term care nursing facilities, and both primary and specialty care centers across Miami-Dade County. The new Jackson West Medical Center campus is under development in the City of Doral, and will feature a 100-bed inpatient hospital, adult and pediatric emergency rooms and outpatient services. Owned and supported by the taxpayers of Miami-Dade County, Jackson is governed by Public Health Trust Board of Trustees under the auspices of the Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners.

About Royal Philips

Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) is a leading health technology company focused on improving people's health and enabling better outcomes across the health continuum from healthy living and prevention, to diagnosis, treatment and home care. Philips leverages advanced technology and deep clinical and consumer insights to deliver integrated solutions. Headquartered in the Netherlands, the company is a leader in diagnostic imaging, image-guided therapy, patient monitoring and health informatics, as well as in consumer health and home care. Philips generated 2019 sales of EUR 19.5 billion and employs approximately 80,000 employees with sales and services in more than 100 countries. News about Philips can be found at www.philips.com/newscenter .

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Recognized as one of the Best Places to Work in Kentucky in 2018, Alpha Business Acquisitions, Inc. provides its employees with ample opportunities for career development and training.

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Colombo [Sri Lanka], Mar 11 (ANI): A 52-year-old tour guide from Angoda became the first case of coronavirus in Sri Lanka, health authorities said on Wednesday.



The first case of the viral infection in the country was identified last night from the country's western province wherein the victim recalled that he had recently provided services to an Italian tour group, a media release issued by the Presidential Secretariat was cited by local Sri Lankan newspaper Daily Mirror.

Health officials further informed that preliminary tests conducted on the patient were positive for coronavirus, and therefore, he has been quarantined at the Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH) in Angoda for further treatment.

Earlier a 43-year-old Chinese tourist was found to be infected with the coronavirus upon her arrival and admitted to the IDH reporting the first case in Sri Lanka. The woman fully recovered from the infection and returned to China last month.

The coronavirus, officially known also COVID-19, was first detected last December in Wuhan, in central China, and has spread to across 107 countries worldwide.

The global death toll from the virus is now over 4,260, with more than 118,100 confirmed cases, according to Johns Hopkins University. (ANI)


New leadership is not given chance in Congress, says Jyotiraditya Scindia after joining BJP

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

New Delhi, Mar 11: Former senior Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia on Wednesday joined the BJP in the presence of party president JP Nadda, pushing the 15-month-old Kamal Nath government to the brink of collapse. The ceremony took place at the BJP headquarters in Delhi where the former Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia was inducted into the saffron party.

JP Nadda expressed happiness over Jyotiraditya Scindia joining BJP, remembers his grandmother and party's co-founder late Vijaya Raje Scindia.

Speaking to media, Scindia said,''Thanks JP Nadda, PM Modi and Amit Shah. Two dates have been crucial in my life, first, the day I lost my father and second, March 10, his birth anniversary, when I took a decision to change the course of my life.''



''New leadership was not given a chance in the Congress, my aim has always been to serve people and politics only a means to fulfill that. I was hurt and distressed as I was not able to serve people in my previous organisation, Congress is in denial of reality, it has changed from the party it used to be,'' Scindia further said.

In a major setback to the Congress, Scindia, one of its senior leaders, had earlier resigned from the party, saying it was time for him to move on.

He is likely to be sent to the Rajya Sabha, where he may get a berth in the Union cabinet if his revolt against the Congress leads to the fall of the Madhya Pradesh government, as the BJP expects.

The Congress also announced his expulsion for "anti-party activities" as the crisis looming over the Madhya Pradesh government led by Chief Minister Kamal Nath deepened.

The 49-year-old leader was long upset with the Congress as he believes that Nath and Digvijaya Singh, another party satrap in the state, were working in tandem to marginalise him.

At least 22 Congress MLAs, many of whom loyal to him, have resigned to reduce the ruling Congress in the state to a minority.

While the Congress, which was voted to power in the state after 15 years in 2018, has 114 MLAs, the BJP has 107 legislators in the 230-member assembly.

Four Independent MLAs, two lawmakers of the Bahujan Samaj Party and one Samajwadi Party legislator are supporting the Congress-led government.

As many as 17 MLAs close to Scindia went incommunicado on Monday, with most of them believed to be camping in Bengaluru.

Election for three Rajya Sabha seats from the state is slated for March 26. Both the Congress and the BJP are sure to win one seat each, and the changing dynamics in the state politics means that the saffron party may eye to win the third seat.

The Scindia family is one of the most distinguished political dynasties in the country and Jyotiraditya Scindia's decision has snapped its decades long ties with the Congress.

His two aunts, Vasundhara Raje and Yashidhat Raje, are already in the BJP with the former serving as the Rajasthan chief minister for 10 years.

His father Madhavrao Scindia had also started his political innings as an MP of the Jana Sangh, the earlier avatar of the BJP, in 1971 but joined the Congress later.

His grandmother Vijayaraje Scindia had begun his political career as a Congress MP in 1957 and then joined the Swatantrata Party, now defunct, before she moved to the Jana Sangh and emerged as a leading hardline ideologue of the party.
At least 1,000 people are believed to be at risk for coronavirus as they have returned to India from abroad. They have been asked not to venture out of their houses.

Authorities in the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are scrambling to deal with the coronavirus outbreak. Hospitals lack facilities to test samples for the disease and masks are in short supply.

In both Union Territories, the administration has banned large public gatherings, and has ordered the closure of all educational institutes. Authorities in the Jammu division have also ordered the closure of all cinema halls.

At least 1,000 people are believed to be at risk as they have returned to India from abroad. They have been asked not to venture out of their houses.

A statement by Jammu and Kashmir's department of public relations has asked people to observe coughing and sneezing etiquettes as part of measures to control the disease and also urged social, religious and political organisations to avoid large gatherings.

Jammu and Kashmir's nodal officer for coronavirus SM Kadri said that 942 people have been kept under home quarantine, and advised not to venture out of their houses for at least 14 days.

Doctors flag inadequacies

Several doctors have blamed the government for not making masks and sanitisers available in hospitals, and delaying testing of samples. In Ladakh, police are investigating on how a doctor's letter about higher officials' 'lukewarm response' was leaked to the media. Meanwhile, in Jammu, medical professionals slammed the government for the unavailability of surgical masks in hospitals.

Another cause for concern is that there is only one operational testing facility  at Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Soura. Another facility is expected to be operational at Government Medical College (GMC), Srinagar in the next two to three days. Samia Rashid, the principal of GMC, Srinagar, said, "We have equipment to test coronavirus samples. But we are waiting for the supply of reagents (chemicals used to isolate the virus' genetic material) from National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune.

Follow LIVE updates on the coronavirus outbreak here

At SKIMS, Medical Superintendent Farooq Ahmad Jan said that testing facilities at the institute were started on 9 March. He claimed that the facilities are presently adequate.

Officials said that before the facility in Soura was set up, swab samples were sent to AIIMS in Delhi and NIV in Pune, delaying the results.

Balvinder Singh, president of the Doctors Association Jammu termed the government's response to the disease as 'pathetic.' He alleged, "The government only made masks and sanitisers available in hospitals after we urged them to do so. However, supplies are not adequate, and many doctors are using surgical masks instead of N-95 masks, he said. After Singh flagged this issue, he was transferred from Udhampur to Batote in Ramban district.

Some doctors questioned why preparations were inadequate despite the disease having been declared a medical emergency by the World Health Organisation (WHO). They pointed out that several people have travelled to China and Iran, among the worst affected countries. Mortup Dorjee, Chief Medical Officer, Leh, said that two people who tested positive for the disease had earlier travelled to Iran.

In a similar vein, a senior doctor at GMC, Srinagar said, "The government's response has been a knee-jerk one. Screening of people who have travelled abroad has not taken place properly. The staff has not been trained, and facilities like Hepa filter ventilators and mass screening devices like thermographs are not available."

The doctor also said that the government cannot rely only on self-declaration and that it must actively trace those with symptoms like fever, running nose and cough.
The Enforcement Directorate claims to have detected Rs 5,000 crore kickback money being funnelled into 30 or more 'shell' companies run by former Yes Bank CEO Rana Kapoor's wife and three daughters.

An ED official told Business Today that all this money has been used to buy properties in India and overseas. The ED has allegedly identified five such properties in Delhi - Amrita Shergil Marg, SP Marg, Kautilya Marg, Jor Bagh and Hauz Khas - and many others in Mumbai, including properties in the US, UK (London) and France (Paris).

The ED official alleged the modus operandi of Rana Kapoor and family was same as that of Chanda Kochhar of ICICI Bank. When Chanda Kochhar was MD and CEO of ICICI bank, she was found to be extending loans to Videocon group, which in turn invested in the company of Kochhar's husband.

ALSO READ: Yes Bank crisis: ED puts Rs 20,000 crore NPAs blame on Rana Kapoor

In the case of Yes Bank, loans were given to different entities, which in turn allegedly offered loans to companies run by Rana Kapoor's wife and three daughters.

In one such case, investigated by the CBI after an FIR was filed against Rana Kapoor, his wife and daughters, it has been alleged that Yes Bank sanctioned a loan of Rs 3,700 crore to DHFL group, which later offered a loan of Rs 600 crore to DoIT Urban Ventures Ltd, run by Rana Kapoor's wife Bindu Kapoor.

ED sources told Business Today that companies floated by Rana Kapoor's wife and daughters are paper companies and they have no business activities to show.

DoIT Urban Ventures is owned by Rana Kapoor's three daughters through Morgan Credits Pvt Ltd.

According to the filings with the Registrar of Companies, DoIT Urban Ventures is in the business of retail trading and posted a turnover of Rs 34.5 crore in 2018-19. It had a net worth of Rs 251 crore.

ALSO READ: Yes Bank crisis: Will ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank also invest?
A district court here sentenced a



32-year-old man to seven years' rigorous imprisonment for repeatedly raping a woman in Vikramgad taluka of Maharashtra's Palghar district.

In an order issued on February 6, district judge Rajesh S Gupta convicted Nitin Mere of offences registered under sections 376 (rape) and 417 (cheating) and sentenced him to seven years of rigorous imprisonment.

The judge also imposed a fine of Rs 15,000 on the accused.

Prosecutor Rekha Hiwrale told the court that the victim and the accused worked at a construction site in Virar and were having an affair.

The accused repeatedly raped the victim between 2013 and 2014, after promising to marry her, she said.

However, when the victim later found out that Mere was planning to marry another girl, she felt cheated and lodged a police complaint, the prosecutor added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A non-residential 109ac grazing farm has come on the market in Meath. The property is located at Killyon, Hill of Down, about 5km from Ballivor, 11km from Kinnegad and 15km from Trim.

The lands, which are all in grass, are divided into three fields. They have a good water supply from the nearby River Deel and are well fenced.

"This is a lovely farm with no waste," says auctioneer Aidan Heffernan of Sherry Fitzgerald Royal.

Before Christmas, he sold 41ac in close proximity to this land. Having been withdrawn from auction at 445,000, it was subsequently sold to a local farmer in excess of 8,000 per acre.

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Whatsapp This property at Gillstown Little, Kells Road, Athboy is located 3 kms from Athboy and 9 kms from Kells

He is quoting a guide price of 900,000 or 8,250 per acre for this property.

"Land seems to be averaging 8,000 to 9,000 per acre so far this year," says Mr Heffernan, "but there could be a reduction on last year's average of 9,000 due to uncertainties such as CAP and Brexit.

"This property offers a nice opportunity for someone to get their hands on a decent farm. It's hard to know who'll buy it, but I certainly expect an element of local interest."

The public auction will take place on Wednesday, March 25, at 3pm at the Trim Castle Hotel.

Land League cottage on 11ac

The same auctioneer is selling an old Land League cottage with 11ac on the same day. This property at Gillstown, Little, Kells Road, Athboy, is 3km from the town and 9km from Kells.

The residence, which is in need of complete refurbishment, extends to 839 sq ft and includes a kitchen, sitting room, three bedrooms and a bathroom. Basic services include electricity, water and a septic tank.

"The lands, which are in grass, are good quality, but require an element of upgrading, and ditches need tidying up," says Mr Heffernan.

"The guide price is 150,000. There should be no difficulty with planning permission as there is an existing house on the site."

The public auction takes place on Wednesday, March 25, at 3pm at Trim Castle Hotel, Trim, Co Meath.
Hackers are constantly looking to use relevant information as a way to get unsuspecting people to click on their phishing messages. Since the WHO classified the COVID-19 CoronaVirus as a pandemic today, the number of emails relating to the topic is expected to grow even further. Messages will pertain to canceled business, sporting and social events.

These will be mixed in user inboxes with malicious messages hoping for a click.

Cybersecurity leader RiskIQ released a report regarding the new threats to be on the lookout for. You may recall the company recently put out a report which we covered: Latest Mobile Threats Include Adware, Tax Scams, Fleeceware and Black Friday Scams

Here is what you need to know about this new report:

Current Malware Phishing Operations

AZORult

As early as late January 2020, malware distributors launched a campaign with phishing emails that targeted companies whose supply chain operations and revenue streams the outbreak could disrupt. The targeted businesses came from a variety of sectors, including manufacturing, industrial, finance, transportation, pharmaceutical, and cosmetics.

The perpetrators have been sending emails with malicious Microsoft Word documents attached. The attachments install the AZORult malware, a credential and payment card information-stealer. Attackers have used AZORult via an exploit for CVE-2017-11882, which is a remote code execution flaw in Microsoft Equation Editor. When exploited successfully, the flaw allows attackers to execute remote code on a vulnerable machine once the malicious document is openedeven without user interaction.

(We have been unable to identify the cybercriminals behind the AZORult phishing campaign, but our initial suspicion is that they are based in Russia or Eastern Europe because this is where this particular malware is most commonly bought and sold.)

Emotet

Similarly, in Japan, phishing scams are spreading the Emotet Trojan by using malicious messages that purport to contain information about coronavirus. This scam capitalizes on a users desire to learn more about the coronavirus threat. Included in the emails are Microsoft Office attachments that use malicious macros to infect recipients with Emotet.

Security researchers first identified the Emotet Trojan in 2014 when it was deployed against the financial sector. Emotet uses functionality that helps the software evade detection by some anti-malware products. It also has worm-like capabilities that help it spread to other connected computers. This functionality has led the Department of Homeland Security to conclude Emotet is one of the most costly and destructive pieces of malware, affecting government and private sectors as well as individuals and organizations.

In 2019, cybercriminals made Emotet even more dangerous by updating its attack methods with the ability to send victims emails from past messages, steal credentials from its victims to send outbound messages, and hijack victims email accounts. These techniques make it easier for hackers to trick users into thinking they are responding to a legitimate email.

Social Engineering

Another campaign cybercriminals are having success with capitalizes on conspiracy theories claiming the existence of unreleased cures being kept from the public. While these attacks initially targeted people in the United States and Japan, there is some evidence the perpetrators are now targeting Australia and Italy. The email urges recipients to click on an embedded link to receive information about the cure. The link then leads users to a fake DocuSign page where theyre encouraged to share personal credentials to receive the information.

Beware of Fake Domains

Some phishing campaigns are incorporating fake domains designed to look like the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the WHO. These fake domains, e.g., cdcgov.org or cdc.gov.org., are sent via phishing emails and appear to come from the CDC (CDCs legitimate site is cdc.gov.). The emails urge victims to click on a link to download a document on health and safety measures regarding the spreading of coronavirus. Victims believe the link is taking them to the CDC website, but it redirects them to a fake site that looks like a Microsoft Outlook login page. Here, victims are asked to enter their username and password.

Cybercriminals are using a similar method with fake WHO credentials. In these cases, if users click the link in the email, they are led to a webpage that looks similar to the WHO website. However, this fake site contains a popup screen asking them to verify the username and password associated with their email address. As with the phony CDC website scam, if someone enters their credentials, the information is sent to the attackers.

Same Old Health Scare Playbook

Many of the attack methods cybercriminals are using have been deployed during previous international health scares. The only significant difference is the improvements they have made to their attack tools.

Influenza Pandemic (2019): Cybercriminals conducted a malspam campaign that pretended to be from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) about a new flu pandemic. The emails contained a malicious attachment that, when opened, installed the GandCrab v5.2 Ransomware on the targets computer (GandCrab fell out of favor in 2019, but was possibly replaced by Sodinokibi/REval ransomware.).

Zika Virus (2016): Researchers discovered an email purporting to be from Saude Curiosa, a health and wellness website in Brazil. Within the email were links and attachments claiming to be instructions on how to eliminate the virus and the mosquitoes that spread itone of the links, which infected computers with a form of malware called JS.Downloader was clicked more than 1,500 times. JS.Downloader remains in use by attackers.

Ebola Outbreak (2014):

Cybercriminals sent emails with an attached report on Ebola. Users who clicked on the report activated Trojan.Zbot (a.k.a Zeus) malware.

Cybercriminals sent emails posing as a well-known telecom and ISP and offered a presentation on the Ebola virus. The email came with a zip file that installed Trojan.Blueso malware.

Cybercriminals sent an email which claimed a cure for Ebola had been discovered and that the news should be covering it. Users who clicked on the link in the email were infected with Backdoor.Breut malware.

While none of these older malware formats appear to be a significant threat to organizations today, cybercriminals continue to deploy similar or updated versions.

AIDS Virus (1989)

The first known healthcare-focused ransomware attack targeted AIDS researchers in 1989 and was called the AIDS virus. This virus came on a floppy disk and scrambled the contents of its victims computers by encrypting filenames and offering to unlock them in return for a licensing fee would be transferred to an offshore bank account. Today, modern ransomware is produced by hackers who have benefited from decades of virus development and who take advantage of industry-standard cryptography to attack their targets.

Expect Ransomware Attacks Next

In the past, AZORult has been used to download ransomware as a secondary infection. In 2018, cybercriminals used AZORult in a massive email campaign to distribute Hermes ransomware. In this case, the victims first lost their credentials, cryptocurrency wallets, and more before losing access to their files in the subsequent ransomware attack. That same year researchers discovered a new AZORult variant targeting computers around the world. Those infected had the Aurora ransomware installed as well as the information-stealing Trojan. Likewise, in 2019, the STOP ransomware family was deployed in conjunction with AZORult.

The Emotet Trojan has also been used in conjunction with ransomware. In 2019, Emotet was found to have partnered with TrickBot and Ryuk ransomware. This malware combo adapts Emotet to drop TrickBot and modifies TrickBot not only to steal data but also to download the Ryuk ransomware, which encrypts the machine. In this campaign, the attacker can take personal information, passwords, mail files, browser data, registry keys, and more, before encrypting the victims machine and ransoming their data.

Consequently, RiskIQ assesses with a moderate-high level of confidence cybercriminals will follow a pattern weve seen before. We expect they will conduct layered attack campaigns similar to those of the recent past. And with a large pool of institutions, organizations, and individuals to target, they can be confident of success. Company executives, mid-level managers, administrators of local governments, and, of course, healthcare professionals all have a professional interest in following the latest developments around the spread of coronavirus. And it only takes one tired or overworked individual to click on what he or she believes is a legitimate alert or update.

Mitigating Your Risk

Do not click on links or open attachments in unsolicited email messages.

Run up-to-date security software on your computer.

Educate users to be on guard for threats, like Emotet, that present emails that appear to be unexpected replies to older email threads, emails that seem out of context, or messages from familiar names but are sent from unfamiliar email addresses.

Ensure systems are patched on time.

Update endpoint detection and response and anti-virus solutions deployed.

Segregate networks to limit the reach of self-propagating malware.

Review privileged access and users to enforce principles of least privilege.

Keep up to date on blacklists of malicious IPs and compromised websites.

Use an email security tool that features attachment inspection and disable the ability to run macros from attachments.

Regularly back up your data on your system and store it offline or on a different network.

Encrypt your sensitive data.

Have an incident response plan ready.

If you are looking for products and services to help you, consider:
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are not in a rush to mend their strained relationship with Prince William and Duchess Kate anytime soon.

According to a source to Us Weekly, "Harry misses his brother and Kate, but there's too much mud under the bridge at this point for any meaningful communication. They're cordial, but that's about as far as it goes."

On March 9, Harry and Meghan crossed path with William and Kate for the first time in public at the Commonwealth Day. They arrived separately at the venue, after which the couples barely acknowledged each other at their seats in the front rows of Westminster Abbey at the service. Also, they left the place without interacting outside the church.

The insider to the outlet further noted that Meghan isn't fazed as Harry because she has been estranged from her family before. The couple, for now, is focused on 10-month-old son Archie.

The insider shared that these early days with Archie are so precious, and Harry and Meghan are really happy to be raising him outside of the public eye, for now at least.

In January, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced their plans to step back from their senior royal duties. The two have subsequently moved to Canada but returned for their final engagements, including Commonwealth Day. On March 31, they will be completing their royal transition.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Two US soldiers were killed in an attack in Iraq (Ben Birchall/PA)

Three service personnel have been killed, including two Americans, and a dozen more injured when a barrage of rockets were fired at a military base in Iraq.

US officials said five service members were seriously wounded and evacuated from the Camp Taji base and seven others were still being evaluated. Buildings on the base were in flames.

Army Colonel Myles Caggins, a US military spokesman in Iraq, said on Twitter that more than 15 small rockets hit the base.

The Coalition @CJTFOIR confirms more than 15 small rockets impacted Iraqs Camp Taji base hosting Coalition troops, March 11 at 7:35 p.m. (Iraq Time). Assessment and investigation ongoing, follow @OIRSpox & @SecMedCell for updates. https://t.co/oNgNfCEYG7  OIR Spokesperson (@OIRSpox) March 11, 2020

Camp Taji, located just north of Baghdad, has been used as a training base for a number of years.

There are as many as 6,000 US troops in Iraq, training and advising Iraqi forces and conducting counter-terror missions.

Officials did not say what group they believe launched the rocket attack, but Kataib Hezbollah or another Iranian-backed Shia militia group is likely.

Kataib Hezbollah was responsible for a late December rocket attack on a military base in Kirkuk that killed a US contractor, prompting American military strikes in response.

That in turn led to protests at the US embassy in Baghdad.

They were followed on January 3 by a US air strike that killed Irans most powerful military officer, General Qassem Soleimani, and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, a leader of the Iran-backed militias in Iraq, of which Kataib Hezbollah is a member.

Kataib Hezbollah has been designated a foreign terrorist organisation by the State Department since 2009.

Later on Wednesday, Syrian opposition activists and a war monitor reported an air strike that targeted Iranian militia positions along the Iraq-Syria border.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported 10 air strikes carried out by three unidentified aircraft that targeted pro-Iran militias in the Boukamal region in eastern Syria, near the border with Iraq.

The Britain-based Observatory which monitors the Syria war through a network of activists on the ground said at least 10 explosions were heard in the region.

US officials said the strike was not related to the Taji base strike.
Pokhara/IBNS: Instead of showing health consciousness over the outbreak of the deadly Novel Coronavirus, China has sent 71 workers to the Pokhara Airport construction site in Nepal. All the workers have been quarantined.

The workers, who returned to Nepal between Mar 4-6, have been quarantined at the construction site only.

They have been quarantined by the project officials and Gandaki Provincial Health Directorate after some Nepali workers expressed concerns over the outbreak of COVID-19.

Binesh Munkarmi, chief of the airport construction project, said as quoted by The Kathmandu Post, "Chinese and Nepali employees working at the airport do not have any health problems. Workers returning from China will be kept in quarantine for a few more days."

"The situation is normal here. These are just precautionary measures and to keep the fear of the disease among the Nepali workers at bay," he added.

The workers returned to Nepal after the Chinese authorities gave them certificates stating they were free from COVID-19.

The airport administration said the Chinese workers were also willing to be quarantined for 10 days.

None of the travellers was from the Chinese city of Wuhan, the epicentre of the outbreak.

The Coronavirus has already spread over 100 countries.

China has been locked down, shattering all business, over the outbreak of COVID-19.
File image

NCP chief Sharad Pawar on March 11 ruled out a Madhya Pradesh-like political drama in Maharashtra, saying the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena-NCP- Congress alliance government is doing "very well" in the state.

Talking to reporters at the Vidhan Bhawan in south Mumbai, Pawar also said Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia, who quit the party to join the BJP, had sought "quick rehabilitation" after losing the Lok Sabha poll.

Asked if the Congress is to be blamed for the imminent fall of the Kamal Nath government, Pawar said the party has a "good and capable leadership".

On the impact of Scindia's exit on the 15-month-old Kamal Nath government in Madhya Pradesh, Pawar said, "Some people have confidence in the capacity of Kamal Nath and feel a miracle can happen."

Pawar said he had full confidence in the capabilities of Kamal Nath.

"It will be known in the next one or two days if it (miracle by Kamal Nath) will happen. I don't know the structure of Madhya Pradesh Assembly, But if there was a dialogue with "Raja Saheb" (Scindia), this situation wouldn't have arisen," Pawar said.

"He (Scindia) wanted to be given new responsibilities after his defeat in the Lok Sabha elections (last year). But this is not the Congress' culture and it is not easy," he said.

Ruling out a "Madhya Pradesh-like situation" in Maharashtra, Pawar said the Maha Vikas Aghadi government in the state is doing well and is on the right path.

The fact that the media has not got any material to write against it (MVA government) means all is well, he said.

Stating that the Yes Bank crisis did not happen in a day, Pawar said India's economic situation is a cause of concern.

"What was the department of banking doing? It is answerable. The details will be out after a probe," he said.

He said he along with Mamta Banerjee, H D Deve Gowda, Sitaram Yechuri and Yashwant Sinha had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking immediate release of former J&K chief ministers Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti.

"What is their crime? This sends a wrong message in the valley. J&K is a sensitive state andit is wrong to allow the sentiments of the people to be against the country," he said.

On Muslim reservation, he said minority affairs minister Nawab Malik had highlighted the NCP stand on the issueand the party stands by it.

Asked about SIT into the Koregaon-Bhima violence, Pawar said, "I am not aware if the government will form the SIT. But our demand stays."
Harvey Weinstein failed to apologize to his victims Wednesday telling a court he feels remorseful 'for all the men and women going through this crisis' before being sentenced to 23 years in prison.

The shamed movie producer, 67, broke his courtroom silence with a rambling five-minute statement in which he said he felt perplexed by the case and the #MeToo climate in which it unfolded.

He did not apologize to his victims but said looking back during the trial at emails he exchanged with his accusers, he said he thought they had a good friendship.

'I'm not going to say these aren't great people. I had wonderful times with these people,' he said.

Weinstein was sentenced on Wednesday in Manhattan criminal court following his convictions last month for forcibly performing oral sex on production assistant Mimi Haleyi in 2006 and third degree rape for the attack on Jessica Mann in 2013.

'We may have different truths, but I have remorse. For all of you and for all the men and women going through this crisis right now in this country', Weinstein said, adding he was worried about 'thousands of men' being denied due process in the #MeToo era.

'I'm totally confused. I think men are confused about these issues,' he said in a calm but creaking voice, adding that he had fond memories of his accusers and believed he had a 'serious friendship' with both Mann and Haleyi.

Weinstein, who did not read from notes and addressed Mann and Haleyi, added: 'I havent seen my three older children since the New York Times [and] the New Yorker articles came out. That for me is hell on earth. I may never see my children again.'

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Harvey Weinstein is seen leaving a Manhattan courthouse Wednesday afternoon after being sentenced to 23 years in prison for rape and sexual assault

Harvey Weinstein sits in a wheelchair during the sentencing following his conviction on sexual assault and rape charges in the Manhattan on Wednesday

Weinstein was sentenced to 23 years in prison for sex crimes in a landmark #MeToo case that ended with six of his accusers sobbing and hugging each other from the front row of the courtroom.

Weinstein, who is in poor health and will not be eligible for parole for 20 years, was sentenced to 20 years on the criminal sex act charge for forcibly performing oral sex on production assistant Mimi Haleyi in 2006.

He was sentenced to three years for third degree rape for the attack on Jessica Mann in 2013. His defense team slammed the punishment as 'obscene' and already vowed to appeal.

Continuing his statement, Weinstein added: 'Yes, I got in fights with my brother; yes, I said bad things to people, but there are so many people  thousands of people  who would say great things about me.

'To all the women who testified, we may have different truths, but I have great remorse for all of you.'

In discussing his family life Weinstein, who appeared in court in a wheelchair, added: 'I would do a lot of things over. I would care less about the movies and care more about my children and my family.

Jessica Mann makes a statement during sentencing Wednesday following Harvey Weinstein's conviction

'I also want to make one clear statement: my wife Eve and my wife Georgina do not know about this. I went to extraordinary lengths to hide my extramarital affairs.

'I worked too hard. I feel remorse for this situation. I feel it deep in my heart. I feel emotional. Im really trying to be a better person. Thank you, your honor.'

Weinstein also appeared to deny his power in Hollywood, telling the court: 'I had no great powers in this industry. Miramax at the height of its fame was a small company. I couldnt blackball anybody.'

Judge James Burke, who oversaw his trial, ordered Weinstein to serve the sentences consecutively and sentenced him to five years post release supervision for each charge. It is not clear when he will be eligible for parole.

Once one of Hollywood's most influential producers, Weinstein had faced the possibility of a maximum sentence of 29 years in prison.

Weinstein's defense attorney Donna Rotunno slammed the judge and jury outside court, saying the trial was totally unfair.

Rotunno, who said they would be appealing by July, said the sentence was 'too harsh'.

Asked about the impact of the #MeToo movement, Rotunno said: 'This says nothing to me about the #MeToo movement other than the judge felt some type of pressure.'

Defense attorney Donna Rotunno talks to the press after Harvey Weinstein's sentencing

Tarale Wulff speaks to the media outside the courthouse after movie mogul Harvey Weinstein was sentenced to 23 years in prison. Tarale Wulff testified that Weinstein raped her at his New York City apartment after luring her there in 2005 with promises of an audition for a film role

Tarale Wulff, center, and Miriam Hailey, right, leave the courtroom following the sentencing of movie producer Harvey Weinstein

WEINSTEIN'S RAMBLING COURTROOM STATEMENT Harvey Weinstein broke his courtroom silence with a rambling five-minute statement in which he said he felt perplexed by the case and the #MeToo climate in which it unfolded. Some of his statement is below. 'We may have different truths, but I have remorse... For all of you and for all the men and women going through this crisis right now in this country. 'Thousands of men are losing due process. I'm worried about this country. 'I'm totally confused. I think men are confused about these issues. 'The movement basically started with me now there are thousands of men who are being accused. He said he had fond memories of his accusers and believed he had a 'serious friendship' with both Mann and Haleyi. 'I'm not going to say these aren't great people. I had wonderful times with these people. 'I went through extraordinary lengths to hide my affairs. 'They had nothing to do with any of it. I was unfaithful to both and I just can't tell you how bad I feel from that.' 'I had no great powers in this industry. Miramax, at the height of its fame, was a small firm. 'That's what it was, but it became blown up - like power, power, power. I wasn't' about power, I was about making great movie. 'I'm not going to run away from some of the things I did say. 'Yes, I said bad things to people but there are so many people, thousands of people, who would say great things about me. 'I really feel remorse for this situation. I feel it deeply in my heart. 'I'm really trying to be a better person. 'I haven't seen my three older children since the New York Times (and) the New Yorker articles came out. 'That for me is hell on earth. I may never see my children again.' Advertisement

Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance said afterward that the judge 'sent a message today that this type behavior is something that any potential offender is going to have to consider.

'The judge took it seriously, which is exactly how we think he should have. And we're grateful.'

Mann and Haleyi, who delivered victim impact statements on Wednesday, were joined in court by four of Weinstein's other accusers: Annabella Sciorra, Tarale Wulff, Dawn Dunning and Lauren Marie Young.

All six women testified during Weinstein's high-profile trial last month but only Mann and Haleyi were allowed to address the court.

Weinstein, who still faces separate sex crimes charges in Los Angeles, was wheeled out of the court in his wheelchair immediately after and will now be taken to the maximum security Downstate Correctional Facility in Fishkill, New York.
A garda search is underway for three men after a woman was killed after being hit by a car being used in a robbery in South Dublin.

Another woman escaped with minor injuries.

The incident took place at about 9.20 last night, when a number of men entered a convenience store in Barnhill Road, Dalkey.

They threatened staff and robbed a sum of cash.

They left the scene in a car that was involved in a collision with two female pedestrians in nearby Killiney.

The men abandoned the car at the scene and fled on foot.

The two women - both in their 50s - were brought to St Vincent's University Hospital.

One of them was in a critical condition and died overnight from her injuries.

The second woman's injuries were minor.

The three men who were in the car haven't been located and searches are ongoing.

Gardai are appealing for any witnesses to contact Dun Laoghaire Garda Station.
Hundreds of suppliers lined up at the headquarters of Leflair, but only about 140 were allowed in

In the morning of March 10, Leflair worked with several suppliers to work out an arrangement for their debts. However, the meeting left most unsatisfied with the ambiguous arrangements and promises leaving little firmly in their grasp. Many partners were not even allowed to attend the meeting as they were not included in the companys list of 138 firms to be let in.

They stopped us at the elevator, zing.vn quoted a business that was not on the list. The meeting was held to resolve problems with suppliers but they arbitrarily selected only some of us and excluded all others. Those persons have no authorisation to represent our compensation claims.

After made to wait 30 minutes, the suppliers were asked for their personal information and the name of their company without receiving any promises about a future meeting with Leflairs leaders or whether the company's arrangements with the 138 suppliers apply to them.

They should inform us how long we will have to wait. We have been here for two hours without being offered a seat, drinks, and fresh air during the COVID-19 outbreak, said Hwang, a South Korean supplier who was not selected to work with Leflairs leaders.

Voicing the same opinion, another supplier stated, They treat suppliers like me like thieves, erecting protective barriers while Leflair has been dodging my emails about paying the money they owe us.

On the other hand, Quy Dinh, director of a jewellery company which is one of the 138 selective suppliers, said that Leflairs representative was only beating about the bush and offered no specific course of action. The most solid information was that Leflair will file for bankruptcy on the same day.

According to the minutes of the meeting signed by both Leflair and the representatives of suppliers, the e-commerce platform has to return all goods it holds to suppliers before March 20, sign documents confirming its debts before March 25, and pay all debts before March 31. In case the company does not perform, suppliers will file a lawsuit against it.

So far, the company has announced that it would file for bankruptcy.

At a meeting with partners on March 2, Pierre Antoine Brun, co-founder and COO of Leflair, said that the company holds a total of $2 million in debts towards 500 suppliers. However, the company's account had less than $50,000 at the time.
Project Python was aimed not at high-profile targets, but rather, mid- to high-level associates in the United States, officials said. Assistant Attorney General Brian Benczkowski said investigators will use the data they collected as part of Project Python to identify and map out the cartels logistical nodes and pathways. The Jalisco New Generation Cartel, he said, moves multiple drugs in the United States, but is a particularly prolific producer and distributor of methamphetamine. He said it also is the most well-armed cartel in Mexico, responsible for significant violence there.
The Union Health Ministry asked people to refrain from travelling to China, Italy, Iran, Republic of Korea, Japan, France, Spain and Germany and advised them to avoid non-essential travel abroad in view of the coronavirus outbreak.

Issuing an additional travel advisory (II) for COVID-19 for Indians intending to travel abroad, the ministry said more than 100 countries across the world now have reported cases of COVID-19.

According to the advisory, people travelling to these countries or those who have travelled abroad might come in contact with people affected with COVID-19 during their stay or even while in transit at the airports.

Within these countries, a few countries have reported very large number of cases and deaths putting passengers from these countries particularly at higher risk of infection.

"In view of the above, Indian citizens are advised to avoid non- essential travel abroad. They are further strongly advised to refrain from travelling to China, Italy, Iran, Republic of Korea, Japan, France, Spain and Germany," it said.

COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine  one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show

According to the Union Health Ministry, India so far has reported 50 confirmed cases of coronavirus which includes 16 Italians.
Jenelle Paetow from AllianceCorp often sees the challenges that women come up against when they want to begin investing in property.

Some of them having worked through a turbulent time personally to find themselves standing on their own two feet, while others are just searching for a more financially rewarding way to move forward.

There really is that growing group of women later in life who have come through a separation or a divorce, and more often than not, with that generation, the husband was the one managing the finances or planning for the future, Paetow discusses.

You have this situation where you have a woman who most likely has taken a lot of time off work to raise a family and so [she] doesnt have a large superannuation fund there and shes now single and having to plan for her future.

In celebration of International Womens Day, Paetow sits down with Your Investment Property magazine editor, Sarah Megginson, and publisher, Kym Springer, to not only share their personal property triumphs in the latest YIP Talk podcast, but also to empower women on how they can best prepare to take their own financial strides.

Paetow says that its important for women to be actively thinking about their financial future, at any age.

You dont always want to think of the worst, but if you did have to provide for yourself, its about ensuring that you know what strategies are available and youre starting to plan ahead, Paetow says.

While she says that it can at times be overwhelming to get started in property because of the breadth of information thats available, connecting with a mentor or a group that can offer support and guidance can really help alleviate some of that stress or anxiety so that you can go ahead and take action.

For Kym Springer, publisher at Your Investment Property magazine, the primary driver for her initial step into property was independence.

I wanted to have my own place with my own money and something that would grow in wealth to set myself up. So I started saving while I was still in high school Springer shares.

I pretty much had all my salary apart from what I needed for travel expenses put in there [managed fund] to save up for my first deposit. I had the initial fear of Im going to have a mortgage, I wont have any money to spend, but once I got over that and got into the market, I became addicted and couldnt stop.

Sarah Megginson shares that there were times in her early 20s when she would reflect on just how much she was sacrificing to be a landlord  but she says that its ultimately about adjusting your mindset so that you perceive those moments as an investment into your future.

I bought an investment property with my husband, my boyfriend at that time, and I can remember paying the stamp duty  it was over $13,000, and it almost wiped out our savings. I thought, thats a month in Europe, gone, in tax to the government, Megginson says.

Once you get over that first hurdle, though, investing becomes addictive! Whether its buying in a syndicate, whether its buying with someone else, [or] whether its rent-vesting, do whatever it takes to get your head in the right space; to get your mindset around, yes, Im going to have a mortgage and this is going to cost me, but when I project for my future, this is going to set me up and put me in a much better position.

To learn more about the womens experiences in property investing, and the strategies that can help you move towards a future thats also built on property, tune into the latest YIP Talk podcast here.
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An employee at a major electronics chain in Da Nang, who was in contact with two British nationals previously testing positive for the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), has been confirmed as Vietnams 35th patient of the viral disease.

The 29-year-old Vietnamese woman works as a shop assistant at a store of Dien May Xanh - a major Vietnamese electronics retailer - in Hai Chau District, Da Nang, the Ministry of Health said in a statement on Wednesday morning.

At around 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm on March 4, she was in contact with two British nationals who went shopping there.

The Britons were confirmed as Vietnams 22nd and 23rd case of COVID-19 infection on Sunday, alongside seven other foreigners, after being on the same flight with the countrys patient No.17 from London to Hanoi this month.

Samples of the Da Nang sales clerk were collected by the municipal Center for Disease Control and sent to the Pasteur Institute Nha Trang in the south-central city of Nha Trang for testing on Tuesday evening. They have come out positive for the novel coronavirus.

The patient is now quarantined for monitoring and treatment at Da Nang Hospital.

She is the 35th COVID-19 patient in Vietnam, and the 19th infection confirmed in the country in less than a week.

The novel coronavirus, which first emerged in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in December 2019, has infected over 118,800 people and killed nearly 4,300 globally as of Wednesday morning, according to Ministry of Health statistics.

Vietnam has so far confirmed 35 infections, including 21 Vietnamese, two Chinese nationals, one Vietnamese American, nine British citizens, one Mexican, and one Irish national.

Sixteen of the patients had recovered and been discharged from the hospital by February 26, while 19 others are being treated.

Patient No. 17, a resident in Hanoi, was confirmed on Friday last week after Vietnam had reported no new infection since February 13.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
New Delhi: The opposition in Lok Sabha on Wednesday demanded the resignation of Home Minister Amit Shah for failing to contain the violence in Delhi for nearly three days, even as the BJP accused the Opposition of politicising the situation to further its narrow interests.

As the government came under attack from the opposition during the debate on the recent communal riots in the national capital that have claimed over 50 lives, the BJP members alleged that the violence was a pre-planned conspiracy and the home minister and authorities took pro-active steps to control the situation.

The ruling party said evidence show that stones and petrol bombs were stored in huge quantity to fuel the violence.

Initiating the discussion on "recent law and order situation in some parts of Delhi", Congress leader in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury wondered how violence continued for three days despite the fact that Delhi Police is one of the best equipped in the country. "The Home Minister (Amit Shah) will have to explain," he said.

Hitting out at the prime minister, he said, Nero fiddled while Rome burned. When Delhi was witnessing violence, Modi was hosting US President Donald Trump in Ahmedabad, the Congress leader said.

He said the situation came under control soon after National Security Advisor Ajit Doval visited the violence-hit areas. "Why could not the Home Minister go... NSA reports to the Prime Minister. Does this mean that the Prime Minister's Office had lost faith in the home ministry," Chowdhury said hitting out at Shah.

AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi said there is a "tsunami of Hindutva hate" and called for an impartial probe to find the prepatrators of the violence.

Some of his remarks evoked sharp response from the Treasury benches, with at least two Union ministers -- Ravi Shankar Prasad and Kishan Reddy -- registering their protests.

Speaker Om Birla also expunged certain remarks made by Owaisi.

BJP leader Meenakshi Lekhi alleged that some people were taking political benefit out of the incidents of violence.

Referring to the killing of IB officer Ankit Sharma during the riots, she said 400 wounds were found on his body. "What kind of hatred was this... we should discuss that also," she said, adding the riots were pre-planned.

She also alleged that stones and catapults were found in the house of an AAP councillor and hate speeches were given by an MLA of the party.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said members should not take the names of any religion in the debate. He expunged certain names taken by Lekhi and asked her not to name people.

Lekhi said that the government acted pro-actively and riots were controlled within 36 hours. She also said that the allegations of hate speeches on Anurag Thakur and Parvesh Verma were not relevant as the riots started on February 23.

She added that it was wrong to blame BJP leader Kapil Mishra for the riots. She alleged that after the speech of Congress leader Sonia Gandhi at Ramleela maidan, people started gathering.

Similar speeches were given by Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi as well, Lekhi said. "For three months, people are sitting on roads," she said, referring to people protesting at Shaheen Bagh against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act.

She added that work to instigate people and propagate extremism was going on since long. "This government wants to do the politics of development," she said, adding the government is providing house, power connection and cylinders to people not on the basis of religion.

"Why the opposition is spreading rumours," she said.

She said that the current government "violated the no go zone" and acted on repeal of Article 370 and triple talaq.

She said that opposition members of the House understand the CAA law but are "continuously misleading the people".

Citing certain data on riots, Lekhi said during 1950 to 1964, as many as 243 riots are documented.

When Indira Gandhi was Prime Minister, 337 riots happened during 1966 to 1977 and 1980 and 1984.

Similarly, when Rajiv Gandhi was Prime Minister, 291 riots occurred during 1984 and 1989.

Out of 1094 riots, 871 happened during Congress regime, which was 73 per cent, she added. "18 big riots happened during Congress regime," she added.

She said that opposition is taking about one riot in Gujarat and they should know that no riots happened in that state after 2002.

On the allegation that Home Minister Amit Shah did not act, she listed out meetings of the Home Minister with officers to assess the situation.

T R Baalu (DMK) said that the Delhi riots and the law and order situation of the national capital were discussed in parliaments of the UK, Iran, Indonesia, Turkey and Malaysia. These countries "are making fun of us", he said.

These all countries have raised concerns over the CAA, he said adding today was the 88th day of protest at Shaheen Bagh "without any problem".

Baalu said that "what went wrong" as over 50 people were killed in the Delhi violence. He said that although Delhi Police is efficient in manging the issues, "why all went wrong" on those days.

"The inaction of the police has been advised by the administration," he said.

He also said that BJP leader Kapil Mishra's "hate speeches" led to these riots.

Tejasvi Surya of BJP alleged that while there wasn't anything anti-Muslim in CAA, the anti-CAA protests had "a lot of anti-Hindu" feelings.
Talk show producers have said for years that they need a good audience to make a good episode. Many of the shows bring audience members into the studio an hour before showtime. For some shows, music is pumping at eardrum-splitting volumes, the better to whip fans into a frenzy and get them primed for big reactions live on air.

Now those big laughs and cheers will be silenced for the foreseeable future.

The syndicated talk shows Live With Kelly and Ryan and The View both barred studio audiences beginning on Wednesday because of fears surrounding the coronavirus. Other talk shows, such as Dr. Phil and The Wendy Williams Show, have made the same decision, joining Los Angeles-based game shows, like Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy!, that said this week that they would forgo studio audiences.

That shouldnt stop everyone from watching at home, Mr. Seacrests co-host, Kelly Ripa, said on Wednesday. Because lets face it: You cant go anywhere else!

NBCs Late Night With Seth Meyers and Comedy Centrals The Daily Show With Trevor Noah were among the New York-based late-night shows that said they would film without studio audiences starting on Monday. Two weekly late-night shows  Last Week Tonight With John Oliver on HBO and Samantha Bees Full Frontal on TBS  said they would forgo audiences, too.

Per guidance from New York City officials, the company is hoping to do its part to help to decrease the rate of transmission in our communities, NBC said in a statement.
ISLAMABAD -- A Pakistani pilot died when his F-16 jet crashed in a wooded area in the capital, Islamabad, the Pakistani Air Force says.

There were no casualties on the ground or damage to property, a statement said on March 11.

The U.S.-built aircraft was taking part in rehearsals ahead of Pakistan Day celebrations on March 23.

Video footage showed the jet appearing to lose control and nose diving before it hit the ground on Shakarparian hill and caught fire.

"I saw the plane flying at a very low altitude from the roof of my house when the plane crashed in Shakarparian," local resident Shoaib Ahmad told dpa.

The military and police cordoned off the area and sealed the roads leading to the site.

The air force said it was investigating the cause of the crash.

Pakistani authorities rarely release details of military training crashes.

In January, an FT-7 jet trainer went down in an open area in the eastern province of Punjab, killing the two pilots.

And at least 18 people died in July 2019 when a Pakistani military aircraft crashed into a residential area on the outskirts of the city of Rawalpindi, near Islamabad.

With reporting by Reuters, AP, and dpa
The family of a patient who died in coronavirus quarantine have claimed they were not able to say goodbye because he was in isolation.

The son of a 60-year-old man who died after being diagnosed with coronavirus and became the third British fatality said he fell ill 'instantly'.

He died at North Manchester General Hospital on Sunday, five days after coming back from a trip to northern Italy at the end of February, his son told BBC Bangla.

His family could not visit him in hospital as he battled the disease because he was in isolation.

The unnamed man was being treated at North Manchester General Hospital's specialist regional unit for infectious diseases and had 'significant underlying health conditions'.

On Tuesday heath officials announced 61 more patients in Britain have caught the killer infection, taking the total number of cases to 382 and fatalities to six.

The male patient was being treated at North Manchester General Hospital (pictured) and had 'significant underlying health conditions' when he died on Sunday

Tourists wearing face masks walking across the Millennium footbridge backdropped by the dome of St Paul's Cathedral in London on Tuesday

Yesterday the son of the patient, a British national originally from Bangladesh, had fallen ill 'instantly' and was taken to hospital after going to a local health centre for a routine appointment.

The rest of the family were told to self-isolate, he said.

The son, who was not named, said he rang the hospital regularly for updates on his father, who had arthritis and heart problems, and then received a phone call saying he had died.

He told BBC Bangla: 'Obviously I could not believe it because two months ago this thing didn't even exist and today it took away my father.

'It took me quite a long time to process the whole thing that I'm not going to be able to see him any more.

'When they broke the news to me that he passed away, obviously I could not believe it. We all burst into tears.

'I can't express how it feels to know that I won't be able to see him again.'

The patient, from Greater Manchester, was the third person to die in the UK after testing positive for coronavirus.

People have been wearing face masks to ride the tube in London as the number of cases went over 380 and the death toll rose to six

A spokesman for the hospital said: 'We can confirm that sadly a patient being treated for Covid-19 has died at our specialist regional infectious diseases unit at North Manchester General Hospital.

'The man in his 60s tested positive after travelling to Italy and had a number of underlying health problems.

'Our thoughts are with the patient's family who are being supported by our specialist bereavement staff.'

Similarly the family of the second victim of the virus in Britain also said they were unable to arrange their relative's funeral as they were in isolation.

A man in his early 80s who also had underlying health conditions became the UK's sixth coronavirus victim on Tuesday.

NHS bosses confirmed the man  who has not been identified but is feared to have been infected on British soil  died at the Watford General Hospital.

Scientists tracking the UK's outbreak, which has risen eight-fold in the space of a week, have warned the situation is quickly following the same trajectory as Italy's and could peak within a fortnight.
The Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) has cancelled a round-table titled Doing Business Under Coronavirus, which was scheduled for March 13 in New York, amid the spread of COVID-19.

Bloomberg has reported that CFR has also cancelled other conferences that were scheduled between March 11 and April 3, including in-person round-tables in New York and Washington, and national events around the US. These add to a number of events being cancelled or postponed.

The annual New York auto show is another event that was recently rescheduled to late August.

Globally, there have been over 1.19 lakh confirmed cases of COVID-19. At least 4,300 people have died so far. Many of these deaths have happened in China, from where the spread started.

While COVID-19 has slowed in China over the last week, the number of confirmed cases have been rapidly rising across South Korea, Italy and Iran, among other countries.

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

New York has already declared an emergency as the number of patients there rose to 89 on March 8, including a driver who apparently worked for ride-sharing company Uber.

So far, there have been over 1,000 confirmed cases and at least 31 deaths related to the outbreak in the US.
The Ukrainian sailor was abducted on February 20.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has said a Ukrainian citizen was freed from the captivity of Nigerian pirates.

"Ukraine fights for each one citizen. February 20th. Pirates abduct 10 'Alpine Penelope' crew members near Nigerian shore. 1 Ukrainian citizen. @UKRinGRC [Ukrainian Embassy in Greece] & shipping co worked well. Negotiations ended in crew being freed. Our Dmytro Holianenko is back in Ukraine. Welcome home!" he wrote on Twitter on March 10, 2020.
ALBANY  Among the lessons the comedian Louis C.K. has learned in the past two and a half years, since he was revealed as a serial masturbator in the presence of unwilling women, is that most people are fortunate not to have their sexual peccadillos made public.

Everybody in the world knows my thing, he said, shaking his head with chagrin toward the end of his hourlong set before a soldout crowd at The Egg on Tuesday night. Even Barack Obama, whom the comedian admires and who, pre-scandal, said he was an ardent fan of Louis C.K., is aware of the behavior that derailed a career and cost its perpetrator his reputation and more than $35 million in production deals.

Imitating a dismayed Obama, Louis C.K. shook his head again and said, Oh, my goodness.

The comedian isnt exactly contrite. His attitude seems more rueful and resigned: He behaved badly for years, genuinely scaring and hurting others in the process, he paid a massive price, and now hes trying to reclaim his career. I had to go to Poland to do shows, he told the crowd.

Some will believe he should never have audiences again. Theyre free not to watch him live or on TV and to denounce those who do. I understand that opinion, but I disagree. Hes apologized, been called to account, and hes addressing the matter well in his act. Louis C.K. is also still a superb comedian, and while a portion of Tuesdays show dealt with what happened, in a longer and more forthright manner than he did 14 months ago at The Funny Bone in Guilderland, most of it did not.

Thats when he was at his best, bringing an original, skewed and often shrewdly perverse approach to societal mores and pieties, quirks and hypocrisies.

The human race used to be the good babies survived, and the sh--ty babies  they werent here, Louis C.K. said. Now, the sh--tier the baby, the bigger the effort. Why is everyone so upset when a baby dies (just after being born)? Who knew baby Glenn? He was here for one day.

After a friend said Jesus Christ was Christian, not Jewish, Louis C.K. imagined Jesus as Catholic, looking down during his crucifixion at the gold cross hanging from a neck chain and thinking, Oh, Im the little guy on there.

Musings and jokes about religion and sex dominated the evening, with the former often intriguing, even thoughtful, and latter rude to the point that many would find them disgusting. Somehow he managed to interweave oral sex for the developmentally disabled, the sexual appeal of teen boys and why, at age 52, he prefers to be on his back during intercourse (his excess flesh droops less). Sex and religion combined several times, too, among the most memorably being when he imagined the Bibles hypothetical account of Gods shocked reaction to finding out people consume pork instead of having sex with the animal that produces it: Why would you eat a perfectly (screwable) pig? sayeth the Lord.

All was not vulgar or profane, however, and it was during these moments that the pleasing originality of Louis C.K.s mind and comedic specificity were most apparently. Grumbling about friends recommendations to visit quaint seaside communities in Europe, he said, I dont want to go to some village, where all Im going to see is some empty buildings and a dog walking alone and hearing a bell that goes pannngggg whenever it wants.

Three New York City-based comics offered short opening sets that were neither terrible nor exceptional enough to distract from the headliner.

sbarnes@timesunion.com  518-454-5489  blog.timesunion.com/tablehopping  @Tablehopping  facebook.com/SteveBarnesFoodCritic
The first day of spring is not for another week.

But Katherine Schwarzenegger already looks ready for vernal equinox.

The 30-year-old author was seen looking fabulous in a floral midi dress while heading to an appearance on The View in New York City on Wednesday.

Making appearances: Katherine Schwarzenegger was seen looking fabulous in a floral midi dress while heading to an appearance on The View in New York City on Wednesday

Her frock was blue and featured several different colored flowers as she arrived for the chat show interview to plug her new book The Gift Of Forgiveness.

She teamed the dress with a long black coat and white leather heels.

Her medium-length brunette tresses were combed to the side as they resembled waves while she wore complementary make-up to showcase her natural beauty.

Katherine accessorized with a pair of medium-sized hoop earrings while clutching onto a to-go cup of coffee.

Blooming lovely: The 30-year-old star's frock was blue and featured several different colored flowers as she arrived for the chat show interview to plug her new book The Gift Of Forgiveness

Stunning: Her medium-length brunette tresses were combed to the side as they resembled waves while she wore complementary make-up to showcase her natural beauty

No doubt Katherine was in good spirits as she just released her book The Gift of Forgiveness: Inspiring Stories from Those Who Have Overcome the Unforgivable.

Katherine previously said writing her new book was an 'emotional and vulnerable' process.

Big deal: The author released the tome on March 10 as she said writing it was 'emotional'

The author released the tome on March 10, and has said interviewing the 22 people whose stories make up the book was a difficult process, because they'd each endured 'heartache'.

The Gift of Forgiveness explores the most difficult and personal experiences of Katherine's 22 subjects - including Elizabeth Smart, Scarlett Lewis, Sue Klebold, Tanya Brown and more - and their subsequent journeys to finding peace and healing.

As for her personal life, Katherine has been married to actor Chris Pratt since June 2019.

The star is incredibly grateful for her spouse, telling Us Weekly: 'When you have a partner who can love and support you throughout everything, that's the greatest gift ever.

'I've always felt incredibly supported by my siblings and my parents, but to have that in a partner and in my husband is another amazing gift to have.

'We try to be each other's greatest cheerleaders,' she said. 'It's very important to the both of us.'
WINSTON, Ore.  A man from the city of Winston in Douglas County is being investigated for child sex abuse following a traffic stop early this month, according to Oregon State Police.

A trooper with OSP pulled over 21-year-old Brandyn Olinger in the Glide area on March 1, the agency said. In the car with him was a 15-year-old girl.

"The Trooper contacted the mother of the 15 year old and determined she did not have permission to be with Olinger," OSP said. "The mother came and picked up the 15 year old from the traffic stop."

Detectives with OSP followed up on the stop with a more focused investigation, getting a search warrant for Olinger's car and home. On March 10, investigators with OSP and Winston Police searched Olinger's house in Winston.

During the search, detectives seized several electronic devices. Olinger was arrested and charged with using a child in display of sexually explicit conduct, encouraging child sexual abuse in the second degree, encouraging child sexual abuse in the first degree, online sexual corruption of a child in the first degree, and tampering with physical evidence.

"The Oregon State Police believe Olinger may have more victims," the agency said. "Olinger also goes by the name Brandyn Moxey. If you have any information regarding Olinger please contact Detective Tina Nibblett with the Oregon State Police at (541) 440-3316."
India has evacuated 58 persons who were stuck in Iran after the outbreak of coronavirus (COVID 19). A group of Indian citizens who arrived from Iran on March 10 include 25 men, 31 women and 2 children. All evacuees are asymptomatic at present, the Health Ministry said. Indian nationals in Iran include pilgrims, students and fishermen. The ministry said that more such evacuation operations would follow.

Immediately after it became clear that Iran was facing a COVID-19 outbreak, the central government had started to undertake measures to bring back Indian citizens to the country. On 7 March, 108 samples were received from Iran. These samples are being tested at the laboratory of AIIMS. Also, six scientists from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) have been stationed in Iran. Equipment and reagents have also been dispatched to enable them to setup a lab.

So far, the government has evacuated 948 passengers from COVID-19 affected countries. Out of these, 900 are Indian citizens and 48 belong to different nationalities including Maldives, Myanmar, Bangladesh, China, USA, Madagascar, Sri Lanka, Nepal, South Africa and Peru, the Health Ministry statement said.

Earlier, Air India operated two special flights to evacuate 654 that included 647 Indian citizens from Wuhan in China.

The first batch consisting of 324 Indians were evacuated from Wuhan on 1 February. 104 of these were quarantined for monitoring at ITBP Chhawla camp and the rest 220 were housed in the army facility at Manesar. The second batch of 330 passengers (including 7 Maldivian citizens and two Indian Embassy officials who were on the ground to coordinate the evacuation efforts) arrived in India on 3rd February. Total 300 of these (including 7 Maldivians) were housed at ITBP Chhawla Camp and 30 were shifted to Manesar facility for monitoring.

All of these evacuees were placed in the isolation facilities for 14 days. They were tested twice and were found negative for COVID-19. They were discharged on 18 February, 2020.

On 26 February, Indian Air Force evacuated 112 passengers from Hubei province in China. Among these 76 were Indian citizens. The other nationals evacuated by Indian Air Force included citizens of Myanmar, Bangladesh, Maldives, China, USA, Madagascar and South Africa. The passengers reached India on 27 February, 2020 and subsequently were housed at ITBP camp for a period of 14 days, as per protocol. They have tested negative for COVID-19 in the first test. The IAF flight had also carried medical supplies which were given as goodwill gesture to China.

In addition, for the case involving the Japanese Cruise Ship, Diamond Princess, on 27 February, Air India flight carried an evacuation operation bringing back 124 passengers including 5 foreign nationals from Sri Lanka, Nepal, South Africa and Peru, from Port of Yokohama in Japan. The evacuees are housed at army facility in Manesar. They have tested negative in the first test.

The revised travel advisory issued by the government of India on 10 March, 2020, says that passengers with travel history to China, Hong Kong, Republic of Korea, Japan, Italy, Thailand, Singapore, Iran, Malaysia, France, Spain and Germany should undergo self-imposed quarantine for a period of 14 days from the date of their arrival, and their employers should facilitate work-from-home for such employees during this period.

There are now 60 positive cases of COVID-19 in the country (including the 3 cases from Kerala discharged earlier). 10 new cases of COVID-19 have been reported since the official update on March 10. Among these, 8 cases are from Kerala, one (1) from Rajasthan and one from Delhi.

Also read: Coronavirus Live Updates: Number rises to 50 as new cases emerge from Bengaluru, Pune, Kerala

Also read: Coronavirus update: India suspends visas to nationals of France, Germany, Spain
MHPV agency announces a New Podcast Series called Intergenerational Dialogues with Captain Maggie Hallahan "Willingness is not enough, you must act to protect human rights" Captain Maggie Hallahan

Diversity and Inclusion Photographer and Director, Captain Maggie Hallahan has partnered with content producer Charlene Goto of Go-To Productions, to create conversations around this watershed moment in womens history: It is the 25th anniversary of the UN Fourth World Conference on Women and the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (1995). And 2020 also marks the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment, which guarantees and protects womens constitutional right to vote in the United States. In recent years, the current American administration has distanced itself from the important mission of the United Nations to prevent war and protect Universal Human Rights though American Women such First Lady of the United States Eleanor Roosevelt was a leader in forming the United Nations.

No one can make you feel inferior without your consent

Eleanor Roosevelt

We must stop the killing and start the healing because this is about all of us or none of us, said Mattie Scott, who along with Maggie Collins, Sara Tasneem, Captain Maggie Hallahan and Stephanie OConnor are dedicated to stopping sexual assault in the US Armed Forces, gun violence prevention, promote self-healing and change legislation on child marriage in America.

Captain Maggie Hallahan, who has been working with the United Nations and NGOs partnering with the UN for 37 years, has a unique perspective on the history of International Womens Day and how it evolved from the 1946 first United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). Maggie Hallahan was a UN photographer in 1995 Beijing Fourth World Conference on Women where Hillary Clinton said human rights are womens rights, and womens rights are human rights once and for allinspiring women around the world.

Consent does not exist in child marriage, Sara Tasneem is a US forced child marriage survivor who will be going to the United Nations for her first time.

Women + men = effective change, says Maggie Collins, former US Marine and Iraq veteran ensuring that those who swear or affirm to serve the United States can do so safe from an enemy within their own ranks. The group has joined forces on the common causes of justice, Peace and Universal Human Rights, which date back to the UNs charter declaration, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, signed in 1945 in San Francisco.

The delegates will discover innovate new strategies for gender equality during the podcast, which will be available on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, and all other major podcast platforms.

The podcast feed launched at 10am (PST) on March 8, 2020 to honor International Womens Day. The program will begin debuting new content Episodes weekly, beginning on March 23, with a delegates open roundtable discussion.

You can find the Intergenerational Dialogues Podcast site at:

https://intergenerational-dialogues-with-captain-maggie-hallahan.simplecast.com/

About ManUp Campaign - ManUp is a global campaign to activate youth to stop violence against women and girls. Our call to action challenges each of us to man up and declare that violence against women and girls must end. Sports, music, arts, reflection, and technology are some of the primary ways we connect with other people. These are also ways we experience life, transmit and share culture. More importantly, messages about gender, societal expectations, and our identities are passed down to us in these and other forms. The ManUp Campaign is partnering with young men and women around the world by providing training, resources, and support to youth-informed initiatives. This partnership works to build a network of young champions and defenders of gender equality, gender inclusiveness, and opportunity. We link their efforts to those of community-based and sponsor organizations, the entertainment and sports communities towards our common cause.

About ECOSOC - The Economic and Social Council is at the heart of the United Nations system to advance the three dimensions of sustainable developmenteconomic, social and environmental.

It is the central platform for fostering debate and innovative thinking, forging consensus on ways forward, and coordinating efforts to achieve internationally agreed goals. It is also responsible for the follow-up to major UN conferences and summits. The UN Charter established ECOSOC in 1945 as one of the six main organs of the United Nations.

About The Commission on the Status of Women - (CSW) is the principal global intergovernmental body exclusively dedicated to the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women. A functional commission of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), it was established by ECOSOC resolution 11(II) of 21 June 1946.

About MHPV - The ad agency Maggie Hallahan Photography & Video, MHPV, Guides Companies Through A Collaborative Conceptual Process To The Action Of Creating Outstanding Visual Tools. In 2004, Captain Maggie founded to set new photography and video standards regarding representation of women in business. Maggie and her team at MHPV have become trusted advocates of diversity and inclusion in brand and marketing; creating positive impact and understanding on the importance of how women are featured in imagery with her Fortune 500 clients.

For information or to schedule an interview with the The ManUp Campaign, contact Fred Sullivan: Fred@ManUpCampaign.org

Contact: Maggie Hallahan: 415-441-5300 Mattie Scott: 415-412-4169

Bio of the Delegates and Podcast Host/ Podcast Co-Host:

Captain Maggie Hallahan

https://mhpv.net/about https://www.linkedin.com/in/mhpvagency

@maggiehallahan

Advocate for: Diversity, prosperity, and peace.

ManUp Campaign consultative status with ECOSOC for the CSW64 UN Delegate based in California.

Maggie is an award-winning photographer, director, and US Coast Guard-licensed Captain. Her unique perspective is informed by over 25 years as a globally-respected photo-Journalist and her time as Captain and President of WOCC, a women's outrigger organization. Maggie has photographed for a number of major domestic and international publications such as Newsweek, Time, The New York Times, and Der Spiegel.

Her journalism work often overlapped with her localized marketing for the UNFPA, UN, and partner NGOs. Maggie is proudly WBENC-Certified.

In 2004, Maggie founded Maggie Hallahan Photography and Video (MHPV) to set new photography and video standards regarding representation of women in business. Maggie and her team at MHPV have become trusted advocates of diversity and inclusion in brand and marketing; creating positive impact and understanding on the importance of how women are featured in imagery for Fortune 500 clients including Adobe, the Disney Company and CBS.

Captain Maggie speaks on the history of International Women's Day which originated in the 1946 United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). Maggie worked as a UNFPA Photographer and Communications Liaison at the 1995 4th World Conference on Women in Beijing and multiple annual CSWs at the UN Headquarters in New York. She is uniquely qualified to share actionable plans to achieve gender equality and her talks include UN data points on the 1/3 Gender Equality Hurdle and the Art of Intergenerational Discussions.

Maggie is one of many who believe to be willing is not enough. We must act now to get over 33% hurdle women decision-makers in government and business in order to attain critical mass. Hear more on this and other topics in her podcast Intergenerational Dialogues"

Mattie Scott

https://www.facebook.com/mattie.scott2

Advocate for: Health, healing, support and restoration services for victims of senseless gun violence and violence from homicide. ManUp Campaign consultative status with ECOSOC for the CSW64 UN Delegate based in California.

Mattie Scott is the founder and Executive Director of Healing 4 Our Families & Our Nation (H4OF&ON), Mattie is a 23-year veteran in the fields of violence prevention, gun violence survivorship, and activism. She is also San Francisco Chapter Leader of Mothers-in-Charge and San Francisco Brady United California State President. Mattie is a delegate and works in prevention advocacy with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

A mother who has dedicated her life to violence prevention, intervention, and educational awareness, Mattie is on a nationwide mission to address the root causes of senseless gun violence and violence period. Matties faith carried her through the tragic shooting death of her youngest son, George C. Scott, who was shot and killed on July 17, 1996 at the age of 24 while attending a graduation party in his San Francisco neighborhood. Georges sons, Gabriel and Kyron, were ages 2 and 5 at the time of their fathers demise. The day after Georges shooting was Gabriels sixth birthday. Mattie had to call her grandson who was waiting on his fathers call to tell him the sad news and the scream she heard over the phone is what wakes her up every day to do her work to help others. Mattie also lost a nephew, Timothy Scott, 23, to gun violence in 2007 and a niece, Kiesha Walker, 24, to suicide stemming from bullying on social media.

Matties work includes outreach with the incarcerated and formerly incarcerated, No More Tears San Quentin Prison, youth, families, California and faith-based communities. She also actively partners with local, state, and national elected officials as an agent for change. Mattie has served on a number of boards, including the San Francisco Chief of Police African American Police Advisory Board, the Westside Community Services Advisory board, and is Board President of Freedom West Housing Corporation. She has won many prestigious awards on local, state, and national levels. Matties desire for us is to stop the killing and start the healing, because this is about all of us or none of us. Join the movement for real peace and real change.

Sara Tasneem

https://tasneemsfadvocacy.home.blog/

Survivor Advocate for: Ending child marriage in the United States. ManUp Campaign consultative status with ECOSOC for the CSW64 UN Delegate based in California.

Sara Tasneem is a forced child marriage survivor. As a mentor and activist, she works publicly to enact legislation that would legally ban child marriage in 48 states. Sara works to create awareness of child marriage in the United States by sharing her story across national and international media outlets, through educational seminars, public speaking events, and by lobbying legislative bodies to end child marriage. She has a Masters degree in Public Administration and a Bachelors degree in Business Administration from Golden Gate University.

Sara volunteers as a mentor to young girls and women who are leaving their abusive forced child marriages and is a member of the steering committee for the National Coalition to End Child Marriage in the United States, She works with multiple non-profits along with other survivors to create a network of survivor led advocacy to end child marriage in the U.S.

At just fifteen, Tasneem was forced to marry a 28-year-old stranger. Sadly, she is not alone. Statistics from non-profit Unchained At Last report that 248,000 children as young as 12 were married in the United States between 2000 and 2010. 86% of child marriages in the U.S. happen to girls marrying adult men (Frontline, 2017). According to Sara, ending child marriage in the United States is an uphill battle because each state must approve new bills limiting the age of marriage to 18. Many states, including California, are reticent to pass such bills because of age-old patriarchal views of marriage and pregnancy. In 2017, Delaware and New Jersey passed the marriage laws necessary to limit the age of marriage to 18 with no exceptions. After the age of 18, individuals are considered adults and can access the vital services they might need if they experience abuse or want to divorce their partners. Currently, 48 out of 50 states still allow children under the age of 18 to marry with parental consent. Join Sara in her fight to end child marriage in California today by signing her petition at https://www.change.org/.

Maggie Collins

https://www.linkedin.com/in/maggie-collins-mba-ba20212a/

Advocate for: Stopping gender oppression in and of our military. ManUp Campaign consultative status with ECOSOC for the CSW64 UN Delegate, based in California.

Former Sergeant Maggie Collins served as an active duty United States Marine for 5 years during the Global War on Terror, serving a tour in Iraq in 2005. As a Marine, Maggie bore witness to and experienced the indoctrinated culture of sexual dominance and violence that was intrinsic to her military training and service. Events of sexual harassment, intimidation and violence were common throughout the ranks.

The Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) defines some parameters that guide Commanders when incidents of sexual assault are reported. However, they still have sufficient leeway to kill a report before it even makes it to military law enforcement. They can protect predators and punish victims . . . or not. They are akin to police officer, lawyer and judge . . . and both the accused and accuser may be under their command. Given the role of Commanders, the UCMJ proves it is wholly unprepared to protect service members from predators. Once the crime is perpetrated, the cultural, social, legal and political systems in place actually serve to protect perpetrators and re-victimize survivors.

All of this can abate with thoughtful, planned change.

Maggie is researching and networking to find the best actionable solutions to ensure that those who swear or affirm to serve the United States can do so safe from an enemy within their own ranks.

Stephanie OConnor

Instagram: connervarin Facebook: connervarin Twitter: connervarin

https://www.linkedin.com/in/connervarin/ http://www.connervarin.com/

Advocate For: Ending ethnic health care disparities. ManUp Campaign consultative status with ECOSOC for the CSW64 UN Delegate based in California.

Stephanie is a visual storyteller and entrepreneur. She is a photojournalist, radio commentator, start-up branding consultant and travel industry expert regarding the African diaspora. Her extensive research and market development in Southern Africa helped her speak to the similar conditions Black women across the diaspora are facing.

Stephanie leads from the heart and believes in applying cultural sensitivity to all perspectives to reach team goals. Her life experiences have brought her to see her unique mission, which is to influence people to begin the hard journey of self-care to harvest the benefit of strong body and mind.

Until recently, there were more undernourished people in the world than those that are over- weight. Our world has recently flipped to the other side of that pendulum, and there are now more overweight people on our planet than undernourished. This creates alarming problems that Stephanie has personally witnessed in her own life and in the lives of the diverse women in her global community. In her work to address that, Stephanies discussions center on how to create new tools that weve never had to create before on such a mass scale in society. She believes the secret is two-fold: 1) Act locally within your own kitchen and your own family and in your own body, and 2) Act globally and responsibly by leveraging your political power and community.

The world's population growth will begin its radical decline in year 2040, which will mean in America, people of color who have unjust lack of access of health education and qualified health professionals must come together to overcome obesity and nutrition-related illnesses. Stephanie is helping communities claim their sovereignty to lead a healthy and happy life.

For information or to schedule an interview with CSW64 Delegates or Podcast Intergenerational Dialogues" Host Captain Maggie Hallahan Contact: maggie@mhpv.net

Contact: MHPV 415-441-5300
OTTAWA  Federal legislation to crack down on anti-gay conversion therapy could weed out Manitoba church groups sending children to Mexico for that practice.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 10/3/2020 (671 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

OTTAWA  Federal legislation to crack down on anti-gay conversion therapy could weed out Manitoba church groups sending children to Mexico for that practice.

The federal Liberals tabled a bill Monday that would ban counselling children to change their gender identity or sexual orientation, and advertising such services to adults.

It would also expand Criminal Code provisions which already bar taking children abroad to be married or put into sex work, to include a ban on sending them abroad for conversion therapy.

Winnipegs Rainbow Resource Centre wrote to the federal government last summer, when the Liberals solicited feedback on banning conversion therapy.

At the time, the centre said it wasnt aware of counselling happening within modern-day Manitoba. But RRC had heard from Manitobans who were sent to Mexico.

The centre said it was aware of a handful of recent cases, and that the office of the Manitoba Advocate for Children and Youth investigated at least one.

The advocate herself, Daphne Penrose, wouldnt get into specifics.

"I can confirm that our advocacy services program has received a referral regarding conversion therapy," she wrote.

"We would encourage any child, youth, young adult or concerned community member to contact our office for support if they are aware of, or themselves are being subjected to, conversion therapy."

Penrose added that she was encouraged by the new federal legislation, as the practice "can lead to significant mental illness, and increases risks of self-harm and suicide."

In 2015, the former NDP provincial government banned Manitoba Health from paying for the practice; provinces like Nova Scotia have followed suit.

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Karen Busby, a constitutional law professor at the University of Manitoba, said there have been few convictions under Criminal Code charges that bar sending children abroad for practices like child marriage, as its hard to gather evidence and prove motive.

However, she said its important to have those laws on the books, including to bar sending kids abroad for conversion therapy.

"Most people don't want to violate criminal law, so it's important to have this section," she said.

"The fear of prosecution keeps people from doing the act."

She said the new bill would likely pass a Charter challenge, because it still allows adults to undergo the practice if they consent to it. Otherwise, the legislation could have been challenged on the grounds of personal autonomy or free speech.

dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-11 17:29:39|Editor: huaxia

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TAIYUAN, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Wannianbao, a village on China's Loess Plateau, has an interesting name. It literally means "having enough to eat for 10,000 years," which was given by an emperor as a good wish some 2,000 years ago.

However, the name falls short of reality. The fate of the village in north China's Shanxi Province was not changed until recent decades.

Compared with his forefathers' millenium-long battle with poverty, it only took three-plus years for villager Ren Aixian and his family to win. He and his wife earned around 30,000 yuan (about 4,300 U.S. dollars) last year by working for a rural mushroom planting cooperative in Wannianbao.

"Thanks to the jobs offered by the local government, our annual income is five times higher than that six years ago," said Ren, who recently bought a smartphone for his nine-year-old grandson to attend online courses amid novel coronavirus outbreak.

Due to poverty, Ren and his wife never had the chance to attend school. Their four children became migrant workers after dropping out of junior high school.

Now the family enjoys their cozy life in a new brick house, not far away from their former residence -- two cave dwellings dug in loess slopes which were dark and dangerous.

"Our village deserves its name now," Ren said.

The Loess Plateau, where Ren's village is located, covers much of China's seven provincial-level regions, including Gansu, Inner Mongolia, Shanxi and Shaanxi.

Thousands of years of cultivation, compounded by the powdery nature of the soil and the growth in population, had already led to a near-collapse of the plateau's ecosystem and widespread poverty by the beginning of the 20th century.

China has long been dedicated to eradicating poverty, contributing to more than 70 percent of global poverty reduction. It aims to eradicate absolute poverty in 2020, fulfilling the first goal of the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda 10 years ahead of schedule.

In late February, a total of 17 more counties in Shanxi Province have been removed from China's list of impoverished counties, marking all of its 58 impoverished counties getting rid of poverty.

Shanxi is among several Chinese provincial-level regions on the Loess Plateau that have recently bid farewell to its poor and backward past. Others include Henan and Shaanxi provinces as well as Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

From developing industries such as tourism and e-commerce and relocating people who live in geologically hazardous areas to ensuring children receive basic education, governments at all levels have racked their brains to help people shake off poverty.

"To the local residents who used to live below the poverty line, they will no longer worry about how to fulfill the basic necessities of life. They are able to consider something beyond survival like self-fulfillment and family development," said Xing Yuan, a professor with School of Philosophy and Sociology, Shanxi University.

"As a developing country, what China has achieved in poverty elimination offers references for other countries in this regard," Xing added.

Thanks to the government funds on infrastructure, photovoltaic power stations and vegetable greenhouses, Wannianbao Village got rid of poverty two years ago. The number of mushroom greenhouses in the village is expected to reach 85 this year, helping increase incomes for more than 1,000 households.

"The achievements still need to be consolidated. We have launched a new round of combing of local villagers to ensure no one will fall back into poverty," said Liu Jicheng, head of the villagers' committee.
A cruise ship that had been held off the coast of California after people aboard tested positive for coronavirus will continue disembarking passengers in Oakland on Tuesday, as fears about the fast-moving virus ripple across the nation's capital, industries and schools.

At least 773 cases of coronavirus have been reported in the US, including 21 on the Grand Princess cruise ship.

Among the effects of the spreading virus: California's Santa Clara County, home to San Jose, has temporarily banned gatherings of more than 1,000 people after the county reported dozens of cases -- representing one of the widest such orders in the country.

Follow live updates

Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said Tuesday the biggest interventions should be reserved for areas with clusters of cases, like Santa Clara County. But he echoed federal health officials' advice for people at higher risk.

"I would encourage any individual who is elderly or is medically fragile to think long and hard about going into any large gathering that would involve close quarters and potential spread," Azar told CNN's "New Day."

In Oakland, the Grand Princess cruise ship began to disembark passengers Monday after spending days in limbo off the coast of California. More passengers will be removed from the vessel Tuesday morning, according to an announcement from the ship's Captain John Harry Smith.

The ship's operator, Princess Cruise Line, said that disembarking passengers would be a "multiple day process."

US stock market indices were darting between positive and negative territory Tuesday afternoon, a day after the Dow had its worst day since the 2008 financial crisis, as the White House began pitching a payroll tax cut to ease the economic fallout.

But effects on daily life and business are growing. Pearl Jam postponed the North American leg of its tour; Boston canceled its St. Patrick's Day Parade; US airlines are slashing domestic and international flights; and the United Nations said it would close its New York headquarters to the public starting Tuesday night.

Schools including Harvard, The Ohio State University, the University of California and Berkeley are temporarily closing classrooms on campus in favor of online instruction.

And as people in six states vote Tuesday in presidential primaries, at least six US lawmakers are self-quarantining or isolating themselves after coming into contact with an infected person -- though House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Monday that the Capitol should not shut down.

Cruises in limbo

The outbreak has dealt a blow to the cruise industry, with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the State Department both warning against cruise travel -- especially for people with underlying health issues -- and two vessels prohibited from entering port over concerns about the virus.

The Grand Princess, carrying more than 3,500 passengers and crew members, was finally allowed to dock at the Port of Oakland on Monday after being held at sea for several days. The vessel had been in limbo after officials announced that a passenger who had previously sailed on the ship had died of the virus.

Passengers leaving the ship will undergo medical screening while at the port by the US Department of Health and Human Services and the CDC, according to a statement from California's Travis Air Force Base.

Those showing symptoms and those in need of medical support will be the first off the vessel, ship Capt. John Harry Smith said. Asymptomatic passengers will be taken to military installations in California, Georgia or Texas for screening and a 14-day quarantine.

In Florida, the CDC issued a no-sail order to another Princess Cruise Line ship, the Caribbean Princess, after learning two crew members had transferred from another vessel where at least one guest tested positive for the virus. Neither crew member appears symptomatic and they are both remaining in their cabins out of an abundance of caution, Princess Cruises said in a statement.

The Caribbean Princess will make a brief stop at Grand Cayman for test kits and then set sail for Florida. The ship is expected to remain anchored off the coast of Florida until the no-sail order is lifted by the CDC, the statement said.

180 cases in Washington State

At least 26 people have died from the virus in the United States -- 22 in Washington state, two in Florida and two in California.

A nursing home in a Seattle suburb has become the epicenter of the US outbreak. Nineteen people with ties to the Life Care Center of Kirkland have died. Dozens of residents have been transferred to hospitals, leaving 55 residents at the facility that housed 120 in mid-February.

Three deaths were announced Monday: a woman in her 70s; a woman in her 80s, and a woman in her 90s. They died at area hospitals.

Many of the nation's coronavirus cases have been in Washington, where at least 180 people have been infected.

Hotels were suffering a slowdown in the Seattle area, as many of the cases have been reported in King County. Average hotel occupancy in Seattle last week fell to as low as 30%, according to the Visit Seattle nonprofit marketing group.

In New York state, at least 173 cases have been reported. Officials there have urged more than 2,500 people to self-quarantine, and Gov. Andrew Cuomo declared a state of emergency Saturday.

Self-quarantine is reserved for people who may have come into contact with someone who was infected. People in self-quarantine are asked to remain at home until it can be determined that they are not ill. Health officials can issue orders to make those quarantines mandatory and make violating them illegal.

Azar: 'We don't know' how many Americans have been tested

Azar, the Health and Human Services chief, said Tuesday his department does not know how many Americans have been tested for coronavirus.

"We don't know exactly how many, because hundreds of thousands of our tests have gone out to private labs and hospitals that currently do not report in" to the CDC, Azar told CNN's "New Day" when asked how many Americans have been tested for coronavirus at this point.

"We're working with the CDC and those partners to get an I.T. reporting system up and running hopefully this week where we would be able to get that data to keep track of how many we're testing."

The HHS chief also said there are 2.1 million testing kits currently available and more than 1 million have been shipped.

The lack of availability of test kits to health care providers has been one of the most scrutinized aspects of the federal government's response to the crisis, leading to frustration among state and local officials. There has also been confusion among Trump administration officials over the number of testing kits that have been mailed out.

Guidance for every American and every community

Early data suggests older people are twice as likely to have serious illness from the novel coronavirus, according to the CDC, which advises older people and those with severe chronic medical conditions to stay home as much as possible.

But preventing the continued spread of the virus will depend in large part on community action, officials said Monday at a White House coronavirus briefing.

Officials urged people to stay home from work if they or a family member are sick, use video conferencing for meetings and stop handshaking. At schools, faculty, staff and students are advised to disinfect doorknobs, limit food sharing and strengthen health screenings for cafeteria staff.

And at home, Americans should clean their hands at the door, provide a protected space for vulnerable household members and clean utensils regularly, according to the tips tweeted by Vice President Mike Pence.
Senior Hashd al-Sha'abi cmdr. killed, four aides wounded in Daesh attack in Iraq's Diyala

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 10 March 2020 1:57 PM

Daesh Takfiri terrorists have killed a senior commander of the Popular Mobilization Units in Iraq's eastern province of Diyala as government troops and allied fighters are engaged in joint counter-terrorism operations across the crisis-hit Arab country to flush out the last remnants of the extremist outfit.

A provincial security source, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Arabic-language al-Maalomah news agency on Tuesday that a high-ranking commander of the forces  commonly known by the Arabic name Hashd al-Sha'abi  was killed and four of his aides sustained injuries when a group of Daesh terrorists stormed a security checkpoint in Tal Ari area on the outskirts of the northeastern Iraqi town of Khanaqin the previous night.

The source added that Hashd al-Sha'abi forces together with government troops have launched a joint security operation in the area in order to hunt down the terrorists and destroy Daesh sleeper cells there.

The media office of Hashd al-Shaabi later identified the commander as Muhammad Ali Majeed al-Anbaki, stating that he was affiliated with Brigade 23 of the forces.

The media bureau of the Iraqi Joint Operations Command (JOC) said in a statement on Monday that nearly 25 Daesh militants had been killed in an airdrop operation on terrorist hideouts at a mountainous area in the northern part of the country's north-central province of Salahuddin.

The statement read that an airborne force from the Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service (CTS) conducted an operation on Qara-Chokh Mountain near Makhoul mountain range, and the offensive started early on Sunday and continued into Monday dawn. Iraqi forces fought fierce clashes with Daesh Takfiris.

CTS commandos could destroy nine tunnels used as hideouts for the extremist militants and a training camp, leaving 25 Daesh terrorists killed.

On March 6, Iraqi security forces and allied Hashd al-Sha'abi fighters managed to ensure security in several rugged areas in Diyala province during an offensive to hunt down Daesh remnants in the area.

Iraq's Counter Terrorism Service (CTS) spokesperson Sabah al-Naaman said at the time police forces and Hashd al-Sha'abi fighters had destroyed militant hideouts in the Khanaqin district as well as the Hamrin Mountains, which the extremists used as safe havens to carry out frequent attacks against security forces and civilians.

Naaman noted that security and Hashd al-Sha'abi forces had dealt heavy blows to Daesh militants during the ongoing operations, killing at least 39 of them within three days.

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Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer urged residents to practice caution to slow the spread of coronavirus COVID-19 and follow a set of new recommendations from public health officials.

Whitmer declared a state of emergency Tuesday after Michigan residents tested presumptive positive for coronavirus, the states first cases of the infectious respiratory disease. The governor unveiled a set of best practices from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services at a Wednesday press conference at the states emergency operations center, advising the public on ways they can slow the spread of coronavirus and reduce their risk of exposure.

Even if you are healthy and asymptomatic, you can unknowingly be carrying and spread the disease, Whitmer said. Assume that you are, and take those precautions. Do it for yourself, for your loved ones, for your coworkers and the public at large.

Michigan Chief Medical Executive Dr. Joneigh Khaldun said public health officials expect coronavirus to be spread in communities across the state. Most people will exhibit mild symptoms, she said, but the virus can be deadly for people with compromised immune systems.

The World Health Organization declared the coronavirus crisis to be a global pandemic Wednesday. Khaldun said taking proactive measures will save lives in Michigan.

Read more: Michigan releases community mitigation strategies

Whitmer and Khaldun repeatedly emphasized that employers, individuals, schools and other organizations have a shared responsibility to reduce the spread of coronavirus in Michigan. This includes limiting non-essential travel," avoiding gatherings of 100 or more people, practicing good hygiene and leaving work or school if you begin to feel sick.

This goes for everyone, Whitmer said. Stay at home when you are sick. At this time we must take every precaution to keep our communities safe and protect those at risk of severe illness ... Think about our most vulnerable populations."

The press conference was held the same day that several public universities announced the suspension of classes. Whitmer said she spoke with the presidents of all Michigan universities and community colleges Wednesday and encouraging classes to be offered online when possible.

Whitmer said schools and child care facilities are advised to limit large gatherings and assemblies. Organizers should consider whether to hold sporting events or concerts as well, she said.

Were going to have to make some tough choices in the days and weeks, Whitmer said.

It is harder for the single mom, who needs to pay rent at the end of the month, or workers in the service industry who rely on tips to put food on their own tables, Whitmer added. Businesses must step up to help however they can.

Khaldun said the state has been running samples seven days a week." People who think they are at risk of being exposed to coronavirus can request a local medical provider take a tissue sample, which is then passed to a centralized state laboratory.

Khaldun said other private labs may become available to test samples in the near future.

State officials said there are 493 people who were referred for monitoring, as of March 10, with 87 people under active monitoring by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services for possible exposure. A total of 57 people in Michigan have been tested negative for the virus, with 18 tests pending, as of March 10.

Khaldun said there remain only two cases of people being tested presumptive positive," as of March 11. Those individuals are being quarantined, Khaldun said, while local health officials work to understand who they may have come into contact with.

One of the coronavirus patients is an Oakland County woman with a recent history of international travel and the other is a Wayne County man who had a recent history of domestic travel, according to state officials

Both are middle-aged and both are hospitalized, state officials said.

The coronavirus tests were performed by the state Bureau of Laboratories, and specimens will be sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for confirmatory testing.

Officials in Wayne and Oakland counties are working to identify close contacts of the coronavirus patients.

Whitmer stressed the importance of Michigan residents taking basic precautions such as thorough hand-washing with soap and water and avoiding touching their eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands.

COVID-19 symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as long as 14 days after exposure to the virus. They include fever, cough and shortness of breath.

What Michigan residents need to know about coronavirus

Michigan is the 38th state to have a confirmed case of coronavirus COVID-19. Nationwide, there have been almost 1,000 reported cases and 31 deaths.

State health officials have been preparing for weeks for a possible outbreak of coronavirus.

In February, the state activated the Community Health Emergency Coordination Center and the State Emergency Operations Center to prepare for a possible outbreak in Michigan.

Whitmer also has created four task forces to combat the spread of coronavirus and assess the impact it may have on state operations, health care, schools and workplaces. The recommendations released Wednesday are a result of the task force, she said.

In addition, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has launched a campaign to raise awareness of appropriate hand washing techniques to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other illnesses.

COVID-19 has been identified as the cause of an outbreak of respiratory illness first detected in Wuhan City in the Hubei Province of China. There have been almost 120,000 cases globally, with over 4,300 deaths.

Person-to-person spread of the virus has occurred in the U.S., with some of those occurring in people with no travel history and no known source of exposure.

For the latest information, visit Michigan.gov/coronavirus or CDC.gov/coronavirus.

PREVENTION TIPS

Much like how you would try to prevent the flu, you want to stay away from people who are sick and practice good hygiene, says the CDC.

The latter means thoroughly washing your hands for at least 20 seconds, especially after using the bathroom and before eating. Avoid touching your mouth or face unless your hands are clean.

Use household cleaners to disinfect commonly touched objects and surfaces. Use disinfectant wipes to clean your hands or surfaces such as shopping-cart handles when out in public.

Some people are going the extra step and using smartphone sanitizers as a precaution, but a disinfecting wipe used lightly on the outside will likely work fine, too.

Weve been through tough times in Michigan, Whitmer said. Were going to get through this.

Read more on MLive:

8 things to know about coronavirus now that its in Michigan

Michigan coronavirus patient being treated at University of Michigan Health System

Gov. Whitmer declares state of emergency as first coronavirus cases confirmed in Michigan

Michigan State moving to online classes starting today because of potential coronavirus case

Michigan officials set to approve $25 million in spending for response to coronavirus threat
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo declared a state of emergency Tuesday and deployed the National Guard to New Rochelle, the suburb of New York City which now has the largest concentration of novel coronavirus cases in the United States, to enforce a containment area.

As of this writing, the state has 173 confirmed cases of Covid-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, of which 108 are in Westchester County, which includes New Rochelle. This is an increase of 31 from the day before in New York state; there are 973 confirmed cases nationally.

All large gathering places in the New Rochelle containment area, such as schools and houses of worship, will be shut down through March 25. Non-quarantined residents can leave their homes, and grocery stores will remain open. According to Cuomo, the National Guard are being deployed to clean public surfaces and distribute food to quarantined residents. It is unclear if the soldiers will play any role in enforcing quarantines.

The containment area has a 1-mile radius centered near the synagogue attended by a local attorney who works in Manhattan and contracted the coronavirus. While he had no known links to areas where the virus had been prevalent before his diagnosis, many connected to him have since contracted the pathogen, officially named SARS-CoV-2.

It is now known that the man was diagnosed with pneumonia for four days after arriving at a hospital before being diagnosed with Covid-19, and during that time SARS-CoV-2 spread to at least one health worker, while others are in self-quarantine after being exposed to the man.

The calling in of the National Guard makes clear that every social problem, whether a pandemic, homelessness or mental health issues, is viewed as a military-police problem. Public concern over the deployment of the National Guard compelled New Rochelle Mayor Noam Bramson to declare: Its not as though New Rochelle is going to become a militarized community.  I want to be real about this: When you see someone from the National Guard on your street and outside your home, it is natural and human to find it unsettling.

To the extent that the working class is not independently politically organized, the containment area could well morph into a militarized community directed against the population under the cover of this genuine public health emergency.

The 108 cases in Westchester County now account for 13 percent of all cases across the United States, meaning that the New York City area is rapidly becoming an epicenter of the virus in the US, and easily the epicenter on the East Coast. It is clear that the nations largest city is unprepared for the epidemic to spread.

As of Tuesday several counties in the New York City area have reported cases: 108 in Westchester County, 19 in Nassau County, 6 in Rockland County, and 36 in New York City itself (an increase of 16 from the day before). There are two presumptive positives in Connecticut and 15 in New Jersey, where a man died Tuesday of Covid-19. Reported cases are an underestimation given the dismal rate of testing in the US.

Among the cases is Rick Cotton, executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, who directs Port Newark, the PATH rail system, six crossings between New York and New Jersey, as well as all the major airports and bus depots in the immediate New York City area. He and those who had close contact with him are working from home under self-quarantine.

City officials have not yet canceled public events or instituted major measures beyond reportedly disinfecting the mass transit fleet every three days and subway stations every day. However, as someone could walk onto a train and unknowingly cough respiratory droplets with SARS-CoV-2 onto poles or turnstiles an hour after cleaning, it is unclear if this is a sufficient rate of cleaning.

CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals Dr. Mitchell Katz said that hospitals are preparing to discharge patients and cancel outpatient surgeries in an emergency situation.

Many private universities in the city and across the state, including New York University, Columbia University and Hofstra University, have canceled classes or are moving to all-online instruction. Columbia, for example, after canceling classes Monday and Tuesday, announced that classes would be online-only through at least March 27. With spring break next week for many universities, it is unclear how the situation will develop for students over the coming weeks.

New York City public schools, which were a center of transmission of the less fatal H1N1 swine flu, could well play a similar role with Covid-19. While children are luckily much less susceptible to the virus than adults, they could still transmit the virus to their parents and guardiansto say nothing of the risks facing school staff of all ages.

However, it is clear that, if and when schools are closed, it will likely be when it is too late. New York City Schools Chancellor Richard A. Carranza said that closing the schools would be a last resort. This is because about one-tenth, or over 100,000, New York City public school students are homeless, and almost all of them are poor.

For many of these students, public schools are their sole source for a hot meal, and often of medical care and internet access, the latter being necessary to move to online instruction.

Instead, if a student or school staff member tests positive for SARS-CoV-2, then the school will be closed for 24 hours and disinfected. However, this may prove too late to limit transmission within the schools.

The hashtag #CloseTheSchools was trending yesterday on Twitter as students and others were demanding the closure due to Covid-19 of New York City public schools, as well as the states public university systems, the City University of New York (CUNY) and State University of New York (SUNY), which likewise remain open.

That the home of Wall Street cannot guarantee the safety of public schoolchildren from a predictable pandemic because 10 percent of them are homeless is an indictment of the entire social order.

Indeed, as if to further demonstrate the bankruptcy of capitalism, Cuomo has proudly touted the fact that the state is manufacturing its own hand sanitizer for distribution in public buildings. This has become necessary in part due to price-gouging and panic-buying. At a news conference, he flippantly joked about the sanitizers very nice floral bouquet.

While Cuomo mentioned the company manufacturing the 100,000 gallons per week of sanitizer, Corcraft, he did not mention the workforce creating the sanitizer: prisoners paid less than $1 per hour, who are unlikely to use any of the sanitizer in their overcrowded and unsanitary prisons. Prisoners will have another job if the pandemic worsens: digging mass graves on Hart Island.

Public defenders and others have noted that the citys prisons and jails are Covid-19 clusters waiting to happen, with Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, a federal prison, reportedly lacking hand sanitizer and soap.
Things are starting to get really heated up between Ghanaian actress, Akuapem Poloo alias Cardi Bs Twin and Nollywood actor, Somadina Adinma.

The Ghanaian lover girl recently shared a photo of her new beau, Soma in which she expressed her feelings for the actor.

See the post below:

https://www.instagram.com/p/B9mKw2YJvbJ/?igshid=1mrdu5408mnlx

The actress also confirmed the news reports about their blossoming relationship was true as she called out a blog.

See the post below:

https://www.instagram.com/p/B9lyQ20JfyX/?igshid=1hsp1t829jva5

Some of her Ghanaian fans took to the comments section to ask why she opted the Nigerian actor and the actress wrote;

wherefrom these comments I have been here with you two years now and you didnt propose now that I have found true love you are here with your comment to push my man @adinmasomadina away

Somadina also took to his Instagram to reciprocate the kind gesture by sharing a photo of the beautiful lady.

Read Also: Fuji Singer, Saheed Osupa Declares Kwam I As His Boss (Video)

See the post below:

https://www.instagram.com/p/B9ly829jUqK/?igshid=rb3znms1nza5
A not-for-profit community centre in Brisbane's east will undergo a $2 million refurbishment if Labor lord mayoral candidate Pat Condren is elected in two weeks' time.

Mr Condren and lord mayor Adrian Schrinner were both out in Brisbane suburbs making election promises on Wednesday, with the Clem Jones Centre in Carindale earmarked for Labor's latest pledge.

Labor candidate Pat Condren has run on a campaign of "back to the suburbs".

"A Condren administration will tip $2 million into this wonderful facility, which has been named obviously after Brisbane's greatest lord mayor in Clem Jones," Mr Condren said.

The centre houses swimming pools and recreational facilities and with the $2 million pledge would see a new childcare service, sporting offices, allied health service spaces and more room for community organisations and sport.
WASHINGTON  Sen. Bernie Sanders is vowing to soldier on despite a disappointing Tuesday that saw his path to the Democratic presidential nomination narrow considerably.

Saying he has won the "ideological debate" but is losing the electability argument, the Vermont senator said he plans to press front-runner Joe Biden at Sunday's debate in Arizona on health care, climate change, student debt and criminal justice.

"Donald Trump must be defeated and I will do everything in my power to make that happen," Sanders said in a brief address from Burlington, Vermont, Wednesday afternoon. "On Sunday night, in the first one-on-one debate of this campaign, the American people will have the opportunity to see which candidate is best positioned to accomplish that goal."

The debate, co-hosted by CNN, will be the first time since Biden scored big wins on Super Tuesday and again last night that have propelled the former vice president into the clear lead. It will also mark the first time Biden and Sanders will appear on stage without any other candidates, a head-to-head matchup Sanders believes works in his favor.

Bernie Sanders said he is looking forward to taking on Joe Biden in the debates and proving why he is a better choice for the democratic nominee. Sanders was trailing the former VP significantly but is continuing in the race he said at a press event in Burlington March 11.

But it also could represent Sanders' last chance at salvaging his candidacy.

Biden tightened his grasp on the nomination Tuesday, racking up significant wins in ways that could make it almost impossible for Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders to catch him in the coming weeks.

Biden collected the biggest prize  Michigan  delivering a symbolic blow to Sanders while denying him what might have been his last best chance to regain momentum. Sanders' win in Michigan in 2016 was seen as a turning point in his candidacy, and the campaign this time had high expectations there.

The former vice presidents big night was punctuated by decisive victories in Missouri and Mississippi.

Sanders setback: Joe Biden racks up more big wins, making it almost impossible for Bernie Sanders to catch up

In addition, Sanders is losing a number of states he won four years ago.

Story continues

Idaho, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota and Oklahoma all went for the Vermont senator in 2016 when he ran against Hillary Clinton. But he lost all those in this election cycle.

And the contests ahead looks even tougher.

Clinton beat Sanders in the four large states - Florida, Illinois and Ohio, Arizona - which vote March 17, and in Georgia, where people vote March 24.

Sanders said he's losing largely because a large swath of Democrats believe  mistakenly  that the former vice president has a better chance of beating Trump.

"I cannot tell you how many our campaign has spoken to who have said 'I like what your campaign stands for but I'm going to vote for Joe Biden because I think Joe is the best candidate to defeat Donald Trump,' " he said Wednesday. "We have heard that statement all over this country. Needless to say, I strongly disagree with that assertion."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Bernie Sanders to stay in race, saying nomination path still viable
WASHINGTON  Former Vice President Joe Biden is projected to win Michigans primary election, according to the Associated Press, further cutting into Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanderss path to nomination.

Michigan handed Sanders an odds-defying win in 2016, despite polls that had him trailing former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton by more than 20 points. An overwhelming number of white working-class voters who opposed free trade deals supported Sanders and solidified his candidacy as competitive. The same couldnt be said for Tuesdays contest.

Biden was able to connect with voters in a way Clinton could not. While Clinton was unable to appeal to non-college educated voters, Bidens pitch as blue collar Middle-Class Joe also helped him in states similar to Michigan, such as Massachusetts and Minnesota. Bidens wins there were as much as an upset to Sanders as they were a preview of what was to come just a week later.

Sanderss inability to turn out young voters in historic numbers and smaller numbers of Latino voters, coupled with Bidens popularity among working-class white voters, helped boost the former vice president. Sanderss popularity in the state was fractured  and his coalition was unable to pick up the pieces.

And while the Sanders campaign boasts high favorability with voters of color nationally, it was unable to match the enthusiasm for Biden among black voters in a state where they make up a significant percentage of the voting population. Michigans African-American voters preferred Biden to Sanders by a stunning margin  41 percent to just 16 percent, according to recent polling by Detroit News/WDIV-TV. Sanders was unable to make up that deficit on Tuesday, a shortfall that could cost his campaign the nomination outright.

Joe Biden acknowledges the crowd during a campaign rally Saturday in Kansas City, Mo. (Charlie Riedel/AP)

Michigan, the first industrial Midwestern state to cast its vote, might be a signal of how other Rust Belt state primaries will perform in a Biden-versus-Sanders matchup. A Yahoo News/YouGov poll paints a grim picture for Sanders, who trails Biden by double digits in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin primary polls. However, either candidate is projected to face close races against Trump in those same states.

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Still, Bidens Michigan victory is a stunning blow to Sanders, who just a week ago had a front-runner status for the Democratic nomination. But Bidens considerable leads in South Carolina and Super Tuesday races, along with a slew of powerful endorsements, propelled him to the front. Former candidates Beto ORourke, Pete Buttigieg, and Sens. Kamala Harris, Cory Booker and Amy Klobuchar all endorsed Biden within the last week.

The Associated Press also called Missouri and Mississippi for Biden.

_____

Read more from Yahoo News:
U2 are one of the first star acts to agree to perform at this year's Grammy Awards in the US.

The Dublin band have signed up along with Madonna to appear at the ceremony on February 21 in Los Angeles.
LoveWorks is dedicating themselves to making sure men have a special day - March 14th; Men's Valentine's Day is for real and more couples are getting excited about it all of the time

LAKE CHARLES, LA / ACCESSWIRE / March 11, 2020 / Most people agree couples are much happier when both people know they are special and appreciated. LoveWorks, a company that specializes in products designed to improve interpersonal relationships, definitely agrees. A big thing they are doing to help in this area is by promoting the new partner to Valentine's Day, March 14th, Men's Valentine's Day. Edgy and exciting, many people love the idea of the new holiday with girlfriends, boyfriends, wives, and husbands, all getting in on the fun.

"Guys are rarely the ones getting the attention they need from their partners, and their partner's families," commented Heather Williams of LoveWorks. "We want to encourage a broader base of people to show their appreciation and affection for the men in their lives with a holiday just for men."

With its origins in a slightly less politically correct titled holiday and celebrated half tongue-in-cheek, Men's Valentine's Day is being taken much more seriously. It also fits very well with the idea that both sexes should be celebrated and praised for the good they do, and the more reasons a couple have fun together -- the better for the relationship.

National Guy's Valentine's Day provides positive reinforcement by letting men (who deserve it) know, that not only are they appreciated but are also needed by their wives or girlfriends and a vital part of their happy lives. That is what a holiday of appreciation is supposed to be and LoveWorks is overjoyed to sponsor it.

Valentine's Day got its start as a "day of romance" in the 14th century and now seven centuries later, the love is being spread to include a day for men, in addition to women. Chocolate and flowers are sure to remain as popular as ever and for men, there are plenty of good ideas as well.

Williams, from LoveWorks, said with a big smile, "Don't forget to celebrate this March 14th to the fullest. A new tradition is being built - Men's Valentine's Day is for real!"

About LoveWorks

LoveWorks is a privately-owned Louisiana company, founded in 1991, and headquartered in Lake Charles, one of the fastest-growing areas in the United States. LoveWorks sells products designed to improve interpersonal relationships.

CONTACT:

J. Wiseman

mjw@loveworks.com

SOURCE: Best Management Co., Inc dba LoveWorks

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/579981/Making-a-Change--A-New-Holiday-for-Men
Niamey, Niger (PANA) - The French Ambassador to Niger, Alexandre Garcia, has lauded the activities of the G5 Sahel Joint Force and the Nigerien Armed Forces, with Barkhane's support, saying they are achieving very good results in the fight against terrorist groups, their neutralization and the seizure of materials
The NACDS Foundation is committed to advancing innovative care models that hold promise for public health and that create unique partnerships that can be replicated and scaled to help even more patients across the United States.

The National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) Foundation is supporting additional efforts to help Minnesota patients confront high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes by leveraging pharmacists to help them manage their medications, in conjunction with researchers at the University of Minnesota and the University of North Carolina. The Foundation has announced that it is providing matching funds to a program designed to build on the prior success of medication management by further evaluating its results, including the feasibility and sustainability of enhancing its accessibility for patients throughout the nation.

As part of a highly collaborative program, the NACDS Foundation initiated a grant agreement with the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy. The University of North Carolina Eshelman Institute for Innovation also is providing funding, as is the Minnesota Department of Health in partnership with the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Thirteen community pharmacy organizations are enrolled in the project, with over 130 store locations participating. An integrated healthcare organization in Minnesota also is collaborating in the program.

Medication management strategies provided by community pharmacists have demonstrated effectiveness in improving patients medication use, improving their health, and reducing overall healthcare costs, said NACDS Foundation President Kathleen Jaeger. The NACDS Foundation is committed to advancing innovative care models that hold promise for public health and that create unique partnerships that can be replicated and scaled to help even more patients across the United States. This initiative is an ideal example of this commitment in action and we are thrilled more patients can further benefit from these care interventions.

Pharmacists will be working with patients and other members of their health care team to support improvement of health by optimizing the use of their medications, said Jason Varin, an assistant professor in the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy and a community pharmacist. Medication Therapy Management (MTM) services can improve overall patient health outcomes by ensuring that medications provide the most benefit, potentially decrease the overall costs of care and improve patients health care experiences. By encouraging patients to engage with their local pharmacist, we are hoping more conversations between patient and pharmacist will center around the best way to manage and improve their health.

The lead researchers from the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy and the University of North Carolina Eshelman School of Pharmacy will evaluate the results of the program to provide additional insights about the effects of medication management on decreasing blood pressure among patients with hypertension, helping patients become tobacco-free, and reducing blood sugar among patients with diabetes.

The partnering organizations note that some of the biggest challenges and opportunities in healthcare relate to ensuring that patients are prescribed optimal medications for their unique needs, that patients are able to take them as prescribed, and that the medications are safe and effective. About 30 percent of prescriptions are never filled and about half of medications for chronic diseases are not taken as prescribed. This is estimated to cause the deaths of about 125,000 people every year and at least one in ten hospital admissions. In more than 90 percent of visits, pharmacists providing MTM services identify at least one opportunity to improve a patients medication regimen.

A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found participation in MTM doubled the number of patients who had blood pressure under control compared to patients who had usual care. The study found that the average patient who participated in MTM had approximately $1,300 less in healthcare costs than patients who did not receive MTM.


Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-11 10:24:52|Editor: ZD

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WASHINGTON, March 10 (Xinhua) -- Former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden was projected to win Tuesday's Democratic primaries in the states of Mississippi and Missouri, local media reported.

Multiple media outlets called the victory for Biden over veteran Senator Bernie Sanders as soon as polls closed.

Black voters were thought to have delivered decisive victory for Biden in Mississippi, since exit polls found that about two-thirds of Democratic voters in the deep south state are black, the highest rate of any state that has voted so far.

About 75 percent of voters in Mississippi said Biden best understands the concerns of people of color, according to TheHill news report.

An NBC News exit poll also showed broad support underpins Biden's Missouri victory, with especially strong backing from black voters and voters 45 or older.

Biden was also the clear favorite of voters looking for someone who can unite the country and voters whose top priority is beating President Donald Trump, local analysts say.

Six U.S. states held primaries on Tuesday for voters to select their prefered presidential candidate this year. The other four states are Idaho, Michigan, North Dakota and Washington.

Trump is expected to win the Republican primaries as he faces no major challenges in the party. On the Democratic side, Biden and Sanders are locked in a one-on-one battle for the party's presidential nomination.

The two candidates are paying much attention to Michigan, a battleground state that awards 125 pledged delegates to the Democratic National Convention (DNC), scheduled for July in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Tuesday's contests come a week after Super Tuesday's Democratic primaries, in which Biden won 10 of the 14 states voting that day, while Sanders won the other four. Biden led Sanders in pledged delegates with 670 to 574 as of Tuesday morning.

U.S. Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii is still in the Democratic primary race but is trailing well behind Biden and Sanders.
Consumer Reports has no financial relationship with advertisers on this site.

Across the country, millions of Americans are still under local stay home orders, which remain in place to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

But some people still need to commute to their workplacea hospital, for exampleor go grocery shopping. And in some states, leaders have begun taking steps to lift work-from-home orders, opening certain businesses and workplaces. That means many people will be returning to public transit for the first time in weeks.

We talked with experts about why social distancing matters and what steps you can take to protect yourself on buses and trains.

The Importance of Social Distancing

Before you head out, remember: Public health experts still say that taking social distancing measures is critical to limiting the spread of COVID-19.

That means avoiding sick people, steering clear of crowds, staying home as much as possible, and keeping at least 6 feet away from others when you do go out.

The logic behind social distancing rests on our current understanding of the virus. Scientists say that it is generally spread by close contactbeing directly coughed on or sneezed at by someone with the disease, or by being within 6 feet of an infected person (including one who is not necessarily showing symptoms yet) for about 10 to 15 minutes or longer.

The virus can also survive on surfaces for hours or even days. That means the key to avoiding the disease is keeping a safe distance from others, and as much as possible trying to not touch surfaces that may have the virus on them. It also means washing your hands carefully, so you dont transfer the virus to your mouth, nose, or eyes, where it can enter your system.

Additionally, the CDC now recommends that when you do leave your home, you wear a cloth mask or face covering. Using a mask doesnt replace the need for social distancing, since its unclear how effective this measure is at stopping COVID-19 transmission, but does add another layer of protectionmainly by helping the wearer avoid unknowingly spreading the disease to others.

Story continues

Finally, stay home when you yourself are sick, even mildlyCOVID-19 can cause mild symptoms that may be mistaken for other illnesses. Taking social distancing measures is especially important for protecting those most vulnerable to severe disease from COVID-19, including older adults and those with underlying health conditions, such as diabetes, lung disease, heart disease, and conditions that suppress the immune system.

Public Transportation

For those who continue to have to commute each day, or who are resuming their commute because work-from-home restrictions have been lifted in their states: Sit or stand as far from others on the bus or train as you can. If you see someone cough or sneeze near you on the bus or train, and youre more than 6 feet away from them, your risk is probably low, says David Freedman, M.D., a professor of infectious diseases at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

If an obviously sick person is right next to you in a crowded train car, however, its a bit trickier. Im concerned about this sort of profiling of people who are coughing and sneezing, says Elizabeth Scott, Ph.D., a professor of biology at Simmons University in Boston and an expert in home and community hygiene. On the other hand, we need to be smart.

Heres how.

Change your commute time. If you work in an industry where you still need to commute for work or you live in an area where local travel restrictions are lifting, try to adjust your work hours, if possible, to less busy times. And leave extra time for your commute in case you need to wait for a less crowded train or bus.

Clean your hands as soon as possible after your trip. Surfaces in a public transit setting most likely to harbor the virus are those that are most commonly touched, Scott says, such as the bars you hold on to for balance on the train or bus.

While it might in theory make sense to wipe down those surfaces with a disinfectant before you grab hold of them, its not always practical. Its impossible to take action on every surface that you come in contact with, Scott says.

But you should wash your hands as soon as possible after leaving your bus or train. A thorough rub with a hand sanitizer makes sense. Even more important is thorough hand-washing20 seconds with soap and water. And avoid touching your face with your hands, to keep any germs you might have picked up from getting into your system.

Consider other forms of transportation. Another option is, when possible, to walk or bike to your destination instead of taking public transport.

And if you opt for a rental bike or e-scooter, follow the same precautions as with public transportation, carefully washing your hands after each use. The virus is not going to jump off the handlebars and jump into your mouth, Freedman says. Instead, cleaning your hands after you touch the handlebars or any other potentially contaminated surface is probably the best strategy, he says.

Airplanes

The CDC is encouraging everyone to cancel nonessential travel, including trips within the U.S. And according to the Transportation Security Administration, the numbers of people flying have dropped off dramatically since March. Still, if you must take a flight, you can take precautions to stay safe.

Keep your distance. If you do need to travel by plane, its worth noting that the risk of the disease being spread through an aircrafts airflow system is relatively low. Thats because the air is continually filtered through a HEPA filter, which can trap viruses, Freedman says.

Instead, your risk on the plane, as on a bus or train, is being near someone who is infected. On a plane, that means sitting within two seatsto the side, front, or backof someone who is ill, research suggests. So if youre seated that close to someone who is obviously sick, ask whether you can change your seat, Freedman says. And with travel down these days, that may be easier than usual.

Practice good hygiene. That includes taking hand sanitizer with you to clean your hands before eating and after you touch surfaces, such as the door handle on the outside of the restroom or the headrests as you walk down the aisle, says Scott at Simmons University. Also consider taking disinfecting wipes for your food tray and other high-touch surfaces, she says.

Cruise Ships

Disease can spread quickly inside the close quarters of a cruise ship, as has occurred in several cases already. For that reason, the CDC now warns against any travel on a cruise ship, particularly for those at higher risk of getting severely ill from COVID-19.





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Consumer Reports is an independent, nonprofit organization that works side by side with consumers to create a fairer, safer, and healthier world. CR does not endorse products or services, and does not accept advertising. Copyright  2020, Consumer Reports, Inc.
The actor, writer and comedian takes over from former host Sandi Toksvig, who left the hit Channel 4 series in January. She and Fielding took over presenting duties from Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins, and over the course of three years were instrumental in its success since switching from the BBC in 2017.
Iran says it has reported 63 new deaths from the novel coronavirus in the past 24 hours, raising the death toll to 354.

Health Ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour said on March 11 that 958 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 were identified in the country, bringing the total number of cases to 9,000.

Iran is the hardest-hit country in the Middle East by the coronavirus outbreak, which has infected more than 118,000 people globally and killed nearly 4,300.

Amid reports that the disease has spread inside Iranian prisons, U.S. State Secretary Mike Pompeo late on March 10 called on Iran to immediately release on humanitarian grounds all Americans "unjustly" imprisoned in the country.

The United States will hold the Iranian regime directly responsible for any American deaths. Our response will be decisive, Pompeo warned in a statement.

Irans judiciary says it has temporarily released 70,000 people held in Iranian prisons in an attempt to contain the outbreak.

The UN special rapporteur on human rights in Iran, Javaid Rehman, on March 10 cited overcrowding, poor nutrition, and lack of hygiene as serious concerns.

A number of dual and foreign nationals are at real risk if they have not got [coronavirus]. They are really fearful of their conditions, Rehman told reporters in Geneva.

Iranian authorities have arrested dozens of foreigners and dual citizens over recent years, mostly on espionage charges.

Rights activists have accused Iranian authorities of arresting them to try to win concessions from other countries -- a charge dismissed by Tehran.

The biggest number of coronavirus infections in Iran have been recorded in the capital, Tehran.

Authorities have closed schools and universities across Iran, suspended major cultural and sporting events, and reduced working hours across the country to slow the contagion.

They also resorted to shutting hotels and other tourist accommodation in a bid to discourage travel.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on March 10 announced that medical staff who die combating the disease will be recognized as martyrs.

The decision comes amid a propaganda campaign trying to link the fight against the virus to the eight-year war between Iran and Iraq in the 1980s,

The families of those designated martyrs, typically from the security forces, receive financial aid and other benefits from the state.

With reporting by AFP and AP
ST. LOUIS  Civic organizers from multiple regional areas, aiming to slow the spread of the coronavirus, on Wednesday called off St. Patrick's Day parades downtown, in Cottleville and, finally, in the city's Dogtown neighborhood as well.

The downtown St. Louis St. Patricks Day parade and run were scheduled for Saturday, as was the Shamrock Run and Parade in Cottleville. Cottleville Firefighters Outreach, sponsor of the events, said Wednesday night that organizers feared an overload crowd because other events had been canceled.

The Dogtown parade, scheduled for Tuesday next week, was finally postponed late Wednesday.

"Obviously, we're cognizant of what's going on right now, globally," said Jim Mohan, spokesman for the Ancient Order of Hibernians, which helps organize the event. They did not set a date for the rescheduled parade.

The downtown parade, which would have been the 51st, attracts more than 250,000 people, and was supposed to include more than 130 marching units, including floats, bands, dancers, helium-filled balloons, and more than 5,000 parade participants.
Bhopal: Amid the political crisis in Madhya Pradesh, 95 Congress MLAs reached the Bhopal airport to leave for Jaipur on Wednesday after the ruling party decided to shift its MLAs out of the state in a bid to keep its flock together.

The ruling party MLAs, who reached the Raja Bhoj Airport in three buses around 12 noon, expressed confidence that the Kamal Nath-led state government will be able prove its majority.

They also said that 10 to 12 MLAs, out of those who resigned on Tuesday after former Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia quit the Congress, will also support the party in the event of a floor test in the House.

We are going to Jaipur with our MLAs. We will stay there together, state minister Sajjan Singh Verma, considered a close confidante of Chief Minister Kamal Nath, told reporters after the Congress MLAs reached the airport.

Another minister Kamaleshwar Patel said they were confident that the Congress-led state government will prove its majority.

We will prove our majority. We are going to Jaipur where we will sit together and discuss various issues. This is not happening for the first time. It happened earlier (also), he said.

State minister Priyavrat Singh said all the party MLAs wanted to relieve their tension amid the ongoing political situation.

So, we are going to Jaipur. We will prove our majority. We have 95 MLAs here (at the airport). Independent MLAs and BSP and SP legislators are also supporting, Singh said.

Asked about the 19 MLAs, who are loyal to Scindia and currently staying in Bengaluru, Singh said of them, 10 to 12 legislators would also support the Congress during the floor test as they were misled.

He also claimed that Congress leaders are in touch with the MLAs staying in Bengaluru.

On Tuesday, 22 Madhya Pradesh Congress MLAs loyal to Scindia resigned, pushing the 15-month-old Kamal Nath government to the brink of collapse.

The development reduced the Congress government in the state to minority.

The state Congress unit is now making all efforts to save the Kamal Nath government.

The BJP on Tuesday night shifted its MLAs to Manesar at Gurugram in Haryana, sources in the saffron party said.

The Congress, whose tally before the rebellion was 114, has a wafer-thin majority in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly whose current effective strength is 228.

It also has the support of four Independents, two BSP legislators and one SP MLA, but some of them are now likely to switch sides to the BJP.

The BJP has 107 seats in the state Assembly.
Gandhinagar, March 11 : More than 2,700 cases of rape were registered with the Gujarat police in 2018 and 2019, which amounted to at least three rape cases per day in the state, according to the state government.

As per replies to various questions raised by Congress MLAs in the state assembly, Minister of State for Home Pradeepsinh Jadeja informed the House that during 2018-2019, there were 2,723 cases registered by the police for rape and gang rapes in the state.

The maximum number of cases were registered in Ahmedabad with 540 rape cases in two years. Surat had the second highest with 452 cases followed by Rajkot with 158, and Banaskantha district with 150 rape cases.

The least number of cases were reported in the tribal district of Dang, where nine such cases were registered in the past two years.

Congress MLA from Dariyapur Gyasuddin Sheikh said, "Rape cases are increasing in a state where the government is known for giving the slogan 'Beti Bachao Beti Padhao'. I request that the victims should get some financial aid from the CM relief fund."
Immigrant rights groups blast the ruling, saying the policy endangers thousands along the US-Mexico border.

The United States Supreme Court has allowed the administration of President Donald Trump to continue its Remain in Mexico policy while it considers whether or not to hear the case, in a decision seen as a win for the White House.

The justices on Wednesday stayed a Ninth Circuit Court ruling from two weeks ago that declared the policy illegal. Had the Supreme Court allowed the decision to remain, asylum seekers who crossed the border in Arizona and California would not have been subject to the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP).

Rights groups slammed the ruling.

The Court of Appeals unequivocally declared this policy to be illegal. The Supreme Court should as well. Asylum seekers face grave danger and irreversible harm every day this depraved policy remains in effect,

Judy Rabinovitz, special counsel in the American Civil Liberties Unions (ACLU) Immigrants Rights Project, said in a statement after the ruling.

Under the policy, asylum seekers are briefly processed by US border agents and given a date to return for an immigration court hearing before being sent back across the southern border.

According to US Solicitor General Noel Francisco, the policy has allowed US border agents to send roughly 60,000 asylum seekers to Mexico to wait for their trial date since it was enacted in January 2019.

The ACLU has criticised the policy, saying these asylum seekers are often stranded in cities with high crime rates, where they face homelessness, kidnapping and sexual violence.

Far from providing protection for migrants and asylum seekers, MPP has exposed returnees to severe risk of violence and persecution, the ACLU wrote in a report on the policy.

Not surprisingly, many are choosing to abandon bona fide asylum claims. Instead, they are returning home to face certain danger rather than remaining in limbo in cities where they are unable to support themselves financially and are at risk of being preyed on by criminals.

The Trump administration has repeatedly sent legal challenges to its immigration policies to the Supreme Court. Critics said the court often sides with the administrations policies.

Legal proceedings against the policy began in April 2019. The Ninth Circuit Court decided on February 28 that a provision from a 1996 immigration law which allowed authorities to return migrants to a foreign territory contiguous to the United States was meant to apply to a small number of such migrants.

Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor would have denied the governments application, the court said.
Power stocks were trading in the positive zone, with the S&P BSE Power index rising 15.63 points or 0.95% at 1659.57 at 09:53 IST.

Among the components of the S&P BSE Power index, Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (up 4.05%), Adani Power Ltd (up 3.44%),NHPC Ltd (up 3.23%),Adani Transmission Ltd (up 2.94%),Kalpataru Power Transmission Ltd (up 1.76%), were the top gainers. Among the other gainers were Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (up 1.46%), NTPC Ltd (up 1.07%), K E C International Ltd (up 0.31%), and Torrent Power Ltd (up 0.11%).

On the other hand, Thermax Ltd (down 1.65%), Tata Power Company Ltd (down 1.64%), and CESC Ltd (down 1.33%) moved lower.

At 09:53 IST, the S&P BSE Sensex was up 60.61 or 0.17% at 35695.56.

The Nifty 50 index was up 8.9 points or 0.09% at 10460.35.

The S&P BSE Small-Cap index was up 38.77 points or 0.3% at 12809.32.

The S&P BSE 150 Midcap Index index was up 3.58 points or 0.08% at 4434.64.

On BSE,924 shares were trading in green, 683 were trading in red and 87 were unchanged.

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Violent criminals are making use of the state's improving infrastructure to get around quicker than ever before and commit serious crimes across vast distances in regional and metropolitan areas.

Police and the state government will on Thursday announce the commitment of dozens of new detectives to tackle this new wave of offending. That group will be among 788 new police officers who will start in their roles from May.

About 580 officers will become general duties members in police stations across the state, while 208 officers will go into specialist units in areas such as regional crime, family violence, counter-terrorism and road policing.

Forty-eight detectives will be allocated to work in the state's Regional Crime Teams, which investigate prolific and repeat offending that traverses the police's four divisional boundaries.

"What we saw a few years ago is a change in offending behaviour ... where a carload of offenders would carjack someone in Epping, 20 minutes later do a home invasion in Kew and next thing you know they are down in Narre Warren," said Deputy Commissioner Rick Nugent.
The lucrative Cork cruise season will continue as planned, despite coronavirus fears.

The Port of Cork said steps have been taken ahead of the arrival of the first cruise liner of the 2020 season.

The Saga Sapphire is due in Cobh on Friday morning with up to 752 passengers and a further 400 crew. It will arrive at the end of a coastal cruise of Ireland and the UK, having already docked in Liverpool and Dublin, before setting off back to Dover.

There is just one other cruise liner due this month: the Marco Polo, which is scheduled to arrive on March 23. From April onwards, though, the numbers arriving will increase rapidly.

Currently, there are plans for a record 107 cruise liners to visit Cork in the coming months. Passenger numbers were projected to reach 260,000.

Fears have been heightened in recent weeks after outbreaks of the coronavirus on the Grand Princess liner off the US coast, where 21 cases have been reported, and the Diamond Princess, where some 700 cases were reported earlier this year. Neither of these are scheduled to visit Cork in 2020.

A spokesperson for the Port of Cork said it is following "all necessary guidelines" from the HSE: "Cruise ship tourism offers no higher risks compared to tourists visiting Cork via airports or public transport. However following dialogue with the HSE concerning coronavirus, the Port of Cork will ensure that all vessels/agents must complete the Maritime Declaration of Health (MDoH) to SafeSeas Ireland (SSI)."

In addition, passenger details of all those joining liners in Cobh or Cork must be notified to the Port Authority prior to arrival, and local tourism ambassadors will not board vessels until further notice. All vessels are required to have adequate hand sanitizer stocks and information on the virus, while no unnecessary ship visits are to be scheduled during the port stay.

"The Port of Cork is keenly aware of public concern over the Covid-19 and while all cruise liners and their passengers will be welcomed to Cork, the Port is also following advice from the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), the leading voice of the global cruise industry, on the adoption of additional enhanced screening measures in response to COVID-19," the spokesperson added.

CLIA measures include the prohibition of travel for all persons who have travelled from South Korea, Itan, China and any affected areas of Italy.
LONDON/MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian pranksters say they duped Britain's Prince Harry into saying his new life outside the royal family is "much better" and that U.S. President Donald Trump has "blood on his hands" over climate change.

Reuters was unable to verify the authenticity of the recordings, made by the two well-known Russian hoaxers, Vladimir Kuznetsov and Alexei Stolyarov, which have been published in Britain's Sun newspaper and extracts put on YouTube.

Asked if the recordings were genuine, Buckingham Palace said it was making no comment on the hoax.

In the calls, the pranksters pretended to be Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg, the Sun said, although it was not exactly clear how they had fooled the prince.

However, the voice on the audio does appear to be that of the 35-year-old grandson of Queen Elizabeth, who talks passionately about the global environmental crisis.

"Unfortunately the world is being led by some very sick people," he said in clips published on YouTube.

"I don't mind saying this to you guys, I think the mere fact that Donald Trump is pushing the coal industry so big in America, he has blood on his hands."

Talking about how change could be brought about quickly, he said: "If Donald Trump can become President of the United States of America, then anythings possible, right?"

On Monday, Harry and Meghan, 38, bowed out from their official royal roles to set off on a new career path in North America which they will finance themselves without using their HRH titles - His or Her Royal Highness, or using "royal" in their branding.

Talking about their exit, the Sun reported Harry had said "this decision certainly wasn't the easy one but it was the right decision for our family, the right decision to be able to protect my son".

"I think it's much better (than royal life). You forget, I was in the military for 10 years so I'm more normal than my family would like to believe," the paper quoted him as saying.

The two Russians have duped a host of well-known figures in the past and Kuznetsov told Reuters the first call was made on Dec. 31 last year and the second on Jan. 22. He declined to elaborate on them saying they had given the rights of the audio to British media.

(Reporting by Michael Holden in London and Gabrielle Tetrault-Farber in Moscow; Editing by Jon Boyle)
You've been looking for your dream job in Canada for a long time? Find out how you can reduce the risk of being the target of job offer fraud.

5 tips to avoid fraudulent job offers in Canada You've been looking for your dream job in Canada for a long time? Find out how you can reduce the risk of being the target of job offer fraud.

5 tips to avoid fraudulent job offers in Canada You've been looking for your dream job in Canada for a long time? Find out how you can reduce the risk of being the target of job offer fraud.

5 tips to avoid fraudulent job offers in Canada You've been looking for your dream job in Canada for a long time? Find out how you can reduce the risk of being the target of job offer fraud. Stephen Sherman Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif

Sans Font Size A

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Many people around the world aspire to live and work in Canada. The wide variety of jobs available and the diverse contexts in which these jobs can be performed make Canada a real land of opportunity. Not surprisingly, the web is full of employment scams designed to take advantage of peoples aspirations.

A Canadian job offer is something that is indeed eagerly sought after by countless foreign nationals from countries around the world. Unfortunately, many dishonest individuals take advantage of this fact and reach out to foreign nationals to offer them what is presented as a legitimate Canadian job offer, when in fact it is a scam.

Fortunately, there are a number of warning signs that can help identify dishonest tactics that specifically target job seekers or those seeking financial opportunities in Canada. Here are five of them:

Request more information about work permits in Canada

1) An unrealistic compensation

Salaries and benefits that are not commensurate with the nature of employment are signs that the job offer is not real.

The first and most obvious sign of a problem is a salary that is too high for the job being offered. If in doubt, the average Canadian salary per occupation can be verified on the Canadian Governments Job Bank site.

If there is a significant discrepancy between the salary information found on the site and the proposed salary, this does not bode well for the legitimacy of the job and is likely too good to be true.

A second sign that should raise doubts about the validity of an employment offer is a wide range of job-related benefits that are too attractive. Many of these false job offers feature a range of benefits that would spark lofty ideals and big dreams for any foreigner looking for a job. Paid airfare from the country of origin, free accommodation and an unrealistic holiday period are common benefits found in fraudulent job offers.

2) A work authorization has been obtained, all you have to do is pay a fee

There are several things wrong with this picture.

First, it is rare for a company to voluntarily go through the application process and navigate the complex Canadian immigration bureaucracy to hire a foreign worker without first conducting a face-to-face interview with their prospective employee.

Second, the process of applying for work authorization in Canada necessarily involves the participation of the foreign national. The idea that a work permit can be obtained by an employer without the involvement of the foreign national he or she intends to employ, is most likely neither possible nor plausible.

Finally, the amount claimed in the vast majority of cases does not reflect the actual cost of obtaining a work permit. The government fee for a work permit application is $155, whereas the amount charged in the context of a fake job offer is usually significantly higher.

3) Missing or incorrect employer contact information

One of the most obvious and objective signs that an offer is fake is a problem with the contact information provided by the employer.

First, if the area code of the telephone number provided does not correspond to where the business is supposed to be located, it does not bode well for its legitimacy. The same holds true if the telephone number has been disconnected, if it is a wrong number or if no one ever answers.

The second part of the contact information that can be used to discern a fake offer is the email address provided by the employer. If a legitimate companys website is www.XYZ.com, and the name of the company representative is Stephen, then the email address would almost certainly be Stephen@xyz.com. It does not matter if the email address is very similar to the address used for the website, if it doesnt match exactly, its a good indication of a scam.

4) Poor quality of language

Common sense suggests that the vast majority of individuals in a position to make an employment offer in Canada would have a good command of the English language.

Therefore, errors in the text of the job offer letter are a good indication that it is not legitimate. Incorrect verb conjugation, punctuation and misspelled words should not be prevalent in an official document from a Canadian company.

5) Unconventional offer letter

The extent to which the offer letter appears to be an official communication from a respected Canadian company can generally be quite revealing.

Sometimes, a quick glance at the job offer letter is enough to discern a lack of authenticity. The formatting of the letter and the graphics or images it contains may stand out and seem off-putting.

Most Canadian companies are very effective at writing professional-looking offer letters to potential employees. Therefore, if the manner in which the letter is written seems inadequate, or if there is an unconventional choice of font or font size, this should be a concern with respect to the legitimacy of the offer.

Although fraudsters have effective strategies for deceiving unsuspecting foreign nationals, there are telling clues that can be used to recognize these strategies. By identifying and understanding these clues, it is possible to detect false job offers and prevent foreign nationals from becoming victims of these fraudulent schemes.

Request more information about work permits in Canada

Stephen Sherman is a Canadian immigration attorney with the Campbell, Cohen Immigration Law Firm in Montreal. He specializes in assisting foreign nationals to work legally in Canada and resolving issues relating to criminal inadmissibility to Canada.

 2020 CIC News All Rights Reserved
The latest developments related to the novel coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, around the region as of Wednesday morning include:

-Three Transportation Security Administration officers who work at Mineta San Jose International Airport have tested positive for the contagious virus.
Bernie Sanderss 16-point loss to Joe Biden in the Michigan primary came almost four years to the day after Sanderss stunning upset of Hillary Clinton in Michigan on March 8, 2016, which became the most important moment of Sanderss 2016 campaign. Michigan was the first really large state to Feel the Bern. Hillarys weakness with white working-class voters in Michigan, which took pollsters by complete surprise, would take them by complete surprise again on Election Day in November.

White working-class voters were the essential element in transforming the youthful-activist Bernie Bro base into a coalition strong enough in 2016 to win not only Michigan but Wisconsin, Indiana, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Maine, West Virginia, Rhode Island, and a bushel of Western states, and run a very close second in Illinois, Missouri, Massachusetts, Kentucky, Connecticut, Iowa, and South Dakota. Most, but not all, of Bernies 2016 wins were by lopsided margins: his only 2016 victories by less than double digits were Michigan (49.8 percent to 48.3 percent), Indiana (52.5 percent to 47.5 percent), and Montana (51 percent to 44.6 percent).

Last night, Sanders proved unable to reprise that victory against Biden. Bidens easy wins in Michigan and Missouri, his upset win in Idaho, and a too-close-to-call result at this writing in Washington spell the end of any realistic prospect that Sanders can win the nomination. This is not simply a matter of Bidens headline strength with African-American voters. It also shows a wider weakness with the white working-class voters who carried Bernie to so many 2016 wins. Sanders has now lost five states to Biden that he won last time: Michigan, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Maine, and Idaho. What happened?

A Different Playing Field

Some of the shift can be explained by different opponents, a wider field, and different methods of voting. The Democratic field was much more crowded this year in New Hampshire, which eroded the size of Sanderss advantage there. It was still a four-way race on Super Tuesday, with the big-spending Mike Bloomberg and the left-populist Elizabeth Warren going after elements of the Sanders coalition from different angles. Joe Biden, while no less a creature of corporate-donor Democrats than Hillary Clinton, has more of a common touch.

Story continues

One thing that has plainly hurt Sanders is that Democrats switched most of their 2016 caucuses to primaries. Minnesota, Maine, Idaho, and Washington all flipped from caucus victories for Sanders to primary losses or dead heats as the electorate expanded. (North Dakota switched to a modified party-run primary, which Sanders won.) The pattern of diluting Sanderss support in a much broader electorate has held across the states that changed formats. In every state, the number of Bernie voters went up, but the turnout went up a lot more:

This is unsurprising, given how caucuses favor more ideological candidates with devoted activist followers. But it doesnt explain a head-to-head primary like Michigan. For that, we should look deeper at the specific erosion of Sanderss support among a key element of his 2016 base.

They Call Me the Working Man

Exit polling is never entirely reliable, and is not equally available across every contest; caucuses can be polled only at the entrances, and pollsters do not ask the same questions every time. Ill present an unweighted average at the bottom of each chart just for reference. But we have a strong enough sample across multiple states to see a powerful pattern in key categories of Sanderss 2016 support. First up, white voters without a college degree:

Outside of Missouri, this was a heavily pro-Sanders voting bloc in 2016; outside of New Hampshire, he has consistently lost these voters to Biden. Notice as well that non-college white voters have actually tended to be a larger share of the vote in 2020 than in the 2016 primaries.

White voters as a whole:

The Democratic electorate in many places is less white than it was four years ago. Sanders won white voters in all of these states, in many cases by double digits. Outside of New Hampshire, he has been losing them to Biden.

White men and unmarried men:

The lopsided pro-Sanders vote among these two overlapping groups in 2016 is undoubtedly partially driven by gender and Hillary Clintons uniquely grating impact on men. In either case, Sanders is now regularly losing white men, flipping from a 25-point advantage to a two-point deficit in Michigan. He has also lost almost his entire broad advantage among unmarried men: Bros for Joe.

Focusing on the economic bracket that was strongest for Sanders in 2016, voters making between $30,000 and $50,000 a year:

There is also a somewhat smaller sample in 2020 exit polls, but the falloff in Michigan and Missouri is visible. Finally, independents:

Sanders utterly dominated independents in 2016. He still runs ahead with them, but not by anything like the same margins.

Nate Cohn found a similar falloff when examining county-by-county results on Super Tuesday:

Mr. Biden defeated Mr. Sanders by 10 points, 38 percent to 28 percent, in counties across Maine, Minnesota and Massachusetts where white voters made up at least 80 percent of the electorate and where college graduates represented less than 40 percent of the electorate . . . This is a marked departure from 2016. Back then, Mr. Sanders tended to excel among white, working-class and rural voters across the North. This made Michigan, where white voters represent a well-above-average share of the Democratic electorate, one of his stronger states. He dominated in Michigans small towns and rural areas, losing only in few counties that tended to have older voters.

Last night, Sanders lost every single county in Michigan.

Tio Bernie

As Cohn notes, Mr. Sanders has often made up for losses in white, working-class areas this year with gains among Latino voters and white voters who live in left-liberal areas. That goes a ways to explaining how he won California, a Hillary Clinton stronghold in 2016. Why is Sanders stronger with Hispanics and weaker with the white working class?

Some commentators have suggested that part of his problem is that Donald Trump has seduced some of Sanderss 2016 voters away from the Democrats. Even if that is true on an individual level, however, there is no sign that white working-class voters have disappeared in droves from Democratic primaries. Looking at the five states where we have comparable exit polls for both years, white voters without a college degree went up in all five. The issue is not declining participation, its declining support. Which leads us to one possible explanation: immigration.

Bernie Sanders is, famously, consistent over time and averse to changing his mind about anything. But that does not mean he is entirely immune to the tendency of politicians to evolve and swim with the tide of their party in search of votes. Part of his appeal to white working-class voters  many of them ancestral Democrats  in 2016 was his economic nationalism. In state after state, voters who told exit pollsters that trade was bad for America sided with Sanders. He won those voters 56 percent to 41 percent in Michigan, 60 percent to 39 percent in Wisconsin, 56 percent to 44 percent in Illinois, 54 percent to 46 percent in Indiana, 53 percent to 46 percent in Missouri, and 54 percent to 30 percent in West Virginia. That clearly overlaps with his strong support in those states from white working-class voters, independents, union households, voters very worried about the economy, and voters angry at the government. The trade question has not been asked in the 2020 exit polls, but the decline among related groups is suggestive.

What other policy view do these voters tend to share? They are likelier to see immigration, like trade, as unwanted economic competition. It is no accident that Donald Trump did well with this class of voters in the Midwest and Northeast by combining hostility to trade with hostility to immigration. Now, consider how Bernie Sanders sounded on immigration in the last campaign, as illustrated by a 2015 interview with Ezra Klein:

Ezra Klein: You said being a democratic socialist means a more international view. I think if you take global poverty that seriously, it leads you to conclusions that in the U.S. are considered out of political bounds. Things like sharply raising the level of immigration we permit, even up to a level of open borders . . . Bernie Sanders: Open borders? No, thats a Koch brothers proposal. Ezra Klein: Really? Bernie Sanders: Of course. Thats a right-wing proposal, which says essentially there is no United States. . . . *** Ezra Klein: It would make a lot of global poor richer, wouldnt it? Bernie Sanders: It would make everybody in America poorer  youre doing away with the concept of a nation-state, and I dont think theres any country in the world that believes in that. If you believe in a nation-state or in a country called the United States or U.K. or Denmark or any other country, you have an obligation in my view to do everything we can to help poor people. What right-wing people in this country would love is an open-border policy. Bring in all kinds of people, work for $2 or $3 an hour, that would be great for them. I dont believe in that. I think we have to raise wages in this country . . . You know what youth unemployment is in the United States of America today? . . . You think we should open the borders and bring in a lot of low-wage workers, or do you think maybe we should try to get jobs for those kids? I think from a moral responsibility weve got to work with the rest of the industrialized world to address the problems of international poverty, but you dont do that by making people in this country even poorer . . . what we need to be doing as a global economy is making sure that people in poor countries have decent-paying jobs . . . That is a moral responsibility, but you dont do that, as some would suggest, by lowering the standard of American workers, which has already gone down very significantly.

In 2007, Sanders opposed Democratic proposals to widen the path to citizenship for illegal immigrants and expand guest-worker programs. He charged on the Senate floor that Democrats favored bringing into this country over a period of years millions of low-wage temporary workers with the result that wages and benefits in this country, which are already going down, will go down even further. He told Lou Dobbs, If wages are going down, I dont know why we need millions of people to be coming into this country as guest workers who will work for lower wages than American workers and drive wages down even lower than they are right now. In 2006, he even joined Republicans in a vote siding with the border-security group the Minutemen against the Mexican government. Theres more in his record from this period that border-security hawks and immigration restrictionists would like, and open-borders advocates would not.

During a March 2016 debate in Miami, even while trying to sell the conventionally progressive aspects of his immigration proposals, Sanders continued to stress the immigrant threat to working-class employment and wages:

[Question]: Were you concerned with working conditions for guest workers, or really because you think immigrants drive down wages and take jobs from Americans? Sanders: You have guest worker programs that have been described . . . [as] akin to slavery, where people came in. They were cheated. They were abused. They were humiliated. And if they stood up for their rights, they would be thrown out of the country. Of course, that type of [thing] leads to a race to the bottom for all of our people.

Four years later, Sanders has changed his tone and emphasis in speaking on these issues, and changed some of his positions as well. He supports breaking up ICE, decriminalizing illegal border crossings, and placing a moratorium on deportations. He proposes to extend taxpayer-funded free health care and free college to illegal immigrants. Sanders has also, unlike in 2016, relied on high-profile surrogates  most notably Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Ilhan Omar  who are popularly associated with the more radical open-borders elements of the Democratic party. This sort of thing plays well in California and Nevada, but less well in the Midwest.

Republicans are not the only ones who encounter contradictions and tradeoffs between appeals to the economic nationalism favored by white working-class voters and efforts to broaden their coalition to welcome Hispanic and other immigrants. The Bernie Sanders of 2016, who regularly lost Hispanic voters to Hillary Clinton, dominated the white working-class vote in the 2016 primaries. Sanderss effort to put away his rhetoric about competition from immigrant workers and expand his support with Hispanics has been a success, but it is likely not a coincidence that it has been matched by a sharp decline in his support from the white working class.

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The repeated failure to meet political promises made to Jyotiraditya Scindia by Congresss central leadership and Madhya Pradesh (MP) chief minister Kamal Nath, the increasing marginalisation of his supporters in the state, the refusal to take on board his political and governance related concerns, and the dominance of Digvijaya Singh in state politics were among the key factors behind Scindias decision to exit the grand old party and embrace the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), political leaders and analysts in the state said.

The seeds of the trouble may have been sown soon after the November 2018 state elections when the Congress formed the government with the support of four Independent lawmakers, two Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and one Samajwadi Party (SP) legislator. The Congress won 115 seats in the 230-member House and the BJP 108, ending the latters 15-year reign in the state .

Although the Congresss best performance in the assembly elections was in Scindias bastion, northern Madhya Pradesh, he was denied CM-ship. Scindia, according to a person familiar with the development, accepted the decision gracefully.

He was then promised that his nominee would be appointed the deputy chief minister on the same day as the CM  this was not done, and subsequently, Kamal Nath insisted on two deputy CMs, which would include one of his nominees. This upset Scindia, but, once again, he decided to abide by party discipline, said the same person. In terms of the composition of the government, only seven of his supporters were appointed as ministers in the Nath government, which had a majority of those loyal to the CM and to senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh. There are 28 ministers in the state.

Scindia accepted that too but none of the ministers were given space to perform, leading to disenchantment. Even his requests for development work in the Gwalior-Chambal region were not taken seriously, said a Congress leader, who requested anonymity. This person added that the strain in the relationship between the two leaders had taken root early, at the very first meeting at the state Congress headquarters in December, 2018 after the partys victory. The campaign pictures of Nath and Scindia side by side were replaced with banners only having Naths photograph, said the Congress leader. The Scindia camp saw this as a slight, for he was projected as one of the key leaders in the poll campaign.

A BJP leader, who did not want to be named, said Scindias disillusionment with the Congress leadership first came to light when he visited former chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in Bhopal in January 2019, hardly a month after the assembly election results. The visit was surprising as Chouhan made personal attacks on Scindia during his speeches ahead of the state assembly bypoll in April 2017 and Mungaoli and Kolaras assembly bypolls in February 2018, the BJP leader added.

Soon after the meeting, the Congress made him general secretary in-charge of western Uttar Pradesh and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra of eastern Uttar Pradesh. While a top Congress leader claimed that this showed how the party was according him a senior role in a key battleground state, Scindias supporters saw it as an attempt to sideline him from state politics and relegating him to a region with which he had little connect and where the Congress was traditionally weak.

Despite that, party leaders said, Scindia campaigned for the party aggressively in the Lok Sabha polls in UP even though he was contesting the Guna Lok Sabha seat. Scindia lost in Guna and his supporters blamed sabotage for the loss as the BJP had fielded a lightweight candidate, KP Yadav, a former Congress worker, against him.

Congress leaders said that after the loss, Scindia continued to be marginalised. This was reflected in two ways  the refusal to make him the head of the partys state unit, and refusing to heed his concerns on governance issues. Even though Scindia waited for months for clarity on the leadership issue, opposition from Nath and Digvijaya , and the refusal of the party high command to assert in his favour, led to a standstill, said a person familiar with the matter.

A second Congress leader, also on condition of anonymity, said Nath and Digvijaya Singh took all key decisions. It appeared Scindia, despite being the face of the campaign, had no role in running the government, he said. The MP Congress and the state government made appointments in the Gwalior-Chambal region, Scindias pocket borough, without even consulting him. Developmental projects in the assembly seats of MLAs considered to be close to Scindia were stalled.

Kamal Nath appointed Scindias bete noire, Ashok Singh, from Gwalior as the administrator of Apex Bank [the apex cooperative bank] in July last year. A collector of Gwalior, against whom there were complaints, was shifted but he again got a prized posting as collector of Jabalpur. Similarly, a senior IPS [Indian Police Service] officer posted in the region was not shifted even though several local Congress leaders lodged complaints against him, political analyst Dinesh Gupta said.

Over the last three months, the differences between Scindia and Kamal Nath-Digvijaya group became clear with Scindia asking the government to implement its manifesto promises including farm loan waiver of up to 2 lakh and an unemployment allowance for youth. Political analyst Girija Shankar said, When Scindia said he would take to streets to get the aspirations of people fulfilled, Nath said let him take to streets. Many read this statement  seen by Scindias supporters as a public insult  as the final straw.

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Ukrainian army needs arms upgrade  Ukraine's defense minister

15:40, 11.03.20 544

The Army must be well-armed, the minister says, naming it a priority.
H arvey Weinstein is set to be sentenced in a New York court today after he was convicted of rape and sexual assault.

The 67-year-old disgraced movie mogul faces up to 29 years in prison but his lawyers have asked Justice James Burke of the state Supreme Court to impose a five year sentence, taking into consideration his health and age.

Weinstein was found guilty last month of criminal sex assault against former production assistant Mimi Haleyi in 2006 and third-degree rape on an aspiring actress in 2013.

Last week, Weinstein was transferred to New York's Rikers Island jail complex from Bellevue Hospital after undergoing a procedure to clear a heart blockage.

In their letter, Weinstein's lawyers mentioned his poor health and age, as well as his "accomplishments" and "charitable endeavours".

"His life story, his accomplishments, and struggles are simply remarkable and should not be disregarded in total because of the jurys verdict," they said.

Jurors acquitted Weinstein on the two most serious charges against him, predatory sexual assault, which carried a maximum life sentence.

New York prosecutors said last week Weinstein should get a prison sentence that reflects not only his conviction for sexually assaulting two women, but a "lifetime of abuse towards others".

Throughout his adult life, Weinstein has shown a "staggering lack of empathy, treating others with disdain and inhumanity," Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance's office said in a letter to Justice Burke.

Weinstein, who reshaped the independent film industry with critically acclaimed pictures such as The English Patient and Shakespeare in Love, fell from grace after more than 70 women, most of them young actresses and others in the movie business, accused him of rape and sexual misconduct dating back decades.

He denied the accusations and said any sexual encounters were consensual.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan says he didnt receive money or cars from the All Progressives Congress (APC) or members of the party.

The former president made this known in a statement on Wednesday, stressing that he did not receive N300 million or bulletproof cars from David Lyon, the APC governorship candidate in Bayelsa, as was alleged.

In the statement which he made via Ikechukwu Eze, his spokesman, Jonathan said the APC Reformation Forum was responsible for the false claims.

Read Also: Jonathan Reacts To Okonjo-Iwealas Appointment In South Africa

His spokesperson quoted the group as calling on Jonathan to refund N300 million and bulletproof cars given to him by David Lyon, the APC candidate in the last governorship election.

He said, In the first place, there was no reason for APC or anybody else to offer money and vehicles to the former President for logistics over an inauguration programme in which he was not involved. 

We make bold to state that there is no vehicle in the possession of former President Jonathan given to him by the All Progressive Congress. This is an insufferable lie. If anyone on earth knows of such a vehicle, they should expose the particulars of the said vehicle to the public.

The claim by this group is, therefore, nothing but a fairy-tale scripted to tarnish the good reputation of the former President whom Nigerians and the rest of the world hold in very high esteem.

Eze added that the allegation is a part of a growing culture of sustained falsehood against Jonathan and his family.

It is a poor script written with the intention of causing distrust and inciting Bayelsans against themselves, he said.

What Bayelsa needs now is peace, unity and progress, and not this noxious orgy of mud-slinging and mischief-making.

As far as we are concerned, the Bayelsa elections have been won and lost at the polls and the courts; we, therefore, urge all groups to accept the transition in good faith.
PLEASE NOTE!

Due to the March 23, 2020 NM DOH Public Health Order, These Event Listings Are Not Accurate!

All non-essential businesses are closed, public gatherings are prohibited!

(One day some of these events will be rescheduled or will resume, but they are not happening now!)
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 11) - President Rodrigo Duterte will not push through with his supposed visit to Boracay on Thursday following the recent developments amid the coronavirus disease outbreak.

READ: Philippines reports second COVID-19 death

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said that Dutertes visit will be moved to a later date instead.

Duterte was supposed to make a tour around the country's top destinations to help boost local tourism. This will be his first time to visit Boracay since it was temporarily closed to the public for rehabilitation in 2018.

The Presidential Security Group recently implemented a no touch policy to the President. Everyone who works closely with him will be screened and tested for any symptoms of the coronavirus disease.

The PSG will also assess the events that the President will attend and they might be cancelled for his safety.

READ: Duterte to defy tighter security amid coronavirus scare
The World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic on Wednesday as the new coronavirus, which was unknown to world health officials just three months ago, has rapidly spread to more than 121,000 people from Asia to the Middle East, Europe and the United States. "In the past two weeks the number of cases outside China has increased thirteenfold and the number of affected countries has tripled," WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said at a press conference at the organization's headquarters in Geneva. "In the days and weeks ahead, we expect to see the number of cases, the number of deaths and the number of affected countries to climb even higher." Tedros said several countries have been able to suppress and control the outbreak, but he scolded other world leaders for failing to act quickly enough or drastically enough to contain the spread. "We're deeply concerned both by the alarming levels of spread and severity, and by the alarming levels of inaction," he said, just before declaring the pandemic. "We have rung the alarm bell loud and clear." Cases in China and South Korea have significantly declined, he said, adding that 81 countries don't have any confirmed cases and 57 countries have 10 or fewer cases.

'Lack of resolve'

"We can not say this loudly enough or clearly enough or often enough: All countries can still change the course of this pandemic," he said. "Some countries are struggling with a lack of capacity. Some countries are struggling with a lack of resources. Some countries are struggling with a lack of resolve." Declaring a pandemic is charged with major political and economic ramifications, global health experts say. It can further rattle already fragile world markets and lead to more stringent travel and trade restrictions. WHO officials had been reluctant to declare a global pandemic, which is generally defined as an illness that spreads far and wide throughout the world.

WHO officials needed to "make it clear" that the world was in the midst of a pandemic, said Lawrence Gostin, a professor and faculty director of the O'Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law at Georgetown University. It "is clear" the new coronavirus has been a pandemic and WHO was "behind the curve," Gostin told CNBC on Tuesday.

Changes by the hour

The number of cases and deaths changes by the hour, topping 121,564 with at least 4,373 deaths across the world as of Wednesday morning, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. Outside China, 32,778 cases across at least 109 countries had been confirmed as of 3 a.m. ET Tuesday  up from 282 cases in four countries on Jan. 21, according to the most recent data confirmed by WHO, which tallies the official count. While the virus is slowing in China where it originated in December, it's picking up pace across other parts of the world. Italy has the most cases outside China with roughly 10,149 infections, followed closely by Iran with 9,000 infections and South Korea with 7,775, according to Johns Hopkins University data. In the U.S., cases erupted over the last week to more than 1,050 spread across at least 36 states, according to Hopkins.

H1N1

The last time WHO declared a pandemic was during the 2009 H1N1 swine flu outbreak. Tedros said COVID-19 is the first time a coronavirus has caused a pandemic. The 2002-2003 outbreak of SARS, which is also a coronavirus, was contained enough to avoid that classification. Dr. Mike Ryan, executive director of the WHO's health emergencies program, said health officials take the characterization "very seriously," adding "we understand the implication of the word." "The fact is right now in countries, we have front-line health workers who need our help," Ryan said. "We have hospitals who need our support. We have people who need our care and we need to focus on getting our front-line health workers the equipment, supplies and the training they need to do a good job." "All countries need to reveal their strategies right now," he added.

'You know who you are'

When asked which countries aren't doing enough to combat the virus, Ryan said he wouldn't call out individual countries by name, but added: "you know who you are." Some countries are still using a stringent testing criteria, requiring people to show full symptoms, be over a certain age or somehow linked to travel to China, he said. Some countries haven't been able to stop the virus from spreading within their health-care system or have given up on tracing cases back to their original source, he said. "Some countries have not been communicating well with their populations and creating some confusions in the minds of the populations and risk communication," he said, adding that "trust between governments and their citizens really does need to come to the center."

'Wake up. Get ready'

Epidemics stress every component of a nation, he said. "They stress governance, they stress trust between government and the citizen, they stress the hospital system, they stress public health systems, they stress the economic systems," he said. "In many cases what we're witnessing across society is a lack of resilience." The organization raised its risk assessment level on the virus to its highest level of alert last month. "This is a reality check for every government on the planet: Wake up. Get ready. This virus may be on its way and you need to be ready. You have a duty to your citizens, you have a duty to the world to be ready," Ryan said on Feb. 28. Read CNBC's live updates to see the latest news on the COVID-19 outbreak.
The police in Ebonyi State have confirmed the killing of seven persons from Ndiagu Orie, Umuguduakpu Ngbo community in Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

The Ngbo community has been enmeshed in a decade long dispute with neighbouring Agila community of Ado local government area of Benue State.

The Police Commissioner in Ebonyi State, Awosola Awotunde, confirmed the killings.

He said he had sent a reinforcement of mobile police personnel to the troubled area to restore order.

It was learnt that properties worth millions of naira, including buildings, yam bans and livestock were destroyed by the invaders

There were conflicting reports, however, on the actual number of persons killed.

The Chairman of the Council, Clement Odah, said nine people were killed.

He accused the people of Agila of flouting the peace pact reached between the two communities.

Mr Odah also called on the National Boundary Commission to hasten up with the boundary demarcation to forestall further loss of lives.

We believe that demarcation of the disputed land will bring lasting peace to the area, he said.

A source alleged that the attack was carried out by Agila people at about 1 p.m on Tuesday.

The source said the attackers emerged from the buffer zone into the community wearing military camouflage and this made the people to think they were military men.

Some military personnel had been to the community recently in search of a naval officer who had gone missing over a week ago in the area.

The source said when the attackers emerged from the disputed land into the community, some community members who saw them felt they were part of the team that earlier visited the community.

But when the men got close, they unleashed mayhem on the community.

A resident of the community, Eze Ituma, expressed shock that despite the heavy security presence in the area, the Agila people carried out the attack unchecked.

Meanwhile, Ebonyi State Broadcasting Corporation (EBBC) correspondent attached to the wife of the Governor of Ebonyi State, Pauline Nwaneri, said she lost four relatives to the attack.

She called for quick security intervention following the killings.

It was further gathered that the mother of the Public Relations Officer, Ministry of Information, Eugene Ebenyi, was also a victim of the attack.
WHO: Iran, well-prepared to contain COVID-19

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Tehran, March 10, IRNA -- The World Health Organization's Emergency Director for the Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, Richard Brennan, said on Tuesday that Iran is well-prepared to contain coronavirus epidemic.

Speaking on the sidelines of visiting Iranian medical society camps, Brennan expressed certainty that the epidemic will be contained.

He added that the most important factor in controlling infectious diseases especially coronavirus is strong cooperation between people and the related organizations which are fortunately strongly operating in Iran.

Iran is enjoys considerable power and capability in controlling any kind of disease especially infectious ones, he said, adding that Iran has proved its power in management of crises and disasters.

Coronavirus outbreak started from Wuhan in China and has reached about countries such as US, France, Australia, Thailand, Malaysia, South Korea, Japan, Canada, Sweden, Spain and the UAE.

Head of Iran's Health Ministry Public Relations Office Kianoush Jahanpour said on Monday that 2,394 people out of a total of 7,161 infected by the coronavirus have recovered and were discharged from hospitals,

Some 237 people have unfortunately succumbed to death.

9376**1416

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Volunteers look at a stitched mask in the Nowon District building in Seoul, where they gathered to make masks, Wednesday. /Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul



By Kim Se-jeong



More than 30 volunteers from Nowon District in Seoul kicked off a mask project in the district office building Wednesday morning to donate to needy people amid the coronavirus outbreak.



Those who knew how to operate a sewing machine began stitching, while others cut pieces of cotton, added pieces of elastic or ironed the masks. The completed masks were taken away by district officials for distribution.



"Healthy people can get masks without a problem, but old people and the sick can't go out to get masks. We wanted to do something for them," district chief Oh Seung-rok said describing their motivation.



Originally, the district office thought they would have 100 volunteers.



"But the project went bigger because more than 300 people offered to help. I was totally surprised," the district mayor said. "So we had to set up additional working stations at other locations in the district."



The project will run for 20 days, and the district office aims to make more than 1,000 masks per day.



To address a public health concern for the volunteers, the district said it disinfected the venues constantly and created a two-meter distance between desks.



Lee Hwa-ryong, 50, said her motivation for volunteering was her sick father. "My father is not in a position to wait in line to buy masks. I've managed to get the masks for my dad so far. I decided to volunteer because these masks will help people like my father."



Song Eun-soo, in her 50s, said she was motivated by the fact that she has spare time and knows how to use a sewing machine.



"Nowadays, I have time and I know how to do it, so I decided to volunteer," she said. Song is a yoga teacher at a local gym which has been closed for almost two months now. "I haven't earned anything for two months now. That's sad, but instead I have spare time to do the work like this."



Park Wan-jin, 22, was one of the youngest volunteers. "I am starting college this year but because the semester opening was delayed until later this month, I have spare time and wanted to do some meaningful work."



The new coronavirus outbreak is ongoing with no end in sight and has caused an unprecedented mask shortage.



On Feb. 26, the government intervened in mask production and distribution. It purchased masks directly from the producers and sold them through post offices, NongHyup Bank's Hanaro marts and pharmacies. Yet, this hasn't helped much.



Starting this week, the government placed restrictions on mask purchases  two masks per person per week.



From Wednesday, IT companies began offering apps that help people locate shops with available masks on their smartphones. But, some complained about the inaccuracy of the information and temporary system shutdowns.












Commentary

By Susan Martinuk

For the past decade, Bell Canada has used the month of January to support awareness of mental health issues. Its extensive media campaigns have encouraged Canadians to talk openly about mental health and break the uncomfortable stigma that still tends to hover over such conversations.

There is plenty of data to document the prevalence of Canadas struggles with mental health. A report by the Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health shows that one in five Canadians suffers from mental illness; it keeps 500,000 Canadians from their work, in any given week; and accounts for 33% of all hospital stays. While the resultant lost productivity is estimated to be $6 billion, it can be presumed that the personal losses are inestimable.

These numbers are grim, but worse still are those that show how badly Canada is failing in its efforts to do anything about it. Sadly, the very best our so-called universal, equal-access medical system can do is put thousands of patients on waitlists that offer treatment  eventually.

Across Canada, the average wait from obtaining a referral by a family doctor to receiving treatment for mental health is 20.8 weeks, and that varies from a best of 12.2 weeks in Saskatchewan to a dismal 47.7 weeks in Newfoundland.

These waits are particularly critical to children and youth, as their brains are still in the formative stages. This understanding should be sufficient to ensure doctors and treatments are available, yet there are currently 28,000 children and youth on waitlists for treatment in Ontario alone. For some, this translates into an unacceptable wait time that extends to more than two years.

Both psychiatrists and advocacy groups have called on the Ontario government to make a substantive investment in mental health. The advocacy group, Childrens Mental Health Ontario, has asked for an extra $150 million per year to reduce wait times.

The Coalition of Ontario Psychiatrists (associated with the Ontario Medical Association) produced a 2018 report on the growing shortfall of psychiatrists and noted two concurrent issues impacting their number and availability: a majority of psychiatrists across Canada are nearing retirement, at the same time as medical students are showing a diminishing interest in the field.

Consequently, this body of professionals has called on the government to hire more psychiatrists and to increase their pay in an effort to make psychiatry attractive again. Unfortunately, this is not the kind of solution that will be readily adopted by cash-strapped governments.

It is also rather simplistic, considering other findings that implicate the practice characteristics and demographics of psychiatrists themselves as major factors limiting access to their services.

A series of studies conducted by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) and the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES) have provided a quantitative analysis of the practice patterns of psychiatrists.

Their 2014 study showed that one-half of all Toronto psychiatrists have small urban practices where they see a limited number of patients on a frequent basis and over long periods of time. As a result, 50% of that citys psychiatrists saw fewer than 140 unique patients annually. A further breakdown of the numbers in this group showed that 10% of psychiatrists saw less than 40 patients each year; 40% saw fewer than 100.

Even more frustrating is that most of their patients lived in the highest income neighbourhoods and had never had a prior psychiatric hospitalization. In contrast, it has been reported that only 60% of patients who attended an emergency department for a suicide attempt were able to access psychiatric care within six months after the episode.

It appears that these practice patterns have created a situation where at least one-half of Toronto psychiatrists are overserving people with a low level of need (no prior hospitalizations), while people with the highest needs get little or no assistance.

Finally, the research groups 2019 study examined five years of patient data to determine that one in three Ontario psychiatrists sees fewer than two new outpatients a month.

While the type of psychiatric practice is creating a barrier to patient access, it has also been shown that the demographics of the physician may play a role.

A 2017 study in the Canadian Journal of Psychiatry revealed the impact of physician demographics on their availability to patients. Contrary to the opinions of many, older psychiatrists saw more patients than younger ones, and female psychiatrists saw fewer patients than their male peers. According to the authors, females are occupying an increasingly large proportion of residency training programs and greater numbers of female psychiatrists, with relatively small practices, are entering the workforce. That trend is expected to continue.

The researchers rightly conclude that without radical changes in the way Ontario psychiatrists practice, access to treatment will not improve.

Although these illuminating studies are focussed on the situation in Ontario, they remain instructive for all of Canada as the issues prohibiting access are not unique to that province.

Based on the above data, the best solutions to enhancing access to mental health care are not likely to be found by paying more money to psychiatrists. There should be a focus on developing innovative ways to encourage psychiatrists to expand the scope of their practices, but providing support and resources for the greater utilization of qualified secondary support services (e.g. family physicians, psychologists, social workers) may be the quickest, and most reasonable, path forward.

Susan Martinuk is a research associate with the Frontier Centre for Public Policy.

Mental Illness in Canada by the numbers

 In any given year, 1 in 5 Canadians experiences a mental illness or addiction problem.

 By the time Canadians reach 40 years of age, 1 in 2 haveor have hada mental illness.

 70% of mental health problems have their onset during childhood or adolescence.

 Young people aged 15 to 24 are more likely to experience mental illness and/or substance use disorders than any other age group.

 At least 20% of people with a mental illness have a co-occurring substance use problem. For people with schizophrenia, the number may be as high as 50%. Similarly, people with substance use problems are up to 3 times more likely to have a mental illness. More than 15% of people with a substance use problem have a co-occurring mental illness.

 Canadians in the lowest income group are 3 to 4 times more likely than those in the highest income group to report poor to fair mental health.

 Studies in various Canadian cities indicate that between 23% and 67% of homeless people report having a mental illness.

 Mental illness can cut 10 to 20 years from a persons life expectancy.

 Tobacco, the most widely used addictive substance, is the leading cause of premature mortality in Canada. Smoking is responsible for nearly 17% of all deaths.

 About 4,000 Canadians per year die by suicidean average of almost 11 suicides a day. It affects people of all ages and backgrounds. More than half of suicides involve people aged 45 or older.

 Just 50% of Canadians would tell friends or co-workers that they have a family member with a mental illness, compared to 72% who would discuss a diagnosis of cancer and 68% who would talk about a family member having diabetes.

 42% of Canadians were unsure whether they would socialize with a friend who has a mental illness.

 55% of Canadians said they would be unlikely to enter a spousal relationship with someone who has a mental illness.

 46% of Canadians thought people use the term mental illness as an excuse for bad behaviour, and 27% said they would be fearful of being around someone who suffers from serious mental illness.

 In any given week, at least 500,000 employed Canadians are unable to work due to mental health problems. This includes: approximately 355,000 disability cases due to mental and/or behavioural disorders.
A Pakistan Air Force F-16 fighter jet crashed in the capital city of Islamabad on Wednesday morning, a spokesman for the air force said

Islamabad: An F-16 fighter jet belonging to the Pakistan Air Force crashed in Islamabad on Wednesday while carrying out rehearsals for the country's Republic Day parade to be held on 23 March.

The plane crashed in a jungle near Shakarparian area of the capital, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) said in a statement.

The plane was carrying out routine exercises for the Pakistan Day parade when it crashed, it said, adding that the PAF has ordered an inquiry into the cause of the crash.

There was no immediate word on the fate of the pilot or co-pilot. Security forces have cordoned off the crash site.

Smoke was rising from the crash site and rescue efforts were going on to contain the fire, the statement said.

Pakistan Day or Pakistan Resolution Day, also known as Republic Day commemorates the Lahore Resolution passed on March 23, 1940 and the adoption of the first Constitution of Pakistan.

The annual military and cultural parade is organised in the capital Islamabad to commemorate the demand for a separate homeland for Indian Muslims which was made through the resolution passed by the All India Muslim League in Lahore.

Air show by the PAF is an integral part of the parade and its intensive rehearsals are organised weeks ahead of the parade day.

Traditionally, locally-made JF-17 Thunder and American F-16 feature prominently in the air show.

Last month, a trainer aircraft of the PAF crashed near Mardan. A Mirage aircraft had crashed near Shorkot city of Punjab's Jhang district the week before.

In January, two PAF pilots were killed after a training aircraft crashed near the MM Alam Base in Mianwali.
Chau Tran Vinh, deputy director of the Water Resources Management Department, under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, talks about the need to adopt a flexible plan to cope with the severe droughts in the Mekong Delta.

Chau Tran Vinh.  Photo nhandan.com.vn



What measures has the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment adopted to reduce the negative impacts on farming activities in the Mekong Delta?

The Mekong Delta has recently been seriously hit by severe drought. Yet, thanks to the good weather forecast and good instructions from the government, in many localities the damage was less severe than in 2016. During the dry season, many reservoirs, particularly big reservoirs in the regions were only able to store just about 40-75 per cent of their capacity to serve agriculture production. From last December, the Tay Nguyen Water Resource Management Agency has worked closely with all localities and lake owners to discuss plans to discharge water to the lower basins to help farmers do their agriculture production in the dry season. They even discussed a contingency plan on how best to deal with the severe water shortage situation. Though the water volume discharged to all the reservoirs was limited, management boards were able to maintain a minimum water level stored in their reservoirs for the remaining five to seven months of the dry season.

Due to the severe shortage of the surface water, authorities in some localities allowed people to extract under-ground water for their daily use and for production. Dont you think such activities may lead to land subsidence and salt water intrusion?

With lessons learned from the year 2015-2016, we have adopted pro-active plans to respond to this dry season. According to the weather forecast this season will be more severe than in 2015-2016. Some localities have already developed their plans to extract underground water for the daily use and production. However, we have discussed with the people on how best to rationalise the use of the underground water to avoid land subsidence or salt water intrusion. In the meantime, we have also discussed with the local people about the construction of the Nga Bay Water Plant which will use both the surface water and the underground water as its input water resource.

What should the people in the Mekong Delta do to have a sustainable water supply in the context of climate change?

We cant negate that our water resource has been heavily affected by climate change. As a result, it will affect the peoples livelihood, the national economy and the environment. We should take pro-active measures, including the development of a master plan on the national use of water resources in all big river basins, particularly in the Red River and the Mekong River. In the meantime, we have to increase our surveillance activities on water extraction and water usage in both domestic and production usage.

We should also step up surveillance activities on all reservoirs on the 11 major rivers that have been instructed by the Prime Minister and we should launch a campaign to tell the general public to use water rationally.

One of the measures to control and manage the water resources is to invest in observation stations. At present, Vietnam has built and operates 27 surface water observation stations and 52 underground water observation stations.

Finally the National Council on Water Resources should be a focal point for water usage and management in Vietnam.-VNS

World Bank to fund water security project in Mekong Delta The Mekong Delta city of Can Tho seeks to borrow US$25 million from the World Bank to expand its local water supply network in the 2025-30 period under a proposed water project to be funded by the bank.

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 iconic Flagler Avenue sign in New Smyrna Beach, Florida.

Centrally located on Floridas East Coast, the New Smyrna Beach areas prime location makes it an easily accessible spot for travelers who want to get away this spring without boarding a plane. Filled with charming boutiques, art galleries, unique local restaurants, and stretches of drivable (and non-drivable) beaches, this coastal-chic destination is well worth the trip.

Easy Access to Major Interstates

This beautiful beach town is just minutes from Interstate 95, a popular main thoroughfare that stretches from Miami to Canada. Miami residents can escape the hectic city and have their toes in the white sand in just under four hours. The trip is essentially a straight shot via I-95, with plenty of spots along the way to stop, stretch those legs, and refuel. Coming from Atlanta? Take I-75 down to I-95 and arrive in about six and a half hours. New Smyrna Beach is also a short 30-minute drive from Interstate 4, which spans across Central Florida to Tampa. Vacationers from Floridas West Coast can roll into this East Coast slice of paradise in under two and a half hours. Hop on at a nearby starting point and then hop-off in New Smyrna Beach for a quick, stress-free road trip.

Must-See Districts

New Smyrna Beach is home to two unique downtowns: The Canal Street Historic District features unique spots like the Old Fort Park ruins, The Hub on Canal and Arts of Douglas galleries, restaurants and quaint local boutiques along this palm-lined street. The Local Pearl, a tide-to-table restaurant, is owned by two-times James Beard Foundation semifinalist and chef Henry Salgado. Enjoy fresh, succulent oysters from the raw bar.

A quick 5-minute drive across the North Causeway bridge, visitors will discover NSBs second downtown, the Flagler Avenue beachside district. Here they'll find plenty of locally owned eateries like sustainability-focused Third Wave Cafe, endless shopping for attire and gifts, and vibrant nightlife at Flagler Tavern. It's all just steps from the beachpark and access it on foot or drive the car right on the sand for a nominal fee.

Where to Stay

Book rooms at family-friendly hotels like SpringHill Suites by Marriott and the Hampton Innboth are located on Flagler Avenuewithin walking distance from all the fun. Breakfast is also included at both hotels.

Luxury lovers will want to check out the award-winning Black Dolphin Inn, where Food Network host and executive chef MacKenzie Smith whips up scrumptious breakfasts for guests each morning. Or book a stay at the Night Swan, a cozy bed and breakfast thats also pet-friendly. Both the Night Swan and Black Dolphin offer beautiful views on the Indian River Lagoon.

Outdoor Adventures

Some of the most beautiful spots are just a short drive away from our popular downtown areas. Pet-friendly Smyrna Dunes Park features 73 acres of pristine land and a 2-mile boardwalk. Area kayaking, boat and paddle-boarding tours depart from various locations throughout NSB. The Marine Discovery Center is centrally located, with group boat and kayak tours available daily. Thrill seekers can learn to surf with a lesson from a professional from Nichols Surf Shop.

About the New Smyrna Beach Area

The New Smyrna Beach area includes the communities of New Smyrna Beach, Edgewater, Oak Hill, Osteen and Port Orange in east Central Florida. New Smyrna Beach is an eclectic mix of old and new; of subtle sophistication and bohemian soul that is as real as Florida gets. It occupies a notable place in history as the second oldest city in Florida, site of the largest single attempt at British colonization in the new world. In 2018, New Smyrna Beach celebrated its 250th birthday. The citys barrier island is recognized worldwide for its incredible surf with Surfer magazine recently touting it one of the Best Surf Towns in America and National Geographic magazine including it in its Worlds Top 20 Surf Towns. Accommodations range from charming bed and breakfast inns to family-size condominium units and oceanfront hotels. Natural attractions include 17 miles of sandy beaches from Ponce de Leon Inlet to Canaveral National Seashore and North Americas most diverse estuary  the Indian River Lagoon. Two distinct downtowns along Flagler Avenue and Canal Street and connected via the Waterfront Loop welcome visitors with independent restaurants, unique shops, artisanal coffee shops and art galleries.

For more information, please visit http://www.VisitNSBfl.com or call 386-428-1600. Follow @NewSmyrnaBeach1 on Twitter, Facebook.com/VisitNewSmyrnaBeach or @visitnewsmyrnabeach on Instagram for the latest news. Download the free New Smyrna Beach Mobile App for iPhone and Android to receive this information on-the-go.
In the midst of the coronavirus health crisis, thousands of West Chester University students indicated on a survey their plans to travel abroad and on cruise ships this week during spring break.

Knowing so many of them were potentially putting themselves in places where the coronavirus spreads, West Chester leadership made the call to go to remote learning for the rest of the semester.

"We contemplated all these students being all over creation and then coming back to campus and with the way this disease is progressing, we just felt that there was a very high likelihood that somebody is going to come back to campus and show symptoms of the virus, said President Christopher Fiorentino. We looked at that and thought what are our options.

He and other university administrators considered a number of alternatives. Each rested heavily on the hope nothing bad would happen. After discussions that played out over the past week and a half, Fiorentino said the decision was made to not have students return to campus. Instead, they would use alternate modes of instruction to complete the semester, starting on March 30.

This is the only strategy that we felt gave us control of the situation, he told PennLive in an interview a couple of hours after announcing the decision.

While none of the 12 COVID-19 cases in Pennsylvania are known to have impacted West Chester or any college campus in the commonwealth at this time, cases have been reported in Montgomery, Delaware, Wayne, Monroe, and Philadelphia counties.

An increasing number of colleges and universities - including Bucknell University, Ohio State, Princeton and Harvard- have made the drastic decision to finish out the semester with online instruction. Bucknell canceled classes through next Wednesday and plans to resume with online courses March 19.

Fiorentino said when West Chester administrators began talking about moving to remote learning, they were unaware any other school was contemplating the same precautionary measure.

Doing it this way gives us the greatest control and the greatest likelihood that we are going to be able to successfully complete this semester," said West Chester University President Christopher Fiorentino.

Doing it this way gives us the greatest control and the greatest likelihood that we are going to be able to successfully complete this semester, he said. Students who need to graduate can graduate and go to their jobs. It really kind of revealed itself as the obvious thing to do.

West Chester plans to extend this weeks spring break for two additional weeks to give faculty time to convert their courses to an online modality. Older faculty members who are accustomed to delivering a lecture in front of a classroom full of students may choose to use videoconferencing or Zoom or Skype where students can call in to hear the lecture, he said.

Texting, email communication, and YouTube videos are other formats that may be used to deliver instruction in addition to the online platform that the university already uses to offer courses. Students who dont have the technology at home will be provided laptops and iPads. Those who lack internet connectivity will be provided hotspots so they can get on the internet.

Fiorentino said the university is confident it has the bandwidth to accommodate the technological demands of delivering all of its classes online.

He pointed out West Chester already is able to meet the demands of having nearly 18,000 students on campus with their laptops, iPhones, iPads, Apple watches and other devices connected to the universitys network. Furthermore, the university also has enhanced its networks capacity in anticipation of this decision to go online.

We anticipate were going to have challenges that come up along the way, Fiorentino said. Some we dont even know what they are yet. But were pretty confident we have the bandwidth to deliver this to the students.

On top of ensuring thats the case and coordinating the online class schedule, university officials are also working on a way to refund students some of the money they already paid in for this semester.

Were basically cutting off half the semester for room and board so were processing a plan for refunding the difference to the students, he said. Were not going to take money from them for something they didnt utilize.

He said that also includes money they paid for parking tags and fees to use the campus recreation center. Additionally, they plan to refund students the money they paid for spring-break study-abroad trips that were cancelled.

Were going to make them whole for all that, Fiorentino said. Its going to be a significant chunk of money but we feel its the right thing to do for the students.

West Chester, the largest of the state universities, is among the handful of universities in the State System of Higher Education that is in better financial shape and able to handle this expense. One of the options considered that could possibly have avoided the need to provide refunds entailed going the online route for a few weeks to allow time for the coronavirus spread to slow. Then they could bring students back to campus to finish out the semester.

Fiorentino said that was given some thought but what if they do that and someone gets sick?

Then we have to send everybody home again, he said. It didnt make sense for us to be playing pingpong over circumstances that were beyond our control. This way, we have the greatest control. Were going to deliver the courses for the students and get through this semester.

While faculty is being flexible about converting to a different instructional delivery, Fiorentino said he knows its a decision that leaves a lot of students very disappointed, particularly seniors who are robbed of on-campus life for the second half of their final semester.

But these circumstances were imposed upon us and we need to adapt, he said. As this started to unfold over the past month or so, it became more and more evident that Oh my God, were going to have to do something drastic around this. And sure enough, here we are.

Jan Murphy may be reached at jmurphy@pennlive.com. Follow her on Twitter at @JanMurphy.

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Swift-moving developments over the new coronavirus ricocheted across Floridas Capitol as Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency Monday and lawmakers disrupted their legislative session so crews in surgical gowns could swab down the House chambers.

Facing a growing public health crisis, DeSantis declared the state of emergency to better marshal resources and get outside help to combat the virus strain that has killed two people in his state.

At a news conference at the state Capitol, the governor appealed for calm and common-sense precautions. He specifically cautioned the elderly and those with underlying health conditions to not take cruise ships or long-haul flights, and avoid large gatherings.

Florida health officials have stressed that normally healthy individuals remain at low risk of contracting the virus.

DeSantis said the emergency declaration allows for what he called a unified command structure to limit the spread of the virus, and to allow the state to more effectively mobilize resources.

It also allows  if need be  out-of-state medical personnel to operate in Florida, he said. It allows us to more swiftly purchase any necessary supplies, including masks and materials and equipment necessary to set up field hospitals.

The governors announcement capped a day of quickly  and sometimes strangely  shifting developments.

Earlier Monday, the Florida House abruptly recessed and cleared public galleries after several of its members agreed to be tested for the virus after recently attending conferences in Washington, D.C., where other attendees tested positive for COVID-19.

The unplanned recess was meant to set an example in the ongoing fight against COVID-19, and in an abundance of caution, said House Speaker Jose Oliva.

Five members were escorted from the chamber by Rep. Cary Pigman, a medical doctor who serves in the House.

The public gallery overlooking the chamber floor also was evacuated as the cleaning crew swabbed down desks. The recess halted legislative business in the House and Senate for more than an hour.

Legislative business resumed after all five legislators were later allowed to return, ushered in by Pigman amid applause from fellow members. Four Republicans had attended the Conservative Political Action Conference in the nations capital late last month, while the Democratic leader of the House attended the AIPAC conference, also in Washington, D.C.

Earlier in the day, Florida Health Department Spokesman Alberto Moscoso said the situation in Florida is swiftly changing.

As the day wore on, that seemed like an understatement.

The confusion began much when Florida health officials walked back an earlier advisory requesting all travelers returning from foreign countries self-isolate, further sowing confusion over its efforts to contain a fast-spreading threat to public health.

A statement from the Florida Health Department had earlier advised all individuals traveling internationally to self-isolate for 14 days.

Two hours later, health officials revised the advisory to realign with federal health guidelines that require travelers returning from the high-risk countries  China, South Korea, Italy and Iran  to remain home and avoid contact with others.

Floridas governor acknowledged the misstep during his news conference.

Oliva, Floridas House Speaker, acknowledged the virus threat shortly after the House convened for what was supposed to be the final week of this years legislative session.

Budget negotiators over the weekend said they would fund a $25 million request from DeSantis to help the state respond to the growing crisis. The state is also hoping for an additional $27 million in emergency federal funds.

We may be facing a very real challenge here. The coronavirus, while it had a rather minute effect on us, the panic surrounding it has had a real affect, he said.

The Republican speaker said he asked lawmakers across the aisle and in the Senate for us to come together to make sure that before we put the budget on the books, we are doing everything that we can to ensure that should a recession come on, we are leaving future Legislatures with the power to be able to overcome it.

That concern could influence ongoing budget negotiations even as it threatened to rewrite spending agreements, including a possible deal on boosting starting salaries for teachers.

During his news conference, DeSantis urged lawmakers to continue moving forward on the raise _ one of his key agenda items.

Late Monday, state health officials reported that a 60-year-old Volusia County woman tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the states total to 19. Of those, two people have died.

Of the 19 cases, 13 were diagnosed in Florida and five in another state, officials said. In addition a California resident, now under self-isolation in Florida, has tested positive.

In Florida, worries rose over how virus fears could play out in a state that is a destination for millions of overseas visitors. Already, there is concern about how the virus could affect amusement parks such as Disney World in Orlando, one of the countrys most visited attractions. Cruise lines are also being impacted.

This story has been updated from an earlier version.

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.

Related:

Topics COVID-19 Legislation Florida
A deal to move Edith Cowan University's Mount Lawley campus, including the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts, into Perth's CBD is at risk because of massive costs and the unforeseen impact of coronavirus on state and federal budgets.

The cost of shifting the campus could be between $600-$750 million, but a source familiar with the federal government's budget situation said there might be as little as $200 million available for the Perth City Deal.

Satellite image of ECU Mount Lawley, which, under a proposal before the state government, would be sold and moved into the CBD. Credit:Google images

On Monday the federal government was preparing to abandon its budget surplus and pump a multi-billion dollar stimulus into the economy.

But the changing budget position could come at a cost for city deals not yet inked, including one soon to be announced for Perth.
Police are looking to charge a woman with a possible hate crime after she attacked an Asian woman in Midtown Manhattan for not wearing a surgical mask.

The victim, a 23-year-old woman, was on 34th Street near Fifth Avenue when she was attacked on Tuesday morning at around 10.30am.

The stranger who attacked her has been described as a black woman in her 20s, the New York Daily News reports.

The victim, an unidentified 23-year-old woman, was on 34th Street near Fifth Avenue when she was attacked on Tuesday morning at around 10.30am. Commuters at Herald Square in Midtown leave the station and can be seen wearing masks

She reportedly screamed at the victim: 'Where's your coronavirus mask, you Asian b***h!'

Governor Cuomo has called on the state police Hate Crimes Task Force to assist the NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force to assist in the investigation.

'This incident was not only despicable but also illegal,' Cuomo said, adding that the attack was 'apparently motivated by the bigoted notion that an Asian person is more likely to carry or transmit the novel coronavirus.'

Governor Cuomo has called on the state police Hate Crimes Task Force to assist the NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force to assist in the investigation of the incident

He added: To be clear: there is zero evidence that people of Asian descent bear any additional responsibility for the transmission of the coronavirus.'

There has been an increase in hate crimes directed at Asian people in recent weeks as hypochondriacs freak out over the coronavirus.

Even politicians have gotten slammed for 'racist dogwhistling' with Republican House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy getting eviscerated for referring to COVID-19 as the 'Chinese coronavirus.'

More than 1,000 people in the US have tested positive for COVID-19 across 38 states and the District of Columbia, and 32 people have died.
All the samples collected from 56 suspected coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in Gujarat have tested negative, the government said on Wednesday.

After the deadly coronavirus outbreak, more than 2,200 passengers have arrived in Gujarat from abroad till date, but not a single case has been found positive in the state.

In Gujarat, 2,231 passengers have arrived from the COVID-19 affected countries. Out of this, 1,207 passengers have finished their 28 days quarantine period. We have had a total of 56 suspected cases, out of which none has been found positive, Nitin Patel, Deputy Chief Minister and health minister, told the state assembly.

Also read | Coronavirus spread: How countries are managing cost of treatment

The minister gave this information during a discussion on a matter of public urgency initiated by Congress MLA Naushad Solanki and BJPs Dushyant Patel, Pradeepbhai Parmar and Seemaben Mohile on COVID-19.

According to the central governments guidelines, passengers arriving from China, S. Korea, Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Italy, Iran, Nepal, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Singapore are screened. Also their self declaration is obtained. These passengers are also followed up by district administration, informed Patel.

For the screening, 8 medical officers with 8 medical teams and 21 paramedical staff are there equipped with thermal scanners, PPE kits, N95 masks and advanced life support ambulance at the Ahmedabad and Surat international airports, added Patel.

Besides the airports, all ports are also being closely monitored. Till date 2,366 passengers have been screened from 55 ships according to the state health department.

Also read | Kerala in shutdown mode as more coronavirus cases emerge

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New Rochelle resembled a ghost town Thursday after it was announced a one-mile containment area will be set up in an effort stop the spread of coronavirus.

The city in Westchester County accounts for more than 120 of New York's 217 confirmed cases.

Pictures from inside the containment zone show deserted streets, empty restaurants and closed schools. The National Guard is being brought in to help with cleaning public spaces and delivering food to people who are in quarantine.

The radius centers around the Temple Young Israel of New Rochelle synagogue that was attended by Manhattan attorney Lawrence Garbuz who has been linked to the outbreak in the area.

Empty streets and cafes make up the business area in the one mile containment zone in New Rochelle on Wednesday

New Rochelle has become the state's largest source of COVID-19 infections, prompting Governor Andrew Cuomo to announce Tuesday that a one mile radius containment area will be implemented to try to halt the spread of Coronavirus

Pictures from inside the containment zone show deserted streets, empty restaurants and closed schools

The radius centers around the Temple Young Israel of New Rochelle synagogue that was attended by Manhattan attorney Lawrence Garbuz who has been linked to the outbreak in the area

Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the decision to enforce a one-mile containment area was one made by New York Health Commissioner Dr Howard Zucker and other public health officials.

'It's not a decision that I'm making. I'm accepting the recommendation of Dr. Zucker. In a situation like this, whether you're president, mayor, governor, let the experts decide and let the science decide the situation,' he said.

The shutdown, which will begin on Thursday and last for two weeks, will effect all 'major gathering places' including schools and places of worship, Cuomo said.

'It is a dramatic action, but it is the largest cluster in the country. And this is literally a matter of life and death,' Cuomo said.

Cases of coronavirus in New York State New York City 52 Westchester County 121 Nassau County 28 Rockland County 6 Suffolk County 6 Saratoga County 2 Ulster County 2 New York State Total 217 Figures as of Wednesday afternoon Advertisement

restaurant owner Joshua Berkowitz has adopted what he calls a 'drop and dash' method of delivering food to customers - including many in quarantine.

'I'm afraid for their safety, and theyre afraid for my safety,' he said Wednesday. 'I don't want to have contact with them.'

Resident Hugh Price added: 'I think there is a weariness. You're just more mindful of who you have contact with and the nature of the contact.'

Cuomo announced Wednesday that the state Health Department will grant $200,000 to a food bank in New Rochelle. Nine schools are closed in the containment area, and the funding is intended to help feed any student or family who relies on free school lunches.

Garbuz who was among the first to be diagnosed with coronavirus in New York and has passed it on to dozens, is now believed to be in an induced coma.

The 50-year-old was diagnosed with the virus last week and has since infected his family, along with others in the community where he lives. He remains in the hospital and, according to sources cited by The New York Post, is in an induced coma.

The schools that will close include New Rochelle High School, Albert Leonard Middle School and William B. Ward Elementary.

Officials had said the closures will not effect smaller businesses and grocery stores but images taken Wednesday show many of them empty.

Cuomo said people will not be contained and residents are free to come and go with the one-mile radius but it appears those living in the zone are taking more aggressive action.

The state and a private health system, Northwell Health, are also setting up a testing facility in the area.

The city in Westchester County where the main cluster of coronavirus have been reported and accounts for more than 120 of New York's 217 confirmed cases

Gov. Cuomo said the decision to enforce a one-mile containment area was one made by New York Health Commissioner Dr Howard Zucker and other public health officials

The shutdown, which will begin on Thursday and last for two weeks, will effect all 'major gathering places' including schools and places of worship

The closures will not effect smaller businesses and grocery stores, officials had said, but images taken Wednesday show many of them empty

'New Rochelle at this point is probably the largest cluster in the U.S. of these cases and it is a significant issue for us,' Cuomo said. 'The numbers have been going up. The numbers continue to go up. The numbers are going up unabated. And we do need a special public health strategy for New Rochelle.'

'It is a dramatic action,' the Democratic governor said at a news conference. 'It is the largest cluster of cases in the country. The numbers are going up unabated, and we do need a special public health strategy for New Rochelle.'

Cuomo on Wednesday warned the outbreak of coronavirus could become the 'public health version' of Hurricane Katrina. Hurricane Katrina killed nearly 2,000 people when it struck Louisiana in August 2005. The Federal Emergency Management Agency was accused of a sluggish response to the storm.

The suburb of about 80,000 residents is at the center of an outbreak of more than 120 cases in Westchester County, out of 217 statewide as of Wednesday. New York City has more than 40 cases, while its population is more than 100 times that of New Rochelle.

Cuomo's office didn't immediately have a number of how many troops are being deployed but said some have already arrived.

Crews at New Rochelles commuter rail station are disinfecting turnstiles, handrails and other surfaces twice a day. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority said Wednesday that a 'dedicated cleaning crew' is stationed at the suburban stop.

Chairs were empty Wednesday morning at The Dugout babershop, just outside the containment area, where owner Kenny Rivera said there would typically be several customers. He said he appreciated the risks posed by the virus, especially to the elderly, but thought some measures were unnecessary.

'I think the National Guard is a bit much,' he said.

Jose Felipe, who owns the New Rochelle Grocery Store, said workers have been wiping down doors, shopping baskets and carts up to 10 times a day. Toiletries, bleach and Lysol have been selling fast.

'We've noticed there's been a diminished interest in produce items, which are items you can touch, accessible to everybody,' he said. 'So canned goods or anything that is sealed is selling.'

Cuomo said people will not be contained and residents are free to come and go with the one-mile radius but it appears those living in the zone are taking more aggressive action

Business owners stand along empty streets as restaurants and cafes are mostly closed in the one mile containment zone

'New Rochelle at this point is probably the largest cluster in the U.S. of these cases and it is a significant issue for us,' Cuomo said. 'The numbers have been going up. The numbers continue to go up. The numbers are going up unabated. And we do need a special public health strategy for New Rochelle'
Shares of YES Bank rallied over 30 per cent for the second straight day and surged 39 per cent to Rs 29.60 on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) on Wednesday. YES Bank's stock price has surged a mammoth 424 per cent from Fridays low of Rs 5.65, after the government-owned State Bank of India (SBI) said it will pick a 49 per cent stake in the troubled private lender as part of a revival scheme framed by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

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Not to confuse the vulnerability I mentioned a few days ago. Computer security researchers involved in the discovery of the Meltdown and Spectre vulnerabilities affecting many modern processors have developed a related attack technique called Load Value Injection (LVI).

This time the problem is called 'LVI-LFB', which stands for Load Value Injection in the Line Fill Buffers. It has the CVE-2020-0551 attribute and, like many of the previously discovered issues, uses speculative execution.

The problem likely occurs towards Intel chips from Ivy Bridge generation up to and including Comet Lake, the researchers do not exclude that chips from other brands are not susceptible either as all processors that are susceptible to Meltdown could potentially be at risk. In addition, updates in the microcode, which Intel is likely to have in the works, could cause calculations to be performed 2 to 19 times slower on certain workloads, so this is a big one. The expectation is that these software updates simply will not get installed by many due to that performance hit.

The attack relies on microarchitectural data leakage to inject and execute malicious code in a way that breaks the confidentiality of modern Intel systems. Intel's processors, already weighed down by defenses deployed against side-channel attacks over the past two years, could get slower still if they try to thwart this latest vulnerability: prototype compiler changes, for full mitigation, have produced performance reductions ranging from 2x to 19x. That's because LVI protection involves compiler and assembler updates that insert extra x86 instructions ( lfence ) and replace problematic instructions (such as ret ) with functionally equivalent but more verbose instruction sequences. In a paper scheduled to be published today, March 10, in a coordinated disclosure announcement with Intel, boffins from KU Leuven, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Graz University of Technology, University of Michigan, and University of Adelaide, describe LVI as a reverse-Meltdown attack. Instead of leaking data from memory, it injects transient load values during a faulting or assisted load operation to perform some malicious action.

The threat scenario involves a local adversary trying to obtain secrets (like passwords or encryption keys) from an operating system kernel, an OS process, or an SGX enclave. For SGX, root OS privileges are assumed  SGX was designed to protect against root-level attacks. With such secrets, more extensive compromise becomes possible.

It turns out that Meltdown, a technique for pulling data from a computer's memory, can be turned around to put data back in, thereby poisoning data stored in memory during brief, speculative operations. Though the data gets thrown away after these short-lived tasks, it can still cause trouble.

Source: The Register






Coronavirus (COVID-19) death is primarily caused by Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), in which severe inflammation causes the lungs to fill with fluid and even mechanical ventilation is unable to sustain life.

RELIEF THERAPEUTICS Holding SA owns Investigational New Drug licenses, Orphan Drug Designation, and patents covering the use of Aviptadil, in both the US and the EU, for treatment of Acute Respiratory Distress.

Aviptadil has a 20-year history of human safety and has been used extensively as a compounded drug for respiratory disorders.

In its current form, RLF-100 has non-clinical and early clinical data supporting its use for treatment of Acute Respiratory Distress, pulmonary inflammation induced by Sarcoidosis and Acute Lung Injury (e.g. smoke inhalation) as well as indicative data showing that RLF-100 is able to block pulmonary inflammation and edema formation in animal models.

Relief intends to initiate Phase 2b/3 studies as expeditiously as possible to treat ARDS in COVID-19 patients who otherwise have less than a 50% chance of survival.



RELIEF THERAPEUTICS Holding SA (SIX-RLF, "Relief" or the "Company") announces today that Prof. Jonathan C. Javitt, MD, MPH will be proposed for election as Vice-Chairman of its Board of Directors at the Annual General Meeting to be held on June 19, 2020. Prof. Javitt has already joined Relief Therapeutics team as a consultant and his appointment to the Board will allow for the seamless coordination of Reliefs development of RLF-100 (Aviptadil) for the treatment of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) in patients infected by the COVID-19 Coronavirus. ARDS is the primary cause of death in those patients who succumb to COVID-19 infection.

RLF-100, acquired by Relief from Mondo Biotech, AG, has an Investigational New Drug (IND) from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) to advance in clinical testing and has been awarded orphan drug designation by both agencies for treatment of ARDS, Acute Lung Injury, and Sarcoidosis. Aviptadil is a novel formulation of Vasoactive Intestinal Polypeptide (VIP), a naturally occurring peptide hormone that is known to be concentrated in the lungs after systemic injection. A combination formulation with phentolamine for intracavernous injection has been approved in Europe for treatment of erectile dysfunction, with a 20-year proven record of safety.

Numerous animal studies demonstrate the potential of Aviptadil to reduce lung inflammation in a variety of models and edema. Phase 1b/2 studies in humans, involving a total of 76 patients, have shown that Aviptadil has the potential to reduce bronchospasm under certain circumstances, reduce pulmonary arterial hypertension and treat other features of pulmonary inflammation, including a significant decrease in the pro-inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-). Among them, a Phase 2 pilot trial using RLF-100 in 8 patients with ARDS showed very good safety and encouraging signals suggesting potential efficacy.

After carefully reviewing the preclinical and clinical data, we believe that RLF-100 has the potential to be a safe and effective treatment for Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome in patients infected by COVID-19, who otherwise have less than 50% chance of survival, even with ventilation and other acute care respiratory therapy.

Prof. Javitt has a career-long involvement with the development of lifesaving interventions for public health threats. He served as an advisor in healthcare to four Presidential Administrations (Reagan, Bush 41, Clinton, and Bush 43). He joined the administration of President George W. Bush on the afternoon of September 11, 2001 and was subsequently appointed as a Special Employee of the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense. He was also appointed to serve as Senior Fellow of the National Security Health Policy Center of the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies. President Bush subsequently commissioned Javitt to lead the Presidents Information Technology Advisory Committee healthcare initiative, which resulted in the establishment of the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT. In 2016, Javitt was granted the Alumnus of Merit Designation by the Harvard Chan School of Public Health for his work.

Humanity is threatened by a deadly virus that has demonstrated a propensity to kill up to 3.5% of those infected and 15% of those age 80 and over. Conventional forms for respiratory support have so far failed to preserve life in the majority of those who develop Acute Respiratory Distress that is seen in a minority of those infected. Commented Raghuram (Ram) Selvaraju, PhD, MBA, Chairman of Relief. We are cautiously optimistic that the effects of RLF-100 in containing lung inflammation seen in Sarcoidosis and Acute Lung Injury may carry over to the acute lung inflammation seen in COVID-19 patients.

Although the vast majority of those infected by COVID-19 survive the disease, those who develop Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome suffer a mortality rate that is estimated at 30% to 50% with best possible care, said Javitt. It is unclear that sufficient acute care hospital beds exist to support the number of people who might be affected should public health measures fail to contain the epidemic. As such, coronavirus-infected patients who develop ARDS are at particularly high risk. After carefully reviewing the preclinical and clinical data that were submitted to FDA in connection with its review of RLF-100s IND and Orphan Drug Designation, we believe that RLF-100 has potential to be a safe and effective treatment for ARDS in general and, in particular for COVID-19-induced ARDS. Owing to the rapidly expanding size of the epidemic and the extraordinary unmet medical need, we intend to initiate clinical trials on an urgent schedule in order to bring a potentially life-saving therapeutic to market as soon as possible.

Although the current epidemic prompts the need to urgently explore and propose rapid solutions aimed at establishing new lines of efficient and safe treatment against COVID-19 and its comorbidities, the timelines to develop an Experimental Medicinal Product into a medicine for prescription to the general population remain long and cumbersome. The demonstration that Aviptadil fulfils the regulatory criteria to become a commercial drug will necessarily follow the authorities driven clinical development path even if special adaptation thereof may be envisioned. Relief is confident that it will rapidly compile all necessary information to apply for and receive authorization to test in human the efficacy of Aviptadil in alleviating COVID-19-induced ARDS.

About RELIEF THERAPEUTICS Holding SA

Relief is a company developing drugs via participation in active entities that have obtained intellectual properties through their own research activities or via in-licensing. Development activities of Relief group of companies focus primarily on clinical-stage projects based on molecules of natural origin (peptides and proteins) with a history of clinical testing and use in human patients or a strong scientific rational. Currently, Relief is concentrating its efforts on developing new treatment solutions for indications related to diabetic complications and respiratory diseases.

About RLF-100

RLF-100 (Aviptadil) is a patented formulation of Vasoactive Intestinal Polypeptide (VIP). VIP was originally developed in combination with phentolamine and is currently marketed in Europe for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. VIP is known to be highly concentrated in the lung and to inhibit a variety of inflammatory cytokines. Aviptadil was awarded Orphan Drug Designation in 2001 by the US FDA for treatment of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome and in 2005 for treatment of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension. Aviptadil was awarded Orphan Drug Designation by the European Medicines Agency in 2006 for the treatment of Acute Lung Injury and in 2007 for the treatment of Sarcoidosis. Both the US FDA and the EMEA have granted Investigational New Drug licenses for human phase 2 trials of Aviptadil. A clinical study evaluating the efficacy of Aviptadil in patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis is currently being conducted by the University of Freiburg, Germany.

About Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a type of respiratory failure characterized by rapid onset of widespread inflammation in the lungs. Symptoms include shortness of breath, rapid breathing, and bluish skin coloration. Among those who survive, a decreased quality of life is relatively common. Causes may include viral infection, sepsis, pancreatitis, trauma, pneumonia, and aspiration. The underlying mechanism involves diffuse injury to cells which form the barrier of the microscopic air sacs of the lungs, surfactant dysfunction, activation of the immune system, and dysfunction of the body's regulation of blood clotting. In effect, ARDS impairs the lungs' ability to exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide. The primary treatment involves mechanical ventilation together with treatments directed at the underlying cause. Ventilation strategies include using low volumes and low pressures. If oxygenation remains insufficient, lung recruitment maneuvers and neuromuscular blockers may be used. The syndrome is associated with a death rate between 35 and 50%. Globally, ARDS affects more than 3 million people a year.

RELIEF THERAPEUTICS Holding SA is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange under the symbol RLF. For further information, please visit the Relief website at www.relieftherapeutics.com or contact at [email protected]

Disclaimer: This communication expressly or implicitly contains certain forward-looking statements concerning RELIEF THERAPEUTICS Holding SA and its business. Such statements involve certain known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which could cause the actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of RELIEF THERAPEUTICS Holding SA to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. RELIEF THERAPEUTICS Holding SA is providing this communication as of this date and does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements contained herein as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200310006003/en/
Italians braced for a second day of national lockdown on Wednesday as a sharp spike in coronavirus-related deaths brought the national toll to 631. The surging epidemic continues to play havoc with global sporting, cultural and political events.

While authorities in China, where the outbreak began, have declared it "basically curbed", cases are multiplying around the world, sparking panic buying in shops, and wild swings on financial markets.

The seemingly relentless spread of the virus has now claimed its first victim in Central America, with a 64-year-old man dying in Panama on Tuesday. Indonesia also reported its first death.

China remains the hardest-hit overall with more than 80,000 cases and 3,000 deaths, out of a global total of 117,339 cases and 4,251 fatalities in 107 countries and territories, according to an AFP tally.

Beijing reported an increase in imported cases Wednesday, fuelling concerns that infections from overseas could undermine its progress in halting the spread of the virus.

Nevertheless, some companies in Wuhan, the Chinese city where the virus emerged late last year, are to be allowed to return to work -- a sign things are gradually returning to normal.

Coronavirus is infecting all walks of life, including politics, with US Democratic presidential hopefuls Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden both cancelling campaign rallies and British health minister Nadine Dorries saying she had tested positive.

And amid criticism of the US authorities' response, New York deployed the National Guard for the first time during the crisis to help contain the spread of the disease from an infection-hit suburb.
PCUSA leaders urge Seattle churches to cancel worship over coronavirus; megachurches close

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A Washington State-based regional body of Presbyterian Church (USA) is encouraging congregations in the Seattle area to cancel in-person worship services due to the coronavirus.

The Presbytery of Seattle posted a letter to its website last Friday that was signed by the Reverends Eliana Maxim and Scott Lumsden, the co-executive presbyters of the regional body. The leadership of the presbytery stated that it was time to cancel regular worship due to the recently reported cases of coronavirus in the state.

Eliana and I, as pastoral leaders in this presbytery lament this conclusion, but believe in our hearts that it's in the best interest of our community, our neighbors, our parishioners, our family, and our friends, they stated.

Jeremiah told us to seek the welfare of the city ... and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare. (29:7) So let us turn our corporate worship into prayers for our community.

They went on to explain that their decision was in keeping with a recent King County Health Department recommendation to cancel large gatherings."

We appreciate all the good work your churches have done to mitigate the spread of this virus, and know that many of you are taking precautions for worship this Sunday, they continued.

But if you're asking for our advice, we believe the more prudent path is to cancel worship until further notice.

In the United States, Washington state has experienced the worst of the global coronavirus outbreak, with 70 of the 200 confirmed cases in the nation.

Of the 11 reported deaths in the United States, 10 have been in King County, according to USA Today.

PC(USA) churches are not the only Seattle area houses of worship looking to cancel in-person worship due to the coronavirus.

Doxa Church, the former main campus of the multi-site megachurch Mars Hill, canceled their in-person service and held an exclusively online worship service on Sunday instead.

Today our church gathers across the Puget Sound, noted the digital liturgy uploaded by Doxa Church on their website.

We pray for the continued healing and care for all those affected by the outbreak, for peace to come to those filled with anxiety and fear, and for God to use His church to be a burning light of hope and sacrificial love to the world around us.

Westminster Chapel in Bellevue, EastLake Community Church in Bothell and other megachurches also closed their campuses, with many streaming their services online.
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Linkedin News Desk (Reuters) Hanoi, Vietnam  Wed, March 11, 2020 13:51 671 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2069d3494 2 SE Asia #Vietnam,#coronavirus,patients,Britain Free

Weeks after Vietnam declared that all 16 of its coronavirus cases had recovered, the number of infected patients is on the rise following the reintroduction of the virus on a flight from Britain.

Vietnam's health ministry reported on Wednesday a total of 35 coronavirus cases, more than double the original 16.

Thirteen passengers who were on a Vietnam Airlines flight from London to Hanoi on March 2. tested positive for the virus, most of them British orVietnamese people who had travelled to other parts of Europe, including Italy, the ministry said.

Vietnam's latest coronavirus case, a 29-year-old saleswoman in the central province of Danang, had close contact with two infected British tourists from the flight on Mar. 4, the ministry said in a statement.

There have been no coronavirus deaths in Vietnam.

The health ministry said on Feb. 25 all of the 16 people who had been infected with the virus at the time had been cured, and that no new cases had been recorded since Feb. 13.

Vietnam on Monday suspended visa-free travel for citizens from eight European countries amid growing concern over the coronavirus epidemic.

The suspension applied to citizens of Denmark, Norway, Finland, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Germany, France and Spain, the government said in a release on its website.
The dog being rescued from the depths of a Co Armagh quarry

The dog being rescued from the depths of a Co Armagh quarry

The dog being rescued from the depths of a Co Armagh quarry

A lost beagle who became stranded in the depths of a Co Armagh quarry was dramatically plucked to safety yesterday.

The stranded hound, whose name is unknown, found itself trapped at the bottom of a sheer rock face at a quarry on the Armagh Road outside Newtownhamilton on Sunday morning.

It's unclear how the unfortunate dog ended up at the bottom of the quarry, but members of the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) were soon on the scene.

The incident was reported at 9.55am and a fire appliance from Newtownhamilton Fire Station went to the dog's rescue.

The NIFRS Specialist Rescue Team was also sent to the scene, and aided by firefighters, members of the team located the stranded pooch and descended 100 feet into the quarry to retrieve him. As these NIFRS photos of the dramatic rescue show, the dog was more than happy to be hauled back up the cliff.

The dog was reportedly none the worse for its ordeal and the incident was over by 1.50pm.

Meanwhile, another frightened dog was rescued in the Scottish Highlands yesterday after a mountain rescue team cooked sausages to lure her out of hiding.

Border collie Nell had run off in fright when a helicopter flew overhead during a rescue in the early hours of Sunday. Nell was reunited with her owner the following day.
The Congress and the BJP moved in to guard their legislators as the tussle for power in Madhya Pradesh is now down to numbers, with 22 Congress MLAs, including six ministers, tendering their resignations.

Chief minister Kamal Naths government in Madhya Pradesh was plunged into crisis following senior leader Jyotiraditya Scindia announcing his resignation from Congress, minutes after he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi. Home minister and former BJP chief Amit Shah accompanied Scindia to PMs residence. There has been no official word on what was discussed in the meeting.

While the Congress legislature party passed a resolution supporting Nath on Tuesday evening, BJP legislators were flown from Bhopal to Delhi. Most of the Congress legislators who resigned have been incommunicado since Monday night and are in Bengaluru.

According to news agency ANI, the BJP MLAs arrived at a luxury hotel in Gurugram in the early hours of Wednesday, while the Congress will likely move its MLAs from Bhopal to Jaipur later in the day.

#WATCH Madhya Pradesh: BJP MLAs sing songs after boarding the buses parked near the party office in Bhopal. pic.twitter.com/9YTqU9L1hz  ANI (@ANI) March 10, 2020

The BJP government led by Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar is in power in Haryana, while Ashok Gehlot of the Congress heads the Rajasthan government.

Meanwhile, Congress has sent two of its leaders-- Sajjan Singh Verma and Govind Singh--- to Bengaluru in order to pacify some of the rebel MLAs, who are staying in Bengaluru.

Congress leaders said that the party MLAs will be leaving for Jaipur from Bhopal on Wednesday morning.

We are going to take our 92 MLAs and those supporting our Madhya Pradesh government to a hotel, a senior Congress leader was quoted as saying by PTI on Wednesday.

Apart from its own MLAs, the Congress is also keeping a close watch on four Independents who are supporting the Congress government in the state.

Putting up a brave face, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath said, There is nothing to worry about, we will prove our majority. Our government will complete its term.

Also read- Jyotiraditya Scindia quits: Will Congress loss be BJPs gain?

If the resignations are accepted by the Speaker, the effective strength of the Assembly will come down to 209, giving the BJP, with 107 MLAs, a slender majority of two. At present, the effective strength of the MP Assembly is 228, with two seats lying vacant, and the Congress has 114 MLAs, including the 22 who have resigned. The remaining seven are from the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), which has two MLAs; one from the Samajwadi Party (SP); and four independent legislators. These seven support the Nath-led government.

Also read- The modern face of Indian politics grand old party
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-11 22:44:38|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, March 11 (Xinhua) -- China will take new measures to keep foreign trade and investment stable, and help enterprises tide over difficulties to mitigate the impact of the coronavirus outbreak.

All export tax rebates except for energy-intensive, polluting and resource products must be made in full without delay, according to a State Council executive meeting chaired by Premier Li Keqiang Tuesday.

The country will encourage financial institutions to increase foreign trade loans, and fully deliver the policy of loan deferment in principal and interest for promising smaller firms that were deeply affected by the outbreak. Commercial insurance companies will be supported in offering short-term export credit insurance services and lowering premium rates.

The meeting called for sound preparations for the China Import and Export Fair, also known as the Canton Fair this spring to bolster cooperation on foreign trade.

Efforts should be intensified to shorten the negative list on foreign investment and expand the industries catalogs in which foreign investment are encouraged so that foreign investors in more sectors can receive benefits in terms of tax and other incentives.

Li also urged that recent tax and fee cut policies designed to help companies tide over difficulties should be equally applied to both domestic and foreign-invested enterprises.

The meeting required precise epidemic prevention and control measures in accordance with the epidemic situation of each region, among a faster pace of resuming work and production across the complete industrial chain.

Efforts should be stepped up to strengthen international cooperation with measures such as increasing international freight flights, in a bid to maintain the smooth flow of the global supply chain, the meeting noted.

Financial institutions will be guided to provide more working capital loans and reasonable lines of credit to core enterprises in the industrial chain, said the meeting.

The meeting required further policies and loans to better ensure the capital needs of anti-epidemic supplies, spring farming, manufacturing of global supply chain products, as well as labor-intensive industries.

More targeted reserve requirement ratio cut policies for inclusive finance will be introduced promptly, with standards further lowered for joint-stock banks to drive down enterprises' financial costs.

Amid efforts to mitigate the impact of the epidemic, more measures for deepening reform and opening-up will be studied to stimulate market vitality and boost domestic demand, said the meeting.

The meeting also called for efforts to provide more opportunities for entrepreneurship and the flexible labor market to further stabilize employment.
A picture taken on January 13, 2020 during a press tour organized by the U.S.-led coalition fighting the remnants of the Islamic State group, shows a view of the damage at Ain al-Asad military airbase housing U.S. and other foreign troops in the western Iraqi province of Anbar.

Three service members were killed, including two Americans, and a dozen more were injured when a barrage of rockets were fired at a military base in Iraq, U.S. officials said Wednesday.

One of the officials said five service members were seriously wounded and evacuated from the Camp Taji base and seven others were still being evaluated. Buildings on the base were in flames. Several other U.S. officials confirmed that U.S. troops had been killed and injured, but did not provide numbers. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to give details of the attack ahead of a public announcement.

Army Col. Myles Caggins, a U.S. military spokesperson in Iraq, said on Twitter that more than 15 small rockets hit Iraq's Camp Taji base. He provided no details. Another U.S. official said that as many as 30 rockets were fired from a truck launcher, and 18 hit the base.

Officials did not say what group they believe launched the rocket attack, but Kataib Hezbollah or another Iranian-backed Shia militia group is likely.

Camp Taji, located just north of Baghdad, has been used as a training base for a number of years. There are as many as 6,000 U.S. troops in Iraq, training and advising Iraqi forces and conducting counterterror missions.

Kataib Hezbollah was responsible for a late December rocket attack on a military base in Kirkuk that killed a U.S. contractor, prompting American military strikes in response.

That, in turn, led to protests at the U.S. embassy in Baghdad. They were followed January 3 by a U.S. airstrike that killed Iran's most powerful military officer, Gen. Qassem Soleimani, and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, a leader of the Iran-backed militias in Iraq, of which Kataib Hezbollah is a member.

Kataib Hezbollah has been designated a "foreign terrorist organization" by the State Department since 2009.

Later Wednesday, Syrian opposition activists and a war monitor reported an airstrike that targeted Iranian militia positions along the Iraq-Syria border.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported 10 airstrikes carried out by three unidentified aircraft that targeted pro-Iran militias in the Boukamal region in eastern Syria, near the border with Iraq. The Britain-based Observatory which monitors the Syria war through a network of activists on the ground said at least 10 explosions were heard in the region but said there was no immediate word on casualties.

U.S. officials said the strike was not related to the Taji base strike at all. But, it was not immediately clear who conducted the attack.

Syrian activist Omar Abu Layla said the unidentified airstrike targeted Iranian militia positions in the Boukamal region.

Syrian state-run media also reported an aerial attack in the Boukamal region near the Iraqi border that caused material damage.
[March 11, 2020] Microcontroller Market 2020-2024 | Increasing Use of Microcontrollers in Automobiles to Boost Growth | Technavio

Technavio has been monitoring the microcontroller market and it is poised to grow by USD 6.74 bn during 2020-2024, progressing at a CAGR of almost 7% during the forecast period. The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current market scenario, latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment. Request the latest free sample report of 2020-2024 This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200311005618/en/ Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Microcontroller Market 2020-2024 (Graphic: Business Wire) The market is concentrated, and the degree of concentration will accelerate during the forecast period. 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. Increasing use of microcontrollers in automobiles has been instrumental in driving the growth of the market. Microcontroller Market 2020-2024: Segmentation Microcontroller Market is segmented as below: Product 32-bit Microcontrollers

8-bit Microcontrollers

16-bit Microcontrollers Application Automotive

Consumer Devices

Industrial

Others Geographic Segmentation Americas

APAC

EMEA To learn more about the global trends impacting the future of market research, download the latest free sample of 2020-2024: https://www.technavio.com/talk-to-us?report=IRTNTR30305 Microcontroller Market 2020-2024: Scope Techavio presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources. Our microcontroller market report covers the following areas:



Microcontroller Market Size

Microcontroller Market Trends

Microcontroller Market Industry Analysis This study identifies development of edge computing as one of the prime reasons driving the microcontroller market growth during the next few years. Microcontroller Market 2020-2024: Vendor Analysis

We provide a detailed analysis of around 25 vendors operating in the microcontroller market, including some of the vendors such as Infineon Technologies, Microchip Technology (News - Alert), NXP Semiconductors and Renesas Electronics and STMicroelectronics. Backed with competitive intelligence and benchmarking, our research reports on the microcontroller 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 Microcontroller Market 2020-2024: Key Highlights CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2020-2024

Detailed information on factors that will assist microcontroller market growth during the next five years

Estimation of the microcontroller market size and its contribution to the parent market

Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior

The growth of the microcontroller market

Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors

Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of microcontroller market vendors Table of Content PART 01: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY PART 02: SCOPE OF THE REPORT PART 03: MARKET LANDSCAPE Market ecosystem

Market characteristics

Market segmentation analysis PART 04: MARKET SIZING Market definition

Market sizing 2019

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 PRODUCT Market segmentation by product

Comparison by product

32-bit microcontrollers - Market size and forecast 2019-2024

8-bit microcontrollers - Market size and forecast 2019-2024

16-bit microcontrollers - Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Market opportunity by product PART 07: CUSTOMER LANDSCAPE PART 08: MARKET SEGMENTATION BY APPLICATION Market segmentation by application

Comparison by application

Automotive - Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Consumer devices - Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Industrial - Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Others - Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Market opportunity by application PART 09: GEOGRAPHIC LANDSCAPE Geographic comparison

APAC - Market size and forecast 2019-2024

EMEA - Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Americas - Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Key leading countries

Market opportunity PART 10: DECISION FRAMEWORK PART 11: DRIVERS AND CHALLENGES Market drivers

Market challenges PART 12: MARKET TRENDS Development of edge computing

Adoption of external flash memory for microcontrollers

Growing implementation of automation technologies across the industries and the emergence of Industry 4.0 PART 13: VENDOR LANDSCAPE Overview

Landscape disruption PART 14: VENDOR ANALYSIS Vendors covered

Vendor classification

Market positioning of vendors

Infineon Technologies

Microchip Technology

NXP Semiconductors (News - Alert)

Renesas Electronics

STMicroelectronics PART 15: APPENDIX Research methodology

List of abbreviations PART 16: 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/20200311005618/en/

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-11 16:24:16|Editor: zh

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PHNOM PENH, March 11 (Xinhua) -- The Garment Manufacturers Association in Cambodia (GMAC) said on Wednesday that 12 more Chinese ships transporting raw materials for garment industry will arrive in Cambodia this week.

In its press statement, GMAC said the first shipment of raw materials for the garment sector arrived at the Sihanoukville Autonomous Port in southwest Cambodia's Preah Sihanouk province Monday night.

"We expect that 12 ships with more raw materials will arrive at the Sihanoukville Autonomous Port subsequently until Sunday," it said.

The statement added that the "Green Lane" measure taken by the Ministry of Economy and Finance through the General Department of Customs and Excise has immediately helped facilitate clearance formalities and procedures from the port, and the raw materials have been transported to factories in various areas including Phnom Penh.

Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen said on Tuesday that more than 60 percent of the raw materials for production in the garment and footwear industry in Cambodia are imported from China.

"The vessels will deliver raw materials to Cambodia from this March to May until the situation (of COVID-19) has eased," he said.

The prime minister expressed his sincere thanks to the Chinese government, Chinese investors and companies for supplying those raw materials to factories in Cambodia timely.

The garment and footwear industry is Cambodia's biggest export sector, employing about 750,000 people in approximately 1,100 factories and branches, according the Labor Ministry.

The sector earned gross revenue of 9.32 billion U.S. dollars last year, up 11 percent compared to the year before.
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Linkedin Ari Altstedter and Jinshan Hong (Bloomberg) Mumbai/Hong Kong  Wed, March 11, 2020 08:50 671 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2069c4e3d 2 Business panic-buying,coronavirus,COVID-19,retailer,supermarket,consumer-behaviour,psychology Free

The worldwide spread of the novel coronavirus is leading to some curious side effects: Store shelves are being stripped bare from Singapore to Seattle. Supermarkets in the UK have started rationing items. In Hong Kong a delivery man was reportedly robbed at knife-point of hundreds of toilet-paper rolls. Australia has seen brawls break out at supermarkets prompting police to taser one man. And France effectively nationalized all production of face masks after people began depleting the supply.

Panic buying has emerged as reliable a feature of the coronavirus epidemic as a fever or dry cough.

Psychologists view control as a fundamental human need. With a disease thats highly infectious and can turn deadly, this epidemic violates a sense of control in fundamental ways. Unless policy makers can find a way to restore that feeling, the cycle of panic buying, hoarding and scarcity only stands to escalate.

People are really not equipped psychologically to process this type of thing, said Andrew Stephen, a marketing professor at the University of Oxfords Said Business School. So that just makes it worse for a lot of people in terms of uncertainty, and then they do whatever they need to do to try and get back some control.

The panic buying is already threatening to do real damage. The US Surgeon General has pleaded with Americans to stop buying face masks to ensure that health care workers have them, while Japan has said it will introduce penalties for reselling masks. EBay Inc. banned new listings for health products after instances of price gouging became common, with packs of hand sanitizer that usually sell for US$10 popping up for $400.

And the prospect of extended confinement at home has sent people scrambling for other items. Oat milk has become a hot commodity due to its longer shelf life than dairy-based products, survivalist gear popularized on the National Geographic show Doomsday Preppers is in demand and Hostess Brands Inc. reports sales of their famously indestructible snack, the Twinkie, are soaring.

Early panic

As one of the first places the virus touched down, Hong Kong in late January became a case study in how panic buying can escalate. When Rona Lai, a 23-year-old who works in financial services, was first asked by her employer to work from home, she stocked up on about a weeks worth of food. But as reports coming out of China grew more dire and supermarket shelves ran dry, she began hoarding food in earnest.

Then the rumors started that Hong Kongs supply of toilet paper would be affected by the epidemic spreading in China, from where the city imports most of its goods. So when Lai noticed stores were being cleared of toilet paper, too, she joined the buying. Now boxes of toilet rolls take up her entire sofa, and tissue paper, detergents and snacks are stacked under her dining table. I readied myself for a protracted war against the virus, she said.

Similar panic buying often precedes snow storms and typhoons, but the global nature of the coronavirus spread --- along with access to information facilitated by social media -- means hysteria today is traveling in ways not seen in previous epidemics, like the 2003 SARS outbreak caused by a similar virus.

The diseases spread to more countries seems to be being accompanied by the rumors from Hong Kong about impending toilet paper shortages, for instance. It wasnt long after coronavirus cases started appearing in Singapore that toilet paper started disappearing. In Australia a growing number of people have racked up charges related to toilet paper induced fighting, as hashtags #toiletpapergate and #toiletpapercrisis have trended.

Even people who were queuing up in the supermarket line to buy toilet paper, they have no idea why they are buying toilet paper, said Andy Yap, a professor of organizational behavior at the Singapore campus of INSEAD business school. They just see other people doing it and start doing it themselves because they are afraid they might lose out.

Quelling this kind of panic can mean assuring people theres enough toilet paper for everyone, but more important may be making people believe the situation in general is under control, Yap said. Perhaps no government has done as good a job of that so far as Singapores.

Seeking calm

Though the city state initially had bare shelves, too, things returned to normal after Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong released a video message outlining steps residents could take to prevent the virus spread. He assured them there was sufficient supply of basic goods and said the disease appeared less deadly than the SARS epidemic. Following the message, extensive control measures were rolled out.

This is information that gives people control again, Yap said. And now we know transmission isnt that widespread, people are going out.

Other countries have been less effective at imparting this message. Chinese officials were slow to report the outbreak. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe abruptly abandoned his initially mild approach in a shock announcement urging schools to close, sending parents into a frenzy. Irans deputy health minister appeared on television to downplay the virus threat, even as he showed visible signs of infection.

Whether these governments can bounce back to inspire confidence will depend not just on their leaders decisions, but also the characteristics of their respective countries. Sociologists rate various countries on metrics like how individualistic or communal their people are, how much trust they generally have for each other and their government, said Amy Dalton, a marketing professor at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology who studies consumer psychology. More communal societies, where people have a lot of trust in each other and their government, like Singapore, are better equipped to deal with things like epidemics.

On the other hand, this every-man-for-himself thing is really going to be exacerbated in the US, she said. Theyre low trust, theyre very individualistic, and of course, they have no faith in their government.
The number of cases of the new coronavirus has not budged at all in upstate New York, but as cases increase exponentially downstate, cancellations and closures began to roll in Wednesday.

In South Glens Falls, the high school trip to England and Scotland was canceled. In Whitehall, the trip to Costa Rica, which happens every other year, was canceled.

The idea is to slow the spread of the new coronavirus. But the sticking point was that families have already paid for the trips and may not get their money back.

In South Glens Falls, some families didnt buy travel insurance. The district is reviewing the situation and will try to get as much money back as possible, said spokeswoman Monica Lester.

As a strong proponent of student travel, this was a hard decision for me, said South Glens Falls Superintendent Kristine Orr. However, the safety of our students and staff must be the first priority. We will be looking for future dates for our students.

We know that all countries are dealing with this in various ways, and it would be unfair to think that our students would have the best experience possible during their time abroad. Our parents and students have been amazing in their response and have been very understanding that this was the right decision.

In Whitehall, families received a voucher for travel next year even if they had travel insurance.

Nursing homes banning visitors

No visitors will be allowed at any of the Centers nursing homes, Centers announced Wednesday.

The ban is to stop the spread of the new coronavirus into the nursing homes, where residents could be especially susceptible to becoming seriously ill.

If a resident is near death, an exception will be made, officials said.

Centers Health Care understands that connecting with family members is incredibly important, said spokesman Jeff Jacomowitz.

He urged family members to call, use email, text, Skype and use other safe avenues for contact.

All Centers have canceled their resident trips as well. Residents will only leave their facility for medical visits of clinical necessity, he said.

Glens Falls Hospital reducing visitors

Glens Falls Hospital is limiting visitors to keep the new coronavirus from patients.

All visitors will now be screened at hospital entrances. Patients will be allowed in, but visitors will not be permitted to enter if they have a fever or respiratory symptoms, have had close contact with an individual who has a positive test for COVID-19, or have traveled in the past 14 days to China, Iran, Italy, Japan or South Korea. That list may expand as the pandemic spreads.

In addition to the screening, Glens Falls Hospital will limit the number of visitors. Each patient will be allowed one visitor, who will be screened, for their entire stay. This includes outpatient treatment areas, primary care, the Emergency Department and all other areas except the Joyce Stock Snuggery.

There, new mothers will be allowed two people.

All visitors must be at least 16 years old.

We recognize that in certain circumstances these guidelines will need to be modified, and we will do so on a case by case basis, hospital spokesman Ray Agnew said.

Glens Falls Hospital has also set up a Novel Coronavirus Hotline, which will have information and connect to the state Department of Health and the county Public Health Department. The hotline is 518-926-HELP (4357).

Tracking contacts

In an indication of how many people one infected person can encounter, the Saratoga County Public Health has had to track down people who worked out at VENT Fitness.

The two Saratoga County residents who tested positive for coronavirus on Saturday had gone to a workout class at Vent Fitness in Clifton Park on Thursday, March 5.

While people who were simply in the gym are unlikely to be at risk, Public Health officials have contacted everyone who went to the workout class that the infected people attended.

Public Health contacted Vent Fitness on March 9, two days after the individuals tested positive, to get contact information for people at the workout class. Vent Fitness is not disclosing what time the people were there or what class was involved. The gym offers 16 or more classes on a typical day.

Vent Fitness confirmed that it sent out an email to all members describing the situation and asking them to maintain good hygiene and use their own water bottles.

Glens Falls training employees

Fire Chief James Schrammel is the citys liaison on the coronavirus to the state Department of Health and Warren County Public Health. He put together a presentation on the new coronavirus for city department heads.

That presentation was also shared with employees at Cool Insuring Arena and the Travelers Building, which is home to 900 workers. It is also on the citys website, and there are links to other information.

You can reach Kathleen Moore at 742-3247 or kmoore@poststar.com. Follow her on Twitter @ByKathleenMoore or at her blog on www.poststar.com.

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Joe Biden's presidential campaign announced on Wednesday that it had formed a new advisory committee to counsel the campaign on the risks posed by the new coronavirus, just hours after the World Health Organization declared the outbreak to be a pandemic.

The Public Health Advisory Committee will provide "science-based, expert advice regarding steps the campaign should take to minimize health risks for the candidate, staff, and supporters," the campaign said in a statement.

"The campaign's top priority is and will continue to be the health and safety of the public," the statement said. "Members of the committee will provide ongoing counsel to the campaign, which will in turn continue to update the public regarding operational decisions."

The effects of COVID-19, the disease caused by coronavirus, is just starting to be felt by the major presidential campaigns. Biden and his chief rival for the Democratic nomination, Sen. Bernie Sanders, both canceled rallies in Ohio this week, citing concerns about the disease. CNN on Tuesday scrapped plans for a live audience at the next debate, scheduled for Sunday.

On Wednesday the campaign announced that it would cancel events in Illinois and Florida on Friday and Monday at the request of elected officials in those states. Both states vote Tuesday.

"Friday's and Monday's events will become virtual events, and the campaign will make announcements about additional details on the format and timing of the virtual events and on future events in the coming days," the campaign said.

Biden and Sanders  along with President Donald Trump  could be particularly vulnerable to coronavirus because of their age and frequent travel. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warn that older people are more at risk. Biden is 77, Sanders is 78 and Trump is 73.

Representatives for Sanders and Trump did not respond immediately to requests for comment.

The six-member committee includes a number of former Obama administration officials, including former Office of Management and Budget health policy advisor Dr. Zeke Emanuel, former Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy and former homeland security advisor Lisa Monaco.

Dr. Rebecca Katz, co-director of Georgetown University's Center for Global Health Science and Security, former FDA commissioner Dr. David Kessler, and Dr. Irwin Redlener, a professor and disaster preparedness expert at Columbia University's school of public health, are also on the committee.

The coronavirus has rapidly spread throughout the world since first appearing in China late last year. There have been more than 120,000 cases reported globally and at least 1,110 in the U.S., according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. There have been at least 35 domestic deaths reported.

On Tuesday, the attending physician of Congress and the Supreme Court said he expected between 70 million and 150 million people in the United States to ultimately become infected with COVID-19 during closed-door remarks to Senate staff, NBC News has reported.

The rapid spread of the disease has threatened to slow global growth to a standstill, spooking financial markets and sending the major U.S. indices into or near bear market territory, or down 20% from their recent highs. So far, President Donald Trump has not reached an agreement with congressional Democrats over potential stimulus measures.

Biden is expected to deliver remarks on coronavirus in Wilmington, Del on Thursday. On Monday, Biden addressed Trump's handling of the public health crisis during an appearance on MSNBC's "The Last Word."

"I think there's a reason why you see the markets falling and you see the reason, the reason why people are very upset," Biden said. "But I think if the president were to just get out of the way, let the experts at CDC and others handle this, speak to it, talk about what needs to be done, we'd all be better off."

Biden is currently leading in the delegate race to win the Democratic nomination, widening the gap this week with victories in four out of six states that voted on Tuesday.

Biden carried Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi and Idaho, while Sanders won in North Dakota. The state of Washington, the night's second biggest prize, remains too close to call.
The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine--a nonprofit with more than 25,000 members in California--filed a lawsuit against the State of California on March 11 for failing to include cancer-causing processed meat--such as hot dogs, bacon, and deli meat--on the state's list of substances known to cause cancer, as required by Proposition 65.

The lawsuit argues that California has neglected to follow a state law requiring the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) to include on its carcinogen list "[s]ubstances listed as human or animal carcinogens by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)."

In 2015, after 22 experts from 10 countries assessed more than 800 epidemiological studies, the IARC classified consumption of processed meat as "'carcinogenic to humans' (Group 1) on the basis of sufficient evidence for colorectal cancer." The experts highlighted a meta-analysis that concluded that each 50-gram portion of processed meat (about one hot dog) eaten daily increases the risk of colorectal cancer by 18 percent. Research shows that eating 50 grams of processed meat daily also increases the risk of breast cancer, prostate cancer, pancreatic cancer, and overall cancer mortality.

Throughout 2017, 2018, and 2019, the Physicians Committee urged the OEHHA to follow the law and list processed meat as a cancer-causing substance. In February 2018, the Physicians Committee backed a resolution introduced in the California State Legislature by then-Sen. Ricardo Lara urging the OEHHA to add processed meat to Proposition 65. In September 2019, the OEHHA told the Physicians Committee that the agency would make a determination regarding processed meat by January 2020 but has failed to do so.

"It's a clear-cut case. California has been violating the law for nearly five years by failing to add processed meat to the Proposition 65 list," says Mark Kennedy, Esq., vice president of legal affairs for the Physicians Committee. "It's time for the OEHHA to stop dragging its feet."

Plaintiffs also include Physicians Committee members Donald D. Forrester, MD, a family medicine physician in Sacramento, Calif., and Anna Herby, RD, CDE, who resides in Mendocino County. Ms. Herby works with patients to help prevent and reverse chronic diseases through nutrition.

"California must commit to making sure that every resident knows that processed meat increases cancer risk, and Proposition 65 is the place to make that clear," says Anna Herby, RD, CDE. "A hospital patient being treated for cancer shouldn't be learning for the first time that hot dogs are a health hazard."

Colorectal cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer-related deaths in California. The American Cancer Society estimates that California will have 15,530 new cases of colorectal cancer in 2020 and 5,480 deaths from the disease.

"Tens of thousands of Californians are diagnosed or die from colorectal cancer every year," says Donald D. Forrester, MD. "Adding processed meat to Proposition 65 would provide first-line defense against this deadly disease."

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President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has assured that the desire for peace does not weaken the ability of Ukraine to repel the aggressor.

Today we make every effort for the sake of peaceful settlement of the conflict in eastern Ukraine, but I do not advise the enemy to think that our desire for peace weakens our ability to fight back. That's not the case! Ukrainian military are always able to give an adequate and powerful response to the aggressor's actions, Zelensky stated at the ceremony of introducing new Defense Minister Andriy Taran at the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

The President stressed that anyone, who thinks that it is possible to shoot Ukrainian soldiers with impunity, is mistaken. According to him, this is evidenced by the statistics of the enemy losses in March.

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Today, three appointments were made to the Tourism Bay of Plenty Board. Laurissa Cooney is the new chair and Clare Swallow and Oscar Nathan the new trustees, appointed by Tauranga City Council and Western Bay of Plenty District Council.



Mayor Tenby Powell said the appointment of trustees to council-controlled organisations (CCOs) is an important council function, as it is the trustees who are responsible for ensuring agreed outcomes are effectively delivered.



Im confident that as a result of these appointments, the Board will be well-placed to deliver Tourism Bay of Plentys destination management strategy, he said. Laurissa, Clare and Oscar have the skills and experience to meet the needs identified by the appointment panel and I have no doubts that their appointments will help Tourism Bay of Plenty meet its strategic goals.



I worked closely with Laurissa during the aftermath of Whakaari/White Island eruption and was very impressed with her strong leadership skills, so Im particularly pleased that she will be chairing this team, said Tenby.



Laurissa Cooney

Laurissa joined the Tourism Bay of Plenty Board as the Institute of Directors Emerging Director in January 2018. Laurissa was formally appointed as a trustee by the councils in June 2018 and has been acting chair since August 2019.



Former chief financial officer at Te Whare Wananga o Awanuiarangi and a fellow of the Institute of Directors, Laurissa was recently appointed to the board of Air New Zealand. She is also an independent director with Nga Tangata Tiaki (Wanganui Iwi Settlement entity) and Ngai Tai Ki Tamati. A chartered member of the Institute of Directors, Laurissa brings strong links to the Whakatane community and eastern Bay of Plenty tangata whenua.



Clare Swallow

Clare is well known to many in the Bay as the former general manager at Cucumber. With considerable experience in digital strategy/marketing, technology, transformation, customer experience and innovation, Clare consults to a number of large public and private sector boards. Clare was a finalist in the Westpac Millennial Woman of Influence Award and the Institute of Directors Emerging Director Award. Clare is also a trustee on a not-for-profit trust and sat on the Export Bay of Plenty Advisory Board for eight years.



Oscar Nathan

Oscar has considerable experience in both domestic and international tourism management and is a former general manager of Destination Rotorua. Currently a destination management consultant, Oscar is also a director of Waka Digital, a leading Maori information technology firm offering precision data analytics. Governance experience consists of board roles on Regional Tourism NZ, NZ Maori Tourism, Tourism Industry Aotearoa, NZ Maori Arts & Crafts Institute (Te Puia), Waiariki Institute of Technology and Rotorua Chamber of Commerce.



Laurissa is delighted to welcome Clare and Oscar to the Board.



They bring vast and diversified experience and fantastic connections across the region and the sector. The board is looking forward to working with them both as their skillsets complement those of our current board and will further enhance the contribution that the tourism sector brings to this region, said Laurissa.



Tourism Bay of Plenty is a trust and CCO, jointly controlled by Tauranga City Council and Western Bay of Plenty District Council. The new appointments will commence from 10 March 2020.
Bhopal, March 12 : Jyotiraditya Scindia's maiden speech as member of the Bharatiya Janata Party was hardly a few minutes old when the videos of his previous vitriolic views on the party, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah were played out by several news channels to embarrass him.

It could be dismissed as an old trick in the present-day political warfare, but the stuff is too fresh in the public memory to ignore.

It wasn't surprising then to see both Scindia and BJP President J.P. Nadda refusing to take questions.

Some enterprising political communicators chose to play some past videos of Scindia along with his latest speech at busy public places to build a campaign for Congress. One such was played at Roshanpura square here on Wednesday with the crowd jeering him on the striking contradictions.

The video clips also raised questions like why his constituency, Guna, that was the Congress' bastion for three generations since independence, rejected them.

Scindia said he had entered political life only to serve the people of India, and that "politics was only a vehicle to achieve that goal". The counter came in the form of a question on how he would counter persons like Jaibhan Singh Pawaiya in his new party who have been very vocal about feudal order of Scindia's time. Some videos of Pawaiya were also played out for right effect.

When he went on to mount a series of attacks on the Kamal Nath-led government, the audience was served the recent videos of him accompanying the Chief Minister to solicit support for various schemes and admiration for Kamal Nath.

When he said that the Congress promised to waive farmers' loans in 10 days but that is yet to happen, his own speech to the contrary was played out. Scindia added that farmers who were falsely accused in the Mandsaur firing were still languishing in prison and the immediate question was why he was standing with those who perpetrated the "atrocity" on farmers and the ones who have held back farmers' through Centre's machinations.

To his assertion that the corrupt have got many more opportunities under Kamal Nath government and illegal sand mafia and transfer businesses are flourishing, his own words in the Congress' defence and his strong condemnation of Shivraj Singh Chouhan government's corrupt practices were played out. The words would echo in public mind for some time but Bhopal is not Scindia's constituency and the retention value of what was played out could not be very high.

At his induction in the BJP at its office in New Delhi, Scindia said that there has never been an occasion when a Union government was elected with such big mandate for two consecutive times. He described the Prime Minister as futuristic and a top-class administrator.

"He has raised the prestige of India at global level. I believe India's future is completely secure in his hands," Scindia said.

The audience was instantly served the video in which Scindia asks what he has achieved out of his visits to 40 odd countries.

Meanwhile, welcoming him, Nadda likened Scindia's induction to his homecoming. He praised his grandmother Vijaya Raje Scindia, who from the inception of Bharatiya Jana Sangh and the BJP, was instrumental in advancing its ideology across the country.

"I welcome her grandson to the party today. I feel that ours is a very democratic party where every individual has a say. He will also get a chance to participate in party activities," he said.

The BJP has agreed to field him as its candidate in the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections and also reportedly give him a ministerial berth in Modi's cabinet. It remains to be seen how the BJP accommodates the legislators who also resigned from the Congress with Scindia.
WASHINGTON  The Supreme Court on Wednesday allowed the Trump administration to maintain a program that has forced about 60,000 asylum seekers to wait in Mexico while their requests are heard. An appeals court had blocked the program, saying it was at odds with both federal law and international treaties and was causing extreme and irreversible harm.

The Supreme Courts order was brief and unsigned, and it gave no reasons for staying the appeals courts ruling while the case moved forward. Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote that she would have denied the administrations request for a stay.

The ruling, from the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, in San Francisco, applied to the two border states within its jurisdiction, California and Arizona, and was to take effect on Thursday.

Judy Rabinovitz, a lawyer with the American Civil Liberties Union, which represents people and groups challenging the program, expressed dismay at the Supreme Courts temporary action but said she hoped the justices would strike the program down in the end.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-11 22:18:41|Editor: huaxia

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BRUSSELS, March 11 (Xinhua) -- As confirmed COVID-19 cases in Italy topped 10,000, China is lending a helping hand to Europe's worst-hit country, returning the kindness that Italy has offered when China was at its nadir in the fight against the novel coronavirus.

A friend in need is a friend indeed. After the outbreak of the epidemic in China, Italy sent a chartered plane of medical supplies to China, and organized a special concert in its presidential palace, which was broadcast live by state-run RAI radio and TV channels.

These actions were stellar examples of Italy's support for China's arduous battle against the virus and the friendship between the two peoples. As Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Tuesday told Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio over the phone, the Chinese people will not forget Italy's precious support.

The epidemic knows no borders and has now hit more countries. Facing a mounting challenge to public health posed by the virus, Italy has imposed COVID-19 quarantine measures on the entire country.

Even though China still needs a large amount of medical supplies, Wang made it clear that the country, despite its difficulties, stands ready to provide Italy with medical supplies including face masks, and accelerate the export of supplies and equipment to meet Italy's urgent need.

Meanwhile, as China's efforts have yielded progress in the fight against the virus, China's experience could be helpful for other countries when it comes to saving more lives around the globe. Di Maio said the Italian government is paying close attention to and learning from China's success in its fight against the virus, taking strong measures to prevent the spread of the disease.

In addition to its friendly interactions with Italy, China, upholding the vision of a community with a shared future for mankind, has already provided medical supplies to such countries as South Korea and Japan, where the epidemic situation is severe, and sent expert teams to such countries as Iran and Iraq, in an effort to offer advice and share its experience.

The COVID-19 epidemic is a sober reminder that no one is immune to such a global challenge, and cooperation and solidarity are needed to confront it.

In this regard, more countries should join forces to encourage and support each other, just like what China and Italy have done. Similarly, it is hoped that countries will stand in solidarity in the face of other global challenges in the future.
A jury in Hays County in Texas gave a verdict of guilty to a woman on Thursday who committed a gruesome crime that shocked the nation. During a fit of rage, Krystle Concepcion Villanueva beheaded her 5-year-old daughter. Villanueva was apprehended by police in the house which she was shares with her daughter Giovanna, the father, and his parents. The scene of the crime is located at Kyle, Texas, about 20 miles southwest of Austin.

The proclaimed guilty Krystle Concepcion Villanueva is sentenced to life imprisonment without any chance of parole, for the merciless mutilation of her young daughter Giovanna Hernandez. To add to the charges that led to a guilty verdict, juror also added that she was also guilty of 'aggravated' assault by stabbing the grandfather with a sharp weapon. Fortunately, the elderly man survived the attack.

According to the reports filed by the police, that related events back on January 5, 2017, when they were summoned to their house in Kyle, where the family of Krystle lived. Reports would indicate that her father-in-law called 911 and reported that she attacked him without reason from behind. He was able to get away, but not without a stab in the back and head. He ran away from his daughter-in-law to guard himself.

He stayed in the house but did not leave. A SWAT team was deployed and they entered the homestead when Giovanna could be in mortal danger. Searching the house, the officers discovered the girl's mangled corpse and her head severed off the child's badly mutilated body.

This gun-wrenching murder scene was also reported to the Hays District Attorney's Office, which handled the prosecution later. When Krystle was taken into custody and charged for the murder and aggravated assault, she was tested for alcohol and drugs in her blood, which turned out positive. Authorities believed this may be a contributing factor to the gruesome crime.

Also read: Daytona 500 Driver Ryan Newman Survives Terrible Car Crash During Race

During her capital murder hearings, the defence of Krystle did not dispute that she had indeed killed her child Giovanna. The defence attorneys asked the jury to judge her not guilty because of insanity. According to her defence, she was delusional when she tried to kill her father in law, severing the head of her daughter during the period of the crime. She believed that both were clones, and killing them is the way to retrieve her real family members, said the DA's Office.

When the insanity plea failed, her attorney disagreed because the insanity plea should have been a not guilty verdict from the jury.

To no avail, despite objections of the defence attorneys, the court jury on Thursday disregarded the insanity plea, and give a verdict of guilty. The judge gave Krystle to a lifetime in jail or life, no chance of parole for the murder of Giovanna, aged 5-years old and an added 20-years in jail for the attempted murder of her father-in-law.

Related article: Jars Filled With Tongues, Other Body Parts Alarms Florida Police

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A traditional Maori greeting will be banned from New Zealand citizenship ceremonies to reduce the risk of contracting coronavirus.

The Auckland Council announced it was taking preventive measures in light of the deadly outbreak by getting rid of handshakes as well as the 'hongi' - which involves two people pressing their noses together as a greeting.

The gesture is traditionally made between an official and new citizens before they are given their citizenship certificate.

Henderson-Massey Local Board chairman Chris Carter told Stuff the move wouldn't take away from the significance of the ceremony.

Auckland Council announced it will omit the hongi (Jacinda Ardern greeting someone with a hongi pictured) - which involves two people pressing their noses together - at citizenship ceremonies, in light of the health crisis

Handshakes have also been banned to reduce the risk of contracting coronavirus

'There are other ways one can show respect without having to shake someone's hand or perform a hongi,' he said.

Some educational institutions in New Zealand have already temporarily abandoned the gesture as the country ramps up efforts to stop the spread of the disease - which has killed 4,300 worldwide.

Wellington polytechnic WelTec said that instead of staff greeting new students with a hongi, its welcome ceremony would instead include a waiata, or Maori song.

Elsewhere around the world people are changing their habits at work, home and in worship in fears of spreading the disease.

In Australia, New South Wales Health Minister Brad Hazzard urged people to kiss with caution and suggested a pat on the back instead of a handshake.

'It's a very Australian thing to put your hand out to shake hands, for example. I would be suggesting to the community... it's time that Aussies actually gave each other a pat on the back for the time being - no handshaking,' he said.

'There are other things that can be done - I'm not going to say don't kiss, but certainly you could be exercising a degree of care and caution with who you choose to kiss.'
OTTAWA - The flight recorders from the Ukrainian jetliner shot down by the Iranian military in January will be arriving in Ukraine in 10 to 14 days, the country's envoy to Canada said Wednesday.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 11/3/2020 (670 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Foreign Affairs Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne speaks with the media following caucus on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Wednesday March 11, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

OTTAWA - The flight recorders from the Ukrainian jetliner shot down by the Iranian military in January will be arriving in Ukraine in 10 to 14 days, the country's envoy to Canada said Wednesday.

Ambassador Andriy Shevchenko was at the International Civil Aviation Organization meeting in Montreal Wednesday when the voice of Iran's representative, Farhad Parvaresh, offered that long-awaited confirmation.

Getting the black boxes has taken longer that Canada, Ukraine and the three other countries that lost citizens in the shootdown of Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 would have liked.

Iran's military fired missiles at the airliner, killing all 176 people on board, including 55 Canadians.

Parvaresh wasn't at the meeting but addressed the ICAO council by telephone. Canada's Transport Minister Marc Garneau was also in the room.

"Of course, there was a very visible sign of relief in the room and many members of the council expressed their welcome of this decision," Shevchenko said in an interview.

"By now we have already wasted too much time, and we want to finally start moving forward."

Shevchenko and Foreign Affairs Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne welcomed the promise from Iran to hand over the flight recorders.

Parvaresh pledged that the "black boxes" will be transferred to Ukraine or on to France as necessary, said Champagne.

"We welcome those words but we will judge Iran by obviously their actions," he said.

"We will be following up to make sure this is happening."

Speaking to reporters, Champagne offered no details on when the transfer would happen. Shevchenko was unable to explain the 10- to 14-day time frame, but stressed it was a necessary development, and one that all countries involved agreed was inevitable.

Governments from five countries that lost citizens in the crash have been working together to pressure Iran for a transparent investigation. They are also asking for compensation for the victims, and for whomever was responsible for the missiles to be held responsible. Iran has said they were fired in error.

Iran admitted shortly after the disaster that the black boxes were partially damaged, and that it did not have the technical ability to extract the data they contained.

"We do not have a clear understanding of what are the conditions of the boxes. I guess the final understanding of how we proceed will be after we have them," said Shevchenko.

The boxes will be examined in Ukraine first "and once we understand what kind of expertise we need there will be a final decision on whether we need to proceed to France or not."

Shevchenko said Canada and Ukraine led the way in keeping lines of communication open with Tehran to push for the release of the flight recorders to push for a "thorough and trustworthy investigation."

"If we want to make sure this does not happen again, then we, again, really need to have this very full and comprehensive picture of the event," the envoy said.

"It's a matter of rule of law," he added. "There are clear ICAO regulations from this, and I think it's really to everyone's benefit to make sure that this international framework, these international rules, they are respected and they work."

Champagne noted that families are still waiting for answers, and the black boxes could provide crucial clues into the flight's final minutes.

He said Canada wants its own experts to play a role in analyzing the boxes.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 11, 2020.
American small businesses are at serious risk if Washington doesn't intervene in response to the coronavirus crisis, a toy company executive told CNBC on Wednesday.

"We're going to need support for small and medium-sized businesses by the government," Basic Fun CEO Jay Foreman said in a "Squawk Alley" interview. "They're going to have to backstop the banks so the banks can backstop small business."

Foreman said this type of action is necessary to ensure businesses across the country are able to meet their loan obligations as many experience declining revenues during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"If the bank starts to panic and they come in and start to call in their loans, we're going to have some real carnage on Main Street," Foreman warned.

There is a recognition in Washington that small and medium-sized businesses need assistance, Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin told reporters Wednesday on Capitol Hill.

"I think there's big bipartisan support. People understand that we have to help small and medium-sized businesses in certain industries," said Mnuchin, who also told lawmakers the administration planned to push for a delay of tax payments.

The economic consequences of the coronavirus began as supply-chain issues in China, where the disease originated, but have since morphed into demand challenges, Foreman said.

Foreman pointed to hotels near his company headquarters in Boca Raton, Florida.

The hotels were waiting for spring-break travelers to arrive, but "those folks aren't coming," he said.

"And if those folks don't come, those hotels are going to be empty and those hotel owners are going to have a real problem," he said. "Are the banks going to come in and foreclose on those hotels? We know that everybody is going to go back on vacation in six or nine months."

Foreman said his company, whose products include Lincoln Logs and mini retro arcade games, has had to lay off 18 people, or around 10% of its workforce.

He previously told the New York Post that supply-chain disruption in China has limited the company's ability to fulfill retail orders for April, May and June.

"If earnings were going to decline we had to cover that by overhead reductions," he told CNBC.

Foreman said reducing labor costs was the simplest way to maintain the company's balance sheet. "I can't get out of my lease. I can't get my landlord to give me a reduction in rate," he said.

Foreman said he also wanted to see government assistance for people who are laid off as a result of coronavirus-related slowdowns. He said the Trump administration's idea for a payroll tax cut would not address the real issue.

"We need some help, and the people who are getting laid off are going to need help," he said. "I don't think people need a payroll tax cut. People are working. It's the people that aren't."
Officials are calling it a large-scale animal neglect situation, and the criminal charges in the case have swelled more than 1,000-fold to reflect this.

As KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh reports, a woman originally arrested on just two counts of aggravated animal cruelty after 200 cats, dogs, kittens and even chickens had be rescued from two properties now faces more than 1,300 charges in the case.

The major animal rescue operation took place last October at two residential properties in Washington and Westmoreland counties. Authorities served search and seizure warrants in the case, clearing the way for the Humane Society to step in and rescue the menagerie of animals who officials say lacked veterinary care and were living in filth.

The person police say is responsible for the situation is Christie Dee Harr, who is now facing 1,376 charges, including animal cruelty, neglect and torture.

The dramatic expansion of the charged were announced Tuesday, just as Harr is scheduled to face a judge in the case Friday, KDKA reports, adding:

The situation for the animals was so bad, the Washington Area Humane Society had to call in the Humane Society of the U.S. to help. The national organizations resources were needed to pull off the rescue.

The conditions are truly filthy, really horrific conditions that were seeing right now, Kristen Tullo with the Humane Society of the United States told KDKA in October.

Many of the cats were in a Donora, Pa., church, which animal rescue workers described as dilapidated. More cats were found in the dark basement of a house in Westmoreland County.

The cats were in crates that were allegedly overflowing with feces and rescuers did not see any food or water.

And the Humane Society said many of the cats were diagnosed with various illnesses.

All of the rescued animals are now in protective custody in a confidential location, the Humane Society told KDKA.

Yet Harrs attorney, Bruce Blissman, is praising his client for her long record of excellent animal care, releasing this statement to KDKA:

Its our position that Ms. Harr should be commended for providing excellent care and maintenance for many animals for nearly 20 years. The filing of the charges today will be addressed through the legal process and, ultimately, Ms. Harrs good name will be cleared.

Lets see what the courts have to say.

READ MORE:

Pa. mom finds naked photos of her 9-year-old daughter on mans phone and just deletes them: state police

Drunk guy who tried to kiss Pa. state troopers gets charged: I love you guys!

Facebook video of shoeless children outside gets Pa. mom charged: cops

Pa. woman accused of abandoning shivering dog by dumpster faces trial

Pa. man who lied about shooting, killing his wife meets his own end

Woman, 22, fights off sexual assault suspect by biting his tongue: state police

Pa. high school basketball coach scores .273% on blood-alcohol test, gets dunked with DUI: cops

Cops say Pa. mom laughed after suffocating infant by falling asleep in recliner while high

Jailed Pa. mom blamed toddlers brain injury, broken bones on family dog: state police

Pair of Pa. cops are honorary uncles after delivering baby by side of road

4 dead cats lead to criminal charges against Pa. pet-sitter

5 Pa. schools close over suspected coronavirus exposure

Pa. woman guilty of helping convicted cop killer get rid of smoking gun

Female fight at Pa. Dollar General ends with woman stabbed 10 times: cops

Port-a-potty-jumping Pa. man faces charges for trashing toilet in viral video

Dr. Cyril Wecht is fighting DUI-by-medical-marijuana charges against Pa. woman

Pa. woman whose severed arm was found miles away from fatal hit and run is mourned: Why didnt you stop?
(Corrects instrument symbol for 10-year note in second paragraph) CHICAGO, March 11 - U.S. Treasuries rebounded on Wednesday as stocks dropped over uncertainty on how the White House plans to combat the impact of the coronavirus outbreak on the economy. The 10-year note yield was last at 0.711%, down from 0.752% at Tuesday's close. "(Treasuries) are coming back today simply as a reaction to the weakness in the stock market, which had such a good day yesterday," said Lou Brien, a strategist at DRW Trading in Chicago. "The continued uncertainty always will give a bid to the Treasury market, and if there's anything we've got in spades it's uncertainty right now." Expectations of a major stimulus plan from the Trump administration boosted Wall Street on Tuesday, following Monday's sell-off as a plunge in oil prices compounded fears of a global recession. President Donald Trump and members of his economic team on Tuesday met with Republicans in the U.S. Senate and discussed a payroll tax cut, but no concrete measures have been announced. Meanwhile, some investors are growing concerned about liquidity disruptions in the Treasury market given recent large shifts in yields. "It's conditional. If you get a couple days where things calm down because there's no fresh news and we don't get big swings, then the volume kind of comes back and the bids and offers tighten up," Brien said. Yields on 10-year Treasury notes were little changed after the U.S. Labor Department reported its consumer price index unexpectedly increased 0.1% last month, matching January's gain, as rising food and accommodation costs offset cheaper gasoline. Thirty-year Treasury yields were at 1.211%, down from 1.233% on Tuesday. The Treasury will sell $24 billion of 10-year notes on Wednesday, following a weak $38 billion auction of three-year notes on Tuesday. After boosting its limit on daily cash injections earlier this week, the New York Federal Reserve on Wednesday accepted all of the $132.38 billion in bids from primary dealers at an overnight repurchase agreement (repo) operation. It was the largest amount of repo loans since the liquidity operations began in September. March 11 Wednesday 10:18AM New York / 1418 GMT Price Current Net Change Yield % (bps) Three-month bills 0.405 0.4122 -0.014 Six-month bills 0.39 0.3973 -0.022 Two-year note 101-81/256 0.4521 -0.035 Three-year note 99-224/256 0.5421 -0.014 Five-year note 102-166/256 0.5833 -0.032 Seven-year note 102-240/256 0.6924 -0.029 10-year note 107-140/256 0.7114 -0.041 30-year bond 119-192/256 1.2113 -0.022 DOLLAR SWAP SPREADS Last (bps) Net Change (bps) U.S. 2-year dollar swap 1.25 -2.75 spread U.S. 3-year dollar swap -3.25 -3.50 spread U.S. 5-year dollar swap 3.75 -1.25 spread U.S. 10-year dollar swap 1.75 -1.50 spread U.S. 30-year dollar swap -46.50 -5.00 spread (By Karen Pierog in Chicago and Karen Brettell in New York Editing by Paul Simao)
Removing a tax on short-haul flights would help save Belfast City Airport from a "perfect storm", according to its chief executive.

George Best Belfast City Airport lost two-thirds of its passenger base and more than 500 weekly services to and from 12 destinations across the UK following the collapse of the Flybe airline.

Airport chief Brian Ambrose spoke with transport minister Kelly Tolhurst on the serious implications of Covid-19 for the airline industry. The Chancellor makes a Budget statement today.

Mr Ambrose said: "This, coupled with the demise of Flybe, has positioned Belfast City Airport at the centre of a perfect storm as it seeks new airlines.

"The removal or phased reduction of air passenger duty (APD) is one mechanism that the Government could enact in the Budget that would go some way to rebalancing the economy.

"Safeguarding regional connectivity is essential if we are to thrive as an island off an island."

Business bodies in Northern Ireland also urged the Chancellor to scrap domestic APD. Construction firms who have built up significant business in Great Britain since the 2008 economic crash are among those most affected by the loss of the flights.

In a joint statement, the leaders of the CBI, Institute of Directors, Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Centre for Competitiveness said: "The collapse of Flybe has significantly reduced Northern Ireland's air connectivity with the regions of the UK.

"Our membership relied heavily on the Flybe network and accounted for a large proportion of the 1.6 million passengers that utilised the airline to and from Belfast in 2019."

They said the abolition of APD would "kick-start regional air connectivity in Belfast whilst assisting airports such as Belfast City as they pursue new airlines to fill these routes in a difficult environment".
Coronavirus? Rishi Sunak is getting it done.

The NHS? Rishi Sunak is getting it done.

Small businesses? Rishi Sunak is getting it done.

Climate change? Rishi Sunak is getting it done.

Beer, wine, petrol, cider, potholes, tampons, flood defences, the A303, plastic, blue-sky thinking, electric cars, national insurance, VAT, the Pant-Llanymynech bypass, broadband, railways, further education? Rishi Sunak is getting them all done, done, done, done done, done, done, done, done, done, done, done, done, done, done, done, done and done.

Recommended This Budget will do little to reverse the impact of austerity

Is there an odd job youve just not got round to? My firm advice would be to hang around outside the Treasury building, mention it to Sunak and itll be in next years budget speech at the very latest. Regrouting Ian from Cricklewoods bathroom? Painting Daves mums shed? This government is getting it done.

Oh to be married to Sunak. Rishi, its bi-

Taking out the bins? Your husband is getting it done.

It helps that Sunak, with his pipe-cleaner arms, obsequious smile, and hair like its been carefully combed by his mum for the annual school photo, bears every outward resemblance to a very small boy.

Because it helped to lend Budget 2020 its crucial fairy story feel. With his first wish, Sunak got the job of his dreams. With his second, Sunak got the ultimate dream of every former Goldman Sachs banker  infinite money.

The phrase getting it done made around 21 appearances. Only one phrase, or one word outdid it, and that was billion which appeared fully 47 times.

I have done my very best to add up the numbers attached to these 47 appearances, and I think the answer is, at least 972bn and at most, well, infinity.

The NHS, will be given millions, billions, whatever it takes to deal with coronavirus, he said. There is suddenly no amount of money for the NHS which cannot be found, which for those of us who had to listen to Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn have soul-crushing, point-scoring arguments about it for what felt like a thousand years, is particularly annoying.

Though less annoying, one imagines, than for the parents of a small boy with pneumonia being kept warm by a pile of anoraks on the floor of a Leeds hospital, whose existence Boris Johnson tried to wish away by nicking a reporters phone and putting it in his pocket.

Still, that no expense will be spared to deal with coronavirus is reassuring in its way.

At a generous estimate, Sunak spoke around 60 yards away from Nadine Dorries office door, that has now been crossed with police tape and marked Covid-19  Do Not Enter.

Were this any other workplace, it is very hard to believe it would not have been shut down.

This was not so much the magic money tree budget as the magic forest.

People who know a lot more about economics than me will tell you that countries arent like people. If youve got no money, you really can spend what you havent got and make yourself richer.

For roughly a decade, Conservatives have laughed at this, by way of justification for stripping public services back to their bare bones and beyond, at the same time as doubling the national debt from 1 trillion to 2 trillion in the 10 years in which they have governed the country.

Now, they cheered it on. It is four years since the people who now run the country, convinced the voters to say yes to an ideological cause that has cost us, so far, an estimated 600bn in lost economic growth. There is also a coronavirus recession looming on the horizon, and yet now really does appear to be the moment that money has ceased to be an object.

A 30bn fiscal stimulus, 175bn for our future prosperity, 5bn of export loans for businesses, a 1.4bn science and research institute, 22bn on R and D, 5.2bn on flood defences. It was like watching some sort of weird hyper-inflated Saturday night game show. Whatever it was, Sunak had a billion quid to throw at it.

Of course, the most entertaining part of any Budget Day is never the Budget itself (obviously) but the time it takes for it to collapse afterwards, for which George Osbornes 2012 effort still holds the record, though Philip Hammond ran him close a few times.

This one certainly had its moment.

For the first time ever, Sunak said, the billions of pounds we would have sent to the EU, we can now spend on our priorities.

The Budgets red book contains a line on that. In year one, ie this year, that number is 4.1bn. In five years time, there is a very slim chance it might be as high as 14bn, or, 269m a week. Not bad, but even by the governments own estimates, it is significantly smaller than the very big lie down the side of a bus that probably once drove through a town near you.

Asked specifically about this, a government spokesperson made clear that comparing the two figures is a false equivalence. Yes, thats right. Comparing the money we said wed get back from the EU to the money we actually are getting back from the EU, is completely not on. Apparently, this is because it doesnt take into account the vast amounts of cash UK negotiators have since agreed to pay the EU in various divorce settlements. So now you know. Its fine to tell lies as long as theyre so big that nobody believes them.

The only available coping strategy is laughter. And whats 350m a week anyway, now that Sunaks turned on the money hose?

Traditionally, at the end of Budget Day, the Treasury team go to the Two Chairmen pub in Westminster for a well-earned pint. Beer duty may have been frozen, but if the landlord has any sense, hell up the price of a pint of Broadside to at least 1bn. Sunak wont even blink.
The Atebubu-Amantin municipal assembly has presented awards to 5 best performing pupils at this years basic education certificate examination BECE.

The presentations which formed part of this years Independence Day activities saw beneficiaries receiving science, mathematics and English textbooks and cash.

Three of the students: Nana Twumwaa Blessing, Princess Vanessa Ankama and Paula Addo Manu who all attended the Jesus, Mary and Joseph (JMJ) School in Atebubu, secured aggregate six each. Blessing and Vanessa are currently pursuing general science at the St. Louis SHS in Kumasi, while Paula is doing same at the St. Roses SHS at Akwatia in the Eastern region.

Robert Lambon Bidanin and Awaisu Sa-Adu who attended public schools scored aggregates nine and eleven and are also currently pursuing general science at the Opoku Ware SHS in Kumasi and the Ghana SHS in Tamale respectively.

In a brief remark before the presentations, the municipal chief executive Hon. Edward Owusu said the gesture underscores the assemblys resolve to improve the quality of education at the basic level so that more pupils from the municipality can benefit from the free senior high school policy and ultimately contribute to the development of their communities.
Network Ten chief executive Paul Anderson is leaving the free-to-air broadcaster despite a promotion by US parent company ViacomCBS only three months ago.

Mr Anderson, who has led the network since 2015 and worked at Ten for 17 years, will not be directly replaced. Instead ViacomCBS, which also owns brands MTV and Nickelodeon, has appointed two local co-leads for its Australian business: Ten's existing chief content officer Beverley McGarvey, who will serve in a similar role; and Henriette Rothschild, partner at restructuring firm KordaMentha, who will join as interim chief transformation officer.

Outgoing Network Ten CEO Paul Anderson. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer

They will both report to Maria Kyriacou, president of ViacomCBS' operations in Australia and the UK, while Mr Anderson will help the business transition. The move blindsided the media industry after ViacomCBS elevated Mr Anderson to an expanded role in January.

"This is my decision," Mr Anderson told The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. "I've had an amazing experience here. The change that we've had ... has given me experience that I would never have got through any MBA or in any other company. I look back on that with a lot of fondness."
The justices reversed a decision of a panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit that had ordered the policy be suspended Thursday along parts of the border. As is usual in emergency rulings, the courts unsigned, one-paragraph order did not provide the majoritys reasoning. Only Justice Sonia Sotomayor noted her dissent.
LOS ANGELES  It is perhaps fitting that the defense team for Robert A. Durst, the one-time heir to a Manhattan real estate empire who is on trial for murder, is now ensconced in the luxurious Peninsula Hotel in Beverly Hills.

It was over breakfast at that hotel in 2010 that Mr. Durst made the fateful decision to cooperate with a filmmaker, Andrew Jarecki, ultimately agreeing to provide more than 20 hours of interviews and access to 60 cartons of his personal papers.

His decision to break his silence at the hotel  after nearly four decades of being trailed by suspicions that he was involved in the deaths of three people in three states  led in no small way to an HBO documentary, The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst, in 2015 and his subsequent arrest on murder charges in the execution-style killing of his close friend Susan Berman in Los Angeles in December 2000.

The lawyers have established a war room at the hotel to plan their defense of Mr. Durst against the prosecutions contention that their client executed Ms. Berman because he was afraid that she was about to reveal to the authorities her role in helping him cover-up the disappearance and murder of his first wife, Kathie, in 1982.
Any international passenger flying into any airport in India can expect mandatory screening for the novel coronavirus on arrival, after the government decided to enforce universal screening earlier this week to staunch the new diseases spread.

If a passenger arrives from one of the 12 countries designated hot spots of the disease, which has claimed roughly 4,000 lives worldwide, they are segregated on arrival, taken to a different building where they are screened for abnormally high body temperature and other symptoms.

The segregation is done, according to orders by the Airports Authority of India, to minimise possibility of the disease spreading at the airport. The 12 countries are China, South Korea, Japan, Italy, Iran, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Hong Kong, France, Germany and Spain.

Also Read: India suspends most visas for foreigners to prevent coronavirus spread

When we landed in Terminal 3 in Delhi from the United States, buses took us to a building where many passengers had formed a line for the screening. It took us more than an hour to clear it because of the long queues, said Sarita Malhotra, who travelled with her husband. After the screening, passengers were allowed to proceed to the usual immigration counters and then the baggage conveyor belts, she said.

Others said the experience was smooth. The staff was receptive and professional, with the doctors making the experience as pleasant as possible, tweeted Sherbir Panag, a lawyer.

According to the rules, incoming passengers have to also submit, in duplicate, a self-declaration health form that specifies their names and addresses, passport, flight and seat numbers and the places they have visited. These forms were distributed by some airlines on the flight back to India, but others complained they were delayed because they didnt know about the form, or that it had to be filled in duplicate.

It would be great to receive the forms in flight so that they can be filled out, as opposed to a last-minute scramble, said Panag.

Screening for outbound passengers wasnt being enforced in airports in the United States and United Kingdom. I didnt have any screening or problems boarding my India-bound flight, said Amit, a 23-year-old student from London. At major airports,such as London and New York, some passengers reported that no containment protocol was visible.

The US is mandatorily screening passengers from hotspots such as China, Italy and South Korea.

Some passengers have complained of long delays, and some people slipping out of the screening cordon, but civil aviation minister Hardeep Puri dismissed these claims.

In a series of tweets, he said only two such complaints had been received: One by a passenger in Chennai who arrived before universal screening was enforced, and another in Delhi who had walked through thermal sensors without realising it. Let me assure you that passengers travelling on international flights are now being universally screened upon their arrival, he said.

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"We want to reiterate: putting the system out to bid does not require the township to accept any bid we receive. This is still part of the process, to make sure any sale of the system makes sense financially," said board Chairman Chuck Wilson.
A man who allegedly spent hours standing outside a fashion boutique using a fishing rod to hook a Versace necklace off a mannequin has been arrested.

Investigators believe the man broke a small hole in the CBD store's window before spending nearly three hours manoeuvring the line to steal a $700 gold necklace.

Police spent more than two weeks hunting the suspect. On Wednesday, they executed a search warrant and arrested a 43-year-old at his Melton West home.

He is expected to be charged with theft and burglary offences. He is in custody assisting police with their enquiries.
A violation notice posted by the Department of Licenses and Inspections at the Monroe Street condo project in Queen Village. Read more

City Councilmember Bobby Henon sponsored a resolution last year calling for 800 more inspectors in Philadelphias Department of Licenses and Inspections, a ridiculous figure by his own admission.

The number was meant solely to be eye-catching, he said.

My calling out for new hires is to make sure they have a fully functional, safe department, especially in this incredible construction boom that we have here, Henon said. We really have an opportunity to have new inspectors, new hires grow as construction continues.

Ralph DiPietro, deputy commissioner at L&I, said the department is in record permit territory and has "never seen anything like this. In 2019, the department issued 62,635 permits, compared with 46,859 in 2015.

With the construction boom has come a growing number of construction accidents, including building collapses and property damage, which have led the department to strengthen inspection protocols and permit requirements. Inspectors are tasked with making sure buildings are constructed or renovated according to international and local construction codes, and are safe for future occupants and the public.

But ensuring a steady supply of inspectors is easier said than done. L&I has had a persistent problem filling the positions allotted in its budget  $42 million this fiscal year. Of the 158 budgeted inspector positions for building and code enforcement, 30 spots remain open.

We just need to find innovative ways to fill those positions, said David Perri, L&I commissioner.

For years, cities have had trouble both recruiting and retaining inspectors, and the problem is only growing as inspectors age, fewer people enter the profession, building codes become more complex, and inspectors require more certifications, according to people in the building industry.

Inspector training

Training typically takes 18 months, during which L&I teaches building codes and helps prepare recruits to pass the general building inspector test to become certified inspectors. Trainees also are taught the rules around entering properties and safety for working alone. Inspectors need separate certifications for specialties such as electrical and plumbing inspections.

 READ MORE: After collapsed buildings and damaged homes, Philly strengthens construction oversight

A class of eight construction inspectors starts next month in Philadelphia. Out of L&Is most recent class of 21 inspector trainees, just 11 ultimately became building inspectors. The department generally loses some recruits during training, but to lose so many was unusual.

About 10% of L&Is inspectors leave each year. Engineering firms and municipalities poach some; others retire or leave the profession.

Inspector jobs are civil-service positions, which means L&I doesnt have control over when it recruits classes. Applicants must apply through a central human resources department, which periodically creates a list of qualified candidates from which L&I can choose.

The city is in early talks with Community College of Philadelphia to train prospective inspectors in code enforcement while in school, which could save the city time and money. The Philadelphia Fire Department has a similar program at the college in which students take courses in fire prevention and suppression and building construction to earn an associates degree in fire science. Perri estimated that L&I would hire 25 students per year. A spokesperson for the college declined to discuss the fledgling proposal.

The way building inspection works now, were kind of the DROP program for the building trades, Perri said, referring to the Deferred Retirement Option Plan for city employees. Folks work in the building trades and then they retire and come working for the city. Thats gotta end. ... We need to draw from a younger demographic. We need to draw from city residents.

Henon, a longtime union official, said L&I would benefit from a mix of seasoned workers in the building trades and young recruits.

Douglas Meshaw, a codes consultant for the Pennsylvania Builders Association, said the association works with trade schools and has been trying to get them to develop courses to train inspectors, but theres not enough interest for them to make the expenditures to establish programs.

Weve tried a lot of stuff, he said. The problem is the younger generations dont want to work with their hands.

29,000 active permits

Inspectors visit construction or renovation sites large and small to make sure builders are following building codes, and they investigate reports of unsafe buildings. L&I has about 29,000 active permits, officials said. A third are for more minor work such as sprinkler relocation. The remaining two-thirds are active building permits at roughly 14,000 addresses. One project may have six or seven permits, and each could require multiple inspections.

Inspector shortages generally arent delaying construction jobs throughout the state, Meshaw said, but that day could be coming.

It doesnt look very bright right now. It really doesnt, he said. It really is a shame, because there really is a lot of money to be made in the industry.

 READ MORE: L&I seeks to add inspections to new homes after water damage complaints across Philadelphia

Perri projects that L&I could have 200 inspectors in five or so years but said that hiring is only a partial fix.

You dont put more people into an inefficient system," he said. "You gotta make the system more efficient.

L&I is hoping the long-delayed eCLIPSE system that will let contractors apply for permits and schedule inspections online, instead of by phone, will allow workers to focus more time on site visits. The system is to launch March 16.

L&I also plans to open another regional office next month to shrink inspectors territories and reduce travel time.

L&I is a hard sell

Large cities experiencing building booms are not the only places that could use more inspectors, said Chris McSween, director of Upper Darbys Department of Licenses and Inspections. The township of more than 83,000 has three inspectors, but in a perfect world, it would have three more, McSween said. And even then, theyd all stay busy, he said.

As a profession, the inspector field has been a hard sell, said Ryan McCann, assistant director of the department. Most municipalities operate under tight budgets that limit salaries. At the same time, inspectors are expected to be multi-disciplined and to understand law, architecture, construction, and customer service, he said. Codes keep getting more complex.

Its not the same profession as it used to be, and the pay hasnt really changed to keep up, said McCann, a former president of the Pennsylvania Association of Code Officials. So finding qualified candidates can be difficult.

Philadelphias L&I recently bumped pay. Salaries for construction inspectors start at $52,000 and top out at $75,000.

 READ MORE: Two Fishtown properties collapse after Philly contractor worked without permits, L&I says

April Gigetts, vice president of the union that represents L&I workers, said she is very alarmed about L&Is staffing troubles.

This has been going on for years, she said. I know the department often says theyre going to hire more people.

At the same time, union representatives said L&I has been slow to act on suggestions that would help inspectors do their jobs, such as allowing them to use parking permits while visiting sites. And L&I plans to take some inspectors from their regular work to do unannounced spot-checks of construction sites as part of the new audits and investigations unit. The department soon plans to fill eight open positions in the unit to add to the two inspectors it has.

 READ MORE: A contractor without proper permits destroyed a familys home of 61 years. The DA is investigating.

Inspectors in Upper Darby dont perform unannounced inspections. The philosophy is to work with contractors to make sure work is done correctly, not to be We gotcha  later, McSween said.

Hotels to backyard decks

Major projects in the township, such as the six-story Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites that opened last year, which called for all hands on deck over the course of two years, take priority. But officials said the department has to balance developers plans with the smaller projects that matter most to residents, such as additions, renovations, and the construction of sheds and decks.

To keep people happy, McCann said. Because theyre our residents. They have to be kept happy at all costs.

Work done by contractors in the township is relatively easy and quick to inspect, they said. Generally more time-consuming is a case of Joe Homeowner building a deck and needing to be taught how to do it correctly.

Since most people who call the department want to know the status of their permits, McCann said, an online tracking system like the one Philadelphia plans to launch would save inspectors time.

But that still doesnt fix the inspector shortage across the country. Glenn Holt, a board member and former president of the Pennsylvania Association of Code Officials, said all the municipal officials hes talked to have the same problem recruiting inspectors.

I havent been able to come up with an answer, said Holt, the sole commercial building inspector for Marple Township, Delaware County. "Most municipalities havent.
Burma AA Claim Seizure of Myanmar Battalion Commander After Heavy Fighting

A map showing the clashes between Myanmars military and the Arakan Army on March 10. / Arakan Army

Sittwe, Rakhine State  The Arakan Army (AA) said on Tuesday that it arrested 20 Myanmar soldiers, including a battalion commander, in fighting near the village of Mont Than Pyin to the east of Kaladan River on the border of Kyauktaw and Paletwa townships.

The AA said it had a fierce clash with the Light Infantry Battalion 7 based in Phayagyi, Bago Region, which came to reinforce the Meewa hilltop outpost in Chin States Paletwa Township on Tuesday. The armed group arrested 20 troops, including Lieutenant-Colonel Thet Naing Oo, the battalion commander.

We had a fierce clash with them through yesterday morning. We arrested 20 troops, including commander Thet Naing Oo, other officers, corporals and privates, AA information officer Khaing Thukha told The Irrawaddy on Wednesday.

He said the AA would detain the military personnel in line with international law.

Khaing Thukha said the AA also found more than 20 dead Myanmar soldiers along with arms and ammunition.

According to Mont Than Pyin and Pyaing Tine villagers, there were casualties as artillery shells landed on their villages during the fighting.

A 30-year-old, who fled Mont Than Pyin, was killed and her child was injured when shells hit Kyaw Shi Pyin village to the west of Kaladan River on Tuesday evening, according to Mont Than Pyin administrator U Kyaw Sein.

Aung Tharyar villagers said a woman was killed and seven others were injured by artillery shells in their village on Tuesday evening. Some of those injured had fled Mont Than Pyin.

According to U Kyaw Sein, Myanmars military attacked with two jet fighters near his village on March 8-9, flattening 62 out of the villages 66 houses. The village previously had a population of about 400. Over 20 cows and 30 goats were killed in the bombing.

[Myanmars military] bombed with jet fighters for three consecutive days. [Almost] the entire village was burned down. [Nearly] all the cattle were killed. And all of us had to flee, he told The Irrawaddy.

Military tensions are still running high in hills along the Kaladan River near the villages.

Military spokesman Brigadier-General Zaw Min Tun told The Irrawaddy on Wednesday that they lost contact with their troops when they were attacked by the AA, southwest of the Meewa outpost on Tuesday morning.

He said: We are trying to make contact with them.

The AA had been attacking the Meewa outpost for the past month, he added.

Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko

You may also like these stories:

Myanmar Security Forces, Civilians Rescued; Ferry Owner, Crew Interrogated After AA Abduction

Hundreds Displaced in Recent Myanmar Army, AA Clashes in Need of Assistance

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TICKERS: FNV

Source: Streetwise Reports (3/11/20)

Franco-Nevada's Q4/19 and full-year 2019 numbers and 2020 guidance are reviewed in a CIBC report.



In a March 9 research note, CIBC analyst Cosmos Chiu reported that Franco-Nevada Corp. (FNV:TSX; FNV:NYSE) significantly beat earnings estimates in Q4/19 due to record sales of gold equivalent ounces and revenues.

Thus, CIBC increased its target price on the gold royalty streaming company to CA$162 per share from CA$157. In comparison, the stock, rated Outperformer by the bank, is trading now at around CA$140.45 per share.

Chiu highlighted that Franco-Nevada's strong Q4/19 included record sales of 153,396 gold equivalent (Au eq) ounces. This led to full-year 2019 sales of 516,438 ounces. The total was well above the high end of guidance of 465,000500,000 ounces (465550 Koz) and CIBC's forecast of 498 Koz. The high producer was the Cobre Panama mine in Panama, from which Franco Nevada received 43,554 ounces Au eq, also above guidance of 2040 Koz.

With the strong sales, Franco Nevada posted total 2019 revenue of $844 million, surpassing consensus' estimate of $814 million, Chiu pointed out. Full-year oil and gas revenue of $115.9 million contributed about 14% to the total revenue. This was driven by oil and gas revenue in Q4/19 of $30 million, which exceeded projections.

Q4/19 adjusted earnings per share (EPS), cash flow per share (CFPS) and EBITDA all exceeded consensus and CIBC's estimate. Adjusted EPS was $0.59 versus $0.49, CFPS was $0.98 and EBITDA was $202 million.

At the end of 2019, Franco-Nevada had $132 million in cash and $1 billion-plus in available liquidity.

Chiu also noted that Franco-Nevada's 2020 production guidance of 550580 ounces of Au eq is solid and reflects a more than a 10% year-over-year (YOY) increase. A primary contributor will be Cobre Panama, in its first full year of operation. CIBC forecasts 555 Koz and consensus estimates 560 Koz. Guidance is expected to be offset by a YOY oil and gas underperformance of about 25%, assuming a West Texas Intermediate oil price of $45 per barrel. 2020 oil and gas revenue is forecast at $8090 million.

By 2024, Franco Nevada aims to produce 580610 Koz Au eq versus CIBC's projection of 570 Koz.

[NLINSERT]

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11

Trend:

Ceasefire monitoring on the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenia troops held on March 11 on the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops in Aghdam district in accordance with the mandate of the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, ended without incident, Trend reports with reference to the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry.

On the Azerbaijani side, the monitoring was held by field assistants of the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Ghennadie Petrica and Martin Schuster.

On the Azerbaijani territories occupied and controlled by Armenian armed forces, the monitoring was conducted by field assistants of the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Mihail Olaru and Ognjen Jovic.

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.


Jyotiraditya Scindia on Wednesday listed out three key reasons for his leaving the Congress. In all his elaborations, the reasons for his anger with the Congress were clear, the common refrain being: the Congress is not what it used to be. His first reason for being disillusioned with Congress was that the party does not encourage new leadership, a situation that he compared with inertia. Saying that the party does not even accept the problem, he targeted the party's old guard, making it obvious that he meant Digvijaya Singh and Chief Minister Kamal Nath.



The second reason that Scindia pointed out was corruption in Madhya Pradesh, a state ruled by the Congress. "Transfer industry is flourishing in Madhya Pradesh, where we had a dream after coming to power. Eighteen months on, that dream lies shattered, whether it was about waiving farmers' loans or compensating farmers for the crop damaged due to natural reasons. Hundreds of farmers continue to face various court cases in Mandsaur," he said at a press conference where BJP chief J.P. Nadda was also present.



The third reason for his joining the BJP was the "able leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi". "India's safety and security is safe in Modi-ji's leadership," he said.



Earlier, Nadda expressed happiness at the return of the grandson of Vijaya Raje Scindia. "I recall her role in spreading the ideology of Bharatiya Jana Sangh and later the BJP. For us, she was a visionary and an ideal," Nadda said.




Italy on Wednesday vowed to spend up to 25 billion euros (USD 28.3 billion) to fight a new coronavirus epidemic that has killed 631 people and put hospitals and the economy under severe strain.

Economy Minister Roberto Gualtieri said "half of these resources" would be used immediately and the other half stowed away and tapped should the health crisis spiral out of control.

The new plan must still be approved by the leaders of European Union under the bloc's strict budget deficit rules for its 27 member states.

Officials in Brussels had been ready to let Italy spend more than it was technically allowed when its request stood at 7.5 billion euros last week.

Part of the money is supposed to help restaurants and hotels now suffering the brunt of an implosion in the number of tourists who visit Italy's art-filled churches and achingly beautiful hills.

"We are preparing rules to protect companies, workers and families," Labour Minister Nunzia Catalfo said.

The government also put more meat on the bones of an emerging plan to let families temporarily suspend some mortgage and social tax payments.

Gualtieri said "partial state guarantees" were being discussed to help Italy's creaking banks survive a resulting cash crunch.

Italy has witnessed more than half of all the deaths recoded outside China since the epidemic first started spreading from the Asian giant's central Wuhan province in January.

The government responded to the outbreak last month by quarantining 50,000 people in 11 villages that were worst affected in the north.

That was followed on Sunday with restrictions on travel and public gatherings in Milan's Lombardy region and surrounding areas such as Venice in which more than 15 million live and 40 percent of all economic activity occurs.

The Lombardy measures were extended to all of the Mediterranean country's 60 million people on Tuesday morning.

The restrictions have had a profound effect on the way Italians live and work.

The central streets of Rome were deserted on Wednesday morning and busses that are usually crammed with commuters ran almost empty.

Tourists have disappeared and the Vatican's Saint Peter's Square is closed to all but those who want to enter the main basilica to pray under its soaring dome overlooking Rome.

People have been told to keep at least a metre (three feet) from each other and handshakes are frowned upon. Italians have found themselves starting to talk to each other a few steps apart -- while often laughing about the regulations along the way.

"For the love and a sense of responsibility toward Rome and all citizens, with enormous and profound disappointment, we decided to close to help the whole community out," said a sign on one restaurant in Rome's popular Trastevere neighbourhood.

"As soon as the emergency has passed, we will organise a free carbonara day for doctors, nurses and healthcare workers." All restaurants and bars across Italy have to shut by evening and can only offer home deliveries after 6:00 pm.

But Lombardy region leader Attilio Fontana urged the government in Rome to shut down all stores and public transport for 15 days across swathes of the north because "the situation is approaching a dangerous moment".

"If the contagion continues to spread at this speed, the system will not be able to hold on for much longer," Fontana told the Corriere della Sera daily.

"We are really reaching the maximum limits." He said only emergency services such as garbage collecting should continue during the total clampdown on public life.

The government in Rome was expected to consider his request later Wednesday.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
BETHEL  Voters approved a plan to build a $2.24 million tank that is meant to increase storage and ensure water is cleaner.

Residents voted 660 to 240 in favor of the 500,000-gallon Chestnut Ridge tank in Tuesdays referendum, according to unofficial results.

Im delighted, First Selectman Matt Knickerbocker said.

Money for the project would come from water customer rates, not taxpayer funds. Grants and low-interest financing may be available from the state.

With the tank, the town will be able to increase water pressure to the eastern side of town and further reduce how much reservoir water it uses, officials have said. Reservoir water requires chemicals to treat, so it is not as clean as well water.

This lets us improve our water quality, fire safety, pressure delivery, Knickerbocker said. This is a critical part of our improvements to meet state guidelines.

The town will be able to halt a practice where it lets water flow out of a hydrant by St. Marys Church to keep the water clean, Knickerbocker has said. This prevents chemicals from building up in the pipe, he said.

Water storage capabilities will increase with the tank, which would be helpful in the case of major fires.

Officials have said the 750,000-gallon Eureka tank was critical when firefighters battled a massive blaze in the Clarke Business Park in May.

That tank went online in 2016 and is in Danbury, but serves Bethel customers. It is among various projects the town has embarked on to improve water quality.

After voters rejected a 2013 plan to sell the towns system to Aquarion Water Co., town officials said upgrades would be necessary.

But the state ordered the town improve quality in 2016 after the Chestnut Ridge Reservoir violated standards for a chemical called trihalomethane. The consent order was lifted about a year ago after the town refurbished the well fields and upgraded pump stations, among other projects.

The tank would be installed in the woods between Long Meadow Lane and Briar Cliff Manor, despite slight opposition from some residents.

Construction could start in the spring, with the tank going online in nine to 12 months, the public utilities director has said.
South Gyeongsang Province Governor Kim Kyoung-soo speaks during a briefing at the provincial government, Sunday. Yonhap



By Do Je-hae



The hardships faced by many citizens and businesses from the COVID-19 epidemic have raised the issue of introducing a basic income system.



While Korea does not have a regulation on basic income, some mayors and governors as well as civic groups say the nation needs such monetary support at least in case of disasters such as the coronavirus crisis.



Jeonju City in North Jeolla Province has decided to provide cash relief to people whose livelihoods have been strained by the new coronavirus, the first among municipalities.



During a session at the Jeonju City Council, Tuesday, Mayor Kim Seung-soo spoke of plans to provide 500,000 won ($417) each to the 50,000 unemployed people and non-regular workers struggling due to COVID-19.



The city government allocated 54.3 billion won in an emergency budget and asked the council to approve it. If approved, it will be the first case of a local government implementing a temporary basic income scheme during a national disaster.



The need for the emergency plan, aimed at providing financial relief for those whose incomes have been reduced by the epidemic, has also been highlighted by other local government chiefs, including South Gyeongsang Province Governor Kim Kyoung-soo, a close confidant of President Moon Jae-in.



The South Gyeongsang governor's proposal is not just limited to the people in his own province. "I propose that the government and the National Assembly install a basic disaster income of 1 million won to be provided temporarily to all citizens," the governor said during a briefing at the provincial government, Sunday.



Gyeonggi Mayor Lee Jae-myung showed support for the proposal, saying that the basic income scheme is necessary for sustainable economic growth. "In the Fourth Industrial Revolution, jobs are disappearing en masse and low growth is becoming the norm. The basic income policy is the only way to turn around these economic trends and ensure sustainable growth," Lee said on his Facebook. "I will be with South Gyeongsang Governor Kim in opening the era of basic income for all people."



Lawmakers from the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) representing the Daegu-North Gyeongsang Province, including former Interior Minister Kim Boo-kyum, released a statement Tuesday, calling for more monetary assistance for their region. "The supplementary budget is far short of being enough. The residents of Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province are in anxiety and fear over infections, and the socioeconomic damage is severe." Their proposal includes giving out 1 million won to small business owners in the region for three months as well as providing cash to low-income families and taxi drivers there.



The idea of an emergency basic income first gained public attention after Lee Jae-woong, CEO of the car-sharing app operator SoCar, posted a petition on the Cheong Wa Dae website to propose a basic income of 500,000 won per person.



Despite the rising calls, the government and Cheong Wa Dae have shown a negative response to the proposals from the local government chiefs.



"We understand why such proposals have been made," Yoon Jae-kwan, deputy spokesman of Cheong Wa Dae, said in a written briefing. "But we are not considering this."



Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki also said there are merits and demerits of basic income. "We must be extremely careful about adopting a basic income system," he said during a National Assembly session, Tuesday.



The main opposition United Future Party has criticized the proposals as a populist tactic to lure voters ahead of the April 15 general election, underlining that a basic income system will end up burdening taxpayers in the long run.


Facing a prison sentence may seem like an insurmountable punishment, but according to prison consultants, jail is the easy part.

On 24 February 2020, Harvey Weinstein was found guilty of rape in the third degree and a criminal sexual act. On Wednesday 11 March, he was sentenced to 23 years in prison.

Shortly after the verdict was announced, it was revealed that the former movie producer had hired Craig Rothfeld, a prison consultant.

To find out what exactly prison consultants can do for their clients, and what criminals facing prison should know ahead of their entry, we spoke to federal prison consultant Justin Paperny, author of Lessons From Prison and co-founder of White Collar Advice, who shared with us his tips for successfully serving a prison sentence, and why hiring a consultant can be useful.

According to Paperny, there are a few things that people need to know before entering prison the first time - the most important being the realisation that the experience weighs more heavily on their loved ones.

The experience is harder on those that love and support them, Paperny told us.

Recommended Harvey Weinstein moved to Rikers Island after heart surgery

Prisoners should also be careful to avoid complaining about their sentencing once they get to jail - especially if it is for a white-collar crime - as the other prisoners wont feel sympathy.

They should never complain or lament over the length of sentence, especially if it is for a white collar crime, Paperny said, adding that: People have been there for decades and they dont want to hear it.

In general, new prisoners should try to limit discussion as much as possible to avoid conflict, according to Paperny, who told us that first-time prisoners should not speak with staff, guards, case managers, or correction managers unless they have to.

Paperny also advises new prisoners to understand their environment before they seek to manipulate it to their advantage.

A number of prisoners are used to getting their way, he explained. They want an iPhone, better food, a better mattress But before they try to manipulate their environment, they should understand they are in a new world.

While the advice is generally useful for all prisoners, it is especially true for high-profile individuals such as Weinstein, who can find it harder to get off the grid.

In addition to celebrity prisoners often finding themselves the target of people looking to exploit or make an example out of them, they often have a harder time laying low from the beginning, as it is not uncommon for prisoners and guards to know when they are showing up, according to Paperny.

 Harvey Weinstein guilty of sexual assault and third-degree rape

But once the prison sentence begins is when an individuals work really starts - with clients of prison consultants expected to hit the ground running.

According to Paperny, this means going in with the understanding that ones prison sentence will be spent bettering themselves by reading, writing, thinking and learning.

Acknowledging that the day-to-day will vary depending on the prisoners interests, Paperny told us: They have to create a routine that the people that love and support them would be proud of. Waking up early, reading, writing, exercising, avoiding the hustle and drama and problems, and inevitable boredom.

This also means creating goals and encouraging loved ones to hold you accountable - a method that Paperny followed during his own 18-month prison term for a felony conviction for violating securities laws.

There was nothing ambiguous or vague about my plans in prison and how it would help me upon my release, he said. Accountability metrics are key. Thats what all prisoners can do and in many ways, they can make a prison term inspiring and uplifting.

By following a routine, those carrying out a prison sentence can ultimately grow stronger and better - with Paperny telling us he believes the same is possible for Weinstein, despite prison being a devastating experience.

It doesnt have to be the end of the world, you can be successful through prison and beyond. [Weinstein] can have an incredibly productive prison term, he can educate and inspire other prisoners, and he can give back and help, he said of the 67-year-olds potential behind bars.

However, any self-improvement while in prison is useless if an individual is unable to overcome the challenges that they will face after their sentence is complete.

According to Paperny, who told us the two toughest days are the day he surrenders and the day he goes home, life after prison has its own difficulties - which is why prison consultants help clients focus on the big life-changing stuff.

There are so many collateral consequences to going to prison, Paperny said, including damage to ones reputation, financial consequences, such as payment for lawyers and restitutions, the inability to get a licence in your field again, and the mental consequences and stigma of knowing that people may think of you as a criminal who exploits others.

The experience is sobering and humbling, according to Paperny. As hard as we work to rebuild it, it doesnt change being cut off from the labour market and destroying ones network and reputation.

The biggest concern is not life in prison, it should be: How does my sentence not become a life sentence?

Prison consultants can also help clients before they've been sentenced - by helping them express why they deserve leniency or helping them hold their lawyers accountable.

"The work we do helps lawyers sell why their client is worthy of the best sentence," Paperny said.

Weinstein, who arrived to Manhattan Supreme Court in handcuffs, was sentenced on Wednesday.
A Vietnam Airlines aircraft seen at an airport in Prague, Czech. Photo by Shutterstock/Rebius.

As the coronavirus spreads in Europe, Vietnam Airlines is set to reduce the number of weekly flights to the continent by 14 starting March 25.

Its flights are from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to the U.K., France, and Germany.

The services would be restored after the disease is controlled, the only Vietnamese carrier operating direct flights to Europe said in a release.

On Tuesday the airline began screening all passengers at European airports leaving for Vietnam and made face masks mandatory for them.

It has also begun to disinfect airplanes coming to Vietnam from abroad on landing. It used to be done only for aircraft coming from China or with sick passengers.

Vietnam on Monday suspended visa waivers for citizens of eight European countries: Denmark, Norway, Finland, Sweden, Germany, France, Spain, and the U.K.

A number of people coming from Europe have been diagnosed with Covid-19 since March 6.

The country has so far recorded 38 cases as of Wednesday, 22 of whom are now in hospital.
A Shincheonji follower jumped to her death in Jeongeup, North Jeolla Province, after a quarrel with her husband about her religion, police said Wednesday.







It happened two weeks after another Shincheonji believer killed herself in Ulsan by jumping from her seventh-floor apartment after facing domestic violence that began with her husband's disapproval of her religion.







While police are investigating what drove the two to kill themselves, Shincheonji  a mysterious cult at the center of nationwide criticism for its members' role in spreading coronavirus  claims they have fallen victim to the "public frame vilifying the religion."







The latest case happened Tuesday night at an 11-story apartment building in Jeongeup. The husband told police his wife jumped to her death from the apartment balcony shortly after they clashed over Shincheonji. She had two children, aged seven and five. Police found no suicide note or anything that could be seen as a will at her home.







The husband said he learned seven or eight years ago that his wife was a Shincheonji believer and they had clashed frequently over the issue. His disapproval of Shincheonji intensified with the coronavirus epidemic.







His wife tested negative for the virus and was in self-isolation, as requested by health authorities, he said.






ABC/Image Group LACamila Cabello will have three special guests as opening acts for the North American leg of her Romance, tour, which gets underway July 29 in Vancouver, Canada.

The boy band PRETTYMUCH will open for Camila from July 29 through August 21, while Trevor Daniel and Ant Saunders will open from September 4 through September 26.

Trevor broke through after his song "Falling" went viral on Tik Tok. He'll release his debut album Nicotine this spring. Ant also broke through on Tik Tok, with his song "Yellow Hearts." He'll release an EP this spring.

Announcing her tourmates, Camila tweeted, "Let's get all lovey and emo and stuff."

Kim Petras is opening for Camila on the European leg of the tour, which starts May 26 in Oslo, Norway.

The Romance tour is Camila's first headlining arena tour. Tickets are now available and VIP packages will include a special Q&A experience with Camila, where fans will be able to talk to her in an intimate setting. For more information about that, check out CamilaCabello.com.

.@PRETTYMUCH, @Iamtrevordaniel, and @antksaunders will all be joining the Romance tour  lets get all lovey and emo and stuff. get tickets here https://t.co/HzO4gt8chz pic.twitter.com/Y7xFDNeGbY  camila (@Camila_Cabello) March 10, 2020

Copyright  2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


The Afghan armed group says it will not proceed with the intra-Afghan talks unless all Taliban prisoners are released.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghanis decision to release prisoners in phased manner has come under criticism from the Taliban armed group, which said the move was against the US-Taliban agreement signed in the Qatari capital Doha on February 29.

We reject Ghanis phased release of prisoners, Suhail Shaheen, the spokesman for Taliban, told Al Jazeera on Wednesday.

We will also make sure at the time of the prisoners release that they are releasing the list of prisoners we have provided them with. Once this is done, we will proceed with the intra-Afghan talks.

Earlier Shaheen, who is based in Doha, told Reuters that  conditional release of the Taliban prisoners is against the accord signed with the US.

The Taliban reaction comes after Ghani issued a decree ordering the release of 1,500 Taliban fighters, which presidential spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said was the first of two phases of releasing 5,000 Taliban prisoners.

Sediqqi wrote on Twitter that the initial release was a goodwill gesture to kick-start peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban.

Another 3,500 are to be freed after negotiations begin, on the condition that there is a tangible reduction in violence, according to the four-article pardon decree.

Incremental approach

By releasing 5,000 prisoners in one fell swoop, Ghani would be surrendering the most powerful tool of leverage at his disposal, Michael Kugelman, senior associate for South Asia at the Woodrow Wilson Center, said.

Given Kabuls weak bargaining position to start with, you cant blame Ghani for opting for a more incremental approach, he said.

For Washington, the all-released-at-once option may have seemed like a powerful confidence-building measure. But for Kabul, its the worst possible option at a moment when its already struggling to find ways to strengthen its tenuous bargaining power.

200310071904122

However, amid a public feud between Ghani and his main rival, Abdullah Abdullah, it is not clear who would represent Kabul in intra-Afghan talks, even if the Taliban agree to start negotiations.

Ghanis presidency has been challenged by Abdullah, who has also sworn himself in as the countrys president.

The squabble over the prisoner release is just the latest reminder of how tough it will be to get this intra-Afghan dialogue off the ground, Kugelman from the Woodrow Wilson Center said.

There had already been very real concerns about whether a deeply divided Afghan political class will be able to present a common front in talks, and about whether the Taliban is genuinely interested in negotiating peace.

The prisoner release issue amplifies the challenges that lie ahead, and the ability of the two sides to resolve it will be an early test of just how much potential there is for this intra-Afghan dialogue.

Violence is unacceptable

Since the US-Taliban deal was signed last month, nearly 40 people have been killed in attacks, with 32 killed on Monday in a gun attack claimed by the ISIL (ISIS) armed group.

By releasing 5,000 prisoners in one fell swoop, Ghani would be surrendering the most powerful tool of leverage at his disposal Michael Kugelman, senior associate for South Asia at the Woodrow Wilson Center

The US State Department issued a statement on Tuesday saying that the level of violence in Afghanistan is unacceptable, and that, while the Taliban have stopped attacks against the US-led coalition forces and in Afghan cities, the violence in the countryside remains too high.

Despite the political turmoil in Kabul and increased violence on the battlefield, the US has started withdrawing its troops in keeping with the Doha deal. In the first phase, Washington will reduce its presence to 8,600 soldiers, down from the current 13,000.

If the Taliban adhere to their commitments to deny safe havens to armed groups in Afghanistan, Washington will withdraw the remainder of its troops over 14 months, according to the agreement.

At the time of its signing, the US-Taliban deal was touted as Afghanistans best chance at peace after 40 years of relentless war while offering the US an exit after nearly 19 years of fighting in the country  its longest war.

President Donald Trump has expressed increasing frustration with the Afghan government and its security forces inability to police and manage their own affairs.

The deal has faced hurdles from the outset, despite efforts by Washingtons Special Envoy Zalmay Khalilzad to bring the divided Afghan leadership together.

The US and other international players seem to have backed Ghanis leadership. Still, Abdullah, with his significant support base, cannot be ignored, analysts have said.

Shereena Qazi contributed to the article from Doha.
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Three people linked to a female patient returning from the U.S. have tested positive for the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the south-central province of Binh Thuan, bringing Vietnams total to 38.

A 51-year-old Vietnamese woman who returned from a U.S. trip in early March was confirmed as Vietnams 34th COVID-19 patient on Tuesday.

Her trip included transit time in South Korea and Qatar.

Three people who had close contact with the woman have now tested positive for the novel coronavirus, the Ministry of Health said on Wednesday afternoon.

They include a housekeeper, an employee, and a daughter-in-law of patient No.34.

All of them are female, aged 64, 37 and 28, respectively. The women are now quarantined for treatment at the General Hospital of Binh Thuan.

The newly confirmed cases were among 15 people sampled by the Binh Thuan Center for Disease Control (CDC) for having close contact with the woman returning from the U.S.

Their samples were tested by the Pasteur Institute Nha Trang in the south-central city of Nha Trang, with results coming out positive for the three people.

Patient No.34 left for the U.S. on February 22 and came back to Vietnam on March 2.

She transited Incheon International Airport near Seoul, South Korea, and Hamad International Airport in Doha, Qatar during her respective departure and return flight trips.

Her return flight landed at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City on the morning of March 2.

The woman was admitted to the provincial general hospital on Tuesday morning and tested positive for the novel coronavirus there.

She is currently quarantined and treated at the Binh Thuan hospital.

The three new patients have brought Vietnams total infections to 38, with 16 having fully recovered.

Twenty-two cases have been reported in the country over the past six days, most of which can be traced to patient No.17, a Hanoi woman returning from a trip to London, Milan, and Paris.

The novel coronavirus, which first emerged in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in December 2019, has infected over 118,800 people and killed nearly 4,200 globally as of Wednesday afternoon, according to Ministry of Health statistics.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-11 19:20:56|Editor: huaxia

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NABLUS, March 11 (Xinhua) -- A Palestinian teenager on Wednesday was killed after he was shot by Israeli forces in clashes in northern West Bank village of Beita, according to Palestinian medical sources.

Palestinian Ministry of Health declared that Mohammad Hamayel, 15, succumbed to wounds after he was shot in the head during clashes that broke out Wednesday between Palestinians and Israeli forces in al-Erma hill, in Beita village near the city of Nablus.

Palestinian Red Crescent Society said that 112 Palestinians were injured during the clashes, including 90 who were suffocated from tear gas, 18 shot by rubber coated bullets fired by the Israeli army.

The Red Crescent said that Hamayel was the one who was shot by live ammunition. He was rushed to the hospital in critical condition.

Dozens of Palestinians held a demonstration at the al-Erma hill, which is a historic site at risk of confiscation by Israel to expand a nearby Israeli settlement.

The Palestinian demonstrators put up Palestinian flags and called on Israel to stop its plan to take over the area for settlement expansion.

Israeli settlement activity is considered illegal under international law and has been one of the major hurdles to the peace process stalled since 2014.
President Donald Trump launched a defense of his coronavirus response Wednesday, as financial markets tanked and and global health officials called the outbreak a full-on pandemic.

Amid the spiraling outbreak and the technical start of a bear market, Trump announced plans to address the nation from the White House in a prime time address.

Trump issued a call for unity and announced his team was putting in place a policy to deal with the disease and create a vaccine, after meeting with top administration health officials in what a senior Democratic lawmaker said she was told was an 'emergency meeting.'

'I'll be making a statement later on tonight as to what I've decided to do and what our country will be doing,' Trump said, teasing a prime time address. He said the statement would be at 'probably eight o'clock,' although it was later set for 9 pm.

The U.S. is also considering a ban on travelers from Europe to slow the spread of coronavirus.

'The question is a live question about how to treat Europe as a whole,' said Ken Cuccinelli, the acting deputy secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, told the House Homeland Security Committee.

'That is not to the level of using legal authorities to block travel yet. But it is under consideration. As each country, or in this case region, becomes more and more problematic it obviously gets reviewed on a day-to-day basis.

'Europe presents a unique problem,' he said, pointing to the Schengen Area that maintains open borders between most of the Western European countries.

'We're having to fix a problem that four weeks ago nobody ever thought would be a problem,' President Trump told reporters at the White House Wednesday

The number of coronavirus cases in the US continues to rise

President Trump fired off a series of tweets about the coronavirus

The president touted a plan to treat the disease and create a vaccine

Trump attacked Democrats and called for unity

Cuccinelli, who is also acting director of US Citizenship and Immigration Services, said that Italy, the European country worst hit by the COVID-19 virus, is pre-screening passengers on all direct flights to the United States.

Trump administration could ban travelers from EUROPE and the White House urges Americans to cancel trips there as pandemic worsens The Trump administration is set to discuss new restrictions on travelers from European countries to fight coronavirus, sources say. And a top U.S. health official warned that the pandemic 'is going to get worse' in the United States after ravaging China, Italy and other countries. The potential new measures could mirror a ban on travel to the US imposed on foreigners who visited China in the prior two weeks, which was later extended to Iran, sources familiar with the discussions said. Advisories recommending Americans cancel travel to certain European countries are also under consideration, the people said. In Washington state, Governor Jay Inslee prohibited gatherings of over 250 people in three Seattle-area counties and said he may soon close schools to slow the spread of coronavirus as the state suffered the deadliest outbreak in the United States. The Trump administration is exploring cutting taxes to protect the economy, Democratic presidential candidates are cancelling events and New York's governor said the federal government had 'fallen down on the job' as officials scrambled to fight the coronavirus outbreak. It was not immediately clear whether the White House would announce travel measures on Wednesday, but one source said new travel advisories could possibly be disclosed. Two weeks ago, the State Department issued a travel advisory calling on U.S. citizens to reconsider travel to Italy, where authorities said on Wednesday the death toll from the outbreak had jumped 31% to 827 in 24 hours. The World Health Organization described the coronavirus, which causes a respiratory illness that can be fatal, as a pandemic on Wednesday for the first time. Anthony Fauci, head of infectious diseases at the National Institutes of Health, told a congressional hearing that the outbreak would only get worse in the United States. 'We will see more cases and things will get worse than they are now. How much worse they will get will depend on our ability to do two things: To contain the influx of people who are infected coming from outside and the ability to contain and mitigate within our own country,' Fauci told the House of Representatives Oversight Committee. Advertisement

But Cuccinelli said the U.S. does not have adequate resources to screen travel by Italians or others who are flying indirectly to the United States from Europe.

Earlier a top government health expert said the largest threat to the country with respect to the virus is transmission from Europe. Where our real threat is right now is Europe,' said Robert Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

'That's where the cases are coming in from. If you want to be blunt, Europe is the new China,' he said.

Meanwhile, amid the new economic anxiety in the U.S., Trump has talked up the county's potential.

'Prior to the coronavirus it was it was just all go, the numbers were fantastic,' Trump told bank executives. 'We don't even know what the numbers are now, we'll have to see. The numbers from a week ago were great, from two days ago were great.'

He continued: 'Now we're hitting a patch and we're going to have to do something with respect to getting rid of this virus as quickly as possible and as safely as possible.'

He predicted problems would be a short term, after he and advisors encouraged investors to buy in the stock market.

'We think it's going to be a short term period,' Trump said. 'If we get rid of it quickly, everything solves itself,' Trump said.

'We're having to fix a problem that four weeks ago nobody ever thought would be a problem. You read about them. You read about them from 1917 and from lots of other times. But nobody thought that we would be seeing  This came out of nowhere. Actually came out of China, which is the way it works,' Trump said.

Trump was most likely referencing the Spanish flu of 1918, which killed millions and is estimated to have infected up to a third of the world population. However various government medical officials have warned about the risk of a pandemic, including during the outbreaks of diseases like SARS and MERS in recent years.

He didn't reveal any details of how to get rid of the virus. The nation's top infectious disease expert spoke Wednesday about the process of developing a vaccine and a focus on therapeutic treatment.

The president wouldn't say whether he will declare a national emergency or cut off travel to Europe, following reports the administration was discussing new restrictions.

Trump continued to make up-beat economic predictions. 'I think there'll be a pent up demand when this is gone. I think that everything maybe where it's tamped down now people aren't leaving their homes, you're going to see a tremendous pent up demand which hopefully won't be in the too distant future,' Trump said.

He preceded his remarks with new calls to action on Twitter, after getting hammered by Democrats for failing to take the outbreak seriously enough.

'I am fully prepared to use the full power of the Federal Government to deal with our current challenge of the CoronaVirus!' Trump wrote.

Trump's PR pushback came as tensions rose inside the White House, with hand sanitizers placed in strategic locations, a drop of more than 1,000 points on the Dow, and the World Health Organization labeling the outbreak as a pandemic.

'This is the first pandemic caused by coronavirus,' said the WHO's Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Politico reported that Trump was reluctant to declare a state of emergency, to avoid stoking panic. That would involve a role for Federal Emergency Management Agency and freeing up money for states.

More limited ideas being floated have included tax relief for hourly workers, delaying the April 15th filing deadline, and actions to push out more small business loans.

'Someone needs to tell the Democrats in Congress that CoronaVirus doesn't care what party you are in. We need to protect ALL Americans!' Trump tweeted Wednesday afternoon.

The president wouldn't say whether he will declare a national emergency or cut off travel to Europe

Trump spoke during a meeting with bank executives about how to respond to the coronavirus. Here Trump speaks as CEO of Bank of America Brian Moynihan (C), and Chief Executive of Citigroup Michael Corbat look on

President Trump sent out multiple tweets praising his handling of coronavirus, on a day when the World Health Organization called it a pandemic

'America is the Greatest Country in the world. We have the best scientists, doctors, nurses and health care professionals. They are amazing people who do phenomenal things every day,' Trump wrote in another tweet. 'Together we are putting into policy a plan to prevent, detect, treat and create a vaccine against CoronaVirus to save lives in America and the world. America will get it done!' he wrote.

Hours earlier, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert, testified that the coronavirus was ten times more deadly than the flu  a disease Trump has previously tweeted about while urging calm and saying the nation would prevail.

Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.), who chairs the House oversight committee, told a panel of expert witnesses during a hearing on the disease: 'This morning we were informed that President Trump and Vice President Pence have called our witnesses to an emergency meeting at the White House. We don't know the details, just that it is extremely urgent.'

She later cited reports that the gather was not an emergency meeting, adding: 'However that's not what your staff just told us.'

Fauci issued dire warnings at the House committee hearing.

'Bottom line, it's going to get worse,' Fauci, the director of National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said. He warned millions will be affected.

'If we are complacent and don't do really aggressive containment and mitigation, the number could go way up and be involved in many, many millions. If we contain we could flatten it,' he noted, pushing back when asked to pin down how many might be infected.

He also recommended large sporting events be banned.

He said that the WHO estimated it to be lethal in 3.4% of recorded cases so far, a figure he expects to drop to 1% - 'which means it's 10 times more lethal than the seasonal flu.'

'We would recommend that there not be large crowds. If that means not having any people in the audience as the N.B.A. plays, so be it,' he said.

Washington State Gov. Jay Inslee prohibited gatherings of over 250 people in counties around Seattle, in just the latest move to restrict interactions to contain 'community spread.' Basketball games, classes, and festivals were being cancelled and postponed. The NCAA announced that division one college games would be played in arenas without crowd during the famed 'March Madness' tournament.

The NBA's Golden State Warriors announced the team will play its next home game without fans, in a part of the country where the Diamond Princess was moored offshore after an outbreak.

Additional new government actions were not immediately clear. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar was to 'take all appropriate and necessary steps' so health care workers could get respirators needed when treating coronavirus patients. Shortages are a concern, as is the manufacture of many face masks for industrial rather than medical use.

The administration continues to assemble possible tax ideas to address the market drop and economic impacts. House Democrats are readying legislative action on their own ideas.

Closures of schools, festivals, and sporting events continued to pile up. Trump's call to action came one day after he sent a different signal. 'Just stay calm. It will go away,' he told reporters after meeting with Senate Republicans.

In earlier tweets, Trump made use of one of the many times Vice President Mike Pence praised his response, sending Pence's televised acclaim to the boss to his 74 million followers

Trump's campaign account, Team Trump, had already blasted out the praise to its own followers. '@Vice President Mike Pence: We would be in a very different place if President @RealDonaldTrump did not suspend all travel from China and from parts of Italy & South Korea,' it said.

Pence made the statement from the White House briefing room while surrounded by government health officials trying to contend with the coronavirus, which the World Health Organization on Wednesday declared a pandemic.

Trump retweeted another post by his campaing that featured praise from California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom.

'California's Democrat Governor Praises @realDonaldTrump's Response To Coronavirus On Cruise Ship: 'Every Single Thing He Said They Followed Through On,' it said.

'Thank you Gavin. Team is doing a great job!' Trump added.

His upbeat take came as top health officials continue to issue severe warnings.

Trump retweeted his campaing tweeting praise of him by the vice president

Trump tweeted out a comment from California Gov. Gavin Newsom saying the state's needs were being met

Trump trashed a 'hit piece' in Vanity Fair that cast him as panicked over getting the virus

'Things will get worse than they are right now,' said Dr. Anthony Fauci, the government top infectious disease expert, said at a House hearing Wednesday.

Trump also lobed an attack at Vanity Fair magazine for what he termed a 'hit piece.' The story cast him as a germaphobe who is 'terrified' of getting the virus, and describes the administration's response and PR handling of the crisis as out of control.

'Vanity Fair Magazine, which will soon be out of business, and their third rate Fake reporters, who make up sources which don't exist, wrote yet another phony & boring hit piece,' Trup wrote. 'The facts are just the opposite. Our team is doing a great job with CoronaVirus!'

Among other things, the article quotes an unnamed prominent Republican saying: 'Donald is a famous germaphobe. He hates it if someone is eating nachos and dips a chip back in after taking a bite. He calls them 'double dippers.'

It also reports that last week, Trump told aides he fears journalists will get the disease on purpose in order to give it to him on Air Force One.

On Monday, it was revealed that Trump loyalist GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz flew on Air Force Once with Trump only to learn he had come in contact with a man who had it at CPAC, Gaetz then put himself under quarantine.
[March 11, 2020] 2020 PPI Awards Winners Announced

BOSTON, March 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Fastmarkets RISI, the definitive source of commodity data and insights for the forest products industry, announced the 2020 PPI Awards winners at the awards dinner on March 10th in Lisbon, Portugal at the Sheraton Lisboa Resort during the 2020 European Conference. The PPI Awards honor leadership, vision, innovation and strategic accomplishments within the pulp and paper industry, and are the only global awards dedicated to recognizing the achievements of companies, mills and individuals in the sector. The 2020 PPI Award winners are: International CEO of the Year Award

Sponsored by StepChange Consulting

Jussi Pesonen  UPM Bringing Paper to Life - Marketing Campaign of the Year Award

Sponsored by Paper First by ENP Publishing

Sodra  Sodra Does It Again: Innovative Campaign Smashes Targets and Spreads The Word Environmental Leadership - From Sustainable Forestry to Waste Management

Sponsored by CEPI

Sodra  Groundbreaking Solution o Textile Waste Mill Manager Award

Sponsored by Valmet

Klaus Peller  Mondi Syktyvkar Packaging Innovation Award

Klabin S.A.  The World's First Kraftliner Board Made 100% from Eucalyptus Fibers (Hardwood) PPI Industry Woman of the Year Award

Sponsored by StepChange Consulting

Susanne Oste  Sappi Europe Risk and Safety Award

Sponsored by FM Global

Mondi Swiecie  Work Safe, Home Safe, Everybody, Every Day.



The Internet of Things & Digitalization Award

Sponsored by Valmet

Mayr-Melnhof Karton Gesellschaft m.b.H.  MMK Digital: Buy Cartonboard Online 24/7 Tissue Product Award

Sponsored by Tappi TissueCon

Hakle GmbH  Grass Paper Towels Water Efficiency Award

Sponsored by Nalco Water  An Ecolab Company

Domtar  Proof Every Drop Counts The Metsa Fibre  Aanekoski Bioproduct Mill was also acknowledged with a surprise Honorary Mill of the Future Award. As the largest wood-processing plant in the Norhern Hemisphere, the Aanekoski mill is a bioproduct mill, producing 1.3 million tonnes of softwood and birch pulp a year, all while using no fossil fuels. In addition to high-quality pulp, the mill produces a broad range of other bioproducts, such as tall oil, turpentine, bioenergy, product gas, sulphuric acid, biopellets and biogas. Bioproducts manufactured from side streams account for 20 % of the mill's sales, and this proportion continues to grow.



All entries were evaluated by a panel of judges who independently reviewed the entries according to each category's criteria. For more details on the award ceremony, the judges' panel, or the list of finalists, please visit risi.com/ppiawards.com.

About Fastmarkets RISI Fastmarkets is the leading price reporting, analytics and events organization for global commodities markets, including the forest products sector, as Fastmarkets RISI. Businesses working in the pulp and paper, packaging, wood products, timber, biomass, tissue, and nonwovens markets use Fastmarkets RISI data and insights to benchmark prices, settle contracts and inform their strategies worldwide. Along with objective price reporting and industry data, Fastmarkets RISI provides forecasts, analysis, conferences and consulting services to stakeholders throughout the forest products supply chain. About Fastmarkets Fastmarkets is the leading price reporting, analytics & events organization for the global metals, industrial minerals and forest products markets. It operates within Euromoney Institutional Investor PLC. Fastmarkets' core activity in pricing drives transactions in commodities markets around the world and is complemented by news, industry data, analysis, conferences and insight services. Fastmarkets includes brands such as Fastmarkets MB and Fastmarkets AMM (previously known as Metal Bulletin and American Metal Market, respectively), Fastmarkets RISI and Fastmarkets FOEX. Its main offices are in London, New York, Boston, Brussels, Helsinki, Sao Paulo, Shanghai, Beijing and Singapore. Euromoney Institutional Investor PLC is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a member of the FTSE 250 share index. It is a leading international business-to-business information group focused primarily on the global banking, asset management and commodities sectors. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/2020-ppi-awards-winners-announced-301021514.html SOURCE Fastmarkets

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Smoke billows during a fire in an area of the Amazon rainforest last Setember. Poto: Reuters/Bruno Kelly/File Photo

Large ecosystems like the Amazon rainforest could collapse in less than 50 years once a crucial tipping point is reached, a new study has claimed.

Researchers argued some natural environments are collapsing at a "significantly faster rate" than previously thought and could transform into "alternative ecosystems" when put under stress.

The study, which was based on computer simulations using real-world data from more than 40 natural environments, suggested the Amazon could shift to "a savannah-type ecosystem with a mix of trees and grass" in just 49 years.

Meanwhile, the Caribbean coral reefs, which are around 20,000 sq km in size, could become bleached and sparsely populated in just 15 years.

The researchers studied data on the transformations of four land, 25 marine and 13 freshwater ecosystems to come to their conclusions.

"Unfortunately, what our paper reveals is that humanity needs to prepare for changes far sooner than expected," Dr Simon Willcock, a joint lead author on the study, from Bangor University's School of Natural Sciences, said.

"These rapid changes to the world's largest and most iconic ecosystems would impact the benefits which they provide us with, including everything from food and materials, to the oxygen and water we need for life."

The research used computer modelling to find that while larger ecosystems took longer to collapse, their breakdown occurred relatively quickly compared with smaller systems.

"We intuitively knew that big systems would collapse more slowly than small ones - due to the time it takes for impacts to diffuse across large distances," John Dearing, a professor of physical geography at Southampton University, who led the research, said. "But what was unexpected was the finding that big systems collapse much faster than you might expect - even the largest on Earth only taking possibly a few decades."

However, Dr Erika Berenguer, a senior research associate at the University of Oxford and Lancaster University, who was not involved in the study, said its conclusions were not supported by the data analysed.

Dr Berenguer said: "While there is no doubt that the Amazon is at great risk and that a tipping point is likely, such inflated claims do not help either science or policymaking."
Saudi Arabia's state oil firm has sparked outrage on social media after images emerged of an employee dressed as a human hand gel dispenser.

Photographs taken inside a Saudi Aramco office show a worker in a protective mask approaching staff wearing a sandwich board with a dispenser of hand sanitiser attached to the front.

People across the globe have been urged to take greater hygiene precautions amid the growing coronavirus crisis, which has claimed 4,400 lives with 121,000 cases reported worldwide.

Saudi Aramco confirmed it had immediately ended the practice and 'taken strict measures to prevent it from happening again' after the images sparked fury online.

Photographs taken inside a Saudi Aramco office show a worker in a protective mask approaching staff with a dispenser of hand sanitiser attached to the front of a sandwich board

In a statement, the firm said: 'With regard to the images circulated on social media of a colleague wearing a sanitiser bottle inside one of our facilities.

'Aramco would like to express its strong dissatisfaction towards the behaviour that intended to emphasise the importance of hygiene.

'The company immediately stopped this act and took drastic measures to prevent it from happening again.'

Saudi Aramco's statement came after the images were widely criticised online, with social media users condemning the practice as 'disgusting' and 'humiliating' for the employee.

Others claimed it was 'racist', with another Twitter user declaring the worker 'must be compensated for this humiliating act'.

The worker is also wearing a pair of disposable gloves in the images, as people across the globe take greater precautions amid the growing coronavirus crisis

The firm added the act took place 'without the approval of the company.'

Saudi Arabi, which has reported around 20 coronavirus cases, has expressed alarm over the rapid spread of the virus across the Gulf.

All travel in and out of the Al Qatif province was suspended on Sunday to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

On Monday, concerns over the virus led Saudi Arabia to cut off air and sea travel with Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Italy, Kuwait, Lebanon, South Korea, Syria and the United Arab Emirates. The kingdom had already shut its land borders.

'Out of concern to protect the health of citizens and residents and ensure their safety, the kingdom's government decided to temporarily suspend the travel,' an Interior Ministry official said.

Saudi Arabia had also shut down access to some of the holiest sites in Islam over concerns about COVID-19.
A composite image showing actors Woody Harrelson (left) and Jason Statham (right). (Evan Agostini/Invision/AP-Tony Barson/WireImage)

Woody Harrelson has come to save new action-comedy The Man From Toronto, after Jason Statham quit the movie just weeks from the beginning of the shoot.

Harrelson will now co-star with Kevin Hart in the movie, directed by Patrick Hughes, who helmed The Hitman's Bodyguard with Ryan Reynolds and Samuel L. Jackson in 2017.

According to THR, Statham had not officially signed his deal, and walked away six weeks from shooting after reportedly insisting that Sony make the movie an R-rated actioner.

Read more: Statham pulls out of movie weeks before shoot

Instead the studio wanted to make a PG-13 movie with broader appeal, and now Harrelson has stepped into the role, having just wrapped on superhero movie Venom 2.

Woody Harrelson (Credit: Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)

The movie will find Hart and Harrelson in a case of mistaken identity involving a bungled Airbnb booking.

Harrelson is the titular 'Man from Toronto', the world's most deadly assassin, where Hart is described as 'a New York City screw-up'.

The odd couple are thrown together with  hopefully  hilarious consequences and according to reports, the movie is holding on to its release date of 20 November.

Jason Statham (Credit: Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP)

Harrelson is also starring in another assassin-based action thriller for Netflix (produced by John Wick co-creator David Leitch), currently in post-production.

Read more: Coronavirus wont delay Fast 9 says Vin Diesel

Kate finds Mary Elizabeth Winstead playing the lead, a deadly female assassin who has 24-hours to live after being poisoned in Tokyo.

It lands later this year.
Flyers' Oskar Lindblom is honored with fans waving cards during their game with the Ducks has he battles Ewing's sarcoma during the first period at the Wells Fargo Center, Tuesday, December 17, 2019. Read more

Reacting to coronavirus concerns, the Philadelphia Health Department recommended people avoid gatherings of more than 5,000 people, but fans filled most of the seats Tuesday for the Flyers matchup against Boston at the Wells Fargo Center.

The health and safety of spectators is our top priority, said a statement released by the Wells Fargo Center. Weve strengthened our already rigorous sanitation processes and procedures throughout the arena before, during and after each event.

The statement said if a ticket holder felt ill or had underlying health conditions, he/she should consider not attending.

In an interview, a Wells Fargo spokesman said refunds or ticket exchanges for Tuesdays game would be done on a case-by-case basis. As for future games and refunds/exchanges, he said the situation was still evolving.

Questions should be directed to the Wells Fargo Center and Flyers ticket department at 215-218-7825.

People who bought tickets in the secondary market, such as StubHub, must contact that seller for their refund/exchange policies.
Farewell to Fluffy An Englishman in Texas (Tam L). Please read this.

Cat Reacts Accordingly to Tin Foil Used to Keep It Off the Counter Time (David L)

How the moon formed  new research The Conversation (Kevin W)

Plastivores: Remarkable waxworms devour plastic waste in BU study Brandon University (Kevin W)

New Species of Chlamydia Bacteria Found in the Arctic Ocean Interesting Engineering (resilc)

Meet the spider, Fargos flood-fighting, sandbag-filling monster MPR (Chuck L)

Second Person Cured of HIV Is Still Free of Active Virus Two Years On CNN

Machine Learning Takes On Antibiotic Resistance Quanta (David L)

#COVID-19

China?

Syraqistan

Imperial Collapse Watch

An Illustrated Guide to Mean Things People Say About National Parks  Atlas Obscura (Dr. Kevin)

Trump Transition

2020

Federal Court Order a Win for CalSavers California State Treasurer (Glenn F)

U.S. Shale Collapse Will Lead To Higher Oil Prices

Class Warfare

How Your Airbnb Host Is Feeling the Pain of the Coronavirus New York Times (Kevin W). While I know a few readers really are just renting out a spare bedroom, the majority of AirBnB lessors are distorting housing markets by buying or renting properties solely for the purpose of evading regs and hotel taxes (which support YOUR community). Time these profiteers take a hit. Uber Resumes Autonomous Car Testing in San Francisco VentureBeat

Antidote du jour (Cliff V):

And a bonus from Dan K:

Why is baby dino so baby pic.twitter.com/PT9syLDkE4  Oregon Zoo (@OregonZoo) March 4, 2020

See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here.
PALO ALTO, Calif., March 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Varian (NYSE: VAR) today announced that the procurement representative of the Quebec government, Groupe d'Approvisionnement Commun de l'Est du Quebec (GACEQ), filed a notice of intent to award a sole source contract to Varian for an order of 12 medical linear accelerators (linacs). This award, combined with the nine new Varian linacs coming to the new CHU de Quebec cancer center, makes a total of 21 Varian linacs purchased over the last four years in Quebec. The 12 new linacs will be booked in accordance with purchase orders being issued for the individual systems.

The GACEQ selection represents new Varian TrueBeam systems in Rimouski, Chicoutimi, Gatineau, Jewish General Hospital, Trois-Rivieres, and the new Cancer Centre in Abitibi. The majority of these systems will also be equipped with HyperArc to potentially expand access to stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), an advanced form of cancer treatment.

"We are honored GACEQ selected Varian as its partner to bring these advanced treatments to more patients in Quebec," said Chris Toth, president Varian Oncology Systems. "Varian believes that, to create a world without fear of cancer, you must increase access to care. We look forward to working closely with our clinical partners in Quebec to install these new systems to provide more patients in Quebec the advanced care they require."

The TrueBeam family of medical linear accelerators incorporates numerous technical innovations that dynamically synchronize imaging, patient positioning, motion management, and treatment delivery during a radiotherapy or radiosurgery procedure.

The HyperArc solution is designed to automate and simplify sophisticated treatments such as SRS and capitalizes on the unique capabilities of Varian's TrueBeam systems. HyperArc treatments allow clinicians the ability to deliver more compact radiation doses that closely conform to the size, shape, and location of tumors, while sparing more surrounding healthy tissue. These advanced treatments can be delivered in a typical treatment time slot.

About Varian

At Varian, we envision a world without fear of cancer. For more than 70 years, we have developed, built and delivered innovative cancer care technologies and solutions for our clinical partners around the globe to help them treat millions of patients each year. With an Intelligent Cancer Care approach, we are harnessing advanced technologies like artificial intelligence, machine learning and data analytics to enhance cancer treatment and expand access to care. Our 10,000 employees across 70 locations keep the patient and our clinical partners at the center of our thinking as we power new victories in cancer care. Because, for cancer patients everywhere, their fight is our fight. For more information, visit http://www.varian.com and follow @VarianMedSys on Twitter.

Press Contact

Mark Plungy

Director, Global Public Relations

+1 (650) 424-5630

[email protected]

Investor Relations Contact

Anshul Maheshwari

Vice President, Investor Relations

+1 (650) 424-5631

[email protected]

SOURCE Varian

Related Links

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Kochi: Hundreds of Keralites including pregnant women and infants are stranded at airports in Italy as the airline companies denied permission for boarding.

We were not informed of the travel ban earlier. And when we reached the airport, the airline company authorities denied permission saying that India has imposed ban on passengers from Italy. We can be given permission to fly only after producing medical certificate. Since red alert has been issued in most of the areas in Italy, we cant go back, said one of the passengers stranded at Flumicino airport, according to a report by Manorama News.

We are not getting enough food from the airport and no peoples representatives like MPs or MLAs are interfering in this to resolve the crisis. We have been stuck at the airport for more than 48 hours. We have made it clear that we will comply with all the instructions from the health department and will not violate the quarantine guidelines, said another passenger.

We have booked tickets in Emirates flight from Rome to Dubai and connection flight from Dubai to Kochi. But, the airline authorities insisted for medical certificate. We were told about the Indian governments decision while standing in the queue for check-in, where should we go? asked a young woman in the short video which was shared to the media.

Meanwhile, some of the Keralites in Italy said that even their family members are discouraging them from returning home.

I have been working here in an old age home for couple of decades. The situation in the country, especially in northern Italy is grave. Though I have tried to return to Kerala, my family members discourage me saying that people are having hostile attitude to the Italy returned persons, said a Malayali home nurse working in Italy.
President Donald Trump will meet with the heads of some of the largest U.S. banks on March 11 to discuss the financial industry's response to the coronavirus epidemic and the economic toll it is taking on small businesses, the markets and the economy, according to the White House press office.

The meeting comes as the government stepped up its response to escalating fears that the coronavirus strain could push the U.S. economy into a recession.

The stock markets began the week by plunging more than 7%, triggering a 15-minute trading halt on March 9, before closing up nearly 5% on March 10 after a day of wild swings.

Chief executive officers from Bank of America, Citigroup, Wells Fargo & Co, Goldman Sachs Group Inc and Truist Financial Corp all confirmed they will attend the meeting with Trump, which will be held at 3 p.m. in the White House cabinet room.

Gordon Smith, co-president and chief executive of JP Morgan Chase & Co's consumer and community banking division, will also attend the meeting in place of Chief Executive Officer Jamie Dimon, who is recovering from emergency heart surgery. Smith and co-president Daniel Pinto are serving as interim leaders of the largest U.S. bank by assets while Dimon recovers.

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 retail bank executives are expected to discuss plans to waive some fees and offer other assistance to consumers and small businesses who are facing hardship as a result of the coronavirus. The virus's rapid spread has some companies anticipating that they will have to close temporarily or lay off staff.

Citi is waiving monthly account fees and penalties on certificates of deposit for impacted customers, and Goldman Sachs plans to give customers of its online bank Marcus an extra month to make payments on personal loans, interest-free.

Banks with large securities divisions and investment banks, like JPMorgan Chase and Goldman Sachs, are expected to discuss their estimations on how long and how much the coronavirus can cause markets to fall, as well as provide insight on how big corporations that the bank counts as clients are feeling about the volatility.

There are almost 1,000 cases of the virus across nearly three-quarters of U.S. states, and at least 30 people have died from complications related to the virus.
Six new infections lift Thailand COVID-19 cases to 59

THAILAND: The Public Health Ministry today (Mar 11) reported six new cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infection, five Thais and one Singaporean, lifting the total number of cases to 59.

CoronavirusCOVID-19healthSafetytourism

By Bangkok Post

Wednesday 11 March 2020, 05:36PM

Travellers queue up for thermal scanning at Suvarnabhumi airport in Samut Prakan province before reaching immigration. Photo: Wichan Charoenkiatpakul

Of the six new cases, two work at Suvarnabhumi airport, Sophon Iamsirithavorn, director of the Department of Disease Control, said.

One, a 21-year-old immigration officer, fell ill on March 8, developing a fever, a runny nose and a headache. Tests at two labs showed positive for COVID-19 infection, Dr Sophon said.

The other man, aged 40, was working in a different area of the airport. He had a fever and a cough on March 7 and sought treatment at a private hospital.

Both men were in contact with foreign tourists and touched objects such as luggage or passports.

The third patient was a Thai man, 25, working for a private firm. He had a fever and muscle pains on Feb 25 and later sought treatment at a private hospital. A lung X-ray showed symptoms of coronavirus infection. He was now being treated at the Bamrasnaradura Infectious Disease Institute.

The fourth patient was a 27-year-old Thai woman who returned from South Korea. She sought treatment at a private hospital on March 8 for a fever and a runny nose. She was diagnosed with coronavirus infection and transferred to Nopparat Rajathanee Hospital on March 10.

The fifth was a 40-year-old Thai man who returned from Japan on Feb 25. While in Japan he suffered a broken wrist in an accident. On returning to Thailand he sought treatment at a private hospital in Bangkok, which found he was infected with COVID-19.

The sixth patient was a Singaporean man, 36, who runs a business in Thailand. He fell ill on March 6 with a fever and muscle pains. Lab test results on March 9 showed he was positive for COVID-19. He was now being treated at the Bamrasnaradura Infectious Disease Institute.

Dr Sophon said the six new cases brought the total number of coronavirus infections in Thailand to 59. Of these, 34 patients had been treated and discharged from hospitals. Twenty-four others remained at hospitals. One has died.

From Jan 3 to March 10, a total of 4,848 patients have been monitored - 216 from screening checkpoints and 4,632 sought treatment at hospitals. Of the 4,848 patients, 2,945 had seasonal influenza, recovered and have been discharged. They were also still being monitored. The other 1,903 remained at hospitals.

The number of global COVID-19 cases had reached 119,419 in 115 countries, two special administration zones and one cruise ship, with 4,300 deaths, including 80,788 cases and 3,158 deaths in China.
Even before the first case of the new coronavirus was reported in El Paso County, many stores in Colorado Springs were dealing with empty shelves in paper products and cleaning supplies aisles -- and consumers haven't eased up on the panic shopping.

Hand sanitizer, toilet paper and disinfecting wipes are among the products that have become hard to find. A trip last week to the only Walmart in Teller County found two packages of toilet paper and a handful of packages of paper towels remaining on the shelves. On the opposite side of the aisle, where Lysol, Clorox and other cleaning supplies are usually stocked, shelves were empty.

Erin Pevoteaux, front end supervisor of the King Soopers in the Cheyenne Meadows Center shopping complex in Colorado Springs said the store "had no paper products after the weekend panic shopping until the truck came in late Monday morning.

"We had our grocery clerks, a few front end clerks, and even assistant store managers putting the isle back together," she said. "People were pulling toilet paper and other products off the shelf."

Customers have been upset about the lack of hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes, Pevoteaux said. "Some of the products that are in such demand for purchase are even on back order and we are just waiting to see if even get [those items] delivered."

Now, some retailers are limiting the amount of certain items per shopper.

King Soopers online shopping site on Tuesday displayed a message: Due to high demand and to support all customers, we will be limiting the number of sanitation, cold and flu related products to 5 each per order.

Walmart's online shopping site includes restrictions on certain products, such as Lysol disinfectant spray and Clorox wipes, which are limited to one item per cart. Popular brands of toilet paper, including Charmin and Cottonelle, are listed online as out of stock.

Rising prices have grown out of the high demand. On eBay, a 125-count supply of Purell single use sanitizing packets is for sale at $24.50 - the latest of 10 bidders on the order. That same supply at Walmart costs $16.99, but is currently out of stock.

On Colorado Springs Craigslist, an online platform where individuals sell items, a two-liter bottle of Purell hand sanitizer is for sale for $100. The seller from Monument wrote in the post that a discount is available for military and healthcare personnel. The same product costs $29.21 at Walmart, however its listed as out of stock.

Health Latest update on El Paso County man who tested presumptive positive for coronavirus

Also found on Craigslist is a toilet paper and cleaning supply bundle listed at $20 that includes a pack of Charmin toilet paper, a bottle of laundry detergent, a bottle of disinfectant spray and two packs of Lysol wipes. One seller in Steamboat Springs is posted an offer of Charmin toilet paper priced at $75,000 or in exchange for a 2020 Dodge Challenger 50th anniversary edition.

The virus threat and panic shopping has left store employees under special instruction for cleaning procedures, such as having company issued sanitizer for registers and supplying extra wipes for customers to wipe down carts and baskets, Pevoteaux said.

"I just wish customers would be a little kinder to the employees dealing with the panic," she said. "I've been screamed at plenty over no hand sanitizer and even more since it has hit Colorado."

El Paso County officials announced its first confirmed case of the virus, named COVID-19, March 5. The infected person is a man in his 40s and has had recent travel history in the United States, according to Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. On Tuesday, the department announced more confirmed cases across Colorado, totaling the number to 17 confirmed cases statewide.
A day after deciding to seal its borders with Bangladesh and Myanmar, the Mizoram government on Tuesday banned the entry of foreigners to the state as a precautionary measure against spread of coronavirus.

The entry of all foreigners either by land or air has also been banned with immediate effect until further notice, Mizorams information and public relations department said in a statement on Tuesday evening.

The decision was taken at the first meeting of the state level task force on mitigation of coronavirus (Covid-19) held at Aizawl on Tuesday under chairmanship of chief secretary Lalnunmawia Chuaungo.

Mizoram becomes the third state in the Northeast to ban entry of foreigners after governments in Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh had initiated similar measures last week.

While Indians need inner line permit (ILP) to enter Mizoram, foreigners (except those from Pakistan, China and Afghanistan) need to register themselves with the police within 24 hours of arrival. Citizens of Pakistan, China and Afghanistan need prior approval of Union home ministry to visit the state.

Foreigners need to get ILP to visit Sikkim while in Arunachal Pradesh they require protected area permit (PAP) to enter the state.

On Monday, Mizoram had announced sealing of its borders with Myanmar and Bangladesh while Manipur had blocked its borders with Myanmar as measures against Covid-19.

While several people have been kept under observation in these states as well as others in the region, no one has been tested positive for the virus yet.

In a bid to quell rumours about scarcity of essential items and spread of the disease, Mizoram chief secretary urged people not to panic as no positive case has been detected in the state and there was adequate rice, fuel, cooking gas etc. to last at least three months.

The task force issued an advisory on Tuesday cautioning people to refrain from travelling and avoid large public gatherings.

Operators of all commercial vehicles plying within the state and going out have been asked to maintain detailed records of passengers including names, age, address, contact numbers and places they have visited or propose to visit.

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In one of the most sweeping moves yet by a nonprofit hospital system to reduce aggressive bill collection, VCU Health is halting seizure of patients' wages and removing thousands of liens against patients' homes, some dating to the 1990s.

"Health care needs to be more affordable for patients, and we want to be part of the solution," said Melinda Hancock, VCU Health's chief administrative and financial officer. "We believe that no hospital bill should change the economic status of a family."

The moves follow an investigation last year by Kaiser Health News that found VCU Health and Virginia's other major teaching-hospital system, UVA Health, pursued tens of thousands of patients over the years for overdue bills, sending many into bankruptcy.

The practices included filing courthouse liens against the value of patients' homes and garnishing wages, many from workers at lower-pay employers, such as retailers and restaurants.

Canceling liens ends the threat that VCU Health, part of Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, will take big chunks of equity when family homes are sold. Liens can easily reach thousands of dollars per property. Virginia allows creditors to garnish up to 25% of someone's earnings.

"That is great news for VCU patients," said Jenifer Bosco, an attorney with the National Consumer Law Center who specializes in medical debt. "I dont recall hearing about other hospitals taking that step and canceling decades of past liens."

Because they accrued interest of 6% annually or more, old liens could let VCU and UVA seize amounts far higher than the original hospital and doctor bills.

Undoing decades of property claims will require VCU lawyers to visit every circuit courthouse across the state, "which could take up to a year to complete," said system spokesperson Laura Rossacher.

VCU's moves are "an instant way to create a lot of goodwill and relieve patients of an incredible financial and emotional burden," said Erin Fuse Brown, a law professor at Georgia State University who studies hospital billing. "UVA should do the same."

VCU and UVA are the two major teaching hospital systems in Virginia, taking in billions annually and recording tens of millions of dollars in profits. UVA Health is part of the University of Virginia, based in Charlottesville.

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam, a pediatric neurologist, "is proud to see VCU Health System taking significant, in some cases historic, steps to scale back aggressive medical collections and address the pain its caused," said his spokeswoman, Alena Yarmosky.

Both VCU and UVA, which are state-run, have increased financial assistance and discounts for uninsured patients since KHN published its reports.

VCU pledged earlier to end all routine lawsuits for overdue bills, which are the precursor to garnishments and liens. The latest move cancels such claims resulting from old suits and judgments.

VCU's in-house doctor group, MCV Physicians, filed more than 56,000 lawsuits against patients for $81 million over seven years, KHN found. VCU's flagship hospital, VCU Medical Center, stopped filing patient suits seven years ago.

The litigation also included more than 15,000 garnishment cases over that period, some for VCU Medical Center but mostly for the physician group, the data showed.

VCU will not refund money collected in the past.

"They have socked it to a lot of people," said Joseph Robinson, a Richmond church music director garnished last year for $851 by MCV Physicians for treatment he said happened years ago. "They were just going after anybody they could get."

VCU joins Yale New Haven Health among the few hospital systems that have forsworn routine patient lawsuits. Such systems still bill for overdue accounts and try to collect money, but they stop short of seeking the legal right to seize assets.

For its part, UVA has said it will substantially reduce patient lawsuits, seeking court judgments for overdue bills only from families making more than 400% of federal poverty guidelines. That's income of $86,880 for a family of three.

But its current policy of maintaining old liens and continuing to sue at least some patients makes it more aggressive than VCU.

On the other hand, UVA has made its new, wider financial assistance policy retroactive to July 2017 and in recent months has forgiven $15 million in debt for treatment after that date, said UVA spokesman Eric Swensen.

The system has also stopped wage garnishments "at this time," he said. UVA has said changes announced so far are a "first step." A community advisory council meeting monthly since last year will "inform and guide us as we explore changes to our policies," Swensen said. Recommendations are expected this summer, he added.

UVA Health and affiliates filed 36,000 lawsuits against patients over six years, seeking a total of more than $106 million, KHN found.

Neither UVA nor VCU has responded to repeated queries about exactly how many liens they hold or how much they collect in lien proceeds, garnished wages and bank accounts.

"Compared to the harm it causes for patients, I can't imagine that the hospitals are getting a significant amount of revenue from these legal actions," said Fuse Brown.

Hospitals say they see more and more patients who can't pay, even with insurance, because of stagnating incomes and rising insurance deductibles.

Budget legislation in Virginia's General Assembly is expected to increase funding for VCU's and UVA's indigent care programs as well as update the family-asset test for patients seeking financial assistance, which hasn't changed since 1985.

As reported last year by KHN, even $3,000 or $4,000 in a 401(k) or other retirement account could bar a patient from financial help. The legislation increases the asset-test threshold to $50,000, not counting a car and a house on less than 4 acres.

Another bill would prohibit the systems from suing or sending bills to collections before they determine whether patients qualify for Medicaid or financial assistance.

"We're on the right path now," said Jill Hanken, a health care attorney for the Virginia Poverty Law Center, which was behind the bill. "It was very important to put the brakes on these aggressive collection activities and force these hospitals to look more closely at their indigent care policies."

Health care finance experts continue to criticize both VCU and UVA for what they charge the uninsured before factoring in any financial assistance.

Last year, UVA increased its discount for the uninsured from 20% off list prices to 40%. VCU increased the discount from 25% to 45%. But at those levels patients still pay far more than the health systems' costs and far more than what the systems collect from the Medicare program for seniors.

"Until they reduce the amount they are trying to recover by adjusting their charge to what Medicare would have paid, people who owe debts will still face unreasonable demands," said Sara Rosenbaum, a health law professor at George Washington University.
Amid the increase in the number of coronavirus positive cases in Kerala, Health Minister KK Shailaja on Tuesday (March 10) said that according to Public Health Act, people who are supporting or hiding anything that leads to spread of coronavirus is a crime.

Talking to ANI, Shailaja said that people who are not revealing their travel history of coming back from affected areas&countries will be considered a crime.

"If they become positive, they will spread the disease. So we are asking them to reveal their identity and contact health department. Chief Minister has announced that hiding travel history is a crime and proper action will be taken," said Health Minister Shailaja.

Earlier on Tuesday, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that 6 more people from the state have tested positive for coronavirus, taking the number of people infected by the deadly virus in Kerala to 8.

CM Vijayan also said that classes up to the seventh standard in the state will remain suspended till March 31. He, however, added that exams of Class 8, 9 & 10 will be conducted as per schedule.

"Classes and exams till seventh standard will remain suspended till March 31. Exams of Class 8, 9 & 10 will be conducted as per schedule. All vacation, tuition classes, anganvadis, Madrasas should be closed till March 31," said the Kerala chief minister.
Industry body Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) has warned that disruption in raw material supply due to coronavirus outbreak could critically affect production across all segments. The slump in supply chains could also hinder production of electric vehicles in India, which is largely dependent on parts imported from China, and even the BS-VI rollout.

"Many automakers in India import about 10 per cent of their raw materials from China. The disruption in availability of these parts are likely to critically hamper production across all segments, namely passenger vehicles (PV), commercial vehicles (CV), three-wheelers (3W), two-wheelers (2W) and gravely affecting electric vehicles (EVs)," said SIAM President Rajan Wadhera.

"With anticipation of the Chinese New Year, Indian Auto Industry had maintained inventory in beginning of the year, but with the current lockdown in China, supply for BSVI vehicles is likely to get impacted," he further added.

ALSO READ: Coronavirus Live Updates: Two Dell, Mindtree employees test positive for COVID-19 virus

ALSO READ: Mindtree employee infected with coronavirus did not visit office or meet staff

Manufacturing activities are yet to return to their pace in China as factories are operating at limited capacity due to the coronavirus contagion. In the past three months, the virus has infected almost 81,000 patients in China alone, and more than 1.13 lakh worldwide. More than 4,000 have lost their lives to the contagion.

Auto manufacturers are exploring alternatives to meet their supply chain demands, but it would take a lot of time to reach stable production scale as these components would need regulatory testing.

"SIAM has been in touch with the Government of India with specific recommendations on behalf of the Auto Industry and in this regard, Industry is particularly thankful to the Government for issuing a notification of Force Majeure for Corona virus and also 24x7 clearance of shipments at all customs formations," Wadhera said.

ALSO READ: Another blow to India's auto sector! This time due to coronavirus

ALSO READ: Coronavirus fallout: Tata Motors' JLR hit by 85% sales dip in China

According to a recent report released by the Fitch Solutions, vehicle production in India is likely to contract by 8.3 per cent in 2020 following an estimated 13.2 per cent decline in 2019. Supply constraints due to the spread of the virus have been cited as one of the reasons for the contraction by the agency.

Another report by CRISIL had said while the domestic industry has inventories for up to 30-60 days, which could help tide over the crisis for the short-term, any shortage of critical components such as printed circuit boards could impair the ability of manufacturers to produce vehicles.
New Delhi, March 11 : The number of novel coronavirus cases in India mounted to 62 as 12 new confirmed cases were reported on Tuesday.

"Among the new cases, eight were reported on Wednesday from Kerala and one each from Rajasthan and Delhi. The total cases in the country include three Kerala patients who have recovered and have been discharged from the hospital," the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said on Wednesday.

In the evening, Mumbai went into high alert after two persons tested positive for coronavirus, taking the total afflicted in the state to seven, including five in Pune.

A flu like illness was first reported from Wuhan city of China in December last year which eventually turned into an outbreak. The novel coronavirus has affected over a 100 countries so far, with total number of cases crossing 1 lakh globally.

The World Health Organization has declared coronavirus (Covid-19) as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). Outside China, Italy and Iran are the worst hit countries.

The Indian government has so far evacuated 948 passengers from Covid-19 affected countries, including Iran, Italy, China and the Japanese Cruise Ship, Diamond Princess, stranded at the Port of Yokohama.

Out of these, 900 are Indian citizens and 48 belonging to different nationalities including from Maldives, Myanmar, Bangladesh, China, the US, Madagascar, Sri Lanka, Nepal, South Africa and Peru.

According to the latest travel advisory issued by the Indian government, passengers with travel history to China, Hong Kong, Republic of Korea, Japan, Italy, Thailand, Singapore, Iran, Malaysia, France, Spain and Germany will have to undergo self-imposed quarantine for a period of 14 days from the date of their arrival, and their employers should facilitate work-from-home for such employees during this period.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
A photo of a Dutch students donning Chinese traditional costumes and conical hats while posing with a sign which read Corona Time posted on social media has sparked fierce backlash from east Asians.

Nineteen students were pictured dressed in men and womens traditional outfits, and two in panda costumes. One girl in the second row can be seen pulling at the corner of her eyes, a gesture seen as derogatory and mocking to many people of east Asian descent.

A boy on the right hand side wore blue latex gloves and held the Corona Time sign, which also featured a drawing of a person wearing a protective face mask. It comes as governments around the world try to contain outbreaks of coronavirus, which has infected over 100,000 people globally.

Sin-Paulus Campus College Waregem, a Dutch secondary school in Belgium, posted the photo on its Instagram and Facebook pages but has since removed it from both and deleted its Facebook profile.

The schools Instagram profile was changed from public to private since the outrage around the photo began. No explanation or statement was made by the school regarding the photo or the changes to its social media pages.

Broodje Kaas Met Sambal (Cheese Sandwich With Sambal), an awareness group addressing racism against the Asian community in the Netherlands, posted the photo on its Instagram page and called the school irresponsible.

The group said: The photo above was posted by the Sint-Paulus school community, Campus College Waregem, on their social media channels including Instagram and Facebook.

In the meantime, the school has silently removed the photos, but this certainly does not solve the problem and shows once again how much it is necessary to deal with racism and discrimination in education.

As an educational institution, you have a very large influence on the future generation. The fact that you approve of this kind of behaviour and promote it yourself on your channels is far from responsible and shows that something is wrong with you, it added.

Maybe its high time to take responsibility?

The photo was also re-posted on Facebook by Rotterdam-based photographer Rui Jun Luong, who wrote: Unbelievable. How can people get it into their head [that it is ok] to put this on, make the board, pose for the photo including gloves and pulling eyes that this school in Belgium with the slogan Warm Heart, Fresh Look, Open Mind approved and published.

This IS offensive and you cant call this playful either. This is far from playful, it is racist, ridiculing our culture and NOT FUNNY, she added.

The photo has sparked fierce debate on social media, with some defending it as a joke and others calling it trash and disrespectful.

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One person said: Trash behaviour. Super racist and as always people will defend it and sweep it under the rug saying its just a joke. I dont know if its simple ignorance and refusal to get educated or if theyre just plain racist, either way hiding behind jokes is very telling.

Another said: We feel this is an insult, its not funny at all. Try to put yourself in an Asian persons shoes and be labelled with the word corona.

The school told The Independent: "The picture was made during the '100 days celebration' of last Friday 6 March, an event in which last graders celebrate the end of their secondary education in a carnivalesque way. They choose an outfit long beforehand, in this case even long before there was any mention of the coronavirus.

"The students alluded to the recent events in a playful way by adding a sign. Neither the school team, nor the students involved, have ever had the intention of adopting a condescending or offensive attitude.

"Nonetheless, the school would like to express its apologies publicly and explicitly through this statement," it added. "We did not estimate the consequences of publishing this picture correctly and we regret having offended certain population groups by it."
Seems Joe Biden's Super Tuesday II scarf-up has not only excited former Obama administration officials, hoping for a Bourbon restoration, but emboldened a very unscrupulous person out there: Biden's corruption-tainted son, "artist" Hunter Biden.

Here's what RedState had to say about it:

Hunter Biden and his attorneys really do have a lot of nerve. They have been stringing an Arkansas court along for months now, not providing information in the child support case against Biden by Lunden Roberts. Biden was scheduled to be giving a deposition on March 11. But now, not only is he arguing that he cannot appear, he's asking for the court to put off his appearance for at least another nine months, until after the election. Biden is arguing he cannot show up because of the Wuhan virus, his pregnant wife's "imminent due date" and "intense media scrutiny" which poses a "personal endangerment" to him.

What's going on here is thathe's waiting for the old man to get elected in order to escape the judge altogether. That's how it's always worked with House Biden: they use Joe's public office as a platform for making money of their own, and then, in a double-whammy, use it again to escape scrutiny.

Biden Junior has put the judge off time and time again, failing to submit his financial records, for this, that, and the other excuse, as well as refusing to show up to his hearings. He's gotten by with a temporary order to pay some kind of support, but with delay tactics like these  explicitly after the election  he seems to be betting on an old man win to get out of his child support obligations altogether, knowing how "mean" his dad can get on lawmen who cross him by trying to put a stop to Hunter.

Just as that poor Prosecutor General Victor Shokin fellow over in Ukraine.

Now Hunter's hoping the judge will buy that load of hooey about the coronavirus  Arkansas has exactly no cases; Biden Junior would actually be safer in Arkansas than he is now in the Hollywood Hills and should have no problem taking a private jet to Little Rock to avoid airport exposure  and accept yet another excuse intended to delay and eventually halt the release of his financial records in order to determine what he really owes for the support of the baby he made in Arkansas.

He wouldn't have an interest in that win, would he?

Yes, it's unlikely his crazy old Corn Pop dad will win, but that's his best shot. It signals that he's still living by the political protection racket that made him rich in the first place and imagining that the judge can be rolled. As the Biden campaign says, "return to normal." This is what they mean by "normal."

Image credit: Ben Stanfield via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0.
While coronavirus outbreak has taken over the world, there is a lot of misinformation, rumours and myths spreading via internet. One such fake news about Daniel Radcliffe having contracted coronavirus has also gone viral on social media. Things were so intense that a slew of journalists including the ones from The New York Times as well as CBS News fell for it.

Twitter

What happened exactly? "BREAKING: Daniel Radcliffe tests positive for coronavirus. The actor is said to be the first famous person to be publicly confirmed," read a tweet from a fake Twitter account posing as BBC Breaking News.

The tweet was retweeted at least a thousand times, and a lot of people including several journalists fell for it. This led to the fake news being spread and people actually believing that Daniel Radcliffe contracted coronavirus.



Soon after this, Radcliffe's spokesperson denied the rumours saying, "it's not true".

REUTERS

The fake BBC account has since then been suspended for violating its rules against platform manipulation.





Meanwhile, Chris Hemsworth who was supposed to come to India to promote his upcoming movie Extraction, which also stars Randeep Hooda, won't be coming to the country amind the coronavirus scare. Not only his India visit, but the global tour of the movie has been cancelled. "Keeping in mind the health and safety of everyone involved and the travel advisory issued, the event has been called off," a Netflix source told PTI.



Furthermore, release dates of several movies Mohanlals Marakkar Lion of the Arabian Sea has been postponed in Kerela. Keeping in mind the coronavirus scare, the producers and distributors in the industry have decided to shut down down cinemas until March 16 for now.



It is also being said that the release date of Akshay Kumar starerr Sooryavanshi and Ranveer Singh starrer 83 might also be pushed amid the virus outbreak. However, no confirmation has come forth yet.


- 6 African currencies have been ranked as the best in terms of performance on the continent

- The currencies were identified as the Ghana cedi, the Libyan Dinar, the Tunisian Dinar, the Moroccan Dirham, the Botswana Pula and the Zambian Kwacha

- Unique reasons were provided as to why each currency was selected

Our Manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in

Ghanas cedi and five other currencies have been listed as the best in Africa, according to DeyThere, a global magazine.

For the year 2020, the currencies selected along with the cedi are the Libyan Dinar, the Tunisian Dinar, the Moroccan Dirham, the Botswana Pula and the Zambian Kwacha.

The report shows that although a lot could be deduced about a country from its currency such as the economy and living standards of the people, it is wrong to assume that the biggest and most popular nations have the best currencies.

READ ALSO: Visa teams up with Paga to help with e-payments in Africa and beyond

Per a report by BusinessInsider, there are unique reasons why the currencies were selected as the best:

The Libyan Dinar emerged as the strongest currency in Africa. The Central Bank of Libya has a programme that only sells a limited number of dollars to its people.

Tunisias monetary policy to export or import dinars or convert them to other currencies has enabled the dinar to be among the highest in the continent. It was the second strongest.

The Moroccan Dirham is the de-facto medium of exchange in the Western Sahara region. Its de-facto state makes it one of the highest currencies in Africa.

The Zambian Kwacha has an attractive value because the country is the largest producer of copper in Africa.

In other news, the Coalition of Aggrieved Customers has called on the government to ensure that their deposits are released in a maximum of two weeks.

According to them, they would have no option than to embark on a demonstration if their demands are not met.

The group indicated that the government has refused to implement measures to ensure the payment of deposits to their customers following the financial sector clean-up.

READ ALSO: Nigeria grows past South Africa to become Africa's biggest economy

In an address to the media, the coalitions public relations officer, Charles Nyame, stated that the government has till Tuesday, March 24, 2020, to settle all outstanding payments.

In 2019, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), revoked the licenses of 53 fund management companies.

This, per a citibusinessnews.com report, was as a result of a series of regulatory breaches discovered with regard to their operations.

Information available shows that the companies affected by SEC's decision were managing over GHC8 billion in assets.

It has been established that some of the collapsed fund management companies had locked up funds in savings and loans, as well as other financial institutions that were shut down by the Bank of Ghana (BoG).

As a result, they were therefore not in the position to meet demands for funds by investors.

READ ALSO: Latest report shows Africans use more of modified versions of Whatsapp

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Mr Andrew Barnes, the Australian High Commissioner to Ghana, has urged the Commonwealth to reform itself to remain an organisation fit for the future and relevant to its members and the wider world.



Only if the member countries are prepared to take the decisions to make it fit for purpose in the 21st Century, with the necessary resources, staff and guidance, will in this historic international organisation continue to exist, and provide useful service to its membership and the world, Mr Barnes stated at an event organised by the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) to mark the 71st Commonwealth Day in Accra.



While the Commonwealth unquestionably played a critical role in helping to tear down apartheid, now new issues in the post-apartheid era are needed to bind the Commonwealth to action. Finding this new, shared vision amongst its very diverse members must be a key objective for the Commonwealth and its members, he said.



In approaching the Commonwealth and its future however, we need to be realistic about what it is.



Commonwealth Day is an annual celebration observed on the second Monday of March by people all over the Commonwealth in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and Americas, the Pacific and Europe.



The Commonwealth is a political association of 54 member states, mostly former territories of the British Empire.



This years event is centred on the theme Delivering a Common Future, highlighting how the 54 member countries in the Commonwealth family are innovating, connecting and transforming to help achieve some of its biggest goals like protecting natural resources and boosting trade.



Mr Barnes said the Commonwealth itself might have 54 member nations with 2.2 billion people and include 80 plus organisations; adding that however, the Secretariat had a budget of just less than 50 million pounds per annum, including; for its development and democracy work, and a staff of around 250  less than the numbers who run the UN staff canteen in New York, or the 15 member Caricom Secretariat in the Caribbean.



He said in contrast, the total annual UN budget, including; for peacekeeping, was some 11 billion dollars or eight billion pounds  compared to the Commonwealths budget of just 50 million pounds.



The High Commissioner said the Commonwealths development budget of around 25 million pounds was considerably less than that of the aid budgets of western Embassies in many developing nations; adding that with such limited resources, it could necessarily only play a modest role internationally.



Nevertheless, the Commonwealth has considerable scope to play an important role internationally in the areas of building democracy and promoting development, Mr Barnes said.



Using its good offices it can, and has done in the past, helped member nations, resolved conflicts internally and built democratic resilience, so creating governance conditions for sustainable development.



Mr Barnes said Commonwealth organisations, and in particular the Commonwealth Secretariat (ComSec) played an important role in promoting democracy, rule of law, human rights, and inclusive growth and sustainable development among member states.



He noted that Australia was the third-largest contributor to the budget of ComSec and through its contributions supported the Secretariats programmes to promote human rights, democratic norms and good governance among member countries.



He said this year, Australia would provide up to $7.2 million in development funding to the Commonwealth.



A significant portion of Australias budgetary contribution to Commonwealth organisations is dedicated to, the Commonwealth of Learning, an intergovernmental organization focusing on strengthening institutions in developing Commonwealth countries that are striving to provide affordable education to larger numbers of their citizens, he said.



In Ghana, the Commonwealth of Learning works closely with the Centre for National Distance Learning and Open Schools (CENDLOS), and Higher Education Institutes in developing open and distance learning projects.



Madam Mina Mensah, Head of CHRI Africa Office, said the event was part of their efforts to showcase what the Commonwealth was about and its worth and it was important that the youth in member countries of the Commonwealth were connected to the organisation.



Mr Sam Okudzeto, a Member of the Council of State, who chaired the function, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency noted that the Commonwealth was still relevant in the sense that it enabled member states to assess their relations with one another.

Source: GNA









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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San Francisco, March 11 : In view of the global spread of the novel coronavirus, Google is establishing a COVID-19 fund that will enable all its temporary staff and vendors worldwide to take paid sick leave if they have potential symptoms of the disease, or cannot come into work because they are quarantined.

"Working with our partners, this fund will mean that members of our extended workforce will be compensated for their normal working hours if they can't come into work for these reasons," Adrienne Crowther, Director, Workplace Services at Google, wrote in a blog post on Tuesday.

Google said it is carefully monitoring the situation and will continue to assess any adjustments needed over the coming months.

As COVID-19 spreads, Google has advised all of its North American employees to work from home if their roles allow until at least April 10.

"All offices in North America are now on recommended work from home status, if roles allow," CNBC quoted a Google spokesperson as saying on Tuesday.

Google has over 100,000 employees based in North America.

The work from home recommendations were earlier given only to employees in the San Francisco Bay Area, Dublin, and Seattle.

The search engine giant last week committed that members of its extended workforce who are affected by reduced office schedules (such as closed cafes resulting from offices moving to work-from-home arrangements) will be compensated for the time they would have worked.

The coronavirus epidemic has spread to over 100 countries, infecting more than 1,18,000 people and killing over 4,200.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Syracuse, NY -- Hospital administrator Sergio Garcia knows that any criminal conviction would ruin his career.

Thats one reason Garcia has no interest in seeking any criminal plea in a $400,000 fraud case involving Upstate Medical University, his lawyer, Joseph Bergh, told Syracuse.com | The Post-Standard.

In the end, a jury may have to decide whether Garcia is guilty or not of two felonies, Bergh added.

Onondaga County prosecutors accuse Garcia of inflating his resume -- lying about a college degree and claiming a lofty title at the U.S. State Department -- to get his job at the taxpayer-funded university and hospital.

But Bergh said theres much more to Garcias past, arguing his client never set out to mislead others about his history. And Garcias qualifications are much more complicated than prosecutors have acknowledged, he said.

What prosecutors dont give Garcia credit for is the fact that he later graduated with a Masters Degree in hospital administration from Case Western Reserve University, in Cleveland, Bergh said. Whatever problems Garcia had with his earlier bachelors diploma from a university in Mexico dont diminish his accomplishments later on, the lawyer said.

Bergh said that Garcia actually completed his studies in Mexico, but didnt receive his undergraduate diploma due to a bureaucratic miscue. He suggested that dueling experts may have to be called into trial to explain the nuances of the Mexican university system.

As far as his state department service, Garcia did, in fact, work for the feds. The problem, pointed out by prosecutors, is that Garcia listed his title on the resume simply as Chief of Staff.

Bergh acknowledged that his client never worked directly for former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell or Condoleezza Rice.

But, he contended, Garcias description was mainly shorthand on his resume. In fact, Garcia never held himself out to be Chief of Staff of the entire state department during any job interviews, Bergh said.

Prosecutors note that Garcia claimed that he advised front office leadership" and aided the Secretary of State on his resume.

But Bergh said that a state department official, who supervised Garcia, would vouch for his former employee. That state department official later wrote letters of recommendation that helped Garcia get into graduate school and later jobs in the hospital industry, Bergh said.

It appears Upstate itself talked to the same person before hiring Garcia, the lawyer added.

Before coming to Syracuse, Garcia worked jobs in hospital administration in the Cleveland, Ohio, and Potsdam, N.Y. areas.

Garcias first problems in Syracuse surfaced concerning debunked claims he made about his foreign service in the state department. Those apparent fabrications included: narrowly escaping a fatal bombing in Afghanistan, being hired directly by former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, being a close friend to his successor Condoleezza Rice, hunkering down in the White House after the 9/11 terrorist attacks and obtaining a law degree.

But none of those apparent lies are grounds for criminal action. Bergh argued they are completely irrelevant to the criminal case.

Instead, Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatricks office indicted Garcia for the two discrepancies in his resume, which he allegedly used to fraudulently gain employment at the public university and hospital.

One felony charges him with lying on the resume. Another alleges that those lies convinced Upstate to give him the job.

Garcia is accused of continuing to spread falsehoods on his resume after being hired in January 2017 by then-University President Danielle Laraque-Arena. He resigned in May 2018, after being paid roughly $400,000 in salary.

Because Upstate is a public institution, Fitzpatrick has argued that Garcia could be charged with defrauding the government and filing a false official record (his resume), both felonies.

Garcia was arraigned Wednesday on those two felonies. They are each punishable by a short prison sentence, but no incarceration is required. Even if convicted, Garcia would likely serve any punishment in local jail, not state prison.

But Garcia isnt interested in talking about that now. He believes he committed no crime at all, his lawyer said.

Leaving court Wednesday, Garcia referred questions to his lawyer.

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.
At a Mississippi prison, guards hand keys over to inmates so they can assault  or kill  other convicts. Inmates can't sleep at night, fearing that packs of rats could crawl into their bunks. Care is so bad inmates set things on fire to try to get staff members to pay attention to medical emergencies.

That's according to a lawsuit that more than 150 inmates filed against Mississippi Department of Corrections officials, with help from Jay-Z and Yo Gotti in the celebrities-turned-activists' latest move to pressure Mississippi officials to make change.

Mississippi prisons came under intense scrutiny two months ago after riots left several inmates dead. The U.S. Department of Justice has launched a civil rights investigation. Gov. Tate Reeves has promised to "stop the bleeding."

Photos and videos leaked from inside prisons during the riots forced the public to face the horrific conditions that inmates endure on a daily basis.

Many were left wondering: How did we get here? Who is at fault?

About this series

Deadly prison riots and a continuing high rate of deaths have renewed outrage over the states long-troubled system. As part of our ongoing coverage, the Clarion Ledger examines how these problems started and what it will take to fix them.

Some officials have blamed much of the violence on gangs.

But there's more at work than violent gang members, according to inmates and experts interviewed by the Clarion Ledger, including a former corrections commissioner, a longtime prison monitor and advocates for reform.

The violence is inflamed, they say, by horrific conditions inside prison walls. Lawsuits filed by inmates describe facilities that are infested with vermin and mold, and are so short-staffed that inmates and guards fear for their lives.

Since Dec. 29, 24 people have died in custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections. Seven were killed in violent altercations with other inmates, three died of apparent hangings and the rest have been attributed to unknown or natural causes, authorities said.

Story continues

Governor Tate Reeves, Mayor George Flaggs Jr. at Parchman

How did we get here with Mississippi prisons?

Three people, Former Gov. Phil Bryant, Reeves and House Speaker Philip Gunn, bear more responsibility than others for the prison crisis, said Ron Welch, a retired attorney who litigated for inmates' rights and monitored the prison system for decades.

Bryant, Welch said, appointed people who had no experience operating prisons, to lead MDOC.

Reeves and Gunn held influential roles in the Mississippi Legislature as lawmakers failed to fully fund the prison system despite dire warnings from corrections commissioners, Welch said. Without adequate funding, buildings have deteriorated and MDOC has struggled to hire guards who work for little pay in dangerous conditions.

Other factors are at play, experts say. Harsh sentencing laws and lack of early release programs swell the prison population, now putting Mississippi second in the nation for incarceration rates.

Secrecy, not transparency, has been the modus operandi of MDOC in recent years. The darkness has allowed problems to fester and sabotaged public trust of the system, critics say.

Some activists say the problems plaguing MDOC can be traced back more than 100 years, to the founding of Parchman Farm, now called the Mississippi State Penitentiary. They say the current challenges in the state's prison system are an extension of Parchman's legacy of racism, brutality and abuse and have called for the facility to be shut down.

About 19,000 people are incarcerated by the Mississippi Department of Corrections.

Nearly half of all inmates are held at three state prisons  the Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman, Central Mississippi Correctional Facility in Pearl and South Mississippi Correctional Institution in Leakesville.

The rest are spread across the state in 15 regional facilities or five private prisons.

African Americans are disproportionately represented in prison. About 62% of prisoners are black, compared to 38% of the overall population in Mississippi.

One Parchman inmate, who asked to remain unnamed due to fear of reprisal, wrote to the Clarion Ledger in the wake of the riots. He described a prison infested with rats and mold. He said the buildings are in such disrepair that water pools on the floor when it rains. Drugs and other contraband flow freely behind bars. His descriptions of the conditions inside Parchman mirror those of other inmates and those described in lawsuits against the prison and in inspection reports. Reeves said at a recent news conference authorities found shanks, contraband cellphones and a bag of marijuana as they moved inmates out of an unsafe unit at Parchman into a nearby privately run prison.

"I know that which was broken can be fixed," the inmate said. "People can and do rehabilitate but I think the general public here in Mississippi have been convinced that harsher sentences and deplorable conditions are more effective than rehabilitation efforts and the laws of Mississippi reflect that opinion."

Inmates at the Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman talk about the huge mice or rats they see in this prison, sharing photos from Unit 29.

Corruption, politics and lockdowns

Welch said 2011 was a high point for MDOC.

That year, a judge dismissed Gates v. Collier, a 40-year-old landmark case that began with Parchman inmates and led to prison reform across America. The judge found, after decades of court intervention, Mississippi prisons had become humane and no longer systemically subjected inmates to cruel and unusual punishment.

At that time Mississippi was also one of a few states to receive accreditation from the American Correctional Association for all its state facilities.

This was all accomplished, Welch said, under the leadership of corrections Commissioner Chris Epps.

Epps was the whole package, according to Welch. He understood how to operate prisons. He started as a guard and rose through the ranks to become the longest serving corrections commissioner in state history. Epps was also politically savvy.

"He would go into these appropriations committees and he knew everybody's name, he knew their wife's name, he knew their son's name," Welch said.

Epps, in Welch's opinion, was the best corrections commissioner the state had ever seen except for one conspicuous failing  he would later be convicted in the largest corruption scandal in Mississippi history.

In 2014, the expensive suit-wearing and Mercedes-driving leader of MDOC was accused of taking at least $1.4 million in bribes and kickbacks to steer nearly a billion dollars worth of state prison contracts to favored companies. After resigning and pleading guilty, Epps was sentenced to just shy of 20 years in federal prison.

For the next six years, MDOC was run by then-Gov. Bryant's political appointees, people who had no experience working as correctional officers or managing prisons, Welch said.

"Corrections is the hardest job in the state," Welch said. "It's the most difficult, dangerous, challenging, difficult to manage, to fund ... to train people (for) ... it takes a professional to do it."

The man Byrant appointed to set the agency back on track after Epps' corruption scandal was Marshall Fisher, who had an extensive history in law enforcement including serving as the director of the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, but no corrections experience.

After Fisher left to head the Mississippi Department of Public Safety, Bryant appointed Fisher's chief of staff, Pelicia Hall, to serve as commissioner. Hall's background was in the law. She had worked as lead counsel for the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics and served as special assistant U.S. attorney and special assistant state attorney general. She, too, had no experience running prisons.

While state law appears to recommend MDOC commissioners have experience working in prisons or managing corrections, it is not mandated.

The statute says commissioners should have a master's degree in corrections, criminal justice or a related field and at least six years full-time experience in corrections, including at least three in correctional management experience. If not, then a bachelors degree in a corrections or criminal justice-related field, at least ten years experience working in corrections, with five years as a manager, would work. Or, if they do not meet either of those requirements, a bachelor's degree and "relevant experience in fiscal management in the private or public sector" should suffice.

Fisher and Hall both fell into the last group, serving as sharp contrasts from Epps, who had spent his career working in corrections.

In recent years, some prisons have been put on lockdown for long periods of time because of a shortage of officers. That meant inmates' movements were limited and in many cases, family visitations were cancelled.

Welch was critical of the lockdown decisions.

"These are not things you do if you want to calm a population down. These are things you do when you dont have staff and you're scared and dont know what to do," Welch said.

On Dec. 31, Hall announced she was resigning. Her departure coincided with a transition of power as the man who appointed her left the governor's office, and was replaced with Reeves.

Dec. 31 was also the day MDOC announced prisons statewide went on lockdown following an eruption of deadly gang violence.

Fisher, who also recently stepped down from leading DPS, told the Clarion Ledger corrections is a "tough job."

Everybody out there, unless they have sat in those chairs, got an opinion on how they think it ought to work, Fisher said, responding to those who say he and Hall had no corrections experience. Its easy to sit and criticize folks if you havent sat in those chairs. All I can say is Gov. Bryant was extremely supportive of us and the agency. Its like no matter what you are doing, whether you are running a Chick-Fil-A, you surround yourself with the experts and let them do their jobI have never been one who try to micromanage people.

I have the utmost respect for the people who serve as professionals in the field of corrections  the ones who put their lives into doing that job for decades," Fisher said. "It takes a special person to do it. I pray for the people involved in it now."

Hall and Bryant did not return requests for comment.

In his first week as governor, Reeves announced plans to "right the ship" at MDOC, starting with the appointment of Tommy Taylor, a former chairman of the House Corrections Committee, as the interim head of MDOC. He also tasked a committee to conduct a nationwide search for the next corrections commissioner.

"I believe there is a leadership crisis in the system," Reeves said. "That starts at the top."

Reeves suggested responsibility for the current upheaval in the prison system belongs to past MDOC leadership, who he said lawmakers felt they could not trust. Reeves has said when lawmakers have tried in the past to get answers from MDOC about conditions, financials and policies, they were "stonewalled."

Recently, Reeves said an initial review of MDOC's books since he's taken office shows stunning financial waste and general mismanagement in recent years, even as prison officials requested more funding from lawmakers and hundreds of guard positions went unfilled.

"The fears we had in the legislative branch have been confirmed  money that was intended for the front lines, too often, did not reach there," he said, noting an investigation has begun to understand the full extent of the alleged waste and more details would be released soon.

Initial findings by his staff and others include what appear to be an excessive number of vehicles owned by the department, executive-level positions that appear to have received surprising amounts of compensation time payments in recent years, and other "commodities and expenditures" that may have been inappropriate.

After visiting Parchman in January, Reeves said he was "appalled by things (he's) learned in the last week" and promised fixes to the system.

Lea Campbell, an advocate with the Mississippi Poor People's Campaign, called Reeves' statement "absurd."

"He's known this for eight years, a minimum of eight years, and he chose to give corporations tax breaks with our public funds as opposed to investing in the prison system, which he knew was a ticking time bomb," Campbell said.

Kicking the can down the road

Former corrections commissioner Robert L. Johnson said prisons have never been a funding priority in Mississippi.

The overarching philosophy of Mississippi officials is to pay as little as you can for corrections in the state and that hasnt changed in 25 years, said Johnson, who was MDOC commissioner from 2000 to 2002.

You cant operate prisons on a bare budget, Johnson said. We just dont seem to grasp that if you save some money in corrections, you have to put money back into the system.

The Legislature has just kicked the can down the road and its now coming due, Johnson said.

Even as Reeves has attempted to push responsibility for the prison crisis on former MDOC leaders, he can't escape scrutiny for the power he has wielded in the budget-making process for the past eight years.

Before becoming governor, then-Lt. Gov. Reeves played a lead role in writing laws and setting state budgets. The lieutenant governor's counterpart in the House of Representatives is Speaker Philip Gunn, who exercises similar influence over budgets and policy.

In the past decade, lawmakers have cut tens of millions of dollars from MDOC's budget. For fiscal year 2015, the Legislature approved $346 million for corrections. Within four years, the budget had been slashed to $306.6 million even as the prison population stayed about the same.

The cuts MDOC saw after fiscal year 2015 were part of slashes that impacted most state agencies. In 2016 and 2017, Bryant and the Legislature made several cuts to the state budget, as revenue came in lower than expected.

Asked about his responsibility in budget cuts in a January news conference, Reeves responded the spending per inmate "actually is significantly higher today than it was six years ago," pointing to a decrease in the prison population since 2013.

In 2013, more than 22,000 people were incarcerated in Mississippi, marking it as one of the highest points of the state's prison population in history.

He has also said he does not believe a lack of funding is a critical issue for MDOC.

During their time as corrections commissioners, both Fisher and Hall pushed for additional spending to hire and retain additional staff including increasing the pay of correctional officers.

In 2016, the Legislature provided money to increase the starting pay of correctional officers. However, with a starting wage of $25,650, Mississippi's correctional officers are still among the lowest paid in the nation. It hasn't been enough to alleviate the shortage of guards.

In January 2019, a year before riots erupted in Mississippi prisons, Hall warned of a "pressure cooker" situation as staff vacancies led the agency to put South Mississippi Correctional Facility on lockdown. Hall asked for increased funding to raise officers' salaries.

As of June, about half of all correctional officer positions were vacant for Mississippi's three state prisons, making Mississippi's guard vacancy rate second highest in the nation, an investigation by the Marshall Project found. Of the 583 correctional officer positions authorized for Parchman, only 310 were filled. At the Central Mississippi Correctional Facility, there were more empty spots than there were working officers.

For every 21 inmates there is one officer at the South Mississippi Correctional Facility, which was on lockdown for essentially all of 2019 because of a staffing shortage. To compare, Alabama's prison system has about nine prisoners per officer  a staffing ratio that the Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division cited as being "egregious" and "dangerous" in 2019.

Reeves has previously said while he will push for increasing salaries for correctional officers, he does not believe money is the key to improving Mississippi prisons.

"We are going to work with the Legislature, and we're going to ask for the amount of funding that is necessary to properly and adequately house these prisoners. But we're not going to do what some have done in the past, and so might do in the future, which is just ask for money, money, money, and think that money is the only thing that solves these challenges," he said.

More funding, Reeves has said he believes will have little impact "if it is being misspent."

Something has to change, said Welsh. Mississippi leaders have to better fund prisons to hire more officers, reduce the number of prisoners, he said, or "more people are going to die."

Harsh sentences and 'over-incarceration'

Some say the biggest problem with Mississippi's prison system is that too many people are locked up.

The proof of "over-incarceration" is in the numbers, Mississippi State Public Defender Andre de Gruy said. While Mississippi ranks near the middle when comparing crime rates across states, the Magnolia state now has the second highest incarceration rate per capita in the nation. Mississippi's incarceration rate recently surpassed Oklahoma's, which is working to decrease the number of people in prison, according to FWD.us, while Louisiana continues to lead the country in incarceration.

Of every 100,000 residents in Mississippi, 652 are behind bars, according to FWD.us, a national advocacy group for criminal justice reform.

It hasn't always been that way. Harsh sentencing laws enacted with a "tough-on-crime" mentality played a big role in growing the prison population. They include mandatory minimum sentencing laws and habitual offender laws, which have resulted in thousands of people serving long sentences for nonviolent crimes if they had been convicted in the past.

Also, in 1995, the Mississippi Legislature passed one of the toughest "truth in sentencing" laws in the nation  a law that required almost all convicted offenders to serve the bulk of their sentences without possibility of early parole. Unlike many other states that joined in a national push for such laws, Mississippi applied them to nonviolent offenders, too.

Longer sentences means more people in prison. In the next 15 years, the incarcerated population more than doubled. As prison costs skyrocketed, lawmakers and MDOC officials have worked to reduce sentences and allow more early releases.

An effort to address the prison population in 2014 seemed to work for a few years. That year, the Legislature passed a sweeping criminal justice reform bill called House Bill 585. The plan, which promised to reduce the number of people in prison and save money to be reinvested in corrections programs, drew widespread praise.

The reforms gave more leeway for judges to determine sentences and alternatives to prison. It expanded use of drug courts, which have been shown to reduce recidivism. The new laws also focused on those dealing larger amounts of drugs while lowering sentences for possession or trafficking of small amounts.

In the years following the passage of House Bill 585, the prison population dropped from about 22,300 to about 18,000. However, the number of people behind bars began to inch back up, partly because judges were sending people back to prison for violating probation or parole.

Several protest attendees wave personalized posters calling attention to specific prisoners at the Mississippi State Penitentiary in Parchman, during a mass rally in front of the Mississippi Capitol in Jackson, on Friday, Jan. 24, 2020, to protest conditions in prisons where inmates have been killed in violent clashes in recent weeks. Mississippi's new governor says he and the interim corrections commissioner toured a troubled state prison to see conditions and to try to understand what led to an outburst of deadly violence in recent weeks. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

Savings from HB 585 should have been reinvested into programs for offenders, but instead they went into the state's coffers to help pay for corporate tax cuts when Mississippi was struggling to meet revenue estimates, according to the Mississippi Center for Investigative Reporting.

Several hundred people gather in front of the Mississippi Capitol in Jackson, on Friday, Jan. 24, 2020, to protest conditions in prisons where inmates have been killed in violent clashes in recent weeks. Mississippi's new governor says he and the interim corrections commissioner toured a troubled state prison to see conditions and to try to understand what led to an outburst of deadly violence in recent weeks. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

'No sunlight' in Mississippi prisons

Last year, MDOC's top official said the agency wanted to be exempt from certain parts of the public records law, which is intended to promote transparency in government.

"There should be some limits on what you are transparent about," Hall said before the Senate Corrections Committee.

Hall's request, which was never seriously considered in the Legislature, reflects the agency's preference for secrecy and unwillingness to be forthcoming about what goes on inside prison walls.

Theres no sunlight shining into our prisons now. Theres nobody from the outside who can see it, Welch said.

Families of inmates say they're kept in the dark by prison officials. Dozens of people interviewed by the Clarion Ledger say it's nearly impossible to get answers from prison or MDOC staff when their loved ones have been injured or killed.

During the recent riots, it was difficult to get more information about what was happening inside prisons, even as inmates took to social media on contraband cell phones to post photos and videos on the ongoing chaos. MDOC referred to the incidents only as "major disturbances" and refused to release information on injuries until weeks later.

"I understand that cell phones are not allowed in the Mississippi Department of Corrections," said former inmate and community activist Benny Ivey at a prison reform rally in January. "But thank god there were (now) they cant hide it."

Reeves said one of the changes made under the new administration was instructing MDOC staff to "proactively provide as much information to the public as possible, as quickly as possible, about deadly incidents in the system."

A new commissioner must be someone that he, members of the Legislature and the public can trust, the governor said.

"We will ensure that the next leader of the Department of Corrections is transparent, is open with the press and quite frankly, ultimately open with the people of this state," Reeves said.

The lack of transparency has been "fertile ground for corruption," Campbell said.

Campbell said without oversight and accountability, prisons have become overrun with contraband. Guards turn a blind eye to illegal activity in prisons and play an active part in bringing in contraband, she said.

In the past, Mississippi guards have been convicted of assaulting inmates, arrested for allegedly smuggling in contraband and having sex with inmates.

In this photo from the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, inmates are shown with cattle at the Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman, Miss.

Legacy of racism, brutality and abuse

Many of the recent deaths have occurred at the Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman, the state's oldest prison and one of the most infamous in the country.

Some activists have called for Parchman to be shut down permanently. They say the prison cannot be divorced from its legacy of racism, brutality and abuse, that the current problems at Parchman are an extension of problems that have plagued the prison from its inception.

Historically known as Parchman Farm, the prison was established in 1901 and now occupies a sprawling 18,000 acres in the heart of the fertile Delta. It was, as Historian David Oshinsky said, "the closest thing to slavery that survived the Civil War.

From the beginning, Parchman operated much like a plantation. Inmates grew cotton, soybeans and other crops, took care of livestock and operated a dairy. The state of Mississippi made millions in today's dollars a year off the free inmate labor. Prisoners were whipped with an infamous thick leather strap known as "Black Annie" and guards relied on armed inmates called "trusty shooters" to keep others in line.

As it did for many other aspects of life in Mississippi, the Civil Rights Movement catalyzed change at the state penitentiary. In the 1960s, hundreds of civil rights activists were arrested for protesting racism and challenging segregation, with many of them shipped off to serve time at Parchman. The abuse they faced in prison focused a national spotlight on the penitentiary.

Civil rights lawyers helped Parchman inmates file the Gates v. Collier litigation, charging that prison conditions were unconstitutional, catalyzing reform.

Now, five decades after the inception of Gates v. Collier, Mississippi has again captured national attention for brutality in its prisons.

Many of the details described in Gates v. Collier mirror the conditions today: Too few guards to maintain control and keep inmates safe, officers allowing inmates to fight and acquire drugs and other contraband, units filled with broken windows, unusable bathroom facilities and inadequate medical care.

In some ways, Welch said, the conditions in prison now are worse than they were when Parchman was functioning as a plantation.

"(Back then) inmates could come and go. When they weren't working they could be out in their yard, have games. The activity of that reduced the stress," he said.

Now, Welch said, prisons are sometimes put on lockdown for long periods of time. Inmates are confined to their units and families aren't able to visit their loved ones in prison.

In this photo from the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, inmates are shown with mules at the Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman, Miss.

"How would you feel if you were housed in a place where the toilets didnt work, where the sink didnt work, when the where the water went out ... you had to defecate in a bag because you couldnt flush the the toilet? Does that indicate anybody cares about you? If nobody cares about you then theres no hope. What are you going to behave like?" Welch said.

"Put 100 church deacons in that situation, Sunday school teachers, and they're going to be fighting with each other," he said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Contact Alissa Zhu at azhu@gannett.com. Follow @AlissaZhu on Twitter.

More in this series

For inmates, Mississippi is a deadlier state than most. This year could be a record

Hard time, brutal conditions: A history of Parchman prison

Timeline: 180 years of Mississippi prison history

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Mississippi prisons rocked by deaths, riots. How did we get here?
The wife of the Manhattan-based attorney at the center of a one-mile radius 'containment area' in New Rochelle has pleaded with the public to stop their 'irrational bad behaviors' against her family as a containment area was announced around the synagogue they attend.

Adina Lewis Garbuz spoke of her fear that the family will always be linked with the coronavirus, begging people to recognize the role they played in stopping the spread.

In a Facebook post published Monday, she revealed that her husband Lawrence Garbez, patient zero in the Westchester County coronavirus outbreak, remains in a medically induced coma and is unaware that the National Guard is to be deployed Thursday to enforce a containment area around his community.

Schools, houses of worship and large gathering places in the New York suburb that has the 'largest cluster' of coronavirus cases in the country will be shut down for 14 days to help stop the spread of the disease, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced Tuesday.

The area is the epicenter of the state's coronavirus outbreak and accounts for more than 100 of New York's 173 confirmed cases.

The radius centers around the Temple Young Israel of New Rochelle synagogue that was attended by Manhattan attorney Garbuz, who has been linked to the outbreak in the area.

'I hope the Garbuz name becomes associated not as the ones with coronavirus but the ones who were instrumental in helping get this contained,' Lewis Garbuz wrote in the Facebook post, revealing that her children had already faced discrimination.

This map shows the schools, churches and synagogues in a one-mile radius of Young Israel New Rochelle, which is at the center of the coronavirus cluster

The family of New York lawyer Lawrence Garbuz, who is hospitalized with coronavirus, says they're hopeful he'll make a full recovery. Lawrence Garbuz is pictured above with wife Adina Lewis Garbuz who spoke out publicly this week

Lawrence Garbuz, a 50-year-old attorney from Westchester County, was hospitalized with the contagious disease on February 27 and has infected his children, wife, neighbor, a friend and other family member with the virus

Adina Lewis Garbuz also tested positive for the coronavirus and is in quarantine

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announcing the New Rochelle containment area Tuesday

'The laundromat who wouldn't do laundry for my other kids who were out of the country and cleared by CDC but by association refused to help them or, the nurse who hugged the walls as they walked by because she heard they were related to my husband,' she wrote, adding that most people 'recognize this was not caused by any one person'.

Adina Lewis Garbuz wrote about the discrimination in a Facebook post

'This will end. Quarantines will work and we will all be stronger for it,' she continued.

'I want my husband to get better, and hope to have to worry about trying to explain to him all that has transpired while he was sleeping.

'I really hope I can be negative and cleared so I can be next to my husband who is left alone without his loved ones by his side. I don't want to think about what it will be like for him waking up alone.'

The shutdown, which will begin on Thursday and last for two weeks, will affect all 'major gathering places' including schools and places of worship, Cuomo said.

'It is a dramatic action, but it is the largest cluster in the country. And this is literally a matter of life and death,' Cuomo said.

The announcement about the containment area came as New Jersey reported its first coronavirus death. It is the first fatality in the tri-state area.

Cuomo said he was calling in the National Guard to the containment area to assist with cleaning public spaces and to deliver food to homes where people are currently self-quarantined.

Health officials said they are still trying to determine a full list of places that will be forced to close within the containment area.

The schools that will close include New Rochelle High School, Albert Leonard Middle School and William B. Ward Elementary.

Abandoned toys are seen at the Westchester Day School Tuesday as the community begins to enforce a 14-day containment area to fight the spread of the coronavirus

A woman walks near the Young Israel orthodox synagogue in New Rochelle which is at the epicenter of a one-mile containment area to start on Thursday, Gov. Cuomo announced

A man wears a face mask as he walks in front of Young Israel orthodox synagogue in New Rochelle. The synagogue was attended by Garbuz and his family and will be the center of the containment area starting on Thursday and to be enforced by the National Guard

A warning sign is seen at the New Rochelle City Hall's entrance in New York on Tuesday

The closures will not effect smaller businesses and grocery stores, officials said.

Cuomo said people will not be contained and residents are free to come and go with the one-mile radius.

The state and a private health system, Northwell Health, are also setting up a testing facility in the area.

New Rochelle is at the center of an outbreak of 108 cases in Westchester County out of 173 statewide as of Tuesday.

New York City has 36 cases, while its population is more than 100 times that of New Rochelle.

'New Rochelle at this point is probably the largest cluster in the U.S. of these cases and it is a significant issue for us,' Cuomo said.

Lawrence Garbuz (left) is seen at the Mamaroneck Beach & Yacht Club in a photo posted by AIPAC on March 4, 2017. He is patient zero in the Westchester County outbreak

Manhattan lawyer Lawrence Gurbiz was confirmed as a positive case of coronavirus, and has been linked to at least 108 cases in the Westchester area. They include his family, friends and a neighbor who drove him to hospital. Many of the other people confirmed positive attended Young Israel of New Rochelle before Gurbiz was tested and came into contact with him or other positive cases linked to him

People wait at the New Rochelle train station on Tuesday after Gov Cuomo revealed that officials will be implementing a one-mile radius containment area there to try to halt the spread of coronavirus

Nicholas Walsh, of New Rochelle, wears a protective mask as he walks past the Young Israel of New Rochelle synagogue on Tuesday

HOW CORONAVIRUS CASES IN NEW YORK ARE LINKED TO MANHATTAN ATTORNEY: Manhattan attorney Lawrence Garbuz, 50, had recently returned to New York from a trip to Miami. His neighbor in New Rochelle drove him to the New York Presbyterian Lawrenence Hospital in Bronxville, New York on February 28 after he started having trouble breathing. Doctors initially just assumed he had pneumonia and he was put in a regular room before being moved to intensive care as he condition deteriorated. It took four days for him to be diagnosed with coronavirus on March 2. In that time, he had come into contact with dozens of doctors and other patients. Health officials immediately started to retrace his steps and started testing those he had come into contact with. In addition to hospital staff, it emerged he had come into contact with members of his Temple Young Israel of New Rochelle synagogue, employees and his law firm and friends. His immediate family, including his wife, 20-year-old son and 14-year-old daughter all tested positive. The neighbor who drove him to the hospital also contracted the disease. It then emerged his friend's family of five, including three children, tested positive. Medical staff and the hospital, members of his law firm and attendees at the Temple Young Israel of New Rochelle synagogue, of which Garbuz is a member, have also been confirmed as cases. Advertisement

'The numbers have been going up. The numbers continue to go up. The numbers are going up unabated. And we do need a special public health strategy for New Rochelle.'

New York Health Commissioner Dr Howard Zucker said officials were moving from a containment strategy to a mitigation strategy.

'When you're dealing with mitigation, you have to deal with the issues of social distancing and how people gather together and to try to minimize that.'

Cuomo said the decision was one made by Dr Zucker and other public health officials.

'It's not a decision that I'm making. I'm accepting the recommendation of Dr. Zucker. In a situation like this, whether you're president, mayor, governor, let the experts decide and let the science decide the situation,' he said.

Public and private schools in Scarsdale, which is also in Westchester County but outside the containment area, have already been closed until at least March 18 after a staffer tested positive.

The surge in cases in New York state, particularly Westchester, have been tied to the Manhattan attorney who infected his family and others last week.

His wife spoke out publicly this week, saying his family are 'hopeful' for his full recovery.

Garbuz was hospitalized with the contagious disease on February 27 and health officials quickly determined that he had infected his children, wife, neighbor and friend's family of five.

Garbuz had recently returned to New York from a trip to Miami before he was diagnosed. He marked the first case of community spread of the coronavirus in New York.

Within days, members of his Manhattan law firm and attendees at the New Rochelle synagogue that he attends later tested positive.

It comes after New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said on Tuesday there will be no widespread school closures for now and insists there won't be an Italy-style lockdown after 17 new coronavirus cases were confirmed in the city.

'We cannot shut down because of undue fear,' de Blasio told MSNBC's Morning Joe.

'I would advise against these mass closures when we're keeping this situation relatively contained... ask me in a week, ask me in a month - it might change.'

He is also currently not considering widespread closures to public schools.

Health officials have previously said school closures in the city would be a last resort.

'Our schools are running. And we've said, even if, God forbid, we found a case in a school, we're not shutting down all our schools. We're not even shutting that school down long term,' de Blasio said.

'We'll go in, clean that school, isolate individuals who had that really direct contact, and then get up and running. We'll have a day where a school is shut to get reset, then get back up and running. Because people's livelihoods are at stake. Parents need a place for their kids.

'We can stay safe but still keep our lives going, our economy going. People have to pay the rent, people need money for food etc.'

De Blasio said individual schools might close for a brief period of students or teachers became infected.

The outbreak has resulted in a number of mostly private schools canceling or suspending in person classes. In New York City, Columbia University, Yeshiva University, New York University and Julliard announced that classes would be canceled or offered online.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo says a one-mile containment area will be set up in New Rochelle in Westchester County where the main cluster of coronavirus have been reported

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF CORONAVIRUS? Like other coronaviruses, including those that cause the common cold and that triggered SARS, COVID-19 is a respiratory illness. The most common symptoms are: Fever

Dry cough

Shortness of breath

Difficulty breathing

Fatigue Although having a runny nose doesn't rule out coronavirus, it doesn't thus far appear to be a primary symptom. Most people only become mildly ill, but the infection can turn serious and even deadly, especially for those who are older or have underlying health conditions. In these cases, patients develop pneumonia, which can cause: Potentially with yellow, green or bloody mucus Fever, sweating and shaking chills

Shortness of breath

Rapid or shallow breathing

Pain when breathing, especially when breathing deeply or coughing

Low appetite, energy and fatigue

Nausea and vomiting (more common in children)

Confusion (more common in elderly people)

Some patients have also reported diarrhea and kidney failure has occasionally been a complication. Avoid people with these symptoms. If you develop them, call your health care provider before going to the hospital or doctor, so they and you can prepare to minimize possible exposure if they suspect you have coronavirus. Advertisement

Two bus drivers in Long Island's Nassau County are among the new cases who have tested positive for coronavirus. Those two drivers are responsible for roughly 80 students on various daily routes.

The positive tests have resulted in several Long Island school closures including in Oyster Bay, Locust Valley, Glen Cove and Westbury.

Cuomo said on Monday the state was implementing a new policy that if student or teacher tested positive, the school would be shut down for at least 24 hours to be assessed and disinfected.

Meanwhile, de Blasio also said he couldn't get a coherent answer from the FDA over its 'unfathomable' decision not to approve automated testing.

Health officials in the city would be able to test thousands of people a day for coronavirus if the FDA approved automated testing, de Blasio said on Tuesday.

Currently, officials in New York City can only carry out 100 or so coronavirus tests per day.

'As recently as eight days ago New York City did not have the ability to do their own tests. We finally have that ability but what we still don't have is approval from the FDA to do automated tests,' de Blasio said.

'If we had the approval from the FDA for automated tests, it would be thousands of tests we could in a single day with results the same day.

'It's unfathomable that after this long these tests have not been approved.'

It came as de Blasio confirmed the additional cases in the city and said 258 people have returned negative tests so far.

About 1,580 people are currently in voluntary quarantine while 34 are under mandatory quarantine.

The main cluster of cases in the state remains in Westchester where a Manhattan attorney was first struck down with the virus early last week and subsequently infected his family and others.

New York City's usually bustling Times Square looked relatively empty today as coronavirus cases in the city rose to 173

De Blasio, pictured on Monday handing out coronavirus information at Union Square, has confirmed five new coronavirus cases in the city, bringing the total to 25

The Mayor on Monday urged sick or vulnerable New Yorkers to only use the subway if necessary to avoid spreading coronavirus

The normally bustling Grand Central Terminal was virtually empty on Monday afternoon

The mayor on Monday urged sick or vulnerable New Yorkers to only use the subway if necessary to avoid spreading coronavirus.

A seven-year-old girl in the Bronx and a the head of New York and New Jersey's Port Authority Rick Cotton are among the recently confirmed cases.

The US death toll from the disease is currently at 29 with the majority being from Washington state following an outbreak at a nursing home just outside Seattle.

To cope with the outbreak, Cuomo announced the state would be making its own hand sanitizer after declaring a state of emergency over the weekend.

Speaking about the new sanitizer, Cuomo said it was made up of 75 percent alcohol and will be provided to facilities including schools, the MTA, government run buildings and prisons.

Cuomo said that state currently has the capacity to make 100,000 gallons of the sanitizer per week, adding that it is cheaper for officials to make it instead of buying it on the market.

It is being manufactured by Corcraft, which is the company that relies on prisoners in New York to make products, and is being made by inmates at the Great Meadow correctional facility.

The state-made sanitizer costs about $6 per gallon to produce, according to Cuomo. He said the production stemmed from reports of price gouging on sanitizer.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo unveiled a new state-made sanitizer on Monday as he gave the update on the increased number of coronavirus cases after declaring a state of emergency over the weekend

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo unveiled the new sanitizer on Monday as he gave an update on the increased number of coronavirus cases after declaring a state of emergency over the weekend
A police shooting has sparked protests in Raleigh, North Carolina, after officers claimed the suspect refused to drop a gun, but some witnesses claimed the man was actually carrying a pizza box.

Police Chief Cassandra Deck-Brown said officers responded to a 911 call Tuesday evening reporting a man with a gun near a shopping center in eastern Raleigh.

She said arriving officers spotted a person matching the caller's description, later identified as 26-year-old Javier Torres.

Torres ran and was chased by officers who repeatedly ordered him to stop and drop the gun, Deck-Brown said.

The chief said Torres was shot in the abdomen by an officer who had joined the chase because the suspect was running directly toward that officer and would not drop his gun. He was transported to a nearby hospital. The extent of Torres' injuries was not immediately known.

Scroll down for video

Protests erupted in Raleigh, North Carolina, after police shot a man who they say had a gun on him

Community activist Kerwin Pittman said he spoke to witnesses after the shooting, and they told him Javier Torres was unarmed, something the police chief later denied

A handgun, as described by the 911 caller, was located at the scene of the shooting, police said. No officers were injured.

Deck-Brown said the officer who fired the shot was wearing a body camera, as were others at the scene. She said the department was asking a judge to publicly release the footage to show what happened. State law requires a court's sign-off for the release of police video. The State Bureau of Investigation is also probing the shooting.

Community activist Kerwin Pittman said he spoke to witnesses after the shooting, and they told him Torres was unarmed, something the police chief later denied.

Some had speculated that the suspect appeared to be a teenager.

'Witnesses say Javier Torres did not have a gun. They say he was carrying a pizza box,' Pittman told The Associated Press by phone early Wednesday morning.

Footage from news outlets showed that a large crowd gathered and began street protests that continued into early Wednesday, moving to the police chief's home, where people demanded she come outside

Several witnesses shared video of the moments right after the shooting and they can be heard stating that Torres was holding a pizza at the time he was shot

Several witnesses shared video of the moments right after the shooting and they can be heard stating that Torres was holding a pizza at the time he was shot.

There is also a pizza shop in the area where Torres was shot.

Deck-Brown held an early-morning news conference, where she took time to 'address some misinformation that is circulating on social media' about Torres' age and the circumstances of the shooting.

'The body-worn camera footage will show that some of those statements were inaccurate,' she said, adding: 'As a result of the reckless and false information that has been spread on social media, a number of spontaneous protests occurred during the night which resulted in minor damage to property in and around the downtown area.'

Raleigh Police Chief holds live conference after officer-involved shooting Tuesday BREAKING: The Raleigh Police Chief speaks after officer-involved shooting and protests on Tuesday night. FULL STORY >>> https://www.wral.com/protesters-march-in-downtown-raleigh-after-officer-shoots-armed-suspect/19004815/ Posted by WRAL TV on Wednesday, March 11, 2020

There is also a pizza shop in the area where Torres was shot

The police chief did not indicate when the video would be released.

Footage from news outlets showed that a large crowd gathered and began street protests that continued into early Wednesday, moving to the police chief's home, where people demanded she come outside, and the governor's mansion, where a U.S. flag was taken and later burned in the street. WRAL-TV footage showed a flag burning in the street near the governor's mansion and an empty flagpole in front of the residence.

'Whose streets? Our Streets!' demonstrators chanted, as lines of protesters and police faced off in places around the state capital.

'The city is fed up,' Pittman said. 'We feel there is always something happening with the Raleigh Police Department. We feel like they are brutalizing us,' he added.

He said the protests would continue in a community that has long sought police transparency but faced an uphill battle.

Rolanda Byrd, whose 24-year-old son, Akiel Denkins was shot by Raleigh police while running from an officer in 2016, said before the police chief's news conference that she should come out to meet with protesters: 'She needs to be out here to support her black community, right now, tonight.'

News outlets report that this shooting happened in the same shopping center where Soheil Antonio Mojarrad, 30, was fatally shot in April 2019 by police who said he was wielding a knife. In that case the officer was wearing a body camera but it was not activated. According to an autopsy, Mojarrad was shot eight times. The Wake County District attorney declined to pursue criminal charges against the Raleigh police officer in that case.
ALBANY  As Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo leads the states coronavirus response, state legislators are scrambling behind-the-scenes at the Capitol to curb potential fallout from the illness on businesses, elections and schools.

The virus has infected more than 200 people statewide, including the head of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, though there are no confirmed cases in Albany, where lawmakers are three months into a front-loaded legislative session. The coronavirus has overshadowed nearly all other legislative priorities in Albany, with Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins on Wednesday saying that other issues have been sidelined as our priority is always going to be public health.

State lawmakers have considered a slew of measures in response to the coronavirus and its related economic, social and health impacts  the most high-profile being a paid sick leave guarantee for private sector workers affected by the virus. That bill is being negotiated within the governors office and in both legislative chambers, but is expected to be voted on early next week, Assembly Speaker Carl E. Heastie told reporters Tuesday.

Other proposals floated over the past week include increasing penalties for price gouging, permitting absentee ballots in the event of a public health crisis, protecting state funding for schools that close because of the COVID-19 outbreak, and bolstering pay for retired police officers and health care workers during states of emergency.

With the biggest legislative push behind the paid sick leave bill, its unclear how many other proposals will make it through the committee process this month. The Legislature is, by nature, a slow-moving body dealing with a rapidly evolving pandemic, and lawmakers are in continuous talks behind closed doors to see how, if at all, they can lend a hand.

We are going to look at a number of different issues including price gouging, resources and insurance issues, said Senate Majority spokesman Mike Murphy. This is an all-hands-on-deck situation by all branches of government.

State Sen. Peter Harckham, D-Westchester County, on Wednesday announced four bills he is championing in response to the pandemic, including a measure to provide interest-free loans to small businesses affected by community shutdowns from the illness. He said lawmakers understand the urgency behind the need for some of this legislation, and members are discussing what issues to tackle first.

We have to consider a way to fast-track these, he said. We need to have the supports in place now. Six months may be too late.

State Sen. Alessandra Biaggi, D-Bronx, added that many legislators are in a constant information-gathering-and-disseminating phase, receiving updates from both the governors and New York City mayors offices each afternoon. Like other lawmakers, she has directed staff to provide updates to constituents through email blasts and other methods of communication.

Biaggi introduced the bill to permit absentee ballots in the midst of a public health crisis. Shes also looking at measures to bolster health insurance for airport workers and ensure that New Yorkers have access to medication that they receive on a regular basis.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

There is also the possibility that some coronavirus-related legislation could make its way into the state budget due by April 1. Lawmakers are in the final stages of budget negotiations, with the one-house bills for both chambers expected next week.

When asked whether the budget could be scaled down  with some priorities unrelated to the coronavirus, including marijuana legalization, possibly pushed off the negotiating table  Stewart-Cousins said It's reasonable to think that, because we're so focused on how will we manage this situation, that a lot of conversation will happen around that and the implications of that.

Heastie clarified that there have been no discussions of a rushed budget or ending the six-month session in response to coronavirus fears, telling reporters: We are government, and we  feel we should be the most responsible people in the state and provide leadership. So, we're going to do our jobs.

Cuomo, for his part, has taken the lead on immediate coronavirus response, most recently permitting paid sick leave for state workers who are under mandatory or voluntary quarantine. He has also instituted a one-mile containment zone in New Rochelle, the Westchester County city where the most confirmed cases have been concentrated.

State Sen. Brad Hoylman, D-Manhattan, who sponsors the price gouging prevention bill, said the Legislature can support the governor in his efforts to make sure life continues as is in our state as well as it can under the circumstances. And then, he added, they can advocate for some of the longer-term priorities  including making sure New Yorkers arent paying exorbitant amounts of money for medical supplies.
Even before the collapse of the OPEC+ talks last Friday, Saudi Arabias finance ministry had asked government agencies to propose a 20-30 percent cut in their budgets due to the oil price slide, Reuters reported on Wednesday, citing four sources with knowledge of the plans.

Before the OPEC+ meeting last week, the Saudis were already planning government spending cuts, including via delays in projects and contract awards, as the coronavirus outbreak is dampening the oil demand outlook and weighing on oil prices and on Saudi oil revenues. The Kingdom was also expecting tough negotiations with its now former ally Russia about deepening the OPEC+ production cuts, Reuters sources said.

Now the oil price crash after the OPEC+ break-up and the all-out oil price war between friends-turned-foes Saudi Arabia and Russia makes Saudi budget spending cuts even more urgent, considering the fact that the Kingdom needs oil prices at above $80 a barrel in order to balance its budget and that it has been running widening budget deficits since the previous oil price crash of 2014.

According to Capital Economics analysts, quoted by Reuters, at the current oil prices, Brent Crude at $36 a barrel, Saudi Arabias budget deficit will jump to 15 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) this year, compared to deficit of 4.7 percent of GDP in 2019.

The Saudi sovereign wealth fund could help cover the shortfall as oil revenues slump with the price crash and glut on the market, but investments of hundreds of billions of U.S. dollars in mega projects and in the Vision 2030 plan to diversify away from oil could be delayed.

The oil price war will hurt the fiscal revenues of the oil producers in the Persian Gulf, including the Saudis, OPECs top producer and the worlds top oil exporter, credit rating agency Fitch said earlier this week, and warned that that a new wave of sovereign rating downgrades could be in the works if the oil slump continues.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
The Bexar County Republican chairwoman and a candidate for sheriff disputed results of the March 3 elections, asking Tuesday for a recount or a whole new countywide primary vote.

But the county elections administrator held firm on the outcome of the Super Tuesday primaries and the more than 250,000 total votes counted.

I stand behind this election, said Bexar County Elections Administrator Jacque Callanen, who has held the post for 15 years.

While some have lamented long lines at polling places on election day and delays in the release of early vote and other election totals, Callanen denied allegations raised by Republican Chairwoman Cynthia Brehm and Democratic sheriffs candidate Michelle Barrientes Vela that people were denied the right to vote.

Brehm and Vela told the Bexar County Commissioners Court and reporters that some were turned away, and polling sites shut down.

Neither provided specific locations where they said those irregularities occurred. But Vela, a former county constable who placed third among five candidates in the Democratic sheriffs race and faces charges related to alleged actions as constable, said the results are not accurate.

On ExpressNews.com: County getting vote system ready after test run

In a matter of days, theyre wanting to shut down and move on to the runoff. I dont think were quite there yet, said Vela, who faces one count of aggravated perjury, and two counts of tampering with or fabricating evidence and three counts of official oppression. She has maintained her innocence.

During the citizen comment portion of a busy meeting, Vela asked commissioners to put aside your personal feelings for me and begin looking into our voting process and the possibility of corruption here in Bexar County.

I think this is not only a county issue, but a national issue, Vela said.

Brehm, who is in a runoff to keep her seat as chairwoman, said she also fielded concerns that candidates names were left off some ballots.

There are enough inconsistencies to cause concern about this election process, Brehm told commissioners, asking them to throw out this election.

But the Commissioners Court has no say over the political parties primaries.

The partys precinct chairs will meet Thursday night to review and canvass the votes. But Brehm told reporters, I feel wholeheartedly that theyre going to throw this election out.

She said she also plans to file a complaint with the secretary of states office.

Brehm had leveled a complaint last year with the state agency, saying election officials had tampered with ballots in the May city election. But according to an account provided by Callanen at the time, Brehm and three Republican allies camped out at county elections office for two days, causing so much disruption that Callanen called the Sheriffs Office. Brehm disputed that, saying they were poll-watching, as allowed by law.

State officials questioned Callanen and later backed her up, finding no tampering had occurred.

On Tuesday, Callanen dismissed the latest complaints as misinterpretation or misinformation.

Callanen has previously mentioned that early voting had to be briefly interrupted at some poll sites, as tabulator bins filled with ballot cards were replaced with empty bins so voting could continue.

She has said a computer at election headquarters crashed three times when election officials tried to transfer data on about 122,000 early votes with a thumb drive, so early vote totals could be reported to the public as polls closed.

That caused at least an hour-long delay in public posting of early voting results. Vote figures for absentee mail-in and election night also were reported on separate files that night, not in the consolidated report voters are used to seeing.

Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff asked that the county information technology department work with the vendor, Election Systems & Software, to determine what went wrong with the countys new $12.6 million system when the computer failures occurred at election headquarters.

Talking to reporters afterward, Callanen flatly denied any inaccuracies in the vote totals. She noted that late mail-in and provisional ballots are still being counted this week, and she didnt rule out a possibility they could affect the outcome of one or two down-ballot races.

The numbers will change. But were only counting what the law allows us to count, she said, not taking a position on Brehms call for a new election.

On ExpressNews.com: Discord erupts over March 3 primary

Thats between her and the state party. We have nothing to say about that, Callanen said.

In other business Tuesday, commissioners agreed to begin work on a long-range program to develop up to 22 projects for trail connections, ecosystem restoration and other improvements along the San Antonio and Medina rivers and local creeks, at a total of $240 million, with some projects receiving federal assistance.

But commissioners said they want to see priorities in other areas, such as literacy, job training and affordable housing, before committing to a 10-year program to build those river and creek projects.

Also approved was an agreement with Sundt Corp. to demolish the old Bexar County Jail, at a cost not exceeding $1.25 million. Razing the 1960s structure, which functioned as the county jail until 1987 and has since been leased, will make room for a new University of Texas at San Antonio College of Business building as part of a $5.7 million land deal with the university that commissioners approved in January.

The old jail is on the west side of San Pedro Creek, between Dolorosa and Nueva streets, near a segment of creek undergoing widening and beautification under the countys San Pedro Creek Culture Park project.

shuddleston@express-news.net | Twitter: @shuddlestonSA
Martin wrote that there havent been any coronavirus cases on campus but that the university has decided to err on the side of caution with the moves.

Webster University also announced Wednesday that it will move classes online, though only through the week of April 3. Residential halls, the library and laboratories will remain open and food services will continue, President Julian Schuster wrote in a message to students and staff.

There are no known cases of the virus among Webster students or staff, Schuster wrote. Faculty and other employees can continue to report to work.

However, Webster University said it will cancel all events on its campus through April 5.

A spokesman for The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, situated on Webster Universitys campus, said the move does not affect the theater.

Webster has about 4,100 students enrolled at its Webster Groves campus and over 14,000 internationally. Its locations in China have been operating remotely since January, and other overseas sites will also move online for the next several weeks.
NINE additional cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed in Ireland  bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 43.

Details of the additional cases, which were detected in eight men and one woman at locations across the country, were revealed by National Public Health Emergency Team this Tuesday evening.

The new cases include four males, from the south of the country, associated with travel; One female, from the south of the country, associated with contact with a confirmed case; One male, from the south of the country, associated with contact with a confirmed case and three males, from the east of the country, two associated with travel, one associated with contact of a confirmed case.

The HSE says it is now working rapidly to identify any contacts the patients may have had, to provide them with information and advice to prevent further spread.

Speaking at a media briefing this Wednesday evening, Dr Tony Holahan, chief medical officer at the Department of Health, said while Ireland still remains in containment phase, efforts are to be made to "enhance and step up" the containment phase.

In relation to the first confirmed death - a woman from the east country - he said she had an underlying condition and was being treated in hospital.

"I would like to extend my condolences to the family and friends of this patient. I urge the media and the public to respect their privacy at this difficult time. We continue our efforts to interrupt the transmission of this virus. It will take all of us, collectively to succeed. Please continue to follow public health advice," he said.

Read also: Department of Education says no advice yet to close schools due to coronavirus

_____________________________________________________________________________________

For updates and advice on Covid-19, visit the HSE website or the dedicated coronavirus section of our website.
Quantzig, a global data analytics and advisory firm, that delivers actionable analytics solutions to resolve complex business problems has announced the completion of its recent article that examines the benefits of HR analytics for recruiters.

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Among all the crucial factors impacting employee behavior, financial compensation plays a major role in the satisfaction of an employee. HR analytics can be of great help when it comes to determining the financial compensation for an employee. It is difficult for a multi-national company to determine financial compensation for employees working from different locations across the world this is when HR analytics can smoothen the process of determining financial compensation for employees.

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DALLAS, March 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- JLL has named Managing Director and industry veteran Jeff Eckert as the new Head of U.S. Office Agency Leasing, effective immediately. Eckert, based in Dallas, will oversee national strategy, drive execution of key initiatives to help enhance client service and relationships and provide the tools and resources needed to make JLL's people the most creative and productive in the business.

Jeff Eckert, JLL U.S. Head of Office Agency Leasing

"Jeff is an exceptional leader within our firm and our industry," said Jay Koster, JLL Group Head, Americas Capital Markets and Investor Services. "He is a natural choice for this role given his passion to lead and innovate with technology, his strong relationships with many of our largest national clients, his dedication to fostering talent and his commitment to evolving and growing the Office Agency Leasing business."

Eckert has held multiple leadership roles over the course of his 13-year tenure at JLL, serving most recently as the leader of Office Agency Leasing and Property Management in Dallas and chair of the Agency Leasing Council. In his new role, Eckert will continue to chair the council and will join the Brokerage Executive Committee.

"I am honored to lead JLL's premier U.S. Office Agency Leasing platform," Eckert said. "Through more than a decade at the firm, I have seen firsthand how our client-first philosophy and commitment to our employees has fostered success. Focusing on further enhancing innovation with our new and existing technologies will enable our team to consistently deliver exceptional services and experiences."

Managing Directors T.D. Briggs and Joel Pustmueller, who joined JLL through the acquisition of Peloton Commercial Real Estate in 2002, will succeed Eckert in co-leading the leasing business in the Dallas-Ft. Worth market.

JLL's more than 540 Agency Leasing professionals in the U.S. provide leasing services for some of the world's largest companies across a portfolio of more than 3,200 buildings totaling 605 million square feet. In 2019 alone, JLL completed nearly 6,000 transactions totaling $25.8 billion dollars in lease value.

About JLL

JLL (NYSE: JLL) is a leading professional services firm that specializes in real estate and investment management. JLL shapes the future of real estate for a better world by using the most advanced technology to create rewarding opportunities, amazing spaces and sustainable real estate solutions for our clients, our people and our communities. JLL is a Fortune 500 company with annual revenue of $18.0 billion, operations in over 80 countries and a global workforce of more than 93,000 as of December 31, 2019. JLL is the brand name, and a registered trademark, of Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated. For further information, visit jll.com.

Connect with us

https://www.linkedin.com/company/jll

https://www.facebook.com/jll

https://twitter.com/jll

Contact: Scott Sutton

Phone: +1 312 228 2863

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE JLL

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Egypt, UAE establish Libyan naval commando unit to fight Turkey

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 10 March 2020 8:35 AM

Backed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Egypt has reportedly set up a special naval operations force made up of Libyan commandos, which is tasked with targeting Turkish naval interests off Libyan coasts.

The London-based newspaper Al-Araby Al-Jadeed quoted Egyptian and Libyan sources as saying on Monday that the military squad is aimed at blocking the naval route that Turkey uses to send military aid to the internationally-recognized government of Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj in the capital, Tripoli.

The force, which consists of around 50 fighters, returned to eastern Libya last week after receiving training from the Egyptian navy in one of the naval bases set up for this purpose, said the sources.

The squad will receive another batch of fighters who are still undergoing intensive training at one of the Egyptian naval bases, they said.

The sources further said that Abu Dhabi would supply advanced naval boats for the mission, which will be supervised by Egyptian military experts before being handed over to naval forces linked to renegade General Khalifa Haftar fighting the Tripoli government.

Haftar has launched an offensive since April 2019 to seize Tripoli.

Turkey has reportedly been transferring allied militants from Syria to Libya to shore up the Tripoli government.

Last month, the Libyan rebels claimed they had destroyed a Turkish cargo ship carrying ammunition and weapons at the port of Tripoli.

Haftar is supported by Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the UAE. His forces have deployed precision-guided Blue Arrow 7 missiles known to have been provided to the UAE.

In turn, the renegade general has slammed Turkey and Qatar for supplying weapons to his rivals.

According to the latest UN tally, more than 280 civilians and roughly 2,000 fighters have been killed in Haftar's offensive. An estimated 146,000 Libyans have been displaced.

Libya plunged into chaos in 2011, when a popular uprising and a NATO intervention led to the ouster of long-time dictator Muammar Gaddafi and his execution by unruly fighters.

The North African country has since been split between two rival administrations based in the east and west amid a conflict drawing increasing involvement from foreign powers.

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Official guidelines for those attention mass, funerals and other religious events, have been issued by the Irish Catholic's Bishops' Office this afternoon in light of the current coronavirus situation.

Hand Hygiene

It is important that hand sanitiser is provided at each entrance of the church.

Holy water fonts should remain empty at this time.

The Sign of Peace is not to be expressed by hand shaking.

Having received Holy Communion, and before and after distributing, the priest and ministers should sanitise their hands.

Collection baskets: priests are asked to provide an alternative to the practice of passing collection baskets through the congregation. The faithful are asked to continue their generous contributions to the upkeep of their parish.

Receiving Holy Communion in the hand

We ask that Holy Communion be received in the hand until the current crisis has passed.

Read also: First coronavirus death reported in Ireland

Sunday/Weekday Mass

At this time the celebration of Mass on Sundays and on weekdays - including Saint Patricks Day  will continue as normal. However, those with underlying conditions and those who are considered vulnerable are dispensed from their Sunday obligation to attend. We strongly encourage people with such conditions to be spiritually united with their local community. Where possible they should avail of parish radio broadcasts and webcam. While in church and as far as possible people are asked to keep a safe distance from one another, in keeping with current advice.

The Sacrament of Confirmation

The celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation is a happy and joyous occasion which brings people together from far and wide. We ask that people with underlying health conditions and who are considered vulnerable from a health perspective, should not attend the celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation.

The celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation will continue for now but may have to be postponed at very short notice in the light of future advice from the public health authorities. The anointing with the Oil of Chrism will be administered without direct touch, in a safe and appropriate manner, such as with the use of a cotton bud.

Celebration of the Sacrament of the Sick

Concerning the pastoral care of the sick and the administration of the sacrament, the priest will use a cotton bud or surgical glove for the anointing with Holy Oil and dispose of them appropriately.

The Sacrament of Baptism

During this time the celebrant will sign the child with the Cross without touching. Where there is more than one child being baptised, a single jug of fresh water will be blessed and used. The anointing with the Holy Oils will be administered by the use of cotton buds.

Read also: Dream St Patrick's weekend New York trip for Longford St Christopher's service users postponed owing to Covid-19 risk

Funerals

The community of faith will always seek to surround the funerals and burials of its deceased members with love and respect. However, even now it is clear that people with underlying conditions, and who are vulnerable, should not attend funerals. For the same reason, when sympathising, people should not shake hands.

The Church awaits official guidance from the public health authorities in the event of a deterioration in the situation. While abiding by all such advice, the Church will always stand with the bereaved and do its best to ensure a Christian burial for those who request it.

Concelebration of Mass

In light of our particular circumstances at this time, and health authority guidance, the bishops have given permission for only the main celebrant to receive from the chalice, when concelebration is deemed necessary.

Reviewing this information

We ask everyone to continue to follow the guidance of the public health authorities north and south. As the situation evolves, Church-specific information will be updated and published on local diocesan websites, on the website of the Irish Catholic Bishops Conference www.catholicbishops.ie and on their related digital media platforms.

Read also: Covid-19 chaos? Longford events cancelled and restricted for health reasons
Water Pipeline Leak Detection Systems Market Size  USD 920 million in 2018, CAGR of 5.06%, Water Pipeline Leak Detection Systems Industry Trends Internet of Things (IoT) proving in pipeline leak detection, rising demand for pipeline monitoring solutions due to increase in pipeline infrastructure

New York, March 10, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to the current analysis of Reports and Data, the global Water Pipeline Leak Detection Systems market was valued at USD 920 Million in 2018 and expected to reach USD 1300.23 Million by the year 2026, at a CAGR of 5.06%. The drinking water scarcity problem exists almost all over these days. The reasons behind it are the unavailability of resources and the lack in the proper management of the accessible water supply system by the concerned organizations. Also, a significant amount of water lost due to leakage on the network. For example, in the context of Nepal, roughly 40 % of drinking water is lost due to leakage, indicating a weak distribution system in Kathmandu. Proper management of available water supply with an automated monitoring system is therefore highly desirable to address the crux of the drinking scarcity problem.

Request free sample of this research report at: https://www.reportsanddata.com/sample-enquiry-form/2568

Recently, information and communication technology (ICT) has gained interest in the field of drinking water management also for automated monitoring. Among various techniques to detect the underground leaks, acoustic sensing equipment are simple and sensitive enough to record the stress waves created by leakage in high-pressure pipes. There are various techniques for localizing leaks. These machines can include pinpoint listening devices directly on the base. Once a leak happens in a pipe, liquid runs outside through the hole creating a pressure wave with frequency in the audio range. The energy produced from the leak transmitted within the pipe through the water, which in turn makes mechanical vibration on the surface of the pipes.

Story continues

An underground acoustic sensor attached to the outer surface of the pipe can be used to pick up these vibrations. Correlating devices like pickup accelerometers listen to two different points to detect the leak location. An underground acoustic sensor attached to the outer surface of the pipeline can be used to pick up these vibrations.

Further key findings from the report suggest

Sewer and water leakages in underground pipes have become a critical issue for management authorities in most countriesdeveloped and developing alike worldwide. Leakages in sewer and water pipe may lead to several problems, such as a shortage of drinking water, groundwater contamination, and ground subsidence. Numerous nations are investing a considerable amount of their annual budget towards the prevention and control of the probable effects of sewer and pipe leakage. These issues further exacerbate infrastructure and environmental conditions that support human socioeconomic activities

Based on the Pipe type, the metallic pipe segment expected to grow at a higher rate during the projected time, as it is the primary material used for the construction of pipes. Metallic pipes mostly favored over other pipe types due to their high durability and strength, regardless of the liquids that they bring. This growth can be attached to its high pressure-carrying strength for any material transporting through metallic pipes.

By solution, the leak detection application segment is projected to grow at the highest CAGR from 2019 to 2024. This growth can be attributed to the increasing investments from oil & gas companies in pipe monitoring infrastructures for safe transportation of liquids. Pipe leakage detection systems help in detecting damages across pipeline infrastructures. These systems detect leaks based on flow, pressure, temperature, and density.

The pipeline leak detection systems market determined by new pipeline projects rising spending of transmission & treatment companies on maintenance, residential & non-residential buildings, rapid construction of population growth & urbanization, increasing demand from numerous actions in industries, growing environmental concerns, and role of the government in authorizing the usage of leak detection measures to avoid liquid loss.

North America accounted for the largest share of the total market of the pipe monitoring system, in terms of value, followed by the Asia Pacific. However, the Asia Pacific region projected to grow at the highest rate than Europe in the pipe monitoring systems market.

Key participants include, Orbcomm Inc., Transcanada, Honeywell International Inc, Pure Technologies, Atmos International, Aqua Leak Detection LLC, Mueller Water Products Inc, Schneider Electric, Siemens AG, Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd.

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For the purpose of this report, Reports and Data has segmented the Water Pipeline Leak Detection Systems market based on

Equipment (Revenue, USD Million; 20162026)

Acoustic

Non-Acoustic

Technology (Revenue, USD Million; 20162026)

Ultrasonic

Smart ball,

Magnetic Flux

Fiber Optic

Others

Pipe Type (Revenue, USD Million; 20162026)

Metallic Pipes

Ductile Iron Pipes

Stainless Steel Pipes

Aluminum Pipes

Other Metal Pipes

Non-Metallic Pipes

Plastic Pipes

Glass Pipes

Others

Solution (Revenue, USD Million; 20162026)

Leak Detection

Pipeline Break Detection

Others

End-Use (Revenue, USD Million; 20162026)

Industrial

Residential

Commercial

Muncipal

To identify the key trends in the industry, click on the link below: https://www.reportsanddata.com/report-detail/water-pipeline-leak-detection-systems-market

Regional Outlook (Revenue in USD Million; 20162026)

North America The U.S. Canada

Europe Germany France UK Spain Italy Rest of the Europe

Asia Pacific China India Japan Rest of Asia-Pacific

Middle East & Africa

Latin America Brazil



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Shirley Ann Cruickshank Byers, 94, of Signal Mountain, died on March 9, 2020.

Born and raised in Baltimore, Md., she was a draftsman for Pennsylvania Water and Power Baltimore Branch. She was also an accomplished freelance artist in many mediums.

A 1984 graduate Magna Cum Laude from Chattanooga State Technical Community College with an Associate of Science in Advertising Arts. She was vice-president of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Fraternity and was on the Deans list and the Student Cabinet. She is in the 1983-84 Whos Who for Students in American Junior colleges.

Mrs. Byers was a member of Signal Mountain Presbyterian Church and served in many capacities over the years. In 1985, the women of the church honored her with Honorary Life Membership. In 1995-96, she was moderator of the Presbyterian Women. She was also moderator of Womens Circle 1 for many years.

Over the years she volunteered with numerous associations and agencies. She received certificates of appreciation from The Retired Officers Association, CHCVCC, and Senior Neighbors. She was a charter member of the Medal of Honor Museum and was their resident artist. Mrs. Byers received Tennessees Outstanding Achievement Award from Governor McWherter for volunteer work as well as the Charles H. Coolidge Veteran of the Year Award for volunteer assistance to veterans and the community. She was an Assistant Troop Leader for Girl Scouts and Den Mother for Boy Scouts. She was a servant to her church and her community.

She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and is survived by her two children and their spouses, Richard E. and Debra P. Byers of Calera, Alabama and Jacqueline L. and C. Graham Phuvanatnaranubala of Hayward, California; five grandchildren, Bradley K. and Savannah G. Phuvanatnaranubala, K. Baylee Byers, S. Kolton Byers and his fiancee Allissa M. Presley, W. Chase and Candace Byers; one great-grandchild, Katelyn Reece Byers.

She was predeceased by her husband, Col Lloyd D. Byers; her parents, Elsa A. Schroedl and William John Cruickshank; her brother William J. Cruickshank Jr. and his wife Ann Lambert.

A memorial service will be held at Alexian Brothers Chapel on Saturday, March 14, at 2 p.m. with Pastor Margaret Ferguson officiating. Visitation will follow the service at Alexian.

There will be a gravesite prayer at Chattanoogas National Cemetery on Monday, March 16, at 10:30 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that memorials be made to Signal Mountain Presbyterian Church, 612 James Blvd., Signal Mountain, Tn. 37377 or the Dementia Society of America, P.O. Box 600, Doylestown, Pa. 18901.
The guided-missile destroyer Hohhot (Hull 161) attached to a destroyer flotilla with the navy under the PLA Southern Theater Command steams in waters of the South China Sea during a maritime training exercise in Mid-July, 2019. Photo:China Military

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) on Tuesday expelled a US warship that trespassed into Chinese territorial waters in the Xisha Islands of the South China Sea, while experts said Wednesday that recent US naval activities in the South China Sea are a sign that the US is losing control in the region and wants to flex its muscles to gain influence in the region.

US guided missile destroyer McCampbell on Tuesday trespassed into China's territorial waters in the Xisha Islands, and the PLA Southern Theater Command organized naval and aerial forces to follow its entire course, identified the ship, warned and expelled it, said Senior Colonel Li Huamin, a spokesperson of the PLA Southern Theater Command, on Wednesday.

China has undisputed sovereignty over the islands in the South China Sea and nearby waters, and the Chinese military remains highly vigilant at all times and will take any necessary measure to resolutely safeguard national sovereignty and peace and stability in the South China Sea, Li Huamin said.

The US sees the South China Sea as the "main battlefield" against China and is expected to increase actions even further in the future, because it has increasingly lost influence and control over the South China Sea, Li Jie, a Beijing-based naval expert, told the Global Times on Wednesday.

Countries in the South China Sea, such as the Philippines, are becoming less dependent on the US, so the US is losing leverage and has no option but to increase presence and exert influence on its own by sending warships, Li Jie said.

This is not the first time the US has sent a warship to the South China Sea in 2020.

On January 25, the US littoral combat ship Montgomery sailed near the Nansha Islands in the South China Sea, and was also expelled by Chinese forces.

The US side is using "freedom of navigation" as an excuse and repeatedly entering the South China Sea to flex its muscles and make trouble, which are acts of hegemony that violate international law and threaten peace and stability in the region, PLA Southern Theater Command spokesperson Li Huamin said on Wednesday.

As the PLA Navy gains far sea capability, it can also conduct "freedom of navigation" operations in international waters near the US, according to international law, to counter US provocation in its own way, Li Jie said.

From January to February, a far sea joint training fleet of the Chinese PLA Navy conducted a 41-day training mission that crossed the International Date Line deep into the Pacific Ocean, a region of international waters where the US has always thought of itself as a major influence, analysts said.

The US also accused the fleet of using lasers on its patrol aircraft near Guam, but it was the US aircraft that had conducted repeated close-in reconnaissance that interrupted the Chinese fleet's normal navigation and training in the first place.
Two of the millennium babies who appear in the final installment of Lord Robert Winston's Child of our Time documentary have been sharing how the show has changed their lives.

Eve and Jamie, now both 20, were on ITV's Lorraine this morning to talk about what it's been like to grow up with BBC2's cameras entering their life every four years, saying that while they're happy the show's reaching a natural conclusion as they reach adulthood, they've got no regrets about taking part.

Eve Scarborough, who lives in Stoke-on-Trent, who tragically lost her mother Caroline when she was just eight, says appearing on the show has given her a chance to get to know her mum via the footage filmed by BBC camerapeople.

Precious memories: Eve Scarborough's journey with the documentary Child of our Time began in 2000 when she was chosen to feature in Lord Robert Winston's documentary. 20 years on, she told the Lorraine show that losing her mum at eight has made the footage of her extra special

Eve as a youngster with her mother and father, she lost her mum at the age of eight and says that while no amount of home video can replace her, she has got precious memories from the BBC's footage (Tim and Caroline Scarborough with Eve as a child)

Both Eve and fellow millennium baby Jamie, who's about to become a dad, said they were pleased the show had come to an end, but they might consider a reunion show in the future

The show first began in 2000, when Lord Winston was perhaps the highest-profile fertility expert in the country, and set out to look at the changes happening to childrens bodies and minds, offering scientific explanations for their behaviour.

It was thought the series would run 'for a year, possibly two' according to Lord Winston, but it's now made its 20th birthday.

Sitting on the Lorraine sofa, one of the show's original 25 babies, Eve, told the ITV television host: 'I don't have a great memory of that time [losing her mother]...I've filed it away.

'But I've got the footage and I can not only see how she was as my mum but I can see her talking to camera and talking to other adults, which means I get a better idea of what her personality was like.'

Eve's mother Caroline with her as a baby in the BBC documentary footage; the 20-year-old, who's training to be a midwife says she doesn't have strong memories of her mother

Caroline, during the family's first ever show in 2000. Right: Eve as a baby

Eve (pictured age two) spoke candidly about discovering she's gay in the last episode, four years ago

Eve said the chance to see her mother as the 'whole person' was a really special experience for her although she admitted no amount of home video could replace her mum.

She also revealed how it felt coming out as gay on the programme, saying it barely caused a ripple - something that surprised her.

Four years ago, Eve, who grew up in a very strict Christian community, talked candidly about discovering shes gay  and described the dilemma of how to tell her dad.

Eve told Lorraine what it was like to be honest on television about her sexuality: 'From the show I'm not sure I got any reaction at all.

'I'm very lucky to have never had a negative reaction, which I don't think happens to a lot of people.'

Professor Robert Winston with the stars of the show four years ago - then teenagers, they're now 20. Pictured: Charlie, Ivo, Nathan, Alex, Professor Robert Winston, Matt, Eve, Calvin, Het, Rhianna

The two said it was great to look back at their childhood even the lows; Jamie, set to become a father in the coming months, said he would document his own child's life

Jamie, left, who has diabetes and witnessed his parents divorce said he had enjoyed sharing his story because it brought people who've been through similar things togehter

Jamie, who's set to become at young father at the age of 20, said he didn't regret sharing the story of his life so far, including his battle with diabetes and going through his parents' divorce.

He told the show: 'It was nice being able to share it with people, and you've got other people's experiences, you can come together through it'.

When asked if they would meet up again in four years time for another episode, they both said 'no' but didn't rule out a reunion show at some point.
Long term investing works well, but it doesn't always work for each individual stock. We don't wish catastrophic capital loss on anyone. Anyone who held Huili Resources (Group) Limited (HKG:1303) for five years would be nursing their metaphorical wounds since the share price dropped 76% in that time. And it's not just long term holders hurting, because the stock is down 30% in the last year. The falls have accelerated recently, with the share price down 19% in the last three months.

View our latest analysis for Huili Resources (Group)

Because Huili Resources (Group) made a loss in the last twelve months, we think the market is probably more focussed on revenue and revenue growth, at least for now. When a company doesn't make profits, we'd generally expect to see good revenue growth. That's because it's hard to be confident a company will be sustainable if revenue growth is negligible, and it never makes a profit.

Over five years, Huili Resources (Group) grew its revenue at 41% per year. That's better than most loss-making companies. So on the face of it we're really surprised to see the share price has averaged a fall of 25% each year, in the same time period. It could be that the stock was over-hyped before. We'd recommend carefully checking for indications of future growth - and balance sheet threats - before considering a purchase.

The graphic below depicts how earnings and revenue have changed over time (unveil the exact values by clicking on the image).

SEHK:1303 Income Statement, March 10th 2020

You can see how its balance sheet has strengthened (or weakened) over time in this free interactive graphic.

A Different Perspective

We regret to report that Huili Resources (Group) shareholders are down 30% for the year. Unfortunately, that's worse than the broader market decline of 11%. However, it could simply be that the share price has been impacted by broader market jitters. It might be worth keeping an eye on the fundamentals, in case there's a good opportunity. Regrettably, last year's performance caps off a bad run, with the shareholders facing a total loss of 25% per year over five years. We realise that Baron Rothschild has said investors should "buy when there is blood on the streets", but we caution that investors should first be sure they are buying a high quality business. I find it very interesting to look at share price over the long term as a proxy for business performance. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 4 warning signs with Huili Resources (Group) , and understanding them should be part of your investment process.

Story continues

If you like to buy stocks alongside management, then you might just love this free list of companies. (Hint: insiders have been buying them).

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on HK exchanges.

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



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
If Australia does not close its borders to travellers the country runs the risk of experiencing Italys exponential rise in coronavirus cases.

Chief executive of the Grattan Institute Dr John Daley said Australia could go one of two ways now the nation had passed the 100-case mark.

"You can either close your air borders, or you can shut down a significant amount of community activity now," he said.

While Australia has had limited community transmission so far, Dr Daley said if governments waited before shutting down schools, universities and public events, the outbreak could grow out of control.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: Anil Ambani-led Reliance Group on Wednesday said its entire debt from troubled Yes Bank is fully secured and was availed in the ordinary course of business.

In a statement, the group said it is committed to honouring repayments of all its borrowing from Yes Bank through its asset monetisation programme.

ASLO READ: Yes Bank founder Rana Kapoor's ED custody extended till March 16

The Group, it said, has "nil direct or indirect exposure to Rana Kapoor, former CEO of Yes Bank, or his wife or daughters, or any entities controlled by Rana Kapoor or his family."

Reliance Group along side Subhash Chandra's Essel Group were among the large borrowers that Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had named after Yes Bank's board was superseded by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and withdrawal restrictions placed.

As many as 44 companies belonging to 10 large business groups reportedly accounted for bad loans of Rs 34,000 crore of Yes Bank.

ALSO READ: Big companies owe Rs 60,000 crore to Yes Bank, says Ex-BJP MP Kirit Somaiya

Nine firms of Anil Ambani Group reportedly owed Rs 12,800 crore while Essel Group had unpaid loans of Rs 8,400 crore.

Other companies on the list include DHFL Group, Dewan Housing Finance Corporation, Jet Airways, Cox & Kings, and Bharat Infra.

Without giving the loan it has from Yes Bank, Reliance said: "Its entire exposure to Yes Bank is fully secured and transacted in the ordinary course of business."

ALSO READ: Yes Bank customers can pay credit bill, loan repayments through other bank accounts

"Reliance Group is committed to honouring repayments of all its borrowings from Yes Bank Ltd through its various asset monetisation programmes which are all at advanced stages," the statement said.
On April 4th rally and other updates

By Malkhaz Matsaberidze

The Georgian Dream is preparing to win the 2020 parliamentary elections and if it does manage, it will be their third term even though the local experts and members of the opposition believe that two governmental terms is an unwritten rule of the Georgian politics. Looking at the post-Soviet history of Georgia, no governments remained for more than two terms after adopting the 1995 constitution. Eduard Shevardnadze in 1995 and 1999, and in 2003, the Rose Revolution happened. Mikheil Saakashvili won the 2004 and 2008 parliamentary elections but was defeated in 2012, while the Georgian Dream won the 2012 and 2016 elections and now is planning to repeat the victory in 2020.The United Opposition is planning a mass protest on April 4th. Some political analysts consider publicising the date of the rally in advance is a mistake. A massive rally wont put the government in the mood for stepping back and if the rally doesn't have a large turnout, it will be seen as the oppositions weakness. The Georgian Dream counts the people at the oppositions rallies every time and uses it against them.By April 4th, the prolonged discussion about the electoral system will be over. The government is probably going to conduct the elections with the system it chooses. The opposition is probably going to deal with it and name the candidates as well as introduce an action plan on April 4th.The rally needs to be carefully prepared. For a massive rally, people need to be brought from the regions and funds have to be organised. As for the demonstration, its nature will depend on the number of people gathered. It is also suggested that the opposition will continue the rally at least until April 9th.The report of the Estonian Foreign Intelligence Service became a subject of discussion in Georgia. It had nothing new to say about our country but briefly describes Russian policy - in 2019, Russia intensified pressure on Georgia, actively using soft power and enhancing propaganda, making Russia's action in the Tskhinvali region more aggressive and provocative. It was also noted that Russia will seek to influence Georgias 2020 elections to provide a more favorable outcome for itself.The statement made by Russian Foreign Ministry regarding the Council of Europe Committee planned for May 14-15 also speaks about how Russia will intensify its pressure on Georgia. The Russian delegation is also supposed to visit with Lavrov leading it. Russia is laying the responsibility on the Georgian government in advance, stating that provocations are expected from the Georgian government.On February 18, the Georgian government, more precisely the Georgian Dream (only they participated in the voting), brought Irakli Shotadze to the post of the General Prosecutor. The selection process of the General Prosecutor once again became the reason for a clash regarding the condition of the judicial system.The judicial system is the biggest weakness for post-Soviet Georgia. It is always seen in two ways- the government thinks everything is in order and nothing is threatening its independence; for the opposition, the judiciary is a submissive tool in the hands of the authorities.The Georgian Dream is stating that Irakli Shotadze, a dignified person and a professional has come back to the office. The opposition believes Shotadze is a credible and obedient figure to Ivanishvili, who will use him for political persecution. Once elected, it was said that Shotadzes first case will be Nika Melias arrest.




Haiti - FLASH : The Government yields to pressure and accepts a police union





The Office of the Secretary of State for Communication informs the population that on Tuesday March 10, 2020, during a special meeting of the Superior Council of the National Police (CSPN) 4 resolutions were taken [under pressure and police violence from the street], granting the police offciers, among other things, the right to syndicate. This decision real flips of the Government, in addition to satisfying the demands of the police officers, makes it possible to respect the prescriptions of the Constitution, in particular :



Article 35.3 which states "Freedom of association is guaranteed. Any worker in the private and public sectors can join the Union of his professional activities for the defense exclusively of his work interests. ";



Article 35.4 which states "The union is essentially apolitical, non-profit and non-denominational. No one can be forced to join."



And Article 35.5 which states "The right to strike is recognized to the extent determined by law"



Resolutions taken during the Superior Council of the Special National Police :



1. A decree will amend article 11 [of the internal regulations of the National Police of Haiti] which prohibited police officers from the right to associate to defend their right



2. The Executive will issue a decree to organize the right of association or union in the public service [note HL: In accordance with article 35.5 of the Constitution the Government can for example prohibit the right to strike as admitted in international instruments ratified by Haiti in view of the imperative nature of their function or limit other aspects]



3. Re-examination of the revoked police files https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30061-haiti-flash-5-police-officers-dismissed-for-indiscipline-attack-on-the-honor-of-the-pnh-and-acts-of-vandalism.html



4. Carry out an audit of the PNH which will be carried out by national and international experts in order to identify the problems and provide the appropriate solutions.



In addition, the CSPN deplores the terrorist actions which attempt to attack the very foundations of our Republic.



To be continued...



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30236-haiti-security-magistrates-attacked-by-individuals-claiming-to-be-from-the-pnh.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30061-haiti-flash-5-police-officers-dismissed-for-indiscipline-attack-on-the-honor-of-the-pnh-and-acts-of-vandalism.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30060-haiti-politic-incidents-of-champ-de-mars-declaration-of-the-prime-minister-ai-lapin.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30051-haiti-flash-police-protesters-set-fire-to-champ-de-mars.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-29986-haiti-flash-rebel-police-attack-staff-and-destroy-equipment-at-the-igpnh.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-29977-haiti-news-zapping.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-29334-haiti-news-zapping.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-29309-haiti-news-zapping.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-29287-haiti-social-police-will-take-streets-this-sunday.html



SL/ HaitiLibre


















Avid Florida hunter Bartlow Montgomery Myers offers his top tips for the state's March and April turkey hunting season.

TALLAHASSEE, FL / ACCESSWIRE / March 10, 2020 / The state of Florida has released its turkey hunting season dates for the spring of 2020. The turkey hunting season begins on March 2, and closes on April 7, in South Florida, and spans from March 16 through April 21, for all areas north of State Road 70.

Avid Florida outdoorsman and hunting enthusiast Bartlow Montgomery Myers offers his tips for making the most of the turkey hunting season this year, including the best resources to read before you go, what to wear when turkey hunting, where to hunt, and more. Bartlow Montgomery Myers continuously expresses the importance of thoroughly understanding the rules and regulations of turkey hunting in Florida before heading into the woods.

"It doesn't matter if it's your first time turkey hunting or your 50th, it always pays to check in with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission website," Bartlow Montgomery Myers says. "This website is my go-to place for license requirements, regulations, and more."

Lifelong hunter and esteemed outdoorsman Bartlow Montgomery Myers has taken plenty of turkeys home for cooking over the years. This season is the first he has shared his turkey calling, gear, and blind tips with fellow hunters.

"I like to use a good handmade box call or pot/slate call. However, it's not just imitation turkey sounds that can draw these birds near. I also imitate the sounds of woodpeckers, crows, and owls to get male turkeys to do their instinctive "shock" gobble," Bartlow Montgomery Myers adds.

Bartlow Montgomery Myers explains that male turkeys often do an initial gobble, known as a "shock" gobble, when they hear crows, woodpeckers, and owls in the earliest hours of the day. He argues that his woodpecker and crow calls are just as effective as his actual turkey calls. Myers also explains that staying out of sight can be surprisingly difficult when hunting turkey.

Story continues

"Turkeys have much sharper eyesight than most hunters think. That's why a ground blind can be much more effective with these creatures," Bartlow Montgomery Myers says. "You don't even have to purchase a blind at the outdoors store. Just make one along the edge of a field with nearby fallen debris and vegetation. I've always done well with my handmade, natural blinds."

Avid Florida hunters like Bartlow Montgomery Myers also express the importance of using as much camouflage as possible when turkey hunting. He recommends a face mask, cap, gloves, boots, long pants, and a long-sleeve shirt to trick a turkey's keen eyesight.

"Of course, as most Floridian hunters know, the most useful gear you can carry with you into the woods when turkey hunting is a heavy-duty insect repellent to fight off ticks and mosquitoes," Bartlow Montgomery Myers concludes.

CONTACT:

Caroline Hunter

Web Presence, LLC

+1 7865519491

SOURCE: Web Presence, LLC





View source version on accesswire.com:

https://www.accesswire.com/579953/Hunting-Enthusiast-Bartlow-Montgomery-Myers-Discusses-His-Top-Tips-for-Floridas-Upcoming-Spring-Turkey-Hunting-Season




Rome

The boisterous hum of Rome dwindled to a whisper and police patrols kept people apart in cafes as Italy enforced an extraordinary, sweeping lockdown in hopes of not becoming the next epicenter of the spreading coronavirus epidemic now that life in China is edging back to normal.

Infections in Italy topped the 10,000 mark  more than anywhere else but China  and the number of deaths from the virus rose Tuesday to 631 from 463 a day earlier, Italian Civil Protection authorities said.

Travel and social restrictions that extended across Italy illustrated how the virus and the broad disruptions it is causing are sweeping westward from China, where the outbreak began.

Police across the country patrolled cafes to ensure owners kept customers 1 meter (3 feet) apart during daylight hours and then enforced a strict 6 p.m. closure order.

"It's bad. People are terrorized," said Massimo Leonardo, who runs a market stall. "I've never seen anything like it."

For most, the coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. But for a few, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illnesses, including pneumonia. More than 118,000 people have been infected worldwide and over 4,200 have died.

By encouraging many of Italy's 62 million people to stay home and further drying up what was left of the country's already battered tourism industry, the lockdown could increase the likelihood of a recession, dealing another blow to reeling global markets.

Italy's economy, the third-largest of the 19 countries that use the euro currency, relies heavily on industries requiring the physical presence and proximity of workers: tourism, manufacturing, and retail.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

Italians shouldn't leave home unless for work, health care or "necessities" such as grocery shopping, the premier's office said.

Shops, cafes and restaurants were ordered to close at 6 p.m., a seismic restriction in a country that prizes its gastronomy, luxuries and cafe culture. Giorgio Armani announced the closure of his hotel, restaurant and boutiques in Milan, citing "preventative measures adopted so far to safeguard the health of the employees and customers."

"I'll do whatever they tell me to do," Rome florist Stefano Fulvi said. "If I have to close, I'll close."

Italy also found itself increasingly sealed off as other countries sought to keep infections contained.

Malta and Spain announced a ban on air traffic from Italy. British Airways and Air Canada suspended all Italy flights. Austria barred travelers from crossing the border without a medical certificate. Slovenia closed its border with Italy, and Albania banned Italy air and ferry traffic. Britain, Ireland, Hong Kong and Germany strengthened travel advisories and urged their citizens to leave.
The Supreme Court has refused to stall the probe initiated by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) into the killing of Dantewada BJP MLA Bhima Mandavi and four security personnel by CPI (Maoists) in Chhattisgarh last year.

The top court, however, said that the action taken by the NIA would be subject to the outcome of a suit filed before it by the Chhattisgarh government seeking declaration of the NIA Act as unconstitutional and arbitrary on the ground that it affects the state's sovereignty.

The Chhattisgarh government has challenged the high court's order of last year by which it had dismissed its appeal challenging an earlier order of the court directing handing over of the probe into the killing of Mandavi and four security personnel by Maoists to the NIA.

The state government had earlier challenged the notification dated May 16, 2019, issued by the Centre directing taking over of the probe by the NIA from the police.

A bench of Justices A M Khanwilkar and Dinesh Maheshwari said, "Indisputably, the offences in question are scheduled offences and could be investigated by NIA in terms of the notification dated May 16, 2019."



It said, "We do not intend to disrupt the investigation already taken over by the NIA some time back and which may be at an advanced stage. Needless to observe that the action taken by the NIA would be subject to the declaration sought by the petitioner in Original Suit No. 1 of 2020."



The original suit has been filed by the Chhattisgarh government in the apex court which pertains to challenge to the constitutional validity of the NIA Act.

During the hearing, Attorney General K K Venugopal, appearing for the Centre, submitted that the investigation in the murder case has already been taken over by the NIA pursuant to notification dated May 16, 2019, as it pertains to scheduled offence.

Advocate Sumeer Sodhi, appearing for the state government said, that the notification was issued on May 16, 2019 by the Centre after a lapse of 36 days from the date of registration of the FIR by the state police on April 10, 2019, and more over the investigation by the state police was at an advance stage.

He said that under provisions of the NIA Act, the prescribed period for registration of offence by the central agency is 15 days but the Centre while exercising suo motu powers issued the notification handing over the case to the NIA after a lapse of 36 days.

The state government further submitted that the instant criminal cases raises certain substantial questions of law pertaining to the interpretation of the NIA Act as well as the interpretation of the provisions of the Constitution of India.

Sodhi said that the court has to decide whether the central government has unbridled powers to direct the NIA to take over the investigation of any scheduled offence at any stage under section 6(4) of the NIA Act, 2008.

The bench said that at this stage it would not examine the wider legal questions, raised in this appeal of the state government and it would be dealt in the original suit filed by the state.

The top court also made it clear that "the observations made by the high court including qua the state government are contextual and ought not to affect the action which has proceeded on the basis of notification dated May 16, 2019".

It disposed of the appeal while leaving all the questions of law open.

On November 20 last year, the high court had dismissed the appeal filed by the state government, challenging an earlier order of the court directing handing over the probe into the killing of Mandavi and four security personnel by Naxals to the NIA.

It had upheld the single-bench order and directed the government to hand over the probe to the NIA.

The high court had rejected the submission of Chhattisgarh that the incident be allowed to be probed by the local police and said that the State was bound to comply with the provisions of the NIA Act and the notification issued by the Centre.

It had directed the government to hand over the entire case records, along with the documents pertaining to the investigation into the incident, to the NIA.

Mandavi and four police personnel, travelling in a vehicle, were killed in a powerful IED blast triggered by Maoists near Shyamgiri village of Dantewada on April 9, last year.

On the direction of the Union home ministry, the NIA registered a case in May under the relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Indian Arms Act, the Explosives Substances Act and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
PR-Inside.com: 2020-03-11 23:31:05

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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / March 11, 2020 / MGX Minerals Inc. ("MGX" or the "Company") (CSE:XMG)(FKT:1MG)(OTCQB:MGXMF) is pleased to announce that it has settled debt owed by MGX Renewables DBA Zinc8 Energy Solutions Inc. ("Zinc8"). Zinc8 will pay $1,500,000 over the next 4 months. MGX Minerals Inc. had previously claimed a higher amount and the matter had been in dispute.As part of the settlement, MGX Minerals Inc. has agreed to sell to Zimtu Capital Corp. 5,500,000 shares of Zinc8 for $550,000 that are to be held in escrow for approximately one year. The remaining Zinc8 shares in escrow will be retained by MGX Minerals Inc.Zinc8 and Michael Reimann (Board member and CFO of both Zinc8 and MGX) on one side and MGX Minerals Inc. and Jared Lazerson (Board member of Zinc8 and MGX and CEO of MGX) on the other have agreed to mutual releases of claims. Jared Lazerson has resigned from the Zinc8 Board of Directors and Michael Reimann has resigned from the MGX Board of Directors and as CFO of MGX.Further, Zinc8 has reached a severance agreement with Jared Lazerson, former CEO of Zinc8. Mr. Lazerson was terminated in September 2019 having led the acquisition of Zinc8 from Teck Resources by MGX in December of 2017 and led the spinoff of the wholly owned subsidiary from MGX. Mr. Lazerson will be immediately paid 800,000 units at a deemed price of $0.38 per unit, each unit comprising one Zinc8 common share and one share purchase warrant. Each warrant is exercisable for 2 years at a price of $0.50 for one additional common share. This is in settlement of all claims by Mr. Lazerson.About MGX MineralsMGX Minerals is a diversified Canadian resource and technology company with interests in global advanced materials, battery technologies, metals and minerals.Contact InformationJared LazersonPresident and CEOTelephone: 1.604.681.7735Web: www.mgxminerals.com 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.Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release contains forward-looking information or forward-looking statements (collectively "forward-looking information") within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information is typically identified by words such as: "believe", "expect", "anticipate", "intend", "estimate", "potentially" and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking information provided by the Company is not a guarantee of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking information as a result of various factors. The reader is referred to the Company's public filings for a more complete discussion of such risk factors and their potential effects which may be accessed through the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com SOURCE: MGX Minerals Inc.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11

Trend:

Armenia is responsible for the death of Azerbaijani border guards who were protecting the internationally recognized borders of Azerbaijan over the past few weeks, Spokesperson for the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry Leyla Abdullayeva told Trend.

Abdullayeva was answering a question regarding the statement made by the Armenian Foreign Ministry on March 10, in which Azerbaijan was accused of aggravation of the situation on the state border with Armenia and a threat to peace and security in the region.

"First of all, let's clarify who makes such statements," Abdullayeva said. These statements are made by the foreign ministry of the aggressor country that occupied Nagorno-Karabakh region and the surrounding districts of Azerbaijan and carried out bloody ethnic cleansing of Azerbaijanis in these territories.

We once again bring to the attention of the Armenian side that the current status quo that occurred as a result of using force and ethnic cleansing is not connected with the concept of security, the spokesperson said. The occupied Azerbaijani territories and the presence of the Armenian armed forces there are the source of the main threat to Azerbaijans security. Azerbaijan has always stood for universality and indivisibility of the concept of security."

The withdrawal of the Armenian armed forces from the occupied Azerbaijani territories, as well as further living of the Armenian and Azerbaijani population of the region together in peace and the rule of law, are the determinants for creating trust and rapprochement for the sake of ensuring the general security and prosperity of the region, Abdullayeva said.

"The Armenian side must correctly recognize the existing reality and comply with the requirements of the international community for the complete, immediate and unconditional withdrawal of its armed forces from the occupied Azerbaijani territories, the return of local Azerbaijanis to their homes, as it is required upon the resolutions of the UN Security Council and other international organizations, the spokesperson said. Let no one doubt: Azerbaijan will restore justice and its own territorial integrity within the internationally recognized borders."

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.
: eddie (), : SanFrancisco

 : SCA-5

: BBS  (Tue Mar 10 22:49:23 2020, )



https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/California-s-affirmative-action

-ban-15121025.php



SACRAMENTO  California is about to wade back into the fight over

affirmative action, nearly a quarter-century after state voters banned the

consideration of race and sex in public education, employment and

contracting.



Lawmakers and civil rights groups said Tuesday they would try to repeal

Proposition 209, the 1996 state constitutional amendment that they argue has

been devastating for women and people of color.



They will ask the Legislature to put ACA5 on the November ballot. It would

strip language from the state Constitution prohibiting universities, schools

and government agencies from using race or sex in their admissions criteria

, hiring and procurement decisions.



It must pass both the Assembly and the Senate with a two-thirds vote by the

end of June to qualify for the ballot. Voters could then repeal Prop. 209 by

a simple majority.

--

 :WWW  mitbbs.com [FROM: 76.]


BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11

By Nargiz Sadikhova - Trend:

The volume of trade turnover between Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan amounted to $145.9 million in 2019, which is 48.7 percent more than in 2018, Trend reports with reference to Kazakhstans Statistics Committee.

Turkmenistans share in total volume of Kazakhstans trade turnover amounted to 0.2 percent in 2019.

Thus, some $116.2 million of the sum accounted for export of Kazakh goods to Turkmenistan. The export volume increased by 34 percent and accounted for 0.2 percent of the total Kazakh export value.

In turn, a significant increase of import of Turkmen goods to Kazakhstan has been observed. Thus, import volume in 2019 amounted to $29.8 million which is 2.6 times more than in 2018. Share of import from Turkmenistan amounted to 0.1 percent in the total volume.

Overall, Kazakhstans trade turnover with all countries exceeded $96 billion, which is 1.3 percent more than in 2018.

Some $57.7 billion of the sum accounted for export (decrease by 5.4 percent), whereas import amounted to $38.4 billion (increase by 13.9 percent).

Plant products, metal goods, natural calcium phosphate, timber and its products, rolled metal products, as well as flour, confectionary and flour products are major export items of Kazakhstan.

In its turn, Turkmenistan exports to Kazakhstan gas, oil and petroleum products, motor vehicles, fresh and refrigerated tomatoes, engines and power plants.

---

Follow the author on twitter: @nargiz_sadikh
China will win battle against coronavirus: President Xi

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 10 March 2020 5:10 PM

Chinese President Xi Jinping says China should keep strong and it will win the battle against the new coronavirus, which has plagued many countries and has killed thousands of people so far.

"Now what you should do is to hold a strong faith. We should all strengthen our confidence together (and I believe that) we will win this battle. Wuhan will win, Hubei will win, and the whole of China will win!" President Xi said on Tuesday, addressing medical staff in Wuhan, the provincial capital of Hubei and the epicenter of the COVID-19 virus.

COVID-19, which emerged late last year, is currently affecting 115 countries and territories across the globe. It has so far affected more than 116,000 and killed more than 4,090 others.

"You all wear protective suits and masks so I can't see your real face, but in my heart you are the loveliest people. Therefore, on behalf of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, I would like to express my sincere condolences and pay high respect to you," Xi said.

The Chinese government, and President Xi personally, had been criticized by Western media for what was alleged to be a slow response to the outbreak. But Beijing has been taking strict measures early since the outbreak began, including locking down Wuhan, a city of roughly 11 million people, which has since appeared to pay off.

Infections and deaths in China have been increasingly decreasing recently. China's National Health Commission said earlier in the day that mainland China had registered only 19 new cases of the coronavirus infection on Monday, down from 40 a day earlier. Only 17 more deaths were also reported. The total number of confirmed cases in China now stands at 80,754, and the death toll is 3,136.

"Communities have rendered outstanding contributions in this battle against COVID-19. On behalf of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, I extend sincere greetings and cordial gratitude to you and through you to all the community workers nationwide, including those fighting on the frontline," the Chinese president further said on Tuesday.

Macron's chief of staff quarantined

Separately on Tuesday, French President Emmanuel Macron's office said in a statement that Patrick Strzoda, Macron's chief of staff, had to work from home after coming into contact with a person who tested positive for the coronavirus.

However, the statement added that Strzoda showed no symptom and would be tested later in the day or on Wednesday.

Additionally on Tuesday, Macron said his country was "only at the start" of the coronavirus epidemic, after he visited an emergency medical regulation center in the capital, Paris.

"We're only at the start of the epidemic. We have anticipated it, prepared for it. I saw some brilliant teams here, professional health workers who are innovative and courageous; we will be behind them over the long term. And at every moment of this epidemic's advancing phase, we will adapt our response to serve our fellow citizens and meet their expectations," the French president said.

Macron also stressed that 85 percent of people who contract the coronavirus would only suffer mildly from the disease.

Earlier in the day, French health officials had announced that the death toll due to COVID-19 had risen to 30. More than 1,400 people have been tested positive for the disease.

On Monday, France's Culture Minister Franck Riester tested positive for the virus.

The European Union (EU)

In a statement on Tuesday, the commissioner in charge of crisis management at the European Commission, Janez Lenarcic, said that authorities were considering all options, including amending aviation slot rules, in response to the coronavirus outbreak.

On Monday, a spokeswoman of the European Commission said that a first case of coronavirus had been detected among staff at the commission.

According to an EU official, the woman had returned from Italy, the gateway of the coronavirus to Europe and the worst-hit country after China. The official added that the woman had been in quarantine since last week.

The European Commission, the 27-nations bloc's executive arm, has a staff of around 32,000.

Italy

On Monday, Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte promised "massive shock therapy" to overcome the impact of the coronavirus outbreak.

"We will not stop here. We will use a massive shock therapy," he said, stressing, "To come out of this emergency, we will use all human and economic resources."

The European country, where one quarter of its population is under lockdown, has reported that more than 10,100 people have been infected with the coronavirus and more than 630 others have lost their lives, the highest death toll in the world after China.

Cases of the virus have been confirmed in all of 20 Italian regions.

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National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien accused China of covering up the coronavirus outbreak, which he said put global government's two months behind when responding.

'Unfortunately, rather than using best practices, this outbreak in Wuhan was covered up,' O'Brien said Wednesday during an appearance at the conservative think tank the Heritage Foundation.

O'Brien added that as a result 'it probably cost the world community two months to respond.'

President Trump's National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien blamed China for a coronavirus cover-up on Wednesday

President Trump's national security adviser is placing blame on China for global government's being two months behind on a coronavirus response

Trump's national security adviser said that the outbreak originated in China and that happened 'some time ago' in Wuhan.

He then explained the evidence he had for a cover-up.

'There's lot of open-source reporting from China, from Chinese nationals, that the doctors involved were either silenced or put in isolation or that sort of thing,' he said at Heritage. 'So that the word of this virus could not get out.'

O'Brien's accusation came the same day that the Trump administration is taking heat for making some of its briefings on coronavirus classified.

Reuters reported Wednesday that meetings at the Department of Health & Human Services were held since mid-January in a SCIF - a 'sensitive compartmentalized information facility,' usually reserved for intelligence or military operations.

Four Trump administration officials gave details of the meetings to the wire service, suggesting the shroud of secrecy has hampered the U.S. government's response to the virus.

The classified briefings included discussions on the scope of the infections, quarantines and putting in place travel restrictions.

The discussed have left out certain staffers who don't hold security clearances - including government experts.

Attendees included HHS Secretary Alex Azar and his chief of staff Brian Harrison, Reuters reported.

Both Azar and Harrison objected to the classification status of the meetings, Reuters sources said.

'We had some very critical people who did not have security clearances who could not go,' one official said. 'These should not be classified meetings. It was unnecessary.'
Fossils preserved in amber are giving paleontologists exceptional glimpses into the age of the dinosaurs, be it through the preserved tail of a dinosaur that still bears feathers, or a frog frozen in time.

But much of the fossil-rich amber is mined in Myanmar, a country recently ordered by the United Nations International Court of Justice to protect its Rohingya Muslim minority against genocidal acts. The mining and sale of the amber may also be a source of profit for the countrys military. A report published last year in Science Magazine detailed how the amber is mined in a state where Myanmars military has long fought another ethnic minority, the Kachin, and how amber gets smuggled into China, where it can fetch high prices, potentially fueling that conflict.

These concerns are leading more scientists, especially in Western countries, to shun the use of this amber in paleontological research.

Ever since the Rohingya crisis, Ive boycotted the purchase of Burmese amber, and have urged amber colleagues to do the same, said David Grimaldi, a paleontologist and the curator of amber specimens at the American Museum of Natural History in New York.
It should be said that Bidens backers were not of the ecstatic sort  just 3 in 10 among Michigans voters said they would be enthusiastic if Biden won the nomination. But another 4 in 10 said they would be satisfied if he were the nominee  and just 1 in 10 said this would upset them. The vast outpouring for Biden over the past two weeks is thus an affair of the head at least as much as of the heart. It reflects a quiet judgment that Biden is a safe choice who will not alienate voters Democrats need against Trump.
The public interest litigation was dismissed by a division bench of justices Ali Mohammad Magrey and Dhiraj Singh Thakur

Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir High Court on Wednesday dismissed a petition seeking a ban on the use of pellet guns by security forces for crowd control during protests in the Valley.

Dismissing the public interest litigation (PIL), a division bench of justices Ali Mohammad Magrey and Dhiraj Singh Thakur said, "It is manifest that so long as there is violence by unruly mobs, the use of force is inevitable".

The PIL was filed by the Kashmir High Court Bar Association in 2016 in the wake of pellet injuries to hundreds of people in the protests that erupted after Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani was killed in an encounter with security forces.

What kind of force has to be used at a relevant point of time or in a given situation and place "has to be decided by the persons in charge of the place where the attack is happening," the bench said.

"This court in the writ jurisdiction, without any finding rendered by a competent forum/authority, cannot decide whether the use of force in a particular incident is excessive or not," it said.

Dismissing the PIL, the court said it was not inclined to prohibit the use of pellet guns "in rare and extreme situations" before an expert committee constituted by the Union Home Ministry through a memorandum dated 26 July, 2016 submits its report and "a decision is taken at the government level".
HALIFAX - A report released Wednesday says a growing gap between the rich and poor is harming Nova Scotians' well-being, and it's time for the Liberal government to recognize the issue in its policy-making.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 11/3/2020 (670 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Premier Stephen McNeil answers questions at a year-end media interview in a meeting room at the Office of the Premier in Halifax on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2019.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Riley Smith

HALIFAX - A report released Wednesday says a growing gap between the rich and poor is harming Nova Scotians' well-being, and it's time for the Liberal government to recognize the issue in its policy-making.

The study cites Statistics Canada figures indicating that between 1998 and 2018, the share of the province's total income going to the top 10 per cent of society has grown.

It says in those two decades the share of the province's richest citizens grew from 23.3 per cent to just over 26 per cent.

The study, titled "Creating the Future We All Deserve," was prepared for the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives and the Nova Scotia College of Social Workers.

Lead author Tammy Findlay, chair of political studies at Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax, says in the study that governments need to begin assessing policies more rigorously to ensure they reduce poverty.

Findlay says policies should be run through a set of principles, which she refers to as a "social policy framework," that include looking at the long-term impacts on poorer citizens.

"For too long, Nova Scotians have been told that real solutions to poverty and inequality are unaffordable and impractical. But we don't have to accept that," Findlay said.

The report gives the example of child care, noting how improved investments improve the health of parents, catches illnesses of children before they enter school and eventually leads to "healthier, better educated and more prosperous adults."

It also advocated for more universal programs, including in child care, which bring children from diverse backgrounds into contact with one another and provide "equal opportunities for all children to thrive."

Christine Saulnier, an author and director of the provincial branch of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, said the study shows citizens are "working longer hours," but often earning less in real dollars compared to two decades ago.

The left-leaning centre's website describes itself as one of Canada's "leading sources of progressive policy ideas," with its work "rooted in the values of social justice and environmental sustainability."

Alec Stratford, director of the province's college of social workers, said during a news conference that the provincial budget's plan for $80 million in cuts to corporate and small business taxes is an example of a policy that doesn't consider income inequality.

"It's a policy change we know will have zero impact on the most vulnerable and marginalized in our society," Stratford said.

"We can't expect the private market to lift 40,000 kids out of poverty. We haven't seen that happen before and we won't see it happen now."

After a cabinet meeting Wednesday, Premier Stephen McNeil said the province has seen improving wages in the private sector over the past year.

"It's not just the top portion (of earners) there  it's through the entire sector," he told reporters.

He also defended his corporate tax cuts as necessary to stay competitive with neighbouring jurisdictions.

"If we'd been racing to the bottom in a corporate tax that would be one thing. We're just trying to be competitive in a region and we're looking for economic opportunities and jobs," he said.

McNeil said there are other programs supported in the recent budget are helping less wealthy citizens.

The 2020-21 budget added $17.5 million to complete the expansion of pre-primary programs for young children and $16.6 million for programs that support adults and children with disabilities.

It also expanded the Nova Scotia child benefit program by adjusting the low-income threshold to include more families, at a cost of $18 million, and provided an additional $17.3 million to support the housing subsidies under the welfare programs.

McNeil also cited increased funding for a program where the salaries of recent graduates are supported by the province, known as "Graduate to Opportunity."

Under the program, employers receive one quarter of the first years salary  35 per cent if the new graduate is a member of a designated "diversity" group  and 12.5 per cent of the second years salary.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 11, 2020.
My net worth fluctuates, and it goes up and down with the markets and with attitudes and with feelings, even my own feelings, Donald Trump said in a 2007 deposition for a lawsuit he filed against journalist Tim OBrien for reporting that Trump was not a billionaire. Let me just understand that a little, said OBriens lawyer. Your net worth goes up and down based upon your own feelings? Yes, Trump said, even my own feelings, as to where the world is, where the world is going, and that can change rapidly from day to day.

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Im surfacing that exchange now because its a useful window into our present moment. The president of the United States has long believed three things: The first is that reality isnt real, theres only narrative. The second is that he controls that narrative in accordance with his feelings (and Fox News). The third is that only his feelings are real or worth considering. Tempting though it may be to dismiss these as the ravings of a solipsist, its to Trumps credit that he has gotten a surprisingly large number of people to subscribe to these three tenets. Much of the apparatus of the executive branch is now led by people who bow to his whims and go to shocking lengths to make the things he says at least seem true. His attorney general has waved away investigations into the corruption he denies. The National Weather Service formally instructed the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration not to correct the presidents Sharpie modification of Hurricane Dorians path, even if it meant giving Americans in danger the wrong information. The director of national intelligence is refusing to brief Congress on electoral interference, reportedly over concerns he might say things Trump would find upsetting.

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Now Trump is trying to force-of-will a pandemic into not being a pandemic at all. Its going to disappear. One day its like a miracle, it will disappear, Trump said at the White House on Feb. 28. On March 4, he said he had a hunch the mortality rate was a fraction of 1 percent. When it became a scandal that the United States simply didnt have enough tests to screen peopleand that an early version of the test was faultyTrump said that the tests are all perfect. Like the letter was perfect. The transcription was perfect. Its a telling comparison: His slow coronavirus response and his extortion of Ukraine are linked together in his mind as two things he needs to narrate as the opposite of what they are.

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Hes also trying it on the economy. Stock Market starting to look very good to me! he tweeted Feb. 24 after the Dow dropped over 1,000 points. Good for the consumer, gasoline prices coming down! he tweeted Monday, as stocks plunged so quickly they triggered a pause in trading. Nothing is shut down, life & the economy go on, he said as conferences were canceled all over the country, universities moved to online classes, and the numbers of infected people crept up. But investors didnt seem to believe him. The man has spent so long successfully outshouting facts that its clear he knows no other way.

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For a time, it seemed to be working. This is their new hoax, Trump told a crowd at a rally on Feb. 28, turning criticism of his coronavirus response into a battle cry. He has dismissively compared COVID-19 to the flu (which has a much lower mortality rate). And, as ever, hes found enablers. Rep. Matt Gaetz wore a gas mask to the floor of the House to mock lawmakers whod wanted to appropriate funds for the pandemic. (Hes now in self-quarantine after being exposed to a coronavirus carrier at CPAC.) Laura Ingraham and Sean Hannity downplayed the threat of the virus to their elderly (and vulnerable) Fox News viewers and blamed Democrats for weaponizing it. Trish Regan gave a halting, sinister speech to Fox Business viewers Monday night about the coronavirus impeachment hoax, implying that concern over a pandemic that has all but brought China and Italy to a halt and started an international price war over oil is the dark work of Democrats trying to make the president look bad. If the virus is threatening Trumps image, then either the virus must be dismissed as no big deal or Democrats must be blamed.

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And yet the virus keeps spreading, and the stock market keeps roiling.

That has Trump trying to do two things at once: Hes trying to reassure Americans that everything is fine when its visibly not while overpraising himself for work he didnt do to prepare. If the effect is bizarre and confusing, the result is that Americans are flying blind into a pandemic. The unforgivable shortage of testsand the hoops doctors have to jump through before they can get patients testedhas created a situation where no one knows how many people are actually infected. Medical professionals have complained in frustration that CDC guidance is almost useless. Because the administration is built on sycophancy, the officials who should be spending their time and energy on the publics health are instead wasting valuable effort on strenuously maintaining Trumps fiction. The surgeon generalwho is in his mid-40ssaid on Sunday, absurdly, that Trump sleeps less than I do and hes healthier than what I am. The director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Robert Redfield, began his remarks to the American people by praising Trump for his decisive leadership. I think thats the most important thing I want to say, he said. Trump nodded.

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This Trump-pleasing weakness in government isnt just superficial lip serviceits having real effects. We now know that health officials at the CDC wanted to recommend that elderly and physically fragile Americans avoid flying on commercial airlines. The White House ordered that the air travel recommendation be removed, endangering the very people the virus is likely to affect most severely. CDC officials couldnt explain why they refused to use the World Health Organizations coronavirus test and instead tried to develop one that failed. Trump himself has been quite forthright about wanting to cultivate ignorance on the number of infected Americans: Not knowing the real number is as good as the number not existing.

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There is a silver lining herenot because its good news but because its useful to have clarity in alarming and confusing times, when different sources are saying different things. Its this: The least trustworthy president in recent memory should be understood as a film negative during this crisis. The truth is an almost perfect inversion of what he says. He told the country it was OK to go to work with coronavirus. His economic adviser Larry Kudlow claimed on Friday that the virus was contained. White House senior adviser Kellyanne Conway told Fox News viewers the virus was contained, and all thanks to Trumps quick action, too!

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Its possible the coronavirus has become too big to spin. Even the GOP has been forcedby literal infectionsto recognize its severity. At CPAC, several lawmakers were exposed to a carrier who shook their hands. In the meantime, Redfield, HHS Secretary Alex Azar, and coronavirus czar Mike Pence have all contradicted Trump in one way or another over the past week. Azar corrected Trump when he said there would be a vaccine within months. You wont have a vaccine, Azar said. Youll have a vaccine to go into testing. The director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Anthony Fauci, threw cold water on Trumps theory that the virus might just disappear when the weather gets warmer: We have no guarantee at all that this is going to happen with this virus. These are some signs that Trumps efforts to mash the coronavirus into the story he wants to tell is failing, but thats hardly reassuring. It is bad for Americans when the vice president and the HHS secretary, both charged with communicating the governments plans to the public, cant even agree with each other. We dont have enough tests today to meet what we anticipate will be the demand going forward, Pence told reporters last Thursday. There is no testing kit shortage, nor has there ever been, Azar told reporters the next daya lie so blatant one cant help but wonder whether hed been pressured by a certain disgruntled figure in the White House and succumbed.

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Trumps handling of other disasterslike Hurricane Maria in Puerto Ricohas worked to the extent that his response has not been treated as the national scandal it is. We still dont know the death toll in Puerto Rico; thats how slow and bad the government response was. Thousands of Americans died, parts of the island were without electricity for 11 months, and yet its rarely mentioned as a major failure of Trumps presidency. I think we did a fantastic job in Puerto Rico, Trump said. To the extent that this line worked, its because the people suffering were brown Americans with no electoral power, whose plight virtually everyone has subsequently ignored.

The coronavirus, however, is very much on the mainland, and it has populations with power in its sights. Its already affecting the well-offcruise ship passengers, international travelers, conference attendees, stock market investors. Its even capable of affecting old white men who spend a lot of time in a dense places like D.C. Those are realities Trump has a much harder time denying. And its impact is expanding over time, rather than taking place in one fell swoopand across two planes, one medical, one economic. Trump can propose an insufficient payroll tax break and say that reports of fear and uncertainty are fake news, but the alarms being raised by cities and schools and businesses show that few are buying what hes selling. Americans are facing drastic disruptions to their lives. Every day that this continues, Trump will wake up facing an ever-widening choice between the facts on the ground and the story he prefers to tell. We know which one hell choose. In the meantime, Americans are responding to this crisis as best they canby operating on the assumption that what the president says isnt true.
Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - March 10, 2020) - Copper Fox Metals Inc. (TSXV: CUU) (OTC Pink: CPFXF) ("Copper Fox" or the "Company") announced today that, due to the recent overall downturn in the public market, the Company intends, subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange, to re-price its non-brokered private placement, that was previously announced in a news release dated February 13, 2020, to raise up to $1,800,000 in gross proceeds (the "Offering"). The re-priced Offering will consist of up to 30,000,000 units (each a "Unit") at a price of $0.06 per Unit. Each Unit will consist of one common share in the capital of the Company (a "Common Share") and one common share purchase warrant (a "Warrant"). Each Warrant will entitle the holder to purchase one Common Share for an exercise price of $0.10 during the first 12-month period after the closing of the Offering and $0.12 during the second 12-month period after the closing of the Offering. In the event that the 20-day volume weighted average price of the common shares listed on the TSX Venture Exchange is above $0.15, the expiry date of the Warrants will be accelerated to a date that is 30 days after the first date such threshold is met.

Copper Fox is making the Offering available to subscribers under a number of available prospectus exemptions, including the accredited investor exemption, family and close personal friends and business associates of directors and officers of the Company. The Offering is also available to all existing shareholders of Copper Fox who, as of the close of business on February 12, 2020 (the "Record Date"), held shares (and who continue to hold such shares as of the closing date) in accordance with the provisions of the "existing security holder exemption" contained in the various corresponding blanket orders and rules of participating jurisdictions (the "Existing Security Holder Exemption").

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The Company advises that there are conditions and restrictions when subscribers are relying upon the Existing Security Holder Exemption, including, among other criteria: (a) the subscriber must be a shareholder of the Company on the Record Date (and still be a shareholder), (b) be purchasing the units as a principal - for his or her own account and not for any other party, and (c) may not purchase more than $15,000 value of securities from the Company in any 12-month period. There is an exception to the $15,000 subscription limit. In the event that a subscriber wishes to purchase more than a $15,000 value of securities, then he or she may do so provided that the subscriber received suitability advice from a registered investment dealer, and, in this case, subscribers will be asked to confirm the registered investment dealer's identity and employer. Subscribers purchasing Units using the Existing Security Holder Exemption will need to represent in writing that they meet the requirements of the Existing Security Holder Exemption. There is no minimum subscription amount. As the Existing Security Holder Exemption contains certain restrictions and is only available in certain jurisdictions in Canada, others that do not qualify under the Existing Security Holder Exemption may qualify to participate under other prospectus exemptions, such as the accredited investor exemption.

Subscriptions will be accepted by the Company on a "first come, first served basis". Therefore, if the Offering is over-subscribed it is possible that a shareholder's subscription may not be accepted by the Company. Additionally, in the event of an imbalance of large subscriptions compared to smaller subscriptions, management reserves the right in its discretion to reduce large subscriptions in favour of smaller shareholder subscriptions.

The Offering is expected to close by March 26, 2020. In accordance with applicable securities legislation, securities issued pursuant to the Offering are subject to a hold period of four months plus one day from the date of the completion of the Offering. The net proceeds raised from the Offering will be used for the proposed acquisition of the Eaglehead project, exploration activities and general and administrative purposes of the Company.

The Offering may include one or more subscriptions by insiders of the Company, which will include a subscription by Mr. Ernesto Echavarria, a director, insider and a control person of the Company (as defined by the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) of a minimum of 20,000,000 Units.

Subscriptions completed by insiders in the Offering, including the subscription by Mr. Echavarria, may constitute a "Related Party Transaction" under Policy 5.9 of the TSX Venture Exchange which adopts Multilateral Instrument 61-101 ("MI 61-101") as a policy of the TSX Venture Exchange. In completing such transactions, Copper Fox intends to rely on the applicable exemptions from the valuation requirement and minority security holder approval requirements available under Sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(a) of MI 61-101, respectively, on the basis that the participation in the private placement by insiders will not exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization.

About Copper Fox

Copper Fox is a Tier 1 Canadian resource company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV: CUU) focused on copper exploration and development in Canada and the United States. The principal assets of Copper Fox and its wholly owned Canadian and United States subsidiaries, being Northern Fox Copper Inc. and Desert Fox Copper Inc., are the 25% interest in the Schaft Creek Joint Venture with Teck Resources Limited on the Schaft Creek copper-gold-molybdenum-silver project located in northwestern British Columbia and a 100% ownership of the Van Dyke oxide copper project located in Miami, Arizona. For more information on Copper Fox's other mineral properties and investments visit the Company's website at http://www.copperfoxmetals.com.

For additional information contact: Investor line 1-844-464-2820 or Lynn Ball, at 1-403-264-2820.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

Elmer B. Stewart

President and Chief Executive Officer

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

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to sell any of the securities described herein in the United States. The securities described in this news release have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available. This news release is not for distribution in the United States or over United States newswires.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of the Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking information is generally identifiable by use of the words "believes," "may," "plans," "will," "anticipates," "intends," "budgets", "could", "estimates", "expects", "forecasts", "projects" and similar expressions, and the negative of such expressions. Forward-looking information in this news release includes, without limitation, statements about: the expected size and terms of the Offering and the use of the proceeds therefrom; the anticipated closing time of the Offering; the terms of the subscription agreements to be executed by shareholders relying on the "Existing Security Holder Exemption"; the expected subscription by one or more insiders, including Mr. Echavarria in the Offering; and the exemptions in MI 61-101 intended to be relied upon by Copper Fox in completing the Offering.

In connection with the forward-looking information contained in this news release, Copper Fox has made numerous assumptions. Additionally, there are known and unknown risk factors which could cause Copper Fox's actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information contained herein.

Known risk factors include the possibility that: approval for the Offering will not be obtained from the TSX Venture Exchange; the Offering will not complete at the time or in the amount expected, or at all; Mr. Echavarria will not subscribe for the number of Units currently expected, or at all; and the exemptions intended to be relied upon by Copper Fox under MI 61-101 in completing the Offering may not be available.

A more complete discussion of the risks and uncertainties facing Copper Fox is disclosed in Copper Fox's continuous disclosure filings with Canadian securities regulatory authorities at www.sedar.com. All forward-looking information herein is qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement, and Copper Fox disclaims any obligation to revise or update any such forward-looking information or to publicly announce the result of any revisions to any of the forward-looking information contained herein to reflect future results, events or developments, except as required by law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/53326
(Bloomberg Opinion) -- Even with plenty of votes remaining to be counted in Michigan and returns from two other states not yet in, its clear that Joe Biden had another very good day Tuesday. Hes essentially wrapped up the Democratic nomination. Yes, Bernie Sanders technically still could pull ahead, but realistically, the race is over.

There are three stories  all correct, at least in part  explaining how Joe Biden did it.

The first is simple: Barack Obama did it. The big difference between Biden in 2020 and Biden in his previous runs in 1988 and 2008 was that when Obama selected him as vice president, he elevated him to the front of the party. Once Hillary Clinton was off the scene, that left Biden as Democrats obvious consensus choice.

Theres quite a bit of truth in that; certainly without the vice presidency, Senator Joe Biden wouldnt have been a serious contender this year. That said, he wasnt as strong a candidate as sitting vice presidents such as Al Gore in 2000 or George H.W. Bush in 1988, and judging from his pre-Iowa support from party actors, he wasnt as strong as Walter Mondale in 1984, either. (Mondale was also four years out from the vice presidency.)

The second story is that Biden earned it. In part, this is a story of a successful vice presidency. After all, Dan Quayle couldnt convert his time in office into a presidential nomination. But the other part of the story is that, as political scientist Charles Olney put it, Joe Biden has spent his whole career occupying the center of wherever the Democratic Party currently sits. Theres empirical evidence for that in standard ideological scores of congressional voting. Biden has been good at staying in the middle of the Democrats without seeming calculating about it. Mainly thats because of his, lets say, exuberant persona; to be less generous, his tendencies toward being a preening blowhard make it hard to see him as cynically shifting to match his party.

Story continues

We shouldnt underrate the importance of that ability. Politicians who can jump to the front of a parade at exactly the right time without making it seem like theyre doing any such thing are exercising a very useful skill. True, after a long career, it leaves them with a lot of ugly-in-retrospect votes and statements. But its an ability that will come in handy if Biden becomes president.

But that too comes up short as a full explanation, given party actors lack of enthusiasm for Biden among all through 2019, and his very real flops in the first two states to vote this year.

No, a third story is needed, and thats one of contingency and luck. It isnt correct at all to say that Biden simply led all along. His early polling lead was very likely a mirage based in large part on familiarity, especially in a very large field of candidates. But things went right for him, and I think from his perspective they need to be chalked up as luck. First, a number of strong candidates flamed out early: Kamala Harris, Cory Booker, and perhaps two or three others. Michael Bloomberg, who was able to win a surprising amount of support from party actors once he ran, made the critical mistake of starting very late and skipping the first four states, a strategy that has never come close to working. (Disclaimer: Michael Bloomberg is the founder and majority owner of Bloomberg LP. He endorsed Biden on March 4.)

And then Biden got luckier still when he did badly in Iowa and New Hampshire, because the weakest of the plausible nominees still running, Bernie Sanders and Pete Buttigieg, defeated Elizabeth Warren and Amy Klobuchar, both of whom would have received a lot less resistance from party actors. Even worse, the chaos-maximizing results in those two states didnt knock out Warren or Klobuchar, meaning that the field other than Sanders was mostly in a muddle going into Nevada. All of that made it difficult for the other candidates to expand their coalitions, which in turn allowed Biden to finish a weak but decisive second. That made Biden the logical consensus candidate going forward for anyone who didnt want Sanders to be nominated.

(It is possible that Biden was the only remaining candidate with a good chance at winning black voters. If so, then Biden probably did wrap up the nomination after Harris, Booker and perhaps one or two others dropped out. But my guess is that several other candidates could have earned support from black voters and party actors had things worked out better overall for them.)

Biden still needed enough support to hang on and take advantage of that luck, and he needed to have the ability to keep fighting when things looked bad. So even this story is one where Biden deserves some credit.

Going forward, Biden will need to find a way to satisfy the the left side of the party. He's a mainstream liberal, and Sanders supporters wont move to him easily, although for most of them Donald Trump will provide the necessary motivation. (The moderate label pundits picked from Biden and some of the others is a stretch, given that hes always been in the center of the party and the party these days is almost uniformly liberal.) Hes also shown some weaknesses with various demographic groups, perhaps especially Latino voters, who have been with Sanders during this cycle, and younger voters, who have been the strongest Sanders supporters. Trump will help with those, too, but Biden will have to work at it.

But for now, Biden deserves a victory lap. Hes been trying to win a presidential nomination since Ronald Reagan was president and Mike Schmidt was the best sports star in his native Pennsylvania, and hes (almost) finally done it. There still will be plenty of primaries ahead, and, safety willing, a convention in Milwaukee. But the truth is that the long general election campaign will get started now.

To contact the author of this story: Jonathan Bernstein at jbernstein62@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Tracy Walsh at twalsh67@bloomberg.net

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Jonathan Bernstein is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering politics and policy. He taught political science at the University of Texas at San Antonio and DePauw University and wrote A Plain Blog About Politics.

For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com/opinion

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DUBLIN, March 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Tissue Banking Market - Growth, Trends, and Forecast (2020 - 2025)" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global tissue banking market is expected to witness a CAGR of 8.5% during the forecast period.



Certain factors that are driving the market growth include rising healthcare expenditure, the growing burden of chronic diseases and advances in drug discovery and development. The burden of chronic diseases is increasing worldwide. According to WHO, chronic diseases have always been a massive global challenge, and they account for approximately 60% of all deaths worldwide.



The global burden of chronic diseases is expected to reach 57%, by 2020. This trend is expected to affect the emerging countries the most, as population growth is anticipated to be most significant in developing areas. Consequently, the rising burden of chronic diseases is expected to drive the overall growth of the tissue banking market. However, the stringent regulatory scenario is expected to restrain the growth of the global market in the forecast period.



Key Market Trends



Equipment Segment is Expected to Show Better Growth in the Forecast Period



Based on the product, it is segmented into equipment and media and consumables. The equipment segment is expected to grow at a faster pace during the forecast period. The key factor contributing to the growth of the segment is mainly driven by growing research activities and increasing the focus of market players on product development, along with the rising burden of chronic diseases.



According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the four major chronic diseases which include cardiovascular diseases followed by cancer, respiratory diseases, and diabetes account for most deaths. Factors, such as the aging population, lifestyle changes, lead to long-term health problems, and their treatment can be expensive. Additionally, Increasing government initiatives and rising demand for transplantation is expected to boost the studied market.



North America is Estimated to Account for the Largest Share in the Tissue Banking Market



North America holds a major share in the global tissue banking market, and it is expected to show a similar trend over the forecast period, without significant fluctuations. The United States market is driven by increasing R&D activities, along with the rising burden of chronic diseases.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 6 in 10 adults in the United States have a chronic disease. Different pharmaceutical/ biotech companies, academia, and research institutes are utilizing tissue banks for the storage of the various samples. Hence, the North America region is expected to grow at a faster rate due to rising preclinical activities by pharmaceutical companies, and growing research in this region.



Competitive Landscape



The leading players in the tissue banking market are AMS Biotechnology (Europe) Limited, Avantor, Inc (VWR International), BioCision LLC, Brooks Automation, Custom Biogenic Systems, Eppendorf AG, Hamilton Company, Merck KGaA and Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.



Key Topics Covered



1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Study Deliverables

1.2 Study Assumptions

1.3 Scope of the Study



2 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY



3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY



4 MARKET DYNAMICS

4.1 Market Overview

4.2 Market Drivers

4.2.1 Rising Healthcare Expenditure

4.2.2 Growing Burden of Chronic Diseases

4.2.3 Technological Advances in Drug Discovery and Development

4.3 Market Restraints

4.3.1 Stringent Regulatory Scenario

4.4 Porter's Five Forces Analysis

4.4.1 Threat of New Entrants

4.4.2 Bargaining Power of Buyers/Consumers

4.4.3 Bargaining Power of Suppliers

4.4.4 Threat of Substitute Products

4.4.5 Intensity of Competitive Rivalry



5 MARKET SEGMENTATION

5.1 By Product

5.1.1 Equipment

5.1.1.1 Cryopreservation Equipment

5.1.1.2 Thawing Equipment

5.1.1.3 Quality Control Equipment

5.1.1.4 Others

5.1.2 Media and Consumables

5.2 By Application

5.2.1 Therapeutics

5.2.2 Medical Research

5.2.3 Other Applications

5.3 Geography

5.3.1 North America

5.3.1.1 United States

5.3.1.2 Canada

5.3.1.3 Mexico

5.3.2 Europe

5.3.2.1 Germany

5.3.2.2 United Kingdom

5.3.2.3 France

5.3.2.4 Italy

5.3.2.5 Spain

5.3.2.6 Rest of Europe

5.3.3 Asia-Pacific

5.3.3.1 China

5.3.3.2 Japan

5.3.3.3 India

5.3.3.4 Australia

5.3.3.5 South Korea

5.3.3.6 Rest of Asia-Pacific

5.3.4 Middle East & Africa

5.3.4.1 GCC

5.3.4.2 South Africa

5.3.4.3 Rest of Middle East and Africa

5.3.5 South America

5.3.5.1 Brazil

5.3.5.2 Argentina

5.3.5.3 Rest of South America



6 COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

6.1 Company Profiles

6.1.1 AMS Biotechnology (Europe) Limited

6.1.2 Avantor, Inc (VWR International)

6.1.3 BioCision LLC

6.1.4 Brooks Automation, Inc.

6.1.5 Custom Biogenic Systems

6.1.6 Eppendorf AG

6.1.7 Hamilton Company

6.1.8 Merck KGaA

6.1.9 Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.



7 MARKET OPPORTUNITIES AND FUTURE TRENDS



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/5zxqen

Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research.



Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



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BAKU, Azerbaijan, Mar. 11

By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend:

Turkeys export of citrus fruits to Azerbaijan decreased by 38 percent in February 2020 compared to the same month in 2019, Turkeys Association of Fresh Vegetables and Fruits Exporters told Trend on March 11.

In February 2020 Turkey exported 2,667 tons of citrus fruits, which is 1 percent of the countrys total citruses export for the past year, the association noted.

In February 2020, Turkey exported citrus fruits worth $830,053 to Azerbaijan, which is 45 percent less than the export figures for February 2019, the association said.

During the reported period, Turkey has exported fruits and vegetables worth $204,478, which is 23 percent more compared to the same month in 2019, the association added.

Revenues of Turkey from export of citruses to Azerbaijan dropped by 37 percent amounting to $7.7 million, which accounts for 1 percent of the countrys total revenues from citruses export.

During 2019, Turkey exported 1.1 million tons of fruits, which is 5 percent more compared to 2018. In turn, countrys revenues from export of fruit increased by 2 percent and amounted to $846 million.

Meanwhile, export of vegetables from Turkey dropped by 2 percent, amounting to 1.2 million tons worth $645 million.

Turkey exported 1.6 million tons of citrus fruits worth $756 million in 2019, which was 20 percent less compared to 2018.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu
The decision by Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, comes as Democrats have attacked the probe as politically motivated, especially as Biden surges in his bid for the Democratic presidential nomination and the chance to face President Trump. Some have warned it could play into Russian efforts to spread disinformation ahead of the presidential election in November.
11.03.2020 LISTEN

The Member of Parliament for the North Tongu Constituency, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has lambasted the ruling New Patriotic Party over the destruction of some NDC posters at vantage points in Accra.

He says the destruction of the posters and billboards of the NDC will not give the NPP an upper hand over the NDC in the December 7 elections.

Some people suspected to be members of NPP vigilante groups, were engaged in pulling down of NDC billboards, removal of NDC flags and tearing of our posters in Ablekuma West Constituency, North Dayi Constituency and many other places.

He stated that the elections would be won by the party with the best policies on corruption, poverty reduction and employment in the country.

"It would be won by the party those with a superior programme to tear down poverty, unemployment... and impunity".

The North Tongu Member of Parliament also condemned the New Patriotic Party for indulging in politics of ethnicity and divisiveness.

He, however, urges his party supporters to exercise restraint over the provocation of the NPP and focus on winning the 2020 General elections.

The opposition National Democratic Congress has issued a strong warning to the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) for reportedly destroying its billboards at night.
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Linkedin Norman Harsono (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, March 11, 2020 17:04 671 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2069de86e 1 Business North-Sumatra,hydropower-plant,renewable-energy,PLN Free

Construction on the 174-megawatt Asahan III hydropower plant in North Sumatra has resumed after authorities settled administration problems that have extended the facilitys development period by nine years.

State-owned electricity firm PLN, set to be the offtaker of the electricity produced by the plant, said in a statement on Tuesday that work on the power plant had reached 5.11 percent completion. Developers are digging an 8-kilometer tunnel to channel water to the plants turbines.

Development first kicked off in 2011, when developers began installing access roads. The facility was initially expected to be completed by 2014, but the completion date was pushed to 2023 due to permit-related setbacks and one corruption case.

PLN spokesperson Dwi Suryo Abdullah said in the statement that Asahan IIIs operation could potentially increase the number of PLNs household customers by 241,000.

Construction workers dig an 8-kilometer headrace tunnel that will channel water from the Asahan River to the turbines of the Asahan III hydropower plant in North Sumatra. (PLN/PLN)

He added that the plant would increase the share of renewable energy in northern Sumatras power grid from 33.7 percent to 35.6 percent by 2023, well above the nationwide target of 23 percent by 2025.

The hydropower plant project, valued at around Rp 2.2 trillion (US$152.59 million), straddles Asahan and Toba Samosir regencies. It is among the many ongoing renewable energy projects in Indonesia facing regulatory deadlock.

Asahan IIIs developers had difficulties securing both a principle permit from the North Sumatra administration and a business license from the central government.

Problems piled in 2015, when then-Toba Samosir regent Kasmin Simanjuntak was found guilty in a corruption case pertaining to a land purchase deal worth Rp 4.4 billion for Asahan III.

The plant is being developed by a joint venture between Japanese engineering firm Shimizu Corp and Indonesian state-owned construction firm PT Adhi Karya.
Bethel Church suspends faith healing work at hospitals amid coronavirus outbreak

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Bethel Church, the controversial megachurch in Redding, California, that also runs a school of supernatural ministry, suspended their faith healing ministry at local hospitals where they are known to lay hands on the sick, due to the new coronavirus.

Though we believe in a God who actively heals today, students are not being encouraged to visit healthcare settings at this time, and moreover, are taught that even under normal circumstances, they must receive permission from both the facility and the individual before engaging in prayer, Aaron Tesauro, a church spokesman, told The Sacramento Bee.

A feature of the Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry is to help students learn how to heal the sick as well as cast out demons.

The Good News without power is not good news. Paul was glad that his preaching wasnt with persuasive words but demonstrations of power (I Cor. 2). One of our goals is that every student would know how to cast out demons, heal the sick, and preach the Gospel, the schools website says.

The suspension of the churchs faith-healing work at hospitals has come in the wake of increased panic over the rapid growth of the new coronavirus infections and death around the globe.

The number of confirmed U.S. cases of the virus rose past 1,000 and the national death toll stood at 28. Globally some 4,369 people have already died from the virus that has infected more than 121,000. Just over half of those infected have recovered, according to data from the Johns Hopkins University Centre for Systems Science and Engineering.

An unidentified Redding woman told The Sacramento Bee on Saturday that on Jan. 31, two Bethel students approached her in the emergency room at Mercy Medical Center in Redding and said they would pray over the people there and put Jesus in their hearts and this would heal us all and we didnt need to stay at the ER and could go home.

She said she later filed a complaint with the hospital alleging that one of the students had touched her 5-year-old daughter without her consent.

When asked about the complaint, Tesauro told The Sacramento Bee that he was surprised to learn about the mothers experience.

We are surprised and saddened by the mothers reaction and want to apologize for any unintended offense, he said.

Californias Gov. Gavin Newsom said Tuesday that California has 157 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and that thousands of residents may have come into contact with the disease.

Kerri Schuette, a spokeswoman for Shasta Countys Health and Human Services Agency, urged residents to respond cautiously to faith healers.

I would say that having a healthy barrier between yourself and other people is a good way to protect yourself from any of the diseases that are circulating right now, she said.

Tesauro also framed Bethel Churchs response to the coronavirus as part of Gods wisdom.

Through email communications, signage, and church announcements, we are actively encouraging health practices and precautions to our whole community, he said. We believe that wisdom, modern medicine, and faith are meant to work together, and express the value for each in the pursuit of continued health and healing.
Air India has cancelled all its flights to South Korea and Italy till March 25 and March 28, amid coronavirus fears in the country, an official of the carrier said on Wednesday.

The move comes after the central government suspended all visas to India till April 15 as part of measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

The virus, which originated in Wuhan in China last December has claimed over 4,000 lives. Besides China, Italy and South Korea have recorded maximum number of cases of the deadly virus.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the coronavirus a pandemic.

The central government said that with 10 more people confirmed positive for novel coronavirus, the total number of COVID-19 cases in India has jumped to 60. Out of the 60 cases, 36 are Indian citizens.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
CHICAGO, March 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Flourish , the only independent and dedicated gift-card conference where industry leaders tackle present-day issues and the future of retail gift card programs announces that Flourish 2020 is moving to a virtual format on March 16-17, with efforts underway to reschedule the Chicago event in August following the rapid escalation of the COVID19 outbreak and subsequent travel bans. Dubbed Flourish Virtually, key sessions and annual ecosystem meetings that kick off the retail fiscal year will now be facilitated by the organizers embracing digital-first technologies.

Embracing the demands of FY2021 for retailers and restaurants, Flourish 2020 will continue to deliver 25% of sessions on March 16 and 17, including:

Pioneering consumer research that creates gift card buyer and recipient profiles in an industry where little data exists

Findings unveiled from pioneering consumer profiling study conducted by Scio Motus , utilizing social listening and AI-powered by IBM Watson to create consumer profiles where no data exists.

, utilizing social listening and AI-powered by IBM Watson to create consumer profiles where no data exists. A real-time hacker to expose contemporary gift-card fraud methods

Witness leading industry pen-tester, Will Caput, expose the latest retail and restaurant fraud hurting bottom-lines and reputations: survey codes.

A panel of channel aggregators, incentive providers, and merchants, including a multi-brand restaurant group, to discuss and debate the impact of channel consolidation.

To ensure that critical meetings and partnership discussions amongst fellow ecosystem leaders take place as planned, Flourish will enable virtual "coffees" via scheduling facilitation and coffee gift cards for attendees as an added incentive.

Attendees not originally registered can sign-up today to take advantage of Flourish Virtually on March 16-17th, plus the rescheduled event later this summer. Similarly, original registrants will benefit from valuable content and meetings in March, followed by subsequent content and continuing conversations in a few months.

Industry leaders Holly Glowaty and Kristen Thiry founded the Flourish Conference in 2017 to create an independent and unbiased forum where gift card leaders from all parts of the ecosystem come together to tackle challenging business issues such as lack of aggregated industry data, the strength of 3rd party networks within the ecosystem, digital fraud, and innovative gift card applications to increase merchant CLV.

Flourish fills a glaring post-holiday void for retailers focused on assessing the value of the previous fiscal year's gift card, loyalty and incentive programs. In 2019, holiday sales for gift cards increased an estimated 7% ; whereas total sales for retailers rose only a reported 3.4% . Major retail conferences, such as the NRF Big Show, dedicate less than two percent of content to gift cards.

About Flourish

Flourish is the only gift-card industry conference that is an independent and agenda-free forum where gift card leaders from all segments of the ecosystem come together to engage in and workshop challenging business issues each spring in Chicago, Illinois. The annual post-holiday forum brings industry leaders together to drive change and advance the gift card ecosystem by diving deep into branded currency programs - which combine gift cards, prepaid products, loyalty points, coupons, promotional codes, and merchandise credits into one integrated retail experience - as well as pitfalls, voids, and opportunities. Flourish is produced by K+H Connection, a leading boutique gift card consulting firm headquartered in Chicago, IL. For more information, follow us on Twitter , LinkedIn , and Facebook or find us at www.flourishcon.com

Media Contact:

Flourish

Monica Rohleder

FIRST marketer group

+1 847 606 1973

[email protected]

SOURCE Flourish Conference

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CXOs are the key business decision makers in an enterprise to drive long term strategic growth. This decade is on the high rise in the field of People Analytics and there is a thrust on evidence based insights. CXOs are at times compelled to spend their mental bandwidth in fire-fighting and resolving day-to-day trivial issues rather than focusing on long terms strategic growth. Latency in information with subjectivity in data is catastrophic for business decisions and evidence based insights are must for survival in this competitive market.

Researches reveals that enterprises are losing billions of dollars every year due to workplace distractions, inefficient capacity utilization, work life imbalance, employee disengagement and data leakage issues. On an average an organization loses more than 700 man hours (approx. 2.1 hrs daily) per year per employee in terms of productivity and need to face law-suits or losses due to data leakages. CXOs are extremely concerned about their key talent flight risks as they drive the change to achieve business goals as well as data leakage challenges. In the absence of valid analytical data, it is difficult to identify talent flight risk and such unaddressed issues pull back organisations from leveraging their potential talent in turn leading to disengagement and demotivation. Entrepreneurial focus in the field of human resource & people analytics is a fast emerging domain with innovative solutions, which carry a tremendous potential for enterprises to make business decisions on real-time factual data rather than relying on instincts.

With the competitive landscape, leadership is in an urgent need to have real-time insights to understand the companys healthand fix the problem based on data available through people analytics solutions. Analysis of data based on subjectivity lead organisation to take wrong decisions including delayed information on likelihood risks, inefficient capacity management, biased appraisals & inefficient governance.This at times results in loss of key talent and lowered performance levels. In terms of capacity optimization, it is difficult for senior leaders and CXOs to have real-time visibility in the absence factual data on capacity utilization trends as managers present their teams as over worked and over utilized.

Approach of people analytics was condemned initially with some inspirational statements like Hire the best employees and keep them motivated so they remain dedicated and committed but in reality on the other side we all know IT/ITES companies widely accepted IT Security policies and Controls to adhere various compliances and such decisions were not weighed on the scale of ethics as they were compliance requirement. CXOs are in dilemma, whether to adopt such intelligent people analytics solutions or not, as they feel the privacy of employees is not respected in such solutions but the new innovative concepts has balanced the need of employee privacy as well as addressed the epidemic of productivity losses with algorithmic capacity optimization models.

The problem is that most leaders struggle to understand and identify vital management metrics; instead collect and report a vast amount of data that is easy to measure and they end up drowning in data while thirsting for information. Effective managers and decision makers understand the performance of all key dimensions of their business by distilling them down into the critical key performance indicators.

Investors, CXOs and management teams are taking key business decisions based on delayed secondary information, whereas these enterprise solutions are designed to provide real-time dashboards to various stakeholders across functions with their viewpoints for business decisions, Algorithmic Capacity optimization models, data mining capabilities, KPI indicators, automated time tagging, real-time data leakage alerts etc. CXOs roles demands their time in strategic business priorities rather than focusing on trivial activities. Key Performance Indicators(KPI) could be tracked via these people analytics solutions, giving entire organization insights into their current performance. Establishment of automated systems that takeover subjectivity in decision making with the power of innovation through artificial intelligence, machine learning and predictive analytics algorithms on real-time big datais going to define the next decade.

People analytics is vital for the health of the company like security compliances. Measurement and bench-marking are the keywords for any human intensive industry to improve and innovate, valid and real-time data facilitate such tasks. We at Neural Brain are passionate and committed to end this thirst of real-time factual information for strategic decision support and governance with our Cloud Ready Innovative Technology Solution Panther Analytics which is targeted for its beta release by early 4Q, 2016 and will be available to early adopters and partners. Panther Analytics will be available On Cloud, On Premise and Panther Community Cloud and will enable organisations with efficient governance, improved productivity (20% -30%) with a major focus towards people analytics and automation. Neural Brains Panther includes tons of features with algorithmic models towards solving the challenges of employee disengagement, work place distractions, inefficient capacity utilization, goal setting, data leakage protection etc. The product is targeted to have 50+ stakeholders dashboards with various business viewpoints and is advanced enough to auto discover likelihood risks. Neural Brain Technologies is a Hyderabad based Software Product company in the field of Artificial Intelligence and Analytics Domain. Neural brain was founded by Mr Prashant Akhawat, Founder & CEOin July 2015. Prior to this venture, Mr. Akhawat worked in multifaceted roles across domains and successfully implemented complex technology solutions.
A train traveller wearing a coronavirus-style face mask has been arrested after being caught on camera licking his fingers and wiping them over the handrail.

The passenger was filmed while making a trip on the Belgium subway.

Mobile phone footage shows him lowering his mask, putting two fingers into his mouth and then rubbing the silver pole up and down.

The act took place amid rising concerns about the coronavirus outbreak, with health officials advising people to regularly wash their hands and to be aware of spreading germs.

The flu-like strain has infected more than 115,000 people since the outbreak began, with around 4,300 deaths. Covid-19 is thought to be spread via droplets in sneezes and coughs.

Footage of the incident was posted online by a fellow subway surfer on March 9 who warned his followers not to "touch the bar" anymore.

Transport authorities later replied to a tweet of the video, and said the man had been arrested.

Belgium public transport provider The Brussels Intercommunal Transport Company said im the tweet: The man (intoxicated) was arrested by the police and our security service.

The subway train has been removed from service for cleaning. For your information, our metros are cleaned every day.

Social media users were disgusted by the mans behaviour.

One wrote: Is that a big joke? He is disgusting.

Another suggested he needed "criminal punishment".
Superintendents and school board trustees have been skeptical for years that children who go to the city-funded Pre-K 4 SA program go back to their traditional public neighborhood schools.

The only known study doesnt support their doubts, but it was one of the reasons why South San Antonio ISD trustees opted to pull out of the districts partnership with the program in 2014, after its first year.

That was definitely one of the factors.  I believe it is correct that, for the most part, the children that attend Pre-K 4 SA move on to charters at a higher percentage than if they attended Pre-K in a traditional ISD, former superintendent Abelardo Saavedra said in a recent interview.

Saavedra is now on the board of a charter school district, Royal Public Schools, that is seeking to open four campuses within the boundaries of South San, Harlandale and Southside ISDs.

In the beginning, former Harlandale ISD trustee David Abundis saw the districts partnership with Pre-K 4 SA as a win. But as time went on and Harlandale suffered declining enrollment, Abundis speculated the district was losing some of the children who went to Pre-K 4 SA.

Its a great partnership because it trains teachers and gives some money back to the district, but in the long run is the money theyre giving us worthwhile? asked Abundis, who resigned from the Harlandale board last summer and works as director of federal and state programs in neighboring South San Antonio ISD.

Neither Saavedra nor Abudis had numbers to support his concerns. The only available data, which shows the majority of Pre-K 4 SA kids were in a traditional ISD by the end of third grade, is based on the first group of children who went through the program more than five years ago.

Now members of the City Council, who recently moved a public vote on the 1/8-cent sales tax that funds Pre-K 4 SA from the November to May ballot to get it more attention, want more information.

Where the children go is important because state money follows the students.

Particularly, my constituents have expressed to me concerns about the pipeline from Pre-K 4 SA to not public schools but to charter schools, Councilwoman Melissa Cabello Havrda said during a Feb. 13 council meeting.

She asked Pre-K 4 SA CEO Sarah Baray to answer the concern.

Required Reading: Get San Antonio education news sent directly to your inbox

Pre-K 4 SA does specific work to help families transition from Pre-K 4 SA to their neighborhood district, Baray told the City Council.

Theres a Welcome to Kinder program that starts with a fair in January where partner districts meet with families at the Pre-K 4 SA centers to advertise their programs, she said. In February and March, Pre-K 4 SA buses families to the partner schools for tours.

Pre-K 4 SA has partnerships with one charter, New Frontiers Public Schools, and eight traditional ISDs: East Central, Edgewood, Harlandale, Northside, North East, San Antonio, Southwest and Southside.

Now some of the parents do choose to exercise other options, Baray said at the City Council meeting. We dont have direct partnerships with most of the other programs, and so we support families in what they want to do but we dont provide the charter programs opportunities to come in to recruit or get to have that relationship with families because we dont have formal partnerships. The exception to that is the New Frontiers charter school.

The program opted to work with New Frontiers because that small charter school, located near Pre-K 4 SAs south center, doesnt offer Pre-K but serves families who need it, Baray said.

Students who are eligible for state-funded Pre-K and who live within one of the programs partnering districts are dually enrolled in their neighborhood district and Pre-K 4 SA, Baray explained. That allows the district to get credit for the student from the state and receive funding.

The districts turn the majority of the funding over to Pre-K 4 SA for educating the students, she said. But the partnership also allows the districts to get special training from Pre-K 4 SA, as well as grants from the program.

To date, only the one study about Pre-K 4 SAs first cohort of students has shown where students have gone after their year in the program.

Mike Villarreal, director of the University of Texas at San Antonios Urban Education Institute, released a study in 2019 looking at third-grade reading and math test scores of students who attended Pre-K 4 SA in the 2013-2014 school year, the programs first cohort.

The study also included a table showing where 469 of those students ended up going to school in third grade.

From the first cohort, 403 children  86 percent  attended a traditional public ISD with the largest districts, Northside, North East and San Antonio ISDs, getting the most kids. Charter district IDEA Public Schools came in fourth with 26 students, or 5.5 percent of the cohort.

The table also shows where 11,479 students who attended a Bexar County public Pre-K the same year wound up. IDEA Public Schools got a smaller percentage of those students, 3.4 percent, and ranked ninth behind eight traditional public school districts.

On ExpressNews.com: Study: Students in San Antonios Pre-K 4 SA program did better on state tests

The program has only had two cohorts finish third grade. Villarreal said he is working on obtaining data from the Texas Education Agency to study the second cohort.

On ExpressNews.com: City Council approves measure placing renewal of its Pre-K 4 SA sales tax on the May ballot

Walnita Buckner and her husband have not decided where to send their son, Bryce, to kindergarten next year. Their priority is finding a school that supports an educational plan speech pathologists developed for the Pre-K 4 SA student, who had a speech delay and has struggled with stuttering.

Buckner had already visited four charter schools and her public neighborhood school before checking out Northside ISDs Hatchett Elementary during one of the Welcome to Kinder tours. She peppered Principal Adam Bock with questions, including whether teachers send home weekly outlines so parents know how to support the teacher and child. She also wanted to know about Hatchetts after-school programs and the process the school used to ensure children safely got off the bus and into the school.

Buckner said she researched schools to visit based on their state test results and what sort of resources and learning styles they offer. She consulted other Pre-K 4 SA parents who have older children and with counselors at Pre-K 4 SA.

I dont feel that theyre steering parents one way or another, Buckner said, adding that parents seek out information about schools and Pre-K 4 SA responds with resources. Its parent-driven which schools we look for. We lead.

Krista Torralva covers several school districts and public universities in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read her on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | Krista.Torralva@express-news.net | Twitter: @KMTorralva
The Afghan government will gradually release 5,000 Taliban prisoners starting this week if the insurgents significantly reduce violence, President Ashraf Ghani's spokesman said early Wednesday, seeking to resolve a dispute that has delayed peace talks between the militants and Kabul. The announcement came hours after the US said its forces had started pulling out of two bases in Afghanistan, in line with a deal signed between Washington and the Taliban in Doha last month aiming to end America's longest war. The government will "release 1,500 Taliban prisoners as a gesture of goodwill" starting Saturday, with another 3,500 to be freed after negotiations begin, spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said on Twitter. The agreement, which will initially see 100 prisoners freed each day, will depend on the Taliban's willingness to significantly limit attacks in the country, he added. The decision attempts to resolve one of the long-running spats that has stymied potential peace talks between the insurgents and the Afghan government. Although the Taliban were due to start talks with Kabul on Tuesday, negotiations were delayed because the insurgents' demanded as a prerequisite the prisoner release in exchange for 1,000 captives. Ghani had refused but Wednesday's decree signalled a softening of his stance, with the proviso that none of the released prisoners would return to the frontlines. According to the decree, after the first 1,500 captives are freed, a further "500 Taliban prisoners will be released every two weeks" once negotiations begin. US negotiator Zalmay Khalilzad welcomed the announcement and urged the Afghan government and the Taliban to meet "immediately" in Qatar to sort out prisoner details. The State Department voiced confidence that Afghan peace talks would open soon, saying Ghani was speaking to rivals and would name a negotiating team "in the coming few days." - UN backs deal - The UN Security Council on Tuesday endorsed the US-Taliban deal, a rare step for an agreement involving insurgents. The Council urged the Afghan government "to advance the peace process, including by participating in intra-Afghan negotiations". Under the US-Taliban deal, foreign forces will quit Afghanistan within 14 months, subject to Taliban security guarantees and the insurgents holding talks with Kabul. The US is initially supposed to cut its troop presence from about 12,000 currently to 8,600 by mid-July, and close five of its roughly 20 bases across the country. Troops have started leaving one base in Lashkar Gah, the capital of Helmand province in the south, and another base in Herat in the west, a US official told AFP on the condition of anonymity. Helmand is where US and British forces fought some of the bloodiest campaigns of the 18-year war. The initial drawdown comes as the Taliban, which see themselves as having achieved "victory" over America, test the Pentagon's resolve to protect local partners by conducting dozens of low-level attacks against Afghan forces. The US has only responded to a few of these attacks, but the State Department warned Tuesday that the level of violence was "unacceptable." In the previous 24 hours, the insurgents carried out attacks in 32 out of 34 of the country's provinces, killing seven people including two civilians, interior ministry spokesman Nasrat Rahimi told AFP. The Taliban have ramped up attacks since halting a week-long partial truce in place until the signing of the Doha accord, ending a welcome reprieve for ordinary Afghans who have born the brunt of the deadly violence. Under the US-Taliban deal, the militants are to prevent groups including Al-Qaeda from using Afghanistan as a base to threaten the security of the US and its allies. In congressional testimony on Tuesday, a top US general, Kenneth McKenzie, said the Islamist extremist Taliban have been "very effective" against the Islamic State group in Nangarhar province over the last few months. "There was very limited support from us," he said, without elaborating. - Kabul chaos - There was no immediate reaction from the insurgents to Ghani's decree on the prisoners, which followed a deepening political crisis in Kabul. Ghani's rival Abdullah Abdullah also declared himself president and held a simultaneous swearing-in ceremony on Monday, minutes after Ghani took the oath for his second term. A member of the Taliban's leadership council -- the Quetta Shura -- told AFP on Tuesday the insurgents had delivered a list of the 5,000 captives they wanted freed to the Afghan government. But he accused Kabul of acting in bad faith, alleging that "the government (planned) to release only those prisoners who are elderly, very ill, or those whose sentences have expired". Kabul did not respond to the allegations, but Ghani's decree on Wednesday said that "prisoners will be released based on their age, health status and the remaining jail term". wat-str-us-amu/sct/it
Armed forces won't let political turmoil in any other country affect India: Om Birla on Afghan crisis

Constitution of India is like modern version of 'The Gita': Lok Sabha Speaker vows for unity

Winter Session of Parliament: Speaker Om Birla to meet floor leaders of parties on November 29

Gita doesnt belong to any religion, but to entire humanity: Om Birla

Agreements, disagreements should reflect in debates not in disruptions: Om Birla

Suspension of 7 Congress MPs over unruly behaviour in Parliament revoked

India

oi-Deepika S

New Delhi, Mar 11: The suspension of seven Congress Lok Sabha MPs for the remainder of the Budget Session has been revoked by Speaker Om Birla. The seven MPs of the Congress had been suspended on charges of for disrupting Lok Sabha proceedings.

The suspension was revoked by the Lok Sabha Speaker on Wednesday after he held an all-party meeting over smooth proceedings of the House.

The motion was moved by Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Arjun Ram Meghwal and passed by a voice vote.

As the House reassembled after a Holi break on Wednesday, Congress MPs raised slogans demanding revocation of the expulsion of its seven MPs.

But Congress members trooped inside the Well raising slogans with the demand to rescind last week's expulsion order of seven of its members.

Delhi violence: Speaker Om Birla warns LS MPs of suspension following continues ruckus

The seven Congress members-- Gaurav Gogoi, T N Prathapan, Dean Kuriakose, R Unnithan, Manickam Tagore, Benny Behanan and Gurjeet Singh Aujla were suspended on March 5 for the remaining period of the Budget session for gross misconduct.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-11 19:24:11|Editor: huaxia

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LHASA, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Pandor was born in Shigatse of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, a city near the border with Nepal, Bhutan and India. Today, she is a proud mother of 22 children.

However, the 37-year-old has never been pregnant or married. As for maternal instincts, they were something Pandor had to "learn on the job."

Six years ago, Pandor moved to Tibet's regional capital, Lhasa, where she found work at a children's home for newborns right up to senior-college students. The home was looking for women to manage family units.

"We divided 300 children into 18 families and assigned a fulltime 'mother' to each of them," explained Norbu Drolma, director of the institute.

"We wanted our 'mothers' to be different from a teacher or supervisor. We wanted to give these kids a home, and a mother to go home to," Norbu Drolma said.

And so, in 2015, as head of "Family #10," Pandor became the mother to 22 children. The family lives in a three-bedroom apartment, which Pandor designed and furnished to look and feel like a home.

She openly admits that she felt out of her depth at the beginning. "Some of the children were already attending college. They were so tall. I didn't even know how to talk with them."

Despite the initial difficulties, Pandor threw herself into her work. As an orphan herself, she wanted "her kids" to have a better childhood and more opportunities than she did.

However, balancing their needs posed a different challenge. One of the boys under her care, Kelsang Lhundrup, felt overlooked and acted out after Pandor missed a parent-teacher meeting at his school, so Pandor had to offer him individual support.

She has never missed such meetings since. She also held household-family meetings so that each child knows, "This is a big family, and I may not be able to always come to everyone's need. But that doesn't mean I don't love you. Bigger brothers and sisters will help you when mom is too busy. They are your family, too."

"Every child is sensitive," Pandor said. "I just wanted to build this belief in them that they are not alone."

Tibet has 11 children's homes that offer care for more than 5,400 children. Every child is allocated a monthly allowance of over 1,000 yuan (about 143.8 U.S. dollars), which is managed by the house mother. They are also entitled to 15 years of free education.

Today, Lhundrup no longer plays up. Pandor listens with pride when his teachers reap praise on him. He is not the only kid to do well. The family now includes six college graduates, a police officer, a social worker, and a helicopter pilot. They send money home to help their mom provide for their brothers and sisters every month.

For Pandor, her birthday last year is one of her favorite memories.

"The kids asked me to go for a walk and kept me away from the house. When I got back, they had thrown a surprise party for me!" Pandor said. "It was at that moment that I knew that becoming their mother was the best decision I have ever made."
A fund says it is entitled to part or all of a 1.5m settlement a businessman got when he sued his former accountant over the alleged forgery of his signature on mortgage deeds, the High Court has heard.

Patrick Wheelock received the settlement monies from Michael OLeary who had allegedly forged Mr Wheelocks signature on the documents relating to a 2.6m loan for development lands at Monvoy, Co Waterford.

The mortgage loan was obtained from the former Anglo Irish Bank and later sold by NAMA to the Promontoria (Arrow) fund.

In 2014, Mr Wheelock with an address at Moneyhore, Enniscorthy Co Wexford, sued Mr OLeary of Michael OLeary & Co, also Enniscorthy, claiming the accountant engaged in fraud and misappropriated 7.9m from him.

It was alleged Mr OLeary falsified Mr Wheelocks signature on deeds of mortgage in 2003 and 2008 purportedly creating a security interest in favour of Anglo over the Monvoy lands. Mr OLeary denied the claims.

In 2017, that action was settled without any judicial determination in relation to the alleged falsification of documents.

Mr Wheelock separately sued Promontoria claiming its appointment of a receiver over the Monvoy lands, which he had hoped to develop, was void as a result of the accountants alleged forgery.

Promontoria counterclaimed saying Mr Wheelock had received 1.5m in the settlement with the accountant and was therefore being unjustly enriched at its expense.

Promotoria claimed all or part of that 1.5m was compensation to Mr Wheelock for him having to pay the money outstanding on the Monvoy lands mortgage.

If Mr Wheelock succeeds in his claim that the appointment of the receiver is void, he will own Monvoy mortgage-free and also have the benefit of that 1.5m, it says.

In order to defend the counterclaim, Mr Wheelock then asked the High Court to order Promontoria to reveal, through discovery of documents, how much it paid for the Monvoy mortgage.

He says, given Promontorias unjust enrichment claim, he is entitled to know what price it paid for the loan and security on Monvoy.

This was the only way the court could determine that unjust enrichment was at Promontorias expense, he said.

For example, his lawyers argued, if Promontoria paid 100,000 for the loan, then it would be inequitable for it to get the benefit of the entire settlement sum of 1.5m. Promontoria opposed the application.

In a judgment published this week on the discovery application, Mr Justice Michael Twomey said it would be inequitable for Mr Wheelock to retain the benefit of the Monvoy land, which might for instance be worth 1m, while he at the same time would have no obligation to pay back the mortgage and with the benefit of having received cash of 1.5m.

It would not be inequitable for Promontoria to become entitled to the land or part or all of the 1.5m even if it had only paid say 500,000 for the loan, he said.

The first of those two scenarios is unconscionable while the second is as a result of an astute commercial decision made by Promontoria to buy the loan, he said.

The price it paid for the loan is not relevant or necessary for the preparation of Mr Wheelocks defence of the unjust enrichment counterclaim.

If Mr Wheelock can persuade the judge who hears that case of the necessity for that information, that judge can order it at that stage, he added.
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New York City's subway cars were notably quieter than usual on Wednesday after a warning from Mayor Bill de Blasio to avoid public transport due to the coronavirus pandemic.

De Blasio issued his guidance on Monday as more and more New Yorkers were diagnosed with the deadly virus.

While the MTA does not yet know numbers on how much ridership had dropped by, photographs of the subway system suggest a large number have heeded his advice.

There were still a decent number of commuters on the subway between 7am and 9am.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo on Wednesday warned the outbreak of coronavirus could become the 'public health version' of Hurricane Katrina.

Scroll down for video

 Slide me  Rush hour on the 1 train at 242nd Street subway station in the Bronx (left) yesterday at 7.01am compared to today (right) fifteen minutes later

 Slide me  The downtown 1 train yesterday at 6.34am (left), the same train (right) at 7.20am

Speaking on Morning Joe, he also admitted plans were in place for 'mobile pop-up quarantine hospitals' if the 'numbers don't slow'.

Cuomo had been forced to declare a one-mile-radius 'containment area' in New Rochelle Tuesday as cases in the state reached more than 200 confirmed cases with more than 40 in New York City alone.

The sharp rises in cases has also forced Mayor Bill De Blasio to consider cancelling the St Patrick's Day parade for the first time since 1782, following in Boston's footsteps.

Mayor De Blasio said: 'We're talking it through with the parade committee. We have to really think about this one because it's a beloved event, an important event.'

Cuomo said there were about 20 new confirmed cases in New York state, up from Tuesday's count of 173. A spokesman for the Democratic governor said additional test results would be announced later Wednesday.

Hurricane Katrina killed nearly 2,000 people when it struck Louisiana in August 2005. The Federal Emergency Management Agency was accused of a sluggish response to the storm

An empty Times Square subway station on Wednesday at 11.35am on Wednesday

There were none of the usual crowds of tourists at Times Square on Wednesday morning

Those who did risk the subway wore protective masks and gloves to try to shield themselves from the virus

A commuter wearing a mask exits the 59th street station on Wednesday. There are no 48 cases of coronavirus in New York City

A commuter in a mask boards the BART train in San Francisco which said riders were down by 25 percent week on week

A worker wipes down turnstiles at San Francisco's BART station on March 7

MTA workers cleaning the Fulton Street subway on Wednesday afternoon. The subway stations are being cleaned several times a day

MTA workers cleaning the Fulton Street subway on Wednesday afternoon. The subway stations are being cleaned several times a day

Gov Cuomo urged business owners to stagger employees' shifts or let them work from home to reduce the spread of coronavirus.

'I'm going to ask them voluntarily to do telecommuting, two shifts, a morning shift and a late shift, and let people work from home voluntarily,' Cuomo said on MSNBC's 'Morning Joe.'

He said Wednesday: 'This is about reducing the density. You know, we talk about social distancing, we shouldn't be more than six feet from a person.

'You take a dense city, you take a New York City, there's no such thing as social distancing, you're always within six feet of a person. So we really need to talk more aggressive actions.'

SUNY and CUNY announced they will be closing March 19th to 'reduce density'. The governor added: 'This is not going away on its own, the spread is not going to stop on its own.

It is fully dependent on what we do. We're going to make our own destiny and like it or not, we're going to have to make some tough decisions and we're going to have to start to act united to reduce the density.

There are now 1,085 cases of coronavirus in the US and 32 people have died as a result of it

'We have enough equipment, we have enough hospital beds but if these numbers don't slow, we're starting to plan backup quarantine hospital facilities, mobile pop-up hospitals if you will, to make sure we have the capacity for acute cases that need hospitalization.'

Several schools and houses of worship in New Rochelle, just north of New York City, are closed for two weeks, and Cuomo said the National Guard would be sent in to help deliver food to quarantined people.

The new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms such as fever and cough for most patients but can cause more severe illness for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems.

The strategy of staggering work hours to reduce rush-hour crowding was widely used during the 1918 influenza epidemic.

State officials used a potentially unnerving term  'containment area'  to describe the part of New Rochelle, north of New York City, where the closures will be enforced. But they stressed that this isn't a lockdown.
The father of Rahul Solanki, who was killed in the northeast Delhi violence last month, and locals staged a protest outside Rajdhani Public School in Shiv Vihar after police opened its seal, alleging that the school was used by rioters and reopening it would lead to tampering with evidence.

The school was sealed by police on Saturday.

Hari Singh Solanki, a resident of Shiv Vihar, alleged that the school was a base of rioters and there were many crucial evidences there.

"Police sealed the school on Saturday as there were many crucial evidences inside the premises related to the riots. Today, police came here and opened the school. We held a protest from 3 PM to 8.15 PM against this move of police," Solanki told PTI.

On February 24, 26-year-old Rahul Solanki was shot dead by unidentified people in northeast Delhi's Shiv Vihar.

Rajdhani School Principal Sadaf Faisal told PTI, "It is not feasible to conduct exams tomorrow as the school was de-sealed today. Arrangements will be made and exams will be conducted only when it is completely safe and secure to call children and the atmosphere is conducive for them."



"Petrol bombs, stones, weapons and many other objectionable materials were found inside the school. Now as the school has been opened, anyone can temper with the evidences. The court should have opened the school not police," Solanki said.

Rahul Solanki was pursuing his LLB from a private college in Ghaziabad and he was killed on February 24 when he had stepped out to buy milk.

Total 53 people were killed and over 200 injured in the communal riots in northeast Delhi, triggered by clashes between anti and pro Citizenship (Amendment) Act groups.

Jaffrabad, Maujpur, Babarpur, Yamuna Vihar, Bhajanpura, Chand Bagh, Shiv Vihar were among the areas worst-hit by the violence. Heavy police and paramilitary presence was seen in these areas on Wednesday.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with banking industry executives about the coronavirus, at the White House, Wednesday, March 11, 2020, in Washington. Read more

WASHINGTON  Defying a veto threat, Congress has approved a bipartisan measure to limit President Donald Trumps authority to launch military operations against Iran.

The House gave final legislative approval to the measure Wednesday, 227-186, sending it to Trump. The president has promised to veto the war powers resolution, warning that if his hands were tied, Iran would have a field day.

The resolution, sponsored Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., declares that Trump must win approval from Congress before engaging in further military action against Iran. Kaine and other supporters say the measure is not about Trump or even the presidency, but instead is an important reassertion of congressional power to declare war.

Six Republicans joined 220 Democrats and independent Rep. Justin Amash of Michigan to support the measure. Six Democrats and 180 Republicans opposed it. In the Senate last month, eight Republicans backed the resolution.

The resolution "sends a clear message that the American people don't want war with Iran and that Congress has not authorized war with Iran,'' said Rep. Eliot Engel, D-N.Y., chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

While tensions with Iran have abated since a U.S. drone strike that killed Iran's top general in early January, the resolution clarifying Congress' power to declare war is still important, Engel said.

Congress doesn't have to wait until the president alone decides to use military force again,'' Engel told House members during floor debate Wednesday. "It's our responsibility to do something, because we know the tensions could flare up again at a moment's notice. Iran has not been deterred as the administration promised.''

Texas Rep. Michael McCaul, the top Republican on the Foreign Affairs Committee, called the war powers measure divisive and irresponsible and based on a false premise.

"It orders the president to terminate hostilities against Iran. The problem is, for the other side, we are not engaged in hostilities in Iran,'' McCaul said.

If the U.S. military launches strikes in Iran, I believe that the president would need to come before this body to ask for a new authorization for the use of force, McCaul said. "But that is not what we are facing.''

The House vote marked a rare exertion of authority from Congress, which also moved to impose restrictions on U.S. involvement with the Saudi-led war in Yemen last year after U.S.-based journalist Jamal Khashoggi was killed in a gruesome murder at Saudi Arabia's consulate in Turkey. Trump promptly vetoed that measure.

The Democratic-controlled House passed a separate, nonbinding resolution on Iran in January, a few weeks before the Senate approved Kaine's resolution. Two-thirds votes in the House and the GOP-run Senate would be needed to override an expected Trump veto.

Kaine hailed the House vote.

For years, Congress has abdicated its responsibility on matters of war, but now a bipartisan majority in both the Senate and House has made clear that we shouldnt be engaged in hostilities with Iran without a vote of Congress,'' he said in a statement.

The legislation doesnt prevent the president from defending the United States against imminent attack,'' but instead demands that the decision of whether or not we go on offense and send our troops into harms way should only be made after serious deliberation and a vote of Congress,'' Kaine added. "If President Trump is serious about his promise to stop endless wars, he will sign this resolution into law.

In a statement of administration policy, the White House said the resolution should be rejected because it attempts to hinder the presidents ability to protect U.S. diplomats, forces, allies and partners, including Israel, from the continued threat posed by Iran and its proxies, including militia groups and foreign fighters in Syria."

Iran has a long history of attacking United States and coalition forces both directly and through its proxies, the White House said, adding the congressional resolution could hinder Trump's ability to protect U.S. forces and interests in the region.

"This joint resolution is untimely and misguided. Its adoption by Congress could undermine the ability of the United States to protect American citizens whom Iran continues to seek to harm,'' the White House said.

Tehran responded to the U.S. attack on its top general, Qassem Soleimani, by launching missiles at two military bases in Iraq that house American troops. The attack caused traumatic brain injuries in more than 100 U.S. soldiers, the Pentagon said.

Democrats and Republicans alike criticized a briefing by the Trump administration shortly after the drone strike, saying U.S. officials offered vague information about a possible attack being planned by Iran but no substantial details.

Kaine has long pushed for action reasserting congressional power over military conflict. At the request of Republican senators, he removed initial language that targeted Trump in favor of a generalized statement declaring that Congress has the sole power to declare war. The resolution also directs Trump to terminate use of military force against Iran or any part of its government without approval from Congress.
The World Health Organization on Wednesday declared the novel coronavirus outbreak a pandemic.

There are 118,000 cases, more than 4,000 deaths, the agency said, and the virus has found a foothold on every continent except for Antarctica.

'We have never before seen a pandemic sparked by a coronavirus. And we have never before seen a pandemic that can be controlled at the same time,' WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Wednesday.

'Describing the situation as a pandemic does not change WHO's assessment of the threat posed by this coronavirus. It doesn't change what WHO is doing, and it doesn't change what countries should do.'



I

f countries detect, test, treat, isolate, trace and mobilize their people in the response, those with a handful of novel coronavirus cases can prevent those cases becoming clusters, and those clusters becoming community transmission, Ghebreyesus said.

'Several countries have demonstrated that this virus can be suppressed and controlled,' Ghebreyesus said.

A pandemic is defined as the 'worldwide spread' of a new disease. Whereas, an outbreak is the occurrence of disease cases in excess of what's normally expected and an epidemic is more than a normal number cases of an illness, specific health-related behavior or other health-related events in a community or region, according to the World Health Organization.

In January, the WHO declared the novel coronavirus outbreak a public health emergency of international concern. CNN announced on Monday that it is using the term pandemic to describe the current coronavirus outbreak.

The last pandemic reported in the world was the H1N1 flu pandemic in 2009, which killed hundreds of thousands globally.

'WHO has been assessing this outbreak around the clock and we are deeply concerned both by the alarming levels of spread and severity, and by the alarming levels of inaction,' Ghebreyesus said of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

'We cannot say this loudly enough, or clearly enough, or often enough: All countries can still change the course of this pandemic.'

Pandemics of the past

Pandemics have been a part of human history for centuries, with one of the earliest ever reported dating back to 1580. Since then, at least four pandemics of influenza occurred in the 19th century and three occurred in the 20th century, according to the CDC.

The most severe pandemic in recent history was the 1918 influenza pandemic, sometimes referred to as the 'Spanish flu.' The pandemic was estimated to have infected about 500 million people or one-third of the world's population and killed some 50 million worldwide.

There remains some debate about where this H1N1 flu virus originated, but scientists have found that the virus had genes of avian origin. In other words, it had a connection to birds.

More American soldiers died from the 1918 flu pandemic than were killed in battle during World War I in 1918, according to the CDC. In 1919, the pandemic subsided but the H1N1 virus continued to circulate seasonally for 38 years.

Then in 1957, a novel influenza A H2N2 virus emerged in East Asia, triggering a pandemic that is estimated to have killed 1.1 million worldwide and 116,000 in the United States. The virus was comprised of genes that could be linked to an avian influenza A virus, suggesting it had a connection to birds.

The virus was first reported in Singapore in February 1957, Hong Kong in April 1957, and in coastal cities in the United States in the summer of that same year. Yet its survival in the human population was short and the virus disappeared about a decade after its arrival. Some scientists suggest that it was supplanted by a H3N2 subtype.

In 1968, a pandemic caused by an influenza A H3N2 virus that originated in China swept the world. That virus was comprised of two genes from an avian influenza A virus, according to the CDC.

The virus was first noted in the United States in September 1968 and led to about 100,000 deaths nationwide and 1 million worldwide. Most excess deaths were in adults 65 and older, according to the CDC.

The H3N2 virus continues to circulate globally as a seasonal flu virus.

In the spring of 2009, a novel influenza A H1N1 virus emerged. It was detected first in the United States and then spread quickly across the world.

The virus contained 'a unique combination of influenza genes not previously identified in animals or people,' according to the CDC. It was found to be of swine origin.

During that H1N1 pandemic, the CDC estimated that somewhere between 151,700 and 575,400 people died worldwide during the first year the virus circulated. Globally, 80% of the deaths were estimated to have occurred in people younger than 65.

The World Health Organization declared the global H1N1 pandemic over in August 2010, but the H1N1 virus continues to circulate as a seasonal flu virus every year.

Now in early 2020, the world has been waiting to see whether the novel coronavirus would become a pandemic.

'This is unprecedented,' Dr. Tom Frieden, former director of the CDC, wrote in an article published on CNN.com in February.

'Other than influenza, no other respiratory virus has been tracked from emergence to continuous global spread. The last moderately severe influenza pandemics were in 1957 and 1968; each killed more than a million people around the world,' Frieden wrote. 'Although we are far more prepared than in the past, we are also far more interconnected, and many more people today have chronic health problems that make viral infections particularly dangerous.'
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11

Trend:

One official and two workers of Azerbaijan's State Customs Committee (SCC) were arrested for a period of 4 months, said in a joint statement of the country's State Security Service and the SCC, Trend reports.

Based on the information received in connection with the regular smuggling of large quantities of tobacco products by railcars and trucks, the State Security Service (SSB) and the State Customs Committee conducted a joint investigation.

As a result, a Mercedes (40-BL-400) was detained at the Samur customs post in the Gusar district, which passed customs clearance and was allowed to cross the border.

During the inspection of the car, 15 tons of foreign tobacco products declared to customs under a different name and packaged on top of other products were discovered and seized.

A criminal proceeding was instituted in the State Security Service under article 206 (smuggling) of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan. Azerbaijani citizens - Deputy Chiefs of the General Customs Department for Northern Territories of the SCC Emin Huseynov, Karim Huseynov and Ramin Aliyev were brought in as accused, and kept in custody.

The investigation continues.
A complaint has been given to Gomti Nagar SHO and Lucknow Police Commissioner stating that FIR should be registered against those making derogatory remarks against the judges of Allahabad High Court after they ordered the removal of hoardings put up by the Uttar Pradesh government, with names, addresses and photographs of those who were accused of violence during anti-CAA protests.

The complaint has been filed by activist Nutan Thakur.

In her complaint, Thakur has stated that after the order was passed by the Allahabad High Court on March 9, "objectionable, improper and instigating" comments were made against the judges of the High Court and the judiciary over social media.

She stated that this was initiated and made viral by certain persons in a deliberate manner, merely to inflame the issue.

The Allahabad High Court had on Monday ordered the removal of hoardings put up by Uttar Pradesh government, with names, addresses and photographs of those who were accused of violence during protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act.

While taking the suo moto cognizance of public interest litigation on the issue, the High Court in an unprecedented sitting on Sunday termed the act of putting up photos of protesters as "unjust".

The hoardings included pictures of Shia cleric Maulana Saif Abbas, former IPS officer SR Darapuri and Congress leader Sadaf Jafar, all of whom were named as accused in the violence that swept the state capital on December 19 last year.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
(Alliance News) - Plans to protect the future of cash are to be included in the UK government budget.

New laws will aim to ensure that people who rely on cash, including vulnerable groups and local communities across the UK, can access it as and when they need it.

The UK Treasury is expected to start talks with the industry and regulators a the Bank of England, Financial Conduct Authority and Payment Systems Regulator a around legislation immediately after the budget.

One area being looked at is whether to give watchdogs new powers which ensure that banks continue to properly support their customers' cash needs.

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.

International examples which the UK could take inspiration from include Sweden, which legislated to require large banks to provide their customers with facilities for withdrawing cash.

The rapid disappearance of many bank branches and free-to-use AThas fuelled concerns about people's ability to continuing accessing coins and notes.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak said last week: "People across Britain work hard for their money, with millions relying on coins and notes to make their daily payments."

The finance industry has set up various schemes to help fill gaps in cash access, but many have argued that legislation is needed to protect the long-term future of cash.

ATM network Link has committed to replacing protected cash dispensers where there is no free machine or Post Office counter within 1km (0.6 miles).

It also recently set up a "request an ATM" service, allowing communities to directly ask for a machine to be installed in their area.

Around two million people in the UK still rely on cash for their day-to-day spending a with three in 10 payments still made using notes and coins.

In 2018, 50 million adults used cash machines, with 87% of them using one at least once a month.

By Vicky Shaw, PA Personal Finance Correspondent

source: PA

Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
Pancreatic cancer is predicted to become the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths by 2030. However, recent developments in staging and treatment provide options to improve the long-term survival rate for an otherwise devastating diagnosis.

Today, new research published in Annals of Surgery from the University of Colorado Department of Surgery at the Anschutz Medical Campus offers a roadmap to new guidelines for physicians in prioritizing treatments and improving outcomes through surgery.

The study suggests a new concept of resectability and identifies objective pre-operative prognostic factors that can predict long-term survival of patients affected by pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), the most common type of pancreatic cancer.

Our research suggests that a new concept of resectability should be considered that is meant to reflect the biology of the tumor and response to chemotherapy. Therefore, this will partially overcome the existing guidelines that are mostly based on tumor anatomic features. Tumor anatomic features are extremely subjective and vary between center to center and surgeon to surgeon." Marco Del Chiaro, MD, PhD, FACS, Chief of Surgical Oncology and Director of the National Pancreas Foundation Center of Excellence at the Anschutz Medical Campus

In the study, researchers analyzed nearly 8,000 patients who underwent pancreatic resection for PDAC from January 2010 to December 2016. The research found that the main prognostic factors for survival were age, sex, levels of carbohydrate antigen CA 19-9, tumor size, primary site, neo-adjuvant treatment (a treatment given to shrink a tumor before surgery), Charlson/Deyo score and facility type. For example, academic facilities were associated with better survival rates. The strength of the findings were validated by a high significant randomized test, log-rank test and simple hazard ratio.

One of the most critical findings is that the tumor engagement of peri-pancreatic arteries at pre-operative scans, historically considered by several centers a contraindication for surgery, does not have a negative impact on survival rates after resection.

"This is the only existing nomogram based on pre-operative objective variables able to assess the chance of long-term survival after surgery for PDAC," said Atsushi Oba, MD, PhD, research associate for surgical oncology, University of Colorado Department of Surgery, and lead author of the paper. "Our results suggest that current classifications of resectability on local anatomic and radiologic features should no longer be considered accurate and that more precise prognostic criteria should be defined. The new PDAC nomogram can become a useful tool for patients and counseling physicians in selecting therapy."

The study offers the advantage of estimating the outcome of each patient before an operation, and regardless of local anatomic features of the tumor, to understand if a patient qualifies or not for an operation based on his or her long-term predicted survival. The use of the nomogram in clinical practice should be proposed after a prospective validation.

"These results support the direction we're taking at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus," said Dr. Richard Schulick, MD, MBA, FACS, Chair of the Department of Surgery and Director of the University of Colorado Cancer Center on the campus. "By providing a multidisciplinary approach to the treatment of pancreatic diseases, we offer patients personalized care and can match candidates with different kinds of therapies that will work best for their individual case. The result is introducing a new concept of prognosis-based staging for patients and the possibility to overcome the old concept and limitations of the anatomical staging of the disease."
PUNE: The Pune district administration has advised all travellers returning from abroad to isolate themselves at home irrespective of any symptoms for at least 14 days which is the incubation period of the virus.

Only those who came in close contact with the positive cases will be quarantined irrespective of any symptoms, said Dr Ashok Nandapurkar, civil surgeon, Pune district who has been specially appointed under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, which was invoked in Pune on March 10.

The district administration invoked the act following confirmation of five positive Covid19 cases in the city. While the act does not impose any restrictions on the public, it empowers the officials to impose precautionary measures in a strict manner.

District collector, Naval Kishore Ram said this legislation is invoked on a regular basis by the district administration and it empowers officers to work more efficiently and impose the necessary precautions to contain the spread of the virus. There are no restrictions as such on the public, he said.

Dr Nandapurkar said, It does not impose any restrictions on the public; however if there are any suspected patients or high risk people who are possible carriers of the corona virus and if they are not cooperating with the administration, this act empowers the administration to impose the precautions and forcefully quarantine them. As of now no such case has come forward.

The family members of the driver who drove the couple, who were the first two positive cases in the state, were in the process of being admitted at Punes Naidu Infectious Diseases Hospital. Also, the 40 fellow travellers of the couple who accompanied them on their Dubai trip were being called for screening from various districts. Pune had eight such travellers.
[March 11, 2020] Infiniti Platforms: A Call to Parents to Protect Their Children's Future - British Blended Learning Defeating Coronavirus in Schools

EDINBURGH, Scotland, March 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Infiniti Platforms (https://www.infinitiplatform.com/), a UK-based startup with Greek tech offices, and its employees are proud to announce that students, teachers, tutorial centers, schools, language centers, charities and universities in over 100 countries are using its virtual classrooms to counter Coronavirus. In order to fight the Coronavirus epidemic, Infiniti Platforms has been offering educational institutions and governments rapid implementations, free staff training and 24/7 customer support to ease and facilitate an immediate transition. Infiniti Platforms has increased its staff by 100% in the past several weeks and is prepared to offer access to millions of more students in the upcoming weeks. Angelo Palyvos, COO, has been communicating to schools that, "Fear and danger is being overcome with the systematic implementation of Infiniti Platforms. We are doing our part to assist teachers with specialized software designed for teaching and online learning management. Schools are realizing that generic videoconferencing (Skype/Zoom) software is inadequate for the goals of learning and that Infiniti delivers a teaching experience that is as good as or even better than the traditional learning experience." Alastair Fisher, a Scotsman born in Malaysia who has made Greece his home and is also known as one of its best tutors, CEO, is "determined that everything possible is done by school management teams and overnments to use available technologies to facilitate undisrupted learning in a safe environment." He pleads, "decision makers in the education industry to take the appropriate step to protect our children's education with learning environments that are fit for the purpose. We are working with Parents to petition their schools and governments to demand appropriate tools such as Infiniti are used. Parents can reach out to us via [email protected] so that we may assist them in petitioning their schools."



Infiniti was founded to expand access to education and we believe that everyone should be able to teach and learn anytime, anywhere. COVID-19 and its spread is now a reality and many schools have been slow to react appropriately and protect their communities. Those that have - by using the virtual classroom technology offered by Infiniti - have been able to ensure smooth operations by taking advantage of the market's leading online learning technology. From California to Hong Kong, we have seen proactive educationalists take the appropriate measures to ensure their students continue to receive an education in a safe environment. Moreover, they are taking the socially responsible step of limiting unnecessary contact and decreasing the chances of community spread. Evgenia Maltezou, CTO claims that, "We are working around the clock to ensure that our technology gives as many students as possible the chance to continue their studies and protect families from spreading Coronavirus."

Indeed, we understand more than most the threat that a new virus can have on children's education. With members of our team teaching in West Africa during the Ebola outbreak we were inspired to share a technology that could ensure that safe access to education was never impeded. Debbie Gispan, Managing Director of Panoba Education, a UK-Nigerian educational consultancy says that "Infiniti Platforms introduced to our network of schools with great fanfare and support  all children in the world should be able to continue their studies regardless of how this epidemic plays out." Infiniti Platforms is immediately available for educators no matter how large or small they are. Together, we will win the fight against Coronavirus. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIUWRQlXpLU&feature=youtu.be For further information, please contact: Angelo Palyvos  COO - [email protected] - +44-(0)-131-510-3650 - www.infinitiplatform.com View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/infiniti-platforms-a-call-to-parents-to-protect-their-childrens-future---british-blended-learning-defeating-coronavirus-in-schools-301021482.html SOURCE Infiniti Platforms

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The United States Embassy here has released a podcast series focussing on the reasons why women are disappearing from India's workforce.

The series named 'Women in Labour' was released on the occasion of International Women's Day on Sunday.

It will release new episodes every Tuesday and Saturday featuring guest speakers from all walks of life, including journalists, filmmakers, IAS officers, social scientists, economists, policy influencers, entrepreneurs, and opinion makers, according to a statement from the US embassy.

"The bi-weekly episodes tackle a specific angle of why women are falling out of India's workforce - the percentage of Indian women in paid work has dropped from 35 per cent in 2005 to less than 24 per cent today," the statement said.

"These include conversations on education, work culture, marriage, domestic life, women in public spaces, and internal struggles," it said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
As the Long Beach Unified School District commits to keeping classes in-person, the city a new testing site opens for LBUSD employees and students only. The city is also ramping up its own testing efforts with a new 3,000-person per...
NEW PROVIDENCE, N.J., March 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Effective School Solutions (ESS), a leading provider of in-school mental health services for K-12 school districts, and the Madison Holleran Foundation, announced the winners of the Madison Holleran Mental Health Action Scholarship. This scholarship was founded to not only drive awareness about suicide prevention but also to hear from high school students about innovative approaches they believe their schools can take to help young adults navigate through the mental health challenges they are facing today. The scholarship honors Madison Holleran, an Allendale, NJ native and all-state athlete who died by suicide as a freshman at the University of Pennsylvania in 2014.

As part of the scholarship process, high school seniors across New Jersey submitted essays about innovative mental health support programs that could be implemented at their high schools. The winners include:

Sara Deuidicibus , Middletown High School North : Founder of the Mindful Psychology and Wellness Club at her high school, Sara developed an innovative "Ask a Peer" Program.

Founder of the Mindful Psychology and Wellness Club at her high school, Sara developed an innovative "Ask a Peer" Program. David Gonzalez , Manville High School : David's proposed program, (MHAP or Mental Health Awareness Program), focuses on mental health education, developing coping skills and having a support structure at school.

David's proposed program, (MHAP or Mental Health Awareness Program), focuses on mental health education, developing coping skills and having a support structure at school. Janeva Holland , Sayreville War Memorial: For her proposed initiative, Janeva was inspired by Dr. Laurie Santos' podcast series, "The Happiness Lab." Janeva's initiative is a mandatory half-year elective course, "Happiness Acquisition," which would help students cope with the stresses that life brings.

For her proposed initiative, Janeva was inspired by Dr. podcast series, "The Happiness Lab." Janeva's initiative is a mandatory half-year elective course, "Happiness Acquisition," which would help students cope with the stresses that life brings. Sarah Terracina , Metuchen High School: Sarah's proposed "Junior Workshop" consists of a series of programs for high school juniors meant to prepare them for post-high school life.

"We were greatly inspired by the almost 100 submissions we received. All of the winners showed an incredible innovative spirit and a commitment to improving mental health outcomes for their peers. When it comes to the mental health of young people, it's vital that we hear from the young people themselves," said Duncan Young, CEO of Effective School Solutions.

Carli Bushoven, Executive Director of the Madison Holleran Foundation stated, "Our hope with these scholarships is to bring attention to mental health and wellness to the forefront of high school and college campuses, end the stigma, and ultimately encourage today's students to make strides in their community with regards to mental health."

Since 2009, Effective School Solutions has been a leader in in-school mental health. ESS partners with over 100 schools in over 50 districts in New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and California to provide comprehensive, cost-effective whole-school clinical programs to K-12 students.

The primary mission of the Madison Holleran Foundation is to prevent suicides and to assist those in a crisis situation with resources that will assist them during their time in crisis. The Foundation also focuses on preparing high school seniors for their transition to college.

For more information, press only:

Lisa Murphy-Church

[email protected]

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ESS

SOURCE Effective School Solutions
(CNN) -- An armed gang of 10 stole about $15 million in cash after raiding a security van at an airport in Santiago, Chile, on Monday.

The heist took place at about midday local time (11 a.m. ET), when a group of 10 entered the cargo area of Arturo Merino Benitez International Airport and targeted a van belonging to security firm Brinks, according to CNN affiliate CNN Chile.

The gang passed themselves off as workers from delivery firm DHL, entering the airport in a vehicle in the company's red and yellow livery, before threatening security guards and leaving one person injured after hitting them, reports CNN Chile.

Jorge Sanchez from Chile's Policia de Investigacion (PDI) gave a press conference on Monday following the heist, revealing that $14 million and one million euros in cash had been stolen.

Sanchez said the criminals may have had inside information that enabled them to carry out the heist, adding that the crime was carried out by professionals.

The PDI is investigating alongside the public prosecutor, said Sanchez, who added that the necessary security protocols were not in place.

New security measures were supposed to be implemented in the wake of a similar heist at the airport in 2014, in which $10 million was stolen.

CNN has reached out to Arturo Merino Benitez International Airport for further details.

Chile is currently experiencing serious civil unrest that has stretched security forces with demonstrations against President Sebastian Pinera ongoing since October 2019.

Hundreds of thousands of protesters took to the streets Sunday to mark International Women's Day, with parts of the march turning violent.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Armed gang steals $15m in Chilean airport robbery"
Geneva, March 11 : The coronavirus outbreak was Wednesday declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation (WHO), whose chief expressed his "deep concern" over "alarming levels of inaction" in combating the virus spread.

WHO chief Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the number of cases outside China had increased 13-fold over the past two weeks.

However, he clarified that the labelling of it as a pandemic, or a disease spreading in multiple countries around the world simultaneously, did not mean the WHO was changing its advice about what countries should do and he called on governments to change the course of the outbreak by taking "urgent and aggressive action", the BBC reported.

"Several countries have demonstrated that this virus can be suppressed and controlled.

"The challenge for many countries who are now dealing with large clusters or community transmission is not whether they can do the same - it's whether they will," he said, noting that the governments had to "strike a fine balance between protecting health, minimising disruption and respecting human life".

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Eloise Parry died after taking drugs sold by Rebelo. On the right is evidence recorded by Harrow Council following a raid on his flat. (PA/West Mercia Police/Harrow Council)

An online dealer convicted of killing a woman who took toxic tablets sold as slimming pills has been jailed.

Bernard Rebelo was previously jailed in 2018 for her manslaughter but was in the Old Bailey again after the Court of Appeal ordered a retrial.

He was again convicted of the manslaughter of Eloise Parry, who died aged 21 in 2015 after taking eight pills that contained poisonous dinitrophenol (DNP). The prosecution said Rebelo sold them despite knowing how dangerous the chemical is.

Rebelo was sentenced to seven years in prison on Wednesday.

Justice Whipple said: You dont know if you are going to live or die (taking DNP).

Eloise Parry had a distorted body image and a morbid desire for thinness. She had been a regular customer of yours in the weeks leading up to her death.

By selling her the DNP, you caused her death  it is that simple.

The 32-year-old, from Gosport, Hampshire, ordered powder from a chemical factory in China and sold it on as tablets to a global market, a jury was told at the Old Bailey.

Eloise Parry died in 2015 after taking toxic pills. (West Mercia Police/PA Wire)

Eloise, from Shrewsbury, bought it after seeing it advertised as a slimming product.

But its known side effects include multiple organ failure, coma and cardiac arrest, and it was used as a base material for munitions in the First World War.

Prosecuting, Richard Barraclough said during Rebelos trial that online forums compared taking the product to playing Russian roulette.

If you take it, you might live, or you might die, he told jurors.

Bernard Rebelo leaving court at a previous hearing. (SWNS)

It is more dangerous for people who have eating disorders because its toxicity is linked to a persons weight, the court was told.

Eloise had been diagnosed with bulimia and became psychologically addicted to the chemical after she began taking it in February 2015.

She texted a friend on 10 March, 2015, when she was taken to hospital in Wrexham, saying she had f***ed up, had a DNP overdose and was in accident and emergency.

I knew I could not control my eating disorder well enough to take them safely, I knew it, she wrote.

Story continues

Its not going to matter how skinny I am if Im dead.

Evidence gathered by Harrow Council during a raid on Bernard Rebelo's flat. (Harrow Council/SWNS)

Harrow Council photos from a raid on Rebelo's flat. (Harrow Council/SWNS)

Three days later, she messaged: I dont want to die, I never meant to hurt myself, I just felt so desperate.

Ive been trying so hard to be okay with my body and myself that I pushed down all of those negative feelings instead of dealing with them.

She died the next month, having taken eight of the DNP pills.

Her mother Fiona Parry said after the sentencing: She had plans for the future including travelling and seeing the world, not just a career.

When Eloise died, her life was undone and her plans were unravelled. In that moment, my hopes were destroyed.

Rebelo sold DNP on two websites he ran out of his flat in Harrow, west London. They have both been taken down.

Barraclough said: He knew it was dangerous, not only because one of his associates had consumed DNP and had suffered some of its toxic effects but because it was well-known that any number of authorities and organisations were warning against the dangers of consuming the chemical.

Rebelo was convicted on Monday.
The Duke of Sussex opened his phone call with Russians posing as Greta Thunberg by assuring them: 'You can call me whatever you want - Harry is fine!'

Believing he was speaking to the teenage environmentalist, he touched on topics including climate change, Prince Andrew and him and Meghan stepping down from senior Royal duties.

The transcripts from two calls with Vladimir Kuznetsov and Alexey Stolyarov - known as Vovan and Lexus - reveal what Harry divulged on New Year's Eve on January 22.

Prince Harry (pictured at the Invictus Charity Day in September last year) discussed the possibility of Greta (right, at Stockholm's Parliament House) marrying Prince George

Here is what Harry had to say:

On Megxit

'You can call me whatever you want  Harry is fine. [Asked about Megxit]. Um, it's, that's probably a conversation for another time, there's lots of layers to it and lots of pieces to the puzzle.

'But sometimes the right decision isn't always the easy one. I can assure you, marrying a Prince or Princess is not all it's made out to be!

'And this decision certainly wasn't the easy one but it was the right decision for our family, the right decision to be able to protect my son.

'And I think there's a hell of a lot of people around the world that can identify and respect us for putting our family first. But, yeah, it's a tricky one, but we will start a new life.'

Prince Harry and Meghan, pictured on Monday, attended their last official Royal engagements this week

On their new life in Canada

'Oh no, I think it's much better (than royal life). You forget, I was in the military for ten years so I'm more normal than my family would like to believe.

'But certainly being in a different position now gives us the ability to say things and do things that we might not have been able to do.

'And seeing as everyone under the age of 35 or 36, seems to be carrying out an activist's role, gives us the opportunity to try and make more of a difference without being criticised (chuckles)'.

On being stripped of titles and losing royal privileges

'No, no, again you mustn't believe what you read, no one has stripped us of our titles. Because of a technicality within the family, if we are earning money separately from within the family structure, then we obviously have been asked not to use our titles in order to make money, which we would never do. But the press managed to jump on that to make it look like we had been stripped.'

On charity work

'I think at the moment, my wife and I, we were being directed towards starting a foundation but we actually decided there is probably enough foundations out there doing amazing work.

'And there's a hell of a lot of money being passed around the world and there are so many problems but we thought we'd just take a moment and see if there was some form of other organisation or different entity we could create that could bring people together, rather than us just starting a foundation. We don't think the world needs necessarily another foundation from us.

'So we are just taking a little bit more time to think about how we can use our platform and how we can use our voice to try and encourage real change and real difference as opposed to, you know, small incremental changes.

Vladimir 'Vovan' Kuznetsov, 30, and Alexei 'Lexus' Stolyarov, called Prince Harry twice on a landline at his home on Vancouver Island. The pair then allegedly animated the conversation and posted it on YouTube

'As we all know, the world's problems seem to be getting bigger and seem to be happening far quicker . . . I think the solutions are far quicker to enable as well, but there needs to be a real shift in mindset. We try and do our best.

'I've spent many, many years being criticised by the media for doing all sorts of things and trying to change the way we think, um, and I can sympathise but at the same time applaud the work that all of you are doing because it's not an easy time and the world is a troubled place and can be very easy to give up and I think what you guys are doing absolutely remarkable'.

On Donald Trump

'The mere fact that Donald Trump is pushing the coal industry is so big in America, he has blood on his hands. But Trump will want to meet you to make him look better but he won't want to have a discussion about climate change with you because you will outsmart him.

Pictured: The video the pranksters released revealing Harry saying that Greta is smarter than Donald Trump

'Whether you have an option to meet President Trump or an option to meet Boris Johnson, I think I would always. It's far more important to have an open dialogue and have conversation with these people than not'

On Prince Andrew and Jeffrey Epstein

'I have very little to say on that. But whatever he has done or hasn't done, is completely separate from me and my wife. We operate in a way of inclusivity and we are focusing on community. And so we are completely separate from the majority of my family.'

On Boris Johnson

'I think he is a good man, so you are one of few people who can reach into his soul and get him to feel and believe in you.

'But you have to understand that because he has been around for so long like all of these other people, they are already set in their ways. They believe what they want to believe, they believe what they have been told.

'What you are now saying to them is not only inconvenient but is completely against everything they have ever believed. So that is what you're up against, up against changing habits, as you know'.

On the climate

'Unfortunately, the world is being led by some very sick people, so people like yourselves and (the) younger generation are the ones that are going to make all the difference.

'People need to be woken up and the only way to wake people up from what effectively is a consciousness crisis is, I think, you need to be doing extreme things.

'What you need to do is make real big changes that actually shock people, and it's that shock factor that wakes people up.'

On the Election

'The fact that our choice was between those two individuals in my mind, I think, probably creates more of an observation that the system itself might be broken.

'There's a lot that the leaders of today can learn and can listen to people like yourself.'

On using private jets

'Unfortunately there is very few alternatives. We have to fly on commercial planes all over the world. Nowhere near as much as most people who do it for a night or weekends.

'Certainly for my family, to protect my family, from these people, as you can well understand. I have to put protections and safety of my family first and these people are never-ending.'

On the media

'The best advice I can give on that is to be able to see through the fear. What they don't understand is the battle we are fighting against them is far more than just us.

'So I think one of the, what I've always believed, one of the strongest ways to change mindset and be able to raise consciousness and be able to create self-awareness among people, is to challenge the media and say you have a responsibility and you are accountable for everything you are feeding people because you are brainwashing people, so this is far bigger than just us.'

Bizarre exchange on Greta marrying Prince George

Fake Greta says she a distant member of the Swedish royal family

Harry replies with a chuckle: 'Oh wow, so we are related?'

Greta says: 'Yeah its true, and if it will help me in fighting for climate change, should I arrange a dynastic marriage, do you think? I think it'll help.'

The two Russian pranksters claimed to be Greta and her father Svante, and contacted the prince on two occasions. Pictured: The video clip posted to YouTube with the prank call

The prince is heard responding: 'I am certain it'll help'

The giggling 'Greta' - aged 17 - then says: 'I found some candidates that suits me - James Windsor and Prince George. 'Their ages I think are very suitable for my marriage. It will help..'

Harry then replies laughing: 'I am sure I can help.'

On moving penguins to the North Pole

A Russian translation of the words shows her asking: 'Now we are dealing with an issue of moving penguins from Belarus to their native land, the North Pole.

'About 50 penguins were stuck at customs in Belarus. That's terrible. And we are searching for some ship maybe to transport these poor penguins to their native land.'

Greta's fake father then said: 'North Pole...perhaps you have some contacts for people who can help us?'

Harry replies: 'I do have a man who deals with the North Pole.

'He is in Norway, he can help as maybe he knows all the right people. I'll give you the contacts on email.

This recording ends with 'Greta' saying: 'That's nice. That's good'.
OTTAWACocaine and drinking bleach do not cure coronavirus  and Canadian governments are trying to make sure these and other social media hoaxes dont go viral.

The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and Ontarios Ministry of Health have launched social media advertising campaigns aimed at neutralizing misinformation and promoting facts as a counter to the various conspiracy theories and hoaxes circulating on platforms like Twitter and Facebook.

The campaigns are up against promises of miracle cures, including everything from cocaine to drinking bleach, being spread on social media. While its difficult to quantify the reach and impact of misinformation campaigns, theres little doubt Canadians are being exposed to them.

Figures provided to the Star show PHAC has already spent $200,000 on their advertising campaign, while Ontarios Ministry of Health has spent $3,800. Both agencies are trying to direct social media users to credible, up-to-date information about the virus and its symptoms, and to neutralize misinformation according to a Ministry of Health spokesperson.

(The efforts include) continually monitoring the public environment and providing accurate, timely and authoritative information to the public through a variety of means, including on Canada.ca/coronavirus, and regular press conferences with ministers and Canadian health officials, a spokesperson for PHAC said Tuesday.

But there are concerns that misinformation around the COVID-19 epidemic have intensified, making the governments efforts more difficult. Last week, a top U.S. State Department official testified that Russia was behind a swarm of fake social media accounts that have been engaged in the midst of this world health crisis.

We saw the entire ecosystem of Russian disinformation at play, Russian state proxy websites, Russian state media as well as swarms of online false personas pushing out false narratives, Lea Gabrielle told the U.S. Senates foreign affairs committee Thursday. The Kremlin has denied the allegations.

On Monday, the U.K. government announced it would create a counter-intelligence team to combat the spread of coronavirus-related misinformation. The cross-department team will be responsible for identifying false information and establishing the scope, impact and whether it needs to be actively countered, according to The Guardian.

While much of Canadas efforts seem to be focused on pushing out accurate information, the countrys electronic intelligence agency confirmed Tuesday evening that they are contributing to Canadas response to the COVID-19 virus.

The Communications Security Establishment cautioned Canadians against those who may use the health crisis as an opportunity to take advantage of the vulnerable.

Cyber actors use social engineering and topical subjects, including COVID-19, to maximize their efforts and lure targets to click on a malicious link, the agency said in a statement.

The first coronavirus fatality in Canada was recorded on Monday; an elderly man in a British Columbia long-term care home. As of Tuesday evening, Canada had confirmed 79 cases of coronavirus across the country  mostly in Ontario (36) and B.C. (39).

In response to misinformation circulating on their platforms, both Facebook and Twitter have prominently displayed links to government health agencies whenever users search for coronavirus.
Union Minister of State (MoS) for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai on Wednesday said a total of 14,864 Bangladesh nationals have been granted citizenship after signing of India-Bangladesh Land Boundary Agreement in 2015.

"After signing of the Indo-Bangladesh Land Boundary Agreement, 14,864 Bangladeshi nationals were granted Indian Citizenship under Section 7 of the Citizenship Act, 1955," Rai said in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha.

As per the data, while 40 migrants from Afghanistan were Indian citizenship, 25 people from Bangladesh and 809 from Pakistan were given citizenship, respectively in 2019.

Elaborating the criteria to identify religious minorities of Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan who have faced religious persecution in their respective countries and who seek citizenship under Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in India, the Minister said: The Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 (CAA) aims to facilitate grant of citizenship to migrants belonging to Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi, and Christian communities from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh who have entered India on or before December 31, 2014, and who have been exempted by the Central government by or under clause (c) of sub-section(2) of section 3 of the Passport (Entry into India) Act, 1920 or from the application of provisions of the Foreigners Act, 1946 or any Rule/order made thereunder."

"The migrants covered by this Amendment Act can submit applications for grant of citizenship after appropriate Rules are notified by the Central Government," he added.

Rai was answering the questions by a Rajya Sabha member Ravi Prakash Verma from Uttar Pradesh.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Spencer Platt/Getty

Last week, Republican members of Congress heard a sober warning in a closed-door briefing on Capitol Hill: Theres a good chance most people in the United States will eventually be exposed to the novel coronavirus, according to one former official.

The assessment, from a former White House public-health official who now works in the pharmaceutical industry, did not suggest that most people will become infected or illrather, just that most will encounter the virus, which has killed at least 31 Americans and infected hundreds more.

Not all public-health experts share that view. And not everyone exposed to the virus will become infected. Still, the briefing highlighted the potential gravity of the growing crisis.

The Coronavirus Is a Pandemic, and Were Not Prepared

Two sourcesa member of Congress who attended the briefing and a second person with knowledge of itdescribed the remarks, made last week, to The Daily Beast. They were delivered by Rajeev Venkayya, the president of the Global Vaccine Business Unit at Tokyo-based pharmaceutical giant Takeda. The member of Congress said the comment was sobering, while the second person noted it came during a discussion about how to manage the costs of medical care related to the coronavirus. Venkayya pointed out that widespread access to medical care will be vital, given the likely breadth of the exposure, that source said.

Venkayya confirmed to The Daily Beast through a spokesperson that he made the remark about the broad scope of likely exposure, and did not provide further comment on the briefing. He was previously director of vaccine delivery for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundations Global Health Program, according to his bio on Takedas website. Before that, he worked in the George W. Bush White House as special assistant to the president for biodefense, where he led efforts to develop and implement the national strategy for pandemic influenza. (A Takeda spokesperson told The Daily Beast on Wednesday that the same group of executives also briefed Democrats.)

Story continues

The remarks came in a briefing to House Republicans. Executives from multiple pharmaceutical companies spoke to the members, as did Vice President Mike Pence. The comment on most Americans likely potential exposure to the virus came after Pence left the briefing, the sources noted. Spokespersons for House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy did not respond to requests for comment on this story. Neither did the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The comment appeared to go further than the most recent public warnings from the CDC. Nancy Messonnier, director of the the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases at the CDC, said in a press call Monday that as the trajectory of the outbreak continues, many people in the United States will at some point in time either this year or next be exposed to this virus and theres a good chance many will become sick.

In that call, Messonnierwho has not shied away from issuing dire warnings about the public health risks posed by the outbreaktook a comparatively reassuring tone.

Right now in the United States, most communities, by far the vast majority of communities, are not having community transmission, she said. This is a time for people to prepare for what they might need to do, but not a time for people to clear out the shelves.

In a statement to The Daily Beast, Venkayya gave more detail about his concerns regarding the spread of the virus, which appears to be particularly dangerous to the elderly.

In my view, we have been past the point of containment since late January, he said, noting Takeda asked its employees on Feb. 9 to cancel all non-essential international travelmore than a week before the first deaths in Iran and before news broke of the cluster of cases in Italy.

We havent done a good job of explaining that case reports dont reflect the global spread of the virus, because: (1) diagnostic testing hasnt been widely available; and (2) clinicians and public health officials havent appreciated the speed and stealth of this outbreak, he continued. This has led to a dangerous sense of complacency in many places.

We can look at South Korea and Italy as possible glimpses into the future in parts of the U.S., he added. Those are developed countries with well-functioning health systems, so there is no reason to believe this couldnt happen here. We cant expect everywhere to be like Singapore.

Cases have boomed over the past few weeks in both South Korea and Italy, where more than 9,000 people had confirmed cases as of Tuesday evening and officials implemented an unprecedented lockdown. Singapore, meanwhile, has won praise from the head of the World Health Organization for its aggressive action to contain the virus. The city-state with a population of 5.6 million people has confirmed 166 cases as of March 10, according to The Straits Times, and no deaths.

Dr. Irwin Redlener, director of the National Center for Disaster Preparedness at Columbia University and an expert on U.S. readiness for pandemics, told The Daily Beast it was unlikely a significant majority of people in the United States would be exposed to the virus.

Now Trumps Starting to Take Coronavirus Seriously, After Its Already Spread

Based on what we know now, it is not likely that 80 percent of Americans will be exposed, he said, though it is likely that 30 percent could be exposed.

We seem to have an overabundance of guessworknot based on evidence or sciencethat has permeated the discussions about coronavirus, and this is a problem, he cautioned. Its a problem that really began with our inability to get information that would have come from a robust testing program.

He added that the disease was spreading very rapidly in the U.S., which could face a situation similar to that in Italy.

Dr. Timothy Brewer, a professor of epidemiology and medicine at UCLA who has served as an adviser for the World Health Organization, CDC, and National Institutes of Health, questioned how health authorities could monitor the likelihood of exposure to the American public.

There is no good way to measure exposure in the absence of infection, said Brewer. Exposure without infection would not have any health consequences.

Officials can measure infections, though, and there is no reason at this time to assume that a majority of all Americans are likely to get the novel coronavirus, he said.

And Dr. Jeffrey Klausner, an adjunct professor of epidemiology at the University of California Los Angeles who previously worked for the CDC, said the outbreaks in China and South Korea show spread of the virus is highly localized to individual cities or areas. Its just not demonstrating that its spread that easily, he said. We havent seen waves and waves of transmission anywhere in the world. Weve seen highly localized, geographically specific areas.

He said the virus has not spread all over China, South Korea, or Washington State. And he said an outbreak of 100,000 cases in the United States would be our wildest estimate.

Meet the Insane People Still Planning Cruise Ship Vacations

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As the deadly coronavirus spreads across the world, governments and health insurance companies are adopting different ways to make sure that out-of-pocket costs do not prevent people from seeking care and the threat of under-reporting of cases can be minimised.

Americas Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) had said last week that its members, which include Cigna Corp and Anthem Inc, will cover diagnostic testing when ordered by a doctor, ease network, referral and prior authorisation requirements and/or waive patient cost sharing.

Tackling Coronavirus: Track Live Updates

The group also said it will take action so that patients will have continuous access to their regular prescription medications.

Some healthcare experts had expressed concern that the type of patient cost sharing seen in many US health plans might make some Americans hesitate to visit a doctor, even if they have valid reasons to be concerned about contracting the virus.

In India, insurance regulator IRDAI had last week asked insurance companies to come out with policies to cover treatment costs for coronavirus infection, which has impacted over one lakh people worldwide. In order to provide need-based health insurance coverage, insurers are introducing products for various specific diseases, including vector borne diseases.

For the purpose of meeting health insurance requirements of various sections, insurers are advised to design products covering the costs of treatment for coronavirus, the regulator had said in a circular.

All the claims reported under COVID-19 shall be thoroughly reviewed by review committee before repudiating the claims, it further added.

There are 62 confirmed cases of coronavirus infection in India.

Singapore, meanwhile, has started charging visitors for coronavirus treatment, as it reported new imported infections involving people who had travelled from neighbouring Indonesia.

Indonesia, the worlds fourth-most populous country, reported its first virus case earlier this month and officially has just 19 infections compared to 160 in Singapore. Disease experts have questioned how many cases could be going undiagnosed in Indonesia.

Singapores new measures announced late on Monday came into effect on March 7, when authorities said two symptomatic Indonesian travellers arrived in Singapore.

Both had reported coronavirus symptoms in Indonesia before arriving in Singapore. One had previously sought treatment at a hospital in Indonesias capital Jakarta.

Another case involved a Singaporean who had visited her sister in Indonesia who had pneumonia.
Algerias government has canceled political gatherings because of the coronavirus, it said on Tuesday, though it was not immediately clear if this would entail a ban on the mass protests that have convulsed the state for more than a year.

Health Minister Abderrahmane Benbouzid said in comments broadcast on state television that the government was acting to slow the spread of the disease, with 20 confirmed cases in the country.

All sports, cultural, political and economic gatherings are canceled. We do not take any risk, he said.

There was no immediate comment from leading figures in the political opposition, known as the Hirak, over the move.

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Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, March 12 2020

It started off as a regular Thursday afternoon for Neni, a 48-year-old resident of Central Jakarta, as she waited for customers to visit her warung.

The tranquil afternoon atmosphere, however, quickly turned fearful after a neighbor asked her for help to find her 5-year-old daughter. The mother said the girl had not arrived home from playing outside with other children in the neighborhood.

Neni and some neighbors began to look for the daughter.

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Xiongan New Area to plant over 6,600 hectares of trees in 2020

SHIJIAZHUANG, March 10 (Xinhua) -- The Xiongan New Area in north China's Hebei Province plans to plant about 6,670 hectares of trees this year.

The afforestation is to be implemented in spring and autumn, respectively, with the engineering cost for the spring session at 708 million yuan (102 million U.S. dollars), according to China Xiongan Group.

By the end of 2019, Xiongan had planted 14 million trees covering an area of 20,700 hectares, said the government-funded company.

In 2017, China announced to establish the Xiongan New Area to move non-capital functions out of Beijing.

Featuring high technology, smart urban planning and a sound ecological environment, the new area aims to become a significant part of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei cluster and provide a Chinese solution to "big city malaise," including overcrowding, pollution and traffic congestion.
Miley Cyrus is one of those Hollywood celebrities who really enjoys defying the expectations of both her fans and the media. Ever since her transition from a sweet Disney star to a mature, daring woman, Cyrus has pushed the boundaries in her music as well as her personal life. Cyrus is a huge fan of body art, especially tattoos, and loves getting new ink to commemorate significant events in her life. Recently, Cyrus surprised fans yet again with a tattoo that pays tribute to an iconic piece of artwork.

How many tattoos does Miley Cyrus have?

Miley Cyrus | VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty Images

Cyrus rose to fame on the iconic Disney Channel show Hannah Montana. Playing the demure, dual-personality teen sensation gave Cyrus a platform for her amazing vocal skills, and soon, she had eclipsed the show and was on to bigger things. Eager to prove that she was her own person, Cyrus developed a somewhat controversial reputation and weathered several controversies during the early days of her career.

Most critics have finally accepted Cyrus for who she is  and her fans certainly love her for her bold nature. Cyrus is a devotee of risque photography and body art. Over the years, she has decorated her skin with an assortment of tattoos.

In fact, Cyrus has well over twenty tattoos, many of them very small and hard to precisely identify. A few of her known tattoos include the words Just Breathe on her ribs, and close to ten miniature tattoos on and in between her fingers. She also has the word love written inside her ear, a reminder for Cyrus to block out all the crap.

Miley Cyrus recently got matching tattoos with Cody Simpson

Cyrus has also used her tattoos to symbolize major moments in her love life. For ten years, she and Australian actor Liam Hemsworth were romantically involved, after initially meeting on the set of their movie, The Last Song.

Hemsworth and Cyrus commemorated their love via body ink several times during the course of their relationship. They got matching Vegemite tattoos a few years ago, followed by matching sugar skull tattoos a year or so after that.

Although Cyrus and Hemsworth broke up in the summer of 2019, she continues the tradition of honoring her loves through tattoos. Currently, Cyrus is dating Cody Simpson, and the two have visited the tattoo shop several times together. Most recently, both Cyrus and Simpson got matching trident tattoos on their left arms.

Miley Cyrus got a new Matisse-inspired tattoo

Cyrus has also visited the tattoo shop solo a few times within the past couple of months as well. One of her most recent pieces is a note from Yoko Ono inscribed on her shoulder, an homage to both her love of John Lennons music and her longtime collaboration with Sean Lennon.

On March 2nd, Cyrus debuted yet another brand-new tattoo, this time a beautiful tribute to another iconic artist. The tattoo in question is a silhouette of a womans naked body, done in black and white ink. The piece is placed on her tricep and is taken from artwork by Henri Matisse.

Cyrus captioned her post: Dance me to your beauty with a burning violin. Dance me through the panic till Im gathered safely in. Touch me with your naked hand or touch me with your glove. Dance me to the end of love.

The words are beautiful, but not penned by Cyrus. In fact, they come from a book written in 1984 by Leonard Cohen, a book that also featured a series of illustrations by Matisse. It is admirable that Cyrus managed to include a tribute to not only Matisse but to Cohen as well in the debut of her new tattoo.

Who gave Miley Cyrus her tattoo?

As for who inked her, Cyrus was tattooed by Los Angeles-based artist Nico Bassill. Hes the same artist that inked Cyrus and Simpson for their matching tattoos.

I grew up in Los Angeles and the streets around my town really inspired my drive for art and to work with many different mediums, writes Bassill in his bio. From a young age I was enamored with tattoos and aspired to one day become a tattoo artist.

Bassill started his journey as a tattoo artist four years ago. After a long adventure of handwork and learning, I finally became a full time artist and am living out my dream, writes Bassill.

Bassill appears to be a Cyrus favorite when it comes to tattoos. Last year, he covered up a small green avocado on her left tricep with a large rose.
[March 11, 2020] Information Update - Cybersecurity vulnerabilities associated with some medical devices with Bluetooth Low Energy chips

Summary Product: Some medical devices that use Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) chips

Issue: Cybersecurity vulnerabilities

What to do: Monitor whether your device is working as usual. Contact your healthcare provider if you think your device is not working as expected. OTTAWA, March 11, 2020 /CNW/ - Health Canada is informing Canadians, healthcare professionals, and manufacturers about a series of cybersecurity vulnerabilities named "SweynTooth". These vulnerabilities may affect devices using the Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) protocol. Because of these vulnerabilities, some medical devices that use BLE chips could be at risk of a cyber attack. Affected medical devices may include pacemakers, blood glucose monitors, ultrasound systems and insulin pumps. Health Canada is not aware of any reports of patient harm related to these cybersecurity vulnerabilities in Canada or in any other country. The Department considers the risk of a cyberattack to be low. The vulnerabilties create a risk to users only when an unauthorized user would specifically seek to exploit them. The SweynTooth vulnerabilities could allow an unauthorized user to potentially: Crash the device. The device may stop communicating or stop working.

The device may stop communicating or stop working. Deadlock the device. The device may freeze and stop working correctly.

The device may freeze and stop working correctly. Bypass security. An unauthorized user may try to access device functions normally available only to an authorized user. Health Canada is aware of several BLE chip manufacturers that are affected by these cybersecurity vulnerabilities: Texas Instruments

NXP

Cypress

Dialog Semiconductors

Microchip

STMicroelectronics

Telink Semiconductor Health Canada is working with manufacturers to identify affected medical devices in Canada, evaluate the risks, and to ensure that necessary action is taken. The Department will update Canadians if significant new information becomes available. Information for patients, parents and caregivers: If you have this type of device and it is not working properly, contact your healthcare provider or your device's manufacturer to help you determine whether your device could be affcted and if you should take action.

Follow instructions, including software patches, from your device's manufacturer to address the problem as they become available.

Report any problems or adverse effects you have with your medical device to Health Canada, including those related to cybersecurity.



Information for healthcare professionals: Work with device manufacturers to identify medical devices that could be at risk.

Advise patients who use affected medical devices of the steps they can take to mitigate risk associated with this vulnerability.

Remind patients who use potentially affected medical devices to seek medical help right away if they think the operation or function of their medical device has changed unexpectedly. Information for manufacturers and importers:

Determine whether any of your medical devices are affected. If so, report medical devices with this cybersecurity vulnerability to Health Canada at [email protected] ;

; Conduct a risk assessment, and identify and implement any required risk mitigation measures.

Evaluate whether your device(s) should be recalled. If a recall is required, advise Health Canada before initiating one at [email protected] .

. Inform customers and patients of appropriate mitigation measures that can be implemented before the release of a software patch (e.g., turning Bluetooth Low Energy off on devices where it is not essential to device performance). If a software patch is required, consult Health Canada's Guidance for the Interpretation of Significant Change of a Medical Device.

Report any medical device incidents brought to your attention to Health Canada by calling toll-free at 1-800-267-9675, or by reporting online.

Health Canada has recently published guidance on Pre-market Requirements for Medical Device Cybersecurity to help protect patient safety. The new guidance describes how and when to implement strategies to reduce potential risks associated with medical devices that contain software and technology that enable communication with outside networks. Related Links: U.S. Food and Drug Administration Safety Communication

ICS-ALERT-20-063-01 SweynTooth Vulnerabilities Egalement disponible en francais SOURCE Health Canada

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A crowd marches down Market Street during the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Center City, Philadelphia, on Sunday, March 10, 2019. Read more

Editors note: This editorial originally called for Philadelphias St. Patricks Day parade to be canceled. When city officials announced its cancelation late on Tuesday night, the Editorial Board updated accordingly.

The Philadelphia Department of Public Health officially confirmed the first case of coronavirus in the city Tuesday afternoon.

In a news conference at City Hall, Health Commissioner Thomas Farley updated the citys recommendations to include a warning against attending events with more than 5,000 participants  such as the upcoming St. Patrick Days Parade on Sunday. Farley and Managing Director Brian Abernathy said that they have not asked the organizers to cancel the event, but recommend that people watch it from home.

This may have been an attempt to navigate a fine line between maintaining calm and keeping people safe, but the action transmitted a mixed signal. Late last evening, the signal cleared, when the parade organizers announced they had canceled the event.

City Council President Darrell L. Clarke said earlier Tuesday that Council is ready to support the mayors effort to deal with coronavirus. But Council, too, has sent some mixed signals.

During last weeks meeting, Council passed a resolution introduced by Councilmember Allan Domb to authorize the Committee on Public Health and Human Services to hold hearings on the citys preparedness to respond to the inevitable arrival of coronavirus. Now, its here. According to Committee Chair Cindy Bass, the coronavirus hearing is scheduled for April 6  26 days from now.

A person confirmed with the coronavirus today can be in isolation for the recommended 14 days, take a 10-day vacation, and still attend the hearing with a couple of days to spare.

Scheduling a prompt hearing is possible. When Councilmember David Oh introduced a bill to essentially ban supervised injection sites, it took the Committee on Public Health less than two weeks to hold a hearing.

Both City Council and the administration need to get on the same page and show a unified course of action.

Canceling the St. Patricks Day Parade was the right step. For a city with a large and deep-rooted Irish population, the parade is an institution. It is the second oldest in the country  marking 250 years this week. Michael J. Bradley Jr., the current grand marshal of the parade, told WHYY that the celebration can draw up to 100,000 spectators.

Ireland  which had 24 confirmed cases  and Boston  which had 10 cases in Suffolk County  had already canceled their parades for the benefit of the publics health.

In 1918, in the midst of the global Spanish flu pandemic, nearly 200,000 packed Broad Street to view a parade to bolster support for U.S. troops fighting in World War I. At the time of the parade, there were no known cases in Philadelphia. Two days after, the city announced that Spanish flu hit, and every hospital bed in Philadelphia was full. Within a couple of weeks, more than 4,500 died.

Coronavirus is not the Spanish flu, and the health services in 1918 were not as advanced as todays. But a respiratory virus is transmitted in a large crowd today  just like it was then.

The coronavirus poses a difficult challenge to city leaders: taking necessary precautions without inciting panic. Action does not equal panic. Canceling the parade was the right one.
Global Creative Director, Roger Rojas is The Content CEO; Don't Blink, You Might Miss Your Shot

NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / March 10, 2020 / Roger Rojas is a social creator and director who brings a unique Miami flare and New York edge to his work. The Miami born native moved to New York for college and after graduating made the hardest decision of his life...to stay there. He took a risk that not many family members, friends and even himself were sure about. Now, fast forward four years later and everything seems to be coming into focus.

Roger Rojas is "The Content CEO" who has created social stories (yes, he calls them social stories) for everyone from Super Bowl champion Patrick Mahomes to celebrity entrepreneur Grant Cardone. Rojas is the social creator of choice to New York City's GRIT BXNG one of the hottest fitness facilities in Manhattan, co-owned by Tony Robbins, Pitbull, and the Zanker family. However, it's not just his video content that is attracting high profile brands but his photography as well, his photo recently landed the cover of Men's Health Magazine in Mexico.

His come up is truly remarkable. The question is, how in less than four years did he go from picking up a camera for the first time in his life to shooting everyone from startups to celebrities?

"It's not magic, it's math," says Roger, who explains that during the first 2.5 years after college he almost never said "no" to any job. He quadrupled down on making connections, networking, and delivering a service that went above and beyond the client ask. "If they asked for one video I gave them two, if they asked for fifty photos, I delivered seventy-five".

"When I first started working with Roger I knew he was special. He's my go-to when I partner with big brands. Roger knows how to elevate content and deliver something incredibly unique." says Brian Mazza, Founder of High-Performance Lifestyle Training retreats.

At just 26-years-old, Roger Rojas is the "The Content CEO", who took a risk on himself, turning down multiple out of college opportunities to pursue what he believed in. His diverse campaigns, photos, and eye-catching videos are the result of a young man who isn't scared to challenge himself and through that, his work tells a story every time.

Over the past four years, Roger Rojas has become a highly sought after social director creating content for some of your favorite brands, celebrities, and influencers across the world.

His advice is simple, in seven words he says it all:

"Don't blink, you might miss your shot"

For more info follow Rojas Rojas: Instagram, TikTok, Website or email roger@thecontentceo.com

SOURCE: Roger Rojas

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/580070/The-Influence-Behind-Your-Favorite-Influencers
An endangered breed of turtle that was almost wiped out by a virus in 2015 has enjoyed a significant baby boom, after 35 babies hatched.

The Bellinger River snapping turtle, a species of short-necked freshwater turtle, would have been wiped out if not for the dogged determination of a couple of sharp-eyed canoeists and then a raft of agencies and scientists.

A Bellinger River snapping turtle hatchling at Taronga Zoo. Credit:Taronga Zoo

It is now on the road to recovery with nearly 100 living in Taronga Zoo's quarantine facility, and 20 others released into their natural habitat.

"The hatchlings are doing really well - eating lots and growing - and we are really happy with their development," said Adam Skidmore, a Taronga reptile keeper who cares for the species.
WASHINGTON -- The United States arrested a Russian citizen on charges of running a vast online marketplace for stolen account credentials, the latest in a series of suspected Russian cybercriminals nabbed during overseas travel.



Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) officers detained Kirill Firsov on March 7 as he arrived at JFK Airport in New York City, court records show. The charges were unsealed by a California court on March 9 and he is expected to be arraigned later this week.



The United States accuses Firsov of running deer.io, a Russia-based online platform that allows cybercriminals to buy and sell hacked usernames and passwords, including those belonging to U.S. citizens. He faces two felony counts of aiding and abetting the unauthorized solicitation and trafficking of personal data.



The criminal complaint states that the platform became active in 2013 and has over 24,000 active virtual shops with total sales exceeding $17 million.



It offers an individual a ready-made virtual store with all the necessary infrastructure, including design, web hosting, and payment services and is thus similar to Shopify, the popular global ecommerce platform for online stores.



Customers can browse the storefronts on the platform -- the virtual equivalent of walking through a mall -- or search for relevant stores by a topic. Purchases are made with cryptocurrency or Russian versions of Paypal.



The FBI studied about 250 virtual stores on the platform, finding thousands of hacked accounts and personal information, including U.S. Social Security numbers, the complaints states.



Thus far, law enforcement has found no legitimate business advertising its services and/or products through a deer.io storefront, the U.S. complaint states.



The FBI said it purchased about 1,100 gamer accounts, including logins and passwords, on March 4 for less than $20 worth of bitcoin.



The FBI also purchased the personal information of 2,650 people for $522 in bitcoin, including U.S. citizens living in California.



Travel Blogger & FSB



Firsov describes himself on his Twitter account as a security researcher and web developer. He is also a popular travel blogger with nearly 200,000 followers on Instagram who has been profiled in Russian media.

According to a biography in Russian weekly Argumenty i Fakty that features a selfie of Firsov standing across from Manhattan, he was born in the southern region of Krasnodar in 1991 and moved to Moscow when he was 9 years old.

He completed his degree at the Federal Security Services Moscow Border Institute before joining Habrahabr, a Russian collaborative blog about Internet technology.



Firsov left Habrahabr to launch his own IT projects and, according to the article, later discovered flaws in Telegrams messenger app, helping raise his profile as a security expert.



The article said he also regularly takes part in hacking competitions.



However, Firsov may have left an easy trail for the U.S. to determine that he was the individual behind deer.io, Brian Krebs, an independent investigative journalist focusing on cyber security, posted on his website Krebs On Security.



In just one example, Krebs said that deer.io was promoted on a Russian hacker forum called Antichat by an individual using the alias Isis.



The user Isis described himself as the winner of a hacking competition while one of his posts linked to a file under the username Firsov.



In my experience, very few criminals have good [operations security]. The ones who do invariably are true sociopaths, Krebs said in response to a readers comment about Firsov leaving his footprints.
The ED had sought extension of Kapoors custody to probe his role in YES Banks bad debts of Rs 30,000 crore. It will also look into whether the monies were siphoned and laundered to the 78 entities controlled by the banks co-founder. It has been noticed that more than Rs 30,000 crore was given as loans by YES Bank to several companies/entities during the tenure of ...

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Investing in stocks inevitably means buying into some companies that perform poorly. Long term Guangdong Kanghua Healthcare Co., Ltd. (HKG:3689) shareholders know that all too well, since the share price is down considerably over three years. So they might be feeling emotional about the 58% share price collapse, in that time. The more recent news is of little comfort, with the share price down 33% in a year. The good news is that the stock is up 1.6% in the last week.

Check out our latest analysis for Guangdong Kanghua Healthcare

In his essay The Superinvestors of Graham-and-Doddsville Warren Buffett described how share prices do not always rationally reflect the value of a business. One flawed but reasonable way to assess how sentiment around a company has changed is to compare the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price.

During the three years that the share price fell, Guangdong Kanghua Healthcare's earnings per share (EPS) dropped by 1.9% each year. This reduction in EPS is slower than the 25% annual reduction in the share price. So it's likely that the EPS decline has disappointed the market, leaving investors hesitant to buy. This increased caution is also evident in the rather low P/E ratio, which is sitting at 9.13.

The company's earnings per share (over time) is depicted in the image below (click to see the exact numbers).

SEHK:3689 Past and Future Earnings, March 11th 2020

It might be well worthwhile taking a look at our free report on Guangdong Kanghua Healthcare's earnings, revenue and cash flow.

What About Dividends?

It is important to consider the total shareholder return, as well as the share price return, for any given stock. The TSR incorporates the value of any spin-offs or discounted capital raisings, along with any dividends, based on the assumption that the dividends are reinvested. It's fair to say that the TSR gives a more complete picture for stocks that pay a dividend. As it happens, Guangdong Kanghua Healthcare's TSR for the last 3 years was -55%, which exceeds the share price return mentioned earlier. And there's no prize for guessing that the dividend payments largely explain the divergence!

Story continues

A Different Perspective

Guangdong Kanghua Healthcare shareholders are down 31% for the year (even including dividends) , falling short of the market return. Meanwhile, the broader market slid about 11%, likely weighing on the stock. Shareholders have lost 24% per year over the last three years, so the share price drop has become steeper, over the last year; a potential symptom of as yet unsolved challenges. Although Baron Rothschild famously said to "buy when there's blood in the streets, even if the blood is your own", he also focusses on high quality stocks with solid prospects. I find it very interesting to look at share price over the long term as a proxy for business performance. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. For example, we've discovered 1 warning sign for Guangdong Kanghua Healthcare that you should be aware of before investing here.

If you like to buy stocks alongside management, then you might just love this free list of companies. (Hint: insiders have been buying them).

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on HK exchanges.

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



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
New research by Texas A&M University biologist Dr. Charles Criscione and collaborators in Canada shows that family ties and traits such as manipulation, sacrifice and selflessness are just as key to survival in parasitic organisms as they are in cognitive species like humans.

In essence, when it comes to successful transmission, some parasites get by with a little help from their kin.

Specifically in the case of lancet liver flukes (Dicrocoelium dendriticum), a single larva travels to and takes over its ant host's brain, compelling the ant to cling to vegetation until it is eaten by the fluke's next host, a grazing mammal such as cattle and deer. In a textbook example of altruistic behavior, the brain fluke sacrifices itself to ensure the survival of its relatives, who co-infect the same ant's abdomen. Ant exposure via vegetation ensures transmission of the abdomen flukes, who live on by infecting the mammal's bile ducts, where they sexually reproduce and send the next generation of parasite progeny out into the world ensconced in host feces.

For more than 40 years, scientists have hypothesized kin selection -- the evolution of traits that favor survival of relatives -- to explain the brain fluke's noble self-sacrifice.

It was presumed that genetically identical individuals, which we call clonemates, can end up in the same ant because in the snail first host, there is an asexual reproductive stage of the parasite. Many larval parasites that are clonemates are released from the snail in a slime ball that ants like to eat. However, no one has tested the clonal relationships of the parasites co-infecting ants, especially between the brain fluke and abdomen flukes." Dr. Charles Criscione, Texas A&M University biologist

Criscione notes population genetic methods examining clonal dynamics in fluke parasites, or trematodes, didn't become common until the early 2000s, with that data actually indicating clonemates were rare in fluke systems. Therefore, it was necessary to test their de facto adaptive story. Criscione and colleagues Dr. John Gilleard and Dr. Brad van Paridon (University of Calgary) and Dr. Cam Goater (University of Lethbridge) did just that, and they now have the data to prove it.

In their study that measured genetic relatedness between brain and abdomen flukes within ants, the team was able to show not only that clonemates simultaneously occur in the same ant much more often than expected by chance, but also that the brain fluke commonly has clonemates within the same ant. Their research, currently published online and set to be included in next week's issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, provides rare genetic evidence to support a role for kin selection in the evolution of an altruistic, host-manipulating behavior that facilitates parasite transmission and as an evolutionary explanation for similar behaviors that improve the odds of survival and reproduction among genetically related family members.

"The lancet fluke is an extreme example of kin selection in that the asexual reproductive stage of the parasite in its snail host has enabled the highest degree of genetic relatedness; i.e., clonality," Criscione said. "While our data confirm the original hypothesis in that we find lots of clonemates and that these clonemates co-infect the same ant, our study also reflects the important need in science to collect hard data where possible to test our hypotheses regardless of how intuitive something may seem, especially in iconic systems such as the lancet fluke."

To explain kin selection, Criscione defers to one of the founding fathers of population genetics, J.B.S. Haldane -- specifically, a quote recalled by his graduate student and prominent evolutionary biologist John Maynard Smith, ascribed as follows: "I would lay down my life for eight cousins or two brothers." Essentially, a trait that reduces one's own survival and/or reproduction -- an altruistic trait -- can increase in frequency in the population because the trait benefits the survival and/or reproduction and therefore the individual fitness of one's relatives.

"Full siblings and first cousins share on average 50% and 12.5%, respectively, of their genetic information," Criscione said. "By 'helping' two of one's full siblings or eight of one's cousins, the individual is in effect ensuring the survival and/or reproduction of itself, from a genetic information perspective.

"Theory indicates that a truly self-sacrificing behavior -- altruism -- cannot evolve by natural selection because the actor dies and cannot pass on the genetic variant(s) underlying the behavior. However, if the recipients of the actor's altruistic behavior are related to the actor, then the trait can evolve, or increase in frequency, because the actor shares its genes with its relatives. This is the premise of kin selection, or the evolution of traits that benefit one's relatives. We found the brain fluke has clonemates in the abdomen, so even though the brain fluke does not transmit to the next host, its clonemates, which are akin to twins because they share 100% of their genetic information, do."

Interestingly, Criscione notes that when the ant first eats the snail slime ball and ingests myriad parasite larvae, many migrate to the ant's head. But when one reaches the ant's brain, the rest change direction and migrate to the abdomen, where they form a protective cyst around themselves.

So what makes that one brain fluke turn hero, much less the others turn back and head for the comparative safety of the ant's abdomen?

"We do not know," Criscione said. "A hypothesis is that the genetic basis of this 'hero' trait is found in all individuals, but we need to know the gene or genes that control the trait to answer this. Thus, it remains an outstanding question. As for the change in direction, a hypothesis there is that either the brain fluke directly releases a chemical or the brain fluke indirectly causes the ant to release a chemical that informs the other larvae to go to the abdomen."

From a broader perspective, Criscione says the melding of kin and multilevel selection has rekindled interest in how genetic relatedness among individuals influences selection on traits, ranging from social behavior to how plants grow roots.

"Our study adds a unique trait to the list where the kin-selected trait is one that facilitates parasite transmission," Criscione said. "It is also interesting for trematodes, which are a diverse group of parasitic flatworms with more than 30,000 estimated species -- some of which are of major economic and health importance. All trematode species have asexual reproduction in their first host, which is usually a mollusk such as snails. Thus, clonality, the highest form of genetic relatedness, makes kin selection a possibility in the evolution of other trematode traits, including competition among clones and caste formation, or possibly even their hosts with regard to virulence."

Criscione says there is much to be learned about the transmission biology of clonemates within the lancet liver fluke system, from how many make it to the final mammal host to how dispersed they are among individual final hosts.

"If clonemates end up in the same host and mate, this is equal to self-mating," Criscione said. "Self-mating is an extreme form of inbreeding, which is one of the evolutionary mechanisms that shapes how genetic information is partitioned among individuals in a population. Moreover, it will be of interest to ask if any particular clone dominates, or do we see a mix of different clones surviving the transmission process to the final host?"

Because altered host phenotypes -- behavioral and morphological -- by parasites occur in other parasite groups beyond trematodes, Criscione says it will be important to merge the ecology, population genetics and phylogenetics of the parasites with these parasite manipulation traits to fully understand their origins, adaptive significance and ecological context.

"Parasites are extremely diverse in terms of their ecologies and the number of different species that have evolved a parasitic life cycle," Criscione added. "Therefore, it will be exciting to discover the possible ways by which altered host phenotypes have come about across the different parasites."
PHOENIX, March 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona (BCBSAZ) announced expanded support today in an effort to combat the spread and impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19). BCBSAZ will seek to minimize barriers for testing and treatment, including waiving prior authorizations for members with COVID-19, eliminating member cost share for telehealth sessions, increasing access to prescription drugs, and enhancing other clinical support systems.

"Our top priority is protecting the safety and well-being of our members and Arizonans," said Pam Kehaly, president and CEO of BCBSAZ. "As the coronavirus continues to spread, we're taking comprehensive steps so that our members will have easier access to medical services if they become ill with COVID-19. We're also actively sharing preparedness guidance, prevention tips and other resources with our members to help them stay healthy and address any concerns with trained medical professionals."

BCBSAZ is taking the following steps to assist members:

Waiving Prior Authorizations: BCBSAZ will waive prior authorizations for medically necessary covered services that are consistent with CDC guidance for members diagnosed with COVID-19. BCBSAZ will also make dedicated clinical staff available to address inquiries related to medical services.

BCBSAZ will waive prior authorizations for medically necessary covered services that are consistent with CDC guidance for members diagnosed with COVID-19. BCBSAZ will also make dedicated clinical staff available to address inquiries related to medical services. Covering Medically Necessary Diagnostic Tests: Members will pay no cost share for medically necessary diagnostic tests related to COVID-19 and consistent with CDC guidance (when services are not covered as part of the Public Health Service response).

Members will pay no cost share for medically necessary diagnostic tests related to COVID-19 and consistent with CDC guidance (when services are not covered as part of the Public Health Service response). Eliminating Cost Share for Telehealth Sessions and Expanding Hotline Services: BCBSAZ will waive the member cost share for telehealth sessions, and expand access to telehealth and nurse/provider hotlines. Given the nature of the COVID-19 outbreak, seeking in-person medical care may lead to further spreading of the virus. BCBSAZ will encourage the use of virtual care and will also facilitate member access and use of nurse/provider hotlines.

BCBSAZ will waive the member cost share for telehealth sessions, and expand access to telehealth and nurse/provider hotlines. Given the nature of the COVID-19 outbreak, seeking in-person medical care may lead to further spreading of the virus. BCBSAZ will encourage the use of virtual care and will also facilitate member access and use of nurse/provider hotlines. Increasing Access to Prescription Medications: BCBSAZ will increase access to prescription medications by waiving early medication refill limits on 30-day prescription maintenance medications (consistent with a member's benefit plan) and/or encouraging members to use their 90-day mail order benefit. BCBSAZ will also work with members to find alternative covered medications if there are shortages or access issues. Patients will not be liable for additional cost share for a non-preferred medication if the preferred medication is not available due to shortage or access issues.

BCBSAZ is closely monitoring the updates on COVID-19 and reviewing the data daily so that it is prepared and able to respond quickly as the situation changes. Additionally, BCBSAZ is working with the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) to offer ongoing consultation and support, including translation services, and funding "Go Kits" with thermometers, masks, and information for travelers returning to Arizona.

These coverage enhancements apply to fully-insured group, individual, and Medicare members of BCBSAZ. Although employers that self-fund their health plans make their own decisions whether to cover these services, we are strongly encouraging them do so.

For more information, please visit azblue.com/coronavirus or the CDC coronavirus homepage.

About Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona (BCBSAZ) is committed to helping Arizonans get healthier faster and stay healthier longer. With a focus on connecting people with the care they need, BCBSAZ offers health insurance and related services to more than 1.7 million customers. Through advanced clinical programs and community outreach, BCBSAZ is inspiring health in Arizona. BCBSAZ, a not-for-profit company, is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. The company, and its subsidiaries, employ more than 2,400 people in its Phoenix, Chandler, Flagstaff, and Tucson offices. To learn more, visit azblue.com.

SOURCE Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona

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Posted on March 10, 2020

We are collaborating with FactCheck.org, a project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania, in an effort to identify misinformation and to ensure news consumers get the facts.



In the wake of an increasing number of new coronavirus infections in the U.S., federal officials have provided confusing and sometimes contradictory statements about the number and availability of tests to diagnose the new respiratory illness.

President Donald Trump claimed on March 6 that anyone who wants a test can get a test, while Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar said in a television interview the same day that there is no testing kit shortage, nor has there ever been.

Contrary to both men, we were told by the Association of Public Health Laboratories on March 9 that although things had improved since a week ago, demand for testing is greater than the tests available.

At the same time, at least one Democrat has exaggerated the problems.

Former Vice President Joe Biden said on March 1 that the Trump administration didnt even have a test kit for the new coronavirus. Thats not true. While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is widely viewed to have bungled the rollout of its viral test kits, there was a test kit at the time, and it had been successfully used by the agency and some states.

The novel coronavirus, now known as SARS-CoV-2, is responsible for the pneumonia-like illness called COVID-19, which first appeared in an outbreak in Wuhan, China, at the end of 2019.

Well explain how testing works, what happened with the CDCs coronavirus test and whats known about how many tests are available in the U.S.

How does a coronavirus test work?

Most of the available diagnostics are molecular tests that use a standard molecular biology technique known as the polymerase chain reaction, or PCR, to detect even a very tiny amount of the virus in a specimen.

The test takes advantage of some natural features of biology to essentially scan through all of the RNA present in a sample  such as a nose or throat swab, or some phlegm  and search for the presence of coronavirus RNA. The scanning happens with test components known as primers and probes, which are sequence-based, and therefore can be made specific to the virus.

In those reactions, if the novel coronavirus is present in the sample, then a short snippet of DNA is copied many times over, which can be read out on a machine. If there is no virus  or if theres a different virus, such as influenza  then no DNA fragment is made and theres no signal to detect.

The CDCs test was designed to use three main sets of primers and probes  two that match just the novel coronavirus, and one that matches a variety of highly similar viruses. Someone infected with COVID-19 should test positive for all three, while someone whos not infected should be negative for all three. A person who has SARS would only test positive using the third primer and probe set, thereby offering a way to theoretically discriminate between SARS-CoV-2 and other similar viruses. That concern, however, is hypothetical in this case, since there isnt a known outbreak of SARS, or severe acute respiratory syndrome.

Eventually, the CDC will have a different so-called serology test that looks for whether a person developed antibodies in response to infection with SARS-CoV-2. The test, which does not need to be done when someone is actively infected, can yield a positive result whether or not someone developed symptoms. It therefore may provide answers about how many COVID-19 infections there were and how deadly the virus is in the larger population.

What went wrong with the CDCs test kits?

Early on, all COVID-19 testing was done at the CDC with its own kit, and it performed well. The kit was successfully used to diagnose the first COVID-19 case in the U.S. on Jan. 20 in a patient returning from Wuhan to Washington state. A CDC report also notes that between Jan. 18 and Feb. 23, the agency tested 2,620 specimens from just over 1,000 people.

Problems arose after Feb. 5, when the CDC began shipping its kits out to qualified state and local public health labs in an effort to expand testing. Initially, the agency said it was releasing 200 kits  each capable of testing around 700 to 800 specimens  giving labs just one kit each. But by Feb. 12, the CDC told reporters that some labs had been experiencing issues when doing verification tests to make sure the tests worked.

The CDC has not clarified exactly what the issue was, but has said that there was a manufacturing problem related to the third test component, which led to inconclusive results. The Association of Public Health Laboratories told us more specifically that a negative control, which should not have reacted to any of the primer and probe sets, was coming back positive for the third set, which was the test for all SARS-like coronaviruses.

For a while, the agency promised to re-manufacture the faulty third component and distribute that to the public health labs and, in the meantime, asked any lab that had difficulties to send samples into the CDC for testing. As a result, as of Feb. 25, only 12 state or local labs out of more than 100 nationwide could do their own testing.

More than two weeks after first announcing the testing issue, the CDC said it had come up with a fix  labs could proceed without the third test, and just use the two other primer and probe sets to make accurate diagnoses. The agency also said that it had manufactured new tests with just the two components, omitting the third.

What other factors limited testing?

Other than the lack of CDC test kits, several other circumstances prevented wider scale testing early in the outbreak.

One was the criteria the CDC used to determine who would be tested for the virus. At first, the CDC recommended testing only for those who had a fever and/or lower respiratory symptoms, and had traveled to Wuhan or had contact with a suspected or confirmed coronavirus case.

In late February, after a patient in California was found to be infected despite a lack of known exposure, the CDC guidelines were relaxed to include anyone with a fever who was hospitalized with a respiratory illness. Then, on March 3, Vice President Pence announced that the CDC would lift all restrictions, as long as a doctor ordered the test.

The CDC updated its clinical criteria web page the next day, stating that clinicians should use their judgment in deciding who should be tested, keeping in mind the local epidemiology and COVID-19 symptoms  and strongly encouraging testing for other respiratory infections, such as influenza.

Another issue had to do with who could do COVID-19 testing.

Academic labs and other similar facilities that had the expertise to develop tests were advised not to use their own tests for diagnosing patients until they sought permission from the Food and Drug Administration. As weve explained before, this is not a law but has been a de facto FDA policy. On Feb. 29, the FDA announced that validated in-house tests could be used for diagnosis immediately, as long as the agency received applications for the emergency use of the tests within 15 business days.

How problematic was the delay?

Its not yet clear exactly what the delays meant for the trajectory of the COVID-19 outbreak in the U.S. But some experts say the lack of testing in many of the nations public health labs hampered early detection.

The CDC reported the first case of possible community spread on Feb. 26, and the first reported death, in a Seattle suburb, followed three days later. It would later turn out that two COVID-19-related deaths happened as early as Feb. 26. A genetic analysis of some of the first cases in Washington state also suggested that the virus had been circulating undetected since mid-January. The state did not begin its own testing until Feb. 28.

Scott Lindquist, an epidemiologist with the Washington Department of Health, told the Seattle Times that problems with the CDCs test kit really did set us back, theres no denying that.

In a CDC telebriefing announcing the first U.S. death, Jeffrey Duchin, a University of Washington epidemiologist and health officer for Public Health Seattle and King County, noted that the patient who died had been tested locally, but only because the lab had just received kits and because of very recent changes in CDC criteria for testing. If we had the ability to test earlier, he said, Im sure we would have identified patients earlier in the community.

With more available tests and less stringent clinical criteria for testing, the U.S. could have set up a more proactive system for detecting coronavirus cases, although its possible the outcome would still be the same.

The CDC, in fact, wanted to set up a five- or six-site surveillance network in cities such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Chicago and New York City, which would begin testing for COVID-19 in people with flu-like symptoms who test negative for influenza. The plan was to then scale up the network to each state. But with the test kit difficulties, that schedule was set back. On Feb. 28, the CDC said that it expected to have the first of six sites up and running by the following week. When we asked on March 10, the agency did not have an immediate update on the program.

How many tests are available?

Throughout last week, officials gave confusing and conflicting answers about how many tests would be available  and when  in various appearances.

Secretary of Health and Human Services Azar said on March 1 that we now have the ability to test 75,000 people in the field at this moment, but later said that those tests would be shipped by the end of the week.

Vice President Mike Pence also at times referred to test kits, when he meant the number of people who could be tested, and said on March 4, Well have over a million tests in the field today, a statement that conflicted with other administration estimates of 1 million tests shipping out by the end of the week.

Part of the confusion has to do with the fact that testing is happening at several different levels  by the CDC, by state and local public health labs, and at hospitals and other facilities  and that the words used to describe the testing arent always consistent.

A test kit means an entire box of supplies to run tests to diagnose many people. A CDC test kit, for example, is able to test 700 to 800 specimens. Other test kits come with enough reagents for 500 reactions. Because controls need to be run, fewer than 500 samples can be tested with such a kit. And in both cases, the actual number of people who could be diagnosed with each will be lower, since patients may have multiple samples or samples may be run in duplicate. The same issue applies to the word test.

FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn provided the clearest answer about testing capacity on March 7, when he said that the CDC had shipped enough kits to state and local public health labs to test 75,000 people for COVID-19.

In addition, more than 1.1 million tests manufactured by Integrated DNA Technologies had been shipped as of March 6 for non-public health labs to use, with another 400,000 possibly shipping by March 9. A separate manufacturer had also produced 640,000 tests that could have shipped as early as March 9, once quality control testing was complete.

The actual number of tests that have shipped is larger than the number of patients that can be tested, Hahn explained, noting that the approximately 2.1 million tests from IDT and another company would allow roughly 850,000 Americans to be tested.

On top of those tests, he added, would be any testing by commercial or academic labs, plus an expected additional 4 million tests from IDT and the other company by the end of this week. The CDC itself also can test approximately 350 specimens per day.

In a March 9 telebriefing, the CDCs Nancy Messonnier clarified that the 75,000 people that can be tested using the CDCs test kit in public health labs is a cumulative figure. She also said that in the coming weeks, as more manufacturers join the effort, the majority of testing will be from the commercial sector.

Several commercial companies have stepped forward to increase production. Quest Diagnostics said it could begin testing on March 9, and LabCorp said its test was available for ordering on March 5, with results taking three to four days once a specimen is received in the mail.

Can anybody that wants a test get one, as the president said?

Not quite. On a March 6 visit to the CDC, Trump said, Anybody that wants a test can get a test, adding, Anybody right now and yesterday  anybody that needs a test gets a test. We  theyre there. They have the tests. And the tests are beautiful.

When we asked the White House about this, the vice presidents office told us that tests were available through state labs, but that doctors needed to contact the state lab to get one. In other words, if someone wants a test, and a physician does not agree, a person cannot be tested.

This point was also made by Anthony Fauci, the director of the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, on Fox News Sunday, when he said tests are out there now, but its up to the doctor to order the test.

Its worth mentioning that even if a test has been shipped, it hasnt necessarily been received or is ready to use right away; tests also take some time to complete, and so results may not be available immediately.

The CDC maintains that no person was ever denied a coronavirus test, nor was there ever a backlog at the agency. Our guidance for who can be tested has always allowed room for clinical discretion, said CDC press officer Richard Quartarone in an email. That is, if a doctor had a patient who they wanted tested, CDC has not refused any of these requests. The only exception to that, Quartarone told us, might be a damaged sample.

Some groups, however, dispute the idea that tests are fully available or that there has never been a shortage.

We are now in the phase of the response where demand for testing is greater than the tests available, even when the private/commercial sector is doing testing, Eric Blank, the chief program officer of the Association of Public Health Laboratories, told us in a March 9 email. So there is a test shortage but it is probably not as great as it was a week or so ago.
Hearst Connecticut Media file photo

MIDDLEFIELD  Wadsworth Falls State Park will be the site of an invasive plants work party gathering Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon, as part of efforts to curb overgrowth of these species.

The event is being held in honor of The Rockfall Foundations 85-year tradition of caring for public use lands, according to a press release. Volunteers will meet at 9:45 a.m. in the Wadsworth Falls parking lot at 25 Cherry Hill Road in the Rockfall section of town.
I talian nurses have shared photos showing themselves bruised and exhausted in the fight against coronavirus, as some revealed their faces have been rubbed raw by masks.

Italy is one of the countries hit worst by the virus, with more than 10,000 confirmed cases and 631 deaths.

With a huge increase in patients, doctors and nurses are working around the clock to deal with the Covid-19 outbreak, which has now been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation.

One nurse, Alessia Bonari in Milan, shared a picture on Instagram showing the bruises her protective mask had left on her face.

She said in Italian that when she is in her protective clothing, she can't go to the toilet or drink for six hours.

Italy is one of the countries worst hit by coronavirus / AFP via Getty Images

Ms Bonari wrote: "I'm afraid to go to work.

"I am afraid because the mask may not adhere well to my face, or I may have accidentally touched myself with dirty gloves, or maybe the lenses do not completely cover my eyes and something may have passed."

But Ms Bonari said that she remains committed to her job, despite her fears.

She continued: "I am psychologically tired, as are all my colleagues who have been in the same condition for weeks, but this will not prevent us from doing our job as we have always done.

"I will continue to take care of and take care of my patients, because I am proud and in love with my job."

Police officers wearing masks patrol an empty St. Peter's Square in Rome / AP

Another nurse, Martina Benedetti, described the "constant anxiety" that comes with caring for people with coronavirus.

She said in a Facebook post by Italian site Nurse Times: "This anxiety is the background to every manoeuvre, every thought, every action you have to perform, you have to constantly repeat that you can no longer touch your head if the elastic band for your hair hurts, if your nose itches you bear it."

The Italian Government has now quarantined the entire country and asked people to stay indoors as much as possible, in a bid to control the spread of the virus.

British Airways and Ryanair have cancelled flights to and from Italy and the Foreign Office has told British people to leave the country.

The British Government has said that the coronavirus is likely to spread in the UK "in a significant way".

One in 20 people who catch the virus are likely to need critical care, according to Public Health England.

And there are concerns that the NHS will struggle to meet the health needs of the population.

England has seven critical care beds per 100,000 people, compared with a Europe-wide average of 11.5, according to a 2012 study. Italy has nearly 12.

Signs at a Manchester hospital directing potential Covid-19 patients to an isolation unit / Getty Images

But Ben Littlewood-Hillsdon, chief medical officer at Doctorlink, a company that helps people get information about symptoms online, thinks the UK is well-prepared for an increase in cases.

Speaking to the Standard, Mr Littlewood-Hillsdon said: "It's been good to see a measured approach from the Government."

He added: "The Government wants to keep the critical care beds free as long as possible, so that they can be used for people who really need them."

Mr Littlewood-Hillsdon said the NHS was good at managing its employees' mental health and will look after healthcare workers' mental health by making sure they don't get too overworked.
Huaweis main U.K. offices in Reading, west of London, on Jan. 28, 2020. (Daniel Leal-Olivas / AFP via Getty Images)

USs Trust at Stake for Canada on Huawei 5G Decision

Brits face ongoing scrutiny for granting partial access to Huawei in 5G networks

News Analysis

OTTAWACanada was again reminded that if it allows Huawei in its 5G networks, its close relationship with the United States could change.

Retired U.S. Navy rear admiral Dwight Shepherd said at a recent defence conference that two countries cant be allied more than Canada and the United States, but that intelligence sharing may be limited if Canada allows Huawei components in its 5G networks.

He said if Canada and the United States dont have a common strategy for 5G and cyber, theyd be doing each other a disservice.

A theme that emerged at the Ottawa Conference on Security and Defence on March 45 is that national defence is a team sport and relationships matter.

It goes back to trust, Shepherd told the audience in Ottawa on March 5.

Were literally attached at the hip, he said, adding that both countries will prosper if they can trust each others systems, and if they cant, theyll have a problem.

Shepherd said a government has to determine where the risk is coming from.

You owe your citizens in your country some semblance of protection, the former director of cyberspace operations for U.S. Northern Command / Norad told the gathering of defence and military professionals.

Canada is the only member of the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliancewhich also includes the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdomthat has not yet rendered its verdict on Huawei for its 5G infrastructure

In January, the U.K. became the only Five Eyes member to permit Huawei access to its 5G network, limiting the involvement to 35 percent and only to non-sensitive areas.

But the United States doesnt want Canada to grant any access at all. Washington sent its special representative for international telecommunications, Robert Blair, to Ottawa on March 9 for a meeting about Huawei and 5G.

Greatest Long-Term Threat to Security

In explaining that the U.K. does not want to rely on a hostile vendorHuaweibut seeks greater competition in its telecommunications space, U.K. lieutenant general Robert Magawon, Strategic Command deputy commander, was met with arguments noting the potential problems ahead.

Huawei has a part to play in the quest by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to supplant the international order and dictate new international norms, behaviours, and relationships, said Admiral Philip Davidson, commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.

China represents the greatest long-term strategic threat to security in the 21st century, he said, speaking on a panel with Magawon.

Control of innovation technology and infrastructure by the Chinese communist state, with Huaweis participation in all aspects, isnt just a military concernits a sovereignty concern, Davidson said. Telecommunications used to be about reliability, but now its all about data and what can be done with it, he added.

Magawon said the U.K. is already reliant on Huawei for 4G, and the Chinese telecommunications giant wont have anything to do with the dissemination of information on the Five Eyes network.

We are concerned such that the U.K. has set up a Huawei analysis centre, he added.

However, pushback is even coming from among the ruling U.K. Conservatives. Several dozen of British Prime Minister Boris Johnsons fellow Conservatives plan to back an amendment to the Telecommunications Infrastructure Bill to extricate high-risk vendors like Huawei from 5G networks completely by the end of 2022, according to Reuters.

Beijings approach is a pernicious one, Davidson said, adding that the CCPs use of coercion, influence operations, and outright military and economic threats bully other states to accommodate its interests.

In the realm of cyber, China is his biggest worry, said Canadas Chief of Defence Staff General Jonathan Vance on March 4 during the days closing remarks.

Tool for State-Sponsored Espionage

While Magawon said he feels confident in the U.K.s ability to keep Huawei from compromising sensitive information, Shue Jane Thompson said at the defence conference that with 5G, it becomes more difficult to do so.

Thompson, vice-president and partner, global security strategy and growth at IBM, said its hard to give assurances on the testing, given that the amount required grows exponentially. Therefore, the onus falls on the supplier to confirm that the product is not compromised or being used by bad actors.

And thats the issue with Huawei given the mounting evidence and allegations against the company for committing fraud, stealing information, and violating international sanctions.

The reality remains that Huawei is a company beholden to higher laws that couldand most likely wouldmake it a tool for state-sponsored espionage, wrote Johnathan Berkshire Miller in a Feb. 28 Macdonald-Laurier Institute editorial.

In the case of Canadas Telus, which is planning to roll out its 5G network using Huawei components, the company is looking to diversify its suppliers, while keeping costs down.

Those who advocate using Huawei typically say that rejecting the firm would affect trade with China and incur heavier costs from other vendors of 5G technology.

Should the government decide to exclude Huawei, Telus could incur additional costs in transitioning away from their Huawei components.

However, should Huawei be cleared to participate in Canadas 5G infrastructure, the cost looms large if a data breach occurs due to backdoors in Huawei components, not to mention the potential cost of losing customers who dont trust the company.

Miller said Canada should not take a risk and exude overconfidence at our ability to be able to hope for the best and mitigate the rest.
Myanmars rebel Arakan Army captured 30 government soldiers, including a battalion commander, near the Paletwa township in western Myanmars Chin state during heavy fighting this week, the ethnic armed group said in an announcement on Tuesday.



A large quantity of weapons was captured along with the group, said the AAa mostly ethnic Rakhine force that seeks greater autonomy in neighboring Rakhine state. The group added that a number of its own troops were killed during the clash.



Speaking to RFAs Myanmar Service on Wednesday, AA spokesman Khine Thukha confirmed the capture, saying the fighting had occurred near Paletwa, where hostilities have spilled over in recent weeks from neighboring Rakhine.



We had some fighting in Paletwa township on March 9 and 10. We captured 20 soldiers, including Light Infantry Battalion No. 7 commander Col. Thet Naing Oo, the AA spokesman said.



We captured 10 more today, including a major and another major from a medical unit. Now we have a total of 30, he added.



Other officers and soldiers from Myanmars government army had also been captured in 2019, Khine Thukha said, while declining to give more detailed information for reasons of security.



Reached by phone for comment, Gen. Tun Tun Nyivice chairman of the Myanmar militarys True News Information Teamdeclined to give a statement, saying he was traveling and was unaware of the troops capture.



Also speaking to RFA, a resident of Chin states Miewa village said he had seen government troops in AA custody, though.



I saw that the AA took about 30 soldiers while they were passing our village, he said.



Fighting between AA troops and government forces has now raged around Miewa, Mont Than Pyin, Kyauttan, and Pwe Wone villages in Paletwa for almost a month, with at least two villagers killed and four injured by artillery fire and airstrikes launched from fighter jets and helicopters, sources say.



Meanwhile, in fighting to the south in Rakhine, a woman was killed and six people injured when a shell fell into Kyauktaw townships Kyaw Shi Pyin village at about 2:00 a.m., local sources said.



In a recent statement, the Rakhine Ethnics Congress (REC) relief group said that fighting has displaced about 130,000 people in Rakhine and adjacent Chin state since early 2019, with more than 100 killed and 300 injured.



Reported by Waiyan Moe Myint for RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Khet Mar. Written in English by Richard Finney.
Turkish Airlines said on Tuesday that it has suspended all flights to-and-from Nigeria due to the Coronavirus epidemic.

The Punch reports that Nigerias first index case of the novel COVID-19, a passenger of Italian origin, arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, via Turkish Airlines.

The government launched a search for the other passengers on the flight with the Italian, who is currently in isolation in Lagos, and released the names of the missing passengers.

However, the airline, on Tuesday, said in a statement that it would refund passengers who already booked its flights.



Due to the coronavirus outbreak in various countries, Turkish Airlines has been changing its flight schedule to several destinations around the globe.

We would like to inform our passengers that due to the suspension of other routes, several of our flights to/from Nigeria will be undergoing cancellations during March.

Passengers with tickets to the cancelled flights will be able to refund or change their tickets free of charge until the end of May if they start the process until March/April depending on the route, it said.

Follow Us on Facebook  @LadunLiadi; Instagram  @LadunLiadi; Twitter  @LadunLiadi; Youtube  @LadunLiadiTV for updates
After reaching a ceasefire deal with Russia, Erdogan has suggested that the oil fields in Deir ez-Zor should be managed by Putin writes Al-Modon.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has announced that a ceasefire in the de-escalation zone in Idleb is going well, and revealed that he has made a proposal to his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, related to the oil fields in Deir ez-Zor.

Erdogan, in an interview while returning from the Belgian capital Brussels, said that the ceasefire was, going well, even if it is temporary. I hope that this will continue and it will turn into a permanent ceasefire.

He said that he had asked Putin to take part in managing oil fields in Deir ez-Zor in northeastern Syria rather than terrorists exploiting them. He said, I proposed to Putin that if the economic support is given, we can set up infrastructure, and that through the oil extracted there, we can help destroyed Syria to stand on its feet.

He said that Putin was considering the proposal, adding that he could make a similar proposal to American President Donald Trump.

Erdogan said that on Mar. 17, 2020, Istanbul would host a Turkish-European summit to discuss the issue of asylum-seekers and the recent developments in Idleb.

He said that he would meet his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron and the German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Istanbul on Tuesday, and would possibly meet with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

He said, European leaders recognize that Turkey has carried out its duties with regard to the refugees after the March 18 deal (the deal around accepting the return of refugees) and that they have moved slowly in this regard.

He said that there was joint Turkish-European work being done to overcome the slowness in implementing the migrant deal between the two sides, supervised by Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and the European Union High Representative for Foreign, Political and Security Affairs, Josep Borrell, adding, We are waiting to reap the fruits of the first European summit on Mar. 26, 2020.

Responding to a question about Russian media reports about scenes from routine protocol that showed Erdogan waiting for two minutes in the Kremlin before being received by his Russian counterpart, Erdogan said, Turkish-Russian relations cannot be sacrificed to attempts to mislead the media.

A number of activists on social media circulated a video of Erdogan and his accompanying delegation waiting to be received by Putin during the summit that brought together the two leaders on Mar. 5, 2020, in Moscow. Erdogan appeared to wait for a while, before moving to sit and showed signs of resentment.

This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
AIM ImmunoTechs Drug Ampligen to Be Tested by Japans National Institute of Infectious Diseases as a Potential Treatment for the New SARS Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) Responsible for the New Human Infectious Disease COVID-19

AIM ImmunoTech, an immunopharmaceutical company focused on the development of immunological, viral and multiple cancer therapies Announced that the Japanese National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NIID) will begin testing AIM drug Ampligen as a potential treatment for a new coronavirus infectious disease caused by SAV-CoV-2, a new coronavirus pneumonia. Experimental projects will be conducted at NIID and the University of Tokyo.



Testing and research are currently being conducted by Hideki Hasegawa (M.D., Ph.D.), director of the NIID Influenza Virus Research Center, director of the Tokyo World Health Organization (WHO) Influenza Reference and Research Collaboration Center, and the NIID Department of Pathology, Tokyo Institute of Technology Co-chaired by Ishiohe Takeshi (Doctor of Science), Department of Technology.



"As we have been saying, this emerging mass epidemic is caused by a virus whose regulatory RNA sequence is almost identical in pathogenesis to the original SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV-1). This means that previous studies of ampulein in SARS-CoV-1 animal experiments indicate that it may have similar protection against new viruses. The World Health Organization recently described this emerging highly pathogenic virus Renamed SARS-CoV-2, "said Thomas K. Equels, CEO of AIM. "In animal experiments at the National Institutes of Health, Amplin has shown excellent antiviral activity against earlier SARS coronaviruses. In studies of SARS-infected mice, Amplin is the only one Drugs that have been shown to have significant survival effects: 100% of mice treated with amprolicin survive, while none of the untreated mice survive. Given the many SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV-1 The key similarity is that with no effective therapies for this highly pathogenic coronavirus, Ampril may play a key role in the development of protective early-onset therapies. We are proud to work with Japan The highly respected NIID is working together to fight this potential epidemic. "



Amplicilin has a very comprehensive safety profile as a broad-spectrum antiviral drug.
US lawmakers pushed Wednesday for a ban on imports from a vast area of northwest China where the government has detained more than a million ethnic Uighurs after a report found widespread use of forced labour on farms and factories in the region.

The US already bans imports of goods made with forced labor but the report by the Congressional-Executive Commission on China found that the crackdown on the predominantly Muslim Uighurs and other ethnic groups in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region makes it impossible to ensure goods meet American standards.

Bipartisan legislation introduced Wednesday would treat all goods from Xianjiang, including clothing and electronic goods sold by major US and global consumer brands, as presumed to be banned unless they were certified by Customs and Border Protection.

Republican and Democratic lawmakers said in announcing the legislation that the extent of repression by the Chinese government makes it impossible for corporations or independent auditors to ensure that materials made by Uighurs detained in the crackdown.

"We should do everything possible to ensure that our nation and great people are not pleasant participants in the abuse of their human rights," said Sen. Jeff Merkley of Oregon.

It's not clear when Congress would take up the bill. Legislation that would more broadly address China's campaign against the Uighurs passed without opposition last year but the House and Senate must still reconcile different versions and send to the president.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang rejected the findings of the report and denied that the problem exists.

"The legitimate labor rights and interests of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang are protected according to law, and there is no such thing as forced labor as claimed by someone with ulterior motives," Geng told reporters.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
YPSILANTI, MI  Eastern Michigan University on Wednesday, out of an abundance of caution, announced plans to suspend in-person lectures, seminars and classroom activity from Thursday March 12 through Tuesday, March 31.

In person classes were tentatively set to resume April 1. The decision will be reevaluated on an ongoing basis, the university announced.

On Monday, March 16, the University will transition classes to a virtual/online format, EMU announced. "Instructors will contact their students with the online class plan.

We are working with faculty and staff who conduct performance and laboratory classes to determine the best approach for those classes, and will provide further guidance next week. This is an evolving process and I ask for your patience as we work through these items

Halle Library will remain open with reduced hours beginning Monday, EMU announced.

University of Michigan transitioning to remote classes through end of semester due to coronavirus

After two Michigan coronavirus cases were announced Tuesday, the University of Michigan, Michigan State University, Central Michigan University and Michigan Technological University also announced plans to transition from in-person classes to online instruction as a precaution against the spread of coronavirus.

An EMU student earlier Wednesday created a petition calling on the university to move classes online without additional fees until there are hypotheses on how to end COVID-19, at the very least.

The petition, started by Sydney Brown, argued that EMU should move to online classes to protect those who dont have health insurance, have immunity disorders or work in a field that would give them an increased chance of infection.

Our lives are worth so much more than avoiding the rearrangement of lessons and their platform, the petition read. The petition had garnered about 340 signatures before the decision was announced.

University of Michigan student Amber Renton, before UM announced its planned transition, started a petition that garnered more than 10,000 signatures. UM announced the cancellation of classes Thursday and Friday, March 12 and 13, and a planned transition to remote classes Monday, March 16 through April 21, the last day of classes this semester.

Petition to move classes online due to coronavirus started by University of Michigan student

EMU officials posted a statement saying officials learned about the first cases of coronavirus Tuesday night, noting there was no indication that either of the cases have any connection to EMUs campus.

Three people associated with EMU are under self-quarantine after recently returning from Italy and and showing symptoms, according to the . The self-quarantine will last for two weeks, in accordance with guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for travelers returning from areas with community transmission of the virus.

EMU also announced plans and guidelines related to residence halls, campus events and travel. View the full announcement here.

Michigan study abroad programs affected as universities take precautions against coronavirus

Two Michigan residents have tested presumptive positive for coronavirus, leading Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to declare a state of emergency Tuesday night.

One of the patients is an Oakland County woman with a recent history of international travel. The other is a Wayne County man who had a recent history of domestic travel, state officials told MLive.

Both were middle-aged and hospitalized, according to state officials.

One was being treated at a University of Michigan Health System facility, hospital officials said Wendesday.

Gov. Whitmer declares state of emergency as first coronavirus cases confirmed in Michigan

PREVENTION TIPS

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises staying away from people who are sick and practicing good hygiene, much like prevention efforts for the common flu.

Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds, especially after using the bathroom and before eating, the CDC advises. Avoid touching your mouth or face unless your hands are clean.

Use household cleaners to disinfect commonly touched objects and surfaces. Use disinfectant wipes to clean your hands or surfaces such as shopping-cart handles when out in public, the CDC recommends.

More:

Toilet paper, cleaning supplies running low at Washtenaw County stores amid coronavirus fears

8 things to know about coronavirus now that its in Michigan

Staying home because of coronavirus? Heres everything youll need

University of Michigan transitioning to remote classes through end of semester due to coronavirus

Feds send Michigan $14.6M for coronavirus response

Wayne State University extends spring break, cancels classes through March 23 due to coronavirus concerns
But Mayor Ron Nirenberg said in an interview with the San Antonio Express-News that he does not support the cancelation of Fiesta, San Antonio's storied, citywide celebration.

"If necessary, based on the health guidance, well postpone it," Nirenberg said. "But well have Fiesta this year."

With Fiesta still more than a month away, Nirenberg said it's still too soon to say whether it will be moved to a later date this year. There have been rapid, daily changes with the spread of the new coronavirus, he said, and the situation could be different in the next few weeks.

"Were not reacting. Were going to be proactive in ensuring that the community is safe as possible from the spread of disease," Nirenberg said.

The celebration is expected to unfurl across the city from April 16-26 with more than 100 official events.
A massive garda operation is continuing for three men after a woman was killed when a car struck her while she was out for a walk in south Dublin.

The men were using the car as a getaway vehicle following an armed robbery of a nearby store  in which only a small amount of cash was taken - when their car mounted a footpath hitting the victim.

The deceased, Jacqueline McGovern, aged 54, was taking an evening walk with a close friend along Avondale Road in Killiney, when the car sped around a junction at around 9.20pm on Tuesday and appeared to lose control.

The raiders abandoned the vehicle at the scene and fled on foot.

Both Ms McGovern and her friend were treated at the scene by paramedics, before being removed to hospital. The friend, aged 51, is not thought to have suffered life-threatening injuries.

Ms McGovern, married with a grown-up family, worked as a special needs assistant in the Johnstown Our Lady of Good Counsel Girls School.

In a statement, principal Caroline Quinn said: We are devastated at the loss of our colleague who worked in one of our three classes for children with autism, and the injury of another staff member.

Today is about supporting each other, the children, and the school community. Our critical incident management plan is being implemented and we are supported in that through the National Education Psychological Service.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of both colleagues.

A major garda search operation was put in place.

Officers were assisted in their hunt after searching for any clues in the car the raiders unexpectedly had to abandon.

DNA and fingerprint tests may, when the results come in, provide intelligence as who the culprits might be.

CCTV cameras at the Centra Store on Barnhill Road, Dalkey, may also provide clues.

Gardai at Dun Laoghaire are leading the investigation and have appealed for information from the public.

A Garda statement said it was understood that the raiders had threatened staff at the store before making off with what is thought to be a small sum of cash.

Dun Laoghaire Garda Station 01 666 5000; Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111
What is the "delay phase"?

The delay phase will see a mixture of the same advice given out, such as encouraging the washing of hands regularly, while also introducing social restriction measures to slow the spread of the virus.

The Government has confirmed it will be guided by the experts about what the most effective measures for delaying the virus will be.



How will it help deal with the outbreak?

The end goal of the delay phase is to slow the rate of coronavirus being contracted and allow the NHS to clear the annual winter pressure it faces.

It would also provide a buffer to allow a possible vaccine to be found.

The Government's planning document explained: "The benefits are that if the peak of the outbreak can be delayed until the warmer months, we can reduce significantly the risk of overlapping with seasonal flu and other challenges, societal or medical, that the colder months bring.

"The delay phase also buys time for the testing of drugs and initial development of vaccines and/or improved therapies or tests to help reduce the impact of the disease."
11.03.2020 LISTEN

The opposition National Democratic Congress has issued a strong warning to the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) for reportedly destroying its billboards at night.

The attention of the National Youth Wing of the National Democratic Congress has been drawn to an unfortunate incident, where people suspected to be members of NPP vigilante groups, were engaged in pulling down of NDC billboards, removal of NDC flags and tearing of our posters in Ablekuma West Constituency, North Dayi Constituency and many other places, the NDC alerted in a statement issued today by its Youth Organiser, George Opare Addo.

The NDC warned that it will retaliate in kind if the trend continues,  By this statement, we direct our teeming and dedicated youth across the country to within 3 days pull down all NPP billboards, flags and posters in every corner of this country if the destruction of our flags and other paraphernalia continues.

This confrontation is set to spark a chain reaction that may be a dress rehearsal of a potential violence that the two biggest parties in Ghana are likely to unleash on each other run up to the 2020 general elections.

---Whatsapp News

https://whatsupnewsghana.com/
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 11)  Malacanang's main palace will be closed for disinfection after several Cabinet members go on self-quarantine due to COVID-19.

The Senate will also close down after a resource person at a Senate hearing tested positive for COVID-19, Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III told CNN Philippines on Wednesday.

Sotto's announcement came after Senators Sherwin Gatchalian and Nancy Binay decided to go on self-quarantine, after they found out that one of the resource persons at a March 5 hearing of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture tested positive for COVID-19.

Both senators have also asked their staff to go on self-quarantine.

Gatchalian said that he is asymptomatic and feels healthy, but would nonetheless go into self-quarantine as he interacted with the COVID-19 patient during the hearing.

"With close to 50 people already been tested positive, it only shows that the exposure to the virus is real, and there's a high chance that someone out there is a carrier," Binay said in a statement.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III and Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade are also going on self-quarantine after they interacted with people who have the viral disease.

Dominguez has not shown any symptoms and has also not interacted with President Rodrigo Duterte since, a source told CNN Philippines.

Presidential Adviser for Flagship Programs and Projects Secretary and Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) President Vince Dizon will also be on self-quarantine as a precautionary measure following his exposure to a COVID-19 patient, BCDA said.

Manila Mayor Isko Moreno will also go on self-quarantine after he returns to the country following his trip to the United Kingdom.

According to the World Health Organization, COVID-19 can spread through small droplets from the nose or mouth when people infected with the virus coughs.

The Philippines has reported that 49 people have caught COVID-19, with two Chinese nationals who were infected having recovered and another Chinese national dying.

Worldwide, COVID-19 has killed more than 4,200 people, mostly in China, since the outbreak began in Wuhan City in Hubei province in December last year. It has infected over 118,000 people globally.

According to the WHO, the most commonly reported symptoms are fever, dry cough and shortness of breath. WHO said 8 in 10, or around 80 percent, of infected patients experience "mild illness" and eventually recover from COVID-19. Some 14 percent experience severe illness while 5 percent were critically ill, the WHO said.

To prevent infection, authorities are urging people to practice regular hand washing, cover the mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing, and avoid close contact with those who show respiratory symptoms.
Leaks are casting light on an upcoming budget version of Google's Pixel phone.

According to frequent leaker, Evan Blass, the Pixel 4A will debut at $399 which is on par with the tech giant's previous budget offering, the Pixel 3A.

Blass discovered news of the price via leaked renders of billboard ads for the Google-made device.

The leaks follow similar intel from this week that confirmed the devices design and also some hardware.

TechnoLike Plus reports that the phone will have a 3.5mm headphone jack, a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor, a hole-punch style selfie camera, and a square main camera array on the back.

As noted by BGR, the leaks mark a trend from the tech giant which has had all of its previous Pixel devices leaked in full well before their official release.

One missing detail on the 4A is whether the new device will use the Pixel 4's advanced 'Project Soli' chip which allows for some of the Pixel's most pivotal features like hand-gestured controls.

The 4A appears to have a much smaller bezel compared to the Pixel 4, meaning its possible that Google was required to remove Soli in order to achieve the design.

While Google has yet to officially announce the new Pixel, the device was expected to be released at the company's I/O conference which has since been cancelled due to concerns over the spread of novel coronavirus, COVID-19.

Google said that those who purchased tickets for the event, which was slated to take place between May 12th to the 14th, will be refunded by March 13 at the latest.

Google's rumored new Pixel phone may the first of such devices to come equipped with a 'hole-punch' selfie camera. Renders made by OnLeaks and 91Mobiles pictured above show the single-sensor camera positioned in the top-left corner

The conference usually ushers in the company's latest software features with implications on Google-made hardware and devices that run its operating system, Android.

The announcement followed the company's decision on Monday to move its annual Cloud Next conference online and to ban all business travel except for 'critical' situations, in desperate attempts to help prevent its employees from contracting the disease.

'Due to concerns around the coronavirus (COVID-19), and in accordance with health guidance from the CDC, WHO, and other health authorities, we have decided to cancel the physical Google I/O event at Shoreline Amphitheatre,' wrote the company in a statement.

It is looking into an 'alternative format' for the conference, the company said.
Donald Trump and Mike Pence will continue shaking hands despite health officials urging Americans to avoid touching people amid a growing coronavirus outbreak across the US.

Asked whether the president should continue shaking hands to set that example to the public, the vice president: Ive been shaking hands, too.

Mr Pence said: As the president has said, in our line of work, you shake hands when someone wants to shake your hand. The president will continue to do it, Ill continue to do it.

He said a really good recommendation is to wash your hands often and that washing your hands with hot soap and water just as good as any lotion.

As the number of patients with the flu-like respiratory illness reaches nearly 1,000 people in the US, including at least 30 deaths, the president delivered brief remarks on Tuesday, insisting to Americans that were prepared, and were doing a great job with it.

Recommended Pence says he has not been tested and will find out if Trump has

He told Americans to just stay calm. Itll go away, just stay calm.

Dr Anthony Fauci with the National Institutes of Health said that people should be taking every precaution if and when the infections will come  and they will come, sorry to say, sad to say  when youre dealing with an infectious disease.

He said: Everybody should say all hands on deck.
UberEats customers can now request their deliveries be dropped at their doorstep to help ease coronavirus fears and cater for Australians in isolation.

The food delivery giant announced on Wednesday it was doing everything in its power to stop the spread of COVID-19 as cases continue to climb across the country.

Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said more people would be relying on the food service as the government demands people showing symptoms self-isolate for 14 days.

UberEats customers have the option to ask delivery drivers to leave their food at the door while people isolate due to coronavirus (stock)

'If you prefer, you can leave a note in the Uber Eats app to ask your delivery person to leave your food at the door,' he said, according to the Daily Telegraph.

The company is also giving drivers disinfectant to help employees keep their vehicles clean.

Mr Khosrowshahi said the company is working with the relevant health authorities.

Meanwhile, drivers who may have the illness will have their accounts suspended until they are cleared.

Those who are isolated by a public healthy authority will be given financial assistance for 14 days.

CORONAVIRUS CASES IN AUSTRALIA: 27,244 Victoria: 20,269 New South Wales: 4,273 Queensland: 1,161 Western Australia: 692 South Australia: 473 Tasmania: 230 Australian Capital Territory: 113 Northern Territory: 33 TOTAL CASES: 27,244 ESTIMATED ACTIVE CASES: 269 DEATHS: 897 Updated: 5.31 PM, 11 October, 2020 Source: Australian Government Department of Health Advertisement

It comes as Australia's Chief Medical Officer, Brendan Murphy, said he is considering reducing the self-isolation requirements after new scientific evidence showed symptoms appear on average about five days after infection.

'As the data emerges around the incubation period, it does seem to be more in the five-to-seven-day period and the 14 days does have a margin for error,' he said.

'It would help significantly if we could consider a reduction in the incubation period or the quarantine time.'

The government is imposing a 14-day self-isolation period for Australians returning from China, Japan, South Korea, Iran, and Italy.

Pictured: People waiting for testing outside Royal Melbourne Hospital

Travel bans also apply for those countries meaning that tourists must spend a fortnight in a third country before being allowed into Australia.

The largest study of known COVID-19 cases globally, conducted by Johns Hopkins University in the United States, found the median incubation period of the virus is 5.1 days.

After this period symptoms such as fever, running nose, coughing and breathing problems usually appear.
Most churches say theyre welcoming to all, but few accommodate members with disabilities

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Most Protestant pastors and churchgoers believe those with disabilities feel included and welcome at their church, yet fewer actually have a plan in place to accommodate those with special needs, a new study has found.

A survey from Nashville-based LifeWay Research of 1,000 Protestant pastors and 1,002 American Protestant churchgoers found that nearly every pastor (99%) and churchgoer (97%) says someone with a disability would feel welcomed and included at their church.

Almost all pastors (99%) say local churches should make necessary facility modifications to become more accessible to people with physical disabilities even when it is not required by law

Additionally, three-quarters of Protestant pastors (76%) say local churches have a responsibility to provide financial resources and support to individuals with disabilities and their families.

When it comes to action, almost every pastor (95%) says their church is involved in at least one of five different ways to care for those with disabilities and their families, and 75% say their church encourages volunteering in community events for people with disabilities.

Most say they provide financially for families with ongoing needs (70%) or provide respite for family caregivers to give them a break (60%).

However, just half of churches (50%) provide an additional teacher to aid a person with special needs in a class, and only 29% say their church provides classes or events specifically for people with disabilities.

LifeWay also found that larger churches are more likely than others to say they help in many of these specific ways.

While three quarters (75%) of churches with worship attendance topping 250 say they provide such programs, 54% of churches with 100 to 249, 46% of churches with 50 to 99, and 35% of churches with less than 50 say they do the same.

Tim Lucas, the pastor of Liquid Church in Parsippany, New Jersey, told The Christian Post that in general, the Church is 30 years behind culture when it comes to special needs.

[Churches] dont have the manpower and muscle even if theyre passionate about it, he said, adding that it takes intentional effort to make families that have special needs feel at home.

In addition to opening a cafe staffed by those with Asperger's, autism, and Down syndrome, Liquid Church provides support to parents of children with special needs through support groups and parents night out events.

The church also employs a Buddy Program, where every child with special needs is assigned a buddy who walks with them from fifth grade through high school, ensuring they can participate in all of Liquid Kids environments. Each buddy is trained to meet the unique communication and language needs specific to the child they are assigned.

About 400 families participate in Liquids Buddy Program, Lucas estimated, adding that many families travel from all over the state to attend worship while their children participate in the program.

There was one 10-year-old young man named Grady with Down syndrome, ADHD, and verbal apraxia, meaning the speech messages in his brain didnt transfer to his mouth, the pastor recalled. When his family came to us, they said, Weve been kicked out of our last three churches. It wasnt the churchs fault, but they didnt know what to do with Grady. All three churches treated him as a behavior problem because he was disrupting classes.

People, Lucas said, have no idea the toll special needs take on a family. Most people dont even attend church because their children are seen as a disruption.

Heather Avis, a mother to three adopted children  two of whom have Down syndrome  shared with CP simple, practical ways the Church can make room for those who typically dont have a seat at the table.

When theres a quiet moment in the church, if youre not hearing any sounds, then chances are you dont have people with different abilities in your church, she said. Notice whos not in the room; who is missing in the room.

Then, make space where everybody belongs.

The thing with people with different abilities is that everyone is so different. Its about meeting the needs of the individual where theyre at, Avis said. Its as simple as asking parents, what does your kid need? thats huge.

I wish, she added, it was as simple as do these five steps to be more inclusive, but really thats not how this community works. Its about meeting people where they are, creating genuine relationships, and being willing to adjust for the one. Its the radical idea of, 100 of us are going to shift everything so one person can be a part of our church."

Until the Body of Christ fully embraces those who act, look, and grow a little differently, it wont experience the fullness of God, Avis contended.

If we are not allowing people who are different than us to be fully included in our churches, were missing out on the fullness of God, she stressed. If everyone is like us, whether it be ability or race, were missing out on the fullness of God because His image is in each person as they are. There's no asterisk. I believe that until the Church fully embraces those that are different and is intentional in doing so, it doesnt know fully who God is.

Joni Eareckson Tada, whose ministry Joni and Friends provides church training and education to promote inclusion of people with disabilities, told CP that the Church has an obligation to be involved in the lives of those with special needs.

"There is so much talk about mainstream and inclusion in churches. People with disabilities want to belong to a body of Christ," she said. "We want to know that when we don't show up next Sunday for services that somebody is going to miss me. We want to be a friend. We want to have friendships and relationships. We have to get rid of the mechanistic, abstract, dry, theoretical approach to people's needs and really practice Christianity with its sleeves rolled up.

Tada, who became a quadriplegic after suffering a diving accident over 50 years ago, added: "What changed my life were Christian friends who not only gave me the Word but gave me their time and their love and gave me a chance to go to a movie with them."

"They just befriended me," she added. "We need to practice Christianity with its sleeves rolled up."
Colleges and universities across Massachusetts are undertaking various strategies to respond to the outbreak of the new coronavirus, which has sickened more than 100,000 people worldwide and killed more than 4,000.

The list below includes major announcements from the states colleges and universities; many schools are offering more detailed steps and plans on their respective websites.

Well update this list as information is released.

American International College

No change in class schedules. The college recommends best practices in washing, hygiene and physical contact in accordance with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Amherst College

Classes for Thursday and Friday, March 12 and 13, are canceled. All classes will be held remotely beginning Monday, March 23 after spring break. Students should move off campus by Monday, March 16.

Babson College

The college will transition to virtual instruction for graduate and undergraduate classes by March 13 and continue online for the remainder of the semester. Students will be required to move out of their on-campus housing by March 21.

Boston College

On-campus classes are canceled beginning March 12 through the end of the semester, including finals. Classes will be held online beginning March 19. Students are asked to move out of dorms between March 12 and March 15. Those who cannot return to their homes because of international travel restrictions, serious personal reasons, or University obligations must obtain written permission from the Office of Residential Life to remain in University housing, the college said in a statement.

Bay Path University

There is no disruption in schedule at this time. The university web site says it is closely monitoring developments.

Boston University

The university canceled all spring semester group trips and has begun preparing to conduct classes remotely.

College of the Holy Cross

No in-person classes will be held after March 13, and classes will transition to distance learning for the rest of the semester. Students must move out of dorms by March 14 at 5 p.m.

Elms College

Trips to Jamaica and Nicaragua have been canceled. Elms-sponsored international travel for faculty, staff, and students has been prohibited for the foreseeable future. International students are encouraged to stay on campus during break. Preparations for online instruction are underway in the event it becomes necessary.

Emerson College

The Boston campus will remain open through the remainder of the semester and students will be allowed to stay if they desire. In-person instruction will continue until March 13 then classes will be put on hiatus March 16-20 for allow faculty to transition courses to an online platform. Classes will resume remotely on March 23.

Framingham State University

Classes are canceled the week following spring break. Classes will resume March 30.

Fitchburg State University

The school will cancel face-to-face classes and residence halls will be closed the week of March 16.

Hampshire College

According to the colleges website, Hampshire is developing alternatives to enable students to complete course requirements and finish the semester if social distancing is required, including using existing Moodle system or Zoom group meetings. Faculty members are adjusting course expectations if face-to-face teaching and learning is suspended, but that has not happened yet. Effective until May 1, the college will limit public campus gatherings to no more than 50 participants, with the exception of Red Barn private rentals. This policy does not include academic classes or events limited to current Hampshire faculty, staff, and students. Spring Jam participation will be restricted to current Hampshire students, and it may be canceled as conditions change. The college will not sponsor or fund any international travel. Students already on study abroad may remain unless their country is designated a CDC Warning Level 3 or State Department Level 4 Warning, in which case they must return home.

Harvard University

The university has asked students not to return to campus after spring break and has discouraged meetings or events of more than 25 people on campus. The university will hold classes online beginning Monday, March 23.

Holyoke Community College

Class schedules have not been disrupted. Contingency plans are being examined for online instruction if necessary. Students should check their HCC emails frequently.

Massachusetts College of Art and Design

All campus activities at the Boston campus are suspended from March 16-22. Further updates will be made by March 18.

Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts

Spring break will be extended an extra week to allow for full cleaning of all facilities. Classes will resume on March 30. There is no current plan to deviate from in-person classes and adopt an all-online course plan. Students will need to leave residence areas by 7 p.m. on Friday, March 13 and may return to campus on Sunday, March 29. Campus offices will remain open throughout the spring break. All international and domestic travel for faculty, staff, and students has been canceled for the next 30 days. This means that athletic teams and campus clubs and organizations will not travel over spring break, as previously scheduled. Additionally, faculty and staff cannot travel for conferences or meetings, although they may participate in meetings if they are held remotely or virtually.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

All MIT classes will be canceled for the March 16-20 week to allow faculty time to transition to online instruction. The transition to virtual instruction will be complete by March 30 and continue for the remainder of the spring semester. Undergraduates living on campus will not be allowed to return to campus after noon on March 17. Graduate students will not be required to move however, they may be subject to relocation should the need arise.

Mount Holyoke College

In-person classes will continue through Friday, March 13. All students must move out of their on-campus housing starting Saturday, March 14, and by out by Friday, March 20. Students should not expect to live on campus for the rest of the semester. Spring break will be extended through March 29. Students will begin alternate modes of instruction on Monday, March 30. On-campus housing will be provided only to those with no choice but to remain on campus. Students from countries with travel restrictions, those whose legal residence is Mount Holyoke College, and those with other extenuating circumstances that may require continued residence on campus must fill out a registration form. All college-sponsored international travel is suspended, regardless of destination. All college-sponsored, non-essential domestic travel to destinations more than 100 miles from campus is also suspended.

Northeastern University

Classes for the Boston campus will be held online or remotely beginning March 12. We arrived at this decision carefully and thoughtfully, not precipitously," said a statement on the universitys website. "We are seeking to preserve the essence of a Northeastern educationincluding current co-op placementswhile also taking prudent steps to reduce the risk of infection within our community.

The university is not asking students to move off campus.

Springfield College

Classes are on as scheduled. Faculty and staff are asked to suspend the booking of any domestic or international travel utilizing public transportation until further notice unless approved by the presidents office. All faculty and staff must register any authorized college-related domestic or international travel between now and the May 16-17 commencement weekend. Faculty and staff are restricted from college-related travel to Level III countries as identified on the CDC web site.

Springfield Technical Community College

Class schedules have not been disrupted. Preparation for online instruction, if necessary, is being examined.

Smith College

Students must move out of on-campus housing beginning on Saturday, March 14 and be out by Friday, March 20 at the latest. President Kathleen McCartney said students "should not expect to return this semester. Spring break will be extended through March 29. Smith is transitioning to virtual instruction that will begin on March 30. The colleges Bulb Show, which began on March 7 and was scheduled to run until March 24, was curtailed. Presidential colloquiums on March 24 and March 31 have been canceled. The United Way of Hampshire County canceled its Leaders Circle celebration at the college.

Tufts University

The transition to virtual instruction for graduate and undergraduate students will begin on March 25. Spring break has been extended. All students, with the exception of those who are unable due to extenuating circumstances, will be required to vacate the residence halls by March 16.

University of Massachusetts system

Virtual instruction will begin on March 16 for all five campuses. Virtual instruction is expected to be in place until at least April 3.

UMass Amherst

All university-organized international trips for student groups are canceled until further notice. University-approved travel for faculty, staff and students to CDC Level 3 countries (currently China, South Korea, Iran and Italy) is also banned. The university has canceled programs and recalled all students from studies in China, South Korea, Japan and Italy. Anyone returning from a CDC Level 3 country must self-quarantine for two weeks. Requests for university-approved travel to Level 2 countries (Japan) is discouraged and requires case-by-case approval.

UMass Dartmouth

Spring break is extended one week. Remote learning begins March 23.

Wentworth Institute of Technology

Spring break will be extended for students and staff through March 18 to allow transition time to an online format. Students with extenuating circumstances will be allowed to petition to remain on campus; however, all residence halls will be closed for the remainder of the semester.

Western New England University

No change in class schedule. The university urges students, faculty and staff to follow best hygiene practices and guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control, World Health Organization and Massachusetts Department of Public Health.

Westfield State University

Westfield State University will cancel on-ground academic courses/classes (on-line courses continue as scheduled) for the week of March 16-20, 2020," said a statement issued March 11. "Additionally, Westfield State will conduct all classes exclusively on-line for the week of March 23-27, 2020.

Travel for upcoming study-abroad courses in Guatemala, the Netherlands, and Germany have been canceled. The universitys International Programs Office will field any questions about course credit, financial matters or other issues related to these programs.

Wheaton College

Spring break will be extended to March 22. Classes during the interim will be canceled. Remote education will begin Monday, March 23 and continue through the remainder of the spring semester.

Williams College

The college will end in-person classes on Friday, March 13, dismiss students for spring break on Saturday, March 14 (a week earlier than planned), and begin remote education on Monday, April 6. All campus gatherings of 100 people or more are canceled through April 30. The college has canceled all school-sponsored international travel through April 30, along with admission tours, information sessions and overnight stays from admitted students.

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Spring semester classes will resume March 25, and classes will be conducted online. The last day of classes is May 13. Any students who reside on or near campus who are currently here should go home, the college said in a statement on March 11. Students who reside on campus and are currently away should not return to campus. There will be no on-campus classes or activities for at least two weeks after Spring Break. The college will work with students who are unable to return home.
WASHINGTON, March 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Boston College (BC) is announcing the next step in the development and implementation of EagleApps, a next-generation campus system. BC's EagleApps is a fully modular solution for managing the core business of colleges and universities, and it is the first service-based enterprise system available for higher education. In partnership with BC, the DXtera Institute will launch a global EagleApps community of practitioners and contributors to help inform and define future directions for this emerging next-generation campus system.

EagleApps is more than a traditional student information system, but rather a growing enterprise framework, with functionality that currently includes curriculum management, program requirements management, program enrollment, course scheduling and registration, grading, academic record management, and student account management. EagleApps is entirely customizable and extensible to support the specific needs of various kinds of institutions.

"EagleApps, based on requirements from a community of universities, is the product of years of collaboration across BC for both functional and technical excellence. It is the key element of a strategic move away from a monolithic student information system to a service-based infrastructure. The architectural approach utilizes modular tools that can work together or independently, creating a seamless experience for users across campus," said Michael Bourque, Chief Information Officer at Boston College. "We are excited to share our work with the broader community and to explore how best to position EagleApps for the future. We are confident that our peer institutions will find this framework valuable as they navigate the increasingly complex ecosystem of higher ed information management."

"We are proud to have been chosen by Boston College to help build the EagleApps community and lead an implementation study for this innovative solution that will change the way information is managed on college campuses," says Dale Allen, DXtera's co-founder and president. "We know the community of EagleApps will guide the ongoing development of this enterprise-level product and enable its ongoing evolution into a transformative next-generation campus solution."

BC and DXtera are inviting colleges, universities and interested parties to join the EagleApps community and be at the forefront of the movement towards next-generation education systems on April 16, 2020, for a day-long technology-enabled event hosted by Boston College.

Boston College and DXtera will be hosting a live web event on March 19, 2020, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. EDT to provide an introduction to EagleApps and the growing community.

Colleges and other parties interested in learning more about the study through the live webcast, or applying to be part of the selective cohort, can visit dxtera.org/solutions/eagleapps/ to register.

About DXtera Institute

The DXtera Institute is a nonprofit, member-based consortium of higher education professionals collaborating to remove technology barriers so that institution leaders, faculty, staff, and students have efficient access to information needed to transform student outcomes. With partners across the U.S. and Europe, the consortium includes some of the brightest minds in education and technology, all working together to solve critical higher education issues on a global scale. Visit dxtera.org for more information.

About Boston College

Boston College, the first institution of higher education to operate in the city of Boston, is today among the nation's foremost universities and a leader in the liberal arts, scientific inquiry, and student formation. Noted for both teaching and research, Boston College has a coeducational enrollment of 14,600 undergraduate and graduate students drawn from all 50 states and around the world.

Media Contact:

Patricia Diaz

Phone: 716.803.5203

Email: [email protected]

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DXtera Institute

SOURCE DXtera Institute

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A 35-year-old person from Bihar



was killed after a group of men allegedly assaulted him in the Sovabazar area when he protested against drinking in public, police said on Wednesday.

The accused persons also made lewd comments at women passers-by to which the man objected, they said.

Two persons have been arrested in connection with the incident that took place on Monday around 8.30 pm.

The exact number of people involved will be ascertained after examining CCTV footage of the area, a police officer said.

Pramod Shaw was found lying on a footpath in Aurobindo Sarani, he said, adding, the man was declared brought-dead when taken to the RG Kar Hospital.

The Bihar resident had recently arrived in the city in search of employment, the officer said.

"Shaw fell unconscious after he was roughed up by the group... A local person informed the police," he said.

Investigation into the incident is underway, police said.

Meanwhile, Kolkata Police arrested 656 people for disorderly conduct and booked 336 bikers for violating traffic norms on Monday during Dol celebrations, another officer said.

On Tuesday, the day of Holi, police held 428 people for disorderly conduct and booked five bikers for flouting traffic rules, he said.

Around 407 litres of liquor was seized from the possession of the arrested persons during the two days, police added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The latest launch of unidentified projectiles by North Korea could be a message of sorts. Kim Jong-uns regime is probably worried about the apparent lack of interest of the Trump administration to resolve the issue of sanctions. In order to draw the attention of the world, North Korea chose to launch the projectiles into the sea. It is the second such launch within two weeks as confirmed by officials of the United States and South Korea. The Defense Ministry of South Korea said the projectiles had a maximum range of 124 miles and a maximum altitude of 31 miles.

The Defense Ministry feels actions of this nature by the North violated agreements with Pyongyang in 2018. The intention of the agreement was to ease military tensions on the Korean Peninsula. The ministry said, "Currently, our military is monitoring related movement in case of an additional launch while maintaining thorough preparedness."

North Korea has fired three short-range missiles from its east coast, according to South Korea's military https://t.co/DXz1HeB4yk  Sky News (@SkyNews) March 9, 2020

CNN quotes a US official as saying that North Korea fired four unidentified projectiles. The Defense Ministry of South Korea interprets these to be a part of Pyongyang's winter military drills. North Korean state media explained that its military exercises started on February 28.

The date was significant because it was the first anniversary of the summit in Hanoi between the leaders of North Korea and the United States. It failed to arrive at any deal in spite of a good rapport at the highest level.

United States monitoring the situation in North Korea

Launch of the unidentified projectiles after a lull is a matter that has the United States and South Korea worried.

Discuss this news on Eunomia

Last year, North Korea test-fired more than a dozen missiles. Of course, it did not fire any intercontinental-range missiles. In September, Donald Trump did not assign much importance to it and had described them as "very standard." In his opinion, they did not pose any direct threat to the US mainland.

North Korea fires three more missiles as Kim Jong-un violates peace deal with a second rocket test in 10 days https://t.co/H9RGpm9ZJd pic.twitter.com/VRk9ErclzJ  The Sun (@TheSun) March 9, 2020

CNN mentions the uncertainties associated with the talks on denuclearization.

At one point in time, there were possibilities of some positive results emerging from the Trump-Kim talks. However, even after three meetings, there is very little progress on the subject. When the two leaders met in the DMZ, there was a glimmer of hope. Lack of progress led North Korea to announce a 'Christmas surprise for the United States. Anyway, the situation has reached a dead end. While testing of weapons at regular intervals is necessary for developmental purposes, Pyongyang usually carries them out to extract maximum political mileage on all fronts.

North Korea conducts second set of weapons testing

According to Sky News, the hermit kingdom launched three short-range missiles from its east coast, as per sources in the South Korean military.

This happens to be the second set of weapons testing Pyongyang undertook in the last 10 days. It was after a brief respite of four months. The South expressed "strong regret" over the incident. In the opinion of Japan's chief cabinet secretary Yoshihide Suga, the launches were likely ballistic but none of them landed inside Japan's exclusive economic zone. He described them as being a grave problem for the entire international society."

Wait continues for North Korea

Kim Jong-un and Donald Trump were trying to evolve a solution to the unrest in the Korean peninsula. In the early stages of President Trumps tenure, there were fears of a sort of confrontation with nuclear weapons. North Korea even identified a few possible American targets.

However, better sense prevailed. North Korea arranged to hold the 2018 Winter Olympics with South Korea. That was a success and it led to possibilities of the two Koreas coming together. Subsequently, Kim Jong-un and Donald Trump held three meetings in Singapore, Hanoi, and the DMZ. It helped the two leaders to bond but the deadlock remains. The former wants ease of sanctions, the latter insists on denuclearization first.
Three new cases of novel coronavirus infection have been confirmed in Romania, the Strategic Communication Group (GCS) announced on Wednesday.

It is about a 55-year-old man of Bucharest, asymptomatic, who came into contact with the patient at Dimitrie Gerota Hospital; a 31-year-old man in self-quarantine, and a 35-year-old woman of Covasna who arrived on March 8 from Italy and is also in self-quarantine.The number of confirmed cases in Romania has thus reached 35.
We thought 2020 would be Bernie Sanders year. It was owed to him, we reasoned. He deserved it. It was his time. The nomination was denied him in 2016, when Democrats decided to put a safe pair of hands from the establishment up against the preposterous, unelectable Donald Trump and the strategy backfired enormously. Surely now we could right a wrong by giving him the chance he should have had four years prior.

But Democratic voters dont want that  or at least, most of them dont. They told us that in South Carolina. A fair amount of them doubled down on Super Tuesday. And tonight, March 10, they sealed the deal, as Joe Biden walked away victorious following a slew of endorsements from his former rivals in the race for presidential nominee. Missouri, Mississippi and, most devastatingly of all, Michigan went for Uncle Joe.

Because we are where we are now. Its not 2016. The appetite for a shouty maverick is not what it was. The burn it all down style of politics doesnt inspire so much as it provokes fear. America feels much less secure and much less confident after four years of Donald Trump. A healthy subset of its population just wants to retreat to its place of security and appoint someone to clean up the damage the hurricane did to the house.

Perhaps, if Bernie had been allowed to go toe-to-toe with Trump four years ago, he really could have won. The landscape was different then.

And its not fair, not remotely. Sanders had a slew of excellent policies and they are policies that most people outside of the extremely conservative confines of America would agree with: a free-at-the-point-of-use universal healthcare system; a commitment to slowly moving towards 100 per cent renewable energy; forcing businesses to have an actual reason if they fire someone; a proper minimum wage for everyone; free childcare for pre-schoolers; banning assault weapons; working to eliminate medical debt that drives families into bankruptcy.

Democratic socialism is not a scary term to most people in western Europe, where Im from, and where we have public healthcare, a minimum wage, no guns and stronger employment laws. Its a shame that America fails its citizens in this regard. It is sad (not Donald-Trump-on-Twitter SAD but actually sad) that women struggle back to work days after giving birth; that some people drop dead on the job because they cant afford not to turn up; that people have become so disconnected from their government and the rest of the world that they profess not to believe in climate change and think the coronavirus might be a Democrat hoax.

Nevertheless, the non-conformers and the progressives have been defeated one by one in this race. Andrew Yang wanted a universal basic income. Elizabeth Warren (my personal favourite) wanted Medicare for All. Cory Booker wanted to raise taxes on the wealthy and expand social security. Julian Castro wanted paid family leave and a commission on reparations. Kirsten Gillibrand wanted to abolish ICE and strengthen abortion rights. Hell, even Beto ORourke wanted to take away your AR-15.

One by one they fell. We dont want a revolution, said the people looking up at them from the seats beneath the debate stage. We want to feel normal again.

It doesnt make for an inspiring tale. Its not a slogan youd want to write on a placard. But thats just how it is.

Few people could make Joe Bidens candidacy look new and exciting  not even that team of campaigners who sang Bidens back to the tune of Backstreets Back on a video circulating round Twitter a few weeks ago. When that abomination appeared on my computer screen, I clicked off it after a few seconds and said to my colleague sitting beside me, Yeah, hes done. Nobody wants the old white man on his third presidential run whose most viral contribution to the current cultural lexicon is a song from the mid-nineties, surely. Surely they at least want the other old white man with the merchandise that tell us all to feel the Bern. No, I dont want a coffee mug that says No malarkey. Even Michael Bloomberg had Instagram influencers!

I hate to say it, but Ive realised we no longer have the privilege of dreaming; we just have to be pragmatic. Bernie Sanders, a longtime Independent and a shouter from the sidelines, has a lot in common with Jeremy Corbyn. I watched crowds of twentysomethings sing Oh, Jeremy Corbyn jubilantly at festivals and political events before he led the British Labour Party into its worst defeat for decades. I voted for him in the original Labour Party leadership election. Then I watched him refuse to be a politician about it when he was asked questions his rival Boris Johnson, a man I personally and viscerally hate, could have knocked out the park: Why did he meet with former members of the IRA? (Remember that talking to former members of the IRA  with certain, strict preconditions  is what brought peace in Northern Ireland, he could have said, and by the way I still condemn terrorism in all its forms. But he didnt.) Why did he once refer to members of Hamas and Hezbollah as our friends? (For Gods sake, this is the sort of diplomacy we do in the pursuit of peace every day as high-level politicians so we stop actual people dying, Boris Johnson might have blustered. And its very easy to sit on the sidelines and cry about someone saying the word friend to people who, yes, are bad, evil terrorists, but at the end of the day we sometimes have to swallow a bitter pill in order to achieve great things, dont we, chums? But, of course, Corbyn couldnt, wouldnt, didnt.)

Sanders similarly could never just be a politician. When he was asked about Castros literacy program, he should have met people where they were at, rather than expecting them to come to him. Did Cuba work hard to achieve good literacy rates? Yes. Is there much to criticise about Fidel Castro and a huge swathe of Cuban Americans living in the States who have very little time for communist apologism? Yes. And therefore, was the question he was asked in front of the nation really only about literacy programmes, as he chose to interpret it? He should have known the answer.

These disappointing primary results are a blow for young people, or indeed any people, who wanted  and deserved  change. But if Bernie continues on now, injured, with an angry mob behind him, things will only get worse. The progressive arm of the Democratic Party will be painted as radical, aggressive, and out-of-control. Instead of compassionate and sensible, policies like Medicare for All and the Green New Deal will be considered the domain of the dirtbag left. They will not be picked up again in 2024. They will die a death with Sanders failed candidacy. We tried Bernie or bust in 2016, and we got bust. Was it worth it?

The best way forward for Bernie  and his supporters  is to bow out now and to back Biden in a way that looks sincere. With Hillary Clinton, it was all too little, too late, and ultimately, everybody suffered. Not just Americans, either.

I know its painful. And I know those who truly feel the Bern were hoping to right a wrong from 2016 this election cycle. The truth is that they still can. It just isnt the wrong they were hoping to right.
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / March 10, 2020 / PROGRESSIVE PLANET SOLUTIONS INC. (TSXV:PLAN) ("PLAN" or the "Company"), an emerging leader in the commercialization of natural pozzolans, is pleased to present a corporate update on the company's activities.

We are accelerating our efforts to commercialize our developing portfolio of natural pozzolan properties. In combination with these efforts, we are seeking to address the massive carbon footprint and requirements of one of the world's largest industriescement production.

Research Partnership with University of Alberta

Throughout the world, fly ash is generated as a by-product of burning coal for electricity generation. Fly ash is used as a supplementary cementing material in blended cement mixes. The supply of fly ash is directly related to the amount of coal which is combusted in power plants which in many parts of Canada, and the world, are scheduled for decommissioning or already being decommissioned.

In December 2019, PLAN announced a strategic relationship with the University of Alberta to conduct work with respect to improving the slump of the natural pozzolan from its Z-1 Quarry so that it possesses similar rheology to commercially available fly ash.

We have received an interim report from the University which describes the work done to date. The slump has been improved with a combination of various inputs which will remain proprietary; however, one input in the blend which we will disclose is pulverized, recycled glass.

The preliminary results are encouraging and in turn we believe there is tremendous potential for using waste material in a proprietary blend to create a high-quality supplementary cementing material (SCM) for the cement industry as a potential replacement for fly ash.

The initial research trial is expected to conclude at the end of April 2020 at which time we expect to finalize our proprietary formulation for CSA testing. Once CSA testing is completed, we intend to begin production on a small scale to introduce our SCM to the BC and Alberta markets.

Natural Pozzolans

In the fall of 2019, we announced the option of the Z-2 Natural Pozzolan Property. In February 2020, we announced the option of the Z-3 Natural Pozzolan Property (Heffley Creek). These three properties form the core portfolio of natural pozzolan properties for PLAN.

These three high quality properties near Kamloops, BC are all close to rail access to the Lower Mainland and Alberta.

We are currently finalizing the 2020 exploration plans for both the Z-2 and the Z-3 and expect to commence exploration work in late April or early May with work commencing once the snowpack is melted and the ground is sufficiently dry to conduct field work.

The intention for the Z-2 Property is to start to quantify the amount of natural pozzolan contained in an area of the property where we have already confirmed natural pozzolans occur.

For the Z-3 Property, we intend to conduct soil work on the property while completing further testing in areas previously drilled by LaFarge Canada which identified natural pozzolans.

For the Z-1 Property, our COO is working to renew the Notice of Work (license to mine the property) which is up for renewal in July 2020. In the interim, we will continue to draw down on the previously mined stockpile of natural pozzolan as required.

Z-1 Zeolite for Denaturing Cannabis

PLAN is experiencing an increase in the volume of denatured cannabis it is collecting from its contract with one of Canada's largest extraction facilities. The success of utilizing our Z-1 natural pozzolan in the denaturing process has resulted in additional extraction companies requesting samples and pricing. We view supplying Z-1 natural pozzolan to denature cannabis as a growth opportunity in 2020.

Comminution Toll Processing

PLAN completed a small comminution contract in 2019. Comminution is the process of pulverizing rocks into fine powders. Based on industry feedback, PLAN intends to procure additional comminution equipment to enable it to respond to commercial demand for

comminution services. We are targeting soft rock phosphate and limestone companies. This same equipment is used for pulverizing natural pozzolans and will increase our capacity to process our own material. This complementary revenue stream will support our capacity growth for other core initiatives.

Third Party Building Product Development

Over the last six months, PLAN has supplied pulverized natural pozzolan from the Z-1 Quarry to three companies which produce cementitious products. In particular, we are jointly working on product development with one of these companies and on sharing the costs of CSA testing on the building product which we hope will ultimately contain Z-1 pulverized natural pozzolan as a core ingredient.

Commenting on the recent activities and milestones, PLAN's CEO, Steve Harpur, said "We are very excited about the potential for our natural pozzolan assets and affiliated cementitious building products in development to contribute to the effort of reducing the carbon footprint of the cement industry. The PLAN team, which welcomed Mike Wypych as COO in February 2020, is accelerating our efforts to lay the foundation for significant commercialization and expansion in 2020."

For further information or investor relations inquiries, please contact:

Stephen Harpur, CEO

sharpur@progressiveplanet.ca

Or:

investors@progressiveplanet.ca

1-800-910-3072

www.progressiveplanet.ca

NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

SOURCE: Progressive Planet Solutions Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/580048/Progressive-Planet-Shareholder-Update
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla is set to revoke the suspension of all seven Congress MPs, who were last week barred from attending the Lower House for the remaining period of the budget session.

Birla had suspended seven Congress MPs - Gaurav Gogoi, TN Prathapan, Manickam Tagore, Gurjeet Singh Aujla, Benny Behanan, Rajmohan Unnithan and Adv. Dean Kuriakose - for disrupting the proceedings of the House. They were accused of snatching papers from the Speakers table.

Snatching papers from Speakers table utmost disrespect to Chair, we condemn this. We have requested Speaker to set up panel to look into continuous indiscipline by Congress members, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi had said after an incident in the House last week.

On Wednesday, Congress floor leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and other Congress leaders demanded the withdrawal of suspension of its seven MPs. As UPA members came into the well protesting against the suspension, Trinamool Congress (TMC) Saugata Roy demanded that suspensions of the MPs should be sorted out.

Chowdhury had earlier condemned the suspension of the MPs and said, Is this a dictatorship? It seems the government doesnt want Delhi violence issue to be discussed in Parliament that is why this suspension. We strongly condemn this.

Lok Sabha proceedings were disrupted on Wednesday and later Speaker Om Birla called a meeting of different parties in a bid to restore order and peace in the House.

The suspension of seven MPs was the first such suspension in the 17th Lok Sabha. the Congress dubbed the drastic action as a part of the governments effort to get business done in the Lok Sabha, which has seen a series of disruptions, and not passed or discussed any legislations after reconvening.
L yra McKees mother has died just weeks before the first anniversary of her daughters murder.

The journalist, 29, was shot dead in April last year while observing a riot in Creggan, Derry, Northern Ireland.

Joan Lawrie died peacefully in a Belfast hospital on Tuesday, according to a social media post by her daughter Nichola McKee Corner.

She said: She is now at peace with her beloved daughter Lyra McKee.

Lyra McKee was killed in April last year / PA Media

Ms Corner said the death of her sister had a profound effect on her mother.

They killed her the day they killed her precious baby girl," she said.

She added that her heart was comforted knowing her mother and sister were together again and she would love them forever.

Ms McKee had been her her mothers main carer.

Another tweet from a relative said: My wee Mother In Law, passed away last night of a broken heart. Unable to live without her baby Lyra. My Wee mother in law whom I loved with all my heart, I Will love you to beyond eternity. Mother and daughter rest in forever peace.
AUSTIN, Texas  Austin-based conspiracy theorist Alex Jones was booked into the Travis County Jail on a charge of driving while intoxicated just after midnight Tuesday, the Travis County sheriffs office said.

Jones, 46, was booked at 12:37 a.m., said Kristen Dark, spokeswoman for the sheriffs office. The driving while intoxicated charge is a class B misdemeanor, she said.

His bail was set at $3,000 but he was released on bond at 4:11 a.m., Dark said.

Jones founded Infowars and produces his radio show in Austin. An article posted on his Infowars website said Jones discussed the arrest on his show Tuesday and claimed his blood-alcohol level was under the legal limit of .08 percent.

An arrest affidavit for Jones says a sheriffs deputy responded at 10:10 p.m. Monday to a western Travis County residence for a disturbance reported by Jones wife.

May 2019: Facebook bans Louis Farrakhan, Alex Jones, more for dangerous behavior and hate speech

His wife had told the dispatcher they were in a verbal fight that had been physical earlier in the day, the affidavit says. She said Jones was leaving the residence in a black Dodge Charger and that he was possibly drinking, the affidavit says.

Alex Jones in a Tuesday, March 10, 2020 booking photo provided by the Travis County (Texas) Sheriff's Office.

While en route to the residence, a deputy saw a dark Dodge leaving the neighborhood. The vehicle was traveling 45 mph in a 40 mph zone.

The deputy pulled the vehicle over and interviewed Jones, who had a strong odor of alcohol, the affidavit says.

Jones told the deputy he and his wife had gotten into an argument while eating at a restaurant around 8 p.m., the affidavit says. He said he drank a bottle of sake during dinner, according to the court documents.

Jones walked 3 miles home from the dinner. When he arrived, they continued arguing, the affidavit says.

Jones stated he then proceeded to drive to another residence he owns downtown to get away from his wife, the affidavit says.

The deputy conducted sobriety tests on Jones. His eyes were described in the affidavit as being watery and glassy with constricted pupils. His demeanor was described as excited, talkative, carefree and cooperative, according to the court documents.

Story continues

Jones had a blood alcohol level of 0.076 at 11:55 p.m. and a level of 0.079 at 11:59 p.m. The legal blood alcohol limit while driving in Texas is 0.08.

Jones has hired attorney David Minton to represent him. Minton, of the firm Minton, Burton, Bassett & Collins, also represented Jones in divorce proceedings.

Contributing: The Associated Press

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Alex Jones, Infowars conspiracy theorist, charged with DWI, police say
The Kerala government has released a map of the route taken by the three-member family which returned to the state from COVID-19 hit Italy, on February 29, with an aim to track all those who had come in contact with them.

All the places visited by the family upon their return have been mentioned in the map, so that people can voluntarily inform authorities if they had come in touch with them.

A middle aged couple and their 24-year-old son had reached Kochi airport on February 29 and allegedly not informed airport authorities about their travel history.

The three had tested positive on Saturday along with two of their relatives staying with them in Ranni, their home town in Pathnamthita district.

On Tuesday, six other relatives, including aged parents, and friends of the italy returned family, had also tested positive.

The map covers the route taken by the family after they landed at Kochi airport till they reached Ranni and various places, including a church, post office,jewellery store, hyper market, shopping complex they had visited in the following days.

There are reports the family had also travelled in a bus.

Pathnamthitta District Collector P B Nooh said there was no need to shut down the places visited by the family.

The aim was to track down the last contact of the affected people.

The contact list of three others-- a three-year-old child and his parents, who have also tested positive for the deadly virus, has also been prepared, health authorities said.

"We have traced and prepared a list of persons who were in the flight with the family", they said.

So far 14 positive cases have been reported in Kerala.

India's first 3 corona positive cases from the state have been cured and discharged from hospitals.

As a precuationary measure, visitors would not be allowed at the Kerala assembly in the backdrop of the virus scare, a press release from the assembly secretary said.

Meanwhile, all those working at outlets under beverages corporation have been directed to wear masks and gloves in the wake of the spread of covid19.

Neyyar dam has been closed for 10 days as a precautionary measure.

The government has also designed a campaign involving elderly people, who would inform the authorities about anyone coming to their homes from abroad.

School children would also be engaged in this effort to learn about their relatives coming from abroad, a health official said.

A two-month old child and her mother are at the isolation ward of the hospital in Pathnamthitta.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / March 11, 2020 / Lucky Minerals Inc. (TSXV:LKY)(OTC:LKMNF)(FRA:LKY) ("Lucky" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the deployment of exploration teams at the 100% owned Fortuna Project, located in southern Ecuador. The Company's geological team is led by Mr. Victor Jaramillo, M.Sc.A., P.Geo., Exploration Manager for Lucky Minerals.

The Fortuna Project has potential to host three significant types of gold mineralization - epithermal, orogenic, and placer gold - as well as, copper-gold porphyry systems coincident with twelve known volcanic centres on the property (see Plate 5). This latter style of mineralization includes the El Buitre discovery made by the company in 2018. The El Buitre porphyry target on Fortuna 3 is known to host favorable copper-gold mineralization and is a likely target under the Company's memorandum of understanding with First Quantum Minerals Ltd.

Lucky's crew is focused on gold discovery on Fortuna and consists of two senior and two junior geologists. Primary objectives are follow-up work of anomalous areas and reconnaissance on the Fortuna 8, 9, and 10 concessions in the northwest, and the Fortuna 11 and 12 concessions in the southern region of the concession area, located in the provinces of Zamora Chinchipe and Azuay. This work is concurrent with work being completed by First Quantum Minerals.

Plate 1: Location map of the Fortuna Mineral concessions (Fortuna 1 to 12).

Lucky CEO, Adrian Rothwell, stated "To date geological fieldwork has identified several possible volcanic hosted epithermal type gold targets in the northwestern section on the Fortuna 8, 9 and 10 concessions. Subject to the success of this program, we look forward to conducting ground IP/resistivity geophysical surveys and soil sampling in order to define potential drill targets this year. Other priority exploration work now underway is to confirm the occurrence of orogenic type gold mineralization along a metamorphosed Paleozoic belt known in Ecuador as the "Cordillera Real" (Fortuna 11 and 12 concessions)."

Plate 2: Map of the Fortuna Project concessions in relation to nearby deposits and prospects.

Highlights:

Teams have been deployed to assess known areas with the highest potential for the occurrence of gold mineralization and into areas that have never previously been explored by the Company. Work will include surface geological mapping and sampling. This work will focus on mapping areas of alteration and taking rock samples. The objective being, to locate the source of the recently observed gold mineralization in the Shincata River regions, to review known areas with anomalous gold and define new areas. This work will define areas for follow-up ground geophysics, trenching and ultimately drill targets.

The Property spans the contact between Paleozoic and Mesozoic basement rocks to the east, and Tertiary volcanics to the west of the Fortuna concessions. Northeast trending and structurally controlled (fault bound) geological belts are found within the concessions (see map below).

The westernmost belt is comprised of Tertiary volcanics and has potential for hosting epithermal gold mineralization (Fortuna 8, 9 and 10). The middle belt is mainly of Triassic age rocks and appears to have been pierced by Miocene age intrusions and volcanics. Within this belt (Fortuna 3), the El Buitre porphyry target is located.

The Fortuna 2, 6, 7, 11 and 12 concessions lie within a belt of mainly Paleozoic rocks. It has good potential to host orogenic type gold mineralization, as that found in similar type and age rocks in Peru. Below is photo of a siliceous hand specimen taken recently from outcrop by our exploration team in the Fortuna 9 concession. This siliceous rock fragment is typical of epithermal gold systems and has vuggy silica, breccia fragments and alteration minerals such as, jarosite, alunite and limonite clusters. The breccia matrix is composed of mainly silica.

Plate 3: Fortuna 9 Hand Specimen

Property Geology:

Plate 4: Fortuna Project Geology Map

Two major geological features stand out. The El Buitre Porphyry and Breccia Zone (Fortuna 3), which consists of a phyllic altered stockwork & breccia zone with anomalous copper, gold and moly. To the west and northwest lies an area of volcanic altered rocks (silica-clay-alunite-jarosite) with areas of quartz stockwork veinlets, including vuggy, colloform and banded quartz textures. This area is anomalous in gold, and hosts potential for outlining epithermal precious metal mineralization, of the type found at the El Mozo gold deposit just south of Fortuna 10. Also, historical gold placer mining to the south and west on the property are good indicators for locating the source of this gold mineralization.

It is within these potential gold-bearing zones that will be the focus of this initial phase of exploration for 2020 by the Company.

The El Buitre Porphyry target and the hydrothermal phyllic alteration and the geochemical signatures observed appear to be distinct from other type porphyries found in Chile and Peru, as the El Buitre porphyry intrusion is emplaced into an "S-Type" meta-granite of Triassic age and into Paleozoic meta-sediments.

Geological and Structural Setting:

Landsat image interpretation showing distinct geological belts and structural features is shown in the image below. Also, the location of the El Mozo gold project and the El Buitre porphyry area, in relation to the Fortuna concessions is shown in the figure below.

The presence of volcanic domes is significant as gold mineralization (as observed in the El Mozo gold deposit) can be spatially and temporally related. Hydrothermal cells responsible for gold mineralization appear to be controlled by high-angle faults. These same faults can influence the emplacement of volcanic domes, an essential step in the development of gold mineralization.

Plate 5: Landsat image interpretation showing circular features, domes and four distinct northeast trending geological belts.

About Lucky

Lucky is an exploration and development company targeting large-scale mineral systems in proven districts with the potential to host world class deposits. Lucky owns a 100% interest in the Fortuna and Emigrant Projects.

The Company's Fortuna Project is a royalty-free 550km2 (55,000 Ha, or 136,000 Acres) exploration concession. Fortuna is located in a highly prospective, yet underexplored, gold belt in southern Ecuador. Lucky has a memorandum of understanding on Fortuna with First Quantum Minerals Ltd. ("First Quantum") whereby First Quantum is able to earn up to 70% of copper targets.

The Emigrant Creek Project covers a 15 km2 area in an intensely altered and mineralized porphyry copper-gold-molybdenum system in southern Montana.

Qualified Person:

Victor Jaramillo, M.Sc.A., P.Geo., Lucky's Exploration Manager and a qualified person in accordance with National Instrument 43-101, is responsible for supervising the exploration program at the Fortuna Project for Lucky Minerals and has reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this news release.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

"Adrian Rothwell"

Chief Executive Officer

Further information on Lucky can be found on the Company's website at www.luckyminerals.com and at www.sedar.com, or by contacting Adrian Rothwell, President and CEO, by email at investors@luckyminerals.com or by telephone at (866) 924 6484.

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

Cautionary Statement Regarding Adjacent Properties and Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains forward-looking statements relating to the future operations of the Company and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "will", "may", "should", "anticipate", "expects" and similar expressions. All statements other than statements of historical fact, included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding the future plans and objectives of the Company are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: uncertainties related exploration and development; the ability to raise sufficient capital to fund exploration and development; changes in economic conditions or financial markets; increases in input costs; litigation, legislative, environmental and other judicial, regulatory, political and competitive developments; technological or operational difficulties or inability to obtain permits encountered in connection with exploration activities; and labor relations matters. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect the Company's forward-looking information. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations also include risks detailed from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulators.

The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company will update or revise publicly any of the included forward-looking statements as expressly required by Canadian securities law.

SOURCE: Lucky Minerals Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/580057/Lucky-Announces-Start-of-Exploration-Work-on-Fortuna
The conviction of Abdelbaset al-Megrahi over the Lockerbie bombing may have been a miscarriage of justice, a review has found.

The former Libyan intelligence officer was the only person convicted over the attack on Pan Am flight 103, which exploded over the Scottish town of Lockerbie in December 1988.

He was found guilty of mass murder in 2001 and jailed for 27 years after 243 passengers and 16 crew members died.

A further 11 residents were killed after debris from the plane landed on the town.

The Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission (SCCRC) considered six grounds and found a miscarriage of justice may have occurred in Megrahis case by reason of unreasonable verdict and non-disclosure.

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Megrahi died from cancer in 2012, three years after being released from prison early on compassionate grounds, but the finding paves the way for his family to make a fresh appeal against his conviction to the high court.

The application to the SCCRC was made by lawyer Aamer Anwar on behalf of Megrahis family and was supported by the families of some of those who died in the 1988 disaster.

Dr Jim Swire, father of Flora Swire  who was aged 23 when she died in the bombing  and the Reverend John Mosey, whose daughter Helga Mosey, 19, also died on the flight, both supported the application.

On the issue of unreasonable verdict, the commission said a miscarriage of justice may have occurred because no reasonable trial court, relying on the evidence led at trial, could have held the case against Megrahi was proved beyond reasonable doubt.

On the issue of non-disclosure, it said the Crown should have disclosed certain information to the defence, and that its failure to disclose information about reward money bolsters the conclusion he was denied a fair trial.

Bill Matthews, chairman of the SCCRC, said: This is the second time the commission has carried out what I believe has been a rigorous and independent review of this particular conviction, and we note that since our last review further information has become available, including within the public domain, which the commission has now been able to consider and assess.

As the chair of the SCCRC in 2007 said when the case was originally referred, our function is not to decide upon the guilt or innocence of an applicant.

Our function is to examine the grounds of review identified and to decide whether any of the grounds meet the statutory test for a potential miscarriage.

Abdel Basset al-Megrahi is seen in his room at a hospital in Tripoli after he was released from prison in Scotland on compassionate grounds in 2009 (Ismail Zetouny/Reuters) (Ismail Zetouny/Reuters/File photo)

Megrahis first appeal against his conviction was refused by the High Court in 2002.

His case was referred back to the High Court in 2007 for a new appeal, following a review by the SCCRC.

He abandoned this appeal in 2009, shortly before his release from prison.

In 2014, a new application to the SCCRC was made on Megrahis behalf but the following year the commission decided it was not in the interests of justice to proceed with a review of Megrahis conviction, citing difficulties accessing defence documents.

The latest application to the SCCRC was lodged in 2017.

Additional reporting by Press Association.
Russia intends to further streamline the procedure for naturalizing citizens of neighboring states.

The Russian Federation Council at a plenary meeting on Wednesday, March 11, adopted a draft law recognizing citizens of Ukraine and Belarus who are fluent in Russian its native speakers, releasing them from the need to be interviewed before obtaining citizenship.

Today, foreign citizens and stateless persons may be recognized as native speakers of the Russian language based on the results of the interview conducted by the relevant commission. The status allows its holder to obtain Russian citizenship in a simplified manner, Russian news agency TASS reported on March 11.

The adopted document stipulates that Ukrainians and Belarusians who are fluent in Russian, upon submitting an application, may be recognized by the commission as native speakers without being interviewed. The grounds include the fact that applicants themselves or their direct relatives permanently reside or previously permanently resided in the Russian Federation or in the territory belonging to the Russian Empire or the USSR, within the state border of the Russian Federation.

Read alsoPutin seeks to consolidate in Russian constitution "historical truth" about WW2, "protection of Russian speakers"

Thus, a clarification was introduced into the Russian law on citizenship, according to which the requirements for the required level of knowledge, evaluation criteria, and the procedure for developing and using materiel for interviews are determined by the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs in coordination with the Education Ministry.

If signed by the president of the Russian Federation, the draft law will enter into force 90 days after its official publication.
AMSTERDAM, The Netherlands  Like New Orleans, Amsterdam is struggling with harder and more frequent rain storms that overwhelm drains, flood streets and seep under doors.

Joris Hoebe used to see Amsterdams increasing rainfall only as a problem. Now its an opportunity.

Its potential beer falling from the sky, he said.

Hoebe is the founder of Rainbeer, an organization that coordinates with Dutch breweries to turn excess rain into beer. Five small breweries across the country are now crafting beers from rain. Theres a bitter blonde from Amsterdam, a salty sour from Groningen in the north, and an ale called the Cold Sniffle thats produced at a small town on the coast.

The Dutch have long been the masters of water. Much of their country is reclaimed from the sea, and the worlds largest levee and sea gate system keeps the sea from taking it back. Increasing rainfall poses a new challenge.

Rain is normal for us; its a wet country, Hoebe said on a dark, rainy evening in Amsterdam. But now we get too much.

Precipitation has increased by more than 20% in both the Netherlands and the American South over the past century, and the rain now tends to fall in concentrated bursts that overwhelm old drainage systems. The Dutch are making wide-reaching changes. Theyre removing levees and buildings to give rain-swollen rivers more room to flood and theyre encouraging more rain-absorbing infrastructure like green roofs and water plazas.

Turning rain into beer wont solve urban flooding. But it is a good way to get people thinking about excess water, Hoebe said.

Its also a bit of civil disobedience, he added.

Technically, rain beer isnt legal in the Netherlands. Dutch health officials havent given beer made with rain the official OK. That could take many months or years. In the meantime, the beer is for sale at bars and in bottles.

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This beer -- its like a crowbar to open the discussion, Hoebe said.

If health officials try to shut down rain beer production, Hoebe said the brewers have many allies in government who will push back.

Each participating brewery boils its rain water and passes it through an intensive filtration system. It might be cleaner than tap water, Hoebe said.

Thieu Hegger, owner of Brouwerij de Hemel in Nijmegen, near the German border, collects his rain from the roof of a medieval monastery. It flows into a pipe that goes down to the basement, through a filter and into his brewing tanks.

Upstairs, people in a crowded tasting room drained glass after glass.

+8 Pour it on: How Dutch cities are soaking up rain and reducing flooding ROTTERDAM, The Netherlands -- Eveline Bronsdijk knew she'd done her job when the people of Rotterdam began debating whether pigs should be all

I hope they first think nice beer, Hegger said. Im a brewer; I want people to appreciate my work.

Then maybe it serves as a conversation starter about climate change and solutions to rain flooding.

We dont think about this until it becomes a problem, and then we think, Why are the drains not big enough? Hegger said. But our reaction should be: What can we do to prevent this  (because) with climate change its only going to be more intensive rain showers?

"By thinking about it with a beer  thats something I want to achieve.

Read the full Water Ways series:
As cases of the coronavirus increase in Italy, Iran, South Korea, the United States and elsewhere, AP photographers around the world are capturing the impact on daily life. Fear of the spreading illness has led to a run on sales of face masks, empty store shelves and the disruption of travel. Despite evidence that most people who arent sick dont need to wear them, the face masks are seen everywhere. These images highlight the widespread effects, including the temporary closure of Tokyo Disneyland and a dearth of tourists in Venice. (Image: PTI)

Shiite pilgrims walk outside the shrine of Imam Ali in Najaf, Iraq. (Image: AP Photo/Anmar Khalil)

A girl wears a mask inside a bus in Hong Kong. (Image: AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)

A commuter wears a face mask in the New York City transit system. (Image: AP Photo/John Minchillo)

A firefighter disinfects a mosque to help prevent the spread of the new coronavirus in northern Tehran, Iran. (Image: AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)

A woman wearing face mask walks past empty shelf of tissue papers at a supermarket in Hong Kong. (Image: AP Photo/Vincent Yu)

A worker cleans his goggles to spray disinfectant as a precaution against the coronavirus at a shopping street in Seoul, South Korea. (Image: AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

Two women rush to catch a train after visiting Tokyo Disneyland in Urayasu, near Tokyo. The amusement park will be closed from Saturday until March 15 in an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19. (Image: AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Soldiers wear protective suits before the arrival of Brazilians repatriated from Wuhan, China, the epicenter of the coronavirus, at the Annapolis Air Force Base, in Anapolis city, Goias state, Brazil. (Image: AP Photo/Beto Barata)

A child cries as he waits in line to board a plane for Beijing at the airport in Hong Kong. (Image: AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

A lift operator stands inside a dedicated lift for people suspected to be infected with the new coronavirus at the Government Gandhi Hospital in Hyderabad, India. (Image: AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)

Journalist are reflected on the glass of a room near a board showing the products of the Mengniu dairy factory in Beijing. (Image: AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

Tourists wearing protective masks pose for a photograph at the Rialto bridge as the sun sets in Venice, Italy. (Image: AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

A commuter wears a face mask in the New York City transit system. (Image: AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Customers have lunch with a transparent plastic panel setup on the table to isolate each others to prevent virus spreading in Hong Kong. (Image: AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

A commuter looks through a water-stained window wearing a mask and gloves to help guard against the Coronavirus, on a public bus in downtown Tehran, Iran. (Image: AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)

Elderly women wearing protective face masks sit at a nursing home in Hong Kong. (Image: AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Pedestrians walk as some of them wear masks in downtown Tehran, Iran. (Image: AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

People stop by a cash machine in the center of Codogno, near Lodi, Northern Italy. (Image: AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

A man wearing face mask walks at the Yaba Mainland hospital where an Italian citizen entered Nigeria from Milan on a business trip, the first case of the COVID-19 virus is being treated in Lagos Nigeria. (Image: AP Photo/ Sunday Alamba)

Metropolitan Transportation Authority worker sanitizes surfaces at the Coney Island Yard, in the Brooklyn borough of New York. (Image: AP Photo/Kevin Hagen)

Tourists walk in front of a thermal scanner to check body temperatures as they arrive at the Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, Thailand. (Image: AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
Good Morning Britain viewers have pleaded for The Wombles to be 'left alone' as guests discussed the 'woke' remake of the 1970s television series.

In today's show, Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid debated whether the major revamp of the BBC children's show which is underway in an attempt to revise the series for a modern, politically correct generation, is 'necessary.'

But while guest Eartha Pond suggested characters are unique and should be left as they are, Joanna Jarjue argued the Wombles should be changed to reflect society.

And viewers were quick to take to Twitter to offer their views - with the majority insisting the much-loved should be left alone.

'The world has gone mad! There's illness, viruses, homeless people, fires and floods around the planet and #GMB are having a debate about #Wombles being not #woke enough,' wrote one, while a second penned: 'Why cant we just leave the Wombles alone, there is nothing wrong with how they are!'

Guests discussed the major revamp of the BBC children's show The Wombles which is underway on this morning's episode of Good Morning Britain (pictured)

Viewers who tuned in were quick to take to Twitter, with one writing: 'Why cant we just leave the Wombles alone, there is nothing wrong with how they are!' (pictured)

Marcus Robertson, the son of Elisabeth Beresford, the show's creator, criticised the CGI remake, accusing the makeover of being an insult to his mother's memory.

Meanwhile, Piers Morgan, who previously branded the remake 'utterly insane', questioned why we need woke remakes of classical shows - and asked whether it's political correctness gone barking mad.

'It seems so patronising to me,' he explained. 'I'm not a black person but if I was I'd think, "really?" You're going to darken the skin tone of wombles to try and make some diversity point.

'For me it's a grating point, it's unnecessary, and no one was calling for it. It kind of makes a mockery to me of what is a really important battle - which is a battle for diversity in all aspects of life.'

However, not everyone was in agreement, with Joanna arguing that the Wombles are in need of an update.

'We're now in a completely different generation,' she explained. 'It's something that's just letting the characters evolve into this new generation and I do think this is very culturally and in society a lot more relevant to the Britain we live in now.'

Piers Morgan (pictured) told how the 'woke' revamp seemed patronising and added: 'For me it's a grating point, it's unnecessary, and no one was calling for it'

Joanna Jarjue (pictured) argued the Wombles should be changed to reflect society and should evolve to reflect the new era

Eartha Pond (pictured) suggested the much-loved characters are unique and should be left as they are

And when Piers jumped in and added they're not human, she responded : 'Yes, but they do human things, like recycle. When children what shows like this, when they're watching a cartoon, those actions these characters are taking are relevant to these children.'

While Eartha agreed the actions the characters are taking is important, she added it doesn't matter what colour they are that shows, "I'm going to make that decision to recycle or not recycle."

'It's about someone within their mind has created a fictional character who does great things for the environment,' she explained. 'It's about learning about the things they do - not what they look like or who they are.'

'There are so many other ways to demonstrate diversify and inclusion. Why would you change it?

Piers went on to cite head boy Aker Okoye, 16, for doing more for diversity when he bounded on stage to embrace Meghan Markle during her visit to Robert Clack Upper School in Dagenham on Friday.

'In ten minutes, that boy, for me, did more for diversity and inclusion and race issues than anything we've had on this programme in five years,' he said. 'Blacking up a Womble has the complete opposite effect to what the people doing it thinks they have.'

And many who tuned in took to social media to agreed, with one pleading: 'Please please please leave the Wombles alone,' and a second adding: 'You cannot remake perfection.'

A third agreed: 'The Wombles were lovely, part of people my age's younger childhood. They were imaginary little creatures and their facial features were orange...like Basil Brush for example.'

'I'm fed up with people who quote diversity all the time but just create division.'
With the implementation of two dedicated freight corridors, the cost of carrying freight is likely to be reduced, the railways ministry told parliament on Wednesday.

In a written reply in Lok Sobha, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal said the ministry is implementing two Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFC) namely, Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor from Ludhiana to Dankuni (1,856 Km) and Western Dedicated Freight Corridor from Dadri to Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (1,504 km).

At present, the overall physical and financial progress of these two projects is 70 per cent and 68 per cent, respectively.

A Concession Agreement was signed between the Ministry of Railways and Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited (DFCCIL) on February 28, 2014 stipulating the modalities to run Indian Railways' freight trains on DFC network.

Dedicated Freight Corridors have been designed to run freight trains with an axle load of 25 tonnes up to maximum speed of 100 km/hour, he said.

"DFCCIL is expected to have better operational and man-power efficiency as compared to existing set up of Indian Railways, due to modern technology, faster speed and latest communication system, leading to reduced cost of carrying freight. Moreover, enhanced capacity with higher speed on DFCCIL is expected to offer assured transit time to customers and consequently substantial reduction in total logistic cost," the minister said.

DFCCIL is in the process of finalising its Business Development Plan which includes development of Multi Modal Logistic Parks and market driven freight incentive measures to attract additional freight on DFC network.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Burma Nationalists Protest in Naypyitaw Against Constitutional Amendments

Nationalist U Kyaw Myo Shwe talks to the media on March 10. / Htet Naing Zaw / The Irrawaddy

Naypyitaw  As the Union Parliament began to vote on suggested amendments to the 2008 Constitution on Tuesday, around 150 nationalists arrived in Naypyitaw to show support for the military.

The protesters arrived in 15 vehicles and made an unsuccessful attempt to enter the Union Parliament.

U Zaw Weik of the Democratic Party of National Politics (DNP) told reporters: We have come because we cant accept any amendment to Article 59(f). The clause prevents anyone with a foreign spouse or children from becoming president.

We came to show support for the Tatmadaw [military] in its opposition to amendments, said U Zaw Weik, adding that they would seek official permission to enter the Parliament Thursday.

U Kyaw Myo Shwe from Mandalay said they were voicing their opposition to altering 59(f), which bars State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi from the presidency, and Article 361, which states that Buddhism is the majority faith.

We have come to rally against the plans of the [National League for Democracy] to amend Article 59(f) and amend or scrap Article 361, U Kyaw Myo Shwe told The Irrawaddy.

While some provisions in the 2008 Constitution should be amended, some should be kept unchanged. We want to have a smooth transition and we are against the military always holding 25 percent of seats in the Parliament. It must be amended over time. But we cant accept amending or scrapping Article 59(f), no matter which government or party is in power, he added.

The nationalists all wore olive-green T-shirts printed with the Myanmar flag to show their support for the military, U Kyaw Myo Shwe said.

The parliamentary voting on amendments to the basic principles of the Union took place on Tuesday. Amendments to reduce the political role granted to the military under the 2008 Constitution were rejected. Only minor terminology on unimportant clauses was agreed.

The nationalists visited Uppatasanti Pagoda and DNP chairman U Soe Maung at the party office near the Naypyitaw military command.

U Soe Maung is a retired major general who served as judge advocate general under the military government. He was the minister of the Presidents Office under President U Thein Sein.

We will fight, not recklessly and only legally if nationalism is harmed. We welcome and will cooperate or ally ourselves with any individual, organization and party that serves nationalism. We can talk and hold discussions. But we cant accept anything that harms nationalism, U Soe Maung said.

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Starbucks said Wednesday that it is offering "catastrophe pay" to U.S. baristas who have been exposed to the coronavirus.

The global coffee chain, which implemented similar measures in China, will pay employees for up to 14 days if they have been diagnosed with, exposed to or in close contact with someone with the coronavirus. Workers who may be considered higher risk because of underlying health conditions are also eligible for catastrophe pay with a doctor's note.

The Seattle-based company is the latest corporation to adjust its policies as the number of U.S. cases of the virus climbs. Darden Restaurants extended paid sick time to all hourly employees on Monday, and Walmart has instituted an emergency sick leave policy.

"I want you to know that here at Starbucks, you should never have to choose between work and taking care of yourself," Rossann Williams, president of Starbucks' U.S. company-operated business and Canada, said in a message to employees.

If Starbucks employees are still unable to return to work after two weeks, additional pay may be used for up to 26 weeks.

Employees who are showing symptoms but have not been in contact with someone diagnosed with the virus are being encouraged for stay home for 24 hours. Catastrophe pay will cover any of their scheduled shifts over a three-day period to make sure they can get tested.

Starbucks closed a downtown Seattle location on Thursday after one of its baristas was diagnosed with the virus. The cafe reopened Monday morning. Thirteen additional employees are self-quarantined.

As part of its precautionary measures, Starbucks has stopped accepting reusable mugs. Baristas have been instructed on how to use gloves and how to best grind whole bean coffee brought in by customers.

Since early 2018, Starbucks baristas have been able to accrue one hour of paid sick time for every 30 hours worked.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-11 16:39:21|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, March 11 (Xinhua) -- China's health authorities said Wednesday that the rapid development of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak outside China has brought uncertainty to the domestic epidemic prevention work.

The Chinese mainland reported 11 new confirmed cases of the COVID-19 on Tuesday outside Hubei Province, the center of the outbreak. Of them, 10 cases were imported from outside the mainland, said Mi Feng, an official with the National Health Commission at a press conference.

The Chinese mainland saw a total of 79 imported COVID-19 cases as of the end of Tuesday, Mi added.

According to Mi, the total number of newly confirmed cases and suspected cases nationwide has remained in double digits for five consecutive days, with only two newly confirmed indigenous cases outside Wuhan, the capital city of Hubei, in the last five days.

"The epidemic situation continues developing toward a good prospect," said Mi.

But the epidemic prevention and control work remained arduous as the numbers of confirmed cases in Hubei and Wuhan were still high, Mi stressed.

Hubei reported 13 new confirmed cases on Tuesday, all of which were in Wuhan, and 22 deaths, 19 of which were in Wuhan.
LCD Soundsystems Gavilan Rayna Russom is launching her own record label, and its first release will be her sophomore solo album. Secret Passage is due out March 26 on Voluminous Arts. Russom has also shared a new track from Secret Passage. Listen to Shotgun Hits With Boys Who Drum on Metal (for Cheyney) below.

According to a press release, Russoms upcoming album is an homage to the East Side Rail Tunnel in Providence, Rhode Island, where the artist met many of her friends and collaborators, transforming the tunnel into spaces of creative community building. Each track on Secret Passage is dedicated to the friendships she forged there. Shotgun Hits With Boys Who Drum on Metal, for example, is dedicated to visual artist Cheyney Thompson.

Although Russom has not yet listed any additional releases on Voluminous Arts, the label will focus on highlighting electronic and experimental artists whose work challenges fixed categories of genre and categorization, according to press materials.

Gavilan Rayna Russoms debut solo album was 2019s The Envoy. Revisit Gavin Russoms Trans Identity Is a Big DealBut So Is Her Music on the Pitch.

Secret Passage:

01 A Place for Us Among the Ruins (for Alyson)

02 Shotgun Hits with Boys who Drum on Metal (for Cheyney)

03 Ghosts Wail in Us (for Mike)

04 Sarafina Calls because the Police are Beating People (for Brian c.)

05 Fireworks (for Brian T.)

Originally Appeared on Pitchfork
Canada once had a publicly owned pharmaceutical company that could have made a difference in the current coronavirus crisis  except that we sold it.

Connaught Labs was a superstar in global medicine. For seven decades, this publicly owned Canadian company performed brilliantly on the national and international stage, contributing to medical breakthroughs and developing affordable treatments and vaccines for deadly diseases.

Hated by its corporate competitors, Connaught was unique among pharmaceutical companies in that its focus was on human need, not profit.

It would have come in handy today.

In fact, Connaught got its start amid a diphtheria outbreak in 1913. Toronto doctor John Gerald FitzGerald was outraged that children were dying in large numbers even though there was a diphtheria treatment available from a U.S. manufacturer. But, at $25 a dose, it was unaffordable to all but the rich. FitzGerald set out to change that  and did.

After experimenting on a horse in a downtown Toronto stable, FitzGerald developed an antitoxin that proved effective in treating diphtheria, and made it available to public health outlets across the country. Then, with lab space provided by the University of Toronto, he and his team went on to produce low-cost treatments and vaccines for other common killers, including tetanus, typhoid and meningitis.

Connaught developed an impressive research capacity, with its scientists contributing to some of the biggest medical breakthroughs of the 20th century  including penicillin and the Salk and Sabin polio vaccines. It also played a central role in the global eradication of smallpox.

It was a pioneer in a lot of ways, says Colleen Fuller, a research associate of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. It did things commercial companies wouldnt do because they werent willing to take the financial risks.

Fuller argues that if a publicly owned Connaught were still operating today, it could be contributing to the development of the coronavirus vaccine  and ensuring a Canadian supply if there was a global shortage.

Yet, tragically it isnt.

Succumbing to corporate pressure and a misguided belief that the private sector always does things better, Brian Mulroneys Progressive Conservative government privatized Connaught Labs in the 1980s. Today, what remains of this once-dazzling Canadian public enterprise has been taken over by a giant French pharmaceutical company.

The coronavirus outbreak may finally help expose the fallacy of the notion that the private marketplace is innately superior  which has been the guiding principle in Anglo-American countries (including Canada) for the past four decades, leading to the constant denigration of government and its functions.

Fortunately, Canadas public health care system, established in the 1960s, has been so popular that it has survived, despite attacks of socialized medicine  although our political leaders have quietly whittled away funding for the system in recent decades.

If the foolishness of cutting funding for public health care wasnt already abundantly clear, the coronavirus has driven it home with a sledgehammer  as weve witnessed the extra struggles the U.S. faces in containing the virus with its lack of public health care.

Still, our willingness to go along with the privatization cult in recent decades has left us weaker and less protected than we could be.

Not only do we no longer have Connaught Labs, but Canada spends $1 billion a year funding basic medical research at Canadian universities, yet relies on the private marketplace to produce, control  and profit from  the resulting medical innovations.

For instance, the crucial work in developing a vaccine to treat Ebola was done by Canadian scientists at the National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg  and financed by Canadian taxpayer money. But sole licensing rights to the vaccine were granted to a small U.S. company, which then sublicensed it to pharmaceutical giant Merck for $50 million.

Although Merck is now producing the vaccine, critics have charged that the company did next to nothing to rush the vaccine into production during the deadly Ebola outbreak in West Africa, according to a recent paper published in the Journal of Law and Biosciences.

With a surge in future global pandemics expected, it might well be time to rethink Canadas foolhardy attachment to the notion the private sector always does things better.

Always unproven, that theory is looking increasingly far-fetched.
ONWARD, US character poster, clockwise from left: Colt Bronco (voice: Mel Rodriguez), Specter (voice: Lena Waithe), Gore (voice: Ali Wong), 2020. Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures / courtesy Everett Collection

When Disney-Pixar announced that Onward would feature the studio's very first openly gay character, the internet exploded with talk of heightened inclusivity and diversity in children's films. However, after it was revealed that the character in question, a purple cyclops cop, only appeared in one scene to deliver one nonchalant line about her girlfriend, the enthusiasm started to fade.

For the past several years, fans have been begging to see more inclusive characters in highly influential children's productions, even going so far as to create their own gay icons in the rare absence of a painfully straight Prince Charming love interest (We see you, Elsa!). These rumors made for fun Twitter threads and creative speculation, but major production studios never confirmed that any characters were officially gay under now.

Let's start with the positive: For once, LGBTQ+ audiences don't have to rely on theories to see themselves represented onscreen. Coming from a studio with so much social influence, this feels like a step in the right direction. Additionally, Officer Specter's identity isn't completely dependent on her sexual orientation, which is often the norm for LGBTQ+ characters.

"A passing reference to a girlfriend isn't really enough to characterize the relationship as meaningful."

"The significance of heterosexual characters' narratives are not assumed to be dependent on their sexuality as it is assumed to be the norm or compulsory," says Dr. Maurice Gattis, associate professor at the Kent School of Social Work and an iCubed visiting scholar at Virginia Commonwealth University's School of Social Work. In other words, heterosexuality is the norm for characters in media. To him, Officer Specter seems like Disney's attempt to normalize LGBTQ+ relationships, although a passing reference to a girlfriend isn't really enough to characterize the relationship as meaningful.

Story continues

A historically significant character like this deserves more than a few seconds of screen time. Minimizing the role of the first ever lesbian character in a Disney-Pixar film feels reminiscent of "queerbaiting" so as to make headlines, appeal to the LGBTQ+ community, and appear more progressive. As Dr. Gattis says, "The superficial nature of the relationship may be a letdown for members of the LGBTQ+ community who go to see the film because of the advertised inclusion of a lesbian character."

In the future, Disney needs to focus on making LGBTQ+ representation feel more intentional and less like an afterthought, to emphasize that their choices are more about authentic LGBTQ+ representation than they are about viral hashtags and strategic marketing. Dr. Gattis also suggests that "Showing [an LGBTQ] couple engaged in age-appropriate affection the same way that heterosexual couples in Disney films do would be a meaningful change."

While Officer Specter's inclusion isn't perfect by any means, it has at least sparked a discussion about the way in which films represent the LGBTQ+ community. Next time, maybe Disney-Pixar will feature a character that gets placement in a film's trailer, or hey, even a photo or poster without other characters!
WASHINGTON, March 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The following statement was issued by Dan Stein, president of the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), regarding an upcoming vote on legislation to dismantle the president's travel ban authority at the height of the coronavirus outbreak:

"Amidst a full-blown public health crisis driven by travel from abroad, House Democrats have demonstrated where their priorities lie: taking political shots at President Trump. This partisan hackery is both stunning and ill-advised.

"The radical NO BAN Act would effectively cripple the president's powers to make legitimate national security decisions and protect the American people from things like the coronavirus pandemic. As the Supreme Court already affirmed, Congress has delegated to the president clear, unambiguous authority to suspend entry to any alien or class of aliens deemed detrimental to the interests of the United States. It must stay that way.

"The American people elected President Trump to make difficult decisions in the name of public safety and the national interest. For House Democrats to cripple his power to protect Americans from foreign threats  including terrorists and pandemics  is a shocking dereliction of their duty as elected representatives.

"It's worth noting that President Trump's original travel ban was narrowly tailored to address legitimate national security concerns identified by both his administration and those of his predecessor. This never was an issue of religious or racial bias, contrary to arguments from Democrats who insist that it was. Instead, the intent of the temporary pause in admission of citizens from nations deemed to harbor or support international terrorism was to ensure that we have the ability to effectively screen out those who might pose a danger to innocent Americans.

"While President Trump's decision to limit incoming travel from China early on in the outbreak was a step in the right direction, the administration must retain the power and flexibility do more if needed."

Contact: Matthew Tragesser, 202-328-7004 or [email protected]

ABOUT FAIR

Founded in 1979, FAIR is the country's largest immigration reform group. With over 2 million members and supporters nationwide, FAIR fights for immigration policies that serve national interests, not special interests. FAIR believes that immigration reform must enhance national security, improve the economy, protect jobs, preserve our environment, and establish a rule of law that is recognized and enforced.

SOURCE Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR)

Related Links

http://www.fairus.org


GREENWICH  Murphy Medical Associates is testing people who think they might have the novel coronavirus, and patients never have to leave their car.

The drive-thru operation, modeled on programs in South Korea and the United Kingdom, began Tuesday in Greenwich, Stamford and Stratford locations. Keeping patients in their car will allow medical offices to care for their patients while keeping any actual cases of coronavirus away.

Dr. Steven A. R. Murphy said he dubbed the practice drive-thru because the name makes the practice seem catchier, and it reminds people with possible symptoms to stay away from medical offices and emergency rooms. He said he knows of at least three other doctors in Greenwich who are testing patients in their parking lots.

There is nothing magical about it, Murphy said.

In publicizing the service, the doctor said he wants to dispel the anxiety swirling over the outbreak.

Fear, uncertainty and doubt lead to paranoia from the Department of Health, patients, doctors and the general public, Murphy said. I think in healthcare, that is energized because its life-or-death, and the process is very complex.

In his groups operation, people register online and a tele-medicine review is set up. Outside the epidemic, Murphy Associates frequently conducts the remote phone or online reviews for new patients before they visit the office.

The actual tests take place at the groups offices at 1 East Putnam Ave. in Greenwich, 2900 Main St. in Stratford and 30 Buxton Farms Rd. in Stamford. There, patients keep their windows up while their ID and insurance are checked. Farther on, clinicians in full protective gear collect samples.

The tests were privately developed by New Jersey-based Quest Diagnostics and LabCorp of North Carolina, both of which had their kits expedited through Food and Drug Administration approvals, given the spreading epidemic, Murphy said. Quest Diagnostics announced Monday its tests are available to order, followed by LabCorp making the same announcement on Tuesday. Neither laboratory system collects samples.

The capacity to test is increasing as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has expanded its criteria for judging if someone should be tested. Still, the CDC advises clinicians to follow a set of criteria for determining who should be tested.

Clinicians should look at how many cases are in the area, the kind of illness the patient has, any recent, relevant travel history and possible work-related risks.

Murphy said clinicians cannot rely on symptoms alone, as other illnesses can have similar signs.

That is why the CDC also advises clinicians to make decisions based on local cases. Since Fairfield County is so close to the significant outbreak in Westchester County, clinicians can and should account for the spread, Murphy said, as many Westchester and Fairfield residents work or go to school in the other county.

Youre right next door to a hotspot, so your threshold is lower than if youre in Peoria, Ill., Murphy said.

Likewise, healthcare and laboratory workers are at increased risks, as are people who have been out of the country the last 30-40 days.

You have to winnow it down, Murphy said.

The doctor said that Quest and LabCorp representatives have told him they have enough kits for localized geographic areas. Right now, Quest has the capacity to test 100,000 nationwide, he said, and both companies are aware of the outbreak at Fairfield Countys door.

They understand where the hotspots are and they are giving them priority, he said.

The process to test the sample only takes a few hours, but labs tell doctors the process, from receiving the sample to returning the results, takes three to four days, Murphy said. During that time, patients are asked to self-isolate.

The problem is not the number of kits as much as it is the lack of labs that can test the samples. Currently, the samples are sent to a specialized laboratory in California, and this will continue until labs on the East Coast are given the equipment needed to test.

California is dealing with serious outbreaks within the state, so the lab is prioritizing the processing of samples there, Connecticut Chief Operating Officer Josh Geballe said in a press conference Tuesday afternoon.

A testing machine could be coming to Massachusetts next week, Geballe said.

In the coming weeks, machines could be installed in Wallingford and New Jersey, Murphy said.

The state is pursuing other avenues to expand capacity to process tests, but these pursuits are not ready to be announced publicly, Geballe said.

jo.kroeker@hearstmediact.com
TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras - Honduras has confirmed its first two cases of the new coronavirus, authorities reported Wednesday.

Health Minister Alba Consuelo Flores said one involves a 42-year-old woman who travelled from Spain to Tegucigalpa, the Honduran capital. The woman, who is pregnant, was asymptomatic when she arrived March 4 and is hospitalized in stable condition.

The other case was confirmed in a 37-year-old woman who travelled from Switzerland to San Pedro Sula on March 5. Flores said she had a light illness and has been in self-isolation at home since arriving in Honduras.

Both women are Hondurans.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia.

The vast majority of people recover from the new virus. According to the World Health Organization, people with mild illness recover in about two weeks, while those with more severe illness may take three to six weeks to recover. In mainland China, where the virus first exploded, more than 80,000 people have been diagnosed and more than 66,000 have so far recovered.

The Honduras cases are also the first detected in the Northern Triangle region of Central America, consisting of Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala.

On Tuesday, Honduras deputy foreign minister said the country had suspended flights of deported Hondurans from Mexico due to concerns over the coronavirus.

Meanwhile El Salvador reversed its Tuesday announcement that Guatemalans, Hondurans and Nicaraguans would no longer be able to enter the country without a passport over similar concerns, despite an agreement by four Central American nations allowing their citizens free transit.
The worker who died after being trapped in a conveyor belt at a fertiliser factory north of Brisbane has been described as "the rock" to his young family.

Tim Fiechtner, 38, was killed at Queensland Organics in the Moreton Bay suburb of Narangba and leaves behind his wife Kristy and their seven-year-old daughter.

Tim Fiechtner leaves behind his wife, Kristy, and their seven-year-old daughter. Credit:Kristy Fiechtner - Facebook

"[We] have had our world blown apart. I appreciate everything that the first responders tried to do to save the rock of our family. And for all the messages of support," Mrs Fiechtner posted on Facebook.

Friend Tess Barry described Mr Fiechtner as "such a beautiful man" on social media.
Scindia, who was said to be in Rahul Gandhis close team, said the Congress leadership had lost touch with reality in serving the people. He said he was impressed by PM Narendra Modis policies and dedication.

Gwalior maharaja Jyotiraditya Scindia joined the BJP in the presence of party president JP Nadda on Wednesday, March 11. Thanking the BJP for accepting him, Scindia said he said he wants to serve the people and the Congress has lost direction. Later in the evening, he was named one of the two Rajya Sabha nominees from Madhya Pradesh.

In a swipe that was expected against former Congress president Rahul Gandhi, who he was said to be close to, Scindia said the Congress was not interested in new leadership or new ideas. He said Indias future was secure under Prime Minister Narendra Modis leadership. Scindia said he was impressed by the PMs dedication and policies.

Referencing his disaffection with the Congress, he said he was brimming with ideas when the Congress won the Madhya Pradesh assembly election in 2018. The Congress is yet to act on promises made like farm loan waiver, he said. It must be remembered that Congress chose Kamal Nath over Scindia for the CMs post. Kamal Nath also got an indirect mention from Scindia when he said mafias are running Madhya Pradesh.

Also Read: Madhya Pradesh: Jyotiraditya Scindia, 20 MLAs quit Congress, likely to join BJP

#WATCH Live from Delhi: Jyotiraditya Scindia joins Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), in presence of BJP President JP Nadda https://t.co/xBIMuF4CKZ  ANI (@ANI) March 11, 2020

Nadda said the BJP was aware of his leadership skills. He said Jyotiraditya is like a family member, Scindias aunt Yashodhara Raje has already called the move the former Guna MPs gharwapsi. Scindias grandmother, the late Vijaya Raje Scindia, was a key Jan Sangh-BJP figure.

Nadda said the BJP was a democratic party, without naming the Congress, which is supposed to have frustrated Scindia by not allowing him either a greater role in the party or in Madhya Pradesh.

Also Read: Yes Bank founder Rana Kapoor breaks down in court as ED, CBI level corruption charges

Reports said the Gwalior royal, who left the Congress after 18 years, has been nominated for a Rajya Sabha seat by the BJP and is eventually expected to get a Cabinet post. With Scindias party swap, the turmoil in the Madhya Pradesh Government is yet to reach its climax. Reports said 21 MLAs had quit the Congress leaving the party short at just below 100 MLAs. The Congress won 114 seats in the 230-member House and got the support of 2 BSP MLAs, the BJP has 109 MLAs. Resort politics have now found a new destination with BJP moving its flock to Gurugram, Haryana while the Congress legislators flew to Bengaluru. Further, reports said MLAs who sided with Scindia were rethinking their position after his joining the BJP.

Initial reports had said Scindia was to be inducted by Home Minister Amit Shah but Shah wasnt on the podium at the BJP HQ. Petroleum Minister Dhamendra Pradhan was present along with other senior BJP office-bearers. Scindia had met Prime Minister Modi and Shah on Monday.

Jyotiraditya Scindia: There have been 2 life changing events for me  one, the day I lost my father and the second, yesterday when I decided to choose a new path for my lifeThe Congress party is not anymore the party that it was earlier. pic.twitter.com/ZQDx8pC7wM  ANI (@ANI) March 11, 2020

Jyotiraditya Scindia: I would like to thank JP Nadda ji, PM Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah that they invited me to their family and gave me a place in it. pic.twitter.com/HA1z21HPyK  ANI (@ANI) March 11, 2020

With Baijayant Jay Panda, who had switched loyalties from the Biju Janata Dal to the BJP, welcoming him into BJP headquarters in New Delhi, Scindia, who was due to join the party on Tuesday, postponed the joining by a day and then delayed the time of his joining by almost 3 hours for what is said to be an auspicious time.

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Technavio has been monitoring the oilfield services market and it is poised to grow by USD 21 bn during 2019-2023, progressing at a CAGR of over 3% during the forecast period. The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current market scenario, latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200310005679/en/

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Oilfield Services Market 2019-2023 (Graphic: Business Wire)

The market is fragmented, and the degree of fragmentation will accelerate during the forecast period. 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.

Rise in unconventional oil and gas resources has been instrumental in driving the growth of the market. Request latest free sample report of 2020-2024

Oilfield Services Market 2019-2023: Segmentation

Oilfield Services Market is segmented as below:

Application

Onshore

Offshore

Geographic Segmentation

Americas

APAC

EMEA

To learn more about the global trends impacting the future of market research, download latest free sample of 2020-2024: https://www.technavio.com/talk-to-us?report=IRTNTR30545

Oilfield Services Market 2019-2023: Scope

Technavio presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources. Our oilfield services market report covers the following areas:

Oilfield Services Market Size

Oilfield Services Market Trends

Oilfield Services Market Industry Analysis

This study identifies technological innovations to drive productivity in oilfield services market as one of the prime reasons driving the oilfield services market growth during the next few years.

Oilfield Services Market 2019-2023: Vendor Analysis

We provide a detailed analysis of around 25 vendors operating in the oilfield services market, including some of the vendors such as Baker Hughes, Halliburton, National Oilwell Varco, Schlumberger and Weatherford. Backed with competitive intelligence and benchmarking, our research reports on the oilfield services market are designed to provide entry support, customer profile and M&As as well as go-to-market strategy support.

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Oilfield Services Market 2019-2023: Key Highlights

CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2019-2023

Detailed information on factors that will assist oilfield services market growth during the next five years

Estimation of the oilfield services market size and its contribution to the parent market

Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior

The growth of the oilfield services market

Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors

Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of oilfield services market vendors

PART 01: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

PART 02: SCOPE OF THE REPORT

2.1 Preface

2.2 Preface

2.3 Currency conversion rates for US$

PART 03: MARKET LANDSCAPE

Market ecosystem

Market characteristics

Market segmentation analysis

PART 04: MARKET SIZING

Market definition

Market sizing 2018

Market size and forecast 2018-2023

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 APPLICATION

Market segmentation by application

Comparison by application

Onshore Market size and forecast 2018-2023

Offshore Market size and forecast 2018-2023

Market opportunity by application

PART 07: CUSTOMER LANDSCAPE

PART 08: GEOGRAPHIC LANDSCAPE

Geographic segmentation

Geographic comparison

Americas Market size and forecast 2018-2023

EMEA Market size and forecast 2018-2023

APAC Market size and forecast 2018-2023

Key leading countries

Market opportunity

PART 09: DRIVERS AND CHALLENGES

Market drivers

Market challenges

PART 10: MARKET TRENDS

PART 11: VENDOR LANDSCAPE

Overview

Landscape disruption

PART 12: VENDOR ANALYSIS

Vendors covered

Vendor classification

Market positioning of vendors

Baker Hughes

Halliburton

National Oilwell Varco

Schlumberger

Weatherford

PART 13: APPENDIX

Research methodology

List of abbreviations

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Most people go to the Redwood Empire for one reason: to see giant trees, the bigger the better.

Last week, a new organization, Redwood Coast Parks, released its top 10 list of most significant tall trees as part of its launch. At the top of the list is Iluvatar, a giant redwood that has inspired millions of people to visit Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, north of Eureka.

We ranked the trees based on visitor feedback, visual aesthetics and scientific value, said Richard Stenger, a former national park ranger who is now chief of Redwood Coast Parks. The group is a collection of outdoor professionals that includes former rangers, naturalists, arborists and outdoor guides. Their mission, Stenger said, is to promote and protect redwoods parks, and share the conservation ethic among visitors.

Height alone was not the determining factor to make the list, Stenger said, though the tallest tree in the world, the 380-foot Hyperion, ranks No. 10. Most experts are reluctant to assign exact heights to the giant redwoods because trees are perpetually changing; they can grow or have their tops break off. Tape drops and laser altimeters can produce different measurements.

Here is the list, with personal notes about each tree and how to find each one  except for Hyperion, the location of which remains a closely guarded secret:

Michael Nichols / Courtesy National Geographic

1. Iluvatar

Ever since a centerfold photo in National Geographic was published, it seems every person at the Prairie Creek Redwoods visitor center asks, Wheres that tree that was in National Geographic? The answer, from the visitor center, is that you drive on the opposite side of the parkway and turn on Cal-Barrel Road. The signed trailhead is the Foothills Trail, an easy walk. On the trail, look for an old cement marker for the Rotary Club (with its logo), and from that marker, the tree is at your 2 oclock. This monster is one of the most massive trees in the world and has more than 200 trunks and stems, Stenger said. The Atlas and Zeus redwoods are nearby.

Courtesy Mark Graham

2. Nugget

The Nugget is located in the Tall Trees Grove along Redwood Creek. To get there, you get a free permit from the Thomas H. Kuchel Visitor Center, directions to Bald Hills Road and then can pass through a locked gate to reach the trailhead. From here, its less than a 1.5-mile hike with a grade to the biggest of the big. The Nugget is the second-fastest-growing redwood on record, Stenger said. Several neighbors are among the worlds 10 tallest trees.

Redwood Coast Parks

3. Corkscrew Tree

The weird Corkscrew Tree is a massive redwood on which four trunks look like they are knitted together. For photographers, capturing its twisted nooks is irresistible. It is located along the Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway, north of the Big Tree Wayside, at a pullout on the left with parking. It takes about a two-minute walk to reach it. Some think it a cathedral tree with a fairy ring gone wild, Stenger said. Others suspect that several coast redwoods grew around a tree of a different species that later died and decayed.

Redwood Coast Parks

4. Klamath Tour Thru Tree

Three drive-thru trees are still living along the Redwood Highway, U.S. 101. The best is located near the town of Klamath. Heading north, just after you drive over the Klamath River, theres a signed right turn for the drive-thru tree that leads up the hill to a mom-and-pop property with the tree. Craftsmen who carved the trees cavity avoided essential living wood, safeguarding its health, Stenger said.

Redwood National and State Parks

5. Stout Tree

The Stout Tree is the centerpiece of a small old-growth grove located just above the north shore of the Smith River at Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park. To get there out of Crescent City, drive on Highway 199 past Hiouchi, turn right over two bridges, then right again on Howland Hill Road to a signed parking area. Its a 10-minute walk through the grove. Its pristine and mammoth, with a sister giant nearby. Old trees for old souls. A new viewing deck is designed to protect the trees shallow root structure.

Richard Stenger, Redwood Coast Parks

6. Big Tree

This mammoth redwood has a circumference of 68 feet, so huge it is difficult to imagine until you see it. It is located along the Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway, about a quarter-mile north from the turnoff on Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park. Many walk from the campground to see it. Those with RVs will find the Big Tree Wayside big enough for turnarounds. A restroom is available.

Mario Vaden / Redwood Coast Parks

7. Sir Isaac Newton Tree

The Sir Isaac Newton Tree is named not only for its size, as one of the largest verified redwoods, but with a wild-looking burl. It is located on the Prairie Creek Trail, north of the Corkscrew Tree, in Prairie Creek Redwoods. The same grove has the Terex Titan. This trail provides access to a series of super giants. Its an easy walk through an obscure grove, Stenger said. You might even say it is hidden in plain sight.

Joe Yogerst, Redwood Coast Parks

8. Horse Goose Pen

This redwood is named for its unique trunk, with a large natural tree cave at its base. Locals call the hollow a goose pen. This is a popular destination for guided horseback rides from the Orick Rodeo Grounds (on the east side of U.S. 101) to Redwood Creek (near Bald Hills Road) and into Redwood National Park. From a trailhead about a mile north of Orick, its less than a 2-mile venture to Horse Goose Pen.

Justin Legge / Redwood Coast Parks

9. Eternal Spring Tree

The most unique redwood in the Lady Bird Johnson Grove, the most popular of the groves, has a hole in the cambium, from which water constantly flows, like a perpetual fountain. Justin Legge, a naturalist with Redwood Adventures, named it. The turnoff for Lady Bird is well signed off U.S. 101 at Bald Hills Road, then its a 2.6-mile drive to the grove.

Justin Legge / Redwood Coast Parks/Mario Vaden / Redwood Coast Parks

10. Hyperion

The Hyperion is a verified 380 feet tall, the tallest tree on the planet, according to rangers. It is located near Redwood Creek in the general vicinity of the Tall Trees Trail and the Nugget (see listing No. 2 for access details). Rangers will not reveal the exact location of the Hyperion, but its on the far side of the creek, impassable except in summer and early fall. There are so many giants in the grove, that most think, that, well, it has to be one them.

Tom Stienstra is The San Francisco Chronicles outdoors writer. Email: tstienstra@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @StienstraTom
IMG Models and YouTube vloggers Martha Hunt and Emily DiDonato glammed up to attend the Montblanc launch party at World of McIntosh Townhouse in Manhattan's SoHo neighborhood on Tuesday.

The North Carolina-born 30-year-old blonde slipped her slim 5ft10in figure into a sleeveless, striped cowl-neck leather top over black pants and matching sandals.

Martha appeared to be wearing the German company's brand new Summit 2 watch as well as clutching a pair of their new MB 01 Wireless Headphones.

IMG Models and YouTube vloggers: Martha Hunt (L) and Emily DiDonato (R) glammed up to attend the Montblanc launch party at World of McIntosh Townhouse in Manhattan's SoHo neighborhood on Tuesday

Hunt middle-parted her flaxen locks and she wore long lashes for the fashionable function.

The Project Runway All Stars guest judge's hairstylist Danielle Priano Instastoried a couple of videos of her getting ready for the bash alongside make-up artist Georgi Sandev.

The former Victoria's Secret Angel made sure to pose with Oscar nominee Hugh Jackman, Daniel Day Lewis' son Gabriel-Kane, former child star Dylan Sprouse, and The Knight Before Christmas actor Quincy Brown.

Martha is clearly a Montblanc brand ambassador, having shared one of her official campaign shots that same day with her captive, combined 3.7M social media following.

Blonde ambition: The North Carolina-born 30-year-old slipped her slim 5ft10in figure into a sleeveless, striped cowl-neck leather top over black pants and matching sandals

Represent! Martha appeared to be wearing the German company's brand new Summit 2 watch as well as clutching a pair of their new MB 01 Wireless Headphones

Ready for her close-up: Hunt middle-parted her flaxen locks and she wore long lashes for the fashionable function

'Ooh she shines!' The Project Runway All Stars guest judge's hairstylist Danielle Priano Instastoried a couple of videos of her getting ready for the bash alongside make-up artist Georgi Sandev

Missing from Hunt's side was her fiance, photographer Jason McDonald, who popped the question to her in the Bahamas in January after five years of dating.

Meanwhile, the New York-born 29-year-old brunette took the plunge in a black double-breasted pantsuit over her slim 5ft9in frame.

The face of Maybelline New York made sure to try on Montblanc's new MB 01 Wireless Headphones while on the red carpet.

Make-up artist Joseph Carrillo brought out Emily's striking baby blues with brown eye shadow and applied her pink pout.

One of the guys: The former Victoria's Secret Angel made sure to pose with (from L-R) Hugh Jackman, Daniel Day Lewis' son Gabriel-Kane, Dylan Sprouse, and Quincy Brown

'Sounds of the city': Martha is clearly a Montblanc brand ambassador, having shared one of her official campaign shots on Instagram that same day

Met on set: Missing from Hunt's side was her fiance, photographer Jason McDonald, who popped the question to her in the Bahamas in January after five years of dating (pictured January 8)

Hairstylist Linda Shalabi made sure DiDonato's dark waves were looking as shiny as possible for the cameras.

Missing from the Brandon Maxwell catwalker's side on Tuesday was her husband, financier Kyle Peterson, whom she wed on June 23, 2018 after four years of dating.

Emily famously met the Cornell grad in 2014 while seated next to each other in business class during a United Airlines flight (#318) from New York to Colorado.

Oscar nominee Hugh Jackman looked slimmer than ever in a cobalt-blue plaid suit selected by stylist Michael Fisher.

Suited and booted: The New York-born 29-year-old brunette took the plunge in a black double-breasted pantsuit over her slim 5ft9in frame

Tuning out the world: The face of Maybelline New York made sure to try on Montblanc's new MB 01 Wireless Headphones while on the red carpet

Pretty! Make-up artist Joseph Carrillo brought out Emily's striking baby blues with brown eye shadow and applied her pink pout

Tousled: Hairstylist Linda Shalabi made sure DiDonato's dark waves were looking as shiny as possible for the cameras

'This cutie!' Missing from the Brandon Maxwell catwalker's side on Tuesday was her husband, financier Kyle Peterson, whom she wed in 2018 after four years of dating (pictured January 22)

The Australian 51-year-old - who hasn't bulked up to play Wolverine since 2016 - had his locks gelled by hairstylist Jerry Popolis.

Former child star Dylan Sprouse and Daniel Day Lewis' heavily-tattooed son Gabriel-Kane both wore similar dark suits with brown boots for the black carpet.

Orange Is the New Black star Dascha Polanco fanned out the skirt of her pink-pleated cut-out cocktail dress and Barbie-pink pumps selected by stylist Mickey Freeman.

Hairstylist Cynthia Alvarez slicked back the 37-year-old SAG Award winner's brunette locks and make-up artist Samuel Paul brought out her natural beauty.

'Proper!' Oscar nominee Hugh Jackman looked slimmer than ever in a cobalt-blue plaid suit selected by stylist Michael Fisher

Skinny Minnie! The Australian 51-year-old - who hasn't bulked up to play Wolverine since 2016 - had his locks gelled by hairstylist Jerry Popolis

Twinning! Former child star Dylan Sprouse (L) and Daniel Day Lewis' heavily-tattooed son Gabriel-Kane (R) both wore similar dark suits with brown boots for the black carpet

Twirl! Orange Is the New Black star Dascha Polanco fanned out the skirt of her pink-pleated cut-out cocktail dress and Barbie-pink pumps selected by stylist Mickey Freeman
Exile Tibetan Buddhist nuns wearing protective masks as a precaution against a new coronavirus applaud a speaker during a protest march marking the anniversary of the 1959 Tibetan uprising in Lhasa, as they gather in Dharmsala. PTI photo

New Delhi: The number of confirmed cases of novel coronavirus in the country has risen to 52, with two fresh positive cases -- one each from Delhi and Rajasthan -- being reported, the health ministry said on Wednesday.

Giving details of the breakup, the ministry said five positive cases have been reported in Delhi, while nine persons were diagnosed with the infection in Uttar Pradesh till Wednesday morning. The total number of 52 confirmed cases includes 16 Italians, the ministry said.

Karnataka and Maharashtra have reported four and two confirmed cases of COVID-19 respectively. Ladakh has recorded two positive cases.

Rajasthan, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab have reported one case each, the ministry said.

Kerala has till now reported nine cases which includes the three patients who were discharged last month following recovery.

Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, who spoke to a few COVID-19 patients admitted at Medanta and Safdarjung hospitals through video calls on Tuesday, said all the people infected by the disease were stable and showing signs of recovery.

According to the protocol currently followed, a suspected case is tested at least twice before it is confirmed as 'positive'.

Amid rising cases of the COVID-19 pandemic globally, India on Tuesday barred entry of the nationals of three more countries -- France, Germany and Spain -- suspending the regular as well as e-visas granted to them till date.

All regular (sticker) Visas/e-Visas granted to nationals of France, Germany and Spain and issued on or before March 11 and who have not yet entered India stand suspended with immediate effect, said a Bureau of Immigration notification issued late Tuesday night.

Regular visas, including e-visas, granted to all foreign nationals who have travel history to these countries on or after February 1 and who have not yet entered India also stand suspended, it said.

Issuing a travel advisory, the health ministry also called for passengers with travel history to China, Hong Kong, Republic of Korea, Japan, Italy, Thailand, Singapore, Iran, Malaysia, France, Spain and Germany to undergo self-imposed quarantine for a period of 14 days from the date of their arrival, and their employers to facilitate work-from-home for such employees during this period.

India had already suspended visas granted to the nationals of Italy, Iran, South Korea, Japan and China.

The Union Health Ministry has strongly urged people to refrain from travelling to China, Italy, Iran, Republic of Korea, Japan, France, Spain and Germany and advised them to avoid non-essential travel abroad in view of the coronavirus outbreak.
The owner of Gold and Silver Exchange in Albuquerque, 77-year-old David Castle has been sentenced to two years and three months in federal prison after pleading guilty to evading more than $200,000 in taxes as part of a decades-long scheme.

Castle had a record of Internal Revenue Service tax liens dating back to 1992, but the agency could never find his money, according to court documents.

Federal prosecutors argued that Castle avoided IRS collection efforts on the liens by conducting much of his business in cash, not maintaining bank accounts in his own name and keeping his cash income in bank accounts under names that couldnt be traced back to him or his business  Gold and Silver Exchange which is also called Gold and Jewelry Exchange in court documents.

Between 2010 and 2013, Castle deposited more than $20.5 million into the bank accounts of companies he had set up to avoid paying taxes. Over the same period he withdrew more than $14 million in cash from those accounts.

Because the IRS could not find Castles money for tax years 1992 to 2009, uncollected taxes in the amount of $379,714 now have been written off, due to the expiration of civil statutes of limitations, the agency said.

On more than one occasion, Castle filed an IRS tax returns claiming zero income.

According to court records, Castle intentionally failed to keep accurate business records, paid employees in cash as casual labor and failed to keep any payroll records.

The original grand jury indictment estimated the total taxes Castle owed at more the $5.4 million on gross revenues of more than $19 million.

In May 2016, Castle wrote the IRS denying he was a taxpayer and concluded that he was not subject to the tax laws of the United States of America. In January 2018, Castle wrote to the United States Attorneys Office denying the United States had any jurisdiction over him and that he should not be subject to federal income tax.

In his plea agreement, Castle admitted he filed no tax returns for his business or himself from 2010 to 2013.

He also agreed to pay $211,829 in unpaid taxes for the years 2010 to 2013 and additional taxes owed including interest and penalties for the tax years 2014, 2015 and 2016.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, March 11, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SouthGobi Resources Ltd. (TSX: SGQ, HK: 1878) (SouthGobi or the Company) announces the deferral of CIC payment obligation.



Reference is made to the announcement of the Company dated February 19, 2020 (the "Announcement"). Capitalized terms used herein, unless otherwise defined, shall have the same meanings as those defined in the Announcement. On March 10, 2020, the Company and CIC have entered into an agreement (the 2020 March Deferral Agreement) pursuant to which CIC agreed to grant the Company a deferral of deferred cash interest and deferral fees of $2.0 million (the March 2020 Deferral Amount) which is due and payable to CIC on March 19, 2020 under the 2019 Deferral Agreement. The effectiveness of the 2020 March Deferral Agreement and the respective obligations, covenants and agreements of each party under the 2020 March Deferral Agreement are subject to the Company obtaining the requisite acceptance thereof from TSX.

The terms of the March 2020 Deferral Agreement are substantially similar to the terms of the February 2020 Deferral Agreement between the Company and CIC. The principal terms of the March 2020 Deferral Agreement are as follows:

Payment of the March 2020 Deferral Agreement Amount will be deferred until June 20, 2020.





As consideration for the deferral of the March 2020 Deferral Amount, the Company agreed to pay CIC a deferral fee equal to 6.4% per annum on the March 2020 Deferral Amount, commencing on March 19, 2020.





The Company agreed to provide CIC with monthly updates regarding its operational and financial affairs.





The Company agreed to comply with all of its obligations under the 2019 Deferral Agreement and the Amended and Restated Cooperation Agreement, as amended by the 2020 February Deferral Agreement.





The Company and CIC agreed that nothing in the 2020 March Deferral Agreement prejudices CICs rights to pursue any of its remedies at any time pursuant to the 2019 Deferral Agreement, Amended and Restated Cooperation Agreement and February 2020 Deferral Agreement, respectively.

As previously disclosed in its announcement dated February 19, 2020, the Company anticipates that a deferral will likely be required in respect of the monthly payments due and payable in the period between April 2020 and June 2020 under the 2019 Deferral Agreement and Amended and Restated Cooperation Agreement. The Company and CIC have agreed to discuss in good faith a deferral of these payments on a monthly basis as they become due. There can be no assurance, however, that a favourable outcome will be reached either at all or on favourable terms. The Company will make further announcements with respect to these discussions as and when appropriate.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain information included in this press release that is not current or historical factual information constitutes forward-looking statements or information within the meaning of applicable securities laws (collectively, forward-looking statements), including information about discussions with CIC regarding a deferral of certain payments under the 2019 Deferral Agreement and Amended and Restated Cooperation Agreement. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as plan, expect, project, intend, believe, anticipate, "could", "should", "seek", "likely", "estimate" and other similar words or statements that certain events or conditions may or will occur. Forward-looking statements are based on certain factors and assumptions including, among other things, the Companys ability to successfully negotiate a revised repayment schedule in respect of certain payments under the 2019 Deferral Agreement and Amended and Restated Cooperation Agreement and TSX accepting the Companys notice application in respect of the March 2020 Deferral Agreement and other similar factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from what the Company currently expects. Actual results may vary from the forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue importance on forward-looking statements, which speaks only as of the date of this disclosure, and not to rely upon this information as of any other date. While the Company may elect to, it is under no obligation and does not undertake to, update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, further events or otherwise at any particular time, except as required by law. Additional information concerning factors that may cause actual results to materially differ from those in such forward-looking statements is contained in the Companys filings with Canadian securities regulatory authorities and can be found under the Companys profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

If there is any inconsistency or discrepancy between the English version and the Chinese version, the English version shall prevail.

About SouthGobi

SouthGobi, listed on the Toronto and Hong Kong stock exchanges, owns and operates its flagship Ovoot Tolgoi coal mine in Mongolia. SouthGobi produces and sells coal to customers in China.
The media are selling coronavirus as the worst thing since the Black Death (mortality rate: 4060 percent). This allows them and Democrat politicians to make two arguments: one, that Trump is incompetent and, two, that socialized medicine is the answer. They are wrong on both points, especially about socialized medicine. Socialized medicine kills.

Tom Elliott has put together a mind-boggling supercut of leftists stating that the coronavirus proves the need for socialized medicine:

This is ignorance speaking. Here are the facts:

First, throughout the Cold War, Europe didn't have socialized medicine. It had American-funded medicine because America subsidized Europe's defense budget.

Second, people in socialized medicine countries don't have babies. Europe has a negative growth rate. A "pay it forward" medical system doesn't work when the bulk of the users are using (not funding) the system while the number of young people funding it shrinks. Europe tried to fix this by importing cheap labor from Turkey, Africa, and the Middle East. That's not working well.

Third, socialized medicine doesn't offer care; it offers access. Access without good outcomes is not medical care. Scott Atlas's "The Worst Study Ever?" (which is available intermittently at Commentary) broke out the numbers:

World Health Report 2000 was an intellectual fraud of historic consequence  a profoundly deceptive document that is only marginally a measure of health-care performance at all. The report's true achievement was to rank countries according to their alignment with a specific political and economic ideal  socialized medicine  and then claim it was an objective measure of "quality." [snip] The nature of the enterprise came more fully into view with WHO's introduction and explanation of the five weighted factors that made up its index. Those factors are "Health Level," which made up 25 percent of "overall care"; "Health Distribution," which made up another 25 percent; "Responsiveness," accounting for 12.5 percent; "Responsiveness Distribution," at 12.5 percent; and "Financial Fairness," at 25 percent. The definitions of each factor reveal the ways in which scientific objectivity was a secondary consideration at best. What is "Responsiveness," for example? WHO defined it in part by calculating a nation's "respect for persons." How could it possibly quantify such a subjective notion? It did so through calculations of even more vague subconditions  "respect for dignity," "confidentiality," and "autonomy."

Fourth, Reggie Hamm's viral post about hospital care in China nails how the government has no incentive to provide decent care:

I was witnessing the kind of maximum, almost brutal efficiency a society must develop when the state is the master and the individual is merely a subject. Why would a Communist country not have an effective FDA? Because who are you going to complain to if you get tainted food? The government? They don't answer to you. The press? They are owned by the government. And again, they don't answer to you. So what if you don't like the conditions in the hospital? Where else are you going to go? This hospital is the last (and only) stop. You can't opt for another place and then just pay out of your own pocket. The government has capped financial upward mobility. There is now "income equality." And that means nobody has the means to buy their way into a different (or better) situation. And even if you could, one doesn't exist. The state provides it all. You're stuck. [snip] Single payer also means single buyer. That means the dynamics of the market get eliminated. One of the natural checks-and-balances of finding a hot-shot surgeon willing to do the risky procedure or even just seek a second opinion, get chopped away little by little. Because now we're answering to the government. It isn't answering to us. After all, where are we gonna go? They've got us. And our cancer treatment or skin graft surgery or kidney stone blast is up to their red tape. Sure, we can get in the door for free. But we might die in there, waiting on someone with no incentive and who faces no recourse, to change our plasma bag.

Fifth, the only way to control prices under socialized medicine is to deny care to society's "dead weight"  the old and sick. You see that with Britain's Liverpool Care Pathway, which sent thousands of elderly patients to an early death.

Sixth, Democrats are ignoring a salient point about the coronavirus: it started in a country with socialized medicine (China) and is having its worst effects in two other countries with socialized medicine: Iran and Italy. There's a bright, flashing message in that that American leftists refuse to read.

Socialized medicine is not better medicine. It's a chimera that American leftists like because they are completely ignorant about its brutal realities.
Joe Biden, fresh off at least three victories Tuesday including the critical battleground state of Michigan, appealed to supporters of the only other major candidate fighting for the Democratic presidential nomination, the progressive Sen. Bernie Sanders.

We share a common goal, the former vice president said in Philadelphia after thanking Sanders and his backers. Together, well defeat Donald Trump.

Bidens strong performance, winning at least Michigan, Mississippi and Missouri, came from significant support from African Americans, suburban women and older white voters. It also followed a comeback surge after victories in 10 states on Super Tuesday, and a decisive victory in South Carolina after Sanders had climbed in national polls on the heels of wins in early states.

The former Delaware senator has also picked up a string of endorsements from former candidates who dropped out, including New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker and California Sen. Kamala Harris.

Biden said his campaign was for all those who have been knocked down, counted out and left behind. We need you, we want you and theres a place in our campaign for each of you."

Just over a week ago, many of the pundits declared this candidacy was dead, Biden added. But it looks like were going to have another good night.

Biden characterized the 2020 election as one that has character on the ballot.

Tonight, we are a step closer to restoring decency, dignity and honor to the White House, Biden said. He added that he hoped to rebuild relationships with allies, expand on the Affordable Care Act and fight gun manufacturers and the National Rifle Association.

Tuesdays voting contests come as the nation grapples with ongoing concerns over the outbreak of the coronavirus. Both Biden and Sanders canceled rallies planned for Ohio due to the virus, which prompted multiple states to declare public health emergencies.

Biden sought to calm those worried about the crisis, saying it was a matter of presidential leadership and noting his campaign would follow the advice of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention when it came to events. Next week, he will release a plan to combat the virus, he said.

At this moment, when theres so much fear in the country and so much fear around the world, we need American leadership, and presidential leadership thats honest, truthful and steady, Biden said. Ill strive to give the nation that very leadership.

Sanders, who rose to compete with Biden as a frontrunner after winning in New Hampshire and Nevada and nearly beating Pete Buttigieg in Iowa, did not speak Tuesday night.

In the overall Democratic primary, Biden so far has racked up 809 delegates compared to Sanders 654, with pressure on Sanders to secure victories and delegates in key states like Florida and Ohio in upcoming primaries.

CNN reported that, according to Sanders campaign aides, the Vermont senator still planned to debate Biden in Phoenix on Sunday, March 15, regardless of the difficult path ahead to gain delegates.

The debate will give Sanders a chance to make his case against a surging Biden in Arizona, where voters head to the polls two days later. CNN announced that it had canceled the live audience for the debate amid coronavirus concerns.

Faiz Shakir, Sanders campaign manager, sent an email to supporters Tuesday evening as results rolled in. Shakir said the campaign expected to do well out west where the polls close late," including in Washington and Idaho.

No matter what the pundits on television are saying tonight, the super PACs and the political establishment will be looking to see what happens when the votes are all counted  how many states we win, and how many states Biden wins, he added. And if we do well tonight, they are going to come at us with even more money than they spent to try to beat us in the first number of states. It will make the millions weve faced down look like childs play.
By PTI

MUMBAI: NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Wednesday ruled out a Madhya Pradesh-like political drama in Maharashtra, saying the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena-NCP- Congress alliance government is doing "very well" in the state.

Talking to reporters at the Vidhan Bhawan in south Mumbai, Pawar also said Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia, who quit the party to join the BJP, had sought "quick rehabilitation" after losing the Lok Sabha poll.

Asked if the Congress is to be blamed for the imminent fall of the Kamal Nath government, Pawar said the party has a "good and capable leadership".

On the impact of Scindia's exit on the 15-month-old Kamal Nath government in Madhya Pradesh, Pawar said, "Some people have confidence in the capacity of Kamal Nath and feel a miracle can happen."

Pawar said he had full confidence in the capabilities of Kamal Nath.

"It will be known in the next one or two days if it (miracle by Kamal Nath) will happen. I don't know the structure of Madhya Pradesh Assembly, But if there was a dialogue with "Raja Saheb" (Scindia), this situation wouldn't have arisen," Pawar said.

"He (Scindia) wantedto be given new responsibilities after his defeat in the Lok Sabha elections (last year). But this is not the Congress' cultureand itis not easy," he said.

Ruling out a "Madhya Pradesh-like situation" in Maharashtra, Pawar said the Maha Vikas Aghadi government in the state is doing well and is on the right path.

ALSO READ: In 18 months, Congress shattered my dreams for Madhya Pradesh, says BJP member Jyotiraditya Scindia

The fact that the media has not got any material to write against it (MVA government) means all is well, he said.

Stating that the Yes Bank crisis did not happen in a day, Pawar said India's economic situation is a cause of concern.

"What was the department of banking doing? It is answerable. The details will be out after a probe," he said.

He said he along with Mamta Banerjee, H D Deve Gowda, Sitaram Yechuri and Yashwant Sinha had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking immediate release of former J&K chief ministers Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti.

"What is their crime? This sends a wrong message in the valley. J&K is a sensitive state andit is wrong to allow the sentiments of the people to be against the country," he said.

On Muslim reservation,he said minority affairs minister Nawab Malik had highlighted the NCP stand on the issueand the party stands by it. Asked about SIT into the Koregaon-Bhima violence, Pawar said, "I am not aware if the government will form the SIT. But our demand stays."
Jacom Stephens / Getty Image

MOHAWK - A driver traveling 79 mph in a 55 mph stretch of Route 5 -- who was convicted of felony drunken driving last month in Schenectady -- was arrested Friday for DWI, Montgomery County sheriff's deputies said.

Aaron T. Jablonski, 48, of Fort Johnson was arrested and charged with felony DWI, felony aggravated unlicensed operation, operating a vehicle without an interlock device, speeding and failing to take a breath test after his pickup truck was stopped, deputies said Wednesday.
Chinese tech giant Huawei inked 91 commercial 5G contracts and shipped over 600,000 5G Massive MIMO Active Antenna Units (AAUs) by Feb. 20, with more than half of the contracts coming from Europe, according to the companys latest data.

Huawei's flagship store in Paris. (Xinhua/Gao Jing)

Huawei has reached initial agreements on deployment of 5G networks with a number of European countries, including Portugal, Spain, Italy, and Norway.

On March 5, Huaweis first flagship store in France opened in Paris, marking the companys fourth opening of a flagship store in Europe.

The tech giant announced this February that it will build a wireless communications product factory in France, which will specialize in 4G and 5G equipment and mainly serve European markets. The factory has a planned investment of about 200 million euros (about $228 million), and is expected to see its annual output value reach 1 billion euros.

The establishment of Huaweis new factory in France shows that European countries are adopting an open and cooperative attitude toward Huawei, said Frederic Baldan, CEO of Belgian consulting company CEBiz.

Last May, British telecom operator EE launched 5G services in six major cities in the UK, and the company reaffirmed that Huawei will continue to supply its 5G radio network infrastructure, adding that Huawei remains a valued and innovative supplier.

Last June, multinational telecom operator Vodafone formally launched Spains first commercial 5G mobile network, covering 15 cities in the country. Huawei, which has enjoyed a cooperative relationship with Vodafone for more than 10 years, supplied the core equipment for the network.

According to The Brussels Times, an English news website and magazine in Belgium, Huawei and Chinese telecom equipment maker ZTE have been operating in Belgium for many years, earning the trust of local partners.

Belgian telecom provider Telenet is collaborating with ZTE, while Proximus, the largest telecommunication company in Belgium, has already been working with Huawei for some time now, The Brussels Times said.

The reason why so many European telecom operators are keen to cooperate with Huawei is that the company has world-leading technologies and offers them at reasonable prices, Baldan told Peoples Daily.

The telecommunications market is also a market, said Baldan, explaining that European telecom operators choose cooperative partners based on market considerations, rather than political factors.

Europe values the free market and fair competition, Baldan said, stressing that market behavior should be determined by the market, as political interference will only promote backwardness and indulge monopolism, which go against Europes innovation and development efforts.

Recently, the European Union (EU) issued non-binding guidelines on 5G security. Although the document suggested restrictions on suppliers considered as being high risk, it showed that US attempts to pressure European countries into banning Huaweis equipment and products for its 5G networks have not been welcomed, according to European media and experts.

Member states can decide on their own whether to restrict or ban high-risk suppliers from core parts of their telecoms networks, according to the EU guidelines.

Non-EU providers are welcome in Europe as long as they comply with EU rules, noted Thierry Breton, European commissioner for Internal Market, at a news conference, adding, We are not picking on anybody, we are not ostracizing firms.

Leaders of European countries including Germany, France, and the UK have said that they will not exclude Huawei from suppliers of equipment for 5G networks.

Germany will not simply exclude one company or one actor from its 5G construction, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said at a conference in Berlin.

I'm against taking a product off the market just because theres a possibility that something might happen, German Interior Minister Horst Seehofer recently said during an interview.

I dont think we can quickly build a 5G network in Germany without Huawei taking part, Seehofer said, warning that generally excluding the Chinese company could delay the rollout of the network by five to 10 years.

Huawei will not be excluded from 5G in France, French Minister of Economy and Finance Bruno Le Maire said recently.

French President Emmanuel Macron has also reiterated that on the 5G issue, France will not adopt discriminatory measures against any specific nation or company and stands ready to maintain communication with the Chinese side.

The UK government said this January that it will allow Huawei to contribute to the construction of the non-core parts of its 5G infrastructure, with a cap of 35 percent on Huaweis share of the market, in an effort to help diversify the market.
Coronavirus coverage on Yahoo

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced on Wednesday that he will issue an order barring large crowds that will include NCAA tournament games scheduled to be played in the state because of the coronavirus.

The news arrived hours before NCAA president Mark Emmert announced that NCAA tournament games will be played with only essential staff and limited family attendance.

NCAA President Mark Emmert statement on limiting attendance at NCAA events: https://t.co/TIHHJjdse5 pic.twitter.com/8I1HdceDfN  NCAA (@NCAA) March 11, 2020

Dayton is scheduled to host the First Four from March 17-18 while Cleveland is scheduled to host first- and second-round games on March 20 and 22.

The governor of Ohio further clarified: The state will issue an order that NCAA tournament games in Ohio, which included the First Four in Dayton, will be played without spectators.  Adam Kilgore (@AdamKilgoreWP) March 11, 2020

Again: No fans for NCAA tournament games in Dayton and Cleveland next week, per a state order.



This seems difficult for people," Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said. "But we know whats coming. We know whats around the corner.  Everything looks the same, but its really not.  Adam Kilgore (@AdamKilgoreWP) March 11, 2020

Cavs, Blue Jackets presumably affected too

DeWine made the announcement in a news conference. The formal order has not yet been given. The state of other events like Cleveland Cavaliers and Columbus Blue Jackets games is not yet clear.

The Cavaliers next home game is scheduled for March 24 against the Sacramento Kings while the Blue Jackets are scheduled to host the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday.

Story continues

The Cavaliers and Blue Jackets have yet to publicly respond to the the news.

The Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Indians are scheduled to open their seasons at home on March 26.

Ohio governor Mike DeWine announced that the state will order fans not to attend NCAA tournament games in the state. (Photo by William Purnell/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Other states, cities barring fans

Ohios response arrives hours after San Francisco Mayor London N. Breed announced the ban of crowds of more than 1,000 people in the city.

The Golden State Warriors announced shortly after the decree that Thursdays home game against the Brooklyn Nets will be played without fans in attendance, the first major sporting event in the United States to do so in response to the coronavirus.

Washington Governor Jay Inslee also prohibited gatherings of more than 250 people through the end of March, which would impact the opening series of the Seattle Mariners season.

Several other sporting events such as the Ivy league, MAC and Big West conference basketball tournaments have either been canceled, postponed or ordered to be played without fans in attendance.

The news arrives the same day the World Health Organization declared the spread of the coronavirus a pandemic.

A pandemic just means that there are many cases of infectious diseases in multiple parts of the world and that it constitutes something thats above the baseline rate that youd expect, infectious disease expert Amesh A. Adalja, MD, told Yahoo Lifestyle. It doesnt say anything about severity.

More from Yahoo Sports:
Leader of Opposition in the Himachal Pradesh assembly Mukesh Agnihotri on Wednesday slammed the state government for mounting debt while terming the Budget directionless.

Beginning the discussion on the Rs 49,131 crore state Budget for 2020-21, he said Jai Ram Thakur will be remembered as the Himachal Pradesh chief minister who has taken the highest loan.

Agnihotri said the current government has already taken a loan of Rs 10,000 crore in its tenure of over two years.

So much so, Thakur got a Rs 1,160-crore loan just a day before presenting the Budget in the assembly, he added.

He also accused the chief minister of committed a fraud on the House by "hiding facts" about it in the Budget tabled on Friday.

"If it continues like this, the state will have a debt burden of over Rs 75,000 crore when Thakur's tenure will end in 2022," he added.

He also flayed the Thakur government for a reduction in the state's growth rate from 7.1 per cent to 5.6 per cent, saying this was the lowest rate in the past 20 years.

The debt has increased while growth reduced, he said, adding that the "Budget was directionless".

Agnihotri said Rs 150 crore was deposited by Kangra Central Cooperative Bank in Yes Bank, which recently collapsed.

Similarly, Rs 179 crore meant for a Smart City project was deposited in Yes Bank, he said, asking at whose behest this was done.

"Did other national banks not exist in the state and which influential person in Himachal promoted Yes Bank," he asked, seeking a reply from the CM.

Intervening, the CM replied that the UPA-I had given licence to Yes Bank in 2004 and the state government started depositing money in it during the Congress rule.

It is being ensured by the Centre and the RBI that money will not be allowed to sink, he added.

At this, Agnihotri said Yes Bank had been facing a crisis for the past one year.

Why the state government institutions did not make any effort to withdraw the amount from Yes Bank, he asked.

BJP legislators Rakesh Pathania, Rajinder Garg, Balbir Singh and Balbir Verma and Congress MLAs Lakhwinder Rana and Rajinder Rana also participated in the discussion.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Bereaved families who lost loved ones aboard Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 have converged on the crash site to mark the first anniversary of the tragedy. In Nigeria, the influential former Emir of Kano speaks out after being removed from his position. His lawyers say his treatment is unconstitutional. Finally, we head to Morocco, where women are gaining ground on the rap scene, which is largely dominated by men.
DENVER, March 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- A year since the Colorado legislature enacted Bill 19-063, the Infant and Family Child Care Action Plan, the state faces challenges in implementation. Policymakers and business leaders acknowledge that the availability of infant and family childcare is critical to the economic development of the state. With five main focus areas, including operational supports, professional development, licensing, regulation and policy review, the law seeks to address the shortage of child care providers through a strategic action plan.

"We can't understate the gap between the need and availability of quality early child care," said Emily Bustos, CEO of the Denver Early Childhood Council (the Council). The organization is a key stakeholder in the local early childhood system, improving access to quality care for the city's over 55,000 children aged zero to five. They have actively supported Bill 19-063. As Bustos explained, "We have made progress this year alleviating the provider shortage through a workforce initiative that speeds up the process by which individuals can become qualified early childhood teachers."

The Council stresses that there are still challenges ahead. In Colorado over 65% of children under age six have all available parents in the workforce. Yet working families are finding it increasingly difficult to access safe, affordable care with availability steadily decreasing since 2010. To help keep Colorado's families working, the state needs a minimum of 7,000 extra infant slots in licensed centers and over 200 home providers.

"Administering care is tricky for providers. Maintaining quality programs is expensive, and many providers are living below the poverty line. Without additional supports, offering care simply isn't feasible," Bustos said. Considering that Colorado families spend an average of 21% of their income on infant care, Bustos points out that, "Systemic changes are needed to ease the strain on both ends of the spectrum. One piece of this puzzle requires that we educate the early childhood workforce."

To that end, the Council hosts a variety of events, the keystone of which is the Rocky Mountain Early Childhood Conference. For nearly a decade, the conference has continually responded to current needs. This year, trainings and workshops like: Elevating the Early Childhood Workforce in Colorado, Leading Quality Improvement Efforts for Meaningful Change, and Brainstorming Opportunities to Build Strong Child Care Businesses will address some of the complex challenges facing today's child care workforce. The gathering brings together voices from the Rocky Mountain Region to share information and find sustainable solutions.

Media Contact:

Haysel Hernandez

303.759.5902

[email protected]

SOURCE Denver's Early Childhood Council

Related Links

https://denverearlychildhood.org


ST. PETERSBURG, Russia -- In December 2016, Igor Suvorov thought his problems with his local draft board were over when the officials approved his request for alternative civilian service. But his troubles were only just beginning.

Over the next few years, he went from being an acknowledged pacifist to being convicted of dodging the draft. His case has moved all the way to the Russian Supreme Court, which upheld his conviction. His case has been accepted by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in Strasbourg. And earlier this month, more than three years after the story began, Suvorov appealed to Russia's Constitutional Court.

"In our appeal to the Constitutional Court, we argued that the state has no legitimate basis for depriving an individual of his right to alternative civilian service," lawyer Aleksandr Peredruk, who works with the St. Petersburg Committee of Soldiers' Mothers and is representing Suvorov, told RFE/RL. "From the point of view of the defense capability of the country, the state -- as represented by the draft board -- already acknowledged that Igor is a pacifist. But when he committed, in their opinion, some infraction, they decide to punish him and send him to serve. De facto, they are making him carry a weapon against his will."

In December 2016, the then-16-year-old convinced his draft board in the Krasnodar region city of Gulkevichi that he was a pacifist and should be allowed to complete alternative civilian service instead of being drafted into the army for a year.

Article 59 of the Russian Constitution enshrines the right of Russians to perform alternative service if "his convictions or religious beliefs contradict military service." Under the law on alternative civilian service, conscripts can either work for 21 months at any "organization subordinate to the bodies of the executive branch" or 18 months at a defense-industry plant. According to the Defense Ministry, about 2,000 people apply for alternative civilian service each year and about half of them are approved.

"The most important issue is that alternative civilian service is not a privilege," said lawyer Sergei Golubok, who is also defending Suvorov. "It is a right, a means of carrying out a constitutional obligation to defend the country. Alternative service is longer than military service. It is work at miserly pay in places where it is difficult to find workers. It is not a way of avoiding service. It is a form of service but without carrying a weapon."

This form of service, however, carries a stigma in Russia, particularly among many of the officials who oversee the process of approving it, Golubok added. "It is a serious problem -- discrimination around alternative civilian service is often seen as a refuge for some sort of losers," he said. "But for society, it is a very significant form of volunteerism. If we had more of these people, it would solve a lot of problems in a whole raft of industries. In fact, the state should be interested in seeing the right to alternative civilian service observed without hindrance from military bureaucrats in the regions."

Non-Draft Dodger

In the spring of 2017, however, Suvorov showed up again at his draft board for his medical examination. And that is where the trouble began. The examining doctor ordered Suvorov and the other conscripts to strip naked in the corridor outside his office. Suvorov objected, saying it was humiliating. When his objections were ignored, he left the building and filed a complaint with local prosecutors.

His complaint went nowhere, but in the autumn, he began receiving orders to report for military service. He ignored them and continued waiting for an order regarding his approved alternative military service.

The next document that came to him, however, was notification that a criminal charge of draft evasion had been filed against him. He learned from that document that his local military district commissar had unilaterally nullified his application for alternative civilian service.

With the help of the St. Petersburg-based Committee of Soldiers' Mothers and a nongovernmental organization called Citizen and the Army, Suvorov appealed the commissar's decision in court. His appeals were rejected at every level up to the Supreme Court.

Among other issues Suvorov's lawyers raised was the argument that the law on alternative civilian service unconstitutionally allows a person who has been officially acknowledged as a conscientious objector to be prosecuted for draft evasion.

'Just A Pose'

In the summer of 2018, Kommersant and other websites published the transcript of Suvorov's April 2018 court hearing on the draft-evasion charge in the Gulkevichi district court in which Judge Yury Yermakov aggressively questioned the defendant and his witnesses.

"No one needs to be forced to serve these days," Yermakov said. "Our army is powerful enough today to give the whole world cancer. Do you see? No one forces anyone to serve. We don't have hazing or whatever in the Russian Army. No one ties up your arms or stuffs your head in a bag. You just needed to go to the military commission. What was the problem?"

"I insisted on my right to alternative civilian service," Suvorov answered.

"You weren't insisting on your right," Yermakov answered. "You adopted a pose. You were just posing. No, listen to me! Don't interrupt.... The most interesting thing is that serving a year in the army passes very quickly, you see? There is no hazing. They feed you well.... Where did you get this idea?

"It is my conviction that contradicts military service," Suvorov replied. "It is my pacifist views. Even if the army had golden tables and smorgasbords."

The judge then insisted he did not want to debate the defendant.

"If you don't know how to defend yourself," he concluded, "that means that tomorrow you will be shoveling shit for someone. For the Americans. For NATO. For China. For someone or other, do you understand?"

In general, lawyer Peredyuk said, Russia needs clarity on alternative civilian service. He said the local military commissions are not actually even required to explain why they reject an application for such service.

Peredyuk mentioned one case in which a draftee who applied for alternative civilian service argued that he held the beliefs of the Jehovah's Witnesses, whose members refuse military service, even though he did not belong to the group, which has been banned in Russia as an "extremist organization."

"[The commission] wrote in their decision that since the Jehovah's Witnesses are banned by a Supreme Court decision, he had no right to alternative civilian service," Peredyuk said. "That is, for them it is perfectly normal to give a gun to a man and send him to serve although he admits holding the beliefs of an organization that has been labeled 'extremist.'"

Written by Robert Coalson based on reporting by Tatyana Voltskaya of the North Desk of RFE/RL's Russian Service
Migrants: von der Leyen in Greece tomorrow, focus on minors With Commissioner Johansson, will see PM, reception centre

(ANSAmed) - BRUSSELS, MARCH 11 - European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson will be in Greece on Thursday to follow up support measures announced last week to manage the migrant crisis at the country's border with Turkey, according to a statement by the European Commission.



It said the visit will focus in particular on the situation of the more than 5,500 unaccompanied children and adolescents currently in migrant reception centres on the Greek islands.



On Thursday morning, Johansson will meet with those involved, including ministers and representatives from the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, the UN Migration Agency IOM, and Greek civil society.



Von der Leyen and Johansson will then meet with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and visit the Eleonas reception and identification centre.(ANSAmed).




Kildare County Council said it will start work on a process to take in charge Grace Park housing estate in Derrinturn this year.

But the process will not be the easiest because the company with built the 26 houses was dissolved in 2009.

The question of public money being used to pay for private obligations was also raised.

Cllr Brendan Wyse asked that the council take charge of Graces Park housing estate in Derrinturn, following the Section 180 request which was received in May 2016.

SEE ALSO: Kildare counts cost of cancelling St Patrick's Day parades

He said there and the subsequent commitment made at a Maynooth Municipal District meeting in May 2017 to complete the wearing course using funds from the Local Property Tax.

Cllr Wyse said there had been no progress since the decision was made in by the Maynooth committee in 2017

In a report to members at the Clane-Maynooth Municipal District meeting on March 6, officials said that Section 180 request has been received for this estate, however the LPT funding that the councillor refers to was for Chambers Park and Graces Park.

SEE ALSO: more Kildare stories

They then went on to say that all of the allocated funding with some additional monies was required for Chambers Park and as a result the wearing course in Graces Park is outstanding with no funding available. Windsor Style Developments developed the 26 houses under a 2004 planning permission (04/1479)

They said the company was dissolved in 2009 and the (insurance) bond expired on July 31 2008.

Members were told that to progress the Taking in Charge of the estate, the wearing course will have to be provided, the estate snagged and the council will need to have a CCTV survey and as-constructed drawings carried out.

It will also need to seek the approval of Irish Water.

Cllr Padraig McEvoy said they did not like using public money to pay for private obligations. We dont want people to abandon their obligations and fall back on Local Property Tax to pay for them.

The Clane-Maynooth committee was told that this estate is not on the councils schedule for 2020 but the Building and Control Section will start to progress the process in 2020 by engaging with the councils CCTV contractor to have the relevant surveys carried out.
Lawmakers are in the early stages of creating something akin to the unified homelessness data system that Gov. Gavin Newsom called for Feb. 19 in his second State of the State Address.State Assemblymember Vince Fong, R-Bakersfield, has introduced Assembly Bill 2872, the California Homelessness Data System Act. If approved by the state Legislature and signed by Newsom, it would create a statewide database to give officials a clearer picture of Californias homeless population, the services they receive  and of those at risk of becoming homeless and receiving prevention services.Providers have stressed the importance and need for better and near real time information to better understand those who are currently receiving services. A statewide perspective that is data driven is necessary to help those in need and pull them out of homelessness, Fong told Techwire via email. His bill has been referred to the Assembly Committee on Housing and Community Development. Among the takeaways: AB 2872 would require the state Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) to create a state homeless integrated data warehouse, in coordination with state and local partners, including the Homeless Coordinating and Financing Council (HCFC) to develop a comprehensive portrayal of Californias homeless. The data warehouse would have to comply with state and federal laws on privacy and personally identifying information, and encourage collaboration from local agencies that provide services to persons experiencing homelessness and use homeless management information systems.It would require that information aggregated for the database be sufficient to let the state determine the number of individuals and families experiencing homelessness, their access to benefits, and the stated reasons for their homelessness. It would require HCD to coordinate with other state departments on a strategy to integrate information to provide longitudinal, cost-based studies with relevant data. And the bill would require HCD to create a report to the Legislature, documenting its analysis of best practices and current gaps in service to persons experiencing homelessness. The system would apparently be internal-facing, for now. Fong said the effort currently is to use the data to better assess homelessness in coordination with federal, state, and local agencies, though he noted: Fostering collaboration with the public will be an ongoing effort and discussion. The bill is not a new concept. AB 2872 has origins dating to AB 2161 in 2018, which would have directed HCD to create a state homeless integrated data warehouse. Introduced by Assemblymember David Chiu, D-San Francisco, AB 2161 failed to clear the state Senate Appropriations Committee. A successor last year, AB 67, introduced by Assemblymember Luz Rivas, D-Arleta, and Chiu also didnt make it out of Senate Appropriations. Rivas is a co-sponsor of Fongs bill.Fong said key components of our bill came from Rivas's bill, and the idea in general sprang directly from discussions with our local homelessness providers and experts, prior to the Governor highlighting the need of a data system in California. Doing all this would likely not be cheap. A Senate Appropriations analysis of AB 67 in August cited HCD and HCFC cost estimates of $15 million from the General Fund to stand up the database; more than $1.2 million in Fiscal Year 2020-2021 and nearly $1.2 million ongoing for permanent staff; nearly $600,000 in FY 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 for limited-term legal staff; and around $200,000 per year for new staff to coordinate with HCD on the data warehouses development and administration. The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) estimated minor to significant one-time costs of $50,000 to $2 million if additional data fields had to be programmed into Medi-Cal eligibility and management data and information systems and the Single Streamlined Application.The Department of Social Services (DSS) identified one-time automation costs of $5 million to $6 million to add and collect data and synchronize it to the data warehouse, as well about $3.9 million annually for caseworkers obtaining data from homeless residents or those at risk.We are working with the state Department of Finance to assess the proposal, Fong said. He called homelessness a critical issue around the state and said its vital that if the state invests in solving homelessness, that officials have the tools to tell whether programs are working.
The Port of Los Angeles is looking for media relations support to help showcase the economic vitality of the nations top container port.
DT News: Does the ministry have any plans to benefit from or recycle the excavated rainwater?

Eng. Khalaf: The storm water is usually discharged in the sea and other areas. We had attempted to inject it in the under- ground water in a couple of sites across the Kingdom. But recycling also is only done if strict rules are followed. The Supreme Council for the Environment had some environ- mental reservations in regards to this process as they had some concerns over water pollution suspicions, hence the processes were stopped and further discussions are in progress. But, we utilise it in irrigation purposes.

We have more work and effort to be implemented in the field of rainwater drainage and recycling. Yet, we have managed to considerably reduce the negative effects of this issue on the public by taking the necessary precautionary measures and procedures ahead of the rainy season.

The ministry has offered more tenders to provide tanks and containers to excavate the excessive water from roads and public areas. We have also upgraded the vacuum tankers and provided them with additional pumps to accelerate the process of excavating the water, thats in addition to installing pumps at vital areas and roads to move the water to open areas and ensure that the daily life isnt affected.

DT News: What are the main challenges the ministry is facing in tackling the rainwater flooding issue?

Eng. Khalaf: One of the biggest challenges we face during the rainy seasons is the uncivil behaviour of some people who remove the covers of sewage manholes and allow the rainwa- ter to enter and mix with the sewerage network.

This is a grave matter as such behaviour disrupts and dam- ages the networks. The rainwater, with all its sediments, damages the pumps and other equipment of the sewerage network. This results in the rebound of the sewerage inside homes and other facilities. Such cases were reported recently, as the pumps were damaged and unable to move the sewer- age to the treatment plant. We repeatedly warn the public

of the dangerous effects of such behaviours by raising more awareness on the matter through different platforms.

Its noteworthy that we have also fulfilled all the requests that were received by municipal councils from citizens this year to install rainwater roof coatings to prevent any leakages inside homes, especially those belonging to the limited and medium income citizens.
The resignation of 22 Congress MLAs, believed to be loyalists of Jyotiraditya Scindia, has put Chief Minister Kamal Nath-led in Madhya Pradesh in a serious crisis and it highly unlikely that the Congress government would be able to survive this big jolt.

Scindia, who was out of reach of Congress leaders since Monday (March 9), resigned from the Congress on Tuesday (March 10) minutes after meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi. Speculations are rife that Scindia would join the BJP on Wednesday (March 11) in the presence of senior BJP leaders.

For his part, CM Kamal Nath appeared confident on Tuesday, claiming there is nothing to worry about as the party will prove its majority in the assembly and his government will complete its term.

Here's how numbers stack up in Madhya Pradesh Assembly:

The Madhya Pradesh assembly has a strength of 230 members but two seats are presently vacant due to the demise of two MLAs. The effective strength of Madhya Pradesh Assembly is now 228 and the magic number required to form the government is 115.

Of the 228 MLAs:

Congress has: 114 MLAs

BJP has: 109 MLAs

BSP has: 2 MLAs

Samajwadi Party has: 1 MLA

Independents have: 4 MLAs

The Congress alone does not enjoy a majority in the Madhya Pradesh assembly and has been in power for the last 15 months with the support of the BSP and SP MLAs, taking its tally to 119.

But if the resignation of the 22 Congress MLAs, who resigned on Tuesday, is accepted by Speaker NP Prajapati, the overall strength of the assembly will come down to 206, and the magic number required to form the government will come down to 104.

In that scenario, the Congress would be left with only 92 MLAs out of its own, which will allow the BJP to come to power as it has around 109 MLAs in the state assembly.
Dr. Jack Rowe, a professor of health policy and aging at Columbia University, said he didnt understand why Congress would ignore the threat.

There are 535 of these people between the two chambers  you cant tell me there arent any of them that dont have chronic disease who would be at special risk, he said. These people should be excused. They should be sitting at home looking at their computers, listening to the debate and voting, and that would send the right message.

A handful of Republican legislators who had direct contact with an infected man at the Conservative Political Action Committee conference last week have voluntarily quarantined themselves to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, Representative Matt Gaetz of Florida, Representative Doug Collins of Georgia, Representative Paul Gosar of Arizona and Representative Mark Meadows of North Carolina are staying away from the Capitol. So are the Democratic representatives Julia Brownley of California and Don Beyer of Virginia, who had contact with infected persons elsewhere.

On Wednesday, Congresss attending physician issued a memo to legislators with recommendations on how to lower their risk of catching or spreading the virus. It said they should avoid large group meetings and screen visitors for signs of respiratory illness. It also said: Members should adopt a stance that avoids close direct contact with other individuals, such as shaking hands, giving/receiving hugs, taking selfies. The memo also recommends frequent hand washing.

Although some lawmakers have expressed private alarm that their oldest colleagues are traveling, meeting constituents and congregating on the House floor, they have publicly shown deference. Senator Chris Murphy, Democrat of Connecticut and one of the younger members at 46, said every member of Congress knows the job has risks.
Sharukh Pathan who brandished gun at cops during Delhi riots remanded in JC

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Mar 11: Sharukh Pathan, the 23 year old man arrested for wielding a gun during the Delhi riots has been remanded in judicial custody. A local court ordered his custody for 14 days.

During his interrogation, he told the police that he fired in a fit of rage. It may be recalled that images of Pathan wielding a gun during the riots at Jafrabad-Maujpur had gone viral.

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.

Following his arrest, Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime), A K Singhla said that Pathan was planning to flee from Shamli before he was nabbed. He had procured a 7.65 mm pistol and ammunition around two years back. He was fond of pistols and the one he used during the riots was purchased from Munger in Bihar.

Fired in a fit of rage, Sharukh Pathan tells cops

The police are now probing whether he was involved with any gang. The cops are also questioning him on who instigated him to be part of the riots. He runs a shop that sells socks in northeast Delhi's Ghonda area.

NEWS AT 3 PM, MARCH 11th, 2020

On February 24, the cops had identified the man in a red T-shirt, who had opened fire at the police, as Shahrukh.

In a video that went viral last week, the 33-year-old man, could be seen pointing his country-made pistol at the policeman on the Jafrabad-Maujpur road on February 24.

The man fired eight rounds in the presence of police personnel.

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.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Wednesday, March 11, 2020, 7:28 [IST]
NORRISTOWN  A Lower Merion man who admitted to possessing child pornography on home computer equipment faces a lengthy period of court supervision, including some time behind bars.

Richard Rick Bushnell, 49, of the 300 block of Hathaway Lane, was sentenced in Montgomery County Court to seven years of court supervision, including 90 days of jail time over the course of 45 consecutive weekends. The remaining period of supervision will be served during intensive probation. Bushnell will have to comply with all recommendations of a psychosexual evaluation.

The sentence, an agreement between the prosecution and defense, was imposed by Judge Wendy G. Rothstein after Bushnell pleaded guilty to a felony charge of possessing child pornography in connection with a December 2017 incident at his home.

Bushnell also faces a 15-year requirement to report his address to state police in order to comply with Pennsylvanias Sexual Offender Registration and Notification Act.

An investigation of Bushnell began on Dec. 19, 2017, when county detectives received a CyberTip that indicated someone from the Hathaway Lane address downloaded an image of child pornography using a Skype account. Detectives subsequently linked Bushnell to that Skype account.

Detectives obtained a warrant to search Bushnells home and seized numerous electronics devices and the devices were analyzed at the FBI Regional Forensics Laboratory, according to a criminal complaint filed by county Detective Kathleen Kelly. An analysis of the devices uncovered numerous images of child pornography depicting underage girls, some as young as 6, in various stages of undress, nude or posed in such a way as to evoke sexual pleasure from the viewer, Kelly alleged.

When detectives interviewed Bushnell he admitted to living at his residence for six years and to having a Skype account and to using an anonymous name when using Skype or other social media accounts, according to the arrest affidavit.

Mr. Bushnell also stated he mostly accessed his Skype account while at his residence, chatted with others online and exchanged pornographic photos with others on various social media platforms, Kelly alleged in the arrest affidavit.

Assistant District Attorney Matthew Scott Brittenburg prosecuted the case. Defense lawyer Steven M. Pacillio represented Bushnell.
A new study published in Circulation, a journal of the American Heart Association, shows that noncitizens in the United States are less likely to receive treatment for cardiovascular disease risk factors when compared with born or naturalized U.S. citizens.

Cardiovascular disease, or CVD, includes conditions such as heart attack and stroke. It is the leading cause of death among adults in the U.S., including immigrants, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The University of Illinois at Chicago researchers who conducted the study -- which used nationally representative data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, or NHANES -- found that treatment rates for CVD risk factors were lower among noncitizens when compared with citizens. These differences were primarily due to the lack of insurance coverage and a usual source of care, such as a clinic or doctor's office.

Nearly 17,000 U.S. adults over the age of 20 were included in the analysis, which looked at three categories: U.S.-born citizens (82.1%), foreign-born citizens (8.6%) and noncitizens (9.3%). For each category, the researchers examined the prevalence and treatment of three key CVD risk factors: high cholesterol, high blood pressure and diabetes.

They found that noncitizens had considerably lower treatment rates for high cholesterol compared with foreign-born citizens and U.S.-born citizens. Only 16.5% of noncitizens received treatment for their high cholesterol, compared with 43.3% of foreign-born citizens and 45.5% of U.S.-born citizens. Similar differences were found for high blood pressure treatment (60.3% vs. 79.6% and 81.1%) and diabetes treatment (51.2% vs. 66.6% and 69.5%).

These disparities by citizenship status remained after the researchers adjusted for sociodemographic factors, including age, gender, education, income and language preferences. But when the researchers adjusted for insurance coverage and access to a usual source of care, the differences between U.S. and foreign-born citizens and noncitizens lessened.

"Citizenship status acts as a structural barrier to health for noncitizens, where many are systematically excluded from the health care system," said first and corresponding author Jenny Guadamuz, a UIC Ph.D. candidate at the College of Pharmacy. "Yet, much of the current literature on immigrant health does not acknowledge citizenship status as a structural barrier that drives health disparities experienced by immigrants, regardless of ethnic, cultural or behavioral differences."

UIC's Dima Qato, senior author of the study and associate professor of pharmacy systems, outcomes and policy at the UIC College of Pharmacy, says findings from this study offer "strong evidence on the impact of immigration policy on health and health disparities in the U.S. and the importance of promoting health policies at the local, state or federal levels that ensure access to care, including insurance coverage, and protect the health of immigrants, particularly noncitizens."

###

Co-authors on the study include UIC's Martha Daviglus, Gregory Calip and Edith Nutescu and Loyola University Chicago's Ramon Durazo-Arvizu.

The study was funded in part by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Some financial disclosures were noted in the study.
[March 11, 2020] Large Russian VMware Cloud Provider Adopts Cloudian Object Storage as Foundation for New Service Offerings

SAN MATEO, Calif. and MOSCOW, March 11, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cloudian and DataLine today announced that DataLine, a leading Infrastructure-as-a-Service company in Russia, will deploy Cloudians object storage solution for VMware Cloud Providers. Managed directly from VMware Cloud Director, the Cloudian solution enables these cloud providers to offer new and enhanced S3-based storage services that leverage its limitless scalability, cost-effectiveness and rich feature set.

DataLine serves a broad range of customers, including top banks, retailers, social networking companies and media organizationsmany of which require their data to be stored in Russia for regulatory reasons. As the amount of data DataLine was managing continued to grow, the company began looking for a storage solution that could handle this growth, support the rapidly expanding ecosystem of S3-based applications and easily integrate into its VMware environment. After investigating the Cloudian-VMware offering, DataLine knew it was the right choice. We like Cloudians fully native S3 compatibility, the ability to deploy object storage as software, and the solutions multi-tenancy, said Sergey Mishchuk, CTO at DataLine. In addition, we knew the flexibility of consumption-based pricing would be a key benefit for both DataLine and our customers, as we would only pay for incremental storage as needed rather than buying extra storage capacity up front. DataLine will use the Cloudian-VMware object storage platform as the foundation for new storage service offerings, including Backup-as-a-Service, Archive-as-a-Service and Disaster Recovery-as-a-Service. In addition to full S3 compatibility and multi-tenancy, Cloudian object storage benefits include: The ability to start small and scale without interruption to an exabyte of storage.

Geo-distribution for easily managing storage acrossmultiple data centers.

Advanced security features such as Write Once, Read Many (WORM) and Object Lock data immutability for ransomware protection and compliance.

Integrated management tools such as billing and quality of service controls.



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For more information on Cloudian Object Storage for VMware Cloud Director, go to https://cloudian.com/vmware/ . About Cloudian

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Hyderabad: The Hyderabad cyber crime police on Tuesday arrested an autorickshaw driver from Banjara Hills for allegedly spreading a fake message that communal riots similar to what happened in Delhi would occur in Hyderabad.

After the video in this regard went viral on WhatsApp groups within the city, the cyber police registered a suo motu case and started an investigation. They zeroed in on Rahmat Shareef, 28, an autorickshaw driver residing in Ahmednagar in Banjara Hills, as the person who spread the news.

A Hyderabad police official said, Rahmat recorded a message on the Delhi riots mentioning that similar riots would happen in Hyderabad too. He then circulated the same on WhatsApp groups.

In a tweet, Hyderabad police commissioner Anjani Kumar said, Hyd police have traced the origin of the fake news which was circulated on WhatsApp to create a communal issue. I convey gratitude to those who have helped us trace this person within 48 hours. Pl don't forward any sensational msg.
As part of the continuous celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Margret Marquart hospital, founded in 1960 in Kpando, the Member of Parliament for the area, Mrs Della Sowah has donated roofing materials to the tune of Ghc10,000 in support of the hospitals Child Welfare Clinic project.

The MP who has in recent times had meetings with the management of the hospital said, it was important for her to continue working with the hospital to achieve its primary goal of providing for the basic health needs of the people of Kpando and beyond.

The hospital which has a staff capacity of about 350 and a bed capacity of 216 with 300 OPD attendances daily is appealing for support from the general public and all stakeholders to build an estimated gh100, 000 capacity child welfare clinic to augment the existing infrastructure deficit of the hospital.

The MP, who acknowledged the role of the hospital said, Margret Marquart, plays a major role in the area and must be supported to meet the daily demands of the people in the communities.

The hospital authorities expressed their gratitude to the MP for the support and called on all to help in any way possible towards the project and others.

The celebration of its 60th anniversary is under the theme 60 Years of Resilient Catholic Health System in Kpando; Honouring the Past, celebrating The Present and Building the Future.

The 60th anniversary is scheduled to climax on September 20.
Lobbyists representing the oil and gas industry met with White House policy staffers Wednesday morning to discuss coronavirus, the state of the economy and the market, a representative for the American Petroleum Institute told CNBC.

The meeting comes as the market has been roiled by fears of coronavirus and deteriorating OPEC talks. After negotiations between OPEC and Russia fell apart on Friday, OPEC's de facto leader, Saudi Arabia, on Saturday slashed its oil prices and announced plans to increase production. This led to a selloff in oil markets and pressure on U.S. energy producers.

Oil prices on Monday plunged 24%, marking the worst day since 1991. Saudi Aramco CEO Amin Nasser said on Wednesday that the company had been asked to supply a record 13 million barrels per day in April. Oil fell 4% Wednesday.

Still, the American Petroleum Institute, which represents companies including Halliburton, Hess and Occidental Petroleum, is not seeking federal aid, said the the spokeswoman, Bethany Aronhalt. That statement comes despite reports Tuesday indicating President Donald Trump was considering a federal aid package for the shale industry, potentially in the form of low-interest loans. An official told CNBC that the White House doesn't want the potential assistance to be perceived as a bailout.

White House declined to comment.

API CEO Mike Sommers told Bloomberg on Tuesday the group's focus is on balancing the oil market.

"What we have here is a demand shock, of course, because of coronavirus, and a supply shock, because of the decision by Russia and the Saudis to flood the market with oil," Sommers said.

"So, we are concerned about these geopolitical factors that are feeding into some downturn within the industry ... right now, we trying to make sure policymakers are responding in the right way. But, ultimately, the solution here is to work in a diplomatic way to make sure oil markets are well-balanced," he said.

"We're focused on making sure the free-market works, not on some government intervention that would be outside the market," he added.

The Department of Energy on Tuesday suspended the sale of crude oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve that would have put more oil into the market, a move Sommers applauded.

"We want to make sure the government continues to make these kinds of decisions that are good for the oil industry," he said.

CNBC's Pippa Stevens contributed to this report.
The number of coronavirus cases in Pakistan have risen to 20 after a 14-year old boy was tested positive for COVID-19 in Gilgit Baltistan, a health official said on Wednesday.

Pakistan saw a sudden increase in coronavirus infections on Tuesday when a dozen new cases were reported across the country.

The health ministry official said that the latest case was reported from Skardu district.

The patient, who recently returned from Iran with his mother, showed symptoms of the virus and was immediately placed in quarantine with his family members, said Shah Zaman, a doctor.

He said the boy and his mother had arrived from Iran on February 25.

On Tuesday night, the first coronavirus case of Baluchistan was also confirmed in a 12-year-old boy.

The patient has recently travelled to Iran, said Noorullah Musakhail, the medical superintendent at Fatima Jinnah Hospital in Quetta.

The patients belongs to Sindh's Dadu district. Sindh has reported the highest number of COVID-9 cases in Pakistan.

Six traffic controllers, who worked at a Karachi airport, have been placed in quarantine after they were suspected of having contracted the novel coronavirus, Civil Aviation Authority spokesperson Abdus Sattar Khokhar said in a statement.

The suspected patients were posted at Jinnah International Airport in Karachi and have been isolated as per the standard operating procedure, Khokhar said.

He said the directions had been given to screen all staff members of air traffic control posted in Karachi for any symptoms of COVID19.

The total number of cases of the virus in Sindh have now reached 15 while one case was also reported from Hyderabad.

The patient in Hyderabad had visited Syria and returned home via Doha.

Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Health Zafar Mirza has said that the nine coronavirus cases confirmed on Monday evening were in a "stable clinical condition".

In a tweet, he added: "almost all of them are asymptotic".

"They all had travel history and were picked up during contact tracing of an existing COVID19 patient," Mirza said.

So far, no coronavirus related death has been reported in Pakistan. One of the COVID-19 patients in Karachi has recovered and was allowed to go home on Saturday.

The deadly virus that first originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December last year has claimed over 4,200 lives and infected more than 117,330 people across 107 countries and territories.

China remains the hardest-hit with more than 80,000 infections and 3,000 deaths.

The World Health Organisation 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.)
Newsfrom Japan

Kesennuma, Miyagi Pref., March 11 (Jiji Press)--Students from junior high and high schools across Japan are visiting remains of the buildings heavily damaged by the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami and learning the horror of the natural disasters.

Through such school trips, the schools are expecting students not only to learn lessons for disaster management, but also to foster a zest for living, a person working in the educational tourism industry said.

In March last year, the former school building of Kesennuma Koyo High School in the Pacific coastal city of Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan, reopened as the Ruins of the Great East Japan Earthquake Kesennuma City Memorial Museum.

A car turned upside down after being washed ashore by the tsunami is exhibited on the museum's third floor, demonstrating the power of a natural disaster.

For 10 months after the opening, students from a total of 83 junior high and high schools, many of which are high schools in the Kanto eastern and Kansai western regions, visited the museum mainly as part of their school trips.

[Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]
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Senior counsel Patrick McCann has been appointed to chair a review board into aspects of the draft final report on the loss of four Irish Coast Guard Rescue 116 helicopter crew off north Mayo almost three years ago.

Mr McCann will be assisted by an independent expert member, Transport Minister Shane Ross said in a statement announcing the establishment of the review board  two months after it was first sought.

Mr Ross said the review board would re-examine certain findings of the draft final report.

His department had confirmed in early January that a review of the draft final report by the Air Accident Investigation Unit (AAIU) had been requested by a stakeholder, which it would not identify.

It said then that arrangements are being put in place to set this board up, and confirmed the review would be held in private.

CHC Ireland, which employed the officers that died  Captain Dara Fitzpatrick, Captain Mark Duffy, and winch crew Paul Ormsby and Ciaran Smith  declined to say whether it sought the review.

The four air/sea rescue helicopter crew died when their Sikorsky S-92 hit Blackrock island off north Mayo in the early hours of March 14, 2017. The bodies of Mr Ormsby and Mr Smith have not been found to date.

Under the Air Navigation (Notification and Investigation of Accidents, Serious Incidents and Incidents) Regulations 2009, an interested party may serve on the minister written notice of re-examination.

This is in respect of findings and conclusions that appear to reflect adversely on the persons reputation.

CHC Ireland holds the 10-year Irish Coast Guard search and rescue contract, which is worth 50m a year, and is due to expire in 2022, though an extension could be allowed to 2025.

Work has already begun on preparing a new tender.

The AAIU ruled out mechanical failure early on in its preliminary report into the crash, and an interim report was published a year after the crash.

An interim statement was published on March 1, 2019.

The AAIU has already identified in its preliminary report that the Dublin-based crew was flying with inaccurate chart information and faulty installation of satellite locators in the pilots lifejackets.

Rescue 116 had been tasked on the night of March 13, 2017, to provide top cover support to the Sligo-based Rescue 118 helicopter for a medical evacuation off the west coast.

The draft final report was issued on September 13, 2019, to interested parties, including the four bereaved families and CHC Ireland. The parties were given 60 days to review this report and offer comments.

The review board will be chaired by senior counsel Patrick McCann who will be assisted by an independent expert member.

The review board will be entirely independent in its work in accordance with the relevant legislation, Mr Rosss statement said.

The AAIU said last January that it would continue to handle submissions in relation to the draft conclusions.

The review boards chair must be a barrister or solicitor of 10 years standing, or a person who, in the ministers opinion, has aeronautical or engineering knowledge.

The minister may also appoint one or more technical assessors. A report is compiled for the minister if the re-examination proceeds.
While booksellers on the coasts are rushing to deal with the coronavirus, which is most prevalent to date in New York state and in Washington state, for indie booksellers in the middle of the country, its business as usual. Thus far, very few people have tested positive for the coronavirus in the Midwest: 19 in Illinois, three in Minnesota, two in Michigan, three in Ohio, one in Kansas, zero in North Dakota.

For the booksellers PW spoke with on Monday and Tuesday, the impact on them was primarily tweaking author events; very few booksellers mentioned sales, although David Enyeart, manager of Next Chapter Booksellers in St. Paul, Minn. noted that the store is experiencing strong sales of the big new releases and customers arent voicing a lot of concern.

That makes me think that we might have a normal spring, he said. As for the stores packed programming schedule, the stores event coordinator, Riley Davis, reported that there has been only one cancellation so far, an international author who had to return to the United Arab Emirates immediately, out of fear that he may have not be able to return later.

It was a huge bummer because we had a lot of readers who were excited to see him, Davis wrote, but they ultimately understood that there isn't much control any of us have on this type of situation."

Pamela Klinger-Horn, who organizes the Literature Lovers Night Out author events at two bookstores in the Twin Cities, Excelsior Bay Books in Excelsior, and Valley Booksellers in Stillwater, reported that Lisa See and her publicist both contacted Klinger-Horn a few days ago to confirm this evenings LLNO at Excelsior Bay.

We have not heard from a single customer that they are planning to avoid the event, Klinger-Horn said, I am making the signs per the publishers request stating that "due to concerns about the coronavirus, please sanitize as you enter and refrain from handshakes or hugs with the author. See is pre-signing books to minimize contact with readers, though she will personalize books and take photos with fans.

Klinger-Horn noted that another author scheduled to participate in LLNO, Therese Fowler, expressed concerns on social media about her national tour. In response, Klinger-Horn wrote on her Facebook page: Minnesota is still safe and we are washing our hands and preparing to welcome you with an elbow bump."

Its business as usual for Watermark Books in Wichita, Kans., as well. According to owner Sarah Bagby, the only change is a firm message--beyond washing hands and not touching face--to staff to be mindful of their own health, keep their immune systems strong, get enough sleep, and make sure we keep the store wiped down and do as much as we can to kill germs. I just feel so responsible. And money is so dirty.

As for events, the store is hosting See and Erik Larsen this week, with 300 reservations for See. Both authors, Bagby said, want to restrict contact with their fans as much as possible. Which is fine by most of her customers, she added. Some just want to make sure they get their books signed." Both authors are pre-signing their books.

Andersons Bookshop in Naperville, Ill., reported that it has canceled one author event to date, but other authors who are canceling stops on the West Coast leg of their tours are still planning to come to Chicago. Sadly, Andersons bookseller Mary OMalley told PW on Tuesday, I just had my first customer buying books to ship to someone who is quarantined.

As for the regionals, both the Midwest Independent Booksellers Association and the Great Lakes Independent Booksellers Association are planning to go ahead with their spring forums: MIBA is holding its gathering in Bayfield, Wis., on April 5-6; GLIBAs forum is in Kalamazoo, Mich., on April 16. GLIBA is also hosting a member bookstore owners retreat in Starved Rock State Park in Illinois on April 26-28.

GLIBA executive director Larry Law, who, with his wife, Abraham Associates commission rep Sandra Law, became a parent on February 25, wrote, We are monitoring the situation closely and as of right now are moving forward with both events. I will be attending both events but Sandra and the baby will be staying home. We are also looking into event cancellation insurance for our future events.




(Newser)  After biding his time, Andrew Yang has decided it's Biden time. The tech entrepreneur, who dropped out of the Democratic race after a disappointing result in New Hampshire last month, endorsed Joe Biden in a CNN appearance Tuesday night. He said Sanders was an inspiration for him, but "the math says Joe is our prohibitive nominee. We need to bring the party together. We need to start working on defeating Donald Trump in the fall." Yangwho made the endorsement after Biden won Tuesday's primaries in Michigan and several other statesjoins numerous other former candidates who have endorsed Biden, including Pete Buttigieg, Amy Klobuchar, Kamala Harris, and, most recently, Cory Booker, the Hill reports. Many of Elizabeth Warren's staffers have endorsed Sanders, but she has yet to announce an endorsement. (Read more Andrew Yang stories.)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-12 01:49:20|Editor: yan

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TUNIS, March 11 (Xinhua) -- The Tunisian Health Ministry on Wednesday announced the seventh confirmed case of the novel coronavirus in the country.

"The case is a Tunisian national who has just returned from Egypt," announced Tunisian Minister of Health Abdellatif Mekki.

Prime Minister Elyes Fakhfakh said that he does not yet know the extent of the negative impact of the spread of the COVID-19 on the Tunisian economy.

On Tuesday, Nissaf Ben Alaya, director general of the National Observatory of New and Emerging Diseases, said an application had been created to allow any arrival to monitor his state of health.

The sanctions for those who do not comply with the instructions required by the Ministry of Health can face up to six-month imprisonment and a fine of 1,500 dinars (532 U.S. dollars), the official warned.
Number of complaints from minor convicts, detainees drops  Russian childrens ombudsman

 RAPSI, Vladimir Burnov

14:24 11/03/2020

MOSCOW, March 11 (RAPSI)  The number of complaints submitted to the office of Russian child rights commissioner from prisons and detention facilities for minors has decreased in recent years, childrens ombudsman Anna Kuznetsova has said during the extended meeting of the Federal Penitentiary Services panel.

According to the rights commissioner, in 2019, her office received two applications concerning bad conditions in penitentiary facilities as compared to 2014 when such complaints were estimated at nearly 60% of all filed appeals.

Last year, 60% of submitted applications contained request for assistance in the transfer of a minor convict to a penitentiary facility close to a familys place of living, and 30% - employment assistance requests, she added.

Kuznetsova also said that she would again apply to the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation to consider a possibility to give minor convicts and detainees access to distance education.




An angry Aldi shopper has hit out at the supermarket chain after claiming she was abused by staff for bulk buying toilet paper.

Semra Murphy, from Sydney's Sutherland Shire, took to Facebook to share an image of the huge line outside the Westfield Miranda Aldi store before it opened.

Mrs Murphy said as the doors were opened an Aldi employee had some choice words for waiting customers.

Aldi shopper Semra Murphy took to Facebook to share an image of the line at her local Aldi (pictured) before claiming the employee offended people by asking them to remain calm

'The guy that opened the door announced "it's not the end of the world everybody there is no apocalypse happening, chill out",' Mrs Murphy wrote.

She said it was insulting because everyone who was waiting were doing so in an orderly fashion

'I feel this was unnecessary and offensive to everyone there,' she wrote.

'We are there to buy what we need, other than toilet paper, but if there happens to be some ... we might buy some of that because it's constantly running out.'

Mrs Murphy's post quickly gained traction as many other residents chimed in.

'Aldi created a problem in the first place by allowing people to fill their trolleys with hundreds of rolls each,' one user wrote.

'I've had people try and scream at me about the toilet paper restrictions, I've seen a couple have a tantrum because they couldn't buy more than one large bag of rice. We have every right to be slightly annoyed,' another added.

However many of the comments sided with the Aldi employee.

'I don't think a staff member saying that is offensive. There have been many reports of supermarket staff being abused, physically pushed. I can only imagine their frustration,' one user replied.

'Try being the poor staff dealing with the idiots. Get some perspective,' another added.

Meanwhile a picture sent to 3AW radio shows a huge line outside the Dandenong Aldi at 7.30am on Wednesday morning (pictured)

'That's hardly offensive. i work in a supermarket and the amount of abuse myself and my fellow workers have received is ridiculous,' a third user responded.

Meanwhile 3AW radio personality Neil Mitchell shared images sent to him from the Dandenong Aldi showing huge ques waiting at the door at 7.30am.

The pictures come just days after CCTV caught shopper creating a stampede to get to the toilet paper shelves in an Aldi supermarket.

The CCTV footage, understood to have been filmed inside a store in the western Sydney suburb of Guildford, shows an employee opening the doors before frantic shoppers flood in.

The wave of customers head straight for the toilet paper aisle and can be seen scrambling and shoving each other out of the way to collect the item.

Aldi recently joined Woolworths and Coles in imposing a toilet paper limit as concerned shoppers rushed to buy the item amid fears of a COVID-19 pandemic.

'To help improve access to toilet paper for our customers, we have limited the purchase of all toilet paper lines to one pack per customer,' Aldi told Daily Mail Australia in a statement.

'We ask our customers to remember to show kindness, empathy and calmness when shopping with us.'
The Member of Parliament(MP) for Kpando constituency, Mrs Della Sowah, has distributed organic fertilizers to female farmers within Kpando as part of commitment to empowering women.

The Gbofe Norvisi female farmers group which grow variety of food crops in the Kpando constituency received 100 bags of fertilizers.

The donation, according to Hon Della Sowah form part of activities to celebrate the 2020 International Womens Day in the constituency.

She said the distribution of the fertilizer to the women was the best way to support and to motivate them in their agricultural activities.

She has earlier this year met with the female farmers association and pledged her unflinching support to empower them in their agribusiness.

Mrs Sowah said, the International Women's Day which is observed globally on March 8, is to recognise the enviable role women with all diverse play in building families and communities.

The female farmers, she added, do not only farm to feed their immediate families but the entire Kpando and Ghana as a whole.

The MP however used the occasion to renewed her commitment and promised to continue working with them in any way possible.

Mrs Sowah also expressed her gratitude to the Norvisi association for their support over the years and asked them to remain steadfast in their resolve.

The leadership of the group expressed gratitude to the MP for the donation and promised to put the organic fertilizer to good use.

They said the occasion was important because it coincided with the day set aside to celebrate women across the world.

Present were Mr Enoch Drah, Assemblyman for Dzigbe Electoral area in Kpando and some constituency executives of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
A British woman has died of coronavirus in Indonesia after picking up the virus elsewhere, becoming the country's first death in the epidemic.

Indonesia's government said the 53-year-old woman with diabetes and lung disease had died in hospital after being admitted in a critical condition.

A spokesman for the UK Foreign Office said it was supporting her family.

Reports in Indonesia say she was cremated today. Her husband was also in Indonesia and is due to return to Britain soon, officials say.

Indonesia's government said the 53-year-old woman with diabetes and lung disease had died in hospital, reportedly the Sanglah hospital in Bali (pictured)

The British woman was reportedly cremated at this crematorium complex in Bali today (pictured) after she died following a positive test for coronavirus

Achmad Yurianto, a government spokesman on efforts to contain the virus, said the 53-year-old woman had contracted the virus abroad.

The woman had already been in critical condition when she was admitted to a hospital, the health ministry official said.

The spokesman did not say where the woman was or in what hospital or city she had died.

However, reports in Indonesia say that the woman was being treated at the Sanglah General Hospital on the island.

According to the Bali Post, the woman was cremated today at the Mumbul crematorium on the island.

She was cremated 'according to the procedure for handling corpses for people infected with infectious diseases due to viruses', it is reported.

Countries including China have previously ordered virus victims to be cremated quickly to stop the spread of the virus.

A UK Foreign Office spokesman said: 'We are supporting the family of a British woman who has died in Indonesia and are in contact with local authorities.

'Our sympathies and thoughts are with her family at this difficult time.'

UK officials have not confirmed her cause of death, but the Indonesian government says she had tested positive for coronavirus.

The woman's death follows that of a British national who had travelled on the ill-fated Diamond Princess cruise ship before it was quarantined in Japan.

The unnamed Briton died in hospital in Japan last month after being taken off the ship following a positive test for coronavirus.

A British woman has died of coronavirus in Indonesia after picking up the virus elsewhere, becoming the country's first death in the epidemic. A different patient is pictured being wheeled into Suradadi Hospital in Central Java today

Medical staff attend a suspected coronavirus patient at Suradadi Hospital in Indonesia today, a separate case to the British woman who died from the disease

Three other Britons also tested positive on board the ship. Two of them are still in hospital in Japan while one has returned to the UK.

There have been 382 confirmed cases on UK territory, including six deaths.

Indonesia has 26 other confirmed coronavirus patients, of whom two are known to have recovered.

One of the Indonesian patients is a 36-year-old man who had been a crew member on the Diamond Princess, officials say.

The man was described as being in a stable condition with no fever or cough when he was diagnosed.

Officials in Indonesia say they are having difficulties in tracing other people who might have come into contact with the confirmed patients.

Nearby Singapore has started charging visitors for coronavirus treatment after it reported new imported cases from neighbouring Indonesia.

The Pope had reportedly been drawing up plans to visit Indonesia later this year, but the Vatican has now cancelled the trip over virus fears.
The Scottish Government has demanded urgent clarification from the Chancellor over how much cash will go to Scotland to tackle coronavirus.

Rishi Sunak used his Budget statement on Wednesday to announce a 30 billion funding package to boost the economy in the wake of the Covid-19 outbreak.

Scotlands Finance Secretary Kate Forbes called for confirmation of what this will mean for the health service north of the border after the Chancellor pledged to give the NHS whatever it needs.

She said: While Im pleased to see the UK Governments economic response to coronavirus following my calls for this at the UK Treasury yesterday, we need confirmation on what this will mean for Scotland.

We require urgent clarification on what funding Scotland will receive from the announcements made by the UK Government, at a time when the prospects for the economy and public finances remain very uncertain as the short term impacts of Covid-19 unfold.

We expect full consequentials from this additional funding and need urgent clarification to provide clarity for Scottish businesses and NHS Scotland to ensure we can respond effectively.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak said his Budget will deliver for the Scottish people. (Aaron Chown/PA)

Overall, Mr Sunak said the Budget would boost spending in Scotland by 640 million, adding it would deliver for the Scottish people.

Story continues

Combined with decisions taken by Westminster over the last year, this will mean an almost 2 billion spending boost for Scotland, according to the UK Government.

Scottish Secretary Alister Jack hailed it as a great Budget for Scotland

As well as 640 million in funding for the Scottish Government, he said there was a significant boost to broadband infrastructure and a package of support for the Scotch whisky industry, among other economic measures.

Mr Sunak said: Our United Kingdom is the most successful political and economic union in history and through this Budget we will further strengthen the ties that bind us and kick-start a decade of investment in all our communities.

The UK Government has promised a 1 million campaign to promote Scottish food and drink, with whisky producers to benefit from a 10 million fund to help distilleries go green.

There will also be 5 million for trials of 5G in Scotland, alongside plans to roll out broadband to hard to reach areas and to expand 4G coverage to almost three-quarters (74%) of the country.

A growth deal for Argyll and Bute, with 25 million of funding, was also confirmed.

The UK Government is sending Scotland more than 1.9 billion in additional Barnett consequentials, compared to 2019-20. This will be the largest year-on-year real-terms funding increase for the Scottish Government in a decade. #Budget2020 pic.twitter.com/eQKSCZySuc  Jackson Carlaw MSP (@Jackson_Carlaw) March 11, 2020

Scottish Tory leader Jackson Carlaw tweeted: The UK Government is sending Scotland more than 1.9 billion in additional Barnett consequentials, compared to 2019-20.

This will be the largest year-on-year real-terms funding increase for the Scottish Government in a decade.

Labour finance spokeswoman Rhoda Grant claimed the spending announcements in the Budget meant it was an admission that austerity has been a failed experiment.

But she added: Todays measures go nowhere near to reversing the damage done to the economy and to peoples livelihoods by the last 10 years of Tory rule.

Ms Grant also said the extra money that comes to Scotland must be used to deliver transformational investment in the areas that need it most, such as local government and social care.

The Budget also included 27 billion for roads improvements, as well as a continued freeze in fuel duty, which Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie branded dangerous.

He said the Chancellor had put deregulated economic growth over people and planet.

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said the Budget statement had been missing was an honest assessment of the economic cost of Brexit.
Congressman Matt Gaetz has tested negative for the coronavirus, hours after he detailed the lengths he went to to keep himself safe.

Mr Gaetz was travelling on Air Force One with Donald Trump on Monday when he went into self-isolation after receiving news a constituent he took a picture with on 27 February had tested positive for Covid-19.

The Florida congressman was a late addition to the flight, after Mr Trump had asked to discuss the ongoing issues in Florida in the aftermath of 2018s Hurricane Michael, according to the Pensacola News Journal.

Mr Gaetz had also visited Trumps hotel, Mar-a-Lago in the days leading up to the flight.

While he was self-isolated, Mr Gaetz still had the meeting with the president, giving verbal responses to his aide who asked him questions via paper that the congressman subsequently disposed of, reported the newspaper.

After getting off the plane,he said he was not able to stay in a hotel, in fear of infecting others, telling the Journal: I slept in a Walmart parking lot somewhere off (Interstate) 85.

Mr Gaetz tweeted on Tuesday that he has tested negative for Covid-19, but will continue to self-isolate until 2pm on Thursday like originally planned.

Ive just been informed that my COVID-19 lab result was negative. In an abundance of caution, I will remain under self-quarantine at the advice of medical professionals through Thursday at 2pm. I continue to feel fine and show no symptoms, he tweeted.

Last week, the congressman was criticised for making light of the victims by wearing a gas mark to Congress, but tweeted his support for those attempting to combat Covid-19 on Tuesday.

We appreciate the great folks working in the United States and around the world to combat this virus, tweeted Mr Gaetz.
File photo shows Hahnemann University Hospital on July 25, 2019 with Philadelphia City Hall in the backdrop. Officials are considering using the shuttered hospital's building in case there is a surge of coronavirus infections in the city. Read more

Philadelphia officials are exploring ways to use the former Hahnemann University Hospital property should the city see a surge of coronavirus cases, Health Commissioner Thomas Farley said Wednesday.

The debt-ridden safety-net hospital was shut down last year after its owner, American Academic Health System, filed for bankruptcy.

The facility could be used for a variety of services to relieve strain on the health-care system, not necessarily for the treatment of patients infected with the coronavirus, officials said.

But the move would come only as a last resort.

It would not be a simple task, by any means," Farley said during a meeting about the virus with leaders of major health systems and Independence Blue Cross, the regions largest health insurer. Our hope is that we never get to that point.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health revoked Hahnemanns hospital license in November, and its beds and other equipment were auctioned in January. All thats left are some old desks. Even so, the city already has been in touch with the facilitys owners to discuss the possibility of using it, Farley said.

The Hahnemann real estate was not part of last summers bankruptcy and it remains under the control of Joel Freedman, the California businessman who in early 2018 bought Hahnemann and St. Christophers Hospital for Children for $170 million.

A spokesperson said Freedman offered the property to assist the city and Public Health Department in the handling of COVID-19 pandemic patients, but the spokesperson cautioned that there are many complications, such as the absence of beds and other equipment and utilities that serve buildings not controlled by Freedman.

Before closing, the 496-bed hospital saw about 150 emergency department patients daily.

All hospitals in the city would share the facility in the event of a coronavirus surge, under the scenario Farley envisions. But it was not immediately clear how the licensing issue would work out or if insurers would pay for care provided in an unlicensed facility. The state Department of Health considers the facility out of its purview because it is not licensed.

The city is still only at the point of talking to facilities, including the owners of the building that used to house Hahnemann, about the possibility of using one or more of these sites as a healthcare setting or a quarantine setting, James Garrow, spokesperson for the city Department of Public Health, said in an email. There are obviously many, many details to be worked out, but the first step is to figure out if this is even possible.

As a quarantine site for people who have no other place to go, the former Hahnemann facility would not have to be licensed. You just need a place where someone can be away from others; it can be staffed by almost anyone, Garrow said. A health-care setting, including an inpatient facility, would require state approval, he said.

The idea of tapping into space at the Hahnemann property came as a result of conversations with Patrick J. Brennan, Penn Medicines chief medical officer, Farley said.

Farley said there was no evidence yet that the virus was spreading within Philadelphia, but if the experience of other regions and countries is any guide, the situation could change in a hurry.

If we have a big surge, it would be difficult, the commissioner said.

Brennan, who was among those at the meeting Wednesday, said Penn also had explored possible ways to expand its own capacity in a worst-case scenario.

One would be to use non-clinical spaces such as lobbies, which could accommodate patients with other conditions, thereby freeing up private rooms for the small percentage of coronavirus patients with serious illness, he said.

The other would be to reopen a small number of clinical rooms that are currently not in use. He declined to be specific, but said the spaces were being converted for use by medical specialties.
President Rodrigo Duterte has assured Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), especially those in the Middle East, that the government will provide assistance amid the travel ban due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) threat.

Any Filipino for that matter, maski saan. Wherever he may be, if he wants to go home here, to his country, we are duty bound to bring him back to the Philippines, he said on Monday (March 9) during the Interagency Task Force (IATF) on COVID-19 briefing in Malacanang.

Qatar, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia recently implemented a travel ban to the Philippines to prevent the spread of the virus in their own respective countries.

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) will grant monetary assistance to the affected OFWs and to more than 4,000 workers affected with the recent retrenchments of 66 local establishments.AAC

The post Duterte assures help to OFWs amid travel ban in Middle East appeared first on UNTV News.
Stena Line has launched the biggest ever ferry to sail on the Belfast to Liverpool route as the Stena Edda embarked on its maiden voyage to Belfast.

The Stena Edda is part of an investment of over 200m by Stena Line in three new vessels and port upgrades, also involving Peel Ports, which runs Port of Liverpool and Belfast Harbour.

It comes as Northern Ireland loses a crucial part of its air connectivity, with around a dozen flights into Britain from Belfast lost as a result of the administration of regional airline Flybe.

Edda, which arrived in Belfast from Merseyside for the first time on Monday night, is the first of two new ferries on the Belfast to Liverpool route.

It can carry up to 1,000 passengers and 120 cars, with 3,100 lane metres of freight.

While the new vessel is 215 metres long, Stena Line said that new infrastructure in Belfast and Birkenhead will make it easier to load and unload passengers.

Mary Jo McCanny, Visit Belfast's director of visitor servicing, welcomed the investment by Stena Line.

"Increased connectivity has been a key factor in Belfast's recent tourism renaissance. Sea travel provides well over half of our passenger capacity from our main market in Great Britain, so we welcome Stena Line's commitment to Belfast and their continued investment in their routes," she said.

"We're delighted to be here to welcome the first of what we hope will be many passengers from Liverpool."

Paul Grant, Stena Line trade director for Irish Sea North, said: "As Europe's largest ferry company, this is a very exciting time for Stena Line. The Irish Sea is very important to our company and we are committed to enhancing and developing our services on these routes to continue offering the very best freight and travel experience for customers.

"With vessels which are the most spacious and comfortable ever to sail on the Irish Sea, Stena Line is proud to be shaping the ferry industry for the next generation of freight and travel customers.

"The Liverpool to Belfast route has been growing consistently since Stena Line acquired it almost 10 years ago."

The Stena Edda arrived following a four-week voyage from ship builders in China, followed by trials in Liverpool and Birkenhead.
[March 11, 2020] Diana Scott Beattie, Ph.D. is being recognized by Continental Who's Who

MORGANTOWN, W.Va, March 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Diana Scott Beattie, Ph.D. is being recognized by Continental Who's Who as a Pinnacle Professional Achiever in the field of Bio Chemistry Research. Now retired, Dr. Beattie worked in bio-chemistry for over sixty years, establishing herself as a hard working researcher in the field of biological sciences. Before retirement, she was very fond of researching, using creativity, and working with students at West Virginia University School of Medicine. For twenty-one years, she served as Chair for the Department of Biochemistry, taking on the position of Chair for both the Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology for the last five years of her tenure. She has stated that, "the work was often challenging, but interesting and fun".

By listening to presentations at research forums, dissertation proposals, and defenses, Dr. Beattie gained a greater understanding of the varied research interests delivered by the biochemistry department. She and her students helped the department achieve major contributions toscience, which resulted in the department being praised for their educational outcomes in both biochemistry and pharmacology. Overall, she has helped to shape the reputation of West Virginia University School of Medicine held by the larger scientific community.





Prior to embarking on her professional journey, Dr. Beattie earned a Bachelor of Arts with high honors in Biology from Swarthmore College. She then went on to earn a PhD in Biochemistry from the University of Pittsburgh. Upon retirement, she was appointed Professor Emeritus at the West Virginia University School of Medicine.



Dr. Beattie is affiliated with the National Board of Medical Examiners, American Cancer Society, and Christian Help. She has served for two years on the administrative board of the West Virginia University Retirees Association.

When not at work, she can be found at volunteer centers where she distributes free meals, toys, and clothing donations for those who are in need.

In her spare time, Dr. Beattie enjoys spending time with her four children and raising her grandchildren. She would like to dedicate this recognition in memoriam to Seymore Koritz, Ph.D., and Liviu Clejan, Ph.D. Contact: Katherine Green, 516-825-5634, [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/diana-scott-beattie-phd-is-being-recognized-by-continental-whos-who-301021645.html SOURCE Continental Who's Who

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RESTON, Va., March 11, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), a global association of leading graduate business schools, today announced the addition of one of Portugals top business schools into its membership. The addition of Nova School of Business & Economics (Nova SBE), brings GMACs total membership to 229 institutions.



GMAC member schools go through an invitation-only process governed by the organizations board of directors. Nominees then participate in a comprehensive application process that addresses the sustained commitments to supporting GMACs mission: providing the tools and information necessary for schools and talent to discover and evaluate each other.

Nova SBE is committed to the constant improvement of competent and responsible management education, said Professor Rita Campos Cunha, Deputy Dean, Pre-Experience Studies. As a school, we are designed as an open platform, always seeking dialogue and an exchange of ideas and best practices with our colleagues. We believe that GMAC is an excellent convener of business schools from around the world to which we can contribute through our own experiences and know-how, while also benefiting from the shared experience of other member schools.

As business education evolves with the ever-changing pace of the global marketplace, institutions such as Nova School of Business & Economics understand the importance of innovation in how and what they are teaching tomorrows changemakers, said Sangeet Chowfla, president and CEO of GMAC.

Nova SBE considers itself a community of world citizens. Sharing GMACs vision of diversity, the institution strives to stay at the forefront of innovation while preparing executives and entrepreneurs of tomorrow to contribute to a more open, sustainable, and inclusive world. Financial Times has ranked the school 22nd for its International Master's in Management worldwide; 21st for its International Master's in Finance worldwide; and among the top 30 Business Schools in Europe. Recently relocated to a new campus in Lisbons Carcavelos neighborhood, Nova SBE is eager to offer students a modern, interactive, and collaborative learning experience.

To be considered for membership in GMAC, schools complete an application process and must maintain a selective admissions process; offer a masters program in business administration, management subjects or equivalent; and actively support GMACs mission and use the GMAT exam or other GMAC assessments as part of their admissions and enrollment processes. They also participate in GMAC governance, including voting on board elections and other matters that may come before the Council.

About GMAC

The Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) is a mission-driven association of leading graduate business schools worldwide. Founded in 1953, we are committed to creating solutions for business schools and candidates to better discover, evaluate and connect with each other. We work on behalf of the schools and the graduate management education community, and guide candidates on their journey to higher education, to ensure that no talent goes undiscovered.

GMAC provides world-class research, professional development opportunities and assessments for the graduate management education industry, designed to advance the art and science of admissions. Owned and administered by GMAC, the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) exam is the most widely used graduate business school assessment, recognized by more than 7,000 programs worldwide. Other GMAC assessments include the NMAT by GMAC (NMAT) exam, for entrance into graduate management programs in India, Nigeria, the Philippines, and South Africa, and the Executive Assessment (EA), which supports the admissions needs of more than 160 programs around the world.

Our flagship portal for graduate management education resources and information, www.mba.com, receives over 7 million visits a year and features the Program Finder matching tool and GMASS search service, a data-driven technology that helps connect candidates and business schools. These platforms are part of GMAC Connect, a suite of services that help schools attract students through recruiting solutions that marry our market intelligence, data, reach and candidate touchpoints.

Subsidiaries of GMAC include UK-based online publishing company BusinessBecause, a content-rich destination that helps students identify the right-fit business schools during the critical consideration and selection phases of their journey, and The MBA Tour, which supports business schools global recruiting efforts by organizing business education-focused events around the world.

GMAC is a global organization with offices in China, India, Singapore, United Kingdom and the United States. To learn more about our work, please visit www.gmac.com .

About Nova SBE

Nova SBE is a leading school in the areas of Economics, Finance, and Management through its undergraduate, master's, Ph.D., MBA, and Executive Education programs. It is on the list of the 30 best schools in Europe with about 3000 students from more than 70 different countries, with its programs recognized by the Financial Times. The school is a member of the CEMS since December 2007, and a member of the restricted group of international Triple Crown schools, being the only Portuguese school classified by Eduniversal as "Universal Business School" with five Eduniversal Palms. It was the first Portuguese business school to acquire international accreditations and worldwide recognition in higher education. The international vision of Nova SBE is also reflected in the adoption of English as the main teaching language. The current Dean is Prof. Dr. Daniel Traca (Ph.D., Columbia University), also a former student of the school (BSc Economics '85).

Media contact:

Geoffrey Basye, Director of Media Relations, GMAC

+1 (703) 668-9799 or gbasye@gmac.com
With the new coronavirus now spreading globally, countries around the world must be prepared for the economic aftermath of the outbreak to last at least a year, Singapore's Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said on Wednesday. "The genie's out of the bottle," Balakrishnan told CNBC's "Squawk Box Asia," adding that the disease had "exploded" after it spread beyond Asia to countries such as Iran, Italy and the U.S. He said that containment would have been possible if the new disease, named COVID-19, had been like SARS. The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome outbreak 17 years ago was largely contained within East Asian countries including China, Japan, South Korea and Singapore. It infected more than 8,000 people in total, of which 774 died, according to data from the World Health Organization.

This is a new virus, it is very dangerous and wishful to believe that it will behave according to previous viruses. So, we do not make the assumption that this will disappear in the summer months. Vivian Balakrishnan Singapore's Foreign Minister

In comparison, the new coronavirus has infected more than 110,000 people across at least 110 countries and territories, with over 4,000 deaths worldwide, WHO said. Balakrishnan pointed out that the SARS outbreak lasted about four months and its economic impact took around six months to wear off. Meanwhile, the spread of the new coronavirus could last longer and its impact may also be bigger due to the scale of the outbreak, the minister said. "I think you have to be concerned about a major impact because it's a global phenomenon and it's going to last quite some time," he said. "You need to be psychologically prepared."

The minister  who's a trained medical doctor  said there are two possibilities on how the current outbreak could pan out: The virus spread turns into "a global pandemic" with potentially "horrendous" impact; It becomes endemic, which means it turns into one of the usual viruses that cause illnesses in people.

Outbreak a test of country's preparedness

Singapore, a tiny Southeast Asian country, was one of the earliest countries to report cases of COVID-19. As of Tuesday noon, Singapore had 166 confirmed cases, of which 93 have been discharged from hospitals, according to the country's Ministry of Health. The country hasn't reported any deaths relating to the new coronavirus. But Balakrishnan said Singapore cannot assume it will remain that way and is prepared for the worst.
TORONTO - Cindy Perry was all set for a March break trip to California with her wife and their two children, but the novel coronavirus outbreak that is sweeping the globe made her reconsider her plans.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 11/3/2020 (671 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

In this illustration provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in January 2020 shows the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV). This virus was identified as the cause of an outbreak of respiratory illness first detected in Wuhan, China. The new coronavirus outbreak is affecting Canadians' March break travel plans. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-CDC via AP, File

TORONTO - Cindy Perry was all set for a March break trip to California with her wife and their two children, but the novel coronavirus outbreak that is sweeping the globe made her reconsider her plans.

After weighing her options, the Toronto mom ultimately decided to cancel the trip to a region where COVID-19  the disease caused by the new coronavirus  has already killed two people and sickened more than 130 others. About 20 of those cases were acquired through community spread.

"Given the low rates of testing that have been going on in the U.S., just a handful of community cases likely means that it's pretty widespread," Perry said.

Travel restrictions that might have come into effect while the family was out of the country were also a concern for Perry.

"Obviously California is not a place where we can easily get ourselves back to Canada if, for example, they decide to cancel flights into and out of the States," she said.

The global spread of the virus comes during one of the busiest travel times of the year for Canadians, looking for a getaway while kids are out of school.

Both Air Canada and WestJet are waiving fees associated with changing flights booked from March 4 and 5, respectively, through to the 31st. WestJet is also removing normal change and cancel restrictions for customers who have booked a basic fare for travel beginning on or before March 31.

The airline has also expanded and increased the frequency of sanitation procedures, in light of coronavirus concerns. In addition to regular cleaners, airline staff are now also using hospital-grade Clorox wipes and spray.

"These new products are used on tray tables as well as general seating areas to ensure all guest contact surfaces are thoroughly disinfected," WestJet said in a statement.

"The Clorox and (regular) Sanicide products are used to accomplish the cleaning of our galleys, lavatories, tray tables, seat armrests and headrests, seatbelt buckles, the PSU panel (above seats with lights and call buttons), overhead bin door latches and lavatory door handles."

Toronto's Pearson International Airport has added extra hand sanitizer stations in the arrivals areas and is more frequently cleaning those spaces, including kiosks and bathrooms. High-traffic areas are regularly disinfected, the airport authority said.

Canada's chief public health officer, Dr. Theresa Tam, has recommended Canadians avoid travelling on all cruise ships  which have seen several outbreaks  to protect against the spread of the novel coronavirus.

"Cruise ships have passengers from around the world who may be arriving from areas with known or unknown spread of the novel coronavirus," she has said.

Public health and the federal government are strongly urging people to check the online travel advisories which are updated hourly. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also urged Canadians to register with Global Affairs before travelling outside the country.

"March break is coming up and if youre travelling, we recommend you check out travel advisories from @TravelGoC. We also encourage you to use the Registration of Canadians Abroad service to receive important updates before & during your travel," he tweeted on Tuesday.

Canadians are expected to monitor themselves for symptoms when they return home and report to public health if they suspect they may have been infected.

Ontario's chief medical officer of health, Dr. David Williams, said Canadians with international travel plans during March break should do a "precautionary assessment."

"Do you need to go on the trip? Where are you going on the trip? What are your risk factors of you going on the trip? Do you have health conditions? What's the risk factor of taking your children on the trip? What kind of behaviour are you going to be involved with at that end? What kind of ability are you going to have to limit your social distancing in those settings?" he said.

"It's one thing to be in a very crowded international venue versus you're just going down and have an AirBnB somewhere and sit on the beach with your kids."

For Perry, her decision to cancel her family's California trip came largely for fear of getting stuck there, but she would also worry about contracting the illness and spreading it to more vulnerable people. She was able to cancel all of the rental cars and hotels at no cost, got her Aeroplan points back and only had to pay a few-hundred-dollar fee, so Perry is trying to look on the bright side.

"The kids are disappointed, but it's still a week off school," she said.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 11, 2020.
Samsung Display requested the Vietnamese government to allow its engineers from South Korea to skip the mandatory time in quarantine

This time of the year, Samsung Display frequently sends engineers from South Korea to Vietnam to prepare for the scheduled launch of new products in the latter half of the year, a source told Reuters. "Travel restrictions could deal a setback to such plans," he said.

Samsung Display, a supplier of Samsung Electronics and Apple, has asked Vietnam to exempt 700 engineers from South Korea from the mandatory quarantine, saying that they are urgently needed to prepare for the production of screens for new smartphones.

In its talks with the Vietnamese government, Samsung Display requested this exemption if engineers can present medical examination reports, the person added on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.

Vietnam is South Korea's No.3 export market as well as the fifth-biggest source of South Korean imports. Samsung Electronics alone accounts for a fourth of Vietnam's exports and makes over half of its global smartphones here.

Vietnam has mandated a 14-day quarantine for people coming from South Korea to curb the spread of the virus, which can be transmitted from person to person and has already reached more than 60 countries. South Korea has reported one of the highest number of infections outside of China.

This has come as a blow to South Korean companies, which are the biggest foreign investors in Vietnam. Samsung Display runs a factory in the country where it assembles OLED displays used in smartphones made by Samsung Electronics, Apple, and Huawei.

South Korea is the second-worst hit county by the coronavirus in the world with 7,513 cases of infection up to date and 58 deaths. The epidemic has been reported to have just passed its peak last week with 500 new infections diagnosed every day. However, this is still a huge figure and loosening health inspections and quarantining for foreigners arriving from epidemic areas would pose great risks for Vietnam.

At the end of March 10, there were 34 COVID-19 infection cases in Vietnam. The latest patient is a woman who travelled to the US and transited at South Korea's Incheon international airport on February 22 to return to Vietnam a week later. Previously, a man coming back from South Korea' Daegu and 11 foreign tourists from the UK tested positive for the epidemic. Thereby, prevention and quarantine are still essential for Vietnam to contain the spread of the COVID-19.
Broadway, a hallmark New York industry that drew 14.8 million patrons and grossed $1.8 billion last season, is vulnerable to economic damage from the outbreak for multiple reasons: Its audience skews older, and older people seem especially vulnerable to this virus; its audience is heavily made up of tourists, and travel is drying up; and its events involve large numbers of people packed into tight spaces  a situation risky enough that it is being banned in some countries.

On Wednesday, the owners of two theaters said that a part-time usher who worked for them had tested positive for the virus. No other worker had fallen ill, but the owners asked audience members and employees who were present at the same performances to monitor their health.

Broadways leaders say they are determined to keep their theaters open if at all possible, and anticipate that they would collectively close only if ordered to do so by a government agency. That is not unthinkable: Some performance venues have been closed in Austria, Germany and Italy, among other places.

On Thursday, Mayor Bill de Blasio said he was trying to avoid closing theaters, but also said they might need to cut down on audience size if they wanted to stay open.
Micheal Small is accused of multiple counts of theft, deception and accounting offences Photo: Collins Courts

A FORMER solicitor facing 1.2 million fraud charges has been sent for trial.

Michael Small (53) is accused of multiple counts of theft, deception and accounting offences, alleged to have taken place over a two-year period while he was in practice as a solicitor in Limerick.

He had a book of evidence served on him when he appeared in Dublin District Court today.

Mr Small, of Renville, Oranmore, Co Galway, is charged with five counts of theft, five counts of deception, five of failing to keep accounting records and another two of making or using false accounting documents, at locations in Limerick and Dublin in 2008 and 2009.

The case had been before the court a number of times previously and Judge Colin Daly was told today a book of evidence was ready and served on Mr Small.

The DPP consented to the accused being sent for trial to the present sittings of Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Defence solicitor Cahir O'Higgins asked for free legal aid to cover senior as well as junior counsel in the circuit court, given the seriousness of the charge which involved allegations of 1.2 million fraud.

There was also an issue of delay, and the case was a "matter of some vintage," Mr O'Higgins said.

Judge Daly granted legal aid. He gave Mr Small the formal warning that he must provide any alibi details to the prosecution within 14 days.

He also ordered the prosecution to furnish the defence with the accused's garda interview video.

Mr Small, who was not required to speak during the hearing, was remanded on bail under existing terms, to appear in the circuit court on April 2.

Previously, a state solicitor said the case was "a quite involved and complex matter" and the allegations are serious and involve a considerable sum of 1.2 million.

The theft charges allege that Mr Small stole five separate sums totalling more than 890,000 from a woman at PTSB, St Stephens Green on dates between September 2, 2008 and March 30, 2009.

The five deception charges allege that, on the same dates at the same location, he dishonestly by deception induced the same named woman to issue loan funds.

Two more charges allege that he made or used a false document for accounting purposes - that he furnished information for the reporting accountants report to the Law Society, which to his knowledge was or could have been misleading, false or deceptive in a material particular.

This was with the intention of making a gain for himself or another or causing a loss to another, and the offences are alleged to have happened at Mulcahy Gorman Mulcahy Accountants, OConnell Street, Limerick, on May 19, 2008 and June 26, 2009.

Those sets of charges are under Sections 4, 6 and 10 of the Theft and Fraud Offences Act.

Five other charges under the Solicitors Act state that, on dates between August 14, 2008 and February 19, 2009, Mr Small failed without reasonable excuse to maintain and keep accounting records, in Co Limerick.
ANKARA, March 10 (Reuters) - Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Tuesday that a 2016 agreement between Turkey and the European Union needs to be updated, taking into account developments in Syria, and that Ankara was ready to work constructively on the issue.

In an interview with state-owned Anadolu news agency, Cavusoglu said that EU visa liberalisation and an update of the country's customs union with the bloc must be implemented to help solve the migrant issue.

Late on Monday, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan left meetings in Brussels with European Union and NATO leaders without issuing a joint statement nor appearing at a joint press conference, as had been planned. (Reporting Tuvan Gumrukcu and Ece Toksabay; Writing by Daren Butler; Editing by Jonathan Spicer)
US Senator Bernie Sanders and former Vice President Joe Biden on Tuesday cancelled their respective elections rallies amid rising concerns over the spread of the coronavirus.

Both Democrats presidential nominees announced the cancellation as the number of coronavirus cases in the country rose to 700. Medical experts have advised avoiding large gathering.

Senator Bernie Sanders's campaign announced that the Vermont senator is cancelling his rally in Cleveland out of concern for public health and safety, The Hill reported.

"Out of concern for public health and safety, we are cancelling tonight's rally in Cleveland," Mike Casca, communications director for the Sanders campaign, said in a statement.

"We are heeding the public warnings from Ohio state officials, who have communicated concern about holding large, indoor events during the coronavirus outbreak," he continued.

Meanwhile, Biden's campaign also announced they were cancelling their rally scheduled for Tuesday evening at Cuyahoga Community College in Cleveland.

"In accordance with guidance from public officials and out of an abundance of caution, our rally in Cleveland, Ohio tonight is cancelled," Biden's deputy campaign manager and communications manager Kate Beddingfield said in a tweet.

"We will continue to consult with public health officials and public health guidance and make announcements about future events," it added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Road reopens after crash near Gresford Roundabout

This article is old - Published: Wednesday, Mar 11th, 2020

Update: The Road has since reopened and traffic has returned to normal.

Original: Motorists are being warned of a crash on the A483.

The incident, which has taken place near the Gresford Roundabout, took place shortly after 6:30pm on the northbound carriageway.

It is thought the incident has involved a van and a car.

As a result there are long delays on the bypass.

North Wales Police are in attendance and were told that motorists are being diverted off the Gresford Roundabout.

#A483 : Northbound : Gresford : Incident : Accident : Local diversions in place #TrafficWalesAlert  North & Mid Wales (@TrafficWalesN) March 11, 2020

More information when we have it.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-11 10:33:44|Editor: huaxia

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BUJUMBURA, March 11 (Xinhua) -- The Burundian National Independent Electoral Commission (CENI) has rejected four candidates out of the ten who had filed for the May 20 presidential election, its chairman said on Tuesday.

Addressing a press briefing in the Burundian commercial center Bujumbura, Pierre Claver Kazihise explained that the four candidates were rejected because they "did not meet requirements" set by the national constitution or the electoral code, and failed to give further information.

The four rejected applicants include Jacques Bigirimana for the National Liberation Forces, former President Domitien Ndayizeye for the Kira Burundi coalition, Valentin Kavakure for the FPN-Imboneza party and Anicet Niyonkuru for the Council of the Patriots party.

Kazihise said that the four candidates can appeal against the decision to the Constitutional Court within two days.

On May 20, Burundi will hold general elections that combine three polls -- the presidential election, legislative elections and district council elections.
NEW DELHI (PTI): State-run aerospace behemoth Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) is looking at setting up logistics bases in Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia and Sri Lanka as part of initiatives to woo the countries to buy India's light combat aircraft Tejas and military helicopters.



Chairman and Managing Director of HAL R Madhavan said the HAL is considering to build logistics bases in the four countries as they use a number of Russian-origin military aircraft and choppers whose serviceability is "very poor".



He said the HAL is now seriously focusing on boosting exports in sync with the government's priority and identified South East Asia, West Asia and North Africa to sell key platforms like Tejas, attack helicopter Rudra and advanced light helicopter Dhruv.



Last month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set an ambitious defence export target of USD 5 billion dollars in the next five years and asked all the key military manufacturers to work hard to achieve the target.



"We are looking at setting up maintenance facilities in Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Sri Lanka. We can give them a lot of support to as these countries use lot of platforms which are common to India, and their serviceability is very poor," he told PTI.



The HAL top executive said the company is looking at setting up maintenance facilities in these four countries as having logistics bases is key to sell the products and ensure after-sales services.



Without divulging details, Madhavan said a number of countries in West Asia are also in touch with the HAL for possible procurement of its key products.



"We now are looking at exports very seriously. A sizeable number of countries are showing lots of interests in the platforms we are producing as they are world class. We are in talks with so many countries," said the HAL chief.



Specifically, he said that Tejas has a "very good" export potential as it is a four-and-half generation fighter jet which can compete with some of the famous military jets in its class.



The Tejas has been Developed by Aeronautical Development Agency and the HAL. The lifespan of the jet would be a minimum of 30 years just like any other frontline combat aircraft.



The combat jets are classified under various generations depending on their avionics, capability and weapons systems. The current fleet of fighter jets with the IAF range from three-and-half generation to the fourth generation.



The Indian Air Force has already placed an order for 40 Tejas and is likely to seal a contract "very soon" with HAL for another 83 aircraft at a cost of around Rs 38,000 crore.



India is one of the largest importers of arms and military platforms globally. The government has been focusing significantly on promoting defence indigenisation by taking a slew of reform initiatives including liberalising FDI in defence sector.


Mississauga, Ontario and Sacramento, California--(Newsfile Corp. - March 11, 2020) - Bee Vectoring Technologies International Inc. (TSXV: BEE) (OTCQB: BEVVF) (CVE: BEE) (the "Company" or "BVT") today announced that it has closed three new grower deals with berry producers in Oregon and Washington states. These new customers will use BVT's proprietary bee delivery system, VECTORITE with CR-7, on portions of their blueberry and raspberry crops in the upcoming growing season. The landmark deals extend the Company's commercial reach into the US west coast, building on the strong momentum it has seen with southeast-based growers.

"We are excited to be expanding into this new region," says Ashish Malik, CEO of Bee Vectoring Technologies. "These initial grower commitments align with our growth strategy starting with initial market penetration, moving to customer retention and expansion. We've now successfully penetrated the US Southeast blueberry market, the Pacific Northwest blueberry and raspberry markets, and the Florida strawberry market and anticipate this strong commercial momentum continuing in coming seasons."





A Washington state commercial blueberry field that has trialed BVT's natural precision agriculture system.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/3903/53343_e5e32ccf04dbd9e8_002full.jpg



The new deals also mark another important breakthrough: the first commercial use of BVT's recently announced patent-pending computer-controlled honeybee hive dispenser system. In the western US, only honeybees are currently used for commercial pollination since bumble bees are currently not allowed in western USA and Canada. The honeybee hive dispenser thus matches specific market demands and allows BVT to address 100% of the US market. The newly contracted growers produce blueberries, raspberries and blackberries across the western US region.

The Company's system is in the market at the right time. There is a significant need for alternative plant protection products for berry crops as there is increasing evidence that the efficacy of traditional fungicides is declining. Data presented at the 2019 Washington Blueberry Show from Washington State University documented resistance even with newer classes of fungicide chemistry throughout the production areas tested.(1) Similar data was presented by Michigan State University.

BVT's natural precision agriculture system uses commercially-reared bees to carry its organic and natural plant protection product, VECTORITE with CR-7, directly to blooms throughout the day and continuously for the full bloom period. Traditional spraying is done periodically and disease pressure can build in between spraying applications. CR-7 provides a new class of all-natural fungicide as an additional tool to be applied throughout the bloom period to enhance disease management and enhance high-yield production. BVT's CR-7 also has Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) approval for organic production and is exempt from residue tolerance testing, making it an ideal tool for both conventional and organic berry growers.

The Pacific Northwest growers are first-time users of the BVT system and will pilot BVT on a percentage (60 to 80 acres out of a combined 1,800 acres) of their conventional and organic crops. Based on common practice, there is an expectation that they will add BVT across their entire operations in the coming two to three seasons based on positive results. The next blueberry season in Oregon and Washington starts with the blooming period in April 2020, when the BVT system is used, continuing until spring/summer harvest. BVT is actively pursuing further grower contracts in the lead up to this season commencing.

"Historically, growers start by using BVT on 10-20% of their acreage, and gradually progress to 100%," says Mr. Malik. "Our strategy is to choose influential growers, because their pilot seasons are highly visible to other producers. So in addition to the initial 60 to 80 acres that can expand to 1,800 acres in future seasons, other growers will take notice and adopt the BVT system in the future, which will increase our market share through new customer acquisition as well as boosting BVT's share of wallet with its initial growers."

"The blueberry market in the US is significant, representing about one third of global production at 270,000(2) acres. The Pacific Northwest and Southeastern regions together have a combined 60,000(3) acres of cultivated highbush blueberries, representing two-thirds of the 90,000(4) acre US market," said Mr. Malik. "For BVT, this represents a major new market for the upcoming growing season and a large growth opportunity in future growing seasons. There is high market demand for Pacific Northwest berries domestically and overseas, with a large export market to Asia in both fresh pack and frozen berries."

Many west coast blueberry growers have also expanded into raspberries and blackberries, and there is the potential for them to use BVT's system on those crops as well. Within the US, Oregon is the biggest producer of blackberries with 6,500(5) acres, and Washington is the biggest producer of raspberries with 9,500(6) acres.

The Company also announces that it intends to seek TSX Venture Exchange ("Exchange") approval to extend the expiry date of an aggregate of 12,000,000 warrants previously issued on March 28, 2018 and exercisable at $0.35 per share by one year.

The particulars of the proposed extension to the terms of the warrants are as follows:

12,000,000 warrants issued on March 28, 2018 with an exercise price of $0.35 per share, which are due to expire on March 28, 2020, will be extended to March 28, 2021.

The warrant term expiry date extension is subject to Exchange approval.

(1) Source: APS Publications, https://apsjournals.apsnet.org/doi/full/10.1094/PDIS-02-16-0229-RE

(2) Source: FAO, United Nations, 2017 Statistics

(3)(4)(5)(6) Source: USDA, 2018 Agricultural Statistics Annual

About Bee Vectoring Technologies International Inc.

BVT, an agriculture technology company, is a market disruptor with a significant global market opportunity in the $240 billion crop protection and fertilizer market. BVT has pioneered a natural precision agriculture system that replaces chemical pesticides and wasteful plant protection product spray applications by delivering biological pesticide alternatives to crops using commercially grown bees. BVT's award-winning technology, precision vectoring, is completely harmless to bees and allows minute amounts of naturally-derived pesticides (called biologicals) to be delivered directly to blooms, providing improved crop protection and yield results than traditional chemical pesticides - and improving the health of the soil, the microbiome and the environment. Currently, BVT has over 65 granted patents, over 35 patents pending in all major agricultural countries worldwide, and has US EPA registration of its VECTORITE with CR-7 (EPA Registration No. 90641-2) for sale as a registered biological fungicide for use on the labeled crops.

Additional information can be viewed at the Company's website www.beevt.com. To receive regular news updates from the Company, subscribe at www.beevt.com/newsletter.

Contact:

Ashish Malik, President & CEO

info@beevt.com

Babak Pedram, Investor Relations

Virtus Advisory Group

Tel: 416-995-8651

bpedram@virtusadvisory.com

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

Certain statements contained in this press release constitute "forward-looking information" as such term is defined in applicable Canadian securities legislation. The words "may", "would", "could", "should", "potential", "will", "seek", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect" and similar expressions as they relate to the Company, "annual revenue potential", are intended to identify forward-looking information. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking information. Such statements reflect the Company's current views and intentions with respect to future events, and current information available to the Company, and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including: planted acres of strawberries in Florida, selling price of competitive chemical pesticides and the US to Canadian dollar exchange rate. Material factors or assumptions were applied in providing forward-looking information. Many factors could cause the actual results, performance or achievements that may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking information to vary from those described herein should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize. These factors include changes in law, competition, litigation, the ability to implement business strategies and pursue business opportunities, state of the capital markets, the availability of funds and resources to pursue operations, new technologies, the ability to protect intellectual property rights, the ability to obtain patent protection for products, third-party intellectual property infringement claims, regulatory changes affecting products, failing research and development activities, the ability to reach and sustain profitability, dependence on business and technical experts, the ability to effectively manage business operations and growth, issuance of debt, dilution of existing securities, volatility of publicly traded securities, potential conflicts of interest, unlikelihood of dividend payments, the potential costs stemming from defending third-party intellectual property infringement claims, the ability to secure relationships with manufacturers and purchasers, as well as general economic, market and business conditions, as well as those risk factors discussed or referred to in the Company's Filing Statement dated May 29, 2015, filed with the securities regulatory authorities in certain provinces of Canada and available at www.sedar.com. Should any factor affect the Company in an unexpected manner, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking information prove incorrect, the actual results or events may differ materially from the results or events predicted. Any such forward-looking information is expressly qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement. Moreover, the Company does not assume responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of such forward-looking information. The forward-looking information included in this press release is made as of the date of this press release and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information, other than as required by applicable law. All figures are in Canadian dollars.

###

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/53343
Iran is doing the best it can to control the spread of the coronavirus outbreak, but needs more support, the head of the World Health Organization said Wednesday.

"Iran is doing its best... We are trying to mobilise more support for Iran," WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters in Geneva, adding that the country needed more supplies.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
JSX's fleet is comprised of 30-seat, Embraer 135 and 145 aircraft.

JSXthe revolutionary hop-on air service dedicated to making short-haul air travel simple, joyful, and reliablehas been named today by Fast Company as one of the worlds Most Innovative Companies for 2020, ranked within the top 5 in the travel category.

The prestigious annual listreleased todayhonors the businesses making the most profound impact on both industry and culture, showcasing a variety of ways to thrive in todays fast-changing world. This years MIC list features 434 businesses from across 39 countries.

Were deeply honored to have been selected for Fast Companys highly-regarded list of the Worlds Most Innovative Companies for 2020, notes JSX CEO, Alex Wilcox. Over the past four years, JSX has increasingly filled a gap in the domestic market for short-haul travel, connecting travelers to the most desirable destinations for weekend getaways and frequent business trips. Through it all, we have steadfastly committed to the vision of placing joy back into the flying through our hassle-free, hop on air service  a differentiator that truly distinguishes us from the set.

Now more than ever, specifically in light of the current Coronavirus outbreak, many intrepid travelers are seeking alternative modes of less crowded travel & transportation, namely short-haul private jet travel. Fortunately, when it comes to the West Coast, JSXthe go-to hop-on air service allows travelers to Keep Calm and Hop Onoffering a viable, crowd-free and carefree form of short-haul air travel. As the appeal of private jet travel continues to boomand not just for the super-richtravelers are flocking to private jet and charter plane brokerage companies, looking to avoid the closed-in, cattle-car environment of an average commercial plane. JSX provides an affordable alternative with fares starting at $89 one-way while allowing travelers to arrive just 20 minutes before departure at private terminals. Companies may also privately charter JSXs fleet of 30-seat aircraft for essential workers to and from plants and server farms as a solution to the current travel restrictions.

Founded in 2016, the Dallas-based company has amassed a reputation for joyful, simple, and reliable air travel by providing seamless hop-on air service for all, hospitable customer service, line-free/hassle-free travel with a quick, effortless security screening process that far exceeds TSA requirements, and premium in-flight service that every traveler deserves and more importantly, desires.

Recently honored by Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX) as the 2020 Best Overall Regional air carrier in North America, JSX is dramatically improving air travel for thousands of travelers each month by offering the hassle-free experience of flying between private terminals on 30-seat, Embraer 135 and 145 aircraft. With more than 500 weekly flights focused on destinations within 500 miles of each other, the young jet service has quickly become the go-to flying option that efficiently gets travelers to where they want to be, whether for work, play, or both.

Beyond the increasing frequency of short-haul flights and route network expansion, JSXs success can be attributed to its forward-thinking mindset of simply offering travelers what they want through a variety of distinctive amenities and services, such as:



Arriving just 20 minutes before departure

Seamlessly checking in up to three complimentary free bags

All seats come with business-class leg room along with free snacks and drinks, including cocktails.

Pet-Friendly: JSX charges $0 for pets in under-seat carriers

JSX counts on JetBlue as a codeshare partner; TrueBlue members may earn points on JSX flights

Furthermore, JSX is an industry leader in corporate social responsibility, embracing practices that underscore their ethos of inclusivity. A few highlights include being recently designated as a Best Place to Work for LGBTQ Equality, earning a score of 100 within the 2020 Corporate Equality Index; and being the First Autism Awareness Certified air carrier.

Fast Companys editors and writers sought out the most groundbreaking businesses on the planet and across myriad industries. They also judged nominations received through their application process.

The Worlds Most Innovative Companies is Fast Companys signature franchise and one of its most highly anticipated editorial efforts of the year. It provides both a snapshot and a road map for the future of innovation across the most dynamic sectors of the economy.

At a time of increasing global volatility, this years list showcases the resilience and optimism of businesses across the world. These companies are applying creativity to solve challenges within their industries and far beyond, said Fast Company senior editor Amy Farley, who oversaw the issue with deputy editor David Lidsky.

Fast Companys Most Innovative Companies Issue (March/April 2020) is now available online at fastcompany.com/most-innovative-companies/2020, as well as in app form via iTunes and on newsstands beginning March 17, 2020. The hashtag is #FCMostInnovative.

# # #

ABOUT JSX

Founded in 2016, JSX is a hop-on air service thats faster on the ground, more comfortable in the air and competitively priced with flights starting from $89 each way. Recently honored by Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX) as the 2020 Best Overall Regional air carrier in North America, JSX flies more than 500 weekly flights and focuses on connecting highly desirable business and leisure markets within 500 miles which means customers can save up to two hours each time they fly by avoiding crowded airports and long drives. JSX offers many industry-leading features including:



Arrive just 20 minutes before the flight from private jet terminals with no long check-in lines or waiting at crowded gates;

A quick, effortless security screening process that far exceeds TSA requirements;

Valet parking and beautifully appointed lounges with free WiFi;

A bright, spacious, modern cabin interior, featuring:

30 comfortable leather seats, each with legroom comparable to domestic airlines' first-class service;

Power outlets at every row; (high-speed internet service is set to launch in summer 2020);

Free amenities for all customers including two checked bags, drinks, snacks, and complimentary cocktails inflight;

Deplaning and baggage retrieval within minutes of arrival;

First Autism Awareness Certified Airline

Best Place to Work for LGBTQ Equality, earning a score of 100 within the 2020 Corporate Equality Index

JSX flights may be booked directly through http://www.jsx.com or through codeshare partner JetBlue on multiple online travel sites. TrueBlue members may earn points on JSX flights.

JSX currently serves seven destinations daily from Burbank (BUR), Orange County (SNA), Oakland (OAK), East Bay/Napa/Concord (CCR), Las Vegas (LAS), Seattle-Boeing Field (BFI) and Phoenix (PHX) as well as seasonal service to Mammoth Lakes, Monterey and pop-up service to music festivals and other special events. JSX is adding service from Reno/Lake Tahoe on May 8, 2020.

JSXs luxuriously appointed Embraer 135 and 145 jets may also be chartered for group trips, corporate events or other travel. For a custom quote, contact 800-iFLYJSX.

ABOUT FAST COMPANY

Fast Company is the only media brand fully dedicated to the vital intersection of business, innovation, and design, engaging the most influential leaders, companies, and thinkers on the future of business. Since 2011, Fast Company has received some of the most prestigious editorial and design accolades, including the American Society of Magazine Editors (ASME) National Magazine Award for Magazine of the Year, Adweeks Hot List for Hottest Business Publication, and six gold medals and 10 silver medals from the Society of Publication Designers. The editor-in-chief is Stephanie Mehta and the publisher is Amanda Smith. Headquartered in New York City, Fast Company is published by Mansueto Ventures LLC, along with our sister publication Inc., and can be found online at http://www.fastcompany.com
At least a dozen US universities, colleges cancel classes and move to online instruction amid coronavirus fears.

In a dramatic move, at least a dozen colleges and universities across the country have cancelled in-person classes and switched to teaching their courses online, as the battle against the novel coronavirus in the United States intensifies.

The cancellations have been focused in states hardest hit by COVID-19 cases, including, California, New York and Washington state, after the virus infected more than 800 people in the US and killed at least 28 according to official counts.

On Tuesday, Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, asked its students not to return to campus after its spring break, which begins on Saturday, and said it would move to virtual teaching by March 23.

The decision to move to virtual instruction was not made lightly, the university said in a statement. The goal of these changes is to minimize the need to gather in large groups and spend prolonged time in close proximity with each other in spaces such as classrooms, dining halls, and residential buildings.

Columbia University, Princeton University, Stanford University, the Ohio State University, the University of Southern California and the University of Washington have all announced similar so-called social-distancing measures.

Princeton University in New Jersey said all lectures, seminars and courses would be moved online after its spring recess next week. Online instruction there will last until at least April 5. Stanford University, located in Californias Santa Clara County, which currently has dozens of confirmed cases of the coronavirus, cancelled all in-person classes for the final two weeks of its winter semester. The Ohio State University suspended in-person classes through at least March 30.

Students carrying boxes to their dorms at Harvard University, after the school asked its students not to return to campus after spring break and said it would move to virtual instruction for graduate and undergraduate classes, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, US [Brian Snyder/Reuters]

Dozens of schools and houses of worship across the country have been closed, and conferences, sporting events and concerts have also been cancelled in an effort to slow the spread of the virus.

Quick shift

Bryan Alexander, a senior scholar at Georgetown University, said most universities have the adequate technological infrastructure to conduct classes online, but may face some difficulties with faculty who do not have experience with virtual teaching and students who do not have access to the necessary technology.

The difficulty is faculty who dont have experience in teaching online, they have to shift quickly, as well as translate class materials online, Alexander told Al Jazeera.

Not all students will have access to sufficient technology, he said. If, at home, they dont have good broadband, the right hardware, this could be a problem that we have to scramble to fix.

Harvard student Tom Osborn, 24, from Kenya said he was shocked by the announcement, which gave students only five days to finish schoolwork, pack their belongings, say goodbye to friends and make travel arrangements.

Its chaotic right now, we dont really know what is happening, Osborn told Al Jazeera.

Osborn, who took to Twitter to vent, said that for international students or those who are taking classes with a lab or studio component, attending online classes may not be feasible.

It might be that I have to go online at 2am to attend classes, he said.

@Harvards #COVID2019 response is a complete joke. How do they expect low income students, and international students, to leave campus on 5 day notice. And do I have to wake up at 2am in Kenya to attend zoom classes? #coronavirus  Tom L. Osborn (@TomLeeOsborn) March 10, 2020

Emily Philbrook, 18 a first-year international affairs student at George Washington University, which has not announced a shift to online courses, said physically going to classes was vital to her learning process.

I like being in class, asking questions and being around my friends, Philbrook told Al Jazeera, I like interacting with my teachers.

The virus  which originated in Wuhan, China, last year  has spread to more than 110 countries, areas or territories worldwide and infected over 100,000. More than 4,000 have died as a result of the virus.

For most people, the infectious respiratory disease causes only mild or moderate symptoms such as fever and cough and the infected recover within weeks.

For others, especially older adults and people with health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia.
Lawmakers Mull Closing US Capitol to Tourists Over Coronavirus

Lawmakers are mulling closing the U.S. Capitol in Washington to tourists amid a rapidly increasing number of coronavirus cases in the country.

Officials in Washington state and New York imposed drastic new measures this week to try to curb the spread of COVID-19, the disease the virus causes. The case count in America was around 1,000, with 31 deaths, Robert Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told lawmakers on Wednesday.

A top Democrat in the House of Representatives said lawmakers will consider closing the Capitol.

We havent yet come to grips with whether or not we ought to close down the Capitol in terms of visitors, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) told reporters, according to Reuters. But that certainly is something that well have to consider and that may be a step we need to take  were going to be talking about that.

A slew of lawmakers are part of the groups labeled most at-risk of the virus, or those who are elderly or have underlying health conditions, including the 80-year-old Hoyer.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), 86, told reporters on Wednesday that she wants the Capitol closed to visitors.

Im worried about the fact that we need to close this place down. I really believe that now, she told reporters in Washington.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) leaves the Capitol after the closing arguments of the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump in Washington on Feb. 3, 2020. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times)

Feinstein said she wanted the Capitol closed for meetings but that lawmakers should be allowed to go into their offices if they want.

Ive got constituents by the hundreds that come across the country and I dont think they should right now, she added.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), 79, told reporters last week that there were no plans to close the Capitol building to tourists or members of Congress, but that technology is available to have members from Congress and other offices work from home. We cant vote from home, however, she said.

Everyone who enters the Capitol couldnt be tested for the new virus, Pelosi said, calling that idea unrealistic.

We will be ready should something come along, but what we mostly do is pray, she said.

Reps. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.), 53, and Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.), 42, said Wednesday that they support closing the Capitol to visitors.

We should take this step. Not doing so is putting health and safety of these tourists at risk, Cheney said in a statement on Twitter.

Congress is slated to go on recess after this week. Some lawmakers have said theyre open to extending the recess.

Fears on Capitol Hill were heightened by several lawmakers going into quarantine over contact with a confirmed coronavirus patient. That patient, who hasnt been officially identified, was at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington last month before testing positive.

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), 49, and Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.), 61, went into isolation at their homes, as well as Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.), 60, who recently became President Donald Trumps chief of staff.
Demonstrators say last years elections invalid; put pressure on President Mutharika to sign election reform bill.

Three human rights activists in Malawi have been arrested for organising anti-government protests, some of which turned violent.

The demonstrators have been calling for new elections after the constitutional court nullified the results of last years disputed poll.

Al Jazeeras Barbara Angopa reports
The COVID-19 coronavirus has impacted countries, communities and individuals in countless ways, from school closures to health-care insurance issues . As governments scramble to address these problems, different solutions based on blockchain technologies have sprung up to help deal with the worldwide health crisis.Company Odem is providing free access to its blockchain education and credentialing platform to educational institutions that have closed their doors due to the coronavirus. Odems platform, which is designed to fit existing learning management systems and curricula, allows educators to issue digital certificates of completion and achievement as they teach classes online.We are able to track students' activity working remotely so that when students go back to school, the institutions are able to track what they've accomplished and register that on the blockchain and even bring it back into their traditional accreditation systems, Odem COO Johanna Maaghul told the online publication Cointelegraph.To date, institutions in Italy, Ireland, Germany and Egypt have communicated their interest in the platform. Oral Roberts University, located in Tulsa, Okla., has been considering a number of blockchain-enabled tools. ORU CIO Michael Mathews said his university selected Odems solution based on how well it integrated with the institutions learning systems, Cointelegraph reported.On the health-care front, Xiang Hu Bao, a blockchain-based mutual aid platform in China that provides money to individuals for medical needs, added coronavirus to its list of critical conditions eligible for payout. Ant Financial, a payment processor and financial services company, owns Xiang Hu Bao.Xiang Hu Bao has been able to process claims and make payouts to participants quicker, due to the decentralized, trust-free nature of blockchain technology, a Beijing-based Ant Financial spokesman told. Claim applicants can submit their supporting documents as evidence while investigation firms can get immediate access to them on the blockchain. All parties involved can see the entire process.In another health-care use case, Blue Cross (Asia-Pacific) Insurance in Hong Kong has utilized its blockchain platform to reduce the amount of paperwork involved in health services, also according toOur blockchain-backed claims service has played a key role during the outbreak of the coronavirus by totally eliminating the paper process and the need for back-and-forth documents delivery to clinics, Blue Cross Managing Director Patrick Wan said in the report. This really helps to mitigate the risk of infection from face-to-face contact.To keep tabs on how the coronavirus is spreading, Atlanta-based software company Acoer has crafted a dashboard that tracks infections, deaths and recoveries occurring across the world in real time. In addition to providing a map and figures based on publicly available health data, this blockchain-enabled tracker features a section that captures recent tweets about coronavirus cases, which distinguishes the tool from the Johns Hopkins University map Acoer CEO Jim Nasr told Cointelegraph that U.S. public officials and representatives from other countries have expressed interest in the dashboard, whose blockchain component prevents information from being manipulated outside of the public eye.To help businesses facing economic fallout from the coronavirus, Chinas State Administration of Foreign Exchange is fast-tracking loans through a cross-border, pilot blockchain finance platform, according to CNBC [T]he negative effects of previous pain points such as lack of trust in business, verification inefficiency, lack of information sharing and difficulty of timely supervision have been further amplified [due to the coronavirus], said Henry Ma, CIO of private bank WeBank. The cross-border, financial blockchain services platform can play a bigger role, and help medium and small-sized enterprises improve the efficiency and convenience of getting export trade financing and other financial credit support.
Statistically speaking, long term investing is a profitable endeavour. But that doesn't mean long term investors can avoid big losses. Zooming in on an example, the China Oil And Gas Group Limited (HKG:603) share price dropped 67% in the last half decade. That is extremely sub-optimal, to say the least. And it's not just long term holders hurting, because the stock is down 48% in the last year. It's up 7.3% in the last seven days.

Check out our latest analysis for China Oil And Gas Group

To paraphrase Benjamin Graham: Over the short term the market is a voting machine, but over the long term it's a weighing machine. One flawed but reasonable way to assess how sentiment around a company has changed is to compare the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price.

During five years of share price growth, China Oil And Gas Group moved from a loss to profitability. Most would consider that to be a good thing, so it's counter-intuitive to see the share price declining. Other metrics may better explain the share price move.

The modest 1.4% dividend yield is unlikely to be guiding the market view of the stock. Revenue is actually up 5.2% over the time period. So it seems one might have to take closer look at the fundamentals to understand why the share price languishes. After all, there may be an opportunity.

The image below shows how earnings and revenue have tracked over time (if you click on the image you can see greater detail).

SEHK:603 Income Statement, March 11th 2020

It's probably worth noting we've seen significant insider buying in the last quarter, which we consider a positive. On the other hand, we think the revenue and earnings trends are much more meaningful measures of the business. This free interactive report on China Oil And Gas Group's earnings, revenue and cash flow is a great place to start, if you want to investigate the stock further.

A Different Perspective

We regret to report that China Oil And Gas Group shareholders are down 48% for the year (even including dividends) . Unfortunately, that's worse than the broader market decline of 11%. However, it could simply be that the share price has been impacted by broader market jitters. It might be worth keeping an eye on the fundamentals, in case there's a good opportunity. Regrettably, last year's performance caps off a bad run, with the shareholders facing a total loss of 19% per year over five years. We realise that Baron Rothschild has said investors should "buy when there is blood on the streets", but we caution that investors should first be sure they are buying a high quality business. I find it very interesting to look at share price over the long term as a proxy for business performance. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. For example, we've discovered 1 warning sign for China Oil And Gas Group that you should be aware of before investing here.

Story continues

If you like to buy stocks alongside management, then you might just love this free list of companies. (Hint: insiders have been buying them).

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on HK exchanges.

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



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
Shanna Katz Kattari, a 34-year-old professor at the University of Michigan School of Social Work, and her husband, a trans man, combined their names Katz and Pittari to create their last name. We wanted to have a shared last name but didnt want either of us to feel like we were giving our name up, she said. Plus, it felt like a way to queer a really heteronormative institution.

Society isnt always set up to accommodate these kinds of name changes. Ashley Stull Meyers, a 31-year-old arts administrator in Portland, Ore., who combined her maiden name Stull and her husbands name Meyers, was told when she renewed her drivers license that she couldnt have a two-part last name without a hyphen.

Some administrative people just dont seem to be able to wrap their minds around it, while others insist their computer systems or government forms wont allow it, Ms. Stull Meyers said. Samantha Bellinger, an event planner in North Hero, Vt., has found that the women she works with can usually change their last names with just their wedding certificates, whereas men sometimes have to appear in court.

Laws around name changing vary from state to state and can get quite technical. Maxine Seya, a 26-year-old journalist in Newport Beach, Calif., and her husband were unable to create the name they originally wanted, Sera, because of a California law that allows couples to take a name combining into a single last name all or a segment of the current last name or the last name of either spouse given at birth. Their original idea combined her name Yang and his name Cser, but ser and a werent considered segments of each name, defined as two or more letters.

Tracy Brisson, a wedding officiant in Savannah, Ga., said grooms she works with have been allowed to take their brides last names in Georgia, but one had to petition the court to do so in Ohio. Georgia presents its own obstacles, though: It only allows one spouse in a marriage to take on a hyphenated name.

Name changes also may present challenges for those looking to keep their lineages traceable, though Ms. Christensen said this isnt as much of an issue as one might think. Most name changes are public record and well documented, she said. If your name change requires a court order, in most cases, the public can access the court filings online.
By Trend

All issues on the legislative agenda of the Azerbaijani parliament will be regularly submitted for discussion, Safa Mirzayev, head of the office of the Azerbaijani parliament, said in an interview to Azerbaijan state television AzTV, Trend reports on March 10.

Mirzayev listed several important issues that will be discussed at next parliamentary meetings.

"As is known, the law on the full insurance of deposits expired in early March, head of the office said. A bill was received from Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on March 9 in connection with the extension of the term of aforementioned law. This issue will be submitted for discussion and will be adopted soon.

On the other hand, we are preparing large-scale bills, Mirzayev said. For example, a new version of the law 'On Political Parties' is being developed. During today's meeting, the president also emphasized that all positively-minded political parties must be involved in the ongoing developments in the country. Everyone saw that there are deputy chairpersons of parliamentary committees who were elected from the opposition parties."

Thus, MPs representing the opposition parties were elected to the leadership of the Azerbaijani parliament, head of the office said. All this shows that it is necessary to amend the law 'On Political Parties' to enable them to play a more active role in the society.

--

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
As thousands of women have hit the streets to protect their freedoms and for gender equality. Hundreds more have been struggling to democratize every space through the pits of politics.

That's the case for San Diego nominee Georgette Gomez, who seeks to become the first queer Latina in United States Congressional history.

Raised in an immigrant familiy of the working class in San Diego and having first-hand experience in working-class neighborhoods across the country, Gomez studied in Environmental and Natural Resource Geography at the San Diego State University and saw her first chance in raising her community's voices when a seat opened in the City Council in 2016, when Marti Emerald decided not to run for the next election.

Emerald, who has not attended several gatherings as a City Council while she went for treatment for bosom malignant growth, decided to resign.

On the off chance that Emerald decides to do what she has planned, the following year's election would include in any event three vacant positions which are hers, Councilman Todd Gloria, and Council President Sherri Lightner.

The job includes speaking for 9 districts, which incorporates the areas of Southcrest, Alvarado Estates, Talmadge, City Heights, Mountain View, College View Estates, El Cerrito, College Area, Mt. Expectation, Kensington, and Rolando.

In 2016, Gomez completed the first round being the second. a spillover permitted her to get the votes expected to dominate because no applicant got a larger part of the votes.

The City Council cast a ballot consistently after two years to select her as the president for the Council and when she reported her bid for the 53rd Congressional District, starting January 2019 until October 2019, she filled in as leader of the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System.

Gomez, according to her foundation, has presented a political vision lined up with the dynamic wing at the national level, for Medicare for All, growing moderate lodging, lessening vagrancy, putting resources into open travel and framework, supporting clean air and water, shielding migrants' privileges, and battling for increasingly government financing for San Diego people group, with a crusade concentrated on nature and to face Trump's risky motivation.

Her crusade site includes that Georgette is a long-lasting network coordinator and a previous partner executive of the Environmental Health Coalition, where she drove the Toxic-Free Neighborhoods Campaign to shield kids from lead paint and continue contaminating enterprises out of private networks. They also added that prior to her vocation, she filled in as an exploited people's backer for overcomers of abusive behavior at home and sexual maltreatment.

Thus, her bid has gotten the underwriting of associations, for example, the California Democratic Party, California Federation of Teachers, the LGBTQ Victory Fund, the California Labor Federation, UNITE HERE, among others, just as significant political figures, for example, Senator Catherine Cortez Masto, presidential competitor Bernie Sanders, and a few individuals from the new age of Congress, for example, Nanette Barragan, Pramila Jayapal, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
As the Covid-19 crisis spreads to new epicenters in Asia, Europe, and the U.S., companies are scrambling to mobilize responses and that is affecting many businesses across the globe.



Due to the unpredictability of disease dynamics, some vital industries in China that supply goods and services to Africa have suspended business since the outbreak began in late January.



This, according to a senior lecturer from the Department of Finance, University of Ghana Business School is a blessing in disguise and a wakeup call for Ghana.



Dr. Lord Mensah who was speaking in an interview with NEAT FMs morning show Ghana Montie explained that the unanticipated suspension of trade between Ghana-China should be seen as an opportunity for Ghana to produce items in large quantities and patronize made in Ghana goods.



Over the years, we [Ghana] have relied on China for the supply of goods and services. The outbreak of the virus has had an impact on top business and its worrying. Now globally they are not in a good standing and this will affect smaller countries like Ghana.



If the biggest economies in the world are collapsing, then we have to be on the alert, he cautioned.



He advised that For now that Ghana is shutting down big factories, this is going to affect our economy. We have to start manufacturing on a large scale and use made in Ghana products. We cant always depend on others to survive.







Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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[March 11, 2020] FreshBooks Launches Its Ridiculously Easy-to-Use Small Business Accounting Software In Ireland

Toronto, Canada, March 11, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FreshBooks, the #2 small business accounting software in America, is officially launching in Ireland today. While FreshBooks has been serving Irish small businesses for over 10 years, today the company is deepening its commitment to the market by introducing features specifically aimed at helping Irish customers successfully run their businesses. Popular for its easy-to-use, business-owner friendly platform and award-winning customer service, FreshBooks will now offer Irelands small business owners: The ability to create and send invoices in multiple currencies to clients around the world

The ability to automatically follow up with clients on unpaid invoices to help small businesses get paid faster

The ability to connect FreshBooks to all major Irish banking institutions -- including Allied Irish Bank (AIB), Bank of Ireland, Ulster Bank and Permanent TSB -- enabling small businesses to automatically import their bank account transactions and see a full picture of their financial health and tax time readiness

Access to an ecosystem of 100+ world-class, complementary apps and integrations, including a recent partnership with TransferMate, an award-winning global payments company. Headquartered in Ireland, TransferMate enables businesses to quickly and easily send and receive cross-border payments

Expanded support hours for Irish customers, made possible by FreshBooks first international office in Amsterdam, Netherlands New research released today from FreshBooks suggests the number of Irish self-employed professionals and small businesses could double to nearly 500,000 across the country by 2022. Among those who said they wanted to start their own small business in the next two years, more than one-third said self-employment is their number one goal in life, even when compard with other life pursuits.



Accounting software has traditionally catered to accountants first while the overwhelming majority of small business owners have no formal accounting training, said Matt Baker, SVP of Corporate Development and International Expansion at FreshBooks. FreshBooks is designed for the entrepreneur mindset -- we help business owners get paid faster, save time, and look professional to their clients. With Ireland ranking higher in entrepreneurship according to the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor, FreshBooks helps small business owners open a merchant account and get paid quickly and easily. A 2019 study from FreshBooks shows that almost 70 percent of accountants and bookkeepers say small business owners find most small business accounting software intimidating, and two thirds believe small business owners require specialized accounting skills or experience to use it.

FreshBooks is a simple and intuitive accounting software solution. I'm not an accountant, so I had to spend a lot of time on my accounting and invoicing. It was time-consuming and I was not getting paid on time, said Brian Walsh, Founder of Route2, an IT service provider specialising in cybersecurity, cloud storage, PC upgrades, and email centered solutions in Kildare, Ireland. Since I started using FreshBooks, I've stopped stressing about paperwork, late payments, and losing any important data. I spend much more of my time delivering value to my clients and building my business. Since 2004, FreshBooks has helped more than 20 million people and established itself as one of the worlds most popular accounting platforms for small businesses. FreshBooks has paying customers in 100+ countries around the world. In February 2020, FreshBooks announced its official launch in the UK. To mark the launch, FreshBooks brought a new suite of features to the UK market, which were designed to help UK small businesses grow and succeed, while preparing for Making Tax Digital and future compliance requirements. About FreshBooks FreshBooks is the #2 small business accounting software in America, with paying customers in 100+ countries. The company has helped more than 20 million people process billions of dollars through its easy-to-use invoicing, time-tracking, expense management, and online payments features. Recognized with 10 Stevie awards for the best customer service in the world, the companys mantra is to execute extraordinary experiences everyday. FreshBooks is headquartered in Toronto, Canada, with offices in Amsterdam, Netherlands, and Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. Learn more at www.FreshBooks.com. Candice So FreshBooks 1-888-705-1218 [email protected]

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By PTI

LAHORE: A senior police officer here has been arrested for allegedly murdering his lawyer friend in a honour killing case and later dissolving his body in acid to destroy evidence, police said on Wednesday Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Mufakhar Adeel was arrested on Monday, almost a month after his "mysterious disappearance".

"SSP Adeel has been arrested for allegedly murdering his friend, advocate Shahbaz Tatla, in the name of honour," Lahore Police chief Zulfiqar Hameed said.

After the murder, Adeel dissolved Tatla's body in acid to destroy evidence, he said.

The SSP, who had disappeared a month ago after murdering the lawyer, confessed to his crime in police custody, Hameed said, adding that he was arrested while trying to crossover to Iran.

During his questioning in police custody, Adeel said he killed Tatla for trying to rape his wife.

He told police that Tatla had also raped his first wife a few years ago after which he divorced her.

Meanwhile, a source in Lahore Police told PTI that Adeel and Tatla used to throw parties for their friends and wives.

"In one such party, Tatla allegedly had physical relation with Adeel's first wife, both of whom were in a drunken state.

"Recently in such a party, Tatla again had a physical relation with Adeel's second wife. Adeel got to know about it and planned Tatla's murder," the source said.

As part of his plan, Adeel rented a house in Lahore's Faisal Town where he invited Tatla and strangled him to death and dissolved his body in a drum of acid to destroy evidence, the source said.
New Delhi, March 11 : The BJP's outgoing Rajya Sabha member Prabhat Jha rubbished media reports of him being upset with former congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia's entry in BJP, calling them "baseless". Jha is a senior BJP leader from Madhya Pradesh.

The National Vice President of BJP took to Twitter to clarify, "I have nothing to do with meaningless and baseless news. I condemn this mischievous news. No one can challenge my sincerity, ethics and party loyalty." Madhya Pradesh BJP's media in-charge Lokendra Parashar also said, "The rumour regarding the resignation of BJP vice President Prabhat Jha is baseless and unsubstantiated." As soon as the BJP released its first list of Rajya Sabha candidates, which has Jyotiraditya Scindia's name from Madhya Pradesh, Jha once again took to Twitter to praise how Scindia took a stand on abrogation of Article 370 which was "in the national interest".

Earlier, some reports hinted that Jha has expressed his displeasure to the party leadership. Reports also cited how during the Lok Sabha elections last year, Prabhat Jha looked completely isolated and stayed away from campaigning or strategizing. The reports also quoted a July 14, 2019 tweet of Jha where he tagged PM Modi, Amit Shah, J.P. Nadda and Shivraj Singh Chauhan to say, "One should not play with one's respect. Tomorrow it can also happen to you." However, BJP sources say, while Jha was genuinely upset during the Lok Sabha election, he is definitely not this time around. "If he could tweet his frustration then, so can he now. The fact that he clarified that some media reports suggesting he is upset is baseless shows they are indeed baseless," said a BJP functionary who was present at Scindia's induction into the party on Wednesday.

Latest updates on Howdy Modi Houston
Medical personnel prepare to disinfect the neighborhood of a Covid-19 patient in Phan Thiet, central Binh Thuan Province, March 10, 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Viet Quoc.

A helper, an employee and a daughter-in-law of a businesswoman who tested Covid-19 positive after returning from the U.S. are Vietnams latest infections.

With the latest three cases in the central province of Binh Thuan, the country's total infection number has gone up to 38, the Ministry of Health confirmed Wednesday.

After the 51-year-old businesswoman, the country's 34th infection, tested positive, the Center for Disease Control in Binh Thuan took samples from 15 people whod come into direct contact with her. Three tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

The three latest cases are: a 64-year-old house helper for the patient's family, a 37-year-old employee of her company and her 28-year-old daughter-in-law. All three showed symptoms of fever and cough and are being quarantined at the Binh Thuan's General Hospital.

The businesswoman had flown from Ho Chi Minh City to New York on February 22, transiting at the Incheon International Airport in South Korea for three hours.

On February 29, she flew back from Washington D.C., transiting at the Doha International Airport in Qatar. She landed at the Tan Son Nhat Airport in HCMC on March 2 and took a car home to the resort town of Phan Thiet in Binh Thuan.

On March 5, she developed high fever and a cough. Four days later, she was admitted to the Binh Thuan General Hospital and placed under quarantine pending Covid-19 tests, and the results came back positive.

As of Wednesday evening, Vietnam had reported 38 Covid-19 patients, 16 of them discharged weeks ago.

The Covid-19 outbreak has thus far spread to 119 countries and territories around the world, killing 4,300 people.
(Newser)  Lee Boyd Malvo, serving life for his role in 10 sniper killings that terrorized the Washington, DC, area in 2002, is now a married man. The 35-year-old, who was 17 when he committed the crimes, married a woman at the Red Onion State Prison in Virginia last week, Fox News reports. Carmeta Albarus, who has advised Malvo since his arrest, says it was a "beautiful ceremony. "Over the past 17 years, he has grown despite his conditions of confinement," she says. "He has grown into an adult, and has found love with a wonderful young lady." Virginia prison regulations state that a wedding will not result in the "granting of any special privileges for the consummation of the marriage following the ceremony or thereafter."

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Malvo carried out the murders with John Allen Muhammed, an older man who befriended him when he was 14. His defense lawyers argued that Muhammed, who was executed in 2009, had a psychological grip on the teen. Attorney Craig Cooley tells the Washington Post that the bride is an "impressive young lady" near in age to Malvo. "I believe they are soul mates," Cooley says. "She sees the good and sees Lee as Ive always seen him, and I think the world would have seen him had Muhammad not taken over his life." Lee was given two life sentences without parole in Virginia, but since he was under 18 at the time of the killings, a new state law will allow him to seek parole as early as 2024. He has also, however, been sentenced to six life sentences without parole in Maryland, which does not have a similar law. (Read more Lee Boyd Malvo stories.)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-11 13:41:40|Editor: Liu

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DHAKA, March 11 (Xinhua) -- A massive fire was sweeping through one of the largest slums in the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka on Wednesday.

At least 20 fire fighting units rushed to the spot to fight the flames in the Rupnagar slum, fire department duty officer Russel Shikder told Xinhua.

He said fire started at the slum at around 9:45 a.m. local time and it soon engulfed the shanties. The blaze has not been brought under control as of 11:10 a.m. local time.

The densely populated Rupnagar slum in Dhaka's Mirpur area shelters hundreds of thousands of poor residents.

Shikder said the exact cause of the fire was yet to be ascertained.

According to the firefighting officer, most of the shanties made of scrap sheet iron, plastic and cardboard were destroyed fully or partially in the fire.

No casualties have so far been reported.

Fires are common in Dhaka slums where hundreds of thousands of people are crammed in shacks along rail and waterways.

In Dhaka, fires leave thousands of slum dwellers homeless every year.
The Calcutta High Court on



Wednesday granted anticipatory bail to BJP MP Jagannath Sarkar in connection with the murder case of Trinamool Congress MLA Satyajit Biswas in Nadia district in 2019.

The court had earlier granted interim protection from arrest to Sarkar, while directing him to cooperate with the investigation in the case.

A division bench comprising justices Joymalya Bagchi and Suvra Ghosh accepted the anticipatory bail plea of Sarkar on two sureties of Rs 50,000 each.

He was also directed to appear before the investigating officer of the state CID once every month.

Biswas, TMC MLA from Krishnaganj in Nadia district, was shot dead in the evening of February 9 inside a Saraswati Puja marquee near his house at Phoolbari village in Nadia district.

Sarkar was elected an MP from Ranaghat Lok Sabha constituency in Nadia district in 2019 on a BJP ticket.

Praying for his anticipatory bail, Sarkar's lawyers had claimed that he has been falsely implicated in the case owing to his political identity.

The prosecution, opposing his prayer for pre-arrest bail in connection with the case, submitted that Sarkar's name cropped up in the statements of the accused persons who have been arrested for their alleged role in the murder.

The high court had on January 24 granted Sarkar interim protection from arrest during pendency of his anticipatory bail prayer.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Good Morning, welcome to Information Nigerias Newspaper headlines for today, 11th March 2020.

Here are the major headlines.

Former Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, recently dethroned Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, says he would challenge his banishment in court.

President Muhammadu Buhari says the outbreak of Coronavirus (COVID-19) has adversely affected the countrys main revenue. The president said this when workers in the health sector under the aegis of Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) and Assembly Healthcare Professionals Associations (AHPA) paid him a courtesy call at the State House, Abuja.

Abubakar Mahmoud (SAN), Lawyer to the dethroned emir of Kano state, Sanusi Lamido has stated that the removal can still be reversed if his client intends to pursue the matter in a law court.

The Kaduna State Government has announced the appointment of Muhammadu Sanusi II, who was deposed as emir of Kano on Monday, into the board of KADIPA, its investment promotion agency.

President Muhammadu Buhari has revealed that N3.7billion has been recovered in cash as well as various assets worth billions from former contractors and directors of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

President Muhammadu Buhari has officially sent in a request to the senate praying the amendment of the 2019 financial act. The letter which is seeking that the administrative effective date for the increase in Value Added Tax from 5 percent to 7.5 percent is the 1st of February 2020 was read on the floor of the Senate on Tuesday by Ahmed Lawan.

Nobody Will Be Able To Speak With Sanusi  Nasarawa Monarch

Abubakar Ahmed Sabo, traditional ruler of Loko, a town in Nasarawa state, says Muhammadu Sanusi II, the deposed emir of Kano, is in his palace and no one will be allowed to speak with him.

Im Not Scared Of Trump  Boko Haram Leader, Shekau

Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau has reacted to the $7m reward the US Department of State recently announced for anyone with credible information that will lead to his arrest.

PDP Urges Nigerian To Challenge Social Media Bill

The Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) has accused President Muhammadu Buhari of being behind the move by the senate to begin a public hearing on the social media bill.

Presidency Berates Uche Jombo Over Coronavirus Comment

Tolu Ogunlesi, media aide to President Muhammadu Buhari has berated Nollywood actress, Uche Jombo over her comment asking Nigerians to read more on coronavirus so that the federal government would not use it as an excuse to loot newly borrowed fund.
Its difficult to compare tonight to four years ago: There is an incumbent president, who Democrats are just focused on replacing, and that was not the case four years ago, Mr. Brewer said. Sanders was the underdog four years ago, and frankly Hillary Clinton took the state for granted and did not campaign here vigorously, and so forth. Its really apples and oranges.

Perhaps nothing better illustrated the direction of this nominating contest, though, than the surge in voter turnout. A centerpiece of Mr. Sanderss campaign has been his promise to win by inspiring a wave of new voters in the primary race and the general election.

But for the second consecutive week it was Mr. Biden who was the beneficiary of an increase in turnout compared with that of the 2016 race, often in the sort of suburban jurisdictions that powered the Democrats big gains in the midterm elections. In Oakland County, Mich., the Detroit suburb where Representative Haley Stevens picked up a Republican-held seat in 2018, Mr. Biden was winning by nearly 30 points and turnout was on track to be about twice what it was four years ago.

The next few rounds of primaries are focused on big, diverse states where Mr. Biden is seen as having a solid advantage, including Florida and Georgia. And a number of states where Mr. Sanders won caucuses four years ago have since switched to hold primary elections, which tend to be less controlled by ideological activists, leaving Mr. Sanders without an obvious place to make a comeback.

The contests on Tuesday included four states that Mr. Sanders carried against Mrs. Clinton in 2016: Michigan, Idaho, North Dakota and Washington.

But there has been no indication that many Democrats have been having second thoughts about embracing Mr. Biden, to whom the partys voters turned abruptly last week as a safe option after a chaotic and confusing primary season. With the race effectively down to just Mr. Biden and Mr. Sanders, many Democratic leaders have clambered aboard the former vice presidents campaign.

After Mr. Biden carried South Carolina on Feb. 29, rivals like former Mayor Pete Buttigieg of South Bend, Ind., and Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota quickly dropped out of the race and endorsed him. Once the Super Tuesday results were known, Michael R. Bloomberg, the former mayor of New York City, did the same. By contrast, Mr. Sanders has not managed to unify support even on the left; Ms. Warren, a fellow progressive, has declined to issue an endorsement since leaving the race last week.
Marvin Weinbaum, director of Afghanistan and Pakistan studies at Washingtons Middle East Institute think tank, counts disagreements between Afghan elites, the Talibans unwillingness to follow through on vague counterterrorism and power-sharing promises, and the possibility of Washington walking away from its longest war as several of the major obstacles to lasting peace in Afghanistan.

RFE/RL Gandhara: Now that the international community has recognized Ashraf Ghani as the legitimate president of Afghanistan, do you see Washington playing a proactive role in strengthening his administration given that U.S. peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad indicated he will be mediating between Ghani and his rival, Abdullah Abdullah?

Marvin Weinbaum: Although the United States would like to be as helpful as it was in 2014, theres no way to re-engineer the same [power sharing] arrangement that was reached in 2014 because it turned out so badly. But at this point everyone is desperate to be able to reconcile the two in any way possible. Abdullah has shown some flexibility on this, and Ghani is very much the recipient of American pressure that he be conciliatory both toward Abdullah and toward the Taliban. So, the U.S. is certainly playing a role here.

RFE/RL Gandhara: You have termed the U.S. efforts to negotiate an agreement with the Taliban as an instrument of surrender. Now that they have signed an agreement, how do you assess this process?

Weinbaum: They have surrendered in the sense that the Talibans major objective in these negotiations has always been the exit of American forces together with allied forces from the international community. The United States has given them what they wanted. Their secondary objective is that they want legitimacy; they have gotten that in spades. They also wanted the release of prisoners. In effect, they have gotten everything they wanted.

One is hard put to find any major area in which they made a concession. The major concession they could have made, and perhaps there is an annex that has an understanding, [is for] a retention of a counterterrorism force of the United States, a force that would carry with it a certain amount of air power, as well. There is no indication of that in the formal agreement, and in what we know of the secret annexes it doesnt appear that is going to be the case.

RFE/RL Gandhara: Regarding these secret annexes, do you really see the Taliban following through on their counterterrorism commitments and basically agreeing to some kind of monitoring mechanism?

Weinbaum: I dont think theres any way in which you can really monitor whether they have in fact broken those relationships between Al-Qaeda and the Taliban leadership. The Taliban say to the Americans that they are doing it [but] theres no way to really understand how much distance has been created between the two. And its instructive that in their public statements now, they dont mention Al-Qaeda. Now, of course, they have never agreed to mention the word terrorism.

These are indications that, except for those who want to take them at their word, but I find  along with many other people here  that if were going to have skepticism on anything it's going to be their separation or divorce from Al-Qaeda. And of course, theres Islamic State, and they have demonstrated with their attacks now that they are not a party to this at all.

Al-Qaeda is not an operation force in any case, so we wont see that kind of evidence, but with Islamic State this wont be the end of violence. Islamic State, however much it has been set back, is still capable of high-profile attacks that dont require much in the way of manpower, and so what were looking at is once again the trading of real things for good words that they will honor the understanding that they will not cooperate with terrorist groups.

RFE/RL Gandhara: After they have signed this agreement with the United States, do you think the Taliban have fundamentally changed and are able to share power and transform into a peaceful political party?

Weinbaum: There is no indication at all that they are prepared to make the kinds of concessions which would lead them to accept the kind of political system that exists today, even were it modified. They have never suggested they want anything other than an Islamic Emirate [which was the formal name of the Taliban regime]. At the same time, they have said, We are for power-sharing. But everything the Taliban say is in effect is on our terms. Whether its talking about women, or education, or anything, its always on the caveat that it will be on [their] terms.

They are going to argue that yes, we will be more inclusive, we will be more tolerant, but as we define that. And I believe this is their bottom line in all of the negotiations that went on. And I think there was something instructive about the negotiations that have already taken place over this year and a half on two issues: the American departure and U.S. confidence that the Taliban would break from terrorists. On just these two issues, they could not come to an agreement even at the very end.

RFE/RL Gandhara: On a different but related subject, how do you see Pakistans role now?

Weinbaum: If Pakistanis believe they can create an Afghan government which is going to be beholden to Pakistan, theyre fooling themselves. There is no Afghan -- be they Taliban or any other -- who is going to let Pakistan effectively call the shots in Afghanistan. The level of distrust for Pakistan is there. Pakistan is trying to bathe in the success of this agreement. It didnt broker it so much as it facilitated it. And thats important because Pakistans role generally where it matters has been as spoilers. They did not play spoilers now; they felt they could steer the negotiations. And this is yet to come -- to steer the negotiations once the dialogue begins between the government or other Afghans and the Taliban, so they can steer it in a direction that India is not going to have a prominent place, that therell be no dependence on India.

RFE/RL Gandhara: Drawing on your experience, what kind of future do you see for Afghanistan now that it is again at a pivotal moment?

Weinbaum: The immediate future is one in which there will be a drawn-out process of trying to reconcile the Taliban with those elements in Afghanistan that we call the power brokers and so on. That will go on for some time. Im concerned though that, while that is going on, unless there is a full cease-fire, things will be happening on the ground, particularly as the Americans begin to depart. Particularly if they take their air power with them, I see the danger of an unravelling of the ANDSF (Afghan National Defense Forces).

But before that happens, I see something else as a possibility. In Afghanistan, when the regimes have changed, theyve always been preceded by something called defections from within the power structure. Thats what we have to look for now.

The great nightmare is that with a weakening of the state we wont have what we had in the 1990s -- where the Taliban simply replaced the government, where one walked in and the other walked away. This time there is every reason to believe that because there isnt a unity of command on either side there will be a much more chaotic situation [with] the elements of a civil war that is much more anarchic than anything seen previously.
Alberta premier says layoffs loom as oilpatch warns of 'catastrophic' impact from low prices

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney warned Wednesday that job cuts are expected to hit the province's oil and gas sector in the comings weeks as a struggling industry grapples with a sharp plunge in crude prices.

"Energy companies, as a result of the price collapse, are massively cutting their capital budgets for 2020. This is going to have a very negative effect on working women and men in the energy services sector," Kenney said.

"Unfortunately, [we] do expect to see a number of layoff announcements coming from the energy sector in the next two or three weeks."

Kenney made the comments in Calgary as he prepared to fly to Ottawa to attend the first ministers' meeting.

The meeting in Ottawa comes as officials in Canada and around the world develop plans to cope with the health-care challenges and economic impact of the spread of COVID-19.

The premier met with executives from Alberta's oil and gas sector on Tuesday to discuss the impact of the plummeting oil prices, which have seen some of their biggest losses in years this week.

On Wednesday, West Texas Intermediate, the North American benchmark price for oil, closed at $32.98 US per barrel, down $1.38 US per barrel from Tuesday. Less than a month ago, oil was trading near $54 US per barrel.

Meanwhile, the list of oil and gas companies slashing their spending plans continues to grow.

Oilsands producer MEG Energy announced it is cutting its 2020 capital spending plan to $200 million from the $250 million it announced in November 2019.

MEG also trimmed its full year 2020 production guidance range to 93,000-95,000 barrels per day compared with its earlier guidance for 94,000-97,000 barrels per day.

Calgary-based Seven Generations Energy is lowering its 2020 capital investment budget by $200 million  or 18 per cent  to $900 million.

A day earlier, oilsands giant Cenovus Energy announced it was cutting its capital spending by 32 per cent to between $900 million and $1 billion, down from between $1.3 billion and $1.5 billion.

Story continues

With oil production also expected to fall in the province, Kenney said he anticipates the amount of crude shipped by rail to also fall from an expected 500,000 barrels per day in March to 100,000 barrels a day next month.

"That may backup inventories to tank tops and then that stands the risk of blowing out inventories," he said.

"We will not allow that to happen. We will use the curtailment tool responsibly to ensure at least a survival price for our producers to get through this period."

The Alberta government implemented a production curtailment program, limiting oil output, last year.

Now, Alberta needs similar support to what the federal government gave the auto sector during the global financial crisis in 2008 and 2009, Kenney said.

"We've contributed $600 billion net to the rest of Canada over the past five decades. It's time for Canada to have Alberta's back."

Kenney said energy companies have become more lean and efficient over the last five years, but some aren't likely to survive.

"There are a range of companies that are not well prepared for this downturn. That's part of the problem. This is after five years of fragility, when a number of companies have been leveraging themselves in debt," he said.

"A lot of them cannot cut operating costs any further and they cannot raise equity."

Tristan Goodman, president of the Explorers and Producers Association of Canada, said earlier on Tuesday that if oil prices stayed low for a prolonged period, the results could be "catastrophic."

"It's an incredibly serious situation," he told the Calgary Eyeopener.

"It's going to take some time here, a few weeks at least, to figure out exactly what's happening here as we're caught in the middle between two countries."

Crude prices dropped dramatically this week as Saudi Arabia and Russia began an oil price war and concerns grew about the impact of COVID-19 on the world economy.

Global oil prices have plunged 45 per cent since start of the year and there's no certainty around how long the situation will last.

"It's going to be a challenging year for the Canadian industry," said April Read, a senior analyst with Wood Mackenzie in Calgary.

Wood Mackenzie believes 2.7 million barrels per day of demand has fallen away in the first quarter of the year due to the impact of the novel coronavirus alone.

"Having this price war on top of that is definitely going to create some challenges going forward," Read said.

Saudi Arabia, which has already announced it would hike supplies to a record 12.3 million barrels per day in April, said Wednesday it would boost production capacity for the first time in more than a decade.

Read said production from Alberta's oilsands will probably flatten out and companies will defer making final investment decisions on growth projects until prices improve.

"If we see sustained prices at this low level, it will go back into kind of a survival response again in the industry," she said. "And that's where everything discretionary is cut to the bone."
Phil Deangelis, 39, had a slight smile on his face after avoiding time in jail for mid-range drink driving at a Sydney court on Wednesday

A millionaire pub baron from Australia's best known hospitality clan has avoided jail yet again after he was caught drink driving for the third time.

Phillip Jonathan Deangelis - the 39-year-old nephew of Sydney pub king Arthur Laundy - walked free from court after blowing 0.086 on a Tuesday last December.

Magistrate Michael Antrum on Wednesday handed Deangelis a criminal conviction, disqualified him from driving, hit him with an $1100 fine and a corrections order.

Deangelis famously avoided a prison stint after pleading guilty to five domestic violence offences against his socialite girlfriend Nellie Tilley.

He was handed an intensive corrections order for those offences - essentially a sentence that is served 'in the community'.

But Corrective Services NSW failed to inform the State Parole Board of his drink driving in time, meaning he avoided punishment for breaching the order.

A police statement of facts handed to the magistrate said police walking on the opposite side of the road spotted Deangelis parked 10m from a traffic light.

The officers noticed Deangelis was holding a mobile phone in his hand between his legs.

Deangelis pleaded guilty to domestic violence offences against socialite Nellie Tilley, his ex-girlfriend, in 2018

Deangelis told police: 'Ah, just trying to get a hair cut ... don't know where I'm going, turned left onto Crown Street like my GPS was saying, it's as simple as that.'

By 'GPS', he was talking about his phone. He tested positive to a roadside breath test.

He told police he had drunk two schooners of beer in Petersham, in the city's inner west, before driving to Surry Hills, where he was spotted.

Deangelis had a small smile on his face as he left Sydney's Downing Centre on Wednesday morning.

He won't be getting behind the wheel for five months, and when he does, he will have to breath into an interlock device for a year.
On Wednesday, March 4, volunteers from the Sisterhood of Congregation Beth Israel in Scotch Plains prepared gift bags with groggers, treats and traditional hamentashen cookies to be delivered to the entire congregation before the Jewish holiday of Purim.

Congregation Beth Israels Sisterhood also donated Purim gift bags and additional pounds of hamentashen to residents of AristaCare at Cedar Oaks, a nursing home in South Plainfield, and to seniors in the Berg-Lieppe Adult Enrichment Program at the JCC of Central NJ.

In addition, Congregation Beth Israels Sisterhood made donations on behalf of the synagogue to two non-profits that help feed the hungry: the food pantry at the Jewish Family Service of Central New Jersey and Leket Israel, the National Food Bank of Israel.
New Delhi, March 11 : Union Home Minister Amit Shah said in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday that 60 social media accounts were created on February 22 and closed on February 26, which are being investigated for their role in the northeast Delhi violence which killed 52 people.

Replying to the debate on Delhi violence in the Lower House, the Home Minister disclosed important details on the progress of the investigation made by the Delhi Police. The Home Minister backed the Delhi Police in controlling the violence in 36 hours.

"There were about 60 accounts on social media that started on 22nd and were closed on 26th. Do they think they would get away by closing such accounts? The police will find them out," Shah said.

"We wanted to ensure that Holi was celebrated peacefully, and thus we wanted discussions on the law and order situation in Delhi to take place after the festival," Shah said.

Shah also said that face-recognition technology has been harnessed with CCTV footage of the riots to identify the perpetrators of violence. Around 300 persons from Uttar Pradesh have been identified from the footage, he added.

While the Opposition has been gunning for the Home Minister's resignation for his alleged failure to prevent the Delhi riots, Shah was aggressive during his reply and pointed out that the violence had been contained in 36 hours.

The opposition Congress has been demanding the resignation of Shah over the Delhi riots which have resulted in 52 deaths so far. Ever since the Budget Session of the Parliament resumed on March 2, the Congress had been disrupting the proceedings over their demand.

Shah emphasised that anybody who is responsible for the violence will not be spared, regardless of their religion. However, he added that no innocent person should fear arrest or detention.

The Home Minister also blamed the opposition for incitement on the issue of Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) which, he said, led to the Delhi riots.

He also suggested that Sonia Gandhi's inflammatory speech was the reason behind the Shaheen Bagh agitation.

"Ek badi party ki rally hui, 'Ghar ke bahar niklo', 'Yeh aar paar ki ladai hai' -- yeh hate speech nahi lagti aapko," asked Shah.

He was referring to Sonia Gandhi's speech at the Ramlila Ground on December 14, 2019. He added that her speech led to the Shaheen Bagh protest that was launched immediately after, on December 15, 2019.

The Home Minister stated that the riots were being probed from a conspiracy angle as they could not have been carried out on such a scale in a such a short time without a conspiracy. "We have registered a case of conspiracy to probe this angle. Three people have been arrested for financing the violence in northeast Delhi," he said.

Shah also referred to the communal statements made by AIMIM leader Waris Pathan and other comments which were made in Delhi in the run up to the riots. He assured the families of every victim that "perpetrators wont be spared, regardless of their religion, come what may." The Congress lashed out at the government during the debate with its leader in the Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, blaming the government for delaying its action in controlling the violence, saying that timely action could have prevented the violence.

Dubbing the Central government as "nikammi sarkar" (incompetent government), Chowdhury sought the resignation of Shah for not handling the issue with sincerity, saying if National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval's visit can help in controlling the situation, "why didn't Home Minister visit the riot-hit areas?" "Delhi riots could have been stopped if timely action was taken," Chowdhury said while initiating the debate on the recent law and order situation in some parts of Delhi.

Noting that over "53 people were killed and properties worth Rs 25,000 crore were lost", Chowdhury said that it is not the lack of ability of Delhi Police, but the riots happened because the force has been following the direction of the Central government.

Giving the reference of NSA Ajit Doval, Chowdhury said "he showed the way to handle the situation," and asked "why he was sent to the field for law and order which is not in the jurisdiction of a National Security Advisor".

"A National Security Advisor directly reports to the Prime Minister's Office. Is it not a signal that the Ministry of Home Affairs was ignored and the matter was dealt directly by the PMO? Why he had to come," he asked.
The Odisha Assembly was on Wednesday adjourned multiple times as MLAs of the opposition Congress created a ruckus, seeking explanation from the government for transfer of Shree Jagannath temple's Rs 545- crore funds to a private lender from a nationalised sender.

Wednesday was the first day of the budget session's second phase.

Shortly after the House made obituary references to three of its deceased members, the Congress MLAs trooped in the well of the House, raising 'Jai Jagannath' slogans and demanding stringent action against officers responsible for depositing the temple's money in the now-cash-starved bank.

They also sought a statement from Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and a high-level probe into the circumstances leading to transfer of the Lord Jagannath's money from a nationalized bank to Yes Bank.

The agitating Congress members were soon joined by BJP MLAs, who stood up from their seats to support the demand.

Unable to run the House, Speaker S N Patro adjourned the House -- first from 10.42 am to 12.30 pm, then till 3 pm and finally for the day -- as the members refused to budge.

Patro also said that he will allow a discussion on the issue on Thursday.

The RBI has capped withdrawals from Yes Bank at Rs 50,000 and imposed limits on operations after the cash-starved lender faced "regular outflow of liquidity" following an effort to raise new capital failed.

Outside the House, Leader of Opposition Pradipta Naik said the BJD government violated the provisions of Shree Jagannath Temple Act by depositing the Lord's money in a private bank.

"We demand strict action against the officers responsible for the transfer of Lord's money to a private bank. Not just the Lord's money, the officers have defied rules and deposited other government funds, too, in private banks," Naik told reporters.

Senior BJP member Bishnu Sethi alleged that there was a kickback of Rs 3 crore involved in the deposit of Lord Jagannath's funds in Yes Bank.

Congress member S S Saluja said the chief minister should make a statement in the House to clarify what would be the fate of the funds.

Meanwhile, sources in BJD said that four party MPs - Prasanna Acharya, Sasmit Patra, Amar Patnaik and Achyut Samanta -- on Wednesday met Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Delhi and sought her immediate intervention for "safe release" of the temple's money in Yes Bank.

"We have apprised Nirmala Sitharaman ji of the situation. She assured us that the Lord's funds will be taken care of," BJD MP Prasanna Acharya said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
UW Energy Resources Council to Meet March 27

The University of Wyoming Energy Resources Council (ERC) will meet at 7:30 a.m. Friday, March 27, in the BP Collaboration Center in UWs Energy Innovation Center.

The council will introduce the UW School of Energy Resources (SER) new executive director, Holly Krutka, and newly appointed members of the ERC. The agenda includes discussion regarding SERs financial projections.

The ERC was established by the Wyoming State Legislature in 2006. Made up of representatives of industry, state government and academia, the council provides direction to the SER on priorities for research and outreach.

The SER provides undergraduate and graduate education, conducts research on existing and emerging industry resources, and disseminates scientific, engineering and economic information to support Wyomings near- and long-term energy future.

People with disabilities requiring special accommodations to attend the meeting should call the SER at (307) 766-6897. Information about the SER is available at www.uwyo.edu/SER.
MOSCOW - Russian lawmakers on Wednesday rapidly rubber-stamped sweeping constitutional changes that could keep President Vladimir Putin in power until 2036.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 11/3/2020 (671 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Valentina Tereshkova, the world's first woman cosmonaut, center, and other Russian lawmakers attend a session prior to voting for constitutional amendments at the State Duma, the Lower House of the Russian Parliament in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, March 10, 2020. Putin says he supports a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow him to seek another term and remain in power. Putin gave his support Tuesday to the amendment put forward by a lawmaker who as a Soviet cosmonaut became the first woman to fly to space. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin)

MOSCOW - Russian lawmakers on Wednesday rapidly rubber-stamped sweeping constitutional changes that could keep President Vladimir Putin in power until 2036.

If Putin won and completed two more terms as president, it would make him the ruler of Russia for 36 years  longer than any other leader in its modern history.

The measure must still be approved by the country's constitutional Court and by a nationwide vote next month before they come into force. Putin's critics called for protests, condemning the move as a way to keep him in office after he hits his term limit in 2024.

The Kremlin-controlled lower house, the State Duma, endorsed a set of amendments to the Russian Constitution and a provision that resets the term count for Putin once the revisions come into force. It passed the chamber by a 383-0 vote with 43 abstentions, and several hours later sailed through the upper house, the Federation Council, by a vote of 160-1 with three abstentions.

Pavel Krasheninnikov, lawmaker and co-chair of the constitutional reform working group speaks during a session prior to a vote on a third reading of constitutional amendments at the State Duma, the Lower House of the Russian Parliament in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, March 11, 2020. A vote on a third reading was a quick formality. A nationwide vote on the proposed amendments is set for April 22. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin)

It is unclear when the constitutional Court will rule, but a nationwide vote on the proposed amendments is set for April 22.

The 67-year-old former KGB officer has ruled Russia for more than 20 years, becoming the country's longest-serving ruler since Soviet dictator Josef Stalin, who was in power for 29 years.

After serving two consecutive four-year terms  a limit outlined in the current constitution  Putin shifted to the prime minister's seat in 2008, with close ally Dmitry Medvedev becoming a placeholder president.

The length of the presidency was extended to six years under Medvedev, and in 2012 Putin returned to the Kremlin as president. In 2018, he was re-elected for another six years.

Putin has weathered multiple international storms during his tenure. The 2014 annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula boosted his approval ratings that have remained high despite Russia's economic troubles amid a showdown with the West.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, center, right, poses for a picture with people in Ivanovo, 254 kilometers (158 miles) northeast of Moscow, Russia, Friday, March 6, 2020. Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday he doesn't want to scrap presidential term limits or resort to other suggested ways of extending his rule, but otherwise he kept mum about his plans. (Alexei Nikolsky, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

Putin has used those tensions to consolidate support at home and strengthen his image as a strong leader standing up to foreign pressure.

The constitutional amendment was proposed Tuesday by lawmaker Valentina Tereshkova, a former Soviet cosmonaut who was the first woman in space in 1963.

The measure restarts Putin's term to zero, once it is up in 2024. It would allow him to run for president twice more after that, if he chooses.

The review of the provision by the constitutional Court is widely seen as a formality.

Resetting term limits allows Putin to avoid becoming a lame duck, helping him rein in political elites who were nervous about who would succeed him.

FILE - In this file photo taken on Tuesday, July 30, 2019, Russian opposition candidate Dmitry Gudkov speaks to journalists sitting inside a police car as he arrives to the court in Moscow, Russia. Gudkov, a former lawmaker turned opposition politician, believes an early parliamentary election is likely, the Kremlin would want the vote to be this year instead of next. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, File)

"It's important to prevent the elites running into different directions in the search for successor," said Moscow-based political analyst Ekaterina Schulmann.

Other constitutional changes further strengthen the presidency and emphasize the priority of Russian law over international norms  a provision reflecting the Kremlin's irritation with the European Court for Human Rights and other international bodies that have often issued verdicts against Russia. The changes also outlaw same-sex marriage and mention "a belief in God" as one of Russia's traditional values.

The motion to restart the term count for Putin from scratch prompted immediate calls for protests from various opposition groups. On Tuesday night, about 200 people gathered near the Kremlin and lined up to hold solo pickets  the only form of protest in Russia that is legal without prior authorization from the government.

"It was clear from the start that it is being done to keep Putin in power forever," opposition activist Alexei Miniaylo, who called for the pickets on his Facebook page Tuesday and continued protesting on Wednesday night as well, told The Associated Press. "But the brazen manner in which it was done elicited outrage."

Two opposition groups called for a bigger rally in Moscow on March 21 or March 22 and applied for permission from city authorities. Soon after, Moscow City Hall announced a ban on outdoor events with attendance of more than 5,000 until April 10, saying it was part of precautionary steps to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

Activists then refiled their requests Wednesday, amending the maximum number of participants from 50,000 to 4,500.

"Our position is that if the coronarivus is such a dangerous threat, then they should cancel the vote (on the constitutional reform), as it can expose millions of people to infection," Mikhail Svetov, leader of the Civil Society movement, told AP. "And if it is not that dangerous, then rallies should be allowed."

Pickets and protests were being organized in other Russian cities as well, said Tatyana Usmanova, an activist with the "No" group formed two months ago to co-ordinate opposition to the reforms.

"It gets to people, because it is totally out of line," Usmanova said.

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Activists and analysts agree that large-scale protests will be harder to organize because of coronavirus fears that are likely to deter people from taking to the streets.

"People are scared and less prone to gather for large demonstrations," independent political analyst Kirill Rogov told AP.

On the whole, however, Russians are growing more frustrated with the government, and the idea of Putin remaining in power indefinitely doesn't sit well with many of them, said Dmitry Gudkov, a former lawmaker turned opposition politician.

"If you go and ask about the amendments to the constitution, no one will understand," Gudkov told AP. "If you explain the amendments, they will say whatever. But if you ask if they want Putin to rule our country for life, the vast majority, and not just in Moscow, but in various regions, will say no."

___

Associated Press writers Francesca Ebel and Vladimir Isachenkov contributed.
The sprays, shown here, have now been pulled from shelves at the 7-Eleven location. (River Vale Police Department)

Police Seize Likely Homemade Sanitizer From a 7-Eleven After a Young Boy Was Allegedly Burned by It

If youve purchased hand sanitizer without a recognizable label in recent days, watch out.

New Jersey police responded to a local 7-Eleven on Monday night after reports that a young boy had been burned by an item sold there as Spray Sanitizer.

Officers with the River Vale Police Department paid the store a visit after photos posted to social media showed chemical burns to the boys arms and legs, according to a statement posted to the departments Facebook page. Police seized the remaining bottles, the statement read.

About 12 bottles of the product were sold Monday. Photos of the sanitizer showed no discernible label, suggesting it may have been homemade in the face of widespread hand sanitizer shortages due to the spread of the novel coronavirus.

While further investigation is underway, our first priority is to make the public aware that they should not use this item if they purchased it at the River Vale 7-Eleven, Lt. John DeVoe said in a statement.

CNN reached out to the River Vale 7-Eleven store, but multiple calls to the business went unanswered.

The issue hasnt been found in other 7-Eleven stores, just the River Vale location, DeVoe said. It is unclear whether the River Vale location is the maker of the product or acting as a retailer. The investigation is ongoing and those who purchased the item have been asked to contact the department.

Sanitizer Shortages

The River Vale 7-Eleven location is owned by a 7-Eleven franchisee. According to a statement to CNN from 7-Eleven Inc., franchisees operate with independent business owners and are obligated to comply with all federal, state and local laws related to the operations of their stores.

The safety and well-being of 7-Eleven customers is of utmost importance and our hearts are with this young man at this time, the statement read. We understand the severity of this situation and are cooperating with local law enforcement. We are reviewing this matter internally and will take appropriate action.

In neighboring New York, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the state will be producing its own hand sanitizer as a result of widespread shortages caused by the novel coronavirus.

Others have gone the DIY route, making their own hand sanitizing products despite wariness from experts.

A man blocks the view as a person is taken by a stretcher to a waiting ambulance from a nursing facility where more than 50 people are sick and being tested for the COVID-19 virus in Kirkland, Wash., on Feb. 29, 2020. (Elaine Thompson/AP Photo)

In the United States alone, there have been hundreds of cases of the novel coronavirus and 29 deaths.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have said washing hands is the best prevention against the virus, along with keeping mouths covered when sneezing or coughing and refraining from touching your face.

Products such as hand sanitizer can be good substitutes for washing hands. Wiping surfaces down with disinfecting wipes such as Lysol can also help prevent the spread of the virus.

The-CNN-Wire

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UW Professors Receive Provisional Patent for Method to Reduce Gas Flaring

Brian Toelle (pictured), a professor of practice in UWs Department of Petroleum Engineering, and Maohong Fan, a UW School of Energy Resources professor in chemical and petroleum engineering, recently received a provisional patent for a method, using cryogenic transport, to help the oil and gas industry reduce emissions created by flaring and venting of natural gas. (UW Photo)

Two University of Wyoming engineering professors recently received a provisional patent for a method, using cryogenic transport, to help the oil and gas industry reduce emissions created by flaring and venting of natural gas.

Brian Toelle, a professor of practice in UWs Department of Petroleum Engineering, and Maohong Fan, a UW School of Energy Resources professor in chemical and petroleum engineering, received a patent for their FlareNitro process. Fan recently was named to Clarivate Analytics list of highly cited researchers in 2019 in the field of chemical and petroleum engineering.

Over the years, capturing produced gas has proven to be economically and technically challenging for the oil and gas industry. One possible solution is the liquefaction of natural gas at the well site, Toelle says.

Produced or solution gas comes out of solution when oil is produced in some geologic plays, like the Bakken in North Dakota. If there is no pipeline nearby, it is often flared so the oil can be produced, Toelle says. This can be both wasteful and harmful to the environment. The FlareNitro process uses cryogenics to create and transport the gas-to-liquid form when a gas pipeline is not available.

Gas flaring refers to the combustion of associated gas generated during various processes, mainly oil recovery. The typical flare used in the gas industry is composed of a boom or stack that collects the unwanted gases to be flared.

Toelle says their process is currently in the conceptual phase, but would work like this: At the well site, produced gas is gathered and stored at the well location. Liquid nitrogen is then transported from a nearby facility by tanker truck. A FlareNitro reaction vessel also is taken to the well site and charged with liquid nitrogen. The internal temperature inside the reaction vessel would be brought to less than minus 320 degrees Fahrenheit.

The natural gas stored on-site would then be flowed into the reaction vessel, where it would condense and be collected as liquefied natural gas (LNG), which is then loaded onto another tanker truck. The LNG tanker truck would then be driven to a nearby pipeline and off-loaded.

Once in operation, a FlareNitro regional base could be set up in various locations where high gas-to-oil ratio oil reservoirs are being produced, says Toelle, who spent 34 years in the oil and gas industry working for Texaco, Saudi Aramco and Schlumberger. One of these regional bases could service the well sites for multiple operators in the area.

While waiting for pipeline to be constructed at the well site, a FlareNitro service could gather all of the natural gas that would normally be flared or vented, he says, which would allow the operator to obtain financial benefit from the produced gas that would normally be flared. This also would result in more environmentally friendly operations at the location.

The FlareNitro process shifts the energy input for this from the well location to a liquefaction center, Toelle says. This means the need for a fuel source at the well location is decreased, if not eliminated.

Toelle and Fan worked approximately nine months on the project before securing a provisional patent. The idea came out of government concerns about flaring. In addition to flaring being wasteful, many environmentalists see it as an air pollution problem and contributing to climate change.

This came to my attention during a visit to the Department of Energy in Washington, D.C. I was with a group of visitors to the Department of Energy when they indicated that this was a priority for them, Toelle explains. They released a request for research proposals on this subject at the same time.

The flaring of natural gas occurs in many producing basins within the U.S., including the Bakken in North Dakota and the Permian Basin in west Texas, Toelle says. Additionally, many countries around the world have associated gas flaring -- they have to conduct -- to maintain oil production.

In March 2015, roughly 45 billion cubic feet of natural gas was flared in North Dakota, which is 5 percent of natural gas production, Toelle says.

Using the largest truck tankers available, this amount of gas would require 3,450 tanker runs to move all of that flared gas, he says. With two tanker runs per day, all the gas normally flared in North Dakota could be transported with a fleet of approximately 62 tankers.

If the FlareNitro process could be proven, this could be a big help to the industry for the flaring and venting of produced gas at the well sites as well as the stranding of producible gas fields, which are economically too far away from existing pipelines. Toelle adds that the amount of money an operator could save using the FlareNitro process depends on the company and the geologic play.

Toelle and Fan are seeking roughly $160,000 in funding over two years from the industry to help bring their concept to reality. This amount includes funding for a research assistant, materials, and manufacturing and fabrication of materials.

Only a few key technologies still need to be researched in order to produce FlareNitro as a viable service. This will include what materials the reaction chamber needs to be composed of and what configuration, Toelle says. Additionally, we need to produce research on what type of insulation is needed in order to maintain a good energy balance and keep the system economic.
The surge doesnt seem to be a result of enthusiasm for any one Democratic candidate. Many Democratic voters, after all, spent months undecided about and uninspired by the current field. Instead, turnout appears to have surged because Democrats have rallied around Joe Biden as the candidate most likely to defeat President Trump  and because they remain very energized about beating Trump.

Opinion Debate Will the Democrats face a midterm wipeout? Mark Penn and Andrew Stein write that "only a broader course correction to the center will give Democrats a fighting chance in 2022" and beyond.

write that "only a broader course correction to the center will give Democrats a fighting chance in 2022" and beyond. Matthew Continetti writes that time and again, the biggest obstacle to a red wave hasnt been the Democratic Party. Its been the Republican Party.

writes that time and again, the biggest obstacle to a red wave hasnt been the Democratic Party. Its been the Republican Party. Ezra Klein speaks to David Shor, who discusses his fear that Democrats face electoral catastrophe unless they shift their messaging.

speaks to David Shor, who discusses his fear that Democrats face electoral catastrophe unless they shift their messaging. Michelle Cottle examines two primary contests that will shake the parties well beyond the states in play.

From the moment he was sworn in back in January, 2017, Donald Trump has been the Democratic Partys single greatest get out the vote tool, Joe Walsh, a Republican former congressman who ran a brief primary campaign against the president, wrote last night.

Joe Biden is not my candidate. But people saying he isnt electable are lying to themselves, the author Molly Knight wrote. It is becoming obvious Biden is way more popular than Hillary. Trump lost to her by 3 million votes and needed an inside straight in the electoral college to beat her.

Biden has performed well among both the white and black working class, Richard Yeselson of Dissent magazine noted. That pattern suggests that the lefts theory of winning elections is wrong, Yeselson added. (I agree.)

And the turnout surge isnt limited to loyal Democrats. In Michigans Livingston County, a conservative part of the Detroit suburbs, turnout in the Democratic primary soared yesterday. That surge in turnout, virtually all of it for Biden, includes Republicans and independents voting for him in the Democratic primary  and presumably ready to vote for him in the general election, said William Kristol, the conservative writer.
Pro-democracy lawmakers from Hong Kong are lobbying the U.S. government to impose sanctions on senior officials in the city over police violence and human rights violations during last year's protests.



Charles Mok, Jeremy Tam and Kenneth Leung of Hong Kong's Legislative Council (LegCo) are in Washington ahead of the adminstration's review of the city's human rights situation under the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act passed by Congress last November.



The law requires Washington to review Hong Kong's rights situation and political freedoms, part of the reason the city is currently given separate trade treatment from the rest of China, and allows for financial and visa-related sanctions against officials judged to be responsible for rights abuses.



Mok, Tam and Leung said they have drawn up a list of high-ranking officials who could be targeted under the Act, including police chief Chris Tang and security minister John Lee.



Meanwhile, dozens of U.S.-based Hongkongers arrived in Washington to lobby U.S. members of Congress for sanctions on Tuesday.



Samuel Chu of the U.S.-based Hong Kong Democracy Council called on people to approach their Senators and Representatives in their local area.



"The main goal of today's activity is for [the voices of] Hongkongers in the U.S. to be heard in Congress," Chu said. "We want members of Congress to know that we're not just lobbying; we will do anything in our power to protect Hong Kong, and we're going to keep up the pressure."



"This is also the first time that U.S.-based Hongkongers have come to Washington and started to learn how to do advocacy work, and about how the congressional system works," he said.



Chu, who was born and raised in Hong Kong, is the younger son of the Rev. Chu Yiu Ming, one of the initiators of the 2014 Occupy Central democracy campaign, who later served time in jail for "inciting others to illegal assembly."



The campaigners had met with six members of Congress by the end of Tuesday, hoping to put their case ahead of the first review of Hong Kong's status in May.



No improvement seen



Representative Jim McGovern, chairman of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC), said the situation in Hong Kong hasn't improved since the Act was passed.



He said the lobbying effort was just the start of pressure on China from Washington over the erosion of Hong Kong's promised rights and freedoms.



MPs in the the U.K. on Tuesday launched an All Party Parliamentary Group on Hong Kong which will preside over an official inquiry into human rights abuses, especially by the Hong Kong police.



"Many disturbing reports have emerged in personal accounts, through social and conventional media, and there is global concern both about what is happening to Hong Kong and the damage done to international norms and standards," the group's co-chair Baroness Bennett said in a statement.



"This inquiry will produce a report that aims to be a resource for informing the actions of the UK and other governments, international rights bodies and campaigners."



Later case for sanctions



Former Occupy Central student leader Joshua Wong said he isn't hopeful of immediate sanctions against Hong Kong officials amid the ongoing coronavirus epidemic and U.S. presidential primaries, but that evidence can be compiled to make a case for sanctions in the meantime.



"Even if there are no immediate sanctions ... we think we can lobby the U.S. to launch an inquiry into police violence in the next year or so," Wong said.



Charles Mok said speculation by Hong Kong officials following joint meetings in Washington that there would be no action by the Trump administration was premature.



"Hearing that and thinking 'Oh, we have no problem', I think that is only the view of the pro-establishment [side]," he said in comments reported by government broadcaster RTHK.



"From the meeting we did not get that impression," Mok said.



U.S. President Donald Trump signed the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act on Nov. 27, 2019, a week after the legislation cleared the House of Representatives 417-1 in a show of support for Hong Kong after months of pro-democracy protests.



The new act requires the U.S. State Department to report annually to Congress whether Hong Kong is sufficiently autonomous from China to justify keeping the citys distinct trading status, and whether China has eroded Hong Kongs civil liberties and rule of law, as protected by the citys Basic Law.



It also enables the U.S. government to freeze the assets of, and refuse visas to, officials deemed responsible for human rights violations in the city.



Tens of thousands of people poured onto the streets of Hong Kong, waving American flags and singing the national anthem of the United States in a gesture of thanks after the Act was passed.



Violence by police



Hong Kong police have been widely criticized for excessive force, arbitrary violence and abuse of power since the anti-extradition movement broadened into a city-wide pro-democracy movement in June 2019.



Rights groups, pro-democracy politicians, and the protest movement have all demanded an independent inquiry into police violence and abuse of power, saying that the current complaints system adds up to the police investigating complaints against themselves.



Plans by Hong Kong's leader Carrie Lam to allow the extradition of alleged criminal suspects to face trial in mainland China sparked mass street protests starting in early June that were soon followed by widespread public anger at police use of force against peaceful demonstrators, and demands for fully democratic elections.



Lam eventually withdrew the hated amendments to the city's extradition laws in October 2019, but stopped short of meeting protesters' demands for an amnesty for arrestees, an independent public inquiry into police violence and abuse of power, an end to the description of protesters as "rioters," and fully democratic elections.



A January opinion poll by Reuters found that most of Hong Kong's residents supported the five demands of the protest movement, with more than one third of respondents saying they had attended a protest.



Only 30 percent said they were opposed, compared with 59 percent of those polled who supported the movement.



Reported by Wu Hoi-man and Man Hoi-tsan for RFA's Cantonese Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
Since Italy was placed in nearly total lockdown following the rapid spread of the coronavirus, residents have been getting used to another way of life.

Police are forcing people to keep apart in cafes as part of efforts to contain the spread of the virus.

See latest coronavirus news and updates

The number of people testing positive for coronavirus has surpassed 10,000 in Italy, more than anywhere else in the world bar China, where the outbreak began.

Many of Italy's 62 million people have been encouraged to stay home, and police across the country have patrolled cafes to ensure owners keep customers one metre apart during daylight hours and enforce a strict 6pm closure order.

Read more: Trolls celebrate Conservative minister getting coronavirus

Italy has found itself increasingly sealed off as other countries seek to keep infections contained.

Malta and Spain have announced a ban on air traffic from Italy, while British Airways and Air Canada have suspended all Italy flights.

Read more: NHS 111 service is giving out-of-date coronavirus advice

Massimo Leonardo, who runs a market stall, said: Its bad. People are terrorised. I've never seen anything like it."
[March 11, 2020]

New York City Students to Speak with NASA Astronaut Aboard Space Station

WASHINGTON, March 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Students from New York City will have an opportunity this week to talk with a NASA astronaut aboard the International Space Station. The Earth-to-space call will air live at 10:40 a.m. EDT Friday, March 13, on NASA Television and the agency's website.

NASA astronaut Jessica Meir will answer questions from students from Martin Van Buren High School. Rep. Grace Meng of New York is scheduled to attend the event and is scheduled to speak to students before the question-and-answer session.

The event will take place at Martin Van Buren High School, 230-17 Hillside Ave., Queens Village, New York. Media interested in covering should contat Vladimir Hurych at [email protected] or 347-626-9571.







Linking students directly to astronauts aboard the space station provides unique, authentic experiences designed to enhance student learning, performance and interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Astronauts living in space on the orbiting laboratory communicate with NASA's Mission Control Center in Houston 24 hours a day through the Space Network's Tracking and Data Relay Satellites (TDRS).

For nearly 20 years, astronauts have lived and worked continuously on the space station, testing technologies, performing science and developing the skills needed to explore farther from Earth. Through NASA's Artemis program, the agency will send astronauts to the Moon by 2024, with eventual human exploration of Mars. Inspiring the next generation of explorers  the Artemis Generation  ensures America will continue to lead in space exploration and discovery.

Follow America's Moon to Mars exploration at:

https://www.nasa.gov/topics/moon-to-mars

Follow NASA astronauts on social media at:

https://www.twitter.com/NASA_astronauts

See videos and lesson plans highlighting research on the International Space Station at:

https://www.nasa.gov/stemonstation

View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-york-city-students-to-speak-with-nasa-astronaut-aboard-space-station-301021845.html

SOURCE NASA
Measuring Carl Zeiss Meditec AG's (XTRA:AFX) track record of past performance is a valuable exercise for investors. It allows us to understand whether or not the company has met or exceed expectations, which is an insightful signal for future performance. Today I will assess AFX's recent performance announced on 31 December 2019 and compare these figures to its historical trend and industry movements.

Check out our latest analysis for Carl Zeiss Meditec

Did AFX's recent earnings growth beat the long-term trend and the industry?

AFX's trailing twelve-month earnings (from 31 December 2019) of 170m has jumped 34% compared to the previous year.

Furthermore, this one-year growth rate has exceeded its 5-year annual growth average of 18%, indicating the rate at which AFX is growing has accelerated. What's enabled this growth? Let's take a look at if it is merely attributable to industry tailwinds, or if Carl Zeiss Meditec has seen some company-specific growth.

XTRA:AFX Income Statement, March 11th 2020

In terms of returns from investment, Carl Zeiss Meditec has fallen short of achieving a 20% return on equity (ROE), recording 12% instead. However, its return on assets (ROA) of 8.8% exceeds the DE Medical Equipment industry of 6.0%, indicating Carl Zeiss Meditec has used its assets more efficiently. Though, its return on capital (ROC), which also accounts for Carl Zeiss Meditecs debt level, has declined over the past 3 years from 16% to 16%.

What does this mean?

Though Carl Zeiss Meditec's past data is helpful, it is only one aspect of my investment thesis. While Carl Zeiss Meditec has a good historical track record with positive growth and profitability, there's no certainty that this will extrapolate into the future. I suggest you continue to research Carl Zeiss Meditec to get a more holistic view of the stock by looking at:

Future Outlook: What are well-informed industry analysts predicting for AFXs future growth? Take a look at our free research report of analyst consensus for AFXs outlook. Financial Health: Are AFXs operations financially sustainable? Balance sheets can be hard to analyze, which is why weve done it for you. Check out our financial health checks here. Other High-Performing Stocks: Are there other stocks that provide better prospects with proven track records? Explore our free list of these great stocks here.

NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the trailing twelve months from 31 December 2019. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures.

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



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov has today visited the Alley of Martyrs in Baku.

A guard of honor was lined up for the Turkmen President here.

President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov paid tribute to Azerbaijani heroes who gave their lives for the country`s independence and territorial integrity.

He laid a wreath at the Eternal Flame monument.

A military orchestra played the national anthems of Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan.

The Turkmen President enjoyed a panoramic view of Baku as he was informed on the history of the Alley of Martyrs and redevelopment works carried out in the capital of Azerbaijan.








If it looks familiar, that's because this mid-sized (by American standards) crossover is known as the Ascent in the US. The preview model shown here is, in fact, badged as an Ascent. Over there, it competes against the likes of the Ford Explorer and Hyundai Santa Fe V6.

If there's one vehicle Subaru Philippines has yet to add in their stable, it's a seven-seater. They had one about a decade ago in the form of the Tribeca, but they're having a crack at it again with the 2021 Evoltis. Glenn Tan, Deputy Chairman and Managing Director of Tan Chong International Ltd., said back in January that it will be sold in parts of ASEAN and now, Motor Image Pilipinas has previewed the crossover.

As it's still badged Ascent, the model you see here isn't the final specification for the Philippines just yet. This particular one is also slightly customized with aftermarket wheels which are definitely not bound for the local units. Sans those wheels, however, this is likely as close as it gets to the Philippine-bound Evoltis. It's also interesting to note that the preview of the Evoltis was held here. Does this mean that we will be the first to have it in Southeast Asia?

While the spec isn't final yet, it is more than likely that we will get the same engine used in the US-spec Ascent. It packs Subaru's new turbocharged 2.4-liter boxer engine. It's good for 264 PS and 350 Nm of torque. Being a Subaru all-wheel drive is (of course) standard plus it has torque vectoring to enhance road-holding.

Price is yet to be determined at the moment. The thing is, the Evoltis does not fall under JPEPA, a tax exemption for certain Japanese cars, because of two reasons. One, the engine is less than 3,000 cc and, two, it's not assembled in Japan. In fact, the Evoltis/Ascent is assembled in the US at Subaru's Lafayette, Indiana facility.

The 2021 Subaru Evoltis has originally been slated for a late 2020 launch in the Philippines, however, given the current delays caused by the COVID-19 on the global auto industry, the exact launch schedule is uncertain.
STAMFORD  City police have arrested the ex-girlfriend of a Stamford man and charged her Monday with stealing two of his handguns during their break-up last year.

Tanisha Heath, 22, of West Haven, was charged with two counts of stealing a firearm and a single charge of fourth-degree larceny.

At her arraignment at the Stamford courthouse on Tuesday, she pleaded not guilty to the charges. She was ordered held on a $50,000 court-appearance bond.

According to her seven-page arrest affidavit, on June 29, 2019 police received a complaint from a Stamford man that two of his guns were missing. He said he and his girlfriend of three months had gotten into an all-day argument on the day before, which ended when Heath asked to go to his home in Stamford to get some of her clothing. The man told police he was at an event for a friend and could not get back to the house but his mother was there and she would let her in.

When he got home that night, he realized that his .45-caliber Glock and 9 mm Smith & Wesson were missing from his bureau. He called Heath, who did not pick up. He told police that he reached her the next day and the two agreed to meet in Stamford, where she told him that she took the guns because she was angry at him, the affidavit said.

She told him that the pistols were hidden at the ball field in Lione Park, but when the two went to find them, they were gone, the affidavit said.

The man told police that Heath told him that they actually had been stolen out of her car in New Haven, the affidavit said.

Realizing that she would not give the pistols back, he went directly to police headquarters and reported that they had been stolen, the affidavit said. Police at one point reached Heath by phone, but she did not admit to stealing them. While she agreed to meet with police on July 2, she never showed up, the affidavit said, and police were unable to make contact with her again.

Police said the two guns were worth $1,029.

jnickerson@stamfordadvocate.com
Representative Image

Amid the political crisis in Madhya Pradesh, over 80 Congress MLAs left the state and are expected to arrive in Rajasthan capital Jaipur on Wednesday afternoon, sources said. "The party MLAs are reaching here from Madhya Pradesh," they said.

Earlier, the sources had said that the legislators would arrive at the Jaipur airport at 11 am, but that has been delayed.

Meanwhile, three luxury buses have reached the airport which will be used to take the MLAs to a resort located near the Jaipur-Delhi highway.

It is the same resort where legislators from Maharashtra were lodged in November last year.

All arrangements are being made on the directions of Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, the sources said.
Highlights Yashodhara Raje Scindia welcomed Jyotiraditya Scindia into BJP Raje said she hoped to form a good team with her nephew Raje also predicted Shivraj Singh Chouhans return to power in MP

Jyotiraditya Scindias aunt and BJP leader Yashodhara Raje Scindia welcomed her nephew in the party and said she hoped aunt and nephew will prove to be a good combination in MP politics. She also predicted former chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhans return to power in Madhya Pradesh.

Very happy today. Govt will be formed under SS Chouhans leadership. Were happy as Ive worked under him & I know what wonderful schemes we had for people & today we dont have those, Yashodhara Raje Scindia tweeted after nephew Jyotiraditya joined the BJP in a brief ceremony at the party headquarters in Delhi

Best wishes to my nephew, hope well have a good aunt-nephew combination, she added.

Yashodhara, who had described her nephews move to join the BJP as ghar vapsi (homecoming) added that the political differences among Scindia family members were a thing of the past now.

Family was divided into two as there were two different political parties. Its natural that if you have political differences, it seeps into the family too. This step has made all small issues of differences to go away. Were on one stage now, she was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

Jyotiraditya Scindias other aunt and former Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje, too, echoed similar sentiments while welcoming him to BJP earlier today. She said it was good to be on the same team and lauded junior Scindia strength of character and courage to put the nation first.

If Rajmata Sahab was here today, she would be elated to see you put the #NationFirst. I admire your strength of character and courage. Its good to be on the same team. Welcome to the BJP.@JM_Scindia, she tweeted on Wednesday.

Also Read - Good to be on same team: Vasundhara Raje welcomes Jyotiraditya Scindia into BJP

Vasundhara Raje and Yashodhara Raje have served the BJP for decades and Jyotiraditya Scindias fatherMadhavrao Scindiahad also begun his career as a member of the Jan Sangh, which eventually led to the formation of the BJP. Vijaya Raje Scindia, their mother, won two Lok Sabha elections on Congress tickets before breaking away in the mid-sixties. She joined Jan Sangh in 1967 and later became a BJP member.

Yashodhara had yesterday referred to Jyotiradityas switch to the BJP and said Rajmatas blood had taken a decision in the interest of the country.

Rajmatas blood has taken a decision in the nations interest, we will now walk together and build a new country, all differences are gone now. 

Jyotiraditya, too, had said he was unable to serve the country as the reason behind his decision to quit the Congress in his resignation letter written to party president Sonia Gandhi.

While my aim and purpose remain the same as it has always been from the very beginning, to serve the people of my state and country, I believe I am unable to do this anymore within this party.
Irans Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), formed by its most powerful officials and chaired by President Hassan Rouhani, has rejected demands from health authorities on the ground to lock down the northern province of Gilan, where the coronavirus epidemic is on a deadly march from one overwhelmed hospital to another.

Lawmakers and medical staff in other areas have made similar requests, including in the clergy-based city of Qom  the epicenter of the disease  and Mazandaran province, which has witnessed a particularly worrisome hike in its infected cases. Superiors in Tehran have rejected those calls as well.

On March 11, Irans Health Ministry added 63 more deaths caused by the epidemic, bringing the tally to 354. Nearly 1,000 people were also reported to have tested positive in one day. The latest official report pushed the total number of the infected close to the 9,000 mark.

Health Minister Saeed Namaki has now told the Supreme National Security Council that the country is still far from the peak of the virus, suggesting that the mortality rate may accelerate until the second week of April. According to Namaki, at least another two months  around mid-June  remain before the epidemic is eradicated. Meanwhile, Irans Education Ministry announced that there was no certainty as to when schools could be reopened and that it was weighing plans for a one-month makeup course during the summer holidays.

In the immediate aftermath of the outbreak, Rouhani dismissed the graveness of the situation, insisting that Iran would soon defeat the virus and that everyone will have to resume work and production as of next week because life will be back to normal.

Deputy parliamentary speaker Masoud Pezeshkian said during a TV interview that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has ordered the president to take the helm at the National Committee on Combating Coronavirus, perhaps another sign of low satisfaction about the handling of the epidemic.

In recent days, Rouhanis perceived inaction and disappearance from the public eye has prompted attacks from different angles. We miss you Mr. President, a state TV anchor said sarcastically in a live show, while a Tehran City Council member compared the Iranian president to his South Korean counterpart, who, unlike Rouhani, has mobilized all institutions for an all-out war on the virus.

In a Cabinet meeting March 11, Rouhani said he had been busy working like everyone else. His speech, however, was void of any concrete strategy. He offered little beyond criticism of social media rumors.

The Iranian judiciary issued a statement stressing that the final authority on the epidemic figures lies exclusively with the National Committee on Combating Coronavirus. The statement warned that any other report or comment challenging the official statistics is treated as an act against national security and will be punishable by law.

In recent days, medical workers have disseminated their own accounts of chaotic scenes inside Iranian hospitals, where corpses are piled up and a lack of supplies has hampered containment and treatment. Judicial authorities, in an effort to dominate the official narrative, have arrested several people posting pictures and videos online.
Being a dissident or even raising a critical voice in Pakistan is growing more dangerous, regardless of whether the target is political parties, the judiciary or the powerful military and security agencies.

Intimidation of dissidents has increased on multiple fronts, rights workers and journalists say. A number of rights activists have been arrested and charged with sedition. Protesters have been jailed, including a member of parliament.

Newspapers and journalists have faced violence, harassment and warnings from security officials not to cover anything that might show the military in a harsh light.

Rights groups say the civilian government of Prime Minister Imran Khan, elected in 2018, has failed to protect freedom of speech, imposing legislation to restrict online media, even dictating who can appear on television talk shows, while at the same time ceding authority for curbing freedom of speech to the powerful military.

"In recent years, the space for dissent in Pakistan has shrunk to the point of suffocation," warned Omar Warriach, Amnesty International's Deputy South Asia director.

"The Pakistani military has demonstrated that it can still call the shots without directly being in power. ... Taking part in a peaceful protest can now lead to arrest and charges of sedition. Many activists have been forced into exile, fearing for their safety. What was once a lively media landscape has narrowed to exclude critical voices," he said.

Pakistan's government has denied allegations it's stifling free speech. It said it was simply cutting spending when it recently pulled all its advertising from two prominent media houses, Dawn and Jang, that frequently criticise the military's involvement in civilian affairs. Khan's government has also criticized the previous administration for using public money on advertising to promote itself.

Government advertising is one of the leading sources of revenue for newspapers and media houses in Pakistan and is often used to squeeze critical media.

In a March 2 statement, Steven Butler, the Asia program director for the Committee to Protect Journalists, said the government was using advertising "as a cudgel to punish and reward outlets based on their editorial stance in this way," and demanded the practice stop.

Butler was denied entry into Pakistan last year despite holding a valid visa. The government has remained silent on the move, but Pakistani officials say that particular decision was taken without the prime minister's knowledge. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to the media.

Khan was elected in July 2018, amid widespread criticism from international rights groups and political opponents that the country's powerful military and intelligence aided his campaign.

The military was widely accused of intimidating the media and campaigning against Khan's strongest opponent, the Pakistan Muslim League, whose leader Nawaz Sharif had fallen out with the army after openly accusing it of supporting militants.

At a recent meeting with international journalists, Khan's adviser on communication, Firdous Ashiq Awan justified action against those who would attack the military, even charging them with sedition, saying the country's military was sacrosanct according to the constitution.

One journalist, Aziz Memon, disappeared this month on the way to his work at a small newspaper in Pakistan's southern Sindh province. He was found dead just hours later. A few months earlier, Memon tweeted that he had been threatened by local police and a prominent political party over his reporting.

The Brussels-based International Federation of Journalists this week called for the arrest of Memon's killers and strongly criticized a police report that said he died of natural causes. An autopsy report later listed his death as strangulation.

The post-mortem report proves beyond a doubt that Aziz was brutally murdered, the federation statement said. We reiterate our demand that the authorities take urgent action to arrest the killers and those who ordered his killing.

In other cases, intelligence agencies have reportedly forced newspaper sellers into not delivering papers to certain areas and warned television anchors against interviewing certain politicians.

The military's public relations wing, known as the Inter-Services Public Relations, has repeatedly denied interfering in television programming or disrupting newspaper distribution, although it has justified muzzling of a dissident ethnic Pashtun movement called the Pashtun Tahafuz (Protection) Movement, or PTM, claiming it impacts national security, without explaining exactly how.

Authorities have often targeted the PTM, which has accused the army of using the decades-long war on terror to profile, intimidate, harass and arrest ethnic Pashtuns, who dominate Pakistan's northwestern regions bordering Afghanistan.

In late January, a protest of barely 100 people small by Pakistani standards took place outside the National Press Club in the capital Islamabad to protest the arrest of a young PTM leader. The protesters had begun to disperse when police arrived, grabbing protesters and throwing them into waiting trucks.

Among the men and women rounded up was Mohsin Dawar, a member of parliament from Pakistan's North Waziristan border region.

"I said I would go with them. I wasn't resisting, but still they grabbed me, kicked me and punched me, he said in an interview following his release.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Enforcement Directorate has booked suspended Aam Aadmi Party councillor Tahir Hussain, Islamist group PFI and some others on the charges of money laundering and alleged funding of last month's communal riots in northeast Delhi, officials said on Wednesday.

They said the central probe agency has filed a criminal case against Hussain, facing charges of killing an Intelligence Bureau official during the riots, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

Similar charges have been pressed against the Popular Front of India (PFI), which is already facing a separate PMLA probe for allegedly fuelling protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in various parts of the country.

There was no immediate comment from PFI.

The ED is expected to seek Hussain's custody to question him in the case. He is in the custody of Delhi Police at present.

The officials said the federal agency has taken cognisance of a clutch of FIRs filed by Delhi Police's Crime Branch to probe the alleged money laundering and routing of illegal funds by Hussain, PFI and others to purportedly sponsor the communal riots which claimed 53 lives and injured over 200.

Hussain, an AAP corporator for ward number 59 under the Mustafabad assembly seat in Delhi, was booked by the police in the murder case of IB staffer Ankit Sharma in northeast Delhi amid the violence over the new citizenship law.

The family of Sharma (26), found dead in a drain near his home in riot-hit Chand Bagh area, has accused Hussain of being behind the killing.

The corporator had said he was falsely implicated in the case and had denied wrongdoing.

In the case of PFI, the organisation was already being probed by the ED for allegedly routing about Rs 120 crore funds to fuel anti-CAA riots in the country and the agency has questioned about half-a-dozen of its office bearers over the last fortnight.

This case is being probed as part of a 2018 ECIR (enforcement case information report), equivalent of a police FIR, against the PFI and some associated organisations.

The Islamist organisation had denied any wrongdoing in this case, saying their financial transactions were transparent.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Kem Sokha travels by car to his trial at the Phnom Penh Municipal Court in Phnom Penh, Jan. 15, 2020.

Cambodias Prime Minister Hun Sen on Tuesday threatened to cut short opposition chief Kem Sokhas bail and return him to prison, suggesting he was trying to get away with treason amid a postponement in his trial.

Kem Sokha, the head of the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), was arrested in September 2017 for allegedly conspiring to overthrow Hun Sens government, and his party was banned by the Supreme Court two months later for its role in the alleged plot.

The moves, as well as other restrictions on democracy and human rights, prompted the European Union in February to announce a partial withdrawal of trade benefits for Cambodia under its Everything But Arms (EBA) scheme that grants developing nations tariff-free access to its marketsposing an existential threat to the countrys key garment industry.

After Kem Sokha had spent nearly two years in pretrial detention, and several months of strict house arrest on bail, the Phnom Penh Municipal Court began his trial in January. But in the weeks since the EU decision, proceedings have been postponed twice amid complaints by the defense that it had not been permitted to respond to new evidence presented by the prosecution without prior notice.

On Tuesday, Hun Sen accused Kem Sokha of trying to avoid punishment for crimes the prosecution says are proved by a video recorded four years earlier in which he discusses a strategy to win power at the ballot box with the help of U.S. experts, although the opposition chief maintains his innocence and his lawyers have said that prosecutors lack evidence to convict.

Do you think you can get away with your crime? You must be prosecuted, Hun Sen told a crowd attending a graduation ceremony in the capital Phnom Penh.

This time you will not be detained at Trapeang Phlong. Youll be sent to another prison. Immediately after the final verdict is rendered you will be imprisoned.

Hun Sen accused Kem Sokha of trying to force Cambodia to suit the purposes of others by plotting a rebellion.

If you dont like Cambodia and its system, get out of the country and serve the foreigners, he said.

Kem Sokhas legal team was not immediately available for comment on Tuesday, but they have consistently stated that their clients case is politically motivated and have called for the court to drop the charges against him.

Ny Sokha, a campaigner with local rights group ADHOC, told RFAs Khmer Service that Hun Sens comments amounted to an act of intimidation against the opposition and urged him to refrain from making statements that could influence the courts decision in Kem Sokhas trial.

Hun Sen should leave it to the court to decide on Kem Sokhas case, he said.

Statements by the prime minister while the case is being adjudicated can affect the rule of law and independence of the judiciary, which are already in question.

Cambodias courts are widely seen as lacking independence and regularly issue decisions in line with Hun Sens wishes, most recently with a spate of rulings associated with cases brought against supporters of the countrys opposition.

Criticism over virus response

Hun Sens comments came as authorities faced criticism over their response to online criticism of the governments response to the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) and the spread of the disease it causes, COVID-19, of which Cambodia confirmed its third case on Tuesday.

The Ministry of Health announced that a 65-year-old British tourist who came to Cambodia from Vietnam along with 63 other passengers and crew via boat had become infected with COVID-19 and was being quarantined for care at the Kampong Cham Provincial Referral Hospital.

Hun Sen has suggested that the virus, which has infected more than 118,000 people and killed more than 4,200 worldwide, poses little threat to Cambodia and has urged the public to trust the countrys healthcare system.

In recent days, the prime minister had called on the public to tie the traditional Cambodian scarf, or Krama, around their mouths instead of a mask to ward off the spread of the virus, saying it can last longer than a mask and be reused after washing, while additionally creating a bigger market for scarf weavers who are facing the prospect of lost jobs as orders for the garment industry shrink.

Soon after his comments, medical staff at the Siem Reap Provincial Referral Hospital, where Cambodias second COVID-19 patient is being treated, posted photos to the hospitals Facebook account showing them learning how to tie Krama around their mouths and noses, while Ao Vandin, a Health Ministry spokeswoman, called the practice effective at keeping the virus from spreading to others.

But Cambodian analyst and physician Seng Sary called the suggestion medically incorrect and urged medical experts to step up and explain to people that it is not right to use scarves instead of masks to combat the virus.

Amidst the confusion, authorities are arresting people who have posted comments on Facebook expressing their concerns over the coronavirus, including a man named Kauy Sam Ath who was charged with incitement to cause social unrest and an unidentified woman who was detained briefly by police in Siem Reap province before being released on Tuesday.

Am Sam Ath, deputy director of local rights group LICADHO, told RFA that authorities have no right to arrest people based on the messages they post on Facebook, or elsewhere online.

Those arrested were simply expressing their opinions, which is guaranteed in our constitution, he said.

Such messages do not cause any public disorder. Concerns about the spread of coronavirus are shared globally. People are frustrated. A better solution is to educate people on the outbreak to mitigate their fear, anxiety, and frustration, rather than arresting them.

Reported by RFAs Khmer Service. Translated by Nareth Muong. Written in English by Joshua Lipes.
In the second part of his daily blog on life in lockdown in Italy amid the Covid-19 crisis, Dundalk man Barry Sheelan looks at how the locals are continuing to battle to lead a normal-ish life, despite the extraordinary situation.

DAY 1: click here

Today (Wednesday) marks the second day of the national lockdown here in Italy due to the COVID-19 Coronavirus. People all over Italy are now being told not to leave home unless absolutely necessary. The only exceptions are: going to work (although most businesses have closed), going grocery shopping, or for general medical reasons.

In order to move between towns or cities it is now compulsory to download and complete a self-certification form from the Ministero dellInterno, or Ministry of Interior Affairs, stating the reasons for travel. This must also be accompanied by an identity document.

Although some have stated that this is a heavy-handed tactic, it is part of new measures passed ideally to stop, or at least slow, the spread of the Coronavirus among the Italian population. Police are now strictly enforcing checks on roads, in train stations, and in airports. Anyone stopped without a justified reason for travelling can be arrested, and they risk a fine of up to 206, or 3 months in prison.

As Sardinia already has 35 confirmed cases of Coronavirus as of today, the regional government are taking no risks. On a local level, in our small town of Decimomannu (20 kilometres away from Cagliari with a population of around 8,000), people are taking things seriously.

Following advice from radio and television broadcasts we decided to plan our food shopping to cover us for at least two weeks, in order to avoid leaving the house to go to the large supermarkets every couple of days. Of course, we can still go to small local shops if needed for fresh fruit and vegetables, just following the simple precautions, and avoiding crowded places.

Needless to say, our trip to our local supermarket today was a surreal one. As soon as we entered, we were struck immediately by the number of signs posted everywhere reminding customers to keep at least one metre distance from others. Also, most staff and a large majority of customers were wearing full face masks and disposable gloves.

Music playing in the background was constantly interrupted to advise shoppers to stay at least one metre from others, to cover sneezes and coughs, and to avoid touching their faces.

According to staff, they had been visited by the police and were instructed to limit the amount of people in the supermarket at any one time. The usually cheerful staff seemed more silent and on edge, a feeling which is completely understandable given the amount of people they come into contact with on a daily basis.

Apart from the obvious changes however, everything else was business as usual. Shelves were being stocked as normal, and customers seemed to be just getting on with their day.

When we left the supermarket, we saw a queue of about eight people waiting to enter. From what we could see everyone was calm and patient. It seems that on a local level, everyone is making the necessary changes and working together to avoid putting themselves and others at risk.

Now our shopping is over and done with, were waiting to find out whether or not well soon work from home. In the meantime, its a perfect chance to switch off the news, put procrastination aside, and try our hand at cooking some traditional Irish dishes from back home.
IAF aircraft brings back 58 Indians from Iran; COVID-19 cases in India rise to 53

A C-17 Globemaster transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) brought back the first batch of 58 Indians from Iran today, ending days of uncertainty of Indians stuck in the coronavirus-hit country.

About 2,000 Indians are living in Iran, a country that has witnessed increasing numbers of coronavirus cases in the last few days.

First batch of 58 Indian pilgrims being brought back from #Iran. IAF C-17 taken off from Tehran and expected to land soon in Hindon, external affairs minister S Jaishankar tweeted in the morning.

"The IAF aircraft has landed. Mission completed. On to the next," External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar further tweeted.

He thanked the Indian embassy in Tehran, the Indian medical team there, operating under challenging conditions, and the Iranian authorities. We are working on the return of other Indians stranded there," Jaishankar added.

The aircraft landed at Hindon airbase in Ghaziabad, from where the passengers were taken to a medical facility.

It is the second such evacuation by the C-17 Globemaster in the last two weeks.

On 27 February, 76 Indians and 36 foreign nationals were brought back from the Chinese city of Wuhan by the aircraft.

Reports, meanwhile, said 237 people have died of novel coronavirus in Iran while the number of positive cases stands at around 7,000.

In India, eight new cases were reported across the country on Monday - one each in Bengaluru, Delhi, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu and Punjab and two in Pune. In Bengaluru, a resident, who had recently visited the United States, tested positive.

In Jammu and Kashmir, a 63-year-old Jammu woman, who had travelled to Iran, was among two patients who were declared "high viral load cases" by the administration during the weekend.

The number of coronavirus affected in India rose to 53 today with six fresh cases reported in Kerala. In Kerala, where a total of 12 cases have been reported in the last three days, about 270 people - who came in contact with coronavirus patients - have been traced. Ninety-five of them are in the "high-risk category," according to officials. Surveillance has been strengthened after fresh cases emerged. "About 1,116 people are under observation, 976 are under home quarantine while 149 people are in hospitals. This includes people with symptoms as well," health minister KK Shailaja told reporters.

The central and state governments have stepped up measures to counter the spread of the virus amid rise in the number of coronavirus cases. The Kerala government ordered all schools in the state to remain shut for the whole of March.

Union health minister Dr Harsh Vardhan said on Monday that over 8.74 lakh passengers coming from foreign countries have been screened. The government has decided not to let any foreign cruise ship to dock at Indian ports, news agency ANI reported. The government had suspended visas and e-visas granted on or before 3 March to people travelling from Italy, Iran, South Korea and Japan after a surge in cases of coronavirus or COVID-19 in these countries.
With the Congress losing its prominent young face Jyotiraditya Scindia, some leaders have raised apprehensions that his exit may trigger a wave of dissensions though the seniors insist all is not that bad in the party.

His departure apparently signals the deepening leadership crisis in the Congress which continues to grapple with factionalism and growing power struggles between the old and young leaders.

"The resignation of Scindia may well encourage other disgruntled young leaders in the Congress to raise banners of revolt or to look for space in other parties. We have off and on heard of many Congress leaders being in backdoor channel talks with the BJP. Such parleys may get intense now," says a Congress leader, not wishing to be named.

However, Congress senior spokesperson Anand Sharma terms as speculative that Scindia's exit may trigger a spate of resignations.

"Every person has a right to have one's own ambition and one's decision. He has taken a decision, the Congress party has taken a view and for the time being let the matter rest there," he told PTI.

To a question that there are certain young leaders who are getting impatient and there are issues, he says, "I will not comment on anything which is speculation."



Former Union minister and senior Congress leader Ashwani Kumar says Scindia's exit at this stage is unfortunate and has certainly disheartened Congressmen.

"It is also necessary to introspect so as to control the fallout of the resignation. This would require a series of steps and I am sure the Congress high command is seized of the gravity of the situation," he told PTI.

Another party leader Ajay Maken says the Congress is going through a "tough phase" and some powers have been trying to weaken the party which keeps the country united".

"People who follow the Congress's ideology... it is their duty to stand by it in these testing times," a statement quoted him as saying.

After Scindia announced his resignation from the party on Tuesday, the first Congress leader to publicly lament his departure was former MP and sitting Haryana MLA Kuldeep Bishnoi who said it was a big blow and the party needed to empower youngsters who resonate with the masses.

"Jyotiraditya Scindia's departure is a big blow to the Congress. He was a central pillar in the party and the leadership should've done more to convince him to stay. Like him, there are many other devoted INC leaders across the country who feel alienated, wasted & discontented. India's oldest party needs to empower young leaders who have the capacity to work hard and resonate with the masses," said Bishnoi, whose turf war with former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda is well known.

Several young leaders in the Congress have been voicing their anxieties in public of late.

In Rajasthan, Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot is engaged in a continuous power tussle with Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot. In Punjab, former minister Navjot Singh Sidhu has been at loggerheads with Chief Minister Amarinder Singh.

Ahead of Maharashtra elections, former Mumbai Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam had threatened to quit the party accusing Sonia Gandhi's "coterie of sidelining Rahul Gandhi's team members".

Another young Maharashtra Congress leader Milind Deora has been striking a note of dissent of late.

According to Sharma, the young versus old debate is "more of a fabrication".

However, insiders say multiple issues like party is adrift, weak-decision making processes and uncertain future leadership are causing anxieties among leaders who have long political careers ahead of them.

"Many leaders are feeling stifled in the party as they have no voice in the decision-making process. Scindia pointed out in his resignation letter today that he felt he could not serve the people or the country by staying in the Congress. That sense is shared by many leaders and the high command needs to address these concerns," says another senior leader.

Sharma says the Congress has always given place to all those who have contributed and who have been recognised for their merit.

"It has been a judicious blend of the energy of the youth and the experience and wisdom of the seniors. That is how Congress party has been nurtured during 135 years of its existence. Had Congress not nurtured the younger leadership, the party would have not have survived for 135 years," he says.

"Each one of us came up through the student and youth movement and we should not have a situation where the very functioning and selection processes of a party are trivialized and to inconsequential issues about the date of births," he says.

Scindia's departure from the Congress also raises question marks about delayed decision-making and status quo in the Congress, with the former MP himself pointing out in the letter that Tuesday's events had been building up for a year.

After being denied the chief minister's post in 2018, Scindia waited for long to be PCC chief, even as Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath and former chief minister Digvijaya Singh continued to steamroll his plans.

This week it became clear that Nath did not favour even a Rajya Sabha seat for Scindia, as several Madhya Pradesh leaders began demanding Priyanka Gandhi's entry to the upper house from the state.

Of the three seats going to elections from Madhya Pradesh, Congress was expected to get only two, with Digvijaya Singh the main contender and Priyanka's name floated as a second.

"It was only after all doors were shut on him, that Scindia decided to quit. The final harm was done by Sonia Gandhi's decision to not even meet Scindia, which the former MP would have taken as a blow to self respect," says a leader close to Scindia.

Former chief of the party's Karnataka unit chief, Dinesh Gundu Rao, had on Tuesday stressed that it was time for Rahul Gandhi to lead from the front.

"It's time for him and the senior leaders to make drastic changes at the top. We can't go on like this anymore. @INCIndia needs him and he needs the party," he had tweeted.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
She's set to walk down the aisle with American wakeboarder Chandler Powell this year.

And Bindi Irwin, 21, has revealed she's enlisted the help of her fiance, 23, and her younger brother, Robert, 16, to plan her upcoming wedding.

In a post uploaded to Instagram on Tuesday, the Australian wildlife warrior revealed Chandler and Robert were helping select the flowers for her bridal bouquet.

Here to help! Bindi Irwin, 21, (centre) has enlisted the help of her fiance Chandler Powell, 23, (right) and brother Robert, 16, (left) to select the flowers for her bridal bouquet

'Robert and Chandler kindly helped me choose the flowers for my bridal bouquet,' Bindi wrote alongside a photo of the trio posing with vases of colourful flowers.

'They've been very supportive with all things wedding planning,' she added.

The trio were dressed in their signature khaki uniforms as they beamed for the happy snap.

Here comes the bride! Bindi is set to wed Chandler later this year in front of family and friends at the Australia Zoo in Beerwah, Queensland.

Bindi is set to wed Chandler later this year in front of family and friends at the Australia Zoo in Beerwah, Queensland.

The young lovebirds met at the Irwin family's zoo back in November 2013.

Bindi recently revealed what she hopes to do with her fiance after they tie the knot later this year.

Cute couple! The young lovebirds met at the Irwin family's zoo back in November 2013 (The couple pictured with their puppy named Piggy)

Speaking to New Idea magazine, the child star said the couple were thinking about feeding crocodiles at Australia Zoo after the ceremony.

'We all keep joking that our first thing as man and wife will be feeding the crocodiles,' she mused.

Later in the interview, Bindi said the couple were already thinking about children, but added that babies was still 'a way away'.

'I think it's a way away right now, but when it does happen, I can guarantee you they'll have their own Khaki because Khaki is not just a colour, it's an attitude.'

Bindi and Robert's dad, Steve Irwin, died in September 2006 at the age of 44, after being pierced in the chest by a stingray barb while filming a wildlife documentary in Batt Reef, Queensland.
[March 11, 2020] Texas Students Invited to Set College and Career Goals at eSchool Prep

eSchool Prep, a tuition-free public school program of Texarkana Independent School District, is now enrolling students in grades 5-12 for the 2020-2021 school year. With innovative technology, inspiring teachers and an interactive curriculum, eSchool Prep's online and blended learning and instruction platform gives students the opportunity to pursue their academic goals in a supportive environment while recognizing their individual learning styles. "We are looking forward to our second year of operation, and to welcoming more Texas families into the eSchool Prep community," said Head of School Elizabeth Nelson. "We believe every student has incredible potential, and we want to help each of our students learn, find their passion, and succeed-today, tomorrow, and in the future." eSchool Prep students access the school's curriculum anywhere with an internet connection, and attend virtual classes taught by state-licensed teachers. Students are offered a full course load in the core subjects of math, science, English/language arts and history. p> High school students also have the opportunity to take career-oriented courses through the school's Destinations Career Academy. While working toward their high school diplomas, students can choose from a variety of career-focused electives in the high-demand sectors of Business and Health and Human Services. Courses developed with business and industry professionals provide opportunities for students to explore college and career options while charting their own path to graduation and beyond.



To learn more about the school and how to enroll visit txesp.k12.com or download the free K12 mobile app for iOS and Android (News - Alert) devices. About Texas eSchool Prep

eSchool Prep is an online public school program of Texarkana Independent School District serving students statewide in grades 5 through 12. eSchool Prep is tuition-free, giving parents and families the choice to access the curriculum and tools provided by K12 Inc. (NYSE: LRN), the nation's leading provider of proprietary K-12 curriculum and online education programs. For more information about eSchool Prep, visit txesp.k12.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200311005078/en/

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SAS AB (publ) (STO:SAS), which is in the airlines business, and is based in Sweden, saw significant share price movement during recent months on the OM, rising to highs of kr20.20 and falling to the lows of kr8.79. Some share price movements can give investors a better opportunity to enter into the stock, and potentially buy at a lower price. A question to answer is whether SAS's current trading price of kr9.20 reflective of the actual value of the small-cap? Or is it currently undervalued, providing us with the opportunity to buy? Lets take a look at SASs outlook and value based on the most recent financial data to see if there are any catalysts for a price change.

See our latest analysis for SAS

Is SAS still cheap?

According to my price multiple model, where I compare the company's price-to-earnings ratio to the industry average, the stock currently looks expensive. Ive used the price-to-earnings ratio in this instance because theres not enough visibility to forecast its cash flows. The stocks ratio of 21.33x is currently well-above the industry average of 7.98x, meaning that it is trading at a more expensive price relative to its peers. In addition to this, it seems like SASs share price is quite stable, which could mean two things: firstly, it may take the share price a while to fall back down to an attractive buying range, and secondly, there may be less chances to buy low in the future once it reaches that value. This is because the stock is less volatile than the wider market given its low beta.

What kind of growth will SAS generate?

OM:SAS Past and Future Earnings, March 11th 2020

Investors looking for growth in their portfolio may want to consider the prospects of a company before buying its shares. Buying a great company with a robust outlook at a cheap price is always a good investment, so lets also take a look at the company's future expectations. With profit expected to more than double over the next couple of years, the future seems bright for SAS. It looks like higher cash flow is on the cards for the stock, which should feed into a higher share valuation.

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What this means for you:

Are you a shareholder? SASs optimistic future growth appears to have been factored into the current share price, with shares trading above industry price multiples. At this current price, shareholders may be asking a different question  should I sell? If you believe SAS should trade below its current price, selling high and buying it back up again when its price falls towards the industry PE ratio can be profitable. But before you make this decision, take a look at whether its fundamentals have changed.

Are you a potential investor? If youve been keeping tabs on SAS for some time, now may not be the best time to enter into the stock. The price has surpassed its industry peers, which means it is likely that there is no more upside from mispricing. However, the positive outlook is encouraging for SAS, which means its worth diving deeper into other factors in order to take advantage of the next price drop.

Price is just the tip of the iceberg. Dig deeper into what truly matters  the fundamentals  before you make a decision on SAS. You can find everything you need to know about SAS in the latest infographic research report. If you are no longer interested in SAS, you can use our free platform to see my list of over 50 other stocks with a high growth potential.

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



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
Trump is blowing up ancestral burial sites to build his wall, proving that nothing is sacred to this administration.

The chairman of the Tohono Oodham, Ned Norris, recently went to Washington, DC to provide testimony before the US Congressional House Natural Resources Committees Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples on the impact that construction of Trumps wall is having on his people. Namely, the cold, methodical, sacrilegious blasting of ancient burial sites that the Tohono Oodham hold sacred.

The tribe predates the border between the United States and Mexico, and they have members on both sides of it. He compared the dynamiting of the area, known as Monument Hill, to the wilful destruction of Arlington National Cemetery, a historical place that holds the consecrated remains of legions of American war dead and military service veterans.

The chairman was emotional at times, choking back tears  and it is no wonder. That very day, mere hours earlier, the federal government had carried out its latest rounds of explosions there. The Trump administration, exhibiting the poor taste that seems to characterise it, sent out invites for the macabre event. A group of journalists watched in curiosity and horror as they witnessed the desecration of Tohono Oodhams ancestral burial grounds.

Apache warriors, from another tribe in the region, are also interred there. The Trump administration knows that they are destroying what is essentially a cemetery. They have uncovered human bone fragments that date back thousands of years during the blasts.

In fact, the Trump administration is using federal waivers to bypass the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act. Without waivers, these actions would be prohibited and illegal. The waivers originate from the Real ID Act, a post-9/11 law that grants the Department of Homeland Security sweeping and largely unchecked authority to waive other laws to construct border barriers.

Trumps wall is also cutting through a ceremonial route that the Tohono Oodham people use for their Salt Pilgrimage, a key rite of passage for the tribes young men.

US Representative Deb Haaland, a member of the Laguna Pueblo tribe from New Mexico who sits on the House Natural Resources Committee, joined Norris in expressing deep concern. When tribal leaders dont have a seat at the table, indigenous history is lost, she said.

Democratic Representative from Arizona Raul Grijalva, another member of the committee whose district includes the Tohono Oodham, toured Monument Hill weeks ago and was outraged by the destruction he saw taking place.

The government claims to have monitors present, but Grijalva has no faith in them, saying monitors would do anything to avoid, mitigate, or even point out some of the sacrilegious things that are occurring and will continue to occur, given the way theyre proceeding.

Besides obliterating the sacred sites and burial grounds of the Tohono Oodham, construction of Trumps wall also involves draining their aquifer and bulldozing through Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, thereby killing the plants and wildlife in the Sonoran Desert ecosystem that are critical to their tribes culture. Crews have uprooted and sliced through saguaro cacti, some of which are older than the border itself. A number of endangered species also call the area home, like the ocelot. The construction floodlights alone are expected to end the migration patterns of several desert animal species.

Grijalva noted that the damage being done to Tohono Oodham ancestral lands by the Trump administration is irreversible. Youre never going to be able to put it back together, he stated.

Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument has been designated an International Biosphere Reserve and World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific And Cultural Organization (UNESCO), but neither classification is impeding the Trump administrations dogged determination to build costly, feeble, easily subverted wall  his monument to hate.

As a Dakota/Lakota woman from the Oceti Sakowin (Great Sioux Nation) who was born on the Standing Rock Indian Reservation, I have experienced the utter lack of human decency and disrespect that the Trump administration has for indigenous sacred sites. One of his first acts as president was to force the Dakota Access Pipeline through our treaty lands against our will. I cannot help but get a lump in my throat listening to the Tohono Oodham bear their souls while doing all they can to stop Trump laying waste to their graves. At Standing Rock, our eyes welled with tears and our hearts broke as we watched bulldozers crush ancestral burial sites and when we tried to protect them, as is our sacred duty, they gassed us, shot at us, and on one occasion, sicced vicious dogs on unarmed women and children. They were fully aware that they were destroying graves there too.

Even though so much of their ancestral lands have been decimated, the Tohono Oodham have requested that Customs and Border Protection create a two-mile (3.2km) buffer zone around a natural spring (Quitobaquito) and other sites in the path of the border wall that still need saving. The proposed zone would be supplemented with additional technology instead of the wall.

Nothing is sacred to this presidential administration. What is worse is there is such a lack of ethics, morality and rational thought that they refuse to acknowledge that the desecration of a cemetery, and the destruction of a unique, pristine ecosystem not found anywhere else full of animals at risk of extinction, should take precedence over an expensive nonsensical campaign promise based on racism, ignorance, and xenophobia. We cannot allow the Tohono Oodham to stand alone. Protect the sacred.

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance.
Joe Biden is the projected winner in the Michigan, Mississippi, and Missouri presidential primaries, per AP. The news agency also projected early Wednesday that he won Idaho.

The big picture: Democratic voters in six states are choosing between Bernie Sanders' revolution or Joe Biden's so-called Return to Normal campaign, as the candidates compete for the party's presidential nomination and the chance to take on President Trump.

What Biden's saying: "It's a comeback for the soul of this nation," he said in Philadelphia, after his projected winning streak through the first three primaries on Tuesday.

"And I want to thank Bernie Sanders and their supporters for their tireless energy and their passion ... and together, well defeat Donald Trump."

By the numbers: Biden led Sanders by 96 delegates going into Tuesday night. The states will proportion their delegates based on Tuesday's results.

Michigan has 125 delegates.

delegates. Mississippi has 36 delegates.

delegates. Missouri has 68 delegates.

delegates. Idaho has 20 delegates.

delegates. North Dakota has 14 delegates.

delegates. Washington has 89 delegates.

Of note: Following his Super Tuesday delegate haul and South Carolina victory, Biden's campaign has outspent Sanders on TV ads in Mississippi, Michigan, and Missouri, Politico reports, citing data from Advertising Analytics.

But, Sanders "remains the only spender" in North Dakota, Idaho and Washington state, per Politico.

Flashback: Biden, after protesters with two banners, one which read "NAFTA killed jobs," interrupted his event in Detroit on Monday:

"I'm not worried about it. It's just a reflection of what's wrong with American politics today. ... This is one of the things that Donald Trump has generated. This is not who were are. This is not who we are as a party, this is not who we are as a people."

Sanders, making one of his last pitches in St. Louis on Monday:

"Think about the insanity of a system, where today somebody wakes up and maybe they think they have the symptoms of coronavirus. Yet they cannot afford to go to a doctor ... so they're going to go to work and make a serious epidemic even worse."

Go deeper:






NEW YORK  Margaret Bordelon can still feel the hands of the drunk man who tried to pull her in for a kiss at the end of his Uber ride last September in Lafayette, Louisiana.

An Uber driver for only a few months, Bordelon, 45, finally convinced the customer to let her go. Since he booked the ride through a friend, she did not know his name.

After reporting the incident by phone to Uber the same night, a company representative told her that she would no longer be paired with the account holder. Beyond that, there was little else she could do for protection.

"When I asked Uber what it was going to do to protect me and other women going forward, I received no response," Bordelon recalled.

Uber reiterated the message to her in writing a day later, saying that any behavior involving violence, sexual misconduct, or illegal activity "can result in the immediate loss of access to the app" for the customer.

Uber declined to address how it responded specifically in Bordelon's case, and 14 other U.S. female drivers Reuters spoke with said Uber never told them what steps the company took after they reported assault or sexual harassment by customers.

"Safety is essential to Uber," a spokesman said in a statement. "Over the last two years, we've launched more (safety) features than in the previous eight."

The 15 women interviewed by Reuters, contacted through social media support groups, do not represent a comprehensive review of Uber's response to allegations of acts of violence against drivers. But data published by Uber in December  a first for the industry  showed drivers were the victims in nearly half of about 6,000 reports of sexual assault during Uber rides in the United States in 2017 and 2018.

The interviews and data show how Uber's efforts to protect customer privacy have sometimes come into conflict with the safety of some of its drivers. The extent of Uber's responsibility for its drivers' safety, according to legal experts and court records, is also tied up with the unsettled legal question of whether they are contractors  as the company claims  or employees.

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If the drivers were classified as employees, they could unionize to address safety problems, or sue Uber for damages under the U.S. insurance-based system of workers' compensation, said Pauline Kim, a law professor at Washington University in St. Louis.

For example in New York City, the country's largest taxi market, the majority of taxi operators are considered employees under state law, entitled to workers' compensation protections.

However, as contractors, drivers have no such guaranteed rights and they cannot claim benefits from Uber.

Uber says most of its drivers do not want to be employees, valuing the flexibility of on-demand work. Its business model relies on less-costly contractors and in theory also protects it from legal claims. Drivers suffering an assault can still sue Uber over personal injury claims, but lawyers told Reuters they are reluctant to take those cases over a risk it could cement the drivers' contractor status before a court.

"While making a claim against Uber is the only feasible way for a sexually assaulted driver to receive compensation for her losses, Uber prevents them from doing so by calling them independent contractors," said Juli Porto, a lawyer who represents ride-hailing passengers sexually assaulted by drivers.

Of course Uber drivers can still sue their assailant, but private people rarely have the assets to pay for judgements against them and insurance policies generally do not cover criminal acts.

Uber told Reuters that its drivers, as independent contractors, have the right to decline or cancel any trip request, and can end a trip if they feel unsafe.

Recently added safety features include an emergency services button in the app and ways to share trip locations, that should benefit both riders and drivers, Uber told Reuters.

But some drivers said Uber's efforts to address safety concerns felt one-sided.

"I need to provide my drivers license, photos of my car, registration, insurance, inspection results and a selfie before I can start driving. But riders do not even need to use their real names," said Uber driver Melissa Campbell, 48, from Eugene, Oregon.

A taser rests in the door of Uber driver Margaret Bordelon's car in Lafayette, Louisiana, U.S. February 16, 2020. REUTERS/Callaghan O'Hare

Passengers signing up must provide a valid credit card, phone number and email address, but Uber does not require them to verify their identity or upload a picture to avoid potential discrimination against them, it says.

Even if the passenger uses their real name, drivers are no longer able to view account details once the trip is completed to protect customer privacy. In written responses to the drivers submitting safety reports, Uber told drivers they can report incidents to the police who can file a request for riders' personal information on their behalf, messages reviewed by Reuters showed.

In a November report, Uber said it received nearly 22,000 requests from U.S. law enforcement for user account details in 2018 and produced at least some data in 72% of the cases.

In some cases, Uber cited its privacy policies when declining to update drivers on the conclusion of their cases, the women said.

When Bordelon in February asked about the outcome of her case, Uber told her it thoroughly reviewed the report and took the appropriate action with this user's account, and referred her to a national sexual assault hotline, according to a message seen by Reuters.

Some drivers Reuters spoke with noted that if they had access to a customer's drop-off location before accepting a gig, they would feel more safe.

With the exception of California, Uber does not offer drivers such information. The company added location details and other features to its California driver app this year after the state passed a law making it harder for "gig economy" companies to classify workers as contractors. Uber said the added information gives drivers more discretion and therefore bolsters its position that they are independent contractors. It said the location information "is not intended to be a safety feature."

Rejecting ride requests solely to avoid certain neighborhoods, the company said, "violates Uber's Community Guidelines and, in some cases, state and local laws" against discrimination.

Since September's incident in Lafayette, Bordelon has halved her hours from around 40 a week and armed herself with a non-lethal taser, permitted under Uber's terms of use if used defensively.

"I really loved driving before, but Uber is not going to keep good drivers like me if they continue treating us this way," Bordelon said.

Reporting by Tina Bellon. Editing by Catherine Evans and Edward Tobin.
New Delhi/Geneva, March 11 : A Kashmiri rights activist at United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) on Wednesday flayed Pakistan for committing grave human rights violations with its sponsorship of cross-border terrorism.

Aarti Tikoo Singh New Delhi/Geneva, March 11 (IANS) A Kashmiri rights activist at United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) on Wednesday flayed Pakistan for committing grave human rights violations with its sponsorship of cross-border terrorism.

Junaid Qureshi, the son of Kashmiri separatist and 1971 Indian Airlines hijacker Hashim Qureshi, in a general debate at the 43rd session of the UNHRC in Geneva, described Pakistan's efforts at curbing terrorism "an eyewash".

Director of Amsterdam-based thinktank, European Foundation for South Asian Studies (EFSAS), Junaid while highlighting the threat terrorism and its sponsorship posed to human rights said the recent FATF pressure on Pakistan has compelled the country's military establishment to adopt a "more selective" approach towards promoting, sponsoring and exporting terrorism.

"But it is nothing new, as over decades, Pakistan has honed this skill into an art," Junaid said.

Pointing out the fact that Ehsanullah Ehsan of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Masood Azhar, the UN designated global terrorist and chief of the Jaish-e-Mohammad had suddenly gone missing, Junaid said, "It illustrates that the so-called conviction of another UN designated global terrorist and Lashkar-e-Taiba chief Hafiz Saeed, is merely an eyewash." "While Hafiz Saeed's fate will most certainly change for the better when international pressure eases, it appears that the other two terrorists have miraculously managed to outrun the might of the Pakistani intelligence agencies, which all of a sudden lost complete sight of them," he said.

Junaid said these actions clearly demonstrated that Pakistan prefers subterfuge over sincerity, emboldened by the fact that international pressure is mainly limited to words.

That is precisely the reason why it is imperative for the UN to invoke several punitive leverages that are available to it, keep increasing its collaboration with the FATF and continue to sustain a hawk's eye focus on Pakistan, Junaid argued.

"In order to stop this menace of terrorism in South Asia and beyond, what must now be ensured is that the foot, does not come off the pedal," the rights activist said.
(Newser) 

The family of the only person convicted in the 1988 Lockerbie bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 can posthumously appeal his conviction, Scotland's criminal appeals body said on Wednesday. The Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission's finding means Abdelbaset al-Megrahi's 2001 conviction will pass to an appeals court, which will decide if a miscarriage of justice occurred. Megrahi was freed on compassionate grounds in 2009 and died of cancer 3 years later at age 60. The Guardian reports the Libyan man's lawyers allege the attack was really masterminded by Iran and carried out by a Syria-Palestinian group as retribution for the US takedown of an Iranian flight nearly 6 months prior; all 290 aboard that flight died.

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For their part, Megrahi's family has faulted evidence used in the case, "including doubts about the timer alleged to have detonated the bomb," as the AP puts it. They're on the receiving end of support from families of some of the 270 Lockerbie victims, who believe the complete truth on the bombing has yet to be exposed. The BBC reports the SCCRC looked at the six grounds of review submitted by the family and determined a miscarriage of justice may have occurred by way of two of them: "unreasonable verdict" (it said "no reasonable trial court could have accepted that Mr. Megrahi was identified as the purchaser" of the materials inside a bomb suitcase) and "non-disclosure" (related to the defense not being told about a statement and police report related to a Maltese shopkeeper who proved to be a key witness against Megrahi).
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Pinning down the price of crude oil has become a complex task with an unprecedented numbers of slippery variables, even as its desirability in running the global economic engine is being increasingly questioned.

The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec)+ cartel meeting held recently in Vienna witnessed a dramatic fallout between Saudi Arabia and its one time ally, Russia, over slashing output to offset the huge cratering global demand. This escalated into an unprecedented oil war for grabbing market share between two of the worlds largest oil producers. Riyadh has vowed to flat out pump 12.3 mb/d, and has offered deep discounts to its buyers, while Moscow has said it will open its spigots unconstrained by the current Opec pact  thus flooding an already oversupplied market. Earlier this week, oil prices saw the biggest drop since the 1991 Gulf War.

Moscows reluctance to join the Saudi-led Opecs proposal of deeper cuts is ostensibly to jolt the shale industry, which has catapulted the United States (US) as the worlds largest oil producer. The recent sanctions on Rosneft Trading and the consequent halting of NordStream 2  an ambitious pipeline project that would have connected the Siberian oil fields with Germany  are other America-inflicted geopolitical measures that have irked Moscow.

All eyes are now on whether the oil cartels warring parties wade back to the negotiating table. However, crude prices in the medium-term will be significantly determined by four factors, some of which lie beyond the influence of the unwieldy Opec+ alliance.

The biggest dampener in global demand is the novel coronavirus that has ravaged supply lines, tourism and travel, and quarantined millions. Radiating from its epicentre in Wuhan, China, it has infected South Korea, Italy, the US and Iran, among others. World oil demand is set to fall for the first time since 2009 with the International Energy Agency downwardly revising its demand estimates by one mb/d, given a combination of significant demand shock and massive supply overhang.

Though these are early days to predict the trajectory of the Covid-19 and its duration, with the virus peaking in parts of the world and waning in others, regardless, this will have a major sputtering effect on the global economy at least for this year.

Russias gamble to hollow out the US shale industry is just that  a gamble, which may boomerang. The American shale landscape comprises a heterogeneous mix of break-even producers and ones with stronger balance sheets. There are producers who may be able to hold out at $30 a barrel, but if prices continue at current levels over an appreciable period, the closing of rigs, bankruptcies, job losses and capital flight would significantly damage one of Americas most fortune-changing products.

However, the obituary of the US shale industry has been written before  in the aftermath of the 2014 oil price collapse. But the industry is now in a better space to weather an oil war. And like in 2014, it may end up consolidating the larger companies and weeding out the weaker ones, thus hiking production efficiency.

The future of shale is also dependent on the outcome of the American elections  both Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden have either spoken of bans on hydraulic fracking or stricter regulations around it. Donald Trump, on the other hand, plans to double oil production at the Permian Basin. The energy independence of the US has been one of the biggest game-changers in recent times for pegging crude prices and has triggered the reshaping of geopolitics. The outcome of the oil war vis-a-vis shale and future policy decisions will determine US energy dominance.

Additionally, for a medium-term assessment of the global energy sector, the overall impact on renewables given the current scenario of plunging oil prices has to be factored in. The climate crisis narratives that have come to occupy political centrestage of advanced economies will only gain traction. This is most starkly evident by big companies such as the Rockefeller non-profits, which have made their fortune traditionally through the oil and gas sector, now trying to shift away association with it.

Another factor will be the dynamics of the US-China trade war, which has been playing out for almost two years. The worlds two largest economies have been locked in a bitter trade battle inflicting billions of dollars of tariffs on each other. Crude prices in the middle term will also be impacted by how much global demand is delinked from this trade war.

Finally, the repercussions in the region in the wake of the assassination of Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani have not been fully realised yet. The Islamic State is still present in Iraq, while the US is dismantling its aid scaffolding to the war-torn country that is meant to stave off the dreaded terrorist group.

The lull in retaliation on Tehrans part may also come from the impending American and Iranian elections. Major demand centres, like India, have turned to Iraq to quench their thirst for fuel in the aftermath of the Iran sanctions. Any disruption in the southern Iraqi pipelines could throw oil price dynamics into even more unpredictable territory.

Crude prices will be determined by global factors, thus limiting Opec+s power even if the alliance pulls through the present existential crisis.

Shreerupa Mitra is the executive director of The Energy Forum

The views expressed are personal
K&L Gates

Global law firm K&L Gates hired Christopher Bellavia as a partner in its Seattle office. Bellavia has expertise in corporate governance, securities, and mergers and acquisitions. He recently was general counsel and corporate secretary for consumer goods and lifestyle brand company Bulletproof 360. Before that, he was general counsel at Fisher Communications and assistant general counsel at Washington Mutual.




OTTAWAMore than two months after a Ukrainian airliner was shot down over Tehran, killing 55 Canadians, the federal government is taking its campaign for a better investigation to the United Nations civil aviation agency, where Transport Minister Marc Garneau is set to admonish Iran for its ongoing failure to grant access to the downed planes black boxes.

Garneau is slated to speak to the 36-member council of the International Civil Aviation Organization in Montreal on Wednesday, where he will slam Iran for breaking the agencys rules that require the handover of flight recorders to competent investigators without delay.

The federal transport minister says that lessons cannot be learned from the tragedy without a proper investigation, and is warning Iran that Canada will continue to crank up international pressure for a thorough probe into what happened. That could include a formal complaint through the aviation agency if Iran doesnt make the black boxes available, Garneau told the Star in an interview Tuesday.

Im sure they care about their standing in the international community, Garneau said, describing his speech at the UN aviation agency as the next step in Canadas push for Iran to hand the black boxes to France or another country with the technology to analyze their data about the flights last moments.

We owe it to the families of the victims to do this, and its also the proper thing that you do when you have this kind of accident, he said. We hope that this will get things moving quickly.

Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752 crashed over the Tehran on Jan. 8, just hours after Iran launched missiles at military bases in Iraq where American soldiers and their allies were stationed. The attack was in response to a U.S. drone strike that killed Qassem Soleimani, a top Iranian general.

After days of denial, Iran admitted it unintentionally shot down the civilian airliner just minutes after it took off from Tehrans international airport, bound for Ukraine. All 176 people on board were killed, including 55 Canadians.

In the weeks since, Canada has participated in an international effort to ensure international investigations had access to the crash site and could take part in Irans probe of the incident. Meeting in Germany last month, Canada joined other nations in pressing Iran to pay victims families for their losses.

In the meantime, the federal government gave families $25,000 each as immediate financial help while it pushes Iran to co-operate with international investigators. That effort has continued in the weeks since, as Canada ramped up complaints about Irans unprecedented refusal to hand over black boxes to France, whose investigators have discussed analyzing the data they contain with Iranian officials. Canada and its partners pushing Iran to co-operate have said the country does not have the technology required to download the data.

The Convention on International Civil Aviation says the state conducting a crash investigation must arrange for the analysis of flight recorders without delay.

On Parliament Hill Tuesday, Foreign Affairs Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne accused Iran of undermining international law by delaying the handover of black boxes to competent international investigators. Champagne said he spoke with Ukraines president last week about how to put additional pressure on Iran to deliver the black boxes.

Well certainly continue to put the pressure because this is undermining international law and that should not be allowed to stand, he said.

On Wednesday, Garneau will also propose to the International Civil Aviation Organization that it develop a safer skies strategy to ensure commercial airlines have relevant information about conflict zones so they can choose to avoid them in the future. According to prepared remarks provided to the Star, Garneau will call on the organization to develop a plan to present at its next session in late spring.

My country has been deeply affected by this tragedy, the prepared remarks say. We do not want to see it happen again  ever, to anyone, from any state. We do not want anyone to have to experience the sense of loss and shock that this terrible incident has created.

In the meantime, Garneau said Tuesday that Canada is hopeful its efforts will finally push Iran to grant access to the black boxes, so that victims families can be confident there is a thorough investigation into the crash.

Hopefully in the days to come there will be some movement, Garneau said. Well have to see.

This story was edited on March 11, 2020 to reflect that Transport Minister Marc Garneau will take his proposal to the International Civil Aviation Organization on Wednesday, not Thursday.

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Two persons from Mumbai on Wednesday tested positive for coronavirus, taking the number of such cases in Maharashtra to 10, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said as the disease cast a shadow over the ongoing budget session of the legislature which is being curtailed.

Addressing a press conference at Vidhan Bhawan here, he said there are eight coronavirus (COVID-19) positive cases in Pune and two in Mumbai.

All ten were part of a 40-member group which recently visited a foreign country as tourists, he said.

In view of the situation, Thackeray indicated that the ongoing budget session of the legislature, scheduled till March 20, will be curtailed and it is likely to conclude over the weekend after completion of pending business.

Thackeray said the decision is being taken to prevent strain on the administration and allow legislators to visit their constituencies and be on the field.

"These people (who tested positive for COVID-19) do not have serious symptoms. There is no need to panic due to this," Thackeray said.

The government has got in touch with the remaining 30 people who were part of the group, the CM said.

"Three are from Karnataka and four have tested negative. This means not all the people in the group have tested positive," Thackeray said.

"All ten people are undergoing treatment and are under observation. There is no need to panic. All of them had mild symptoms and not serious," he said.

He said the decision to curtail the session was taken at a meeting attended by presiding officers of both houses and leaders of opposition in the assembly and council.

"The ongoing budget session will end either on Saturday or Sunday after completing the scheduled business," the chief minister said.

Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said the issue of curtailing the legislature sessionwill be discussed in both houses on Thursday.

"Legislature is final authority. We need to pass the budget, appropriation bill first," Pawar said.

Pawar made it clear that the session is being curtailed not out of fear of the coronavirus but to prevent strain on the administration.

"To brief the cabinet on the issues listed on the question hour or calling attention notices, officials have to travel to Mumbai from different parts of the state.

"Even legislators need to go back to their constituencies and create awarenessso that we can defeat the virus which is on our doorstep. There is no need to panic," Pawar said.

Pawar said to prevent crowding in the state legislature complex only ministers and legislators will be allowed inside.

Thackeray said there was a suggestion from the Pune administration that schools be closed.

"We feel there is no need now (for this step). But if needed a decision will be taken," he said.

"There are 850 to 1,000 people from the state who are currently abroad as tourists. Tour operators have been asked to get in touch with the administration once they land in Mumbai," Pawar said.

Asked about the IPL, which is slated to start on March 29, Thackeray said there is a proposal to hold the cash-rich T20 tournament without stadium audience or postpone it.

"The government is yet to take a decision. There should be no crowd at any cost," he said.

"We appeal that religious events in rural parts of the state be postponed. I have spoken to Union health minister Harsh Vardhan for permission to start additional labs other than the ones in Pune, Mumbai and Nagpur (to test samples)," Thackeray said.

Meanwhile, a statement by the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) of the Public Health Department, Maharashtra said an "aggressive contact tracing activity" is in progress on a war footing after two Dubai returnees from Pune were found positive for positive coronavirus two days ago.

"Till Wednesday, 1,38,968 travellers from 1,195 flights have been screened at Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur international airports. As per the new guidelines from central government, travelers coming from all countries are being screened at international airports," it said.

"From January 18 till date 349 symptomatic travellers have been isolated in identified isolation facilities. At present 18 travelers are still in hospital at Pune, while 15 at Mumbai," it said.

Suspected cases have also been isolated at Nagpur and Pimpri Chinchwad, the statement said.

"All international travellers are being screened at airports and all symptomatic travelers are referred to identified isolation wards. Asymptomatic travellers coming from 12 countries are being referred to IDSP for regular follow-up for 14 days," it said.

Apart from Mumbai, Pune and Thane, travellers are also being monitored in Gadchiroli, Nanded, Buldhana, Yavatmal, Nagpur, Wardha, Sangli, Ahmednagar, Amaravati, Palghar, Jalgaon, Chandrapur and Satara districts, it said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The NFU has visited a farming business facing the costs of months of torrential downpours, waterlogging and flooding of fields.

Farmers across the UK have reported that prime farmland is badly affected and tens of thousands of acres left inundated with floodwater.

The adverse weather conditions are now having a serious impact on farming businesses and is increasing financial pressures.

NFU Deputy President Stuart Roberts visited a farm in the West Midlands to see the damage caused, which will cost the business hundreds of thousands of pounds.

He heard that high value horticulture crops planted last September have rotted in the ground, so supermarket contracts may not be fulfilled.

No machinery has been able to get on the land and tractors have even been getting stuck in polytunnels as the water table has been so high.

Mr Roberts said that to see the unharvested crops in the ground is devastating: I have been lost for words to see the extent of the damage the incessant wet weather has caused to our farmer members," he added.

"Its just been impossible to get new crops planted due to five months of rainfall."

Meanwhile, thousands of new plants are arriving weekly to the farm from propagators which cant be planted.

Issues with red tape are also getting in the way of innovation with proposals to develop the business with new polytunnels falling foul of local planning chiefs.

NFU Deputy President Stuart Roberts visited a farm in the West Midlands to see the damage caused by recent extreme weather

The NFU is now urging Defra and its agencies to take a 'common-sense approach' to managing the effects of consistent wet weather and flooding.

There is ongoing dialogue with the department, the Rural Payment Agency and the Environment Agency to encourage flexibility and ease the problems of cash flow.

Mr Roberts added: This country must start taking water issues seriously. Long-term strategic plans have to be developed to mitigate future flood risk and better manage water.

"We will continue to campaign to ensure that agriculture is properly valued in flood risk management and rural flooding is effectively managed."
Last year, Three Babes Bakeshop sold more pies for Pi Day than for Thanksgiving. Usually around this time of year, it has sold out of the 3,000 pies it makes for the holiday and is scrambling for inventory.

But this year, the San Francisco bakery is furloughing 30 out of its 36 employees as corporate customers indefinitely postpone orders for their offices.

"We told them if they can find employment elsewhere they should do that," co-founder Lenore Estrada said in an interview.

Companies like Lyft, Google and Facebook have recommended employees work from home as the number of COVID-19 cases in the U.S. continues to climb.

While the coronavirus is hitting global corporate giants like Nike, Starbucks and Apple, it is also taking a toll on small businesses across the country, including pie shops. Estrada said that her bakery is missing out on the extra bump from Pi Day celebrations, on top of losing about $60,000 in its routine sales to tech companies that serve free meals to employees.

Bakery owners in Seattle and New York City also told CNBC that their Pi Day orders have taken a nosedive. Pi Day is an international holiday celebrated on March 14 to commemorate the mathematical constant.

Chris Porter, the owner of A La Mode Pies in Seattle, estimates that his business has refunded between $5,000 to $7,000 in presales for Pi Day. His two locations start planning two or three months in advance for the holiday, which is its biggest retail day of the year. It also follows two slow months, January and February, making the Pi Day a "life preserver" for A La Mode Pies.

"Local business will become a casualty of coronavirus if people don't continue to go out to their local coffee shop," Porter said.

The canceled pie orders for Petee's Pie Company in New York are even higher. Robert Paredez, who owns the bakery with his wife, said that roughly $13,000 orders have been canceled. Many of those customers have promised to reorder their pies once workers have returned to their office buildings.

Porter said that he's still optimistic that people will come out for Pi Day, but cafe sales overall have fallen slightly. Washington state has the highest death toll attributed to the virus, and most cases are concentrated in the Seattle area.

A La Mode Pies' wholesale clients, which include restaurants and coffee shops, have seen business decline significantly, according to Porter.

"One of my clients, who I've had for over ten years, put a hold on their orders because their business is down 40%," he said.
The Sino-India border trade at Sherathang near Nathula in Sikkim has been suspended as a measure to prevent the spread of novel coronavirus, a senior official said on Wednesday.

Director General-cum-Health secretary P T Bhutia told reporters that not a single case of Covid-19 has been detected in the state so far and adequate measures have been put in place to prevent the spread of the deadly virus.

He said the Sino-India border trade at Sherathang trade mart near Nathula has been suspended in view of the coronavirus threat



"Not a single case of COVID-19 has been reported in Sikkim so far," Bhutia said.

He said the state government is in constant touch with the Centre and daily updates are being shared with regard to the status of coronavirus.

The health secretary urged people to refrain from rumour-mongering through social media or any other medium with regard to Covid-19 and warned that such activities would be dealt with strictly as per law.

He emphasised that public gathering of any kind should be avoided to keep oneself safe.

Bhutia said a helpline number '104' has been set up for any assistance with regard to coronavirus disease.

The health secretary said the state government has issued certain travel advisories especially with regard to foreign nationals.

Speaking about the ongoing thermal scanning of passengers at the state border check posts in Rangpo, Melli and Rambam, Bhutia said adequate manpower has been deployed to assist health officials for screening of incoming passengers, including tourists.

He further said that the state government was contemplating using mechanical thermal scanners at the three check-posts so that more people can be scanned at a time.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
- Momo Bertrand was rejected 500 times in his quest to work for the United Nations (UN)

- Bertrand was finally been offered a job by an agency of the UN

- The young man said he did not listen to his classmates who made discouraging comments when he told them about applying for jobs at the UN

Our Manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in

A man identified as Momo Bertrand said he has finally been hired by the United Nations (UN) after being rejected 500 times.

Bertrand took to LinkedIn to make the disclosure, saying he started applying for jobs at the UN after completing his master's degree programme.

READ ALSO: 'Too-known' & pride is what is stopping many women from getting married - Prophet Oduro

Momo Bertrand applied for the job 500 times with no successPhoto credit: Momo Betrand

Source: UGC

YEN.com.gh has gathered that Bertrand told his classmate about applying for UN jobs, but he was laughed at and advised to apply to be a kindergarten teacher.

Bertrand, who was born in Douala, Cameroon, said he did not listen to his classmates who made discouraging comments after telling them of his desire to work with the UN.

''I told a classmate and he laughed at me, Momo, the UN wont hire you because you know no one there. Instead, apply to be a kindergarten teacher here in San Diego. he said.

READ ALSO: I am Ama not Nana Ama - Pretty girl trending in heartbreak story weeps in video

READ ALSO: 78-year-old woman who picks 'pure water' sachets for survival gets free GHC 1k

"I didnt listen. After 500 failed job applications, I was hired as a Digital Media Officer at ITCILO.org, a United Nations agency." he added.

His post encouraged many people who lauded him for his resilience.

Others even said they were encouraged to push and follow their dreams despite obstacles that may come before them.

In another grass-to-grace report, 22-year-old African-American by the name Zion Clark who was born without legs and grew up in foster homes has become a powerful wrestler and athlete.

According to Face2FaceAfrica.com, Zion's exploits were not only in the world of wrestling as he went on to become Ohios fastest wheelchair runner and won the 2016 100-meter and 400-meter state titles.

The hardworking young man whose condition emerged from a rare medical condition known as caudal regression.

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Source: YEN.com.gh
People who are older or have underlying diseases like high blood pressure and diabetes may be at a higher risk of death from the new coronavirus (COVID-19), according to a study published in The Lancet journal.

The observational study was carried on 191 patients with confirmed COVID-19 from two hospitals in Wuhan, China.

The study is the first time researchers have examined risk factors associated with severe disease and death in hospitalised adults who have either died or been discharged from hospital.

"Older age, showing signs of sepsis on admission, underlying diseases like high blood pressure and diabetes, and the prolonged use of non-invasive ventilation were important factors in the deaths of these patients," said Zhibo Liu from Jinyintan Hospital, China.

"Poorer outcomes in older people may be due, in part, to the age-related weakening of the immune system and increased inflammation that could promote viral replication and more prolonged responses to inflammation, causing lasting damage to the heart, brain, and other organs," Liu said.

In the study of 191 patients, 137 were discharged and 54 died in hospital.

However, the researchers note that interpretation of their findings might be limited by the study's sample size.

They present new data on viral shedding, which indicates that the median duration of viral shedding was 20 days in survivors (ranging from 8 to 37 days), and the virus was detectable until death in the 54 non-survivors.

While prolonged viral shedding suggests that patients may still be capable of spreading COVID-19, the researchers caution that the duration of viral shedding is influenced by disease severity.

They note that all patients in the study were hospitalised, two-thirds of whom had severe or critical illness.

"The extended viral shedding noted in our study has important implications for guiding decisions around isolation precautions and antiviral treatment in patients with confirmed COVID-19 infection," said Professor Bin Cao from the China-Japan Friendship Hospital and Capital Medical University, China.

"However, we need to be clear that viral shedding time should not be confused with other self-isolation guidance for people who may have been exposed to COVID-19 but do not have symptoms, as this guidance is based on the incubation time of the virus," said Cao.

The researchers recommend that negative tests for COVID-19 should be required before patients are discharged from hospital.

In severe influenza, delayed viral treatment extends how long the virus is shed, and together these factors put infected patients at risk of dying, they said.

The researchers noted that effective antiviral treatment may improve outcomes in COVID-19, although they did not observe shortening of viral shedding duration after antiviral treatment in the study.

For the first time, the study describes the complete picture of the progression of the COVID-19.

The median duration of fever was about 12 days in survivors, which was similar in non-survivors.

However, the cough may last for a long time -- 45 per cent of survivors still had cough on discharge, the study found.

In survivors, dyspnoea (shortness of breath) would cease after about 13 days, but would last until death in non-survivors.

The study also illustrates the time of the occurrence of different complications such as sepsis, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), acute cardiac injury, acute kidney injury and the secondary infection.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Ah, the campaign promise.

So many of these hasty and uncosted pledges made in the heat of an election campaign wind up causing untold grief to the promise-makers, not to mention taxpayers, down the line.

Premier Doug Ford has made it clear that, come hell or high water, he intends to keep just such a promise.

Last week Ford said his government still plans to lower hydro rates by 12 per cent. That 2018 campaign commitment has received so little attention from the relevant ministers that they might well have felt theyd succeeded in burying it forever. Alas, Ford has revived it.

Were going to keep our promise, he told a news conference on Friday. Its a very, very complicated, complicated issue.

No, premier, its not complicated. Its just a very, very expensive bad idea.

The 12-per-cent promise made little sense when Ford made it on the campaign trail, looking to capitalize on the affordability concerns that contributed to the demise of the Wynne Liberals. It makes even less sense today given all we know now.

The Ford government is already spending $5.6 billion a year  40 per cent more than it anticipated  just to maintain the existing subsidy brought in by the Wynne government to reduce hydro rates by 25 per cent.

With these soaring costs its financial madness to spend billions more to subsidize a further rate cut. Especially at a time when the government cant seem to find the money needed to keep up with Ontarios current health care and education needs, let alone properly prepare for the future.

A recent report by the provincial fiscal watchdog makes it even clearer that an additional expensive subsidy is not needed.

According to the Financial Accountability Office of Ontario, the average spending on home energy in Ontario is among the lowest in Canada. The typical household spent 2.6 per cent of its after-tax income on energy in 2019. Thats actually lower than it was in 2010, thanks in large part to the existing subsidy.

Thats not to say there arent families who struggle to pay their bills, including hydro, because there certainly are.

But an across-the-board rebate that gives the biggest savings to the richest and most energy-consuming households is not the best way to help them. In fact, its the worst of all systems.

From an environmental perspective rebates should be based on reducing consumption. And from an affordability perspective they should be based on income.

And yet Ford wants to double down on this flawed and increasingly expensive program.

His government seems to excel in short-term thinking that carries prohibitive long-term costs. Thats been repeatedly demonstrated on the energy file.

Ford promised to fire the pricey head of Hydro One and cancel green energy contracts, which he said would help him slash electricity bills by 12 per cent.

Instead, his ham-fisted move to get rid of Hydros top executive, whom he dubbed the six-million-dollar man, set in a motion a chain of events that cost the half-publicly owned corporation more than $130 million.

The government scrapped hundreds of renewable energy projects and, as a consequence, has set aside more than $230 million of taxpayer money to cover the financial penalties.

Electricity bills have not come down. Indeed, theyve gone up slightly. The governments subsidy costs have gone up dramatically. And theres still no real plan for Ontarios energy future.

The Ford government has been forced to backtrack on everything from autism services to the colour of license plates because what it tried to do simply didnt work. It would be nice if, for a change, it would see the problem before it makes a mess  and then has to fix it.

Some election promises are just so bad theyre not worth keeping. The 12-per-cent cut to hydro rates is one of them.

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MILFORD  Lauralton Hall is closing through the end of the week after a parent of a student there was exposed to coronavirus and is symptomatic.

Milford Health Department Director Deepa Joseph said the city will keep track of the case.

Mayor Ben Blake said Lauralton Hall administration decided to close the school for extensive cleaning out of an abundance of caution. He said Lauralton Hall administration and the Health Department continue to be in contact with each other regarding follow up steps. He said there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 at Lauralton Hall.

Blake said all other public and parochial schools remain open and, In the event other measures become necessary, the Milford Health Department will issue further advisement.

Lauralton Head of School Elizabeth Miller made the announcement in a message to the school community Wednesday.

We learned moments ago that the parent of a Lauralton student was exposed to COVID-19 (coronavirus) and is now symptomatic. The parent, a medical professional, was at work today and began to experience symptoms. The parent acted responsibly, reported symptoms, and is being monitored, Miller said in the letter. Our student is not symptomatic but, because she was exposed, is now self-quarantined.

The schools campus has been closed and locked, Miller said. No students, parents, or employees will be allowed on campus, he said. Online classes will be held beginning Thursday at 8 a.m. An update sharing further plans will be shared before the weekend, Miller said.

Please join me in prayer for this Lauralton family, and continue to pray for all those suffering from coronavirus and their caregivers worldwide, Miller said.

Learning continues online, she said.

Reporter Pam McLoughlin contributed to this story. william.lambert@hearstmediact.com
Joe Biden seized the key battleground state of Michigan in the Democratic presidential primary to deal a blow to rival Bernie Sanders.

Michigan was the state that helped to propel Mr Sanders campaign four years ago but Mr Biden took the honours there, as well as Missouri and Mississippi to give his campaign a shot in the arm.

Mr Biden, as he did on so-called Super Tuesday, showed strength with working-class voters and African Americans, who are vital to winning the Democratic nomination.

Mr Sanders hopes rested on states where far fewer delegates were at stake, Idaho, North Dakota and Washington state, whose primary was too early to call late on Tuesday.

Tuesday marked the first time voters weighed in on the primary since it effectively narrowed to a two-person race between Mr Sanders and Mr Biden.

The first three large states easily went to Mr Biden, a dramatic reversal for a campaign that appeared on the brink of collapse just two weeks ago.

(PA Graphics)

Now it is Mr Sanders, whose candidacy was ascendant so recently, who must contemplate a path forward.

Addressing supporters in Philadelphia, Mr Biden noted that many had declared that this candidacy was dead only days ago but now were very much alive.

He also made a plea for supporters of Mr Sanders to change camps.

(PA Graphics)

He said: We need you, we want you, and theres a place in our campaign for each of you.

I want to thank Bernie Sanders and his supporters for their tireless energy and their passion.

We share a common goal, and together well beat Donald Trump.
OTTAWA - The Canadian military is searching for its sixth second-in-command in less than four years after Lt.-Gen. Jean-Marc Lanthier's surprise decision to retire this summer.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 11/3/2020 (670 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

OTTAWA - The Canadian military is searching for its sixth second-in-command in less than four years after Lt.-Gen. Jean-Marc Lanthier's surprise decision to retire this summer.

The turnover in vice-chiefs of the defence staff has been of concern to many observers given the importance of the position, which is responsible for much of the day-to-day financial oversight and management of the Canadian Armed Forces.

Brigadier General Jean-Marc Lanthier attends a ceremony honouring soldiers who participated in the war in Afghanistan, Friday May 9, 2014 at CFB Valcartier. Canada's military is searching for its sixth second-in-command in under four years following Lanthier's surprise decision to retire this summer. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Clement Allard

In a statement released by the Department of National Defence, Lanthier said he chose to retire less than a year into the job to spend more time with his family after more than 30 years in uniform.

"This is not an easy decision, nor is it one that I take lightly," he said. "I am truly grateful for the support my wife Pam has provided throughout the years and am in constant awe of her incredible strength."

Lanthier was installed as vice-chief last July, bringing what many hoped would be stability to the position after years of turnover that began with Vice-Admiral Mark Norman's suspension in January 2017.

Norman himself had served five months as vice-chief before he was suspended and eventually removed altogether. An RCMP investigation led to his being charged with breach of trust for allegedly leaking government secrets  a charge that was eventually dropped.

Two other military officers  Vice-Admiral Ron Lloyd and Lt.-Gen. Alain Parent  served as acting vice-chiefs of the defence staff while Norman was being investigated before Lt.-Gen. Paul Wynnyk was appointed as Norman's full-time replacement in July 2018.

But Wynnyk announced his own retirement last summer after chief of the defence staff Gen. Jonathan Vance tried to return Norman to the position, only to see Norman take a financial settlement from the government and retire.

The Opposition Conservatives have previously blamed the Liberal government for the upheaval among the top brass since the investigation against Norman began, while others have questioned Vance's leadership.

Conservative defence critic James Bezan raised concerns about the impact on military morale as he asked Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan about the high rate of turnover during a House of Commons parliamentary committee hearing Wednesday, at which Lanthier also appeared.

"That makes six vice-chief of defence staff that we have gone through, minister," Bezan said. "What's going on here that we've had such a high turnover? It is political leadership? Is it military leadership? What's the issue?"

Sajjan, who thanked Lanthier for his service during his opening statement to the committee, suggested that while the second-in-command has changed several times, key people in the vice-chief's office have remained in place for years.

Vance echoed that assessment in an interview as he played down the impact on the military of the turnover and defended his own management of the situation, saying he's "reacting to the circumstances" as best he can.

Wynnyk attributed his abrupt decision to resign last year to his desire to return to his family, but a letter sent to Vance linked his decision to the aborted attempt to reinstate Norman after the breach-of-trust case against him collapsed.

"None of these things I set out to do by design," Vance told The Canadian Press. "They were simply reacting to the circumstances, reacting as transparently as I could to the circumstances. In this case, Lt.-Gen. Lanthier's decision is very much his own for the reasons he stated in his comments and have nothing to do really with me."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 11, 2020.
Boston Bruins' Matt Grzelcyk (48) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday in Philadelphia. Public health experts are raising alarms about such large public gatherings during the coronavirus pandemic (AP Photo/Matt Slocum) Read more

As the coronavirus crisis grows, health officials are struggling to strike the right tone between false reassurance and OMG, were doomed.

On Tuesday, Philadelphias leaders announced the citys first coronavirus case and advised residents to consider not attending public gatherings with more than 5,000 people.

On Wednesday, a city health official acknowledged the randomness of that number, which would affect only massive events such as parades, and games or concerts in stadiums.

What the right number is and where you make the cutoff I think is somewhat arbitrary, said Steven Alles, director of the Division of Disease Control for the Philadelphia Department of Public Health. We just dont have that much disease [in the city]. The risk is very low still."

 READ MORE: Scores of local events have been cancelled due to coronavirus. We have the highlights.

Hard-hit Washington state, with most of the nations coronavirus deaths, on Wednesday banned all gatherings of more than 250 people.

Meanwhile, more and more experts  including Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases  advise taking precautions as if the dangerous respiratory virus is spreading undetected, even in places like Philadelphia with few diagnosed cases.

Those precautions involve social distancing," meaning minimizing close contact (defined as within 6 feet) with other people. While big gatherings increase the risk that lots of people could be exposed to infection  especially events where cheering could mean saliva flying  there may be no safety in small numbers.

Theres no threshold. This is a time when if youre invited to a dinner party with five people, you should say, No thanks,  said Carolyn C. Cannuscio, a social epidemiologist at the University of Pennsylvanias Perelman School of Medicine.

Valerie Arkoosh, a physician and public health expert who chairs the Montgomery County Commissioners, offered a more nuanced set of considerations. An event that draws numerous people from out of state is in a different category from a large dinner party for people who all live in the neighborhood.

I dont really think the number is the point," Arkoosh said. "I think the point is whos coming, and who has an elderly parent at home, and who may be at risk.

 READ MORE: Coronavirus testing is expanding but likely not fast enough to contain undetected spread

Cannuscio at Penn was dismayed by city officials implication that gatherings of fewer than 5,000 are low risk.

They need to walk back that number, she said. That number will be talked about in public health classes for decades to come. Everybody is vulnerable to making mistakes in communications, but I want our leaders to recognize that we need to reduce social contacts. I know I might sound hysterical, but I recognize the public doesnt understand the importance of social distancing.

Social distancing is important because it can help reduce and spread out infections over a longer period of time, public health experts say. That can keep the health-care system from being overwhelmed, prevent shortages of medical supplies, and buy time to develop a vaccine and therapies.

Massachusetts is a chilling example of what can happen when people in a place with few known cases assume a gathering will be low risk. On Wednesday, that state announced 51 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total to 92. Most of those cases  70  have been traced to a Biogen conference attended by about 175 people, at the Boston Marriott Long Wharf.

Public health experts agree that the elderly and people with chronic, immune-weakening conditions such as cancer, diabetes, and heart disease are particularly at risk of severe coronavirus illness. They should stay home and away from public places. Alles stressed that point Wednesday.

Experts also agree that events with lots of shouting, cheering, and drinking  such as Philadelphias notorious St. Patricks Day event, the Erin Express bar-hopping bus  are particularly risky because of the increased chance of spewing infectious spit or airborne droplets.

But the frightening issue of community spread  person-to-person transmission of an illness without a known source  is trickier. Because only people with respiratory symptoms are being tested for the coronavirus, no one really knows how widespread the germ is. That leaves officials wondering whether to err on the side of urging stringent social distancing, knowing that avoiding human contact is difficult and disruptive.

 READ MORE: Philadelphia arts and culture groups begin canceling, postponing performances

Alles boss, Health Commissioner Thomas Farley, on Tuesday said the virus may be spreading undetected in Philadelphia because that may be happening just to the north in Montgomery County. Meanwhile, Pennsylvania Health Secretary Rachel Levine has said the state does not have community spread  yet.

Cannuscio is behaving as if the virus is already widespread locally. In addition to not traveling, she is teaching her Penn classes remotely online, and staying 6 feet away from colleagues, neighbors, and others. She also has worked with her childrens schools to adopt strategies  such as lunches in classrooms, outdoor lessons, no visitors, and rotating teachers rather than students through classrooms  to minimize social contacts.

Ive seen it coming. Ive been talking about it since January, she said. Its time to radically change our behavior. Life should not be treated as normal."

Staff writers Tom Avril and Allison Steele contributed to this article.
British leader Boris Johnson's fiancee on Wednesday branded reports the couple was set to rehome their pet dog "total crap", as they prepared for the birth of their first child together.

Carrie Symonds, who in February announced their engagement and that they were expecting a baby, wrote on Twitter that those behind the shaggy dog story "should be ashamed of themselves".

"What a load of total crap!" she wrote after The Times reported that Downing Street dog could be "quietly" rehomed.

"There has never been a happier, healthier and more loved dog than our Dilyn. 100% bs. The people behind this story should be ashamed of themselves," Symonds added.

She also secured the apparent support of former finance minister Sajid Javid's dog Bailey, which has a Twitter account under the handle @ExNumber11Dog.

"Have spoken to Dilyn and he says the story is barking," the dog's account said in reply to Symond's tweet.

Symonds, 31, and Johnson, 55, adopted Dilyn, a Jack Russell-cross, aged 15 weeks from a Welsh rescue centre last September shortly after they moved into Downing Street.

The prime minister, who had taken office in July, swept to an emphatic victory in the December election, with Dilyn often joining Symonds on the campaign trail.

The premier has previously declared Dilyn "a most excellent animal" but the Times, citing sources, said the couple had "grown weary" of him.

The paper added Dilyn had proved "quite a sickly animal" and frequently defecated in the apartment they share above Johnson's Downing Street office.

"For a while there was dog shit everywhere in the flat," a source was quoted as saying by the newspaper.

The disputed report is not the first story about a Downing Street pet to be dubbed fake.

Last year, government insiders pushed back on reports that Larry, the Downing Street cat, was due to be retired from his role as "chief mouser".

The beloved feline  who has a spoof Twitter account, under the handle @Number10cat -- was adopted by ex-premier David Cameron's staff in 2011 to rid the building of mice.
What do the Pentagon, the Vatican and some of the big players in Silicon Valley have in common? They have all embraced ethical principles to guide the development of artificial intelligence that are superficially big on ambition, but sadly lacking any teeth.

Getting a framework to guide AI is critical because of the rapid development of algorithms that analyse and repurpose the huge troves of personal information that governments and private businesses collect from us to inform the development of everything from autonomous weapons to our credit rating.

Artificial intelligence needs real humans to be in charge and take responsibility. Illustration: Simon Letch Credit:

What seems to be emerging, though, is a feel-good tick-a-box process that looks good in a prospectus but does little to protect the public interest in the real world. Its really just ethics-washing.

On February 25 the US Department of Defence  informed by an Innovation Board made up of executives from Google, Microsoft, Facebook and Amazon  proclaimed it would be guided by five ethical principles: its AI would be "responsible, equitable, traceable, reliable and governable".
Jefferson Health New Jersey plans to open an LGBTQ+ clinic in Collingswood this summer. It will be the first such clinic in southern New Jersey and will spare area residents a trip into Center City or to North Jersey, where long waits for new-patient appointments are standard, officials said.

A Jefferson primary-care physician practicing in Marlton, Justin Schweitzer, pushed for the clinic, said Amanda Kimmel, a vice president of ambulatory operations at Jefferson. He sees that there is a significant gap on this side of the bridge for care thats competent for this population, Kimmel said.

Schweitzer and Kimmel picked Collingswood for the clinic not just because of the towns reputation for being LGBTQ-friendly, but also because of its proximity to Center City  just a 15 minute PATCO ride from the 12/13th Street and Locust station, Kimmel said.

We felt that it would be a good location to provide access to care for those residing in South Jersey, as well as those residing in Philadelphia who are waiting for care at the Mazzoni Center, she said.

Center Citys Mazzoni Center, which was founded in 1979 to serve the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer communities in a culturally competent way, has a wait time for new patients in the range of six to nine months, spokesperson Larry Benjamin said. Anyone newly diagnosed with HIV is seen within five days, he said.

LGBTQ competence means, Benjamin said, that a doctor would not be confused when a transgender man asks for a pap smear, or would understand what a gay man who is HIV-negative means when he asks for a prescription for PrEP, or pre-exposure prophylaxis, a drug taken daily that is very effective at preventing HIV, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Our health center patient waiting list is a reflection of the high demand for LGBTQ-competent health care, said Nancy Brisbon, the Mazzoni Centers chief medical officer and a member of the nonprofits interim leadership team. She said Mazzoni officials had been working on building a relationship with Jefferson for more than year.

Were pleased to have provided an impetus for Jefferson to more fully embrace offering LGBTQ welcoming spaces. We are glad that patients will have more options, Brisbon said.

Mazzonis health center at 1348 Bainbridge St. saw 7,593 patients in the year ended June 30, 2019. The organization had $17.8 million in revenue, according to the annual report on its website.

Other health systems have also embraced specialized care for members of LGBTQ communities.

Main Line Health launched its LGBTQ Inclusive Care in 2018. It includes three primary-care practices: Bryn Mawr Family Practice, Main Line HealthCare Family Medicine in Paoli, and Main Line HealthCare Family Medicine at Riddle Hospital.

Penn Medicine started its Program for LGBT Health in 2014. Its website lists 98 physicians, physician assistants, and certified registered nurse practitioners, not including providers at Penn subsidiaries Lancaster General Health or Princeton Health. The Family Medicine Practice at Penn Medicine University City is notable for providing primary care for the LGBTQ population, a spokesperson said.

The Jefferson clinic, which is close to signing a lease for a spot in the center of Collingswood, is expected to open with two full-time primary-care physicians, including Schweitzer, and a full-time licensed clinical social worker, Kimmel said. Staff will also include rotating specialists in infectious diseases, psychiatry, gynecology, and surgery,

Were thrilled to be hosting it," Collingswood Mayor Jim Maley said. "I did not know that there was such a need until this first came up, but hearing from the community, its pretty clear that theres a dire need and were happy to provide folks in South Jersey an opportunity to get some specialized care.
 On March 11, the Albuquerque DSA will present a talk titled Land of Iternment: The Disappearance of Legal Asylum and Status of Detention in New Mexico." This 6:00pm talk, held at the Albuquerque Center for Peace and Justice, will feature Allegra Love of the Santa Fe Dreamers Project.

Asylum seekers are detained in prisons throughout the country, including at the Cibola County Correctional Center here in New Mexico. Cibola has been the subject of multiple lawsuits and legislative hearings on abuse and neglect of detainees within the prison. Cibola became the subject of public outcry after the deaths of transgender detainees Roxsana Hernandez and Johana Medina. In response to public criticism, ICE recently relocated the trans detainees at Cibola to separate prisons in Colorado and Washington.

As a state on the border, New Mexico is closely involved in United States immigration policy whether we want to be or not. This talk is an opportunity to learn more about the plight of asylum seekers in this state, and how New Mexicans can be involved in protecting the human rights and dignity of those who come to the United States in need of assistance.
Not only Pakistan, all other SAARC nations seem to be losing interest in the South Asian University (SAU), leaving it only to India to shoulder on the responsibility of running it, of course in addition to incurring the entire expenditure of building the campus in New Delhi.

Pakistan has not yet paid the full amount that the country was supposed to pay as the first tranche of its contribution to run the South Asia University. It was obligated to do so by December 2018. It has not so far paid a penny for the second tranche of its contribution too.

The six other SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) members  Maldives, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Bhutan  did pay the first tranche of their contributions towards meeting the recurring expenses to run the varsity. But they too now appear to be dilly-dallying and none of them so far paid the second tranche of their respective contributions.

India is the only SAARC member, which paid both the first and second tranches of its contributions towards running the South Asian University (SAU), in addition to footing the bill for building the campus of the varsity in its capital, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) of late informed a parliamentary panel.

It was during the 13th SAARC Summit in Dhaka in November, 2005 that New Delhi proposed to host the SAU to provide world-class facilities and professional faculty to students and researchers from countries in South Asia. The intergovernmental agreement for setting up the varsity was signed during the 14th SAARC Summit held in New Delhi on April 4, 2007.

India committed to bear the entire expenses of building the permanent campus of the SAU in its national capital. The agreement provided that the eight member nations would share the recurring costs for running the institution. India was to bear 57.49% of the operational cost. Pakistan and Bangladesh were required to share 12.98% and 8.20% of the burden respectively. Afghanistan, Bhutan and Maldives were to foot 3.83% of the bill each. Sri Lanka and Nepal were to meet 4.92% of the operational cost each.

The SAARC member nations were obligated to contribute to meet the SAUs operational expenses in two phases between 2010 and the middle of this year  the Phase I from 2010 to 2014 but subsequently extended till December 2018, and the Phase II (interim) from January 2019 to June 2020. Though India and all six other nations fully paid their share of contributions for the Phase I, Pakistan still has an outstanding amount of $ 510436.79 to pay up.

Except for India, none of the seven other nations have so far paid up their share of contributions for the Phase II (interim) of the operational expenses, although 14 of the 18-month-period, during which they are expected to clear the dues, already passed.

The university and the SAARC secretariat (in Kathmandu) are regularly reminding the Member Countries concerned to remit their outstanding contributions, the MEA informed the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs.

The SAARC itself is stuck in an impasse ever since New Delhi pulled out of the eight-nation blocs 19th summit, which was to be held in Islamabad in November 2016, protesting against Pakistans role in exporting terror to India. The summit was eventually called off and could not be held since then.

The Government of India so far spent $ 230.73 million for the SAU, including $ 14.94 million to buy a piece of land near Maidan Garhi in the outskirts of Delhi and $ 141.18 million for ongoing works for construction of the permanent campus of the varsity.

The varsity started functioning in a temporary campus in Delhi in August 2010. The Government of India has so far contributed $ 34.73 million as rent for the temporary premises the varsity has been operating in. India also provides 100 postgraduate and doctoral scholarships to the university every year.

The Government of India had allocated Rs 317.50 crore for the SAU in Union Budget 2019-20, but it had been revised to Rs 341.80 crore later. The Budget 2020-21 allocated Rs 325 crore for the varsity.

The construction of the SAUs permanent campus also got delayed, but the MEA now conveyed to the parliamentary panel that the works under Package I had been completed; while the Package II and Package III works would be completed by the end of this year. As regards Package IV, concerted and sustained efforts are being made by the university as well as the Ministry for approval of revised DPR (Detailed Project Report), clearance of forest land pockets and tree cutting permission from Forest Department and expeditious conclusion of the court cases, the MEA added.
This issue with Smollett  'cause Ill just take it head on  weve got 12 days left  is  excuse my language  is bull----. Sorry, she said. Hold me accountable. Absolutely. We could have done a better job of explaining how this fits in the context of the work that we do. And in the process of doing it, we owed a greater level of transparency to the people of Cook County.
NASAs moon rocket has reached a point in cost overruns and delays that should trigger Congressional review, a report by the NASA Inspector General says.

The NASA Office of Inspector General said the Space Launch System rocket being developed to fly astronauts to the moon exceeded cost and schedule baselines by more than 30 percent at the end of fiscal year 2019. That 30 percent threshold should prompt Congressional attention, the OIG said, though NASA disagreed.

NASA continues to struggle managing SLS (Space Launch System) Program costs and schedule as the launch date for the first integrated SLS/Orion mission slips further, according to the report released Tuesday. Rising costs and delays can be attributed to challenges with program management, technical issues, and contractor performance.

In May 2019, NASA announced its Artemis program that seeks to land the first woman and next man on the moon by 2024. The Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft would be used for this mission. The current schedule is to send an uncrewed spacecraft around the moon no earlier than November 2020, launch people around the moon in October 2022 and land astronauts on the moons south pole in late 2024. This would be the beginning of a sustained human presence.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Trump proposes big boost in NASA funding to get back to the moon

But this edict is new compared to development of the Space Launch System rocket, which began prior to Artemis when NASA had been directed to focus on Mars. In 2014, after the rockets preliminary design work was completed, NASA committed to Congress that it would be ready to launch in November 2018 at a cost of nearly $9.7 billion. As of December 2019, NASA had spent $14.8 billion on the Space Launch System Program and is expected to spend a total of $17.4 billion by the first launch. The latter two figures include the costs for its first uncrewed launch in November 2020, called Artemis I, as well as preparation for subsequent launches, new engine development and improved rocket boosters. And its an amount that would increase should the first launch slip to 2021, which the report said is likely.

This is where the OIG and NASAs budget calculations conflict. NASAs Agency Baseline Commitment  the funding and scheduling agreement with Congress  only tracks activities related to its first launch, Artemis I, and not subsequent launches or other Space Launch System Program costs. According to the OIG, technical challenges, performance issues and requirement changes for each major contract for Artemis I has resulted in a combined $2 billion of cost overruns and at least 2 years of schedule delays.

However, the OIG believes all Space Launch System costs  not just Artemis I  should be tracked against a baseline. It found additional expenditures of almost $6 billion through fiscal year 2020 that are not being reported or tracked through NASAs Agency Baseline Commitment.

While we acknowledge that NASA does track total (Space Launch System) Program costs through its annual budget process, without transparent and accurate reporting on its cost commitments it will be difficult for the agency, Congress, and external stakeholders to make informed decisions about the future of the human space flight program, the OIG report said.

The OIG added that NASA is masking the impact of schedule delays through its reporting. A December 2017 replan of the Space Launch System Program prompted NASA to remove $889 million in rocket booster and engine-related development costs. Officials determined those activities were not directly tied to Artemis I. And despite removing these costs, NASA did not change its Agency Baseline Commitment for Artemis I, which remained at $9.7 billion and included $7.02 billion for development costs.

If the NASA Administrator determines that a program will exceed 30 percent of development costs, NASA must notify Congress and may not spend additional money beyond 18 months unless the program is subsequently reauthorized by law. The OIG says that trigger has been hit as removing the $889 million should have reduced the Agency Baseline Commitments development costs.

NASA did not agree that the 30 percent reporting threshold was triggered. However, the agency plans to create a new baseline for the Space Launch System Program as accelerated plans to put humans on the moon has changed the programs scope. If the new baseline finds that costs have exceeded the 30 percent threshold, NASA officials said the agency will follow applicable notification and reporting requirements.

The OIG said NASA was continuing the practice of not reporting all costs. While we understand the difficulty of setting baselines long into the future, total SLS Program cost increases will not be readily transparent because NASA is not tracking and reporting all costs against an official baseline.

The OIG also made other recommendations aimed at providing greater visibility into the Space Launch System program, such as a review of program management policies, procedures and Agency Baseline Commitment reporting processes.

This is one more piece of pressure to get SLS properly under control and properly placed in the overall plan, said John Logsdon, founder of George Washington Universitys Space Policy Institute.

He said NASA is notorious for not meeting such baseline commitments, especially in human spaceflight, where it justifies overruns by saying crew safety is the No. 1 priority. He added that NASA has taken steps to increase accountability, particularly by changing its management. In October, NASA named Douglas Loverro the head of human spaceflight, and Logsdon said Loverro is expected to soon release revised plans for Artemis.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Report finds greater scrutiny needed for Boeing spacecraft

Everything is going to change very soon, Logsdon said. Doug Loverro is about to announce his revised plan and that will certainly affect, one way or another, SLS.

In its response to the OIG, NASA officials said it concurred with the recommendation to notify Congress that the government agency had exceeded its Agency Baseline Commitment by at least 30 percent. The agency is conducting several assessments of Artemis, the Space Launch System Program and Exploration Ground Systems, and it will review the results of these assessments and then rebaseline the SLS Program.

NASA will communicate the results of these reviews to Congress and comply with applicable reporting requirements.

The agency is committed to continuing improvements in sustainability, accountability, and transparency in its Exploration Systems Development programs, the agency said in its response.

andrea.leinfelder@chron.com

Twitter.com/a_leinfelder
As religious rituals are disrupted, is the disease coming between people and their worship?

The number of visitors at Mecca's Grand Mosque has dropped drastically

As concern over the spread of coronavirus grows, people around the world are changing the way they do things.

Some have cut back on travel plans and are avoiding crowded spaces. Others have dropped greetings like handshakes and hugs for elbow bumps and foot shakes.

Churches, mosques, temples and synagogues are also changing rituals in an effort to contain the spread of the virus.

So how easy is it to maintain the sense of spiritual connection when the way you worship has to change?

Christianity

While the whole of Italy is effectively on lockdown, one group of people is being urged to get out and visit others.

Pope Francis has urged priests to have the "courage to go out and visit the sick" and to "accompany the medical staff and volunteers in the work they do".

They will however need to take precautions such as keeping at least a metre (about 3ft 4in) away from other people and avoiding physical contact.

The Pope chose to live-stream his traditional Sunday message in an effort to reduce crowds at the Vatican.

Catholic churches from Ghana to the US and Europe have changed the way they carry out Mass in an effort to stop infection.

Priests now place the wafer in people's hands rather than on their tongues, and have stopped giving wine in the communal chalice.

Instead of shaking hands during the sign of peace, members of the congregation are being asked simply to pray for the person sitting next to them.

But while they may understand why such steps are necessary, some still have a sense of loss.

Alexander Seale is a French journalist living in London.

"There isn't the same joy as before," he tells me, "not doing the sign of peace and not taking communion in the mouth is like removing a part of the Mass basically.

"It's a shame but I understand that these measures have to be taken."

One Church that is not changing the way it carries out communion is the Greek Orthodox Church.

It will continue giving the sacrament using the same spoon for worshippers.

In a statement the church's ruling body the Holy Synod said: "For the members of the Church, attending the Holy Eucharist  certainly cannot be a cause of disease transmission".

It called for the faithful to pray against the spread of the deadly virus.

In the US, hundreds of people who attended Christ Church in Georgetown, Washington DC, have been told to self-quarantine after the rector of the church was confirmed as the first known coronavirus patient in the district.

The Reverend Timothy Cole tested positive for the virus on Saturday, and is under quarantine with his family.

It's been reported that about 550 people are thought to have been at the service he oversaw on 1 March, and that he administered communion.

It was the refusal to make adjustments to worship that has been blamed for increasing the spread of the coronavirus in South Korea.

More than half of all cases in the country have been linked to a fringe Christian group called the Shincheonji Church of Jesus.

It's thought that practices such as sitting very close together meant the virus spread more quickly among members, who then travelled around the country and infected others.

Church leaders have been accused of withholding the names of members, hindering authorities as they tried to identify infected people and contain the spread of the virus.

Islam

The Grand Mosque in Mecca is usually packed with thousands of Muslim pilgrims, but there has been a dramatic fall in visitors to what Islam holiest sites.

Although the Grand Mosque has re-opened after being closed for sterilisation, there is now a barrier around the sacred Kaaba in the centre of the mosque to stop people from touching it.

A ban on foreign pilgrims to both Mecca and Medina is still in place.

Devotees from around the world would usually be visiting for Umrah pilgrimage, which unlike Hajj can be performed at any time of the year.

About eight million Muslims make the trip annually.

Hadiza Tanimu Danu runs a travel agency in Nigeria which specialises in trips to Mecca, and says reaction to the foreign visitor ban has been mixed.

"People are sad," she tells me. "You know it's Umrah, and everybody loves going for the purpose for worshipping."

It may not be just Umrah which is affected.

"Some are worried that 'OK, what if this extends to Ramadan, what if this extends to Hajj, what's going to happen?'" she says.

The Saudi authorities say these measures are temporary and have not indicated that there are plans to disrupt the Hajj.

Some religious practices which could spread the virus have continued.

There was alarm around the world recently when videos of Iranians licking Shia shrines were shared on social media.

In one, a man is seen at the Masumeh shrine in Qom saying "I'm not scared of coronavirus", before licking and kissing the gates. Some people believe the shrines have divine powers and can help cure diseases.

Two of the men involved are facing jail as a result of their actions, but some Iranians say the religious sites should have been closed altogether.

For many Muslims, though, it is the smaller changes in day-to-day behaviour that they are focused on.

For example, as South Africa grapples with its first confirmed cases of the virus, religious leaders used Friday prayers as an opportunity to advise people about taking precautions.

BBC Africa's Mohammed Allie says that worshippers at his mosque were advised not to shake hands or hug after the service.

"It's going to take some time to get used to it," he says.

"People were still shaking hands after mosque, not because they have ignored the message, but because it's a reflex action."

He says some people have started touching feet instead of shaking hands, and he has started using fist bumps.

"People are slowly but surely starting to make adjustments," he says, adding that he and fellow worshippers have been advised to bring their own prayer mats to next Friday's prayers.

Hindus

For Hindus, this is the time of year when Holi - the "festival of colours" - is celebrated. It commemorates the triumph of good over evil, as well as spring, love and new life. As part of the festivities, people throw coloured powder in the air and paint each other's faces.

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he would not be taking part in public celebrations, and advised people to avoid large gatherings.

But many people did take part in festivities over the weekend, albeit with some precautions taken, such as wearing face masks.

For others though, it was a risk they were not prepared to take.

Nicky Singh lives in Amritsar, in the Indian state of Punjab. He says he stayed at home, preferring to exchange wishes by phone.

He tells me that it is only "the brave or the foolhardy indulging [in celebrations], but the energy which is synonymous with Holi is missing".

He adds: "A harmless sneeze is enough to ring the alarm bells here, that's the general feeling around.

"I feel happy that I [chose] safety over celebrations."

Judaism

How do you tell people not to hug a grieving widow at a funeral? That's something that Rabbi Jackie Tabick, from London's West Central Liberal Synagogue, told me she was grappling with.

"It's a really tough one," she explains.

"I think I'm going to say something like: 'I know that everybody wants to physically express their love for the widow, but really the best way that you can express your love these days - and I know she will understand too - is to talk to her, nod to her, but don't touch, because it's really not the right thing to do at the moment."

She is also putting plans in place to try to do lessons and services online, which many reform and liberal synagogues already do.

Last week, Israel's chief rabbi David Lau issued a statement advising that people should not touch or kiss the mezuzah. These are scrolls with religious verses which are placed on doorposts of homes, and which people touch or kiss when entering a building or a room.

The Conference of European Rabbis has also advised people to not kiss items such as Torah scrolls.

Although Rabbi Tabick says that not being able to kiss the mezuzah is not a major thing in Jewish life, "the trouble is that certain things are a matter of routine".

"Maybe it will be good for us to re-examine routine rituals that we have. Maybe it will be helpful to us to rethink how we can replace them.

"Certainly the most important thing is to make sure that we have support for each other, and maybe [we should be] emphasising that as a way of connecting to God." BBC
Amid a wave of deadly violence in Cameroon, we speak to the man claiming responsibility for the attacks.

Deadly attacks in Cameroon in the past week include raids on several security checkpoints on Tuesday and an explosion at a womens march on Sunday.

In an exclusive interview, Al Jazeeras Nicolas Haque speaks to the leader of the Ambazonia Defence Forces, who claims responsibility for the attacks.
Andrew Yang Endorses Joe Biden for President, Says Hes the Right Man for the Job

Former presidential contender Andrew Yang has become the latest Democrat to endorse Joe Biden, just one day after Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) also endorsed the former vice president.

Speaking live on CNN on March 10, Yang, who ended his own bid for the Democratic nomination for president in February, called Biden the right man for the job to help us not just defeat Donald Trump, but govern the country in the years ahead.

I believe that Joe Biden will be the Democratic nominee and Ive always said Im going to support whoever the nominee is, Yang said on the show, which hired him as a political commentator after he ended his campaign last month.

Despite revealing he backed Bernie Sanders in 2016, and that he has an admiration for Bernie [and] what he means to Americans, and crediting him for inspiring his own presidential run, Yang said the math says Joe is our prohibitive nominee.

I hereby am endorsing Joe Biden to be not just the nominee for the Democratic Party but the next president of the United States, he said, adding: We need to bring the party together. We need to start working on defeating Donald Trump in the fall.

Yangs show of support for Biden comes after his decisive win at the South Carolina primary on Feb. 29 and follows his roaring success on Tuesdays Democratic primaries, which saw him capture several states including Mississippi, Missouri, and the top prize of Michigan, dealing Sanders a serious blow.

The former presidential contender told CNN that Biden called him about an endorsement last week and that it was really hard to say no to Joe, at that time but that he wanted to let the democratic process play out, and I believe it has.

Yangs backing could prove to be particularly beneficial for Biden, having built up his own devoted and passionate group of supporters known as the Yang Gang, during his presidential campaign.

The tech entrepreneur also announced his endorsement on Twitter, writing: The math says Joe is our prohibitive nominee. We need to bring the party together. We need to start working on defeating Donald Trump in the fall.

Yangs endorsement for Biden is the latest from a string of former 2020 rivals, including Booker, Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg, former Rep. Beto ORourke (D-Texas), former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, and former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
During the hearing at the special PMLA court on Wednesday, ED alleged that out of the Rs 30,000 crore loans sanctioned by Yes Bank under founder Rana Kapoor, Rs 20,000 crore turned into NPAs. The ED said that the amount needs to be looked at and that it must be investigated if these were genuine transactions.

"The progress is as per investigation. There were some Rs 30,000 crore loans given when he was heading the bank. These loans were given to various entities. Rs 20,000 crore have turned into NPAs. Where have these loans gone? This amount needs to be looked into as we need to find out if they are genuine transactions or not. The 78 companies owned by Kapoor and family members and their transactions need to be looked into. The documents are recovered and he needs to be confronted," the ED counsel said. The ED also said that they need to keep him in custody for further seven days to carry on the investigation.

Also read: Yes Bank crisis: Will ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank also invest?

The ED further added that the documents are voluminous and the amount is now larger than it was earlier estimated. "Initial amount was Rs 4,300 crore, now we need to find out about Rs 20,000 crore," stated the ED. Adding to why Kapoor needs to be kept in custody further, the ED said, "They have received kickbacks through their companies. The monies have been siphoned and laundered. Quid pro quo and diversion needs to be investigated."

Rana Kapoor, meanwhile, denied the allegations and said he was being made a scapegoat. He added that when he left the bank, the NPA of Yes Bank was only one per cent. Kapoor also stated that the ED searched his house on bogus grounds that he had dealing with DHFL.

Kapoor also said that his work has been acknowledged by various state governments as well as the central government. "Till 2018, I was awarded every year, I was chairman of ASSOCHAM and I received international and national awards. Various state governments and the central government have awarded me. Not a single allegation was made against me. I haven't been chargesheeted for any offence in the 62 years of my life," stated Kapoor at the court.

Also read: Yes Bank crisis: Rana Kapoor tried to sell properties worth Rs 1,000 crore, flee country

Also read: RBI announces restructuring of Yes Bank; SBI to hold 49% stake
The new coronavirus outbreak can now be characterised as a pandemic, the head of the World Health Organization said Wednesday.

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said he was alarmed by the spread and severity of the outbreak, along with a lack of action taken to combat it.

The coronavirus, which emerged in China in December, has spread around the world, halting industry, bringing flights to a standstill, closing schools and forcing the postponement of sporting events and concerts.

* As of Wednesday, there are more than 118,000 cases in 114 countries and 4,291 people have died, Tedros said, with the numbers expected to climb.

* Total confirmed infections in Europe have risen to 22,307 with 930 deaths, according to the tally which is compiled from official sources

* Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said on Wednesday, as the death toll jumped 31% in 24 hours to 827. Confirmed cases rose 23% to 12,462, confirming Italy as the second worst-affected country in the world after China.

* China on Wednesday reported 24 new virus cases, including five had arrived from Italy and one from the United States. China has had over 81,000 virus infections and over 3,000 deaths.

* Iran's senior vice president and two other Cabinet members have contracted the new coronavirus, a semiofficial news agency reported Wednesday as the death toll in the Islamic Republic from the outbreak rose by 62 to 354. Authorities announced that there were some 9,000 confirmed cases of the virus across Iran.

* Belgium's health ministry has announced the country's first three deaths related to the novel coronavirus and Albania and Bulgaria each had their first deaths.

* Guatemala, the Central American country which has yet to confirm any cases of the virus will ban the entry of European citizens in an attempt to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, Health Minister Hugo Monroy said on Wednesday

* The US military says some passengers from a cruise ship that carried at least 21 people infected by the coronavirus have arrived at an air base in Georgia and will now begin a 14-day quarantine.

* Germany had some 1,300 infections as of Wednesday but, so far, only three deaths _ a low rate that experts have put down to rapid testing as the outbreak unfolded and German Chancellor Angela Merkel has made clear that Germany doesn't intend to close its borders in the light of Europe's coronavirus epidemic.

* Spain's coronavirus cases have surpassed 2,000, with roughly half of them in the Madrid region, where two-thirds of the country's virus deaths have occurred. The Health Ministry on Wednesday reported 2,002 cases nationally, up by 363 from the previous day. Deaths reached 48, up by 11 from Tuesday.

* Slovenia closed some border crossings with Italy on Wednesday afternoon and started making health checks at those remaining open in order to combat the spread of the coronavirus. Number of confirmed cases of the virus in Slovenia rose to 57, the health minister said.

* Honduras has confirmed its first two cases of the new coronavirus, authorities reported Wednesday.

* India said on Wednesday it will suspend all tourist visas to the country in a wide-reaching attempt to prevent the spread of coronavirus, as cases across the region continued to rise.

* Egypt has detected a new coronavirus case, bringing the total number of confirmed cases of the flu-like virus in the country to 60, Egypt's health ministry and the World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Wednesday.

* France health minister reported on Wednesday 48 coronavirus deaths, an increase of 15 in 24 hours.

* Israel, which has 58 coronavirus cases, has imposed a mandatory two-week quarantine on anyone entering the country and banned public gatherings of more than 5,000 people, among other measures.

* Austria is suspending direct flights to Milan and Bologna in neighboring Italy, as well as South Korea and Iran. It has confirmed 63 cases.

* Costa Rica's government says gas confirmed first case of coronavirus.

* Ireland, Sweden reported on Wednesday their 1st virus-related deaths.

* Canada had 93 confirmed cases and one death as of Wednesday morning.

* Indonesia says a foreigner has become its first fatality from COVID-19.

* Qatar reported 238 more coronavirus infections among individuals under quarantine in a residential compound on Wednesday,

* Bahrain earlier announced 77 new infections among citizens evacuated by plane from Iran.

* Kuwait, which has 72 confirmed coronavirus cases, announced it would halt all commercial passenger flights starting on Friday and declared a public holiday from March 12 to March 26 except for entities providing essential services.

* Saudi Arabia, which reported 21 cases of the disease and locked down the oil-producing region of Qatif, said on Wednesday it was closing cinemas until further notice, state news agency SPA reported. Riyadh's preventive measures include locking down its eastern Qatif region, suspending the Umrah pilgrimage and travel bans on 14 countries.

* Labanese health ministry confirmed several new infections, bringing the total number of diagnosed cases to 61, Prime Minister Hassan Diab said Lebanon would suspend all trips to and from Italy, South Korea, Iran and China, and It would also stop arrivals from France, Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom.

* Thailand will temporarily suspend issuing visas on arrival to visitors from 19 countries and territories, including China, to contain the spread of the coronavirus, its interior minister said on Wednesday, The Southeast Asian country, has reported 59 cases of the virus and one death so far.

* The number of people in the UK who have died after testing positive for coronavirus has risen to seven after the death of a patient in their 70s, health officials said. The number of confirmed cases of coronavirus across the United Kingdom rose to 456 on Wednesday, up from 373 a day earlier

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Im baffled, Ms. Marsaw said. Here in Mississippi, the poor whites, you vote against your own interest because you voted Trump. And here we are the poor blacks are voting against our own interests, too.

Ms. Marsaw and Mr. Thrasher had attended a canvassing event for the Sanders campaign in Jackson on Sunday, one of several smaller profile campaign events around town. Mr. Sanders had canceled his scheduled pre-primary appearance in Jackson to focus on Michigan. On Sunday, a couple dozen people sat in folding chairs outside of a high school to listen to Danny Glover, a Sanders campaign surrogate and for some, the only reason they came. Otherwise Id probably be at Tougaloo, said one man standing in the back.

Across town Mr. Biden was speaking to a huge crowd at Tougaloo College, a historically black school, hours after speaking to a full sanctuary at the most influential black church in Mississippi. A host of high-profile black Mississippians including Mr. Espy had joined him. Representative Bennie Thompson, the states sole black congressman, extolled Mr. Biden to the crowd, calling him the kind of man you might meet at soul food institutions in Jackson and the one person who could bring black and whites together on behalf of making this country a better place.

No black supporters of Mr. Sanders said they would stay home if Mr. Biden were the nominee. They want to beat Mr. Trump, too, and even think Mr. Sanders would give them a better shot. But they understood why Mr. Biden was likely to be the nominee.
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Capitol Notebook by Spotlight PA provides updates on important news and notes from the halls of power in Harrisburg. Sign up for our weekly newsletter. Note: This story has been updated to reflect the fact that the state has begun revealing more information, including the number of people tested for coronavirus.

Story by Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PA

HARRISBURG  Pennsylvania officials are citing a 1955 law authored in the heyday of syphilis to withhold some details about coronavirus cases, including how many people have been tested.

At frequent media briefings on COVID-19 over the past week, Health Secretary Rachel Levine has not provided the public with the total number of samples tested, the number of people quarantined after possible exposure, or the exact ages of infected persons.

Until Wednesday, the department had only released the number of positive cases, as well as general information about the source of the infection, whether the infected person is an adult, and which county they live in.

On Wednesday, Levine said 173 Pennsylvanians have been identified for testing thus far; 57 of those tests are still pending, and the other 100 came back negative for coronavirus.

CORONAVIRUS CASES IN PENNSYLVANIA: Click to see where cases of the coronavirus are in Pennsylvania are located.



Most states  including neighboring New York, New Jersey, and Maryland  have released information on the number of cases tested, according to a BuzzFeed News analysis.

Levine said Tuesday the state has to balance the publics need for information with a patients need for privacy.

Well be continually discussing the information we release, she said.

The states Disease Prevention and Control Law, passed in 1955, allows the health department to keep records and reports of contagious diseases strictly confidential, though aggregate data can be provided to researchers.

Health officials can release safeguarded information if they determine the public benefit would outweigh privacy concerns, a department spokesperson said.

That decision is made under the guidance of the departments public health professionals, including our public health physicians  and most often by the secretary of health herself, spokesperson Nate Wardle said.

Officials in neighboring states have been more transparent about potential cases.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has provided numbers on how many people in the state are under precautionary quarantine or are in voluntary isolation. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio divulged the ages of COVID-19 patients, as did Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan. The Maryland and New Jersey health departments have also published the number of COVID-19 samples tested.

This is not the first time Pennsylvanias health department has used the law to withhold information. It has cited the law to deny public record requests that could illuminate how the state handles food-borne bacteria outbreaks.

In 2018, the state open records office sided with the health department in withholding records on E. coli cases in Pennsylvania sought by a Morning Call reporter.

[The law] makes confidential, with extremely limited exceptions, any records maintained by the Department ... and this restriction is made expressly applicable to records relating to outbreaks and unusual diseases, infections, and conditions, the public records office said.

The intent of the law is actually something of a mystery.

The state Supreme Court wrote in a 1988 decision that the law had little legislative history, making it difficult to interpret.

Most of the historical record consists of little more than a public reading of the act, the court said. Apparently, the discussion of the act occurred almost entirely behind closed doors or in committee, where there was little effort to produce committee reports or create a written record.

The court decided the laws aim was to prevent and control diseases, both contagious and not.

In 2013, reports commissioned by the state Senate recommended a complete overhaul to the archaic law. But the legislature has failed to pass any updates in the years since.

Sen. Michele Brooks (R., Mercer), the chair of the Senates Health Committee, said there could be an opportunity to look at updating regulations.

But currently, the concentration is on containing the spread, she said.

Spotlight PA receives funding from nonprofit institutions and readers like you who are committed to investigative journalism that gets results. Give a gift today at spotlightpa.org/donate.
Robotics have found a lot of success in the shipping and warehouse fulfillment categories for their ability to give logistics companies an edge in timing. Amazon is probably the best and most prominent example, with more than 200,000 robots currently deployed in its centers across the U.S.

As the retail giant has shifted expectations to next and same-day deliveries, competitors and partners have looked for an edge, with many turning to third-party robotics. Shipping giant DHL has been looking to robotics companies. In late 2018, the companys North American wing announced its plan to invest $300 million in robotics and automation across 350 facilities.

A partner since 2017, Locus Robotics is reaping some of that windfall. DHL this week committed to deploying a total of 1,000 LocusBots from the Massachusetts-based startup. In spite of some large investments, it still feels like a drop in the bucket of the companys overall footprint, expanding the robots locations from two to 12 sites in the coming year.

Clearly the shipping company does have good things to say about how the pilot has run so far.

DHL Supply Chains initial implementation of the Locus solution within the life sciences and retail sectors was a tremendous success; we saw increases in fulfillment productivity of up to 80% in selected customer operations, DHL retail president Jim Gehr said in a release. We now see an opportunity to extend the benefits of utilizing their highly flexible AMR solution at scale for customers across multiple sectors. We look forward to continuing to work with Locus to drive productivity, support capacity growth and deliver continuous improvement within our customers supply chains nationwide.

Locus Robotics is one of about 25 robotics companies DHL had plans to partner with when its initial investments were announced in 2018. The startup raised a $26 million Series C in April of last year.
The clock is ticking for Harris County to complete the property acquisition of a development that some residents believe has exacerbated flooding in their Kingwood neighborhood.

The county has until the end of March to commit to a $14 million acquisition price offer from Figure Four Partners that would stop the development of Perry Homes neighborhood, Woodridge Village. The plat of land is situated in Montgomery County and is located just north of Kingwood neighborhood Elm Grove, which flooded twice last year.

FATE SET: San Jacinto River Authority approves continued seasonal lowering of Lake Conroe

Chris Begala and Jim McGrath, who run the media consultant company Begala McGrath, sent a one-page letter on behalf of Figure Four Partners, which is an affiliate of Perry Homes. According to the letter, the acquisition offer price is $14,019,316.85, which would represent $9 million loss after factoring in development costs for the 268-acre site.

Figure Four Partners wrote that Harris County has until March 31 to make a decision. After that, they will move forward with remaining infrastructure and continue to seek private market solutions. The company also wrote that if the land is not used for regional detention it will continue to be with the Perry Homes development or will be sold. The company has listed the property for sale with an initial asking price of $23 million for other developers.

MORE FROM SAVANNAH MEHRTENS: Officials must choose from million-dollar menu to solve Kingwood flooding

Since these are ongoing negotiations, Matt Zeve, deputy executive director at the Harris County Flood Control District, is not permitted to talk about details but could confirm that the Harris County Flood Control District and the City of Houston are slowly but surely working to find a resolution on the project acquisition.

When someone gives you an ultimatum, they need to know the decision one way or the other because theres probably other things going on, Zeve said. And what those other things are, Im sure they can expand upon, but I understand that time has gone by. Its been several months, and they probably just want a known answer one way or the other. So I can understand and respect that, and things have been moving a little slower than everyone would like.

Harris County is not working with Montgomery County at this time on this acquisition, according to Zeve, although the land is in the southeast portion of Montgomery County. The county is seeking a partner to help complete the acquisition.

BACK TO BACK: Residents in Kingwood subdivision Elm Grove mull options after two floods in 5 months

If the flood control district and another partner, whoever that partner may be, were to acquire this property, the plan would be for it to become a stormwater detention basin, Zeve said.

Houston city council member Dave Martin, who said Harris County should take on the project acquisition during his Kingwood Town Hall meeting on Feb. 25, declined to comment further.

Jason Millsaps, chief of staff for Montgomery County Judge Mark Keough, confirmed that Montgomery County does not have any plans to partner with Harris County to help purchase the property. People from the Kingwood area have come in to discuss the issue, he said.

ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: Imelda returns with fury, soaking Houston region

The County Judge has said multiple times that that particular parcel of land, as it is undeveloped right now with no homes on it, being bought out and used as some kind of detention basin or converted fully to detention does not benefit a single resident in Montgomery County, Millsaps said. If Harris County and the City of Houston wanted to do that to benefit the residents across the county line immediately to the south of that property in Elm Grove subdivision, that is fully their prerogative, and we wouldnt stand in their way. But for Montgomery County to contribute funds to such a project would not be in the best use of our funds when it wouldnt benefit any homes in our community.

The county judge wants to be a good northern neighbor, but the price of the project acquisition would exceed their funding, Millsaps said. He pointed to the $2.5 billion flood bond and flood control district that Harris County has while Montgomery County does not. Collectively, their current grant funding for flooding for 2015, 2016, and Harvey floods would not cover the price tag for Woodridge Village, he also noted.

Although they would collect more in taxes from a developed neighborhood in their county than a government entity-owned detention site, Millsaps said Montgomery County officials arent concerned with lost tax revenue.

We wouldnt be able to address the needs of our community residents  people who actually live here and pay taxes to Montgomery County  by doing something like that, or even participating at some level with them as well, Millsaps said. But we cant stand in their way. If they want to purchase it and turn it into detention it would not really make a big difference to our actual tax base because the current property is taxed as raw land, undeveloped, and it would go from that value to land that is now completely tax-exempt if its owned by a government entity. Theres just not a lot there.

After Tropical Storm Imelda flooded Elm Grove for the second time in less than six months, many residents and community leaders cited Woodridge Village as the reason for the flooding in the first place. A cease and desist letter was filed by the city against Perry Homes, Double Oak Construction, Inc., and Figure Four Partners, Ltd., as was announced on Oct. 2 by Martin, who after re-election also serves as Mayor Pro-Tem. Elm Grove residents also filed a lawsuit against Perry Homes over the summer, alleging that negligence caused the neighborhood to flood twice. Perry Homes officials said the flooded neighborhood was an act of God.

However, the project acquisition would benefit the Elm Grove subdivision but would not have a greater significance in flood mitigation to the greater Kingwood community, according to Zeve. Although they have not run a detailed engineering analysis, HCFCD has run a high-level preliminary analysis of a basin on the site of Woodridge Village.

It would benefit hundreds of homes, no doubt about it, and it is a large subdivision, Zeve said. It just wouldnt benefit the entire region like some of the other investigations we are carrying on right now.

Political leaders in the county are currently focused on responding to the coronavirus, stretching the ability to focus on other issues such as this acquisition as resources are elsewhere. Despite this, Zeve said they will have an answer by the deadline Figure Four Partners set.

We are working with all the various elected officials to try and get a combined plan on how we can make this happen, Zeve said. ...But everyone knows about it and everyone is aware of the deadline of the end of the month. So were working towards trying to get an answer one way or another before that deadline.

savannah.mehrtens@chron.com
GULFPORT, Miss.  For the first time, the Navy allowed the media into a nondescript compound on the Mississippi coast, offering a glimpse of an unusual vessel slated to join the fleet by the end of the year.

It's here  with its high ceilings, dusty floors and machinery hum  where the Navy's second drone warship, Sea Hunter II, is being built and bred for battle.

"Right now we are about six months from the water," Barry Dreyfus, CEO of United States Marine Inc., said as reporters walked alongside the vessel's narrow hull. "This long and skinny hull means it will cut through the water with less drag and be able to stay out at sea for a long time," he said.

Unlike a traditional warship, Sea Hunter II and its predecessor, Sea Hunter, are designed to traverse open waters without a single crew member. The deck is clear of handrails and ladders. Below deck, computers and neatly layered cables take the place of mess areas, heads and a galley.

"Everything has to be completely automated and redundant because there is nobody on board to fix it," said Dan Brintzinghoffer, vice president of maritime business development at Leidos, as we stood on top of the deck.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, March 11, 2020 14:34 671 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2069d760b 1 Business Indonesia,bank-indonesia,cashless-payment,QRIS,small-business,banks,e-wallet,loan Free

Bank Indonesia (BI) is holding a National QRIS Week event across Indonesia to promote cashless transactions among small businesses using its Quick Response Indonesia Standard (QRIS) code system.

During the one-week event, which ends March 15, the central bank will disseminate information on the technical details of the QRIS system and the registration process for small businesses that want to begin using a cashless payment system.

BI Jakarta financial management director Luthor Tapiheru said he hoped that, in the future, street vendors would accept cashless payments through payment apps such as e-wallets. The use of the QRIS code could also provide transaction records for merchants, which they could use to apply for loans from banks, he added.

Many micro businesses remain untouched by banks, because they wont provide loans to businesses that dont have transaction records. With the QRIS, they can use the recorded transactions to apply for loans and gain additional capital, he told a press briefing on Tuesday.

Besides giving micro businesses financial access, Luthor said that the e-wallets Rp 2 million (US$139) transaction cap made it more suitable for micro businesses that conducted small business transactions.

As of February, the QRIS code had been used by about 2.7 million merchants across the country, according to the central banks data. In the same period, in Jakarta alone, the number of merchants using the QRIS code hit 618,337 people, a sharp increase from around 175,000 people in August last year.

Despite its rapid expansion, BI Jakarta representative office chief Hamid Ponco said many small businesses and vendors were still reluctant to use the QRIS as they did not fully understand how QR codes worked.

It takes time to convince small merchants to install the QRIS at their stores, and to inform them that a standardized QR code can simplify their transactions, Hamid said, adding that he hoped National QRIS Week would promote awareness among small business on the advantages of cashless transactions.

It would be great if street vendors and wet market sellers used the QRIS for their transactions so they wouldnt have to be troubled with looking for spare change, he said.

The central bank has set a target of 15 million merchants using e-wallet services in 2020. The bank imposes a fixed fee of 0.7 percent for almost every transaction that uses the QRIS system.

Transactions in the education sector and at gas stations charge slightly smaller fees of 0.6 percent and 0.4 percent respectively, while QR code transactions for donations or social assistance will be free from any costs. (mpr)
President Muhammadu Buhari has no involvement whatsoever in the dethronement of HRH Muhammadu Sanusi II from the position of Emir of Kano, a press statement from the presidency has stated.

Many Nigerians including a former Kano State governor, Rabiu Kwankwanso, believe Mr Buhari supported Mr Sanusis removal by the Kano State Government.

In a statement, signed by the Senior Special Assistant to the President, (Media & Publicity), Garba Shehu, on Wednesday, the presidency highlighted that all such insinuations are untrue, malicious and politically motivated.

The President does not have a history of intervening in the affairs of any state in the country, unless the issue at hand is of national consequence. On such matters which impinge on national security, he has a duty of involvement as the law stipulates.

As outlined in the Constitution, the appointment or removal of emirs and other traditional leaders is strictly within the jurisdiction of state governments. It is unfair and disingenuous of opposition politicians to try to link the situation in Kano State to the federal government and the Nigerian President.

Although a retired General and former Military Head of State, President Buhari clearly understands that under the current democratic dispensation, the government at the centre cannot read instructions or twist the arms of all or any of the 36 state governments making up the federation. They all have their powers specified under the Constitution.

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President Buhari commends the people of Kano for keeping calm in the past few days of the dethronement announcement. He prays that the will of Allah will be done at all times, and that the emirate/state and its people continue to experience progress irrespective of who is on the throne, the statement highlighted.

With a stroke of the pen on Monday, the former Emir, was stripped off his royal title and exiled to a neighbouring state, Nassarawa, on grounds of insubordination and disrespect for lawful authorities including persistent refusal to attend official programmes and meetings organised by the government, by the kano State government.

There have been insinuations that the president is an interested party in the matter.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-11 22:59:28|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, March 11 (Xinhua) -- With positive trend in epidemic control in Hubei Province, the hardest-hit region by the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, and progress made across the country, the Chinese economy is getting more lively as confidence grows.

Hubei Province Wednesday announced differentiated business and production resumption plans based on the epidemic situations of the counties in the province.

Wuhan, the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak, allows businesses that support the supply of medical resources, daily necessities, and agricultural materials to return to work, according to the provincial epidemic prevention and control headquarters.

Enterprises related to the national economy, people's livelihood, and the global industrial chain are also encouraged to gradually resume operations with approval.

Companies in Wuhan that have not been shuttered since the Spring Festival may continue production. Other enterprises are not allowed to resume business until March 21.

Meanwhile, the province urged enterprises to make epidemic prevention and control plans and prepare emergency response before work and production resumption.

Nationwide, about 78 million migrant workers have already returned to their jobs, according to the Ministry of Transport. In the provinces of Guangdong and Zhejiang, 70 percent of migrant workers from other provinces made it back to their workplaces.

More than 90 percent of the large industrial enterprises in industrial powerhouse regions have resumed production, according to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), which has sent out inspectors to check local progress.

For small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which have been particularly vulnerable in the outbreak, around 45 percent of them have restarted work as of early March, MIIT data showed.

Tian Yulong, a chief engineer with the MIIT, said the ministry will next focus on supporting key industries and SMEs, noting that specific arrangements have been made based on industries, sectors and enterprise scale.

Customs data also indicated that 80.6 percent of the surveyed foreign trade companies have resumed work, along with an increasing trend in import and export value in February, according to the General Administration of Customs.

In terms of everyday life, 95 percent of chain hypermarkets, as well as companies in the sectors of petroleum and petrochemicals, communication, electricity and transport have opened for business.

Kristalina Georgieva, managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), said last week that China's progress in resuming production has been "encouraging," with expectations that up to 90 percent or even 100 percent of production will be resumed in the coming weeks.

This is welcome news for China, and it is welcome news for the world, she said.

Chinese health authorities said Wednesday they received reports of 24 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on the Chinese mainland on Tuesday. On the same day, 1,578 people were discharged from hospitals after recovery.
Snuff The Wind - Why the closure is opposed by local people.



Cross Vein Mine - Pic: Peter Geddes MBE

After decades of use by motorcross riders and organisations such as the Scouts, a piece of waste land at the old Cross Vein Mine has been closed off to the public.

The old mine, known locally as Snuff the Wind, has been a place where local people have learned to ride motorcycles and practiced their sport for decades.

Children as young as two years old have been taught by their family and mentors, how to ride a bike and enjoy the thrills of the petrol engine. Some have gone on to great things such as local man and 4 times World Enduro Champion David Knight  who himself rode the area many times.

In the 1980s the Scout movement held regular events around the area with the Mine Buildings forming the central base to what they called The Wide Game. The Scouts would take part in this military style game, crawling through the heathland and across the gravel to reach the base.

There has been outrage at the DEFA Minister Geoffrey Boot (MHK Glenfaba and Peel) who ordered the closure without any notice to the public, citing toxic substances. Boot told the local media that this material had made its way to Peel harbour.

Local people have challenged the Minister and questioned the advice he had received. A facebook group has been established to oppose the decision.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/607192200135363/?ref=nf_target&fref=nf

Last Sunday a group of local riders took to the area for one last time before the closure came in to effect on Monday.

Local film maker Dario Leonetti from Bloom Creative has made this short film, speaking to people to find out why this baron piece of waste land holds is such a special place.

VIDEO LINK IS ALSO HERE

Videos

Snuff The Wind - Dario Leonetti
Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un Guides Another Firepower Strike Drill of Long-range Artillery Sub-units of KPA on Front

Korean Central News Agency of DPRK

Date: 10/03/2020

Pyongyang, March 10 (KCNA) -- Kim Jong Un, chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea, chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and supreme commander of the armed forces of the DPRK, guided another firepower strike drill of long-range artillery sub-units of the Korean People's Army on the front on March 9.

He was greeted by Army General Pak Jong Chon, chief of the General Staff of the KPA, and commanding officers of the front artillery units on the spot.

The purpose of the firepower strike drill was to inspect the sudden military counterattack capability of the long-range artillery units on the front.

Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un set forth battle circumstances to the chief of the General Staff and watched the drill at the observation post.

As an order to start the fire was given, the brave artillerymen on the front who have further sharply whetted the bayonet for the revolution with the high spirit of annihilating the enemy amid the flames of the training revolution personally kindled by the Supreme Leader and the wind of hard training for strengthening combat power, opened fire all at once.

The artillerymen on the front hit the target with excellent marksmanship in the presence of the Supreme Leader, fully demonstrating their combat power as a-match-for-a-hundred artillerymen.

Expressing great satisfaction with the result, the Supreme Leader highly appreciated the perfect combat readiness of the long-range artillery sub-units on the front.

Saying that the People's Army should go on in the direction of further strengthening the artillery training, he set forth important tasks to improve the quality of artillery training and conduct drills under the simulated conditions of an actual war.

The might of artillery units is just the one of our army, he noted, calling for setting it as the most important task of the line of building the Juche-oriented revolutionary armed forces to strengthen the artillery force of the People's Army into the world's strongest arms of service everyone is afraid of and continuing the vigorous struggle to carry it out. -0-

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A boy waves a national flag as his dad holds him and uses a smartphone with a selfie stick to take a photo, both wearing protective masks, in front of the portrait of late communist leader Mao Zedong (R, back) at Tiananmen Gate in Beijing on January 23, 2020.

That will likely make the Chinese economy "the first in the world" to get back on track, he told CNBC's "Squawk Box" on Tuesday.

There is a "semblance that production capability is actually now coming back to the Chinese economy," Tay said, citing a decline in the number of reported infections in the country.

As governments around the world scramble to contain the spread of the coronavirus, the situation in China may have "passed its worst," according to the regional chief investment officer of UBS Global Wealth Management's Kelvin Tay.

Tay's comments came ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Wuhan on Tuesday, the city where the disease was first reported and the worst hit in the country. It was his first visit since the outbreak in December.

"Xi Jinping's visit of Wuhan is a symbolic move that shows China is recovering from COVID-19," Iris Pang, ING's chief economist for Greater China, told CNBC's "Capital Connection" on Tuesday.

But Pang expressed caution. "I am quite wary about this because there are more and more imported cases into China and therefore, the spreading of coronavirus from imported cases and also the recovery of workers work in office and also factories, might also create another wave of coronavirus cases in China," she said. "So I am not that optimistic."

Since being first reported in China, the coronavirus has spread across the globe, infecting nearly 114,000 people globally and taking at least 4,000 lives, according to the latest data from the World Health Organization. Recent weeks have seen particularly severe outbreaks in countries such as Italy, one of the euro zone's largest economies, where quarantine has been expanded to the entire country following a surge in infections and deaths.

Asked about the danger of China seeing a resurgence in cases due to the diseases being imported from overseas, Tay from UBS said: "It's actually easier for the Chinese to control that" as they can control the airports and ports.

"If you have uncontactable tracing or uncontactable spreads amongst the local population, that is probably a lot more difficult to control," he said.
New issue of SAMUDRA Report No. 82, dated February 2020, ICSF's fisheries journal, published

by ICSF

March 11,2020 | Source: ICSF

The International Collective in Support of Fishworkers (ICSF) has released the latest edition of its popular fisheries publication  SAMUDRA Report, its triannual journal on fisheries, communities and livelihoods. SAMUDRA Report No. 82, dated February 2020, features articles on fisheries from around the world, notably Sri Lanka, India, Indonesia, Vietnam, Seychelles, Brazil, Chile and France.



The current issue has extensive analysis and commentary on the Blue Economy and Blue Growth against the backdrop of the FAO Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication (SSF Guidelines).



The article from Seychelles analyzes the several contradictions in the conservation initiative of the countrys Blue Bond scheme, while the one from Sri Lanka points out that the National Fisheries Policy needs to be remodelled to incorporate the SSF Guidelines. Yet another says that women in fisheries can utilize the SSF Guidelines to advance their interests and build a common vision.



The biggest-ever oil spill disaster in Brazil's history points to the need for State-sponsored disaster management, says another report. From neighbouring Chile comes a piece that argues for a new type of autonomous social movement to create a democratic and representative Constitution.



India's draft National Inland Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy (NIFAP) is analyzed in one article, while another explains how artisanal fishers experiential knowledge can help address many problems, including climate change.



SAMUDRA Report No. 82 also carries an obituary tribute to Sidney Holt, a towering intellect and a committed conservationist, who died late last year.



SAMUDRA Report No. 82 can be accessed at: https://www.icsf.net/en/samudra/article/EN/82.html?limitstart=0
The Enforcement Directorate has booked suspended Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) councillor Tahir Hussain, Islamist group PFI and some others on charges of money laundering and alleged funding of the recent riots in Delhi, officials said on Wednesday.

New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate has booked suspended Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) councillor Tahir Hussain, Islamic group PFI and some others on charges of money laundering and alleged funding of the recent riots in Delhi, officials said on Wednesday.

They said a criminal case against Hussain, facing charges of killing an Intelligence Bureau official during the riots in northeast Delhi last month, has been filed under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) by the central probe agency.

Similar charges have also been pressed against the Popular Front of India (PFI) which is already facing a separate PMLA probe.

Hussain is in the custody of Delhi Police at present.

The officials said the federal agency has taken cognisance of a clutch of FIRs filed by Delhi Police's Crime Branch to probe the alleged money laundering and routing of illegal funds by Hussain, PFI and others to purportedly sponsor the communal riots that killed over 50 people.
A woman in Siem Reap and a man in Phnom Penh were arrested on Monday for allegedly spreading fake news on Facebook about the coronavirus outbreak, with the latter being let off with a warning, but the man being sent to court to face charges.

Thai Chhor Yoeun, a Siem Reap resident, allegedly shared a Facebook post from a third party alleging that a family in the province had the coronavirus and that their children were studying in the local school, according to a report on the National Police website.

Even though she only shared the Facebook post, she was detained by Bakong district police, but later released after agreeing not to share any other fake news about the viral outbreak.

She said she didnt know that such dissemination could cause impact. So, [she] made an agreement, said Chhay Kim Khoeun, spokesman for the National Police.

However, Phnom Penh resident Koy Sam Ath, who goes by Tep Visal on Facebook, was arrested and sent to court for posting a video of himself on the social media site, where he claimed Cambodia would know if it had a coronavirus case, only if it was informed by Vietnam, using a derogatory term for the Vietnamese.

This is lucky that the [Vietnamese] said loudly that Cambodia has Covid-19 or corona virus. If ordinary Cambodians said loudly [about this], they would probably be hunted for arrest, he said, again unclear of what he is referring to.

According to the National Police website, Koy Sam Ath was presented before Phnom Penh Municipal Court and could be charged with incitement to commit chaos and could face up to two years in prison if found guilty.

Kuch Kimlong, deputy prosecutor of the Phnom Penh Municipal Court, and Y Rin, spokesman for the court, could not be reached for comment.

Am Sam Ath, deputy director of local rights group Licadho, said it was preferable for the authorities to educate people about the viral outbreak and alleviate their fears and concerns, rather than taking legal measures against them.

What they said [on Facebook] didnt cause any turmoil. In fact, they may not understand clearly abut COVID-19 or corona virus, he said.

So far, there are three reported cases of the novel coronavirus in Cambodia, with only one Cambodian national infected by the virus last week. The two others are a Japanese businessman who used to work in Siem Reap and a British tourist who was on a river cruise from Vietnam.
>>> Vietnam steps up measures to wipe out Covid-19

Vietnam has informed the decision to the countries, namely Denmark, Norway, Finland, the UK, Germany, France and Spain, and will continue its close coordination with the international community in the epidemic combat.

Earlier, the country suspended its visa-free policy for citizens of the Republic of Korea and Italy.

Vietnam has recorded 35 COVID-19 infection cases so far, of them 16 were discharged from hospital after their complete recovery, while the remainder are under treatment.

The 35th case, who is a 29-year-old Vietnamese woman, was confirmed by the Ministry of Health on March 11.

The new patient is a saleswoman of the Dien May Xanh electronics supermarket in Hai Chau district, the central city of Da Nang, according to the ministry.

She had direct contact with two British nationals, who have been identified as the 22nd and 23rd COVID-19 patients in Vietnam, in the supermarket at about 18:00-19:00 on March 4.

The woman was confirmed positive for SARS-CoV-2 at 6:30 on March 11. She is being treated at Da Nang Hospital.

Also on March 11, Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Health Nguyen Tien Hong said the two above-said British tourists are under monitoring at Da Nang Hospital and in stable health.
Police are seeking the publics help in identifying a man who is accused of indecently exposing himself to two young girls in a clothing store in Cambridge over the weekend.

The suspect, believed to be in his 70s, allegedly entered the shop in the CambridgeSide Place mall shortly before 6:10 p.m. on Sunday. He later approached the girls and exposed himself with what was believed to be a sex toy, according to the Cambridge Police Department. He then exited the store at roughly 6:15 p.m.

In video released by the department on Tuesday, the man can be seen walking through the store and unzipping his coat as a person enters the shop.

If anyone has any info. on this incident or suspect, please contact the Cambridge Police Departments Family and Social Justice Section at (857) 235-2457, the department said in a series of tweets.
South Africa: NYDA chair reflects on term in office

The National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) has worked hard to turnaround its fortunes from the glaring negative spotlight it found itself under a few years ago - to become an institution keen on moving with the times and requirements of young people in a state of constant change.

Nobody knows this better than soon-to-be former Chairperson of the agency, Sifiso Mtsweni. The agency is primarily tasked with tackling challenges faced by the youth.

When I was first told that I will take up this role, I was quite worried because when we came in, the NYDA brand was not necessarily covered in glory, says a frank Mtsweni, who took over as chairperson in May 2017.

At the time of Mtswenis appointment, it could be argued that the agency was yet to shake-off negative publicity generated by the infamous 17th World Festival of Youth and Students in December 2010, among others.

Among the top things that needed to be done when Mtsweni - who admits to having an affliction to the use of big English [verbosity] and power-point presentations that dont speak to how to address pressing societal issues- came into office, was to build a relationship of trust between the agency and the countrys youth.

The agency, which in previous years battled with its finances and governance issues, today has had five consecutive clean audits, including in the 2018/2019 financial year.

This as government has over the years reiterated the importance of ensuring the wellbeing and prosperity of young people.

This was also evident in the recent State of the Nation Address (SONA) where President Cyril Ramaphosa made several pronouncements relating to young people who make up a large portion of society.

Among the pronouncements was that the agency, together with the Department of Small Business Development (DSBD), would provide assistance to 1000 young entrepreneurs in 100 days.

The agency has already kicked off this campaign and often its social media platforms are abuzz with daily updates of youth owned enterprises that have received assistance.

Elaborating on this, Mtsweni said while there is much talk on the ease of doing business, very little is said on the ease of conducting small business.

Weve developed the Grant Programme where at the beginning we said we should stop giving people loans. When you give out a loan for a person to start a business, that loan becomes a liability for that particular business. Business owners spend three to four years paying back the loan instead of growing their business, he said.

Through the programme of which updates leading to the 100-days mark, can be seen on a regular basis on social media, young entrepreneurs are provided with an opportunity to access both financial and non-financial business development support.

Through the programme, entrepreneurs also benefit from mentorships and market linkages.

For example, if you want to open an industrial car wash, you need machinery. We would then ask the entrepreneur to go and source quotations for the required machinery and once they bring back the quotations, we go and buy the required machines, he said.

The agency came up with this mechanism as a way to cure the ailment of buying expensive shirts and shoes with funds meant for their budding businesses.

Mtsweni said the agency is pleased that the DSBD has partnered with it in moving the programme which has a 67% success rate, forward.

We want to do this thing in a smart fashion. [In a manner that is] measurable, achievable, realistic and time bound. Through social media, we are releasing the names of the young people we are assisting, said the chairperson.

Also in the SONA, President Ramaphosa said R64 billion, over the next couple of years, would be availed for student accommodation purposes given the challenges faced by universities and Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges.

In addition, nine TVET college campuses are being built in the various provinces.

Reflecting on this, the chairperson said the conversation around higher education has predominantly centred around universities and not necessarily on the needs of TVET colleges.

The flow of conversation revolved mostly around tuition and not necessities like accommodation, the cost of textbooks and the sustenance of students at campuses.

I think the President is on the money on this one. This is the product of a President that listens to young people. Weve consistently said the nature and character of our economy currently requires young people who have technical skills. Those technical and vocational skills can only be attained through TVET colleges.

He commended the strides made in ensuring that more young people gain access to institutions of higher learning.

When the Higher Education Act was passed in 1999, you only had around 108 000 students in our country most of which were white students. If you looked at statistics of graduations at the time, 70% of graduates were white males [who had studied] at universities like the University of Cape Town, Wits University and Rhodes University.

Statistics today paint a picture of where 70% of students are made up of young women, he said, adding that there are more black graduates today than ever before.

While South Africa provides free higher education for poor and working class students, historical debt as well as ensuring campus safety, particularly for young women, remain as bugbears.

This is despite a March 2019 announcement by the Department of Higher Education and Training to allocate nearly a billion rands for the scrapping of historical debts for National Students Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) funded students.

In its daily work, the NYDA has also not forgotten the plight of young people with disabilities.

To prove this, Mtsweni in January started taking Sign Language lessons prior of the Presidents announcement that government is in the process to finalise the recommendation by the Parliamentary Constitutional Review Committee to make Sign language South Africas 12th official language.

This process said the President during the SONA, followed the Department of Basic Educations recognition of South African Sign Language as a home language.

Mtsweni hopes to use his new skill at an upcoming disability conference.

One of the things Ive promised is that I would take sign language lessons and address the conference in Sign Language, he said.

Deliberations at the conference scheduled for April 2020, will form part of Mtswenis handover report.

But just how well have those lessons being going? It was a big tough in the beginning, he said.

The agency which has seen a growth from 15 to a total 49 offices across the country, also distributes its material in braille.

Among the issues raised by graduates in recent years is that of pre-requisite experience that many employers seek in entry level jobs.

Describing it as a demon - Mtsweni said many a graduate were sitting at home as a result of experience needed as a pre-requisite in the workplace.

At the commemoration of Youth Day in Polokwane last year, the President echoed the chairpersons call for work experience, particularly for young people, to be done away with.

The outgoing chairperson also recommended that a job-seekers grant be established for unemployed youth.

The fund, he said, could be used to fund the costs of applying for work, including the printing of CVs and transport costs involved in the dropping-off of CVs at prospective employers premises.

As his term comes to an end, Mtsweni is of the view that the NYDA has become an attractive institution to young people. This he said can be seen by the over700 applications received for the agencys next board.

In December 2019, Parliaments Sub-committee of the Portfolio Committee on Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, and the Select Committee on Health and Social Services put out an advertisement calling for applications of individuals to serve on the board of the agency.

Applications for board members who will be tasked with the management of the operational policy of the agency, as well as exercising control over its powers and the execution of its functions, closed in late January.

It was for the first time that the NYDA had over 700 applications from young people. If you contrast it with 2015 when the process was opened, a lot of young people did not apply [at the time]. Having skimmed through some of the applications, one can tell that the future of the NYDA looks bright because we see a lot of young people with various skills and qualifications, he said.

Mtsweni, who describes his experience at the agency as interesting, is confident that the organisation has been stabilised and will be able to address the needs of South Africas young people.

I think we leave the NYDA in a very stable environment and whoever comes in next will find a well-oiled machine. Weve done our best, he said. SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2020-03-11. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
11 Mar 2020, 12:17 PM

Coronavirus in India: Health ministry suspends visas of France, Germany, Spain nationals

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in its latest travel advisory, issued on March 10, has said all visas, including e-visas, granted to nationals of France, Germany and Spain on or before March 11, stand suspended. This only applies to visa holders who have not yet entered Indian borders.

Yes Bank customers can now pay loan, credit card bills via other accounts

Crisis-hit Yes Bank said on Tuesday that customers could now make payments towards their credit card and loans through other bank accounts, days after prominent banking services were curtailed after the RBI imposed moratorium on the lender. The announcement comes as panic gripped the bank's customers, who queued before ATMs and bank branches to withdraw money.

Coronavirus death toll jumps 36% to 631 in Italy

The death toll from an outbreak of coronavirus in Italy has jumped by 168 to 631, an increase of 36%, the Civil Protection Agency said on Tuesday, the largest rise in absolute numbers since the contagion came to light on Feb. 21. The total number of cases in Italy, the European country hardest hit by the virus in Europe, rose to 10,149 from a previous 9,172, an increase of 10.7%.

Coronavirus impact: US praises IAF for evacuating Indian nationals from virus-hit Iran

The United States (US) on Tuesday praised the Indian Air Force (IAF) for bringing back home 58 Indian citizens from coronavirus-hit Iran. IAF brought back 58 Indians from Iran in a Boeing's C-17 Globemaster aircraft on Tuesday, March 10. The IAF aircraft was sent to Tehran on March 9.

Washington considers actions to bolster U.S. economy as coronavirus cases mount

As U.S. coronavirus cases rose steadily, the White House and Congress negotiated measures to bolster the U.S. economy and Americans' paychecks against the outbreak's impact, although there was no immediate sign of a deal. Almost three-quarters of U.S. states have confirmed COVID-19, with almost 1,000 cases in the United States and at least 30 coronavirus-related deaths reported.

Air freight rates are skyrocketing after the grounding of many passenger flights in Asia has left shippers scrambling to book limited spots on cargo planes as Chinese industrial production restarts, according to industry insiders. About half of the air cargo carried worldwide normally flies in the belly of passenger jets rather than in dedicated freighters. But deep flight cuts in response to the coronavirus outbreak have made the market more dependent on freight haulers.

Also read: Yes Bank crisis: Rana Kapoor to appear at PMLA court; Bindu, Roshini Kapoor reach ED office
Apple and Android implement a number of measures to protect their users' devices. An international team of IT security experts has investigated how useful they are.

A German-American team of IT security researchers has investigated how users choose the PIN for their mobile phones and how they can be convinced to use a more secure number combination. They found that six-digit PINs actually provide little more security than four-digit ones. They also showed that the blacklist used by Apple to prevent particularly frequent PINs could be optimised and that it would make even greater sense to implement one on Android devices.

Philipp Markert, Daniel Bailey, and Professor Markus Durmuth from the Horst Gortz Institute for IT Security at Ruhr-Universitat Bochum conducted the study jointly with Dr. Maximilian Golla from the Max Planck Institute for Security and Privacy in Bochum and Professor Adam Aviv from the George Washington University in the USA. The researchers will present the results at the IEEE Symposium on Security and Privacy in San Francisco in May 2020. A preprint of the paper can be found online: https://arxiv.org/abs/2003.04868.

Extensive user study

In the study, the researchers had users on Apple and Android devices set either four or six-digit PINs and later analysed how easy they were to guess. In the process, they assumed that the attacker did not know the victim and did not care whose mobile phone is unlocked. Accordingly, the best attack strategy would be to try the most likely PINs first.

Some of the study participants were free to choose their PIN at random. Others could only choose PINs that were not included in a blacklist. If they tried to use one of the blacklisted PINs, they received a warning that this combination of digits was easy to guess.

In the experiment, the IT security experts used various blacklists, including the real one from Apple, which they obtained by having a computer test all possible PIN combinations on an iPhone. Moreover, they also created their own more or less comprehensive blacklists.

Six-digit PINs not more secure than four-digit ones

It emerged that six-digit PINs do not provide more security than four-digit ones. "Mathematically speaking, there is a huge difference, of course," says Philipp Markert. A four-digit PIN can be used to create 10,000 different combinations, while a six-digit PIN can be used to create one million. "However, users prefer certain combinations; some PINs are used more frequently, for example, 123456 and 654321," explains Philipp Markert. This means users do not take advantage of the full potential of the six-digit codes. "It seems that users currently do not understand intuitively what it is that makes a six-digit PIN secure," supposes Markus Durmuth.

A prudently chosen four-digit PIN is secure enough, mainly because manufacturers limit the number of attempts to enter a PIN. Apple locks the device completely after ten incorrect entries. On an Android smartphone, different codes cannot be entered one after the other in quick succession. "In eleven hours, 100 number combinations can be tested," points out Philipp Markert.

Blacklists can be useful

The researchers found 274 number combinations on Apple's blacklist for four-digit PINs. "Since users only have ten attempts to guess the PIN on the iPhone anyway, the blacklist does not make it any more secure," concludes Maximilian Golla. According to the researchers, the blacklist would make more sense on Android devices, as attackers can try out more PINs there.

The study has shown that the ideal blacklist for four-digit PINs would have to contain about 1,000 entries and differ slightly from the list currently used by Apple. The most common four-digit PINs, according to the study, are 1234, 0000, 2580 (the digits appear vertically below each other on the numeric keypad), 1111 and 5555.

On the iPhone, users have the option to ignore the warning that they have entered a frequently used PIN. The device, therefore, does not consistently prevent entries from being selected from the blacklist. For the purpose of their study, the IT security experts also examined this aspect more closely. Some of the test participants who had entered a PIN from the blacklist were allowed to choose whether or not to enter a new PIN after the warning. The others had to set a new PIN that was not on the list. On average, the PINs of both groups were equally difficult to guess.

More secure than pattern locks

Another result of the study was that four and six-digit PINs are less secure than passwords, but more secure than pattern locks.

The most popular PINs

According to the study, the ten most popular four-digit PINs are: 1234, 0000, 2580, 1111, 5555, 5683, 0852, 2222, 1212, 1998

The ten most popular six-digit PINs are: 123456, 654321, 111111, 000000, 123123, 666666, 121212, 112233, 789456, 159753

###
Donna Brazile, Ana Navarro to Speak at UW March 30

Former Democratic National Committee Interim Chair Donna Brazile and former Republican strategist and political contributor Ana Navarro will discuss todays political landscape Monday, March 30, at the University of Wyoming.

The free public event, An Afternoon of Conversation with Donna Brazile and Ana Navarro, is from noon-1 p.m. in the UW College of Arts and Sciences auditorium. The event is part of the ongoing womens suffrage 150th anniversary celebration. On Dec. 10, 1869, Wyoming passed the first unconditional law in the U.S. permanently guaranteeing women their inherent right to vote and hold office -- a full 50 years before women in the rest of the nation were guaranteed this same right.

With years of political expertise and media experience under their belts, Brazile and Navarro are seasoned analysts and are among the best political commentators on television today. They can quickly scrutinize geopolitical trends and other major forces at play in the nation. When Brazile and Navarro team up, they deliver straightforward perspectives about the future of Washington, D.C., while peppering their talks with real-life stories from campaigns and television sets.

Brazile is a renowned political strategist and commentator; the former interim chair of the Democratic National Committee from 2016-17; and a current Fox News contributor. She also was an ABC News and CNN political news contributor.

She is the author of the New York Times bestseller Hacks: The Inside Story of the Break-Ins and Breakdowns That Put Donald Trump in the White House and the 2004 bestselling memoir, Cooking with Grease: Stirring the Pots in America.

Brazile was the first African American woman to direct a major presidential campaign, acting as campaign manager for Al Gore in 2000. She also has worked on several presidential campaigns for Democratic candidates, including Jesse Jackson and Walter Mondale/Geraldine Ferraro campaigns in 1984, and for Dick Gephardt in the 1988 Democratic primary.

She is the recipient of more than 10 honorary doctoral degrees from major colleges and universities, including her alma mater, Louisiana State University. Brazile was the recipient of the W.E.B. Du Bois Medal, Harvards highest honor in African American studies. She has served as an adjunct professor at Georgetown University since 2002 and spent fall 2017 serving as a Joan Shorenstein Fellow in Media, Politics and Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School. Howard University has appointed Brazile as the Gwendolyn S. and Colbert I. King Endowed Chair in Public Policy for two consecutive academic years.

Navarro is a well-known Republican strategist; political analyst for CNN, CNN en Espanol and Telemundo; and is a co-host of ABCs The View. The Miami New Times named her a Republican power-consultant, and the Tampa Bay Times called her a sought-after voice in Republican politics and an adviser for any presidential hopeful.

Navarro served as the national Hispanic co-chair for former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsmans 2012 campaign and was the national co-chair of the late U.S. Sen. John McCains Hispanic Advisory Council in 2008, where she also was the national surrogate for the McCain 2008 campaign. Navarro has played a role in several federal and state races in Florida.

She served on former Florida Gov. Jeb Bushs transition team in 1998 and was his first director of immigration policy in Floridas Executive Office of the Governor. In 2001, she served as ambassador to the United Nations Human Rights Commission, devoting much of her energy to condemning human rights abuses in Cuba. In 1999, she worked in the private sector, representing private and public clients on federal issues, particularly related to immigration, trade and policy affecting Central America. In 1997, she was a special adviser to the government of Nicaragua.

Navarro is a graduate of the University of Miami, obtaining degrees in Latin American studies and political science. She obtained a Juris Doctorate in 1997. She was born in Nicaragua and, in 1980, because of the Sandinista revolution, she and her family immigrated to the United States.

Among sponsors of the program are the College of Arts and Sciences Deans Office; the School of Culture, Gender and Social Justice; the Milward L. Simpson Fund; the School of Politics, Public Affairs and International Studies; the College of Law; and the departments of Communication and Journalism, English, and Criminal Justice and Sociology.

For more information, call Jacquelyn Bridgeman, director of UWs School of Culture, Gender and Social Justice, and Kepler Professor of Law, at (307) 766-5259 or email JBridge@uwyo.edu.
A California man with a history of violence and mental illness has been convicted of stabbing to death an 18-year-old woman at an Oakland commuter train platform two years ago.

An Alameda County jury announced on Tuesday it found John Lee Cowell, 29, guilty of murdering Nia Wilson at the MacArthur BART station as she was returning home from a family gathering with her two sisters.

Jurors also found Cowell guilty of attempted murder in the stabbing of Wilson's sister, who survived severe injuries to her neck.

The jury also convicted Cowell of the special circumstances count of lying in wait. The jury reached the verdict just a couple of hours after starting deliberations.

A California jury on Tuesday convicted John Lee Cowell, 29 (left), of murder and attempted murder for the July 2018 knife attack that killed Nia Wilson, 18 (right), and seriously injured her older sister

The Wilson sisters were attacked while switching trains at the MacArthur BART station in Oakland (pictured)

Cowell will face a second trial to determine his sanity. If found insane, he would be sent to a state psychiatric hospital instead of serving a life sentence in prison.

The slaughter of the young African-American woman on July 22, 2018, horrified bystanders and added to BART's reputation as unsafe. Train officials sought to re-assure the public with measures intended to improve safety.

Family and friends have said Wilson and her sisters were targeted because of their race but prosecutors declined to charge Cowell with a hate crime. That doesn't mean race didn't come up.

Cowell, who lived as a transient, admitted at trial that he was punched in the face by a black woman about a week before the train stabbing and the prosecutor questioned him about trying to pick a fight with another black woman after the stabbing.

Cowell followed the Wilson sisters from the platform onto a train for a 30-minute ride to another station, then stabbed them when they were boarding another train, Deputy District Attorney Butch Ford told the jury in opening statements on February 5.

In this surveillance camera image released on July 23, 2018, by BART is John Cowell, pictured on the day of Nia Wilson's death standing on a train platform

Videos showed Cowell tailing the women and removing a knife hidden in his pants in the attack that killed Nia and wounded her 26-year-old sister, Letifah Wilson.

Video also showed Cowell trying to blend in with passengers after the assault, misdirecting officers and changing clothes he kept in a backpack that was tossed, along with the knife, at a nearby construction zone.

Cowell was arrested nearly 21 hours after the attack when a bystander recognized him on the bus and alerted police.

'He took that little girls life,' Deputy District Attorney Butch Ford told jurors in closing arguments Monday, the East Bay Times reported.

Cowell testified he thought Nia (pictured left and right) and her sister were aliens in 'skin suits' and part of a gang that kidnapped his grandmother

Cowell has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. His public defender, Christina Moore, argued that he stabbed the sisters in a 'rash act' stemming from his mental illness and that a person can be organized yet schizophrenic.

She said her client 'was completely divorced from reality' at the time of the attack on the train platform.

'This case is and always has been what was in John's mind,' said Moore in her closing.

Cowell was thrown out of court twice for disruptive behavior. He testified he thought the sisters were aliens and part of a gang that kidnapped his grandmother.

Cowell, who has a history of mental illness, will face a second trial to determine whether he would be sent to prison or a psychiatric hospital

Rambling about people in 'skin suits,' Cowell said Nia and her sisters were staring him down and that attacking them was the only way to save his grandmother.

Ford contended that Cowell was putting on a show in the courtroom to convince the jurors he's insane and gain their sympathy, reported KRON4.

'He wants to look crazy. Hes trying to fool all of you,' the prosecutor argued on Tuesday.

The emotionally-charged trial, which took up much of February, had been delayed while authorities sought to determine Cowell's mental competence through a series of psychiatric evaluations.

In December, a judge ruled Cowell was fit to stand trial after noting that he was refusing to cooperate with doctors appointed to evaluate him.

Cowell was released from a maximum security facility for mentally ill convicts less than three months before the attack.
New Delhi, March 11 : The Indian Medical Association (IMA) will be organising a workshop for its members on awareness about the coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic in the national capital on Saturday.

The association has also appealed to the Centre to take COVID-19 as an opportunity to track cases of tuberculosis as well and include hand hygiene in the Swachh Bharat programme.

IMA national president Rajan Sharma told IANS that the nation should not panic over the coronavirus outbreak, adding that the country has faced such a situation earlier and successfully combated it.

Speaking to IANS Sharma said, "We appeal to the nation to stop the panic reactions on corona epidemic. This epidemic is by no means a situation which has not been faced earlier. SARS 1, Swine flu, Nipah, etc were on the same scale and considerable experience tells us that awareness, self precautions, contact tracing and self isolation are the public health measures required. Hand washing has emerged as the simple tool to fight the community spread." He said that easy and universal, the practice of thorough hand washing with soap and water is perhaps the only way to stop the corona epidemic.

India has reported 50 cases of COVID-19 so far. People rushed to buy hand sanitisers and masks after COVID-19 cases were confirmed in India. Hoarding of these products was also reported at various places, along with unregulated price rise.

On using face masks, Sharma suggested that "Masks for symptomless common people is not warranted. Healthcare workers and people with symptoms and possibility of droplet infection need to wear masks." According to the IMA, the high handed top down response in China is a part of the reason for this global panic. Hailing the Indian government's efforts to contain the disease, R.V. Asokan, Secretary General, IMA, said, "The nuanced and balanced approach of the Indian government is certainly better suited to handle the crisis in a country of 1.3 billion people. The public health systems in various states have withstood the pressure and have to remain alert. Contact tracing is the key public health function that will make a difference." Asokan said : "Doctors and health care personnel have responded with diligence and responsibility. I appeal to every doctor to function as a source of credible information in their locality and instil confidence and trust amongst common people. Let us work together as a nation to redeem our people."
IRELAND should be fined 1.5m for having failed to fully adopt anti-money laundering rules whose absence could weaken the EU's fight against criminal activity, including the financing of terrorism, a senior legal adviser to the European Court of Justice has argued.

While the relevant directive has now been transposed into Irish law, the State infringed EU rules by not having done so in time.

The directive, 2015/849, was described by an advocate general to the court as being a "key legal instrument in the prevention of the use of the union financial system for the purposes of money laundering and the financing of terrorism".

"The effects of Ireland's failure to transpose Directive 2015/849 on public and private interests may also be considered significant, given that, as indicated by the commission, that failure poses risks to the integrity and functioning of the EU financial system, making it vulnerable to money laundering and terrorist financing, and affecting investors and citizens," said advocate general Evgeni Tanchev.

He added: "Ireland's failure to adopt and notify all the measures transposing Directive 2015/849 may be considered to impact the proper functioning of the internal market and thus has a certain degree of seriousness."

The directive was introduced in 2015 and was the fourth EU directive to target the issue of money laundering.

"The misuse of the financial system to channel illicit or even lawful money into terrorist purposes poses a clear risk to the integrity, proper functioning, reputation and stability of the financial system," according to the text of the directive.

The European Commission brought infringement proceedings against Ireland in 2018 for having failed to adopt the necessary measures to transpose the directive into law by June 2017.

Ireland last year argued that it had fulfilled its obligation to transpose the directive into domestic law as a result of measures notified in November 2018. But the commission argued that despite that, certain transposition gaps remained.

Ireland disputed this, but said that, in any event, such gaps were marginal and the State had made efforts to address the commission's concerns.

The advocate general - whose recommendations are typically followed by the court - said Ireland was in infringement for 30 months and did not fully transpose the directive until last December. But he acknowledged that by November 2018, Ireland had ensured "far-reaching transposition" of the directive, with only four of its provisions lacking.

The advocate general also said Ireland should pay costs in the case.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, March 11, 2020 14:54 671 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2069da205 1 City #coronavirus,coronavirus,#Jakarta,schools,#school Free

Some international schools in Jakarta are closing their doors in an effort to protect students and teachers from the COVID-19 coronavirus, which continues to spread globally.

By Tuesday, Indonesia reported eight more patients had tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the total of confirmed cases in Indonesia to 27.

The Jakarta Intercultural School (JIS) announced it was closing its kindergarten, elementary, middle and high schools.

"JIS has decided to implement home and online learning for all students starting Thursday, March 12 to Friday, March 20," school spokesperson Sinta Sirait told The Jakarta Post via email.

According to Sinta, the school would refer to the international standard of home or online learning using the Google Classroom web service and several other applications that are tailored for different levels. Sinta said that the home and online learning would be followed by JIS' March break, which is part of the normal JIS academic calendar and occurs from March 23 to 27.

The school already canceled academic activities on March 10 and 11, repurposing the time to be used as preparation days.

"The decision to implement home and online learning for our students was the result of in-depth consultations with the international health organization, Indonesian authorities, several embassies in Indonesia and other organizations with authority on the matter," Sinta said.

While the school vowed to run a high level of education through online learning, it also said parents had been informed weeks prior to the implementation and were invited to parent-teacher meetings to discuss how to support their children's home learning.

At least eight other international schools in Jakarta have apparently closed out of fear of COVID-19, including the ACG School Jakarta in Pasar Minggu, South Jakarta, which reportedly suspended classes and all extracurricular activities last week.

However, the eight schools declined to confirm the reports.

Meanwhile, through a written statement on March 2, the Jakarta Education Agency called for all state schools in the capital to promote healthy and clean lifestyles.

Agency head Nahdiana said that further adjustments at state schools to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak would be carried under the supervision of the Education and Culture Ministry.

"The matter of school days off, however, also depends on the Health Ministry's assessment and their decision," she told the Post via text message, indicating that as many as 1,970 state schools from elementary to senior high in Jakarta were still operating normally.

Likewise, Gandhi Memorial Intercontinental School (GMIS) in North Jakarta is an example of an international school that decided to operate normally, although it said it has taken preventive actions against the spread of COVID-19 on school premises.

According to the GMIS principal Ashok Pal Singh, the school informed parents and students on March 9 about the efforts it had taken to prevent the disease, including a thorough cleaning of the buildings.

The school checks the body temperatures of everyone entering the premises and it canceled morning assemblies until further notice.

"[If] someone gets COVID-19 in the school and the [education] ministry orders us to close the school, then we will close it. Otherwise, we are not closing it," Singh said. "We have to fight [COVID-19], so closing the school is not an option for us."

Despite having no plan to close the school in the near future, the GMIS has already prepared an online learning management system called Managebac as a precaution in case they have to close.

"We are continuously monitoring the rapidly evolving situation," he said. "But if we close, it means we are adding to the fear."

"Our greatest enemy right now is not the virus itself. It's fear, rumors and stigma. And our greatest assets are facts, reason and solidarity," said Singh, quoting a statement by World Health Organization director general Tedros Adhanom.

The Don Bosco private schools in South Jakarta, meanwhile, also decided to operate normally with only a little adjustment to the situation.

Don Boscos education division head Anton Sunarto said that students' parents had been sent written advisories about precautionary steps against COVID-19, such as advising sick students to remain at home and encouraging parents to pack healthy lunch boxes for their children. (trn)
Dickerson St. S., 800 block, 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Feb. 26. Car keys were stolen from a residence and it was later discovered that a black 2018 Toyota RAV4 was also stolen.
The government has ordered a state of emergency in connection with protective measures against the new coronavirus, Gergely Gulyas, the head of the Prime Ministers Office, said on Wednesday.

The government has ordered a state of emergency in connection with protective measures against the new coronavirus, Gergely Gulyas, the head of the Prime Ministers Office, said on Wednesday. Gulyas said the government had made its decision in line with a proposal by the interior minister and the operative board. The government has ordered a ban on travellers from Italy, China, South Korea and Iran, except for Hungarian citizens arriving from those locations who will have to stay in isolation at home for two weeks after arrival, Gulyas added.



Read more at: https://dailynewshungary.com/breaking-news-coronavirus-hungarian-government-orders-state-of-emergency/?fbclid=IwAR0yJ5Q-Srt6BQLiLE-thVBNoSNSskfCfIPuE5Fp6h3CKpxGLdyqIx_7nTA

The government has ordered a state of emergency in connection with protective measures against the new coronavirus, Gergely Gulyas, the head of the Prime Ministers Office, said on Wednesday. Gulyas said the government had made its decision in line with a proposal by the interior minister and the operative board. The government has ordered a ban on travellers from Italy, China, South Korea and Iran, except for Hungarian citizens arriving from those locations who will have to stay in isolation at home for two weeks after arrival, Gulyas added.



Read more at: https://dailynewshungary.com/breaking-news-coronavirus-hungarian-government-orders-state-of-emergency/?fbclid=IwAR0yJ5Q-Srt6BQLiLE-thVBNoSNSskfCfIPuE5Fp6h3CKpxGLdyqIx_7nTA

Gulyas said the government had made its decision in line with a proposal by the interior minister and the operative board. The government has ordered a ban on travellers from Italy, China, South Korea and Iran, except for Hungarian citizens arriving from those locations who will have to stay in isolation at home for two weeks after arrival, Gulyas added.



Read more at: https://dailynewshungary.com/breaking-news-coronavirus-hungarian-government-orders-state-of-emergency/?fbclid=IwAR0yJ5Q-Srt6BQLiLE-thVBNoSNSskfCfIPuE5Fp6h3CKpxGLdyqIx_7nTA

Gulyas said the government had made its decision in line with a proposal by the interior minister and the operative board. The government has ordered a ban on travellers from Italy, China, South Korea and Iran, except for Hungarian citizens arriving from those locations who will have to stay in isolation at home for two weeks after arrival, Gulyas added.



Read more at: https://dailynewshungary.com/breaking-news-coronavirus-hungarian-government-orders-state-of-emergency/?fbclid=IwAR0yJ5Q-Srt6BQLiLE-thVBNoSNSskfCfIPuE5Fp6h3CKpxGLdyqIx_7nTA

Gulyas said the government had made its decision in line with a proposal by the interior minister and the operative board. The government has ordered a ban on travellers from Italy, China, South Korea and Iran, except for Hungarian citizens arriving from those locations who will have to stay in isolation at home for two weeks after arrival, Gulyas added.



Read more at: https://dailynewshungary.com/breaking-news-coronavirus-hungarian-government-orders-state-of-emergency/?fbclid=IwAR0yJ5Q-Srt6BQLiLE-thVBNoSNSskfCfIPuE5Fp6h3CKpxGLdyqIx_7nTA

Gulyas said the government had made its decision in line with a proposal by the interior minister and the operative board. The government has ordered a ban on travellers from Italy, China, South Korea and Iran, except for Hungarian citizens arriving from those locations who will have to stay in isolation at home for two weeks after arrival, Gulyas added.



Read more at: https://dailynewshungary.com/breaking-news-coronavirus-hungarian-government-orders-state-of-emergency/?fbclid=IwAR0yJ5Q-Srt6BQLiLE-thVBNoSNSskfCfIPuE5Fp6h3CKpxGLdyqIx_7nTA

Gulyas said the government had made its decision in line with a proposal by the interior minister and the operative board. The government has ordered a ban on travellers from Italy, China, South Korea and Iran, except for Hungarian citizens arriving from those locations who will have to stay in isolation at home for two weeks after arrival, Gulyas added.



Read more at: https://dailynewshungary.com/breaking-news-coronavirus-hungarian-government-orders-state-of-emergency/?fbclid=IwAR0yJ5Q-Srt6BQLiLE-thVBNoSNSskfCfIPuE5Fp6h3CKpxGLdyqIx_7nTA

Gulyas said the government had made its decision in line with a proposal by the interior minister and the operative board.



The government has ordered a ban on travellers from Italy, China, South Korea and Iran, except for Hungarian citizens arriving from those locations who will have to stay in isolation at home for two weeks after arrival, Gulyas added.



In order to enforce the travel restrictions, border controls will be reintroduced on Hungarys Schengen borders with Slovenia and Austria. All trains, buses and flights from the countries in question will also be stopped by midnight on Wednesday, he added.



The government has also decided to ban indoor events with more than 100 people attending, while outdoor events with more than 500 will also be subject to the ban, Gulyas said. It will be the organisers responsibility to cancel events, he added.



Any documents that are to expire in the near future will remain valid during the state of emergency, he added.



All measures will remain valid until further notice, he said.



Government orders ban on university visits, schools remain open



The government has introduced a ban on university visits but remote study options will remain open as a protective measure in the fight against the coronavirus, Gergely Gulyas announced.



Universities will start closing down on Thursday, Gulyas said.



Gulyas noted that Hungarian universities have a high number of foreign students, adding that out of Hungarys 13 coronavirus cases so far 9 were foreign nationals.



He said schools will remain open for the time being but this may change if it becomes necessary for protection of life and health.



He argued that the virus was not typically affecting children, and closing primary schools could involve having to repeat the whole school year.



The government has also decided to suspend the Hatartalanul! (With no borders) school trip programme, and will also postpone by one year language courses planned for the summper holidays.



Gulyas said that people spreading rumours or violating quarantine rules would be prosecuted.



MTI Photo: Szilard Koszticsak
[March 11, 2020] Ambri Appoints Board Director

Ambri Inc. announced today that Lewis "Lou" Von Thaer, President and CEO of the Battelle Memorial Institute, has been elected to the Ambri Board of Directors. Lou began his technology career with AT&T Bell Laboratories, followed by a number of years at General Dynamics (News - Alert) and then served Leidos, Inc. as President of the company's National Security Sector. Before joining Battelle in 2017, he served as CEO of DynCorp International. "We are excited and grateful that Lou will bring his deep technical, business and leadership expertise to Ambri," said Ambri executive chairman Dan Leff. "We are fortunate to find one individual with a wealth of experience in scaling up operations of successful businesses as Ambri enters its next phase of growth." Von Thaer serves as board chair of Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, co-chair for UT-Battelle (operator of Oak Ridge National Laboratory), and on the boards of the Defense Science Board, the National Defense Industrial Association, Nationwide Children's Hospital, National Veterans Memorial and Museum and TAPS (Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors). Lou is a member of the Ohio State University Board of Trustees where he serves on three committees: Audit and Compliance, Finance, and the Talent and Compensation Committee. He also serves as a trustee of the Kansas State University Fondation. He also is a member of the Ohio Business Roundtable and the Columbus Partnership Executive Committee.



"I am honored to be joining the board of Ambri," Lou said. "The world needs a solution like Ambri's to store renewable energy and reduce the carbon emissions of fossil fuel-based electricity generation." Lou holds a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Kansas State University and a master's degree in electrical engineering from Rutgers University. He and his family reside in Columbus, Ohio.

About Ambri Ambri Inc. is developing and commercializing a new long duration battery technology that will enable widespread use of renewable energy sources, reduce electricity costs and enable power systems to operate more reliably and efficiently. The liquid metal battery project began at MIT (News - Alert) in the lab of Professor Donald Sadoway and the company was formed in 2010, when the project achieved significant technical breakthroughs. Ambri's investors include Khosla Ventures, Bill Gates (News - Alert) and Total. More information is available at www.ambri.com. About Battelle Every day, the people of Battelle apply science and technology to solving what matters most. At major technology centers and national laboratories around the world, Battelle conducts research and development, designs and manufactures products, and delivers critical services for government and commercial customers. Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio since its founding in 1929, Battelle makes the world better by commercializing technology, giving back to our communities, and supporting science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education. For more information, visit www.battelle.org. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200311005735/en/

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-12 01:12:27|Editor: yan

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DUBLIN, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Ireland earned over 6.86 billion euros (about 7.75 billion U.S. dollars) from overseas tourists in 2019, down by 0.14 percent from the 6.87 billion euros earned in 2018, said the country's Central Statistics Office (CSO) on Wednesday.

When fares, mainly referring to air tickets and ferry tickets, are excluded, the total expenditure by overseas tourists in Ireland in 2019 was over 5.1 billion euros, a decrease of 0.9 percent from in 2018, said the CSO in a statement.

In 2019, over 10.8 million overseas residents visited Ireland, up by 1.8 percent from the 2018 figure of over 10.6 million, it noted.

The CSO figures also showed that Irish residents spent nearly 6.5 billion euros while touring overseas in 2019, up by 15.2 percent compared with a year ago.

When fares are included, the total expenditure on overseas travel by Irish residents amounted to over 7.9 billion euros in 2019, up by 12.1 percent year-on-year, said the CSO.

Last year Irish residents made over 8.8 million overseas trips, up by 6.5 percent over 2018, it said.( 1 euro = 1.13 U.S. dollars )
Many eyes are on Tartine.

More than 200 workers at four Bay Area locations of the beloved bakery will soon decide whether theyre joining a union. The San Francisco locations  the original Tartine Bakery and Tartine Manufactory in the Mission and the Tartine in the Inner Sunset  vote Thursday, while the Berkeley location votes Friday.

If Tartine workers join the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU), they would be part of a tiny proportion of restaurant workers who belong to one. Regardless of the votes outcome, Tartine likely wont be the same after Friday.

Pro-union workers said they would probably leave Tartine if they fail to unionize. Workers who are anti-union said they would do the same if the opposite is true. The process has been contentious, with accusations thrown from both sides and a lurking fear that the unions arrival would mean the end of San Franciscos internationally renowned bakery.

Only 1.3% of the 12 million people who work in American restaurants are union members, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The few existing unionized San Francisco restaurants first organized decades ago  or theyre part of a hotel, airport or large corporation. Pro-union workers at the bakery hope to spark a movement.

San Francisco could be a place where this is more of a norm and be an example for the rest of the country, said Emily Haddad, a barista at Tartine Manufactory.

Tartine management, for its part, is well aware of the stakes.

There are many restaurateurs holding their breath to see what happens, said Tartine owner Elisabeth Prueitt.

Tartine co-founders Prueitt and Chad Robertson hope the bakery remains union-free. Thats no surprise to the pro-union workers, who have publicly accused management of union-busting over the past few weeks. Theyre fighting for higher wages, better scheduling, job security and more benefits, like paid time off.

Employees who dont want to join a union say wages are already competitive and benefits are strong at Tartine compared to other restaurants.

I dont think making Tartine into an example will change the industry, said Jen Curtis, a baker at Tartine Manufactory.

Michael Short / Special to The Chronicle 2016

The first Tartine Bakery opened on Guerrero Street in 2002. Lines still regularly snake down the block for the bakerys naturally fermented breads and orange-scented morning buns.

Workers say things started to change behind the scenes when Prueitt and Robertson opened their ambitious, multifaceted Tartine Manufactory in the Mission District in 2016. It spawned Coffee Manufactory, their Oakland coffee roasting company, and a commissary bakery so they could add more Bay Area locations. Tartine opened in the Inner Sunset in July, then Berkeley two months later.

Meanwhile, Tartine started opening in South Korea and Los Angeles thanks to outside investment. In total, there are 10 locations, with plans for two more in Los Angeles.

Yet the brands rapid expansion is not necessarily a sign of runaway success, according to Prueitt. The South Korea and Los Angeles locations arent financially linked with the Bay Area entity, and Tartine still isnt profitable in the Bay Area, she said. The goal of adding the new Bay Area stores was to eventually turn a profit while still using high-quality ingredients.

I wish there were bags of money coming out of Tartine every month so everyone could make $25 an hour, said Tartine managing partner Bill Chait. The truth is collective bargaining doesnt necessarily lead to a $5 per hour increase.

With the costs of labor, ingredients, rent, utilities and administrative fees like permits, profit margins in the restaurant industry are notoriously slim  typically 3% to 7%. While Tartine might not currently make money, the owners still take a salary. Prueitt declined to specify the amount.

Chef and restaurateur Traci Des Jardins has experience operating unionized restaurants, including at Elka in the Miyako Hotel and Public House and Mijita, two restaurants near Oracle Park owned by food-service provider Bon Appetit Management Co. (Elka and Mijita have since closed.) She said shes grateful for her time with unions, which forced her to be a better manager.

It holds you to a higher standard, she said.

Correction A previous version of this story misstated Tartine lead pastry cook Regen Williams' pay rate, which is $20 per hour. See More Collapse

However, Des Jardins worries that independent operations like Tartine would not survive unionization.

I dont think they can bear the cost, she said. That should be taken into consideration by a body of people who want change: Do you want your employer to not stay in business because of the costs? Then you wont have a job.

Hotels, for example, can operate restaurants at a loss and make up for it through room rates. With Tartine, there is no way to pass on such a loss, said Chait.

Tartine isnt a conglomerate, he said. How much can you charge for a loaf of bread? $16? $18? (The country loaf currently costs $11.25.)

Some Tartine workers share Chaits fears, which is partially why they plan to vote no this week.

The numbers dont add up, said Mike Orson, a pastry cook at Tartine Bakery. Were busy, but were a bakery in San Francisco, paying San Francisco wages and San Francisco prices.

About 50% of Tartines gross revenue goes to labor costs, according to Prueitt, including benefits.

While the national average labor cost for restaurants is about 30%, Golden Gate Restaurant Association acting director Laurie Thomas said 45% to 50% is common in San Francisco because of the higher minimum wage and city mandate for restaurants to provide health care.

All these benefits San Francisco has put in place with ordinances are normally what unions have been able to get for people in the past, Thomas said. Im not saying theyre good enough, but at a certain point, the models dont work anymore and the businesses will close.

Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more.

Pro-union workers at Tartine want a living wage, though they didnt specify an exact number. According to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the living wage for a San Francisco resident with no children is $20.82 per hour.

Most Tartine employees start at minimum wage  currently $15.59 per hour  though some positions, like the bread bakers, tend to earn closer to $20. Most minimum-wage earners get tips  at Tartine Manufactory, for example, this averages to about $10 to $15 per hour extra, according to the union. Prueitt said very few of Tartines non-tipped employees in San Francisco make only minimum wage.

John Storey / Special to The Chronicle 2017

Confusion around Tartines finances is another reason why workers want to unionize. If Tartine managers say they cant afford to give raises yet charge $5 for a croissant, workers say they want to see the numbers.

There is no transparency, said Regen Williams, who makes $20 per hour as lead pastry cook at Tartine in the Inner Sunset. I think its important for us to get in on the ground floor of it before it gets too big and we cant do anything about it.

Some employees described a tense and distrustful atmosphere at work ever since the union effort went public last month.

It seems like anybody wearing a union button is in direct conflict with anyone against the union, Orson said.

Much of the debate boils down to an essential question: Are competitive working conditions enough in the restaurant industry, or should workers continually fight for better?

As Tartine Bakery barista Pat Thomas said, Restaurant work has always been viewed as a non-career. He and other union supporters argue that should change, while anti-union workers said they always planned to move on to bigger things after Tartine.

Santiago Mejia / The Chronicle

Pro-union employees have drummed up community support by holding rallies, passing out posters and recruiting political allies like San Francisco Supervisor Hillary Ronen. They exposed the fact that Tartine hired Lupe Cruz, a well-known union-avoidance consultant who previously ran the agency Cruz & Associates. Companies have paid Cruz & Associates large sums for consulting  grocery chain New Seasons Market, for example, paid Cruz $325,855 in 2017.

Prueitt said she hired consultants like Cruz to educate employees on unions, but ILWU described union-busting captive audience meetings, gatherings where employers can spread an anti-union message. Robertson also drew ire with recent social media posts showing images of anti-union Tartine sweatshirts that he made.

Chait said theres no doubt that Tartine could improve, and that management could listen to workers concerns better.

The problem now is, whats the solution? he said. Well never go back to where we were after this.

Janelle Bitker is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: janelle.bitker@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @janellebitker
SINCE Jason Kenney became premier of Alberta, I have had this urge to apologize for being born there.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 11/3/2020 (671 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Opinion

SINCE Jason Kenney became premier of Alberta, I have had this urge to apologize for being born there.

Claiming the bully pulpit of "speaking for all Albertans," especially when ranting about pipelines, Kenneys first legislation this year, Bill 1, would make any blocking or interference with "essential infrastructure," into a major crime, subject to thousands of dollars in fines and jail time.

Whats more, anyone (like me) or any corporation (like this newspaper) that "aids, counsels or directs," another person to take part in such interference  whether or not anyone listens  would also be liable to arrest and prosecution. Fines for corporations go as high as $200,000  and the directors of corporations are individually liable for prosecution, too. Any environmental organization and the Winnipeg Free Press (actually, any free press) could be prosecuted under this blanket legislation.

Just to be sure everyone gets Kenneys petulant rage at pipeline protests, every single day any "essential infrastructure," is blocked constitutes a separate offence.

What is "essential infrastructure," you ask? Essentially anything that has ever been made or built. If someone blocks or interferes with something not on Kenneys list (such as a play structure in a park), the Lieutenant Governor in Council has the right to designate it as "essential infrastructure," too.

Take that, you dastardly defenders!

I suspect that Bill 1 violates the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, as well as running utterly afoul of common law, but that legal reality wont make a dent in his fossil-fuelled rhetoric.

Kenney seems bent on recreating Alberta as a fascist petro-state, and so  taking a page from North Koreas playbook  he is trying to convince Albertans that they need to hunker in the bunker against all the evil forces of the outside world. Whether or not the first charge laid under this law is tossed out on its ear, Kenneys apparent intention is to threaten, exclude and otherwise punish anyone who does not fit into his vision of Fortress Alberta.

Like the rants of politicians elsewhere, Kenneys outbursts would be asinine if they were not so dangerous. This is why I feel the urge to apologize for being born in Alberta, because its not the province I remember, nor does Kenney represent the Albertans I knew.

I grew up with a good dose of Western energy alienation, the heritage of the "fuddle-duddle" language and finger gestures of Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus father. If Id been old enough to drive a car, I would have happily bumper-stickered it with "Let the Eastern Bastards Freeze in the Dark" the way others did.

But these things were irritants of a long history of being out West, a minor part of the identity that took people  often by economic necessity  from the familiar roil of urban life or the smell of the sea and dropped them into the foothills to create a new life.

No one survived for long as a rancher or a dry-land farmer in Alberta, however, if they were not utterly pragmatic and able to dream, too. Big sky, big dreams, and a lot of hard work every day. Thats the Alberta I remember.

We left there just as the oil boom hit Turner Valley. People from elsewhere poured in, looking for get-rich-quick opportunities in the oil industry and its hangers-on  people, in fact, like Jason Kenney, who arrived in his 20s, after the economic bust of the 1980s.

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He might claim to speak for all Albertans now, but he was born in Oakville, Ont., in sight of the large car and truck assembly plants. With the smell of petrochemicals in his nostrils and its toxins in his blood, like everyone else who lived there, its no wonder Kenney was drawn to the Alberta oil patch and its co-dependant urban sprawl: it reminded him of his childhood home.

It takes more than a Stetson and a photo op flipping flapjacks at the Calgary Stampede to make you a local, however. Alberta needs to find another, better path  one that respects its roots in the land, under the big sky, honouring the Indigenous peoples there as well as those people from away who helped to create the province with every crop they planted and every herd they tended.

The pragmatist knows that the days of oil must soon be over  and that means in Alberta, too. Their children and grandchildren will inherit the same future as everyone else.

But the dreamer wants to find hope in the midst of that struggle for a just transition from oil to whatever comes next. Kenneys rants  and Bill 1  are a cruel denial of creativity and optimism, replacing them with bitterness and rancor instead.

So without further apology, after 50 years of provincial oil addiction, call me a recovering Albertan. Put away the petulance, Premier Kenney, and do your job properly  for all real Albertans.

Activist and author Peter Denton is Albertan by birth and Manitoban by choice.
The Delhi High Court on Wednesday asked Tihar Jail authorities to consider afresh the plea of a media house seeking permission to interview the four men on death row for their role in the 2012 Nirbhaya gang rape and murder case.

Justice Navin Chawla said since the authorities had allowed one of the convicts to meet his lawyer after fixing of date of execution, contrary to the prison rules, they can consider the media house's request to interview the four death row inmates who are to be hanged on March 20.

The court also asked the prison authorities to pass a reasoned order on the request and to communicate it to the media house on Thursday.

It also noted that the date of execution of the four -- Mukesh Kumar Singh (32), Pawan Kumar Gupta (25), Vinay Sharma (26) and Akshay Kumar Singh (31) -- has been changed four times, with the latest order being of March 5, and since there was a possibility that it might happen again, the request of the media house be considered.

With the observation, the court disposed of the plea moved by the media house seeking permission to interview the four.

The media house had also challenged the Tihar Jail's February 27 order rejecting their request.

It had claimed the purpose behind the interview was to have a "deterrent effect on such crimes in the future".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
WILTON  Wilton schools will be closed until further notice.

A message on March 11 from the town says officials have been notified that the parents of one or more Wilton Public School students have had direct contact with a potentially presumptive positive COVID-19 patient.

Wilton Health Director Barry Bogle has ordered that:

Wilton Public Schools are closed until further notice.

The Town of Wiltons Comstock Community Center is closed until further notice.

The Trackside Teen Center is closed until further notice.

(Westport schools announced they were closed, citing information that parents and students had come into contact with a person presumed to be positive for coronavirus.)

Our Lady of Fatima has not been ordered to close, but Principal Stanley Steele said the school will be closed March 12-13. He said the school will stay in touch with the health department regarding any future developments.

The Montessori School has announced on its website it will also be closed March 12-13.

Wilton Library was advised to close as of 2:45 p.m. March 11, until further notice.

The Wilton Family Y announced it will close as of 5 p.m., March 11, until further notice.

The Wilton Historical Society has opted to close until further notice.

The schools had already suspended all sport and other after-school activities and that will continue until further notice.

Parents were notified to immediately make arrangements to pick up their children from after-school care at the schools and the Comstock Community Center. Children were allowed to remain at the library until their parents or caregivers could pick them up.

Parents are being asked to keep their children home, check their temperatures two times a day and call their doctor if they show any sign of fever, cough and difficulty breathing.

Early release day

As it happened, March 11 was originally planned as an early release day for professional development, so children were already on their way home when the order to close the schools was made.

With COVID-19 becoming an increasing concern, Superintendent of Schools Kevin Smith said teachers and administrators have been working on a plan for students to continue learning at home.

We wont implement it tomorrow, he said, adding Thursday and Friday will be treated as regular school closings.

The younger students  Pre-K-2 have go-kits with material on a variety of subjects they can work on at home. Teachers will post projects and activities online.

Children in the upper grades have electronic devices and their teachers will communicate through Google Classroom, Smith said.

We still have to nail down the A.P. classes, he said, adding that the tests are scheduled for May. We need more time to manage that.

While the schools are closed, the buildings and buses will undergo deep cleaning.
The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak continues to spread across the globe, with more than 100 countries affected. Now, the United Kingdom has reported its sixth death related to the viral infection.

UK coronavirus toll

The total number of confirmed cases in the UK is now 382, with six deaths related to coronavirus disease (COVID-19). COVID-19 has infected more than 119,000 people globally and has killed 4,284 people. Most of the infections and deaths occurred in Hubei Province in China, the epicenter of the outbreak.

Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2: This scanning electron microscope image shows SARS-CoV-2 (round gold objects) emerging from the surface of cells cultured in the lab. SARS-CoV-2, also known as 2019-nCoV, is the virus that causes COVID-19. The virus shown was isolated from a patient in the U.S. Credit: NIAID-RML

Italy, South Korea, and Iran had been 'hotspots' of the outbreak outside mainland China. Weeks after Wuhan City in Hubei Province went into lockdown, the virus has spread to over 100 other countries, with thousands of local transmissions now occurring.

The sixth death in the UK is a man in his early 80s who had underlying health issues. The virus is particularly dangerous for people who are over 60 years old and those with underlying health conditions such as heart disease, lung disease, hypertension, and diabetes.

The United Kingdom has also reported 54 additional cases in just 24 hours. By comparison, 46 new cases of COVID-19 were identified in the 24 hours to the morning of Mar. 9.

Health officials have also warned that the country is currently in the containment stage, while the next phase is a delay in the peak of cases. When an outbreak happens, the government may take drastic steps to prevent further infections, including closing schools and the cancellation of large public events. Working at home will also be encouraged.

Helpline giving out wrong information

Government officials have admitted that the NHS 111 online service has been giving out the wrong advice on coronavirus for travelers returning from Italy, the country with the most infections outside of China.

The online service told returning travelers from Italy there was no need to self-isolate if they had no symptoms, despite the Public Health England advising all those who came from Italy to stay at home for 14 days, the estimated incubation period of the virus.

Italy grapples with an ongoing health crisis, as the country remains in lockdown with 10,149 confirmed cases and a staggering 631 deaths.

Health officials recommend that those who arrive from Italy self-isolate or undergo quarantine even if they are feeling well. With the conflicting messages, travelers admitted they are confused on which advisory to follow. As of Mar. 11, the NHS 111 website has not been updated even though it is aware of the problem.

The NHS online support for coronavirus has a record high of more than 210,000 inquiries each day, with one million people making use of the website. The online service provides people in the UK with advice so as to free up clinical call handlers time so they can prioritize those who have COVID-19 symptoms.

Health Minister gets infected

The UK is experiencing what Iran encountered a week ago, top health officials getting infected. In Iran, the deputy health minister, Iraj Harirchi, contracted the virus while working to contain the virus. Now, the UKs health minister Nadine Dorries has tested positive for COVID-19. She is the first member of the parliament (MP) to contract the disease.

I can confirm I have tested positive for coronavirus. As soon as I was informed, I took all the advised precautions and had been self-isolating at home, Dorries said in a statement.

Thanks for so many good wishes. Its been pretty rubbish, but I hope Im over the worst of it now. More worried about my 84-year-old mom who was staying with me and began with the cough today. She is being tested tomorrow. Keep safe and keep washing those hands, everyone, Dorries added.

It is not known how many meetings Ms. Dorries had attended before she tested positive. The Department of Health confirms she experienced the symptoms on Mar. 5, the same day she attended a Downing Street event. She has been in isolation since Mar. 6.

It is also not known how she encountered the virus, but concerns emerged as she met hundreds of people before she was diagnosed with the infection.

Guidance for employees

The UK government has released its guidance for employees, employers, and businesses, which involves providing recommendations for all employers and companies. The guidance will help companies to provide information for employees to prevent the spread of all respiratory infections, including COVID-19.

The guidance also provides information on what to do with suspected or confirmed cases, and travel advisories. Further, the guide also provides recommendations for absences incurred by sick employees amid the coronavirus outbreak.

Bank of England steps in

Hopes rise as Bank of England plans to announce a dramatic package of support for the British economy, which has taken a massive blow from the coronavirus outbreak. The package will help the country through the outbreak and limit the negative impacts of the epidemic on the economy.
Three people have been arrested by the Crime Branch of Pune Police for demanding Rs 50 crore as extortion money from a city-based jeweller.

The accused have been identified as Ashish Pawar, Ramesh Pawar, and Rupesh Chowdhury.

Among the three, one accused had earlier worked with the jeweller as the latter's bodyguard. The investigation is on regarding their motive, modus, and more accomplices, if any, informed the DCP Crime Branch.

A case has been registered at Dattawadi police station and further investigation is underway in the case.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL  March 11, 2020  Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include: ExxonMobil XOM, Chevron CVX, Royal Dutch Shell RDS.A, Phillips 66 Partners PSXP and BP Midstream Partners BPMP.

Here are highlights from Tuesdays Analyst Blog:

3 Investing Strategies to Survive the Dramatic Oil Crash

Oil tumbled 24.6% on Monday, the most since 1991, as tensions between Russia and Saudi Arabia combined with continued panic over the spreading coronavirus (COVID-19) sent the commodity crashing. U.S. benchmark WTI prices for April delivery settled at $31.13 a barrel, up marginally from an intraday low of around $29, its weakest since February 2016.

The Dramatic Crash

Crude was already on a downward path from the growing risks of the coronavirus outbreak that has restricted travel, stalled factory activity and squeezed businesses worldwide.

The health scare, which reportedly emerged in Wuhan, China, has spread rapidly to every continent barring Antarctica, since being first identified back in late last year. As of now, the infectious disease has killed over 4,000 people so far and infected in excess of 100,000 globally. Its no surprise then that the virus has led to expectations for sluggish corporate earnings in the future and added to the downbeat mood in the oil industry, which tumbled into a bear market last month.

The carnage deepened after Saudi Arabia (the OPEC cartels biggest producer and exporter) and Russia (leader of the non-OPEC contingent) failed to agree on additional production cuts to boost oil market fundamentals and prop up prices.

The so-called OPEC+ deal, in place since the start of 2017, is aimed to tackle supply/demand imbalances and bolster prices. In last weeks Vienna meeting, Russia rebuffed Riyadhs proposal to restrict output by as much as 1.5 million barrels per day. This is in addition to the existing production curbs of 1.2 million barrels per day by OPEC, Russia and other non-member oil producers.

Story continues

This was met with quick retaliation from Saudi Arabia, who undercut its official crude pricing, apart from threatening to unleash record production.

The price of oil predictably plunged on this impasse.

3 Strategies to Survive

While one needs to have an appetite for risk in order to invest in the energy sector at this point of time, there are still opportunities for savvy investors to earn big returns. Lets see how:

Prioritize Debt-Light Companies

It seems there is no end to the oil industrys woes. The number of defaults is mounting for the beleaguered sector and the latest victim of this trend is oilfield services provider Pioneer Energy Services. Last week, it filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy, which will erase a substantial amount for its investors.

Several others are lined up for a similar fate. In fact, with scores of energy companies struggling to manage debt, find new sources of money and refinance outstanding debt, U.S. bank Morgan Stanley sees defaults in the energy space exceeding the 2016 peak, when the commodity dipped down to $26 a barrel.

However, some energy companies may still have the ability to withstand falling prices for a long period. These entities have restructured costs or taken other measures to deal with the prevailing situation. In this event, it may be a good idea to look at energy companies that have low debt capital ratios, which make debt servicing relatively easier for them.

Integrated Majors Diversification Minimizes Risk

Despite Big Oils struggles with returns, they are the ones that are best in adapting their business model to the prevailing momentum. Therefore, in this current turbulent market environment, we advocate the relatively low-risk energy conglomerate business structures of the large-cap integrateds, with their fortress-like balance sheets, ample free cash flows even in a low oil price environment and steady dividends.

Thanks to their integrated structures, companies like ExxonMobil, Chevron, Royal Dutch Shell are able to withstand plunging oil prices better than the rest and protect their top and bottom lines to a certain extent. With the refining unit of these carrying a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) conglomerates being buyers of crude  whose price is in a freefall  their profitability improves due to a fall in the input cost.

You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

The companies financial flexibility and strong balance sheet provide them with a larger war chest to draw upon in this highly-uncertain period for the economy. Most of them remain in excellent financial health, with ample cash on hand and investment-grade credit ratings with a manageable debt-to-capitalization ratio. On top of this, managements have established quite a track record of conservative capital management and cash returns to shareholders. They also pay a safe dividend, yielding attractive returns.

While most of them are near 52-week lows after enduring the crude carnage over the past few months, holding on to them can still prove to be an astute move.

Stay Positive on the Midstream/MLP Space

A safer way of playing the sector would be to utilize Master Limited Partnerships (MLPs), which offer considerable returns at significantly lower risk.

Most MLPs are involved in storage, processing and transportation of energy commodities such as natural gas, crude oil, and refined products (like diesel and gasoline), under long-term contracts. As such, they have relatively consistent and predictable cash flows with minimal commodity price sensitivity  unlike the E&P companies, whose profits are highly correlated with energy prices.

Ramping up oil production during the past few years has caused the commodity market to enter oversupply territory. Still, there is no slowdown in the crude production as all the big players are competing for their own share. This definitely calls for storage and transportation services, especially when the analysts are expecting the oversupplied market to continue in 2020.

Importantly, the collapse in crude has markedly reduced the average price of U.S. gasoline, the most widely used petroleum product. This is expected to result in massive gasoline volumes across pipeline systems and a boon for operators whose compensation is based on the quantity moving through their system.

Given the current weaknesses in petroleum stocks, MLPs are probably the best method of investing in the sector. They also offer liquidity and tax benefits, which add to their appeal. This is why these stocks would make good additions to your portfolio.

We suggest Phillips 66 Partners, BP Midstream Partners and Hess Midstream Partners - MLPs with Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy), low cost of capital and an investment grade credit rating.

Just Released: Zacks 7 Best Stocks for Today

Experts extracted 7 stocks from the list of 220 Zacks Rank #1 Strong Buys that has beaten the market more than 2X over with a stunning average gain of +24.7% per year.

These 7 were selected because of their superior potential for immediate breakout.

See these time-sensitive tickers now >>

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Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.

Click to get this free report Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM) : Free Stock Analysis Report Chevron Corporation (CVX) : Free Stock Analysis Report Royal Dutch Shell PLC (RDS.A) : Free Stock Analysis Report Phillips 66 Partners LP (PSXP) : Free Stock Analysis Report BP Midstream Partners LP (BPMP) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research
A POST-NATIVE PERSPECTIVE

In one of my columns last December I revealed that I was looking for another teaching job outside of my current district. Well, at the end of  Read more
Mike Pence has revealed the government is seeking a liability waiver for industrial N95 masks so hospital workers can use them without the risk of manufacturers being sued if they contract coronavirus.

The government previously urged the public not to buy paper surgical masks usually worn in hospitals - and for which makers are legally protected if the wearer gets ill - but the advice seems to have gone ignored.

Medical experts may soon have to rely on the plastic masks fitted with respirators but with those, the manufacturer is not covered legally.

Additionally, the loose-fitting surgical masks help prevent the splutter of particles into the air but don't protect the wearer from breathing in smaller particles that are already airborne.

Mike Pence said Tuesday in a press briefing from Washington DC that a waiver 'would extend temporary liability protections' for the makers of the N95 masks

Surgical masks (left) block some particles from the wearer's nose and mouth going airborne but as they're loose-fitting there's opportunity for splutter. Close-fitting N95 masks (right) block 95 percent of airborne particles from coming in but there's no waiver to stop manufacturers being sued if the wearer gets ill

A standard face mask, which sells for about $1.50 each on Amazon, creates a barrier between the nose and mouth and any droplets or germs in the environment. They are disposable and not meant to be shared.

Face masks can prevent splashes and large-particle droplets but they do not 'filter or block very small particles in the air that may be transmitted by coughs, sneezes or certain medical procedures,' according to the US Food and Drug Administration.

These are not meant to be used more than once so if it becomes soiled or damaged, it needs to be thrown away and replaced with a new one.

The close-fitting N95 masks are said to block 95 percent of airborne particles.

Pence said Tuesday in a press briefing from Washington DC that a waiver 'would extend temporary liability protections, so [N95] masks made for industrial use could be sold so hospital workers could be protected'.

Manufacturers have been asked to ramp up the production of masks with the spread of COVID-19. Over the next 18 months the government plans to stockpile 500 million N95 respirators.

Dr. Deborah Birx, ambassador and White House coronavirus response coordinator, holds a 3M N95 mask. Pence visited 3M headquarters in Maplewood, Minnesota, on March 5, meeting with 3M leaders and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz to coordinate response to the COVID-19 virus

Pence said if a waiver is issued it would 'make more N95 masks available'.

The plan is 'part of a broader effort to maximize the availability of personal protective equipment for health care workers who are on the front lines', Pence said.

Amid an influenza pandemic 3.5billion masks would be needed but its believed the US only had one percent of that; 30 million surgical masks and 12 million N95 masks.

Five million of the masks obtained may already have expired, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar has said.

Doctors say that masks may reduce the risks of viral transmission but they can't entirely prevent it.

'A mask is going to be protective if it's worn well,' Dr Robert Amler, former Centers for Disease Control and Prevention chief medical officer and dean of New York Medical College, told DailyMail.com in an earlier interview.

'But if it's worn for a long period of time, it tends to slip around a bit.

'It's not going to prevent every droplet from getting into your mouth or nose, but for short periods of time it might be helpful.'

What's more, because virus particles are so small, and paper masks are porous, air can leak through around the nose area and on the side of the masks.

'Those masks are not really designed to prevent people from inhaling viruses,' Dr Jeffrey Klausner, a professor of medicine and public health at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, told Yahoo Finance.

'What they are designed to do is to prevent people from coughing or sneezing respiratory viruses that they might have outward.'

And while there is evidence that masks with an N95 rating can be effective, particularly among healthcare workers, the CDC does not recommend routinely using respirators outside of workplace settings.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan has refuted social media reports that he received N300 million and bulletproof cars from David Lyon of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa.

Mr Jonathan, who made the rebuttal in a statement issued by his Media Adviser, Ikechukwu Eze, on Wednesday in Yenagoa, described the allegations as patently fictitious, malevolent, inciting and provocative.

According to the former president, the story is planted in the social media by a nebulous group known as Reformation Forum which claims links with the APC in Bayelsa.

He said the group was calling for the refund of the alleged N300 million and bulletproof cars, which were allegedly given to him to cater for guests during the planned inauguration of Mr Lyon.

The Supreme Court sacked Mr Lyon of the All Progressives Congress as the governor of Bayelsa State barely 24 hours to his inauguration.

The Reformation Forum had alleged that the gifts were delivered to the former president prior to the annulment of Mr Lyons victory by the apex court.

He said, the story which claimed that the alleged money and vehicles were part of logistics given to Dr Jonathans family to cater for their guests ahead of the botched inauguration is not only patently fictitious but malevolent, inciting and provocative.

In the first place, there was no reason for APC or anybody else to offer money and vehicles to the former president for logistics over an inauguration programme in which he was not involved.

We make bold to state that there is no vehicle in the possession of former President Jonathan given to him by the All Progressives Congress. This is an insufferable lie.

If anyone on earth knows of such a vehicle, they should expose the particulars of the said vehicle to the public.

The claim by this group is, therefore, nothing but a fairy-tale scripted to tarnish the good reputation of the former President, whom Nigerians and the rest of the world hold in very high esteem.

We condemn in entirety this growing culture of sustained falsehood against the person and family of Jonathan by shady and shadowy characters.

We urge Bayelsans and Nigerians to disregard the story as it contains no grain of truth.

READ ALSO:

It is a poor script written with the intention of causing distrust and inciting Bayelsans against themselves.

What Bayelsa needs now is peace, unity and progress, and not this noxious orgy of mud-slinging and mischief-making.

As far as we are concerned, the Bayelsa elections have been won and lost at the polls and the courts; we, therefore, urge all groups to accept the transition in good faith, he said.

(NAN)
The health ministry said that seven patients  six Egyptians and a foreigner  have been released from the isolation hospital after receiving treatment, bringing the total number of recoveries to eight

Egypt has detected seven new coronavirus cases, six Egyptians and a foreigner, bringing the total number of confirmed cases of the virus in the country to 67, Egypt's health ministry said on Wednesday.

According to health ministry spokesperson Khaled Megahed, the infected persons had been in contact with people who previously tested positive for the virus.

"The seven new cases were detected thanks to the investigation procedures that the ministry undertakes in coordination with the World Health Organisation and in accordance with its guidelines," Megahed said.

In a separate statement issued earlier in the day, the ministry announced the detection of one new coronavirus case, the country's 60th, who came in contact with another four virus carriers announced earlier this week.

The ministry said on Monday that the four patients are three Egyptians and a foreign woman, adding that they had come in close contact with previously detected cases, without elaborating.

Of the 27 infected patients in the country who later tested negative for the virus, there are seven patients  six Egyptians and a foreigner  who have been released from the isolation hospital after receiving treatment, bringing the total number of recoveries to eight.

Egypt announced the first case of coronavirus on 14 February of a Chinese national who was later released and returned to his homeland after recovering.

The rapidly growing outbreak of the coronavirus, which emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan late last year, has so far killed over 4,300 people and infected more than 121,000 worldwide.

Health Minister Hala Zayed said on Wednesday that all random samples taken from over 500 foreign tourists and staff members in the southern tourist city of Luxor and Aswan all tested negative. Luxor saw the biggest cluster of cases in the country yet, with 45 cases detected aboard a River Nile cruise ship.

Egypt announced on Sunday its first and only fatality from the respiratory illness, a German national who had travelled to Luxor before dying in a hospital in the Red Sea resort city of Hurghada.

Egypt has stepped up measures to contain the spread of the virus, intensifying precautionary measures including scaling up the sterilisation and disinfection process at airports and aboard planes

The aviation ministry said on Wednesday that it is carrying out medical checks on all passengers coming to Egypt and issuing cards to travellers arriving from countries where the virus has spread to follow up on their condition over the incubation period of 14 days.

The company operating Cairo's metro said on Tuesday that the Egyptian authorities have been distributing medical face masks to workers and passengers at Cairo metro stations as a precautionary measure to prevent the spread of the virus.

The country's railways authority is also stepping up sterilisation efforts at stations and on trains.

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[March 10, 2020] CAS and PatSnap forge strategic partnership that unites market-leading scientific content and AI-powered technology to accelerate global innovation

Collaboration strengthens leading sci-tech information solutions to deliver enhanced insight across R&D and IP workflows COLUMBUS, Ohio and LONDON, March 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- CAS, a division of the American Chemical Society specializing in scientific information solutions, and PatSnap, a global leader in innovation intelligence, today announced a long-term strategic partnership agreement aimed at accelerating global innovation. This unique collaboration between sci-tech information industry leaders, brings together the depth of CAS human-curated scientific data and the power of PatSnap's AI machine learning and data visualization technologies to deliver enhanced information solutions that address the growing need for deeper insights across disciplines. This collaboration enables both organizations to quickly augment existing solutions with new content and technology-driven functionality. The partners will also leverage their collective expertise to jointly develop new capabilities. "The CAS and PatSnap teams share a passion for accelerating innovation across industries including healthcare, agriculture, diversified chemicals and energy to improve people's lives," said CAS President Manuel Guzman. "Partnerships are a critical aspect of our strategy to rapidly advance that vision. By working together, we can deliver greater value across the complete discovery and commercialization lifecycle." "As sci-tech information industry leaders, this partnership reinforces the key role that innovation intelligence plays as companies innovate," said PatSnap Founder & CEO Jeffrey Tiong. "Innovation intelligence has evolved over the years, which is why we believe that applying AI machine learning to patent documents, journals and company data is the next frontier in valuable innovation insights. Through our partnership with CAS, companies and individuals will be able to use our intelligence solution to expand or solidify their position in different markets." This partnership is a compelling alliance of two contrasting organizations with complementary strenghs and a common aspiration. For over 100 years, CAS has been building the world's largest scientific content collection, including the authoritative CAS REGISTRY of chemical substances. Curated by hundreds of scientists speaking 50+ languages, CAS data underpins essential information resources, such as SciFindern and STNext, relied upon by scientists and IP professionals globally, as well as custom services engagements supporting sci-tech digitalization and knowledge management initiatives.



With offices in North America, Europe and Asia, PatSnap has quickly become the leading innovation intelligence solution provider for over 10,000 customers world-wide. Relied on by both start-ups and Fortune 500 corporations, PatSnap's ability to combine millions of disparate data sources and turn them into impactful insights has helped companies improve their IP and R&D teams' decision making, workflows and collaboration. "As data volumes grow and technology evolves rapidly, we are thinking more broadly about how we can most effectively enable innovation," said Tim Wahlberg, CAS Vice President of Product Management. "Integrating PatSnap capabilities will rapidly advance our core solutions with new functionality and extend our breadth in areas like biologics and material science."

"PatSnap's unique AI capability facilitates smarter content curation and identification to help companies connect the dots," said Markus Haense, CTO and Head of Research at PatSnap. "By augmenting our existing product offering with CAS's world-class data set, we can now capitalize and enhance our offerings in the life sciences and material sciences space and help our customers innovate better and faster." About CAS CAS, a division of the American Chemical Society specializing in scientific information solutions, partners with R&D organizations globally to provide actionable insights that help them plan, innovate, protect their innovations, and predict how new markets and opportunities will evolve. Scientists, patent professionals and business leaders rely on CAS solutions and services to advise discovery and strategy. With more than 110 years' experience, no one knows more about scientific information than CAS. Visit www.cas.org. About PatSnap PatSnap is the leading innovation intelligence software solution, designed to help companies make better business decisions by providing world-class IP and R&D intelligence. With the application of AI and machine learning, PatSnap makes it possible to gain actionable intelligence from millions of global innovation data points such as patents, litigation, investment and company information. From ideation to commercialization, learn how connected innovation intelligence can help. Visit www.patsnap.com CAS Media Contact:

Tina Tomeo/Rhonda Ross

614-447-3600

[email protected] PatSnap Media Contact:

Irene Mukasa

647-209-3546

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Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has recognised Georgina Ragaven, representing Mauritius, as the 131st Commonwealth Point of Light in honour of her exceptional voluntary service training women entrepreneurs.

Georgina has trained 2,000 vulnerable women from underprivileged areas to become aerobics teachers, fostering healthy habits and entrepreneurship. Many of these young women have gone on to own and manage their own gyms. Georgina also recently founded We Empower, which is training 200 women from shelters, broken homes, or survivors of domestic violence to become the entrepreneurs and leaders of tomorrow.

As part of the legacy of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in London 2018, Her Majesty The Queen  as Head of the Commonwealth  is thanking inspirational volunteers across the 53 Commonwealth nations for the difference they are making in their communities and beyond, by recognising one volunteer from each Commonwealth country every week.

By sharing these stories of service, the Commonwealth Points of Light awards celebrate inspirational acts of volunteering across the Commonwealth and help inspire others to make their own contribution to tackling some of the greatest social challenges of our time.

Each Commonwealth Point of Light will receive a personalised certificate signed by Her Majesty The Queen as Head of the Commonwealth. The award for Georgina will be presented later this month at the British High Commission Port Louis by Keith Allan, British High Commissioner in Mauritius.

Georgina said:

I am honoured to have been nominated and successful at receiving this award. At a time when women are celebrating International Women Day 2020, I dedicate this award to ALL the women who I have met along my life path so far, who each found their voice, realized they had a choice and made the right one for them; found the little girl inside each of them and promised to protect her always; discovered their full capacity and potential; enjoyed their transformational journey, becoming economically empowered along the way; reached out and helped another woman stand up and say I am, I can and I Will. This is too all women who truly believe in empowering women and children across the globe no matter where we are.

Keith Allan, UK High Commissioner in Mauritius said:

The Commonwealth is a diverse community of 53 nations that work together to promote prosperity, democracy and peace. The Heads of Government meeting brought together leaders from all the 53 Member countries to reaffirm common values, address shared global challenges and agree how to work to create a better future for all citizens, especially young people. Voluntary service is a vital part of this agenda, which is why Her Majesty The Queen has chosen to recognise outstanding volunteers across the Commonwealth in this special way.

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Joe Bidens dominant victory in the Michigan primary shows Democratic voters in the critical battleground state have picked their man to take on President Donald Trump.

Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, who is officially an independent in Congress, couldnt pull off a repeat of his surprise 2016 Michigan victory against Hillary Clinton, despite launching an aggressive final campaign drive that featured several well-attended rallies. Bidens campaign had a quiet presence in Michigan for much of the primary, but Democrats rallied around him in the last week of the election, catapulting the former vice president to his significant electoral triumph.

Adrian Hemond, partner and CEO of political consulting firm Grassroots Midwest, said the result of Tuesdays election is an encouraging sign for Democrats who desperately want to oust Trump in November. Hemond said Biden appears to have performed well among key constituencies Democrats will need to win in the general election, including African Americans, college-educated white women and less-educated working-class white voters.

It looks like in these primary states that Joe Biden is putting together the makings of a winning coalition," Hemond said. Democratic primary voters have spoken. They think that Joe Biden is their best chance to beat Trump and hold the Congress and maybe flip the Senate.

Read more on MLive: 2020 Michigan Presidential Primary election results

Biden won big across Michigan, making a statement about his electability and exposing Sanders weakness in the general election.

Much of the Democratic primary has been focused on which candidate can win back Michigan and other Midwest battleground states that swung for Trump in 2016. Biden argued his relationships with Michigans blue-collar auto workers and African American voters will be enough to bring the state back to the Democratic Party.

I can win Michigan, Biden said during a Detroit campaign stop in July 2019. They know me, Ive worked my whole life, I come from the middle class. I understand whats going on. I will win Michigan, I promise you that.

Bidens guarantee seemed in doubt early in the race, as the campaign had struggled to find its footing among a crowded Democratic primary field. Biden said himself in Detroit Monday that the press and the pundits had declared this campaign dead" after disappointing finishes in the first three contests.

Polls of Michigan voters before the March 3 Super Tuesday elections consistently showed Sanders leading. His supporters spent years building grassroots networks in anticipation of the 2020 election and Sanders ramped up his campaign presence Michigan long before Biden turned his attention here.

But Bidens strong performance in South Carolina, particularly his ability to capture the unilateral support of African American voters, sparked the beginning of a dramatic turnaround. Bidens moderate rivals dropped out to endorse him before Super Tuesday, where he won nine of 14 available states and set the stage for a competitive race in Michigan.

The departure of U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., last week assured a two-man race in Michigan. Sanders made it clear in his campaign stops that the election would be a choice between his revolution versus the Democratic establishment.

Biden gathered the support of Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and other high-profile Democrats when he hit the ground in Michigan. Hemond said the story of the last week is pretty simple.

The Democratic Party was coalescing around the Democratic candidate, he said.

Sanders bested Clinton with 50% of the vote in 2016. He only earned 38% of the vote on Tuesday, according to unofficial election night results.

Biden won nearly every county in Michigan, sitting behind Biden by only 2 votes in Ingham county as of 1 a.m. Wednesday morning. The primary was called by the Associated Press one hour after polls closed in Michigan, with Biden pulling ahead by a 15 percentage point margin.

The Michigan primary results show Sanders 2016 victory had more to do with Clintons infamy than Sanders popularity, said Mark Grebner, a Democratic strategist who founded Practical Political Consulting in East Lansing. Ultimately, Grebner said Democrats just consider Biden more electable in November.

All of us ordinary liberals have been kind of confused about what to do and suddenly we found out what to do, it was a guy named Joe, Grebner said. Bernie could never have been the right answer because Bernie is unfit as a candidate. I dont mean that his positions are wrong or hes dishonest or anything, but hes the kind of thing that gives actual serious voters the willies because hed be likely to lose.

Biden trounced Sanders throughout the state, particularly in Michigans most populous counties. Biden won Wayne County by 14 points, took Oakland County by 22 points and won Macomb County by 16 points.

Hemond said Sanders clearly has hardcore supporters" and a strong relationship with voters under 30 in particular, but he doesnt do well with traditional Democratic constituencies.

He does way better with men than with women, but a lot more of the Democratic primary electorate is women, in particular black women, a constituency he does terribly with, Hemond said. If you want to be the Democratic nominee for president you have to have a plan to get a substantial amount of support from black voters. (Sanders) got away with it last time because Clinton was so unpopular with wide swaths of white voters. He kind of got a pass on needing to really court significant support in the black community and he did not get that pass this time.

Matt Grossman, head of the political science department at Michigan State University, said Biden mounted an amazing comeback. Biden appeared to pick up most of the voters who backed other candidates while Sanders support hit a plateau.

I dont think that Sanders lost a lot of support, it just turned out that was near his support maximum and so once everybody else dropped out they all seemed to go to Biden, Grossman said.

Biden also seems to do better with college-educated white women living in suburban communities surrounding Detroit, Hemond said. He said the emerging new Democratic constituency has been fleeing the Republican party in droves during the last few election cycles.

Their motivation to vote is through the roof right now," he said. "Democrats are very unhappy with the Trump presidency and they have been since 2016. Thats ardor seems not to have cooled. Its lot of what powered the results of the 2018 election. That enthusiasm doesnt seem to have waned.

Hemond said the Sanders campaign had an insurgent theory of its electoral prospects, believing it could mobilize young voters and disaffected voters along with the progressive wing of the Democratic Party. Sanders Tuesday losses in Idaho, Michigan and Missouri put the future of his campaign into question.

Its over for all intents and purpose, Grossman said. People can run as long as they want and voters in later states feel left out if they dont have a race, but in terms of a path to the nomination, theres not really one for Sanders.

John Sellek, CEO of Harbor Strategic Public Affairs, said Bidens win in Michigan doesnt mean he earned a mandate to win the general election.

Instead of winning by simply saying he is not Bernie, he must now build the campaign infrastructure he lacks and, more importantly, a durable message detailing what he would do as president that can consistently survive the eight-month slog to Election Day we are about to commence, Sellek said. His track record on that front has not been great so far.

Biden presented himself as a healing figure who would join with his past foes to unite Michigans Democrats and defeat Trump in November. He implored Sanders supporters to join him, saying there is a place in our campaign for each of you."

Winning means uniting America, not sowing more division and anger, Biden said Tuesday. It means having a president who not only knows how to fight but knows how to heal.

Sanders tried to crack Bidens support by criticizing his vote on the North American Free Trade Agreement. The attacks seemed to have little effect, but its a line of criticism Trump and his allies have already picked up.

Bidens win in Michigan is a huge boost for his campaign. Grebner said Democrats are breathing easier now that Biden is holding a sizable lead in the delegate count.

In the fall the question is not going to be about Joe at all, Grebner said. Thats the real goal for Democrats, is to not have it be about our candidate. Its really about (Trump) p***y-grabbing, and being in cahoots with Putin, and being a 'stable genius, and not having a clue of what hes talking about, being a liar and stealing money from people. You know, just the whole Trump thing.

Read more on MLive:

2020 Michigan Presidential Primary election results

Biden breaks through Sanders strongholds, and more takeaways from Michigans presidential primary

Two weeks ago Bernie Sanders was the front-runner. Now hes the underdog in must-win Michigan
Its been almost 24 hours since this months Patch Tuesday patches rolled out. The good news: Almost everybody patching individual machines reports smooth sailing.

Thats remarkable, given the host of problems with last months disappearing icons (temporary profile) bug and the unending litany of complaints about the last optional, non-security, C/D Week patch. As best I can tell, none of those problems have been officially acknowledged, and if theyre still in evidence with yesterdays patches, people arent complaining about them. Yet.

To be sure, were still seeing the usual problems with installing the patches  Error 0x800f0900 seems particularly prolific on Reddit  but at this early juncture, I dont see any debilitating problems.

That may well change. Many patchers have other problems on their minds and the day is still young.

Duplicated updates

Ive seen numerous reports of duplicated updates in Windows Update lists, specifically for Windows 8.1, a .Net Quality Rollup, and the Server 2012 R2 Monthly Rollup. Seeing the same, identical patch listed twice in an update list does not inspire confidence.

It looks like Microsoft tidied up the list overnight. At this point there are 110 2020-03 entries in the Microsoft Update Catalog  which is to say, 110 individual patches  three fewer than there were last night.

Less is better, yes?

Extra Office updates

It looks as if Microsoft took advantage of Patch Tuesday to release additional non-security patches for Office. Usually the non-security Office patches come out on the first Tuesday of the month, but this announcement contains links to all of these new Office non-security patches:

Remarkably, those patches are not listed in the official Latest non-security updates for versions of Office that use Windows Installer (MSI) post.

The strange case of CVE-2020-0796 'CoronaBlue'

Yet another patch timing mishap: The SMBv3 patch described in Microsoft Security Advisory ADV200005 | Microsoft Guidance for Disabling SMBv3 Compression has been causing all sorts of consternation among admins in charge of networks running SMBv3.

Long story short, Microsoft apparently had the patch ready to go but pulled it at the last minute. Microsoft warned security software manufacturers in advance that the patch was coming (a common practice), but didnt yell, Stop the presses! in time to keep the cows in the barn. Two organizations on the inside accidentally published, then pulled, descriptions. The story raced through the blogosphere.

The hole is wormable in that it might be able to propagate without any human interaction. Might being the operable term: A potential exploit faces formidable challenges.

At first, Microsoft didnt officially announce the hole, and didnt post a fix. Then, its hand having been forced, on Tuesday night, Microsoft posted the Security Advisory, which says:

Microsoft is aware of a remote code execution vulnerability in the way that the Microsoft Server Message Block 3.1.1 (SMBv3) protocol handles certain requests. An attacker who successfully exploited the vulnerability could gain the ability to execute code on the target SMB Server or SMB Client.

At this point, it appears that only Server 2013 and 2019 are affected. Microsoft has a manual workaround. There arent any known exploits but Catalin Cimpanu at ZDNet just tweeted:

I have now seen/talked to 3 different people claiming they found the bug in less than 5 minutes. I wont be surprised if exploits pop up online by the end of the day.

If youre in charge of a network running SMBv3, you can catch up on the developments by reading Satnam Narang on Tenable, Sergiu Gatlan at BleepingComputer, Catalin Cimpanu at ZDNet and, in the past couple of hours, Dan Goodin at Ars Technica. Theres an active discussion on AskWoody. You should also follow @msftsecresponse on Twitter.

If you arent running a network with SMBv3, you can chill. Theres nothing in this months patches that need concern you right now.

Were kickin butt and naming names on AskWoody.
Singaporean authorities on Tuesday criticised carriers of the coronavirus for socially irresponsible actions that risk spreading the disease, explaining containment measures will be ineffective if individuals do not cooperate.

As of Monday, Singapore had 160 confirmed cases and Health Minister Gan Kim Yong revealed that 35 of those cases failed to minimise social contact despite fever or respiratory symptoms. Nor did they visit a doctor after becoming ill.

The Ministry of Health on Tuesday announced six new cases, bringing the total number of infections to 166. Of these, 93 have been discharged while 12 are critically ill in the intensive care unit.

Many of the local transmissions were the result of socially irresponsible actions of a few individuals who continued to go to work, attend events and participate in activities despite being unwell, Gan said at a press conference.

The countrys local transmissions can be traced to six clusters: 33 cases to two churches via a family dinner; nine to a medical hall; three to a business meeting at the Grand Hyatt; five to a construction site; 14 to a company providing online learning called Wizlearn Technologies; and 39 to a private dinner function at SAFRA Jurong.

Two of the clusters  the medical hall and the Grand Hyatt  will be removed from further surveillance as 28 days have passed without new infections.

According to the Ministry of Health, the Wizlearn Technologies cases include nine staff, three of whom continued daily activities despite feeling unwell. One staff spread the virus to a family contact, who also maintained daily activities despite showing symptoms, later causing another four people to contract the virus.

At the SAFRA Jurong dinner, one sick person attended, setting off a chain reaction: others who attended the dinner contracted the virus and continued their daily activities despite feeling unwell, in turn spreading the virus further, creating a cluster of 39 cases.

Story continues

Local media have reported this dinner was a Lunar New Year function organised by a music teacher who now feels very guilty. Many of the roughly 200 guests at the February 15 function were Hokkien song enthusiasts in their 50s and 60s. The teacher who organised the function was also infected and is in hospital.

Guests at the dinner had attended government-run community activities, prompting authorities to suspend two weeks of events for senior citizens that were scheduled to begin on Wednesday, affecting 2,600 classes and 11,000 activities.

Gan also said the government is studying further social distancing measures as it works to contain the coronavirus outbreak. Social distancing measures can apply to public events, religious services and community activities, and can include school closures, staggered hours at workplaces or telecommuting. Authorities acknowledged such measures can be disruptive and were therefore studying them carefully.

Gan also urged the public to stick with one regular doctor after it emerged one-quarter of confirmed cases had visited more than one GP and, of these, eight had visited three or more clinics.

This socially irresponsible behaviour poses a risk to all of us, Gan said. Measures we have implemented will only work if individuals cooperate and behave in a socially responsible manner. So please work together with us, so that we can keep our families and loved ones safe.

Singapores Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong (left) with Health Minister Gan Kim Yong. Photo: AFP

Meanwhile, passengers on the Costa Fortuna cruise ship began disembarking in Singapore, its home port. The ship had been denied entry to ports in Malaysia and Thailand, even though it declared none of its passengers were showing coronavirus symptoms.

The Costa Fortuna was carrying about 2,000 passengers of various nationalities, including 60 Italians, which were reportedly the cause of the concern, given Italys increasingly serious outbreak.

The Ministry of Health said passengers who recently visited areas hit by the coronavirus tested negative.

All passengers who had recent travel history to affected regions within the last 14 days have completed enhanced one-on-one screening ... and have been certified fit to travel, the ministry said.

Test for foreigners remain free but Singapore has started charging visitors to the city state for coronavirus treatment, following two imported cases involving Indonesians.

Singapores new measures announced on Monday came into effect on the weekend, after two symptomatic Indonesian travellers arrived in Singapore. Both had reported coronavirus symptoms in Indonesia before arriving in Singapore. One had previously sought treatment at a hospital in Indonesias capital Jakarta.

The Costa Fortuna docked at the Marina Bay Cruise Centre in Singapore. Photo: EPA

In view of the rising number of Covid-19 infections globally, and the expected rise in the number of confirmed cases in Singapore, we will need to prioritise the resources at our public hospitals, the Health Ministry said.

Treatment of severe respiratory infections in Singapore public hospitals typically cost between S$6,000  S$8,000 (US$4,300-US5,800), according to the Ministry of Health.

Of 33 imported cases reported by Singapore to date, 24 involve travel to China  where the virus first surfaced late last year  three to Indonesia and the others to Italy, Britain, France and Germany.

Additional reporting by Reuters, dpa

More from South China Morning Post:

This article Coronavirus: Singapore health minister warns socially irresponsible actions risk further spread first appeared on South China Morning Post

For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2020.
Photograph: Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images

The political world has fundamentally changed in the last two and a half weeks.

All the way back in mid-February, Donald Trump brushed aside the coronavirus as very much under control in the USA. That was just two days after Bernie Sanders won his breakthrough victory in the Nevada caucuses, putting him on course to a commanding lead as Super Tuesday approached.

This is not the same political country as it was last month

But this is not the same political country it was last month. In the short span of a couple of weeks, American voters have traveled a very long way. If the coronavirus sweeps across the country as the experts predict, that journey will only accelerate, reframing this years elections in profound ways.

Tuesdays primaries confirmed the extraordinary transformation of Joe Bidens campaign, from almost dead-man-walking to almost dead-certain nominee. There are almost no similar cases of a candidate bouncing into such a wide lead in such a short time.

The last comparable candidate was John Kerry in 2004, moving from single-digits in mid-December to more than 50% of Democratic voters in mid-February. That was after Kerrys comeback win in Iowa, followed by the swift collapse of an earlier leftwing populist from Vermont: Howard Dean.

Bidens resurrection is even more dramatic, moving almost as many points in the polls in half the time. Its true he was never quite as dismally low in the polls as Kerry. But one month ago, the former vice-president was barely ahead of Mike Bloomberg, Elizabeth Warren and Pete Buttigieg.

With his blowout wins in Missouri and Mississippi on Tuesday, Biden has all but ended the Democratic contest. Missouri was essentially a tie between Sanders and Hillary Clinton four years ago. Now Sanders has declined so sharply the news networks could call the race shortly after the polls closed.

In the biggest contest of the night, in the battleground state of Michigan, Sanders once again underperformed compared with 2016, when he struck a blow against the establishment by winning a surprise victory in the upper mid-west.

Story continues

Sanders die-hard supporters have been vocal in their despair, turning their fire variously on the dropout candidates, the partys elected officials, and the news media. They cannot begin to consider that their candidates coalition of diverse, younger voters is nowhere near large enough to win the partys nomination across the country.

Related: Five key takeaways from primaries as Biden's wins pave way to nomination

However, the disappointment of the left is only a small part of the story behind Bidens victory. Democratic voters made it crystal clear in every poll in every state that their overwhelming desire is to beat Trump. The kind of transformative change they were desperately seeking was to kick Trump out of office  even more than restructuring healthcare and free college tuition, which they wholeheartedly support.

Trumps entirely botched response to the coronavirus pandemic has only intensified this electoral choice. Instead of simply voting for the most electable candidate, Democrats are now voting for the most competent president. In that context, there is vastly more reason to trust a former vice-president than an insurgent outsider.

According to CNNs exit polls, nearly 60% of Democratic voters in Missouri said they trusted Biden to handle a crisis, compared with about 25% who said they trusted Sanders. In Michigan and Washington state, the numbers were not much better for Bernie.

Other polls underscore how powerful this case is for Biden in his likely general election against Trump. In a recent national poll of registered voters of all parties, Biden beats Trump by 16 points on the question of who would do a better job of handling a crisis, while Sanders is ahead by just six points.

Those numbers landed before the most devastating effects of the coronavirus crisis on communities, patients and the economy. The next two months may not just effectively end the Democratic nomination contest; they may effectively end the entire Trump presidency.

The next two months may not just effectively end the Democratic nomination contest; they may effectively end the entire Trump presidency

For a while on Tuesday night, the only good news for Sanders supporters looked like the screw-up on CNN when the on-air graphics mistakenly suggested that their candidate had won Mississippi.

In reality, Biden had won the state. But as supporters of Britains Jeremy Corbyn like to say, Sanders may well have won the argument. Sanders moved Biden further to the left on a publicly funded healthcare option than he and Barack Obama had ever supported in office or on the campaign trail in two elections.

After a few months of the worst of the coronavirus, American support for widely available public healthcare  Medicare for all who want it, as Buttigieg called it  may well attract overwhelming support across the political spectrum.

Related: Stage set for Biden v Trump as Democrats seek return to Obama era

In the meantime, we can pack up all the old predictions of an extended delegate contest, culminating in that perennial pundits dream of a contested or brokered convention. Just a few weeks ago, centrist Democrats were gaming out ways in which the partys superdelegates could deny Sanders the nomination. Nowadays leftist Democrats are joining forces with the Trump campaign to spread disinformation about Bidens health.

Biden ignored those malcontents in his victory speech on Tuesday, delivered at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia without a virus-carrying audience of staffers and supporters. He thanked Sanders base for their tireless energy and their passion, which is one way to put it. We share a common goal, and together well defeat Donald Trump, he explained.

Even more powerfully, Biden cast his own comeback as a model for the whole country. Its a comeback for the soul of this nation, he said. And he cast the response to the coronavirus crisis as a response to three and a half years of living in a constant Trump crisis.

At this moment, when theres so much fear in the country and theres so much fear across the world, we need American leadership, Biden declared. We need presidential leadership thats honest, trusted, truthful and steady.

Those are lofty standards that used to seem normal. Now Joe Biden has to live by them every day for the next several months of a health crisis we can barely comprehend.
As the preserved corpse of the Bernie Sanders campaign gets prepped for its inevitable journey back to its spiritual home in Red Square, its yet another period of mourning for crushed idealism in the Democratic Party. Hollywood has been scripting this story for nearly 50 years, via two of its paradigmatic liberal heartthrobs and leading idealists: Robert Redford and Warren Beatty.

Redford and Beatty illuminated the internal combat of the Democratic Party in two defining films, released a quarter of a century apart. Both The Candidate (1972) and Bulworth (1998) remain windows into the soul of the Democrats. Theyre telling explorations of how the Democrats understand their recurrent plight.

Both films are stories of Democrats running for the Senate in California, a state that holds a special place in Democratic dreams. The state on the far left of the continent was and is a progressive policy leader, a sunlit upland where liberal dreams come true, but its also the shadowy vista where the sun sets on unmet promises, where Robert Kennedys life ended and Ronald Reagans rise began. Its a land of big dreams that die big deaths. Its the ideal setting for the clash of ideal and compromise.

For many years, The Candidate (1972), which was directed in cinema-realite style by Michael Ritchie, was the preferred political parable of horse-race hacks, who thrilled to its once-novel sausage-factory cynicism. Today, cynicism about politics is so deeply entrenched that the films every Aha! became a So what? Robert Redford, also a producer of the film, is Bill McKay, a crusading young public-interest lawyer who has a frosty relationship with his father, John McKay (Melvyn Douglas), a former governor who represents staid Democratic-machine politics rather than the urgent new brand that flowered in 1968. Young McKay has no interest in political life (he has never even registered to vote), but a slick political operator (Peter Boyle) looking to make a buck coaxes him into running as a sacrificial lamb against the popular incumbent Republican, Crocker Jarmon. Heres your guarantee, says Boyles Marvin Lucas, handing McKay a note saying, YOU LOSE. You dont have a chance, so say what you want.

Story continues

McKay sounds like Bernie Sanders as he hits the campaign trail. The economy throws everything on the backs of the working man, he says. He busts Big Oil, pollution, and racism. He unabashedly supports busing, which puts him on the far left of race politics in 1972, as well as abortion. Asked about welfare, which Crocker opposes on principle, McKay says, We subsidize planes. We subsidize trains. Why not subsidize people? This rhetoric wins him the Democratic nomination, but when polling suggests that McKay will lose to Jarmon by 36 points, the operatives fear their reputations will suffer in a blowout and teach McKay about how to win votes by pandering and obfuscation.

McKay is obliged to trim his hair and sideburns, to equivocate on abortion and busing, and to speak fluent bushwa. In debate, he learns to talk smoothly while saying nothing. Heres his new position on busing: We cant let a school bus carry all the burdens of our society. The main problem is still, how do we get a first-rate education for each and every child? Redfords Pete Buttigieg impression is merciless: I think the time has come when the American people realize that were in this together and that we sink or swim together. In scattered moments, McKay goes off-script and says what he really thinks, but for the most part he accepts being neutered and housebroken. Later, lounging in the back of a car, McKay has become so cynical that he does a spoof of himself, and its another spot-on pastiche of vacuous Buttigiegese: The time has passed . . . got to be a better way . . . cant any longer play off black against old, young against poor. This country cannot house its houseless, feed its foodless! The message of The Candidate is: Hide your true self, Democrats. Triangulate. Dont scare anybody, least of all the powerful.

After four exhausting terms, Redfords Senator McKay has turned into Warren Beattys senator Jay Bulworth, who in Bulworth (which Beatty also directed) is so frustrated and depressed by the Washington game that he is suicidal and hires a contract killer to shoot him so his family can collect his life insurance. Bill Clinton, whose career was frequently likened to McKays, had been president for six desultory years of what is now termed neoliberalism. Whatever happened to muscular, visionary leftism?

As McKay does at the start of The Candidate, Bulworth, because he figures he will die soon, reckons he has nothing to lose. So he gets drunk and stoned and goes on a manic spree, preaching single-payer health care and socialism. In the quarter-century since Redfords movie, white leftist race politics had moved well past a policy of helping black folks to a desperate sort of wannabe blackness. Bulworth adopts the style of the black-power movement, starts delivering his speeches in the form of rap, and hooks up with a sexy Black Panther type (Halle Berry). In 2013, White House reporters discovered that thenpresident Barack Obama told aides he was thinking about having his own Bulworth moment, meaning, one supposes, he wanted to stop dissembling and openly push for socialism. Either that, or a black president yearned to feel free to act more like a white guy acting like a black guy.

The Candidate showed how ardently liberal Democrats grew to accept the reality of having to face voters, but Bulworth did the reverse, suggesting Democrats could recapture America by aligning with the gonzo Left. In the latter movie, Bulworths dull centrism looks like its going to lose him his primary race, but when he starts rapping about socialism, he becomes sensationally popular.

Just two weeks ago, the Democratic Party was in Bulworth mode, floating along on a cloud of manic delirium, freed from worry about what constraints voters might impose. Socialism was about to arrive in the United States, and wed all rap about it all night long. From the Lefts perspective, there has been so much wasted time, so many missed opportunities, and yet on February 29, the night Joe Biden won South Carolina, the party veered sharply back into The Candidate mode, worried that voters think its undisguised instincts are too scary.

Recall the Louis C.K. routine, Of course . . . but maybe. These are the Democratic Partys poles. Of course you cant win an election by playing only to agitators, extremists, and idealists who fervently call for socialism. But maybe this maneuver will excite new voters, activate young people and minorities, create a new winning coalition, and finally change America into a European-style state. The of course candidates have been Hubert Humphrey, Mike Dukakis, Bill Clinton, John Kerry, and Joe Biden. The but maybe candidates have been Eugene McCarthy, George McGovern, Gary Hart, Howard Dean, and now Bernie Sanders. The genius of Barack Obama was that he looked like a but maybe candidate to Democrats yet passed as an of course candidate to centrists. Obama is the only Democrat who could pull off this maneuver in the last half-century, and in the end he wound up being as ineffective as the morally depleted Bill McKay stands to be at the end of The Candidate. The last line of that movie became a matter of lore  What do we do now? asks McKay as his shocking victory sets in. But the really chilling line, the one that ought to define The Candidate, is the blessing/curse that McKays father, the superannuated hack, delivers right before that: Son, he says proudly, youre a politician. Bernie Sanders tried his Bulworth act, but the voters put up with it only for a manic moment. In the end, they rejected the revolutionary and went with the politician.

More from National Review
Eight people have had positive test results for the virus as of Tuesday afternoon, most of them in Northern Virginia and Tidewater regions, according to the Virginia Department of Health. None has died.

But thats not the case across the country. Nearly 800 cases have been reported nationwide with 28 deaths, according to a tracker from Johns Hopkins University. Nearly two dozen of those were in Washington state, including 20 people who were residents of one King County nursing home.

There is a question about what is best for the community and we had to figure out what that would be, said Festival of the Book Director Jane Kulow. It was a real gut-check when we saw what happened in Washington state.

For the Festival of the Book, which draws between 20,000 and 30,000 attendees annually and more than 300 authors, speakers and panelists each year, the potential risks outweighed the extensive planning, scheduling and financial outlay to put the festival together.
Afghan Taliban 'send vehicles to pick up prisoners' under US deal

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 10 March 2020 3:47 PM

The Taliban militant group has sent vehicles to collect jailed militants expected to be released by the Afghan government in a prisoner exchange under a deal that Kabul was not a party to.

A senior Taliban leader in Doha, where the group has an office, said on Tuesday that vehicles had been sent to an area near Bagram Prison, north of the capital, Kabul, to pick up the militants.

"After our conversation with Zalmay Khalilzad (the US special envoy for Afghanistan) on Monday, in which he conveyed to us the release of our 5,000 prisoners, we sent vehicles to pick them up," he said.

Suhail Shaheen, a Taliban spokesman, said in a tweet that his group had handed a detailed list of all the 5,000 prisoners to the US and was waiting for all to be released.

The US signed the "peace" deal with the Taliban on February 29. The Afghan government was a party neither to the talks nor to the agreement that they produced. It has agreed to release the prisoners, nevertheless.

Sediq Sediqqi, a spokesman for President Ashraf Ghani, said the government "has reached a framework based on which the release of prisoners will be in exchange for a significant reduction in the level of violence" in the country. The Taliban had been implementing a short truce that was a condition for the deal to be signed. But shortly after the deal was signed, the Taliban started attacking Afghan military posts again.

Ghani had earlier in March said his government had not made a commitment to releasing the prisoners under the US deal.

Abdul Shukoor Qudoosi, the governor of Bagram district, said his office had reports of an unusual arrival of multiple buses in the area.

The prisoner release is one of the many contentious parts of the US-Taliban deal, which effectively disentangles the US military from the Afghan conflict after about two decades of war and occupation.

Some government sources said Monday that between 1,000 and 1,800 Taliban militants could be freed in the initial stage.

A Taliban member in Doha also confirmed the militant group had finalized arrangements for the release of 1,000 prisoners held by the outfit, adding that they had shifted all prisoners to what he called safe locations in Afghanistan.

"We are planning to release the 1,000 prisoners of the Afghan government to the Red Crescent and they could then shift them to their hometowns or pay them cash for traveling home," Reuters quoted him as saying.

Addressing lawmakers on Saturday, President Ghani pressed for a mechanism to be put in place to ensure that the Taliban prisoners would not go back to militancy after their release.

Last week, Ghani also conditioned the release of the Taliban prisoners on the group breaking ties with neighboring Pakistan, which Afghanistan sees as the main backer of the armed militants.

According to the deal with Taliban, the eventual plan is for the US military to remove all troops from Afghanistan within 14 months if security conditions are met.

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Cell media composition is critical for maximizing cell line productivity and biotherapeutic quality, which means media optimization is a coordinated effort between cell culture, media preparation, and upstream process development teams. Because these groups have limited access to analytical tools, they rely on third-party and core labs to analyze media samples which can take days or even weeks to turn results around. The Rebel eliminates this delay. Operating alongside bioreactors, scientists can run media analysis at-line, anytime to accelerate process development cycles and maximize their bioreactor utilization.

In just six months since its commercial release, the Rebel is seeing strong adoption by biopharma and industrial biotech companies worldwide. The system is now supporting novel cell and gene therapy research, biologics process development and industrial biotech in the US, Europe, and Asia.

"The feedback is overwhelmingly positive. When customers see the Rebel in action, they're just blown away by its simplicity," said Glenn Harris, Director of Integrated Life Sciences Platforms at 908 Devices. "We know of process development labs who were struggling to keep up with the hundreds of media samples generated weekly. The Rebel's high-throughput analysis is giving them the data they need to make decisions in minutes instead of waiting weeks for it. One customer likened operating the Rebel to the auto-drive function of a Tesla  that's pretty high praise in our book."

About 908 Devices

We make point-of-need-devices ranging from rugged, handheld chemical detection tools to compact, tiny footprint analyzers and fast separation devices. These uncomplicated purpose-built devices provide users with the power to redefine their workflows by getting actionable answers at the point of need. Our devices are being used for critical applications across the globe in the life sciences and field forensic markets. 908 Devices is headquartered in the heart of Boston, where we research, design and manufacture innovative products based on high-pressure mass spectrometryTM (HPMS) and microfluidic separation technology . For more information, visit 908devices.com.

SOURCE 908 Devices

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A security member checks the temperature of a passenger as a preventive measure against the spread of the new coronavirus at the Bonilla Aragon international airport in Palmira, Colombia, on March 10, 2020. (Luis Robayo/AFP via Getty Images)

Dows 1,400-Point Plunge Ends Its Longest Bull Market in History: Coronavirus Updates From March 11

The novel coronavirus that originated from Wuhan, China, and the disease it causes, COVID-19, has spread to more than 100 countries and territories around the world, killing thousands.

Below are updates from March 11. For March 12 updates, click here.

Dows 1,400-Point Plunge Ends Its Longest Bull Market in History

The Dow Jones plunged over 1,400 points on the day the World Health Organization declared the new coronavirus a global pandemic, with Wall Streets iconic blue-chip index officially entering bear market territory and putting an end to its longest bull market run in history.

Read more here.

Washington Declares State of Emergency

The U.S. capital is declaring a state of emergency to combat the spread of the new coronavirus.

Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser said the declaration will give her more authority to implement and fund the measures that we need to monitor and respond to COVID-19 in our community.

Specifically, it will allow the mayors office to mobilize people and resources to better prevent the spread of the virus, which causes the COVID-19 disease. Mandatory curfews or quarantines could be implemented after the declaration, she said.

It came after health officials announced six new cases of coronavirus in the city.

Read more.

NCAA Limits Games to Staff, Family Only

NCAA President Mark Emmert says NCAA Division I basketball tournament games will be played without fans in the arenas because of concerns about the spread of coronavirus.

Emmert said in a statement Wednesday he made the decision to conduct both the mens and womens tournaments, which begin next week, with only essential staff and limited family in attendance.

WHO Announces Pandemic

The World Health Organization (WHO) is characterizing the coronavirus outbreak as a pandemic.

Were deeply concerned both by the alarming levels of spread and severity and by the alarming levels of inaction. We have therefore made the assessment that COVID-19 can be characterized as a pandemic, WHO Chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said at a press conference.

Pandemic is not a word to use lightly or carelessly. Its a word that if misused can cause unreasonable fear or unjustified acceptance that the fight is over, leading to unnecessary suffering and death, he added.

The virus has spread to 113 countries outside China, where it originated late last year. There are approximately 118,000 cases worldwide, Tedros said.

Read more here.

US Official: China Covered Up Outbreak

Chinese officials covered up the outbreak of the new coronavirus, costing the world some two months to respond, national security adviser Robert OBrien said, in some of the strongest remarks against China to date in regards to the virus.

Asked about Chinese officials recently trying to claim that the virus did not originate in the country, OBrien said that just wasnt true.

It originated in Wuhan in Hubei province in China. It originated some time ago. Unfortunately, rather than using best practices, this outbreak in Wuhan was covered up. Theres lots of open-source reporting from China, from Chinese nationals, that the doctors involved were either silenced or put in isolation or that sort of thing, so that word of this virus could not get out, OBrien said during a talk at the Heritage Foundation in Washington.

It probably cost the world community two months to respond, OBrien said.

Read more here.

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Anthony Fauci testifies at a Senate hearing regarding the coronavirus in Washington on March 3, 2020. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times)

Health Official Recommends No Fans at NBA Games

The director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases told a congressional committee Wednesday that he would recommend the NBA not allow fans at games in response to the coronavirus.

That answer by Dr. Anthony Fauci came hours before NBA owners are scheduled to meet to discuss the next steps in responding to growing concern about the virus.

Fauci was responding to a question from Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-Wis.) during a meeting of the House Oversight Committee. Grothman asked, Is the NBA underreacting or is the Ivy League overreacting? He was referencing how the Ivy League recently canceled its basketball tournaments, instead of having them played without fans in attendance or keeping the status quo.

We would recommend that there not be large crowds, Fauci said. If that means not having any people in the audience when the NBA plays, so be it. But as a public health official, anything that has crowds is something that would give a risk to spread.

Lebanon Halts Flights From Countries Hit by Virus

Lebanon said on Wednesday it will halt all travel to and from Italy, South Korea, China, and Iran to curb coronavirus and gave nationals four days to return from other virus-hit countries before a more sweeping shutdown of flights would take effect.

Prime Minister Hassan Diab told a news conference that Lebanon was stepping up measures to curb the outbreak after a second death was recorded on Wednesday and the countrys total confirmed cases reached 68, according to Lebanese media.

Diab said Lebanon was also banning entry of passengers from France, Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Spain, Britain, and Germany.

He said that Lebanese nationals, diplomats accredited in Lebanon, residents, and NGO workers would have four days to return from these countries before flights to and from them would also be halted.

As part of heightened countermeasures, Lebanon will also ban public gatherings and shut public venues such as malls and restaurants, Diab said.

Tokyo 2020 president Yoshiro Mori (L) speaks to reporters during a press conference in Tokyo on March 11, 2020. (Behrouz Mehri/AFP via Getty Images)

Olympics Organizing Committee Member Suggests Delaying Games

A member of the Tokyo Olympic organizing committees executive board said hes going to suggest potentially delaying the 2020 Olympics for a year or two.

We need to deal accordingly with [the crisis] based on reality. Time is running out, Haruyuki Takahashi told Kyodo News, a Japanese news agency.

Takahashi said that the Olympics wont be canceled but said a two-year delay would be the easiest to arrange because the sports schedule for next year is already set in some countries.

Takahashi described his position as a personal opinion.

Yoshiro Mori, president of the organizing committee, told reporters in Tokyo that organizers arent currently considering making changes in the direction or the schedule of the games. He said he spoke with Takahashi and asked him to choose his words more carefully. Takahashi apologized, Mori said.

Up to 70 Percent of Germans Will Get Virus: Merkel

Up to 70 percent of the population is likely to be infected with the coronavirus that is currently spreading around the world, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said, adding that since there is currently no cure the focus has to be on slowing its spread.

When the virus is out there, the population has no immunity and no therapy exists, then 60 to 70 percent of the population will be infected, she told a news conference in Berlin.

The process has to be focused on not overburdening the health system by slowing the viruss spread  Its about winning time.

Merkel spoke after daily tabloid Bild lambasted her for her handling of what it called the corona chaos: No appearances, no speech, no leadership in the crisis, it wrote.

Health Minister Jens Spahn has led the response, and said earlier that sealing Germanys borders to prevent the virus spreading would not work, rejecting calls to follow neighbor Austria in denying entry to visitors from Italy.

Germany has reported 1,296 cases of the virus, and two deaths, the Robert Koch Institute said late on Tuesday.

The crisis has thrown into the spotlight Germanys federal system of government, in which power is devolved to the 16 states and regional authorities to decide whether to take up Spahns advice to cancel events with over 1,000 participants.

Spahn, in a Wednesday morning interview with broadcaster Deutschlandfunk, said it was astonishing that no decision had been taken to call off a football match between Union Berlin and Bayern Munich scheduled in Berlin on Saturday.

The Berlin local authority concerned later said the match would take place behind closed doorsa decision Spahn then welcomed.

The corona crisis shows that, without clear guidance, federalism in the fight against epidemics is reaching its limits, Bild wrote.

Merkel said federalism did not mean anyone could evade responsibility, and that she would meet state premiers on Thursday to coordinate Germanys coronavirus policy response.

Germanys federal system was agreed by the Allies after World War II and enshrined in its constitution to avoid a repeat of the centralist control of power wielded by the Nazis.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Health Minister Jens Spahn, and head of the Robert Koch Institute Lothar Wieler address a news conference on coronavirus in Berlin, Germany, March 11, 2020. (Michele Tantussi/Reuters)

Switzerland Tightens Border Controls With Italy

Swiss customs authorities have shut down nine border crossings with Italy, the epicenter of Europes coronavirus outbreak, to channel border traffic through seven other sites.

The move announced Wednesday follows a decision by Italian authorities to continue to allow cross-border traffic with Switzerland despite adopting strong quarantine measures across Italy. Neighbors Austria and Slovenia have barred travelers from Italy without a medical certificate.

Swiss customs officials are advising tourists from Italy to refrain from traveling to Switzerland by rail or road insofar as possible.

Italy has been hardest hit in Europe, with over 10,100 cases and 631 deaths. The countrys virus death rate nationwide has been reported to be 5 percent because Italy has the worlds oldest population after Japan and the virus has been affecting the elderly and the sick the most.

Wife of New York Lawyer Speaks Out

The wife of a New York lawyer at the center of one of the largest coronavirus clusters in the nation has implored people to not let negative thinking rule and to find the humor in the absurdity of it all.

Lawrence Garbuz, 50, lives in New Rochelle in Westchester County and commutes to work in the Manhattan borough of New York City at the Lewis and Garbuz, P.C. firm. Officials say he started showing symptoms of COVID-19, the disease the new virus causes, on Feb. 22. A neighbor drove him to the hospital five days later.

Garbuz was transferred to New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center in Manhattan in early March. Hes in severe condition.

Adina Lewis Garbuz, the lawyers wife, suggested on Facebook that her husband wasnt aware of recent developments surrounding the virus and said that she hopes everyone reading the post is safe and healthy.

Read more here.

People walk through downtown on March 10, 2020, in New Rochelle, N.Y. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Australia Launches A$2.4 Billion Aid Package

The Australian government on Wednesday announced a A$2.4 billion ($1.6 billion) package to help tackle the new coronavirus outbreak.

Australia has recorded 106 cases of the virus and three deaths.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said up to 100 coronavirus fever clinics will be set up in areas of need across the country, as part of the health package.

This package is about preventing and treating coronavirus in the coming weeks, he told reporters. Australia isnt immune but with this $2.4 billion boost were as well prepared as any country in the world.

The package also includes funding for bulk-billed video consults for people in self-isolation and quarantine.

According to The Australian, Morrison plans to announce Thursday a A$10 billion ($6.5 billion) stimulus package that could include subsidies for small businesses.

Australia also announced on Wednesday that Italy has been added to its travel ban list alongside China, Iran, and South Korea.

Read more here.

People wearing face masks wait at a train station in Bandung, in Indonesias West Java on March 5, 2020. (Timur Matahari/AFP via Getty Images)

Indonesia Records 1st Death From Coronavirus

A 53-year-old woman has died from coronavirus in Indonesia, the first recorded death from the virus in the Southeast Asian country, a health ministry official said on Wednesday.

The woman, a foreign national, had already been in critical condition when she was admitted to a hospital, said Achmad Yurianto, the health ministry official.

Yurianto did not say where the woman was from or in what hospital or city she had died, but said her home countrys embassy was aware of her death and would arrange to have her body repatriated.

Indonesia has 26 other confirmed coronavirus patients.

Massachusetts Governor Declares State of Emergency

Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker declared a state of emergency on March 10 to support the Commonwealths response to the coronavirus threat.

Today, I have declared a state of emergency in Massachusetts to further support our response to Coronavirus, Baker said.

The current administration has given guidance for Executive Branch employees to prevent further spreading of the virus.

This includes discontinuing all out-of-state work-related travel, canceling or virtually holding conferences, seminars, and other discretionary gatherings, informing employees not to attend external work-related conferences, seminars, or events, the statement read.

Officials advised any employees who felt any flu symptoms to self-quarantine and ask their supervisor for assignments they could work on remotely.

We are also urging older adults and those with health issues to avoid large crowds and large events, Baker said.

The guidance for the Executive Branch employees will be effective on March 11.

The local department of education is providing elementary and secondary schools the flexibility to decide whether temporary closures are necessary depending on their circumstances.

The longest that any school district will be required to go is its scheduled 185th day. No schools will be required to be in session after June 30th, the statement read.

The public is also reminded of the steps to take to limit the spread of COVID-19:

Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze. Use a tissue or your inner elbow, not your hands.

Wash your hands with soap and warm water or use an alcohol-based sanitizing gel.

Stay home if you are sick and avoid close contact with others.

British Conservative MP Nadine Dorries speaks in the Parliament in London on April 3, 2019, in this screenshot taken from a video. (Reuters TV via Reuters)

UKs Health Minister Becomes First MP to Contract Coronavirus

Nadine Dorries, the UKs health minister, confirmed that she had contracted the coronavirus and has taken necessary precautions to prevent spreading.

I can confirm I have tested positive for Coronavirus. As soon as I was informed I took all the advised precautions and have been self-isolating at home, the 62-year-old MP said in a statement, the Telegraph reported.

Public Health England has started detailed contact tracing and the department and my parliamentary office are closely following their advice.

I would like to thank PHE and the wonderful NHS staff who have provided me with advice and support.

Dorries reportedly attended a reception with Prime Minister Boris Johnson and met hundreds of people in parliament before she made her statement, The Times reported.

She fell ill last Friday and the diagnosis was confirmed on March 10.

Read more here.

Turkeys First Coronavirus Patient Confirmed
Phuket Governor shuts four virus quarantine zones, opens new secret location

PHUKET: Phuket Governor Phakaphong Tavipatana has announced that he has closed the four COVID-19 quarantine zones he proclaimed only last Friday  but added that he has opened a new quarantine zone at a secret location in Phuket where five Thais who returned to Phuket from South Korea on Saturday are now being held under observation.

COVID-19Coronavirushealthimmigrationtourism

By The Phuket News

Wednesday 11 March 2020, 01:14PM

Phuket Governor Phakaphong Tavipatana (centre) at the meeting yesterday (Mar 10). Photo: PR Dept

Speaking at a meeting of the Phuket Communicable Disease Committee yesterday (Mar10), Governor Phakaphong said that the five Thais were working illegally in South Korea. They landed at Phuket International Airport on Saturday.

None of them showed any symptoms of being infected with the coronavirus, but they are now in quarantine under observation by doctors. They will have to remain in quarantine for 14 days, Governor Phakaphong said.

Doctors have not found any signs of infection among any of them. However, we cannot reveal where the five are, he said.

Right now, there is only one quarantine zone, but I cannot reveal where the new quarantine zone is, in accordance with the measures and regulations of the Ministry of Public Health in order to not make local people panic.

The new quarantine zone is ready and meets the Ministry of Public Health standards, he assured.

The move to close the four quarantine zones follows strong opposition by local residents in Srisoonthorn against having a quarantine zone set up at a neighbourhood government centre there. (See story here.)

All people arriving from any foreign countries will be screened at Phuket International Airport as normal, Governor Phakaphong assured.

If they have a high fever, they will be taken to hospital to be checked. If doctors find they are suspected of being inflected, they will be taken to the quarantine zone to remain under close care by doctors there, he said.

The Governor did not reiterate the Ministry of Public Healths requirement for all people arriving from any of the six risk areas  China, South Korea, Hong Kong, Macau, Italy and Iran  to undergo 14-day self-quarantine.

However, Phuket Provincial Public Relations Chief Bussaya Chaipeum confirmed to The Phuket News this morning that all Thais returning from South Korea must undergo mandatory 14-day quarantine.

As for foreigners arriving from any of the six risk areas, she said, After screening, if they dont have a fever, they can just go out  but be careful and they must report themselves if they start to show any symptoms,

Not recognised at the meeting yesterday was that the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) announced that travellers arriving from COVID-19 infected countries and territories must produce medical certificates prior to boarding their flights to Thailand to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus. (See story here.)

Also announced yesterday was that the Department of Disease Control (DDC) plans to impose compulsory measures for all inbound arrivals, including notifying personal information and contact information such as mobile phone numbers and email addresses as part of steps to control the COVID-19 outbreak. (See story here.)
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. -- An Army project devised a novel approach for quantum error correction that could provide a key step toward practical quantum computers, sensors and distributed quantum information that would enable the military to potentially solve previously intractable problems or deploy sensors with higher magnetic and electric field sensitivities.

The approach, developed by researchers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology with Army funding, could mitigate certain types of the random fluctuations, or noise, that are a longstanding barrier to quantum computing. These random fluctuations can eradicate the data stored in such devices.

The Army-funded research, published in Physical Review Letters, involves identifying the kinds of noise that are the most likely, rather than casting a broad net to try to catch all possible sources of disturbance.

"The team learned that we can reduce the overhead for certain types of error correction on small scale quantum systems," said Dr. Sara Gamble, program manager for the Army Research Office, an element of U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command's Army Research Laboratory. "This has the potential to enable increased capabilities in targeted quantum information science applications for the DOD."

The specific quantum system the research team is working with consists of carbon nuclei near a particular kind of defect in a diamond crystal called a nitrogen vacancy center. These defects behave like single, isolated electrons, and their presence enables the control of the nearby carbon nuclei.

But the team found that the overwhelming majority of the noise affecting these nuclei came from one single source: random fluctuations in the nearby defects themselves. This noise source can be accurately modeled, and suppressing its effects could have a major impact, as other sources of noise are relatively insignificant.

The team determined that the noise comes from one central defect, or one central electron that has a tendency to hop around at random. It jitters. That jitter, in turn, is felt by all those nearby nuclei, in a predictable way that can be corrected. The ability to apply this targeted correction in a successful way is the central breakthrough of this research.

The work so far is theoretical, but the team is actively working on a lab demonstration of this principle in action.

If the demonstration works as expected, this research could make up an important component of near and far term future quantum-based technologies of various kinds, including quantum computers and sensors.

###

ARL is pursuing research in silicon vacancy quantum systems which share similarities with the nitrogen vacancy center quantum systems considered by the MIT team. While silicon vacancy and nitrogen vacancy centers have different optical properties and many basic research questions are open regarding which type(s) of application each may be ultimately best suited for, the error correction approach developed here has potential to impact both types of systems and as a result accelerate progress at the lab.

CCDC Army Research Laboratory is an element of the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command. As the Army's corporate research laboratory, ARL discovers, innovates and transitions science and technology to ensure dominant strategic land power. Through collaboration across the command's core technical competencies, CCDC leads in the discovery, development and delivery of the technology-based capabilities required to make Soldiers more lethal to win the nation's wars and come home safely. CCDC is a major subordinate command of the U.S. Army Futures Command.
Stores emptied of sanitizer, canned food, toilet paper, and water. Fights over the sale of limited supplies of face masks. Anger as congregations continue to gather for worship, prompting accusations of a lack of social responsibility.

The COVID-19 virus has spread from Asia to Europe and North America rapidly over the past week, bringing with it a level of panic and angsteverywhere from the supermarket to the stock market to the local churchnot seen in recent times. The global tally is now more than 125,000 infected and more than 4,600 dead.

Churches in Singapore, which Billy Graham affirmed as the Antioch of Asia, have already weathered the anxiety now sweeping the world. On February 7, the nation-states government raised its national risk assessment level from Yellow to Orange, indicating moderate disruption to daily lifeand in particular to large gatherings of people.

March 7 marked the one-month anniversary of Singaporewhich has seen 166 cases but zero deathsgoing Orange. This means that for the past month, local churcheswhich account for about 1 in 5 Singaporeanshave been forced into an extended period of self-examination, reflection, and action.

The process has not been straightforward, with a senior pastor afflicted with the coronavirus (and subsequently discharged), entire denominations suspending services, church-based preschools closing, and very public online disputesin a nation that strictly enforces religious harmonyon how the situation is being handled by church leaders.

To help churches in the United States, Italy, Brazil, and other countries now facing decisions that churches in China, Korea, and Singapore have been grappling with for weeks, here are seven lessons the Singaporean church has learned over the past month:

1) Your churchs worship will change. Hold tight to what is sacredand hold everything else loosely.

Congregations are creatures of habit. Churches are built on traditions, liturgies, and order in worship. Over time, every churchs line between what is fundamental to the faith and what is merely institutionalized response gets blurred.

Does Communion have to be actual wine and unleavened bread to still count as holy? If you dont actually lay hands on someone, are prayers of healing still effective? Does a church have to gather in the flesh to count as a congregation?

Every church, and every member of your church, will have different views on such often-undiscussed questions. The COVID-19 outbreak presents a needed moment of doctrinal stocktaking.

Every church board and pastoral staff team in Singapore has come together many times over the past month to grapple with what is non-negotiable in Gods eyes.

The biggest lesson for me has been navigating the road between fear and wisdom, said pastor Andre Tan of The City Church. It is especially tough as fear often has a way to masquerade itself as wisdom. How many precautionary measures are actually sound judgment and how many are too much, such that they teeter over into irrational fear and anxiety?

It is a tough road to navigate, as we had to both convey safety to our membersby way of implementing recommended health measuresand yet not succumb to the cultural climate of fear, anxiety, and self-preservation, Tan told CT. We do so in all our notices by ensuring that we are not just communicating measures but also casting a vision for how to be the people of God in this time.

In practical terms, a churchs response will vary depending on its doctrine, local context, and exposure to suspected cases of COVID-19. There is no correct answer; all are seeking the most appropriate response in extraordinary times. Precautions that Singaporean churches have taken to maintain services include:

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Taking temperatures at worship services and smaller-scale gatherings.

Mandating travel declarations and recording contact details of attendees to facilitate tracing of contacts if needed.

Suspending gatherings of more vulnerable groups, such as the elderly or children.

Suspending Communion, or moving to alternatives such as pre-packaged bread and wine.

Moving away from hymnals to limit physical points of communal contact and using projection screens instead.

Some have chosen to suspend their services entirely. The Roman Catholic archdiocese, which accounts for about 7 percent of Singapores 5.8 million people, took the unprecedented step of suspending Mass in its 32 parishes starting February 15, advising congregants to continue to fulfill their spiritual obligations by tuning in to online sermons, spending time in prayer, and reading the Word at home.

2) Be a strong leader. Your members will want guidance.

In moments of crisis, people are looking for leadership, said Ian Toh, pastor of 3:16 Church. The first responsibility of the leader is to remain calm. Panic causes tunnel vision, which is terrible for decision-making. Strong leadership reminds people that God is in control of every situation and there is never a reason to panic.

Toh told CT his leadership team found their role was to teach from the Bible, minister to and encourage those who are fearful. The process drove them to their knees, seeking divine wisdom in an unprecedented situation.

The biggest lesson that I have learned dealing with COVID-19 is the need to be humble as a church leader," said Toh. There is so much that I do not know and have to learn. And that increases my desire and the need to seek the face of the Lord daily.

As the virus continues to spread globally, church leaders around the world should be aware that their flocks are watching their shepherds intently. Signals of faithfulness will have implications long after the COVID-19 season is over.

A senior leader once told me, A leaders action is a theological statement, said Rick Toh [no relation], pastor of Yio Chu Kang Chapel. As leaders, we need to have a theological stance on all things. We need to process our fears before God and let our actions be inspired by faith and guided by sound theology. Let not disease, or earthly decree, but doctrine guide our decisions.

3) Theres no better time to up your churchs tech game.

While the Singaporean government has said an upgrade to the Red risk assessment level is unlikely, local churches have explored improvements to their video recording and live-streaming capabilities in preparation for a worst-case total lockdown scenario.

Seeing the need, various groups have put together websites and webinars with free advice for churches on how to switch to livestreaming.

For example, the Bible Society of Singapore partnered with ThunderQuote, a procurement-related startup founded by Christians, to launch Streams of Life, a resource center listing various livestreaming options ranked by difficulty level.

It is a wonderful time for the ecclesia to exercise practical wisdom and explore creative methods of ministry, the Streams of Life team states on its website.

In a similar vein, Singapore Bible College conducted an Introduction to Instant Message Broadcast and Live Video Streaming workshop, while digital-exploration ministry Indigitous partnered with church IT specialists to host a So You Want to Livestream Your Church Service webinar via the Zoom video conferencing platform.

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Church worship and AV teams are also navigating the music licensing challenge that livestreaming presents. Many local worship groups have explicitly granted permission for churches to play their songs on livestreams without fear of copyright or licensing issues.

Awaken Generation, founded by Calvin and Alarice Hong, was keenly aware of how small churches could find it difficult to afford livestreaming licenses for worship services. Given the backdrop of things, we simply felt that it was really not the time to enforce our strict rights in collecting livestreaming communication fees, the worship group told CT. So it was our honor to offer these songs for use.

They were written by and for the people of our nation, and it was our privilege to see them used as an offering as the nation rallied together to intercede and break down barriers of fear.

Bible Study Fellowships 7,500 members in Singapore have kept up their weekly lectures and discussions via Zoom.

Faith Community Baptist Church (FCBC) chose to suspend weekly gatherings from mid-February as an act of social responsibility. This decision was a very difficult one to make, said senior pastor Daniel Khong. We were constantly checking ourselves to make sure that we were not responding out of fear, and weighing out all the various considerations. But our main church building sits in the heart of a neighborhood with a population of about 46,000 people. With how dense this area is, this could potentially become a major cluster for the virus to spread.

An unexpected result: The move to livestreaming seems to have strengthened the church community, Khong told CT.

Many of our cell groups come together in homes to watch our service livestream. We deliberately end our livestreamed services early so that our cell groups can go out and pray over their neighborhood. Many have said they now feel a sense of responsibility for the spiritual well-being of their community, and some were even able to share the gospel with people they met.

FCBC members are now on a journey of rethinking their understanding of church, said Khong. The church today must be a people of purpose that are willing to go beyond the constraints of place or program.

4) Theres no better time to up your churchs prayer game.

At noon every day since Valentines Day, the historic bells sound at St Andrews Cathedral in the heart of Singapores civic district, while phone alarms go off across the island. Its a signal to believers that it is time to stop whatever they are doing for a moment of united prayer in the face of the COVID-19 threat.

For such a time as this, unity is the key, said LoveSingapore, a local prayer and church unity movement, in announcing its PraySingapore@12 initiative. We believe in the power of prayer agreement. For such a time as this, we need every believer to arise and seek God together for Singapore. A prophetic act, just like the ringing of church bells, summoning the faithful to action when their village or town is threatened.

In a similar move, the Assemblies of God of Singapore has called for united prayer across its churches at 7 p.m. daily, in an initiative it has dubbed COVID19:00.

Its crucial that in times of crisis, the church rises up to be a standard, said Dominic Yeo, general superintendent of Singapore and secretary of the World Assemblies of God Fellowship. As salt and light, the church needs to stand strong in the Lord so that others can see the hope we profess.

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5) Expect backlashfrom both outside and inside the church.

Inflammatory comments about race and religion are banned in Singapore under the Sedition Act and the recently updated Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act. However, since two coronavirus clusters formed in two churches, and negative associations have spread from the Shincheonji sect responsible for much of South Koreas outbreak, the church at large has come under scrutiny as Christians continue to meet in relatively sizable gatherings.

The criticism is unfortunate but unavoidable; non-Christians cannot be expected to understand the tenets and teachings of our faith.

But more painful is the criticism that has come from fellow Christians with every decision their leaders have to make. Decide to suspend services, and be castigated for a lack of faith. Decide to continue to gather, and be derided as socially irresponsible.

If you are pastoring a church in an area where a case of COVID-19 has surfaced, prepare for unprecedented pressure from all levels: from your board to your staff to those in the pews. They will respond based on their own faith convictions and public health opinions. Be prepared to go deeper into prayer than youve ever gone. Be prepared for the reality that your decisions will not please everyone.

And be prepared to lose members no matter what. Churches in Singapore have reported declines in attendance of 2030 percent, with even greater numbers opting out of elderly gatherings and childrens church.

One consolation, from the Singaporean church experience, is that you will likely be pleasantly surprised by how many of your members will step up to the plate to volunteer to serve during services or to bless the neighboring community.

Crisis shows the true character of a Christian. The anxiety around COVID-19 will allow you to really discern the spiritual state of your flock, said pastor Benny Ho of Faith Community Church in Perth, Australia, and a continuing committee member of LoveSingapore.

If we respond to this crisis correctly, it can turn out to be a defining moment of discipleship for our nation, said Ho. In the face of imminent dangers, our priorities are rearranged. This is a great opportunity to have deep conversations about what we are living for. Are we merely existing, or are we truly living? Are we living for the right stuff? Are we marching to the right drumbeat? Are we governed by biblical or worldly values? Are we living for what really matters?

6) Love your neighbor. Good deeds will go a long way with a fearful public.

While much of the secular worlds response to the virus has been inward-looking, driven by fear, pastors in Singapore agree that the COVID-19 situation presents a God-given chance to shine in the darkness of the moment. However, for that to happen, the church must look beyond its own concerns and awaken to the opportunity.

Having put in place the necessary measures in the church, we realized that this crisis has presented an opportunity to help and reach the community, said Lim Lip Yong, executive pastor of Cornerstone Community Church.

After the initial window of adjusting to the new normal, churches have begun to observe how their local community has been affected. The needs are both practicalsuch as education on public hygiene for the elderlyand emotional, with panic and uncertainty the prevailing mood in the weeks after the first confirmed cases surface locally.

One of the distinct things that we wanted to affect was the atmosphere of the community, Lim told CT. At the onset of the outbreak, people acted in fear. In Singapore, panic buying took hold of many people. Healthcare workers were chased off public transport for fear that they had come into contact with outbreak patients. Highly discriminatory remarks were made against Chinese nationals.

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We can never fully remove these negative elements in society, he said, but what we can do is ensure that there are more positive vibes being generated than negative ones. So we sent our people out to careto be kind and go the extra mile to help.

Among other efforts, his church staff and members have reached out to migrant workersmany of whom have been unable to earn a living after projects were canceled due to virus fearsand taxi drivers, whose business has been badly affected with people choosing to stay home during this period.

Similarly, Christians across Singapore have kickstarted many acts of love and kindness, including:

A song of hope written by a 12-year-old.

Blessing neighborhood cleaners.

Giving migrant workers free masks and vitamins.

Making thousands of handmade notes to encourage healthcare workers.

Organizing a blood drive to help local blood banks that run low on supplies as people avoid hospitals.

Viruses spread quickly, acknowledged Lim. But kindness is infectious too.

Who is hardest hit in your area? Those directly afflicted with the virus? Those whose jobs have been disrupted by fear of it? Those emotionally weary of responding to it? Many of their doors would otherwise have been closed to the church, but Christians in Singapore have found new inroads through acts of love in this time of coronavirus.

7) Amid all the bad news in the headlines, the Good News of Jesus Christ is more relevant than ever.

The world has a virus infection that is far greater than all the viruses weve ever known throughout its history. That virus is sin, said Edmund Chan, leadership mentor of Covenant Evangelical Free Church.

And with this virus, there is absolutely no immunity, no survivors, and no hope. And it infects 100 percent of all humanity. No one is spared from this.

The world is in need of a Savior. The world is in need of salvation.

Headlines that regularly ratchet up the local and global death counts are daily reminders of our mortality, forcing everyone to look beyond the routines of life and to consider what lies beyond. Memento mori; we all will someday die, by COVID-19 or otherwise.

It is a matter of urgency that your church is able to look beyond your present difficulties and look out for opportunities to share the hope that we have in Jesus.

We need conversations on deeper issues, said Ben K. C. Lee, pastor of RiverLife Church. Is the meaning of life and our time on this earth the prolonging and preservation of life for as long as possible? Is it to be occupied with temporal things: material wealth and comfort? Or is it to fulfill Jesus desire to see all the rooms in our Fathers house that he has prepared being filled to the brim?

This starts with a public, visible expression of the victory and hope that we have in Jesus. There is an unprecedented opportunity to share the reason for our posture of faith amid fearful times, said Chua Chung Kai, pastor of Covenant Evangelical Free Church.

We do not live as those without hopethats what the gospel is all about! But we have friends, neighbors, and family who do not know that hope. They may open up to share their fears and concerns during such crisis, Chua told CT. As the Old Testament prophet Daniel wrote [in Dan. 12:3], Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.

The panic is tangible. But so, too, can be the love of the church, said Chua.

These are gospel moments. We can spread love, not fear, nor the virus. Lets not waste this epidemic.

Edric Sng is founder and editor of Christian websites Salt & Light and Thir.st, and is a pastor at Bethesda (Bedok-Tampines) Church in Singapore.

In addition to the translations of this article in Spanish, Portuguese, and Korean (see yellow links at top), you can find translations of other select CT coronavirus articles here.

[ This article is also available in espanol, Portugues, and . ]
Emergency Preparedness

Coronavirus Response: Count of Campus Closures Continues to Rise

Futurist and Georgetown University faculty member Bryan Alexander has already compiled a Google sheet of more than a hundred colleges, universities and institutes that have chosen to close in the face of coronavirus (COVID-19). According to his continually updated list, institutions large and small, public and private, two-year and four-year are canceling classes for the foreseeable future to reduce the likelihood of face-to-face interactions as much as possible.

The ever-expanding list currently runs from A (the Academy of Art University in San Francisco) to Y (New York City's Yeshiva University). Among the names included are these:

In California, the Universities of California in Berkeley, Santa Cruz and Los Angeles, as well as the California State Universities in San Jose and San Francisco;

Indiana University;

Kentucky's Berea College;

Maryland's Johns Hopkins University, Loyola University, McDaniel College, the Notre Dame of Maryland University, Hood College, St. John's College, Stevenson University;

Massachusetts's Harvard University, Amherst College and Wheaton College;

Montana State University;

New Jersey's Princeton, Rowan, Rutgers Monmouth and Montclair State Universities and the Stevens Institute of Technology;

New York's Barnard College and Columbia, Fordham and New York Universities;

North Carolina's Duke University;

Ohio State University;

Pennsylvania's Chestnut Hill College;

Tennessee's Vanderbilt University;

Vermont's Middlebury College;

Washington's University of Washington and South Seattle College, along with Green River College, Everett Community College, Seattle Pacific University, Cascadia College and DigiPen Institute of Technology; and

Washington, D.C.'s Georgetown University.

In some cases, the institutions are simply taking advantage of spring break; in others they're extending spring breaks, to encourage students to stay away from campus. In a few places, schools are requesting that students stay on campus to prevent them from having to travel. Many, though not all, are moving courses as quickly as possible to online formats and encouraging faculty and students to continue their studies that way. Where courses can't be easily moved online, such as performing arts, some universities are allowing a subset of classes to continue meeting.

According to Alexander's coverage, only one institution  Amherst College  had committed to teaching online at least until May. Fifteen are planning to continue virtual courses into April. The others have shifted to online-only during March. One school, Vanderbilt, has canceled classes until the end of March and then will move to online instruction.

The pace of closures and the near-instant embrace of all-things-virtual have spurred a group of U.S. Senate Democrats to express their concerns to the U.S. Department of Education. Yesterday, 33 senators signed a letter addressed to Secretary Betsy DeVos, asking her for "timely response" to 14 questions regarding education's response to coronavirus. Among the issues they asked her to address were figuring out how to help families that lack home computers and/or access to high-speed internet so they could "take advantage of online educational options"; ensuring that courses were accessible to students with disabilities; and making sure that the level of instruction being delivered included "regular and substantive interaction" with instructors.

"Online education is not the best or preferred method of learning for many students, including students who may be the first in their families to go to college or come from low-income families," the senators wrote. "If the [institutions of higher education] move to providing education online, we urge the Department to prioritize and ensure students continue to receive a high-quality education, including live, face-to-face, synchronous instruction between students and faculty as much as possible."
The ED is looking into more multi-crore rupees loans issued by Yes Bank to corporate houses that turned non-performing assets as part of its money laundering investigation against its arrested promoter Rana Kapoor, officials said on Monday.

They said the agency has widened its probe in the case beyond the loan given to DHFL and is now looking at its books to find out if kickbacks were received by the Kapoor family and others from business houses in lieu of non-initiation of loan recovery processes.

The central agency is probing the scam-hit Dewan Housing and Finance Limited (DHFL) giving a loan of Rs 600 crore to a firm "controlled" by Kapoor's family, that includes his wife and three daughters, in lieu of not recovering over Rs 4,000 crore of loan issued by Yes Bank to the former. Sources said Yes Bank CEO Ravneet Gill was questioned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) at its office in Mumbai on Monday.

They added that the investigators have also zeroed in on Kapoor's purported foreign assets in UK, France and the US to see if the proceeds of crime of money laundering were used to purchase these assets by the banker and his family. A dozen alleged shell firms, Kapoor family investments of Rs 2,000 crore and over Rs 4,500 crore worth of transactions are under the scanner of the agency at present.

The agency has also found that 44 costly paintings were in the alleged possession of Kapoor, one of which was purchased by him from Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.

While the Congress party has said that the deal was transparent as payment of Rs 2 crore was received by Vadra from Kapoor through cheque and was reflected in income tax returns, the ED is probing if the painting was owned by her or the All India Congress Committee (AICC).

Also read: Yes Bank scam: Rana Kapoor in deeper soup; ED seizes Rajiv Gandhi's painting from his house

It is also investigating if the provenance certificate (signed by an artist to state his genuine work) was signed by Vadra and under what circumstances.

Sources claimed that this Rs 2 crore was used by Vadra to purchase a property in Himachal Pradesh. The painting, a portrait of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, was done by celebrated artist M F Hussain and was gifted to Gandhi during the AICC centenary celebrations in 1985. The Congress has rejected the charge as fake, saying there was no illegality in the transaction as the party general secretary had received the money (Rs 2 crore) in cheque and mentioned it in her income tax filings in 2010.

The agency brought the painting to its Mumbai office on Monday and it is expected that Kapoor will be asked to identify it. Kapoor and his wife are also expected to be confronted by the ED with Kapil Wadhawan, DHFL promoter and CMD. He was arrested by the ED in the Iqbal Mirchi PMLA case and is out on bail at present.

A big housing finance company and a financial insurance firm are also under the scanner of the ED for their dealings with Kapoor and Yes Bank. A particular instance of a popular power generation company taking Rs 500 crore loan from the bank and it later turning NPA (non performing asset) is also being probed by the ED.

Sources claimed that the promoter of the firm later sold his prime property at Amrita Shergill Marg in Delhi to Kapoor's wife for about Rs 350 crore and this money was sourced from the housing finance company in a "multi-layered" dubious transaction. This is a case of quid pro quo so that no coercive action is taken by the bank to recover the loan given to the power generation company and this instance is now being probed, they said.

Two more pricey immovable properties at Kautilya Marg and SP Marg in the national capital, alleged to be in control of the Kapoors, are being probed by the agency for being "proceeds of crime". The estimated book value of these three assets is stated to be Rs 1,000 crore. The Enforcement Directorate has said that this case against Kapoor involves proceeds of crime to the tune of Rs 4,300 crore.

The 62-year-old former CEO and MD of the bank was arrested on Sunday and is in ED custody till March 11. Sources said the Income Tax Department is also set to initiate action against Kapoor and others for tax evasion and possession of alleged undeclared foreign assets.

Also read: Fall of an ace banker! Who's Rana Kapoor, the brain behind YES Bank

Also read: Yes Bank customers can now pay loan, credit card bills via other accounts
By Ofeliya Afandiyeva

Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan are preparing mutual projects worth $355 million, the official website of the President of Uzbekistan reported.

According to the information, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev held a meeting to discuss the prospects for the development of bilateral investment, trade and economic cooperation with Azerbaijan and Russia on March 9.

Mirziyoyev stated that in recent years, indicators of mutual trade and investment with these countries have been steadily growing. Thus, the volume of bilateral trade between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan increased by 55.7 percent by the end of 2019.

The head of the state mentioned that the investment cooperation was also strengthening: Currently, the number of enterprises operating with Azerbaijani capital in our country is 178.

The president stressed that that in the framework of establishing industrial cooperation with the Azerbaijani partners, projects worth more than $355 million were being worked out: In particular, it is planned to organize the assembly of cars and buses. Mutually beneficial cooperation in the oil and gas sector is developing as well.

In addition, Mirziyoyev urged that the meeting of the Joint Intergovernmental Commission on Cooperation between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan be held on March 16-17.

The president gave instructions to intensify trade and investment cooperation with leading Azerbaijani companies and organizations and to develop new areas of cooperation with them.

Moreover, the head of the state spoke about significance to collaborate with Azerbaijan in the fields of agricultural industry, viticulture and winemaking, jewelry industry, oil and gas, transport and logistics, as well as education.

During the meeting, the need to compile the contents of these events was emphasized and the priority tasks for the effective organization of work were defined.

At the meeting, special attention was paid to the timely and high-quality implementation of existing projects and the development of new proposals to deepen bilateral cooperation with Azerbaijan and Russia in the investment, trade and transport and logistics areas.

It should be noted that about 30 companies with Uzbek capital operate at present in the field of transit, trade, industry and services of Azerbaijan.

The joint intergovernmental commission on cooperation between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan is a favorable platform for expanding cooperation.

Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan have created a solid legal framework and have signed more than 110 documents covering various fields.

The diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan were established on October 2, 1995.

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Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden speaks during a campaign rally at Renaissance High School in Detroit, Michigan, on March 9, 2020. (Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images)

Joe Biden Projected to Win Most States After String of Victories

Democratic presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden is projected to win the majority of the states in the Democratic primary following a string of successes on Super Tuesday II.

Biden, 77, secured a key victory in his race for the White House on Tuesday, winning the vital state of Michigan, as well as Missouri and Mississippi, delivering a major blow to his rival, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), 78.

Adding to his winning streak, the former vice president also won Idahos Democratic presidential primary. The state has 20 pledged delegates at stake. Democrats in Idaho are using a primary for the first time. They used a caucus in 2016 to pick Bernie Sanders over Hillary Clinton for the Democratic presidential nominee.

Officials have said switching to a Democratic primary this year from a caucus could significantly increase the number of participants and play a role in the outcome.

Speaking at Philadelphias National Constitution Center, Biden sounded confident about Tuesdays results, addressing the crowd with a decisively presidential tone.

Just over a week ago, many of the pundits declared that this candidacy was dead. Now were very much alive, Biden said. Although theres a way to go, it looks like were going to have another good night.

Tonight, we are a step closer to restoring decency, dignity, and honor to the White House, thats our ultimate goal, Biden said. At this moment when theres so much fear in the country, when theres so much fear across the world, we need American leadership. We need presidential leadership thats honest, trusted, truthful, and steady.

The Democratic nominee also thanked Sanders and his supporters for their tireless energy and their passion, adding, We share a common goal and together well defeat Donald Trump.

The Democratic presidential primary in Washington state, where Sanders beat Hillary Clinton by more than 40 percentage points in 2016, is too early to call. However, in the first batch of results released late Tuesday night, Sanders and Biden are essentially tiedwith each claiming about 33 percent of the roughly 1 million counted votes.

Following Tuesdays crushing defeat, Sanders returned to his home in Burlington, Vermont, without making a speech. His campaign has been slowly losing steam since winning the New Hampshire primary and the Nevada caucuses in February.

Just more than a week ago, voters in 14 states participated in the first Super Tuesday of the year on March 3, where Biden won 10 of the states and also took the lead in delegates over Sanders in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination. Meanwhile, in the race for the Republican nomination, out of 834 delegates, Trump collected 833 and former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld won one delegate.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Relatives and friends of Alia Imad Faleh Al Hunaity leave the federal courthouse in Camden after her sentencing hearing on Tuesday, March 10, 2020. Read more

A federal judge in Camden on Tuesday sentenced a North Jersey woman to 5 years and 10 months in federal prison for forcing a Sri Lankan woman to work as a nanny and housekeeper in her homes for almost a decade without pay.

Alia Imad Faleh Al Hunaity, a.k.a. Alia Al Qaternah, 44, a naturalized U.S. citizen from Jordan, had brought the victim, a Sri Lankan national, to the United States on a temporary visa in 2009 to perform domestic work. Hunaity caused the victim to overstay her visa and remain in the United States illegally for more than nine years, federal prosecutors have said.

Hunaity, a cancer research scientist, was convicted by a federal jury in Camden in May on charges of forced labor, alien harboring for financial gain, and marriage fraud. She had forced the victim to cook and clean her homes in Woodland Park and Secaucus and to care for her three children, all without pay, prosecutors have said.

In 2018, Hunaity forced the woman  who was not identified in court  to marry her so that the woman could obtain legal residence and continue to work for her, authorities have said.

This case began with lies from the defendant to the victim about coming to the United States for a better life, U.S. District Judge Robert Kugler said Tuesday. Instead, Hunaity never paid the victim a penny, took $4,000 from the woman, and told her not to speak to other childrens parents so they wouldnt know she was in the U.S. illegally, the judge said.

Hunaity also forced the victim into a sham marriage with Hunaity that brought the victim shame, Kugler said.

Hunaity, who worked in New York, has not been in custody. She was ordered to surrender at a date to be determined by the Bureau of Prisons and to pay the woman $1.2 million in restitution. In addition, the judge sentenced Hunaity to three years supervised release after the prison term.

A single mom, she has raised her triplet sons, now 11, with the nannys help. One has cystic fibrosis.

Defense attorney S. Emile Lisboa IV told the judge that no one else in Hunaitys family can care for her ill son and give him the medications he needs to survive.

Hunaity told the judge: I want to say sorry for everything. She said she had treated the woman as a sister, friend.

Twelve relatives and friends of Hunaitys were in court to support her, including her three sons. One son stood before the judge and told him tearfully that his nanny had been an important part of his family and he considered her as a big sister. He said his mother wakes up at 5 a.m. to start his ill brothers treatments and to get them ready for school.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Macurdy told the judge that the victim did not want Hunaity to go to jail because of the children, but that the government believed a prison term was appropriate because Hunaitys letter to the court showed no remorse and because she has paid the woman no money.
Aktia has won the category of Fixed Income Fund House in Morningstar's Finland Awards 2020. It is already the sixth time that Aktia is awarded as the best asset manager in Finland and the eighth consecutive year Aktia is among the three best fixed income fund houses.



"We have been working on a long-term basis for years in Aktia and built an asset management team consisting of top experts. We have now a unique global competence especially in funds investing in bonds in emerging markets. It feels great to receive recognition for this work year after year", says Jetro Siekkinen, Deputy Managing Director for Aktia Asset Management Ltd and in charge of investment operations.

The success of Aktia's fixed income funds and Aktia's excellent asset management benefit all customers from institutional investors to private customers.

"We have an active portfolio management where an important reward is our customers' satisfaction with our work. This makes us maintain our high competence and motivates us to continuously develop our work", says Siekkinen.

"The awards received by Aktia's asset management prove that we are not only a bank, but also a world-class asset manager. In addition to a strong fixed income fund management we have high-class competence, e.g. in equity funds, and we are constantly developing our service and supply to become even more versatile, says Niina Bergring, director in charge of Aktia Bank's asset management.

Aktia Asset Management has focused its special expertise in two main areas within fixed income fund management: European corporate bonds and government bonds in emerging markets. Aktia's asset management services have been repeatedly rewarded both in Morningstar's and in several other actors' competitions. Morningstar has awarded Aktia as the best fixed income fund house also in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2018 and 2019. Further, Aktia has been the only Finnish service provider among the top three fixed income fund houses in 2016 and 2017.

Morningstar is a leading hub of independent investment analyses in North America, Europe, Australia and Asia. It rewards the best asset managers and best individual funds annually.

Further information:

Jetro Siekkinen, Deputy Managing Director, Aktia Asset Management Ltd, tel. +358 10 247 6564

Niina Bergring, Director, asset management, Aktia Bank Plc, tel. +358 40 822 1514

Aktia is a Finnish asset manager, bank and life insurer that has been creating wealth and wellbeing from one generation to the next for 200 years. We serve our customers in digital channels everywhere and face-to-face in our offices in the Helsinki, Turku, Tampere, Vaasa and Oulu regions. Our award-winning asset management business sells investment funds internationally. We employ approximately 750 people around Finland. Aktia's assets under management (AuM) on 31 December 2019 amounted to EUR 9.9 billion, and the balance sheet total was EUR 9.7 billion. Aktia's shares are listed on Nasdaq Helsinki Ltd (AKTIA). aktia.com.
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J oe Biden has delivered a stinging blow to Bernie Sanders fading White House bid as he won Michigans crucial Democratic nominating contest.

Mr Biden, the former vice president under Barack Obama, also captured Missouri and Mississippi on a day when six states made their choices in the race to pick a challenger to Donald Trump.

The wins on what was billed as Super Tuesday II put Mr Biden on a path to the nomination to face the Republican president in the November 3 election.

They effectively closed the path for senator Mr Sanders who had been hoping for an upset win in Michigan to keep his dwindling White House hopes alive.

US presidential candidates Senator Bernie Sanders and former Vice President Joe Biden both cancelled rallies over coronavirus fears / REUTERS

Mr Sanders' disappointing performance in a state that he won in the 2016 Democratic primary will increase pressure on the democratic socialist and senator from Vermont to exit the race and help the party prepare for a bruising general election campaign against Mr Trump.

The former vice presidents victory came on a night that both he and Mr Sanders cancelled their planned Ohio rallies due to coronavirus fears.

Speaking in Philadelphia, Mr Biden thanked Mr Sanders and his supporters for their passion and made an appeal for party unity. "We share a common goal and together we'll defeat Donald Trump," he said.

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Mr Sanders, who returned home to Vermont on Tuesday night, did not plan a public statement.

With 61 per cent of precincts reporting, Mr Biden was leading in Michigan with 53 per cent of the vote, versus 39 per cent for Mr Sanders. Edison Research projected the primary turnout of 1.7 million would surpass the 1.2 million who voted in 2016.

Michigan was the most competitive of the six states that held nominating contests on Tuesday, which also included Washington, North Dakota and Idaho. With 125 delegates, it offers the largest number of the minimum 1,991 delegates a candidate needs to secure the nomination outright.

It also is a crucial battleground state that Mr Trump won by just over 10,000 votes, an unexpected victory that along with wins in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin propelled his ascent to the White House.

Joe Biden with wife Jill Biden / REUTERS

Mr Bidens breakthrough in Michigan, along with his dominant victories in Missouri and Mississippi, could be too much for Sanders to overcome. By the end of March, about two-thirds of the delegates will be allocated.

"The math says Joe is our prohibitive nominee. We need to bring the party together," former presidential candidate Andrew Yang said on CNN as he endorsed Mr Biden.

Voters across the states that voted on Tuesday said they trusted Mr Biden the most to handle a major crisis by roughly 2-to-1 over Mr Sanders, exit polls by Edison Research showed, in a possible sign that the fast-spreading coronavirus helped increase Mr Biden's appeal as a steady and experienced hand.

In Washington, the state hit hardest by the coronavirus and the second-largest state to vote on Tuesday, eight in 10 voters voiced concern about the outbreak's effects, with a plurality supporting Mr Biden, according to the polls.

Mr Biden was powered to victory on Tuesday by strong support from a broad coalition of groups, including women, African Americans, those aged 45 and older, union members and all but the very liberal, according to exit polls.

In Michigan, he performed well with union members and working-class white voters, two groups that helped Mr Sanders to an upset victory of Hillary Clinton in the state in 2016 but did not turn out as strongly for him this time despite Sanders economic populism and his call for universal healthcare.

Mr Sanders won large majorities of voters under 30 years old in Michigan, Missouri and Mississippi, yet that group had a smaller impact on the results this year.
After more disappointing results for Bernie Sanders camp on Mini Super Tuesday, it seems clear that the senator now has almost no chance of winning the Democratic nomination. Swathes of progressives see their dreams in tatters, as a back-to-normal agenda looks set to dominate in the run-up to November (a normalcy that, it must be said, delivered Trump in the first place).

Whats ironic is that the writing on the wall comes precisely when  amid an emerging public health crisis  the case for Bernies not me, us politics should have played strongest on the national stage. If anything might have made a broad-appeal case for Sanders' platform, coronavirus was it.

Yes, the coronavirus is political. Sanders presumably didnt make more of the issue because his staff knew that anyone who dared to raise the point would be accused of cynically politicizing a crisis. But honestly, in a country with no federal sick leave mandate and no integrated healthcare system, is there anything more political than a public health emergency?

Coronavirus proves that I got mine politics takes even its victors only so far. Yes, most people with CoVid-19 will be fine, but they are likely to spread it to many others, too many of whom will not. (Dont listen to anyone who tells you its flu  the fatality rate is currently 3.4 per cent compared with seasonal flus 0.1 per cent.) An illness with no cure means that even monied, insured-to-the-eyeballs people can succumb. In fact, pensioners receiving healthcare through Medicare who might otherwise shrug at the plight of the uninsured and underinsured are most vulnerable to coronavirus complications (and are also more likely to vote).

With a threadbare public health response and poorly integrated services, an illness like this can spread quietly but ferociously. Weve also seen the weakness of the Trump administrations isolationist policy when weeks ago, the World Health Organization sent testing kits to some 60 nations and the Trump administration declined  insisting that the Center for Disease Control would make its own tests thankyou-very-much.

When the CDC tests did first appear, they were faulty, allowing who-knows-how-many coronavirus cases to slip into the general populace. This is hardly an advertisement for an America alone approach.

With no joined-up healthcare system to speak of, coronavirus testing is patchy and mostly privately contracted. Yes, tests conducted by the CDC or a city or state public health lab are free. But these represent only a small proportion of the tests that are needed, and the criteria for them has been so stringent that one sick Seattle man, who had recently returned from Wuhan, didnt even meet the threshold. When state officials pushed and he was eventually screened, his case was confirmed. A lack of joined-up working among federal departments such as the CDC and FDA has also pushed scientists with ready tests from pillar to post, while the clock ticks.

Add to all these issues the absence of a federal law mandating paid sick leave, and people will be forced to go to work ill, infecting others.

Of course, there is every chance that pointing all this out would not have worked anyway because pearl-clutching about politicizing tragedy often lands. But regardless, it was worth a shot for no other reason than it is true. Crises expose weaknesses in systems. To take a flip-side example, in the 1990s when North Korea faced food shortages, its command economy was completely incapable of adequately responding and amid famine the (black) market took over, with entrepreneurial (and often criminal) ingenuity saving many lives. A kind of inverted case can be made here. A crisis that exposes the shared risks every society faces demonstrates the inherent weaknesses in a severely fragmented healthcare system (if one can even call it a system) and a dearth of sick leave provision. Whether or not you think Sanders could have achieved universal healthcare, someone needs to try.

More than anyone over the last few years, Bernie Sanders has changed the conversation, with his early dominance in the primary forcing more centrist candidates to make more progressive noises on healthcare and taxation. Now, after a Biden beating, progressives await the next phase with sadness and trepidation; especially since there is certainly no guarantee that Biden can beat Trump.

Admittedly, the coronavirus crisis will likely bring the Trump administration and House Democrats thinking closer together than usual, with talks said to be underway between Nancy Pelosi and Steven Mnuchin regarding issues like paid sick leave. But whatever emergency measures are brought in now, the CoVid-19 emergency highlights the inherent weaknesses in an I got mine approach to social policy. And with Biden currently offering little more than vague listen to the experts, folks platitudes, its a shame that Bernies agenda will likely be tossed aside by mainstream Democrats.

Not me, us politics is about shared destiny, and nothing makes the case for it quite like CoVid-19.
11 Mar  Rumour has it that Cecilia Cheung, her brother and her children were kicked off their flight after causing a commotion with a flight attendant.

As reported on Mingpao, a netizen recently claimed that the incident occurred earlier this week inside the Business Class cabin of a plane bound for Hong Kong from Thailand.

The actress, who was carrying her son Marcus on the walkway, was reportedly alerted by a flight attendant that she was blocking the path. However, the netizen added that Cecilia didn't mean to block the path, just that she was moving slower as she was carrying her baby.

The incident sparked a whole commotion, said the source, and caused other passengers to get agitated. It was said that Cecilia's brother also joined in on the argument, which resulted in the whole family being escorted out by security personnel.

Although the actress didn't say anything about the incident, she did post a photo on social media of her and her three children looking tired, writing, "Long trip".

The media tried to contact Cecilia's manager to address the rumour, but there hasn't been any reply for the time being.

(Photo Source: Cecilia Cheung Instagram)
A Johnstown man is facing charges after police say he grabbed a woman off of the street and held her captive in a condemned home, where he beat her.

Robert Stevenson-Watts, 29, is now facing charges of aggravated assault and kidnapping, WJAC is reporting.

According to reports, police were called to an area hospital Friday, where a woman told them she had been held captive and assaulted since Thursday.

She was walking down the street when Stevenson-Watts pulled up in a car, got out and grabbed her, and forced her inside, according to reports.

Stevenson-Watts brought her to a condemned home on the 1100 block of Milford Street, where he punched, kicked and stomped on her and whipped her with a belt and an electrical cord, leaving her entire body covered with bruises, reports indicate.

He then tied her up with shoelaces and a Haitian flag and stuffed her into a cubby hole, where she drifted in and out of sleep before he assaulted her again, according to reports.

She was finally able to tell him that she had an appointment with her probation officer, and he let her leave, but said he would follow her, the Tribune-Democrat of Johnstown is reporting. Thats when she ran to a nearby garage and found two men working there. They drove her the emergency room, reports indicate.

Stevenson-Watts is being held at Cambria-County prison in lieu of $50,000 bail.

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Already a number of schools, both locally and nationally, have chosen this week to address the potential risks and unknowns of coronavirus by altering their schedules, some for the week and others for the remainder of the school year.

Heres a list of those schools and the changes they have put into place.

Pennsylvania colleges

Penn State University (all campus locations): Classes offered remotely March 16 through April 3, resuming in-person classes April 6, at the earliest. Note: Does not apply to Penn State College of Medicine and the Pennsylvania College of Technology.

University of Pittsburgh (all campus locations): Spring break will extend through next week, followed by virtual learning alternatives beginning March 23 and continuing through the end of the spring semester.

York College of Pennsylvania: Suspending all face-to-face classes beginning at 4:15 p.m. March 13 and moving to online classes for at least the next two weeks. Closing its physical campus and asking residential students to leave by from March 15. Closing campus through March 29, when it will make a decision on how to proceed.

University of Scranton: Extending spring break an extra week and then moving classes to online beginning on March 30. Continuing remote instruction at least until the conclusion of Easter Break, which begins on April 9.

Elizabethtown College: All face-to-face classes are canceled March 13-17. Classes will be held online March 18 through April 3. All scheduled activities during this time period are also canceled. The expectation is that face-to-face classes will resume April 6.

Indiana University of Pennsylvania: Online classes resume on March 16. Students can return to campus March 21-22, and face-to-face classes will resume on March 23.

Clarion University: All face-to-face instruction will be suspended as of March 16. Classes will continue in an online or alternative format. All university events are canceled until further notice.

Susquehanna University: Spring break extended through March 20, with instruction scheduled to resume March 23. An update will be provided by 4 p.m. March 18.

Franklin & Marshall College: Starting March 23, all classes will be held online through at least April 3.

Mansfield University: Face-to-face instruction will be suspended March 16-20 for the campus to prepare for online instruction set to begin March 23.

Carnegie Mellon University: In-person classes are canceled, online teaching adopted. Classes canceled March 16 and 17 for staff to prepare. The change is until further notice.

Chatham University: Classes will be switched to online and virtual learning beginning on March 17. All campus events larger than 20 people are also canceled until April 17.

Duquesne University: Classes will move to virtual learning, starting March 18. Classes are canceled March 16 and 17 to give staff time to prepare. The university aims to start in-person classes again by March 31 but will provide updates to the situation as things progress.

Kutztown University: Suspending classes and closing its residence halls through March 21, with classes scheduled to resume March 23.

Shippensburg University: This weeks spring break will extend through next week, with classes hopefully resuming March 23.

Dickinson College: Has extended its spring break for another week with the expectation of resuming classes March 23. The college also has suspended events expected to draw more than 25 people.

East Stroudburg University: This weeks spring break will extend through next week, with classes hopefully resuming March 23.

Bucknell University: Suspending in-person classes for the rest of the semester while asking students who live on-campus to move out due to coronavirus concerns. The school, off this week for spring recess, has canceled classes March 16 through March 18 and will begin online classes March 19.

Villanova University: The last day for in-person classes will be March 13. Online classes begin March 16, with a decision by April 3 whether in-person classes will resume on April 14. All events are cancelled from March 14 through April 14, except athletic games, that will proceed without spectators through April 14.

University of Pennsylvania: Moving to online courses for the rest of the semester.

Temple University: In-person instruction will end on March 13, and online and alternative learning methods will begin on March 16. The online classes will continue through the end of the spring semester. Students in Temple housing are being asked to vacate as soon as possible, but no later than March 21.

Bryn Mawr College: It will remain open but all classes will be delivered remotely, March 16 to at least April 3. That decision will be made by March 30.

Lehigh University: All classes will be taught remotely for two weeks beginning March 16.

Slippery Rock University: Spring break is extended through March 29, with classes starting March 30 online until further notice.

Smarthmore College: Spring break is extended through March 20, with online classes running March 23 through April 6.

West Chester University: Moving to online courses for the rest of the semester. The current online classes will resume March 16, following the end of spring break, and all other classes will move to online beginning March 30. This is the only strategy that we felt gave us control of the situation, school President Christopher Fiorentino told PennLive in an interview late Tuesday afternoon.

Bloomsburg University: Extending its spring break another week as it determines the next steps it will take.

Gettysburg College: Extending spring break for students through March 22 and using that time to decide whether to resume classes in-person or switch to online.

Muhlenberg College: Halting in-person instruction Friday and forcing all students to move out of the dorms by Saturday afternoon. it will begin offering instruction online starting March 18 and continuing through April 13, according to a letter sent to students from Interim college President Kathleen E. Harring.

Millersville University: Suspending face-to-face classroom instruction for a limited time period. Next weeks spring break will go on as scheduled and will be extended for them by a week through March 27. Faculty is preparing to deliver courses remotely, beginning March 30.

Edinboro University: Extending this weeks spring break through next week. Classes will resume through remote forms of instruction during the weeks of March 23 and 30, with face-to-face instruction possibly beginning April 6.

Maryland colleges

Beginning Wednesday (3/11) through Friday (3/13) TU is cancelling all university classes on all campuses to prepare for potential remote teaching, learning and working after spring break. See full statement for additional details. https://t.co/R8AS2E3vAV  Towson University (@TowsonU) March 10, 2020

University of Maryland, Baltimore County: Canceling classes for the rest of this week and all on-campus events through April 6.

Loyola University of Maryland: Canceling classes for the rest of the week.

Johns Hopkins University: Canceling in-person classes for all students starting Wednesday and transitioning to remote instruction at least through April 12.

Some major colleges nationally, per a CNN story

UCLA: Suspended classes on campus, where possible, and holding online classes through April 10, the end of the second week of the spring quarter.

Duke: Ending in-person classes immediately and extending spring break until March 23 while preparing to move to online instruction.

Purdue: Moving to online classes March 23, which is when its spring vacation ends.

Michigan State: Online instruction started at noon today, March 11, with in-person classes suspended through April 20.

BREAKING: Harvard classes will move online starting March 23 due to a growing global coronavirus outbreak, University President Lawrence S. Bacow announced in an email Tuesday morning. The University has asked students not to return from spring break. https://t.co/rKkapq50nt  The Harvard Crimson (@thecrimson) March 10, 2020

Ohio State: Suspending in-person classes effective immediately through at least March 30.

Princeton: Moving all lectures, seminars, and precepts to virtual instruction starting March 23, after spring break. University President Chris Elsgrubers explanation typified what many of his peers said in their letters: We understand that these and other measures will cause significant disruption and inconvenience to the campus community, but we strongly believe that actions taken now will have the greatest chance of decreasing risk and that the potential consequences of not acting could far outweigh these short-term disruptions.

Pennsylvania high schools

West Shore School District: All after school events expected to attract more than 250 people will be canceled or postponed for the next two weeks starting March 13. The district is also reviewing all school trips planned in the upcoming weeks to determine if students will be permitted to go.

Allentown School District, Lehigh County: Closed through March 13, with plans to reopen March 16.

State College School District, Centre County: Extending spring break through March 20, hoping to reopen March 23.

Germantown Academy, Montgomery County: Closed through Wednesday and then, according to various news reports including 6abc.com, will move to virtual lessons through spring break.

Cheltenham School District, Montgomery County: Closed effective Tuesday through the rest of the week.

The Philadelphia School District is closing 63 schools on March 13 because of staffing shortages caused by Gov. Tom Wolfs efforts to curb non-essential travel for those in Montgomery County. Heres the list.

School District of Lancaster: Closing March 13 due to a possible exposure to coronavirus.

Southern York County District: Closing March 13 although students still will be responsible for schoolwork.

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Trevi Fountain is off limits as Italy battles Coronavirus.

Rome's Trevi Fountain has been closed off to the public as part of the nationwide lockdown measures due to Italy's Coronavirus outbreak.

The Colosseum, the Pantheon and the capital's museums are all off-limits to the public until at least 3 April, as is St Peter's in the Vatican.

The emergency measures come as Italy struggles to contain the Coronavirus outbreak which has to date recorded more than 10,000 cases and 631 deaths.
Congress leader Udit Raj on Wednesday said that Rahul Gandhi should be made party president again and slammed Jyotiraditya Scindia for joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) saying 'Ye Raje Rajwade intzar nahi kar sakte hain kya? (Why can't the people from royal families wait ?)

"Congress has given many opportunities to Scindia. However some of his ambitions remained unfulfilled, but that does not mean you should join BJP. 'Ye Raje Rajwade hain intzar nahi kar sakte kya ? (Why can't the people from royal families wait ?) Dalits and other backward communities wait for their time but these people do not have patience." Raj told ANI

"I believe that Rahul Gandhi should become the president of the party. His resignation from the post of party president dented the party prospects in elections which also led to the recent resignation of Scindia," he added while advocating for Rahul to take the command of the party.

Former BJP MP Udit Raj, who joined Congress before general elections claimed that Scindia was about to get Rajya Sabha ticket from the party and also the post of Madhya Pradesh Party president.

"Scindia has committed a big mistake and he will lament on his decision. His political career will be finished in one or two years," he said.

Urging Gandhi to ask for resignations from leaders having no mass base, he said: "No person from outside the Gandhi family can be the party president . Since Sonia Gandhi is unable to lead the party effectively due to her deteriorating health, I believe that Rahul Gandhi should be president of the party. Instead of his resignation from the post of party president, he should have asked the resignation from so-called senior leaders who do not have any support on the ground."

The disgruntled four-time Congress MP Jyotiraditya Scindia joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), a day after he ended his 18-years-old association with the Congress party.

BJP president JP Nadda symbolically inducted Scindia into the party by offering him a party stole and a bouquet in front of the media at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi.

Scindia's resignation from the party, that triggered the resignation of 22 MLAs who are his loyalists, has left the Kamal Nath-led Congress government in Madhya Pradesh in a turmoil.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
11.03.2020 LISTEN

At WorldRemit we would like to join Ghanaians across the globe in celebrating 63 years of independence Ghana and its citizens across the globe have plenty to celebrate.

The nation has emerged as one of the leading countries in Africa for digital financial services and mobile money. Digital financial services have the potential to foster greater financial inclusion, gender parity and sustained economic growth. Our vision at WorldRemit is to accelerate financial inclusion, in line with the objectives of the African Development Banks Digital Financial Inclusion Facility. We are driving this through our mobile-first approach and are now the leading provider of remittances to mobile money wallets across the world.

Ghana was one of the top five African countries to receive remittances in 2019, where we saw a 43% increase in transactions. Our data on transactions reveals that Ghanaians are far more likely to use their mobile phones to send remittances. Moving from an informal courier service to online payments, results in a secure, fast and convenient international payments service, as it eliminates the potential for human error. Mobile money also promotes safety as individuals no longer need to carry physical cash.

Mobile money payment services are also having a transformative impact on low and middle-income consumers, as they provide a path to greater financial security and prosperity. Remittances have also been highlighted by the government of Ghana as a key contributor to the growth of mobile money services. Ghana was the second country in Africa after Tanzania to allow mobile money customers to earn interest on balances held in their accounts.

The diversity of migration destinations from Australia to Zambia reflects the openness and welcoming nature upon which Ghanaians have built their reputation. When the United Nations declared 20152024 as the International Decade for People of African Descent, the Ghanaian government announced 2019 as the Year of Return. A number of events were hosted across the country which culminated in citizenship being granted to 126 African-Americans, in commemoration of the 400th anniversary of the first shipment of African slaves to the United States. Following the success of the 2019 Year of Return programme, President Akuffo-Addo announced a new initiative named, Beyond the Return'' to encourage people from the diaspora to invest in Ghana via business start-ups, property acquisition, relocating or investment vehicles.

Many Ghanaians in the diaspora are now looking at Africa not just as a place of historical ancestry, but also as a destination in which to thrive and do business.The growth in digitisation and mobile money across the continent has contributed to the substantial growth of intra-African remittances. The African Continental Free Trade Area (ACFTA) agreement, which promotes intra-African trade and regional integration, is also contributing to the growth of intra-African remittances. The World Bank already estimates that migrant workers within Africa send remittances in excess of $46 billion dollars each year. In 2018 intra-African remittances represented 20% of global remittance flows, according to the Ecobank Group.

We have formed partnerships with MTN Ghana (MoMo), to drive financial inclusion and also provide our customers with even more remittance options including mobile money, cash pick up, bank transfers, WorldRemit wallet and airtime top-up.

At WorldRemit, we remain committed to providing a convenient, fast and secure service that is great value for money. Whether you choose to celebrate with a bottle of Star, Alvaro or Malta, we would like to take this opportunity to wish all of our Ghanaian customers a happy independence day!
Amid the unprecedented coronavirus outbreak, Beijing on March 11 said that all international arrivals to the city would be quarantined for 14 days. The latest precaution is in a bid to limit imported cases of the novel coronavirus. According to international media reports, Beijing has already required quarantine for people arriving from hard-hit countries including South Korea, Iran, Italy, and Japan, however, now a city government official said that those landing from any nation would now face 14-day isolation.

In a bid to contain the virus, the biannual auto show of Beijing in China, one of the industry's mega-events was also postponed amid the fears of the coronavirus outbreak, international media reported. The organisers of the mega event, Auto China 2020, reportedly said that the event originally scheduled for April 21-30 in Beijing would be shifted to an undetermined date. The global manufacturers of the automobile companies seek to grow their sales in China's mega-event but recently the market for cars, trucks, vans and luxury vehicles slowed down.

READ: Tokyo Olympics 2020 In Danger Of Facing A TWO-YEAR Postponement Due To Coronavirus Threat

According to the reports, amid mounting cases of the deadly COVID-19, China resorted to stepping up its quarantine measures on the foreign nationals as well. It also offered assistance to the countries abroad like Iran and Japan which are severely impacted by the contagion. Minister of China's National Health Commission (NHC) Ma Xiaowei told a news conference that despite some success in containing the strain of the new virus, there was a risk of the epidemic rebounding.

The deadly outbreak has led to leaders around the world to roll out bans on big gatherings and stricter travel restrictions. The outbreak has also disrupted flight demand and several airlines have also suspended or modified services in response. Governments worldwide have stepped up efforts to halt the spread of the virus as it has already affected more than 90 countries.

READ: 76-year-old Man Dies In Karnataka; Suspected To Be First Death Due To Coronavirus: Govt

More than one lakh infected

First detected in the city of Wuhan, in Hubei Province of China, the virus outbreak has disrupted many lives since December 2019. As per reports, the total number of confirmed cases within China has reportedly hit 80,783 and more than one lakh worldwide. According to reports, the death toll in China has also surpassed 3,000 and the National Health Commission also confirmed more than 29 new cases. The death toll due to the deadly virus across the world also mounted to 4,300.

READ: Indonesia Postpones Formula E Race Over Coronavirus Fears

READ: Coronavirus: Mizoram Bans Foreigners Entry As Precautionary Measure After Sealing Borders
A divisional police officer has been shot dead in Cross River State, South-South Nigeria.

The officer, Gabriel Amawu, headed the Nigeria Police, Obudu Division, in the northern Cross River State.

Mr Amawu, a deputy superintendent of police, was shot dead on Tuesday night in Obudu during a clash between the police and some students, the police said.

I think it happened last night between 10 p.m. and 11p.m. I think they were having crisis with the students there. I think one of the students was arrested, that is what led to the crisis, the police spokesperson in the state, Irene Ugbo, told PREMIUM TIMES 8 a.m. on Wednesday, while confirming the killing of the police chief.

The police spokesperson said she was yet to get details of what happened.

CrossRiverWatch, an online newspaper, has reported that the crisis was between the students of the Federal College of Education, Obudu.

The paper said the students were celebrating an end to their examinations when Mr. Amawu, suspecting criminal activity, made some arrests.

The paper said the slain police chief shot into the air, apparently to scare away other students who had gathered at the station to demand the release of their colleagues.

It is still unclear how Mr. Amawu whom initial reports say was shot in the head, took a bullet, CrossRiverWatch reported.
The 50-year prison sentence of a man who as a teen stabbed a Wilsonville woman to death with a Boy Scout knife was overturned Wednesday by the Oregon Court of Appeals, which said the long sentence failed to take into account the "unique qualities of youth and whether the defendant was capable of change.

Depending on whether the Oregon Department of Justice decides to appeal, the ruling could send the case of Todd Davilla back for a seventh re-sentencing. Davilla is now 44 and serving time at the Oregon State Correctional Institution in Salem.

The Oregon Department of Justice said it is reviewing the ruling.

Davilla was 16 when he forced his way into a home where Lisa Flormoe, 22, was staying and tried to rape her. When she resisted, he stabbed Flormoe 15 times in the neck, nearly decapitating her. Davilla did not know Flormoe. The crime took place in 1991.

The following year, Davilla pleaded guilty to murder, first-degree burglary and first-degree attempted rape. He was charged as an adult.

In his latest sentencing in 2012 -- his sixth one -- Clackamas County Circuit Judge Eve Miller sentenced Davilla to 50 years in prison, citing his use of a small, dull knife and his lack of empathy.

The appeals ruling comes as states, including Oregon, take up major juvenile justice reforms. The U.S. Supreme Court has weighed in on life without parole sentences for juveniles, concluding the sentence violates the Constitution. A 2012 Supreme Court ruling concluded that states must consider the circumstances of juvenile defendants in determining sentences.

Last year, the Oregon Legislature undertook its own sweeping reforms, which included doing away with life without parole sentences for juveniles and requiring hearings on whether juveniles charged with violent crimes should go to adult court. The law also mandates that anyone convicted of a crime when they are younger than 18 will get a chance to seek parole after 15 years.

In its ruling, the Appeals Court pointed out that its conclusion about Davillas sentence is consistent with the new law.

Miller handed down a 600-month sentence, which the appellate court called a de facto life sentence because Davilla would be in his late 60s by the time he is released.

The court said Miller failed to consider Davillas age and capacity for change.

The sentencing court found that defendants crimes were heinous, and it focused almost exclusively on the nature of the crimes to justify the imposition of a 600-month sentence, the court wrote.

However, this record does not convince us that, in crafting that sentence, the sentencing courts decision reflects a determination that defendant is one of the rare juvenile offenders who is so irreparably corrupt and incapable of rehabilitation that he deserves to be deprived of any meaningful life outside of prison walls, the opinion said, noting that Davilla has been a model prisoner.

The appeal was heard by Judges Rex Armstrong, Douglas Tookey and Scott Shorr and the opinion was written by Tookey.

Maynard Flormoe of Eugene, Lisa Flormoes stepfather, said hes frustrated with the ruling. The family has sat through all the previous sentencing hearings, he said, and is prepared to endure a seventh.

Keep having to go back for re-sentencing is the worst thing that could happen, Flormoe said. We just have to relive it all the time.

He said the Appeals Court seems not to see the same thing that all these judges who have made the prior sentences.

Lorna Flormoe, Lisas younger sister, said the appellate judges overlooked her familys trauma and the horrifying details of the crime when reaching their decision.

I would like for each one of those appellate court judges to look at the entire file and listen to the family and look at pictures and look at the details of the case and they can decide if they want that human being out with their wives and daughters and grandchildren, said Flormoe, of Eugene.

Every time Davillas sentence is overturned, she said, the family is plunged into trauma all over again.

My grief has long past turned into anger at the justice system, she said.

-- Noelle Crombie; ncrombie@oregonian.com; 503-276-7184; @noellecrombie

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
KUALA LUMPUR, March 10 (Reuters) - Malaysian palm oil futures on Tuesday recouped some of the sharp losses suffered in the previous session on short-covering, with traders awaiting the release of Malaysian Palm Oil Board data (MPOB) due later in the day.

The benchmark palm oil contract for May delivery on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange was up 26 ringgit, or 1.11%, at 2,358 ringgit ($557.58) in early trade.

There is some short-covering ahead of the MPOB data release, while the global recovery after the previous session's steep losses is also supporting sentiment, said Paramalingam Supramaniam, director at Selangor-based brokerage Pelindung Bestari Sdn Bhd.

Palm oil took a beating on Monday, falling as much as 10% during the session as crude oil prices recorded their biggest daily rout since the 1991 Gulf War after top producers Saudi Arabia and Russia began a price war that threatens to overwhelm global oil markets with supply.

Weak crude oil futures make palm a less attractive option for biodiesel feedstock.

FUNDAMENTALS

* Oil prices jumped more than 6% on Tuesday, clawing back some gains after Monday's 25% loss, on hopes that a price war by top producers Saudi Arabia and Russia will not be sustained.

* Dalian's most-active soyoil contract traded 0.37% lower, while its palm oil contract fell 0.08%. Soyoil prices on the Chicago Board of Trade were trading 0.87% higher.

* Palm oil is affected by price movements in related oils as they compete for a share in the global vegetable oils market.

* The Malaysian Palm Oil Board is scheduled to release its February supply and demand figures later on Tuesday.

* Palm oil may bounce into a range of 2,398-2,456 ringgit per tonne, as suggested by its wave pattern and a projection analysis, Reuters technical analyst Wang Tao said.

MARKET NEWS

* Asian shares bounced and bond yields rose from historic lows on Tuesday as speculation of coordinated stimulus from global central banks and governments calmed panic selling.

Story continues

DATA/EVENTS

0130 China PPI, CPI YY Feb

1000 EU GDP Revised QQ, YY Q4

($1 = 4.2290 ringgit)

(Reporting by Mei Mei Chu; Editing by Aditya Soni)
All three insulin makers in the United States said that they would participate in the program, but representatives for companies that operate Medicare plans, such as CVS and Express Scripts, did not comment.

Sanofi said Wednesday that it would take part. We believe their plan, based on shared contributions from both manufacturers and Part D plans to directly lower out-of-pocket costs for Medicare beneficiaries, is the right approach, Ashleigh Koss, a Sanofi spokeswoman, said in a statement, referring to the Part D drug coverage plans operated by private insurers.

Another insulin maker, Novo Nordisk, said, We look forward to collaborating in this public-private approach to do even more to help seniors with diabetes afford the insulin they need.

Eli Lilly said on Wednesday that it, too, would participate in the program. This is a great example of collaboration between the government and private companies to address a problem faced by many seniors taking insulin, said David A. Ricks, the companys chief executive.

Elizabeth Pfiester, the founder and executive director of the group T1International, a patient group that has advocated for people who cant afford insulin, said while the proposal showed the issue was a priority, it doesnt include everyone who needs relief.

It still leaves huge numbers of people with diabetes who rely on insulin in the same place they were before  rationing and suffering, she said in a statement. Many of the deaths we are seeing from rationing are young people without insurance, so we need federal action that provides immediate relief and long-term solutions for everyone.

People who are covered by Medicares drug benefit program are particularly exposed to the rising list price of drugs because they enter several different phases of coverage, including an initial deductible phase in which they must pay close to the list price of a drug. Later in the year  after they and their plan have spent $4,020 on drugs  they enter a coverage gap (called the doughnut hole) in which they pay 25 percent of the drugs price.
Australian COVID-19 cases hit 100

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 13:52, March 10, 2020

CANBERRA, March 10 (Xinhua) -- The number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in Australia has hit triple digits.

The Department of Health revealed that as of Tuesday morning at 11:00 a.m., there have been 100 diagnosed cases of COVID-19, including three deaths, in Australia -- up from 80 confirmed cases on Monday.

Of those 100 cases, 22 are reported to have recovered from the virus.

Fifty four of the cases are in New South Wales (NSW) -- four times more than any other state.

Greg Hunt, the minister for health, on Tuesday said in a press conference that efforts to contain the virus has been a great community effort so far, according to The Guardian.

"Now we are entering a period where there are more people who will be in contact, and more people who will be affected," he told reporters

Brendan Murphy, the chief medical officer, also attended the conference. When asked about whether Australia should introduce a large quarantine area like Italy, Murphy said he doesn't think mass quarantine is merited given the current low level of community transmission.

"If we had more sustained community transmission, then we wouldn't hesitate to make recommendations about public gatherings, schools and the like," he said.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-12 00:43:05|Editor: yan

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TIRANA, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Deputy Minister of Health and Social Protection of Albania Mira Rakacolli reported on Wednesday the first death from coronavirus infection in Albania.

Speaking at a press conference, Rakacolli said that the victim is a 73-year-old woman hospitalized in the port city of Durres, located some 30 kilometers south of the capital city Tirana.

The patient, who recently returned from Italy, suffered from other diseases such as chronic cardiac insufficiency and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Earlier on Wednesday, Rakacolli announced that so far in the country there are 12 cases of COVID-19 infection.

Via a video message in the social media, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama announced that due to the negligence of citizens to obey the measures set by the government, he has ordered another set of strict measures which will come into force from Thursday.

Rama said that he has ordered the closure of all bars, restaurants, clubs in Tirana and Durres in order to prevent the spread of the virus in the population.

Albanian police and military forces will set up roadblocks on the streets of the capital to check all cars if there is any person that has returned from Italy or Greece in the last 14 days, Rama said.

Moreover, he said that anyone that breaks the self-quarantine of 14 days will get a fine of 5,000 euros (around 5,655 U.S. dollars) and will not be allowed to travel abroad without paying this fine.

On Monday, the government announced that all citizens entering Albania from areas under quarantine in Italy and other affected areas must go through self- quarantine for 14 days at their homes as a preventive measure against the spread of the coronavirus.
REDDING, Calif. - Across the country, travelers are canceling plans and people are eating out less.

I go down to school in San Francisco and I go every four to six weeks, said Emalee Mimis, a student and Redding resident. I just found out they canceled the whole weekend and it's kind of inconvenient.

Several Redding hotels tell Action News Now they've haven't seen the coronavirus impact their business. But wouldn't be surprised if they see a dip in customers over the next few weeks.

We cannot let this affect our behavior to a point where it affects businesses because that would make matters worse, said Jake Mangas, CEO, and President of the Redding Chamber of Commerce.

The Redding Chamber of Commerce said its prepared to help local businesses if they do start to see a decline in the area.

If there is an adverse effect we will get together to help our businesses in any way we can, said Mangas.

But longtime Redding restaurant Lim's Cafe is in good spirits and not too worried about the coronavirus hurting business.

We just joke about it and make it mellow and not stress everyone out about it, said Dawn, a long time work at Lims Cafe.

Even though some are cautious about Asian businesses because the coronavirus started in China, they still have loyal customers coming in.

We have great customers and they're not like that so we're happy about that, said Dawn.

Action News Now reached out to the Redding Visitors Bureau who said they anticipate international travel will drop and people will be staying in the country more.
Amit Jani, an Indian American political veteran who serves as the AAPI outreach director for Joe Bidens presidential campaign, has been reportedly ousted from his role as outreach director to the Muslim American community after a series of reports linking him to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Gold Star father Khizr Khan, who serves as a volunteer surrogate to the Biden campaign, told India-West he roundly supports Jani. He is an excellent organizer, and an excellent individual. I value him and his contribution to the campaign, said Khan. (photo via Twitter)
* Aberdeen, Allianz GI, Franklin Templeton buy Italian debt

* ECB expected to ramp up QE asset purchases on Thursday

* Many funds also like longer Gilts after UK rate cut

* Euro zone periphery govt bond yields tmsnrt.rs/2ii2Bqr

By Dhara Ranasinghe and Tommy Wilkes

LONDON, March 11 (Reuters) - European bond investors have piled back into Italian bonds amid this weeks sell-off, betting that the European Central Bank will on Thursday unveil a big increase in asset purchases and boost a market hit hard by panic over the coronavirus outbreak.

Yields on 10-year bonds yields in Italy, the country worst-affected by coronavirus outside China, have risen around 40 basis points in the past month as investors positioned for the outbreak to deal a heavy blow to the indebted economy.

But several large investors told Reuters on Wednesday they were moving back into the market, believing the ECB was likely to follow other central banks and unveil several supportive measures when it meets on Thursday, including an increase in monthly asset purchases.

On Wednesday, Italian yields dropped nearly 20 basis points .

Its clear that the Italian situation is dire, but as its been proven in the past, the ECB has proven the most important driver of the Italian spread and clearly there is a lot of pressure building on the need to step up efforts, especially on QE (quantitative easing), said Ross Hutchison, a rates fund manager at Aberdeen Standard Investments.

We are still underweight Italian bonds, but have bought some bonds back recently on expectations for a ECB policy response, said Hutchison, part of the ASI rates team managing 30 billion pounds ($38.79 billion) worth of assets.

Trading volatile Italian debt has been popular among managers searching for yield in recent years, but the complex political situation and Romes economic vulnerabilities have made it a tricky trade - and many managers have been caught out. Italy is currently in lockdown to tackle the coronavirus, and its economy is expected to slow sharply.

The ECB is widely expected to take action on Thursday to protect the euro zone economy. Major central banks including the Federal Reserve and Bank of England have already announced emergency rate cuts.

John Taylor, co-head of European fixed income at AllianceBernstein, said he expected the ECB to announce an increase in bond purchases to at least 40 billion euros ($45.04 billion) monthly.

The ECB currently buys 20 billion euros of bonds monthly. Its asset purchases, worth over 2.6 trillion euros since 2015, have pinned down bloc-wide borrowing costs.

During the sell-off, we have returned to our overweight (position on Italy). We think spreads should come in, said Taylor.

The closely-watched gap between 10-year Italian and German government bonds on Tuesday rose to almost 230 bps - its widest in seven months - after blowing out by 50 bps in Mondays brutal selloff.

Taylor said he was targeting the spread to tighten back to 150 bps.

The ECB risked being left behind if it did not loosen policy. Knowing that a limited response would send the euro higher when the economy could not handle a stronger currency would drive the ECB to act, Taylor said.

David Zahn, head of European fixed income at Franklin Templeton, said Italian and Spanish bonds offered good value in a world of plunging government bond yields.

Key to a credible European response to deal with the coronavirus would be coordinated monetary and fiscal policy, Zahn said.

While he would normally worry about the euro areas ability to co-ordinate, he had been impressed by the European Unions display of unity on the virus so far.

Allianz Global Investors has also bought back into Italian debt, head of UK fixed income Mike Riddell said.

BOE HEADING FOR QE?

Several investors said they also saw value in British government bonds, known as gilts, especially longer-dated ones.

On Wednesday, the Bank of England slashed rates and announced support for bank lending just hours before the unveiling of a budget splurge.

Gilt yields have dropped sharply in the past week as expectations rose for an aggressive policy response to the outbreak.

The front end of the gilt market cannot rally much more from where it is right now, but that doesnt mean gilts overall cant rally, said Allianz Global Investors Riddell.

The rate cut was not a surprise to the market, but what this means is that QE is far closer than the market anticipated just a few days ago.

Earlier this week short-dated gilt yields fell into negative territory for the first time. Thirty-year gilt yields are trading around 0.67%. ($1 = 0.8880 euros)
Ugandan Peace Festival Seeks End to Violence in Africa

KAMPALA, UgandaYoung people played tug of war and others shook their bodies to crowd-pleasing music as a scorching African sun set near the Ugandan capital. A tipsy poet drew loud cheers by repeatedly reciting, One day. Someday. Could be this day.

Others painted their faces, ate barbecued goat, played chess, and practiced yoga. The good-natured gathering attracted scores of people in support of the day when all of Africa would be free of armed violence.

The Mara Mara peace festival drew inspiration from the African Unions declaration of 2020 as the year for silencing the guns on a continent that has long faced violence ranging from civil war to ethnic rivalries and rebel insurgencies. In an effort to reduce the number of illegal weapons in circulation across the continent, the AU has said there will be an amnesty during the month of September, when illegally owned guns can be turned over to local authorities.

The African Union, a continent-wide bloc that is often accused of not doing enough to end armed violence, has said its leaders will reach out to youths to discourage them from taking up arms.

Africa still has multiple conflict zones ranging from Islamic extremist violence in West Africas Sahel region and in parts of Nigeria, to armed rebellion by militias in eastern Congo. In South Sudan, the worlds newest country, hundreds of thousands of people were killed and over 1 million displaced by a five-year civil war that officially ended in 2018, but still simmers. That conflict has created Africas worst refugee crisis since the 1994 genocide in Rwanda.

Africa Peace Zones, a network of volunteers who organized the weekend peace gathering in Uganda in support of the AUs mission, acknowledged the task at hand as ambitious, citing challenges including gender-based violence and unemployment.

And while sustainable solutions will require actions from a cross-section of society, we believe that as Africas young people, we hold the key to building a continent free of all violence, the group said in a statement. Some of Africas strongest attributestolerance, kindness, generosity, resilience, problem solving and a team spiritare the very foundation of negotiation, mediation, and reconciliation as alternatives to violence.

Uganda has enjoyed relative peace for nearly 20 years, since the end of a deadly rebellion in the countrys north. But the East African country has had spots of political violence, with the security forces accused of cracking down on opposition activities. President Yoweri Museveni has been in power since 1986 and is trying to extend his rule further, prompting concerns about possible violence around elections in 2021.

Young Ugandans such as William Musinguzi, a painter at the festival who drew a map of Africa with the red spots indicating countries that are battling insurgencies and civil war, cite mistrust of authorities with guns. The 25-year-old noted with pleasure that there were no police at the event, saying that meant peace.

For Gerry Ssebunya, a dance instructor and mental health advocate whose family was affected by war in northern Uganda, peace festivals are a fantastic way to reach out to young people in need of a sense of communion. Ssebunya recalled that in 2019, she visited her ancestral home in northern Uganda for the first time in 33 years, because she was still traumatized by memories of the insurgency that ended in the early 2000s. This meant that she had been a refugee in her own country, she said.

We need interventions like this to help people who are struggling, to also help people to bring back to the forefront of our minds that we dont have to get into conflict. We dont have to pick up guns. We dont have to fight, she said, as a group played dodgeball nearby. We can talk, we can talk. Events like this switch our minds back to saying, You know what? We are not animals. We can talk to each other.
MONTREAL - Air Canada says travellers can rebook recently purchased flights that depart before May without incurring a fee as part of the airline's latest response to the novel coronavirus outbreak.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 11/3/2020 (671 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

An Air Canada jet takes off from Halifax Stanfield International Airport in Enfield, N.S. on Thursday, March 8, 2012. Air Canada says travellers can now change their ticket up to 24 hours before their flight without incurring a rebooking fee, the airline's latest response to the novel coronavirus outbreak.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan

MONTREAL - Air Canada says travellers can rebook recently purchased flights that depart before May without incurring a fee as part of the airline's latest response to the novel coronavirus outbreak.

The new policy allows passengers to make a one-time change to any ticket bought before March 4 for travel before April 30, provided the trip is completed by the end of the year.

Meanwhile, for Air Canada tickets bought between March 4 and the end of the month, travellers can now change their flight fee-free up to 24 hours before departure.

It adds leeway to Air Canada's announcement last week that it would waive change fees up to two weeks before any departure in March, with travel controls by foreign governments evolving daily.

The move follows similar announcements by several U.S. airlines this week, with United Airlines, Delta Air Lines and American Airlines allowing passengers to rebook tickets to any destination through April 30 without paying fees.

The fee waiver by Canada's largest airline underscores ramped-up efforts to mitigate the blow dealt by the spread of COVID-19, which has seen bookings plunge and cancellations soar at airlines across the globe.

National Bank analyst Cameron Doerksen forecasts that the epidemic will cost Air Canada $1.4 billion in adjusted earnings this year, which would result in a 40 per cent decline from 2019.

The carrier has halted daily flights to Rome, Beijing and Shanghai through April. It has also cut back on routes to Hong Kong, Tokyo, and Seoul.

Air Canada's one-time change fee waiver applies to all fare classes, from economy to business. Any difference in ticket price will apply, however "and any residual value resulting from a lower fare will be lost," Air Canada said.

WestJet is also experiencing turbulence, despite offering no flights to China  the apparent source of the outbreak  and only a handful to Europe.

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The Calgary-based carrier plans to cancel flights amounting to 12 per cent "or more" of its flight capacity.

Reductions may include WestJet's domestic, transatlantic and sun destinations as well as flight to the U.S.

Other new cost reduction efforts include freezing discretionary spending, a company-wide hiring freeze and voluntary leave options.

On Wednesday, the federal government announced a $1-billion funding package to help the country's health-care system cope with the increasing number of new coronavirus cases and to help Canadian workers who are forced to isolate themselves.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 11, 2020.

Companies in this story: (TSX:AC)
[March 10, 2020] Artificial Intelligence (AI) Market | Increased Employee Productivity to Boost Growth | Technavio

Technavio has been monitoring the artificial intelligence (AI) market and it is poised to grow by USD 75.54 bn during 2019-2023, progressing at a CAGR of over 33% during the forecast period. The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current market scenario, latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200310005668/en/ Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Artificial Intelligence (AI) Market 2019-2023 (Graphic: Business Wire) The market is fragmented, and the degree of fragmentation will accelerate during the forecast period. 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. Increased employee productivity has been instrumental in driving the growth of the market. Request latest free sample report of 2020-2024 Artificial Intelligence (AI) Market 2019-2023: Segmentation Artificial Intelligence (AI) Market is segmented as below: End-user Retail

Banking

Manufacturing

Healthcare

Others Geographic Segmentation APAC

Europe

MEA

North America

South America To learn more about the global trends impacting the future of market research, download latest free sample of 2020-2024: https://www.technavio.com/talk-to-us?report=IRTNTR30994 Artificial Intelligence (AI) Market 2019-2023: Scope Technavio presents detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources. Our artificial intelligence (AI) market report covers the following areas:



Artificial Intelligence (AI) Market Size

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Market Trends

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Market Industry Analysis This study identifies increase in cloud-based AI services as one of the prime reasons driving the artificial intelligence (AI) market growth during the next few years. Artificial Intelligence (AI) Market 2019-2023: Vendor Analysis

We provide a detailed analysis of around 25 vendors operating in the artificial intelligence (AI) market, including some of the vendors such as Google (News - Alert) LLC, IBM, Intel Corporation, Microsoft and NVIDIA Corporation. Backed with competitive intelligence and benchmarking, our research reports on the artificial intelligence (AI) 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 Artificial Intelligence (AI) Market 2019-2023: Key Highlights CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2019-2023

Detailed information on factors that will assist artificial intelligence (AI) market growth during the next five years

Estimation of the artificial intelligence (AI) market size and its contribution to the parent market

Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior

The growth of the artificial intelligence (AI) market

Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors

Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of artificial intelligence (AI) market vendors Table of Content PART 01: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY PART 02: SCOPE OF THE REPORT 2.1 Preface

2.2 Preface

2.3 Currency conversion rates for US$ PART 03: MARKET LANDSCAPE Market ecosystem

Market characteristics

Market segmentation analysis PART 04: MARKET SIZING Market definition

Market sizing 2018

Market size and forecast 2018-2023 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

Retail - Market size and forecast 2018-2023

Banking - Market size and forecast 2018-2023

Manufacturing - Market size and forecast 2018-2023

Healthcare - Market size and forecast 2018-2023

Others - Market size and forecast 2018-2023

Market opportunity by end-user PART 07: CUSTOMER LANDSCAPE PART 08: GEOGRAPHIC LANDSCAPE Geographic segmentation

Geographic comparison

North America - Market size and forecast 2018-2023

Europe - Market size and forecast 2018-2023

APAC - Market size and forecast 2018-2023

South America - Market size and forecast 2018-2023

MEA - Market size and forecast 2018-2023

Key leading countries

Market opportunity PART 09: DECISION FRAMEWORK PART 10: DRIVERS AND CHALLENGES Market drivers

Market challenges PART 11: MARKET TRENDS Increase in cloud-based AI services

Narrow AI

Alternative solutions to GPU for accelerating AI workloads

Professional services will benefit from AI PART 12: VENDOR LANDSCAPE Overview

Landscape disruption PART 13: VENDOR ANALYSIS Vendors covered

Vendor classification

Market positioning of vendors

Google LLC

IBM

Intel Corporation

Microsoft

NVIDIA (News - Alert) Corporation PART 14: APPENDIX Research methodology

List of abbreviations 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/20200310005668/en/

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BJP readies 'Mamaji' for fourth term in MP

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Mar 11: As the Congress in Madhya Pradesh stares at a massive crisis, the BJP is already readying Shivraj Singh Chouhan for a fourth term as Chief Minister.

Chouhan who is a three time CM of Madhya Pradesh has been out of power for 15 months. The shocker for the Congress came when its top leader, Jyotiraditya Scindia resigned from the party along with 22 MLAs.

Scindia, according to sources was feeling sidelined and also found the leadership un-inspiring. His has expressed clearly his feelings in the letter. He says, "while my aim and purpose remains the same as it has always been from the very beginning. to serve the people of my state and country, I believe I am unable to do this anymore with this party."

Further reports say that the Congress had planned to defeat him in the Rajya Sabha elections and this was the last straw.

Madhya Pradesh crisis: Floor test likely on March 16 and here are the numbers

NEWS AT 3 PM, MARCH 11th, 2020

Now that 22 MLAs of the Congress have tendered their resignations, the strength of the Congress drops to 92 on its own. The Congress has seven allegiance legislators and that makes the tally 100. The BJP on the other hand has 107 on its own.

Prior to the resignations, the half way mark was 115. The Congress had 115 and the BJP 107, while the others are 7. With two seats vacant in the 230 member house, the half way mark stood at 115.

Now once the speaker accepts the resignations, the house strength would come down by 24. This means that the half way mark would be 102. The Congress in this scenario would have 92 and the BJP, 107.

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Story first published: Wednesday, March 11, 2020, 7:34 [IST]
An infamous triad leader has been sentenced to death while wearing goggles, a face mask and a full-body protective suit to prevent the spread of coronavirus in court.

Huang Hongfa had led a 196-member criminal organisation and terrorised a county in China for around 30 years before being arrested.

He and his main partners-in-crime were caught during a huge police raid involving more than 1,210 officers and 300 police cars in January last year.

His trial was held after hundreds of prisoners in China had been infected with the virus due to outbreaks inside jails.

Huang Hongfa who led a 196-member criminal gang in China has been sentenced to death

A regional high court found the former triad leader guilty of 17 charges including organising and leading an organization of a gangland nature, intentional assault and offering bribes

Hongfa was handed the capital penalty today by a regional high court after being found guilty of 17 charges, including organising and leading an organisation of a gangland nature, intentional assault and offering bribes.

Some of his members also received their sentences today while being wrapped in full-on personal protective gears.

Hongfa's underground gang was mostly formed by his family members as well as close-knit relatives from the Huang clan.

It started to develop in the 1980s in the Changjiang County of Hainan, according to a government document.

The organisation was initially led by Hongfa's father Huang Yingxiang, who was a local official and had influence among the locals.

In 1990, the clan became notorious after Hongfa's brother, Huang Hongming, gathered a team to kill one resident and seriously harmed another. Hongming escaped legal punishment because of his father's political power.

Hongfa's underground gang was mostly formed by his family members as well as close-knit relatives from the Huang clan. They were also sentenced by Hainan High People's Court today

The news came after the new coronavirus outbreaks had occurred in multiple prisons in China

Hongfa rose to prominence in the group in 1995 after leading his followers to attack and severely hurt another person to gain a monopoly of illegal casinos in the region.

The criminals also controlled government officials through bribing.

Changjiang's police chief and his two deputies, one senior police officer, one lawmaker and one deputy head of the local Water Affairs Bureau were among the leaders that were corrupted by them.

Through running illegal casinos and mines over the years, the triad earned more than two billion yuan (222million) and enjoyed unchallenged privilege in Changjiang, the court said.

When the group was busted by police last year, they faced 16 charges as a whole.

They were alleged to have committed 58 criminal activities, which caused two deaths, three serious injuries, 13 minor injuries and five slight injuries.

The Hainan High People's Court held a second trial today after 82 defenders including Hongfa had appealed against the court's decisions from the first trial in January this year

The court ruled in favour of the previous judgement to give Hongfa a death sentence

The Hainan High People's Court held a second trial today after 82 defenders including Hongfa had appealed against the court's decisions from the first trial in January this year.

The court ruled in favour of the previous judgement to give Hongfa a death sentence.

The punishment for four of Hongfa's main accomplices also remained the same.

The accomplices were his siblings - namely Huang Hongming, Huang Hongjin and Huang Hongbo - as well as their father Yingxiang.

Each of them excepted for Hongbo who had died was convicted of several crimes, including organising and leading an organization of a gangland nature and intentional assault.

Hongming was sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve. Yingxiang and Hongjin were each imprisoned for 25 years.

The disease has killed at least 4,325 people and infected more than 119,300 worldwide

Workers wearing protective gears disinfect as a precaution against the new coronavirus at a subway car depot in Seoul, South Korea, on Wednesday. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, the virus can cause severe illness, including pneumonia

German Chancellor Angela Merkel takes part in a news conference about the coronavirus outbreak in Berlin, Germany, on Wednesday. Germany has reported at least two deaths so far

A man wears a mask as he looks at an empty St. Peter's Square after the Vatican erected a new barricade at the edge of the square on Tuesday. Italy entered its first day under a nationwide lockdown after a government decree extended restrictions on movement to the whole nation

People wearing masks sit in a subway train in Milan, Italy, on Wednesday. In Italy, the government extended a coronavirus containment order previously limited to the country's north to the rest of the country beginning Tuesday, with soldiers and police enforcing bans

The news came after coronavirus outbreaks had occurred in multiple prisons in China, leading to official investigations from Beijing.

The disease has killed at least 3,158 people and infected more than 80,900 in China.

More than 100 countries are now trying to contain the contagion, with at least 4,325 deaths and more than 119,300 cases reported across the world.
A Rolex watch was also seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) this morning. Credit: An Garda Siochana

Two cars were among the items seized after searches in four locations in south Dublin this morning. Credit: An Garda Siochana

The Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) seized two cars, three designer bags, four luxury watches after searches in four locations in south Dublin this morning. Credit: An Garda Siochana

THE Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) seized two cars, three designer bags and four luxury watches after searches in four locations in south Dublin this morning.

Assisted by the Emergency Response Unit, CAB and local detectives used trained dogs to search four south Dublin locations in Tallaght and Crumlin this morning, targeting homes in Crumlin and Tallaght, as well as a business in Kilmainham and in Tallaght.

Two cars, a 162 registered BMW 730D and a 151 registered Volvo XC60 were seized, as well as four watches, branded Rolex, Tag Heuer, Breitling and Bvlgari.

A Gucci man bag and Fendi and Michael Kors handbags were also seized, as well as three Canada Goose coats and five Moncler jackets.

Expand Close Two cars were among the items seized after searches in four locations in south Dublin this morning. Credit: An Garda Siochana / Facebook

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Whatsapp Two cars were among the items seized after searches in four locations in south Dublin this morning. Credit: An Garda Siochana

Gardai also seized paperwork, including banking and financial documents, as well as three mobile phones, one of which was encrypted and a computer hard drive.

According to a spokesperson, this morning's raids targeted organised criminal gangs.

Expand Close A Rolex watch was also seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) this morning. Credit: An Garda Siochana / Facebook

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Whatsapp A Rolex watch was also seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) this morning. Credit: An Garda Siochana

"This mornings operation targeted an individual with strong links to organised criminality across the Dublin Metropolitan Region and is focused on the source of funds used to purchase and extensively re-develop a substantial property," a garda spokesperson said.

"The operation is a significant development in the on-going proceeds of crime investigation."
Wednesday Night Nigerianpart of Epi's Wednesday Nights in America seriesstarts with a curated list of weeknight recipes, and continues here, with a visit to a home kitchen, where we witness Nigerian-American cooking in action.

I came to the Bronx to learn how to make efo riro, a stew of leafy greens cooked in a savory tomato-pepper sauce, native to the Yoruba people of southwestern Nigeria.

I left with a recipe only Kemi Seriki could have written.

Kemi Seriki - HERO Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Kemi Seriki

Seriki moved to the States from Lagos, Nigeria, in 1982, to attend college and earn her masters degree. She intended to move back to Nigeria after school, but she stayed in New York, where she now works as a youth counselor in the New York City court system. At home, she cooked Nigerian food for her now-grown childrenuntil they started asking for other things, at which point Seriki taught herself to make pasta with Italian sausage and red sauce, and a jerk chicken riff using an Asian-style marinade. Her children are third-culture kidsa name coined to describe people who grow up in a country different than the one their parents or grandparents didand their palates proved it.

In addition to her day job working with young people, Seriki spends her free time hosting discussions through her community organization, Pansa Pansa Forum, which aims to bridge the gap of understanding between African emigrant parents and the children they're raising in America. "So many of our people raise their children with the same mentality as they were raised back home," she tells me. "In Nigeria, there is no back-and-forth conversationchildren don't get to have an opinion. But what these parents might not understand is the struggles their children are going through: what it is to be a minority, to grow up black in this country. For parents to really understand, they have to have more conversations with their children." In an effort to encourage those conversations, Seriki organizes panels of African-American youth who field questions from an audience of their elders.

Story continues

Kemi Seriki - INSET Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Kemi Seriki

As we begin to assemble the ingredients for the obe ataa tomato, sweet pepper, and hot chile puree that serves as the base for the efo riro, and many other West African dishesI mention some of the other Nigerian dishes Ive been learning about recently. I tell her about chef Kwame Onwuachis recipe for suya, the extremely-hard-to-stop-eating grilled skewers that are rubbed with a potent mix of ground peanuts, ginger, cayenne, and more before cooking. At his restaurant in Washington, DC, Onwuachi serves suya with soubise, a French tomato-cream sauce for dipping, a fact that elicits a jovial laugh from Seriki, as if to say see? Those third-culture kids, she tells me, theyre always making stuff up.

So okay, sure, Serikis not a third-culture kid. But after spending the day with her, it was clear: shes a third-culture cook.

Kemi Seriki - INSET Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Kemi Seriki

In the 80s, you could not find yams here, Seriki says, referring specifically to the five-pound Ghanian variety she likes best, as well as the more general category of African yams with white flesh and tough, hairy grey-brown skins that must be peeled away with a paring knifetheyre very different from the orange-fleshed sweet potatoes many Americans call by the same name. The same was true for the spices and other flavorings she was accustomed to buying in Lagos. So when Seriki first moved to New York, she would frequent Latin markets, which often carried similar ingredients. Many of our foods were brought to the Caribbean by enslaved Africans, she says, which means many Latinos eat some of the same things we do.

Today there is a large African market near her home (although she still petitions family and friends who visit from Nigeria to pack an extra suitcase with ingredients that remain elusive). And yet even so, the Nigerian recipes Seriki cooks in her kitchen in the Bronx continue to be infused with flavors you wouldnt find in the most traditional recipes. Its a shift that happened organically: When she was learning to cook non-Nigerian recipes, she says she "would go to the grocery store and see different sauces or [unfamiliar] ingredients, and would just buy them and come home and try it. Occasionally, those impulse purchases made their way into her Nigerian recipes.

I like to taste different things, so I tend to experiment," she says. Then, as if to prove her point, I watch as she prepares the obe ata with olive oil instead of red palm oil, the earthy-tasting staple cooking oil thats used in much of West AfricaSeriki says she simply tried it once and liked how it fit in. She then pulls a panoply of spices from a low cupboard: Old Bay, garam masala, garlic powder, dried thyme, a Jamaican curry mix made up mostly of turmeric and dehydrated onion, and one jug called "Complete Seasoning."

Whatevers in the house, thats what goes into the stew, she says.

Kemi Seriki - INSET Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Kemi Seriki

From another cabinet, Seriki pulls out ingredients more common to efo riro: a container filled with foil-wrapped cubes of Maggi shrimp bouillon and a bag of tiny smoked dried shrimp. She drops one unwrapped bouillon cube whole into the obe ata. As it melts into the bubbling red sauce, she empties the packet of dried shrimp into a small sieve for a quick rinse before tossing it in, too.

From her freezer, Seriki grabs chopped bitter leaves (a herb that tastes a bit like spent tea leaves), and fresh iru (fermented locust beans) she stashed there to contain an aroma she describes as spoiled cheese. Fresh iru is one of those ingredients she brings over from Nigeria because she prefers the taste over the dried and powdered versions more easily found in the States.

To finish the efo riro, Seriki folds in mounds of kale that quickly relax into the earthy, aromatic sauce. Last in the pot: golden chunks of tilapia she fried just moments before. And then, we taste it. The stew is heady, bright, and savory. All the flavors, all those spices, coalesce into one vibrant bite. It bears a chile-induced heat that doesn't bowl you over, but does wake you up. And it proves a point: Everyone has something to add to the conversation.

Efo Riro With Kale and Whitefish

Kemi Seriki

Originally Appeared on Epicurious
American Express to Webcast an Investor Update Call on March 17

American Express (News - Alert) (NYSE:AXP) announced today that it is transitioning the format of its previously-scheduled Investor Day to an Investor Update Call, which will be held via live webcast on Tuesday, March 17, 2020, from 8:00 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. (ET). As a precautionary measure in light of the evolving COVID-19 situation, the company no longer plans to host the event with in-person attendees to ensure the health and safety of its investors, analysts and employees.

The webcast will include brief presentations from Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Stephen Squeri and Chief Financial Officer Jeff Campbell discussing recent business trends and long-term strategies, followed by a Q&A session.

The live webcast will be accessible to the general public through the American Express Investor Relations website at http://ir.americanexpress.com. Presentation materials will be posted on the website for the investor update call, and a replay will be available on the website following the event.

About American Express

American Express is a globally integrated payments company, providing customers with access to products, insights and experiences that enrich lives and build business success. Learn more at americanexpress.com and connect with us on facebook.com/americanexpress, instagram.com/americanexpress, linkedin.com/company/american-express, twitter.com/americanexpress, and youtube.com/americanexpress.







Key links to products, services and corporate responsibility information: charge and credit cards, business credit cards, travel services, gift cards, prepaid cards, merchant services, Accertify, InAuth, corporate card, business travel, and corporate responsibility.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200311005516/en/
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Turkish health minister on Wednesday announced the first case of the novel coronavirus in Turkey.

A male citizen was tested positive for the coronavirus on Tuesday evening, Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca told reporters.

The patient had returned from Europe, contracted the virus there and suffered high fever and coughing, said the minister, noting that the patient was completely isolated.

"The patient's general condition is good. All of his family members and those who was in contact with him are under surveillance," the minister stated.

The minister warned the Turkish citizens not to go abroad unless it is compulsory and to stay at home for 14 days if returned from abroad.

Turkey in last month closed its border with Iran, stopped all passenger flights with Iran, Italy, South Korea and Iraq and started screening passengers arriving from abroad.
The trial of the Publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, at the Federal High Court in Abuja, was on Wednesday stalled due to the failure of the federal government to produce a detailed witness statement.

At the commencement of the trial on Wednesday, the judge, Ijeoma Ojukwu, had ordered the prosecution to call their first witness despite a pending application in which they sought to mask their witnesses.

Mr Sowores lawyer, Femi Falana, had opposed the application for the prosecutions witness, Rasheed Olawale, to be masked.

But Ms Ojukwu adjourned to rule on the prosecutions application and asked the prosecution to call its witness.

While giving evidence, Mr Olawale, an operative of the State Security Services (SSS), said he is a principal staff officer in charge of surveillance and communication intelligence.

As part of my duties, I am charged to prevent and investigate any threat against national security.

Describing how he met the duo standing trial, Mr Olawale said his team was directed to arrest the defendant after they received an intelligence report that he ( Mr Sowore) had planned to carry out a revolution on August 5, 2019, by revolting along with his associate against the democratic government of Nigeria throughout the federation.

The SSS operative said the activist was later arrested around 1 a.m. at Montana Residence and Hotel at 16 Oduduwa Road, GRA Ikeja, Lagos.

Speaking further, the witness said their investigation report revealed that Sowore was in Maryland with his associates and cohorts, making graphic inscriptions tagged #RevolutionNow on the wall of Maryland bridge.

He was sensitising passers-by of the particular day for the protest and what they planned to do. He also claimed that the government of the day would cease to exist through the procession.

It was at this point that Mr Falana raised an objection. He said the witness was starting to give evidence not contained in his earlier statement which was served on the defence team.

While Mr Rasheed was still testifying, Mr Falana interjected and said that, the defendant is entitled to know the entirety of the case, which was why they demanded the full statement of the witnesses as enshrined in section 36(6) of the 1999 Constitution as amended. He said allowing the evidence would amount to an ambush against his client.

The senior lawyer urged the court to direct the prosecution lawyer to limit the witness to his earlier statement.

The witness is giving evidence outside his written evidence and it makes a mockery of the essence of serving us with witness statement, Mr Falana said. If he is allowed to give evidence on matters not in the quote, then in a way, the defence is being ambushed.

We apply that the court limits the witness to his statement as nothing has been added to the statement served to us on March 9, 2020, Mr Falana said.

Responding, the prosecution lawyer, Aminu Alilu, argued that the law allows them to only serve a summary of a witness statement on the defence. He urged the court to allow the witness to continue with his evidence as the defence would also get the opportunity to cross-examine the witness.

In a short ruling, Ms Ojukwu held that the witness was giving his testimony outside the scope of his written statement made earlier.

The judge said although the witness does not have to use the exact words used in his written statement, he is limited to the scope of evidence adduced.

Consequently, she ordered the prosecution to go back and reproduce the statements of all the witnesses. The judge also said she would rule on the application seeking witness protection on the next adjourned date.

The matter has been adjourned to April 1 and 2 for continuation.

Mr Sowore is being prosecuted alongside a co-defendant, Olawale Bakare, on two counts of treasonable felony.

The defendants were arrested in August last year for calling for #RevolutionNow protest, which the federal government said was aimed at toppling the government of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Messrs Sowore and Bakare had insisted that the protest was aimed at demanding good governance.

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Senator Chris Murphy is seeking an investigation into several federal agencies over concerns they acted with political bias in acquiescing to Republican requests involving Hunter Biden and Burisma, the Ukrainian gas company where he was a board member.

Murphy, a Connecticut Democrat, voiced concerns that the agencies are cooperating with GOP investigations into Democratic 2020 presidential front runner Joe Bidens son and Ukrainian energy company, Burisma Holdings in a letter to be sent Wednesday to inspectors general for the State Department, Treasury Department, Department of Homeland Security and the National Archives. He has asked for a response by March 23.

These agencies said no to every document request related to the investigation of President Trump, but they may be willing to cough up anything that Senate Republicans are asking them to produce on the Biden family, Murphy told Politico, adding that it appears to be a really concerning double standard.

Our responsibility is to make sure that the official letters of the government arent used to destroy peoples political opponents  that seems to be a theme in this administration, Murphy continued. I expect Democrats are going to have to spend time explaining why its illegitimate for Senate Republicans to use their position to try to destroy the Bidens.

Earlier this month, Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson the Republican chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee announced plans to issue the first subpoena related to the committees probe of Hunter Biden and his position on the board of Burisma, which paid him up to $50,000 a month. The younger Biden obtained the lucrative position in 2014 while his father was vice president and in charge of tackling Ukrainian corruption and left the board in April of last year.

The committee is scheduled to vote Wednesday on whether to subpoena former Ukrainian embassy official Andrii Telizhenko, who worked as a consultant for the Washington-based Blue Star Strategies, a firm Burisma hired to combat accusations of corruption within the energy company.

Story continues

Internal State Department email exchanges reported last year showed that Blue Star leveraged the Biden name to secure a meeting between the gas company and State Department officials and then brought his name up again during that meeting. The meetings were part of a longstanding campaign to rehabilitate Burismas reputation in Washington following a corruption probe.

Along with Republican Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, Johnson have also asked the State Department to release any records on Hunter Biden, and the Secret Service has already turned over travel documents from Bidens time as vice president. The chairmen have also asked the National Archives and Records Administration for records related to probing Ukraines involvement in the 2016 election.

More from National Review
Canadian eLearning company commits to ensuring training continues during a time when concerned companies have called a halt to in-person training

NEW GLASGOW, Nova Scotia, March 10, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- As the response to the novel coronavirus continues to restrict travel and cancel major public events, one company is committed to ensuring staff training and development continues. Canadian-based Velsoft Training Materials is offering unrestricted access to its learning management system for companies scrambling to deal with the fallout from the spread of the virus.

The workplace learning and development (L&D) industry has been hit hard by the cancellation of face-to-face events. It is expected that the virus will continue to spread throughout the world, causing havoc on travel or gatherings for public events. Companies are frantically establishing contingency plans but the coronavirus continues to move faster than their preparations.

"Many training events have been transformed to online or virtual events to stem the spread of the contagious virus," says Jim Fitt, founder of Velsoft. "However, not every organization knows where to start in providing virtual or distance training." Fitt and his team have created a plan to offer their technologies to help companies move their corporate training online.

Working remotely has quickly become an accepted practice, with companies attempting to shield their staff from the epidemic. Many companies, such as Facebook, Microsoft, Amazon, Ford Motor, HSBC, AT&T, CNN, Citigroup and Twitter, have directed employees to work from home to reduce the risk of spreading the virus.

Fitt notes that many organizations currently offer online staff training, but others have not yet embraced this model. "All we are hoping for is to help get things back to normal as quickly as possible," Fitt adds. "Cancelling or postponing training will have a lasting effect on companies already bracing for impacts likely to reverberate across corporations long after the outbreak is eventually brought under control."

Fitt and his team are committed to ensuring as much training as possible go uninterrupted, which is why free access to Velsoft's eLearning platforms is being offered to those wanting to train their teams remotely. Until the end of April, companies can access all course authoring and learning management system software for free with no obligation whatsoever.

Velsoft believes the effect of the coronavirus on global higher education is a predictor to a disruption about to happen to the $366.2 billion USD workplace L&D industry.

The company's Chief Operating Officer David Gormley says the company is paying very close attention to what schools and universities are doing. "As the number of people impacted by the virus grows at alarming rates, students at universities in affected areas face the prospect of losing an entire semester or more," Gormley says.

Moving classes online is the number one way higher education institutions are responding to the COVID-19 outbreak.

For more information:

Carol Dunn

Communications Director

1-902-759-4791

[email protected]

SOURCE Velsoft
Sen. John Matthews, the longest-serving African American state lawmaker, announced Tuesday that he is not seeking re-election this year.

Matthews said hes been blessed to serve the people of South Carolina, but its time for a new generation.

I am very fortunate to have served in the General Assembly for 46 years at the end of this session, and after much deliberation, have decided that the best way to continue the momentum my colleagues and I have worked so hard to build over these many years is to open my seat in the South Carolina Senate to a new generation of leadership, he said in a release.

He represents Senate District 39, which includes portions of Berkeley, Calhoun, Colleton, Dorchester and Orangeburg counties.

Matthews was first elected to the S.C. House of Representatives in 1975. He has served in the state Senate since 1985.

While S.C. has made progress, more is needed, Matthews said.

I will continue to be a supporting resource for anyone who wishes to make meaningful change in South Carolina, and I am excited for what the future holds, Matthews said.

Id like to first thank my family for their unwavering support. Id also like to say thank you to every person who supported me in my many elections, thank you to my fellow senators who have been loyal friends and who have stood with me in even the toughest fights and thank you to the people of District 39. It has been a pleasure to serve, he said.

Matthews was the first African American to hold the position of assistant minority leader in the Senate. He has also served as leader of the Legislative Black Caucus.

The Bowman Democrat is being lauded for his more than four decades of service in education and economic development, and his efforts to empower his constituents and people statewide.

"He's had a wonderful and tremendous career as a statesman serving all of the people of South Carolina, but particularly Orangeburg, said Sen. Brad Hutto, D-Orangeburg.

With the amount of time and energy that he has spent in promoting economic development and new jobs for Orangeburg, promoting educational reform, looking out for the environment, John Matthews is a true champion of the people of Orangeburg County," he said.

"I think it speaks just volumes to the fact that he was recognized recently when his portrait was hung in the chambers of the South Carolina Senate. That's a recognition that people across South Carolina know of the volume of work that he has done over four decades now," Hutto said.

Matthews' grandchildren unveiled his portrait during a ceremony held on Dec. 19.

Hutto recalled the first time he met Matthews.

"I was working as a page for Sen. Williams and got to know then-Rep. Matthews pretty well and worked on his campaigns for election to the Senate there in the '80s. He's really just been a truly outstanding representative for all of the folks. I mean, he's looked out for the people in rural South Carolina," Hutto said.

Sixth District U.S. Congressman James Clyburn has known Matthews since their days at South Carolina State University. They are alumni.

"He didn't live on the campus. I didn't enjoy campus life with him, but I remember him. He was a year or two ahead of me," Clyburn said.

"We interacted a little bit, and then, of course, I went off ... and lost track of him. But when I came back ... I reconnected with John Matthews and we became political and personal friends. His late wife and now my late wife became great friends. In fact, we even spent a couple of weekends together as couples. I remember a weekend out in Hilton Head we had together. We shared a villa," Clyburn said.

The congressman described Matthews as a "great guy."

"He never really showed anger. He's just been pretty much even-keeled. He's just made an outstanding contribution to the political process. He's going to be missed. I spoke to him a couple of nights ago when he called to me inform me that he was not going to run again. I told him how much I appreciated working with him," he said.

"Hopefully whoever succeeds him in that office will continue his legacy of service," Clyburn said

Orangeburg County Development Commission Executive Director Gregg Robinson said, "He has been by far a champion throughout the state, but specifically in his district. I have never seen such a commitment from any other senator when it came to raising the bar of the standard of living through economic development and education."

Robinson added, "Economic development is a prerequisite to get a job and so is education ... He recognized the support of both of those to get the livable wage higher, to reduce unemployment, to give opportunities to the less fortunate in our area and at the same time create an environment where businesses can be successful."

Robinson said Matthews was "a true champion" for the county and state.

"There's a reason his portrait is in the Senate chambers, and it's an honor to have worked with him while I've been here in Orangeburg County," he said.

Hutto said Matthews, who will turn 80 on April 21, is "a true voice for the people."

He believes in faith, family, rural communities, the importance of a job, the importance of education and health care, Hutto said.

I mean, you can't name an issue that impacted people and people's lives that John Matthews wasn't an integral part in trying to come up with a better solution to address those problems," the senator said.

He added, "He's made the decision on his own that he wants some time to himself. And he has certainly earned that. I congratulate him on all of his years of service and look forward to working with whoever the people in his district send up to Columbia next time."

Matthews and his late wife, Geraldine, had five children.

A member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Matthews has served in many capacities, including as chairman of the Orangeburg County Legislative Delegation, and as a member of the Southern Regional Education Board and the Governor's Middle Grades Task Force.

He is the recipient of the South Carolina State University Distinguished Alumni Award and was honored as Orangeburg County Democrat of the Year, South Carolina Primary Health Care Legislator of the Year and as Minority Business Advocate of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration. He has also been inducted into the South Carolina Black Hall of Fame.

Contact the writer: dgleaton@timesanddemocrat.com or 803-533-5534. Follow "Good News with Gleaton" on Twitter at @DionneTandD

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In a first in the country, three transportation security officers who work at Mineta San Jose International Airport have tested positive for the COVID-19 virus..

One of the employees has been out sick for 13 days, said James Mudrock, president of the American Federal of Government Employees Local 1230 that represents Transportation Security Administration employees in Northern California.

TSA said the officers are receiving medical care and all employees they have come in contact with over the past 14 days are quarantined at home. Mudrock said he was told 42 employees, but not the entire San Jose airport workforce, are on paid administrative leave. The staffing gaps are being filled by overtime. The affected workers all worked in Terminal B.

When TSA notified San Joses airport of the coronavirus-infected employees on Tuesday, staff immediately sanitized security checkpoints, which it normally does throughout the day as well as a deep clean every night, airport spokesman Scott Wintner said.

Screening checkpoints remain open and TSA is working with state, local and federal health agencies to monitor the situation as well as the safety of workers and travelers, the federal transportation agency said.

Santa Clara Countys congressional representatives Anna G. Eshoo, Zoe Lofgren, Ro Khanna and Jimmy Panetta, along with Santa Clara County Board President Cindy Chavez and San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo called on TSA to release information about what shifts the employees were working and whether they interacted with passengers.

We want to make sure that recent travelers through SJC know their potential risk of exposure and follow guidance by medical professionals to monitor their health and call a healthcare facility if they begin to exhibit symptoms, the statement Wednesday read.

Airport employees are on the front lines of the public health and economic crisis caused by COVID-19 as the disease spreads around the world through droplets and surfaces, fears around flying surge, and travel demand plummets.

We took the job to protect the flying public, but at the same time, we have to protect our lives also, said Hydrick Thomas, president of AFGE TSA Council 100 representing TSA workers nationwide.

Mudrock said with TSA employees screening millions of passengers a day, its likely they are coming into contact with more people carrying the virus who may be unaware of it.

Honestly, Im afraid this is probably just the tip of the iceberg, he said. Just on the strength of numbers alone, the odds are greatly in favor of there being more contact and more outbreaks.

Now Playing: Here is what you need to know about the coronavirus. Video: Manjula Varghese

Since the coronavirus outbreak hit the U.S., TSA has been encouraging employees to take precautions like hand washing, switching out gloves used to handle passenger baggage more frequently, and wearing masks if possible, Mudrock said.

But demand is far outstripping supply at the moment, he added. His order for more surgical masks for TSA employees at Sacramento International Airport on Feb. 5 hasnt been filled yet. Although no gloves have run out at Northern California airports, Mudrock said it was an issue elsewhere in the country. Thomas said his nationwide request for N-95 masks was rejected; a limited supply of surgical masks are being distributed at airports instead. (The U.S. Surgeon General has urged the public to not buy masks, which are needed for health workers.)

Thomas also wanted to see more hand sanitizing stations at every step of the security process. TSA employees who fall ill will be required to take paid sick leave, the amount of which varies, Mudrock said.

Unfortunately, there doesnt seem to be a lot more that can be done other than follow those precautions, Mudrock said. We would like to remind the the traveling public to follow them also, not just for their own benefit, but for the benefit of our officers as well.

A Santa Clara County Public Health Department spokesman said the risk of transmission is extremely low for individuals who arent in close proximity for an extended period of time. Risk would be higher when sitting in close proximity to a person for multiple hours versus quick contact passing by an individual in a mall.

These three cases, the first known and confirmed among TSA employees, were reported in Santa Clara County, which had 43 cases of COVID-19 and one death as of Wednesday. Roughly half were of unknown origin, meaning the disease is spreading in the community.

On Monday, the county banned public gatherings of more than 1,000 people. That does not apply to transit centers like the airport, which saw 14.9 million passengers last year.

Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes

Amid a drop in demand, one flight to China has been canceled from San Jose. Domestic flights have not been cut yet, but Wintner said he expects they will be. Traffic is down 18% from the first week of March compared with the same time last year.

Whether planes are here or not, the people are not, Wintner said.

Other local airports are seeing drops in numbers and instituting deep cleaning regimens. While Oakland and Sacramento have TSA workforces, San Francisco International Airport is one of a few in the country to use a private security firm, Covenant Aviation Security, whose contract was grandfathered into TSA when it was created after the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001.

At SFO, flights are down 3.1%. The airport procured a three-month advance supply of EPA-approved disinfectant, which custodial staff are using to increase cleaning of touch points such as handrails, buttons, and door handles. It has deployed battery-operated sprayers and all-surface cleaning equipment and installed 60 additional hand sanitizers throughout the airport. The San Francisco Department of Public Health also produced and distributed 850 posters with coronavirus information.

The Port of Oakland has established a task force for cleaning and sanitizing. The custodial staff at Oakland International Airport is increasing disinfecting of surface areas in the terminal including counters, ledges, kiosks, telephones, ATMs, seats and armrests, and buses. The airport had no flight changes as of Wednesday.

Other airport agencies are being vigilant. U.S. Customs and Border Protection is maintaining situational awareness to identify individuals who traveled from countries affected by COVID-19 and if officers observe any with symptoms, will refer them to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, spokesman Jaime Ruiz said in an email.

CBP processes more than 1 million travelers at U.S. ports of entry per day. Under health screening programs at airports from Feb. 2 to March 4, the agency referred 62,864 travelers to the CDC, Ruiz said. These travelers were most commonly citizens of the U.S., China, Canada, Vietnam and India.

Chronicle staff writer Erin Allday contributed to this report.

Mallory Moench is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mallory.moench@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @mallorymoench
TULUFERA, Ethiopia  Grim-faced, visibly grief-stricken and some crying, hundreds of family members gathered Tuesday for a memorial service at the site where one year ago an Ethiopian Airlines jet crashed into the rocky ground, killing all 157 on board.

The area of the disaster, about 40 miles (65 kilometers) southeast of Addis Ababa, the capital, was closed to the media as buses brought relatives of the victims to the commemoration, sponsored by Ethiopian Airlines and Boeing, the maker of the jet.

Residents of the rural Tulufera area, near Bishoftu, took a break from fetching water and milking cattle, to remember when the jet nose-dived into the earth.

It was very chaotic and we were in distress, Tsegaye Workineh, who said he was one of the first people to reach the crash site, told The Associated Press. It is a sight that I will never forget in my entire life. Youre lucky that you havent seen it. It was very shocking.

Big buses and smaller vehicles arrived on a newly built dirt road for the service where large tents have been erected.

Flight 302 took off from Addis Ababa airport on the morning of March 10 last year and the pilots quickly reported problems and sought permission to return to the airport. They struggled but failed to control the plane, which six minutes after takeoff hit the barren patch of land.

The Ethiopian crash came almost five months after a strikingly similar crash in Indonesia of the same model aircraft. Together the two crashes led to a grounding of all Boeing 737 Max jets, more than 380 planes used by more than 50 airlines around the world. Boeing initially expressed confidence that the planes would soon be returned to service, but no date has been set.

In an interim report released Monday, Ethiopian investigators mostly blame Boeing for the crash, saying there were design failures in the flight-control system which repeatedly pushed the nose of the plane down. The report also said Boeing had offered inadequate training for pilots.

This is a disaster that could have been avoided. Thats the hardest thing to come to terms with, said Bahru Zewde, a member of the Ethiopian Airlines Pilots Association, at a memorial held by the group in Addis Ababa on Tuesday afternoon. It was an unnecessary sacrifice they paid. They have become martyrs.

Getachew Tessema, father of the pilot of the crashed flight, spoke at the event.

My son Yared was very happy to join Ethiopian Airlines. We were also filled with joy and pride. But now this happened, he said. Yared was a hard-working person who was loved by many. He died at the tender age of 29. The only hope I have is to see him in the afterlife. Our wounds will never heal.

A fellow pilot told how the deceased captain had been the best man in his wedding and of his despair over the crash.

I learned about the terrible news from TV, said Biniam Alemayehu. The fact that Captain Yared was my best man makes it harder for me. First I was in denial. Then I cried and rolled over the ground. The fact that it was a new aircraft with seasoned cabin crew members and a safe airline makes it an open wound for all of us.
The housing shortage continues to plague the market. Many credit union members need affordable housing options, yet few exist. These members are stuck with increasing living expenses, a need to save for a down payment for a home, and housing prices that continue to climb. Buying a home often seems not just out of reach, but impossible.

This underserved part of your community is searching for options. By offering home loans for manufactured homes, your credit union can positively impact your membership and community with growth and stability.

According to the Manufactured Housing Institute, more than 22 million Americans live in manufactured homes, which make up more than 9% of the nations total housing stock. Those numbers are increasing rapidly among first-time homebuyers and others within your community.
Reporter's note: This story contains unofficial results for the presidential primary election in Midland County, and will be updated throughout the night of March 10 as more results are counted.

A week after "Super Tuesday," Michigan is among six states to host presidential primary elections on March 10, with a total of 125 Democratic delegates and 73 Republican delegates at stake.

Midland County contains more than 64,000 registered voters across 32 precincts. Polling locations close at 8 p.m.

There are a total of 15 Democratic presidential nominees on the ballot, including the two current front-runners: former vice president of the United States Joe Biden and Vermont senator Bernie Sanders. Republicans on the ballot include incumbent U.S. President Donald Trump, as well as former governor of Massachusetts Bill Weld, former Illinois representative Joe Walsh and former governor of South Carolina Mark Sanford.

Primaries are also taking place in Idaho, Mississippi, Missouri, Washington and North Dakota.

8:30 p.m.

Biden leads the Democratic nomination as 18% of Midland County's precincts have been fully reported, including precincts in the Jasper, Warren, Geneva, Hope, Mills and Midland townships. Biden leads with 1,831 votes, with Sanders' close behind with 1,193. Donald Trump has received 1,799 votes on the Republican ballot.

8:40 p.m.

Biden maintains lead with 30% of precincts reporting. Biden has 3,271 votes to Sanders' 2,211 as Greendale, Porter, Lee and Ingersoll townships and the City of Coleman report results.

10:15 p.m.

Polling numbers have been slow to come in as precincts in Midland County are not fully reported until absent voter ballots are counted, according to ElectionReporting.com  the online service Midland County uses to record results.

10:40 p.m.

All townships within Midland County have now been counted, adding up to 52% of the total amount of votes. The City of Midland  which contains six precincts, split into 24 wards  is the only district that has yet to be counted.

Biden is the clear front-runner of the Democratic race, with 5,167 votes to Sanders' 3,523. Trump leads the Republican ballot with 4,566 votes, the closest runner-up being Bill Weld with 44.

11:25 p.m.

With 100% of precincts fully reported, the final results for the presidential primary election in Midland County are as follows:

Democratic candidates:

Joe Biden  6,302 votes

Bernie Sanders  3,932 votes

Michael R. Bloomberg  350 votes

Elizabeth Warren  168 votes

Pete Buttigieg  132 votes

Amy Klobuchar  85 votes

Tulsi Gabbard  93 votes

Andrew Yang  14 votes

Marianne Williamson  5 votes

John Delaney  5 votes

Cory Booker  2 votes

Joe Sestak  4 votes

Tom Steyer  6 votes

Julian Castro  2 vote

Michael Bennet  6 votes

"Uncommitted" votes  81

Write-ins  8

Republican candidates:
Kerala has gone into partial shutdown with the total number of people infected with coronavirus rising to 14. Many others have been isolated after showing symptoms of Covid-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.

Severe restrictions have been imposed on public gatherings and all educational institutions have been shut down till March 31 as the state tackles the virus.

Tackling Coronavirus: Track Live Updates

The latest to test positive were parents of three-year-old boy, who recently came back from one of the global coronavirus hot spots Italy. They have been kept in an isolation ward of a hospital in Kochi. Health officials said conditions of all infected people are stable and they are responding well to symptomatic treatment. As many as 1500 people are under observation, out of these 259 are admitted to various hospitals.

Also Watch | Coronavirus: What we know and what we dont

The state is keeping its fingers crossed as two dozen results are expected by Wednesday evening.

We are fighting back with all resources available. What we need is co-operation of people. Two years back we had contained another dangerous virus nipah effectively. We will overcome this challenge also, Kerala Health Minister K K Shailaja said late on Tuesday night.

The state is bracing for the arrival of more travellers from abroad as situation is turning serious in countries like Italy. At least 42 people, who came from Italy, were quarantined in Kochi in the early hours of Wednesday. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had shot off a letter to the Prime Minister seeking his intervention to evacuate 45 Indians, mostly Keralites, stranded in Fiumicino (Rome) airport in Italy. They complained that airport officials told them India is insisting on certificates declaring they are free from virus.

From imported cases to local transmission, Kerala had pressed the emergency button announcing a series of measures to check the spread of the virus. The state health department has called for strict community surveillance, scaling up of contact tracing and tapping local bodies to check the spread of the deadly disease. The health department has also prepared a route map for the three people who returned from Italy and dodged health officials; 11 of the 14 infected people reportedly got the virus from them.

They belong to Ranni, a town in Pathanamthitta, which now wears a deserted look.

Many social and religious bodies have also announced their support to the government. Two important shrines, Guruvayoor and Sabarimala, have scaled down their daily grind. The Catholic Bishops Council has issued a special guideline to conduct prayers and offerings - important among them is devotees are being asked to receive holy communion, considered most sacrament, in the hand, not on the tongue. It has also advised believers to avoid large gatherings and masses. The Nair Service Society has also asked people to skip big gatherings. Cinema halls have also announced closure and film units also suspended their shooting. Hotels and resorts have asked not to entertain foreign guests till further notice.

The state had reported Indias first three cases of coronavirus in January this year. They have now recovered fully. Two years back, Kerala had witnessed the outbreak of another dangerous virus, nipah. Though it claimed 17 lives, the virus was localised and contained effectively.

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BEIJING/TOKYO, March 11 (Reuters) - China's construction activities were stalled in February as the government extended Lunar New Year holidays and advised people to stay indoors as a precaution against a coronavirus outbreak.

The flu-like epidemic, which originated in the central city of Wuhan, has killed 3,158 and infected more than 80,000 in mainland China. Data from Japan's Komatsu , one of the world's biggest makers of earth-moving equipment, showed use of its machinery in China fell nearly 30% to 32 hours last month, from a year ago. That compares to 59.1 hours in January and 44.9 hours in February last year.

Millions of construction workers in China returned to their hometowns for traditional week-long Lunar New Year celebrations, which kicked off in late January. But the government extended the holiday for an extra two weeks in a bid to contain the spread of the virus.

Property and infrastructure projects, including the second-phase of the China-Russia natural gas pipeline project, were halted until late February. The Caixin/Markit Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) showed the sharpest contraction in factory activity on record in February, down sharply to 40.3 from 51.1 in January. Inventory of construction steel rebar with Chinese traders soared to a record high of 12.23 million tonnes by Friday, up nearly 20% on the year, data compiled by Mysteel consultancy showed.

Average utilisation rates at cement producers across China last week were 13.71%, up 5.13 percentage points on the week. But cement producers in northern China remained mainly shut as resumption at construction sites was still slow. With the drop in new infections, China has been striving to bring workers back to their posts and enable firms to resume operations, by offering financial support and approving new infrastructure projects. By Wednesday, 24 regions had lowered emergency response levels to the epidemic. The transport ministry expects all migrant workers to return to their workplaces by early April.



Average usage hours of Komatsu machines in China China's Caixin/Markit PMI China's Shanghai rebar inventory China's passenger travel flows

(Reporting by Muyu Xu in Beijing and David Dolan in Tokyo; Editing by Shailesh Kuber)
BAKHCHYSARAY, Ukraine -- Russian authorities have detained five Crimean Tatar activists after searching their homes in Ukraine's Russian-controlled Crimea region.

Crimea-based human rights activist Lutfie Zudiyeva told RFE/RL on March 11 that officers from Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) had detained historian Seytumer Seytumerov, a member of the Crimean Solidarity rights group that has members in Crimea and other parts of Ukraine, Amet Suleymanov, and three Crimean Tatar activists, Enver Mustafayev, Osman Seytumerov, and Rustem Seytmemetov, after their homes were searched in the city of Bakhchysaray.

Lawyer Nikolai Polozov confirmed to the TASS news agency that five Crimean Tatars were detained in Bakhchysaray on March 11 on suspicion of being members of the Hizb ut-Tahrir Islamic group that is banned in Russia but not in Ukraine.

Since Russia seized Crimea in 2014, Russian authorities have prosecuted dozens of Crimean Tatars for allegedly belonging to Hizb ut-Tahrir.

Moscows takeover of the peninsula was vocally opposed by many Crimean Tatars, who are a sizable minority in the region.

Exiled from their homeland to Central Asia by the Soviet authorities under dictator Josef Stalin during World War II, many Crimean Tatars are very wary of Russia and Moscow's rule.

Rights groups and Western governments have denounced what they describe as a campaign of repression by the Russian-imposed authorities in Crimea who are targeting members of the Turkic-speaking Crimean Tatar community and others who have spoken out against Moscow's takeover of the peninsula.

In its annual report on religious freedom worldwide, released in April last year, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) said that "[in] Russian-occupied Crimea, the Russian authorities continued to kidnap, torture, and imprison Crimean Tatar Muslims at will."

Russia took control of Crimea from Ukraine in March 2014 after sending in troops, seizing key facilities, and staging a referendum dismissed as illegal by at least 100 countries. Moscow also backs separatists in a war against government forces that has killed more than 13,000 people in eastern Ukraine since April 2014.

With reporting by TASS
Custom cowboy boots on the fashion show runway at the Opening Preview Party kicking off the four-day Western Design Exhibit + Sale, September 10-13, 2020 (photo by Katie Cooney/New Thought Digital). Guests of the Western Design Exhibit + Sale sip wine while they mingle with artists and art lovers and peruse the 28,000 square feet filled with furnishings, fashion and accessories.

The dates are set for the Western Design Exhibit + Sale to return to Jackson Hole September 10-13, 2020, for its 28th year. While the more than 100 juried artisans chosen to participate in the four-day celebration hail from all over the country, they share a special love for the West that inspires their beautifully handcrafted functional art. Created in mediums including leather, metal, wood and textiles, their work is highlighted at the event, allowing visitors a hands-on experience and opportunity to talk with the artists. The Western Design Exhibit + Sale opens with an iconic live runway fashion show and also features a six-room Designer Show House constructed in the middle of the showroom floor at the Snow King Events Center in Jackson, Wyoming.

Each year, the selected artists bring their finest collections to picturesque Jackson Hole to show and sell their pieces, each accompanied by a unique story, to the more than 4,500 visitors who enter the showroom over the course of the event to experience the festive, one-of-a-kind shopping opportunity. Guests of the Western Design Exhibit + Sale sip wine while they mingle with artists and art lovers and peruse the 28,000 square feet filled with furnishings, fashion and accessories that reflect the best of the Old and New West.

Kicking off the Western Design Exhibit + Sale is the highly anticipated Opening Preview Party on Thursday, September 10, a celebratory soiree to see and be seen, where visitors and locals gather for an evening that includes a live auction of specially selected pieces followed by a runway fashion show unveiling a variety of Western-inspired couture, all paired with tasty catered bites sampled with local spirits and signature cocktails from one of the partys five open bars. Party guests can browse the showroom and get an advance look  and opportunity to purchase first  from the artists' offerings.

Returning to the Exhibit + Sale is the consistently impressive, true-to-scale Designer Show House, which features professionally designed interior spaces by a handful of highly talented design firms from across the country. Guests can find inspiration for their own homes as they stroll through the display rooms, talking shop with the designers.

Other returning favorites include another round of Artitude Adjustment happy hours offered daily at 2 p.m. with complimentary cocktails for guests to sip while shopping. And on Friday, Sept. 11, more than $20,000 in design excellence awards will be presented to artists chosen by a panel of judges in conjunction with sponsored cocktails and artisan chocolates. The Exhibit + Sale continues through Sunday, September 13.

Drawing art enthusiasts and collectors from around the world, the four-day Western Design Exhibit + Sale is a signature event of the two-week-long Jackson Hole Fall Arts Festival, which brings an estimated 30,000 visitors to Jackson each September.

Tickets are $15 for an Exhibit + Sale day pass; VIP entry and reserved seating at the Opening Preview Party + Fashion Show is available for $125 per person; $50 general admission. All tickets include open bars or daily happy hours.

About the Western Design Conference Exhibit + Sale:

The annual Western Design Exhibit + Sale is a four-day, multimillion-dollar event that brings together craftspeople, collectors, interior designers, architects and fashion designers with a love of the West. The Western Design Conference was founded 28 years ago in Cody, Wyoming, to promote contemporary artists working in historical American craft methods. The Western Design Exhibit + Sale moved to Jackson in 2007; Allison Merritt continues the strong commitment to Western arts in Wyoming while expanding the reach of the show. Additional information, including schedules and tickets, is available at http://www.westerndesignconference.com and on Facebook and Instagram.
Navi Mumbai

A 20-year-old man was arrested, merely an hour after he broke a ATM kiosk to steal money early on Tuesday. The police seized a hammer and a chisel from him.

The accused, Roshan Modak, had come to Navi Mumbai from Satara two months ago and had been living with his friend at a chawl in Kalamboli village. He came here searching for a job, said police.

On Tuesday around 1am, a team of patrolling constables from the Kalamboli police station received information that a man was breaking an ATM kiosk.

The police team found parts of the ATM machines panels were damaged. After going through the CCTV footage, police saw a man was trying to open the panels with the help of a chisel and a hammer. The kiosk was unguarded but the man could not manage to take out money.

The police started looking for him and caught him in an hour, said Satish Gaikwad, senior inspector at Kalamboli police station.

Modak was booked under Indian Penal Code sections 380 and 511 for attempting to commit theft. Officials said Modak does not have a criminal background.

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The deposed emir of Kano Muhammadu Sanusi II has arrived at his new home in Awe, Nasarawa State, following his deposition by Kano Stat...





The deposed emir of Kano Muhammadu Sanusi II has arrived at his new home in Awe, Nasarawa State, following his deposition by Kano State Government on Monday.





The monarch was earlier banished to Loko village in the same Nasarawa State but the condition of the village, lacking in basic amenities, necessitated his transfer to Awe town by the state government.





It was gathered that the former emir will now occupy a modest two-bedroom bungalow belonging to the local government chairman.





The emir was escorted into the new abode by the Emir of Lafia, Sidi Bage and Emir of Awe, Isa Umar II.

See photos of his new home as shared by Dailytrust below:
























Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 11)  Businessman Edgar Injap Sia IIs MerryMart retail chain could be the first to go public this year after the Securities and Exchange Commission approved its 1.6-billion public offering.

The corporate regulator announced Wednesday that it has given the go signal for the convenience store and supermarket brand to list on the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) for 7.6 billion common shares, 1.6 billion of which will be offered to public investors at 1 each.

The planned listing would be the first in 2020, and would follow four successive public offerings late last year.

Of the amount, MerryMart said it will receive 1.47 billion which it will use to fund new stores, as well as for working capital for distribution centers.

MerryMart offers franchises for a full-size supermarket, a medium-scale market, and the MerryMart Store, which are smaller outlets selling a limited array of household essentials. It was previously known as Injap Supermart, Inc. after its founder, who is also behind fast food chain Mang Inasal and property firm DoubleDragon.

Sia is the 28th richest in the Philippines with a net worth of $400 million, according to Forbes.

The company is looking to join the main bourse by April 2, according to its proposed initial public offering submitted to the SEC in January. In 10 years, the group said it wants system-wide sales worth 120 billion from its 1,200 branches.

SEC said MerryMart is looking to add 12 new stores by June, while 100 branches are eyed by end-2021. The proceeds of the public offering will fund 10 MerryMart Groceries, one MerryMart Market, and 14 MerryMart stores.

PNB Capital and Investment Corporation has been tapped as sole issue manager, lead underwriter, and sole bookrunner of the fund-raising exercise.

More fundraising

SEC also approved the proposal of the Gotianun-led Filinvest Development Corporation to raise up to 15 billion through fixed-rate notes to be sold to investors.

The bonds will be sold at face value and will be due in five or seven years, the SEC said. The papers will be available with a minimum 50,000 investment, plus increments of 10,000.

The listed real estate firm said it will use the capital to pay maturing debts.

Meanwhile, Altus Property Ventures also got the regulators nod to hand out up to 100 million shares in the company as dividends to shareholders of its parent firm Robinsons Land Corporation, paving its way into the PSEs small main board.

Local stocks took a nosedive on Monday as the number of novel coronavirus cases in the country spiked over the weekend. Shares have slightly recovered from its worst drop since 2008, but remained slumped compared to last weeks level.
Chinese schoolchildren in Wuhan and other areas where school has been suspended because of the Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak have apparently been trying to have a homework app taken down from the App Store so they could enjoy their vacation.

The threat of Covid-19 is no joke, but for Chinese students the shutdown of schools in affected areas has been met with excitement as it basically meant an extra holiday period. Sure, they couldnt hang out or even leave the house for weeks, but at least they didnt have to attend classes and, most importantly, they dint have any homework. At least thats what they thought, because soon after schools closed, teachers started using an Alibaba-owned app to both hold classes online and issue homework to their students. But somehow the schoolchildren managed to coordinate a massive campaign to hopefully have the app taken down from the App Store so they could enjoy their time off.

Photo: Annie Spratt/Unsplash

DingTalk is an advanced app that allows teachers and employers to issue work and homework, and track progress of students and workers by requiring users to submit a check-in photo to a set group at the start of each day. The app also allows teachers to conduct lessons via live stream and interact with students via direct video or chat. DingTalk actually works pretty well, and until not so long ago it had a rating of 4.9/5 stars on the App Store, but then a wave of negative reviews bought the rating down to an abysmal 1.4 stars.

Somehow the little brats worked out that if enough users gave the app a one-star review it would get booted off the App Store, journalist Wang Xiuying wrote for The London Review of Books. Tens of thousands of reviews flooded in, and DingTalks rating plummeted overnight from 4.9 to 1.4. The app has had to beg for mercy on social media: Im only five years old myself, please dont kill me.

Photo: DingTalk

While some of the critical reviews raise legitimate concerns about its lax privacy settings and the collection of personal data, many of the most recent ones were simply critical of the app and the purpose it currently serves.

Imagine having to do homework while youre possibly going to die from a disease, one reviewer wrote.

Feel the frustration of the ruined vacation or Bring our holidays back other negative reviews read.

Despite receiving tens of thousands of negative reviews in recent weeks, DingTalk is still available for download and installation via the App Store.
'Unlike the Congress, the BJP is not a party that merely goes by family connections.'

'Scindia's future will depend on what he brings to the BJP table.'

'The BJP is also a party where vertical growth is mostly factored by RSS preferences.'

'To secure confidence of the saffron brotherhood, Scindia will have to be his grandmother's grandson and not his father's son,' notes Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay.

IMAGE: Jyotiraditya Scindia. Photograph: Kamal Kishore/PTI

The third generation political dynast of the Scindia family that once ruled Gwalior state, Jyotiraditya Scindia, has made his first move towards the Bharatiya Janata Party.

The still unfolding saga is characterised by multiple ironies, The first of these is that among various planks used by the BJP to acquire hegemony on Indian politics is its high-pitched campaign against political dynasticism.

It is ironical because the BJP has the highest share of lawmakers and leaders who were preceded by at least one family member in Parliament, state assemblies or party politics.

To this tally, it has added another one, at least as ally.

This brings a total of four 'Scindias' on the side of the party -- Jyotiraditya's aunts Vadundhara Raje and Yashodhara Raje and cousin Dushyant Singh being the other three.

The immediate future of the one-time Congress minister and close associate of Rahul Gandhi will be known over the next couple of weeks, possibly after conclusion of the ongoing Budget session of Parliament.

The widely expected expansion/rejigging of the Union council of ministers is expected around that time and it will be known if Scindia makes it back to the ministry, under a different prime minister.

But it is his long-term future, either as member of the BJP or as an NDA partner, that Scindia should be worried about.

His first worry will stem from his ability to 'deliver' rebel Congress MLAs to the BJP fold.

This is not an easy matter given that it will be first determined by the question of whether the Kamal Nath-led Congress government survives or not, and if resignations of the 22 MLAs who hoisted the flag of rebellion is accepted by the Madhya Pradesh assembly speaker or not.

Even thereafter, it will be not be easy to retain their loyalty.

Jyotiraditya's second concern stems from the fact that unlike the Congress, the BJP is not a party that merely goes by family connections, at least after the initial push or embrace.

Scindia's future will depend on an assessment of what he brings to the BJP table besides ambitious legislators.

The BJP is also a party where vertical growth is mostly factored by preferences of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.

To secure confidence of the saffron brotherhood, Scindia will have to be his grandmother's grandson and not his father's son.

Furthermore, the BJP has several factions and it is not going to be easy for him to secure his position within the party.

If Scindia eventually chooses to plough the lonely furrow and sets up a small proprietory outfit of his own, like his father Madhavrao Scindia once had, the path will not be any easier, because he has little past experience of party building.

Driven by the mentality that most 'entitled' scions are, he has not risen in politics by the grind and this deficiency will show when he is on his own.

This is where deeper and older ironies regarding the past relationship between Scindia and the BJP need to be mentioned.

Additionally, there are paradoxes rooted in history -- firstly the stance of his ancestor, Jayajirao Scindia, who was the ruler of Gwalior in 1857 during the First War of Indian Independence, and secondly, the role of his grandmother, Vijaya Raje Scindia, popularly called Rajmata, who was the first prominent woman leader of the BJP and its preceding party, the Jana Sangh.

It is, after all, no easy matter to be a scion of a political dynasty that has been on both sides of India's deepest ideological divide.

The Rajmata herself started out in politics as a Congress member in 1957.

Although she and the royal family did not hide their proclivity towards the Hindu Mahasabha, she continued to represent the Congress in the Lok Sabha for a second term in 1962.

Over the next five years, Vijaya Raje got disillusioned with the Congress, interestingly not for political reasons, but because of personal loss stemming from then finance minister Morarji Desai's decision to promulgate the Gold Control Act limiting possession of gold with individuals and families to up to four kilograms.

The Rajmata termed the measure as the 'venomous sister of prohibition' mainly for suffering a personal loss of 11.7 kilograms of gold that she had to surrender.

By the time of the 1967 general election she had abandoned the Congress and decided to sail on two boats -- the Swatantra Party for the Lok Sabha and the Jana Sangh for the assembly election.

Finally, she opted for the latter and began a disrupting career in state politics.

The Rajmata actually provided the template for what we have seen unfold in Bengaluru, Gurugram and Jaipur -- legislators holidaying to remain herded.

She had a running duel with Dwarka Prasad Mishra, then Madhya Pradesh chief minister (now often also referred to as Brajesh Mishra's father).

Vijaya Raje helped the Congress chief minister's rival rebel Congress leader Govind Narayan Singh split the Congress and cart rebel legislators to Delhi where they were confined in a hotel and later paraded in front of then President Dr Zakir Hussain, who after ascertaining their numbers, decreed that the Congress had lost its majority.

In that era, the President and governors still acted of their own volition!

Unlike the Rajmata, her son Madhavrao began with the Jana Sangh in 1971 when he became a member of the Lok Sabha.

He later hopped across to the Congress during the Emergency, partly because of convenience, but chiefly due to differences with his mother which remained till her death.

Jyotiraditya stepped into his father's shoes in 2002 by contesting a by-election after his father's untimely death and it is this association which will be flagged by his rivals within the saffron party.

In 2010, the Gwalior municipal corporation accused Jayajirao Scindia of 'betraying' Rani Laxmibai of Jhansi by providing her with a 'weak horse'.

Anomosity between Jyotiraditya and the BJP unit in Gwalior is well known and their evolving relationship will have to be tracked.

Jyotiraditya has acted to avenge his marginalisation within the Congress, but it is not going to be easy for him to a secure a very prominent position within the BJP.

The BJP has certainly been a net gainer as the episode deflects attention away from the multiple challenges it faces.

Likewise, the biggest loser, notwithstanding the developments in MP, is the Congress leadership, Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul.

It is premature to draw a P&L statement for the man who has triggered this political upheaval.

Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay, journalist and author, is the author of The RSS: Icons of the Indian Right and Narendra Modi: The Man, The Times.
As community morale reached its lowest ebb last year, campaigner Linsday Clout admitted residents stranded in three toxic Australian towns had "lost faith" during their "soul destroying" battle for justice.

Today thousands of residents are celebrating becoming the first citizens in the world to sue their own government over firefighting contamination and win, amid revelations the federal government will pay $212 million following a landmark legal settlement.

Aviation firefighters using foam contaminated with PFAS at Tullamarine, Victoria in 1998.

The class actions were launched four years ago after the Department of Defence disclosed it had polluted the towns with a firefighting foam containing potentially carcinogenic per- and poly-fluoroalkyl [PFAS] chemicals.

Documents released by the Federal Court on Wednesday show that $92.5 million will be paid to residents of Katherine in the Northern Territory.
Rajesh Asnani By

Express News Service

JAIPUR: The political drama kicked off in Madhya Pradesh with the resignation of Jyotiraditya Scindia from the Congress is now having its next act in Jaipur. Amid fears of horse-trading, the Congress hurried 91 of its MLAs from Bhopal to Jaipur on Wednesday afternoon to protect its flock. After being brought in by a chartered flight, the MLAs are being kept at a luxury resort on the Jaipur-Delhi highway. After being warmly welcomed by Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot who fed sweets to them at the Jaipur Airport, the MLAs were rushed to the resort in plush buses.

Gehlot said the BJP was indulging in shameless horsetrading and sinking political standards in the country to a new low. He asserted that the whole country was watching how democracy was being killed and hoped that the people would teach them a strong lesson.

Regarding Scindias revolt, Gehlot was quite sharp in his remarks, Theres no honour that the Congress did not give him. The sooner such opportunists leave, the better it is for our party. He was given every possible post in the past 17-18 years. But now people will not forgive him for his opportunistic politics. The BJP is using money power and all unethical ways to grab power and even misuses CBI and ED to create pressure on people.

After Scindia's revolt, political circles say that Rajasthan might be next on BJP's radar, with Sachin Pilot, a close friend of Scindia, possibly taking the same route. However, Gehlot asserted, BJP is misusing its money power to promote horsetrading. But their efforts will never succeed in Rajasthan.

Besides Gehlot, another senior Congress leader, Mukul Wasnik, went to meet the MLAs staying at the Jaipur resort. Amidst the crisis in Madhya Pradesh, the Congress high command has once again reposed its trust in Gehlots abilities. A few months ago, during the Maharashtra political crisis too, Congress MLAs were brought to Jaipur and kept under Gehlots protection.

Just like then, strict security is now in place for the MLAs from Madhya Pradesh, and Gehlot has deputed some of his most trusted aides like Mahesh Joshi and Dharmendra Rathore to prevent any poaching efforts at the resort. Gehlot also spoke to Madhya Pradesh CM Kamal Nath regarding the arrangements at the Jaipur resort.

It's worth noting the MLAs are being kept at a resort which has all five-star luxuries from spa to swimming pool. A single room at the Buena Vista resort costs anywhere between 19K to 21K rupees a day according to online information and the cost of a villa here ranges from 18K to one lakh rupees a day. Last time around when the Maharashtra MLAs were put up here, media reports said that the party paid 26,000 rupees for each room.


Adidas CEO Kasper Rorsted said the coronavirus outbreak has dealt "a painful setback" for the company's business, as it expects to take a sales hit and is already seeing traffic declines at some of its shops.

"In the sporting goods industry, you are really at the end of the food chain," Rorsted told CNBC's Sara Eisen Wednesday morning.

Before consumers get back to buying sporting goods, they will be stocking up on food and other daily necessities, to prepare for the virus, he said. "That is what we are seeing so far in the first quarter."

When it reported earnings Wednesday, Adidas said it expected first-quarter sales to drop by up to 1 billion euros ($1.14 billion) in greater China, and operating profit to decline by between 400 million and 500 million euros. That was after the company last month warned that its business in the greater China area had dropped by about 85%, year over year, in the period since the Lunar New Year on Jan. 25.

Adidas does about 23% of its business in China, and has 19% of its manufacturing capacity in the country, Rorsted said.

When a quarantine was issued for the region, he said 80% to 90% of business in Asia "stopped overnight." Adidas was losing about $100 million in revenue on a weekly basis, he said.

But traffic has picked back up in China since, he said. And manufacturing facilities in Asia are coming back online. But the outbreak, which began in China, is spreading to other parts of the world. Companies are having to figure out their plans in the U.S., as the virus becomes more widespread.

At first, COVID-19 was primarily hitting companies' supply chains in China. Now, it has become a demand issue on a global scale. U.S. consumers in recent days have been flocking to grocery stores and big-box retailers such as Costco to buy toilet paper, bottled water, cleaning supplies and canned goods.

"At this stage, [I] think the biggest impact right now is the concern people have," Rorsted said about the coronavirus in the U.S. "The uncertainty right now is bigger than the substance."

He said, meantime, Adidas' online traffic is up double digits compared with a year ago.

"This is going to force a quicker transformation to a more digital environment," he said about how consumers are changing how they shop amid the outbreak.

Adidas joins a list of consumer brands that expect the coronavirus epidemic to weaken demand for their products. Under Armour in February said it anticipated the outbreak in China to lower sales by roughly $50 million to $60 million during its fiscal first quarter. Dick's Sporting Goods said Tuesday it has tempered its full-year outlook due to COVID-19.

Adidas, meantime, had been seeing stronger growth in North America of late, thanks, in part, to the popularity around its Yeezy sneaker line with rapper Kanye West. It is also working with singer Beyonce on new merchandise.

Adidas is calling for revenue growth of between 6% and 8%, at constant currencies, in 2020. But it said this outlook could be changed still because of coronavirus.
The Madhya Pradesh (MP) government will send more ministers to Bengaluru on Thursday to persuade the 19 Congress Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs), said to be loyal to Jyotiraditya Scindia, to return to the party fold, a day after the party high command entrusted the job of wooing back the legislators to newly appointed Karnataka Congress chief D K Shivakumar, the party leaders said. Three more MLAs have also resigned but arent in Bengaluru.

Two ministers in Kamal Nath cabinet, Sajjan Singh Verma and Gobind Singh, claimed to have held talks with the MLAs in Bengaluru with the help of Shivakumar. The MLAs told us that they have been misled and have said that they would remain with the Congress, Verma said, after returning to Bhopal in the evening.

Their claim was quickly rebutted through a video message by women and child development minister Imarti Devi, who reaffirmed her loyalty to Scindia, who joined the BJP on Wednesday, and said she will always stand alongside him even if I had to jump into a well.

Devi said she and other rebel Congress MLAs are camping in Bengaluru out of their own volition and with the blessings of Scindia and there was no possibility of returning to the Congress. Another minister and Scindia loyalist, Tulsi Silavat, also released a similar video statement on behalf of all rebel MLAs.

The Congress leaders, on condition of anonymity, in Bhopal, said a decision was taken to send more ministers to Bengaluru after Verma and Singh raised the possibility of at-least 10 legislators being willing to returning to the party.

Congress leader and former MP CM, Digvijaya Singh, said 13 of the 22 party MLAs were not willing to quit the party despite Scindia joining the BJP. They dont want a re-election, he said.

A Congress leader, who was not willing to be named, said the 10 first time MLAs in the group of 22 and some other legislators can return to the party fold . We know well that most of MLAs would not jeopardise their political career, particularly the first-timers in the state assembly, by joining the BJP. Also, they will not like to face election again within 14 months of winning one, the leader said.

A second Congress leader, who too was not willing to be named, said the BJPs plan to take 19 MLAs to Bengaluru is proving to be a bit difficult to deal with as getting access to them is a problem. He added that Nath was sending other ministers, close to the MLAs, to woo them back.

A third Congress leader privy to the discussions in the party said there was unanimity that speaker NP Prajapati, who is originally from the Congress, should not take any action on the resignation of 22 legislators and insist on the legislators returning to Bhopal. Buying time would frustrate the legislators and they would come back to the party, the leader said.

He said there was no possibility of the six ministers, who are in Bengaluru, ditching Jyotiraditya Scindia and come back to the Congress. That is the reason Nath had requested Governor Lalji Tandon to remove them from the Cabinet on Monday, he said.

Meanwhile, senior MP BJP leaders including former chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Narottam Mishra held discussions on the same issue and decided to send some senior party functionaries to Bengaluru to prevent the Congress ministers from meeting the legislators. Already, three party leaders are in the city, BJP leaders said.

The BJP had also made elaborate arrangements for welcoming Jyotiraditya Scindia in Bhopal on Thursday. Scindia will file his nomination papers for Rajya Sabha election on Friday, according to state BJP media in charge Lokendra Parashar.

In Bengaluru, Shivakumar, said, All the Madhya Pradesh MLAs who are here do not want to lose their membership. I am sure they will understand and will save the government.

A Karnataka BJP leader said unlike last time Shivakumar will get no access to the MLAs. We are guarding them and additional police force has also been deployed on request of the MLAs from MP, he said.

Political analyst Girija Shankar said, What the Congress leaders are doing today to change the situation in their favour they should have done it months back.

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WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 10th March, 2020) US Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasia Philip Reeker heads to Vilnius this week to attend a ministerial meeting with nine NATO eastern flank allies, the State Department said in a press release.

"Ambassador Reeker and the nine Allies on NATO's eastern flank will exchange views on burden sharing, relations with Russia, the PRC's [China's] role in Europe, energy security, and NATO's role in fighting terrorism," the release said on Monday.

While in Vilnius during the March 10-11 visit Reeker will also join the Lithuanians in commemorating the 30th anniversary of the nation's independence from the former Soviet Union.

The nations, known as the Bucharest nine, comprise Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Poland, six of which share a land border with Russia.
Firefighters are calling on chancellor Rishi Sunak for more financial support in his budget, with a warning that underfunding hit their response to the winters floods.

Mr Sunak is set to commit a further 2.6 billion to flood defences on Wednesday, which he believes will help protect an additional 336,000 homes in England over the next six years.

But the Fire Brigades Union said that cuts have left services short of resources and manpower the needed to deal with the impact of storms Ciara, Dennis and Jorge in Yorkshire, Wales and the Midlands.

Almost 11,000 fewer firefighters were available than at the time of floods in 2011, and some reported a shortage of equipment such as dry suits and decontamination chemicals to make them safe after operations in polluted waters.

Crews reported concerns about microbes in the flood water with suits not able to be adequately decontaminated, and in Hereford and Worcester the service had to draft in boats from the army, said the union.

Homes evacuated as flooding chaos strikes England Show all 30 1 /30 Homes evacuated as flooding chaos strikes England Homes evacuated as flooding chaos strikes England Doncaster Flood water covers the roads and part of local houses in the Fishlake area in Doncaster Getty Images Homes evacuated as flooding chaos strikes England Doncaster Members of the Fire and Rescue team carry an elderly resident to dry land amid flooding in Doncaster AFP/Getty Homes evacuated as flooding chaos strikes England Doncaster Getty Images Homes evacuated as flooding chaos strikes England Sheffield A man cycles through a flooded street in South Yorkshire PA Homes evacuated as flooding chaos strikes England Doncaster A resident carries a dog to safety on Yarborough Terrace in Doncaster, South Yorkshire PA Homes evacuated as flooding chaos strikes England Doncaster A resident inspects floodwater on his doorstep in Bentley, north of Doncaster Reuters Homes evacuated as flooding chaos strikes England Doncaster People are ferried to safety on Yarborough Terrace in Doncaster, South Yorkshire after the region enddured a month's worth of rain in a day PA Homes evacuated as flooding chaos strikes England Doncaster Getty Images Homes evacuated as flooding chaos strikes England Leicestershire Delivery lorry stranded in floodwater at Coston Ford in Leicestershire PA Homes evacuated as flooding chaos strikes England Rotherham Shop floor of a bed store that has flooded after the River Don burst its banks in South Yorkshire Getty Homes evacuated as flooding chaos strikes England Doncaster Getty Images Homes evacuated as flooding chaos strikes England Derbyshire Flooding on the River Derwent in Belper Mike Saqui/PA Homes evacuated as flooding chaos strikes England Doncaster Getty Images Homes evacuated as flooding chaos strikes England Sheffield A man tries to unblock a drain in Whirlow PA Homes evacuated as flooding chaos strikes England Mansfield Torrential rain has led to a mudslide which has forced the evacuation of residents along Bank End Close PA Homes evacuated as flooding chaos strikes England South Yorkshire Flooding on Bridlegate in the town centre of Rotherham Reuters Homes evacuated as flooding chaos strikes England South Yorkshire Birdge on the swollen River Don by Rotherham town centre Reuters Homes evacuated as flooding chaos strikes England South Yorkshire Flooded railway track at Kiveton, South Yorkshire PA Homes evacuated as flooding chaos strikes England South Yorkshire South Yorkshire emergency responders rescue a pair of people stranded on the A633 by Rotherham South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Homes evacuated as flooding chaos strikes England Derbyshire Flooding on the River Rother by Killamarsh in Derbyshire @wendytinley/PA Homes evacuated as flooding chaos strikes England South Yorkshire Flooding by Meadowhall shopping centre in Sheffield, @Eggy5691/PA Homes evacuated as flooding chaos strikes England Rotherham Emergency responders ferry people to safety on the A633 Reuters Homes evacuated as flooding chaos strikes England Derbyshire Flooding on the River Derwent in Belper, Derbyshire Mike Saqui/PA Homes evacuated as flooding chaos strikes England Derbyshire Flooding at a junction in Belper, Derbyshire Mike Saqui/PA Homes evacuated as flooding chaos strikes England Sheffield Saturated ground at Flockton Park in Sheffield, South Yorkshire @DanielH60694431/PA Homes evacuated as flooding chaos strikes England South Yorkshire Vehicles are stranded in floodwater on the A633 by Rotherham Reuters Homes evacuated as flooding chaos strikes England South Yorkshire Vehicles are stranded in floodwater on an industrial park in Rotherham Reuters Homes evacuated as flooding chaos strikes England South Yorkshire Vehicles drive along a flooded road by Meadowhall shopping centre in Sheffield PA Homes evacuated as flooding chaos strikes England South Yorkshire A car is stranded in floodwater by Meadowhall shopping centre in Sheffield PA Homes evacuated as flooding chaos strikes England Sheffield A man wades down a flooded road in Whirlow, Sheffield PA

As well as enhanced funding, the FBU called on the government to bring England in line with the rest of the UK by extending the statutory duty for fire and rescue services to deal with floods, as recommended in the 2008 Pitt Review.

The absence of a statutory requirement to respond to floods has hampered fire and rescue services ability to secure flood-response funding in England, despite them being the primary emergency service involved, they said.

FBU general secretary Matt Wrack said: Firefighters and control staff have done everything they can to keep residents, homes and businesses safe, but we have fewer of them than during any major flooding event in the last decade.

Firefighters are reporting a lack of resources including boats, vehicles and appropriate specialist protective equipment, meaning some are potentially being exposed to hazardous chemicals.

The fire and rescue services are proud to protect the public from flood events but its about time they had the staff and resources necessary to do it. The government needs to understand that you cannot keep people safe on the cheap.

Across the UK, England is the only country where there is no clear statutory duty for the fire and rescue service to plan for and respond to floods, which means they find it much more difficult to access additional funding, training or resources for dealing with floods. It is a way for central government to avoid its obligations to communities and seriously impacts long-term planning and resourcing.

Mr Wrack said that FBU research had found there were 10,970 fewer firefighters available across the UK to respond to this years floods than at the time of the 2011 floods, and 1,531 fewer than the 2015 floods, at a time when scientists and the Environment Agency are warning of an increased likelihood of floods due to climate change.

Matt Wrack (GETTY IMAGES)

Evidence gathered by the FBU found:

- South Wales control staff handled more than 1,300 calls over the weekend of Storm Dennis in February, with more than 350 emergency calls for the Pontypridd, Nantgarw and Aberdare areas alone;

- Firefighters in Hereford and Worcester rescued 185 people and evacuated 204, including 24 residents and eight staff at a care home in Whitchurch during Storm Dennis;

- Hereford and Worcester now have just three boats to respond to some of the worst flooding in the country; Across the affected areas firefighters have been knocking on doors, providing advice and in Hereford have been helping people get to and from work.

- Shropshire control staff handled more than 300 calls in 24 hours during Storm Dennis and mobilised two-thirds of their fire engines.

Mr Wrack said: Any debate about flooding is incomplete if it doesnt talk about the services responding when floods hit. Its disappointing that we wont see an independent inquiry into these floods. Were in a climate crisis  and the chancellor needs to properly fund our response.
The pair will need to work together to defeat the president: Getty

Bernie Sanders campaign has rejected calls from a leading Democrat to end its primary run following a string of losses to frontrunner Joe Biden.

House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn, a South Carolina congressman whose endorsement for Mr Biden helped revive the former vice presidents campaign, called for the cancellation of upcoming debates between the two Democratic rivals as Sanders path to victory appeared increasingly unlikely.

"I think when the night is over, Joe Biden will be the prohibitive favourite to win the Democratic nomination, and quite frankly, if the night ends the way it has begun, I think it is time for us to shut this primary down, it is time for us to cancel the rest of these debates," Mr Clyburn said as the first results came in on Tuesday evening.

"You dont do anything but get yourself in trouble if you continue in this contest when its obvious that the numbers will not shake out for you," he told NPR.

The suggestion was quickly rebuffed by Briahna Joy Gray, national press secretary for the Sanders campaign.

Lets try democracy instead, she tweeted in response.

Mr Biden collected primary victories in Michigan, Missouri, Idaho and Mississippi, while Mr Sanders took North Dakota and was slightly ahead in Washington with 67 percent of votes counted.

With those victories in key states, Mr Biden widened his delegate lead over Mr Sanders to nearly 150. That lead may not seem insurmountable, but Mr Biden is heavily favoured in upcoming primaries due to take place later this month, among them Florida, Ohio, Illinois and Arizona. All of those states carry large delegate counts.

Rep. Clyburn was not the only party elder calling for Mr Sanders withdrawal from the race following Tuesdays results, however. Democratic strategist James Carville, who played a key role in Bill Clintons successful presidential run, called for Democrats to shut this puppy down in order to unify the party and defeat Donald Trump.

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Lets shut this puppy down, and lets move on and worry about November. This thing is decided. Theres no reason to keep it going, not even a day longer, he said on MSNBC.

"People will say things that you cannot overcome, he warned.

James Carville: "Democrats are not interested in a revolution, they're interested in getting this guy [President Trump] out of power just as fast as they possibly can." #SuperTuesday pic.twitter.com/MMy8azF9pE  MSNBC (@MSNBC) March 4, 2020

As of Wednesday morning, the Sanders campaign showed no signs of backing down. The two Democratic rivals are due to debate each other on Sunday evening.

Ms Gray said of the upcoming clash: I, for one, am extremely excited about this debate all the moderates are panicking about.

America finally gets to see Biden defend his ideas, or lack there of, on Sunday, she wrote on Twitter.
China has reported 22 new coronavirus deaths, taking the death toll to 3,158, health officials said on Wednesday, as Chinese President Xi Jinping made his first visit to the worst-hit Wuhan city and lauded the authorities and medical staff for turning the tide against the deadly epidemic, saying that the initial success has been made in stabilising the situation.

Twenty-four new confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus and 22 deaths have been reported on the Chinese mainland on Tuesday, Chinas National Health Commission (NHC) said on Wednesday.

All the 22 deaths were in Hubei Province and its capital Wuhan, the NHC said.

The overall confirmed cases on the mainland reached 80,778 by the end of Tuesday, including 3,158 people who died of the disease in the last three months, 16,145 patients undergoing treatment and 61,475 discharged after recovery, it said.

Meanwhile, 31 new suspected cases were reported taking the total number to 285, it said.

With COVID-19 gradually abating in the country, China has now turned its attention to growing number of imported cases as more foreigners and locals started arriving in Beijing and different cities to join duties.

Also on Tuesday, 10 imported cases of novel coronavirus infection were reported on the mainland. Among them, six were reported in Beijing, two in Shanghai, one in Shandong Province and one in Gansu Province. By the end of Tuesday, 79 imported cases had been reported, the officials said.

Xi, 66, on Tuesday made his first visit to Wuhan, the epicentre of the virus, which along with the entire Hubei province with over 50 million people was kept under total lockdown since January 23, banning all movement of transportation.

The president visited a hospital treating severely ill COVID-19 patients and a residential community. He visited patients, medics, community residents and workers, police officers, military personnel, officials and volunteers who have been fighting the novel coronavirus.

Wearing a protective mask and accompanied by a retinue of military and health officials, Xi visited a makeshift hospital and community residents and frontline workers in Wuhan.

Xi, who initially came under criticism for not acting in time to stem the virus when it emerged in December last year but later won praise for a decisive follow-up action, vowed to resolutely fight for a victory in the war against the virus, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

Xi said the spread of coronavirus had been curbed in Hubei Province and its capital Wuhan where over 50 million people lived in total isolation since January 23 following a complete lockdown of the areas.

The initial success has been made in stabilising the situation and turning the tide in Hubei and Wuhan, Xi said.

Meeting medic representatives in the hospital, Xi said the spread of the virus has been basically curbed in Hubei and Wuhan, and attributed the achievement to efforts of the whole country and the whole society.

But you are the biggest heroes, Xi told the medics.

This is the second visit by a top Chinese leader to Wuhan.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang visited Wuhan on January 26 when the COVID-19 virus spread at an alarming pace, prompting a lockdown of the city and the Central Hubei province with 50 million people.

Xi called for firm and meticulous prevention and control efforts to defend Hubei and Wuhan. He said the situation in the province has shown positive changes with important progress, but the task of prevention and control remains arduous.

He stressed on taking epidemic prevention and control as a task of paramount importance.

Praising the people of Wuhan, Xi said the positive trend in epidemic control could not have been achieved without their sacrifice, devotion and perseverance.

With their concrete actions, the people of Wuhan have demonstrated the strength and spirit of China, as well as the Chinese peoples love for their family and nation, which enables them to stick together through thick and thin, he said.

On behalf of the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC), he condoled the death of people and medical staff who sacrificed their lives fighting on the frontline.

Over 3,000 medical staff were reportedly infected with 10 fatalities.

The frontline medical workers have taken on the most arduous missions, Xi said, calling them the most admirable people in the new era who deserve the highest commendations.

Xi talked with patients in hospital through a video link, and expressed his wishes for their quick recovery.

All prevention and control measures taken by the CPC Central Committee against the virus are to prevent more people from being infected and save more patients lives, Xi said.

Coinciding with his visit, Chinese officials announced that 14 makeshift hospitals have been dismantled in Wuhan as cases have dramatically dropped.
Warning: Spoilers for The Bachelor season 24 finale ahead. If youre anything like us, youre probs wondering if Bachelor 2020s Peter and Madison are still together after that wild season finale. ICYMI, Peter Weber chose Madison Prewett as the winner of his Bachelor season. We put winner in quotes because Peter first proposed to his other finalist, Hannah Ann Sluss, after Madi eliminated herself before the Final Rose Ceremony.

As Bachelor fate would have it, Peter still had feelings for Madison, so he ended his engagement with Hannah Ann. This led Chris Harrison to fly to Madis hometown in Auburn, Alabama, to tell her that it isnt over between her and Peter. After the two reunited in Los Angeles, they didnt see each other again until The Bachelor season 24 finale, where...

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A restaurant owner who raped his employees 'to punish them for mistakes' and kept one of them as a chained-up slave has been jailed for 17 years in Kazakhstan.

Timur Alatayev, 41, exploited his female workers as sex slaves and pimped them out to customers at his roadside eatery Caravan, Kostanay Regional Court heard.

Reports claimed Alatayev also chained up his employee Ivan Kosyuk and forced him to work for more than a year without being paid after he tried to quit his job as a handyman.

The sentencing hearing on March 5 heard how Alatayev starved and beat up Mr Kosyuk throughout this time, and ordered his employees Vyacheslav Yevdokimov and Ramil Abdulkhaev to gang rape him.

Timur Alatayev (pictured) exploited his female workers as sex slaves and pimped them out to customers at his roadside eatery Caravan, Kostanay Regional Court heard

The businessman filmed these abuses and stored the footage on his computer, the court heard.

It was also said Alatayev and his employees forced Mr Kosyuk to call his mother every now and then to tell her he was OK so suspicions wouldn't arise.

Speaking during the hearing, Judge Zhasulan Asilbekov said: 'The court watched a video that proved Alatayev's guilt.

'The video shows Yevdokimov and Abdulkhaev raping the victim while Alatayev is filming and giving instructions.'

Pictured: Ramil Abdulkhaev, who was jailed for three years after he raped chained-up employee Ivan Kosyuk

In December 2017, Alatayev and Vyacheslav Yevdokimov (left) beat Mr Kosyuk, 34, to death after he 'stole' a piece of bread

In December 2017, Alatayev and Yevdokimov beat the prisoner to death after he 'stole' a piece of bread.

They then burned Mr Kosyuk's body and threw his remains in a drop pit of the restaurant's outside toilet.

The court heard how the victim's mother, Yekaterina Kosyuk, reported her son missing after he stopped calling home.

Police raided the restaurant after tracking down the man's last calls and convinced Abdulkhaev to talk about his whereabouts.

Kostanay Regional Court charged Timur Alatayev with murder, rape, torture, battering and slavery. He was sentenced to 17 years in prison

The court heard how the victim's mother, Yekaterina Kosyuk (pictured), reported her son missing after he stopped calling home

Mr Asilbekov said: 'The crime surfaced after Ramil Abdulkhaev started cooperating with the police.'

After Alatayev was arrested in August last year, the restaurant staff agreed to testify against him in the court.

Irina Tsareva, who was a cook at the Caravan restaurant, told local media: 'I worked in the restaurant for five years.

'Alatayev raped me numerous times to punish for mistakes. He forced me to sleep with clients and threatened to cut me and my son into pieces if I would not obey.

Irina Tsareva (pictured), who was a cook at the Caravan restaurant, claimed she was raped 'numerous times' by Alatayev to 'punish' her for 'mistakes'

'He ordered to gang-rape me and filmed it. He threatened to make the video public if I told somebody what was going on in the restaurant.

'He did the same things to all female workers.'

Kostanay Regional Court charged Timur Alatayev with murder, rape, torture, battering and slavery. He was sentenced to 17 years in prison.

Vyacheslav Yevdokimov, 37, was jailed for 14 years and Ramil Abdulkhaev, 39, received a three-year sentence.

The Caravan restaurant, located near the village of Borovskoe in Kostanay region, is still open and is run by Alatayev's relatives, say local media.
Canterbury chair Lynne Anderson said on Wednesday the Bulldogs were "owning" the Port Macquarie sex scandal as a club as more revelations emerged about the pre-season affair that has left players Jayden Okunbor and Corey Harawira-Naera facing the sack.

Okunbor and Harawira-Naera have been stood down for bringing schoolgirls back to their hotel ahead of the team's trial match against Canberra last month and according to NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg they are staring at "significant sanctions" for alleged breaches of the competition's code of conduct.

Canterbury stars Jayden Okunbor and Corey Harawira-Naera have been suspended indefinitely after taking two schoolgirls back to their hotel. Credit:NRL Photos, AAP

The two girls, it emerged on Wednesday, were aged 16 and 17, and Year 11 and Year 12 students from Newman Senior Technical College in Port Macquarie but made contact with the players under different circumstances.

Okunbor met one of the girls during a visit to the school by the club three days before the trial match on February 29 before engaging with her in an Instagram exchange, asking her "what are we doing tonight?" and meeting up for sex the following night at Rydges hotel, where Canterbury were staying.
Personal insolvency arrangements have been approved by the High Court allowing two Tipperary women write down millions of euro of debts owed to banks and an affiliate of the global investment bank Goldman Sachs.

Sisters-in-law Una and Margaret Kinsella have total debts of 8m. The terms of their Personal Insolvency Arrangements (PIAs), include that they will continue to make payments on the mortgages on their respective homes and they will each make lump sum payments of 100.

Out of those payments financial fund Ennis Property Finance, which is an affiliate of Goldman Sachs, will receive 182.

Keith Farry Bl for the Kinsella's Personal Insolvency practitioner, Mr Alan McGee, told the High Court the PIAs were more advantageous to their creditors than if they were to be adjudicated as bankrupts.

It would allow both applicants retain their family homes and return to solvency within 12 months.

The womens debts of 3.36m to Ennis Property Finance, which was an unsecured debt, arouse out of personal guarantees they gave in respect of loans, which were acquired by the fund, advanced to the business of their husbands.

The PIAs were formally approved by Mr Justice Mark Sanfey at the High Court today.

Counsel told the court that Una Kinsella of Roscomroe, Ballybritt, Roscrea, Co. Tipperary, had debts of approximately 3.8m owed to AIB, Permanent TSB and Ennis Property Finance.

Under her PIA, the 45-year-old,mother of three dependent children who works as a carer, will also sell investment properties she has an interest in which are located in Co. Offaly and are worth a total of 190,000.

She owes 356,000 to AIB in respect of the mortgage, which is a secure debt, on her family home, which is worth 195,000.

Under the PIA the mortgage has been restructured, with part of the debt written off, so that she will make repayments of 607 per month over the next 20 years.

She will also make a lump sum payment of 100, of which 94 will go to the fund.

Margaret Kinsella of Clashroe, Ballybritt, Roscrea, counsel said, had debts of 4.2m owed to Ennis Property Finance, Bank of Ireland, Ulster Bank, AIB and the Spanish Bank, Banca March.

Under her PIA the 50-year-old mother of one will also sell investment properties she has an interest in. She owes 257,000 to Bank of Ireland in respect of her family home which is valued at 200,000.

Under the PIA her mortgage will be restructured, with part of the debt written off, that will see her make repayments over the next 20 years of up to 650 per month.

She will also make a lump sum payment of 100, of which 88 will go to Ennis Property Fianance.

Despite the small lump sum In both cases, Mr Farry said the creditors do better under the PIA than compared to if the Kinsellas were adjudicated bankrupt.

There were no objections to the PIA being approved by the court.
Bima Enagi, senator representing Niger south, has introduced a bill seeking to ban the importation, selling and use of generators in Nigeria.

The bill has, however, passed its first reading at plenary on Wednesday.

The bill states that anyone who imports or sells generators into the country may go to prison for at least ten years.

It states that anybody who: Imports generating sets; or knowingly sells generating sets shall be guilty of an offence and be liable on conviction to be sentenced to imprisonment for a term not less than ten years.

Read Also: 2020 Budget: FG To Spend N9bn To Buy Fuel, Maintain Generators

It added that all persons are hereby directed to stop the use of electricity generating sets which run on diesel/petrol/kerosene of all capacities with immediate effect in the country.

The bill, however, exempts generating sets used for essential services  such as those for medical purposes (hospitals and nursing homes and healthcare facilities), airports and railway stations/ services.

For elevators, escalators, research institutions and such facilities that require 24 hours electric power supply.

It added that the approval for exclusion shall be obtained from the minister of power.
(Boston, MA) -Research from the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute finds a promising avenue for addressing vaccine hesitancy around HPV vaccine. The study, "Tailored Messages Addressing HPV Vaccination Concerns Improves Behavioral Intent Among Mothers: A Randomized Controlled Trial," appears in the xx issue of the Journal of Adolescent Health.

The HPV vaccine is highly effective in preventing infection against certain types of HPV that can lead to cervical, oropharyngeal, and anal cancers. However, HPV vaccine coverage in pre-teens and young teens remains sub-optimal, with only 61% of 13-year-old girls and 64% of 13-year-old boys in the U.S. initiating the vaccine series, with wide variation across states. Parental hesitancy is one reason for low vaccination coverage. In fact, vaccine hesitancy in general has been identified as one of the top ten global health threats by the WHO, which suggests the strong need for work addressing this issue. When recommending HPV vaccine, the current guidelines suggest clinicians use a presumptive, bundled messaging approach, in which a provider presumes that the parent is ready to vaccinate and states that the child is "due" for all age-appropriate vaccines at the 11-12 year old well-visit appointment, including HPV vaccine. However, this approach, by itself, may not be the most effective strategy for parents with specific concerns about the HPV vaccine.

In a large web-based randomized controlled trial of mothers with concerns about the HPV vaccine, investigators compared the impact of implementing the current guideline alone and in combination with tailored messages on HPV vaccination intent. These mothers, all of whom did not intent to vaccinate their 11-14 year-old child within the next 12 months, were randomized to one of three groups: a) "control" which watched a bundled recommendation video; b) "top concern" which watched the control video plus a video tailored to their top HPV vaccine concern; or c) "all concerns" which watched the control video plus videos on the top 5 most common HPV vaccine concerns.

Study results found that tailored messages addressing all of the specific concerns of vaccine hesitant mothers improved HPV vaccination intent, and tailored messages addressing the top concern marginally improved intent; these improvements were not observed in the control group.

"We found that a presumptive, bundled messaging approach, by itself, may not be the most effective strategy for increasing HPV vaccine uptake in pre-teens and young teens who have parents with specific concerns about the vaccine," said co-lead author Catherine Panozzo, PhD, Assistant Professor of Population Medicine at the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute and Harvard Medical School. Adds Dr. Panozzo,, "our findings contribute to the growing body of literature suggesting that tailored recommendations may be essential for improving HPV vaccination acceptance among hesitant parents".

Regarding future directions, co-lead author, Dr. Katharine Head, Assistant Professor of Communication Studies at Indiana University School of Liberal Arts, commented, "We suggest that future studies determine whether these improvements in HPV vaccination intent can translate to actual improvements in HPV vaccination in clinic settings. In fact, our team is working to integrate these messaging strategies into a clinical intervention to test this very hypothesis."

###

About Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute's Department of Population Medicine

The Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute's Department of Population Medicine is a unique collaboration between Harvard Pilgrim Health Care and Harvard Medical School. Created in 1992, it was the first medical school department in the United States based in a health plan. The Institute focuses on improving health care delivery and population health through innovative research and teaching.

More Information

Tailored Messages Addressing HPV Vaccination Concerns Improves Behavioral Intent Among Mothers: A Randomized Controlled Trial is co-authored by investigators from: Indiana University School of Liberal Arts, Department of Communication Studies; Department of Family & Community Health, University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing; Vaccine Education Center, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia/ Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania/ Philadelphia Department of Public Health, Division of Disease Control; Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine.
Tamil Nadu's fishermen stuck in Iran hopeful of returning home

March 11,2020 | Source: The New Indian Express

The Indian fishermen stranded in Iran after the country declared health emergency due to coronavirus outbreak last week are hopeful of being airlifted and brought home soon. Their hopes were raised after India on Monday decided to send its largest transport flight to airlift stranded Indians. Apart from fishermen, several students and pilgrims on Qom visit are also stranded in Iran, which is one of worst COVID 19-affected countries



We are yet to get any assurance from the embassy. But we are hopeful of going home soon, said Jagajeevan Netto, one of the fishermen from Thiruvananthapuram, in a voice message to his father James Netto. Jagajeevan is among the 60 fishermen from Kerala stranded in various coastal areas of Iran. There are hundreds of others from Tamil Nadu and Gujarat as well. They went to Iran on fishermen visa four months ago.



The fishermen had complained that the Indian embassy in Bandar Abbas did not enquire about their well being. We are running short of food. We do not know how we are going to survive, said Jagajeevan. According to James, the fishermen made an attempt to go out, but the police arrested their captain. They were threatened that their phones would be confiscated if they go out, said James. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar tweeted the embassy continued to maintain close contact with fishermen. No case of corona reported among them. Will continue to monitor their welfare, tweeted the minister.
Concerns over coronavirus and its possible spread through large gatherings has forced the NFU to postpone it's planned London rally.

Hundreds of farmers were to descend on Westminster in two weeks time to urge the government to back British farming as post-Brexit trade talks loom.

Farmers wanted to underline how any future trade policy should not allow imports of food produced to standards that would be illegal in the UK.

But due to mounting concerns over the coronavirus situation, the NFU has now decided to cancel the 25 March event.

The farming union said it will reschedule the rally for later in the year.

As of Wednesday (11 March), the disease has infected 383 people and killed six in the UK.

NFU President Minette Batters said delaying the event had to be done due to the 'continued uncertainty regarding the spread of the disease'.

In light of the current coronavirus situation, we have taken the decision to postpone our mass rally.

While necessary, this is of course disappointing news. Our intention is to set another date for the event soon and details of this will follow when they are available."

She added: However, farmers and the public can rest assured that our campaign to ensure that our standards of food production are not undermined in future trade deals continues.

It comes as the government announced new measures earlier this week to help maintain the UK's food supply chain in response to panic buying.

Delivery hours for supermarkets and other food retailers have been extended to support the industry's response to the disease.

Elsewhere, the concerns over the spread of the virus has already had an effect on major agricultural events and firms.

The last day of Paris's annual agricultural fair was cancelled due to mounting concerns over the spread of Covid-19.

And UK machinery giant JCB was forced to cut production and working hours at its factories due to the coronavirus's affect on China.
White House spokesperson Stephanie Grisham says that in this time of coronavirus it'll be business as usual for Donald Trump. He's not going to cancel any rallies or worry much at all about whether he's been exposed to infection, it seems. "And I'll tell you what," she says, "with our President, this man who doesn't sleep and who I have seen work 15, 16 hours a day every day, I have no problem thinking that he is going to be just fine and just healthy."

If Grisham had been concerned about the American public, she might not have talked about how attending big public events, working yourself to the bone, and skipping sleep is a reasonable response to the threat the virus poses to us all. In fact, if this is what Trump is doing, it's the opposite of what is recommended for an obese, largely sedentary man of 73.

With any other president, we'd all be wondering what got into an aide who strained so hard to suggest the boss is some sort of superman, but this is Trump we're talking about. The man's narcissism and propensity for rage are well documented and Grisham was obviously playing to both qualities.

Long a subject of press reports, Trump's anger has been evidenced as he has fired cabinet members, chiefs of staff -- Mick Mulvaney, who never even got the chance to shed the "acting" in front of the title was dismissed just last weekend -- and those who testified about him during his impeachment. Administration officials are generally worried about delivering bad news to the boss for fear of how he'll respond. When a CDC official recently noted, correctly, that a coronavirus outbreak was inevitable in the US, Politico reported that Trump got so angry officials discussed ordering her to stop making public statements. (They eventually decided against this.)

Having made the point that Trump isn't changing anything, Grisham stayed true to the President's why-worry attitude. When she went the further step, to explain that he's an extraordinary specimen who doesn't need sleep and can work rings around mere mortals she played to the vanity that is his other defining characteristic. As Grisham and other administration survivors seem to know (I'm looking at you, Vice President Mike Pence), you can never go wrong by putting the President at the center of every discussion and slathering him with praise.

For clues to how Trump wants to be described, just consider how he talks about himself. He is, in his own words, "really smart" and "a very stable genius." He is also, in his own words, "a great moral leader" and "great looking."

In the current crisis, the problem is not so much the President's overweening self-regard but his inability to recognize the needs of others. This problem, invariably a characteristic of the truly narcissistic, makes it difficult if not impossible for someone to put others first. In families, it can be evidenced by the parent who buys himself a new car when the rent is overdue. In countries, it is seen when a leader can't seem to see what people need in a moment of crisis.

Whether he's throwing paper towels into a crowd amid death and devastation in Puerto Rico or mocking victims of sexual assault, Trump has shown himself to be callous with enough regularity that he has taught us to cringe when we see him in a moment where concern for others is required. Remember how he joked about crowd sizes when he visited a hospital after a mass shooting in El Paso? How about the time, at the beginning of his term, when he stood at a memorial for fallen intelligence officers and bragged about his own intellect?

Compassion, which is the opposite of narcissism, is as essential to the presidency as any trait and presidents of both parties have shown it often. We all remember the moving responses from Bill Clinton after the Oklahoma City bombing, George W. Bush after the attacks of 9/11 and Barack Obama after the Charleston church shooting. It is something we have relied on from our leaders. It is also the piece so often missing from Trump's response to difficult times. This is the man, who, a Huffington Post video showed, needed an emotional cheat sheet for a meeting with survivors of school shootings. That the prompts encouraged him to say, "I hear you," is all the evidence we need to know that the White House staff recognizes that the President struggles when it comes to compassion.

Why is Trump like this? When I wrote a biography of him I learned that he was raised by a role model father who showed his son little of the sort of tenderness that would produce concern for others in a child. His education was guided by a military school drill sergeant who was toughness personified, and his introduction to the adult world was shaped by the well-known character assassin Roy Cohn. Given these mentors, and all the insecurity that came with being a rich kid playing with daddy's money, Trump was all but destined to be the man we see today. He is angry and narcissistic, and the best those around him can do is coddle him in the hopes that he won't make things worse.
WASHINGTON - The House passed a resolution Wednesday that limits President Donald Trump's ability to command a military strike against Iran unless first receiving a vote of support from Congress, sending the war-powers action to the White House for an expected veto.

The rebuke received a small but important bloc of Republican support, with six GOP lawmakers backing the measure, which followed a mid-February vote in which 55 senators, including eight Republicans, supported reining in Trump's power to act unilaterally.

The House vote was 227 to 186.

Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., the main sponsor and longtime critic of congressional abdication of its constitutional war powers, drafted the measure in January after the president's order to launch a drone strike that killed top Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani and several leaders of Iraqi militias in Baghdad.

"Only Congress has the right to declare war," Rep. Eliot Engel, D-N.Y., chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said during Wednesday's floor debate, declaring that Congress has become "servants" to the executive branch the last 15 years.

Supporters of the resolution acknowledged that they knew it would not become law but felt that the bipartisan, bicameral vote might influence the administration's thinking if they want to strike again.

"I think it's to make it very clear that there is no congressional support for any continuing escalations in Iran," Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., said.

The vote came as the U.S. military said at least two Americans and one other coalition member were killed in a rocket attack on a base in Iraq on Wednesday night, potentially spiking tensions with Iran about two months after the drone strike killed Soleimani.

Navy Capt. Bill Urban said about 18 Katyusha rockets hit the base, and that five of the wounded were evacuated in serious condition. U.S. officials have attributed the use of such rockets in attacks to Iranian-backed militias in Iraq.

Congress shows some might on military authority after years of inertia

Ahead of Wednesday's debate, White House officials reiterated Trump's intent to veto the legislation on policy grounds and the argument that the measure "fails to account for present reality."

"It was drafted many weeks ago with the intent of preventing an escalation between the United States and Iran. Despite the predictions of many people, however, no such escalation occurred," the statement of administration policy said.

Senior Republicans pointed to the mounting health crisis from the coronavirus pandemic, suggesting that the House's legislative focus should be on the emerging proposal to halt the expected economic slide following the plunge in financial markets this week.

Rep. Michael McCaul of Texas, the ranking Republican on the Foreign Affairs Committee, noted that his hometown of Austin canceled the annual South by Southwest festival this month.

"Yet we are talking about this resolution today," McCaul said during debate, noting that his conversations at home last weekend did not involve presidential war powers. "They were asking me their No. 1 concern right now is, my god, is my child going to get coronavirus?"

But Democrats countered that their highest power and duty was to debate global security, noting the Founding Fathers placed war declarations as business for only Congress.

"It's past time that Congress reassert our congressional authority on matters of war and peace," said Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif.

Lee, the lone vote opposing the 2001 war resolution authorizing force in Afghanistan, noted that no true debate has been held since the 2002 authorization for the use of military force in Iraq.

"Congress has been missing in action," Lee said.

Presidents of both parties, including George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Trump, have said they have the right to order military action as a matter of self-defense when they see threats they define as "imminent." But some lawmakers say the executive branch has expanded its war powers to the detriment of Congress, particularly when it invokes congressional authorizations passed in 2001 and 2002 to support action in conflicts never envisioned at that time.

Efforts in Congress to repeal the old authorizations or write new ones have failed, amid the divide between lawmakers who want to bring troops home and those who want to provide fresh authorization for current campaigns.

The debate over Iran has also been fueled by many lawmakers' frustration at what they see as a lack of candor from administration officials about what prompted the strike on Soleimani. Officials have offered shifting explanations of the basis for the strike, including that Soleimani posed an imminent threat to U.S. personnel in the Middle East and that it was retaliation for an attack on a U.S. base in Iraq that killed a U.S. contractor.

In mid-January, the House passed a similar but nonbinding Iran war-powers resolution by a vote of 224 to 194.

Just three Republicans joined almost all Democrats to support that measure - one of whom, Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., is a close ally of Trump's and a leading voice in his party for reasserting Congress's war powers and ending endless wars.

Gaetz, one of the top Trump defenders during the House impeachment process, was not selected to join a small group of House Republicans who served as his communications defense team during the Senate trial.

Gaetz, however, remained in good enough graces to travel with Trump recently in Florida - until he learned Monday, while on board Air Force One, that he came in contact with someone who contracted coronavirus. He was not on hand for Wednesday's vote as part of a self-quarantine.
Bernie Sanders could still get a boost later in the night in Idaho, North Dakota or Washington state. But fewer delegates are at stake. Check back here for details later.
Trends in consumer reporting have shown that people are drinking less fluid milk each year. Its something dairy farmers are acutely aware of even as we acknowledge Americans are eating more dairy products in the form of cheese, butter, and yogurt to name a few.

In 2018, Americans purchased 3.62 billion gallons of fluid milk, which was off 2.8% from 2017 levels. With that knowledge in mind, Dairy Farmers of Wisconsins Jen Walsh introduced her presentation at the Dairy Strong Conference in January.

Fluid milk is often looked at with doom and gloom, but dont miss the forest for the trees, she encouraged while listing many bright spots in fluid milk sales such as the lactose-free market, A2 category, and local milk processing.

Milk sales down, water up

In discussing additional milk sale trends, Walsh showed data tracking buyer migration. Many households havent eliminated milk wholly from their refrigerators but backed down in the amount of milk they purchase.

What are they consuming instead?

Citing research from the IRI National Consumer Panel in 2017, Walsh explained that the lost volume of white milk was primarily replaced by bottled water purchases. All the value replacements are shown in the graph.

Sustainability drives consumers

It doesnt matter whats true; it matters what consumers perceive as true, Walsh emphasized. And in her research, sustainability is not an issue thats going away in the minds of consumers.

The opportunity that exists in Walshs eyes is to help shape what sustainability means. We cant ignore this preference of consumers. Taste will always be important, convenience and price, too, but we have to address sustainability, Walsh said.

Consumers dont know what sustainability means to them. We can help them define it, she continued. If produced in a sustainable way, consumers are more likely to consider the product more nutritious. They think If its better for the planet, its better for me.

To comment, email your remarks to intel@hoards.com.

(c) Hoard's Dairyman Intel 2020

March 9, 2020
The Minister said Iran and Italy were two 'focal points' for the government as any 'worldwide activity' will only add to the panic

New Delhi: India will be sending a team of doctors to Italy by Thursday for testing its nationals for coronavirus to bring them back, while samples of 529 more people have been brought from Iran, the government said on Wednesday, asserting it was focusing on bringing Indians stuck in the two countries facing "extreme situation".

Making a statement in Rajya Sabha on the Indians stranded due to restrictions placed in the wake of coronavirus outbreak, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said India has brought back its 58 citizens from Iran and the government was working with Iranian authorities to operate some limited commercial flights for facilitating early return of the remaining Indians after testing them.

The Minister said Iran and Italy were two "focal points" for the government as any "worldwide activity" will only add to the panic.

He, however, emphasised that the government remains fully committed towards the safety and welfare of Indian nationals in any part of the world as this has been the hallmark of its foreign policy.

The minister said there are over 6,000 Indians in various provinces of Iran, which include 1,100 pilgrims, nearly 300 students and about 1,000 fishermen. The others are on a longer term stay for earning livelihood and education.

As many as 529 more samples have also been brought from Iran and those who test negative will be brought back first in the next flights, he said, adding the priority was to first bring pilgrims followed by students and then the fishermen.

"The situation in Italy is now emerging a cause of great concern. I would like share with members that steps in this regard have already been initiated," the Minister said.

While about 90 countries have reported coronavirus cases, he said, "We have to focus, we have to prioritise, we have to look at very extreme situations. At the moment after China and Diamond Princess (cruise ship) issue, Iran is an extreme situation. Italy is an extreme situation."

Detailing steps being taken by the government to bring back Indians from COVID-19 affected nations, he also apprised the House that both the countries have stretched their resources in dealing the situation post spread of the coronavirus.

"The House will surely appreciate that few other nations have done what we have with respect to the COVID -19.

"The global Coronavirus situation is being monitored on a continuous basis by a Group of Secretaries headed by Cabinet Secretary and a Group of Ministers, chaired by Minister of Health and Family Welfare," Jaishankar said.

Besides taking steps to check the spread of the virus in the country, the government has ensured that e-visas and visa on arrival are temporarily suspended in certain cases.

Precautionary measures are also being taken on all land borders as well as air and sea entry points.

Giving details regarding Iran, Jaishankar said over the last few days, the government has been making focused efforts for the safe return of the stranded Indians.

Given the scale of COVID-19 infection and its pressure on Irans own resources, a team of six Indian health officials has been deputed to Iran in order to set up testing and sampling facilities there, he said.

He said the first batch of 108 samples were received in India on 7 March.

"These were tested and 58 Indian pilgrims (25 men, 31 women and 2 children), who tested negative, were repatriated in special IAF C-17 flight on 10 March," he said.

Also 529 more samples were brought on that flight and were being tested in National Institute of Virology, Pune.

"Whoever tests negative...will be on the next lot of flights which will come in. Our effort has been by increasing number of medical personnel to test as many people as quickly we can.

"Once we are through with the pilgrims, we will focus on the students because they are really in a very difficult position," he said.

The minister said the fishermen live in southern Iran where coronavirus incidence is not as strong as in cities like Quom and Tehran.

"But we are looking at fishermen also," he said.

Jaishankar, who had visited Srinagar and met the parents of some of the students in Iran, said that people should also understand that "this is very difficult time in Iran. The Iranian system is itself struggling".

Regarding Indians in Italy, Jaishankar said an advisory was issued regarding 'COVID free' certificates because of spread of coronavirus is quite strong there.

"We wanted everybody boarding a flight (to India) to have a COVID free certificate. It has been difficult to get that in Italy because Italian system is busy treating patients in Italy.

"We are hoping by tomorrow to fly in a medical team to Italy just as we have flown in to Iran. We will do testing of those people and try to put them on very early flight thereafter," he said.

Follow LIVE updates on Coronavirus Outbreak

The Minister said Iran and Italy were two "focal point" for the government as any "worldwide activity" will only add to the panic.

"I think its important that we focus on very specific parts.

"Like in China we basically did Wuhan. We did not do other places in China, they didnt require it. Similarly in Italy we are focusing on one or two important places.

"In Iran also it is mainly Qom and Tehran. Its a very focused intervention. It is not a general intervention," he said while replying to queries raised by MPs.

Iran on Wednesday reported 63 new deaths from the novel coronavirus in the past 24 hours, the highest single-day toll since it announced the first deaths from the outbreak. There are about 9,000 confirmed cases in Iran.

Infections in Italy topped the 10,000 mark, the second worst affected country after China. More than 630 people have already died.
Australia has seen an increase in coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases, and this will continue for weeks despite strict border control measures, experts say. With 116 confirmed cases and thousands of people waiting to be tested, Australian hospitals could be overwhelmed by thousands of patients.

With this growing queue of patients, an expert predicts that the countrys health system will not be able to cope, just like other countries shaken by the epidemic, where cases have doubled every six weeks. At that rate, Australia can expect around 3,200 cases within one month.

The numbers

The doubling time of the epidemic is six days, Professor Raina MacIntyre, a biosecurity expert from the UNSWs Kirby Institute, said. So, its going to get worse very, very quickly. If it becomes widespread, there is the potential for the health system to be overwhelmed, MacIntyre added.

The fast spread of the coronavirus, which originated in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, in China, has negatively impacted many countries, in particular Italy, South Korea, and Iran. Italy has the highest number of cases outside mainland China with 10,149 infections and 631 deaths, an increase of 168 deaths, and nearly 1,000 confirmed cases in just 24 hours.

Iran trails behind with 8,042 cases and 291 deaths, while South Korea reported 7,755 cases and 54 deaths. Five new countries or territories reported their first cases of COVID-19, including Mongolia, Cyprus, Brunei Darussalam, Panama, and Guernsey.

Globally, there are 119,027 confirmed cases and 4,284 deaths at the time of writing. Though the number of cases is steadily increasing outside China, 65,761 people have recovered from the infection.

Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 This scanning electron microscope image shows SARS-CoV-2 (round magenta objects) emerging from the surface of cells cultured in the lab. SARS-CoV-2, also known as 2019-nCoV, is the virus that causes COVID-19. The virus shown was isolated from a patient in the U.S. Credit: NIAID-RML

Government warning

The Australian government has warned the general public that the increasing number of cases may soon start to affect government services negatively. Various government agencies have cautioned they may struggle to maintain services if the health crisis worsens.

The country has over 100 cases and three deaths related to COVID-19. New South Wales is the most affected, with 55 confirmed cases, Queensland and Victoria both with 18, South Australia with 7, Western Australia with 6, Tasmania with 2, and Northern Territory with 1.

Meanwhile, the government plans to allocate AUD$2.4 billion to help protect residents against the coronavirus. It is hoped this funding will ensure that the country is well-prepared if a full-blown outbreak ensues.

According to reports, the government is finalizing public service announcements, which will help disseminate information about COVID-19 and how to limit the spread of the infection through hygiene measures and what to do if symptoms arise.

Prime Minister Morrison said the health package was about preventing and treating coronavirus.

"We're ensuring our health system is well prepared and has the resources it needs for our fight against coronavirus," he said. "Australia isn't immune but with this $2.4 billion boost, we're as well prepared as any country in the world."

Pop-up clinics

The government plans to allocate AUD $205 million for 100 pop-up respiratory clinics across the country. Also called fever clinics, these facilities are designed to reduce the pressure on general practitioner clinics and hospital emergency rooms.

Coronavirus: Australian update: Pop-up clinics, drive-through testing | Nine News Australia Play

Fever clinics will treat and manage patients with mild or moderate COVID-19 symptoms, so those who need critical or intensive care can remain unaffected at hospitals.

The fever clinics will have separate entrances for those manifesting symptoms of COVID-19. The chief medical officer of Australia, Brendan Murphy, announced the new precaution and has informed all general physicians in the country.

The idea is to keep potential cases away from the general community, Murphy added.

Drive Through

Australia has also adopted the idea of drive-through testing stations. The countrys first drive-through COVID-19 testing station is now operational in Adelaide.

Patients drive through the site, wind down their windows, and are then tested through their car window by pathology nurses taking a throat swab. The measure is effective in supporting isolation, especially those patients with respiratory infections. Further, it will protect front line health workers from being infected with the virus.

One patient can be tested every 20 minutes. The testing center is in the Repatriation Hospital in Adelaides south.

Experts work cited in U.S. press briefing

A medical epidemiologist at the University of Newcastle in Australia, Craig Dalton, has inspired the Trump administrations coronavirus response. Daltons work was highlighted in a televised White House press briefing by Deborah Birx, the U.S. coronavirus response coordinator, and Anthony Fauci, head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

The health officials described a new set of guidelines that the government would want to disseminate as part of its effort to curb the spread of COVID-19, which has infected nearly 1,000 Americans and killed 31 people.

His paper has been cited by health officials in the U.S. as the basis of its new public information campaign, which highlighted cost-effective and straightforward ways to stem the outbreak, including precautions such as not shaking hands, using hand sanitizers, opening windows in tight spaces, and putting signs on doors saying Welcome if you are well. Further, the paper suggested schools and workplaces shut down temporarily and let people work at home.
A federal judge ruled that Iran is responsible for the abduction and torturing of Robert Levinson, after a motion by his family in a $1.5 billion lawsuit.

This case, brought by Levinsons family against the Islamic Republic of Iran for his hostage-taking and torture under the terrorism exception to the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act, is largely about whether it was the Iranian regime that committed these barbarous acts, U.S. District Court Judge Timothy Kelly ruled on Monday. The Court finds, in no uncertain terms, that it was.

Levinsons family filed a lawsuit in 2017 against the Islamic State of Iran after he had been missing in custody in Iran for ten years. They demanded $1.5 million as compensation and $1.5 million in punitive damages for each family member, totaling $1.5 billion.

Thirteen years ago, our beloved husband and father, Robert Levinson, was detained by Iranian authorities while visiting Kish Island, Iran, beginning a nightmare for him and for our family that continues to this day, the Levinson family said in a statement obtained by the Washington Examiner. On this anniversary, the United States District Court for the District of Columbia has found that the Iranian regime is responsible for what happened to him.  We will continue to do everything in our power to seek justice for our husband and father.

Mr. Levinsons family, including grandchildren he has never met, has borne an unimaginable burden of uncertainty and hardship throughout this time, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in an announcement on Monday. Iran must honor the commitment it has made to work with the United States for Mr. Levinsons return. International norms, respect for human rights, and basic human decency demand no less.

Returning all Americans held hostage or wrongfully detained abroad is President Trumps top priority. We will work until Bob Levinson, and all U.S. hostages and wrongful detainees come home, Pompeo said.

Iran, on Nov.10, said an open Revolutionary Court case involving Levinson was a missing person filing, not a sign that the man was being prosecuted.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavis comments came as a new Iranian acknowledgment of the case involving Robert Levinson renewed questions about his disappearance.

Speaking to journalists, Mousavi said Levinson has no judicial or criminal case in any Islamic Republic of Iran court whatsoever.

It is normal that a case is opened like its done for any missing people anywhere in Iran, Mousavi said.

However, Iran only acknowledged its Revolutionary Court had an open case on Levinson in a filing to the United Nations. The Associated Press obtained a copy of a U.N. report on the acknowledgment November 9.

For years, U.S. officials would only say that Levinson was working for a private firm on his trip. In December 2013, the A.P. revealed Levinson had been on a mission for CIA analysts who had no authority to run spy operations.

Since his disappearance, the only photos and video of Levinson emerged in 2010 and 2011. He appeared gaunt and bearded with long hair and was wearing an orange jumpsuit similar to those worn by detainees at the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay.

The Associated Press contributed to this report
ARISS celebrating successful launch carrying Interoperable Radio System to ISS

Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) is celebrating the successful launch and docking of the SpaceX-20 commercial resupply mission to the International Space Station (ISS). One payload on the flight is the ARISS Interoperable Radio System (IORS), which ARISS calls "the foundational element of the ARISS next-generation radio system" on the space station.

Amateur radio has been an integral component of ISS missions since 2000. The Dragon cargo capsule docked successfully with the space station on March 9. ARISS-US Delegate for ARRL Rosalie White, K1STO, said hundreds of ARRL members contributed to make the IORS project happen, and ARISS is celebrating the 4-year-long IORS project.

"ARISS is truly grateful to ARRL and AMSAT for their co-sponsorship and support of ARISS since day one," White said. "ARISS greatly appreciates the hundreds of ham radio operators who have stood by ARISS, sending financial support and encouragement. A robust ham station is on its way to replace the broken radio on the ISS, and tens of thousands of hams will enjoy strong ARISS packet and ARISS SSTV signals as a result.

In addition, thousands of students will discover and use ham radio to talk with a ham-astronaut. We hope to see the trend continue where more ARISS teachers and local clubs set up school ham clubs." The new system includes a higher-power radio, an enhanced voice repeater, updated digital packet radio (APRS), and slow-scan television (SSTV) capabilities for both the US and Russian space station segments.

White called the March 7 launch, "beautiful, flawless." ARRL President Rick Roderick, K5UR, told ARISS that he had his fingers crossed for a successful launch.

According to NASA Mission Control, it will take the three ISS crew members up to a month to unload and stow the 4,300 pounds of cargo on board the Dragon capsule, and the IORS is not a priority. The actual ham equipment will be installed in the ISS Columbus module.

Another IORS unit is in line to be launched and installed in the Russian segment of the ISS later this year.

The IORS consists of a custom-modified JVCKenwood TM-D710GA transceiver, a multi-voltage power supply, and interconnecting cables.

The ARISS hardware team will assemble four flight units - and 10 IORS units in all - to support onboard flight operations, training, operations planning, and hardware testing.

ARISS-International Chair Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, said earlier this year that future upgrades and enhancements to the next-generation system are in various stages of design and development. These include a repaired Ham Video system - currently planned for launch in mid-to-late 2020, an L-band (uplink) repeater, a microwave "Ham Communicator," and Lunar Gateway prototype experiment.
LAS VEGAS, NV, March 11, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NEWMEDIAWIRE -- International Spirits & Wellness Holdings, Inc. (OTCMKTS: ISWH) (ISWH or the Company), an emerging diversified leader in the health and wellness space, is excited to update shareholders on the Companys upcoming corporate name change, its plans to uplist onto the OTCQB exchange, its upcoming release of 2019 annual financial data (including 39% sequential quarter-over-quarter revenue growth), and the establishment of a registered agent in New Mexico as the Company takes steps to expand its home healthcare business outside of the Texas marketplace to drive shareholder value and to provide more care options as the coronavirus outbreak worsens in the US.



Name Change and Uplist. To better serve the interests of its shareholders, the Company has decided to change its corporate name to ISW Holdings, Inc. Steps toward this objective have already begun. In addition, as previously announced in a press release dated Oct. 29, 2019, the Company plans to uplist shares onto the OTCQB exchange following the release of fully audited financial data for the four quarters ended December 31, 2019.

Upcoming Annual Financials. The Company will be releasing its financial data for 2019 on or before March 31, 2020. That audited report will include, among other data, a $70k q/q increase in revenues from its home healthcare segment, representing another large sequential quarterly jump in performance (of roughly 39%), which amounts to accelerating top-line growth.

Home Healthcare Expansion. As detailed in recent releases, the Company has begun the process of expanding its home healthcare operations outside of the state of Texas, moving into in Nevada (Las Vegas and Reno), New Mexico (Santa Fe), Arizona (Phoenix), and Florida (The Villages). As part of that process, the Company has established a registered agent in New Mexico. Regulatory requirements for each of these locations are in progress.

We are poised to dramatically scale up where it will count most, commented Alonzo Pierce, President of ISWH. Our home healthcare business has demonstrated viability and raw growth over a series of consecutive quarters. That business has developed so rapidly that its impossible for any responsible management strategy to call for anything but hitting the gas pedal. In the very near future, we expect to be operating a rapidly growing home healthcare business with operations spanning five states, with shares transacting on the OTCQB exchange tier, and with a new corporate name that better reflects our operations and future vision.

About ISWH: ISWH is a global brand management holdings company with diverse operational interests, including commercial-stage operations in the spirits, CBD, and home healthcare markets, and development-stage operations in the logistics and supply chain and renewable energy markets.

Based in Nevada, the Companys expertise lies in the strategic development and aggressive early growth of its brands and the establishment of these brands as viable and profitable as an incubator. ISWH nurtures emerging brands through critical stages of market development, including conceptualization, go-to-market strategy, supply chain and logistics engineering, integrated marketing, and distribution. ISWH is creating and managing brands across a spectrum of disruptive industries. The Company has now established itself as a health and wellness leader with a focus on reshaping the CBD products and home healthcare markets through state-of-the-art technology and execution. The company has also partnered with Bengala Technologies to develop and commercialize enterprise and B2B software technology products targeting the logistics and supply-chain marketplace with VOLUM.



Forward Looking Statements: This press release may contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. These statements relate to future events or our future financial performance. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology including "could", "may", "will", "should", "expect", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "predict", "potential" and the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. While these forward-looking statements, and any assumptions upon which they are based, are made in good faith and reflect our current judgment regarding the direction of our business, actual results will almost always vary, sometimes materially, from any estimates, predictions, projections, assumptions or other future performance suggested in this report. Except as required by applicable law, we do not intend to update any of the forward-looking statements so as to conform these statements to actual results. Investors should refer to the risks disclosed in the Company's reports filed from time to time with OTC Markets (www.otcmarkets.com).

Contact:

For Additional Investor Information:

ISWH

info@iswholdings.com
Tom Flint Monday announced his fifth run for re-election as Grant Public Utility District (Grant PUD) commissioner, District A-At Large. He first joined the commission in 2000.

Institutional knowledge and stability are important characteristics of a PUD Commissioner, Flint said. With my 20 years of service on the board, I know this county was built on the foundation of hydroelectric power. I remain committed to preserving those benefits for the residents, farmers, irrigators and businesses of this great county. I also believe strongly that fiber optic service must be made available for all county residents. Its been a 20-year project and one Im committed to see to the end.

Flint has served as president of the Washington PUD Association and as a board member of both Energy Northwest and the Northwest Public Power Association.

He has been actively involved in shaping the modern PUD. Flint was a part of the federal relicensing effort for the Priest Rapids Project in 2008. He fought with others to have hydropower recognized as a renewable resource on the state level, and won. He also presided on the board and helped the utility work through the fracture at Wanapum Dam in 2014.

Some call the fifth-generation farmer The Father of Fiber for his passionate vision and 20-year leadership in the fight to bring the PUDs broadband fiber optic network to every home and business in Grant County.
A man has admitted using forged prescriptions to obtain high-powered painkillers from a number of pharmacies in Limerick.

Tomaz Uliasz, 24, who has an address at Bruachlan, Westbury, Corbally pleaded guilty, at Limerick District Court, to a number of charges relating to offences which happened on dates between May and July 2019.

After he entered his plea, Judge Mary Larkin was told the defendant, who had been prescribed Oxynorm following a road accident a number of years ago, had copied the original prescription which was written by a doctor in Cork.

He then presented copies of the prescription at a number of different pharmacies in Limerick city to obtain various quantities of Oxynorm.

Read also: Man arrested after major drugs find in Limerick city

Solicitor Tom Kiely said there is a sensitive background to the matter and he submitted the court would benefit from a probation report before sentence is imposed.

Sergeant Michelle Leahy said told another individual is also before the courts in relation to the offences and that it is the State case that she was operating in joint enterprise with Mr Uliasz.

Judge Larkin adjourned the matter to May to facilitate the preparation of a probation report.
A Woodside executive has warned governments could intervene in its $48 billion Burrup gas processing hub vision if it couldn't lock down negotiations with joint venture partners.

Woodside executive vice president of development Meg O'Neill delivered the subtle barb at the company's Pilbara partners in a keynote speech at the Australasian Oil and Gas conference in Perth on Wednesday morning.

Woodside's executive vice president of development in the lobby of Woodside HQ in Perth. Credit:Trevor Collens

The Burrup Hub vision includes a new LNG processing train at Woodside's Pluto facility and connecting that to the Karratha Gas Plant as well as developing the Scarborough and Browse gas fields to extend the life of North West Shelf infrastructure.

A Scarborough decision is expected mid-year but the bigger Browse development has been significantly delayed because non-Browse partner Chevron has not given the thumbs-up to process Browse gas through North West Shelf.
When the coronavirus scuttled Susan Kuangs plans for a March trip to Italy, the Lakeview woman started looking for other vacation options.

She found plenty -- and at bargain-basement prices.

It was pretty insane, said Kuang, 26. She used the online platform Google Flights to search for domestic destinations. Pretty much going anywhere in the United States was under $150.

The COVID-19 outbreak has thrown the travel industry into a tailspin. U.S. government and health officials advise against all nonessential travel to China, Iran, South Korea and Italy. They discourage going on cruises, especially when it comes to older people and those with chronic health conditions like heart disease and diabetes. This more vulnerable group also should avoid crowded places and long plane trips, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Between these warnings, the cancellation of conferences and events as well as widespread fear and uncertainty, demand has plummeted among both business and leisure travelers. Not coincidentally, travel deals have proliferated as airlines scramble to fill empty seats, and cruise lines and hotels roll out discounts and perks in an effort to put heads in beds.

The deals are really good right now, said Kuang, who, along with a friend, booked $97 round-trip tickets between Chicago and Miami to spend a weekend in South Beach in early May.

We fly out Friday afternoon and come back Sunday on American Airlines, which would usually cost about $300 or $400, Kuang said. Were looking at Vegas too. Its $137 right now for a Thursday to Sunday trip in April, and its $70 a night to stay at the Luxor on the Vegas Strip. We might even book a few other trips for the rest of the year."

Snapping up low fares for future travel isnt as risky as usual, since many airlines have backed off charging hefty fees for changing or canceling flights in an attempt to juice up new bookings.

Consumers benefit from these peace-of-mind fares that let you book cheap tickets now for the future knowing that you can change them, which is a heads-I-win, tails-you-lose situation for a lot of travelers, said Scott Keyes, founder of Scotts Cheap Flights, a service that flags airfare deals for email subscribers.

Weve been living in the golden age of cheap flights for months now, Keyes said. The coronavirus outbreak has only stepped up pressure to reduce already low fares.

He pointed to a slew of deals hes seen in recent days for roundtrip airfare out of Chicago: $176 to Cancun, Mexico; $197 to Alaska; $265 to Colombia; and $315 to France.

Chicago to New Zealand for $682 roundtrip in economy class -- its usually closer to $1,500, Keyes said. Even some routes that are typically more expensive during peak seasons like summer and Christmas and New Year are having their fares slashed.

Hayley Berg, an economist at the travel app Hopper, said airfare from the U.S. to international destinations is down an average of 20% compared with this time last year. Within the U.S., some fares are running well below half of what youd expect.

We saw a massive drop-off last Thursday, Berg said. Were seeing fantastic deals (from Chicago) to Miami, San Diego, Orlando, New Orleans, Phoenix -- 40 to 70% off what wed typically see."

The Hopper mobile app predicts both airfare and hotel prices. Berg said hotel rates havent dropped nearly as much as airfare, but theyre also trending lower.

Hotel prices are down about 4.4% right now, she said. Typically theyre rising this time of year.

Googles hotel search function turned up overnight rates for the last weekend in March of $118 a night at the four-star Crowne Plaza Times Square Manhattan -- 31% below the usual price. The five-star Red Rock Casino Resort & Spa in Vegas was showing a similar savings at $160 a night.

In a recent story about coronavirus anxiety, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser wrote about a new sale that runs through March 20, shaving up to 30% off rooms at Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort on stays from March 22 to Dec. 15.

Anticipating an upswing in demand for staycations, Chicagos Sophy hotel unveiled a new Sophy SO-Close package earlier this week. Starting at $230 a night, the offer includes a $50 dining credit and free valet parking at the 98-room boutique property in Hyde Park.

Connie Chlaimoun, a hair stylist from River West, recently found a bundle deal on Expedia for less than $600 that covered airfare and five hotels nights in the coastal resort town of Playa del Carmen, Mexico, in April.

A few hours after she booked it, Chlaimoun got an email from her employer warning the staff that if they leave the country, they wouldnt be allowed back to work for 14 days, the standard quarantine period for the coronavirus. She immediately canceled the trip.

I dont have a job where I can work from home, Chlaimoun said. I cant afford to be off work for three weeks with no pay.

She can easily afford a $53 roundtrip ticket she found to Tampa, Florida, on Frontier Airlines. But with the coronavirus situation being so influx, even a trip to the Sunshine State has her nervous.

What if something happens and my employer says you cant come to work if you traveled to a certain state? she said. Its frustrating because there are good deals everywhere.

Some of the best deals can be found in one of the hardest-hit sectors of the travel market: the cruise industry, which also is in the midst of so-called wave season. Its the time of year when cruise lines traditionally unleash special offers to bump up passenger bookings from January through March.

There are deals to be had and I think each day, there will be more, said Peg Haskins, co-owner of Viking Travel Service, with offices in Westmont and Naperville.

Haskins said some upcoming cruises currently have a much lower price tag than they did when people made their reservations months ago.

We have a party of six thats due to travel in April, seven nights in the Caribbean on Royal Caribbeans Harmony of the Seas, and its now $1,000-a-person less, Haskins said.

She and other cruise travel agents said theyve been able to negotiate complimentary upgraded cabins and other perks for passengers already booked on trips.

Joanne Mueller of Cruise Planners in Lombard has a client sailing out of Miami on Royal Caribbeans Symphony of the Seas in late March.

Its a popular time -- spring break -- when ships generally go out full, Mueller said. Thereve been a lot of cancellations, so these ships arent full now. I called Royal Caribbean, and they said we can get her in a better category (stateroom) for the same price.

Holland America Line is rewarding its passengers on departures through May 31 with an onboard spending credit of $100 to $200 per stateroom as a thank you for not canceling.

When it comes to luring new business, Royal Caribbean International this week started offering a three-night Bahamas cruise out of Floridas Port Canaveral in April that works out to as little as $91 a night per person, taxes and fees included. Its part of a flash sale that runs through March 13.

Princess Cruises has a seven-day Scandinavia summer trip reduced to $884 a person, all-in.

In a sale set to begin March 17, Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours is lopping off up to $1,000 per passenger on 2020 European river cruises.

Cruise lines arent marketing their deep discounts as a direct response to the coronavirus. But they are publicizing recent changes sparked by COVID-19 that give passengers a lot more flexibility when it comes to bowing out of a trip at sea.

Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Azamara and Silversea all have adopted a Cruise With Confidence policy that lets guests cancel up to 48 hours before a sailing. Good on any voyage departing on or before July 31, the new policy would credit guests for the full fare and let them apply that money to any future sailing in 2020 or 2021.

Mueller of Cruise Planners said shes had at least eight clients cancel in the past two weeks because of coronavirus fears.

Would she feel comfortable taking a cruise in the current climate?

Absolutely, she said, adding that she isnt worried about the coronavirus affecting her health.

Im leaving Friday for Europe -- on a river cruise, she said. The Danube.
The outbreak of COVID-19 has not just impacted various industries but also school students. Given the government-led advisory for schools to remain shut to protect students from Coronavirus, online learning app BYJU'S, is offering free access to its complete app to school students till the end of April.

Given the ongoing health crisis in the country, all students from grade first to 12th will be able to access BYJU'S learning programs for free. According to the press statement issued by the company, students in classes first to third can access math and English lessons and students in classes fourth to 12th can learn math and science concepts. Considering the rigour of the exam season, access to the learning program will further assist and help students continue with their preparation for the year-end examinations.

Students can download BYJU'S-The Learning App and Disney - BYJU'S Early Learn for free from the Play Store and gain access to the entire library of BYJU'S educational content. Those who already have the app installed on their devices (free version of the app), will have to update it to access the complete learning content for free.

India has over 50 confirmed cases of novel Coronavirus. As a result, states as well as individual schools are being cautious and taking precautionary measures. In the wake of the virus, the Delhi government has ordered all primary schools to remain close till March 31. Similarly, in Kerala, all exams till class seventh have been cancelled. Along with schools, the holiday has been declared for all colleges, including professional colleges, till the end of March.

BYJU'S says that according to a report by UNESCO, education of over 290 million students across 13 countries will be interrupted because of the COVID-19 crisis. The agency has also suggested that learning platforms will help students access quality education remotely during times like these. With 250 million school-going students in India, it is of paramount importance that their health is protected while also ensuring that their learning does not get interrupted, says the company.

BYJU'S is one of the popular learning apps in India offering learning programs for students from class first to 12th (K-12) and competitive exams like JEE, NEET, CAT and IAS. Started in 2015, the app has over 42 million registered students and 3 million annual paid subscriptions. The Disney - BYJU'S Early Learn App was launched in June 2019, for students in first to third standards. To transform offline to the online learning experience, BYJU'S acquired Osmo, a Palo Alto-based maker of educational games in early 2019.

Also Read: Coronavirus: GoAir to not charge cancellation fee till April 30

Also Read: The bleak financials of India's domestic airlines
Breakdown of Amazon rainforest could happen within 50 years if ecological point-of-no return is crossed, study says.

Large ecosystems the size of the Amazon rainforest could collapse within decades once a tipping point has been passed, scientists have warned, predicting a much faster breakdown than previously assumed.

Research published on Tuesday in the scientific journal Nature Communications concluded that big biomes the size of Caribbean coral reefs could die off in only 15 years if they reach their own point-of-no-return, while those the size of the Amazon rainforest could degrade within 50 years.

In both examples, the projected threshold for irreversible change stems from the effect of global warming and environmental damage  deforestation in the case of the Amazon, and pollution and acidification for corals.

The United Nations climate science advisory panel, the IPCC, has said that 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 Fahrenheit) of atmospheric warming above preindustrial levels would doom 90 percent of the worlds shallow-water corals, while a 2C (3.6F) rise would spell their near-complete demise. Earths surface has already heated up more than 1C (1.8F).

Meanwhile, the change in pH level  the measure of how acidic the sea actually is  reduces the ability of marine organisms to form shells and corals to grow branches, affecting their life, growth and reproduction.

In the case of the Amazon, the temperature tipping point is less clear  but scientists estimate that clearing 35 percent of its surface would trigger its eventual demise.

About 20 percent of the Amazon basin rainforest  straddling seven nations and covering more than five million square kilometres (two million square miles)  has been wiped out since 1970, mostly for the production of lumber, soy, palm oil, biofuels and beef.

We must prepare for regime shifts in any natural system to occur over the human timescales of years and decades, rather than multigenerational timescales of centuries and millennia, the study of more than 40 different kinds of ecosystems read.

Lead author Simon Willcock, a professor at Bangor Universitys School of Natural Science, meanwhile noted that recent out-of-control fires in the Amazon and Australia  both made more likely and more intense by climate change  suggest that many ecosystems are teetering on the edge of this precipice.

Global warming is a great threat for coral reef and oceans biodiversity [File photo: Donald Miralle/AFP]

Stark message

Scientists have long warned about the deteriorating status of ecosystems due to increasing temperatures and ecological damage, but larger ecosystems were believed to be more resilient due to their size.

However, the authors of the new research found that the rate at which these systems can disintegrate and then disappear is significantly faster than in smaller ones. The reason is that their sub-systems and habitats can initially seem more resilient, but then unravel very rapidly when a tipping point is reached.

The messages here are stark. We need to prepare for changes in our planets ecosystems that are faster than we previously envisaged, said John Dearing, professor in physical geography at the University of Southampton and lead author of the report.

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Overall, the study examined 42 ecosystems  four terrestrial, 13 freshwater and 25 marine  of various sizes.

However, alack of data collected from the observation of tropical rainforests made some scientists question whether the reports findings can be applied on the Amazon.

It is very unlikely, if not dystopian, to expect that an area half the size of Europe will experience a complete shift in vegetation in just 50 years, Erika Berenguer, a senior research associate at the University of Oxford and Lancaster University, was quoted as saying by Reuters news agency.

While there is no doubt that the Amazon is at great risk and that a tipping point is likely, such inflated claims do not help either science or policymaking, she said.
A world-renowned doctor's career faces being left in tatters after he admitted using a hospital computer to feed his porn addiction.

A search of Prof Peter Davies' browsing history at Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital revealed the Oxford-educated doctor had been viewing horrific pictures of a person having sex with both a horse and a dog.

The licensed Church of England preacher wept at his tribunal hearing after admitting he had been hooked on pornography for more than 50 years.

Professor Peter Davies arrives at the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service in Manchester, where he admitted to watching extreme pornography while working at Liverpool Chest and Heart Hospital.

Prof Davies told his tribunal hearing in Manchester that his porn addiction 'isn't something that can be cured but can be avoided by support'

Speaking at the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service Prof Davies said: 'In a way, throughout my adult life, since teenage years I have had a problem with it. I used to buy magazines but it wasnt until the internet came into being there was a possibility of more access.

'As a result I would have been accessing porn at home and in 2010 I made a confession to my wife. Im amazed the NHS trust had no means of finding out earlier in a sense and Im grateful to that person who did.'

Prof Davies, who opened Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital's Tuberculosis Research and Resources Unit in 1990, was quizzed by police after a chief finance officer found his 'inappropriate browsing history' in December 2018.

He was let off with a caution but the doctor of 47 years was then reported to the General Medical Council.

The hearing, which continues today, heard Prof Davies started using his NHS computer after his wife put anti-spam filters on his personal PC.

Prof Davies, who has been receiving counselling for his addiction, said: 'In fact my wife who has been magnificent through all this. It gets easier the more people you talk to but the most difficult person to tell was my wife because I had been deceiving her for some years. She was wonderful.'

The senior NHS doctor has been dismissed from Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital but now faces potentially being struck off.

At the hearing Prof Davies, who is also a licensed lay reader for the Church of England in Chester, said he had viewed the bestiality pictures out of 'curiosity' but admitted: 'I now understand I have a serious addiction to pornography like an alcoholic realising they have an addiction to alcohol and must never touch a drop again.

'It has to do with a hormone in the brain which is an explanation to me as how it was over some years I could be so stupid as to look for pornography on a work computer.

'I have got an Oxford degree, I am a doctor and I would do something like this. But there is an explanation, an understanding of the addiction which is an inherent compulsion to look at pornography and ever increasingly dangerous images.

Prof Peter Davies was dismissed from Liverpool Chest and Heart Hospital (pictured) after a finance chief discovered he was watching extreme pornography. Prof Davies says he could not watch the material at home as his wife had put blockers on his personal PC

'I think I realise it isnt something that can be cured but can be avoided by support. I havent watched pornography since my police caution.'

He added: 'At a meeting I was asked not to go back to the health trust and not to see any patients in any capacity. Because they had said I shouldnt go back into work I realised that I had been doing wrong for a long time. I spoke to the Bishop and I said I should resign as I felt it was inappropriate to continue as a lay reader.

'The first person I spoke to after my wife was our vicar. I said I shouldnt continue to do any activity for the church because I realised the appalling thing I have done, I realise I have destroyed the trust that patients have in me and I feel absolutely terrible.

'Previously we went to see a marriage guidance counsellor associated with the Diocese of Chester and she gave me only one session on my pornography problem alone. But she gave me some advice and I failed to realise the extent of the problem in terms of an addiction.

'For five years I did keep off the internet porn but when I came back to it I realised that I was in really deep trouble - I couldnt control what I had been looking at.'

Prof Davies told the hearing how he had sought 'life changing' counselling from the Laurel Centre in Leamington Spa, which specialises in sex and porn addiction.

Applauding the success of his treatment, Prof Davies said: 'Im determined not to go back this again.'

Earlier Miss Jennie Ferrario for the General Medical Council told the hearing: 'He was interviewed by police officers on the 1st February 2019 and made full admissions to accessing pornography on his work computer using his work login.

'He said that he had been doing it for a number of weeks and through liaison with the CPS we know that the charges were brought against Dr Davies, but he accepted a police caution on the 28th March. The GMC does recognise Dr Davies has shown insight and took some steps to remedy his conduct however this behaviour will not be the subject of any quick fix as the facts in this case demonstrate.

'He accepts he has been accessing pornography for a number of years - that is not at home that is at work. He had also previously had some counselling and stopped for a number of yeas and then began to access it again. Doing what he did in work time was far from practising medicine in an open and safe manner.'

Davies lawyer Fiona Robertson said: 'There is no direct risk to patients he has not had patient contact since retirement and he made admissions to police and GMC investigators.

'His actions do fall below the standard the public expected of medical staff and on this basis he doesnt seek to contest that his current fitness to practise medicine is impaired.'

The hearing continues.
Mary K. Watkins, 37, was found Monday in the 8100 block of South Ellis Avenue in the East Chatham neighborhood, authorities said. An autopsy performed Tuesday determined she died of multiple injuries and assault, the medical examiners office said.
When the girl alleged Serrano had been molesting and raping her since she was 8, the family shared the information with her younger sister, the guardian said.

"(The younger sister) ended up telling us, 'Me, too,'" the guardian said. "Police were like, 'Bring her to the hospital.' So she was brought to the hospital so police could talk to her."

The guardian said one of the girls told their father in 2013, and he made a police report in East Chicago. The girl never spoke with police at that time because Serrano was present when she was asked about the alleged abuse, the guardian said.

Serrano is accused of telling one of the girls her whole family would get hurt or die if she told anyone. Both girls believed their family members would be hurt if they spoke about the alleged sexual abuse, the guardian said.

The guardian alleged Serrano maintained a separate residence in Hammond, where he took the girls to sexually abuse them. One of the girls told police about a time when Serrano claimed he was taking her to a store, but instead took her from their East Chicago home to his Hammond residence and raped her, court records show.
The Jammu and Kashmir administration has ordered closure of primary schools and aganwadi centres in five districts of Jammu and cinema halls across the region till March 31 as a precautionary measure amid the coronavirus scare.

While only one person has tested positive for the deadly coronavirus in the union territory, one person has reported with high viral-load, officials said.

His samples have been sent to the National Centre for Disease Control in New Delhi for confirmation, they said.

"# COVID19 #JammuAndKashmir Cinema Halls in all 10 districts of Jammu province to remain closed till March 31," Principal Secretary, Information, Rohit Kansal tweeted.

He said all primary schools and anganwadi centres will be closed in Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Reasi and Udhampur districts.

Director National Health Mission (NHM) Bhupinder Kumar urged people to not panic and pay heed to rumours regarding COVID-19.

Giving a detailed break up about the suspected coronavirus cases in the union territory, he said 705 travellers and people in contact with suspected cases have been put under active surveillance.

Of these, 150 people have completed the surveillance period of 28 days, while nine are under hospital quarantine.

As many as 56 samples of suspected cases have been sent for testing so far and 26 of them have reported negative, he told reporters. Of the earlier two cases who were reported with high viral-load, one person has tested positive and another is being re-tested, while 29 reports are awaited, he said.

Spelling out measures being taken up to contain the coronavirus spread, the NHM director said the union territory has strengthened the surveillance and control measures against the disease and Helpline numbers have already been established for advice and assistance in this regard.

Besides, coronavirus lab testing facilities have been started in Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Srinagar, and Government Medical College, Jammu.

Control rooms and surveillance teams have been constituted in all districts of the union territory to meet any sort of eventuality, he said.

Kumar said universal self-declaration has been made mandatory at Jammu and Srinagar airports. Besides, screening of travellers has also been started at Lakhanpur and Lower Munda toll posts as well as Jammu, Katra and Udhampur Railway stations.

He assured people that the whole situation is being monitored and reviewed very closely at all levels.

He asked people, especially those with travel history to affected countries such as China, Italy, Iran, South Korea etc, to self declare immediately and report to the nearest government health facility if any symptoms are found.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The US administration is preparing fiscal stimulus and news out on Wednesday suggests this could be a payroll tax cut till the end of the year.

The EU also unveiled a stimulus package on Tuesday and the UK is likely to do so on Wednesday as the new budget is released.

Risk markets have stabilized after Mondays crash and currency volatility is reducing.

With the coronavirus outbreak continuing to spread and likely to cause havoc in most economies, help is flooding in from all angles. Last week the central banks kicked off the stimulus with coordinated rate cuts from the Fed, the RBA and the BoC. On Wednesday the BoE joined the party with a 0.5% rate cut, taking the Bank rate to just 0.25%. Thursday is likely to see some sort of monetary package from the ECB, although it is unclear if they can ease further due to the measures already in place from last year.

However, the actions from central banks are only half the story and it is feared they will have a limited effect. This is why President Trump stepped up earlier this week with promises of a substantial fiscal package. News just out suggests taxes could be cut for the remainder of the year.

The president told Republicans at a closed-door lunch Tuesday that he wants the payroll tax rate to drop to zero through the end of the year, according to a White House and a Senate official, reported CNBC.

However, this move may not be supported by the Democrats as the timing will extend cuts up to the election in November.

Another White House official added that different timelines were discussed. Trump is currently backing only those that would stretch through at least November or December, with some talk of expanding the cuts beyond 2020. The official argued that anything shorter would be bad politically and make less economic sense, with the impact of the coronavirus likely to stretch through the summer, added CNBC.

Making any relief a political move could backfire, but it seems this is the route the administration are pushing for. So far the market reaction has been mixed. Mondays crash has been recovered, but stock markets are still way down for the year, as is the USD which will was initially buoyed by fiscal stimulus supporting the monetary one, but has yet to stage a proper recovery.

A Coordinated Fiscal Response

Just as the monetary response was coordinated, it appears the fiscal stimulus will be too. While fiscal policies will differ, the timing is coordinated so that the stock market impact is maximized and currency volatility is minimized. That is, if the US and the EU introduce similar monetary and fiscal stimulus at roughly the same time, they should balance out and not affect the currencies too much. The only problem with this in reality is that the ECB could not match the Feds 50bps rate cut with rate cuts on the Euro and the Euro has flown higher as a result. Even still, the EU followed quickly behind the US this week to introduce their own fiscal measures. As Danske Bank summarise,

In response to the coronavirus outbreak in Europe, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in consultation with EU leaders yesterday unveiled specific measures to help the European economy weather the current storm. These include (1) flexibility in state aid rules and (2) EU fiscal rules under the stability and growth pact as well as (3) a specific coronavirus investment fund in the volume of up to EUR 25bn sourced from the EU budget that is planned to be operational already in coming weeks to support healthcare efforts, SMEs as well as vulnerable sectors.

The UK is likely to follow with its own package on Wednesday as the new budget is due to be unveiled. Currency moves in the Euro and British Pound have been fairly steady this week with only the USD introducing volatility due to its correlation with stock markets.
A Utah bill requiring that every online porn video streamed in the state include a warning label has passed the state Senate, after being approved in a House committee less than a month ago, and now awaits approval from Republican Governor Gary Herbert. But the version of the bill approved by the legislature has been considerably diluted from its original version.

When the bill was introduced earlier this year by GOP state rep Brady Brammer, it would have required any video defined as pornography to be preceded by a 15-second warning, explaining the supposed harms caused by porn to minors. The bill defined pornography as any material depicting nudity, sexual conduct, sexual excitement, or sadomasochistic abuse.

The version approved last week requires that the warning, which now must stay on screen for five second rather than 15, be attached only to videos that meet the standards of obscenity, according to a report by KTSU News in Salt Lake City.

But the definition of obscenity remains vague and subjective, though Brammer said that in his definition, obscenity is really the worst of the worst."

Defining obscenity would likely mean that each case of a potential violation of the warning label law could require a lawsuit against the supposedly offending site, according to the KTSU report. Brammer said that he expected citizens, rather than the state government, to bring the suit against porn sites.

But the law itself would likely become the quick target of a First Amendment lawsuit, according to a statement issued by the Free Speech Coalition, which advocates for the adult industry.

The bill remains a landmine of First Amendment issues. Affixing a state-mandated warning to an adult film, which enjoys First Amendment protections, is fundamentally different from doing the same to a food product, which does not, the statement read.

Advocates of the bill had compared it to Californias toxic warning label law, which requires that food products containing possibly harmful ingredients come with warning labels.

Democratic Utah state Senator Kathleen Riebe said that she supported the idea behind the bill, but voted against it because it would simply be unenforceable.

I dont think theres enough capabilities of us to enforce this law, and I dont think theres enough ability of us to prevent complaints from coming in that arent justified, she said.

Photo By Jkinsocal / Wikimedia Commons
Learning series begins Thursday

WAVERLY  Gerri Perreault, former chair of the American Democracy Project, will discuss the interrelated issues of lies, secrets and self-deception during Wartburg Colleges next Keep on Learning community education series, beginning Thursday.

Perreault also will discuss how lies take away ones power to choose, sometimes with lethal consequences, during her session, titled Deception: Lies, Secrets and Self-Deception in Personal, Professional and Public Life.

Classes continue March 19 and 26 and April 2 in the Heritage Room of Saemann Student Center. Coffee will be served at 9 a.m., followed by the class from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Parking is available near Saemann Student Center for those entering campus via Wartburg Boulevard.

Preregistration is not required. The first class of each session is free; a $40 fee due at the second class covers the rest of the sessions. The series will conclude in April with TranscendentArt and Artistson Film and Art.

The Keep on Learning series is sponsored by Waverly Health Center. The Wartburg Alumni & Parent Relations Office coordinates Keep on Learning with the assistance of a volunteer committee. For more information, call (319) 352-8491, email alumni@wartburg.edu or visit www.wartburg.edu/kol.

Bachs Lunch program Friday

WAVERLY  Marie Rubis Bauer will be the featured organist at the Wartburg College Bachs Lunch organ recital series Friday. The concert will begin at 12:30 p.m. in Wartburg Chapel, preceded by a noon lunch and conversation with Rubis Bauer in the Chapel Commons. Her program, Steps to Paradise: The Way is the Cross, will feature pieces by Johann Sebastian Bach in C minor, D major, E minor, F major and G major.

Rubis Bauer is the archdiocesan director of music and cathedral organist at Saint Cecilia Cathedral in Omaha, Neb.

Bachs Lunch attendees are invited to bring a lunch. The series will conclude on April 3.

Adoption event at Cedar Bend

WATERLOO  The public can attend the Cedar Bend Humane Societys St. Pitties Day Adoption Event beginning March 17 until March 20.

With an approved application for one of the shelters adoptable pit bulls or pit bull mixes, potential adopters will draw an adoption price from a pot of gold ranging from $20 to $80.

Adoption applications, photos, and information about pitties ready for adoption are available online at www.CedarBendHumane.org. The Cedar Bend Humane Society adoption center is located at 1166 W. Airline Hwy. in Waterloo and is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Geocaching egg hunt set

HAZLETON  Fontana Nature Center, 1883 125th St., Hazleton, is hosting a geocaching egg hunt at 10 a.m. April 11.

The hunt will take place throughout Fontana Parks 140 acres. Participants will find hidden items using a GPS device. Space is limited. Register at www.buchanancountyparks.com

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AFTER stressing the importance of communication in preventing the spread of COVID-19, Manitobas health minister cut short a news conference after 16 minutes Tuesday without answering further questions about how the province is prepared to handle the virus once it arrives.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 11/3/2020 (671 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

AFTER stressing the importance of communication in preventing the spread of COVID-19, Manitobas health minister cut short a news conference after 16 minutes Tuesday without answering further questions about how the province is prepared to handle the virus once it arrives.

Health Minister Cameron Friesen was joined by Dr. Brent Roussin, the chief provincial public health officer, to announce Manitoba is working with the Public Health Agency of Canada to bulk buy $35.2-million worth of personal protective equipment with other provinces and territories. The COVID-19 supplies include items such as procedure and surgical masks, N95 respirators, gloves, thermometer covers and sanitizer.

The news conference, held in the hallway outside Friesens office, was packed with reporters seeking to ask questions about the virus that claimed the life of its first Canadian this week, rocked world markets, prompted Air Canada to cancel flights to Italy, and the Winnipeg Jets to ban reporters from the dressing room.

"The risk of acquiring COVID-19 in Manitoba remains low but as we see the transmission of this virus to other parts of the world, that risk is likely to increase over time and we need to be prepared for identification of this virus in Manitoba," Roussin said, noting as of Tuesday, there were still no laboratory-confirmed cases in Manitoba.

Friesen told reporters Manitobans are "in this together," saying the public can help prevent the potential spread of the virus while health officials are doing everything they can to prepare for it.

"Our response takes all of us  all of us taking precautions," Friesen said. "Maybe now is a good time, instead of shaking hands, to bump someones elbow."

He reminded Manitobans to wash their hands frequently, cough into their sleeve, not their hand, and to stay home when sick. "Now is not a good time to see someone in a hospital or personal care home if youre not feeling well."

Roussin said theres no plan to cancel public events and officials have increased the number and scope of COVID-19 testing being done and the lab capacity to run the tests. All international travellers with symptoms and all severely ill people admitted to hospital intensive care units are now tested, he said. COVID-19 testing for all patients with respiratory symptoms will be added soon, said Roussin.

On March 5, he said 97 Manitobans in total had been tested. Now, 40 tests per day are being conducted, Friesen told the house during question period late Tuesday.

At his morning news conference, Friesen said lessons were learned from the H1N1 outbreak in 2009, when there was a delay in receiving needed supplies. Now, before the first COVID-19 case is confirmed in Manitoba, it is the first province to sign onto the national procurement effort to get personal protective equipment to deal with the outbreak.

"We know that this will significantly increase the capacity should we need it," said Friesen before an emergency funding bill for the $35.2 million was passed in the house and given royal assent Tuesday.

He said he received assurances on Friday from federal counterparts that the order with other provinces and territories for supplies will be finalized quickly.

"They will work hard to get us the supplies we need not later but sooner."

In Manitoba, preparations for COVID-19 are well underway, Friesen said.

"Behind the scenes, Manitobans should understand there are comprehensive plans being made, significant work undertaken to inventory  to say Where are we now? What capacity do we have? What would that look like if we need to go to this level, or this level or this level," the health minister said, without offering any examples of what action would be taken if there is an outbreak that escalates.

After question period, Premier Brian Pallister said communicating about Manitobas COVID-19 preparedness is a balancing act.

"I think theres always a concern about balancing the need for preparedness and instilling confidence but making sure that confidence is justified and justifiable," he told reporters. "You dont want to alarm people on the one hand; on the other hand, you want to make sure you address causative factors that may cause alarm."

Pallister said Manitoba is in better shape than any other province to withstand the economic hit of a COVID-19 outbreak. He said Manitoba has responded to a request by the federal government to share COVID-19 readiness issues ahead of the first ministers meeting in Ottawa Friday but did not say what those were.

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NDP Leader Wab Kinew said the provincial government needs to share more details about its preparations with the public and those working on the front lines of the health-care system thats still reeling from funding cuts.

"Theres a bunch of these open questions that the government needs to address," Kinew told reporters outside the chamber.

"For instance, the government has said everyone who presents with respiratory symptoms should be getting tested for COVID-19  that hasnt been communicated to the people on the front lines yet," said Kinew. "Why isnt that happening?"

People need to know what the plan is if theyre not able to work in the event of a pandemic with major economic and health fallout, said Kinew, noting its "important to recognize were not there yet."

"There does need to be a contingency plan should this actually turn into a recession or a severe economic crisis," Kinew said.

carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca
British Health Minister and Conservative MP Nadine Dorries has tested positive for coronavirus, raising concerns about the potential spread of the infection among lawmakers as she attended an event hosted by Prime Minister Boris Johnson at Downing Street last week.

Dorries, 62, the first British MP to be diagnosed with coronavirus, said she has been self-isolating at home.

"I can confirm I have tested positive for coronavirus. As soon as I was informed I took all the advised precautions and have been self-isolating at home," she said in a statement released by the Department of Health and Social Care.

Citing the Department of Health, the BBC reported that Dorries first showed symptoms on Thursday - the day when she attended an event hosted by Prime Minister Johnson.

Dorries said that health officials had started tracing people she had been in contact with, and the department and her parliamentary office were closely following its advice.

"Thanks for so many good wishes. It's been pretty rubbish but I hope I'm over the worst of it now," she tweeted.

She said she was worried about her 84-year-old mother who is staying with her.

"More worried about my 84yo mum who is staying with me and began with the cough today. She is being tested tomorrow. Keep safe and keep washing those hands, everyone," Dorries tweeted.

Six people have died in the UK due to the virus, which has so far infected 373 people in the country.

"Really sorry to hear Nadine has tested positive for coronavirus. She has done the right thing by self isolating at home, and both NHS and PHE staff have been brilliant. We all wish her well as she recovers," Health Secretary Matt Hancock tweeted.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
HARTFORD, Conn. - Gun rights supporters are suing Connecticut officials over part of a 2013 state gun control law passed after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, saying it unconstitutionally bans people from loading more than 10 rounds of ammunition into their firearms.

The lawsuit filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court cites the Second Amendment right to bear arms and the ability of people to better defend themselves with more bullets in their guns.

Law abiding gun owners in Connecticut are left more susceptible to harm or death by being limited in their means of self-defence, Holly Sullivan, president of the Connecticut Citizens Defence League, said in a written statement. Criminals who are intent on doing harm will not follow this same law.

The defence league, the Second Amendment Foundation and two Connecticut gun owners filed the lawsuit against Public Safety Commissioner James Rovella, state police Col. Stavros Mellekas and Chief States Attorney Richard Colangelo Jr., none of whom were in their current jobs when the gun control law was passed.

This is a legal process, in which they were named as a result of their current position, said Brian Foley, a top aide to Rovella, who oversees state police. We will work through this important process, unfortunately we cannot comment further.

The U.S. Supreme Court has held that states can regulate firearms to protect public safety, said state Attorney General William Tong, whose office will defend state officials and the gun law.

Commonsense gun violence prevention measures are clearly constitutional, Tong said in a written statement. Reasonable limits on high capacity magazines save lives. The vast majority of the American people support  and demand  these basic public safety measures.

State officials passed some of the strictest gun control laws in the country after a gunman used an AR-15-style rifle to kill 20 young children and six educators at Sandy Hook in Newtown on Dec. 14, 2012.

The laws included a ban on ammunition magazines that hold more than 10 bullets. People who owned large capacity magazines that hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition before the law took effect were required to notify the state Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection and were allowed to keep them, but are prohibited from putting more than 10 rounds in them.

Gun control supporters say the law can save lives by limiting how many bullets a shooter can fire before having to reload. It was approved by former Gov. Dannel Malloy, a Democrat, and the Democratic-controlled legislature.

But gun rights supporters say that magazines that hold more than 10 rounds are considered standard and that many firearms are not available with magazines that hold fewer than 10 rounds.

This law does nothing more than penalize law-abiding citizens while criminalizing components of handguns they own that were previously legal, said Allan Gottlieb, founder and executive vice-president of the Second Amendment Foundation, based in Bellevue, Washington.

The two gun owners suing the state are Susan Ross, of East Haddam, and Domenic Basile, of Watertown, who both own handguns with magazines designed to hold more than 10 rounds.

A person with 15 rounds of ammunition available will be better able to defend himself or herself from a criminal gang, or from a drug-crazed criminal who continues attacking even after being shot, than a person who has only 10 rounds of ammunition available before they must reload their gun, the lawsuit says.

Po Murray, chairwoman of the Newtown Action Alliance, said the lawsuit should be dismissed in the interest of public safety and public health. The alliance was formed to prevent gun violence after the Sandy Hook shooting.

Assault weapons and high capacity magazines are the weapons of choice for mass shooters, she said. The U.S. Constitution must protect the lives of innocent children and adults in schools not the gun lobbys pursuit of profits selling weapons of war designed to efficiently kill maximum number of people.
This article is part of the Free Speech Project , a collaboration between Future Tense and the Tech, Law, & Security Program at American University Washington College of Law that examines the ways technology is influencing how we think about speech.

On Saturday, Dan Scavino, the White House social media director, tweeted a 13-second clip of Joe Biden giving a speech in Kansas City, Missouri. In the video, BidenSleepy Joe, as the tweet calls himstammers, then says: Excuse me. We can only reelect Donald Trump. The clip cuts Biden off midsentence, ending before he goes on to say, if in fact we get engaged in this circular firing squad here. The timing is perfectly calculated: Bidens call for party unity looks, in the clip, like a confused endorsement of Trump.

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Trump retweeted the video. Then, as the tweet was making the rounds Sunday, a baby blue warning appeared beneath it.

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This is the first time Twitter has used its manipulated media label, the Washington Post reported, since it was introduced last Thursday. The label is part of Twitters new synthetic and manipulated media policy, which the company announced on Feb. 4 amid growing concern over fake news and deepfakes, or A.I.-generated fake images and videos that look highly realistic, this election cycle. The policy states that Twitter may label tweets that are significantly and deceptively altered or fabricated or shared in a deceptive manner, and may remove tweets that are likely to impact public safety or cause serious harm. The policy also establishes criteria for determining a users intent to deceive.

After the policy was announced, critics expressed concern that it would set too high a bar for removing and flagging content. Fabricated media, they worried, would fall through the cracks.

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At first glance, the application of the manipulated media label to the Biden video seems promising: It shows that Twitter is willing to clamp down on a more nuanced and mundane form of deceptionin this case, lying by omission. (Scavino has since argued that it was NOT manipulated since he didnt technically edit it, and his supporters are up in arms over Twitter supposedly setting a dangerous precedent, whereby all clips could be considered manipulated.) However, there are already serious concerns about the labels functionand, more importantly, its design.

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First, if a user searches for the tweet on Scavinos profile or accesses it via a direct link, the label is missing. Its currently only visible on individuals Twitter timelines and through the search bar. This is a technical issue that the company is working to resolve, a Twitter spokeswoman told the Washington Post on Monday.

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More criticism has come on the design front. Nice step but too subtle, tweeted Dave Schlafman, a Netflix design director. As a designer, @Twitter should make that label red so theres no chance anyone could miss it. He also pointed out that, in using its brand color, Twitter is making it easier for users eyes to move right past it. Its also written in the same font (and font size) as the text of a tweet. Jesse Damiani, the deputy director of emerging technology at Southern New Hampshire University, agreed with Schlafman. It has to be a notable and undesirable badge, he tweeted on Monday.

For now, that badge is a faint P.S. that almost blends in with hashtags and @s, both of which are also blue, when you scroll through your timeline. Twitter users have already called for the company to address this by using additional techniques, such as all-caps, better placement, and prominent watermarks.

Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-12 01:26:08|Editor: huaxia

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GENEVA, March 11 (Xinhua) -- The World Health Organization (WHO) said here on Wednesday that the COVID-19 outbreak can be characterized as a "pandemic" as the virus spreads increasingly worldwide.

"We have therefore made the assessment that COVID-19 can be characterized as a pandemic," WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said at a press conference.

There are now more than 118,000 confirmed cases in 114 countries and regions, and 4,291 people have lost their lives, Tedros said, noting that the number of coronavirus cases, deaths, as well as affected countries is expected to climb even higher in the days and weeks ahead.

"We have never before seen a pandemic sparked by a coronavirus. And we have never before seen a pandemic that can be controlled at the same time," he added.

Tedros said describing the situation as a pandemic does not change the WHO's assessment of the threat posed by the novel coronavirus, nor does it change what the WHO is doing and countries should do.

However, the WHO chief called on the international community to take urgent and aggressive action to contain the pandemic.

"We have rung the alarm bell loud and clear," he said.
I spent a big portion of my 20s underwater  but not in the emotional sense. Back in the early 90s, I was a submarine officer, serving at the end of the Cold War.

I was 24 when I reported for duty on the USS Chicago, a fast-attack nuclear submarine. I was put in charge of 13 men, and despite my extensive training, nothing could have fully prepared me for the intensity of my role.

A month into a mission, the ships turbine generators started giving us trouble, and it was my responsibility to get them fixed. The ships engineer  who was my boss  proposed a solution, but the chief petty officer wanted a different resolution. Wanting to impress my supervisor and resolve the situation quickly, I ordered the chief petty officer to fix it the engineers way, shutting down the conversation and overlooking the officers years of expertise.

Related: The 5 Best Financing Options for Veterans

The quick fix turned out to be the right decision for the ship, but it was one I quickly regretted. The chief petty officer was highly respected by the crew, and though I technically outranked him, I was the greenest officer on the ship. I should have taken more time to understand his point of view. I could have arranged a meeting with him and the engineer so we could work through the problem together. Instead, I undermined him and damaged our relationship.

I never wanted to make that kind of mistake again.

I left the Navy as a lieutenant in 1993, and as a parting gift, my shipmates gave me a photograph of our submarine, complete with their signatures and inside jokes scrawled across it. I kept it with me as I entered a corporate career in engineering, where I quickly learned that in business, leaders often make similar mistakes, deciding too quickly on a course of action without gathering information and support from the folks who have to carry out that decision.

Related: Growing Up in the Soviet Union Taught This Founder to be Resourceful

In life, we tend to learn more from bad leadership examples than from good ones, and we learn the most from our own bad decisions. As my career evolved, my photograph of the USS Chicago became my daily reminder of how to make better decisions. In 2001, when I cofounded Mindbody, a technology platform that connects people to wellness, that daily reminder became more important than ever.

Today, as CEO of Mindbody, Im responsible for more than 2,000 team members serving more than 60,000 businesses globally. Decisions have to be quick and intentional. Were nearly two decades in, but its still challenging to get things right every day. Thats why the photo of the submarine now hangs prominently in a Navy-themed room in my house. It inspires me to be the best leader I can be and make decisions thoughtfully  no matter the pressure or circumstances.

Related:

How This Former Submarine Officer Learned to Lead Under Pressure

When Goop Went Viral for the Wrong Reasons, the Company Took These Steps to Rebuild Its Reputation

How You Can Build a More People-Centric Workplace



Copyright 2020 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
The press briefing took place after the state council meeting. Prime Minister Xavier Bettel, Minister for Tourism Lex Delles, Minister of health Paulette Lenert, and Minister of Economy Franz Fayot took stock of the situation and repercussions of coronavirus in Luxembourg.

An exceptional state council meaning took place this Wednesday afternoon. Officials including Prime Minister Xavier Bettel and Minister of Health Paulette Lenert took stock of the coronavirus situation in Luxembourg.

Bettel started the press conference by stressing that the public should not panic but, simultaneously, not take the potential threat too lightly. He explained that that virus posed a a threat particularly to the elderly and to people with preexisting conditions. The prime minister added that Luxembourg was still in the "containment phase," which means that health authorities are above all focusing on preventing the virus from spreading.

Read more: Chief Medical Officer Jean-Claude Schmit answers common questions on Coronavirus

Xavier Bettel: We need to "act rather than react"

Bettel then explained that health officials are actively taking precautionary measures to prevent the virus from spreading. He stressed that stricter measures were taken by health officials. In his words, it is important to "anticipate" and to "act rather than react." The precautionary measures should take place both on the official and on the individual level. Bettel reiterated the importance of frequent hand washing. Individuals should also avoid hand shaking and other close physical contact. He stressed that it was important to protect the most vulnerable members of society and, whenever possible, avoid visiting elderly people. This applies above all if you display symptoms commonly associated with coronavirus.

The public is invited to consult the FAQ available on the site for general information and preventive measures. People who fear they may have contracted the virus are urged not to go to an emergency room or to consult a general practitioner, Bettel emphasised. Instead, a hotline is available for any questions or concerns under the number 8002 8080.

Bettel then handed over to Paulette Lenert, who proceeded to present a range of new precautionary measures.

Lenert explained that 76 people have been quarantined in Luxembourg. These individuals will need to spend 14 days in self-isolation. Seven patients have tested positive as of today. Health authorities are actively testing people in Luxembourg, Lenert stressed. Even though the situation has worsened in Europe (Italy is approaching 20,000 infections) and the death toll in rising across EU member states, Luxembourg remains in the first containment phase.

The three phases are:

1) Containment phase

2) Cluster phase (when several regions of a country are placed under quarantine because individual tracing becomes impossible - this will unlikely be the case in Luxembourg due to the country's minuscule size).

3) The virus has fully arrived.

New precautionary measures

As of today, all events attracting more than 1,000 people will be cancelled. In other words, this is no longer a mere recommendation. For now, this measure applies until 31 March. Lenert specified that officials are also working on analysing the potential risks of each event. Organisers are invited to contact the health inspectorate for guidance and advice.

From next week onward, three of Luxembourg's "maison medicales" will be open during the day (8am to 4pm) rather than merely at night. This concerns one medical home in the south, one in the north, and one in the centre of the Grand Duchy. Patients will reportedly receive face masks to reduce the risk of proliferation of the virus.

School closures (this may also be of interest for parents with kids in private schools) could occur in the near future depending on the development of the situation. Children should under no circumstances visit their grandparents if the former display any symptoms. If a child is quarantined, Lenert explained, one parent will be allowed to stay at home with the child. This additional time-off will not reduce yearly paid leave of employees.

The ministry of health is also working on making it a possibility to call a doctor in order to request time-off under these special circumstances. This measure is still in the making but Lenert showed herself optimistic that this could soon be the case. Officials are also discussing the possibility of introducing teleworking with Luxembourg's insurance companies.

The short-time working scheme is also intended to protect jobs in companies encountering structural difficulties, cyclical economic problems or economic difficulties due to coronavirus.

Lenert also underlined that the next step will be to shield vulnerable people even more efficiently from the virus. More updates and further information on the implementation of additional precautionary measures will follow towards the end of the week.

Protecting Luxembourg's economy and finance sector

Minister for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises and Tourism Lex Delles explained that tourism was suffering across Europe. Many trips were cancelled over the last weeks and fewer people are booking holidays over coronavirus fears. Frequently asked tourism-related questions and answers can be found on the government's website. Delles explained that the government is determined to support individual firms. Small and medium-sized companies in particular will be eligible for financial aid if they fulfil certain criteria. Firms may for example have to outline how coronavirus has negatively impacted business and revenue.

Read more: Luxair cancel all Italy-bound flights until 3 April - other destinations also affected

This aid package includes a repayable advance that the state provides to companies experiencing financial difficulties due to coronavirus. Officials will try to make the process of compensation as "easy and fast" as possible, Delles explained.

Minister of Finance Frany Fayot explained that around 50 companies have contacted the ministry of economy to enquire about the possibility of reduced working hours. Officials are likely to increase flexibility of working times if the situation worsens in the near future. The economic repercussions of coronavirus are heart-felt in Luxembourg with several industries affected, Fayot underlined. The minister reiterated that the short-term working scheme would be generously applied. More information to follow.

Read more: World steps up financial fight against virus

Xavier Bettel added that Luxembourg was in favour of finding and promoting collective solutions with other European member states but conceded that not all European leaders are seeing eye to eye on this issue. There is currently no joint strategy for the EU, with many countries choosing their own strategies to deal with the epidemic. Bettel reportedly demanded that the European Commission monitor the supplies of medical equipment and ensure that each member state has equal access to the equipment. Scientific efforts should also be upped to develop a vaccine as quickly as possible.

Bettel concluded that flexibility was paramount. Extraordinary circumstances may dictate the implementation of new measures. If Europe fails to remain flexible, then "we haven't understood anything," the prime minister emphasised. According to Bettel, the government will continue to take coronavirus seriously and inform the public of new developments. He reiterated that each individual has a responsibility to play his or her part to protect society's most vulnerable members. He stressed that it is our collective duty to protect our grandparents, elderly citizens, and other people who may be particularly at risk.

Bettel concluded the press briefing by thanking the competent ministries, individual services, the Grand Ducal Fire and Rescue Corps (CGDIS) and the multitude of volunteers who go the extra mile to inform and protect Luxembourg's public. He explained that close to 700 people call the coronavirus hotline each day, and stressed that "we want to do everything we can" to keep potential risks as low as possible.

Questions and answers

Bettel then opened the floor for journalists to ask questions. When questioned about the possibility of bringing to life drive-through coronavirus testing in Luxembourg, Paulette Lenert explained that this option was not yet considered by health officials in the Grand Duchy. This might change depending on the evolution of the situation. Bettel stressed that individuals who fear they may have contracted the virus should under no circumstances go to an emergency room or a general practitioner as this could jeopardise the safety of medical staff and other patients. He reiterated that concerned individuals should contact the health inspectorate and/or call the coronavirus hotline.

Read more: German hospital creates drive-through for coronavirus tests

The borders are unlikely to be closed as Luxembourg heavily relies on cross-border workers to keep the economy functioning. Again, new measures may be taken if the situation demands it. Luxembourg is also coordinating efforts with its neighbouring countries in this context.

Testing in Luxembourg

According to Paulette Lenert, Luxembourg tested between 20 and 25 people per day at the beginning. This daily average has since been tripled in light of the recent developments. The ministry will reportedly communicate exact statistics as soon as possible.
P art of Edgware Road has been closed in both directions during rush hour after a crash.

A man in his 40s has been taken to hospital after two cars collided early this morning.

Police were called by London Ambulance Service just before 5am on Wednesday to reports of the crash, near Edgware Road Tube station.

One man, who was an occupant of one of the cars involved, was taken to hospital but his condition is not thought to be serious, police said.

There were no reports of other injuries.

At 6.30am, Transport for London said the road was closed in both directions between Upper Berkeley Street and Marble Arch.

It said to expect some delay and queues were building near the scene.

A police cordon remained in place as enquiries into the circumstances continue.
Management of the Public Radio and Television of Montenegro (RTCG) have launched disciplinary proceedings against its editor Zoran Lekovic and journalist Nevenka Cirovic for exposing alleged irregularities at the broadcaster on social media. The International and European Federation of Journalists (IFJ and EFJ) join the Trade Union Of Media Of Montenegro (SMCG) in condemning this act of intimidation and call on managers to withdraw the threat.

Disciplinary procedures were initiated against Cirovic, SMCG's vice president, and Lekovic due to Facebook posts in which they condemned numerous irregularities at the public media. The SMCG warned that the procedures could result in the dismissal of the two journalists.

If that happens, it will be the final blow to the months-long persecution of Cirovic and Lekovic. In the last three months, Cirovic was given only two tasks and she was systematically ignored in the newsroom while Lekovic was removed from his show and a disciplinary process was launched against him, claimed the SMCG in a statement.

The SMCG said: We firmly believe that everyone has the right to freedom of speech, including journalists of the public service media in Montenegro. We will fight to retain that right and to prove that we must not be fired when we dare to express positions that are contrary to what our employer or the ruling elite think.

IFJ General Secretary, Anthony Bellanger, said: "We condemn this act of intimidation and censorship against two journalists for expressing their opinions. It is unacceptable that the public media board launches disciplinary proceedings against journalists simply because they do not like their opinions. We urge RTCG to respect freedom of expression and withdraw the measures against our colleagues".
The number of coronavirus cases in the country crossed 60 on Wednesday, with the Union heath ministry confirming confirming at least 10 new cases

The number of coronavirus cases in the country crossed 60 on Wednesday, with the Union heath ministry confirming at least 10 new cases amid new restrictions to control the spread of the virus.

As the cases of the infection continued to swell with over 1,19,400 confirmed cases reported globally so far out of which over 4,300 people have succumbed to the virus, the World Health Organisation said that it was categorising the outbreak of the novel coronavirus as a pandemic.

It its second review meeting held under the chairmanship of Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, a group of ministers decided to suspended all tourist visas till 15 April in a bid to contain spread of novel coronavirus, according to an official statement.

The suspension will come into effect from 1200 GMT on March 13 at the port of departure.

The govt also mandated 14-day quarantine for all incoming travellers, including Indian nationals, arriving from or having visited China, Italy, Iran, Republic of Korea, France, Spain and Germany after 15 February.

#CoronaVirusUpdate 1. All existing visas, except diplomatic, official, UN/International Organizations, employment, project visas, stand suspended till 15th April 2020. This will come into effect from 1200 GMT on 13th March 2020 at the port of departure.  Ministry of Health (@MoHFW_INDIA) March 11, 2020

Visa-free travel facility granted to OCI card holders is also kept in abeyance till 15 April, said a statement. Any foreign national who intends to travel to India for compelling reason may contact the nearest Indian Mission, the release added.

Earlier in the day, after chairing its first meeting, the GoM had expressed satisfaction with the measures taken by states and Union territories to combat the disease and had advised the health ministry to invoke provisions of Section 2 of Epidemic Disease Act, 1897, so that all advisories being issued from time to time by the ministry or states were made enforceable.

Fresh cases in Kerala, Rajasthan and Maharashtra

On Wedensday, discrepancies continued in number of confirmed cases released by the health ministry and those confirmed by various state governments. Even as the health ministry pegged the number of cases at 60, as per state governements, the number may be up to at least 66.

Among the fresh cases, eight were from Kerala and one each from Delhi and Rajasthan since Tuesday, the Union health ministry said and gave state-wise breakup which included five (Delhi), nine (Uttar Pradesh), four (Karnataka) and two in Ladakh.

Rajasthan, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab have reported one case each, the ministry said, adding Kerala has till now reported 17 cases, including the three patients who were discharged last month following recovery. The 60 confirmed cases includes 16 Italians tourists, the ministry said.

While the Union ministry maintained that there are two confirmed cases of coronavirus in Maharashtra, the state health officials put the number to eight. Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, meanwhile, said that the total number of cases in the state stood at 10, with eight confirmed cases in Pune and two in Mumbai.

The samples of the two new cases from Maharashtra will be sent to the National Institute of Virology (NIV) Pune for confirmation, news agency PTI quoted Suresh Kakani, Additional Municipal Commissioner of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) as saying.

The two persons, who are the first coronavirus positive cases from Mumbai, had come in close contact with two Pune residents who had returned from Dubai recently and tested positive for coronavirus.

Late in the evening, health officials announced that a man with a travel history to the US had tested positive in Nagpur.

Two employees working with IT companies Dell and Mindtree have been tested positive for coronavirus, according to company statements. However, their locations were not disclosed. The Dell employee had returned from the US, including a visit to Texas while the Mindtree employee also had a travel history abroad, the two companies said in separate statements.

Meanwhile, the health ministers of Telangana and tamil nadu announced that the patients who had tested positive from the state have recovered. The condition of the wife of the Italian tourist who had tested positive in Rajasthan is also improving, PTI quoted officials as saying.

Centre bans entry of cruise ships till 31 March; schools, colleges shut in Jammu and Kashmir

As the infection continued to spread its tentacles in the country, state governments and UTs' took number of initiatives to check and prevent the spread of the infection.

India prohibited entry of any international cruise ship, crew or passenger with a travel history to coronavirus-hit countries post 1 February, 2020, to its major ports till 31 March. To prevent the spread of the deadly virus, the Ministry of Shipping said it will allow only such international cruise ships which had intimated their call to ports by 1 January, 2020. The government said international cruise ships will be allowed only at ports having thermal screening facilities for passengers and crew members.

While Jammu and Kashmir administration ordered closure of educational institutes across the Union Territory and shutting down of cinema halls in the Jammu division till 31 March as a precautionary measure, Karnataka government issued temporary regulation which asked all government and private hospitals to have flu corners for screening of suspected cases of COVID-19.

According to the regulation, no person/institution shall use print or electronic media to spread mis-information on COVID-19 without prior permission of the Department of Health and Family Welfare. If a person is found indulging in any such activity, they will be punished, it said.

The Karnataka government also started a campaign called 'Namaste over Handshake' that encourages people to greet in the traditional Indian style, to tackle the spread of the virus.

Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray indicated that the ongoing Budget session of the state legislature, scheduled till 20 March, will be curtailed and it is likely to conclude over the weekend after completion of pending business.

He said the decision is being taken to prevent strain on the administration and allow legislators to visit their constituencies and be on the field. He added that a decision on closing down schools in Pune will be taken after a few days as the Class 10 board exams are currently underway.

83 people brought back from Italy

Making a statement in Rajya Sabha, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said the situation in Italy and Iran is "a cause of great concern" and the government is making all efforts to bring back Indians after appropriate testing and screening. He said a medical team will leave for Italy tomorrow for screening Indians. Noting that the disease has spread to about 90 countries, Jaishankar said if the government starts the process of bringing back Indians worldwide, then it will be only add to the panic.

An Air Indian flight carrying 83 people, including nine foreigners of India origin, arrived in New Delhi on Wednesday from Italy and have been quarantined at the Army facility in Manesar near Delhi, officials said.

The evacuees will be monitored for two weeks by a qualified team of doctors and staff members, to watch for any signs of infection.

"If any individual is suspected to be infected, he/she will be shifted to an isolation facility," an official added. Daily medical examination of all 83 people will be done at the facility, they said.

The first batch of 58 evacuees from Iran had arrived on Tuesday with 25 men, 31 women and 2 children on board and all evacuees are asymptomatic at present, the ministry said.

Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, who spoke to a few COVID-19 patients admitted at Medanta and Safdarjung hospitals through video calls on Tuesday, said all those infected by the disease were stable and showing signs of recovery.

So far, India has evacuated 948 passengers from COVID-19 affected countries. Out of these, 900 are Indian citizens and 48 belonging to different nationalities including Maldives, Myanmar, Bangladesh, China, USA, Madagascar, Sri Lanka, Nepal, South Africa and Peru, it said. The ministry further said that a total number of 10,57,506 passengers have been screened so far at the airport.

WHO labels outbreak as 'pandemic'

Speaking in Geneva, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the spread of COVID-19 had reached the level of a pandemic, noting there are now more than 1,18,000 cases in 114 countries and 4,291 deaths. He said that while the declaration "doesn't change what countries should do" to aggressively contain the virus, the UN health agency is "deeply concerned both by the alarming levels of spread and severity".

"WHO has been assessing this outbreak around the clock and we are deeply concerned both by the alarming levels of spread and severity, and by the alarming levels of inaction"-@DrTedros #COVID19  World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) March 11, 2020

Tedros said, "We have rung the alarm bell loud and clear", even as the virus spread to newer countries including Honduras, which reported its first two cases. Indonesia, Belgium and Bulagria reported the first fatalities arising out of the disease.

In Iran, the toll rose to 354 as the virus killed 63 more people, AP quoted a health ministry person as saying during a live televised briefing. The number of confirmed cases has risen to 9,000, with a report by the FARS news agency indicating that the vice preisdent and two other members had also contracted the disease.

The number of infections in Spain passed the 2,000 mark with 47 deaths, making it Europe's second most severe outbreak after Italy, AFP reported. Madrid is said to be the worst-hit region with half of the confirmed cases and 31 of the deaths.

With inputs from agencies
A travel agent for over 40 years, Laura Schy thought she'd seen it all, until the coronavirus outbreak erupted.

Schy's clients are canceling their trips left and right, and some aren't recouping the costs.

She's also lost thousands of dollars in income, and has stopped spending extra money because she doesn't know when her earnings will return to normal.

She's worked through several global emergencies, including SARS and the September 11th terrorist attacks, but says she's never seen travel disruptions like this before.

Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

In this As Told To, Insider's series of edited conversations about interesting and unique experiences, Alisa Wolfson talks to a travel agent with over 40 years experience in the business  who also happens to be her mom  about cancelled trips, thousands of dollars in lost income, and why the coronavirus outbreak has been worse for the travel industry than anything she's ever seen.

I've been working as a travel agent since smoking and non-smoking sections existed on aircrafts, flight attendants wore mini skirts and gogo boots, tickets were handwritten on paper and no identification was required to board. I flew on tickets that weren't even issued in my name!

In other words, I've seen the travel industry evolve and undergo monumental changes since the 1970s. In my forty-plus years as a certified travel consultant, I've endured various epidemics, plane crashes, 9/11, the recent hysteria surrounding Boeing's 737 Max 8 equipment issue, and what all travel agents were convinced would be the end of their livelihood: the day airlines cut commissions in the nineties. I thought I'd seen it all  until last week.

The response by travelers has been unprecedented, and it's meant thousands of dollars in lost income

A medical official checks passengers as a preventive measure against the coronavirus at an airport outside Kiev.

Gleb Garanich/Reuters

In the past week, the number of cancellations and people holding off on committing to trips has surged in a way I've never experienced. Trips that I've been working on for this coming summer are trips that clients are no longer wanting to make final payments on.

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In the last ten days, my corporate revenue has virtually become nonexistent because companies have instituted international travel bans and they've indefinitely deferred non-essential domestic travel. l have clients who annually attend the Geneva International Motor Show which, this year, was cancelled one day before their departure date.

The lost revenue due to their hotel cancellations alone amounts to thousands of dollars that won't be coming my way. If that were the only cancellation I'd received last week, I wouldn't be beside myself. Unfortunately, it's just one of many. As a result, I'm not spending any extra money right now on things or services because I'm not sure when my income will return to normal.

Another annual conference I book people to, the Asian Business Aviation Conference and Exhibition (ABACE), was cancelled over health concerns. The two-day gathering represents about a six thousand dollar loss to me from cancelled air travel and hotel commissions. And I'm not the only one whose pockets are feeling empty because of the cancellation  this event typically draws 20,000 to 50,000 visitors into Shanghai, so the entire city will feel the effects from this windfall of losses.

Not everyone who cancels a trip will be able to recoup their expenses

A gondolier looks at his smartphone as he waits for clients in Venice, Italy, Friday, Feb. 28, 2020. This week, all of Italy was placed on lockdown as the country battles the spread of coronavirus.

Francisco Seco/AP

On February 21st  after months of planning  one of my most valued clients took off on what was supposed to be a luxury ski trip to the Dolomites in Northern Italy. Dining reservations had been in place for several months and humidifiers had been specially ordered for their rooms  there was no attention to detail left in the balance. But two days into their 8-day vacation, news came out that certain regions in Northern Italy were experiencing a dramatic increase in the number of coronavirus cases.

Initially, I didn't give the news much thought because there were cases springing up in other European cities as well, but my client emailed me asking if I would be able to get him and his traveling companion back home as soon as possible. He didn't want to leave from an Italian airport, which complicated the situation. I came up with a five-hour road trip via chauffered car to Munich and a flight that had him back in the United States the following day.

Although he had purchased trip cancellation insurance to cover non-refundable expenses, the insurance company made it clear that their policy didn't cover this voluntary departure. Consequently, the hotel wouldn't waive the cost of the remaining nights. It's since come to light to me that even when the Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization put a level four warning on a destination, it's not enough for the insurance company to honor a claim. Who knew!

Part of a travel agent's job is taking a client's individual circumstances into consideration, and whether it would be safe for them to travel

A nurse holds a completed test with patient samples at a drive-through testing site for coronavirus, flu and RSV in Seattle, Washington.

Lindsey Wasson/Reuters

Meanwhile, I've been looking forward to collecting a few thousand dollars in commission from a high-end $50k leisure trip I've been planning since August 2019. My clients, a multi-generational family of six from Los Angeles, already purchased their airline tickets. But they're holding off on making the final payment for the land portion of their trip because they're apprehensive about contracting the coronavirus  and I don't blame them.

And that's where things get tricky. As a professional who's also a mother and grandmother, I feel obligated to not only be honest with my clients but also sincere and informative. I really have to exercise the integrity I have when they call and ask me, "Would you take this trip?" I try to put myself in their shoes and take into account their personal circumstances, like how old they are and the cities they're traveling to.

Last week, Signature Travel Network, a consortium of travel professionals, sent a memo to travel agents preparing them to handle people's concerns about traveling and to be careful in only quoting reliable sources and giving facts as best we know them. If asked today about whether or not I'd travel internationally, I'd be most apprehensive about being quarantined abroad or borders closing  and I'm not sure the benefit of most travel outweighs the risk.

Past global emergencies and epidemics like 9/11, SARS, and swine flu didn't prompt this sort of response in travelers

Nurses at Sydney International Airport await possible cases of SARS into Australia in April 2003.

Reuters

This fairly new ailment is literally putting people and places out of business. The only occasion in which I recall any sort of interruption in my day-to-day bookings was during 9/11, but flights were reinstated just two days later. During that time, the only directive I had was to get all of my business travelers home any way possible as soon as the ban was lifted.

What was different after 9/11 was that in the weeks and months following the event, fear of travel wasn't instilled in flyers the way it has been the last couple weeks; people weren't cancelling vacations and business travel pretty much resumed as usual almost immediately.

Travelers are starting to be worried about becoming stranded or quarantined abroad

Similarly, when SARS erupted in 2003, I didn't experience any disruption in business despite the CDC issuing a travel advisory that included all of mainland China and Singapore. The alert lasted a lengthy six months, but during that entire span of time, not a single passenger contacted me about changing their plans.

The avian flu outbreak in 2005 also didn't deter travelers globally even though the CDC issued a level three travel advisory recommending all nonessential travel be deferred. And in 2009, when swine flu made headlines and infected millions of people, not a single case ever became the reason for someone to cancel or amend a trip.

And then there are people who aren't even afraid of contracting the virus but who don't want to risk being quarantined or stranded abroad. For the last eight months, I've had a group of six travelers planning to celebrate a 50th birthday in Amsterdam and Paris during the first week of April. The travelers range in age from 35 to 54 and because they all have young children at home, they fear getting stuck in Europe and not being able to return home as planned.

So exactly what does that mean for me? It means cancelling three rooms for six nights each, which I would've earned a ten percent commission on  and each room was about $500 per night. But the math isn't the most depressing part of this saga  the unknown of what's looming on the horizon for travelers and travel providers is very unnerving.

Alisa Wolfson is a writer who has worked on staff at the New York Post and Us Weekly. As a freelancer, she has contributed to MarketWatch, Cosmopolitan, Huffington Post, Redbook and Country Living. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, two daughters and their rescue dog, Gus.

Read more:

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Gig economy workers say they'll have to work through the coronavirus outbreak even if they get sick: 'We can't risk losing a day's income'

Read the original article on Insider
TULUFERA, Ethiopia - Grim-faced, visibly grief-stricken and some crying, hundreds of family members gathered Tuesday for a memorial service at the site where one year ago an Ethiopian Airlines jet crashed into the rocky ground, killing all 157 on board.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 10/3/2020 (671 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Colleagues and relatives light candles in tribute at a memorial service for the crew of Ethiopian Airlines Flight ET302, held at the Ethiopian Pilots Association in the capital Addis Ababa, in Ethiopia Tuesday, March 10, 2020. Relatives and colleagues gathered Tuesday to remember those who died one year ago when the jet crashed killing all 157 on board. (AP Photo/Mulugeta Ayene)

TULUFERA, Ethiopia - Grim-faced, visibly grief-stricken and some crying, hundreds of family members gathered Tuesday for a memorial service at the site where one year ago an Ethiopian Airlines jet crashed into the rocky ground, killing all 157 on board.

The area of the disaster, about 40 miles (65 kilometres) southeast of Addis Ababa, the capital, was closed to the media as buses brought relatives of the victims to the commemoration, sponsored by Ethiopian Airlines and Boeing, the maker of the jet.

Residents of the rural Tulufera area, near Bishoftu, took a break from fetching water and milking cattle, to remember when the jet nose-dived into the earth.

"It was very chaotic and we were in distress," Tsegaye Workineh, who said he was one of the first people to reach the crash site, told The Associated Press. "It is a sight that I will never forget in my entire life. You're lucky that you haven't seen it. It was very shocking."

Big buses and smaller vehicles arrived on a newly built dirt road for the service where large tents have been erected.

Flight 302 took off from Addis Ababa airport on the morning of March 10 last year and the pilots quickly reported problems and sought permission to return to the airport. They struggled but failed to control the plane, which six minutes after takeoff hit the barren patch of land.

The Ethiopian crash came almost five months after a strikingly similar crash in Indonesia of the same model aircraft. Together the two crashes led to a grounding of all Boeing 737 Max jets, more than 380 planes used by more than 50 airlines around the world. Boeing initially expressed confidence that the planes would soon be returned to service, but no date has been set.

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In an interim report released Monday, Ethiopian investigators mostly blame Boeing for the crash, saying there were design failures in the flight-control system which repeatedly pushed the nose of the plane down. The report also said Boeing had offered inadequate training for pilots.

This is a disaster that could have been avoided. That's the hardest thing to come to terms with," said Bahru Zewde, a member of the Ethiopian Airlines Pilots' Association, at a memorial held by the group in Addis Ababa on Tuesday afternoon. "It was an unnecessary sacrifice they paid. They have become martyrs.

Getachew Tessema, father of the pilot of the crashed flight, spoke at the event.

My son Yared was very happy to join Ethiopian Airlines. We were also filled with joy and pride. But now this happened, he said. Yared was a hard-working person who was loved by many. He died at the tender age of 29. The only hope I have is to see him in the afterlife. Our wounds will never heal.

A fellow pilot told how the deceased captain had been the best man in his wedding and of his despair over the crash.

I learned about the terrible news from TV, said Biniam Alemayehu. "The fact that Captain Yared was my best man makes it harder for me. First I was in denial. Then I cried and rolled over the ground. The fact that it was a new aircraft with seasoned cabin crew members and a safe airline makes it an open wound for all of us.
TORONTO, March 10, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Canadian Red Cross, at the request of the Government of Canada, will now include a small health clinic among the comfort and care services being provided to support the returning Canadians staying in quarantine for 14 days at CFB Trenton.



The self-contained temporary health clinic will provide medical consultations and non-urgent clinical care for day-to-day medical needs, as needed, to those quarantined at CFB Trenton after repatriating from the Grand Princess cruise ship outside of California, U.S.A.

QUICK FACTS

In coordination with the Public Health Agency of Canada, Red Cross will run a temporary health clinic with a doctor and nurses to provide medical consultations and non-urgent care for the people in quarantine. Services available through the health clinic will include:

medical assessments for travelers as they arrive at CFB Trenton, as needed;

non-urgent clinical care for day-to-day medical needs including mental health support;

renewal, procurement and delivery of prescription medications;

swab tests; and,

liaison and referrals to local health services.

The health clinic is a small component of the Canadian Red Cross emergency field hospital, which is often used internationally to assist with a full range of medical needs after a significant event. This quarantine response in Trenton, ON is the first time the Canadian Red Cross is using a portion of its emergency field hospital in North America. Over the past ten years, the Canadian Red Cross has provided components of its emergency field hospital capacity to assist internationally more than 25 times, including most recently to Mozambique following Cyclone Idai in 2019.

In addition, the Canadian Red Cross personnel augmenting the capacity of the Public Health Agency of Canada to provide daily health checks to individuals in quarantine will include nurses trained to respond during international emergencies.

The non-medical support provided by the Canadian Red Cross to the Canadians in quarantine will continue to include:

Story continues

Registration services, room assignments, and needs assessments for individuals upon arrival.

Delivery of daily meals, hygiene kits, warm clothes, and personal assistance items.

QUOTE

"The Canadian Red Cross has the experience and ability to adapt and expand services based on needs that arise during unique situations. In support of the Government of Canada, the Red Cross is well positioned to run a health clinic to provide non-urgent medical consultations and care for the Canadians in quarantine at CFB Trenton. We commend the ongoing commitment of our Red Cross staff and volunteers, including our experienced international health delegates, who are working diligently to ensure the needs of individuals returning to Canada are met."

- Conrad Sauve , president and CEO, Canadian Red Cross

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

ABOUT THE CANADIAN RED CROSS

Here in Canada and overseas, the Red Cross stands ready to help people before, during and after a disaster. As a member of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement  which is made up of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the International Committee of the Red Cross and 192 national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies  the Canadian Red Cross is dedicated to improving the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity in Canada and throughout the world.

CONTACTS

English Media Line: 1-877-599-9602

French Media Line: 1-888-418-9111
In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, US colleges and universities are giving students at least a week's notice to pack up and leave campus until further notice.

Instead of in-person classes, courses will be held online.

The move has left students scrambling to make alternative housing plans, and raises questions about whether they'll have the resources to attend school online.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Students at a growing number of US schools have been told students to leave campus in the coming weeks and take their courses online  some with only a week's notice  as states with significant outbreaks declared a state of emergency in the past week. While the move by schools like Harvard University, Amherst College, and Smith College is meant to prevent the spread of novel coronavirus, it presents a host of issues for students who don't have a place to go or a way to get online.

On Tuesday, Harvard told its more than 36,000 student body that they had about five days to vacate their dorm rooms. Students, required to be out of their on-campus housing by March 15, have to find new living accommodations for the foreseeable future, posing a challenge for those who don't readily have a place to go like low-income or international students.

The exterior of The Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology at Harvard University in a January 2020 photo.

"The decision to move to virtual instruction was not made lightly," Harvard President Lawrence Bacow said in a statement released on Tuesday. "The goal of these changes is to minimize the need to gather in large groups and spend prolonged time in close proximity with each other in spaces such as classrooms, dining halls, and residential buildings."

Tomasz Wojtasik, a 21-year-old sophomore at Harvard, told Business Insider he was shocked by the news that he would have to leave campus.

"I barely kept from crying," Wojtasik said. His parents kicked Wojtasik out a year ago because he is gay. He told Insider he has no idea where he'll go while campus residence halls are closed.

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"I've managed for the past summer and winter break, but now I have five days to figure out what I'm going to do," Wojtasik said.

According to Wojtasik, some students will likely be allowed to stay on campus if they meet "extenuating circumstances," such as being from a country designated category-3 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or have "health or personal circumstances preventing them from leaving campus."

Harvard University did not respond to Business Insider's request for comment.

Advised to contact his student resident dean if he needed to remain on campus, Wojtasik reached out and filled out an application requesting to stay in his dorm. Until he is approved, Wojtasik will have to find another housing option as students, he said, have been "encouraged to get creative with finding friends and family to stay with."

"I'll have to try and find a friend to crash with essentially," he told Insider, pointing out the uncertainty around the duration of his stay. "We have no information on whether classes will remain remote for the rest of the semester. So do I try to find an apartment only to find out in a month that I have to come back? And if I have to get an apartment, how am I supposed to work to pay for it while still completing school work? And how do I find a job that quickly?"

For international students, who according to Harvard data make up 10,000 students from more than 155 countries, finding a place to go proves to be an even harder task.

"I CAN'T go home to Jamaica, especially on such short notice," one Harvard student wrote on Twitter, calling out the "the callous and irresponsible way that the school is handling this crisis."

For domestic students returning home, there's no guarantee they will have high-speed internet necessary to complete online coursework

Wojtasik said professors will use Zoom video conferencing software to hold virtual classes. But for students in some parts of the country, attending online classes might not be feasible.

"About to earn a Bachelor's degree using my phone because we don't have reliable, affordable internet in Levy County and UF is switching traditional classes to online courses," a student at the University of Florida tweeted Tuesday after their school directed faculty on Monday to begin teaching courses online, though it has not yet announced plans to ask students to leave campus.

Tim Marema, the editor of The Daily Yonder, an online publication focused on issues facing rural communities, noted that some people in the US don't have access to high-speed internet because it's not available where they live or they can't afford it.

"We've published numerous stories about families that have to go into town and park in the McDonald's parking lot to get their kid's homework done," Marema told Insider. "Students coming home for just Thanksgiving or Winter Break and not having enough access at home to be able to do research, submit information, or gather the things they need to keep up with coursework."

In 2018, a study conducted by Microsoft found 162.8 million people were not using the internet at broadband speeds, though not necessarily due to access issues. That year, Pew Research Center reported over half of rural Americans considered a lack of broadband access a "major problem."

Last year, presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont proposed spending $150 billion to expand broadband to rural communities as part of his campaign for president. And in February, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced its $20 Billion Rural Digital Opportunity Fund, which aims to expand high-speed internet to rural communities over the next decade.

Till then, rural Americans have to drive to the nearest town to "find the right spot" where they can get on to high-speed internet by connecting to a public WiFi network, Marema said.

"There's a lot that isn't known about how little broadband is in rural areas," he added. "We do know it's less than metropolitan areas. The FCC's data is notoriously poor because it relies on internet service providers to self-report, and what they report is the maximum available speed. That doesn't mean the family can afford it. There are all sorts of issues with how little we know about what's actually available."

Marema claimed that since people from rural communities have lower attendance rates at four-year colleges and universities than their counterparts from cities, universities like Harvard could make decisions that don't consider the needs of students from these communities.

"There's some growth in awareness about rural students at universities but I wouldn't call it widespread yet," he said. "It's not an identifiable group. It's not a racial or ethnic group. You're not going to have an affinity group built around that identity the way you might have with legacy children who might be alumni kids or something like that."

The Harvard Crimson, the school's student newspaper, previously detailed the lack of geographic diversity and issues some rural students have faced when coming to the Cambridge, Massachusetts university.

"Universities are ground zero for good internet access, it's hard to remember there are many many places that don't have that kind of access and are going to have trouble with some of the high data use applications that might be used in distance learning," Marema added.

Stanford, Ohio State and the University of Washington are numbered among many major colleges and universities that have switched to remote courses. Although they haven't barred students from remaining on campus while classes are in session  online or otherwise  students have been suggested to stay home.

"To be clear, the move away from in-person instruction was made in an attempt to limit gatherings or large groups, per public health guidance, and help our region combat the spread of COVID-19," Victor Balta, director for media relations at the University of Washington, which last week announced it would move coursework online. "There is no specific perceived danger in coming to campus and, again, our campuses are not closed."

Read more:

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Matt Gaetz ended up sleeping in a Walmart parking lot after potentially exposing Trump to coronavirus.

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The US has reported 28 coronavirus deaths among more than 800 cases. Here's what we know about the US patients.

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MILFORD, NY  One local fire department in Otsego County is coming to the aid of some fellow firefighters.

The Milford Fire Department and Emergency Squad is hosting a boot drive to raise money for two neighboring firefighters.

A firemans boot has been placed on the counter of the Milford Corner Store for residents to donate money for Cooperstown firefighters Scott Monington and Jon Roach as they recover from injuries sustained in the line of duty.

Monington and Roach were among five firefighters that were injured while battling a garage fire in Middlefield last month.
About 80 Thai returnees from the Republic of Korea who slipped through screening at Suvarnabhumi Airport on March 7 are being told to report to health authorities in three days or face legal action under the Communicable Disease Control Act.

Deputy Public Health Minister Sathit Pitutecha said health authorities have the identities and contact details of this group of passengers, which can be used to track them down.

If they don't cooperate, they will be arrested and face a one-year jail term and a fine of 200,000 THB (6,330 USD), he said.

Thailand has introduced new screening process in which all Thai and foreign passengers from the RoK must come to initial health checkpoints to be questioned and divided into groups of monitoring.

Illegal workers with travel history to Daegu and North Gyeongsang will be quarantined at a navy facility in Chon Buri's Sattahip district.

Those with less risk will be sent to regional screening venues to determine if they should be placed in state-designated quarantine venues, or sent home for self-quarantine.

Other passengers will be advised to go into a 14-day self-quarantine and required to report their condition to health officials every day.

The added screening and health reporting requirements are also applied to those coming from other high-risk zones announced by the Thai Ministry of Health, namely China, Hong Kong (China), Macau (China), Italy and Iran.

According to the Thai Foreign Ministry, the RoK Immigration Office informed the Thai embassy in Seoul that more than 5,000 Thais reported themselves to the office from December last year to March 1.

Media reported that the number of illegal Thai workers in the RoK may reach at least 140,000 while only 20,000 work legally.

Thailand has so far confirmed 50 COVID-19 infections, including one confirmed death./.VNA
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Linkedin Andrew Osborn and Tom Balmforth (Reuters) Moscow, Russia  Wed, March 11, 2020 14:03 671 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2069d44de 2 World #Russia,#politics,Vladimir-Putin,power Free

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday opened the door to constitutional changes that would allow him to remain in power until 2036, but said he favoured term limits once the country became politically "mature".

Putin, who in January unveiled a major shake-up of Russian politics and a constitutional overhaul, is required by the constitution to step down in 2024 when his second sequential and fourth presidential term ends.

But addressing the State Duma, the lower house of parliament, he gave his qualified blessing to a proposed change to the constitution that would formally reset his presidential term tally to zero.

"The proposal to remove restrictions for any person, including the incumbent president ... In principle, this option would be possible, but on one condition - if the constitutional court gives an official ruling that such an amendment would not contradict the principles and main provisions of the constitution," Putin said.

He said U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt serving four terms because of the upheaval his country was going through at the time was an example of why presidential term limits were sometimes superfluous.

"In conditions when a country is experiencing such shocks and difficulties, of course ... stability is perhaps more important and must be a priority," he said, adding that Russia was still recovering from the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union.

If, as Putin's critics suspect, the constitutional court gives its blessing to the amendment and it is backed in a nationwide vote in April, Putin could serve another two back-to-back six year terms.

Were he to do that, and his health and electoral fortunes allowed, he could stay in office until 2036 at which point he would be 83.

Kremlin critic and opposition politician Alexei Navalny said he believed Putin was now set to become president for life, while Navalny's ally, Ivan Zhdanov, decried the move as tantamount to a constitutional coup.

'ROOM TO MANOEUVRE'

Putin, 67, now had more room to manoeuvre politically, said Tatiana Stanovaya, a non-resident scholar at the Carnegie Moscow Center.

His stance handed him the option to run again in 2024 should he choose to do so and removed political challenges raised by what had been seen as his last term in the Kremlin, she added.

"The successor issue disappears. The issue of Putin as a lame duck disappears," said Stanovaya.

Opposition activists said they planned to protest against what some called a rewriting of the constitution in the interests of the ruling elite. One group said it had applied for permission to stage a demonstration on March 21.

Moscow's government said in a statement late on Tuesday that it would stop all public gatherings in the city of more than 5,000 people until April 10 due to coronavirus-related risks.

A former KGB officer, Putin, who is serving his fourth presidential term and has also served as prime minister, has dominated the Russian political landscape for two decades.

Putin has not spelled out what his plans for the future are, but he has said he does not favour the Soviet-era practice of having leaders for life who die in office.

Putin appeared before parliament on Tuesday after Valentina Tereshkova, a lawmaker from the ruling United Russia party and the first woman in space, told parliament she was proposing to amend the constitution in a way that would reset his presidential term count to zero.

Explaining the surprise move, Tereshkova said voters had told lawmakers in recent meetings that they wanted Putin to "stay nearby", whatever constitutional changes occurred.

"What if suddenly something goes wrong?" asked Tereshkova. "He (Putin) will be able to support, help and have our backs."

Her proposal came as parliament was examining and preparing to vote on Putin's constitutional shake-up in the second of three readings, something it later did, approving it and Tereshkova's amendment.
Four prospective corps members traveling to Zamfara State for the NYSC orientation camp, have been kidnapped around Funtua in Katsina State.

According to reports, the victims, three males and a female, and some other graduates from Rufus Giwa Polytechnic had charted a bus from Owo, Ondo State to the Zamfara State campground where they were posted to.

However, as their bus driver passed through Funtua in Katsina state, armed men suspected to be kidnappers, barricaded the road and attacked their bus.

While the driver and some other students fled, Four of the students were kidnapped and have been taken to an unknown destination.

READ ALSO  Man Recounts How He Was Kidnapped In Rivers

Confirming the incident, the spokesman of the Nigeria Police Force, DCP Frank Mba, said:

It is true. Four of them were kidnapped around 11:30 pm. The command has launched a manhunt for their captors in order to ensure their safe rescue. The command is making progress in its investigation and operation.

The NYSC orientation camp opened for prospective corps members on Tuesday, March 10th.
Scottish Power is facing an inquiry by the energy watchdog after a Money Mail investigation exposed the firm's shambolic service.

Last month, this paper sent a dossier of complaints to Ofgem after we were inundated by letters from angry customers.

In the worst cases, some had been made to wait up to a year for refunds of hundreds of pounds.

Others had been hounded by debt collectors they did not owe or had their bills hiked for no reason. When they complained, they were often ignored.

Probe: Scottish Power is facing an inquiry by the energy watchdog Ofgem after we exposed the firm's shambolic service

Ofgem has now opened a 'compliance case' and warned the company could be fined millions of pounds if it does not improve its services.

The watchdog says it has become 'increasingly concerned' about the supplier's 'resolving of critical issues', adding: 'We have seen slow complaint resolution times leading to customer dissatisfaction, and have been concerned with the lack of ability to identify, understand and resolve the root causes of known issues to prevent further similar complaints.'

Ofgem also says it is 'disappointed with the lack of progress made by Scottish Power' in reducing complaint resolution times and the volume of referrals made to consumer bodies.

Scottish Power, which has more than five million customers, received the most complaints of any Big Six supplier last year, with 8,441 cases referred to the Energy Ombudsman in the 12 months to September 2019. Inaccurate bills and customer service issues were the most common complaints.

Among Scottish Power's disgruntled customers is pensioner Brian Field. He has been sent ten cheques made out to his late mother, Barbara, who died in September with her account 320 in credit.

Every time he receives a cheque, he calls the firm to explain that her accounts have been suspended and asks for it to be made out in his name instead.

Brian, 65, says: 'It is the same story again and again. When I call, Scottish Power is very helpful and apologetic, and promises to fix the problem. But then a few weeks later I get another cheque in my mother's name.

'When cheque number seven arrived I contacted the Ombudsman, which is now involved, but when I returned from my holiday in February two more cheques had arrived made out to my mum.'

Brian, who formerly worked in the oil industry, says he has spent hours on the phone trying to get the issue resolved.

His mother's house in Montrose, on the east coast of Scotland, has now been sold, but Scottish Power still owes him 320.

He says: 'Scottish Power's customer service is diabolical. How hard can it be to change a name on a cheque? Let's hope Ofgem raps it over the knuckles and solves the problem.'

Abbie Redford, 41, has been desperately trying to resolve her account issues with Scottish Power since November to no avail.

The supplier has increased her monthly bill from 89.20 to 1,126 without explanation, and she has been lumped with four accounts, three of which were opened by the supplier by mistake.

Scottish Power, which has more than five million customers, received the most complaints of any Big Six supplier last year, with 8,441 cases referred to the Energy Ombudsman

Despite sending meter readings every week and keeping on top of her payments, Scottish Power says she also owes almost 200.

When she then questioned the supplier, it said it could not tell her where the debt had come from and which account it applied to.

Abbie, who works in insurance, says every phone call to the firm takes an hour, and she has had to take time off work in order to wait for callbacks that never come.

She cancelled her direct debit when it was increased by more than 1,000 per cent, but she continues to pay around 90 for her energy.

She says: 'I honestly do not know what else to do. I have had sleepless nights over this and have ended up in tears.

'When my contract ends in May, I will be moving supplier. But what happens if it is not sorted by then? None of the staff have been sympathetic and at times have made me feel it is my fault.'

Ofgem says it is yet to make any findings against the supplier.

A Scottish Power spokesman says: 'We take complaints resolution seriously and we're working hard to improve how we respond to customers' complaints.

'As Ofgem's announcement notes, we're intensifying our focus on this area.

'We'll continue to share the improvements we're making with Ofgem in a transparent manner.'

m.dilworth@dailymail.co.uk
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has appointed President Hassan Rouhani as the chairman of the Coronavirus Prevention and Control Task Force, Deputy Majles Speaker Massoud Pezshkian said in an interview on Iran's state TV on Tuesday March 10.

However, Rouhani who spoke at the cabinet meeting on Wednesday did not mention the appointment but tried to shed light on ambiguities about travel ban and lockdowns to curb the spread of coronavirus outbreak.

Rouhani's appointment followed widespread criticism of disease control initiatives, or in fact the lack of them, and Rouhani's absence from the scene which was criticized by the people and officials alike.

According to Pezeshkian, Majles Speaker Ali Larijani wrote a letter to Khamenei asking him to personally lead the Coronavirus Prevention and Control Task Force or to put it under the supervision of Vice-President Jahangiri, but Khamenei tasked Rouhani with leading the task force.

Anecdotal accounts on social media say the appointment was meant to put an end to Rouhani's evasion of his responsibility. Meanwhile, counter-arguments indicate that Health Minister Saeed Namaki's failure as the task force's leader prompted Larijani to demand for strict measures to put the task force back on track.

Mousavi Largani, a member of parliament from Falavarjan near Isfahan sarcastically said that Rouhani was the only one who took the advice about staying home seriously and has locked himself indoors while his presence is needed to confront the crisis.

Khameneis office has not issued an official decree about the appointment.

Pezeshkian said Wednesday afternoon that what his original remark was not reflected properly by the media. But a video of his remarks are available online and IRGC-linked Tasnim news agency has also reported the same. Therefore, he must have been under pressure to deny what he has said on live TV and as it is usually the case in the Iranian media, he accused the media of misreporting his comment.

However, In his first remarks about the crisis the president ruled out criticism of his absence and said at the cabinet meeting on Wednesday that he supported the Health Ministry's performance, particularly in the area of releasing infection and fatality figures.

However, in a move slightly different from his declared position against imposing quarantine on critical places like Qom, Rouhani said on Wednesday that new arrangements will be made during the coming days to control outgoing traffic from the cities rather than stopping people at their destination.

None of these positions are likely to silence the critics as the virus is spreading rapidly and an end to the crisis is not in sight. In all, like always, Rouhani tried to play down the crisis while he stressed that the people should take the outbreak seriously.

The head of the state TV Ali Askari said on Tuesday the crisis is expected to reach its peak in one month's time by the end of the first week of April. In another development, media professionals have harshly criticized Ali Askari for not stopping major TV series productions involving dozens of actors and 700 extras, while reportedly two in the crew have been tested positive for the virus.

Wednesday morning, the spokesman for Health Ministry, Kianush Jahanpur, announced that the official death toll has risen to 354 and the number of confirmed cases of infection has reached 9,000.

The death toll includes 63 new deaths during the past 24 hours, he said. In an elaborate change of approach, the spokesman did not offer the sum total of cases in each province as he did during the past weeks, and instead he only mentioned the number of new cases in each region.

He said 958 people have been tested positive for the virus during the past day including 256 in Tehran, 170 in Isfahan, 53 in Qom and 54 in Alborz and 32 in Mazandaran province.

Like the previous days, he also gave a figure about those who have recovered and have been discharged from hospitals. The figure for Wednesday was 2,959.

There is very little trust in figures released by the Health Ministry. Local officials in particular have seriously challenged these figures and offered their own statistics. A few including a nurse in Qom have been reportedly arrested for giving away number of deaths, contradicting official figures.

An investigative report by Radio Farda puts the number of those who died as a result of Coronavirus in Iran at 927 as of Tuesday based on remarks made by local officials all over the country.
Highlights A priest of Prahladeshwar temple has put face masks on deities A mask was put on Lord Vishwanath to raise awareness about coronavirus The priest also urged people not to touch the idols

At a time when people are advised to take all precautionary measures to keep coronavirus infection at bay, a priest of a temple here has put face masks on deities and appealed the devotees to not touch the idols.

Coronavirus has spread across the country. We have put a mask on Lord Vishwanath to raise awareness about coronavirus. Just like we put clothes on the idols when it is cold and put ACs or fans when its hot, we have put masks on the deities, temple priest Krishna Anand Pandey said on Monday.

The priest also urged people not to touch the idols to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Varanasi:The 'Shivling' at Prahladeshwar temple have been covered with a mask&posters have been put up in temple appealing devotees to not touch the idols.A devotee says,"we are urging ppl not to touch the idols.If idols are touched,#coronavirus will spread & infect more people." pic.twitter.com/c0ZTGjVtFM  ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) March 10, 2020

We are urging the people not to touch the idols to prevent the spread of the virus. If people touch the idol, the virus will spread and more people will get infected, he added.

The priest and devotees at the temple were seen offering prayers wearing face masks.
Italy on Tuesday confirmed that 8,514 people have tested positive for the coronavirus and 631 have died since the epidemic first emerged in the country's northern region last month.

IMAGE: A delivery man wears a protective face mask as he rides a bicycle at Campo de Fiori, after a decree orders for the whole of Italy to be on lockdown in an unprecedented clampdown aimed at beating the coronavirus, in Rome, Italy. Photograph: Remo Casilli/Reuters

In addition, a total of 1,004 patients have recovered, said civil protection department chief Angelo Borrelli, who is also the national commissioner in charge of the coronavirus emergency, according to Xinhua news agency.

Borrelli said that among the deceased, a few were aged between 50-59 years, 8 per cent were aged 60-69, 32 per cent were 70-79, 45 per cent were 80-89 and 14 per cent were over 90.

Of the positive cases, 5,038 are hospitalised with symptoms, 877 are in intensive care, and 2,599 are quarantined at home, Borrelli said.

The whole of Italy, a country of some 60 million people, was placed under quarantine as the government stepped up efforts to tackle the coronavirus outbreak that has infected more than 10,000 people.

All sporting events, schools, and universities have been cancelled or shut.

Places of public gathering such as cinemas, theatres, and nightclubs remain closed.

IMAGE: A view of an empty Torino Porta Susa railway station. Photograph: Massimo Pinca/Reuters

Religious ceremonies including funerals and weddings will also be postponed.

Globally, more than 4,000 people have died from the coronavirus and over 113,000 cases have been confirmed, according to the World Health Organization.

About 64,000 people have recovered around the world, Al Jazeera reported.

Air Canada, the country's flag carrier, has halted all flights to and from Italy over the coronavirus outbreak, until at least May 1.

The airline's last flight to Rome is scheduled to take off from Toronto on Tuesday, with the final return flight departing Rome for Montreal on Wednesday.

All affected customers will be notified and offered a full refund, it said.

IMAGE: A man walks past deserted St. Peter's Square in Rome. Photograph: Guglielmo Mangiapane/Reuters

Air Canada said regulations and "ongoing health and safety concerns" prompted the decision.

In a similar move, Hungary's Wizz Air has also suspended all flights to and from Italian airports from March 10 until April 3

Spain decided to cancel all direct flights from Italy for two weeks in a bid to stop the spread of the coronavirus, according to the government's official gazette.

The measure will take effect from March 11 at midnight and continue until midnight of March 25, the gazette said.

Austria and Kazakhstan has further denied entry to people arriving from Italy in an attempt to slow the spread of the coronavirus, Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said.
The coronavirus outbreak has raised concerns about the negative effects of the Chinese regimes economic and political influence worldwide, an expert said.

Since the emergence of the outbreak in Wuhan, China, last December, the coronavirus has spread to 115 countries and regions, with a total infection count of around 118,000 cases, of which around 32 percent are outside of China.

For some affected countries that are economically dependent on China, their ability to respond effectively to the outbreak has been impaired by concerns over not wanting to antagonize the Chinese regime, Daniel Kliman, senior fellow and director of the Asia-Pacific Security Program at Washington-based think tank Center for a New American Security, said.

Chinas economic statecraft promotes putting some countries on the horns of a dilemma in terms of how they deal with this virus, Kliman said at a panel discussion at the National Press Club in Washington on March 9.

South Koreas handling of the outbreak exemplified this dilemma, Kliman noted. China is the countrys largest trading partner.

The South Korean government has really struggled to both address coronavirus domestically while not trying to antagonize China out of fear of economic retribution, Kliman said. And this has caused political blowback against the current administration in South Korea.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in has been harshly criticized by opposition politicians and health experts in South Korea over what they say is his mishandling of the crisis by not closing its border with China during the golden time window to limit the spread in the country. Moon has declined to issue a full travel ban on travelers from China, and instead issued a limited travel ban on visitors from Hubei Province, the region which houses the coronavirus epicenter, on Feb. 4five days after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak a global health emergency.

The country now has more than 7,500 confirmed cases of COVID-19, the disease the virus causes, with the largest outbreak clusters coming from members of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, a Christian religious sect based in the city of Daegu.

Undermining Governance

Kliman also said the regimes infrastructure investment project, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), has played a role in undermining governance in partner countries, especially in developing countries, which may then make it harder for those countries to contain the coronavirus in the future.

The BRI, which seeks to link the continents of Asia, Europe, and Africa through a network of railways, ports, and roads, has been used by the regime to further its geopolitical influence. The policy has been criticized for facilitating corruption in developing countries, as well as putting developing countries into a debt trap, as they struggle to pay back hefty Chinese loans.

Chinese practices [in relation to BRI] sometimes weaken governance, especially in the developing world, where you see potential for corruption, co-optation of local elites, a loss of kind of transparency, Kliman said.

Better governance, more transparency tends to help countries and governments combat epidemics, and so to the extent that you see a weakening of governance where China is operating in developing countries this may make it harder not only to detect but also to combat coronavirus going forward.

Co-opting International Organizations

The outbreak, Kliman said, has also cast a spotlight on the regimes influence at the WHO, which has been criticized for its initial handling of the crisis.

Kliman said the global response to the outbreak highlighted the real-world impact of Chinas co-optation of international organizations, that the World Health Organization, which China today heavily influences, was fairly slow to address coronavirus.

Initially, I would say, it played down the scope and need for a forceful response.

The WHO has stopped short of declaring coronavirus outbreak a global pandemic, although many observers have disagreed with this assessment, saying the global transmission of the disease fits this classification.

My own take would be that there is some kind of political calculation in it, that the WHO has been slow to kind of label at a pandemicand part out of concerns [that the] Chinese Communist Party in Beijing would see this as detrimental to Chinas image, Kliman said.

From The Epoch Times
Eliano Rexho spent years planning for a semester abroad in Italy, but watched helplessly as a global pandemic wiped out his efforts in days.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 11/3/2020 (670 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Eliano Rexho spent years planning for a semester abroad in Italy, but watched helplessly as a global pandemic wiped out his efforts in days.

Rexho, a commerce student at Queen's University, spent only three weeks at Milan's Bocconi University before the country was engulfed by a wave of COVID-19 cases caused by a novel form of coronavirus. During his fourth week on exchange, which took him out of the country to attend a competition on behalf of Queen's, Italy's COVID-19 case load exploded and paved the way for a series of suspensions and shutdowns.

As travel restrictions tightened across the country and culminated in a near total lockdown earlier this week, Rexho watched as friends from universities outside Canada fielded regular bulletins and made plans to return home based on advice from their schools.

But Rexho said information was slower in coming from his own school, citing updates that often contained out-of-date information and lacked specific guidance on how best to proceed.

"This is unprecedented grounds for a lot of people, including universities, but we did expect to get a bit more guidance than what we did," Rexho said in a telephone interview from London, U.K., where he is staying until he can make travel arrangements to fly home to Toronto.

Canadian universities appear to be taking a more cautious approach than their American counterparts in other aspects of their response to COVID-19, which the World Health Organization declared as a pandemic on Wednesday.

As U.S. institutions prepare to shutter campuses and suspend activities, most Canadian universities appear poised to maintain business as usual for the time being.

UCLA, Harvard, Yale, Georgetown and Stanford were among the U.S. schools announcing plans to send students home and hold classes remotely.

In Canada, only Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ont., had announced plans to take similar steps as of Wednesday afternoon. The school announced the move in a tweet indicating classes were suspended as of noon and moving online starting the next day.

Classes are still in session at more than a dozen post-secondary institutions contacted by The Canadian Press.

Vivek Goel, a professor at the University of Toronto's Dalla Lana School of Public Health, cautioned against comparing Canada and the U.S. in their responses to the coronavirus.

Goel said Canada was quicker to respond to the outbreak, drawing heavily on lessons learned during the 2003 SARS epidemic that had a stronger impact in this country than it did south of the border.

The result, he said, is a reasonably well-contained situation and a health risk that officials across the country have been characterizing as low.

But Goel said more Canadian universities may be forced to adopt similar measures implemented in the United States and beyond if the outbreak intensifies.

"It could wind up happening that we start to see similar things happening in Canada, because we're a large, geographically dispersed country and the local epidemiology might be different in different parts of the country," he said.

Goel, who also serves as the university's vice-president of strategic initiatives, said the school is asking instructors to think about alternative ways of delivering courses and administering exams if more extreme measures become necessary.

He said the school is basing its approach on advice from public health officials, a stance echoed by many other Canadian universities.

"We are ... in regular contact with public health authorities and continue to monitor travel advisories from Global Affairs Canada," University of Waterloo spokesman Matthew Grant said in a statement. "To date, we have not received any advice from public health to cancel events or classes or to change the way classes are delivered."

Schools including McGill University and the University of British Columbia said they have taken steps to bring exchange students home from stints abroad.

McMaster University in Hamilton went a step further on Wednesday by ending all international travel effective immediately, noting students already abroad should be in contact with their class supervisors to discuss whether they'd like to return early.

Dalhousie University in Halifax announced Wednesday it was cancelling all international field courses until September as well as nixing all travel to countries under travel advisories from the Public Health Agency of Canada.

Dalhousie, along with other universities including Queen's, have appointed individuals or set up committees to help co-ordinate a response to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Dr. David Walker, a special adviser for Queen's COVID-19 planning and preparation efforts, said the school has cancelled conferences for members of its Faculty of Health Sciences but has allowed others to continue. Classes and other activities are proceeding as scheduled, but Walker said the school is prepared to change its approach at a moment's notice.

"This is one of the challenges with this phenomenon," he said. "One makes decisions based on an uncertain platform, only to find that platform shifts even further within 12 or 24 hours."

Walker declined to comment on Rexho's recent experience, but the university issued a statement defending its communications with the 19 students on exchange in Italy. The school said it contacted students via group email within 24 hours of Bocconi's campus closure, adding it also followed up with all students individually.

Rexho himself said that while he is disappointed that he missed out on the whole studying abroad experience, he is grateful that he will be able to complete his courses online and obtain his credits.

Most people diagnosed with COVID-19 experience mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough, and the vast majority of those who contract the virus recover. The Public Health Agency of Canada says the risk to the general population is low. However, for some, including Canadians aged 65 and over, those with compromised immune systems and those with pre-existing conditions, the illness can be much more severe. Among the more than 100 Canadians diagnosed with the illness so far, fewer than 15 per cent have required hospitalization.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 11, 2020.
An massive fire ripped through one of Bangladesh's largest slums here on Wednesday, leaving hundreds of shanties gutted and thousands of people homeless, according to media reports.

The fire broke out on Wednesday morning at the Shialbari Jhilpar Slum in Mirpur's Rupnagar residential area where some 20,000 people lived in around 2,000 shanties.

Fire Service and Civil Defence Director (Operations) Zillur Rahman told reporters that no casualty was reported immediately.

"The cause of the fire will be known after investigation. We will form a four-member probe team and it will be asked to submit its report within 10 days," Rahman was quoted as saying by the Dhaka Tribune.

He said the narrow lanes around the slum and shortage of water had caused difficulty for about 20 fire fighting units in putting out the blaze.

Hundreds of low-income residents of the slum lost their belongings and shelters as the fire burnt them to ashes, Rahman said.

Local lawmaker Elias Uddin Mollah told reporters that some 20,000 people lived in 2,000 shanties in the Shialbari Jhilpar Slum.

Mollah, who was at the scene of the blaze, said the residents affected by the fire will temporarily be lodged in a school nearby.

"No one will be living under the open sky. We will stand by them until their homes become habitable. We will bear all the expenses relating to their food, shelter and clothing," he told bdnews24.com.

"The area shelters hundreds of thousands of poor residents," Officer-in-Charge of Rupnagar Police Station Abul Kalam Azad told The Daily Star newspaper.

According to slum dwellers and fire officials, illegal gas and electricity connections in the slum caused the fire.

There was no natural source of water like pond or canal in the area which resulted in delay in dousing the blaze, an official said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Family Law Attorney Juliana Yanez Joins Hanson Crawford Crum

Premier Bay Area family law firm Hanson Crawford Crum announced today that Juliana Yanez has joined the firm's San Mateo office.

"We are very excited to have Juliana on our team," said Belinda Hanson, the firm's managing partner. "Her broad experience in family law combined with her corporate litigation experience will bring significant value to our clients."

Experienced in the Bay Ara's distinct financial environment, Yanez specializes in high-asset dissolutions involving cryptocurrency, restricted stock units, carried interests, management fees, closely held businesses, and family trusts. She represents a diverse range of clients, including tech executives, founders, stay-at-home parents, lawyers, venture capitalists, and business owners.







Yanez has extensive experience handling both negotiated settlements and contested litigation. Her practice involves counseling clients through all aspects of dissolution proceedings from spousal support, child custody, child support, breaches of fiduciary duties, reimbursement claims, and property divisions to post-judgment issues.

"I am thrilled to join this extremely skilled group of attorneys who operate in a highly strategic way but with immense empathy and compassion for their clients," said Yanez. "My clients will significantly benefit from the talent and resources Hanson Crawford Crum offers."

Yanez began her legal career as a business litigator at an AmLaw 100 law firm where she handled complex business disputes in both federal and state courts. Subsequently, she worked at a premier boutique family law firm in San Francisco handling high-asset and high-conflict divorces.

Yanez completed her undergraduate degree at Stanford University and her JD at the Maurer School of Law at Indiana University (News - Alert) Bloomington. During law school, Yanez served as a registered family law mediator for the Family and Children Mediation Clinic in Bloomington, Indiana.

Hanson Crawford Crum is one of the leading family law firms providing services to clients throughout Silicon Valley and San Francisco. Its deep bench, size and range of experience enables the firm to handle some of the most complex and financially sophisticated cases. For more information, please visit http://www.hansonflg.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200311005160/en/
The finance ministry has flagged 17 'areas of dissatisfaction' with Infosys-designed GST Network, including transition issues for taxpayers in Jammu and Kashmir, verification and lack of scalability of server.

The other areas which the ministry has flagged as "unresolved or late resolved" with include delay in providing software for blocking of e-way bill generation in cases of non-filers of GSTR-3B.

Besides, new supply code for point of sale outside India, or deploying a feature that would allow assigning registration application to the same jurisdictional officer after past rejection (a decision on which had been taken in early 2019), were also flagged by the ministry.

Infosys, which in 2015 won the contract for managing backend for (GSTN), has drawn flak from the ministry over the tech glitches, some of them have been unresolved for almost two years.

The finance ministry has sought an urgent resolution plan from the Bengaluru-based software giant to address these tech glitches and the 17 areas have been highlighted by the government, sources said.

An email sent to on the issue did not elicit any comment.



chairman Nandan Nilekani has been summoned by the Government to make a presentation before the GST Council on March 14 following high level meetings at the finance ministry to fix the outstanding problems.

The ministry has made it clear to Infosys that the onus of performance of GST portal lies with the company and that it should meet the expectations.

In a strongly worded letter to Infosys on March 5, the ministry had said some of the problems highlighted as early as 2018 are still unresolved and failures month after month has lead to genuine taxpayers "getting frustrated".

"Infosys is requested to go through the pending issues, day-to-day disruptions and the future road map and come up with a plan for quick resolution within 15 days.

"Infosys has set high international standards and it is expected that the efficiency which your organisation is known for should be visible in GST project also," the ministry had said in the letter to Infosys.

Listing out the future expectations from Infosys, the ministry also sought to know the roadmap for developing software for authentication for existing taxpayers, linkage of e-invoice with GSTR-1 (sales return) and transition to new return filing model.
FM Spox terms COVID19 a global challenge

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Tehran, March 10, IRNA -- Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Abbas Mousavi in a message on Tuesday described coronavirus as a global challenge, saying it is high time the world to stand up against the virus.

"#COVID19 is a global challenge, not exclusive to any specific region or nation," Mousavi wrote in his Twitter account on Tuesday.

He added: "For three years, though, the whole humanity has been suffering from #HLVS (Hatred & Lie & Violence Spreading) Syndrome-2017."

"This is a high time that the world stands up against this malign infection," he noted.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo earlier said: "This is a complicated challenge. The Wuhan virus that began at the end of last year is something that this administration is taking incredibly seriously."

He added: "The State Department has been very involved from the beginning when we worked diligently to get hundreds of Americans out of Hubei province, out of Wuhan, and get them back to the United States safely."

Meanwhile, in reaction to Pompeo's remarks, China Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Geng Shuang said: "Despite the fact that the WHO has officially named this novel type of coronavirus, certain American politician, disrespecting science and the WHO decision, jumped at the first chance to stigmatize China and Wuhan with it."

He added: "We condemn this despicable practice."

"Since the COVID-19 broke out, China has been providing timely updates to the WHO and countries and regions including the US in an open, transparent and responsible manner," he noted.

Chinese diplomat went on to say: "The world has already reached the clear, fair consensus that China's contribution bought precious time for the international community to enhance preparedness. Mr. Pompeo's attempt to smear China's efforts will not succeed."

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A man wears a mask while waiting in line to cross the border on March 2, 2020 in Tijuana, Mexico.

The U.S. Supreme Court said Wednesday that the Trump administration can continue its practice of returning asylum-seekers to Mexico along the entire southern border while immigration authorities process their claims.

In a brief, unsigned order, the court said enforcement can go on while the justices decide whether to hear an appeal of lower court rulings that declared the program illegal. Only Justice Sonia Sotomayor said she would have denied the permission.

The policy, known as the Migration Protection Protocols, or "Remain in Mexico," was launched in January 2019. During the 13 months it was fully in operation, the Department of Homeland Security returned more than 60,000 immigrants to Mexico while they awaited word on their deportation proceedings.

But in response to challenges from civil liberties group, a federal court said enforcement of the program would be blocked in California and Arizona by mid-March.

Urging the Supreme Court to allow enforcement while the government appeals lower court orders shutting it down, the Justice Department said, "it has been an enormously effective and indispensable tool" in efforts to "address the migration crisis on our southwest border."

When the program was temporarily halted nationwide by court order, DHS faced chaos, the government told the Supreme Court, with a surge of migrants in Mexico arriving at ports of entry all along the border.

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals based in San Francisco ruled March 4 that the program violated federal law and enforcement would have to end in California and Arizona on March 12, unless the Supreme Court issued an order allowing it to continue while the government prepares an appeal.

The court said uncontested evidence "establishes that non-Mexicans returned to Mexico under the MPP risk substantial harm, even death, while they await adjudication of their applications for asylum."

Because New Mexico and Texas are outside the Ninth Circuit, the appeals court ruling did not apply in those states, and the program has continued there.

The ACLU urged the Supreme Court to block enforcement of the policy. Asylum-seekers returned to Mexico "are exposed to kidnapping, assault, rape, and other violent attacks on account of their being non-Mexican migrants." It also said the policy violates federal requirements by exposing migrants seeking asylum to possible persecution or torture if returned to Mexico.

"The Court of Appeals unequivocally declared this policy to be illegal. The Supreme Court should as well. Asylum seekers face grave danger and irreversible harm every day this depraved policy remains in effect," Judy Rabinovitz, special counsel in the ACLU's Immigrants' Rights Project, said after the Supreme Court's ruling.
Virgin Australia has hit back at Qantas comments that coronavirus will threaten airlines during a 'survival of the fittest' struggle.

Qantas CEO Alan Joyce announced on Tuesday that major capacity cuts would be brought in to fight the plunging demand for international travel.

He told the press conference: 'This will be a survival of the fittest and I think Qantas is one of the fittest.'

'There will be some airlines that won't survive,' Mr Joyce said.

Virgin Australia's CEO Paul Scurrah has responded that their own company is stronger than people expect.

'We are very fit and fitter than a lot of people give us credit for,' Mr Scurrah told The Daily Telegraph.

Qantas CEO Alan Joyce (pictured) said that not all airlines will 'survive' the coronavirus

Virgin Australia CEO Paul Scurrah responded that his company remained strong (file image)

He said that Virgin Australia 'will be around for a very long time.'

The airline has also made cuts to their fleet and reduced capacity by five percent at the end of February.

A spokesperson from Virgin Australia said that the company was 'in a strong position to manage the coronavirus' and had 'a strong future ahead.'

The spokeswoman also noted that Virgin is a largely domestic airline and is therefore somewhat protected from the impact of coronavirus on international flights.

A Qantas spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia that coronavirus will hit all airlines very hard.

She said the company was taking measures to be resilient and is confident going forward.

Qantas will be reducing the number of empty seats and cutting its capacity by almost a quarter until September 2020.

Qantas announced major cuts to capacity to fight plunging travel demands (file image)

Australia's largest airline will be grounding 38 Qantas and Jetstar flights including eight of their largest aircraft the Airbus A380.

Mr Joyce said: 'We expect lower demand to continue for the next several months, so rather than taking a piecemeal approach we're cutting capacity out to mid-September.'

'We're in a good position to ride this out, but we need to take steps to maintain this strength,' he said.

The biggest capacity reduction is focused on Asia but will also affect flights to the UK, USA and New Zealand.

Jetstar flights to Bangkok have been suspended while services to Vietnam and Japan were cut in half.

Mr Joyce will also forego his salary for the remainder of the financial year.
Alcohol-free drinks brand Smashed secures 125k investment on Dragons' Den

A UK producer of alcohol-free drinks is raising a toast after securing a game-changing investment on the BBC's Dragons' Den.

Drynks Unlimited, which uses pioneering vacuum technology to remove the alcohol from its range of Smashed drinks, went head to head with the famous Dragons on 8 March and is now raising a toast to a game-changing investment.

Richard Clark, founder and managing director of the Manchester-based business, and Paul Briscoe, UK sales director, went into the Den asking for 125,000 for a 5 per cent stake in their business.

Both Sara Davies and Deborah Meaden expressed an interest in the growing brand, but it was the former Dragon who made an offer to the pair: a 125,000 investment for 7.5 per cent equity. After some deliberation, Richard and Paul accepted her offer.

Richard said: "I am passionate about producing 0% ABV drinks that taste as good as their alcoholic counterparts and that are genuinely sessionable. My aim is to get more people to start rethinking drinking.

"Having the chance to pitch to the Dragons was incredibly exciting and a little bit nerve-wracking, but they know their stuff and the experience was invaluable. It has helped spur us on and resulted in us investing more than 1 million in our state-of-the-art cool vacuum distillation plant in Robinson's Brewery, Stockport."

Drynks Unlimited's Smashed beers and cider - all 0% ABV - are available in Booths stores and at more than 500 UK on and off-trade venues including pubs, bars, restaurants, health stores and grocery outlets.

11 March 2020 - Bethany Whymark
Microsoft has coordinated the take down of one of the world's most prolific botnets after eight years of tracking a cyber criminal network.

The Necurs botnet infected more than nine million computers globally and was being used to distribute several forms of highly advanced malware.

It was used to target tens of millions of potential victims through spam emails pushing everything from pump-and-dump stock scams, to "Russian dating" scams.

Botnets make use of security vulnerabilities in computers and other internet-connected devices in order to form a powerful network capable of carrying out cyber crimes.

Microsoft's Digital Crimes Unit, together with partners across 35 countries, began tracking the botnet in 2012.

Gadget and tech news: In pictures Show all 25 1 /25 Gadget and tech news: In pictures Gadget and tech news: In pictures Gun-toting humanoid robot sent into space Russia has launched a humanoid robot into space on a rocket bound for the International Space Station (ISS). The robot Fedor will spend 10 days aboard the ISS practising skills such as using tools to fix issues onboard. Russia's deputy prime minister Dmitry Rogozin has previously shared videos of Fedor handling and shooting guns at a firing range with deadly accuracy. Dmitry Rogozin/Twitter Gadget and tech news: In pictures Google turns 21 Google celebrates its 21st birthday on September 27. The The search engine was founded in September 1998 by two PhD students, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, in their dormitories at Californias Stanford University. 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The $2000 folding phone has been found to break easily with review copies being recalled after backlash PA Gadget and tech news: In pictures Charging mat non-starter Apple has cancelled its AirPower wireless charging mat, which was slated as a way to charge numerous apple products at once AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures "Super league" India shoots down satellite India has claimed status as part of a "super league" of nations after shooting down a live satellite in a test of new missile technology EPA Gadget and tech news: In pictures 5G incoming 5G wireless internet is expected to launch in 2019, with the potential to reach speeds of 50mb/s Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Uber halts driverless testing after death Uber has halted testing of driverless vehicles after a woman was killed by one of their cars in Tempe, Arizona. March 19 2018 Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A humanoid robot gestures during a demo at a stall in the Indian Machine Tools Expo, IMTEX/Tooltech 2017 held in Bangalore Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A humanoid robot gestures during a demo at a stall in the Indian Machine Tools Expo, IMTEX/Tooltech 2017 held in Bangalore Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures The giant human-like robot bears a striking resemblance to the military robots starring in the movie 'Avatar' and is claimed as a world first by its creators from a South Korean robotic company Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Waseda University's saxophonist robot WAS-5, developed by professor Atsuo Takanishi Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures Waseda University's saxophonist robot WAS-5, developed by professor Atsuo Takanishi and Kaptain Rock playing one string light saber guitar perform jam session Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures A test line of a new energy suspension railway resembling the giant panda is seen in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A test line of a new energy suspension railway, resembling a giant panda, is seen in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A concept car by Trumpchi from GAC Group is shown at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures A Mirai fuel cell vehicle by Toyota is displayed at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A visitor tries a Nissan VR experience at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A man looks at an exhibit entitled 'Mimus' a giant industrial robot which has been reprogrammed to interact with humans during a photocall at the new Design Museum in South Kensington, London Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A new Israeli Da-Vinci unmanned aerial vehicle manufactured by Elbit Systems is displayed during the 4th International conference on Home Land Security and Cyber in the Israeli coastal city of Tel Aviv Getty

In a blog post detailing the operation, Microsoft attributed Necurs to criminals based in Russia.

"The Necurs botnet is one of the largest networks in the spam email threat ecosystem, with victims in nearly every country in the world," Microsoft's Tom Burt wrote.

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"During a 58-day period in our investigation, for example, we observed that one Necurs-infected computer sent a total of 3.8 million spam emails to over 40.6 million potential victims... It has also been used to attack other computers on the internet, steal credentials for online accounts, and steal people's personal information and confidential data."

The criminals behind Necurs were also profiting from their cyber weapon by offering it to other hackers as part of a botnet-for-hire service.

Last week, a US court issued an order enabling Microsoft to take control of US infrastructure that was being used to build the botnet and infect victims with malware.

This legal step triggered action that saw Microsoft take control of domains and stop new ones from being registered, thus preventing the Necurs from being used to execute cyber attacks.
Judge James Burke had little patience for Harvey Weinstein or his legal team on the day of his sentencing. The mogul was facing up to 29 years in prison after being convicted of a criminal sexual act and third-degree rape. His attorneys insisted he should get close to the minimum sentence of five years. The prosecution  and, as it turned out, the judge  disagreed.

After about two hours of proceedings that included powerful victim impact statements and tense discussions between Burke and Weinsteins lawyers, the judge handed Weinstein a 23-year sentence. The 67-year-old will likely die behind bars.

Its been nine weeks since the criminal trial opened in New York City. Jury selection began in the second week of January. Then came opening arguments and testimony, with six women taking the stand against Weinstein. Jury deliberation followed and, finally, on 24 February, a verdict: Weinstein was found guilty on two out of five counts.

Wednesday began in accordance to what has become routine: reporters and members of the public lined around the block in the early hours of the morning at 100 Centre Street, hoping to secure a spot inside the New York County Supreme Court. Around eight, the crowd made its way inside, going through metal detectors and queueing some more. Photographers lined up for the usual court arrival shots.

But Wednesdays court date was Weinsteins first since the verdict, and that meant that things had changed. When Mimi Haleyi and Jessica Mann arrived to give victim impact statements, some outside the courtroom clapped in a clear show of support. For most of his trial, Weinstein was seen walking with his lawyers, leaning on a walking frame, occasionally smiling and having brief exchanges with reporters. On Wednesday, he sat in the courtroom on a wheelchair, brought in from New Yorks Rikers Island jail.

Assistant District Attorney Joan Illuzzi spoke first, asking Burke to give Weinstein the maximum possible sentence in the case  or close to it. She then ceded the floor to Haleyi, who gave the first of the days two victim impact statements.

Weinstein has been convicted of performing a criminal sex act on Haleyi in 2006. Haleyi, who took the stand during the trial, spoke  at one point through sobs  of the trauma she has experienced since the attack, and of its effects on her life. It scarred me deeply, mentally and emotionally, perhaps irreparably, perhaps forever, she told the court. Weinstein, she said, has appeared completely disconnected from the gravity of the crime he has committed against me.

I showed up, not as a perfect victim, but as a human being, Haleyi said  at which point she began crying. She said the trial has in part been healing in allowing her to process the assault.

Attorney Gloria Allred holds a sign after Harvey Weinstein was sentenced to 23 years in prison on 11 March 2020 in New York City. (Roy Rochlin/Getty Images)

Jessica Mann, who testified earlier in the trial, also spoke on Wednesday. Back in February, Mann became so distressed during cross-examination that Burke adjourned the proceedings for the rest of the day. On Wednesday, she spoke clearly and without hesitation. She recalled the day she had to leave the witness stand, after which she could be heard screaming from a nearby room. The day my screams were heard from the witness room was the day my voice came back to its full power, she said. Like Haleyi, Mann devoted time to discussing trauma and its aftermath, telling the court: I live in a body that has become unsafe.

Rape is not just one moment of penetration. It is forever, she added.

Weinsteins legal team followed after Haleyi and Manns statements. An exchange between the judge and the defence lawyers, who sought to highlight sentencing precedent in other New York State cases, proved particularly heated. And then, finally, Weinstein spoke.

His voice rose, low and cavernous, from the front of the courtroom. Weinstein spoke slowly at first, though he grew more animated as his statement went on. He told the court he felt remorse for this situation, and promptly expressed sympathy for other men who have been accused of sexual misconduct.

Weinstein, echoing his legal team, brought up some of his past monetary donations, assuring the judge some in New York City wouldnt hesitate to sing his praises if given the chance. He said he hasnt seen his three eldest children since the allegations against him became public in October 2017.

Thousands of men are losing due process. Im worried about this country, he said. Im totally confused. I think men are confused about these issues.

But Weinsteins assurances did little to sway Burke, who declared shortly before sentencing him to 23 years behind bars: Although this is a first conviction, this is not a first offence. In addition to his prison sentence, Weinstein will have to register as a sex offender.

Weinsteins legal team has indicated that it plans to appeal the New York verdict. But after 48 business days, this particular case is, at the moment, closed. The sun will no longer rise with Harvey Weinstein at 100 Centre Street.
Grian Ni Dhaimhin, a student from Strabane, is the incoming president of the Students' Union at Queen's University. She was elected to that position by her fellow students and will take up office later this year.

Most Students' Union presidents get elected and serve their term in office without generating major controversy, but Grian is different.

She has already generated a lot of controversy and criticism because of her social media activity, and the scope of the controversy has extended beyond the individual to the university.

Her controversial posts include an image of a poster for a commemoration of three IRA terrorists shot dead by the SAS at a Strabane arms dump in 1985. She liked other posts, including one of a masked woman with an assault rifle and a republican slogan.

The issues were raised when QUB vice chancellor Professor Ian Greer appeared before the economy committee at Stormont, and the controversy has played out in newspaper columns and on radio programmes.

Professor Greer said that he wanted the university to be welcoming for everyone and called for assistance from politicians to change the perception of the university as a "cold house for unionism".

I would suggest that the way to deal with the issue, whether it be a perception or a reality, is for an open and honest conversation.

However, that will require greater transparency from the university and greater scrutiny of the university, if the conversation is to be evidence-based.

Meanwhile, Grian Ni Dhaimhin has deleted some of her social media posts, which will be a disappointment to political archaeologists.

Nevertheless, she still features on social media, including a Facebook page run by a branch of Conradh na Gaeilge, also known as the Gaelic League.

For those who are not familiar with Conradh na Gaeilge, it is an Irish language organisation which has been to the fore in the campaign for an Irish Language Act.

It was founded in 1893 and the current president is Dr Niall Comer, an Irish language academic at Ulster University.

Conradh na Gaeilge has branches across the Irish Republic and Northern Ireland, including one in Strabane, which you will remember is the home town of Grian Ni Dhaimhin. That branch is Craobh Mhic an Chrosain, or the McCrossan branch.

Like most organisations today, it has a Facebook page, Gaelphobal - Craobh Mhic an Chrosain, with the logo of Conradh na Gaeilge at the top and a link to the official website.

Most of the posts are in Irish, although non-Irish speakers will recognise words and phrases borrowed from English, like 'pop-up' and 'parkrun'.

However, Gaelphobal - Craobh Mhic an Chrosain does have some bi-lingual posts, and one of them provides a useful insight into Gaelic life in Strabane.

In it they say they "would like to thank all those who attended and took part in the inaugural Comoradh na nGael (Irish Language Easter Commemoration of Gaels), which took place in Melmount Graveyard in memory of those local Gaels who spent their lives working for Irish freedom and unity, for the Irish language and for Irish culture."

It was a fulsome Easter Rising commemoration, with the Proclamation being read in Irish, the Irish national anthem in Irish, a contribution from Grian Ni Dhaimhin and a wreath laid on behalf of Gaelphobal - Craobh Mhic an Chrosain.

This raises a number of questions, and the first is about the relationship between Conradh na Gaeilge and Irish nationalism.

At one time, Conradh na Gaeilge was quite open and overt about its Irish nationalism and representatives took part in many Irish republican commemorations.

But, more recently, its spokesmen have sought to present Irish language activism as open to all.

The second is a question for Sinn Fein. Back in January, John O'Dowd accused the Orange Order of dabbling in politics and said that he could think of no other cultural body which received public money and was so involved in politics.

It's hard to understand that, but perhaps John has never heard of Conradh na Gaeilge and the many millions of pounds it receives every year.

So, thank you to Grian Ni Dhaimhin and her friends at Craobh Mhic an Chrosain for lifting the veil that often surrounds the world of Irish cultural nationalism.
MUMBAI, India  At the top of a staircase covered in dirt and sequins, several dozen Indian artisans hunched over yards of fabric, using needles to embroider garments for the worlds most powerful fashion brands.

They sewed without health benefits in a multiroom factory with caged windows and no emergency exit, where they earned a few dollars a day completing subcontracted orders for international designers. When night fell, some slept on the floor.

They were not working for a factory employed by fast fashion brands: companies whose business model is premised on producing trendy clothing as cheaply as possible and whose supply chain issues came under scrutiny in 2013. That was when the deadliest garment industry disaster in history, the Rana Plaza factory collapse, killed more than 1,100 Bangladeshi workers.

Their products were destined for Dior and Saint Laurent, among other luxury names.

Unknown to most consumers, the expensive, glittering brands of runways in Paris and Milan also indirectly employ thousands of workers in the developing world. In Mumbai, scores of ateliers and export houses act as middlemen between the brands and highly skilled artisans, while also providing services like design, sampling and garment production.

As with fast fashion retailers, many luxury brands do not own all of their own production facilities, and instead contract with independent factories to make their garments or embroider them. And like fast fashion, they too have woken up to potential dangers with that system.

In 2016, a group of luxury houses introduced the Utthan pact, an ambitious and secretive compliance project aimed at ensuring factory safety in Mumbai and elevating Indian embroiderers. Among the signatories were Kering (owner of labels including Gucci and Saint Laurent); LVMH Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy (owner of Fendi and Christian Dior); and two British fashion houses, Burberry and Mulberry. The pact had an initial three-year timeline but was not legally binding.

Yet during visits to several Mumbai factories, and in more than three dozen interviews with artisans, factory managers and designers, The New York Times found that embroiderers still completed orders at unregulated facilities that did not meet Indian factory safety laws. Many workers still do not have any employment benefits or protections, while seasonal demands for thousands of hours of overtime would coincide with the latest fashion weeks in Europe.

Several factory owners said that membership in the pact meant investing in the costly compliance standards outlined by the Utthan pact, while brands simultaneously drove down what they would pay for orders.

Given the product prices, there is a sense that the luxury brands must be doing it right, and that makes them immune to public scrutiny, said Michael Posner, a professor of ethics and finance at the Stern School of Business at New York University. But despite the price tags for luxury brand goods, the conditions in factories across their supply chains can be just as bad as those found in factories producing for fast fashion retailers.

When contacted for comment, luxury brands that were Utthan signatories largely highlighted the broader improvements made by the implementation of the pact, rather than focusing on continuing issues and accusations.

We recognize that the situation of some workers at the subcontracting level is still very far from satisfying today, and we are genuinely determined to strengthen the program with our fellow stakeholders, to speed up progress and to further improve the situation, a Kering spokesman said in a statement.

A spokesman for LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton, the worlds largest luxury goods company, said in an emailed statement: We take the allegations raised through your questions very seriously but are unable to comment without further details and a thorough investigation.
In 2016, Lida Xing of China University of Geosciences first examined a piece of amber  or fossil tree resin  that came from a mine in northern Myanmar. He took one look at the fossil, and he knew that he had to send it to his colleague, Jingmai OConnor of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing.

When I was first given the specimen by Lida Xing, hes like Dont tell anyone about this, Dr. OConnor said.

The piece of amber  about 99 million years old  is smaller than a fingertip, Dr. OConnor and a team of researchers report on Wednesday in the journal Nature, and suspended inside of it is the skull of the smallest known bird, and, therefore, dinosaur, ever discovered. They called the bird Oculudentavis khaungraae  a name that comes from the Latin words for eye, teeth and bird. The dinosaurs skull is only 14.25 millimeters, or a little more than half an inch, from its beak to the end of its skull. The animal had bulbous eyes that looked out from the sides of its head, rather than straight ahead like the eyes of an owl or a human.

We were able to show that this skull is even smaller than that of a bee hummingbird, which is the smallest dinosaur of all time  also the smallest bird, Dr. OConnor said. This is a tiny skull, and its just preserved absolutely pristinely.
A plastic surgeon in Ohio has been arrested on charges of drugging and raping multiple women while they were unconscious.

Dr Manish Gupta has been charged with sex trafficking, dispensing controlled substances and aggravated sexual abuse.

Two of the charges above carry a maximum sentence of life in prison. Dr Gupta waived his right to a preliminary hearing.

The 49-year-old was arrested on Friday and subsequently booked into the Lucas County Corrections Center.

Through a search warrant, authorities found controlled ketamine and diazepam, sex toys and camera equipment among his belongings at his residence and his offices.

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In January 2019 authorities started investigating Dr Gupta after a woman who worked as an escort, whom he had met at a convention in September 2016, accused him of drugging her before performing sex acts on her.

The woman told the authorities that she didn't remember much after she drank a glass of wine and a home drug test showed she had tranquillizer in her system.

She did not go to the police at the time, but looked Dr Gupta up on a dating website used by other escorts and saw complaints from other women accusing him of drugging and raping them.

In 2014, one of his employees found a memory card which appeared to show him having sex with a woman who looked unconscious.

Dr Gupta runs two plastic surgery offices in the Toledo area and one in Taylor, Michigan.

Additional reporting by the Associated Press
A prosecution witness, Williams Obiora, told the Federal High Court in Abuja, on Wednesday, that he was part of the legal team that carried out a search at the residence of the former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, in Asokoro, Abuja.

Mr Obiora is the first prosecution witness (PW1) presented in the trial of Mr Dasuki before Justice Ahmed Mohammed.

While being shielded from public glare in court in Wednesday, Mr Obiora, during cross-examination, also told the court that he was not part of the legal team that prepared the charges against Mr Dasuki.

The federal government is accusing Mr Dasuki of being in possession of prohibited firearms without the requisite licences in July 2015 contrary to Section 28 of the Firearm Act Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

He was alleged to have been in possession of Trevor rifles at his residence in Abuja.

Besides the firearms, Mr Dasuki is also accused of money-laundering and was specifically said to have been in possession of $40,000, N5 million and 20,000 allegedly in his house in July 2015.

The funds are said to be proceeds of an unlawful act contrary to Section 15 (3) of the money laundering prohibition act 2011.

An amended charge also indicated that $150,000 and N37 million, being part of proceeds of the unlawful act, were also found in the Sokoto residence of former NSA on July 16, 2015.

Witness

Responding to question from Mr Dasukis lawyer, Ahmed Raji, the witness said, I have worked for 30 years in DSS. I worked briefly with a private company after my national youth service year in 1986 before joining DSS.

Mr Raji further asked Mr Obiora if he was still in service and he replied saying, I retired in 2018.

The witness told the court that the private company where he worked before joining the DSS did not deal in arms and ammunition.

When asked if he had worked in the office of NSA before, Mr Obiora responded: Not at all, I have never worked in the office of NSA.

He also told the court that he had never worked as an officer in other security agencies.

Mr Raji asked the witness if he knew the details about the law setting up NSAs office, Mr Obiora said though he was aware that the office was established by law, he did not know details about the law.

The witness, however, said he was aware that NSAs office coordinates all security agencies in the country, including the DSS.

When the senior lawyer asked him if he knew anything about the term: End User Certificate, he responded in affirmation.

I know what End User Certificate is. It is usually sought and obtained from the office of the NSA when materials of security nature are to be brought within the country.

So we need the approval of the NSA and that is where an End User Certificate comes in, he explained.

However, when Mr Dasukis lawyer asked him to confirm if the exporters would not sell any security equipment without an End User Certificate, the witness said: Ideally, that is what is supposed to be but this is Nigeria, anything can happen.

Will I be right to say that even the DSS cannot import arms without an End User Certificate? Mr Raji asked.

I wouldnt no that, Mr Obiora responded.

Can (the) army import without an End User Certificate? Mr Raji asked again.

I wouldnt know, Mr Obiora restated.

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When asked if he had ever seen an End User Certificate before, the witness said: No.

The witness explained that he knew about the term through reading.

I read it from books. I cannot remember any of the books, he told the court.

Mr Obiora, who said he worked under the operations department when in service, said he was not aware inspection team normally goes to the country of production whenever arms and ammunition are to be procured to ascertain the equipment to be bought.

Those who are normally sent are those who are vast in ballistics? Mr Raji asked.

I am not aware, Mr Obiora responded.

You have not been trained in ballistics, again the lawyer asked.

I have not, Mr Obiora said.

Mr Raji then asked the witness if the former NSA personally told him that the arms and ammunition found in his houses belong(ed) to him ( Mr Dasuki).

I cannot recall if the defendant told me that the arms and ammunition personally belonged to him, Mr Obiora responded.

The witness told the court that he only took part in searching for the Asokoro residence of Mr Dasuki.

Do you agree with me that the military, especially the army, has more to do with arms and ammunition than the DSS, the lawyer asked.

I dont understand what you mean, the witness responded.

Meanwhile, Mr Raji asked the court for an adjournment to enable him to obtain the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the statement of a witness in the previous proceedings before another court.

My request for adjournment is as a result of issues arising from the statement, he added.

Justice Mohammed granted the request and adjourned the matter to May 5 and 6 for the continuation of trial.
New Delhi/Geneva, March 11 : A rights activist at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva, disputed Pakistan's sovereignty over the Gilgit-Baltistan region and sought a due share for the indigenous people, as a third and equal partner, in China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Gilgit-Baltistan, the northern portion of the then princely state of Jammu and Kashmir, which acceded to India in 1947, was occupied by Pakistan in an invasion. It borders Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) to the south, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan to the west, Afghanistan to the north, Xinjiang region of China to northeast and Ladakh (India) to the southeast.

The CPEC, through several infrastructure and development projects, aims to connect China's landlocked westernmost province to the Arabian Sea, under President Xi Jinping's ambitious Belt and Road Initiative.

Senge Hasnan Sering, the Washington DC-based director of the Gilgit-Baltistan National Congress (GBNC), a diaspora group that raises awareness of rights violations in the region under Pakistan's occupation, slammed Pakistan at the UNHRC session in Geneva on Tuesday.

He told the council that the Pakistani regime was in clear violation of human rights, including "freedom of speech and movement" for declaring the people of Gilgit-Baltistan "terrorists" only because they have been demanding their due share in the CPEC.

Pakistan should refrain from doing so, Hasnan told the council urging the Imran Khan government to release all political prisoners of Gilgit-Baltistan, including those serving life time.

"The locals claim representation in the CPEC as a third and equal partner since both China and Pakistan lack a sovereignty over their land. Locals oppose unconstitutional land reforms and unconstitutional 2020 ordinance imposed by Pakistan as both rob locals of decision and their cultural identity while empowering Pakistani and Chinese citizens to abuse common property regime with impunity," he told the council.

Pakistan, he said, must not operate Gilgit-Baltistan like a prison for locals. It must open routes towards Ladakh and Afghanistan, to let divided families reunite and enable Buddhists of Ladakh visit religious sites in the region, he said.

People in Gilgit-Baltistan, he said, ask if Indian Sikhs are welcome in Kartarpur in Pakistan, then why are Ladakhi Buddhists deprived of similar religious rights. "Why the double standards, Pakistan, why?," he asked.

Hasnan reminded Pakistan and China about their "commitment to promote and protect human rights, including accountability for violations" and requested both to cooperate fully with the council when dealing with "disputed lands like Gilgit-Baltistan." The activist asked Pakistan to completely withdraw from Gilgit and "enable genuine stakeholders to solve the chronic problem."
Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) speaks during First in the South Dinner in Charleston, S.C., on Feb. 24, 2020. (Matt Rourke/AP Photo)

What Bernie Wont Tell You About Fidel Castro

Five inconvenient truths about Cuban education

Commentary

A key ingredient of communist regimes is deception. From Soviet-era space rockets to Cuban medical care and athletes, they show the outside world an illusion of prosperity.

Since reality always catches up, only those extremely ignorant or naive can fall for the lies for very long. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), a leading Democratic presidential nominee, is neitherhes a veteran propagandist apologizing for his ideological bedfellows crimes.

During a recent interview with Anderson Cooper on 60 Minutes, Sanders defended his accommodating view of Fidel Castro, the late communist dictator who ruled Cuba with an iron fist for five decades.

While claiming he remained very opposed to the authoritarian nature of Cuba, he complained to Cooper that its unfair to simply say everything is bad. When Fidel Castro came into office, you know what he did? He had a massive literacy program. Is that a bad thing?

He doubled down during a town-hall debate in South Carolina: The truth is the truth. Like clockwork, Cuban newspaper Granmathe regimes mouthpiece and lone newspaper on the islandpraised Sanders.

The devil is in the details, and Bernies gotcha comeback left out a major one: Cubas touted literacy program didnt intend to form free, educated individuals. Instead, it paved the way for universal communist indoctrination. You can forget homeschooling in Cuba.

1. Propaganda Operation

Like most good things in communist Cuba, the literacy program was a well-crafted propaganda operation. Castro, after his successful coup in 1959 to depose military dictator Fulgencio Batista, knew he had to transform the common folks minds to accept the new official credo, MarxismLeninism. Adherents know you cant efficiently brainwash people if they are illiterate. The monopoly stranglehold over education, rebranded, became the perfect public-relations guise to garner international support.

Therefore, he launched literal literacy brigades across the country, complete with military parades and songs about taking up arms in defense of the revolution. His goal, however, wasnt that marginalized Cubans could read and write whatever they wanted, Marx forbid. The Cuban revolution specifically called for new men and women who could accept the looming sacrifices.

One of the many patriotic posters plastered on city walls to support the nationwide effort made it clear: A schoolboy striking an eagle with a pencil read, Every Cuban who learns to read and write is a new blow against imperialism.

Georgina Arias, a woman who took part in the literacy brigades, told the Spanish daily El Pais that instructors would ask peasants to write their first-ever letters toyou guessed itEl Comandante.

2. Literacy Rates Were Already High

Literacy rates were lower prior to the Cuban revolution, but they were much better than most Latin-American countries. Castros oft-repeated claim that Cuban illiteracy before his rule was over 40 percent is a callous lie. It was closer to 23 percent, and literacy programs predated Castro. He built on a solid structure, not a blank slate.

Literacy rates increased after a year, but when youre a dictator, you have one big advantage: you can just tell 270,000 people to leave everything behind to help you, and they cant refuse.

3. Government-Run Schooling

Once the regime could feed the population communist propaganda, it embarked on another crusade to get all children into government-run schools. At first look, universal schooling might sound like another of Sanderss not-bad-things, but education in Cubanow and thenis a pretext for social control.

Castro nationalized all private schools in 1961, many of them Catholic. Religion became a taboo subject in class. Teaching children ideas contrary to communism became illegal. To this day, textbooks are full of praise for Castro and communist ideology.

Armando Valladares, a Cuban poet and former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, explains Cuban schools teach children the Communist Party is owed loyalty above everything else and that they must denounce their parents if they criticize or do anything against the Revolution or its leaders.

With public schools the only game in town, theres no escape from compulsory communist indoctrination. The 1978 Code for Children and the Youth states: Society and the state work for the efficient protection of youth against all influences contrary to their communist formation.  The school is the basic educational unit that works decisively toward the communist formation of pupils. This remains in force; when two Christian preachers tried to homeschool their children in 2019, they were sentenced to prison.

4. Purging Dissenters

The literacy program was a pretext to purge perfectly literate but dissenting educators. Countless school teachers, university professors, and intellectuals eventually had to flee the country to pursue their careers.

Fabiola Santiago, an award-winning journalist with the Miami Herald who went to school in Castros Cuba, tells how her mother lost her teaching post over her refusal to parrot communist dogma in class. Several private schools shut down by the regime relocated to the United States with their faculty, such as Belen Jesuit Preparatory, which even Castro attended in his teen years.

5. Communist Youth Group

To further cement his hold on future generations, Castro banned Cubas Boy Scouts in 1961 and replaced it with an ideological copycat: the pioneers, a youth organization that was the staple of one-party communist tyrannies such as Soviet Russia and China.

The Jose Marti Pioneer Organization claims all its members1.5 million boys and girls aged between 5 and 15 years oldare voluntary. Every Cuban family knows better, though, than to resist enrollment. In third grade, Santiago suffered reprisals from school administrators, who demoted her from the top of the honor roll for failing to wear the pioneers red scarf.

Every morning before starting school, pioneritos chanted, Pioneers for communism. Let us be like Che! Thats Ernesto Che Guevara, the iconic Argentine guerrilla leader who fought alongside Castro against Batista. But he was no role model, rather a cold-blooded mass murderer who put homosexuals in labor camps. As a reminder of its totalitarian reach, the Cuban regime stations pioneers next to ballot boxes in its sham elections.

Besides indoctrination masquerading as education, Fidel Castros legacy includes at least 6,800 lives terminated by firing squads and extrajudicial assassinations. Political prisoners over the decades have been too many to count. Travel restrictions, censorship, and crushing poverty have condemned an entire nation to misery.

Sanders cant claim ignorance of these facts, collected and denounced by reputable human-rights organizations. Perhaps, then, his intention is to prepare U.S. voters. If he were to pursue his socialist agenda as president, he would get right to work for supposedly well-intentioned programssuch as universal health care and college for alland excuse himself of the economic devastation and loss of liberty that would surely follow.

Daniel Duarte contributed to this article.

Fergus Hodgson is the founder and executive editor of Latin American intelligence publication Econ Americas. He is also the roving editor of Gold Newsletter and a research associate with the Frontier Centre for Public Policy.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
League Citys newest fire station is weeks away from being put into service.

Fire Station No. 6, 7505 South Shore Boulevard, is slated for a March 28 grand opening. Events that day include tours of the building along with a meet-and-greet of the firefighters stationed there.

The festivities begin at 1 p.m.

The grand opening culminates a 16-month, $5.675 million project. Groundbreaking began in December 2018.

The League City Volunteer Fire Department actually already has a Station 6.

Right now, that fire station is operating out of the water tower on South Shore Boulevard north of Texas 96; so theyre just moving down the road, City Manager John Baumgartner said.

A September leak from a faulty seal in that tower caused more than $200,000 in damage to an elevator and to firefighting equipment and computers kept in the building beneath the tower that has been serving as temporary home for the station.

The new stations location will give firefighters improved access to the citys fast-growing southeast side, including the Mar Bella, Whispering Lakes and Hidden Lakes subdivisions and the multitude of business that have sprung up around them.

The new fire station will be a valuable asset to our community and will no doubt become an icon for the surrounding neighborhoods, League City Fire Marshal Tommy Cones said.

Fire Station No. 6 will have three bays to house rolling stock and also will have a training room that can be used for special events, both for the fire department and the community at large.

For amenities, the three-story building will have living quarters for up to four fighters and two paramedics. It also has a lounge, a kitchen and a fitness center, along with a patio equipped with a gas grill.

John DeLapp is a freelance writer. He can be contacted at texdelapp@gmail.com.
11.03.2020 LISTEN

In agonising moment, listening to the Radio BAR 93.5MHz Morning Show hosted by Ekow Amoako, I could only say: these guys do not have anything good for Ghana and the Ghanaian people.

Which people referred to here?

It's an arm of government, as said on the said programme - Parliament House of Ghana.

The guests on Ekow Amoako's show were from the Food And Drugs Authority (FDA).

This time, they've come to inform the Ghanaian public that there's a change in the FDA laws, as put forward by Parliament. And in that, there will be spot fines for offending wholesalers and retailers who would sell expired/unwholesome products to the unsuspecting consumer.

To explain further, the guests, the FDA, said: the officers on their routine checks, if an expired product is found in a shop, unlike before that the offender would be summoned to the office or processed to court, a spot fine would be issued, and must be defrayed by the offending shop owner, or risk jail terms.

They (the FDA) actually assured Ghanaians that their officers will be identified by their identity cards, a government registered car, and an office telephone line that the offender could call for verification if feared cheated by fraudsters.

Looking at it from afar, the unsuspecting Ghanaian can hardly see anything evil in what the Parliament House of Ghana is foisting on consumers.

This law means that: an unscrupulous seller would sell unwholesome products and make huge profit, one that could bail him/her out when fined. Blood money, isn't it?

The officers at the FDA are happy at this, because they will not inspect a shop and come out without the fearing shopowner greasing their palms, judging by our legendary affinity as Ghanaians to bribery and corruption.

So, is this the Parliament House that is having Osei Kyei-Mensah Bonsu, the majority leader, in there who thinks "the long serving experience parliamentarians there are not to be challenged for their seats?

Is this the laws they the "experience" untouchable parliamentarians preside over putting the health of the consumer at risk?

In fact, Ghana is in a mess now. Nothing works as it's supposed to be. Upon our abundant bequeathed resources, the legislature and the executive only thinks about imposing tax upon tax, the judiciary will have nothing doing, than to rubber stamp that. The suffering Ghanaian masses are burdened with the ramifications of such laws in harsh fines and consumption of toxified products.

The patriotic Ghanaian I am, leading the One Ghana Movement (#1GhM), burnt on rescuing and rebuilding Ghana to her deserving status - Paradise, a pilgrim's pride, we're mobilising a One Million man-march Ghanaians to in a positive defiance stand against these fiendish decrees that in yonder will sink further our already caving-in beautiful Ghana of old.

Join the One Ghana Movement now, so we make Ghana Great Again!

Long live Ghana!

Written by: Charles Yeboah (Sir Lord)

The Founder of One Ghana Movement

Contact/WhatsApp: +233249542111

Email: [email protected]
The Gujarat government on



Wednesday rejected a suggestion of the opposition Congress to close malls, cinema halls and other places of public gathering in a bid to stop the spread of coronavirus in the state.

The suggestion to shut down such public places for 20 to 25 days was made by Congress MLA Naushad Solanki during a discussion on coronavirus in the state Assembly here.

Solanki also asked the government to start screening of passengers at bus stations and railway stations, on the lines of screening being done at the international airports.

In his response, Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel said there is no need to create panic among people by shutting down places like malls and cinema halls.

"Even in China, only five to six worst affected cities have been sealed while life is going on normally in other parts of that country. Thus, we don't have to create panic here at this stage. We are taking all necessary steps to contain the spread of coronavirus," Patel said.

"Screening of international passengers is being conducted at Ahmedabad and Surat airports as per the Centre's guidelines. We are also screening foreigners staying at luxury hotels in the state," said Patel, who holds charge of the state health department.

He said as of now, not a single positive case of coronavirus has been found in Gujarat. All the 56 samples tested for the virus came out negative so far, Patel said.

More than 2,200 people who had returned from other countries have been screened till now, he said.

Besides, over 2,300 people, mostly crew members, onboard 55 ships were also screened at major ports of Gujarat, the minister said.

As a precautionary measure, as many as 576 isolation beds and 204 ventilators have been kept reserved at different government hospitals in the state, he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Chicago has joined the ranks of cities around the world to scrap St. Patricks Day parades over concerns about spreading the new coronavirus. Mayor Lori Lightfoot said Wednesday that the parade that was scheduled for Saturday posed too big of a public health risk. The cancellation is bad news for restaurants and bars that make a lot of money from the huge crowds that descend on the city to watch the parade and to watch the Chicago River dyed green. Parades in Dublin, Boston, Philadelphia, Denver and San Francisco have already been cancelled.
Today we'll take a closer look at Appreciate Group plc (LON:APP) from a dividend investor's perspective. Owning a strong business and reinvesting the dividends is widely seen as an attractive way of growing your wealth. Yet sometimes, investors buy a stock for its dividend and lose money because the share price falls by more than they earned in dividend payments.

In this case, Appreciate Group likely looks attractive to investors, given its 6.2% dividend yield and a payment history of over ten years. We'd guess that plenty of investors have purchased it for the income. Some simple research can reduce the risk of buying Appreciate Group for its dividend - read on to learn more.

Explore this interactive chart for our latest analysis on Appreciate Group!

AIM:APP Historical Dividend Yield, March 11th 2020

Payout ratios

Companies (usually) pay dividends out of their earnings. If a company is paying more than it earns, the dividend might have to be cut. So we need to form a view on if a company's dividend is sustainable, relative to its net profit after tax. Looking at the data, we can see that 66% of Appreciate Group's profits were paid out as dividends in the last 12 months. This is a fairly normal payout ratio among most businesses. It allows a higher dividend to be paid to shareholders, but does limit the capital retained in the business - which could be good or bad.

Remember, you can always get a snapshot of Appreciate Group's latest financial position, by checking our visualisation of its financial health.

Dividend Volatility

One of the major risks of relying on dividend income, is the potential for a company to struggle financially and cut its dividend. Not only is your income cut, but the value of your investment declines as well - nasty. Appreciate Group has been paying dividends for a long time, but for the purpose of this analysis, we only examine the past 10 years of payments. During this period the dividend has been stable, which could imply the business could have relatively consistent earnings power. During the past ten-year period, the first annual payment was UK0.013 in 2010, compared to UK0.032 last year. This works out to be a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 9.3% a year over that time.

Story continues

Companies like this, growing their dividend at a decent rate, can be very valuable over the long term, if the rate of growth can be maintained.

Dividend Growth Potential

While dividend payments have been relatively reliable, it would also be nice if earnings per share (EPS) were growing, as this is essential to maintaining the dividend's purchasing power over the long term. Earnings have grown at around 3.2% a year for the past five years, which is better than seeing them shrink! Growth of 3.2% is relatively anaemic growth, which we wonder about. If the company is struggling to grow, perhaps that's why it elects to pay out more than half of its earnings to shareholders.

Conclusion

To summarise, shareholders should always check that Appreciate Group's dividends are affordable, that its dividend payments are relatively stable, and that it has decent prospects for growing its earnings and dividend. Appreciate Group's payout ratio is within an average range for most market participants. Earnings per share growth has been slow, but we respect a company that maintains a relatively stable dividend. In summary, we're unenthused by Appreciate Group as a dividend stock. It's not that we think it is a bad company; it simply falls short of our criteria in some key areas.

Market movements attest to how highly valued a consistent dividend policy is to one to which is more unpredictable. However, there are other things to consider for investors when analysing stock performance. Given that earnings are not growing, the dividend does not look nearly so attractive. Businesses can change though, and we think it would make sense to see what analysts are forecasting for the company. Earnings growth generally bodes well for the future value of company dividend payments. See if the 3 Appreciate Group analysts we track are forecasting continued growth with our free report on analyst estimates for the company.

Looking for more high-yielding dividend ideas? Try our curated list of dividend stocks with a yield above 3%.

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



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
South African official calls for collective actions on wildlife protection, climate change

March 10,2020 | Source: Xinhua

A South African official on Monday called on African countries to jointly protect wildlife and tackle climate change to realize development.



Makhotso Sotyu, deputy minister of Forestry and Fisheries and Environmental Affairs, made the remarks at Kruger National Park when addressing delegates at the 22nd African Forestry and Wildlife Commission (AFWC).



"Forests and trees are vital for sustainable development. The loss of habitats, wildlife and biodiversity in general has devastating effects in human welfare and economies especially in the region," said Sotyu.



Noting veld fires and illicit trade in wildlife must be avoided, she called for a coordinated response to protect wildlife and combat climate change.



Sotyu encouraged delegates to adopt the African Union blueprint and guidelines to combat illegal trade in fauna and flora.



"Africa is united in pursuing a deal that balances conservation, sustainable use and benefits sharing. It is imperative that our countries play their part in supporting the full implementation of this strategy," she added.



The AFWC is one of six regional forestry commissions established by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to provide a policy and technical forum for countries to discuss and address forest issues.



FAO Representative to South Africa Francesco Maria Pierri said they are helping countries to implement sustainable management and restoration of forests.



"While planning ahead, particular attention should be made to climate change as it is posing a threat to our ecosystem, production systems and livelihoods. Particularity relevant to all African countries are interventions that decrease their vulnerability and increase the resilience of forests and forest dependent people," said Pierri.

 China.org.cn

Theme(s): Others.
FlexxPay Founders (L to R), Charbel Nasr, CTO and Michael Truschler, CEO

FlexxPay, a fintech company focusing on employee benefit solutions, raised a pre-series A funding round of undisclosed amount.

Backers included MEC Ventures, a newly established vehicle created jointly by MSA, a Chinese venture capital fund with more than US$1 billion of assets under management, and Bahrain based Al Salam Bank.

The new funds will accelerate the companys growth plans for the region, particularly in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, enabling it to execute quickly on its planned tech developments and new platform features for its ever-increasing corporate clientele base.

Led by Michael Truschler, Co-Founder & CEO, FlexxPay provides a cloud-based technology solution that improves employee productivity, retention rates and sales for businesses by removing financial stress from employees and giving them instant access to earned salaries and commissions. With FlexxPay, employers can directly invest in their most valuable asset, their employees. The platform can be accessed through web, mobile App and WhatsApp.

The company has offices in Europe and the GCC.

FinSMEs

11/03/2020
Being of an older age, showing signs of sepsis, and having blood clotting issues when admitted to hospital are key risk factors associated with higher risk of death from the new coronavirus (COVID-19), according to a new observational study of 191 patients with confirmed COVID-19 from two hospitals in Wuhan, China, published in The Lancet.

Specifically, being of an older age, having a high Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score, and having d-dimer greater than 1 g/mL are the factors that could help clinicians to identify patients with poor prognosis at an early stage.

The new study is the first time researchers have examined risk factors associated with severe disease and death in hospitalised adults who have either died or been discharged from hospital. In the study of 191 patients, 137 were discharged and 54 died in hospital. The authors note that interpretation of their findings might be limited by the study's sample size.

In addition, the authors present new data on viral shedding, which indicate that the median duration of viral shedding was 20 days in survivors (ranging from 8 to 37 days), and the virus was detectable until death in the 54 non-survivors.

While prolonged viral shedding suggests that patients may still be capable of spreading COVID-19, the authors caution that the duration of viral shedding is influenced by disease severity, and note that all patients in the study were hospitalised, two-thirds of whom had severe or critical illness. Moreover, the estimated duration of viral shedding was limited by the low frequency of respiratory specimen collection and the lack of measurable genetic material detection in samples.

"The extended viral shedding noted in our study has important implications for guiding decisions around isolation precautions and antiviral treatment in patients with confirmed COVID-19 infection. However, we need to be clear that viral shedding time should not be confused with other self-isolation guidance for people who may have been exposed to COVID-19 but do not have symptoms, as this guidance is based on the incubation time of the virus," explains co-lead author Professor Bin Cao from the China-Japan Friendship Hospital and Capital Medical University, China.

He continues: "We recommend that negative tests for COVID-19 should be required before patients are discharged from hospital. In severe influenza, delayed viral treatment extends how long the virus is shed, and together these factors put infected patients at risk of dying. Similarly, effective antiviral treatment may improve outcomes in COVID-19, although we did not observe shortening of viral shedding duration after antiviral treatment in our study."

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According to co-author Dr Zhibo Liu from Jinyintan Hospital, China: "Older age, showing signs of sepsis on admission, underlying diseases like high blood pressure and diabetes, and the prolonged use of non-invasive ventilation were important factors in the deaths of these patients. Poorer outcomes in older people may be due, in part, to the age-related weakening of the immune system and increased inflammation that could promote viral replication and more prolonged responses to inflammation, causing lasting damage to the heart, brain, and other organs."

For the first time, the study describes the complete picture of the progression of the COVID-19. The median duration of fever was about 12 days in survivors, which was similar in non-survivors. But the cough may last for a long time -- 45% of survivors still had cough on discharge. In survivors, dyspnoea (shortness of breath) would cease after about 13 days, but would last until death in non-survivors. The study also illustrates the time of the occurrence of different complications such as sepsis, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), acute cardiac injury, acute kidney injury and the secondary infection.

The new analysis includes all adults (aged 18 or older) with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 admitted to Jinyintan Hospital and Wuhan Pulmonary Hospital after December 29, 2019, who had been discharged or died by January 31, 2020. These were the two designated hospitals for transferring patients with severe COVID-19 from across Wuhan up until February 1, 2020.

During the study, the researchers compared clinical records, treatment data, laboratory results, and demographic data between survivors who had been discharged from hospital and non-survivors. They looked at the clinical course of symptoms, viral shedding, and changes in laboratory findings during hospitalisation (eg, blood examinations, chest x-rays, and CT scans; see table 1 for full list), and used mathematical modelling to examine risk factors associated with dying in hospital.

On average, patients were middle-aged (median age 56 years), most were men (62%, 119 patients), and around half had underlying chronic conditions (48%, 91 patients) -- the most common being high blood pressure (30%, 58 patients) and diabetes (19%, 36 patients; table 1). From illness onset, the median time to discharge was 22 days, and the average time to death was 18.5 days.

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Compared with survivors, patients who died were more likely to be older (average age 69 years vs 52 years), and have a higher score on the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) indicating sepsis, and elevated blood levels of the d-dimer protein (a marker for coagulation) on admission to hospital (table 1 and 3).

Additionally, lower lymphocyte (a type of white blood cell) count, elevated levels of Interleukin 6 (IL-6, a biomarker for inflammation and chronic disease), and increased high-sensitivity troponin I concentrations (a marker of heart attack), were more common in severe COVID-19 illness.

The frequency of complications such as respiratory failure (98%, 53/54 non-survivors vs 36%, 50/137 survivors), sepsis (100%, 54/54 vs 42%, 58/137), and secondary infections (50%, 27/54 vs 1%, 1/137) were also higher in those who died than survivors.

The authors note several limitations of the study, including that due to excluding patients still in hospital as of Jan 31, 2020, and thus relatively more severe disease at an earlier stage, the number of deaths does not reflect the true mortality of COVID-19. They also point out that not all laboratory tests (eg, d-dimer test) were done in all patients, so their exact role in predicting in-hospital death might be underestimated. Finally, a lack of effective antivirals, inadequate adherence to standard supportive therapy, and high doses of corticosteroids, as well as the transfer of some patients to hospital late in their illness, might have also contributed to the poor outcomes in some patients.
YEREVAN, MARCH 11, ARMENPRESS. Due to the spread of the novel coronavirus around the world, the Armenian Embassy in Kazakhstyan urges Armenian nationals to be in constant contact with the Embassy.

Taking into account the current situation caused by the spread of the new coronavirus in the world, the Embassy of Armenia in Kazakhstan proposes to be in constant contact with the Embassy, as well as urges the citizens of Armenia, who are in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan on temporary or permanent residence, to send their contact information (first name, last name, residence place, phone number) to the Embassys e-mail [email protected]. There is also a hotline (+7 778 229 18 81), the Embassy said in a statement on Facebook.

At the same time, the Embassy also asks to follow the calls and advises of the Armenian healthcare ministry or the Kazakh and Kyrgyz authorities.

Armenias Ambassador to Kazakhstan is also serving concurrently as Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan, with the residence in Nur-Sultan.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan
A climber who plunged 600ft down a Lake District mountain cheated death after an earlier avalanche 'cushioned' his fall  preventing him going over a cliff.

Richard Tiplady, 53, suffered a broken neck and elbow but was able to contact rescuers and was found within an hour of his fall.

His injuries were so severe rescuers told him he looked like he had been 'savaged by a mountain lion'. Mr Tiplady, a lecturer in the Scottish Episcopal Church, described his fall as 'like a toboggan run' and praised Cockermouth Mountain Rescue Team for finding him so swiftly.

Richard Tiplady, 53, (pictured) suffered a broken neck and elbow but was able to contact rescuers and was found within an hour of his fall

The experienced mountaineer had been searching for a route to the summit of 2,900ft Pillar in the Lake District when he slipped on March 5.

Mr Tiplady, from Glenboig in North Lanarkshire, who had been climbing with a friend, fell more than 600ft before he eventually came to a halt in snow left by the avalanche. It was just 20ft from the edge of another precipice. Speaking from his hospital bed, he said: 'I had been going back to reassess my route to the summit when I slipped.

'I attempted to prevent the fall by embedding my ice axe in the snow, but unfortunately lost hold of it.

'The next thing that I knew my hands were above my head and I was sliding downwards. During all of this I could hit a rock or something. I was just in pure damage limitation mode.'

Mr Tiplady suffered a fracture in his neck, broke his elbow, chipped the bone in his ankle and suffered three deep gouges to his head, requiring more than 60 stitches.

He said: 'I was bleeding heavily from the head. There was blood all over the snow. The rescuers said I looked like I was savaged by a mountain lion when they found me, I had three deep claw grooves in my forehead. I managed to call the emergency services and use Ordnance Survey co-ordinates to give them my exact location.

'The helicopter arrived within 45 or 50 minutes. I used my headlight to act as a beacon to attract them. I never thought they would be with me so quickly.'

He underwent a two-hour operation at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle on Monday and is due to be discharged today.

Mr Tiplady, has one son with his wife Irene, 54, and they are foster carers. He added: 'Having become a customer of the mountain rescue teams, it is incomprehensible what they do. The level of care and professionalism among them was remarkable. I can't praise them enough, they do so much for the mountaineering community.'

Cockermouth Mountain Rescue Team called it a 'serious, potentially catastrophic fall', adding: 'As he said himself, he pretty much hit everything on the way down. Thankfully this story had a happy ending.'
Seoul should brace for possible mass contagion



Concerns are growing that the novel coronavirus may spread rapidly in Seoul and the surrounding metropolitan area following a mass infection at a call center in Guro-gu, southwestern Seoul.



Since greater Seoul is home to some 26 million people, it will be disastrous if the government fails to contain the spread of the virus there. This is a new level of threat that could turn the country's fight against the virus into a completely different story. There should be quick and aggressive measures to prevent a wider transmission in the region  particularly in confined places such as the call center.



Detailing the situation in the capital, Mayor Park Won-soon said Wednesday he was considering closing privately-run call centers inside the city temporarily if they weren't following the government's safety guidance. According to Park, there are 745 call centers nationwide, and 417 of them are located in Seoul. He also hinted at similar administrative measures for clubs, bars, fitness centers, karaoke rooms and other places vulnerable to mass transmissions of the virus. This indicates the ongoing war against COVID-19 is entering a new phase. Strengthened measures are indeed necessary for all places that could turn into infection clusters at anytime.



As of Wednesday morning, COVID-19 infections linked to the call center in Guro-gu increased to 90. As a result, cases in Seoul sharply jumped to 193. This is only the interim result of tests on only 207 employees who worked on the same floor of the virus-hit building, and their family members. Mayor Park said hundreds of call center workers on different floors are also being screened.



Notably, two of the call center employees were found to be members of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, a secretive religious sect blamed for the ballooning outbreak nationwide. The two Shincheonji members have tested negative, but the city government is looking into a possible link between the religious group and the mass infection at the call center, the mayor said.



The latest case was particularly alarming because there had been cautious predictions that the COVID-19 outbreak in South Korea may have reached a peak. According to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the government detected 242 new cases, Tuesday  the first increase of new daily reported virus cases in five days. This brought the nation's total number of infections to 7,755; about 90 percent of which have occurred in Daegu and the surrounding North Gyeongsang Province.



As the virus is more easily transmitted in confined places, such as factories, offices and hospitals, there should be more thorough preventive measures for workers in these places. Particular attention should also be paid to those living in school dormitories and soldiers in barracks.


Specialist gardai were last night continuing to examine phone traffic and internet communications as they investigate one of the biggest cocaine seizures of the year.

A 30-year-old man from Ballymun in Dublin and a Dublin man aged 29 with an address in Leitrim remained in custody at Wexford Garda Station last night where they were being questioned under drugs-trafficking legislation about the seizure of 1.5m of cocaine at Rosslare Europort.

"These individuals are nobodies in terms of organised crime," a source said. "However, this is a huge amount of drugs and it is up to gardai to establish who these lads were working for. While it was customs officers who are responsible for the seizure, it is now up to gardai to find out who controlled these drugs.

"Normally with something this huge, it would be drug gangs clubbing together but there is no intelligence to suggest any link between the two arrested men and gang crime.

"The Ballymun man has been the victim of a number of assaults, the most serious of which happened in 2013 but that is not being viewed as a lead."

Gardai said in a statement yesterday that two men were arrested at the scene following the discovery of a large quantity of cocaine in a vehicle which had just disembarked a ferry from Cherbourg in France on Monday.

Revenue officers made the discovery when they stopped and searched an Irish-registered vehicle using a mobile X-ray scanner and a sniffer dog called Flynn.

The drugs were concealed within the back seat of the vehicle.

Detained

Both men were arrested on Monday and last night were still being detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996 at Wexford Garda Station.

Their detention was extended by a chief superintendent yesterday afternoon.

The pair can be held for questioning for up to seven days while gardai conduct a number of follow-up searches.

"As a result of routine profiling, Revenue officers seized almost 22kg of cocaine in Rosslare Europort," the Revenue Commissioners said in a statement.

"The drugs with an approximate street value of over 1.5m were discovered when an Irish-registered vehicle was stopped and searched after disembarking a ferry from Cherbourg, France and searched.

"The search, carried out with the assistance of Revenue's mobile X-ray scanner and detector dog Flynn, led to the discovery of the illegal drugs in a concealment behind the back seat of the vehicle."
Were mindful of the fact that the Fire (home opener) is on March 21, and that opening day for the two sports teams, obviously the Blackhawks and the Bulls are playing, Lightfoot said. This is something that we are in conversation with them about. And were looking, and as the situation evolves we will be continuing those discussions on an ongoing basis. But were not there yet.
Harvard University has moved to virtual classes and asked students to move out of their dorms in five days while others on Spring break have been asked not to return back due to novel coronavirus outbreak.



The university spokeswoman Rachael Dane confirmed the new development to CNN, saying: "Harvard College students have been asked to move out of their Houses and First-Year Dorms by Sunday, March 15, in an effort to de-densify our community," Dane told CNN in an email, adding that 'all academic courses will continue to be held remotely, while meetings on campus after March 23 will be virtual.



Harvard President Lawrence Bacow also issued a statement, addressing the new academic plans for students.



Dear Members of the Harvard Community,



Like all of you, I have been intently following reports of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and considering the many ways in which its future course might alter my life and the lives of those closest to me. These past few weeks have been a powerful reminder of just how connected we are to one anotherand how our choices today determine our options tomorrow.



Fortunately, a group of extremely dedicated people has been working literally around the clock to respond to the challenges posed by COVID-19. Our teams are considering every contingency as they undertake their important work on your behalf, and I write today to update you on major near-term changes that will limit exposure to the disease among members of our community:



We will begin transitioning to virtual instruction for graduate and undergraduate classes. Our goal is to have this transition complete by Monday, March 23, which is the first day of scheduled classes following Spring Recess.



Students are asked not to return to campus after Spring Recess and to meet academic requirements remotely until further notice. Students who need to remain on campus will also receive instruction remotely and must prepare for severely limited on-campus activities and interactions. All graduate students will transition to remote work wherever possible. Schools will communicate more specific guidance and information, and we encourage everyone to review previous guidance about both international and domestic travel.



We are transitioning over the course of the next few days to non-essential gatherings of no more than 25 people. Please note this is a change from prior guidance.



The goal of these changes is to minimize the need to gather in large groups and spend prolonged time in close proximity with each other in spaces such as classrooms, dining halls, and residential buildings. Our actions are consistent with the recommendations of leading health officials on how to limit the spread of COVID-19 and are also consistent with similar decisions made by a number of our peer institutions. The campus will remain open and operations will continue with appropriate measures to protect the health of the community.









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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China is "concerned" about the rising number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in Australia, but the country's consul general to NSW said Australia's travel ban on China was an overreaction and there were no plans to evacuate Chinese nationals if the virus intensifies here.

At a media briefing in Sydney on Wednesday, consul general H.E. Gu Xiaojie said the Chinese government had managed the coronavirus crisis well, buying the rest of the world time to prepare, and has been transparent with the spread of information.

Chinese Consul General H.E Gu Xiaojie speaks to reporters at a press conference called to discuss the COVID 19 outbreak. Credit:Nick Moir

Mr Gu said China's economy remained "strong and resilient" and certain key industries, including grain production, were almost back to full capacity.

But he added epidemic management was "still at a crucial stage" and said China would not "declare victory" until coronavirus was eradicated.
Commercial buildings and office property stand on the city skyline as night falls, as seen from the 50th floor of the Carlton Centre, in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Tuesday, July 17, 2018.

Africa's largest mobile network by subscribers, MTN Group Ltd, said on Wednesday its group chief executive, Rob Shuter, would step down from his role in March 2021, at the end of a fixed four-year contract.

"The board, led by the chairman, will manage the succession process and expects to conclude this during the year, thus enabling a seamless handover," the firm said in the statement of its full-year results.
- The acting head of corporate communication said KWS had spotted bones believed to be of the two rare giraffes

- The bones which were found in the skeletal state were estimated to be four months old

- The white female giraffe and her calf were reported to have been killed by poachers

- They were based in Ishaqbini Hilora Sanctuary in Ijara sub-county, Garissa county

The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) is investigating deaths of a white giraffe and her calf in Ishaqbini Conservancy in Garissa county.

The KWS acting head of corporate communications Ngugi Gecaga said teams from the service had spotted bones believed to be those of the two giraffes.

READ ALSO: Big brother takes sister to dad-daughter dance after their father stood her up twice

KWS investigating death of 2 white giraffes in Garissa

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Nakuru court grants mother 9-hours access every year in child custody battle

Gecaga said in a statement that the bones were estimated to be four months old.

"The management of the conservancy informed us of the missing giraffe and calf after failing to see them for a period of time," said Gecaga.

"Our personnel on the ground are jointly working with community rangers and the conservancy management to establish the facts about the incident," he added.

READ ALSO: 7-year-old conservationist selected to represent Kenya at global competition in Bulgaria

The conservancys manager Mohammed Ahmednoor said the deaths were confirmed by rangers and community members.

The carcasses were found in a skeletal state, meaning they could have died a long time ago.

READ ALSO: Kenei's widow mourns husband in emotional tribute: 'I leave vengeance to God'

This is a very sad day for the community of Ijara and Kenya as a whole. We are the only community in the world who are custodians of the white giraffe," Ahmednoor said.

"Its killing is a blow to tremendous steps taken by the community to conserve rare and unique species and a wakeup call for continued support to conservation efforts, he added.

The incident caused an uproar among Kenyans who accused the KWS of neglecting the mother giraffe and her calves.

READ ALSO: Daniel Moi's family inscribes late president's favourite bible verse on his tombstone

The mama giraffe gave birth to a male calf back in February 2017 and a second white youngone in August 23, 2019.

The white giraffe made headlines in 2017 after its discovery due to its unique white hide. It is white but not albino because of a condition known as leucism.

Unlike albinism, animals with leucism continue to produce dark pigment in their soft tissue, thus her eyes were dark in colour.

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
Hyderabad: Led by Telangana health minister Etala Rajendar, ruling TRS politicians insist there is no need for the people of the state to wear masks against the coronavirus. Some members of the pink party, however, are taking advantage of the fear abroad; they are minting money by controlling the manufacture of masks that are being exported at exorbitant prices.

But, despite the high mark-up, foreign dealers are queuing up like never before.

Sources associated with exporters told Deccan Chronicle that ever since the first case in Hyderabad tested positive, individuals close to TRS politicians sensed an opportunity, as did exporters and middlemen.

These TRS leaders stayed behind the scenes while associates took control over the production of masks. They used the police to keep an eye on manufacturing firms and ensure that a major chunk of masks was blocked for their associates. In some cases, phone calls were made to advise the manufacturing units to give preference to their people.

Sources said that on the outskirts of Hyderabad, masks are stockpiled at safe houses of TRS leaders. Some are guarded by policemen round-the-clock, sources said.

In the absence of regulations on the manufacturing and hoarding of masks, those connected to the ruling party have a free run, sources said, adding that this made business difficult for other exporters and middlemen who are in turn looking at manufacturing units in states other than Telangana. There are at least half a dozen manufacturing units in the state.

While several exporters have struck lucrative deals for exporting masks, they are now frantically visiting other states to meet the demand after local manufacturers are denying stock to them.

Before the coronavirus outbreak, surgical masks were manufactured at Rs 2 per piece. But due to the higher price of raw material, the price of each has gone up to Rs 6-7. Exporters are willing to pay around Rs 25-28 while the international price has touched over USD 3.5 per piece.

The export of masks has triggered fear about a potential shortage of masks in the state if the virus was to spread. In this scenario, the retailers stand no chance. If all the stock is diverted in favour of a few who front for TRS leaders, then how can other exporters do business? rued an exporter.

While most exporters kept their foreign clients a secret to ensure no one poached them, the TRS politicians fronts have established extensive contact with overseas dealers and are supplying to them in the millions. On an average, overseas companies are selling one to two million masks per day after purchasing it from India. There are less than 100 manufacturing units nationwide.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-12 02:01:12|Editor: huaxia

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UNITED NATIONS, March 11 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Wednesday stressed the role of regional organizations in the fight against terrorism in Africa.

African countries cannot go it alone in combating terrorism and extremism. The African Union and other relevant regional and sub-regional organizations have a more comprehensive knowledge of the countries in the region and their counter-terrorism needs and are uniquely positioned to help solve the issues of the continent, said Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations.

China supports African countries in coming together to empower themselves and tackle the threat of terrorism as one, he told an open debate of the Security Council.

"We shall continue to support the African Union's initiative of silencing the guns in Africa by 2020. It is our hope that the United Nations will scale up its coordination and cooperation with the African Union and other regional and sub-regional organizations, support African countries in actively implementing relevant Security Council resolutions and the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, step up the sharing of best practice and lessons learned and work in synergy."

China attaches great importance to the concerns of African countries and stands squarely behind African countries and regional organizations in their tireless efforts to combat terrorism and violent extremism, said Zhang.

China is ready, along with the rest of the international community, to support and assist African countries in combating terrorism and extremism, and continue to contribute to peace, stability and development in Africa, said the Chinese ambassador.
An effort to undo the Mobile City Councils 35-year-old supermajority requirement for approving almost all city matters will be unveiled Wednesday by Mobile County Sheriff Sam Cochran.

Cochran will detail his plans during a 9:30 a.m. news conference at Government Plaza.

In an interview with AL.com on Monday, Cochran confirmed that he plans to lead an effort to gather approximately 5,000 signatures to a petition that he believes will compel a special election later this year. The election, he said, would be focused on undoing Mobiles supermajority requirement on council decisions.

Under the current makeup of the seven-member City Council, a five-vote supermajority is required for approval of almost all council actions. Mobile is one of the few cities that, according to state law, doesnt recognize a simple council majority on votes pertaining to ordinances, regulations and other matters.

Well circulate petitions, well recruit volunteers, said Cochran, sheriff of Mobile County since 2006 and a former Mobile police chief. While it requires just around 5,000 (to trigger a special election), I dont plan on stopping there. I plan to (produce) several thousand signatures to force the city to hold the election. I think its doable.

The effort is sure to generate opposition. It could also bring a racially sensitive showdown pitting the councils black members against Cochran, who is white, and the non-profit Grow Mobile Now group that Cochran heads.

There will be those who will (take) it that way, said Cochran, referring the potential for racially polarized politics dominating the discourse.

We want to grow our city and create more jobs and better opportunities, said Cochran. Twice weve elected a black man as mayor (Sam Jones) with a majority white population and twice weve elected a white man as mayor (Sandy Stimpson) with a majority black population. Things are different between 1985 and now and this supermajority now creates more racial polarization than it solves.

Mobiles supermajority system has been in place since 1985, when city voters  by a margin of 72-28% -- changed the citys form of government from a three-member commission to a mayor-council system.

The state law that set up Mobiles form of government also established the supermajority as a way to ensure minority participation by representatives of the citys three historically black council districts. The council currently consists of four white members  John Williams, Joel Daves, Gina Gregory and Bess Rich  and three black members  Fred Richardson, C.J. Small and council President Levon Manzie.

Cochran said his push is in response to several 4-3 votes that he believes are harmful to the future of Mobile. A particular concern, he said, is the councils 4-3 vote in November that stalled out a plan to annex 13,000 residents living immediately west of the city limits. The council voted along racial lines against the plan that would have added more white residents into the city.

9 Mobile annexation vote

An addition of 13,000 residents would make Mobile the states second-largest city behind Birmingham. Right now, Mobile is Alabamas fourth-largest city behind Birmingham, Montgomery and fast-growing Huntsville.

Since 1970 to the present, the city of Mobile has grown 1%, said Cochran. In that same time frame, Fairhope has grown by 300%  Daphne and Huntsville grew. And there are new Census things coming out that show weve lost more population in the past 1-1/2 years.

Cochran also said the lack of annexation hurts the city as it moves forward on a plan to eliminate or rollback public-safety services within the 1.5-mile- to 3-mile-wide police jurisdiction. He said that a police jurisdiction rollback would force the Sheriffs Department to spend an additional $4.8 million per year to patrol the unincorporated areas that have long been patrolled by Mobile city police.

That would be a reoccurring expense, said Cochran. The city draws taxes to pay for that stuff. The county doesnt have taxing authority.

Cochran said other 4-3 votes have also been problematic. He mentioned the councils struggles to approve a council president, and a dispute over Mayor Sandy Stimpsons recommendation for a fire chief in 2013. The city was without a full-time fire chief from 2013-2017.

Its just over and over and these are glaring examples of where we are inefficient, said Cochran.

He denied that the effort was a way to strengthen the political prospects for Stimpson during next years city elections. Cochran is a Stimpson supporter. I believe if he runs again he will win, as it is now, Cochran said.

This is the first time there has been an organized effort to rid the council of its supermajority requirement since 2001 and 2002.

About 19 years ago, a group called the Committee for a Referendum surfaced and gathered approximately 3,600 signatures  based on 10% of the registered voters who voted in the prior city election  to force the issue.

But that petition effort was disputed and, in 2002, Mobile County Circuit Judge Herman Thomas ruled that more than 1,000 of the signees lived outside the city or were not registered voters.
By Azernews





By Akbar Mammadov

The monument to Azerbaijani poetess and Karabakh khanetes (17481822) last ruler Khurshidbanu Natavan has been vandalized in Belgium, Spokesperson for Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry Leyla Abdullayev told local media on March 10.

Vandalism against the monument of Natavan was committed in the city of Waterloo in Belgium and coincides with Armenian Prime Ministers visit to Brussels on March 10, and this attracts attention, Abdullayev said.

A criminal case has been launched in the Belgian city of Waterloo in connection with the vandalism against the statue of an outstanding poetess of our country, the daughter of the Khan of Karabakh Khurshidbanu Natavan. As the statue, erected in 2016, is on the list of historic monuments in the city of Waterloo, the local police is investigating the incident, Leyla Abdullayeva.

Abdullayeva said that the Azerbaijani Embassy to the Kingdom of Belgium immediately went to the scene and contacted the local authorities. The matter is under the control of the Azerbaijani Embassy in Belgium and the public will be informed about the results of the investigation.

The Azerbaijani Embassy in Belgium has also issued a statement about vandalism act against the monument of Khurshidbanu Natavan.

Khurshidbanu Natavan, born in Shusha in 1932, was the last ruler of the Karabakh khanate (17481822) and the last descendent of Panah Ali Khan who established the Karabakh khanate. Natavan was famous for her lyrical ghazals and was also known to the general public as the "daughter of the Khan".




CHICAGO - A former Chicago deputy aviation commissioner has pleaded not guilty to a federal bribery charge alleging he paid a former state senator at least $5,000 to support a road project.

William A. Helm entered the plea Tuesday during a brief arraignment before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sheila Finnegan, who released him on his own recognizance, the Chicago Tribune reported.

A federal grand jury indicted Helm last week, accusing him of bribing former state Sen. Martin Sandoval in 2018 on behalf of an unidentified construction company. The company recruited Helm and his consulting company to help win Illinois Department of Transportation approval for the suburban Chicago project, the indictment said. Sandoval chaired the Senate Transportation Committee.

Sandoval in January pleaded guilty to accepting bribes in a separate case and agreed to co-operate with prosecutors.

Helm at one time held a high-level position with the Department of Transportation.
The plight of Indians stuck in coronavirus-hit Italy has come to light after Hima, a woman from Kerala, stranded at an airport in the European nation released a video showing their hardships.

We are being treated as smugglers. People have commented on the video put up on Facebook asking us why we want to come back to Kerala. Many came to the airport without knowing that a certificate would be required for them to travel. The airport authorities say that India was not ready to receive us, she said in a voice message to media.

The woman said at least 200 Indians were stranded at Milan and Rome airports.

We are sitting at a corner of the airport in freezing temperatures. It is just like an isolation ward. The central government should give us the certificate to enable us to return, she said as reported by news agency PTI.

In a bid to avoid the spread of coronavirus in the country, the central government has issued a circular barring the return of Indians from virus hotspots unless they produce a certificate that proves they have tested negative for the virus.

The circular stipulated that people travelling from or having visited Italy or South Korea and desirous of entering India need to obtain certificates of having tested negative for COVID-19 from the designated laboratories authorised by the health authorities of those countries.

India had previously stated that it will now screen passengers from all countries coming to India. Previously, passengers only from 12 high-alert countries like China, South Korea, Japan and others were being screened for novel coronavirus.

On Tuesday, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking his intervention to withdraw a similar circular issued by the Director-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

Vijayan said the state Assembly would consider moving a resolution in this regard in the ongoing session seeking the intervention of the Centre to bring back the stranded Indians including many Keralites, from abroad.

How can we say that an Indian citizen cannot come back to India just because he is infected? Barring our citizens from coming to the country is an uncivilised attitude, Vijayan told the Assembly.

India has reported over 50 positive cases of novel coronavirus. Over 100,000 people have been infected by the virus globally that has claimed more than 3,000 lives across the globe.

Italy has emerged as the super spreader of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) in India. Italy has recorded the highest number of deaths outside China. The country has locked down 16 million people in Lombardy and other parts of the north. The Vatican has suspended mass until April 3 because of the emergency.

The main spread of coronavirus in India is by Italians or by people who have come from Italy, where the virus is virulent. The biggest problem for us is people hiding their travel history to Italy to avoid quarantine and testing. They are hurting themselves and their families. It is very irresponsible behaviour, said Dr Naresh Trehan, chairman, Medanta The Medicity, where 14 Italian tourists with Covid-19 have been kept in an isolation ward since March 3.

(With inputs from PTI)
Over this short series, we will look at what Maryam Rajavi, who has led the Resistance for nearly 30 years and lost many relatives and friends to the mullahs, said in that interview.

In this piece, we will look at what Maryam Rajavi said about Qassem Soleimani, including his role in Iraqi politics in recent years and his assassination in a US drone strike in January, the evolution of the uprisings, and the role of women in the Resistance movement.

Soleimani

Maryam Rajavi explained that Soleimani was the de-facto second-in-command of the Iranian regime, in charge of regional terrorism and warmongering and directly responsible for the expansion of the wars in Syria and Yemen, as well as the hidden occupation of Iraq since 2003. She said that he was also the mastermind of the biggest attacks against Iranian Resistance members in Iraq, particularly the massacre at Camp Ashraf in September 2013.

Maryam Rajavi said: Soleimani has no substitute in the regime and with his death, the strategy of exporting terrorism and war, which is one of the pillars of the regimes survival, received an irreversible blow.

She advised that the mullahs attempted to hold a massive funeral and fool the world into thinking that Soleimani was popular, by forcing soldiers, prisoners, and families of the security forces to take part. This clear lie was revealed just days later, during the January 2020 uprisings, when protesters ripped down his posters and/or set them ablaze.

The evolution of the protests

Maryam Rajavi said that since the December 2017 uprisings, there has been a major shift in the Iranian protest movement, where protesters have moved from concrete demands about things like unemployment to calling for regime change.

She said: From a political standpoint, these uprisings accentuated three lines of fundamental demarcation that cannot be reversed. The first is the Iranian peoples unwavering determination to overthrow Ali Khamenei and his regime. The second is the rejection of all factions of the theocracy, including Hassan Rouhani, who plays the moderate card while being involved in all political and social suppressive measures. The third irreversible development was the rejection of the remains of the monarchist dictatorship.

Womens role in the protests and the Resistance

Maryam Rajavi advised that women have always played a vital role in the uprisings, as eyewitness accounts, photos, and videos show. Even the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) and the Ministry of Intelligence admit that women are extremely active in the protests and the Resistance.

This is not a new thing but has occurred since the Resistance was fighting the Shah in the 1960 and 1970s.

She said: The fact is that repression and the climate of terror have not stopped the growing number of young people from joining the ranks of resistance units. The overthrow of the regime cannot happen spontaneously and without an organized movement.

Read More:

Maryam Rajavis Conversation With El Espanol: Part 1
Jan. 6: The state again saw record numbers of positive cases over the past week, hitting a high of 27,612 reported on Wednesday. There were 121,384 cases over the past week, almost double last week's 68,551.

The county also saw a surge in cases, with 1,572 reported over the past week, a 64 percent increase over the week before, with a high of 324 on Thursday. The total is now 14,689.

Pittsfield had the biggest jump with 713 cases in two weeks ending Jan. 1; as of Thursday, the total number of cases was 6,816. North Adams was second with 153 with a total of 1,563 to date. Dalton and Great Barrington both had 101 and Adams had 99 cases. Their totals to date are 695,792 and 971, respectively.

The dramatic rise in cases has been putting pressure on keeping school systems functioning, with Pittsfield closing Taconic High and Reid Middle schools on Thursday and Friday because of lack of staff. North Adams has said it's on the edge when it comes to staffing and pre-emptively called for a snow day on Friday in anticipation of trouble with predicted snowfall.

Gov. Baker on Monday stated again that the priority would be to keep students in classrooms; any closures would be counted as snow days (unless special exemption is provided by DESE.)

Hospital cases have also increased but not in proportion to the cases. But the seven-day average has matched that of Jan. 4, 2021.

There are more than 2,500 people hospitalized and more than 400 in ICU; 259 are currently intubated. The rate of unvaccinated had been steady at about two-thirds but has since dropped to 60 percent from breakthrough cases.

However, the percentage of vaccinated individuals hospitalized is 0.08 percent, and breakthroughs are 3.5 percent (out of more than 5.1 million). Deaths of those fully vaccinated is 0.02 percent.

The state's percentage of vaccinated individuals is now 76. The county stands at 87 percent of all those eligible with at least one dose, 75 percent fully vaccinated and 72 percent by population.

The number of cases nationwide stands at 58,446,019 and deaths at 833,952.

Dec. 30: Positive cases of COVID-19 have exploded not only across the country but across Massachusetts. The state reported more than 20,000 new cases on Thursday and 68,551 over the past week. Thursday's report was nearly 300 percent of the number this time last year when the state was undergoing a significant wave.

The total number hit 1 million earlier this week and, as of Thursday, stands at 1,038,566. Public health officials say this is largely being driven by the omicron variation that is highly transmissible.

The county has also seen its numbers rise with 187 reported Thursday and 682 for the week. The Berkshires has seen more than 2,200 cases this month so far, compared to about 1,200 last December.

Pittsfield had 377 (total 5,570) new cases, North Adams 114 (1,448) and Great Barrington was third with 59 (721), for the two weeks ending of Dec. 25.

The seven-day positive average rate climbed from 7.60 percent on Dec. 23 to 16.44 percent. The seven-day average of daily confirmed cases is 7,637 compared to the last wave's high of 6,229 on Jan. 8, 2020.

Hospitalizations and deaths have climbed more slowly, with 201 deaths statewide this week and four in the Berkshires for totals of 19,773 and 342, respectively. The seven-day average is 26.5 deaths, compared to 175 on April 24, 2020.

Just over 1,800 people are hospitalized, with again about two-thirds unvaccinated, but the numbers have dropped from a high of 71 percent unvaccinated. This may be because most people are vaccinated. More than 5 million, or about 75 percent of the population is now vaccinated.

There are now 28 people hospitalized with COVID-19 at Berkshire Medical Center.

The Berkshires is at 75 percent full vaccination for those eligible (ages 5 and older) and 71 percent of the total population. The state saw a jump in vaccinations about two weeks before Christmas for both second inoculations and booster shots.

Health officials are urging people to get vaccinated and boostered and to continue masking and social distancing. Even though there have been more breakthrough cases, they still account for only 2.7 percent of all cases, 0.07 percent of all hospitalizations and 0.02 percent of deaths.

Dec. 23: Two days before Christmas the the number of positive cases of COVID-19 rose by more than 9,000 statewide and 93 in the Berkshires, and the number of deaths was at 47, including 1 in the county.

There were nearly 43,000 cases over the past week, with 517 recorded in the Berkshires. That's up from 30,000 during the same period in 2020. The numbers in the Berkshires more than doubled compared to 216 last year.

The total number of positive cases now stands at 970,015 statewide and 12,435 in Berkshire County. There have been 19,572 deaths, with 338 in the county. Two of those deaths were in the past week.

As of the two weeks ending Dec. 18, Pittsfield saw 385 new cases and now has a total of 5,678 or 46 percent of all cases in Berkshire County. North Adams reported 145 cases during that period and Adams, 50.

The unvaccinated individuals continue to be the majority of hospitalizations, hovering around 70 percent. On Thursday, there were 1,632 people hospitalized, of which 1,132 were not vaccinated. There were 362 patients in ICU and 213 intubated.

The rising number of infections and hospitalizations is happening despite the high rate of vaccinations. More than 5 million of the state's residents are fully vaccinated and more than 12.5 million doses have been administered. Berkshire County now has vaccination rate of 74 percent for ages 5 and older and 77 percent for 12 and older, and an overall rate of 71 percent.

Eighty-four percent of all Massachusetts residents have received at least one dose. Rates of breakthrough cases in vaccinated people is 2.3 percent, hospitalizations is 0.06 percent and deaths, 0.02 percent.

Dec. 9: The number of positive cases jumped another 553 over the past week to 11,442 for Berkshire County and two more people have died. There have been 1,558 cases in the past four weeks compared to 925 last year, a rise of nearly 60 percent. The average number of cases reported during this period last year was 33 a day; this year, it's 56 a day. The county has seen more than 1,000 cases in the past two weeks.

The state reported 46,475 new cases in the two weeks ending Dec. 4. The three largest communities again posted the highest number of cases during that period: 408 in Pittsfield, 148 in North Adams and 129 in Adams.

The state now has 896,423 total cases since March 2020 and is on track to hit 1 million around the first of the year. The number of total deaths statewide is 19,190 and, in the Berkshires, 335.

The number of reported positive cases in children has exploded, with ages 5-9 and 10-14 having the highest rates per 100,000 and with more than 10,000 children ages 0 to 14 being infected in the last two weeks. The highest number of cases was still in the 20-39 age group at nearly 16,000. Senior citizens continue to bear the brunt of the pandemic even though vaccinations rates are high and cases low in that age group. More than 160 people ages 70 and older have died in the last two weeks and another 39 between the ages of 60 and 69.

There have been 11,824,188 vaccine doses administered to date and 4,959,190 people are considered fully vaccinated. The Berkshires percentage of people inoculated ages 5 and older is 71 percent.

The 14-day positivity rate for the Berkshires is now 5.09 percent compared to the state rate of 4.46 percent. However, the state's seven-day average positivity rate has hovered around 5 percent the last two weeks and was 5.01 percent on Thursday.

Hospitalizations are spiking up but still quite lower so far than the two previous peaks of nearly 4,000 on April 27, 2020, and 2,428 on Jan. 4, 2021. The current numbers are 1,239, of which 66 percent were unvaccinated. BMC has had numbers in the teens, with 14 reported on Wednesday.

The United States continues to lead the world in the number of cases and deaths from the pandemic with 49,621,791 total cases to date and 794,020 deaths.
As Michigan grapples with its first confirmed coronavirus cases, a proposed $25 million in spending to combat the disease is currently making its way through the legislature as part of a $321.3 million spending deal.

On Tuesday, the Michigan House approved a supplemental spending bill that included $10 million to allocate to various state departments preparing for and responding to coronavirus. Another $15 million would be put into a Coronavirus Response fund to be available as needs related to the Coronavirus are identified, according to a House Fiscal Agency report.

The House vote came Tuesday afternoon, hours before the state confirmed the first cases of COVID-19 in Michigan. The legislation is now before the Michigan Senate, where its expected to be voted on Thursday.

The legislation is one of two bills that taken together would put $312.3 million towards various state programs and another $9 million towards education-specific programs. The package also includes $15 million for the Pure Michigan program, additional funding for the Attorney Generals clergy abuse investigation and more.

Late Tuesday evening, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer declared a state of emergency after two Michigan residents tested presumptive positive for coronavirus COVID-19.

Were going to keep Michigan safe and were going to be prudent," Whitmer said, adding shell be meeting with officials Wednesday to determine what next measures to take. An announcement on those measures is expected Wednesday afternoon, according to a press release from the governors office.

One of the coronavirus patients is an Oakland County woman with a recent history of international travel and the other is a Wayne County man who had recent history of domestic travel, according to state officials.

Both are middle-aged and both are hospitalized, state officials said. Officials in Wayne and Oakland counties are working to identify close contacts of the coronavirus patients.

COVID-19 has been identified as the cause of an outbreak of respiratory illness first detected in Wuhan City in the Hubei Province of China. There have been almost 120,000 cases globally, with over 4,300 deaths.

Person-to-person spread of the virus has occurred in the U.S., with some of those occurring in people with no travel history and no known source of exposure.

COVID-19 symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as long as 14 days after exposure to the virus. They include fever, cough and shortness of breath.

What Michigan residents need to know about coronavirus

Michigan is the 38th state to have a confirmed case of coronavirus COVID-19. Nationwide, there have been almost 1,000 reported cases and 31 deaths.

State health officials have been preparing for weeks for a possible outbreak of coronavirus.

On Tuesday morning, state officials said 124 people currently are being monitored by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services for possible exposure.

In February, the state activated the Community Health Emergency Coordination Center and the State Emergency Operations Center to prepare for a possible outbreak in Michigan.

Whitmer also has created four task forces to combat the spread of coronavirus and assess the impact it may have on state operations, health care, schools and workplaces.

In addition, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has launched a campaign to raise awareness of appropriate hand washing techniques to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other illnesses.

For the latest information, visit Michigan.gov/coronavirus or CDC.gov/coronavirus.

Coronavirus prevention tips:

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The Website Offers a Variety of Fun and Relaxing Vacation Packages for Families in the United States

LONGWOOD, FL / ACCESSWIRE / March 11, 2020 / The founders of Family Dream Getaway are pleased to announce the launch of their new and user-friendly website.

To check out the new site and learn more about the amazing vacation packages that Family Dream Getaway has to offer, please visit https://familydreamgetaway.com/.

As a company spokesperson noted, the founders of Family Dream Getaway know that while many families would like to go on vacation, planning a dream trip can be a time consuming and often expensive experience.

This knowledge inspired them to open Family Dream Getaway and offer outstanding vacation packages to a number of locations. Now, with the launch of the new website, they are able to cater to even more families across the United States.

The timing of the new site could not be better; summer vacation is just around the corner, and families are already making plans to head to a variety of vacation destinations across the country and abroad.

From international locations like Mexico, the Cayman Islands and Canada to domestic spots like Florida, Las Vegas, Arizona and California, Family Dream Getaway is a one-stop vacation planning stop. The new website offers plenty of information about the vacation package destinations that are currently available; visitors to the new site simply need to click on the Plan tab to learn more about the locations.

"As your connection to great vacations around the world, we would like to share with you that we are a well-established travel company with over 25 years of experience in providing valued customers like yourself with world class accommodations that you might not otherwise be able to afford," the company spokesperson noted, adding that as a vacation Seller of Travel located in Florida, they market vacation ownership properties throughout the world, thereby providing great accommodations at a fraction of the normal price.

"By attending an informative, entertaining 90-minute V.I.P. property preview, you will learn about the exciting benefits of Vacation Ownership, enjoy significant savings on your accommodations, and there is never any obligation to purchase anything during the presentation."

As the spokesperson noted, this merely offers people the chance to save money on their vacation accommodations while learning more about the topic of Vacation Ownership.

About Family Dream Getaway:

Family Dream Getaway offers the best family vacation packages in top tourist destinations at the lowest prices. For more information please go to: https://familydreamgetaway.com/.

Contact:

Family Dream Getaway

usacare@familydreamgetaway.com

1-800-364-1674

SOURCE: Family Dream Getaway

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/580103/Family-Dream-Getaway-Website-is-Officially-Launched
Many male Nigerian senators, Tuesday, voted to oppose including gender parity in the Nigerian constitution.

Despite their opposition, however, the Senate resolved to ensure that gender equality is a priority in the next constitutional amendment.

During the debate on the matter, none of the male senators who voted against it spoke against the proposal. The few who spoke supported the proposal.

The voting was also done by a voice vote, thus making it difficult to identify which particular senators opposed the gender equality proposal.

The eventual resolution of the senators was one of the six resolutions adopted by the lawmakers during plenary.

The Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, ruled that the motion to including gender equality in the next constitutional amendment be adopted despite nays from many male senators when the prayer was put to vote.

This reporter, who witnessed the voting, noted that the nays were louder and appeared the majority, suggesting majority of the male-dominated Senate rejected the gender equality proposal.

Less than 10 per cent of the 109-member Senate are women.

History Of Rejection

The eighth Senate in 2017 rejected an amendment to the constitution that sought 35 per cent affirmative action for women as ministers.

The past Senate also rejected a bill seeking gender equality and equal opportunities.

The Tuesday Debate

The lawmakers, on Tuesday, as part of the resolution, also urged all political parties to make it a policy to give women equal opportunities in all elective and appointive positions.

They urged employers of labour to give women equal opportunities to allow them achieve their true potentials.

These resolutions were sequel to a point of order raised by the chairperson of the Senate Committee on Women Affairs, Betty Apiafi.

She raised the motion as part of the celebration of International Womens Day (IWD), an annual global event marked every March 8.

The IWD seeks to celebrate women around the world, promote gender quality as well as eliminate gender stereotypes.

The theme for this years IWD was #EachforEqual. This years event hoped to bridge the gap of gender bias and to promote gender parity.

Adamawa senator, Aishatu Dahiru, urged the Senate and the federal government to encourage the participation of women in all spheres.

She also urged the male lawmakers to support gender parity during the constitutional amendment.

In the same vien, Stella Oduah (PDP, Anambra) asked the government to put in place, laws that protect the woman and girl child and ensure women inclusion in all aspects.

Chimaroke Nnamani (PDP, Enugu) noted that women bear a huge part of poverty, ignorance and diseases ravaging the country today.

This is even as he kicked against workplace harassment, unequal pay and genital mutilation.

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He also proposed that in the Senate, two positions be reserved for women per geo-political zone. And for reps, two positions for women per state.

In his remark, Mr Lawan said it is only fair that women get the fairest share of participation in governance with the kind of percentage of the population they occupy.

For what the parties need to do, I am sure the parties are getting wiser. No party can afford to neglect the women of Nigeria.

Whether there will be constitutional review or not, I am sure there will be need for constitutional review to ensure that women in Nigeria are given better opportunities for them to occupy the rightful place that they should have, in governance particularly.

I am also concerned about women who are mostly not mentioned, the rural women, mostly farmers and traders. We need to think about them, not only about Political offices but empowering them because when you educate a woman, you educate a nation, he said.

The Senate also urged corporate organisations to ensure parity in top management positions and the board room.

The lawmakers also celebrated all women and girls who have made outstanding achievements.

The Senate recently announced a constitutional amendment committee headed by the Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, to review the various calls for the amendment of the Nigerian Constitution and commence the process of amendment.
Harvey Weinstein was sentenced on Wednesday to 23 years in prison for rape and sexual assault, a sight the disgraced Hollywood mogul's multitude of accusers thought they would never see.

Weinstein, who has been accused of violating scores of women, was convicted last month of raping a once-aspiring actress in a New York City hotel room in 2013 and forcibly performing oral sex on former TV and film production assistant Mimi Haleyi at his apartment in 2006.

He faced a maximum of 29 years in prison.

Both women confronting Weinstein again in court on Wednesday after their testimony helped seal his conviction at the landmark #MeToo trial.

"It takes a very special kind of evil to exploit connections to leverage rape, said the 2013 rape accuser.

Rape is not just one moment of penetration. It is forever, added the woman, who recalled a moment during the trial when she left the witness stand in tears and then could be heard screaming from an adjacent room.

The day my screams were heard from the witness room was the day my voice came back to its full power, she said.

Asked later about her reaction after the sentence, she wiped her eyes, raised her arm and nodded her head.

The Associated Press has a policy of not naming people who have been sexually assaulted without their consent. It is withholding the rape accuser's name because it is not clear whether she wishes to be identified.

Weinstein, who has maintained that any sexual activity was consensual, showed no visible reaction to the sentence. Beforehand, he broke his courtroom silence with a rambling plea for mercy in which he said his empathy has grown since his downfall.

He told the court he felt remorse for this situation but said he was perplexed by the case and the #MeToo climate in which it unfolded.

Thousands of men are losing due process. I'm worried about this country, he said, arguing that men are being accused of things that none of us understood.

I'm totally confused. I think men are confused about these issues, he said in a calm but creaking voice, adding that he had fond memories of his accusers.

Looking back during the trial at emails they exchanged, he said, he thought they had a good friendship: I had wonderful times with these people."



The executive behind such Oscar-winning films as Shakespeare in Love and Pulp Fiction became Exhibit A for the #MeToo movement after years of whispers about his alleged behavior burst into public view in The New York Times and The New Yorker in 2017.

More than 90 women, including actresses Gwyneth Paltrow, Salma Hayek and Uma Thurman, eventually came forward to accuse Weinstein of sexual assault and sexual harassment. The takedown energized the #MeToo campaign of speaking up about sexual assault and holding perpetrators accountable.

One of Weinstein's lawyers, Donna Rotunno, told the court he faced an uphill fight from the start of the trial, with media coverage of his allegations and the #MeToo movement making it impossible for him to get a truly fair shake.

How can we deny the fact that what happened before we walked in here had an impact? Rotunno asked.

Weinstein's lawyers pleaded for leniency because of his age and frail health, and prosecutors, who said the man once celebrated as a titan of Hollywood deserved a harsh sentence that would account for allegations of wrongdoing dating back decades.

Weinstein was sentenced a week shy of his 68th birthday, and his lawyers argued that a lengthy prison term would, in effect, be a life sentence. They had sought a five-year sentence.

Weinstein used a walker throughout the trial and arrived at the courthouse on Wednesday in wheelchair because of back problems from a car crash last summer. He has a condition that requires shots in his eyes and last week had a stent placed to unblock an artery.

The agency that runs New York's state prisons said every inmate is evaluated to determine which facility meets his or her security, medical, mental health and other needs.

The New York case was the first criminal matter to arise from accusations of more than 90 women, including actresses Gwyneth Paltrow, Salma Hayek and Uma Thurman.

The Associated Press has a policy of not naming people who have been sexually assaulted without their consent. It is withholding the rape accuser's name because it is not clear whether she wishes to be identified.

Weinstein was convicted on two counts: criminal sex act for the 2006 assault on the production assistant and rape in the third degree for a 2013 attack on another woman.

He was acquitted of the more serious charges against him of first-degree rape and two counts of predatory sexual assault.

Now that Weinstein has been sentenced, his lawyers can move forward with a promised appeal.

His legal team was upset with Burke's handling of the case, from his inclusion of a juror who'd written a novel involving predatory older men to his rulings on evidence, witnesses and objections.

Just as jury selection was about to get under way in January, Weinstein was charged in California with raping a woman at a Los Angeles hotel on February 18, 2013, after pushing his way inside her room, and sexually assaulting a woman in a Beverly Hills hotel suite the next night.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Social services bosses have appealed for help to trace two missing girls after a High Court judge said she was 'gravely concerned' about them.

Maya Bentchakal, 11, and nine-year-old Fitia Razakarisoa have disappeared while at the centre of proceedings in the Family Division of the High Court.

Hearings in the case have been staged in private and limits had been placed on what could be reported.

Maya Bentchakal (right), 11, and nine-year-old Fitia Razakarisoa (left) have disappeared while at the centre of proceedings in the Family Division of the High Court

But Mrs Justice Judd, the judge overseeing proceedings, has relaxed reporting restrictions in the hope publicity will help find the youngsters.

The judge, who is based in London, said she is 'gravely concerned' for the girls' welfare and has ruled that council bosses can release some information.

The council shared this picture of a woman believed to have been caring for the two children

Social services bosses at Hammersmith and Fulham Council have welfare responsibilities for the girls and have urged anyone who knows anything about their whereabouts to contact police immediately.

They say evidence suggests that the girls, who have relatives in the UK, France, Madagascar and Algeria, could be in the UK and possibly in London.

Lawyers representing the council said the girls have the same mother and have been living with her in west London.

A spokesperson for the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham said: 'The children were spoken to by a social worker via Skype in November 2019 and appeared to be well.

'However, the court remains unclear as to the childrens whereabouts and the identity of the person caring for them. They have been reported missing to the Metropolitan Police.

'While enquiries continue overseas  in particular in Madagascar  it is felt that the girls could be in the UK, possibly in or around London. Mayas father is extremely concerned for her.

There are limits on what can be reported about the case at the High Court (pictured) as hearings are being held in private

'The children have their own independent solicitor and childrens guardian and both professionals are keen to speak to the children and ascertain their wishes and feelings for the future.

'The girls may be using different names - and one (or both) of them may be using the surname Razakarisoa.'

The council also shared a pictured of a woman that they say is believed to have been looking after the girls.
LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI)  A national movie set to hit theaters this week has an even bigger meaning in Lafayette. "I Still Believe" details the life and faith of Christian music star and Lafayette native Jeremy Camp. The film about his story debuts Friday for the world to see.

However before he was on the big stage or the big screen, he grew up in a small Lafayette church. Members of the congregation at Harvest Chapel on South 22nd Street said he always stood out.



Jeremy Camp (Left) and KJ Apa (Right) at the premiere of "I Still Believe." (Photo via Camp family) Jeremy Camp (Left) and KJ Apa (Right) at the premiere of "I Still Believe." (Photo via Camp family)

Jeremy Camp performs at Riehle Plaza in downtown Lafayette for his first hometown show in 2003. His sister had no idea how many people would show up. She said 500 came out that day. (Photo via Camp family) Jeremy Camp performs at Riehle Plaza in downtown Lafayette for his first hometown show in 2003. His sister had no idea how many people would show up. She said 500 came out that day. (Photo via Camp family)

"I met Jeremy at Columbian Park one day, said Richard Godby. "You could tell there was something different about that kid. He had a glow to him and you knew he was special."

Camp's family still lives is Lafayette. They own Sacred Grounds Reclaimed coffee shop on Wabash Avenue, and his father Tom is the pastor of Harvest Chapel.

"Being proud of my son is part of that boasting in Christ that God is using him in a way we never thought," said Tom Camp. "He has truly walked through a journey."

Tom and his wife Teri spent the week in California for the debut of "I Still Believe." The Lionsgate movie stars KJ Apa, Gary Sinise, Britt Robertson and Shania Twain. It's a true story about the love and faith of Jeremy and his first wife Melissa. When Jeremy was just 23, Melissa died of ovarian cancer. The couple had been married for just four months. Some of his earliest songs reflect that time.

"She was different than anybody else," said Jeremy. "I could tell she had a real heart for people and a really huge heart for God. She walked through this pain and suffering with so much grace and peace."

Jeremy said he wouldn't be who he is today without his hometown. He still remembers his times walking the hallways at McCutcheon High School. In fact, Camp was a star running back and linebacker for the Mavericks in the 90s.

"That was a big part of my upbringing, playing against Jeff, Harrison and West Lafayette," Jeremy said. "It shaped a lot of who I am and I'm thankful for my upbringing. I'm thankful for Lafayette. It starts with your community. If you can reach out to your community you can reach out to the bigger places as well."

That's a message he wants his hometown to take away from the movie.

"No matter where you're from, no matter what your upbringing is, it doesn't matter," said Jeremy. "Go, and follow what God has placed on your heart. That's a big thing I think Lafayette can get out of it."

Trent Riley has been Jeremy's friend since high school. He said Jeremy was always been prepared for this ministry he's now devoted his life to.

"To see what the Lord has done in his life has been inspirational," said Riley. "This movie is going to do that. It's going to show you that hard thing that he walked through, but how God was able to carry him through that."

Jeremy left Lafayette for California after high school to study ministry. He soon became part of a worship team that played across California, eventually propelling him into a music career. However, Jeremy's passion for music started at the age of 14 in Lafayette with his father.

"Basically I just sat him down and showed him some guitar chords and he just took off from there," said Tom Camp. "God had orchestrated all these events to bring him to where he is at. The Lord just jump-started him and got him going."

It's always been a family affair for the Camps. Jeremy's sister April said music was very common in their home.

"We were saturated by music," said April. "Our family vacations were always music festivals. Our faith in God and music is what formed us as a family."

Stemming from those initial guitar chords from his father, Jeremy would eventually write 40 No. 1 singles, including hits "I Still Believe" and "Walk by Faith." He was also named Billboard's No. 2 artist of the decade in 2010. He wrote a book also titled "I Still Believe" that became the basis of the film.

"I do hope that people walk out of this movie knowing that we all go through hard times and trials and tribulations," said Jeremy. "Everybody does, no matter what your age is, culture or background. People want hope and peace these days. For me, I want to talk about my relationship with Jesus. Not everyone is going to want that, or run to that, but I have to at least tell you what got me through it. I think you're going to watch this movie and get a lot of hope."

The Camp family also said to be on the lookout for some Lafayette staples featured in the movie.

"I drive a Pizza King car all the way to California," said Tom Camp. "One of the girls that was on the set just thought that they had to pull in the Pizza King from Indiana," Teri echoed.

"I was watching [the movie] the other night and it has the water tower in it and it says 'Lafayette,'" said Jeremy. "It's just kind of a nostalgic, surreal thing."

Jeremy said he even took a step back during the movie's premiere, thinking about how proud he was of his hometown.

"I have a friend from Rensselear who works for Lionsgate and we kind of had this 'high-five' moment on Saturday with Shania Twain, Gary Sinise and KJ [Apa]," said Jeremy. "We were all just high-fiving saying 'To Indiana! To the small towns to small cities!' Look at what God has done."

Camp is set to perform in Indianapolis Thursday, March 19. He also said a show could be coming to Tippecanoe County soon.

"We're talking about doing a tour in the spring and hitting either Elliott or Mackey Arena," said Camp. We're trying to figure out a few things."

Online schedules show the movie playing at all three Greater Lafayette theaters on opening weekend.

You can watch the official trailer here.
The Longview 23 Club has found a donor to replace the historic log arch at Lake Sacajawea, and the club now hopes to have it installed by the end of the year.

The Port Blakely timber company, which has ties to Pacific Lumber & Shipping in Longview, will donate the logs after they are harvested sometime around June, Longview 23 Club member Jeff Wilson said Tuesday. The port will also let the club prepare the logs at its lumber yard in Longview.

They will remove the bark and get them all pretty for us, but we have to stain them and do some protective coatings before we put them up at Lake Sacajawea, Wilson said.

The Longview 23 Club donated the original log arch for the citys 50th anniversary celebration. It became one of the focal points of the annual Go 4th Festival Independence Day celebration. The Longview 23 Club is a historical social group that has spearheaded many projects around the city.

The structure was removed and demolished in October after an inspection revealed rot at the base of the logs was too extensive to repair. The group initially had hoped to have it replaced by the end of 2019.

Wilson said the new arch will be new and improved because it also will include a hanging welcome sign and at least two and perhaps as many as four historical panels at the base of the poles.

Longview had more than one log arch. The one thats at the lake is symbolic of a gateway to welcome people to Longview, Wilson said. (The log arches from 1976) were beautiful  but it was never set up as a true replica of what the arch really did, and that was to hold a real big sign that says Welcome to Longview. 

The historical panels likely would tell the story of the arch and Lake Sacajawea.

With help from local donors and volunteers, including the citys Parks and Recreation Department and Cowlitz PUD, Wilson said most of the project costs will be covered.

This is a $20,000 project, minimum, he estimated. But the value is we get to permanently mark our community with a reminder of the 1923 days.

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Ho Phi Quyet dons her boots and gloves, and picks up a big bag every weekend to collect rubbish around his neighbourhood.

Quyet and Mai collect rubbish in their commune.  Photo dantri.com.vn

Its not his job, but he has being doing for the past three years.

Last year, when Quyets youngest daughter reached the age of two, his wife Nguyen Thi Mai started joining him.

The couple, both in their thirties, send their young children to their relatives' houses while they are out collecting rubbish, but sometime there's nobody available so they set out with their parents.

Quyet lives in Quynh Loc Commune, Hoang Mai Town in the central province of Nghe An, where he works as an excavator driver at a mine.

He mostly does night shifts, so he has time during the day to help out with other volunteers in his commune.

The club sometimes organises rubbish collection days with the participation of local high school students.

The best volunteer work starts at home, Quyet told himself.

Quynh Loi Commune asked locals to separate their rubbish at home and drop it at regulated dumps, but not everyone followed the request. Some still throw rubbish away whenever and wherever they feel like.

If the work I do makes people change their habits and raises awareness of protecting the environment, it's worthwhile, said Quyet.

Quyet is the breadwinner in his family because Mai is busy with taking care of their first child Ho Phi Quang. Quang suffers from a serious disease that needs special care.

Some of their friends have told them to stop volunteering so they can earn more money, but they polite refuse.

They are poor but still pay for the big bags they use to collect the rubbish.

Quyet started off by using old bags donated by locals, which he washed and reused. That supply gradually ran out, so now he pays VND4,000 (US$0.17) per bag.

Some people think it's only a little, but its not, said Quyet.

I spend every penny properly and live a meaningful life. I do the things that I believe are useful, he said.

The husband and wife talk about their volunteer work collecting rubbish.  Photo dantri.com.vn



On average, they collect about three big bags of rubbish per day, such as inorganic and recyclable waste including bottles, cans, paper and plastic.

Then they take it to a dump in the commune. Every Monday, workers from an environmental company collect it.

Now they are not alone. Ho Thi Phuong, a woman living in the same commune, has agreed to share their work every weekend, and locals have gradually changed their opinions about what they are doing.

Ho Quoc Uy, deputy chairman of the Quynh Loc Commune Peoples Committee, said there was a large amount of rubbish in the area, and collections were not a regular occurrence.

Quyet and his wife had helped raise peoples awareness and changed their habits to protect the environment, said Uy.

The most valuable part of their efforts was that more people were volunteering to collect rubbish in the commune, he added.  VNS

Volunteers clean up garbage in Hanoi Two tonnes of garbage were collected from under Long Bien Bridge in Hanoi over the weekend by around 200 volunteers.

Da Nang: Youngsters join hand to collect trash on the beach Responding to the call of cleaning up garbage' of a facebooker in March, more than 100 young people have joined hands to collect trash on Da Den beach on Son Tra peninsula in Da Nang city.
Montreal & Los Angeles based company expands as the first Educational Support System to enable remote learning in schools

MONTREAL, March 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- GradeSlam, the education company founded by McGill University graduates Philip Cutler and Roberto Cipriani, announced today that it has raised 7.5 million USD in funding. Along with the funding announcement, the team has unveiled the rebrand to Paper .

The funding, led by Reach Capital and supported by Bullpen Capital, is intended to accelerate the rapid growth of the business. Also participating were existing investors Birchmere Ventures, BDC Capital, Real Ventures, Google, Red House Education, Edovate Capital, and Anges Quebec. GradeSlam's rebrand to Paper emphasizes the importance that the Educational Support System places on supporting students, teachers, and administrators.

"Since inception, our mission has always been to provide true educational equity," Cutler said. "Paper solves a compelling problem facing our public school districts - how do you guarantee every student has an equal opportunity to succeed? We support every student in their individual learning style while giving teachers the resources they need to be effective educators."

The first in its category, Cutler is confident that Educational Support Systems (ESS) will be a transformative part of our K-12 education system, improving student achievement and increasing teacher effectiveness.

"When a school district implements Paper, they are taking real action. They are sending a message to their teachers, students, parents, and administrators that their community is going to be supported," Cutler said when asked why districts partner with Paper. "We are simply enabling the incredible district administrators to fulfill their vision of what education looks like."

Paper's investors share the founders' confidence. "Not all students are receiving the same opportunities and resources they need to excel," said General Partner of Reach Capital Wayee Chu. "Studies continue to show that individualized learning and intervention can positively impact confidence, problem-solving skills, and intellectual independence, which is why we're proud to support the vision Paper is putting forward."

"Having had a front seat for the growth GradeSlam has had over the last few years, we recognize the momentum they've developed as a result of their team's passion and dedication," said Ned Renzi, Partner at Birchmere Ventures. "The 2020-21 school year will be another inflection point for how we can apply innovation in education to create meaningful, lasting and positive change."

Cutler concluded the announcement by saying, "We are incredibly proud of what we have accomplished, but this is only the start. We are tackling one of the most important and impactful challenges facing society. Education is equity, and goes far beyond the classroom. This is what motivates us every day."

The team also stressed that the experience of current students and teachers will remain unchanged until the end of the school year. Major enhancements will be revealed at the start of the 2020-2021 school year.

About PAPER

Headquartered in Montreal, Quebec, Paper is the leading Educational Support System. Driven by a mission to deliver true educational equity, Paper's ESS increases student achievement and teacher effectiveness. Paper has partnered with some of the most influential districts including Irvine Unified School District, Springfield Public Schools, Sequoia Union High School District, Denver Public Schools, Tustin Unified School District and will always be driven to seek out new means of making learning more accessible, convenient and equitable.

MEDIA CONTACT:

[email protected]

438-523-2350

Director of Partnerships

Paper Education Company Inc.

SOURCE GradeSlam
Nadine Dorries, the conservative MP and junior health minister, has tested positive for coronavirus.

The 62-year-old is the first British politician to have contracted the virus, which has infected more than 118,000 people worldwide and caused more than 4,200 deaths.

In a statement, Ms Dorries said: I can confirm I have tested positive for coronavirus. As soon as I was informed I took all the advised precautions and have been self-isolating at home.

Public Health England has started detailed contact tracing and the department and my parliamentary office are closely following their advice.

I would like to thank PHE and the wonderful NHS staff who have provided me with advice and support.

She later tweeted: Thanks for so many good wishes. Its been pretty rubbish but I hope Im over the worst of it now. More worried about my 84-year-old mum who is staying with me and began with the cough today. She is being tested tomorrow. Keep safe and keep washing those hands, everyone.

The under-secretary of state for health and social cares diagnosis comes as the number of people to have tested positive for the virus nationwide has risen to 373, the second largest day-on-day increase since the outbreak began.

Meanwhile, the virus has claimed six lives in the UK  the latest, a man in his early eighties with an underlying health condition who died at Watford General Hospital.

Ms Dorries, who represents mid-Bedfordshire in the Commons, was among those to have helped draft the governments response to the epidemic  which is expected to hit its peak within the next fortnight.

It is unclear how much she may have interacted with senior government officials before becoming unwell  however The Times reported Ms Dorries attended an International Womens Day reception with Boris Johnson at Downing Street, as well as constituency meetings.

Writing on Twitter, health secretary Matt Hancock said: Really sorry to hear Nadine has tested positive for coronavirus. She has done the right thing by self isolating at home, and both NHS and PHE staff have been brilliant. We all wish her well as she recovers.

I understand why people are worried about this disease. We will do all we can to keep people safe, based on the best possible science.
U.S. authorities have arrested Russian national Kirill Firsov who ran a hacker "storefront" that took in at least $17 million by selling stolen personal data and other illegal products and services, according to court records.

On March 7, the FBI arrested Kirill Firsov, described as "a Russian cyber hacker," and the administrator of the deer.io platform "which catered to hackers," according to a criminal complaint.



Court documents showed Firsov was arrested upon arriving at a New York airport on Saturday. The arrest was first reported by the website ZDNet.



A criminal complaint unsealed after Firsov's arrest said that since 2013 Firsov operated the deer.io platform, including "virtual stores" that sold "a variety of hacked and/or compromised US and international financial and corporate data," including stolen user names and passwords from computers in the Untied States and elsewhere.



Investigators described deer.io as "a turnkey online storefront design and hosting platform, from which cybercriminals can advertise and sell their products," the complaint said.



"Thus far, law enforcement has found no legitimate business advertising its services and/or products through a deer.io storefront," which was hosted in Russia, out of the reach of US law enforcement.



The document said a cybercriminal who wants to sell contraband or offer criminal services can purchase a storefront on deer.io for the equivalent of $12.50 per month, Moscow Times reported.

To verify that the service was selling real data, the FBI purchased data from more than 3,000 hacked accounts for less than $700 in bitcoin and identified names, dates of birth and US social security numbers for people living in California.



The court records showed Firsov would appear to face charges in the criminal complaint in federal court in New York.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-11 23:35:27|Editor: yan

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NAIROBI, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Kenya on Wednesday launched the third phase of the battle against desert locusts that have spread to 26 counties and pose a new threat to food security and rural livelihoods.

Peter Munya, cabinet secretary for Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Irrigation said the government has earmarked additional funds to facilitate acquisition of equipment, manpower and pesticides required to contain the voracious pests.

"Phase three of our campaign against desert locusts seeks to prevent the newly hatched hoppers from developing into swarms. We are also on the lookout for new young swarms from Somalia that are flying into northern Kenya," said Munya in Nairobi during the launch of the third phase of the fight against locust.

He said the government has secured funding from multilateral lenders to support the war against desert locusts that have been devastating crops and pasture in semi-arid counties.

"At the moment, we are working with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to set up operational bases in northern Kenya and enhance emergency response to an invasion by locusts," said Munya.

He said the government aims to acquire 20 helicopters to support aerial spraying of desert locusts and halt their match towards the country's main breadbaskets.

"Further, we seek to procure more ground control vehicles, protective clothing, GPSs and radio communication for ground control operations," said Munya.

"We are estimating that we will need nearly 100,000 liters of assorted chemicals to sustain the campaign," he added.

The government is said to have partnered with FAO to recruit a team of experts who will in the next three weeks conduct an assessment that is expected to deliver accurate results.

"The findings from that assessment will enable the government and development partners to identify mitigation measures to support affected communities," said Munya.

He said the government is paying attention to insecurity, funding, logistical and manpower bottlenecks that slowed down the fight against desert locusts at the initial stages.
BIG RAPIDS  Voters in Big Rapids confirmed Tuesday that yes, in fact, they do want recreational marijuana in their city.

According to unofficial election results posted by the Mecosta County Clerk's Office Tuesday night, the Big Rapids recreational marijuana proposal  which would have effectively banned pot from being sold in the city  failed by a nearly 2-to-1 margin.

Results, which are considered unofficial until approved by the board of canvassers, show that out of 1,300 total votes, 835 (64%) voted against the proposal and 465 (36%) voted in favor of it.

In 2018, voters in Michigan  with a majority of support in Mecosta County and the city of Big Rapids  approved Proposal 1, which effectively legalized marijuana in the state. The proposal contained a provision that allowed individual municipalities to "opt in" or "opt out" of recreational marijuana sales within their own limits.

This past October, the Big Rapids City Commission voted to allow recreational pot to be sold in the city. But not long after the vote, Bill Routley, a Big Rapids resident and member of the Mecosta County Board of Commissioners, circulated a petition that forced the issue to the ballot Tuesday.

"I'm disappointed in the outcome, obviously," said Routley, who felt he had been personally attacked for his beliefs on social media in days leading up to the election. "There's no reason for that. In a civil society, you can accept both sides and you can respect each other for their opinions."

But the results spoke loud and clear. Some people at the polls said they felt like they were voting unnecessarily, as they had previously supported Proposal 1 in 2018.

"I want to keep it just the way it is. It's already been passed once. I am in full support of the health benefits of marijuana  there is way too much research that shows it's good for you, if taken in moderation," said Carla Cooper, 39, of Big Rapids.

Jason Weld, 44, of Big Rapids, agreed with the sentiment: "We voted for it last year. I voted for it last year, so I voted to uphold it this time."

PDF: Mecosta County election results on the clerk's website

Other ballot proposals

Elsewhere on the ballot, the Chippewa Hills School District sinking fund proposal passed in Mecosta County by a tally of 1,502 (52%) in favor to 1,396 (48%) opposed.

The sinking fund will charge district residents 1.5 mills  or $1.50 on every $1,000 of taxable valuation  from 2020 to 2030, with an estimated revenue collected by the school district in its first year at just over $1.2 million.

Sinking funds can only be used for capital improvements, such as infrastructure and security. It can also be used for technology. It cannot be used for buses, personnel or curriculum.

CHSD superintendent Bob Grover celebrated the win Tuesday, which came after the same proposal failed in the November 2019 election.

"We're excited for our families, our community and our students. This will be very beneficial in trying to make sure our facilities are up to par, providing our kids a great education," Grover said.

Grover credited the district's victory to an improved "get-out-the-vote" effort, including support from parents in the district. He said committees will soon begin prioritizing projects in the district that could be paid for with sinking fund revenue, which won't be collected until summer tax season.

In Chippewa Township, in northeast Mecosta County, voters supported a proposal which prohibited recreational marijuana in the township by a tally of 214 in support (58%) to 158 opposed (42%).

In the Democratic Party primary, former Vice President Joe Biden romped to victory in Mecosta County, with 2,014 votes out of 4,052 ballots cast (50%). U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders  the only other serious challenger remaining in a once-crowded field  accounted for 1,536 votes, or 38% of the total.

In the Republican Party primary, President Donald Trump won 3,465 out of 3,706 votes (93%) in Mecosta County.

In all, 8,029 voters cast ballots Tuesday, out of 29,023 registrants. That means the voter turnout rate in Mecosta County was 27.66%.

 Pioneer associate editor Julie Norwood contributed to this report
No military solution to Libyan conflict: Germany's Merkel

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 10 March 2020 6:13 PM

German Chancellor Angela Merkel says there is no military solution to the conflict in war-torn Libya, stressing that an immediate ceasefire is necessary for a political process to continue.

"The chancellor has reaffirmed that there can be no military solution to this conflict, and therefore it is necessary to achieve a ceasefire and progress for a political process in line with the conclusions of the Berlin Conference," said Merkel's spokesman Steffen Seibert in a written statement on Tuesday.

The statement came shortly after the conclusion of a meeting between the German chancellor and Libya's rebel leader, Khalifa Haftar, in the capital, Berlin.

Since 2014, two rival seats of power have emerged in the North African country: the internationally-recognized government of Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj, and another group based in the eastern city of Tobruk, supported militarily by rebel forces under the command of Haftar.

The rebel leader, who is primarily supported by the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and Jordan, launched a deadly offensive to capture the capital, Tripoli, in April last year. Despite intense fighting, he has so far failed to achieve his objective of ousting the government, and the offensive has stalled outside the city.

Numerous attempts to bring about peace between the two sides of the conflict have failed, except for a shaky ceasefire brokered by Russia and Turkey in January, which has been violated dozens of times but continues to stand in one way or another.

Back in January and in an attempt to help establish a permanent ceasefire in Libya, Merkel hosted a multinational summit involving concerned parties. Leaders and high-ranking officials from Turkey, Russia, Egypt, France, Italy, Britain, and the United States, as well as Haftar and Sarraj, attended the summit.

The final communique of the summit called on all the parties concerned in the conflict "to redouble their efforts for a sustained suspension of hostilities, de-escalation and a permanent ceasefire." Participants also pledged not to interfere in Libya's internal affairs and its conflict and agreed to "fully respect" the arms embargo imposed on the North African country by the United Nations (UN) in 2011.

However, Haftar refused to sign the joint communique.

The situation in Libya has been compounded as a result of a move by Turkey, an ally of Sarraj's government, to deploy troops and transfer allied militants from Syria to the North African country.

On Monday, Haftar visited Paris and held a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron. There, Haftar claimed he would commit to a truce with the government as long as ragtag forces fighting to protect the government pledged to honor it as well.

Haftar "assured that he was ready to sign the ceasefire document, but this commitment would end if the militias do not respect it," an Elysee Palace official said after the one-hour meeting, which was not announced on the French president's agenda.

Libya plunged into chaos in 2011, when a popular uprising and a NATO intervention led to the ouster of long-time dictator Muammar Gaddafi.

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The BJP is likely to name him as one of its candidates for the Rajya Sabha polls in Madhya Pradesh

Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia is welcomed as he ajoins BJP in presence of party President JP Nadda (R), at BJP headquarters in New Delhi, Wednesday. PTI photo

New Delhi: A day after announcing his resignation from the Congress, Jyotiraditya Scindia joined the BJP on Wednesday in presence of the ruling party's president JP Nadda.

According to sources, the BJP is likely to name him as one of its candidates for the Rajya Sabha polls in Madhya Pradesh and is also confident of forming the government in the state with his help as 22 MLAs including Scindia's supporters have resigned from the state assembly reducing the Kamal Nath government to a minority.

Peeved with his marginalisation in the Congress, Scindia met Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday and then the two leaders went to the prime minister's residence where they held talks for over an hour.

Soon after meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the disgruntled Madhya Pradesh Congress leader tendered his resignation to party president Sonia Gandhi saying it was time for him to move on.

Scindia took the decision to sever his ties with the Congress on the day of his father Madhavrao Scindia's 75th birth anniversary.

A four-time MP, Scindia first got elected from Guna in Madhya Pradesh in 2002 after winning a bye-election necessitated by his father's demise. He was only 31 years old at that time.

He gradually made his way up the Congress ladder becoming Minister of State for Communications and IT in 2007 during the Congress-led UPA-1. In 2009, he became Minister of State for Commerce and Industry and in 2012 was appointed Minister of State for Power during UPA-2.

After the Congress lost the 2014 General Election, Sonia Gandhi named him the party's chief whip in the Lok Sabha.

Scindia, criticised the Congress saying that the party is not the same as it used to be and is far removed from reality.

Addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters after being inducted into the party by its president JP Nadda, Scindia hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership and said the country's future is secure in his hands.

Talking about his decades-old association with the Congress, Scindia said he was hurt and distressed as he was not being able to serve the people in that party.

Attacking the Congress government in Madhya Pradesh, he said the dream which he along with his former colleagues saw for Madhya Pradesh has been shattered in 18 months.

I would like to thank BJP chief Nadda, Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah for inviting me into the BJP family, he said, adding that they had given him a platform to serve the people.
After a Holi shock for the Congress, will be BJP or a regional party for Scindia

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Mar 11: The Congress was in for a rude shock on Holi, when one of its top leaders, Jyotiraditya Scindia quit the party.

Scindia currently seems to be inclined towards the BJP. He was supposed to join the party in the presence of BJP chief, J P Nadda on Wednesday. However with that event not taking place, there is now speculation on whether he would join the BJP or float an independent party.

Sources in the BJP however maintain that he would be joining the party on Thursday. The source tells OneIndia that he would join them at an event to be held in Gwalior. If Scindia decides to float a regional party, his focus would be on the Gwalior-Chambal region and nearby Rajasthan.

Scindia quits: When the whisper campaign got the better of the whisper

However Scindia would need more followers in order to take such a decision. Given the current scenario, joining the BJP is the best bet for Scindia.

It is said that after joining the BJP, his name could be proposed for the Rajya Sabha seat from Madhya Pradesh. Elections would be held to fill in three seats which fall vacant in the state. Both the Congress and BJP were sure of one seat each and were planning on battling it out for the third.

NEWS AT 3 PM, MARCH 11th, 2020

When asked if Scindia would be made a minister at the Centre, the source cited above declined to comment. There has been no such discussion and the current deliberations are only on Madhya Pradesh, he also said.

Scindia likely to be BJPs Rajya Sabha candidate from MP

Meanwhile a floor test is scheduled to take place in MP on March 16, when the budget session begins. 19 MLAs have sent their resignations to Raj Bhavan and this puts the Kamal Nath government in deep trouble.

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Story first published: Wednesday, March 11, 2020, 7:53 [IST]
Bilal Alameddine (left) was caught dealing drugs inside Long Bay prison last November

A member of the Alameddine family has been caught using a mobile phone and possessing drugs inside prison, where he is already serving time for dealing and gun running.

Bilal Alameddine, 22, the cousin of convicted terrorist Talal, was caught in the act of trying to flush the mobile phone down a toilet in his Long Bay jail cell last November.

Alameddine's stash was uncovered by a drug detection dog called 'Skip', who found a bag of cannabis, another of tobacco and strips of buprenorphine.

He faced Waverley Local Court via audio visual link on Wednesday where he pleaded guilty to two charges of drug possession and another of having a phone in prison.

Court documents seen by Daily Mail Australia reveal a random Wednesday evening search of Alameddine's cell uncovered the phone, drugs and other paraphernalia.

Alameddine's cell inside Long Bay Prison, Sydney, was searched about 9.30pm on November 20, 2019. When the got to his cell door they found him with his hand down a toilet, trying to hide a mobile phone and other items

When corrective services officers entered Alameddine's cell he was 'standing at the rear, with his right hand secreted in the toilet'.

After taking the 'high-risk' prisoner - who is not allowed a cellmate - out of his cell, a search was conducted with the help of 'Skip' which uncovered the phone and drugs.

'In the toilet they found a black unihertz mobile phone, a white USB charging cable and a tin,' an agreed statement of facts said.

Alameddine had also left four strips of buprenorphine, a 6.7g bag of cannabis and a 7.4g bag of tobacco out on a shelf.

When questioned by prison officers, Alameddine declined to comment.

The next day police were brought into the prison to question him over the mobile.

He replied 'no comment' to every question from the officers.

As a result of his crimes Alameddine lost access to several prison privileges, such as the use of a BBQ.

Alameddine is also awaiting sentencing for a string of gun and drug running charges dating back to 2017.

Bilal is the cousin of Talal Alameddine (left) who is serving jail time in Goulburn Supermax for supplying the gun used to kill NSW Police accountant Curtis Cheng

Police swooped on him and another man in the carpark of the Bunnings Warehouse at Lidcombe on June 30, 2017, after an undercover police officer bought three guns and $115,000 worth of cocaine from the pair.

Abdul Saddik, who represents several of the Alameddines, represented Bilal in Waverley Local Court on Wednesday

Bilal and his associate had met with the officer on three occasions to exchange guns and drugs for cash in the month before their arrest.

Court documents reveal how on May 5, 2017, Bilal drove a Toyota Aurion to a meeting point in Guildford where they met with the undercover officer.

The officer was parked nearby and Bilal got into the backseat of the car, pulling out a 9mm Desert Eagle pistol and two empty magazines he had stashed down his pants.

In return he was handed $28,000 by the undercover officer.

Facing more than five years in prison, Bilal will return to the Parramatta District Court on April 7 for sentencing.
OTTAWA - Parliament's spending watchdog urged federal politicians to ask the government why it is holding on to an extra $105 million that it collected on U.S. steel and aluminum during its trade fight with the Trump administration.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 11/3/2020 (670 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Rolls of coiled coated steel are shown at Stelco before a visit by the Chrystia Freeland, Minister of Foreign Affairs, in Hamilton on June 29, 2018. Parliament's spending watchdog says the government is holding on to an extra $105 million that it collected on U.S. steel and aluminum during its trade fight with the Trump administration. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Peter Power

OTTAWA - Parliament's spending watchdog urged federal politicians to ask the government why it is holding on to an extra $105 million that it collected on U.S. steel and aluminum during its trade fight with the Trump administration.

Wednesday's report by the parliamentary budget officer says the government committed to return to affected industries $1.3 billion in surtaxes it charged on U.S. steel and aluminum imports in 2018 and 2019. But the PBO said the government will return $105 million less than it assessed in surtaxes on the U.S. metals.

"Parliamentarians may wish to seek clarity regarding the scope of the surtax revenues committed to be returned and which industries are the intended recipients of spending measures funded by surtax revenues," the PBO said.

Randy Hoback, the Conservative trade critic, said his party will be pushing the Liberals for answers.

"The government needs to come clean on where they used that money."

Canada imposed the duties as part of its broader $16-billion package of retaliation on various American products after the Trump administration placed duties of 25 per cent on steel and 10 per cent on aluminum during the acrimonious renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement in 2018.

The United States said it was imposing the metals' tariffs  which also hit Mexico  to stop the flood of cheap Chinese steel into North American markets, but the Trudeau government branded the move as arbitrary and illegal.

"In response to the U.S. tariffs and Canadian retaliatory surtaxes, the government of Canada has made statements committing to return assessed surtaxes to the businesses and workers in the affected industries," the PBO said.

But the government has not specified publicly which industries are to receive the funds, said the report. It also said that some of the surtax revenue was given to the federal government's trade commissioner service and to a government innovation fund that was aimed at the aluminum and steel sectors.

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Hoback said all the money the government collected should have been given "dollar for dollar" to affected industries because that is what the government pledged to do.

"That was never the intent of that money. That money was supposed to flow through to the government and come back to the industries," said Hoback. "We want to know why that didn't happen."

The U.S. lifted the tariffs last May, as the three North American countries moved forward with their new continental trade deal. The countries agreed to establish a process for monitoring the steel and aluminum trade between them.

In May 2018, U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said the tariffs were being imposed on Canada and Mexico to prevent a flood of cheap Chinese steel into the U.S. through its NAFTA partner countries.

Ross also said the U.S. was imposing the tariffs because the trade talks were taking too long, even though they were being imposed under a section of American trade law that gives the president that authority to do that to protect national security.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 11, 2020.
Trump replied:

I think we will. The last time we had a lot of Bernie Sanders supporters. I think if they take it away from him like they did the last time, I really believe youre going to have  youre gonna have a very riotous time in the Democrat Party, because they really  they did a lot of numbers on him.

In the 2020 primaries, as Sarah Longwell, director of Defending Democracy Together, showed in the Times a few days ago, Joe Biden is adding voters to the Democratic coalition who are likely to stick with the party in the general election, reversing the pattern of the elusive Sanders voters who switched to Trump.

Biden, Longwell wrote, is winning over millions of suburban voters who often cast Republican ballots in the past but who are now firmly anti-Trump. These voters, she continued, flexed their muscles on Super Tuesday in the Virginia and Texas suburbs, which saw 74 percent and 87 percent higher voter turnout, respectively, than four years ago. These de facto Never Trumpers also showed up in large quantities in the suburbs of Charleston, S.C., where 58 percent more people voted in the Democratic primary last Tuesday compared with 2016. They were in evidence all over the map this Tuesday night as well.

The big difference between these voters and the conservative white voters who backed Sanders in 2016 is that these suburbanites will not vote for Trump this year and, if 2018 is any guide, they will support a centrist Democratic nominee.

Nate Silver, editor in chief of FiveThirtyEight, cited data from the Cooperative Congressional Research Study to illustrate Sanderss current difficulties maintaining his 2016 supporters. In February 2019 Silver wrote:

Roughly one-quarter of Sanderss support in Democratic primaries and caucuses in 2016 came from #NeverHillary voters: people who didnt vote for Clinton in the 2016 general election and who had no intention of doing so.

Silver pointed out that Sanders in 2016 won 43 percent of the vote in his primary competition against Clinton, but if 24 percent of that 43 percent were #NeverHillary voters, that means Sanderss real base was more like 33 percent of the overall Democratic electorate.

Without Clinton in the race, #NeverHillary voters have no motive to cast a ballot for Sanders:

These voters were disproportionately likely to describe themselves as moderate or conservative. Among the 31 percent of self-described conservatives who voted for Sanders in the Democratic primaries, more than half were #NeverHillary voters, for example.

Equally significant, on two key questions highly predictive of Republican leanings  Do white people benefit from their race? and Should the Affordable Care Act be repealed  Sanderss #NeverHillary voters tended to fit the Republican profile, rejecting the view that whites benefit from their race and supporting repeal of the A.C.A., according to Silver. Demographically, the #NeverHillary voters were disproportionately rural, born-again Christians and military veterans, all groups leaning Republican.

A new Pew Research report shows that Sanders is now decisively viewed as the liberal candidate in the race and Biden as the moderate. From Feb. 18 to March 2 Pew interviewed 10,300 American adults, including 5,771 Democrats and Democratic leaners.

Seven out of ten Democratic voters and those who lean Democratic see Sanders as a liberal, 6 percent see him as a moderate, 8 percent see him as a conservative and the rest did not answer. In contrast, 31 percent see Biden as a liberal, 31 percent see him as a moderate and 20 percent see him as a conservative. Sanderss current profile with voters is much less likely to draw conservative white support.
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Linkedin Agustinus Hari (The Jakarta Post) Manado, North Sulawesi  Wed, March 11, 2020 14:35 671 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2069d84fd 1 National native-faiths,North-Sulawesi,Minahasa,Constitutional-Court,freedom-of-religion,indigenous-faiths,civil-registration,Civil-Administration-Law Free

A Constitutional Court ruling in 2017 ordering the government to recognize indigenous native faiths and put them in the religious column on identity cards has been celebrated by many traditional religion believers, including those of the Malesung faith of North Sulawesi.

Malesung is an old native faith from the land of Minahasa in the province. It is estimated it still has thousands of believers who practice its rituals and prayers.

Sual, a Malesung believer who did not wish to reveal his first name, said his native faith had been recognized by the government as its name had been listed on his family card. Soon, the religion column in his identity card would be filled with the words: Faith in the Almighty God.

"I feel that it is getting easier for us to work on administrative arrangements, specifically regarding the inclusion of local faiths on our identity cards, after the Constitutional Courts ruling, he told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.

The Constitutional Court ruled three years ago in favor of native-faith followers in a judicial review of the 2013 Civil Administration Law. The court said articles in the law requiring adherents of indigenous faiths to leave the religion columns of in their ID cards blank were discriminatory.

For Sual, the freedom to show his identity in the civil registry is pivotal. He was the first one among the Malesung believers to make the arrangement with the civil registry authorities regarding his faith.

Another eight people have gotten their [updated] family cards. They are now in the process of revising their ID cards, he said.

Sual said everyone practicing traditional Minahasa rituals could be seen as Malesung faith followers. Some had openly acknowledged their beliefs, while others chose to keep stating their religion as it was previously regulated by the government on their ID cards.

Malesung rituals symbolize a way to establish a relationship with the Creator, who is known by several names, such as Empung Wailan Wangko, Empung Kasuruan Wangko and Opo Wana Natas.

The rituals are often done in open spaces. This way, we can hear the signs of nature more clearly. They cant be done in buildings as we grew out of an agricultural culture, Sual said.

The Creator figure in Malesung belief is represented by Muku, who are messengers sent to interact with believers. Sual explained that some Muku are ancestors who are leos (good), while others are lewo (bad).

They serve as intermediaries to give direction and advice to Malesung believers.

Sual further explained the concept of God in the Malesung religion consisted of three parts: Manalinga (the one who hears), Manembo (the one who sees) and Renga-Rengaan (the one who loves and punishes).

Malesung believers, he said, often experienced rejection, especially by followers of other religions. However, Sual said Malesung believers responded by only focusing on conveying their love to the Creator.

Denny Pinontoan, a theology professor at the Tomohon Indonesia Christian University in North Sulawesi, said the inclusion of native faiths in civil registry documents such as family and ID cards was in line with the Constitution, as it was parallel with the principle of religious freedom.

He said he appreciated the Minahasa people who wanted to revive the Malesung faith or pass it down to the younger generations.

This ancestral belief existed long before the government established the six officials religions; therefore, [Malesung] is not a new religion, Denny said.

The professor, who once wrote a dissertation on the traditional multicultural Minahasa society, said the government's recognition of ancient beliefs had shown the diversity in Minahasa and more generally in North Sulawesi.

Theres a belief in Sangihe called Masade or Old Islam. There is also the Musi native belief in Talaud.

These might surprise many people as the general public often think that Christianity had been practiced in Minahasa for a long time, Denny said.

Christianity had been embraced since the late 19th century when it was brought by European missionaries. However, it did not completely replace native beliefs such as Malesung, as people still practice its rituals and important elements until now, said Denny. (aly)
This is the time for suspension of AVR, said Republican Rep. Avery Bourne of downstate Morrisonville. Already the registrations that are happening now with AVR are not valid for this election, and so this is the time. We need an audit, we need suspension and we need to get to the bottom of this. Its past time that we get this right.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11

Trend:

Azerbaijan has sufficient strategic foreign exchange reserves, Chairman of the Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA) Elman Rustamov told reporters.

Rustamov was commenting on the sharp drop in oil prices and its possible impact on the national currency rate, Trend reports on March 11.

We have enough current reserves, Rustamov said. Transfers of the Azerbaijani State Oil Fund (SOFAZ) are constantly made. CBA has its own reserves. The Ministry of Finance also has great reserves.

We will use these reserves, the chairman added. "I think that the problem will be resolved faster than we expect. However, we must not forget about our strategic reserves."

"Our appeal to the population is to help us to solve this problem soon, said Rustamov.
U.S. Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon, of Delaware County, is endorsing Joe Biden for president, hours after he racked up another series of decisive primary victories Tuesday night that all-but ensure he will be the Democratic nominee.

Scanlon announced her support Wednesday morning saying, emphasizing her belief that Biden will help other Democrats in key Congressional races and contests that could determine control of Pennsylvanias state house.

We need a nominee who will help candidates up and down the ballot. After talking with state representatives and senators in competitive races, I am confident that having Vice President Joe Biden as our nominee will help us not just to protect our House majority but also to flip the PA legislature, Scanlon said in a statement. Vice President Biden has shown us throughout his career of public service the type of leadership that represents the very best of who we are as Americans: compassion, civility, and courage.

Her announcement came shortly after four New Jersey Democrats, including Camden Countys Rep. Donald Norcross, also threw their support behind Biden. New Jersey Reps. Bill Pascrell, Jr., Josh Gottheimer, and Mikie Sherrill also backed the former vice president.

Nearly all of Pennsylvanias congressional delegation has now lined up with Biden, a Scranton native who has based his campaign in Philadelphia and has emphasized the importance of winning back a critical state that President Donald Trump carried in 2016 to help seal that election.

Reps. Brendan Boyle and Dwight Evans, of Philadelphia, were early supporters. Swing-district House members including Chrissy Houlahan, of Chester County, Matt Cartwright, of Northeastern Pennsylvania, and Conor Lamb, of Western Pennsylvania, also endorsed Biden early.

Rep. Madeleine Dean, of Montgomery County, backed Biden last week, as did Rep. Andy Kim, of South Jersey.

Sen. Bob Casey, also of Scranton, was one of Bidens earliest endorsers, and Sen. Cory Booker, of New Jersey, endorsed Biden Monday and helped him rally voters in Michigan ahead of the voting there Tuesday.

No one in Pennsylvania or New Jerseys congressional delegation has endorsed Bidens chief rival, Sen. Bernie Sanders, though a number of state level officials have.
A publican has appealed to all social media users to be responsible when posting about Covid-19 after his business was wrongfully linked to a Coronavirus case.

Damien Clarke felt he had to write a notice of clarification after his pub P Clarkes in Navan was the subject of rumours on WhatsApp and Facebook groups over a reported case of the virus in the county on Tuesday.

He believes that such unfounded rumours on social media could ruin small businesses already facing uncertainty in the current climate.

The post said: "We would like to put a stop to these vicious rumours currently circulating around social media and WhatsApp groups that a member of our staff has contracted Covid-19.

"This is entirely untrue. Not one of our members of staff has been in contact with anyone with the virus or travelled abroad in the last few months.

"Spreading vicious rumours around like this without a bit of evidence can massively affect a local business like us. Please think before you write comments that can have a massive knock-on effect."

Damien said he was glad he posted the piece after he received huge feedback from the public.

"I was told by a number of people that there was talk of a Covid-19 case in P. Clarkes and I was sent screenshots of various WhatsApp and Facebook pages where it was mentioned and widely shared," he said. "I only have one full-time and a few part-time staff and none have left the country in months or been in contact with anyone infected. So how the rumour started is beyond me.

"These things get shared online like wildfire and then all of a sudden, people think theres no smoke without fire and stop coming in. These posts can ruin businesses, especially Covid-19 which has people totally panicked."

He said while the pub remains busy, the cancellation of the last two rugby matches hasnt helped and St Patricks Day is normally one of the busiest days of the year.

"Now with the parades cancelled, we dont know what to expect or whats around the corner."

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

Coronavirus in brief
The Mi 10 and Mi 10 Pro may already be selling well in China, but the two devices are yet to receive a global release. Due to be launched on March 27, Xiaomi has now demonstrated the capabilities of the device's 108 MP camera, and the results are impressive.

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The Mi 10 series are some of the first smartphones to feature a 108 MP camera, although they are not the first Xiaomi handsets to do so. We have already seen how well the Samsung ISOCELL Bright HMX performs in the Mi Note 10 and Mi Note 10 Pro, with Xiaomi including the same 108 MP camera in the Mi Mix Alpha too. While the dynamic range that it offered in low-light conditions did not impress us, the details it captures in daylight did.

Ahead of their global launch on March 27, Xiaomi has been showcasing the camera capabilities of the Mi 10 and Mi 10 Pro. Last week the company showcased the series' "cinematic video" capabilities, and now it has published images "shot from space".

While these sample shots look rich and detailed, there is one caveat worth bearing in mind. As Xiaomi concedes in the video below, it did not send a Mi 10 Pro into space. Instead, the company launched a satellite that it claims contained the same 108 MP camera as the Mi 10 series does. We will have to take Xiaomi's word on this one. Additionally, we have no way of verifying whether these photos have been edited in post-production.
Popular Nigerian televangelist, and founder and senior pastor of Salvation Ministries, David Ibiyeome has stated that it is wrong for a lady to see the manhood of her fiance before marriage.

The cleric said this while discussing relationship matters at the Youth Arise service.

Read Also: Pastor David Ibiyeomie drops charges against Kemi Omololu over Iyabo Ojo affairs scandal (Photos)

A member asked if its allowed for a woman to see her fiances sex organ before marriage to check if hes OK sexually and Pastor Ibiyeomie said it is not in the womans place to check, instead, if the man has a sexual problem, he should confide in his wife-to-be.

Watch the video below:
Two Americans and one British servicemember were killed in a rocket attack on Iraqs Camp Taji base, just north of Baghdad, a security source confirmed to Al-Monitor. One American contractor was among the dead in the attack that took place at around 8 p.m. local time March 11, the source said.

US forces in Iraq quickly located a truck that had the capability to fire 36 Katyushas near the base. Pictures of vehicles carrying the Soviet-era rocket artillery system surfaced on Twitter in the hours after the attack.

Camp Taji was not targeted during the Jan. 8 Iranian ballistic missile attack that left more than 100 US service members with mild traumatic brain injuries. The news came amid reports of several strikes against Iran-backed Popular Mobilization Units and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps units along Iraqs border with Syria.

Wednesdays attack could spark a response from the Donald Trump administration, as the commander in chief has previously pledged that the death of American servicemembers or personnel could trigger a US military reaction.

President Trump, flanked by top military officials, insisted in a White House speech in January after the ballistic missile attacks that Iran appeared to be standing down after a 12-day spell that saw an American contractor killed and US retaliation that began with strikes on military caches of Iran-backed groups.

But experts insist that Iran was never likely to stand down for long after a Pentagon drone strike took out Iranian Quds Force chief Qasem Soleimani, whom US officials credited with extending Irans paramilitary reach into Iraq, Syria and Yemen. Soleimani would have turned 63 today.

Iran was never going to sit back after the Soleimani episode, and folks who said it was over were jumping the gun, said Ariane Tabatabai, an associate political scientist at the RAND Corporation. So, if this is them, then it was to be expected.

The scope and lethality of Wednesdays attacks could indicate that Iran has further extended its willingness to escalate the ongoing tit-for-tat with the United States. Seems in line with their modus operandi, but they appear more willing to inflict casualties, which was seen as a red line for a while, Tabatabai added.

It was not immediately clear if the US or coalition military officials had detained anyone from the vehicle. The security source who spoke to Al-Monitor said there was no way the attack could have been carried out by the Islamic State (IS).

The episode marks the second fatal episode for US troops in Iraq this week. On March 8, the Pentagon confirmed that Gunnery Sgt. Diego D. Pongo, 34, of Simi Valley, California, and Capt. Moises A. Navas, 34, of Germantown, Maryland, assigned to a Marine special forces battalion were killed in a raid against IS forces in Makhmur, a city in northern Iraq.
New Delhi, March 11 : Amid the growing coronavirus scare and the accompanying rumours, a poultry farmer in Karnataka buried thousands of chickens alive to avoid the spread of the contagious disease.

A Twitter user by the name of Niranjan Kaggere (@nkaggere) shared a shocking video of the incident with the caption, "A dejected farmer Nazeer Makandar from Lolasoora village in Gokak, Belagavi, decided to bury chickens from his poultry farm, following steep fall in price due to #CoronavirusOutbreak." In the shared video, one can see the farmer burying chickens alive in a pit. As the video went viral, Twitterati flooded the social media with their reactions.

A user wrote, "Cruel. He could have just left the chickens out. Why did he have to bury them alive." Another wrote, "Instead of doing this, he could have distributed them for free." "This is madness. We tend to use nature's givings and when the time comes, we show no mercy in destroying them. At least these birds could have been given some anaesthetics to kill them off. Burying something alive is not a solution to any problem," read one post.

A user remarked, "End of humanity. You can't just bury them alive on the basis of a rumour." The poultry industry in different parts of the country has been hit hard amid rumours that the novel coronavirus can be transmitted through consumption of chicken, the prices of which have fallen considerably as a result.

Last month, the Union Ministry of Animal Husbandry had clarified that chicken may be considered safe as no report has so far confirmed its involvement in the coronavirus outbreak.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
The purpose of national economic reform is to change the structure and overall direction of an economy. Reforms therefore can affect the amount of resources available to a country. They can also affect human rights .

South Africa desperately needs to reform its economy. Its capacity to deal with its tragic problems of unemployment, poverty and inequality is diminishing. State owned enterprises like the power utility Eskom , public transport group Prasa and South Africa Airways , are failing to deliver adequate services. They are also draining public resources away from more productive and socially beneficial purposes.

And the country's economy is too carbon intensive. It needs to transition to less carbon intensive forms of production and consumption.

The South African government's proposed responses to these challenges are controversial. They involve job losses and cuts in social services. Government claims that over time the reforms will yield more jobs, better services and a growing economy that is environmentally sustainable. Unfortunately, while the short term costs are clear, the long term benefits are uncertain. Even if they arrive, they may not benefit the groups bearing the short term losses.

The same is true about the alternatives. For example, the mining sector's efforts to protect the coal industry may preserve jobs but at the cost of the long term health of children. Efforts by trade union to preserve wages for public sector workers may mean fewer jobs in the public sector for today's students and learners.

In short, all these options may produce substantial benefits. But they may also exacerbate social conflict and not generate the promised benefits.

Mitigating risks

What can government do to mitigate the risks and maximise the chances of an outcome that is economically productive and socially and environmentally sustainable? What can be done to minimise social dislocations?

Government should develop a good understanding of how each of the different proposals will affect different groups in society  today and over the life of the reforms. This cannot be done merely through dialogue and speculation. It requires impact assessments of each reform option before its implemented.

Such impact assessments are standard operating practice for large projects. Their scope has expanded over time. They now include environmental, social, health and, more recently, human rights elements.

International best practice standards have been developed for different actors. For example, the financial sector has developed the Equator Principles. The International Council of Mining and Minerals has a new set of Mining Principles . More generally applicable principles including the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and the International Organization for Standardization's standards on environmental management, sustainability and social responsibility.

There are growing demands for similar impact assessments of substantial government policy initiatives.

Measuring impact on rights

In 2019, the UN Human Rights Council adopted a resolution encouraging all states, national human rights institutions and non-state actors to use the Guiding Principles on Human Rights Impact Assessment of Economic Reforms when developing economic reforms. These principles were developed by the UN's Independent Expert on Foreign Debt and Human Rights .

The Centre for Human Rights at the University of Pretoria has developed a user friendly guide to the 22 guiding principles for governments and civil society groups in the 15 countries that belong to the South African Development Community.

The principles begin with an overview of the binding human rights obligations that states assumed by signing and ratifying the international human rights conventions.

These treaties oblige governments to respect, protect and fulfil the human rights of people under their jurisdiction. They should ensure that their economic reform efforts promote and do not undermine human rights. This means that governments must implement reforms that are non-discriminatory. These reforms must also allocate the maximum available resources to the realisation of the rights of all people in a country.

Where governments cannot avoid adopting policies that have an adverse effect on human rights, they must ensure that their actions are necessary, proportionate, reasonable, non-discriminatory. They must also ensure that such policies are designed to contribute to the ultimate realisation of human rights.

The guiding principles also specify that governments should ensure that their proposed reform policies are assessed for their impact on human rights. These impact assessments should assess the short, medium and long term impacts of the proposed policies. They should also be based on the principles of participation, access to information and accountability.

The aim is to promote a national dialogue about the proposed policies. The Guiding Principles are flexible about who, inside or outside the government, should undertake these impact assessments. However, the assessors must be credible, independent and technically competent and the impact assessments must inform policymaking.

Time to act

Even before the UN's guiding principles were adopted, governments and non-state actors began assessing economic reform initiatives for their impact on human rights. For example, Thailand's National Human Rights Commission assessed the impact on human rights of the proposed US-Thailand Free Trade Agreement. The UN Economic Commission for Africa, the UN Office of the High Commission for Human Rights and the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung jointly commissioned a human rights assessment of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement. The government of Scotland conducts an annual equality impact assessment of its budget. And the Center for Economic and Social Rights has coordinated human rights impact assessments of austerity programmes in Brazil, South Africa and Spain.

South Africa's Social and Economic Impact Assessment System requires government to assess the socioeconomic impact of proposed policy initiatives, legislation and regulation before they are submitted to cabinet for approval. It is unclear if such an assessment has been done of current economic reform proposals.

The government should do this assessment and should release it for public comment and review. But there's no reason for non-state actors to wait for government to act. Social organisations, representing business, labour and civil society can conduct their own impact assessments. This will inform the debate about the economic reform strategy that South Africa should adopt.

Danny Bradlow's SARCHI chair is funded by the National Research Foundation. The preparation of the user friendly booklet discussed in this article was supported by the Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa.

By Danny Bradlow, SARCHI Professor of International Development Law and African Economic Relations, University of Pretoria
Macho men who conform to male gender roles are more likely to struggle and be isolated in old age, researchers have warned.

Toxic masculinity  an attitude that incorporates a belief in 'real men'  impacts men's social relationships, health, well-being and overall happiness, the study found.

A sociologist at Michigan State University said that when issues arise, like health or financial problems, men are less likely to share them with friends of family.

This may have a damaging impact on their mental health in later life, especially as they get older and retire, becoming more isolated.

The belief that 'real men' must be strong, tough and independent may be a detriment to their social needs later in life

'Often, toxic masculinity is a term that we use to describe how masculinity affects other people, especially women,' said Michigan State University assistant professor Stef Shuster.

'But our study shows how toxic masculinity also has detrimental consequences for the men who subscribe to these ideals.

'The very premise of hegemonic masculinity in some ways is based on the idea of isolation because it's about being autonomous and not showing a lot of emotion.

'It's hard to develop friendships living this way.'

The team analysed nearly 5,500 older men and women from the Wisconsin Longitudinal Survey and determined where the men sat on the masculinity spectrum.

The study found that men have significantly lower odds than women do of having any confidant or of having both friends and family members as confidants.

'Having people with whom we can talk about personal matters is a form of social support,' said Shuster.

The study claims that embracing toxic masculinity is an act of 'self-harming' as it leads to damage in later life

'If people only have one person that they can share information with, or sometimes even no people, they don't really have an opportunity to reflect and share.

WHAT IS 'TOXIC' MASCULINITY? Toxic masculinity is a 'cultural concept of manliness that glorifies stoicism, strength, virility and dominance'. Dictionary.com says it is socially maladaptive or harmful to mental health. Men and women both suffer when toxic masculinity perpetuates expectations that are restrictive and traumatising. It is a phrase that has been used synonymously with hegemonic masculinity - practice that legitimises men's dominant position in society. Advertisement

People born between the mid 1940s and mid 1960s  known as 'baby boomers'  are now retiring from the workforce, and face challenges in finding and sustaining healthy friendships, the researchers say.

Changes common in later life such as widowhood or moving to a new home can also disrupt their existing friendships  and ideals of toxic masculinity can make this worse.

'When we age, there are certain ways that we can ensure we maintain our health and well-being,' said Shuster.

'Older men who endorse the ideals of toxic masculinity can become siloed off as they age.

'Not all older men are at risk  just those who favour a particular set of ideals.'

The researchers said that men with toxic masculinity should embrace an 'alternative understanding of masculinity' that doesn't rely on 'independence and toughness'.

However, the higher men score on the scale of hegemonic or toxic masculinity, the less likely they are to change their views or seek help.

Traditional masculinity is toxic and encouraging boys not to cry is dangerous to their health, according to the worlds leading psychology group

'Can you change someone's ideological principles? I think that's a harder sell than trying to get people to believe that social isolation is incredibly detrimental to their health,' said Shuster.

'It's about learning how to offer tools for people not to be socially isolated and helping them develop the capacity to recognise that all of the ways they have upheld being so-called "real men" is not going to work for them as they age.'

The study, which claims to be one of the first to treat masculinity as 'a spectrum', was published in the journal Sex Roles.

According to the American Psychological Association, traditional toxic masculinity is encouraging boys not to cry and is dangerous to their health.

The organisation argues that a traditional masculinity ideology pushes boys toward anti-femininity', in a report from last year.
Thirty years after independence from Soviet Union, some in Lithuania fight new battle to fend off Russian influence.

On March 11, a public holiday commemorates the day that the newly democratically elected Parliament of Lithuania declared independence in 1990, catalysing the collapse of the Soviet Union.

At midday on Wednesday in the Independence Square of Lithuanias capital city, Vilnius, crowds gathered for the Freedom celebration as the three Baltic flags were raised, before marching through the government district.

Thirty years since independence, Lithuania is still battling for the freedom of information, as civic initiatives and legislation are set out to counter false news stories from Russian state TV and social media.

Russian disinformation is nothing new to Lithuania or its Baltic neighbours, Latvia and Estonia.

It never truly ceased after the end of the Soviet Union. But there was a significant lull leading up to 2004, when all three Baltic states joined NATO, says Monika Hanley, a researcher at the Strategic Communications Center for Excellence (StratCom), a NATO organisation based in Riga, Latvia that monitors and publishes reports on Russian disinformation.

Since the annexation of Crimea in 2014, false narratives became much more aggressive, says Lukas Andriukaitis, an Associate Editor at the Digital Forensic Research Lab at the Atlantic Council.

Typical narratives portray the Baltics as failed states that have fared worse since leaving the Soviet Union, or as Nazi sympathisers that oppress the Russian population.

Andriukaitis monitors Russian disinformation in the Baltics, particularly about NATOs presence in the region.

Every week we see new narratives, he says, describing a recent story from Russia, which alleges that a large-scale NATO military exercise in Europe, Defender 2020, will cause the coronavirus to rapidly spread across Europe.

#Lithuania broke the soviet ice and regained independence exactly 30 years ago! Our freedom shall prosper #march11 pic.twitter.com/XonrkFWPvl  Linas Kojala (@LinasKojala) March 11, 2020

Hacking is another concern.

When Russian operatives again broke into online news platform Kas vyksta Kaune, they posted a new story about US plans to move nuclear weapons to Lithuania. They sent fake emails pretending to be from known journalists to Lithuanian officials, looking for an official comment on the fake story, and even a fake tweet from the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo congratulating the Lithuanian president on the news.

Back in Russia, the story was circulated widely across social media channels.

The aim, says Elina Lange-Ionatamishvili, a senior expert at Stratcom, is to create chaos.

It seeks to create mistrust between citizens and their government, shift the focus away from Russia and portray Russia in a positive light, she says.

The Elves versus the trolls

A rapidly growing counter disinformation initiative in Lithuania is the so-called Elves, a loose network of more than 3,000 anonymous volunteers who spend their free time dismantling the information campaigns of Russian trolls.

They may be mathematicians, chemistry experts, linguists, says Vaidas Saldziunas, a defence correspondent at Delfi, a Baltic media outlet that collaborates with the elves.

The group was formed in 2014 following the conflict in eastern Ukraine when the threat of Russian information warfare on the West became a top concern among the international community.

People thought, what can they do to prevent the same thing happening here, says Saldziunas.

Another counter-disinformation project is the website Demaskuok.

Also known as Debunk.eu, it is formed by a collaboration of the military, journalists and civil society, funded by Google Digital News Innovation Fund and Delfi.

Using an analytic tool driven by multiple artificial intelligence algorithms, it scans an estimated 30,000 articles a day from more than 1,000 sources against a database of trigger words and narrative.

Elves and fact checkers verify the articles and identify the potential false narratives. Flagged content is then reviewed by journalists from a range of outlets and the elves potential further action, including vigorous debunking.

If we expose the source of disinformation, theres a good chance people will realise it cant be trusted, says Saldziunas.

Alberto Alemanno, a professor of EU law and regulation at HEC Paris, says the initiatives impact is limited given the scale and nature of disinformation.

Another consideration, he says, is belief formation. One 2017 study shows that correcting disinformation does not change peoples political perceptions.

Internal weaknesses

The lack of a clear-cut criteria used by debunking initiatives across Europe leaves room for error, says Alemanno.

The weakness of official counter-disinformation efforts was highlighted by EU vs Disinfo, the EUs in-house online anti-disinformation effort. In March 2018, the site retracted articles from Dutch media after falsely labelling it disinformation, sparking criticism in the Netherlands.

One article was mistranslated by non-Dutch speakers at a Ukrainian NGO, while another was satire mistakenly taken at face value.

Alemanno, who complained about the anti-fake news initiative to the EUs internal watchdog, says: It was concerning that those individuals or organisations who might have been blacklisted had no chance to ask for a review, despite the risk of major reputational damage. The situation hasnt really improved.

Lithuania has an increasing number of legal tools to combat alleged sources of disinformation.

The countrys Radio and Television Commission has intermittently fined and suspended Russian TV channels  such as the Kremlin-backed Planeta RTR and Sputnik  for using fake information to falsely depict historical events or inciting hatred.

Authorities can also order electronic communications providers such as servers to shut down for 48 hours without a court order if they are used to launch a cyber incident, including a disinformation attack.

Academics and journalists said these measures will not truly address the problem of Russian propaganda. Any attempt at limiting the outreach can be defied by subtler forms of communication online, says Alemanno.

While many states have emphasised technical solutions, teaching media literacy  the ability to tell the difference between credible and false information  is more effective, says Hanley.

Finland has had notable success in this regard.

In 2014, the government devised a public school curriculum that gives young children lessons in critical thinking, fact checking, and interpreting information. The Nordic nation tops the list of 35 European countries deemed the most resilient to disinformation, according to the 2019 Media Literacy Index.

Although there have been attempts to highlight the importance of media literacy in Lithuania  which comes in 19th place on the index  the concept is not widespread. Andriukaitis of the Atlantic Council recognises the need for more media literacy education. This week he will teach workshops about verifying sources of information to school children.

Disinformation can never be fully stopped unless all pieces of information are filtered, which is quite impossible, nor should that happen, in most opinions. The idea of having some sort of overarching truth authority defeats the purpose of a free society, says Hanley. Societal resilience is key.
Workers wearing protective gear arrive to spray disinfectant as a precaution against the new coronavirus at a shopping street in Seoul, South Korea, on Feb. 27, 2020. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

Costs to South Korea of Standing With China During Coronavirus Outbreak Outweigh Gains

Commentary

As the deadly novel coronavirus rages across the world, countries with close ties to the Chinese regime seem to be paying a price.

South Koreas coronavirus outbreak had been relatively calmuntil the latter half of last month.

On Feb. 19, the country reported 15 new cases, including its first death. The next day, the number increased by 53, exceeding the total number of confirmed cases from January, and the day after that, new cases surged to 100. Since then, the number has skyrocketed as the outbreak worsens by the day.

There are two recent events worth noting.

On Feb. 20, Kang Seung-seok, South Koreas newly appointed consul general in Chinas outbreak epicenter of Wuhan, visited the city with donated relief supplies from his home country. Kang told Chinese media upon arrival that its very meaningful for the South Korean government to dispatch me to Wuhan during this very difficult period, according to the Chinese Communist Partys mouthpiece newspaper Peoples Daily.

Kang also said South Korea and Chinaespecially Hubei Province, whose capital is Wuhanenjoy very close relations, and that they would maintain such relations through mutual understanding and help, no matter the circumstances.

Chinese state media prominently covered his trip, calling him a nonconformist in choosing to visit Wuhan while everyone else was avoiding it.

Also on Feb. 20, Chinese leader Xi Jinping had a phone conversation with South Korean President Moon Jae-in. Chinese state media said Moon had specially called to express his condolences and support, which shows the friendship between China and South Korea, as close neighbors look out for each other and share lifes ups and downs.

Moon, for his part, said that Chinas suffering is our own suffering, and the Korean government will try its best to give assistance to its closest neighbor in these difficult times.

On Feb. 11, the South Korean consulate in Wuhan wrote on its official Weibo account: Chinas difficulty is our difficulty, Korean Consulate stands with you! The consulate also hung banners on its outer wall with those words emblazoned on them.

While these words appear to address the people of China, its in fact helping and encouraging the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The regime, in trying to maintain its power and image, has continued to ignore the plight of Chinese citizens and hide the truth about the outbreak.

The CCP also intentionally confused the concept of Party and nation. Under the banner of China, it has deceived the world and won over the sympathy of foreign countries as well as support for its power. By saying we stand with you, South Korea is effectively choosing to stand with the CCP.

South Korean Churchs Wuhan Meeting

South Koreas first patient, confirmed on Jan. 20, was a 35-year-old Chinese woman who had traveled from Wuhan. On Jan. 19, the woman landed in Seoul, and was immediately quarantined for exhibiting symptoms that included a fever. Several other returnees from Wuhan later tested positive for the virus.

Shincheonji, a secretive church in the countrys southern city of Daegu that claims to have more than 200,000 followers, has been identified as the center of South Koreas outbreak.

As of March 10, South Koreas top health authority KCDC has identified 4,710 cases linked with Shincheonji, accounting for about 63 percent of the tally.

Shincheonji church members had been holding meetings in Wuhan until December, according to South China Morning Post.

The sect had around 200 members in Wuhan, according to the newspaper, which cited anonymous sources.

A kindergarten teacher, who had been part of the Wuhan gatherings, told the Post that rumors about a virus began to circulate in November but no one took them seriously.

On Feb. 29, South Koreas Ministry of Justice said about 3,600 Shincheonji members had traveled to South Korea from China over the past eight months, with 42 of them from Wuhan.

Could the community infections in Daegu be connected with some of these members from China?

Although Moons administration has imposed travel restrictions on visitors from Hubei, it didnt apply such a ban on travelers from other parts of China.

On Feb. 4, a petition was drafted, demanding Moons impeachment over his handling of the outbreak.

Failure to enact timely travel restrictions against China, the petition said, endangered the lives of South Koreans. Moon seems more like the president of China, rather than the president of South Korea, it read.

The petition had gathered about 1.47 million signatures by its March 5 deadline.

Responding to calls from the public and lawmakers for a broader travel ban on China, Moon said such limitations were impossible and held no practical benefit. According to local media, Moon was worried that the restrictions could backfire and encourage other countries to impose similar measures against South Korean citizens.

Beijing Regime Turns Against South Korea as Virus Hits

As South Korea rushed to control its outbreak, Chinese state media derided the countrys slow response. Toutiao, a popular Chinese news app, said South Korea was trying to cheat off Chinas test paper, but got the opposite results.

Some local Chinese officials also quarantined people who traveled from South Korea. Chosun, a South Korean newspaper, remarked that the Chinese regime was exhibiting schadenfreude.

The coronavirus outbreak has directly affected countries that have close economic ties with China, such as South Korea, where the tourism and automobile industries have suffered significant losses.

According to data from the Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association, South Korean automaker Hyundai has cut back production of 120,000 cars, resulting in a loss of more than 1 trillion won (about $843.87 million).

The drastic worsening of the outbreak in South Korea deserves some reflection. The CCP has asked Chinese people to follow the Partys instructions and guidance, and other countries to stand with the Party. But it concealed the truth about the virus from its own citizens and the worlds people, which has resulted in global damage.

The facts have again shown that being friends with the CCP will be detrimental to the country and its people. To look out for each other with the CCP could be a recipe for disaster, and the costs outweigh the gains.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
The Jianghan temporary hospital in Wuhan, the epicenter of the novel coronavirus outbreak in central Chinas Hubei Province, closed on March 9 after running for 34 days amid the epidemic.

Medical workers celebrate after the closure of a temporary hospital in Wuchang District of Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, March 10, 2020. The last two temporary hospitals in Wuhan, the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in central China's Hubei Province, were shut down Tuesday, marking the closure of all 16 temporary hospitals in the city. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)

The temporary hospital was originally converted from the Wuhan International Conference and Exhibition Center due to a lack of beds in the early stages of the outbreak. Now that the epidemic is gradually being brought under control in Wuhan, big hospitals are able to treat the remaining pneumonia patients, according to Sun Hui, director of the hospital.

By the time the hospital was closed, it had received a total of 1,848 patients, the largest number among the temporary hospitals in Wuhan. While 1,327 patients were discharged from the hospital, the remaining 521 patients, of whom only 57 were severe cases, were transferred to other hospitals in Wuhan in order to receive better treatment.

As the hospital set a high standard for recovered patients to be discharged, none of those released suffered relapses and were sent back to the hospital. In order to be able to check out from the hospital, a patient not only had to reach normal levels in his blood, CT and nucleic acid tests, but also had to be evaluated by experts before they approved his discharge.

None of the medical workers in the hospital was infected with the novel coronavirus. The hospital provided training on virus prevention for every staff member there, including police officers and cleaning staff. The hospital also asked medical workers to supervise prevention work at the hospital to avoid further infection.
Technavio has been monitoring the magnetic sensors and it is poised to grow by USD 823.62 million during 2020-2024, progressing at a CAGR of over 6% 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/20200310005988/en/

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Magnetic Sensors Market 2020-2024 (Graphic: Business Wire)

The market is concentrated, and the degree of concentration will accelerate during the forecast period. NVE Corp., NXP Semiconductors NV, STMicroelectronics NV, TDK Corp. and Texas Instruments Inc. are some of the major market participants. The increasing adoption of PDUs by data centers 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.

Increasing adoption of PDUs by data centers has been instrumental in driving the growth of the market.

Magnetic Sensors 2020-2024: Segmentation

Magnetic Sensors is segmented as below:

Application

Automotive

Industrial

Consumer Electronics

Others

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=IRTNTR40841

Magnetic Sensors 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 magnetic sensors report covers the following areas:

Magnetic Sensors Size

Magnetic Sensors Trends

Magnetic Sensors Industry Analysis

This study identifies rise in adoption of robots for industrial automation as one of the prime reasons driving the magnetic sensors growth during the next few years.

Magnetic Sensors 2020-2024: Vendor Analysis

We provide a detailed analysis of around 25 vendors operating in the magnetic sensors, including some of the vendors such as NVE Corp., NXP Semiconductors NV, STMicroelectronics NV, TDK Corp. and Texas Instruments Inc. are some of the major market participants. Backed with competitive intelligence and benchmarking, our research reports on the magnetic sensors are designed to provide entry support, customer profile and M&As as well as go-to-market strategy support.

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Magnetic Sensors 2020-2024: Key Highlights

CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2020-2024

Detailed information on factors that will assist magnetic sensors growth during the next five years

Estimation of the magnetic sensors size and its contribution to the parent market

Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behaviour

The growth of the magnetic sensors

Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors

Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of magnetic sensors 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 size

Market outlook

Market sizing 2019

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 APPLICATION

Market segmentation by application

Comparison by application

Automotive Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Industrial Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Consumer electronics Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Others Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Market opportunity by application

PART 07: CUSTOMER LANDSCAPE

PART 08: GEOGRAPHIC LANDSCAPE

Geographic segmentation

Geographic comparison

APAC Market size and forecast 2019-2024

North America Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Europe Market size and forecast 2019-2024

South America Market size and forecast 2019-2024

MEA 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

Growth in number of M&A

Increasing investments in EVs

Rise in adoption of robots for industrial automation

PART 12: VENDOR LANDSCAPE

Overview

Landscape disruption

Competitive scenario

PART 13: VENDOR ANALYSIS

Vendors covered

Vendor classification

Market positioning of vendors

Analog Devices, Inc.

Asahi Kasei Corp.

Honeywell International Inc.

Infineon Technologies AG

Melexis NV

NVE Corp.

NXP Semiconductors NV

STMicroelectronics NV

TDK Corp.

Texas Instruments Inc.

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.

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The Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA) noted that things were under control till February-end and it was only in the first week of March that the dealers started getting circulars from state transport departments with deadlines for getting the BS-IV vehicles registered, according to media reports. Automobile dealers fear that they would not be able to liquidate the BS-IV inventory before the month-end deadline.

FADA's Appeal in SC for Extension of Sale beyond 31st of March for Dealer stock was not considered by the Hon'ble Court. With the weak demand situation, liquidation of complete BS-IV Inventory is the top focus and FADA has already appealed to all OEM's to Switch Over completely to BS6 despatches to dealers. The last 14 months has seen the one of its toughest times in auto sales. FADA has therefore requested OEM's through SIAM that any BS-IV vehicle billed, which are not against specific customer orders, to be on returnable basis to avoid financial loss to its Members.

FADA will also Co-ordinate with Banks and NBFC's to ensure financing of BS-IV inventory till the SC mandated date of 31st of March to ensure liquidation of the BS4 stocks and smooth transition to BS6 without any Financial Implication to any stake holder. With continued weak consumer sentiment and the overall economic situation, as well as the Upcoming BS-VI Transition, the near-term Demand situation will continue to be dynamic.

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Bigg Boss 13 contestants including Paras Chhabra, Mahira Sharma, Arti Singh, Vishal Aditya Singh and Shefali Jariwala recently had a fun reunion and they all partied together.

The get together was hosted by Shefali and her husband and actor Parag Tyagi. Vikas Gupta and Hindustani Bhau also joined the gang for a fun night out. However, Sidharth Shukla, Shehnaz Gill, Asim Riaz, Himanshi Khurana, Rashami Desai and Devoleena Bhattacharjee seemed to be conspicuous by their absence from the reunion party.

Read: Sidharth Shukla, Asim Riaz, Shehnaz Gill Give Bigg Boss 13 Reunion Party A Miss

Bigg Boss 13 contestant Paras Chhabra opened up about his journey inside the Bigg Boss house and the end of his 3 year relationship with actress Akanksha Puri. "My relationship with Akanksha was going through a rough phase and it would have ended anytime. When I was offered the show, during a fight she told me that now that you have got this show, so you will leave me. As I was coming for the show I did not want to do anything negative (break-up) in my life so I left it on hold. Also, I told her that if I get a girl on the show, I will move on," he said.

Read: Told Akanksha Puri I will Move On If I Get a Girl Inside Bigg Boss 13, Says Paras Chhabra

Bollywood veteran Amitabh Bachchan turned nostalgic on Holi. The Bollywood actor took to Instagram to share throwback black and white photographs of his Holi celebrations over the years.

Some of the photographs are from the famous Holi celebrations of yore at RK Studios with legendary actors Raj Kapoor, Shammi Kapoor, Jeetendra, Shatrughan Sinha and others, while Big B also shared Holi photos from his younger days where he can be seen celebrating the festival of colours at his bungalow Prateeksha with his wife Jaya Bachchan and son Abhishek who was a kid at that time.

Read: Amitabh Bachchan Gets Nostalgic As He Shares Throwback Pictures of Best Holi Celebrations

Actress Priyanka Chopra took to Instagram to share a colourful Holi picture with husband Nick Jonas from their recent trip to India. The couple, who recently went back to USA celebrated Nick Jonas' first Holi in Mumbai and Pune.

Taking to Instagram, the Quantico actress wished her fans a happy Holi. "We have already been living in color over the past few days. Literally. Nicks first Holi was made so special being home. May everyone celebrating have a very happy and safe Holi," she wrote.

Read: Priyanka Chopra Shares Holi Picture with Nick Jonas,Calls It 'Living in Color'

On Holi 2020 let us take a look at how Bollywood needs to take accountability for downplaying sexual harassment against women in the name of the Holi spirit.

From excusing rowdy behaviour in the name of the festival to sexist song lyrics that glorify harrassment, it is high time for Bollywood to acknowledge that it has been acting as an enabler against the safety of women for many years.

Read: Holi 2020: How Bollywood Needs to Take Accountability for Downplaying Harassment in the Festival

Follow @News18Movies for more
Jyotiraditya Scindia formally joined the Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday, a day after quitting the Congress along with 22 Madhya Pradesh MLAs. This has reduced the Kamal Nath government in the state to a minority.

Commenting on Jyotiraditya's resignation, political commentator Abhilash Khandekar said, "It is a bold step. He had been sulking for over a year as he was denied the post of Pradesh Congress chief. Hurdles had also been created in the way of him getting a berth in the Rajya Sabha. But with this development, he has proved himself as a powerful and young regional satrap. The Congress high command probably did not imagine that 22 MLAs would follow Scindia and resign.

In a sense, history has repeated itself in the state after 53 years. In 1967, Jyotiraditya's grandmother Vijaya Raje Scindia broke away from the Congress, leading to the collapse of the Dwarka Prasad Mishra-led government. Subsequently Govind Narayan Singh became the chief minister, heading a coalition government. Vijaya Raje served a stint as an MLA of the Swatantra party and later joined the Jan Sangh  the predecessor of the BJP. She went on to play a major role in laying the foundation of the BJP.

Umesh Chandra, a Bhopal-based political analyst who had seen the developments in 1967, said, "The rebellion was triggered by a comment made by Mishra against the former royals and the Rajmata during a Congress convention. Mishra was also known for his high-handed ways, due to which there was discontent among some ministers and MLAs."

Chandra further recalled, "It all came as a surprise. In the Assembly on one afternoon, Vijaya Raje and a group of MLAs moved from the treasury benches to the Opposition benches, and later resigned."

Jyotiraditya's father Madhavrao Scindia, a Congress stalwart, also revolted against the party in 1993 after he was denied the chief minister's post. Madhavrao had floated his own party, the Madhya Pradesh Vikas Congress, and joined the United Front government in 1996. However, he later returned to the Congress.

A source who was a close confidant of Madhavrao said, Jyotiraditya faced a fate similar to his father, as he was sidestepped in favour of Kamal Nath for the chief minister's post. Further, (former chief minister) Digvijaya Singh, who virtually runs the government, ensured that Jyotiraditya didnt become the state Congress president."

Factors that pushed Scindia to resign

The tussle for a Rajya Sabha berth is said to have been the most important factor behind the current crisis. However, the fact that Jyotiraditya was denied the post of the Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee chief also played a part. This demoralised Jyotiraditya's supporters to the extent that they demonstrated in Delhi to press their demand. When another young Congress leader Sachin Pilot was made the deputy chief minister of Rajasthan, it added insult to injury.

Jyotiraditya was sidelined after he lost the 2019 Lok Sabha election from his home turf of Guna. This was despite the fact that he had held the most rallies in the state ahead of the Lok Sabha elections and the Assembly elections.

The top leadership of the Congress party failed to see the ominous signals that had been emanating from the infighting in Madhya Pradesh. It did not take any action to prevent Digvijaya from making derogatory comments about Jyotiraditya. On 10 March, Digvijaya, in what was interpreted as a dig against ex-Guna MP, said, "We tried to contact Scindia ji (Jyotiraditya Scindia) but it is being said that he is suffering from swine flu."

The tussle between Digvijaya and Jyotiraditya has largely been over a Rajya Sabha seat and the post of Pradesh Congress Committee president. Elections for three Rajya Sabha seats from Madhya Pradesh are due later this month. While the Congress and the BJP are assured of winning one seat each, the battle for the third one could take an interesting turn. Digvijaya is presently a member of the Rajya Sabha but his term is set to end soon.

A source close to the Scindia family further said, "Digvijaya wants to promote his son Jaivardhan Singh to an important position, and so, he has often thrown a spanner in Jyotiraditya's prospects. The Congress' top leadership should have ensured Jyotiraditya's nomination to the Rajya Sabha, as he has been a star campaigner for the party. However, the old guard close to Sonia Gandhi isolated him. It is good that he moved to the BJP."
As coronavirus spreads across the United States, institutions of higher education are facing some tough choices.

How should schools keep faculty, staff and students safe, while also continuing to provide educational opportunities?

Should face-to-face classes be suspended  as they have been at Rice University this week  in favor of online classes so that individuals can maintain the social distance that medical authorities have advised?

Should campuses be closed altogether so that the virus does not spread further in densely populated communities?

If schools close, how does instruction continue so that students can finish out their semester, not lose credit hours or money, and make it to graduation on time?

The solutions, however, are not as simple as flipping a switch and opening up a message board in Canvas or Blackboard, or telling people not to return from spring break.

Many students at our institutions of higher education, for example, experience housing or food insecurity. For some, their dorm room, or their car, or a friends couch is home  they have nowhere else to go to if a campus closes. Some eat only because of campus food pantries, the generosity of friends, or efforts to provide nutrient rich, cheap meals in the dining halls. There are countless international students who cannot go home, even if they have the means to do so, because of visa complications or quarantines in other countries. Many students  of all ages  depend on campus clinics and counseling services as their only source of health care. All of these things are in jeopardy if a campus closes.

Whether or not a campus closes or simply changes some of its methods of instruction, there are still major uncertainties at play. Colleges and universities cannot simply cease instructional operations  semesters are underway; students have often taken on debt to pay for their classes; people are counting on earning credit hours this spring to ensure a timely path to graduation.

The administration at my own college in rural Illinois has urged us to be agile and to think of ways to weather disruption to our usual, face-to-face teaching practices. Taking our classes online seems to many observers to be an easy solution to this problem, but again, its a more complicated situation than it seems at first glance.

There are real and pressing issues related to the digital divide to consider. Students dont always have access to computers or printers off campus; many students rely on their phone to access course readings and learning management software. They have low data plans; they have old phones that cant handle complex software; they dont have ready access to WiFi at home, or theyre being warned away from places where they might usually get WiFi, like local coffee shops. Even when students have a laptop and a strong WiFi connection, there are students with learning disabilities who find processing text online incredibly difficult. These pressures will fall on our most marginalized students most heavily.

Then theres the question of the professors, lecturers and graduate instructors who must provide the structure of a course to these students. There are a vast cohort of educators who are well-trained and well-practiced in online learning. They do an incredible job of providing a rich educational experience to students delivered through college learning management systems or using apps like Zoom and Hypothesis. They have spent years honing their craft and have thought about ways to make online spaces challenging, supportive and dynamic.

I am, however, trained and practiced in face-to-face instruction. My 26-year teaching career has been in physical classrooms of all shapes and sizes. Im adept at running discussions, organizing small group work and creating activities that give students the opportunity to collaborate with each other on posters, timelines, debates and presentations. I dont lecture, so I cant simply record myself for YouTube (and use that platforms ability to close-caption lectures), expecting that students will tune in from home. My colleagues in lab sciences or studio art or dance have particular, possibly insurmountable, challenges in translating their teaching online.

Providing good online learning means being trained and supported with time and resources to become good at the job, but resources are not distributed equitably across all institutions, and we have so little time to become ready. Support staff in libraries, IT departments and centers of teaching and learning are as overwhelmed as instructors try to rise to this moment. And adjunct faculty, in particular, are being asked to take on extra labor for which they will likely see no compensation.

None of these challenges are insurmountable. As educators, were committed to doing the very best we can at all times to provide meaningful learning environments for our students, and using platforms like Twitter, were exchanging information, best practices and new ideas every minute.

Denial is the Bright Distinguished Professor of American History and chair of the history department at Knox College.
A week before Supreme Court-mandated deadline for payment of past dues ends, Bharti Airtel chairman Sunil Mittal on Wednesday said that the company has paid Rs 13,000 crore to the government to clear all its dues as per its self-assessment.

The comment by Mittal, who also met Telecom Secretary Anshu Prakash on Wednesday, assumes significance asthe government, on March 4, had asked Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea and other telecom companies to pay the remaining adjusted gross revenue (AGR) dues as per the Supreme Court order without further delay.

The telecom department had, at that time, written to all telcos asking them to pay balance dues "without delay" and submit detailed bifurcation of payments (explanation of self-assessed amounts), which it said were necessary for proper reconciliation of legitimate AGR dues.

Emerging from the meeting with Telecom Secretary, Mittal, to a specific question, said, "They had said pay full ... we have paid full dues."



He was responding to a question on Telecom Department's recent notice to companies to pay their remaining AGR dues.

"We have paid our full dues. It is in our letter ... which is about Rs 13,000 crore, and Rs 5,000 crore which is extra," Mittal said.

On Airtel's payment being lesser than the government-calculated dues of Rs 35,000 crore, Mittal said, "There is no versus...They asked us to self-assess, we have self-assessed and paid."



The company has made payment in compliance with Telecom Department's instructions for self assessment, he said adding that the Supreme Court had not mentioned specific amounts.

It is pertinent to mention here that Bharti Airtel has paid Rs 13,004 crore to the government in two installments. It had also deposited an additional Rs 5,000 crore "as an ad-hoc payment (subject to subsequent refund/adjustment) to cover differences, if any, arising from the reconciliation exercise with the DoT.

The total payout by Bharti Airtel, however, is half of Rs 35,586.01 crore liability estimated by the DoT.

Beleaguered Vodafone Idea has pegged its total dues to the government following a Supreme Court order at Rs 21,533 crore -- less than half of what the Telecom Department has estimated, even as the Vodafone Group CEO Nick Read last week indicated keenness to make a "new, good beginning" in India. Vodafone Idea has so far paid Rs 3,500 crore out of the "self-assessed" liability of Rs 21,533 crore.

Meanwhile, Minister of State for Communications Sanjay Dhotre, in a written reply to the Lok Sabha on Wednesday said that the government has received part payment of about Rs 25,900 crore from various telecom operators towards statutory dues and has again directed telcos to make full payments.

"The Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) have made some payments in compliance with the Supreme Court order dated October 24, 2019," he said. The minister said the government has 'again' directed the operators to make full payments in a letter dated March 4, 2020.

"The government has directed all TSPs to make the payments in accordance with the order of the Hon'ble Supreme Court dated 24.10.2019 vide letters dated 13.11.2019, 20.01.2020 and 14.02.2020," Dhotre said.

Dhotre informed the House that so far, Bharti Airtel has paid Rs 18,004 crore and Vodafone Idea has shelled out Rs 3,500 crore. Tata Teleservices has paid about Rs 4,197 crore, while Rs 3.9 crore has been received from Reliance Communications. Reliance Jio has paid about Rs 195 crore.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The City of Orange at this time is not requiring any payments in lieu of taxes from Chevron Phillips Chemical in exchange for not annexing some 1,700 acres owned by the company for a potential $5.6 billion investment.

A page of frequently asked questions about the project, for which an investment decision is expected from CP Chem late this year or early 2021, says it is expected to positively impact the city and the region.

will derive direct and indirect economic benefits, reduction of unemployment and underemployment through the creation of new jobs and the attraction of new businesses by pursuing and approving the agreement, the handout provided by City Manager Mike Kunst says.

It also makes clear that this is not an industrial district agreement, which would protect companies in a designated district from annexation and other city requirements, similar to Oranges agreement for the potential new facility, in exchange for payment in lieu of taxes.

Related: Orange council OKs Chevron incentive

Orange has industrial district agreements with 10 other companies, including Dow Chemical Company, Lion Elastomers and Firestone Polymers.

Kunst said the does not currently have plans to pursue an industrial district agreement or payment in lieu of taxes with CP Chem for the proposed new plant. He did not give a reason for that decision.

The Orange City Council in February unanimously approved the agreement, although the full text was not made public until Tuesday afternoon.

Mayor Larry Spears called the approval historic and anticipates the project will change lives for years to come.

The new facility would convert the natural gas liquid ethane into ethylene, the building block of most plastics and has been heralded as a once-in-a-generation opportunity for the city and county.

In terms of direct benefits to the city, the standing agreement, formally called an extraterritorial jurisdiction non-annexation agreement, specifies that CP Chem must consider using Oranges wastewater or potable water utilities through a competitive process.

Related: Orange Co. details Chevron Phillips abatement obligations

In exchange, the city agrees not to annex the land for the 15-year term of the agreement, although such agreements are allowed for periods up to 45 years. The city also agrees not to enforce zoning or code standards or otherwise (govern or attempt to govern), in any manner whatsoever, control over the operation or conduct of the companys business, activities, facilities, improvements, operations or personnel on the land.

The agreement can be terminated with written notice from CP Chem, if the company chooses to pursue the project at a different location and if CP Chem determines it wont start or complete construction of a $5 billion investment.

Orange County approved a similar incentive agreement with Chevron Phillips Chemical a week prior to the citys approval. That tax abatement agreement gives the company 10 years tax free on improvements made to the land, although County Economic Development Corp. Director Jessica Hill said the company has agreed to delay the start of the abatement and, therefore, will pay taxes on the improvements made prior to the agreements start date.

Top hits: Get Beaumont Enterprise stories sent directly to your inbox

She said that brings the forgiveness down to about 90% or 93% of the taxes the company would be paying in the 10-year period.

The countys agreement requires Chevron Phillips, upon completion of construction, to have no fewer than 500 full-time employees, including full-time contractors.

The company forecasts up to 10,000 temporary jobs will be created during construction.

If Orange County is chosen as the location for the plant, Hill said, construction would begin in late 2020 or early 2021 and be completed in about 70 months.

kaitlin.bain@beaumontenterprise.com

twitter.com/KaitlinBain
The Ministry of Industry and Trade has asked rice traders to strictly maintain a reserve equivalent to at least five percent of their export volume in the six most recent months.

The ministrys Import-Export Department said that unpredictable developments in the global economy coupled with the declines in import demand of Viet Nams traditional rice markets like China, Indonesia and Malaysia were posing significant challenges to Viet Nams rice exports.

Rice traders must strictly comply with Decree No 107/2018/ND-CP about rice reserves and price stabilisation, the ministry asked.

Accordingly, rice traders must consolidate their distribution system in the domestic market and be ready to bring rice stocks into circulation to stabilise the domestic market following the authorities orders.

Focus must also be placed on improving facilities and enhancing awareness in production and processing to increase rices added value and build a brand for Vietnamese rice, the ministry asked, adding that fluctuations of paddy and rice prices must also be closely watched.

The ministry asked provincial departments of Agriculture and Rural Development to enhance cooperation with traders, co-operatives and farmers to ensure rice production to follow standards which would help Viet Nam easily expand exports.

The ministry said that Chinas Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs announced last week that this country could finish its goal of rice output this year. In addition, import demand from Indonesia and Malaysia was also low.

The Philippines also enhanced control over rice imports, with the revision of the food safety management system on imported rice.

Viet Nams rice exports in the first two months of this year reached 890,000 tonnes, worth US$410 million, up by nearly 6 per cent over the same period last year.

Seeking pork supply

The Import-Export Department also asked trade offices to work with pork export associations and companies in foreign countries to seek sources to import pork into Viet Nam.

Diversifying pork sources was important to stabilise the domestic market due to the impacts of the recent African swine flu.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development predicted that meat output would reach around 5.5 million tonnes this year, in which pork would account for 64-67 per cent.

Pig raising was recovering in recent months, the ministry said.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc last week asked ministries of agriculture and rural development, industry and trade, and finance to ensure pork supply and demand balance and control prices at reasonable levels.

According to statistics from the Animal Health Department, Viet Nam imported more than 65,800 tonnes of meat as of the end of February, in which pork accounted for 21 per cent, up by 150 per cent over the same period last year. Pork was mainly imported from Canada (33.6 per cent), Germany (25.4 per cent), Brazil (16.1 per cent) and Poland (15.81 per cent).  VNS

Vietnam overtakes Thailand in rice exports TREA, the association of Thai rice exporters, on February 12 said Thailand may lose its position as the second largest rice exporter when setting up the goal of exporting 7.5 million tons this year, a 7-year low.
In Pews 2012 study of sandwiched parents, researchers found that members of the sandwich generation were more likely than other adults to feel perpetually rushed  but they also reported that they were as happy with their lives overall as those outside the cohort. And when Leslie Hammer, a professor of psychology at Oregons Portland State University, and Margaret Neal, former director of the Institute on Aging at Portland State, conducted a study of working couples who were part of the sandwich generation in 1997, it was very important to the people who participated that we didnt only look at the negative aspects of being sandwiched, Neal says. The participants wanted to emphasize that there was still reciprocal support among the generations, she says, and the quality of the relationships with both the children and with the aging parents had a lot to do with ones overall well-being.
The theft of masks and hand sanitiser amid at the Midland Regional Hospital in Mullingar has been condemned today. The incidents come amid the Coronavirus outbreak nationwide and have been reported by patients in the Westmeath hospital.

A statement from the Ireland East Hospital Group to the Offaly Express said: "Midland Regional Hospital, Mullingar has experienced the removal of a portion of the Personal Protective Equipment (PPV). The hospital has PPV equipment available and are restocking supplies and have implemented additional security measures for the secured storage of the equipment.

"This is extremely unfortunate given the vulnerability of the patients who attend these services," a spokesperson added.

"The Ireland East Hospital Group is working with all hospitals in the Group to ensure that they are all appropriately stocked with PPV equipment to maintain the safety and critical care of all patients and staff. They are working with hospital management to ensure that all necessary medical equipment is stocked and secured.

"It is incumbent on all to ensure that our infection and prevention control measures for the most vulnerable are not compromised at any time," the spokesperson concluded.
Wuhan Residents 'Under Armed Guard' During President's Visit to City

2020-03-10 -- Chinese president Xi Jinping on Tuesday visited the virus-hit city of Wuhan to proclaim victory in the fight against the epidemic, as dissent continued to simmer among residents and commentators.

Xi said the spread of the deadly coronavirus epidemic had been "basically curbed" in central Hubei province and the provincial capital Wuhan.

"Initial success has been made in stabilizing the situation and turning the tide in Hubei and Wuhan," state news agency Xinhua quoted him as saying.

"The situation of coronavirus prevention in Hubei and Wuhan has shown positive changes and achieved phased results, initially realizing goals to stabilize and turn around the situation," Xi said.

As the president flew in, Wuhan closed the last of 14 temporary hospitals set up to cope with a huge surge in COVID-19 cases, as the health authorities reported just 19 new cases on Monday.

Xi was shown meeting with local officials, medical staff, and volunteers, wearing an N95 respirator and speaking with frontline medical workers and a patient by video.

Residents took to Twitter to give a behind-the-scenes look at a massive security and propaganda operation surrounding Xi's visit, posting photos of police officers in hazmat suits stationed on their balconies overlooking the president's route.

Some said the police were likely there to stop people heckling the president, as they did last week during a visit by vice premier Sun Chunlan.

"When #SunChunlan visited last time, #Wuhan citizens hailed "fake"," wrote Twitter user @jerome_coo. "When #XiJinping visited this time, #CCP arranged #police to prevent such an incident."

Picking peaches

Others accused Xi of going to Wuhan when the greatest danger to his own health had passed, and "picking peaches," a phrase suggesting he was taking the credit for others' work.

Wuhan resident Liu Guoqiang said Xi had visited Leishenshan Hospital, before moving onto the Donghuyuan residential compound.

"General Secretary Xi Jinping flew into Wuhan to make an inspection today," Liu said. "He went to Leishenshan and a few other places to visit frontline medical staff, grassroots officials and People's Liberation Army soldiers and volunteers."

"It was all a big show to let us know that the head of state had arrived."

A resident surnamed Sun said local people were barred from leaving their homes during Xi's visit.

"They wouldn't let us go out, and there were sentry posts every few meters," Sun said. "Local residents had to shut their windows, and there were armed police guarding each home wherever he went."

Resident Su Yang said Xi's visit was largely a morale booster for those on the front line of the epidemic.

"I don't think it's really very meaningful," Su said.

'Many hate him'

A Wuhan teacher surnamed Zhou agreed, saying Xi had gone to "pick peaches," as social media users tweeted pictures of Sun Wukong the legendary Monkey King stealing peaches from Heaven.

"He's here to pick peaches, because it looks good to say that China has things under control as other countries are getting overwhelmed,"

he said. "[But] many people have had their lives ruined, and hate him."

But he added: "Some think that the fact that he came at all shows that the epidemic must be easing up."

Zhou said he has reliable information indicating that the actual death toll in Hubei was around 10 times greater than the official figure of around 3,000.

He said there have been large numbers of discharged patients who later went on to relapse.

A woman surnamed Zhao who has family in Wuhan said she had received a photo of a peach, but pointed out that the city is still in lockdown.

"My family is still there," Zhao said. "I'm completely speechless, what else is there to say?"

"I get annoyed if I see his name now."

Repeated calls to the Hubei provincial [ruling] Chinese Communist Party Committee, and to the Wuhan epidemic control command center rang unanswered on Tuesday.

Article deleted

As Xi's trip got under way, the Chinese Communist Party's propaganda department deleted an article about another coronavirus whistleblower, ER doctor Ai Fen, who was given a stern reprimand after sending information about the early stages of the outbreak to a group of doctors.

The 8,000-word article in People magazine titled "Whistleblower" said Ai had been silenced by her bosses after she took a photo of a patient's test results and circled the words "SARS coronavirus" in red.

She alerted colleagues to several cases of the virus, and eight of them were summoned by police for sharing the information. Among them was opthalmologist Li Wenliang who later died of COVID-19.

Meanwhile, two open letters to Xi Jinping dated late February and early March and penned by a retired professor from Beijing's Central Nationalities University hit out at China's system of government and the ruling party's handling of the epidemic.

The letters, signed by Zhao Shilin, called on the government to implement political reforms enabling "freedom, democracy, equality and the rule of law" to better deal with such crises in future.

Reported by Wong Siu-san, Sing Man, Fong Tak-ho and Tam Siu-yin for RFA's Cantonese Service, and by Gao Feng and Qiao Long for the Mandarin Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.

Copyright  1998-2020, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content 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.

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Acclaim offers a sample of recent honors for Emory faculty and staff. Listings may include awards and prizes; election to boards and societies; and similarly notable accomplishments in the wider community. Acclaim is published in Emory Report on the second Tuesday of each month. To suggest items for the April 14 column, please email your submission by March 25.

Emory faculty and staff are frequently recognized for their work locally, nationally and internationally. The following is a sampling of recent accolades, including multiple leadership awards and honors from professional societies.

Honors highlighted in this column:

Coopersmith earns Master of Critical Care Medicine designation

Craig M. Coopersmith has been honored as a Master of Critical Care Medicine by the American College of Critical Care Medicine.

Coopersmith is a professor of surgery and vice chair of research of the Emory Department of Surgery; program director of the departments Surgical Critical Care Fellowship; and interim director of the Emory Critical Care Center. He has established himself as one of the top investigators of sepsis and shock in the country, and was a member of an international task force of experts that redefined the terms sepsis and septic shock in 2016.

MCCM is the highest designation one can obtain in critical care, and is awarded to an individual who has achieved national and international professional prominence through personal character, leadership, eminence in clinical practice and outstanding contributions to research and education in critical care medicine.

Corbett receives Mid-Career Leadership Award

Biology professor Anita H. Corbett received the Mid-Career Leadership Award from the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.

Corbetts research centers on genetics, cell and developmental biology. Research in her laboratory primarily focuses on determining the function of evolutionarily-conserved RNA binding proteins that play critical roles at many steps in gene expression.

The ASBMB Leadership Awards recognize individuals with a strong commitment to advancing the careers of women in biochemistry and molecular biology along with demonstrated excellence in research, discovery and/or service.

Emory leaders included in the 2020 Atlanta 500 list

Numerous faculty and staff of Emory are included in Atlanta magazine's list of the city's 500 most powerful leaders for 2020. They are:

Claire E. Sterk, Emory University president

Emory University president Jonathan S. Lewin, executive vice president for health affairs

executive vice president for health affairs James Curran, dean of Rollins School of Public Health

dean of Rollins School of Public Health Walter J. Curran, Jr, executive director of Winship Cancer Institute

executive director of Winship Cancer Institute Carlos del Rio, chair of the Hubert Department of Global Health at Rollins School of Public Health

chair of the Hubert Department of Global Health at Rollins School of Public Health Douglas Graham, director of the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center

director of the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center Erika James, dean of Goizueta Business School

dean of Goizueta Business School Linda A. McCauley, dean of Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing

William Foege, Emeritus Presidential Distinguished Fellow of International Health and former Carter Center leader, was named a legend among health care leaders.

Graham and Wechsler elected to pediatric oncology board

Douglas Graham and Daniel Wechsler were elected to leadership positions on the Board of the American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology. Graham was voted as president-elect and Wechsler was appointed as a trustee-at-large for a second three-year term.

Graham is director of the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Childrens Healthcare of Atlanta, and chief of the Emory Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/BMT. Wechsler is director of Pediatric Oncology at Aflac.

ASPHO is dedicated to promoting the optimal care of children, adolescents and young adults with blood disorders and cancer by advancing research, education, treatment, and professional practice. The Society is the only professional organization dedicated solely to the professional development and interest of subspecialists in pediatric hematology/oncology.

Huang named a Sloan Research Fellow

Hao Huang has been awarded a 2020 Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Fellowship.

Huang, an assistant professor of mathematics, works in the area of discrete math and theoretical computer science. His recent proof of the sensitivity conjecture was ranked #28 in Discover Magazine's top science stories of 2019.

Sloan Research Fellowships seek to stimulate fundamental research by early-career scientists and scholars of outstanding promise. These two-year fellowships are awarded yearly to 126 researchers in recognition of distinguished performance and a unique potential to make substantial contributions to their field. Awards are open to scholars in eight scientific and technical fields: chemistry, computer science, economics, mathematics, computational and evolutionary molecular biology, neuroscience, ocean sciences and physics.

Italian university awards Kitron an honorary degree

The University of Turin granted an honorary degree in veterinary medicine to Uriel Dan Kitron. The ceremony took place in February 2020.

Kitron serves as Goodrich C. White Professor in the Department of Environmental Sciences. His research and teaching programs center around the eco-epidemiology of infectious diseases, with an emphasis on tropical and emerging diseases and environmental risk factors. The work in his lab includes studying transmission dynamics and ecology of the insect vectors and the mammalian and avian reservoir hosts.

Manatunga tapped as Donna J. Brogan Professor in Biostatistics

Amita Manatunga has been named the inaugural Donna J. Brogan Professor in Biostatistics for Rollins School of Public Health. This endowed professorship recognizes Manatungas excellence in teaching and researchparticularly as it relates to the field of biostatisticsand honors the legacy of emerita professor Donna Jean Brogan.

Manatunga joined Emory in 1994. She has dedicated her career to advancing methods and applications of complex data structures to address critical public health problems including mental health, epidemiology and nuclear medicine. She is the senior biostatistician for the Georgia Clinical and Translational Science Institute at Emory and has led seven major R01 grants on statistical methodology as principal investigator or multiple principal investigator and has served as a co-investigator to many collaborative, federally-sponsored research grants.

Margulies elected to National Academy of Engineering

Susan Margulies was elected a member of the National Academy of Engineerings Class of 2020.

Margulies is the Wallace H. Coulter Chair Professor and Georgia Research Alliance Eminent Scholar in Injury Biomechanics. She also is chair of the Department of Biomedical Engineering within the Emory School of Medicine.

She was elected in recognition of her distinguished contributions to engineering: for elaborating the traumatic injury thresholds of brain and lung in terms of structure-function mechanisms. The induction ceremony will occur during the NAE Annual Meeting in Washington, DC, in October.

The joint Emory and Georgia Tech Biomedical Engineering program is ranked #3 in the country by U.S. News and World Report and is a distinguishing feature of the School of Medicine, attracting high-quality faculty and trainees and driving innovation in health care and medical education.

Owonikoko named chair elect of ASCO education committee

Taofeek Owonikoko has been named chair-elect for the American Society for Clinical Oncology 2021 Annual Meeting Education Committee.

Owonikoko is professor and vice-chair for faculty development for the School of Medicines Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology. He also serves as co-leader of the discovery and developmental therapeutics program for Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University.

The ASCO education committee oversees programming for the organizations annual meeting, which is attended by more than 40,000 professionals.

Srinivasan wins Philip Wolfson Outstanding Teacher Award

Jahnavi Srinivasan will receive the Association of Surgical Educations Philip J. Wolfson Outstanding Teacher Award.

Srinivasan has served as an associate program director of Emorys general surgery residency program since 2014 and will assume full directorship effective June 23, 2020. She also chairs the Resident Education Committee and directs the departments surgical simulation and elective programs. She has received numerous departmental and institutional teaching awards and has been a key leader in the success and growth of the surgical residency program.

The honor recognizes Srinivasans commitment to teaching, innovative approach to education, enthusiasm and stimulation of interest, ability to provide feedback and effective evaluation, role modeling of professional characteristics and accessibility.
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Linkedin Laurent Banguet, with Maggy Donaldson in New York (Agence France-Presse) Los Angeles, United States  Wed, March 11, 2020 17:39 671 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2069e1496 2 Art & Culture Placido-Domingo,Opera,los-angeles,sexual-harassment,Los-Angeles-Opera Free

The Los Angeles Opera said on Tuesday its investigation into star Placido Domingo had found accusations of "inappropriate conduct" against its former director to be credible.

The Spanish icon, who won worldwide acclaim in the 1990s as one of the Three Tenors alongside Jose Carreras and Luciano Pavarotti, is accused of forcibly kissing, grabbing and fondling women over a period of more than 30 years.

An independent law firm hired by the company to investigate said that while some of Domingo's targets stated they were "not uncomfortable", others described "significant trauma".

"Some individuals stated that they felt discouraged to report misconduct due to Mr. Domingo's importance and stature," a summary of the findings read.

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP interviewed 44 people during a six month investigation -- including those behind the 10 accusations under review, the LA Opera's management and Domingo himself.

The misconduct is alleged to have occurred between 1986, when the tenor-turned-baritone was appointed artistic advisor, and August 2019 -- when he resigned as general director after the allegations became public.

The LA Opera findings said Domingo, 79, cooperated with the probe and was willingly interviewed, and continued his flat denials of unwanted contact, saying his relations with women were consensual.

"Gibson Dunn often found him to be sincere in his denials but found some of them to be less credible or lacking in awareness," the summary said.

Contacted by AFP, Domingo's publicist declined to comment at this time.

Read also: Scandal-hit Placido Domingo pulls out of London performance

'Fear of retaliation'

The law firm investigation did not find evidence that Domingo "ever engaged in a quid pro quo or retaliated against any woman by not casting or otherwise hiring her at LA Opera," according to the summary.

But that probe and a separate one from the American Guild of Musical Artists found that some people did voice fear of reprisal.

The guild last month concluded that Domingo engaged in "inappropriate activity, ranging from flirtation to sexual advances, in and outside of the workplace".

"Many of the witnesses expressed fear of retaliation in the industry as their reason for not coming forward sooner," the opera, choral and dance union said, indicating its board had "accepted the findings of the report and will take appropriate action."

Domingo -- once a mainstay of some of the world's most prestigious opera houses -- stepped down from the LA Opera last fall, and withdrew from performances at New York's Metropolitan Opera, effectively ending his US career.

His status has since faltered in Europe -- where until recently he was still receiving standing ovations -- as he was dropped from performances in Spain and at London's Royal Opera House.

As the AGMA findings rolled out the "King of Opera" apologized for any "hurt" he caused -- but rolled back the mea culpa after it appeared European institutions were using his apology as reason to drop him from their programming.

"I have never behaved aggressively toward anybody, nor have I ever done anything to obstruct or hurt the career of anybody," he said.

Read also: Spanish opera star Placido Domingo apologizes to women after harassment claims: Report

Necessary improvements

Gibson Dunn also said the company's sexual harassment policies and procedures are "sufficient on their face" -- and there was no reason to believe the LA Opera "ignored, failed to address, or covered up sexual harassment complaints."

At the same time, it found several flaws in the manner in which LA Opera implemented its policies regarding sexual harassment".

It also said methods to address harassment claims were "largely reactive until 2018" -- just after the #MeToo movement against sexual harassment in the workplace was triggered by allegations against disgraced Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein.

The LA Opera said Gibson Dunn provided a number of recommendations it would implement, including a more formal process for documenting complaints, a stronger human resources department, and policies to govern performances that include sexual innuendo or intimacy as well as nudity.

"On a personal level, I am troubled, and regret, that individuals engaged with the company may have felt disempowered, vulnerable or unheeded in any way," said the company's director, Christopher Koelsch, in an email sent to employees and obtained by AFP.

"We have learned through this process that there is a widespread, industry-wide hesitancy to report harassment, and it is critical to our future that we work to build trust and transparency with one another."
New Delhi, March 11 : The Congress has rejected the "young versus old" rift in the party and said it was a blend of youth and seniors.

Stating that the party has always nurtured young leaders according to their calibre and contribution, senior Congress leader Anand Sharma said, here on Wednesday, leaders like him were in the party since student days.

On frustration among young leaders, Sharma said it was a "fabrication". "There is no young or old leaders. We represent the composition of Indian society. In politics, people come up due to their merit, contribution and acceptance," he said.

Slamming the media, the Congress leader said it was not employment "where you have to produce your date of birth. It's trivializing and oversimplifying politics. It's not healthy for democracy." Also, there couldn't be different yardsticks for the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), he added.

He also slammed the BJP for destabilising the Madhya Pradesh government. "The BJP is the ruling party at the Centre. It's expected to follow certain norms. But it is seriously involved in poaching MLAs. It happened in Karnataka. It stole governments in Manipur, Arunachal and Goa," the Congress leader said.

"Why is the BJP intolerant to opposition governments in states," Sharma raised the question.
The Jammu and Kashmir administration has ordered closure of all educational institutes across the union territory till March 31 as a precautionary measure amid the coronavirus scare.

Cinema halls in all the 10 districts of Jammu division will also remain closed till March 31, officials said.

While only one person has tested positive for the contagious coronavirus in the union territory, one man with high viral-load has been reported and his samples have been sent to the National Centre for Disease Control in New Delhi, they said.

"All schools, colleges and universities of Jammu and Kashmir to suspend teaching and class work till March 31," Director National Health Mission (NHM), Bhupinder Kumar, told reporters here.

However, board and competitive examinations will be conducted as per schedule, he added.

"COVID19 JammuAndKashmir Cinema Halls in all 10 districts of Jammu province to remain closed till March 31," Principal Secretary, Information, Rohit Kansal tweeted.

As many as 1,211 travellers and people in contact with suspected cases have been put under active surveillance, the NHM director said, adding that 150 of these have completed surveillance period of 28 days and 12 are under hospital quarantine.

He said 64 samples of suspected cases have been sent for testing so far and 28 of them have reported negative. Of the earlier two cases that were reported with high viral-load, one has tested positive and another is being re-tested, while reports of 35 people are awaited, he said.

Spelling out measures being taken up to contain the coronavirus spread, the NHM director said the union territory has strengthened the surveillance and control measures against the disease and helpline numbers have already been established for advice and assistance in this regard.

Besides, coronavirus lab testing facilities have been started in Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Srinagar, and Government Medical College, Jammu.

Control rooms and surveillance teams have been constituted in all districts of the union territory to meet any sort of eventuality, he said.

Kumar said universal self-declaration has been made mandatory at Jammu and Srinagar airports. Besides, screening of travellers has also been started at Lakhanpur and Lower Munda toll posts as well as Jammu, Katra and Udhampur Railway stations.

He assured people that the whole situation is being monitored and reviewed very closely at all levels.

He asked people, especially those with travel history to affected countries such as China, Italy, Iran, South Korea etc, to self declare immediately and report to the nearest government health facility if any symptoms are found.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The World Economic Forum(WEF) has selected Ghanas Minister for Information Kojo Oppong Nkrumah(MP), as a Young Global Leader for 2020.



Mr. Nkrumah has been selected as one of 115 leaders who the forum describes as Worlds Most Promising Leaders under the age of 40 selected from over 2000 nominations from around the world.



The forum also selected the Prime Minister of Finland Sanna Marin, Vice-President of Ecuador Otto Sonnenholzner, Chief Economist Allianz Germany Ludovic Subran and Meagan Rapinoe who is the Senior Captain of the US Womens National Team.



According to the World Economic Forum, the selected finalists were chosen after a rigorous process and are expected to continue driving innovation for positive change across civil society, arts, culture, government, and business.



The selection was announced on Wednesday 11th March 2020 from WEF Head Quarters in Davos.



Over the next five (5) years, the selected leaders are expected to use their skills and competencies as exceptional people to build the vision, courage, and influence to drive positive change in the world. Their work across various sectors is expected to improve the quality of lives and enhance livelihoods.



Aligned with the World Economic Forums mission, the leaders seek to spur public-private cooperation amongst these unique actors to demonstrate entrepreneurship in the global public interest.



You will be an active member of the forum of Young Global Leaders which will enable you to participate in a five-year leadership programme comprised of personalized learning opportunities and curated events that suit your interests and objectives for impact notice to the young leaders said.



Mr. Nkrumah, a lawyer by training, holds an MBA in marketing from the University of Ghana, a fellowship of the African Leadership Initiative and a certificate in stimulating growth from Harvard University.



He started his career as a Treasury Analyst at British American Tobacco in 2006 before moving to Multimedia Group Ltd where he worked as a Senior Broadcast Journalist.

Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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After months of arguments and legal maneuvering, a controversial law forcing the identification of once-secret donors to political organizations that raise millions to influence elections and policy in New Jersey is now officially dead.

U.S. District Judge Brian Martinotti on Wednesday granted a permanent injunction against the dark money law after the state Attorney Generals Office came to an agreement with groups that sued to overturn it. That means the state cannot enforce the law (S1500).

The law, which Gov. Phil Murphy signed last June, required that certain groups that support candidates or influence policy in New Jersey to disclose donors who give them more than $10,000 a year.

Supporters said the law was designed to shed more light on the donors who give secret donations  often known as dark money  to groups that have an effect on taxpayer-funded state government.

But critics said the law curbs free speech because it would keep people who dont want their names to become public from getting involved in politics and policy.

Multiple groups filed lawsuits seeking to overturn the law. That included the conservative group Americans for Prosperity as well as more liberal groups, the American Civil Liberties Union and the Illinois Opportunity Project, a nonprofit that seeks to educate the public about policy.

The Liberty Justice Center, a nonprofit that aims to protect peoples First Amendment rights, called Wednesdays development a major victory for free speech.

Adopted under the guise of transparency, these laws are designed to allow opponents of advocacy groups to intimidate and harass the organizations supporters," said Patrick Hughes, the groups president and co-founder.

All Americans should be free to support causes they believe in without an invasion into their privacy through excessive government reporting requirements or retribution from their opponents.

Jeanne LoCicero, the New Jersey legal director for the ACLU, also praised the death of the measure.

All nonprofits should be able to communicate about issues of public concern without fear of being subject to invasive disclosure rules," LoCicero said.

Both Murphys office and the state Attorney Generals Office declined to comment.

Martinotti issued a preliminary injunction in October blocking the state from enforcing the law until there was a ruling in the case.

The judge wrote in his opinion then that the loss of First Amendment freedoms, for even minimal periods of time, unquestionably constitutes irreparable injury."

In his order Wednesday, Martinotti said this does not prevent the state Legislature or the state Election Law Enforcement Commission from enacting future legislation or regulations related to the law.

The state lawmakers who sponsored the law, state Sen. Troy Singleton, D-Burlington, and state Assemblyman Andrew Zwicker, D-Somerset, said in a statement last week that they have already started working with legislative leaders on the next step.

We believe there is a clear path forward, the legislators said. With the presidential and congressional elections later this year, we expect tens of millions of dark money dollars to be spent in an attempt to influence the outcomes. We will continue to fight to ensure that those organizations that accept anonymous large donations are forced to disclose their sources.

The law gained attention because of an ongoing feud between Murphy and state Senate President Stephen Sweeney, a fellow Democrat with whom the governor often clashes.

The Democratic-controlled Legislature fast-tracked the bill last year, and Murphy initially conditionally vetoed it. He said the measure would force grassroots and progressive groups to reveal their contributors and make it harder for them to raise money.

But Murphy signed the bill in June after lawmakers threatened to override his veto  which hasnt happened to a New Jersey governor in 22 years.

Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @johnsb01.

Ted Sherman may be reached at tsherman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TedShermanSL. Facebook: @TedSherman.reporter.

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Mr Walker submitted that these obstacles, each on their own, should have caused a jury to have reasonable doubt. If it was Pells practice to stand on the steps for 10 to 20 minutes at the end of Mass and he did so on the day in question, he could not have committed the assault. Forensically, theres your full stop, he said. Pell was convicted of five child sex offences and was in March 2019 sentenced to six years in jail with a non-parole period of three years and eight months. He is currently housed at Barwon Prison and does not have access to the High Court proceedings. On Wednesday, his senior counsel invited the court to consider the police investigation and preliminary hearings of the charges and how the year, month and date of the alleged offences shifted to navigate inconvenient facts and contradictory accounts of other witnesses. He spoke of police searching for a date that would fit and how the prosecution reshaped a critical aspect of its case, even after it was before a jury.

He said the sheer unlikelihood in the sequence of events, vagaries of the timeline and the absence of evidence from at least one material witness not called by the Crown should have led to acquittal. There was simply not the available time for it to occur, he said. It is not possible to fit five to six minutes of offending. All these matters were put to the Victorian County Court jury that convicted Pell of four counts of child sex offences and all these arguments were considered by the Court of Appeal, which upheld the verdict in a 2-1 split decision. Loading Although Justice Mark Weinberg, in a dissenting opinion of unusual length and strength, found it was not open to the jury to convict Pell on the whole of the evidence, it is not known whether the High Court, which is yet to grant special leave to appeal, will agree to entertain the same question.

The judges of the High Court, particularly Chief Justice Susan Kiefel, Justice Virginia Bell and Justice James Edelman, posed questions on whether the Court of Appeal should have watched a video recording of the choirboys testimony when they reviewed the evidence. This will provide little comfort to Pell, who has not adopted the appellate courts method of review as grounds for appeal. We dont believe this case provides a vehicle for determining those matters, Mr Walker said. Pell is serving a six-year jail term with a minimum sentence of three years and eight months. Mr Walker told the court that Victorias two most senior judges, Supreme Court Chief Justice Anne Ferguson and Court of Appeal President Chris Maxwell, had embarked on a terribly damaging wrong route by requiring Pell to prove it was impossible for him to have sexually abused the choirboys.

Walker SC said the approach taken by the majority of the Court of Appeal had reversed the onus of proof and misapplied the essential requirement for establishing guilt in a criminal trial. In what might fairly be called a piecemeal or one by one approach their honours dealt with these circumstances, concluding in each case that, that which had been described by the defence as impossible was not impossible, Mr Walker said. That is a wrong question which sends the enquiry off in a terribly damaging wrong route. Victorias Director of Public Prosecutions, Kerri Judd QC, will have her say on this point and others raised by Mr Walker when the hearing concludes on Thursday. The DDPs view is that, whatever uncertainties linger over the guilt of George Pell, the jury did its job, a majority of the Court of Appeal found no fault and there are no grounds for the High Court to intervene.
The UN Security Council has unanimously adopted a resolution welcoming the recent deal between the US and the Taliban to bring lasting peace in war-torn Afghanistan and allow US troops to return home from Americas longest war.

The US-Taliban peace deal was signed in Doha on February 29. All 15 members of the UNSC on Tuesday supported the resolution, tabled by the United States, which endorses the joint US-Afghan declaration on peace and the agreement signed between Washington and the Taliban.

The developments endorsed by this resolution are the product of more than a year of unprecedented US diplomatic engagement with the Taliban, in coordination with our partners in Afghanistan, the region, and around the world, Acting Deputy Permanent Representative of the US to UN Cherith Norman Chalet said.

The agreement with the Taliban calls for the fundamentalists to sever ties with international terrorist groups and to prevent them from using Afghanistan to carry out attacks against the US.

Under the terms of the deal, the Taliban would also participate in an intra-Afghan dialogue. While negotiations were scheduled to begin on Tuesday, they were postponed due to renewed violence and political discord at the highest levels of the government. Afghanistans rival leaders -- incumbent President Ashraf Ghani and his former unity government partner Abdullah Abdullah -- claimed victory in the presidential election held last September and each sworn in as the countrys new president in separate ceremonies on Monday, throwing plans for talks with the Taliban into chaos The US has welcomed President Ghanis steps towards agreement on an inclusive government, and Abdullahs commitments to peace and inclusivity.

We hope the people of Afghanistan seize the opportunity to achieve a historic peace settlement that ends the conflict in Afghanistan; preserves the gains of the last two decades in human rights, basic freedoms, and the meaningful participation of women in political and civil institutions; and ensures that the territory of the Afghan people will never again be used by international terrorists to threaten the world, Norman Chalet said.

The Security Council vote took place just hours after the Group of Friends of Women in Afghanistan met at the UN headquarters. The group, founded last year by the Afghan Mission to the UN, champion womens participation in the countrys future. It is co-chaired by the UK and comprised of women representatives to the UN and its senior officials.

Group co-chair Ambassador Karen Pierce of the United Kingdom said the UN resolution sends a clear message on womens inclusion in Afghanistans future.

We expect to see the effective and meaningful participation in the peace process of women, as well as youth and other minorities. And while any peace deal is ultimately for Afghans to decide upon, we affirm that it should protect the fundamental rights and freedoms of all, she said.

Prior to voting, Council members observed a minute of silence in honour of former UN Secretary-General Javier Perez de Cuellar, who died last week at the age of 100. The Peruvian diplomat was the UNs fifth Secretary-General and served two terms: from 1982 to 1991.
In view of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak worldwide, the government of Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday ordered closure of all academic institutions, including schools colleges and universities, across the Union Territory.

All educational institutions (public and private) including schools, colleges and universities of Jammu Kashmir to suspended teaching and classes work till March 31, said Bhupinder Kumar, director, National Health Mission (NHM) in a presser on Wednesday.

Kumar added, However, board and competitive examinations shall be conducted as per schedule.

The Jammu and Kashmir government has already closed all primary schools in Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Reasi and Udhampur districts of Jammu till March 31 and suspended biometric attendance in all the government offices.

While the Anganwadi centres in these districts has also been closed till March 31.

The government on Tuesday ordered closure of all the cinema halls in 10 districts of Jammu region.

Kashmirs divisional commissioner Baseer Ahmed Khan has also ordered closure of all Anganwadi centers across Kashmir, which also has 10 districts.

NHM director advised, social, political and religious organisations to avoid large gatherings and functions.

Giving a detailed break up about the Corona virus suspected cases in UT of J-K till date, director informed that 1211 travellers and persons in contact with suspected cases have been put under active surveillance; 150 of these have completed surveillance period of 28 days and 12 are under hospital quarantine.

64 samples of suspected cases have been sent for testing so far; 28 have reported negative, 01 has tested positive, 35 reports awaited.

After one person tested positive on Monday morning, 20 people from densely-populated Sarwal locality of Jammu city, who were in touch with the person have been quarantined at Yatri Niwas-- base camp for the annual Amarnath pilgrims here in the temple city.

Four people with travel history to coronavirus-hit countries and three more, who had an Italian guest, who stayed with them, have been put under home quarantine in Samba district.
Researchers have claimed that a second patient has been cured of HIV after undergoing stem cell transplant treatment. Ravindra Gupta, the lead author of the study published in The Lancet HIV, said that no trace of infection was found after the patient stopped traditional treatment.

Last year, the so-called London Patient grabbed media attention when researchers at the University of Cambridge reported that no trace of the AIDS-causing virus was found in his blood for 18 months. Gupta, an Indian-origin professor and researcher, said that the new results were even more remarkable demonstrating the patient was cured.

Researchers have cautioned that the stemcell transplant can not be considered as a generalised cure for HIV since Castillejos treatment was a last resort because his blood cancer would likely have killed him. Professor Gupta, an HIV biologist, has been the leading researcher who found out that his patient was cured of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The professor conducted the study on Adam Castillejo, the London Patient who revealed his identity this week, to demonstrate the worlds second HIV cure by stem cell transplantation.

Read: X-ray Of A Coronavirus Patient Reveals Terrifying Effects On Human Lungs

Gupta is member of Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI) Faculty and was formerly Professor in University College Londons (UCL) Division of Infection & Immunity. Currently, Gupta is also a professor of Clinical Microbiology and Wellcome Trust Senior Fellow in Clinical Science at the University of Cambridge. According to UCL, Professor Gupta completed his specialist medical training in infectious diseases and a Masters in International Public Health.

Read: Coronavirus Patients Are Stable, Showing Signs Of Recovery: Harsh Vardhan

Antiviral therapy for HIV treatment

The biologist initially trained as a clinical infectious diseases physician and went on to do a PhD at UCL, where he examined the epidemiology and virology of HIV drug resistance in sub-Saharan Africa. Guptas work has mostly been focussed on antiviral therapy for the treatment of HIV and has led a number of studies aimed at addressing the global emerging threat of drug-resistant HIV.

Read: 76 People Who Came In Contact With Fourth Coronavirus Patient In Delhi Advised Home Quarantine

Read: Latest Coronavirus Patient In Delhi Has No Travel History, Came In Contact With A Positive Patient: Officials

(With PTI inputs)
The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto has revealed that his government has successfully created 2,286,892 jobs for farmers under the Planting for Food and Jobs programme.

He said the move by the Akufo-Addo government has improved the living conditions of the many farmers in the country.

Addressing the media in Accra, the Minister said The Planting for Food and Jobs by the Akufo-Addo Administration has created 2,286,892 Jobs for farmers in their farming communities. Commentators in Accra should visit the farming communities and witness great impacts.

The Minister disclosed that in 2017, about 745,000 jobs were created as compared to 2018s 794,944.

Dr. Afriyie Akoto hinted that although there was a decline in the number of farmers in 2019 as compared to 2018, it still recorded 746,948 for the previous year.

The Agric Minister further explained that food prices have reduced significantly in the last three years due to the availability of foodstuffs. Food prices have reduced significantly in the last three years due to availability of foodstuffs due to Planting for Food and Jobs.

He mentioned that Ghana placed third in Sub-Saharan after Botswana and South Africa citings findings by the economic intelligence unit.

I pray that Ghana becomes self-Sufficient in rice by 2022. Government will import smaller solar powered rice mills for rice farmers in Ghana to achieve this target, he stated.

Dr. Akoto emphasized that 1.2 million out of 3 million gaming families are currently benefiting from the PFJ policy.

He stressed that it is about One-third of farming families in the country adding that the Ministry has a target of reaching 1.4 million farmers by end of 2020.

He explained that the Ashanti Region leads the chart in the percentage participation programmes with 159,032.

Some Senior High Schools increased from 160 in 2018 to 470 in 2019 whiles there are 10 public and private universities, he said.

Speaking on the yield of major crops; Maize in 2016 stood at 1.7, shot up to 3.5 in 2017, maintained 3.5 in 2019 and rose to 3.8 in 2019 having 5.5 as an achievable yield.

He added that rice in 2016 stood at 2.7, shot up to 4 in 2017, maintained 4 in 2019 and rose to 4.3 in 2019 having 6 as an achievable yield.

Tomatoes in 2016 stood at 7.8, shot up to 10 in 2017, maintained 10 in 2019 and rose to 12 in 2019 having 20 as an achievable yield. Pepper in 2016 stood at 8.3, shot up to 10 in 2017, maintained 10 in 2019 and rose to 18 in 2019 having 30 as an achievable yield he pointed out.

He was confident that 2020 will be better than the past three years of Governments achievement under the Planting for Food and Job Module.
Doctors with mild coughs or runny noses are calling in sick after repeatedly being told by Victorian health authorities not to go into work if they have any symptoms that could be a sign of COVID-19.

Some doctors fear they could even be reported to the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency if they were to treat a patient while ill and are opting to self-isolate from increasingly burdened hospitals and practices, Melbourne GP Anita Munoz, said.

Doctors and dentists are running out of face masks as the coronavirus spreads across the country. Credit:Nicolas Walker

"It has decimated the workforce at a time when we need it most," said Dr Munoz.

Doctors were left fuming after Health Minister Jenny Mikakos said she was "flabbergasted" that Melbourne GP Chris Higgins went to work after he came home from the US with minor cold-like symptoms.
Italian police were on Wednesday hunting for 11 prisoners who escaped in the aftermath of jail riots sparked by fears over coronavirus, as authorities began to test inmates and distribute face masks.

Those still on the run were part of a group of 72 inmates who escaped on Monday from a prison in Foggia, located near Italy's southeastern coast, the justice ministry said.

They included a 36-year old man, Cristoforo Aghilar, who was arrested last October for killing the mother of his ex-girlfriend, as well as several men with links to organised crime.

At least 6,000 prisoners took part in the riots, which broke out on Sunday across the country, Justice Minister Alfonso Bonafede told Senate on Wednesday, which was nearly empty due to new restrictions on group assembly.

Twelve inmates died, mostly due to overdoses after rioters stormed prison infirmaries, and 40 guards were wounded, the minister said.

At the medium-security prison of Foggia, a few prisoners set their sheets and mattresses on fire on Monday, attracting the attention of guards.

At the same time, a group of about 200 men managed to force open the doors of an exit corridor and some reached the outer limit of the prison and scaled the outside walls, Bonafede said.

The prison suffered serious structural damage, he said.

Before the riots, inmates had objected to new restrictions on visits by family members designed to keep coronavirus -- which has already killed 631 people in Italy -- out of the country's overcrowded prison system.

"It's evident that so many prisoners are worried, especially in overcrowded conditions, about the impact of coronavirus on inmates' health," Bonafede said.

About 100,000 protective masks were being distributed throughout the prison system, while tests for coronavirus would soon be conducted on inmates who had recently been transferred between institutions, he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Angela Boswell said she had a falling out with her daughter, Megan Boswell  who is Evelyns mother  in September, the same month she said she last saw her granddaughter. On that occasion, her daughter brought Evelyn to stay with her while she visited a relative in the hospital, Angela Boswell said.

Toward the end of December, she said she heard that Evelyn had been removed from her mothers custody and placed with a foster family. She said that led her to get back in touch with her daughter and try to help her. Still, she did not explicitly discuss Evelyn with Megan Maggie Boswell because she wanted her daughter to bring it up on her own when she was ready, Angela Boswell said.

The child had not actually been placed in foster care, but Angela Boswell said she believed that was true, and she thought her daughter was embarrassed about it.

I just believed Maggie just didnt want to come out and tell me that, Angela Boswell said.

But on the evening of Feb. 17, Angela said she spoke with her ex-husband and learned that Evelyn was missing.
My own view, Ill just say, is I want to keep people safe, and I think weve got to follow the guidance that medical experts give us," Pritzker said at a news conference announcing new coronavirus cases in Illinois. "The (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) is talking about avoiding mass gatherings. They arent giving a number to what is a mass gathering, and I think thats not helpful, frankly.
The operator of Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea said Wednesday the parks will remain closed through early April over fears of the outbreak.

Oriental Land also said the openings of new zones and attractions, scheduled for April 15, will also be pushed back to mid-May, as the government calls on the public to avoid unnecessary outings and crowded places.

The announcement came a day after Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called for a 10-day extension of measures intended to halt the spread of the new coronavirus, including cancelling, delaying or scaling back major events.

The virus has so far infected 568 people and been linked with 12 deaths in Japan.

Oriental Land originally closed the parks from February 29 with a plan to reopen from March 16.

"We are planning our resumption time for early April, but we will make an announcement at a later time," the company said in a brief statement.

"The opening of Tokyo Disneyland's major development area, which was scheduled for April 15, has been rescheduled to mid-May or later," the company said.

More than 30 million visitors flood into the two parks each year, including school children during spring break, and they are among the most popular destinations for tourists coming to Tokyo.

Abe has made a nationwide plea for the public to help halt the spread of the coronavirus, urging schools to close through early April and telling businesses to encourage commuters to work from home or avoid rush hour trains.

A panel of experts is expected to meet next week to assess the effectiveness of those measures.
We do have an awful lot of senior programming, we currently have about 500 seniors monthly that attend our programming, said Jan Orlich, director of the park and recreation department. We have created a new disinfection system where we disinfect our building every morning and evening. We have hand sanitizer out and ask everyone entering the building to please use the hand sanitizer.
India on Wednesday suspended all visas, except a few categories such as diplomatic and employment, till April 15 to prevent the spread of coronavirus as 10 new cases were reported taking the total number of patients in the country to 60.

However, as per state health officials, the number of confirmed cases maybe up to 65.

As the infection continued to spread its tentacles in the country, state governments and Union territories took a number of preventive measures.

The government also "strongly advised" Indians to avoid all non-essential travel abroad.

The decision on suspension of visas was taken at a meeting of a group of ministers held here under the chairmanship of Health Minister Harsh Vardhan.

"All existing visas, except diplomatic, official, UN/International organisations, employment and project visas, stand suspended till 15th April 2020. This will come into effect from 1200GMT on 13th March 2020 at the port of departure," an official statement said.

Visa-free travel facility granted to Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) card holders is also kept in abeyance till April 15, it said.

All incoming travellers, including Indian nationals, arriving from or having visited China, Italy, Iran, Republic of Korea, France, Spain and Germany after February 15 will be quarantined for a minimum period of 14 days, the statement said.

As preventive measures, the Jammu and Kashmir administration ordered closure of primary schools and aganwadi centres and shutting down of cinema halls across the region till 31 March, while the Karnataka government issued temporary regulation which asked all government and private hospitals to have flu corners for screening of suspected cases of COVID-19.

According to the regulation, no person/institution shall use print or electronic media to spread mis-information on COVID-19 without prior permission of the Department of Health & Family Welfare.If a person is found indulging in any such activity, they will be punished, it said.

The Karnataka government also started a campaign called 'Namaste over Handshake' that encourages people to greet in the traditional Indian style, to tackle the spread of the virus.

As the cases of the infection continued to swell with over 119,400 confirmed cases reported globally so far out of which over 4,300 people have succumbed to the virus, India prohibited entry of any international cruise ship, crew or passenger with a travel history to coronavirus-hit countries post February 1, 2020 to its major ports till March 31.

To prevent the spread of the deadly virus, the Ministry of Shipping said it will allow only such international cruise ships which had intimated their call to ports by January 1, 2020.

The government said international cruise ships will be allowed only at ports having thermal screening facilities for passengers and crew members.

Among the fresh cases, eight were from Kerala and one each from Delhi and Rajasthan since Tuesday, the Union health ministry said and gave state-wise breakup which included five (Delhi), nine (Uttar Pradesh), four (Karnataka) and two in Ladakh.

While the Union ministry maintained that there are two confirmed cases of the infection in Maharashtra, the state health officials put the number to seven.

Rajasthan, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab have reported one case each, the ministry said, adding Kerala has till now reported 17 cases, including the three patients who were discharged last month following recovery.

The total number of 60 confirmed cases includes 16 Italians tourists, the ministry said.

Two employees working with IT companies Dell and Mindtree have been tested positive for coronavirus, according to company statements. However, their locations were not disclosed.

The Dell employee had returned from the US, including a visit to Texas while the Mindtree employee also had a travel history abroad, the two companies said in separate statements.

Making a statement in Rajya Sabha, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said the situation in Italy and Iran is "a cause of great concern" and the government is making all efforts to bring back Indians after appropriate testing and screening.

He said a medical team will leave for Italy tomorrow for screening Indians.

Noting that the disease has spread to about 90 countries, Jaishankar said if the government starts the process of bringing back Indians worldwide, then it will be only add to the panic.

An Air India flight carrying 83 people, including nine foreigners of Indian origin, arrived here on Wednesday from Italy and have been quarantined at the Army facility in Manesar near Delhi, officials said.

The evacuees will be monitored for two weeks by a qualified team of doctors and staff members, to watch for any signs of infection."If any individual is suspected to be infected, he/she will be shifted to an isolation facility," an official added.

Daily medical examination of all 83 people will be done at the facility, they said.

The first batch of 58 evacuees from Iran had arrived on Tuesday with 25 men, 31 women and 2 children on board and all evacuees are asymptomatic at present, the ministry said.

A two-day conference organised by the Delhi-based Institute of Defence Studies and Analysis (IDSA), which was to start from Thursday, has been postponed due to the coronavirus threat.

Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, who spoke to a few COVID-19 patients admitted at Medanta and Safdarjung hospitals through video calls on Tuesday, said all those infected by the disease were stable and showing signs of recovery.

So far, India has evacuated 948 passengers from COVID-19 affected countries. Out of these, 900 are Indian citizens and 48 belonging to different nationalities including Maldives, Myanmar, Bangladesh, China, USA, Madagascar, Sri Lanka, Nepal, South Africa and Peru, it said.

The ministry further said that a total number of 10,57,506 passengers have been screened so far at the airport.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Williams and his nephew, Nathan Myers, were convicted of the 1976 fatal shooting of Jeanette Williams and the attempted murder of Nina Marshall in Jacksonville. Williams was at first sentenced to death and spent four years on death row before being resentenced to life in prison.
Democratic Presidential Candidate former Vice President Joe Biden speaks to a full crowd during the Joe Biden Campaign Rally at the National World War I Museum and Memorial on March 7, 2020 in Kansas City, Missouri.

Joe Biden will win the Missouri Democratic presidential primary Tuesday, NBC News projects, setting him up to take another healthy chunk of delegates in his race with Bernie Sanders.

Missouri has 68 pledged delegates up for grabs. The former vice president will come away with at least 38 of them, while the Vermont senator will win 19 or more, according to NBC.

The projected win adds to Biden's early success on a night when six states held Democratic nominating contests. The front-runner to face President Donald Trump will also win the Mississippi primary, NBC projected.

In its 2016 primary, Hillary Clinton won Missouri by a tight margin, garnering 50% of the vote to Sanders' 49%. Four years ago, the Vermont senator won a majority of white voters even as black voters overwhelmingly favored Clinton, according to exit polls.

That changed Tuesday. While about seven-in-10 black voters chose Biden in Missouri, so did more than half of white voters, exit surveys found.

He also dominated among older Show Me State residents. A recurring problem for Sanders showed up again in the state: 18 to 29-year-olds made up only 12% of the electorate, down from 16% in 2016, according to exit polls.

A senior aide to Sanders told NBC News that he does not plan to deliver remarks Tuesday evening to address the results.
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Crews have arrived to perform a deep-cleaning of the Seattle-area nursing home at the epicenter of one of the biggest coronavirus outbreak in the US, linked to at least 19 deaths and hundreds of infections.

Members of a Servpro clean-up team arrived at Life Care Center in Kirkland, Washington, on Wednesday afternoon wearing white hazardous material suits and respirators, and carrying pressure washers.

The center's spokesman Tim Killian, told reporters in a news conference on Tuesday that Life Care was receiving an industrial cleaning of all their 'hard surfaces.'

He said the cleanings will happen within the residents' rooms, and staff will determine on a case-by-case basis if residents move out or stay in while the cleaning is occurring.

So far, about 50 percent of the facility's residents, 59 of them, have tested positive for COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the new virus.

It comes as Public Health - Seattle & King County announced that three more residents of the facility had died, bringing the total number of deaths to 22.

Crews have arrived to perform a deep-cleaning of the Seattle-area nursing home at the epicenter of one of the biggest coronavirus outbreak in the US, linked to at least 19 deaths and hundreds of infections. Pictured: Members of a Servpro cleanup crew wearing hazardous material suits prepare to enter Life Care Center in Kirkland, Washington, March 11

Members of a Servpro clean-up team arrived at Life Care Center in Kirkland, Washington, on Wednesday afternoon wearing white hazardous material suits and respirators, and carrying pressure washers (pictured)

Life Care's spokesman, Tim Killian, told reporters in a news conference on Tuesday that Life Care was receiving an industrial cleaning of all their 'hard surfaces.' Pictured: Members of a Servpro cleanup crew wearing hazardous material suits enter Life Care Center, March 11

The cleanings will happen within the residents' rooms, and staff will determine on a case-by-case basis if residents move out or stay in while the cleaning is occurring. So far, about 50 percent of the facility's residents have tested positive for COVID-19. Pictured, left and right: Workers from a Servpro disaster recovery team getshelp from colleagues and adjust their masks before entering Life Care Center, March 11

Killian told reporters on Wednesday that five more positive coronavirus cases of on-site residents were confirmed overnight, increasing from 21 to 26.

This means a total of 59 positive tests have been linked to the facility, including on-site residents, those in hospitals and patients moved to different facilities.

Among the residents who have tested positive is 81-year-old Judie Shape. Her son, Marty Shape, and daughter, Lori Spencer, speak to her on a phone and look at each other through windows.

Another resident who has tested positive is 76-year-old Susan Hailey. Her daughters Bridget Parkhill and Carmen Gray have been pictured standing outside of her room and waving as they speak to her.

And recently, heartbreaking photos captured an 88-year-old wife attempting to communicate with her husband of 60 years through the window of the quarantined care home.

Dorothy Campbell can be seen peering through the glass at her husband Gene, 89, who is trapped inside, but has not tested positive.

In-person visits are not currently not allowed at the nursing home and Governor Jay Inslee has ordered long-term care facilities to limit visitors as coronavirus cases spread across 11 centers.

The head of the American Health Care Association, Mark Parkinson described coronavirus as 'almost a perfect killing machine' for the elderly.

'We are encouraging all people, including family members and loved ones, to not visit nursing homes and assisted living facilities,' he told CNN.

Instead, Parkinson urged that people communicate with their elderly friends and family members via phone calls, text messages or video chat to not risk spreading coronavirus.

'The grim reality is that, for the elderly, COVID-19 is almost a perfect killing machine,' he said.

One resident who has tested positive is 76-year-old Susan Hailey. Her daughters Bridget Parkhill and Carmen Gray have been pictured standing outside of her room and waving as they speak to her (pictured)

Another resident who has tested positive is Judie Shape. Her son , Marty, and daughter, Lori Spencer, speak to her on a phone and look at each other through windows. Pictured: Marty Shape speaks on the phone through a window with his mother, Judie Shape, March 9

Judie Shape (left) who has tested positive for coronavirus, waves to her daughter, Lori Spencer (right) through a window at the Life Care Center, March 11

Dorothy Campbell, 88 (right), can be seen peering through the glass at her husband Gene, 89 (left), who is trapped inside Life Care, but has not tested positive

On Tuesday, Killian, the spokesperson said the center' staff members have found the new virus to be unpredictable and unbiased in who it effects.

Particularly, he said they'd seen patients in relatively good health suddenly develop symptoms

'We've had patients who, within an hour's time, show no symptoms to going to acute symptoms and being transferred to the hospital,' Killian said at a news conference on Sunday.

'And we've had patients die relatively quickly under those circumstances.'

One-third of Life Care's staff, about 65 people, are reporting symptoms, but only 30 have been tested so far.

The University of Washington School of Medicine said it could test all Life Care staff, but the federal government has not given kits for the center's employees

The head of the American Health Care Association, Mark Parkinson described coronavirus as 'almost a perfect killing machine' for the elderly. Pictured: A patient is transferred into an ambulance at the Life Care Center, March 7

One-third of Life Care's staff, about 65 people, are reporting symptoms, but only 30 have been tested so far. Pictured: Healthcare workers workers transport a patient on a stretcher into an ambulance at Life Care Center, February 29

The University of Washington School of Medicine said it could test all Life Care staff, but the federal government has not given kits for the center's employees. Pictured: A patient is loaded into an ambulance at the Life Care Canter, March 10

Life Care is now the subject of a federal investigation after it emerged that it has struggled to control the spread of viruses in the past.

Last April, Washington state fined the facility $67,000 citing infection-control deficiencies after two flu outbreaks sickened 17 patients and staff members.

Investigators claimed Life Care did not adequately train staff in 'transmission-based precautions' required under federal regulation, and failed to make sure the precautions were being followed.

Two months later, the nursing home was compliant with all regulations including transmission precautions, infection control and hand hygiene.

However, a Medicare health inspection rating ranked the facility just three out of five stars.

Officials have not yet determined how the senior living facility became a hot spot for of some of the nation's deadly cases.

The federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is sending inspectors along with experts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to investigate what happened and determine whether the nursing home followed guidelines for preventing infections.

Worldwide, more than 121,000 people in more than 100 countries have been infected with coronavirus and more than 4,000 have died.

In the US, more than 1,000 people have been diagnosed with the virus and 32 people have died in five states: California, Florida, New Jersey, South Dakota and Washington
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Raymond share price touched a 52-week low of Rs 429.35, falling 2.5 percent intraday on March 11 after the company's lifestyle business CEO decided to step down.

Sanjay Behl has decided to step down from his current role after serving for 7 years in the company, Raymond said in a press release.

Raymond Group announced the demerger recently and has already initiated the process of completing the formalities for listing the new lifestyle entity, Raymond Lifestyle Ltd.

The Lifestyle Business through a newly listed company will have the existing business of Branded Textiles, Branded Apparel & Garmenting, it added.

Raymond is managed by a strong team of professionals and we are confident of hiring the best-in-class CEO for the proposed listed entity as we embark on a new phase of transformation at Raymond Reimagined, said Gautam Hari Singhania, Chairman & Managing Director.

At 09:36 hrs, Raymond was quoting at Rs 435.00, down Rs 5.25, or 1.19 percent on the BSE.
Phu Quoc Island off southern Vietnam is harboring more than 10,000 foreign visitors despite a 30 percent slump in international tourist arrivals to the province administering the island because of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

The coronavirus is taking a toll on tourism in Kien Giang Province, located in the Mekong Delta, said Nguyen Duy Linh Thao, director of a local center charged with promoting investment, trade, and tourism.

Kien Giang, which administers the paradise island Phu Quoc, welcomed 1.6 million tourist visits in January-February, 114,900 of which were international arrivals, a 30.6 percent drop year on year, Thao elaborated.

Fewer visitors will come to Kien Giang in general and Phu Quoc in particular in March and the following months, owing to the COVID-19 epidemic.

The center has cooperated with the Vietnam Community Tourism Chapter on Phu Quoc in finding safe places for tourism promotion in Kien Giang.

Tourist industry insiders from nearby provinces like Dong Thap, An Giang, Can Tho, and Ca Mau, the Vietnam Community Tourism Chapter, and 200 companies in the Mekong Delta have conducted field trips to attractions on Phu Quoc in the same bid to revive tourism.

Foreign visitors on Phu Quoc Island, Kien Giang Province, Vietnam. Photo: Khanh Nam / Tuoi Tre

Deals have been clinched between tourist companies on Phu Quoc and the Delta region regarding the development of the tourist industry.

More international arrivals have been coming to Phu Quoc than other destinations given the coronavirus outbreak, Pham Van Nghiep, the islands vice-chairman, said.

Over 10,000 visitors from France, Germany, Russia, China, South Korea, Italy, and more are staying in Phu Quoc.

They chose Phu Quoc maybe because of its rather hot and dry climate, which makes them feel safe when COVID-19 has battered many countries, Nghiep said.

Precautions against the disease are being strictly taken, however.

There is no active case of COVID-19 in Kien Giang, according to local authorities.

Health facilities have quarantined 22 people in the province, eleven from Phu Quoc.

Three have been discharged after 14 days  the advised incubation period of the virus.

Three hundred and six other people are in quarantine at home, or in other forms of accommodation, in stable health.

Vietnam has confirmed 35 infections, 16 of whom have fully recovered and been discharged.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
Trauma from family separation knows no age.

On a recent episode of the podcast The Daily, I heard a grown woman talking about the fact she hadnt seen her 77-year-old mother since her coronavirus-affected nursing facility went on lockdown. The woman cried as she described the relief of being allowed to peer at her mom through an outside window.

Even though they had been talking on the phone, the woman just needed to be able to see that her mom was alive, sitting up in bed and able to wave hello.

Were going to hear many more stories about the impact of COVID-19 on families as people are quarantined at home and sheltered at hospitals and other health facilities. As travel is disrupted, well hear about spouses being separated and children stranded from their families. It will be wrapped in anger that there isnt enough information to reconnect people with each other.

As the outbreak worsens, it could personally impact millions of Americans, giving a critical mass of people an intimate understanding of trauma.

According to the nonprofit organization Physicians for Human Rights, the kinds of after-effects experienced by parents and children who are unexpectedly or abruptly separated include: being confused and upset, constantly worried, crying a lot, having sleeping difficulties, not eating well, having nightmares, being preoccupied, having severely depressed moods, overwhelming symptoms of anxiety, and physiological manifestations of panic and despair (racing heart, shortness of breath, and headaches), feeling pure agony and hopelessness, feeling emotional and mental anguish, and being incredibly despondent.

My desperate hope is that coronavirus-related discomfort, inconvenience and suffering creates empathy for our fellow human beings. Thats because I want people to identify with and understand what is still happening today at the U.S.-Mexico border: Families that include immigrants continue to be separated.

According to the Pew Research Center, the number of migrant apprehensions at the border rose in fiscal 2019 to its highest level in 12 years. The 851,508 apprehensions recorded were more than double the number of the year before.

The majority of those people were spared from official policy that rips apart families with the goal of discouraging other migrants from attempting to gain entry into the United States. But there continue to be exceptions that, according to experts, are loosely applied.

When families are apprehended by the Border Patrol or present themselves and plead for asylum, the prevailing practice is that they can be separated only after a determination is made that a parent poses a danger to the child, or has a serious criminal record or gang affiliation. Or when an aunt, uncle or sibling is accompanying the child or the parent is sick.

But the government is trying to drive a truck through what was supposed to be a very narrow exception, Lee Gelernt of the American Civil Liberties Union told NBC News last summer. Citing government data and reporting from the border, Gelernt argued that many children were being separated from their parents for minor crimes or unverified accusations of gang affiliation.

One can believe in the rule of law as well as orderly and controlled entry into our country and simultaneously believe that it is wrong to forcefully split up families and then ensnare them in a tangle of administrative red tape, as has been well documented in the past few years.

What is happening at the border is nothing short of a human rights horror. Its not much better in certain communities and neighborhoods all over the interior of the country, where raids and apprehensions at workplaces, homes and sometimes even near school grounds cause scenes as adults are arrested, leaving U.S.-born children behind with family or plunging them into the foster care system.

The threat of the coronavirus should not be politicized. But if we can find simple parallels in the pain of parents and children being torn apart by forces they have no control over, maybe more of us will sympathize with the ghastliness being inflicted on people arriving to our country. Both situations require our undivided attention.

estherjcepeda@washpost.com
NORWALK  A man allegedly stole fishing poles from the shed of a Raymond Terrace residence early Saturday.

According to a relase from Norwalk Police, around 3:45 a.m. Saturday, officers responded to the home on a report that the homeowner had seen someone enter a shed at the rear of the property. Police said the suspect had stolen fishing poles from the shed, and the homeowner provided a description to officers as well as showed them a video of the suspect.

Police said a description of the suspect was given to other officers that were working, and one of them saw a person matching the description enter Ludlow Commons, an elderly housing complex.

Inside, officers located Jose Crespo, 56, who was identified as the person seen on the video, and arrested. The stolen items were recovered from a vehicle Crespo had driven to Ludlow Commons.

Crespo was charged with third-degree burglary and sixth-degree larceny. He was assigned a $1,500 bond and scheduled to appear in court March 17.
TORONTO, March 11, 2020 /CNW/ - PolicyMe is excited to announce it has successfully raised a $3.3 million round of funding from a syndicate of international and domestic investors, co-led by Consorcio - HCS Capital and Westdale Properties.

With this new financial injection, PolicyMe can further capitalize on its early success in the Canadian digital life insurance space. The funds will be used to enhance PolicyMe's life insurance buying process with new technology and financial literacy tools. Product innovation is also front and center for PolicyMe, and the company believes that rejuvenating the industry's stagnant product shelf will reduce prices and increase customer value.

"We see far too many Canadians make misinformed decisions when buying life insurance," said Andrew Ostro, CEO and Co-Founder of PolicyMe. "They often overprotect with expensive policies that are not aligned with their needs or avoid coverage altogether. It's really a shame, because providing your family with financial protection is an extremely important and selfless act. When personalized correctly, the right life insurance policy adds a ton of value at a very affordable price."

PolicyMe prides itself on its transparent approach to life insurance. In fact, they have advised 26% of their 30,000+ users to not buy a PolicyMe product, as they do not need life insurance coverage.

This social-impact driven mandate scared off several potential investors during initial conversations. However, being honest and objective with customers is something the company will never compromise on, and this was appreciated by investors who participated in the round.

"The life insurance space is ripe for disruption, and PolicyMe has taken all the right steps to become a leading digital player," said Luis Felipe San Martin, Managing Partner of HCS Capital. "By offering personalized and honest advice, along with a seamless customer experience, Andrew and his team are laying the foundation for what we expect to be the future of the industry."

About PolicyMe

PolicyMe is a rapidly growing insurtech startup making life insurance simpler and more affordable for everyone who needs it. PolicyMe's online platform provides a digital experience for customers to navigate the entire insurance buying process, helping Canadians get personalized advice, compare quotes and apply for life insurance in just a few clicks. The company was founded by Andrew Ostro, Laura McKay and Jeff McKay in 2018, and is based in Toronto, Canada. You can learn about open career opportunities with PolicyMe by visiting: www.policyme.com/careers/.

About Consorcio - HCS Capital

Consorcio - HCS Capital Corporate Venture Fund is a specialized joint venture looking for disruptive fintech and insurtech startups in the Americas.

Consorcio is a leading insurance group in Chile with more than 100 years of history. It services over 1 million clients, has 2800+ employees and manages over $17 billion in total assets.

HCS Capital Partners is a Miami and Santiago based venture capital firm founded by a team with extensive experience in banking, insurance, technology and operations in the United States, Europe and Latin America.

SOURCE PolicyMe

For further information: Media Contact: Will Bradley, [email protected]

Related Links

https://www.policyme.com


Recreational marijuana is legal across Nevada, including Las Vegas, thanks to a law passed in July 2017. That means no medical marijuana card is required to access cannabis or buy marijuana products at dispensaries around Sin City. Unless you want to spend some time in Las Vegas detention center for violating some of Nevada drug laws, you should know the laws and understand how Nevada state marijuana laws will impact your stay in Las Vegas.

If youre new to marijuana or if its been a long time since youve consumed, take only a small amount, and start slow. If youre not sure which product you want to try, talk to a medical professional. Be especially careful with edibles, which can be potent.

Where to Enjoy Marijuana in Las Vegas

While many people enjoy marijuana on the strip in Las Vegas, you and everyone visiting Las Vegas are technically not allowed to smoke or consume Mary Jane in public. Nor can you light up in your Lyft, taxi, or Uber. Most hotels prohibit smoking and charge as much as $2,000 in cleaning fees, and getting caught lighting up on the strip could lead to a $600 fine. Airbnb 420 friendly style accommodations are popular choices for people looking for pot-friendly lodging. Also check out BudandBreakfast.com.

Prior to the start of lounges very recently, consumption of cannabis was only allowed in private homes. For this reason, other discrete forms of consumption other than smoking are extremely popular. Think vape pens, disposable cartridges, edibles, etc.

The Grove is the closest dispensary to McCarran International Airport, if you are flying into LAS. There are many dispensaries available throughout Las Vegas. Before you go, check with the dispensary you will be going to regarding what kind of payment they accept, as many only accept cash.

Cannabis tourism is also a growing business, allowing you to discover the best pot strains and marijuana product available on the Las Vegas Strip. Some attractions offer Brew and Buds tours, and behind the scenes exposure to companies and their activities pertaining to marijuana. These tours are very educational, allowing students to observe grow operations, dispensary visits and more. The first pot consumption Lounge, NuWu Cannabis Marketplace opened in Nevada in October 2019 and offers a tasting room complete with pre-rolls, bowls, pipes a marijuana-infused beer.

What you Need to Buy Marijuana in Nevada

To purchase cannabis for recreational purposes in Las Vegas, you must be 21 years old with a valid government-issued ID, drivers license or passport (or 18 years old with a medical marijuana card. It must be current and valid (not expired) and scannable. A medical marijuana card is not necessary, but will allow you to buy stronger product, and avoid retail excise tax (about 10% of the purchase price).

Without a medical marijuana card, you can buy up to an ounce of marijuana, or up to 1/8th of an ounce of concentrates (shatter, crumble, wax, oils, etc,). If you are a medical patient, you can buy up to 2.5 ounces within a 14-day period. Recreational purchases are not tracked, so in theory you could be an ounce at one dispensary, go to another dispensary across the street and buy another ounce, and so on.

Staying Safe

When it comes to operating a vehicle, marijuana is treated similarly to alcohol. Dont consume marijuana and drive, and stay safe while you are consuming marijuana. High driving is considered a DUI in all states, including Nevada. An open cannabis container is treated the same as an open alcohol container.

In Las Vegas, you have plenty of options to purchase pot from legal dispensaries. As long as you purchase put legally and enjoy it safely, and do not sell to anyone (including friends and acquaintances) you will have no issues.

If you need information about marijuana laws in Las Vegas, you can contact Nixk Wooldridge at LV Criminal Defense, 400 S. 7th St. #401, Las Vegas NV 89101, (702) 623-6362.
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / March 11, 2020 / MGX Renewables Inc, DBA Zinc8 Energy Solutions ("Zinc8" or the "Company"), is pleased to announce that it has settled the debt claimed by MGX Minerals Inc. by agreement to pay to them $1,500,000 over the next 4 months. MGX Minerals Inc. had previously claimed a higher amount and the matter had been in dispute.

Also as part of the settlement, MGX Minerals Inc. has agreed to sell to Zimtu Capital Corp. 5,500,000 shares of Zinc8 for $550,000 that are to be held in escrow and released over approximately two years. The remaining Zinc8 shares in escrow will be retained by MGX Minerals Inc.

Zinc8 and Michael Reimann (Board member) on one side and MGX Minerals Inc. and Jared Lazerson (Board member) on the other have agreed to mutual releases of claims including termination of outstanding litigation against Reimann by MGX Minerals Inc.

Jared Lazerson has resigned as a director of Zinc8, which has reached a severance agreement with Mr. Lazerson, who is also the former CEO of Zinc8. Mr. Lazerson was terminated as CEO in September 2019 having led the acquisition of Zinc8 from Teck Resources by MGX Minerals Inc. in December of 2017 and led the spinoff of the wholly owned subsidiary from MGXM. Mr. Lazerson will on closing be paid 800,000 units at a deemed price of $0.38 per unit, each unit comprising one Zinc8 common share and one share purchase warrant. Each warrant is exercisable for 2 years at a price of $0.50 for one additional common share. This is in settlement of all claims by Mr. Lazerson.

The board of Zinc8 now is composed of Ron MacDonald, CEO, Michael Reimann, Lyndon Patrick and David Hodge.



About Zinc8 Energy Solutions

Zinc8 has assembled an experienced team to execute the development and commercialization of a dependable low-cost zinc-air battery. This mass storage system offers both environmental and efficiency benefits. Zinc8 strives to meet the growing need for secure and reliable power.

To watch a short video outlining Zinc8's technology, please visit: https://zinc8energy.com

More about the Zinc8 Energy Storage System (ESS)

The Zinc8 ESS is a modular Energy Storage System designed to deliver power in the range 20kW - 50MW with capacity of 8 hours of storage duration or higher. With the advantage of rechargeable zinc-air flow battery technology, the system can be configured to support a wide range of long-duration applications for microgrids and utilities. Since the energy storage capacity of the system is determined only by the size of the zinc storage tank, a very cost-effective and scalable solution now exists as an alternative to the fixed power/energy ratio of the lithium ion battery.

Technology

The Zinc8 ESS is based upon unique patented zinc-air battery technology. Energy is stored in the form of zinc particles, similar in size to grains of sand. When the system is delivering power, the zinc particles are combined with oxygen drawn from the surrounding air. When the system is recharging, zinc particles are regenerated, and oxygen is returned to the surrounding air.

Applications

The flexibility of the Zinc8 ESS enables it to service a wide range of applications. Typical examples include:

Smoothing energy derived from renewable sources such as wind and solar

Commercial/Industrial backup replacing diesel generators

Industrial and grid scale, on-demand power for peak shaving and standby reserves

Grid-scale services such as alleviating grid congestion, deferring transmission/distribution upgrades, energy trading and arbitrage, and increasing renewable energy penetration.

Architecture

The Zinc8 ESS is designed according to a modular architecture that enables a wide variety of system configurations to be created from a small number of common subsystems. Each subsystem implements a single element of the technology:

The Zinc Regeneration Subsystem (ZRS) provides the recharging function

The Fuel Storage Subsystem (FSS) provides the energy storage function

The Power Generation Subsystem (PGS) provides the discharging function

Contact Information

Patrick Butler

Corporate Development

Telephone: 1.604.681.1568

patrick@zinc8energy.com

Web: investors@zinc8energy.com

Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains certain statements or disclosures relating to Zinc8 Energy Solutions that are based on the expectations of its management as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to Zinc8 Energy Solutions which may constitute forward-looking statements or information ("forward-looking statements") under applicable securities laws. All such statements and disclosures, other than those of historical fact, which address activities, events, outcomes, results or developments that Zinc8 Storage anticipates or expects may or will occur in the future (in whole or in part) should be considered forward-looking statements.

Forward looking statements in this press release include that we will close the settlement agreement with Jared Lazerson and MGX Minerals; that we can execute the development and commercialization of a dependable low cost zinc-air battery; that our mass storage system offers both environmental and efficiency benefits; and that we can help meet the needs for secure and reliable power. Zinc8 Energy Solutions believes the material factors, expectations and assumptions reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable at this time, but no assurance can be given that these factors, expectations and assumptions will prove to be correct. The forward-looking statements included in this news release are not guarantees of future performance. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements including, without limitation: that the settlement agreement does not close for any reason; that our technology fails to work as expected or at all; that our technology proves to be too expensive to implement broadly; that customers do not adapt our products for being too complex, costly, or not fitting with their current products or plans; our competitors may offer better or cheaper solutions for battery storage; general economic, market and business conditions; increased costs and expenses; inability to retain qualified employees; our patents may not provide protection as expected and we may infringe on the patents of others; and certain other risks detailed from time to time in Zinc8 Energy Solution's public disclosure documents i, copies of which are available on MGX Renewables Inc's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.

The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligations to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws.

Neither the CSE nor any Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.



SOURCE: Zinc8 Energy Solutions

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/580218/Zinc8-Energy-Solutions-Inc-Announces-Settlement-of-Debt-and-Resignation-of-Director
Cardboard should not be used to align a backsplash. Which is how my second contractors lead guy decided to proceed. The cardboard, which was sitting on the counter, wedged under the backsplash, couldnt be removed. The entire backsplash had to be chopped out and replaced.

You may have to halt the project if you instinctively know something isnt right, said Bryan Sebring, owner of Sebring Design Build outside of Chicago. Go online and research how a backsplash should be done. Watch YouTube videos. Bring in a second opinion after they have left for the day to assess the project.

Ask for a preview. When the kitchen tiles were laid, the grout color I chose was not what appeared on the floor after it dried. Oh right, the contractor said. The colors on the package and in-store sample are often misleading. If he had done a patch test with a few tiles and let me see the dried version first, we wouldnt have wasted days scraping out the first color and re-grouting the entire floor.

Inspect everything nightly, especially things you cant easily see. One morning I woke to find an inch of water covering the newly tiled floor and spilling into my office. The subcontractor had neglected to fully turn off the valve of a pipe that hadnt been attached to a sink. It was being used to supply water for the crew and slowly leaked all night. Part of the office floor had to be replaced along with many pieces of now-warped customized cabinets. Another tip: Place water alarms by all unfinished piping.

Take photographs and videos in real time. When my (second) granite countertop was mounted (the first had arrived damaged), the installers took two small chunks out of my freshly plastered and painted walls and deeply scratched the new appliances. If I hadnt documented this while it was happening, I would not have had the evidence that let me be reimbursed for the ruined work.

Ask for what you need as soon as you figure it out. When the new countertop arrived, the installers used white caulking, which contrasted with the black granite surface and my now-warm-gray walls. I asked if they had another color that would blend better and was told yes, just not with them that day.
The steel industry is the world's second-largest commodity complex and, almost uniquely, has faced price volatility and major structural change largely without access to efficient hedging tools.

Since 2000, the steel industry has more than doubled production, with global output rising to 1.86bn t in 2019. Production has swung decisively from west to east, with China the leading producer by far, accounting for around half of global output. And pricing has changed, from annual fixed price contracts to shorter-term spot deals.

Over this period, liquid futures markets developed to manage newly volatile raw material prices, particularly for iron ore. But the same did not occur for finished steel markets, despite repeated requests from high-profile automotive manufacturers and others for tools to manage increasingly volatile steel prices. Over the past 12 months, China's export prices for HRC have moved in a $110/t range  more than a quarter of outright value.

The LME's launch of its HRC steel contract means there are now liquid futures markets for raw materials and finished steel, allowing steelmakers to hedge their profit margin. The LME fob China HRC contract is the most successful launch of a hedging tool for finished steel in terms of the liquidity that it has achieved.

The fob China HRC export price is a pan-Asian benchmark. It has high, hedgeable correlations with HRC imports in Vietnam, as well as HRC exports from Japan, South Korea, India and Taiwan, as well as further afield in the Middle East and north Africa.

"The Argus brand is growing quickly in ferrous markets," Argus Media chairman and chief executive Adrian Binks said. "Companies are recognising the quality of our price reporting methodologies and market reporting by referencing Argus coking coal, iron ore, steel and scrap prices in both short and long-term contracts."

"We are delighted to see the futures contract doing well, but the Argus index is not just for futures use. It provides a central reference for counterparties to transact with in volatile markets," Argus senior vice-president of metals, Asia, Tim Hard said. "For decades, steel sales have been conducted solely on a fixed-price basis. The option of using 'floating', as well as 'fixed' spot price trades doubles companies' pricing options. A concurrent futures market increases pricing options further."

"The fob China contract's year one liquidity growth has been the fastest among our ferrous futures launches to date, which speaks to the size of the market it addresses," Head of LME Singapore Will Fyfe said. "Asia produces 70pc of the world's hot-rolled steel products."

Argus publishes finished steel price assessments in Argus Ferrous Markets and Argus Ferrous Bulletin. These reports provide price assessments, news and market commentary on the international spot markets for steel and steel feedstocks.

Argus calculates its price assessments using a volume-weighted average of concluded spot transactions and a survey of market participants. The China HRC export price references HRC steel on a fob Tianjin basis.

Contact Information

London: Seana Lanigan

+44 20 7780 4200

[email protected]

Houston: Melanie Cruthirds

+1 713 968 0000

[email protected]

Singapore: Tomoko Hashimoto

+65 6496 9960

[email protected]

Moscow: Alexey Komarov

+7 495 933 75 71

[email protected]

About Argus Media

Argus is an independent media organisation with more than 1000 staff. It is headquartered in London and has 25 offices in the world's principal commodity trading and production centres. Argus produces price assessments and analysis of international energy and other commodity markets, and offers bespoke consulting services and industry-leading conferences.

Companies in 140 countries around the world use Argus data to index physical trade and as benchmarks in financial derivative markets as well as for analysis and planning purposes.

Argus was founded in 1970 and is a privately held UK-registered company. It is owned by employee shareholders, global growth equity firm General Atlantic and Hg, the specialist software and technology services investor.

ARGUS, the ARGUS logo, ARGUS MEDIA, ARGUS DIRECT, ARGUS OPEN MARKETS, AOM, FMB, DEWITT, JIM JORDAN & ASSOCIATES, JJ&A, FUNDALYTICS, METAL-PAGES, METALPRICES.COM, INTEGER, Argus publication titles and Argus index names are trademarks of Argus Media Limited.

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Kate Middleton and Prince William reunited with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle this week, bringing together the Fab Four one last time. Royal watchers were expecting a happy reunion from the couples, yet it turned out a little more awkward than the royals had hoped. But ahead of the big engagement, Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, did her best to defuse tension between Queen Elizabeth and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, who is officially done with her royal duties as of March 31.

Kate Middleton | Samir Hussein/WireImage

The Fab Four back together again

Kate Middleton and Prince William appeared alongside Harry and Meghan for the Commonwealth Day service, marking the last time well see the Sussexes in an official capacity before their exit becomes official.

Although nothing major happened during the service, inside sources claim that things were different behind the scenes. According to Mirror, one insider says that Harry and Meghan were upset and emotional once they learned they would not be a part of Queen Elizabeths procession.

Instead, the two were escorted to their seats after the rest of the guests had arrived. For reference, Harry and Meghan took part in the procession last year.

The pair will be leaving the ranks of the royal family after March 31. This probably has something to do with why Queen Elizabeth did not want them in the procession, though Buckingham Palace has yet to comment on the decision.

Kate Middleton tried to defuse the tension

With Harry and Meghan not taking part in the march, William and Kate did their best to defuse the tension. To that end, the pair dropped out of the procession at the last minute and took their seats shortly after Harry and Meghan.

The decision was made late on Sunday, which means Kate and William were still listed in the order of service that was printed for the event.

21. At the end of the Commonwealth Day service, the royals process out of Westminster Abbey in their order of succession to the throne (Queen first, the Charles & Camilla, William & Kate, Harry & Meghan, Edward & Sophie) pic.twitter.com/FHkE1oJ28Y  Patricia Treble (@PatriciaTreble) March 9, 2020

While Kate Middleton and Prince William clearly did their best to smooth things over, it did not go as planned. When the Cambridges took their seats on Monday afternoon, they only exchanged a quick greeting with Harry and Meghan before turning their attention elsewhere.

Until the service started, Meghan and Harry spent most of their time chatting with Prince Edward and Sophie, Countess of Wessex, who were seated next to them.

Kate and William, meanwhile, were one row in front of the Sussexes and pretty much kept to themselves while everyone waited for Queen Elizabeth to arrive.

Kate Middleton offers a kind greeting to Meghan Markle

Although they did not interact much, Kate did offer Meghan a quick greeting when she and William arrived at their seats. We do not know what the couples said to each, but it appears as though Harry and Meghan both said hello to the Cambridges.

Last year, Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle exchanged a warm kiss at the event. The circumstances surrounding this years event are totally different, however, and everyone was a bit more reserved.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Reunion With Prince William and Kate Middleton Was Pretty Dang Awkward https://t.co/2ccVw1pUQF  CafeMom (@cafemom) March 10, 2020

The engagement comes at a pretty rough time for the royals. Apart from Harry and Meghans drama, the family is also dealing with the fallout from Prince Andrews sex scandal.

After stepping down from his royal post a few months ago, Andrew was not present for the Commonwealth Day service.

Did Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle coordinate their outfits?

Despite all the tension behind the scenes, Kate and Meghan managed to wear complementary colors during the Sussexes final royal outing.

Meghan looked stylish in a green dress and hat from designer Emilia Wickstead, matching Harrys suit jacket lining.

For her part, Kate dazzled onlookers in a red outfit and hat from Catherine Walker. As fans may recall, the Duchess of Cambridge wore the same dress on Christmas Day in 2018 (which was Meghans first Christmas with the royals).

While Harry and Meghan will be returning to Canada now that their royal duties are completed, the year is just getting started for William and Kate.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have a packed schedule ahead of them and are expected to take on more responsibilities in light of Harry and Meghans exit. Prince William and Kate Middleton have not commented on their decision to back out of Queen Elizabeths procession.
A man turned heads in the centre of Sydney by wearing a hi-tech respirator on his face that looks like something out of a science fiction film.

Workers gawked as the young man crossed George St, in the heart of the city, with his friend and scooter in tow on Wednesday afternoon.

As fears mount over the coronavirus outbreak, the mask-wearer - who gave his name only as John - said it was the only thing that would certainly prevent infection.

'It's the only effective mask that you have,' he told Daily Mail Australia. 'You get them from China and eBay'.

A young man turned heads as he walked through Sydney's CBD wearing a 3M 6800 model respirator on Wednesday afternoon

Daily Mail Australia spoke to the young man, John, and his friend after they crossed George St, at the heart of the city

Face masks have become increasingly popular in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, with 123 people in Australia testing positive to the virus.

Regardless, the young man's commitment to protecting himself drew stares and joking comparisons to Star Wars villain Darth Vader or Bane from Marvel Comics.

The mask is marketed online as a 3M 6800 Full Face Reusable Respirator and is described as 'simple to use and comfortable to wear'.

Its filters and cartridges 'provide respiratory protection against particulates and a variety of gases and vapours', the 3M website said.

The reusable respirator John is wearing is a 3M branded P3 full face mask. It has 'wide field of vision'

The heavy-duty mask raised joking comparisons to Star Wars villain Darth Vader (left) and Marvel's Bane (right)

People who aren't suffering symptoms don't have to go to the same lengths, officials said.

CORONAVIRUS CASES IN AUSTRALIA: 27,244 Victoria: 20,269 New South Wales: 4,273 Queensland: 1,161 Western Australia: 692 South Australia: 473 Tasmania: 230 Australian Capital Territory: 113 Northern Territory: 33 TOTAL CASES: 27,244 ESTIMATED ACTIVE CASES: 269 DEATHS: 897 Updated: 5.31 PM, 11 October, 2020 Source: Australian Government Department of Health Advertisement

'Face masks are not recommended for the general population,' a NSW Health fact sheet said.

'People who have symptoms and might be infected with COVID-19 are required to stay in isolation at home and should wear a surgical face mask when in the same room as another person and when seeking medical advice to reduce the risk of transmitting COVID-19 to anyone else.'

Health care workers are urged to use 'appropriate personal protective equipment.'

Four new coronavirus cases were confirmed in NSW on Wednesday afternoon, taking the state's total to 65.

The new patients include three women in their 20s and 30s who recently returned from Italy together. The fourth - a man in his 70s - is a contact of a resident at the Dorothy Henderson Lodge nursing home linked to two deaths.
Some stocks are best avoided. It hits us in the gut when we see fellow investors suffer a loss. Imagine if you held China Development Bank International Investment Limited (HKG:1062) for half a decade as the share price tanked 74%. And some of the more recent buyers are probably worried, too, with the stock falling 36% in the last year. The silver lining is that the stock is up 3.3% in about a week.

View our latest analysis for China Development Bank International Investment

In his essay The Superinvestors of Graham-and-Doddsville Warren Buffett described how share prices do not always rationally reflect the value of a business. One flawed but reasonable way to assess how sentiment around a company has changed is to compare the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price.

Looking back five years, both China Development Bank International Investment's share price and EPS declined; the latter at a rate of 8.8% per year. This reduction in EPS is less than the 24% annual reduction in the share price. So it seems the market was too confident about the business, in the past. The low P/E ratio of 10.37 further reflects this reticence.

You can see below how EPS has changed over time (discover the exact values by clicking on the image).

SEHK:1062 Past and Future Earnings, March 11th 2020

It might be well worthwhile taking a look at our free report on China Development Bank International Investment's earnings, revenue and cash flow.

A Different Perspective

While the broader market lost about 11% in the twelve months, China Development Bank International Investment shareholders did even worse, losing 36%. However, it could simply be that the share price has been impacted by broader market jitters. It might be worth keeping an eye on the fundamentals, in case there's a good opportunity. Regrettably, last year's performance caps off a bad run, with the shareholders facing a total loss of 24% per year over five years. We realise that Baron Rothschild has said investors should "buy when there is blood on the streets", but we caution that investors should first be sure they are buying a high quality business. It's always interesting to track share price performance over the longer term. But to understand China Development Bank International Investment better, we need to consider many other factors. To that end, you should be aware of the 2 warning signs we've spotted with China Development Bank International Investment .

Story continues

We will like China Development Bank International Investment better if we see some big insider buys. While we wait, check out this free list of growing companies with considerable, recent, insider buying.

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on HK exchanges.

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



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
The groups are on a mission to grab territory, officials say, so they can train, gather strength and launch attacks on targets worldwide. The militants, at war with one another in the Middle East, are known to be coordinating efforts in West Africa, ordering villagers to join or die  or swaying them with stacks of cash.
Health officials fight increase in dengue cases in Sri Lanka with method successfully used in Australia.

Sri Lanka has recorded a sharp increase in people infected with dengue, a viral disease spread by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, across the country.

Now Sri Lankas health authorities are borrowing a method they say has been successful in Australia  one that uses the same mosquitoes, to combat its spread.

Al Jazeeras Minelle Fernandez reports from Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Frustrated after a string of break-ups, Dwita Astari Pujiartati quit the casual romance circuit and turned to a growing trend among Indonesian singles -- marriage without dating. The 27-year-old professor exchanged resumes with prospective suitors -- helped by a Muslim cleric-cum-matchmaker -- until she was contacted by a long-lost acquaintance who also wanted to give contact-less dating a whirl. There was no hand holding or kissing. The pair didn't even meet in person for almost a year, chatting on the telephone instead. "Once we felt 'the click', (my now husband) asked my parents if he could propose to me," Pujiartati said. The practice known as taaruf, or introduction, is derided by critics as old fashioned and more fitting to conservative Gulf nations like Saudi Arabia than relatively liberal Indonesia, the world's biggest Muslim majority country. But Pujiartati saw it as a way to ditch dating that went nowhere and be a devout Muslim at the same time by avoiding pre-marital touching and sex. "Why should I choose something that wastes my time and doesn't please God?" she said. - Mass breakup - While the practice isn't widespread, Pujiartati is not alone. A movement called Indonesia Tanpa Pacaran (Indonesia without dating) is blossoming in the Southeast Asian nation where people born from the mid-Nineties make up about one-quarter of its more than 260 million people. The nuptials-focused group, which has a million followers on its Instagram page alone, targets this enormous Generation-Z audience largely through social media. Any pre-marital contact should be supervised and getting married younger is ideal, according to the group, which portrays pre-marital dating as a sinful product of Western decadence. Pujiartati's courtship was long by the standards of many marriage-without-daters who often tie the knot in a matter of months. To get its message out, the group also sells branded products including hats, keychains and hijab head coverings worn by many women in Indonesia. The movement was kicked off in 2015 by then university student La Ode Munafar, who recently hosted a "mass breakup" on New Year's Eve in Kendari city on Sulawesi island. With dozens in the audience, the 29-year-old denounced dating and called on attendees to break up with their partners. One young man walked on stage and broke it off with his girlfriend over the phone, eliciting cheers and clapping. "I've researched dating from a scientific and psychological point of view," Munafar told reporters after the event. "It's harmful in every respect," he added, without elaborating. - 'Public piety' - Cheery stories about marriage-without-dating bliss populate Indonesia's huge Internet space. Among them is the tale of Muhammad Alvin Faiz, son of a prominent pro-polygamy cleric, who married his 19-year-old wife, a Catholic convert to Islam, through a no-contact relationship. Faiz shares the couple's story with 1.4 million social media followers under the hashtag #NikahMuda or young marriage. The seeds of this trend may have been planted back in 1998 -- when many adherents were toddlers -- in the ashes of Indonesia's collapsed Suharto dictatorship, which largely suppressed religious expression. "This era of democracy has opened up space for religious expression," said Sidiq Harim, a sociologist at Gadjah Mada University. "Public piety through religious symbols is emerging and taaruf is one of them." In recent years, Indonesia has seen a shift toward religious conservatism, with some celebrities announcing they'll adopt a more pious lifestyle. And last year the government unsuccessfully tried to push through a criminal code overhaul, backed by conservative Islamic groups, which would have banned pre-martial sex, sparking a public outcry. Marriage-without-dating is also a pushback against fears that two decades of democracy have broken down traditional values in a country where arranged marriage was once the norm, and still endures in some rural areas, experts said. - 'Sudden marriage thing' - Advocates insist the practice empowers women by giving them control over choosing a partner without feeling compelled to have sex before marriage. And it doesn't require permission from family members like arranged unions do, they say. Still, a successful marriage means both partners must follow Islam's teachings on what's expected of a husband and wife, said Taufiq Andika, who married his wife after about three months of non-contact courtship. "It's a problem if the couple doesn't know each other's rights and obligations," the 28-year-old said. "That could lead to divorce." But even the most liberal interpretations of those obligations tend to call on women to prioritise their husband and children's needs over their own. Critics say brief, resume-based relationships can set couples up for failure -- and put women at risk. "I've heard many stories about domestic abuse," said Kalis Mardiasih, a Muslim feminist and gender campaigner at Gusdurian National Network, which represents thousands of grassroots social activists. "It can happen in other relationships too. But it's critical to assess someone's attitude as early as possible and see what kind of person they are." Despite its growing popularity, not all Indonesians are sold on the idea. "I don't agree with this sudden marriage thing," said 25-year-old Azara Mahdaniar. "You don't want to commit and find out later on that your partner is mean or abusive."
The Queen has become the fourth longest-serving monarch today, surpassing Mayan ruler Pakal the Great.

Her Majesty, 93, has been on the throne for 68 years and 34 days, while K'inich Janaab Pakal ruled the Maya city state of Palenque for 68 years and 33 days before his death in 683AD.

The record joins the Queen's many other accolades - including her title as the longest-living reigning monarch.

The Queen (pictured on Monday in London) has become the fourth longest-serving monarch today, surpassing Mayan ruler Pakal the Great

She also officially became the longest-reigning British monarch in September 2015, surpassing her great-great grandmother Queen Victoria.

The longest-reigning monarchs 1. Louis XIV of France (reigned from 14 May 1643 to 1 September 1715) 2. Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand (reigned from 9 June 1946 to 13 October 2016) 3. Johann II of Liechtenstein (reigned from 12 November 1858 to 11 February 1929) 4. Queen Elizabeth II (reigned from 6 February 1952) Advertisement

Pakal the Great is thought to have ascended to the throne at the age of 12- years-old and during his rule managed to expand Palenques power in the western Maya states.

The Mayan civilisation reached its peak between 250 and 900 AD, when it ruled large swathes of what is now southern Mexico, Guatemala, Belize and Honduras.

Meanwhile, just ahead of the British monarch is Johann II of Liechtenstein, who ruled from 1858 and 1929.

This is followed by Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand.

King Bhumibol reigned from 1946 until his death in October 2016 and was the world's longest living reigning monarch before the Queen.

Her Majesty, 93, has been on the throne for 68 years and 34 days, while K'inich Janaab Pakal (pictured is his death mask) ruled the Maya city state of Palenque for 68 years and 33 days before his death in 683AD

Who was 'Pakal the Great'? Known as Pakal the great, K'inich Janaab Pakal I was the ruler of the Maya city state of Palenque over 68 years until he died in 683AD. He is thought to have ascended to the throne at the age of 12 years old and during his rule managed to expand Palenques power in the western Maya states. Buildings erected under his rule are considered the civilisations finest architecture. Pakal's tomb was only discovered in the 1950s. Inside, archaeologists found his skeleton still intact. His death mask was made entirely of jade with eyes made from mother of pearl and obsidian. Five skeletons were found at the entrance of the crypt, though to be sacrificial victims intended to follow Pakal to the underworld. Advertisement

Holding on to the top spot is Louis XIV of France, with an impressive 72-year and 110-day reign.

Known as Louis the Great, the French monarch became King at the age of four following the death of his father Louis XIII, and ruled from 14 May 1643 to 1 September 1715.

Social media users were quick to congratulate the Queen on her new position on the list.

One person tweeted: 'And still going strong! Such a remarkable lady!'

Another said: 'Congratulations to HM the Queen today on becoming the fourth longest reigning monarch of a sovereign state in history.'

A third person hoped that the Queen would make it to the first spot, adding: 'She'll definitely make it to 98 the form she's in, record has to be hers.'

The list referred to by most Twitter users is thought to mention only monarchs of states that were internationally sovereign for most of their reign.

Reaction: Impressed social media users were quick to congratulate the Queen on her new position on the list
But the added time did not add up to a better-than-expected result. Biden, like he did in Missouri and Mississippi, grew his support and delegate lead. And just like after the former vice president won in South Carolina, he also got a boost from some of the party's biggest names, who argued that the race is over and Sanders should acknowledge as much.

The Sanders campaign has rejected any suggestion that he might consider dropping out any time soon -- and certainly not before Sunday night's debate -- but those hopes could soon be replaced by a colder calculus.

"He'll debate," a Sanders aide said of his upcoming showdown with Biden in Arizona on Sunday night. The aide wouldn't go any further.

Dem figures rush to show Sanders the exit

South Carolina Rep. Jim Clyburn, a prominent supporter of Biden's minced no words as the results ticked in on Tuesday night.

"I think when the night is over, Joe Biden will be the prohibitive favorite to win the Democratic nomination," Clyburn said on NPR. "And quite frankly, if the night ends the way it has begun, I think it is time for us to shut this primary down. It is time for us to cancel the rest of these debates."
Hartford HealthCare is piloting a program that will allow it to offer so-called drive-thru testing for COVID-19, allowing patients to drive up and get tested for the contagious respiratory illness. Meanwhile, other health providers, including Bridgeport Hospital, also are in the process of offering  or already offer  the service.

On Wednesday, Hartford HealthCare  a network of seven hospitals, including St. Vincents Medical Center in Bridgeport  hosted a press conference in which it announced new measures to help handle COVID-19, a novel strain of coronavirus, a family of respiratory illnesses.

Every day as we go forward, we continue to make adjustments and build on work were doing to respond to these issues, said Jeffrey Flaks, president and CEO of Hartford HealthCare.

The health systems latest measures included the drive through service (which is still in its early stages) and a plan to offer telemedicine to patients requiring care who dont want to leave the safety of their homes.

With the drive-through tests, patients would make an appointment and fill out paperwork online before coming to a designated testing site, said Dr. Ajay Kumar, Chief Medical Officer, Hartford HealthCare. When they arrive, they will be swabbed and the swabs will be submitted for testing.

Kumar didnt say where the testing would be offered, or when it might be available in Bridgeport. However, he said, the health system could have something available by Friday or early next week.

The curbside testing is a growing practice in the state. Murphy Medical Associates began offering the service in Greenwich, Stamford and Stratford on Tuesday. Wednesday afternoon, Bridgeport Hospital spokesman John Cappiello said that planning for drive-through screenings at Bridgeport Hospital is well underway, but some final details needed to be worked out.

Kumar said Hartford HealthCare hasnt yet had anyone from the hospital  staff or patient  test positive for COVID-19, but plans to keep evolving its response. He said the system is constantly trying to answer the questions How do we protect our community? How do we protect our colleagues?

In addition to the piloted drive-thru service and the telemedicine offering, the health system also offers a hotline people can call for information, 860-972-8100, as well as a text messaging service. People can get updates on COVID-19 by texting COVID19 to 31996.
What drives people seek to high social status? A common evolutionary explanation suggests men do so because, in the past, they were able to leverage their social position into producing more children and propagating their genes.

Indeed, much evidence shows that high social status grants men a number of benefits, not the least of which is increased access to sexual partners. Consider Genghis Khan, who, according to some historical estimates, fathered upwards of 1,000 children with his numerous wives and over 500 concubines.

And more recently, there's Winston Blackmore, the leader of the polygamous Latter-Day Saints group in British Columbia, who is said to have 149 children with his 27 "spiritual wives."

But what about women, for whom fertility is biologically constrained? Pregnancy, after all, is a nine-month endeavor, followed, in traditional societies, by another several years of breastfeeding. Realistically, over the course of her childbearing years a woman can't expect to give birth to more than 20 or so children, and that's assuming she devotes herself entirely to reproduction.

Given these biological limitations, how might women benefit from high status? Do women have the same motivations for status striving as men do?

New research by anthropologists at UC Santa Barbara suggests that a woman's status does pay off, but in the form of better health outcomes for her children. Studying the Tsimane, a population indigenous to the Bolivian Amazon, the researchers found that the children of politically influential mothers are less likely to be sick, and more likely to be of healthy weight and height for their age. Their work appears in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B.

"When we think about social status, it's often linked -- for men at least -- to more wealth and sexual partners and to higher fertility in places without birth control," said Sarah Alami, a doctoral student in anthropology at UC Santa Barbara and the paper's lead author. "But since women can never have as many children as men can, does this mean that status striving is an exclusively male privilege?"

The answer, according to the researchers, is no. "Women may just have different motivations for seeking status than men," Alami continued. "This paper proposes that women may be more likely to leverage their status into greater resources in a way that can benefit their existing children."

To measure status in a context of minimal material wealth, the researchers asked men and women to rank all the people in their community in terms of who has the greatest political influence, whose voice carries the most weight during community meetings, who is best at leading community projects and who garners the most respect.

When they compared those rankings against several measures of health for children, they found children of politically influential women fare better than others, those children grow faster and also are less likely to be diagnosed with common illnesses such as respiratory infections, gastrointestinal diseases and anemia. Respiratory infections are a source of morbidity and mortality in the Tsimane population.

"So much work on status focuses only on men because male status striving, leadership and power wrangling is so in-your-face," said Michael Gurven, a professor of anthropology at UC Santa Barbara, co-director of the Tsimane Health and Life History Project and the paper's senior author. "We wanted to measure women's status in a relatively egalitarian society, even where most formal leaders are men, to see how variable it might be, and how it matters in daily life."

The study goes beyond simple correlations between status and health, Gurven continued. "Maybe there's no causal relationship -- perhaps healthier people just have healthier children. Such an explanation doesn't require extra resource access or others' deference," he said.

"But if it was just a matter of having good genes, we'd expect similar effects from both mother and father -- since each contributes genes," he went on. "But we don't see that. Dad's status has a positive effect on child health, but it's relatively weak and disappears once we include mom's in the same statistical model. So that suggests either the mother's influence has a stronger effect on their children, or the father's influence works through the mother's."

So, how does a woman's political influence lead to better health outcomes for her children? The authors first tested whether greater material assets, schooling, wages and kin connections could explain the relationship. While status exerts some of its effects on child health via these mediating forms of wealth, combined they explain relatively little. A number of other tests and control variables also did not alter the relationship between women's status and child health. Instead, the authors propose that a woman's publicly recognized influence affects her ability to be heard within her household. And having a voice can directly benefit children.

The researchers collected data on the amount of power husbands think their wives have. This includes men's opinion about the decision-making authority of their wives in different domains, and their attitudes toward women in general, women working and women being educated. "We found women's political influence was correlated with their husbands having more gender-egalitarian views, their husbands thinking, for example, that it's okay for a woman to have opinions that differ from her husband's," Alami said. "And women's influence was also correlated with their husbands thinking their wives have a say in household decisions such as where to live, when to travel and how to spend household money."

Added Alami, "The fact is that even in a context where women have nine kids and where her efforts aren't flashy or accorded much cultural value, women can still be well respected and have high status."

A lot of this work, Gurven commented, is inspired by evolutionary or "ultimate-level" questions. "Of course we don't crave status because we're consciously thinking about increasing reproductive success," he said. "Women are not walking around saying, 'I'm going to become influential so that I can improve my children's health and survival.'

"But any discussion here would be lacking without considering the costs and benefits of climbing the status ladder," he continued. "What's the point of putting so much time and effort into something elusive like status if there's not some benefit? We're saying that payoffs are there for women, too, and that women may have similar status motivations as men -- we just find that fitness payoffs for women are not from greater sexual access, but instead improved health and other outcomes for children."

One of the strengths of this study comes from the researchers' ability to measure status -- a challenging thing to do. "I can measure your height or your weight, and I can ask how much money you make. But status -- what others think of you -- is not so straightforward to measure," Gurven explained. "But it is really important in human social lives, affecting so many of our behaviors and motivations."

Added Alami, "Everyone was rated by a representative group of village residents. That means all were judged by the same yardstick. And it turned out the average woman did rank lower than most men in terms of social status, but there was substantial overlap between men and women And in a previous recent study, we showed that the sex difference in political influence disappears once you account for a person's size, formal education and number of cooperation partners -- suggesting that these factors, rather than gender per se, lead to high status."

Coincidentally, the authors' paper appears during Women's History Month in the United States, shortly after International Women's Day and in the wake of six female Democratic presidential contenders having vied for their party's nomination. While the work cannot explain why far fewer women than men hold positions of power, it is consistent with studies showing that more female political participation is desirable for improving child welfare. For example, a critical mass of women's political representation in low- and middle-income countries has been shown to lower infant mortality (https://pubs.aeaweb.org/doi/pdfplus/10.1257/pol.6.2.164) and increase vaccination rates (https://academic.oup.com/sf/article/91/2/531/2235851).

The current study suggests that even in isolated, rural traditional populations, and without holding formal leadership positions, women have motivations for taking on those positions. But they face different constraints.

"There are these trade-offs and divisions of labor that are influenced by cultural context," said Alami. "If women were able with more flexibility to have children and yet maintain the same social networks and obtain the same educational and work opportunities, you would see less of a difference in perceived status between men and women."

###

Co-authors of the study include Thomas Kraft, a postdoctoral scholar at UC Santa Barbara; Christopher von Rueden, a former graduate student at UC Santa Barbara and now an associate professor at the University of Richmond; Jonathan Stieglitz of the Institute for Advanced Study in Toulouse; Edmond Seabright of the University of New Mexico; Aaron Blackwell of Washington State University; and Hillard Kaplan of Chapman University.
Russian pranksters on Wednesday said they duped Prince Harry into believing he was speaking to environmental campaigner Greta Thunberg, after The Sun newspaper gave details of hoax calls.

"It was us," Vladimir "Voyan" Kuznetsov told AFP in response to the British tabloid's front-page report, which said the prince was duped into two chats with him and Alexei "Lexus" Solyarov. The pair, known as "Vovan and Lexus", have made a habit of fooling politicians and pop stars in prank calls.

Their previous victims include Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, pop icon Elton John and Prime Minister Boris Johnson himself when he was foreign secretary in 2018.

In the conversations, which took place in December and January, the prince was tricked into believing he was speaking to Thunberg and her father, Svante. The daily reported he gave his support to Thunberg and attacked US President Donald Trump for his stance on climate change.

"Unfortunately the world is being led by some very sick people so the people like yourselves and younger generation are the ones that are going to make all the difference," the prince reportedly said. "I think the mere fact that Donald Trump is pushing the coal industry is so big in America, he has blood on his hands."

The Russian pair reportedly also coaxed Harry to discuss his decision to quit frontline royal life as well as to comment on leading politicians.

On Johnson, Harry was said to have added, "He is a good man, so you are one of few people who can reach into his soul and get him to feel and believe in you. But you have to understand that because he has been around for so long like all of these other people, they are already set in their ways."

'More normal'

On his move to North America with wife Meghan and baby Archie, Harry was quoted as saying it was "the right decision to be able to protect my son" from constant media attention.

"It's a tricky one, but we will start a new life," he added.

The Duke of Sussex insisted "no one has stripped us of our titles", saying the British press had exaggerated the issue of their future royal status.

"We obviously have been asked not to use our titles in order to make money, which we would never do," he said.

The pranksters apparently even managed to steer Harry towards the scandal that has engulfed his uncle Prince Andrew over a friendship with late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

"I have very little to say on that," the prince reportedly said. "But whatever he has done or hasn't done, is completely separate from me and my wife... we are completely separate from the majority of my family."

Harry is also said to have hinted at tensions inside the British monarchy's inner circle when asked by the hoax callers if normal life was worse than royal life.

"Oh no, I think it's much better," he replied, before adding: "You forget, I was in the military for 10 years, so I'm more normal than my family would like to believe."

Kensington Palace did not immediately respond to a request for comment when contacted.

Royal sources were quoted as saying by The Sun that it was "completely natural" for Harry to want to talk to Thunberg.
Hollywood sex therapist Amie Harwick bought pepper spray and changed the locks to her home in an effort to keep her ex-boyfriend away, a friend of the murdered star has revealed.

The star, 38, who was thrown from the third-floor balcony of her Hollywood Hills apartment in February, allegedly feared her former partner Gareth Pursehouse, 41, would come after her following a tense confrontation with him at porn awards show in January. Pursehouse has been charged with her murder.

Following the confrontation, Dr Harwick told her longtime friend and fellow sex therapist Hernando Chaves that she had asked her handyman to change the locks and had bought mace and pepper spray to protect herself.

Mr Chaves told Rolling Stone Magazine: 'I felt she was doing everything she needed to do to protect herself. I couldn't envision anyone would go this far.'

Hollywood sex therapist Amie Harwick (pictured), 38, bought pepper spray and asked a handyman to change the locks to her home to keep her killer ex-boyfriend away

Former partner Gareth Pursehouse, 41, who met Harwick at a go-go dancing gig in early 2010, was arrested in Playa Del Rey and charged with her murder and first-degree residential burglary

Pursehouse (pictured circled in red) allegedly harassed Dr Harwick at the XBiz Awards on January 16 where he worked as a photographer

During the brief encounter at the XBiz adult-industry awards ceremony on January 16, where Dr Harwick was set to appear to appear on a panel about mental health, Pursehouse, who was there as a photographer, allegedly harassed the star.

According to Dr Harwick's friends Dr Chaves and Robert Coshland, the former boyfriend, who had not seen the star for nearly ten years, shouted: 'You're a hypocrite. You broke my heart.'

Dr Chaves later saw the pair sitting together on a bench by the restrooms and added: 'He was flailing his hands. You could see there was a lot of angst or distress or pain.'

Previously, Dr Harwick's close friend former adult-film star Jasmin St. Claire told Page Six: 'Gareth knew Amie was going to be at XBiz. He stalked her there and went bats**t crazy.

'He was at the awards working as a photographer, but his behavior was abusive and threatening. He was yelling and screaming.

'Amie told me after the incident that she was scared he would show up at her home. She went to the police, but they did not take it seriously. He was really obsessive over her; controlling.'

Friend and fellow sex therapist Hernando Chaves (left) told how Dr Harwick asked her handyman to change the locks while another friend Robert Coshland (right with Harwick) described how the star foresaw the danger that was approaching

Dr Harwick had been attending a XBiz adult-industry awards ceremony on January 16 when she was allegedly harassed by her ex-boyfriend

The encounter, which even saw Pursehouse approach Dr Harwick at her table, left the sex therapist rattled and she immediately set about looking for ways to protect herself, with Dr Chaves adding that he even offered to sleep over at the star's home to make her feel at ease.

Mr Coshland, who described how Harwick foresaw the danger that was approaching, added: 'She'd even said, 'If anything happens to me, it's [Pursehouse].'

Dr Chaves previously told the The LA Times: 'She was very scared. She said, ''What am I going to do? I let my roommate know, I have home security.'

Friend Vera Duffy previously said: 'She said that when he saw her, he just went ballistic. He lost it. He made a scene.'

On February 15 Dr Harwick was found unconscious on the grounds of her home at around 1.15am after officers responded to a report of a 'woman screaming' in a Hollywood Hills neighborhood.

Prior to her death, Dr Harwick, who is known for her resemblance to the Burlesque star Dita Von Teese, had reportedly been texting with her best friend Mr Coshland about their plans for an upcoming trip to the U.K.

He sent his last text at around 11pm, and she responded at 1.01am. Minutes later, at 1.16am, police responded to a radio call of a 'woman screaming.'

Pursehouse, a software engineer, photographer, and aspiring comedian, was arrested in Playa Del Rey and soon charged with murder and first-degree residential burglary and of lying in wait.

Pursehouse (left and right) was arrested in Playa Del Rey and soon charged with murder and first-degree residential burglary

Dr Harwick was found unconscious after falling from a third-floor balcony in her home (pictured) after officers responded to a radio call of a 'woman screaming'

He initially posted a $2 million bond but was re-arrested on a no bail warrant.

The special circumstance allegation of lying in wait means that he is eligible for a death penalty sentence in California if he is convicted.

A LA Police statement following Dr Harwick's death read: 'On Saturday, February 15, 2020, around 1:16 a.m. Hollywood patrol officers responded to a radio call of a, 'Woman Screaming,' in the 2000 block of Mound Street in Hollywood Hills.

'When officers arrived, they were met by a roommate who was in the street. He informed officers that the victim was being assaulted inside of her residence. The roommate had jumped a wall and went to neighboring residences to call for help.

'When officers went to make entry, they found the victim on the ground beneath a third story balcony. The victim was gravely injured. She suffered significant injuries consistent with a fall. The victim was unresponsive. The Los Angeles Fire Department transported the victim to a local hospital where she later died from her injuries.'

Dr Harwick, who grew up in Lansdale, Pennsylvania, was formerly engaged to the Price is Right host Drew Carey but the pair split in November 2018 after dating for more than a year.

The Playboy model-tuned sex therapist was formerly engaged to the Price is Right host Drew Carey (left) but the pair split in November 2018

The Playboy model-tuned sex therapist, who met Pursehouse at a go-go dancing gig in early 2010, had got her first temporary restraining order against him in 2011 and a second one a year later.

In court documents, the sex therapist alleged that Pursehouse had on multiple occasions 'choked me, suffocated me, pushed me against walls, kicked me, dropped me to the ground with force, force-restrained me, slammed my head into the ground and punched me with a closed fist.'

Following her death, the LA County medical examiner said she had died of blunt force injuries to the head and torso and found 'evidence of manual strangulation' before she fell.
D emocratic presidential candidates Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden have both cancelled their rallies in Ohio amid concerns over the spread of coronavirus.

Senator Mr Sanderss spokesman confirmed the campaign is cancelling Tuesday nights event due to worries about public health and safety.

Former Vice President Mr Bidens campaign had initially suggested his event in Cleveland would go on as scheduled but later said it was off.

It comes after Ohio declared a state of emergency after three individuals from Cuyahoga County, which includes Cleveland, tested positive for the virus.

Super Tuesday: Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders given campaign boosts

The candidates cancelling their rallies is in league with initiatives by the states governor to limit large events where possible.

Ohio votes next week and awards 136 delegates,

The decisions to cancel the events suggests the coronavirus could upend the Democratic primary at a pivotal time in the race for both candidates.

Mr Sanders is trying to regain some momentum in the latest round of voting Tuesday night, while Mr Biden is looking to further pad his delegate lead.

Mr Sanders had been planning to speak at a convention centre in Cleveland as results from six voting states began rolling in.

But he pulled the plug about three hours before the event was scheduled to start.

Coronavirus cases: The spread outside China

His campaign said decisions on future events would be made on a case-by-case basis.

"Out of concern for public health and safety, we are cancelling tonight's rally in Cleveland. Mr Sanders' campaign spokesman, Mike Casca, said in a statement.

We are heeding the public warnings from Ohio state officials, who have communicated concern about holding large, indoor events during the coronavirus outbreak.

"All future Bernie 2020 events will be evaluated on a case by case basis."

A Biden spokesman initially suggested the former vice president's own event in Cleveland would go on as scheduled, but his campaign subsequently released a statement saying that the event was off and that they would consult with public health officials about future events.

Publicly, President Donald Trump's campaign said coronavirus concerns have not yet affected their plans.

On Sunday, Mr Trump campaign communications director Tim Murtaugh said, "The campaign is proceeding as normal."

But the campaign has not yet announced another rally to follow the president's last one in North Carolina on March 2.

Until now, the Republican campaign had been keeping a steady pace of rallies this year.
Irish Premier Leo Varadkar will seek to get an update from President Donald Trump on the situation facing the undocumented Irish in America while on his St Patricks Day visit to Washington.

Mr Varadkar will commence his US St Patricks Day trip in Washington DC on Wednesday.

Speaking ahead of the trip, he said he will use his meetings with President Trump and other senior US politicians to emphasise the strength and importance of Irish-US bilateral relations, particularly our economic ties.

He added: I intend to discuss issues including EU-UK relations, Northern Ireland and the US role in protecting the Good Friday Agreement.

US Vice President Mike Pence during a joint news conference with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar (Liam McBurney/PA)

A bill which could give Irish citizens access to thousands of US visas every year was passed by the US House of Representatives on Monday.

The plan to add to the E-3 visa programme will now be voted on by the US Senate.

Mr Varadkar said: There was positive news this week in relation to the legislation to expand the E3 Visa programme, and I look forward to getting an update on how we can resolve the situation facing the undocumented Irish in America.

This is a relationship that cannot be taken for granted and I intend to use my visit to Washington DC to deepen these ties, while also promoting EU-US relations.

Mr Varadkar will attend the traditional Irish Funds Gala and the House Speakers luncheon on Capitol Hill.

President Trump will not be attending the lunch, which is being hosted by the House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Mr Trump has blamed his non-attendance at the lunch on Ms Pelosi, pointing to the impeachment inquiry launched by the Democrat-led House last year.

Later on Thursday afternoon, Mr Varadkar will join Mr Trump and his wife Melania for the traditional Shamrock Ceremony at the White House, and will attend the Ambassadors St Patricks Day Reception that evening.

On Thursday morning, he will be hosted for breakfast by Vice President Mike Pence.

Last year, Mr Varadkar, who is gay, was praised for speaking about being judged by his political actions and not his sexual orientation when he spoke at the event with Mr Pence.

Mr Pence has been criticised for his views on LGBT rights.

DUP leader Arlene Foster and Sinn Feins Northern Ireland leader Michelle ONeill (Owen Humphreys/PA)

Northern Irelands First Minister Arlene Foster and Deputy First Minister Michelle ONeill have cancelled their St Patricks Day trip to Washington over Covid-19.

Mrs Foster said on Tuesday they had decided not to travel to Washington for the St Patricks Day receptions.

She said: Whilst it is an enormous opportunity to showcase Northern Ireland in DC, our priority is dealing with the spread of coronavirus.

Mrs Foster and Ms ONeill will attend a Cobra meeting in London on Wednesday to discuss the response of UK authorities to Covid-19.

As of Tuesday night, there are 16 cases in Northern Ireland and a total of 34 cases in the Republic of Ireland.

On Tuesday, President Trump said Americans should remain calm in the face of fear about the spread of coronavirus in the US.

He said: It will go away, just stay calm.
ATHENS (Reuters) - The Greek government dismissed on Wednesday a report in The New York Times newspaper that it was holding illegal migrants who cross the border from Turkey at a secret "black site" where they are denied access to lawyers and cannot file asylum claims.

Tens of thousands of migrants have been trying to get into Greece, a European Union member state, since Turkey said on Feb. 28 it would no longer keep them on its territory as part of a 2016 deal with Brussels in return for EU aid for the refugees.

Greece has used tear gas and water cannon to deter the migrants and says it has stopped more than 42,000 people from entering its territory over the past two weeks.

In its article, The New York Times quoted migrants who said they had been captured by Greek security forces, stripped and beaten and held in a complex of buildings near the border.

Using satellite imagery and mobile phone data, the newspaper said the site was near the village of Poros, in the northeast, not far from the Greek-Turkish border in the Evros river delta.

"There is no secret detention centre in Greece," government spokesman Stelios Petsas told reporters, adding that if an international newspaper knew about the site, it wasn't secret.

"All issues related to guarding the borders or issues of security are transparent. The constitution is being applied... and there is nothing secret."

"THE RIGHT THING"

Reuters journalists visited Poros on Wednesday and found the building identified by the newspaper. It is a military facility, with frequent coming and going of military vehicles, a lookout tower and a Greek flag flying from a flagpole.

A resident of the village, which is on the border, said locals regularly saw migrants trying to get into Greece.

"In recent days you could see that they (migrants) were being brought here in buses, in army vehicles," said Kyriazis Kyriazidis, 60. "Greece's practice is prevention, not letting them them across the border. And that is the right thing."

Story continues

On March 1, Greece passed a decree suspending asylum applications for a month and allowing for the immediate deportation of any migrants seized crossing the border.

Erdogan's decision to open the border appears designed to put pressure on the EU to provide more aid for some 3.6 million refugees and migrants Turkey is hosting. Ankara says it has received only about half of some 6 billion euros promised by the EU under the 2016 deal for the refugees.

The New York Times article, citing video evidence and witness testimony, also alleged that Mohammed Yaarub, a 22-year-old Syrian from Aleppo who was shot dead near the border last week, had been killed by a Greek security officer.

Petsas, the government spokesman, reiterated Greece's previous denials that its forces have killed any migrants.

"We have categorically denied there was such an issue, at least on the part of Greece ... This is organised Turkish propaganda and the spreading of fake news," he said.

(Reporting by George Georgiopoulos and Renee Maltezou; Writing by Luke Baker; Editing by Gareth Jones)
For The Telegraph

ALTON  Hailing from Louisville, Kentucky, the award-winning Troubadours of Divine Bliss will perform an evening of music Sunday, April 5.

Altons First Unitarian Church will host the mystic, eclectic, folk duo, featuring fine harmonies, accordion and guitar, from 6-8 p.m. Sunday, April 5, at the church, 110 E. Third St. Doors open at 5:30 p.m.
Amid rising cases of novel coronavirus in the country, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has said sharing data of infected people on a daily basis with the public has created panic across the country. It also appealed to the government to "classify the data" of the pandemic and take appropriate action with "clinical precision".

"Doctors and hospitals remain a silver lining in otherwise clueless situation for the common man," the doctors' body said while appealing to every doctor to function as a source of credible information in their locality and instil confidence and trust in the public. "It cannot be denied that the high handed top down response in China is part of the reason for this global panic. The nuanced and balanced approach of the Indian government is certainly better suited to handle the crisis in a country of 1.3 billion people," the IMA said.

The association said public health systems in various states have withstood the pressure caused by the spread of the contagious viral disease and have to remain alert, and that contact tracing is the key public health function that will make a difference in controlling the situation.

Also read: Coronavirus Live Updates: Confirmed cases rise to 62; Thailand scraps visa on arrival for Indians

Listing out some measures like washing hands with soap and water as often as deemed necessary, not posting online unconfirmed negative messages and pseudoscientific dogmas, and self isolation if having symptoms such as fever and cough, the IMA said it works in consonance with the health authorities in all states. The IMA has updated the doctors in all its branches across the country and is in advanced state of preparations for a 24X7 helpline for the public in Hindi and English. The details will be in public domain shortly, it said.

The IMA also urged the government to utilise the COVID-19 outbreak to track cases of tuberculosis and also to include hand hygiene in the Swachh Bharat programme.

The number of confirmed cases of novel coronavirus in the country has risen to 60, with two fresh positive cases -- one each from Delhi and Rajasthan -- being reported, the health ministry said on Wednesday. The ministry said these include five positive cases reported in Delhi and nine people diagnosed with the infection in Uttar Pradesh till Wednesday morning. The total number of 60 confirmed cases includes 16 Italians, the ministry said.

Karnataka and Maharashtra have reported four and two confirmed cases of COVID-19 respectively. Ladakh has recorded two positive cases. Rajasthan, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab have reported one case each, the ministry said. Kerala has till now reported nine cases which includes the three patients who were discharged last month following recovery.

Also read: Coronavirus scare: Farmer buries 6,000 chickens alive in Karnataka

Also read: Coronavirus in India: Health ministry suspends visas of France, Germany, Spain nationals
The threat of coronavirus is mitigated by social distancing measures - but, ironically, the virus is bringing Fianna Fail and Fine Gael closer together.

On Monday, at a Cabinet subcommittee meeting convened to discuss the crisis, Leo Varadkar glanced at Social Protection Minister Regina Doherty and said: "We may need you for a few weeks or months yet."

Mr Varadkar's remark was not an estimate of the length of time the country will be battling the virus. Rather, he was joking about the length of time it could take to form a new government.

Ms Doherty, along with Transport Minister Shane Ross and Children's Minister Katherine Zappone, are sitting around the Cabinet table making decisions about the biggest health crisis to face the country in generations - despite the fact that all three lost their seats in February's election.

Individually, each minister should be applauded for their commitment during what will be an extremely challenging time. It cannot be easy to continue in office, with colleagues who have been returned to the Dail, after suffering an election defeat.

Per Article 28 of the Constitution, they will remain in these positions until their successors are appointed - but there is a problem.

Ministers making difficult decisions at a time of national crisis should be democratically accountable. They need to explain, justify and be held responsible for their decisions by the electorate.

How can this happen with ministers who have already lost their seats and are acting in a caretaker role? Further, how can a government that was rejected by voters continue to enjoy indefinite democratic legitimacy?

Clearly, after an election there needs to be a caretaker government in place until a new administration is formed. But this was never intended to be a process that was dragged out interminably.

The convention has always been that caretaker governments do not make any significant decisions during this interregnum. No new policy initiatives are introduced and no new spending commitments are made.

This convention has had to be abandoned in the face of the unprecedented threat posed by coronavirus. On Monday, the acting Government announced a 3.1bn package to mitigate the crisis.

These measures, particularly those sanctioning sick pay for workers entering quarantine, were desperately needed to grapple with this crisis. But, as time marches on and more critical decisions need to be taken - which may involve restricting people's ability to work or socialise and the expenditure of even more money - it is imperative that we have a government in place that is fully accountable to the people.

Ordinarily, this would not be an issue. The time between an election being held and government formation was rarely longer than four weeks before 2016, when it took a record 74 days to form a government.

On that occasion, it was the efforts of Fine Gael to form a minority government with a plethora of Independent TDs, supported in a confidence and supply arrangement with Fianna Fail, that took such a long time.

In the immediate aftermath of last month's election, the perceived wisdom was that government formation would take less time than 2016. Given no government was possible without the participation of two of the main parties - and since Sinn Fein had been ruled out by both Fine Gael and Fianna Fail - it was obvious to everyone where talks were headed.

Yet, more than four weeks after the election, there is still tumbleweed. Instead of serious talks between Fianna Fail and Fine Gael about a programme for government, there have been talks about the prospect of talks - a meeting between Micheal Martin and Mr Varadkar two weeks ago, a couple of hours of policy discussion among TDs last week and two meetings between the party leaders on Monday and Tuesday.

It has only been this week, when the extent of the tragedy befalling Italy became apparent, that any sense of urgency has been injected into the proceedings. Yesterday, Mr Martin and Mr Varadkar agreed to commence "in-depth" talks, with a view to forming a government. It's anyone's guess how long those talks will take.

Before coronavirus acted as catalyst to bring the civil war parties together, Mr Varadkar seemed content to remain in situ as acting Taoiseach, while sniping about Sinn Fein's failure to do the impossible - form a government - and repeating his tired mantra that Fine Gael was preparing for opposition.

Meanwhile, it has been amateur hour in Fianna Fail, with the parliamentary party initially heartily endorsing Mr Martin's decision to snub Sinn Fein, only for panic to break out when the logical consequence of that decision, the prospect of coalition with Fine Gael, became reality. At that point, some TDs did a dramatic U-turn and suggested talks with Sinn Fein would not be so bad.

If the country were not facing the threat of a deadly pandemic, it is unlikely the incremental progress recorded yesterday would have been attained and we would be no closer to a government being formed.

Being on the receiving end of an election result you do not like is not a carte blanche to hold government formation talks hostage. Fine Gael and Fianna Fail are entitled to rule out government with Sinn Fein, but they can't then dither and refuse to engage in meaningful efforts with each other - when that, or another election, are the remaining options.

If Fine Gael had been truly wedded to the idea of opposition, then Mr Varadkar would not have bothered to meet Mr Martin two weeks ago and his TDs would not have wasted their time holding policy discussions with Fianna Fail last week.

The past few weeks have been choreographed to try to confer political advantage, with Mr Varadkar clearly hoping Mr Martin would eventually be forced to come to him on bended knee and beg him to enter a coalition.

The net result is that the country is now facing into a time of unprecedented challenge with a government without a mandate charged with taking consequential decisions for the foreseeable future.

In future, it would be preferable if parties respected the vote of the electorate and attempted to form a government without the motivating factor of a global pandemic.
N inety-eight per cent of MPs believe compostable packaging alternatives can partially solve the UKs problems with plastic pollution, according to new research.

A poll of 100 of the 650 MPs was conducted by market research agency Survation last month  made up of 50% Conservatives, 32% Labour and 11% SNP, and including representatives from the Liberal Democrats, DUP, Sinn Fein and Plaid Cymru.

The results showed almost all believe compostables  materials which, in the right circumstances, will fully biodegrade leaving only natural elements behind  can be part of the solution to the plastic crisis, with just 1% saying they disagreed, and a further 1% replying they didnt know.

The poll also demonstrated how 86% of MPs think the UK Government should invest more in infrastructure to manage compostable materials.

The results come hot on the heels of an open letter, signed by a cross-party selection of MPs, NGOs and others, published last month, which urged the Government to include a stringent set of compostable targets in the forthcoming Environment Bill.

The Bill has been criticised for omitting to address viable alternatives to plastic, and is set to enter the committee stage later this week where changes can be made.

It is hoped the polls results may lead to the inclusion of amendments relating to compostables.

Daphna Nissenbaum, CEO of compostable flexible packaging company TIPA, said: These results demonstrate that across the political spectrum there is essentially absolute support for compostables.

Im glad to see that MPs agree that to tackle the plastic pollution crisis and work together to amend the Environment Bill to at the very least include targets for compostable packaging.

According to the Waste & Resources Action Programme, approximately 2.4 million tonnes of packaging waste is produced by the UK each year, of which 40% is plastic.
[March 11, 2020] SugarCRM Awards Top-Performing Channel Partners at Annual Sales Kickoff

SugarCRM (News - Alert) Inc., the company that helps organizations deliver exceptional customer experiences, recognized its top 2019 channel partners at the company's annual sales kickoff in Dallas. The honors included awards for Global Reseller of the Year, Best Net Retention and Most Partner Sourced Revenue, among others. "We pride ourselves on having the best partners in the industry and we're thrilled to congratulate them all on a job well-done," said SugarCRM CEO, Craig Charlton. Faye Business Systems Group was named the 2019 Global Reseller of the Year. Other winners in the category include: Inteli-K Soluciones Tecnologicas S.A. de C.V., the LATAM Reseller of the Year, iZeno, the APAC Reseller of the Year, Provident CRM, the EMEA Reseller of the Year and W-Systems, the North American Reseller of the Year. "Our partners make it possible for us to fulfill our vision of helping our customers create customers for life," added Charlton. The award for Best Net Retention went to ITS4U, and partner BrainSell Technologies was recognized with the award for Most Partner Sourced Revenue Closed Won. "We are delighted to recognize suchhigh-performing partners for their remarkable accomplishments and continued commitment to our customers," continued Charlton.



A strategic component of the company's business, SugarCRM has more than 200 partners across 19 countries engaging with customers and prospects as the company continues to rapidly innovate and re-imagine the future of customer experience. About SugarCRM

SugarCRM is a customer experience management leader enabling businesses to create profitable customer relationships by delivering highly relevant, personalized experiences throughout the customer journey. We empower companies to strengthen existing customer relationships, create new ones through actionable insights and intelligent automation and better understand the customer every stage of the journey. This enables businesses to accelerate demand generation, grow revenue, deliver superior customer care and increase loyalty. Our easy-to-use, intuitive platform makes customer experience management easy and accessible for everyone, allowing marketing, sales and services professionals to focus on high-impact, value-added activities that create customers for life. Based in Silicon Valley, SugarCRM is backed by Accel-KKR. More than 2 million individuals in over 120 countries rely on SugarCRM. To learn more visit https://www.sugarcrm.com or follow @SugarCRM. NOTE: SugarCRM and the SugarCRM logo are registered trademarks of SugarCRM Inc. Third-party trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200311005204/en/

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ANNAPOLIS, Md., March 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- MedChi, the Maryland State Medical Society, is urging the State of Maryland to provide physician practices with telehealth technology to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

MedChi has been a leader on coronavirus, educating and working with physicians in the state. "Our physician members have raised two major concerns about the pandemic," said Gene Ransom, MedChi CEO. "They are concerned about the lack of adequate testing and about preventing health worker exposure to the virus." The State announced today that two major lab companies will be able to test this week, which Ransom expects to help resolve physicians' concerns about testing. "But the risk of exposure for healthcare workers continues to be a major concern," he adds.

Noting the important role of social distancing to help prevent the spread of coronavirus, Congress, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and private insurance companies are supporting the expanded use of telehealth for patient care. Telehealth can allow a patient with coronavirus to receive treatment without risking healthcare worker exposure, and other patients in the office from contamination.

As a result of the outbreak, the MedChi Care Transformation Organization (MedChi CTO) provided its physician practices with telehealth capability, through DrFirst's Backline care collaboration tool. Backline allows physicians to conduct telehealth sessions, without requiring patients to download an app or complete a cumbersome registration process. Backline is a full care collaboration platform that allows physician practices to share information with other clinicians and patients through secure channels that comply with HIPAA requirements to protect patients' health information.

"MedChi endorses the use of telehealth and secure messaging to help Maryland physicians assess and treat patients through virtual visits to reduce exposure to the coronavirus. We chose the Backline product in our CTO for continuity of care and to reduce the risk of exposure," said Ransom. "We urge the State of Maryland to help healthcare workers have access to this urgently needed service to all of the physician practices in the state." Ransom notes that Backline also supports the Maryland Primary Care Program (MDPCP) and CTOs by allowing clinicians to provide 24/7 access for patients and their care teams for urgent and emergent care.

MedChi and DrFirst currently collaborate in additional ways to help physician practices as they care for their patients. DrFirst's iPrescribe is the first mobile e-prescribing app to allow Maryland clinicians to access the state's Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) data to help control the opioid crisis, through a partnership with MedChi and CRISP, the state's Health Information Exchange that operates the PDMP. In addition, the State of Maryland recently awarded DrFirst a grant to equip paramedics in two counties with Backline EMS so they can have real-time access to patients' medication histories and a secure way to text hospitals with patient information.

"DrFirst is committed to keeping patients and healthcare providers safe," said G. Cameron Deemer, president of DrFirst. "Telehealth and other strategic uses of technology can be some of the critical defenses against the COVID-19 epidemic. We stand ready to work with MedChi and physician practices to help protect Marylanders from exposure."

View a Backline telehealth demo here.

About MedChi

MedChi, The Maryland State Medical Society, is a non-profit membership association of Maryland physicians. It is the largest physician organization in Maryland. The mission of MedChi is to serve as Maryland's foremost advocate and resource for physicians, their patients and the public health of Maryland. For more information, please visit www.medchi.org.

About DrFirst

Since 2000, DrFirst has pioneered healthcare technology solutions and consulting services that securely connect people at touchpoints of care to improve patient outcomes. We create unconventional solutions that solve care collaboration, medication management, price transparency and adherence challenges faced in healthcare. We unite the Healthiverse by providing our clients with real-time access to the information they need, exactly when and how they need it  so patients get the best care possible. DrFirst solutions are used by nearly 300,000 healthcare professionals, including more than 100,000 prescribers, and more than 1,400 hospitals in the U.S. and Canada. To learn more, visit DrFirst.com.

DrFirst Media Contact

Sofia Kosmetatos

Amendola Communications

646-431-8423

[email protected]





SOURCE MedChi

Related Links

https://www.medchi.org


A fresh petition has been filed in the Delhi High Court seeking action against several political leaders for allegedly making hate speeches and engaging in criminal activities. It also sought attachment of their properties for damage to public properties during Delhi violence.

The plea alleges that hate speeches were made by several political leaders of different political parties including Sonia Gandhi, Salman Khurshid, Waris Pathan, Asaduddin Owaisi, Anurag Thakur, Kapil Mishra, Sharjeel Imam, Tahir Hussain, Ishrat Jahan, and others.

The plea seeks issuance of appropriate writ/directions or order in the nature of mandamus and certiorari for appropriate action against the leaders under Sections 153-A, 147, 148, 149, 153-B, 120-B, 295-A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) along with Section 3 and 4 of Damage to Public Property Act.

The PIL moved by activist Deepak Madan seeks setting up of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to assess property damage in last month's riots in northeast Delhi. The petition also seeks to sell their property to compensate victims of the communal violence in the capital. The matter is likely to be heard on Thursday, which is fixed for North-East Delhi violence related matters.

The petition states that due to the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, various Muslim groups were protesting against this Act at various places in Delhi. Since the passing of the amendment, leaders of various political parties started giving statements against the Amendment and gave hate speeches, which instigated the people who started raising anti-CAA slogans, the petition mentions.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) speaks at a Bernie 2020 rally at the Stifel Theater in downtown St. Louis, Mo., on March 9, 2020. (Tim Vizer/AFP via Getty Images)

Sanders Remains in Race, Says He Will Debate Joe Biden

After suffering a defeat on Tuesday night, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said he is staying in the 2020 Democratic race and will partake in a debate on Sunday against former Vice President Joe Biden in Arizona.

Donald Trump must be defeated and I will do everything in my power to make that happen, he said in a news conference in Burlington, Vermont, adding, I very much look forward to the debate in Arizona with my friend, Joe Biden.

Sanders noted that while he has significant grassroots support among Democrats and that many of them support his proposals, We are losing the debate over electability. Elaborating further, the Vermont senator said he heard statements from Americans to his campaign that they agree with his progressive ideas but feel that Biden is the more electable candidate against President Donald Trump in November.

Ahead of the Arizona debate, Sanders previewed several questions that he would like to ask Biden. They include Bidens plan for healthcare, college debt, immigration, and the prison system.

Democratic presidential candidates Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and former Vice President Joe Biden speak during a break at the Democratic presidential primary debate at the Charleston Gaillard Center on Feb. 25, 2020 in Charleston, S.C. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

What are you gonna do for the working people in this country? he asked.

Sundays debate will feature only Sanders and Biden after Democratic officials said Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii) doesnt qualify.

Six states voted on Tuesday night, including Mississippi, Idaho, Missouri, North Dakota, Washington state, and the delegate-rich state of Michigan. Sanders lost in Michigan, Mississippi, Idaho, and Missouri, allowing Biden to widen his lead in the delegate count. Sanders won in North Dakota, and Washington state is still being counted.

A week before that, on Super Tuesday, Biden was able to take the lead from Sanders for the first time, prompting questions about Sanderss electability during the general election. Last month, Biden was able to resurrect his campaign after falling behind several other candidates in New Hampshire and Iowa, leveraging that victory during the March 3 contests.

Pocahontas, working in conjunction with the Democrat Party, totally destroyed the campaign of Bernie Sanders. If she would have quit 3 days earlier, Sanders would have beaten Biden in a route, it wouldnt even have been close. They also got two other losers to support Sleepy Joe!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 11, 2020

Biden also was buoyed by endorsements from former 2020 candidates Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg, former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and former congressman Beto ORourke. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) dropped out last week but hasnt endorsed anyone.

Earlier on Wednesday, Trump again alleged on Twitter that Warren worked in conjunction with the Democrat Party to destroy Sanderss campaign, adding that if she had quit days before Super Tuesday, the Vermont senator would have defeated Biden.

As of Wednesday afternoon, Biden has 857 delegates to Sanderss 709.
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) -- Purdue students said they have mixed emotions about the university's decision to move class online amid the Coronavirus outbreak.

The Gold and Black joins other Big Ten universities like Ohio State and IU in taking precautions against COVID-19.

Purdue President Mitch Daniels and Provost Jay Akridge announced this Tuesday evening.

We first told you about it from a push alert before our 6 p.m. newscast.

As of now, there are no confirmed cases on any of Purdue's three campuses.

Purdue students told News 18 they aren't worried about getting Coronvirus. They are focused on their education.

"Not worried at all about my health," said Delton Langley.

Langley, a freshman at Purdue, said talking to professors face-to-face is more efficient than learning online.

"I don't fear things that are out of my control," said Myles Lesser.

Lesser is a junior at Purdue and said COVID-19 is not on mind. He said he does not know how he'll spend his free time now.

"I don't think its worth putting lives at risk," said Sam Thatcher. "I mean there could be a small number people whose lives are at risk."

Thatcher, also a Purdue freshman, said he's worried about Coronavirus, but know he can't prevent it from coming to Purdue.

All three Purdue students have mixed thoughts on the Coronavirus, however they all said they'd rather be in class during the outbreak.

"There's nothing that can compare than being in person and learning from a professor in person," said Langley. "It'll be a huge change."

Langley said his professors planned for this.

"They prepare for satellite classes in case we don't have in person meeting and really getting ready for the switch over to all online," said Langley.

Daniels and Akridge released a statement to faculty, staff and students Tuesday.

It reads in part:

"We continue to make decisions in our precaution-containment-continuity framework, with our overarching focus on health and safety  especially for those in high risk categories."

Remember the full statement is here.

"Going back to spring break, going back home it is concerning," said Thatcher. "I may get it."

Purdue's spring break is March 16th through March 20th.

By March 23rd the university said all courses must be online or in another form that is not in-person.

"Then obviously people come back after break can bring it back here, so that is a concern of mine," said Thatcher.

Purdue joins other big ten universities like Ohio State and Indiana to move to online classes.

"I'm alright with E-Learning days," said Thatcher. "You know it might be a little difficult because you can't really meet with the professor, but I think it will be alright."

Purdue is suspending all university air travel from March 16th through May 2nd.

In addition, all university-sponsored events involving external visitors are canceled from March 16 through May 2.

No word on commencement yet which is May 15th to the 17th.

Any questions, Purdue has answers for you here.
Catholic priests kept their distance from Pope Francis over coronavirus fears today as Italy's 3ft safety rule reached the Vatican, Daily Mail reports.

Francis held an audience in his private library with his clerical translators sitting a yard apart - the distance which Italy is demanding in public spaces to stop the spread of the virus.

St Peter's Square stood empty today with the pontiff's usual Wednesday appearance cancelled and worshippers forced to watch his catechism on a live-stream.

Other Italian landmarks such as St Mark's Square in Venice and the Milanese shopping streets also remained empty today with tourists staying away and some countries cutting off transport links.

It came amid warnings that Italy's unprecedented nationwide lockdown could be tightened even further, with calls for public transport to be shut down entirely in the hard-hit region of Lombardy.

Italian prime minister Giuseppe Conte today refused to rule out even tougher quarantine measures after the death toll surged to 631 on the first day of the lockdown yesterday, with more than 10,000 cases now confirmed.

Conte also promised today that Italy would ramp up spending to help the Italian economy withstand the crisis, saying that 25billion euros (22billion) had been put aside.
Welcome to my genealogy blog. Genea-Musings features genealogy research tips and techniques, genealogy news items and commentary, genealogy humor, San Diego genealogy society news, family history research and some family history stories from the keyboard of Randy Seaver (of Chula Vista CA), who thinks that Genealogy Research Is really FUN! Copyright (c) Randall J. Seaver, 2006-2021.
Afghanistan peace prospects 'slim' without women's participation: Hillary Clinton

10 March 2020 - There can be no sustainable peace in Afghanistan if women are not at the negotiating table, former United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told ambassadors and activists at UN Headquarters on Tuesday.

Mrs. Clinton delivered the keynote address at the meeting of the Group of Friends of Women in Afghanistan, held barely two weeks after the signing of a peace deal between Washington and the Taliban.

The agreement calls for the insurgent group to participate in intra-Afghan peace talks which were to begin that day. It also covers a timetable for the withdrawal of foreign troops.

"Women must be included, and women's rights respected, as part of any peace negotiation in Afghanistan", said Mrs. Clinton.

"Women are essential to combating corruption, building economic growth and ensuring the longevity of any agreement that is reached. If women are sidelined, the prospects for sustainable peace are slim. If society is torn apart and women pushed to the margins, it is more likely that terrorists will find a haven. There can be no sustainable peace without women's participation and rights".

'Bitter memory' of Taliban rule

First Lady Rula Ghani said her "brave, resilient Afghan sisters" fear negotiations could upend hard-won gains.

In a video message, she spoke of their "bitter memory" of the Taliban's five-year authoritarian rule from 1996 to 2001.

"To this day, they remember how they would be whipped in public for the slightest infraction; how they were kept secluded and deprived from going to school, seeking medical services, or interacting socially, and how they had to endure cruel punishments such as stoning decreed by outlaw courts. In addition, quite a few of them lost their closest and most dear relatives to Taliban acts of violence: an occurrence that unfortunately continues until today", she said.

Twenty years ago, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution reaffirming women's important role in preventing and resolving conflicts.

Resolution 1325 calls for women's wider inclusion in peace processes, and for gender perspectives to be incorporated in all UN peace and security efforts.

Numerous studies back this up, according to Dr. Adam Lupel, Vice President of the International Peace Institute.

"Women's substantive involvement in peace processes increases their potential for success and durabilitybecause if women meaningfully participate, peace processes are less likely to be simply a negotiation about power among men with guns, and more likely to include broader issues about how to build a sustainable, peaceful society", he said.

A seat at the negotiating table

The Group of Friends of Women in Afghanistan was established last November to highlight the central role women have in the country's future.

Co-chaired by Afghanistan and the United Kingdom, it is comprised of women representatives to the UN and senior officials from the global organization.

Afghanistan's UN Ambassador Adela Raz praised the partnership, joking that the coronavirus threat had not deterred members from attending the meeting.

"We need our allies, international partners and supporters to elevate the strides of my fellow Afghan sisters for not only having a seat at the negotiating table but for a comprehensive peace agreement that protects the constitutional rights of every Afghan woman", she stated.

"Because women's rights are human rights  said by none other than our keynote speaker for today".

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A dramatic new video reveals when a 12-year-old boy was pulled from the mud on the bottom of a drained pond that he had walked across and which had sucked him down like quicksand.

The child sunk into the thick sticky mud Tuesday afternoon at James Carroll Park in Thornwood, New York, located in Westchester County.

Firefighters playing softball nearby spotted the boy in distress and called for help, reports WABC, which shot the video from its news chopper.

A 12-year-old boy (pictured) is seen stuck in the mud on the bottom of a drained pond that he had walked across and which had sucked him down like quicksand in New York's Westchester County

Video footage the incident shows the child stuck into the thick sticky mud Tuesday afternoon at James Carroll Park in Thornwood, New York, located in Westchester County

Rescuers arrived on the scene and drilled holes into the mud to break the suction that was holding the boy down.

'He was actually fighting the progress by kicking and pushing,' said Thornwood Fire Chief Frank Kolodzinski. 'We had to break up that suction to get his leg free.'

The footage later shows firefighters pulling the boy out of the mud and carefully leading him along on a ladder that had been laid on the surface of the mud to safety.

The footage reveals how firefighters called to the scene laid a ladder across the surface of the mud to get to the child, much the same way they would have done on the surface of a frozen body of water

The boy is then seen in the footage stepping out on to the ladder which had been laid across the treacherous wet mud

The rescue was similar to the way people are rescued after falling through the surface of frozen body of water. Officials said that the mud in the drained pond was 'like quicksand'.

The child, who was not identified, had been walking in the area with his father at the time of the incident.

A construction fence was around the pond. Local officials said they plan to follow up with larger fence and were to post warning signs.


Nushrat Bharucha is one actress who is slowly yet steadily climbing the ladder of success with every passing film. Her last release Dream Girl was a superhit alongside Ayushmann Khurrana and her upcoming film Chhalaang with Rajkummar Rao has already made the audience eager to watch it on the big screen. The actress who was noticed by several people for her act in films like Pyaar Ka Punchnama, Pyaar Ka Punchnama 2 and Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety alongside Kartik Aaryan recently opened up about the bond she shares with all her co-stars. The actress spoke about Rajkummar Rao, Ayushmann Khurrana, Kartik Aaryan and Sunny Kaushal.



Talking about Ayushmann she said, "I reached the Dream Girl set from the Turram Khan set after driving all night from Haryana to Faridabad. When I reached there, everyone was partying because they had a break the next day. I joined them and we partied till sunrise. This was my introduction to the team. I had the notion that Ayushmann would be someone quiet, an introvert. But his sense of humour and comic timing is something else. Woh dikhta kuch hai but hai kuch aur. We had a lot of fun on the set. As a person, hes an absolute gentleman. Hes amazing as an actor too. "



She went on to speak about Rajkummar Rao and said, "While we were shooting Chhalaang, Id wonder whether Raj was in Haryana or not. Because as soon as pack-up would be announced, hed fly back to Mumbai for work. Hed be back She went on to speak about Rajkummar Rao and said, "While we were shooting Chhalaang, Id wonder whether Raj was in Haryana or not. Because as soon as pack-up would be announced, hed fly back to Mumbai for work. Hed be back at 8 am the next day for the shoot. Hes so hardworking it seems unreal. He works like a machine. Raj is a bit moody too. Sometime he talks a lot and sometimes turns quiet. Hes got his in and out moments."



Nushrat also spoke about her first co-star Kartik Aaryan and said, "Im ecstatic for my Pyaar Ka Punchnama co-star. He has a great line-up of films. Weve had a long journey from PKP, Akaash Vani to SKTKS. When we started out, we were kids. I still remember the conversations we had about actors and kaun kya kar raha hai... To realise where we are today, seems surreal."



While in the end, she wrapped up with talking about Sunny Kaushal, "I share a great friendship with Sunny, my Hurdang co-star. I saw him for the first time at a party. When he left, I asked about him. When I got to know hes Vicky Kaushals brother, I was like, Oh I didnt know Vicky has a brother. Later I told Sunny about it. We have shot for 35 days. We workshopped for two months before that. To have that faith in him, where I can tell him anything, is special. Otherwise, I dont give my opinions easily. We love to sing and dance to the 90s numbers." Well, looks like the she surely shares a great bond with all of them.








With the outbreak of the coronavirus, volatility has become a seemingly ever-present facet of the stock market. Since the end of February, the major U.S. indexes have experienced violent swings in either direction, with these movements culminating in a circuit breaker being triggered on March 9 after the S&P 500 slipped by over 7%.

While the current economic landscape has spurred fear among investors, others view market volatility as a possible avenue to huge rewards. Pointing to the healthcare sector specifically, those ready to take on some risk cite the potential returns that can be delivered should a name inhabiting this space release positive data or receive FDA approval. As healthcare companies generally rely on these few key indicators, the results can either send shares skyrocketing or down the drain.

Bearing this in mind, we used TipRanks Stock Screener to identify three beaten-down biotech stocks that have significant catalysts coming up. The tool not only revealed that each of these Buy-rated tickers has attracted significant praise from analysts, all three also boast lofty upside potential. Heres the scoop.

MyoKardia Inc. (MYOK)

This biotech name specializes in developing cutting-edge therapies for orphan cardiovascular diseases like hypertrophic obstructive and non-obstructive cardiomyopathy as well as dilated cardiomyopathy. Despite the year-to-date hit shares have taken, analysts are betting on MyoKardia ahead of an important data readout.

During the second quarter of 2020, the company is expected to release data from the Phase 3 EXPLORER trial, which is evaluating its mavacamten therapy in patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (oHCM). Management stated in its Q4 earnings call that 50% of oHCM patients are treated by 2,800 cardiologists, and the company is planning on targeting this physician group. Additionally, the HCM awareness campaign, which began in November, also stands to benefit MYOK by increasing awareness of the disease, with a new online resource being added for doctors this spring.

Story continues

For BMO Capitals George Farmer, the previous mavacamten data is what has him excited about MYOKs prospects. We believe the primary endpoint will be met in EXPLORER for the following reasons: (1) the unprecedented efficacy profile with improved pVO2 and NYHA achieved with mavacamten in PIONEER sustained over 48 weeks; (2) the attractive mavacamten safety profile that emerged from the placebo-controlled nHCM MAVERICK trial (note here); and (3) the apparent utility of monitoring LVOT gradient in order to achieve optimal dosing in the oHCM treatment setting, the analyst explained.

While Farmer added that the impact of mavacamten on left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) has been a cause for concern, he argues that the trials design to include careful dose-titration could reduce some of the risk.

To this end, the five-star analyst stays with the bulls, reiterating his Outperform rating. Along with the call, the assigned $90 price target implies that shares could climb 57% higher in the next year. (To watch Farmers track record, click here)

What does the rest of the Street have to say? It turns out all 7 analysts that have published a recent review see the stock as a Buy, making the consensus rating a Strong Buy. At $85.83, the average price target implies 50% upside potential. (See MyoKardia stock analysis on TipRanks)

Cara Therapeutics (CARA)

By developing a class of peripherally acting kappa opioid agonist therapies, Cara Therapeutics is hoping to provide a more effective treatment option for chronic pruritis (itchy skin). While Cara shares tumbled nearly 17% year-to-date, some biotech pros see the upcoming top-line KALM-2 efficacy data release as being a major turning point.

Back in October, the healthcare company increased the patient enrollment for the study by 20% to 430 patients at the request of an Independent Data Monitoring Committee (IDMC). KALM-2 is the second of two trials looking at the intravenous (IV) form of its CR845 drug in hemodialysis patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD)-associated pruritis, the results of which are slated for a Q2 2020 announcement.

Weighing in on CARA for Piper Sandler, analyst David Amsellem explains that the increase in the number of patients was likely due to the fact that the KALM-2 study has more patient variability because its sites are located in multiple countries, while KALM-1 was only in the U.S. Given that CR845 was highly statistically superior to placebo in the KALM-1 study (to the tune of a very strong p-value of .000019) and that KALM-2 has essentially the same design as KALM-1 (refer to our note on 10/14/19 for more details), we would be surprised to see results from KALM-2 diverge dramatically from KALM-1, the analyst commented.

On top of this, Amsellem also highlights the oral form of the candidate as setting the company up for serious growth. While oral CR845 failed to impress in its Phase 2 study as it missed on a responder analysis at week 12, a large and well-powered pivotal study could go a long way for CARA. With this in mind, Amsellem stated, We continue to believe that both the IV and oral forms of CR845 will reach the market, driving a potentially $1 billion-plus franchise and hence transformative value creation.

In line with his optimistic approach, Amsellem left his Overweight call and $39 price target intact. Should this target be met, a twelve-month gain of 187% could be in the cards. (To watch Amsellems track record, click here)

Judging by the consensus breakdown, the analyst communitity is on the same page. Given that 4 Buys have been issued in the last three months compared to no Holds or Sells, the message is clear: CARA is a Strong Buy. While less aggressive than Amsellems forecast, the $33.50 average price target still suggests 148% upside potential. (See Cara stock analysis on TipRanks)

Eloxx Pharmaceuticals (ELOX)

With the goal of treating rare and ultra-rare premature stop codon diseases, Eloxx has become one of the leaders in the eukaryotic ribosomal selective glycosides (ERSG) space. Even though shares suffered a beating after cystinosis data for its already approved Procysbi product was released last month, Janney analyst Yun Zhong sees a key upcoming catalyst related to its investigational candidate, ELX-02, as capable of driving a turnaround.

Zhong points out that each of the three patients in the low-dose cohort from Procysbi's clinical study had gone through renal transplantation, with the result indicating that data interpretation from transplant patients could be difficult. In his opinion, this makes the recent sell-off of ELOX overdone. The analyst added, We believe Eloxx will modify the protocol after the ongoing data review with cystinosis experts and we believe a higher dose and a younger patient population could lead to improved efficacy.

Additionally, Zhong thinks the top-line data readout for the Phase 2 study of ELX-02 in cystic fibrosis (CF) in first half of 2020 represents a significant catalyst, stating that he doesnt believe there will be a readthrough from the Procysbi results. It should be noted that the CF program features two Phase 2 open-label studies located in the U.S. and Israel.

With patient enrollment expected to wrap up in the first quarter of 2020, Zhong believes a positive outcome is likely. Based on data from the Phase II study of Kalydeco in CF patients with the G551D mutation, we believe a reasonable expectation would be to see a meaningful change from baseline in sweat chloride, which will serve as the primary biomarker for ELX-02 dose selection for pivotal studies, he commented.

This reduction in sweat chloride is essential as it could allow the candidate to progress to a pivotal Phase. Taking all of this into consideration, Zhong recommends snapping up shares on recent weakness. Along with a Buy rating, he puts a $14 price target on the stock. This conveys his confidence in ELOXs ability to soar 344% in the next twelve months. (To watch Zhongs track record, click here)

Turning now to the analyst community, a Moderate Buy consensus rating breaks down into 2 Buys and a single Hold. Given its $10.33 average price target, the upside potential comes in at 232%. (See Eloxx stock analysis on TipRanks)
President Donald Trump listens in the briefing room of the White House in Washington, Monday, March, 9, 2020, as Vice President Mike Pence speaks about the coronavirus outbreak. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Associated Press

Trump wants a payroll tax holiday until the 2020 election is over, Bloomberg News first reported.

The Trump administration is currently sketching out an economic package that provides financial relief to Americans.

But Democrats haven't lined up to support it, underscoring the challenge for Trump to get it through Congress.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

President Trump told Republican senators on Tuesday that he wants to institute a payroll tax holiday until the end of the November election, according to Bloomberg News.

Three people familiar with the comments told the outlet that the president is trying to avoid a hike in taxes that shrinks paychecks before voters cast their ballots later this year.

Trump said on Monday that he is seeking a payroll tax cut as part of an effort that provides economic relief to workers, particularly those in hourly jobs.

But Democrats have been cool to the idea of a payroll tax cut so far, underscoring the challenge for Trump to get that part of any legislative package through Congress.

"I don't think we think that the payroll tax cut is what we need right now," House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer told the Washington Post on Monday. "What the economy needs right now is some stability and confidence that we are addressing the issue that is undermining the economy."

The cost of a payroll tax cut depends on how much it's scaled back and its duration, as it's a tax on wages that helps support programs like Social Security and Medicare. Employers and employees each pay the 6.2% tax and most of it funds the latter safety net program.

A recent forecast from the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget said that reducing payroll taxes would cost between $55 billion and $75 billion in revenue for each percentage point cut.

The Trump administration is under mounting pressure to stabilize erratic markets and the economy, which is dealing with the fallout of the coronavirus.

Read more: Jim Rogers, the famed investor who earned a 4,200% return with George Soros, told us the best 2 assets to buy for profits after a 'total collapse' in markets

Read the original article on Business Insider
An epidemic prevention staff member checks a person's body temperature for the Coronavus Emergency at the port of Naples, Italy March 09, 2020. Paolo Manzo| NurPhoto | Getty Images

More than 10,000 people have now been confirmed to have the coronavirus in Italy as a national lockdown remains in place, with even tougher measures being considered. Italy has now 10,149 confirmed cases of the virus, according to Johns Hopkins University and Italy's Civil Protection agency, and 631 deaths from the virus, up 168 from Monday. As the health emergency brings Italy to a standstill, Italy's Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte announced Wednesday that the government will set even more money aside to tackle the outbreak, raising it to 25 billion euros ($28.3 billion)  up from the 7.5 billion euros announced last week. Conte also did not rule out even more restrictive measures on the country, despite a national lockdown in place, restricting the movement and activities of the country's 60 million inhabitants.

An employee of the municipal company Veritas sprays disinfectant in public areas at St. Mark's Square, as part of precautionary measures against the spread of the new coronavirus COVID-19 in Venice on March 11, 2020, a day after Italy imposed unprecedented national restrictions on its 60 million people Tuesday to control the deadly COVID-19 coronavirus. Marco Sabadin | AFP | Getty Images

The lockdown is seen as a way to stop the spread of the virus that has hit Italy's ageing population. Italy's Civil Protection Chief and Coronavirus Emergency Commissioner Angelo Borrelli said Tuesday that 45% of those that have died were aged between 80 and 89, and 32% were in their seventies, 14% were over 90, 8% were in their sixties and 2% were aged between 50 to 59. Conte introduced the extended lockdown, pitched as the "I'm staying home" decree, on Monday after a regional quarantine in the most badly affected northern part of the country was seen as inadequate. Public gatherings are banned, ranging from weddings to funerals, sports events and religious services, and Italians are encouraged to stay home and "limit social contact as much as possible." Travel is only allowed for urgent work situations and emergencies or health reasons. Some bars and restaurants remain open but are operating on limited opening hours with no commercial activities (except for supermarkets) meant to take place after 6 p.m. Schools and universities remain closed; the national lockdown is in place until April 3.

There are signs that even stricter measures could be imposed, however. Opposition politician and influential Lega Party leader Matteo Salvini led calls Tuesday to "close everything immediately." Borrelli did not rule out tougher measures either, telling a news conference Tuesday: "I think this request must be examined, considered and assessed," ANSA news agency reported. Economists are trying to quantify what a shutdown could mean for Italy, the third-largest economy in the euro zone but one laden with debt which was already fragile before the outbreak. Marco Protopapa, an economist at JPMorgan, said Tuesday night that his research team had noted "that press reports ... hint at the concrete risk of a further escalation of measures to an unprecedented level, at least in the North."
The ECOWAS bloc of West African countries said on Monday that it had cancelled a mediation mission to Guinea-Bissau, which was intended to resolve a months-long power struggle in the chronically unstable country

Bissau, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 9th Mar, 2020 ) :The ECOWAS bloc of West African countries said on Monday that it had cancelled a mediation mission to Guinea-Bissau, which was intended to resolve a months-long power struggle in the chronically unstable country.

A three-man team of experts from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) called off their trip after the government of Guinea-Bissau's self-declared president, Umaro Sissoco Embalo, accused the bloc of "desperate interference".

The impoverished West African state's political leadership has fractured since a second-round presidential vote in December saw an opposition leader beat the candidate of the long-ruling PAIGC party, according to results from the country's electoral authority.

Domingos Simoes Pereira, the losing PAIGC candidate, denounced the election result as fraudulent and took the case to the Supreme Court, which has not yet ruled.

But the winning candidate, Embalo, deepened the political impasse late last month by declaring himself president and appointing a new government without waiting for the court.

The United Nations Security Council has urged a peaceful resolution to the crisis.

An ECOWAS mediation mission, which was meant to start this week, incurred the anger of Embalo's government by seeking to meet with Aristides Gomes, the prime minister of the government he sacked.

On Sunday, Embalo's government wrote a letter to the 15-nation bloc saying that he was "deeply outraged" at its representative in the country, Blaise Diplo-Djomand, whom he added was guilty of "ignoble and desperate interference".

Diplo-Djomand acknowledged receipt of the letter and said that the mediation mission had been cancelled, without explaining why.

Guinea-Bissau has suffered chronic instability since independence from Portugal in 1974, with the army often playing a major role.

The country has suffered four coups and 16 attempted coups since independence, the last one in 2012.

ECOWAS has maintained a small military force in Guinea-Bissau since 2012 in order to stabilise the turbulent country.

However, Embalo's appointed prime minister, Nuno Gomes Nabiam, has vowed that the ECOWAS peace-keeping mission will end this month.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 10, 2020) - EuroLife Brands (CSE: EURO) (FSE: 3CMA) (OTC Pink: EURPF) ("EuroLife" or the "Company"), a vertically integrated enterprise focused on the pan-European hemp, cannabinoid, and health and wellness sector, is pleased to announce the appointment of Dean Callaway as Chief Financial Officer ("CFO"). Mr. Callaway will provide financial strategies and oversee the Company's financial operations on a contractual basis.

Mr. Callaway is a Certified Public Accountant and holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Dalhousie University and an MBA from Nijenrode University in the Netherlands. He has over 25 years of financial leadership experience with notable organizations including Merrill Lynch, TransAlta, Enbridge and Terasen where he worked in corporate finance, project development, and mergers and acquisitions. Over the past 13 years he has worked for private and public companies on the TSX and TSXV operating in oil and gas and cannabis sectors in international jurisdictions including Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, Colombia, Africa, the United States and most importantly Europe where he resided in the Netherlands.

"I am very pleased to welcome Dean to the EuroLife team in role of Chief Financial Officer" said Shawn Moniz, CEO of EuroLife. "Dean brings to EuroLife a successful corporate finance track record with extensive international experience. His familiarity with the capital markets along with his finance leadership experience, and unquestionable work ethic will add significant value to our Company as we continue to execute on our European expansion strategy."

To facilitate the appointment of Mr. Callaway, Miroslav Beganovic has stepped down as the CFO and Corporate Secretary of the Company. Shawn Moniz, the Chairman, CEO and a director of the Company has been appointed as Corporate Secretary. The Company wishes to thank Mr. Beganovic for his contributions to the Company and wishes him all the best in his future endeavors.

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The Company is also very pleased to announce that it is in the last and final round of due diligence regarding the closure of the acquisition of the Dresden Hemp transaction. In preparation of this transaction, and further to the news release on January 27, 2020, it is accessing the European Equity Group credit facility with by drawing down $100,000 CDN by issuing 2,000,000 units (the "Units") of the Company at a price of $0.05 per unit. All proceeds of this draw down will be put towards the acquisition of the Dresden Hemp facility.

Each unit consists of one common share (a "Share") of the Company and one transferable common share purchase warrant (a "Warrant"). Each Warrant entitles the holder to acquire one additional Share of the Company at an exercise price of $0.075 per Share at any time on or before the 24-month anniversary of the draw.

The Company also announces that it has issued an aggregate of 5,197,500 common shares at a deemed price of $0.05 per common share to various consultants, in lieu of cash, for past services performed for the Company. All securities issued are subject to a four-month hold period.

About EuroLife Brands Inc.

EuroLife Brands (CSE: EURO) (FSE: 3CMA) (OTC Pink: EURPF) is a leading global markets cannabis brand empowering the medical, recreational and CPG cannabis industry worldwide through a data-driven CBD marketplace supported by exclusive and unbiased physician-backed cannabis education and detailed consumer analytics.

For additional information:

Contact: ir@eurolifebrands.com or visit EuroLifeBrands.com

No stock exchange or securities regulatory authority has reviewed or accepted responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Some of the statements contained in this release are forward-looking statements, such as estimates and statements that describe the Issuer's future plans, objectives or goals, including words to the effect that the Issuer or management expects a stated condition or result to occur. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature, they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. For a description of the risks and uncertainties facing the Company and its business and affairs, readers should refer to the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis and other disclosure filings with Canadian securities regulators, which are posted on www.sedar.com.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/53327
A Tory minister being infected with coronavirus shows the virus can infect all walks of life and demonstrates just how hard it is to contain, say experts.

Nadine Dorries announced that she has tested positive for Covid-19, and is now in self-isolation. The junior health minister is the first MP to be infected with coronavirus.

I can confirm I have tested positive for coronavirus, she said. As soon as I was informed I took all the advised precautions and have been self-isolating at home.

Ms Dorries said Public Health England had begun contact tracing and that her offices had been shut. She thanked PHE and the NHS for the work they had done.

Experts explained the fact the disease has reached the very top of the British state shows how widely it will be expected to spread.

It just goes to show that none of us are immune to this virus; literally no one, said Jonathan Ball, professor of molecular virology at the University of Nottingham. As with all these cases, it will be important to understand where this infection came from  whether or not it was from a known high-risk area, or part of an unknown community transmission chain.

Either way, I wish the health minister a speedy recovery. But it does serve to remind all of us just how well this virus can spread. Thats why we have to deal with this thing now  in 10 days time we might be facing a totally different proposition.

As well as showing how widely the disease is likely to spread, the case is an example of just how hard it is to control, scientists said.

The example of Nadine Dorries getting infected, developing symptoms and then realising a few days later that she had acquired the coronavirus infection demonstrates the difficulty of controlling the spread of the coronavirus in the community, said Bharat Pankhania, senior clinical lecturer at the University of Exeter Medical School.

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

Because there is community transmission of infection in the UK, people need to develop the mindset that they may get exposed to the coronavirus, at any place, any time, anywhere and thus they practice heightened infection control measures and awareness.

Authorities will now work to trace how Ms Dorries came to be infected with coronavirus, and to whom she may have passed it on.

It is unfortunate that Nadine Dorries has contracted the coronavirus, this demonstrates that the virus can infect all walks of life, Brendan Wren, professor of microbial pathogenesis at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.

Although transmission is not always inevitable, contact tracing will take place to determine how she may have caught the virus and who she may have passed it onto. This may have implications for the operation of parliament.
Coostumed preschoolers paraded in front of parents at the Preschool Purim Costume Parade at Temple Sholom in Greenwich on Tuesday.

Youngsters from the Selma Maisel Nursery School paraded in costume around a crowd of parents to celebrate the Jewish holiday of Purim.
Gettyimagesbank



Deutsche Securities suffers biggest loss



By Anna J. Park




Over the last five years scientists at King's College London have been investigating a method of stimulating natural tooth repair by activating cells in the tooth to make new dentine. In a paper published today in the Journal of Dental Research, they have found further positive evidence that the method has the potential to be translated into a direct clinical approach.

When teeth suffer damage either by decay or trauma, there are three layers that may be affected:

1. the outer enamel, 2. dentine, the middle part that shields the vital part of the tooth, and 3. the inner part of the tooth; the soft dental pulp.

Previous research has found that the drug Tideglusib could help protect the inner layer by stimulating the production of the middle layer (dentine), allowing the tooth to repair itself.

To continue testing the viability of this approach for use in patients, the research team have now looked at whether the volume of reparative dentine produced is sufficient to repair cavities found in human teeth. They also investigated the range (and hence safety) of the drug used, and whether the mineral composition of the reparative dentine sufficiently is similar to normal dentine to maintain the strength of the tooth.

Led by Professor Paul Sharpe, Dickinson Professor of Craniofacial Biology, the results of this study show further evidence that the method could be successfully translated into clinical practise. They discovered that the repair area is highly restricted to pulp cells in the immediate location of the damage and the root pulp is not affected. They also found that the mineral composition of the area of repair was significantly different to that of bone, and more similar to normal dentine.

In addition, they found the drug can activate repair an area of dentine damage up to ten times larger, mimicking the size of small lesions in humans.

"In the last few years we showed that we can stimulate natural tooth repair by activating resident tooth stem cells. This approach is simple and cost effective. The latest results show further evidence of clinical viability and brings us another step closer to natural tooth repair," said Professor Sharpe Paul Sharpe, Director of the Centre of Craniofacial & Regenerative Biology at King's College London.

Human trials or treatments for this research are not anticipated to begin at this stage. We are not currently seeking volunteers and are unable to offer this treatment at present. For current questions regarding dental work, we suggest you contact your local Dentist.

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ANN ARBOR, MI  While Joe Biden emerged with a decisive win in Michigans presidential primary and a clearer path to the Democratic nomination, a majority of Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti voters still went for Bernie Sanders.

Washtenaw Countys color-coded map showing Democratic vote results for the March 10 primary is mostly a sea of yellow across rural areas, indicating support for former Vice President Biden.

But in Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti, dense clusters of blue show support for Sanders, the U.S. senator from Vermont who campaigned in Ann Arbor two days before the election.

Among Democratic voters countywide, Biden netted 48,778 votes (47.6%) and Sanders had 46,067 (45%), according to unofficial results from the county clerks office.

But in Ann Arbor, Sanders garnered 20,148 votes compared to Bidens 18,215.

And in Ypsilanti, Sanders topped Biden by a 2-to-1 margin, 3,469 to 1,675.

Parts of Pittsfield Township and Ypsilanti Township immediately surrounding the two cities also supported Sanders.

Outside those core urban areas, the only two precincts in the county that went for Sanders were Scio Township Precinct 5 and Northfield Township Precinct 3.

Biden took the rest.

A full map of Washtenaw County's vote results for the March 2020 presidential primary, showing support for Bernie Sanders in blue in the Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti areas and support for Joe Biden across more rural areas.Washtenaw County

View an interactive version of the countys vote results map

Statewide, Biden had 838,564 votes compared to Sanders 576,916, while President Donald Trump had 639,144 on the Republican ticket.

See statewide results

While Sanders won over a majority of Ann Arbor voters, his level of support varied in different parts of the city.

He had the most support in central areas  close to 80% in some precincts  while Biden won several precincts around the citys outskirts and east side.

Vote by ward in Ann Arbor:

1st Ward  Sanders 4,159, Biden 2,774

2nd Ward  Biden 3,775, Sanders 2,791

3rd Ward  Sanders 3,886, Biden 3,478

4th Ward  Sanders 3,994, Biden 3,524

5th Ward  Sanders 5,318, Biden 4,664

In Ypsilanti, Sanders had over 80% support in some precincts, including 83% in Precinct 2-4 and 86% in Precinct 3-1.

U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders held a rally on the University of Michigan Diag Sunday, March 8, 2020.Jenna Kieser

Tulsi Gabbard, the only other Democrat who had not dropped out, netted 477 votes in Washtenaw County, less than half a percent, including 125 in Ann Arbor and 17 in Ypsilanti.

On the Republican ticket, Trump netted 12,192 votes (91%) in Washtenaw County, including 1,133 in Ann Arbor and 209 in Ypsilanti.

Out of 302,187 registered county voters, 117,538 cast ballots, a 39% turnout, according to the clerks office. Democratic ballots outnumbered Republican ballots nearly 8 to 1.

Over 7,000 Democratic voters and 243 Republican voters cast ballots for candidates who dropped out of the race before Tuesday, including 2,576 for Elizabeth Warren, 2,218 for Michael Bloomberg and 893 for Pete Buttigieg.

Several hundred other voters on both tickets were uncommitted, and dozens others wrote in names not on the ballot.

Democratic presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden addresses supporters during a campaign rally at Renaissance High School in Detroit, on Monday, March 9, 2020. (Mike Mulholland | MLive.com)Mike Mulholland | MLive.com

There were long lines at Ann Arbor city hall Tuesday as many University of Michigan students and others flocked to register to vote and cast in-person absentee ballots in the final hours.

Shortly before polls closed, a long line still wrapped around the outside of city hall.

Voter registration at city hall wrapped up at about 9:30 p.m. and the last in-person absentee ballots were cast after 10 p.m., according to the clerks office.

Ann Arbor  and to a lesser extent Ypsilanti Township and the city of Ypsilanti  both experienced significant numbers of voters registering Tuesday and lines to do so, said Ed Golembiewski, county elections director.

Sanders issued a statement Tuesday night after reports of long lines in Michigan and other states.

At a time when Democrats correctly attack Republicans for voter suppression, it is disappointing to see people standing in long lines for hours today waiting to vote in Michigan and around the country, he said. People should not have to miss a day of work to exercise their right to vote. This is an outrage. Election officials must address these problems immediately, and if necessary, keep polling places open longer.

About 11,000 more people voted in Washtenaw County on Tuesday than in the March 2016 primary.

Sanders was the top choice for county voters four years ago, netting 38,062 votes to Hillary Clintons 30,022, while John Kasich led the pack on the GOP ticket with 12,643 votes compared to Trumps 10,204.

Heres how the presidential primary vote went in Washtenaw County

View statewide results map
As Ingrid's regulatory research expertise has grown, Embrace has come to rely on her for an even wider variety of important projects," said Ben Giumarra, director of legal and regulatory affairs at Embrace Home Loans. Ingrid's review skills are outstanding. She reads long, very complex regulations and quickly zeroes in on what's important. Ingrid is thorough, a strong strategic thinker and has a creativity that allows her to explain complex rules in helpful and memorable ways. We're very lucky to have her and are excited for her to receive some well-deserved recognition from her industry peers.

I am very honored to be recognized by the MMBA, Zaza said. I look forward to participating in the leadership development program to further my knowledge in the mortgage industry.
Jet Airways stopped flying in April 2019 after it ran out of cash.

New Delhi: The committee of creditors (CoC) of grounded Jet Airways will meet on 12 March, according to a regulatory filing.

The meeting has been scheduled as the revised deadline for submission of bids for the airline, which is undergoing an insolvency process, ended on Tuesday.

It could not be immediately ascertained whether any bids have been received.

The ninth meeting of the CoC is scheduled to be held on 12 March, the regulatory filing on Tuesday said.

Last month, the deadline for submission of bids was extended to 10 March.

Jet Airways stopped flying in April 2019 after it ran out of cash. It owes more than Rs 8,000 crore to banks.
Maharashtra health minister



Rajesh Tope on Wednesday said the government has two options: either postpone IPL matches or limit them to TV audience only in view of the coronavirus situation in the state.

Tope's statement comes on a day when two persons from Mumbai tested positive for coronavirus, taking the number of such cases in Maharashtra to seven.

Tope said the government could either postpone the IPL matches or have the fixtures only for the televised audience.

"One thing is sure that there will be no sale of tickets," sources in the state government said, adding a final decision will be taken soon.

Speaking to reporters, Tope saidthe state cabinet discussedthe issue of coronavirus and IPL matches.

"After discussion we have come to two options: either to postpone matches or to have matches without selling tickets," he said.

Tope said these matches will be telecast to avoid large public gathering at a place (stadium).

He also said there are no plans of giving holiday to schools in the state as of now in view of the coronavirus situation.

The IPL is set to begin on March 29, with the lung opener set to be played at the Wankhede Stadium here, between defending champions Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings.

Mumbai is the home venue of four-time IPL champions Mumbai Indians.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
By Jibran Ahmad, Abdul Qadir Sediqi and Orooj Hakimi

KABUL/PESHAWAR, Pakistan (Reuters) - The Afghan government said on Wednesday it would free 1,500 Taliban prisoners, while delaying the release of another 3,500 that the militants say must be set free for talks to begin under a peace deal reached with the United States.

The Taliban promised to open talks with the Afghan government as part of the accord reached with the United States last month to end 18 years of U.S. involvement in war in Afghanistan.

The militants say the agreement requires the government to release 5,000 prisoners before talks begin. The government says the talks must begin and violence subside before it will free them all.

Sources have told Reuters the dispute arises in part because of different wording about the prisoner release in separate agreements the United States reached with the Taliban and the Afghan government.

President Ashraf Ghani has issued a decree ordering the release of an initial 1,500 prisoners, with the other 3,500 to be set free as conditions are met, Ghani's spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said.

"The Taliban want all 5,000 prisoners released at once, which is impossible," Sediqqi told journalists at a news conference. The first prisoners would be freed on March 14, he said.

Suhail Shaheen, a spokesman for the Taliban based in Doha, told Reuters the group had never agreed that there would be conditions attached to the release of the 5,000 prisoners.

"If someone claims this, it will be against the peace accord that we signed on February 29, Shaheen said. "It is properly explained in the peace accord that first 5,000 prisoners would be freed and then the Afghan dialogue would be initiated."

Despite the accord between the United States and the Taliban, fighting has continued in various parts of the country.

"The Taliban will be responsible, not the Afghan government, if this process fails," Sediqqi said.

Zalmay Khalilzad, the U.S. special envoy who was the key negotiator in talks with the Taliban, has urged both sides to sit down for talks.

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Taliban leaders told Reuters that their leadership council has also rejected an Afghan government demand that they give written guarantees that the released prisoners will not take part in fighting the Afghan government in the future.

Meanwhile, the formation of a negotiating team that is to participate in the talks with the Taliban as part of the intra-Afghan dialogue has been delayed due to continuing political consultations, Sediqqi said.

The composition of the team has been a bone of contention between the Afghan president and his main rival Abduallah Abdullah, who has refused to recognize Ghani's reelection in last year's presidential polls.

Abdullah, the runner-up who disputed the outcome in each of Afghanistan's last three presidential elections, served as chief executive of a unity government since 2014. He held a ceremony this week to declare himself president on the same day Ghani was sworn in for a second term elsewhere in the capital.

"President Ghani has told us he is consulting with Dr. Abdullah and other Afghan leaders and will announce an inclusive team in the coming few days," the U.S. State Department said in a statement on Tuesday.

On Wednesday, Ghani's spokesman announced that a decree had been issued to dissolve Abdullah's chief executive post. Abdullah issued his own statement saying Ghani was no longer president and his decrees were not valid.

(Writing by Gibran Peshimam; Editing by Shri Navaratnam, Robert Birsel and Peter Graff)
Update, 10:45 p.m.: Trump announced a ban on travel from Europe, the NBA has suspended its season, and Tom Hanks has the coronavirus. The weight of this whole thing just now hitting you? Us too. Read below for more.

We are experiencing a global pandemic, the World Health Organization declared Wednesday afternoon. The novel coronavirus, which jumped to humans via bats and maybe pangolins late last year, has now spread around the world. You are likely very aware of this; this past week felt like a tipping point in the level of concern and attention in the U.S., as cases here rise and this becomes not just a global health problem but something that is affecting our daily lives. You probably have a lot of questions. Heres an update on what we know now, what you can do, and what to expect.

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What does it mean that were in a pandemic?

There is no mathematical formula, there is no algorithm, WHOs Michael J Ryan told reporters in a press conference Wednesday. WHO hopes that the description can galvaniz[e] the world to fight, rather than freak people out.

Is it time to panic?

It certainly makes sense if you are panicking, or at least freaked out. Were on the brink of something unknown. But panicking still doesnt helptaking the appropriate precautions is what helps.

Heres a reminder of how to parse your own personal risk: The coronavirus is not that deadly for large swaths of the population, as emergency medicine physician Jeremy Faust describes in Slate. But it is deadly for certain groups of people, and everyone needs to take action to protect those people. This includes folks with underlying medical conditions, who are bracing for the worst, as the spouse of a man with a rare form of muscular dystrophy describes, and older people, who are more likely to suffer and possibly die if they get the disease. What is currently most essential is doing something you might have heard about called flattening the curve, which is best illustrated with a graph:

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If you only learn one thing about #COVID19 today make it this: everyone's job is to help FLATTEN THE CURVE. With thanks to @XTOTL & @TheSpinoffTV for the awesome GIF. Please share far & wide. pic.twitter.com/O7xlBGAiZY  Dr Siouxsie Wiles (@SiouxsieW) March 8, 2020

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One of the problems with a disease that spreads this quickly is that if it affects many people at once, hospitals will be overwhelmed by an influx of cases and wont be able to provide the best medical care to everyone who needs it. That is what the U.S. is currently trying to avoid, but it doesnt look great given the current rate of spread. Things will get worse than they are right now, Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said Wednesday. Basic math suggests there could be a few million cases in the states by May, points out Stat news. In Italy, there are more than 10,000 cases, landing some 900 people in intensive care, Ryan said at the WHO press conference. Italian hospitals are overwhelmed, doctors are already having to make difficult decisions about whom to prioritize care for.

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So how do we slow the spread?

Take this seriously. Realize that you should take precautions that might feel a bit outlandish given what is going on around you personally, but thats fine and will make things better in the long run for everybody. What that looks like practically: Wash your hands! No, really, wash your hands a lot. Stay home if you are sick. Work from homeyour actual, not-a-cafe homeif your office is closed. Basically: social distancing.

Beyond that: Dont buy masks, because medical professionals really need them and they wont help you. Check in on elderly and sick family and neighbors (probably via phone) to see if there is anything you can do to help them organize their lives and minimize their need to go out (also, just see how theyre doing). If you have bandwidth, taking kids who are stuck at home to do an activity that doesnt involve crowds, like walk around a park, could be a big help to a family who is going stir crazy. If you are in a position to cancel an event, do so: halting large events is a no-brainer, tweeted global outbreak expert Jeremy Konyndyk who also noted that you can put pressure on organizers to cancel if you dont personally have control. (Konyndyk noted that hes skipping a long-planned 10k this weekend to help normalize cancellations.) While, again, panic isnt useful, in terms of actions meant to slow the spread of the virus, Konyndyk points out that it is far easier to overreact and dial back than to underreact and have to catch up

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What do I do if Im sick?

If its mild, stay home. Take precautions as though you might have the virus. If you are worried or if things progress, call your doctors office before heading in. A piece in the Atlantic titled What Will You Do if You Start Coughing by James Hamblin notably doesnt provide much in the way of instructions for individuals, because, currently, doctors and hospitals are grappling with an absence of widespread testing for the virus.

What is going on with testing? Do we know how many people have this in the U.S.?

We dont. Worldwide, there have been more than 120,000 cases, according to Johns Hopkins, and more than 4,000 deaths (also: more than 60,000 people who are confirmed to have had it have recovered). The numbers we do have from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show nearly 1,000 confirmed cases in the U.S. as of Wednesday at noon, but this is a low estimate (as is the number of people who recovered). The New York Times is counting just over a thousand as of this writing, and collects data from state and local officials as well as federal. They also have a handy map of where they are located. There are almost certainly more cases than that, since the virus can spread from one person to another with mild or no symptoms.

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Early on, the CDC required a fairly specific set of circumstances for people to get testeda fever accompanied by travel to Wuhan within the past two weeksso there hasnt been widespread testing like there has been in other countries. As diagnostic testing ramps up, it will become clear that this is everywhere, Helen Chu, an infectious disease specialist in Seattle where cases are concentrated, told Nature last week.

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Is it weird if things still feel pretty normal for me?

Its OK to feel OK right now, whether overall, or for stretches of time when youre able to forget that all this is happening. Panic is, in fact, at no point going to be helpful (if youre struggling with it, though, finding a therapist who could do a few video sessions could be useful right now). Youre going to be spending a lot of time at home. Streaming something fun can helpour TV critic Willa Paskin has recommendations. There is nothing wrong with cutting down on news consumption. As long as you continue to follow public health recommendations, you can calmly go about doing what youre able to do.

For more on the impact of the coronavirus, listen to What Next.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin gives a briefing on cryptocurrency at the White House in Washington, D.C. on July 15, 2019. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)

Administration Mulls Tax Relief as Rapid Stimulus Measure to Counter Virus Fallout

Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin told Congress on Wednesday that the administration wants to delay the April 15 federal tax deadline for some taxpayers in a bid to soften the blow of the coronavirus outbreak on the U.S. economy.

The move is part of a broader thrust by the Trump administration to seek the deployment of rapid stimulus measures that would bolster the economy and quickly reassure wildly fluctuating financial markets.

Mnuchin told a House Appropriations subcommittee that the tax relief plan would not be subject to a lengthy congressional approval process and would amount to a near-term injection of over $200 billion into the economy that would otherwise go to paying taxes next month.

The tax deadline delay would apply to most individual taxpayers with the exception of the wealthiest Americans, and would cover small and medium-sized businesses, he told reporters.

In practice, the scheme would allow people and businesses not to pay their taxes by the April 15 deadline and not to be subject to interest payments or a fine. Mnuchin did not say what the new deadline would be.

Under current tax rules, taxpayers can get an automatic extension on filing their tax return but they are required to pay tax on the estimated amount they will owe when they do file the return.

Other measures being considered by the Trump administration include the elimination of the payroll tax on workers gross earnings that is used to fund national retirement programs.

President Donald Trump told Republican senators in a meeting Tuesday he would like to waive the payroll tax entirely through the end of the year, or even permanently suspend it, one attendee told Reuters.

Earlier, Trump signed an $8.3 billion emergency spending bill to combat the spread of the coronavirus and develop vaccines.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Mnuchin likened the outbreak to the fallout from a hurricane, which would merit a financial response.

Market Instability

Stock markets have been rocked by record levels of volatility lately, with fearful investors growing increasingly desperate for more stimulus than the Feds recent 50 basis-point rate cut as the COVID-19 outbreak weighs on economic expectations. While the impact of the virus has yet to manifest in business cycle indicators like GDP and jobless claims, fears are mounting that, if left unchecked, the economic impact could spark a recession.

Demand across various sectors of the economy is widely expected to take a hit as individuals and business seek to stay out of harms way by canceling travel plans and events, or ordering staff to work offsite.

The recent sharp drop in Treasury yields suggests a massive slowdown in growth ahead, particularly over the near-term, said Nick Reece, senior financial analyst at Merk Investments, in an interview.

Reece said another indicator of economic concern was the drop in oil prices, even before the recent OPEC-Russia meeting ended in a fiasco and sparked a price war over crude.

He said virus-related worries had slashed sentiment so deeply that last weeks exceptionally strong recent labor market report failed to counter market pessimism much.

You saw we had a very, very strong jobs report last Friday, and that was completely ignored by the markets because that is essentially stale data, he said. It does not really reflect what we assume is going to be a very big impact from the coronavirus and from the precautionary measures taken because of this.

An example of measures that are likely to leave a mark on the economy are recent steps taken in the greater-Seattle area, which is suffering the United States deadliest coronavirus outbreak. On Wednesday, authorities imposed a ban on gatherings of over 250 people that targeted sports, concerts, worship services and other events in a number of Washington state counties.

Schools should be prepared to close for weeks or months, said Jeffrey Duchin, health officer for Seattle and King County, one of the counties to deploy the assembly ban.

Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
By Trend

Over the past 24 hours, Armenian armed forces have violated the ceasefire along the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops 23 times, Trend reports referring to Azerbaijani Defense Ministry on March 10.

The Armenian armed forces were using large-caliber machine guns and sniper rifles.
Founders of mid-tier firm have been reclassified as 'public' and have given up the 'promoter and promoter group' tag as the group firm's board formally approved the recategorisation on Wednesday.

In July 2019, founders Krishnakumar Natarajan, Rostow Ravanan, N S Parthasarathy and Subroto Bagchi had requested the board to drop the promoter tag after acquired a majority stake in the Bengaluru-based firm in a hostile bid.

The Mindtree board hadn't acted on the request then, as the combined shareholding of the founders and their family members was more than 10 per cent - the minimum threshold for being classified as promoter group.

"However, the board reviewed the application thoroughly and decided to consider it due to the fact that the individual holding of the above promoters (along with the persons related to them) wasn't exceeding 10 per cent of the shareholding of the company," Mindtree said in an exchange filing.

Apart from the founders and their relatives, a few other persons and entities - Kamran Ozair, Scott Staples and LSO Investment Private Ltd - have also been reclassified as public shareholders.

As per the exchange filing, while Natarajan and persons related to him held five per cent in the company as on March 6 this year, Ravanan holds around 0.67 per cent. Parthasarathy holds 1.43 per cent in Mindtree along with his relatives, while Bagchi and persons related to him hold a combined 4.77 per cent.

In July 2019, infrastructure major had acquired over 60 per cent in Mindtree and had been categorised as the promoter of the IT firm.

Meanwhile, the firm on Wednesday named Senthil Kumar its chief financial officer and appointed other key managerial personnel in the interim. The company had earlier appointed Dayapatra Nevatia chief operating officer (COO) on March 2.
U.S. President Donald Trump (L) is introduced by White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow during an Opportunity Zone conference with state, local, tribal and community leaders, in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building.

The leaders of the biggest U.S. banks are scheduled to meet with President Donald Trump on Wednesday afternoon as the U.S. government grapples with the spread of the coronavirus.

CEOs expected to attend the 3 p.m. ET event include Brian Moynihan of Bank of America, Michael Corbat of Citigroup, Charles Scharf of Wells Fargo, David Solomon of Goldman Sachs and Stephen Schwarzman of alternative investments giant Blackstone.

Gordon Smith, co-president of JPMorgan Chase, the biggest U.S. bank, will attend in place of CEO Jamie Dimon, who is recovering from heart surgery. Ken Griffin, the CEO of hedge fund Citadel, is also expected to attend. Other attendees expected include the CEOs of large regional lenders U.S. Bancorp and Truist, and the heads of the American Bankers Association and the Consumer Bankers Association.

Trump is expected to ask the CEOs what steps the banks are taking to help small- and medium-size companies weather the impacts of the coronavirus, particularly as loans come due, said people with knowledge of the matter.

Another topic will be how banks can contribute to the proper functioning of markets during the tumult caused by the disease, and if the administration can offer short-term regulatory changes to assist in this area. Markets have been whipsawed as investors come to grips with the widening financial and societal impact of COVID-19.

One CEO not expected to attend is Morgan Stanley's James Gorman, who recently engineered a $13 billion takeover of E-Trade. Unlike the other banks, Morgan Stanley doesn't have a significant presence lending to small businesses.

This is not the first time that Trump has leaned on financial leaders during rocky times: He called the heads of the biggest U.S. lenders last year as markets tumbled.

With reporting from CNBC's Eamon Javers and Dawn Giel.
Greenland and Antarctica are losing ice six times faster than in the 1990s with sea levels set to rise 6.6 inches (17 centimetres) by 2100, a study has found.

If global warming continues unchecked, this alarming rate of melting will put around 400 million people at risk from coastal flooding, experts warned.

Scientists from 50 international organisations conducted a study on the ice sheets that have been melted to this date.

Scroll down for video

Climate change is causing devastating impacts in Greenland (pictured) and Antarctica with ice sheets melting SIX TIMES FASTER than just 20 years ago, warns new research

The Ice Sheet Mass Balance Intercomparison Exercise (IMBIE) used 11 different satellite missions and 26 separate surveys to recognise changes in the mass, volume, flow and gravity of the ice sheets.

Researchers found that Antarctica and Greenland lost 6.4 trillion tonnes of ice between 19922017, increasing sea levels by 0.7 inches (17.8 mm).

Of the total sea level rise, 60 per cent was due to Greenland ice losses and 40 per cent came from Antarctica.

'Every centimetre of sea level rise leads to coastal flooding and coastal erosion, disrupting people's lives around the planet,' said paper author Andrew Shepherd at the University of Leeds.

'If Antarctica and Greenland continue to track the worst-case climate warming scenario, they will cause an extra 17 centimetres of sea level rise by the end of the century.'

'This would mean 400 million people are at risk of annual coastal flooding by 2100.'

'These are not unlikely events with small impacts; they are already underway and will be devastating for coastal communities.'

The combined rate of ice melting has increased from 81 billion tonnes per year in the 1990's to 475 billion tonnes per year in the 2010's.

Scientists say that the alarming melt rate means that, if left unaddressed, we will see sea levels rising an extra 6.6 inches (17 centimetres) by 2100

Scientists from 50 international organisations conducted a study on the ice sheets that have been melted to this date

'Satellite observations of polar ice are essential for monitoring and predicting how climate change could affect ice losses and sea level rise,' said paper author Erik Ivins of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California.

'While computer simulation allows us to make projections from climate change scenarios, the satellite measurements provide prima facie, rather irrefutable, evidence.'

'Our project is a great example of the importance of international collaboration to tackle problems that are global in scale.'

'The findings reported by IMBIE demonstrate the fundamental importance of using satellites to monitor the evolution of ice sheets, and for evaluating models used to predict the effects of climate change,' said Josef Aschbacher of the European Space Agency, who supported the work.

The study concludes that ice sheets are responsible for a third of all sea level increases, with the oceans rising faster than expected.

The full findings of the study were published in the journal Nature.
The Progressive Peoples Party (PPP) has issued a press statement addressing the issue of new voters registers by the Electoral Commission.

According to the statement issued on 10 March, the party does not support a new register without the use of the National Identification System indicating that it would be a waste of the countries resources.

"We wish to re-echo our position that the Electoral Commission must use the current Biometric Register for the 2020 general elections," the party stated.

However its party's National Secretary Murtala Ahmed Moahammed in an opinion piece accused the Franklin Cudjoe IMANI Africa of doing the bidding of his pay maters for kicking against the compilation of a new voter's register.

The PPP said the alleged comments from its National Secretary as carried on the frontpages of some newspapers are personal and did not reflect the stance of the party.

''We disagree with our political opponents, but we do not impugn their character without cause. Personal attacks targeted at perceived opponents are not in the DNA of the PPP," it emphasised.

The statement signed by the Communications Director of the party, Paa Kow Ackon compelled its National Secretary Murtala Mohammed to apologize to the President of IMANI Ghana for such comments.

"As a party, we cannot stand silently while our National Secretary tags IMANIs Franklyn Cudjoe as having a paymaster. We therefore demand an unqualified apology from our National Secretary to Franklin Cudjoe and IMANI," the statement intimated.
A London NHS trust has been ordered to pay a leading heart doctor more than 870,000 after he was sacked for whistleblowing about safety concerns following a patients death.

Dr Kevin Beatt, one of the UKs most respected consultant cardiologists, was fired from Croydon Health Services in 2012 after reporting staff shortages, inadequate equipment and workplace bullying at the trust.

He was awarded 870,740 by a tribunal on Monday following a seven-year legal battle with his former employer.

The tribunal heard Dr Beatts dismissal had a devastating effect on his career and his wellbeing.

He told the Standard: I was forced into a position where I lost my career for trying to highlight dangerous practices in the NHS. It has taken seven years to get to this point, which is just appalling.

It has been a huge ordeal and I have the greatest sympathy for any whistleblower who has to go through something like this.

Dr Beatt was considered a leader in his field after his research into alternatives to open heart surgery but was refused several roles at other hospitals after his sacking, the tribunal heard.

He was employed at the Croydon trust in 2005 and set up Croydon University Hospitals cardiac interventional service, which saved money and resulted in significantly improved outcomes for patients.

However, he was dismissed after speaking out at a 2011 inquest into the death of a 63-year-old patient who suffered cardiac arrest amid complications during an operation.

Dr Beatt said he was unaware trust bosses had suspended his most senior nurse hours before the surgery and left him without a member of staff with a basic understanding of the procedure for 20 minutes.

During the inquest he described the nurses removal as the most overtly reckless act he had seen in his career.

Dr Beatt also flagged concerns with directors about inadequate equipment, bullying, nursing shortages and a failure to properly investigate serious incidents.

He was not given protected status as a whistleblower and was instead fired for what the trust claimed was unsubstantiated and unproven allegations of an unsafe service amounting to gross misconduct.

A 2014 employment tribunal ruled that the consultant cardiologist was unfairly dismissed and there was no evidence of wrongdoing on his part.

The trusts appeal against the ruling was upheld in 2015, but a Court of Appeal judge overturned that decision two years later. A further hearing, which finished in January, was held to determine Dr Beatts compensation.

He said it was reckless for the trust to continue to pursue the case after the original tribunal and he was only able to fight the court battles because legal firm Linklaters agreed to work pro bono.

My legal fees would have run up to almost a million pounds, he said.

A spokesman for Croydon Health Services said: This has been a very complex case that we felt necessary to pursue to protect confidence in our services and staff.

"We strive to ensure our staff feel supported to raise concerns and we continue to foster a culture of openness.
Tata Power on Wednesday put its decision to shut operations at its 4,000 MW Mundra ultra mega power project (UMPP) on hold till March 20, in expectation of an acceptable solution for all parties over pass through of higher coal prices.

Earlier, Tata Power arm Coastal Gujarat Power Ltd (CGPL) which operates 4,000 MW Mundra plant had served notices to discoms of Gujarat, Haryana, Rajasthan, Punjab and Maharashtra stating that its will stop supplying power from the plant from February 29 if tariff is not increased.

Subsequently, the CGPL had served notices to the discoms for closure of the Mundra plant progressively from March 11 due to delay in adoption of the High Powered Committee recommendation and entering into supplemental power purchase agreement (PPA).

Intervening the in issue the union power secretary S N Sahai convened at meeting of all concerned parties on the issue on March 9, 2020.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the company said, "There were certain legal and contractual issues discussed pertaining to the PPA in light of the earlier and subsequent Supreme Court orders, which all parties have agreed to examine upon."



The company further said, "It was agreed that the Union Power Secretary will re-convene another meeting within next 10 days so as to arrive at a decision on the same on or before March 20.

"Given the positive discussions in this meeting and the intent expressed by all parties to arrive at an acceptable solution, CGPL awaits decision by 20th March and till such time normal operations of the Mundra plant will continue."



In October 2018, the Supreme Court had directed the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) to decide on changes to PPAs.

The apex court had given the power regulator CERC, eight weeks to submit its decision on changes in PPAs that were signed by the three Gujarat-based power producers to reflect the higher cost of imported coal.

Mundra UMPP is an imported coal-based power plant. The issue of higher coal cropped up after Indonesia changed certain regulation which increased the price of imported dry fuel.

Thereafter it was not viable to supply power at the agreed tariff as per the PPA signed with the discosm by the CGPL.

Tata Power has been pursing its case of pass through of higher coal prices.

The company in its statement said, "The notices still remain valid and CGPL will consider appropriate decision on the notice of closure based on the outcome of these meetings.

"We are reasonably confident of arriving at a solution for Mundra Plant in the next few weeks to avoid closure of the plant."



The CGPL has inked PPAs to supply 1,805 MW to Gujarat, 760 MW to Maharashtra, 475 MW to Punjab, and 380 MW each to Rajasthan as well as Haryana.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Remarks by President Trump and Vice President Pence at a Coronavirus Briefing with Health Insurers

March 10, 2020

Roosevelt Room

11:43 A.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT: Well, thank you very much. We're meeting with the top executives of the health insurance companies, the biggest companies in our country  probably the biggest companies in our country, probably the biggest companies in the world. I can't imagine being much bigger.

But these are the great  the great health insurance companies. And I think tremendous progress is being made. They're willing to do things for the people and their customers and probably, in a true sense, beyond their customers that normally I don't think they'd be doing.

And so I want to thank them, and I'll ask Vice President Pence to maybe give us a little update as to where we are.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: I'd be very happy to. Thank you, Mr. President. President Trump made it clear from the early days of the coronavirus in the United States that this would be a whole-of-government approach. And we've brought the full resources of the federal government to bear. But this President has also called together businesses and industries to make this a whole-of-America approach.

Last week, at this table, the President met with pharmaceutical leaders, we met with nursing home leaders, leaders of commercial labs, airline industries. We're bringing all of the businesses of the country to bear to protect the health of the American people.

But today, Mr. President, you directed us to bring together insurance companies  health insurance companies  that cover, through private insurance and through their support of Medicare and Medicaid, almost 240 million Americans. And I'm pleased to report, as you requested, Mr. President, that all the insurance companies here  either today or before today  have agreed to waive all copays on coronavirus testing and extend coverage for coronavirus treatment in all of their benefit plans.

And, at your direction, Medicare and Medicaid, last week, already made it clear to Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries that coronavirus testing and treatment would be covered. These private insurance carriers have extended that as well.

They've also agreed to cover telemedicine so that anyone, particularly among the vulnerable senior population, would not feel it necessary to go to a hospital or go to their doctor. They'll know that telemedicine is covered.

These CEOs have also agreed to no surprise billing. We want people to get tested. Over a million tests are out, thanks to the diligent work of CDC and HHS. More than 4 million will go out this week. You've worked with commercial labs to expand testing, and that will continue to increase by the day.

But we want the American people to know that they are covered through private insurance. They are covered through Medicare and Medicaid. And there will be no surprise billing.

And finally, Mr. President, as you directed us yesterday, we  we produced helpful information for every American family: how they can keep their home, their school, their business, their establishment safer from the spread of the coronavirus. All of these  all of these major health insurance companies have agreed to convey all this information, starting today, to all of their customers as well as to send the CDC's guidance for seniors with underlying health conditions to give them specific recommendations.

And so, as you requested us, they've all agreed to work with us to communicate information directly to the American people because, as you've said, Mr. President, while the risk to the average American of contracting the coronavirus remains low, we want a full partnership with industry and give the American people all the information they need to avoid contracting or spreading the coronavirus. And, particularly, these companies are going to help us get information to seniors with underlying health conditions who really represent the most vulnerable population to serious outcomes.

And I know I speak on behalf of the President when I say how grateful we are for the collaborative spirit, the generosity, and the partnership represented by the great companies at this table.

THE PRESIDENT: It's true. Very true. And we are working very closely with the cruise line industry and  very, very closely. They're taking very strong steps in terms of people going on and going off. But they're spending a lot of money and they are working very hard. And we're work  we're going to be helping that industry. Likewise, with the airline industry, they're taking very, very strong steps for people coming into our country, even getting off the planes. So we are working very closely with them. We're helping them. They're two great industries, and we'll be helping them through this patch.

And, so far, I think it's been going very well. You know all about the big ship that came in yesterday. And that's going along incredibly well.

We're working with the state of California successfully  very successfully  and also with Canada and with the UK. So, the UK is taking their people, their citizens back, and Canada is about 600 people; they're coming back. They're being met and brought to planes and being brought very, very  in a very, very dignified fashion back into Canada. So we appreciate all of the help we've had in that. And that's working out very well.

With that, I might just ask a couple of folks, if you'd like to make a statement on behalf of the industry, perhaps we'll  would you like to make a statement on behalf of the industry?

MS. BOUDREAUX: Sure. I am  this is Gail Boudreaux. And one of the things that I think is most important is, from day one, as an industry and as a company at Anthem, we have been very focused on ensuring access to care and that cost is not an issue for people to have the testing appropriately done. So we're pleased that we're able to continue to expand this access.

And as the President said, I think it's really important for all of our customers, our members, and the American people to have this. So we are very supportive of the 

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, Gail.

MS. BOUDREAUX:  efforts underway.

THE PRESIDENT: Great job you're doing. Thank you very much.

Anybody else? Would anybody else like to make a statement? Even the ones over here. You're going to turn your head? (Laughter.) Look at those cameras.

MR. EYLES: I'll say on behalf of the industry 

THE PRESIDENT: Yes.

MR. EYLES:  that we represent the great companies around the table here, but then those that operate at a local level, that we all have the same commitment to making sure that cost is not a barrier to people getting tested and treated. We want to make sure that we're focused on prevention and testing and treatment 

THE PRESIDENT: Right.

MR. EYLES:  and getting that information out as quickly as we can to make sure that people know how to limit the spread of this disease.

THE PRESIDENT: Very good. Thank you very much.

Please.

MS. HANDELMAN: Mr. President, on behalf of the 36 independent BlueCross BlueShield plans that insure one in three Americans, we're pleased to make sure that people have access to the test, to the coverage that they need.

I also want you to know that the commitments we've made also apply to the federal employees program where we insure over 5 million employees.

THE PRESIDENT: That's great. Thank you. Thank you all.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Maybe 

THE PRESIDENT: Please.

MR. BROUSSARD: I would just like to say as, a large servicer of Medicare, that we are very oriented to the aging population, and most importantly, how do we make it as easy as possible for them to receive their tests. And being able to do it in the home is a very important part of that. And so when we think about telemedicine and home, it reduces great barriers to 

THE PRESIDENT: Right.

MR. BROUSSARD:  that will allow them to have the testing.

THE PRESIDENT: And a lot of people now are taking advantage of that  really, strong advantage.

Who else would you suggest?

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Maybe Dave Wichmann, Mr. President.

THE PRESIDENT: Dave? Please.

MR. WICHMANN: Mr. President, thank you for having us, first and foremost. And, I guess, just to extend the conversation, we're working very hard to protect the health workforce, which we think is essential to ensure that Americans have access to the proper care. Getting the health workforce back to work so quickly tested and back serving patients is a high priority for us as an organization serving some  around 18 million patients across America.

THE PRESIDENT: Right. Okay, thank you.

And, Governor? Pete Ricketts. Nebraska, everybody. Nice to see you, by the way.

GOVERNOR RICKETTS: Mr. President, I just appreciate your leadership 

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you.

GOVERNOR RICKETTS:  and the Vice President's leadership to work with the governors to be able to make sure we're keeping people healthy in our states. It's been a fantastic cooperation at all levels of government, and we really appreciate also all the cooperation of all these executives around the table to make sure that the people in my state and all the states across the country will be able to be able to get the test and not worry about how they're going to pay for it.

THE PRESIDENT: Right. Great. Thanks. Thank you all very much. Thank you. Thank you very much, everybody.

Q Mr. President, are you still going to Capitol Hill today?

THE PRESIDENT: Yeah.

Q You are?

THE PRESIDENT: I am. About 12:30.

END

11:53 A.M. EDT

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By Yew Lun Tian and Se Young Lee BEIJING (Reuters) - Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday made his first visit to Wuhan since a coronavirus outbreak forced a lockdown of the city of 11 million people, in a sign that authorities' efforts to control the virus are working. Xi's arrived on the same day that Wuhan shut the last of 14 temporary hospitals that had been opened to manage a surge in coronavirus patients, news website The Paper reported.. Earlier on Tuesday, China said it had just 19 new coronavirus infections on Monday, down from 40 a day earlier

By Yew Lun Tian and Se Young Lee

BEIJING (Reuters) - Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday made his first visit to Wuhan since a coronavirus outbreak forced a lockdown of the city of 11 million people, in a sign that authorities' efforts to control the virus are working.

Xi's arrived on the same day that Wuhan shut the last of 14 temporary hospitals that had been opened to manage a surge in coronavirus patients, news website The Paper reported..

Earlier on Tuesday, China said it had just 19 new coronavirus infections on Monday, down from 40 a day earlier. That also marked the third straight day of no new domestically transmitted cases in mainland China outside of Hubei province, where Wuhan is located, even as the disease spreads rapidly in other countries, including Italy and the United States.

"The situation of coronavirus prevention in Hubei and Wuhan has shown positive changes and achieved phased results, initially realising goals to stabilise and turn around the situation," the official Xinhua news service cited Xi as saying.

He acknowledged that people under lengthy quarantine - Wuhan and much of Hubei province have been under strict controls since late January - may have frustrations to vent.

"We must understand and tolerate them," he was quoted as saying.

During his visit, a masked Xi was shown meeting with local officials, medical staff, and volunteers, state broadcaster CCTV reported. He addressed frontline medical workers and a hospitalised patient by videolink.

Residents of Wuhan were shown cheering Xi from their apartment windows, while negative comments on China's heavily censored social media were quickly removed.

"Why only come now when the epidemic is almost over?" one comment on the official People's Daily's Weibo feed said before disappearing.

News of Xi's Wuhan visit gave a lift to Chinese stocks, with the blue-chip index ending the day 2.1% higher after falling into negative territory in morning trade.

"It is obvious that Xi could not have visited Wuhan earlier because the risk of him contracting the virus there was initially too high," Zhang Ming, a professor at Renmin University in Beijing, told Reuters.

"He is there now to reap the harvest. His being there means the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) may declare victory against the virus soon," Zhang said.

China came in for criticism at home and globally over its early response to the outbreak, suppressing information and downplaying its risks, but its draconian efforts at control, including the lock-down of Wuhan and Hubei province, have been effective at curbing the spread.

Xi, who was mostly absent from Chinese state media coverage of the crisis in its early days, has become far more visible in recent weeks.

DWINDLING NEW CASES

Of the new coronovirus cases announced by China, 17 were in Wuhan. Two others - in Beijing and Guangdong province - involved people who had arrived from Britain and Spain, respectively.

That brings the total number of confirmed cases in mainland China so far to 80,754.

Chinese authorities have ramped up warnings about the risks from foreigners and Chinese nationals travelling to China from viral hot spots abroad such as Iran and Italy. As of Monday, there were 69 imported cases.

Also on Tuesday, Hubei said it would implement a "health code" system to allow people in areas at medium or low risk to start travelling. Qianjiang, a city in Hubei, said that all traffic checkpoints will be removed, public transportation will restart and firms will resume work in the near future, according to a report on an official website.

Globally, more than 114,300 people have been infected by the coronavirus and over 4,000 have died, according to a Reuters tally of government announcements.

Since the outbreak, 59,897 patients have been discharged from hospitals in China. Recently discharged patients need to go into quarantine for 14 days.

(Reporting by Ryan Woo, Yilei Sun, Se Young Lee, Gabriel Crossley, Judy Hua, Brenda Goh, Lun Tian Yew, Huizhong Wu, Stella Qiu, Lusha Zhang, and Gao Liangping in Beijing; Brenda Goh and Samuel Shen in Shanghai; and Yimou Lee in Taipei; Writing by Engen Tham and Tony Munroe; Editing by Christian Schmollinger, Michael Perry, Gerry Doyle & Simon Cameron-Moore)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
WASHINGTON  In a bipartisan rebuke, the Senate voted on Wednesday to overturn a major Trump administration rule that would sharply limit debt relief for students misled by schools that lured them in with false claims about their graduates career and earning prospects.

In a 53-to-42 vote that included 10 Republicans, the Senate struck down a revised Education Department rule completed in September by the departments secretary, Betsy DeVos. The House passed a companion resolution in January. The legislation will now go to President Trump, who will decide whether to uphold the rule with a veto or side with Congress over his own education secretary.

He has told Senate Republicans he is neutral on repealing the rule, though he has yet to comment on his veto intentions.

If Mr. Trump does not sign it, Democrats say they will press for a veto override. Senator Richard J. Durbin, Democrat of Illinois and the minority whip, successfully recruited Republicans for Wednesdays vote after veterans groups  which he called a critical ally  backed his resolution.
Its an absolute privilege to watch our Texas attorneys grow their practices, said the firms Senior Vice President Mary-Olga Lovett.

Super Lawyers Magazine recognized 10 Texas attorneys from global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP as Rising Stars. This designation is awarded to only the top 2.5% of Texas lawyers age 40 or younger or who have been in practice for 10 years or less.

The Greenberg Traurig Texas attorneys selected for 2020 are:



Its an absolute privilege to watch our Texas attorneys grow their practices, said the firms Senior Vice President Mary-Olga Lovett. For them to be recognized as rising stars is a tremendous accomplishment and a well-deserved honor. It is also a testament to Greenberg Traurigs commitment to developing the leaders of tomorrow, and to our commitment to excellence in every way  focused on delivering exceptional legal work and value to our clients. Our sincerest congratulations to all the 2020 honorees.

Texas Rising Stars are selected by Thomson Reuters legal division from nominations by other lawyers across the state, an extensive review by researchers, and a blue-ribbon panel of lawyers.

For a complete listing of attorneys named to this years Texas Rising Stars, visit http://www.superlawyers.com.

About Greenberg Traurig, LLP  Texas: Texas is important to Greenberg Traurig, LLP and part of its history. With more than 130 Texas lawyers in Austin, Dallas, and Houston, Greenberg Traurig, LLP has deep roots in the Texas business, legal, and governmental communities. Greenberg Traurig Texas works with clients to address their interdisciplinary legal needs across the state utilizing the firms global platform. The Texas attorneys are experienced in industries key to the states future, including: aviation, chemicals, construction, education, energy and natural resources, financial institutions, health care, hedge funds, hospitality, infrastructure, insurance, media, medical devices, pharmaceutical and biotechnology, real estate, retail, sports, technology and software, telecommunications, transportation, and video games and esports.

About Greenberg Traurig, LLP: Greenberg Traurig, LLP (GT) has approximately 2200 attorneys in 41 locations in the United States, Latin America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. GT has been recognized for its philanthropic giving, diversity, and innovation, and is consistently among the largest firms in the U.S. on the Law360 400 and among the Top 20 on the Am Law Global 100. Web: http://www.gtlaw.com Twitter: @GT_Law.
 Flash

Commander of U.S. Central Command Kenneth McKenzie said on Tuesday that Afghan Taliban had pushed back the Islamic State (IS) militants in eastern Afghanistan with "very limited" support from the U.S. military.

"We've watched the Taliban compress and crush ISIS (the Islamic State) presence on the ground in southern Nangarhar," General McKenzie told the House Armed Services Committee, adding that the Taliban received "very limited" support from the U.S. military, without further elaboration.

McKenzie said during the hearing that he was confident of the Taliban's downward relations with the IS elements in the country but less confident about the Taliban's dealing with al-Qaeda.

"That's something that will have to be demonstrated that has not been demonstrated," he said.

The general also confirmed that the United States has begun reducing its military footprint in Afghanistan, saying that the U.S. military will reach its target of 8,600 troops deployed in the country by the middle of summer.

Meanwhile, he noted that there is no military plan to further reduce forces after reaching the initial target. "We have no plans beyond going to 8,600 right now," he said.

On Feb. 29, the U.S.-Taliban deal was inked in Doha, Qatar while Kabul and Washington also issued a joint declaration on the same day in Kabul.

Under the agreements, the United States would reduce its forces in Afghanistan to 8,600 within 135 days and all the U.S.-led coalition forces would return home within 14 months from Afghanistan if the Taliban meet the conditions envisaged in the agreement, including severing ties with terrorist groups such as the IS and al-Qaeda network.

Around 16,000 foreign troops, including about 13,000 U.S. forces, have remained in Afghanistan to train and assist local security forces in their fight against the insurgents.
Critics say that the anti-defection law strips the MPs and MLAs of their independent moral compass or decision making powers as they are forced to toe the party line.

With Madhya Pradesh government now teetering on the edge after 22 of the ruling Congress' MLAs rebelled against Chief Minister Kamal Nath, the controversial anti-defection law  or simply The Tenth Schedule of the Indian Constitution  is back into focus.

The MLAs who had ostensibly sent their resignations to Nath after Scindia's rebellion will risk losing their seat and primary membership of the party if they vote against the Congress government, causing it to fall.

The law, which was one of the first legislations brought in by the Rajiv Gandhi government after a resounding win in 1985, sets the provisions for the disqualification of elected members on the grounds of defection to another political party.

The law, however, has also been applied in the event when an MP or MLA defies a party 'whip', or in other words, votes against the party line on key issues, not necessarily linked to the survival of the government.

Apart from other loopholes, the law has evoked scrutiny time and again, and also a demand for reforms for resting 'quasi-judicial powers' in the hands of the Speaker (also a member of the ruling political party).

Critics say that the anti-defection law strips the MPs and MLAs of their independent moral compass or decision making powers as they are forced to toe the party line.

In the United Kingdom, from where India inherited most of its Constitution and the Parliamentary system of Democracy, MPs stopped Prime Minister Boris Johnson from shoving Britain into throes of chaos and signing a no-deal Brexit. This was possible because 38 Tory MPs rebelled against their own government and voted for what they felt was right. The US Congressional history is also rife with such examples, with the most recent instance being when three Democrats broke away from party line and voted against Donald Trump's impeachment, while one Congresswoman refused to vote either for or against her party in the crucial vote.

In India, no MP/ MLA can even afford to abstain from voting on key issues  if a whip is issued  without risking disqualification and losing their seat.

In fact, the Supreme Court, in various readings of the Tenth Schedule, has also opined that members who have simply opposed their party or have expressed even issue-based support for another party were deemed to have 'voluntarily given up their membership'.

The latest case in point being disqualification of JD(U) patriarch Sharad Yadav for engaging in anti-party activities, which included criticising the party on public forums on multiple occasions, and attending rallies organised by Opposition parties in Bihar.

Likewise, while dealing with the question of MP's freedom to vote with regard to the anti-defection law, the Supreme Court saw no flaw in the language of the law.

"Paragraph 2 of the Tenth Schedule to the Constitution is valid. Its provisions do not suffer from the vice of subverting democratic rights of elected Members of Parliament and the legislatures of the States. It does not violate their freedom of speech, freedom of vote and conscience; nor does it violate any rights or freedom under Article 105 and 194 of the Constitution. [712F-H] The provisions are salutary and are intended to strengthen the fabric of Indian Parliamentary democracy by curbing unprincipled and unethical political defections," the Supreme Court said in Kihoto Hollohan versus Zachilhu and others.

However, interestingly our Constitution drafters didn't intend to give the control of members to political parties. Interestingly, it's only in this law, which was included in 1985, that political parties and chief whips are mentioned in the Constitution.

The law was introduced to put an end to the 'Aaya Ram Gaya Ram' politics, a phrase that became popular in Indian politics after then Haryana MLA Gaya Lal changed his party thrice within the same day in 1967. The anti-defection law sought to prevent such political defections which may be due to reward of office or other similar considerations

However, what it has enabled is a prospect now known as 'mass defection' while individual legislators have lost their power to digress from the party line at a time when no real democratic discussions happen inside political parties about major issues affecting the country. In this way, the law indirectly puts a lawmakers loyalty towards party before the voters of his or her constituency, and fails to incentivise dissent and independent thinking.

The law does not provide sufficient incentive for an MP or MLA to examine an issue in-depth and think through it to participate in the debate. Neither does it forces the ministers to reach out to individual MPs and convince them to vote for a bill on the basis of its merit, which in turn brings down the level of discussions in the House. By issuing a whip, the government merely has to steamroll over any Opposition to pass a bill based on its numbers. A majoritarian government will rarely be required to subject its regulations to scrutiny, and 100 percent guarantee of passage is almost always a given. Whereas, on the contrary, it is difficult to argue with a straight face that all parties and all governments are always wiser than individual members and never conceive a problematic piece of legislation.

Meanwhile, the merits of the law are debatable as defections have not stopped altogether and governments are still toppled amid allegations of horse-trading. It was meant to dissuade members from ditching parties, under whose banner they were elected, for petty gains such as cash or positions, promised by another party. But the law is silent on similar negotiations between ideologically different post-poll allies where discussions often get down to each Cabinet berth and the distribution of plush portfolios and terms of power.

Why does the law penalises the give-and-take behaviour over a ministerial post when an individual legislator does it, but grants the same act legitimacy when a party as a whole indulges in it as part of an alliance formation. In fact, negotiations and power brokering are now integral part of Indian politics.

In fact, in such a scenario when two ideological opponents form an alliance simply to retain power, isn't it incumbent upon individual MLAs to remain true to their electorate who had sent them to the House because they opposed a certain party. However, as is clear for Yadav's case of being dropped from Rajya Sabha and JD(U), the law is often used to hold 'party' bigger than individual, and sometimes morality.

However, those in favour of the system argue that the party discipline is necessary to prevent sale and purchase of individual votes on issues of contentious legislations, especially when the government has a slim lead. Furthermore, one can argue that the Indian democratic system has evolved to a point where voters elect a party rather than an individual in an election. An individual is unlikely to be elected without the party label, the party money, the party workers and the party preference deals. Therefore, an elected member should not retain claim to their seat when they show 'disloyalty' to the party. It is also not hard to argue that defections, more often than not, happen because of unspoken self-interested motivations rather than a call of conscience.

If India were to look at other democracies to see how they handle defections, it will find that most countries take it very seriously but don't have such severe laws. In fact, India is the only major democracy where voicing an opinion against your party directive can results in such extreme action. In UK, defying a whip means you lose party membership and the Cabinet berth if you were a minister, but not your seat. In Australia too, defiance of a whip is a serious action but a member is not forced to resign, but is expected to. There also exists a concept of 'free vote' where members are allowed by their parties to vote according to their conscience and principles. In India, no such formal system exists but the need for relaxing of laws have been voiced.

The Dinesh Goswami Committee on electoral reforms, opined in 1990, that an amendment should be made to the anti-defection law to restrict disqualification only to those cases, where an elected member defies a whip only in respect of motion of vote of confidence, which has the power to bring down one government or prop up another. The committee also recommended taking away powers of disqualifying a member from the Speaker or the Chairman of the concerned House, because they too are members of political parties and have been known to favour the Treasury benches on several occasions.

However, Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha Harivansh Narayan Singh differs from the latter recommendation and insist that the Office of Speaker is the best forum to decide on such tricky matters.

"In my view, under the given circumstances, there could be no better forum than the Speaker. The change required is disposal of such petitions under a stipulated time period," he said, referring to instances where Speakers have made unnecessary delay in deciding such petitions, which resulted in benefitting one side or the other.

He suggested other measures in the anti-defection law including resignation of all defectors and holding fresh elections, not giving any ministerial portfolio or any office of profit if they get re-elected, not counting the vote of the defected member in the formation and fall of government and sending the Speakers to Rajya Sabha if they do not wish to contest elections after the end of their term, PTI reported.

He also opined that the spirit of anti-defection law was to bring down defection. "From 1967 to 1972, the country witnessed around 2,000 defections from various political parties that perhaps led to lawmakers bringing in the 10th Schedule into the Constitution," the Rajya Sabha member said.

He further said that politicians give direction to the society and pointed out that from 1965 to 1985, the era in politics was of defection and it was the prime reason that development works that took place from 1948 to 1965 could not move further as the politics turned from development to self-interest.

With inputs from PTI
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 4)  House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano denied Wednesday allegations that he will declare all seats vacant in the lower chamber in a bid to protect his post.

"Yung sinasabi nilang nagpa-declare kami ng all seats vacant para hindi na ako aalis (what others have been claiming that we will declare all seats vacant so that I can't be removed from my post), that's a completely crazy proposition," Cayetano said in a press briefing.

Over the past week, Cayetano has been accusing speaker-in-waiting Lord Allan Velasco of Marinduque of stirring up an ouster plot against him by promising committee chairmanships and unsolicited budget allocations to some of their colleagues.

"Di naman namin kailangang mag-usap lalo na kung ide-deny lang. Sa akin naman, nakita mo naman hindi ko naman, tinanggal lahat ng mga kakampi niya," said Cayetano, addressing Velasco, who is supposed to take over by October this year, as agreed upon in their "15-21" term-sharing deal.

[Translation: We do not need to talk especially if he will only deny these things. You can see that I did not even remove his other allies.]

Just this Monday, two allies of Velasco were booted out from key House posts  Davao City Rep. Isidro Ungab as head of the House Committee on Appropriations and Oriental Mindoro Rep. Salvador "Doy" Leachon as the head of the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal.

Afterwards, Cayetano held a "loyalty check" with some lawmakers in a closed-door meeting. When asked why the two congressmen had to be removed, Cayetano only told the media that he did not have a good working relationship with them as they were allegedly more interested in "funds and intrigues."

"Ang challenge ko lang, kung gusto niya (Velasco) mag-usap, mag-make ka ng categorical statement na pag naging speaker ka na, wala kang aalisin sa kahit sinong officers, leadership at chairpersons. Kasi pag sinabi niya iyon eh di tahimik na rin kami," Cayetano added.

[Translation: My only challenge to him is if he wants to talk, he should make a categorical statement that if he becomes speaker, he will not remove any of the current officers, leaders, and chairpersons. Because if he can guarantee that, we will shut up.]

Cayetano noted that Velasco's silence only creates instability in the lower chamber.

"Pero kung di niya sasabihin iyon tapos kung umiikot siya, nangangako ng chairmanship, siya ang nagke-create ng instability sa atin," he said.

[Translation: But if he does not say that while doing the rounds and offering chairmanships, he is the one creating instability between the two of us.]

He, however, stressed that the term-sharing deal stays.

"Walang nagsasabi dito na hindi na 15-21 (Nobody said that the 15-21 deal will not push through)," Cayetano said.

Speaking to CNN Philippines' The Source on Tuesday, Deputy Speaker Luis Raymund "LRay" Villafuerte said about 80 percent of House members are still vouching for Cayetano despite threats in the speakership.

Leachon, on the other hand, claimed that no such plot exists in the first place  as it is only being used as a "smokescreen" to favor individual interests of some House leaders.
(Photo : REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane) A view of an empty St. Peter's Square as Pope Francis gives his weekly general audience via transmitted video a day after the Vatican closed the square and Basilica due to coronavirus concerns, as seen from Rome, Italy, March 11, 2020.

A Wuhan doctor who shared facts on the new coronavirus on social media broke her silence. The medical personnel said authorities muzzled her for raising the alarm without their permission at the beginning of the outbreak.

Ai Fen, director of the emergency department at Wuhan Central Hospital, told Chinese mag People that she uploaded a diagnostic record on social network WeChat on December 30, 2019. The photo showed that the patient had pneumonia infection due to a Sars-like coronavirus.

Ai's interview indicates local health government in Wuhan, the center of the epidemic, missed an opportunity to issue a warning about an impending outbreak earlier than the virus outbreak.

Whistleblower's interview deleted on WeChat

The interview was published on Tuesday, Mar. 10, but later deleted from the magazine's WeChat account, prompting angry netizens to repost the article on different platforms.

It additionally coincided with President Xi Jinping's first visit to Wuhan since the disaster began, throughout which he praised citizens for their hard work and sacrifices.

In the interview, Ai said she initially shared the patient's diagnostic file with a messaging group on WeChat. The users who saw the post then circulated the photo.

ALSO READ: Is China Hiding Something? WeChat and Y.Y. Have Been Censoring Keywords About Coronavirus - Study

Ai said the data, which she had shared with a colleague, bothered her because the disease seemed to be just like excessive acute respiratory syndrome.

World Health Organization said the Sars epidemic 17 years ago infected more than 8,000 human beings worldwide and killed over 800.

She told the mag she alerted the hospital's community health provider center and infectious disease control department immediately.

Whistleblower ophthalmologist Li Wenliang, 34, who was also reprimanded through public protection officials for "spreading rumors," was among those people who shared Ai's image with others.

He died on Feb. 6 after contracting the virus. Li's death caused an outpouring of grief and anger over the managing of the crisis.

Wuhan health commission says healthcare professionals are 'banned' from revealing facts on COVID-19

Fen was informed by her superiors that Wuhan's health commission had issued a directive that medical employees are banned from revealing something about the COVID-19. Soon after, the hospital reminded all personnel that public disclosure related to the infection was forbidden.

Two days later, an official in charge of the medical institution's supervision department gave Ai a memo for "spreading rumors" - a reference to the photograph she had posted online.

The official, according to the magazine, told Ai to notify everyone in the department not to reveal anything on the disease to everyone --- including their immediate family members.

"My mind just went blank," Ai said. She added the officials made her feel that she alone had "ruined" Wuhan's future.

ALSO READ: Study: Coronavirus Carriers Can Infect You As Far As 14 Feet Away and Stays Less Than an Hour in the Air!

Doctor says she does not intend to do anything wrong

Ai added a clinic nurse, got infected a week later. The nurse was initially diagnosed with "viral pneumonia" but was then detected with coronavirus.

Ai told People that she believed her moves did not do any wrongdoings in her profession. "I followed my instinct as a doctor - so what mistakes did I make?" she asked.

The Wuhan doctor also expressed her regret that she did not warn more people on the virus. "They [doctors] would not have died if they have been warned about the disease earlier," she added.

If Ai could have known how the outbreak would turn out, she said she could have told the public on the main problem despite being warned by the government.

Ai's feedback additionally shed light on views on the outbreak's source.

On New Year's Day, the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market near Ai's health facility - believed to be in which the virus originated - was ordered to close. But Ai stated she had observed a stream of pneumonia sufferers weeks earlier than officials showed human-to-human transmission of the virus became possible.

In the beginning, these sufferers all shared some reference to the market. But as the days went by, greater cluster cases - and especially family cluster cases - emerged.

Wuhan Central Hospital might turn out to be one of the city's maximum critically hit medical facilities, with four docs including Li succumbing to Covid-19. Another of the clinic's doctors are reportedly in crucial condition.

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Even as the Congress mounts a bid to preserve its government in Madhya Pradesh after the exit of Jyotiraditya Scindia and the resignation of legislators close to him, the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party is facing internal dissent too over the possible choice of chief minister, in case the Kamal Nath-led Congress government loses its majority in the state assembly.

As many as 22 Congress legislators submitted their resignations to speaker NP Prajapati on Tuesday, putting the Congress in a minority in the assembly.

The BJP, on Tuesday, called a meeting, with speculation that it would pick a new legislative leader, a possible CM, if Nath fails to save his government.

Senior BJP leaders said the legislature party meeting did not take up any agenda, after there was opposition to the possibility of former CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan getting elected as legislature party chief, replacing Gopal Bhargava.

Also Watch l How Jyotiraditya Scindias induction will help the BJP

Ahead of the meeting, Union ministers Narendra Singh Tomar and Prahlad Singh Patel, Chouhan, state BJP president VD Sharma and other senior leaders met in Delhi to discuss prevailing political atmosphere in the state after Congress MLAs started deserting the party last week.

A BJP leader said, As Chouhan took the lead and was consulted at various levels in the party, a message percolated to Bhopal that they must be alert.

Also read: What may have triggered Jyotiraditya Scindia to quit Congress

Another BJP leader, who is opposed to Chouhan, said there is a sense in the party that other leaders must be given an opportunity as Chouhan has had a chief ministerial tenure for 13 years, and must be held accountable for the 2018 loss. Despite repeated attempts, Chouhan could not be reached for his comments.

However, state BJP media in charge Lokendra Parashar said, It was nothing but medias speculations from Delhi to Bhopal about such a coronation. The agenda of the meeting was only Rajya Sabha election. No other issue was discussed...

A BJP leader close to Chouhan said, When Shivraj Singh Chouhan became chief minister in November 2005 the BJP was plagued with infighting...Chouhan not only checked the infighting, the party ruled the state for 15 years, a record of sort in the state. He is a mass leader and has enough experience to not only run the government but also get every faction of the party along.

Also read: Cong leaders are losing confidence in their party, says BJPs MP incharge

Political analyst Girijashankar said, Whenever it comes to selecting a leader as the CM in Madhya Pradesh, the BJP central leadership will find it difficult to ignore Shivraj Singh Chouhan. Even if the party picks someone else, it will have to take Chouhan into confidence given his popularity across the state and his command over the administrative issues.

Central BJP leaders on Wednesday declined to comment on the developments in the state. One functionary however said Chouhan will be the choice to lead the party.

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Boeing Co.s beleaguered 737 Max absorbed a new blow as Air Canada chopped an order for the grounded aircraft by 11 jets, or 18 per cent.

The Canadian carrier still has 26 of the planes on order, according to data released Wednesday on Boeings website for the month of February. Thats in addition to the 24 Max that Air Canada received before regulators banned the jetliner from commercial flight after two fatal accidents.

Air Canadas shrinking appetite underscores the rising risk of cancellations for the Max, which could worsen as the coronavirus outbreak saps demand for new jets. Customers have leverage to scrap orders or strike new deals for aircraft when shipment has been delayed by a year or more. The worldwide grounding of the Max, Boeings bestselling plane, will reach the one-year mark on March 13.

While Boeing is working to recertify the Max later this year, it also needs to revamp delivery plans to reflect production that will restart slowly and gradually build over the next two years.

In February, Boeing landed 18 gross orders, all but one for its 787 Dreamliner. The company also had 46 cancellations as airlines adjust fleet plans. The 787 is a critical source of cash for Boeing as it works to resume Max deliveries, which have been halted since the grounding. Boeing delivered 17 aircraft last month, 12 of them Dreamliners.

Japan Investment Adviser announced last month that it was cancelling a deal for 10 Max. Other customers are swapping narrow-body models for Boeings marquee Dreamliner, a twin-aisle jet designed to cruise from Chicago to Sydney.

Oman Air converted 10 of its Max on order into a deal for four Dreamliners, according to the February data. Air Lease Corp. is exchanging eight Max for three of the wide-body models, the second time it has struck a deal with Boeing to revamp orders.

Airbus SE, its European rival, didnt notch any orders last month.

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Meanwhile, hospitals lack protective devices, PM considers closing all schools.

The market on Mileticova Street in Bratislava was closed. (Source: SITA)

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Three new cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in Slovakia. Overall, there are 10 patients officially infected with the virus, epidemiologist Zuzana Kristufkova told the public-service broadcaster RTVS. The three new cases were all in contact with the infected people, and they all were in quarantine.

The well-known market at Mileticova Street in Bratislava is closed due to suspicion that one of the shop assistants is infected with coronavirus. The woman has a positive travel anamnesis as she returned from Asia less than 10 days ago, Ruzinov Mayor Martin Chren wrote on Facebook.

For preventive reasons, the market will be closed from March 11 until further notice, wrote Chren on Facebook.

Slovakia will purchase a fast-test for coronavirus, said outgoing PM Peter Pellegrini before the March 11 government session. The testing of people in the Bratislava Region in their homes starts on March 11. Meanwhile, the University Hospital in Kosice started the tests, and the hospital in Banska Bystrica is expected to join soon.

PM Pellegrini said that they would consider closing all schools across Slovakia for 14 days. If we withdraw a million people from circulation, we decrease the risk, Pellegrini said. People never learn, they don't realise that the only protection is not to go out.

The hospitals in Malacky and Velky Krtis claim that they do not have protective means for their medical workers, like masks and respirators. The Malacky hospital (Bratislava Region) was trying to get them from the Administration of the State Material Reserves but was unsuccessful. The hospital in Velky Krtis (Banska Bystrica Region) tried to ask other hospitals or for high prices from distributors, with no major success. The prime ministers spokesperson Patricia Macikova said that the supplies have not been released as no hospitals have asked for them. (Sme)

The Slovak financial sector is fully functional, the National Bank of Slovakia (NBS) said in response to the coronavirus infection in Slovakia. The bank employees who ensure basic operation and those who conduct activities necessary for the smooth operation of the Slovak bank system will work under modified protection regime. The employees who can work outside the NBS building will work from home until further notice. (TASR)

A regular disinfection has been carried out on trains, at the airports and at postal offices in connection with the coronavirus outbreak, said outgoing Transport Minister Arpad Ersek (Most-Hid) after the crisis staff meeting. He would also ask the state-run railway passenger carrier ZSSK to become a member of the crisis staff as many citizens use trains for travelling. (TASR)

Local travel agencies will cancel planned April trips to Italy without cancellation fees. Jana Varinska of the Slovak Association of Travel Agencies said they are dealing with each situation very individually. (SITA)

Check out how the masks are made in Banovce nad Bebravou.

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Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday praised the Delhi Police's role in the communal violence in the national capital last month, saying they did a great job in containing the riots to a few pockets of Northeast Delhi and in bringing the situation under control in 36 hours.

The police had come under criticism for their alleged inaction during the riots from February 24-26.

Replying to a discussion in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday on the Delhi riots, Shah said prima facie the violence appears to be a pre-planned conspiracy. He said no incident of rioting was reported after February 25 and that a special facial recognition system was being used to analyse video footage and identify the rioters.

The BJP leader said initial investigations had found that 300 rioters had come to Northeast Delhi from outside.

"I am not undermining what happened in those 36 hours but I would like to praise the Delhi Police for bringing the situation under control in 36 hours and for preventing it from spreading further," Shah said, adding that enough police and paramilitary forces had been rushed to the affected areas soon after the first reports of violence were received on February 24 at 2 pm until the last distress call was made on February 25 at 11 pm.

Shah expressed sorrow for the families of those who died in the recent violence, which has claimed the lives of more than 50 people.

Vowing not to spare anyone involved in the riots irrespective of their religion, caste or party affiliation, Shah said it will be a lesson for the country on what befalls those who indulge in rioting.

Giving details of the casualties due to riots, Shah said, "Fifty-two Indians lost their lives during the violence."

Unlike the opposition, Shah said he does not want to name how many Hindus or Muslims died.

"I won't give figures in 'Hindu-Muslim'. Fifty-two Indians have died, 526 Indians have been injured. Shops of 371 Indians were set ablaze and houses of 142 Indians were burned," he said.

While Shah was speaking, the Congress walked out in protest.

Earlier on Wednesday, opposition parties came down heavily on the Centre over its "failure" to contain the violence in Delhi and demanded Shah's resignation.

Fending off charges from several MPs who accused him of neglecting his duties as the Home Minister while the law and order situation in Delhi worsened, Shah said he had got in touch with the top brass of Delhi Police as soon as he received information about the violence. The riots broke out when United States President Donald Trump was on a two-day visit to India.

Responding to the opposition's criticism on not visiting riot-affected areas, Shah said he did not want to divert the attention of the Delhi Police at such a sensitive time.

"I did not go to the ground because I did not want the police to get distracted and divert their resources for my security," he said.

Shah said he did not attend various events related to Trump's visit to Delhi as he was busy with the police in formulating a strategy to control the violence. Although Shah had attended Trump's event at Motera Stadium in Ahmedabad, as it was pre-planned and it was in his constituency.

"The programme of Mr Trump was pre-decided and since it was happening in my constituency, I had to go there. While I was there, no incident of violence was reported," said Shah. "I was back in Delhi on February 24 at 6 pm and remained with police officers the whole time to work out how violence could be contained."

Shah said he supervised many review meetings throughout February 24-25 with a number of officials to monitor the situation in the riot-affected places. He said it was on his request that National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval visited the areas and worked towards restoring normalcy.

Shah said 17 companies of police and 13 companies of paramilitary forces were rushed to Northeast Delhi areas on February 24, with 50 more companies of paramilitary forces sent in the following day. "As of today there are 80 companies of paramilitary and police forces deployed in the area," he said.

Shah said the localities where riots broke out are so densely spread that there is not enough space for passage of emergency vehicles. "The population is mixed and there is a history of rioting in that area. Many people with criminal antecedents also live there and it is adjacent to the border with Uttar Pradesh," he said.

Shah said more than 700 FIRs have been registered so far, 2,647 people have either been taken into custody or have been arrested, and that channels of illegal funding (including hawala) are being checked to trace sources from where resources were arranged to allegedly instigate the riots.

"Over 40 teams have been formed to arrest the culprits. At least 152 arms used in the violence have been recovered and we are using facial recognition system to identify the people who committed violence," he said. "I believe the story of Ankit Sharma (an Intelligence Bureau officer whose body was found in one of the riot-affected areas) will also be unravelled using those footage."

Shah assured the House that CCTV footage is being analysed using face identification software and took a dig at the opposition, saying the software does not discriminate on the basis of religion or clothes. He said details of voter identity cards and driving licences were fed into the software, which helped identify 1,100 people.

Shah said more than 650 inter-faith peace meetings have been conducted since the violence started in order to restore peace and harmony in the areas.

On questions of why the ruling party discussed the riots so late, Shah said the BJP had decided to have a discussion on the issue only after Holi "so that any statement made in this House does not further disturb the atmosphere in the area since in many cases communal violence has been observed in parts of the country around this festival". Opposition parties had been demanding a discussion on the issue in the Parliament's ongoing Budget session, with several sessions being adjourned after the BJP's refusal to discuss the riots.

(With inputs from PTI)
The Mumbai police's crime branch



on Wednesday arrested gangster Prasad Pujari's mother for her alleged involvement in the extortion of a builder from eastern suburb of Vikhroli here, an official said.

Indira Vitthal Pujari (62) was arrested in an Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act case for allegedly extorting Rs 10 lakh from a developer, he said.

The complainant had allegedly received threatening calls from Pujari through WhatsApp and BOTIM, an internet based video call app in January and February, he said.

Pujari, who is currently at an unidentified location abroad, demanded Rs 10 lakh from the builder, the official said.

The developer subsequently lodged a complaint with the Anti-Extortion Cell, following which a case under the stringent MCOCA was registered in February.

The AEC has arrested eight people, including Pujari's aide Sunil Angane and his cousin Suresh Kumar Suvarna, for their involvement, the official said.

During interrogation, it came to light that Pujari's mother had given the extorted sum to deposit in the bank accounts of the arrested accused, he said, adding that further probe is underway.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
TSX: RMX |OTCQX: RBYCF

(All references to dollars herein are in Canadian dollars ("$") unless otherwise specified)

TORONTO, March 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - Rubicon Minerals Corporation (TSX: RMX |OTCQX: RBYCF) ("Rubicon" or the "Company") announces that it has filed its Financial Statements and Management's discussion and Analysis ("MD&A") for the year ended December 31, 2019. The Company confirms that copies of these annual filings can be obtained at www.rubiconminerals.com or www.sedar.com

Financial Highlights from the year ended December 31, 2019

Cash position: As of December 31, 2019 , the Company had cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments of approximately $13.7 million .





On February 27, 2020 , the Company closed a public flow-through share offering of 6,294,000 common shares on a "flow-through" basis under the Income Tax Act ( Canada ) at a price of $1.43 per flow-through share for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $9.0 million . The proceeds from the Offering will be used to incur "Canadian exploration expenses" (" CEE ") (within the meaning of the Income Tax Act ( Canada )) related to Rubicon's Phoenix Gold Project, McFinley Zone, Pen Zone, and other regional exploration targets in Ontario . The Company will renounce such CEE to the purchasers of the Flow-Through Common Shares with an effective date of no later than December 31, 2020 .





As of , the Company had cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments of approximately . On , the Company closed a public flow-through share offering of 6,294,000 common shares on a "flow-through" basis under the Income Tax Act ( ) at a price of per flow-through share for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately . The proceeds from the Offering will be used to incur "Canadian exploration expenses" (" ") (within the meaning of the Income Tax Act ( )) related to Rubicon's Phoenix Gold Project, McFinley Zone, Pen Zone, and other regional exploration targets in . The Company will renounce such CEE to the purchasers of the Flow-Through Common Shares with an effective date of no later than . Exploration and evaluation expenditures: For the year ended December 31, 2019 , the Company spent approximately $12.3 million in expenditures related to drilling, maintenance and technical consulting fees. Expenditures were lower by $4.7 million compared to 2018 when the Company undertook a bulk sample processing program and operated the mill facility. Current year expenditures were directed towards infill drilling, updates to the 2019 Mineral Resource Estimate and the 2019 PEA.





For the year ended , the Company spent approximately in expenditures related to drilling, maintenance and technical consulting fees. Expenditures were lower by compared to 2018 when the Company undertook a bulk sample processing program and operated the mill facility. Current year expenditures were directed towards infill drilling, updates to the 2019 Mineral Resource Estimate and the 2019 PEA. General and administrative expenses (including salaries and benefits, and consulting and professional fees): The Company spent approximately $5.0 million on expenditures related to general and administrative, salaries and benefits, and consulting and professional fees in 2019 in line with spending compared to 2018.

Phoenix Gold Project Highlights

2019 Mineral Resource Estimate reported a 110% increase in the Measured and Indicated Resource estimate to 589,000 ounces of gold compared to the prior 2018 Measured and Indicated Mineral Resource estimate of 281,000 ounces of gold. 2019 Measured and Indicated Mineral Resource estimate grades decreased 2% to 6.26 g/t Au compared to the prior 2018 Measured and Indicated Mineral Resource estimate gold grades of 6.37 g/t Au. As a result of the successful increase of Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources in the 2019 Mineral Resource Estimate, the 2019 Inferred Mineral Resource estimate reflects a decrease of 28% to 540,000 ounces of gold as compared to the 2018 Inferred Mineral Resource estimate of 749,000 ounces of gold. For further details, please review the Rubicon news release dated March 27, 2019 and the Technical Report filed on April 25, 2019 filed under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com and also available on its website at www.rubiconminerals.com. 1





to 589,000 ounces of gold compared to the prior 2018 Measured and Indicated Mineral Resource estimate of 281,000 ounces of gold. 2019 Measured and Indicated Mineral Resource estimate grades decreased 2% to 6.26 g/t Au compared to the prior 2018 Measured and Indicated Mineral Resource estimate gold grades of 6.37 g/t Au. As a result of the successful increase of Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources in the 2019 Mineral Resource Estimate, the 2019 Inferred Mineral Resource estimate reflects a decrease of 28% to 540,000 ounces of gold as compared to the 2018 Inferred Mineral Resource estimate of 749,000 ounces of gold. For further details, please review the Rubicon news release dated and the Technical Report filed on filed under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com and also available on its website at www.rubiconminerals.com. 2019 PEA demonstrates an after-tax internal rate of return ("IRR") and net present value ("NPV 5% ") of 40.2% and C$135.2 million , respectively, based on a US$1,325 per ounce gold price assumption: The 2019 PEA contemplates at 6.2 year conceptual life of mine plan ("LOM") averaging 79,610 ounces of conceptual gold production per year and an average all-in sustaining cost ("AISC") of US$882 per ounce during the commercial production period. For further details, please review the Rubicon press release dated August 19, 2019 and the Technical Report filed on January 16, 2020 (the "2020 Technical Report") under the Company's profile on www.sedar.com and also available on the its website at www.rubiconminerals.com.

_____________________________ 1 The 2019 Mineral Resource Estimate, prior 2018 estimates, and the Technical Report filed on April 25, 2019 are not current and should not be relied upon.

Outlook

As of March 10, 2020, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of approximately $17.9 million. In management's view, the Company has sufficient financial resources to carry out the Company's planned activities:

Feasibility Study scheduled for H2/2020: Based on the 2020 Mineral Resource Estimate of 811,000 ounces of gold in the Measured and Indicated Mineral Resource categories, the Company believes that the Project has a sufficiently well-defined Mineral Resource estimate on which to commence mine planning and additional engineering work to determine the Project's commercial viability. Rubicon has accordingly initiated a Feasibility Study on the Project, with its completion anticipated in H2/2020. The Company has already commenced feasibility work on potential upgrades to its surface infrastructure and a potential underground ramp.





Based on the 2020 Mineral Resource Estimate of 811,000 ounces of gold in the Measured and Indicated Mineral Resource categories, the Company believes that the Project has a sufficiently well-defined Mineral Resource estimate on which to commence mine planning and additional engineering work to determine the Project's commercial viability. Rubicon has accordingly initiated a Feasibility Study on the Project, with its completion anticipated in H2/2020. The Company has already commenced feasibility work on potential upgrades to its surface infrastructure and a potential underground ramp. Lower Level Infill Drilling to Convert Inferred Mineral Resource estimates to the Measured and Indicated Mineral Resource Categories: The 2020 Mineral Resource Estimate between the 976- and 1,098-m Levels estimates approximately 190,000 ounces of Inferred Mineral Resources. The Company intends to infill drill this area with the goal of upgrading these ounces to at least the Indicated Mineral Resource category. If successful, Rubicon could potentially include a portion of such potentially upgraded Mineral Resource estimates in the mine plan to be contemplated by the anticipated Feasibility Study. The Company plans to drill up to 7,500 m of orientated diamond drilling with the goal of expanding the Measured and Indicated Mineral Resource estimates.





The 2020 Mineral Resource Estimate between the 976- and 1,098-m Levels estimates approximately 190,000 ounces of Inferred Mineral Resources. The Company intends to infill drill this area with the goal of upgrading these ounces to at least the Indicated Mineral Resource category. If successful, Rubicon could potentially include a portion of such potentially upgraded Mineral Resource estimates in the mine plan to be contemplated by the anticipated Feasibility Study. The Company plans to drill up to of orientated diamond drilling with the goal of expanding the Measured and Indicated Mineral Resource estimates. Exploring the Historic McFinley Zone2 ("McFinley") and Close Proximity Targets: Rubicon will commence more than 5,000 m of underground orientated diamond drilling to determine the Mineral Resource potential of McFinley (approximately 500 m west of the F2 Gold Zone) and the Pen Zone3 (approximately 500 m north of the F2 Gold Zone). The drilling will follow-up on the historic high-grade drill intercepts that were intersected in these two targets. Rubicon plans to deliver Mineral Resource estimates for both McFinley and the Pen Zone in 2020 and 2021, respectively. Due to the proximity of these targets to the existing underground and surface infrastructure of the Phoenix Gold Project, mineralized material at McFinley and the Pen Zone areas have the potential to augment the conceptual production profile of the Phoenix Gold Project.

Please refer to our Financial Statements and MD&A for the year ended December 31, 2019 for further details.

______________________________ 2 For more information on the McFinley, please refer to the Mineral Deposit Inventory for Ontario, MENDM which is available at http://www.geologyontario.mndm.gov.on.ca/mndmfiles/mdi/data/records/MDI52N04SE00005.html. The current mineral resource estimate for this deposit is historical, and is not compliant with NI 43-101. 3 For further details, see the Company's May 14, 2003 news release available under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com and its website at www.rubiconminerals.com.

About Rubicon Minerals Corporation

Rubicon Minerals Corporation is an advanced gold exploration company that owns the Phoenix Gold Project, located in the prolific Red Lake gold district in northwestern Ontario, Canada. Additionally, Rubicon controls the second largest land in Red Lake consisting of over 285 square kilometres of prime, strategic exploration ground, and more than 900 square kilometres of mineral property interests in the emerging Long Canyon gold district that straddles the Nevada-Utah border in the United States. Rubicon's shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (RMX) and the OTCQX markets (RBYCF). For more information, please visit our website at www.rubiconminerals.com.

RUBICON MINERALS CORPORATION

George Ogilvie, P.Eng.

President, CEO, and Director

Cautionary Statement regarding Forward-Looking Statements and other Cautionary Notes

All statements, other than statements of historical fact, contained or incorporated by reference in this press release, including any information as to the outlook and future performance of the Company, constitute "forward-looking statements" and "forward looking information" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "anticipate", "believes", "conceptual", "contemplate", "could", "demonstrates", "development", "emerging", "estimate", "expect", "exploration", "feasibility", "focus", "future", "goal", "intends", "may", "outlook", "plan", "potential", "profile", "project", "Preliminary Economic Assessment" (or "PEA"), "risk", "should", "strategic", "study", "target", "uncertainties", "upgrade", "view" and "will", or variations of such words, and similar such words, expressions or statements that certain actions, events or results can, could, may, should, will (or not) be achieved or occur in the future. In some cases, forward-looking information may be stated in the present tense, such as in respect of current matters that may be continuing, or that may have a future impact or effect. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding the use of proceeds from the February 2020 flow-through common share offering including required renunciation of CEE; potential for future exploration success at the Company and the Phoenix Gold Project; Mineral Resource estimates (including the current 2020 Mineral Resource Estimate, converting, upgrading (or converting) and/or expanding or increasing Mineral Resource estimates); expected or proposed exploration and development activities at the McFinley and Pen Zones, "Explore Target" areas and other regional exploration targets, and any impact of such activities; geological and structural modelling; the details of the 2019 PEA (including economics, such as return on capital (including IRR) and NPV, free cash flow, gold production (payable or otherwise), capital and operating costs, life of mine (or LOM) and any conceptual or contemplated mine plans, estimated tonnes and grade, mineable inventory, construction period and other results of the 2019 PEA, all of which are estimates only); feasibility and potential commercial viability of the Phoenix Gold Project.

Forward-looking statements are based on the assumptions, estimates, expectations and opinions of management, which management considers reasonable and represent its best judgment based on available facts, as of the date such statements are made. If such assumptions, estimates, expectations and opinions prove to be incorrect, actual and future results may be materially different than expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. The assumptions, estimates, expectations and opinions referenced, contained or incorporated by reference in this press release which may prove to be incorrect include those set forth herein, and in the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis for the year ended December 31, 2019 (the "2019 MD&A") and the accompanying financial statements, the 2019 PEA and the 2020 Technical Report, as well as: (1) permitting, exploration and development at the Phoenix Gold Project being consistent with the Company's current expectations including, without limitation, the maintenance of existing permits, licenses and other approvals and the timely receipt of other permits, licenses and other approvals necessary from time to time; (2) political and legal developments in any jurisdiction in which the Company operates being consistent with its current expectations; (3) the completion of studies, including the anticipated feasibility study on the Phoenix Gold Project, on the timelines currently expected and the results being consistent with the Company's current expectations; (4) the exchange rate between the Canadian dollar and the U.S. dollar being approximately consistent with current levels; (5) certain price assumptions for gold; (6) prices for diesel, natural gas, electricity and other key supplies being approximately consistent with current levels; (7) the accuracy of the 2020 Mineral Resource Estimate (including but not limited to ore tonnage and ore grade estimates), the 2019 PEA and 2019 Mineral Resource Estimate relied upon therein, and the Company's internal models; (8) labour and materials costs being consistent with the Company's current expectations; and (9) the Company's ability to meet current and future debt obligations or to complete future financings to raise additional capital as and when needed.

Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to significant known and unknown business, economic, competitive and other risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Rubicon to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others: gold price fluctuations; possible variations in mineralization, grade or recovery or throughput rates; uncertainty of Mineral Resource estimates, inability to realize exploration potential, mineral grades and mineral recovery estimates; actual results of exploration activities; delays in completion of exploration plans for any reason including insufficient capital; labour issues; conclusions of economic or geological evaluations including the 2019 PEA and the anticipated Feasibility Study (including the timing of its delivery); changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; failure of equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; accidents and other risks of the mining industry; delays and other risks related to operations; the ability to obtain and maintain permits and other regulatory approvals (as well as the timing and terms thereof) and to comply with such permits, approvals and other applicable regulatory requirements; the ability of Rubicon to comply with its obligations under material agreements including the Loan Facility and other financing agreements; the availability of financing for proposed programs and working capital requirements on reasonable terms and in a timely manner; the ability to meet, repay or refinance current and future debt obligations on reasonable terms and in a timely manner; risks associated with the ability to retain key executives and key operating personnel; cost of environmental expenditures and potential environmental liabilities; relations with local communities including First Nations; failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; cost of supplies; market conditions and general business, economic, competitive, political and social conditions; our ability to generate sufficient cash flow from operations or obtain adequate financing to fund our capital expenditures and working capital needs and meet our other obligations; the volatility of our stock price, and the ability of our common stock to remain listed and traded on the TSX; and the "Risk Factors" in the Company's annual information form dated March 22, 2019 ("2019 AIF") as well as the risks, uncertainties and other factors identified in the 2020 Technical Report and the 2019 MD&A and accompanying financial statements, all of which are available under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com and on its website at www.rubiconminerals.com. The foregoing list of risks, uncertainties and other factors is not exhaustive; readers should consult the more complete discussion of Rubicon's business, financial condition and prospects that is provided in the 2019 AIF.

The forward-looking statements contained or incorporated by reference herein are expressly qualified by these Cautionary Statements as well as the Cautionary Statements in the 2019 MD&A, the 2019 AIF and the 2020 Technical Report. Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the specified and the Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, except as required by applicable laws.

Cautionary Statement to U.S. Readers Regarding Mineral Resource Estimates

This press release uses the terms "Measured" and "Indicated" Mineral Resources and "Inferred" Mineral Resources. The Company advises U.S. investors that while these terms are recognized and required by the Canadian Securities Administrators (the "CSA"), they are not recognized by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). The estimation of "Measured", "Indicated" and "Inferred" Mineral Resources involves greater uncertainty as to their existence and economic feasibility than the estimation of a "Reserve". The estimation of "Inferred" Mineral Resources involves far greater uncertainty as to their existence and economic viability than the estimation of other categories of Mineral Resources. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of a "Measured", "Indicated" or "Inferred" Mineral Resource estimate will ever be upgraded (or converted) to a higher category.

Under Canadian rules, estimates of "Inferred Mineral Resources" may not form the basis of feasibility studies, pre-feasibility studies or other economic studies, except in prescribed cases, such as in a preliminary economic assessment (or PEA) under certain circumstances. The SEC normally only permits issuers to report mineralization that does not constitute "Reserves" as in-place tonnage and grade without reference to unit measures. Under U.S. standards, mineralization may not be classified as a "Reserve" unless the determination has been made that the mineralization could be economically and legally produced or extracted at the time the "Reserve" determination is made. U.S. investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of a "Measured", "Indicated" or "Inferred" Mineral Resource estimate exists or is economically or legally mineable. Information concerning descriptions of mineralization and Mineral Resources contained herein may not be comparable to information made public by U.S. companies subject to the reporting and disclosure requirements of the SEC.

Mineral Resources

Until mineral deposits are actually mined and processed, Mineral Resources must be considered as estimates only. Mineral Resource estimates that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. The estimation of Mineral Resources is inherently uncertain, involves subjective judgement about many relevant factors and may be materially affected by, among other things, environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-political, marketing, or other relevant risks, uncertainties and other factors described in the foregoing Cautionary Statements, in the 2019 MD&A and accompanying financial statements as well as in the 2019 AIF and the 2020 Technical Report. The quantity and grade of reported "Inferred" Mineral Resource estimates are uncertain in nature and there has been insufficient exploration to define "Inferred" Mineral Resource estimates as an "Indicated" or "Measured" Mineral Resource and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in upgrading (or converting) "Inferred" Mineral Resources to an "Indicated" or "Measured" Mineral Resource category. The accuracy of any such estimates is a function of the quantity and quality of available data, and of the assumptions made and judgments used in engineering and geological interpretation, which may prove to be unreliable and depend, to a certain extent, upon the analysis of drilling results and statistical inferences that may ultimately prove to be inaccurate. Mineral Resource estimates may have to be re-estimated based on, among other things: (i) fluctuations in mineral prices; (ii) results of drilling and development; (iii) results of test stoping and other testing; (iv) metallurgical testing and other studies; (v) proposed mining operations, including dilution; (vi) the evaluation of mine plans subsequent to the date of any estimates; and (vii) the possible failure to receive required permits, licenses and other approvals. . The Mineral Resources estimates referenced in this press release were reported using Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum Definition Standards for Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 of the CSA ("NI 43-101").

Qualified Persons

The scientific and technical content of this press release has been reviewed, verified and approved by Michael Willett, P.Eng., Director of Projects, a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101.

The Toronto Stock Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE Rubicon Minerals Corporation

Related Links

www.rubiconminerals.com


PACIFIC PALISADES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / March 10, 2020 / Green Stream Holdings Inc. (OTC PINK:GSFI) a holding company of Green Stream Finance, Inc., a company that focuses on currently unmet markets in the solar energy space through its innovative proprietary solar product offerings, financed for customers via its public and private partnerships, today announced that its Offering Statement on Form 1-A, previously filed on September 30, 2019 with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") to launch a Regulation A, Tier 1 public offering has been approved

The Company's expects to raise gross proceeds of $10,000,000.00, before deduction of offering expenses, assuming all shares are sold. The minimum investment established for each investor is $10,000.00, unless such minimum is waived by the Company in its sole discretion, which may be done on a case-by-case basis.

President of Green Stream, Ms. Madeline Cammarata, commented: "We are delighted to receive regulatory approval of this filing which will now enable the company to have the assets to move forward with various revenue producing projects." As demand for more Green Energy projects within State and Municipal Government, Green Stream will be in position to capitalize on this exploding renewable energy market.

This filing is a major first step in becoming current in its filings and financials and for preparing the company to finance its expansion plans which we hope will generate value for the shareholders."

Legal Disclaimer

No money or consideration is being solicited by the information in this press release or any other communication and, if sent, money will not be accepted and will be promptly returned. No offer by a potential investor to buy our securities can be accepted and, if made, any such offer can be withdrawn before qualification of this offering by the SEC. A potential investor's indication of interest does not create a commitment to purchase the securities we are offering. Any such indication of interest may be withdrawn or revoked, without obligation or commitment of any kind, at any time before notice of its acceptance is given and all other requirements to accept an investment from a potential investor are met after the offering qualification date.

Story continues

The offering, after qualification by the SEC, will be made only by means of the Offering Circular. Any information in this press release or any other communication 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 offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to qualification for sale as provided in Regulation A in any such state or jurisdiction.

The Stock may not be sold, nor may offers to buy be accepted, before the Form 1-A offering statement is qualified and approved by the SEC. This announcement shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor may there be any sales of these securities in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful before registration or qualification under the laws of any such state.

The preliminary offering circular can be found at: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1437476/000121390019019204/f1a2019_greenstreamholdings.htm

Please direct any investor or press enquiries regarding any of our solar current and planned solar projects throughout the nation to info@greenstreamfinance.com.

About Green Stream Finance, Inc.

Green Stream Finance, Inc., a Wyoming-based corporation with satellite offices in Malibu, CA and New York, NY, is focused on exploiting currently unmet markets in the solar energy space, and is currently licensed in California, Nevada, Arizona, Washington, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, New Mexico, Colorado, Hawaii, and Canada. The Company's next-generation solar greenhouses, constructed and managed by Green Rain Solar, LLC, a Nevada-based division, utilize proprietary greenhouse technology and trademarked design developed by world-renowned architect Mr. Anthony Morali. The Company is currently targeting high-growth solar market segments for its advanced solar greenhouse and advanced solar battery products. The Company has a growing footprint in the significantly underserved solar market in New York City where it is targeting 50,000 to 100,000 square feet of rooftop space for the installation of its solar panels. Green Stream is looking to forge key partnership with major investment groups in order to capitalize on a variety of unique investment opportunities in the commercial solar energy markets. The Company is dedicated to becoming a major player in this critical space. Through its innovative solar product offerings and industry partnerships, the Company is well-positioned to become a significant player in the solar space.

Forward-Looking Statements:

This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and is subject to the safe harbor created by those sections. This material contains statements about expected future events and/or financial results that are forward-looking in nature and subject to risks and uncertainties. That includes the possibility that the business outlined in this press release cannot be concluded for some reason. That could be as a result of technical, installation, permitting or other problems that were not anticipated. Such forward-looking statements by definition involve risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Green Stream Finance, Inc. to be materially different from the statements made herein. Except for any obligation under the U.S. federal securities laws, Green Stream Finance, Inc. undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Company Contact/Address:

Green Stream Finance Inc. & Green Rain Solar, LLC

16620 Marquez Avenue

Pacific Palisades, CA 90272

Phone: 310-230-0240

For All Inquiries Contact:

info@greenstreamfinance.com

SOURCE: Green Stream Finance, Inc.





View source version on accesswire.com:

https://www.accesswire.com/579983/SEC-Approves-Green-Stream-Holdings-Inc-GSFI-Offering-Statement-On-Form-1-A-To-Launch-A-Regulation-A-Public-Offering




The Calcutta High Court on Wednesday quashed an order of the West Bengal State Legal Services Authority (SLSA) that directed two victims of human trafficking to deposit 75 per cent of the compensation granted to them in a monthly income scheme for 10 years.

Setting aside and quashing the SLSA order, Justice Sabyasachi Bhattacharyya observed that it has no authority to control and monitor the compensation disbursed to a victim who has attained the age of 18.

As it is, the quantum of compensation is meagre and ought not to be fettered, the court observed.

"We are in 2020 now, and not in 1984. As such, the 'Big Brother' approach of the disbursing authority should be shunned and the victim should be free to spend the compensation granted to her/him at her/his option," Justice Bhattacharyya said.

The two victims had moved the high court challenging a direction of SLSA member secretary that asked them to deposit 75 per cent of the awarded amount with a nationalised bank in a monthly income scheme for 10 years.

While one woman was granted a compensation of Rs 3 lakh vide an order dated August 9, 2019, another, who had been a victim of trafficking as well as rape, was granted Rs 4 lakh on an order issued on September 6, 2019.

The SLSA had also directed them to file a compliance report within 40 days from the date of receipt of the compensation.

Counsel for the petitioners in both the cases argued that such curbs was de hors (outside the scope of) the provisions of the West Bengal Victim Compensation Scheme, 2017, framed by the West Bengal government.

The court noted that the victims in both the writ petitions were over 18 when the compensation was awarded.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo on Wednesday warned the outbreak of coronavirus could become the 'public health version' of Hurricane Katrina.

Speaking on Morning Joe, he also admitted plans were in place for 'mobile pop-up quarantine hospitals' if the 'numbers don't slow'.

Cuomo had been forced to declare a one-mile-radius 'containment area' in New Rochelle Tuesday as cases in the state reached more than 200 confirmed cases with more than 40 in New York City alone.

The sharp rises in cases also forced the New York City St Patrick's Day parade to be canceled for the first time since 1782, following in Boston's footsteps.

Mayor De Blasio said: 'We're talking it through with the parade committee. We have to really think about this one because it's a beloved event, an important event.'

Cuomo said there were about 20 new confirmed cases in New York state, up from Tuesday's count of 173. A spokesman for the Democratic governor said additional test results would be announced later Wednesday.

Hurricane Katrina killed nearly 2,000 people when it struck Louisiana in August 2005. The Federal Emergency Management Agency was accused of a sluggish response to the storm.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, pictured, on Wednesday warned the outbreak of coronavirus could become the 'public health version' Hurricane Katrina

Andrew Cuomo said authorities would set up a one-mile radius 'containment zone' around the epicenter of an outbreak in New Rochelle in suburban Westchester County

Cases of coronavirus in New York State New York City 52 Westchester County 121 Nassau County 28 Rockland County 6 Suffolk County 6 Saratoga County 2 Ulster County 2 New York State Total 217 Figures as of Wednesday afternoon Advertisement

Gov Cuomo urged business owners to stagger employees' shifts or let them work from home to reduce the spread of coronavirus.

'I'm going to ask them voluntarily to do telecommuting, two shifts, a morning shift and a late shift, and let people work from home voluntarily,' Cuomo said on MSNBC's 'Morning Joe.'

He said Wednesday: 'This is about reducing the density. You know, we talk about social distancing, we shouldn't be more than six feet from a person.

'You take a dense city, you take a New York City, there's no such thing as social distancing, you're always within six feet of a person. So we really need to talk more aggressive actions.'

SUNY and CUNY announced they will be closing March 19th to 'reduce density'.

CBS News employees in New York City have also been asked to work from home after two workers tested positive for the virus.

The governor added: 'This is not going away on its own, the spread is not going to stop on its own. It is fully dependent on what we do. We're going to make our own destiny and like it or not, we're going to have to make some tough decisions and we're going to have to start to act united to reduce the density.

'We have enough equipment, we have enough hospital beds but if these numbers don't slow, we're starting to plan backup quarantine hospital facilities, mobile pop-up hospitals if you will, to make sure we have the capacity for acute cases that need hospitalization.'

Several schools and houses of worship in New Rochelle, just north of New York City, are closed for two weeks, and Cuomo said the National Guard would be sent in to help deliver food to quarantined people.

The new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms such as fever and cough for most patients but can cause more severe illness for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems.

The strategy of staggering work hours to reduce rush-hour crowding was widely used during the 1918 influenza epidemic.

State officials used a potentially unnerving term  'containment area'  to describe the part of New Rochelle, north of New York City, where the closures will be enforced. But they stressed that this isn't a lockdown.

Cuomo's latest comments came as:

Google told all 100,000 of its US staff to work from home to prevent the spread of the virus

Washington's governor was poised to announce a ban on gatherings of 250 people or more in Seattle

New York think-tank Council on Foreign Relations canceled a conference on coronavirus because of the virus

A team of US and Chinese researchers estimated that there could already be more than 10,000 cases of coronavirus in America, the majority of them undetected

Trump's former pandemic adviser Tom Bossert warned 'we are 10 days from hospitals getting creamed'

Dr. Marty Makary, of Johns Hopkins University, warned the situation in the US could easily get as bad as China

The Treasury said it could delay tax payments beyond the April 15 deadline to help businesses cope

People who aren't personally quarantined will be able to leave their homes and go to work or elsewhere. Local businesses can remain open. Residents or visitors are free to walk the sidewalks.

Still, 'it is a dramatic action,' the Democratic governor said at a news conference. 'It is the largest cluster of cases in the country.'

'The numbers are going up unabated, and we do need a special public health strategy for New Rochelle,' Cuomo said.

The suburb of about 80,000 residents is at the center of an outbreak of more than 100 cases in Westchester County, out of 173 statewide as of Tuesday. New York City has more than 40 cases, while its population is more than 100 times that of New Rochelle.

There have been no deaths in New York state, though a patient believed to have contracted the virus while traveling abroad died in nearby northern New Jersey. Cuomo said 14 patients statewide are hospitalized.

The Department of Public Safety of Newark in New Jersey warned against false reporting of coronavirus via social media Wednesday.

'Any false reporting of the coronavirus in our city will result in criminal prosecution,' Director Ambrose said. 'We are putting forth every investigative effort to identify anyone making false allegations on social media to ensure that any posted misinformation is immediately addressed.'

New cases were reported in Teaneck, New Jersey, on Wednesday.

Bill de Blasio hands out information on the COVID-19 Coronavirus in Union Square on Monday

Commuters using mask inside 86TS Q Subway station. and Uber surge pricing during New York City's rush hour as Mayor Bill de Blasio urges people not to use the subway

Americans returning on the last flights out of locked-down Italy say they were stunned to discover that there was still no screening for coronavirus upon arriving in JFK on Tuesday

Rush hour commute on the 1 Train at the 242nd Street subway station in the Bronx on Tuesday

The Westchester outbreak began to emerge after a 50-year-old lawyer was hospitalized with COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus. Some of his relatives and friends later tested positive. Many members of a New Rochelle synagogue where he had attended events were asked to quarantine themselves. Its rabbi also tested positive.

National Guard troops will help clean public spaces and deliver food to people who are in quarantine within the new 'containment area,' which has a 1-mile radius (1.6-kilometer radius) around a point near the synagogue, Cuomo and other officials said. His office didn't immediately have a number of how many troops are being deployed but said some have already arrived.

The mayor of Boston announced Monday the city would cancel its annual St. Patrick's Day parade over coronavirus concerns.

The Boston parade, originally scheduled for March 15, was expected to attract about one million attendees. The New York parade is predicted to be twice as big.

A woman waits for a bus on North Avenue during the coronavirus outbreak in New Rochelle

Empty streets, restaurants and cafes make up the business area in the one mile containment zone in New Rochelle on Wednesday

New Rochelle, a city just north of New York City, has become the state's largest source of COVID-19 infections, prompting Governor Andrew Cuomo to announce Tuesday that officials will be implementing a one mile radius containment area there to try to halt the spread of Coronavirus

The Westchester outbreak began to emerge after a 50-year-old lawyer was hospitalized with COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus. Some of his relatives and friends later tested positive

The decision to cancel the parade was made 'out of an abundance of caution to ensure that we are doing what is needed to keep the residents of Boston safe and healthy,' mayor Marty Walsh said in a statement shared via Twitter.

'While the risk in Boston remains low, this situation is changing very quickly,' the statement said. 'Our top priority is preventing any new cases, to the best of our ability.'

The New York St. Patrick's Day parade is the most important one in the United States and typically attracts two million spectators. The parade had been scheduled for March 17.

The New York parade, which goes up Fifth Avenue from 44th Street to 80th, has taken place every year since 1762.

'Why would you risk bringing thousands of people together knowing that this is virus that easily communicates?' Cuomo asked, explaining the thinking of those urging the event be canceled.
Press Release

March 11, 2020 Senator Win Gatchalian's ANC: Early Edition interview on

COVID-19's social and economic impact and POGOs [start recording] Q: Good morning, Sir and thank you for joining us. SEN WIN: Good morning, Christian. SUSPENSION OF GRADUATION RITES Q: The Philippine government has implemented a number of measures to prevent what they fear could be a sustained community transmission. But in your case, you are trying to push the envelope further and in particular, suspending graduation and moving up ceremonies. Is this really needed? SEN WIN: Well, the daycare graduation will start next week. And then, the moving up ceremonies and senior high school graduations and the tertiary graduation will commence two weeks from now and so on. Typically, in a graduation and moving up ceremonies, you have families from abroad. We have OFWs coming back and participating in the ceremonies. So we have people from abroad coming in and also the congregation of people in one single place. What we're urging the DepEd and CHED for this matter is to suspend it first because the situation is changing very rapidly ever yday. In the last three days, we have seen an increase in the COVID incidences. Almost 20 number of people and we expect this to escalate even further so this to encourage our kababayans to make plans ahead of time. Those OFWs coming in, they should be, as early as now, to tell them that this type of ceremonies and graduation will be suspended until further notice. We will not cancel it because this type of ceremonies is very important to families. Gustong naman nila makita ang kanilang anak na maglakad sa entamblado, but to stop the transmission and to prevent the possibility of OFWs coming in inadvertently, possibly bringing in some of the viruses outside, we have to tell them in advance that it will be suspended until further notice. Q: If that's your proposal, why not come up with other proposals that could actually further help prevent the sustained community transmission. In this case, the people are pushing the government to implement already lockdown of certain areas not to wait until more cases are recorded. SEN WIN: Lockdown is difficult to implement unless you are like China who can really flex its muscles and lockdown the entire provinces. If you see the experience of Italy, when they lockdown the entire country, it is very difficult to implement because you have a lot of entry and exit points. I want to urge the DOH to study the Korean model wherein they didn't lockdown Korea but they implemented a massive testing activity wherein they already tested 140,000 patients there. Meaning, if you already feel something, whether you have history of traveling abroad or just within Korea, you have to be tested. COVID-19 TESTING KITS Q: One problem is we don't necessarily have that big a number of testing kits. SEN WIN: Correct. The locally invented testing kits from UP is a game changer in terms of curving COVID-19 in our country. Game changer, meaning, because it is affordable, it's locally available and can be given to local governments. Right now, the local governments have a protocol, so first they ask if you have traveled abroad. Kapag hindi ka nagtravel abroad and then you are sick, you are not brought to RITM to be tested. Right now, we have seen local transmissions. We have seen people who haven't traveled abroad but they are contracting the disease. So we are thinking, give these testing kits at the local level and test it as fast as possible. Implement that Korean model where they test everyone who feels that they are sick and they can contain the disease in their homes limiting their movement within the community. Q: But do we have the resources to actually fund such a massive testing of possible cases? SEN WIN: Correct. That is why there are two important things here. One, the kits should be very affordable. It can be given to the local government, they can be tasked to do this. Of course, subject to very strict protocols and guidelines of the DOH. Two, this is where Congress will come in to allocate additional budget to buy these testing kits and also additional budget to make sure that protocols will be followed. But the protocols are very costly because you need to buy protective suits, specialized vehicles, additional power and training. Q: How about the possibility of passing a supplemental budget? This is the last day of session before you go on break by tomorrow. SEN WIN: The President can call for an emergency session, if need be. If the President thinks that there's an urgent matter. For example, a supplemental budget to give DOH and other government agencies additional funding for them to conduct testing and also to conduct other mitigating measures, he can call Congress to convene. Q: Do you think the President should call for an executive session? SEN WIN: This situation is changing very rapidly. This should already be in the horizon. The DOH and also the economic managers should already think about this because the situation is changing very rapidly. In situations like this, we should already start planning for the worst. Of course, we hope for the best, again, the testing kits are already here but we have to already plan ahead of time because the situation is rapidly evolving. SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET & STIMULUS PACKAGE Q: Yesterday, the House Appropriation Committee approved the proposed 1.6 billion supplemental budget but again, you are going on break starting tomorrow so what do you think? Should there be a special session to talk about this particular supplemental budget to make sure that funding would go for those projects that you mentioned? SEN WIN: Correct. If need be, if the Senate needs to be called and to convene and to approve this, we are ready to approve the supplemental budget and also to other stimulus packages. Definitely, our economy will be hard hit by this virus and we are forecasting a very slow growth in the first quarter. We need to pump the economy, we need to spend as fast as we can, we need to inject new budget in order to boost up the economy. Q: What kind of a specific stimulus package are you thinking of? SEN WIN: I'm thinking of looking at the tourism industry because it will be badly hit. We have airlines, shipping lines, hotels and I am worried of the small and micro businesses--the tour guides, the drivers, the bangkeros in the island, they will be badly hit with the slowdown in tourism. We need to have some stimulus packages that can cascade down to the small and micro businesses. Q: Like what proposals are you thinking of as part of the stimulus package? SEN WIN: The fastest way is cash transfer and also subsidies to the tourism sector especially small and micro businesses. For example, incentive packages or direct subsidies to these business so that they can survive the slowdown in tourism in the next three to six months. Q: Yes, because I think one concern also is a lot of employees, for example, in the labor sector are thinking that this is just a temporary problem. SEN WIN: Correct. Well, I know for a fact that some of the airlines are already calling for forced leaves. They are now asking their employees to do forced leaves. Some of the hotels are also doing the same. We just have to make sure that we have the available funds to help them survive for three to six months. It will be very difficult for them, to recover after that. We need to have a bridging stimulus program in order to boost industry players to survive. Q: Are Senators already in touch with the economic managers to discuss of the stimulus package? SEN WIN: Definitely. On our won, we are also studying this issue. We have numbers in mind. Q: What numbers? For tourism industry, for example? SEN WIN: In our own computation, we will need about 28 billion only for the tourism industry. Although again, the situation is changing very rapidly. If some of the cases will sprout in some of the provinces, especially tourism-related provinces, you will see a lot of impact in tourism-related provinces. Q: Yes because there is a lot of economic activity that is affected by this. SEN WIN: Correct. Definitely, it really depends on how the evolution of this trials will be. If this will be contained in Metro Manila, then some of the provinces will continue to conduct their business in their tourism areas but if it will spread in other tourism areas related provinces, then we will have to increase the budget in order to support them. Q: The P28 billion stimulus package for the tourism industry that you have in mind, what is the time frame of this when it comes to lingering effect of COVID-19? SEN WIN: In our computation, it will be available in the next three to six months and the mechanism should enable the government to cascade it down in micro and small businesses. From what I said earlier, the tourism isn't only limited to hotels and airlines, you also have tour guides, the bangkeros, the drivers of the vans and these people will be very hardly hit. Q: Of the 28 billion stimulus package, is it purely concentrated on cash transfers? SEN WIN: Depends. It will be mix of subsidies, incentive packages, it will be mixed. Q: How does incentive package work? SEN WIN: For example, in hotels, they can lower down the rates and then the government can come in also and support the lower down of rates to give additional support in terms of their operations. Incentives, in a sense, can lower down the rates so they can attract the customers then government can come in in terms of the incentives. For example, internally in conferences and meetings even within the country, I know for a fact that a lot of local conferences are being canceled, a lot of local meetings are being cancelled and also a lot of tour packages are cancelled for the summer. Even our local tourism industries are being hit by cancellations within the Philippines. Q: The 28 billion package that you mentioned is only limited for the tourism industry. How about for other sectors that are being affected and will be affected? SEN WIN: Right now, we are still conducting the study because that is on a very large scale and the situation is changing very rapidly. For example, the supply chains, manufacturing will be hit. China has slowed down and definitely, the economy and output there will definitely slow down, and we supply components to China so lot of our manufacturing firms will also be hit in our country. That is the larger study that we are conducting. ECONOMIC IMPACT Q: Yes, actually because they were saying study conducted by the ADB, in a worst case scenario, this COVID-19 threat could actually take of .59% of the total GDP then of course might affect more than 250,000-- SEN WIN: Correct, because we supply two factories in China we also supply two factories in Asia wherein they are experiencing slowdown right down and the inter-supply to America which is also slowing down because of the virus. The economic activity globally is slowing down, us being part of the supply chain will feel that crunch in the next few months. Q: How about the minimum wage earners who are also affected by this slowdown because of the COVID threat? SEN WIN: A lot of the job order workers, workers who are contracted because of a specific product, minimum wage earners, we will see some lay-offs in the next 3 to 6 months. The Department of Labor (DOLE) will be ready with some sort of package to support them, whether say cash transfer or other means to help them with their job, we have to be ready with that, that is a larger study definitely. Q: Is there some portions of the GAA that can be used for the stimulus package? SEN WIN: The initial reaction will be the Calamity Fund, the Calamity Fund is a broad fund that we can use in any form of calamity whether man-made, whether medical related or naturally related--we can tap into that right away, however if we need to increase it we can also implement a supplemental budget to augment that calamity fund. Q: The supplemental budget that was passed in the house committee on appropriations, 1.6 billion? is that enough? SEN WIN: This is meant to help the government to buy the equipment the necessary needs to fight the virus and definitely it's not part of the stimulus package that we are thinking-- Q: But for example aside from the protective equipment, you also need to provide more funds for government hospitals, will they be able to deal with the influx of patients? SEN WIN: This is actually to prepare in an event that this will spread in communities, in other parts of our country, we have to already start preparing, we have to make sure that we have the capacity, we have the facilities and we have the equipment to treat the patients. So these are the things they need to forecast, in the first initial supplemental budget is just to prepare but since the cases are increasing rapidly we also have to prepare for the worst. Q: What do you think of the way the DOH has been dealing with the outbreaks so far? During the last hearing in yout chamber, there was a lot of criticism that were hurled by some of your collegues on some members of the DOH supposedly because they were not prepared when it comes to testing possible cases, 2,000 testing kits with the population of more than 100 million? SEN WIN: In due fairness to the DOH, I saw some of their statements and they said they this virus is inevitable, that it will come to the Philippines and they have been warning the public to be more proactive in terms of mitigating this virus by washing hands and conducting simple measures, however, the kits became the bottleneck and the kits as I understand it, it became a bottleneck because of cost and availability that's why the UP testing kits were broadcasted, it became a game-changer because it will become affordable, again, we have to engage the LGUs, the country is so big, we have islands, a lot of LGUs, we need to engage LGUs and help them and empower them to do all these tests. Q: DOH also said that time not everyone supposedly tested yet because you had certain indicators? SEN WIN: The first indicator there is, have you travelled abroad? And I know for a fact, for example in Valenzuela we had some initial patients there but the first question was have you travelled or not? If you haven't travelled abroad you will not be tested. Good enough this person tested negative but again right now because of the local transfers happening, I think it's not whether you have travelled or not travelled abroad, you need to get tested already. There is already localized transmission and if we can contain that person, avoiding movement from that person would be the best case and we see that in Korea wherein they were testing everyone, people were lining up in the streets, lining up in their kiosk, they put up booth there, like a drive thru booth where people can be tested inside their cars. The message there is, if you are sick and you want be tested, go ahead and get tested and encourage people to get tested so that they can contain it on a person level, not on a local level or community level. Q: Possible special session that might be conducted for the stimulus and the supplemental budget as part of the agenda, I don't think that would be difficult because most lawmakers will be in the country? SEN WIN: Correct, I think no one will be travelling this time especially abroad because first of all we want to discourage the public from travelling abroad. I think I saw in the list a few of the patients there who contracted the Corona virus came from vacations, came from travelling abroad so if you can avoid travelling especially on non-essential reasons, avoid travelling, stay in the country and make sure you are available to government because the when you travel here inadvertently, you won't know whether you have contracted it in the plane or contracted outside, It's highly possible because the virus is spreading around rapidly in the different parts of the world. Q: Now let's go to the second most important issue, I'm talking about the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), the industry itself, there has been a lot of talk when it comes to the social cost of this particular industry the criminality that is attached to that operation, the President doesn't seem keen on closing down the sector itself but he wants to simply regulate it? SEN WIN: Well this is a fact, POGOs brought crime to our country and this is well established in a lot of hearings and research conducted and you have to look at the nature of this business. Number one; it's illegal in China therefore the persons or the people who are operating this businesses will be the ones doing underground business such as syndicates. So, it's not far from POGO that syndicates operate this businesses and you can see that by looking at the data, with the rise of POGO are the rise of syndicates who are already here in as evidenced by the 700 fugitives operating in our country. Nakakatakot, instead of making our community safe, making our Barangays safe, people are now alarmed because of the syndicates operating here in the country. POGO is not a long-term business you can't have a business wherein the origin of your customers is saying this is illegal, you cannot also have a business where syndicates operate it. This is a short-term business and what's happening right now we are saying these businesses are here, some of our kababayans are employed in these businesses but this is not long-term most of their employees are Chinese, only 15% of the this POGO business are locals and were just giving locals false jobs security because this is not sustainable I don't see this business becoming long-term, I don't even see it surviving in the next ten or even twenty years. This is not like the BPO industry wherein they have been operating here for the last 14 years and growing and evolving into a higher tech industry but POGO because of the nature of this business, meaning, your main source of revenue is saying this is illegal and now, China is implementing stricter measures by cancelling passports of these businesses. So you can see the uncertainty that is surrounding this POGO business and if you have uncertainty, that cannot be long-term so point here is we don't want businesses that are not long-term, we want to have long-term sustainable businesses that will create jobs, that will create innovation and definitely make our country a safer place to live in. right now, it's not safe. Q: Thinking of economic benefits of its operations, if we are to compare the experience of the Philippines with that of Cambodia basically the social cost is the same? But unlike the Philippines, Cambodia decided to close down their entire POGO industry, they don't call it POGO by the way, online gambling in Cambodia consistent with the position of the China but I think the key difference is that, when it comes to the Philippines, China is not exactly telling the Philippines to close down the industry but to crackdown the illegal industry. Some of the position of the government so far, we're getting the economic benefits? SEN WIN: When you attract investments in the Philippines of course we want investments to come in our country. During the early stages of POGO in 2016, I had a different take on that because I looked at it as an investment, I looked at it as fresh money, fresh funds coming in the Philippines but from 2016 to 2019, we've seen that POGO is not what we are expecting, not as big and not as we are expecting because with the rise of POGO in our country, there were also rise in criminality, rise in corruption because you also see the Pastillas scheme happening in the Bureau if Immigration, we have to thank Senator Risa Hontiveros for bringing it up because it was really shocking to see the frontline people who should protect our borders are now allowing fugitives, these are criminals coming into our country. This is very alarming and then with the rise of POGO you also see tax evasion, we want companies here to pay the right taxes, the BPO industry is doing that, the multi-nationals are doing that, the manufacturing industry is doing that. They come here with the direction of we will help build the nation by paying the right taxes but sa POGO iba eh, when they came here, in fact, I have seen some documents, the first instance is, how can we circumvent the law, how can we get documents without talking to governments, hence we have now visas for sale, we have driver's license for sale, illegal driver's license for sale even illegal tin numbers for sale which is not the right way of conducting business in our country. Q: AMLC, during the last hearing, NEDA disclosed, coming from the POGO industry, 7 billion? SEN WIN: 7 billion, in fact you look at the entire POGO industry, the entire POGO industry is about 360 billion pesos but the 360 billion pesos is nowhere to be found because the only money that comes in to our country is 7 billion, so where is that 360 billion? everything is being done in the internet, it's very hard to track it and its very hard to assert accountability. [end of recording]
A total of 451 people are under detention in Jammu and Kashmir, including 396 slapped with the Public Safety Act, Rajya Sabha was informed on Wednesday.

Giving details, Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy said the authorities had taken 7,357 persons in preventive custody since August, 2019 when the special status of the erstwhile state was abrogated and it was divided into two Union Territories.

He said among those detained were stone pelters, miscreants, over ground workers (OGWs) of terrorist outfits, separatists.

"Out of these, 451 such persons are presently under preventive detention, which includes 396 persons under Public Safety Act (PSA)," he said.

The minister said the detentions have been made under section 107 of the CrPC, as also under the Public Safety Act, 1978.

In reply to another question, Reddy said no case had been registered against any person under for using social media platforms in the union territory.




10 new Covid-19 cases confirmed in Ireland today. 34 cases in total

There are now 50 cases on the island of Ireland - 34 here, 16 in the North

Department of Education says schools Read More: will not close

will not close Two members of staff at Read More: Ervia in Cork test positive; One memeber of staff Read More: at Apple in Cork tests postive

Ervia in Cork test positive; One memeber of staff at Apple in Cork tests postive Irish Cancer Society Read More: cancels all Daffodil Day street collections

cancels all Daffodil Day street collections Republic of Ireland's Euro 2020 play-off Read More: to be played behind closed doors

to be played behind closed doors Ryanair and Aer Lingus cancel flights to Italy

Trinity to deliver online lectures for the rest of the semester

Kingston Mills, Professor of Experimental Immunology at Trinity College Dublin has warned that if Covid-19 is a seasonal virus like the flu, it could return in the autumn.

If it turns out to be seasonal and goes away when the weather warms up, it could come back next autumn, he told Newstalk Breakfast.

Hopes that there could be a vaccine by then are slim, he added as it takes up to a year to trial and manufacture a vaccine.

Prof Mills also said that flights to and from Italy should have been stopped 10 days ago and he questioned why Ryanair will continue to fly to Italy until Friday of this week.

The immunology expert welcomed the cancellation of the St Patricks Day parades.

Prof Mills predicted that other countries like France, Germany and Spain will soon be considered high-risk zones as the number of people infected with the virus rises.
LONDON (dpa-AFX) - Prudential PLC (PRU.L) reported that 2019 adjusted operating profit from continuing operations improved 20% to $5.31 billion from $4.409 billion in 2018. IFRS profit after tax from continuing operations for the year declined to $1.95 billion from $2.88 billion in 2018. Prudential said it continues to monitor closely the development of the coronavirus outbreak. The company said it remain confident in the medium to long-term prospects of economies and respective insurance sectors, as coronavirus outbreak has slowed down economic activity in the year to date and dampened its sales momentum in Hong Kong and China. Mike Wells, Prudential plc's Group Chief Executive, stated, 'We have delivered another positive performance during 2019, despite significant macroeconomic and geopolitical volatility.' In addition, Prudential stated that it is preparing for a minority initial public offering of its Lansing, Michigan-based US business Jackson. The company plans to provide an update at its half-year results on August 11, 2020. 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.
The Tibetan community in Switzerland and Liechtenstein held a demonstration outside a UN building to highlight the deplorable human rights situation in Tibet.

"As the UN Human Rights Council convenes for the 43rd session, we call upon the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to intervene and take action against China for perpetuating systemic human rights violations against Tibetans in Tibet," said Jampa Samdho, a protestor and member of Tibetan Parliament in exile.

Tibetans in Tibet are going through unfathomable suffering under Chinese rule. As many as 154 Tibetans have self-immolated since 2009 as a mark of peaceful protest.

Tibet has been once again ranked as the second least free region in the for the fifth consecutive year by the Freedom House in its freedom in the 2020 report.

Samdho said, "Tibetans are discriminated against in every aspect of life be it education, healthcare, employment or even issuance of passports."

Tibetans cannot move freely within or beyond their designated territories. Their entire movement is monitored and curtailed through high tech surveillance technology and grid management system.

Protestors said that China abuses its laws to frame Tibetan human rights defenders with criminal charges. Tashi Wangchuk, A-nye Sengdra, Sonam Paldan, and many other human rights defenders are subjected to inhumane treatments and torture and imprisonment without access to a free and fair trial.

Tibet was an independent state with all the attributes of statehood before the illegal occupation by China in 1959.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In an e-mail to member stores Tuesday afternoon, the American Booksellers Association announced steps the organization is taking to respond to the needs of independent bookstores and ABA staff amid growing concerns about the new coronavirus. Among the announcements, the ABA told members that its White Plains, N.Y.-based staff will not attend the eight regional association spring forums planned for the coming months. Instead, digital sessions will be available upon request.

ABA encouraged members to contact the organization with requests for assistance and advice. The organization has also updated its website to include resources and up-to-date information for booksellers. ABAs weekly news digest, Bookselling this Week, will also have resources when published tomorrow.

In addition, ABA announced that its digital Bookseller-to-Bookseller forums have a new thread for stores to share best practices, including how to stay healthy, how to handle related personnel issues, how to cut costs if sales are down, how to handle canceled events, and other topic members want to share.

The announcement that the ABA is pulling staff from physical visits to spring forums has not deterred the New England Independent Booksellers Association from planning to hold its popular All About the Books gathering in early April. Im still cautiously optimistic that the Spring forum will be a go, said NEIBA executive director Beth Ineson, who is hosting an owners retreat for members in New Castle, N.H. this week.

Among the discussion topics proposed by attendees at this weeks gathering are discussions about ways that owners intend to support bookselling employees if there are temporary store closures, as well as long-term planning for the potential economic damage from the coronavirus.

At present, ABA intends to continue with plans to host BookExpo in New York City at the end of May and Childrens Institute in Tucson, Ariz., in late June.

This article has been updated.
The first two cases of the coronavirus have been confirmed in Michigan.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer spoke Tuesday night about the confirmed cases, which were tested in Lansing and determined cases in a resident of Oakland County and in a resident of Wayne County. The governor said its crucial that Michiganders take preventative measures to help lower the risk of virus transmission and mitigate the spread including hand-washing and practicing touching your face less often.

The Oakland County resident is a middle-aged female who recently traveled internationally while the Wayne County resident is a middle-aged male who recently traveled domestically, according to Dr. Joneigh S. Khaldun, the states Chief Medical Executive and Chief Deputy Director for Health. Both are middle-aged individuals that are currently hospitalized.

It has moved into Michigan I urge Michiganders to take these recommendations very seriously, said Whitmer. We are taking every step that we can to mitigate the virus spread and to keep Michiganders safe. I have declared a state of emergency in order to maximize our efforts and assist local governments and officials to slow the spread.

There have been more than 1,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, in the U.S., causing 28 deaths, according to a tally from Johns Hopkins University. Worldwide, around 119,000 cases have been confirmed. Of that number, around 66,000 people have recovered while more than 4,300 people have died.

In Michigan, 39 people have tested negative for COVID-19 and 63 others have had testing approved. There are hundreds of others in the state being monitored. The state has a website set up specifically for COVID-19 and is at Michigan.gov/coronavirus.

We are taking the identification of COVID-19 in our state very seriously, said Khaldun. We continue to urge Michiganders to take precautions to prevent the spread of this virus in our state.

Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter said the county will investigate the circumstances around this case so it can understand if there are any potential close contacts.

We must all as individuals and communities continue our prevention and preparedness strategies as we hope for a full recovery for this member of the community, he said.

In February, Whitmer activated the states Emergency Operations Center to coordinate the response to coronavirus. In March, she created four task forces to combat the spread of the virus.

The task forces include:

COVID-19 Task Force on State Operations  covers all aspects of state operations, including employment and facilities

COVID-19 Task Force on Health and Human Services  covers the provision of medical and human services, including protecting the healthcare workforce

COVID-19 Task Force on Education  covers K-12 public schools and universities and colleges

COVID-19 Task Force on Economy/Workforce  covers general economic impact, workforce, supply chain, business continuity, and related issues

A majority of the U.S. deaths have been in Washington state, where 24 people have passed away as a result of the virus. Both California and Florida have confirmed two deaths. And, one of the latest deaths was reported in New Jersey on Tuesday.

On Tuesday, the governor of New York deployed the National Guard to a New York City suburb in the hopes of containing the spread of the coronavirus. The deployment came after five people in New Rochelle tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus.
Despite his own administration advising people to avoid events with large crowds to help stop the spread of coronavirus, President Donald Trump has announced hell hold a campaign event in Wisconsin.

Mr Trump will attend a Catholics for Trump event in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on 19 March. The event is apparently not a typical campaign rally, so the number of expected attendees is not yet known. Just an hour before, the White House held a briefing from the coronavirus task force which included a recommendation that people avoid crowding.

Mr Trump announced these rallies just hours after Senator Bernie Sanders and vice president Joe Biden cancelled duelling campaign rallies in Cleveland, Ohio. Three cases of coronavirus were confirmed in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, and Governor Mike DeWine declares a state of emergency on Monday.

Vice President Mike Pence said Mr Trump would schedule rallies on a day-to-day basis.

Mr Trump, who has been in contact with lawmakers that have self-quarantined due to coronavirus exposure, said hed be open to getting tested for the virus.

I dont think its a big deal. I would do it, Mr Trump said.

However, Mr Trump also maintains he doesnt need to, because the White House doctor allegedly said he was in good health.

But, again, I spoke to the White House doctor - terrific guy, talented guy. He said he sees no reason to do it. Theres no symptoms, no anything. And you know what? If there were, you people would be the first to know it, Mr Trump said. You would maybe even tell me about it.

The congressmen who have self-quarantined are Representatives Doug Collins, Matt Gaetz and Mark Meadows.

Mr Gaetz and Mr Meadows have tested negative for the virus. Mr Gaetz initially mocked the severity of the virus by wearing a gas mask to the House floor during a vote.

Mr Collins and Mr Gaetz were exposed to the virus at the Conservative Political Action Conference last month in National Harbor, Maryland.
Dionisio Gutierrez spoke about the infiltration of drug trafficking into politics: "Nowadays, large segments of the population perceive politics as a dirty and mediocre activity; and that it is not a place for honest and capable citizens (...) one of the most damaging issues for politics in Latin America is drug trafficking."

President Ivan Duque agreed and assured that "drug trafficking is an issue of state policy that has to go beyond a four-year government. It is important to advance in the eradication of illicit crops, the pursuit of criminal organizations and to put an end to money laundering structures. This is why we have decided to support the Guatemalan government in its frontal fight against drug trafficking, firearms trafficking and human trafficking."

Subsequently, Dionisio Gutierrez explained the proposal that Fundacion Libertad y Desarrollo has for the Central American region: "In the month of March, the Fifth Citizen Convention will take place, and we will discuss the state of Central America. Our objective is to place, once again within the international public debate, the need for Central America to find the solution for its problems through the construction of a 'Central American Economic Community'; free and borderless, with strong democratic institutions and greater support from the international community."

Ivan Duque celebrated Fundacion Libertad y Desarrollo's initiative and urged all other Central American countries to resume and commit to a common agenda; and to open a dialogue that is so important for the development of their nations.

This was part of a series of meetings that Dionisio Gutierrez held prior the Fifth Citizen Convention, with iberoamerican presidents and former presidents and high-ranking officials of the United States government to find consensus and solutions to Central America's security and development problems.

SOURCE Fundacion Libertad y Desarrollo

Related Links

https://www.fundacionlibertad.com


Just over a week ago, Michael Burke, the chief executive of Louis Vuitton, stood in the darkened space in Paris where his show  the last of fashion month  was about to take place and noted that, despite all the anxiety over the new coronavirus, there had been very few cancellations. He pointed out that many of the hundreds of people in the room had been traveling together and in enclosed spaces for weeks.

Do you know anyone who is sick? he asked rhetorically. Everyone looked around and shrugged.

But Mr. Burke didnt know that earlier that day, in a doctors office in another country, Nga Nguyen had coughed.

Ms. Nguyen, 27, is, effectively, fashions patient zero. She was a guest at the Gucci show in Milan and the Saint Laurent show in Paris, two of the ready-to-wear seasons most popular, heavily attended events  and the first fashion world denizen to be identified publicly as testing positive for the new coronavirus.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 11)  The Quezon City government on Wednesday reported that a doctor has tested positive for COVID-19  the first reported case of infection of a medical personnel in the country and the fourth case of the viral disease in the city.

Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte told CNN Philippines in a text message that he is a 27-year-old doctor who, based on reports, was treating a COVID-19 patient. Belmonte would not disclose the name of the hospital where he worked at.

The Health Department said in a press briefing that there are still no reports of hospital-acquired infections of the virus that causes COVID-19.

It is not clear if this patient is among the 49 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country. Earlier, the Department of Health said San Juan City has seven coronavirus cases  the most recorded by a locality.

Thirty of the patients are admitted in hospitals mostly in Metro Manila. The other three are the Chinese visitors who earlier tested positive for the virus in the Philippines  one of them died, while the remaining two have since recovered and left the country.

Worldwide, COVID-19 has killed more than 4,200 people, mostly in China, since the outbreak began in Wuhan City in Hubei province in December last year. It has infected over 118,000 people globally.

According to the World Health Organization, the most commonly reported symptoms are fever, dry cough and shortness of breath. WHO said 8 in 10, or around 80 percent, of infected patients experience "mild illness" and eventually recover from COVID-19. Some 14 percent experience severe illness while 5 percent were critically ill, the WHO said.

To prevent infection, authorities are urging people to practice regular hand washing, cover the mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing, and avoid close contact with those who show respiratory symptoms.
Photo credit: Jon Kopaloff - Getty Images

From Harper's BAZAAR

Actress Liu Yifei, who stars in Disney's Mulan remake, stunned at the film's red-carpet premiere last night in a gold Elie Saab couture gown.

The strapless number featured metallic phoenix motifs and a massive train.

Liu Yifei set a gold standard for red-carpet dressing at last night's Mulan premiere in Hollywood.

The Chinese superstarwho plays the titular hero in Disney's upcoming live-action remaketurned heads in a glittering Elie Saab couture gown, complete with metallic phoenix motifs, a sweetheart neckline, and a dazzling train. Fans might consider Mulan more of a warrior than a Disney princess, but Liu went for the full regal effect in her shining, frothy ensemble. To top it off, she accessorized with Chaumet jewelry.

Photo credit: FREDERIC J. BROWN - Getty Images

Liu explained the significance of the phoenix print to USA Today. "They are my inspiration for the movie. It's a symbol of Mulan's spirit," she said. "It's something meaningful."

But the frock wasn't exactly easy to move around in. "It's a very big dress. It's very hard to walk in it," she added. Indeed, the dress was so massive, it required a few helpers to get situated on the red carpet.

Photo credit: Albert L. Ortega - Getty Images

And, as if one golden dress wasn't enough, Liu wore another gilded number inside for the ceremony, this time by Zuhair Murad. The plunging dress was covered with beaded embellishments and a sheer cape.

Photo credit: Charley Gallay - Getty Images

Let's not forget the OG Mulan, Ming-Na Wen, who voiced the character in Disney's original 1998 animated film. The actress, who recently starred in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and The Mandalorian, impressed in a floral Mark Zunino gown and Erica Courtney jewels.

Photo credit: Alberto E. Rodriguez - Getty Images

For Liu, being cast as Mulan "was like a dream come true, a beautiful dream," she previously told The Hollywood Reporter. Director Niki Caro and her team considered thousands of actresses for the part, according to the outlet, but they ultimately chose Liu because of how she thrived through the physical aspects of the role, which are not to be scoffed at, considering this adaptation is a full-blown, action-packed war movie. Liu "never complained once, never said, 'I can't.' She went to her limits," Caro said. The actress spent three months training for the part in New Zealand.

Story continues

Mulan arrives in theaters on March 27.

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After resisting for weeks on making the declaration, the World Health Organization (WHO) said Wednesday that the outbreak of the new coronavirus, which has spread to more than 100 countries and infected tens of thousands of people, is a global pandemic.

The virus, which causes the disease COVID-19, has rapidly spread all over Europe, the Middle East, and parts of the United States. WHO officials have shown a reluctance up until this point to make the declaration that the virus is a global pandemic, which generally means an illness that is spread across the world, as some experts have said that calling it a pandemic could further weaken already fragile world markets and cause more stringent travel and trade restrictions.

In the past two weeks the number of cases outside China has increased thirteenfold and the number of affected countries has tripled, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a news conference. In the days and weeks ahead, we expect to see the number of cases, the number of deaths and the number of affected countries to climb even higher.

But by describing COVID-19 as a pandemic, the WHO chief said it doesnt change the U.N. agencys assessment of the threat and doesnt change what WHO is doing, and it doesnt change what countries should do.

Pandemic is not a word to use lightly or carelessly, Ghebreyesus said. It is a word that, if misused, can cause unreasonable fear, or unjustified acceptance that the fight is over, leading to unnecessary suffering and death.

Italy has the most cases of the virus outside China with about 10,000, following by Iran with 9,000 infections, and South Korea with more than 7,500 cases, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

WHO said that 81 countries have not reported any COVID-19 cases, and 57 countries have reported 10 cases or less. The agency called on countries to scale up emergency mechanisms, communicate with people about the risks, prepare hospitals, protect and train health workers, and find and isolate every COVID-19 case.

The virus is believed to have emerged in mainland China in late 2019, prompting the ruling Chinese Communist Party to implement what critics say were harsh controls in Wuhan and surrounding areas. There were reports from citizen journalists and human rights activists about people being abducted, patients being cremated while still alive, or people being locked in their homes from the outside.

While WHO hasnt touched on Chinas lockdown of Wuhan since the start of the outbreakand has mostly praised the Chinese regimes responseGhebreyesus said that all countries must strike a fine balance between protecting health, minimizing economic and social disruption and respecting human rights.

Symptoms of COVID-19 include a fever, a cough, shortness of breath, other respiratory issues, and pneumonia. Health agencies around the world call on people to limit contact with one another, wash their hands, avoid touching ones face and mouth, and avoid large public gatherings.

From The Epoch Times
Fans joked that they are looking forward to dust week as Matt Lucas joins Bake Off (Yui Mok/PA)

Fans of The Great British Bake Off have joked about dust potentially featuring in the show as Matt Lucas joined the presenting team.

The comedian and actor is replacing Sandi Toksvig on the baking programme, and will co-host alongside Noel Fielding.

Viewers referenced Lucass Little Britain character Marjorie Dawes, who ran a weight loss group called Fat Fighters and would frequently tell her clients to eat a little bit of dust in a bid to shed the pounds.

In his guise as Marjorie, Lucas was also known for exclaiming: Oh man, I love the cake!

Following the announcement, Lucas posted a picture of himself in character as the Fat Fighters group leader holding a plate of iced buns, cakes and biscuits.

Fans of both Bake Off and Little Britain appeared delighted at the news of Lucas joining the team, with one quipping on Twitter: Looking forward to dust week.

Another wrote: Youll be needing DUST at some point.

Video of the Day

One simply asked if he would have some dust cake? while on the show, and another wrote: Dust anybody, dust anybody, dust anybody you can have as much dust as you want.

Dust anybody,dust anybody ,dust anybody you can have as much dust as you want   Lou Lou   (@Oreokicks) March 11, 2020

One fan tweeted a gif of Lucas as Marjorie, saying: Yes, cake, we all like a bit of cake, dont we? I know I do, I love a bit of cake. I do. I just like cake.

They added: If Matt Lucas doesnt Do this on The Great British Bake Off then whats the point?!

If Matt Lucas doesnt Do this on The Great British Bake Off then whats the point?! pic.twitter.com/5SbXOcmEI1  - Pickle  (@izPickle) March 11, 2020

Omg matt lucas hosting bake off with noel?? Yes!!!! If he does not bring out marjorie dawes even once ill be disappointed, one fan posted on the social media site.

They added that they look forward to matt and noel and the chemistry and wackiness they bring.

However, some Bake Off fans were disappointed that a woman, or a person of colour, was not chosen to replace Toksvig.

Obviously no female comedians were available looking for work, one tweeted, while another said: Wouldve been nice if it was a woman or perhaps *record scratch* a person of colour but go off bake off xxxxx.

So Matt Lucas is the replacement for Sandi on #bakeoff.



Obviously no female comedians were available looking for work.  Diana (@TheMoominmama) March 11, 2020

Wouldve been nice if it was a woman or perhaps *record scratch* a person of colour but go off bake off xxxxx https://t.co/bfEcxZdihu  farah says (@Farah_Lou) March 11, 2020

Another commented: I mean I love Bake Off but this should have been an opportunity to bring some diversity

I mean I love Bake Off but this should have been an opportunity to bring some diversity..... https://t.co/R3XJjExmry  Joel Robison (@joelrobison_) March 11, 2020

When Bake Off launched in 2010, its two presenters were Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins.

They left the programme when the baking competition moved from the BBC to Channel 4, and they were replaced by Toksvig and Fielding in 2017.

Prue Leith and Paul Hollywood will return as the judges for the forthcoming series, which will start filming in spring.
Its not often that you hear from Harvey Weinstein these days. Hes been mostly silent during his criminal trial, save for occasional comments to reporter outside the courtroom and an email to The New York Times in January. But on Wednesday, right before Judge James Burke sentenced him to 23 years in prison, Weinstein did a rare thing: he spoke up. In person.

Hearing his voice inside the courtroom, where I have been reporting from over a number of weeks, was eerie. Sitting in a wheelchair at the front of the courtroom, he spoke in a low tone, slow at first, then growing more animated.

So what did Weinstein say, when he finally broke his silence  in front of the man whod rule on whether hed get closer to five or 29 years behind bars?

Well, first of all, Weinstein  who has been found guilty of a criminal sexual act and of third-degree rape  said he felt remorse for this situation. That remorse, it rapidly turned out, appeared to be mainly due to the fact that other men would now also be accused and perhaps convicted of sex crimes.

"Thousands of men are losing due process. I'm worried about this country," Weinstein told the court. "I'm totally confused. I think men are confused about these issues."

This was later echoed by his lawyer Donna Rotunno, who told reports outside the courtroom: Harvey, I think, is very confused. I think he feels very sad. I think he believed he had relationships with women that were different than the way they are now characterizing them.

This was an interesting choice of rhetoric, especially since it came after two powerful victim impact statements from Mimi Haleyi, who Weinstein has been convicted of assaulting in 2006, and Jessica Mann, who hes been found guilty of raping. The contrast between Weinsteins statement  in which he appeared remorseful only to the extent that his case has put other men in tricky situations and impacted his own loved ones  and the victim impact statements  in which Haleyi and Mann spoke at length of the impact of trauma on their own lives and on our culture at large  was stark.

In his remarks, Weinstein, echoing his defense team, also claimed he had raised a lot of money for charity over the years  mainly for 9/11 first responders  and the public might have a different view of him if they spoke to the people who had benefited. This line of defense struck most of us as little more than a problematic non-sequitur. And evidently, it did little to sway Judge Burke, who  after reminding Weinstein hed have to register as a sex offender  handed him close to the maximum sentence available.

Wednesdays hearing was a key opportunity for Mann and Haleyi to make their voice heard as survivors and not, as theyve been referred to in earlier stages of the trial, as accusers. I showed up, not as a perfect victim, but as a human being, said Haleyi through tears, while Mann told the court: Rape is not just one moment of penetration  it is forever.

Just last month, Mann became so distraught during cross-examination that Judge Burke interrupted proceedings for the rest of the day. On Wednesday, she stood in the same courtroom and made the following pledge: I promise, if you value my life, I will spend every day getting better. ...I will reclaim my time, I will regenerate my health, I will absolutely make you proud of me to see me go from the girl on the stand who talked about her shame and feeling like a lost cause to becoming a woman who has found happiness.

Lauren Young (L) and Jessica Mann (R) walk out of the courtroom after Weinstein was sentenced to 23 years in prison on 11 March 2020 in New York City. (Roy Rochlin/Getty Images)

Covering the Weinstein trial has been, at times, hard. As journalists, were told to distance ourselves from events we report on. It is, were told, the only way to get the work done  the only way to remain neutral. But empathy is a key part of what we do, and you can only remove yourself from a situation so much before the work begins to suffer. Trauma is a topic that is deeply personal for so many of us. Its impossible  and, I believe, inadvisable  to keep your own heart out of the equation entirely.

Back when this all began in January, it seemed utterly impossible to predict the outcome of the proceedings. It still felt surreal to walk out of court this morning feeling like we had witnessed the final twist in this saga (well, final to a degree  Weinsteins team has made it clear it will appeal the New York verdict).

As of now, one image, to me, embodies this case and its current conclusion: Mann walking out of the courtroom after the sentencing hearing, her hand firmly clutched by her fellow witness Lauren Young  smiling, visibly moved, in a hallway filled with the sounds of onlookers clapping and cheering.
Thousands of refugees have attempted to cross the Greek border from Turkey after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan allowed them to leave.

Turkey has encouraged refugees to leave. But those who want to cant find their way out.

Tens of thousands are trying to reach Europe, only to be met with Greeces closed border and clouds of tear gas.

Refugees who have made it across Turkeys borders are facing arrest and sporadic violence.

The Take brings you stories of refugees in limbo, trying to find their way to a new home.

In this episode, we speak to Natasha Ghoneim, an Al Jazeera journalist reporting from Edirne, Turkey, near the border with Greece and Franziska Grillmeier, a freelancer reporting from Lesbos, Greece.

For more:

Turkey hopes for new refugee deal with EU before March 26

Violence at Turkey-Greece border like a horror movie: Migrants

Turkey-Greece border crisis: Thousands risk lives to reach EU

The team:

Amy Walters produced this episode with Dina Kesbeh, Alexandra Locke, Priyanka Tilve, and Ney Alvarez. Alex Roldan is the sound designer. Our engagement producer is Natalia Aldana. Stacey Samuel is our executive producer and Graelyn Brashear is Al Jazeeras head of audio.

Subscribe:

New episodes of the show come out every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to The Take on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you listen.

Connect with us:

Follow The Take on Twitter, @AJTheTake, Facebook and Instagram, @ajthetake.
New Delhi, March 11 : A pandemic is the "worldwide spread of a new disease", according to the World Health Organization (WHO), which means that nearly every human being on Earth -- close to 8 billion -- is now susceptible to coronavirus (Covid-19).

The coronavirus outbreak was on Wednesday declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO), whose chief expressed his "deep concern" over the "alarming levels of inaction" in combating the virus spread.

"81 countries have not reported any #COVID19 cases, and 57 countries have reported 10 cases or less. We cannot say this loudly enough, or clearly enough, or often enough: all countries can still change the course of this pandemic," the WHO tweeted.

Pandemic is an outbreak of a disease that occurs over a wide geographic area and affects an exceptionally high proportion of the population.

Pandemics, according to their classical definition, are epidemics that cross international boundaries and affect a large number of people worldwide.

There are now over 118,000 cases of Covid-19 spread across 114 countries around the world. The disease has already claimed over 4,000 lives.

"If countries detect, test, treat, isolate, trace, and mobilize their people in the response, those with a handful of #COVID19 cases can prevent those cases becoming clusters, and those clusters becoming community transmission," the global health body said in a tweet.

The WHO had classified the novel coronavirus as a global public health emergency on January 30.

Countries around the world, including the US, have already been leaning on pandemic preparedness plans to respond to the outbreaks of coronavirus.

The last time the WHO declared a pandemic was during the H1N1 outbreak in 2009, which infected nearly a quarter of the world's population.

The WHO, however, was later criticised for raising public alarm when the virus turned out to be not very lethal. H1N1 now returns seasonally and is part of the annual vaccine preparations.

SARS was not considered a pandemic, despite affecting people in 26 countries, and neither was MERS.

"As pandemic viruses emerge, countries and regions face different risks at different times. For that reason, countries are strongly advised to develop their own national risk assessments based on local circumstances, taking into consideration the information provided by the global assessments produced by WHO," according to the global health organisation.

Each pandemic is different and, until a virus starts circulating, it is impossible to predict its full effects.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
K Sudha By

Express News Service

Stealing from the rich for a good cause is an old trope. But debutant director A Raajdheep, an associate of Mohan Raja, assures us that the treatment of his Asuraguru, set for release this Friday, will be different from what weve seen before.

About the plot, which revolves around three main characters, he says, "There is a strong reason for my protagonist Shakti (Vikram Prabhu) going on a heist spree. There is a method to his well-planned and impeccably executed moves. After pulling off six heists, he finds himself trapped. A private detective (Mahima Nambiar) and an IPS Officer (Subbaraju) are both in hot pursuit of Shakti."

Raajdheep feels the action sequences, that begin right from the first frame, will be Asuragurus highlight. Shakti runs atop the length of a train post his first successful heist operation. Vikram did it all himself without a body double on a slow-moving train. Mahima, meanwhile, prepared for her character by attending workshops on bike riding and archery.

Asuraguru also stars Yogi Babu and Raajdheep says his presence is not just for diversion. "The whole plot

revolves around his small tea shop, which is where all the planning takes place," he says.

The decision to entrust the background score to Simon King was a collective decision, says the director, adding, The film also has three songs composed by Ganesh Raghavendra, of which the romantic melody sung by Naresh Iyer and Rita is my personal favourite.
Model-cum-actor-cum-fitness enthusiast Milind Soman has been trending on social media since March 10 after it was revealed that he was a part of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in the formative years of his life.

An excerpt from his autobiography Made In India has got published online, where he speaks of visiting a local RSS shakha regularly.

The son of a staunch Hindu RSS member, Soman grew up in Mumbais Dadar area. He recalled being enrolled in the fringe groups training centre located in Shivaji Park. The 54-year-old wrote in his memoir that his father believed being a junior cadre of the Hindutva ideologue would teach young boys to live disciplined lives and be physically fit.

Incidentally, Soman represented India in swimming in the inaugural South Asian Games in 1984. It was then known as South Asian Federation Games.

The extract published in The Print read that joining the RSS as a young boy was a very Shivaji Park thing to do back in the days.

In the book, the supermodel also speaks about how the communal propaganda attributed to the RSS baffles him, especially since the memories that he has of the shakhas are in complete contrast to such reports. It reads: Memories of what went on at the shakhas every evening are completely different. We marched about in our khaki shorts, did some yoga, worked out in a traditional outdoor gymnasium with no fancy equipment, sang songs and chanted Sanskrit verses that we did not understand the meanings of, played games and had a bunch of fun with our fellows."

In the book co-authored by Roopa Pai, Soman further recalls: I dont know what my shakha leaders felt about being Hinduthey didnt really air their views on it to us, as far as I remember. Even if they had, I would not have paid attentionit would have made them sound too much like my dad.



Trending at 54 for an experience I had at the age of 10.

Wish it was about swimming, which was at the same time!

 Milind Usha Soman (@milindrunning) March 10, 2020

After finding out that he is trending on social media because of the revelation, Soman took to Twitter and wrote:
Down in the dumps, but Congress still ready to dare BJP in MP

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Mar 11: Despite facing a massive rebellion, the Congress in Madhya Pradesh says it is ready to fight on. The Congress says that it is ready to face the floor test and challenge the BJP.

While there have been contradictory claims about the number of MLAs who attended a meeting chaired by MP Chief Minister, Kamal Nath, reports say only 94 legislators attended.

Following the meeting, Speaker, Heena Karve said that they were told to stay united and fight together. On Jyotiraditya Scindia, she said that he would not be discussed at meetings anymore. There was no talk about him at the meeting, she said, while adding that he has been expelled from the party.

Madhya Pradesh crisis: Floor test likely on March 16 and here are the numbers

There were emotional scenes witnessed outside the chief minister's residence. Many shouted slogans in favour of Kamal Nath, while others ripped out Scindia's name plate and crushed it under their foot.

NEWS AT 3 PM, MARCH 11th, 2020

The Congress claims that those MLAs who have resigned will return. This is just to build up pressure ahead of the Rajya Sabha elections.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Wednesday, March 11, 2020, 7:38 [IST]
Vermont's attorney general, T.J. Donovan, has demanded more than $7,000 for members of the public to view his office's correspondence with Planned Parenthood relating to the passage in Vermont of one of the most extremist abortion "protection" laws in the nation. H. 57 permits abortions up until the moment of birth without restriction.

Vermont's attorney general recently announced his office's involvement in a Missouri lawsuit regarding abortion:

"Abortion is legal and constitutional," said Attorney General Donovan. "The passage of these laws is a blatant attempt to undermine Roe v. Wade. We will continue to stand with Planned Parenthood."

Many Vermonters are concerned that their attorney general is standing much too closely with Planned Parenthood. His office charges citizens an enormous sum to determine whether he has violated campaign finance laws or ethics rules but then invests legal resources of those same taxpayers to poke his overly zealous nose into Missouri's legal matters on PP's behalf.

A parallel records request was submitted to Vermont governor Phil Scott, to which his office replied that there was "a voluminous amount of records responsive to [the] request." A mere 40 unimportant emails, letters, and press releases were subsequently provided.

His records officer provided this murky disclaimer:

Certain records have been redacted or withheld to the extent they are exempt from disclosure under I V.S.A. $ 317(c)(a) (attorney client and executive privileges), including communications among senior members of Governor Scott's office and senior members of Governor Scott's office and the Agency of Human Services which reflect the Governor's consultative and decision-making processes and communications strategy as those relate to the decision to opt out of Title X funding that would limit family planning services.

Many Vermonters were shocked when their governor, a nominal Republican, signed this extremist abortion bill. Many had pleaded that he at least refuse to sign it. Instead, he doubled down for Planned Parenthood, signed it with a big smile, and publicly announced:

Like many Vermonters, I have consistently supported a woman's right to choose, which is why today I signed H.57 into law. This legislation affirms what is already allowable in Vermont  protecting reproductive rights and ensuring those decisions remain between a woman and her health care provider[.]

Many wondered whether the governor feared political opposition by Planned Parenthood in a 2020 re-election bid. But there is no way to know by his office's records request response whether the "redacted or withheld" items included damning revelations of a conflict of interest with special interest groups.

The public has zero information as to whether its governor and attorney general have acted with a conflict of interest with Planned Parenthood. In the former, the hurdle of "attorney-client and executive privilege" has been invoked; in the latter, the costs are prohibitive.

Roe v. Wade specifically recognized a "second life" at viability, yet the Vermont A.G. justifies H. 57 as a "protection" of Roe. The U.S. Supreme Court held in Doe v. Bolton that a woman has a right for her doctor to decide whether an abortion is necessary for her health; Governor Scott employs the "doctor-patient privilege" to kill without any such finding. H. 57 ignores Doe's limitation, legalizing a woman's right to terminate a pregnancy at any time for any reason: "The State of Vermont recognizes the fundamental right of every individual who becomes pregnant to choose to carry a pregnancy to term, to give birth to a child, or to have an abortion."

On February 18, at a public records forum:

Charity Clark, chief of staff to Attorney General TJ Donovan, said her office is bound by ethical obligations to their clients  state government employees  when making decisions about what records to release in response to requests from Vermont citizens and the press[.] ... "We're required, as lawyers, to have a duty of loyalty," she said[.] ... Secretary of State James Condos quickly shot back. "My only question is, who serves the public?"

The people's attorneys insist that their loyalty is to fellow attorneys and public officials, not voters. That is very much a conflict of interest. H. 57 is perhaps the most permissive abortion law in the world (excepting China)  but voters have no access to the potential conflicts of interest between Planned Parenthood and the two highest officials involved in its passage!

The records request from A.G. Donovan's Office has been pared down in an effort to make it more affordable. But it is plain to see where these leaders' loyalties lie.
She took part in the Magnolia Cup charity race in aid of Wellbeing of Women at The Qatar Goodwood Festival back in August.

And Vogue Williams continued to throw her support behind the horse racing sport as she attended Cheltenham Festival's Ladies Day alongside Good Morning Britain's Charlotte Hawkins on Wednesday morning.

The Irish DJ and reality star, 34, stood out from fellow guests as she wowed in bright red co-ords by Holland Cooper, while news presenter Charlotte, 44, stunned in velvet blue outerwear.

Here come the girls: Vogue Williams (L) attended Cheltenham Festival's Ladies Day alongside Good Morning Britain's Charlotte Hawkins (R) on Wednesday

Commanding attention, the media personality wowed in a longline double-breasted trench coat, teamed with matching straight-leg trousers.

The mother-of-one - who shares 18-month-old son Theodore with husband Spencer Matthews - kept warm in a cream cable-knit jumper, which coordinated with her heeled white boots.

Upping the fashion ante, Vogue styled her outfit with a pair of circular-framed shades, gold dangle earrings and a navy scrunchie.

Host Charlotte, who is presenting the event for ITV, turned heads in her stunning blue coat, complementing her statement fascinator.

Commanding attention: The Irish DJ and reality star, 34, stood out from fellow guests as she wowed in bright red co-ords by Holland Cooper

Business chic: The media personality wowed in a longline double-breasted trench coat, teamed with matching straight-leg trousers

Stylish display: Vogue styled her outfit with a pair of circular-framed shades, gold dangle earrings and a navy scrunchie

Standing tall: The mother-of-one kept warm in a cream cable-knit jumper, which coordinated with her heeled white boots

Glamming it up: The blonde beauty treated fans to a behind-the-scenes look at her hair and make-up preparations

Ladbrokes has announced new research which highlights attitudes towards inclusivity and diversity in horse racing and sport, as a new poll of 2,000 men and women revealed 30% of people feel there is an unfair representation of women in sport, claiming they'd like to see more female sport on their screens.

On the results, Vogue - who attended the event with the betting and gambling company for a second year running - said: 'Its an honour to be back at Cheltenham with Ladbrokes to support women in racing.

'Having had the chance to train as a jockey last year thanks to Ladbrokes and experience the blood, sweat and tears that go into it.'

The festival, which kicked off in style on Tuesday, is still going ahead despite calls for it to be cancelled amid coronavirus concerns.

Standing out: News presenter Charlotte, 44 - who is hosting the event for ITV - exuded sophistication in velvet blue outerwear

Striking: The host's stunning blue coat complemented her statement fascinator

Racing chiefs say they have increased the numbers of wash basins and hand santiser stations, and told how they have been liaising closely with the government as it prepares to welcome more than 260,000 fans over the four days.

Big-race jockeys are said to have been briefed by staff at the course as to the importance of hygiene and also recognising any potential symptoms.

Yesterday some 60,664 spectators took in the action, down roughly 7,000, or 10 per cent, on for the same day last year. However organisers said they were pleased with the turnout given the circumstances.
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Abuja, Nigeria, March 11, 2020  Ghanaian authorities should lift the suspension on broadcaster Radio Tongu and drop the police investigation against journalist Bestway Zottor, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

On January 15, a group of about 20 police officers arrested Zottor, director of the privately owned broadcaster Radio Tongu who also works as a reporter for the station, at his residence in South Tongu, in southwestern Ghanas Volta region, according to news reports and Zottor, who spoke with CPJ via phone and messaging app.

Authorities held Zottor at a police station in Ho, the regional capital, until January 17, when they released him after posting bail of 50,000 Ghanaian cedi ($9,357), the journalist told CPJ. During his detention, Zottor said he was briefly shown a copy of the allegations against him, which accused him of using Radio Tongu to promote the agenda of separatist groups in the region.

Zottor is required to return to the police station every two weeks since his release, he told CPJ, adding that while police say he is still under investigation, he has not been formally charged with any crime.

On February 11, the National Communications Authority, the countrys media regulator, suspended Radio Tongus broadcasting license on the grounds of national security and the public interest, according to a press release from the regulator, which CPJ reviewed, a report by private online news platform Daily Guide Network, and Zottor, who confirmed on March 9 that the station remained off the air.

Radio Tongu broadcasts news and current affairs programs, as well as a weekly program about the Western Togoland independence movement, but does not promote the agenda of any of the separatist groups in the region, Zottor told CPJ.

Ghanas police should be working to ensure that journalists can do their jobs safely, not detaining them on vague accusations and shuttering their outlets, Angela Quintal, CPJs Africa program coordinator, said from New York. Radio Tongu should be allowed back on the air, and Bestway Zottor should be permitted to continue his work keeping the public informed.

Zottor said the police officers made specific reference to a January 11 broadcast, during which Zottor accused Archibald Yao Letsa, the Volta regional minister, of poor governance and of attempting to gag the media.

According the National Communications Authority press release, the regulator suspended Radio Tongu in light of Zottors arrest and in connection with complaints filed against the station by the Concerned Citizens of Tongu, a local activist group.

The complaints alleged that the station had been used for defamation, religious teaching to create confusion among churches and for political campaigns promoting the separatists agenda of the Western Togoland movement, according to the statement.

Wisdom Yao Vinho, the secretary of the Concerned Citizens of Tongu, told CPJ in a phone interview that the group filed their complaint because they believed Zottor was using Radio Tongu to divide people in the area with the weekly program on the local separatist movement.

Prince Dogbatse, a spokesperson for the police in the Volta region, told CPJ in a phone interview that he could not comment on the case without permission from his supervisor. He refused to give his supervisors contact information to CPJ.

CPJ called Hariet Gomina, a secretary to the National Communications Authority director generals office, who told CPJ to email questions to the regulators official email address. CPJ sent those questions but never received a response.

CPJs calls to Letsa went unanswered.
New Delhi, March 11 : The Delhi High Court on Wednesday directed government hospitals -- where bodies of unidentified victims of northeast violence were lying in mortuaries -- to dispose bodies in two weeks after getting their details published in newspapers.

A division bench of Justices Vipin Sanghi and Rajnish Bhatnagar directed that the respondents (Delhi Police) should call complainants in the missing persons cases and inform them about unidentified bodies lying in mortuaries and ask them to help identify them.

Delhi Police, through senior standing counsel Rahul Mehra, told the court that autopsies on these bodies had been videotaped and DNA samples preserved as per earlier court orders.

On Friday,the court had directed all government hospitals to videotape all post-mortems on bodies of victims of Delhi riots.

The bench was hearing petitions related to missing persons, including one Hamza. Hamza's brother-in-law Ansari M Arif had approached the High Court with a habeas corpus petition after he went missing during the riots that broke out on February 23 in northeast Delhi.

The court had directed Delhi Police to publish details, including pictures of all unidentified bodies kept in government mortuaries on their website.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
A 103-year-old grandmother has recovered from the coronavirus following six-day treatment in Wuhan.

The centenarian, Zhang Guangfen, was discharged from the hospital yesterday afternoon.

She is so far the oldest coronavirus patient to recover in China and two years older than the previous recorder-holder, 101.

Ms Zhang was cured within less than a week because 'she did not have many underlying health conditions', her doctor Zeng Yulan told the local press.

A 103-year-old grandmother has recovered from the coronavirus following six-day treatment

The centenarian, Zhang Guangfen, is reportedly China's oldest coronavirus patient to recover

A video shows the former patient being escorted out of the hospital by a group of medical workers.

The grandmother was diagnosed with the deadly disease on March 1 at Liyuan Affiliated Hospital of Tongji Medical College in Wuhan, Hubei Province of central China.

She was in critical condition and could barely communicate with the medics when she was admitted to the hospital.

The picture shows the former patient being treated at Liyuan Affiliated Hospital of Tongji Medical College in Wuhan. She has been discharged from the hospital yesterday afternoon

The nurses took turns to spoon-feed the patient and change diapers for her, said a matron, Liao Zhenhui, to local media Chutian Metropolis Daily.

Ms Zhang gradually recovered after being given round-the-clock care and nutrition therapy sessions, Liao added.

'The grandmother loved being complimented by the nurses,' the matron continued.

'She would smile and nod every time after I told her she looked pretty.'

Ms Zhang is reportedly the oldest coronavirus patient to recover in China and two years older than the previous recorder holder, 101. She is pictured being treated at the hospital

A group of medical workers are seen escorting Ms Zhang out of the hospital yesterday

Another centenarian who was infected with the coronavirus just after his 101st birthday has recovered after spending a week in hospital.

The former patient, known by his surname Dai, was discharged last week from Wuhan Third Hospital.

Mr Dai appeared to look 'very energetic' when he left the hospital, Li Lai, the matron told the press.

A Chinese centenarian who was infected with the coronavirus just after his 101st birthday has recovered after spending a week in hospital. The pictures show him leaving the hospital

'He often talked about his 92-year-old wife. He said he needed to get better soon so he could go home and take care of her,' Li Lai added.

The former patient is seen in a video telling a hazmat-clad medic his age while he was leaving the hospital.

The medic, who appears to be surprised, gives the centenarian a thumbs up after realising how old the patient is.

The picture shows a medic records a patient's condition at Jinyintan Hospital in Wuhan, China

China has been encouraging its citizens to resume to normal after the country has seen a steady decline in its new cases.

Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Wuhan yesterday for the first time since the city emerged as the centre of the coronavirus epidemic in January - a major sign that Beijing believes the outbreak is under control.

The timing of Xi's visit indicates that China is ready to declare victory over the health crisis, which has killed at least 3,158 people in the nation and 4,325 worldwide, according to experts.

A picture released by Chinese state broadcaster CCTV through its official Weibo account shows President Xi delivering a speech at Huoshenshan Hospital in Wuhan this morning

Globally, the novel coronavirus has infected nearing 120,000 people with a dozen of countries battling the worst outbreaks, including Italy, Iran and South Korea.

There are 382 confirmed cases in the UK and six people have died. Many of the UK's 382 cases have been among recent visitors to Italy or from people who caught it inside the UK since Italy's outbreak began.

Health minister Nadine Dorries has today revealed one of her staff has now 'gone down' with coronavirus after she tested positive and went into self-isolation for the next fortnight as a MP she met last week was told by the NHS to stay at home.

Italy is one of the most-affected countries outside China, with a total of 10,149 cases, including 631 deaths. People are seen above wearing medical face masks on the streets of Rome
The Uttar Pradesh government moved the Supreme Court on Wednesday challenging the Allahabad High Court order directing the state adminstration to remove posters of those accused of vandalism during anti-CAA protests.

The appeal filed by the state is scheduled to be heard on Thursday by a vacation bench of justices U U Lalit and Aniruddha Bose, advocate general for Uttar Pradesh Raghvendra Singh told PTI.

Singh, however, refused to divulge the grounds of appeal against the March 9 order of the high court which had also asked the Uttar Pradesh government not to install such posters "without having the authority of law".

The high court had ordered immediate removal of roadside posters in Lucknow with names and photos of those accused of vandalism during the anti-CAA protests, observing that the police action was an "unwarranted interference" in privacy of people.

It had also directed the district magistrate and the Lucknow police commissioner to submit a compliance report on or before March 16.

The posters were displayed to "name and shame" the accused who had allegedly caused damage to public property during the protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act(CAA) on December 19 in the state capital.

Activist-politician Sadaf Jafar and former IPS officer SR Darapuri were among those whose names and photos were put up at major road crossings in Lucknow.

In its order, the high court had observed that action of the authorities was a violation of Article 21 of the Constitution under which no person shall be deprived of his life or personal liberty except according to procedure established by law.

"In entirety, we are having no doubt that the action of the state which is a subject matter of this public interest litigation is nothing but an unwarranted interference in privacy of people," the court had said.

"Accordingly, the district magistrate and the commissioner of police, Lucknow, are directed to remove the banners from the roadside forthwith. The state of Uttar Pradesh is directed not to place such banners on roadside containing personal data of individuals without having authority of law," the high court had said.

The posters bearing the photographs, names and addresses of those accused of vandalism during the anti-CAA protests had come up late on March 5 night.

In Lucknow, around 50 people were identified by police as alleged rioters and were served notices. The "name and shame" posters said the property of the accused will be confiscated if they fail to pay compensation.

During the hearing on Sunday, the Uttar Pradesh government had told the high court that it was a "deterrent" action and the court should not interfere in such a matter.

The state government had also told the high court that the court should not take cognisance of the act as the accused had damaged public and private property.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Finance Minister Mathias Cormann has warned the coronavirus-induced economic slump is likely to last four to nine months as the government prepares a stimulus package to fend off a recession.

Talking to business leaders in Melbourne on Wednesday, Mr Cormann said the impact of the coronavirus on the economy was likely to be "U-shaped" as economies will experience lower levels of growth for a longer period of time as a result of restricted trade and travel.

That's in contrast to the "V-shaped" hit of the 2003 SARS outbreak that killed almost 800 people, he said. Back then, a sharp downturn wiping $40 billion off global markets was followed by a swift bounceback as the spread of the virus was largely contained to China - unlike the coronavirus that has killed more than 1000 people outside China and sent cities around the world into lock-down.

Finance Minister Mathias Cormann has told business leaders the economic damage of coronavirus will last longer than SARS. Credit:Simon Dawson

"The difference between coronavirus and SARS [is] left to its own devices the coronavirus spreads more rapidly and over time it is likely to impact a very large portion of the population," Mr Cormann said.
In Europe, Britain moved to give billions toward virus relief efforts without taking any radical measures to reduce crowds, while Chancellor Angela Merkel warned that ultimately two-thirds of Germans could become infected. Merkels prediction was a stark contrast to the reactions from other political leaders like President Trump, who has mostly played down the threat.

Though the W.H.O. has hailed draconian measures taken by China, which seem to have led to a dramatic reduction in new cases at the center of the outbreak, it is unclear what will happen when those controls are lifted. And in Italy, perhaps the Wests best case study in those methods, it is far too early to tell what is working. (Some Italians would rather take their chances.)

Here are the latest updates on the virus and a map of where it has spread.

Around the world:

India barred most foreign travelers until April 15, and Guatemala barred Europeans from entering the country.

Italys confirmed cases reached 12,462, an increase of 2,076 since Tuesday. France and Spain each have well over 1,000 confirmed cases, and Belgium and Ireland reported their first deaths.

At least 1,032 people in the United States have tested positive for the virus, and at least 31 have died. Gov. Jay Inslee of Washington banned gatherings of 250 or more people in the Seattle area.

Britains health minister confirmed she tested positive, two days after she attended a reception at the official residence of Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Markets: Despite Britains relief efforts, European indexes fell; so did shares in Asia and on Wall Street. As for the bigger picture, should the U.S. be talking about government bailouts? Our DealBook writer, Andrew Ross Sorkin, argues that its smart to get ahead of the curve.

Go deeper: What exactly does the virus do to the body? Though it appears to home in on the lungs, it may also be able to infect cells in the gastrointestinal system. Heres what else we know.
Many of Oregons largest tech companies have begun asking their employees to work from home this week as they work to insulate their businesses and workers against the effects of the coronavirus outbreak.

Oregon employers have been much slower to shut down offices than those in Seattle and the Bay Area, where the COVID-19 outbreak appears more widespread. But that is changing rapidly.

Mentor Graphics suggested this week that its 1,500 Wilsonville employees work remotely, according to Noah Cole, director of global communications for Siemens Digital Industries Software, which owns Mentor. He said no one on its 53-acre site in Wilsonville has tested positive for the coronavirus but the company is being cautious as it gauges the impact of the outbreak.

The campus is technically open, Cole said, but The majority of people are heeding the suggestion and are working from home.

Intel, Oregons largest corporate employer, told employees Friday that those whose jobs allow may work from home. The companys research and manufacturing operations are based in Hillsboro so many Intel employees cannot easily work remotely without disrupting production.

The chipmaker, which has a factory and test-and-assembly facility in China, said last week that it was continuing to operate on a "relatively normal basis despite the outbreak.

Software company New Relic, which employs more than 500 at its engineering office in downtown Portland, said Wednesday it is strongly encouraging our employees to work from home.

Design software company Autodesk, which has 300 employees in Southeast Portland, said Wednesday that it is encouraging employees to work from home, restricting business travel and transitioning critical events to virtual programs.

Google, which employs several dozen in downtown Portland, has asked all employees in North America to work from home. And Portland e-learning specialist OpenSesame has closed its office and told employees to work from home at least through the end of the month.

The World Health Organization declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic on Wednesday as it became clear the outbreak has spread widely in countries around the world. Oregon health authorities have disclosed 15 positive tests in the state but no deaths have been attributed to the outbreak.

Nationwide there have been more than 1,000 positive coronavirus tests and 31 deaths, most of those in the Seattle area. Washington state has 273 confirmed cases and 24 deaths.

Twitter, Microsoft, Amazon, Google and Facebook have all asked employees in the Seattle area to work from home. Amazon has a substantial presence in downtown Portland but didnt respond Wednesday to questions about the status of those offices.

-- Mike Rogoway | mrogoway@oregonian.com | twitter: @rogoway | 503-294-7699

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
PHILIPSBURG:--- On Wednesday morning march 11th 2020, the relatives of the missing teen Crystal Loriani CLEMENT, appeared at the police station in Philipsburg. They informed the police officers that Crystal should be staying at an address in Dutch Quarter.

Around 08.00 am, the police patrol together with the parents of the teen went to an address in Dutch Quarter, where Crystal should have been staying. After speaking to different persons in the area it was concluded that the missing teen was not at that location.

Later in the afternoon at about 02.30 pm, the personnel of the Juvenile divisions received information from the parents, that the Crystal had safely returned to the home.

The police department would like to thank the public for their assistance in the safe return of Crystal.
Congress leader Shobha Oza on Wednesday expressed confidence that the Kamal Nath government will be able to prove its majority on the floor of the House and claimed that even BJP MLAs are in touch with the party, apart from its own MLAs who are in Bengaluru.

"We will prove majority on the floor of the house. All the Congress MLAs who are in Bengaluru were being misled; they are with us. Even BJP MLAs are in touch with us," Oza told reporters here.

"Four independent MLAs are with us. All other MLAs are also with us even those who followed Scindia, they understand that because of one person's ambitions their future is at stake," she added.

Political turmoil has gripped Congress-ruled Madhya Pradesh following the resignation of Jyotiraditya Scindia from the party.

Scindia's decision to leave Congress was followed by resignations from 22 party MLAs loyal to him.

Scindia, who was seen leaving from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Lok Kalyan Marg residence along with Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday, is likely to join Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

On Tuesday, Congress sent two of its leaders -- Sajjan Singh Verma and Govind Singh -- to Bengaluru in order to pacify some of the rebel MLAs who are lodged in a hotel there and who claimed to have resigned from the state Legislative Assembly.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Congress on Wednesday accused the BJP of being in the "business of poaching and abducting MLAs, and stealing governments", claiming that the party has fine-tuned the art.

Terming the recent developments in Madhya Pradesh an insult to democracy, senior Congress spokesperson Anand Sharma said the saffron party attempts to destabilise non-BJP governments in states.

"The BJP has fine-tuned the art of poaching and abducting MLAs and stealing governments," he said.

Sharma questioned why the BJP was intolerant towards non-BJP governments in the states which have come to power with public mandate.

"The BJP is a ruling party and is expected to follow certain norms and procedures. It is now seriously in business of poaching MLAs and stealing governments," he told reporters at a press conference here.

Sharma said the Congress condemned the BJP for creating a crisis in Madhya Pradesh by poaching MLAs and taking them to Bengaluru.

"It is against political morality, mandate of people and against principles and precedents of parliamentary democracy," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11

Trend:

Azerbaijani Defense Minister, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov met with Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Egypt to Azerbaijan Adel Ibrahim on March 11, Trend reports referring to the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry.

Stressing the sustainable development of friendly relations between Azerbaijan and Egypt based on the interests of the two countries, the minister emphasized the importance of cooperation in the military sphere.

While speaking about the military-political situation in the region, Hasanov stressed that Armenia's aggressive policy continues up till now and the dragging out of negotiations negatively affects the stability in the region.

The ambassador, in turn, stressed that Egypt attaches particular importance to the expansion of relations with Azerbaijan.

During the meeting, the parties have discussed the issues of cooperation in military-technical sphere, as well as in the fields of military education and military medicine.
Amid a national wave of event cancellations due to the rapidly spreading coronavirus, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Tuesday questioned whether Chicagos St. Patricks Day parades should happen this weekend, even as event organizers and city officials said the celebrations would go on as planned.

Pritzker said he and Mayor Lori Lightfoot have been in close communication about the citys St. Patricks Day celebrations scheduled for the weekend and expects an announcement on them Wednesday. He said officials have looked to what other states and cities have done, noting that both Boston and Dublin canceled their celebrations.

My own view, Ill just say, is I want to keep people safe, and I think weve got to follow the guidance that medical experts give us," Pritzker said at a news conference announcing new coronavirus cases in Illinois. "The (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) is talking about avoiding mass gatherings. They arent giving a number to what is a mass gathering, and I think thats not helpful, frankly.

Officials on Tuesday announced eight new cases of COVID-19 in Illinois, including the first two cases outside of Cook County. The total number of COVID-19 cases reported in the state since the start of the outbreak was 19 on Tuesday, though some patients had already recovered.

The citys official parade is set to kick off downtown at noon Saturday. The South Side Irish Parade takes place on Sunday along Western Avenue in the Far Southwest Side Beverly neighborhood. Chicagos St. Patricks Day parades draw tens of thousands of people to the streets each year.

City officials and parade organizers have said the parades would go on as planned.

But other events that attract large crowds have been canceled in the city, state and nationally.

Former Vice President Joe Biden and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, for example, canceled campaign events in Ohio. Biden is scheduled to have a Friday night rally in Chicago, and his campaign has yet to make a public determination on whether the event will be held as planned.

Nevertheless, South Side parade committee member Kevin Coakley said Tuesday the parade was still going to proceed as far as organizers are concerned. We want people to exercise whatever precautions they see fit, Coakley said. Our position is, if youre concerned, then dont attend the parade.

Ald. Matt OShea, 19th, on Tuesday said that he has concerns about the safety of his community, particularly senior citizens, and the decision to cancel should be under serious consideration. OShea said he knows Lightfoot has been in contact with city and state public health experts.

This is the mayors decision, but I think we should be taking advisement from medical professionals like the Illinois Department of Public Health and Chicago Department of Public Health, OShea said.

Organizers hadnt heard from any public agencies urging them to call it off, Coakley said.

Were really relying on the government on this, he added. Its an outdoor event. If its safe enough to send our kids to school, safe enough to go to church, then were under the impression that we shouldnt quarantine ourselves.

Pritzker said hes been in touch with Lightfoot on the matter.

"She is in close communication with the organizers of those various events, and I know that theyre planning to -- they may be making announcements tomorrow sometime about any decisions that have been made, Pritzker said.

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The decision on whether to shut down St. Patricks Day parades puts Lightfoot in a politically challenging position. The events are major boons to hotels, restaurants and bars, as both parades draw massive crowds from around the region, so canceling them would be a big blow to a number of businesses bottom lines.

But with events being canceled left and right around the country out of an abundance of caution, it could be politically disastrous if the parades were held and coronavirus cases could be linked to the St. Patricks Day festivities.

Further complicating matters for Lightfoot is the fact that her security chief, Jim Smith, is committee co-chair of the South Side Irish Parade.

In response to questions about Smith, the mayors office released a statement saying: Decisions regarding COV-19 public safety are informed by guidance from the Chicago Department of Public Health, the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Center for Disease Control.

In recent days, Smith did local media interviews to promote the parade. On an Evergreen Park podcast published this week, Smith joked that the co-chair role requires him to do a lot of media stuff and drink a lot of Paddys Irish whiskey.

Asked whether the parade would be canceled due to the coronavirus, Smith said no.

Were not canceling any parade for some crazy virus, Smith said. Well make sure well be careful of the kissin and huggin but well be fine.

COLLECTION: How coronavirus is having an impact on sports
Luca Franzese, an Italian actor who has appeared in the TV series Gomorrah, has posted a video on Facebook saying he is trapped in his house with the body of his dead sister after she was infected with coronavirus.

The Naples resident is in self-isolation after being exposed to the disease. His sisters body had reportedly been in the house for more than 24 hours, with Franzese complaining that he had not received help from the authorities.

In one of a series of videos, Franzese says: My sister died yesterday, probably because of the virus, and Ive been waiting for answers since last night.

We are ruined. Italy has abandoned us. Lets stay strong together. Please share this video everywhere.

In one of the videos, his sisters body can be seen in the background.

According to her brother, Teresa Franzese had suffered from epilepsy.

Franzese said that three more members of his family had tested positive for the virus.

Italy is currently in lockdown and is the second-worst affected by the virus in the world, after China, where the coronavirus originated.

Italian news website Open posted an update about the situation, confirming that a local politician had been in contact with Franzese after the first video was posted, and had located a funeral home for the body.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah is scheduled to reply today to a short duration discussion in Lok Sabha on last month's communal violence in Delhi.

This will be the first time that the Union Home Minister would give an official statement on the violence that rocked the capital from February 23 to February 26 in which at least 53 were people killed and more than 200 sustained injuries.

Shah has been criticised by the Opposition for not giving a statement on the issue and not visiting the riot-hit areas.

The victims of the violence have also accused the Delhi Police -- that reports to the Union Home Ministry -- of inaction when the riots were raging.

Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and BJP's Meenakshi Lekhi have given a notice for short discussion on "Recent law and order situation in some parts of Delhi" in Lok Sabha on Wednesday. Other MPs too will join the discussion.

The Opposition has been demanding a discussion on the Delhi violence since the beginning of the second leg of the Budget Session on March 2 and disrupted Parliament over the issue. The government had agreed to hold the discussion after Holi.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
New Delhi:Two employees working with IT companies Dell and Mindtree have been tested positive for coronavirus, according to company statements.

The Dell employee had returned from the US, including a visit to Texas while the Mindtree employee also had a travel history abroad, the two companies said in separate statements.

We can confirm two employees of Dell India were tested for the COVID-19 virus following their return home from the United States including a visit to our headquarters in Round Rock, Texas. One employee tested negative another tested positive and has since been placed in quarantine, Dell Technologies said.

The company said it continues to take steps to protect Dell Technologies team members and communities by adhering to the health and safety guidelines from the World Health Organization and Centers for Disease Control, and coordinating with local health officials.

Mindtree said that one of its employees returning from an overseas trip tested positive for COVID-19 on March 10, 2020.

The employee along with his family members are under quarantine and medical supervision. All measures are being taken to provide the best of medical care to him and his family. The employee self-isolated himself upon return from the trip and did not visit the office or meet any other Mindtree colleagues, the company added.

Mindtree said it has been consciously taking precautions across its operations to fight any untoward incident with its employees.
AG Barr Endorses House FISA Reauthorization Bill

Attorney General William Barr voiced his support on March 11 for the passage of the House bill reauthorizing the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.

The attorney general said that the bill plugs the gaps in the current law, which allows for the surveillance abuses identified in the DOJ inspector general report on the departments spying on former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page.

The bill contains an array of new requirements and compliance provisions that will protect against abuse and misuse in the future while ensuring that this critical tool is available when appropriate to protect the safety of the American people, Barr said in a statement.

Barr said the bill includes several provisions put forth by himself and FBI Director Christopher Wray in response to the inspector generals report. The FBI is already implementing a range of reforms in response to an order by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court.

President Donald Trump told Republican lawmakers earlier this month that he would not support a reauthorization of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) without reforms to prevent the abuses that took place during the 2016 presidential election. It is not clear if the reforms the House FISA bill includes would be satisfactory to Trump, who has said he wants to make sure that the surveillance operation used on his campaign doesnt happen to a future candidate or president. The White House did not respond to a request for comment.

A pair of conservative Republican lawmakers close to the president slammed the House bill on March 11, leaving open the possibility that Trump may eventually oppose it.

The Deal on FISA is weak sauce diluted & made impotent by A.G. Barr, Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) wrote on Twitter. None of the reforms prevent secret FISA court from abusing the rights of Americans. None of the reforms prevent a President of either party from a politically motivated investigation. Big Disappointment!

The House FISA deal doesnt fix whats wrong with FISA, Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) wrote on Twitter. It would not have stopped the spying that occurred against [the president]. I will do everything I can to oppose it in the Senate. If it passes [Trump] should veto it.

The Justice Department did not respond to a request for comment.

Department of Justice Inspector General Michael Horowitz unearthed a battery of significant errors and omissions in the four applications to surveil Page. The FBI omitted crucial information while casting Page as an agent of Russia, including the fact that Page was an operational contact for the CIA and that Page had reported his contacts with Russians to the agency. In one blatant example, an FBI attorney altered an email, adding that Page was not a source for the CIA, even though the bureau was in possession of several pieces of evidence to the contrary.

In addition to the numerous omissions and misstatements, key FBI officials conducting the investigation of the Trump campaign had expressed intense bias against Trump and in favor of Hillary Clinton. The inspector general, however, did not find any evidence to establish that the bias was the reason for the significant errors.
Violence and targeting based on religion and social status are among the significant facing India, an official US report claimed on Wednesday.

Despite government efforts to address abuses, a lack of accountability for official misconduct persisted at all levels of government, contributing to widespread impunity, said India section of the 2019 Country Reports on Practices.

The Congressional-mandated annual report was released by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. India did not find mention in his opening remarks.

In his interaction with the media, Pompeo expressed serious concerns over abuses countries like in China, Iran, Venezuela, and in Cuba.

"In China, the Chinese Communist Party uses high-tech surveillance systems to monitor potential dissidents. It's imprisoning in internment camps part of its historic antipathy to religious believers, Pompeo said.

"We pray for a day when Cubans, Venezuelans, Chinese, Iranians, and all peoples can speak and assemble freely without fear of their own governments, said the Secretary of State.

The India section of the report listed out "significant human rights issues including unlawful and arbitrary killings, including extrajudicial killings perpetrated by police; torture by prison officials; arbitrary arrest and detention by government authorities; and harsh and life-threatening prison conditions."



In its report, the State Department also expressed concerns over "political prisoners in certain states; restrictions on freedom of expression and the press, including violence, threats of violence, or unjustified arrests or prosecutions against journalists, use of criminal libel laws to prosecute social media speech, censorship, and site blocking".

The report expressed its concern over "overly restrictive rules on non-governmental organisations; frequent reports of widespread corruption at all levels of government; forced and compulsory child labour, including bonded labour".

ALSO READ: Majority vs minority cliffhanger

Separatist insurgents and terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir, the Northeast, and Maoist-affected areas committed serious abuses, including killings and torture of armed forces personnel, police, government officials, and civilians, and recruited and used child soldiers, the report said.

On August 5, the State Department said, the Indian government announced major changes to the constitutional status of Jammu and Kashmir, converting the state into two separate union territories.

"In the ensuing security crackdown, authorities detained thousands of residents, including local political leaders; shut down mobile and internet services; and imposed restrictions on movement," it said.

As of December the government had taken steps to restore normalcy, including partial restoration of telephone and mobile services, said the report.

Independent media were active and generally expressed a wide variety of views, the report said.

It said the law prohibits content that could harm religious sentiments or provoke enmity among groups, and authorities invoked these provisions to restrict print media, broadcast media, and publication or distribution of books.

"According to several journalists, press freedom declined during the year. There were several reports from journalists and NGOs that government officials, both at the local and levels, were involved in silencing or intimidating critical media outlets through physical harassment and attacks, pressuring owners, targeting sponsors, encouraging frivolous lawsuits, and, in some areas, blocking communication services, such as mobile telephones and the internet, and constraining freedom of movement," said the report.

Observing that the government occasionally applied restrictions on the travel and activities of visiting foreign experts and scholars, the report said that academics continued to face threats and pressure for expressing controversial views.
CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. - A woman who drove her SUV over a New York mother who had been saluted by President Donald Trump for her crusade against gang violence was found guilty Wednesday of all charges.

Annmarie Drago was convicted of criminally negligent homicide, petit larceny and criminal mischief in the September 2018 death of Evelyn Rodriguez.

Rodriguez became a symbol in the fight against MS-13 gang violence after her 16-year-old daughter was hacked and beaten to death along with a friend on a suburban Long Island street.

She was killed after confronting Drago for trashing a memorial set up for the second anniversary of the girls death near the spot where she was slain. Prosecutors said the memorial was in front of Dragos mothers home and was concerned it would scare off potential buyers.

The fatal SUV strike was recorded by a television news crew that was rolling as dignitaries, including a congressman, prepared to head to the scene in Brentwood for a vigil.

Dragos defence team has said she never intended to hurt anyone and was only trying to escape Rodriguez and her companion.

Drago faces up to four years in prison.
The Government is buying a new fleet of troop carrying vehicles, which will be a major aid for the Defence Forces in operations tackling the impact of flooding, extreme weather events and other emergencies.

The cost of purchasing the 120 vehicles is 24.6m and the first batch of them is due for delivery later this year.

The contract for providing the P370 B4x4 vehicles has been awarded by Minister with responsibility for defence, Paul Kehoe to Westward Scania, based in Strokestown, Co Roscommon.

They will replace the current fleet of troop carrying vehicles, which were put into service with the Defence Forces between 1998 and 2003.

As well as being deployed by the military when helping the civil authorities, the vehicle will be used principally for transporting troops and towing artillery guns and carrying stores.

The current fleet were used by the military in the past in assisting the gardai and the civil defence in combating the effects of severe weather events such as Storm Emma.

Awarding the contract, Mr Kehoe said the purchaser of the vehicles was in line with a commitment given in the defence white paper and the national development plan project 2040 to continue investment in modern equipment for Defence Forces personnel and the obligations of the State to provide appropriate support and assets to the troops.

The awarding of the contract follows a detailed open tender competition concluded earlier this year. The first group will be in service within a few months while the rest will all be supplied by 2023.

The advancement and delivery of large capital equipment projects between now and 2022 will be covered by a Defence funding envelope of 541m, made available under the national development plan.

Mr Kehoe said that for the first time the government had published a five year built infrastructure programme for the Defence Forces and said the purchase of the vehicles was part of a suite of investments to ensure that the military were enabled to contribute fully to their assigned roles.

He said the programme reflected the complex environment in which the Defence Forces operated and the corresponding need for appropriate infrastructure to provide for accommodation and training of personnel, maintenance and storage of equipment for land, sea and airborne operational requirements.

There are currently over 60m worth of projects under way at different stages of development and this level of expenditure is earmarked to continue to increase as the programme is implemented.

Some 75m will be spent over the next three years and a total of 145m over the five years of the investment blueprint.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-10 23:33:02|Editor: yan

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JAKARTA, March 10 (Xinhua) -- Two earthquakes with magnitude of 5.8 and 4.9 jolted western part of Indonesia province on Tuesday, leaving scores of people wounded and several houses destroyed, officials said.

The latest quake struck at 9:06 p.m. Jakarta time (1406 GMT) with the epicenter at 88 km southeast of Enggano Island in Bengkulu province, and the depth at 48 km under the seabed, said Prio Budi, an official at the country's Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency.

The intensity of the quake was felt at IV MMI (Modified Mercally Intensity) in Lampung province's village of Liwa, the official disclosed.

"With that strong intensity, there should be damages resulted by the jolts," he told Xinhua by phone.

Earlier, a 4.9-magnitude quake struck at 5:18 p.m. Jakarta time (1018 GMT) with the epicenter at 13 km northeast of Sukabumi district in West Java province and the shallow of 10 km under the seabed, the official said, citing that the agency previously released a report on a 5.0-magnitude quake on the same day.

The intensity of the quake was felt at IV to V MMI in the province's areas of Ciambar, Cidahu, Kelapa Nunggal, and II to III MMI in Citeko, he said.

The jolts were also felt in nearby Banten province with the intensity of III MMI in Penggarangan and II to III MMI in Bayah, Budi said.

Both the quakes did not potentially trigger tsunami, he said.

The shallow quake has left at least three people wounded and thirteen houses damaged, spokesman for the National Disaster Management Agency Agus Wibowo told Xinhua in a text message.

Indonesia is frequently hit by quakes as it lies on a quake-prone zone in the Pacific Ring of Fire.
As Union Home Minister Amit Shah is scheduled to reply in Lok Sabha on Delhi violence, Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chaudhary on Wednesday termed last month's communal riots in the capital as a 'big blot on country's harmony and peace'.

"The last month's communal riots in Delhi is a 'big blot on the country's harmony and peace. India's reputation as a secular country is destroyed. I will continue to speak about the communal violence in Delhi within and outside the parliament," Chaudhary told ANI.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah is likely to reply today to a short duration discussion in Lok Sabha on last month's communal violence in Delhi.

Commenting upon the ongoing political crisis in Madhya Pradesh, Chaudhary said: "Jyotiraditya Scindia was in our party for a long time. Sonia Gandhi treated him like her own son, so obviously his sudden decision to leave the party is shocking and definitely a jolt to the party but we will soon recover from it."

"We can't do anything right now, we have to fight for our party. Saving the government is Kamal Nath Ji's job and we hope he will succeed in doing so. So, let's see what happens," he added.

Political turmoil has gripped Congress-ruled Madhya Pradesh following the resignation of Jyotiraditya Scindia from the party.

Scindia's decision to leave Congress was followed by resignations from 22 party MLAs loyal to him.

Scindia, who was seen leaving from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Lok Kalyan Marg residence along with Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday, is likely to join Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Amid the ongoing political drama in Madhya Pradesh, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on Wednesday (March 11) asserted that there is no rift in Shiv Sena-Congress-NCP coalition government in Maharashtra.

Raut remarked that there is excellent coordination Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi and NCP supremo Sharad Pawar and there is no danger to the government. In an indirect attack on the BJP, Raut said that if someone is dreaming that the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, as the coalition government is called in Maharashtra, will fall in Maharashtra they are free to do so.

The Shiv Sena MP said that Madhya Pradesh CM Kamal Nath's government will have to prove majority on the floor of Assembly and it will not be right to say that his government will fall before the floor test.

Commenting on Jyotiraditya Scindia's decision to resign from Congress, Raut said that it is an internal matter of the Congress and the BJP should not take credit for this. Raut admitted that Congress failed to handle Scindia properly and this led to his decision to quit the party.

Raut also noted that Madhya Pradesh virus will not enter Maharashtra and one 'Operation Lotus' flopped in the state around 100 days ago. He added that the Maha Vikas Aghadi did a bypass surgery and saved Maharashtra.

The Shiv Sena MP's remarks come at a time when CM Kamal Nath government in Madhya Pradesh is on the verge of collapse as 22 Congress MLAs resigned on Tuesday minutes after Scindia decided to part ways with the party after 18 years.

Meanwhile, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday blamed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for destabilising an elected Congress government in Madhya Pradesh. "Hey @PMOIndia , while you were busy destabilising an elected Congress Govt, you may have missed noticing the 35% crash in global oil prices. Could you please pass on the benefit to Indians by slashing #petrol prices to under 60 per litre? Will help boost the stalled economy," tweeted Rahul.

The Madhya Pradesh assembly has a strength of 230 members but two seats are presently vacant due to the demise of two MLAs. The effective strength of Madhya Pradesh Assembly is now 228 and the magic number required to form the government is 115.
A total of 71 Chinese workers engaged at a construction site in Nepal have been placed under quarantine after their return to the Himalayan nation from China, an official said here on Wednesday.

The Chinese workers, who returned to Nepal between March 4 and 6 from Chengdu and Beijing after celebrating the Chinese New Year, have been kept in isolation at the Pokhara Regional Airport project where they work.

"They had already been quarantined in China for 14 days before embarking for Nepal. As neither we nor the workers wanted to take any chances, we decided to place them in quarantine again," said airport project manager Binesh Munkarmi.

The workers' temperature is being checked three times a day, he said.

"We've informed the Province Health Directorate about the quarantine of Chinese workers. So far, everyone's is normal," Munkarmi said.

Earlier, 36 Chinese workers of the airport project were also quarantined after their return from China.

Munkarmi said a total of 190 Chinese workers, including the 36 who underwent quarantine, had been deployed for work.

Gandaki Province Health Directorate Director Binod Sharma said his office was keeping a close eye on the condition of the Chinese workers engaged at the airport construction site.

"We'd visited the project site on Sunday morning. All workers are in good health," he said.

Sharma informed his office was also monitoring the health of Chinese workers employed at other projects, such as Nawalpur's Hongshi Cement Factory, Narayangadh-Butwal road section and Nyadi Hydropower Project.

China has been investing heavily in Nepal in the last few years to enhance the connectivity and infrastructure.

The two countries signed eight agreements in 2018 for developing major infrastructure projects in the land-locked Himalayan nation to further deepen the bilateral ties.

The deadly coronavirus that first originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December last year has claimed over 4,200 lives and infected more than 117,330 people across 107 countries and territories.

China remains the hardest-hit with more than 80,000 infections and 3,000 deaths.

The World Health Organisation 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.)
Businesses have recently committed to clean up more than half of the heavily contaminated 10-mile portion of the Willamette River in Portland, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The agency announced Monday that it reached agreements with nearly two dozen companies, including Chevron, Exxon and Shell Oil, between December and last Wednesday to restore eight portions of the Portland Harbor Superfund site.

Portland officials said the new contracts account for 140 contaminated acres or 57% of the superfund site.

The affected portion of the river flows from near the Broadway Bridge downstream to Sauvie Island. The site includes portions of the sediment of the Willamette River that have been contaminated with hazardous substances over the last century from industrial use in the area.

A state and federal study found in 1997 that the river sediments were heavily contaminated posing human health and environment risks. Three years later, the environmental protection agency designated the area a federal superfund site and placed it on its list of national priorities, requiring a long-term cleanup plan. Federal officials in 2017 released a final plan to clean up the harbors contaminated soil and toxic materials, which they estimate will take around 30 years and cost $1.05 billion.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, there are around 150 parties believed to be partly responsible for releasing hazardous substances into the river, including the Oregon Department of Transportation, Department of State Lands and City of Portland. The federal agency group also estimates around 3 million cubic yards of contaminated sediment need to be removed from the river bottom and banks.

Before the latest batch of agreements, some of the agreements the environmental protection agency already reached included the Port of Portland to clean up its marine Terminal 4 site near Sauvie Island; NW Natural for its Gasco property; and the City of Portland, electric power company PacifiCorp and four other companies to be responsible for River Mile 11 East, which stretches between the Broadway and Fremont bridges.

Last May, the City of Portland and the State of Oregon agreed to provide up to $24 million in reimbursement funds as an incentive to any group suspected of taking part in the contamination to sign agreements with the Environmental Protection Agency to submit blueprints for the cleanup effort. The city and state would provide $12 million each.

Before then, the federal agency hoped to have cleanup plans that accounted for the entire superfund site to be submitted to them by the end of 2019.

The agency said Monday that the funds bolstered its negotiations toward the new agreements. More than $11 million of the reimbursement fund has been claimed, according to the Portland Bureau of Environmental Services.

This is a unique and bold approach by public agencies and its resulting in the most significant progress we have seen since the site was listed 20 years ago, Mayor Ted Wheeler said in a statement.

The companies that have signed the latest agreements also include BP Products North America Inc., General Electric Co., and Phillips 66.

-- Everton Bailey Jr; ebailey@oregonian.com | 503-221-8343 | @EvertonBailey

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
Communist Party of India (Marxist) MP KK Ragesh has given Suspension of Business Notice in Rajya Sabha under Rule 267, over "Centre's attempt to suppress media by imposing the 48-hour ban on two Malayalam news channels" and "violence in Delhi".

The Information and Broadcasting Ministry on March 6 suspended the broadcast of two channels - Asianet News and Media One - 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."

The channels were back on air on March 7 after Union Minister Prakash Javadekar intervened in the matter.

"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 had said to reporters in Pune.

Parliament has been witnessing continuous ruckus by the opposition ever since the second part of the ongoing budget session began. The opposition parties have been demanding an immediate discussion on the northeast Delhi violence that led to the deaths of 53 people.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Is The Coronavirus Really More Dangerous Than The Flu? By Moon Of Alabama March 11, 2020 " Information Clearing House " - Today the financial markets finally recognized the economic damage the novel Coronavirus will cause. The price war in the crude oil markets which Russia initiated did not cause today's stock market fall but it also did not help. While cheap oil is supposed to be good for the economy the drop will also cause significant damage in the U.S. financial markets as the whole fracking industry in the United States is laden with debt and is now destined to be wiped out. Expect crude prices to sink to $20 per barrel as frantic overproduction and a drop in demand due to the virus coincide. Russia is well positioned to win this price war. Others are not. It is the virus pandemic that causes the downturn in stock markets. But what makes the Sars-CoV-2 virus, as the novel Coronavirus is now officially known, so dangerous? The Covid-19 disease the virus causes is basically a flu though its seems to be one of the more severe kinds. But it is a totally NEW kind of flu and that makes all the difference. Each year some 15% of the world population will be infected with one or more of the dozens of flu viruses we know. The people get ill and most will recover while they also develop some immunity against the specific virus they were infected with. Over the years this sums up to a basic immunity level within our societies. So many people already had a flu from the well known viruses that most of them will not get infected during another flu season. We have also developed vaccines against the most well known viruses. They help to keep the people who work in health care on their job even when many new flu patients come in. But when a new viruses evolves everything is different. Our societies do not have a basic immunity against a new virus. Without countermeasures many more people will get sick during the first, second and third wave of a new virus onslaught than during a normal flu season. Health care staff will also get infected and must quarantine itself. Some health care workers will probably die. Hospitals will become overwhelmed and the health care system will break down just as it did in Wuhan, China. The breakdown of the health care system also leads to a much larger number of virus death than under a working health care system. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter Here is a surgeon in Bergamo, Italy, describing such a situation: The cases multiply, up to a rate of 15-20 hospitalizations a day all for the same reason. The results of the swabs now come one after the other: positive, positive, positive. Suddenly the emergency room is collapsing. Emergency provisions are issued: help is needed in the emergency room. A quick meeting to learn how the to use to emergency room EHR and a few minutes later I'm already downstairs, next to the warriors on the war front. The screen of the PC with the chief complaint is always the same: fever and respiratory difficulty, fever and cough, respiratory insufficiency etc ... Exams, radiology always with the same sentence: bilateral interstitial pneumonia. All needs to be hospitalized. Some already need to be intubated, and go to the ICU. For others, however, it is late. ICU is full, and when ICUs are full, more are created. Each ventilator is like gold: those in the operating rooms that have now suspended their non-urgent activity are used and the OR become an ICU that did not exist before. The current case fatality rate in Lombardy has now topped 6%. We know from China (ex Hubei province) that in a functioning health care system the death rate of Covid-19 patients is lower than 1%. It is not the virus that kills more people in Italy, it is an overwhelmed health care system. A health care system that is overwhelmed with Covid-19 cases can also no longer take care of regular cases. People with an acute heart attack, with diabetes problems, or kids who have fallen off a bicycle will find that the hospitals are full and unable to care for them. The only way to prevent such a catastrophic development is to spread out the timeline during which the epidemic happens.

We can do that by lowering the reproductive number of the disease. Under normal circumstance one sick person will infect two, three or even many more healthy ones. We can lower that number by prohibiting large congregations, by isolating infected persons and by good hygiene.

People who test positive or show symptoms need to be quarantined. Everyone needs to be made aware of the dangers and learn how to avoid them. Washing ones hands helps as soap easily destroys the fatty lipid layer that forms the skin of the virus.

The control measures China took in Wuhan were designed to drive the reproduction numbers down.

The effective reproductive number [in Wuhan] dropped from 3.86 before interventions to 0.32 post interventions.

Some of the measures China took were severe but they worked:

South Korea has also demonstrated how quick and decisive action can keep the numbers manageable.

After the virus has passed through our societies in two or three slow waves our communities will have developed a sufficient basic immunity level. In a year or two we may even have a vaccine against it. The virus will then become a relatively harmless addition to the ones we already know.

An example for this is the Hong Kong flu of 1968. The then new H3H2 virus infected 500.000 Hong Kong residents. In 1968 and 1969 it killed more than a million people worldwide even though it had a death rate below 0.5%. Our populations are now largely immune to it and an H3H2 vaccine is now part of the general cocktail of a flu vaccination.

No country will be spared by this virus and the impact will be similar everywhere.

What must be done now is to flatten the curves, to lower the number of Covid-19 infections so our health care systems can cope with the epidemic.

In the United States the Sars-CoV-2 epidemic is still seen as a Monday to Friday problem.

The reason for this is that the president and a significant part of the U.S. population have yet to understand the issue.

Donald J. Trump @realDonaldTrump - 14:47 UTC  Mar 9, 2020 So last year 37,000 Americans died from the common Flu. It averages between 27,000 and 70,000 per year. Nothing is shut down, life & the economy go on. At this moment there are 546 confirmed cases of CoronaVirus, with 22 deaths. Think about that!

This is not a common flu. This is a NEW flu. We have zero basic immunity against it. Without countermeasures the number of cases will explode and there will be many serious ones. They will overwhelm the health care systems and that makes all the difference.

All countries need to test as many people as possible to isolate positive cases. People who test positive but show no symptoms should not be send home to their families. China has learned that doing that only creates new clusters of cases as all family members are then likely to get sick. Those who develop symptoms must be isolated separately and with access to care. Only the 20% who will develop serious complications should be admitted to dedicated hospitals.

The U.S. must take measures to make tests available and free for all. It must also deliver the necessary healthcare free of charges. The National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) Definitive Care Reimbursement Program can be used to carry the costs.

There needs to be some form of incentive for everyone to take sick leave when necessary. The behavior below is dangerous but the man had likely no other choice.

ABC News @abcnews - 1:24 UTC  Mar 8, 2020 #BREAKING: Authorities say a man with coronavirus ignored instructions to self-isolate pending test results, instead working several shifts at Hobart's Grand Chancellor Hotel.

People must be made able to pay their bills even when they are sent into quarantine. The simplest way to achieve that is to make sick leave pay mandatory by law. Undocumented immigrants must be able to seek tests and healthcare without fear of deportation. That requires a change in the current mandatory notification scheme.

More economic measures will have to be taken to restart the economy after the slump the pandemic will cause. Large and diverse government spending program will have the best effects. Tax breaks for the rich will not do.

Today's market crash and Trump's ignorant and disastrous handling of the pandemic make it now less likely that he will get reelected. The pandemic also guarantees that demanding medicare for all will become a huge winner.

" Source "
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A revered psychiatrist and music composer has spent several decades using a combination of medicine and music therapy to help his patients tread on the path toward leading normal lives.

Modest by nature, Dr. Nguyen Tho, 71, has helped dozens of patients throughout Ho Chi Minh City and neighboring provinces overcome mental illness through a series of both conventional treatment and what he has developed over his extensive career.

Dr. Tho, a former director of the National Mental Hospital 2, 30 kilometers from Ho Chi Minh City in Bien Hoa City, currently works at the hospital as the deputy head of the National Institute of Forensic Psychiatry, where he has helped many people overcome their mental illnesses with his ground-breaking use of music therapy.

Music therapy is a method of treatment in which a health professional uses music to address a patients physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs.

By assessing each individual clients strengths and needs, a qualified music therapist can prescribe treatments which include singing, dancing, and listening to music.

Through musical involvement in the therapeutic context, clients' abilities are strengthened and transferred to other areas of their lives, according to the American Music Therapy Association.

The doctor, who has been honored with the titles of 'Meritorious Doctor' and 'Peoples Doctor,' also works as the Dean of the Medicine and Pharmacy Faculty at Van Lang University in Ho Chi Minh City.

Thus far in his extensive career, Dr. Thos music-based treatment methods seem to have worked miracles for people suffering all sorts of mental health problems, including grief and shock from family issues, the loss of a loved one, and business failures.

Part of what makes his therapy so special is that each treatment course culminates in a jaw-dropping performances by his patients to showcase their progress.

In addition to treating patients with music, Tho himself is also a composer with about 100 self-written musical works under his belt.

Making more of music

Dr. Tho first decided to incorporate music into his career about 50 years ago when a song he co-authored with two of his classmates at the then-Vietnam Military Medical University, 'Tuoi 20' (20 Years Old), began gaining popularity amongst the student body.

Tuoi 20 became an iconic piece at school events over the next few years. Its success was a major inspiration for Tho to continue making music.

A few years later, at a meeting with an influential doctor at the 108 Military Central Hospital, Tho was exposed to music therapy as a means to heal mental illness.

Still, it took several more years until he was promoted to the management team of National Mental Hospital 2 in 2000 and was able to put his avant-garde approach to mental health into practice.

Music is a great emotional outlet and has its own allure. Except for acute mental patients who need immediate treatment, others, once in stable condition, can use music to freely express long-suppressed anguish over their family, love, or business affairs, Tho explained.

Thos music therapy incorporates a range of different genres, particularly those he feels his patients might have deep connections with, such as symphonies performed using instruments from ethnic minority groups in the Central Highlands such as the trung and klongput (traditional bamboo xylophones), as well as popular folk tunes from southern Vietnam.

He also does his best to include dancing, painting, and aerobics into his treatment.

The treatment process

His music therapy treatment typically begins by dividing his patients into groups. Within each group, patients are taught to sing and play instruments, including wooden and bamboo percussion instruments, drums, guitars, and harmonicas.

As the skills of each patient progress, Tho and his colleagues track their improvement based off a number of benchmarks, such as compliance and behavior, in order to prepare for intervention in case a patient begins to regress.

As part of the process, Tho and his team spend a great deal of time persuading their patients of the efficacy of music therapy.

At the inception of their treatment, most patients show anxiety and objection. They want to give up because they are shy, embarrassed, or simply just are annoyed with themselves for singing off-tune or out of beat. Its only when the treatment is going seamlessly that they begin to feel more at ease and start to smile, Tho shared.

The treatment itself takes several weeks, but eventually, Tho and his students are able to perform in unison and the entire group puts on a recital for their families, complete with solos, duets, small group performances, and even chorally.

Three patients perform a dance during their treatment with Dr. Nguyen Thos music therapy in this provided photo.

The miracle of music

Thanks to music, the patients are able to return to normalcy. Music therapy helps with their overall physical and mental rehabilitation, results in behavior changes, and awakens the dormant subconscious, Tho said.

For Tho, therapy is not just about teaching his patients to heal through a new skill, it is about truly understanding and building connections.

One of these patients is H.T.H.T., a 20-year-old woman from the south-central province of PhuvYen, who was suffering from an emotional disorder and depression following her parents separation.

The separation had caused the once academically brilliant girl to shy away from others and begin showing signs of serious distress.

I once attempted suicide but was rushed to hospital in time. I began to realize that I am faring better than many others here. I miss my mom now and want to go home to help her out, T. shared.

L.H.P., a 31-year-old from District 8 in Ho Chi Minh City, is another patient whose symptoms were brought on by his parents' divorce and his subsequent stint staying with his aunt and uncle.

Deprived of parental care and a proper education, P. started drinking and doing drugs. He began living on the streets until one day he found himself in the mental hospital.

On his darkest days, the only thing that kept him going was his skills on the keyboard. Though he had a long way to go to perfect the instrument, the nine weeks he spent practicing also helped him keep his mind off drugs and alcohol.

Im trying to stay clean. I feel much better now and have come to see life in a positive way, P. said, adding that his dream now is to become a music composer, just like his mentor.

Nguyen Tho, 71, is a member of the Vietnam Artist Association and has composed approximately 100 songs and won several awards over the course of his career. He published a book on the applications of music and psychological therapy in mental illness treatment in 2009.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
Par Malijet

Chinese authorities and experts agree there's a visible improvement in the country's COVID-19 outbreak situation, with some places in the country ceasing to issue a daily report of infections after seeing zero new cases in several days and a top epidemiologist saying that the epicenter Wuhan is coming out of its darkest moment of the virus outbreak.

Many regions in China, including nine provinces, have not reported any new confirmed cases of COVID-19 for several consecutive days, and even in Wuhan, the epidemic epicenter, the situation is getting better.

"Wuhan is coming out of its darkest moment," Zeng Guang, chief epidemiologist of the Chinese Center for Disease and Control said Saturday.

The Chinese authorities are gradually easing the control and prevention measures nationwide, including some places of Hubei Province.

The authorities in Jingzhou of Hubei announced that all traffic restrictions in rural areas of the city would be lifted effective 10 am Saturday, local media reported Friday.

Four cities in Central China's Henan and two cities in East China's Anhui said they will cease to announce the daily report on the epidemic situation if there is no confirmed new case. This announcement came after the aforementioned places reported zero new cases for several consecutive days.

Businesses across China are also reviving. More than 95 percent of Shanghai's 277 shopping malls and 80 departmental stores have resumed operation as the COVID-19 epidemic situation in the city has improved, Shanghai-based the Paper reported.

"The rapid rise of the epidemic has been curbed," the central government supervision group announced at a press conference on Friday.

With the improvement of the epidemic situation in Wuhan and Hubei, prevention and control measures will be adjusted in time in line with related rules and regulations, Ding Xiangyang, member of the supervision group, said at the press conference.

"Winter is over and spring is here. The day that everyone is expecting is not too far away," Ding said.

However, Ding also cautioned against losing grip on the awareness, adding that following all the precautionary measures is crucial.

Zhou Zijun, a public health expert at Peking University, believes China can maintain its current steadily improving tendency of the outbreak prevention.

He noted people returning to work wouldn't pose high risks of epidemic spread as all Chinese people and enterprises already have a strong awareness of COVID-19 prevention and control, noting it is still important to limit trips to crowded places and avoid parties.

While the domestic situation is improving, the outbreak globally is looking grim. China has to pay more attention to preventing and controlling imported cases from abroad, Zhou told the Global Times.

By Ji Yuqiao and Li Qiao

Source:Global Times

Copyright Malijet  2008 - 2022. Tous droits reserves
By Laman Ismayilova

Azerbaijani State University of Culture and Art will represent the country at the third theatre festival of CIS countries "GITIS - Master class" in Russia.

The tragedy of Sophocles "Oedipus the King" will be presented to the audience on March 15 as part of the festival.

"Oedipus the King," is an Athenian tragedy by Sophocles that was first performed around 429 BC. The tragedy is regarded as the masterpiece of ancient Greek tragedy.

The theatre festival of CIS countries "GITIS is a professional and educational festival that consists of public talks and workshops from GITIS professors for students and teachers of the participating schools.

The event will be held in Moscow on March 14-19, bringing together young actors from Azerbaijan, Russia, Uzbekistan, Moldova and other countries.

During festival, student shows from different schools and countries will be presented every day at GITIS Student Theatre.

---

Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
(Natural News) Despite the Italian governments ban on travel, Pope Francis has urged Catholic priests to go out and visit those who are suffering from the coronavirus.

The Pope made the statement during a mass he presided over by himself at the Vatican.

During his homily, the 83-year-old Pope prayed for the thousands who are currently sickened by the coronavirus, as well as the medical personnel who are caring for them.

Let us pray to the Lord also for our priests, that they may have the courage to go out and visit the sickand to accompany the medical staff and volunteers in the work they do, Pope Francis  whose full name is Jorge Mario Bergoglio  said during the mass, which was live-streamed to the public.

Italy currently has over 10,000 coronavirus infections and more than 630 deaths, the highest in Europe as of press time. Most of the infections and casualties have been listed as having come from the nations Lombardy region.

Pope Francis  the first Jesuit pope and the first to come from the Americas  earlier canceled several engagements, including a supposed week-long Lenten retreat with senior Vatican officials, after a bout with the colds during an Ash Wednesday service.

The incident, which saw the Pope visibly sniffling during the service, triggered public speculation about his health.

According to the Telegraph, Italian-language newspaper Il Messaggero has issued a report that Pope Francis has tested negative for the coronavirus. The Messaggero report, however, did not mention when the Pope got tested for the disease.

The Vatican, in an attempt to assuage fears about the pontiffs health, has released a statement about the Popes clean bill of health, noting that the cold that the Holy Father has had in the past few days is taking its course and there are no symptoms ascribable to any other pathologies.

The Vatican, which is a City-State surrounded by Rome, has imposed restrictions on movement and contact among its personnel in a bid to contain the virus.

The Vatican, through the Holy See Press Office, earlier explained that such measures were necessary to avoid the risk of the spread of the COVID-19, due to the large groups that gather at security checks for access to the Square.

With regard to the upcoming activities of the Holy Father, the Holy See, and the Vatican City State, measures are being studied to prevent the spread of COVID-19, Matteo Bruni, Director of the Holy See Press Office, said.

Any actions to be taken, Bruni added, will be done in coordination with measures decreed by the Italian authorities. (Related: Italy joins Japan in closing schools due to coronavirus)

This announcement comes after confirmation that one person inside Vatican City has tested positive for the virus. According to the Vatican, the five people who came into contact with that person are now under precautionary quarantine.

The Diocese of Rome has also canceled all non-sacramental activities until March 15. These activities, the Vatican said, include catechism classes, marriage preparation courses, retreats, pilgrimages and most other group activities.

Eucharistic celebrations, however, will continue normally in Romes churcheswith certain restrictions. According to the Vatican, priests within Italy are discouraged from inviting the faithful to exchange the sign of peace and that Holy Water fonts in churches are to be emptied.

Caritas Rome, however, has stated that despite these precautionary measures, the Churchs acts of charity toward the poor will not stop.

According to Caritas, local churches are encouraged to keep their soup kitchens open, as well as to provide shelter for the homeless and refugees, provided they observe Italian hygiene and sanitary directives.

As of press time, the novel coronavirus has infected 119,006 and left 4,284 dead globally.

For more updates on the coronavirus, visit Pandemic.News.

Sources include:

DailyMail.co.uk

VaticanNews.va 1

CNBC.com

Telegraph.co.uk

StraitsTimes.com

VaticanNews.va 2
Steve Collis, chief executive officer of AmerisourceBergen, testifies during a House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee hearing in Washington, D.C., U.S., on May 8, 2018. Read more

When shareholders at AmerisourceBergen voted at the drug distributors annual meeting on a new proposal on executive bonuses, the company got its way. The suggestion to delay a portion of bonuses, as the company faces a litany of opioid lawsuits, was defeated.

But the investors behind the proposal  the International Brotherhood of Teamsters  see a silver lining in the outcome that was disclosed this week: If you dont count the large number of company shares owned by Walgreens Boots Alliance, the proposal actually got majority support from investors.

I think this was a huge wake-up call for Chesterbrook-based AmerisourceBergen, said Michael Pryce-Jones, a senior governance analyst with the Teamsters. For a new proposal to gain so much traction so quickly is really quite remarkable."

The Teamsters, whose pension and benefit funds own shares in the company, put the bonus deferral measure forward at AmerisourceBergens annual meeting last week, joined by two other members of a coalition called Investors for Opioid and Pharmaceutical Accountability. The group has advocated for increased board oversight at drug companies, distributors, and pharmacies since 2017, as those firms have faced nationwide litigation over the opioid epidemic.

A global settlement to resolve the suits could potentially cost the companies billions of dollars. AmerisourceBergen and other companies in the opioid supply chain have denied wrongdoing.

The proposal on bonuses recommended that AmerisourceBergens board adopt a longer time frame to decide whether bonuses for top executives were warranted in a given year.

The company recommended that investors vote against it. On Wednesday, AmerisourceBergen reiterated a previous statement toTthe Inquirer, saying that its existing executive compensation policies already focuses on the long-term performance of the company.

In the case of CEO Steve Collis, who was paid $11.3 million last year, a spokesperson said that long-term equity incentive awards accounted for approximately 72% of his total direct compensation in fiscal year 2019.

But two influential advisory firms that make voting recommendations to shareholders  Institutional Shareholder Services and Glass Lewis  backed the proposal. Glass Lewis said investors in the company would benefit from policies that serve to both disincentivize excessive risk taking and to ensure executives do not receive unjust enrichment following incidents of misconduct.

The final vote tally was filed this week with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Votes in favor of the Teamsters proposal came to 61.2 million shares; there were 114.5 million shares against.

Walgreens owns a 28% stake in AmerisourceBergen, or 56.85 million shares, according to securities filings. The co-chief operating officer of Walgreens, Ornella Barra, serves on AmerisourceBergens board of directors.

To some extent, AmerisourceBergen is "insulated by Walgreens internal stake, but at the same time they have to realize the pressure on them will increase, Pryce-Jones said. By not taking a step to address this concern, they are only going to store up more trouble for themselves.

The investor coalition agreed either not to file, or to withdraw, the bonus deferral measure at companies that committed to work with the coalition on the issue. AmerisourceBergen chose not to participate in that process, Pryce-Jones said.

The AmerisourceBergen spokesperson said the company welcomes and appreciates a productive dialogue with our shareholders.

The Teamsters also filed a proposal on deferring bonuses at Walgreens this proxy season, but withdrew it due to a promise to further discuss the issue, Pryce-Jones said.

Walgreens did not respond to a request for comment.
Comes as Meghan arrived back in Canada to reunite with baby Archie

Explained that's 'why Duke and Duchess of Sussex are so keen to have change'

Expert said: 'Future is about picking places they feel safe, heard and respected'

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's future will be 'about picking places they feel safe, heard and respected' because 'there hasn't been enough of that in recent years', a royal expert has revealed.

Royal expert Omid Scobie said the Duke, 35, and Duchess Sussex, 38, would focus on being with people 'they trust and like to be around' after stepping down as senior royals.

Speaking on the Heirpod podcast, Omid revealed: 'The future is about picking places where they feel safe, and they can feel theyre being heard and respected. And maybe there hasnt been enough of that in recent years.

He went on to reveal that's 'why the royal couple are so keen to have change'.

Prince Harry, 35, and Meghan Markle, 38, plan to focus on 'picking places where they feel safe and they can feel theyre being heard and respected', according to royal expert Omid Scobie

It follows on-going claims over the past 18 months of a rift between the Sussexes and the Cambridges, first between Kate and Meghan, and then between future king Prince William and his younger brother, Harry.

The 'Fab Four' appeared in February 2018 to promote 'the Royal Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex'.

But the two households went on to split, with Harry and Meghan leaving Kensington Palace for Frogmore Cottage in Windsor and appointing their own staff.

Prince Harry and Prince William's two-year quarrel came to an end after realising it was 'now or never', shortly after Megxit was announced.

Omid revealed that the couple may not have felt 'heard, respected or safe' while living as senior members of the royal family and suggested it was 'why they are so keen for change'

The brothers were understood to have made peace with one another before the Duke of Sussex left for Canada in January, but royal expert Katie Nicholl revealed today that they are not to be in regular contact with one another.

Despite patching things up with William, it had been reported that Harry has not made the breakthrough with father Charles.

It has now emerged that Meghan has already started her new life after flying straight to Canada from the Commonwealth Day Service on Monday to reunite with baby Archie, while Prince Harry has stayed in the UK.

The Duke was reportedly in Buckingham Palace yesterday for a series of meetings to plan his future work in the UK, as reported by The Telegraph.

Omid's comments come as it emerged Meghan had returned to Canada after less than a week in the UK for her final royal engagements (pictured, with Prince Harry at the Endeavour Award's on Thursday)

Meanwhile his wife returned to their 10-month-old son Archie, but was said to have shed a tear in emotional farewells to staff.

It is understood that Harry will fly back to Vancouver Island soon, where the couple have been living in recent months their son at a luxurious 14million waterside mansion.

However they will keep their Windsor home, start paying commercial rent and pay back 2.4million in taxpayers' money spent on its renovations.

The Duchess is said to have returned to Canada to reunite with son Archie, with Prince Harry set to follow (pictured, Prince Harry with Archie in December)

Meghan is believed to be back in the luxurious 14million waterside mansion which the couple have been living in since November

Harry and Meghan are also believed to have been looking at rental properties in California, including an eight-bedroom Malibu mansion worth 15million.

This would locate them near Meghans mother Doria Ragland, and it is also close to Silicon Valley and Hollywood where the couple might have meetings.

From March 31, the monarch's grandson and American former actress Meghan will no longer use their HRH styles as they pursue a new life of personal and financial freedom, mostly in North America.
After 22 of its MLAs resigned on Tuesday, the Kamal Nath-led Congress government in Madhya Pradesh is on the verge of collapse just about nine months after the BJP toppled the Congress-Janata Dal (Secular) coalition in Karnataka last year in a similar fashion.

The resignation of these MLAs came after senior leader Jyotiraditya Scindia quit the Congress early on Tuesday, saying it is now time for me to move on and that he was unable to serve the people of the country while remaining in the party.

A delegation of senior BJP leaders had visited MP Assembly Speaker NP Prajapatis residence in Bhopal on Tuesday and had handed over the resignations of 19 Congress rebels camping in Bengaluru. The Speaker had assured them of action as per constitutional procedures.

A delegation of Congress leaders on Wednesday met Prajapati and demanded the disqualification of six ministers, who belong to the Scindia camp. The state government has already written to the Governor to expel these ministers from the cabinet.

Last July, 13 MLAs belonging to the Congress and the JD(S) had tendered their resignations from the state assembly in a similar fashion. But the resignations of eight of them were not accepted as Assembly Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar found the format of the papers faulty. As members of the Assembly dont know the format in which they should submit resignations... so things arise in my mind. One is, they are ignorant. I pity them. The second is, they have done it deliberately just to pretend, Kumar had reportedly said.

So what exactly is the procedure of resigning from a state assembly and on what grounds can a Speaker reject or accept it?

There are two conditions for an MLA or an MP to tender their resignation. First, it has to be drafted in the official format and has to be very brief. It should not be tendered under pressure, say constitutional experts.

The letter has to be a simple statement of intent expressed by the MLA saying he/she is resigning from the membership of that particular assembly with immediate effect. Any extra word, describing ones reasons for resigning, etc., will make the letter unacceptable.

Second, if the letter is handwritten and the MLA personally hands it over to the Speaker, the latter can make enquiries about whether the member is resigning under duress; after fully satisfying himself or herself, the Speaker can then choose to accept or reject the resignation.

However, if the letter is typed and sent by a medium, the Speaker will have the right to call on the person to make enquiries about the reasons for resignation.

On what basis could a Speaker reject a resignation?

If the Speaker has any reasons to believe that a particular member, or more, resigned in stress or under any external pressure, the resignations may not be accepted. The Speaker can also reject the resignation if information from sources or police claims that it is not voluntary in nature.

Resigning from an assembly means that the particular MLAs constituency will be unrepresented for some time. So the Speaker has been given these powers by the Constitution framers to satisfy himself/herself thoroughly before taking a decision on the subject.

Could an MLA challenge the Speakers decision in court?

In principle, an MLA can challenge in court the Speakers decision to not accept his/her resignation. But since the Constitution in Article 190 (for assembly) and Article 101 (for Parliament) gives the Speaker absolute discretion, it is unlikely that a court could intervene except to check the procedure followed by the Speaker.

The Speakers opinion, in this regard, is understood to be absolutely final and binding. There is no precedent of a court overturning the Speakers decision in such matters.

The MP government currently has 120 MLAs -- four over the majority mark of 116 in the 230-member assembly. Of them, 114 are from the Congress, two from the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), one from the Samajwadi Party (SP) and four independents. The BJP has 107 MLAs and two seats are currently vacant. If the three other missing MLAs resign, it would bring down the number in the assembly to 224 and the majority mark to 113.

As a possible floor test will follow the polling for Rajya Sabha on March 26 in MP assembly, the Speaker is expected to buy time before meticulously taking a final call on the fate of the Congress rebels.

Commenting on the ongoing scenario in the state, senior political analyst Girija Shankar said that the Speaker at best has only the option of asking the MLAs who resigned to present themselves before him to endorse their resignation.

In all other scenarios, including the Congress expelling the missing MLAs, these lawmakers remaining absent from the assembly during the floor test would lead to the ruling party losing the trust vote.

The Congress party will evidently issue a whip for the floor test, but the MLAs would lose their membership even if they remain absent or vote against their own party, say experts.

(With inputs from Vivek Trivedi in Bhopal)
STAMFORD  Just six hours after shooting and killing Torrick Johnson, Michael James shot a man three times in Stamfords South End, police said.

On Wednesday morning, James, who is being held on a murder charge at the MacDougall-Walker Correctional Institution unable to post a $2 million court-appearance bond, was transported to the Stamford courthouse where police charged him with first-degree assault, illegal discharge of a firearm and criminal possession of a firearm.

At James arraignment, Senior Assistant States attorney Joseph Valdes explained to Hudock that James has a very lengthy criminal record going back to 1986 and that he is a persistent dangerous felony offender. Valdes also said James, 53, refused to be fingerprinted or have his mugshot taken.

After hearing that James refused police officers efforts to print and photograph him, Hudock ordered him held on an additional $500,000 court-appearance bond on the new charges, to surprised looks and muffled laughs by some of James family and friends who were gathered in the third pew of the courtroom.

Hudock entered not guilty pleas on James behalf, before James was escorted out of the courtroom in handcuffs and leg shackles.

According to James six-page arrest affidavit, on Sept. 25, 2019 at 10:56 p.m. police were alerted to shots fired at 108 Montauk Dr. Behind a Southwood Square Apartment, police found Johnson, 39, shot at least three times. He was rushed to Stamford Hospital, where he died.

At 4:49 a.m. Sept. 26, police were dispatched to the area of Pacific Street on multiple reports of shots fired, the affidavit said. While officers were canvassing the neighborhood, they heard that a gunshot victim had waked into Stamford Hospital for treatment.

When police talked to the man, who lives in the Bronx, he told them he was with some friends near Pacific Street and Woodland Avenue when a man came up to him and tried to rob him of his possessions. The 18-year-old man, who was suffering from bullet wounds to his lower left back, left buttock and right buttock, said he did not know who it was that shot him, the affidavit said.

But, the affidavit said, police heard from two other witnesses that James had shot the New York teenager.

In the meantime, James was charged with Johnsons murder and as part of the homicide investigation, Sgt. Paul Guzda and Officer Luis Serna spoke with James on Sept. 28. During the camera-recorded interview, the detectives asked James how he ended up with some marks on his body and he explained he was jumped in the South End, the affidavit said.

When Guzda asked if that had anything to do with the shots fired earlier that morning in the South End, James replied yes, the affidavit said.

When asked if he thought the bullet cartridges found on Montauk Drive were going to match the two casings found at the scene of the shooting at Pacific Street and Woodland Avenue, James again said yes, the affidavit said.

James said when he approached the victim of the shooting, the kid jumped him and he ended up shooting his gun into the air. James told Guzda this was all about crack, the affidavit said. James said he was so high he didnt even know how he got there. After the shooting, James said he dropped the gun to the ground and someone walked over to it, picked it up and walked toward Pacific Street. Police have not located the pistol.

When the shell casings were submitted to the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network for a correlation review, it was determined there was an association between those found in the South End and at the Johnson homicide, the affidavit said.

When the state police Division of Scientific Services Firearms Unit took a better look at the casings, they discovered the 9 mm Luger cartridge cases from the shooting scene in the South End and those found at Johnsons homicide were fired by the very same firearm, the affidavit said.

jnickerson@stamfordadvocate.com
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Welspun Corp share price added over 1 percent in the early trade on March 11 after the company won major offshore pipes supply contract in Australia.

The company has secured a major offshore pipes supply contract in Australia for the Barossa offshore Development project from Allseas Marine Contractors Australia PTY Ltd.

The project is owned by a joint venture, which comprises ConocoPhillips Australia, SK E&S Australia and Santos Offshore.

The contract scope comprises manufacturing & supply of 270 km (87 KMT) pipes for critical offshore application.

This is a first for the company in the quality conscious Australian offshore Industry & reaffirms its strategic position in supplying pipes for challenging offshore projects across the globe.

With this recent order, which will be executed from India, the companys global order book stands at robust 1,139 KMT after considering order execution up to February 2020.

At 09:22 hrs Welspun Corp was quoting at Rs 124.90, up Rs 0.50, or 0.40 percent on the BSE.
The Tripura government has



decided to temporarily shut two border 'haat' (markets) along the India-Bangladesh border as a precautionary measure to check the spread of novel coronavirus, officials said on Wednesday.

A state health department advisory asked Land Custom and BSF officials to direct their staff to follow hygiene protocol for containing the infection, particularly from Bangladeshis.

"For the time being, Bangladeshis suffering from any respiratory problem should be assessed properly before their entry into our state.

"Moreover, all border haat may be closed for the time being in consultation with Bangladeshi authorities," a memo signed by the Secretary of the Health and Family Welfare Department, Debasish Basu said.

Tripura has two border haat along the India-Bangladesh border -- at Kamalasagar in Sepahijala district and Srinagar in South Tripura district.

Both the border haat function on Sunday.

The memo also asked the district authorities and chief medical officers to maintain strict surveillance on gatherings, bus terminuses and railway stations to check the spread of coronavirus.

Help desks will be set up at Dharmanagar Railway Station in North Tripura district bordering Assam, it said.

The Dharmanagar Railway Station is one of the main entry points to the state.

Passengers would be checked and awareness created, encouraging visitors to report about their health status to the authorities, the memo said.

Meanwhile, Director of Health and Family Welfare, Radha Debbarma said no positive case of coronavirus has been detected in Tripura so far.

"No positive case of coronavirus has been found in the state so far. We had identified 28 persons who returned from affected countries. Of them, 19 were found to be free of the disease. The remaining have not shown any symptoms, but are under observation," Debbarma said.

Manipur had on Tuesday shut its border with Myanmar indefinitely amid the novel coronavirus scare.

Mizoram had on Monday sealed its borders with Myanmar and Bangladesh, and banned the entry of foreigners.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
As bipartisan experts on government ethics, we are appalled to see that President Donald Trump and his GOP Senate enablers are reviving the canard that there are conflict issues that merit investigation relating to the Bidens and Ukraine. Once again, as with his fabricated allegations against Hillary Clinton in 2016, Trump's election-year "alternative facts" misinformation machine is swinging into high gear. This time it's Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., and the majority on his Homeland Security Committee that are taking the lead by threatening a subpoena. In fact, it is the Trump family that has ethics issues that should be urgently investigated - not the Bidens.

Trump's sons Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump are traveling the country and the world at substantial cost to taxpayers while managing the president's businesses - enterprises that have racked up a stunning 3,000-plus conflicts of interest for Trump. That includes unconstitutional emoluments from the Chinese, Saudi, Kuwaiti, Malaysian, Philippine and many other governments. The president's daughter Ivanka Trump and son-in-law Jared Kushner, who as government officials are bound by federal ethics laws, have come in for criticism of their own on the conflicts front. Now Kushner is divesting his holding in Cadre, a real estate investment venture that profited handsomely from opportunity zones, a feature of the 2017 tax law that he and his wife worked on. Indeed, Kushner and Ivanka Trump's very presence in the White House is presumptively illegal: Federal anti-nepotism law likely forbade their appointments from the outset.

Hunter Biden, the former vice president's son, did not have any conflict of interest in taking up his position with Burisma, a Ukrainian energy firm, in 2014, when Joe Biden was in government. Unlike Ivanka Trump and her husband, Hunter Biden was not a government employee at any time during the Obama administration. As for Joe Biden, there is no requirement that executive branch officials recuse from foreign policy matters simply because those matters might have a financial impact on a business that has hired the official's grown child. On the contrary, adult children are allowed to live their own separate lives outside of government under the ethics rules. Their independent career decisions are not imputed to their parent who works in the government. But for the entanglement of the Trump children with their father's ethics issues (for example, if the president had fully divested his conflicted businesses and avoided nepotism), we would have no cavil with them.

We have made a policy choice as a nation that our ethics statutes and regulations should allow adult children of senior government officials to have their own careers. As White House ethics lawyers in the Obama and George W. Bush White Houses, respectively, we would not have required the vice president to recuse from matters involving Ukraine simply because his son was on the board of a Ukrainian company. Under similar reasoning, anyone working in President Franklin Roosevelt's administration would have had to recuse from involvement with Britain in the years leading up to U.S. entry into World War II if any of their children had business dealings in the United Kingdom - as a great many financially successful Americans did at the time.

It's true that Hunter Biden's situation might have been handled differently, including to avoid these kinds of smears. But regretting exploitation should not be confused with any underlying misconduct. President Barack Obama asked Joe Biden to coordinate important aspects of U.S. foreign policy in Ukraine, and Biden did it. He never once got involved in any particular party matter involving Burisma. All of the vice president's actions were fully consistent with the policy of the State Department, Britain and the European Union, our allies on Ukraine matters.

There is no conflict here. There is not even the appearance of a conflict. In fact, there is zero evidence of any wrongdoing by Joe or Hunter Biden - and that's after a lot of digging by Republicans in Congress, the right-wing media, the president's attorney and Trump himself. Their wild charges just don't hold up in the light of day. (One of us, Eisen, just served as special counsel to the House Judiciary Committee for the impeachment and trial of the president, which addressed some of these issues.)

What is more, the baseless Biden charges are long over with. The atrocious Trump family conduct is happening now and is ongoing. Urged on by Trump, Senate Republicans are investigating the wrong White House offspring. They should be looking at the Trump kids and Kushner, not Hunter Biden. And at Donald Trump, not Joe Biden.

Trump and his GOP allies brazenly admit this renewed inquiry is political. Trump has said that he intends to make a major electoral issue of it, and Johnson, whose Homeland Security Committee is initiating the investigation, said Democratic primary voters ought to want to look into Burisma. Can there be any doubt about why this investigation is being pursued now, six years after Hunter Biden took up his board seat and more than three years after his father completed his Ukraine work? This is another of Trump's more than 16,000 false or misleading claims - but this one is being deployed to cling to power.

"Have you no sense of decency, sir?" lawyer Joseph Welch famously asked Sen. Joseph McCarthy, R-Wis., during his smear campaign in 1954. Today's GOP has made clear that when it comes to these allegations, it has none. We must all forcefully reject that. Even in an election year - especially then - we should expect better of our highest officials.

- - -

Eisen served as White House "ethics czar" and U.S. ambassador to the Czech Republic and is the author of "The Last Palace: Europe's Turbulent Century in Five Lives and One Legendary House." Painter, a professor of law at the University of Minnesota, was the chief White House ethics lawyer for President George W. Bush from 2005 to 2007.
These are The Apprentice stars who have helped to make Lord Sugar 100million richer.

The tycoon has now invested nearly 3million in promising entrepreneurs discovered on his BBC show.

Exclusive Money Mail figures today reveal the venture has paid off, with one contestant alone expected to turn over more than 45million this year with her vegan beauty products.

Susie Ma finished third in the 2011 series  however, Lord Sugar offered her 200,000 for a 50 per cent share in Tropic Skincare.

Lord Sugars investments, (from left): Sian Gabbidon, Sarah Lynn, Carina Lepore, Ricky Martin, Dr Leah Totton, Tom Pellereau and Mark Wright

The business is now thought to be worth around 150million.

The Apprentice launched 15 years ago, with the top prize a 100,000-a-year job working for Lord Sugar. But the tycoon changed the format in 2011, when the winner was offered a 250,000 investment instead.

Nine years on, and Lord Sugar is still working with ten of the 12 businesses he backed. He has so far pocketed close to 7million from dividends and shares.

The combined value of businesses is more than 200million, making Lord Sugar's stake worth at least 100million.

Lord Sugar says: 'These people have made money, they have changed their lives. It is an amazing success story. There are a couple that haven't gone that well, but that is business.

Tips for success Money Mail asked for some of the contestants' top tips for success. Susie Ma says: 'Identify who your target consumers are, and ask them as many questions as possible to understand if there will be sufficient demand for your product or service. I believe the best advice comes from our customers.' Ricky Martin says: 'Write your plan and then half your predicted sales, and double your projecting business costs, and if the business still survives, you have a fighting chance.' Tom Pellereau says: 'It's much easier to spend money than make it. Things always take much longer than you expect, so it's best to spend your money as slowly as possible. Stay focused on your goals not those of others.'

'For me, it's like going back to the old days. To watch a company grow is a great kick for me, and it's what keeps me going.'

The show's winners put part of their success down to the package of support the Amstrad magnate also provides, from tax accountants to lawyers.

Lord Sugar says: 'The whole point is the show is a business show. The process enables me to find the best one  that's the bottom line. The person who has all the knowledge and aptitude for business. I will straighten them out if they start going off-track. Slowly and surely they become a stand-alone item.'

But not all businesses have worked out. The 2015 winner, Joseph Valente, had a plumbing company, but it was liquidated last week. Lord Sugar sold his share in 2017.

Lord Sugar and The Apprentice producers are now picking candidates for the next series, due to air in September.

The show sees 16 candidates compete to win the 250,000 investment. Each week, they are split into two teams and set a task. Both teams are called into a boardroom with Lord Sugar, and his advisers Baroness Karren Brady and Claude Littner, to discuss their performance  and at least one candidate is fired.

1. Swimwear star - Sian Gabbidon, 27

Beach swimwear designer Sian Gabbidon won in 2018. Her Leeds-based business is now stocked at House Of Fraser and online clothing giant, Asos.

She says: 'The Apprentice has given me the funds I need to get the foundations of the business where it needed to be. We were small-scale, so we have been able to move into mass production, recruit staff and find an office  and get ourselves ready to become a big business.

'People think that when you have won you have done it, but it is just the start. I am still at a stage where I work all the time, and when I'm not working, I'm thinking about it. It's my business and my name, so I am very invested in it.'

2. Sweet success - Sarah Lynn, 37

In 2017, Lord Sugar decided to crown two winners. Sarah Lynn won his backing for her Sweets in the City confectionery business.

Clients on her books for her vegan treats include Selfridges, Waitrose and Harvey Nichols. She says: 'It has been challenging at times. The highs have been very high, but the lows have been very low, too.

'The first year didn't make any money, but I spent the time designing the products. The Apprentice has given me the platform to really push and grow. I feel very lucky to have had that chance to do what I love. Most people aren't granted the luxury of having that investment behind them.'

Joint winner, alongside Sarah in 2017, was James White. His company, Right Time Recruitment, has now turned over more than 4million in two years.

The 29-year-old says: 'The first two years have been hard. As a young entrepreneur, it's a steep learning curve, and I needed to accept that from the start.'

3. Breadwinner - Carina Lepore, 31

Last year's winner Carina Lepore is set to open a second branch of her artisan bakery business, Dough Bakehouse. The entrepreneur got a taste for business buying and selling clothes at Wimbledon market after leaving school, and ending up a womenswear manager at an M&S store.

She says appearing on The Apprentice was tough, as her competitors had far more corporate backgrounds. 'Some of those people told me that they had had training in public speaking. I just turned up and hoped they liked me.

'It was scary, but now, if I have to pitch to someone or negotiate, I'm much more comfortable with it.

'I went on the show thinking I need to win this. I didn't want to be on TV  I just wanted Lord Sugar to be my business partner.'

4. Recruitment ace - Ricky Martin, 34

The show's 2012 winner, is this year expected to turn over more than 15million with his scientist recruitment company, Hyper Recruitment Solutions.

He says: 'No one is successful the moment they win The Apprentice  their journey is literally just starting. Business is hard, and you are not successful until you have made that company work.'

Ricky is a bio-chemist and says his company now finds the best scientists to help create life-saving drugs.

He says: 'We are not just a recruitment company trying to put people in jobs and take money  we are a company that changes lives.'

My grandmother inspired 150m beauty brand Inspiration: Shanghai-born entrepreneur Susie Ma with her clean-living chemist grandmother Jing Chun Shanghai-born entrepreneur Susie Ma says her clean-living chemist grandmother Jing Chun, 93, inspired her beauty business, Tropic Skincare. Susie was 13 when she moved to London from Australia, and, aged 15, she borrowed 100 from her mother to start selling jam jars of homemade body scrubs at Greenwich market. She made 980 on her first day. Soon, Susie had made enough money to put a deposit down on a two-bedroom house and pay her tuition fees for her economics and philosophy degree at University College London. She also quit her job as an investment banker at Citibank for a shot on the show in 2011. Although she missed out to inventor Tom Pellereau, Lord Sugar approached her at the show after-party and asked for a fresh business plan. And he was soon in touch to say his wife loved the products and he wanted to invest. Tropic Skincare is now one of the fastest growing companies in the UK, employing 160 staff. Now 31, Susie says: 'We have had to work very, very hard to get where we are. The Apprentice gave us a platform to launch, but from then on it has been a lot of hard graft.' And she says her grandmother, who still lives in Shanghai, was delighted to see the business thrive, adding: 'She taught me from a very early age to live clean. She is especially proud that what she believes in has had so much reach.' Speaking about Susie's success, Lord Sugar says: 'It's incredible for her; incredible for me. It's been incredible for the BBC.'

5. Cosmetic doctor - Dr Leah Totton, 32

Former A&E doctor Leah Totton won in 2013, and now runs three Dr Leah Cosmetic Skin Clinics in London and Essex.

She says: 'It felt like I had been thrown into the lions den, compared to what working as a doctor was like. In the NHS, you've all trained in a caring profession, work together and help each other as a team. It's very different to the boardroom of The Apprentice.

'It was a real baptism of fire, but I do think it prepared me for life in business, which can be every bit as cut-throat as the tasks and boardroom of The Apprentice.'

Leah, who still works part-time in the NHS, expects to turn over more than 3million this year. She says: 'The type of individual who is chosen by Lord Sugar is the sort of determined person that it takes to build a successful brand.'

6. Inventive genius - Tom Pellereau, 40

The first person to win the 250,000 prize, Tom had spent ten years trying to make it as inventor, and was about to give up and 'get a proper job' when he heard about the show.

'Applying for The Apprentice was my last roll of the dice,' he says.

Now his health and beauty inventions are in shops across the globe, and his firm Stylideas is expected to turn over 5million this year.

He's sold five million curved nail files, half a million baby nail clippers and 750,000 make-up brush cleaners. His latest invention is a whitening toothbrush with blue light technology. Tom adds: 'It's been very hard work and long hours to make it a success.'

7. Internet whizz - Mark Wright, 30

Australian Mark Wright was a backpacker living in London when he and 75,000 others tried out for the 2014 series.

His internet marketing firm, Climb Online, is expected to turn over 5million this year.

He says: 'Before I was on the show, I was nobody and flat broke. It was a real opportunity  it was not a publicity stunt.'

Lord Sugar has also invested in 2019 finalist Scarlett Allen-Horton's recruitment business Harper Fox.

And last year, 2016 winner Alana Spencer bought the tycoon's shares in her cake company Ridiculously Rich by Alana.

b.wilkinson@dailymail.co.uk
GENESEE COUNTY, MI -- Two weeks before they are expected to consider a resolution making the county a Second Amendment Sanctuary," the Board of Commissioners is already seeing signs that not everyone will be happy with whatever decision they make.

About a dozen people at a commission meeting Wednesday, March 11, spoke on the idea of the board affirming gun ownership rights in the county and resistance to proposed gun control legislation through a resolution, but more people spoke against the idea than for it.

Backers of the sanctuary movement had originally predicted as many as 300 people would attend Wednesdays meeting before consideration of a resolution was delayed.

The Second Amendment was not crafted to keep individuals in check by the government, but rather for individuals to keep the government in check, said Katrina Hensley, chairwoman for the Michigan for 2A Sanctuary Counties -- Genesee.

Commissioner David Martin, R-Davison, said hes planning to introduce a resolution in support of the group at the commissioners next regular meeting March 25 but said its still in the process of being written.

Martin said he expects the number of gun rights activists who support the sanctuary movement to make themselves heard at that time.

We the people ... established the Constitution to protect our rights, said Martin, who called the right to bear arms a God-given right."

A growing list of municipalities across Michigan have passed their own forms of sanctuary resolutions, including Lapeer County, which indicated with the split vote in January that it opposes additional laws that would impede on Second Amendment rights.

In Bay County last month, commissioners passed a resolution that emphasized the boards overall support of the Constitution -- not just one amendment.

The resolutions in Lapeer and other counties across Michigan have been in response to Virginia passing red flag gun laws that would allow police to confiscate guns from people deemed threats.

Elizabeth Jordan, a Flint mother, told commissioners the majority of citizens support measures like red flag laws.

The sanctuary proposals is a symbolic measure, I believe intended to intimidate people from enacting common sense gun safety laws, Jordan said.

5 things to know about the Second Amendment Sanctuary movement in Michigan

2nd Amendment Sanctuary resolution pitched to Genesee County board

Bay County stops short of naming itself 2nd Amendment 'sanctuary
CMU Transition to Remote Instruction and New Guidelines

March 11, 2020

Dear Members of the CMU Community:

The impact of COVID-19 has put Carnegie Mellon in the situation of needing to take unprecedented steps to balance our educational mission with the duty to protect the health and well-being of our entire community. While there is no confirmed case of COVID-19 at any of our CMU locations or in Pittsburgh, we feel that our best chance at limiting the spread of this virus is to implement new policies based on social distancing strategies that health experts recommend.

Remote Instruction : Beginning next week and until further notice, all CMU graduate and undergraduate programs on the Pittsburgh campus will move to remote, virtual or alternative teaching and assessment. Our Silicon Valley and Qatar campuses have already transitioned to online instruction, and we are working with all global locations to help them make the appropriate determination for their campuses.

For the Pittsburgh campus, we are cancelling classes on Monday and Tuesday (March 16-17) to allow faculty, staff and TAs time to finalize their preparations. Alternative teaching methods will then begin on Wednesday, March 18. This situation is rapidly evolving, but the Carnegie Mellon community should plan for remote teaching and learning to continue through the end of the semester. We will provide ample notice if and when in-person instruction can resume this academic year.

Students will soon receive information from their departments or instructors on how to access their classes, faculty and teaching support. In addition, Provost Jim Garrett and Marsha Lovett, director of the Eberly Center for Teaching Excellence & Educational Innovation, will be following up with faculty and instructors to share additional information and to support teaching plans.

Housing and Dining: Students who wish to remain away from campus are encouraged to do so and will have access to, and support for, their courses; however, for those who are unable to go home, we will accommodate you and housing and dining services will be available. Further guidance is forthcoming.

Campus Operations and Events: Our current plan is for the university to remain operational, including research in labs and facilities. Additional guidance on research activities will follow in the coming days. Furthermore, we will practice social distancing as a strategy as much as is practicable to further mitigate the risk to our community. We strongly urge you to cancel or postpone all CMU events, whether on- or off-campus, that involve more than 25 people and refrain from planning future gatherings until further notice. This will affect campus life considerably, and we will communicate specific guidance on these matters in the coming weeks, including decisions on Carnival and Commencement.

As we move to remote instruction, we appreciate and are currently assessing the impact on staff and student employees, including potential arrangements for working remotely. Human Resources will be sharing official guidelines for staff in the coming days, and we ask that you stay tuned to these communications.

Domestic Travel: Finally, in addition to previously announced restrictions on international travel, we are also suspending all U.S.-based domestic travel for university business until further notice. We continue to work with our international campuses on the appropriate travel restrictions for their regions.

To our students, I recognize this is a disheartening step to have to take, and the decision to depart from the in-person educational and residential experience that we value so highly was not made lightly. I am especially sensitive to the disappointment our graduating students may be feeling as you lament the loss of the campus experience during your last semester at CMU. We recognize this impact and we feel your sadness as well.

I want to express my appreciation to the people who have been working diligently to prepare for this transition, including countless faculty, staff and student leaders. The coming days and weeks will undoubtedly bring questions and uncertainties that we need to resolve together. University leadership is working quickly and thoughtfully to plan for the impacts these decisions will have, and they will communicate additional guidance in the coming days. You can also continue to refer to our CMU-Alert webpage for updated information.

I ask every member of this global community to join me in facing these unprecedented challenges with equal parts patience and cooperation. By doing so, we can demonstrate to the world our exceptional innovation and collaboration, which are both the qualities that this moment demands and the values that have always defined the Carnegie Mellon University community.

Sincerely,

Farnam Jahanian

President

Henry L. Hillman Presidents Chair
Guwahati, March 11 : The Congress and the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) will back noted journalist and anti-CAA activist Ajit Kumar Bhuyan as a candidate for the Rajya Sabha election from Assam, the two parties announced here on Wednesday.

Holding a joint media meet, Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) Chief Ripun Bora and AIUDF legislator Hafiz Bashir Ahmed Qasimi announced their decision to support Bhuyan.

Bora said Bhuyan has sent a letter to the state Congress and AIUDF seeking the support of the two outfits for his Rajya Sabha bid.

"We have decided to back Bhuyan as he is a neutral candidate," said the Assam Congress chief.

Bhuyan has been one of the leading figures of the volatile movement against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act.

The notification for the RS polls was issued on March 6, with March 13 being the last date for filing nominations.

The scrutiny will take place on March 14 and March 18 is the last date for withdrawal of candidature. The polls are scheduled for March 26. The votes will be counted the same day.
Country is solid, now stop epidemic - Gualtieri Italians will unite again says econ min

(ANSAmed) - ROME, MARCH 11 - Economy Minister Roberto Gualtieri told the Senate Wednesday that Italy was "solid" and would be able to stop the coronavirus epidemic.



"It would not be serious to make forecasts on the economy, but certainly the most effective response is to stop the epidemic," he said.



"The country is solid and it is in the most difficult moments that Italians are capable of uniting.



"It will happen again this time". (ANSAmed).




FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., March 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine is excited to announce that applications are open for the Anidjar & Levine Community Service Scholarship.

"Since launching our Community Service Scholarship in 2018 and always look forward to reading the personal essays and how these students are positively impacting their communities for the better," said Marc Anidjar, Co-founder & Senior Partner at the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine.

Co-founder Glen Levine and Marc Anidjar reviewing scholarship applications

To qualify for the scholarship, students must currently be enrolled or formally accepted to an accredited undergraduate or graduate program in a community college, college, or university in the United States. They must be in good academic standing and have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above. The application is accompanied by a 500-word essay that highlights the candidate's relationship between their community service and future career goals.

"We believe that community service can develop communication skills, leadership skills, and a strong work ethic that can prepare our youth for future educational and career endeavors," said Levine. "The Anidjar & Levine Community Service Scholarship is our way of playing a small part in encouraging students to give back."

The deadline to apply for the Anidjar & Levine Community Service Scholarship is Monday, June 15, 2020. Winners will be contacted by phone or email by the end of August 2020.

Marc Anidjar and Glen Levine established the personal injury law firm in 2005. Since then, they have expanded throughout Florida, with offices in Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Naples, Jacksonville, and Orlando. The Law Offices of Anidjar and Levine has been twice featured as an INC 5000 honoree and have won more than $450 million in damages for their clients.

ABOUT THE LAW OFFICES OF ANIDJAR & LEVINE:

The Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine brings years of experience successfully representing Florida clients in personal injury and criminal defense law. With offices in Fort Lauderdale, Naples, Jacksonville, West Palm Beach, and Orlando, their team consists of experienced lawyers, investigators, and medical/legal support experts to achieve the optimal results for their clients. Founded by Marc Anidjar and Glen B. Levine, the company stands by its mission to help those in their community and defend their rights. For more information, please visit www.anidjarlevine.com.

Media Contact:

Lais Pontes Greene

(954) 960-6083

[email protected]

SOURCE Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine
Mildred V. Jackson, 96, was brought to Philadelphia at the age of 2 to live with relatives, after her mother died in Virginia. After graduating from Germantown High School, she worked as a "Rosie the Riveter" at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. She later spent a career in retail stores. Read more

Mildred Virginia Jackson, 96, formerly of Philadelphia, died Tuesday, Feb. 18, of heart disease at a nursing facility in West Bloomfield Township, Mich.

Mrs. Jackson was born in Richmond, Va., in 1923 to Daisy Mae Barksdale and Wilfred Clark Sr. The youngest of four children, Mrs. Jackson would have turned 97 on March 12.

At 2, she and her older sister moved to Philadelphia to live with family after her mother died. Her father remained in Virginia, where he worked and reared her two brothers.

In Philadelphia, Mrs. Jackson attended public schools and graduated from Germantown High School. During World War II, she worked as a Rosie the Riveter, the nickname given to women who joined the war effort, at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, said her daughter, Alma Reese.

After the war, she married Thaxton Jackson, who was also from Virginia. However the two did not know each other before they met in Philadelphia. For years, they lived in the Pulaski Town section of Philadelphia before moving to Blakemore Street in Mount Airy.

Mrs. Jackson was later widowed after her husband succumbed to several illnesses he had contracted while serving overseas during World War II. Her only daughter was about 7 at the time.

To raise her, Mrs. Jackson worked in retail at JC Penney for 25 years. She later worked in security for Woolworths.

Mrs. Jackson loved being with her extended family, Reese said.

Every weekend, we did family dinners on both Saturdays and Sundays, and we celebrated birthdays and holidays together, she said.

Her older brother moved to Philadelphia as an adult and had four daughters. So every weekend, the two sisters and brother and their families spent time together. (Mrs. Jacksons other brother had died by that time.)

When Reese married and had two daughters of her own, Mrs. Jackson loved to visit and spend time with her granddaughters, traveling often to see them, even when Reese and her family lived in California.

She was very close to her grandchildren and even her nieces and grandnieces, Reese said. She loved to call herself a grandmother who loved to babysit.

Reese now lives in Michigan, and Mrs. Jackson had moved there to live with her in her later years.

Her mother was always optimistic and pleasant and was known for her beautiful smile, Reese said.

In Philadelphia, the family attended Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church in Germantown. They would spend all day at the church. Theyd go to church services in the morning, go home and eat, and then return to church programs in the afternoon.

In her spare time, Mrs. Jackson loved to knit, crochet, and visit family or vacation with friends.

In addition to her daughter, Mrs. Jackson is survived by two granddaughters and other relatives and friends.

A viewing will take place at 9 a.m., Saturday, March 14, followed by a funeral at 10 a.m. at Bruce R. Hawkins Funeral Home, 6828 Old York Road, Philadelphia. Interment will be at Ivy Hill Cemetery.
Due to the spread of COVID-19 coronavirus in Italy, the Ukraine International Airlines will suspend Kyiv-Venice flights until April 12 and will take Ukrainians home via flights from Rome and Milan.

"Due to the COVID-19 control measures introduced on WHO recommendation by the authorities of some countries, the Ukraine International Airlines changes the flight schedule on a number of routes. The airline has decided to suspend Kyiv-Venice flights between March 12 and April 12. The passengers will be able to leave Italy via scheduled UIA flights from Rome and Milan which will be operated to return Ukrainians to the homeland," the UIAs press service reports.

It is stated that travelers, who have to travel from Venice to Rome or another city for leaving to Ukraine, will need to download and fill out a special declaration.

Also, in response to the new Israel entry rules, the UIA adjusts its flight schedule from Ukrainian cities to Tel Aviv. In particular, the Odesa - Tel Aviv flights (except March 18 and 25) and Dnipro - Tel Aviv flights will be canceled on March 12 - April 8; Kharkiv - Tel Aviv flights will be canceled from March 15 to April 8. Kyiv - Tel Aviv flights will be operated twice a day. Passengers of Dnipro - Tel Aviv flights will be offered an alternative flight via Kyiv.

In addition, the UIA will temporarily halt the operation of Kyiv - Izmir (Turkey) flights. Due to the reduced demand, Odesa-Istanbul flights will not be operated until April 1.

From March 13 - April 7, the UIA will operate one Kyiv-London flight a day. Changes will also be made in the domestic flight program. Until April 8, the second frequencies on the routes between Kyiv and Kherson, Chernivtsi, Ivano-Frankivsk, Lviv and Zaporizhzhia will be canceled.

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A financial consultant accused of murdering her four-week-old daughter sent photos of her breast-feeding to the father to 'guilt trip him to come home,' a court heard.

City worker Clare Sanders, 43, and Lithuanian lover Tomas Vaitkevicius, 45, allegedly shook little Eva on three separate occasions during the first weeks of her young life.

Sanders' mobile phone had been used to search 'shaken baby syndrome NHS', 'Shaking babies' and 'baby is shaking' on 27 August 2017 - six days before Eva's death, it was said.

Clare Sanders pictured at the Old Bailey last month. Sanders' mobile phone had been used to search 'shaken baby syndrome NHS', 'Shaking babies' and 'baby is shaking' on 27 August 2017 - six days before Eva's death, it was said

Tomas Vaitkevicius, 45. The pair had allegedly finished 'a bottle of liqueur thing' between them on the night the baby was found lifeless in their apartment in Mitcham, south London

The pair had allegedly finished 'a bottle of liqueur thing' between them on the night the baby was found lifeless in their apartment in Mitcham, south London.

Eva was rushed to St George's Hospital after concerned neighbour Karen Brewell called the London Ambulance Service when she heard Sanders screaming: 'My baby,', the court heard.

Despite the best efforts of paramedics she was pronounced dead shortly before 7am and post-mortem later gave the cause of death as 'traumatic brain and spinal cord injury'.

Sanders refused to hand over her phone to police, claiming that she was going through a divorce and needed to access files on the device, the court heard.

Financial consultant Clare Sanders (left and right) sent photos of her breast-feeding to the father to 'guilt trip him to come home,' a court heard

Tomas Vaitkevicius. Vaitkevicius left Sanders alone with little Eva prompting her to send 'manipulative' messages to him, the Old Bailey heard

She told officers she was also worried that messages between her and Vaitkevicius would reveal her 'manipulation' of him, DC Susie Campbell said.

Giving evidence DC Campbell told jurors that the mother had said the couple had a 'troubled' relationship and frequently argued about child care.

Vaitkevicius left Sanders alone with little Eva prompting her to send 'manipulative' messages to him, the Old Bailey heard.

'You don't have to like me but why would you leave Eva?' one text from Sanders read.

The mother would send pictures of the baby girl lying on her chest while breast-feeding to 'guilt trip' the father, the court heard.

'She explained they had quite a troubled start to their relationship, she had been going through divorce at the time.

'She had fallen pregnant unexpectedly having previously thought she was unable to get pregnant and she said they had argued quite a lot and she was worried about what we could see of that on the telephone,' the witness said.

'She said there were occasions were she was being manipulative,' DC Campbell added.

Clare Sanders. 'You don't have to like me but why would you leave Eva?' one text from Sanders read

'The focus of the arguments was Thomas often leaving her alone with Eva?' asked Bernard Richmond, defending Vaitkevicius.

'Yes that's right,' DC Campbell replied.

Cross-examining, Sally O'Neill, QC, for Sanders, said: 'One particular message said words to the effect of: 'you don't have to like me but why would you leave Eva'.

'She said the examples of manipulation was sending him pictures of Eva on her breast trying to breastfeed her and she said she was doing that to try and guilt trip him to come home and in fact it did work because he did come home after she sent those pictures.'

'Yes,' DC Campbell replied.

Sanders' mother accused police of trying to 'incriminate' the City worker and encouraged her daughter not to hand over her phone, the court heard.

The pair were approached by officers while at hospital and Sanders became distressed when they asked to examine her phone, it was said.

'Her mother was there and was against it. Her mother suggested we were trying to incriminate her,' DC Campbell said.

Sanders and Lithuanian-born Vaitkevicius, from Mitcham, both deny murder and an alternative count of causing or allowing the death of a vulnerable child.

The trial continues.
This undated photo provided by U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows CDCs laboratory test kit for the new coronavirus. (CDC via AP)

Dwindling Supply of Chemicals New Barrier for Coronavirus Testing in United States

A decreasing supply of chemicals needed to run tests for the new coronavirus could derail testing in the United States.

The reagents, or chemicals, are used to extract genetic material from any virus in the patients sample, Politico reported. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Robert Redfield told the outlet that hes not confident American laboratories have enough stock of the supplies.

The availability of those reagents is obviously being looked at, he said, referring to the chemicals used for preparing samples. Im confident of the actual test that we have, but as people begin to operationalize the test, they realize theres other things they need to do the test.

Michael Mina, an associate medical director at Brigham and Womens Hospital in Boston, where some patients from the Biogen conference have been tested for the virus, said that labs are finding a shortage of RNA extraction kits required to run the tests.

We can have all of the test kits we need, but they rely on our ability to get the RNA out of a sample first, for testing. As this epidemic becomes in full swing, many additional reagents or parts that we never usually question the availability of may become difficult to find, he wrote on Twitter.

The American Society for Microbiology said in a statement that group members are concerned about the supply shortage for reagents.

We are deeply concerned that as the number of tests increases dramatically over the coming weeks, clinical labs will be unable to deploy them without these critical components. Increased demand for testing has the potential to exhaust supplies needed to perform the testing itself, it said.

A man wearing a mask to protect against coronavirus takes pictures at the New York Stock exchange (NYSE) in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York on March 9, 2020. (Carlo Allegri/Reuters)

One move that helps, the group said, is the CDC revising its guidelines for testing on March 9 to collect one specimen swab instead of two.

This will cut the amount of testing reagents needed in half, which is a critical measure to take during a public health emergency such as this, it said, though there are still worries about shortages.

Julie Khani, president of the Americna Clinical Laboratory Association, said in a statement emailed to The Epoch Times that its been communicating with the CDC said January.

As a part of this ongoing communication with federal agencies, weve raised concerns about potential shortages of certain supplies, including specimen collection swabs, N95 respirators, viral transport media, masks, gloves, and hand sanitizer, she said.

Our members are working vigilantly with our public health partners to expand testing capacity, and this remains our number one priority.

Food and Drug Administration officials spoke to labs about issues last week including the reagent supply and listed possible alternatives on a webpage posted this week.

Asked how the CDC would deal with the scarcity of RNA extraction kits and reagents, Redfield told Politico: I dont know the answer to that question.

Qiagen, a big supplier of the reagents, didnt immediately respond to a request for comment. Roche, another manufacturer, said in an email to The Epoch Times that it is striving to meet the needs of our customers in this evolving health situation.

Our production teams have been working diligently to develop a new SARS CoV-2 detection assay and to keep production of products stable, a spokesman said, using the official name for the new virus.

The issue is the latest to plague testing, which has taken place at a much lower level compared to other countries experiencing community spread of the virus, including South Korea and Italy.

The CDC originally manufactured testing kits before sending them out in early February. State and local labs werent able to test samples for the new virus for weeks because of contamination from one of the reagents.

The issue was resolved in late February and labs in all 50 states are now testing samples, as well as some commercial labs.
A two-day conference organised by the Institute of Defence Studies and Analysis (IDSA), which was to start from Thursday, has been postponed due to the coronavirus threat.

According to the schedule, the conference, which had seminars on a range of security issues in Asia, was to be attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Home Minister Amit Shah.

"Due to the prevailing global situation with regard to COVID-19, it has been decided to postpone the 21st Asian Security Conference (ASC) to a later date. Fresh dates for the Conference will be conveyed in due course," the IDSA said in an email to the participants.

The conference organised by IDSA, now rechristened Manohar Parrikar Institute of Defence Studies and Analysis, was to be attended by participants from countries such as the US, Russia, Australia, Vietnam, Sweden, Belgium, Japan and the UK.
The Prime Minister has instructed ministries and localities to speed up preparations to set up large-scale quarantine facilities and ready all resources thereof.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phucs directive, issued Wednesday, requires everyone traveling from or transiting through areas with the novel coronavirus to be under strict quarantine upon entering Vietnam. They will subsequently be screened and appropriate anti-epidemic measures taken to avoid cross infection.

The PM has also directed that the staff and members of the armed forces working in such centralized quarantine areas to be protected and looked after well to avoid getting infected.

The ministries of Health and Foreign Affairs have been assigned the task of announcing the list of countries and territories experiencing the Covid-19 outbreak so people traveling from or transiting through them are quarantined.

Tran Dac Phu, an adviser at the Vietnam Public Health Emergency Operations Center, said that large-scale quarantine involves the quarantining of entire communes, localities, streets or apartment blocks, similar to the lockdown of Son Loi Commune in Vinh Phuc Province and of Hanoi's Truc Bach neighborhood.

The PM has tasked localities with zoning, quarantining and immediately disinfecting all areas with novel coronavirus infections.

They have to strictly control people going in and out of quarantine areas; review and follow up on every person who has entered the country in the past 14 days, but is not under centralized quarantine; promptly detect infection sources; and quarantine or monitor those whove come into contact with Covid-19 patients in accordance with the health ministry's guidelines.

Localities and functional forces must also strengthen control over people entering the country by air, land or sea routes; and strictly control entry along the southwestern border. Flights between Vietnam and areas with the outbreak, including those operated by foreign airlines, should be minimized.

Starting Thursday, Vietnam will suspend visa waiver for eight European countries: Denmark, Norway, Finland, Sweden, the U.K, France, Germany and Spain.

The PM also decided last Friday that ethnic Vietnamese from South Korea and Italy and their family members will no longer be granted visa-free entry.

The PM has also tasked the ministries Health and Science, Technology and Environment with studying measures to prevent, control, treat and develop a vaccine for Covid-19, as also put a novel coronavirus test kit to use.

In addition to restricting meetings and crowded events, the PM has also requested that government agencies enhance the application of information technology in their works, and encourage people to use online public services.

As of Wednesday, Vietnam had recorded 38 Covid-19 infections, including 22 new cases discovered in the last five days. The previous 16 patients were discharged weeks ago.

The Covid-19 epidemic has so far spread to 121 countries and territories, infecting over 120,000 people and killing over 4,300.
Building on success isnt so easy, but for one Redding woman, LEGO may be the way to do it.

Jessica Ewud, who goes by the name Ragzy X, has been building LEGO masterpieces for almost the past decade, and has made quite a name for herself.

Lately, Ewud can be seen on screen on FOXs hit show, LEGO Masters.

I love being in a competitive environment, said Ewud. Its crazy, no pun intended, to think of how all the pieces connected together.

The show, which was adopted over from the U.K., aired its first episode of February 5, and features LEGO Batman Movie star Will Arnett as the host. Weekly, Ewud and her building partner, Samuel Hatmaker, face off against nine other teams for the title of LEGO Master.

Ewuds journey to the show has not been linear however; overcoming the gender stereotypes in her youth of the building toys.

When I was a child, I was actually told I couldnt play with LEGOs because LEGO was considered to be for boys, said Ewud. Now, the 32-year-old artist is using LEGO as her primary medium in crafting what she calls pop science art.

One of Ewuds most famous pieces was actually one of her first experiences as a LEGO artist - the LEGO Lincoln.

When I was really doing some soul searching a few years ago, and I wanted to take my artwork to the next level; it kind of just came to me, said Ewud. One night I had this dream that I made this piece and the name of this piece was called Lego Lincoln. I thought it was so brilliant that I literally woke myself out of sleep, wrote it down, and the next day, I went out to get the materials for it.

While numerous LEGO Lincolns have been made since then, perhaps one of the most iconic is the 4,000 brick version that currently stands in Rockefeller Plaza in New York City. Eagle-eyed viewers will also be quick to note that in the background is wording from Lincolns Gettysburg Address.

That LEGO Lincoln is what foretold me as an artist in the Lego World, Ewud added.

Though LEGO is not a traditional art medium, Ewud notes that LEGO have taken on a sort of symbolism for her that goes beyond the bricks.

My artwork is not just LEGO just because its bold; its developed a sort of meaning behind my work, said Ewud. I like to do things that are very iconic and the LEGO, to me, symbolize the building blocks of something,

For example, Abraham Lincoln is the building block of civil rights in America, Ewud added.

Ewud has gone on to make LEGO versions of Andy Warhol artwork as well as LEGO tributes to Marilyn Monroe and Coco Chanel. She has also attracted attention from art collectors around the world, and has had her artwork hang alongside the likes of Salvador Dali and Ron English.

Ewud encourages younger artists to develop their passion in what she calls free building, and to let their imaginations run wild with the bricks.

If youre going to create or make something, make something that is important to you and that you love because youll end up dedicating the time to do it, said Ewud.

There is no right or wrong way to put together LEGO bricks.

Art by Jessica "Ragzy" Ewud can be found on her website.
Emerging Diseases: A COLL 150 seminar tracks the COVID-19 outbreak in real time

Watching the outbreak emerge: Beverly Sher is a faculty member in William & Marys Department of Chemistry. She has been teaching a freshman course called Emerging Diseases since 1996. This semester, her students got to follow the emergence of COVID-19 in real time. Photo by Stephen Salpukas Photo - of - Hide Caption

It was the first day of class, and Beverly Sher had a question for the William & Mary freshmen enrolled in her Emerging Diseases class.

I asked, Have you guys been reading about this coronavirus? she recalled. They all looked at me blankly.

That was late January, and the novel coronavirus now named SARS-CoV-2 was just beginning to thrust its crown-shaped head into the public perception. On the second day of class, some of the students reported what they found about the troubling pathogen that was causing concern in Wuhan, China.

Then they started bringing in articles, Sher said. Theyre on top of it now.

SARS-CoV-2 is the agent behind the outbreak of the disease known at COVID-19. Sher has been teaching Emerging Diseases at William & Mary since 1996. Its a COLL 150 course, part of the universitys curriculum for first-year students. Like all COLL 150s, Emerging Diseases is taught in a seminar format that emphasizes research and writing.

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Emerging Diseases is a particularly popular choice in the slate of COLL 150 courses; Sher attributes the popularity of her seminar to the high number of William & Mary students aiming to go on to medical school. Sher is a senior lecturer in the universitys Department of Chemistry and also serves as the health professions advisor to William & Marys undergraduate students.

The students in Emerging Diseases, like all freshmen at William & Mary, are too early in their studies to declare a major, but she says, Twelve of the 16 students in this class self-identify as pre-med.

Those 16 students were in the right course at the right time to trace developments surrounding the novel coronavirus from late January, when the World Health Organization declared the pathogen to be a public health emergency of international concern. Theres been a lot to keep track of.

We have something happening in the world that is unprecedented. At least according to Tom Frieden, Sher said. He said, Never before has a new pathogen emerged and caused a global spread like this. And James Lawler, a public health expert from the University of Nebraska, has said the U.S. should be prepared to cope with case numbers that could be up to 10 times as high as in a typical flu season.

A significant portion of Emerging Diseases has always been keeping up with the latest developments. Sher encourages her students to eschew the dubious world of social media in favor of more reliable media outlets and people like Frieden, an infectious-disease physician who also is the former director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The problem with the coronavirus news right now is that there is so much of it, she said.

Sher reminds them to be wary of websites bearing unsourced material. She added that that her students are pretty capable of winnowing out nonsense and material that seems to carry a suspicious agenda. And she points them to electronic sources that she has found to be valuable. For instance, she recommends the website of the University of Minnesotas Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, among others.

CDC.gov is pretty darn trustworthy, Sher said. And Ive been recommending certain sources of information on the coronavirus specifically. Johns Hopkins has a really great dashboard, for example. And there's a once-a-day newsletter that comes from there.

Students in the Emerging Diseases course incorporate relevant primary sources into their research routine. Sher said that every student presents on a scientific paper during the class.

One of the great things about some of the sources I've been using is that they link you to the scientific publications, she said. And, you know, sometimes the news doesn't quite get it right, but if you can look at the paper and see what the paper actually said, you have a better understanding of what the news story should have said.

Social media and dodgy websites are not the only sources of misinformation, of course. There is also the campus grapevine, and Sher says her students have brought to class unfounded rumors. The university posts the latest word on the situation on a dedicated COVID-19 webpage.

Most years, the class studies historical outbreaks such as the 1918 flu, Ebola and AIDS, but COVID-19 isnt the first infectious disease that Emerging Diseases students have watched emerge.

My students knew about SARS before most people, because they were reading ProMED, Sher said. Its a moderated listserv; the moderators only put up things that they think are high quality. We read this little item about weird things happening in southern China.

The weird reports included rumors of doctors and nurses dying. There was a run on traditional remedies. It seems there was some sort of infection brewing.

And within a day, WHO announced that China had told them they had a problem, she said. So my students were seeing it at the very beginning.

Sher got wind of reports of what became COVID-19 in much the same way: vetted, reliably sourced reports via ProMED. She began following the outbreak in December or early January and so was able to bring the new Emerging Diseases class up to speed as the spring semester began.

The great thing about all of the electronic resources we have available is that students can look over the shoulders of the experts and see what they're saying and see it pretty much in real time, she said.

As news about the novel coronavirus advances and COVID-19 itself shows up in more and more tests, Sher has some advice for the general public: Pay attention.

Each section of Emerging Diseases includes study of what Sher calls my favorite graph in the whole world. It shows the progressive decline in deaths from infectious diseases over the 20th century  except for a spike representing the 1918 flu, which was responsible for millions of deaths worldwide.

The 1918 flu is why were afraid of flu, she said. And if were comparing this new thing to the 1918 flu  boy, its time to pay attention.

Sher recommends people pay attention to announcements and recommendations from the Virginia Department of Health. Everyone should keep up with reports from the Centers for Disease Control. She added that the CDC has an excellent set of preparation guides for emergencies ranging from natural disasters to pandemics.

At one point, they even had preparations for the zombie apocalypse, she said. Im not kidding.

Most of the CDC-recommended precautions will be familiar for anyone facing an eventuality that might require them to stay home for a while.

Make sure that you have your medications, and try to have as much medication as your insurance company will let you get. And they talk about a supply of food for two weeks, basically, being able to be on your own for a while, she said. And, you know, I've lived through enough hurricanes in Williamsburg to know this is a really good list of things to have.
Jackson County Celebrates Ladies Of The Legislature

Women in Jackson County Lead in the Legislature Sunday, March 8 is International Women's Day around the world. This year's theme is #EachforEqual, which makes an equal world an individual responsibility for everyone. The campaign's challenge is to recognize stereotypes, fight bias, broaden perceptions, improve situations and celebrate women's achievements.

Kansas City Double Gunfire Erupts Overnight

Kansas City Police investigate double shooting KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Kansas City Police were called to a double shooting near East 29th and Park Avenue Tuesday night. Police said two people were shot just before 9:30 p.m. One person had minor injuries. The second victim was in non-life threatening condition.

Golden Ghetto Faker Pays Price

Man sentenced in scheme to turn $1 bills into $100 bills OVERLAND PARK, KS (AP) - A California man has been sentenced to three years in prison for washing the ink off $1 bills in an Overland Park hotel room and reprinting them to look like $100 bills. The U.S. attorney's office says 51-year-old John Sebestyen, of Mission Viejo, California, also was ordered Monday to pay nearly $20,000 in restitution.

Sleaze Scummit Crook Shows Determination & Skill

Renters in shock after burglar uses power tools to break into Lee's Summit storage unit LEE'S SUMMIT, Mo. - Renters at a storage center said they couldn't believe what they'd found. Police in Lee's Summit said those people were ripped off during the weekend, as a burglar used power tools to cut through the walls of their storage units at the Storage Mart on U.S.

Candice Bikini Fashion Check

Candice Swanepoel Pulls Up Her Tiny Bikini Bottoms In A Crocheted Top Victoria's Secret Angel Candice Swanepoel celebrated International Women's Day with a bikini photo as she slipped into a stylish, new two-piece from her own swimwear line, Tropic of C. The stunning lingerie model wowed in a crocheted top and a pair of pretty skimpy bottoms as she put her flawless model body on full show for the camera.

Biden Victory Postscript

5 takeaways as Biden takes command of Democratic race on Super Tuesday II Joe Biden is marching to the Democratic presidential nomination.

Push Back Against Justice

A Federal Judge Condemned the "Roberts Court's Assault on Democracy." It's About Time. Wells Fargo Is the Crooked Bank That Will Never Quit Streak of Extremely Ominous News Interrupted by Reasonable Proposal in Congress, of All Places Can Michigan Go Weird for Bernie Sanders Again? A Reagan-Era Legal Opinion May Allow Trump to Censor Coronavirus Information Nowhere is the problem of asymmetrical rhetorical warfare more apparent than in the federal judiciary.

Italia Inside

American in Rome describes Italy's coronavirus lockdown: 'The message here is, "Everyone stays at home"' Fox News' Courtney Walsh joined "Tucker Carlson Tonight" via Skype from Rome Tuesday to provide an update on the coronavirus outbreak in Italy one day after the country's government instituted a nationwide lockdown. "There have been over 10,000 cases of Coronavirus infections...and the government is taking drastic measures now," said Walsh, who remains under self-quarantine.

Hard Times For Deplatformed Alt-Right Conspiracy Talker

Infowars' Alex Jones accused of DWI Infowars founder and conspiracy theorist Alex Jones was arrested in Texas on a charge of driving while intoxicated, the Travis County Sheriff's Office said.

Kangaroo Good Deeds

UMKC Enactus competes to do the most good in the world Unlike many other organizations around the world, UMKC's Enactus group values a healthy competition. It tries to challenge students to go the extra mile, think outside the box and present multiple solutions for solving real world problems. Its main goal is simple yet ambitious: to create a positive change in the world.

Kansas City Artsy Redux

The future is unclear for some who receive funding for the arts that City Hall has provided for several years Local filmmakers fear cuts to the Film office in Visit KC will jeopardize bringing shows like Queer Eye to Kansas City.

March Morning Forecast

A nice day with a few showers and thunderstorms after midnight tonight KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Share in our weather experience on the weather blog. Click on the blog at the top of the page for more information. For a full list of weather alerts, click here.

Right nowinspires our first look at pop culture, community news and info from across the nation and around the world.is the song of the day and this is thefor right now . . .
A North Carolina high school student and a school bus driver are facing felony charges related to alleged sexual assaults that police say occurred on the bus.

Brandon Tyler Lane, an 18-year-old student at Southern Alamance High School, is accused of physically and sexually assaulting middle school and high school students on the bus, WFMY reported.

The bus driver, 42-year-old Samuel Bradly Freeze, was aware of the alleged incidents but took no action, police said, according to the news outlet.

The Alamance County Sheriffs Office and the Alamance-Burlington School System began investigating March 5, WXII reported.

Through their investigation, officials talked to witnesses and the alleged victims and found video showing Lane assaulting a middle school student, the station reported.

Investigators determined that Freeze knew what Lane was doing but didnt do anything to stop it, WGHP reported.

Freeze, who has since lost his job with the school district, had been working as a substitute bus driver with the district since 2003 and had begun coaching junior varsity wrestling last year, according to WGHP.

Lane has been charged with attempted second-degree forcible sex, misdemeanor sexual battery and four counts of misdemeanor assault, according to media reports.

Freeze was charged with aiding and abetting second-degree forcible sex offense, felony child abuse involving sex acts and four counts of misdemeanor child abuse.
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on Tuesday signed a much-awaited decree that would facilitate the release of the Taliban prisoners.

The release of prisoners was a part of a peace deal signed by the United States and the Taliban last month.

Making the announcement about the decree, Ghani's spokesperson Sediq Sediqqi on Tuesday said that details will be shared on Wednesday.

"President Ghani has signed the decree that would facilitate the release of the Taliban prisoners in accordance with an accepted framework for the start of negotiation between the Taliban and the Afghan government. Details of the decree will be shared tomorrow," tweeted Sediqqi.

This comes a day after Ghani took oath as the president of Afghanistan.

The president had previously rejected the Taliban demand for its fighters to be released.

The announcement will give an impetus to save the deal which witnessed the shakedown as the Taliban have launched several attacks on the Afghan forces.

On February 29, the United States and the Taliban had 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.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Taiwan Boosts Production of Face Masks, Controls Sale And Exports

2020-03-10 -- Authorities in democratic Taiwan have banned the export of face-masks amid the global coronavirus epidemic, while curbing panic-buying at home with a centralized production, distribution and rationing system for its 23 million residents.

The government recently ordered 60 production lines to be set up to make surgical masks for frontline medics and the general public, President Tsai Ing-wen told journalists on Tuesday.

"Using mask production as an example, [we have brought in] export controls, government requisitioning, unified pricing and managed allocation, as well as increasing production capacity to bring new mask production online," Tsai said.

"There are behind-the-scenes heroes at every step in the process," she said. "It's not easy working nights."

"Now, not only are we seeing results, but many other countries are beginning to look at Taiwan and study its epidemic prevention plan," Tsai said. "All of this has been possible because we have planned ahead and taken action sooner rather than later."

The mask production drive was part of Tsai's government's bid to stave off panic-buying of crucial supplies during the COVID-19 outbreak, which has seen a total of just 47 cases and one death in spite of its position on China's doorstep.

Masks are now available for named customers to buy online, as well as in pharmacies across the island, officials said on Tuesday.

Mask sale limits

Premier Su Tseng-chang said a real-name purchasing system will now operate online as well as in stores.

"People will be able to pick up the masks they ordered at supermarkets two weeks later," Su said.

Health and Welfare Minister Chen Shih-chung, who heads the Central Epidemic Command Center, said the move had been brought in to ensure that office workers who didn't have time to stand in line could still access protective supplies.

"If everyone orders online and knows when it's coming, this will relieve the pressure on office workers having to stand in line," Chen told journalists.

Masks are currently limited to seven per adult per week and five per child, using national ID cards to ensure nobody buys more than their share.

The island's Academia Sinica on announced on Sunday that a team of its scientists had developed antibodies that can identify the protein that makes up the coronavirus, paving the way for a new, super-fast test for the disease.

While hospitals in Italy and Wuhan have been overwhelmed by coronavirus cases, and crucial supplies are running out in other countries, Taiwan's government had its public health response already in place after developing it in the wake of the 2003 SARS epidemic.

In spite of having more than a million of its nationals living or traveling to mainland China and millions of tourist arrivals from China annually, and in spite of the outbreak exploding ahead of the Lunar New Year travel rush, the island has managed to stave off a major outbreak in the community so far.

Learning from SARS outbreak

The kingpin of Taiwan's response has been its National Health Command Center (NHCC), set up in 2004 to ensure the mistakes of the SARS epidemic wouldn't be repeated.

Officials were already checking arrivals from mainland China for fever or pneumonia by Dec. 31, as soon as China notified the World Health Organization (WHO) of the emergence of a new kind of pneumonia.

Two weeks later, anyone who had been to Wuhan in the previous two weeks was under health surveillance, while the island activated its Central Epidemic Command Center as early as Jan. 20, before the Chinese authorities had even ordered the lockdown of Wuhan.

According to the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website: "Taiwan employed the most powerful tools at its disposal  big data and analytics."

Officials used Taiwan's national health insurance program database and matched it with immigration records, quickly identifying anyone who had recently sought medical care after arriving from China.

Health officials began testing patients for coronavirus if they had severe respiratory illness and a negative influenza test so they could identify unsuspected cases and anyone with whom the patients might have had contact, CDC said.

Hotlines were set up for people to report suspicious symptoms or cases, while officials ensured there were enough supplies in place before the disease had had chance to spread in the community.

Classes are canceled if one student gets sick, and schools are closed if two pupils get sick. The closure of one third of schools in a given area will trigger the closure of all schools.

Meanwhile, Taiwan-based vaccine maker Adimmune Corporation has announced that a candidate vaccine for COVID-19 could be ready for animal trials as soon as May, the Taiwan News reported.

The company, which also makes seasonal influenza vaccines, said that once its planned new production line is operational, it will be able to fully supply orders both at home and abroad.

Reported by Hwang Chun-mei for RFA's Mandarin Service, and by the Cantonese Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-11 16:13:01|Editor: huaxia

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SHANGHAI, March 11 (Xinhua) -- A stopover passenger from the Republic of Korea (ROK) now being quarantined in Shanghai wrote a message of thanks, showing gratitude toward a raft of heartwarming measures of the city to help foreigners amid the virus outbreak.

The ROK passenger was visited by staff members of the Shanghai People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (SPAFFC) on Sunday who brought him food such as coffee and biscuits.

"The greetings from SPAFFC at this special time make us expatriates in quarantine feel the inclusiveness of Shanghai," reads the note.

"I fully understand the strict measures Shanghai has taken to prevent the spread of the epidemic. The virus is ruthless, but Shanghai is affectionate. Let's meet in the spring blossoms!" he said.

To contain the virus, Shanghai has required all people who have lived in or traveled to countries with a high rate of COVID-19 14 days prior to their arrival in Shanghai to undergo a 14-day quarantine at home or in designated places for medical observation.

As enterprises in Shanghai are resuming operation, thanks to the progress of China's tough anti-virus efforts, many foreigners are now returning to the metropolitan.

According to local authorities, those quarantined foreigners are provided with necessities by community workers and in designated quarantine places, interpreters are available to ensure smooth communication.

"Amazing!" reads a message sent by a foreign resident undergoing home quarantine in Shanghai's Bansongyuan Community after receiving a pack of spaghetti, expressing thanks to community workers who often deliver quarantined residents' favorite foods to soothe their moods.

Bansongyuan is home to residents from 11 foreign countries, who, alongside the locals, strictly follow containment measures in the city's battle against the respiratory virus.

To help foreign residents better understand the city's anti-virus campaign, the community distributed packages of tips written in English, Japanese and Korean and medical materials such as thermometers and hand sanitizers.

The whole city is taking action to leave no one unattended. At airports, warm-hearted volunteers in Shanghai are working as interpreters to ensure foreigners to follow the epidemic prevention and control instructions of the city correctly.

"Many words and expressions related to COVID-19 are very new, and I have to browse Italian news every day and sometimes resort to my Italian friends to make the translation more understandable," said Lin Xiaoying, a voluntary Chinese-Italian interpreter.

Quite demanding though, Liu said it was worthwhile with more foreign passengers willing to cooperate.

"Many passengers are well-prepared now, writing down in advance their addresses in Shanghai, with some even written in Chinese. They would show it to the staff immediately after getting off the plane, which has greatly relieved the pressure of our work," Liu said.
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Praful Patel on Wednesday said that it is important to accept the fact that government in Madhya Pradesh is in crisis.

Speaking to reporters Patel said, "The way the political development is happening in Madhya Pradesh it is clear that government is struggling and it is important to accept that government in Madhya Pradesh is in crisis."

He said that if Congress had made efforts to solve the issue, this situation would have not arisen.

"My personal view is that had Congress party made efforts to solve the issue, this situation would have not arisen. It was the party's internal matter and then these development has come," he said.

"If 20 party MLAs resign in Madhya Pradesh than I think it would be difficult for the government to prove its majority," Patel added.

Scindia's resignation from the party on March 10, that triggered the resignation of 22 MLAs who are his loyalists, has left the Kamal Nath-led Congress government in Madhya Pradesh in a turmoil.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
South Korea witnessed a rapid surge in coronavirus cases and soon became one of the worst-hit countries outside China. Despite reporting over 7,000 cases, South Korea has succeeded in cutting down the number of infections and has reported one of the lowest coronavirus fatality rates in the world.

Heres what India and other countries can learn from Moon-Jae-ins leadership in tackling the coronavirus epidemic.

1. The South Korean authorities vigorously trace down the contacts of all those who tested positive for the virus.

2. The infected individuals would also be traced back to at least 14 days to understand the possible spread of the virus. The process would even include tracking credit card use, CCTV footage and mobile phone activity.

3. South Korea has been able to conduct a large number of diagnostic tests at a fast pace - an average of over 10,000 tests a day, reports news agency AFP.

4. The country has over 500 testing labs.

5. Just within weeks of coronavirus outbreak being reported in China, South Korea got newly-developed COVID-19 testing kits approved from the government for clinics across the nation.

Also read: Were treated as smugglers - Indians in coronavirus-hit Italy

South Korea has reported over 7,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus and only 60 fatalities. The number of coronavirus cases in the country is fourth highest in the world - after China, Italy and Iran - but with just 60 deaths, its coronavirus fatality rate falls well below the World Health Organisations global average.

Masahiro Kami, head of the Tokyo-based Medical Governance Research Institute, told news agency AFP, Testing is a crucial initial step to control the virus, Kami said, adding: Its a good model for every country.

Marylouise McLaws, epidemiologist and advisor to the World Health Organisation, said South Korea had gone in hard and fast, as opposed to Italy where she said the outbreak could have taken a different course if containment measures had been imposed earlier.

Also read: All individuals need not be screened for Covid-19 - Health Ministry

Italy, on the other hand, is being seen as the super spreader of coronavirus after China. In India, the maximum chunk of positive coronavirus cases either comprised of Italian tourists or those who had recently visited Italy and or coronavirus-affected hotspots.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday said that situation in coronavirus hotspot Italy is now emerging as a cause of great concern.

The steps in this regard have already been initiated. The challenge is growing by the day in Europe and we have to respond accordingly, Jaishankar told the Rajya Sabha, adding that the government is ready to tackle the coronavirus challenge.

(With inputs from AFP)
TORONTO, March 11, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- North Bud Farms Inc. (CSE: NBUD) (OTCQB: NOBDF) ("NORTHBUD" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the launch of its NORTHBUD branded products into select retailers in Nevada, USA. The products are manufactured through NORTHBUDs ownership and operating agreement with Nevada Botanical Sciences, Inc. (NBS), who is licensed for cultivation, manufacturing and distribution.



NORTHBUD Nevada Launch Strategy Update

Prior to its asset purchase transaction with NORTHBUD, previously announced on November 19, 2019, NBS had been exclusively servicing white label customers. Over the past 3.5 months, NBS and NORTHBUD have transitioned the Nevada operations to focus on NORTHBUD branded flower products, culminating with the recent launch of NORTHBUD Black 9 Lbs Hammer (Jinxproof phenotype) in 1 gram, 3.5 gram and 7 gram formats to select retailers in Reno, Nevada.

Over the coming weeks, the Company intends to expand distribution to multiple retailers in Northern Nevada and Las Vegas. NORTHBUD products will be available in both dried flower and pre-roll formats under the NORTHBUD White, Black and Platinum brands.

With over 45 million visitors a year from all over the world, Nevada is a key market for building an internationally recognized brand, and the Company believes that it is the ideal market for the launch of its NORTHBUD products. The Nevada market is considered one of the largest and most profitable in North America with recreational sales of USD$580 million in the first full year of legalization (2017 Nevada Dept. of Taxation).

The NORTHBUD and Bonfire Brands USA team are extremely proud to have launched our own branded products, making the state of Nevada our strategic entry point into the U.S. legal cannabis market, said Sean Homuth, CEO of NORTHBUD. We believe the NORTHBUD brand will offer a unique variety of products curated for experienced consumers who demand appropriately priced, high-quality cannabis flower.

About North Bud Farms Inc.

NORTHBUD, through its U.S. subsidiary Bonfire Brands USA, has acquired cannabis production facilities in California and Nevada. The Salinas, California 11-acre farm is actively cultivating cannabis in its 60,000 sq. ft. of licensed greenhouse production space, and also has active distribution and processing licenses. The Reno, Nevada property contains a world-class cannabis production, research and development facility with 5,000 sq. ft. of indoor cultivation, and holds medical and adult-use licenses for cultivation, extraction and distribution. Through its wholly-owned Canadian subsidiary, GrowPros MMP Inc., the Company is pursuing a license under The Cannabis Act, to cultivate in its state-of-the-art purpose-built cannabis production facility located on 135 acres of agricultural land in Low, Quebec, Canada.

For more information visit: www.northbud.com

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

Forward-looking statements

Certain statements and information included in this press release that, to the extent they are not historical fact, constitute forward-looking information or statements (collectively, forward-looking statements) within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking statements, include but are not limited to those identified by the expressions anticipate, believe, plan, estimate, expect, intend, may, should and similar expressions to the extent they relate to the Company or its management.

Forward-looking statements, including but not limited to, those regarding the Companys Nevada strategy, the success of the Companys licence application with Health Canada, the Companys ability to execute its strategic plan, conditions in the cannabis market, the Company entering agreements in connection with the B2B supply of cannabis and the Companys transition into a revenue-generating operational phase of development are based on the reasonable assumptions, estimates, analysis and opinions of management made in light of its experience and its perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, as well as other factors that management believes to be relevant and reasonable in the circumstances at the date that such statements are made, but which may prove to be incorrect.

Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, the risk factors included in the Companys final long form prospectus dated August 21, 2018, which is available under the Companys SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com . Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. Further, any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for the Company's management to predict all of such factors and to assess in advance the impact of each such factor on the Company's business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect information, events, results, circumstances or otherwise after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by law including securities laws. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of any offer to buy any securities of the Company.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

North Bud Farms Inc.

Edward Miller

VP, IR & Communications

Office: (855) 628-3420 ext. 3

investors@northbud.com
Xaxis, the Outcome Media Company and GroupMs advanced programmatic arm, in partnership with m/SIX and Lemma recently announced the results of their pioneering digital out-of-home (DOOH) campaign for Veeba Sauces. The campaign showcased new real-time audience targeting and measurement capabilities for out-of-home advertising and helped increasein-store sales by more than 15%.

Identifying buying patterns among consumers for Veeba Sauces, Xaxis designed the campaign to target the upper-middle-class population in Delhi. With a host of competing brands, standing out in stores was also a challenge. To reach out to their target audience, customers were targeted at three key touchpoints at the supermarket: before they entered the store, at the store and at the billing counter. Using Xaxis proprietary platform intelligence the campaign gained richer insights and analysis of all audience dynamics, enabling attribution of the effects of the contextualized content strategy as well as its impact on brand engagement and in-store behaviour.

As consumer attention becomes increasingly elusive, Xaxis DOOH capabilities, allowed Veeba Sauces to build connections with target audiences in real time andunderstand the direct impact of DOOH on the customer journey. By leveraging DOOH, brands can enjoy the benefits of digital display advertising, including data-driven targeting, measurement, and live creative updates, in localized, high-impact media sites. By 2021, digital is expected to account for 45% of alloutdoor media spend (WARC Global Ad Trends report, November 2018).

Ankit Sharma, brand manager at Veeba Food Services, commented: Xaxis presented us an opportunity to deliver programmatically digital out of home. With our fantastic product line-up, being able to display our message in target stores supported by mobile activity, remarketing to users who were within 20 meters of a DOOH location, was a smart approach. The campaign helped increase sales by 15% across the target 24/7 stores in Delhi. Moving forward, it is a channel we will be considering within our media mix.

Saket Sinha, senior vice president and head of m/SIX India, said: "M/SIX has always believed in outcome-based advertising, and that connecting with walkin consumers at a store is a critical part of the marketing funnel. By enabling brands to tap into the benefits of programmatic advertising, we were able to provide Veeba Sauces with a unique medium to reach consumers with eye-level messaging and cover an area far greater than what was possible through traditional OOH.

Bharat Khatri, country lead, Xaxis India added: Out-of-home advertising has always been an effective media channel to drive awareness for brands and now combined with programmatic technology this medium is more automated and measurable than ever before. We saw all the benefits of programmatic DOOH come to light, the ability to communicate in real-time through networked digital screens, wi-fi and mobile broadband to deliver contextually relevant messaging, and drive more immediate consideration, trial and purchase. This is a compelling reason for brands to invest in DOOH.

Gulab Patil, founder and CEO of Lemma said: Mapping audience parameters and behavioural tendencies to locations has taken DOOH advertising to new heights. Furthermore, programmatic technology has enhanced DOOH outputs with dynamic creative rendering abilities that empower advertisers to leverage the essence of the surrounding. In this case contextualized creatives for Veeba in sync with audience profile, placement & density influenced consumers in the last mile of the purchase journey, subsequently resulting in higher sales. Not only this, technology like ours provides data-mining opportunities which help brands garner information beyond mere exposures.
Post-secondary student leaders are slamming a proposal in the city's 2020-23 budget to kill the subsidized Winnipeg Transit U-Pass.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 10/3/2020 (671 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Post-secondary student leaders are slamming a proposal in the city's 2020-23 budget to kill the subsidized Winnipeg Transit U-Pass.

And a petition to save the program has been gaining traction, with more than 8,500 people adding their names to the appeal.

A small contingent of students from the University of Manitoba and the University of Winnipeg gathered on the steps of city hall Tuesday morning, calling on councillors to keep the U-Pass in the four-year plan.

They were joined by Waverley West Coun. Janice Lukes.

"Weve completely turned our back on the environment and were the only major city in Canada not to offer a U-Pass program," said University of Manitoba Students Union president Jakob Sanderson.

"Its abjectly embarrassing for the City of Winnipeg."

The program provides students enrolled at participating post-secondary institutions a deep discount for taking Winnipeg Transit during the academic year. Transits agreements with both schools expire in May.

The cost of the U-Pass  $160.75 per term  is included in tuition for students at the U of M and U of W; the cost of a monthly post-secondary pass is $81.65.

The post-secondary pass is maintained in the new preliminary budget, and students who are eligible can apply for the new low-income pass.

However, student leaders say the U-Pass program incentives transit ridership because the cost is built in to tuition fees.

Recent referendums at both institutions confirmed students desire to continue the program; 78 per cent of U of M students, and nearly 83 per cent of U of W students voted in favour of keeping the program with a fare increase.

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Mayor Brian Bowman said the subsidy applied to the U-Pass is greater than that of the proposed low-income bus pass.

"From an equity lens, theres something inherently wrong when you are saying to all students... regardless of their financial means, that they should have a deeper discount than someone living (on a) low income, including students," Bowman said.

"I think those that need the help the most in our society for transit should get the support."

City council is scheduled to vote on the budget March 25.

 With files from Joyanne Pursaga

danielle.dasilva@freepress.mb.ca
A National Workshop on the Harmonized System and Tariff Management was held in Luanda, Angola, from 17 to 21 February 2020. The Workshop focused on both current issues and preparation for the implementation of the 2022 edition of the HS. The Workshop was organized jointly by the WCO and the Customs Administration of Angola (AGT), with the support of the EU-WCO Programme for HS in Africa, funded by the European Union. It was facilitated by experts from both the WCO Secretariat and the Customs Administration of Brazil. It was attended by 30 officials from all regions of Angola and the Headquarters that work on tariff classification related areas.

The Workshop looked at uniformity in the interpretation and application of the HS Nomenclature and the improvement of the current classification work model. The amendments that would be brought in under HS 2022 were discussed with the participants and Angola Customs presented its Elaboration Plan for the Customs Tariff HS 2022 version. The plan includes all the steps to be taken at administrative, executive and legislative levels in order to achieve the implementation, in January 2022, of HS 2022 in the Customs tariff. Furthermore, the Workshop offered an opportunity to discuss the WCO tools and instruments to assist users of the HS in order to modernize their tariff classification work and related infrastructure.

The Deputy Commissioner General of the Angola Customs Administration, Ms. Monica Carneiro, highlighted the importance of HS classification as one of the pillars of Customs and recognized the need of imparting the necessary knowledge to the officials that work in this area. She thanked the WCO and the European Union for working together with Angola Customs in order to strengthen this important technical area.

The participants worked in groups on the diagnostic assessment for the implementation of the Recommendation of the Customs Cooperation Council on the improvement of tariff classification work and related infrastructure, and presented the summary of their work, including an action plan with proposals and solutions related to the modernization of classification work. The Workshop was the first activity in Angola in cooperation with the WCO within the framework of the EU-WCO Programme for HS in Africa, to further regional integration and to harmonize national models of implementation of HS amendments.

For more information, please contact capacity.building@wcoomd.org.
Senate Minority Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) arrives to speak to abortion demonstrators at a rally outside the Supreme Court in Washington on March 4, 2020. (Andrew Harnik/AP Photo)

Schumer Hit With Mounting Ethics Complaints for Supreme Court Comment

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) has been hit with several ethics complaints over his remarks critical of two conservative Supreme Court justices that some interpreted as a threat.

Complaints were filed with the Senate Ethics Committee and the New York bars Grievance Committee following Schumers comments at an abortion rally outside the court building last week.

It came after Schumer said on March 4 that Supreme Court Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, who were both appointed by President Donald Trump, would pay the price if they upheld a law in Louisiana that mandates that abortion doctors should be preapproved to check their patients into nearby hospitals. Some interpreted his words as a threat or call to action for violence against the two.

I want to tell you, Gorsuch, I want to tell you, Kavanaugh: You have released the whirlwind, and you will pay the price, Schumer said to protesters who were gathered in front of the Supreme Court in Washington last week. You wont know what hit you if you go forward with these awful decisions.

Some allege that Schumers statements were in violation of ethics rules.

In a letter sent Monday to New Yorks Grievance Committee for the Second Judicial District, where Schumer is admitted, attorney Joseph Gioconda wrote that Schumers remarks appear to be improper conduct that reflects upon his character and fitness to practice law in New York.

Meanwhile on March 6, the New York bar and the Senate Ethics Committee received complaints from the non-profit organization National Legal Policy Center.

The group alleged Schumer violated ethics rules by engaging in improper conduct which may reflect upon the Senate, Fox News reported. The complaint also alleged Schumers conduct was prejudicial to the administration of justice, and that he therefore violated New Yorks Rules of Professional Conduct.

The Senate Ethics Committee also received another complaint from the Landmark Legal Foundation on March 5, which asked the senate to immediately reprimand, if not censure Schumer for his outrageous and dangerous attack on Gorsuch and Kavanaugh.

The complaint alleged Schumers comments may have constituted improper conduct which may reflect upon the Senate.

A day after Schumer made the remarks, Schumer apologized, saying: I should not have used the words I used yesterday. They didnt come out the way I intended to.

My point was that there would be political consequencespolitical consequencesfor President Trump and Senate Republicans if the Supreme Court, with the newly confirmed justices, stripped away a womans right to choose, he remarked on the Senate floor.

Of course I didnt intend to suggest anything other than political and public opinion consequences for the Supreme Court and it is a gross distortion to imply otherwise, he added.

The minority leader was admonished by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and other senators. At least one Republican, Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), said he would attempt to censure Schumer.

Jack Phillips contributed to this report.
House prices appear to be growing again as buyers return to the market, the latest findings of a closely-watched survey reveal.

Yorkshire and the Humber, London and East Anglia saw the 'strongest momentum' for house price growth in the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors' February report.

The number of agreed sales, new buyer enquiries and fresh listings on estate agents' books all grew last month, the figures show.

But, the Rics warned that the return to growth in the property market could yet stumble, with members worried about the impact of the coronavirus.

Shoots of growth: House prices appear to be growing again as buyers return to the market

People may be less likely to view properties, hampering the crucial spring selling season.

Simon Rubinsohn, chief economist at Rics, said: 'It is encouraging that the results of the survey continue to show a positive trend both in terms of potential buyer interest and new instructions.

'The firmer trend in appraisals suggests that the picture could improve providing the coronavirus doesn't become more of an inhibitor.'

He added: 'For now at least, feedback around expectations are consistent with activity levels continuing to strengthen albeit relatively modestly.

Dominic Wedderburn, of property consultancy group Galbraith, said he had experienced 'some short term head winds with Coronavirus impacting viewings and listings.'

Rics said a net balance of 20 per cent of surveyors  meaning more were positive than negative  saw a rise rather than a fall in housing market inquiries in February.

Market: National property prices from 1995 to the present day, according to the Rics

Meanwhile, a net balance of 29 per cent of surveyors reported house price increases in February.

All regions saw growth with London, Yorkshire and the Humber, and East Anglia having the biggest boosts.

Adding to the potential bounce, a net balance of 22 per cent of surveyors expect house prices to increase further over the spring.

There are also signs that supply is increasing with the number of new homes coming onto the market nudged up for a third successive month, with West Midlands and the South East seeing the biggest jump.

Disappointing: A hoped-for stamp duty cut failed to materialise in the new Chancellor's Budget on Wednesday

Scotland was the only area where estate agents reported a drop in the number of homes being sold.

In the lettings market, tenant demand rose for a third consecutive month, while landlord instructions fell. Over the next five years, rental costs are expected to grow by around 3 per cent a year.

Hew Edgar, head of Rics UK Government Relations & City Strategy, said: 'With demand for new homes set to grow even further, there is much the Government can do to help level-up the property market in the UK which is transitioning outside of the EU  but it does require bold action up-front to maintain the positive momentum.'

Sales: New agreed home sales across the country over the years

Meanwhile, Jeremy Leaf, a north London estate agent and a former RICS residential chairman, said: The usually reliable RICS survey suggests that house-price inflation, demand and new listings have been increasing for the past few months, which is good news, even though it is based largely on pre-virus responses.

It confirms what many of our buyers and sellers are telling us - that the impact will be serious but short term.

'Our viewings are about 25 per cent lower than we might have expected at this time of year but sales are not being cancelled so far and we have even seen exchanges of contract immediately post-Budget.

A hoped-for stamp duty cut failed to materialise in the new Chancellor's Budget on Wednesday.

Instead a 2 per cent surcharge was announced for foreign buyers. But with the hike not due to arrive until April 2021, Budget forecasts showed that the Treasury expects a spike in purchases before that, which could lead to a mini-London boom.
The Jai Vilas Mahal is currently owned by Indian politician Jyotiraditya Scindia who belongs to the House Of Scindia, which, once upon a time ruled Gwalior and the family continues to be bestowed upon with a lot of love and respect by everyone in the state.

Here are few interesting facts we found about the palace built by Maharaja Srimanta Madhavrao Scindia and what make it unique:

1. Built in 1874 by Maharajadhiraj Shrimant Jayajirao Scindia Alijah Bahadur and costing a whopping Rs. 1 crore back then, the beautiful palace is worth over Rs. 4000 crore today. It has a huge court hall and houses over 5000 books. The palace was designed by architect Sir Michael Filose who drew inspiration from Italian,Tuscan and Corinthian style of architecture.

2. There are over 400 rooms in the palace, a part of which is used as a museum to treasure history. Spread over 1,240,771 square feet, a major part of the palace has been preserved the way it was built. One of the biggest attractions of this palace include a 3500 kg chandelier.

The roof is adorned in gold and legend has it that around 8 elephants were suspended from the roof to check if the roof could bear the weight of the chandelier before its installation!

3. The majestic palace was built as a gesture of grand welcome for the Prince of Wales, King Edward VI and was also the residence of the Scindia dynasty and was made open to the general public in 1964.

Freshly minted BJP leader Jyotiraditya Scindia is the current legal owner of this magnanimous palace, and his property inheritance is known to be close to USD 2 billion.

In case you ever visit Gwalior, make sure you pay a visit to this culturally rich and historically royal palace.
WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump's proposed payroll tax break met with bipartisan resistance Tuesday on Capitol Hill as pressure mounts on the administration and Congress to work more vigorously to contain the coronavirus outbreak and respond to the financial fallout.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 9/3/2020 (672 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Vice President Mike Pence speaks in the briefing room of the White House in Washington, Monday, March 9, 2020, about the coronavirus outbreak as U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams, Dr. Deborah Birx, White House coronavirus response coordinator, and Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Seema Verma listen. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump's proposed payroll tax break met with bipartisan resistance Tuesday on Capitol Hill as pressure mounts on the administration and Congress to work more vigorously to contain the coronavirus outbreak and respond to the financial fallout.

Flanked by his economic team, Trump pitched his economic stimulus ideas privately to wary Senate Republicans on another grueling day in the struggle against expanding infections. Fluctuating stock markets rebounded but communities discovered new cases and the two top Democratic presidential candidates, Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden, cancelled Tuesday primary night rallies in Ohio.

The president's GOP allies have been cool to additional spending at this stage, especially for cutting taxes that would have to be reimposed later  presumably after the November election. Democrats prefer their own package of low- or no-cost virus testing, unemployment insurance and sick pay for workers struggling to keep paychecks coming as the outbreak disrupts workplaces.

President Donald Trump gestures for Vice President Mike Pence to speaks in the briefing room of the White House in Washington, Monday, March 9, 2020, about the coronavirus outbreak. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

We're taking this unbelievably seriously," Trump said after his meeting at the Capitol. It will go away, just stay calm.

Asked why he has not yet been tested for the virus, after having been in close contact with several advisers and members of Congress who are now self-quarantined after exposure, Trump said: I don't think it's a big deal and "I feel very good.

White House officials have been blindsided by the president's sudden moves. As Trump headed to Capitol Hill, two administration officials said the proposals he was putting in play had not been completed. They were unauthorized to discuss the planning and requested anonymity.

Trump's team offered few specifics at the closed door GOP lunch on the size of the payroll tax break or its duration, senators said. Trump has long promised to bring about an election year "tax cuts 2.0," and seemed to be seizing on the virus fears as a way to bring about a victory on that front before November. Behind closed doors he discussed the coming elections in swing states like Arizona and Montana where GOP senators face tough races.

President Donald Trump listens as Vice President Mike Pence speaks during a meeting on the Coronavirus with health care company leaders, in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, Tuesday, March 10, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

In addition to payroll tax relief, Trump has said he wants help for hourly-wage workers to ensure theyre not going to miss a paycheque and dont get penalized for something thats not their fault." He's also mentioned small-business loans. But details are slight.

So far, the president's approach, based on tax breaks, is receiving a cool response. Some Republicans endorsed Trump's suggestion that help be provided to the beleaguered cruise-ship and airline industries, while others spoke up for other industries, including energy and gas. Some pushed for broader economic stimulus from a bipartisan highway bill they said was shovel-ready and popular. The payroll tax plan remains a work in progress.

They didn't get into specifics, said the No. 2 Republican, Sen. John Thune of South Dakota.

Increasingly, it appears a solution will originate in the House, where Speaker Nancy Pelosi told House Democrats they would keep working this week despite concerns about the risk of infection at the Capitol.

President Donald Trump walks with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky., to a meeting with lawmakers on Capitol Hill, Tuesday, March 10, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

"We are the captains of the ship, Pelosi said during a closed-door meeting, according to a person in the room unauthorized to discuss the private caucus and granted anonymity. We are the last to leave. But time is short as Congress heads toward its scheduled break next week.

Trump tapped Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to meet with Pelosi, whose support will be needed for any deal in the divided Congress, where Republicans hold the Senate majority but Democrats hold the House.

Munchin declared the meeting with Pelosi productive and said they'd "work together on a bipartisan basis to figure out how we can get things done quickly.

Pelosi insisted the threshold for any proposal must be its ability to respond to the virus. Her team was preparing to come out with a package in the next day or so.

President Donald Trump departs after speaking with lawmakers on Capitol Hill, Tuesday, March 10, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell was noncommittal after the meeting with Trump, emphasizing the path forward rests in the talks between Mnuchin and Pelosi. "Were hoping that he and the speaker can pull this together," he said.

That reflected divisions even within the administration on the best approach. The payroll-tax plan found support from Trump's son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner and trade adviser Peter Navarro, among others. Other aides, including Mnuchin and Larry Kudlow advocated more modest measures. Trump prefers the payroll tax holiday last through the end of the year, Kudlow said.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia.

The vast majority of people recover from the new virus. According to the World Health Organization, people with mild illness recover in about two weeks, while those with more severe illness may take three to six weeks to recover. In mainland China, where the virus first exploded, more than 80,000 people have been diagnosed and more than 58,000 have so far recovered.

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., returns to her office after meeting with fellow Democrats, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, March 10, 2020. President Donald Trump says his administration will ask Congress to pass payroll tax relief as he looks to calm financial markets' fears over the impact of the coronavirus epidemic. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

In Washington, there were mixed signals about the public mood. Tourists still arrived for visits while marquee events, including this weekend's Gridiron Club dinner, an annual mingling of political Washington, was postponed.

At the U.S. Capitol, some senators said they resisted shaking Trump's hand when he arrived for lunch. Lawmakers were given new instructions on how to protect themselves, with the House's attending physician asking them to stop shaking hands or touching people during greetings. He recommended the split-fingers Star Trek greeting instead.

Crowds are the norm in the Capitol and handshakes are coin of the realm there, even between political foes. But about a half dozen lawmakers  including Trump confidantes  have placed themselves in quarantine after being exposed to someone who had the virus, and the norm has been upended.

One, GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz, who self-quarantined after having travelled with the president from Florida on Air Force One on Monday, said he had tested negative for the disease. He said he would remain quarantined as a precaution. Another, Trump's incoming chief of staff. Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C, remains on quarantine.

During House Democrats' closed session, one lawmaker, California Rep. Raul Ruiz, who is a doctor, raised concerns about the situation, noting that the average age in Congress is 57. Some lawmakers have underlying health conditions and their work requires them to fly back and forth between home and the capital.

Still, Pelosi implored lawmakers to keep working to strengthen the country's defences.

But House and Senate leaders have made it clear there will be no voting by proxy. Quarantined lawmakers will be missing votes. Lawmakers were told up to 10,000 staff members could telework, if need be.

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The Securities and Exchange Commission, which monitors financial markets, encouraged employees at its Washington headquarters to work from home after an employee there had respiratory symptoms and was referred for coronavirus testing.

And Defence Secretary Mark Esper postponed a trip to India, Pakistan and Uzbekistan that was to begin Monday, citing the coronavirus crisis, Pentagon press secretary Alyssa Farah said Tuesday. She said he would remain in the U.S to help manage the Pentagon response.

___

Associated Press writers Lauran Neergaard, Andrew Taylor, Kevin Freking, Jill Colvin, Bob Burns, and Mary Clare Jalonick 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.
Marge Glassman retired to Florida nearly 30 years ago, but her children and grandchildren remain in the northern part of the country. On March 14, Glassman's youngest grandchild will get married in New York, and the 92-year-old says despite warnings that she is at a higher risk of contracting the coronavirus, she will fly from her Delray Beach home to the wedding.

Here, Glassman shares with TODAY contributor Terri Peters why she's willing to risk getting sick to attend the family event.

I am a very lucky lady because I have five terrific grandchildren. My youngest grandchild, Zach, is the last one to get married and will do so on March 14.

Although I'm in a high-risk age group for the coronavirus, I am not missing my grandson's wedding.

Glassman, left, with Zach at his college graduation in 2009. (Lexi Rudolph)

Some members of my family are very concerned about my decision to travel, of course. I've heard it all  "Are you sure you want to come?" and, "We all want you here, but we understand if you don't want to make the trip" and, "Maybe you shouldn't go"  but I'm determined to be there. I am going.

Zach is excited about the wedding but feels terrible about this crisis. I talked to him on the phone this week and told him I couldn't not go. I've seen each of my grandchildren go to their proms, graduate high school and college, and exchange vows with the ones they love. I will not miss this special young man's wedding.

I think everybody is a little bit nutty about the coronavirus, but I shouldn't say that because people are frightened and I understand that. But as part of one of the first groups of people officials said shouldn't travel  the elderly  I have been here before.

I'll be 93 in April, and I've gone through a lot of these health scares. I remember Ebola, SARS and the rest of them. I remember when influenza was more serious and can even recall people getting  and being afraid of getting  polio.

Story continues

Glassman with her husband, Max, who died five years ago, at their granddaughter Lexi's wedding in 2010. (L.D. Bright Photography)

At the beauty parlor this week, my friends didn't express worry about the possibility of me getting the coronavirus.

"Have a nice trip, Marge," they said. "We'll see you next week when you come back." At our age, we have learned to take these things in stride.

While I understand the situation will likely get worse in the U.S. before it gets better and know I fall into the group of the most vulnerable, right now, I feel physically healthy. And I can go. So I'm going because my grandson's wedding is important. I've been looking forward to it.

And if this virus does come knocking at my door, well, I'm 92. If I go, I'm going to go out in a world of glory.

And so, I'll board the airplane with my hand sanitizer and whatever those wipes are that they say to use to clean the seats. I'll hope there's no one else in my row, and if there is, I'll ask to move to a row with less people. Maybe I'm being optimistic, but I don't think this one germ is going to find me. I've survived lots of other ones.

Glassman at her 90th birthday party with her two daughters. (Lexi Rudolph)

For others thinking about traveling, I can't tell anybody else what to do. You just have to use your own common sense. To each their own, as they say.

As for me, I have a beautiful dress to wear to my grandson's wedding this weekend, so I can't let it go by the wayside. I'm ready to trot.

Editor's note: Glassman's granddaughter Lexi Rudolph is the vice president of booking for NBC News.
Michigan State University has a potential case of coronavirus on campus, and is moving entirely to online instruction starting at noon today, March 11, MSU President Samuel Stanley announced. The suspension of in-person classes will continue through April 20.

Early this morning we learned of an individual linked to our campus which the Ingham County Health Department is currently investigating and monitoring. Due to this, we are now taking additional steps to keep our community safe, Stanley said in an email sent today to the campus community.

Effective today at noon, MSU is suspending face-to-face instruction in lectures, seminars and classroom settings and moving coursework to virtual instruction, the email said.

Whitmer declares state of emergency as Michigan confirms first coronavirus cases

This suspension of in-person classes will last until Monday, April 20, and we will reevaluate this decision on an ongoing basis, sharing additional updates or modifications as more information becomes available, the email said.

Students who live in residence halls or off-campus can return home and "we strongly encourage this to reduce contagion, the email said.

In any situation, students are encouraged to practice appropriate social distancing and enhanced preventative public health measures, such as frequent and thorough hand-washing.

The email said the university will be communicating with students, faculty and staff about making the transition to online classes and working from home.

Events on campus also are being impacted, Stanley said.

While the MSU campus will remain open, the university is evaluating large events already scheduled, many that are associated with outside groups and organizations, the email said.

We will provide more information soon and urge everyone to consider the health implications of large gatherings and evaluate the essential nature of the events, he said. We will not be scheduling new events with more than 100 individuals in a confined space during for this time period unless there are special circumstances.

MSU issued new rules on university-related travel on Tuesday. All university-related international travel has been suspended through April 20, which includes new travel as well as any currently booked trips.

Students or staff in an international location not impacted by a Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advisory are not required to return home.

MSU also is suspending non-essential domestic university travel through April 20. There will be waivers available, and each situation will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by colleges and major administrative units.

The university is posting information at www.msu.edu/coronavirus for information and has a new toll-free hotline to help address questions, (888) 353-1294.

PREVENTION TIPS

Much like how you would try to prevent the flu, you want to stay away from people who are sick and practice good hygiene, says the CDC.

The latter means thoroughly washing your hands for at least 20 seconds, especially after using the bathroom and before eating. Avoid touching your mouth or face unless your hands are clean.

Use household cleaners to disinfect commonly touched objects and surfaces. Use disinfectant wipes to clean your hands or surfaces such as shopping-cart handles when out in public.

Some people are going the extra step and using smartphone sanitizers as a precaution, but a disinfecting wipe used lightly on the outside will likely work fine, too.
An attorney representing a handful of Jeffrey Epsteins female accusers has slammed the financier's longtime associated, Prince Andrew, for his unwillingness to cooperate with the United States Attorneys Office.

Prince Andrew has raised the hopes of Jeffrey Epstein victims and has now disappointed those hopes. This is cruel, Gloria Allred told FOX Business in an email Tuesday.

Allred represents a number of Epstein's accusers.

Victims deserve the whole truth regarding who may have conspired to sex traffic underage girls to Jeffrey Epstein," she said. "Prince Andrew could assist in learning the truth, but he appears to be refusing cooperation with the FBI.

Andrew, the Duke of York, announced in November he would be stepping away from his royal duties, noting that he unequivocally regretted his ill-judged associated with Epstein, a previously convicted sex offender who had been arrested in July for sex trafficking of a minor and related charges.

Of course, he said in the press release at the time, I am willing to help any appropriate law enforcement agency with their investigations, if required.

But for the second time in only months, U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman painted a much different picture.

"Contrary to Prince Andrew's very public offer to cooperate with our investigation into Epstein's co-conspirators, an offer that was conveyed via press release, Prince Andrew has now completely shut the door on voluntary cooperation and our office is considering its options, Berman told reporters Monday during an unrelated media event.

EPSTEIN-LINKED PRINCE ANDREW 'SHUT THE DOOR' ON PROBE COOPERATION: U.S. PROSECUTOR

His office would not clarify to Reuters when asked for more specifics about options.

The Dukes attorneys told Bermans office he would voluntarily agree to being interviewed, Reuters reports.

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Berman had made a similar statement at the end of January when he first revealed that despite their request to interview him, the Duke has "provided zero cooperation" in their efforts.

Story continues

PRINCE ANDREW UNCOOPERATIVE IN EPSTEIN PROBE: OFFICIALS

"This is so hypocritical on the part of Prince Andrew," Allred told The Daily Mail. "There is this drip drip drip and this torture chamber where he says he will speak to them, then he wont, then he will with conditions."

Allred previously told the BBC she once went as far as sending a letter to Andrew's home asking him to cooperate with authorities, but she never heard received a response.

Epstein died in August in the Metropolitan Correctional Complex in Manhattan, New York, where he was being housed while awaiting trial. The criminal case was dismissed following his death, but investigators are still probing many of Epsteins known associates, including Andrew and British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell, with whom the Duke reportedly frequently spent time.

Maxwell is seen in a photograph with Andrew and one of Epsteins accusers, Virginia Roberts Giuffre, who has accused Maxwell and the now-deceased financier of forcing her into sex with the royal when she was 17.

WHAT IS PRINCE ANDREW'S NET WORTH?

Giuffre told BBCs Panorama she was instructed by Maxwell to have sex with Andrew during a trip to London in March 2001 when she was 17.

BBC'S PRINCE ANDREW-CENTERED SPECIAL REVEALS NEW DETAILS IN EPSTEIN SEX SCANDAL

Ghislaine tells me that I have to do for Andrew what I do for Jeffrey and that made me sick, she said during the December interview, later adding: Well there was a bath and it started there and then it led into the bedroom and it didnt last very long, the whole, entire procedure. It was disgusting. He wasnt mean or anything but he got up and said, Thanks.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ON FOX BUSINESS

Andrew "emphatically denied" Giuffres claims.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Victim, church members outraged after former SBC pastor convicted of sex crimes returns to pulpit

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The Rev. Darrell Gilyard, a registered sex offender and protege of former Southern Baptist Convention President Paige Patterson, is under fire for getting back into the pulpit after serving time in prison for molesting two teenage girls.

Victims and critics alike say Gilyard, who is now the new pastor of Mount Ararat Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Florida, should not be holding the office of pastor due to his past.

Our phones were ringing off the hook, Lynn Jones, an editor for the Jacksonville Free Press, told News4Jax about members from the church who are concerned about Gilyards past. Members of Mount Ararat  they were totally upset, and a lot of them are our subscribers.

It remains unclear if Gilyard failed to share his past with his new flock and calls made by The Christian Post to the church seeking comment on Wednesday were not answered.

For 14 years Gilyard served as pastor of Shiloh Metropolitan Baptist Church, where "he fell from grace," First Coast News reported. He was arrested in 2007 on charges of lewd and lascivious conduct, and in 2009 he plead guilty to two counts. He was sentenced and the state designated him as a sex offender.

Gilyards case featured prominently in a Houston Chronicle investigation of sexual abuse in the SBC last summer which reported that he was mentored and assisted by Patterson amid allegations of sexual misconduct at churches in Texas and Oklahoma.

A trove of documents and videotape showed Patterson personally investigated sexual misconduct allegations against Gilyard during his rise in the SBC. Four years after the first allegations surfaced, Patterson oversaw Gilyards resignation from a Dallas-area church after Gilyard confessed to some of the allegations in 1991.

They later parted ways and Gilyard moved to Jacksonville to lead a non-SBC church and got support from former SBC President Jerry Vines.

In addition to the molestation convictions he faced, Gilyard also had to defend himself against multiple civil suits, including one, eventually settled, from a grieving widow who alleged that she was raped and impregnated by him during counseling sessions, Florida and federal court records say.

I will never forget the night when I saw my childhood predator on television 17 years after he train wrecked my life and crushed my soul. 17 years after he sexually assaulted me while I was a Senior in High School, he was a married father of 2 and a Pastor known globally thanks to the backing of 2 prominent men of the SBC, #PaigePatterson and #JerryVines, one of Gilyards alleged victims wrote in a recent blog post.

The predator Pastor who abused me as a teen is not only still Pastoring but I learned today he has been called to another church here in our town. Called being his term, not Gods call. He has a string of victims, over 240 , she alleged.

In 2014, Gilyard told First Coast News that he has changed.

"Of course I believe I have changed. But time will tell everyone if I have changed, he said.

I'm a believer in when you do something wrong you pay the price, but do you pay the price forever?" he asked.

James Andrews, one of Gilyards long-time supporters, told News4Jax that he trusts Gilyard and believes he has changed.

I was certainly disappointed, but I prayed about it like I try to do about everything, and I forgave him, Andrews said.

When asked if hed felt comfortable trusting Gilyard around his children, Andrews said: Yes I would. I wouldnt have any problems at all trusting pastor Gilyard around children.
The legal team of the deposed Emir of Kano state, Sanusi Lamido has accused the Kano state government of forcefully taking the dethroned Emir to Nasarawa when he intends to head to Lagos.

This was contained in a statement by Abubakar Balarabe Mahmoud on behalf of the legal team of the dethroned Emir.

Full statement below:

I was at the Palace in the afternoon in the company of one of my colleagues to consult with the Emir,

We met him in good spirit in company of his family and a few associates. He said to us that he was waiting for the deposition letter from the Government House and was informed that the Commissioner of Police was on his way along with certain government officials.

Read Also: Sanusi: Disrespecting A Governor Is Not Criminal Offence  Apostle Suleman

While waiting, there was commotion in the private wing of the palace as some unauthorized persons tried to gain entry into the family section. This led to some scuffle and teargas were fired by the security operatives. Normalcy was restored after the unauthorized persons along with armed security operatives retreated from the inner part of the palace.

I subsequently, along with my colleagues was able to meet with the Commissioner of Police and other security operatives and with the permission of the emir, they were led to one of his sitting rooms where the deposition letter was served on him by an agent of the State Government.

The Emir accepted the letter and decided to acknowledge it personally after writing some Quranic Verses in the Arabic script along with his signature.

This was handed over to the government official. In the letter of deposition, it was stated that the Emir was to be removed to Nassarawa State. We requested to know if he was under arrest and if so we needed to see the warrant.

The Commissioner of Police informed us that he was not under arrest. We informed the Commissioner of Police that it was illegal and violation of his constitutional rights to remove him to Nassarawa State against his wish.

The Emir informed the Commissioner of Police that his friends had sent an aircraft to fly him and his family to Lagos and requested that they should be provided with necessary security to the airport so that he could leave.

The Commissioner refused saying that was not their instruction.

According to the lawyer, the government agents were willing to allow Sanusis family to leave for Lagos but he was to be flown to Abuja then onwards taken to Nassarawa State.

It was clear to us that both the Emir and ourselves were helpless and the police and other security agents were willing to take any measure and use force to achieve their objective.

In order not to jeopardize the Emirs safety or the safety of any member of his family or indeed other persons around, the Emir decided to cooperate and proceed in the vehicles provided by the operatives.

We accompanied the Commissioner of Police to the Nigerian Airforce base in Kano where the Emir was put in a private aircraft and departed at about 6.40pm.

The family subsequently boarded the aircraft arranged by his friends and departed for Lagos about 15 minutes later, he said.

We understand the choice of location to detain HH Muhammadu Sanusi II was intended to cause maximum trauma and distress.

This again is illegal and unconstitutional.

According to instructions we received from the Emir through his Chief of Staff, we are directed to take legal action to challenge the legality of the Emirs detention and banishment.

We are of the firm view that this action is illegal and unconstitutional. Section 35 of our constitution guarantees every citizen the right to personal liberty. The basis of the denial of personal liberty are set out clearly in this Section of the Constitution. None applies to the case of the Emir,
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian has offered his apology to a 34-year-old man whom he snubbed during a recent trip to the Lori province where he also campaigned ahead of next months constitutional referendum.

Addressing a rally in Sisian in Armenias southern province of Syunik on Wednesday, Pashinian referred to his March 7 conversation with Kurtan village resident Mekhak Arakelian, who had approached him and asked for assistance in improving his housing conditions.

Pashinian then told the man: You are a healthy person and you should solve your housing problems yourself. You should work and solve this problem. I am sorry to say this, but it is also a matter of dignity. Is it right for one healthy man to be asking another healthy man to solve his housing and livelihood problems? Get a job and solve your familys problems.

Earlier this week one of the local news sites published a story about Arakelian, a father of two who has multiple health problems and has lived in dire conditions in a makeshift house after losing his ancestral home in a 1988 devastating earthquake.

The man speaking humbly about his plight admitted that approaching Pashinian was an embarrassing experience for him. He beat me. He said what he was going to say and I couldnt say anything back.

I wish I had the health to have a job and maintain my family, Arakelian added.

Pashinian acknowledged on Wednesday having made a misjudgment.

I admit two mistakes that I made. First, I overestimated my ability to assess a persons health condition by his appearance. And secondly, I underestimated the circumstance that a citizen may get overwhelmed when talking to the prime minister and may fail to speak about his health problems. I want to apologize to Mekhak [Arakelian] and all citizens of Armenia for these two mistakes, the prime minister said, drawing applause from the rally crowd.

Arakelian later told RFE/RLs Armenian Service (Azatutyun.am) that he accepted Pashinians apology. I bear no grudge against him, he said.

Also on Wednesday pro-government lawmaker Sipan Pashinian, who is the prime ministers cousin, visited Arakelian and told him that after watching the video some people, including in the Diaspora, expressed their readiness to assist his family. He did not specify what kind of assistance would be provided to the Arakelians lest it should be viewed as a voter incentive in the ongoing referendum campaign.
(Natural News) People arriving in Israel from abroad will have to spend 14 days in home isolation, according to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The order, which took effect at 8:00 p.m. on Monday, is expected to stay in effect well until Passover and Easter, two of the countrys major religious holidays, which always see an uptick in visitors.

After a day of complex discussions, we have made a decision: Whoever arrives in Israel from abroad will enter quarantine for 14 days, said Netanyahu in a video statement. This is a difficult decision but it is essential to maintaining public health, which takes precedence over everything. The decision will be in effect for two weeks. At the same time, we will make decisions to safeguard the Israeli economy.

Netanyahus message came less than an hour after the Israeli Ministry of Health announced that the country confirmed eight new cases of coronavirus, bringing the countrys total number of COVID-19 patients up to 50.

This isolation requirement applies to both foreign visitors and Israelis alike. Non-citizens will be barred from entering the country until they can prove that they have a place to stay for their quarantine period. If they cant, they will be given a few days to organize their flights to leave the country. (Related: Israel bars entry to 5 European countries amid coronavirus outbreak, cancels joint operations with US military.)

Israeli measures designed to prevent further spread of the coronavirus

The Ministry of Health is asking tourists to abide by five guidelines during their stay in Israel:

Call Magen David Adom (the countrys emergency service) if they experience any COVID-19 symptoms. Be attentive to your personal hygiene. Stay away from public gatherings. Understand that they may not be allowed back into the country once they leave. Report to authorities on their whereabouts in Israel.

According to Moshe Bar Siman-Tov, director-general of the Ministry of Health, the quarantine does not apply retroactively. However, all tourists who have entered the country before the mandated quarantine period are asked to proceed with caution and to call Magen David Adom immediately if they show any coronavirus symptoms so that they can get tested.

Siman-Tov has stated that Israels actions were done to ensure that the outbreak doesnt spread so rapidly that the countrys health services wont be able to cope. He has said that without these harsh enough steps, Israel could end up like Italy, which is experiencing severe economic challenges and a very intense amount of strain on its health system due to the rapid spread of the coronavirus.

We know that the economic impact is dramatic, but health comes above all else, said Siman-Tov. If we see that the situation changes, then we will change our policies We can succeed if the public cooperates.

Other countries also tightening security to combat coronavirus outbreak

In China, workers in Beijing are returning to their jobs, and the number of newly reported coronavirus infections in the country has decreased. The country is optimistic about how the tide is now turning, especially since President Xi Jinping visited Wuhan, the epicenter of the worldwide outbreak, for the first time since the virus spread in December 2019. Xi also serves as the General Secretary of the Communist Party of China.

Meanwhile, other parts of the world are still struggling to fight off the coronavirus, with many countries such as Israel rolling out strong security measures to try and halt COVID-19s spread.

On Monday, Italy announced new sweeping restrictions. This includes putting the entire country on lockdown, banning all but the most important travel and suspending public gatherings. The announcement comes two days after imposing similar restrictions on the northern regions of Italy. For now, the only travel authorities are allowing will be for proven work reasons, for health-related concerns and other cases of necessity.

This was sent to me by a friend from Naples, Italy. The protezione civile (civil protection service) has been sending cars (even late at night) with loud speakers urging residents to stay indoors and not leave the house unless its absolutely necessary. #coronavirus pic.twitter.com/0F6W460xcQ  Valerio Esposito (@ValerioEsposito) March 9, 2020

In Ireland, Prime Minister Leo Varadkar has canceled all parades and public gatherings planned for St. Patricks Day. In Northern Ireland, the city council of Belfast has passed a similar measure, while other parades and similar festivities have been put under review.

Spain has shut down all schools in and around Madrid, the countrys capital, for the next two weeks because, according to the countrys minister for health, the rising number of coronavirus cases around Madrid implies a change for the worse.

Similarly, strict actions are also happening in many other parts of the world. If similar tactics, such as the ones employed in Singapore, are used as a template, the world may just be able to bring itself back from the brink.

Sources include:

JPost.com

TimesOfIsrael.com

APNews.com 1

TheGuardian.com

APNews.com 2

BBC.com
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 10, 2020) - CVR Medical Corp. (TSXV: CVM) (OTCQB: CRRVF) ("CVR Medical" or the "Company" or "we") a Canadian listed and US based healthcare company in the medical device sector announces the resignation of Dr. Dallas Hack as interim CEO/CFO and Director of CVR Medical Corp. Dr. Hack is unable to continue as a Director secondary to time constraints on his consulting business as well as family obligations. The Board of Directors is pleased to announce the addition of Trish Perzyk-Howell to the Board. Trish Howell brings significant expertise with her background in start-up Medical Device Companies. Candidates for CFO are being interviewed and a search for a CEO will continue.

Trish Howell is currently Vice President of Operations at ZipLine Medical (now part of Stryker). Ms. Howell has nearly 30 years' experience leading Operations functions in multiple industries. Previously, Trish served as Vice President of Operations at Pulmonx where she led Manufacturing, Quality and Supply Chain for the company's diagnostic device and therapeutic implant products for Interventional Pulmonology. Prior to Pulmonx she served as Vice President of Materials Management at ArthroCare Corporation, scaling the global logistics infrastructure and launching a greenfield manufacturing facility in Costa Rica. From 1988 to 2003, Trish spent 15 years in the automotive industry, predominantly with Ford Motor Company in roles of increasing responsibility in Product Development, Process Engineering, and Supply Chain. She holds a BS in a Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan and an MBA in Finance from the University of Michigan-Dearborn.

The Board of Directors also wants to make it clear that significant progress has been achieved towards a restructuring of the Company to move forward.

About CVR Medical

CVR Medical Corp. is a healthcare company that operates in the medical device industry focused on the commercialization of its disruptive, proprietary Carotid Stenotic Scan device (the "CSS"). The CSS is a diagnostic tool that encompasses subsonic, infrasonic, and low frequency sound wave analysis technology. The CSS is a patented device designed to detect and measure carotid arterial stenosis. CVR Medical's shares are listed on the OTCQB under the symbol "CRRVF". The Company has applied for reinstatement of trading on the TSX-V, and were previously listed for trading under the symbol traded under the symbol "CVM". Additional information regarding the Company can be found in our recent filings with the SEDAR as well as the information maintained on our website at www.cvrmed.com.

Story continues

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD:

(signed) Paul Blunden, M.D.

President & Director

For further information contact:

Paul Blunden, M.D., President/ Director

Email: info@cvrmed.com

This press release contains forward-looking information that involves various risks and uncertainties regarding future events related to: trading on and dialogue with the Exchange, communications and negotiations with CVR Global, dialogue with certain advisors, the Term Sheet, the Proposed Restructuring, the Definitive Agreement, the License Agreement, the Review, certain corporate and securities law requirements, raising capital, the 2019 Audit and potential litigation. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or developments to differ materially from those contained in the statements and are not guarantees of future performance of the Company. No assurance can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will occur or, if they do occur, what benefits the Company will obtain from them. These forward-looking statements reflect management's current views and are based on certain expectations, estimates and assumptions which may prove to be incorrect. A number of risks and uncertainties could cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including: (1) a failure or material setback in negotiations between the Company and CVR Global; (2) a failure of the Company to resume trading on the Exchange; (3) a failure of the Company to raise capital sufficient capital to relaunch the Company; (4) an inability to enter into a definitive agreement with CVR Global; (5)a downturn in general economic conditions in North America and internationally, (6) the inherent uncertainties and speculative nature associated with commercialization of technology and the practice of medicine;(7) a change in health regulations; (8) any number of events or causes which may delay or cease commercialization and development of the CSS Device; (9) the risk that the Company does not execute its business plan, (10) the risk of litigation between the Company and certain shareholders and the risk of litigation generally; (11) an inability to retain key employees, (12) am inability to finance operations and growth, (13) compliance with certain corporate and securities law requirements; and (14) other factors that are beyond the Company's control. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release and, except as required by law, the Company assumes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results differed from those projected in the forward-looking statements.

THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE INC. HAS NEITHER APPROVED NOR DISAPPROVED THE CONTENTS OF THIS PRESS RELEASE. NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/53311
A Dublin man who conned an injured party in Laois out of 300 by advertising a drone on Done Deal which he failed to deliver has been given the benefit of the probation act.

Last weeks district court heard that the injured party wanted compensation in the case to go to charity, which Judge Catherine Staines said was very kind of him.

Patrick Quaide (21), 15 Manor Place, Onger, Dublin 15, was charged with making gain by deception, at Cloneygowan, Portarlington, on December 27, 2017.

When the case first came before the court last November, Garda Karen Anderson gave evidence that on December 27, 2017, the injured party bought a drone on Done Deal and forwarded 300 to the accuseds bank account, but the item was never sent to him.

The accused had one previous conviction for a similar offence. This related to an incident in March 2017, when the accused posted an advert on Done Deal for a guitar and accessories. The injured party in this case contacted him and agreed to lodge 125 in his bank account, but the items were never posted out.

Defence, Mr Barry Fitzgerald said the accused is a changed man now and had made a lot of progress in his life.

He said the accused, who had been 19 at the time of the offence, had been homeless and resorting to petty theft, but since then he has taken matters in hand and is clean of drugs.

Defence said the accused had no parental figures in his life and went off the rails at the time of the offending.

Mr Fitzgerald said the accused would pay compensation if given time.

Judge Catherine Staines noted the offence had happened when the accused was homeless, but he was now doing well and was providing clean urinalysis.

The matter was adjourned for a restorative justice report.

When the case returned to court last week, Mr Fitzgerald said his client was not present, but he had 200 compensation in court and would have 100 on the next occasion.

Sgt JJ Kirby said the injured party had indicated he wanted the compensation to go to charity.

Judge Staines said this was very magnanimous and very kind of him. She directed the money go to the court poor box.

The accused was given the probation act, section 1.1.
Introduction

Injectable Drug Delivery Market

This report provides a detailed overview of the global market for Injectable Drug Delivery.

It covers all the critical aspects and range of tasks ranges from macro market analysis to microanalysis of industry indicators, current trends, key factors, and market issues, SWOT analysis as well as market segmentation and key regions. The report also focuses on the prevailing market dynamics that face the industry. It will assist entrepreneurs, investors, researchers, consultants, business and strategy and specialists, and all those who have a stake or are considering entering into the market in any form.

Drug injection is defined as the direct injection of one or more drugs into the patients bloodstream through an injection device. It is considered to be the most common and effective way of using most therapeutic agents to achieve the desired rapid effect. Drug injection routes are expected to remain a vital supply system because the injecting drug delivery system allows for the delivery of drugs with low oral bioavailability, on-site delivery of the drug, and a selective delivery system.

The reduction of Injectable Drug Delivery achieved through the use of various technologies, such as controlled release, selective administration, and needle-free administration, is used in overcoming the problems of traditional injecting drug administration also helped to improve the quality of treatment. Injecting drug administration has also proved useful in many cases, such as unconsciousness, urgency, and nausea, as the effect of these drugs is rapid. One of the essential conditions for injecting drugs is that they contain no pyroxenes, that they are sterile and isotonic.

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Key Players of Global Injectable Drug Delivery Market =>

Major market players in Injectable Drug DeliveryBecton Dickinson & Company, Baxter International, Inc., Gerresheimer AG, Pfizer, Inc., Schott AG, Eli Lilly and Company, Sandoz, Terumo Corporation, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd and Others.

Market Segmentation

The packaging formula divides the Injectable Drug Delivery market into bottles, bottles, cartridges, and ampoules. Based on consumer behavior, the market segment include vaccines, treatment procedures, and other consumer behaviors. By product type, the market is divided into recipes and appliances. The formulation segment is divided into two categories: new formulations and traditional formulations. The equipment segment is further segmented into conventional injection devices and auto-injection devices. The new drug delivery formulations are divided into long-term injectable, micro particles, and colloidal dispersions. Depending on the field of application, the market segments include rare diseases, oncology, autoimmune diseases, hormonal disorders, and other forms. Autoimmune diseases are divided into rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, diseases, psoriasis, and other autoimmune diseases.

Regional Overview

The Injectable Drug Delivery report provides detailed analysis of key regions such as North America  United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe (United Kingdom, Russia, Germany, France and Italy), Asia-Pacific (Japan, China, India, Korea and Southeast Asia), South America (Argentina, Brazil and Colombia)  closer to the Middle East and Africa (Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Egypt, United Arab Emirates). In the coming years, the Asia-Pacific region will gain additional market share, especially in China and the fast-growing areas of India and Southeast Asia. North America, in particular, the United States, will continue to play an essential role in the self-stabilization of the automotive industry.

Industry News

The increasing prevalence of chronic diseases has led to an increase in the global consumption of syringes, particularly disposable needles. It was noted that most deaths from chronic illnesses caused by cardiovascular disease, obesity, and diabetes are likely to have a particular impact on emerging economies, as population growth is considered the essential factor in developing countries.

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Major Key Points of Global Injectable Drug Delivery Market

SECTION 1

 Global Injectable Drug Delivery Market Methodology and Scope

Research methodology

Research Objective and Scope of the Report

SECTION 2

 Global Injectable Drug Delivery Market  Market Definition and Disease Overview

SECTION 3

 Global Injectable Drug Delivery Market  Executive Summary

Market Snippet by Product Type

Market Snippet by Packaging

Market Snippet by Therapeutic application

Market Snippet by Distribution Channel

Market Snippet by Region

DataM CLO Scenario

SECTION 4

 Global Injectable Drug Delivery Market  Market Dynamics

Market Impacting Factors

 Drivers

 Restraints

 Opportunity

 Impact Analysis

..

SECTION 13

 Company Profiles

Becton Dickinson & Company

 Company Overview

 Product Portfolio and Description

 Key Highlights

 Financial Overview

Baxter International, Inc.

Gerresheimer AG

Pfizer, Inc.

Schott AG

ELI Lilly and Company

Sandoz (A Division of Novartis AG)

Terumo Corporation

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.

SECTION 14

 Global Injectable Drug Delivery Market  Premium Insights

SECTION 15

 Global Injectable Drug Delivery Market  DataM

 Appendix

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Wise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Research Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe.

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The Monaco royal family has cancelled its annual Rose Ball for the first time in its 66-year history amid coronavirus fears.

The glamorous event, which is attended by senior members of the Monagesque royal family, was scheduled to take place on March 21 but will now be postponed as a precautionary measure as COVID-19 continues to spread.

A statement on the Rose Ball website reads: 'Due to the stricter precautionary measures related to COVID-19, we are forced to postpone this event.

The Monaco royal family has cancelled its annual Rose Ball for the first time in its 66-year history amid coronavirus fears. Pictured, the family dazzle at last year's event

'We will schedule a new date depending on how the situation develops.'

The Rose Ball was established by Princess Grace of Monaco in 1954 and has become the highlight of the Monte Carlo social calendar.

Princess Caroline of Hanover, Prince Albert of Monaco and Princess Charlene of Monaco regularly attend the event, alongside Princess Caroline's brood of glamorous children.

The Rose Ball was established by Princess Grace in 1954 and has become the highlight of the Monte Carlo social calendar. Pictured, Grace and Prince Rainier at the Rose Ball in 1977

Well-heeled society figures from around the world also jet in for the event, with fashion designer Karl Largerfeld and Princess Alexandra of Kent among the previous high profile attendees.

The black tie soiree raises money for the Princess Grace Foundation, which supports people and children in need by developing humanitarian and philanthropic projects.

It comes as royal families around the world take action to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

The Swedish royal family cancelled an annual black tie dinner, while the British royal family chose not to shake hands with guests at a Commonwealth Day service this week.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A homemade sanitizer spray allegedly sold by the owner of a 7-Eleven in New Jersey resulted in four children being burned, according to multiple reports.

Manisha Bharade, 47, was issued a summons for charges of endangering the welfare of children and deceptive business practices at her business in River Vale, N.J., according to multiple reports.

Authorities said Bharade mixed foam sanitizer not intended for resale with water and packaged the mixture in bottles, in the midst of stores reporting shortages of hand sanitizer due to the global outbreak of coronavirus.

New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal spoke to the charges Wednesday, saying in part, if you try to take advantage of our residents during a public health emergency, we will hold you accountable.
A couple had a drunken 'mile high club' romp aboard a holiday jet while in their seats as children watched on, a court heard today.

Mother-of-three Gemma Heap, 35, and 38-year old Philip Mycock allegedly had intercourse while on a flight from Manchester to Tunisia on July 29 last year.

They were both subsequently charged with outraging public decency and being drunk on an aircraft.

At Manchester Magistrates' Court today, Heap and Mycock, both from Whitefield Bury, faced a district judge.

They asked for trial by crown court judge and jury and could face jail if convicted.

Mother-of-three Gemma Heap, 35, (right outside court today) and 38-year old Philip Mycock (left outside court today) allegedly had intercourse while on a flight from Manchester to Tunisia on July 29 last year

The maximum sentencing for outraging public decency is seven years in jail whilst being drunk on aircraft carries up to two years imprisonment.

Earlier Heap and Mycock spoke only to confirm names, dates of birth and addresses and that they understood the charges.

They entered not guilty pleas to both counts and looked on impassively as they sat together in the dock.

The brief hearing was told the alleged incident occurred on Thomas Cook flight MT 820 which was travelling to Enfeda Airport in Tunisia.

The charge states that the pair in a 'public place committed an act outraging public decency by behaving in an indecent manner, namely had or appeared to have sexual intercourse in the presence of other passengers whilst sat in your seat on board the aircraft.'

Heap and Mycock (pictured together) were granted unconditional bail pending a pre-trial hearing next month at Minshull Street Crown Court, Manchester

Prosecutor Nicola Durham said: 'It is alleged they had sex on their seats in front of children.

'The maximum sentence for being drunk on an aircraft is two years imprisonment and the legal guidance suggests sentencing for this matter would not be in excess of two years for either of these offences.'

Heap and Mycock were granted unconditional bail pending a pre-trial hearing next month at Minshull Street Crown Court, Manchester.

Their lawyer Elizabeth Syddall told the district judge her clients denied wrongdoing and said: 'They weren't drunk sir.'

Adjourning the case District Judge Mark Hadfield said: 'They have indicated they want to go to crown court. They will have to appear next month.'
SHENZHEN, China, March 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- XtalPi Inc. ("XtalPi"), an algorithm-driven artificial intelligence (AI) pharmaceutical technology company, and Porton Pharma Solutions Ltd. ("Porton"), a contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), announces the signing of a strategic collaboration to integrate XtalPi's next-generation computational tools with Porton's experimental expertise to further empower pharmaceutical research in drug design and pre-clinical development. The two companies will initiate in-depth collaboration in drug crystallization and process development services, intelligent drug discovery and development research, and business expansion in biologics and formulation.

Under the agreement, XtalPi and Porton will offer prediction and experimental services that couple XtalPi's pioneering drug solid-state screening and designing solutions, such as crystal structure prediction (CSP), and cocrystal and solid-solvate propensity prediction, with Porton's broad range of experimental offerings. The two companies will leverage computational insights to design more targeted experiments and extensively optimize the crystallization research and drug solid-state development process. This cooperated approach aims to increase the efficiency and success rate of drug pre-clinical research, ensure development timeline and product quality, and support key decision-making in identifying and optimizing the ideal active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) form for clinical trial and mass production.

As a first step in a series of projects, XtalPi and J-STAR RESEARCH Inc., Porton's New Jersey-based subsidiary and an innovative contracted research organization, also signed a sub-agreement to launch prediction-guided crystallization and solid-state research services for their U.S. customers. In addition, the two companies will combine XtalPi's AI and molecular mechanics algorithms and J-Star's experimental data to develop new prediction models and research methods for important unmet challenges in drug crystallization related fields.

"In the past two years, we saw an increasing number of pharmaceutical companies adopt CSP into their standard research process, especially when dealing with complex compounds and challenging molecular systems," said Dr. Jian Ma, co-founder and CEO of XtalPi. "XtalPi and Porton are two companies in closely related fields with complementing skillsets. We are excited to work with Porton to combine machine learning algorithms with high-quality experimental data to develop new prediction models that can improve upon existing research methods and address the bottleneck challenges in the industry."

"Porton also attaches great importance to the development and application of cutting-edge technologies," commented Oliver Ju, Chairman and CEO of Porton. "We believe that this strategic collaboration will combine cutting-edge scientific advances with the best practices in crystallization and formulation development to create a new benchmark for the industry in drug design and solid-state research. We also look forward to closer cooperation between us in drug development and manufacturing to jointly explore innovative technology solutions."

Due to the current epidemic, XtalPi and Porton decided to host a "cloud signing ceremony" across five sites in two countries instead of a traditional meeting. Porton's Chongqing and Suzhou offices, XtalPi's Shenzhen computational center, and XtalPi AI Research Center (XARC) in Beijing have dialed in for the online signing proceedings, while representatives from both companies in the United States met at J-Star's office in Cranbury, New Jersey, to ink their sub-agreement in person.

About XtalPi

XtalPi is a pharmaceutical technology company that is reinventing the industry's approach to drug research and development with its Intelligent Digital Drug Discovery and Development (ID4) platform. With tightly interwoven quantum physics, AI, and high-performance cloud computing algorithms, XtalPi's ID4 platform provides accurate predictions on the physicochemical and pharmaceutical properties of small-molecule candidates for drug design, solid-form selection, and other critical aspects of drug development. XtalPi is dedicated to improving the efficiency, accuracy, and success rate of drug research and development, and contributing to a healthier society worldwide.

Founded in 2014 by a group of quantum physicists at MIT, XtalPi has since built an elite team with multi-disciplinary expertise in physics, chemistry, pharmaceutical R&D, and algorithm design. XtalPi's cutting-edge technologies, innovative solutions, and diverse applications across the pharmaceutical value chain have helped it gaining industry approval and establish strategic partnerships with top international pharmaceutical companies.

About Porton

Founded in July 2005, Porton Pharma Solution Ltd. is a Chinese top-tier contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) which provides one-stop CDMO services for both chemical drugs from APIs to formulation and biological drugs for global pharmaceutical companies and biotechs. It is committed to building the world's leading pharma solutions platform, enabling the transformation from molecules to medicines with continuous improvements in speed and cost. Backed by more than 2,000 customer-centric employees, cutting-edge Process R&D Centers, USFDA, PMDA, EMA and NMPA-inspected cGMP production sites in China (Chongqing, Chengdu, Shanghai, Jiangxi and Suzhou) and sales offices located across Asia, North America and Europe, Porton has an outstanding tracking record for more than 1000 projects delivered to around 400 global customers.

About J-Star

J-STAR Research, Inc. (hereafter referred to as J-Star) is an innovative CRO serving as an outsourcing partner for the pharma and bio industries. Founded in 1996 by Dr. Andrew Thompson, formerly of Merck Research Laboratories, J-Star has become a leading provider of services in complex organic synthesis and crystallization for a variety of pharmaceutical clients globally. Through 20 some years of services, J-Star has accumulated excellent reputation as a trustworthy partner in North America. In 2017, Porton USA, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Porton Pharma Solutions Ltd. acquired J-Star. After more than two years of integration, J-Star has developed into a multi-disciplinary team of more than 100 employees (including 67 doctoral scientists) with profound experiences in small molecule drug process research and crystallization R&D. It has gathered many top talents each with over 10-30 years of R&D tenures in world leading pharma companies. Integrating CDMO services from Porton, J-Star can provide scientifically rigor and practically effective one-stop solutions for its global pharmaceutical clients.

Media Contact

Ruyu Wang

+1 617-717-9867

[email protected]

SOURCE XtalPi Inc.

Related Links

https://www.xtalpi.com


The events were called off out of an abundance of caution for the health of our community and to eliminate unnecessary risk for the public," according to a news release from the city of Naperville. The city will work with the organizers to find a possible date to hold these events in the future.
The Romanian Embassy in Rome is making efforts to identify and locate the Romanian citizens who were either transiting Italy or vacationing there and who have no possibilities to return home, informed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The initiative of the Romanian Embassy in Rome targets those Romanians who have no such real alternative to remain on Italian territory, unlike the Romanian citizens who live in Italy, after the entire Italian territory has been placed in quarantine, and also considering the measures adopted by the Romanian authorities to suspend all flights and also the buses carrying passengers from and to Italy."In this context, we recommend the Romanian citizens who were transiting Italy, on their way to Romania, or vacationing there, to contact the diplomatic mission of Romania in Rome or one of the six consular offices on the Italian territory and make their presence known to the authorities by communicating their identification data and address where they are at this precise moment," reads the release.The diplomatic missions and consular offices on the Italian territory can be contacted by calling: the Romanian Embassy in Rome: +390683523358; +390683523356; +390683523352; +390683523344; consular offices: Trieste +393408821688; Milan: +393661081444; Torino: +393387568134; Bologna: +393491178220; Bari: +393346042299; Catania: +393209653137.According to the same source, approximately 30 persons have contacted the diplomatic missions and consular offices to make their presence known to the authorities and prove that they were in Italy as tourists or transiting. Their situation is being updated permanently.Moreover, the MAE specified that it remains in touch with the relevant national authorities to identify a solution for these persons.With respect to the Romanians working on Italian territory, the MAE underscored the importance of observing their rights in the context of the decision of the Italian authorities and their impact on the workforce. MAE underscores that there are norms established by the Italian authorities for this exceptional situation that forces the employers to adopt measures of protection of the workers. In this context, the MAE started a dialogue, through the Romanian Embassy in Rome, and the Italian authorities, to ensure that that these measures are applied to all, without discrimination, reads the MAE release."The MAE, through the diplomatic mission of Romania in Rome and the consular offices on the Italian territory, has permanently been in touch with the Italian authorities and has permanently monitored both the development of the health crisis, the measures adopted by the Italian authorities and the way to implement them, in the context of the approaches meant to manage and prevent the spreading of the infection with COVID-19," mentioned the MAE.
Since the national media has attacked the ministry of the Hephzibah House in Winona Lake, Indiana, television has made negative statements to millions of Americans who have never been to that institution. The viewers only know what the TV broadcast told them.

Popular opinion was against Thomas Edison as folks thought he was crazy, but the crowd was wrong and paid homage to him later every time they turned on an electric light.

Popular opinion thought that Louis Pasteur was out of his mind when he believed that there were "little beasties" on his surgical instruments that caused many patients to die after being treated by doctors. It turned out that Pasteur was right when he helped us to realize the presence of germs.

The British thought ill of Patrick Henry, Nathan Hale and Samuel Adams, but today we "revere" them as heroes.

Popular opinion is not always right and we should think of that whenever we turn on a light, use a sterile bandage or enjoy the freedoms guaranteed us in the U.S. Constitution. We should also think of that when we make an opinion about the Hephzibah House.

Every year my family enjoys eating, singing and laughing with the administration, teachers and students in Hephzibah House. Almost no one knows these people and their training as my family does from the inside-out. While teaching and ministering to these young ladies we have found a loving, godly, educational environment led by capable and caring Christians. We find them to be dear friends and have a wonderful time serving the teens and adults there.

Dan Manka

Fairmont, West Virginia

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Thailand's biggest conglomerate Charoen Pokphand Group has locked in funding for its proposed acquisition of Tesco's businesses in Thailand and Malaysia for US$10.6 billion, allowing its billionaire owner to build on its dominance at home and expand in the region.

CP Group has turned to JPMorgan Chase, UBS and Siam Commercial Bank to underwrite the deal, according to people involved in the discussions. The transaction, if approved, represents the biggest merger and acquisition deal in Asia excluding Australia this year, and topping the pending US$6.2 billion Wheelock & Co privatisation, according to financial data provider Refinitiv.

The British grocer on Monday agreed to sell its hypermarket businesses in Thailand and Malaysia to CP Group for an enterprise value, including debt, of US$10.6 billion. The deal also marks the biggest acquisition by owner Dhanin Chearavanont at home, recapturing the retail chain it established in 1994 and sold to Tesco during the Asian financial crisis.

The financing commitments show global investment bankers are prepared to back one of Thailand's richest businessmen even as the regional economy is suffering from the impact of a coronavirus outbreak. The epidemic has deepened the slowdown in the Chinese economy, where CP Group has made some of its biggest bets, including stakes in Ping An Insurance, Zhengxin Bank and Citic Group.

The Tesco Lotus retail chain was established in Thailand in 1994. Photo: Reuters alt=The Tesco Lotus retail chain was established in Thailand in 1994. Photo: Reuters

JPMorgan, UBS and Siam Commercial Bank plan to syndicate the loan to other lenders at home and around the region, the people said. Chinese banks could also be interested in the syndication, one of the people said.

One factor that might make some banks hesitate to join the syndicate of lenders is that the tourism-reliant Thai economy is reeling from the spread of the new coronavirus as travellers stay away. Tourist arrivals fell 44.3 per cent in February from a year earlier due to the epidemic, the government said.

Story continues

Tesco, Britain's biggest supermarket chain chose to sell the assets to CP Group over two other Thai conglomerates: the Chirathivat family's Central Group and Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi's TCC Group, according to other people familiar with the auction process.

Each of the dynasties had been able to muster similar financing packages to show the seller that they had the financial capacity to complete the purchase, demonstrating the depth of liquidity in the Asian banking market and willingness to support large, well-established conglomerates such as the CP Group.

While Tesco expects the deal to complete during the second half of this year, it still faces possible hurdles. Tesco needs to secure shareholder approval as well as antitrust approval in Thailand.

Combined, 7-Eleven and Tesco Lotus stores accounted for more than 59 per cent of the grocery market in Thailand last year, according to Euromonitor International. Apart from these two, CP Group also operates the Siam Makro wholesale stores in Thailand.

JP Morgan and UBS advised CP Group on the acquisition while Goldman Sachs, Barclays Bank and Greenhill advised Tesco. Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer gave Tesco legal advice.

Additional reporting by Chad Bray

This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, please explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP's Facebook and Twitter pages. Copyright  2020 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.

Copyright (c) 2020. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.
SAN DIEGO, Calif., March 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Amir Jafri, CEO of Immunicom, Inc., a medical technology company that has been awarded FDA Breakthrough Device Designation for its non-pharmaceutical solution for treating stage IV metastatic cancer, was one of five exclusively invited guest panelists at Congressman Dan Crenshaw's second annual Healthcare Innovation Summit held at Rice University. The summit showcased cutting-edge research that highly contribute to the continued growth of curing terminal diseases. Mr. Jafri spoke on Immunicom's pioneering approach that builds from research of esteemed scientists, such as Dr. James Allison, co-winner of the 2018 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for immunotherapy discoveries.

Amir Jafri and Dr. Robert Segal with Dr. James Allison. From left to right: James Allison, Robert Segal, Amir Jafri Amir Jafri with U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw during fireside chat

"It was an honor to host Mr. Jafri. He is an innovative entrepreneur whose idea behind Immunicom is creating a premier breakthrough technology in immunotherapy," said Texas Congressman Dan Crenshaw about the Fireside chat.

"Immunicom's ethos is not just about developing an effective solution to cancer. It's about helping that single mother who is diagnosed with breast cancer and is on Medicaid. It's about doing it in a way that everybody in the country can afford to receive the best therapies that are available," said Mr. Jafri when discussing the projected impact of Immunicom.

Congressman Crenshaw awarded Dr. Allison the Susan Crenshaw Congressional Healthcare Innovation Award, named after his late mother. This award is presented to those who dedicated their lives to healthcare innovations. "We are entering a period where we can think of curing the disease [of cancer]. I can say that with confidence I think it's time for optimism, we know this can be done," said Dr. Allison in his Keynote speech.

For further recaps of the summit, go to www.Immunicom.com.

About Immunicom

Immunicom, Inc. is a privately-held medical technology company located in San Diego, CA and Houston, TX focused on developing innovative, non-pharmaceutical approaches for treating cancer, inflammatory diseases, and autoimmune diseases. Immunicom's revolutionary blood-filtering technology has the potential to effectively treat a wide variety of cancer types including those that have not responded to other treatment strategies including other drug and biological-based immunotherapy options with possibly fewer side effects. The company seeks to leverage its technology to address unmet medical needs and improve patient access and affordability of cancer and other inflammatory and autoimmune disease treatments around the world.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements regarding Immunicom products, technological capabilities, and future business aspirations. All such statements are based upon current Immunicom expectations and involve a number of business and technical risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from anticipated results described, implied or projected in any forward-looking statement, including, without limitation, clinical trial results, regulatory approvals, unexpected changes in technologies, uncertainties inherent in product development and commercialization, intellectual property protection, and the ability of our products to gain market acceptance.

For Additional Information Contact:

Stephen Prince

Chief Commercial Officer

858-263-5308

[email protected]

SOURCE Immunicom, Inc.
NORTH ADAMS  A Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts student has been charged with the on-campus rape of another student.

The Berkshire Eagle, citing the college, reported 18-year-old Christian Womble was charged following an investigation by campus police.

Womble, charged in a criminal complaint last Friday, has been suspended and barred from campus, according to the Eagle.

He is slated to be arraigned Friday in Northern Berkshire District Court.
Crocodile Dundee star Paul Hogan will return to the big screen, this time playing himself in The Very Excellent Mister Dundee.

A trailer released on Wednesday, shows the 80-year-old playing a semi-fictional version of himself, 19 years since he played the iconic role of Mick Dundee.

The movie follows Paul, who lives a quiet life out of the spotlight, reluctantly accepting his knighthood for his services to comedy.

Back on the silver screen! Paul Hogan, 80, is set to play a semi-fictional version of himself in his new film The Very Excellent Mister Dundee (pictured)

In the six weeks leading up to receiving the honour Paul has to stay out of trouble - which is when the hilarity ensues.

Among the famous starring alongside him include Chevy Chase, John Cleese and Olivia Newton-John, who play themselves.

Local stars including Shane Jacobson, Julia Morris and Kerry Armstrong will also star in the movie.

Star studded cast: Among the famous starring alongside him include Olivia Newton-John and Chevy Chase - who play themselves

Famous friends: Also starring with Paul in The Very Excellent Mister Dundee is British comedian John Cleese (right)

Home grown talent: Local stars including Shane Jacobson (pictured), Julia Morris and Kerry Armstrong will also star in the movie

The last time he starred as Mick Dundee was in the 2001 film Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles.

He first played the legendary Australian outback expert in Crocodile Dundee 1986, which was then followed by the follow up in 1988.

Paul's new movie comes after a Tourism Australia's hilarious faux movie trailer aired during the US Super Bowl back in 2018.

Big names: Paul's new movie comes after Tourism Australia released a hilarious faux movie trailer for a new Crocodile Dundee flick starring Chris Hemsworth

Star power: The big budget advert, which cost $36 million and debuted during the US Super Bowl back in 2018, was titled Dundee: The Son of a Legend Returns Home. The ad also starred Margot Robbie (pictured)

The big budget advert, which cost $36 million, took the form of a fake movie trailer for a new Dundee film called Dundee: The Son of a Legend Returns Home.

It featured many of Australia's most famous exports including Chris Hemsworth, Margot Robbie, Hugh Jackman and Russell Crowe.

The Very Excellent Mister Dundee will be released in Australian cinemas on April 30.
In court on Wednesday, two of Mr. Weinsteins victims gave emotional statements about the damage he had done to them. Miriam Haley, who testified that Mr. Weinstein forced oral sex on her in 2006, said he had forever altered her life, crushing her spirit.

He, with physical force, violated my trust, my body and my basic right to reject his sexual advances, she said. I showed up not as a perfect victim, but as a human being.

Jessica Mann, an aspiring actress who testified that Mr. Weinstein had raped her in a Manhattan hotel in 2013, asked for a lengthy prison sentence, saying it was time for people who rape other humans to pay a heavy price.

Im not going to give any more power over to the man who already stole my body, Ms. Mann said.

Given a chance to speak, Mr. Weinstein gave a rambling, 10-minute speech to the court. He said that he thought his relationships with the women were consensual and suggested that he was the victim of a rush to judgment.

We may have different truths, but I have great remorse for all of you, he said, addressing his accusers, but never apologizing to them. I have great remorse for all the men and women going through this crisis right now in our country.

He said the #MeToo movement was similar to the Red Scare of the 1950s and compared himself to the screenwriter Dalton Trumbo, who was jailed and blacklisted after joining the Communist Party. I think that is what is happening now all over this country, Mr. Weinstein said.

Still, Mr. Weinstein, who listed his work for charities and achievements in the film industry, said his empathy for others had grown in the last two years. I really feel remorse for this situation, he said. I feel it deeply in my heart. Im really trying, Im really trying to be a better person.
Australia's biggest miner, BHP, will pay $125 million in extra taxes after the nation's highest court upheld a ruling that the company should pay tax on profits earned by its Singapore marketing arm from selling commodities dug up in Australia.

The case centred on whether BHP should have paid so-called "top-up tax" on profits made by its Singapore marketing hub from the sale of coal from the Mt Arthur mine in Australia, which is owned by the British side of BHP's dual-listed structure, BHP Group. In a 5-0 judgment, the High Court determined commodities purchased from BHP's Australian entities should be included in its tax assessment because those entities were "associates" for the purposes of tax laws.

Workers at BHP's Mt Arthur coal mine: The tax office argues that profits on commodities dug out of the ground in Australia should be subject to the local tax and royalty systems. Credit:Louie Douvis

The decision brings to an end a long-running dispute between the tax office and the mining giant over the companys marketing business in Singapore.

The tax office on Wednesday welcomed the ruling, saying it set a precedent to assist the ATO in efforts to ensure other multinationals paid their "fair share of tax in Australia".
MONTCALM COUNTY, MI -- Sidney Township voters have decided against allowing recreational marijuana shops and growers in their boundaries.

The local proposal petition to set the number of state licensed marijuana establishments allowed within its boundaries failed Tuesday, March 10, by a measure of 320 in favor to 446 against, according to the unofficial results from the Montcalm County Clerks Office website.

The petition was led by David Overholt, a Sidney Township farmer who previously told The Greenville Daily News that allowing recreational marijuana in the township would, among other benefits, help the local economy and generate tax dollars.

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Sidney Township residents in 2018 voted against Michigan's Proposition 1, the proposal allowing adult use of marijuana, by a measure of 534 in favor to 574 opposed.

The Sidney Township proposal wouldve allowed recreational marijuana growers and microbusinesses.

Under the ballot language, the township wouldve allowed up to two of each grower class and an unlimited number of microbusinesses.

Class A growers can have up to 100 plants, Class B up to 500 and Class C up to 2,000. Microbusinesses allow individuals to grow up to 150 plants, process the material and sell it all at the same location.

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At least one person in attendance at a national journalism conference held in New Orleans last week tested presumptively positive for the novel coronavirus, organizers announced late Tuesday.

The conference, which ran from Wednesday evening through midday Sunday, was the annual gathering for the National Institute for Computer-Assisted Reporting. That organization, known as NICAR, is part of Investigative Reporters and Editors, or IRE, a national nonprofit that offers training where journalists learn best practices from one another.

More than 1,000 people attended the conference, which was held at the Marriott Hotel on Canal Street. Those attending the conference came from an estimated 20 countries, according to Doug Haddix, IRE's executive director.

According to a statement issued by IRE officials, the person who tested positive attended the conference from Thursday through Saturday afternoon. The person, who stayed at the Marriott, experienced mild symptoms, tested positive on Tuesday and plans to stay self-quarantined for 14 days.

The organization said based on the limited symptoms, the attendee could have contracted the virus, before, during or after the conference.

WVUE-TV reported that the person who tested positive visited the station's offices "for a short period of time." The station reported that managers all employees who had come into "close contact" with the person had been sent home, but that no WVUE employees had shown any symptoms of the coronavirus.

The station also reported that the person who contracted the virus had arrived in New Orleans on Tuesday.

The Times-Picayune and The Advocate offices remain open. As a precaution, the company hired a firm to clean its offices in New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Lafayette. The convention functions were chiefly at the hotel, and none of the events took place at the office of The Times-Picayune or The Advocate.

None of the Times-Picayune or Advocate journalists who attended the conference is known to have come in close contact with the infected conventioneer.

Reporters and editors who attended the conference and are showing any symptoms of illness will be working from home for the time being as a precaution, in keeping with guidelines promulgated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. So far, no employees for The Times-Picayune or The Advocate have been recommended for testing.

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+12 Coronavirus threat mounts with two more Louisiana cases; hospitals, schools, churches scramble Louisianas second and third presumed cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, were reported Tuesday in the New Orleans

Here's the IRE statement:

A person who attended the NICAR20 conference in New Orleans last week tested presumptively positive today with COVID-19.

This attendee has mild symptoms and is expected to make a full recovery. They are self-quarantining at home for 14 days, as recommended by health professionals.

The test has been sent to the Centers for Disease Control for confirmation. Until the test result is confirmed by the CDC, which can take up to a week, it is considered a presumptive positive. IRE is notifying conference attendees now so that individuals can make their own decisions on how best to proceed.

The attendee traveled from within the United States to the conference in New Orleans and was present from Thursday (March 5) until Saturday afternoon (March 7). Based on the onset of the limited symptoms, they could have contracted the virus either before, during or after the conference. Symptoms can appear within two to 14 days of exposure, and in some cases do not appear at all.

The attendee has been reaching out today to people they had close contact with during the conference. In addition, IRE is notifying individuals who participated in a pre-registered hands-on class with the attendee.

IRE has consulted with the CDC for guidance. The CDC recommends conference attendees contact their health care provider to let them know that they attended a large gathering with someone who has a laboratory-positive test for COVID-19. Based on your health history and whether you have any symptoms of COVID-19 (fever, cough or shortness of breath), your doctor may want to see you and/or conduct a coronavirus test. Protocols and testing availability vary from state to state.
Missing teenager Tiffany Taylor attempted to blackmail a man she met for sex for thousands of dollars claiming she had been raped, a court has been told.

Police charged the 16-year-old with attempted extortion after she demanded the man she met via the Craigslist website pay $3000 to buy her silence over the false allegation.

Months before she went missing, Tiffany Taylor was charged with attempted extortion. Credit:Facebook

Witness Mark Turner says he had sex with Tiffany twice at a park near a toilet block and gave her $2700 over the two months the pair knew each other.

"At no point in time did I feel I was paying for that sex in a prostitute-style," he told the Brisbane Supreme Court.
Metrolinx quietly increased the cost of its order for Bombardier light rail vehicles by about $40 million last fall, and the agency says the purchase will only become more expensive.

When Metrolinx, the provincial transit agency for the GTA, signed the deal in 2017 to buy 76 light rail vehicles to run on the Eglinton Crosstown LRT, it announced the cost of the purchase as $392 million.

But on Nov. 26, 2019, Metrolinx and Bombardier inked an amendment that added work to the contract and increased its value. Metrolinx didnt announce the cost increase but the Star has obtained a copy of the amendment.

The additional work involves Bombardier installing vital signalling and communications equipment on the cars. At least some of the work will be done at the Quebec-based manufacturers plant in Thunder Bay.

According to the copy of the amendment, the cost of adding the work is $36.2 million, plus a $3 million incentive if Bombardier meets a key deadline, and up to $1.5 million for costs related to labour and vehicle transportation in Thunder Bay.

Metrolinx spokesperson Matt Llewellyn said the amendment had been expected and the agency always planned to issue a change order for the communications and signalling equipment.

He said the contract value is expected to increase further because the agency is in negotiations with Bombardier to purchase spare parts for the new fleet. Llewellyn said he couldnt put a dollar value on the total cost of the purchase until those details are finalized.

Bombardier spokesperson Kaven Delarosbil didnt answer specific questions about the amendment but said the company is up to the work.

Our skilled employees in Ontario are committed to the success of the Eglinton Crosstown project, and we are on track to deliver these high quality, state-of-the-art vehicles, he said.

Complicating the work is the fact the Crosstown vehicles are already in production and dozens of them will have to be retrofitted with the communications and signalling equipment.

According to Metrolinx, Crosslinx Transit Solutions (CTS), the consortium building the LRT, is responsible for designing the interface for the lines communications and train control systems.

Llewellyn said CTS was late in finalizing the design, which delayed the installation of the equipment and has necessitated the retrofit. Llewellyn said Metrolinx intends to recover the majority of the increased costs related to the November amendment from CTS.

However, CTS spokesperson Kristin Jenkins would not confirm that the consortium will agree to pick up the tab.

CTS continues to work collaboratively with Infrastructure Ontario and Metrolinx to deliver this world-class transit system safely, with the utmost quality, Jenkins wrote in a brief statement.

The Crosstown is a 19-kilometre, 25-stop light rail line currently under construction across midtown Toronto. Metrolinx has pegged its construction costs at $5.3 billion, but with additional costs like maintenance, vehicles, and contingencies, the total cost will run to more than $12 billion.

It was scheduled to open by Sept. 2021, but internal Metrolinx documents previously reported on by the Star show that by last November CTS had told the agency the LRT would be delayed by months. Metrolinx has since confirmed it wont be operational until well into 2022, but has provided no firm date.

The LRT wont initially require the full fleet to operate and Metrolinx plans to use just 42 vehicles starting opening day. Despite the delay to construction, the contract amendment maintains the previous deadline for supplying the first 42 cars with functional signalling and communication equipment as Aug. 1, 2021, long before the line is now expected to serve its first passengers. Metrolinx will pay Bombardier a $3-million incentive if it meets that date.

Asked why the agency needs the cars so far ahead of opening day, Llewellyn said they were always required before the line became operational to allow for testing and integration with Crosstown infrastructure. These activities are still required and are still proceeding to the current schedule, he said.

The deadline for delivering all 76 cars with functional add-ons is March 31, 2022.

The contract amendment shows Bombardier is facing steep penalties if it doesnt meet Crosstown delivery deadlines. If it fails to supply the first 42 cars to the Eglinton maintenance and storage facility by March 31, 2021 the company will have to pay a penalty of $500,000 for every day its late.

Bombardier missed the Feb. 1 2019 due date to supply the first six vehicles for preliminary acceptance, which is an early stage of delivery. The due date for final acceptance of the first half-dozen cars is July 1, 2020, under penalty of $300,000 per day.

Bombardier has manufactured 30 cars but Metrolinx has so far given final acceptance to just two. Llewellyn said the agency is confident Bombardier will meet the July 1 deadline for the first six vehicles.

Metrolinx originally ordered 182 vehicles from Bombardier at a cost of $770 million in 2010, with the intention to run them on both the Eglinton Crosstown and Finch West LRTs. But the agency later tried to break the contract after accusing Bombardier of falling behind in production. The company took Metrolinx to court and eventually the two sides agreed to proceed with a reduced order.

Last month, Bombardier announced it had reached a $9-billion deal to sell its rail division to French competitor Alstom. The agreement is expected to face antitrust scrutiny and has yet to receive regulatory approval.

Ben Spurr is a Toronto-based reporter covering transportation. Reach him by email at bspurr@thestar.ca or follow him on Twitter: @BenSpurr

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By ANI

ANKARA: Turkey and Bolivia announced their first cases of novel coronavirus on Wednesday.

"A male citizen tested positive for the coronavirus in the evening," Turkey Health Minister Fahrettin Koca was quoted as saying at a press conference in the capital by Anadolu Agency.

"The patient's general condition is good. All his family members and those who came into contact with him are under watch," the minister added.

Coronavirus LIVE UPDATES | Cases reach 62 in India, suspected death reported in Karnataka

"An early diagnosis (of the patient) was made. If there is a virus infection in the country, it is very limited. One or more cases of the coronavirus should not be considered an epidemic," he noted.

The infected individual contracted the virus after returning from Europe and has been placed under isolation.

Health officials also urged people to not leave the country until in a case of emergency.

Meanwhile, in Bolivia, two cases of coronavirus were confirmed by Health Minister Anibal Cruz in a public address.

ALSO READ | 90-year-old woman dies of coronavirus in Belgium, first death in country

Turkey last month closed its border with Iran, which has been hard-hit by the virus and cancelled all flights to the country.

The coronavirus, officially known also COVID-19, was first detected last December in Wuhan, in central China, and has spread to across 107 countries worldwide.

The global death toll from the coronavirus is now over 4,260, with more than 118,100 confirmed cases, according to Johns Hopkins University.
'RBI was focusing on public sector banks perhaps thinking that private sector banks are managed efficiently while PSU banks are not.'

'Now, RBI has to focus on private sector banks too.'

IMAGE: Yes Bank promoter and former CEO Rana Kapoor at the GT hospital in south Mumbai before being taken to court by the enforcement directorate. Photograph: Arun Patil

Who is to blame for the collapse of Yes Bank?

How did it happen to a bank that was run by 'professionals'?

Did the Reserve Bank of India see what was coming?

"Despite the RBI nominees's presence on the board and also in auditing, failures are happening. It shows the lack of exposure to the way commercial banks work," banking consultant Kalyanaraman P R -- who after retiring from the Bank of India as general manager, worked as executive director of the Federal Bank, and later as managing director Centrum Capital Ltd -- tells Rediff.com's Shobha Warrier.

Earlier this year the SBI chairman had said that Yes Bank with over Rs 2 lakh crore deposits would not be allowed to go down.

Then, there were reports about the government asking SBI and LIC to pick up 49% stake in the bank.

Why did the RBI then put the bank under a moratorium creating panic among depositors?

It will take some time for the new management to take control as they have to complete the process by infusing fresh capital. The SBI has said it is ready to put in Rs 2,500 crores and it would not have any impact on its own capital base.

But you have to follow certain measures for the smooth functioning of the institution.

You should understand that the period of moratorium is only to put in place the new board and the management, and set the ball rolling. You cannot take such a decision overnight; it will take time.

I agree with you that this has caused inconvenience to customers, but this is a process only to safeguard the interests of depositors.

The RBI said the decision was taken to ensure the safety of the financial system, but what about those who put their money in the bank?

If there was no moratorium, even if the government assured that their money was safe, there would be a run on the bank.

Today, there is no run on the bank as they can take only Rs 50,000 in a month. This is only to ensure that people don't panic and withdraw their deposits completely.

Once they see that the bank is coming back to normal functioning, the confidence of depositors will be restored.

It is a temporary inconvenience for depositors, but this is to ensure safety of their money.

Some accounts are affected and in bad shape, but that does not mean that the bank is not capable of running. The bank has a full-fledged administrative system and adequately staffed branches.

Yes, there are problems, but the RBI and the government are trying to set right matters so that the bank's functioning returns to normalcy soon.

You mean, depositors need not worry and their money is safe?

If SBI is taking over Yes Bank, I don't find any reason for the depositors to worry.

We do not know now whether it will merge with State Bank or run as an individual bank. We will know about it only later.

At the moment, the entire focus is on putting the bank back on the rails.

I don't think it is difficult for SBI to manage as they have adequate internal management capability to depute some people to manage the bank.

Yes Bank was started by professionals. Looking at the situation, do you think it was run professionally?

Yes, it was started by a well-known professional banker. He was not an incapable banker and he had very good professionals to help run the bank. But unfortunately, major decision-making processes were not done professionally.

The perception in the market is that they sacrificed long term goals to boost short term (current) profits and growth, perhaps to enhance the image and market capitalisation.

Apart from that, there are other issues that resulted in this situation. He (promoter and former CEO Rana Kapoor) was looked upon as a capable banker, so, perhaps, nobody questioned his decisions. Perhaps, he was above the board.

We have no idea as to whether the board exercised its individual judgement or not. The RBI has to find this out.

We also do not know how much information was given to the board in respect of the huge loans given to the entities. If they were not provided with all the information, they would not know.

Secondly, they have followed a policy of 'high risk, high return'. Such a policy will work when the economy is doing well. That's because every unit will continue to grow even when the foundation is weak. The issues get precipitated only when the economy is experiencing a downswing. That's when such units are exposed to danger.

When you lend to high risk companies with unusually high processing charges expecting high returns, it will facilitate a better bottom line in the balance sheet. But what you see now is what happens when the economy is down.

Then, you have to find out whether the executives down the line who are carrying out the instructions of the top management questioned the management on such loans. If the executives are pliant, they simply carry out whatever they are told to do. They will not apply their mind.

The fourth point is a bank lends money to an entity looking at the balance sheet shown by the auditors. If the entity had done any fraud on the balance sheet or done mismanagement, the bank will come to know about it only later.

The general economic conditions also can affect the NPAs. If a few big loans go bad due to whatever reasons, it could snowball into an NPA crisis.

Do you attribute the situation to the slowing down of the economy?

Absolutely not. That can happen only with small loans. In the case of Yes Bank, the big loans that failed were all management decisions probably not taken in a very professional manner.

The ancient Tamil literary work Thirukkural says if a king is not questioned for his decisions, even a very good king can make mistakes. That's what happened here.

If the chief executive is not questioned by the board or the senior executives or anybody else in the bank, even if his intention is good, he can make mistakes and fail. It appears nobody questioned his decisions.

Yes, there can be judgemental error in a rare case, but you cannot go on committing mistakes.

So, I will also blame the system the bank had adopted for its failure.

We have been hearing about the problems faced by Yes Bank for quite some time. Banks are audited internally and externally. The RBI also oversees the functioning of all banks. So, why is it that nobody noticed such huge failures in the bank earlier?

The RBI has not been totally unaware or inactive in this matter. Rana Kapoor was asked to step down more than a year ago. That itself shows the RBI was aware that there was a problem. They have put their nominee on the board also.

The RBI has taken these steps much earlier. There was talk of other big investors stepping in also to turn the bank around. Perhaps it did not materialise for reasons not known.

The RBI would not have intervened now if there was a possibility of an external investor coming in. The RBI might have given time for the bank management to bring in investors. When they saw that investments are not happening, they have stepped in.

I would not say that the RBI did not act earlier.

The government also has acted fast in requesting the SBI and LIC to look at the bank for investment/takeover. And the RBI and the government have taken this step because this bank would have been seen as one that can be turned around.

Some people argue that the problem lies not just with Yes Bank, but with the way the RBI is functioning. Do you agree?

Not fully. I don't deny that there are issues. But I won't say that the RBI and the government were ignorant of the issues.

The government has also brought in some steps to cleanse the banking sector. Also, the RBI, SEBI, etc are continuously improving the regulatory control over such institutions where public money is involved. It is not that they are not doing anything.

Yes, the RBI was focusing on public sector banks perhaps thinking that private sector banks are managed efficiently while PSU banks are not. It appears they were not run professionally too. Now, they have to focus on private sector banks too seeing the number of failures in both the NBFC sector and the private banking sector.

In many earlier cases of private banks collapsing, the RBI nominees were on the board and the RBI auditors inspected the banks. But the RBI officials probably lacked commercial bank exposure to notice the failures or wrong doings of the bank managements.

Perhaps the RBI should think of deputing those officials who are nominated to the boards of various banks to some select banks for a specified period so that they will have knowledge of how commercial banks work and how they look at the financial system from the commercial bank's perspective.

Despite the RBI nominees's presence on the board and also in auditing, failures are happening. It shows the lack of exposure to the way commercial banks work. Knowledge of rules and regulations is one thing and practical knowledge is a different aspect that provides insight into the way different banks function.

The government recapitalised public sector banks. Now, the SBI is said to be putting in around Rs 2,500 crore in Yes Bank. Is it not people's money that is being used to overcome the failures of both public sector and private sector banks?

I agree ultimately it is tax-payers's money. But you have to look at the larger picture, that the government is trying to save a major bank and thereby save depositors's money.

As long as the bank can be turned around, it is a right step.

With so many banks collapsing and looking at what is happening in the banking sector itself, do you feel people are losing trust in the system?

Yes, when these things happen repeatedly, people will lose confidence in the system.

Once effective steps are taken to restore the functioning of these institutions, people will start feeling confident.

But there are also entities where you cannot do anything to save them. When such entities collapse, the depositors lose their money.

You must also remember, like the high-risk, high return policy of the banks, here the depositors are also following the same policy. They go to a higher risk bank to avail of that half a percent or one percent more interest.

So, depositors also have to do due diligence before putting in their money.

Do you think the government has taken steps to restore confidence among depositors?

In the current situation, the government and the RBI have taken the required steps to restore the confidence of depositors, particularly in respect of Yes Bank.
Alarmist headlines. Politicians downplaying danger. Skirmishes over loo paper. Nothing is surprising to those of us who worked on the last global health crisis: the 2014 Ebola outbreak.

A crazy panic gripped the world and crippled the economies of the entire African continent. What is surprising is how little the governments that funded that effort, including Australia, learned from the crisis.

Health Minister Greg Hunt, Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy announcing the coronavirus measures on Wednesday. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

The governments $30 million national information campaign, announced on Wednesday, is way overdue. It will be critical now that the government gets it right. As the virus runs away from efforts to contain it in countries around the world, public awareness of how to avoid infection will be all that will protect those most vulnerable and slow the transmission enough to give health systems a chance to cope.

It is critical that the campaign is clear, engaging, constant and delivered by trusted sources. News that doctors are receiving confusing advice from the federal government and different state health authorities on who to test, when, where and how, does not encourage confidence that the government will get it right.
Dozens of passengers have been held in quarantine on a Cambodian river cruise boat after a British woman tested positive for coronavirus.

The vessel was placed under police guard after it was moored on the Mekong River near Kampong Cham, southeastern Cambodia, on Tuesday.

The British woman, 65, was transported to the Kampong Cham Hospital for observation and treatment after it emerged she was infected with COVID-19.

Health Minister Mam Bunheng confirmed the remaining 62 passengers and crew aboard the Viking River Cruises vessel would be tested for the virus and quarantined for 14 days.

Among the 31 passengers are tourists from the US, the UK and Canada, with crew members from Denmark, Cambodia and Vietnam on board.

Health officials arrive to test some 62 passengers and crew aboard a river cruise boat docked along the Mekong River in Kampong Cham, Cambodia for coronavirus

Four other passengers from the UK have already been tested with negative results.

The Viking Mekong cruise, which lasts eight days, began in Ho Chi Mihn City in Vietnam and travelled to Cambodian capital Phnom Penh before arriving in Kampong Cham.

Mam Bunheng said the British woman, who is Cambodia's third confirmed case of coronavirus, contracted the virus 'from a Vietnamese national who sat beside her' on Vietnam Airlines flight VN54 from London to Hanoi, Vietnam on March 2.

It is believed the unidentified woman had travelled on the same flight as seven Britons who tested positive for coronavirus in Vietnam after sharing a plane with a globe-trotting super-spreader who attended fashion shows across Europe.

The UK citizens - all aged between 58 and 74 - are thought to have caught the killer disease from Nguyen Hong Nhung, 26, who tested positive last week after attending luxury catwalks in Milan and Paris.

Mam Bunheng added the newly-diagnosed Briton boarded the ship in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam on March 5 before arriving in Phnom Penh on March 7, the Phnom Penh Post reported.

Tourists watch on as the vessel was placed under police guard after it was moored on the Mekong River near Kampong Cham, southeastern Cambodia, on Tuesday

A British woman, 65, was transported to the Kampong Cham Hospital for observation and treatment after it emerged she was infected with COVID-19

He added Cambodian health officials had initially attempted to test five British nationals for COVID-19 on Saturday after they were warned the tourists had been in contact with a Vietnamese coronavirus patient.

He said tests were carried out on three of the five at the Khmer Soviet Friendship Hospital, but two women refused to take the test.

'But the test could only be done on three of them and the results were negative. Two other women initially refused to take the COVID-19 test,' Mam Bunheng said.

'But they agreed to do so when they reached Kampong Cham, and this is when we identified the 65-year-old British woman to be COVID-19 positive.'

He added that the British woman who was diagnosed with the virus is 'in good general health.' She is also said to not be displaying any symptoms of the virus at present.

The woman had also shown 'no signs of ill health and did not have a fever or any other symptoms' when her temperature was tested in Saigon, Viking Cruises confirmed.

Health Minister Mam Bunheng confirmed the remaining 63 passengers and crew aboard the Viking River Cruises vessel (pictured) would be tested for the virus and quarantined for 14 days

The Viking Mekong cruise, which lasts eight days, began in Ho Chi Mihn City in Vietnam and travelled to Cambodian capital Phnom Penh before arriving in Kampong Cham

Ministry of Health spokesperson Or Vandin said Cambodian authorities are in the process of identifying others who have been in contact with the patient.

A spokesperson for Viking Cruises said: 'We can confirm that the Cambodian Ministry of Health have announced that one of our river cruise guests is among those that have tested positive for the virus that causes COVID-19.

'The passenger is British and we understand this guest was exposed to the virus on Vietnam Airlines flight VN54 from London to Hanoi on 2 March and subsequent tests by the Cambodian authorities confirmed that she had contracted the virus.

'The passenger is currently in good health and is not displaying any symptoms, but has been transferred to a local hospital. We are doing everything we can to look provide full support, and are in contact with the guests family and the relevant authorities.

'As a precaution, all 31 guests and 31 crew on the ship are being tested for the virus.'
One Nosa Aigbogun, a member of the Living Faith Church a.k.a Winners Chapel, Uwasota branch in Benin, Edo State, has accused one Pastor Gideon Oyedepo of assault.

According to Nosa, the man who slapped him is the younger brother of the founder and General Overseer of the Church, Bishop David Oyedepo.

He said since he was transferred to their branch as resident pastor, the younger Oyedepo has enthroned himself as emperor and has become a problem to members of the church.

He appealed to the founder of the church, Bishop Oyedepo, to rescue them from further beatings from his younger brother.

I want concerned authorities to rescue us from him, we have received enough slaps. We are begging his elder brother, Bishop David Oyedepo, to save us from the overnight emperor before is too late.

Since his arrival at our branch, he has slapped two persons and he keeps saying nobody can do him anything. He has turned the branch to something else.

Read Also: You Need To Examine Your Head  APC Blasts Bishop Oyedepo

They called for unity meeting on Sunday and I was part of those that attended. All of a sudden, he just turned to me and started calling me devil, idiot.

Before you know it, he just slapped me and he said I cannot do him anything and that he has been planing to deal with some of us in the church.

His P.A. joined him, I wanted to retaliate, but other members pleaded and I listened. But today, on his instruction, his P.A. went and brought soldiers who they said were from Supply and Transport (S&T) Barracks.

A friend of mine who saw them before me, alerted me and suggested that I should run. I hid myself but they searched and located me and demanded that I follow them. When I asked where they were from, they pounced on me, rough-handled me and beat the hell out of me.
The finance ministry has flagged 17 'areas of dissatisfaction' with Infosys-designed GST Network, including transition issues for taxpayers in Jammu and Kashmir, Aadhaar verification and lack of scalability of servers. The other areas which the ministry has flagged as "unresolved or late resolved" with Infosys include delay in providing software for blocking of e-way bill generation in cases of non-filers of GSTR-3B.

Besides, new supply code for point of sale outside India, or deploying a feature that would allow assigning registration application to the same jurisdictional officer after past rejection (a decision on which had been taken in early 2019), were also flagged by the ministry.

Infosys, which in 2015 won the contract for managing backend for GST Network (GSTN), has drawn flak from the ministry over the tech glitches, some of them have been unresolved for almost two years.

An email sent to Infosys on the issue did not elicit any comment.

Infosys chairman Nandan Nilekani has been summoned by the Government to make a presentation before the GST Council on March 14 following high-level meetings at the finance ministry to fix the outstanding problems.

The ministry has made it clear to Infosys that the onus of performance of GST portal lies with the company and that it should meet the expectations.

In a strongly worded letter to Infosys on March 5, the ministry had said some of the problems highlighted as early as 2018 are still unresolved and failures month after month has led to genuine taxpayers "getting frustrated".

"Infosys is requested to go through the pending issues, day-to-day disruptions and the future road map and come up with a plan for quick resolution within 15 days.

"Infosys has set high international standards and it is expected that the efficiency which your organisation is known for should be visible in GST project also," the ministry had said in the letter to Infosys.

Listing out the future expectations from Infosys, the ministry also sought to know the roadmap for developing software for Aadhaar authentication for existing taxpayers, linkage of e-invoice with GSTR-1 (sales return) and transition to new return filing model.

Also read: Cabinet clears merger of 10 PSBs into 4 banks effective April 1

Also read: LIC unlikely to invest in Yes Bank; here's why
T he health minister who has fallen victim to the coronavirus today appealed to MPs to say if they had been in close contact with her and revealed that one of her staff had gone down with the infection.

As the escalating Covid-19 crisis hit Parliament, Nadine Dorries ministerial office was sealed off with police inner cordon tape, and Covid-19 Do Not Enter signs.

With a race starting to trace people she had come into contact with, Labour MP Rachael Maskell revealed that she had been told to self-isolate after a meeting with Ms Dorries last Thursday, the day she started to feel unwell.

The minister sent a message to the Tory MPs WhatsApp group this morning, urging colleagues to tell her if they had met in recent days.

Rachael Maskell MP, who has been advised to self-isolate / PA

My staff member has gone down with it too, she wrote. I havent yet given a list to the contact tracers. Hard to remember every single person I was in contact with last week. If you sat next to me in the tea room or library etc please let me know.

Public health officials are tracking people who may have caught Covid-19 from Ms Dorries but the fact that she had not yet given a list to them means they can only partially fulfil this task.

MPs fear they could spread the disease and some are already talking about staying away from Parliament as much as possible.

The SNPs Carol Monaghan, MP for Glasgow North West, tweeted after Ms Dorries revealed last night that she had tested positive: I raised the issue of MPs and #coronavirus at last weeks PMQs but twice today I was jammed into a voting lobby with hundreds of other MPs.

"How many of us will now be taking this virus back to our constituencies?

As Parliaments chiefs met to discuss how to respond one MP texted ITV News: Itll shut down in all but name. Loads of MPs are planning to not attend unless it is absolutely necessary for votes.

Ms Dorries was at an International Womens Day reception at No 10 on Thursday evening, attended by 110 people including double Olympic gold medallist Dame Kelly Holmes, chief operating officer at Manchester United Collette Roche and the founder of social enterprise STEMettes, Anne-Marie Imafidon.

A group of students from Westminster Kingsway College prepared and served the canapes.

Boris Johnson, who attended with his fiancee Carrie Symonds, may have brushed by the health minister but guests are believed to have been at low risk of getting the virus as it is not believed to spread easily when people are asymptomatic.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson and partner Carrie Symonds / PA

Public Health England was undertaking urgent contact tracing of anyone who was in contact with Ms Dorries and would advise people as necessary.

Asked why the Prime Minister was not being tested regularly for the virus, a source said the advice of Public Health England and the chief medical officer was being followed and that the premier had no symptoms, so there was no need for a test.

Ms Dorries, 62, the MP for Mid Bedfordshire who began her career as a nurse, is understood to have developed symptoms on Friday and to have swiftly self-isolated. She is most concerned about her elderly mother.

She tweeted: Thanks for so many good wishes. Its been pretty rubbish but I hope Im over the worst of it now.

"More worried about my 84yo mum who is staying with me and began with the cough today. She is being tested tomorrow. Keep safe and keep washing those hands, everyone.

As of this morning there were 382 confirmed Covid-19 cases in the UK, and six deaths. In separate developments:

Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte vowed to throw billions of extra spending at the economy which was being crippled by the crisis, with more than 10,000 cases, and more than 600 deaths.

More than 100 British nationals, who had been on the Grand Princess cruise ship at the Port of Oakland, California, were due to arrive in the UK this afternoon on an evacuation flight and will go into self-isolation.

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 Cabinet received an update from the Health Secretary and Prime Minister on the outbreak. The PM wished Ms Dorries a speedy recovery.

The NHS may need to draft in thousands of trainee doctors and nurses to cope with staff absence rates of 30 per cent due to the outbreak, Scottish Health Secretary Jeane Freeman warned.

A 53-year-old British woman, with underlying health conditions, who died in Bali is believed to be the first Covid-19 fatality in Indonesia.
With national political attention firmly fixed on the fate of the Kamal Nath-led Congress government in Madhya Pradesh, the key to its survival rests on the final decision of the 19 MLAs supporting Jyotiraditya Scindia, who are currently in a luxury resort on the outskirts of Bangalore. While all the 19 MLAs supporting Scindia have sent in their resignations, till the speaker accepts them or the Governor intervenes, there can be several more twists in the tale.

However, there is a sense of deja vu as what is known in India as resort politics takes centre stage again. If Aya Ram  Gaya Ram politics (of overnight switching of loyalties) was Haryanas contribution to the national political lexicon, Karnataka can say that resort politics is its contribution.

As early as August 1984, when the Congress tried to topple the nascent Telugu Desam Party (TDP) government of NT Rama Rao (NTR)  when he was away in the US for an angiogram  by encouraging Nadendala Bhaskar Rao to try and split the party, it was Karnataka which came to NTRs rescue. The then CM of Karnataka and Janata Party stalwart, Ramakrishna Hegde, at the request of NTR, sequestered TDP MLAs at a resort on the outskrits of Bangalore. This helped NTR in ensuring no other TDP legislators were lured by the Bhaskar Rao faction. The rebellion was quelled in just a month with Bhaskar Rao going down as a chief minister with one of the shortest tenures in India as NTR returned to power.

This is a template which has since been used repeatedly by all political parties. Legislators being shifted to more conducive political climates even as background machinations take place to form or topple a government. What has changed, though, is unlike in 1984, when legislators were ferried in luxury private buses, they are now taken on chartered planes.

Even the current BJP government in Karnataka, headed by Yediyurappa, was formed after 17 Congress and Janata Dal (Secular) legislators were sent in chartered flights to Mumbai where they stayed at a five star hotel under the protection of the then Devendra Fadnavis led BJP government. Similarly, Gujarat Congress legislators were sent to Karnataka when the party felt efforts were being made to break it ahead of a crucial Rajya Sabha election.

Prof Harish Ramaswamy, who teaches political science at Karnataka University, says, Increasingly, as ideological lines blur, only power seems to be the glue which can hold parties together and unfortunately legislators seem to be ready to switch sides for the sake of power. It is not a healthy development for the polity in the long run, whichever side one is on. Given that it was the pioneer in resort politics, it is interesting that the state is again playing a role in determining the survival of Madhya Pradesh government.
(Natural News) Just as predicted, medical martial law has finally arrived in the United States with the first government-imposed mass quarantine area for the Wuhan coronavirus (CoVid-19) reportedly being set up in New Rochelle, New York, located to the north of Manhattan.

New York Governor Andrew infanticide Cuomo declared New Rochelle to be the most significant cluster (of the novel coronavirus) in the country after a surge of new cases was recently identified there. Consequently, hes decided to deploy National Guard troops to a Health Department command post there where they will then establish a one-mile, two-week containment area around the city.

This containment area will have a satellite testing facility for identifying new cases of the disease, and National Guard troops will also be tasked with keeping all surfaces in the area clean, as well as delivering food to local residents who will presumably be forced to stay inside their homes.

The states of New York and nearby New Jersey have both declared states of emergency in response to the Wuhan coronavirus (CoVid-19), with Westchester County alone confirming 108 known cases of the disease, or 57 percent of all known tri-state cases.

New Jersey also reported its first death from the Wuhan coronavirus (CoVid-19) in a 69-year-old man living in Bergen County. He is said to have suffered from preexisting health conditions that included emphysema, hypertension and diabetes, and had no known recent travel to high-risk countries like communist China.

Our prayers are with the family during this difficult time, said New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver in a statement. We remain vigilant to doing all we can  across all levels of government  to protect the people of New Jersey.

Listen below to one of last weeks episodes of The Health Ranger Report in which Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, warned that medical martial law would soon be coming to the U.S.:

Everything is shutting down due to coronavirus

Getting back to New Rochelle, which is home to the infamous midtown Manhattan lawyer whos been linked to dozens of cases of the Wuhan coronavirus (CoVid-19) across multiple states, officials say this second confirmed case of the disease in New York is the Empire States first known instance of community spread.

Since that time, there have been multiple other cases of community spread in New York, which Cuomo says caused more than a dozen new cases overnight. New York currently has 173 known cases of the disease, second only to Washington state which has 179 as of this writing.

You calibrate your response to the time and the facts and the circumstances in that place and at that time, Cuomo is quoted as saying when asked whether or not New York Citys iconic St. Patricks Day Parade, scheduled for next week, will be canceled.

So, parades, etc., we look at that on a daily basis, he added.

As you may already know, schools all across the country are closing down and becoming online-only in response to this ongoing crisis. Many community events, sporting events, and other scheduled gatherings are also being cancelled as the nation braces for lockdowns that could eventually be on-par with whats taking place in Wuhan, China, the epicenter of the Wuhan coronavirus (CoVid-19).

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has authorized six private labs in the state of New York to conduct coronavirus testing. At the same time, officials are still trying to reassure the public that the risk of infection remains low.

To keep up with the latest news about the Wuhan coronavirus (CoVid-19), be sure to check out the new Pandemic.news.

Sources for this article include:

NBCNewYork.com

NaturalNews.com
Pierce Brosnan continued to show off his Van Dyke beard as the dapper star attended The Prince's Trust Awards on Wednesday.

The 66-year-old Prince's Trust Ambassador headed to the TK Maxx And Homesense Awards at the London Palladium and looked very smart in his blue suit as he walked the red carpet.

The former Bond star has been sporting his new look for a few weeks now - the definition of a Van Dyke beard is a full goatee with detached moustache.

It's a vibe: Pierce Brosnan, 66, continued to show off his Van Dyke beard as dapper star attended The Prince's Trust Awards at the London Palladium on Wednesday

The great and good of the British film and television industry also attended the event, including the likes of Anna Friel, 43, and Richard E. Grant, 62.

Prince Charles himself was also pictured arriving soon after the celebrities.

The Prince's Trust and TK Maxx & Homesense Awards honour the achievements of young people supported by The Trust.

Special: The Prince's Trust and TK Maxx & Homesense Awards honour the achievements of young people supported by The Trust

How he normally looks: Pierce (pictured with his son, Dylan) usually has designer stubble or a clean-shaven appearance

According to the website: 'The awards recognise young people who succeed against the odds, improve their chances in life and have a positive impact on their local community.'

'We believe that every young person should have the chance to embrace exciting opportunities. So, we help 11 to 30 year-olds to find the tools and confidence to try free courses and start careers.'

Meanwhile, last year, Pierce said he was hoping for a woman to take over as the next Bond.

Arriving in style: Anna Friel (left) brought the glamour to The Prince's Trust Awards in a yellow maxi dress as Richard E. Grant wore latex gloves amid coronavirus outbreak (right)

He told The Hollywood Reporter: 'I think we've watched the guys do it for the last 40 years.

'Get out of the way, guys, and put a woman up there. I think it would be exhilarating, it would be exciting.'

Pierce, who played Bond on four occasions, then said: 'I don't think that's going to happen with the Broccolis. I don't think that is going to happen under their watch.'
President Trump last week spoke on the phone with Taliban leaders who are on Americas secret kill or capture list, it has been reported.

National security officials are said to be concerned over what they said is an unprecedented breach of protocol by the president, who was chatting with individuals wanted by his own Defense Department.

Its ground-shaking that the president spoke to individuals on a target list, a senior Pentagon official told The Daily Beast.

It was a big give from our side, towards an adversary that traditionally has never held up their side of the bargain in numerous other attempts towards de-escalation and peace.

We made a group that lacks absolute operational control over their forces a legitimate player on the world stage.

Senior Pentagon officials are unhappy with President Trump for talking on the phone with Taliban figures who are wanted by the United States military. Trump is seen above in the Oval Office in January 2017

The president's phone call last week included two senior Taliban figures - Mullah Amir Khan Muttaqi (left) and Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar (right) - who are said to be on the American military's secret 'kill or capture' list

According to officials, Trump spoke on the phone with Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar.

Baradar, who was once held prisoner in Pakistan, is a co-founder of the Taliban and the head of its political bureau in Qatar.

We had a very good conversation with the leader of the Taliban today, and theyre looking to get this ended, and were looking to get it ended,' Trump said last week when asked about the phone call.

'I think we all have a very common interest...We had, actually, a very good talk with the leader of the Taliban.

Another Taliban official who reportedly listened in on the call is Amir Khan Muttaqi.

In July 2018, Muttaqi was wounded in an airstrike in the Ghazni province of Afghanistan.

Baradar is seen right shaking hands with Zalmay Khalilzad, the Trump administration's special representative for Afghanistan reconciliation, during a signing ceremony of the US-Taliban peace agreement in Doha, Qatar, on February 29

Muttaqi and Baradar are two names included on the Joint Prioritized Effects Lists, a so-called kill/capture list of individuals wanted by the US-led force in Afghanistan.

The list includes Taliban and al-Qaeda bomb makers, commanders, financiers, people who coordinate weapons transports, and even public relations people.

The identities of those who are on the list are determined by the Central Intelligence Agency as well as the US militarys elite Joint Special Operations Command.

Intelligence analysts receive information about a particular Taliban or al-Qaeda figure whose name is on the list.

If the information is credible, the military would then plan operations designed to either capture or kill them.

The phone conversation is the latest indication that there is a growing gap between the presidents apparent eagerness to remove US forces from Afghanistan and the militarys distrust of the Taliban.

The top US commander for the Middle East painted a grim picture on Tuesday of the peace process with the Taliban in Afghanistan, saying the current level of violence is higher than allowed in the plan and that he will recommend against full withdrawal if that continues.

Marine General Frank McKenzie told the House Armed Services Committee that he has plans to cut the number of troops to 8,600 by the summer, but so far the US has not developed military plans for the full withdrawal in 14 months that is called for in the peace plan signed on February 29.

To date, Taliban attacks are higher than we believe are consistent with an idea to actually carry out this plan, McKenzie said.

If they're unable to draw down the current level of attacks, then the political leadership will be able to make decisions based on that.

Afghan Taliban fighters and villagers attend a gathering as they celebrate the peace deal signed between US and Taliban in Laghman Province, Alingar district on March 2, 2020

He added that he has no confidence the group will honor its commitments, but said his optimism or pessimism about the future doesn't matter because any decisions will be based on facts and what happens on the ground.

Trump insisted the group wants to cease violence.

Asked if he believes the Afghan government will be capable of defending itself by the time of a complete US troop withdrawal, he said he didn't know, but noted, eventually, countries have to take care of themselves.

The Pentagons top spokesman, Jonathan Hoffman, also offered a bit more optimism on Tuesday, saying Defense Secretary Mark Esper believes the US-Taliban deal is holding up, despite some instances of violence, some of which is being committed by the Islamic State groups Afghanistan affiliate.

American forces on Monday started pulling out of two bases in Afghanistan, a US official said on Tuesday, the day peace talks between Kabul and the Taliban were due to start despite widespread violence and a political crisis.

The US is keen to end its longest-ever conflict, and under the terms of a deal signed in Doha last month has said all foreign forces will quit Afghanistan within 14 months - provided the Taliban stick to their security commitments.

Under the accord, the US is initially supposed to cut its troop presence from about 12,000 currently to 8,600 by mid-July, and close five of its roughly 20 bases across the country.

Troops have started leaving one base in Lashkar Gah, the capital of Helmand province in the south, and another base in Herat in the east, a US official told AFP on the condition of anonymity.

Even with the drawdown, US forces retain all the military means and authorities to accomplish our objectives, Colonel Sonny Leggett, spokesman for US Forces-Afghanistan, said Monday, referring to American counterterrorism operations and support for Afghan forces.

Helmand, which along with neighbouring Kandahar province is considered a Taliban stronghold, is where US and British forces fought some of the bloodiest campaigns of the 18-year war.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- As the first case of coronavirus, or COVID-19, on Staten Island has been confirmed, schools and colleges in New York City and New York State are taking measures to combat the deadly disease, such as daily deep cleanings, canceling of study abroad programs, and even canceling in-person classes in lieu of virtual learning.

On Tuesday, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced there were 173 confirmed coronavirus cases in New York State, which includes 36 confirmed cases in New York City.

*** CLICK HERE FOR FULL COVERAGE OF CORONAVIRUS IN NEW YORK ***

The Staten Island Advance/SILive.com has gathered the key things you need to know about schools in New York City in the wake of the coronavirus.

SCHOOL CLOSURE PROTOCOL

There have been no official public school closings in New York City, and no private, Catholic or public school closings on Staten Island.

However, Cuomo announced a new policy Monday that if a student or staff member tests positive for COVID-19, that school will be closed for at least 24 hours. The local Health Department will notify schools if and when a school must close due to COVID-19.

During the initial 24-hour closure, the school will immediately take steps to disinfect the buildings where the student or staff had contact prior to testing positive for COVID-19, and the state will perform an assessment to make a determination going forward in that particular school district.

Mayor Bill de Blasio said during a press conference Monday that closing schools in New York City is currently not on the menu here.

"Is there a theoretical scenario where that could happen? Of course, but is it anywhere near to where we are now? No, he said.

VIRTUAL LEARNING AT COLLEGES

As part of a precautionary measure due to the coronavirus (COVID-19), Wagner College is canceling all classes beginning Wednesday for the remainder of the week at its Grymes Hill campus and instructing students to prepare for online courses, according to an email sent to the school community on Tuesday.

When students return from spring break -- which will be from March 16-21 -- they should be prepared for at least one week of online courses from March 23-27.

St. Johns University announced Monday evening it has suspended face-to-face instruction at all of its campuses -- including a campus on Grymes Hill -- until March 27 due to COVID-19.

Several universities in the New York and New Jersey area have closed their campuses to switch to online learning.

According to NJ.com, Princeton University announced plans on Monday to begin mandatory virtual instruction later this month. It also encouraged students to stay home following spring break as part of a plan to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Columbia University suspended classes on Monday and Tuesday, and is shifting to remote classes for the remainder of the week. Barnard College, one of Columbias four undergraduate colleges, made the same announcement.

Fordham University announced it was suspending face-to-face instruction at all of Fordhams New York area campuses on Monday and Tuesday. Beginning Wednesday, faculty will teach their classes online or electronically. It is also canceling all on-campus events, effective Sunday, at least through March 29.

PLANS FOR REMOTE LESSONS

While there are currently no plans to close New York Citys public schools, some of Staten Islands private and Catholic schools are preparing out of an abundance of caution to switch to virtual learning if schools are instructed to close due to the coronavirus.

INTERNATIONAL TRIPS CANCELED

On Sunday, New York City announced it is banning all public school international trips for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year.

We had canceled school trips to five affected countries, said de Blasio, during a press conference on Sunday. We are now taking the next step and were banning school international trips across the board out of an abundance of caution.

Cuomo announced last week that the State University of New York (SUNY) and the City University of New York (CUNY) study abroad programs in China, Italy, Japan, Iran, and South Korea had been suspended effective immediately.

On March 1, St. Johns University announced it discontinued academic programs on its Rome, Italy, campus. On Monday, a St. Johns spokesman confirmed the universitys Discover France program and Western Europe Semester rotations currently in Paris, France, and Limerick, Ireland, have been discontinued for the spring 2020 semester.

Wagner College announced Monday it is suspending all college-sponsored student international travel through May 1. That includes any new travel that is credit-bearing.

SAFETY, CLEANING PROTOCOLS

The mayor said Sunday that New York City will add 85 full-time nurses to school buildings this week.

The DOE sent guidance to school principals last week for practices and procedures for nurses and health providers in schools. Staff should continue to send home students with respiratory symptoms and fever, consistent with standard procedure. If there is a concern that a student may have COVID-19, medical providers should call the NYC Department of Health Provider Access Line.

In the schools, again emphasizing children in general at low risk but children with those pre-existing conditions, we are very vigilant about and want parents to be vigilant about, as well, said de Blasio. "Were going to add 85 nurses in the course of the week to ensure that every school building will have a nurse on-call, on-duty, during the school day, remembering that some buildings have one school in them and some buildings have multiple schools in them. Every building will have a nurse and that will be implemented in the course of the week.

New York State is also producing and deploying hand sanitizers to high impact areas, which includes schools, according to Cuomo.

The DOE is enhancing certain protocols and providing additional resources to schools, including:

-- Increasing deep cleanings in schools to two times per week, disinfecting surface areas with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)-approved cleaning disinfectant.

-- Ensuring that all 1,800 schools have adequate hygiene and cleaning materials so that bathrooms are continuously stocked with soap and paper towels.

-- Confirming that COVID-19-related absences will not impact applications to middle or high schools for the current or the coming year.

-- Supplying all schools with facemasks to be used if a student or staff member exhibits symptoms and requires isolation prior to transport to a doctor and/or testing.

-- Strongly encouraging students to take time for handwashing, especially before meals; monitoring this and making changes as needed to ensure students have the time.

Custodial engineers have received guidance on daily cleaning with special attention to horizontal surfaces in school buildings common areas, classrooms and bathrooms, as well as frequently contacted items. The DOE said it will be surveying every custodian about their supplies inventory and will conduct Systems Quality Controls to ensure that new cleaning protocols are being implemented.

According to the DOE, student lateness and absences in the current school year will not impact applications of fifth- and eighth-graders applying to middle or high schools for the 2020-2021 school year, and wont impact applications of fourth- and seventh-graders applying for middle and high schools for the 2021-2022 school year.

In addition to school cleanings, the DOE provided guidance to school bus contractors to clean school buses twice each week utilizing an effective anti-viral disinfecting product. School bus contractors are being instructed to purchase EPA-registered anti-viral products that have an approved emerging viral pathogen claim for COVID-19 or a product with label claims against human coronaviruses.

CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE:

Cuomo: Insurers cant charge New Yorkers for coronavirus testing

SIUH exploring the possibility of using external medical tents for coronavirus response

Labor Dept. issues workplace guidelines for coronavirus outbreak

When to contact a doctor: Coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms

Coronavirus: What Staten Island businesses are doing to protect customers

Coronavirus: St. Johns University closes all campuses until March 27

First coronavirus case confirmed on Staten Island

FDNY: EMS worker tests positive for coronavirus; 19 members quarantined

Mayor says NYC has no plans to cancel St. Patricks Day Parade as Ireland cancels Dublins parade amid coronavirus fears

Coronavirus developments on March 9: N.Y. most impacted state, lockdown in Italy

FOLLOW ANNALISE KNUDSON ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER.
A 31-year-old west Alabama man convicted in the killing of another man over a tattoo has now been sentenced to prison.

Bibb County Circuit Judge Marvin Wiggins on Tuesday sentenced Charles Ryan Carroll to 17 years in prison. Killed in the February 2014 shooting was 34-year-old Fonzo Caddell.

Its sad when somebody loses their life over a tattoo, said District Attorney Michael Jackson. Life just doesnt seem to mean much to a gunslinger.

The shooting happened about 7 p.m. on Feb. 1 of that year when, authorities say, Caddell when to Carrolls home to get a tattoo done. Jackson said Carroll refused to ink Caddell because he had been drinking. The two got into a verbal altercation and Carroll told his client to leave.

As Caddell was getting into his vehicle, Carroll approached Caddell, pulled out a .22-caliber pistol and shot Caddell in the chest. Caddell was pronounced dead on the scene.

A jury convicted Carroll in May 2019.
The ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) says it is ready to partake in the upcoming new voters registration execise which is scheduled for April 18, 2020 by the Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana.



In view of this, the Communications Director, Mame Yaa Aboagye and her team met with some youth groups within the party to discuss and encourage them to register during the voter registration exercise.



According to Mame Yaa, the meeting will afford them the opportunity to be meticulous during the exercise.



The affable and hard-working Deputy Communications Director believes that the quality of the voters register will play a critical role in the electoral process. Thus an obsolete and incomplete register could not be relied on for electoral process hence the need for every youth in the party to support the EC and get registered.



We will keep on organizing and encouraging our youth to get registered, we have always been consistent on the voter register and nothing can stop uswe are ready to work extra hard in a manner that will make it solid enough to support the Presidency of Nana Akufo-Addo to continue his good worksFour more for Nana to do more, she said.



Dominic Eduah, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for GNPC Foundation who was part of the team also appealed to the youth of the party to come out in their numbers to register when the exercise begins.



To him, any serious political party must go in line with the decision of the Electoral Commission (EC) adding we in the NPP will always respect the decision of the EC because a new voter register which is more credible, transparent and trustworthy for election 2020 is our priority."



Also present at the meeting were Moses Abor (Greater Accra Youth Organizer), Salam Mustapha (Director for Operations at the Vice Presidents Office), Sylvester Tetteh (CEO NYA), and Bright Acheampong (Former Deputy CEO NYA).

The Electoral Commission (EC) has set April 18 to compile a new voters register for the presidential and parliamentary elections in December 2020.



The commission has also expressed the hope that it will complete the exercise by May 30, 2020.



According to the commission, the need for the new voters' register was necessitated by several factors which included the need to replace the outmoded biometric machines.



Even Though the NDC and some other political parties under the umbrella, Inter-Party Resistance against New Voters Register, have sworn to resist the Electoral Commissions decision to compile a new voters register.



Meanwhile the NDC has finally disclosed that the party will partake in the new voters' registration exercise to be conducted by the EC.



We are already prepared because by law the EC needs to conduct a limited registration exercise, as a party we are already preparing for the exercise, if the EC says there will be no limited registration but wants to compile a new register, we will be ready but they will fail, the communication director of the party disclosed.

Source: Josephine Acheampomaa/[email protected]









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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12 new COVID-19 cases in Singapore, including 4 RSAF servicemen; 9 patients critical

Photo courtesy: Twitter/@sporeMOH

The Ministry of Health announced the confirmation of 12 new COVID-19 cases in Singapore as of 12 pm on March 11, bringing the total number of infected in the country to 177. Of these, 96 have recovered and been discharged from hospital.

4 RSAF servicemen amongst new cases

Amongst the 12 new cases identified on Wednesday are four Regular servicemen from the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) who were on official duty in Marseille, France between February 15 and March 7. As per a statement by the Ministry of Defence, the servicemen returned to Singapore on March 8 and developed symptoms soon thereafter.

Three of the servicemen are currently warded at the National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID), and one is warded at Khoo Teck Puat Hospital. None of the four servicemen had been at their workplace or other SAF premises since their return from France.

Two other RSAF Regular servicemen on the same overseas duty as the affected servicemen have also returned to Singapore and are currently well, but placed on Home Quarantine as they were close contacts.

The SAF had already reduced its overseas training deployments and exercises in view of the COVID-19 outbreak, and will continue to adjust such activities where necessary depending on the conditions within the host country, said the statement.

12 new confirmed cases

Cases 167 and 178: Case 178 is an imported case involving a 37 year-old male Filipino national who is a Singapore Work Pass holder. He had been in the Philippines from February 11-19, and again from February 23 to March 2 to visit a relative with pneumonia who has since passed away. He was confirmed to have COVID-19 infection on March 11 morning, and is currently warded in an isolation room at Ng Teng Fong General Hospital (NTFGH). He is a family member of Case 167.

Case 167 is a 35 year-old female Filipino national who is a Singapore Work Pass holder, and is a family member of Case 178. She had been in the Philippines from February 11-17. She is currently warded in an isolation room at NTFGH.

She is employed as a staff nurse at NTFGH and had been at work prior to hospital admission. She stays at Jurong East Street 21.

Case 168: A 47 year-old male Singapore Citizen who has no recent travel history to affected countries and regions. He is currently warded in an isolation room at Sengkang General Hospital (SKH).

Prior to hospital admission, he had mostly stayed at his home at Rivervale Street.

Case 169: A 40 year-old male Singapore Citizen who had been in France from February 15 to March 7. He is currently warded in an isolation room at Khoo Teck Puat Hospital (KTPH). He is a contact of Cases 165, 173 and 175, and is one of the imported cases who had been in France on official duty.

Prior to hospital admission, he had gone to the Health Promotion Board for an unrelated matter. He is a Republic of Singapore Air Force serviceman but had not gone to work since returning to Singapore. He stays at Yishun Street 81.

Case 170: An imported case involving a 56 year-old female Indonesian national who had arrived in Singapore on March 9. She is currently warded in an isolation room at Singapore General Hospital (SGH). She is a family member of Case 152.

She reported the onset of symptoms on March 6 while in Indonesia, and presented at SGH on March 9 after arrival in Singapore.

Case 171: An imported case involving a 27 year-old male Singapore Citizen who had been in France from February 25 to March 1, and Spain from March 1 to 6. He was confirmed to have COVID-19 infection on March 11 morning, and is currently warded in an isolation room at NCID.

Case 172: A 42 year-old female Philippines national who is a Singapore Work Pass Holder, and had been in the Philippines from February 27 to March 2. She was confirmed to have COVID-19 infection on March 11 morning, and is currently warded in an isolation room at NCID.

Case 173: A 31 year-old male Singapore Citizen who had been in France from February 15 to March 7. He was confirmed to have COVID-19 infection on March 11 morning, and is currently warded in an isolation room at NCID. He is a Republic of Singapore Air Force serviceman, and is a contact of Cases 165, 169 and 175. He is one of the imported cases who had been in France on official duty. He had not gone to work since returning to Singapore.

Case 174: A 67 year-old female Singapore Citizen who has no recent travel history to affected countries and regions. She was confirmed to have COVID-19 infection on March 11 morning, and is currently warded in an isolation room at NCID. She is linked to the cluster involving the private dinner function at SAFRA Jurong.

Case 175: An imported case of a 44 year-old male Singapore Citizen who had been in France from February 15 to March 7. He was confirmed to have COVID-19 infection on March 11 morning, and is currently warded in an isolation room at NCID. He is a Republic of Singapore Air Force serviceman, and is a contact of Cases 165, 169 and 173. He is one of the imported cases who had been in France on official duty. He had not gone to work since returning to Singapore.

Case 176: An imported case involving a 37 year-old female British national who had been in Japan from February 24 to March 4, and the UK from March 4 to 8. She was confirmed to have COVID-19 infection on March 11 morning, and is currently warded in an isolation room at NCID.

Case 177: An imported case involving a 26 year-old male Singapore Citizen who had been in the US from February 14 to 24, the UK from February 28 to March 1, and France from March 2 to 7. He was confirmed to have COVID-19 infection on March 11 morning, and is currently warded in an isolation room at NCID.

The MOH has also said that of the 82 confirmed cases who are still in hospital, most are stable or improving while nine are in critical condition in the intensive care unit.
Samsung is about to release a device that has the world talking. The much anticipated Galaxy Z Flip is a device unlike anything else. Its the foldable phone everyone has been waiting for. The Galaxy Z Flip is already selling out across the world wherever it has been released. And now, it will soon be available in Ghana.



Eugene Nahm  Managing Director at Samsung Ghana, says, With Galaxy Z Flips unique foldable design and user experience, were redefining what a mobile device can be, and what it enables consumers to do. Im looking forward to seeing the reaction to this revolutionary device.



The Galaxy Z Flip is bold and stylish  designed for those who see cutting-edge technology as a way to express themselves. Engineered with first-of-its-kind foldable glass, Galaxy Z Flip literally bends the laws of physics, and features a 6.7-inch display that folds into a stylish and compact form factor that fits in the palm of your hand. Designed with an innovative Hideaway Hinge and custom-built UX, Galaxy Z Flip provides elegant new ways to capture, share and experience content  all hands-free. From its stylish design to its flexible camera experience, Galaxy Z Flip opens up a new decade of foldable mobile innovation.



Screen Repair & Device Health



Life happens but make the best of it with your Galaxy Z Flip which entitles you to the following, within 1 year from the device purchase date*:



 One-time screen replacement - This offer must be activated within 30 days from device purchase or you will lose this benefit. A repair fee of $119 is payable for a screen repair.



 Free battery swap



 Free software updates



 Free device health diagnostic



This amazing device will go on sale from the 1st of April.



Terms and conditions apply









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
Photos: Rhett Butler

Ongeri Ayako, a second-year medical student, hopes to find new ways to help others by specializing in hematology and oncology.

Ongeri Joseph Ayako, second-year medical student at East Carolina University's Brody School of Medicine, believes in balance in his approach to becoming a doctor and his family life.Ayako, originally from Kenya, began working in the medical field as a hospice nurse in Charlotte for almost eight years. During his time there, Ayako provided care for patients battling diseases like cancer.Ayako said.Ayako wants to refine his approach to patient care by pursuing his medical degree. He hopes to specialize in hematology and oncology. The connections that Ayako has made from learning experiences as a nurse and in medical school have broadened his methods towards patient care.he said.With the challenges of family members battling diseases and settling down in a new country, Ayako had a unique introduction to the medical field.Ayako said.Being involved in organizations like Brody's Student National Medical Association and Brody Ambassadors, Ayako has a lot to balance as a medical student. He has become more familiar with the rigors of balancing medical school and family life after juggling his white coat ceremony and the birth of his second child on the same day. He joked that he does not recommend trying this at home. However, he does recommend helping your family to understand what it means to be in medical school prior to starting the journey.he said.Ayako believes you can find quality time for family by making time on weekends or in between tests.Ayako's passion for the medical field stems from trying to find more ways to help people.Ayako said.Be the change that you want to see. There's no point in complaining if you're not going to do something about it. So when I saw patients telling me their stories, I thought what can I do to impact their lives?I wish I knew how helpful the Brody community is. Don't be afraid to reach out for help if you're struggling. There are a lot of available resources you can go to. Since there are endless resources, there are people out there that can help you.
The Australian Medical Association has slammed the federal government for failing to provide clear information on who should be tested for coronavirus after hundreds of people flocked to their local hospitals to be screened.

Dr Danielle McMullen, the vice president of the AMA NSW branch, says the advice coming from health officials and media outlets in recent days regarding the virus has been 'frustrating' and 'confusing' for medical staff.

Dr McMullen said it has created challenges on what to do with patients coming into facilities in NSW - where more than 9,000 people have been tested since the outbreak.

'In NSW it's becoming increasingly challenging and frustrating to know what to do on the ground,' she told the ABC.

Coronavirus madness: Hundreds of people have been flocking to their local hospitals to be screened amid the deadly outbreak

A massive queue formed outside the Royal Melbourne Hospital on Tuesday as people wearing face masks waited to get their symptoms tested

Take a seat: Prospective patients at Concord Hospital were seated on plastic chairs outside a hastily set-up clinic

'We've seen conflicting media reports over the past few days about who to test, when to test them, how to test them and where to test them.

CORONAVIRUS CASES IN AUSTRALIA: 27,244 Victoria: 20,269 New South Wales: 4,273 Queensland: 1,161 Western Australia: 692 South Australia: 473 Tasmania: 230 Australian Capital Territory: 113 Northern Territory: 33 TOTAL CASES: 27,244 ESTIMATED ACTIVE CASES: 269 DEATHS: 897 Updated: 5.31 PM, 11 October, 2020 Source: Australian Government Department of Health Advertisement

'We really need a path forward to really let doctors and the general public know who's at risk and when and why they should be tested or should self-isolate.'

Dr McMullen's comments come after photos showed hundreds of Australians lining street corners outside coronavirus testing centres waiting to be screened on Tuesday.

At Concord Hospital, in Sydney's west, prospective patients sat on plastic chairs and leaned against the fence outside a hastily set-up clinic.

Inside the city's Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, people waiting to see a doctor were seated metres apart from one another to minimise the chance of the virus spreading.

Several patients who have sought tests have complained of contradictory advice from health workers.

Amid the chaos, the Federal Government's Healthdirect hotline - which lets people with symptoms speak to registered nurses - repeatedly hung up on callers.

Six more people were diagnosed with COVID-19 in the state on Tuesday, bringing the total number of cases in NSW to 61.

NSW Health said one of the new patients, a woman in her 30s, is a relative of a Sydney aged care facility resident who died from coronavirus.

Sydney is the worst-hit city for rates of infection.

Free telehealth services and pop-up testing clinics will be set up as part of the federal government's $2.4 billion health response to the coronavirus outbreak.

The government released the details of its health package on Tuesday night, and promised further measures are on the way.

A woman is seen wearing a protective face mask outside St Vincent's Hospital in Sydney

Patients waiting to see a doctor at Sydney's Royal Prince Alfred Hospital were seated more than a metre apart to prevent the spread of the virus

From Friday, Australians will be able to bulk-bill phone hook-ups with GPs to diagnose coronavirus symptoms.

Health authorities would also establish up to 100 "pop-up" clinics, with each expected to handle 75 patients a day.

The government hopes the clinics will divert people with coronavirus away from hospitals and two of the country's peak medical bodies will help identify suitable locations.

Australia's Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy confirmed the number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in the country has surpassed 100, but more than half of those people had been cleared.

Three Australians have died so far, and states and territories are setting up specialist clinics as the federal government looks to combine information into a smartphone app.

Dr Murphy said there was some confusion about who needed to be tested, adding it was only returned travellers from overseas with symptoms like a cough or sore throat.

The government in coming days is expected to announce private sector involvement in providing pathology services and new advice on the testing of healthcare workers.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, March 10, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- RevoluGROUP Canada Inc. (TSX-V: REVO), (Frankfurt:IJA2) (the Company) is pleased to announce that it has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) on Monday 9th March 2020 with Miami based Coello & Company to mutually begin studying an updated proposal submitted to the company by Coello & Company to solicit 28 (twenty-eight) state issued MSB (Money Service Business) licenses in the United States of America for the wholly owned subsidiary RevoluGROUP USA Inc., to later permit the companys proprietary RevoluPAY App and Visa Card to operate seamlessly with funds originating from these states within the United States, allied to unlimited deposits and national/international transfer/payment with said funds utilizing the RevoluPAY app and analogous RevoluPAY Visa Card.



Coello & Company Miami LOI

Further to the news release dated 3rd February 2020, the company has received an updated proposal dated 9th of March 2020 for consulting services which include both an ongoing advisory function and assistance for the successful petition of Money Services Business (MSB) registration and licensing for a total of twenty-eight (28) US States. RevoluGROUP CEO, Mr. Marshall, signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with Coello & Company LLC Managing Director, Mr. Chris Coello, to expedite the approval of the updated proposal. The parties having agreed upon a 45-calendar day window to reach a definitive agreement and, during the interim, to begin preparing any and all corporate documents required. United States licensing is required for companies to transmit funds from one US domiciled party to both national and, international beneficiaries, (commonly known as a Money Transmitter (MT) licenses) when funds originate in the United States. These licenses are governed by each individual state from which the funds originate. The proposal outlines a chronology which includes simultaneous application for the Florida license, as well as the twenty-seven (27) state licenses that can be petitioned through the recently introduced National Multistate Licensing System & Registrys (NMLS) Multistate Money Services Businesses Licensing Agreement (MMLA) Program. The MMLA program provides a convenient central submission point for most information required to obtain multi-state licenses and, in order to reduce the amount of paperwork required for each state/license.

Story continues

27 US MMLA Initially Proposed Petition States

The Coello & Company proposal outlines petitioning 1 MSB license for the state of Florida, the legal domicile state of the wholly owned subsidiary RevoluGROUP USA Inc and, simultaneously, the following 27 individual state MSB license petitions through the MMLA: California, Connecticut, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wyoming.

European PSD2 Bank License Update

Further to the news release dated 26th February 2020, during the final phases of the Central Banks analysis of the companys PSD2 license petition, a direct line of three-way communication has been permitted by the Central Bank between Alfredo Manresa, CEO of the companys wholly owned subsidiary RevoluPAY S.L and, corporate attorneys Hogan Lovells and, the Head of License Supervision at the Central Bank. The company is appreciative of this latest step proposed by the Central Bank to allow the last-minute details to be expedited in a timely manner. The company remains confident that a PSD2 Banking license will be granted.

About RevoluPAY

The Companys flagship technology is RevoluPAY, the Apple and Android multinational payment app. Built entirely in-house, RevoluPAY features proprietary, sector specific, technology of which, the resulting source code is the property of the Company. RevoluPAYs built-in features include: Leisure payments, Travel Payments, Retail and Hospitality payments, Remittance Payments, Real Estate Payments, pay-as-you-go phone top-ups, Gift Cards & Online Credits, Utility Bill payments, etc. RevoluPAY is powered by blockchain protocols, and, is squarely aimed at the worldwide multi-billion dollar leisure sector and, + $595 billion family remittance market. RevoluPAY is operated by the European wholly owned subsidiary RevoluPAY S.L located in Barcelona. RevoluPAY S.L operates under European E-money - Directive 2009/110/EC through a licensed electronic money institution or EDE Banking Licensed entity. RevoluGROUP Canada Inc. controls 5 wholly owned subsidiaries on 4 continents.

About RevoluGROUP Canada Inc.:

RevoluGROUP Canada Inc. is a multi-asset, multidivisional publicly traded Canadian company deploying advanced technologies in the; Online Travel, Vacation Resort, Mobile Apps, Money Remittance, Mobile Phone Top-Ups, EGaming, Healthcare Payments, Esports, Invoice factoring, Blockchain Systems, and Fintech app sectors. Click here to read more.

For further information on RevoluGROUP Canada Inc. (REVO.V) visit the Companys website at www.RevoluGROUP.com. The Company has approximately 158,139,272 shares issued and outstanding.

RevoluGROUP Canada Inc.

Steve Marshall

______________________

STEVE MARSHALL

CEO

For further information contact:

Don Mosher

RevoluGROUP Canada Inc.

Telephone: (604) 685-6465

Toll Free: 800-567-8181

Facsimile: 604-687-3119

Email: info@revolugroup.com

NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.
So far 30 tents have been pitched out of the 341 which were donated by Government through CPU. Three boreholes have been drilled at the site and we have also identified a new permanent site for the victims where they will be relocated. We also donated detergents and clothes from our partners, he said.
This article is part of Frank Brunis newsletter. You can sign up here to receive it every Wednesday.

After his big victories yesterday in Michigan and several other states, Joe Biden is the emphatic favorite to win the Democratic presidential nomination. Its difficult to see how Bernie Sanders catches up. So its not too soon to imagine what Bidens general-election campaign would ideally look like. Its not too soon for advice.

What follows is hardly a comprehensive road map. Its just a few scattered driving tips.

Biden needs to give his choice of a running mate very, very careful thought. Thats of course true for any presidential nominee, but its doubly true in his case, for two reasons.

First, hes 77 now, would be 78 on the day of his inauguration and sometimes shows his wear. Many voters may care more than they typically would about the vice president being someone ready to step up and take charge if need be.

Second, Biden will be making the case that Donald Trump was an untested and thus irresponsible decision by voters, a bet that didnt pay off, and that argument intensifies the imperative that Bidens running mate not be someone whos any kind of gamble. Bidens message is competence, experience and normalcy. The Democratic vice-presidential nominee must reflect that. If that nominee is a woman, a person of color or both, all the better. That demonstrates a respect for diversity that underscores President Trumps utter lack of it, and it could increase voter turnout in helpful ways.
- Kenya imposed a ban on Ugandan milk in January in a move that saw 19 lorries ferrying milk from the Yoweri Museveni-led country turned away

- Efforts by Kampala to negotiate and resolved the stalemate with Nairobi has proved futile

- Agriculture CS Peter Munya said the move was part of a raft of reforms aimed at protecting local farmers from cheap milk imports

- Uganda has now resorted to seeking arbitration against the sanction from East African Secretariat during the regional pre-budget meeting scheduled for April in Arusha

Ugandan government is set to present a petition before East African Secretariat seeking to challenge a move by President Uhuru Kenyatta's administration to ban her milk from entering Kenyan markets.

Kenya imposed a ban on Ugandan milk in January in a move that saw 19 lorries ferrying milk from the Yoweri Museveni-led country turned away.

READ ALSO: Mike Sonko's wife, daughter Saumu on spot for using county money to travel to US conference

President Yoweri Museveni. Uganda is set to file a petition before EAC Secretariat challenging Kenya's move to impose sanctions on her milk. Photo.

Source: Facebook

READ ALSO: Flying Squad walitoa siri kuhusu njama dhidi ya DP Ruto, Ichung'wa asema

Uganda has now resorted to seeking arbitration against the sanction from East African Secretariat during the regional pre-budget meeting scheduled for April in Arusha, Tanzania.

Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) outgoing commissioner for customs Dicksons Kateshumbwa, said they would present their grievances before the Secretariat so as the matter could be settled to avoid the brewing cold war.

We shall discuss this matter when we go to Arusha for pre-budget meetings next month (April) so that we get an official stand, Kateshumbwa told Daily Monitor.

Lato milk from Uganda being shipped off a truck. Photo. Daily Nation.

Source: UGC

The URA commissioner noted Uganda had in the last three months of the ban lost close to KSh 1.6 billion in milk exports.

According to available data, Uganda has been shipping close to 450,000 litres of milk to Kenya before the sanction was imposed.

Efforts by Kampala to negotiate and resolved the stalemate with Nairobi has proved futile since January and Kateshumbwa is banking on the EAC Secretariat to come in handy and resolve the matter.

Farmers selling milk to a local processing firm. Photo: Daily Nation.

Source: UGC

Kateshumbwa earlier hinted an engagement with his counterpart in Kenya, Kevin Safari, hit a snag after he was informed: The matter was beyond customs.

The move came after KRA introduced a 16% Value Added Tax (VAT) on all milk products from the neighbouring country.

Kenyan farmers, especially those from Central Kenya, have been complaining about the low prices of milk before government intervened and raised the price from KSh 25 per litre to KSh 33 per litre.

Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya said the move was part of a raft of reforms aimed at protecting local farmers from cheap milk imports as well as revive Kenyas dairy sector.

Ugandan milk exporters that have been locked out of Kenya include Pearl Dairy, which produces Lato Milk and Lakeside Dairy, which manufactures Top Dairy milk.

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Campus Virgins in Kenya : University students tell us why they chose to abstain |Tuko Talks| TUKO TV.

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As far as artists go, Andy Warhol's work was always a cut above.

For it's not just art that will be on display at an upcoming major Andy Warhol exhibition  but the pop artist's iconic silver wigs too.

Three of Warhol's hairpieces will go on display for the first time in the UK at the Tate Modern in London.

A gallery assistant poses with an artwork entitled 'Self Portrait, 1986', by Andy Warhol, on March 10

The wigs, on loan from the Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh, are part of 100 pieces which will chart Warhol's transition from a 'shy, gay man from a religious, migrant, low-income household' to an art pioneer.

Warhol, who died in 1987, designed the toupees which he bought from a wig maker in Times Square.

He is believed to have owned more than 100. Curator Gregor Muir said they were part of his move into a 'living artwork' and became progressively more 'wild'.

The exhibition opens at the Tate tomorrow.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak outside 11 Downing Street, London, before heading to the House of Commons to deliver his Budget. Photo credit: Aaron Chown/PA Wire

Alliance MP Stephen Farry said Wednesday's budget was "not great" for Northern Ireland.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced an extra 210m for the Northern Ireland Executive as part of his budget on Wednesday.

The money will result in a nominal increase of Northern Ireland's 10billion block grant from the UK Government.

Part of the government's wide ranging spending plans included the establishment of a Treasury Office in Northern Ireland and in other devolved regions.

The recently-installed Chancellor also unveiled a 30bn plan to aid the UK's fight against the coronavirus.

Read More

Other measures announced include abolishing of the tampon tax from next year and a freeze on all alcohol duties. and fuel duty.

North Down MP Stephen Farry wrote on Twitter that Northern Ireland's "particular circumstances have not been taken into account".

"Nothing on Air Passenger Duty (APD), nothing to help businesses prepare for the NI Protocol, and only 210m in Barnett consequentials. Focus must be on public sector reform and investing in key economic drivers."

'This is the key challenge facing our country today but it's not the only challenge'. People in election in December voted for change - and @RishiSunak vows that Budget delivers that change, 'a plan for prosperity tomorrow...a Budget of a government that gets things done'  BelTel Business (@BelTel_Business) March 11, 2020

APD is a levy imposed on air travellers that varies depending on destination and class of travel and doesn't apply on long haul flights from Northern Ireland.

UUP leader Steve Aiken said he was very disappointed APD had not been abolished for Northern Ireland flights.

However he welcomed the budget and said he was supportive of the government's spending increases and coronavirus mitigation and said it must be extended to Northern Ireland.

For our Executive there are real choices to be made; however, first and foremost, those mitigation measures to deal with Covid19 must be passed on in full to our NHS, our small businesses and our hospitality sector," the South Antrim MLA said.

While the full outruns of the Barnett consequentials are still being calculated there is real opportunity for Northern Ireland to urgently improve our infrastructure, to bid for a significant part of the new research and development budget, and to take advantages of the forthcoming environmental changes advocated by the Chancellor.

After years of austerity, we can welcome the easing of many of the fiscal restraints - it is now up to the Northern Ireland Executive to respond sensibly, to ditch pet projects and to use this opportunity to invest for all of our futures - this chance may not come again.

Business rates pub discount of 1,000 for small pubs already - but more needed to be done - today exceptionally for this year business rate discount for pubs will be 5,000. Planned rise in beer duty also cancelled. Freezing duty for cider and wine drinkers as well.  BelTel Business (@BelTel_Business) March 11, 2020

Retail NI Chief Executive Glyn Roberts gave the budget a guarded welcome and praised the government's approach to the coronavirus outbreak.

He called for rates relief announced for small businesses in England to be replicated in Northern Ireland.

"Our members are paying astronomical levels of business rates, which are dramatically higher than any other part of the UK and desperately need this relief," Mr Roberts said.

Northern Ireland will be getting its share of this rates decrease via the Barnett formula and it must apply to local small businesses.

Mr Sunak said there is likely to be a "temporary disruption" to the economy due to the coronavirus while up to a fifth of the working age population could be off at any one time and promised "whatever extra resources our NHS needs" to combat coronavirus.

The Chancellor said that the Government will meet the cost for businesses with fewer than 250 employees of providing statutory sick pay to those off work as a result of the virus.

Temporary business loans and rates relief will also be available to support small and medium-sized businesses with their cash flow, while local authorities will be granted a 500m hardship fund to protect the most vulnerable.

Not a great budget for NI. Our particular circumstances have not been taken into account. Nothing on APD, nothing to help businesses prepare for the NI Protocol, and only 210m in Barnett Consequentials. Focus must be on public sector reform and investing in key economic drivers. https://t.co/Y6i6m5U8Md  Stephen Farry MP (@StephenFarryMP) March 11, 2020

He also announced reforms to the benefits system to make it easier to access funds. Before the budget, the Bank of England set an emergency interest rate cut from 0.75% to 0.25%.

"We will get through this - together. The British people may be worried, but they are not daunted." the Chancellor said.

"We will protect our country and our people. We will rise to this challenge."

"We have the freedom and resources to decide our own future... a future where we look outwards and are confident on the world stage. This starts with our response to the coronavirus"  BelTel Business (@BelTel_Business) March 11, 2020

The Chancellor announced more than 600bn in infrastructure spending in road, rail, housing and broadband projects to boost growth in the rest of the UK, outside the major hubs of London and south-east England.

Mr Sunak also abolished tax relief on red diesel for most sectors. The changes will not take effect for two years and the relief will be retained for agriculture, rail, domestic heating and fishing.

An increase in the National Insurance threshold from 8,632 to 9,500 will be worth 100 a year to 31 million people, the Chancellor said.

VAT on books, newspapers, magazines and academic journals will be scrapped from December 1, while a 1 billion building safety fund will be set up to ensure all unsafe combustible cladding is removed from buildings above 59ft (18m) tall in the wake of the Grenfell fire disaster.
Loma Negra sees net profit advance 35% in 2019

11 March 2020

Argentinas Loma Negra has reported a 5.5 per cent YoY decline in revenue to ARS38.95bn (US$660m) for the full-year 2019 period, compared with ARS41.24bn in the previous year. However, net profit surged 34.8 per cent YoY to ARS4.04bn from ARS3bn. Adjusted EBITDA also climbed 2.3 per cent YoY to reach ARS11.21bn.



The companys sales volumes of cement, masonry and lime fell 9.7 per cent overall to 6.04Mt in 2019. Argentina contributed 5.47Mt (-10.6 per cent YoY), while Paraguay saw sales of 0.57Mt (+0.4 per cent YoY).



In the 4Q19 Loma Negra announced a 15 per cent decrease in revenue to ARS9.07bn against ARS10.67bn in the year-ago period. Net profit slipped 42.2 per cent to ARS1.13bn from ARS1.95bn. These results were attributed to the deepening economic and financial crisis in Argentina during the quarter.



"In this context, Argentinas business suffered more than previously expected, however, thanks to the determination to carry out cost-control initiatives oriented towards streamlining our production footprint, we were able to thrive and present results that we can feel proud of. When excluding the non-recurrent costs relative to these initiatives, adjusted EBITDA would have reached US$209m with margins expanding 378 basis points to 31.6 per cent," said Sergio Faifman, CEO.



The companys 2.7Mta expansion of its LAmali plant is also on schedule to complete in mid-2020.

Published under
<! Prof. Akin Abayomi briefing newsmen >

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

The Lagos State Government on Wednesday said four children of the same family and their teacher who came from the United States have been quarantined for Coronavirus.

Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi at a news conference in Alausa, Lagos on Wednesday disclosed that another man from the United Kingdom was also quarantined.

Abayomi disclosed that the four children and their teacher were quarantined because they had contact with a Coronavirus patient.

The commissioner said the four children and their teacher were admitted into the isolation centre in Yaba two days ago to see if they would develop symptom of Coronavirus after they had contact with a patient.

He said the first test had been conducted on them and that they tested negative, but added another test would be conducted within 48 hours for a final confirmation.

Abayomi also said a man from the United Kingdom who had been quarantined would have test conducted on him today to ascertain his status.

He said the state government was carrying out regular tests on people to ascertain their coronavirus status almost on daily basis.

The commissioner also disclosed that the government had established contact with the two people declared wanted, who were in the Turkish Airline with the index case, an Italian.

He said immediately the media announced the two people declared wanted, people gave out their contacts immediately and that they had been reached.

On the index case, Abayomi said the Italian was feeling very okay, but said he was still secreting the virus, adding that once he tested negative, another test would be conducted within two days for a second negative confirmation and that once that had been done, he would be released.

The Index case is very well, no symptom, but test shows he is still secreting the virus, but going down, the virus has to go to zero point before he can be released, he said.

Abayomi added that there was no specific treatment for coronavirus, saying that most of the drugs being used were HIV drugs to reduce the virus from growing fast.

There are some drugs recommended for coronavirus. What we are waiting for is for the immune system of the Italian to clear the virus. He is actually better, he cant leave until the virus is completely clear and zero. While he is better, he is not better for community yet; we cannot release him because he may affect others. The day he is negative, we will wait for two more days and if he gets a second negative, we will release him, he said.

We are satisfied with the second coronavirus patient, we will repeat his test tomorrow and based on the test, we will know the way forward, he added.

On hand sanitisers, the commissioner frowned at those hoarding it, saying that the Ministry of Health would soon roll out its sanitisers into the market.

We frown against those hoarding hand sanitisers, we are actually making it right now and we are going to push it into the market right now. We have started already and we are going to push it out, he said.

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The number of positive cases of coronavirus in Pennsylvania continues to grow, with Bucks County officials announcing two more presumptive positive COVID-19 results on March 10. That brings the total of positive cases in the commonwealth to 14.

The two individuals are the first in the county to test positive for the virus. They are adults, live in the same home and are currently in self-quarantine at their home. They came into contact with the virus while attending an out-of-state gathering.

These two new cases will be part of the coronavirus news briefing by Governor Tom Wolf and Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine at 1 p.m. on March 11.

So far eight people have tested positive for coronavirus in Montgomery County, two in Bucks County, one in Wayne County, one in Delaware County, one in Monroe County and one in Philadelphia. Click here to see PennLives coronavirus map.

READ MORE: Pennsylvania insurers agree to eliminate cost barriers to coronavirus testing

Everyone is encouraged to practice good hygiene by washing hands often and for 20 seconds, coughing or sneezing into elbows rather than hands, avoiding touching their face and cleaning surfaces often. If you feel sick, youre encouraged to stay home.

READ MORE: What are the symptoms of coronavirus vs. the flu and allergies?

You can stay up-to-date on the latest information regarding the coronavirus situation in Pennsylvania by going to pennlive.com/coronavirus.

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.
CANBERRA, Australia - Australias highest court on Wednesday began hearing an appeal by Cardinal George Pell against his convictions for molesting two choirboys in a cathedral more than two decades ago.

Some events in Pells career and the criminal case:

July 16, 1996: Auxiliary Bishop George Pell is appointed archbishop of Melbourne. He molests two choirboys that December inside St. Patricks Cathedral, according to testimony from one of the victims.

March 26, 2001: Pell becomes archbishop of Sydney.

Oct. 21, 2003: Pope John Paul II makes Pell a cardinal.

Feb. 25, 2014: Pope Francis appoints Pell to the powerful position of Prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy.

April 8, 2014: One of the molested choirboys dies of a heroin overdose without alleging the crime and having told his mother he had not been abused.

Aug. 5, 2014: Victoria state police establish Task Force Sano to investigate how religious and other nongovernment organizations handled abuse accusations.

June 18, 2015: The surviving choirboy gives his first statement to Sano detectives outlining criminal allegations against Pell.

Dec. 12, 2015: Australian media report that Pell has cancelled an appearance before an Australian inquiry into how institutions responded to child sexual abuse. Pell said he could not fly back to Australia because of ill health.

Dec. 23, 2015: Sano publicly appeals for information relating to allegations of sexual offences while Pell was Melbourne archbishop.

March 1, 2016: Pell begins testifying by video link from Rome to the Australian child abuse inquiry. Pell was critical of how the church had dealt with pedophile clerics in the past but denied he had been aware of the extent of the problem.

July 27, 2016: Pell denies sexual abuse allegations made on an Australian Broadcasting Corp. current affairs program.

Oct. 19, 2016: Sano detectives go to Rome and question Pell. Pell hears details of the choirboys allegations for the first time.

June 29, 2017: Police charge Pell with multiple counts of historical sexual assault offences, making him the most senior cleric to be charged in the churchs abuse crisis. Pell denied the accusations and took an immediate leave of absence as Vatican finance minister to return to Australia to defend himself.

July 26, 2017: Pell makes his first court appearance on charges that he sexually abused multiple children in Victoria state decades earlier. Details of the allegations were not made public. Pell vows to fight the allegations.

May 1, 2018: A magistrate commits Pell to stand trial. He pleads not guilty to all charges.

May 2, 2018: A judge separates the charges into two trials, the first dating to his tenure as Melbourne archbishop and the other when he was a young priest in Ballarat in the 1970s.

Aug. 15, 2018: Trial begins in the Melbourne case and runs for four weeks.

Sept. 20, 2018: Jury discharged after failing to agree on a verdict following more than five days of deliberation.

Nov. 7, 2018: Retrial begins.

Dec. 11, 2018: Jury unanimously convicts Pell on all charges.

Feb. 26, 2019: Suppression order forbidding publication of any details about the trial is lifted. Prosecutors abandon second trial on the Ballarat charges.

March 13, 2019: Judge announces Pell is sentenced to six years in prison on five sex abuse convictions and must serve three years and eight months before he is eligible for parole.

June 5-6, 2019: Victoria state Court of Appeal hears his appeal against the convictions.

Aug. 21, 2019: Appeals court rules 2-1 to uphold the convictions.

Nov. 13, 2019: Australias High Court agrees to hear an appeal next year.
If China shut the door on exports of core components to make our medicines, within months our pharmacy shelves would become bare and our health care system would cease to function, said Rosemary Gibson, a senior adviser with the Hastings Center and an author of China Rx: Exposing the Risks of Americas Dependence on China for Medicine.

In the event of a natural disaster or global pandemic, then the United States will wait in line with every other country for essential medicines, she said.

Some in China have also noted these vulnerabilities. An article posted last week by the state news agency Xinhua argued that the world should thank China, rather than blame it for spreading the virus, saying that if China banned the export of drugs, the United States would sink into the hell of a novel coronavirus epidemic.

China does not appear to be explicitly blocking the export of pharmaceuticals, though it has cut off exports of face masks by requiring manufacturers to sell masks straight to the government for distribution, leaving none to send overseas.

Factory closings and transportation restrictions in China have disrupted supply chains for drugs as well. Public health officials are watching to see whether the coronavirus epidemic will lead to more shortages of essential drugs in the United States in the coming weeks.

On Feb. 28, the Food and Drug Administration warned that one drug was already in short supply in the United States because of manufacturing issues, and said it was monitoring about 20 others that rely on China.

Last week, the Indian government ordered its pharmaceutical companies to stop exporting 26 drug and drug ingredients, most of them antibiotics. And South Korea, Germany, India, Taiwan and others have clamped down on exports of masks and other protective gear over worries that their own supplies will fall short.
Some Houston faith groups and nonprofits are bracing for budget strains, fearing that the combined effects of coronavirus and a potential economic downturn could slow church attendance and charitable giving.

And the timing couldnt be much worse, leaders say, culminating ahead of three major religious holidays in April that usually bring with them spikes in tithes and donations.

Everybody should be anticipating shortfalls in giving, shortfalls in collections, said Garet Robinson, a local pastor who is also in Harvard Universitys masters degree program for nonprofit studies. Its a global contagion  and not just the actual viral part, but the ripple effect in the economy.

Lakewood Church, the regions largest megachurch, announced via Twitter Wednesday that it would not have in-person services beginning Saturday evening. All services will be streamed on digital platforms, according to the tweet.

And leaders of St. Cecilia Catholic Church have advised members that Ash Wednesday services were attended by a person who later tested positive for the virus.

On Thursday, three Jewish schools in Houston temporarily closed because some students may have had contact with a person who tested positive for the virus.

Hours later, the head of east Texas United Methodist conference urged local churches to cancel or minimize the number of in-person worship services in favor of online streaming.

Meanwhile, experts say that southeast Texas may soon face significant economic downturn  if not a recession  as a result of instability in the global energy sector and fears of coronavirus spread.

On HoustonChronicle.com: LISTEN  How coronavirus fears are affecting Houston retailers

That could potentially leave thousands of industry workers unemployed, which could slow church attendance and donations at a crucial time of year for charitable giving

We do anticipate giving to go down a little as attendance goes down, and we know from previous economic downturns that giving is affected, said Josh Ellis, head of Houstons local Southern Baptist association.

On Friday, Ellis advised the Houston regions roughly 325 Southern Baptist churches to cancel or postpone all services for two weeks.

"Time is of the essence," Ellis wrote in a message to church leaders. "...This is the time to consider strategies for being a good neighbor. "

The recommendation follows decisions by several large SBC churches -- including Houstons First Baptist Church, Champion Forest Baptist Church and West University Baptist Church -- to move services online.

Second Baptist Church of Houston, which is among the country's largest of any denomination, had not announced any closures as of noon on Friday.

SBC churches are all autonomous and self-governing, and so are free to remain open regardless of Ellis' suggestions.

Mayor Sylvester Turner offered a similar suggestion, but was quick to say that he wasnt telling churches whether they should or should not close.

It is up to faith leaders to decide if they want to hold in-person or online streaming services, Turner said. It is very important for everyone to be responsible in what they are doing.

Some religious leaders are optimistic.

I am not particularly concerned about this, said the Rev. C. Andrew Doyle, bishop of Texas Episcopal diocese. The reality is that the church and her faith have survived plagues and viruses, wars and economic downturns. We believe in the God who is present at the high and low points of life.

Indeed, it wouldnt be the first time that Houstons religious community has faced budget shortfalls because of outside economic factors: In the years after the 2008 recession, many churches both locally and nationally reported slowdowns in giving.

Ten years later, many more pastors are diligent about their congregations finances, and whether they are enough to cover prolonged economic downturn.

Whereas in years prior, some pastors may have turned to their faith in God in times of crisis, Robinson said there has been a growing understanding that churches are not immune to market forces.

He said hes constantly talking to other church leaders about their financial outlook, and whether theyre solvent enough to avoid layoffs or budget cuts during unexpectedly hard times.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Follow all Houston metro area coronavirus news

Robinson believes thats a good thing, a departure from the tyranny of the moment thinking that had previously left many churches ill-equipped to handle sudden budget holes.

He sees that as emblematic of the Bibles demands of pastors.

A lot of people think that we just sit around [a] table and pray and hope for the best from God, Robinson said. But the reality of being managers and stewards of what we have is that we do get the best systems in place and think strategically.  A part of having faith in God is to recognize that God has given us the gift of planning, of discernment and of thinking forward.

Houstons Muslim community leaders are taking a similarly proactive approach.

Imam Shaykh Tauqeer Shah, head of the Islamic Society of Greater Houston, said the timing of the combined threats could be particularly pernicious in the local Muslim community.

Many Houston-area Muslims immigrated here from abroad for jobs in the oil and gas sector, Shah said, and so industry layoffs could cause a simultaneous slowdown in donations and upticks in requests for support.

This affects every person, he said.

In a given year, Shah said, the Islamic Society raises about $2 million in donations that helps support more than 400 local families. And typically Ramadan, the major Muslim holiday that starts in late April, brings with it a substantial increase in donations to religious and nonprofit groups.

That increase is due in part to Islamic teachings on charity, he said.

Its like the saying of Prophet Muhammad: Do not delay in giving charity, he said. Charity removes or turns away the trials and tribulations that we are facing as a community, and it removes them.

This would be the right time to give charity, he added.

On HoustonChronicle.com: How to help Houston nonprofits during the coronavirus crisis

Other nonprofits agree. Among those who typically see an increase in giving from the Muslim community this time of year is Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston, a partnership of faith groups that oversees community programs such as Meals on Wheels.

We have a good number of Muslim donors, and we do see an uptick in giving around this time of year, said Maria Magee, chief development officer.

Interfaith isnt particularly reliant on churches for funding; only about 1 percent of its annual donations come from houses of worship, Magee said. Individuals, corporations and foundations largely bankroll Interfaiths operations.

Were certainly concerned about a slowdown in giving, she said. But Interfaith Ministries has always tried to have a very diversified funding base.

Like others, Magee was optimistic that the dual threats would be met with a surge of charitable giving and volunteering.

It always amazes me how this city pulls together in times of crisis, and just how generous and philanthropic Houstonians are in times of crisis, she said. I feel like our city will rise to the occasion.

robert.downen@chron.com
US-built fighter plane taking part in rehearsals for an airshow and military parade crashed in the capital Islamabad.

A Pakistani fighter pilot died on Wednesday when his F-16 jet crashed in a wooded area near Islamabad during a rehearsal for an upcoming military parade in the capital, the countrys air force said.

There were no casualties on the ground or damage to property, according to an air force statement.

Pakistans President Afif Alvi expressed his condolences to the family of the pilot, who has been identified as Noman Akram, the Associated Press reported.

The US-built F-16 was taking part in rehearsals for a Pakistan Day airshow and parade set to take place on March 23, according to a statement by the Pakistan Air Force.

Rescue teams have been dispatched towards the site of the crash, the statement said, adding that a board of inquiry has been ordered by Air Headquarters to determine the cause of accident.

Footage on social media showed a large plume of smoke billowing into the sky after the plane plummeted to the ground, having apparently attempted a loop.

A second security official speaking on condition of anonymity also confirmed the crash.

F-16 jets are among the most valuable defence hardware in the Pakistani militarys arsenal. The country has a fleet of about 50 F-16s, each worth at least $40m.

200228192458248

The South Asian nation has a chequered military and civilian aviation safety record, with frequent plane and helicopter crashes over the years.

Wednesdays incident comes only months after a fighter jet crashed during a training mission near the city of Mianwali in eastern Punjab province, killing both pilots.

In July last year, at least 18 people were killed when a small military plane belonging to the army crashed into a residential area in the garrison city of Rawalpindi.

And in 2016, a Pakistan International Airlines aeroplane burst into flames after one of its two turboprop engines failed while travelling from remote northern Pakistan to Islamabad, killing more than 40 people.

Pakistans powerful military consumes a large portion of the countrys yearly budget, spending millions on sophisticated hardware in the impoverished nation, which critics say has come at the expense of investment in other sectors.
BRIDGEPORT  A jury began deliberations Tuesday afternoon in the trial of Jayvell Washington, accused of killing Eugene Rogers.

The 12-member Superior court jury deliberated about an hour and a half before going home for the evening.

Deliberations are to resume Wednesday morning.

More than a dozen judicial marshals stood outside the courtroom at the Fairfield County Courthouse as the number of family members for both the victim and defendant increased.

A previous meeting of the families in the Golden Hill Street courthouse ended in a melee.

The 40-year-old Washington is accused of fatally shooting 50-year-Rogers on Jan. 27, 2019, in the parking lot of a Reservoir Avenue gas station in Bridgeport.

Washington is charged with murder, attempted murder, first-degree assault and gun charges.

Video from the gas station played for the jury during the trial showed Rogers approach Washingtons Mini Cooper. The drivers side door opened, Rogers pulled out a handgun and then tumbled backward onto the ground. The video shows bullet shells being ejected both from Rogers gun and from the open car door.

Rogers was shot once in the head, according to the autopsy report.

Judge Alex Hernandez instructed the jury, that based on the evidence at trial, they could consider a self-defense claim.

In his final argument on Tuesday, Senior Assistant States Attorney Michael DeJoseph claimed Washington fired a total of four shots at Rogers and therefore the jury should discount any defense claim that Washington fired in self-defense. Rogers gun only fired one shot.

DeJoseph also said that by law Washington had a duty to retreat when he saw Rogers approaching with a gun.

Washingtons lawyer, Assistant Public Defender Jared Millbrandt, who was expected to argue the self defense claim, instead told the jury there was no evidence that his client fired the shots. He admitted Washington had been in the car but pointed out that neither the video nor any witness puts the gun in his hand.

A defense witness claimed he saw two heads in Washingtons car before the shooting.
Russia joined a host of countries announcing new measures to fight the spread of the coronavirus as the World Health Organization (WHO) designated the outbreak a pandemic.



Russia said on March 11 that it would cancel flights to major European destinations until the end of April, India announced it would cancel tourist visas for the next month, and Germany said it is moving to ban public gatherings of more than 1,000 people.



U.S. President Donald Trump was set to address the nation later on March 11 about the measures his administration would take to fight the pandemic and support the economy.



Anthony Fauci, a top U.S. health official, said told Congress earlier in the day that the outbreak would "get worse" in America.



WHO Statement



WHO finally declared coronavirus a pandemic after weeks of monitoring its global spread.



"WHO has been assessing this outbreak around the clock and we are deeply concerned both by the alarming levels of spread and severity, and by the alarming levels of inaction," WHO head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a briefing on March 11 in Geneva.

It's the first respiratory illness to be named a pandemic, Tedros added, saying that the spread of COVID-19 has reached 114 countries, infected more than 118,000 people, and has led to 4,291 deaths.



He said the declaration "doesn't change what countries should do" to vigorously contain the virus.



"We have rung the alarm bell loud and clear," Tedros said.



Eastern Europe, Eurasia Impact



Russian state-owned airline Aeroflot announced it would cancel flights to 18 European cities in four countries starting on March 13 and running until the end of April.



The four countries are Italy, Spain, France, and Germany, each of which has more than 1,000 reported cases of the virus.



Russia will also suspend issuing tourist visas to Italians as of March 13 excluding business, humanitarian, diplomatic, and service visas.



Italy, a top destination for Russian tourists, has been among the worst-hit countries in the world with more than 12,400 reported cases of the new coronavirus and 827 deaths.



Russia has about only 28 confirmed cases, including six that were confirmed in the capital and another two in the Moscow region on March 11. Several of those individuals contracted the disease while on travel to Italy.



Moldova, meanwhile, confirmed its fourth virus case, as did Armenia.



Albania recorded the first coronavirus death in the Western Balkans and has 11 known cases.



U.S., European Measures



The U.S.-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on March 11 said the number of virus deaths in America reached 31 and the number of confirmed cases exceeded 1,000.



Trump, who met earlier in the day with the nation's leading bankers, is considering declaring a national emergency to unleash funds for the federal governments response to the fast-spreading virus outbreak, a source familiar with the matter told Politico. Up to $40 billion could be freed up if the declaration is made.



The U.S. might also restrict flights to Europe, following Russia's lead.



U.S. lawmakers and health officials have also set up containment zones and quarantine areas.



Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser declared a state of emergency on March 11 as the number of confirmed cases in the nation's capital reached 10 as officials there recommended gatherings of 1,000 or more people be postponed or canceled.



Some governors and other leaders have banned certain large public gatherings. In Washington, the hardest hit state, certain gatherings of more than 250 people have been banned.



Before the WHO's briefing, Italy, and Britain announced multibillion-dollar spending plans to fight the disease. Italy also said it would shut all stores except for pharmacies and food shops to stop the pandemic.



German Chancellor Angela Merkel gave a bleak outlook, saying epidemiologists predict that the virus will infect 60 to 70 per cent of the population.



Merkel's speech did not go down well in neighboring Czech Republic, where Prime Minister Andrej Babis accused her of spreading panic.

With reporting by Politico, Reuters, AP, and AFP
A high-tech folding smartphone named after the late Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar has been outed as just a Samsung phone in disguise, according to several reviews of the device.

The Escobar Fold 2 is sold by Escobar Inc, which was founded by Roberto de Jesus Escobar, who claims to be the biological brother of the notorious cartel kingpin. After a highly publicised launch last month, reviews of the device began to emerge this week, with each one claiming that the phone is just a rebranded Samsung Galaxy Fold.

Costing $399, the Escobar Fold 2 is just one fifth of the price of the Galaxy Fold, yet features an identical design and manages to cram in the same high-end specs.

Escobar Inc highlighted such a drastic price undercut in a promotional video titled Rest in Peace Samsung, which showed a woman in a bikini smashing up Galaxy Fold devices with a sledgehammer. The firm also own the domain RIPSamsung.com, which redirects to the Escobar Inc homepage.

The website describes the Escobar Fold 2 as "the best foldable smartphone deal in the world".

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

YouTuber and gadget reviewer Marques Brownlee claimed that the price reduction was only possible by not shipping the phone to the majority of customers. Mr Brownlee, who has more than 10 million subscribers on YouTube, ordered one device under his own name and another device under a pseudonym, however only received the device ordered using his real name.

Mr Brownlee claimed that this was because Escobar Inc selectively shipped its phones to tech reviewers and social media influencers.

This piece of tech weve reviewed already, its the Galaxy Fold... it just has gold tin foil on the back, he said in a video posted to his YouTube channel. So the interesting part now becomes the behind-the-scenes part, which is the company thats maybe trying to sell some of them and also not ship most of them. Theyre trying to scam you.

Using a small knife, Mr Brownlee scraped off some of the gold material from the hinge of the device to reveal the Samsung logo. He was also able to remove the gold from the rear of the phone using the knife, which he also claimed could be taken off by applying heat to melt the adhesive.

Its a really poor rebranding job, he said. If youre reviewing an Escobar Fold 2, youre really just reviewing a Samsung Galaxy Fold with a gold sticker on the back and some weird pre-installed mug shot wallpapers.

My theory is that they are going through orders, finding the names of YouTubers or just people in tech media or people they think will talk about the phone if they get it, and shipping those, and then just not shipping the rest.

Several popular YouTube channels reviewed the device in recent weeks, though most tech publications that covered the Escobar Fold and Escobar Fold 2 did so with caution.

In January, the worlds largest technology tradeshow denied Escobar Inc booth space. Organisers of CES 2020 in Las Vegas claimed the company was not a good fit for the conference.

Neither Samsung nor Escobar Inc responded to a request for comment.
The council of judges spent all of Wednesday morning to hear arguments on whether the Criminal Procedures Code permitted the prosecution to submit new evidence during the trial, eventually agreeing with the prosecutors submission of seven new video clips.

The hearing resumed on Wednesday with Kem Sokha again not saying a single word in court, nor any evidence or arguments presented to prove his innocence or guilt in the treason case.

Entering its eighth week, the council of judges asked all parties to put forth their arguments for or against the prosecutions ability to introduce new evidence during the trial. During the last hearing on February 27, the court had already spent three hours listening to the same arguments, without issuing a ruling on the matter.

The defense maintained that the prosecution was allowed to submit evidence only during the investigation phase of the case and not during the trial, whereas the prosecution and government lawyers have argued that evidence can be submitted by all parties at any time during the trial.

The defense on multiple occasions pointed to the closing order of the prosecution, issued at the end of the investigation period, which said there was enough evidence to find Kem Sokha guilty and recommended that the case proceed to trial.

If the judge agrees to accept the new evidence, this shows that the existing evidence is not enough to find our client guilty, said defense lawyer Ang Odom."

Another defense lawyer, Chan Chen, went further to call admission of the evidence as illegal and said it had never happened in legal proceedings since the 1960s.

In the last hearing, prosecutor Plang Sophal repeatedly said that the prosecution was allowed to submit evidence at any point in the trial. On Wednesday, he accused the defense of not knowing the law, even questioning Chan Chens qualifications or capabilities as a lawyer.

You dont have to lecture me, he said, directing his comments at Chan Chen. It doesnt mean everyone who goes to law school is smart. Or that everyone gets the best grades.

After 90 minutes of arguments and another 20 minutes of deliberation, presiding judge Kuy Sao said the council had accepted the new evidence, providing little explanation for the ruling.

The prosecutions new evidence includes seven video clips, including speeches by Sam Rainsy and Kem Sokha at Freedom Park during the post-2013 general elections protests. It also includes a video of protestors destroying the Ekreach Clinic on Veng Sreng boulevard, though the video doesnt not feature Kem Sokha in any way.

The defense objected to another piece of evidence, a video of Kem Sokha speaking to minimum wage protestors near the Kizuna Bridge in Kampong Cham. They questioned its authenticity and complained that the voice of an unnamed narrator was overlapping with the opposition leaders speech, making hard to distinguish the two.

Earlier in the hearing, Ang Odom questioned if the court and gallery were taking adequate precautions, in light of the novel coronavirus outbreak, complaining that many people were not wearing masks in court.

The council of judges said that it was important that people take their personal hygiene seriously, suggesting they wash their hands routinely and wear masks. Judge Kuy Sao added that the court would follow the directives of the government on how best to tackle the viral outbreak.

The World Health Organization has said that medical personnel or people taking care of an infected individual should wear masks, as well as people who are sneezing and coughing often. This combined with frequent hand washing and not touching ones face were, for now, the best way to avoid contracting the viral disease.

The court will resume this afternoon with Kem Sokhas lawyers questioning the opposition leader about the formation of the Cambodia National Rescue Party. The court is yet to discuss the 2013 general election and the post-election mass demonstrations, as well as the 2017 commune election.
A garda chief has warned the public to be wary of criminals using Covid-19 to scam people out of money online when buying hand sanitisers and surgical masks.

Police forces around the world have been reporting incidents of fraud where criminals are sending dodgy emails advertising supplies which help keep the coronavirus at bay.

There are also reports of phishing emails being sent around purporting to have details of people in your area who have been infected with the contagious disease.

Detective Chief Superintendent Pat Lordan told Independent.ie that while no such incidents have yet occurred in Ireland, it is inevitable the scam will be used by fraudsters here.

We are seeing adverts saying you can buy 20 bottles of hand sanitiser for a fiver being put out by fake companies, he said.

We are also seeing phishing emails claiming your latest shipment has been delayed due to the coronavirus and asking people to open the attachment for an update, which subsequently has malware attached.

In one case in the UK, someone lost around 20,000, he added.

Read More

Superintendent Lordan said criminals are capitalising on the coronavirus in the same way that touts use ticket shortages for big GAA games and concerts to try and scam people out of money.

Mr Lordan, a guest speaker at the International Fraud Prevention Conference in Croke Park on Wednesday, said some criminals are even claiming to be officials from the World Health Organisation.

They are pretending to be from CDC or WHO and saying theyve compiled a list of people within your region who have the virus and asking you to open the attachment.

Make sure you know who youre talking to before giving private details. Nobody from a reputable company will ring you asking for private or bank details.

Superintendent Lordan also says he expects a new garda anti-fraud coordination unit to be established this year.

Plans for the unit, which were announced last year, will see a unit being dealt up specifically to deal with reports of fraud.

What some of people are telling us is theyre sending reports into local garda stations and theyre not being dealt with.

The unit will handle all complaints and then dish them out to various investigating officers.
For more coverage, visit our complete coronavirus section here.

Sacramento County announced Tuesday that a woman in her 90s in an assisted-living facility died from corornavirus. This is the first death in the county and the third in California.

Health officials said the patient had an underlying health condition and "died of complications" related to the pneumonia-like virus.

Other details on the patient haven't been released.

We extend our deepest condolences to the loved ones of this individual, Sacramento County Department of Health Services Director Dr. Peter Beilenson said in statement. We will all work to protect our most vulnerable residents from exposure to communicable diseases.

The first coronavirus death in California occurred in Placer County on March 4. The Placer County Health Department said the deceased was an elderly resident of the county who had underlying health conditions. The patient presumptively tested positive on March 3 at a California lab and was likely exposed on a Princess cruise ship that traveled from San Francisco to Mexico from Feb. 11 to 21, health officials said. The patient was under treatment in isolation at Kaiser Permanente Roseville.

The first Bay Area death was reported in Santa Clara County on March 9. A woman in her 60s passed away at El Camino Hospital in Mountain View on Monday, the first death tied to the novel coronavirus in the Bay Area. The woman was hospitalized for several weeks, Santa Clara County health officials said.

The state has 157 infected patients as of Tuesday. This number doesn't include passengers from the Grand Princess cruise ship docked in Oakland.

Amy Graff is a digital editor with SFGATE. Email her news tips and photos at agraff@sfgate.com.

MORE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE:
On Sunday, they celebrated their engagement with a lavish party at the Coombe Yarra Valley in Victoria.

And on Wednesday, former Bachelorette Georgia Love stepped out with her handsome fiance Lee Elliott at Glamour On The Grid in Melbourne.

The luminous bride-to-be looked effortlessly chic in a satin navy tiered baby doll-style dress with on-trend puffy sleeves.

Beaming: Georgia Love ensured all eyes were on her as she stepped out with fiance Lee Elliot at Glamour On The Grid... days after celebrating their engagement

The reality star accessorised her look with a simple black bag with a gold chain and clear shoes that were embellished with a crystal clasp.

The channel 10 personality wore natural makeup with a dewy foundation finish, with a touch of bronzer to highlight her cheeks and a pink lip.

She wore her luscious locks curled, letting it fall over one of her shoulders.

Georgia beamed as she posed on the red carpet with her fiance Lee Elliott, lovingly draping her hand across his chest to show off her diamond engagement ring.

Check out the bling! Georgia lovingly placed her hand on Lee's chest as they posed to show off her stunning diamond engagement ring

The dapper groom-to-be looked handsome in a black button-up shirt and matching trousers, capped off with a midnight blue jacket.

The couple became engaged six months ago after meeting on The Bachelorette in 2016.

The glamorous pair finally celebrated their engagement with a lavish party at the Coombe Yarra Valley on Sunday.

Happy together: On Sunday, Georgia Love and her fiance Lee Elliott threw a lavish engagement party at the Coombe Yarra Valley, in Victoria

Sharing a number of photos and videos to their Instagram accounts, the pair documented the romantic event.

Dancing to a band that played songs such as All You Need Is Love and I Wanna Dance with Somebody, the pair could not keep their hands off one another.

Friends poked fun of them with jokes such as 'get a room' while they kissed and cuddled while dancing, with Lee picking Georgia up for a smooch at one stage.

Wait up! Surrounded by friends, the couple gave a speech, with Georgia revealing that the pair were in no hurry to marry

Surrounded by friends, the couple gave a speech, with Georgia revealing that the pair were in no hurry to marry.

However, she added that when they do wed, it will be a very small affair, and hence it meant a lot to her to get so many people together for the engagement party.

Lee and Georgia posed for a number of photos in front of a flower wall and a sign that read 'All you need is love'.

At the entry, a sign featuring an artwork rendition of the pair awaited guests, and it stood alongside a photo of Georgia's late mother, Belinda, who died of pancreatic cancer in 2016, in a touching tribute.

In lieu of gifts, the couple asked guests to donate money to the Pancare Foundation, an Australian only charity fighting pancreatic cancer.
New Delhi, March 11 : Jyotiraditya Scindia on Wednesday listed out three key reasons for his leaving the Congress. In all his elaborations, the reasons for his anger with the Congress were clear, the common refrain being: the Congress is not what it used to be.

His first reason for being disillusioned with Congress was that the party does not encourage new leadership, a situation that he compared with inertia. Saying that the party does not even accept the problem, he targeted the party's old guard, making it obvious that he meant Digvijaya Singh and Chief Minister Kamal Nath.

The second reason that Scindia pointed out was corruption in Madhya Pradesh, a state ruled by the Congress. "Transfer industry is flourishing in Madhya Pradesh, where we had a dream after coming to power. Eighteen months on, that dream lies shattered, whether it was about waiving farmers' loans or compensating farmers for the crop damaged due to natural reasons. Hundreds of farmers continue to face various court cases in Mandsaur," he said at a press conference where BJP chief J.P. Nadda was also present.

The third reason for his joining the BJP was the "able leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi". "India's safety and security is safe in Modi-ji's leadership," he said.

Earlier, Nadda expressed happiness at the return of the grandson of Vijaya Raje Scindia. "I recall her role in spreading the ideology of Bharatiya Jana Sangh and later the BJP. For us, she was a visionary and an ideal," Nadda said.
The first case of the novel coronavirus has been reported in Turkey, NTV television channel reported.

"A male citizen tested positive for the coronavirus in the evening," Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said at a press conference in Ankara.



"The infected individual contracted the virus after returning from Europe. He has been completely isolated," Koca said.



"The patients general condition is good. All of his family members and those who came into contact with him are under surveillance," Anadolu Agency cited the minister as saying.



The coronavirus, officially known also COVID-19, was first detected last December in Wuhan, China. The global death toll from the coronavirus is now over 4,260, with more than 118,100 confirmed cases, according to Johns Hopkins University. The virus has since spread to six continents and more than 100 countries.
The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has urged the federal government to postpone the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Batch A orientation camp due to the outbreak of the coronavirus in the country.

The Director of the group, Prof. Ishaq Akintola made the call in a statement issued in Lagos on Wednesday.

He said, Authorities of the NYSC on Sunday, March 8 told youth corps members not to panic over the Coronavirus outbreak around the world.

According to the NYSC, certain preventive measures have been put in place to prevent any outbreak of the virus in its 37 orientation camps scattered nationwide.

But we express doubts over the wisdom behind the resolve of the NYSC to carry on with the orientation exercise in the face of worldwide outbreaks,

Read Also: Coronavirus Outbreak Has Affected Our Revenue: Buhari

He said that coronavirus which originated in Wuhan, China, had killed more than 4,000 people and infected over 116,000 across the world, adding that an exercise that attracted about 350,000 Nigerian graduates annually deserved more caution.

While we agree that the outbreak is not the fault of NYSC officials, we insist that the planning of the orientation camps should take into cognizance the reality on the ground.

To be on the safe side, the exercise should be postponed by one or two months.

We are talking of 350,000 skilled Nigerians. These are our children. They are the hope of this country. We should not put their lives at risk.

Events are being postponed across the world. Saudi Arabia, a highly conservative country, saw the wisdom in halting its annual Umrah (lesser pilgrimage), he said.

We, therefore, suggest an immediate suspension of all preparations for the 2020 Batch A orientation exercise in the interest of public safety until the coast is clear, he said.
Michael P. Farrell

ALBANY - Ongoing research into computer chip innovations being done at SUNY Polytechnic Institute could be impacted by travel restrictions and quarantine rules put in place at the Albany nanotechnology school in response to the coronavirus outbreak.

Grace Wang, SUNY Poly's interim president, told staff, students and research partners in a letter Tuesday that the school has put in place a ban on all travel to China, Iran, Japan, South Korea or Italy. Japan and South Korea are home to two companies that do research at SUNY Poly, Samsung and Tokyo Electron, which has a major onsite research center at the school as well.
Four men were arrested and charged with running a heroin and fentanyl ring linked to 22 opioid overdoses across the state, including 14 fatal overdoses, the New Jersey State Police said Wednesday.

Using 11 different stamps, the men - from Passaic County, Pennsylvania and New York - branded their wax folds of heroin with phrases including YouTube, Pablo, and Body Bag.

After a two-month investigation, detectives found the men packaged and dealt the drugs from a home on 9th Avenue in Paterson.

The State Polices Trafficking North Unit, along with the agencys TEAMS, K-9 and Hazmat units, acted on a search warrant at the home Friday.

There they seized 600 grams of heroin/fentanyl mixture, 25,000 wax folds of heroin and nearly $2,000 in cash. They also found cutting agents, several cell phones and the 11 stamps.

They charged Anthony Rosario, 37, of Paterson; Ricky Rodriguez, 34, of Passaic; Luis Peguero, 33, from the Bronx; and Angel Ramirez, 33, of Hazleton, Pennsylvania.

All were charged with maintaining a drug production facility, conspiracy to engage in drug distribution, and other possession charges.

They are in the Passaic County Jail awaiting detention hearings.

When announcing the arrest, state officials touted the work of its Opioid Enforcement Task Force, which includes the units who worked on this case.

The task force has dismantled 21 opioid production facilities and arrested 132 suspects.

There is no telling how many more doses would have been sold or how many more lives would have been lost if we had not dismantled these dangerous drug mills, Attorney General Gurbir Grewal said in a joint statement with State Police Col. Patrick Callahan.

The task forces work over a year and a half prevented more than 600,000 potentially lethal doses of narcotics from reaching our communities, Callahan claimed.

Joe Brandt can be reached at jbrandt@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JBrandt_NJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
: Violent incidents were



reported from different districts of Andhra Pradesh on Wednesday, the last day for filing of nominations for the local body elections, police sources said.

Elections to 9,696 Mandal Parishad Territorial Constituencies (MPTCs) and 652 Zilla Parishad Territorial Constituencies (ZPTCs), which constitute the second and the third tiers of Panchayat Raj institutions, are slated for March 21.

It was alleged that YSR Congress workers were involved in the attacks in which TDP, BJP and Jana Sena leaders were injured, a charge rejected by the ruling party.

MLC B Venkanna and former MLA B U Rao of the TDP escaped unhurt while their SUV was damaged in an attack by YSRC workers at Macherla in Guntur district.

A lawyer Kishore, who was with the TDP leaders, was injured in the incident.

The Guntur Rural Superintendent of Police C Vijaya Rao rushed to Macherla to take stock of the situation even as the Director General of Police D G Sawang directed the Guntur Range Inspector General to submit a detailed report on the incident.

The opposition TDP alleged that its candidates were prevented from filing nominations for MPTC and ZPTC elections at many places.

In SPS Nellore district, BJP candidate B Manemma was attacked with knife, allegedly by YSRC workers, as she went to file nomination for MPTC election.

She sustained injuries on the shoulder and the hand, police sources said, adding her son-in-law Manikantha also suffered injuries.

Both were rushed to the government hospital in Nellore.

In Pulicherla mandal in Chittoor district too, the local BJP candidate was attacked and prevented from filing his nomination.

"Where is protection for opposition parties when YSRC goons are on an attacking spree? We strongly condemn the YSRC goons' attack on our party candidates. We stand by our leaders," BJP state president Kanna Lakshminarayana tweeted.

BJP Rajya Sabha member G V L Narasimha Rao, while condemning the attack on his party workers in different parts, demanded that the State Election Commission intervene immediately and prevent the violence.

Telugu Desam Legislature Party deputy leader K Atchannaidu said in a statement that the ruling party has made a mockery of democracy in AP.

"Fearing loss in the local bodies elections, the YSRC is resorting to such dastardly attacks on opposition candidates. When an MLC and an ex-MLA were attacked with sticks and rods, despite being under police protection, what is the guarantee for common man's safety in the state," Atchannaidu questioned.

He demanded the SEC cancel the elections in Macherla and create a peaceful atmosphere for a fair election.

In Punganuru in Chittoor district, represented by Rural Development Minister Peddireddi Ramachandra Reddy, the YSRC men tore the nomination papers of Jana Sena candidate China Rayalu.

In Anantapuramu, Jana Sena Political Affairs Committee member C Madhusudan Reddy was allegedly attacked with stones.

In Tirupati Rural mandal, nomination papers of TDP candidate Haripriya were torn to pieces by YSRC men.

She, however, took a fresh set and filed the papers with the help of police.

Incidents of clashes between YSRC and TDP men were reported from Kadapa, Kurnool and Prakasam districts as well.

Rejecting allegations that its workers were involved in the attacks on opposition parties, Municipal Administration Minister Botsa Satyanarayana charged that the TDP MLC and ex- MLA went to Macherla in ten cars and created a ruckus.

"The TDP is seeking to create a law and order problem in the state. It is known for using such tactics during elections. We will thwart its conspiracies and the government will not remain silent," Botsa said at a press conference.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Description

GIS - 11 March, 2020: Some nine beneficiaries of the National Empowerment Foundation (NEF) who followed a six-month training course on Electrical Installation Works received certificates and toolkits, yesterday, in presence of the Minister of Social Security, National Solidarity and Reform Institutions, Mrs Fazila Jeewa-Daureeawoo, in Port-Louis.

The objective is to empower the vulnerable members of the society and further develop their skills and talents so that they enter the job market for a decent living. The training course was conducted by the professionals of the Mauritius Institute of Training and Development with the support of the Ministry of Social Security, National Solidarity and Reform Institutions.

In her keynote address, Minister Jeewa-Daureeawoo lauded the initiative of the NEF which, she said, is geared towards integrating those at the bottom of the ladder in the socio-economic activity of the country and improving their life chances. She stated that various measures such as a rise in the pension rate for the elderly, introduction of the National Minimum Wage and the Negative Income Tax system, have been put in place with the aim to alleviate poverty and lay the foundation for social progress.

Government, she stressed, is doing all its effort to provide assistance to the vulnerable people but it is equally important for each and every one to double their personal efforts to strive for financial stability and independence. To this end, she congratulated all the persons who, with their determination and hard work, have been able to successfully complete the course.

The Minister also underlined that some of the participants have been recruited by a private company which demonstrates the keen interest of the private sector to support the Government in widening job opportunities for the underprivileged.
BURLINGTON, Vt.  Bernie Sanders is vowing to press ahead with his presidential campaign at least long enough to debate Joe Biden this weekend, even while acknowledging his deficit in the Democratic race may be insurmountable.

The Vermont senator on Wednesday offered no further details on what his campaign may look like before or after he and Biden  the last two major candidates vying for the Democratic presidential nomination  spar Sunday night on stage in Arizona. The only thing on Sanders public schedule was taping an appearance on Wednesdays Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.

And that will continue to raise questions  as unlikely as it may seem less than two weeks after losing his once-commanding front-runner status  about how long Sanders will persist against increasingly daunting odds, especially as the pressure within his own party increases exponentially.

Sanders addressed reporters in Burlington after offering no public statements Tuesday night, when he suffered a devastating defeat in Michigan and losses in Missouri, Idaho and Mississippi. Sanders noted that he won North Dakota and that the continuing count in Washington state remained close  but admitted he was trailing badly in the race to secure enough delegates to clinch the nomination before the Democratic National Convention in Milwaukee.

While our campaign has won the ideological debate, we are losing the debate over electability, Sanders said, meaning Democrats think Biden has a better chance of beating President Donald Trump in the fall. That is what millions of Democrats and independents today believe.

He was quick to add that he thinks hes the stronger choice, and that he could show that during Sundays debate. Sanders promised to press Biden for answers about millions of Americans who dont have health insurance, a criminal justice system he said unfairly targets and punishes minorities and raising the federal minimum wage.

After that, though, Democrats desperate desire to defeat Trump could affect his calculus. Should Sanders get out soon, he could save Democrats months of a messy and expensive primary fight. But an early departure would also deprive the partys most passionate supporters, including many young people, of the one man who embodies the dramatic change they crave.

Sanders also noted that he was winning a greater percentage of young voters while Biden continues to run up the score with older ones.

Today, I say to the Democratic establishment, in order to win in the future, you need to win the voters who represent the future of our country, Sanders said. And you must speak to the issues of concern to them. You cannot simply be satisfied by winning the votes of people who are older.

Sanders has indeed been widely favored over Biden by voters under 30, but he has not delivered on his strategy of getting them to the polls in great numbers, according to AP VoteCast surveys of voters in Tuesdays Democratic primaries. Also problematic for him: Sanders showed no overwhelming strength with voters age 30 to 44, typically a larger share of the vote than the young, in Michigan and Missouri.

Sanders mathematical path to winning enough delegates for the nomination is rapidly disappearing.

Sanders now needs 57% of the delegates not won so far to get to 1991, the magic number to win the nomination. Both delegate allocation math and voting history show how unlikely it is for Sanders to hit that goal and overtake Biden.

That Sanders was vowing to soldier on was hardly a surprise. The 78-year-old democratic socialist is nothing if not willing to take on the political establishment against all odds  and Sanders closest allies are happy to see him stay in the race, even if the rest of the party is not.

The process of unity isnt just this pie-in-the-sky, vague, butterflies-in-your-tummy type of feeling, New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, one of Sanders highest-profile supporters, said Wednesday in an interview on Capitol Hill. It requires real coalition building, and coalition building requires plans and commitments to electorates to figure out how we unify. And so I think that this is a good opportunity for us to come together.

RoseAnn DeMoro, former executive director of National Nurses United and a Sanders confidant, said Sanders has a mandate not to abandon the movement.

Heroes arent made, theyre cornered, DeMoro said. He is cornered.

Four years ago, under similar pressure in a primary match-up against Hillary Clinton, Sanders fought on for months before ultimately backing Clinton in July. Sanders has repeatedly insisted that he and Biden are friends and that he will back the former vice president if hes the partys nominee  he just may not be ready to yet follow through on that promise.

Still, Sanders didnt say Wednesday where he plans to travel next. His campaign is opening five offices in Arizona on Wednesday night, using top supporters rather than the candidate himself.

Adding to the uncertainty is the spread of coronavirus, which forced both Sanders and Biden to cancel campaign events Tuesday night in Cleveland and prompted Sanders team to say it would evaluate future events on a case-by-case basis.

Beyond the debate, the primary calendar could get even bleaker for Sanders. Next week, four more states vote and while he is hoping his support with Hispanic voters can lift him in Arizona, Sanders may struggle in two of the most important ones, Illinois and Florida  where some voters could be alienated by his recent comments defending Fidel Castros communist government in Cuba.

Trump must be defeated, and I will do everything in my power to make sure that happens, Sanders said. On Sunday night, in the first one-on-one debate of this campaign, the American people will have the opportunity to see which candidate is best positioned to accomplish that.

___

Peoples reported from Philadelphia. Weissert reported from Washington. Associated Press writer Seth Borenstein in Washington contributed to this report.

___

Catch up on the 2020 election campaign with AP experts on our weekly politics podcast, Ground Game.
Destiny Waite, 28, was arrested Sunday and charged with murder after a 50-year-old man died as a result of a fire police said she started in a Hartford home with a bottle of hand sanitizer

A Connecticut woman who allegedly lit a bottle of hand sanitizer on fire, sparking an inferno that raged through an apartment building, has been charged with murder after the body of a 50-year-old man was discovered.

Four others were seriously injured and sixty families have been made homeless after Destiny Waite, 28, allegedly started the fire following an argument with her girlfriend in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Police believe she lit the bottle of hand sanitizer on fire and threw it at her girlfriend before running from the five-story building in Hartford.

Emergency crews succeeded in rescuing dozens of residents but a secondary search revealed the body of 50-year-old Jerome Kyser in his apartment.

Waite claims she did not start the fire and that she is being framed by her girlfriend.

Police allege she threw the bottle at her girlfriend after a domestic altercation but the fire spread to the upper floors of the building at 39 Charter Oak Place.

All of Hartford's engine and ladder company were needed to fight the fire which quickly spiraled into three alarms.

When the first fire engine arrived, people were hanging from the windows of the 69-unit building and firefighters were forced to rescue 41 people.

According to the Hartford Courant, even as firefighters worked to put out the blaze, more people were calling 911 to say there were trapped inside.

Kyser's body was found on the secondary search of the building.

He died of smoke inhalation and his death was classified as a homicide by the Office of the Medical Examiner.

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Destiny Waite claims she didn't start the fire and is being framed by her girlfriend

Sixty families are now homeless as a result of the fire in the five-story building

Firefighters rescued 41 people from the building but one man died of smoke inhalation

Four others, two children and two adults, were seriously injured and taken to the hospital in a critical condition.

The adults were flown to Life Star at Bridgeport Hospital.

All four are now said to have stabilized.

At least 31 people in total were taken to local hospitals with injuries.

Two firefighters also suffered minor injuries including a sprained ankle and a sprained back while battling the fire.

Waite's girlfriend escaped injury after her mother used a blanket to smother the flames on her clothing.

'When we looked out the door, you couldn't see anything,' Yessenia Flores, a tenant, told KIRO7.

'The smoke just took all the hallways, you couldn't see nothing when you walked out the door.'

Waite was arrested Sunday and charged with felony murder, arson and four counts of first-degree assault in connection with the people who were seriously injured.

She was identified as the fire starter by her girlfriend and is said to have been living in the building with her girlfriend and her girlfriend's mother in their second-floor apartment.

'The burning bottle of sanitizer splashed against the wall and flames began to spread,' the arrest warrant reads.

'Some of the flaming sanitizer struck [the girlfriend's] arms causing them to catch fire and burn. Destiny then left the bedroom and the apartment while yelling 'I hope you die'.'

Residents called 911 to say they were trapped inside the building even as firefighters worked

Some residents are now being forced to stay in motels as new homes are organized for them

Police say more charges are expected.

She is being held on $1 million bond.

Waite claims that she was not at Charter Oak Place at the time of the fire and that she is being framed by her girlfriend. Police found her at her family's home on Putnam Street where she claimed she had spent all of Saturday night.

'(Waite) has told police she hasn't been in the house for a number of days prior to the fire started. It's our position that it's the victim who caused harm to herself,' Joseph Elder, Waite's attorney, said.

'We believe there is sufficient evidence and information out there that over time she will be exonerated.'

Hartford police Lt. Paul Cicero told the Hartford Courant that police have evidence placing Waite in the building on the night of the fire.

The state and local fire marshal confirmed that the fire started in the bedroom of the apartment and that evidence supports the girlfriend's explanation of what happened.

Dozens of people are now left homeless as a result of the fire and are being forced to stay in motels as the health and human services relocation program works on finding new homes.

'Right now I have nothing,' resident Wayne Clarke told Fox 61.

'I mean I have clothes but I have like no food, no money nothing I don't get my food stamps until the first.'

When Waite appeared before a judge on Monday prosecutor Danielle O'Connell asked for her bail to be raised to $1.5 million because of the extent to which her actions had effected the other residents of the building.

'As a result of her actions, an entire building has been devastated,' she said.

'The case against the defendant is strong.'
Ireland has been confirmed as the ninth largest source of foreign direct investment (FDI) to the United States.

According to the US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Irelands FDI into the US stands at $235.7 billion. Today, over 900 Irish companies operate across all 50 states, employing 110,000 in the US.

The figures have been released ahead of a roundtable discussion on opportunities to advance partnerships between Irish and US businesses. Facilitated by Enterprise Ireland, the meeting will take place later today in Washington DC.

Senior executives from Kerry Group, Aerogen, Icon, NovaLeah and Kingspan will participate in the discussion, as well as Irish Ambassador to the United States, Daniel Mulhall, and United States Ambassador to Ireland, Edward F. Crawford.

Enterprise Ireland-supported companies opened 75 new offices in the US in 2019, resulting in a two-year total of 125 new offices. More than 87,000 people are employed by 613 Enterprise Ireland supported companies operating across all 50 states at 954 locations. The companies cover a broad range of industries including construction, education, energy, environmental, medical devices and digital technology.

As part of the event, Kerry Group has announced the investment of $125m into a new world-class food manufacturing facility in Rome, Georgia. The facility will provide Kerry Group with integrated taste and nutrition solutions to help their customers meet growing consumer demand in the poultry, seafood and alternative protein markets.

Speaking this week, Enterprise Ireland CEO, Julie Sinnamon said, "Enhanced by a strong cultural connection, Ireland has had many decades of an active trade relationship with the United States. This connection, together with Irelands entrepreneurial strengths, presents a vibrant market and partnering opportunity for many Irish companies. While many Enterprise Ireland clients are currently active in the US, it is also a key target market for companies who are looking to expand their global footprint."

Source: www.businessworld.ie




A total of 114 countries and territories were imposing entry restrictions or tougher quarantine procedures for people from South Korea over coronavirus concerns on Wednesday, as three Caribbean nations have newly joined the list.







As of 9 a.m., 43 countries and territories were barring the entry of travelers who have been in South Korea, China, Japan and other virus-hit countries, up from the previous day's tally of 40, according to the foreign ministry website.







The Bahamas has imposed an entry ban on foreigners who have visited Korea in the past 20 days. Haiti is currently barring the entry of people from at least six virus-affected countries, including Korea, with a record of visits in the past two weeks.







Grenada was moved to the list from the countries imposing a 14-day isolation.







Saint Kitts and Nevis, a dual-island nation near the Caribbean Sea, was newly added to the list of 17 countries and territories, which includes 21 Chinese provinces, implementing strict quarantine programs for South Korea.







Cyprus has also been moved to this list from those conducting fever checks and recommending isolation.







That puts the number of countries and territories imposing stricter immigration controls and requiring or recommending self-quarantine at 48, the ministry's chart showed. Chad, in north-central Africa, was also added to the list late Tuesday.







Thailand has strengthened its quarantine procedures for all passengers from Korea by requiring them to submit a health certificate showing they have tested negative for the virus and written proof that they have an insurance policy that covers over US$100,000. The measures will be in effect until June 9.







The number of countries and territories slapping entry bans for parts of Korea, like Daegu city and North Gyeongsang Province, where the bulk of the COVID-19 outbreaks have occurred, remained unchanged at six, including Japan.







South Korea has reported 7,755 cases of coronavirus infections, with 60 deaths. (Yonhap)


NCP president Sharad Pawar on Wednesday said he has full confidence incapabilities of Madhya PradeshChiefMinisterKamal Nath, whose 14-month-old government is on the brink of collapsefollowing the rebellion by Jyotiraditya Scindia and MLAs loyal to him.

Pawar, a former Congressman, said if talks had been initiated with Scindia, who joined the BJP on Wednesday, a day after quitting the country's oldest political party, the present situation won't have arisen in the adjoining state.

Talking to reporters, he said, "People believe that Kamal Nath can do miracles. It will be known in the next one or two days if it will really happen. I don't know the composition of the Madhya Pradesh Vidhan Sabha.

"But, if there was adialogue with "raja saheb" (Scindia), this situation wouldn't have arisen. He wantedto be given new responsibilities after his defeat in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. But, this is not Congress cultureand it is not easy."



Asked if the Congress was at fault, Pawar avoided a direct reply, saying, "I don't know about Congress fault. But it was felt that opportunity should have been given to a good person."



The former Union minister rejectedcriticism that Congress lacks strong leadership. "There is leadershipin the Congress and it is capable."The Maratha strongman ruled out a Madhya Pradesh-like political drama playing out in Maharashtra.

"TheMaha Vikas Aghadi government in Maharashtra is doing well and is on the right path. There is no doubt that the MVA government will last its full term," he said.

The fact that the media has not got any material to write against it (MVA government) means all is well, he said.

Pawar was full of praise for Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.

"He is doing good (work) and taking everyone along," said the NCP chief, whose party is one of the constituents of Shiv Sena-led government.

To a question on speculation thatdays of the MVA government are numbered after the eminent fall of the Nath regime, Pawar quipped, "The Shimga (Holi) festival just got over and there is no other mahurat left for the opposition."



Stating that the Yes Bank crisis did not happen in a day, Pawar said India's economic situation is a cause of concern.

"What was the department of banking doing? It is answerable. The details will be out after a probe," he said.

Pawar said he along with non-BJP leaders like Mamata Banerjee, H D Deve Gowda, Sitaram Yechuri and Yashwant Sinha had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking immediate release of former J&K chief ministers Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti.

"What is their crime? This sends a wrong message in the valley. J&K is a sensitive state (now a Union Territory) and it is wrong to allow the sentiments of the people to be against the country," he said.

On Muslim reservation, Pawar said Minority Affairs Minister Nawab Malik had highlighted the NCP stand on the issue and the party stood by it.

Asked about the need for an SIT probe into the Koregaon-Bhima violence, Pawar said, "I am not aware if the government will form the SIT. But our demand stays."



Asked about the upcoming Rajya Sabha polls, he said the NCP has not yet fielded a second candidate so there is no question of withdrawing.

Pawar, a sitting Rajya Sabha MP, on Wednesday filed his nomination papers here for the March 26 election to the Upper House of Parliament.

"The three alliance partners (Sena-NCP-Congress) will sit together today or tomorrow morning and take a final decision. The second candidate will file papers tomorrow," Pawar said.

Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, his deputy Ajit Pawar, NCP ministers, Congress leaders Balasaheb thorat and Ashok Chavan, were prominent among those present when Pawar filed his nomination.

Nineteen rebel Congress MLAs, including six ministers, are camping in Bengaluru, while three others (Bisahulal Singh, Aidal Singh Kansana and Manoj Choudhary) are in other places.

All of them have resigned from the assembly in support of Scindia, pushing the Nath government in deep crisis.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Motorolas upcoming flagship smartphone, the Motorola Edge+, may not elude the market for too long now. The Motorola Edge+ has just passed through the FCC, hinting of an imminent launch. The FCC listing also confirms some of the rumors about the phone.

Firstly, we now have the official logo for the Motorola Edge+. The Edge logo is pretty much the same that leaked last month, except for the plus icon on the top right side. Needless to say, the new logo fits perfectly with the devices name.

A 3D render of the Motorola Edge+ has also revealed that the phone will feature a triple camera setup on the back. The setup doesnt look different from the one that appeared in CAD-based renders last week, seemingly backing up that leaked design.

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Rumors have it that the rear camera array may include a 108-megapixel primary camera, while the other two are rumored to be 16-megapixel and 8-megapixel units.

Its unclear what type of sensors those are, though. One of them could be an ultra-wide lens and the other a telephoto lens if we go by the current trend.

The Motorola Edge+ FCC listing has also confirmed the presence of mmWave 5G support on the Edge+, at least in the US version. Along with CDMA and LTE networks, the device will also support 5G NR n260: 37GHz~40GHz and 5G NR n261: 27.5GHz~28.35GHz bands.

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Rumors suggest that the Edge+ would be a Verizon-exclusive phone in the US. The Big Red recently managed to achieve peak speeds of 4.2 Gbps on its live mmWave 5G network using a Motorola device, which is likely the Motorola Edge+.

Motorola Edge+ specs

The Motorola Edge+ is the companys first 5G phone and also its first true flagship since the Moto Z3, which launched back in Q3 2018. The handset will run on the flagship Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 chipset paired with the Snapdragon X55 5G Modem.

It features a 6.67-inch fullHD+ (2340 x 1080) curved waterfall display with a 90Hz refresh rate. The punch-hole in the top-left corner of the display will house a 25-megapixel front-facing camera.

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The Motorola Edge+ may also get a 5,000mAh battery and up to 12GB of RAM. This device supports 6K resolution video recording with HEVC toggle.

Theres no word yet on when the Motorola Edge+ will arrive on the market. However, now that the phone has gotten its FCC certification, an official announcement shouldnt be too far.

Motorola also has a couple of mid-range handsets awaiting launch. The Moto G8 Power Lite and the Motorola One Mid could well arrive with the Motorola Edge+ in the coming weeks.
James Bond favourite, James Norton, crossed paths with former 007 Pierce Brosnan at The Prince's Trust Awards on Wednesday afternoon.

The Little Women star, 34, and Mamma Mia! actor, 66, both attended the TK Maxx And Homesense Awards at the London Palladium.

James, who is tipped to replace Daniel Craig as the new James Bond, looked dapper in a navy blue suit with a crisp white shirt and silver patterned tie.

The next 007? James Bond favourite, James Norton, crossed paths with former 007 Pierce Brosnan at The Prince's Trust Awards on Wednesday afternoon

He finished his smart look with a pair of brown brogues and a lavish designer silver wrist watch.

No Time To Die will see Daniel Craig don his famous tux for one final time in his fifth and final Bond film.

The actor, 51, confirmed to Stephen Colbert in November 2019 that this would be his last time playing the role.

Shaken not stirred: The Little Women star, 34, and Mamma Mia! actor, 66, both attended the TK Maxx And Homesense Awards at the London Palladium

Handsome: James, who is tipped to replace Daniel Craig as the new James Bond, looked dapper in a navy blue suit with a crisp white shirt and silver patterned tie

Fans have been speculating who will replace Daniel as the famous spy with favourites so far landing on James, Idris Elba, Tom Hardy and Richard Madden.

Yet James has dismissed the rumours, he recently told the Sunday Times: 'It's crazy. It's not real. It's speculative.

'It's bizarre and quite flattering to be even considered in that world, but beyond that? Pure speculation.'

Details: He finished his smart look with a pair of brown brogues and a lavish designer silver wrist watch

One last Bond! No Time To Die will see Daniel Craig don his famous tux for one final time in his fifth and final Bond film

Pierce played James Bond from 1995-2002, he starred in films GoldenEye, Tomorrow Never Dies, The World Is Not Enough and Die Another Day.

Meanwhile, at The Prince's Trust Awards, Pierce continued to show off his Van Dyke beard as the dapper star attended the event.

The 66-year-old Prince's Trust Ambassador looked very smart in his blue suit as he walked the red carpet.

The former Bond star has been sporting his new look for a few weeks now - the definition of a Van Dyke beard is a full goatee with detached moustache.

Devastatingly handsome: Pierce played James Bond from 1995-2002, he starred in films GoldenEye, Tomorrow Never Dies, The World Is Not Enough and Die Another Day

It's a vibe: Meanwhile, at The Prince's Trust Awards, Pierce continued to show off his Van Dyke beard as the dapper star attended the event

The great and good of the British film and television industry also attended the event, including the likes of Anna Friel, 43, and Richard E. Grant, 62.

Prince Charles himself was also pictured arriving soon after the celebrities.

The Prince's Trust and TK Maxx & Homesense Awards honour the achievements of young people supported by The Trust.

Special: The Prince's Trust and TK Maxx & Homesense Awards honour the achievements of young people supported by The Trust

How he normally looks: Pierce (pictured with his son, Dylan) usually has designer stubble or a clean-shaven appearance

According to the website: 'The awards recognise young people who succeed against the odds, improve their chances in life and have a positive impact on their local community.'

'We believe that every young person should have the chance to embrace exciting opportunities. So, we help 11 to 30 year-olds to find the tools and confidence to try free courses and start careers.'

Meanwhile, last year, Pierce said he was hoping for a woman to take over as the next Bond.

Arriving in style: Anna Friel (left) brought the glamour to The Prince's Trust Awards in a yellow maxi dress as Richard E. Grant wore latex gloves amid coronavirus outbreak (right)

He told The Hollywood Reporter: 'I think we've watched the guys do it for the last 40 years.

'Get out of the way, guys, and put a woman up there. I think it would be exhilarating, it would be exciting.'

Pierce, who played Bond on four occasions, then said: 'I don't think that's going to happen with the Broccolis. I don't think that is going to happen under their watch.'
VANCOUVER B.C. has announced seven new cases of COVID-19, including two more health-care workers at the care home that was the site of the countrys only coronavirus-linked death so far.

At least 106 people in Canada have now tested positive for COVID-19, including 46 in B.C., 14 in Alberta, 42 in Ontario, four in Quebec and one in New Brunswick.

The announcement from public health officials in British Columbia comes on the day the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic.

The pandemic declaration is something thats important, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said Wednesday. We have watched this virus cause outbreaks. Weve learned a lot from the countries that have been dealing with this ahead of us.

Of the seven new cases announced in B.C. on Wednesday, three were connected to travel to Egypt, two were health-care workers at the Lynn Valley Care Centre in North Vancouver, and two were community cases with undetermined sources.

A man in his 80s who lived at the Lynn Valley Care Centre died Sunday night after testing positive for the virus last week. It was the countrys first death linked to COVID-19.

One of the things thats become aparent is how fragile our long-term-care system is, Henry said. She said enhanced screening would be put in place to make sure ill visitors do not enter care homes during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Henry said detailed public health investigations are being done on both the new community cases to try to determine the origin of their infection

Three individuals with COVID-19 were discharged from B.C. hospitals Wednesday. That includes a health-care worker from Lynn Valley Care Centre, a man in his 90s, and a woman who was a passanger on board the Diamond Princess cruise ship.
Security forces on Wednesday busted a Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) module in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir by arresting three militant associates, police said.

A police official said the three were in close contact with high-profile militant commander Bashir Peer alias Imtiyaz Alam operating across from Pakistan Occupied Kashmir.

"On a specific information, police and the Army busted an HM terror module active in the Kralpora area of Kupwara and three associates affiliated with HM have been arrested," a police official said.

The arrested have been identified as Aijaz Ah Payair, resident of Kunan Poshpora Kupwara, Mohammad Altaf Payair and Abdul Rouf Malik, both residents of Dardsun Kupwara.

"These individuals, active in the area for the last eight months, were involved in various subversive activities and providing shelter/logistic support to terrorists," the official said, adding, they were also tasked with recruiting new militants from Kupwara.

During investigation,some arms and ammunition and other incriminating material were recovered from them, he said.

A case has been registered in Kralpora Police Station against them, he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Under the ruling, any business could have the regulatory carpet pulled out from under them at any time by the executive branch and apparently without any recourse, Macintosh said in a statement. We intend to correct this not only on behalf of our company but all businesses in DC.
New Delhi, March 12 : The Centre's decision to suspend all visas to India till April 15, barring those given to government officials due to the outbreak of coronavirus is expected to truncate airlines' international operations.

According to industry insiders, several airlines have already reduced international operations to China and Southeast Asia, further truncation is expected in the coming days.

"The decision taken by the government today (Wednesday) will have a far reaching impact on the industry," a senior airline official told IANS on the condition of anonymity.

"Currently, passenger load factors are already very low on many international routes, coupled with suspension of visas will leave no passengers to board these flights." Most airlines that IANS approached said they will take a call on whether or not to operate services on several international routes in the coming days.

However, airlines might not fully suspend international flights due to existing global aviation regulators that govern the use of airport slots.

At present, the rules governing the use the airport slots provide that airlines must operate at least 80 per cent of their allocated slots under normal circumstances.

However, in exceptional circumstances, regulators can relax this requirement.

Around 43 per cent of all passengers depart from over 200 slots coordinated airports worldwide.

According to Aloke Bajpai, CO-founder & CEO, ixigo: "This is a bold but a necessary move to prevent a mass pandemic in India. This will have a major impact beyond just aviation and the hospitality sector." "Indian carriers will be forced to continue to cancel or temporarily suspended international flights for the time being. FTA growth which saw the slowest growth in 4 years in the first half of calendar 2019, will be severely hit this year as well in lieu of the global economic slowdown." Meanwhile, airline major IndiGo on Wednesday said that it expects quarterly earnings to be materially impacted due to the outbreak of Coronavirus.

Additionally, the airline pointed out that rupee has also depreciated sharply which will have an adverse impact on its dollar denominated liabilities primarily on account of capitalised operating leases.

The development comes after a Group of Ministers (GoM) on the decided that all Visas to India will be suspended till April 15.

Furthermore, the World Health Organisation declared Coronavirus as a pandemic.

In fact, India will not be the only country whose airlines have truncated international operations.

On Wednesday, Lufthansa Group said that due to the exceptional circumstances caused by the spread of the coronavirus it will reduce flight schedules of its passenger airlines for the period from 29 March to 24 April.

"The flight cancellations will be implemented successively in the booking systems, and affected passengers will be informed of the changes and rebooking options as of today. For all passenger airlines in the Group, a total of 23,000 flights must be cancelled," the airline said in a statement.

"Further cancellations are expected in the coming weeks. Flight schedule adjustments for the period after 25 April will be made at a later date." As per reports, Gulf country Kuwait has decided to suspend all flights from Friday. It has also declared a public holiday from March 12 to March 26.

Earlier, global industry body International Air Transport Association (IATS) has estimated the combined revenue loss for airlines in the range of $63-113 billion.

In its latest financial impact of novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) on airline sector released on March 5, IATA predicted 2020 global revenue losses for the passenger business of $63 billion considering infection is contained in countries with over 100 cases as of March 2.

This scenario considers markets with more than 100 confirmed COVID-19 cases and experiencing a sharp downturn followed by a V-shaped recovery profile.

In case the virus spreads further covering more markets, the losses could almost double to $113 billion thus further affecting the financial health of airlines worldwide.

The projected loss is on account of passenger traffic and does not include cargo operations.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Copyright  2020 Albuquerque Journal

SANTA FE  Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed into law a $7.6 billion spending plan Wednesday but axed nearly $110 million in projects from an accompanying public works package due to concerns over plummeting oil prices and the impact of coronavirus.

Among the roughly 530 projects vetoed by the Democratic governor were proposed school improvements, tribal building repairs, road renovations, street signs and nearly $4.8 million for fixing up a family services building in Bernalillo Countys South Valley.

At this time of global economic uncertainty, it has become necessary and fiscally prudent to veto some projects that otherwise have merit, particularly those funded from general fund monies that would otherwise be available to bolster reserves, Lujan Grisham said in an executive message to lawmakers.

The governor earlier this week vetoed a separate road improvement spending bill  that featured nearly $50 million in projects  and the combined general fund savings amount to roughly $150 million, according to the Governors Office.

That means more money will be available in cash reserves in case projected revenue levels do not materialize. As of last month, the state was estimated to have $1.7 billion in reserves when the budget year ends in June, but that figure could end up being much lower if oil prices do not rebound, and only a fraction of the money is accessible without legislative approval.

I want to make sure we have hundreds of millions of dollars available to us if we need it, Lujan Grisham told a news conference Wednesday at the state Capitol.

She also said she vetoed all capital outlay appropriations under $10,000, with the exception of some public school security projects, saying such small projects should be funded by local governments.

Sen. John Arthur Smith, D-Deming, said Wednesday that he was not surprised by the magnitude of the line-item vetoes, after urging the governor to trim non-recurring funding from spending bills during a meeting last week.

Im sure theres going to be some crying and moaning, said Smith, the influential chairman of the Senate Finance Committee. In circumstances like these, we should not be parochial but should be looking out for the state.

He also said the $150 million in vetoed general fund appropriations would likely give the state enough of a buffer to avert the possibility of the governor having to call a special legislative session on budgetary issues.

However, some Republican lawmakers accused Lujan Grisham of putting her pet initiatives above the states road infrastructure, even though the signed budget bill does include $180 million for statewide highway construction and repairs.

Communities across the state who have dealt with crumbling infrastructure have lost out, House Minority Whip Rod Montoya, R-Farmington, told a news conference Wednesday in Albuquerque.

Spending growth

The governor made far fewer line-item vetoes to the $7.6 billion budget plan than she did to the annual public works package.

Lujan Grisham left intact 4% pay raises for New Mexico teachers and state employees that will take effect in July. State Police officers, judges and corrections officers will be among those getting even larger salary bumps.

In addition, the governor left untouched a $320 million appropriation for a new early childhood endowment fund and a $55 million infusion to the Public Employees Retirement Association, one of New Mexicos two large retirement systems that have been grappling with large unfunded liabilities.

In all, the budget plan calls for state spending to increase by more than $500 million  or about 7.5%  over current levels for the fiscal year that starts in July.

Its the states second consecutive year of big spending growth after several years of budgetary belt-tightening, as surging oil production levels in southeast New Mexico have boosted state revenue collections to record levels.

But a global price war that erupted this week has threatened the states oil boom  and the revenue it generates  and prompted the governors decision to pare back non-recurring state spending.

Other vetoes

On her final day to act on bills passed during this years 30-day legislative session, Lujan Grisham also vetoed a bill aimed at shoring up the state Retiree Health Care Fund by increasing mandatory employee contribution rates and taxpayer-funded contributions.

HB 349 projects vetoed by Albuquerque Journal on Scribd

That legislation, House Bill 45, would have cost the state an estimated $9.6 million annually, and Lujan Grisham said in her veto message that it would have imposed an unfunded mandate on state agencies.

In all, Lujan Grisham vetoed just four of the 88 bills passed by lawmakers during the session that ended last month. Two of those vetoed bills were pocket vetoes, which occur when a bill is not acted upon before the signing deadline.

One of the measures that died due to pocket veto was a proposed tax break for residential facilities that house individuals with advanced dementia, while the other would have made changes to the Department of Military Affairs.

That veto rate is the lowest in recent New Mexico history, according to a Journal analysis.

Journal staff writer Scott Turner contributed to this report.
WINDSOR TOWNSHIP, Mich. - Two people in the Detroit area have tested positive for the coronavirus infection, Michigan officials announced late Tuesday.

A woman in Oakland County had travelled outside the country, while a man from Wayne County had travelled within the U.S., said Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, Michigans medical executive.

They were both in hospitals and are middle-aged. Both cases still need to be reviewed and confirmed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer appeared with Khaldun at the states emergency operations centre near Lansing and again recommended that people wash their hands for 20 seconds and often, avoid touching their faces, stop shaking hands with others and instead bump elbows, and cover their mouths when coughing or sneezing.

These sound simple but they work and will help slow the spread, said Whitmer, who declared a state of emergency.

Khaldun said the state was working closely with local health departments to learn more about the COVID-19 cases. Local officials will identify who has been in close contact with the infected adults and make sure they are tested, if necessary, and monitored, she said.

It is very likely that we will see more cases and that there will be community spread, she said.

Khaldun urged the elderly and those with chronic health conditions to consider postponing long travel, including flights, and staying away from crowds. Whitmer said her administration probably will announce additional recommendations in coming days.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia.

The vast majority of people recover. According to the World Health Organization, people with mild illness recover in about two weeks, while those with more severe illness may take three to six weeks to recover. In mainland China, where the virus first exploded, more than 80,000 people have been diagnosed and more than 58,000 have so far recovered.

In Michigan, 77 people had been tested as of Tuesday. Fifty-seven were negative, two positive and results were pending for 18.

___

Associated Press writer Ed White in Detroit 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.
French television festival Series Mania is the latest event to be cancelled due to fears surrounding COVID-19.

The French Government has banned gatherings of more than 1,000 people, prompting the event due to begin in Lille next week to be cancelled. Last week it had banned gatherings of more than 5,000 people in confined spaces.

Rachel Griffiths and producer Helen Bowden (Lambs of God, Upright, The Secrets She Keeps) were due to attend as jurors.

Rodolphe Belmer, president of Series Mania, said, Every year since its inaugural event in Lille, Series Mania has attracted 80,000 festival-goers, most of whom have already booked their event tickets, and more than 3,000 professionals. Due to the recent restriction from the French government banning gatherings of more than 1,000 people, coupled with the travel restrictions for many of our international participants, we have made the difficult decision to cancel Series Mania.

In this delicate period, we are very touched by the ongoing support of our French and international partners, and we want to express our warm thanks to everyone.

At the time of writing France has 1784 confirmed cases of COVID-19 to date and has seen 33 deaths.

Titles due to premiere included British-New Zealand historical drama The Luminaries, HBO comedy Run, US sci fi Tales from the Loop, German drama Unorthodox, Israeli series Valley of Tears and Belgium fantasy drama Moloch plus screenings of Total Control, Josh Thomas comedy Everythings Gonna be Okay, Foxtel dramas The End and Upright.

Series Mania has also been staged in Melbourne twice, in 2017 and 2018, but was held over in 2019 due to renovations at ACMI.

Source: Hollywood Reporter
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-11 08:23:21|Editor: Liu

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BRUSSELS, March 10 (Xinhua) -- The European Commission will propose a 25-billion-euro initiative to tackle COVID-19 and its fallout, announced the chief of the EU executive arm.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen made the announcement following a video conference with the leaders of EU member states late on Tuesday.

The conference was called upon by European Council President Charles Michel as all the 27 member states have reported COVID-19 infections.

The investment initiative proposed by the Commission was supposed to bolster the health care systems, small and medium-sized companies, labor markets and other vulnerable parts of the economies.

As a first step to mobilize the planned 25 billion euros, the Commission will propose to release 7.5 billion euros of investment liquidity.

"Today marks an important step in a coordinated response that the 27 Heads of State and Government, the President of the European Council and the Commission have been calling for. Now it is time for action," said von der Leyen.
A 19-year-old boy, who left his from Ulhasnagar home five years ago after a fight with his mother, was found in Delhi and reunited with his family on Wednesday.

The mother, a resident of camp 1, Dhobighat, had lodged a complaint after her son Krishna Singh went missing five years ago. The police got information about Krishna being in Delhi after his photo was circulated .

The police got help from Krishnas friends to trace him in Delhi. His friends contacted him and convinced him to return to Kalyan. The police said that after leaving his house, Krishna worked in Goa for several months and later went to Delhi. He left the house after a fight with his mother. His friends helped us to bring him to Kalyan. As soon as he arrived in Kalyan, we took him to the police station. His parents were called and he was reunited, said an officer of Ulhasnagar crime branch.
Oil heavyweights Saudi Arabia and the UAE vowed on Wednesday to pump millions more barrels of crude as they stepped up a price war after Russia refused a deal to cut output.

OPEC kingpin Saudi Arabia and its ally the UAE, the cartel's fourth-largest producer, said they will together boost production by at least 3.5 million barrels per day (bpd), to 16.3 million bpd, from April.

Riyadh and Abu Dhabi, who rely heavily on oil revenues, also unveiled plans to raise their production capacities by one million bpd each.

Although increases in capacity take a long time and need huge investments, the announcements from Riyadh and Abu Dhabi add to the psychological warfare shaking oil markets.

Energy giant Saudi Aramco said it plans to raise its crude production capacity by one million bpd.

"Saudi Aramco announces that it received a directive from the ministry of energy to increase its maximum sustainable capacity from 12 million bpd to 13 million bpd," the company said in a statement to the Saudi Stock Exchange.

The decision came a day after Saudi Arabia, the world's top exporter, decided to hike production by at least 2.5 million bpd to a record 12.3 million from April.

The UAE national oil company said on Wednesday it was ready to boost its oil supplies by around one million bpd, from the current level of around three million bpd, as a price war with Russia simmers.

"In line with our production capacity growth strategy ... we are in a position to supply the market with over four million barrels per day in April," Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. (ADNOC) said in a statement.

"In addition, we will accelerate our planned five million bpd (output) capacity target," the state-owned firm said.

UAE Energy Minister Suheil al-Mazrouei said that extra oil supplies will be on the market soon.

"Operators in the UAE have ample production capacity that will be quickly brought online given the current circumstances," the minister wrote on Twitter.

The Saudi and UAE moves follow the collapse of an oil output reduction agreement between OPEC and non-OPEC producers, led by Russia.

The deal proposed by Saudi Arabia called for additional output cuts of 1.5 million bpd to cope with the severe economic impact of coronavirus which has sharply reduced world demand for crude.

OPEC on Wednesday lowered its forecast for global average daily demand by 0.92 million barrels, to 99.73 million barrels.

Oil prices fell heavily on Wednesday after the Saudi and UAE announcements, reversing gains made earlier in the day.

Mazrouei said he was disappointed that no agreement was reached by the OPEC+ alliance on production cuts and called for a new agreement.

"OPEC and OPEC+ played an important role in delivering market stability. The UAE ministry of energy and industry firmly believes that a new agreement is essential to support a balanced and less volatile market," the minister said.

The UAE has earmarked more than USD 132 billion in investments to raise its output capacity to 4.0 million bpd this year and to 5.0 million bpd in a decade's time.

Following the failure of the OPEC+ deal, Riyadh slashed the prices of its oil to various regions to secure market share.

ADNOC said it would also follow Saudi Arabia by announcing new prices for March and April deliveries.

Oxford Economics projected on Tuesday that the price of Brent crude will "fall to and remain at $30 a barrel for the foreseeable future."



"This could trigger recession in a number of Gulf Cooperation Council economies that are already battling the headwinds of slower global growth and the spread of coronavirus," the Britain-based group said.

Russia said Tuesday it was open to renewing cooperation with the OPEC cartel even after its rejection of proposed new output cuts led to the collapse of their alliance.

Brent North Sea crude oil was trading at $36.18 a barrel on Wednesday, down 2.8 per cent from the previous close.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A Sanitation Department supervisor assaulted a man on the street in Richmond Valley last week, authorities allege.

Gennaro Basciano, 39, a deputy chief at Sanitation who lives at Bay Street Landing in St. George, was arrested on Monday at about 8 a.m. inside the 123rd Precinct stationhouse in Tottenville.

He is accused in an alleged assault last Wednesday at about 4:05 p.m. on the 200 block of Richmond Valley Road.

Basciano, who stands about 59 tall and weighs about 195 pounds, allegedly punched the 32-year-old male victim several times in the face.

The victim toppled from a curb and landed on the ground, suffering bruising, swelling and pain to the eyes and forehead, a sprained ankle and lacerations on a leg, according to the criminal complaint.

The victim was treated at a hospital.

The suspect and victim were acquaintances, according to a source with knowledge of the investigation.

Basciano is charged with assault and harassment.

Released on his own recognizance, he is due back in Criminal Court on May 12, according to public records.

An attorney for the defendant declined to comment.

Following his arrest, Deputy Chief Basciano followed proper Departmental procedure and is currently working, according to a statement from the Department of Sanitation. As per policy, he could face disciplinary action from the arrest.
Spring ISD held its annual Rookie of the Year celebration earlier this month, honoring newly certified teachers from every campus for their hard work.

A teacher from each of Spring ISDs 31 campuses was selected for the honor, a Spring ISD news release stated, chosen by their principals for their perseverance during what some consider the hardest year in a teaching career. Two teachers in May will be selected as the districts two top rookie teachers.

Related: Spring ISD Superintendent announces new specialty schools opening in 2020-2021

One of the recipients of the honor, Bailey Freeman, a sixth-grade math teacher and the first recipient from Springwoods Village Middle School, called the recognition an honor.

I work with some amazing teachers, Freeman said. Im truly grateful and I appreciate everything that Principal [Kim] Culley is putting into this.

Spring ISD Chief Human Resources Officer Deeone McKeithan told rookie teachers of his time as a student and told them to remember their importance to students.

Theres nothing like a teacher where students love to be in your classroom, and you all are those teachers, McKeithan said. I pray that every single one of you knows that you are so impactful to every single student you touch. You are creating legacies.

Related: Spring ISD adds new courses to its education planning guide for 2020-21 school year

Steven Herbert, who was named Spring ISDs Secondary Rookie Teacher of the Year last year, said his teaching career had a shaky start, but his passion for being an EMT is what worked for his students. Herbert teaches the Emergency Medical Technician Program at Wunsche High School.

I cant speak for other districts, but this has got to be the best, Herbert said. Every single person that I ran into provided all the information I could possibly want or have. Everyone here is family and great team members. They continue to support me until this day.

Booker Elementarys rookie teacher of the year, fourth-grade teacher Asia Walter, said she has come full circle with her choice to teach in Spring ISD.

Its pretty cool to share stories with my students and tell them, I was sitting right where you are and went to school right around the corner, Walter said. Its nice to talk to them about that and to see so many familiar faces everywhere I go.

Diane Moore, who had worked at a charter school before becoming a teacher at Hirsch Elementary School, said her goal was to become a certified teacher.

It is a tremendous honor, and I cant even explain it because I never thought I would fulfill my lifelong dream, Moore said. Im going to be 60 in June, so its never too late.

Claire Resilla, Hirsch Elementarys principal, praised Moores motivation.

For Diane right now, her vision and her purpose of what she is here for is finally aligned, Resilla said. She does the best that she can for our kids and is always willing to help out.

Secondary 2019-20 Rookie Teachers of the Year:

 Ivette Brown, Dekaney High School

 Sheri Davis, Spring High School

 Cameron Alvani, Virtual Learning Program

 Kendra Hampton, Westfield High School

 Taylor Shepeard, Carl Wunsche Sr. High School

 Derrick Woodley, Bailey Middle School

 Keisha Reaves, Bammel Middle School

 Diana Bounpaseuth, Claughton Middle School

 Ashley Egland, Dueitt Middle School

 Chad Hardy, Spring Leadership Academy

 Bailey Freeman, Springwoods Village Middle School

 Teresa Carpenter, Twin Creeks Middle School

Elementary 2019-20 Rookie Teachers of the Year:

 Shayla Mercer, Anderson Elementary School

 Mellisa Tejada, Beneke Elementary School

 Asia Walter, Booker Elementary School

 Briana Creggett, Burchett Elementary School

 Kathline Lindsey, Clark Primary School

 Leslie Reames, Cooper Elementary School

 Jason Holloway, Heritage Elementary School

 Diane Moore, Hirsch Elementary School

 Madison Templeton, Jenkins Elementary School

 Bintu Meeks, Lewis Elementary School

 Samantha Rollins, Link Elementary School

 Dera Moy, Major Elementary School

 Kelli Lewis, Marshall Elementary School

 Victoria Okosun, Meyer Elementary School

 Wanda Guerrero, Northgate Crossing Elementary School

 Samantha Gualandri, Reynolds Elementary School

 Starlashia Nelson, Salyers Elementary School

 Brittany Cole Bogan, Thompson Elementary School

 Seth Kimpel, Winship Elementary School

paul.wedding@hcnonline.com
A group of 46 French and American tourists who had been aboard a River Nile cruise ship where 45 confirmed coronavirus cases had been detected left the country on Tuesday night after testing negative for the virus, Egypt's tourism ministry said on Wednesday.

Another 17 Indian tourists who were on board the same ship were due to leave early on Wednesday after negative test results.

Egypt has so far detected 59 coronavirus cases, 26 of whom later tested negative, according to the health ministry.

Egypt reported on Sunday its first fatality from the coronavirus, a German tourist who had traveled to the ancient city of Luxor.

The fast-spreading virus, which emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan late last year, has so far caused over 121 infections and 4,300 deaths.

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(Alliance News) - AG Barr PLC on Wednesday said it has "exclusive distribution rights" to Rockstar energy drinks in the UK and Ireland.

PepsiCo earlier on Wednesday said it agreed a USD3.85 billion takeover of the parent company of the energy drinks brand, Rockstar Energy Beverages.

PepsiCo currently has a distribution deal with the energy drinks maker in North America.

AG Barr said: "AG Barr has been a franchise partner of Rockstar since 2007 and retains the exclusive distribution rights for the Rockstar brand in the UK, Ireland and certain European territories. AG Barr has a long term contract, extending for several years, for the manufacture and sale of the Rockstar energy brand, which contributes approximately 8% of the group's sales volumes.

PepsiCo does not expect the deal to be material to its revenue or earnings per share in 2020. The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2020.

PepsiCo's own energy drinks portfolio includes Mountain Dew's Kickstart, GameFuel, and AMP.

AG Barr shares were 0.2% higher 513.00 pence each in London on Wednesday afternoon.

By Eric Cunha; ericcunha@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
Two cybersecurity company employees who attended an annual industry conference last month in San Francisco have tested positive for the coronavirus. At least one is seriously ill with respiratory issues.

One of the workers at Exabeam Inc. is a 45-year-old engineer who began experiencing symptoms when he returned home to Connecticut from California on Feb. 28 after attending the RSA cybersecurity conference, his wife said in an email. His condition deteriorated the following week and he was hospitalized in respiratory distress on March 6, she said. The man was placed into a medically induced coma and is now on a ventilator in guarded condition.

The individual is predisposed for pneumonia due to an underlying heart condition, his wife said. Bloomberg is withholding the mans name to protect his privacy. The second person, who is unidentified, also worked at Exabeam and attended RSA, the Foster City, California-based company said Tuesday in a statement.

While we cannot confirm whether they contracted COVID-19 prior to, at or after the conference, if you came into contact with our staff, please be vigilant in monitoring yourself for symptoms, Exabeam said. The company said it instituted a work-at-home policy for its offices in Foster City and Atlanta.

The annual RSA Conference in San Francisco is among the leading cybersecurity events in North America, rivaled only by BlackHat in Las Vegas. The event was held Feb. 24 to Feb. 28 and conference organizers said it drew more than 36,000 participants, including dozens of keynote presentations in auditoriums packed with company executives, government officials and journalists.

Concerns about the novel coronavirus were heightened ahead of this years conference. Hand-sanitizer dispensers were placed prominently throughout RSA venues and many exhibitors opted to bump elbows instead of shake hands. Many privately expressed surprise the event wasnt canceled.

The conference said 14 sponsors and exhibitors withdrew in advance and several companies also pulled out of the gathering, including AT&T Inc., Verizon Communications Inc. and International Business Machines Corp.

Included in RSAs daily emails to attendees during the conference were reminders that organizers were closely monitoring the virus situation. RSA also advised conference goers to follow World Health Organization guidelines to protect themselves from infection.

RSA issued a statement confirming the news that two conference attendees had been diagnosed with the virus, but didnt immediately explain if it would be investigating their interactions.

Currently, there is not a known direct link or official governing body communicating back to RSA Conference that these individuals had symptoms at Conference or attended during the incubation period, RSA organizers said in the statement.

A representative of the San Francisco Department of Public Health said she had no information about the cases.

More than 117,000 cases of the illness have been reported worldwide since its origin in the Chinese city of Wuhan at the end of December. The viral disease has spread to 104 countries and regions and thus far caused 3,978 deaths, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

California, Washington and New York have more than 100 confirmed cases of the disease, the most in the U.S, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Representational image

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on March 11 said so far, there are 10 positive cases of coronavirus in Maharashtra; eight in Pune and two in Mumbai.

Earlier, two positive cases of coronavirus were reported from the financial capital.

Thackeray also indicated that the ongoing budget session of the state legislature, scheduled to be on until March 20, maybe curtailed in view of the coronavirus situation.

Maharashtra health minister Rajesh Tope said that in the wake of coronavirus cases in Maharashtra, the Indian Premier League (IPL) matches will be either be postponed or cancelled.

"Final decision will be taken tomorrow. Assembly session can also be either postponed or adjourned," Tope said.

COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine  one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show

Of the 635 travellers suspected of having contracted the virus, 370 have completed their follow-up of 14 days until March 11, it said.

Also Read | Coronavirus impact: IndiGo says earnings to bear the brunt

The number of novel coronavirus patients in the country so far has risen to over 60, including 10 new positive cases -- eight from Kerala and one each from Delhi and Rajasthan -- being reported since Tuesday's update, the Union health ministry said on Wednesday.

The total number of confirmed cases also include 16 Italian tourists, the ministry said.

Also Read| Check out what WHO's latest report on coronavirus says

According to the ministry, five positive cases have been reported in Delhi, whereas nine persons were diagnosed with the infection in Uttar Pradesh till Wednesday evening.

Rajasthan, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab have reported one case each, the ministry said.

Kerala has till now reported 17 cases, including the three patients who were discharged last month following recovery.
Southern Cross University will close its Gold Coast and Lismore campuses for the day on Wednesday after a Philippines-based staff member was diagnosed with COVID-19.

The closure comes as the University of Queensland confirmed one of the three new state-based cases reported on Tuesday, a 22-year-old Brisbane man who recently returned from Europe, was a student who had attended the St Lucia campus while "unknowingly infectious".

Southern Cross University will close its Gold Coast, and Lismore, campuses today (11/03/2020) after a Philippines-based staff member was diagnosed with COVID-19. Credit:Google Street View

The new cases bring the total number in the state to 18, with eight of these since recovered.

Southern Cross University and health authorities are now working to contact 45 people who came into close contact with the male staff member during a series of workshops at both campuses between March 2 and 6. He returned to the Philippines on March 7.
An Apple logo is seen in the window of an authorised apple reseller store in Galway

DUBLIN (Reuters) - A worker at Apple's European headquarters in Cork in Ireland has tested positive for coronavirus, one of 24 cases reported so far in the country where its oldest university, Trinity College, has been forced to move all lectures online.

The virus has yet to spread as quickly in Ireland as other European countries, but the government has canceled all St. Patrick's Day parades due to take place across the country next week to limit the impact. The government has also set aside 3 billion euros to tackle the infection.

Apple, which is one of Ireland's largest multinational employers, said the employee who tested positive is now in self-isolation and that they feel the risk to others is low while they coordinate closely with local health authorities.

Apple employs 6,000 workers in Ireland's second largest city of Cork. The iPhone maker said in a statement that it had asked some workers to stay at home as a precaution and that it was continuing to regularly deep clean all its offices and stores.

In Dublin, Trinity College said lectures would be delivered online for the rest of the academic year to May 31, with tutorials, seminars and laboratory practicals continuing using social distancing protocol.

A floor in one of the 428-year old university's buildings was closed as a precautionary measure last week after it was informed of a positive case within the city-center campus.

In a further blow to Dublin's tourism sector, Trinity said it would also close its Book of Kells exhibition. The ancient illuminated manuscript book created by Celtic monks in about 800 AD is one of Ireland's top tourist attractions.

The closure is one of the first such coronavirus-related measures implemented in the country.

(Reporting by Graham Fahy and Padraic Halpin, editing by Louise Heavens and Jane Merriman)
The government on Wednesday ordered all cinema halls in 10 districts of Jammu region to shut down as a preventive measure to check the spread of coronavirus infection.

Cinema halls in all 10 districts of Jammu province to remain closed till March 31, said principal secretary and Jammu and Kashmir government spokesperson Rohit Kansal. The senior official had earlier in the day announced the decision to shut all primary schools, cinema halls and Anganwadi centres in five districts of Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Reasi and Udhampur till March 31.

He, however, did not confirm the reports of a second patient, a 75-year-old man, being tested positive for Covid 19.

Dr Shafqat Khan, the nodal officer who is coordinating the governments response to coronavirus, said Jammu and Kashmir has only one positive case so far.

The next bulletin will be issued at 6 pm on Wednesday, he said.

After one person tested positive on Monday morning, 20 people from densely-populated Sarwal locality of Jammu city, who were in touch with the person have been quarantined at Yatri Niwas-- base camp for the annual Amarnath pilgrims here in the temple city.

A 63-year-old woman from Kargil with a travel history to Iran and who lives in Jammu, had tested positive for the Covid-19 infection, Dr Shafqat Khan said.

The woman, who had a travel history to Iran, was among two patients who were declared high viral load cases by the administration over the weekend.

They are undergoing treatment at the isolation ward of the Government Medical College (GMC) hospital and are in a stable condition.

Kashmirs divisional commissioner Baseer Ahmed Khan has also ordered closure of all Anganwadi centers across Kashmir, which also has 10 districts.

41 locals, who returned from Iran and China have been quarantined in Budgam district of Kashmir and none of them has been found positive, said a senior health official.

J&K Chief Secretary BVR Subrahmanyam on Tuesday night reviewed preparedness at the control room and data centre at 11 pm and stated that administration was in a state of full preparedness.

Four people with travel history to coronavirus-hit countries and three more, who had an Italian guest, who stayed with them, have been put under home quarantine in Samba district.

Two persons each in Vijaypur and Swankha areas and three in Samba area of the district have been put under home isolation setup and Health Department teams visit them twice a day to monitor their health, said Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of Samba, Dr Rajinder Samyal.

They are healthy and have not exhibited any signs of the infection, Samyal said.

At least 669 people are being monitored in Jammu and Kashmir for symptoms of Covid-19 while one patient has tested positive for the disease.

The figure includes 460 in home quarantine (including 20 at Yatri Bhawan, Jammu), eight in hospital quarantine and 55 under home surveillance.

Commissioner Secretary in union territory of Ladakh, Rigzin Samphel also said test reports of a 73-year-old man from Leh, who died of urinary tract infection on Sunday morning, had come in. He was found negative for the Covid-19 infection.

We received his reports and he was found negative for the Covid-19 infection, said Samphel.

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In the wake of at least one local government canceling nonessential meetings because of fears about the respiratory illness COVID-19, other towns and cities are trying to figure out the best way to proceed with town business in the middle of disease fears.

On Tuesday, Ansonia Mayor David Cassetti ordered all nonessential board and commission meetings canceled for the time being because of coronavirus fears. That included Tuesday nights Board of Aldermen meeting, but the fate of other meetings hadnt yet been determined.

So far, Cassettis decision appears to be an isolated move, but that could change given this extraordinary situation, said Kevin Maloney, spokesman for the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities. We are now gathering information to assist local leaders in developing model policies for local governments, Maloney said in an email.

He added that local governments have the option to cancel a meeting during a slow time, (such as late summer) when there is no new business.

Also, Maloney said, there is a directive from Gov. Ned Lamont stating that there should be no meeting with 100 people or more. That could be a challenge moving forward, Maloney said.

During the municipal budget season, especially in large suburbs and cities, you could have a meeting where the budget is being hotly debated and could attract a crowd, especially on the board of education side, he said.

The Town of Fairfield also was reassessing its approach to meetings. On Wednesday, the towns police commission canceled a meeting scheduled that day because of COVID-19 fears.

Fairfield First Selectwoman Brenda Kupchick said Tuesday night that she was trying to come up with a plan regarding town boards and commissions. She said she was considering having smaller ones postpone their meetings while larger ones could do them virtually.

We are looking at ways that would allow people to stay home, she said.

Other towns hadnt yet canceled meetings, but officials said they were definitely keeping an eye on the situation.

Norwalk, for example, has no immediate plans to cancel public meetings. However, the city is planning to hold upcoming public hearings on the budget in some of their larger venues, such as the concert hall in city hall, to make sure residents arent in tight quarters at meetings, officials said.

We are encouraging people to keep an arms distance apart at meetings. We certainly expect a large turnout for the budget public hearings, said Josh Morgan, a city spokesman.

The city is also encouraging people to submit public comments electronically.

If folks dont come out to a meeting, we certainly dont want their voices to be silent, Morgan said.

In Easton, First Selectman David Bindelglass said no meetings have been canceled but we are monitoring the situation closely.

He added that the town has canceled other events, including school concerts and assemblies, and gatherings at the senior center.

An official in Oxford also said meetings wouldnt be canceled.

In Stamford, officials said they are advising organizations to postpone meetings or switch to teleconferencing if the meeting is considered nonvital.

Right now, the decision to cut back on group gatherings is mostly affecting meetings held on school grounds, like a weekly pottery club for example, a city spokesman said, but may end up affecting commission and board meetings in the near future.

Staff writers Erin Kayata and Josh LaBella contributed to this report.
Job lived to be about 250 years old and so fits in with the age of his peers in either era. Where did Job live? We dont know. But he probably lived either in Northern India, Persia/Iran or Western China; we are told his land of Uz is east of the Euphrates River. Some scholars speculate that his lineage may include the Eastern Wise Men of the Roman era, which would, of course, imply a post-Deluge time. The Job tradition was placed on tablets or scrolls by Moses about 1600 BC.

So ... what have we learned in the past 50,000 years or, the past 25,000 years? Lets see. There are over 50 questions in the book of Job. Here we will begin with three questions that have to do with science. By the way, we should marvel that folks back 5,000 years ago or more could even ask such questions.

The three questions we will try to answer in these essays have to do with the substance and physics of the earth, the oceans and several stars.

Question: The Foundations of the Earth, who hath laid the measures thereof or who hath stretched the line upon it? Whereupon are the foundations fastened, or where is the corner stone? (Job 38: 4-6)
The COVID-19 outbreak has thrown the travel industry into a tailspin. U.S. government and health officials advise against all nonessential travel to China, Iran, South Korea and Italy. They discourage going on cruises, especially when it comes to older people and those with chronic health conditions like heart disease and diabetes. This more vulnerable group also should avoid crowded places and long plane trips, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
By Akbar Mammadov

The monument to Azerbaijani poetess Khurshidbanu Natavan has been vandalized in Belgium, Spokesperson for Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry Leyla Abdullayev told local media on March 10.

Vandalism against the monument of Natavan was committed in the city of Waterloo in Belgium and coincides with Armenian Prime Ministers visit to Brussels on March 10, and this attracts attention, Abdullayev said.

A criminal case has been launched in the Belgian city of Waterloo in connection with the vandalism against the statue of an outstanding poetess of our country, the daughter of the Khan of Karabakh Khurshidbanu Natavan. As the statue, erected in 2016, is on the list of historic monuments in the city of Waterloo, the local police is investigating the incident, Leyla Abdullayeva.

Abdullayeva said that the Azerbaijani Embassy to the Kingdom of Belgium immediately went to the scene and contacted the local authorities. The matter is under the control of the Azerbaijani Embassy in Belgium and the public will be informed about the results of the investigation.

The Azerbaijani Embassy in Belgium has also issued a statement about vandalism act against the monument of Khurshidbanu Natavan.

The Coordination Council of the Belgium and Netherlands Azerbaijanis and the Benelux Azerbaijanis Congress (BAC) addressed a letter to the Mayor of Waterloo, Florence Reuter, calling for measures to punish the perpetrators of vandalism.

In response to the letter, Mayor of Waterloo Florence Reuter said that police has launched an investigation into the incident.

Khurshidbanu Natavan, born in Shusha in 1932, wasthe last descendent of Panah Ali Khan who established the Karabakh khanate (17481822). Natavan was famous for her lyrical ghazals and was also known to the general public as the "daughter of the Khan".

---

Akbar Mammadov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AkbarMammadov97

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Joe Bidens near sweep of Tuesdays primary elections illustrates the problem that has plagued Sanderss campaign.

For a generation struggling with student debt and increasingly passionate about social justice and the climate, Bernie Sanderss platform offered an appealing palette of promises  free university tuition, free healthcare, legal marijuana and a Green New Deal  intended to fire them up and bring about a genuine revolution.

Somewhere along the way, though, the revolution sputtered. When it came time to actually vote for their candidate, the youth Sanders was counting on did not come out in the numbers he was expecting. And the candidate himself was among the first to admit it.

Have we been as successful as I would hope in bringing young people in? The answer is no, Sanders said last week in a news conference from his campaign headquarters in Burlington, Vermont.

I think that will change in the general election, but I will be honest with you, Sanders said. We have not done as well with bringing young people into the process, it is not easy, he added.

Joe Bidens near sweep of Tuesdays primary elections in six states, including Michigan, was illustrative of the problem that has plagued Sanders throughout the 2020 campaign. Exit polls indicate that turnout among voters aged 18 to 44 actually declined since 2016, when a surprise win in Michigan gave the Sanders campaign new life and young enthusiasts accounted for 45 percent of the vote, and 2020, when young voters accounted for 38 percent.

It was the same story in earlier states.

In California, an early bright spot that Sanders won handily, voters under 30 years old made up only 11 percent of the electorate. Of the 14 states that participated in the Super Tuesday contest on March 3, participation of voters younger than 30 did not exceed 20 percent in any state. Voters between the ages of 45 and 64 consistently made up the bulk of voters.

Bernie Sanders speaking during a campaign rally at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan [Paul Sancya/AP Photo]

Theres a massive generational divide, said John Della Volpe, director of polling at Harvard Universitys Kennedy Institute of Politics.

In 2020, Della Volpe adds, young voters are not showing up at the rate they did in 2016. In Texas, for instance, 15 percent of voters were aged between 17 and 29 this election, compared with 20 percent in 2016.

The youth vote relative to previous elections has been disappointing, Della Volpe told Al Jazeera. There is plenty of evidence to suggest that Sanders did not optimise the turnout of his supporters, he added.

Under the campaign slogan Not me, us, Sanders, 78, a self-described Democratic socialist railed against the political establishment, large corporations and billionaires and promised to tackle institutional racism and injustice in the country.

The rhetoric won him the endorsements of progressive firebrands such as Congresswomen Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Ilhan Omar, two rising stars with substantial support among youth. Ocasio-Cortez called Sanders struggle a generational battle that requires all hands on deck.

It is going to be now, and in November, I believe the turnout of young people that will have a huge determination in our future as a country, Ocasio-Cortez said during an appearance on Late Night with Seth Meyers.

Some political analysts say Sanders, the oldest candidate running, who lost the Democratic nomination to Hillary Clinton back in 2016, is an unlikely figure to galvanize young support across the country and take on President Donald Trump in November.

This whole notion that Bernie is a bridge to young people, was always a bit overblown, said Simon Rosenberg, a Democratic strategist and President of New Democratic Network, a think-tank based in Washington, DC.

And the last couple of weeks have been proof of this, Rosenberg told Al Jazeera.

US Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez with Bernie Sanders on stage during a rally at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan, US [Lucas Jackson/Reuters]

Max Pereboom, a 24-year-old Sanders supporter who has hosted several fundraising events in his home in Washington, DC, said that many young people, despite having a major stake in the countrys future, have a hard time envisioning real change  especially of the sort Sanders champions.

Most young people have never seen a political shift, never seen a real change, he said. Its disappointing.

Other experts say convincing young people like Pereboom and his friends to head to the polls is a global challenge, and not limited to the US.

Across the world, younger people are less likely to vote, D Sunshine Hillygus, author of Making Young Voters, a book that examines that challenge. Hilligus believes the commonly held perception that young people lack political engagement is false.

The reason that young people have a low turnout is not because they are unmotivated or apathetic, they actually show high intent, Hilligus told Al Jazeera.

Bernie Sanders supporters cheering during a campaign rally in Phoenix, Arizona [Ross D. Franklin/AP Photo]

But for first-time voters, she says, the process of voter registration is often complicated and difficult, with strict deadlines, different rules in different states and confusion for students who live outside of their home state.

Informational and institutional hurdles create a gap between intention and actual voting, she says.

If he decides to remain in the race, the road ahead will be a challenging one for Sanders. Primaries are scheduled for March 17 in Illinois, Ohio, Arizona, and Florida, and older voters make up the lions share of the electorate in Arizona and Florida.

Were doing a better job at it than most, but we need to do a lot better, said Amer Zahr, a comedian and a surrogate to the Sanders campaign.

Thats a challenge for our campaign, and thats a challenge to every campaign in the history of politics, to get younger people out to vote, Zahr told Al Jazeera.
LINZ, Austria, March 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Panic over coronavirus (COVID-19) has caused European and international airliners to take restrictive measures and cut back flights to Italy and Israel.

While the coronavirus outbreak threatens commercial airlines to lose $113 billion in revenue (IATA), private jet companies have registered a remarkable spike in bookings.

"We are registering a 27% YoY increase in bookings over the past three weeks alone," says Bernhard Fragner, CEO of GlobeAir, Europe's leading private jet charter.

Against the approximately 700 touchpoints which expose passengers to the risk of contagion on every single commercial flight, with only 20 touchpoints, business aviation ensures a 30-times lower risk.

Just recently, however, GlobeAir was forced to suspend flights to and from Italy after the Italian government imposed a state of quarantine until April 3rd, 2020.

Private jet companies are used to escorting fewer passengers at a time and pilots are aware of the latest safety procedures. On-board disinfectant kits are always available. Before the start of each rotation, pilots undergo strict medical checks. GlobeAir is not assigning pilots who have visited Italy in the past 14 days to any of its flights.

The average cost of four business class tickets from Paris to Geneva is approximately  2,200. A GlobeAir private jet flight covering the same route would cost about  500 more per passenger making  4,200 in total. The difference signifies an investment in safety and efficiency, with about one hour and 45 minutes saved on each trip.

GlobeAir is closely monitoring the situation; you can find all updates at www.globeair.com/corona .

Press Contact

GlobeAir AG

Monika Zvonic

Marketing Manager

E-Mail: monika.zvonic@globeair.com

Phone: +43 (7221) 72740-0
At first glance, Natasha Ruiz might seem like a promising figure in Harris County politics.

In her first bid for elective office, the self-identified teacher pulled 21 percent of the vote in a four-way Democratic primary for a state House seat last week against incumbent Harold Dutton, Houston City Council Member Jerry Davis, and transportation logistics executive Richard Bonton. Dutton and Davis, the top two vote-getters, now proceed to a May runoff.

The problem is that Ruiz, or Ruiz, may not exist at all. She certainly had no campaign whatsoever  no volunteers, no website, no social media presence, no interviews with the press. Questions about her candidacy arose almost immediately after polls closed Super Tuesday, and have yet to be allayed.

The situation has also helped raise awareness about the risk of voting for a candidate based solely on his or her name. That works out well enough, sometimes. But it can also result in the elevation of suboptimal, non-serious or even  as may be the case here  fake candidates.

There are two types of ghost candidates, explains Brandon J. Rottinghaus, a political scientist at the University of Houston. The first are those whose names appear on the ballot even though theyve dropped out of race, because they did so after filing for office but prior to Election Day. The second are tricksters, whose names serve as a decoy to draw voters away from other candidates in the race.

Legally, as long as the individual meets the criteria to be on the ballot, they can haunt the ballot without actively doing anything to advance their electoral prospects, Rottinghaus said this week.

Thats certainly what Natasha Ruiz did in this primary.

The facts we have are that on December 9th, during the 30 day filing period to be placed on the Democratic Party primary ballot, a person claiming to be Natasha Ruiz came to the party office with the required elements to file: an application, identification, and filing fee, the Harris County Democratic Party said in a statement days after the election.

This Application was subsequently approved, and the name of this candidate appeared on the March 3rd Democratic Party primary ballot, the statement continued.

The county Democratic party could have done a better job with the paperwork, if nothing else. In the commotion of the filing deadline, the party neglected to make a copy of the drivers license presented, which has complicated efforts to track down the apparent mischief-maker.

Ruiz, or a person using that name, also filed paperwork with the Texas Ethics Commission, designating a campaign treasurer named Hector Riveria.

On Thursday, KTRK-TV was able to reach a woman at the phone number listed on the filing. She identified herself as Natasha Demming, and denied running for a seat in the Texas House or any other office, for that matter. She said that although she is registered to vote at her mothers address in Houston, she lives in Colorado, and works as a truck driver.

Subsequent calls to her number, from the Houston Chronicle and other outlets, have gone unanswered. A phone number for Riveria has apparently been disconnected.

These developments have Dutton crying foul. In his view, hes been forced into a runoff by a fake candidate, as opposed to one who was merely inert. He has hired a private investigator to look into Ruizs candidacy and has said he may contest the election results, depending on what the investigation yields.

Ive just raised more questions than Ive gotten answers, Dutton, 75, said Tuesday, after I contacted him for an update. All we have are questions. We dont necessarily have any answers at this point.

Demming is a real person, he continued, but there are no public records that suggest she was ever legally named Ruiz, and he doubts she was acting on her own.

Its hard not to sympathize with Dutton, who has represented House District 14 in northeast Harris County since 1984 and chairs the juvenile justice committee.

No one can say with absolute certainty that Dutton would have avoided a runoff and won the Democratic nomination outright had Ruizs name not been on the ballot. But that seems like a reasonable hypothesis. Dutton won 45 percent of the vote in the primary, compared to 26 percent for Davis, a council member since 2011.

And Dutton now faces the tricky prospect of turning out voters at a time when many voters have shifted attention to the November general election, and many Houstonians are hunkering down due to fears of the new coronavirus.

The result isnt an ideal situation for Davis, either. The District B councilman has secured a spot in the runoff, but if he prevails, Duttons supporters may see him as the undeserving beneficiary of whatever shenanigans led to Ruizs appearance on the ballot.

The nature and purpose of those shenanigans remains unclear. No one is taking any credit for Ruizs surprisingly strong showing, but one possibility is that someone was seeking to draw Latino or female voters away from someone else. Both Dutton and Davis are African-American men, as is Bonton, who received 9 percent of the vote.

Democratic voters often look favorably on candidates who would improve representation in elected offices, according to political scientists. Five white male judges in Harris County were unseated by women of color in the Democratic primary this year, for example.

A similar phenomenon could be observed on the other side of the aisle. Railroad Commissioner Ryan Sitton was defeated in this years Republican primary by a virtual unknown, Jim Wright, who happens to share a name with the late former congressman and Speaker of the House from Fort Worth.

And the Austin-based provocateur Rob Morrow won 40 percent of the vote in his bid to be the Republican nominee for a seat on the State Board of Education, which he is seeking in part because he thinks Texas schoolchildren should be taught the false claim that Lyndon Johnson murdered John F. Kennedy.

Such electoral mishaps will presumably become more common, as the Texas electorate slowly awakens to the fact that we regularly have competitive elections in this state.

erica.grieder@chron.com
BUTTE COUNTY, Calif.  Butte County Public Health is taking no chances in allowing the coronavirus to spread in the county.

Representatives met with Butte County Supervisors Tuesday to go over their plan.

Action News Now reporter Mackenzie Drigo asked Butte County Public Health Officer, Andy Miller why they're not telling the public where they've tracked the virus.

"At this point, we have no intent and likely don't have the ability to try to be publishing exposure sites, and that's not happening in other communities as well," Miller said.

He added that there are too many cases in too many places to track.

"It going to be more like the influenza virus in that its going to come in multiple different areas, so the idea of containment is one that we will try but at some point, we will be unable to do that," Miller said.

Action News Now also spoke to residents of Butte County on how theyre feeling.

"I think the cats out of the bag not, theres not really much they can do to contain it and we're just going to have to build up some resistance, Oroville resident, Robert Lykes said.

RELATED: Butte County declares local emergency and local public health emergency in response to COVID-19

The good news, Miller said there are zero cases of coronavirus in Butte County, so far.

Butte County Public Health Department said that if youre feeling sick you should go to your local clinic just like the one right behind me to get yourself checked to make sure youre not at risk for the coronavirus. You should also call ahead so the clinic or doctor's office can prepare for you.

Miller told Action News Now they have been working with health care providers.

"Schools, institutions of higher education, event organizers, emergency medical services and first responders, and employers, there is very specific advice for all of those entities to be found at the CDC and often also supplementary information at the California Department of Public Health," Miller said.

Another community member said he has not been taking any public transportation since the outbreak.

"I haven't been taking any public transportation, I'm staying away from places where there's a bunch of people like not going out to the movies or anything like that," Oroville resident, Wiley Taylor said.

Bonnie Youngblood who also lives in Oroville said she's been washing her hands more often.

"Even going to Walmart, Im sanitizing everything so I don't have to touch it and I use the wipes to open the door," Youngblood said.

Butte County Public Health said they want people to take these precautions seriously but not to panic.

The Butte County Health Department has a complete list of safety precaution you can take, CLICK HERE.

Butte County residents can dial 2-1-1 (24/7) or text their zip code to 898211 for information and updates related to COVID-19. The text line is available Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

LIST: Here's a list of disinfectants you can use against coronavirus
The younger brother of Thomas Valva has described how the eight-year-old constantly wet himself because his NYPD cop dad didn't let him leave garage to use the bathroom before he eventually died in January.

In videos shared on YouTube last week by his mother Justyna Zubko-Valva, Andrew Valva details horrifying incidents where accused abusers Michael Valva and his fiancee Angela Pollina made the boy with autism sleep in freezing conditions and severely restricted his nutrition.

The clips show some of the information alleged in charges against the couple coming straight from the mouth of one of the surviving brothers.

'How much time did they stay in the garage?' Zubko-Valva asks Andrew in a video titled 'There is only one truth...Thomas was brutally murdered by Michael Valva and Angela Pollina'.

Thomas Valva (left), an autistic boy, died in January and his brother Andrew (right) claims he was only fed one sandwich a day and spent most of his time in a freezing garage before he passed away

NYPD cop Michael Valva (left) and his fiancee Angela Pollina (right) are accused of abusing Thomas Valva who died in January at the age of eight

Andrew replies 'Every day,' and asked 'When were they taken out of the garage,' he responds 'Never'.

Thomas, died of hypothermia on January 17 after allegedly being starved, beaten and locked outside overnight by his NYPD transit cop father as temperatures dropped to below 20 degrees.

Michael Valva was laid to rest on Thursday in the Long Island neighborhood of Melville.

Andrew tells his mother - who is divorced from the New York police officer - that inside the locked garage it 'was cold like rolling around in snow in there'.

The child adds that the boys had just the floor and 'no pillow and no blanket either' to sleep on night after night.

Asked, whether there 'any other reason that they kept Tommy and Anthony in the garage', Andrew responds 'because they kept peeing on themselves'.

The child claims that 'because in the middle of the night, they wanted to go pee and mom and dad wouldn't allow them', they 'kept on peeing in their pants because they weren't allowed to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night'.

The mother conducting her own questioning of the child with a witness in the room, the New York Daily News reports.

In a second video she asks Andrew if his brothers Tommy and Anthony got any food while they were in the garage but he replies: 'Only once a day. Just a sandwich. Thats it.'

Andrew mentions incidents where they were 'slapped on the butt' but when asked whether injuries were ever left behind - 'bruises' or 'boo-boos' - he responds: 'Yeah, almost everywhere.'

Pointing to his forehead he adds: 'When dad beat them up they had things like here and bleeding, and they put a band-aid on it'.

In a caption for a video Zubko-Valva writes that Michael Valva's court-appointed 'private attorney Mr. LoTurco should stop making false and misleading statements to media outlets in order to justify the brutal murder of my son Tommy from the hands of his father' and Pollina.

Thomas (pictured) was fed 'only once a day. Just a sandwich. Thats it,' according to brother Andrew

Andrew tells his mother that his brothers Anthony and Thomas (pictured in a photograph held by his mother) 'kept on peeing in their pants because they weren't allowed to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night'

'Thomas murder was NOT an accident but the tragic result of many years long non-stop sadistic abuse done by those two abusers,' the mother claims. She claims the evidence in this case proves that 'this WAS NOT an accident'.

'The garage was freezing and unheated, my children were locked in the garage without possibility to get out or use the bathroom, and they were forced to sleep on concrete floor without mattress, blankets, or pillows,' Zubko-Valva adds in the caption.

'The justice for Tommy, Anthony, and Andrew needs to be served!'

Just days after the autistic child's funeral last month, it was revealed that his mother, Zubko-Valva, was worried about Thomas and his brother, Anthony, after Michael Valva received temporary custody over the children.

In September 2017, a judge granted Michael Valva custody over all three boys and even barred Justyna from seeing her children, according to documents.

'He's going to kill my kids,' Justyna reportedly told Kimberley Berens, who ran the Fit Learning school, which educated autistic children before they were sent to regular schools, during a phone call on the night of the ruling.

An outraged Berens then sent a letter to the judge, but she reportedly heard nothing back.

When Michael Valva got custody over the children, he removed them from the Fit Learning school.

Two months after Michael Valva received custody of the children, Justyna filed her first child neglect complaint in Suffolk County via the state hotline on November 7, 2017.

According to the Daily News, Justyna alleged that Michael Valva and his fiancee Angela Pollina abused her kids physically and emotionally.

Her complaint stated that the children were starved and alienated from their mother.

Justyna told the newspaper that her complaint was closed two days later with no investigation.

Another complaint was filed against Valva and Pollina with Child Protective Services in January 2019 by a school official.

The mother captions the clips saying she is seeking justice for her boys, adding they they were forced to sleep on concrete floor without blankets or pillows

'The justice for Tommy, Anthony, and Andrew needs to be served!' she writes on the video

In September 2017, a judge granted Michael Valva (pictured) custody over all three boys and even barred Justyna from seeing her children, according to documents

'Thomas, age 7, presented a right, swollen black eye today that he didnt have within the past two days,' the complaint said, according to the Daily News.

'There is a history of physical abuse in the home involving Thomas so his black eye is suspicious due to conflicting explanations and conflicting time frames.'

That report listed Thomas and Anthony as 'maltreated'.

Despite the claims, CPS concluded that the case did 'not rise to the level of immediate or impending danger of serious harm'.

The agency did not intervene.

A month later, another complaint was filed against Michael Valva and Pollina. This time the school official alleged that Anthony had been coming to school 'with his backpack soaked in urine'.

'Anthony has been staying in the garage and is not allowed in his room due to him urinating in his bed. As a result of the child being soaked in urine, he has a foul odor and he is extremely cold,' the official said, according to the Daily News.

Three more complaints were filed in March, May and August, but nothing was ever done.

Thomas' death has since prompted an investigation into the social services department and how it dealt with abuse allegations against the couple and the children who lived with them.

Several complaints had been filed against Valva and Pollina (pictured) with Child Protective Services, including one in January 2019 by a school official

Following his death, Thomas' brothers were placed in the custody of their mother. Pollina's daughters were placed in the custody of their biological fathers

A separate task force will examine how the department handles cases of children with developmental disabilities.

Valva and his fiancee went on to collect donations from a GoFundMe page following the boy's death.

They were charged with his murder after an autopsy revealed that Thomas had died of hypothermia.

According to police, cameras and microphones that had been set up in Mike Valva's home captured audio of him and Angela taunting Thomas as he froze to death.

The audio files allegedly recorded the couple discussing the fact that Thomas was suffering from hypothermia, had been washed with cold water, couldn't walk and was 'face-planting' on the concrete.

They laughed as they said 'he's hypothermic' and that he had 'face-planted' the floor.

Pollina remarked: 'You know why he's falling?'.

Valva replied: 'Because he's cold.... boo f*****g hoo'.

Following his death, Thomas' brothers were placed in the custody of their mother. Pollina's daughters were placed in the custody of their biological fathers.
A coach and an ambulance travel towards the Diamond Princess cruise ship, operated by Carnival Corp., docked at dusk in Yokohama, Japan, on Sunday, Feb. 16, 2020.

The cruise industry has submitted a proposal to the White House that would impose restrictions on travelers over the age of 70 as well as those with chronic medical conditions as the coronavirus spreads, two sources familiar with the matter told CNBC.

The proposal would restrict people over the age of 70 from getting on a ship unless they can provide written consent from a doctor, the sources said.

Cruise officials were expected to meet at the White House Wednesday to receive a response to the proposal. Earlier this week, the U.S. State Department urged Americans not to travel on cruise ships.

Two high profile quarantines  the Diamond Princess off the coast of Japan and the Grand Princess off the coast of California  have raised questions as to whether the cruise lines are taking the right steps to minimize the risk of infection from the virus, which has resulted in more than 124,000 confirmed cases globally, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. At least 4,589 people have died worldwide.

Adam Goldstein, CEO of the Cruise Line International Association and former Vice Chairman of Royal Caribbean, told CNBC's Squawk on the Street that the industry submitted the proposal following Vice President Mike Pence's request to beef up containment measures.
As many as 28,979 have been recognised by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) as on March 1 this year, Parliament was informed on Wednesday.

Maximum number of are recognised from Maharashtra (5,477). It was followed by Karnataka (4,206), Delhi (3,740), Uttar Pradesh (2,342), Haryana (1,635), Telangana (1,609), Gujarat (1,555), and Tamil Nadu (1,509).

These are allowed to enjoy certain tax and non-tax benefits under the Startup India programme.

"As on 1st March 2020, a total number of 3,37,335 employment has been reported by 27,137 DPIIT recognised startups," Commerce and Industry Minister said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.

In a separate reply, the minister said there is no provision under Startup India initiative for sanctioning of funds to startups directly.

However, it has established a Fund of Funds for Startups (FFS) with corpus of Rs 10,000 crore, to meet their funding needs.

DPIIT is the monitoring agency and Small Industries Development Bank of India (Sidbi) is the operating agency for the FFS.

The total corpus of Rs 10,000 crore is envisaged to be provided over the 14th and 15th Finance Commission cycles based on progress of the scheme and availability of funds.

"As on 18th February 2020, Sidbi has committed Rs 3,123.20 crore to 47 Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) registered alternative investment funds (AIFs). These funds have raised a corpus fund of Rs 25,728 crore," Goyal sad.

He said that the AIFs have invested a total of Rs 3,378.47 crore into 320 startups, out of which Rs 912.91 crore have been drawn from FFS.

Fund of Funds does not directly invest into startups, but provides capital to Sebi-registered AIFs, known as daughter funds, who in turn invest money in growing Indian startups through equity and equity-linked instruments.

In a separate reply on India-US trade deal, he said India has an open mind in dealing with any trade-related matter while keeping its domestic and trade interests in mind.

Decisions are taken in the larger public interest after having consultation with all stakeholders, he said.

"Trade related issues are a part of any ongoing economic relationship, and will continue to be discussed and addressed as a part of the regular bilateral trade engagement between India and the US," he added.
WESTFIELD  A string of layoffs at Baystate Noble Hospital coupled with the threat of the coronavirus pandemic have nurses worried about the hospitals future.

"People want a full-service, fully staffed hospital," said Paul Dubin, a registered nurse and co-chairman of the Massachusetts Nurses Association Bargaining Committee. "We're worried about the future of inpatient services here at Noble."

And with the potential for the continued spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, nurses like Dubin fear patients could pile up in an already busy Noble emergency room while awaiting transport to Baystate Medical Center in Springfield.

Baysate Health President and CEO Dr. Mark Keroack said Baystate values input from the community, and that the health system is carefully investing in regional resources.

As we are seeing in this time of concern about a COVID-19 pandemic, carefully investing in a mix of regional resources  ranging from expert trauma and ICU care at a regional academic medical center to local services in a community setting  is critical," Keroack wrote in a prepared statement. We have made and continue to make strong investments in the quality of care, services, facilities and programs offered throughout the Baystate Health system. Our decisions are made based on careful assessments of community health need, data around usage patterns in the local setting and best practices focused on providing the right care at the right time in the right place."

Dubin and nurse Dennise Colson, co-chair of the bargaining committee, raised the issues Wednesday as they delivered a petition signed by union members that calls for Baystate management to address their concerns about inpatient services and to disclose its plans, both to the bargaining unit and to general public.

The union cited the recent loss of Baystate Nobles only two oncology nurses, which followed the layoff last October of 15 nurses. That cut eliminated two-thirds of the registered nursing jobs on the only medical/surgical floor at Baystate Noble and was part of a wider layoff of 20 people. Baystate also merged Baystate Nobles medical-surgical unit with telemetry.

Some nurses found other jobs within Baystate.

The petition asks Baystate to re-open the Noble Hospital intensive care unit and to restore positions that were eliminated from the medical-surgical unit.

The Massachusetts Nurses Association bargaining unit at Noble has 108 members, down from 120 a year ago.

"They tell us that outpatient services and the emergency room are safe," Dubin said.

Colson said patients shouldnt have to travel for care, even if it is just eight miles to Baystate Medical Center in Springfield.

"We dont want people moving around," Colson said.

The delivery of the petition came as the Massachusetts Nurses Association union at Baystate has begun negotiations with management for its next contract. The current labor pact, signed in 2017 after prolonged negotiations, expires at the end of this month.

Union members said Wednesday that theyve had four bargaining sessions with Baystate management. Lara Shepard-Blue, an associate director of labor and chief negotiator at the union, said the nurses proposals thus far focus on keeping the Westfield hospital open.

Keroack alluded to the negotiations in his prepared statement.

"While we welcome a robust community engagement process, we are disappointed that the MNA leadership has chosen a time of great anxiety in all communities to express its views on this topic. At this time, the leadership of Baystate Health, our clinical staff and our entire team of dedicated professionals are putting our focused efforts into preparing to manage the potential health impacts of a rapid spread of COVID-19," he wrote.

Baystate Noble is a 91-bed hospital that was independent until it was taken over by Baystate Health in 2015.

Baystate closed the intensive care units at Noble and Baystate Wing Hospital in Palmer in August 2019.
A four-year-old girl has been diagnosed with a brain tumour after her parents took her to see a doctor because she tumbled down a set of stairs.

Tema Tuipulotu, from Schofields in western Sydney, was taken to see doctor after a fall the week before Christmas.

The doctor declared that she was in good health and the family was sent home but, two weeks later, the young girl began vomiting and complaining she had a sore neck.

Concerned, her parents Ben and Manaema Tuipulotu took her to a second doctor where her symptoms were shrugged off as a virus, and she was taken home and given panadol.

The little girl was sent home from doctors twice but quickly deteriorated and started experiencing a sore neck, vomiting, and an inability to keep balanced on her legs

Tema (Tama'a) Ongona I Siaatoutai Tuipulotu, four, was diagnosed with a brain tumour after falling down a set of stairs

Within days, her condition worsened and she struggled to remain balanced while walking or standing.

By the time her parents were set to take her to a GP for a third time on January 16, Tema could no longer walk.

'She started crying to me saying Dad I can't walk and I can't stand so we rushed her that morning to Westmead children hospital Emergency,' Mr Tuipoltu wrote on a GoFundMe page.

Later that afternoon the Tuipulotu family received the 'worst news they thought they would never hear,' when CT results revealed Tema, the youngest of their ten children, had a brain tumour.

An MRI confirmed it was medulloblastoma cancer, a brain tumour that forms in the cerebellum, the lower back part of the brain - and up to 50 per cent had already spread to her spinal cord.

Four days later, she was rushed into an eight-hour surgery to have the tumour removed, then spent two days in intensive care due to complications with her bowel.

The youngest of ten (pictured with her father Ben) is now unable to walk, talk or eat, and is being fed through a tube following the removal of the brain tumour

Since being transferred to her ward, the little girl has lost her ability to walk, talk, or eat, and is now being fed by a tube.

Last month, she had a second surgery and started her six-week radiation therapy treatment, which will be followed by seven cycles of chemotherapy up until November.

Her older sister Angel Tuipulotu has set up a GoFundMe to raise funds for Tema's medical treatment and to help the family financially through their extremely tough journey ahead.

The campaign has almost reached $26,216 of the $100,000 goal.

'We would like to thank everyone that has taken there time to offer there helping hands in supporting my lil sister Tema,' Angel updated into the page last week.

'Please keep Tema in your prayers.'
Screengrab from 'It Happened In Calcutta' trailer (Courtesy: ALTBalaji)

Year 2019  Kabir Singh featured Shahid Kapoor in the lead whose heart would beat only for the character played by Kiara Advani. His life's goal was to ultimately find happiness with the true love of his life.

In 2020  It Happened In Calcutta features Karan Kundrra in the lead, playing a playboy, who takes the character played by female lead Naghma Rizwan to bed, only to realise a decade later that she is his true love.

In a way, the web series  an Ekta Kapoor product on the ZEE 5 and ALT Balaji platforms  is Kabir Singh revisited, albeit with a twist. But wait, let us talk about the similarities first.

For starters, just like the all-time blockbuster featuring Shahid Kapoor and Kiara Advani, this one also has its lead protagonists (Karan Kundraa and Naghma Rizwan) playing doctors. There is a possessiveness quotient in both male leads. Shahids character believes the character played by Kiara is his personal property, his 'bandi', while Karans character also wants to own Naghma, even if it is momentarily.

However, there is a difference in the way female leads react to the situation, even if temporarily. Kiaras character is totally submissive to that of Shahid in Kabir Singh. On the other hand, Naghmas character, even while being the only female medical student in a Kolkata college back in the 1960s, has a mind of her own and does not surrender herself to Karan instantly. She needs her heart to be won over, even though the first time she sees the young man, it is with another person.

No wonder, the character played by Karan is no saint. A self-proclaimed Casanova 'jis par college ki har ladki marti hai', he believes that sex does not have to be taken seriously. It does not come across as a surprise that he is also an expert in illegal abortions. He is also a bit crude when it comes to his outlook towards women and rest assured, had Shahid Kapoor played this character in 2019, it would have been taken far more scandalously as compared to his 1960s persona.

However, all is fair in love for Karans character as he is not just two timing Naghma with his steady girlfriend-cum-fiancee (played by Simran Kaur Mundi), but continues to chase every other woman. Still (and this one is a big 'still'), Naghma eventually falls for his charm and now expects 'sachcha pyaar' from the man.

The guy who watches it all rather silently is Harman Singha, her 'bachpan ka saathi', who tries to instil sense in her to begin with, only to give up after a while. A twist in the tale around the mid-point of this 10-episode series later, the story moves a decade ahead. Karans character is now a London-based doctor who visits India in order to fight the cholera epidemic while Naghma has emerged as the topper of her college and is practicing in India. Fate gets them face-to-face once again. So, will Karan repent after all? And will Naghma forgive him?

Well, It Happened In Calcutta could have turned out to be rather unbelievable if not for the kind of conviction with which Ken Ghosh, who has earlier made that superb crime series Abhay with Kunal Khemu, directs it. He gets quite a few things right and that starts from making the 1960s setting believable. Right from the props to the costumes, to the general look and feel, you are indeed transported to the era. The story also moves forward at a good pace. The duration of each episode being just 20-odd minutes helps too.

The background score works well at many crucial junctures, though at times they are joined abruptly with the mood changing from romantic to light-hearted to dramatic at an alarming pace. Shot almost indoors entirely, it has the right cinematography in place to compliment the mood and the setting. However, the climax could have been much better as it seems like a rushed job with the action sequence featuring the Pakistan Army and Naxals not quite exciting enough. Moreover, the ending is a bit abrupt and a better finale would have been more apt.

That said, what you remember most is the core of the story and the way in which Karan and Naghmas characters act on screen. While Simran and Harman play their supporting roles well, Karan gets his Casanova part right as you are convinced about his grey (bordering towards black) shade. On the other hand, Naghma is quite impressive and boasts of that classic beauty persona which could help her climb further up the ladder in the world of glamour.

Though not a classic per se despite the period setting, It Happened In Calcutta can be given a dekko if you want to imagine a forward (and grey-ish) Kabir Singh in the 1960s.

(Joginder Tuteja is a trade expert and film critic. Views are personal)
Twenty-five of the injured were treated at the scene, and the other 16 were taken to hospitals, Sheinbaum said. All the injuries were light to medium and not life-threatening. Hours later, Sheimbaum's chief of staff, Rosa Icela Rodriguez, said that only four of the 16 remained in hospitals.
A man who helped the Kinahan crime group commit a "cold-blooded murder" has been given an extra two years in jail after his original prison sentence was deemed too lenient.

Martin Aylmer (33) bought six pre-paid mobile phones in the run-up to the murder of Michael Barr (35) at the Sunset House pub in Dublin's north inner city.

The Special Criminal Court heard that one of the phones was found beside a burnt-out car used as the getaway vehicle in Mr Barr's murder on April 25, 2016.

Aylmer was captured on CCTV footage buying the phone in Dublin's Ilac Shopping Centre two days before the shooting.

He told gardai that he believed the phones would be used for drug trafficking.

He pleaded guilty to participating in, or contributing to, activity intending to facilitate the commission of a serious offence by a criminal organisation or any of its members, in what was believed to have been the first prosecution of its kind.

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Sentencing him to three years and nine months in jail, with the final year suspended, Mr Justice Tony Hunt said it could not be established that Aylmer knew he was contributing to a murder and there was no evidence on his part of moving firearms.

However, the presiding judge at the non-jury court said it must have been apparent to Aylmer that he was assisting in some serious criminal activity.

Unduly

Aylmer, who had two previous convictions for minor public order matters, told gardai that he believed the phones would be used for drug trafficking.

The Director of Public Prosecutions successfully sought a review of Aylmer's sentence on grounds it was "unduly lenient", and the Court of Appeal yesterday accordingly re-sentenced him to six years in prison with the final 15 months suspended.

Giving judgment, Ms Justice Una Ni Raifeartaigh said full responsibility for the murder should not be laid at Aylmer's door, but the fact that he provided assistance to a gang that committed murder was relevant, and was an aggravating factor.

She said Aylmer - of Casino Park, Marino, Dublin 3 - was in a "different situation" from the one which would have pertained if he had furnished precisely the same assistance, and the organisation used his assistance to supply drugs.

Ms Justice Ni Raifeartaigh said the following factors were relevant in assessing culpability for this offence: the nature of the assistance given; the nature of the criminal organisation and the consequences of the assistance, which may include the commission of a crime which the accused did not "specifically foresee".

She said the sentencing court erred in fixing the headline sentence at five years, before a reduction for Aylmer's mitigating factors was applied.

The appropriate headline sentence was eight years, she said, having regard to the acts of Aylmer's assistance and the fact those acts facilitated a murder.

The court also considered the need for general deterrence.

Eamonn Cumberton (32), of Mountjoy Street, Dublin 7, was found guilty of murdering Mr Barr following a trial at the Special Criminal Court, and was jailed for life in January 2018.
New approach: The system is designed to let lower-risk patients diagnosed with the coronavirus convalesce at home. Photo: Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP

An Irish tech firm is launching a new system next week designed to free up desperately needed hospital beds in the face of the coronavirus onslaught.

The system is believed to be the first of its kind in the world.

It was rapidly developed in conjunction with clinicians from the Mater Hospital in Dublin and aims to enable lower-risk patients who have been diagnosed with the coronavirus to return home.

Data such as blood pressure, oxygen levels and temperature would be transmitted a number of times a day from home via a computer tablet, and then reviewed by clinicians.

The system has been developed by Cliffrun Health. The founder and CEO Philip Hogan said that while it would help to free up hospital beds, it would also lessen the exposure of healthcare professionals to the virus.

Mr Hogan, a co-founder of Irish telecoms software firm Openet and a former chief commercial officer with the company, said he believes the monitoring system could become a key tool in helping to contain the impact of the virus outbreak on the health system and described it as a "virtual ward".

Covid-19 is more dangerous to people with underlying health issues and older people.

Most people who become infected suffer only mild symptoms, although the overall mortality rate is higher than that of a typical seasonal flu virus.

Mr Hogan said that given projections for how many people could be infected by Covid-19, it is important that hospital beds are made available to those who most need them.

"This would be used by people who have been diagnosed with Covid, but who are well enough to convalesce at home under remote clinical supervision, rather than taking up valuable hospital resources at a time like this," he said.

The company has based the system on an existing pilot project being undertaken with the Mater Hospital for facilitating early patient discharge.

The healthcare system here could come under extreme pressure in the coming weeks if the number of coronavirus cases expands as anticipated.

The HSE said this week that it can't dispute a prediction that as many as 1.9 million people in Ireland could contract the virus. That would represent an infection rate of about 40pc.
Photo credit: Christian Hagemann

From Men's Health

The story behind the campaign for the new collaboration between Rimowa and Garrett Leight California Optical begins, as so many love stories do, with a guy swiping his significant others stuff so often that he gets himself in trouble. Hoping to wade out of the proverbial hot water, he gets his own version of that stuff, thus cementing the obsession. Ah, romance.

I remember my wife got a pair of Garrett Leight sunglasses a few years back, and I started wearing that same pair of sunglasses, says Dave Franco. He wrote and directed the new campaign video showcasing the collaborative lineupwhich includes a custom-branded Rimowa suitcase, as well as six pairs of Garrett Leight sunglassesand paying homage to the eyewear brands Venice, California roots. But it probably wouldnt have happened if he didnt first pilfer that original pair from his wife (Alison Brie, in case youve forgotten).

It got to the point where she got annoyed with me stealing her glasses, so I went to the store and got a few of my own pairs, Franco says. Now, its really the only brand that I wear, and so I just wanted to meet the guy and sit down with him and pick his brain, and just kind of see what types of things he was interested in, and see if we could find something to collaborate on.

Cue a meeting with Garrett Leight (the man, not the brand, the latter of which also goes by GLCO), about a year ago. Franco and Leight hit it off, and then, a few months ago, he reached out and let me know about his collaboration with Rimowa. I jumped at the opportunity to create an ad for them. These are two brands that I genuinely love, Franco explains. In addition to wearing Leights eyewear on the regular, hes been wheeling around a Rimowa carry-on (discovered at Fred Segal) for as long as I can remember. The way he sees it, the two brands share an ethos, both in what they make and how they deal with creative endeavors. Theyre extremely classy yet still forward-thinking, and they pretty much gave me full creative control, which allowed us to create something that felt a little more outside of the box.

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Going outside the box, in this particular context, actually meant going on top of itor at least on top of a Rimowa suitcase. Francos two-minute film centers on a savvy, stylish Parisian who lands in Venice and becomes enamored of the neighborhoods skate culture. He turns his luggage on its side, it magically becomes skateable, and he rolls through Abbott Kinney and the boardwalk before landing at the skate park. Its kind of ridiculous, but a lot of fun. And heres the thing: The main actor, skater and surfer Spencer Glass, was actually riding that suitcase.

Photo credit: Christian Hagemann

Yeah, we built that suitcase/skateboard hybrid, Franco says. We didnt know if it was going to work, and the entire video lived or died on whether or not our main actor could actually ride that thing. We just kept making adjustments until our actor felt comfortable riding it. (If youre wondering: Yes, Franco and the rest of the folks on set rode it, too.)

Franco also enlisted the help of other skatersLe'andre Sanders, Ben Yee, and GrlSwrl co-founder Monroe Alvarezto make sure he was giving the tricks featured in the video their due, visually, and to pay homage to the local scene. That is, after all, what the entire sun-soaked, skate-friendly collaboration is all about. Opening up the co-branded suitcase will reveal a gold pair of Garrett Leight sunglasses, but also an array of Venice-inspired accessories like a beach towel, surf wax, stickers, and a luggage tag.

Photo credit: Christian Hagemann

In a statement about the new collection, which launches in stores and online on March 12, both Garrett Leight and Alexandre Arnault, CEO of Rimowa, express their mutual admiration of the others brand. And, as Leight notes, Paying homage to our California heritage and the legendary eras that inspired this collaboration is a perfect way to celebrate our ten years in business. But if youre looking for an indication of just how naturally these new offerings fit into the landscape theyre inspired by, consider how Francos time on set shooting the video played out.

It honestly turned out better than we could have ever imagined, he says. It could have been a full-on nightmare. And on top of everything, we filmed in three of the most lively areas of Venice: Abbot Kinney, the boardwalk, and the skatepark. Seems like the perfect set of spots to be mobbed by random hangers-on. And yet

Yeahno one even really stopped to ask what was going on, Franco says. It was just another day in the life of Venice.

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The Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld the Trump administrations Remain in Mexico policy requiring asylum seekers to wait in Mexico while their applications are processed in the U.S.

The courts decision overturns a 9th Circuit Court of Appeals injunction against the policy covering the entire U.S.-Mexico border. Justice Sonia Sotomayor was the only judge who dissented. However, the ruling does not dispel other legal challenges currently brought against the policy in other courts.

The Remain in Mexico policy has been touted by the administration as a deterrent to illegal immigration. Around 60,000 asylum seekers are currently enrolled in the program.

Critics charge that it forces migrants to wait in dangerous Mexican border towns. In the 9th Circuits injunction, Judge William Fletcher wrote that the policy poses serious harm to migrants.

[The Migrant Protection Protocols have] had serious adverse consequences for the individual plaintiffs, Fletcher wrote. Plaintiffs presented evidence in the district court that they, as well as others returned to Mexico under the MPP, face targeted discrimination, physical violence, sexual assault, overwhelmed and corrupt law enforcement, lack of food and shelter, and practical obstacles to participation in court proceedings in the United States.

On Thursday the Pentagon announced it would deploy a crisis force of around 160 troops at two points on the U.S.-Mexico border, fearing that if the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the 9th Circuit, migrants would try to enter the U.S. en masse.

More from National Review
Democrats have called on Republicans to apologise for language about the coronavirus that they claim is bigoted, including labelling the disease as Chinese.

The call for repentance came in response to a message from congressman Kevin McCarthy, in which he shared the US Centres for Disease Control and Preventions page about the outbreak, and called it the Chinese coronavirus.

Among others, the message from the top Republican in the House was quickly condemned by leaders with the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, and House Democrats.

Your words are so hurtful. We may be of different parties but people depend on all of us to be compassionate & effective leaders, wrote congresswoman Grace Meng, of New York, on Twitter. Asian Americans  from kids to seniors are getting attacked bc of this exact type of rhetoric. Do better  please  I implore you. Lives are at stake.

House speaker Nancy Pelosi also condemned the label on Twitter, saying that blaming the people of China for the disease put people in peril.

Recommended Trump plans rally despite White House warning against crowds

Bigoted statements which spread misinformation and blame Asians and the Asian American community for #coronavirus makes us all less safe, she wrote. @GOPLeader must delete this tweet and apologise immediately.

In a statement, the chair of the Congressional Asian Caucus slammed Mr McCarthy and Republican congressman Paul Gosar for statements like those as well.

Insisting on identifying the virus by region, as Leader McCarthy and Rep Gosar have done, only creates fear and hostility, Judy Chu, of California, wrote.

Mr Gosar, for his part, put himself into self-quarantine earlier this week, and claimed he had come in contact with someone who was diagnosed with the Wuhan Virus, referring to the area in China from which the virus has spread.

 Donald Trump shakes lots of supporters hands amid coronavirus outbreak

In response to the criticism, Mr McCarthy accused Democrats of playing politics with the virus outbreak.

Democrats are trying to score political points by calling Republicans racist, he said.

Coronavirus is a China-born diseasemade worse by a Communist Party that rejected America's help to contain it, he said.
Cyprus on Tuesday temporarily closed the country's largest hospital after its chief heart surgeon was among three cases of novel coronavirus confirmed on the divided eastern Mediterranean island. The Republic of Cyprus had on Monday reported its first two cases of the disease -- meaning that all 27 European Union member states have now been hit by the virus. And on Tuesday, the Turkish-controlled north of the island announced the first case there, a 65-year-old German woman. Cyprus is divided between areas under the full control of EU member state the Republic of Cyprus and the northern third controlled by the breakaway Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, which is recognised only by Ankara. Even before the first confirmed cases, fear over a spread of coronavirus had caused frictions between the two sides and sparked angry protests after Cypriot authorities closed four of the eight checkpoints on the line dividing the island. On Tuesday Republic of Cyprus health ministry said it had put on lockdown Nicosia General Hospital for at least 48 hours to carry out a "deep clean" after its head of heart surgery tested positive for coronavirus following a trip to Britain. "All scheduled appointments, admissions and all types of surgery are cancelled for the next 48 hours, during which time the situation will be re-evaluated," the hospital said in a statement. "Disinfection of the premises used by the confirmed incident has already begun." People who came into contact with the doctor were told to self-isolate, and those who travelled to countries affected by the virus in the past 14 days told to stay home. - Tensions - Health Minister Constantinos Ioannou told private radio station Politis that 152 samples had been sent for testing from patients and staff at the Nicosia hospital who came into contact with the Cypriot doctor. The other case is of a 25-year-old Cypriot man who had recently returned from a trip to Milan, Italy, officials have said. Cyprus also stepped up containment measures Tuesday that had previously covered arrivals from Hubei province in China, Italy, Iran and South Korea. It asked people to self-isolate at home for 14 days if they have recently been to other areas of China, Japan, Hong Kong, Germany, France, Spain, Greece and Britain. The tourist who tested positive for coronavirus in the breakaway Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus on Tuesday had arrived on the island from Balingen in Germany on Sunday, authorities said. She was among a 30-member tourist group that was staying at a hotel in the coastal city of Famagusta, TRNC health minister Ali Pilli told reporters. The woman was taken to a hospital in Nicosia after complaining of high fever and put under quarantine while the hotel was in lockdown, he added. On February 29, Cypriot authorities closed the four checkpoints on the line dividing the island "for more effective control over the entry points", initially for a seven-day period that was expected to be extended. Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci has criticised the closures, calling the move "unnecessary" and politically-motivated, while Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades insists the decision was taken "based on scientific data". The United Nations voiced concern over "disruption" caused by the temporary closure of the crossings, urging both sides to cooperate.
Coronavirus news is coming in hot and heavy lately, with confirmed infection rates skyrocketing in the U.S. and around the globe. Entire countries are under quarantine, borders are closing, and hospitals are running out of beds. And yet, we keep hearing stories of folks breaking quarantine like there isn't a global emergency going on around them.

A father, whose older daughter tested positive for COVID-19, broke quarantine in Missouri to attend a father-daughter dance with a younger daughter. Health officials recommended the family self-quarantine because the older daughter had just returned from Italy and was showing symptoms consistent with the coronavirus infection. The older daughter went to the hospital Friday and tested positive Saturdaythe same day her father and younger sister broke quarantine to attend the school dance. Though the father said he was not aware of the positive test results at the time he disregarded his quarantine recommendation, he was aware that his older daughter had potentially been exposed when she was overseas.

New Hampshire's first positive case also broke quarantine recommendations to attend an event at Dartmouth. And it's probably safe to assume that these aren't the only instances of people not following suggested quarantine proceduresthese are just the ones we've heard about.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and World Health Organization recommend self-quarantine, or self-isolation, for people who have been exposed but aren't showing symptoms, as well as for those who are showing symptoms but aren't in immediate danger or in need of hospitalization. The recommended length of quarantine is 14 days. After 14 days, the incubation period of the virus is over and if you haven't shown symptoms, you can go about your merry way.

10'000 Hours/Getty Images

By breaking quarantine, however, even if you aren't showing symptoms, you can still transmit the virus to anyone you encounter during your foray from the safety of your own home. Older adults and people with compromised immune systems are at higher risk than healthy children and adults, so those who break quarantine run the risk of passing the virus to at-risk populations and not only further spreading the disease, but literally putting people in mortal danger.

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Since many Americans don't have paid sick leave, self-quarantine can be a big ask. No work equals no paycheck, which could leave a number of people in dire financial straits. But, both republicans and democrats are discussing plans to provide financial relief to workers impacted by the spread of COVID-19. As yet nothing has been finalized, but discussions include paid sick time for anyone impacted by quarantine procedures or medical treatment related to coronavirus and a decrease in payroll taxes.

Despite the financial implications for many workers, it's imperative that people stay home if they've been exposed. Going to huge events, or even small events, is inviting trouble not only for at-risk populations but also for, well, everyone. Self-isolation is an effective way to slow the spread of the virus and throwing caution to the wind and heading out despite quarantine recommendations is not only dangerous, but risks advancing the spread of the virus to a point where it can't be slowed.

But it's not just about slowing the spread of the virus. Breaking quarantine to attend the father-daughter dance resulted in the closure of not just the school where the dance was held, but also a second school whose students attended the dance. That means hundreds of parents had to scramble to find care or miss work themselves to watch kids who would've otherwise been in class. In New Hampshire, several people who came into contact with the infected patient were then quarantined themselves, missing work and potentially infecting others.

Ignoring quarantine requests doesn't just put the population at risk for the spread of the virus, it can have immediate and potentially devastating financial impacts on anyone who comes into contact with you. It's not just dangerous, it's selfish and short-sighted. So if a health professional asks you to quarantine either while you're waiting for test results or after a confirmed positive result of the virus, please, for the love of everything, just stay home.
Leftists have been warning us for decades of dire consequences for us to come if we don't vote for them and instead opt for free markets. I have written about the early years of this phenomenon and the very latest ones. The middle period is worth a look, too, if for nothing other than that it often describes how the left behaves once it has power. Here are a few problems:

2001: We again had a cowboy, incompetent idiot in the White House, and on 9-11-01, we were attacked by radical Islamic terrorists.

In the 1990s, when we were being led by a brilliant Democrat, Bill Clinton turned down opportunities to get Osama bin Laden and, along with his deputy attorney general, Jamie Gorelick, decided that it would be a great idea for the intelligence and justice departments not to share information. We also didn't screen Saudi pilots very well.

So George Bush was blamed for the attack. Dire warnings when they mattered in this case were ignored, except when it became convenient to blame Bush.

Isn't it interesting that when we are attacked by Islamic extremists, we are correctly lectured that not all Muslims are extremists? When an illegal alien kills or commits other violent crimes, we are correctly told that not all illegal aliens are dangerous. But when someone kills people with a gun, we need more gun control on all gun-owners. Democrats have a curious sense of what dire warnings are.

2005: Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans hard in late August, after days of warning of how dangerous it was. New Orleans had a Democrat mayor, and Louisiana had a Democrat governor who didn't get the people evacuated and didn't put any food or water in the Superdome, but Bush was blamed for the deaths. The storm hit on Monday, and on Tuesday morning, it was apparent how bad it was. By Friday, around 72 hours later, the Bush administration, in coordination with the military and FEMA, had efficiently and effectively evacuated the town. Yet to this day we are told how incompetent Bush was. We were also told he was a racist who did not care about the poor. The strategy by most of the media and other Democrats is always the same. The truth doesn't matter. Only power.

After Katrina hit, we were told that hurricanes would be more frequent and severe than ever. We were also told that Bush's pro-oil policies caused Katrina. That was all made up. After Katrina, the U.S. had a mild ten-year period on hurricanes.

Whenever we have droughts, floods, storms, wildfires, or heat waves, we are told the lie that they are the worst they have ever been. The media just repeat the lies. When we have cold snaps or record snows, we are told that doesn't indicate anything about global warming  more pure BS pushing the Democrat agenda for more government control.

2008: ABC ran a report saying significant parts of Miami and NYC would be underwater by 2015, due to global warming, and the price of milk and gas would skyrocket, among other dire predictions. The predictions were pulled out of thin air, but they served their purpose to scare the public into supporting more government control.

Gas prices skyrocketed in the summer of 2008, which contributed greatly to the deep recession and, for the umpteenth time, the lie that we were running out of oil. Sarah Palin correctly we should drill, drill, drill our way to energy independence, and she was called stupid by Obama and others.

In August 2008, Nancy Pelosi said on Meet the Press that we must get away from fossil fuels to natural gas. She is called smart. But here's the problem: "Nancy Pelosi Still Doesn't Know Where Natural Gas Comes From."

For years, beginning most prominently in the 1980s, we had been seeing interest-only loans, no-document loans, negative amortizing loans, over 100% loan-to-value mortgage loans. We had seen massive fraud at Fannie and Freddie.

Yet somehow, Wall Street firms packaging loans; ratings agencies; and regulators at the SEC, FDIC, Federal Reserve, OCC, and OFHEO and regulators throughout the states didn't spot the dangers to the safety and soundness of the economic system or didn't care.

These incompetent bureaucrats not only weren't fired or punished. They were given more power. The Democrats' solution to government incompetence is always to give more power to the government. This time, they decided to create another government fiefdom. This time it was the brainchild of Elizabeth Warren, the CFPB, and this fiefdom is answerable to nobody. Its budget comes from the Federal Reserve instead of Congress, and the Federal Reserve isn't audited. What could go wrong? Maybe an out-of-control bureaucracy shaking down financial institutions and setting up a slush fund, used for political purposes?

2009: The recession was almost over but there was a supposed dire need for a stimulus bill, ostensibly to be used for shovel-ready jobs but in the end, often was shoveled to political bundlers for Obama.

Obama rewards big bundlers with jobs, commissions, stimulus money, government contracts, and more

In 2009, we were told how serious the health care crisis was and since the government had done so well with the VA and the Indian health system, we were told that we needed more dictatorial government policies to take away our freedom of choice. In order to get the bill passed we were continually lied to, with the support of the incurious media, that people would keep their policy and their doctor, that premiums and total costs would go down substantially and that it would reduce the deficit.

The situation was so dire that Nancy Pelosi told her minions that they had to pass it to see what was in it.

The results of Obamacare are in. Premiums and out of pocket costs skyrocketed, government costs on Obamacare skyrocketed and the government liability on student loans skyrocketed. People lost their freedom of choice. Life expectancy also unexpectedly dropped for four straight years. That is what you get when the compassionate party authorizes the government to pay bonuses to hospitals for not readmitting sick patients.

In 2020, the media is supporting the people who lied to us on Obamacare, in their quest for more government control of our health care. The public is being again misled that the government is better at controlling costs than the people and the private sector. When will the media do their job instead?

Image credit: YouTube screen shot.
Kristen Feemster, medical director, Acute Communicable Diseases Program at the Philadelphia Department of Public Health, speaks at a forum on coronavirus response Wednesday. Read more

Philadelphia health-care executives have been planning since January for coronavirus  amassing supplies, looking at expanding hours, and exploring ways to treat noncritical patients outside the hospital.

Yet one big problem is harder to address: what to do when the doctors, nurses, and support staff get sick.

Keeping staff healthy while easing strain on the health-care system were hot topics Wednesday morning at a forum hosted by the Philadelphia Department of Public Health. Only one patient has tested positive for the coronavirus in the city so far, but infectious-disease specialists expect thats just the start.

And health workers may feel compelled to work even when sick because they fear theres no one else to take up the slack, said Jessica Caum, the departments manager for public health preparedness.

Bad idea, she said, addressing representatives from hospitals, emergency-response agencies, and public health specialists.

"Stay home when youre sick, she said. In health care, we sometimes forget that these rules apply to us, too.

Last week at the Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia outpatient campus in King of Prussia, a cardiologist treated two dozen patients over four days before he was hospitalized Saturday morning with what turned out to be a coronavirus infection.

CHOP has not said when he began to experience symptoms, but his patients and their families  as well as some of his colleagues  have been urged to quarantine themselves at home and look for signs of illness, the hospital has said.

At a smaller meeting after the health departments forum, hospital executives reflected on the added issue of losing staff not because they are ill, but because they have been exposed to someone who is.

Staffing is a big challenge in health care even outside of challenges such as this, said Jonathan L. Gleason, chief quality officer for Jefferson Health.

P.J. Brennan, chief medical officer at Penn Medicine, stressed that most patients infected with the coronavirus have mild symptoms and will not need to go to a hospital. The key to managing finite hospital resources is to reserve the limited number of critical-care rooms for those who need them.

Hospitals can consider a variety of strategies to ease the strain, Caum said.

One is urging patients to postpone elective surgery and other forms of nonurgent care, where appropriate. Certain procedures can be shifted to outpatient settings. In some cases, telemedicine  a video consultation or phone call  makes sense, Caum said.

A lot of the recommendations here are not one-size-fits-all, she said.

In addition to the representatives from Penn and Jefferson, the sessions on Wednesday included leaders from Temple Health, the Einstein Healthcare Network, and Independence Blue Cross.

Richard L. Snyder, the chief medical officer for the health insurer, said its members will not be charged a co-payment for telemedicine consultations now that the coronavirus is upon us. That already was true for primary care treatment; the insurer has expanded the no co-pay decision to cover telemedicine calls for specialist care, too, Snyder said. Other private insurers, as well as Medicare and Medicaid, earlier announced coverage for telemedicine visits due to coronavirus.

Meanwhile in New Jersey, a coalition of hospitals announced standardized visitor restrictions Wednesday to protect vulnerable patients and hospital employees from the coronavirus.

All potential visitors will be screened for fever, cough, sneezing, runny nose, and difficulty breathing, and they will be asked about recent travel to countries nations with high coronavirus activity and contact with individuals who have been diagnosed with the new virus or are under investigation.

People meeting any of those descriptions will not be allowed to visit, the hospitals said, working with the New Jersey Hospital Association.

In addition, only two visitors will be allowed to visit a patient at the same time, and hospitals will prohibit visitors under age 12.
The poll has Sanders leading among Latino voters in Arizona with 47 percent of the vote, compared with 40 percent for Biden. But in Florida, Biden leads with 48 percent to Sanderss 37 percent.

When compared with Trump, Biden holds an advantage in both states, leading by 58 percent in Florida  but Sanders trails among Latino voters, with 44 percent favoring him compared with 45 percent for Trump.

Floridas Latinos include many historically conservative Cubans, who have often favored Republicans. And 70 percent of Latinos in the state said they would not vote for a candidate who describes himself as a socialist. Sanderss refusal to disavow his past praise for certain elements of Fidel Castros regime in Cuba may have only added to his difficulties with many in this group.

The poll was conducted last week, after Bidens strong showing in Super Tuesday states.

Candidates are still shaking hands  and in some cases, their fists.

They may have canceled their rallies in Cleveland, but the Democratic candidates have still been shaking hands with voters at events across the country.

And as usual, not every voter is a supporter.

Biden was campaigning in Michigan on Tuesday before the polls closed when a worker at an auto assembly plant confronted him about guns, accusing the former vice president of actively trying to end our Second Amendment right and take away our guns.

But with cameras rolling from across the room, Biden went off script, giving it back as good as he got. Youre full of shit, he said.
EDWARDSVILLE  Madison County voters in two polling places will have to go to a new location March 17 to cast their primary ballots because of Gov. J.B. Pritzkers disaster declaration regarding COVID-19.

Madison County Clerk Debra Ming-Mendoza on Wednesday afternoon said two polling locations at Asbury Village (Methodist Village) in Godfrey and Meridian Village in Glen Carbon will have to be moved because the declaration restricts voting where senior citizens live.

In Godfrey, four precincts will be affected  Alton 14, Godfrey 2, Godfrey 11 and Godfrey 12.

We have relocated those precincts, she said. We are still in the same neighborhood.

Ming-Mendoza said Asbury Village is allowing them to use two villas at 5219 and 5222 Aldergate located directly across the street from the original polling place. The facility will post signage and have people available to greet voters and direct them across the street, she said. Signs will be prominently displayed directing which villa voters will have to go to.

In Glen Carbon, the Meridian Village polling place  which Houses Edwardsville 20, Edwardsville 26 and Edwardsville 27  will be moved to Calvary Baptist Church at 2249 Illinois State Route 157, Edwardsville.

We are so sorry for the inconvenience, Ming-Mendoza said. Were so grateful for Methodist (Asbury) Village and Calvary Baptist church for allowing us to move to their locations.

More Information SSP cancels all event ALTON - Senior Services Plus, Inc. on Wednesday announced it has canceled all events and activities at its offices at 2603 N. Rodgers Ave., Alton, per Illinois Department of Public Health, Illinois Department on Aging and the Center for Disease Control. SSP officials said the action was taken to minimize exposure and risks for the safety of the seniors. They noted this is a preventive measure and there have been no confirmed cases of COVID-19 at the facility. The School House Grill will offer a carry-out menu only between 7 a.m. and 1 p.m. Monday through Friday. Anyone with COPD or on oxygen will not be allowed in the facility for their own safety. The SSP Wellness Center will remain open. See More Collapse

As of Wednesday afternoon, the Illinois Department of Public Health reported 25 confirmed cases of COVID-19.

On Monday Pritzker issued a disaster proclamation allowing the state to access additional federal resources and help prepare for additional measures. On Wednesday, he criticized President Donald Trump and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention for not providing tests requested in Illinois.

We need a lot more help and were hearing very little, Pritzker said. Ive being as loud as I can on this subject, and I think theyre going to be reactive to it.

Were not getting enough tests, he said. Were pressing hard; we have a limited number of tests and were using them appropriately.

On Wednesday afternoon, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced the CDC will provide $14,667,281 in funding to Illinois in support of its response efforts to COVID-19.

The World Health Organization on Wednesday declared the rapidly spreading coronavirus outbreak a pandemic. The group said the disease is now present in at least 114 countries and has killed more than 4,000 people.

For information about the March 17 primary visit www.madisonvotes.com. For information about COVID-19 visit the Madison County Health Department website at www.co.madison.il.us/departments/health.

Reach reporter Scott Cousins at 618-208-6447.
Border Patrol agents intercepted a sizeable human smuggling attempt at the Interstate Highway 35 Checkpoint just north of Laredo, Texas, involving 85 adults and five juveniles, according to a March 10 release.

The incident happened on the evening of March 5 when a gray tractor pulling a white trailer was held at the Interstate checkpoint by Border Patrol officers for inspection. Alerted by a K-9, officers requested the trailer to be opened for inspection.

Upon opening the trailer, agents discovered a large group of people inside. A total of 90 people, including five unaccompanied juveniles, were discovered and removed from the trailer, the statement read.

The passengers were from the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico, and were all without proper paperwork. All passengers and the drivera U.S. citizenwere taken into custody and transferred to Homeland Security Investigations.
Five persons have been tested positive for coronavirus in Pune so far and 40 people who returned from Dubai have been screened for the deadly disease, said Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope on Wednesday.

He further said that a meeting has been called by Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray at 2 pm to take a final call on schools and Indian Premier League (IPL) in wake of the coronavirus.

"Five positive cases have been reported here. Their primary and secondary contacts are being monitored. We will isolate them if they have symptoms of coronavirus like cold and fever. We have arranged all the facilities in the hospital and personal preventive equipment and masks for doctors and nurses are being provided. If we need to increase the number of preventive equipment, we will surely do that," Tope told ANI.

On Tuesday, Sanjeeva Kumar, Special Secretary (Health) said the total number of positive cases of coronavirus reached 50 and of these 34 are Indian nationals and 16 are citizens of Italy.

He also said that there has been no death in the country due to coronavirus so far."The government is keeping a close watch and taking effective steps to contain the spread of coronavirus," Kumar had said at a press conference here.He also informed that Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan has spoken to the health ministers of Kerala, Rajasthan, Delhi, Haryana, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Karnataka and Maharashtra and Lieutenant Governors of Union Territories of Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir to ascertain the status of health of patients and to offer help from Centre if required.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
JUNEAU, Alaska - An Alaska citys tourism task force is not expected to recommend placing a cap on the number of visitors during the upcoming tourist season.

The City and Borough of Juneau Visitor Industry Task Force is more likely to recommend the city use infrastructure to limit the number of visitors, The Juneau Empire reported Monday.

I think that the task force is pretty much in agreement that a hard cap is not legal and not practical, task force chair and Juneau Assembly member Carole Triem said.

The 10-member task force met Sunday to develop recommendations it hopes to present to a March 23 meeting of the Committee of the Whole, a work session of the city assembly.

The infrastructure changes could include berthing larger cruise ships filled with passengers closer to the city to reduce congestion, as well as requiring longer separations between ship arrivals.

In general, a discussion was the city would just become more involved in how the ships are berthing and working through the port agent, said task force member Kirby Day, who co-ordinates Juneaus Tourism Best Management Practices program.

Mayor Beth Weldon created the task force in 2019 to answer questions about the management of Juneaus growing tourist industry.

There are expected to be 1.44 million visitors to Southeast Alaska communities this season.

Public comment will be incorporated into its draft recommendations, task force members said.

The sub-port property recently purchased by Norwegian Cruise Lines and the idea of ship-free days are expected to be mentioned in the final report due to public interest, task force members said.
On Dec. 31, Taiwanese officials learned that China had alerted the World Health Organization of a pneumonia of unknown cause. Though they had very little information, Taiwanese officials quickly sent health workers to the countrys airports to assess the passengers of all direct flights from Wuhan, the epicenter of the coronavirus, for symptoms before they could exit the plane. Since then, Taiwan has continued to be vigilant. Despite being just 81 miles off the coast of China, which has more than 80,000 documented cases of COVID-19, Taiwan has managed to contain the outbreak. While South Korea and Japan, its neighbors to the north, have 7,755 and 1,277 known cases of COVID-19, respectively, Taiwan has experienced just 48 cases and one virus-related death.

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So how did an island of 24 million with considerable economic, geographic, and cultural ties to Chinamore than 850,000 Taiwanese citizens live in mainland China, and about 400,000 more work theremanage to defy expectations and contain the outbreak, and can other countries follow suit?

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Part of Taiwans success has been due to its early response, says a new article in the Journal of the American Medical Association. While other countries waffled on acknowledging the danger of the outbreak, Taiwan took action immediately under the guidance of its National Health Command Center, which the country established after the deadly SARS outbreak in 2003 that killed 73 people there. In early January, in response to the then-new outbreak, the NHCC set up Taiwans new Central Epidemic Command Center. Among other things, the CECC has set the price of masks and allocated government money to mask production.

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Taiwan rapidly produced and implemented a list of at least 124 action items in the past five weeks to protect public health, said Stanford Health Policys Jason Wang, a co-author of the article. The policies and actions go beyond border control because they recognized that that wasnt enough. These actions include proactively finding new cases, quarantining suspicious cases, stopping flights from China, creating policies for schools and businesses, rationing mask purchases to reduce prepper panic, establishing a hotline to report suspicious symptoms in oneself or others, offering hand sanitizer in nearly all public buildings, and requiring fever checks for people entering schools and other public buildings. The measures have helped to assuage public paniceven as the Taiwanese economy has sufferedand public schools, for instance, are already back in session.

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Big data and technological innovation are at the heart of these measures. Taiwan integrated its national health insurance database with its immigration and customs database to create big data for analytics, according to the JAMA article. This has alerted officials to potential cases during individual doctor visits. Its also enabled the government to classify individuals risks of infection on the basis of travel history, and to track those who have visited high-risk zones via mobile phone. These steps effectively prioritize public health over individual liberty. Theyre not as draconian as, say, Micronesias drastic travel ban (which has so far staved off the virus entirely), but they are a reasonably invasive form of surveillance.

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Transparency has been essential. While China, for example, has received serious criticism for censoring critical information about the outbreak, the Taiwanese government has asked television and radio stations to regularly broadcast new information, and its Centers for Disease Control announce new cases each day. Meanwhile, government approval ratings have soared. (President Tsai Ing-wens approval rating went up from 56.7 percent in January to 68.5 percent in February, Voice of America reported.)

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Taiwan isnt the only the country that has successfully minimized the effects of COVID-19. Singapore, with only 178 cases, no deaths, and a slowing rate of infection, has also managed to contain the virus. Like Taiwan, Singapore took precautions after SARSand then after the 2010 swine fluto prepare for the next outbreak, and it was one of the first countries to restrict the movement of people who had recently traveled to China or parts of South Korea. Its also imposed strict home quarantines, Fortune reported, which require individuals to report their location to the government. Singaporean officials have even started mapping out the transmission of the virus with the help of a new serological test. However, Singapores case is fairly singular: Its a contained city-state with extensive health care infrastructure and a highly centralized government. And, as Harvard researchers wrote in a new study thats yet to be peer-reviewed, Singapore has historically had very strong epidemiological surveillance.

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Despite their unique circumstances, Singapore and especially Taiwan show how effective a centralized, rapid, and proactive response to pandemics can be. As U.S. confirmed cases rise to more than 1,000, with 31 deaths, were discovering that the U.S. has been limiting COVID-19 testing simply because we dont have enough tests. Our president, who is attempting to force-of-will a pandemic into not being a pandemic at all, treats the virus as a hoax. Meanwhile, [i]n Taiwan, diverse political parties were willing to work together to produce an immediate response to the danger, said Robert H. Brook, a co-author of the JAMA article.

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As for specific advice for the U.S., Brook said, In a country as complex as the United States, there needs to be a sharing of intelligence on a real-time basis among states and the federal government so that action is not delayed by going through formal channels. Now that Anthony Fauci, the nations top immunology official, has broken with the White House by acknowledging the severity of COVID-19 in a hearing before the House Oversight Committee on Wednesday, theres perhaps more hope for collaboration and sharing of information. The New York Times reported, however, that the hearing soon devolved into a partisan feud over Trumps response to the outbreak.

For more on the impact of the coronavirus, listen to this weeks episode of the Political Gabfest.

Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society.
Former Vatican treasurer under Pope Francis is the highest-ranking Catholic official ever convicted of child sex crimes.

Cardinal George Pells last-chance appeal against his child sex abuse convictions opened in Australias top court on Wednesday, with his fate now in the hands of the countrys most senior judges.

The 78-year-old, who is serving a six-year sentence for sexually assaulting two choirboys in the 1990s, was not present for the two-day High Court hearing in Canberra, where his lawyers will mount a final bid to clear his name.

Pells supporters gathered outside the High Court building, waving Australian flags and carrying signs that read: Cardinal Pell is innocent forever and Keep the faith Cardinal Pell.

In December 2018, a jury found the former Vatican treasurer, who once helped elect popes, guilty on five counts of abusing the 13-year-old boys at a Melbourne cathedral while he was the citys archbishop.

Pell, who served as the Vaticans treasurer under Pope Francis, is the highest-ranking Catholic Church official to be convicted of child sex crimes.





He was sentenced in March 2019 and lost a first appeal in August, a decision that saw a three-judge panel split in a 2-1 verdict.

The case pitted the cleric against a former choirboy victim now in his 30s, whom two of the judges found to be very compelling and someone who was clearly not a liar, was not a fantasist and was a witness of truth.

The third judge, however, found the mans account contained discrepancies and there was a significant possibility Pell did not commit the offences.

Erroneous judicial method

In court submissions, Pells legal team argued the majority judges applied an erroneous judicial method that required the cleric to establish actual innocence as opposed to merely pointing to doubt.

Pells lawyer Bret Walker told the court on Wednesday that a key factor that made Pells alleged offences implausible was that they took place after Sunday mass in a busy area of St Patricks Cathedral in Melbourne, not in secretive or private settings, unlike so many appalling historical sexual misconduct cases.

In response, the prosecution called the grounds for appeal problematic, saying the argument glosses over evidence that supports the victims account.

Pell became cardinal in 2003 at the time of Pope John Paul II and was appointed treasurer of the Vatican during the time of Pope Francis [File: Osservatore Romano/Reuters]

The case relied solely on the testimony of Pells surviving victim, as the other  who is not known ever to have spoken of the abuse  died of a drug overdose in 2014. Neither man can be identified for legal reasons.

University of Melbourne law professor Jeremy Gans said it was difficult to predict the outcome of the closely watched appeal, being heard by a full bench of seven justices.

The judges could quash the appeal immediately, or wait several months to hand down their ruling.

Drawn out process

Gans said the High Court could also decide that the appeal court judges erred by viewing video evidence from the original trial and send the case back to them.

The only big development is theyve said theyre interested in whether the Court of Appeal did the right thing watching video, he told AFP news agency.

That wasnt on the table but the High Court has now potentially put it on the table, he said.





If that did occur, it would drag out an already lengthy process even further  an outcome the father of the dead victim is eager to avoid.

This process continues to take a toll on his physical and mental health, his lawyer Lisa Flynn said Tuesday.

If the High Court allows George Pell to walk free from jail, our client says he will lose all faith in our legal system, she added.
While creating a new state to replace the old strikes some as laughable, creating new entities to replace old entities is a bankruptcy reorganization technique used in commercial cases. For example, the federal government set up a new corporation in the GM bankruptcy that purchased assets and assumed certain selected liabilities from old GM. The new company that emerged from bankruptcy was reformed and had fewer liabilities  and was swiftly able to compete in the car and truck market again. Old GMs creditors who were left behind in bankruptcy court divvied up the proceeds from New GMs purchase, and their unsatisfied claims were ultimately extinguished. In the meantime, New GMs business was not bogged down in the ongoing creditor squabbling.
When I heard a participant on Married At First Sight say she was sought out by the producers to appear on the show, it threw into doubt the sincerity behind the show. It seems that people are not being honestly chosen with the intention of finding a life partner; but rather for their ability to add drama and spice. Sorry for being so naive.

Diana Allen (Letters 5/3), I saw the David Speers interview you refer to and I totally disagree with you. Peter Dutton was hell bent on not answering any questions and would constantly wander off into a speech on how people should be congratulated or some other obfuscation. I think David Speers should be congratulated for his patience in not losing it. Dutton knew that there was limited time for the interview and by going off on tangents meant that time for answering would run out. This, unfortunately, is how politicians work these days, and probably means there is little point in having these interviews anyway. And, by the way, Barrie Cassidy would interrupt and re-ask when he thought a question was not being answered.

Glenn Murphy, Hampton Park

Mad for quality interviews

All too often, politicians skate through soft interviews, their half truths, evasions and obfuscation rarely challenged. David Speers interviews are an exception, and he is a breath of fresh air. Bizarrely, by far the best quality interviews are to be found in the ABCs virtual world of Mad as Hell.

John OHara, Mount Waverley
KAMPALA  The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, Vincent Bagyiire has revealed that the government has never funded the Uganda Media Council despite being in existence since 1995.

Bagiire made the revelation on Monday, March 9 while appearing before the Public Accounts Committee where the Ministry had been summoned to respond to queries raised in the December 2019 auditor generals report.

In his report to Parliament, the auditor general highlighted that the Ministry of ICT received off-budget support financing to a tune of Shs110,538,800 which wasnt paid in the consolidated fund as required by the law. The Auditor attributed the oversight to the lack of awareness of the requirement under the law and warned that unappropriated financing distorts planning and may result in duplication of activities and funding.

Responding to the audit query, Bagiire informed the Committee that these funds were from UNDP to Uganda Media Council and since Council has no vote and therefore couldnt open an account in Bank of Uganda as a requirement to access the funds, the Ministry stepped in to help open an account on behalf of the Council and no single penny was used by the Ministry of ICT but all the funds went to the Uganda Media Council.

Bagiire also told the MPs that there was no way the Ministry of ICT could decline opening the account in Bank of Uganda because Uganda Media Council needed the funds to run its operations as the government has never funded the Council, despite Parliament enacting the Press and Journalists Act in 1995 to operationalize the Council.

The Council was established by the Press and Journalist Act, Cap 105 of 1995 with the mandate to regulate the conduct and promote good ethical standards and discipline of journalists, arbitrates disputes between the public and the media, the media and the media and the State and the media. It exercises disciplinary control over journalists, editors and publishers.

In October 2019, David Kyetume Kasanga was been appointed the new secretary of the Media Council of Uganda taking over from Pius Mwinganisa.

Asked by MPs whether the Uganda Media Council is still relevant which could explain why the body hasnt been funded since its inception, Bagiire told MPs that the Council is important especially in the era of fake news and unlike other professions that have standards, journalists arent bound by any professional standards as anyone can practice journalism, making the Council an important player in standardizing journalism in Uganda.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-11 22:20:13|Editor: xuxin

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MOSCOW, March 11 (Xinhua) -- The Russian Federation Council, or the upper house of parliament, approved a bill amending the country's Constitution at a plenary meeting on Wednesday, according to a statement published on its website.

"We accept amendments to the Constitution, which has been in force since 1993," said Andrei Klishas, chairman of the Federation Council Committee on Constitutional Legislation and State Building.

The bill will be submitted to the regions for consideration. It will be considered approved only after its support by two-thirds of the regional parliaments, otherwise the whole process of amending the Constitution will be terminated, Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko told the Parliamentary Gazette.

After that, the Federation Council will meet again on Saturday to approve the decisions of the regions, she said.
The Minister for Railway Development, Joe Ghartey says the government is hopeful of signing a contractual agreement with a strategic investor for the construction of the 1,200km Kumasi-Paga-Ouagadougou railway line in September 2020.



According to him, the procurement process for selecting an investor for the Build-Operate-Transfer project had commenced with three firms shortlisted awaiting the acceptance of the final feasibility report before awarding the contract.



The firms are; African Global Development Sarl, China Railway No.10 Engineering Group Co. Ltd and Frontline Capital Advisors which had its operating license as a fund management company withdrawn by the Securities and Exchange Commission.



Speaking at a press briefing in Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region, Joe Ghartey, said, the two countries are committed to working in synergy with the transaction advisors to get a concessioner for the project.



We have finished the request for qualification stage and we have shortlisted three firms but before we can release final process of the procurement procedure we must accept the final feasibility report which will state the cost of the project and define the module and the concession period.



We envisage that within three weeks when we meet in Burkina Faso, by April we will come out with a final document that we will all take to our host countries for their approval base on their advice.





It is our view that if we work very hard, in September we will be able to reach a situation where we will be signing an agreement with the concessioner and that is what we are working towards. When we are choosing the concessioner, one of the things we want to insist on is that the concessioner should have the capacity to start in Ghana and Burkina Faso at the same time.



We want to choose a concessioner who can at least start two fronts in Ghana maybe Tamale and Juapong and at the same time start in Burkina Faso. So, all that will influence our choice of concessioner and we dont want to disclose the cost of the project now. If we say the cost and it comes out as a different figure it will be seen as misleading the public but we shall disclose the cost of the project after the feasibility report had been accepted by both countries, he said.



The 1,200km line which will go through Hohoe, Nkwanta, Bimbila, Yendi, Tamale, Walewale, Bolgatanga, Paga, Po, Zabre, Tenkodogo and Manga will end at Ouagadougou.



However, the ongoing construction of the Tema-Mpakadan alignment route is expected to be completed by August 2020.



The project when completed will facilitate transportation of agricultural goods, construction materials, manufactured goods, petroleum products, containerized cargo and passengers.



The railway line will also have huge economic potential following the discovery, in commercial quantities, of mineral resources like iron ore, bauxite and manages.







Source: Citinewsroom









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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South Korea has reported 90 confirmed cases of the new coronavirus linked to a call center in southwestern Seoul. Yonhap



South Korea has reported 90 confirmed cases of the new coronavirus linked to a call center in southwestern Seoul, the capital's mayor said Wednesday, spawning concerns about potential mass transmission in the metropolitan area.



The cases marked the biggest COVID-19 infection cluster in the metropolitan area, home to 25 million, Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon told a radio program.






Press release

Paris, March 10, 2020

Ingenico chalks up a record number of micro-donations on its payment terminals in 2019

Committed for many years to a more responsible form of development, Ingenico Group (Euronext: FR0000125346  ING), the world leader in integrated payment solutions, looks back on the total number of micro-donations1 made in 2019 in Europe. The Group, a Tech for Good advocate, was the first supplier of payment solutions to incorporate donations into payment terminals in the United Kingdom, in 2011, and in France, in 2015. In close cooperation with its partners, the Group has pursued this process for several years.

Ingenico: a Tech for Good advocate

Convinced that the payment process, which is rooted in the day-to-day life of consumers, has to be responsible, Ingenico set itself the task of giving it a new role: a process that has a positive impact on society as a whole. The Group therefore introduced - first in the United Kingdom in 2011 - the option of making a micro-donation through the payment terminal while making a purchase. This initiative was extended to France in 2015 and then to Spain in 2018.

The micro-donation initiative forms part of the actions taken since 2015 by the Group2 to respond to the major challenges identified by Ingenico in the payment sector, whether social, economic or environmental in nature.

For Nicolas Huss, CEO of Ingenico Group: After recording in 2019 almost 17 million micro-donations on our payment terminals - amounting to 4 million - thanks to our partnerships with microDON, Pennies and Worldcoo , we intend to go further and extend this process to more retailers and countries. Our aim is to encourage donations on all of our solutions and to offer a maximum of our clients the chance to support every day, if they so wish, a useful project for the common good.

Record number of micro-donations in 2019

In 2019, there was a record number of micro-donations made on Ingenico solutions. This act of solidarity was very popular with consumers and gave a new breath of life to the non-profits in question, which were short of new sources of funding.

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In 2019:

The number of micro-donations in France doubled last year in comparison with 2018, rising to 11,415,309 micro-donations, amounting to 2,691,036;

In the United Kingdom , the number of micro-donations in 2019 rose to 1,114,401, amounting to 505,787;

In Spain, Ingenico recorded 4,416,906 micro-donations, amounting to 817,627.

In Europe, Ingenico and its three partners - microDON (France), Pennies (United Kingdom) and Worldcoo (Spain) - were therefore responsible last year for 16,946,616 micro-donations, representing a total of 4,014,450.

Olivier Cueille, CEO of microDON, notes: 2019 was the best year for micro-donations: a year in which numbers rocketed. We have to capitalise on this very positive dynamic by increasing the level of social responsibility in companies and by stepping up the implementation of our solutions with Ingenico to ensure that charity rounding has a bigger impact. 2020 promises to be a stimulating year!

Alison Hutchinson, CEO of Pennies: Thanks to our partnership with technology companies like Ingenico - who led the way in the UK - we are able to unlock more of the potential offered by micro-donations, and harness a community of giving amongst businesses and consumers in the UK, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. We estimate there is a huge 1bn opportunity if every UK card holder gave just 30p every week. Ingenico, and others, are supporting the early growth in this movement. Pennies are on track to hit 100 million donations this year, a real milestone in micro-giving.

For Borja Goizueta, Partner at Worldcoo: 2019 was Worldcoos best year. After developing micro-donations on payment terminals with Ingenico, we increased the total value of donations by a factor of ten on the previous year.

The success of micro-donations paints a picture of solidarity for the future

The concept behind making a micro-donation on a payment terminal is simple. When paying a purchase with a bank card in a participating store, the consumer is invited to add a few cents (or pence) or to round up his or her purchase to the nearest euro (or pound) for the benefit of a charity and the projects that it supports. Based on simple donation methods, the micro-donation process triggers the feeling of civic engagement within many consumers. In fact, it has been reported that two thirds of French people would be willing to make donations in this way - as confirmed by the high participation rate in stores3.

Ingenico intends to carry on supporting the vital work of hundreds of voluntary organisations in France and Europe, and aims to boost the impact of payment-terminal micro-donations on the premises of tens of retailers over the coming years.

1 A micro-donation is an embedded generosity solution that enables a consumer to add a donation of a few cents (or pence) to his or her purchase in a store by selecting the option directly on the payment terminal.

2 To find out more about Ingenicos SHARE programme, read the interview of Marine Le Picard, Ingenicos CSR Director, here .

3 According to the 2018 study conducted by France Generosites and published in April 2019.

---

About Ingenico Group

Ingenico Group (Euronext: FR0000125346  ING) is the global leader in seamless payments, providing smart, trusted and secure solutions to empower commerce across all channels, in-store, online and mobile. With the worlds largest payment acceptance network, we deliver secure payment solutions with a local, national and international scope. We are the trusted world-class partner for financial institutions and retailers, from small merchants to several of the worlds best-known global brands. Our solutions enable merchants to simplify payment and deliver their brand promise.

www.ingenico.com

About microDON

Founded in 2009 by Pierre-Emmanuel Grange and Olivier Cueille, microDON is an ESUS (Solidarity Company of Social Utility) social company approved and certified B-Corp, which offers innovative solutions to facilitate solidarity commitment. These community mobilization and crowd-sponsoring tools are intended to offer everyone the opportunity to be an active part of change in a simple, painless and on their own scale.

www.microdon.org

About Pennies

Pennies is an award-winning fintech charity (registered no. 1122489) launched in November 2010. Their digital charity box is the digital upgrade of the traditional collection tin, designed to fit with our increasingly cashless lifestyles. Anyone can feel-good give with participating Pennies retailers  by donating a few pence to charity when paying by card or mobile wallet. Its as simple as a single press of a button or click of a mouse. Pennies has enabled an incredible 89 million small change digital donations to date through its digital charity box, raising 22 million in extra income for more than 550 charities, and growing. Pennies is live across a breadth of 60+ retail, hospitality and service sector leaders, including Dominos, Boots Opticians, Screwfix, Medivet, Hobbycraft, Topps Tiles, Virgin Holidays, Zizzi, The Entertainer, Greene King, Signet-owned jewellers H Samuel and Ernest Jones, and Rontec and MFG roadside retail outlets. It is also registered in the Republic of Ireland, Jersey and the Isle of Man.

www.pennies.org.uk

About Worldcoo

Worldcoo is B Corp company that develops technologies to help NGOs to raise funds in an efficient way.

The company is committed to innovation, solidarity and total transparency in every campaign it is involved in. Created in 2012, it has funded more than 375 projects from 35 different countries and 125 NGOs.

www.worldcoo.com

Contacts / Ingenico Group

Medias

Helene Carlander

helene.carlander@ingenico.com

+33 (0)7 72 25 96 04

Investors

Laurent Marie

laurent.marie@ingenico.com

+33 (0)1 58 01 92 98

Attachment
Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope on Wednesday said that the Indian Premier League (IPL) should happen behind closed doors or it should be postponed after 10 positive cases of coronavirus confirmed in the state.

The final decision will be taken in the Maharastra Assembly on Thursday.

"In the current situation, it is not possible to schedule the IPL match in a packed stadium. We want it to happen in closed doors or postpone it later. The final decision will be taken in the assembly session tomorrow. We all are of the view that IPL should not take place at this time. It is very dangerous to conduct the IPL in this situation," Tope told reporters.

The 13th edition of IPL will commence from March 29, defending champion Mumbai Indians taking on Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

Earlier today, the Central government said that with 10 more people confirmed positive for novel coronavirus, the total number of COVID-19 cases in India has jumped to 60.

Out of the 60 cases, 36 are Indian citizens. Six of the eight new cases are from Kerala and one each from Rajasthan and Delhi according to the ministry.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Michigan construction worker who confronted Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden on gun control remarked afterwards that the former vice president went off the deep end with his heated and expletive-laden response.

The exchange occurred during Bidens visit to a Detroit assembly plant on Tuesday, the day of Michigans Democratic primary, which Biden ultimately won against Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders.

WATCH: "Youre full of sh*t," @JoeBiden tells a man who accused him of "actively trying to end our Second Amendment right." "I support the Second Amendment," Biden adds while vising under-construction auto plant in Detroit. @CBSNews pic.twitter.com/sueOSBaY9P  Bo Erickson CBS (@BoKnowsNews) March 10, 2020

Auto worker Jerry Wayne said he asked the 2020 front runner how he would get the vote of the working man when Wayne and many others like him bear arms.

If he wants to give us work and take our guns, I dont see how he is going to get the same vote, Wayne said during an appearance on Fox & Friends.

Youre full of shit, Biden told him as they stood face to face in a crowd of workers. I support the Second Amendment.

Youre working for me, man, Wayne shot back.

The interaction, in which Biden also told Wayne not to be such a horses ass, went viral online and attracted criticism of Biden from Republicans as well as the Sanders campaign.

He could have easily said, Im not taking questions, and I would have very respectfully walked away. But he wanted to listen to my question, and I dont think that he was ready for it, Wayne said.

I thought I was pretty articulate and respectful. I didnt try to raise any feathers, and he kind of just went off the deep end, the Michigan voter continued. I saw that he was digging a hole, and I just kind of let him talk for a while to dig the hole.

Story continues

Wayne concluded that Biden doesnt need to touch anybodys weapon at all but added that people should be taught how to respect firearms and how to use them.

This is a right that we need to protect with our heart and soul. Its not to be infringed, the auto worker said.

More from National Review
What should be first on the list?

Start with your favorite starch  it could be pasta, or rice. Next: protein. Beans are great  if youre going to be home for a long time, you might as well simmer up some dried beans, which have the best flavor, though canned beans are among my favorite convenience foods. Thats the sort of skeleton of the meal, then you need flavor: so stock up on aromatics like garlic and onions, and spices. If you like to bake, buy butter, yeast, sugar, salt.

Should we think about food as more than just calories and nutrition at a time like this?

People stress eat, thats a real thing. So you might as well eat really well. But feeding yourself, your family and your neighbors is going to give you a great sense of calmness and joy. Thats how we get through hard times.

Thats it for this briefing, which has been written from the confines of my guest room. See you next time.  Chris

Thank you

Mark Josephson and Eleanor Stanford provided the break from the news. Adam Pasick, of the Briefings team, wrote todays Back Story. You can reach us at briefing@nytimes.com.

P.S.

 Were listening to The Daily. Todays episode is about testing for the coronavirus in the U.S.

 Heres todays Mini Crossword, and a clue: Available to hang out (four letters). You can find all our puzzles here.

 Stephanie Preiss, who has been helping lead our efforts to imagine a bigger audio business, has been named The Times Companys vice president, audio and TV.
X-ray images and CT scans show how the disease ravages its victims' lungs

X-ray images and CT scans including those of a Chinese man, 44, who died from coronavirus show how the disease ravages its victims' lungs.

The scans show white patches in the lower corners of the lungs which indicates what radiologists call ground glass opacity - the partial filling of air spaces.

Such abnormalities identified by doctors in the scans of coronavirus patients are similar to those found in patients suffering from SARS and MERS.

The shocking chest X-rays (pictured) of one coronavirus victim, a 44-year-old man who worked at the Wuhan seafood market thought to be the origin of the outbreak, clearly show the ground glass opacity abnormality

The shocking chest X-ray of one coronavirus victim, a 44-year-old man who worked at the Wuhan seafood market thought to be the origin of the outbreak, clearly show the ground glass opacity abnormality.

The scans, released by the Radiological Society of North America, show how the fluid in the spaces of the man's lungs became more pronounced over time, as evident when comparing image A to image F.

The man was admitted to hospital on December 25, 2019 after suffering from a fever and cough for almost two weeks. Doctors diagnosed the man with pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Despite being treated by doctors, he died a week later.

The CT scans of a 54-year-old woman who caught the coronavirus after travelling to Wuhan, China, show the same partial filling of air spaces.

Ground glass opacity pictured in red, left. 3-D image of the lungs and trachea pictured, right

The X-ray of the 54-year-old woman who developed severe Covid-19 pneumonia after visiting Wuhan

The woman was diagnosed with severe pneumonia caused by the virus after suffering from a fever, cough, fatigue and chest congestion for a week, and she was given oxygen and antibiotics.

The scan of a 45-year-old woman from Sichuan Province in China who tested positive for COVID-19 after returning from Japan shows white patches and a 'reversed halo sign' in the left upper lobe of her lung.

The extended white patches seen in the scans were also identified with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS).

The CT scan of a 45-year-old woman from Sichuan Province in China who tested positive for COVID-19

The images show white patches and a 'reversed halo sign' in the left upper lobe of her lung

Both are also classified as coronaviruses and SARS resulted in 8,000 cases and 774 deaths in China from November 2002 to July 2003.

The most common way to identify coronavirus is to take swabs of saliva or mucus from a patient's nose or mouth or alternatively testing phlegm they produce.

Yet the test is only effective when the patient is showing symptoms.

The World Health Organization has today officially declared the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic after the number of patients struck down by the life-threatening infection across the world surpassed 112,000 and the death toll neared 4,500.

The scans show white patches in the lower corners of the lungs which indicates what radiologists call ground glass opacity - the partial filling of air spaces

The death toll from the outbreak in Italy has jumped in the last 24 hours by 196 to 827.

The total number of cases in Italy, the European country hardest hit by the virus, rose to 12,462 from a previous 10,149, an increase of 22.8 per cent.

Eight Britons have so far died from the virus. The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the UK reached 460 on Wednesday, including a minister in the health department.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has warned tougher measures to contain the spread of the virus were likely in the coming weeks.
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.
When the Navajo Generating Station Coal Plant burned its last lump of coal on Nov. 18, a window of opportunity opened for Arizonas clean energy future. Over the next several years, as pollution dissipates from the Navajo Nation, we have the opportunity to rebuild our energy policy and invest in clean energy.

As these plans develop, it is critical that communities who have historically borne the brunt of the environmental pollution from our energy choices lead in the decision-making process.

Across the country, pollution from dirty energy disproportionately impacts communities of color, including native communities. Navajo coal was no exception. Required land remediation alone will take three years, and that does not account for the intergenerational health impacts on our tribal citizens. Navajo coals legacy stands out because it failed to power 15,000 homes on the Navajo Nation that remain without power to this day. This type of injustice in our old energy system is ripe for reimagination.

A 100% clean energy future can address energy injustices and create long-term health and economic prosperity for the Navajo Nation. In a 100% clean energy future utilities that used to purchase from Navajo coal must be required to continue to buy renewable energy from Navajo-owned businesses. This changes past rhetoric of energy extraction for the Navajo Nation and other impacted communities. It is possible to power our economy and our homes without compromising the health of our people and sacred environment.

And the opportunity for renewable energy on Navajo land is immense. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory study found that the Navajo Nation has the most renewable energy potential of any tribal lands in the United States. Local, indigenous-owned companies like Navajo Power are already leading the market in developing these resources, benefiting the local economy.

The Arizona Corporation Commission has the power to enact a 100% renewable energy standard (RES) and help grow the Navajo Nation economy in new directions. 27 stakeholders, including representatives of the Navajo Nation, have already come together to submit a proposal for their consideration. Now, the Corporation Commission must act.

It is critical that the Navajo Nation be at the table when planning for Arizonas energy future. While three-quarters of the coal plants employees have been relocated within the company, and ongoing remediation will continue some economic investment, underemployment and underinvestment still plague Navajo Nation.

Another risk is continued harm to health and climate from false solutions. If the Commission does not adopt a 100% renewable energy standard monopoly utilities are already planning to replace coal with gas. Our Navajo and southeastern New Mexico neighbors know the severe health and climate impacts of fracking for gas. Methane pollution during extraction is 86 times worse for climate than carbon dioxide, and releases health-harming pollution like carcinogenic benzene. We cannot afford to replace one dirty fuel with another.

Last year, Navajo President Jonathan Nez committed to a clean energy future, declaring renewable development a priority for the tribes economic future. Navajo leadership and businesses are ready to continue to provide critical electricity generation for Arizona, and a 100% clean energy requirement can help us do that.

Robyn Jackson is based in Arizona and is the Climate & Energy Outreach Coordinator for the Navajo environmental justice organization, Dine Citizens Against Ruining our Environment (C.A.R.E).

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A robber crab has been accused of stealing a $6,000 thermal imaging camera during a late-night heist.

Western Sydney University Doctor of Philosophy candidate Annabel Dorrestein had been using the expensive camera as part of her research project on Christmas Island.

She had set the camera up on a tripod hooked to an external battery to film flying foxes in a mango tree overnight.

However, when she returned the next day the camera was gone.

A robber crab (pictured) has been accused of stealing a $6,000 thermal imaging camera during a late-night heist

Western Sydney University Doctor of Philosophy candidate, Annabel Dorrestein (pictured left) had been using the expensive camera as part of her research project on Christmas Island

An appropriately named robber-crab is the prime suspect, Ms Dorrestein said.

'The tripod that it was mounted to was knocked over, we saw claw marks on the tripod where the thermal camera was attached to the cord that ran from the thermal camera to the battery - [it] was mangled or claw marks on the battery,' she told the ABC.

'So basically, a big robber crab ripped the thermal camera off the spotting scope and mangled the cables so it came loose and just dragged it into the forest.'

An appropriately named robber-crab is the prime suspect, Ms Dorrestein said

She spent hours scouring the area for any sign of the equipment, however, it was no where to be found.

Robber crabs or coconut crabs, which can grow to be one metre wide and weigh four kilograms, are known for being curious creatures.

Christmas Island National Park's chief ranger Rob Muller said when the crabs find something interesting they tend to take it away to get a closer inspection.
Two of 16 charges brought against actor Craig McLachlan have been dropped.

A hearing in the trial of The Rocky Horror Show star resumed yesterday to discuss the admissibility of arguments and evidence.

Prosecutors formally withdrew two of 16 charges  indecent assault and an alternative charge of common assault.

14 other charges relate to behaviour during the 2014 stage production. None are linked to his most recent series The Doctor Blake Mysteries.

Craig McLachlans lawyer Stuart Littlemore said some of the alleged offending did not happen and denied there was anything indecent about the actors actions.

But Prosecutor Matt Fisher said all the women testified that they did not consent to the alleged physical contact and the alleged actions were not part of the show.

Magistrate Belinda Wallington is set to rule next month.

Defence lawyers will continue to outline their evidence when the hearing resumes in April.

McLachlan has previously launched defamation action against the ABC, the publisher formerly known as Fairfax Media and a former co-star Christie Whelan Browne.

Source: news.com.au, ABC
A man with coronavirus may have exposed hundreds of revellers to the deadly disease after partying at one of Queensland's most popular nightclubs.

The 22-year-old man, who attends the University of Queensland, was at Friday's Riverside in Brisbane's CBD on Saturday night.

He was confirmed as having the virus on Tuesday, after recently returning from Italy - Europe's COVID-19 epicentre.

The man partied at the popular venue between 5pm and 9pm.

The 22-year-old man could have infected hundreds of other revellers at Friday's Riverside (pictured) in Brisbane 's CBD on Saturday night between 5 and 9pm

The man also attended classes at University of Queensland's St Lucia campus in Brisbane on Thursday and Friday last week

Other patrons are being warned they may need to self-isolate if they come down with symptoms.

'(He) had fleeting contact with a lot of different people,' Queensland chief medical officer Jeannette Young said.

'They (patrons) don't need to go into home quarantine.

'But they do need to be aware and alert if they develop any symptoms suggestive of an infection - any respiratory-type symptoms, or a fever - they should go and get themselves tested.'

The man also attended classes at the university's St Lucia campus in Brisbane on Thursday and Friday last week.

Health authorities contacted his classmates and teaching staff who may have come into contact with him, warning them they may need to self-isolate.

On Wednesday, a 32-year-old woman and a 31-year-old man who live together on the Gold Coast were also diagnosed.

The woman had recently returned to Australia from the United States.

Earlier on Wednesday a Gold Coast university campus closed its doors to staff and students after an employee was diagnosed with coronavirus.

There are now 135 cases of coronavirus in Australia after more cases were confirmed on Wednesday

Southern Cross University was closed for cleaning after one of its Phillippines-based staff members tested positive on Tuesday.

He attended workshops at the university's Gold Coast and Lismore campuses from March 4-to-6 before returning to The Philippines on Saturday.

Health officials and university representatives are working to contact 45 people in contact with or near him during his time in Australia.

CORONAVIRUS CASES IN AUSTRALIA: 27,244 Victoria: 20,269 New South Wales: 4,273 Queensland: 1,161 Western Australia: 692 South Australia: 473 Tasmania: 230 Australian Capital Territory: 113 Northern Territory: 33 TOTAL CASES: 27,244 ESTIMATED ACTIVE CASES: 269 DEATHS: 897 Updated: 5.31 PM, 11 October, 2020 Source: Australian Government Department of Health Advertisement

The Lismore campus, in northern NSW, will also be closed and cleaned as a precaution.

The university is urging anyone feeling unwell to self-isolate and seek medical attention.

Queensland's education minister Grace Grace banned school groups travelling overseas except for New Zealand.

Ms Grace says the measure is a protective action to contain the spread of the virus.

There are now 128 cases of coronavirus in Australia after more cases were confirmed on Wednesday.

Three Australians have died so far.

Globally, at least 119,000 people have contracted the virus, and more than 4,200 have died.
Gov. Kay Ivey sent a memo to state agency heads today in response to the threat of the coronavirus.

The governor said Alabama has no known cases but wanted to provide guidance for state employees who could be affected.

The governors memo (attached to the end of this article) directs state employees to notify their department heads, supervisors, and human resource offices if they have traveled in areas affected by the coronavirus.

It urges state employees to practice common sense if traveling in areas known to have coronavirus infections and to consider using technology in place of face-to-face meetings.

It also repeats reminders for employees to stay home if they have cold and flu symptoms and to practice preventive measures, like washing hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water.

Ivey said that the situation is serious but cautioned against spreading alarm and false information.

Check the Alabama Department of Public Health for information.

Related: Alabama schools cancel overseas trips, announce coronavirus plan

The Associated Press reported today that the virus has infected more than 800 people in the United States and killed at least 29. Worldwide, about 118,000 have been infected and more than 4,200 have died, the AP reported.

The virus causes mild or moderate symptoms such as fever and cough for most people. The elderly and people with other health problems can develop more severe illness, including pneumonia, the AP reported.

Last week, Ivey created a task force chaired by State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris to oversee preparation and response for the illness.
Chinese President Xi Jinping said Wuhan city had turned the tide against the deadly coronavirus, as he made his first visit to the virus' epicentre in a message that Beijing has the situation under control and vowed to resolutely fight for a victory against the novel COVID-19 outbreak.

Wearing a protective mask and accompanied by a retinue of military and health officials, Xi - who initially came under criticism for not acting in time to stem the virus when it first showed up in December last year, but later won praise for a decisive follow-up action - visited a makeshift hospital and community residents and frontline workers in Wuhan.

Xi, 66, vowed to resolutely fight for a victory in the war against the coronavirus during his inspection tour of Wuhan, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

During his visit, Xi said the spread of coronavirus had been basically curbed in Hubei Province and its capital Wuhan where over 50 million people lived in total isolation since January 23 following a complete lockdown of the areas.

The initial success has been made in stabilising the situation and turning the tide in Hubei and Wuhan, Xi said.

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Ahead of the President's visit on Tuesday, China's National Health Commission (NHC) announced a dramatic drop in number of COVID-19 cases both of which fell below 20 mark for the first time since the NHC began daily reporting of cases in later part of January.

The NHC reported 19 new confirmed cases of infection and 17 fatalities on Monday. All the 17 new deaths were in Hubei province and in Wuhan, while Beijing and other cities geared up for "imported cases" with the return of large number of Chinese and foreigners to re-join work.

The overall confirmed cases in the Chinese mainland have reached 80,754 by the end of Monday. This included 3,136 people who died of the disease. 17,721 patients are still undergoing treatment while 59,897 patients have been discharged after recovery, the NHC said.

While the virus has abated in China, it has spread to over 100 countries. The death toll has reached 4,011 globally with more than 110,000 cases of infection.

This is the second visit to Wuhan by a top Chinese leader.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang visited Wuhan on January 26 when the COVID-19 virus spread at an alarming pace, prompting a lockdown of the city and the Central Hubei province with 50 million people.

Xi, also general secretary of the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC) and head of the military, called for firm, solid and meticulous prevention and control efforts to defend Hubei and Wuhan.

The coronavirus has become a major challenge to Xi's leadership who is often referred to as China's most powerful leader after the CPC founder Mao Zedong, with the prospect of life-long tenure in power.

After over three-month long battle against the virus, China has come to a grinding halt with estimated losses of over USD 103 billion.

The virus has also caused acute distress among people as China locked down the Hubei province while implemented stringent measures all over the country including closure of factories and offices to contain the virus.

Xi said after hard work, the situation in Hubei and Wuhan had shown positive changes with important progress, but the prevention and control task remain arduous.

He praised the sacrifices of people of Wuhan and Hubei province.

The positive trend in preventing and controlling the virus could not have been achieved without the sacrifice, devotion, perseverance and hard efforts of the people of Wuhan, Xi said.

With their concrete actions, Wuhan people have demonstrated the strength and spirit of China, as well as the Chinese people's love for the family and the nation, which enables them to stick together through thick and thin, he said.

After his arrival in Wuhan, Xi went straight to Huoshenshan Hospital, the 1000-bed makeshift hospital built in record time of less than 10 days to inspect thousands of cases.

China also built another 1300-bed hospital equally in record time, rushed over 30,000 medical staff from the military as well as from all over to treat the spiralling number of cases.

The official media reported with the cases falling in big numbers, all the makeshift hospitals numbering over 14 are now being dismantled in Wuhan.

At the hospital, Xi greeted medical staff through television monitor and learned about community-based efforts for epidemic prevention and control, Xinhua reported.

He also visited residents of a community in Wuhan who are subject to self-quarantine, looking into the community-level prevention and control work as well as daily necessity supply.

Xi's visit sent a strong signal to the entire country and the world that China is ascending out of the darkest moment amid the outbreak, and the battle against the epidemic has now entered the next stage, state-run Global Times quoted analysts as saying.

Xi's Wuhan visit at this moment shows the turning point of China's domestic fight against the epidemic has arrived and now the fight is shifting its focus to prevent imported cases of infection and gradually resume economic activities and production, analysts said.

Lu Keli, an associate professor at the school of Marxism studies in the Renmin University of China in Beijing told the Global Times that Xi's visit showed that China had achieved a phased victory at the current juncture that can help effectively stabilise and control the epidemic situation.
A tour operator, wearing a protective mask, gestures as he leads a tour near the US Capitol in Washington, DC on March 9, 2020.

Financial advisory firm Signum Global Advisors, following meetings with lawmakers on Capitol Hill, has told clients not to expect a solution to coronavirus-related market turmoil to come from Washington.

The firm, which is run by former Evercore vice chairman Charles Myers, told its associates that lawmakers were "behind the curve" in understanding the impact of the downturn in the market is having on the broader economy, according to a client note, first reviewed by CNBC. The firm also warned of "complacecncy" among lawmakers.

"While the Trump administration is well-attuned to markets, many on Capitol Hill remain 'behind the curve' in appreciating the severity of the recent market downturn and its potential impact on the U.S. real economy," the note said.

The group said in its note, titled "Washington will not rescue the market," that it felt "pessimistic about the odds of a convincing political fiscal response" after their meetings earlier on Tuesday.

The firm's note gives a partial glimpse into how lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are perceiving the virus and their next steps in fighting it. Congress recently passed an $8.3 billion emergency spending bill to combat the virus, and President Donald Trump signed it into law on Friday.

State governments, however, are still insisting they do not have enough test kits for those coming into the hospitals claiming to have symptoms. There's a debate inside the Trump administration about how to inject a form of economic stimulus in order to calm the markets, which have been volatile for weeks. There are over 600 confirmed cases in the United States.

Although it is unclear which members of Congress met with Signum representatives, a person familiar with the gatherings said they spoke with seven different lawmakers from the House and Senate, both Democrats and Republicans.

Signum's massive policy arm has a global presence, with offices in New York, Washington and London. Beyond Meyers, his team has people with extensive experience in both the financial and political sectors, including a deputy executive director who served under Hillary Clinton when she was the secretary of State. .

The firm's representatives also felt concerned about how lawmakers regarded the increasing severity of the COVID-19 outbreak.

"While attention to the coronavirus has picked up in recent days within political circles, there remains a high degree of complacency  or at least widely-diverging beliefs  about the epidemic's severity," the note explains.
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The conditions under which Scindia has taken this route have been created by the Congress high command or whatever passes for it.

The Congress government in Madhya Pradesh is as good as gone, with Jyotiraditya Scindia having crossed over to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He is taking 22 MLAs with him, at last count. It is possible that the two Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) MLAs, one Samajwadi Party (SP) MLA and four Independent MLAs will either switch loyalties or withdraw support from the Congress.

How exactly the numbers will pan out is not clear at the moment, but its certain that the Congress will not have anywhere near a majority in the Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly unless the party manages to persuade most of the departing MLAs to return to the fold. Its almost equally certain that the BJP will get a majority if most of the Scindia loyalists remain firm about their resignations. The numbers look something like this: The Assembly has 230 members. Before the crisis, the Congress had 114 members, BJP 109, BSP two and SP one. There were four Independents. The Congress formed the government with the support of the BSP, SP and Independents.

With 22 Congress MLAs out of the picture as of now, the strength of the House will go down to 206. With two seats vacant in addition to the 22 resignations, the majority mark will be down to 104. The BJP, with 107 members in the House, will be comfortably in a position to form a government.

The Congress is obviously pointing fingers: In its view it is the BJP that has destabilised the party and caused the dismantling of the government led by Kamal Nath. It is obviously pretty open and shut that the BJP abetted and facilitated Scindias departure. But that is not the point. Though the ruling party at the Centre has a track record of splashing cash and other incentives to bring governments down, in this case, whatever be the extent of its involvement, the fall of the Nath government is primarily a self-goal.

The reason for Scindias departure is obviously the search for paths to self-aggrandisement, but the conditions under which Scindia has taken this route have been created by the Congress high command or whatever passes for it. The Congress is in free fall and unless it does something drastic, the party will be over long before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections heave into view.

Before I get to the problems the party is beset with, it may be relevant to point out that the Congress has weathered many, many serious storms in the 72-73 years since Independence. In 1962, after the Chinese war and Nehrus illness, there was a power vacuum that had threatened to render the party rudderless, until the Syndicate took control. There was the question of After Nehru, who? in 1964 and the partys first leadership contest in 1966. There was the chastening debacle in the 1967 general elections, and there were two major splits in the party in 1969 and 1978. There was also the defeat in the post-Emergency elections. Much later, there was the post-1996 leadership vacuum. But the party always had the will and wherewithal to meet these challenges, in whatever manner.

Since 2014, the party seems to have lost both the will and the wherewithal to take hard decisions. This is especially true of the months following the partys humbling in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. There is a problem of leadership at the highest level, which has spread like a contagion through those parts of the country where the Congress still had a semblance of control.

When Rahul Gandhi abdicated and resigned from the post of Congress president days after the election results were declared, the party went into a state of paralysis. In effect, it was leaderless for two-and-a-half months, until the Congress Working Committee (CWC) practically herded Sonia Gandhi into taking over as interim chief. Quite clearly, this is not a state of affairs that should be the cause of any great optimism for supporters or members of the Congress. Sonia is clearly not well enough to shoulder the responsibility. This arrangement is as unfair to her as it is to the party.

Follow LIVE updates on the Madhya Pradesh political crisis here

Under her watch, the party failed to register a single seat in the Delhi Assembly elections and came in fourth, behind its junior alliance partner, the Nationalist Congress Party, in the Maharashtra Assembly elections. It did well in Jharkhand, possibly because Sonia had the sense to get the party off its high horse and accept a junior status in its alliance with the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha; and in Haryana, because, late in the day, she handed electoral matters over to former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, who had been sidelined by Rahul.

But these flashes hardly light the way forward for the Congress. It must have a full-time leader, who will pick a balanced CWC, which will co-ordinate the partys activities at the Centre and in the states. Dinesh Gundu Rao, the former president of the Karnataka unit of the party, has already said that the only way forward is for Rahul Gandhi to return to take charge. To neutral observers, that is clearly among the least desirable of outcomes, if for nothing else but the former chiefs disturbing predilection for deserting the party and refusing to take responsibility when a leader is most required. He did it in 2014 and repeated his response in 2019.

So, what could possibly be the way forward? Its obvious that Sonia must be relieved of her responsibilities as soon as possible. If that is followed by desperate public efforts by the CWC alongside other senior leaders to convince Rahul to take over once again, without even a bow to due electoral process explicitly enshrined in Article XVIII of the partys constitution (as amended in 2010), nothing will have changed, including the Congresss prospects, which at the moment are fast headed for a subterranean future.

Any suggestion, in this context, that the Congress could, at the very least, experiment with a bare-knuckle election, is usually dismissed as being naive or unrealistic or both. On the face of it, however, at the present juncture, there is little the party could lose by trying it out. It is possible that if Rahul declares his candidature for an election, no one else will contest. That will be a pity, but an honest declaration by the CWC of the intention to hold a proper election will strengthen the hand of whoever ultimately wins. Even if it is Rahul, without a contest.

At any rate, the leadership issue must be settled. Last year, desertions from the Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular) made it possible for the BJP to form a government precisely when the party was headless and scrambling to find a leader  actually, trying to persuade Rahul to rescind his resignation. There was no one at the helm to co-ordinate a coherent response to the crisis.

Much the same is true of Madhya Pradesh now. Since Kamal Nath was chosen as chief minister 15 months ago, hes been doubling as the head of the state unit. The party leadership has been too slow, too disengaged to either allow the state unit to elect a new leader (most desirable) or nominate a full-time head, which has meant that power is too concentrated in Naths hands and others. On that, Scindia has a grievance. It is unfortunate that he has decided that the only way he can resolve it is by leaving the party with a phalanx of MLAs. But it is not a completely illegitimate choice, given the hands-off approach of the leadership.

The immediate cause of the parting of ways is Rajya Sabha nominations. On this question, too, the leadership has dithered. Some workers/leaders in the state have demanded that Priyanka Gandhi Vadra be the candidate. Clearly, given the realities of the situation in Madhya Pradesh, where the state unit is riven by factionalism, both the issues of the Rajya Sabha nomination and the leadership of the state unit should have been addressed promptly and, keeping in mind competing claims, equitably. The problem, as earlier argued, is a leadership vacuum and the complete lack of will and decisiveness, which has given dominant factions in states the leeway to monopolise power.

It would be better for the Congress to urgently address these gargantuan problems on an emergency basis than moaning about the BJPs machinations. It should know better than commentators that this is what the BJP does and if it continues to serve up these half-volleys to its antagonists, theres no point in expecting them not to put them away.
Yes Bank crisis: HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank and Kotak Mahindra Bank have been approached for equity infusion in the troubled bank. A host of public sector banks have also been approached for short-term deposits in Yes Bank. The rescue plan of Yes Bank is being finalised by the State Bank of India that will hold 49 per cent shareholding after the infusion.

According to a report in The Economic Times, a proposed recapitalisation of around Rs 20,000 crore with equity contribution from multiple institutions and bulk deposits of around Rs 30,000 crore by multiple state-owned banks could help in relaxing the moratorium imposed by RBI on Yes Bank.

SBI officials have discussed the proposal in the past 24 hours. This move could assuage concerns of deposits, prevent a flight of funds and lead to an improvement in credit rating, SBI believes. SBI chief Rajnish Kumar also said that the moratorium would be lifted much before the deadline of April 3.

Also read: Yes Bank crisis: Rana Kapoor tried to sell properties worth Rs 1,000 crore, flee country

The apex bank on March 6 said that SBI would invest in Yes Bank to hold 49 per cent shareholding. "The Authorised Capital shall stand altered to Rs 50,00,00,00,000 (Rupees five thousand crore only) and number of equity shares will stand altered to 24,00,00,00,000 (two thousand four hundred crore only) of Rs 2 (Rupees Two only) each aggregating to Rs 48,00,00,00,000 (Rupees four thousand eight hundred crore only)," stated the RBI in its reconstruction scheme.

Axis Trustee that represents the investors holding additional Tier1 (AT1) bonds approached the RBI with a settlement plan. "The majority bond holders of the AT1 bonds, for which Axis is acting as debenture trustee, have suggested that a minimum of 170 crore shares be allotted to the existing AT1 bondholders in proportion to their current holding of these bonds," said a letter from Axis Trustee Services to RBI, Yes Bank and market regulator SEBI.

Also read: RBI announces restructuring of Yes Bank; SBI to hold 49% stake

Also read: Rs 50,000 cap on Yes Bank withdrawals to go 'much much much' before Apr 3: SBI chairman
Turkish President Erdogan has compared Greek treatment of refugees to the Nazis - as a satellite image appeared to show a 'secret camp' where migrants have allegedly been held before being expelled back to Turkey.

Thousands of migrants have massed on Turkey's border with Greece after the Turkish government said last month it would no longer try to contain migrants on its territory.

To prevent the crossings, Athens deployed riot police and border guards who in many cases used tear gas, flash grenades and water cannons. Several clashes have erupted between the migrants and the Greek forces.

Erdogan said Greece's actions have resulted in four migrants' deaths and that around 1,000 have been injured. But Greece denies accusations of mistreatment.

In highly-charged comments about the crisis, the Turkish President said there is 'no difference' between 'what the Nazis did and those images from the Greek border'.

New satellite images appear to show a secret camp (pictured) near the border village of Poros where migrants have allegedly been held before being expelled to Turkey

'There is no difference with what the Nazis did and the images from the border with Greece,' he said.

'To open fire, fire tear gas and use boiling water on innocent people whose only aim is to save their lives and build a better future for their children is barbaric in the true meaning of the word.'

Erdogan's comments come as new satellite images appeared to show a camp near the border village of Poros where migrants have allegedly been held before being expelled back to Turkey, according to an investigation by the New York Times.

The process, which experts have claimed violates international law, was reported by migrants who alleged they had been captured and expelled from Greece without a chance to seek asylum or speak to a lawyer.

Photographs of the apparent detention centre, located in farmland between Poros and the Evros River, show three red-roofed warehouses arranged in a U-shape.

The process, which experts have claimed violates international law, was reported by migrants who alleged they had been captured and expelled from Greece without a chance to seek asylum

In highly-charged comments about the crisis, the Turkish President (pictured) said there is 'no difference' between 'what the Nazis did and those images from the Greek border'

There also appear to be several outlying buildings beside the main complex.

One migrant, Syrian Kurd Somar al-Hussein, said he was captured by Greek forces and taken to a detention site after crossing the Evros River in a rubber dinghy in late February.

He claimed his phone was confiscated to prevent him calling for help and his requests to claim asylum were ignored by Greek border guards.

On March 1, Mr al-Hussein said he was driven back to the Evros River alongside dozens of captured migrants and transported back to the Turkish side aboard a speed board.

Stelios Petsas, a spokesman for the Greek government, told the New York Times Greece detained and expelled migrants 'in accordance with the law'.

Migrants stand by tents in a camp set up near the Turkish-Greek border in Pazarkule, Edirne region, Turkey, on Tuesday

Children asylum seekers, arrived in Edirne mostly from Istanbul and many other Turkish cities, gather around a fire to warm up near the Kastanies and Pazarkule border gates

He did not comment on the existence of the apparent facility.

But a former Greek official, who is said to be familiar with police operations, confirmed its existence and said the site is used informally during 'times of high migration flow'. He said it was not classified as a detention site.

Under the 2016 agreement, the EU offered Turkey up to 6 billion euros in aid for the Syrian refugees it hosts, fast-tracked EU membership as well as a revision of Customs Union agreement.

'We will continue the current [open borders] measure on our borders until all of our expectations are concretely met,' Erdogan said.

Migrants wait to receive free blankets in Karaagac district near Turkey's Pazarkule border crossing with Greece's Kastanies, in Edirne, Turkey on Tuesday

Thousands have arrived at Turkey's border with Greece since Erdogan announced last month that the country would no longer prevent migrants and refugees from crossing over into Europe

The President's comments come after he travelled to Brussels for talks with top EU officials after which the sides agreed that teams headed by EU foreign policy chief Josep Borell and Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu would review the 4-year-old migration deal.

Cavusoglu said Tuesday the teams would try and come up with a 'road map' in time for a EU summit on March 26.

The Turkish president has in the past also compared other European countries, notably German and the Netherlands to Nazis, sparking tensions with these nations.
Thats where we really need to clear out the structures, said Mr. Behm, who retired in 2018. By contrast, he said the Corps current approach scares a lot of community officials.

The Corps defended its policy. Without using eminent domain, officials said, the Corps cant guarantee to Congress that the buyouts lawmakers have funded will actually happen.

And that would leave residents still at risk. Imagine the Corps identifies 10 homes for buyouts, but only three people say yes, said Susan Layton, chief of planning and policy for the Corps Norfolk District office, which is working on buyout plans in Florida. With a voluntary program, that leaves seven homes still exposed. Youre probably not doing your best job, she said.

The Corps applies a relatively simple formula to decide which houses should be condemned, officials said: It estimates how much damage a house is likely to suffer in the next 50 years, then compares that to what it would cost to buy and tear down the house, plus moving expenses for the owner. If the buyout costs less, the homeowner is asked to sell for the assessed value of the home. That price is not negotiable, and neither is the offer.

Many officials have balked, at least for now. Miami-Dade has yet to agree to evict residents, and New Jersey has refused. In the Florida Keys, Roman Gastesi, the county administrator, said he doubted the county commission would approve it.

Eminent domain is not something thats going to be palatable, Mr. Gastesi said, adding that the Corps should fund the buyout program its currently looking at in the Keys, but make it voluntary. We dont want to kick people out of their houses.
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) Devices Market was valued at USD 2230.91 Million in 2018 and is projected to reach USD 3749.67 Million by 2025, growing at a CAGR of 7.70% over the forecast period. The rising prevalence of oral diseases is the key driver for the growth of the global (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure ) CPAP Devices market.

Scope of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) Devices Market 

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy is a common treatment for obstructive apnea. CPAP device use mild air pressure to keep the airways open and it is typically used by patients who have breathing problems during sleep. This device help to people with apnea breathe more easily and frequently nightly while sleeping. A CPAP machine increases the atmospheric pressure in throat to stop airway from collapsing once inhale. It also reduces snoring. The machine features a filter and little tank of water, which essentially works as a humidifier. There is a tube that connects the unit to a mask that simply place over face while sleep. Common problems with CPAP include a leaky mask, trouble falling asleep, stuffy nose and a xerostomia. Its the most effective nonsurgical treatment for sleep apnea and it is also the most popular. With use over time, it reduces daytime sleepiness, lowers vital sign during the day and night, and reduces heart problems for those with heart condition.

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Global continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) devices market report is segmented on product type, application and regional & country level. Based upon product type, global continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) devices market is classified into manual and automatic. Based upon application, global continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) devices market is classified into hospitals, private clinics and home care.

The regions covered in this global continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) devices market report are North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Rest of the World. On the basis of country level, market of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) devices market is sub divided into U.S., Mexico, Canada, UK, France, Germany, Italy, China, Japan, India, South East Asia, GCC, Africa, etc.

Key Players for Global Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) Devices Market Reports

Some major key players for global Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) Devices market are Medtronic, Koninklijke Philips, Armstrong Medical Inc., ResMed, Smiths Medical, Apex Medical, Cardinal Health, Beijing Dehaier Medical Technology, DeVilbiss Healthcare, Teijin Pharma, Koike Medical, Fosun Pharma, BMC Medical and among others.

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Global (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) CPAP Devices Market Dynamic Analysis 

Increasing number of patient with sleep disorder, obesity and other respiratory diseases are expected to drive the growth of the continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) devices market. According to American Sleep Association, insomnia is the most common specific sleep disorder with short term issues reported by about 30% of adults and chronic insomnia by 10%. According to WHO, more than 1.9 billion adults, 18 years and older were overweight and over 650 million were obese in 2016 and 40 million children under the age of 5 were overweight or obese in 2018. Moreover, advances in technology such as use of oxygen devices, improved mask design and oral appliances are expected to provide support and propel the growth of the global continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) market. However, the high cost of device and maintenance along with high costs treatments may hamper the growth of market. Furthermore, infrastructural advancements in the medical and healthcare industry in the field of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) devices market for sleep apnea treatment are projected to generate more opportunities for the expansion of the market during the forecast period.

Global (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure)CPAP Devices Market Regional Analysis 

North America is expected to remain the leading region due to presence of well-developed technology; high health care expenditures, increased research and development along with health care equipment and presence of major companies have driven the growth of the market in this region. North America is the largest consumption place for clinical and research center followed by Europe. In the Americas, the U.S. was the most important revenue contributor due to the increased diagnosis of apnea in patients. According to American Sleep Association, 50-70 million US adults have a sleep disorder.

Asia Pacific region is the second largest share in the market due to increasing disease prevalence in the countries like India & China. For instance, large number of populations in increasing geriatric population diagnosed with respiratory diseases. Thus these factors will propel the continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) devices market growth. Due to growing awareness of sleep apnea & related medical conditions such as high blood pressure & obesity which would provide growth opportunities to the continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) devices market in that region. Hence, the above-mentioned factors will positively influence the regional industry growth.

In contrast, the Middle East and Africa has lowest share of global market due to lack of technical knowledge and less medical facilities.

Key Benefits for Global (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) CPAP Devices Market Reports Global market report covers in depth historical and forecast analysis.

Global market research report provides detail information about Market Introduction, Market Summary, Global market Revenue (Revenue USD), Market Drivers, Market Restraints, Market opportunities, Competitive Analysis, Regional and Country Level.

Global market report helps to identify opportunities in market place.

Global market report covers extensive analysis of emerging trends and competitive landscape.

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Global (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) CPAP Devices Market Segmentation 

By Products: 

Manual

Automatic

By Application: 

Hospitals

Private Clinics

Home Care

By Regional & Country Analysis: 

North America

US.

Canada

Europe

UK.

France

Germany

Italy

Asia Pacific

China

Japan

India

Southeast Asia

Latin America

Brazil

Mexico

Middle East and Africa

GCC

Africa

Rest of Middle East and Africa

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By IANS

NEW DELHI: The Bhartiya Janata Party has claimed that days of the Madhya Pradesh government are numbered as Kamal Nath government has lost majority in the Assembly after 22 of his MLAs submitted their resignations to the Speaker.

BJP MPs Prahlad Patel and Meenakshi Lekhi on Wednesday told reporters outside Parliament that everything will be clear after the Rajya Sabha elections on March 23. "First there is Rajya Sabha election. Then the floor test will take place and Kamal Nath government will fall. There is not an iota of doubt about it. This government should not survive," said Patel, who is also a minister in Modi government.

ALSO READ| Madhya Pradesh crisis: Cracks in Scindia camp, dissent in BJP give boost to Kamal Nath government

"The kind of leadership the Congress has will definitely drive people away from the party. It's a three-member party and there is no talent," Lekhi said.

On the question of BJP trying to topple the Kamal Nath government by poaching MLAs, Lekhi said, "We don't need to do that. The Congress is its falling apart. We have nothing to do with the current crisis."

After Jyotiraditya Scindia's exit from the Congress, at least 22 MLAs have resigned from the party, putting Madhya Pradesh government in a minority even as chief minister Kamal Nath put up a brave face and expressed confidence that he will sail through in the Assembly.
Update: The ban was announced Wednesday morning

The Associated Press has learned Washington states governor will ban gatherings and events of more than 250 people in virtually the entire Seattle metro area to try to contain the coronavirus outbreak.

Gov. Jay Inslee has scheduled a news conference in Seattle for late Wednesday morning. The person who spoke about the decision late Tuesday was involved in the planning of the decision but spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because they werent authorized to discuss the matter publicly.

The person said the ban would apply to King, Pierce and Snohomish counties, which are home to almost 4 million people. The person said the order would not prohibit the operation of workplaces and is not expected to include school closures.

CORONAVIRUS IN OREGON: THE LATEST NEWS

Santa Clara County in California, home to San Jose and Silicon Valley, on Monday had banned all gatherings of 1,000 people or more.

At least 24 people have died in Washington state from COVID-19, most in the Seattle metro area. There are more than 260 confirmed cases in the state, most in the three counties that would be affected by Inslees new order.

--The Associated Press

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The state government is considering setting up special courts to hear cases pertaining to the I Monetary Advisory (IMA) multi-crore scam in which more than 34,000 people were cheated.

Although detailed discussions at the government level followed by a Cabinet decision are awaited, Law Minister J C Madhuswamy told the Legislative Council that extra courts might be required owing to mounting evidence related to the scam.

The government is considering whether to set up two or three courts (owing to the number of cases), Madhuswamy said at the Legislative Council on Monday. Moreover, there is a huge amount of evidence related to the case that is being submitted, he added.

The new courts are expected to speed up the prosecution of those accused in the case, which is currently being probed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

According to sources, three MLAs had demanded that the state government set up special courts to ensure speedy trial. Though the state was empowered to set up courts, a Cabinet decision was required for the purpose. The IMA scam came to light in June 2019, days after founder of the company Mansoor Khan fled the country. Several residents of Bengaluru from various parts of the city had staged a protest, demanding that the government step in and ensure that their money is returned.

The government had set up a Special Investigation Team to probe the case, which nabbed Mansoor from Dubai and brought him to Bengaluru. Names of several senior IAS and IPS officials and politicians had cropped up during the probe.

The case was handed over to the CBI soon after the BJP assumed power in the state. The central agency filed an FIR in February this year and named two IPS officers and four directors of the company in its FIR.
The damaging effects of the coronavirus outbreak in the Republic have hit almost every aspect of daily life.

With 10 more cases confirmed yesterday, the health service there is grappling with the cancellation of hundreds of surgeries and outpatient appointments.

A number of other events were scrapped, from festivals to charity fundraisers, and Trinity College Dublin shut its lecture halls with a move to online learning.

The Irish Department of Education moved to issue a statement scotching rumours it was about to order the closure of all schools.

The confirmed number of people struck by the infection shot up to 34, in the biggest rise seen in a single day since the virus hit Ireland. They include two healthcare workers - one in the south and another in the east.

However, none of the newly diagnosed cases was infected through community transmission. There has been a surge of 1,387 tests in the past week.

The expert group overseeing the coronavirus also drew up new rules which will allow healthcare workers who may have been exposed to the virus but have no symptoms to return to work. The health service is struggling with huge numbers of staff who have had to self-isolate.

These healthy workers will be risk-assessed before being assigned work and tested twice daily. However, appointment cancellations were already imposed in Limerick and Cork.

Nursing Homes Ireland has warned of the dangers of the Health Service Executive (HSE) poaching its staff as it lifts restrictions on recruitment.

It said there is a risk nursing homes will be denuded of staff and the HSE should appoint overseas candidates first.

Meanwhile, the expert group has given the go-ahead for regional laboratories to begin testing suspect cases. Results should be available in 24 to 48 hours amid complaints about delays.

The group said strict visiting restrictions imposed by hospitals and nursing homes were not needed at this stage.

Irish chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan said 98% of the 1,784 people tested so far "have tested negative". He warned that while the Republic "remains in containment phase, there is no room for complacency".

The European disease watchdog has warned of the spread of many more cases of community transmission, where people are infected without a known source.

When that happens locally, more stringent precautions will be felt by the population.

It is possible to explain the source of infection in all but three of the 34 cases in the Republic so far.

Asked about rumours that schools are about to be closed, Dr Holohan said it could not be ruled out at some stag, but will not be implemented at this point. A range of possible restrictive measures may be enforced in the future. But he said they will deployed at an appropriate time and that is "not necessarily now".

This followed an earlier statement from Ireland's Department of Education in response to reports circulating widely on social media that schools would not re-open after St Patrick's Day.

"Any decision to close schools will be made on public health advice. There is no such advice at this point," a spokesperson said.

Trinity College in Dublin, which had a case of the infection last week, announced it would close lecture halls and deliver lessons online to its thousands of students.
The member representing Kaduna central in the National Assembly, Sani Uba has stated that Nigerians and Kaduna residents are free to hold him responsible if the state governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai does not utilize the $350 million loan it got from the World bank judiciously.

Speaking with journalists in Abuja on Monday, Uba, who chairs the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and other Financial Institutions, further said the governor has what it takes to rework the state.

I am very certain and confident that the Governor will fulfil all that he has told the World Bank, the good people of Kaduna State and the National Assembly, that Kaduna State Government will do with the loan.

Read Also: Be Careful What You Tweet About Kaduna, We Will Get You: El Rufai

I even insist that I, Senator Uba Sani be held liable if the Governor fails or disappoints. But of course, I know Mallam Nasir El Rufai will never fail the people of Kaduna State. I am extremely happy and proud of the role some of us played in securing this loan for Kaduna State.

Like most Nigerians are already well aware, Mallam Nasir El Rufai has totally reworked Kaduna State. The State now boasts of top-notch infrastructures. This loan, once accessed, will enhance the efforts of the Governor in the on-going upgrade of infrastructures in the State. With the approval of the National Assembly for the loan from the World Bank, better times are coming for Kaduna State.
Cement exports from Bangladesh continue to slide in 8MFY19-20

11 March 2020

Bangladesh's cement industry has earned an export revenue of US$7.19m in the 8MFY19-20 (July 2019-February 2020), compared to US$7.27m earned in 8MFY18-19, a minor contraction of 1.1 per cent YoY. The export figure also includes a small amount of salt, stone and related products, according to the data of Bangladesh Export Promotion Bureau (EPB).



However, the export value for cement increased by 3.6 per cent above the 8MFY19-20 government target of US$6.94m during this export period.



The EPB had set a lower export target for the cement industry at US$10.50m for FY19-20 compared to US$14m for the previous fiscal year, following a decrease of cement export earnings to U$10.41m in FY18-19.



The country's total export earnings continued to decline as merchandise shipments witnessed a 4.79 per cent fall during the last eight months of current fiscal year of 2019-20. The aggregate export earnings during July to February of FY19-20 stood at US$26.24bn, against US$27.56bn earnings of the corresponding period of last fiscal, according to the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) data.



Cement is reportedly being exported by Bangladeshi cement producers to India, Myanmar, Nepal, Maldives and Sri Lanka.









Published under
By Akbar Mammadov

Head of Nagorno-Karabakhs Azerbaijani Community Tural Ganjaliyev and the British Ambassador to Azerbaijan James Sharp have discussed the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict during a meeting held in Baku.

Today I had a familiarization meeting with the head of the Azerbaijani community of Nagorno-Karabakh, MP Tural Ganjaliyev, the British Ambassador wrote on his Twitter account on March 10.

At the meeting, we discussed the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the community's contributions to this work, James Sharp wrote.

In the meantime, Tural Ganjaliyev wrote on his Twitter account that the meeting with Sharp was his very first meeting in my capacity as the elected representative of Khankendi constituency after the inauguration of Azerbaijani Parliament on 10 March. He thanked the British ambassador for the meeting.

Nagorno-Karabakh is Azerbaijans breakaway region which along with seven adjacent regions was occupied by Armenian forces in a war in the early 1990s. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and around one million were displaced as a result of the large-scale hostilities.

The OSCE Minsk Group co-chaired by the United States, Russia and France has been mediating the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict since the signing of the volatile cease-fire agreement in 1994. The Minsk Groups efforts have resulted in no progress and to this date, Armenia has failed to abide by the UN Security Council resolutions (822, 853, 874 and 884) that demand the withdrawal of Armenian military forces from the occupied territories of Azerbaijan.

---

Akbar Mammadov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AkbarMammadov97

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-11 11:33:44|Editor: xuxin

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Civil servants check the health condition of people under medical observation by phone at a calling center in Gwangju, South Korea, March 11, 2020. South Korea confirmed 242 more cases of the COVID-19 on Tuesday, raising the total number of infections to 7,755. Six more deaths were reported, lifting the death toll to 61. The total fatality rate stood at 0.77 percent. (NEWSIS/Handout via Xinhua)

SEOUL, March 11 (Xinhua) -- South Korea confirmed 242 more cases of the COVID-19 compared to 24 hours ago as of midnight Wednesday local time, raising the total number of infections to 7,755.

Six more deaths were reported, lifting the death toll to 61. The total fatality rate stood at 0.77 percent.

Forty-one more patients were discharged from quarantine after making full recovery, raising the combined number to 288.

The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) decided to update the data once a day at 10:00 a.m. local time beginning Tuesday, after having announced it twice a day.

The virus infection soared for the past three weeks, with 7,724 new cases reported from Feb. 19 to March 10. The country has raised its four-tier virus alert to the highest "red" level.

The total number of infections in Daegu, about 300 km southeast of Seoul, and its surrounding North Gyeongsang province increased to 5,794 and 1,135 respectively. It accounted for about 90 percent of the total.

The numbers in Seoul and its adjacent Gyeonggi province came to 193 and 175 each.

Daegu became the epicenter of the viral spread here as the biggest cluster of infections was found in the metropolis with a 2.5 million population. Daegu has been designated by the government as a "special care zone."

The Daegu cluster was closely linked to the church services of a homegrown minor religious sect, called Sincheonji, in Daegu. Members of the sect are known to sit on the floor closely side by side during church services.

Fifty-two new cases were reported in Seoul as a small cluster infection was found at a call center in southern Seoul.

The Seoul city government was considering an administrative order to temporarily ban the businesses, done in the confined spaces, such as Internet cafes and karaoke rooms as well as call centers.

Since Jan. 3, the country has tested more than 222,000 people, among whom 196,100 tested negative for the virus and 18,540 were being checked.
MANILA, Philippines  The Philippine National Police (PNP) assures to provide security in case a lockdown in Metro Manila is imposed as a preventive measure against the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

PNP Chief Police General Archie Gamboa said they are ready to deploy 38,000 cops to ensure that peace and order is maintained in the face of the health crisis.

We will be utilizing the NCRPO, (its) strength of around 28,000, Gamboa said.

Here in Camp Crame, it is around 10,000 so more or less we have 30,000 to 40,000 personnel to utilize in case this thing would come up, he added.

Gamboa stressed, a lockdown of a particular city should get a green light from the Department of Health (DOH), the authority in handling health situation across the country.

President Rodrigo Duterte recently turned down the proposal to place the entire Metro Manila on lockdown arguing that the situation is still under control though he declared class suspension in all of Metro Manila schools until Saturday (March 14).

Since school children are supposedly at home, the PNP assured to assist mall security personnel to bar students from entering malls and Internet cafes where they could possibly contract the virus.

The president required us to convince students to stay at home. (But of course,) in as much as we can do, we cannot restrain (them), Gamboa explained.

So far, nobody is resisting because its everybodys concern, he added.

Regular activities at Camp Crame have been postponed such as Pulisteniks and Zumba sessions where crowd of police personnel join.

The PNP also mulls on changing its routine flag ceremony on Mondays as a measure against the spread of COVID-19.

(We might suspend the conduct of) pass in review and all of these things are being done by the Philippine National Police just to prevent also contamination or infection if theres any, the PNP Chief said.

Gamboa has also ordered the procurement of 300 sets of protective gear in preparation for the deployment of NCRPO personnel who will be deployed to conduct contact tracing.

Story continues

The PNP is also preparing a quarantine area for their personnel should they require it.

(We could do house quarantine. If its needed to be done inside camp, and if its) very immediate then we will come up a specific place for quarantine, General Gamboa concluded. MNP (with reports from Lea Ylagan)

The post PNP to send 40,000 cops in case of Metro Manila lockdown appeared first on UNTV News.
Building products giant Brickworks has delayed the letting of major contracts for a new $125 million brick manufacturing plant in Sydney by three months because of the uncertainty created by the coronavirus.

Brickworks boss Lindsay Partridge said the company was about to start letting major contracts for the plant at Horsley Park in western Sydney this week, but had decided that deferring them for a period was a prudent move.

"I'll most probably go through the rest of our capital in the next day or two and defer it all because now you've got to save cash," he said.

Brickworks boss Lindsay Partridge says the company has deferred the letting of major contracts on a new brick plant by three months, but expects the building industry to be more resilient than other industries to coronavirus fallout. Credit:James Alcock

"We've just pushed it back until the situation becomes clear," he told The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald.
Mannedorf, Switzerland, March 11, 2020 - The Tecan Group (SIX Swiss Exchange: TECN) will hold an Analyst and Media Conference to discuss the full-year 2019 financial results on Tuesday, March 17, 2020 at 09:00 am CET in Zurich. The press release with the 2019 full-year financial results and the Annual Report 2019 will be published on March 17, 2020 at 6:30 am CET.

The conference will be audio-webcast with synchronized presentation slides. A link to the webcast will be made available in the "Investor Relations" section of Tecan's website www.tecan.comimmediately prior to the event.

Interested parties can also listen to the conference by phone.

The dial-in numbers for the call are as follows:

Participants from Europe: +41 58 310 50 00 or +44 207 107 0613 (UK)

Participants from the U.S.: +1 631 570 5613

Participants should if possible dial in 15 minutes before the start of the event.

A replay of the webcast will be available after the presentation on the website www.tecan.com for a period of 90 days. An iPad app for Financial Reports of the Tecan Group is also available from the App Store.

About Tecan

Tecan (www.tecan.com) is a leading global provider of laboratory instruments and solutions in biopharmaceuticals, forensics and clinical diagnostics. The company specializes in the development, production and distribution of automated workflow solutions for laboratories in the life sciences sector. Its clients include pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, university research departments, forensic and diagnostic laboratories. As an original equipment manufacturer (OEM), Tecan is also a leader in developing and manufacturing OEM instruments and components that are then distributed by partner companies. Founded in Switzerland in 1980, the company has manufacturing, research and development sites in both Europe and North America and maintains a sales and service network in 52 countries. In 2018, Tecan generated sales of CHF 594 million (USD 606 million; EUR 516 million). Registered shares of Tecan Group are traded on the SIX Swiss Exchange (TECN; ISIN CH0012100191).

For further information:

Tecan Group

Martin Braendle

Vice President, Communications & Investor Relations

Tel. +41 (0) 44 922 84 30

Fax +41 (0) 44 922 88 89

investor@tecan.com

www.tecan.com

Attachment
Brazils fascistic President Jair Bolsonaro winds up a five-day trip to the US today after signing a US-Brazilian military pact and discussing with US President Donald Trump the escalation of the drive for regime change in Venezuela.

Trump and Bolsonaro met Saturday night at the US presidents Palm Beach resort, Mar-a-Lago, where the two committed themselves to a strategic alliance for the defense of democracy in the region.

While bilateral trade relations were on the meetings agenda, White House sources said that the main point of discussion was Washingtons campaign to bring down the Venezuelan government of President Nicolas Maduro and install a US puppet regime headed by the right-wing politician Juan Guaido.

Even his Western backers acknowledge that popular support for Guaido, who swore himself in as interim president in January of last year and then staged an abortive coup attempt last April, has dissipated. Nonetheless, he recently conducted an international tour seeking to drum up support for even harsher economic sanctions against Venezuela or even military intervention.

Bolsonaro with Adm. Craig Faller at SOUTHCOM. (Credit: US Army)

A senior US official who briefed reporters on Saturday just before the Trump-Bolsonaro meeting said that the Trump administration was determined to implement a kind of Monroe 2.0 doctrine, referring to the nearly 200-year-old canon of Washingtons foreign policy in the Western Hemisphere, which in the second half of the 20th century served as a justification for a series of US-backed coups that brought military dictatorships to power over much of Latin America in an attempt to crush the revolutionary movement of the regions working class.

The resurrection of this doctrine, whose invocation had been dropped by US administrations in recent decades because of its long and bloody history, was aimed, according to the administration official, at external actors that, frankly, are incompatible with a lot of the values and things that bring the entire Western Hemisphere together...being, obviously, the Chinese and Russian involvement in the Western Hemisphere. He added, We truly feel that the Western Hemisphere is the hemisphere of the Americas, for the people of the Americas.

In relation to Venezuela, the official said that in the days and weeks to come, theres going to continue to be escalation toward the maximum pressure that we seek and that weve set as our policy.

Hopefully, we dont have to get ever to 100 percent maximum pressure, but we are all dedicated, along with our alliesColombia and Brazil in particular...to achieve that democratic transition...in Venezuela, he added. Asked by a reporter whether that meant military action, the official stated that all of those measures are on the table and all of those options are on the table.

Bolsonaros government prepared his trip to the US with a gesture of support for Washingtons aggression against Venezuela. It withdrew all of its diplomatic personnel from the country and ordered all Venezuelan diplomats to leave Brazil or face forced expulsion.

The Brazilian presidents visit to Florida was preceded a week earlier by a White House meeting between Trump and Colombias President Ivan Duque, in which the discussion also centered on Venezuela. This week, US troops were sent to Colombia for joint exercises with the countrys military.

The Venezuelan government protested the back-to-back meetings between Washington and Latin Americas two most right-wing regimes. Why should the United States and Brazil or the United States and Colombia have Venezuela on their military agenda? demanded Foreign Relations Minister Jorge Arreaza at a meeting with diplomatic personnel in Caracas. He went on to charge that Washington is preparing a naval blockadean act of waragainst Venezuela to enforce the sanctions it has imposed on Venezuela and its state-owned oil company PDVSA.

Washington, along with its allies in Brasilia and Bogota, is clearly banking on the economic strangulation of Venezuela triggering a military coup backed by the countrys capitalists overturning the government. The Maduro administration, however, has introduced policies aimed at currying favor with the countrys capitalist ruling elite, scrapping price controls and handing back nationalized enterprises to private owners, while effectively dollarizing the economy.

The result has been a dramatic widening of social polarization, as the government has imposed austerity measures against the working class, which is the primary victim of the increasing US economic blockade of the country. The impact of these measures and the right-wing policies of the so-called Bolivarian socialist government may instead trigger an explosion of mass protest and class struggle.

The one concrete result of Bolsonaros trip was a pact signed on Sunday at the headquarters of the US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) that streamlines the process for Brazils arms industry to sell its products to the Pentagon. At the signing ceremony, attended by Bolsonaro and the chief of the Brazilian Armed Forces Joint Staff, Air Force Gen. Raul Botelho, SOUTHCOM commander Adm. Craig Faller praised the deal as historic, claiming that it would help confront threats in the region, including Venezuela.

Faller invoked our longstanding partnership with Brazils armed forces, a bloody history that includes the Pentagons backing for the 1964 military coup that brought to power a military dictatorship that murdered, imprisoned, tortured and exiled hundreds of thousands of workers, students and other opponents of the regime.

Bolsonaro, a former army captain whose political career was nurtured as a parliamentary ally of the Workers Party (PT), embraces this history unconditionally.

Bolsonaro gave the frankest exposition of his fascist views in a speech Monday before a group of Florida businessmen in Miami. Acknowledging his discussions with Trump on the campaign of aggression against Venezuela, he said, We must do everything possible for normality to be re-established in Venezuela, which is not easy, given the degree of moral and political degradation which exists in that country.

One must ask, is the normality that Bolsonaro seeks to restore in Venezuela the equivalent of what now prevails in Brazil? The country is ruled by a government that is increasingly dominated by military commanders and extreme-right ideologues. It has been plunged into a constitutional crisis over Bolsonaros demand for unconditional control over the budget passed by the countrys congress and his open support for protests against the legislature, scheduled for next Sunday on the slogan the generals are waiting for the orders of the people, an implicit call for a military coup. Military Police have mutinied in the northeastern state of Ceara, terrorizing the local population, with the tacit support of Bolsonaro and his followers.

He continued with his rabidly right-wing address, stating that Brazilian-US relations had improved because his was a government that values the Armed Forces and a government that believes in God. This is the great antidote to the left which seeks at every moment only the struggle for power, to enslave the population. He boasted that he had fought strongly against the left, not giving it any truce or opportunity.

This fascistic and anti-communist ideology endears Bolsonaro to Trump, who has repeatedly called for a crusade against socialism. The two also bonded over their reaction to the worldwide coronavirus pandemic, which Bolsonaro described as a fantasy propagated by the big media.

Despite this ideological affinity, the interests of Brazil and the US are far from identical. On the one hand, Trump continued to threaten Brazil with tariffs on steel and aluminum, while, on the other, the US presidents attempt to pressure Bolsonaro to reject the bid by the Chinese company Huawei to develop the 5G network in Brazil appeared to have had little effect.

China has been Brazils largest trading partner since 2009, and Huawei already has a significant presence in the development of the countrys infrastructure. A politically motivated rejection of Huawei would not only force the country to resort to less technologically advanced and more expensive alternatives, but also risk Chinese retaliation against key export industries, including agribusiness. Whatever the final outcome, Brazil will remain a battleground in the increasingly bitter geo-strategic struggle between the US and China.

While Bolsonaro was in the US, the Brazilian economy was shaken by the global oil price war, which contributed to a 12 percent fall in the countrys Ibovespa stock marketthe biggest one-day drop since the 1998 Russian crisisand a 30 percent collapse in the share values of the state-run oil giant Petrobras.

Economy Minister Paulo Guedes responded to the crisis by urging serenity and declaring that Brazilian democracy will react by transforming this crisis into advancing reforms, by which he means further attacks on the social conditions of the Brazilian working class.

The response of the Workers Party to Bolsonaros alliance with Washington has been an appeal for policies of national development and a multilateral policy in relation to world imperialism. Celso Amorim, former foreign minister and defense minister in the governments of PT presidents Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Dilma Rousseff, told Brasil de Facto that these governments had obtained favorable military relations not only with Washington, but also with France, which helped the Brazilian military obtain a nuclear submarine, and other countries.

The PT, which is pitching its appeal to the military command and sections of big business, will rapidly close ranks with Bolsonaro against any eruption of the class struggle in Brazil.
Reporter Sebastian Castelier went to the remote village of Kumzar to understand its role in a destructive food system.

Freediving at a depth of five to six metres in the Strait of Hormuz, off the northern coast of Oman, it was hard to see anything in the vast, dark waters.

This biodiverse region is home to dolphins, turtles, coral reefs, giant morays and sharks, but that morning, not even the sea floor was visible.

All of a sudden, a blacktip shark appeared. It was hooked to a fishing trap that an Omani fisherman, now standing at the edge of a boat at the waters surface, had set up the day before.

I swam closer. From above, I started to take photographs  including this one  of the blacktip. It was about one-metre long, and stayed very still, as if dead.

I quickly swam to the surface, took a deep breath and dived again to take more photos from beneath the animal. I took about 50 pictures before the fisherman, a well-built man in his 40s, pulled the shark to the surface, struck it on the head with a wooden stick and brought it aboard.

Swimming back to the boat, I thought of how these pictures captured a little-seen side of the global shark trade  the moment when one of these animals is caught at sea. They also pointed to a relatively unknown source in this industry, the lucrative shark fishing business taking place in the Gulf region. To feed a globalised appetite for shark fins and meat, blacktips are just one of many species being unsustainably fished in the Arabian Gulf.

But I also felt torn. I had felt a sadness to see this shark dying underwater, yet, at the same time, I understood the need for the fisherman to catch sharks to support his family.

Kumzar, a remote fishing village

Underwater photography is a break from the reporting that I do throughout the year on Gulf societies and Asia-Gulf migrations. I started this reporting project because I wanted to understand how globalised markets connected the fishermen of a remote Omani village to wealthy Asian customers more than 5,000km away.

To do this, my colleague Quentin Muller and I travelled to Oman in early December, 2016. We drove along the 200km-long coastal road from Dubai to Musandam, a pristine mountainous peninsula known for its majestic fjords like those carved out by Arctic glaciers.

We then sailed on an Omani fishing boat to Kumzar, in Musandams isolated northernmost tip, a coastal village with a population of about 5,000 nestled between steep, rocky mountains. The waters along the coastline are rich in fish, which attract predators. Shark fishing itself became a livelihood for the local community after the 1970s oil boom linked Gulf economies to global trade.

It is not illegal to shark fish in Oman, although sharks must be sold whole. But finning, removing the fins and disposing of the shark body, often in the water, is prohibited. In 2008, the country became a signatory to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which states that threatened species such as the great hammerhead shark and the whale shark should be protected from trade activities. The sultanate is working out how best to regulate fisheries as Omani fishermen continue to catch CITES-listed species.

I waited in the village for a few days before a fisherman agreed to take me on his boat. Shark fishing is an established tradition [in Kumzar], the fisherman told me. His father also shark-fished.

The fishermen lure the sharks by setting sea traps composed of a rope dozens of metres long and weighted to reach the sea floor. Several hooks with live fish hooked through the cheek are attached to the rope. Between 24 to 48 hours later, the fisherman returns to the spot out at sea to check whether a shark has been snared.

The fisherman who catches the blacktip sells his catch at the local market or to traders in the Omani city of Khasab from where the sharks are exported. Kumzars fishermen catch mostly blacktip, whitetip reef, hammerhead and some whale sharks.

A rare catch, a big hammerhead perhaps around five metres long, can fetch $1,300, which goes to the fisherman.

From Khasab, a refrigerated truck takes the haul to the United Arab Emirates, the fisherman told me. Like most of the sharks caught by thousands of fishermen across the region, this blacktip will be processed, dried or frozen and packed in United Arab Emirates-based factories. Between 2000 and 2011, Oman exported $2,438,000 worth of shark fins every year, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. The UAE is one of the key logistics hubs supplying the ground zero of shark fins  Hong Kong, which in turn feeds Asian markets, predominantly China, but also growing ones like Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam.

Global responsibility

A hundred million sharks are killed each year, driven by demand in Asia for prized shark fins. There are also growing markets for meat, such as Brazil and other countries in South America.

While artisanal fisheries like in Kumzar account for only a limited number of total catches, industrial and illegal shark fisheries wreak havoc on our oceans and bycatches caused by commercial vessels targeting tuna and swordfish kill millions of sharks every year.

Overfishing for the consumption of fins and meat is causing shark populations to decline globally. Finning is illegal in many countries, yet a 2012 report found that only one-third of 211 reviewed countries and territories have finning regulations.

Extinction threatens more than a quarter of shark species, which are also crucial for the resilience of the ocean ecosystems covering almost three-quarters of our planet. Some species are protected by CITES, but more regulation is needed.

In an increasingly urbanised world disconnected from the natural environment where customers live thousands of kilometres from production sites, we collectively struggle to fathom the long-term consequences of overfishing.

Nor is this way of life sustainable for Omans shark fishermen. Some days after going out on the boat, people in Musandam told me why their family members stopped fishing. There was nothing left under water, they said. The top predators were disappearing.
Wuhan Residents Locked and Nailed Into Own Home, Food Gone and Facing Starvation

Part 1

Following the severe economic impact of the coronavirus epidemic, the communist regime has demanded that the nation returns to work while it continues its lockdown policy. From March 1, the regime imposed an unprecedented internet blockage. Many Wuhan residents have not been able to get help for the past 40 days, and it continues.

The Epoch Times interviewed a Wuhan resident trapped at home for 40 days. Aid is not available. With two young children, money running out and the door has been nailed shut from outside, even though they are not infected.

A transcript of part 1 of the interview:

Mr. Pan: Basically, my savings are almost used up. I have to find someone to borrow money from when its gone. The food is so expensive. I cant even go out to beg on the street. No one is on the street!

Journalist: You cant go out, right?

Mr. Pan: Right. The door is nailed shut completely.

Journalist: Do they deliver the groceries?

Mr. Pan: There are two separate issues. The first one is that food is quite expensive. Second, where does money or finance come from? Theres no money. Who can afford it? Who would sell to you? The third one, go begging. I was ready to beg for food, I would take my family out to beg for food. But how? I cant even go out.

Mr. Pan: I am not ill. I have made it clear. My dad is infected. Not me, I am normal. Why cant I have the right to live? Who can tell me? Im in the house every day now. What can I do? Wait for death?

Journalist: This is inhumane to trap people at home.

Mr. Pan: This is the situation now. Has anyone called me and asked after me? No one cares about us. I havent seen one grain of rice from relief aid, let alone anything else. What donations? What disaster relief? Nothing! I have two children and we have not received even a grain of rice!

Journalist: How can people live like that?

Mr. Pan: It is not just me, I have asked around, its the same for everyone else. No one has received a grain of rice. So what is the government doing? Today is the 40th day, and it will be another forty days.

Is the epidemic still so serious that it has to be closed for another 40 days?

Mr. Pan: I dont know. No one has reported about the epidemic. If the epidemic was not serious, the door would be open! The logic is very simple. Open the door, let everyone out to live a normal life? Nail up the door! doesnt that mean it is still very serious now. Whats there to ask?

Journalist: The power will be off automatically without money?

Mr. Pan: Yes, of course. Its bundled with my mobile phone, it deducts automatically. If you dont believe me, I can show you the phone. My life is really difficult now, what can I do if my 3-year old girl is out of baby formula?

Journalist: If it continues, the common peoples life is.

Mr. Pan: I think I am an individual. People is a derogatory term. I am not just a person. I am an individual. My last name is Pan. My son and daughter are also surnamed Pan. I have a name. How can I just be a common person? Everyone has a first name, right? This Is the Way.

Journalist: This is a very common situation there?

Mr. Pan: My father has not received anything either, nor have my in-laws. My family and relatives have nothing, neither my brothers and sistersall have nothing. If anyone had received a grain of rice, they would tell me.

Journalist: Where are those donated supplies?

Mr. Pan: Ask Heaven, how would I know? There are about 17 or 18 people in my family. We speak on the phoneno one has received any so-called donated materials. They didnt even get a grain of rice. My father has coronary heart disease and high blood pressure. He cant go out. He cant stay in the hospital. What kind of society is this!

Journalist: It was said to introduce some policy?

Mr. Pan: Since the lockdown began I have not received a grain of rice. I made a lot of phone calls, they were all recorded. This is my situation now. Who can I complain to? If I scold this party and this government, I would go to jail, to put it seriously, they could say that I overturned the state power, what could I do then?

Journalist: You cant even afford the rice, how could you overturn the state?

Mr. Pan: I am an individual. I have children, I have a family, and I have parents. What should I do? In other words, there are both elderlies and youngsters at home.

Journalist: Right, there are so many people like you now. You have to wait until the end of April?

Mr. Pan: This society is not human, it is hell. We are boiled in hell, waiting for trial, or waiting for the fire to burn us, just to die. We are very scared because the coronavirus is ubiquitous. Getting infected is very troublesome.



Part 2 of the interview  CLICK HERE

Part 3 of the interview  CLICK HERE
GENESEE TWP, MI  The Investigation Discovery television channel will feature the 1993 murder case of Wanda Musk.

Musk was 19 on Nov. 11, 1993 when she was found dead in Genesee Township. The case will be featured at 8 p.m. Sunday, March 15 on Investigation Discoverys show The Lake Erie Murders.

Matthew L. Alder, a former Marine, pleaded guilty to Musks murder.

Alder testified at an August 2013 plea hearing that he abducted Musk from the 1-Stop Food Store on Richfield Road where she worked and beat her to death with a steel baton.

Imprisoned killer pleads guilty to 1993 Genesee Township homicide

He even stopped to tell the judge that he only agreed to plead guilty if prosecutors stipulated that he would not have any financial restitution related to the killing.

Musk's body was found by a newspaper deliveryman about seven miles away from the store on North Vassar Road, just south of East Mt. Morris Road.

Alder's DNA was connected to the Musk case in January 2012 after a new law required Michigan Department of Corrections inmates to submit their DNA for testing.

He was sentenced in September 2013 to 20-30 years in prison by Genesee Circuit Judge Joseph J. Farah after pleading guilty to second-degree murder.

Alder had already been convicted of a 1994 Roseville slaying -- to which he was convicted of life in prison without parole -- that Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton said was eerily and sadly similar to Musks killing.

"We have waited for almost 20 years for this day," said Kristy Tate at the sentencing, who spoke on behalf of Musk's family. "There's not a day that goes by we don't think of Wanda."

Alder sat and listened via video conference from a room in a state prison as Tate called him a monster and said that he showed no remorse when he told the court how he killed Musk, per Flint Journal records.

Family of Wanda Musk calls her killer a monster, Genesee County judge sentences him to prison

"We will never understand why she was taken from us," said Tate.

Family members said Musk was adopted as a baby and raised in Muskegon until she was 14. She then moved to the Flint area, where she was taken in by the Masts.

Musk graduated from Kearsley High School and was attending Mott Community College at the time of her death. Musk's family said she was working at the convenience store to raise enough money to live on her own.

Her death remained unsolved for almost two decades as detectives chased leads. The investigation even yielded one man who falsely confessed to the slaying. A retired detective, Jerry Parks, continued working the case.

Parks, formerly a Genesee County Sheriff's detective, spent years combing through files after joining the Genesee Township police for $1 a month to work unsolved cases.

Parks said the charges were announced against Alder after he had eliminated more than 600 people as suspects in the case through DNA evidence.

Wanda Musks family credit retired cops tireless work in solving 1993 slaying

Convicted killer already serving life in prison charged in 1993 slaying of Wanda Musk in Genesee Township
The swab samples of two persons, who have tested positive for coronavirus in Mumbai on Wednesday, will be sent to Pune-based National Institute of Virology (NIV) for reconfirmation, an official said.

The two persons, who are the first coronavirus positive cases from Mumbai, had come in close contact with two Pune residents who had returned from Dubai recently and tested positive for coronavirus, officials said.

Suresh Kakani, Additional Municipal Commissioner of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), said the swab samples of two persons, who tested positive for coronavirus, will be sent to the NIV for testing "as per protocol".

The two persons tested positive for coronavirus during the tests conducted at Chinchpokali-based Kasturba Hospital in Mumbai on Wednesday.

Of the six persons, who were part of the group returned from Dubai trip, only two tested positive to coronavirus, Kakani said.

"The two persons, who tested positive for coronavirus, will undergo treatment at the hospital, while the remaining four people will be given discharge," he said.

According to the Maharashtra Health Department, total 15 people are quarantined at the Kasturba Hospital, including the group of six who returned from Dubai.

Kakani said that they would also track the four patients, whose tested negative for coronavirus, for the next 14 days in case they start showing symptoms a few days later.

The civic body has created an isolation ward at the Kasturba Hospital to quarantine the people with possible coronavirus infection.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Rail partnership expresses disappointment after Ruabon Station misses out on disabled access funding

This article is old - Published: Wednesday, Mar 11th, 2020

A rail partnership has expressed its disappointment of the news that Ruabon Station has failed to secure disabled access funding.

The Access for All Mid-Tier scheme saw Welsh Government nominate a number of stations, supported by match funding to the Department for Transport (DfT).

Local support for Ruabon was evidenced and passenger numbers at this station continue to rise with a 7.3% increase recorded for 2019. The schemes selected by the DfT were lift additions at Neath, Grangetown, Pontypool & New Inn and Llantwit Major.

However the local station was not selected by the UK Government in the final allocations for accessibility improvements, despite investment once being described as confirmed.

The Welsh Government later announced that it is in the early stages of considering alternative funding arrangements for stations that have not been selected.

Councillor David A Bithell, chairman of the Chester Shrewsbury Rail Partnership, said: Whilst we are naturally very disappointed that passengers will not benefit from this scheme we are fully supportive of the news from the Minister for Transport & the Economy, Ken Skates that he has asked Transport for Wales to urgently consider progressing step free access at the stations that were unsuccessful through their own direct investment using the matched funding that was offered to the UK Government.

Ruabon is a busy station with two flights of stairs that passengers have to negotiate to access the Chester platform. It is the only station on our line that fails to meet the passengers needs.

It is in an area of strong housing and retail growth and is the rail/bus gateway access for Llangollen and the World Heritage site at Pontcysyllte.

We will continue to offer our help and support to ensure this project is delivered.
Winston Churchill's rousing speeches inspired a nation and played a key role in maintaining Britain's morale during the dark early days of the Second World War.

His defiant and powerful words allowed ordinary Britons, soldiers, sailors and airmen to feel hope.

He replaced Neville Chamberlain as Prime Minister on May 10 1940.

Days earlier, the 'phoney war', the period of relative calm following the declaration of war on September 3, 1939, had ended with the German invasion of France, Belgium and Holland.

Churchill's first speech as premier to the House of Commons, three days later, would go down in history as one of his most famous.

Winston Churchill's rousing speeches inspired a nation and played a key role in maintaining Britain's morale during the dark early days of the Second World War

He said: 'I would say to the House, as I said to those who have joined this government: "I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat."

'We have before us an ordeal of the most grievous kind. We have before us many, many long months of struggle and of suffering.

'You ask, what is our policy? I can say: It is to wage war, by sea, land and air, with all our might and with all the strength that God can give us; to wage war against a monstrous tyranny, never surpassed in the dark, lamentable catalogue of human crime. That is our policy.

'You ask, what is our aim? I can answer in one word: It is victory, victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory, however long and hard the road may be; for without victory, there is no survival.

'Let that be realised; no survival for the British Empire, no survival for all that the British Empire has stood for, no survival for the urge and impulse of the ages, that mankind will move forward towards its goal.

'But I take up my task with buoyancy and hope. I feel sure that our cause will not be suffered to fail among men. At this time, I feel entitled to claim the aid of all, and I say, 'Come then, let us go forward together with our united strength.' '

Extract from his first broadcast as PM to the country on May 19, 1940.

'I speak to you for the first time as Prime Minister in a solemn hour for the life of our country, of our Empire, of our allies, and, above all, of the cause of freedom . . .

'It would be foolish . . . to disguise the gravity of the hour. It would be still more foolish to lose heart and courage or to suppose that well-trained, well-equipped armies numbering three or four millions of men can be overcome in the space of a few weeks, or even months...

'Side by side, unaided except by their kith and kin in the great Dominions and by the wide empires which rest beneath their shield  side by side, the British and French peoples have advanced to rescue not only Europe but mankind from the foulest and most soul-destroying tyranny which has ever darkened and stained the pages of history.

'Behind them  behind us, behind the armies and fleets of Britain and France  gather a group of shattered states and bludgeoned races: the Czechs, the Poles, the Norwegians, the Danes, the Dutch, the Belgians  upon all of whom the long night of barbarism will descend, unbroken even by a star of hope, unless we conquer, as conquer we must; as conquer we shall.

'Today is Trinity Sunday. Centuries ago, words were written to be a call and a spur to the faithful servants of truth and justice, 'Arm yourselves, and be ye men of valour, and be in readiness for the conflict; for it is better for us to perish in battle than to look upon the outrage of our nation and our altar. As the Will of God is in Heaven, even so let it be.' '

Extract from his Commons speech on June 4, 1940, after the evacuation of 338,000 Allied troops from Dunkirk.

'I have, myself, full confidence that if all do their duty, if nothing is neglected, and if the best arrangements are made, as they are being made, we shall prove ourselves once again able to defend our island home, to ride out the storm of war, and to outlive the menace of tyranny, if necessary for years, if necessary alone.

'At any rate, that is what we are going to try to do. That is the resolve of His Majesty's Government  every man of them. That is the will of Parliament and the nation. The British Empire and the French Republic, linked together in their cause and in their need, will defend to the death their native soil, aiding each other like good comrades to the utmost of their strength.

'Even though large tracts of Europe and many old and famous states have fallen or may fall into the grip of the Gestapo and all the odious apparatus of Nazi rule, we shall not flag or fail.

'We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender, and even if, which I do not for a moment believe, this island or a large part of it were subjugated and starving, then our Empire beyond the seas, armed and guarded by the British Fleet, would carry on the struggle, until, in God's good time, the New World, with all its power and might, steps forth to the rescue and the liberation of the old.'

Extract from his Commons speech on June 18, 1940.

'What General Weygand [the French Allied commander] called the Battle of France is over. I expect that the Battle of Britain is about to begin.

'Upon this battle depends the survival of Christian civilisation. Upon it depends our own British life, and the long continuity of our institutions and our Empire. The whole fury and might of the enemy must very soon be turned on us.

'Hitler knows that he will have to break us in this island or lose the war. If we can stand up to him, all Europe may be free and the life of the world may move forward into broad, sunlit uplands.

'But if we fail, then the whole world, including the United States, including all that we have known and cared for, will sink into the abyss of a new Dark Age made more sinister, and perhaps more protracted, by the lights of perverted science.

'Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties, and so bear ourselves that, if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will still say, "This was their finest hour." '
An autistic teenager abandoned by his state-controlled carers spends his days ordering heavy earth-moving vehicles after being denied a chance at a real life.

Daily Mail Australia can expose the shocking betrayal of the 17-year old boy who has spent the past four years under the care of Victoria's Department of Health and Human Services.

The high needs youth, who cannot be named due to legal reasons, has lived for extended periods alone in a motel when not housed among drug-using and violent criminals.

An autistic teen had an earth mover similar to the one pictured delivered to his door at a flat in a country Victorian town. He made a new friend when he drove it down the main drag

Samantha Baring met the youth by chance as he drove down the main strip of her quiet town in country Victoria in a large loader used in the mining industry.

Samantha Baring met the youth by chance as he drove down the main strip of her quiet town in country Victoria in a large loader used in the mining industry.

'I told him to park the vehicle and I sat him down, bought him a Coke and listened to him,' she told Daily Mail Australia.

"I just thought he was adorable and said "why don't you come and work up at our property" ... and that's how it all started.'

What she learnt that day shocked her.

The boy told her that he had been charged more than two dozen times over his obsession with earth-moving machinery, which he would have delivered to his small flat just outside of Bendigo, in central Victoria.

The machinery, worth millions of dollars, would be sent to the child for supposed trials of the equipment.

The boy shared the home with some of the state's roughest and most troubled youths.

Before then, at the age of just 16, he had been housed alone at a motel with access to a microwave and nothing much else for up to six months.

He had also been held in juvenile detention despite his obvious neurological condition.

When released the boy was cut-off from welfare payments and could not even afford to buy food, Ms Baring said.

Destitute, he found himself back in juvenile detention where he was savagely bashed.

The boy, who cannot read or write, had not been to school since he was 14 and had received no further education under state care.

Nor has he had access to any kind of basic medical assistance that might proper deal with his autism.

'My concern is he's never seen a psychiatrist or psychologist before over his obsession with machinery,' Ms Baring said.

'He's just continued and continued to commit the same crime time and time again and no-one has done anything about it.'

One of the forklifts an autistic teen had delivered to his door. The boy has ordered more than two dozen different vehicles to his address

On inspection of his latest accommodation, Ms Baring and her partner found his tiny, dark room to be filthy and devoid of basics such as bed linen.

The couple gave him a home, clean sheets and provided him with work on their property without the knowledge he had been on strict bail conditions linked to his dingy flat.

The conditions contributed to his isolation, restricting his access to a mobile phone and the internet.

Ms Baring said when she tried to help the child, DHHS 'fobbed her off' as a 'troublemaker'.

It took her 14 days to get the boy sheets.

Meanwhile her offers to not only house the boy, but provide him with a meaningful future were rejected by the department, which further ordered Ms Baring cease her interaction with the child.

It followed an ugly encounter the boy had last month where an officer deployed capsicum spray into the child's face after he resisted arrest.

Ms Baring witnessed the horrific take-down.

'He just continually sprayed that stuff into his eyes until he was blinded,' she said. 'It was just hideous and I just kept screaming for him to stop.'

Ms Baring said despite the conflict she had had with DHHS, police did not call his state minders and later released him into her custody.

She further claimed DHHS had since run a smear campaign against her which involved false allegations.

'Their concern is that I'm going to do what I'm doing. Because I've been threatening for ages that they will be exposed for what they are doing,' she said.

The putrid bed the autistic boy was sleeping in at his government operated home in country Victoria. Samantha Baring is fighting to have the youth moved into her custody

It took Samantha Baring 14 days for DHHS to provide clean linen for a teenage boy who was living alone under its care

The bedroom the autistic boy could sleep in if DHHS would allow him to be cared for by a Good Samaritan who found him on the street driving a huge earth mover

Last week the youth was placed under 24-hour care at another location where he has been told to cut himself off from Ms Baring.

'It's a slight step up but he's miles from me, he's not doing anything constructive, he still continues not to have any education ... I mean it is just appalling,' Ms Baring said.

Criminal barrister Patrick Casey, who has practiced law for more than 40 years, said DHHS had been well aware of the boy's problems.

'He's got a low IQ, ADHD, autism and all kinds of personal problems and had always been a troubled person, which they were well aware of for three years previously,' he said.

Mr Casey said he had been so impressed with the accommodation Ms Baring had on offer that he was happy for his client to be bailed to her address.

'Their actions were to prohibit that because it would reflect badly on them because Samantha was about to dump on them, ' he said.

Mr Casey told Daily Mail Australia a DHHS representative at court went so far as to disclose 'inappropriate' information about Ms Baring to him.

'Stuff that really they were privy to - and only they were privy to because of their position - but was information that was totally privileged and should not have been revealed,' he said.

Mr Casey said the information was totally baseless and would have been unknown even to Ms Baring.

Making matters worse, DHHS could not even produce the child for his court appearance.

'They just failed to bring him,' Mr Casey said.

With the boy's 18th birthday approaching in the coming weeks, Ms Baring is worried another government agency may apply for guardianship over the teenager, which would likely subject him to a life trapped within the system.

'The huge question is how many children on the National Disability Insurance Scheme are living on their own,' Ms Baring said.

Ms Baring said she had written to Victorian Minister for Child Protection Luke Donnellan 32 times and called his office seven times without a single response.

Mr Donnellan did not respond to a request by Daily Mail Australia either.

A DHHS spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia it could not comment on individual cases.

'Our priority is always to look after the best interests of the young person,' she said. 'Case planning decisions are often complex, any decision we make about the care of a young person is done with careful consideration and consultation.'

Victoria Police also backed it's response to the arrest of the teen.

'All procedures and protocols were followed on advice from a government authority,' a spokeswoman said.

'The matter has been reviewed at a local level and police are satisfied that the response was appropriate.'
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-11 17:25:01|Editor: huaxia

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A multinational company which has resumed production in China is full of confidence in winning the battle against #coronavirus through concerted efforts. #FightVirus
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt is suing televangelist Jim Bakker and his show for claiming a product could cure the new coronavirus.

The lawsuit, announced Tuesday afternoon, alleges that in an episode of the Jim Bakker Show a guest claimed a product sold through his online store can cure the coronavirus.

Those claims are not backed by reliable scientific evidence, the lawsuit says. COVID-19, the diseases official name, has killed more than 4,000 people and infected more than 100,000 throughout the world. Two people have been diagnosed in Kansas and Missouri.

The goal of the lawsuit filed in Stone County Circuit Court, attorney generals spokesman Chris Nuelle said, is to stop misinformation.

We wouldnt want a consumer seeing this and thinking it could help them with the coronavirus, Nuelle said. If theres misinformation out there, we want to combat it. If theres misrepresentations being made, we want to prevent that.

The lawsuit requests a permanent injunction ordering Bakker to stop marketing the product as a treatment for the coronavirus. It cites the Merchandising Practices Act, which says any misrepresentation when selling products is unlawful. The attorney generals office also filed a request for a restraining order.

In an episode of his nationwide show on Feb. 12, Bakker asked his guest, Sherill Sellman, if the Silver Solution would be effective against the coronavirus.

Lets say it hasnt been tested on this strain of the coronavirus, but its been tested on other strains of the coronavirus and has been able to eliminate it within 12 hours, Sellman said.

She went on to say the product has been proven by the government that it has the ability to kill every pathogen it has ever been tested on including SARS and HIV.

But according to the Food and Drug Administration, the product is an unapproved new drug that violates the law. There are no over-the-counter products that treat or cure the coronavirus, according to the FDA.

On Monday, the attorney general warned Missourians of scams and price gouging related to the coronavirus. No complaints were made to the attorney generals office as of Monday, according to a news release, but consumers should be wary.

The Missouri attorney generals job is to protect all 6 million Missourians, Nuelle said. We want Missourians to know that we are here to help them and we want to hear from them if they see  any other scam related to the coronavirus because we want to hear about it.

Consumers can report scams or price gouging to the attorney generals Consumer Protection Hotline at 800-392-8222 or through the attorney generals website.

The New York Attorney Generals Office last week issued a cease and desist letter to Bakkers show, telling him to stop making claims that arent supported by scientific evidence.

The FDA issued a warning letter to Bakkers last week saying he had to correct the mis-branding violations within 48 hours. And on Monday, his company was one of seven warned for selling fraudulent products by the FDA and the Federal Trade Commission.

Former PTL chairman Jim Bakker and his wife Tammy talk to reporters as they stand with other family members at the Tega Cay, S.C., on June 11, 1987 house they live in. This is Bakkers first appearance in South Carolina since he resigned from the PTL ministry. Left to right are: Norman Bakker, brother, Jim Bakker, Raleigh Bakker, father, Tammy Bakker and Jamie Charles Bakker, son. (AP Photo/Pete Jorgenson)ASSOCIATED PRESS

In one review on the products website, a user says the solution did not work on the coronavirus as advertised. Everyone in my home has now developed fever and respiratory problems.

In another review, a consumer asked how the product was tested after they heard Bakker say it would cure the coronavirus in less than a day. The company responded that Bakker and his ministry have not and can not make any official claims on Silver being able to heal the coronavirus in 12 hours.

On Bakkers website, where the product is still offered, details say the FDA has not evaluated it and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. That statement was not on an archived version of the website from last week, the day the FDA issued its warning. That page does warn California consumers about chemicals that could cause cancer or reproductive toxicity.

The company did not return a request for comment by publication time.

Bakker hosted the evangelical Christian TV program The PTL Club in the 70s and 80s before he was convicted in 1989 of wire and mail fraud and conspiracy. He served five years in federal prison.



Cortlynn Stark of The Kansas City Star wrote this story.

2020 The Kansas City Star (Kansas City, Mo.)

Visit The Kansas City Star (Kansas City, Mo.) at www.kansascity.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Vietnams government introduced Decree 22/2022/ND-CP (Decree 22) exempting Business License Tax (BLT) for newly established businesses in the first year.

The regulation went into effect on February 25, 2020.

The development bodes well for investors as well as SMEs looking to establish operations in Vietnam given the current business environment.

The Vietnamese government released Decree No 22/2022/ND-CP (Decree 22) amending the rules on business license tax (BLT). The regulations went into effect on February 25, 2020.

BLT is an indirect tax imposed on entities that conduct business activities in Vietnam and are paid by the enterprises themselves on an annual basis.

All companies, organizations or individuals (including branches, shops, and factories) and foreign investors that operate businesses in Vietnam are subject to BLT charges, and the BLT rates are different for economic entities and for households/individuals.

Decree 22 highlights

As per the Decree, BLT is exempt in the first year of business or operations for the following instances:

New established businesses;

Households, individuals doing business for the first time;

Representatives Offices (ROs), branches and business locations established during the exemption period;

Small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) that have been converted from household businesses will be exempt from business license fee for three years from the date of their initial enterprise registration certificate (ERC); and

General education and public preschool education establishments.

In addition, under the new regulations, businesses that have just been established can file BLT returns by January 30 of the subsequent year of establishment or operations. This can be done online and takes less than a day.

Furthermore, BLT is not required for businesses during a suspension period as long as a notification of the suspension is submitted to the tax authorities by January 30 each year.

The development will bode well for investors looking to establish new businesses particularly amid the COVID-19 outbreak and the US-China trade war.

Applicable BLT rates for businesses

The amount of BLT that a business is obligated to pay is based on the amount of their registered capital (as listed on their business registration certificates) in accordance with the accompanying table below.
Jyotiraditya Scindia (left) and BJP National President JP Nadda (Image: @BJPLive)

On a day when former Congress MP Jyotiraditya Scindia joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), 12 Congress leaders who had flown down to Bengaluru with the Gwalior royal on March 9 have shown reluctance in joining the saffron gang.

The 10 MLAs and two ministers, who are loyal to the former Union minister, have reportedly clarified that they are not looking at joining the BJP.

According to an NDTV report, the MLAs said on March 11, We came for Maharaj (Jyotiraditya Scindia) ... not to join the BJP.

News of fissures deepening in the Kamal Nath government started doing the rounds earlier this week, when 19 Congress leaders, who are loyal to Scindia, had taken a chartered flight to the BJP-ruled state down south.

By March 10, the former Congress minister announced his decision to quit the party that he had been associated with for 18 years. Twenty-one other Congress ministers had also exited Madhya Pradesh Congress following the miffed leaders resignation.

Scindia, who was evidently disenchanted with his role in the party, wrote in his resignation letter addressed to AICC chief Sonia Gandhi: I am tendering my resignation from the primary membership of the Indian National Congress and as you well know, this is a path that has been drawing itself out over the last year.
(Adds Canadian decision to cancel, possible U.S. travel

restrictions)

WASHINGTON, March 11 (Reuters) - The European Union's top

trade official has canceled plans to visit the United States and

Canada next week as concerns escalate about the fast-spreading

coronavirus, two EU officials said on Wednesday.

EU Trade Commissioner Phil Hogan had been scheduled to give

speeches in Washington on Monday and Tuesday and meet in Ottawa

on Wednesday with 12 other members of the World Trade

Organization trying to work out plans to reform the Geneva-based

trade body.

"The trip is canceled," said one of the EU officials.

Hogan, who previously served as the EU's farm chief, said

last week that Washington and Brussels were taking slow, small

steps toward a "mini" trade deal. He has made resetting strained

EU-U.S. economic relations a top priority.

He withdrew from a U.S. Chamber of Commerce conference on

transatlantic trade where he and White House economic adviser

Larry Kudlow were due to make separate appearances, and a speech

on the EU's ideas for reforming the WTO at Georgetown University

on Tuesday.

The decision came as Washington considered issuing potential

new restrictions on travelers from some European countries.

A spokeswoman for the U.S. Chamber said it would postpone

the "Transatlantic Business Works Summit" after the withdrawal

of key participants.

The number of U.S. coronavirus cases has risen steadily and

has affected almost three-quarters of U.S. states. More than

1,100 cases and 32 deaths have been reported, according to Johns

Hopkins University.

Canada said on Tuesday it had canceled the March 18 meeting

of the "Ottawa Group" that is trying to reform WTO rules in the

face of U.S. actions that threaten to paralyze the body.

The EU, China and 15 other WTO members agreed in January to

create a temporary mechanism to settle trade disputes after U.S.

moves to block the appointment of trade judges left the WTO with

no mechanism to act as the umpire of global trade.

(Reporting by David Lawder and Andrea Shalal in Washington;

with additional reporting by David Ljunggren in Ottaw; Editing

by Sandra Maler and Peter Cooney)
The resolution now goes to President Donald Trump, who has threatened to veto the measure.

Washington, DC  The United States House of Representatives approved on Wednesday a War Powers Resolution aimed at limiting President Donald Trumps ability to wage war against Iran.

The passage of the resolution was yet another rebuke of the president over his decision to order the killing of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani in January amid escalating tensions with Tehran.

The Senate voted 55 to 45  with eight Republicans joining Democrats on February 13  to approve the resolution. The House action sends the measure to Trump, who has threatened to veto it. A two-thirds vote in both the House and Senate would be needed to override a veto.

The measure requires that Trump get congressional approval before engaging in further military action against Iran.

Congress should vote on articles of war before any further hostilities with Iran, Democratic Representative James McGovern said in House floor debate.

Trump ordered the attack that killed Soleimani, the head of Irans elite Quds Force, at the airport in Baghdad on January 3. Conflict with Iran swiftly escalated into a standoff that many members of the US Congress feared would lead to outright war.

Iran responded to Soleimanis killing with attacks on two Iraqi bases housing US troops. More than 100 US troops were diagnosed with traumatic brain injuries.

The Constitution gives Congress the authority and responsibility to declare war, said House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, a Democrat.

Under the War Powers Act of 1973, the resolution directs the removal of US forces from hostilities against Iran that have not been authorised by Congress.

Shifting justifications

The resolution fails to account for present reality, the White House said in a statement on Tuesday.

It was drafted many weeks ago with the intent of preventing an escalation between the United States and Iran, the White House added.

Despite the predictions of many people, however, no such escalation occurred, the White House said. The United States is not currently engaged in any use of force against Iran, in part because of the sound policies and decisive, effective actions of this administration.

Tensions with Iran have escalated since Trump unilaterally pulled the US out of the 2015 nuclear agreement with Iran in May 2018. Since then, Trump has exerted a maximum pressure campaign against Iran, including economic sanctions, diplomatic isolation and military threats.

It is that regime that President Trump said so clearly that Iran will never obtain a nuclear weapon while were on watch, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told the annual conference of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee last week.

Anti-war sentiment has been rising in Congress as US troops remain mired in conflicts in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria.

Trump has repeatedly said he wants to end Americas wars in the Middle East and has sought to foster peace talks between the Taliban and the US-backed government in Afghanistan.

Mourners attend a funeral ceremony for Iranian General Qassem Soleimani in the city of Kerman, Iran [File: Erfan Kouchari/Tasnim News Agency via AP Photo]

But Trump administration officials have offered shifting justifications for the drone strike that killed Soleimani and three others in a car at the Baghdad airport. They initially said Soleimani was planning imminent attacks on US troops and sites, but have only offered vague details. Later, a legally-mandated White House report to Congress did not cite an imminent threat.

The US air attack on Soleimani on Iraqi soil sparked public demands in Iraq for US troops to leave. US officials so far have declined to react to those calls.

Wednesdays vote is the latest in a series of actions by Congress that signal Trump does not have support for a potential conflict with Iran.

The Democratic-led US House of Representatives previously voted on January 30 to approve two measures aimed at constraining Trumps ability to direct military action in the Middle East.

A bill that would block funding for any use of offensive force against Iran passed by a 228-175 vote. A second measure, repealing Congresss 2002 authorisation of the US invasion of Iraq, passed 236-166. The House also voted 224-194 on January 9 to rebuke Trump for the killing of Soleimani.
BERLIN, March 10 (Reuters) - The German government is planning a meeting of Chancellor Angela Merkel with representatives of unions and employers on Friday to discuss the impact of the coronavirus outbreak, two government sources told Reuters on Tuesday.

There is no final decision on the meeting, they added. (Reporting by Holger Hansen; writing by Thomas Seythal; Editing by Paul Carrel)
By Giulia Paravicini

ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) - Families who lost loved ones aboard Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 visited the crash site on Tuesday to mark the first anniversary of the tragedy, a day after interim results of a probe focused on faulty systems on the Boeing 737 MAX jet.

The accident killed all 157 people on board when the new Boeing plunged into farmland six minutes after taking off from the capital. It was the second accident involving the 737 MAX in five months and led to the plane being grounded worldwide.

People from 33 nations were aboard Flight 302, many of them working with the United Nations, and hundreds of relatives and friends from across the world traveled to Ethiopia for the memorial.

Families from countries including Canada, the United States, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Italy and France attended the ceremony at the crash site, about a three-hour drive from the capital, Addis Ababa.

The program included a tree planting and the reading out of victims' names, organizers said. Police set up a roadblock a kilometer from the site to prevent the public from attending.

At the United Nations offices in Addis Ababa, friends and families lit candles in front of wreaths in honor of loved ones and colleagues.

"We are traumatized all over again," said Huguette Debets, who lost her husband Jackson Musoni, father of their three children.

"I want the world to never forget these horrific plane crashes...it could happen to any of us and it should never happen again."

In a separate event, employees of Ethiopian Airlines gathered at the pilots' association, where pictures of the dead were lined by arrangements of white roses, the traditional color of mourning in Ethiopia.

A small string orchestra played as a slideshow displayed pictures of the dead in happier times.

Getachew Tessema, the father of the captain, said his family had been filled with pride when his son began working for the airline.

"He died at the tender age of 29. The only hope I have is to see him in the afterlife. Our wounds will never heal."

Story continues

The 737 MAX, Boeing's best-selling aircraft, remains grounded. The plane maker has lost billions of dollars since the Ethiopian crash and an October 2018 accident involving Indonesia's Lion Air, which killed all 189 people aboard.

Boeing's CEO was forced to step down and the company is facing hundreds of lawsuits from bereaved families.

Monday's interim report from Ethiopia's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau bolstered the findings of Ethiopia's initial assessment, which linked the crash to the plane's MCAS anti-stall software.

It identified no issues with the airline or the pilots' handling of the plane.

Inaccurate sensor readings activated the plane's MCAS anti-stall system, pushing the nose of the aircraft lower as the pilots struggled to control it, the report said.

For an interactive graphic on the Ethiopian Airlines crash, go to: https://graphics.reuters.com/ETHIOPIA-AIRPLANE/0100911Q1DX/index.html

For a map of the crash location, go to: https://graphics.reuters.com/ETHIOPIAN-AIRPLANE/010091121CR/ETHIOPIA-AIRPLANE.jpg

(Reporting by Giulia Paravicini; additional reporting by Kumerra Gemechu in Addis Ababa; writing by Omar Mohammed and Katharine Houreld; editing by Jason Neely, David Goodman and Mike Collett-White)
Ranking member of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has commended President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for suspending foreign travels for all public officials due to the life-threatening Coronavirus outbreak.



The President, on Tuesday, suspended temporarily all foreign travels for all public officials, as part of measures being taken by the government to prevent the outbreak of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Ghana.



A circular issued by the Chief of Staff at the Office of the President, Hon. Akosua Frema Osei-Opare, and addressed to all sector Ministers and their deputies, Regional Ministers and their deputies, all Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives, and all Heads of Government Agencies, stressed that only essential and critical foreign travels will be considered and, thereafter, approved.



It will be recalled that, at the 63rd Independence Day Celebration, in Kumasi, on 6th March 2020, President Akufo-Addo admonished Ghanaians to stop shaking hands completely, and cover their mouths when their cough and sneeze 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.



Commenting on the Presidents directive relating to the Coronavirus which is spreading like wildfire, the NDC Member of Parliament for Juaboso Constituency said the directive, though good, is not enough to ensure the safety of all Ghanaians.



We need to have the assurance from the government so all the citizens will be at peace. We must get to a level where even if there is an outbreak of the coronavirus in the country, Ghanaians will have the assurance that the government can address it and that there is no cause for alarm; that is where we want to get to.



As for the directive, I dont have any problem with it, but as to whether or not we will adhere to the directives is another challenge because people can travel unannounced and so it is the responsibility of the government to stamp its feet on the ground to ensure that the country is protected against the outbreak of the coronavirus, he stated.



He, however, urged all those who have roles to play to ensure the safety of the entire country by sticking to their core mandate.









Source: Daniel Adu Darko/Peacefmonline.com/[email protected]









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
Abbey Clancy claimed centre stage as she shot her latest seasonal clothing campaign in Cape Town.

The South African coastal citys wild backdrops and soaring summer temperatures provided the perfect setting for the Liverpudlian models collaborative Abbey Clancy X Lipsy Collection.

Surrounded by a team of production assistants, make-up artists, stylists and photographers, Abbey, 34, looked incredible as she showcased a variety of pieces from her SS20 range.

Here we go: Abbey Clancy claimed centre stage as she shot her latest seasonal clothing campaign in Cape Town

At one point the model showed off her toned legs in a pair of cut-off Daisy Duke shorts while posing against the outstretched limb of a nearby tree.

She added to her look with a seventies inspired white floral cut-out shirt, while sand coloured mid-length boots rounded things off.

Abbey later changed into a bodycon belted denim dress from the new range, and its fitted detail drew attention to her physique as she reclined on a car bonnet.

That's it: Abbey struck a pose as a photographer took pictures of her outfit from a low angle

Ideal: The South African coastal citys wild backdrops and soaring summer temperatures provided the perfect setting for the Liverpudlian models collaborative Abbey Clancy X Lipsy Collection

Looking good: The model showed off her toned legs in a pair of cut-off Daisy Duke shorts while posing against the outstretched limb of a nearby tree

Other outfits on display included a distinctive ruffled minidress with a black and white polka dot print, a look Abbey rounded off with racy knee high boots.

Showing off key selections from the new range, the model later showed off her new tan suedette utility dress before switching things up in a ruched printed minidress.

With summer in mind, the model also showcased a breezy zebra print outfit while posing in a wide-brimmed hat.

Striking: Abbey later changed into a bodycon belted denim dress from the new range

Don't mind me: The outfit's fitted detail drew attention to her physique as she reclined on a Jeep bonnet

Production assistants were on ha d to assist Abbey throughout the shoot, and one was seen tidying her hair as she debuted the new range's printed high neck drape dress

Abbey is a parent to children Sophia, eight,Liberty, four, Johnny, two, and infant Jack, who she welcomed in June 2019, with husband Peter Crouch.

Speaking to OK! in March, the model revealed she still she tries to 'set a good example' to her four children with her busy schedule, as she wants to keep working and be 'the best mum she can be.'

Behind the wheel: Abbey struck a smouldering pose while sitting in the Jeep's driver's seat

Stunning: Other outfits on display included a distinctive ruffled minidress with a black and white polka dot print, a look Abbey rounded off with racy knee high boots

Wonderful in white: A breezy summer dress from the new collection caught the eye as Abbey struck another pose

She said: 'I think for any mum who has to or chooses to go to work, you still get stuck with that mum guilt.

'But for me, I feel like its important to set a good example for them. I want to work and still be me while being the best mum I can be.

'They are into different things and have different schedules now. Poor Sophia gets dragged along to more baby-ish places than shed probably like to.'

Seasonal: With summer in mind, the model also showcased a breezy zebra print outfit while posing in a wide-brimmed hat

Strike a pose: An assistant looked on as Abbey got into position after sitting on a tree stump

Very nice: A tan suedette utility dress (L) and a ruched printed minidress (R) are other additions to the new summer range
FORMER VEEP BIDEN WINS BIG BOOSTED BY KANSAS CITY WORKING-CLASS DEMOCRATIC PARTY SUPPORTERS!!!!

COUNT THIS AS AN EPIC REBUKE OF SOCIAL JUSTICE WARRIOR 'WOKE' PROGRESSIVE POLITICS IN MISSOURI!!!

BIDEN BACKERS SMACK DOWN BERNIE BROS!!!

Biden crushes Sanders in first three states called The race is down to two. And the map and math look bad for Bernie Sanders on Tuesday night. Democratic presidential primaries in six far-flung states - Michigan, Washington, Mississippi, Missouri, Idaho and North Dakota - are expected to damage Sanders' dimming hopes of capturing the nomination.

FORMER SENATOR CLAIRE McCASKILL BACKS BIDEN!!!

Biden threatens Trump base with appeal to white, non-college educated voters Former Senator Claire McCaskill looks at exit polls from Missouri's Democratic primary and notes that while Joe Biden's stronger performance among white, non-college educated voters may not turn Missouri blue against Donald Trump, it's a significant encouraging sign for how he would perform in other swing states.

Democratic Party Plays Up Populist Pitch To Voters

Joe Biden wins Missouri Democratic primary, NBC News projects, another key win for the former VP Joe Biden will win the Missouri Democratic presidential primary Tuesday, NBC News projects, setting him up to take another healthy chunk of delegates in his race with Bernie Sanders. Missouri has 68 pledged delegates up for grabs. In its 2016 primary, Hillary Clinton won by a tight margin, garnering 50% of support to Sanders' 49%.

Bernie Loved Losing???

'The Lamest Revolutionary Ever': Tucker Explains Why 'Weak' Bernie Sanders Is 'Secretly Enjoying' Losing Fox News host Tucker Carlson described why he thinks Democratic presidential candidate and Independent Cermont Sen. Bernie Sanders is "the lamest revolutionary ever" during his opening "Tucker Carlson Tonight" monologue. Besides the fact that the Democratic Party establishment is clearly working against Sanders, Carlson argued for another "important reason" Sanders is losing the race: "He is weak."

Social Media Tags Prez Trump

Twitter's 1st 'manipulated media' post? It came from the White House. Dan Scavino, an assistant to the president, tweeted an edited clip of Joe Biden. Twitter has for the first time labeled a post "manipulated media." And it came from the White House.

BERNIE BLOWN OUT!!!

Joe Biden wins Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri primaries in major blow to Bernie Sanders Biden won the Michigan, Missouri and Mississippi primaries on Tuesday, dealing a major blow to Bernie Sanders on the first night of voting since the two men became the only viable candidates for the Democratic nomination.

UPDATE AND TKC READER LINK REQUEST: VEEP YELLS AT WORKING MAN OVER 2ND AMENDMENT FREEDOM!!!

Joe Biden spars with Michigan autoworker over guns - video Joe Biden, frontrunner for the US Democratic presidential nomination, got into a heated exchange with an autoworker at a campaign stop when questioned overwhether he was going to take away people's guns. 'You're full of shit,' Biden told the man, who accused him of 'actively trying to end the second amendment'.

Tonight the Kansas City Democratic Party rank & file earned an important victory for the future of working-class politics throughout Missouri.To wit . . .Moreover . . .We focused on this contest today because it was basically a fight for the heart & soul of the Democratic Party in Missouri. Turns out Midtown leftists and STL rioters don't run the politics of the state just yet.Reality check . . .Socialism was just too tough to sell to Missouri po'folk all to familiar with the empty promises from government and uneasy with the progressive alliance that regularly attacks unions and civic leaders if their politics aren't "woke" or offend somebody with a popular Twitter account.^^^ Note on this clip, it's actually a pretty good debate back & forth -- An American tradition.Developing . . .
And yes, there is a cow in First Cow, a gorgeous, brown-eyed creature imported to the settlement by the overweening Chief Factor, played by Toby Jones with just the right mix of imperiousness and insecurity. Reichardts most ardent fans wont be surprised that her affinity for animals (especially dogs) extends to the latest installment of her oeuvre, which continues to explore her cardinal themes and deepen her most fruitful collaborations. This is the fifth Reichardt film written by Jon Raymond, who wrote the novel The Half-Life on which it is based; and it continues their mutual fascination with excavating Oregon and its history. In some ways, First Cow could be considered a prequel to 2010s Meeks Cutoff, which chronicled the journey of Eastern settlers through the states forbidding high desert. First Cow explores the creation of the ideals they were chasing before they were formed into an ideology: The trading post is a cosmopolitan, polyglot place, filled with immigrants from around the globe and tended to by members of native tribes who are already being dispersed, marginalized and forcibly assimilated.
WASHINGTON  Joe Biden came into Tuesdays primaries riding a wave of voter confidence about his chances of victory in November  and that propelled him to wins in Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi and Idaho. Washington states primary is still too close to call.

Democratic primary voters in those states were more likely to think the former vice president could defeat President Trump in the general election, compared with Bidens top rival, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, according to AP VoteCast surveys of voters.

The surveys showed Biden built a coalition that crossed the spectrum of Democrats. African Americans and older voters continued to be a reliable foundation of support for Biden. He also drew support from blue-collar workers, rural voters, city dwellers, women, the highly educated, moderates, conservatives and even the somewhat liberal, according to AP VoteCast.

Sanders, meanwhile, preserved his strength with voters younger than 30 and those who consider themselves very liberal. But he failed in his push to drive up turnout among those groups and couldnt overcome the concerns of moderate and conservative Democrats who are focused first and foremost on expelling Trump from the White House.

AP VoteCast surveys are designed to capture voters views regardless of when or how they voted, accounting for the many voters in Michigan and other states who voted early.

Voters generally view Biden as the better match against Trump. About 80% in Michigan and Missouri believe Biden could beat the incumbent, while roughly 90% in Mississippi feel that way. Just about 60% of voters in each state think Sanders would be likely to defeat the incumbent president.

Still, there is some notable indecision among primary voters about whom theyll cast a ballot for in November. Roughly 80% in each state say they will definitely vote for the Democratic candidate against Trump no matter who is nominated. But close to 20% say their decision depends on which candidate becomes the nominee.

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

In Michigan, a state that flipped Republican in 2016, those undecided voters looked more like potential Trump voters than liberals unhappy with the prospect of a Biden nomination. Among voters saying their November decision depends on the nominee, about 2 in 10 describe themselves as conservative and roughly half say they are moderate. Thats largely true in Republican-leaning Missouri as well.

About 60% of Democratic primary voters in Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi were women. This fits a pattern in most states where a firm majority of voters are women. This has helped boost Biden, who has beating Sanders among women voters.

Josh Boak and Hannah Fingerhut are Associated Press writers.
A recent visit to the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station finds cleanup operations progressing even as workers struggle with new and lingering issues at the crippled facility.

The triple disaster set in motion on March 11, 2011, unfolded like a three-act play, with the raising of each curtain revealing new and awful horrors. I was working on the tenth floor of a Tokyo office building when the Great East Japan Earthquake struck at 2:46 in the afternoon, paralyzing me with such fear that I forgot to take even rudimentary safety measures. My alarm at the quaking was soon superseded by sinking dread at seeing the television stations broadcast scene after scene of massive tsunami waves swallowing coastal communities whole and, over the following days, hydrogen explosions rocking the reactor buildings at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Station.

While the physical scars of 3/11 have gradually faded over the last nine years, the destruction at Fukushima Daiichi has made a lasting impression on me for being the result of human behavior. Japan watched from afar as the 1986 Chernobyl disaster unfolded, and the accident enlivened the Japanese anti-nuclear-power movement. However, fear and popular outrage subsided, giving way to the demands of the electronics age. Japan needed nuclear power, and consumers bought into the safety myth touted by the government and the industry. I was certainly no different. While aware that a meltdown was a possibility, I pushed aside any niggling concerns by convincing myself that the serious-minded engineers in charge of plants would take every precaution to prevent an accident. Fukushima shattered this sense of security. I still remember numbly watching time and again as the Daiichi reactor buildings exploded, unable to believe what I was seeing.





On-Site Radiation Low

In February of this year, I visited Fukushima Daiichi to see first-hand how cleanup operations at the plant are progressing. After completing the initial registration process, I was shown into a room where I was given items to wear for the tour. Until a few years ago, journalists visiting the site had to wear a protective suit and mask that covered the entire face. Workers have made progress in decontaminating the site, including removing debris scattered when the reactor buildings exploded, so that now radiation levels are low enough that special protective attire is required in only a few hotspots. To my surprise, my costume consisted of a vest made from nonwoven material, cotton gloves, socks, a mask to protect against dust, a helmet, and a pair of rubber shoes for walking around the grounds.









Before heading out on the tour, I place my visitors ID and a dosimeter into the pockets of my vest, facing outward, as instructed by the TEPCO guide. The vest provides no protection from radiation but is a safety measure making it easy to distinguish me as a guest and not a trespasser. Slipping on the other items, I headed outside, noting a sign requesting that people remove their shoes at a designated area upon returning to prevent from accidentally tracking in radioactive contaminants.









The tour starts with a short drive up an embankment overlooking the plants reactors. As the car draws nearer, the steel frame of the reactor 1 building, stripped bare by a hydrogen explosion, comes into view. At around 100 meters away, we stop and I step into the open air, both amazed and a little wary at how close we are to the crippled reactors. Debris remaining on the roof of the number 1 reactor building continues to emit radiation, and the dosimeter shows a level of 118 microsieverts per hour. At that amount, the guide assures us, it would take 10 hours of exposure to reach one millisievert, the average amount of ambient radiation a person absorbs in one year. Nonetheless, we stay for only a few minutes before heading to the next stop.





As we drive, the dosimeter in my vest pocket begins beeping, signaling that I have absorbed 20 millisieverts of radiation. Four more alarms would mean I had reached 100 millisievertsan amount equivelant to flying from Tokyo to New Yorkwhich is the limit permitted before the tour is stopped. The warning leaves me feeling a little uneasy, and I wonder how the workers we pass along our route deal with the concerns of laboring at the site of a major nuclear accident.









Melted Fuel Still Hot

Exiting the car, I find myself gazing up at the reactor buildings. Workers have erected scaffolding and walkways around the structures, which together with equipment like towering cranes gives the area the appearance of a construction site. A closer look, however, reveals twisted steel frameworks and shattered walls that provide a stark reminder of the destructive forces unleashed after the plants cooling systems failed and the reactors in Units 1, 2, and 3 underwent meltdowns. Contemplating the scene, I realize that before the accident, few people gave any thought to Fukushima Daiichi, which sits more than 200 kilometers north-northeast of Tokyo. It remained out of sight and out of mind for metropolitan residents like me, who hungrily consumed electricity from the plant without concern for the raw power harnessed to generate it.









A major obstacle in decommissioning the plant is removing melted fuel at the bottom of reactors 13. In January 2018, TEPCO confirmed deposits of fuel debris on the floor of the containment vessel of the number 2 reactor, and in February of the following year a robot equipped with pincers succeeded in grasping a piece of the debris. Encouraged by the success, the government updated its roadmap for decommissioning the plant, readying to begin fuel debris removal inside the reactor on a trial basis in 2021. However, there have already been delays, and it remains to be seen whether work will progress on schedule.









TEPCO also has to figure out what to do about the vast amount of contaminated water leaking into the reactors. Along with water for cooling the melted fuel, rain and groundwater seep in, producing hundreds of tons of tainted water that must be pumped out, decontaminated, and stored in tanks. To reduce the inflow, the utility in 2018 installed equipment that created an ice wall of frozen soil around Units 14.









Treated Water a Growing Dilemma

The contaminated water contains radioactive substances including high concentrations of cesium and strontium. TEPCO treats the water using seven multinuclide removal equipment (ALPS) systems that remove enough of the radionuclides to bring the radioactive contents to safe levels. However, the ALPS systems are unable to filter out tritium, a substance thatalthough considered to be of low toxicityhas impeded TEPCOs ability to dispose of the treated water.









The issue for the utility is not regulatory, as tritium within given limits may be discharged into the environment, but ethical. The nuclear disaster devastated Fukushimas agriculture and fishing industries. Although production has made a gradual comeback, farmers and fisheries still grapple with the lingering stigma attached to the word Fukushima. National and local authorities have gone to great lengths to promote the safety of products from the prefecture, and TEPCO has been reluctant to release tainted water into the environment, even at levels below international standards, due to the impact it would have on the marketability of the regions products.

However, the company is quickly running out of options. TEPCO already stores 1.18 million tons of treated water in some 1,000 steel tanks at the Daiichi site, and more containers continuously need to be built. Measures like the ice wall have succeeded in reducing the amount of contaminated water needing to be treated, but at current rates the utility expects it will run out of land for building new tanks by 2022. Planning for this eventuality, the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry in January 2020 proposed disposing of treated water by releasing it into the Pacific Ocean or evaporating it into the air. Whether the government opts for one or both approaches, it faces an uphill struggle to convince local authorities, who want to avoid further damage to the local economy, that this is the best solution.

After two hours touring the site, I returned to the front office building. My dosimeter, which thankfully had remained silent following the first alarm, read 30 microsieverts, about the same amount of radiation as a single chest x-ray. Although I felt some relief at this, what I saw on the tour brought home the fact that the Fukushima Daiichi disaster is far from over. Residents have slowly returned to their homes and the prefectures economy is gradually improving. However, decommissioning work is inching along and the prospect of removing melted fuel debris is still far off. As long as contaminated water continues to accumulate, TEPCO will need to find a way to dispose of it, again putting local communities under a cloud of nuclear contamination.









The Fukushima Daiichi disaster forced Japanese to confront their consumer habits. Like most people, I jumped on the conservation bandwagon as nuclear power plants went offline and rolling blackouts gripped areas of the country. However, once utilities switched to alternative energy sources to make up for the loss of nuclear and supply recovered, my skepticism of the nuclear industry gave way to other concerns. Just as I had been lulled by a false sense of safety before the meltdown, I fell into my old ways and blindly accepted that TEPCO and the government had the cleanup operation well in hand.

The issue of disposing of treated water illustrates just how precarious the situation is, though. Fukushimas agriculture and fishing industries have fought hard to win back the trust of consumers by setting safety standards for products far more stringent than global averages. But all this could be undone by the governments plan to release treated water into the environment. TEPCO faces huge technical issues in mothballing the plant for good, but it is the ongoing impact on the lives of people in Fukushima that is the most salient relic of the disaster.









(Originally published in Japanese. All photos by Hashino Yukinori of Nippon.com unless otherwise noted. Banner photo: Tanks filled with tritium-contaminated water surround the Fukushima Daiichi site; the Unit 3 structure, with its dome-shaped covering, is visible at left.)
Based in Memphis, TN, HMP is an independent, full-service commercial, surety, employee benefits and personal lines agency. A release said that HMP focuses on the construction, distribution, manufacturing, and healthcare practices, as well as alternative risk solutions.

HMPs leadership team  Mark Harris, Jay Madden, Rick Powell, Ric Stallings, Keith Brown, Wally Jones, Cooper Permenter, and Blake Dickens  and all of its full-time employees will remain in their existing offices in Memphis and Oxford, MS.

We are excited to welcome HMP to Hub as we continue to build on our momentum of growth in the region, said Hub Mid-South president Cooper Jones. This major acquisition in west Tennessee is an important component of our expansion in Hub Mid-South, which includes operations in Tennessee and Kentucky.

We are thrilled to join forces with Hub, commented Mark Harris of HMP. Our employees and clients are always our main focus. With Hub, we will provide more opportunities for our team, and enhanced resources and value-added services to our clients here in west Tennessee and the Mid-South region.

Hub is a respected firm with an excellent reputation in the industry, added Jay Madden of HMP. We look forward to providing our clients with service enhancements and greater resources.
Do Lenh Hoai Anh, 27, always keeps the windows of her apartment in Felestin Street closed to avoid noise from the busy neighborhood.

Last week, though, she opened them and hung curtains. Theres no noise to keep out now.

"I have looked out of the window five times this morning. There were some cars, no pedestrians," Hoai Anh said, describing the street where she lives, one of the busiest areas in the Iranian city of Qazvin.

Hoai Anh had received a scholarship from the Iranian government five years ago and now lives in the northwestern city of Qazvin, surrounded by desert. The city has less than 400,000 habitants.

The street where Hoai Anh lives on March 4, 2020. Photo courtesy of Do Lenh Hoai Anh.

After spending the Lunar New Year holiday (January 23-29) in Vietnam with her husband, Amir Hossein, she returned to Iran. A day later, Hoai Anh developed a fever.

With the novel coronavirus outbreak raging in China, she had been worried about catching the infection as they transited in Moscow, Russia. So she rushed to the hospital and asked to be tested. Having no testing kits, Qazvins medical authorities advised her to quarantine herself.

"One day later, the fever disappeared. I think Id just got a cold," she recalled, adding that she had asked her husband to stay with his parents to prevent him from contracting anything.

Over the years, Hoai Anh has faced numerous difficulties living in a country in relative tumult, heavily sanctioned by the U.S. and its allies. On the morning of January 8, when a Ukrainian plane carrying 176 passengers crashed near Tehran, she was about to get on her plane and return to Iran to see her husband. Trading in Iranian specialities, she travels frequently between Iran and Vietnam.

This was another kind of upheaval, though, as the novel coronavirus found it way to Iran. On January 19, the number of infections had climbed swiftly to 2,500 and around 100 people had died, making Iran the fourth worst country hit by the outbreak. Moreover, the fatality rate in Iran was much higher than the worldwide average.

Qazvin City, where Hoai Anh lives, is 240 kilometers from the city of Qom and 150 kilometers from capital Tehran, both Covid-19 hubs. Last week, Qazvin had its first infection. To date, more than ten acquaintances of Hoai Anh have tested positive for the new coronavirus.

Hoai Anh and Amir Hossein wear masks as they transit in Moscow, Russia on February 1, 2020. Photo courtesy of Hoai Anh.

"A neighbor went out to buy some vegetables and tested positive five days later. My husbands cousin, who went on a pilgrimage to Qom, also tested positive," Hoai Anh said.

Worried, she did consider flying to Vietnam, but the cheapest ticket was VND200 million ($8.574), while the regular price for return ticket was just VND20 million ($857). She checked a day later and there was no ticket left.

The only Vietnamese living in Qazvin, far away from her motherland, Hoai Anh knew she had no option but to confine herself to her apartment.

"They all fell sick because of the cold weather, walking around the streets or going to the hospital for tests," she said, referring to the outbreak in Iran. According to the Iranian government, 80 percent of infections were of people staying in the country, where it is always cold and dry from January to March.

Knowing the battle against the novel coronavirus would last long, Hoai Anh and her husband went to the supermarket last weekend and bought foods to stock up for a long time.

Locals had not started stockpiling so shelves in supermarkets were not empty. However, there was no mask or hand sanitizers left. Just 10 days earlier, people were indifferent. Now, the fear is palpable. Kisses and handshakes, normal gestures, have become taboo.

Amir Hossein, Hoai Anhs husband, said hed never seen the streets in his hometown this quiet since he was born. A week before Nowruz, the Iranian New Year (March 20-23), there was none of the usual hustle and bustle.

Companies, stores and schools have closed, although local authorities have not issued any order. Amir has resorted to remote work in the last few weeks. The only trip he makes these days is to his parents house, which is 50 meters away.

On March 5, Hoai Anh woke up at 10 a.m. and read dozens of messages from clients and staff. In the flood of messages, there are always two she looks for and never misses. The first is from the Iranian medical authority, and the second one from the Vietnam Embassy in Iran.

According to the embassy, there are 13 Vietnamese, apart from its staff members, living in Iran. Most of them are Vietnamese women with Iranian husbands who have decided stay on and wait the outbreak out.

"Ever since there were signs of the outbreak, we have kept people updated about new developments and suggestions from local authorities about measures to prevent the Covid-19," said a representative of the Vietnam Embassy, adding that it stands ready to support citizens.

As of Wednesday, Iran's death toll was 291, and 8,042 have been infected across the country.

It is difficult for Iranians to give up the pleasure of meeting family and friends, which they do now because of Covid-19.

"Iranians will get used to not going out. But they are annoyed because they cannot meet people during Nowruz," Hossein said.

For themselves, Hoai Anh and her husband are staying put at home, knowing that they are fighting a long-lasting fight.

After days of having just soup, the couple are craving some grilled lamb, but they are resisting the urge to use food delivery services.

Hoai Anh said shes okay with the situation for the time being. "We have to survive this epidemic, then we will see."
The Congress on Wednesday made a strong attack on the BJP-led government over Delhi violence alleging that "riots were allowed to happen" and demanded the resignation of Home Minister Amit Shah.

Initiating the discussion on the "recent law and order situation in some parts of Delhi" in Lok Sabha, Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury made several attacks on the government and asked why Home Minister did not visit the violence-hit areas though the Security Advisor Ajit Doval had visited them.

He sought a judicial probe into the Delhi violence.

Chowdhury alleged that the Home Minister visited Gujarat to welcome the visiting US President Donald Trump on a day Delhi was hit by violence.

He also attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and alleged that he did not take timely steps to prevent violence.

Chowdhury said 53 people were killed in the violence, 102 persons had suffered bullet injuries and loss of property had been estimated at crores of rupees.

He accused the government of "laxity".

"The riot was allowed to happen. The biggest reason is laxity. The government has presided over the carnage," he alleged.

Chowdhury said Delhi Police is well trained but alleged that it was "working on indications of government".

"The paramilitary could have been called, why did the incidents happen for three days continuously. The government has to answer. Where was the Home Minister for three days? The riot that happened for three days what was your responsibility. Nero fiddled while Rome burnt," he said.

He also referred to plunder of Delhi under Nadir Shah and said a free run was given to plundering for three days.

Chowdhury said the government highlights its role in the Balakot airstrikes on terror camp but could not prevent riots.

"We can conduct airstrikes in Balakot but not control riots in Delhi," he said.

He also asked about the role of BJP MPs in Delhi during violence in the city and said they had gone to seek votes but not when people felt endangered.

He alleged that incidents of violence happened in areas where the BJP "did not get good votes".

Chowdhury accused some BJP leaders of "provocative remarks" during the Delhi Assembly polls.

"Who gave provocative speeches. Who was pulled up by High Court, Supreme Court? If it is not your mistake, then whose mistake it is," he asked.

Referring to the transfer of a Delhi High Court judge, he said the government had conducted a "midnight surgical strike".

Chowdhury said the Police Control Room received 21,000 calls between Feb 22 and 29 but claimed people did not an adequate response.

Referring to the visit of NSA to violence-affected areas, he said: "Ajit Doval showed the way".

"He got down (from his vehicle)," he said and asked why Doval had to get down when it was the task of Home Minister.

"NSA does not handle law and order. Doval does not report to the Home Minister but to the Prime Minister. Can I say, the PM does not have faith in your office," he asked.

He also slammed the Delhi Government and said the authorities were not alert to the situation.

Referring to the visit of India's first Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru to a riot-affected area in Delhi, Chowdhury said an old woman held his collar asking about his role in controlling them. Nehru said she may not know what he had done but he had given her right to hold his collar.

He said PM Modi or the Home Minister did not go to the house of any victim.

"There are allegations. You allowed riots to take place. Right steps were not taken," he alleged.

Chowdhury said that the Home Minister should resign "in view of the scale of violence and loss of life".

Chowdhury demanded FIR against all perpetrators and said FIR should also be filed against Minister of State for Finance Anurag Thakur and BJP MP Parvesh Sahib Singh over their speeches during Delhi elections.

He also said people were expressing fear over the way police was conducting its inquiry.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Katherine Robin Fiorentinos work as a flight attendant gave her the ability to do something she really loved: helping other people.

The 33-year-old Massachusetts native died Saturday in Birmingham, Alabama after authorities told AL.com that she jumped from the 17th floor of the Sheraton Birmingham Hotel on Richard Arrington Jr. Boulevard.

Fiorentino was born in Attleboro, Massachusetts and grew up in Rehoboth, Massachusetts. She leaves her parents, James and Jo-Anne Fiorentino, who still live in Rehoboth.

Katherine currently lived in Orlando, FL and worked for Southwest Airlines as a flight attendant where she cherished helping people, especially calming children that were nervous about flying, her family wrote in her obituary. She loved camping, hiking, canoe camping and volunteering for the Nemours Childrens Hospital in Orlando where she would use her caring talents by calming uneasy children.

In her obituary, family asked people to donate to the Nemours Childrens Hospital, 6900 Tavistock Lakes Blvd. Suite 350, Orlando, Florida, 32827, in lieu of flowers.

A graduate of Dighton-Rehoboth Regional High School, Fiorentino was artistic, loved to do puzzles, jigsaws and crosswords and treasured spending time with her cat, Kismet, according to her obituary.

Fiorentino studied at the University of Massachusetts Amherst where she earned dual degrees with high honors in math and psychology.

She was passionately involved with the UMass Minuteman Marching Bands Color Guard during her time there, her family wrote in her obituary.

Fiorentino also leaves a brother, aunts and an uncle. She will be laid to rest this weekend.

Authorities told AL.com that other guests at the hotel notified security about a woman acting erratically. The woman, identified Fiorentino, as also threw her phone over a balcony wall.

Hotel security found Fiorentino and started talking to her when she ran and jumped over the balcony wall, AL.com reports.

The incident happened around 11:20 p.m. Saturday.

Suicide prevention resources available in Massachusetts:

If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, please call:

The Samaritans Statewide crisis help line at 1-877-870-4673 (call or text)

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

Call2Talk: 508-532-2255 or text c2t to 741741

If you are a veteran or part of a veterans family, please call the National Suicide Prevention Life line at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) and press 1 or text a message to 838255.

If you are in immediate danger, please call 911.
WASHINGTON, March 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, FlyersRights.org is urging the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to step up protection of airport travelers against the spread of COVID-19.

Many US air travelers want every effort made to slow the spread of the virus through our airports.

A recent poll by FlyersRights.org found majority support for tighter airport screening measures, with 81 percent of respondents saying they want checks of passengers on arrival and departure of all international flights.

FlyersRights.org members also voted 46.5% on banning visitors from countries with many COVID-19 cases, while 25.5% said no and 17.3% were undecided.

Paul Hudson, president of FlyersRights.org today released the following statement:

"Customs and Border Control (CBP), part of DHS, is in charge of entry points at international airports. It has said that persons entering the US from restricted areas or ill will be denied entry, referred, tested and/or quarantined at 11 airports But there is presently no systematic testing at airports, inadequate test kits, reports of complete lack of screening of passengers from Asia.

It is too late for international travel restrictions to do more than mitigate the pandemic. Air travel has already spread the coronavirus globally. Now it is spreading communally.

In Florida, there were 14 cases on March 10th, in widely dispersed counties with none having known recent international travel.

In Italy, with over 10,000 cases and 600 deaths, all travel has been banned except for work, medical or emergency reasons until April 3rd.

In the Northeast, private schools and colleges are closing and elderly warned not to travel on subways.

Hot spots in the US, which now has 1000 cases, include Seattle and New Rochelle NY. Elderly and infirm persons are urged to avoid airline and cruise travel, large crowds, and to stay home as much as possible. The executive director of the agency in charge of the New York City airports has tested positive for the coronavirus.

Airlines are opposing emergency regulations to trace the travel activity of their passengers. The FAA, ostensibly in charge of air travel safety with its unit devoted to air travel medical risks, have been omitted from the coronavirus task force.

In sum, much more will need to be done than just restrict international air travel."

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) , lists up-to-date restrictions of worldwide airports:

"USA- published 02.03.2020

Passengers who have been in China (People's Rep.) in the past 14 days are not allowed to enter the USA .

-This does not apply to nationals of the USA .

-This does not apply to passengers who reside in the USA .

Passengers who have been in Iran in the past 14 days are not allowed to enter the USA .

-This does not apply to nationals of the USA .

-This does not apply to passengers who reside in the USA .

-This does not apply to passengers with the invitation of the US government for the purpose related to containment or mitigation of the virus.

-This does not apply to the US Armed Forces and their spouses and children. Passengers who have been in China (People's Rep.) in the past 14 days must arrive at one of the following airports: Atlanta (ATL), Chicago (ORD), Dallas (DFW), Detroit (DTW), Honolulu (HNL), Los Angeles (LAX), New York (JFK or EWR), San Francisco (SFO), Seattle (SEA), and Washington (IAD)."

Currently, China and Iran flights are the only countries that require screening at US airports.

FlyersRights.org calls for all international flights to have better coordinated efforts to detect COVID-19 infection.

Established in 2007, FlyersRights.org is the largest airline passenger organization. It publishes a newsletter, operates a free hotline for airline passengers 877- FLYERS6, advocates for passenger rights and interests, represents passengers on the FAA Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee dealing with air safety, and maintains a staffed office in Washington, D.C.

Donate: https://flyersrights.org/donate/

FlyersRights.org's survey on COVID-19 can be found here.

SOURCE FlyersRights.org
(Newser)  Plenty of people would've passed by the art print in the dusty, old frame at Hotline Pink Thrift Shop in Kitty Hawk, NC. But Wendy Hawkins, who volunteers at the store twice a week, thought it looked rather unique, sitting on the floor, waiting to be sorted. "I saw this, with a bunch of other paintings lined up on the floor, and I said 'This is old, this is something special,'" she tells WAVY. She was right. After consulting with a local art expert late last year, Hawkins discovered the donated artwork, which would've been priced at no more than $50, was an original 1950s woodcut print by Spanish surrealist painter Salvador Dali. Best known for his paintings of melting clocks, the artist had signed Purgatory Canto 32part of a series of 100 illustrations depicting Dante Alighieri's The Divine Comedynot once, but twice, reports NPR.

story continues below

The Italian government initially commissioned the series in honor of Dante's birthday but abandoned the project as Italians expressed outrage over a Spaniard being given the commission, per NPR. Dali nevertheless persisted, creating 100 watercolor paintingsrepresenting the 100 verses of The Divine Comedywhich were then turned into wood engravings. Local art expert Melanie Smith tells NPR she spent more than a week authenticating Purgatory Canto 32, which shows a woman in blue next to a man in red, and features a wood stamp signature in addition to a handwritten one in purple pencil. After all, "it is very rare to find something like this at a thrift store." It's unclear who donated the print, which has since been sold for $1,200. CNN reports proceeds will be used for the Outer Banks Hotline nonprofit's shelter for abuse victims. (Read more Salvador Dali stories.)
Easton Arts Academy will be closed Thursday and Friday amid testing of a student who visited New York City then fell ill.

Principal and Interim CEO William Wright announced the closure of the 30 N. Fourth St., Easton, school in a letter Wednesday to parents.

The decision comes amid the spread of a coronavirus illness that has prompted colleges and universities in and around the Lehigh Valley to move to online teaching and learning and close down residence halls.

Lehigh and Northampton counties have not had a confirmed case of the coronavirus, though cases have been found in neighboring Monroe, Bucks and Montgomery counties.

New York City has 52 cases of COVID-19, the name of the currently circulating coronavirus illness, in addition to 164 in New York State outside of the city, according to a 4 p.m. Wednesday update from the New York State Department of Health.

WFMZ-TV 69 reporter Emma Wright first reported the closure and testing of the student. She and William Wright are not related.

Here is the letter sent to parents from Easton Arts Academy Charter School about testing student for possible case of #coronavirus Sample sent to CDC for testing @69News pic.twitter.com/yy726WrzAp  Emma Wright (@wright_emma) March 11, 2020

A doctor has informed us through one of our parents/guardians that one of our students who recently returned from a trip to New York City is presenting with inexplicable flu-like symptoms such that the child must be quarantined, William Wright wrote to parents.

Tests were sent to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, according to the principal.

The school will close out of an abundance of caution, and the building will undergo deep cleaning and sanitation, according to William Wright.

An employee at the arts academy is the drama director for Nazareth Area high school and middle school, so the Nazareth Area School District has canceled drama practice Wednesday and Thursday evening to be cautious, according Nazareth Area School District Superintendent Dennis Riker. He made the announcement in an automated call to district parents.

Editors note: This article has been updated to correct that two people in Hunterdon County were under investigation for the coronavirus, but they have not tested positive for the illness.

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.
Lufthansa airline on Wednesday canceled two flights on the Sibiu - Munich route, according to the spokeswoman of the Sibiu airport, Alexandra Pacurar.

The flight from Munich that was supposed to land at the Sibiu airport on Wednesday, 6.15 pm, got canceled. The same happened with the flight that was supposed to depart from Sibiu at 6.55 pm heading to Munich."The Sibiu International Airport doesn't make such decisions to suspend flights, which belong to the airlines or/and the relevant institutions. The information is published on the official website of the company. The airport did not cancel any flight. The information related to the flight from Munich that got canceled appeared on the official website of the Lufthansa airline," the spokeswoman of the Sibiu International Airport, Alexandra Pacurar, announced on Wednesday.A number of 97 people who landed on the Sibiu airport coming from Stuttgart, with a BlueAir aircraft, will have to self-isolate at home."An aircraft coming from Stuttgart landed today, March 11, at the Sibiu International Airport with 97 people aboard. Considering that the flight came from Germany, in the context of the spreading of the novel coronavirus, the technical support group that manages the emergency situations generated by epidemics had an urgent meeting at the headquarters of the Sibiu County Prefect Office and decided that the persons need to self-isolate at home and to follow the specific monitoring procedure," announced the ISU (Inspectorate for Emergency Situations) in Sibiu.
Amidst rising coronavirus cases in India, British brokerage Barclays on Wednesday warned that preventive measures like mass quarantines can dent the already sagging economic growth by as much as 2 percentage points.

Support to the economy will come from a dip in oil prices, Barclays said in a note, estimating low crude prices to aid growth by as much as 0.50 per cent.

The number of those tested positive for the Covid-19 or coronavirus in India has grown to 61 as of Tuesday, with fresh cases being reported from Pune and Bengaluru.

Economic growth is set to slide to a decadal low of 5 per cent as per an official estimate released much before the virus grew to being called as a potential pandemic.

Starting from China, it has affected over 60 countries in the world, with leaders in Italy being forced to put the entire country in an unprecedented lockdown.

We believe that the biggest growth risk would be from preventive measures such as mass quarantine or movement restrictions and the related pullback in consumer spending, investment, and services activity, Barclays said, commenting on the impact it can have on India.

The biggest hit will be for the already sluggish investment activity, it said, estimating the total impact to growth because of preventive measures at 2 percentage points.

The silver lining will come from the oil prices which have corrected by up to a fifth in the recent past, it said, adding that the low import bill alone will help the GDP by 0.5 per cent.

In the report titled Are we overestimating growth, the brokerage said it has recently cut its 2020 growth forecast for the economy to 5.6 per cent from the 6.5 per cent earlier.

It added that the latest estimate is indeed low enough, adding that worried clients are asking if it will go down much more.

The brokerage said India is a domestic demand-led economy, and will benefit from the oil prices correction.

It has both the fiscal and monetary policies supporting growth, and the supply chains are not under stress, it noted.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The cyber cell unit of Malad police on Tuesday, with the help of social media, traced and arrested a 37-year-old driver from Sion for allegedly creating a fake profile of the complainant and posting her phone number purporting it to be number of a commercial sex worker.

In November last year, the 35-year-old complainant, who works for a regional political party, had lodged an FIR under section 354 A (sexual harassment) and D (stalking) of Indian Penal Code and 67 A (transmitting obscene content in electronic form) of the Information Technology Act.

According to Malad police, the complainant and her husband had a monetary dispute with the arrested accused, Sandip Kumbhar, who resides in Sion.

In October, to seek revenge, Kumbhar created a fake profile on a social media platform.

He uploaded obscene photos of women and gave name and number of the complainant.

The complainant received several phone calls, after which she learnt about the fake profile and approached the police.

Kumbhar was produced before a magistrate court and remanded to police custody till Wednesday.

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PARMA, Ohio  Cuyahoga County Board of Health commissioner Terry Allan defended the decision to not release the names of students potentially exposed to the novel coronavirus on a recent student bus trip, despite calls from parents who say they need to know in order to make health decisions for their children.

During a Wednesday morning news conference, Allan said he has seen the stigmatization of HIV, hepatitis C and Ebola patients in the past and wants to avoid that with coronavirus, known as COVID-19.

Stigmatization is a real fear, Allan said. Were protecting the rights of those individuals.

Three Ohioans who have tested positive for COVID-19 are in home quarantine and being monitored by the Ohio Department of Health and the Cuyahoga County Board of Health. One man traveled to a conference in Washington, D.C. The other two, a couple, were on a cruise in Egypt.

Six University Hospitals caregivers who treated the three are now being tested for the novel coronavirus, the health system said in a press release Tuesday. They remain in home isolation and their health is being monitored.

No patients have been hospitalized for COVID-19, UH said.

The man who went to a seminar is a male employee of the Jewish Education Center of Cleveland. The man traveled on a bus to Washington, D.C., with students from Solon High School, Fuchs Mizrachi, Hawken, Laurel and University schools.

The schools announced that several of the students are self-quarantining after the trip to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee Policy Conference March 1-3. Health officials are not releasing a complete list of schools involved.

Public health professionals are working on what is called contact tracing, or identifying people who came within 6 feet of the three COVID-19 patients. That number will be made public when it is available, Allan said.

Health officials also are determining the number of people in Cuyahoga County currently self-quarantined in their homes. These are people who have been in contact with a person known to have COVID-19, have traveled to places where the illness is prominent or been in contact with someone who has traveled to those places.

Allan is confident that people are voluntarily complying with recommendations that they self-quarantine for 14 days.

We feel people are making good decisions, he said. People want to do the right thing.

Current efforts to stop COVID-19 center on preventing large gatherings that could spread the illness, which is transmitted through droplets from a cough or sneeze.

Cuyahoga County health officials have been in contact with local school superintendents to offer them guidance as outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Decisions on spring school activities, such as bus trips and concerts, will be made on a case-by-case basis, he said.

Some area high schools have cancelled extracurricular activities, but are still holding face-to-face classes. The model is imperfect, Allan conceded. We are not dictating closures to people.

Allan expects the number of COVID-19 cases in Ohio to rise now that testing is being conducted by the ODH, as well as private labs. ODH can get test results in about 24 hours, while results from private labs take three to five days, he said.

The Center for Health Affairs, the regional coordinator for hospital emergency preparedness, is working with area hospitals to ensure they have adequate supplies of personal protective equipment such as respirators.

Allan also urged Ohioans to beware of internet scams promising COVID-19 vaccines or treatments. A vaccine isnt expected for at least 18 months, and there is no treatment for the illness.

Read more coronavirus coverage:

Jewish Education Center employee tests positive

4 Hawken students quarantined after exposure on bus trip

Hawken, Laurence, Laurel, University students on bus

Ohio coronavirus hotline offers information, advice

Cleaning products that kill the coronavirus

Should I cancel my trip? Experts say it depends.
The Jammu and Kashmir high court on Wednesday dismissed a plea seeking a ban on the use of pellet guns for crowd control in the recently created Union territory and cited a 2016 order that said that their use was necessary in incidents of mob violence.

A division bench comprising justices Ali Mohammad Magrey and Dhiraj Singh Thakur dismissed the plea filed by the Jammu and Kashmir High Court Bar Association (JKHCBA) in 2016, seeking the ban, the prosecution of security forces for using pellet guns on protesters and non-protesters and compensation payment to the injured.

The court mentioned that it has recorded a finding in its order dated 21.09.2016, particularly in paras 22 to 27.

On September 21, 2016, the court had observed that so long as there is violence by unruly mobs, use of force is inevitable.

It added, What kind of force has to be used at the relevant point of time or in a given situation/place has to be decided by the persons in charge of the place where the attack is happening.

The court also took note of the ground situation and the central governments bid to form a committee of experts on July 21, 2016, for exploring alternatives to pellet guns. ... before filing the report by the expert committee and a decision taken by the government, we are not inclined to prohibit the use of pellet guns in rare and extreme situations, it said.

In 2016, JKHCBA filed the public interest litigation (PIL) after hundreds of people were injured by pellets fired by security forces to rein in protests triggered after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani.

The petitioners moved the Supreme Court (SC) after the J&K HC decided to wait for the expert panels findings and the governments decision.

The SC referred the case back to the J&K HC in 2019 after observing that pellet guns should not be used indiscriminately.

On prosecution of security forces, the court said that it cant be considered as no findings of use of excessive force, violating the guidelines issued in the SOP [standard operating procedure] have been recorded by any fact finding authority ... the persons alleging use of excessive force, due to which death or injury has occurred, can approach the appropriate forum to seek redressal.

Hospital figures had revealed that over 6,000 people suffered pellet injuries, including 1,100 eye injuries during the 2016 unrest that started on July 8 -- the day Wani was killed.

There was outrage over the high number of injuries and Amnesty International described pellet guns as inherently inaccurate and indiscriminate and claimed that least 14 people had been killed by pellet guns.

The court said that as far as the prayer for compensation was concerned the state has fulfilled its obligation, such as ex-gratia payments to most of the injured persons and with respect to the remaining their cases shall be decided in tune with government policy in due course of time .

The divisional commissioner of Kashmir had submitted a list of persons who were injured in 2016 and sanctioned a payment of 75,000 each to 54 people who had suffered permanent disablement and 50,000 each to 10 people who had suffered partial disablement after being hit by pellets.
[March 11, 2020] Denmark's MNOs prepare to close down 3G services

Sydney, March 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Just released, this edition of Paul Budde Communications focus report on Denmark outlines the major developments and key aspects in the telecoms markets.

Read the full report: https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Denmark-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses Denmarks competitive telecom market continues to benefit from having one of the highest broadband penetration rates globally, as well as comprehensive LTE coverage and a fast-developing 5G segment. This market maturity has stimulated a range of IP-enabled applications which has encouraged revenue growth in the mobile and internet segments, though market competition meant that overall sector growth fell for several years before picking up in 2018. Excellent cable and DSL infrastructure have been supported by a progressive regulatory regime which has encouraged operator access to both copper and fibre networks. Fibre networks have a fast-growing footprint, while a number of community and metropolitan schemes have supplemented TDCs own commitments to build out fibre nationally. The development of VDSL and fibre, as well as LTE-A and 5G in the mobile market, is crucial to meeting the governments objective for all premises to have access to a 100Mb/s service by the end of 2020. This report introduces the key aspects of the Danish telecom market, providing data on the fixed network services sector as well as profiles of the major operators. It also analyses market statistics and assesses the key regulatory issues including interconnection, local loop unbundling, number portability and carrier preselection. In addition, the market reviews the fixed broadband and mobile markets, including a range of subscriber forecasts. Key developments 3 Denmark planning to close down 3G services by end-2020;

Auction for spectrum in the 3.5GHz band expected later in 2020;

Nokia Networks given five-year managed services contract for TT-Netvrket;

TDC expands NB-IoT across its LTE footprint;

Aqua Comms finishes work on the HAVFRUE submarine cable;

TDC completes DOCSIS3.1 network upgrade;

Continuing slide in the number of PSTN lines;

Report update includes the regulator's market data update to June 2019, telcos' operating and financial data to Q4 2019, Telecom Maturity Index charts and analyses, recent market developments. Companies mentioned in this report TDC, Telia Denmark, Telenor, MIT Tele (DLG Tele), 3 Denmark, Lycamobile, Tele2 Table of Contents Key Statistics

Regional Market Comparison Europe Telecom Maturity Index by tier Market Leaders Market Challengers Market Emergents TMI versus GDP Mobile and mobile broadband penetration Fixed versus mobile broadband penetration

Country overview

Telecommunications market Market analysis

Regulatory environment Historical overview Regulatory authority Fixed-line developments Privatisation of Tele Danmark Interconnect Access Number Portability (NP) Carrier PreSelection (CPS) Mobile network developments Spectrum Roaming Mobile Number Portability (MNP) Mobile Termination Rates (MTRs) Network sharing

Mobile market Market statistics Mobile infrastructure 5G 4G (LTE) 3G Other infrastructure developments Mobile voice Mobile data Mobile broadband Major mobile operators TDC Telenor Denmark Telia Danmark 3 Denmark Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) Mobile content and applications Near Field Communications M-commerce

Fixed-line broadband market Market analysis Broadband statistics Government support Hybrid Fibre Coax (HFC) networks Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) networks Very High Data Rate DSL (VDSL) Vectoring DSL Fibre-to-the-Premises (FttP) networks Other fixed broadband services Fixed wireless WiMAX Satellite Broadband Powerline (BPL)

Fixed network operators Introduction TDC Telenor Denmark Telia Denmark

Telecommunications infrastructure Overview of the national telecom network VoIP Next Generation Access (NGA) Alternative networks International infrastructure Submarine cable networks Satellite networks

Smart infrastructure Smart cities

Appendix  Historic data

Related reports

List of Tables Table 1  Top Level Country Statistics and Telco Authorities  2020 (e)

Table 2  Development of telecom revenue by sector  2009 - 2018

Table 3  Development of telecom earnings (EBIT)  2007 - 2018

Table 4  Development of telecom investment and proportion of revenue  2009  2018

Table 5  Change in fixed infrastructure investment by type 2015  2018

Table 6  Change in the number of annual fixed-line number portings  2006  2019

Table 7  Change in the number of annual mobile numbers ported  2009  2019

Table 8  Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration  2009  2024

Table 9  Growth in the number of mobile voice and data subscribers  2009  2019

Table 10  Change in mobile services revenue by type  2009  2018

Table 11  Fall in average revenue per mobile subscriber  2009  2018

Table 12  Change in mobile sector investment  2015  2018

Table 13  Change in the market share of mobile subscribers by operator (main operators)  2009  2019

Table 14  Change in the market share of mobile subscribers by operator (main operators)  2009  2019

Table 15  Fall in the number of prepaid subscriptions and proportion of total  2010  2019

Table 16  Growth in the number of LTE subscriptions  2015  2019

Table 17  Growth in he number of M2M subscriptions by operator  2008  2019

Table 18  Development of mobile voice traffic  2009  2019

Table 19  Fall in SMS traffic  2009  2019

Table 20  Growth in MMS traffic  2009 - 2019

Table 21  Growth in mobile data traffic  2009  2019

Table 22  Change in the number of dedicated mobile data subscriptions  2008  2019

Table 23  Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscriptions  2009  2024

Table 24  Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscriptions  2009  2024

Table 25  Growth in the number of TDCs mobile broadband subscribers  2008  2019

Table 26  Growth in the number of TDCs mobile broadband subscribers  2008  2019

Table 27  Change in the number of TDCs domestic mobile subscribers (retail, wholesale)  2007  2019

Table 28  Growth in TDCs mobile voice ARPU (consumer)  2016  2019

Table 29  TDCs spectrum concessions in Denmark

Table 30  Change in the number of Telenor Denmarks mobile subscribers, proportion prepaid  2009  2019

Table 31  Development of Telenor Denmarks mobile ARPU by type  2009  2019

Table 32  Development of Telenor Denmarks mobile revenue  2009  2019

Table 33  Change in the number of Telia Denmarks mobile subscribers  2005  2019

Table 34  Change in Telia Denmarks blended mobile ARPU  2007  2019

Table 35  Development of Telia Denmarks mobile service revenue  2006  2019

Table 36  Change in the number of 3 Denmarks registered subscribers  2007  2019

Table 37  Change in the number of 3 Denmarks active subscribers  2018  2019

Table 38  Development of 3 Denmarks mobile financial data  2010  2019

Table 39  Change in 3 Denmarks annualised monthly ARPU  2011  2019

Table 40  Change in the number of fixed and mobile internet subscribers  2009  2019

Table 41  Change in the number of total subscribers and penetration  2009  2019

Table 42  Change in fixed broadband penetration by technology  2007  2018

Table 43  Development of fixed broadband subscribers by technology  2009  2019

Table 44  Growth in the number of fixed broadband subscribers and penetration 2009  2024

Table 45  Broadband subscribers by lower access speeds  2010  2019

Table 46  Growth in the number of broadband subscribers by superfast (>100Mb/s) access speed  2017  2019

Table 47  Development of fixed-line broadband revenue by type  2007  2018

Table 48  Growth in fixed-line broadband traffic  2017  2019

Table 49  Change in the number of TDCs broadband subscribers  2011  2019

Table 50  Change in the number of Telia Denmarks broadband subscribers and ARPU  2007  2019

Table 51  Decline in the number of Telenor Denmarks broadband subscribers  2007  2019

Table 52  Growth in the number of VDSL lines  2013  2019

Table 53  Growth in the number of fibre broadband subscribers by type  2009  2019

Table 54  Change in the number of wireless broadband subscribers by type  2006  2018

Table 55  Satellite broadband subscribers  2012  2019

Table 56  Decline in the number of fixed subscriber lines by major operator  2010  2019

Table 57  Fixed subscriber lines by minor operator  2010  2019

Table 58  Decline in the number of fixed network lines by type  2009  2019

Table 59  Development of TDC Groups financial data  2007  2019

Table 60  Development of TDCs consumer and business revenue  2010  2019

Table 61  TDC consumer revenue by sector  2010  2019

Table 62  TDC business revenue by sector  2010  2019

Table 63  Development of TDCs consumer RGUs by sector  2012  2019

Table 64  Decline in Telenor Denmarks fixed-line revenue  2006  2019

Table 65  Development of Telenor Denmarks EBITDA, op. profit  2005  2019

Table 66  Change in the number of Telenor Denmarks fixed-line subscribers  2009  2019

Table 67  Change in the number of Telia Denmarks fixed-line subscribers by sector  2010  2019

Table 68  Development of Telia Denmarks revenue by sector  2006  2019

Table 69  Decline in the number of fixed lines in service and teledensity  2009  2024

Table 70  Decline in fixed-telephony voice traffic  2009  2019

Table 71  Development of retail and wholesale fixed-telephony revenue  2013  2018

Table 72  Development of VoIP subscribers and traffic  2009  2019

Table 73  Change in the number of TDCs VoIP subscribers  2008  2019

Table 74  Change in the number of Telia Denmark VoIP subscribers  2009  2019

Table 75  Change in the number of NGA connections by type  2013  2019

Table 76  Change in international internet bandwidth  2009  2017

Table 77 - Telecom sector investment  2002  2009

Table 78  Historic - Telecom investment and proportion of revenue  2001  2009

Table 79  Historic - Carrier and call-by-call PreSelection registrations  2005  2013

Table 80  Historic - Mobile voice traffic  2005  2009

Table 81  Historic - TDC mobile services revenue by segment  2007  2018

Table 82  Historic - Mobile subscribers and penetration  1999  2009

Table 83  Historic - Prepaid subscriptions and percentage of subscribers  1999  2009

Table 84  Historic - Mobile retail services revenue  2001  2009

Table 85  Historic - Mobile traffic in minutes  2005  2009

Table 86  Historic - Annual mobile numbers ported  2003  2009

Table 87  Historic - Telenor Denmark mobile subscribers, proportion prepaid  2004  2009

Table 88  Historic - Telenor Denmark ARPU  2004  2009

Table 89  Historic - Telenor Denmarks mobile revenue  2005  2009

Table 90  Historic 3 Denmark financial data  2007  2009

Table 91  Historic - 3 Denmark annualised monthly ARPU and data proportion  2007  2010

Table 92  Historic - SMS traffic  2003  2009

Table 93  Historic - SMS sent per subscriber  2014  2017

Table 94  Historic - Total MMS sent  2003 - 2009

Table 95  Historic - MMS sent per subscriber  2014  2017

Table 96  Historic - Internet users and penetration rate  1996  2015

Table 97  Historic Internet subscribers and penetration rate  2004  2009

Table 98  Historic - Dial-up internet subscribers  2007  2018

Table 99  Historic - Total fixed-line broadband subscribers by sector  2001  2009

Table 100  Historic - Fixed-line broadband subscribers and penetration  2001  2009

Table 101  Historic  Mobile, fixed telephony and broadband revenue  2001  2012

Table 102  Historic - Broadband coverage by data rate  2011  2015

Table 103  Historic - Fibre broadband subscribers by type  2005  2009

Table 104  Historic - Fixed network and ISDN lines  2003  2009

Table 105  Historic - Telenor Denmark fixed-line subscribers  2005  2009

Table 106  Historic - Telia Denmark fixed-line subscribers by sector  2005  2009

Table 107  Historic - Fixed lines in service and teledensity  1999  2009

Table 108  Historic - Fixed-telephony domestic voice traffic  2005  2009

Table 109  Historic - Average revenue per fixed line  2013  2017

Table 110  Historic - Development of VoIP subscribers and traffic  2005  2009

Table 111  Historic - Telenor VoIP subscribers  2008  2014

Table 112  Historic - International internet bandwidth  1999  2009



Chart 1  Europe Telecoms Maturity Index  Market Leaders (top tier)

Chart 2  Europe Telecoms Maturity Index  Market Challengers (middle tier)

Chart 3  Europe Telecoms Maturity Index  Market Emergents (bottom tier)

Chart 4  Overall view - Telecoms Maturity Index vs GDP per Capita

Chart 5  Europe - mobile subscriber penetration vs mobile broadband penetration

Chart 6  Scandinavia and Baltics: mobile subscriber penetration vs mobile broadband penetration

Chart 7  Northern Europe mobile subscriber penetration vs mobile broadband penetration

Chart 8  Southern Europe mobile subscriber penetration vs mobile broadband penetration

Chart 9  Eastern Europe mobile subscriber penetration vs mobile broadband penetration

Chart 10  Scandinavia and Baltics fixed and mobile broadband penetration

Chart 11  Northern Europe fixed and mobile broadband penetration

Chart 12  Southern Europe fixed and mobile broadband penetration

Chart 13  Eastern Europe fixed and mobile broadband penetration

Chart 14  Development of telecom revenue by sector  2009 - 2018

Chart 15  Development of telecom investment and proportion of revenue  2009  2018

Chart 16  Change in fixed infrastructure investment by type 2015  2018

Chart 17  Change in the number of annual fixed-line number portings  2006  2019

Chart 18  Change in the number of annual mobile numbers ported  2009  2019

Chart 19  Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration  2009  2024

Chart 20  Growth in the number of mobile voice and data subscribers  2009  2019

Chart 21  Change in mobile services revenue by type  2009  2018

Chart 22  Fall in average revenue per mobile subscriber  2009  2018

Chart 23  Fall in the number of prepaid subscriptions and proportion of total  2010  2019

Chart 24  Growth in the number of M2M subscriptions by operator  2008  2019

Chart 25  Development of mobile voice traffic  2005  2019

Chart 26  Fall in SMS traffic  2009  2019

Chart 27  Growth in MMS traffic  2009 - 2019

Chart 28  Growth in mobile data traffic  2009  2019

Chart 29  Change in the number of dedicated mobile data subscriptions  2008  2019

Chart 30  Change in the number of TDCs domestic subscribers (retail, wholesale)  2007  2019

Chart 31  Change in the number of Telenor Denmarks mobile subscribers, proportion prepaid  2009  2019

Chart 32  Development of Telenor Denmarks mobile ARPU by type  2009  2019

Chart 33  Development of Telenor Denmarks mobile revenue  2009  2019

Chart 34  Change in the number of Telia Denmarks mobile subscribers  2005  2019

Chart 35  Change in Telia Denmarks blended mobile ARPU  2007  2019

Chart 36  Development of Telia Denmarks mobile service revenue  2006  2019

Chart 37  Change in the number of 3 Denmarks registered subscribers  2007  2019

Chart 38  Development of 3 Denmarks mobile financial data  2010  2019

Chart 39  Change in 3 Denmarks annualised monthly ARPU  2011  2019

Chart 40  Change in the number of fixed and mobile internet subscribers  2009  2019

Chart 41  Change in the number of internet subscribers and penetration  2009  2019

Chart 42  Change in fixed broadband penetration by technology  2007  2018

Chart 43  Development of fixed broadband subscribers by technology  2009  2019

Chart 44  Growth in the number of fixed broadband subscribers and penetration 2009  2024

Chart 45  Growth in the number of broadband subscribers by superfast (>100Mb/s) access speed  2017  2019

Chart 46  Development of fixed-line broadband revenue by type  2007  2018

Chart 47  Change in the number of TDCs broadband subscribers  2011  2019

Chart 48  Change in the number of Telia Denmarks broadband subscribers and ARPU  2007  2019

Chart 49  Decline in the number of Telenor Denmarks broadband subscribers  2007  2019

Chart 50  Growth in the number of VDSL lines  2013  2019

Chart 51  Growth in the number of fibre broadband subscribers by type  2009  2019

Chart 52  Decline in the number of fixed subscriber lines by major operator  2010  2019

Chart 53  Decline in the number of fixed subscriber lines by minor operator  2010  2019

Chart 54  Decline in the number of fixed network lines by type  2009  2019

Chart 55  Development of TDC Groups financial data  2007  2019

Chart 56  Development of TDCs consumer and business revenue  2010  2019

Chart 57  Development of TDCs consumer RGUs by sector  2012  2019

Chart 58  Decline in Telenor Denmarks fixed-line revenue  2006  2019

Chart 59  Change in the number of Telenor Denmarks fixed-line subscribers  2009  2019

Chart 60  Change in the number of Telia Denmarks fixed-line subscribers by sector  2007  2019

Chart 61  Change in the number of Telia Denmarks fixed-line subscribers by sector  2006  2019

Chart 62  Decline in the number of fixed lines in service and teledensity  2009  2024

Chart 63  Decline in fixed-telephony voice traffic  2009  2019

Chart 64  Development of retail and wholesale fixed-telephony revenue  2013  2018

Chart 65  Development of VoIP subscribers and traffic  2009  2019

Chart 66  Change in the number of NGA connections by type  2013  2019 List of Exhibits

Exhibit 1  Generalised Market Characteristics by Market Segment

Exhibit 2  Access and the local loop

Exhibit 3  Denmarks 3G licensing results  2001

Exhibit 4  2.5GHz licence awards  2010

Exhibit 5  800MHz licence awards  2012

Exhibit 6  1800MHz licence awards  2016

Exhibit 7  3 Denmark spectrum concessions Read the full report: https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Denmark-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses Nicolas Bombourg [email protected] Within Australia (02) 8076 7665 Outside Australia +44 207 097 1241

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A 17-year-old boy has been found guilty of murdering a teenager who died defending his female friend from being attacked.

Solomon Small was praised by police for his "unimaginable bravery" was stabbed multiple times in Brixton shortly before 2pm on August 15, 2019.

The 18-year-old trainee mechanic died of his injuries at the scene.

Witnesses said they saw the teenage attacker, who cannot be named for legal reasons, "fist bump" Solomon moments before slashing him in the neck and chest.

In a statement following the verdict, Solomon's family called for an end to gang violence.

Victim: Solomon Small, 18

Solomon was approached by his killer around half an hour before his death as he walked down the road with his friend towards a supermarket cashpoint which she intended to use, the court heard.

They passed a kebab shop which Solomon's attacker was stood outside.

Jurors heard how the two boys spoke for a short time and Solomon's friend thought they seemed to know each other, although she described the other man's attitude towards Solomon as cold.

Solomons friend then realised she did not need to use the cashpoint and the pair went into the supermarket instead.

After this, Solomon and his friend went to a cafe on Acre Lane before they headed to a friends house.

As they began walking in the direction of Corrance Road, they passed Solomons attacker again.

CCTV footage showed how after this second meeting the 17-year-old began following Solomon and his friend as they walked across Acre Lane and into Corrance Road.

Solomon told his friend that he was aware that they were being followed.

The 17-year-old then approached Solomon and started asking him questions, his demeanour had changed, and the pair began fighting, the court heard.

It was described how Solomon attempted to pull his attacker away from his friend and prevented him from getting close to her.

Corrance Road where Solomon was attacked and died

However, during the brawl, he suffered a number of stab wounds.

His attacker fled the scene and his friend called 999 but emergency workers were unable to save him.

Detectives were able to track down the 17-year-old and over the next few days recover burnt clothing during searches at a number of addresses in Brixton.

Tests carried out on the clothing found DNA could have come from Solomon's attacker.

On Tuesday, August 20, the 17-year-old handed himself into the police accompanied by his mother and he was arrested and then charged with murder.

Despite turning himself in, the teenager repeatedly answered "no comment" to detectives questions throughout the course of several interviews.

Acting Detective Inspector Neil Cramer of the Mets Specialist Crime Command South, said: "Solomon Small had his life tragically cut short by senseless violence.

"Even in his last moments, Solomon displayed unimaginable bravery. He pulled his attacker away from his friend to protect her even though this meant that he was wounded further.

This has been an incredibly difficult time for Solomons friends and family and I hope that this verdict brings them some peace. I want to commend Solomons friend who witnessed the attack and was with him as he died.

"She has shown incredible bravery, not only at the time of the murder, but also throughout the subsequent police investigation.

"Solomon Small had his life tragically cut short by senseless violence" / Met Police

There is no justification for such brutality. Tackling violence such as this remains a top priority for London policing.

Solomon's family said in a statement: "First and foremost we thank God for everything he has done for us in this case.

We would also like to thank everyone who has supported us over the past seven months including our legal team and all the investigators. Our heart goes out to everyone who has lost a loved one through violence. We know your pain is unexplainable by words.

As children of Rastafari, spiritually, we pray for Solomons soul. We are humbled in the knowledge that God will receive, guide and nurture him in his transition within the next realms of his life.

Our son is gone and cannot be returned to us physically. No matter what sentence is given to his killer our sons life will never be returned to us. So many youths are killing each other.

The 18-year-old protected his female friend at the expense of being further injured himself

It saddens me to see so many youths have taken the wrong road and have got caught up in a negative lifestyle.

Instead of each area formulating themselves into gangs Im proposing that they formulate into businesses and if you want to challenge each other do it by establishing which business is more successful. This way instead of having gangs fighting each other we will have a multitude of businesses run by young entrepreneurs of the future, instead of planning how to stab and kill each other over trivial things.

Our faith teaches us to seek peace and pursue it because it is the will of God for man.

We pray The Most High grants us the spiritual, physical and mental strength with courage to carry on. The great pain and anguish of losing our child and the manner in which his life was taken will always be with us.
TEHRAN, Iran  Irans senior vice president and two other Cabinet members have contracted the new coronavirus, a semiofficial news agency reported Wednesday as the death toll in the Islamic Republic from the outbreak rose by 62 to 354.

The report by the Fars news agency, believed to be close to Irans paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, comes as President Hassan Rouhani took control of the countrys much-criticized response to the virus and the COVID-19 illness it causes. Authorities announced that there were some 9,000 confirmed cases of the virus across Iran.

The Fars story also comes amid days of speculation about the health of Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri. Jahangiri has not been seen in pictures of recent top-level meetings, raising concerns about him.

Meanwhile on Wednesday, Kuwait announced a two-week shutdown of the country while confirmed cases in Qatar jumped from 24 to 262.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia. The vast majority of people recover from the new virus.

There was no immediate report on state media about the Iranian officials being ill and no other media outlet in Iran immediately carried the report. Fars published it in a picture list of names in Farsi, with Jahangiris name at the top, saying he was in quarantine and improving, without elaborating.

Fars said the others sick are Ali Asghar Mounesan, minister of cultural heritage, handcrafts and tourism, and Reza Rahmani, minister of industry, mines and business.

The report comes at a sensitive time for Rouhani, who faced criticism for not being out front on the response to the virus. Hes been seen at government meetings where members sit meters apart from each other, likely to stop the potential spread of the virus. He also wore latex gloves while planting a tree at a recent event.

Hard-liners long have tried to embarrass Rouhani, whose administration pushed through Irans 2015 nuclear deal with world powers.

Rouhani has 11 vice presidents. Another, Massoumeh Ebtekar, earlier fell ill with the virus. Ebtekar is better known to Americans as Sister Mary, the English-speaking spokeswoman for those who seized the U.S. Embassy in Tehran in 1979 and began the 444-day hostage crisis.

Ebtekar tweeted Wednesday she had recovered from the virus, while linking to images of Western officials who have contracted the illness.

#Iran faces sanctions & psycho-terrorism, she wrote. They portray Iran as corona epicenter, accuse us of undercounting, count afflicted officials as proof. Reality: Numbers are clear, thank God Im back in my office.

Across the Mideast, the vast majority of the nearly 10,000 people who have contracted the coronavirus and the COVID-19 illness it causes are in hard-hit Iran or had recently returned from there. The Islamic Republic has one of the worlds worst death tolls outside of China, the epicenter of the outbreak. Outside of Iran, only Iraq, Egypt and Lebanon have recorded deaths from the virus in the Middle East.

The World Health Organization on Wednesday declared the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic.

Kuwait announced late Wednesday the oil-rich nation would close down all work and business for two weeks beginning Thursday. Flights would halt to the nation from Friday, the country said. It has over 70 confirmed cases of the new virus. Restaurants, cafes and health clubs also will be closed, the state-run KUNA news agency reported.

Qatar reported a massive jump in cases of the new coronavirus late Wednesday as well, going up to 262. The small, peninsular nation home to long-haul airline Qatar Airways stressed the new cases had been found in quarantine and not mixing out in the public.

In the Gulf Arab island nation of Bahrain, authorities say their number of confirmed cases on Wednesday spiked by nearly 70% to 189 confirmed cases. The 77 new cases were all on a returning flight of Bahraini evacuees from Iran.

There are concerns that the number of infections across Iran is much higher than the confirmed cases reported by the government, which is struggling to contain or manage its spread. The rising casualty figures each day in Iran suggest the fight against the new coronavirus is far from over.

Among the dead are five of the Guard members and an unspecified number of the Guards volunteer Basij force.

Irans supreme leader had said Tuesday that the Islamic Republic will recognize doctors and nurses who die combating the new coronavirus as martyrs.

The decision by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei comes amid a propaganda campaign already trying to link the fight against the virus to Irans long, bloody 1980s war with Iraq. Its forces, which include virologists, faced chemical weapons during Irans eight-year war against Iraq.

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.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia has barred travel to and from 14 countries affected by the new virus. Early on, as the virus spread in Asia, the kingdom stopped pilgrimages to Islams holiest sites in Mecca and Medina, and cut travel links with China and later, Iran. It has also barred entry and exit for residents of Qatif, an eastern Saudi province where most of the countrys 21 cases of the virus are confirmed after travel back to Iran.

Lebanon reported its second death Wednesday saying a 53-year-old man died of the virus. The Health Ministry said 37% of the cases reported in Lebanon originated from four countries: Egypt, Iran, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

Later on Wednesday, Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab said flights will be halted form Iran, Italy, China and South Korea. Diab said Lebanese staying in countries that have large numbers of coronavirus cases have four days to return to Lebanon.

In Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a $2.8 billion rescue package to stabilize the economy as it grapples with the virus. The money will double a previously announced fund to help businesses hit by the crisis to $2.4 billion. It also includes roughly $280 million for the health sector.

Israel has diagnosed a total of 77 cases of the virus.

___

Associated Press writers Aya Batrawy and Jon Gambrell in Dubai, United Arab Emirates and Bassem Mroue in Beirut 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.
WINNIPEG - Manitoba's Opposition New Democrats blocked the government from introducing its budget Wednesday, prompting Premier Brian Pallister to bail on a first ministers meeting in Ottawa later this week.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 11/3/2020 (671 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Mantiba Finance Minister Scott Fielding speaks with the media before a meeting with federal and provincial counterparts in Ottawa, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2019. It's budget day in Manitoba and the Progressive Conservative government says the new fiscal plan will take into consideration the economic effects of the novel coronavirus. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

WINNIPEG - Manitoba's Opposition New Democrats blocked the government from introducing its budget Wednesday, prompting Premier Brian Pallister to bail on a first ministers meeting in Ottawa later this week.

The 2020-21 fiscal plan was to be delivered in the afternoon, but the New Democrats ate up the clock through procedural tactics until the legislature rose for the day at 5 p.m.

Pallister was not pleased.

"I think the level of disrespect for the people of Manitoba was put on display today, and I think it's disappointing," Pallister said.

"The NDP's delay tactics show that their priority is attention-seeking behaviour, not the priorities of the people of Manitoba."

Manitoba Finance Minister Scott Fielding speaks to media at a press conference before the provincial budget is read at the Manitoba Legislature in Winnipeg, Wednesday, March 11, 2020. TThe Opposition has blocked the Manitoba government from introducing its new budget.THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods

One by one, various NDP members of the legislature stood up, talked very slowly and raised matters of privilege  complaints about a variety of issues akin to a football coach challenging a referee's decision. Only unlike football, there are no limits or penalties for politicians who raise matters of privilege.

Toward the end of the afternoon, a clearly exasperated Speaker Myrna Driedger asked for a breakthrough.

"It's ... taxing my graciousness at this point because I don't think this is serving Manitobans very well," she said.

NDP Leader Wab Kinew said his caucus is not so concerned about the budget, but is focused mainly on blocking some 20 bills the government is also trying to introduce.

"There are bills to attack schools, bills to attack working people's rights, bills that will make it more difficult for people to stand up for their rights in this province," Kinew said.

"That's what we're delaying."

Pallister said the delay will keep him in Winnipeg instead of travelling to meet with other premiers and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

"I have to miss a meeting with the prime minister and my colleagues as a consequence of this and that's OK. My priority is here in Manitoba and that's where I am going to be."

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Media and interest groups were provided with the contents of the budget earlier in the day, but are not allowed to reveal it until the document is presented in the chamber.

The head of the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce, Loren Remillard, said the NDP did not do itself any favours

"This delay does nothing to further the budget conversation ... and serves little more than to upset and annoy the very stakeholders and media that are important parts of this process themselves."

The Progressive Conservative government said it will try again Thursday to introduce the budget. The NDP said it would continue delay tactics, but offered a compromise of sorts.

Kinew said his caucus would allow the government to table its budget if it agrees to forego Finance Minister Scott Fielding's speech. Pallister said the government would not agree to that.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 11, 2020
A 28-year-old man was arrested for allegedly attacking a police officer, who caught him in a robbery case, in southeast Delhi's Govindpuri area, officials said on Wednesday.

The accused, Deepak, is a resident of Govindpuri. He, along with Mansur Alam, Saurabh and Raj Kumar, had allegedly robbed a shopkeeper of Rs 1 lakh in Govindpuri on September 13 last year, police said.

On Saturday, Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Faiyaz Ahmad of Govindpuri police station went to C-Block, Nehru Camp to arrest Deepak, a senior police officer said.

When the ASI caught Deepak, the accused attacked him with a dagger on his head, arms and legs, they said.

The ASI took out his service pistol and fired in the air, but the accused fled. The inured officer was sent to AIIMS Trauma Centre and a case of attempt to murder was registered against Deepak, police said.

"During investigation, police arrested Deepak from Holi Chowk, Navjeevan Camp," Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southeast) R P Meena said.

After attacking the ASI, Deepak went to Gorakhpur. He travelled in a bus from Gorakhpur to Sunauli at the India-Nepal border. However, he came back to Delhi due to the security presence at the border, the DCP said.

The weapon used to attack the ASI was recovered from the possession of the accused, they said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
By Ofeliya Afandiyeva

The State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) is drafting a Strategic Development Plan until 2036.

Currently, the company is carrying out projects as part of the development strategy for 2015-2025. At the same time, SOCAR has hired McKinsey, a consulting company, to develop a next strategic development plan that will meet the challenges of the new period for 2025-2035, SOCAR said in a statement published in the local media on March 11.

In the meantime, SOCARs president Rovnag Abdullayev received a delegation from Uzbekistan led by Chairman of the Board of Uzbekneftegaz OJSC Mehreddin Abdullayev on March 10.

During the meeting, the reforms conducted in various spheres of the Uzbek oil and gas industry were mentioned and the Uzbekneftegazs interest in learning from SOCARs experience was stressed.

In addition, the sides discussed the issues of exchanging experience between SOCAR and Uzbekneftegaz.

The detailed information on digital technologies which are used in SOCAR, various modules and artificial technologies of SAP company, which has become the global brand of Azerbaijan, was provided.

In addition, SOCAR will exchange experience on the construction of a modern petrochemical complex, as well as details of the project to modernize the Heydar Aliyev Baku Oil Refinery.

The sides underlined the importance of SOCARs strategic development plan for 10 years, adopted in 2005.

Presently, SOCAR and McKinsey are working on a strategic development plan that meets the challenges of the new 2025-2035 period, the statement said.

It was decided to hold a series of meetings on technical issues to share the achievements and experience gained.

As it was reported earlier, the foundation of cooperation between SOCAR and Uzbekneftegaz was laid in May 2016 by signing a Memorandum of Cooperation in the field of exploration and development of oil and gas fields and in other potential areas for the development of the energy sector.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
It's official: The World Health Organization has classified the novel coronavirus as a pandemic.

Here's what you need to know to Get Up to Speed and Out the Door.

(You can also get '5 Things You Need to Know Today' delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up here.)

1. Coronavirus

Coronavirus response has reached an unprecedented level in the US. Here are the most critical developments over the last 24 hours:

 President Trump is suspending travel to and from Europe for the next 30 days. These restrictions don't apply to American citizens who have been screened, or to travel to and from the UK. Airlines are scrambling to comply with the new rules.

 The State Department raised the worldwide travel advisory to Level 3: Reconsider Travel. It's an official warning against nonessential trips abroad.

 The NBA suspended its season after a player preliminarily tested positive for coronavirus. That makes the virus a concern for the rest of the league, given the close contact players and teams have had with this person.

 The NCAA is barring fan attendance for its March Madness tournament as a precaution.

 More major events, like the video game conference E3 and several of Trump's public appearances, are canceled, while others, like Biden campaign events and the G7 meeting, are switching to virtual formats.

 Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson announced they tested positive for coronavirus in Australia and are seeking treatment.

Send us your coronavirus questions and stories: Ask your questions and share your experiences here.

Stay updated: Sign up for CNN's coronavirus newsletter, listen to the latest episode of the Coronavirus: Fact vs Fiction podcast and get mobile alerts on the pandemic in the CNN app.

2. US census

The 2020 United States census kicks off today, and it's expected to be the country's largest ever official population count. Households will start getting invitations to complete the census online, on the phone, or through a mail-in questionnaire. Despite all the controversy and debate, there will not be a citizenship question on the census forms. And yes, you are required by law to respond, or you could get fined. The full national count will be completed by the end of the year.

3. Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia is continuing to put pressure on the struggling oil market after sending it plunging. State oil company Saudi Aramco threatened this week to jack up oil production by 2.5 million barrels, shocking the market. Now, it's doubling down by promising another drastic increase. These threats are a clear sign that the country is ready to get cutthroat with Russian and American oil powers in order to win customers. Experts are gravely concerned that Saudi Arabia's gamble, combined with sinking international demand for oil due to coronavirus fears, could cause even more damage to the oil industry -- and take the whole global economy down with it.

4. Weinstein

Disgraced Hollywood producer and convicted rapist Harvey Weinstein has been sentenced to 23 years in prison for convictions of first-degree criminal sexual acts and third-degree rape. Weinstein's crimes and more allegations against him helped fuel the global #MeToo movement. Prominent #MeToo leaders like Rose McGowan, Ashley Judd and Rosanna Arquette voiced their approval of his sentence while pointing out that no punishment could repair the damage he has done to his victims. Weinstein also faces felony charges of rape and sexual battery in Los Angeles, and the district attorney's office there has begun the process of extraditing him to California to face those charges.

5. Iraq

Two Americans and a British national were killed and about 12 others wounded in a rocket attack on a military base in Taji, Iraq. A defense official said the weapons and tactics used in the attack suggest that Iranian-backed fighters are to blame. Given the months of tensions between US forces and Iranian-backed forces within Iraq after January's killing of an Iranian general, this latest round of deadly aggression is sparking concerns that military tensions could flare up in the region again. There have been rocket attacks in Iraq in recent weeks, but this one was the first since December to result in a US death.

BREAKFAST BROWSE

Babies smell sweet, teens stink, and blindfolded moms can tell the difference

Seems like that sweetness probably varies with the condition of a baby's diaper.

Modell's Sporting Goods files for bankruptcy and will close all stores

Farewell to one of the best taglines in retail history.

Tesla is looking for places to build its striking, singular Cybertruck

Wherever they filmed 'Mad Max: Fury Road' feels like a good fit.

IBM wants to make computers more fluent in human

Your Echo already knows all your weirdest habits, so it might be nice to have a good conversation with it.

Here are some TV shows to watch if you just want to feel happy right now

And yes, it is completely OK to crave some escape.

TODAY'S QUOTE

'We need holidays to recognize the contributions of women across history.'

Colorado state Sen. Chris Hansen, a sponsor of a state bill to change Columbus Day to Cabrini Day to honor Frances Xavier Cabrini, who created 67 schools, hospitals, and orphanages in the United States and South and Central America throughout her life. The bill passed this week.

TODAY'S WEATHER

AND FINALLY

How equine therapy helps veterans coping with PTSD

Because we need something a little uplifting today. (Click here to view.)
Hindu extremists beat Christian leader, run him over with motorcycles while mocking Jesus

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Hindu extremists in India brutally beat a Christian leader before running their motorcycles over him while mocking his faith as he lay semi-conscious in Sehore, Madhya Pradesh state, according to a pastor.

Shortly after dropping his 5-year-old son off at school that morning, Isaac Paulose, 48, was beaten by 10 Hindu nationalists armed with bamboo rods and a thick metal chain with a heavy lock on it. The attackers then ran their five motorcycles over him, fracturing one of his ribs, Uttar Kumar Deep, pastor of Grace Fellowship Church of CEA (Christian Evangelistic Assemblies), Sehore told Morning Star News.

According to Deep, Paulose was in his car when a Hindu nationalist on a motorcycle stopped him and told him to get out.

Unaware of his intentions and without a slightest of suspicion, Isaac stepped out, Deep said. Suddenly others joined the biker, and all of them began to beat Isaac with bamboo logs and a chain. The moment he stepped out of his car, the others joined in, and they began to beat him.

Pauloses wife, Elizabeth Isaac, witnessed the attack and said: The moment he stepped out of his car, the others joined in, and they began to beat him. Accusing him of converting people, they beat him with bamboo logs and a thick metal chain with a lock attached to its end. They scorned and ridiculed him, daring him to continue to convert people.

The assailants threatened to kill the pastor before leaving and mocked his faith, Deep said.

When he lay on the ground half-dead, they drove their bikes, five in number, one after another over him, injuring him further and breaking his rib, he said. They scorned and taunted him, asking him to call on the name of Jesus. They also threatened to kill him if he continues to convert people.

The assailants fled only after passers-by noticed and came to Pauloses aid. The Christian leader was rushed to a hospital where he underwent two surgeries on his left hand, which sustained multiple fractures.

He has received two stitches at the back of his head, and one stitch on his forehead, Isaac said. One of his ribs is fractured, for which the doctors said that nothing can be done and that he will need to take a lot of rest for the rib to heal by itself.

Hemant Lal, a Christian leader from Bhopal, said Paulose was honored to suffer in Christs name.

Brother Isaacs condition was very bad when he was brought to Bhopal, Lal told Morning Star News. I was amazed at his faith. He told me he was not scared, and that there will be difficulties in doing the Lords work, but that he was glad that he suffered for the name of Jesus.

Sehore police registered a First Information Report against the unidentified assailants under the Indian Penal Code for criminal intimidation, damage, wrongful restraint and voluntarily causing hurt. They later added a section pertaining to attempted murder.

Indias Freedom of Religion Act 2019, which 8 out of 29 states in the country have passed, bans religious conversion as a result of force or inducement. Those who violate the forced religious conversion law face anywhere from three to seven years in prison.

Under the law, forced religious conversions are those which occur under misrepresentation, force, undue influence, coercion, inducement, marriage, or other fraudulent means.

However, critics say these laws are often abused by Hindu radicals to persecute Christians and other religious minorities. Numerous reports have emerged of extremist groups and police targeting Christians with the allegation of conversion by force, fraud, or allurement.

Speaking to Morning Star News, Deep said Paulose does not engage in forced conversion.

Such incidents should not happen with us; we are peace-loving people, Deep said. We do not get violent, and accusing someone of [forced] conversion without any reason and proof is not a good thing.

India is ranked 10th on Christian support organization Open Doors 2020 World Watch List of countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian.

According to the Religious Liberty Commission of the Evangelical Fellowship of India, which has been documenting incidents of persecution against Christians since 1998, incidents targeting Indian Christians have risen steeply since 2014, when Narendra Modi of the Bharatiya Janata Party came to power.

The commission recorded 147 verified cases of persecution in 2014; 252 cases in 2016; 351 in 2017; and 325 in 2018. The EFI commission will soon release the data for 2019.

The administration of President Donald Trump has been repeatedly criticized by Christian leaders for failing to condemn the deteriorating religious freedom conditions in India.

In an op-ed published by The Christian Post, Open Doors USA CEO David Curry stressed that India wanted Trump to look the other way when it comes to religious persecution.

India, like the United States, is a vibrant democracy with constitutional protections for the religious freedom of its 1.3 billion citizens, Curry wrote. In recent years, those protections have started to look like empty promises. Worse still, Prime Minister Modis government appears determined to hide the facts on the ground.
Kieran Hayler has reportedly got engaged to girlfriend Michelle Penticost.

Katie Price's estranged husband appears to have got down on one knee during a romantic trip to the Maldives, popping the question to his girlfriend of almost two years.

Michelle took to her Facebook account to share a snap of her ring alongside the caption 'So today at sunset I became a fiance (sic)'.

Good news! Kieran Hayler appears to have got down on one knee during a romantic trip to the Maldives, popping the question to his girlfriend of almost two years, Michelle Penticost

She also posted a number of snaps of the proposal itself, showing the couple kissing on a deserted beach.

Kieran - whose divorce from Katie is set to be finalised any day now - appears to have kept the moment off his socials, simply uploading a picture of two glasses of champagne sitting on a table.

He wrote, 'Love this place', before adding another image of the beach at night.

The former stripper and girlfriend Michelle have been inseparable since going public with their relationship in July 2018.

The brunette beauty lives with Kieran and his children Jett, six, and Bunny, five, who he shares with ex Katie, as well as Michelle's son from a past relationship.

Bling: Michelle took to her Facebook account to share a snap of her ring alongside the caption 'So today at sunset I became a fiance (sic)'

He recently paid tribute to his 'best friend, my rock and my soul mate' in a sweet Valentine's Day post, saying he's the happiest he's ever been with her.

Kieran enthused: 'My valentine!!!! My best friend, my rock and my soul mate. You have completed me and I am the happiest I have ever been.

'I Love our little family and I love creating memories every day. People dont even see half of what you do for me and the kids, but that doesnt matter because everything you do, means everything to me. I love you '.

MailOnline has contacted Kieran's representatives for comment.

Last month, Kieran sparked rumours he could be set to wed again after he was pictured trying on and buying a suit in a wedding shop, but it later transpired to have been for a special event.

Keeping it quiet: Kieran - whose divorce from Katie Price is set to be finalised any day now - appears to have kept the moment off his socials, simply uploading a picture of two glasses of champagne sitting on a table

He wrote: 'Love this place', before adding another image of the beach at night.

Meanwhile, Katie recently declared she was finally getting divorced with their paperwork set to be finalised in 'the next few days'.

Katie and third husband Kieran wed in January 2013 following a whirlwind romance, but they split for good in May 2018.

Over the course of their very tumultuous marriage, Katie accused Kieran of cheating with her best friend of 20 years, Jane Pountney, as well as sleeping with her friend Chrissy Thomas.

In August 2017, she famously claimed Kieran had cheated on her for a third time with their nanny Nikki Brown, resulting in the breakdown of their union.

The former glamour model spilled the beans in an Instagram post in which she wished her ex a 'happy future' and admitted that she'll never give up on her 'fairtytale ending'.

In love: Kieran recently paid tribute to Michelle, saying, 'My best friend, my rock and my soul mate. You have completed me and I am the happiest I have ever been'

In a heartfelt post to her 2.1 million followers, the star praised her ex for 'not wanting anything' from their divorce as she explained their split has been 'amicable'.

She penned: 'Finally me and Kieran will be divorved in next few days and how amicable it has been and respect he is the first man not wanting anything from our divorce and wish him a happy future with Michell and now Im free and will never give up that happy fairytale ending of one day getting married and having my family unit I desire (sic)'

She is also mum to Harvey, 17, from her relationship with Dwight Yorke, and Junior, 14 and Princess, 11 from her marriage to Peter Andre.

The Loose Women star's well wishes to Kieran and his Michelle comes just months after she reportedly refused to divorce him in an attempt to 'spite' Michelle following their court battle.

Over: Katie and third husband Kieran wed in January 2013 following a whirlwind romance, but they split for good in May 2018 (pictured in February 2017)

It's over: Last month, Katie said she is finally getting divorced with their paperwork finalised in 'the next few days'

It was claimed that Katie was declining to move forward with divorce proceedings as a way of 'keeping control' following their school ground spat.

Katie was served with a restraining order in June last year following a dramatic row with Michelle in the playground of the school their kids attend.

The source told The Sun Online: 'Katie is doing this to exercise her control over Kieran and it is a vendetta against Michelle for her taking her to court and winning.

'Katie needs to let go of the past and move on with Kris, or whoever. Kieran wants to be Katie's ex. He isn't Mr Price and hates being referred to as that. Naturally he wants his own identity back.'
Talks on government formation look no nearer to reaching any kind of breakthrough despite almost five weeks of cross party talks taking place inside the corridors of Leinster House.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar was yesterday (Tuesday) expected to fly to the United States ahead of the annual St Patrick's Day celebrations, throwing fresh doubt on any immediate advances in the make-up of Ireland's next government.

The Dail is also not scheduled to meet until March 19, but for constituency TDs at a local level, the appetite for progress is increasing by each passing day.

Fianna Fail Longford-Westmeath TD Joe Flaherty intimated ongoing barbs thrown in the direction of Sinn Fein were of futile value when the country was in the midst of a worsening coronavirus emergency.

We have to respect Sinn Fein's mandate and if they are in a position to form a left wing government then that has to be respected, he said.

Above all else, it's important we form a government as quickly as possible especially when we are facing into a crisis in healthcare.

His party colleague Robert Troy said while a prospective coalition with Sinn Fein had been ruled out at a recent parliamentary party meeting, such a scenario was not entirely beyond the realms of possibility.

I don't think it's likely at the moment, he said.

The party leader has outlined the position of the party and a decision was taken at a parliamentary party meeting not to engage with Sinn Fein and that's why we are talking to Fine Gael and the Greens.

Read also: Mullinalaghta man features on new TV series

But I did indicate that if those talks fail there should be no reason why we shouldn't talk to other parties.

Those soundings were ones Sinn Fein poll topper Sorca Clarke was only too keen to attest to.

She said her party remained steadfast behind its commitment to deliver a government for change but conceded the wider electorate were growing increasingly tired by the length of time governmental talks were taking.

I don't have any more information but I do know one thing, people are starting to get really annoyed and irritated, she said.

It's nearly five weeks now since the electorate were asked to cast their vote and yet still we have no government when we have the coronavirus ripping its way through the continent. People want TDs to form a government.

Talks are ongoing. We have had preliminary talks with a number of parties and those talks are continuing, but whatever government and programme for government is agreed on, it must allow change.

Fine Gael's Peter Burke was more guarded about the role his party may or may not play in forming the next government, saying the onus lay very much in the hands of Sinn Fein and Fianna Fail.

I know on March 19 we will have a second vote for Taoiseach and that will go a long way towards crystallising what progress the left have made and other left leaning parties, he said.

Read next: Incremental measures can amount to a huge impact, when preventing the spread of Coronavirus says Longford GP
Long lines at some Motor Vehicle Commission agencies in New Jersey, and concerns about crowds that people have been told to avoid to reduce spread of the coronavirus, led a ranking Republican state legislator to ask the state to extend the expiration date on their documents to reduce the wait.

State Assembly Minotiry Leader Jon Bramnick, R-Union, called on Gov. Phil Murphy and MVC officials to extend the expiration date of drivers licenses and vehicle registrations by three to five months. He held a press conference Wednesday at the Springfield MVC agency to demonstrate the problem.

Bramnick  who is considering running for the Republican nomination to challenge Murphy, a Democrat, in next years governors race  visited the Springfield agency earlier in the week and posted photos of lines that snaked down a street on Twitter.

Drivers waiting in line said theyd been there for hours and one man was on his second trip after being shut out on a Saturday after waiting for hours.

We MUST STOP GOVERNMENT from making people stand in lines for 6 hours to renew a license. Give people extensions NOW pic.twitter.com/HVkZzNAyDv  Jon Bramnick (@JonBramnick) March 10, 2020

I went to Rahway (agency) two weeks ago and the wait was worse. I came here two weeks ago Saturday at 9 a.m. and I was blown away by the number of people here, said Wisdom Adukpo of the Vauxhall section of Union. They could be doing something better.

He waited for 3.5 hours that Saturday and was told they could not serve him before the agency closed/ Wednesdays wait cost him a half a days pay, Adukpo said.

MVC Administrators at Springfield reported a three-hour wait on Monday, March 9, said William Connolly, an MVC spokesman.

In addition to the inconvenience to drivers, Bramnick said he is concerned about potential exposure to coronavirus in overcrowded agencies. The state reported its first coronavirus death on Tuesday. So far, 23 people have tested positive for coronavirus in New Jersey.

This is such a simple issue. It makes sense to give people more time, Bramnick told NJ Advance Media on Tuesday. There were hundreds of people cramped in Springfield (agency) when they are telling us not to be in large gatherings.

Typically, motor vehicle agencies are crowded during the beginning and end of the month when drivers documents are expiring. But the looming Oct. 1 deadline for drivers to obtain the federally mandated Real ID license is adding to the wait, he said. After Oct. 1, standard licenses will no longer be accepted at airports as identification for domestic air travel.

Getting Real ID is a time-consuming process, Bramnick said. It takes 15 minutes to do one, thats four an hour.

Federal Department of Homeland Security officials said there are no plans to push back the Oct. 1 Real ID deadline due to coronavirus concerns.

The decision to give drivers an extension on the expiration date on licenses and vehicle registrations due to ongoing coronavirus concerns is up to MVCs chief administrator Sue Fulton, if she feels that step needs to be taken, said Judith Persichilli, state health commissioner on Tuesday.

We are carefully watching the COVID-19 situation and will take whatever actions are necessary and appropriate, Connolly said.

@NJ_MVC this is the line @ Newark agency. Its only 9:15 am!!! pic.twitter.com/TUkuQ1lwOE  Andrew Elkins, Realtor (@aelkins) March 11, 2020

MVC officials blame long lines on the added task of issuing Real ID licenses and drivers who could conduct their business online, but came to the agency. Up until now, New Jersey has avoided the long lines of drivers seeking Real ID licenses seen in other states motor vehicle agencies.

The longer wait times we are seeing are due to Real ID, not due to standard renewals, said William Connolly, an MVC spokesman. Many times customers are coming into an agency to conduct transactions that can be conducted online.

Renewing vehicle registrations and drivers licenses, if the MVC has a current photo of the driver, can be done online, Connolly said. Real ID licenses must be obtained in-person. The MVC relaxed an appointment-only policy for drivers to get Real ID by allowing walk-ins during the middle of the month.

Most drivers  up to 90%  can renew their licenses online, he said. You can also renew your registration, change your address, or replace a lost or stolen license online.

But drivers said there is some about what transactions can be done on line, which is why Katherine Yaguana of Newark said she was on line to replace her missing drivers license at 8 a.m. She left the agency just after 12 noon with the replacement.

The line was so much worse in Newark, she said. The wait is too long...the facility is too small.

Bramnick said he pitched the idea of extending the expiration date of motor vehicle documents to Murphy without success.

On a first discussion, he didnt seem favorable, Bramnick said. All you have to do is go to one of these locations and youll be on board.

A Murphy spokeswoman declined to address the issue and deferred to comments made by officials at Tuesdays coronavirus press briefing.

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.

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Two Ukrainian soldiers were killed and eight wounded from projectile fire on March 10 in the eastern part of the country where a war has raged since 2014 with Russia-backed separatists.

Ukraines military said that an anti-tank missile struck a military truck near the town of Pisky in the Donetsk region.

One soldier inside the truck was killed immediately and another died from his wounds later. Seven service members were wounded as well, the Joint Operations Forces reported in a daily briefing.

Another soldier was wounded from shelling at a different juncture of the front line the same day.

Fifteen Ukrainian service members were killed in January-February and more than 13,000 people have been killed between March 2014 and October 31, 2019.

The war in Ukraine has uprooted more than 1.5 million people from their homes in the easternmost regions of Donetsk and Luhansk.

The conflict started after Russia invaded and occupied Ukraines Crimea Peninsula in early 2014.

Russia denies involvement in the eastern Ukrainian conflict and insists it is a civil war.
And the final rose goes to Hannah Ann ... or does it?

The 24th season of "The Bachelor" wrapped this week with a dramatic two-part finale that saw Peter Weber ultimately opt to pursue a relationship with Madison Prewett  even after she skipped the final rose ceremony.

Despite his mom's tearful plea to pick finalist Hannah Ann Sluss in Monday's installment, the 28-year-old pilot revealed that he had strong feelings for Prewett.

However, Prewett, who'd previously told Weber she couldn't continue to date him if he'd been intimate with the other women in the fantasy suites, left the show and returned home after realizing that the pair's lifestyles were too different.

On their final date in Australia, Prewett explained, "As much as we want this, I don't know if we can give each other what we need. Sometimes I think being a great warrior and being a good fighter is knowing when to surrender. I do think that love still wins and I do think love conquers all, because I'm willing to walk away so that you can get what you came here to find."

MADISON, PETER WEBER (ABC)

On Tuesday's episode, Weber proposed to Sluss, telling the 23-year-old model, "I've cherished every single moment that I've been able to spend with you."

"I told you my heart was being pulled in two different directions, but now I have to follow my heart," he added. "My heart chooses you forever."

However, Weber later realized he'd made a mistake.

"I never intended to give my heart to two people and the pain that comes with that  I've just been battling it," he said during an emotional confrontation with Sluss one month later in Los Angeles. "I want so badly to be able to give you everything, give you my entire heart because that's everything you deserve, and I can't do that. I'm so sorry."

"You took away from me my first engagement because I trusted you," she told him.

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"I'm strong, and I've been my own rock throughout this," she added before leaving. "You don't have to worry about me."

Host Chris Harrison then visited Prewett, a 23-year-old foster parent recruiter, at her home in Auburn, Alabama, where she revealed she regretted leaving the show. Harrison informed her that Weber had ended his engagement to Sluss because of his feelings for Prewett, and invited Prewett to reunite with Weber in LA.

During the live portion of the finale, Weber and Prewett told Harrison that they still love each other.

The pair acknowledged that they have "a lot of healing" to do, but plan to give the relationship another shot and take things "one day at a time."

Though Weber's mother, Barb, maintained her stance that Sluss was the better choice for her son, Harrison assured the couple, "I'll be there."

HANNAH ANN, PETER WEBER (ABC)

In the Feb. 24 episode, Prewett told Weber that she was saving herself for marriage.

For me, personally, I wouldnt be able to say yes to an engagement and continue to move forward if you have slept with the other women, she said. Im not in any way trying to come across as judgmental or hold something over your head, but at the same time, those are just my expectations that I have in life.

I just cant wrap my mind around in a week from now, if youre down on one knee, and six days before that you slept with somebody else, she added.

Weber told Prewett, "Ill just be very honest and I wont give any details, but I have been intimate, and I cant lie to you about that.

In the following week's episode, Weber told host Chris Harrison that the conversation had gone "horribly."

I dont know if shes gonna be able to continue this with me," he worried. "This could be it right now.

Weber previously vied for Hannah Brown's heart on the 15th season of "The Bachelorette."
With the coronavirus epidemic hurting economic activities globally, the World Economic Forum on Wednesday launched a new platform with the support of the World Health Organisation (WHO) to convene the global business community for a collective action on the COVID-19 response.

This is the first initiative of its kind that aims to convene the business community for collective action, protect people's livelihoods and facilitate business continuity, and mobilise support for the COVID-19 response, the Geneva-based international organisation for public-private cooperation said in a statement.

The 'COVID Action Platform' has been created with the support of the WHO and is open to all businesses and industry groups, as well as other stakeholders including the governments, aiming to integrate their efforts for a joint action, it added.

The dramatic spread of COVID-19 has disrupted lives, livelihoods, communities and businesses worldwide, but the sum of many individual actions by stakeholders around the world will not add up to a sufficient response, the WEF said.

"Only coordinated action by business, combined with global, multi-stakeholder cooperation can mitigate the risk and impact of this unprecedented global health emergency," it added.

The new platform is intended to catalyse private-sector support for the global public health response to COVID-19, and to do so at the scale and speed required to protect lives and livelihoods, aiming to find ways to help end the global emergency as soon as possible, the WEF said.

The three priorities for this platform would be to galvanise the global business community for collective action; protect people's livelihoods and facilitate business continuity; and mobilise cooperation and business support for the COVID-19 response.

The platform will operate a network where CEOs, organisational leaders and designated COVID-19 corporate responders can offer their help and team up on specific projects, launch actions and keep each other informed of best practices.

"COVID-19 is causing health emergencies and economic disruptions that no single stakeholder can address," WEF's Founder and Executive Chairman Klaus Schwab said.

"Our best and only response to it should be to take concerted action. The COVID Action Platform is at the centre of our mission and we draw upon all our members and partners, communities and capabilities to make it a success," he said.

WHO's Director-General Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the private sector has an essential role to play in combating this public health crisis through their expertise, innovation and resources.

"We call on companies and organizations around the world to make full use of this platform in support of the global public health response to COVID-19," Ghebreyesus added.

The new platform was conceived after a WEF conference call with over 200 corporate leaders from all over the world.

It is supported by WHO and the Wellcome Trust and is the first initiative of its kind, operating globally. The WEF has established a special team to support the platform's work.

Working with the Pandemic Supply Chain Network, one of the projects which will initially be launched on the platform aims to strengthen supply chains to ensure that COVID-19 essential health commodities are available, accessible, affordable and of good quality.

Other actions will include supporting mechanisms for business donations to the public health response and the development of available and accessible vaccines, diagnostics, treatments and protective equipment, as well as tracking the economic impact of the virus, while pursuing collaboration to address disruptions.

The WEF said companies can register online for this new platform.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Jim Cecil is a Tennessee native and avid collector of die-cast models of World War II fighter planes who is retired from the University of Virginia and now lives with his wife, Pat, at Lake Monticello near Charlottesville. He has published his latest book Challenges Accepted: Twenty-Four Hours to Live?: an inspiring reflection on the often-daunting challenges through which he has persevered and triumphed over the course of an eventful and well-lived life.

The author writes, Greetings. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Challenges Accepted. During my life, I have been blessed in many ways, but I have also had to overcome an exceptional amount of adversity. These many trials and tribulations happened at different ages and for different reasons. Just a few examples would include losing my parents at a young age, having to work two jobs to survive, and graduating from college at the age of sixty-eight.

Also, since 2003, I have suffered from debilitating illnesses, including five heart attacks and being paralyzed from the waist down. One doctor described me as being immortal, and another one told my family that I would be dead within twenty-four hours if an infection in my blood system could not be located. My medical history from one hospital in Charlottesville, Virginia, is over six hundred pages long.

However, Challenges Accepted is not just about my misfortunes. What is more important is how I grew stronger with each hardship and was able to recover from tragedies. Please join me as I travel back along my journey of life. It is my hope that you will be inspired by my book and it will help you overcome the hardships that you may encounter in your life.

Published by Page Publishing, Jim Cecils engrossing book is a heartwarming memoir and an inspiring portrait of courage, determination, and perseverance.

Readers who wish to experience this engaging work can purchase Challenges Accepted: Twenty-Four Hours to Live? at bookstores everywhere, or online at the Apple iTunes store, Amazon, Google Play, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or media inquiries, contact Page Publishing at 866-315-2708.

About Page Publishing:

Page Publishing is a traditional, full-service publishing house that handles all the intricacies involved in publishing its authors books, including distribution in the worlds largest retail outlets and royalty generation. Page Publishing knows that authors need to be free to create - not mired in logistics like eBook conversion, establishing wholesale accounts, insurance, shipping, taxes, and so on. Pages accomplished writers and publishing professionals allow authors to leave behind these complex and time-consuming issues to focus on their passion: writing and creating. Learn more at http://www.pagepublishing.com.
As the coronavirus outbreak spreads across the US, private labs are spending millions to ramp up their testing capabilities.

We visited one private lab in New York that's been approved to process hundreds of coronavirus tests a day.

Read on to see exactly how a coronavirus test works.

View more episodes of Business Insider Today on Facebook.

As US states struggle to administer tests for the coronavirus, private labs are spending millions to ramp up their testing capabilities.

One such lab, Northwell Health Labs in Lake Success, New York, is processing about 75 coronavirus tests a day after receiving federal approval late last week.

Executive director Dwayne Breining said Northwell has invested $2.5 millions to develop the testing. On Wednesday, the Food and Drug Administration approved the facility to expand its testing to hundreds a day. And Breining said further FDA approval would allow his team to process as many as 1,000 a day.

"We ultimately expect it to cost about the same as other molecular viral tests, which is somewhere in $150 range," he told Business Insider Today.

We visited Breining's lab to find out exactly how Northwell's coronavirus test works, step by step.

Northwell Health Labs in Lake Success, New York has invested more than $2 million to ramp up its coronavirus testing capabilities.

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Adam Miller/Business Insider Today

The first step of the testing process is gathering a sample from the patient.

Coronavirus Testing 12 (Northwell Health)

Northwell Health

That's done by inserting a small brush deep into the naval cavity. The brush is made from a synthetic material with no antiseptic properties that could kill the virus.

Coronavirus Testing 13 (Northwell Health)

Northwell Health

The sample is then placed in a plastic, screw-top container with a fluid called Universal Transport Medium that preserves the sample. Right now, the sample is being "agitated" on a shaking device.

Coronavirus Testing 1

Adam Miller/Business Insider Today

A pipettor is used to get the sample out of the vial.

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Adam Miller/Business Insider Today

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And then the sample is transported into a testing cartridge.

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Adam Miller/Business Insider Today

From there, the cartridge is fed into an ePlex machine, where the sample undergoes around 20 different chemical reactions to test for the virus.

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Adam Miller/Business Insider Today

"Within the cartridge there's an entire reaction chamber," Dwayne Breining, executive director of Northwell Health, told Business Insider Today.

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Adam Miller/Business Insider Today

The testing process takes about two hours.

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Adam Miller/Business Insider Today

The results of the test are automatically sent to Northwell's laboratory computers, and the information is sent to doctors' computers in their offices.

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Adam Miller/Business Insider Today

The facility was initially processing around 75 tests a day, but on Wednesday, the FDA approved it to use a more automated testing process that will expand its numbers to hundreds a day. Breining said he eventually hopes to ramp testing up to 1,000 a day.

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Adam Miller/Business Insider Today

"The laboratory business is all about getting the right answer on the right patient to the right physician at the right time," he said. "The faster you can do that, the faster you can make a treatment decision. And that's better for everybody."

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Adam Miller/Business Insider Today

Read the original article on Business Insider
- Anthony Joshua was proud to claim he was Nigerian at the Common Wealth ceremony at Westminister Abbey

- The 30-year-old will defend his heavyweight titles against Bulgarian fight Kubrat Pulev

- Joshua will likely face the winner of the trilogy between Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder

Anthony Joshua was loud and proud of his Nigerian heritage during the Common Wealth ceremony at Westminister Abbey, video cited on Twitter.

The WBO, IBO, IBF and WBA champion gave an inspirational speech that acknowledged his roots despite being born in England.

The 30-year-old who is preparing to defend his titles against Pulev in June was dressed in a black suit and he stood on the podium and said.

My name is Anthony Oluwafemi Olaseni Joshua and, like many of you here, Im a child of the Commonwealth.

I was born in Watford and my heritage is Nigerian. I come from the Yoruba people, who are the largest and some might say the loudest ethnic group in all of Africa. Im proudly Nigerian and proudly British.

Like me, so many children of the commonwealth have two homes, two identities, two cultures, some even have more than two.

These days we hear so much about division and difference that some might be tempted to see that as a bad thing. But on the contrary, its a beautiful thing. A thing to be celebrated and cherished, and a great source of peace and stability.

I feel opportunity should be there for the taking along with hard work, dedication, and perseverance, regardless of ones background. We need to strive harder collectively in order to create unity.

Joshua said: So heres to fish and chips, egusi soup and pounded yam. To the UK and Nigeria, and the children of the Commonwealth.

Meanwhile, YEN.com.gh had earlier reported that Rio Ferdinand has recalled the time he felt Cristiano Ronaldo was given too much liberty after former boss Alex Ferguson gave him a break after the death of his father, cited on Daily Star.

The Portuguese star lost his father in his second year with Man United when the tragic incident happened and he was let go for some days.

But Ferdinand thought otherwise after the legendary boss Ferguson gave Ronaldo a couple of days off after receiving the tragic news.

His dad had passed away and Sir Alex Ferguson gave him a few days off, he had gone back to Portugal.

Im there thinking it's a f****** liberty, as bad as it is.

I look back now and think you have to be a bit softer but at the time I'm thinking we need him this weekend, we need to win this game, Ferdinand said on High Performance Podcast.

Ronaldo went on to win three Premier League titles, two League Cups, one FA Cup and the Champions League, altogether playing 292 games and scored 118 goals.

He joined then joined Real Madrid for world record 80million fee in 2008 and played nine seasons for Los Blancos winning several trophies including four Champions League title.

Ronaldo 450 goals in 438 appearances before leaving the Spanish capital to join Juventus in the summer of 2018for 100m.

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Suspected kidnappers on Monday night abducted four Rufus Giwa Polytechnic graduates on their way to Zamfara State for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Orientation Camp, it was learnt on Tuesday.

The victims made up of three male and a female were kidnapped around Funtua in Katsina State at about 11:30pm by armed men who laid a siege to the road.

As a result of this action, security officials renewed their advice to commuters to avoid night travels especially in areas where there are security threats.



It was gathered that the victims and some of their school mates who were posted to Zamfara State were travelling on a chartered bus from Owo, Ondo State to the camp site ahead of yesterdays opening of the orientation camp.

While some of the occupants were able to escape and hide in the surrounding bush, the kidnapped four were not fortunate as the armed men whisked them away.

It was gathered that one of the occupants, who escaped, contacted the parents of some of the victims to notify them of the incident.

She also went to the police station to incident it.

It was gathered that the kidnappers, who could only speak Hausa, have established contact with some relatives of the victims but there were hiccups because neither side had a translator.

The graduated students chartered a bus from Owo to Zamfara State where they were posted for NYSC. The bus was to take them directly to the camp. Their families last heard from them around 4pm on Monday when they got to Zaria only for Tolu to call Tuesday morning that kidnappers attacked them and took four persons.

No ransom has been demanded yet but the kidnappers have contacted some of the parents but because they were speaking Hausa, there wasnt much communication.

We are appealing to security agencies to rescue these children safely and the government has to direct NYSC to reconsider posting prospective corps members to areas their lives will be endangered, said a source.

Police spokesman DCP Frank Mba said the Katsina State command had commenced a manhunt for the suspects with a view to rescue the victims unhurt.

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Other Sanders supporters were also focusing on trying to win new allies, with Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) at the forefront of the effort. In addition to going out of his way to praise the party publicly, Khanna worked with Nina Turner, his fellow Sanders campaign co-chair, to finalize the Jackson endorsement, according to people with knowledge of the situation, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to be candid about the internal discussions.
Shares of Lakshmi Vilas Bank rose 4.74% in Wednesday's session on reports that Uday Kotak-led Kotak Mahindra Bank was keen on acquiring a majority stake in the fund-starved lender.

The Chennai-based lender has been in talks with other strategic investors and private equity suitors for a majority stake sale. The bank has reportedly submitted a proposal for Lakshmi Vilas Bank to the RBI for the same, according to reports.

Lakshmi Vilas Bank stock price climbed 4.74% and were locked at day's high of Rs 14.35, up 0.65 points from the previous close of Rs 13.70 today.

The stock price of lender has risen 0.35% in a week. However, it has declined 28% in a month, 16% in the year 2020 and 80% in one year's period. The market capitalisation of the micro-cap stock currently stands at Rs 483 crore.

With 0.03 lakh and 5 lakh shares trading on BSE and NSE, the stock has very high buying interest, as the pending bid quantity is higher than the stock's five-day average volume. There are only buyers and no sellers in the stock. Lakshmi Vilas Bank share price trades lower than its 5, 20, 50, 100 and 200-day moving averages.

Concerns over the private sector lender's financial health have been in limelight since last year. The capital adequacy ratio of Lakshmi Vilas Bank (LVB), is well below the minimum needed, at 3.46% against the regulatory minimum of 9%

This development has come months after the RBI rejected proposed amalgamation of Lakshmi Vilas Bank with Indiabulls Housing Finance (IHF) in October 2019, without citing any specific reason.

This came after the apex bank placed the private lender under the prompt corrective action (PCA) framework, due to spike in bad loans, lack of sufficient capital to manage risks and a negative return on assets for two consecutive years.

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Share Market LIVE: Sensex rises 300 points, Nifty at 10,530; YES Bank, RIL top gainers
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-11 09:57:39|Editor: Liu

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WASHINGTON, March 10 (Xinhua) -- Former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden was projected to win the midwest state of Michigan, the top prize of the six states voting Tuesday, multiple media outlets reported.

Biden's victory enhanced his frontrunner status, delivering a heavy blow to veteran Senator Bernie Sanders.

The key battleground state awards 125 pledged delegates to the Democratic National Convention (DNC), scheduled for July in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
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Susan Desmond-Hellmann has a unique set of experiences. Until February, she was the CEO of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, where part of her job was thinking up new ways to battle infectious disease. Before that, she was the chancellor of the University of California, San Francisco. In the 2000s, she was one of the most prominent people in the pharmaceutical industry, running drug development at Genentech during its time as one of the most closely watched biotechnology companies. That made her a perfect person to speak to about the risks posed by the novel coronavirus that causes Covid-19. STAT caught up with her earlier this week. The transcript below has been lightly edited for length and clarity.

My first question about Covid-19 is simple: How worried are you?

Im very worried. Im very worried for a couple of reasons. With pandemic preparedness, a respiratory-borne illness was always the big worry. And here we are. The efficiency of the spread of Covid-19 has me worried. The fact that individuals who are infected may be mildly symptomatic or asymptomatic and yet transmit the virus makes normal procedures, like telling people to stay home if youre ill, or taking someones temperature as they walk through the airport, ineffective. That puts testing and, really, labor-intensive public health at a premium.

Can we still control community spread at this point?

Im not confident that we know the answer to that yet. I think the next several weeks will be very important. But I think it is very reasonable to be concerned that in fact we wont be able to control community spread. We dont enforce the kind of control measures that weve seen enforced in China.

How much do you trust the data coming from other countries on things like transmissibility and mortality?

I think the numbers should all be treated as estimates. It isnt that I have a trust issue because of anything nefarious. But [data] have to be amended with the expectation that there are many, many mild or asymptomatic cases. And, so even when the number 2% mortality was widely discussed in my mind, I amended it to likely 1% or less.

I still have a big question about young people. Are kids somehow more immune, or are they just not at all getting sick? Are they transmitting the infection? But with regard to the high mortality rate in folks with underlying medical conditions, or who are over 60: Those numbers, I think, we need to believe.

What should people do now? Weve had a really dramatic change in how people are reacting. What is prudent, and what is panic?

I think very simple public health measures are the best thing for the general public to do. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website offers steps that are very good: avoiding nonessential travel, especially to high-risk areas, hand-washing, serious hand washing, 20-second hand-washing. Or use those hand sanitizers, but I think people over-rely on hand sanitizers. Really good hand washing is very effective, you just dont always have access to soap and water. Avoiding touching your face is very important.

If you are sick, call your health care provider. Dont show up unless youre very sick. Many workplaces are now banning nonessential travel, which I see as very reasonable. Theres a push to work from home. I also agree with the tenet that schools need to start to talk to parents about what they would do if they had to teach kids at home.

Ill tell you personally, Im not stocking up on groceries. And Im not buying masks. I agree with the surgeon general that we should have masks available for health care providers.

At the Gates Foundation, you were involved in trying to set up a system for developing therapeutics in a pandemic. Where do you think we are with regard to therapeutics and vaccines?

Im so glad that we invested in CEPI [the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations], which is funding aggressive efforts in vaccines. Im really grateful once again for multinational pharmaceutical companies who are racing to look at vaccines, antibodies, and therapeutics.

But there are two other things I would emphasize. We need to put more emphasis on diagnostics. Diagnostics are under-invested, theyre under-reimbursed and right now, the diagnostics are a bottleneck in public health measures. The second thing is we need to have funding for our local public health departments. This is classic basic shoe-leather epidemiology. And having an effective staffed funded public health department is essential.

The timelines for therapeutics and vaccines are very fast  therapeutics within a year, vaccines within two. Does that sound realistic?

I think its reasonable. There needs to be human testing, especially for safety because many, many people wont have a high mortality or even morbidity, which is why its not faster. And everyone wants it even faster. Look at Ebola. With Ebola, there was a very effective vaccine. It wasnt ready the first time, but it was ready in the recent epidemic and, and made a big difference. In the meantime, therapeutics are also very important.

The high levels of mortality  as high as 15%  being seen in patients who are older than 60 is surprising.

Yes, Im surprised how high it is. But as we get more cases, I think well see whether or not thats the truth. But theres no doubt about it that over 60  in some of the cases recently reported out of Washington state, people were in their fifties, but had additional medical conditions  have a very high spike in mortality rates.

There was recently a study of the genetics of the viruses in Washington state that indicated there could be hundreds of cases that went undetected there. How does that change your mental model of whats happening?

Thats the kind of thing that the Gates Foundation has been doing with partners and collaborators for polio. Its extremely helpful for disease tracking and understanding an epidemic. You have to make sure you remember that its modeling, not truth. But I found it incredibly compelling. What my mental model is moving to is when you have someone very, very sick who goes on a ventilator, thats probably your evidence that you do have community spread, and there are many, many more cases than youd think on the surface. Many more. Like hundreds of cases.

Do you have any closing thoughts?

Its frightening for people to have an unknown virus. And it feels very scary. It is true that most people will be able to protect themselves and their families, and theyre not going to have something that makes them very, very sick. But really think about how sad it is for those people who did get sick and die, and their families. To think that you were in a nursing home, or somebody who was traveling and got sick  This is really sad. So I do hope we can ramp up the testing and get this thing under control. Its always good to remember that there are people behind all this.

Matthew Herper is a senior writer, STAT News, where this article originally appeared.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com
Zelensky: I do not advise the enemy to think that our desire for peace weakens our ability to fight back

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has said that Ukrainian servicemen will give an adequate response to the enemy's actions in the Joint Forces Operation zone in Donbas.

"Today we are doing everything for the peaceful settlement of the conflict in the east of Ukraine, but I do not advise the enemy to think that our desire for peace weakens our ability to fight back. This is not so. And the Ukrainian military are always authorized to give an adequate and powerful response to the actions of the aggressor," he said on Wednesday during the introduction of the new Minister of Defense of Ukraine Andriy Taran.
- The Bank of Ghana has given mobile money operators until December 2020 to meet the minimum capital requirements

- It added that such businesses have the option of using 50% of all verifiable assets to cover 50% of the minimum capital requirement

- Only financial technology firms are eligible for such packages, the Central Bank announced

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The Bank of Ghana has announced an extension of the deadline for meeting the minimum capital requirement by mobile money operators.

As a result, the mobile money operators have until December 2020 to settle the GHC20 million required by the central bank.

According to the head of the Payment Systems Department at the central bank, Dr Settor Amediku, the Bank of Ghana has endorsed the conversion of 50% of all verifiable assets to cover 50% of the minimum capital requirement.

READ ALSO: Jack Dorsey: Twitter CEO to remain in office but cancels planned trip to Africa

This, he explained, is a measure adopted only for financial technology (fintech) companies.

Per a report by Business Insider, the Bank of Ghana, in announcing the directive, explained that the measure is in line with the need for a legak and regulatory framework for an organized payment system.

It added that in reaching the decision, it considered the size, nature and characteristics of each financial technology company.

In other news, fresh reports coming in show that Ghana is likely to lose an estimated GHC4,149,467,250 in the wake of falling oil prices on the world market.

YEN.com.gh understands that this represents about half of Ghanas projected oil revenue for the year 2020.

The situation would become a reality if oil prices continue to decline or stay at around $30 a barrel for the rest of the year.

READ ALSO: Latest report shows Africans prefer modified versions of Whatsapp

Per a report by myjoyonline.com, the situation is likely to place pressure on the government to immediately review its budget before July 2020.

In the 2020 budget presented in Parliament, the government estimated that it could receive about $1.5 billion at the benchmark price of $62.6 per barrel for its oil revenue.

The situation, however, presents itself as a challenge in the wake of the spread of the coronavirus on the demand for oil.

It is also as a result of the sudden price challenge between Saudi Arabia and Russia, leading to the pricing of oil a about $30 a barrel.

A research by Goldman Sachs shows that the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and Russia are currently engaged in a tussle that could lead to a fall in oil prices.

Saudi Arabia recently reduced its official selling prices as it plans to increase output above 10 million barrels a day.

READ ALSO: Ghana's cedi and 5 oher currencies ranked as the best in Africa

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QAWRA, Malta, March 11, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- While global governments, economies, and the travel industry address the immediacy of the international impact of COVID-19, a group of international travel and tourism experts met earlier this month to discuss and identify solutions to the longer-term existential threat of climate change.



All eyes are importantly on mitigating the potential pandemic of COVID-19s impact on communities, economies and the business of travel, said Professor Geoffrey Lipman, President SUNx Malta, The same global, coordinated approach being taken to address the coronavirus is also urgently needed to address climate change. The lessons learned in tackling this potential pandemic will be able to be applied to making travel more climate-friendly.

He added As part of any planned post COVID-19 response strategy, companies and communities should include a Climate Friendly Travel dimension, containing clear commitments to be Climate Neutral (zero carbon) by 2050, in line with the Paris Agreement.

On February 28 in Qawra, Malta, Hon. Julia Farrugia Portelli addressed members of the SUN x Malta Climate Friendly Travel Think Tank on the Government of Maltas commitment to establishing itself as a center for Climate Friendly Travel.

The key takeaway from the meeting was that the eXistential Climate Crisis requires even more urgent action by the entire global Travel & Tourism sector than has been generally recognized to date.

The Government of Malta, in its role as ally and partner, has committed to become a global Centre of Climate Friendly Travel. Maltas Minister for Tourism and Consumer Protection, Hon. Julia Farrugia Portelli, was on hand to conclude the meeting and discuss the findings of the Think Tank.

The Hon. Minister for Tourism Julia Farrugia Portelli stated that our country is not just acting as a member of the international community in leading a global effort, but is putting on the forefront the Maltese tourism sector in addressing Climate Change by promoting Climate Friendly Travel through reduced emissions with the ultimate objective of carbon neutrality.

The Minister added that Malta has a strong tradition of spearheading initiatives of global environmental significance such as the initiative at the 1967 United Nations General Assembly that culminated in the adoption of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and Maltas action at the United Nations General Assembly in December 1988 that inspired UN's resolution on the urgent need to conserve climate in the interests of mankind by protecting it against negative man-made changes and recognizing climate change as a common concern requiring timely action.

SUNx Malta has been established through support from the Ministry for Tourism & Consumer Protection, and Malta Tourism Authority (MTA). On Monday 24th February they held the inaugural Climate Friendly Travel Think Tank. The group gathered 35 international thought-leaders, with support from Qatar Airways, from across academia, industry, and government to debate the key issues on Climate Change in relation to Travel & Tourism. The goal was to review and update the first Climate Friendly Travel 2050 Ambitions Report which was released on the side-lines of the UN General Assembly in New York in September 2019.

The Think Tank followed the core framework of Climate Friendly Travel: Measured to Manage; Green to Grow; 2050-proof to Innovate. Leslie Vella, Deputy CEO of MTA, and Chairman of SUNx Malta, opened the event with an overview of why Malta has chosen to make itself a center for Climate Friendly Travel against the backdrop of pushing the existential nature of Climate Change on the UN Agenda starting in 1987.

The key calls to action from the Think Tank were:

The Climate Crisis is eXistential. All stakeholders including Transport, Hospitality, Travel Services, and Infrastructure Providers must urgently start the transformation in 2020 to get onto the Paris 1.5 o trajectory within the next 7- 10 years. Governments, Companies, communities and consumers, must all engage and take action now.

All stakeholders including Transport, Hospitality, Travel Services, and Infrastructure Providers must urgently start the transformation in 2020 to get onto the Paris 1.5 trajectory within the next 7- 10 years. Governments, Companies, communities and consumers, must all engage and take action now. Climate Friendly Travel. Under the banner of Climate Friendly Travel, the industry must adopt this as an imperative and the new norm.

Under the banner of Climate Friendly Travel, the industry must adopt this as an imperative and the new norm. Fully transforming all modes of transport was seen as pivotal. SUN x Maltas call for a Moon-shot approach for aviation to further accelerate technological research and deployment was strongly supported, which must include the immediate distribution and rapid scaling up of currently available solutions to substantially reduce aviation fossil fuel reliance.

was seen as pivotal. SUN Maltas call for a Moon-shot approach for aviation to further accelerate technological research and deployment was strongly supported, which must include the immediate distribution and rapid scaling up of currently available solutions to substantially reduce aviation fossil fuel reliance. Climate Financing . Citing the Green New Deal as an example, the Travel & Tourism sector must engage more actively with emerging Green Finance programs to be able to secure adequate funds for transformation. High quality offsetting of carbon impacts were seen as short-term transition instruments but totally inadequate as a long-term solution. In this context it was broadly believed that aviation action to date was falling behind the rapidly intensifying transformation need.

. Citing the Green New Deal as an example, the Travel & Tourism sector must engage more actively with emerging Green Finance programs to be able to secure adequate funds for transformation. High quality offsetting of carbon impacts were seen as short-term transition instruments but totally inadequate as a long-term solution. In this context it was broadly believed that aviation action to date was falling behind the rapidly intensifying transformation need. Emerging innovations and technologies. Building refurbishment, cruise shipping, carbon reduction, waste to fuel transformation, developing consumer behavior and digital opportunities.

Building refurbishment, cruise shipping, carbon reduction, waste to fuel transformation, developing consumer behavior and digital opportunities. The SUN x Malta Climate Friendly Travel Registry of Ambitions was reviewed and endorsed, as was the initiative with WISeKey to develop an innovative consumer facing secure platform.

was reviewed and endorsed, as was the initiative with WISeKey to develop an innovative consumer facing secure platform. Education of the Next Generation was underscored as a high priority with an emphasis on an accredited Graduate Diploma, from the Gozo Institute of Tourism Studies Campus. The SUNx Malta 100,000 STRONG Climate Friendly Travel Champions and as well as its schools program is a very positive step forward to support company and community transformation. Additionally, improving the research base was underscored on both decarbonization and sector resilience.

Professor Lipman said, We must act now and we must act fast. Were already seeing with the emerging Malta collaborative framework between Government and the Travel & Tourism Supply Chain, that a pioneering approach can achieve this. It can be replicated around the world, as States seek to fulfil their Paris Agreement Nationally Determined Contributions.

He added, We are delighted that Malta has taken a leadership position on tacking the existential threat of Climate Change and creating a support framework for Travel & Tourism which can help companies and communities in the transformation required.

The event concluded with a Town-Hall session led by Minister Portelli, with a discussion of Maltas commitment to the importance of tackling Climate Change and creating a model of Climate Friendly Travel.

Ends

Notes to Editors

The Strong Universal Network SUNx is a program of the EU-based, not for profit Green Growth and Travelism Institute, and a legacy to the late Maurice Strong - Sustainable Development Pioneer. Its goal is to promote Climate Friendly Travel with good & bad effects measured and managed coherently: with Green Growth at the core and, 2050-proof in line with the Paris Accords, and the W.E.F. 4th Industrial Revolution.

For more information, please contact:

Olly Wheatcroft, SUNx Program Manager,

olly@thesunprogram.com +44 (0) 7765 132408

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4216f4a0-e10e-41aa-94f8-1cb5e7789a65




The United States on Tuesday requested Tehran to release all American prisoners held in Iranian jails as the coronavirus outbreak escalates in the country and spreads through its prisons. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in a press statement on March 10 called for humanitarian release of all wrongfully detained Americans in Iran. Secretary Pompeo in his statement stated, "Reports that COVID-19 has spread to Iranian prisons are deeply troubling and demand nothing less than the full and immediate release of all American citizens."

Read: Taiwan Students Design Automated Lego Hand Sanitizer Dispenser To Fight Coronavirus

Mike Pompeo in his statement further pointed out, "The Iranian regime recently released 70,000 prisoners due to the outbreak of COVID-19, demonstrating its ability to grant clemency and show mercy. Yet it continues to unjustly detain several American citizens, without cause or justification." Pompeo in his statement urged other nations to seek a reciprocal humanitarian gesture by the Iranian regime in case they are considering providing Tehran with humanitarian assistance to battle COVID-19.

Read: Thailand Cabinet Approves Stimulus Package To Combat Coronavirus Outbreak

Iran is the third most affected country after China, the epicentre of the disease. Iran on Tuesday recorded the most number of deaths in a single day as 54 people lost their lives due to coronavirus outbreak. So far, Iran has reported 291 deaths from the novel coronavirus, which includes top politicians and government officials. On March 7, a recently elected conservative member of parliament from Tehran became one of the seven politicians in the country to die of coronavirus. Mohammad Mirmohammadi, an adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was the first senior official to die from the virus on March 2.

Read: Russia Sues Woman For Escaping Hospital From Coronavirus Checks

Coronavirus outbreak

The novel coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, has claimed more than 4,200 lives across the globe and has infected over 1,19,000 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, where animals were reportedly being traded illegally.

Read: Rome: 45 Indian Students Stranded At Airport Amid Coronavirus Outbreak
Food, Wine, & Dining

By Ls Cohen Published: March 11 2020

Food items include healthy alternatives as well as burgers and fries.

Meant to satisfy the crave for the health conscious eater and those looking for a big juicy burger, Munchys was opened a little over three weeks ago by Adelphi student Hassan Asif.

The menu features a variety of burgers like the Big Buddha Cheese with a sunnyside up egg, turkey bacon, lettuce, tomatoes, American cheese, and mayo on a warm brioche bun with fries ($8.99) or the UK Cheese, topped with pepper jack cheese, jalapenos, a secret spicy sauce and mayo on a warm brioche bun with fries ($8.99). Then theres the Kimbel, loaded with lettuce, tomatoes, waffle fries, mozzarella sticks, American cheese and drizzled with their special sauce also on a warm brioche bun with fries ($9.99).

On the healthy side they offer a create your own salad and smoothies like a peanut butter banana smoothie called The White or Mother of Berries (MOB), constraining strawberries, raspberry and blackberry (Regular $5.99/Large $6.99).

They also serve bubble teas as well as appetizers.

We target health conscious people as well as those who want to eat burgers and sandwiches. Asif told us in an email.

Their tagline is You Crave. We serve!

The location at 719 Fulton Avenue was previously a deli.

While the main demographic for Crave is probably students from surrounding colleges and universities like Hofstra, Adelphi, Nassau Community College, and Molloy (all are only a few minutes drive from Crave), Asif said that he sees lots of locals and families come in.

Asif is a Junior at Adelphi University studying management and marketing. This is his first restaurant.

As the name implies, the focus is on the quick bites. Asif said that he also benefits from students who are at the bars right near his restaurant looking for late night food. The name telegraphs to the students what they are getting here.

We offer continuous discounts to the students in the area and were open till 3:30am on Thurs-Sat serving people who go out as there are fewer places open at that time, said Asif. The ambience we have provided our customers is great, and no place in the area gives that ambience.

He paid particular attention to the logo, which has a bright color palette and design that reflects his menu. The logomark has a simple iconic look to it.

If you look up the logo closely, it is an M with cheese, Asif said when asked about the design. Also if you zoom in, the cheese has some layers which makes it a sandwich.

Reviews have been almost all positive.

Zain H. from East Meadow, said on Yelp that Munchys did not disappoint.

Will be back again soon I'm sure, he wrote.

Jahangir Z., of Hicksville, loved the location

Literally 3 minutes from Hofstra University. The food was amazing. The atmosphere equally the same. The service was great, he wrote.

Location: 719 Fulton Avenue, Hempstead, (631) 790-5106
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Wednesday took a jibe at Jyotiraditya Scindia for switching to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and ditching Congress, saying, "We have always seen that people leave Congress while roaring but later return to the party by wagging their tails."

He also used the Hindi proverb in this reference and said "there must be some compulsions, otherwise no one becomes so disloyal (Kuch to majburiyan rahi hongi warna yu he koi bewafaa nahi hota)," he said while interacting with the reporters outside Raipur airport.

He also exuded confidence that the Congress-led Madhya Pradesh government will survive and added, "Kamal Nath ji's moves have not come to light yet."

The Chief Minister's comments came after political turmoil has gripped Congress-ruled Madhya Pradesh following the resignation of Jyotiraditya Scindia from the party.

Scindia's decision to leave Congress was followed by resignations from 22 party MLAs loyal to him.

Scindia, who was seen leaving from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Lok Kalyan Marg residence along with Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday, is likely to join Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Contrary to what many had said previously, he has not learned any lessons and he has not matured, Miller said. He has drawn the opposite lessons, that he is above the law, because Saudi Arabia is so important to its Western allies that he will always be welcomed back into the fold.
Today, the Ukrainian Army is undergoing transition of its military command structure to that used by Allies.

Newly appointed Ukrainian Defense Minister Andriy Taran has stressed the importance of ensuring maximum interaction between the Armed Forces of Ukraine and NATO.

"The ongoing implementation of NATO standards in Ukraine's Armed Forces is an urgent priority for reforming our military sector. At the same time, given our realities, the Defense Ministry's key task is to provide maximum opportunities for the Ukrainian army to interact with the Allied forces instead of the ambitious goal, which is unattainable in the near future, to fully adapt our Army to NATO standards," he said at the ceremony of his presentation by the President's Office on March 11.

According to Taran, now the Ukrainian Army is undergoing the transition of its military command structure to that used by NATO Allies.

Read alsoUkrainian army needs arms upgrade  Ukraine's defense minister

"Changing the command structure is just an integral part of the multi-dimensional reform process in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. That is why an important issue now is the completion of the unbundling of powers in the new structure between the Defense Ministry, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and the General Staff," he stressed.

In addition, ensuring the country's high defense capability provides for the creation of an extensive territorial defense system.

"Of course, this is not only the task of the Defense Ministry or the General Staff. The resolution of this issue is a priority for the entire national security system," the minister summed up.
Talks are under way between the deputy leaders of Fianna Fail and Fine Gael on the possibility of forming a government.

Tanaiste Simon Coveney and Fianna Fails Dara Calleary are holding discussions on Wednesday before both parties engage in more detailed talks over the coming days.

Fine Gaels Paschal Donohoe said on Wednesday that the Covid-19 outbreak will influence their discussions with political parties across the spectrum.

The partys negotiator said further detailed discussions could take place by Sunday.

They will form the early part of talks that we will be having with them (Fianna Fail) regarding whether it will be possible to form a new government, Mr Donohoe added.

At the best of times this would be a very demanding political exercise, but we are truly in extraordinary times and that will influence the discussions that we will have with political colleagues all over the spectrum of Irish political life.

In terms of what priorities I might be raising with them, from my experience of these discussions I know it is not helpful if they hear about my priorities through (the media).

They need to hear about it from us directly and personally and thats what well be doing over the coming days.

He said discussions are under way between the deputy leaders and further talks will happen over the coming days.

Coming out of all of that I think it is possible and to be expected that some form of talks will take place by Sunday, he added.

We have, however a duty as members of the Fine Gael parliamentary party to consult with, to assess our mandate with the parliamentary party.

Fine Gaels parliamentary party is expected to meet next Thursday.

Minister for Business Heather Humphreys said the party is having conversations with everybody.

She added, however, that her priority is dealing with the coronavirus crisis.

Its important that people realise that we have a government in place that has full executive powers, and we are working extremely well with all of the political parties in the Dail at this time to try and meet the challenges that this is presenting on a societal basis, Ms Humphreys added.

The Green Party is today holding a meeting in Dublin to discuss the possibility of going into government with Fianna Fail and Fine Gael.

Mr Donohoe added: Weve had preliminary discussions with our colleagues in the Green Party in a process that is initiated by them.

I am under no doubt regarding how serious their policy needs are and how seriously they hold them.

The Green Party has called for a national government of all parties to be formed to tackle the coronavirus outbreak.

In a statement, the party said: The Green Party parliamentary party met this afternoon and agreed that, in light of the unfolding coronavirus crisis, the party are calling on all parties to suspend discussions on forming a majority government and work towards forming a crisis national government to be reviewed in three months.
An actor who played a flesh-eating zombie in The Walking Dead has been jailed after biting a fan he dated.

American actor Michael Mundy, 52, started dating Beverly Jackson, 41, after they met at a horror convention in the UK.

He was placed behind bars after being convicted of assaulting her.

After they met eight years ago, they stayed in touch and eventually started dating.



Mundy was handed a jail term last November after being convicted of assault and was also slapped with a restraining order to stop him from going near Jackson.

He was sent back to jail in February for breaching the terms of the order.

Jackson told The Sun : I fell for him. Initially he was very charming and promised to help me get into films. But he became more and more abusive.

Mundy is due to be released from HMP Liverpool in the coming months.

As well as appearing in The Walking Dead in 2011 and 2012, he also had a role in Hollywood movie Flight with Denzel Washington.

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After stressing the importance of communication in preventing the spread of COVID-19, Manitobas health minister cut short a press conference after 16 minutes Tuesday without answering further questions from reporters about how the province is prepared to handle the virus once it arrives.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 10/3/2020 (671 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

After stressing the importance of communication in preventing the spread of COVID-19, Manitobas health minister cut short a press conference after 16 minutes Tuesday without answering further questions from reporters about how the province is prepared to handle the virus once it arrives.

Health Minister Cameron Friesen was joined by Dr. Brent Roussin, the chief provincial public health officer, to announce that Manitoba is working with the Public Health Agency of Canada to bulk buy $35.2 million worth of personal protective equipment with other provinces and territories. The COVID-19 supplies include items such as procedure and surgical masks, N95 respirators, gloves, thermometer covers and sanitizer.

The press conference, held in the hallway outside Friesens office, was packed with reporters with many questions about the virus that claimed the life of its first Canadian this week, rocked world markets, prompted Air Canada to cancel flights to Italy and the Winnipeg Jets to ban reporters from the dressing room.

"The risk of acquiring COVID-19 in Manitoba remains low but as we see the transmission of this virus to other parts of the world, that risk is likely to increase over time and we need to be prepared for identification of this virus in Manitoba," Roussin said at the start of the press conference, noting that, as of Tuesday, there were still no laboratory-confirmed cases in Manitoba.

Friesen told reporters that Manitobans are "in this together," saying the public can help prevent the potential spread of the virus while health officials are doing everything they can to prepare for it.

"Our response takes all of us  all of us taking precautions," Friesen said. "Maybe now is a good time, instead of shaking hands, to bump someones elbow."

He reminded Manitobans to wash their hands frequently, cough into their sleeve, not their hand, and to stay home when theyre sick. "Now is not a good time to see someone in a hospital or personal care home if youre not feeling well."

Roussin said theres no plan to cancel public events and theyve increased the number and scope of COVID-19 testing being done and the lab capacity to run the tests. All international travellers with symptoms and all severely ill people admitted to hospital intensive care units are now tested, he said. Soon theyll be adding COVID-19 testing for all patients with respiratory symptoms, said Roussin. On Thursday, he said 97 Manitobans in total had been tested. Now, 40 tests per day are being conducted, Friesen told the house during question period late Tuesday.

At his morning press conference, Friesen said lessons were learned from the H1N1 outbreak in 2009 when there was a delay in receiving needed supplies. Now, before the first COVID-19 case is confirmed in Manitoba, it is the first province to sign onto the national procurement effort to get personal protective equipment to deal with it.

"We know that this will significantly increase the capacity should we need it," said Friesen before an emergency funding bill for the $35.2 million was passed in the house and given royal assent Tuesday.

He said he received assurances on Friday from federal counterparts that the order with other provinces and territories for supplies will be finalized quickly.

"They will work hard to get us the supplies we need not later but sooner."

In Manitoba, preparations for COVID-19 are well underway, Friesen said.

"Behind the scenes, Manitobans should understand there are comprehensive plans being made, significant work undertaken to inventory  to say Where are we now? What capacity do we have? What would that look like if we need to go to this level, or this level or this level," the health minister said, without offering any examples of what action would be taken if there is an outbreak that escalates.

After question period, Premier Brian Pallister said communicating about Manitobas COVID-19 preparedness is a balancing act.

"I think theres always a concern about balancing the need for preparedness and instilling confidence but making sure that confidence is justified and justifiable," he told reporters. "You dont want to alarm people on the one hand; on the other hand, you want to make sure you address causative factors that may cause alarm."

Pallister said Manitoba is in better shape than any other province to withstand the economic hit of a COVID-19 outbreak. He said Manitoba has responded to a request by the federal government to share COVID-19 readiness issues ahead of the first ministers meeting in Ottawa Friday but did not say what those were.

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NDP Leader Wab Kinew said the provincial government needs to share more details about its preparations with the public and those working on the front lines of the health-care system thats still reeling from funding cuts.

"Theres a bunch of these open questions that the government needs to address," Kinew told reporters outside the chamber.

"For instance, the government has said everyone who presents with respiratory symptoms should be getting tested for COVID-19  that hasnt been communicated to the people on the front lines yet," said Kinew. "Why isnt that happening?"

People need to know what the plan is if theyre not able to work in the event of a pandemic with major economic and health fallout, said Kinew, noting its "important to recognize were not there yet."

"There does need to be a contingency plan should this actually turn into a recession or a severe economic crisis," Kinew said.

carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca
The Duke of York has hired a PR expert who specialises in crisis management in a desperate bid to restore his reputation.

Prince Andrew, 60, has enlisted the services of Mark Gallagher, nicknamed 'the backroom fixer', to deal with the fallout of the Jeffrey Epstein scandal.

Mr Gallagher previously helped exonerate VIPs falsely accused of paedophilia by fantasist Carl Beech in 2014.

Operation Midland saw dawn raids at high profile addresses including the home of D-Day veteran Lord Bramall.

But Beech's claims against the likes of Harvey Proctor, the former MP, Field Marshal Lord Bramall and the late Lord Brittan were all found to be false.

Mr Gallagher, who founded PR agency Pagefield in 2010, advises a number of individuals, all through his second business - Riverside Advisory.

Prince Andrew, 60, (right on Monday outside a memorial service at St Georges Chapel) has enlisted the services of Mark Gallagher (left), nicknamed 'the backroom fixer', to deal with the fallout of the Jeffrey Epstein scandal

His firm Pagefield has also worked with the Royal Family. It was hired to help deliver a PR programme for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in 2012.

In a testimony on the Pagefield website, Edward Young, Deputy Private Secretary to the Queen, said: 'Her Majesty was delighted. Very seasoned hands in our press office say they cannot remember a day that got such amazing coverage.'

The Duke of York's decision to hire Gallagher, as reported by The Daily Telegraph, comes after he recruited an extradition lawyer once used by Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet after the FBI demanded an interview over his links to Epstein.

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.

Epstein, 66, killed himself in prison awaiting a trial on sex trafficking charges and the FBI wants to speak to Andrew about what he saw or knew - not because he committed any crime

Ms Montgomery, of Matrix Chambers, is a specialist with dealing with 'cross border challenges', according to her resume.

The decision followed reports by a US lawyer that Andrew has 'completely shut the door' on co-operating with investigators over the probe into sex offender Epstein.

Andrew stepped away from royal duties following his disastrous Newsnight interview in November about his relationship with Epstein, who killed himself in his jail cell while awaiting trial for sex trafficking.

In a statement released four days later, the duke said he was 'willing to help any appropriate law enforcement agency with their investigations, if required'.

But Geoffrey Berman, who is leading the Epstein inquiry, told reporters on Monday: 'Contrary to Prince Andrew's very public offer to co-operate with our investigation into Epstein's co-conspirators, an offer that was conveyed via press release, Prince Andrew has now completely shut the door on voluntary co-operation and our office is considering its options.'

Mr Berman told a news conference in January the duke had 'provided zero co-operation', claiming his lawyers had been contacted by prosecutors and the FBI as part of the probe.

Andrew stepped away from royal duties following his disastrous Newsnight interview in November (pictured) about his relationship with Epstein, who killed himself in his jail cell while awaiting trial for sex trafficking.

Prince Andrew has allegedly refused to cooperate with the Jeffrey Epstein probe in the US despite publicly offering to help. Pictured are Prince Andrew and Epstein accuser, Virginia Roberts, pictured together at a time where Virginia claims Andrew had sex with her three times

But a few days later, Andrew was reported to be 'angry and bewildered' at the claims by the US authorities, with The Telegraph quoting a source as saying: 'The duke is more than happy to talk to the FBI but he hasn't been approached by them yet.'

Soon after the lawyer's comments, Andrew's sex accuser Virginia Roberts slammed the duke's alleged decision not to co-operate and branded him 'guilty as sin'.

She tweeted: 'That was expected- I knew he'd never help with any probe or investigation because he's guilty as sin.'

Who is Mark Gallagher and who has his firm Pagefield represented? Mark Gallagher launched Pagefield in 2010, growing the company to a team of over 50 and serving nearly 300 clients since launch, including Airbnb, British Airways and TalkTalk. But he also has a number of private clients which over the last six years have included those falsely accused and incorrectly investigated during Operation Midland. Those his firm Pagefield has represented includes: The Queen - Pagefield was tasked with delivering a 'comprehensive year-long PR strategy' to ensure positive awareness of the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant in 2012. Airbnb - The firm was appointed to strengthen Airbnbs reputation and position within the UK hospitality market soon after it arrived in the country. Dina Asher-Smith - The fastest British woman in recorded history enlisted the services of Pagefield to 'break into the public eye via the mainstream media'. Paula Radcliffe - The long-distance runner had been looking to continue her legacy by hosting events that encourage the whole family to exercise and keep fit. Pagefield was tasked with helping raise awareness of the first event. British Airways - Pagefield was enlisted to help the airline through its centenary year in 2019. Advertisement

Epstein's missing 'pimp' Ghislaine Maxwell and her lawyer are reportedly behind Andrew's alleged decision not to speak to the FBI on the ground it would 'do no good', reports The Sun.

Family friend Laura Goldman said: 'Ghislaine told me that yes, the lawyers and Ghislaine have finally convinced Andrew that it would do no good for him to talk to the FBI.

'The FBI will never be satisfied. Nothing happened. However the FBI doesn't want to hear that.'

Andrew's failure to speak to the FBI is inflicting more pain and suffering on Epstein's victims who feel like they are in a 'torture chamber', their lawyer claimed yesterday.

Gloria Allred, who represents five women who were allegedly abused by the Duke of York's paedophile friend, has revealed she sent a letter to the royal's Windsor home urging him to help the authorities but has not had any reply.

Ms Allred also believes that claims Andrew has not been contacted by the authorities in the US are false.

She said: 'This is so hypocritical on the part of Prince Andrew. There is this drip drip drip and this torture chamber where he says he will speak to them, then he won't, then he will with conditions. This does nothing but inflict more pain and suffering on the victims'.

Ms Allred told the BBC: 'Prince Andrew didn't say what he meant or mean what he said when he was sympathetic to the victims of Jeffrey Epstein and that he would speak to the authorities, the FBI and the Department of Justice if required. He's shutting the door.

'I understand he has been contacted by the authorities. I sent a letter to his home in December on behalf of the victims asking him to speak to the FBI. He doesn't have to come here  he can speak to them in the UK'.

Buckingham Palace said in a statement on Monday: 'This issue is being dealt with by The Duke of York's legal team. Buckingham Palace will not be commenting further on this particular matter.'

Andrew was pictured attending a memorial service at St George's Chapel in Windsor on Monday.
iPrice Group, which helps comparison shoppers in Southeast Asia by pulling together prices from different e-commerce platforms, has closed a $10 million Series B. Led by ACA Investments, the round also included participation from Daiwa PI Partners and returning investors Line Ventures, Mirae Asset-Naver and Asia Growth Fund.

The companys last funding announcement, from Line's venture capital arm, was in May 2018. Its new round brings iPrices total funding so far to about $19.8 million.

The company said it has more than 20 million monthly visitors and about 5 million transactions were made through its platforms in 2019. Its core iPrice unit accounted for about half of its revenue and operated at a 30% EBITDA margin, a level of profitability the company expects its other businesses to hit in the next two to three years.

iPrice will use its funding to develop product discovery features, including recommendations and professional product reviews. The platform currently partners with "super apps," like Line and Home Credit, that offer a wide array of services through one app.

iPrice began by collecting coupons and discount codes when it launched, before expanding into price aggregation to help consumers navigate the growing roster of e-commerce platforms in Southeast Asia, such as Zalora, Shoppee and Lazada.

The platform is divided into verticals, including electronics and appliances, fashion and automotive, and it now claims to aggregate more than 1.5 billion products from more than 1,500 e-commerce partners. It says it is the leading product aggregator in Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong.

In a press statement, ACA Investments chief investment officer Tomohiro Fujita said, "The e-commerce industry in Southeast Asia is at its emerging stage and we see huge potential. iPrice Group will play an important role, especially with its comprehensive coverage of markets in Southeast Asia. Its the prime gateway to online shopping."
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San Francisco, 11 March 2020: The Report Cell Sorting Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis By Product (Cell Sorters, Reagents & Consumables, Services), By Technology, By Application (Research, Clinical), By End Use, By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2019  2026

The global cell sorting market size is expected to reach USD 899.4 million by 2026, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc., exhibiting a CAGR of 10.5%. The market is expected to grow in the coming years owing to technological advancements in the field of cell sorting technologies and instruments. High speed sorters have the ability to differentiate between cell types effectively. This has improved research in genomics and proteomics as well as developing many emerging cell-based therapies. An advanced and emerging technology in this field is microfluidics.

A substantial expansion has been witnessed in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, which is fostering more drug discovery research, thereby, fueling growth. Mergers, acquisitions, and collaborations are some of the main strategies undertaken by these companies in order to overcome competition. A booming Indian pharmaceutical sector is anticipated to result in a positive impact on the growth of the global market. According to the India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF) 2019 statistics, currently, Indian pharmaceutical companies supply 80% of the antiretroviral drugs used for combating AIDS. In addition, growing number of research activities pertaining to new applications is another factor driving growth.

Access Research Report of Cell Sorting Market @ https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/cell-sorting-market

Further key findings from the study suggest:

Cell sorters segment held the highest share in 2018 due to substantial technological advances in the machines

Reagents and consumable held a significant share in 2018, owing to their repetitive use during sorting methods

FACS accounted for maximum revenue in 2018, due to its accuracy and high throughput cellular analysis

However, FACS-based instruments are costly, hence, researchers sometimes prefer magnetic-activated cell sorting machines over them

In 2018, research applications dominated the global cell sorting market owing to increasing investments on R&D by government bodies as well as pharmaceutical & biotechnology companies

Pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies segment is expected to show significant growth over the forecast period due to rise in academia-industry collaborations, which has further increased research

North America held the largest revenue share in 2018 owing to developed pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries in the region

Some of the key manufacturers include Becton, Dickinson and Company; Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.; Beckman Coulter, Inc.; Sony Biotechnology Inc.; Miltenyi Biotec GmbH; On-Chip Biotechnologies Co.

Browse more reports of this category by Grand View Research at: https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry/biotechnology

Grand View Research has segmented the cell sorting market on the basis of product, technology, application, end use, and region:

Cell Sorting Product Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2015 - 2026)

Cell Sorters

Reagents and Consumables

Services

Cell SortingTechnology Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2015 - 2026)

Fluorescence-based Droplet Cell Sorting Jet-in-air Cell Sorting Cuvette-based Cell Sorting

Magnetic-activated Cell Sorting

MEMS - Microfluidics

Cell SortingApplication Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2015 - 2026)

Research Applications Immunology & Cancer Research Stem Cell Research Drug Discovery Other Research Applications

Clinical Applications

Cell SortingEnd-use Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2015 - 2026)

Research Institutions

Medical Schools and Academic Institutions

Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Companies

Hospitals and Clinical Testing Laboratories

Cell SortingRegional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2015 - 2026)

North America

Europe

Asia Pacific

Latin America

MEA

Access Press Release of Cell Sorting Market @ https://www.grandviewresearch.com/press-release/global-cell-sorting-market

About Grand View Research

Grand View Research, Inc. is a U.S. based market research and consulting company, registered in the State of California and headquartered in San Francisco. The company provides syndicated research reports, customized research reports, and consulting services. To help clients make informed business decisions, we offer market intelligence studies ensuring relevant and fact-based research across a range of industries, from technology to chemicals, materials and healthcare.

For More Information: www.grandviewresearch.com
I have a terrible memory for faces, but I've never forgotten the image of Lyra McKee's mother, Joan, as she waved me off from her doorstep last year. I'm still haunted by her expression, which combined extraordinary sweetness, overwhelming sadness and worrying vulnerability.

Joan was an invalid and I thought then that she would not survive for long. As her daughter, Nichola McKee Corner, put it yesterday, she "passed away last night of a broken heart. Unable to live without her baby Lyra.

"Hold Lyra in your arms, reunited once more, and send us strength."

In so many of the tributes from family and friends on social media, mixed with the grief at the loss of Joan, there is a very strong sense of relief that her suffering is over and she's back with her beloved wee Lyra, who was her loving carer.

All Lyra's friends knew how she adored her mum. Many's the time I sat with her in London, talking for a few hours, resigned to the conversation being regularly punctuated by calls home beginning, "Are you okay?" followed by anxious inquiries about what pills Joan had taken and what food she had eaten.

In my experience, Joan never called her: she was always anxious that Lyra would have a nice time and not worry about her. But the deep devotion was two-way: the daughter had learned about unconditional love from the mother.

Innumerable people have been moved by Lyra's story in an open letter to her 14-year-old self about how, after experiencing gay friends being rejected by their families, she had marshalled her courage to come out to her mother.

After she had confessed and tearfully apologised and Joan had responded with gratitude that the news was not that she was pregnant, Lyra crawled into her lap, sobbing, "as she holds you and tells you that you are her little girl and how could you ever think that anything would make her love you any less?"

"That's terribly sad news," tweeted David Kerr, who, from 1998, as press secretary to David Trimble, had plenty of experience of tragedy. "I recall the comment in the Lost Lives programme a few weeks ago: sometimes those bullets just keep travelling."

And so they do. The bullet, or the bomb, that kills one person does incalculable damage to so many more. To our shame, we often forget about the wounded, especially when their injuries are mental, rather than physical.

Over several years of working with victims of the 1998 Omagh bomb, who took a successful civil case against the bombers, I came to understand a lot about the ripple effect.

People would say what a terrible tragedy for his parents, her husband, or their children, but there was very little understanding that a violent, intentional killing is devastating to family, friends, colleagues, neighbours and onlookers.

It doesn't matter if the person who died wasn't the actual target.

It is no consolation to any of those who mourn Lyra that her murderer was aiming at a policeman.

I have never forgotten the evidence of Dr Nick Cooling, the psychiatrist who assessed the condition of the Omagh plaintiffs in 2000.

Among the symptoms he listed, along with clinical depression, were anxiety, physical aches and pains, anger, irritability, loss of appetite, weight loss, weight gain (from comfort eating), impaired concentration, acute stress, insomnia, claustrophobia, tearfulness, flashbacks, tension, nightmares, poor memory, low energy, jumpiness, suicidal urges, obsessional behaviour, mood swings, panic attacks, sweating, palpitations, hallucinations and breathing difficulties.

Think of the households immediately concerned, who had to cope with each other's symptoms, exacerbated in many cases by senseless, but powerful, guilt.

Victor Barker, for instance, blamed himself for not being with his 12-year-old son, James, when he most needed his father; his wife, Donna-Maria, blamed herself, because she had inspired a move from England to Donegal.

Michael Gallagher blamed himself for recommending that his son, Aidan, use a particular car park; and Edith White tortured herself, because she had let her husband and son do the shopping that day.

And then there were the siblings who, like many young people, suffered from survivor guilt and asked themselves why they were alive when their brother or sister was dead.

In some cases, that led to attempted suicides, another horror with which other broken people had to cope. Families were fractured and previously happy people were condemned to a lifetime of misery.

At least the New IRA recognised they had made a mistake, so, on this occasion, the bereaved did not have to endure the demonisation of the person who had been murdered.

One of the most unforgivable aspects of the IRA's decades of terrorism is its leaders' deliberate policy of trashing the reputations of those they have killed, thus compounding the agony of those who loved them.

It has been a deliberate part of the brainwashing of followers to eradicate any empathy, or remorse, by telling them lies and teaching them hatred. That is psychopathic behaviour.

Being a psychopath means never having to face the wrong you have done to others.

In the case of Lyra, even the New IRA couldn't see her as the enemy. To them, her death was an embarrassment. But, in their eyes - as with the Provos over all those years of killing innocents - she was simply collateral damage in their just war.

"The b******s who murdered my baby sister should also be tried for the murder of my mother," tweeted Nichola. "They killed her the day they killed her precious baby girl."

"One bullet that is still travelling," tweeted @GrantSana. "So desperately sad."

Lyra's murderers will be remembered as agents of hate. But, as I've written before about Lyra, and it also applies to Joan, it is Philip Larkin's famous line that always comes to my mind: "What will survive of us is love."

Ruth Dudley Edwards is the author of Aftermath: The Omagh Bombing and the Families' Pursuit of Justice (London: Vintage, 2006)
Nearly a year after the murder of Y S Vivekananda Reddy, former MP and uncle of Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, the state high court on Wednesday entrusted the case to Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for a detailed investigation.

The high court expressed dissatisfaction over the lack of progress in the investigation by the state police into the murder of Viveka, as the former MP from Kadapa was popularly known. It was unfortunate that the killers are yet to be traced even 11 months after the commencement of investigation, the court said.

The court asked CBI to probe the murder which happened under extraordinary circumstances. Since the killers could be from inter-state gangs, the court felt CBI could tackle the case. It directed CBI to begin the probe from Pulivendula police station and complete the probe at the earliest.

Viveka, the younger brother of former chief minister late Y S Rajasekhar Reddy and uncle of present chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, was brutally murdered at his own residence in Pulivendula of Kadapa district on March 15, 2019.

The murder that took place a few weeks before the general elections in the state created a sensation in Andhra Pradesh and an embarrassment to the then Telugu Desam Party government headed by N Chandrababu Naidu, who constituted a special investigation team (SIT) to probe the incident.

Jagan then rejected the probe by the state police and moved the high court seeking a CBI inquiry into his uncles murder. But after he came to power in May 2019, the YSRC chief constituted a fresh SIT of the state police to probe the murder and even withdrew his earlier petition in the high court demanding the CBI probe. He argued that the SIT was doing a perfect job.

However, Vivekas wife Sowbhagyamma, daughter Sunitha, former TDP minister C Adinarayana Reddy and TDP lawmaker B Tech Ravi had filed separate petitions in the high court demanding that the murder case be entrusted to the CBI.

Sunitha also gave a list of around a dozen suspects who were allegedly involved in the killing of her father. She argued that only a CBI case could unearth all the facts.

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Decree says all the released Taliban prisoners will provide a written guarantee to not return to the battlefield.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has signed a decree to release 1,500 Taliban prisoners as a move to launch direct talks with the armed group to end the 18-year war in Afghanistan.

According to a copy of the two-page decree seen by Reuters news agency late on Tuesday night, all released Taliban prisoners will have to provide a written guarantee to not return to the battlefield.

President Ghani has signed the decree that would facilitate the release of the Taliban prisoners in accordance with an accepted framework for the start of negotiation between the Taliban and the afghan government. Details of the decree will be shared tomorrow.  Sediq Sediqqi (@SediqSediqqi) March 10, 2020

President Ghani has signed the decree that would facilitate the release of the Taliban prisoners in accordance with an accepted framework for the start of negotiations between the Taliban and the Afghan government, Ghanis spokesman Sediq Sediqqi posted on Twitter.

The decree, to be made public later by Ghanis office, lays out details about how the Taliban prisoners will be released in a systematic manner to further peace deals.

The process of releasing the prisoners will begin in four days, the decree said.

Part of US-Taliban deal

The release of prisoners is part of a deal signed by the United States and the Taliban last month that would allow US forces and NATO troops to withdraw from Afghanistan to end more than 18 years of war.

Earlier on Tuesday, Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen said in a tweet that his group had handed a list of 5,000 prisoners to the US and was waiting for all to be released.

Also on Tuesday, a senior Taliban leader in Doha, the groups political headquarters, said vehicles had been sent to an area near Bagram Prison, north of the capital Kabul, to collect the freed fighters.

After our conversation with Zalmay Khalilzad (US special envoy for Afghanistan) on Monday, in which he conveyed to us the release of our 5,000 prisoners, we sent vehicles to pick them up, he told Reuters.

The Taliban had demanded the release of the prisoners as a confidence-building measure to pave the way for the opening of direct talks with the government.

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Ghani, who previously refused to honour a prisoner swap deal between the US and the Taliban, later said he was not averse to releasing Taliban prisoners to move the peace process forward.

In addition to the tensions between Ghani and the Taliban, an escalating political feud between Ghani and his former chief executive Abdullah Abdullah has deepened political chaos in the country.

Ghani was sworn in for a second term on Monday, but the ceremony was marred by a rocket attack.

Abdullah, who has refused to accept the election results released last month or recognise Ghani as president, also held his own inauguration ceremony on the same day.

Meanwhile on Tuesday, the UN Security Council unanimously approved a US resolution on the deal between the US and the Taliban, a rare endorsement of an agreement with an armed group.

The US military has begun withdrawing troops as part of the pullout agreed upon in the February 29 pact.
(TNS)  A program that was beta tested by Claremore Police Department is working it's way into Oklahoma law.Recently, the Oklahoma state senate announced they had passed legislation that would provide mental health patients with telemedicine healthcare access when a law enforcement officer is sent to them for assistance.Senate Bill 1208 was authored by Sen. Micheal Bergstrom, who said the legislation is "necessary to provide immediate patient care and reduce costly mental health transports."SB1208 stipulates that "if an officer is called to assist a medically stable individual suffering from a mental health ailment, the patient could be assessed by a licensed mental health professional via telemedicine if the capability is available."When called to a scene under current law, our officers are required to immediately transport a mental health patient to the nearest facility with a bed available, Bergstrom said. This can be extremely time consuming and costly for our law enforcement entities, especially in rural communities where there may only be a few deputies available each shift.Bergstrom said a sheriffs department in his district implemented a telemedicine pilot program utilizing iPad technology for officers to use at these calls. Prior to telemedicine availability, officers were making 70-80 mental health transports per year. After the program was implemented, transports were significantly reduced.Based on the telemedicine program already in place in northeastern Oklahoma, weve seen that mental health patients receiving immediate access to medical care typically dont need to be taken to a mental health facility, Bergstrom said. A faster diagnosis reduces patient trauma and allows for quicker treatment, reducing the number of required taxpayer funded mental health transports.Claremore Police Chief Stan Brown said his department is already reaping the rewards of this program."Im happy to report that we are part of the of the northeast portion of Oklahoma in which this program has already been launched. As a matter of fact we were one of the agencies which beta tested the program," he said. "I can tell you the immediate access that persons in mental health crisis receive as a result of telemedicine significantly enhances their treatment and stabilization. It provides reduced stressors for them and the responding/transporting officers."He said the telemedicine program reduces time and travel expended by our officers in their statutory mandated involvement with the persons."One tremendous advantage is the ability for the person in crisis and the mental health professional responding to them via telemedicine to create a treatment plan which may not include actual transport by a law enforcement officer," he said. "Again, this helps reduce time and funds spent in our local hospital emergency rooms, in-transit cost and time for the transporting law enforcement agencies, and allows for reduced cost associated with in-home or Crisis Service Center care. Our time spent with mental health crisis persons has been reduced by 1/3 to 1/2 over the last two years as a result of this program. I am proud to support it."The measure passed unanimously in the state senate and now heads to the Oklahoma House of Representatives for consideration.
QAMISHLI, Syria  A health official in Syria's northeastern Jazira province told Al-Monitor that no cases of coronavirus have been documented in the province. Yet residents of the largely Kurdish region, governed by an autonomous administration, are not reassured by local officials' measures to protect the province from coronavirus, which has led to the deaths of 4,000 worldwide.

A Kurdistan TV report from Qamishli, the largest Kurdish city in Syria, stated that 1% of the population in Qamishli is wearing protective masks, as pharmacies and medical equipment sales centers are running low on masks.

Hani al-Ali, the owner of a medical equipment store, told Al-Monitor, The use of health masks was the preserve of medical staff and family members seeking to prevent the spread of a certain virus, but after the spread of corona around the world, a lot of people sought to buy large quantities of masks, which caused a significant decrease in their numbers and an increase in their price.

Pharmacist Amer Abdullah told Al-Monitor, The price of masks increased by 250% as it ran out in several shops and pharmacies.

Rapren Hassan, the co-head of the Health Authority in Jazira province, told Al-Monitor, No cases of coronavirus have been thus far registered in northeastern Syria.

She said, The symptoms include shortness of breath, dry cough, high fever and a cold. These are common symptoms for all infected people.

Hassan said the Health Authority set up medical stations at the Semalka border crossing, between Syria and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, "to examine those arriving and leaving the area, then we started to allow international organizations and people with chronic diseases requiring treatment in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq to pass."

She said, "The medical staff first takes the temperature of individuals. Those suspected of being infected get transferred to special centers for tests and monitoring. In case their infection is confirmed, they get transferred to quarantine.

Hassan said, We suspected four cases and contacted the Syrian Health Authority, which, in turn, contacted the [World Health Organization] and completed the required examinations. The four cases tested negative. Also, the authority distributed informative brochures on how to prevent the virus and inform people of the required hygiene methods. In case of suspicion, the Syrian Health Authority contacts the WHO to take the required action.

But residents are uncertain that the measures taken by the autonomous administration are sufficient.

Birzad Fawzi, the owner of a medical supply shop in Hasakah, told Al-Monitor, I am surprised the crossing was closed as a precautionary measure but was then reopened for trade, humanitarian cases and international organizations. I wonder why the crossing was reopened for trade. Just like humans, materials can carry the virus.

The autonomous administration said medical and humanitarian materials will be allowed to flow through the border crossing every Tuesday, the media spokesperson at the Semalka crossing, Sherzad Uthman, told local media.

Fawzi said the adopted measures are incomplete and inadequate. It is true that many European countries have contracted the virus, but are we waiting for the virus to hit us to get to work? A precautionary plan must be established. Gatherings must be banned and markets must be continuously disinfected. Also, places that witness gatherings must be regularly examined.

Hassan said, Just like the rest of the world, we do not have the required medicine for the virus, and we have not detected any cases thus far, but if any cases are detected in Syria, we will close schools and universities and ban gatherings.

Journalist Solin Mohamed Amin, based in Qamishli, believes that the autonomous administration is falling short of taking precautions to ward off the virus.

The issue is not taken seriously or treated as a threat to humanity," Amin said. "Distributing brochures that explain the causes of the virus without drying up its sources is not enough. Awareness campaigns are needed in schools, institutions and public places to explain how the virus spreads. Also, advanced detection devices are needed and no cases should be hidden for political and security reasons. Smuggling should be fought.

Residents of Qamishli are going about their normal lives, with no interruptions to social gatherings and market activity, which bodes ill for the spread of the virus, as it could be lurking in nearby villages.
TempTraq single-use, wireless patch ideal for monitoring patient temperatures without need for direct patient contact

CLEVELAND, March 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- With the rapid spread of the new coronavirus, COVID-19, monitoring temperatures of infected or exposed patients is a major focus for healthcare organizations worldwide. However, with heightened infection control procedures and quarantines, sharing traditional thermometers among multiple patients may be risky. To address this need, Blue Spark Technologies offers TempTraq: a single-use, disposable temperature monitor in the form of a soft, comfortable patch.

TempTraq continuously monitors and records axillary temperature and wirelessly transmits real-time data for up to 72 hours. Once placed on a patient, clinicians can remotely monitor temperatures with little-to-no direct contact. TempTraq, which is not shared across patient populations, helps eliminate potential cross-contamination from shared temperature measurement devices.

In the event of an adverse impact of COVID-19, the need to support immediate, large-scale quarantines could place elevated stress on health systems and healthcare workers. By remotely monitoring real-time data, TempTraq enables clinicians to ensure a higher level of simultaneous temperature measurement compliance in outpatient settings for multiple patients. For example, leading healthcare institutions use TempTraq for both inpatient and outpatient temperature monitoring of oncology patients at high risk of infection or fever.

TempTraq is supported by both patient- and clinician-facing mobile apps with data centrally stored on TempTraq's HIPAA-compliant cloud service, TempTraq Connect. Data monitoring is also available on the TempTraq Clinician web portal or routed directly to hospital EMRs. The TempTraq system is scalable and can support a single hospital or a multi-hospital/physician group healthcare system. TempTraq is currently being used and implemented in hospitals across the US, Europe and Australia. Additionally, TempTraq is being used by a number of leading pharmaceutical companies in conjunction with both clinical trials and commercial roll outs.

For more information about TempTraq, visit https://temptraq.healthcare.

About Blue Spark Technologies, Inc.

Headquartered in Westlake, Ohio, Blue Spark Technologies, Inc. is an innovator in wearable, medical device solutions.

About TempTraq

TempTraq, Blue Spark Technologies' patented innovation, is the only Bluetooth, wearable temperature monitor in the form of a soft, comfortable patch that continuously, safely and comfortably monitors body temperature for up to 72 hours and sends alerts to Apple or Android compatible mobile devices.

TempTraq Connect is the HIPAA-compliant cloud service supported by Google Healthcare Cloud Platform that enables patients and caregivers to monitor body temperature from anywhere. It can also directly integrate with healthcare provider electronic medical record (EMR) systems and nurse monitoring stations, providing a secure method of storing patient healthcare data. The system is FDA, CE and TGA cleared.

TempTraq has shown proven efficacy in the most demanding environments, including the Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center and Cincinnati Children's Hospital, as well as several other leading hospitals. The TempTraq system is scalable and can support a single hospital or a multi-hospital/physician group healthcare system.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1122382/TempTraq_Patch_72hr.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1122383/TempTraq_Patch_Detail.jpg
Issue of prizes will be considered based on results of year and decision on allocation will be out for public discussion

At the government meeting on March 11, Ukraine's ministers refused from their prizes before the end of the year. Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmygal stated this at a briefing broadcasted on 112 Ukraine TV channel.

The issue of prizes will be considered based on the results of work for the year and the decision on allocation will be made public for the discussion.

"The key question that was expected was a political decision, but it is important - the ministers refused from their prizes until the end of the year and decided that the issue of ministerial prizes in political posts will be considered based on the results of work for the year, and then we will be together, in public discussions we will decide whether ministers and politicians deserve a bonus," Shmygal noted.

The salary, the maximum amount of which cannot be higher than five averages in Ukraine remains. The allowances determined by law also remain, and the premia for the overwork can not exceed 30%.

As we reported before, Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmygal and Head of IMF mission Ron van Rooden discussed the prospects of implementing a new loan program for Ukraine during a telephone conversation.
A plane passenger has revealed how his flight from Utah to Florida was left almost deserted as people stay at home for fear of catching coronavirus.

Dr Scott Anderson, from Orem, Utah, filmed the near-empty cabin of his Delta flight on Monday as he travelled from Salt Lake City to Utah.

It comes after the Centers for Disease Control told people to avoid cramped and poorly ventilated spaces such as airplanes in order to slow the spread of the virus.

The airline industry has also warned it could suffer losses of $113billion globally in the worst hit since the 2008 recession if the disease continues to spread.

Dr Scott Anderson filmed the cabin of his flight from Salt Lake City to Orlando on Monday, showing the plane was almost deserted as people avoid air travel over coronavirus

There were just a handful of people on board the plane Monday, after the CDC warned people to avoid plane travel in an attempt to slow the spread of the virus

Many businesses have also advised against all but essential travel for employees and have encouraged staff to work from home, cutting passenger numbers.

Posting the video to Twitter on Monday, Dr Anderson wrote: 'This does not happen very much anymore. Flight to Orlando mostly empty. Over 100 seats unused.'

In an unrelated blog post, he also revealed his own brush with coronavirus last week during a visit to a school in Denver.

Mr Anderson revealed he also had a brush with the virus last week after coming into contact with a potential carrier

Dr Anderson said he was due at the school for a business meeting with senior staff which was interrupted when a school official suddenly left the room.

Moments later the school district leader informed him that an employee at a local school had been diagnosed with the virus, and had been in contact with several other officials - including the one Dr Anderson had just met and shook hands with.

The meeting was hastily rescheduled and Dr Anderson left.

He wrote: 'As I was walking the realization began to sink in that I had shaken the hand of someone who may be a carrier of the virus.

'This had serious implications as I was about to head back to the airport, get on a plane and fly home.

'I felt it was unlikely that I had the virus, but I also felt a very heavy weight of responsibility to not pass it on to others if I did.'

The International departures terminal at Logan Airport in Boston was almost deserted Tuesday as people stayed away amid fears over the virus

The airline industry has warned it could lose $113billion in revenue this year in its worst hit since the 2008 recession if the virus keeps spreading

A passenger in a mask emerges from the international arrivals terminal at Logan Airport in Boston shortly after planes arrived from Frankfurt, Doha, and Dubai

After rescheduling his travel arrangement to avoid passing the virus along, he was told that a second test had come back negative and the employee was not infected.

'This was a close encounter with what could have been a VERY SERIOUS situation for many, many people, not just for me,' he said.

'I am so grateful that it did not turn out that way. But I can tell you it has made be more aware and in tune with what is going on.'

Coronavirus has so far killed 31 people in the US, after a horse trainer from New Jersey and an elderly woman from California died this week.

More than 1,000 cases have been confirmed in the state, but a team of researchers have warned that the true number could be ten times that - as many patients are likely going undetected.

More than 119,000 people have been infected by the coronavirus globally and over 4,200 have died in dozens of countries.

A man removes his face mask to greet a loved who had just arrived at the international arrivals terminal at Logan Airport in Boston

A man in a mask picks up his luggage at a domestic arrivals terminal at Logan Airport

At least 10 long-term care facilities in the Seattle area have reported COVID-19 cases, with deaths at three of them - a worrying development as health officials have cautioned that the elderly and those with underlying conditions are especially at risk.

Washington Governor Jay Inslee on Tuesday outlined a list of requirements for such centers aimed at stopping the worst coronavirus outbreak in the nation.

A nursing home in Issaquah and another in Seattle each reported the death of a resident, bringing the total COVID-19 deaths in the state to at least 24.

King County reported new cases were found in 10 long-term facilities where residents or staff or both have tested positive.

The US had more than 1,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus by Tuesday night while 31 people are confirmed to have died from the illness

The county reported an increase of 74 positive cases since Monday bringing the total to 190.

Snohomish County said it had 54 confirmed cases.

That brought the statewide total to more than 250, and Inslee said that number is likely much higher.

At a news conference Inslee also said the state is preparing for many more cases than have been reported, potentially tens of thousands, based on estimates of the spread of the disease.

'If we assume there are 1,000 or more people who have the virus today....the number of people who are infected will double in five to eight days,' Inslee said.

'If you do the math, it gets very disturbing.'

The state has experienced the worst outbreak of COVID-19 in the nation.
PR-Inside.com: 2020-03-11 08:03:02

Zaandam, the Netherlands, March 11, 2020  In light of the evolving outbreak of Coronavirus, Ahold Delhaize is providing an update on its upcoming Annual General Meeting of Shareholders (AGM) to be held on April 8.

If you are a shareholder and prefer to not attend the meeting in person, you are able to exercise your voting right through an electronic or written proxy (you are kindly referred to our original convocation for more details on how to exercise your voting right). The company will also provide the opportunity to follow the meeting through a webcast.

In order to further mitigate potential health risks, the company will limit social gatherings surrounding the meeting. Unfortunately, this means no lunch or post-meeting reception will be offered.

Ahold Delhaize will continue to closely monitor the situation and advises you to regularly check our website for any further updates.

Cautionary notice

This communication includes forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical facts may be forward-looking statements. Words and expressions such as will provide, are able to, will, or will continue or other similar words or expressions are typically used to identify forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that are difficult to predict. Forward-looking statements reflect the current views of the Companys management and assumptions based on information currently available to the Companys management. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made and the Company does not assume any obligation to update such statements, except as required by law.

Attachment
EDWARDSVILLE  If the full city council agrees, Glen Carbon will continue to receive its water from Edwardsville on a temporary basis but with a price increase to $5.50 per 1,000 gallons, starting May 1.

While Glen Carbon waits for the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) approval to switch water sources from Edwardsville to Illinois American Water (IAW), it requested a one-year extension of its original agreement. That amendment came before the citys public services committee Tuesday.

The sticking point became the villages new water rate. The village requested a rate of $4 per 1,000 gallons but that would be $1.19 per 1,000 gallons cheaper than city residents have paid since May 1, 2019, when their rates went up for the first time in many years. The in-city 2018 rate was $4.15 per 1,000 gallons of water. Average household water usage is 5,000 gallons a month, public works officials said.

My feeling is that [since] they are the ones that decided to leave because they thought it was so expensive for them at the really low bulk rate before; were increasing our water rates because our water fund is not healthy, said Alderwoman Janet Stack. And our residents are going to be paying an increase and I think Glen Carbon should, too.

She added that Edwardsville residents would be displeased to know that Glen Carbonites get the same water for a cheaper rate.

City Administrator Kevin Head called it a difficult decision, involving the plant and distribution fees.

Theyre passing the distribution fee onto their customers, but they had been buying it from us for $1.80 [per 1,000 gallons] and their distribution fee was a heck of a lot more than four dollars, he said. I think its a hard sell to the public when you subsidize to another organization, but we do it today for SIUE.

From a financial perspective, Head said they could certainly use the monies as the citys water fund is $5.7 million in the red.

Alderman Craig Louer asked what it costs the city to distribute water. Public Works Director Eric Williams said the citys actual distribution costs are in the $4.50 range per 1,000 gallons but the distribution cost to deliver to the village is much less, he said.

Aldermen on the committee agreed to change the price to $5.19 per 1,000 gallons, or the in-city rate, until May 1, when it will rise to $5.50. Edwardsvilles in-city rate, by contrast, will go to $6.49 per 1,000 gallons on May 1, the start of the citys 2020 fiscal year.

This marks the third time the village has requested an amendment since March 2019. A second amendment was approved last August and is set to expire April 30. The village began buying water from its northern neighbor in June of 1996. Last year, the city notified the village of a price increase and Glen Carbon decided to opt out of the agreement so it would not be forced to pass the cost on to its residents.

However, its attempts to change providers has been hobbled by water crises elsewhere in the country and the IEPA stanched any further source changes until new testing methods could be implemented.

The village is currently using loop tests of water and piping from Edwardsville and IAW to determine the levels of contaminants, with results reported to the IEPA monthly.

Village officials told Williams that their best estimate is they will need to remain on the citys water system until December, assuming the IEPA approves the source switch.

Head reminded the committee that the village signed a five-year IAW agreement at a rate of $1.25 per 1,000 gallons plus distribution costs. Village officials confirmed that rate Tuesday and said the contract has a 0.25-cent annual increase.

You know whats gonna happen in year six  thats gonna double, Head said. The committees consensus was at the point, the village will either ask to return to Edwardsvilles water system or opt to build its own water plant.

The amended resolution will now head to the entire city council at a future meeting. The next city council meeting will take place on March 17 at city hall, located at 118 Hillsboro Ave., at 7 p.m.

Reach reporter Charles Bolinger at (618) 659-5735
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - A Maryland man accused of joining a white supremacist group and discussing violence at a gun rights rally in Virginia is seeking his pretrial release from federal custody.

In a court filing Wednesday, defence attorney Ned Smock asked a federal magistrate judge in Greenbelt, Maryland, to schedule a detention hearing for Brian Mark Lemley, who was indicted on gun-related charges.

The defence has a proposed release plan to present to the Court that we submit addresses any concern about risk of flight or danger to the community, wrote Smock, an assistant federal public defender. Smock did not disclose any details of that plan.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy Sullivan and federal prosecutors didnt immediately respond to Lemleys request for a hearing. Sullivan already has refused to set bond for two other men who were arrested in January on related charges.

Lemley, 33, of Elkton, Maryland, had waived his right to an immediate detention hearing after making his initial court appearance Jan. 16. He and former Canadian Armed Forces reservist Patrik Mathews, 27, separately pleaded not guilty to charges including transporting a firearm and ammunition with the intent to commit a felony.

William Garfield Bilbrough IV, 19, of Denton, Maryland, pleaded not guilty to charges that he helped transport and harbour Mathews, who is accused of illegally entering the U.S. from Canada.

Federal authorities said the three men were members of a white supremacist organization called The Base. During a hearing last week, a prosecutor said the groups goal was to accelerate the overthrow of the U.S. government and replace it with a white supremacist regime.

Lemley and Mathews discussed the planning of violence at a gun rights rally in Richmond, Virginia, in January, prosecutors said in a court filing. A closed-circuit television camera and microphone installed by investigators in a Delaware home captured Lemley talking about using a thermal imaging scope affixed to his rifle to ambush unsuspecting civilians and police officers, prosecutors said.

I need to claim my first victim, Lemley said on Dec. 23, according to prosecutors.

Lemley was a member of a different white nationalist, neo-Confederate organization before he joined The Base last year, prosecutors filing says. In encrypted online chats, Base members discussed what would happen if law enforcement tried to disrupt their activities, the filing says.

For example, in September 2019, in a discussion with other Base members, Lemley wrote, Hey mr fed and I spent about 35% of my day daydreaming about killing you today. Lemley went on to write, I day dream about killing so much that I frequently walk in the wront (sic) directions for extended periods of time at work, prosecutors wrote.

FBI agents arrested Mathews, Lemley and Bilbrough as part of a broader investigation of The Base. Authorities in Georgia and Wisconsin also arrested four other men linked to the group.
(Sharecast News) - Highland Gold Mining announced the appointment of Michael Monaghan as its chief operating officer on Wednesday, to be based at its Moscow management office Russdragmet.

The AIM-traded firm said Monaghan would be responsible for overseeing day-to-day operations at all of its production and development assets.



It described him as a mining engineer with more than four decades in the industry.



Monaghan's management experience covered both underground and open-pit operations across a number of commodities, as well as commissioning, mine management, turnaround management, and environmental and safety compliance in Australia, Africa, Asia and Europe.



He most recently served as mining and technical director for the Russia-based Nordgold.



Before that, he held senior management positions at Akara Resources - a subsidiary of Kingsgate Consolidated - in Thailand, as well as AngloGold Ashanti in Tanzania, Etruscan Resources in Burkina Faso, and Redback Mining in Ghana.



Monaghan holds a graduate diploma in mining engineering from Ballarat University College, and a business diploma in frontline management from RTO Perth Western Australia, and completed an executive development programme at the University of Virginia's Darden School of Business.



He is a member of the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (MAusIMM) and of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.



"We are pleased to welcome Michael and his extensive international mining industry experience to our management team at Highland Gold," said chief executive officer Denis Alexandrov.



"His track record of designing operations and management systems and implementing best practices in mining and health and safety across a range of enterprises will be invaluable to the company as we enter a new phase of growth and development."



At 1422 GMT, shares in Highland Gold Mining were up 2.46% at 208.6p.
File image: Jyotiraditya Scindia

For the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia is obviously a big catch. Intellectuals of his suave and sophisticated stature are not too many either in Madhya Pradesh or the rest of the country. However, for Scindia, joining the BJP could be a missed opportunity twice over.

The Madhya Pradesh unit of the Congress has always been a highly faction-ridden one. During the PV Narasimha Rao years, the party suffered a vertical split with former minister Arjun Singh forming his own version of the Congress, leaving his protege Digvijaya Singh, then Chief Minister of MP, out on a limb with having to make a difficult choice between a reigning prime minister and a former mentor. Digvijaya Singh survived and soon Arjun Singh's faction of the Congress, having failed to take off the ground, merged back with the mainstream Congress and little was heard of it again.

Not many may recall that during those same years, there was another split in the Congress  this one engineered by Madhavrao Scindia, Jyotiraditya Scindias father. Madhavrao Scindias name had figured in the infamous Jain hawala diaries and, furious at Rao for falsely implicating him in the case, he quit the party and set up the Madhya Pradesh Vikas Congress. He contested the 1996 Lok Sabha elections at the head of his own party and later aligned with the United Front government at the Centre. The BJP had not been an option at any point of time. Forming his own party and winning several seats only raised his stock with the Congress.

Madhavrao Scindia had been under no illusions about the BJP's ideology and wanted to make no compromises with his own pluralism. He was also aware that in the final analysis, ideology did not matter to most political leaders who cared only about power. However, to him, power without ideological moorings or even power with ideological compromises was an absolute no-no.

That is why his son how lets him down, not once but twice over.

Jyotiraditya Scindia, facing virtually the same faction of leaders in the Congress that his father had face, could have been less power hungry and more ideologically committed like his father. More importantly, instead of joining the BJP, he could have either revived his father's old party or formed a new one, even split the existing Congress to form his own party.

The time and the circumstances were just right for such a rebellion. The Congress has been in a comatose state ever since its defeat in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and the resignation of Rahul Gandhi as party president has had it in a severe leadership crisis.

For all the leaders gravitating towards power and the BJP, there are tens and thousands of party workers committed to their ideology  but in desperate search of a leader they could rally around. Jyotiraditya Scindia could have been that leader  he may have succeeded in not just Madhya Pradesh but across India in galvanizing the party workers and perhaps even succeeding in turning his faction into the mainstream Congress, given the mood of the party workers.

That is, after all, what Sharad Pawar attempted at another point of time when the Congress was similarly at its nadir and in an identical leadership crisis. Then, however, Sonia Gandhi, in a far better state of health, proved equal to the task of confining Pawar to Maharashtra. Today Pawar is one of the tallest leaders in India with, very importantly, no compromises in his ideology. There is not much to choose from between the Congress and Pawars Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), but, in terms of leadership, Pawar stands head and shoulders above all others, including those in the Congress.

Jyotiraditya Scindia could have been all that, even if he had later decided to merge his party with the mainstream Congress as his father did in 1998. Or he could have kept up his own uncompromising identity.

Sadly, joining the BJP now not only compromises everything he stood for with the Congress, it does not even give him any leadership stakes in his new party. There are stronger leaders in the BJP, both at the Centre and in the state, than in the Congress. Jyotiraditya Scindia brings nothing to their table except the initial shock and awe of his exit from the Congress.

In a few months the novelty of being the big fish will wear off. Instead he could have charted his own course, and truly come into his own.
JACKSON, MI  There were 16,013 votes cast for Democrats in Jackson County during Tuesdays presidential primary election  the most in Jackson County since primaries replaced caucuses in Michigan in 2008.

While the county gave Bernie Sanders the majority of votes in 2016 over Hillary Clinton, it flipped on Sanders this time around.

Joe Biden was the top Democratic choice in Jackson County on March 10. Biden had 8,503 votes (53.1 percent) while Sanders had 5,864 votes (36.6 percent). It mimicked the statewide result, where Biden won 52.9 percent of the vote and Sanders won 36.4 percent of the vote.

Biden earned 71 Michigan delegates, to Sanders' 51 delegates, per the New York Times.

While Biden won on the Democratic ticket, it was President Donald Trump who earned the most votes in Jackson County at 8,950.

Trump earned 94.1 percent of Jackson County Republican votes, with the majority of others going to uncommitted. Turnout was twice as high at the 2016 Republican primary, but the race was much more competitive then, while Trump already essentially has the 2020 nomination locked up.

Jackson County sided with Trump in 2016 by 20 percentage points, but swung left as recently as 2008, siding with Barack Obama over John McCain.

Most Jackson County voters only had the presidential primary to vote on, although Springport Township had a public safety millage renewal on the ballot. It passed 213 to 116.

Here's a look at the Jackson County vote totals from past presidential primaries, dating back to 2008.

2008: 19,228 (13,469 Republican, 5,759 Democrat)

2012: 18,059 (16,479 Republican, 1,580 Democrat)

2016: 33,104 (20,721 Republican, 12,383 Democrat)

2020: 25,520 (9,507 Republican, 16,013 Democrat)

For precinct-by-precinct results from Tuesdays contest, click here. Biden beat out Sanders in the city of Jackson 1,570 to 1,331.

More election news:

Joe Biden wins Michigan Democratic presidential primary

President Donald Trump wins Michigan Republican presidential primary

2020 Michigan Presidential Primary election results
MS Santhanam By

The threat of infection from the coronavirus causing the COVID-19 disease has gripped the entire world. It was first reported in December 2019 from Wuhan in China. By now, more than 1,15,800 people in over 90 countries have been infected by the deadly virus and at least 4,000 have died. In India, over 50 cases of coronavirus infections have been confirmed. The global scale of the spread of the disease has resulted in immense economic losses due to shutdown of cities, airports and factories, travel bans and quarantining of people.

With no approved drugs or vaccines available to fight the virus at present, it is virtually enjoying a free run, impeded only by the quarantine measures adopted in China and elsewhere. This free run is largely aided, ironically, by the modern networked societies that we live in. If not for the network effect, the coronavirus could not have infected people in places thousands of kilometres apart such as Wuhan, Milan and Chicago in different continents within one month. It might seem paradoxical that faster means of communication through the network of roads and air routes also helps in faster transmission of the disease as well.

By the end of 2002, Guangdong province in China was encountering the first cases of what came to be called the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). SARS is also caused by a form of coronavirus. It became a global epidemic because travel networks played a critical role in transmitting the infection. Professor Liu Jianlun from Guangdong visited Hong Kong in February 2003 and, unknown to himself, became the carrier of the SARS virus. He infected several people in the hotel where he was staying. In a few weeks, the infection had spread to places as far as Hanoi and Toronto.

SARS infected around 1,000 people in the initial four months, but the current coronavirus is much faster, having affected 1,200 people in less than a month. Invariably, the speed of infection transmission through human contacts is tied to the speed of our transportation systems. More than 2,000 years ago, circa 430 BC, Athens was faced with a major epidemic (probably a plague or typhoid) that transmitted through humans and killed almost one lakh people. Yet, in an era when the transport networks were not as efficient as they are today, the epidemic did not become a global threat. By the 14th century, when a plague hit Europe, trade and travel networks had developed sufficiently well. This bout of plague infection originated in Mongolia in Asia and reached as far as England in about seven years through the trade routes. The medieval Latin historical text Chronicon Angliae Petriburgense recounts the Black Death devastation: ... it came to England and first began in the towns and ports joining on the eacoasts, and made the country quite void of inhabitants. An Italian memoir by Gabriele de Mussi in 1348 claims that plague-infected dead bodies of solidiers were lobbed into the Crimean city of Caffa (now called Feodosia). This possibly marks the first use of biological warfare. Although over three crore people died due to Black Death, many towns and villages in Belgium, Netherlands and parts of Spain with little connectivity were spared from the plague visitation. The harbours at Bombay and Calcutta are blamed for the entry of plague infection that killed lakhs of Indians from 1898 to 1908. The Surat plague in 1994 did create panic, but did not spread very far.

In times of public health crises, the network of trade and transport routes is an important parameter in predicting how an infection is transmitted through a population. Mathematical models of epidemiology, or the science of infection distribution, date back to almost a century. Today, more advanced models with additional inputs from human mobility data provide important leads for decisions about initiating quarantine mechanisms. For instance, according to the latest model predictions, Hong Kong and Seoul are the highest risk airports for importing the virus from China. In contrast, the risk factor of Indian airports is quite small. This correlates with the current perception that India, even with more than 50 confirmed cases, is not among those most affected by the coronavirus.

In general, a mathematical framework for networks can provide such quantitative information about disease spreading based on connectivity patterns among human settlements. Networks were first studied in the 17th century by the Swiss mathematician Leonard Euler and later developed in the 20th century by the Hungarian mathematician Paul Erdos. Interestingly, the mathematical equations used for elucidating disease spreading through networks can also, with some changes, describe how fake news and rumours evolve on social media.

In early 2019, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Tamil Nadu, Twitter hashtags #GoBackModi and #TNWelcomesModi were both trending. An analytics report nailed these hashtags as the handiwork of bots, not human users. Such fake influences on social media are hard to beat. A recent research published in the prestigious journal Science tracked down millions of Twitter posts and found fake news and rumours spread faster than truth. In fighting fake news, we are in for the long haul. In contrast, coronavirus might be contained, even if not entirely eliminated, by a combination of quarantining, hygiene measures and possibly medicines.

M S SANTHANAM

Physicist and a professor at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune. Views expressed are personal Email: santh@iiserpune.ac.in